Cheerilee was walking from Ponyville school as she had just finished her daily work of teaching the students in her class from her classroom. She had found out about Applejacks reaction. She was scared to come across Applejack as she worried that Applejack would go up to her and attack her for being gay and she didn't want that to happen to her if Applejack would try to do that.
She didn't want to be banned from the town if Applejack ganged up on her with other ponies and drove her out just because she was gay? She couldn't help at she was gay and she wished that Applejack would understand that. That would embarrass and humiliate her. It would also devastate her if she had to leave her home if that happened. If it did then she hoped that some ponies would come to her defense.
Cheerilee hoped that she wouldn't get attacked by homophobic backlash from homophobic parents who disliked her for her sexual orientation if hey heard about her from Applejack telling them about her sexual orientation. She wanted to hide but she knew that it wouldn't be productive to hide and quit her job. She needed to be strong and stand up to bigotry wherever it was.
She looked at the streets of Ponyville as she walked them while she worried about Applejack attacking her or acting hostile torwards her for being gay and she worried that Applejack would gang up on her with other ponies and try to beat her up. She felt very paranoid as she felt that she was being watched by Applejack's family.
She hoped that Applejack would change her mind as she wanted to keep her friendship with Applejack. She isn't want to loose it over something so simple as her being gay because that was the way that she was born. Meanwhile Rarity's door was knocked on. Rarity went to it and saw Applejack. Rarity hoped that Applejack wasn't going to start being intolerant again as she was done dealing with bigotry. Applejack took a deep breath and decided to apologize to Rarity for her intolerant reaction.
"Rarity I'm sorry for what I said about Cheerilee. It wasn't right and I should be more tolerant to other gay people. There is nothing wrong with being gay. I'm so sorry for the way I acted as well. I was intolerant and rude and I should never be saying anything intolerant about anypony. Could you ever forgive me?" Applejack asked. Rarity then responded to her best friend.
"Of coarse I forgive you. What made you have a change of heart? I'm curious and I want to know how you changed your mind about the entire subject of sexual orientation. What made come here and apologize to me about what you said. Please tell me I'll listen." Rarity said. Applejack nodded as she was glad that Rarity was giving her a chance to redeem herself and responded to Rarity as she hoped that what she said would convince Rarity.
"After my rant I went back to my place and cooled down my temper alone in my room. Apple Bloom came to talk to me as she was worried after I had sat in there for an hour. I told her how Cheerilee was gay and guess what? She came out to me and she hoped that she wasn't kicked out because of my intolerance. I realized that my intolerance would make me hate my own baby sister and I do not want to hate my baby sister! So I read books about the science behind being gay and gay oppression and I realized how much depression they go through I also read about how they were both like that. I had realized my mistake and I want to make it right." Applejack said.
Applejack waited for Rarity to respond. Applejack shook as she was afraid of the possibility of Rarity not forgiving her. Rarity thought about Applejack's apology and she had noticed how genuine it was. Plus she took in the account of how Applejack was the element of honesty and realized that Applejack was telling the truth. She smiled and touched her shoulder as she spoke to her in a gentle voice as she forgave Applwjack for being intolerant against her for being the way she was.
"I forgive you Applejack. I'm glad that you had a change of heart." She told her friend. Applejack hugged her and Rarity hugged her back. They both went to Cheerilee and Cheerilee acted polite when she saw Applejack. Rarity then motioned for Applejack to apologize. Applejack was so nervous. Her mouth was really dry. She took a deep breath and spoke.
"I'm sorry for the stuff that you heard me say about you. It was terrible of me to judge you and it shouldn't have happened. I realized that my actions and words have consequences and that we all have a decision on being nice or mean. Today I chose to right my wrong. There is nothing wrong wi being gay and I hope that you forgive me and believe that I have changed my way." Applejack said to Cheerilee.
Applejack feared that Cheerilee wouldn't forgive her. She hoped hat they could still be friends. Cheerilee approached her. She hoped that Cheerilee wouldn't think that she was lying as she hated lying. She backed up in fear. And then to her surprise she was hugged by Cheerilee. She hugged Cheerilee back.
"I forgive you." Cheerilee whispered. They both broke away from the hug as they were all happy that things were good between Applejack and Cheerilee and Applejack and Rarity. They were all relieved that they had sorted out the problem Applejack learned to never judge others. She never again judged another pony for being gay.
The town found out about Applejack's change in beliefs and they were happy that she was more open minded. Apple Bloom was also proud of her sister as well.
