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Description
Party Preppers was finally back on the air after a long hiatus. The cameras were once again rolling, but this wasn’t any new episode. It was a public service announcement, rather. One of the hosts had been the subject of a lot of controversy and every pony knew it couldn’t be swept under the rug.

It was time for Chef Changa to come out of hiding and address Equestria.

Instead of the cheery instrumental that kicked off each episode, an uncharacteristic silence hung over the Sugarcube Corner kitchen. Cheddar and Plum sat behind the counter, both with their forelegs folded neatly in front of them as they stared into the camera. The counter was completely bare, there was no cooking to be done today.

“Now a lot’s been happenin’ since we saw y’all last, and we here decided it was high time we talked about it. Just to clear things up like a freshly-swept barn.”

Plum tried to lighten the mood with one of his usual countryisms, though there was no studio audience there to hear it. Then he turned to his co-host.

“I’ll let you take it from here. Just be honest.”

He whispered the last part, giving them an earnest and encouraging smile.

Cheddar turned towards the cameras, their mind and heart racing with a lot of mixed feelings. Shame, anger, fear at what would become of this public announcement. But they didn’t let it show, trying to remain calm and collected as they began speaking.

“Hello everypony. I’m sure you all have seen by now the videos that have been circulating of me…It’s true, I lost my temper at a party. This was a side of me that I didn’t want you to see, that I don’t even want to see in myself. I know I let down a lot of my fans—OUR fans—and for that I am sorry. Truly, deeply, sorry.”

Plum rubbed a comforting hoof over their back as they bared their soul, but Cheddar wasn’t done yet. They didn’t think themselves blameless but they weren’t going to roll over and take all the blame, especially with just how far this had gone.

“But there were a lot of misunderstandings here, and however you may feel about my reaction to this, whether it was justified or not, I feel I have to clear the air on a few things.”

They sat up more boldly.

“First off, I didn’t throw that party. It was planned completely without my knowledge, and many guests intruded into my house without any invitation. Secondly, I did not strike anypony. It’s all on video, nowhere did I ever lay a hoof on anypony. The pony who went to the hospital didn’t even get an interview! I smell fudgery here.”

At this point Cheddar was angry just thinking about it all, but this time it was a good anger, a productive anger. They were perfectly in control of their emotions as they made them known to the world.

“If you have a problem with anything I said or did ever, please talk to me! I’ll be the first to tell you I make plenty of mistakes just like anypony, and I’m always open to feedback and improving myself. But I will NOT tolerate ponies blatantly LYING about me!”

They banged on the counter for emphasis.

“You can love me or hate me as much as you want but it’s not fair to stop treating me like a pony just because you don’t like me. It’s not fair to me OR Plum to lose support because of things I didn’t do. Whether you think I deserve it or not, he sure doesn’t, I know that much.”

They looked towards their best friend, the stallion who had stood behind them this entire time. They were so grateful to all the ponies who had supported them through this.

“The bottom line is, you can think of me what you will for things I’ve ACTUALLY done. But you have to look for yourself to see the pony I really am first.”

Their words hung in the air for a moment before the light went off for a commercial break, both ponies suddenly feeling an immense relief. Cheddar had no idea how ponies would react to this or even what the future of their career would be, but they said their piece and finally got the chance to defend themselves against the endless slander.

That was all that mattered.

~~~~~~~~~~

Previous: Fissility
Next: Hodiernal

Background by ikillyou121

Description
Party Preppers was finally back on the air after a long hiatus. The cameras were once again rolling, but this wasn’t any new episode. It was a public service announcement, rather. One of the hosts had been the subject of a lot of controversy and every pony knew it couldn’t be swept under the rug.

It was time for Chef Changa to come out of hiding and address Equestria.

Instead of the cheery instrumental that kicked off each episode, an uncharacteristic silence hung over the Sugarcube Corner kitchen. Cheddar and Plum sat behind the counter, both with their forelegs folded neatly in front of them as they stared into the camera. The counter was completely bare, there was no cooking to be done today.

“Now a lot’s been happenin’ since we saw y’all last, and we here decided it was high time we talked about it. Just to clear things up like a freshly-swept barn.”

Plum tried to lighten the mood with one of his usual countryisms, though there was no studio audience there to hear it. Then he turned to his co-host.

“I’ll let you take it from here. Just be honest.”

He whispered the last part, giving them an earnest and encouraging smile.

Cheddar turned towards the cameras, their mind and heart racing with a lot of mixed feelings. Shame, anger, fear at what would become of this public announcement. But they didn’t let it show, trying to remain calm and collected as they began speaking.

“Hello everypony. I’m sure you all have seen by now the videos that have been circulating of me…It’s true, I lost my temper at a party. This was a side of me that I didn’t want you to see, that I don’t even want to see in myself. I know I let down a lot of my fans—OUR fans—and for that I am sorry. Truly, deeply, sorry.”

Plum rubbed a comforting hoof over their back as they bared their soul, but Cheddar wasn’t done yet. They didn’t think themselves blameless but they weren’t going to roll over and take all the blame, especially with just how far this had gone.

“But there were a lot of misunderstandings here, and however you may feel about my reaction to this, whether it was justified or not, I feel I have to clear the air on a few things.”

They sat up more boldly.

“First off, I didn’t throw that party. It was planned completely without my knowledge, and many guests intruded into my house without any invitation. Secondly, I did not strike anypony. It’s all on video, nowhere did I ever lay a hoof on anypony. The pony who went to the hospital didn’t even get an interview! I smell fudgery here.”

At this point Cheddar was angry just thinking about it all, but this time it was a good anger, a productive anger. They were perfectly in control of their emotions as they made them known to the world.

“If you have a problem with anything I said or did ever, please talk to me! I’ll be the first to tell you I make plenty of mistakes just like anypony, and I’m always open to feedback and improving myself. But I will NOT tolerate ponies blatantly LYING about me!”

They banged on the counter for emphasis.

“You can love me or hate me as much as you want but it’s not fair to stop treating me like a pony just because you don’t like me. It’s not fair to me OR Plum to lose support because of things I didn’t do. Whether you think I deserve it or not, he sure doesn’t, I know that much.”

They looked towards their best friend, the stallion who had stood behind them this entire time. They were so grateful to all the ponies who had supported them through this.

“The bottom line is, you can think of me what you will for things I’ve ACTUALLY done. But you have to look for yourself to see the pony I really am first.”

Their words hung in the air for a moment before the light went off for a commercial break, both ponies suddenly feeling an immense relief. Cheddar had no idea how ponies would react to this or even what the future of their career would be, but they said their piece and finally got the chance to defend themselves against the endless slander.

That was all that mattered.

~~~~~~~~~~

Previous: Fissility
Next: Hodiernal

Background by ikillyou121