Le Fleur was one of Canterlot's most popular restaurants. Set in the heart of the city, the restaurant, which in the summertime consisted primarily of outdoor tables, was known across Equestria for its exquisite cuisine. While the sun was shining down brightly on the buzzing restaurant, the six ponies seated in the shade felt as if there was a cloud above, raining only on their table.

"I mean, she has a point," said a glum Rarity, "how likely is it that we all have feelings for each other? The odds are so slim!"

"I never thought I liked mares before," justified Twilight, "I didn't exactly have stallions lining up at my door, but I had never looked at other mares that way before Rainbow Dash."

"Did anypony here even like mares before?" Fluttershy asked.

Everypony turned towards Rainbow Dash.

Dash was taken back."What? Okay, maybe I did but that's not even the point, what's it matter anyways!?"

"Well, just sayin', we all kinda figured..." reasoned Applejack as her voice trailed off.

"Oh come on! You're all telling me none of you have looked twice at another mare before? Not even once?" Rainbow Dash asked smugly.

Everypony cheeks turned red, with the exception of Pinkie Pie.

"Oh ya! I've looked at all kinda ponies twice! Sometimes more than that! I can't even count the number of times I've looked at all of you!" Pinkie exclaimed.

"Pinkie, Ah don't think you and Rainbow got the same idea," explained Applejack.

"Pshhhhh!" scoffed Pinkie, "whatever! I can't go five minutes without looking at another pony twice! Especially if I'm outside walking around and stuff!"

Fluttershy, who was sitting next to Pinkie Pie, leaned over to her, whispering something in her ear.

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhh!" Pinkie exclaimed in realization, "okie dokie, I got you Dashie!"

"But seriously," Rainbow continued, "none of you were into mares before like a month ago?"

Everypony looked at one another, shaking their heads.

"I certainly never did," said Fluttershy, "I had always liked stallions, but I guess I always seemed to see Pinkie in a different way."

"So you are saying that you aways liked Pinkie as more than a friend then, and these feeling aren't recent?" asked Twilight, hoping to get more clarification.

"Well, yes," began Fluttershy, "I have always liked Pinkie as more than just a friend, but I guess those feelings have seemed stronger recently, but that may just be because Pinkie started showing more interest in me."

"Well Pinkie, have ya always felt this way 'bout Fluttershy? Before we used the elements?" asked Applejack.

Pinkie put her hoof to her chin, as if she was pondering the question. "Hmmm, well I do now, but I don't really know. I always liked Fluttershy and when she asked me to kiss and stuff I was like 'sure, what the hay?' I can't really say, I guess I never really though about it before."

"I'm with Pinkie here," interjected Rainbow Dash, "I can't really say, mostly because I hardly knew Twilight before we used the elements the first time, but I did start to have feeling for her some time after that."

Twilight scratched her head. "Still, if the elements did make us all fall in love with each other, why did we pick who we picked? Why aren't we all, uhh... in love with the other five?"

Everypony around the table simply shrugged. All of their faces revealed blank looks, each one individually pondering what exactly made them fall in love with their significant other. Each pony simply sat at that table in silence, questioning their feelings and second-guessing the decisions that they had made over the course of the past few weeks. While the thoughts may have differed, the feeling of confusion was mutual amongst everypony.

Twilight looked down at Daffodil sandwich that had been placed in front of her during the mutual moment of silence. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I really don't feel like eating."

Rainbow Dash nodded. "I don't know how, but my appetite is gone."

"I completely agree," said Rarity, "I really don't think any of us have much of an appetite."

Twilight looked at all her friends, noticing that all of them had no interest in even touching the food in front of them, with the exception of one.

"Uhh, Pinkie, did you already eat all of that?" Twilight asked.

Pinkie's eyes got wide. "Ohhhh, were we not supposed to be hungry?" she asked innocently.

Twilight couldn't help but laugh, which caused the five other ponies to laugh with her. Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity, for a brief moment, forgot about all of their worries and simply enjoyed the moment. While the future was uncertain, at this moment, the Elements of Harmony didn't have a care in the world.

At night, the view from the east wing of Canterlot Castle was breathtaking. The moon sparkled brightly amongst the stars, contrasting against the night sky. Beneath was the capital city, which extended to the edge of the mountain where it was perched, where the scene cut off. Even further below that were the vast planes of Equestia, shrouded in darkness.

On the balcony of the east wing tower, taking in this spectacular view, was Twilight Sparkle. For her, this view was all but commonplace before she moved to Ponyville, but now, seeing it was similar to reminiscing over a fond memory. However, Twilight had other thoughts on her mind.

"It just doesn't add up," Twilight mumbled to herself,"I do love Rainbow, and I have for a long time. How can the elements make us fall in love? There are love spells, but that isn't love, that's just lust. But what Rainbow and I have, that's more than lust, it's—"

"True love?" interrupted Rainbow Dash, who had appeared floating beside the balcony.

Twilight was expectedly startled. "Rainbow Dash!?"

Rainbow simply smiled as she hovered near Twilight.

"Did you hear all of that?" asked Twilight, blushing slightly.

Dash nodded. "Every word."

Twilight looked at her hooves.

"And man, do you over think everything! Who knows how long that would have gone on if I didn't stop you!" Rainbow Dash landed on the balcony, nudging Twilight playfully.

Twilight looked up at Rainbow Dash. "I know, but I'm confused, and you know how much I hate being confused! I just can't wrap my mind around how a type of magic made us fall in love! It's not supposed to do that!"

"I know, I know, I heard everything, remember?" Rainbow joked smiling at Twilight.

Twilight returned the smile. "I'm just frustrated. Frustrated and confused."

"And we all know how much you like to be frustrated!" joked Rainbow.

Twilight nuzzled up against Rainbow Dash. "I know that I love you. Maybe I won't love you tomorrow, but I love you now, and isn't that all that matters?"

"Wow Twi'," said Rainbow, "that's corny, even for you!" Dash playfully punched her partner.

Twilight blushed, but did not back down. "I try, I try," Twilight said jokingly, but modestly nonetheless.

Rainbow looked at Twilight. "Well if you think I'm going to be shown up by some egghead, then you got another thing coming!" Rainbow threatened seductively.

Twilight felt her feet leave the ground. Rainbow Dash had taken Twilight up in her arms and accelerated skyward.

Twilight, while initially confused, was now incredibly scared. "Rainbow Dash!" she exclaimed, "what in Celestia's name do you think you're doing?"

"Chill out! You're just gonna have to trust me!" Dash accelerated.

"I don't know about this!" Twilight yelled nervously over the sound of air rushing past her.

Below, Twilight could see Canterlot castle growing smaller and smaller. As her eyes began to water she looked into the distance. The landscape of Equestria was before her, from the vast open plains in the east to the rolling mountains of the north. It wasn't before Twilight thought that she was in outer space did she feel Rainbow decelerate.

"You still know that cloud walking spell?" Rainbow asked.

Twilight's horn lit up for a brief moment as she performed the spell. As Rainbow Dash set her down on the cloud, Twilight said nothing, still in shock from the flight. However, as she regained her composure, she realized how spectacular the view was. Along with the mountains of the north and the plains in the east, the rolling hills and the sea of the south were now visible along with the frontier and seemingly endless deserts of the west. The lights of Equestria's cities, town, and villages were beacons across the land. As the vibrant full moon shown down upon Celestia's kingdom, the sparkle of the southern sea matched the sparkle in the awestruck eyes of the unicorn who always brought a sparkle to the life of Rainbow Dash. She had never seen such a sight in her entire life.

"We're twice as high off the ground as Cloudsdale" said Rainbow as she joined Twilight on the cloud below them, "and good thing you remember the spell because that would have pretty much ruined my plan."

Twilight looked confused. "Plan?"

"Well, not really a plan, more of a spur of the moment thing," assured Rainbow, "because that's me! I don't think, I just do!"

Twilight looked skeptical. "I don't know, this cloud seems way to flat to be natural. Plus there isn't another cloud anywhere for miles! Are you sure you didn't plan this?"

Rainbow blushed. "Well... uhh... maybe there was a little planning involved, but it was mostly spur of the moment."

Twilight smiled. "Well, I think it is very sweet." She kissed Rainbow softly on the lips. Twilight tried to take the kiss further, but Rainbow Dash resisted.

"Twilight, wait," said Dash as she pulled away.

"What is it?" asked Twilight.

"I want us to go through with Celestia's plan. I know that we may not love each other tomorrow, but I love you now, and I want this night to be special," Rainbow Dash began, "You may forget that you loved me and I may forget that I loved you, but I want tonight to be something that you will never forget. I want to be with you but if—"

"Oh I get the point!" said Twilight before she cut off Rainbow Dash with a kiss.

Rainbow Dash returned the kiss as the two ponies melted into each other on too of the cloud. With all of Equestria as their witness, the two ponies once again ceased to exist as individuals, and instead existed only as one consciousness. The fear of falling out of love was the last thing that crossed their minds.

"Applejack, darling, why don't you ever take me for a flight?"

Applejack rolled her eyes. "Gee, Ah wonder," she said sarcastically as she looked at her back which, not surprisingly, did not have wings attached to them.

Rarity's room in Canterlot castle was very spacious, and even more luxurious than the other of the rooms in the castle. This was because Rarity's typical luxuries accompanied her, with a variety of pillows and beauty supplies spread around the room amongst at least six opened suitcases. While Applejack had the reputation as a nitty gritty cowpony, she still was not opposed to a room of luxury. Also, she had grown quite accustomed the feel of Rarity's home, and Rarity's room at the castle had that same feel. This is, of course, what Applejack had rationalized to herself. While these reasons did play a small part, she really knew why she was in that particular room, and that was for Rarity herself.

Rarity had caught wind of Rainbow Dash's plan from Pinkie Pie. Rarity did not know how Pinkie knew, nor did she ask. She just went along with it. On the balcony is where the two ponies stood as they watched the development between their friends.

"But if ya want, I could take you on the roof of the barn, but that 'bout as high as I'm gettin' up in the sky," Applejack joked.

Rarity chuckled. "Well I do appreciate the offer, but I think I'm going to have to decline." she laughed again, "I'm surprised you didn't suggest a 'romp in the hay,' I thought that would be something that would happen eventually."

"In the hay? Nah," snorted Applejack, "its not as good as ya would think. It just gets real itchy and really just ain't that fun in the end."

Rarity raised an eyebrow. "Really? And how would you know that?" she asked mischievously, "who did you do that with?" Rarity nudged her playfully.

Applejack blushed. "Well... uhhh... it was a real long time ago, nothing really happened anyway."

"Oh come on, Darling!" Rarity said lightheartedly, "I'm not mad, if that's what you think, but you know I'm a sucker for a little gossip!"

Applejack was noticeably embarrassed. "It's really no one ya would—"

"Oh come on!" pleaded Rarity.

"Okay fine," Applejack took a deep breath, "it was Dr. Whooves," she muttered.

Rarity was stunned. "What!?"

"He and just come to Ponyville and Pinkie was throwin' him a party." began Applejack, "We had it at my barn for some reason. We broke out the hard cider. All Ah remember after that is waking up itchy in a pile of hay next to him. Ah got outta there before he woke up."

"Wow Applejack, I didn't know you were such a heart breaker!" joked Rarity, "I guess I better watch out!"

Applejack blushed. "It was one time!" she voiced defensively.

"Whatever you say!" Rarity said sarcastically, "why don't we go inside, it's getting cold out. Then at least I can be warm when my heart's broken."

Applejack just rolled her eyes as she followed Rarity inside.

"So, Applejack." Rarity took a deep breath. "You do realize that we still have a decision to make."

Applejack sighed. "Ah know, and Ah been thinkin' too. What do ya think we should do?"

"We need to do it," Rarity stated simply as she look Applejack straight in the eyes.

"That's what Ah was thinkin'," responded Applejack. "Ah mean, I'm not one to lie, and if we really fell in love 'cause of the elements, then this whole part of my life is a lie and Ah just can't live with that."

Rarity said nothing, she just nodded somberly.

"So we're doin' it then?" Applejack asked, "no turnin' back."

"No turning back," restated Rarity.

Applejack took a deep breath. "Ah just... Ah just don't know if Ah'm ready."

Rarity stepped closer to Applejack. "I know," sniffled Rarity, "I... I don't want to lose you, Applejack."

Applejack nuzzled up against Rarity. "You won't be losin' me, Ah'll always be here. Even if we ain't in love, I'll still always love you."

"Huh?" asked Rarity as she looked up at Applejack with glossy eyes.

"Ah've always love ya, Rar'. Maybe not romantically like Ah do now, but Ah've always loved ya. It's not like Ah'll be gone after all this, Ah'll always be here for ya, and Ah know you and the rest of the gals will always be there for me." Applejack kissed Rarity on her forehead. "And maybe me tellin' you that we'll always be friends ain't what you need to hear right now, but it's the truth. Ah would like to tell ya that we'll always be together no matter what, but Ah don't know if that's true, so Ah ain't gonna tell you no lie." Applejack shed a single tear.

Rarity looked her partner straight in the eyes. "Darling, I wouldn't have it any other way." She wiped the tear from Applejack's eye. "If we don't have romantic interest in each other tomorrow, we'll still have the memories. That is something that they can never take away from us." She sniffled. "I give you my word that I will always love you, no matter what. The circumstances of our love may change, but I will love you in whatever way you want me to love you. Whether that be like it is now, or simply as a friend." Rarity gave Applejack a small kiss on the lips.

Applejack returned the kiss, but drew it out for much longer. Nothing more need be said between the two ponies. Everything that was said, or could have ever been said, was summed up with that one kiss. Just as Rainbow Dash and Twilight were at that very same moment, Rarity and Applejack now only existed as a single collective consciousness, and the only thing they could comprehend was love. Sheer, undying, unbiased love. To them, there were no Elements of Harmony creating false feelings. There was no Princess Celestia telling them that their love was not genuine. There were no other ponies in all of Equestria except for the one who they were intertwined with that that very moment, and in that moment, Rarity and Applejack found not only true love, but true peace.

"Sister! Sister!"

Princess Celestia looked up at the doorway of her royal chamber. "Luna? What is the problem?"

"It is the elements sister! You must come quickly!"