“Why, darling, how strange to see you around here.”

Rarity's surprise was genuine. Rainbow Dash was not the kind of mare who would usually be found at the spa. Not that it mattered much to Aloe and Lotus, who quickly jumped to give her a hot towel or a hoof polish.

“I was just passing by… isn't that Elusive guy here with you? I thought he was fond of this kind of girly stuff…” Rainbow said, dismissing the spa ponies.

“I'm afraid Elusive prefers to spend his days in the gymnasium. Apparently it’s more appropriate for a colts tastes. Or so he says,” Rarity said.

“Well, he has to keep that rock body of his in shape!” Pinkie yelled while making some motions that made the normally prude Twilight scold her.

“But Applejack has a nice body to…” realizing what she had just said, Fluttershy quickly added. “Oh I meant the male Applejack!”

“Ah figured that out, sugarcube.”

“So, who do you girls think has the best body? I think it's Blitzie! He has that tough macho like flying swiftness! Kinda like Rainbow only as a boy well Rainbow kinda looks like a boy already but you know what I mean!”

Rainbow only reaction to this was to snort.

“Although I admit that the likes of Applejack, the male one darling; and Rainbow Blitz had bodies more obviously attractive, I prefer a more sooth approach. Atype of body that express gentleness and grace, very much like Butterscotch. No need to blush, dear” Rarity directed that last comment at Fluttershy.

“I get what you mean. I prefer a more slim kind of body. I found Bubble's physique to be more impressive that the other types, such as Applejack's or Blitz's.” Twilight Sparkle approached the matter with her usual logical-state-the-facts attitude.

“Hihihi, you call him Bubble?” Pinkie was basically grinning.

“Why yes, I mean, he calls me Sparkle. I figured I must return the favor.”

Applejack sighed, happy that all the “woooo” and whistles of the girls made the subject drop and spared her from having to confess she preferred a petite not fit for work kind of body just like Dusk Shine.

“Can't we just drop this entire talk? It's kinda weird to be talking basically about ourselves!” Rainbow Dash shouted but all she got was Pinkie laughing harder. “What's so funny?”

“I bet Rainbow Blitz is saying the exact same thing!”

“What?”

“It's okay! It happens to Berry and me all the time! We are always finishing…

*****

“…each other sentence!”

“That's just crazy…”

Rainbow Blitz dismissed Bubble Berry’s crazy claims while he nodded for Heavy and Weight, the earth pony twins who run the gym, to add more weight. The twins looked a bit concerned but the pegasus was venting some frustration through hard work and will not take no for an answer. Plus, he was one of their best customers so they decided to just obey.

“Actually Blitz, it happens to me a lot too. Usually I end up bumping into Twilight when we both want to reach the exact same book.” Dusk Shine said.

“Oh yes, I can't even count how many times I have same idea for an outfit as Rarity. It makes for a great work dynamic.” Elusive added.

“See?” but Rainbow Blitz just gave him a snort in response.

“So Scotch, ah noticed yah spend an awful lot of time with missus Rarity. Yah making the little dragon o' missus Twilight pretty mad!” Applejack said, trying to hide his own jealousy.

“Umh but I'm not actually interested on her. I mean, Rarity is really pretty and I get along very well with her but that's more because she is kind of a female Elusive so our relationship is similar. I umm... I'm actually more interested in Pinkie Pie.” And realizing what he had just said, Butterscotch quickly added. “Uh, don’t get any wrong impressions Berry…”

“Why would I? Pinkie is a really great girl! Just like Fluttershy! Hey, even their voices are similar…”

“That's curious.”

“What’s that, Dusk Shine?” Elusive asked.

“That both Berry and Butterscotch are interest in each others counterparts…”

“Hey, I'm not interested in Fluttershy! It's just that she’s the only one of the girls group that’s afraid of me! All the other girls get fine with me! Why can't she? She is always Oh Berry you startled me!” I don’t do that! Scotch have I ever startled you?”

“Umh, well when we first met I did find you a little bit noisy, Berry…” Butterscotch confessed.

“Maybe ya’ll are just scaring the little girl with all yer yappin’!” Applejack said.

“Scaring the little girl?!”

“Dusk Shine, when you mentioned how curious it was that they show interest in the girls, what was your intention?” Elusive had to ask.

“Well, I was thinking more of the implications. You know, since they are “technically” ourselves from a parallel universe the fact that we find them attractive could be a little…you know, weird.” Dusk Shine explained.

“How come?”

“Ugh. Because it is weird!” Rainbow Blitz shouted, throwing the weights away. “Think about it! It will be like me admitting that I find Applejack hot!”

“Yah find me hot?”

“Not you, mule! No offense.”

“None taken.” said the mule in the steam machine.

“I meant the female Applejack!”

“You like the other Applejack, Blitz?” Butterscotch asked.

“Yes! No! I don't know! This whole situation its turning really weird! It was easier when we just met once in a while but now that we all live together I just can’t take it!” Rainbow Blitz basically exploded.

“But why?” a confused Bubble Berry asked. “What has…”

*****

“…changed? I mean, the boys are the same, we are the same. Why is it different now?” a confused Pinkie Pie asked.

“Pinkie you have to admit that since the boys appeared things have changed. We learned new things about ourselves thanks to them, and now, we are discovering other things. Feelings, ideas, that maybe we will have never noticed if not for them.” Twilight Sparkle said, failing to keep eye contact with Pinkie Pie.

“Woah, I never… thought I made you that uncomfortable, Twilight.”

An awkward silence took over the saloon until Rarity decided to speak up. “Fluttershy, you know that I never saw you as anything more than a friend. A dearest one, I must add. But ever since Butterscotch appeared, well, I can't deny he is the stallion I have been waiting for my entire life and, while at first the implications were a bit disturbing, now I'm able to leave them behind and just admit how I feel.”

Fluttershy was touched by Rarity’s speech but managed to mutter a response. “Oh, thank you for your words Rarity. I also think of you as my dearest friend. The five of you are. But when it comes to the boys, I…I…”

Another awkward silence.

“So, what do we now?” Rainbow Dash asked but none of the other girls dared to speak.

“We tell them.”

They all turned over to face the blushing Applejack.

“We just come up front and say it.”

“You serious?” Rainbow have a hard time believing what she was hearing. Applejack wasn’t the romantic type after all.

“Look, ah know how yah all feel 'cause ah have been feeling the same. Ah've been lying to mahself, thinking that it was too weird to feel this way, that it was wrong but consarn it, no more of that! Am Ah the Element of Honesty or a mouse? Ah said we just grab them by the shoulders and just…

****

“…shout it!”

“You crazy?” Rainbow complained.

“The direct approach hasn't precisely worked for me, Applejack.” Elusive added.

“Umm...  I'm not sure it's a good idea…” Butterscotch said.

Even Berry seemed insecure.

“Count me out. After all, I don’t have any girl I’m interested in.” Dusk Shine lied, forgetting he was surround by his best friends who basically turned into a greek chorus.

“RAINBOW DASH!”

“What? How did you know?”

“You are not precisely the most discreet of stallions, my boy.” Elusive said.

“So, what ya all said?” Applejack reminded them of the plan at task. “This weekend we will all confess. At the same…”

****

“…time! Got it?”

None of the girls seemed too inclined but since they were out of options, they agreed.

After all, something had to be done.

*****

Prince Artemis raised a magic barrier but the tentacles of dark magic easily broke through it and attached to his limbs and neck, strangling him for a bit before tossing him to a wall. His helmet fell to the ground while his disheveled mane covered the blood on his forehead.

“Why won't you just simply surrender? That way you wouldn’t need to suffer anymore,” a obscure and mocking voice said.

“Treacherous fiend! Thou intend for us to surrender, leaving Equestria under thy vicious hoof?” Artemis gathered all the magic he was able to into one final beam. “We say thee nay!”

But even the full extent of his power was unable to defeat this powerful foe, who folded its wings to cover from the spell. To give credit to the Prince, he did managed to throw its helmet away.

“So, you choose death…”

And a beam of his opponents dark magic hit Artemis, rendering him unconscious.

“Fool! Maybe if you still had the powers of darkness you would have had an opportunity. But you lost them the second you accepted Dusk Shine and those pathetic ponies so called friendship! You gave up on true power and this is what you deserve!”

Before the dark pony could stomp its hoof on Artemis head, it was stopped by the powerful voice of Prince Solaris.

“That is enough, Nightmare Moon.”

The dark alicorn turned over to see the white stallion, his mane and beard glowing like the sun coming over to her. She kept her fangs exposed all the time, even when she leaned closer to muzzle him.

“No need to worry. I know you need him alive, my love. I was merely teaching him a lesson.”

“There will be plenty of time for that later. First, we have to deal with the Elements of Harmony.”

“As you wish, my King.”

And the honorable figure of Prince Solaris disappeared in a green flame, revealing the terrible appearance of the King of the Changelings.