Applejack and Butterscotch were walking through the farm in silence, AJ took this chance to initiate conversation.

“So… mah older sis, ya really like her?” Applejack asked.

“I don’t know… I like her as a friend but I have to admit… she’s… different,” Butterscotch said.

“Different?” Applejack said inquiring for him to go on.

“I mean, she seems to not look at me as a stud, she treats me normally,” Butterscotch said.

“Ah guess so, bein the center of mare attention is nice an all, but it would also be nice to have a mare you can just chat with without it turnin perverse,” Applejack said as he retrieved his shirt and put it back on.

“Exactly, I want… to pursue something here, I will admit, I liked your brother back when we were mares, maybe I can like him now that he’s a her?” Butters said as they approached the farmhouse.

“Indeed, let me go in an ask Granny if it’s alright,” Applejack said before entering the house, a few minutes later he came back out and gave Butters the thumbs up.

Butterscotch politely nodded and entered.

Butterscotch walked in and saw the table being set and Apple Bloom was seated, Granny was hobbling over to her seat and next to her… Gala.

“Butterscotch, ah’ll admit it’s rather sudden but a friendly face is always welcome,” Granny said.

“Th-thank you,” Butterscotch said nervously and they all sat down.

Butterscotch looked down and saw that the food was veggie chili, he liked chili so that’s good.

“So, what brings ya to the house?” Granny asked.

“Well… I wanted….t-to talk to…” Butterscotch looked flustered and began eating to calm his nerves.

Granny knows the shy colt so she didn’t rush him.

“Red…” Butterscotch muttered quietly.

“Red?” AB parroted.

“Y-yes,” Butterscotch said.

“Is everythin alright?” Red Gala asked.

“Yes… I just… wanted to talk to you again,” Butterscotch said.

Red Gala seemed a little confused but she nodded “We can chat again if ya want to after dinner,” Gala said.

“I’d like that,” Butters said.

“And the cornbread, Granny made cornbread,” AB chirped.

Applejack chuckled “Ah bet ya don’t want ta miss that,”

“Watcha gonna talk about?” AB asked.

“Now now AB no pokin yer nose where it don’t belong,” Granny said before looking at Butterscotch with an understanding look and she smiled.

If all goes right she may get those great grandkids sooner than she thought.

Grey walked out of the castle.

“Goodbye Barbara, Goodbye Dusk, I’ll send you a note sometime next week when OR if I can get that communication to Luna set up,” Grey said as she used her magic to levitate her luggage with her.

“Thanks again Grey, this will help me out alot,” Dusk said.

“That’s only if, remember, and um… one more thing…” Grey asked with a blush.

“Yeah?” Dusk asked.

“Let Blitz know I am interested in another time… before my next visit,” Grey said looking red in the face.

“I’ll… be sure to tell him,” Dusk said.

“Ok, thanks, I’ll be going now,” Grey said walking away.

“Bye!” Barb called before turning to her brother “So what now?” Barb asked.

“We work towards fixing this,” Dusk said.

“Dusk…” Barb said not liking that he’s still on this.

“I don’t care what Discord said, there has to be a way, and my line of communication with Luna will be my study method,” Dusk said.

Barb just sighed and went back inside.

“You’ll want to go back eventually,” Dusk said following her in.

Berry and Elusive were getting on the train and climbing through the people on board.

Elusive stumbled over a blue and pink mares hoof.

“Oh! Are you alright?” She asked.

“Yes, sorry about that mam,” Elusive said before moving on.

Elusive continued on and sat in the chair next to Berry and the two waited until the train began moving again.

As they sat they stole glances at eachother before Berry sighed.

“You blame me but… we’re still friends right?” Berry asked.

“Of course Berry, I suppose I need some time to wade through the stigma that is my life right now,” Elusive said.

“Understandable,” Berry said “So… are you thinking about what Scarlet said?” Berry asked.

“What do you mean?” Elusive asked.

“About… Spike… A.K.A Barb?” Berry insinuated.

“Berry! You should know I don’t see her like that,” Elusive said.

“Oh come on, Barb wants it, I want it, all the shippers want it, some of the people in the comments below want it, she’s of age now,” Berry said.

“I know but she’s…” Elusive tried to find the right words.

“A dragon?” Berry said looking a little accusatory.

“Nonono, I am not thinking like that, I just mean she’s…” Elusive once again quieted.

“Still too young?” Berry said.

“No!”

“Oh, it’s because you don’t like the color green is that it?” Berry asked.

“BERRY! For the love of Celestia! It’s because she’s too attached to me!” Elusive snapped.

“...Too attached?” Berry said confusedly.

“Don’t tell her I said this but… she’s a pretty young dragoness, but that is also the problem,” Elusive said.

“Why’s that?” Berry asked.

“Berry… how long do ponies live,” Elusive asked.

“Somewhere between eighty to a hundred years at the most?” Berry said.

“And dragons?” Elusive said.

“Hundreds maybe thousands of…. Oh…” Berry said getting it.

“Yeah, Oh… she’ll live longer than me by a long margin once she hits full maturity, before it was because she was too young, but now it’s because she can outlive me a hundred times over, how will she go on when my inevitable death leaves a hole in her heart? Will she go on a widow for the rest of her life because she has lost all but her brother? It tis the curse of longevity…” Elusive said.

“Maybe she’ll find love later, but now, now is a gift, she’ll be hurt either way, maybe at least give her a good first hundred, know what I mean?” Berry said.

“That sounds sweet on paper Berry but she should just stick to dating another dragon, at least their romance will last,” Elusive said.

“You need to at least talk to her, don’t leave her pining for you for the rest of her life,” Berry said.

“I suppose…” Elusive said.

While Butterscotch and Red Gala were chatting amicably in the next room Apple Bloom tried to sneak in and listen before AJ pulled her back.

“What are ya doing?” AJ asked.

“Just… goin ta ask if they want water,” AB lied.

“Don’t lie ta me sis, they need their privacy,” AJ said.

“Ok… does this mean their dating?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Not sure, we’ll have ta wait an see how it unfolds,” AJ said helping with the dishes.

“Ok…” AB said a little disappointed she didn’t get anything juicy.

Meanwhile Butterscotch was talking with Gala about various ways he can help out with the animals around the farm and new ways to herd the sheep.

“Ah admit ah didn’t think of that,” Gala nodded politely.

“A-and I can also pay a visit frequently to help organize the cow feed, make sure they get their nutrition,” Butterscotch said.

“Butters, can ah ask ya somethin?” Gala asked.

“Yeah?” Butterscotch said.

“Did ya really come here ta offer yer services or just to talk ta me?” Red Gala asked.

“.........Meep…” Butterscotch blushed.

“Ah figured, look Butters, ah don’t want to sound curt but ah think you might be feelin a certain way about me, am ah right?” Red Gala asked.

“......Yes….” Butterscotch squeaked.

Red chuckled at how cute he was “Ah admit, ah've had some similar thoughts about you,” Red said.

“Y-you do?” Butterscotch asked not expecting her to say that.

“Ah do… can ah ask this before we begin persuin anything?” Red Gala asked, looking a little uncertain all of a sudden.

“Sure?” Butters said wondering what it is.

“Can we wait?... ah… ah’m still recovering from mah failed relationship with Blitz,” Gala said.

“With Blitz?... ah… I mean… do you want to talk about what happened?” Butterscotch asked.

“Didn’t Blitz tell ya?” Gala asked.

“.....No?” Butterscotch said unsurely.

Gala sighed “And he said he would…” Gala said sounding disappointed.

“Maybe he did… but I forgot,” Butterscotch said in defense of his friend.

“Ah guess since it’s you, ah can trust ya, it wasn’t anythin super serious, Blitz was beginning to think of settling down with a mare an stop bein a ‘stud for hire’ as he called it. Didn’t work out, since a mare named Petunia ruined everything,” Red Gala said.

“Petunia?” Scotch didn’t recognize that name.

“That mare was a few screws loose, she wanted him all to herself, so she started spreading rumors, an he thought ah was the one sleepin around, we had a fight and he decided settling wasn’t possible for him, by the time he figured out the truth that she was crazy the damage was done, we agreed to find love elsewhere… he’s been seein that mare Soarin ever since and Petunia vanished, ah’m over him and he’s over me now, but… it still hurts,” Gala said looking glum.

“I see… I understand why you’d want to take things slow then,” Butterscotch said.

“Thank ya, yer the kindest stallion there is Butters, but ah would rather get back into the dating scene on mah own terms,” Red Gala said.

“Ok,” Butterscotch said without rancor, he seemed a little relieved actually.

“Well, ah should help close up fer the night, need any help gettin home?” Gala asked.

“No,” Butterscotch said as he got up.

“Then ah bid ya goodnight,” Gala said as she got up and walked out of the room and Butterscotch walked back into the kitchen.

“So? How’d it go?” AJ asked as Butterscotch walked up to him.

“We’ve… agreed to take it slow,” Butterscotch said.

AJ smiled and patted his back “Good job Butterscotch, yer braver than ya look,” AJ said.

“Thanks…” Butterscotch said turning to leave “I’ll take my leave now,” Butterscotch said.

“Ok, gnight,” AJ waved him off.

“Good night,” Butterscotch said as he exited the house, upon getting outside Butterscotch took a deep breath and took to the air, as he flew home he had to admit he felt lighter than ever, is this what love feels like?

Nighttime fell upon the town, and as everypony went to sleep Dusk decided to intentionally seek out Luna.

As he dreamed yet again about his filly self he felt the presence of Luna, he turned and saw the night princess and bowed respectfully.

“You need not bow to me, we are of equal status now,” Luna chuckled.

“My parents always taught me to be courteous in front of a princess, anyways did you get the communication record yet?” Dusk asked.

“No, what does this record entail?” Luna asked.

“I intend to form a line of communication with you in hopes we can fix this problem that has seemingly taken over our lives,” Dusk said.

“...You mean turn back into a mare? Dusk, didn’t Discord already tell you that that wouldn’t work?” Luna said.

“Yes… how did you know?” Dusk asked.

“He told me…” Luna said with a tinge of nervousness, thankfully Dusk didn’t notice.

“I guess word travels fast then,” Dusk said before going back to the topic “But I solved several magical mysteries and Starswirls spell, I can’t give up,” Dusk said.

“Wouldn’t it be better to just stay like this and perhaps… find a lover this way?” Luna asked.

“You sound just like Spike…” Dusk said with a sigh “I want to return to normal, and I won’t give up until then or I decide that it’s hopeless,” Dusk said.

“I suppose…” Luna said sounding disappointed.

“Anyways the letter should be arriving soon if my cousin gets to it, see you then,” Dusk said before vanishing.

“...” Luna looked down and vanished from Dusk's mind as well.

[One week later]

Dusk was reading a book, thankfully his magic output didn’t change so he didn’t have to make that adjustment period and risk magical surges.

Dusk glanced at Barbara who was reading a catalogue for various styles that were in.

Dusk wanted to chuckle, Spike’s really taken to his role as a girl in this reality, it has been a week since his conversation with Luna, and Barb has been a great help in organizing the fluctuation of letters between the two alicorns.

Speaking of which, Grey had come through for him, in the week since she had managed to form a connected line between him and Luna.

With reimbursement of course, he wouldn’t ask this and not offer Grey a benefit.

Blitz took care of that himself…

Rainbow Blitz seemed to be enjoying this shift more than anypony else, he’d recently gone back to Wonderbolt activity but that hasn’t deterred from that other activity of his, and I don’t mean weather patrol.

Rainbow is a local stud and enjoys it, especially with his marefriend Soarin who to everyponies surprise actually likes sharing her coltfriend with any thirsty mare who wants a piece of him, Dusk is still trying to figure out how that is…

Applejack seems to be adapting as well, he seems to be like Rainbow, enjoying the attention from mares he gets, although unlike Blitz he seems more interested in finding 'the one’ instead of offering himself up to anypony interested.

Butterscotch seems to be an interesting case as well, he seems to have adapted as well, he seems to have developed feelings for Red Gala as revealed during their last chat.

Berry is Berry, enough said.

The only one seeming to struggle with adapting is Elusive, which is understandable, given that he is still dealing with the stigma of his day-to-day life.

Most of the townsponies have started talking to him again but he still has yet to get over his problems, he is determined to find the reason he did what he did and refuses help from his friends, not wanting to drag them into his woes.

Dusk closed the book, having finished it and he walked up to Barbara who was reading the catalogue.

“Hey Barb?” Dusk asked.

“Yeah?” Barb looked up from her magazine.

“I’m going to write another message to Luna about receiving more books from the royal archives,” Dusk said.

“Whoa whoa whoa, the royal archives? That stuff's a little personal right?” Barb said.

“Yeah, but I have been stirring a theory in my head for the last couple days and perhaps if I can receive spell books based on Everfree phenomenon then maybe I can find a solution,” Dusk said already writing out his message.

“Dusk… you’ve been working on this project for a week now, isn’t it time to give up?” Barb asked.

“Oh not this again…” Dusk sighed continuing to write out the message.

“Even Luna has said that we’re stuck indefinitely, shouldn’t that be a sign we should just get on with life?” Barb asked.

“You can, I’m not,” Dusk said.

“But Dusk-”

“No buts, please send this to Grey,” Dusk handed the message to her.

“Ok…” Barb sighed hoping he gives up eventually, she walked out of the castle and headed for the post office.

“And I tell ya, the best part is that she never get’s tired of me, and do I blame her? No, i’m too awesome to not be her main squeeze,” Blitz bragged to Applejack who was just drinking his milkshake in front of Sugarcube Corner.

“Ah came out here because ah finally got ahold of ya to inform ya of Butterscotch’s situation with Gala, not hear of yer lustful endeavors,” AJ sighed.

“I already know, good for Butters, who knows he’s a good-looking guy, maybe he can go on to be a stud too?” Blitz wondered.

“Blitz that’s horseapples and ya know it, Butters is too shy for that line of work, he’d sooner sell his Hearths Warming ornaments than do that,” Applejack said plainly.

“I know I know, It’s just good to hear he’s found a marefriend is all,” Blitz said.

“They ain’t official yet,” AJ said “You alright Rainbow? Yer letting this stud persona go to yer head a bit,” Applejack asked.

“Pfft, as if, can’t go to your head if it isn’t deserved,” Blitz said.

“And arrogant, yer actin more arrogant than usual,” AJ said.

“So what if I am, I finally found my true self, a stallion who is a Wonderbolt, gets the job done, and is a hit with the mares, and don’t think I didn’t notice you getting flustered from all the mares measuring you up with their eyes,” Rainbow snarked.

“Rainbow!” Applejack blushed knowing he was right about that.

“Really you should come join the studs, with muscles like that you’d be-” Blitz began but AJ cut him off.

“Ya finish that sentence ah’m gonna buck you upside the rear end,” AJ threatened.

Rainbow held his hands up “Ok ok, not going to,” suddenly Berry popped around the corner.

“Hey guys! Watcha talkin about?” Berry bounced up to Blitz.

“Ah’m trying to stop Blitz from losing himself,” Applejack said.

“And I’m trying to convince Applejack to loosen up a little,” Blitz said.

“Coolio! Me and Cheesie are thinking of getting together for a date night soon,” Berry said.

“You and Cheese Sandwich? Hey! Good on ya Berry,” Blitz said.

“Ah think you should take it slowly, weren’t the two of you just friends yesterday?” Applejack asked.

“Yeah, but a mare like Swiss Cheese takes things fast! And that’s how I like it! This spell worked out better than I thought,” Berry said.

“Beeerrryyy!” A feminine voice called “We need more streamers!” Cheese called.

“Coming!” Berry ran off.

“I swear things are moving too fast these days,” AJ said.

“You just need to get with the program, we’ve got different lives now,” Blitz said.

“Blitz ah swear ah-” Before Applejack could finish a loud voice cut him off.

“HEY!” Both stallions jumped in their seats and turned to see Bluk approaching.

“Hi Bulk, uhm… what can we do ya for?” Applejack asked.

“I waited for you two at the gym and you didn’t show up yesterday, what gives?” Bulk asked.

“Oh… yer talking about the iron stallion trio thing again aren’t ya?” Applejack said.

“Yeah! C’mon! We need to get moving while the iron is hot!” Bulk said.

“Look Bulk we’re kinda-”

“Thrilled to go!” Blitz declared all of a sudden.

“Huh?” Applejack turned to see Rainbow walk up to Bulk.

“We’d love to attend this time, heck, let’s go today,” Blitz said.

“Blitz, what are ya doin?” Applejack asked.

“Getting you off your rear end and having some fun of course,” Rainbow said “So how about it, give us a chance to go get changed and we’ll see you in an hour?” Rainbow asked Bulk.

“YEAH! Now we’re talking, I’m gonna lift so many weights today!” Bulk cheered before walking off.

“Welp, you heard Bulk, down the drink and get moving,” Blitz said before taking off into the air.

“BLITZ!” Applejack called after him before sighing, he’s clever he’ll give him that, he’d be dishonest to back out now… “Ah’m gonna kick his flank fer this,” Applejack walked home to get ready for the gym.

An hour later Applejack dressed in a tank top and exercise shorts entered the gym and looked around.

The gym is sparsely populated around this time usually, so it was interesting to see more mares than usual.

“Blitz no doubt…” AJ sighed and went to the locker room, only to get a lash on his backside.

AJ gave a yelp and turned to see who did that and saw Blitz with a towel.

“Bout time you got here,” Blitz said with a grin.

“Blitz! Ah’m gonna-” Applejack was about to shout at Blitz but Bulk intervened.

“No need to argue guys, c’mon, Blitz gathered us a crowd today,” Bulk said leading the two out.

As they exited they saw a bunch of mares working out but also stealing glances at the three buffest studs in Ponyville, Applejack felt himself blush.

“If you're blushing now, just wait,” Blitz said with a wink before turning to Bulk.

“Ok Bulk, wanna start us off?” Blitz said.

“Yeah! Let’s do some stretches, gotta loosen up before we hit the weights,” Bulk said before leading the group to the workout mat.

“Now stretch your backs!” Bulk said.

“Fine,” AJ said before doing some hands-to-hoof stretches and then tilting his back backward to get some cracks and pops.

“Now over the head,” Bulk said stretching his arms, Blitz and AJ did so stretching out and AJ’s ear swivled to catch some mare giggling but he chose to ignore it.

“Now drop and plank,” Bulk said doing just that and the other two stallions did so as well.

For the next thirty minutes the three did a series of stretches and poses and when it was over Bulk got up.

“Alright! Now we’re all warmed up! Let’s get moving onto the exercise,” Bulk said.

“Alright,” Blitz said with a grin before leaning in on AJ “Working out a s a stallion is so different right? You put on a good show back there,” Blitz said with a mischievous look.

“What do ya-” AJ was cut off when he heard more giggling and he turned and saw several mares watching them but they quickly turned and looked like they were busy with something else.

“Ya mean…” AJ said nervously.

“According to Bulk, it’s one of the main reasons we go here, let me know when you need to hit the showers,” Blitz snickered before walking off.

“Darn it Blitz…” AJ sighed, before walking over to the treadmill and just focusing on some jogging.

Blitz and Bulk on the other hand were at the weights area.

For the next hour AJ switched to various machines and proceeded to exercise without making it look like he was trying to woo the mares.

Unlike Blitz AJ intends to settle and not auction his body to any thirsty mare.

He just finished doing a lat row machine and decided to call it a day when he felt a hand grip his shoulder and he turned to see Bulk.

“Hey there AJ, yer heads not in the game today, why’s that?” Bulk asked.

“Ah’m just feelin a little off ah guess, ah think ah’m going to ‘hit the showers’ like Blitz said,” Applejack said.

“Nope, we’ve only been at it for an hour, you haven’t even done any weightlifting,” Bulk said.

“With all due respect Bulk-”

“C’mon, just twenty minutes, you won’t regret it,” Bulk said.

“...Oh fine,” Applejack sighed and walked over to the weights section and grabbed a set of dumbbells and began lifting them, he then put them back when he found them too light and grabbed more heavy ones, after some searching he found his new weight limit and began pumping iron.

“Look who’s finally getting into it,” Blitz said.

“What now Blitz?” Applejack asked.

“Don’t look now but there’s a mare watching you not so subtly,” Blitz said.

“That’s been goin on all day,” Applejack said.

“But this one is one you may remember,” Blitz said pointing at the mare and Applejack looked and his eyes widened a little.

“Thunderstrike?” Applejack said as he saw the mare in a sports bra and shorts doing a shoulder pull on a machine nearby, her cheeks were rosy and she was staring at him but quickly looked away when she realized he was staring back and she resumed her exercise.

AJ liked to think that he was not nosy but in that outfit, the mare seemed like a whole nother mare compared to the casually dressed mare from back at the barnyard a week ago.

She was stacked with toned muscles, and abs and a healthy figure… fitting for a Wonderbolt trainee, all in all she was actually kinda cute.

Applejack remembered Thunderlane and how he was a confident, slightly cocky and yet strong and cautious stallion, how did that personality translate into a mare?...

“Hey Romeo, you gonna stare at her all day or are you gonna ask her out?” Blitz snarked.

“Huh? Wha?” Applejack looked back at Blitz and looked embarrassed.

“Dude, you were so checking her out,” Blitz laughed.

“N-no ah wasn’t!” AJ said.

“Sure sure, let me know when your willing to go talk to her,” Blitz said walking over to the leg press machine.

“...Ah wasn’t checking her out… was I?” Applejack asked himself.

Author's Note

Romance is in the air, let's celebrate in the comments!

Sorry about the delay, I've been on a creative binge with Fusion Life, but I'm still going to make this.

Hope you enjoyed it.