Changing Seasons

"Perfumes"
Part 2, Chapter 2

Rarity had done her best. She had tried hard to prepare Sweetie Belle for the wondrous events going on in her body, yet she found herself getting distracted by the more emotional aspects of all this. Besides... it was icky. It was going to end sooner or later, though... probably sooner judging by Sweetie Belle's state. Rarity did not know what to do, and in the grand scheme of things... the harder she tried, the more she set up for failure.

The afternoon went on and Rarity found herself locked away in her Inspiration Room... distracting herself with a project. She heard the sound of Sweetie Belle rolling around upstairs and thought her sister must've been having a dance party. At least there were no loud crashes -- signs of hormone-fueled colts trying to get in (Rarity chuckled at the thought). She sighed... why did her Inspiration Room have to be right underneath Sweetie Belle's bedroom? Rarity found she couldn't work... so perhaps other ponies could provide a more suitable distraction?

She went into the main room of her shop, where the sounds would be less intense... though she could still hear each little movement through the floor. Looking back and forth outside for the colts (and grateful they were long gone) Rarity switched her sign back to open. She then sat at her counter and resumed counting the same beads she had been sorting through when Big Mac came in. After a while a few customers came and went, seeming unphased by the noise... except for a couple:

"Say, what's going on up there?" a Pegasus stallion asked alongside a colt.

Rarity looked at the flying colt. He had a far off, excited look in his eyes... they darted around the shop manically, as though he'd just been given a six-pack of Wonderbolt Cola. He sniffed the air, wings fluttering.

"I like it here, Dad," he said. "It smells nice!"

The Unicorn chuckled nervously, sniffing the air... she could smell it, too:

"We have some... rearranging and cleaning going on in the domicile part of my establishment," she lied. "Nothing to do with business... sincerest apologies for the disturbance."

"It's quite alright," replied the stallion, ruffling his son's mane. "Normally he's whining that he wants to go when I take him out shopping for his mother." He sniffed the air along with his son. "Say, what's that fine perfume? It smells... almost... youthful. I'd love to get some for my better half!"

"Quite," Rarity replied, biting her lip. "All of our perfumes are over on the other side of the shop. If you'll allow me to take you there, perhaps we can pick out one you'd like?"

"Works for me."

Rarity took the stallion and his boy to the other side of the shop, where her line of perfumes waited in full supply. The Unicorn knew what they were smelling, and simply wished to cover it up. She picked a strong bottle and spritzed it in the air:

"Perhaps this Single Floral Spray is something the lady might like?"

The Pegasus smelled the mist along with his son:

"That's not what I'm smelling."

Oh," she put the bottle down, picking up another in her aura. "Then, perhaps could it be this Chypre Mist?"

She made sure to spray a few more times, throughly saturating the air.

Again, the stallion sniffed:

"Now that's more like it!" he said, looking down at his boy, who was also sniffing.

"Yeah," the colt added, looking up at his dad. "Can we get this?"

Rarity rapidly blinked her eyes. She was... surprised by this turn of events to say the least, though she could still smell it. It was distant and severely diluted, but strong.

"How the devil are you smelling that in-" she whispered under her breath while sniffing the perfume. She stopped herself.

"Jetboy," said the stallion, patting his son on the head. "I think we're going to get this one."

"As you wish," Rarity said, taking a new bottle from her supply with her magic. "And you're sure this is the one you would like? I've got a myriad more where that came from."

"Positive! This particular perfume and a certain dress I saw. It was one with red trim."

"Very well then, but... because your order is more than just one item," Rarity bit her lip... she couldn't take advantage of this, it just wasn't in her nature. "Please accept the perfume on the house as a token of my generosity." She looked down at the colt and smiled. "I've never seen such a well-behaved colt in my shop before, you must have done a fine job raising him."

The stallion's eyes went wide... he grinned:

"Thank you, Miss!"

"Oh, it is no problem at all!" Rarity said, watching the stallion head back to pick out the dress. "And it's Rarity... don't be afraid to use my name. I consider it flattering!"

Rarity sighed in relief. The stallion was rung up and practically out the door, with a new found spring in his step. He was older than Rarity, yet the attractive smell in the air was making him move like he was much younger. He turned back to the mare, halfway out the door, still smiling:

"I'll be coming back here!" he said. "I'll recommend this place to all my friends. Your generosity must be what's gotten me in this fine mood."

"Oh, you're too kind," Rarity replied, giving a wave. "Ta-ta for now! Please do come again!"

The stallion closed the door, pulling along his son... within a few seconds Rarity heard him whine:

"But I want to go back in there!"

* * *

Rarity shook her head. That felt... dubious to say the least. She sighed. She was alone now, no other pony in her shop. It was silent... how long had it been that way? Well, perhaps she'd close up shop early? She could still smell her little sister over the perfume; this was not a good day to run her shop.

"Rarity!" Sweetie Belle whined from up the stairs.

Slowly, she turned to the stairs to see her sister's head peeking out.

"What is it, Sweetie Belle?"

"I'm really thirsty!" she exclaimed. "Can you bring me a glass of water?"

"Certainly, I'll be up in a few-" Rarity paused, thinking for a moment. "Sweetie, exactly how long have you been standing there?"

Clicking her hooves together, Sweetie Belle smiled nervously:

"About maybe five minutes?"

Rarity face hoofed... that's why the smell was so strong.

"Sweetie, go back up stairs please."

"But I-"

"Sweetie Belle!" The unicorn finally lost her patience. "Don't argue with me. Go back upstairs... now please!"

The filly pouted, turning tail and slamming her door. Rarity felt bad, but she couldn't let that happen again. She walked up to the main door of her shop and let out a sigh.

"So much for business today."

The mare turned her sign from Open to Closed... it was only right.

Right before Sweetie Bell had gone back to her room, a flying colt had been peering into her window with a very impatient stallion motioning for him to come along.

"Come on Jetboy," said the father quietly. "That is creepy and a bit rude. You wouldn't want to disappoint Miss Rarity, now, would you?"

Rolling his eyes, Jetboy turns back to his father and flew off towards Cloudsdale alongside him... however, while he was there, the smell was so concentrated. It was a smell he felt like it was his destiny to be around, so much stronger than in the shop.

* * *

After bringing Sweetie Belle a glass of water (and being quite grateful there were no more over the top antics to accompany her request) Rarity sat down at her counter, now idly counting the day's bits from her register. She heard a knock at the entrance.

"We are closed!" Rarity shouted in the direction of her door. "Please come back tomorrow!"

She looked carefully... squinting her eyes she saw pink by her window.

"Uh... Rarity?" a gentle voice called. "It's me."

"Fluttershy?" Rarity got up and walked towards her door, now seeing the pink-maned mare standing in her door way. "What in Equestria is it? I'm in no state for company right now, I can assure you of that." She opened the door. "Yes?"

The yellow mare smiled sheepishly. Beside her was her rabbit Angel. She had a wicker basket laying beside her:

"I heard Sweetie Belle is... well, I'm sure you know what she's going through."

Rarity nodded.

"How kind of you to stop by... you're here to make sure she's alright?"

Fluttershy nodded slowly.

"That, and to give her some ginger candy for her cramps." Fluttershy opened the basket, passing a small, white paper package to Rarity. "It's worked for all the girls in my family."

"Thank you very much, Fluttershy." Rarity held it in her magic, setting it aside on a display. "Would you be... willing to come in and talk to her?"

"A-about what's going on in her body?"

"Yes please."

The yellow mare's pupil's constricted:

"Oh, no!" She looked down at Angel, who patted her on the hoof. "I could never do that. I'm much too shy..."

"Well, I'm... sorry I asked then, Fluttershy," Rarity replied, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, don't be... it's completely understandable to want somepony to talk to her. I know I wouldn't be able to in your place."

Quite.

"Do you have any advice?"

"Well," Fluttershy looked over her head as if she wanted to go, but ended up sighing and turning back to Rarity, "when it comes to my animals, who I can't possibly explain what's happening to... I let nature run its course and when it's does, I'm there for them. I'm also there to keep all the males away, but that's a separate issue entirely."

"One me and Big Mac have already dealt with today."

"Oh, my..."

Rarity smiled at her friend:

"Thank you, dear Fluttershy. You've given me some... ideas that might work."

"Oh, no problem, Rarity." the mare turned around, preparing to pick up the basket. "I do hope she's okay."

"She will be... it's just a matter of time."