It was a typical Sunday evening in Ponyville. Inside the grand castle, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy all sat around their circular, counsel table. As the ponies picked their hooves, the group waited for the arrival of Rarity. To them, it was unusual for her to be late to their weekly friendship meeting.
Rainbow Dash sat sideways on her throne. Grinning from ear to ear, she slyly remarked, “Maybe she forgot to powder her nose or something.”
“Or maybe she just forgot?” Applejack deadpanned, lowering her brow as she looked over at the cyan pegasus.
“I doubt that.” Twilight levitated a clipboard, floating it over towards her. On the board, she had written out, in complete detail, an attendance sheet for each of her friends. “It says here she is always about fifteen or so minutes early. So, therefore, I have no idea why she is running late.”
“Oh, ooh!” Pinkie cheered, hopping up and down in her seat. “Maybe, she has a new colt-friend or something!”
“Pff! I wouldn’t believe it!” Rainbow huffed, “She couldn’t attract any-pony even she had a magnet stuck to her head!”
“Now Rainbow Dash!” Applejack snapped, slamming a hoof on the table. “That ain't funny or true!”
Dash wore a wide smirk on her face. She then let out a slight chuckle, “Ok, guys. I kid. Maybe a new mare-friend!”
“Rainbow!” the apple pony shouted, waving her hoof out.
“What!?” Dash shrugged, “Maybe she likes that instead. Besides, I can’t really make a joke about it either.” She scratched her rainbow mane, turning her head away from the group.
“Ok, girls.” Twilight sighed, trying to take back control of the conversation. “It’s very obvious that our friend is late, but we can’t go on with-”
The doors swung wide open with a bang. “La-la-la-laaaaaaaaa!” a loud, polished voice rang out. “It is I! Rarity!” she declared, wearing a saddle bag.
“Are you sure?” Applejack deadpanned. “Or did you forget that as well?”
The fashionista scoffed, “Applejack, while I understand that I am fashionably late, there is no need to call me out like that.”
As Rarity walked over to her seat, she took off her saddlebag and placed it aside her throne. Meanwhile, Twilight levitated her clipboard. After the alicorn wrote down what time her friend arrived, Twilight set the board on the table and asked, “So why are you late?”
“Well...” Rarity's word trailed off for a moment as she sat down on her throne.
Pinkie Pie sniffed the air. “What’s that smell?” She sniffed again. “It smells like lavender mixed with, blueberries!?”
Rarity raised a hoof. “Ah, yes. Pinkie Pie, you are correct. You see girls, I was out shopping today when I saw this new perfume on a window display in Canterlot. Apparently, our own Princess Luna had endorsed this wonderful product entitled ‘Moonlight Flower - A Scent of Royalty.’ So naturally, I had to buy it!”
“And?” Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow, wondering why buying perfume made her late.
“And…” Rarity breathed in, smelling the fresh aroma of her perfume. She softly sighed, “I just couldn’t get enough of it! It smells so delightful!”
The fashionista pulled out the bottle of Luna’s perfume. It's shape represented the form of a half crescent moon while the image of Princess Luna, herself, adored the front. Except for the plastic nozzle, the container was completely made out of glass. A blue, sparkling liquid could be seen on the inside.
Rarity insisted, “Oh, come on. You ladies gotta try this!” She passed the bottle to Fluttershy.
“Um…” The pegasus passed the container over to Twilight. “I think I will pass.”
“Same here.” Twilight pushed the bottle towards Applejack.
“Nope!” The farm pony slid the perfume in front of Rainbow Dash.
The pegasus felt insulted. “Hey! Does it look like I wear that stuff?”
Applejack cracked a grin. “Maybe if you did, then your flying would certainly smell better.”
Dash was struck with confusion. “Are you implying that my flying stinks?”
“Maybe.” Applejack turned her head away and stared off into the distance. It would explain the vapor trails, she thought.
Rainbow Dash’s temper flared. She then emphatically pushed the bottle back towards Applejack. “Well maybe if you wore it then, then...” She struggled to speak, “Then maybe you would stop smelling like apples! Yeah!”
Twilight facehoofed, not believing the words coming out of her friend’s mouth. Right as Applejack tried to say a witty rebuttal, the purple alicorn intervened, “Alright, stop it you two.”
Rainbow Dash pointed at Applejack and imitated a filly-ish attitude, “...but, she started it!”
Twilight rolled her eyes. “I don’t care who started it. All I want to know is why Rarity was late.”
“But!”
“No buts, Rainbow Dash!” Twilight firmly stated. Ending her friend’s bickering, she let out a short breath. Afterwards, Twilight turned her attention back to the fashionista. “Now, Rarity, please tell us the rest of the story before somepony has another comment they wish to add.”
“Grr!” Dash quietly grumbled, crossing her front hooves.
“Why, yes, darling.” Rarity thought for a moment, trying to remember where her story left off. She gasped, “Ah, right! Anywho, after I bought the product and took it home, I just couldn’t stop spraying it everywhere! The lovely fragrance was just so enchanting to me!”
Rarity placed a hoof on her forehead. “Ahh! How I wish I could have been the one to come up with this scent!”
“Rarity!” Twilight waved a hoof out. “I need you to focus! Why were you late?”
“Oh, right!” Rarity shook her head. “I just simply lost track of the time. After covering the Boutique in this wonderful scent, I simply forgot about the meeting and rushed over here on the hour. I am deeply sorry for being late.”
“It’s alright, Rarity.” Twilight assured, “We wanted to make sure nothing happened to you.”
“So, wait.” Rainbow Dash positioned herself upright on her throne. She looked back over at the fashionista and curiously asked, “You actually covered the entire Carousel Boutique with that scent?”
“Why, yes, Rainbow Dash.” Rarity proudly tilted her head up. “I did.”
Dash sneered, “Oh, wow!” She busted out laughing.
“What, Rainbow Dash?” Rarity placed a hoof on her chest. “I simply wanted to have a better smelling place to work in!”
“It, it's...” Dash tried to contain her laughter. “It’s just that I wouldn’t wish to have a certain, overwhelming smell to my home.”
“Well, I do.” Rarity levitated the bottle in her azure aura back towards her. “...and it never hurts to lift a place up a bit!”
“Hey!”
“Oh, come on now!”
“Can you, uh, please stop it?”
“Rarity, this isn’t funny.”
“Have you ever heard say it, don’t spray it?”
“Muh-ha-ha-ha!” Rarity laughed. She reared and stuck her forehooves out in the air. “Now you all shall smell the freshness of my perfume!”
The room was overwhelmed by the scent of lavender. It engulfed the air in a flower and blueberry aroma. Rarity’s friends had to cover up their noses, waving their hooves out in front of them to blow away the odor. A couple coughs came from Twilight and Rainbow Dash after they accidentally inhaled some of the fumes.
Fluttershy shut her eyes as Applejack buried her face into her cowboy hat. The scent was strong and Rarity continued to maniacally spray it. Twilight tried to remember a gas mask spell, but her frequent coughing prevented her from casting it. Pinkie Pie pulled out her party cannon and shot it off, hoping it would blow away the fragrance. Unfortunately, it didn’t.
Rarity still laughed about her sweet, smelly revenge. A few sprays later, the scent became unbearable. It was everywhere! Rainbow Dash unfolded her wings and desperately flew upward to avoid the smell. One moment later, she came back down, realizing the aroma had covered the ceiling. There was no escape from it, except through the front door.
Just as quickly as it started, the Council of Friendship meeting had ended with the entire group running out of the room. As they made it out into the hallway, The Mane Six tried to cling for any fresh breath of clean, unscented air. Once they were finally able to catch their breath, relief washed over the group as anger also ensued their minds.
Spike sat in the hallway, reading a comic book until the mares ran out of the room. Once he saw them gather in the corridor, he asked, “Hey gals, what’s up?”
The baby dragon then sniffed the air, “Hey, what's that smell?”
"Don't... ask." Twilight huffed.
Meanwhile in Canterlot…
A fire burned bright inside a fireplace as two royal sisters sat next to it.
Princess Celestia and Luna were in their study, sipping on cups of hot tea. As the their week came to a close, the sisters would gather inside that room to discuss the important events and topics on their minds. To them, it provided a great bonding opportunity since their duties usually separated them daily. Being together was an enjoyable moment for the sisters and tonight they used this time to celebrate the success of Luna’s new perfume.
“I am very proud of you, sister.” Smiling, Celestia levitated her cup in a golden aura. “A toast to your accomplishment?”
“Yes, my dear sister.” Luna floated her cup up and tapped Celestia’s. Taking their sips of tea, Celestia put her cup down near a tasseled pillow.
“You know...” Celestia grinned, “I’m not surprised that everypony likes the new perfume.”
“Same here, Tia.” Luna set her cup down on a small plate. She then raised a hoof and touched her chest. “After all, tis' was endorsed by me.”
“True, true.” Celestia agreed, however she wondered, “Tell me, again. What does it smell like?”
Tapping her head, it took Luna a moment to recall the flavors. “Fresh lavender, mixed blueberries, and a hint of morning dew.”
"Wait.” Celestia blinked her eyes a few times. “Isn't that the same smell from the funeral home? Where our parents died?"
Luna nodded, "Yes."
Celestia was instantly shocked, slightly disturbed by the resemblance. "Why, sister. I am appalled!"
She then leaned in and whispered to Luna. "I approve."
