"And just a little bit of this and... voila~!" came Rarity's victorious boast.
"PFFyeagh!" Applejack spat, hacking and backpedaling with watering eyes. "Rarity! Y'all aren't supposed ta aim that right in mah eyes!"
Rarity made a face. "It's perfume darling - you weren't supposed to keep your eyes open. You were supposed to walk INTO it and let it gently glaze your fur." The fashionista sighed. Her work so often went underappreciated.
"Why all the perfume- ah-ah-ACHOO!" SNIFF! "-anyway?" Applejack scowled. "Rainbow ain't gonna care what Ah smell like."
"Applejack, honestly! You two are going to one of the finest shows Ponyville has ever hosted! I had a very hard time getting these tickets! And Rainbow Dash or not," the elegant mare said firmly, "you're STILL courting a lady, and I will not allow you to leave my boutique smelling of sweat, dirt, and whatever other kinds of grime you pick up on that farm of yours."
Applejack took it as something to be grateful for... she guessed.
"Now," Rarity continued, "try to stay tidy for later. It took me a long time to make you so presentable.” Ouch... “I'd rather not have to throw another attempt together at the very last moment if I can avoid it.”
The orange mare sighed, defeated. “Thanks Rarity,” she said softly.
Rarity beamed. “Not at all, darling. Now, scoot-scoot! … Just, not too much 'scoot'.” she nudged the farmer pony towards the door.
Applejack smiled and reached up to open the door. This was great! She and Rainbow Dash were going to have a real, fancy, proper date! Rainbow had resisted at first, but after implying how much fun they'd have laughing it off, the pegasus pony's outlook improved.
The door creaked open, and there, with outstretched hoof in the cowpony's face was the blue, featherbrained flier.
“Oh. Hey Applejack! Twilight said she saw you heading this way, and-”
The rainbow mare paused in mid-hover, and landed, sniffing the air.
“Hey, what's that smell?” she asked.
Applejack blushed.
“Is that... perfume?”
The earth pony's ears flattened. “Maybe...”
“What IS it?” Rainbow came closer, pressing her muzzle into Applejack's cheek. “You smell like...” SNIFF! “Like...” SNIFF!
Rainbow paused, her magenta eyes gleaming.
“... cider.”
Applejack didn't like the look she was getting.
Rainbow sniffed her marefriend some more.
“Heheh! Rainbow! S-stoppit! That tickles!” she protested.
Rainbow ignored her. SNIFF!
Applejack laughed and trotted away from the offending pegasus. “Ah said knock it off!” she giggled.
It was only incentive for Rainbow to hover closer. SNIIIIFF!
Applejack squealed with laughter and took off in a full gallop from the boutique, tossing her fancy dress in the wind as she made for her escape.
“Hey! Get back here!” Rainbow Dash cackled, taking off after the earth pony. “Skip the show! You're gonna be my Cider Squeeze tonight!”
Applejack continued screaming protests as she retreated into the distance...
... while Rarity watched with twitching eyes back at the Carousel Boutique.
Le sigh, she thought, exasperated. All that work...