Stooping over her sink, she tried to shave it off. But, as dark purple hair was, in contrast to her fair white complexion, it was clear as Celestia’s day. She growled, slamming a hoof into the porcelain, then flinched back when pain shot up her hoof.

She glared at the reflection in the mirror, a mockery of her style and fashion and with a self-proclamation “It- is- ON!” She would find a way to get rid of this… eccentricity… soon enough. Then, she would let Sweetie have it. Sure, it was April Foals, but this was an ill-natured, impractical joke. If not harassment.

She paced back and forth, her rushed hoovesteps clattering against the tile. She posed, taking another gander at the mirror with all the grace she could, but the burly mat of hair was throwing everything off. She reached up to stroke it, finding an intriguing delight in twisting a few follicles. Maybe that’s why so many stallions stroked their mustache when thinking. 

She pulled back.

No. Not now. She had to think. Without tolerating this fiasco.

Maybe she could sneak over to Aloe and Lotus. After all, with the poison joke incident a while back, they had the antidote on hand. Hair Elixir wasn’t that distantly related, was it?

But, how was she going to get there? Waltzing right outside would be social life suicide. 

With a swift kick, she barged into her room. She snarled at the crumpled pile of blankets atop her mattress. 

She’d deal with that issue later. She had bigger fish to fry. 

“Hmph!” She turned up her snout, then retracted. She didn’t dare lift that rugged mop towards Celestia’s sky.

She stormed into her closet. Clothes hung in lines in the closet. As she progressed further in, She scoured her options. “Veils, no-“ She eliminated that option. She wouldn’t be caught with a gaudy fashion. A fashion that went out style once Coloratura fired her agent. Besides, it wouldn’t obscure her face enough. 

“Bandana? Hmm… no.” She had no idea why she kept it anyway. When doing chores around the house, she tried something new and wore a bandana over her hair to keep it from gathering too much dust and dirt. But, that supposed life hack from a magazine ended as quickly as it begun.

“Oooohh,” She pressed a hoof to her hoof in intrigue and flinched as soon as hit her hair. She pulled a hanging scarf from atop the shelf and wrapped it over her muzzle. 

One more thing.

She darted over to the mirror checking for any stray hairs poking out. Satisfied, she exited the closet and came to her coatrack. 

“I will be going to Aloe and Lotus to see if they can wax it off.” Rarity slipped on the winter coat, thanking her lucky stars that it matched with the scarf.

“I said I was sorry!” A muffled voice from the blankets shouted.

“Whether you like it or not, we are in this predicament together.” Rarity said. “Thankfully, you have the sweet luxury of staying in the bedroom grounded while I risk my social status making this dangerous trek.”

Sweetie popped her head up from her fur. She wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. The elixir on her fur proved her immobile- at least without Rarity’s levitation spell help. Thank Celestia that the kitchen was just w flight of stairs, then her room.

Whatever the fiber was… it was heavy. And strong. And chaffing. And above all… the worst joke ever. 

“You better hope this is reversible,” Rarity began. “Or you’ll be looking forward to spending the rest of your spring break as a convenient paperweight.”

Without another word, Rarity exited her home. Ready to face the world. Gold beard and all.

[hr]

Rarity briskly trotted through the spa doors.

Aloe glanced up from her desk and smiled. “Oh, Hey Rarity! What brings you here?” 

Rarity flinched when she started to tug off the scarf. Would Aloe or Lotus laugh? She wasn’t really thinking properly. Maybe it was that darn elixir. At this point, bolting out the door wouldn’t be a viable option, as Aloe already noted her presence. Plus, if anypony had an expertise on tricks to remove facial hair, it would be these two twins. 

She pulled off the scarf. As soon as she did, Aloe’s jaw hung open “Uhhhhhh...”

Rarity blushed. Though, to think about it, her rosy cheeks would be buried underneath her whiskers. She smiled, though it felt strained underneath the hair. “Can you… reverse this?”

Aloe stood shocked, after a minute, she tucked her jaw back in. “I’ll do what I can.” She finally said. 

Rarity followed her to the other room. She sighed, relieved to be able to confide in another pony. Aloe could be trusted, both since it was company policy to keep customer information private- and two, she never heard them join in on gossip. 

“What is it?” Aloe asked. “I never seen it before.”

“Goldilocks,” Rarity said. “Sweetie got it as a gag gift somewhere, though I don’t remember where.”

She heard a gasp. Looking over, she saw Lotus. Lotus’s jaw was dropped.

Rarity sighed again. Make that two. 

“I don’t mean to be rude, but I have an appointment with friends later tonight.” Rarity said. 

“Sure thing.” Aloe galloped towards the closet and searched through various vials, jars, and bottles. She reached for a particular one and looked over her shoulder “You thinking what I’m thinking?”

Rarity nodded. “It’s our best bet.”

Lotus came to Rarity’s side and motioned towards the tub. 

Rarity didn’t have to be told twice. She ran towards the tub, almost diving in. That would’ve been nasty if she did, because Lotus just barely twisted the handle to start the water when Rarity jumped in.

Aloe, not waiting another second, tossed the contents into the steamy water.

Rarity sighed in relief. Her mind flushed back all the stress as she wallowed back into the water, kicking her hind legs up as she laid down.

Above her, Lotus held two cucumbers and a jar of green paste

“You don’t waste any time, do you?” Rarity smiled.

Lotus had the slightest look of worry on her face. Rarity felt her heart drop. 

“There is another customer coming in.” Aloe said.

[hr]

“Rainbow! I didn’t know that you were coming here!” Rarity said. Under her breath, she mumbled ‘please don’t come over here. Please don’t come over here.’

“Hey, gotta kick back an’ relax sometime, right?” Rainbow said. “Just some getting some threading done.”

“Yeah! Rrrright!” She said. She bit back her tongue. The tone wasn’t right and Rainbow would notice. If word got out to any of her friends, it would be the end of her. she would be laughing stock.

She felt tense, as her vision was obscured by two cold cucumbers. Lotus took the edge off by massaging her shoulders.

“So, get this.” Rainbow started “Scoots shows up, and tells me she can’t hang out, something about a special meetup in clubhouse or something.”

“Huh,” Rarity says, curious to know if there were any similar fiascos. Maybe there was more than one spray bottle of Goldilocks. She bit back at the thought, since she remembered Sweetie at home. Poor Sweetie. Confined to a bed.

“Then, she tries to play a trick on me with a coin and a water bottle!” Rainbow chuckled. “Luckily, I knew the trick, and popped the water bottle, squirting the squirt in her face!” 

Guess not. She wondered how the rest of her friends were doing, what type of tricks were played on them.

“Has Sweetie played any practical jokes on you today?” Rainbow asked.

Not practical. Impractical. 

Rarity held her tongue. She got back to the matter at hand. She had to answer Maybe a no would’ve sufficed, but Rainbow would’ve got suspicious. She could pin it on the fact that Sweetie wasn’t that much of a prankster, but that would be a big, fat, lie. As plain as the nose, or beard, on her face.

“Rarity?”

“Oh, yes.” Rarity said “Thankfully, just like Scootaloo, it backfired for her also.” 

Rainbow laughed heartily. “How did she react? What was the look on her face?”

Rarity shuddered at the vision in her head. Sweetie with her eyes bloodshot. Unable to move from her spot. As much as Rarity thought of it as Karma, she felt bad for her sister. 

She answered, a little disgust in her voice tasted as sappy as the shaving cream from earlier. “Horribly. She is grounded in my room.”

“Oh.” Rainbow said. 

After a moment of silence, Rainbow continued. “Well, as funny as it was, she was a good sport about it. She at first ran away from me, embarrassed, but I tracked her down and said it was ‘okay’. She’d be able to try next April Foal’s and get me. Then… we hugged and said ‘good game’”

“Glad to hear.” Rarity finally had some sincerity. After this, she would apologize to Sweetie for her yelling and shouting. It warmed her heart to hear that Rainbow Dash had a great experience with her little sister.

“You ready for the meetup tonight?” Rainbow asked. “Pinkie has a prank planned for one of us.”

Rarity tensed. She hoped the lot didn’t fall on her. She had enough of today as it was. Rarity answered “I will, I just need to make things up with my sister.”

“Oh. That bad, huh?” 

“Yes, it’s been a wild ride.” Rarity said.

“She’ll come along- I know you aren’t the practical joke type, but if you laugh it off with her-” Rainbow paused. “Laughter is the best medicine they say, just look at Pinkie.”

“Yep, she is a prime example.” Rarity thought of Pinkie again. Maybe she could ask is Maud ever played a joke on her.

“Well, I gotta get ready,” Rainbow said “I’ll see you later tonight.”

“See you!” Rarity called back.

The doors swung closed after the chime of a bell. Rarity breathed a sigh of relief.

Lotus removed the cucumbers. 

Rarity grit her teeth. “Did she notice?”

“Not at all.” Lotus said.

“Whew!” Rarity washed the cream off her face. She felt the sharp spindles on her chin. Her heart sank. If it was in the tub, it would’ve sank to the bottom, as heavy as the hair was. “It… It didn’t come out.”

“Well, not completely,” Aloe took a mirror off the nearby stand and gave it to Rarity “Thankfully, now you don’t have a beard, but a goatee.”

[hr]

Rarity was surprised that Aloe or Lotus didn’t accept payment. Probably they felt bad about not being able to cure it.

She trotted down a windy dirt path, staying away from the patches of poison joke that ran alongside it. The last thing she needed was dealing with a bad hair day- or more of it.

If there was anypony in Equestria who would be able to find a cure, it would be Zecora. She just hoped that she could get through this maze of poison joke first. 

“Rarity?” She heard right behind her. 

Her blood ran cold. She tightened the scarf over her face and looked back “Applejack?”

“What are you doing here?” Applejack asked.

“Just taking care of business.” Rarity said. She held onto the scarf for dear life, if even a hair stuck out of place, it would be game over. She successfully avoided Dash at the spa, and hoped she’s be as lucky here. Then, she remembered something- Zecora was a bit of a ways from the Apple farm. “Wait a second, what are you doing here?” She asked, cocking an eyebrow.

“Oh, uhm, Applebloom is with Zecora.” Applejack said “I’m just checkin’ to see what they are up to.”

Lucky again. Knowing Applebloom, she would blab the news to all of Equestria again. It certain took a while for Equestria to forget her diary entries. 

“Why are you here though?” Applejack asked, trotting a little closer, avoiding the flower patches cautiously “It’s a little too far for a stroll, especially with the Poison Joke in full bloom around these parts.”

“It’s nothing.” Rarity said.

“Rarity, I can’t hear a word you are sayin’” Applejack shook her head. “Can you take that darn thing off?”

“No.” Rarity spoke a little louder. “I have the flu. I don’t want you to catch it.”

Applejack stepped forward. “Well, then, you better skedaddle to Zecora’s. I’ll walk you there.” 

“Really, you don’t have to.” Rarity said.

Applejack came to her side. “I insist.”

“No, actually, I’m coming back- I feel much better!” Rarity said. 

“Rarity, can you take that thing off.” Applejack yanked the scarf. Rarity latched onto it tight, thankful to have the grip from her wrinkly hooves after the spa. 

“Rarity! Look out!” Applejack pushed her out of the way, just in time. Applejack fell into a patch of Poison Joke. She cursed and brushed herself off. “Well, I guess that gives me an excuse to go to Aloe and Lotus’s” She held out her scarf, then dropped it.

Rarity’s eyes welled up with tears. Her cheeks flushed with heat, and under her coat, she started to feel the warm sweat on her back. She bolted out of the forest, jumping over patches of poison joke.

“Rarity! Wait!”

[hr]

Rarity sunk back in her sheets. 

“You okay, Sis?”

“Leave me alone.” Rarity said. She buried her head deeper into the pillows.

She heard a knock at the door.

“Aren’t you going to answer it?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“No.” Rarity said.

Rarity heard a knock again. She heard Sweetie open her mouth, as if to say something.

“No.” Rarity repeated.

“You know I cannot move.” Sweetie said. “It’s on you.”

“I can’t answer the door, I’m hideous.” Rarity sobbed. 

“Rarity, please answer the door.” Applejack shouted from below. 

“It’s Applejack. You need to answer.” Sweetie reasoned.

Rarity held her peace. Maybe Sweetie would stop pestering her for a while. Though, the fact of the matter is that she made a comfy pillow.

“I’m sorry.” Sweetie said. “I didn’t mean this to go this far.”

Sure you did. Rarity listened closely, the words of Rainbow ringing true. 

“I’m sorry Sweetie, I didn’t mean to yell at you. I was just so frustrated…” Rarity said. “To be honest, I got most of it off, I might have a chance with another dose of Poison Joke Antidote.” Rarity snickered. “Do you mind if I use you as a pillow for now on?”

Sweetie laughed. “I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. Remember?”

“Right.” Rarity said. She laughed evilly, or that is what she thought in her mind. “At my mercy!”

“At your mercy.” Sweetie chuckled. “One condition- answer the door.”

“What? No!” 

Rarity realized she was too late. Her sister summersaulted like a pom-pom off the bed and towards the door.

“DON’T YOU DARE!” Rarity ran, wide-eyed after Sweetie. Sweetie rolled down the stairs, and towards the door. She wrenched the handle open with her magic. 

Rarity froze as the door opened.

“Oh, there you are, Rarity,” Applejack said. “I’m sorry for botherin’ ya, but I had something to tell you.”

Rarity stood, still frozen.

“May I come in?” Applejack asked.

“Sure.” Rarity sighed. She shot Sweetie a nasty glared as she closed the door. Of course Sweetie couldn’t trot away, she was stuck a ball of fluff.

“Woah, what happened to Sweetie?”

“Same thing to me,” Rarity sighed. “Anyways, what do you need?”

“I just wanted to tell you I’m sorry for being rash back there.” Applejack fished in her saddlebags and pulled out the scarf. “You may want to wash it out first.”

Rarity held it with caution in her magic and levitated it to the laundry hamper.

“You’re okay, Applejack. I don’t blame you.” Rarity sighed again. “I’m sorry, I look ridiculous.”

“It ain’t your fault.” Applejack said. “I was caught off-guard.”

Rarity hid her muzzle in her forelegs. 

“If anything, I kinda like the new look.” Applejack started.

Rarity blanched “Really?”

“Yeah, it makes you look… Sophisticated.” Applejack said, grinning at the last word she used.

Rarity eyed Applejack nervously and chuckled softly. Trying not to make the situation awkward was long gone. “I’m sorry about running off.”

“It’s a natural tick.” Applejack said. “Having a fun April foals?”

“Quite.” Rarity said.

“You should’ve seen Applebloom run after she got me.”

Rarity stayed silent.

“Actually, I have an odd request.” Applejack’s cheeks grew rosy.

“Oh?” Rarity said.

"Do you have more of that stuff?" She asked "I want to surprise Big Mac and Applebloom with a prank of my own.