The Price of Perfection.
An Allegory by Traumkampfer.
It was the night of the Gala that she had been looking so forward to. Rarity had put together the finest ensemble in order to impress any prospective stallions she planned on meeting there. She had tried her hardest in hopes that this would finally be the night that she would meet somepony who was as elegant and perfect as herself.
But that stallion never appeared. She spent the entire night looking, yet there was nopony good enough for her, not even at the grandest event in all of Equestria. As the night winded down, and the complete chaos of the event unfolded, she couldn’t help but sigh and feel defeated. This had been one too many times that she had felt the hopelessness of being simply too good for anypony else, a feeling she had known all her life.
“Phew, that was some party, wasn’t it rarity?!” Pinkie Pie said as she smiled and ate yet another cupcake. Of all her friends, Pinkie had seemed to have enjoyed the party the most. But then again, when doesn’t she enjoy a party?
“Y…Yeah. Some party indeed, Pinkie” Rarity said as she forced a fake smile to make Pinkie think she was ok.
“We are going to be heading home soon, would you like to join us back at my house, Rarity?” Asked her friend Twilight. She had wanted her friends to come over for a sleep over after the party
“Sure, I suppose, Twilight. After you.” Said Rarity as she walked over to the door slowly, her head hanging a little low.
“Is something wrong, Rarity?” Asked Fluttershy, she had always been sensitive to when somepony was feeling sad.
“No, I’m fine. I promise Fluttershy.”
“Well, if you ever are feeling down, promise me you’ll let me know, ok?”
Rarity nodded and waited for her friends to get ready, then they trotted out and back towards Twilights house. Upon arriving to the house, they went inside and gathered together with their sleeping bags on the ground floor, telling stories from the party and laughing….except for Rarity of course, and spike who was too embarrassed and shy because he was sitting next to her.
“What about you, Rarity? Got any stories to tell from the party?” Asked the baby dragon who had such a crush on her. He wished she would notice his affection for her, but she never did because he was so young and not a stallion.
“No, I can’t say I do. I didn’t really enjoy tonight, because I couldn’t find my stallion.”
“Aww, don’t worry, silly willy.” Said Pinkie, she was always so childish and happy, which Rarity had grown to despise over time, because she could never be happy herself. “I’m sure you’ll find him if you just keep looking!”
“Yeah partner, heck, I could try setting you up with one of my cousins if ya like?” Asked Applejack, Rarity shuddered at the idea of dating common earth ponies like the Apple family, so she shook her head politely.
“No gals, I’ll be ok, I’ll just go home later, make a few dresses, and I’ll be good as new in no time.”
They gave her a group hug and then Fluttershy yawned “I’m sorry girls, but I’m getting really tired from that party, I’m going to lay down, if that’s ok?”
Twilight nodded and smiled “Sure thing, in fact, I think I’m going to lay down as well.” She stretched and then got comfy in her sleeping bag.
One by one, the girls settled into their bags and slowly fell asleep…. All except for Rarity, that is. She lay by herself alone and in the dark, questioning why it could be that nopony is good enough for her. Why she has to be the only perfect pony in all the land. This was all silently and in her mind, of course, because Spike was laying by her and asleep, so she didn’t want to wake him.
She lay awake for nearly an hour, simply questioning the meaning behind her lonely, superior existence that she has had to endure for her entire life. Even her sister Sweety Bell was so low class compared to her. She slowly and quietly got out of her bag and made her way to the door, opening it gently and looking back at her friends. They all looked so happy living their lowly, meager lives. She couldn’t help but feel a little flattered by Spike, who was snuggling with her empty sleeping bag. He was adorable, and would do anything for her, but nothing short of the perfect stallion would be acceptable for her.
She stepped out and closed the door behind her, walking back to her home/boutique, which was just down the road. She stepped inside and turned on the lights, looking around at her belongings and letting out a deep sigh. She had so many beautiful dresses, but nopony truly appreciated their splendor like she did. Did she even have a purpose in this classless town of commoners?
“Look at this…. Such beauty, such grace, such elegance. Wasted on all these filthy scum. I’m trapped here, in this tasteless wasteland.” She said as she looked at a picture of her and her family, a few tears starting to fall from her eyes. She knew she would never find somepony as perfect as she was, and knew that there was only one thing left to do.
Meanwhile, at Twilights house, Spike woke up and went to the bathroom, and upon returning to Raritys sleeping bag, discovered it empty, and started looking around for her, but to no avail. Under her pillow, he found a note though: “Spike, I couldn’t sleep, so I went home. Make sure the other girls are ok for me.” He was confused, so he started walking over to her house to ask what she meant.
Back at the boutique, Rarity had gathered up her long length of measuring tape that she had used to make her extravagant dresses for the Gala, and tied it in a noose from the rafters. She then got a chair from the kitchen and stood it under the loop, getting on it and putting her head through the loop. At this point, Spike slowly opened the front door to check on her
“R…Rarity? Are you in here?” He then looked up and saw her in the chair.
“I’m so sorry Spike, but I just can’t go on like this. There will never be anypony out there as perfect as I, and as such, I must go now. I loved you, but you just weren’t a stallion.” And with that, she kicked the chair out from under her and fell, starting to hang and choke on the noose.
Spike ran over to her and stood under her, holding her up so she couldn’t choke. Rarity kicked down onto his head “Just let me take my leave of this wretched place, Spike!”
He grunted and held her up the best he could, but she kicked him hard against the forehead and he fell out from under her. However, since she fell a second time, her weight made the already weak measuring tape snap, landing her on top of Spikes unconscious body.
Rarity looked down at Spike and took a deep sigh, crying at her failed attempt at suicide, but the fact that Spike tried to save her had left an impression on her.
He woke up the next morning, laying on the Méridienne that Rarity commonly lay on when having her dramatic moments. Standing over him was Rarity, forcing a slight smile in appreciation for what he did.
“Thank you for what you did last night, Spike…. It meant a lot to me, and while I will never be happy without my dream stallion…. I do think I could settle for you.”
Spike wasn’t quite sure what to think about this, but he was happy that she had finally acknowledged his feelings for her, and so he gave her a big hug.
“Thank you Rarity, gosh, I promise that I’ll do my best to make you happy!”
And from that point on, Rarity continued to live out her meager, depressing life just like all the other commoners. Her soul was crushed and she knew that her dreams of finding that stallion were hopeless and a lost cause. But through it all, Spike did live out his promise of being the best he could for her, even if it couldn’t help her crushed dreams. While her life continued to be miserable and she never felt happiness again, she did at least get to live out a full life with her draconic lover.
So in the end, while our lives may be depressing and pointless, and while nobody may be as good as you are, it is possible to live a long life if you are willing to settle for someone who may be inferior, yet loyal.
Just do not expect for your long life to be a happy one. For that is simply the price of perfection.
Your ending was satisfying and the story was good. I am not sure how you were to add on to this honestly, I would like to see that.
Urgh.....
All in all, few things off here and there, and at least its a different kind of dark I've seen in other fics. I can't imagine what another chapter could be, unless Rarity starts to infect others with her depression.
1988049
Well, I have an idea on how to continue it, this is my first completely sad story, so its a bit of an experiment for me
1988088 I would say that if you do continue it, I would suggest that you make it "flow" a little better. Some things were off like 1988056 said and some things seemed a little stiff with writing.
1988131
Can do, comrade
Thanks for the input
Sorry, but all the incorrect spelling and typos makes it difficult for me to even read this. Proofread your work before you post it.
1988606
As far as I'm aware. the only "typo's" I made were in characters speech, which I tend to do in my stories in order to express dialect. Unless your referring to my possible misuse of the term "laying", which I simply say because it sounds better to me.
1988753
You also misspelled "Sweetie Belle" Shen her name first appeared. You have capitalition and punctuation errors as well.
1988777
Ah, my apologies. For the longest time, I could never spell Zecora's name correctly either.
Didn't know there was a silent E in "Sweety Belle"
Thanks for pointing that out to me
Aside from the fact Rarity just comes off as a stuck up bitch in this. You ruined what could have been a nice ending by saying she settled for Spike and was still constantly depressed. This very mush so comes off as your own personal issue being reflected into the story. Every other character but, "Rarity," actually feels right. And I quote Rarity because this is nothing like her.
Wow Rarity I sure do know those feels.I hate it when no one is as good as me .The dialogue seemed a little awkward even if Rarity was in a terrible depression. I don't mind misspelling as long as the story works but this was a push to far. Maybe if there were chapters explaining what led her to this than it would work out. But this just seems like a big drop off from the norm.
1988849 Deducting points from your avatar simply because Square Enix needs to work on its character names. But yes, this is NOT the Rarity I know and love.
1988895
Hmm, I was under the impression that everyone thought of Rarity as an extreme narcissist, since it was the general consensus amongst the fellow pony fans I knew.
But I do like your Idea, that could perhaps be how I continue my story, by doing one of those "start at the ending" kind of stories.
I laughed. Everything about this story is so ridiculous.
1988902 I'd be willing to give you that, but you have to admit the stories they come up with are usually amazing.
1990392 FF9 was best.
1990879 I disagree, but I respect your opinion and choice in games.
1990879
Im siding with him
Loved the Characters in FF9
1989938
Reading it over, I do see how it can be oddly humorous because of how stuck-up I made her
1991176 DAMN RIGHT! they were awesome.
1991236
You are all so close, yet so far away, because Squall from FF8 was best FF character.
You may want to list this under "Alternate universe" Too, because this is not Rarity as depicted in.. any work I've read or seen. Might help a bit get some more constructive criticism.
Well, try a sad event next time.
Well, that was disturbing. And not Rarity at all.
Well it sure was dark but in a more emotional way I like it.
Dis bitch...
Shoulda let her fall.....
Rarity is so narcissistic in this, and just feels out of character, almost sociopathic even.