//------------------------------// // The Price of Perfection // Story: The Price of Perfection // by Traumkampfer //------------------------------// 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.