It's Not Your Job to Make Everything Perfect
"I'm going back to Manehattan!" Rarity announced excitedly.
"Manehattan?" said Applejack. "What for?"
"It's the annual Art of The Dress competition!" Rarity answered. "Whoever wins will get their very own fashion store!" Twilight smiled. "I wish we can come, Rarity. But we can't because it's a busy week."
Twilight said.
"Oh, it's okay," Rarity said. "Manehattan will, be very,very crowded this time of year. I was lucky to get the last ticket there!" She looked at the clock on the wall of her boutique. It said 11:50. "Oh, look at the time! It's time for me to go. The train leaves in ten minutes. Thank Celestia that the depot is 5 minutes away!" she gasped.
"Bye, Rarity!" they all said in unison. But Rarity was already out the door.
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Rarity came to the depot five minutes before the train's departure time. She quickly gave the ticket to the conductor while the luggage ponies loaded all her fabric, wool for thread from Applejack, thread, a spinning wheel, and her sewing machine. Rarity entered the cabin when the conducter finished punching her ticket. Two minutes later, the train left for Manehattan.
"Manehattan, here I come!" she shouted out the window. And the trees in the hills seemed to agree.
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As the train rushed on the bridge to Manehattan, Rarity looked around the cabin one last time before she arrived. There were colts playing Obliettes and Ogres, fillys talking to each other, and mares knitting peacefully. Then, there was a jolt, and a hissing sound. Rarity was there. She trotted out of the train, and paid the conductor and luggage ponies one ruby each. Manehattan was bigger than she remembered. She had trotted out of the door, and saw many ponies and fashion shops, cinemas, markets, taxis, and factories. Rarity looked at the poster she saw on a pole back in Ponyville. Art of The Dress Competition----Snowdrop Ballroom and Theater, Manehattan.
"TAXI!" shouted Rarity. The driver of the rainbow taxi, one of her friends, ran up to her.
"Where would you like to go, Rarity?" he asked.
"Take me to Snowdrop Ballroom!" Rarity requested. And so, he took her request and zipped through town. Two minutes later, she was at the Snowdrop Ballroom and Theater. As she walked in, many ponies were in their rented rooms, creating their dresses the day before showtime. Rarity remembered that her luggage was in the room at the end of the hall, Room 013. She was walking to it when, suddenly, she bumped into a periwinkle unicorn with a blue and white mane, and a piece of shimmery pink fabric for a Cutie Mark. Her purple eyes shone.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!" Rarity apologized.
"Oh, it's fine. Just going to my perfectly perfect, totally sparkly dress that's certain to get first prize!" the periwinkle unicorn boasted. "Oh, and my name is Diamond Silk."
"Are you sure your going to get first prize? I'm sure it's fine, not too bad, but totally not perfect." Rarity pointed out. Diamond Silk picked her up with her lavender-colored magic, and led her into the janitor's room. She turned on the light and put Rarity down.
"You must not know how fashion works here in Manehattan," she snarled. "Every day, every month, every year,somepony's dreams get crushed. It's been that way since fashion was introduced in Manehattan." Rarity looked confused.
"And why in Equestria do you think that?" Rarity asked. Diamond Silk glared at her.
"Do you not know the story of Old MackMane?" she asked sternly. Rarity shook her head. "Let me tell you about her... When Manehattan was introduced to fashion, there was a Unicorn known as Shimmery Mane. She was a fantastic designer. Then, there was a contest, the biggest in all of Equestria. She tried, and made her best dress yet. But she lost. Everyone thought she was a fraud, and mocked her. She ran away, turned into a hobo, and changed her name. Ever since then, the rule, and only rule of fashion here, is make your dresses perfect or you will get mocked at forever." Rarity didn't notice, but while Diamond Silk was telling her the story, her horn was glowing. The spell made her believe it even more! Rarity blinked four times. then she walked out the door. She rushed to her room.
"I must not be like old MackMane," Rarity said to herself. She got all her supplies and started working. "I must be PERFECT!"
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"And...now, the 243th Annual Art of The Dress Competion!" the main judge announced.
The whole audience cheered. There were sparkly dresses, there were shimmery dresses. Rarity was not announced.
"They don't stand a chance!" she whispered to herself backstage. But when Diamond Silk passed by with a model, she glared at her. "I'M the one that's winning!" Rarity hissed. Diamond Silk smirked.
"Next, we have.....RARITY!" the judge said. Rarity whispered to the periwinkle unicorn,
"You'll eat your words!" Rarity's dress had so much gems and feathers and glitter that the audience stared in awe. Rarity, convinced that they loved it, smiled at Diamond Silk. But when Diamond Silk was announced, Rarity was SHOCKED. Her dress were as bright as the sun,as colorful as a rainbow, and as glamourous as the two princesses. She was better than her! but rarity remembered that there were two hours left until they announced the winners. She sighed, and went backstage. Diamond Silk slunk to her.
"I didn't like your filthy entry. You are a loser! My dress is better than yours!" she spat.
"No you are NOT!" Rarity hissed. then she walked away. Two hours later, the moment of truth had come.
"The ten contestants that won are...10th place, Berry Punch!"
The crazy pony walked up to the judges table. "9th place, Silver Hearts!" She walked up too. "8th place, Opal Heartwarmer!" Opal walked up.
"7th place, Snowflake River!" Then later, after all the ponies had walked up, the announcer had everypony get her attention. "This is very important," she said. "We will twist it up. We will now announce the loser in the whole contest! Let's see.. the loser is....RARITY FROM PONYVILLE!" Everyone booed. Rarity had tears. Hot, bitter, freezing tears of defeat and humiliation. "Diamond Silk has won!" the judge announced. Everyone cheered. Unbeknownst to the crowd and Diamond Silk, Rarity had run off, crying.
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Rarity sulked to the train station. It's over. I'm a loser. she thought. She walked onto the train. She had sat down with a cloak over her head, but that didn't help at all. She heard ponies snickering all the way to Ponyville.Then, two hours later, she had returned to Ponyville. She walked to Carousel Botique,, her career, her palace, her...home. But she didn't have a home anymore. She rushed inside and grabbed her duffel bag. She packed up anything not fashion, but did not forget her cat.
"Oh opal! I FAILED! I'M STUPID! I'M UNFASHIONABLE! I'M A LAUGHING STOCK!!!" she sobbed. She wrapped a blanket on herself and walked out. "Come on, Opal," she said calmly. "It's just us now."
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"This is abnormal," said Twilight. "Rarity should have been back two days ago."
"Maybe she missed her train." suggested Fluttershy.
"I don't care! I want my sister back!" cried Sweetie Belle.
"Sweetie Belle, we don't know what--" Applejack began to say, but at that moment, Spike belched up the results for the contest. Twilight took them right before it hit the ground with her magic. She skimmed through the hundred contestants and on the last was....
"Rarity! She must feel so bad about losing, maybe she was in her house all this time!" Twilight announced.
"Maybe you're right!" Rainbow Dash said. They quickly ran to the Botique, which had been boarded up on the windows. Rainbow kicked down the door, which resulted in a stare from Applejack. Sweetie Belle knew the place more than them, so she helped look for her. 15 minutes later, Pinkie found something.
"Lookie, everypony! It's a letter! And it's for US!" she said, bouncing. Sweetie Belle opened the scroll, and Twilight read, because sweetie Belle could not read cursive:
"Dear former friends,
I have lost the race of fashion. I thought I would WIN, but I lost. I am a laughing stock. I am a hobo.
Go ahead, laugh at my unperfectness!
Goodbye forever,
McDiamond"
"Sweetie Belle...." said Twilight Sparkle, with tears welling in her eyes. "Rarity ran away." Sweetie Belle was horrified and saddened, but she had an idea. She had an idea that was dangerous.
"We have to find her!" she said. They were shocked.
"Are you crazy!? You'll get hurt!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
"I agree with Sweetie Belle!" protested Applejack.
"Me too!" said Pinkie Pie. "Exciting, life threatening journeys are always fun!"
"Um...I like Rainbow Dash's idea." whispered Fluttershy. Twilight silenced everypony.
"Hush, everypony! Rarity is an Element of Harmony. I know that it will be dangerous, but together, we can be safe. Who's with me?" she lectured. The ponies agreed with her, so they started packing.
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The Elements of Harmony packed up their saddle bags, not forgetting food or their pets. Pinkie Pie never forgot entertainment.
Applejack brought some apples. Twilight brought books and a 7-pony tent. Sweetie Belle had carried Rarity's former bag.
"Rarity, don't worry," said sweetie Belle. "We'll find you."
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They had walked out of the boutique, to beyond Ponyville, perhaps Equestria. Applejack frowned.
"Uh, Twilight? Do you know where Rarity is?" she asked. Twilight looked at her calmly.
"I was working on a spell that signals the destination of a target, so you can find things, or ponies, with ease!" she answered. She concentrated on Rarity, and where she was. She could not see it herself, but a huge orb of light was rising from her horn. It rose up into the air, and unexpectedly, it exploded. Light went everywhere, seeming to look for Rarity. Twilight opened her eyes. There was a column of light on the other side of the Everfree Forest.
"There it is!" said Rainbow Dash. It's at..." she gulped. "the other side of the Everfree Forest." Twilight began to walk to it. "No, Twilight!" they tried to warn her. But Twilight kept on walking. It was for Rarity. For their friendship. Rainbow Dash could not stand the intensity any longer.
"TWILIGHT, NO!" she cried. She accidentally bumped into the group, resulting in them tumbling down the hill which lead to it. When it was over, the onies recovered quickly. But Rainbow's wings could not move.
"Her wings are broken." Fluttershy announced, because she had a large collection of medical knowledge. She opened her first-aid kit and wrapped up her wings. Twilight sighed.
"Geez, guys, don't get so stressed! We're focusing on finding Rarity!" she said. Once again, the group agreed. They continued to walk in the forest. This would be a long trip.
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Rarity, also known as McDiamond, trudged slowly through the grass. If she had not believed her story, horror would be with her forever. She imagined what her friends would say when they discovered she lost:
"Look at this! Rarity is last!"
"Haha! She sucks! Hahahaha! Isn't friendship UNperfect?"
"Loser!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!"
Her friends would hate her by now. Everypony would hate her by now. There was no choice. She would continue to the Frozen North.
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Twilight and her friends had past the halfway point two hours ago. The pain in Rainbow dash's wings had long gone, and Pinkie had told a few jokes. Twilight was sure Rarity would be in the spot her spell had marked a while ago, but that was until they bumped into Zecora.
"Twilight, don't expect the expected, your friend Rarity won't be there for long!" she had warned. But Twilight just walked by. Then, at the end of the forest, Rarity wasn't there at all! Zecora was right. Twilight had to cast the spell again. This time, the light was slowly moving--moving toward the snowy mountains!
"Girls! Rarity is moving toward the mountains!" Twilight cried. "We need to get to her before she disappears forever!" After the word 'forever' was said, they ran fast, and Sweetie belle was riding on Twilight's back.
"I miss Rarity," sobbed Sweetie Belle. "Perfect or unperfect, winner or loser, I love her." A tear streaked down her eye.
"It's okay, Sweetie Belle." comforted Twilight. "We will find her."
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Four days later, the Mane Six and Sweetie Belle were only half an hour from the mountains. They had passed the Crystal Empire, and were almost there.
" I can't wait to see her again!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed. " We can have fun together again!" Twilight smiled. They ran faster with joy. Soon, they were at a tall mountain. They had reached their destination. Twilight cast her spell. The beam was on the summit.
" Are you darn toootin kidding me!? We'll never climb up there fast enough!" Applejack franted.
"It's okay Applejack. I have an idea." she said.Then her horn lit up, and her friends were in the aura. Then, they levitated. They were flying to the mountain! The Six could not believe it. Twilight was good! Three minutes later, and they were at the summit. They trudged through the cold, soft snow. Rainbow put some on her wings to relieve some pain, and Pinkie put some on her snout, making a beard.
"Do you see anything, Applejack?" asked Twilight. Applejack shook her head. She asked every few minutes, but the answers from the group were 'no'. Then, half an hour after Twilight asked Applejack, Rainbow Dash saw something.
"Guys! I see something! I think it's a tent!" Rainbow shouted excitedly. The group ran toward the outline of a tent and a pony. Rainbow was right. It was an old patched tent, and the figure had walked in seconds before they came up to it. Then, they heard a harmonica playing sadly. Twilight and her friends walked in. There was a white pony, with dirty hair that was no longer curly, and wore a old brown blanket with patches, like the tent. She had a white skinny shorthair cat that meowed to her song. But the ponies could recognize her.
"Rarity!" they all said. The pony stopped playing.
"Hello unperfect ponies," said Rarity. "I see you showed up to mock me. And don't call me Rarity anymore. The name's McDiamond." She sniffed.
"Rarity, we didn't come to mock you. We came to help you." explained Twilight. "Come on, go outside." Rarity did as she was told, and walked outside in the blizzard.
"But...I lost," she cried. "I have to be perfect, or everypony laughs at me!" twilight put a hoof on her shoulder.
"Rarity, you don't have to be perfect. Nobody's perfect. You won't get laughed at." she said softly.
"I won't? I won't! I was wrong the whole time! It's not your job to be perfect! It's no one's job! Thank you all!" she realized happily. Sweetie Belle jumped on her.
"Yay! Yay! Now we can come home now! " she cried happily. Rarity walked to the edge of the summit, looking at the 1000 foot drop, then turned around and smiled. "Now we can go home!" Twilight said in joy. But at that second, Rarity's eyes rolled back into her head, and she fell off the summit!
"NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!" Sweetie Belle cried, with tears falling down her eyes uncontrollably. But before Rarity lost consienceness, she heard: "Winner or loser, perfect or unperfect, I love her."
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Beep. Beep. Beep
That was the first thing Rarity heard when she went back into consienceness. Then she heard talking. "I think she waking up..."
"I want to see her again....."
"She'll wake up soon, will she?" Rarity opened her eyes slowly. She saw her sister, her friends, and a nurse.
"Erm...what happened?" she asked.
"You were unconsious from malnutrition, hypothermia, and exaustion." Nurse Redheart said. "But enough about that. There's a special guest that want to see you" Then, Diamond Silk walked in.
"When I was just a filly, my parents were in a contest. The day before, my parents stressed at every little detail. I had watched them, but they were 10th place. The next day, they were gone. I had heard snickers when they were announced, so I had a bad idea that if you weren't perfect, you would be mocked forever. I made up a story about Old mackMane, but when I used the spell to amplify the pony's gullibleness, I was convinced too. So I became mean. But the day after the contest, my grandmother told me the truth: they got a new job in another city. So I changed my ways." she told Rarity. "And I gave my store to Coco Pommel." Rarity walked out of bed.
"I'm sorry I believed you." she apologized.
"I understand. Because Manehattan was so crowded and cruel, I'm moving to Ponyville." Diamond Silk annouced. Then she looked at Rarity shyly. "Can I...be your friend?" she asked. Rarity nodded her head.
"Do you both want to write a letter?" Twilight said.
"Yes!" Rarity and her new friend said.
Dear Princess Celestia,
This letter is so important that you need to read it. I was convinced that perfectness is the key to popularity. Boy, was I wrong! Today I learned that nothing's perfect, no matter how cool it looks. look closly and there will be some mistake.
From,
Rarity and Diamond Silk
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Somewhere, on the outskirts of Equestria, there was an old mare. She wore ragged clothes. But today, she smiled.
"Finally," she said hoarsely. "I can go home."
THE END
