A Lesson from Failure

by Nugget

Rating: everyone
Tags: Sweetie Belle, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rarity
Length: 1703

Rarity is one of the most successful fashionistas in Equestria. Certainly it has been an easy road for her, right?

Rarity is one of the most famous, successful fashionistas in Equestria. The unicorn has it all from the shops and dresses to the fame and respect. Certainly it has been an easy road for her, right? At least, that is what Sweetie Belle thinks until she finally asks Rarity, "What kept you going despite all your failures?"

Edited by tommal & link4
Pre-Read by Scared Blade
Based on the events before "Crusaders of the Lost Mark."

My 5th short story in the "A Lesson From" series. Enjoy!

Rage Reviewed by BatwingCandlewaxxe

Published 2017-01-16 14:00:01 UTC
Last updated 2017-01-16 14:00:01 UTC

A Lesson from Failure

The evening fell on Ponyville and the Carousel Boutique was closed for the day. Inside the shop, the famous Equestrian Fashionista used her magic to organize a group of mannequins. With all of them standing in formation on the draped stage, Rarity took a moment to marvel over the work she had done for the week.

She had created a new line up for an upcoming fashion show in Canterlot, certainly bound to get the critics buzzing over the creativity and genius that could only come from her. Rarity imagined what the new headlines were going to say. The Premier Fashionista has done it again! Rarity’s new line-up is a certain ‘Must!’ ‘The Best’ designer in Equestria has created new fantastic looks for the fall season!

“Ahh...” she swooned. “Rarity, you have outdone yourself again! You are undoubtedly going be one of the premiere stars of-”

The door burst open, a loud crash echoing throughout the boutique.

“Rarity! I’m home!” Sweetie Belle announced, belting at the top of her lungs.

“Oh, my. Sweetie Belle!” Rarity frowned. “How many times have I told you not to come in here and yell like some uncouth hooligan?”

“Sorry, Rarity!” Sweetie Belle levitated her backpack into the shop. Opening it up, she pulled out a sealed white envelope. “It’s just that I got my grades from school today. I am just so excited to see how I did.”

“Really?” Rarity was curious about the results. “Well, I bet you did outstanding since you are my favorite sister.”

“I’m your only sister.” Sweetie deadpanned.

“Not the point.” Rarity snapped, taking the letter from Sweetie Belle. Within it, the envelope held the report card her sister got from Ms. Cheerilee. “Now, lets see how my amazing sister did.”

Sweetie Belle raised a hoof. “Um, Rarity?”

“Yes, darling?”

Sweetie Belle sighed. “I kinda wanted to open it myself.”

“Oh!” Rarity levitated the letter towards Sweetie Belle. “My apologies, dear sister. I didn’t mean to intrude.”

The filly smiled. “It’s ok. I know how much you care.”

“Aww.” Rarity curled her lip. Her eyes gleamed from the light. “Alright now, open it up and tell me how you did!”

“Can do!” Sweetie Belle confirmed. Using her magic to tear open the top of the letter, she pulled out the report card.

As the envelope fell to the floor, the filly levitated her grades in front of her. Sweetie Belle began to read it off. “Equestrian Language, ‘A-.’ History, ‘B+.’ Science, ‘B-.’ Social Studies, ‘A+’...”

Sweetie Belle instantly stopped talking, shocked upon reading the last grade. She dropped the report card to the floor and stood there with eyes wide open. I could have misread it, right? she thought to herself. There is no way that could have been the truth? I got THAT grade!?!

“Um...” Rarity waved a hoof in front of her sister. “Earth to Sweetie Belle, are you in there? Are you alright?”

Sweetie Belle’s lip began to quiver. With tears forming around her eyes, Rarity saw her sister on the verge of crying about the last grade she read. This caused Rarity to raise concern on how her sister felt.

“Is…” Rarity paused, putting a tentative hoof on Sweetie Belle’s shoulders. “Is everything alright, Sweetie Belle? Was it bad?”

“Terrible!” the filly cried out. “Just terrible!”

“Well, it can’t have been that-” Rarity gasped. “Oh… Now I understand.”

Gazing down at the floor, she saw the reason why Sweetie Belle was suddenly upset. The last grade on her report card was under ‘Mathematics.’ It read a big, fat ‘D-.’

“Oh, Sweetie Belle.” Rarity shook her head. “How could you have let this happen?”

“I don’t know!” The filly sobbed, “I did what I could!”

“Did you study?” Rarity stared down at her sister.

“Yes!” she quickly replied.

Rarity was skeptical. “Really?”

Sweetie Belle lowered her head. “Ok, no.” She moaned, “But, it’s so hard! How can I learn something I don’t even understand?”

“You study it.” Rarity picked her sister’s head back up. “...and then you study it some more!”

“But, but,” Sweetie stuttered. “...that’s so boring! All the other subjects are interesting, but math is just so... boring! I mean, when am I ever going to use it real life?”

“Well…” Rarity looked over at her gowns. “I use it all the time.”

“How so?” Sweetie Belle asked, not confident with her sister’s remark.

“Well...” Rarity levitated a tape measure and a couple of sketches from her cabinets. After she floated all the items towards them, Rarity set them down on the floor. Looking at the papers, Sweetie Belle could see all the dimensions and scales Rarity uses to design each dress. From the exact measurements to the calculations for certain angles each fabric needed to be cut, it was plain to see that Rarity used mathematics to help her out on the job.

Rarity held the measuring tape up to her sister. “I use this all the time to make sure that a dress or gown can fit to whomever is my client!” The fashionista nudged Sweetie Belle. “...and isn’t measurements a part of math?”

“I guess so.” the filly murmured.

“Well, there you go.” Rarity set the tape down and then waved her hoof across her work. “As you can see, math is very important along with all those other subjects as well. To which, that is a good reason not to fail.”

“But, Rarity!” the filly exclaimed, looking up at the fashionista.

“But, what?” Rarity asked, wondering why her sister was still in this funk.

Sweetie Belle groaned, “I feel…” she hesitated for a second. “I feel like a failure.” She bowed her head towards the ground.

“Wait, what?" Rarity couldn't comprehend why her sister felt that way. While she did do poorly on one single subject, it didn't warrant for such a response. The big sister turned towards Sweetie Belle and asked, "Whatever for?”

“I can do so well with a bunch of different things.” The filly turned away from her sister. “...but then, somehow, I just seem to fail when it come to others, such as math.”

“Well, Sweetie Belle, failure can happen to even the best of ponies.” Rarity tried to offer some sympathy to her sister. “Why, even I have failed a lot in my line of work.”

“Really?” Sweetie Belle turned back around and glared at the fashionista. “I don’t believe you.” The filly pointed at her. “Everything you do is perfect. How can someone as special as you are be a failure?”

Rarity was flattered. “Well, my dear. it just happens to us.” She then manipulated her voice, sounding like the terrible clients and critics she works around. “That dress is too ugly, it's out of style, dated, and, oh gosh, it seems to clash with my complexion!”

Sweetie Belle giggled, enjoying Rarity’s outrageous impersonations. Her sister smiled back. “...But, what is important is that we must learn from these mistakes we make.” Rarity rolled her eyes. “...Even if some other ponies just want to tear you down with harsh criticism and name calling.”

Sweetie nodded. “You’re right, but I know that harsh criticism can really weigh you down, Rarity.” She glared up at her sister. “What kept you going despite all your failures?"

“It’s simple, darling.” Rarity leaned in and whispered to Sweetie Belle, “Perseverance.”

Sweetie raised an eyebrow, not knowing what Rarity meant. “Per-sa what now?”

Rarity chuckled. “Perseverance. It means I continued to do what I loved despite what others had to say.”

“Oh!” Sweetie Belle’s eyes went wide. Struck with an epiphany, she asked, “Kinda like how we, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, continue to search for our marks?”

“Exactly.” Rarity confirmed, waving her hoof out in front of her.

“Yeah, okay. I get it now.” Sweetie Belle affirmed, “It doesn’t matter what others have to say. As long as you love doing what you do, you shouldn’t let others get you down?”

She looked back at Rarity, seeking confidence for what she said. “Right?”

“Correct, my dear!” Rarity looked off towards the side. “Sort of.”

“Sort of?” Sweetie Belle squinted an eye.

“Well…” Rarity told the truth, “I mean I still had help along the way from good ponies who are now some of my best friends.”

An idea came to the filly's head. She wasn’t exactly thrilled by the thought. “You mean?”

Rarity huffed, letting out a slight grin. “Yes, darling. The same ponies I’m sure wouldn’t mind helping you study mathematics.”

The fashionista then ushered her sister up the stairs, using her magic to levitate Sweetie Belle’s book bags. “Now, go along. I want you up in your room studying for whatever math test you have next.” Sweetie groaned, heading up the stairs to her room. “Oh, and Sweetie?” Rarity stopped her sister just before she disappeared.

“Yeah Rarity?” Sweetie asked, looking back down the stairs.

“You’re grounded.”

“Oh, come on!”

Author's Note

Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th. - Julie Andrews

Dear Readers,

Thank yon very much for taking the moment to read this little short fic. I always invite everyone to comment, favorite, and follow me for more of these stories are certainly to come. Also, if you happen to spot any sort of grammar errors, please PM me the corrections and I will be glad to fix them on the spot. As for this story, I had a bad week last week when one of my other stories got critically scrutinized for a couple of plot inconsistencies that I never thought about. To which, it brought me down a bit. However, I managed to cheer back up (great friends and metal) and sorta used that feeling in this story. We have all had those moments were people will get you down, think your work is trash, and just overall criticize you for the quality of the story. It happens to us, but some of the best writers, or people, in general (I know) have that perseverance to keep going. To get better and strive towards success. I hope to get there one day. It just take one word at a time. :twilightsmile:

Thank you once again,

Nugget