The Price of Perfection

by Traumkampfer

Rating: teen
Tags: Rarity, Tragedy, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Sad, Main 6, Romance, Spike
Length: 3311

Rarity had such high expectations for her night at the Gala, it was the event that had kept her going for so long.....and yet it ended in disappointment.

Rarity had such high expectations for her night at the Gala, it was the event that had kept her going for so long.....and yet it ended in disappointment.
Little did her friends know that she had been suffering from a deep depression brought on by the fact that nopony was as perfect as her.

Also, since someone asked me to source the image: http://theshadowbrony.deviantart.com/art/Depression-259146797

Published 2013-01-20 03:30:02 UTC
Last updated 2013-01-30 04:07:06 UTC

Prequel to the Sequel

Prequel to the Sequel

It was around lunch time on the day of the Sisterhooves Social, the day upon which big sisters and their little siblings worked together in a competition for fun, laughs, and even a blue ribbon prize for the winning team. The whole event was centered on the idea that siblings should love one another and see the good in each other.

Sweetie Belle had heard about the event from Apple Bloom, and was very eager to please her big sister Rarity, so that she would agree to go with her to the event.

But everything she did in an attempt to make her sister happy seemed to backfire. She attempted to cook breakfast for her big sis, only to have the resulting fire nearly burn the boutique down. Then she washed Rarity’s laundry in an attempt to appease her angered sister, only to destroy her most valued sweater. Rarity was furious at her incredibly inept little sister, but loved her, so politely asked for her to do something that wouldn’t cost her hundreds of bits to repair or replace.

“Sweetie Belle, how about you go draw me a picture or something while I go back to working on my dresses? I have a very important client who will be visiting tomorrow.”

“Sure thing Rarity, I’ll make the bestest picture ever!”

And with that, Rarity left her little sister unattended…..Until she realized that her box of diamonds was missing

“Drats, I think I left my diamonds in the other room. Oh well, I’ll just go ahead and get them”

Walking into the other room where she left her little sister, she trotted over to the chest, only to realize that it was suddenly empty.
“Erm…..Sweetie? You wouldn’t happen to know where my priceless, irreplaceable gems have gone, would you?” She dreaded to hear the response, but turned around slowly to see that her little sister had glued them to a piece of paper in the shape of a heart.

“Ta-Da!” Said Sweetie Belle…..But her big sister was far from excited to see her work.

“You….You mean to tell me that you used my entire stock of priceless, irreplaceable, non- warranted gems in an art project, thus completely ruining their value?”

The smile on Sweetie Belle’s face had completely disappeared as she gazed up at her big sister. If Pinkie Pie were as furious as Rarity was at that very moment, steam would have been coming out of her ears and making the cartoonish whistle sound. (Luckily for the both of them, Pinkie was completely unable to reach such levels of furiousness, however.)

“Well, I-I think so, but I didn’t mean to!”

“That is the final straw, all you do is ruin everything I own. Without those gems, I will never be able to complete the new dress for my client!” Rarity yelled at her sister, putting the fear of Celestia in the little filly. “How you could even be related to me, I will never understand! What do I even need a little sister for?!”

“I don’t know, but if you don’t think you need a little sister……Then I don’t think I need a big sister either! I’m going to my clubhouse!” And with that, the little unicorn ran out of the room, crying. Rarity huffed and walked over to the picture, looking down at it for a moment, but feeling no remorse for her actions due to the argument being so recent. She then pried the valuable gems from the paper and did her best to complete the dress.

The next day, Photo Finish visited her house to check on the dress she had ordered. “Rarity, I am here for mein dress. Have you made ze magics?“ Photo had always been difficult to understand, thanks to her German accent, but Rarity had been working with her long enough to not have a problem with it.

“Oh, yes darling, I have the dress right here. Please overlook some of the gems, my foolish ex-sister ruined them with glue.” Photo looked at the dress and smiled happily with her large, goofy glasses on.

“Ah, you indeed worked ze magics on zis dress! Yet another vunderful dress from mein star designer. Rarity, how would you like to be mein go-to gal, for when I need ze magics?”

“Oh my, of course! I would love to, it would be an honor!” Rarity said as she smiled and put her little sister out of her memory.

“Good, zen you will be making mein most fabulous dresses. Keep an eye on your mailbox, I’ll be sending mein first order soon!”

With that, Photo Finish left with her dress, leaving Rarity alone in her boutique.
From then on, she spent most of her time constructing dresses for Photo. Over time, her little sister became a distant memory, and the only item she had to remember her by was a single picture on her dresser.

*A few days later*

“You know, Rarity. They say that all work and no play makes for a dull pony” said her friend Twilight, who would pay her a visit every so often to check up on the recently introverted designer.

“Twilight, I hardly see you as one who should criticize me for taking some alone time. You spend all your time studying. At least I am making the front page of all the latest fashion magazines by making these dresses!”

“What magazines?” asked Twilight.

“Well…..Erm….I haven’t seen them myself, but Photo says my dresses are all the rage in Canterlot.”

Twilight shook her head and politely left her friend alone to work on her recently all-consuming job. Rarity’s friends had become concerned about her recent change in mindset, but they all thought that giving her some space would be the best idea.

*3 weeks later*

While she kept herself busy with her work, alone in the quiet, solemn shop of hers, Rarity started to lose that magical feeling of pride that came with creating wonderful dresses over time. Eventually it had come to the point where she would sigh and glace over to the picture of her family that she had once known and loved.

“What is this odd feeling that I keep getting? It’s…..as if I feel like something is missing around here…..But what?” Rarity said as she turned off her machine and walked over to the mirror to see that she looked the same as always: immaculate. “Well….it can’t be my looks. I look as dashing as ever!”

Looking around the shop, things were the same as they always were. Nice and quiet, just like she had grown accustomed to. “Hmm…. Perhaps all I need is a little sunlight?” she said as she walked over to a window and pulled the curtains aside, only to pull back and squint her eyes, having not seen the sun for a few days.

“Oh my, I had forgotten that the sun was so….bright!” she said, closing the curtains to stop the wretched beams of light from coming into her home. “Perhaps I’m better off in the darkness. I mean, Applejack and her family practically live in the sun, and look how they turned out.”

Later on that day, she went into the kitchen to check on her cat, but couldn’t find the little feline anywhere. “Opal! Come out, come out wherever you are!” She said as she shook a can of cat food, which would normally cause her cat to come rushing into the kitchen to eat. But this time, the cat was just…..gone.

“Where could that ungrateful cat have gone?”

She searched high and low throughout the house, but to no avail. It seemed as if Opal had simply vanished into thin air…. Of course, that was not really the case, but for Rarity, it might as well have been.

She gave up the search for her cat after 3 days, assuming that it would come around when it was ready to be fed.
Time continued to crawl by, nothing seeming to change except for Rarity’s growing feeling of superiority alongside her encroaching loneliness.

*5 months later*

Completely and utterly isolated from the outside world, she started to feel the need for companionship, like most normal ponies would. However, due to her lack of interaction with others for such a long time, she wasn’t exactly a social butterfly. All the stallions in Ponyville just seemed to be so inferior to her grandeur, as they were so unsophisticated and could never seem to appreciate the importance of her high-quality outfits.

The whole situation seemed so hopeless, and after a few weeks of searching, Rarity finally gave up on the prospect of finding a stallion as classy as herself. Giving in to the loneliness, she started to sink into depression that continued to grab a firmer hold on her as time passed, until her friend Pinkie showed up one day with an invitation.

“Hey Rarity, long time no see! I don’t know if anypony told you, but the Gala is coming up next week, and we would all be so super-duper excited if you would come with us!”

“Hmm…The…The Gala is coming?” Rarity asked inquisitively, having let time slip by her recently.

“Of course, it’s gonna be fun, and there’s gonna be lots of cake, and dancing, and ballons, and-“ Pinkie continued to list nearly every single detail of the event while Rarity got the idea that perhaps it would be a good idea to go, since it would take place in Canterlot. Who knows? She may be able to find her a refined stallion there.

“-and even a giant gorilla!” Pinkie paused to take a deep breath, but Rarity put a hoof gently against her mouth

“No need to go on, Pinkie. It sounds like quite a fun event, and I would be happy to attend. Let the girls know that I shall be accompanying you.”

Pinkie jumped for joy and confetti appeared magically because that was just how this pink filly rolled. She gave Rarity a tight hug and then bounced off on her way, leaving her reclusive friend to prepare for what may be a turning point in her life.

Author's Note

I apologize if this doesn't flow too well, but I kinda got bored with writing this story, so I thought I would at least post the extra chapter that I had wanted to make.

Ive never had to write about the degradation of somepony's personality before, so I know its probably not the best, but I tried :3

The Price of Perfection

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.

Author's Note

I listed the story as "Incomplete" because I'm debating on adding to this story. Let me know what you think, should I?