Alto is a unicorn known for being quite the perfectionist. And with the approach of the Hearts and Hooves Formal just a week away, it is a perfect opportunity to confess his feelings to the soft spoken and modest Harp Hearts to the dance. But even a perfect plan can become cracked, as the school's rich stallion, High Brass seems to have his sights on the pink mare as well.
Will Alto have the chance to ask Harp to the dance before High Brass casts his charms on Alto's closest friend? And if he does, will the confession make things awkward between Alto and Harp hearts, causing them to move further away from each other?
Cover art made by Novel-Idea. He uses assets for his cover arts. Here is a link to his profile: http://www.fimfiction.net/user/Novel-Idea
This crazy story was inspired by Blooming Romance, by Enigmatic Otaku. The story is not yet finished, but many ideas can spawn from anything. Here is a link to their story: https://www.fimfiction.net/story/347347/blooming-romance
This story is really interesting! I hope that you will finish it soon.
8390958 Thank you so much! I've put so much effort into this story and all I wanted was to have someone like the story.
8391087 I liked it very much. Keep on writing it. XD
839108 Believe this or not, the story is finished. 100%. I just need to post the rest of it. My way of writing is be at least halfway through a story before posting it. Let passion and self-inspiration be the drive first before showing it off.
Very interesting story.
You've made a decent protagonist as well as an antagonist that I found very, oh what's the word I'm looking for, annoying. 
I do hope that Alto moves on even if it means he has to distance himself emotionally and physically from Harp.
Oh and while I hope no harm comes to High Brass, it would be a very interesting scene if he had his ego taken down a few pegs. I mean that ego of his is like the size of a spaceship.
You should promote this story as much as you can!
8392177 Thanks thanks thanks. Really.
I've put a lot of time and effort into this story, and to see someone else like what I have written, fills me with joy (despite the story being... a little sad).
Will Octavia play any role in this story?
8405876 No, though I have considered it.
I have to say, your pacing in this story is amazing. You always have just enough of the plot in the dark to leave the reader wanting more. Fantastic job!
Also why do I get the sinking feeling Alto shouldn't have said anything?
8406243 I am glad you like the story and thanks for liking my pasing. And don't worry, all the chapters are done so you don't have to worry about a 17 month delay on the next chapter.
As for Alto, see in the next chapter
Well that certainly happened.
Way to keep the reader on the edge of their seat, I didn't see that coming at all. 
8413362 Thanks. But just you wait. More is to come.
It's nice seeing that High Brass does care about Spearmint, that gives him some actual depth rather than being a one-dimensional antagonist.
Letting go and moving on is difficult, sometimes it can be easy and some times not. Alto, be strong.
If you don't mind me asking, how long do you plan on making this story?
8421641 There is a reason why my characters behave in their ways.
If I told you exactly how many words I have written, you will expect the end. I will say this story is less than 100k words.
Yes! Harp gets one massive blow to his ego!
Harp Heart's is one very clever mare!
Now, hang on. High Brass got what he deserved, but isn't taking him away like that a little much?
I mean, he's very aggravating, but come on.
Oh, I really feel bad for whatever happens to him.
I can't believe I just said that. 
I still highly recommend promoting this story if you haven't already.
8427740 Have any suggestions as to how I would go about promoting the story?
8427968
The Shameless Self Promotion group is my goto place. Maybe try promoting there?
You can promote any story there. From there, you can make a thread and write a brief summary of your story. The rule is that you can only promote the story once a week though.
8428062 I do use the Shameless Advertising group and the story is a part of the group. I just need to add more flare. Or just beg people to read it, saying, "Please read my sad story."
8428196
Hey, the power of begging can work to. I use that as well.
8428299 Perhaps I should try? lol
Once again, I come face to face with my long time nemesis, the cliff hanger.
You really know how to build up the suspense!
And for whatever reason, I kept imagining the song Careless Whisper playing to Alto's confession of love. 
8434530 Well, Careless Whisper is a sad song, despite the memes
But worry not! The next chapter is in 3 days, so at least you don't have to wonder how soon I will update.
8434669
Last I heard, it's now his and wife's song.
I knew a guy who used to say he'd play that song on his honeymoon.
Then I will return in three days to see how this all pans out for Alto.
Hopefully it doesn't blow up in his face. 
It takes a lot of bravery and courage to admit your feelings. Good job, Alto!
I don't really have any jokes for this other than to say, he just friend-zoned her.
Now that I've got that out of my system, I have to say that so far, I have enjoyed this story from the beginning. You've made really strong characters and the plot is driven very well by them. In fact that's the reason why, upon completion, I will add this story to my small list of favorites.
I think you said you had worked very hard on this story and it definitely shows!
Truth be told, I will comeback to look over High Brass' character when I'm re-writing dialogue for a character with similar traits to him.
I really do hope that there is a happy ending for Alto, he's been through so much that I believe he's earned one.
I didn't realize how jam-packed Alto's night was until he listed everything.
I was picturing a much worse image in my head. My initial thoughts were that High Brass was going to be tied up with bruises and cuts all around his body, because some people just don't know when enough is enough. Here it looks like they just kind of smacked him around a bit.
8449368 I wanted to express that so much can happen in just one instance. As for High Brass, well... when a chapter ends, they tend to be less discriptive.
Please tell me he didn’t do what I think he just did.
This was a short chapter, but you did a great job of keeping things tense from start to finish.
I fear what course of action Alto took.
Wow, what a chapter.
I'm glad Alto didn't bash in High Brass' skull, I honestly thought the worst might happen with everything that had happened that night. Part of me expected Alto to just completely mess things up with Harp Heart by hurting High Brass and then get a sad ending, but that didn't happen, thank Celestia!
Now I'm interested to see what conversation those three are going to have. I can imagine it won't be very fun for High Brass and might become awkward at some point.
Also, Orange scares me, I feel he needs to be put in one of the many vacant cells that is surrounded by concrete with one way in and one way out. Seriously, that guy gives me the creeps.
8478069 This was one of my more fun chapters to write :3
Loved all the action in this chapter. Great work.
8489805 Thanks. I normally don't do action so it's good that one person believes I did well.
Wow, so much action in a drama story, I like it!
Orange was a changeling, I didn't see that coming, but then again, why doesn't that surprise me.
I agree with Harp Hearts, they are not one in the same. A million things have to go wrong before Alto is similar to High Brass.
8491881 Thanks for enjoying the insanity thus far. Now, the question that comes up is this: What is the aftermath?
8492132
Your sanity levels are just fine.
I’m assuming that the aftermath won’t involve Alto walking off with Harp Hearts while wearing some Deal With It shades.
Instead, I’ll guess that Alto, Harp, and High Brass all have that very awkward conversation. 
8492242 Let me get a chapter all set up for you...
8492567 Would you believe me if I said the story is already finished? All I need to do now is just update regularly. But trust me, I would love to see Blooming Romance update.
I hope you are enjoying the story.
While I understand that he has a habit of asking out another stallion’s crush, the fact is that he only seems to go on the one date and then moves onto the next mare.
I hope you go into more detail about what exactly he’s doing to hurt these stallions so much. I mean, does he make it so these mares only have eyes for him, or maybe makes it so that the other stallions just don’t compare to the school heartbreaker?
I would think they could still ask their crushes out after...
8493561 A lot wil be explained as to why High Brass goes about his methods. Everyone has a reason for why they do things. It's hard to tell where you are in the story because you commented without being in a chapter.
Regardless of your current position of the story, I will admit I am anxious as to how my readers (yourself included) will take it once everything makes sense. Trust me when I say it took me months before I got down a solid conclusion. Writing a story with a deep meaning that is more than just a heartbreak story is challenging.
I had a fun time writing this story, especially at the beginning when I was inspired to write Seconds Late. But now it is done and out in the waters. And so far, smooth sailing.
I don’t understand why the Changeling went ahead and led the attack on High Brass; they feed on love, not hate and sorrow.
I can’t imagine High Brass having any good reason to ruin the relationships between the mares he dated and the stallions who pined for them, and I’m willing to bet that we’ll see his name dragged through the mud when ponies realize that the rumors were true.
I wonder if we’ll see some new romance bloom when his previous conquests go back to their old friends who didn’t join in the attack.
8494022 Queen Chrysalis kidnapped Princess Cadence and pretended to be Shinging Armor's bride. Think about what Orange has said. "Not even the caves beneath Canterlot will echo your cries for help." What can you speculate what Orange was trying to do?
As for your other two speculations, I will leave the story to tell that.
Once again you have the chapter end on an interesting cliff hanger.
I look forward to more of this conversation.
Your story is certainly delivering on the emotion parts!
This is really getting good. I usually don’t read through a chapter this large so fast, but this time I blazed right through it.
8507099 Glad to know you are still enjoying it :3
It’s segue, not “Segway” which is a company name.
And so far I have little sympathy for High Brass...
8517425 Thanks. I'll fix that later.
You don't have to feel sorry for him. I'm just explaining his story.
This has been rather enlightening. Now, granted, I understand where High Brass is coming from but there is a grey area where his actions can easily become the very thing he claims he wasn’t in his childhood. Interesting that in his foalhood he was a respectful pony. Honestly, if that is true, I’d say I’d have gotten along just fine with him if he had stayed that way.
I find it rather intriguing that High Brass learned such a valuable life lesson so early on in his foalhood. It sucks that it lead him into where he is now, but such is life sometimes.
I’m kind of surprised that Pencil Pusher would care that High Brass was getting most of the attention from the fillies. Especially at that age.
Before I move onto Bastion, I should add this. High Brass, you said sorry, but the apology has little weight to it if it sounds like you don’t mean it.
As for Bastion’s portion of this chapter, I loved it. Truth be told I had a feeling she was more of a friend to High Brass rather than a body guard from the way she acted. Granted there was little evidence to back that claim up at the begining of this story, but now my suspicions have been confirmed.
I have to say that, while I would prefer a ten foot barge pole in between us, Bastion seems to have a good sense of justice. I may need to read that scene where she saves High Brass as that might help me iron out some character traits for my own justice seeking character. Job well done in that regard!
Those last few paragraphs about exacting revenge do hit a weird feeling for me. On one hoof, yes, High Brass has a reason to get back at Penicl Pusher, and to me seems fine to so long as it was only him. On the other hoof, revenge in it of itself is a truly selfish act that should be best left alone, no matter how wronged the victim in question is.
It makes me wonder how different High Brass’ story would have turned out if he had taken the high road instead of going in and seeking vengeance. Funny how Pencil Pusher created an antagonist in High Brass and now High Brass has become that same antagonist towards Alto.
Several chapters ago, when I asked how long the story would be, I decided I would add this story to my favorites list upon completion. This chapter has confirmed this story has earned a spot there as well as earned a spot in my top five stories for how well you have developed your characters.
8519261 It may not seem like it but the detail in your comments are extremely helpful. And it fills me with joy at how successful it has been for you. Thank you for being such a persistent reader.
Though I must ask you, has the view count on my story had you worried? I ask this because a lot of stories that don't get a lot of attention do not get finished. Has this ever crossed your mind?
8519458
I hope my comments have been as helpful as your story's character development has been for me.
And thank you for making such a well written, character driven, story.
The view count, no, but the lack of a visible vote bar is a bit concerning considering your story has a lot of comments and a fair amount of views. Also, yes, unfinished work has crossed my mind.
I've found several good stories in the past that were discontinued even with a decent following. This is why I prefer to hold off on adding stories to my favorites list until they are completed. Even someone I pre-read for has been told I won't add their story to my favorites until they complete it. This is because I don't want to add a good story to my list and then find out later on that it is discontinued.
I actually finish my work before publishing so that way I don't stop due to lack of motivation if people only comment on the first chapter and leave. Granted that's usually what happens, and that probably says a lot about my writing skill level, but this method allows me to finish my work to look back on later to see where I can improve.
I had a better comment going just now, but I got kicked from the internet just before I finished it.
Oh, but before I forget, from how often you update this story, I figured you would complete it, I just get excited when I find a story I really want to add to my list. 
8519541 I do the same as you; finish the story before publishing it. However, the difference between you and I is sometimes I get half way complete before I begin uploading. That way I can upload with ease while getting some feedback from readers in case parts of my plot are weak and fix future chapters to aid in avoiding a possible terrible plot line.
This story was inspired by another that was created about a year ago, only to still having me and other readers on a near 11 month hiatus. Part of me wrote this in hopes to motivate Otaku to finish his own story because it moved me to create Seconds Late.
I don't care if Otaku doesn't read my story. I just wish to at least give Otaku the spark he/she gave me. The day I read the third chapter is the day I remembered the pain of not telling that girl I liked in time. I remembered the hurt it brought me and cried upon being inspired.
When a story strikes to the very core of a reader, it no longer becomes a story, but an experience; a reminder; a moral to remember. That's what I wanted to do with this story. For anyone who comes across this story, I want them to experience the emotion. And I hope to inspire.
Your comments, once again, are well appriciated like bread on a sandwich. I provide the meats, the cheeses, and various toppings. But the reader picks up the story with their bread in hopes to hold everything together and enjoy every bite. So there's my proverb for you
8519541 And don't worry about the rating. It's at a 7 to 1 ratio at the moment :3