//------------------------------// // High Hopes // Story: Rejected // by -Arcana- //------------------------------// Tootsie Flute sat at a candlelit table at the most romantic restaurant in Ponyville, la marguerite d'amour. A plate lay on the table to one side of her which at one point held a delectable dinner of sweet purple daisies. They looked so much like her cutie mark that she almost didn’t want to eat them. On her right hoof side was an iced bucket containing a half-full bottle of fine apple juice, forgotten. Directly in front of her, holding her entire attention, sat the prettiest filly Tootsie Flute had ever seen. The filly’s coat was a comforting pale cream color which contrasted her strikingly red curly hair. Her mouth was curled into a small smile that showed just the smallest hint of her braces. Purple rimmed glasses framed her amethyst eyes as they sparkled with love, understanding, acceptance, and other emotions that young Tootsie didn’t understand but saw so often in the movies. “Tootthie Flute?” The cream filly asked with a lisp that anypony else would find annoying, but Tootsie found adorable. “Yes Twist?” Tootsie Flute said, finally giving a name to the object of her affection. “May I have thith danth?” Twist asked extending her hoof. Tootsie Flute looked around her and saw that the dinner table had been replaced by a grand dance floor. Somewhere in the distance somepony was playing a slow dance tune. Looking to twist she saw that the filly was wearing a flowing black dress. Looking down Tootsie saw she was wearing a similar purple dress. Looking back to Twist’s outstretched hoof, Tootsie Flute blushed as she took it not wanting to let go. Rrrrrrrring The two fillies swayed together to the notes being slowly plucked. Tootsie realized that the song was one that Mamma had played for Mom last Hearts and Hooves Day. She didn’t even notice the lights dim. Rrrrrrrrring They held each other in an innocent embrace. Tootsie’s eyes sparkled as she looked into Twist’s smiling face. She was finally ready to say it. “Twist?” Rrrrrrrrrring “Yeth Tootthie?” Rrrrrrrrrring “I…” Rrrrrrrrrrrring Tootsie Flute woke with a gasp to the sound of her alarm clock as it diligently worked to do its job. The reward for its success was a swift hoof to the head. “Tootsie, it’s time to wake up!” Tootsie Flute’s mom, Bonbon, called. Tootsie Flute rubbed her eyes as she looked across the room to her calendar, which hung neatly on the wall. Almost half the days on the February page were crossed out; all the way up to the fourteenth day. The date was circled a couple times, and a few little hearts surrounded it. It didn't take long for Tootsie to realize the magnitude of the situation. Today was Hearts and Hooves Day, and her dream wasn't as lost as it had seemed before. Tootsie Flute hustled through her daily routines, every so often taking a glance back to her night stand at a certain hoof-made red heart shaped card. Once she finished brushing her teeth and mane she went back to her room and grabbed the card and placed it into a small pocket in her saddlebags, making sure it wouldn't get crushed. She then pulled them on and made her way to the kitchen for breakfast. As she crossed the hall, Tootsie saw her mama, Lyra, who was in her room playing on her ornate lyre. Tootsie’s mother was always playing in her spare time, either practicing an old favorite or making a new piece, so the house was always filled with the sound of plucking notes. Tootsie loved it. Lyra used to play the lyre to put Tootsie to sleep so the music always made her feel safe. Lyra stopped and smiled when she noticed her daughter standing in the doorway. “Y’know Mom’s gonna get cross with both of us if your late for breakfast again.” Lyra said. “I know Mama, but I just love to hear you play. It’s so calming.” Tootsie Flute responded. Lyra began to put away her lyre, “Heh, well then when you come back from school I’ll be sure to play something for you.” “Oh oh, can you play my favorite song?” The filly asked. “Sure Toots, but first breakfast.” Lyra promised as she ushered her daughter back on path to the kitchen. The two entered the kitchen where Bonbon had busied herself preparing a hearty breakfast for her family. On the table was a delectable spread of wheat toast, cinnamon oatmeal, faux eggs, hay-bacon strips, fresh apples, and Lyra and Tootsie’s favorite food, strawberry pie. Lyra grinned ecstatically at her loving wife’s hard work, mouth near to overflowing from salivation. Tootsie Flute stood nearby an adorable mirror of her mother. “Woah-ho-ho,” Lyra said, “This is some of your best work Bonny!” Bonbon beamed, always happy getting praise for her cooking, and responded, “Well since today is Hearts and Hooves Day I thought I’d pull out all the stops for the two ponies I love the most.” “Oh yea, happy H&H sweet thing!” Lyra pecked her wife on the cheek before whispering something that caused Bonbon to give her children are present look. Lyra only chuckled at it before sitting down to breakfast. Tootsie Flute placed her saddlebags nearby and sat down to begin eating breakfast, all the while going over what she planned to do at school. She wanted to make sure everything she said would be perfect, as this would be her only chance. As she munched on a piece of hay-bacon, she glanced down to her saddlebags where the card she had spent all night making for twist just barely peeked out of its pocket. She hoped Twist would like it. “Tootsie, is something wrong?” The sound of her Mom’s voice pulled the filly out of her own thoughts. Tootsie quickly took a bite of breakfast to hide her surprise before replying, “N-no Mom, nothings wrong. I’m just…thinking about school.” Bonbon frowned, but didn't press the subject further. The family continued eating their breakfast until it was time for Tootsie to walk to school. Before leaving she gave her mothers big hugs and kisses for Hearts and Hooves Day, and made sure her Mama promised not to eat the whole pie while she was gone. The ponies said cheery goodbyes as Tootsie opened the door and began walking to school. The walk from home to school was a pretty short one for Tootsie Flute, but on this day it seemed just a bit longer than usual. The filly took slow cautious steps as the anxiety of the situation began to sink in. She had been having feelings for Twist for about a month now. The two had been good friends much longer, but it was only recently that Tootsie started to feel something more. It started happening every time she heard Twist laugh, or saw her smile, or hold her hand. At first she didn't understand these feelings; she had heard of crushes before, but had never felt one herself. She didn't even know if this was a crush. It could be love. After all she knew love. She loved her parents, and her grandparents, and these feeling did feel like love sometimes. But the thought continued to pass through her head. What if it wasn't love? What if it was, but Twist didn't feel the same way? What if she was…wrong? Tootsie Flute tried to push these thoughts out of her mind. She wanted to stay positive. After all her feelings could be right, and this may end up being the start of a new relationship with Twist. She didn't know for sure, and she wouldn't unless she took this chance. Her saddlebags weighed heavier than before with the weight of all her hope. As to schoolhouse came into view, Tootsie Flute began to rehearse what she was going to say between her teeth. She became slightly more confident in the notion that no matter what happens, at least she’ll know for sure.