//------------------------------// // Broken Heart // Story: Rejected // by -Arcana- //------------------------------// Tootsie Flute approached the schoolhouse a lot more confident than she was on her walk over. She chose to ignore the fear of how Twist might react, choosing instead to only think about how she would reveal her feelings. She rehearsed different ways she might present the card, but no matter how much she tried, they all sounded a bit too awkward and embarrassing to say. She was lost in thought until the sound of her name snapped her back to reality. The voice was muffled but it sounded like one of her classmates, Applebloom. Tootsie turned to respond, but stopped when she saw what was behind her. At first it looked like a parachute, but Tootsie was quite certain parachutes weren’t so glittery, nor were they usually heart shaped. Three filly sized bulges squirmed under the “thing” until one of them managed to pop their head out and reveal themselves as Scootaloo. “Hey Tootsie Flute… Do you think you could lend us a hoof?” Scootaloo asked. Two muffled voices echoed Scootaloo’s request for help from somewhere beneath the paper tarp. Tootsie giggled at the image before responding, “Sure I’ll help you with… what is that thing anyway?” Sweetie Belle’s head suddenly popped into view, “This is our Hearts and Hooves Day card for Miss Cheerilee!” “Oh. Well it’s definitely…” Tootsie rubbed her chin looking for the right word, “… Big!” With Tootsie’s help the Cutie Mark Crusaders were able to move the card up the steps and to the front of the classroom for Miss Cheerilee to see. The sight of the huge heart shaped card made Tootsie very aware of just how plain her own card was. She hoped that the words written inside would make up for the simple design. The Crusaders thanked Tootsie for her help, and she went to sit at her desk. At the desk right across from Twist’s own was seated the earth pony that had taken up most of Tootsie Flute’s morning thought, Twist. “G’morning Tootthie!” Twist said as her friend approached. Tootsie was surprised to notice that, some how, Twist looked even prettier than usual. Her mane and tail were bright and noticeably more bouncy. Her coat was warmer and softer than before. Her cutie mark of two candy canes, crossed to form a heart, was even more dazzling than ever. Tootsie tried not to stare too much as she sat down. “H-hey Twist. You look pretty fancy today.” Tootsie Flute said placing her saddlebags nearby. The filly in question blushed as she responded, “Yea… I’m juth really ecthited for Heartth and Hoovth Day, ya know.” “Yea I know what you mean,” Tootsie looked down at her saddlebags, “I can’t wait for the card exchange.” At that moment the bell for class rung and the teacher, Miss Cheerilee, cantered into the classroom. “Good morning class.” Cheerilee said to her students, the little ponies all greeted their teacher in unison before she continued, “Now we all know today is our Hearts and Hooves Day celebration, so why don’t we start with the annual card… exchange…” She trailed off as she noticed the huge paper heart being held up by three excited fillies. The class giggled and got up to begin exchanging cards. It was the do or die moment for Tootsie Flute. She pulled the card out of her saddlebags and held it to her chest mustering all the courage she had. She would either gain love or lose friendship, but she had to do this. She turned towards Twist with words of confession ready to leave her mouth, but they all evaporated when she opened her eyes. “Truffle Thuffle, I’d like you to have thith card.” Twist blushed as she gave the card to the colt next to her. His name was Truffle Shuffle, and he and Twist had become fast friends thanks to their mutual love of sweets. It was only recently though that Twist had started to feel something more. It started happening every time she heard Truffle laugh, or saw him smile, or made candy with him. She had a crush on him, and today she finally confessed it to him. And he felt the same way! Twist was ecstatic. Tootsie Flute was devastated. She felt her heart drop as she absorbed the whole scene before her. She didn’t want to believe it, even though it was right in front of her. She had spent the morning unsure if things would be good or bad, but knowing that she wanted to take the chance to find out for sure. Now she was no longer able to take that chance. It was taken away from her. Quickly and quietly she turned away to hide her feelings, and to hide the now useless card. Tootsie stared down at the card in her hoof which had been such a comfort before, but now it was the concentration of all her sadness. She watched as a single tear fell onto the card and smudged the pretty red ink. Her hoof acted on its own, slowly releasing its grip and letting the card tumble to the ground. “Ok class,” Miss Cheerilee got her students attention, “now that the card exchange is done who wants to play pin the heart on the pony!” A small hoof nudged her and Cheerilee turned with a smile, however the smile quickly fell when she saw the state of the filly in front of her. Tootsie Flute seemed an all around dimmer shade than usual. Her eyes were slightly red and pointed downward dejectedly. Cheerilee could easily tell that something was terribly wrong with the little pony. “Tootsie Flute, are you alright?” The Teacher bent down and tried to comfort Tootsie. “I… I don’t feel well. C-can I go home?” Tootsie asked in a shaky voice. “Well… ok, if you’re sure that’s what you want to do.” Cheerilee said. Tootsie glanced at something or someone behind Cheerilee, but quickly looked away. “Yes, I’m sure.” The filly responded, and turned towards the door. At this moment Twist was in the back of the class preparing to play pin the heart on the pony. She already had the heart and just needed to find the blindfold. Walking through by a row of desks she looked around for something to use, but stopped when she felt herself step on something small and papery. Looking down she saw that it was a Hearts and Hooves card. Twist picked it up hoping to return it to whoever dropped it. The card was a little crumpled from her hoof stepping on it, and there was a smudge on the front but no names of who the card might be for or from. Twist decided to peak inside; hoping to find a name, but there was none inside either. Instead she found only three words written in a neat writing synonymous with unicorn horn writing. I love you.