//------------------------------//
// Chapter 9: Not Quite as Planned 
// Story: Colton and Daisy 
// by Allonsbro 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 9: Not quite as planned

The park was truly a beautiful sight to behold. Thousands of stars twinkled brightly in the night sky. Luna’s moon was full, its iridescent glow casting a silvery light over everything. They walked on one of the paths through the park, saying hello to a lavender unicorn mare they passed who was looking through a telescope. Soon they reached their favorite picnic spot on a small hill near the middle of the park. During the day it was covered in all sorts of flowers and Colton had never seen it at night. The sight was breathtaking. Many of the flowers that bloomed in the daytime were closed up, with night blooming flowers such as jasmine replacing their vigil of beauty. With the moonlight shining on them, it looked as though they were made of silver.
A cool night breeze blew, making Daisy shiver a little. Colton took off his suit jacket and draped it around her shoulders. He reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a picnic blanket and spread it out on the ground. The two sat down and he brought out the cupcakes Rose had made for dessert. They sat there for a while, just gazing up and admiring the night. Colton picked one of the jasmine flowers and put it in Daisy’s hair, near her left ear. She leaned up against his side.
“Thank you, Colton. Tonight has been absolutely wonderful.”
He leaned his head on top of hers. “You’re even more wonderful.”
They sat there a while longer, eating their cupcakes and enjoying each others’ company. Colton smiled. This was the one part of the night that had gone off without a single hitch. Now was the perfect time to ask her. 
“Daisy?”
“Hmmm?”
“I have something to tell you.”
She lifted her head up and turned towards him. “What is it?”
He began to grow nervous again, his chest beginning to tighten. He looked at her. It was as if Luna herself had come down from Canterlot to dress her in the finery of the night. The moonlight bathed her in its silvery glow. It made her dress sparkle like fresh snow in the morning sun. It rested on her head and shoulders, giving her the look of an angel. It twinkled luminously in her green eyes, making them look like emeralds. 
Looking into those eyes, he saw everything. He saw the past, every moment they had together, every kiss they shared, every time she made him smile. He saw the future, everything he wanted for them, how he wanted them to grow old together. He saw his world and how much brighter it was since she had become a part of it. He saw his other half, the one thing that made his life complete. He saw her.
“Daisy, I-”
“LOOK OUT!!!” came a voice from above them. They looked up just in time to see a grey pegasus mare crash through the upper foliage of a nearby tree. She tried to adjust her wings to land, but yelped in pain and reflexively folded her left wing. She hurtled toward the ground, flapping her right wing in a vain effort to regain control. Colton realized that she was headed straight for them.
Thinking quickly, he pushed Daisy out of the way. He didn’t have time to get out of the way himself, however, and braced himself as the mare collided with him. The two went rolling down the hill and came to a stop at the bottom. 
“Ugh,” he groaned. He opened his eyes and slowly sat up on his stomach, looking himself over. He felt sore spots in various places that would probably bruise in a little bit. Nothing seemed to be broken. Daisy came running down the hill, concern written on her face.
“Are you two alright?” she asked.
“I’m fine,” he replied. He looked over at the grey pegasus and realized who it was.
“Ditzy, are you alright?” he asked, walking over to the mailmare who lived next door to him. She sat up, her head swaying and her eyes moving in circles for a moment before she replied.
“I’m not quite sure,” she said, one eye looking at him, the other off somewhere in the distance. “My left wing really hurts. I think I hurt it when I hit the tree.”
“It might be broken,” said Daisy. “Can you walk?”
“I’ll try.” She attempted to get up but a sharp pain in her front left leg put a stop to that. “AAAAA!” she cried, “my leg!”
“Let me see,” said Colton. She held it up enough for him to look. “It doesn’t look like it’s broken, but we need to keep you off of it. Daisy, could you go pack up our stuff?”
Daisy nodded and went back up the hill. Colton helped Ditzy to stand a little, put her on his back and began walking toward the entrance to the park. He walked slowly so Ditzy wouldn’t move too much.
“I’m sorry I ruined your date, Colton,” said Ditzy. “I saw you before I lost control and it looked like you were having fun. I hope I didn’t ruin the proposal.”
Colton stopped short. “What? How the hay did you know I was going to propose? Did anyone tell you?”
“Oh no, no one told me. I just figured it out. My eyes may act funny sometimes, but they’re sharp. I saw you while I was flying and you had the same look on your face that…” she paused at the memories she was bringing up. “…the same look that Dinky’s father had when he proposed to me.”
“Oh,” said Colton. “Well, no, you didn’t really ruin the proposal since I haven’t asked yet.  By the way, what were you doing out flying this late? You usually finish your route long before dinner.”
“I’m covering the night shift for Raindrops.”
As they neared the entrance to the park, Daisy caught up with them, carrying Colton’s saddlebags. They made their way to Ponyville Hospital. Ditzy kept apologizing and they repeatedly had to reassure her that it was alright. 
They arrived at the hospital and waited with Ditzy in the waiting room until the doctor could see her. Ditzy knew they would probably give her something for the pain and asked them to wait for her to walk her home. Colton agreed and Nurse Redheart led Ditzy into one of the examination rooms.
As Colton and Daisy waited for her, Colton noticed that Daisy was being oddly quiet.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “You look like you have something on your mind.”
“It’s nothing,” she replied.
“You’re not mad at Ditzy, are you?”
“No, of course not, accidents happen. I’m…just thinking about a big order I have to deliver tomorrow.”
“Oh, okay.” He could tell that wasn’t the only thing on her mind, but decided not to press it. “You know, I can wait for Ditzy and take her home. Why don’t you go home. It’s late and she might be a while.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, no sense in both of us being up all night.” He wrapped a hoof around her and pulled her into a hug. 
She reached her head up and kissed him. “Goodnight, Colton.”
“Goodnight, Daisy.”
She left the waiting room and headed home. Colton sat down in one of the waiting benches. He couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed about how the night had gone. The date had had a few little snags but it had still been wonderful. But, the incident in the park had brought the whole thing to a halt. He would probably have to plan another time to propose to Daisy. He laid his head down and fell asleep.
---
“Colton, wake up.” He felt a hoof on his shoulder, shaking him awake. He opened his eyes and saw Carrot.
“Hey,” he said as he yawned and stretched. “What are you doing here?”
“We were all at Daisy’s house waiting for the two of you to come back. She told us what happened and Seyval offered to let Dinky sleep over. I came over here as soon as I heard. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. How’s Ditzy?”
“I just talked to the doctor. Her wing is broken and she sprained her leg. She’ll be back to normal after about six weeks.”
“Oh good,” he breathes a sigh of relief.
“From how Daisy described the incident, I take it you didn’t get a chance to propose.”
“No, I didn’t. I guess I’ll have to plan another time to do it.”
“What are you talking about? Why do think I hurried over here? Go, ask her now!”
“What?” he asked, surprised. “But Carrot, the date…”
“Colton Vines, you listen to me. You worked hard to make this night special and I will not let you throw in the towel because the mood was ruined. My sister loves you and she won’t care about any of that.  All she’ll care about is that you love her and that you want to spend the rest of your life with her. Don’t worry about Ditzy; I’ll make sure she gets home. You get your flank over there and ask that mare to marry you.”
Hearing what Carrot said, Colton felt like his heart would explode right out of his chest. He grabbed his saddlebags and flung them on to his back as he galloped out the door. He did love Daisy and she wouldn’t care how he proposed, just that he was proposing. 
He ran and he ran, not stopping until he reached the flower shop. Panting, he looked up at her window. The light was still on in her bedroom. He grabbed a pebble off the ground and tossed it up at the window. When there was no response, he tried again. Daisy opened the window and looked down.
“Colton? Is everything alright?”
“I never said what I wanted to tell you earlier. Can you come down?”
She nodded and closed the window. A few moments later, the front door opened and she stepped out into the moonlight. She was still wearing her dress, but had removed her makeup and let her hair down. He looked into her eyes again. 
“Daisy, I love you. I’ve loved you for as long as I’ve known you and I- mmmf…”
He didn’t get a chance to finish. She grabbed him and pulled him to her lips and kissed him deeply. At first he was surprised, and then his eyes closed and he kissed her back. She broke the kiss and spoke before he could say anything.
“Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, a thousand times yes, Colton Vines. Yes, I will marry you.”
Colton, still reeling from the kiss, started trying to form a cohesive sentence in his confusion. “B-bu…wha…how did…”
“When you had me get our stuff so we could take Ditzy to the hospital I dropped your bag. The box fell out and popped open and I saw the ring. It took every ounce of willpower I had not to let on that I knew before you had the chance to ask. And my answer is yes. I love you, Colton, and I would love nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Colton was speechless. When he finally found his words again, he spoke.
“Do you mind if I actually ask the question, anyway? I was looking forward to saying it.”
She gave him that little smile that he loved. “Go ahead. I would love to hear it.”
He grinned and reached into his bag and pulled out the box. He sat back on his haunches and opened it.
“Daisy, will you marry me?”
“Yes, Colton,” she repeated. “Yes I will.”
He took the ring out of the box slipped it on her left front hoof. It glinted exquisitely in the moonlight.
“It’s beautiful, Colton,” she said, tears starting to form in her eyes.
He pulled her close to him and placed his forehead against hers.
“Almost as beautiful as you.”