//------------------------------//
// Soprano 
// Story: Dulcet 
// by shortskirtsandexplosions 
//------------------------------//

        I hear their voices dripping around the corner of the marketplace, and my heart instantly flutters. It can only be them—what other reason would fate have to arrange a bass tone and a falsetto tone together under the same morning sky?

"I... I-I don't know what to say, Big Mac!" Cheerilee stammers, and yet somehow manages to sound no less melodic than ever. "I'd be lying if I said I've never imagined us spending an afternoon together, but now that you've gone out and asked me... well... I-I really don't know! I mean... I-I suppose we could do anything!"

"Eeeeeyup!"

"Well, anything that you'd be comfortable doing, of c-course." She turns to smile at the large stallion walking closely with her across the street. "I mean, you're so quiet spoken, and th-this must seem so sudden for you. We could... uhm... we could just hang out by Sweet Apple Acres if you prefer—"

"Actually, I was thinkin'..." Big Mac takes a deep, deep breath of confidence as he and Cheerilee march right past the outdoor cafe... and past me. "You've talked time and time again about figure skatin' and how much you love it."

Cheerilee's voice positively sings, a dulcet tone born out of love and joy. "You remembered! Oh, and here I thought I was only rambling on and on those last few times we talked."

"I remember a lot, Cheerilee," he says. "A lot more than you think, I reckon." He smiles with a coy wink. "Let's go to the ice rink, and I can tell you about some of the stuff I love doin'."

"Oh! Oh... s-sure thing! That would be delightful!" She gulps and smiles wider. "I've always wondered what you've h-had to say, Big Mac." She pretends to trot along, but inevitably performs a tiny acrobatic leap between each hoofstep. "Hmmm-mmm-Squee! I-I can't believe it! We're actually going out on a... on a..."

"Date?" he says, his freckled face aimed at her.

"Oh. Yes. Yes, I do believe we can call it that," she says, though their voices are getting fainter, softer, beyond the reach of my delicate ears. "Only... if you want to, that is."

"Cheerilee, darlin', I'd love nothing more..." And they're gone.

My breath is both lonesome and proud in the warm morning light. I levitate my mug of coffee from the table spread blueprints of a long-abandoned dress design and simply swirl it below my muzzle, enjoying the aroma... but not the silence.

A waitress wanders by from cleaning off another patio table. "More sugar for your coffee, miss?" she asks with a bright smile.

"Oh, positively!" I lean back with no small amount of elegance and levitate the mug towards her so she that can oblige. I watch as the rich cream pours into the coffee, dissolving into black, fading away like the glittering nights of last evening. "After all." I sigh. "You can never be too sweet..."