Author's Note

I know that it's super late and I'm sorry.
Had just a quick edit this time.

Interlude One: A Clutz for Hearts and Hooves Day (Night Watch)

Interlude One: A Clutz for Hearts and Hooves Day (Night Watch POV)

Training was a mess, like always. The fact my throat hurt like hell from all the screaming didn’t make my day any better.

“Why the buck do they always have to question me?” I asked nopony in particular.

“Because your tactics are new and have rarely seen before. A scratchy voice is the lesser of the evils you’ll get,” a voice chuckled behind me.

“Gah!” I screeched and whirled around to see my old friend and Captain chuckle at me. “Moon Shield! What did I tell you about doing that?”

“That it freaks you out, how a big mare like me can sneak up on you without making any noise?” she asks calmly.

“Exactly. That!”

“You’re no fun,” she says before trotting up to my side. “I guess you’re going to the mess hall? I’ll join you.”

I snort. “Sure, whatever. I just need something to drink, my throat is killing me.”

“Well, I hope your throat is ready for the day after tomorrow.”

“What do you mean? What’s then? Did I miss another date for the discussions about the local troop supplies?” I growled, trotting faster.

It took me about three seconds to notice that Moon Shield had stopped and was just staring at me. “You’re a damn fool, Night, did anypony ever told you that? In two days is Hearts and Hooves day!”

“What?!” I screamed.

Moon Shield facehoofed. “Hearts and Hooves Day! Don’t tell me your non existent plan was to fuck this up like last year?”

“I’m so utterly fucked.”

“That’s putting it lightly. Please don’t mess it up again. For my cousin’s sake… but mostly for yours,” Moon Shield stepped closer and patted me on my back before moving on.

Yep, I’m completely screwed.

***

On the next day, I had a plan. I would reserve a table at Canterlot’s best restaurant, the Le Tonneau. With training put in Moon Shields capable hooves and a distraction placed for my wife, I made my way out of the castle and into the inner city.

Luna had only the best of words for the Le Tonneau, so I had high expectations as well.

What I didn’t expect was the Maitre standing in front of his restaurant, trying to battle off a few nobles. “I am telling you for the last time, we are overbooked! Hearts and Hooves Day is popular, so we can’t offer a table to you!”

“I think it speaks to the poor quality of your establishment, that you let filth like commoners dine in it,” a stallion spoke up. “I’m sure you have a separee for the highest citizens of this fair town left.”

“I am deeply sorry, I really am! We don’t have any space left!”

I could see the Maitre was just short of fainting from the negative attention and I was in my uniform, so I decided to step in despite the restaurant being full. “Is there a problem here?” I asked calmly.

One of the nobles turned to me, an elder stallion with grey coat and yellow mane, scrunching his muzzle as he frowned. “This is no discussion for a little filly, move along.”

Oh how I love this. I could already see the Maitre turning straight white, among the mare next to the stallion who seemed to recognize me.

“Well,” I spoke up again, just to be interrupted by the stallion once more.

And by Luna, now he was annoyed. “I don’t want to hear it. Go back to your parents and stop bothering me you small piece of filth.”

“By regulation of the Lunar throne and my power as General invested into me by the law, I could place you under arrest,” I smiled sweetly at him. “That better?”

“WHAT?!” Just now he took my uniform in, blanching visibly. “I’m sorry! Please, I had no idea!”

“I don’t care,” I chirped back, before taking them all in. “Every single one of you will appear in front of the dusk court tomorrow and explain to our Princess, why you thought it was wise to pester this nice gentlecolt and then insult me. You are dismissed.”

It looked like they wanted to say something, but quickly decided otherwise and left. Then I was surprised by the Maitre who stepped forward, kissing me on both cheeks. “Madam Night Watch, I thank you for your help!”

“T’was nothing,” I blushed slightly. “Too bad your restaurant is fully booked.”

“I could cancel another reservation-”

“NO! Please don’t! I don’t want to be responsible if somepony else's date gets ruined,” I quickly cut him off.

He smiled. “Maybe you’d like a reservation for next year then?”

***

“So you got a reservation… but for next year?” Luna blinked and I nodded. “Why didn’t you just use your authority to get a reservation for this year?”

I snorted. “Yes, me and authority. Because that fits well in private matters. Oh, the nobles will be visiting you at dusk court explaining their behaviour.”

“Sometimes I can’t read you, dear Night.”

“Wouldn't be fun if it always worked,” I blew her a raspberry.

“Yes, but some things will never change,” she snorted before waving her hoof at me, “I still have a few things to do. I will see you later. Hopefully with a plan in your head.”

Counting myself as dismissed, I gave her a wave and left her to her work that stacked dangerously high on her desk. Celestia hated paperwork, Luna loved to burn it to ashes.

“Hey, Night!”

I groaned, resisting the urge to facehoof as a voice sounded out the second I left Luna’s chambers. Yet, my spirits brightened a bit seeing that it was Red Wave. “What do you need?”

“My sexy piece of flank said you could use some help with Hearts and Hooves Day. Since she is busy smashing recruits in, I thought I could do that,” Red grinned.

“My sexy piece of flank? Really, Red?” I smirked. “Does Shield know about that of nickname?”

Red Wave pouted. “You wouldn’t believe what she can do with those flanks! She is utterly flexible and-” I silenced her with a hoof.

“And now my teats went inwards. Thanks for that picture in my head, Red,” I scoffed, just to have her bite in my hoof. “Hey! Are you nuts? Get the blood from your marefriend and keep away from mine.”

“Don’t flatter yourself too much, she tastes way better.”

“Blue would probably argue with you about that.”

“Wife’s privileges and all that, I know,” Red grinned. “Now, what did you have planned for Blue on the special day?”

“I… don’t know,” I hesitantly answered while Red gasped. “It seems like I failed with my plans again. I tried to get a reservation for a restaurant but it’s booked out. I got one for next year though…”

“Why don’t you use the easy way out?”

I tilted my head at Red. “Easy way out?”

“Of course!” Red grinned, making sure her fangs were prominent. “Every single Hearts and Hooves Day I chain Moon Shield onto the bed, drink her blood and buck her until she begs for mercy.”

I facehoofed. Yep, that’s Red Wave for you! “We do that on other days, I want this day to be special!”

“Then do what other ponies do. Buy her some flowers and sweets!”

“Oh my! Red!” I turned and grabbed her, shaking her. “You are a genius!” With that I planted a kiss directly on her lips and sped off, wings frantically beating as I navigated through the halls and outside the castle.

“Wait!” I looked back to see Red trying to speed after me, her larger frame making it harder to navigate. “The flower shops is closed, did you look at the time? You have to go tomorrow morning!”

“Damn it,” I landed, cursing. Of course something would go wrong.

“Hey, don’t worry! Tomorrow will be a new day,” Red smiled as she landed besides me. “Now… could you do that again?”

My hoof found it’s way back over my muzzle.

***

It was extremely hard to sneak out of our room in the morning without waking Blue. Normally, I would tangle myself up in the sheets and fall to the ground muzzle first, but much to my surprise it went well this morning. So whistling a happy tune I made my way to the flower shop downtown.

The whistle died on my lips as I rounded the corner to a street that was still 5 minutes away from the shop. There was a damn line. “Please don’t tell me all of them are waiting to get flowers,” I facehoofed.

“We are,” the mare last in line turned as she heard me. “G-general!”

“Calm down, I’m here in private, private.”

“O-of course. As I said, we’re all waiting here and hoping that we can still get some flowers.”

“Great,” I sighed, getting in line. This might only take forever

The line slowly moved forwards and time ticked by. I knew that Blue had her normal shift today so she was busy until the evening, but I had no desire to arrive at the last moment.

Of course, my plans would fail again. The line got shorter and shorter until I could see the shop. Then it stopped and a mare walked out. I had no idea what she was shouting, but the following groaning and curses were clear.

“They are out of flowers!”

“No stock anymore, they seriously are sold out!”

“What the buck, how could the only flower shop in Canterlot be out of flowers?”

It went on and on, but I didn’t really register it. There was only one thing in my mind.

I bucked it up again.

It was the only thing in my mind as I turned and walked back to the castle, head hung low.

***

As soon as I opened the door to our chambers, I could hear her. Blue whistled the song of the after party of our wedding, and I could smell her shampoo. My ears dropped even lower than they were. She was happy. And I would ruin it.

“Night? Is that you, love?” She stepped forward, smiling at me until she noticed my expression. “Night, what is wrong?”

I couldn’t hold it anymore. “I bucked it up again. I failed to make Hearts and Hooves Day special for us!” I sobbed. “I got nothing!”

Blue Moon kneeled down and nuzzled my side, hugging me while I wept. She whispered sweet things in my ears until I stopped, only dry coughing anymore. “Done?” she asked softly and I nodded. “Good, then take a shower. I have something to show you.”

I tilted my head but did as she asked, getting up and quickly taking a shower. It didn’t took me long and after a thoroughly drying, I stepped out and right into the hooves of the love of my life carrying a basket.

“Come, we’ll miss the precious light!” she smiled, offering me a wing.

“You know the night is better,” I smiled slightly back, taking the offered wing in my own and letting her lead me out of our chambers and through the castle, until we reached the garden. “What are we doing here?”

She said nothing and continued up a small hill behind the castle, covered by a few trees and plants. Only then she let go of my wing and set the basket down. My jaw dropped as she unpacked a blanket, two bottles, silverware and food. As soon everything was perfect, she turned to me.

“Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, my love.” Seeing that I was still floored she continued. “I already thought you might have nothing, but I’m not mad! You alway try your best and that’s all I ask from you, no matter what the result is. I planned this because I wanted to show you that I love you for what you are. I don’t need flowers every day to know that you love me too. I don’t need some fancy restaurant to know you do everything for me.”

“I tried so hard,” I whispered, just to be shushed by a soft kiss.

“And I love you for it. You are a clutz, but you are mine. And that will never change.”

Her lips met mine in bliss and I was whole. Everything was good as it was.