Nighting Gale snuck around the corner of the palace, not like she needed to. The palace grounds were open for the festivities tonight, but still sneaking was a lot funner, and she really didn't want to be seen by a lot of ponies. She dashed across the open grounds to a statue of a bear wearing a strange flag with a leaf for a cape. It provided ample cover. She looked over her supplies: one can of black spray paint, ten cans of silly string, one name card reading, Hello I am, Sun Butt. Check all was ready for the Night Mare Night prank. She scanned the grounds, and found her next point a statue of a flying purple hippo that was farting rainbows and smiting armies with pink hearts. From here she could see her target, a statue of Princess Celestia. She rubbed her hooves together and smiled a wicked grin.
"Mission Complete." She smiled as she finished spraying the last can of silly string over the statue of the Day Princess.
"I don't know about that Nighting it looks like you missed a spot."
"Pfft, you don't know what you're-" She froze as she looked down to see a royal guard. "Ah, bye!" She Bolted off of the palace ground as quickly as her wings could take her. Sure she wasn't in trouble the annual defacing of the statue was encouraged by Celestia, say what you will sunny butt loved pranks, but still she didn't want to get caught by a royal guard. It was kind of a yearly game that the two groups played, and the return of Princess Luna brought back the rivalry. She flew to her hide out, an ally way in the oldest corner of Canterlot, a place only she knew about. "Huh, odd," she thought out loud to herself as she tried to catch her breath. "That guard he knew my name."
"Yeah, that was weird wasn't it?"
"Yeah you're telling meeee." The last word dragged on as her eyes shrank to pin pricks. "Alright you got me, but how'd you get here so fast?" She turned to face the royal guard. "You're not a Wonderbolt playing dress up are you?" She poked the armor. Nope that's real.
"What you don't remember me Nighting Gale?" The guard playfully pouted. "I'm hurt, on the brink of tears."
"No offence but all you guards look alike to me."
"Oh come on Nighty I recognized you right away." The guard took off his helmet the magic spell receding slightly, revealing his true eye color of deep emerald green, and a shortly cut light brown mane.
"Honor!" She jumped on him throwing the both of them to the ground in an uncontained moment of jubilees revelation. "I can't believe that it's you," she said pulling him close in a hug. "It's been forever! And you're a guard, wow!" She took a deep sniff of the air. "Oh do you smell that?" Honor sniffed the air. "Come on." She flapped her wings and landed in the cobble stone street. Honor Bound chuckled, and joined her in the street.
"It's good to see you again Honor."
"Same Nighty. How have you been?" The two of them walked into a small dumpling house. The sweet smell of fried sugar dumplings causing their mouths to water slightly.
"Oh not much you know. I'm in the Lunar Guard now." The two them took their seats.
"So it was your mission to deface the statue this year?"
"Yep. You wouldn't turn in your bestest and oldest friend, would you?" She gave him the biggest puppy dog eyes that she could.
"I just got off duty when I saw you, so no I'm not going to turn you in." Nighting Gale skreed and jumped across the table.
"Thanks Honor you're the best." She looked up at the stallion and then to the full restaurant. Blushing she let go and slipped back across the table. "So your stationed in Canterlot too, huh. Day shift?" Honor nodded. She grinned as she looked at the stallion. "Hey Honor, do you remember what we talked about last time, we were here?"
"We were here before?" Honor looked around as if trying to remember. "Guess I must have forgotten, it doesn't look familiar."
"Don't you remember Honor?" She locked eyes with him. "It was just before you left to begin training."
"Check please."
"But we haven't even ordered anything."
"Five sugared dumplings to go."
***
The two of them were sitting on the cold cobble stone of the alleyway, while they ate the sugared dumplings between them. It was midnight now, and the parties in Canterlot were going full swing. The world was a buzz outside of the alley were the two ponies sat. Oblivious to the world around them.
"So, what have you been up to Nighting?" Honor offered Nighting Gale the last sugar dumpling. Which she gladly accepted.
"Not much just trying to make it in this big old world." She looked up at the stars and started laughing. "Who am I kidding I've been having a blast. The Night Guard is an awesome job, and being stationed here in Canterlot is amazing. What about you Honor, how's life been since you moved away?"
"It's been, good though I am glad to be back."
"Your back, like in, stationed here?" Nighting's wings flared out, a second later she started stretching. "Ah, those dumplings were just as good as last time don't you think. To much sugar though I think I need to go for a walk, burn some of it off you wanna come?"
"Yeah, they definitely added a lot more sugar than last time."
"You did remember!" Nighting Gale pointed a hoof at him.
"Now Nighty." Honor Bound started backing away. Nighting Gale pounced. He jumped into the alley and ran, with the bat pony giving pursuit. "Come on Nighty let it go!"
"Not a chance Honor you owe me an answer." The two of them ran through the cobble stone streets of Canterlot's oldest district, dodging children, parents, partiers, and the occasional guard. "Dang it Honor, you know I'm going to catch you. Just stop running and give me your answer." Honor jumped over a hedge. Just as he cleared it he was tackled to the grassy field. She glared at him.
"Alright Nighty alright." He started laughing as Nighting's expression softened. "Do you remember this park?" He sighed as he looked around at the vacant green field. Nighting Gale looked around.
"Not really. Should I?"
"It's were we shared our first kiss."
"First kiss?" Nighting Gale's wings shot straight out and her cheeks started to go red, as Honor leaned up and kissed her.
"You look adorable when you do that." Honor leaned back down.
"How come you haven't winged?" She laid down next to him.
"Armor's magic."
"So, you staying in Canterlot?" She nuzzled up against him.
"Yep, tomorrow I'll find out if I can get the night shift."
"I love you Honor."
"Love you too Nighty."