Prompt: "Tirek and Chrysalis share their first Hearts and Hooves Day."
Chrysalis shut the front door, shed her Shutterbug disguise in a flash of emerald fire, and stared incredulously at her husband. Normally when she returned from a photo-shoot, she would find him in the gym or catching an afternoon nap. Today he was standing in front of her, like he'd been waiting for her to arrive. And his hands were full. “What exactly am I looking at?”
Tirek cleared his throat and gently shook the offered box. “Chocolates.”
“Chocolates.” Chrysalis repeated. Her gaze slowly drifted to the object in the centaur’s other hand. “And these?”
“Roses.” Tirek’s smile was too wide, too toothy. A bead of sweat ran down his forehead.
“Roses.” Chrysalis nodded. “And why, pray tell, have you met me at the front door with chocolate and roses?”
Tirek shrugged. “I, uh, was told that it was the custom for Hearts and Hooves Day to give your loved one gifts. Specifically, flowers and candy.”
Chrysalis, who was far more familiar with the Equestrian holiday than her husband, couldn’t resist a small smile. “And who told you this? Cozy Glow?” Before Tirek could answer, she noticed the clouds of black smoke drifting from the direction of the kitchen. “Did she tell you there was anything else you needed to do? Traditionally speaking, of course.”
Tirek’s eyes flickered toward the kitchen. Another bead of sweat appeared. “She informed me that it was appropriate for the husband of the relationship to prepare a romantic dinner for two.”
“And then she left you in the kitchen to fend for yourself while she took off for a friend’s house. Didn’t even offer to help, even though she knows you’re more useless at cooking than I am.” Chrysalis rolled her eyes. “Honestly, I’d be irritated with her if I wasn’t so blasted proud of her.” Before Tirek could do something foolish, like apologize, she leaned forward and took a deep whiff of the roses. “They’re lovely. Thank you.”
Tirek visibly relaxed. “Not as lovely as you.”
“Did Cozy tell you to say that?”
A pause and the tenseness returned. “Not specifically, but...”
Chrysalis chuckled as she took the chocolates in her magic, placed them on the table beside the door, and started for the kitchen. “Well, I suppose we’d better see what we can salvage from all this. Can you put those in some water?”
“Aren’t you going to eat them?”
She gave him a withering look over her shoulder. “Ponies eat flowers. Do I look like a pony to you?”
“Not at the moment.” Tirek smirked. “But eventually…”
“Oh, how incredibly witty.” She shook her head as she entered the kitchen and took in the disaster that had overwhelmed her normally pristine cooking space. She scanned for any clue as to what Tirek had been attempting to cook. She spied a pot of burnt sludge on the stove and a tray of ashen vegetables beside it. A platter of fresh fruits sat whole and unattended by the sink, evidence of a panicking centaur becoming distracted from his task before they could be peeled and cut. She heard him join her and looked back again, this time with a much gentler smile. “You could’ve just ordered out. I wouldn’t have minded.”
“That was my exact thought after the soup caught fire.” Tirek muttered as he placed the vase of roses on the counter. “But you try finding someplace that delivers this late on this blasted holiday.”
Chrysalis giggled as she disengaged the burners and began dumping the burned remains of food down the garbage can. “Honestly, you didn’t have to do any of this. I’ve never really cared for Hearts and Hooves Day. Never had much time for it.”
“Why’s that?”
She shrugged. “It was the hive’s best hunting time. Easiest day of the year for us to sneak into some town, infiltrate a date or two, and drain some love. I’d always mock our prey’s devotion to this whole idea of being especially romantic on one given day…”
“So…” He stepped behind her and wrapped his arms about her, hugging her close. “Would you have preferred if I did nothing? Simply let the day go by as though nothing special was happening?”
She relaxed into his embrace with a sigh. “I probably wouldn’t have noticed if I’m being honest. Was there some reason you felt compelled to go through all of this?”
“Only that it seemed appropriate. We’re trying to lead normal lives, after all.” He leaned down and kissed the place where her horn met her mane. “This is the day where normally someone in my position needs to remind the one in your position how much you, and your love, mean to me.”
Chrysalis felt the familiar warmth of his love flow through her and she shuddered as her transforming flames once more washed over her, this time with no conscious decision on her part. In a flash, it was her creamy white reformed visage that Tirek held tight. “Ugh, I hate when you do this to me.”
“I know, but it’s like I always tell you; you look amazing to me no matter what form you hold.” Tirek gave her one last squeeze before releasing her and looking around the kitchen. “Alright, so; where do we begiAHHH!” He cried out as his wife tackled him and dragged him to the tiled floor. “But dinner!”
“It’s Hearts and Hooves Day.” Chrysalis leered over him and licked her lips. “And I want my dessert first.”
“…You left the chocolates in the other room. Should I fetch them?”
Chrysalis cut off his prattling with a hungry kiss. When they parted, she pressed her forehead to his and smiled. “I love you. Did you know that?”
Tirek returned the smile and brushed a strand of mane away from her face. “It’s nice to be reminded from time to time.” He pulled her in for another kiss, this one much slower. “Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, Chryssy.”
“And to you, my darling.” Her face grew serious. “Now take me to bed before I take you right here.”
“As my queen demands.” He chuckled as he stood up, holding Chrysalis bridal style. She snuggled into his chest as he hurried down the hall to their bedroom. The door quickly shut once the pair had entered.
A moment later, the door cracked open just barely enough for a sock, bathed in green magic, to float out and wrap itself about the outer doorknob.
It was Hearts and Hooves Day, and Chrysalis was taking no chances.