After Celestia and Hydregarn got back from their trip, it was still early afternoon.
"Hey Hydregarn, why are you so afraid of Hearts and Hooves day?" Celestia inquired.
"I really don't want to discuss it."
"Oh c'mon, tell me!"
"No."
"Hey, I saved your life. The least you can do is tell me what is bugging you."
"That was five years ago, and I have already repaid my debt to you."
"You are so mean! Why do you keep so many secrets from me?"
"Don't you have secrets you have not told me yet?"
"Well, there are a few things I neglected to say out loud."
"Exactly, now drop the subject. We both know we have more important things to worry about. And for your information, I am not scared of Hearts and Hooves, it just snuck up on me."
"Sure General, sure."
"Well, now that we have your trip taken care of, what else is on your mind for the rest of the day?"
"I might just go over my letters, check the guards, the usual."
"You do seem to get quite a few letters, especially around this time of year."
"Some ponies don't get the hint that I'm not interested in having any relationships at the time."
"Well, that is a pity..."
"Why is that?"
"Quite a few ponies have romantic views of you, it is a shame their efforts are in vain."
"Since when do you care about love interests or romance?"
"I still don't care, I was just stating what I notice. Besides, who in their right mind would even think about being with A monster like me?"
"Oh don't think like that! I'm sure there is at least one pony out there who has a crush on you."
"That, I highly doubt."
"Are you hell-bent on staying alone?"
"Let's say I DO find someone who can stand to be around me, and we do settle down. I'm just going to outlive her and spend the next few millennia mourning and feeling even more alone. I'm doing this for a reason. This is how I am going to spend the rest of my life. Alone."
Hydregarn then left Celestia and began walking toward his home. His place was not the largest in Canterlot; but still pretty large, even though the only one who had more wealth than him was Celestia. He didn't want a massive house, just big enough for him and a small amount of guests, if he ever had any; in the four years he had the house, not a single pony had come for a visit. The only time he heard a knock on his door was when a package came for him, and even that was a very rare occasion. That has only happened twice, and both times it was the wrong address.
Hydregarn walked into his house, set his keys on a shelf (as if he ever needed them), and put the massive Claymore in its case, the rest of his weapons went on a rack next to the case. He changed out of his armor and into long blue robes. He then sat down at his kitchen table, alone, as he had so many times before.
He heard a voice at the back of his head.
"Why do you always think you have to be alone? It isn't healthy to hold in all your emotions and always skulk in the dark."
"Why are you still here? I thought you were gone long ago." He retorted.
"I never left, I just never saw any chance to give you advice and help, as I had in the past. Also-"
"Help me?! Is that what you are calling it?! You lead me into nothingness, I force myself to be alone because of what YOU DID!!! NOW GET OUT OF MY HEAD!! LEAVE ME ALONE!!!" He roared at the top of his lungs.
"Fine have it your way, but I will always be here."
"I don't care, I just want you gone!"
"Such a thing to say! I thought you loved me..."
"I NEVER GAVE A DAMN ABOUT YOU!! Your dead for a reason, now LEAVE!! Return to what you were, nothing but dust in my past!!"
"I will NEVER be a part of your past!"
And at that moment, Hydregarn shot up from his bed, drenched in sweat and panting hard.
He placed his hand on his throbbing head, "Why can't you just leave me alone? You have done enough to me...."
"You were the one to cause this, after you made that blade of yours."
"What?!"
He looked around and listened, not hearing anything else, or seeing anyone.
"This nightmare has to end..."
He looked at the clock, it was just about six in the morning, about the time he normally gets up to head to the castle. The sun was just coming over the horizon as he was leaving his home. Some ponies were already off to wherever they worked or just a dawn stroll around the town. The General went a different way then he normally went, he went the long route through a nearby park. He walked at a slow pace, unwilling to get to his destination anytime soon.
"Hey Hydregarn! How is it going?" He heard a familiar voice behind him.
"Oh, hello Glimmer, I'm just fine."
The castle maid had a skeptical face, "You don't look so fine to me. Is anything wrong?"
"Everything is fine, just a small nightmare cost me some sleep last night, nothing major."
"Small nightmare my plot! You look terrible! Now you are coming with me! I have a little trick that might help you with your tiredness."
"Glimmer, I am fine. Thank you for your concern though, it means a lot."
"Alright, just take care of yourself. And happy hearts and hooves!"
"You to Glimmer, you to."
Hydregarn then sat down at a bench for a short while, feeling worse than he started out. Once again he had pushed away someone who cared.
After about twenty minutes, he stood up and continued to the castle. As Hydregarn got into the castle, the normal group of guards and maids greeted him, and all commented about the bags under his eyes, his tired face, and slower pace. He dismissed all of them, telling them all the same thing he told Glimmer. But one of the guards, a rare female guard, also noticed something else.
"General sir?" Tempest Feather asked to get Hydregarn's attention.
"Yes Tempest?"
"I'm sure you have already heard this, but you do look like you had a very rough night."
"Yes, it is true, I had a unpleasant dream, and it cost me sleep. Yes I know I look tired, yes I have dark circles under my eyes. Now drop the matter, there are more important matters than my well being."
"Has anyone else said that you have a angry fire in your eyes? As well as a lonely look behind the fire?"
"Yes, th-... actually no. No they haven't said that. And why would you say that?"
"I think there was more to this "dream" than you are letting on. Is that true?" Tempest had a very worried look on.
He didn't reply for a few minutes, all he did was stare at the papers on his desk. Finally, he made his reply.
"No Tempest, nothing out of the normal. Now, please, leave. I have to get this done, then I need to make a trip around the castle."
"Alright sir, happy Hearts and Hooves....."
"And Happy Hearts and Hooves to you."
"Oh and sir, this letter came for you. someone dropped it off to me, saying hand this to you."
"Ugh, alright, hand it over."
"But there is one more detail, the pony who dropped it off said that you should open this tonight, when you are home."
"Why? Eh, who cares..."
He went to open the letter, and as he started to open it, there was a complication. It wouldn't open.
"Hmm, I guess whoever it was put a sealing spell on it to make sure I opened it at home. Well played."
He looked over the letter's envelope, it had a small dark red heart sealing the flap, and it had his name written in long, elegant letters. He didn't recognize the writing, so he had no idea who wrote it.
"Well, thank you for delivering the letter to me."
"No problem General. have a nice day, hope you feel better. And try to get a better sleep tonight."
"I will try Tempest, I will try."
After Tempest Feather left, Hydregarn put the letter in a pocket on the strip of fabric that is attached to the side plate of his armor. After he was done sorting letters, reports and other things, and after he had completed his tour of the barracks and training courses, he made his way to the throne room to meet with Celestia. Before he got there, he cast an illusion spell so he could avoid questioning by the princess.
"Ah, hello Hydregarn. you here a little later than usual this week."
"There were more letters this time than usual."
"I still do not understand why you only go through the mail once a week. And today off all days! I bet you got a few letters in the mail, didn't you?"
"No I didn't, you got at least thirty though. Don't worry, I didn't read them."
"Okay, well I have heard from a few employees that you were not feeling to good, but I see you are just fine."
"Why would I not be fine?"
"I don't know."
"Alright, is there anything you need me to do before I head out to check over the hearts and hooves parade?"
"Yes there is one thing you can do."
"And that is?"
"Hold still."
She shot a magic bolt at Hydregarn and his guise was dispelled.
"There, now I can clearly see that you are NOT okay. What happened to you?"
"Nothing happened to me Celestia. Now, I am going over to the parade preparations."
"General, You need to stop keeping all of us in the dark about what you are going through, let us at least try and offer a way to-."
He just kept walking away as Celestia was talking. This time, he didn't even make a noise. Hydregarn just walked out, but his head was hanging.
"It's the same with him every year, I know he wants someone, but it is like he is too afraid to pursue them..."
Hydregarn left to oversee the preparations for the floats and other things. The parade would be held at two this afternoon, and run for the next 4 hours, so he had a long route to plan, and he had to be next to Celestia the entire time. The thought sent a shiver down his spine, after how he acted, Celestia would not let him get away with it.
Later after he spent at least an hour setting the routes and other things needed for the parade, he left back to the castle to get Celestia. She was just about ready to leave when he arrived. When he walked in, he saw the outfit she would be wearing for the occasion. she didn't normally wear anything for parades, but she decided last minute that she would wear something. what Hydregarn saw amazed him. The dress was a long red gown, a big ribbon wrapped around her neck, and new, crimson hoof guards to match the rest of her outfit.
"Wow, you look stunning Princess."
She blushed heavily, "Oh, th-thank you, but I'm sure I can't look that much different..."
"You still can't take a compliment, can you?"
Her blush deepened, "Sh-shut up! You never take any compliments I give you!"
"Well, I have an excuse to pass them by. I don't look anywhere near as beautiful as you."
Celestia didn't think her blush could get any deeper, but it managed.
"Come on General, we might be late for the parade..."
"Your right, let us go. Ladies first." He said as they both got to the door.
Celestia just couldn't help but think that she might never fully understand this man, One minute he doesn't even respond to you and pushes you away in his time of support, the next he like this, the near perfect gentlecolt.
She shook her head to clear the thought from her head, "I can't be starting to feel for him, can I?" She thought to herself.
"Celestia, you are falling behind. If you don't speed up I am just going to go home and leave you to do this alone this year."
"You never want to do this anyway, so what does it matter what you do?"
"So you WANT me to leave?"
"No, that's not it! it's just you always seem so indifferent about this time of year, and it is about being with the ones you care about. And don't seem to be getting with the festivities like everypony else. I might be the princess of Equestria, but I still take some time to take part!"
"Well, I'm here now, so isn't that enough to satisfy you?"
"I guess..."
They were nearing the main float after a few minutes, where Hydregarn stated, "By the way Celestia, you are still blushing."
"I am!? I thought it stopped!
"It did, but not anymore, it just flared up again."
"Oh you're awful!"
"You are not the only one who can cause a few blushes."
"Touché, Hydregarn, touché."
After they got in the float, it took off at the leisurely pace it always does. Both of them waving at the ponies who lined the streets to see the parade. It was a huge turn out, there were nearly twice the normal amount that usually show up. This made the general a bit uneasy, Celestia might get an idea of a joke. But to him, her version of a joke is torture.
After about three hours, there were still a great number of ponies in the streets, some of the Pegasus got up on the roofs. Just so they could get a good look at the two in the main float. The decorations were everywhere and the ones who set up the décor didn't skimp on anything. And as always, there were hearts over every tunnel that lead under a bridge. There was a tradition that went along with this, if you were with somepony, and you found yourself under said hearts, the mare must kiss the stallion. It did not matter where, they just had to kiss the other.
Hydregarn had carefully planned the route to avoid any and all bridges. He didn't want anypony getting anywhere near him going under those hearts, he didn't consider himself that type of man. Besides, who would want to kiss someone like him?
"Well this was a massive turn out, huh General?" Celestia laughed.
"Yes, it was. I wonder what the motivation was for this."
"I guess everypony just decided to come!"
Another few minutes went by. Then the float they were on made a wrong turn, but it was easy to fix. Just two lefts and a right and then they were back in the normal route. But after the first left, Hydregarn saw what he had been dreading, a bridge with a large heart, and they had to move under it to get to the normal route. And this made the mighty Hydregarn, start to panic slightly.
"Uh, driver? Is there any way to avoid the bridge?"
"Nope, sorry sir. This is the only way."
"Oh hell...."
As they crossed under the bridge, a mighty wave of cheers went through the crowds. And they all started to chant, "Do it!"
Hydregarn slowly looked to his right, and he saw Celestia blushing heavily, but she had a small smile.
"Well, we both know the tradition, and you hear the crowd..."
Hydregarn was blushing just as hard as Celestia when he said, "Fine, but only on the cheek!"
"Alright. But can I ask you to do something?"
"What is it?"
"C-could you....I don't know... hold me while I did it? You don't have to if you d-"
"If it is what you want Celestia, than so be it."
Celestia made the biggest smile she had ever made as she walked over to him. His large arms wrapped around her, holding her close, she felt so safe in his arms. They held that embrace, looking at each other for a few moments, then Celestia gave him his kiss on the cheek. The crowd of ponies absolutely lost it.
"Well, how was that?" Celestia asked.
But when she opened her eyes, Hydregarn was staring blankly at her.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing,it is just that, that was the first kiss I had ever received..."
"Really?"
"Yes. It was....it.... I cannot describe it."
"You don't have to, as long as you liked it, I'm happy."
"Th-thank you Celestia...."
He still didn't smile, but she could see it in his eyes.
That night when he returned to his home, he reflected on the days events.
Even though all other ponies were terrified of him, Celestia still cared about him. He could not explain the feelings he had within himself. He was happy, truly happy, for the first time in his life. Because he knew no matter what happened, Celestia would always be his friend, and always be there for him.
He was sitting in his living room, a large fire blazed in the fireplace, heating the entire room with ease. he was sitting close to it, as he always does. Then he remembered the letter he got from Tempest Feather. This time when he tried to open it, it did allow him to see its contents.
But as he opened it, he hesitated. He stared at it for a long time. He then made up his mind.
He got up, threw the letter into the fire, and left toward his bedroom. But on this night, his dreams were pleasant and carefree for the first time, in a very, very long time.