//------------------------------//
// Prologue 
// Story: Umbratara: The Garden of Shadows 
// by Kipakuta 
//------------------------------//

"Thus, have our petitioners dwindled down to a single sheaf." A dark blue alicorn sighed, looking at a clipboard that floated a few hooflengths from her face. "Nay...no longer even thus." She noted that the lower half of the sheet was devoid of names.

"Don't tell me that you miss their buffoonish antics in trying to win your favor." A lime-green unicorn remarked.

"Dear Lime, did I object at first, but after the first turn of the moon, it did become a familiar routine." The alicorn set the clipboard down. "Did I anticipate it ending soon or late, but I do not know why it doth irk me so."

"Maybe because you now have a bunch of free time, and nothing to fill it with, My Princess." Lime replied.

An armored unicorn guard entered the throne room. "Your Highness, Twilight Sparkle and a guest are here for an audience."

"Ah, do show them in." Luna stated. The guard bowed and left, returning a moment later with the Lavender unicorn, and a small brown and white colt. "Pipsqueak!" Luna raised an eyebrow in surprise. The colt smiled widely, then scampered over to Luna.

"I missed you so much." The colt exclaimed, hugging one of her front legs. "I aksed Twilight if she could bring me up here to visit."

"And I made sure to get his parent's permission." The lavender unicorn added. Luna stroked Pip with her other front hoof.

"In sooth, We did miss thee as well." Luna smiled. "And thou canst stay out late? Surely thy parents would want thee well rested."

Pipsqueak shook his head. "It's summer, I don't gotta go to school. I can stay up as long as I want, and I like staying up and looking at your moon."

Luna chuckled. "We recall in our youth, that we did not get the Summer for leisure."

Pip's eyes widened as he looked up to Luna. "You didn't get Summer vacation? Why not?"

"T'was a diff'rent time, Young Pip." She gestured for Twilight and Lime to sit closer. "In our younger days, education was the province of the Nobility. Though there were trade guilds, they carefully limited who could learn their skills. A pony like thyself would only e'er know life on a farm."

"Awww." Pipsqueak grumbled. "I don' wanna work on no farm. I wanna be a pirate when I grow up." He reared up and posed playfully. "Arrrrr!"

"Perhaps we could open 'Luna's school for aspiring pirates.'" Lime stated.

"A school for Pirates?!" Luna quirked an eyebrow. "And what would pirates learn at this school, dear maid?"

"Swordplay, ship rigging, rope swinging, dressing in style, and the art of the witty remark." Lime grinned. "All skills that successful pirates have mastered."

"Mrs Sherbert." Twilight raised a hoof. "I think that since those were learned on the job, that it would be more of a guild than a school."

"Yeah, I wanna be in a pirate guild." Pip bounced in place.

Luna held a hoof to her mouth and giggled. "But if thou wert in a guild, thou would be subject to their rules. And thou would have to pay a tithe."

"What's a tive?"

"A tithe." Luna corrected. "It means that thou wouldst be required to give a portion of thy loot to the ship's captain."

"Wait, there is a solution." Lime interjected. "If he becomes a privateer in your service, that means he pays the tithe to you."

"Yeah, I wanna be in service to the Princess. Privateer Pipsqueak, pirate in service to Luna."

The princess leaned down to nuzzle him. "But thou art a trifle short to be a pirate or a privateer." She smiled. "Fret not, Dear Pip. When thou art independent of thy parents, We wouldst gladly accept thee into our service. For now, Thou canst serve us by enjoying thine colthood. Thou shalt never have another chance at it." Twilight and Lime nodded in agreement.

"Ummmm, Princess Luna?" He gave her an inquisitive look.

"Aye, Pipsqueak?"

"What was your foalhood like?"

Luna blinked. "Thou wishest to hear of mine own youth?" Pipsqueak nodded. "Very well. It begins over a thousand years ago..."