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// A Gift From The Moon 
// Story: A Study In Nonsense 
// by Professor Piggy 
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Pipsqueak was smiling, a broad, glowing smile that stretched across his face as he bounced up and down where he stood babbling excitedly. Gently, she placed a hoof atop his head and guided him back down to the earth, hoping fervently that his youthful merriment had not drawn attention to their hiding place.

Pipsqueak was smiling, and his smile was infectious. Like a plague it spread, down through his tiny hooves and across the ground, worming its way up through her and coming to rest in her heart. Pipsqueak was smiling, and Luna smiled with him.

The pair watched silently from within the leafy embrace of one of the many bushes that had come to dot the area now called Ponyville during her long absence, eyes fixed upon the door to the schoolhouse. Both were trembling with excitement – Pipsqueak for the coming fruition of his old and secret dream, and Luna in simple delight at the joy she was about to bring to the young pony who had shown her that ‘twas not the whole world that saw her as a monster.

The door creaked open, and the face of the teacher appeared in the doorway. Luna had to repress a royal giggle as she recalled the expression on that one’s face when she had strode into the school before the rising of the sun and informed her that Pipsqueak would not be in attendance. Certainly she was no monster, but would be dishonest to say that she did not sometimes enjoy the awe in her subject’s faces at the sight of their Princess.

The little ponies began to depart the structure one by one, and she watched them. A portly grey colt, exiting alone – the expression on his face made Luna consider inviting him to join them, but ‘twould have been too great a risk to their cover – a white and red filly with a cutie mark of candy canes. Perhaps some relation to Pinkamena Diane Pie. The littlest Apple. A small white unicorn singing softly as she went. And two fillies, one grey and one pink, gazing at the ponies around them with nothing but contempt.

To her surprise it was then that her young companion tugged at her leg and whispered, “That’s her! Diamond Tiara! She’s the one!”

Luna couldn’t help but curl her lip slightly at the questionable taste exhibited by a colt she intended to one day have in her guard, but the choice was not hers to make. She forced a small, dignified smile onto her face and whispered “Then let us go forth and claim her heart,” before she burst forth from the bush and stood towering over the tiny, terrified fillies.

“LADY DIAMOND TIARA!” She greeted them calmly “WE ARE HONOURED TO INFORM THEE THAT THOU HAST GARNERED THE ATTENTION OF THE KINDEST AND MOST NOBLE COLT IN ALL OF PONYVILLE. AS YOUR PRINCESS WE HAVE GIVEN HIM OUR ROYAL FAVOUR, AND HE HAST REQUESTED THAT YOU BE INVITED TO A FEAST!”

The pink filly stared up at her, shaking violently, as the grey one bolted away down the road as fast as her hooves would carry her. Frowning, Luna cleared her throat and tried again.

“I apologise if I was somewhat overenthusiastic. My dear friend Sir Pipsqueak was wondering if you would do him the honour of joining him for dinner at the palace this evening.”

The filly didn’t stop shaking, but her eyes widened and she bobbed her head up and down with a sob and let out a choked “Okay.”

Luna smiled. And she knew that Pipsqueak was smiling, too.

———

Pipsqueak was smiling as he gazed across the table at her, eyes wide and bright with love and adoration. It was not often that Luna saw that expression, on any face, and so she allowed herself to bask in it for just a moment. Then she bowed to him, face solemn. After a short moment, he returned the gesture, as was tradition.

“PIPSQUEAK OF PONYVILLE.” She began softly, “THOU HAST BEEN CHOSEN, ONE FROM AMONG THE MANY, AS THE FIRST IN A MILLENIA TO ENTER INTO THE RANKS OF THE PERSONAL GUARD OF LUNA, PRINCESS OF EQUESTRIA AND MAIDEN OF THE NIGHT! DOST THOU ACCEPT THIS CHARGE, KNOWING THAT YOU MAY NEVER AGAIN RETURN TO THE LIFE YOU ONCE KNEW?”

For a moment, Pipsqueak hesitated. And then his face became grim, and he nodded firmly. “I accept, Princess Luna.”

Unable to help herself she reached over and pulled him into a tight embrace, proud tears trailing down her face as she whispered. “I’m so proud of you, little one.”

And then she cleared her throat and continued. “THOU HAST CHOSEN A PONY THAT YOU FEEL IS A DRAIN ON EQUESTRIA, WHOM BY THE VERY DRAWING OF EACH BREATH IS A BURDEN UPON OUR FAIR NATION. WE, WHO RULE OVER THIS LAND, HAVE ABSOLUTE FAITH IN YOUR JUDGEMENT, AND THE SENTENCE HAS BEEN PASSED.”

As her gaze fell on the shaking, terrified filly Luna felt a momentary pang of regret. She pushed it aside – if Pipsqueak claimed this filly was evil, Luna had to believe him. And there was no going back now.

“THIS PONY SHALL DIE BY YOUR HOOVES, AND IN DEVOURING HER HEART AND HER FLESH YOU SHALL ALSO GAIN THE MAGIC THAT FLOWS THROUGH HER VEINS. WHEN NOT A SCRAP REMAINS I WILL USE MY POWER TO BESTOW UPON YOU THE GIFT OF THE CHANGE, AND THOU SHALT BE BOUND TO MY SERVICE FOREVER!”

Pipsqueak nodded, and picked up the knife with shaking hooves. Luna watched as he began to cut, his technique brutal and ineffective. The screams of this filly would haunt her for many years to come. But she was a necessary sacrifice. As they had all been.

Luna smiled, and her smile was infectious. Pipsqueak grinned up at her as Diamond Tiara finally stopped screaming, and he began to feast.