Gobbled

***Part 1: Nightlock***

The bell sounded, signaling the end of the school day.

"Alright, class, that concludes our time for today. I am not assigning you any homework, tonight. Be sure to have a fun, and safe, Nightmare Night!"

Fillies and colts cheered as Miss Cheerilee waved them goodbye from the door. Within the span of a few moments, the entire schoolhouse was emptie, except for Pipsqueak and the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Pip quietly packed his saddlebags while he overheard the Crusaders' plans for Nightmare Night.

"I don't know about you two," Scootaloo said as she brought a hoof to her chest. "But I have the scariest costume in the history of costumes!"

"What is it?" Sweetie Belle asked curiously. "You've been so secretive about it for the past week."

Pip double checked his desk to make sure he wasn't leaving behind anything important.

Books: Check

Quill: Check

Flowers: X

Pip's heart leaped into his throat as he searched in desperation for the Nightlock flowers he had bought earlier that morning on his way to school.

"What are ya' doin', Pipsqueak?" Apple Bloom asked.

Startled, Pip bumped his head on the underside of his desk.

"Oh... I, um... N-Nothing..." Pip stuttered as his cheeks flushed a red hue.

Sweetie Belle didn't buy it for a second.

"You're obviously looking for something, Pip. If you tell us what it is, maybe we can help you find it." The little unicorn said.

Pip let out a nervous sigh as he through his saddlebag over his back.

"I... I lost my... flowers..." He said at last.

After a moment of silence, the Crusaders erupted into laughter. Pip made a face that resembled shock and confusion.

"Flowers? That's what you're so worked up over?" Scootaloo asked as her laughter died down. "Ponyville is, like, littered with flowers. Just go pick some."

"I'll help." Sweetie Belle said sweetly as they walked out of the schoolhouse with Pip.

Pip shook his head.

"It's not that simple." He said. "These weren't regular flowers. These were Nightlock flowers."

"Nightlock?" Sweetie Bell asked in a surprised tone. "Really? Those are, like, really rare in Ponyville. Who is the lucky filly?"

Pipsqueak's cheeks burned, and he turned his head to try to hide the red hue.

"N... No pony..." Said Pip with an uneasy, forced smile. "I just got them for... you know..."

Sweetie Belle made an unimpressed look, and Apple Bloom giggled.

"No pony gets Nightlock flowers for the heck of it." Apple Bloom said. "Come on, Pip. Please, won't ya' tell us who she is?"

After several moments of hesitation, Pipsqueak exhaled a long sigh.

"I... I got them for Princess Luna..."

"Really? Princess Luna?" Scootaloo asked with a surprised tone.

Pip nodded his head.

"I was going to give them to her at the festival, but I must have dropped them somewhere..."

Apple Bloom gave Pip a quick salute.

"Say no more, Pip. The Crusaders are on it!"

Like a switch being flipped, Pipsqueak's hopes were lifted again.

"R...Really? You'll help me find them?"

"Of course, Pip." Sweetie Belle said with a cheerful grin. "We'll always have your back."

Pipsqueak smiled. His grin stretched from ear to ear.

"Oh, thank you Crusaders!" Said Pip with excitement. "I need to get home right away to fix my costume..."

"Don't you worry your tail off." Scootaloo said as she ushered Pipsqeak down the sidewalk. "You get going. We'll get those Nightlock flowers for you."

Without another word, Pipsqeak took off. There was still much to do before the princess' arrival.

***Part 2: Royal Preparations***

"Luna..." A gentle voice whispered. "Luuuuuuna... It's time to wake up, Luna."

The princess groaned as she fell out of her sleep-induced state and into reality. Her eyes fluttered open, and Luna found herself looking into the eyes of her elder sister.

"Good afternoon, Luna." Celestia said with a warm smile. "The time is almost upon us."

"Wha... What time?" Luna asked sleepily.

Celestia cocked her head.

"Nightmare Night? Your celebration? Come now, Luna. Get out of bed."

"M...My celery nation?"

Luna tried to lay her head back down. She wanted to go back to sleep, but Celestia had other ideas. The princess let out a yelp as her sheets were torn away, exposing her to the cold.

"Give them back..." Luna groaned as she sat up.

"You may have them back after you get out of bed and join me to in the wardrobe." Said Celestia with a stern look.

Luna glared at her elder sister, but she complied. With some effort, the princess managed to fall over the side of the bed.

"There... I'm up..." Luna said as she shakily got to her hooves.

Satisfied, Celestia tossed the sheets back onto the bed.

"We only have a few hours." Celestia explained as Luna followed her into the hall. "That should be enough time to pick out costumes, yes?"

"Perhaps, I should attend the festival as Nightmare Moon. Do you think that will be frightening, sister?"

Celestia let out a light chuckle.

"I have a feeling it will be very frightening, sister. I was thinking of attending while dressed as my favorite comic hero, Bat Mare..."

Celestia made a silly pose that extracted laughter from her Luna.

"Yes... Please, do that, Tia." Luna said through her snickering. "It will be very entertaining to see you dressed as Bat Mare."

Celestia bit her lower lip as her mind drifted to other thoughts.

"What about the festival dance?" She asked carefully. "Will you be going with anypony special?"

Luna shook her head.

"I will not, sister. I will only attend with fun intentions in my heart. What of yourself? Will you have a special partner?"

Celestia blushed as a response to Luna's question.

"I... I am going to ask Twilight to be my partner..."

Luna raised an eyebrow.

"Twilight? Twilight Sparkle? Sister, I had no idea you shared feelings for her."

This only made Celestia's cheeks turn a darker shade of red. Her breathing grew short and irregular.

"I do have feelings for her, Luna. I have for a long time. I do hope she feels the same..."

Luna grinned and bumped her flank against her elder sister's.

"Worry not, Tia. Twilight adores you. I am certain her response will be in thine favor."

Celestia let out a sigh of relief, and she draped a wing over Luna's back.

"Thank you, Luna. It means a lot to hear you say that."

The two princesses stopped outside of the wardrobe. Inside sat dozens of racks. Each held a large amount of clothes, dresses, gowns, armor, and costumes.

"A hundred bits says I can find my costume before you find yours..." Celestia said just before disappearing into the wardrobe.

"You are on, sister!"

Luna dove in after Celestia. The race was underway.

***TO BE CONTINUED***