Valaskjalf, Asgard

Tucked away in a secluded corner of the palace barracks amidst the clatter of blunted weapons and training gear, a raven-haired boy and his equally dark-haired sister lay waiting for their target.

"Will he come?" Diana whispered with barely maintained nervousness and impatient. The sun-kissed skin of her cheek glimmered faintly in the dim light of the barracks. She had long known her second older brother loved his pranks, but she had never understood the thrill Loki found in them. Driven by curiosity, Diana had asked to join him in one of his escapades. Now, as they waited, the minutes stretched into what felt like an eternity. Why would her brother enjoy this so?

"Yes. He will, any second now." Loki assured her, pulling her lower into their hideout behind an aged crate.

Loki Odinson started to regret his decision at this point despite finding no fault in his reasoning for bringing Diana along earlier on. Their prey could surely never stay mad at Diana, or Loki for that matter, for long, if at all. All around them laid wooden equipment meant to train children in the arts of combat, and they were as safe as weapons go. If their mother or father ever found out, then Loki would be the one to receive a stern scolding and a long talk–which never seemed to bother him before, at least not too much–full of disapproving looks and disappointed words. But not to Diana. Regardless, the actual problem that bothered him was his younger sister.

"But how are you so sure?" she pressed, restlessness edging on her tone.

Loki let out a sigh as he felt his patience waning. "I just do, Diana."

"Really?" She prodded further.

Visibly irked, Loki flickered his annoyance across his face. "Yes, Diana. For the last time, he is coming."

"But will he see us?" Diana couldn't resist sneaking another peek over the crate they were hiding behind. Her eyes darted toward the room's entrance, scanning for any sign of movement.

"No, he won't. Now, hush!" Loki instinctively yanked her back into hiding. However, he made sure not to do so too forcefully.

Loki hadn't anticipated his sister's constant questioning and her inability to sit still for just a single moment. Yet, given Diana's unending curiosity about everything around her, he should have. No one could be perfect after all, not even him.

Before long, their target, a blonde-haired boy burdened with an unwieldy stack of wooden shields, stumbled into the room. The awkward and audible hammering of his feet against the floor echoed as he fought to keep the shields from toppling over. A smile spread across Loki's face. This was it.

Loki glanced down at Diana and silently counted down with his fingers. As he folded down the last finger and their target neared their location, the two siblings leaped from their hiding spot and shouted. "Surprise!"

"Gahhhhh!" Thor screamed at the top of his lungs and fell backward in surprise. The pile of shields was thrown and clattered around the room while his arms flailed aimlessly to protect himself from any perceived threat. When the only sound that followed was a small girl's giggle, Thor began patting himself down furiously as if searching for something missing.

"What are you doing, dear brother?" Loki's grin widened as he watched Thor.

"Checking for stab wounds, obviously." Thor replied with a huff, his tone almost indignant as he continued his frantic patting.

"Stab wounds?" Diana's laughter gave way to a puzzled look as she turned toward Loki.

"Oh, he's just being a baby." Loki said, waving off the concern with a flick of his hand. He glanced at Diana and quickly added. "No offense, Diana."

Diana frowned at that. She was not a baby. Everyone liked to treat her like one, but she knew what a baby was. She was not that.

The moment of sibling banter was interrupted as they realized Thor had finally stood up and noticed his younger sister. "Diana? Are you in on this madness? Why are you bringing her into your schemes, Loki?"

Before Loki could adequately defend himself or at least misdirect Thor's nagging, a golden opportunity shoved itself into the room in the form of the old peg-legged combat instructor Kvasir. "Prince Thor! When I said to 'just throw the shields in a corner,' I didn't mean it literally…"

Upon stepping into the chaos that now consumed his weapon storage, Kvasir found himself momentarily at a loss for words. His gaze shifted silently between the three royal children— their expressions a mix of anxiousness and surprise— and the sprawling mess that now surrounded them. The clatter of shields still echoed faintly in the air, another reminder of the chaos that had just unfolded. The sight before him painted a vivid picture of youthful shenanigans clashing with the orderly discipline he so rigorously enforced on Prince Thor.

The tense silence was quickly shattered by Thor's panicked yell. "RUN!"

The three children quickly rushed in the opposite direction of the instructor. Loki led them to a familiar window, already calculating their escape. "This way!"

With a nimble leap, Loki vanished through the opening. His sudden appearance outside caused a stir in the training yard.

Diana, smaller and unable to reach as easily, felt herself being lifted effortlessly by Thor with his hands secured under her arms. "I got you, Diana. Loki, help me here!"

Loki reached in to grab his sister's hands, pulling her through the window. Thor followed swiftly behind.

The instructor's furious shouts followed suit. "Come back here right now! My princes! Princess!"

Diana glanced back, a pang of remorse striking her as she saw the mess they had left behind. But before she could linger on the thought, Thor hoisted her onto his shoulder, sealing her fate. Carried swiftly away from the scene of their mischief, all Diana could do was shout. "I'm sorry!" over her back as the three siblings ran from the training yard, leaving onlookers staring agape.

______________________________

Idavollr, Asgard

Having left the echo of their footsteps in the training yard far behind, Thor and Loki came to a breathless halt in the palace garden. Diana, no longer perched on Thor's back, joined her brothers as they stood amid the tranquil beauty of the palace garden. Despite the Idavollr's serene calmness, it did little to soothe the crown prince's escalating panic.

Thor glanced at Diana, who was utterly mesmerized by her surroundings and whispered urgently to Loki. "Surtur's fiery orbs, I have to see Kvasir every day for combat training! What am I going to do?"

Loki's face split into a grin of amusement. "I wouldn't trade places with you right now, brother."

Thor shot back with his brows furrowed. "You'll be joining me soon enough, Loki! Then we'll see who'll be laughing."

"I would not worry about instructor Kvasir at the moment." Loki's smile faded and was replaced by a look of realization. "Sooner or later, father or mother will learn of this, and they will have our hides."

With those words, the solemn mood enveloped Thor further than before, mirroring his brother's concern as they pondered the punishment they would face in the not-so-distant future.

Meanwhile, Diana flitted about, her attention captured by a distant sound unnoticed by her brothers.

"Diana. What's wrong?" Loki inquired, puzzled by his sister's unusual quietness.

"The singing. Do you not hear it?" She asked, her brows knitted together in confusion.

"I can't hear anything. Do you?" Thor asked, turning to Loki with a questioning look.

Loki shook his head. "No. Not at all."

"There it is again!" Diana exclaimed, her voice lifting with excitement as she raced toward the source of the mysterious melody.

"Maybe we should bring her back to the healer, Thor." Loki suggested, his brow creasing with worry. "You might have run a little bit too quickly."

"Not any faster than I usually run. We better follow her before she's gone to who knows where." Thor responded, a note of concern lacing his voice.

"Yes. I can hear you!" Diana shouted, prompting the trio to navigate swiftly through the colossal trees in The Garden of Asgard.

"There you are!" Diana exclaimed, halting abruptly and pointing upwards with evident excitement. Thor and Loki, following her gaze, were equally taken aback by the spectacle before them—a squirrel clad in an improvised bark armor skillfully tucking one of Idunn's golden apples into its leafy pouch. Remarkably, the apple, which was initially much larger than the squirrel, diminished in size to fit perfectly into the miniature bag.

Thor's tight grip collapsed around Loki's arm without missing a beat.

"Stop doing that!" Loki yelped. He wrestled his arm away from Thor's grasp with a mix of irritation and shock at his behavior. "What's gotten into you, Thor?"

"Just checking if you are conjuring your illusions or not." Thor said defensively.

"So you are seeing that too?" Loki's astonishment was unmistakable.

"Yes, noble squirrel. I can understand you." Diana responded, watching as the squirrel's face contorted in what appeared to be a blend of offense and disbelief, its tiny arms flailing angrily. "Oh, I'm sorry, Sir Ratatoskr. I've never heard singing like yours before. I simply couldn't resist seeking you out."

The brothers were astounded as the supposedly Ratatoskr appeared to acknowledge their sister with a nod, its demeanor almost smug. Thor's eyes widened in disbelief as Ratatoskr disappeared from one branch and then, as if by magic, reappeared from the roots of another tree, now significantly closer to them.

Diana's cheers filled the air as the squirrel demonstrated what seemed like teleportation. However, Loki noted that it was not all that strange for mages of sufficient powers to do something similar. The keyword was 'mages' here, not a Ymir forbidden squirrel. Ratatoskr then gracefully bowed to Diana as if he were a seasoned performer acknowledging his audience.

Thor turned to Loki, his mouth agape. "She's speaking to a squirrel! I can't do that! Can you do that?"

Loki just sighed deeply before answering. "No, Thor. I can not do that. She may be blessed with the All-tongue."

"Hey! Don't say that." Diana's protest interrupted their discussion. The squirrel had comfortably nestled atop her head. "That's not nice! They're not idiots; They're my brothers!"

Thor somewhat begrudgingly declared. "I don't know if I like this squirrel, brother." Loki merely nodded, acknowledging Thor's sentiment without voicing his own.

Ratatoskr looked confused at Diana's words before it responded to Diana with chirps incomprehensible to the two boys.

Diana seemed to argue with the squirrel. "We do look alike! See? Thor's eyes share my blue, and Loki's hair is as dark as mine!"

"What is it saying, Diana?" Loki sensed the direction of their conversation and was visibly concerned. Diana's heritage, the result of a union between an Olympian and a Midgardian, was a delicate subject in Asgard, typically avoided in discussions, especially with Diana around. Mother had been determined she would ease the topic with Diana herself. From Thor's expression, Loki could tell he was of the same thought.

Suddenly, Ratatoskr spoke with a clear, high-pitched voice. "Ah...testing, testing. There! Now I can speak for myself."

"It can talk!" Thor exclaimed in astonishment.

"Of course, I can talk! I am the great and mighty Ratatoskr. The Realm Traveller, The Storyteller, The Messenger, The…" Ratatoskr began its grand self-introduction and then trailed off. "I'm curious, tell me. This is Asgard, right? Did I find the wrong branch again?"

Loki confirmed. "Yes, this is Asgard. Why do you ask?"

Ratatoskr, unfazed by Thor's attempt to shoo it away, clambered onto Thor's shoulder and sniffed him. "Well, you, the burly blonde. You smell right."

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Leaping to the ground, Ratatoskr continued. "But she carries the scent of an Oly…"

"Ollyyhhhhh? You shouldn't talk about people's smell like that." Thor interjected loudly, clasping the squirrel's mouth shut

In unison, Loki maneuvered himself behind Diana, promptly placing his hands over her ears in a protective gesture. Despite Diana's best efforts to free herself from Loki's grasp, her attempts were without success. She struggled, pushing and pulling at his arms, but Loki's determination to shield her from hearing more was too much for the poor girl.

"For the love of all The Nine, don't divulge what you were about to say." Loki pleaded as Diana struggled in the background, her protests echoing.

"Agh!" Thor cried out in surprise as Ratatoskr retaliated by sinking its teeth into his hand before wriggling free.

"That was for touching me without permission. I am not a mere animal, boy." Ratatoskr retorted, dusting itself off with a hint of indignation.

"You bit me! Like an animal!" Thor complained, looking at his wounded hand.

Seeing Ratatoskr's action succeed, Diana attempted to mimic it in frustration toward Loki, but her brother's hold remained firm, preventing her bite.

"I never said I wasn't one, either. However, I can not fathom why you are here on Asgard." Ratatoskr remarked, pointing a clawed finger in Loki's and Diana's direction.

Loki retorted through gritted teeth, his irritation evident. "She's here because she's our sister! It is none of your concern!"

"Why is he pointing at us? Release me now! This isn't fair!" Diana continued to struggle, her voice tinged with annoyance.

In response to Loki's statement, Ratatoskr simply hummed, acknowledging the reply. "Interesting. Very well, brat."

Loki nodded, releasing Diana, who shot him a sharp look and redirected her focus to the traveller.

"Mind how you address my brother, squirrel. You are talking to a prince of the House of Odin." Thor's temper flared.

Ratatoskr glanced at Loki briefly. "The children of Odin, huh? You look like one. Though… never mind." He decided his train of thought was not worth pursuing. A Jotun can sire a half-Jotun, but Ratatoskr had never seen a half-Jotun sire a full Jotun before, or an Olympian for all that matter. 'Odin had picked up an interesting hobby since I was here last.'

"How did you bypass Heimdall? You're clearly not of Asgard, or you would have known who we were." Loki interjected suspiciously.

"As if the Gatekeeper could have spotted me, I traverse the realms at my whim, princeling." Ratatoskr boasted. "And, this journey has been full of surprises. My wife will relish hearing about you three."

"Wait! You have a wife? Can she speak like you do? Is she here?" Diana's curiosity was rekindled.

"Yes. Yes. No. I fear if she is to appear in Asgard, she might topple the realm over by her sheer might." Ratatoskr explained, a note of laughter in his voice.

"What kind of squirrel can do that?" Thor mused aloud, baffled by the notion.

"The kind that's not a squirrel at all. Talking about a wife, I better bring my love these delightful treats." Ratatoskr remarked, patting its satchel before turning its attention back to the siblings. "And the fascinating gossip you three provided."

"Wait! Don't leave yet! I have so many questions. Please stay, I have snacks!" Diana pleaded and eagerly pulled out a handful of walnuts and leaking smashed grapes from the inner pockets of her dress.

Ratatoskr looked at the smush dripping from Diana's hands and hesitantly replied. "An enticing offer, but the day draws to a close, and I miss my wife dearly. Perhaps another time. I shall accept your hospitality when I'm inclined to visit."

"I'd prefer if you didn't visit at all." Thor muttered under his breath, his frustration evident. Yet, Ratatoskr disregarded him, and Diana scolded Thor with a light punch.

"Don't be rude!" She chided, going back to the squirrel. "How would I know when you are in Asgard next?"

"Tell you what, princess. Since I like you much better than your brothers, you will be the first to know when I grace Asgard with my presence once more." Ratatoskr replied.

Diana's joy was palpable. "It's a promise!"

"Indeed. And don't forget the snacks!" Ratatoskr bowed, then stealthily vanished behind a tree trunk, leaving no trace behind.

As Ratatoskr receded into the unknown, the three siblings exchanged bewildered glances, still trying to process the bizarre encounter they had just experienced.

Thor examined his bite mark, his expression a mix of irritation and disbelief. "Well, that was... unexpected."

______________________________

East Wing, Valaskjalf, Asgard

Diana leaped onto the giant bed, feeling dwarfed by its size. Frigga's assurance that she would eventually grow into it felt far-fetched to Diana. To her, all the adults seemed like giants, and she couldn't imagine ever growing that large. She had even asked her mother if Thor and Loki could move into her room because her bed was way too big, but her request was denied on the grounds of royal decorum. Whatever that was. Though disappointed, Diana accepted her mother's decision. Still, that didn't deter her brothers from sneaking into her room late at night, much to her delight. Those nights were her favorite.

As Frigga tucked her adoptive daughter in for the night, Diana's expression changed with the currents of her thoughts. After seeing their sister back in her room, Thor and Loki immediately went to Odin and her to tell their tale of meeting the old rascal in The Garden. Odin and Frigga had to spend the entire dinner explaining why Diana shouldn't talk to strangers, especially magical creatures such as Ratatoskr. Frigga was not sure if the girl understood the danger of it all since Diana continued to proclaim that Ratatoskr was now her friend and friends should be welcomed to Asgard.

Frigga had expected, sooner or later, that someone, specifically her sons, would inevitably slip up when talking to Diana, or Frigga would spill out everything to her daughter due to her continuously growing love for the girl. However, the unexpected appearance of The World Tree's Squirrel had caught her off guard.

Loki had reassured Frigga that Diana remained oblivious to her true origins, but Frigga knew her daughter was astute. She had no doubt that Diana had sensed something was amiss. So Frigga comfortably stayed in silence for the girl's inevitable barrage of questions about what she saw, learned, or heard during the day. Children of this age were inquisitive like that.

"Mother, why do I not look like you or father?" Diana blurted out without warning and Frigga's heart skipped a beat at the whims of a child.

"My stars, I had hoped for us to have this conversation when you are a bit older." Frigga replied gently, her fingers tracing invisible patterns on Diana's hand.

"I am plenty old!" Diana protested.

"Not old enough to stop these wrinkling fingers" To elevate some of the tension she felt, Frigga lightly tickled the girl.

"Mother! No! Stop!" Diana giggled, failing to stop her mother's teasing attacks. Yet, as the tickling slowed to an end and the laughter subsided, a more solemn atmosphere enveloped the room.

"Did meeting Ratatoskr in Idavollr bring up these questions?" Frigga inquired, recognizing the source of Diana's curiosity.

"A little. Everyone's skin is so pale, but mine is different. I've thought about it before, but no one ever said anything until now." Diana admitted.

Frigga had practiced this moment in many sleepless nights, but nothing could have prepared her for the nervousness she was currently feeling. Truth had evaded this family so many times before, and she had promised herself to go through with it. So, with a deep breath, Frigga took the first step on a journey she had planned so many years ago.

"Diana, families are like gardens, full of different kinds of flowers and plants that may not look exactly the same but are beautiful nevertheless. You and I may not look the same, but that is because you have your own special story of how you came to be in our garden. We are a family not because we look alike but because of the love we share and how we take care of each other. And you know what? That love makes you the most beautiful flower in our garden to me."

"Then did I come from another garden before yours?" Diana asked, her eyes wide with wonder.

"Yes, my dear, you did. Before you came to our garden, you were a little seed in another. That's where you began to grow, and then it was time for you to bloom somewhere else — with us." Frigga answered, her voice filled with tenderness and love.

"So I was a seed before I came here? That's funny. I like being in your garden, mother. It's fun, and there are so many places to explore! I have you and father and my brothers with me." Diana exclaimed, her excitement palpable.

"I'm happy that you enjoy staying with us so much. It truly brings me joy to watch you grow so far." Frigga had done it. She lept in that abyss that she so feared. This was the start of many more nights to come. A gradual process that would ease her daughter to her true origin. Although, for tonight, that was all she could take. Her heart grew heavy despite the seeming success she had. Worries about the future and the lie that she and Odin had fed to their moon would have to wait for another day. Thus, Frigga did what every parent does in ages past and future to come, she used redirection. "However, Instructor Kvasir might have a different opinion."

"Oh…umm…" Diana mumbled, feeling a pang of guilt.

"My dear, while I might have missed a thing here or there, little goes by in this palace without me knowing. Especially if it involves my children being up to no good." Frigga gently scolded.

"I'm sorry." Diana apologized, her voice contrite.

"Well, I believe you owe that apology to Instructor Kvasir, don't you?" Frigga suggested.

"I'll do it. I'll apologize to him." Diana promised, her resolve shining through her eyes. Frigga couldn't help but feel the weight lighten a little from her shoulders at her daughter's determination.

"Good. Then you can join your brothers first thing in the morning after we break fast. Now, settle in, my little light. In contrast with your unending energy, sleep might take me any minute now." Frigga said, brushing a stray lock of hair from Diana's face, her effection shining bright in the moonlit room.

"Can you stay for a bit longer? Just until I fall asleep?" Diana pleaded softly.

"Of course, dóttir. I'll be right here." Frigga reassured, settling down beside Diana and gently stroking her hair until sleep finally claimed her.

______________________________

East Wing, Valaskjalf, Asgard

Odin peered inside the room through a slight crack in the door. He watched as his wife gently patted their daughter in her sleep, a soft smile gracing his lips. A sense of warmth flooded his ageing face as he witnessed this tender moment between mother and child.

His thoughts drifted to Loki, and the weight of the lie that he carried. Would revealing the truth to Loki yield the same acceptance and understanding as it did with Diana? No, Odin concluded. Loki's identity as a true-born prince of Asgard was deeply ingrained, and the revelation would likely shatter his world and strain his relationship with his brother and their realm.

Moreover, the scars of the recent war with Jotunheim still lingered, and any hint of Loki's true heritage could reignite tensions. The fragile peace between Asgard and Jotunheim hung in a delicate balance, and Odin couldn't risk jeopardizing it with the truth of Loki's origins.

Reluctantly, Odin steeled himself against the emotional turmoil and retreated to his chamber, his mind consumed with his responsibilities and the secrets he bore.