Remain quiet and hidden, little one. I do not wish for 'Tia to know of you just yet." Luna whispers as she trots down the hall. "Once breakfast is done, the fun can begin."
You nod and lie low, not questioning the secrecy for now.
It's a short walk to where the Princesses are having breakfast that morning. From within Luna's mane, it looked like a high tower with a glass ceiling and wall-covering windows to let in sunlight. The floors were polished tile--it must have been a study or outlook they used for private dining. A table was set, with Celestia already seated.
"Ah, Luna! Good to see you so early. Sit down--it's all freshly cooked!"
"Isn't it always, 'Tia?" Luna quipped taking her seat. "I would hope you didn't bring out leftovers."
Celestia playfully stuck out her tongue before eating a strawberry. "Are you still tinkering with that spell, Luna? You've been cooped up in your workshop these past few weeks, pouring over notes and scrolls...you'll beat Twilight's record for time in the library in a few months if you keep this up." She giggled. "You're in a good mood today. Did you make it work?"
So Luna had been trying to 'get a toy', as she put it, for some time? Interesting. Maybe it wasn't just an ordinary teleportation spell she used...
"We made a breakthrough last night," Luna said. You could hear her grin on her voice. It quickly rose to a giddy cheer. "Just for a moment, We felt the magic connect to...something, somewhere; not in Equestria. For a second, We had it!" She pumps a hoof in the air and cheers, and you have to grab onto her mane when she throws her head back and laughs in triumph. "Victory was Ours!"
"Hm. So THAT'S what that 'Eureka'! shout that woke up everypony for five kilometers was about," Celestia mused around a sip of coffee.
"Alas, no little toy from beyond Our world appeared," Luna finished, "but the concept is proven. It seems Starswirl was correct--when Princess Platinum created her 'Find-Me-A-Toy-Nopony-Else-Can-Ever-Have" Spell as a filly, she found a way to reach dimensions beyond ours. On the next casting, We shall have success at last!"
"I'll be sure to tell him the next time the Pillars visit." Celestia sniffed, her tone sounding worried. "Still...I hope whatever creature the spell snaps up can adjust to its new home here. Platinum could be spiteful as a filly, taking what she wanted by force...she so regretted it after her heart warmed."
"Sister, I promise that whatever little toy the spell retrieved will be pampered and adored." A strand of Luna's mane coils around you in a hug. It felt...wonderful. "And, of course, played with. Played with with GREAT enthusiasm."
The sisters chat over breakfast for some time, but you missed most of it. Your fear and confusion from earlier were gone--you were safe, and now knew how you'd gotten to Equestria. By Luna's explanation of the spell, it wasn't even like she'd taken you; more that the magic had snatched you up in a fluke of chance. For now, you could relax.
But as you laid back in her starlit mane, getting hungry from the smell of food, one thought kept coming back.
Why hadn't Luna told Celestia about you?
=====
Luna left the table a few minutes later, excusing herself to check her notes on the spell. She brings a saucer of leftover fruit with her--telling Celestia it was a snack for later, but you knew it was for you. As soon as the door closes, Luna's horn ignites and a dark blue aura spreads across her chamber's walls. The bustling sounds from Canterlot fade, and the shutters draw closed. Gas lamps along the walls light up.
"There. Now we are warded from nosy snoopers. None can see or hear in, nor can we be heard from without." Luna explained with a satisfied nod. She trots to her bed, setting the fruit on a nearby table, and lets you leap onto the bed. "Now, are you well?"
"Yes, Luna--and thank you for giving us some privacy. But something's bothering me: why didn't you tell Celestia the spell worked?"
"We shall tell 'Tia eventually, little one. But for now, We simply want you ALL to ourselves." She giggled and winked at you. "After all, We worked hard to get you: finding young Plantinum's diary scattered throughout the Archives, making sense of a filly's scribbled notes and mana circles; reading her chicken-scratch hornwriting--thank the STARS her penmareship improved as an adult--Ahem. You get the gist. Well, after all that effort it is simply right that We should get first claim to play with you!"
She nuzzles you; at your size it's enough to knock you back on the bed. You playfully try to bat her muzzle away, but she simply presses harder, sinking you into the mattress with more cuddles. "Starting now, in fact. Let's see if you can keep away! We demand snuggles!"
Thus begins the Battle of Cuddles!
Luna pulls back to let you recover, then leans in again--only for you to roll away so she faceplants on the bed. She tries to snuffle you from the side, but you leap to your feet and dodge! "Cease your affection, giant!" you shout in your most heroic voice.
"We want snuggles on our cheeks, Tiny! And what we want, we TAKE!" Smirking, Luna pounces her hooves out to catch you, only for you to duck! "Curse thine agility! Do not defy a giant!" She goes for a diving nuzzle, clipping your shoulder when you try to feint to the left. You're knocked down, but turn the fall into a roll that turns Luna's diving nuzzle into a face full of pillows.
"Thou art slippery, little one!" she growls, spitting out feathers. "But We will not be denied!" Spreading her wings, Luna leaps over you to the other side of the bed, the impact bouncing you high off the mattress. You tumble away from her follow-up midair nuzzle, hitting the ground running to try and hide among the giant pillows.
"Bah! As if that can hide you!" Luna drops to her belly and SLIDES across the bed, her snout aimed right at you.
Just like you'd planned.
Just before you reach the pillows, you leap to the side! If you got it right, Luna would slide right past you and into the wall! It was risky--maybe even dangerous-- but it was your only shot at winning the game of keep-away.
Does the trick work?
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