Nine Realms

Neither pony nor dragon was smiling right now, and it was hard to blame them for that. Having come all this way, having crossed literal worlds to be where they are in this moment, they now found themselves yet again between a rock and a hard place. Having been assigned functional but otherwise unremarkable living quarters within the subterranean dwarven kingdom, the ponies were all sitting upon the ground separately from one another, with the exception of Twilight, who was impatiently pacing up and down the place. The others, Spike especially, were all varying degrees of worried or frustrated. They were here, and by the grace of their host, the King of the dwarves, they would get no further help in their journey. Though nopony was saying anything to the effect, they all knew that this left them high and dry in this strange land, without even the barest inkling on where they were supposed to go or what they were supposed to do. After a while, it all became too much, and Twilight stopped in her pacing, letting out a long and exasperated sigh.

"So...here we are."

Spike, seeing her stop, took a few steps closer to her before speaking up.

"We...we could always try and look for another gateway?"

But Twilight shook her head.

"Without a guide, and without any knowledge of this realm, we could go in any direction and we'd be just as likely to go to a dead end."

Spike looked away, just in time for Fluttershy to get to her hooves and walk over to their leader.

"Maybe we could ask one of the other dwarves? I mean, I know their king wasn't all that eager to help us, but there might be those here who are willing to tell us something."

Rainbow let out a dry chuckle to that.

"A nice thought, Flutters, but it ain't gonna happen. Best guess, that king of theirs has this place locked down pretty tight. Nobody around here is gonna say anything."

It was a bad spot to be in, but even so, the ponies had little alternative but to simply dwell on their predicament. That is, until they were taken aback to hear the door of their chambers slowly creak open. Standing up together, they watched as they saw a dwarf enter, closing the door behind him. To their surprise, it was Fafnir, whose expression was one of nervousness and thoughtfulness in equal measure. Twilight, like the others, was surprised to see him, but not so surprised that she couldn't ask the obvious question.

"Fafnir? What are you doing here?"

The young dwarf entered the room in earnest, heading for Twilight specifically. Briefly, he looked over his shoulder, making sure no other dwarf was entering the chamber, before speaking to the Princess.

"You want a way out of this realm? I can help you...I think."

Immediately, all the others ponies stepped forward, gaining looks of surprise and interest. Twilight, for her part, raised an eyebrow.

"This way you speak of...did you know before?"

Fafnir nodded.

"I did...but with my Father...well...being the way he is..."

Twilight nodded, understanding.

"He probably won't be happy that you're telling us this."

The dwarf chuckled.

"He'll be even less pleased that I'll be coming along with you."

That took Twilight by surprise.

"You will?"

"I will. Without a guide through our lands, it'll be very unlikely that you'll get to where you need to go."

Twilight tilted her head slightly.

"And where do we need to go?"

Again, Fafnir looked behind himself, making sure that nobody was around to hear what he was about to tell the ponies.

"A long time ago...there was another dwarf who hoarded a vast amount of treasure. Gold, silver, rubies, you name it. And when he died, he made sure it was hidden so that nobody else could take it."

Applejack frowned slightly.

"And this ere treasure...that's where we get ta the next world?"

Fafnir nodded.

"There were always rumours about what was within that treasure hoard...but one story in particular said that there was a relic that could allow journeys between realms. If it does exist...it may help you."

Twilight thought on that, then gained a curious look.

"This treasure...why is it that none of your people have gone off to claim it?"

Fafnir rolled his eyes.

"The old fool who hoarded it was thorough. None of my people have ever been able to cross the great chasm that keeps people out. But..."

He looked over to Rainbow and Fluttershy.

"...with your help..."

He didn't finish, but the ponies got the message. They help him and he helps them. But, as tempting as this offer was, there was one thing that Spike couldn't help but remark upon.

"I know treasure is nice and all, but do you really need it that much? I mean, you're royalty, aren't you?"

Fafnir frowned to that.

"I don't seek it for the treasure itself, but what it will bring me. No dwarf has been able to claim it, so if I can do so..."

He snickered.

"...maybe my Father will think different of me in future."

Taking on a rather prideful look, he stretched out his hand.

"Well, Princess...do we have a deal?"

Twilight thought long and hard on this. Many conflicting worries and possibilities went through her mind as she dwelt on the offer. Hidden treasures were notorious for being dangerous after all, and yet, with it being their only real hint of a way out of Nidavellir, she also knew that they were not in a position to refuse such an offer. So, letting out a deep sigh, she stretched out her hoof, accepting Fafnir's hand and shaking it.

"Deal."

The other ponies, while just as wary of this whole ordeal as Twilight, seemed eager to get going all the same, and they watched as Fafnir, who himself was looking more than a little smug right now, walked past Twilight and headed for the far side of the room, much to the alicorn's confusion.

"Er...Fafnir? Aren't we supposed to be going in the other direction to get out of here?"

Chuckling, the young Prince got down to one knee, his fingers tracing along the wall until they came upon one brick in particular, wherein he started to smirk.

"Rule one when dealing with dwarves, Princess..."

He pushed the brick, and after a few moments of silence, the entire wall began to artificially push backwards before sliding to the left, revealing a dark tunnel on the other side. The ponies looked on with surprise, while Fafnir stood tall once more, dusting off his hands and looking to his new partners with triumph.

"...never underestimate us."