Nine Realms

A vague point from a fire giant in one direction without any specifics given wasn't exactly the best of directions, but it was directions all the same. Twilight, still doing her best to protect her friends with her magical aura, was leading the way, forging a path ahead and making sure that every step she took was safe and stable before letting her colleagues follow her. Whether through getting used to it, sheer determination, or perhaps just an unwillingness to surrender, her spell was holding far longer than it had been before, and she and her companions were making good time. Or, rather, as good a time as they were capable of making, given their current surroundings. Traversing fiery hillsides and near-misses into pits of lava were hardly walks in the park, but by sticking together, they managed to make their way, slowly but surely. But always, there was this fear in their minds. For they travelled to the one who called himself King of this realm. And in a realm like THIS, that did not exactly bode well.

"So...this Surtr fella...think he'll help?" Applejack asked.

Twilight's eyes narrowed, and she looked back to her.

"He's the sovereign of a realm filled with fire, smoke and lava, who rules over a race forged from those very elements."

Sighing, she paused for a brief moment.

"...Let's just say I hope he's friendly."

Applejack and the rest of them could hear the unease with which she'd said that, but they didn't question it. Instead, it was Pinkie who elected to speak to the lone farmer among them.

"Don't worry, Applejack! Everyone we've met so far has helped us! Why should this be different?"

Applejack considered that, then gave a slow nod.

"Ah guess. Ain't exactly the nicest thought, havin' ta go through a place like...well...this. But ah trust Twi."

Twilight smiled to that, and doubly so when she saw that her other friends seemed to share that sentiment. It was a pleasant reprieve in the midst of the rather uncomfortable surroundings they had. But, the silence did not last forever, as Fluttershy spoke soon afterwards.

"I hope we can find someplace to rest soon...it's been getting quite tiring."

Rarity, who was panting quite furiously now, nodded in agreement.

"Indeed, darling! I don't now about the rest of you, but this hill is becoming quite tiresome!"

Though Twilight at first agreed to that, those words lingered in her mind for some time. Then, as if on cue, a thought occurred to her, and her head snapped in the direction just ahead of them. The "hill" they were walking on was indeed growing steeper, and seemed to carry on doing so for quite a distance yet. So focused had she been on maintaining her spell that Twilight hadn't even noticed that they were just about to come across an outright mountain. It was high, and probably far more so than any mountain she had ever encountered in her life. And, as was probably expected in a realm like this, there was a constant stream of smoke at its peak. A volcano, to be sure, but this thought did not dim the notion that now came front and centre in the mind of the young alicorn.

"The...the great mountain?"

The others looked to her with confusion, prompting her to turn back to them and start explaining.

"The fire giant from before...he said their King could be found at the great mountain. I...I think this is it!"

Naturally, that caused smiles on the faces of her followers, but sadly, the smiles were short-lived. For Rainbow, stepping ahead of the rest of the group, looked around the mountain, from the top to its base. A frown came to her, and she looked to her leader.

"So...how do we get in?"

Twilight's smile too faded, and she glanced around herself. Sure enough, her friend had the right of it, and it looked as though there was no actual way to get in. No cave entrance, no door, not even some big crack in the ground. Spreading out her wings, she flew straight up, hoping to get a better look. But again, there was nothing to be found. Sighing, she lowered herself back, looking to her colleagues once more.

"We may have to go around."

Dismay came to Rarity at that.

"NOOOOOOO!!! Not more hiking!"

Applejack rolled her eyes.

"Cheer up, Rares! We've made it this far, we can make it through that!"

Her statement was finished by her slamming her hoof down onto the ground, but this proved to be an act they came to regret. For as soon as she did so, she caused a slight crack in the stone beneath them. This crack began to grow and spread, and all of them, to their sudden horror, realised that the ground they stood on was not the most stable. Twilight's eyes widened, and she yelled out with urgency.

"MOVE!!!"

But it was too late, for the ground finally gave way, creating a gaping chasm beneath them. Twilight, Rainbow and Fluttershy were able to stay aloft thanks to their wings, but the others? They began to plummet, leading to the three fliers charging down to try and catch them. They zipped down fast, seeing the bottom of the vast cavern beneath them getting closer and closer. Finally, they reached their friends, with Twilight taking hold of Rarity, Rainbow getting Applejack and Fluttershy taking Pinkie. But there was still one more of their number to consider, and that was poor Spike. Fortunately, thanks to a quickly-formed magic cushion by Twilight, the young dragon landed softly and safely, much to his relief. Putting their friends down, the flying ponies too made landfall, looking to each other with a silent sense of congratulations.

"Well...that was something!" Pinkie remarked.

The group laughed, and it was here that Twilight took a moment to glance around where they were. The cavern they'd found themselves in seemed to go on forever, with the hole they'd fallen through looking like it was already miles high above them. It was hot down here, but not so much so that it would kill them like the land above. Stalactites and stalagmites littered the place, and there was an eerie breeze passing through. Bottom line, it wasn't a good place to be, and after getting her bearing, Twilight looked back to her friends.

"We need to keep going."

They looked to her with surprise.

"We're...we're going on...in here?" Spike asked.

Twilight smirked.

"Well...we wanted a way into the mountain...and now we've got it."

"Yes...you do."

Twilight's smirk faded, and she snapped her head around, as did all the others. There was someone else in here with them, though they could not see who or where. Silence fell, but then, to their shock and awe, a bright fire blazed forth on the far side of the cave. It grew brighter and brighter, threatening to surround and engulf them all, causing them to huddle together for safety. But instead, the fire stopped, retreating back somewhat. Now that there was light, Twilight could see that there was indeed someone else in here with them. A fire giant, taller than the last, sitting on some crudely-carved stone throne. About his head was what, generously, could be called a crown, though it was really little more than a melted iron ring, twisted in its shape. He bore a fierce-looking beard of blazing fire, and at his side was a sword, almost as long as he was tall, resting at the edge of his throne. The being narrowed its eyes, leaning forward and examining the intruders, before speaking in a tone of terrifying authority.

"I am Surtr...and you...are not welcome here."