Nine Realms

While it was true that the snow and ice of Niflheim had kept the group from travelling as fast as they would have wanted, things were now going even slower for them than that. Having been saved from entering a realm that they would never have been able to leave, the Equestrians now followed, of all things, a Norn, who walked about as quickly as one her age was expected to go. Which is to say, not very. As one would expect, it was a certain pegasus who took the greatest issue with this, with her now greatly-reduced pace always tinted with twitches and grumbles and signs that she just wanted to head off as fast as possible. But Twilight, always keeping an eye on her, silently made sure that she did not do this, if only out of respect for their latest travelling companion. However, after a good long while of journeying together, and without ever even saying a word, the old woman at their head soon stopped, letting out a sigh and turning to the rest of the group.

"I hope you do not mind...but I would like a moment to rest."

Though Rainbow was, naturally, unhappy about this development, Twilight gave a consenting nod to her.

"Of course. We should probably find someplace safe from this wind though."

A knowing smile came to the Norn at that.

"Oh...that won't be necessary."

Twilight raised an eyebrow, unsure of what she'd meant by that. But then, as she considered this, she noticed something. The loud sound of the cold wind rushing past her ears now seemed to have dimmed, even halted outright. And as soon as she realised this, she and all the others looked on with amazement to discover that the wind had indeed stopped. How or why, they did not know, though they suspected that their mysterious companion had something to do with it. And speaking of whom, the Norn now took it upon herself to find a particularly flat patch of snow, carefully getting down to her knees before sitting down upon it. The ponies and Spike, though still unsure of what had just happened, mirrored her actions, sitting down. In another moment of confusion, they found that the snow beneath them didn't actually feel that cold. Between that and the wind, it was as if the very laws of nature itself had simply been put "on pause" to give them a moment of rest. The Norn, seeing their confusion, chuckled slightly.

"One doesn't live to be my age without learning a thing or two."

Twilight couldn't help but smile. And she was grateful for what had been done, as she had been getting tired of their walk recently. But, as silence passed over the group, there was just a general air of uncertainty about everything. They didn't know where they were going, what they were doing or even the most important question of all. How do they get out of this realm? But then, as Twilight dwelt on these things, a new thought occurred to her, and she glanced over to the old woman.

"Pardon me, Ma'am...but...you're a Norn, correct?"

The woman nodded.

"As I have already declared, yes."

Twilight nodded back.

"And that means that you and those like you are responsible for arranging the fates and destinies of those of the nine realms, yes?"

Again, the ancient being confirmed that statement.

"Such has always been our duty...and such will always be our duty."

Twilight, considering this carefully, frowned slightly before giving the Norn her full focus.

"Do you know...if we make it back to our home?"

The others, now realising what Twilight had been getting at this whole time, immediately looked over to the human-looking figure beside them. But, rather than appearing like she had something important to reveal to them, she simply sighed, shaking her head.

"I am truly sorry...but no."

Twilight's ears drooped slightly, but she said nothing as the Norn continued to explain.

"Our role is the fates of the nine realms and those within...but you..."

Her eyes narrowed.

"...you are not of these realms. Your fate, whatever it may be...is shrouded to us."

Those eyes then closed entirely.

"Whenever I try to see the paths you will walk, or what end you will reach...I see nothing."

Slowly, her eyes opened again.

"In truth, it is because of that uncertainty that I chose to seek you out at all. Never before have I encountered those whose fates are unknown to us. It was...shall we say...a novelty, to meet you."

Twilight, hearing all of that, gave a slow nod.

"Well...I suppose I can't be too upset at your motivations. After all, if you hadn't come to us, we'd still be on the cusp of walking straight into..."

She hesitated, before letting out a nervous cough.

"...well...you know."

The Norn nodded, and here, she turned to face Rainbow Dash.

"You have something you wish to ask me, impatient one?"

Though a little irritated at having been called that, Rainbow was still somewhat taken aback at having been addressed at all, leading to a somewhat amused look on the part of the Norn.

"I may not be able to see your future, but that does not mean I cannot see a question waiting to be asked."

Rainbow hesitated, and as she glanced over to her friends, she saw them all looking to her with a sense of concern, like they were worried she'd say the wrong thing, or possibly even outright offend their newest companion in this journey. In truth, Rainbow shared that concern herself, but even so, she sighed, looking back to the elderly figure nearby.

"It's just...you guys here in the nine realms are always so obsessed with fate and destiny and stuff. I just...don't get it! Heck, at one point we saw a guy who was grateful for having been told how he was gonna die! I mean...what the heck?!"

But, rather than be offended at such a remark, as many feared she would be, the Norn merely chuckled.

"I do not blame you, Miss Dash. It can be a strange thing for an outsider to understand. But fate, and accepting one's role within it, is important. If we do not adhere to the course the world must take, terrible things will surely come of it."

Here, she paused, her expression becoming one that was far more serious than before. Slowly, she turned her attention from Rainbow to Twilight.

"You...Princess. In you I see one who has seen first hand the dangers of straying from the proper path."

Twilight was taken aback by this, but remained silent as the Norn carried on.

"You have seen it, have you not? The chaos and destruction wrought when events that should have happened...do not?"

The others all looked to their alicorn friend, and just in time to see her hang her head and sigh, giving a small nod.

"Yes...I have. Some years back, I saw many visions of what my world would be like if the past didn't go as it was supposed to. And each world..."

She grimaced, a shudder passing through her.

"...each world was worse than the last. And it all lead to a world with no life at all."

Sadness took hold in her face.

"Sometimes...I still have nightmares about those worlds...and how close they came to being real for me."

The Norn listened well, slowly nodding to that.

"Thing must pass...as they must pass. To stray from this...invites naught but ruin."

Twilight looked up to her, unsure of how to feel about all of this, as indeed did her friends. Nopony looked like they had any idea of what to say or how to say it. All this talk of fate and destiny and chaos was a bit heavy for them, which was saying something, given that they were all stranded in another world with no idea of when they would get home. But, as time passed, the Norn released a deep exhale, struggling to get back to her feet. The others watched, seeing her stand tall once more. The ancient one looked around herself, nodding slightly as she regarded her surroundings, and as she did this, the ponies were shocked to discover that, much to their chagrin, the winds and the feeling of cold that had been held off for so long now returned, causing them all to shiver yet again. Standing up together, they huddled together instinctively, and the Norn, seemingly unconcerned with the return of the cold, looked to them with that same serious look.

"Come...it is not far now."

Seeing her start to walk off, Twilight frowned.

"What's not far off?"

Pausing briefly, the Norn looked back to her.

"Something...that only one like myself can do."