Nine Realms

As they'd expected, the reception in the village wasn't exactly the friendliest they'd ever had. Actually, that was an understatement, as the moment they set hoof in that place, they were met with moods as icy as the winds that kept blowing over them. Twilight and her friends, escorted by the warriors they'd encountered at the forest's edge, walked through that small community, encountering looks of fear, awe and confusion in equal measure. Children would look on with curiosity, only to be hurried into their homes by worried Mothers. Blacksmiths would cease whatever hammering they were in the middle of to look up at the bizarre creatures that now entered their village. And always, there was the aggressive ones, the warriors of the place. Each of them eyed Twilight and her colleagues with wariness, always with a weapon in hand. And speaking of which, Rainbow kept a particularly close eye on the ones who were leading them further into the village, walking to Twilight and whispering to her.

"So...still think this is a good idea?"

If she had been perfectly honest, she'd have said that it probably wasn't, but even so, it wouldn't do her any good to make her friends worry any more than they already were. So, after letting out a long sigh, she glanced back to Rainbow.

"If things go badly, I'll teleport us out of here, but for now, we just need to keep calm."

Naturally, keeping clam wasn't one of Rainbow's best traits, but even so, she followed her friend's advice for the time being. Eventually, they had been led to the great fire that still burned in the centre of the village, and by now they'd gathered a sizeable crowd of locals, all looking to them with uncertainty. It was a sentiment shared by the ponies and Spike, and they watched as the leader of their party broke away, heading for the largest building in the area, the wooden longhouse on the other side of the fire. After he'd entered it, there was silence for a time, but then, out he came again, followed shortly by an old man. His head was bald, but he bore a long and heavily-braided grey beard, walking with a slight limp. A village elder, perhaps? Whoever he was, he seemed to be someone of importance, and so Twilight, still knowing there was a language barrier, took a step forward to address him.

"Sir...my name is Twilight Sparkle...and my friends and I are strangers here. We do not come here to cause you trouble."

The old man's head tilted, showing the same confusion as the others. He didn't understand her, Twilight thought to herself, but she stayed quiet as the elder looked to the tall man beside him, and proceeded to whisper to him. The latter, shrugging his shoulders, turned again to the longhouse.

"Erik? Erik!"

Another pause, and then, another human male, blonde again but shorter than a lot of them, came out of the longhouse. Though Twilight would never consider herself an expert in recognising humans, there nevertheless seemed to be a resemblance between this new human and the elder. However, she kept this thought to herself as the new human stepped forward. There were a few moments where he appeared deep in thought, as though trying to remember the answers to a quiz, which was a look Twilight knew all too well. Then, after clearing his throat, he began to speak.

"M...my Father, Chief Hran...bids thee welcome."

Twilight's eyes widened, as indeed did those of her friends. They looked to one another, then back to the human, with Applejack breaking the silence.

"Ya...ya understand us?"

The human, Erik, nodded.

"No speak tongue well...learn from isles to west. Why you speak like Angles, Valkyrie-steeds?"

Twilight blinked.

"Um...Valkyries?"

Erik nodded.

"Yes...you are mounts of the maidens of battle...yes? Those who serve All-Father?"

Twilight hesitated here, then turned to speak in a low tone to her friends.

"I think they've mistaken us for somebody else. Perhaps...perhaps they think we're someone sent by their deity. This...All-Father he speaks of."

Rarity chuckled to that.

"Well, we are rather impressive, aren't we?"

By contrast, Applejack frowned to her fashion-loving friend.

"We shouldn't lie ta them like that. If they think we're somethin' we're not..."

Twilight nodded, agreeing with her friend's words.

"I know...but if they think we're that, and we tell them we're not...it might go even worse for us."

They looked to her grimly, knowing the danger they all faced. Even so, they looked to her with trust in their eyes, giving simultaneous nods. Twilight, accepting and appreciating the faith they'd put in her, took a deep breath, then turned to look upon Erik once more.

"There's...been a mistake. We're not holy beings. We were not sent by this All-Father of yours. But we are from another world. One not your own. And..."

She hesitated, but only for a moment.

"...we need your help."

Erik's brow furrowed, and he looked like he was working through a mental problem of some sort. Eventually, he sighed, nodding to them, before looking to his Father. In a quiet voice, he spoke to the elder, and was no doubt relaying Twilight's message. The Chief nodded back to this, all while the surrounding warriors glanced at the ponies with more anger than before. The ponies huddled closer to Twilight, ready to run if things went badly, but, to their relief, the elder raised his hand, bringing utter silence to the gathered group. He spoke aloud, his voice gaining the absolute attention of everyone there, and when it was done, he gestured to the ponies.

"Irminsul!"

The humans nodded together.

"Irminsul!" they echoed back.

Erik, taking a step closer to Twilight, smiled to her.

"You may not be of Asgardr, but you are of other world...and we will not bring wrath of that world by refusing help."

He gave a slight bow.

"We will help you leave Midgardr."

Though Twilight had no idea what this Midgardr place was, she returned the smile, bowing her heads in response.

"Thank you, Mr Erik. So..."

She glanced around, and then back to him.

"...where do we go?"

A stern look came to the human, and he turned, looking to the south.

"To my people's...site of sacred."

A giggle escaped the alicorn at that.

"In that case...I'll help you with your language along the way."

Erik’s smile returned, and as he looked to his elder, he gave another bow of his head, before turning once more to the young Princess.

“...To our ship then.”