Nine Realms

Have you ever had a moment when you felt that you were being watched? A time when everything around you would have been perfectly fine, except for that one nagging sensation in the back of your mind? A sensation that told you something was wrong, but you couldn't figure out why? Well, that was the feeling that Twilight was now experiencing. True, this new realm was beautiful, and even peaceful, but there was something about it. Something that made her feel as though every rustle of the tree branches or every far-off critter was looking at her. But, then again, they were the outsiders here, so it was little surprise that their presence here would cause a stir. Still, it was clear that she was not the only pony who was feeling this way, as each of her friends also appeared to be experiencing this wariness of their surroundings. Well, that is to say, most of them were experiencing this attitude, for there was one mare in particular who seemed to treat this new world with nothing short of wonder.

"Oh, isn't it beautiful, Twilight? A place where all these animals can be free?"

Fluttershy's enthusiasm for this place was almost infectious, and Twilight couldn't help but smile to it.

"It is nice, Fluttershy. But, we have to be careful. Every realm we've been to has had something about it that has undercut whatever beauty it might have had. We need to be cautious."

Fluttershy nodded, acknowledging that point, but nevertheless remaining just as impressed with this place as ever as they passed through it. It would have been accurate to say that a silence had passed over them, but that was only with regards to the ponies and Spike. For everywhere they went, there was some sound, be it of the creaking of the ancient trees, or perhaps through the call of some distant animal. Regardless, this place had a feel of being alive in away that no other realm had before, and it was strange to experience. But, this time of speechlessness did not last forever, as Rainbow, ever eager to get going, walked beside her leader and looked to her with some incredulity.

"So...I'm guessing you have a plan, Twi?"

Sighing, the young alicorn gave a small nod.

"I do...sort of."

Rainbow raised an eyebrow, prompting Twilight to elaborate.

"The path we followed from Alfheim to this realm was because of the story that there was some woman who travelled from this place. If she has experience in going from one realm to another, she might have advice on how to get to other realms."

Applejack, who likewise walked closer to Twilight, spoke up with an interested tone.

"But...there's only one left, right? We've been seven so far, includin' this one, and that Helheim place we sure as heck ain't goin' to, so..."

Twilight nodded.

"I know...after this realm...there's only one left."

Rarity, sweeping aside some of her hair, gave a loud "huff" to that.

"Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I, for one, will not be sad to see the end of this journey. Because if it hasn't been one problem, it's been another."

A sigh escaped her, and her expression softened.

"I just...miss home at this point."

The others, who shared her sentiment at that, looked to her with smiles, and Fluttershy walked over to her to give her a friendly pat on the shoulder. But, as this silence passed, it was Pinkie who elected to be the one to try and perk everypony up.

"Awww, I'm sure this trip hasn't been that bad! I mean, sure, we've nearly gotten ourselves killed a whole bunch of times, but it's still been super exciting! We got to go to new places, saw a whole bunch of interesting people, seen lots of weird and wonderful things!"

The others looked to her with raised eyebrows, but this did not deter her from continuing.

"Hey, you can't say we haven't seen some neat stuff! Like lands full of volcanoes, or a winter wonderland, or...or..."

"Or two giant grey cats who look like they want to eat us?" Spike added.

Pinkie tapped the end of her chin.

"Huh...I don't remember that one."

Spike frowned to that, then pointed straight ahead to show what he'd been talking about. The others instantly turned, and there, they saw that their young friend had the right of it. For just a short distance away, emerging from behind a pair of trees, there was indeed the arrival of a pair of very large felines. At first glance, they appeared to look like domestic cats, though their size was more akin to lions or tigers, with light grey fur. They had a wildness to them that was most reflected in their piercing gaze, which focused on the ponies intently. Slowly, they began to approach, though whether it was out of curiosity towards the newcomers or through some predatory instinct, Twilight could not tell. All she knew was that any other critters around, like rabbits, instantly dispersed upon seeing them, which was the first signs of fear any of the local animals had shown since their arrival.

"Everypony! Get together!"

And get together they did, closing the gap between themselves so as to deny the cats any openings to divide them. Slowly, the enormous felines began to circle the group, one walking clockwise, and the other counter-clockwise. This went on for some minutes, with the ponies constantly worried that, at any moment, they'd be attacked by the intimidating beasts. Twilight, keeping her voice low, spoke to Fluttershy.

"Can you speak to them?"

Though somewhat hesitant, Fluttershy knew that she had to at least try, and so, after clearing her throat a little, she began to speak up as calmly as possible.

"Um...we're terribly sorry for trespassing in your realm."

The cats stopped right in front of her, staring at her, and allowing her to continue.

"But...we're trying to get home. We're...we're looking for a woman. A woman who knows how to travel between worlds. Since...since you two live here, do...do you know where we can find this woman?"

A moment or two passed, and slowly, the cats turned, looking to one another. The made no noise, which did little to alleviate the ponies' fears, and instead seemed to be conversing in some completely silent manner. Eventually, after casting a glance back to Fluttershy, the cats turned, and began to walk off in the direction they'd come from. The ponies, relieved that their predicament seemed to be ending, watched them go, and then, they saw them stop. The cats turned, looking again to Fluttershy, and appeared to be waiting for something. Tilting her head, Fluttershy then looked to the rest of the group.

"I...I think they want us to follow them."

Though understandably uncertain about following such an instruction, the ponies soon turned their gaze to Twilight, hoping she'd have some thoughts on the mater. The young alicorn, looking from the cats, to Fluttershy and back again, soon let out a sigh, and smiled to her animal-loving companion.

"If anypony knows animals...it's you, Fluttershy."

The yellow pegasus smiled to that, but stayed quiet as Twilight addressed the rest of the group.

"We're following them."

Spike, upon hearing that, groaned with nervousness.

"Oh...yay."