WolfBane

The trip to the palace was uneventful, but for Twilight being in a car and seen the Capital of The United Wolvin Federation of Scynia was quite an event for her. And was a major learning experience for her as she Wovin culture at this finest.

"And here is the great Temple, made by Heilagr the pious and glorious with his sons and grandsons." Hermóðr Hermod, the ambassador of the Wolves Federation said, pointing at the massive building in front of them.

"It's huge." Twilight said while staring at the temple.

"Yes, it is." He said with a bit of pride in his voice."It has remain as a reminder of the glorious Wolf Empire that existed before the great breaking."

This place truly is a technical marvel. The whole city feels like that, everything is so clean and orderly, with no trash strewn around or any graffiti. The buildings are obviously well cared for and well designed. The streets are properly paved, and there are no disfiguring potholes or unsightly drainholes.It truly is a beautiful city. Even though they stayed only a few hours, it was enough to get a good impression from the girls about this new place and the people there.

Well, most of them.

"Yeah, that's great and but when are we going to get meet with the king doggie?" Rainbow Dash said, sound as bored as ever and not noticing the glared she go from her friends or the cold dead eyed one's she got from the wolves.

"RAINBOW!" Twilight yelled, then turned back to the ambassador. "Apologies, Mr. Hermod. My friend is a bit of a jokester and tends to be a bit tone deaf at time."

"Really I thought that was my job?" Pink Pie asked, extending her seat backwards and looking at the princess from an Upside-down angle.

"Don't mind her, she's just bored." Applejack piping in before turning her head back to the game of cards that she, Fluttershy, Spike, and Rarity were playing. "You got three?"

"Why do I even play with you and your stupid luck."

"It's quite alright princess, no need to apologize to me." He said, he voice as chipper and upbeat as ever. "Besides, I was wondering that myself? Prince Hati Hróðvitnisson when did The High-King say he'll be back?"

There was a long pause as Hati Hróðvitnisson did not answer his right away, while the other's stared at him waiting. “Like I told the princes "My brother is out hunting at the moment,” I do not know where my brother is or when he will return.”

The ponies couldn’t help but heard a hint of annoyance in his voice.

“I see…" The ambassador said before turning to the group. “Oh, look we’re here!”

The group slowly got out of the car, staring at the palace in front of them. It was indeed as impressive as it sounds. Valhalla was indeed a fitting name for the place. The palace was built on top of a massive ice field, with two large bodies of water as a back drop. A massive statue of a wolf, covered in frost and snow stood at the front of the palace, looking off towards the setting sun. The palace was a mixture of metal, stone, and wood, with the metal being appearing to be black steel and the wood being a dark red colour. With massive towers and spires, and gargoyles near the tops. The whole place gave an air of greatness and power.

“Well, this is it. Beautiful, isn't it?” Hermod asked the group, who were still in a silent awe of the place.

"It's like something out of a fairy tale." Rarity exclaimed.

“It very big.” Fluttershy whispered.

“Yeah it’s so big that the writer needed to describe it twice.” Pinkie said simple before turning to Address the group. “Hey, Twilight are you ready to meet the king?”

"What? Pinkie the king is-"She was interrupted by the sound of a trumpet in the distance. The group turned and looked out over the city below.

"What's going on?" Applejack asked as they watched a massive crowd forming.

"My brother has returned,"Hati Hróðvitnisson said sounded really annoyed. "And he throwing a triumph."

The sound of music began to pick up as the massive parade began to sing.

"♫Make way for High-King Sköll! Say hey, it's High-King Sköll!♫”

The massive procession marched through the city with thousands of cheering citizens, with groups of soldiers marching in rose flanking each side of the carriage full of gold and precious gems pulled by a group of deers.

"Who's he?" Twilight asked, pointing to a lone wolf in front, dressed in a shimmering silver robe, holding a staff topped with a wolf's head.

"That," Hati said pointing to the wolf, "is Gothi Heilagrsson, he is my brother..uh…hyper wolf.” The Prince said irritably as Gothi Heilagrson raise his staff and moved into the crowds.

“♫Hey! Clear the way in the old Bazaar! Hey you, let us through it's your brightest star. Oh, come and be the first on your block to meet his eye!♫”

The massive procession continued on, with groups of cheering citizens waving their homes as they passed.

“♫Make way, here he comes! Ring bells, bang the drums! You all know his name!♫”

As he sang, the roar of a dragon could be heard as one descended from the sky. The ponies looked in shock and awe as the dragon, large and black as the darkest night, landed on the main street as it reveal his rider. A majestic wolf, standing at least twice the size of any other wolf in the land, with glowing ice-blue eyes that could freeze fire, and a coat of shimmering, pure white fur, which was covered by a set of golden armour.

“♫High-King Sköll Hróðvitnisson, fabulous he, Sköll of Scynia! Show some respect, genuflect, down own on one knee!♫”

The crowd began to do as he said, with some even bowing their heads as Sköll dismounted, his golden armour clanking.

"♫Now, try your best to stay calm." The catchy song began to affect the pony as they watched the king and the mage. "Brush up your Friday salaam and come and meet his spectacular coterie!♫"

Several large ice blocks were thrown at him which he easily lifted which impressed Applejack and Rainbow Dash.

“♫High-King Sköll, mighty is he, oh son of Fenris! Strong as ten regular wolves, definitely!♫"

The crowd goes wild with cheers as the mages then blow on his staff as a beam of fire began to shoot out of it. Twilight felt her analytical mind light up as she watched it changing shape before her eye into a crude puppet show.

"♫He's faced the galloping hordes, a hundred bad guys with swords, who sent those goons to their lords? Why our lord, Sköll!♫"

The puppets begin to clash together as the fire mage moved across the other chariot.

“♫He's got 75 pure golden camels!♫"

"That's a lot." Pinkie said, bouncing as she watched them being pulled by some real camels. "Really, give yourself a knee slapper there on the Visual pun ace?"

Oh shut up.

"♫Purple peacocks, he's got 53!♫"

"Oh, they're just simply divine." Rarity said as she enjoy the view of the Purple peacocks, all of which were in their own float.

"♫When it comes to exotic-type animals! And I'm telling you, it's a world-class menagerie!♫"

Fluttershy couldn't believe the unique animals on display as each word made her more excited to see more.

Suddenly, a crowd of female wolves began to surround the parade. They all sang in unison, swooning over the king as the music beginning to increase in speed.

"♫King Sköll! Handsome is he, the one and only! That physique! How can I speak Sköll Hróðvitnisson, we're weak in the knee!♫"

"♫Well, get on out in that square! Adjust your veil and prepare. To gawk and grovel and stare at the great King Sköll!♫"

As he passed them by, Sköll grab onto one of the chariots many bouquets, kissed the top of a white rose thrown them out to the crowd of fem wolves. Rarity felt herself entranced by this. She had expected the wolf king to be some sort of a barbarian, who would kidnap a princess and carry her off to his mountain lair. But this was more than she had imagined. Instead, he looked and acted more like Prince Charming than a barbarian, even more than the actual Prince they go home.

How many didn’t notice one of the wolves guards, a light blueish grey wolf, an evident female if her body type was to be believe, gave the king a look of annoyance at his actions.

"♫He's got ninety-five dragon!♫”

"Like real dragons!" Spike said, perking up at the idea that more dragons choose to live in other societies than their own like him.

"♫And to view them he charges no fee!♫”

Suddenly, a large amount of gold began to rain down into the crowd as wolves toss them from the cart.

“♫He's generous, so generous!♫"

The crowd sang out in unison as they scrambled to collect as much as possible.

“♫He's got slaves, he's got, servants and flunkies! Proud to work for him! They bow to his whim, love serving him! They're just lousy with loyalty to our lord, Sköll!♫”

Soon he and the rest of the parade reached the gate where the main 6 were, the dragon breaking down the gate as the high-king, now riding him again, charges through.

"♫High-king Sköll! Amorous he! Sköll, lord of all he seeks!♫" Gothi Heilagr sang, sliding down one of the floats towards the 6 and dragon, stopped in front of the princess. "Heard you were a sight lovely to see."

Twilight couldn't help but blush at the surprise compliment as the wolf turn around.

“♫And that, good people, is why you got dolled up and dropped by, to see his-♫"

"♫-Sixty legions! Berserker galore! With his bears and white lions, an brass bands and more! With his forty fakirs, his cooks, his bakers! And Servants that song on key!♫"

Landing back down the dragon made a humongous roar, white fire fired out into the sky as High-king Sköll jumping off its back as the song reached its climax.

“♫Make way for High-king Sköll!♫"

The music stopped as High-king landed in front of them, his gold cape spreading out as it bellowed on the visible wind (kind of like the princesses).

“[Welcome princess, I hope are meet is worth the wait.” Twilight sparkle's face grew red as she was unsure of how to respond to this. This was him, the great king of the frozen north, the king of the wolf. She had to be careful, calm, composed and WHY IS PINKIE PIE HOPPING TOWARDS HIM!

“Hi! I’m Pinkie Pie, and you must be the king wolf huh? Well, I mean you’re all Royal and stuff and you have a guy singing you a song about you and stuff! If is it true that your frying us a party because if so I’m a great at party, and even a better party planner if I’m not tutoring my own horn and stuff! Byunrelatedit’ssogoodtofinallygetsomeactualinesinasit’slikethewriterdoesn’tknowwhattodowithme andisregrettingputtingusinthestoryand-“

Pinkie weird cavalcade of quick confusing questions/rant were cut off when one of the guards, which Twilight instantly recognised as the fem wolf that glare daggers at the king before, pointing a spear at the pink earth pony.

“I’d advise you to hold your tongue when speaking with one of higher standing then your worm!” She said in a very aggressive and dangerous tone. “Less you you lose it!”

“Hey, don’t talk to my friend like that!” Rainbow said, flying in between the two and giving the wolf a Antagonistically look.

“Firstly my name is Hjordis not Bud, and secondly I think that I’m the captain of Sir majesties guard!” Hjordis said, taking a defensive and aggressive stance as if they were about to fight get out and they probably would have if it wasn’t for Outside intervention.

“That’s enough Hjordis,”Sköll order simply, and the guard backed down, not before whispering a comment to Dash. ”You should be glad that High-King Sköll is merciful or you would be dead by now."

"Oh yeah!” Dash said, ready to throw hooves when Applejack grabbed her by the tail and yanked her back into the group as Twilight began doing some damage control.

“I’m so very sorry about my friend, your majesty. She very loyal and confrontational and sometimes those two things cross and very on dangerous where is there don’t really bold well-“

“Haha, it’s fine, fine, my dear head guard is like that herself.” He said, gesturing over to the head guard who was sulking a bit at the mention. “You are in the presence of royalty here! There will be no threat of death or violence. We are civilized. Oh then I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced.”

Twilight blushed a bit, luckily, she remembered who she was supposed to be and stepped forward group to greet the king with a bow.

“Twilight Sparkle, princess of friendship.” She said nervously, still not quite sure of how to act. The high-king smile's lit up his face as he took her hoof and into his paws.

“Sköll Hróðvitnisson, first son of High-King Hróðvitnis Ninson, High-King of the United Wolvin Federation of Scynia, Lord of the Northlands, Defender of The Vast Anarctic Steppes, conqueror of dragons, lord of the nine realms of Scynia and the highest point in all of the north.” He said, his voice deep and booming.

"Wow, that's a lot of titles." Pinkie pie said, speaking for everyone as they took in the information. The wolf King agreed with this blunt statement. “Trust me those are just the one I like, I got like ten more. So let’s skip the formalities, you can just call me Sköll, Princess Twilight?"

"Good because you can just call me, Twilight." She said awkwardly before the king said. She always hate long titles and formalities, mostly because of her own so it was great to have a rule who feel the same.

“If you insisted,” he said before noticing the rest of the group. “I hope my worrywart of a brother was keeping you all entertained well I was gone?”

“Well I wasn’t have if you would have told me that you were going.” Hati said, his tone serious and somewhat bossy as he glared at wolf almost thrice his height.

“Oh, but it was getting quite dull in the capital and I needed to take care of something. You know how these affairs can get very hectic." The high-king said with a laugh, flashing his fangs. "Besides, I wanted to make a good first impression.”

This made most of the group chuckle at the way he said it, however Hati still looked unimpressed. “And how much did you spend on your “first impression”?”

“Well, I am generous.” He said, snapping his claws as his guards handed out some bouquets to each pony.

"Generous? More like lavishing." Hati spoke like a parent telling off their child. “I sure hope you know what you are doing, brother."

The king smiled at his brother's words. "Don't worry. I always know what I am doing.”

His attention returned to the group. “Forgive my brother he is quite a stick in the mud.”

“And your just lazy and apathetic!” The smaller wolf countered as the two were matched up against each other, however, the king paid no mind to the quarrel, he had a very important matter to discuss. "Please come with me. I haven’t even given your tour around my place yet and I wish to rectify that mistake right away.”

The group followed the king into the palace. It was just as grand as it seemed from the inside as it was outside. The hall was large with high ceilings and decorated with golden images of moons, stars and other constellations. The floor was made of large marble tiles and arranged in a circular formation. Large marble stairways led up to various levels of the palace and walls lined with golden plaques that showed the symbols of the wolf god Fenris.

“ I hope you don’t mind, I’ve been planning on remodelling the place.” The King said casually as the pony looked in wonder and awe at all the decorations. "But of course, for you, it's all-new. I'll show you to your rooms later and we will dine in a few hours. For now, let's-“

The Monarch didn’t get a chance to finish as a figure jumped for the Landing and onto the back of the wolf-king. The ponies at first thought he was being attacked and were about to jump into action, only to find that his “attack” was but a pup, more specifically one that Twilight instantly recognised as the same one from the letter.

This was Princess Maria Vallhund Hróðvitnisson, Sköll Hróðvitnisson only daughter.

“Daddy! Your home!" she said with an unfeigned squeal as she jumped down from the wolf-king onto the marble floor before pulling him into a great big hug.

"Yes my little snow angel, how have you been?" He asked, returning the hug, causing the main 6 to lighten their image of him significantly. After all, Throughout their entire trip hear their perception of him as the great tyrant like King Sombra or Queen chrysalis was slowly corroded away, leaving the image of the kind, courageous king and loving father that they see before them.

“I’m being good, uncle Hati been teaching me about the ways of the stars and the moon." She said before he said.

"I see, well that's great. Because of your behaviour, I have some important guests that I know you would love to meet." The King said as Maria looked pasted him to the group, her eyes falling on them for the first time as they then widened at the sight of them.

"OH MY GOSH, it's the elements of harmony!" She squealed as she ran towards them, knocking the King and his guards over in the process. She reached the group and jumped up to hug each of them individually.

"I had heard great things about you all! I always wanted to meet you guys! You know Her told me you were coming, but I didn't think you'd actually show up!" She said looking from face to face. "I Have so many questions to ask!"

"Yes, yes, yes, but you must show restraint my little snowflake." The king said as he tried to remove the little rambunctious pup from the ponies.

"But daddy, I'm so EXCITED!!" She said, clinging to the unicorn's leg refusing to let him hold on to her.

“I know, I know, I know. But our guests are tired after such a long journey and they need their rest.” He said before picking the young pub off Rarity’s foreleg. The wolf princess give her father a sad look before the wolf king nuzzled up to her.

“But perhaps you can give them a tour of our home before they have to go to their room.” He suggested as his daughter’s eyes of eyes widen with joy.

“Really!?” She asked and after the king give a nod of clarity before bursting into a joyful dance, jumped and circled around him with childish enthusiasm before her eyes finally settled on the group again. “Come you all have to see our Gardens and our castle library, and the star veranda, and our rainbow horn! Come on, now come on!"

The ponies had no doubt been stunned by such an immediate enthusiastic greeting from the king's daughter and followed her closely as Maria gave them a tour around the castle. No one, not even the princess of friendship, noticed the king, his brother and ambassador staying back, the former having an ominous look on his face as he watched the scene unfold.

“Everything has gone perfectly, hey brother." Sköll said in a deep voice. "the plan has worked."

"The plan was to get the rulers of Equestria, not their lapdogs,” Hati said in return, his usual cold, harsh voice betraying his true emotion.

“Yes, yes, but why worry about changes when they can so easily work to our advantage.” The King said, shrugging. "Why send an army to fight a war when you can make them your allies. We just need to keep them weak until we're ready to strike."

“And then, at last, we wolves will have are Vengeance.”