//------------------------------//
// Icerim 
// Story: MLP: Journey Across Time 
// by B. J. Williams 
//------------------------------//

	Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy flew a lot toward the most northern end of the confederacy. It was closing in on the evening. The air around them at this time was very cold and there was some frost on the ground.
"How much farther until Icerim?" Rainbow Dash asked the messenger.
"Not far." he replied.
"I'm starting to freeze up." Fluttershy stated as she was shivering.
"I'm getting cold as well." Rainbow Dash explained.
"You should've but the coats on while we were in Coltabasso." Eventually, they arrived at Icerim. The town was built like a moderate sized town built with Scandinavian architecture. The town was built next to a massive freshwater lake. There were chucks of ice floating on top of the water.
"Damn, is the weather normally like this?"
"On one of the cooler days, yes."
"Why did they build a town in this frozen hell-hole?" The messenger looked back irritated.
"Some ponies call this 'hell-hole' home. Don't be making fun of the Icerim ponies." He turned around. "Now, we should get inside before our wings and bodies begin to freeze." Flutteryshy was starting to freeze up. The three flew down to the ground when they landed. They saw a few colts playing in the snow patches. The colts were wearing wool coats over their main coat.
"Fluttershy," Rainbow Dash asked. "Are you o... kay?"
"I-I-I'm f-f-freez-z-ing. c-c-cold." Fluttershy stated as she shivered.
"I'm st-st-start-t-ting t-t-to g-g-get cold t-t-too." Rainbow Dash started to shiver as well."
At that moment, a gray pony with a red mane came out. He was wearing a brown fur coat and a silver helmet with a gold crown on hit. He had an eye-patch over his right eye. He took his coat off and put it on the two freezing mares.
"Th-th-thank you."
"You are welcome." The pony turned toward the messenger whom had bowed to him. "Are these the reinforcements sent by the confederacy?"
"My lord, the capital was too busy setting up for the Confederacy festival. However, these two pegasi were a part of the group of Basil." The pony that came to them looked them over.
"What are you waiting for?" he said to the pegasi. "You'll freeze out here, Come inside my house, I will keep you warm and make you some dinner." They were brought inside a large stone fortress. The inside of the fortress was insulated to keep the warmth in. They were brought to a dining hall. The decorations on the walls included various shields and red banners. "So, you are from Basil's group? What are your names?"
"Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy." Rainbow replied as she and Fluttershy were finally warming up.
"Well, my name is Alvhest. I am the monarch of the Icerim ponies."
"Hello." Fluttershy stated.
"Can you tell us about what this fighting you mentioned earlier?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Ah, yes. The conflict against the giants. There are two different types of giants. First, there are the frost giants lead by King Yotunhiem and the other group are the fire giants lead by King Muspell."
"What are about these giants?"
"First, off they're giant in size. Well, you'll know them when you see them." Then, a pony brought out several platters. "Ah, the dinner is ready." Each platter had some roast mutton, some smoked salmon, and some flatbread with lingonberry jam. Each was also given a cup with ale in it. "Shall we dine?" Of course, the two weren't used to eating like kings (or their case, queens). He didn't know that his pony guests were not omnivorous ponies.
"Okay. I guess." So they ate and drank with the king and his bride. The king noticed the two didn't touch their mutton.
"I was wondering. How come you haven't touched your mutton?"
"It that we aren't used to eating meat."
"Oh, why didn't you say so earlier? Let me get you some soup."
"Thanks." Dinner passed by. The two ponies were stuffed and were slightly blushing due to the ale.They never tasted such good food in their lives.
"Mmmm." Rainbow Dash stated. "That was so good, especially the salmon." The king was glad that they enjoyed their meal.
"I'm thinking it is rare you get a meal like the one you ate." Alvhest replied.
"No, that meal was the best we ever had." Fluttershy added.
"We, normally, get this food." Alvhest's wife said. "It is always good to have guests."
"Yes, my dear." Alvhest replied.
"Isn't this where Tamblion is supposed to be?" Fluttershy asked.
"Well, there was a city nearby but it disappeared in the past and left a giant crater that filled up with water. This turned into the Ice lake. Then, finally the city came up known as Icerim."
"Well, it is approaching night." Alvhest's wife stated. "It probably be time to hit the hay." She turned to her husband. "And I will see you in bed, dear." She was being flirty toward her husband. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were given a warm place to sleep for the night. They got separate beds though they were in the same room. They would need the rest before they began their military stuff tomorrow. The night passed by.

The morning came. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy got up and ate breakfast. They put on their coats and head to the barracks of the Valkyrie. They saw a legion of Valkyrie rush out. They wore silver armor for their bodies and their wings. They also carried sabers. After farther notice, all of the valkyrie soldiers were female.
"Hey." Rainbow Dash shouted. One of the valkyrie soldiers stopped to listen. "What's going on?"
"One of the scouts had detected the presence of frost giants." the valkyrie replied. "If you are the pegasi we were hearing about," She grabbed two sets of armor and threw them down to the two. the pieces of armor were caught. "then get in your armor and help us fight."
The valkyrie flew off and another came and gave Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy their armor. It looked like the standard armor with the addition of a winged helmet. The center of the helmet was the symbol that appeared as their cutie mark. They put on the armor and followed the valkyrie. As always, Fluttershy was very nervous about combat.
After moving away from the town, they came across the frost giant that was wandering around. The armor of the frost giant was made completely from ice crystals. The helmet was round in shape and had two horns. It did not cover the lower part of the face. One could see the giant had dark blue skin and a short light blue beard. It wielded an axe and a shield also made of ice crystals. The markings on the shield featured two spirals. The one on top went clockwise. The one on the bottom went counter-clockwise. The giant was ripped, shirtless, and wearing brown furry underpants for some reason.
"Ha, he doesn't look that tough." Rainbow Dash stated. "I can take him on." She rushed out there.
"Wait, Rainbow…" Fluttershy tried to stop her. But she was late. Rainbow Dash already was close to him.
"Hey, you over here." The frost giant looked at Rainbow. "You think you are all that. Well, bring it." The frost giant walked over to Rainbow Dash. She realized the frost giant was as tall as two-story building. "Ha, I have faced bigger foes." She flew up. "If you wanna fight, then bring it!" Rainbow Dash was trying to provoke it. The giant was annoyed. Rainbow Dash turned around to her comrades. "You see that, he is speechless." She turned around. "Bring it on, giant." He rolled his eyes.
"Fine," The giant said. "I'm only doing this because you want me to." The giant just lifted his hands ready to box.
"Ready. Go." The giant threw the first punch. His fist was the size of a pony. "Oh crap." The punch struck Rainbow Dash and sent her flying. She did a Wilhelm scream as she flew and crashed through a tree and into a snow bank. When she got out of the snow, her eyes were derped. "Best two out of three?" She later passed out.
"What an idiot." he stated. A valkyrie soldier facehoofed. This was due to Rainbow Dash's arrogance and lack of common sense. "If there are more stupid pegasi, please come and show yourselves. I already know you are here." Fluttershy went out to Rainbow Dash to help her up. "Just one other?"
"Excuse me, Mr. Giant. Why did you come here?" Fluttershy asked him.
"So, you wish to talk. I am here to patrol the area for hostile ponies. You don't seem very hostile."
"I'm not, but why must you do harm to ponies?"
"If I do not follow those orders too, I will be punished."
"But doesn't sound unusual for the orders to be given?"
"How stupid of a question is that?" the valkyrie said to herself.
"Come to think of it." the giant stated. "Since my lord is just, it does sound very awkward to give an order like that. I don't know why he would do that."
"How come?" Fluttershy asked.
"My lord, King Yotunheim, has been acting rather strangely."
"Can't we just talk to him? It might help." The giant thought.
"Well, we can benefit from this. But since you are ponies, my kind might think you are the enemies."
"But we (Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy) were not involved in the first place."
"You have a point. I can take you to see my lord."
"Thank you."
"By the by, I am Isjotuns."
"I'm Fluttershy." So, the giant had to stealthily bring Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy to the king after they explained this to Rainbow Dash when she woke up.