//------------------------------// // Chapter XIII: The Journey Continues // Story: Ponies of the North // by HarmonicaJay //------------------------------// When Twilight and Rainbow Dash returned to camp, they saw Fluttershy standing behind Rarity, Spike, and Týr who was trying his best to hold back his sister, along with Pinkie and Applejack holding her from behind, from the bundle that Fluttershy had wrapped in her wings. Spike was rearing his head back as if he was ready to spit fire at Skadi if she came at Fluttershy. Skadi's eyes were wild with what looked like fear and panic. “What were you thinking bringing that animal to our camp,” Skadi roared. “It's a killer! You can see that by the markings on its head!” She gestured with her hoof at the black marks on the snakes head that looked like an arrowhead. “Those are the marks of a killer! It must be left to die!” Fluttershy shook her head furiously, tears running down her cheeks. Fluttershy was not confrontational by the standards of most ponies, but when she stood her ground on something that meant the world to her, like the protection of a life, she would not budge. “My dear Skadi,” Rarity protested for Fluttershy. “How can you be so thoughtless? The poor little darling is half dead. You cannot blame Fluttershy for taking pity on the poor creature. It's just what she does.” She hugged Fluttershy close, stroking her mane reassuringly. “Umm, did I miss something,” Twilight asked Týr as she trotted up. Making certain his sister was secured by Applejack and Pinkie, Týr took Twilight to one side. “Skadi has a problem with snakes. She tried to adopt one as a foal but it bit her leg. You could say that she's...” He glanced at Skadi and whispered to Twi as if he was afraid of his sister hearing him. “She's afraid of snakes.” Twilight smiled. “I heard that, Týr,” Skadi cried. “I am cautious. I am not afraid of vermin like that... thing!” Twilight couldn't be certain, but she was sure that Skadi's pale blue face had blushed red. Twilight sighed. It was time to play diplomat again. She trotted over to Skadi and looked her in the eyes with a calming smile. “Skadi, I understand your panic at seeing 'Mr. Snake', but Fluttershy is just abiding by her Element of Kindness. She is saving this little animal because she not only wants to, but she has to. It's who she is and I ask you to please abide by it.” Skadi glared at her. “I understand that you are afraid, but it's a half dead snake. I don't think it's going to bite.” Skadi looked at Twilight for a few seconds and then at Fluttershy. She inhaled and exhaled before relaxing her muscles. Applejack and Pinkie looked at Twilight for confirmation, which was received via a nod, and they let her go. Skadi sighed and nodded her head. “I apologize for my threats of violence towards... 'Mr. Snake', but I insist it is kept secured and away from me.” She glowered at the bundle as if she was willing it to explode. “At all times. Please.” Twilight smiled and nodded. “I promise you that will be.” She turned to Fluttershy with a smile. “Is that okay, Fluttershy?” Fluttershy nodded and sniffled before lowering her head to the bundle and giving it a kiss. Skadi made a disgusted look as if Fluttershy had vomited in front of her. Applejack gave Twilight a pat on the back. “Good job there, sugarcube. She was raring to start a fight as soon as she saw that snake.” Twi smiled. “Ponies like Skadi are easy to talk to once they're properly restrained. She seems aggressive, but she's reasonable. She acts tough, but I'm sure she's a softy inside.” A very audible scoff was heard behind her and she turned to see Týr with a raised eyebrow. “Skadi is anything but a softy. I have seen her kill ponies and caribou with her bare hooves. Skadi is one of the most seasoned killers the North has ever produced. Do not think that just because you were able to reason with her that she is a softy. She will definitely try to kill that snake when she gets the chance. She is dangerous. Remember that.” Týr limped back to his saddlebags, swinging them over his back. Pinkie rolled her eyes. “Oh, puhleeze. I saw it in her eyes. She's no monster. Just a little scaredyfoal at heart.” Twilight wasn't too sure. While she was certain that Skadi was reasonable, she was certain she had killed before. She wouldn't have put it past Týr to have killed before as well. The more she learned about the Frozen North, the less she liked it. It was harsh with seemingly no signs of compassion for fellow living things. She was worried about what the father would be like. If Odin had raised them to have a blind eye towards taking a life, he couldn't be much better than they were. They had to figure out what was happening back home soon. She didn't want to remain here any longer than necessary. As the 9 ponies marched through the snow, the little snake in the bundle sent images back to its papa. The fools had taken him in, nursed him, clothed him, and he was in the wings of the most naive of them all. This Fluttershy would be an easy mark. A perfect shield against those that would harm him. The pale one, Skadi, had sensed his true nature and had tried to kill him. But Fluttershy would protect him. Fluttershy was kind, sweet, and, above all, stupid. Jörmungandr would let father know about everything. He would send him thoughts and images. He was going to Valhall. He was going to their stronghold. When he was there, he would kill the one they called Odin. Then... he would find his nemesis. His true enemy. The one that had killed him... Thor. Like Father, Jörmungandr remembered everything about that day. Ragnarök, the end of days. The battle between the Gods and the Jötunns. Like Father, Jörmungandr was a Jötunn. A small one, but a Jötunn nonetheless. He was proud of it. He was like his brother Fenrir and his sister Hel: Born different than most, but they were of their father and mother's blood. These pony folk were just like the Aesir and Vanir. So full of themselves as the true heroes of Midgard. Easy to say that when they were the victors. The ones that had slaughtered his people for centuries before the final battle began. Father was a hero, the one that had ended the tyranny of the Aesir and the Vanir. They would suffer, all of them. But the first would be Skadi. He swore it. Loki heard everything from Jörmungandr and smiled. His son would not fail him. The travelers made camp that night around sundown. Applejack took care of the fire while Pinkie and Rarity took care of the food, melting down snow to use to boil the plants, though Skadi and Týr had insisted on hunting rabbit to use in the pot. Twilight had steadfastly refused after Fluttershy had broken into tears, hugging Mr. Snake. Skadi had stomped off, muttering something about weakness and impracticality in the face of survival. Fluttershy had wrangled Rainbow Dash into helping her feed Mr. Snake, much to RD's discomfort. Fluttershy was humming a lullaby with Rainbow Dash providing background harmonies. Twilight was certain that the little snake was smiling. Fluttershy could make anything, even a grumpy bunny like Angel, smile. She knelt down by the fire and stretched out her legs, letting her hooves get all nice and toasty while Spike slept against her side. It hadn't been an easy day for anypony there and they were all cold and tired. As her eyes became heavy with the weariness of travel, she heard a thump in the snow beside her. She turned to see Týr laying beside her, his face still the same grim expression he'd worn all day. “You did well with Skadi today.” “Uh, thank you, Týr. Just doing my job as the diplomat.” Týr nodded and began staring at the fire. “What is your land like? Does it have more seasons than just winter?” Twilight smiled. “Yes, we do actually! Spring, Summer, and Autumn. Oh, Spring is my favorite. When winter ends, it's as if life itself is renewed. It's a-” “Cycle,” Týr interrupted. “A cycle of death and life. Life comes from death and is reborn for another cycle of four seasons. And you have a queen?” “A princess,” Twilight corrected. “Two of them. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. They are sisters and they have been ruling Equestria together for years. In fact,” She gave herself a proud smile and brushed her hoof against her chest in a quick nonchalant kind of way. “I am not only Princess Celestia's apprentice, but I am also the one who helped reunite her and her sister.” Týr raised an eyebrow in surprise. She was certain that expression was genuine surprise. “Really? How did you do this?” Twilight went on to explain how she had met her friends, how they had gone on a quest to find the Elements of Harmony and how they used them to defeat Nightmare Moon and revert her back to normal as Princess Luna. She then explained how she had completed the spell that not even Starswirl the Bearded had been able to complete and how this had caused her to be ascended to being an alicorn and a princess. “So, that's about that. We've gone on adventures, helped those in need, and we've saved the Kingdom so many times. Impressive, isn't it?” Týr slowly nodded. “Impressive indeed, but I have a few questions.” “Go ahead.” “Why did Luna forgive her sister so easily for imprisoning her? I mean... if it were my sister or brother that had done that to me, I would not be so quick to forgive.” Twilight shrugged. “Well... they're sisters. Luna wasn't herself. Celestia had to do it to stop her. It was a desperate move.” “And yet she couldn't try to cure her of this 'Dark Affliction' instead of eternal imprisonment? Seems suspect to me. Like she wanted power for herself and when you saved her, she had no choice but to play the kind and wonderful sister that welcomed her long-lost sister back into her hooves so she can plan how to dispose of her properly.” Twilight stood up in a huff, causing Spike to fall into the snow. She was livid. “How... DARE YOU ACCUSE PRINCESS CELESTIA OF SUCH A HORRIBLE THING? You are... UNBELIEVABLE! YOU... YOU... BARBARIAN!” Everypony around the fire turned in surprise to stare at Twilight. “Princess Celestia is a kind and generous pony that is more deserving of my loyalty than somepony like you who is so cynical that he cannot comprehend love between siblings!” Týr held up his left foreleg. “Hold it. You think I cannot comprehend love for my siblings? I actually care deeply about my siblings. I would die for Skadi. We've fought side by side in battle many times and I would sooner stand in front of a charging Caribou than betray her trust. However, I do know that more power is a tempting prize for those who already have it. You cannot deny the possibility that your mentor lied to you. Also, that's not even bringing up the fact that you were given a glorified title for 'finishing a spell'? Come on. Anypony can see how silly that is. You are not of royal blood and your country doesn't even have a real king or queen.” Twilight was fuming. “You... know NOTHING of my home, my people, or Princess Celestia. You are just a... a... a jerk!” She turned and stomped off in a huff, making sure that each hoofstep was extra loud so that Týr would know exactly how mad she was. Týr just gave her a look that asked “Really?”. He looked at everypony around the fire. “Is she always this unreasonable?” Rainbow Dash and Applejack just shook their heads. “Tyr, ya just pushed the Celestia button,” Applejack said. “You shouldn't have done that,” Rainbow Dash confirmed. “You are in for a very unpleasant journey.” “All I said was-” It was Rarity's turn to speak up. “Týr, Princess Celestia is like a second mother to Twilight. She taught her everything she knows about Magic. And you just accused her of being just as bad as monsters like the Changelings. What would you say if it was, well, your father accused of betraying his sister.” “My father doesn't have a sister,” Týr answered. “So not the point, dude,” Rainbow Dash said, rolling her eyes. “You really don't get it, do you?” Týr shrugged. “I guess I don't.” He looked down at Spike who was giving him the death glare before turning to the camp. “Anyone want some stew?” Twilight was near the top of a tree. As soon as she had gotten out of sight, she had taken wing and was having some alone time. The nerve of Týr. Who did he think he was, accusing somepony he had never met of betraying her sister of usurping the throne for herself. And she HAD earned the title of Princess. She had saved Equestria numerous times before and she was just as capable as anypony who would be able to do the same. She had been on the fence about Týr. His questions about the seasons had made her think that maybe there was more to him than a cynical fighter, but the truth was that he was just a cold-hearted jerk with a stupid face and a dumb cloak! She sighed and looked up at the moon. She had earned it. She knew she had. Hadn't she? Maybe, after all this time, she didn't know herself. She could hear the group talking. Dinner time. She had to get back. Not right now of course, but soon. Just after she'd stared at the moon for a bit longer.