Loki snickered to himself as he hid behind a wall, the mischievous gears in his mind turning. As he composed himself, he peeked out to make sure he had everything set. Perched above a partially open door sat a simple wooden pail tethered to a small rope, the other end of which was tied to a branch that served as a rafter. His eyes gleamed as his trap was set, now all that was left was to wait for his unsuspecting victim to spring it. He quickly ducked back into his hiding spot, a great big grin plastered across his face as he waited.

Gilda let out a loud yawn as she approached her bedroom door and pushed against it. She loosed a shocked screech when the bucket of ice cold water fell on her and doused her, fully waking her up and making her very glad that she never wore clothes to bed.

Loki found himself on the floor, laughing his head off and holding his sides together. As he rolled onto his back, still cackling like a hyena, he soon found a very cross Gilda standing over him. The look on her face was one of grave fury. As his laughter died down, he responded with a sheepish little grin. Within the blink of an eye, he rolled to his feet and bolted down the hall.

“Get back here, Loki!” Gilda screeched as she gave chase, running on all fours after the boy. Yet for some reason she was still having trouble closing the distance between her and her student. It was like he could make himself faster than any pure biped had a right to be.

Loki ran as fast as his legs could carry him, breathing heavily as the adrenaline coursed through his body. He zigzagged throughout the palace, finally stopping to catch his breath in the central hall. As he panted, he gazed back to see if Gilda was still in pursuit of him; she was not. Confident he had lost her, he made his way into another room, just to be sure she wouldn’t catch up to him. He left the door to the room open enough where he could survey the hall, cautiously watching for his pursuer. As he eyed the hallway, he felt a hand rest on his shoulder. He immediately leapt from the room screaming, landing on his stomach. He turned to see what had ambushed him, and to his relief he found himself locking eyes with Jottun. “By the Empress, you scared me half to death!” He yelped.

Jottun laughed and pulled Loki to his feet. “Why so high strung this morning, friend? Is Gilda mad at you for something?”

“Let’s just say the reeve didn’t enjoy her early morning shower,” Loki snarked, catching his breath from both the run and the panic attack Jottun had laid on him. “Are all your maidens so quick to temper, even from a harmless little joke?”

"Gilda is particularly ill-tempered in the morning,” Jottun answered. “I believe you Equestrians call it not being a morning person.”

Loki chuckled as he clasped his hand on Jottun’s broad shoulder. “I’ll have to remember that next time I pick my targets.” He took in a few deep breaths, finally calming himself before once more peeking down the hall, hoping Gilda wouldn’t have caught up to him. He sighed in relief when she didn’t show up. “Good, I seem to have eluded her. For the time being.” He turned his attention back to Jottun. “So, what else is there to do for fun around here?”

The door was thrown open and Loki found himself pulled into a one armed headlock. “You may be fast, you little brat, but my nose could follow you in the desert itself!” Gilda ranted with a glare as she administered a noogie to Loki’s head.

Loki  grunted as Gilda applied pressure to his scalp, squirming as he attempted to loose himself from Gilda’s hold. “Ok, ok!” He shouted as he kicked and flailed. “I yield! I yield! I give! Come on, Gilda! I surrender!”

Jottun couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight before him. He held himself as he fell on the floor with a laugh that could very well rival his father’s own.

Gilda carried Loki out to the shield maiden training ground, to the ever maintained communal bath and tossed him into the water, which was still chilly from the night air, not yet warmed for the shield maidens.

Loki immediately surfaced, gasping for air as he climbed out of the bath, feeling the weight of his wet clothes as he got onto dry land. He held himself in a vain attempt to get warm as his body shook and teeth chattered like jackhammers. He turned his attention to find Jottun on the ground, flailing and striking the ground as he cackled even louder than before, he could see his face practically turn blue from the strain.

Gilda smirked at Loki with her arms crossed. “Ditch your clothes if you don’t want to catch cold, kid.”

A light blush formed on Loki’s face, his sense of modesty somewhat intact. Though given the choice between being in his birthday suit or sitting up with a cold, Loki quickly removed his damp, heavy clothes. He could feel the cold air against his bare skin, which became afflicted with goosebumps as he once more clasped his arms around himself trying to feel warm. “Satisfied?” He snarkily asked Gilda as he locked his gaze with hers.

“Yes,” Gilda answered with a wider smirk. “Now come on. Let’s get some breakfast. Lots of training to do today. Maybe you’ll actually manage to win a grappling match.”

“Yes, madam,” Loki sighed as he picked up his wet clothes and followed Gilda and Jottun into the main dining hall, the gears in his head once more turning on a payback plan.

Asta had really taken after her older sister in several ways. The most immediately obvious being that she shared Gilda’s penchant for sparring naked, which had thus far been a bit of a problem for Loki, since she was his age, and also really cute on top of that. Plus the little fact that she had repeatedly kicked his ass in sparring throughout the week he’d been in Yggdrasil.

Loki fumed as he gazed at Asta, already readying himself into grappling stance. He still couldn’t believe his luck, or rather bad luck as this would perhaps be the thirteenth time he’d been wrestled to the ground in an arm lock by a girl. He thought back to how much of a humiliating prospect that’d boast for him back in Equestria, especially with his male peers. He stood firmly in his stance, waiting for the moment the match would commence. His eyes narrowed, focusing on the hope that this would be his victory.

Asta giggled and winked at him to tease him before she started slowly circling around him, prowling on all fours as though toying with a mouse.

Loki in turn circled her, keeping his eyes firmly locked on his opponent. He searched for any kind of tell that would alert him to her next move as his mind raced with possible counters.

“Scared of getting close to a girl, little boy?” Asta taunted with a wink and teasing swipe of her claws at the air.

“I’m afraid of nothing!” Loki barked back, tempted to charge at her and bring her to the ring floor to prove her wrong. But he breathed deeply, centering himself and refusing to take the bait of her trap.

Asta giggled and pounced, knocking Loki to the ground with her full weight and starting to work on getting him into an arm bar like before.

Loki struggled and strained, trying to get one of his arms free and put her in a headlock, but the young reeve’s grip proved to be much stronger than his own. As he strained to free himself, he turned his attention to her eagle like forearms. Without thinking of what his next move would be, he lifted up his head and proceeded to chomp down on the exposed flesh.

Asta screeched in pain as she lost focus, feeling some blood flow down her forearm as she felt herself meeting the ground facefirst.

Wasting no time in taking advantage of this window of opportunity, Loki quickly jumped onto her back, grabbing the arm that he’d drawn blood from and pinned it behind her. “Do you yield?” He smugly remarked as he applied a little pressure to the arm.

Asta winced at the pain and reached back with her free arm, tapping him twice.

Acknowledging her signal of submission, Loki released her arm and stepped off of her, touting his first victory by strutting around the ring, beating his chest and howling like a wild ape.

Asta’s tail wrapped around his ankle and pulled his leg out from under him, bringing him down onto his back as she straddled him in one motion, smirking down at him. “Don’t get too cocky, little boy,” she teased before flipping over his head and onto her feet, her tongue licking his cheek in the moment her face was near his. With a haughty air, she walked out of the ring to get her bite wound bandaged.

Loki clasped his hand to his cheek as he rose to his own two feet, struck with a sense of awe and respect as Asta left.

“I think she likes him,” Balder commented, finally breaking the silence.

Gilda let loose a little chuckle as she turned her attention to Asta tending to her wound. “Indeed she does, babe.” She replied before turning her attention back to the dumbfounded Loki. “He’s a good kid, and I’m glad to see Asta so happy. I think it’s cute that she has a little crush on him.” She loosed another chuckle before she made her way into the ring, giving Loki a congratulatory slap on the back. “Not bad, kid. You did well except for your little victory dance there. You can’t  turn you back on your enemy, not even if they’ve submitted defeat. They will always try to get you at your most vulnerable.”

Loki nodded. “I’ll remember that, master.” He blushed a little. “Back home, biting like that is considered dirty and frowned upon.”

“It’s a wonder you Equestrians won the engagements you did.” Gilda snarked as she tousled Loki’s hair. “Alright kid, go hit the showers. I think you’ve learned enough for today.”

Loki nodded in reply before making his way into the barracks to change into his clothes. As he reached the entrance, he felt the familiar clasp of Jottun’s hand on his shoulder. “Hey, Jottun. What’s up?” Loki asked as he turned to lock eyes with him.

“Loki, hurry and dress, my friend.” Jottun responded, his tone rather excited. “Father wishes us to accompany him on a grand tour of the Empire. He insists that you join us as our honored guest.”

“Really?” Loki replied with excitement of his own. “That sounds so cool. Are we going to fly there?”

“Even better.” Jottun replied as a big grin spread across his face.    

Vultan howled and cheered wildly as his covered chariot raced through the vast Varangar desert lands, bouncing and skirting across the dunes. He could feel the hot, dry air against his bare chest as he whipped the reins. “Onward  Sköll! Onward Hati! Unleash the wild spirit of your ancestors and ride like the wind!” He shouted to the twin ibexes pulling the chariot as he once more whipped the reins. The beasts obeyed and gained even more speed. Vultan let loose a mighty laugh as he turned his attention to Loki and Jottun, who were nestled in the back. “How you doing back there, boys?”

Jottun howled loudly as the chariot sped through the sea of sand. “Faster, father!” He shouted. “Faster! Faster! Faster!”

Loki was green in the face from all the bouncing around as the chariot passed over the dunes. “I think I’m gonna be sick!”

Jottun and Vultan could only chuckle at Loki’s little misfortune. “Stout heart, but a weak stomach” Vultan chided as he whipped the reins, spurring his beats to run faster. Jottun meanwhile clasped his hand on Loki’s shoulder.

“Worry not, my friend.” He spoke in a reassuring tone. “You’ll be used to father’s driving in no time.”

Loki nodded. “I hope so!” he answered before leaning over the side of the chariot and puking his lunch out onto the sand.

Jottun once more let loose a hearty chuckle, slapping his own knee as he held his sides together. Vultan turned his attention to see what brought on his son’s bout of hilarity and found himself laughing the moment he saw Loki’s sickly face as he hugged the side of the chariot.

“Are we there yet?” Loki asked as he rubbed his stomach, his throat burning from his stomach contents coming back up.

“Indeed we are, my young friend!” Vultan shouted, removing one hand from the reins to point out at the horizon. “Behold! The village of Utgard! Gaze upon it’s glory my young Equestrian friend! Gaze and weep with rejoice at her splendor!”

Loki looked out at the city they had reached. Like Yggdrasil, it was built around and among the branches of a truly giant tree. This tree was nowhere near the size of Yggdrasil, but it still dwarfed any tree that could be found in Equestria.

“Woah!” Vultan shouted, tugging back on the reins as his chariot approached the city entrance. As the ibexes stopped, a pair of armed guards approached them, swords at the ready. They drew closer to the chariot, eyes looking over every possible place for any nasty surprise to await them. Once they were content that everything was in order, one locked eyes with Vultan, beating his hand to his chest and bowing in respect. “Apologies, great king. Bandits have tried breaching our walls before by hiding under caravans. We do not wish to delay you any further.” He turned his attention back to the entrance. “Let them pass! Mighty Vultan wishes to enter!”

Loki found the ride infinitely smoother as the chariot moved through the gates and into the city proper. He found the interior to be very similar to Yggdrasil, but with more working class citizens and fewer shield maidens visibly patrolling. Before the chariot could make its way any further into the city, three griffons stood in their pathway. Two of them were shield maidens clad in their traditional armor, hands clasped on the pommels of their swords as if to anticipate any given danger and react at a moment's notice. The third was a  much older reeve, clad in both armor and royal attire. She slightly towered over her bodyguards as she locked eyes with Vultan, a smile appearing on her face. “Gothan dag, Vultan!” She exclaimed with open arms.

“And good day to you, Lofn!” Vultan replied as he hopped off the chariot, wrapping his host in a bear hug, which she returned in kind.

“Who is that?” Loki asked as he watched Vultan hug the tall reeve. “She’s even taller than Gilda.”

“That’s Lofn,” Jottun answered as he too stepped out of the chariot. “Ruler over Utgard and one of the mightiest warriors in the empire.” He raced over and clasped himself to Lofn’s leg as she released her grip on Vultan.

Lofn chuckled as he patted Jottun’s head, tousling his feathers. “Good to see you too, my young prince. My how you are growing. You must be proud of him, Vultan.”

“Of course I am!” Vultan exclaimed, grasping Jottun by the shoulder. “Woden himself smiled upon me and blessed our house with yet another marvelous child.” He turned his attention to Loki, who still sat in the chariot. “Ah, of course. Lofn, allow me to introduce you to my most honorable guest, Loki Starfallen, crowned prince to Equestria.”

“A pleasure to meet you,” Loki greeted with a respectful bow to Lofn.

“Likewise, young Equestrian.” Lofn replied, returning his gesture before refocusing on Vultan. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit, my king? Perhaps you seek to best our champion reeve in a game of drink?” Both she and Vultan chuckled, leaning on each other for support before their laughter ceased.

“As much as I enjoy a fine contest of wills as the next Varangar, I will pass for another time.” Vultan responded with a wink. “No, today I am showing my honorable guest around our mighty empire.”

Lofn knelt down to better meet with Loki’s gaze. “It would be an honor to show you our humble little village, young Equestrian.” She said with a smile. “Come, please. Bask in all our village has to offer you.” She reached into the pocket of her robe, pulling out a small amber colored square, offering it to Loki. “Ginger candy?”

Loki smiled back at her and nodded. “Thank you, Lofn. You’re a very generous reeve.” He accepted the candy and popped it into his mouth.

A light chuckled escaped Lofn as she watch Loki scarf down the candy. “Why thank you, young prince. All the children think so as well. Such wonderful little darlings.”

“You have children too?” Loki asked in curiosity as he enjoyed the flavor of the candy he’d been given.

“I have many children, in a manner of speaking.” Lofn chuckled as she patted Loki’s head. “In fact, I was just on my way to see them when I got word you’d be arriving.” She ceased her petting of Loki and turned her gaze to Vultan. “Why don’t you join me? It’ll surely brighten their day.”

Vultan responded with an uproarious laugh. “It would be our genuine pleasure, my friend.” He turned his attention to both Jottun and Loki. “After all, these boys could use some children companionship.”

“Excellent.” Lofn cheered in reply. “Please, follow me.” She turned to head deeper into the city, followed by her two silent bodyguards.

Loki looked at Lofn’s guards as they walked. “Ms. Lofn? Why are your guards so silent? I was under the impression that Varangar warriors are all open and warm even when fighting.”

Lofn chuckled a bit before briefly turning her gaze to him. “Not these birds I’m afraid.” She shook her head. “Poor kids. They were taken prisoner by a band of raiders as a means to gain information about a rich source of water, but no matter what they did, the girls wouldn’t reveal the information. Rather they spent their captivity insulting and belittling their captors, quite viciously I heard. To punish them, the raiders cut out their tongues. Before they could do any more, my war party found them and brought them here to heal. Ever since then they’ve sworn their loyalty to me and have been by my side.”

“They can’t talk at all?” Loki asked. “That must be really hard,” he said as he looked up at them in sympathy.

“Do not mourn their loss, my boy.” Vultan spoke as he rested a hand on Loki’s shoulder. “A Varangar will gladly give all or part of themselves if it means keeping their honor and protecting their brethren.” He turned his attention to the bodyguards. “These reeve’s have shown courage and strength in the eyes of our All Father, who himself sacrificed his eye to gain knowledge of our infinite cosmos and the mysteries of life itself.”

“Well spoken, father.” Jottun heartily replied. “A Varangar is praised for their sacrifices and scars. And for the ultimate sacrifice of our life in glorious battle, we are rewarded with a place in the halls of Valhalla.”

“It is the highest honor a Varangar can receive.” Lofn finished as they neared a large building within the center of the village.

Loki noticed that the building had been woven out of the tree’s very branches, and there was a very large number of children in and around it. All manner of age ranges too. As the children saw the approaching group, they cheered and ran toward Lofn, Loki distinctly hearing many of them call her mother. He realized rather quickly what the building was. “Those kids are orphans.”

Lofn chuckled as many of the children swarmed her, playfully tackling her to the ground and wrapping her in a massive hug. “Calm down, children. One...one at a time.” She continued laughing merrily as the children released her from their grasp. A few of the youngest ones bounced up and down with joy as she showered them with affections.

Vultan once more placed a hand on Loki’s shoulder as he knelt to his level. “Yes, they are.” He spoke solemnly. “Many of these children were orphaned as a result of many skirmishes, natural disasters, and in times of plague and famine. Lofn has taken it upon herself to care for these lost souls. As noble a cause as I’ve ever seen.”

“Noble indeed,” Loki agreed. “I’d hate to think where I might be if mother hadn’t adopted me.” He watched with a smile as Lofn continued playing with her charges.

As Lofn found herself enjoying playtime with the young ones, she turned her attention back to Vultan and the others. She set down a young reeve fledgling before composing herself. “Come children, gather round.” She spoke in a motherly tone as she motioned for the children to form up neatly. “We have some guests here visiting from Yggdrasil and Equestria.” She turned to face her guests. “You know of King Vultan, his son Jottun. And a very special visitor, Prince Loki.” She returned her gaze to the children. “I want you to treat them all with respect, understand?”

“Yes, mother.” The children replied in unison.

“Wonderful.” Lofn responded contently, a warm smile present on her face.

Loki stepped forward with a smile. “Hello. It’s nice to meet all of you.”

A mob of the younger children immediately surrounded Loki, letting loose a choir of oo’s and ah’s. Some of them even started poking around various places on his body, ever curious and fascinated by this unusual being. As the fledglings were satisfying their curiosities, a few of the older children made their way to him.

Loki chuckled a little as he let the fledgelings satisfy their curiosity, looking toward the older children. “Hello there.”

One of the older children, a grey griffon with a patch of white feathers on her neck, excitedly approached him. Her eyes gleamed as she locked them with his. “Wow!” she squeaked excitedly. “I can’t believe I’m meeting real, live Equestrian royalty!” She quickly snacthed his hands in hers and rapidly shook them up and down. “I’m Gabriella, but everyone calls me Gabby! It’s truly an honor to meet you! I shake you warmly by the hand! It’s just so exciting!”

Loki winced as he felt his hands being crushed in Gabby’s grip, and felt his shoulders ache from all the shaking. “Nice to meet you too, Gabby. Can I have my hands back?”

Gabby quickly released his hands from her steel grip and blushed. “Sorry.” She replied somewhat sheepishly, chuckling a bit. “I tend to get very over excited. And mother thinks I’ve got a strong grip too. It’s why the other fledglings ask me to open jars for them all the time.”

“A reeve with a fine grip.” Jottun boldly spoke up. “Perhaps she is worthy to face in a test of skill and strength? If the All Father favors such a challenge!” He looked to the sky, or rather the mass of branches obscuring it, as if to wait for a divine sign. None appeared, slightly disheartening him. “Another time then, fair reeve.”

Gabby blushed and let out a small squee at being called fair by a prince. “Maybe we can fight when I go to Yggdrasil to further my training as a shield maiden, your Highness.”

“Consider your challenge accepted, Gabriella of Utgard!” Jottun proudly exclaimed. “It shall be a match for the ages!”

“Then I’ll get to Yggdrasil as soon as I possibly can!” Gabby answered just as proudly.

“Is it always like this?” Loki asked of Vultan.

“Of course it is, my boy.” Vultan replied with another hearty chuckle. “Many young Varangar like to participate in contests of strength, skill and sheer will.” He turned his attention back to Lofn. “Speaking of, perhaps I will once more take on your mightiest champion!”

“The usual wager, my king?” Lofn replied with a small wink, nudging Vultan’s gut.

“Challenge accepted!” Vultan boasted. “I shall yet again triumph! No griffon or stallion in all the world can tangle with the demon in the bottle and win as I do!”

“What is he talking about?” Loki asked Jottun. “Something related to alcohol?”

“You catch on quickly,” Jottun replied with a light snark. “Father is infamous around the empire for holding his own in the game of drink. So far, no one’s come close to beating him.” Jottun turned his attention to Vultan, a gleam in his young eyes as his father chuckled and took his hand in Lofn’s, sealing their bet.

The crowd’s cheers roared throughout Utgard’s mead hall as Vultan and company entered, all raising their flagons and goblets in his honor. He made his way to the large wooden table that sat in the middle of the room, basking in the cheers and songs of the riled crowd. Standing at the far end of the table, with her eyes firmly locked on him and an expression of stone, was a very muscular reeve.

Iona rose from her seat, that stony expression melting away as she strode around the table toward Vultan. “What brings our great king so far from the Amber Throne? Come to finally be bested in the game of drink?”

Vultan laughed as he placed a hand to her shoulder. “I come to protect my title, young reeve! Many before you have challenged me and all have fallen, unable to hold their own against the creature. You shall be no different.”

“Bold words, Majesty. But just words.” Iona looked to the servers. “Pour the mead! Only the best for our king! And keep it coming!” The crowd went wild as the serving reeves brought each of them large flagons, all filled to the brim with the golden liquid. Once the first batch was set down before the competitors, Vultan wasted no time and grasped a flagon in his claws. He quickly brought it to his beak and with a single breath, drained it down before tossing it aside and reaching for his second.

Iona kept pace with Vultan, downing flagon after flagon mead, eyes locked with his as they drank. “So how is the queen faring these days, Majesty?”

“Strong and healthy as the day I tamed her!” Vultan quickly responded between drinks, never missing a beat as he downed flagon after flagon. The serving reeves kept their pace as best they could, barely staying with Vultan and Iona as they emptied flagons and moved on to new ones like locusts.

“Tamed?” Loki asked Jottun in confusion as they watched the contest.

“It’s what you Equestrians would call falling in love,” Jottun replied, never tearing his gaze away from his father. “It’s how Varangar find their mates. If a warrior can tame a reeve, then they are destined to be together.”

“So Balder has tamed Gilda then?” Loki asked, watching the contest with fascination. But he could tell that Vultan was faring better. Iona was starting to become visibly buzzed.

“Yes.” Jottun replied as he witnessed Vultan drain two flagons at once. “And father couldn’t be more proud that my brother has chosen a fine warrior reeve as Gilda”

“I imagine Gilda’s sister will be hard for any suitor to tame,” Loki commented as Iona drained a pair of flagons herself.’

Jottun only replied with laughter, too focused on Vultan and his equally determined opponent as they drank flagon after flagon, never stopping even as Iona was becoming more tipsy by the minute. “Go father!” Jottun shouted amongst the roaring cheer of the crowd. Vultan, barely even feeling the tingle of the mead coursing through his veins, grabbed two flagons in each hand and poured the golden liquid down his mighty throat before tossing the flagons aside and grabbing another two to drain dry.

The laughter in response to his comment only confused Loki. “What’s so funny?” he asked right before Iona keeled over unconscious from all the alcohol in her system, while Vultan was still only slightly buzzed.

Jottun and the crowd cheered wildly as Vultan raised his flagon in victory before draining it down. “Vultan! Vultan! Vultan!” The crowd roared as a few large griffons lifted Vultan up on their shoulders in celebration. Vultan laughed as he was tossed about, basking in yet another victory.

“Once more I am the King of Drink! Hear me roar!” Vultan bellowed, lifting the empty flagon into the air as he let out a war cry.

“Has anyone ever come close to besting him?” Loki asked in curiosity as Vultan was tossed about.

“None!” Jottun shouted as he cheered on his father. “No griffon or stallion could ever best my mighty father in this contest! The All Father smiles upon him this day!” Jottun rushed over to the crowd, joining in the celebration

Loki smiled and went to check on the passed out Iona, wondering if she was alright. He found her snoring as she slept off the liquor. Satisfied she was okay, he turned and went to join Vultan and Jottun.