The gathered ponies milled about, the recent events making them especially wary of the shimmering lights that had danced across the sky. Nobody truly knew what they were, but Celestia had denied any knowledge of them, so they may have been dangerous… somehow. Zinnia herself merely stared at the skyline with an unhappy expression, arms crossed.

“Zinnia,” Celestia asked, walking up to the woman’s side and looking at the spot that Zinnia’s gaze appeared to be locked on. “Do you know what just happened?”

“No, Celestia,” Zinnia replied, sighing. “But I have a feeling that something will happen soon that will explain a lot.”

“Whatever do you mean?”

“You’ll see.”

Not long after, Sonar arrived, a Tyrantrum following behind him. The Noivern landed behind Zinnia, and the Tyrantrum wisely skirted around the group of ponies watching his every move before sitting himself at the bottom of the hill Zinnia stood upon, his head coming level with her.

“Zinnia,” Sonar said, catching the woman’s attention. When she turned to him, he continued. “This is Bolan, one of the others that was coming to see Sky Slicer. I have informed him of what happened already.”

“Thanks Sonar,” Zinnia said, smiling softly at him before turning to the newcomer. “Hey Bolan, I’m Zinnia.”

“Hey,” the T-Rex said, his deep, gravelly voice carrying an unexpectedly soft edge. “Did you see that weird sky shining thing?”

“Yeah, I saw it.” Zinnia deadpanned.

“That was pretty.” Bolan’s goofy smile caused Zinnia to burst out laughing, losing her balance for a moment only for Bolan to catch her on his snout. She steadied herself, thanking the Tyrantrum, before her gaze drifted to a steadily growing pool of shadows.

“Everyone ready!” Zinnia shouted, and almost immediately the ponies were pointing a range of weaponry at the pool. Sonar took to the skies, circling the area and keeping his aim on the pool as Bolan stood up, lumbering behind the pool and preparing to Crunch whatever stepped out, even if he didn’t understand what was going on.

From out of the portal, emerged a tall, hooded figure. It looked around before its gaze locked on Zinnia. “Ah Zinnia dear!” the figured called, throwing its hood back to reveal the oddly coloured face of Hel, “Pleasant surprise to see you!”

“H-Hel!?” Zinnia exclaimed, her eyes widening when she saw Bolan leaning down. “Bolan, no!” she cried, causing the T-Rex to pause, eyeing Hel warily. Zinnia sighed, before turning to the ponies gathered. “It’s okay, everyone! She’s friendly!”

“Oh I highly doubt hey could harm me,” Hel laughed, “I mean really, I survived Ragnarok.”

“Half of you survived Ragnarok. I read the books.”

“What mortals think they know and what they actually know are two very different things, my dear,” Hel said, giving a smile.

“Oh, right. Sorry.” Zinnia blushed for a moment before a light seemed to turn on in her head. Literally, thanks to Discord. “Wait, how are you here? I thought you were bound to Yggdrasil’s realms?”

“Well, you see my dear,” Hel started, clearing her throat, “As of... whenever that light show started, this universe is now the tenth realm of Yggdrasil.”

Zinnia’s face was set in a perfect line. “...What?” she asked, before holding her hands up. “You know what, never mind. I’mma just go with Yggdrasil was being grabby and accept it.”

“You know that's not that far off from the truth. Your universe just happened to float on by and the tree decided it wanted it.” Hel explained rather chipperly. “But, this also means I am now your goddess of death.”

At those words, reality itself seemed to ripple as a roar of pure, unadulterated rage filled the air. In the centre of a nearby lake, a whirlpool of ghostly energy opened, and from it flew a snake-like beast with six wings resembling a black ribcage. A golden mask wrapped from one side of it’s head to the other, meeting over it’s mouth to form a pointed beak.

“Pretender!” it cried, though only Zinnia, Hel and the Pokemon heard the words. All the ponies heard was a ghostly wail crossed with a draconic roar. “I rule the Underworld here! Leave now, and I may spare you the gruesome fate you so deserve!”

“I’m sorry,” Hel said, looking at it, narrowing her eyes, “But did you just threaten me?”

“Shit…” Zinnia whispered before whipping round, running like hell. “Everybody run for your lives! Two death gods are about to throw down!!” At her words, the assembled ponies scattered, some jumping onto Sonar and Bolan’s backs before the two Dragon-Types hauled ass out of there.

“That's not a very good idea,” Hel said, looking the dragon in the eyes, “It never ends well.”

“I was going to say the same thing, bitch” Giratina replied, opening his mask to reveal his smug grin.

Hel just stared at him as the world seemed to get colder. “You. Are. Dead.” she said simply, cracking her neck, never taking her eyes off him.

“Been there, done that.” The spectral drake’s wings flexed, a ball of shadows building in his open mask. “Why don’t you try it?!” he roared, firing the Shadow Ball attack at Hel’s face.

Hel just threw her fist out, causing it to dissipate. She leapt into the air, bringing her leg down on his head, sending him to the ground with a rather painful sounding thud. Giratina picked himself up, stabbing his wings into the earth. Large plumes of dirt and grass fired at the Norse Goddess, the Earth Power landing a direct hit and throwing her back. The Renegade followed up by charging forward, summoning the Griseous Orb to himself and holding it in his now fully-formed bat wing, growing six thick legs that tore up the ground as he ran. Hel threw out a powerful kick, Giratina sinking into a shadow on the ground to dodge.

“Oh no you don’t!” Hel shouted, reaching into the shadow and pulling the drake out by the tail, swinging him around her head before throwing him into the lake he had emerged from. “Seriously, you don’t want to piss me off. Just let it go.”

Giratina rose from the water, dismissing the Griseous Orb and returning to his Altered Form. “This is far from over, Usurper.” he growled, turning to disappear into the water again. As he did so, however, a cloud of black smoke enveloped his head, seeping into his eyes, nose and mouth. When the cloud had been completely absorbed, Giratina’s body turned pitch black, the reds and golds turning to blues and silvers. The changed drake turned back to Hel before a small, shadow-like creature appeared on it’s head.

”I must thank you, ma’am,” the shadow spoke, it’s voice sounding in Hel’s mind. ”Without your assistance, I may never have, ahem, convinced Giratina to join my cause. Without another word, the shadow disappeared with the changed Giratina into the swirling portal, laughing maniacally the whole time.

Zinnia touched down next to Hel, eyes wide and breath ragged. “What have you done…” she muttered, before rounding on the Goddess, using her wings to bring herself to level eye height. “WHAT THE FUCK HAVE YOU DONE!!!!” she shrieked, now beginning to hyperventilate. “He got Giratina. It was bad enough he got Blueblood and Luna, but now he’s got Giratina.” Zinnia dropped to the ground, gripping her head tightly. “We’re fucked! We are well and truly fucked!”

“What are you talking about?” Hel asked, brushing some hair out of her face, “I highly doubt you're fucked.”

“Do you have any idea what just happened?!” Zinnia asked, rounding on Hel. “That shadow thing was Darkrai. Lord of Darkness and Nightmares. He wants to plunge the world into a stasis purely because he doesn’t like the light.” She paused, throwing her hands up. “And you practically just HANDED him this world’s equivalent of you!”

“He can try,” she said, looking down at Zinnia, “But you're not going to let that happen are you my dear?”

“Well of course not!!” Zinnia shouted, now pacing. “I can’t very well tell Jason about his daughter if I’m trapped in a planetary stasis, can I?”

“Oooh! You’re pregnant!” Hel clapped her hands together before scooping Zinnia up into a tight hug, “Welcome to our insane family!”

“C-can’t… b-breath!” Zinnia gasped, eyes rolling up into her head. Hel quickly released her, a manic grin spreading on her face.

“This is wonderful news!” she smiled, doing a rather amusing little dance, “I wonder what it’s going to look like?” she asked, stroking her chin.

“Dunno.” Zinnia said, a smile gracing her face for the first time in many, many hours. “I just hope she likes me.”

“She might have nine heads,” Hel added, “Or be a random animal, or just a completely normal person like Nari and Narfi.”

“Or she could end up like me, being half Pokemon.” Zinnia flapped her wings for emphasis. “Heck, she’ll probably train her own team!”

"Maybe, who knows. Jotun genetics are like Lego bricks.”

“Interesting analogy.” a purple Unicorn mare stated, having appeared in a purple flash. “Comparing your genetics to a children’s toy. How strange.”

“Hello Twilight Sparkle,” Hel said with a wave.

“Wait, you’re Twilight?” Zinnia looked over the mare, taking in her ‘Librarian Chic’ looks. White shirt, purple cardigan, purple skirt, black stockings and purple slip-ons met the woman’s eyes. “Huh. You don’t strike me as Knight material.” Twilight frowned before her horn flared, a lilac rapier appearing in her hand with a royal purple starburst gem embedded in the hilt. She ‘Harumph’ed before turning and striding away.

“She makes a better princess anyways,” Hel said, making sure she was loud enough for Twilight to hear. Zinnia laughed, watching the mare as she approached a group of five others. A moment later, the whole group was walking over, each one having some form of weapon strapped to their bodies. Zinnia gulped, looking to Hel.

The first of the group to arrive was an orange Earth Pony mare wearing a red flannel shirt and a pair of simple work jeans over a pair of worn brown boots. A stetson rested atop her blonde mane, tied back into a ponytail. A large Claymore was strapped to her back, an orange, apple-shaped gem fitted into the crossbar

“Howdy,” the mare said, holding out her hand with a cold look in her eyes. “Ah’m Applejack, Knight of the Realm and Element of Honesty. Ah’m also an apple farmer.”

After Applejack came a pristine white Unicorn mare with a perfectly curled purple mane wearing a purple ruffled blouse and a white skirt with a pair of white platform shoes, a longbow in her left hand with a deep purple, diamond-shaped gem just above the grip.

“Greetings,” she said. “My name is Lady Rarity, Knight of the Realm and Element of Generosity. I run Carousel Boutique.

A cyan Pegasus with a technicolour mane walked up next, wearing naught but a royal blue sports bra and a pair of bike shorts. A pair of running shoes adorned her feet. She had a katana attached to a belt around her waist, one hand on the grip, just below the red lightning bolt gem.

“Name’s Rainbow Dash,” she said, glaring openly at the woman. “Professional stunt flyer, Knight of the Realm, and Element of Loyalty.

A bright pink mare bounced over, leapfrogging Rainbow Dash and getting right in Zinnia’s face. She wore a bright yellow tee shirt under a set of short-legged denim dungarees, with rainbow coloured socks pulled all the way up her thighs and mismatched sneakers - one red, the other blue. She dragged a massive warhammer behind her, a sky blue balloon-shaped gem attached to the hilt.

“Hi! I’m Pinkie Pie, and I’m a baker! Ooh, and I’m the Element of Laughter and a Knight of the Realm, too!”

The final newcomer was a butter yellow pegasus with a long pink mane that covered half of her face. She wore a lime green sweater and a pair of black sweat pants, pink flats covering her feet. She held a large, circular shield with a pink butterfly gem embedded in the centre.

“U-um, I’m Fluttershy…” she whispered, trailing off before Dash placed a hand on her shoulder. The simple action seemed to give the shy mare a small boost of confidence. “I-I’m the Element of Kindness and a Knight of the Realm, and I also take care of all the little critters around my town.”

“And I,” Twilight said, stepping up and resting her rapier’s blade on her shoulder. “Am Twilight Sparkle, Knight of the Realm, Element of Magic, and librarian.”

Zinnia stared at the six mares for a moment before she spoke.

“So let me get this straight,” she begs placing her aching head in her hand. “Before I was knighted, the country was defended by you guys?”

The gathered mares chorused a series of “Yep”s and “Yeah”s, with a single “Why of course!” thrown in.

"They are a lot more effective than they look," Hel said, looking them over, "Rather weird seeing them upright."

“Really?” Zinnia asked, looking from the Goddess to the mares. Her eyes roamed over each of the mare’s forms, lingering in certain areas. “I think they’re kinda hot.” she added, causing each of the mares to suddenly sport raging blushes. Except Pinkie Pie, who merely winked. A passing noble stallion stopped, turning and looking down his nose at Zinnia.

“That’s because you, Madame,” he said in an extremely nasally voice. “Are a whooooooooooooooore.”

"That was harsh," Hel commented with a frown. "But, I must say, Twilight looks better with the wings."

“There it is again!” Twilight shrieked, glancing at her friends. “She keeps claiming to know me, but clearly she doesn’t! She said I was a Princess! That’s crazy!”

“No,” Zinnia said, pausing to breath a plume of purple flames into the air. “That is crazy. Darkrai being able to spread the Nightmare is crazy.” She gestured to Hel, then to herself. “This? This is probably the most normal thing in the Equestria cluster of the Multiverse.” She paused, tapping her chin. “Would that be it? Sounds kinda weird now that I’ve said it out loud.”

“Yeah, I think that about sums it up.” Hel said, nodding sagely.

“What are you talking about!” Both women turned to Twilight, shocked to see her mane frazzled to the point that she almost looked like a purple porcupine. ,, “Are you saying that Clover’s Multiverse theory was true!?”

“Oh, yeah,” Zinnia said, her face remaining completely straight as she spoke. “Me and Hel are actually from other universes ourselves - Hel’s from another Equestria, and I’m from an Earth.”

"No," Hel started, "I am from Neplfhiem, try not to confuse them."

“Right, but you’re connected to an Equestria.”

"More like Faust put an Equestria on Asgard."

“Eh, same thing.”

"I think we're confusing them." Hel pointed out.

“HEY!” Zinnia and Hel jumped, whipping around to see Twilight looking even more frazzled than before. “I don’t care where you’re from! Just stop talking!”

"Do not presume to command me girl," Hel snorted, glaring at her.

“Okay, everyone chill. Hel, I think Twilight’s just a little confused and frustrated that we’re too crazy for her to understand. She looks like an egghead, so that’s what I assume.”

“Hey!”

“Twilight, don’t shout at Hel. She can literally make you her bitch right down to the soul. She watches over the dead in Yggdrasil’s realms, which we are now a part of apparently.”

"That is correct," Hel nodded, "I am now your goddess of death. Nice to meet you all."

The gathered mares stared at the Goddess in horror. Rarity summoned a plush red couch before fainting. Fluttershy joined her, face-planting the Unicorn’s breasts. Applejack swallowed nervously, sweat pouring down her face. Twilight took a couple steps back, pure fear taking over her features. Pinkie stopped bouncing.

Dash pissed herself.

"Oh relax," Hel said, rolling her eyes, "I'm not going to do anything, my days usually consist of just sitting around reading....or spying on Jason."

“Speaking of, where is sugar daddy? I’d have thought he’d come see me if this happened!” Zinnia said with a playful pout.

"He doesn't know just yet, he's busy with the other realms at the moment."

“Ah, fair enough.” She paused, spotting Celestia waving her over. “Well, as much as it’s been fun to chat, we’ve unfortunately got some stuff to deal with. Later Hel!” And with that, Zinnia jogged over to Celestia’s position, leaving the Norse Goddess with the six mares.

"I shall take my leave as well girls," Hel said with a smile, "Til next time." She said, melting into the shadows.

The six mares looked between each other, shock, fear and confusion in their eyes. Their silence was broken by an elegent comment made by Rainbow Dash that summed up all of their feelings.

“The fuck was that!?” Next Chapter: Eventful Events, Summon The Light! Estimated time remaining: 13 Hours, 2 Minutes