Disclaimer: I don't own anything that doesn't belong to me.

A/N: I made a tweak to the previous chapter and changed the brachiosaurus tribe to ankylosaurus instead.

…

It started off as a perfectly ordinary and uneventful day in Tokyo.

Then a spaceship landed on top of Mount Fuji.

(So, still more or less a perfectly ordinary day in Tokyo.)

The spaceship resembled a massive high-tech Japanese Castle in the Edo style surrounded by alien cherry blossom trees ensconced in a giant crystal ball, the swirling petals helping make it look like a gigantic snow globe. The castle was nestled at the point where eight colossal cybernetic serpents with golden scales and armor plating coiled their tails together, each of the serpents wearing a Kabuto helmet in a different color, hissing and glaring down imposingly at the surrounding countryside.

Delicate, incredibly ornate insectile limbs unfolded from the underside of the ship as it squeezed into the crater atop the volcano, securing the vessel in place with a tremor which rocked the entire mountain, sent flocks of birds flying, and caused the glass as far away as the city to rattle.

At an unheard command, all eight of the serpent heads swiveled to fix their baleful gaze at the city, and the residents of Tokyo trembled in fear, wondering what sort of horrible attack was coming.

Much to their relief, when the eyes of the snake lit up and beams of light shot out, instead of devastating Tokyo they converged to form a gargantuan hologram of an unimaginably beautiful woman. She had an impossible hourglass figure, an incredibly curvaceous body, and a voluptuous, gravity-defying bosom barely contained in her absurdly low-cut kimono, made of some mysterious fabric with stars, planets, foxes, dragons, tigers, and other mythological creatures quite literally dancing and chasing each other across space. Every one of her fingers and toes – each of which ended in a dainty, but very sharp, claw that looked to be painted with actual Stardust – was adorned by rings whose jewels glowed as if miniature stars were ensconced in them, constantly cycling through every color on the spectrum in a marvelous display. An incredibly ornate sun wheel with massive colored orbs with the signs of the Eastern zodiac engraved on them placed at each outer spoke floated behind her back. Her skin was covered in soft, white-gold fur with elaborate red tattoos performing intricate patterns all over her body. Nine massive, incredibly fluffy-looking fox tails spread out behind her, each one having a large ring just beneath the tip with a noh mask on it and Foxfire burning at the tips. While her face looked mostly human, it had vulpine features and was covered in the same soft white-gold fur with red markings as the rest of her body, with gorgeous red eyes and full lips with a hint of fang sticking out. A crystal was set in her forehead almost like a third eye, and incredibly fluffy-looking fox ears stuck out from the top of her hair, which was pure white with red streaks in it and done up in an impossibly elaborate weave around a magnificent headdress dripping with jewels and pearls, a high ponytail at the back splitting into nine elaborate braids which hung almost to the ground.

A beatific smile on her face which immediately won the hearts of most of the people in the city, she bowed low, exposing her cleavage and the many jewel-encrusted necklaces wrapped around her neck. "People of Earth, I am Her Divinity Kyukogo-no-Okami, God-Empress of the Youkalien Star Hegemony. I promise you that I mean you no harm."

Everyone sighed in relief at this.

"I only seek to enslave your entire populace and add your world to my bountiful and prosperous interstellar empire, and give you my personal guarantee it will be as smooth and painless a transition as possible, and I will do my best to minimize casualties on either side." She smiled kindly. "Be not afraid, for soon, poverty, sickness, war, and hunger will be a thing of the past, and universal peace and tranquility shall be yours, under my benevolent rule!"

Everyone started screaming.

…

Kyukogo frowned in dismay, watching the panicking humans on the immense mirror set in a gilded frame carved to resemble dozens of many-tailed foxes which served as her viewing screen. "I do not suppose those are screams of joy?"

"It is unlikely, Your Divinity," a hulking one-eyed, one-horned, heavily muscled ogre wearing scarlet power armor that looked like a mix of samurai armor and the sort of thing a Space Marine from Warhammer 40K said in apology, a huge spiked kanabo almost as big as he was slung over one shoulder.

Kyukogo pouted as she sank back into the ridiculously soft and comfortable cushions covering her throne, a beautiful golden divan with a huge Jade nine tailed fox statue rising up behind it, circuit patterns engraved into the green stone that glowed and pulsed in tune with the holographic galaxies at the tip of each tail. Her throne room, which doubled as the bridge of the ship, was ludicrously grand and opulent, with more gold, jewels, and fine works of art strewn about then could ever be conceived of by any human monarch. The splendid chamber was a blend of Edo-style architecture mixed with neo-futurism, with paintings, banners, and statues replaced by holograms which constantly shifted and changed as if alive, soaring pillars that also doubled as energy pylons, windows showing live feeds of scenic vistas from other planets, and consoles resembling writing tables lining the plush red carpet leading up to the nine-stepped platform the divan was placed on, the consoles manned by aliens resembling imps dressed like Imperial magistrates, their faces covered by paper masks with indecipherable scrawl painted on them. Slaves dressed like kuroko scurried about on various errands.

"I don't understand," Kyukogo complained out loud. "Whenever I try to conquer a planet, they always seem upset for some reason. I'm offering them free, unlimited healthcare, an end to all conflict and suffering, and lifelong employment with generous benefits! What could they possibly have against that? It's almost like they don't want to be enslaved or something!"

The ogre shrugged. "The ways of other species are ever a mystery, Your Divinity. My own people resisted conquest in the distant past, for reasons we no longer remember, but now we can't possibly imagine any life other than serving you and your family. I am certain once we have conquered this world and shown the indigenous species the error of their ways, they shall be no different."

"I suppose," Kyukogo murmured, still looking displeased. "I just wish we could conquer a planet without having to resort to violence for a change. Every life lost means either we have to say farewell to a good soldier and loyal servant, or an adorable potential slave!"

"Perhaps if you were to explain why we have chosen this planet?" Kyukogo's princess-consort and beloved mate, Nyajou, suggested from where she lay sprawled out on the cushions at her mistress's feet. She yawned and stretched, lean muscles rippling beneath her calico fur, her sizable breasts straining against the silk band which, along with her elegant but rather small loincloth, seemed to be all that maintained what little dignity she possessed. Her fingers and toes ended in claws longer and sharper than her Empress's, and her long tail split in two near the end, spectral flames burning on each tip. Her features were felinoid and very attractive, with fuzzy cat ears poking out of the top of her head, her silky black hair in a hime cut with a gleaming tiara set in it. She was festooned with jewels, a sign of her queen's favor, and wore a golden collar bound to the divan by an extendable energy tether. It was just for show, she could easily remove it whenever she wished, but chose not to, seeing it as a symbol of her devotion to her love.

The ogre perked up at this. "Yes, if they saw the princesses, I'm sure that would win them over!"

Kyukogo's face lit up with a radiant smile that seemed to brighten the room. (It did, actually.) "A capital idea! Girls, over here, please!"

…

As people panicked in the streets, the hologram of Kyukogo returned, which, naturally, only served to freak them out further. "You are probably wondering why, out of all the planets in this galaxy, I chose to come to yours," she began.

They had not, in fact, wondered this. Aliens had tried to invade the Earth so many times now it was accepted as a matter of course, something as inevitable or unchangeable as the seasons.

"I would like to introduce you to my children," Kyukogo said as her holographic projection was joined by three absolutely adorable children.

"Hello, people of Earth!" Chirped the first one, a beautiful little girl that was the spitting image of her mother, with pale fur, gleaming red eyes, fox ears and a single tail, and very long white hair worn in nine ringlets with red tips. She wore an elegant diadem and a child-sized kimono made of fabric similar to Kyukogo's which almost looked like a live feed of sunset on an alien world, cherry blossoms swirling around a metropolis looking like a mix of Edo-period architecture enhanced with incredibly advanced technology. "My name is Kyuhime, Crown Princess of the Youkalien Star Hegemony!"

"And I am her twin sister and co-Crown Princess, Nyahime!" Proclaimed the second girl in a voice so filled with happiness and optimism it turned people's hearts to goo. The fact that she was so ridiculously cute didn't hurt. Unlike her sister, she seemed to be feline in nature, with cat ears, a forked cat tail, and a thick black mane barely tamed by a complicated mix of combs and pins. Bright blue eyes shined out from her smiling face, and her kimono was almost identical to her sister's, except the moon was rising instead, unfamiliar constellations filling the night sky.

"And this," both girls chimed, turning to the third girl, situated between them. "Is our best friend/playmate/pet/slave/fiancé, Usatan!"

The third girl was, possibly, even more adorable than the sisters, simply because of how moe she looked. She was neither a fox or a cat, but a rabbit, with big floppy ears dragging on the ground behind her, light lavender fur, big soulful brown eyes, and a tiny twitching nose and extremely cute little buck teeth. Her kimono depicted space as seen from a lunar surface, a beautiful blue, gold, and green planet hanging over a lush Vista covered in lavender grass and cherry blossom trees, which rustled as rabbitlike creatures similar to herself occasionally rushed by. From the way she trembled and the frightened look in her eyes, it was clear she was less than happy to be there, but the way she seemed to melt into the reassuring touches of her "owners" implied the fear was more from stage fright then unwillingness to be the princesses' plaything. This immediately endeared her and the other girls to everyone watching the hologram, easing some of their fear somewhat.

"Our birthday is coming up, so Mama decided to conquer Earth and give it to us as a present, because she believes we are finally old enough to rule our first world!" Kyuhime explained.

"She chose Earth because she thought a soft, cuddly species like yourselves would be a good first race for us to rule over and give us practice for when we are older," Nyahime continued.

"We've been watching how Mama rules for our entire lives, and promise to treat you all with as much love and respect as she does all of her slaves and subjects," Kyuhime assured the humans.

"We'll be the nicest overlords you can ask for!" Nyahime promised. "We just want to be friends, so serve us well, and we'll do right by you. Usatan can attest to that, right, Usatan?"

The rabbit girl, still a little anxious, nodded, nose twitching adorably.

"So you see, you have nothing to be afraid of," Kyukogo promised. "We will begin the conquest shortly. So, if anyone feels like surrendering now, that would be very helpful, okay?"

The hologram switched off and the serpents went back to surveying the countryside, leaving the people of Tokyo very confused.

…

"Did that do the trick?" Kyukogo asked hopefully.

The ogre shook his head. "It looks like a few people are considering it, but most of them look uncertain, and I'm pretty sure they're mobilizing the military."

Kyukogo sighed in disappointment. "Oh well. It was worth a try. General, select a Youkalien Warrior you trust to go out and begin the conquest."

The ogre bowed deeply. "I have just the fighter in mind! By your leave."

She nodded, and he left the room. "Are people going to get hurt, Mama?" Kyuhime asked unhappily.

Kyukogo nodded sadly. "I'm afraid so, dear one, but, as always, I shall do my best to minimize casualties. After all, it would not do for your first planet to be one so badly stained with blood, now would it?"

"Thank you, Mama!" Both girls cheered.

"Tea, Your Divinity?"

Kyukogo glanced at a slave who had approached, carrying a tray with a steaming ceremonial teapot and a few cups. "Oh, yes, I am a little parched. Thank you."

The slave nodded and started pouring into one of the cups…

Only for her to misjudge the angle, and she accidentally spilled some tea onto Kyukogo's kimono.

Instantly, the entire throne room stilled, and everyone stared at her in shock. Kyukogo blinked in disbelief, as if astonished that something like this could happen to her. Horrified, the slave quickly – but carefully, she didn't want to break anything or get more tea everywhere – set down the tray and prostrated herself before the empress. "Your Divinity! I-I'm so sorry, please forgive this worthless wretch-"

"It's all right."

The slave blinked and would've looked up in surprise if she hadn't caught herself at the last minute. "Your Divinity?"

"It's all right," Kyukogo assured her, twirling a finger in a circle and causing the stain that had marred her beautiful kimono to immediately vanish. "See? No harm done. It was only a little tea."

"But… Still, I should have-" the slave stammered.

"Your name is Cora, right?" Kyukogo interrupted.

The slave did glance up at this. "I… yes. You know my name?"

"Of course," Kyukogo said, smiling kindly. "I know everyone's names. Now, if I remember right, this is your first time up here, right? You usually tend the gardens?"

Cora nodded. "That is correct, Your Divinity. However, your usual tea attendant is pregnant, and… Well, I've always wanted to see you in the flesh, so I volunteered…"

"And got a little overwhelmed," Kyukogo said, nodding in understanding. "It's all right. I suppose all this," she said, gesturing to the throne room. "Can be a little intimidating to someone not used to it. These things happen."

"I promise, I won't do it again!" Cora insisted, putting her back down.

"If you do, it's not that big a deal," Kyukogo assured her. "Mistakes happen. I don't demand perfection, just that you do your job well. Just try to do better next time, okay?"

"As you wish," Cora told her gratefully.

Nyajou frowned at Kyukogo. The empress made a face, but reluctantly said, "However, I cannot allow this to go unpunished. So… No dessert for a week."

Everyone in the throne room gasped in horror. "Mama, no!" Nyahime protested as Usatan trembled in fear and Cora looked as if she had been sentenced to death. "That's too cruel!"

Kyukogo cringed. "You're right. She hasn't done anything worth that bad a punishment. No dessert for tonight, then, and you must go to bed early, and no cuddles! Understood?"

Cora bent her head to the ground, a look of relief on her face. "Yes, Your Divinity! Thank you, Your Divinity! Your mercy knows no bounds, Your Divinity!"

Kyukogo rolled her eyes indulgently and she gestured the slave to get back to her feet. "Yes, yes, I know. Now come, let's have that tea. And no spills this time!"

Cora nodded and poured another cup, this time making sure not a single drop was out of place.

Nyajou rolled her eyes. "You're way too soft for a cosmic empress, you know."

"You've never complained about my softness before," Kyukogo joked as she cupped her breasts, causing Nyajou to blush. "I'm merely trying to set a good example for the girls," she continued, accepting the cup from Cora with a smile. "And besides," she added, blowing on the cup before taking a sip. "I've always found adoration much more palatable than fear, anyway."