A/N: Finally, got a pretty empty storyline to play with from the main cannon. Well, until I actually fork out for disney plus. Maybe never, we will see. Hope you guys are enjoying it so far.

Palace in the mountain above the Inari shrine, Japan.

4 days later.

Zinira lay in the hot springs in the garden under a cherry blossom. She still felt heavy and had only managed to go back into her "human" form yesterday. Was it her or were armies getting bigger? The last time she called on the heavens fire, she was sure she had recovered by now. Then again, it had been the end of the edo period. Only humans to worry about back then.

"My lady, your tea is ready." Silki said through the shoji. Zinira sighed. Getting out of the warm water and putting on a loose grey kimono. Her tails dragging slightly along the floor, she made her way to the tea room, Silki in tow. She knelt on the tatami floor before the low table whilst being served tea, eyes closed. Milo slid in through the sliding door and sat on the other side of the table, a clipboard that seemed to compliment her rectangle spectacles. Her innate nature to bring order was one of the main reasons Zinira offered her to become a regalia. In her other form, she was an earring and advised Zinira on the best strategies and her managed communications.

She continued with her briefing whilst Zinira sipped tea, recounting any significant prayers or requests left at the shrine as well as the welfare of the nearby village that was under her protection due to a pact made some 300 years ago. Other than one request about a lost sheep, which she dispatched another regalia for, nothing was out of the ordinary. After this, Meli left promptly.

"How is the training?" Zinira asked Silki, without her attention leaving her tea.

"Well. Loki tried to get into the library by impersonating you. It was convincing, but not enough." She replied. Silki, formerly known as the ancient one, had been given the role as teacher to the regalia and was the only one who had access to the library out of all the regalia. She was ideal as they could all go to her when they needed something. Zinira's lip twitched into a smile,

"Not quite managed it yet then." As a former god of mischief and deception, he had been given the role of a bodyguard. Having a shapeshifting magic user in your arsenal was ideal for the more covert jobs. She had challenged him to get by Silki and bring the old japanese dictionary to her. The only way he could do that was by impersonating Zinira as she was the other one that could enter the library.

In another day, she would be expecting Dr Strange to come and pay his dues. From what Meli had told her, he wouldn't be the only visitor.

"My lady, if it is not too forward, have you given some thought to what we discussed?" Silki asked with trepidation. Zinira had. Normally, pacts that required such a use of power, to destroy an army and leave no trace of your enemy were paid by 70 years service as a regalia with immediate effect. However, when she had inherited Silki's memories when she named her to become a regalia, Dr Strange wasn't someone the living realm would be able to replace any time soon. It would cause more harm than good to enter her service.

"I have. He will not become a regalia." Zinira said slowly. Silki looked like she was going to probe further but decided against it. Dipped her head and replied,

"Thank you, my lady."

At the new temporary base for the avengers

All of the surviving avengers were gathered with Nick Fury and Dr Strange for a briefing.

"So, you're telling me, the infinity stones that caused all this mess are now in the hands of some other person who we have no idea what her intentions are?" Nick said with borderline sarcasm. He was sitting at a round table with them all.

"A kitsune, not human or a 'person'" Dr strange's hand massaging his brow.

"Whatever. And the only way we can get them back is by offering her something in return."

"Not just anything, I doubt after 700 years or so she is going to be interested in money or anything materialistic" Stephen was now tired of trying to convince both Tony and Nick not to go ransacking the temple for the stones. All it would do would get them killed or worse. The tales of those who crossed this particular Kitsune he could find were not pleasant.

"I think we should ask what she wants for the stones." Cap chipped in.

"And what? Get turned into one of her undead slaves? Sell your grandchild?" Tony said in irate.

"We don't know that." Stephen interrupted.

"Well from all these lovely stories" Tony said sarcastically pointing to the collection of literature shown on the holographic board "She's just gonna hand us the stones and offer us some tea."

"Not all of them are bad." Hulk said, without much conviction. His arm was still in a sling.

"She is literally sitting on some of the most powerful items and you really think she is just going to hand them over?" Nick said.

"We should try Rogers' idea then I will just threaten her with lightning if it's not reasonable. How hard can it be to beat a god of rabbits." Thor said as he scratched his belly. The team exchanged looks. Rocket let out an audible sigh.

"Fine. But you had better have a plan B if asking nicely doesn't work" Nick directed at Captain America as he got up and left. A silence fell over the team.