ARCHon2

by r0e0d999

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Comoedia Glacialis 6: The Cast Converse of the Future

The Imperial Palace in Tokyo was not frequently clad in snow and ice, but even a week after the global ice storm, temperatures were low enough that it was still dusted with ice and drifts of snow. Ami peered out at the ice from her window and wondered. To her mind, the Archons were gods, like her mother, and heroes. Venti had defeated Khonsu and the Nazis. Nahida had freed her people from a dictator and stopped the Simurgh. And her mother was, of course, the most wonderful and powerful person in the entire world, who had saved Japan and Ami.

Her sister's voice drew Ami out of her reverie. "Ami, pay attention. We are about to begin."

Turning back from the window, Ami hurried over and took a seat beside Tsukoyomi, two places down from her mother. She peered at the map on the table, which showed most of Eurasia, with Japan on one side and Eastern Europe on the other. Various markers were placed on the table to indicate units of Shuumatsuban, and Ami sat up, eagerly awaiting the reports.

"Well, Tsukuyomi, what news?" Ami's mother said at last, bringing all conversation to a halt as every eye in the room turned to the Shogun.

"It is as we suspected: Dantalion, the Cryo Archon, arrived in Russia in the ruins of Moscow," Tsukoyomi said, and gestured at the table. A few purple sparks crackled, and figures moved across the table, showing Shuumatsuban units infiltrating Russia. "She did not remain there long, however. Our agents failed to locate her before she moved."

"And where has she gone?" Uncle Mushu rumbled, his brows knitted together. He had small horns growing from his forehead at the moment, which meant he was too upset to be really paying attention to his form. He'd been doing that a lot lately.

"We have ascertained that she was taken in by one Anatoly Komissarov. A Russian gangster and oligarch from Saint Petersburg," Tsukoyomi replied, the small blue chess piece to represent Dantilion scooting across the board to rest in a new location.

"And what has she done?" Ami's mother asked, her tone serene, but the sky outside flickered with lightning.

"Thus far…nothing. She appears to have been insensate," Tsukoyomi admitted. "She awoke not long ago, and according to our agents, slew several gangsters who threatened her. They did not interfere, but the battle was short."

"Dantalion is young, but she is still an Archon. Few mortals could stand against her. We are fortunate she did not perish in her conflict with the Sustainer. That would have been an unbearable calamity for the world," her mother stated, looking troubled for once.

"So what do we do then?" Ami asked. "Is she going to conquer Russia?"

"That could be a problem for us," the Emperor said with a shake of his head. "Historically, Russia is not a friendly nation. We still have territorial disputes with them regarding the Kuril Islands, though we haven't pressed them since you returned, Lady Raiden."

"We could take them easily," Keiga said, pointing to the series of islands north of Hokkaido. "Russia is a failed state at the moment. The government in Kamchatka doesn't even recognize the one in Saint Petersburg as legitimate. They don't have much of a navy or any capes of real note."

"Now is not the time to press such claims. Dantalion will soon claim dominion over her lands, and I already sense that they extend to our own borders. Invasion would provoke a conflict between Archons. Something that should be avoided," Raiden said firmly. "We must still see to it that our own lands are cared for. There are many Sacred Sakura trees left to plant. But I have reached a decision."

"Oh?" Noriko looked up, frowning. The military talk didn't interest her much, but mention economics and instruction and she was instantly attentive.

"I can no longer afford to delay restoring the Sakura Network. I will begin planting two trees daily," Ami's mother declared, nodding to herself.

"That's good news, you've restored more than half the network, and our power grid is stable now, but that will certainly improve economic conditions," Noriko said, practically salivating at the thought.

"Additionally, you will reach out to our allies, particularly the Koreans," Raiden said, her expression growing pensive. "Ask them if they wish for me to become their god."

That brought startled murmurs from several advisors and a hard look from Uncle Mushu. "I thought you said you didn't intend to conquer Korea."

"Nor do I. Their mortal government must remain their own," Raiden stated, but her eyes flashed with inner lightning. "But the Tsaritsa is greedy, and her hand stretches far. Korea also shares a border with Russia, and if I do not extend my hand of protection to them, then she is likely to claim dominion. I have grown fond of them, and I hear prayers from their land not infrequently. They must decide if they prefer me, or the Dantalion. I had hoped their choice would be between myself and Morax, but it is not to be so."

"How, exactly, do we go about asking the Koreans if they want to convert to Shintoism?" the Emperor asked, looking baffled. "It's not like your religion is particularly prone to proselytizing. It's always just been the religion of Japan."

"There is one we can send, for he has been ever my advocate." Raiden nodded. "Send for Kenichi the Exile. It is he who shall spread the teachings of Eternity."

Ami wasn't sure at first who that was, but Mushu clearly remembered, as did her sister.

"You would send for that treacherous priest?" Tsukoyomi asked, frowning at their mother.

"Kenichi's a zealot, Raiden. I don't know how good an idea getting that guy back is. He already tried to get Venti killed, and while he ain't harmless he ain't hostile either. What'll he do against an Archon even you think is gonna be a problem?" Mushu asked.

"We have need of a zealot now. And he understands best my original purpose in bringing about my sister's eternity," Raiden said, her expression distant. "And the time of war may yet again be upon us. We must make ready." Raiden turned to Ami, and nodded to her. "You shall travel to Hokkaido and summon Kenichi. Tell him even he must help to bring about Eternity."

On hearing this, Ami's heart raced. An official mission? From her mom? This was exactly what she'd dreamed of! "Should I go in secret, or officially?" Please be secretly, please be secretly…

"It need not be a secret, but do not make a grand procession of it. Most do not know why Kenichi fell out of favor. Nor do I wish them to learn. Especially not now," her mother told her.

Bowing, Ami did her best to hide her elation. "I shall make preparations to depart at once."

Hokkaido wasn't exactly far away, if she took the train Ami could be there in less than five hours, under two hours if she took a plane. But she had plans for this. After all, it was a secret mission from her mother. That meant, Ami got to travel incognito.

This would be an excellent chapter of her manga when it was finished, Ami just knew it.

Despite appearing to be made of ice, the rose in Anastasia's hands did not melt. It was cold to the touch, and even slightly wet from condensation, but even in her warm hands, it stayed as solid as could be. That was good because it was one of the most delicate and beautiful things Anastasia had ever received, more so than the delicate music boxes she collected, or the fine dolls she'd received as a girl, or even any of the jewelry her brother gave her, all of which was finely made by his jeweler Chiori in Paris.

Carefully, she set the icy rose on a velvet cushion, then placed that inside of a display case. She stepped back to admire it, smiling to herself. She still remembered the shock at seeing the magical flower appear before her, and the sense of joy and affection that had flowed through it to her when she'd taken it.

"She's really awake, like Sleeping Beauty," Anastasia murmured to herself, grinning like a child.

"A-Anastasia? Um, she wants you. The Tsaritsa," Kollei's voice said from behind her.

Turning, Anastasia saw the other girl behind her, looking nervous as she stared about at the finery in the bedroom around her. It was quite wonderful, Anastasia had to admit, with lavish silk bedsheets, beautiful oil paintings, fine hardwoods and golden ornamentation, and her collections of dolls, music boxes, and her many shoes and dresses.

Even so, Kollei really was quite adorable, often acting like a much younger girl despite being only a few years younger than Anastasia, though she would be 20 next year.

"Please, Kollei. We are in private, there is no need to be so formal. Call me Nastya," Anastasia said, stepping towards Kollei and taking her hands.

The other girl blushed and smiled shyly. "A-alright, Nastya."

"And what should I call you?" Anastasia asked. "What name did your grandparents call you?"

Kollei blinked at that, not seeing to understand the question. "Um, Kollei. I-I don't understand…"

Feeling a pang, Anastasia forced a smile. Perhaps the girl didn't even remember her own name properly. She'd lived in radiation-filled Moscow for years, and from what she has said, had been close to death before the Tsaritsa healed her. "How about Koli? Just a special name, between us."

"I would like that," Kollei said, blushing prettily again. She was quite cute with her freckles. "But come on! The Tsaritsa wants you to be there. They're planning stuff, I don't understand what, but it seems important."

"Truly?" That surprised Anastasia. Her brother had never included her in any of his plans, to the point where if she came into a room he would stop discussing business until she left. That had always annoyed her to no end, but at the same time, she appreciated not being forced to confront the more unsavory aspects of their lifestyle.

"Yeah, she says I have to be there too. Something about me being her daughter? But that can't be right. You're the princess, not me," Kollei said.

That made Anastasia laugh as she guided Kollei back through the door. "We are sisters now, no? We can be princesses together. I'll even give you some of my old dresses, though they will have to be adjusted for you."

"Really!? But they're so pretty! Like from a story," Kollei sighed. "I used to dream about being a princess and wearing beautiful clothes, but even in my dreams they weren't as nice as what you have."

"You know, I lived for several years as a princess in hiding. That's all you were too. Now, everything will be wonderful, especially now that the Tsaritsa's here," Anastasia said fervently. "That's how stories go, isn't it? The rightful ruler returns, and they make everything right."

"Yes, a wonderful queen, to make the realm just and true," Kollei agreed. "Maybe she'll even slay the dragon."

"I hope so. But at the same time, I hope Behemoth never returns," Anastasia said with a shudder. Kollei shivered as well, and they stayed silent as they trekked through the halls, still holding hands.

They headed downstairs to the main dining room, which the Tsaritsa had claimed as her office since returning there the day before. Anastasia recognized several of the men and a few of the women there, knowing they were Anatoly's employees and lieutenants. She was fairly certain they were all criminals of one kind or another, though beyond that she didn't know any of them well save for Thoma.

She smiled at him, and he nodded back to her in that stoic way of his. She did go sit next to Elena by Anatoly, one of the women who looked like a madam getting up and offering her the seat.

"I'm surprised to see you here as well," Anastasia whispered to Elena. "Did Anatoly invite you?"

"He sent me away as usual, and I was happy to go, but the Tsaritsa told me to stay. I'm just a dancer, I don't know anything about Anatoly's business. I thought it was the same for you," Elena whispered.

Anastasia nodded and would have said more, but the Tsaritsa looked up from the sheaf of papers she'd been reading, setting them down. "Are these all your servants, Thief?"

Anatoly hesitated, then said slowly, "These are my subordinates, yes. Though I do not think of myself as a thief, but a businessman. One with a heart of patriotism."

"Then you deceive yourself. Besides, I have need of a Thief, and you shall be mine. After all, I intend to steal this world from Heaven itself," the Tsaritsa declared. "But first, we must steal this country back. And for that, I shall require a company of thieves, such as the one you have assembled here."

Anastasia didn't consider herself any great scholar or politician, but she didn't think any other words could have been more perfectly calculated to appeal to the group assembled now. There were many wide grins and a few slapped the table with their palms in approval, though they quickly quieted.

"I have had time to review the state of this organization, this city of Saint Petersburg, and even this nation of Russia. It seems all have been much abused and maligned. Well. No more. It is time to show Love to the people of this land once more," the Tsaritsa declared.

A woman with a very low-cut dress and perfume so pungent that Anastasia almost gagged on it leaned forward. "And what sort of love do you intend for us to show, hmm? My girls are lusty, but there are too many men in this country for even them to…love."

That brought rough chuckles from most of those at the table, though Anastasia felt sick. Anatoly looked furious, but it was Thoma who spoke up. "Keep in mind the company you find yourself in now, Svetlana."

"I am simply being honest, Foma," the woman said with a shrug. "I have a certain skill set only. And if I am at this meeting, I can only assume it is because I am to use it."

"And you shall. There are many forms of Love, and I will see to it that you and your girls are properly instructed in the… arts," the Tsaritsa said. "If you are to be my new Fatui, that is one thing you must excel in. But that is not what I speak of now. My people feel alone. Abandoned. Hated and loathed by the world. Much as I am. And I shall see them reconciled."

"The world has turned their back on Russia," Anatoly said, his voice full of bitterness. "The Soviet Union was hated, yes, but at least it was feared. Now they do not even fear us."

"They shall learn to do so again. They all shall," the Tsaritsa said, and her eyes flashed an icy blue that sent a chill down everyone's spine by the shudders that rippled around the table. "But, before we can do that, we must be seen as strong again, like a mother bear. For now, we are sickly, weak. As the mother of this land, I must first heal it."

"Heal Russia? You would have to be a god for that," a burly man with arms as thick as hams snorted.

"Then it is fortunate indeed that she is an Archon," Anatoly said, glaring at the man. "Be silent, Boris. Before you make a fool of yourself."

"I steal cars and fence their parts. I am no hero," Boris laughed, shaking his head. "You may think yourself a boyar, but in my business the quieter you ride the further you'll get. So you found yourself a pretty and powerful cape. Good. So you killed that bastard Viktor. Even better! But you expect me to believe we will conquer all of Russia? Madness. You grow too big for yourself, boss."

"Through Love, we become that which we must be, not that which we were," the Tsaritsa said. She looked around the room, then shook her head. "She who must say 'I am the queen' is no true ruler. No, instead, it is my deeds that must tell my children their mother has returned. So. What deed will tell everyone that I am here?"

There were baffled stares all around, and Anastasia's mind flashed back to the Behemoth. The other Archons had slain Endbringers, but one had appeared only two months gone in Baghdad. Another was not due for months, and she still prayed it did not visit Russia.

"We could seize control of the government here in Saint Petersburg," Anatoly offered hesitantly.

"Every two-bit warlord seizes power in Saint Petersburg. How long has the current President lasted, eh? Two years, now? That proves nothing," Boris said with a snort.

"You…you could heal Moscow."

Every eye in the room turned to Kollei, with several frowning at the nervously fidgeting young girl. "Y-you could! Everyone says that Moscow was the heart of Russia, that the Behemoth tore it out when…when it came…" Kollei lapsed into silence, still looking down and fussing with a pen and piece of paper, though Anastasia knew she couldn't even form all her letters properly yet.

"Impossible," Boris said with a snort. "That city will be irradiated for a thousand years. Not even the Sleeper could survive there, which is why that bastard left for Mordovia."

"Radiation," the Tsaritsa said slowly. "That is the poison that was in your body, was it not, daughter?"

Kollei nodded quickly. " Yes! And you healed me! Could…could you heal Moscow, too?"

The Tsaritsa drummed her fingers on the table before her, her eyes narrowed in thought. "It is a strange sickness. Almost like the corruption from a Dead God. And yet…not. But yes. I could cleanse it, for it is simply energy. Easy enough to deal with. But what of this Sleeper? Who is this?"

"One of the most powerful and dangerous parahumans in the world," Thoma said, shaking his head. "He is so powerful no one truly knows the full extent of his abilities. I say him, but I am simply assuming. I don't think anyone has gotten close to the Sleeper and lived. Not even the damn Americans want to face him, though they tried to recruit him to fight Endbringers. His response was six dead American capes. They did not ask again, nor even trouble him over much when they leveled the city he had occupied in response. The Red Gauntlet tried to contact him and had similar results. He triggered shortly after Moscow fell, but as Boris said, he departed from there. Some say he is why Behemoth departed at all, but I cannot say for certain."

"So this Sleeper, he is a threat to Russia then?" the Tsaritsa asked.

Anatoly shook his head. "Not so much. He is a hermit. He usually sticks to the countryside and stays in place for long periods before wandering again. He does not seek out conflict, and that is why he is called Sleeper. It is like the proverb: 'Do not wake Evil while it is sleeping.'"

"Still, he is frightening," Anastasia said, surprised to hear herself speak. "He is surely the most feared man in all of Russia, and before the arrival of the Raiden Shogun, was the most feared being on Earth Bet."

Upon hearing that, a slow, wintery smile formed like frost on the Tsaritsa's lips. "Then it is settled. On the morrow, we depart first for Mordovia. Then, we retake Moscow for the people. Have most of your men head for Moscow. Use our resources to purchase food and medical supplies, then order building supplies. My first act shall be to subdue the Sleeper, the second to rebuild Moscow as my capital."

Anatoly nodded, and began to issue orders. His underlings stood as they received them and departed, until it was only Anastasia, Elena, Thoma, Kollei, and the Tsaritsa at the table with him.

"Even with my resources, it will not be possible to purchase and move enough materials to rebuild the city, let alone feed all the poor souls there," Anatoly admitted, looking abashed to have to admit that he did not have the surely trillions in hard currency.

"It is important simply to begin. Once people see, they will begin to flock to my banner. Or flock to oppose me. One way or another, I will prove my Love to this nation," the Tsaritsa said with a regal nod.

"What of our operations here?" Thoma asked, looking concerned. "We will still need cash. Not to mention that if we are lax, there are plenty of other organizations that will step in to fill our shoes."

"The criminal activity will cease," the Tsaritsa said flatly. "If you must sell poisons, do so in other lands. It is one thing to harm others to benefit your family. You do not do the same to your own home."

"We don't have the network for that," Anatoly said with a groan. "Thoma?"

"I have some connections as usual, but it will take time to move into new markets. And Germany is right out. The Knights of Favonius are particularly good at dismantling shipments."

"Barbatos," the Tsaritsa growled, and the temperature of the room dropped several degrees as frost blanketed the area around her. She took a deep breath and the rime faded, then schooled her expression again. "Pump as many of your poisons into his lands as possible. I want that fool to see his people suffer, as mine did."

"It will be done," Thoma agreed, jotting down a note to himself.

"Thoma should stay in Saint Petersburg to oversee things while I accompany you," Anatoly said suddenly. He nodded to his aide, who couldn't completely hide his surprise. "He is a good man, and I trust him like a brother. Competent as well."

"Then it shall be so. Kollei shall remain behind as well, to attend to her studies. She has much to learn to become my heir," the Tsaritsa said, nodding to Kollei.

"Look after Anastasia as well. I am trusting you with her and Elena's safety," Anatoly said, which made Anastasia's heart flutter with glee slightly. To have Thoma as her knightly protector…it was terribly romantic, was it not? She wondered if he could dance.

"No harm shall come to any of the ladies, I swear," Thoma said, bowing his head and putting a hand to his heart. "And I will find a tutor for Kollei, when I cannot teach her myself. She is a good student, and a hard worker. She will learn quickly."

Anatoly nodded and smiled. "Good, then we shall- my Lady?"

The Tsaritsa had suddenly stood, her nostrils flaring. "Who dares intrude upon us?"

There was a pause, then a heavy sigh as an unfamiliar woman's voice said, "Aw man, and I had a cool intro and everything planned."

Then a head stuck into the room, wearing a fedora of all things, and the woman smiled. "Hello! Sorry to intrude but is this the residence of the Cryo Archon?"

Anatoly and Thoma were on their feet, with guns appearing in their hands. Kollei had drawn a wicked-looking knife from somewhere and was on her feet as well, while Anastasia and Elena were still too shocked to respond. Apparently, her own reflexes needed honing, and she'd left her gun in her room.

"You are in our presence, mortal. Who dares approach us?" the Tsaritsa demanded icily, not rising from her own seat.

In response, the woman stepped fully into the room, removing her hat, then dropping to one knee. "O god of Ice and Snow, this humble supplicant comes to seek wisdom and gain knowledge from the divine. In return, I bring these humble offerings of food and drink."

She beckoned, and Anastasia gasped in horror as two monsters stepped out of the shadows. One looked like a giant cockroach the size of man, the other like some sort of putrid man-shaped blob with sickening growths all over his body. Both knelt and held out trays. One held a box of donuts, the other a steaming collection of…was that Starbucks?

"If these offerings are not acceptable, this humble pilgrim will gladly find an offering more suitable to your tastes," the strange woman said, still kneeling with her head bowed.

"No. These are…acceptable. Rise, pilgrim. I sense you are not one of mine, but it is gratifying indeed to find a mortal who knows how to treat with gods. What is your name?" the Tsaritsa demanded.

The woman stood, putting her hat back on her head. "My parents named me Fortuna. But you can call me Contessa."

Comoedia Glacialis 7: The Prince rises upon a Grave Trap

When Fortuna had been a young girl, her older sister had gone with the other maidens of the village to the shrine of Aphrodite before their weddings. Fortuna had gone as well, though she was far too young to be married at the age of only eight summers, and hadn't had her flowering yet. The shrine had been located down the slope of the mountain, several days travel to the seaside, where legend had it the goddess had first arrived.

The shrine of the goddess had been built of marble quarried from far away and had been decorated with beautiful sea shells and coral that sparkled in the sunlight, along with flowers and some precious stones. The statue of Aphrodite had been beautifully painted to show the goddess in her full glory, and Fortuna's sister and the other maidens had given offerings of goat's milk, honey, and olive oil as the girls giggled and prayed for handsome husbands. Fortuna had made crowns of flowers with the older girls and offered those to the Goddess of Love and Beauty, wondering what sort of love she would find one day.

Fortuna had never found love. Instead, she had slain a god, the same god whose coming had killed Fortuna's sister and the rest of her family, then been cast out of time itself and flung into a frightening future, doomed to save the world with visions of unthinkable horror.

Once more, she found herself before a God of Love, and perhaps even beauty. Unlike the brightly painted and warm Aphrodite, this woman was starkly cold, if even more regal and beautiful than Contessa had imagined. Her skin was alabaster white, like unpainted marble, her eyes a piercing light blue of glaciers, her hair glossy as spun silver. Instead of the lusty and curvacious figure of Aphrodite, this woman was a slender maiden. Not that she lacked womanly curves, but without her little god Fortuna would never have been able to discern them in the bulky fur coat and mantle the woman wore.

"Fortuna," the icy god said, drawing the word out. "You are Fate's Fool. You are distant from your land and home as I am, child. What brings you into our presence?"

"Fate's Fool. A proper name for me, I suppose," Fortuna said, chuckling darkly. She flipped her hat into the air, so that it landed at the perfect cocky angle on her head. "I come representing the mortals of this world who would cast down the Heavenly Principles. As you have raged against them, we come to offer alliance."

She had asked her Path many questions about this encounter, but it had come up mostly silent, offering only extrapolations based upon the other Archons. Nahida and Raiden would appreciate a direct, honest approach. Venti would play word games, then laugh it off. After speaking with Alexandria, Fortuna had decided that the direct, honest approach was best here. If this really was a loving god, she would not tolerate lies.

The Tsaritsa regarded Fortuna for a long moment, then a small smile spread across her pale lips. "You would come to the bride and offer to murder her betrothed? A bold move, Fool."

Feeling like her heart had stopped, Fortuna forced a smile. "He tried the same thing with Lesser Lord Kusinali. Basically raped her when he-"

WHAT.

Fortuna froze, nearly literally so as the temperature in the room suddenly plummeted. The mien of the god before her changed. Not so much her physical appearance, as the sudden spiritual weight that Fortuna felt upon her soul. Icy wrath radiated from the being before Fortuna, and she found herself on her knees in abject awe as tears came to her eyes. It was like hiking to the summit of Mount Olympus and finding all the myths and legends true.

SO, THE SUSTAINER DARED TO LAY HIS HANDS UPON ANOTHER, THEN? The queen of love and ice demanded of Fortuna, her face contorted with rage. At first, Fortuna thought she was dead, doomed at the hands of a spurned lover.

Then the Cryo Archon spoke again, and hatred and loathing dripped from every word. SO THIS IS HOW MUCH THEY HATE ME. THAT EVEN WHEN THE SUSTAINER SHOWS HOW WRETCHED HE IS, EVEN THEN THEY WILL NOT COME TO MY AID. THEY ARE BLIND FOOLS, ALL OF THEM! TO SUFFER UNDER HEAVEN'S TYRANNY LIKE MEEK LAMBS AWAITING SLAUGHTER!

Fortuna didn't understand that, but apparently neither did the Archon's advisors. "Heaven's Tyranny, Majesty? But are you not of heaven?" the one Fortuna recognized as Anatoly Komissarov, a gangster and oligarch. He was on his knees as well as the others, his eyes full of worship.

The regal face of the god regarded her subordinate, then the pressure changed, and she looked mortal once more. "No, my Thief. I was born a mortal woman. My name… was Bronislava Cocolievna Snezhnaya. My mother was the Cryo Archon. She adopted me as a young girl she found lost amidst the snow of our homeland. One day, when the people she loved were threatened, she defied the Heavenly Principles. For her sin, she was cast down and slain, and her Throne and Authority passed to me, her heir. I have continued her tradition of defying heaven."

The Archon's gaze swept back to Fortuna, and there was neither warmth nor mercy there. "Bold of you to declare yourself an enemy of heaven, mortal. But I am fond of boldness. Come serve me, and be my Fool. I can promise you that one day, we will slay my betrothed, and cast down the Heavenly Principles for all time."

The offer took Fortuna aback, and she reached for the comfort of Eighty reflexively. She hadn't seen this: an offer from an Archon to join them? She nearly asked Eighty what she should do, but then stopped. Did she want to join this god in their quest? She didn't even really know anything about this Bronislava. And her friends…she couldn't just abandon them.

"I will honor you, of course, mighty one," Fortuna said slowly. "And I believe we share the same goals. But I cannot take service with you at this time. Perhaps we can be allies."

"Who are you?" the blond man, the parahuman called Thoma demanded, his eyes narrowing. "I've not seen capes like the three of you before. Who do you represent?"

"An interested party," Fortuna said, winking at him, but the German man just frowned at her.

"Come now, if we are to be allies, there must be trust," the Archon said lightly. "You seem to know where I am from already, Fortune's Fool. Do not be glib. From whence do you hail, and whom do you represent?"

An answer came to Fortuna, whispered to her by her little god in Eighty, and she licked her lips. "The daughter you love sent me. The one they call Alexandria."

"You are an American?" Anatoly demanded, his gaze gone cold and steely. He turned to the Archon. "Your Majesty, the Americans are our old foes. They would seek to weaken and cripple us again to maintain their advantage. They have been hostile to Archons as well, from the moment Raiden appeared."

"I do not think that counts as a mark against them," Bronisalva said, but her tone was frosty and her eyes never left Fortuna. "So, that child sent you, did she? I know little of this world yet, but she I have heard of. Mayhaps this alliance is possible. What do you propose?"

"You will seek to gain control of Russia once more, yes?" Fortuna asked. The various mortals at the table glared at her, but the Archon simply nodded.

"As is my right. This land needs a ruler as much as she needs a god. I will be the mother that my people need."

"If you dare meddle in our affairs, Yankee…" Anatoly said, his voice low and dangerous.

"That is not my intent or that of Alexandria," Fortuna said hastily, her mind whirling as new routes appeared on her path. "Quite the opposite: We propose to ease international pressure and intervention as you re-unite Russia. We could offer you supplies and intelligence, but your methods and means would be largely up to you. I would need to confer with my mistress, but she would be amenable to a more formal alliance once you both take leadership of your nations."

"You speak as though the outcome of your election is inevitable," one of the women, Anastasia Komissarova said.

Fortuna winked again. "I would be a rather poor oracle if I couldn't even foretell the outcome of a simple election. Even normal political pundits can tell Alex is going to win in a landslide."

The other woman snorted. Elena Vasina, a dancer. Fortuna hadn't looked up a file on her beyond knowing she was Anatoly's current mistress. "Even an idiot knows that American elections are but a facade for their elite to maintain their grasp on power."

Fortuna bit her lip. She wasn't an Athenian herself, but she strongly believed in democracy as the purest expression of the human spirit. That said, there was a time for tyrants in the more Roman sense of the word, and she firmly believed Becky would be a modern Cincinnatus, or like the Americans' own mythical George Washington.

"What god oversees your lands, mortal? Is it this Jesus I have heard of?" Bronisalva demanded. "Does he know of Alexandria's plans?"

"The gods of America have not made themselves known in some time. Many are Christians who follow Jesus of Nazareth, but I do not worship him, nor have I seen him," Fortuna answered. "He is said to have returned to heaven and will come back one day, but it has been 2000 years."

"Two thousand…" the Archon shook her head and frowned sourly. "Well, then he should not complain when I take back his followers. That is too long to abandon your people. Not even Barbatos slept for that long."

Fortuna privately agreed, but didn't feel it was her place to speak for the Christians. Most of them were perfectly lovely people, even if they were a bit odd for believing in just one God. "The religions of this time and world are strange indeed. But I think we can reach an accord. Please, accept these gifts, and take my card. More will follow, but I wanted to meet you and let you know that the Protectorate and the people of the United States and Canada wish our Russian neighbors only success in their struggle to rebuild their nation."

The Archon smiled and nodded. "We look forward to further communications from our American allies. May the bonds of love join us together."

Bowing once more, Fortuna had her minions leave the offerings on the table, then led them out of the building and to a garden shed, where they took a door back to headquarters. For once, her after-action report would be positively rosy. Maybe Becky was right. Love really was the strongest force in the world.

Anatoly waited until the Yankee skank had left the room to explode. "You would make a deal with the Americans?! Do you truly hate your people so?! They would exploit us and grind us into the dirt again, as they did during the Great Patriotic War!"

"My dear Thief," the Tsaritsa chuckled throatily, shaking her head. "Have you never heard the saying before? Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. I trust not these silver-tongued arrogant fools who come with such paltry offerings." She walked over, picked up a cup of Starbucks and sniffed it. She took a sip, then shrugged. "Coffee, with chocolate and cream. Pathetic." She set it back on the tray, picked up a donut, and examined it. "Unhealthy in the extreme. Do they think me a child, to placate me with sweets?"

"So you will not buy into the American's lies?" Anatoly asked, a sense of relief washing over him.

"Hmm. They could be useful," the Tsaritsa mused, pacing back to her seat. "This America, it is a powerful nation?"

"The strongest in the world," Thoma said. Anatoly glared at him, but the other man shrugged. "Be pragmatic, boss. It is not Russia and has not been for decades. Who else would you say can rival the Yankees? Japan, perhaps? Even with the Shogun, they cannot rival the Americans in industry, population, food production, or even the number of capes."

"I have much to learn it seems," the Tsaritsa said, frowning and shaking her head. "Krasnov, tell me: how should I learn about these Americans?"

"Hrm," Thoma rubbed his chin. "I have read a few books on the Americans. They often say that The Great Gatsby is the best reflection of their soul, and I would tend to agree. You are fond of theater, no? Perhaps Death of a Salesman?"

"Apollo 13," Elena said, and everyone's eyes turned to her. She blushed and bowed her head. "I…I always thought it best showed how the Americans beat us. How even in the face of disaster, they never give up. They did not rely on God or miracles but trusted in their machines and spirit to persevere. It is the movie that explained to me why the Soviet Union fell, but the United States did not."

"You should be learning of our history, not the Yankees," Anatoly complained. "You could read Tolstoy or Pushkin, or watch Andrei Rublev or The Cranes Are Flying. Not American trash."

"There will be time enough for that, but I already understand the heart of my people. What it is to take strength from the ice, and to endure all, though the world turns against you. To laugh in the face of despair and to make feasts out of nothing. Do not fear, my Thief. I know my people, my children, my land. But I do not yet understand my enemies," the Tsaritsa said, her smile as cold and foreboding as winter itself.

He nodded reluctantly. "As you say, your Majesty. I apologize for speaking out against you."

"Do not ever apologize for giving me what you think is good advice. A wise ruler seeks advisors who tell her what she needs to hear. Not what she wants to hear," the Tsaritsa told him. "See to it that those works you both spoke of are sent to me, and make preparations. At dawn, we depart to wake the Sleeper."

Anatoly stood with the others as the Tsaritsa departed for her chambers, then called for a servant to bring her his copies of War and Peace and Little Tragedies, along with the movies she'd requested. Including Apollo 13, which Elena informed him was at their flat downtown instead of the estate, which was several hours outside of Saint Petersburg near a small town.

"It's going to be a long night," he sighed, running a hand through his hair. There was a great deal to plan for. He couldn't simply travel hundreds of kilometers with the Tsaritsa with little warning. While he had access to helicopters, this expedition would call for more pomp than a small raid with a few dozen men. They would need to travel by plane this time, and he would need to send ahead staff to prepare a place for them, as well as monitor where the Sleeper was.

"Can I help?" Anastasia asked, and Anatoly gave her a pained smile.

"I hate to drag you into this, Nastya," Anatoly said morosely. He'd always done his best to keep his sister out of this. "For now, see to the Tsaritsa and her needs. There will be much more for you to do in my absence."

"Of course. I'll speak with Thoma, and see what I can do to assist him as well," Anastasia said, then turned to go. Anatoly smiled after her, but it was a painful smile full of regret and nostalgia. He did this to protect his sister, not send her off to the underbelly with him.

"Perhaps I can be of assistance as well? I write a good hand, and I am good with numbers."

Anatoly blinked, then turned to meet Elena's gaze. She started back resolutely, hand on hip, her lips pressed together. "I did not think…that is, you are not familiar with the organization."

"I am a proud Russian as well, Tolney. And I think for once, you have actually done something as impressive as you think it is. Before, your schemes just made us rich, and I was thankful. Now, they have a chance to restore the Motherland and change the world." She leaned in closer, and a smile curved her full lips. "And I have to admit, I find that terribly attractive."

Now it was Anatoly's turn to smile. She was so very beautiful, and his cold heart throbbed with love for her. "Well, business first. But if we work hard, perhaps there shall be time for pleasure before dawn."

As it turned out, they did manage to finish sometime after midnight, and Anatoly took Elena right there in the office. It was different in ways he hadn't imagined before: feeling her heat beneath him, feeling her heart beat in time with his, feeling his Vision magnify the love he felt. He would do anything to protect Elena, to protect Anastasia, to save his people.

With his Love, he would change the world.

Flight was not new to Bronya. Her first flight had been shortly after her mother had adopted her, racing across the night sky in the warm arms of her savior. She had clung to Cocolia then, gripping tightly with chubby little hands. Cocolia had laughed and swooped through a snowstorm, and before long, Bronya had been delighted as well.

Later, when she had gained her Vision, her mother had taken her flying with her as well, showing her the lay of Snezhnaya. It was a beautiful land, especially in spring when the flowers bloomed as the snow melted. Summer was all too brief, as had been Bronya's childhood.

"One day, all this shall be yours," her mother had said.

Broyna had scoffed at the idea. "You are a god, mother. You will live forever. I am but a mortal child. One day, I will look like a doddering grandma, while you will still be beautiful and young."

Cocolia had smiled sadly. Perhaps she had known even then.

Later, when she became the Tsaritsa, Bronya had flown on wings of ice to oversee her people. To remind them that their Loving god still watched over them, even in the darkest winter night.

Now she flew on mechanical wings, and while it was comfortable, she missed the wind blowing in her own face. Still, this was efficient, and that was what truly mattered. She sipped her strong black tea with just a little pepper in it to give some kick.

"Do not light that filthy thing," she said without glancing over at her Thief.

The boy paused, a small device that made flames halfway to his lips along with that disgusting cigarette. "Majesty?"

"There are easier and kinder ways to kill yourself, Thief. Or to enslave yourself. Throw those things away and do not let me catch their stench upon you again," she ordered.

He looked stricken for a moment, then pulled the pack out of his pocket and tossed it into the bin. "As you wish."

She glanced out the window at the passing countryside below them. "So where is this scar you spoke of?"

Her Thief leaned close to the window as well, glancing out of it. Then he called a servant over and inquired with the pilot of the vessel, who called back to indicate that they would see it in just a few minutes.

Bronya waited patiently. As a mortal, she had always been quick-tempered and impatient, even after she gained her Cryo Vision. An odd trait for the daughter of the Cryo Archon, but still. After a few hundred years, she had learned patience. She still had her temper, but it was a thing of ice now. Slow and inexorable, and something that remembered wrongs forever.

When she saw the Scar, that anger flared up again, but she suppressed it. The shape of it was all too familiar: it was the trail of a demon beast.

The Scar was a kilometer or so wide, though it varied somewhat, and looked like a glacier had been dragged across it, flattening the land and destroying everything caught in its path. Several towns and villages had been bisected or touched by it, and had been torn to shreds. Forests had been plowed under, and even fields scoured. It looked to have happened a handful of years ago, so the land was healing, but the Scar was still very much evident.

"The only mercy is that Sleeper moved slowly, no faster than a man can walk. The trip took him several months," Anatoly said quietly. "He's not Manton limited, and anything in his path is obliterated, even the topsoil. He was the second worst disaster to strike Russia, after only the Behemoth."

"Yet he remains in Mordovia?" Bronya asked, curious.

"Hasn't moved in years. He's actually sank down several meters as his storm eats away at the ground below him. He may have trapped himself, but no one's sure," Anatoly admitted. "No one can even speak to him."

Broyna nodded thoughtfully, concocting a plan. Normally, she worked on careful timetables that had been calculated and planned over decades, if not centuries, but now she had to move fast. She was in a new world, a new land, and there was oh so little time. It was almost like being mortal again.

Almost.

The city they flew to had been ravaged by the Scar, with a wide section of half-destroyed buildings that had never been rebuilt. But it was the Storm that drew the eye and interested Broyna. It looked like a great, irregularly shaped soap bubble, with iridescent swirls and half-seen shapes within. It also appeared to have sunken and shrunk somewhat, if the surrounding ruins were anything to go by.

It reminded Bronya of the Cataclysm. Of when the Abyss had been unleashed upon the world, and wrought terror and destruction across the land. How these people had to have suffered. No wonder they were hers.

The craft landed, and Bronya disembarked with her Thief and his servitors. Waiting for them were the scum of the earth. Bronya could sense the hatred and self-loathing coming off these men and women in waves. They were thugs, thieves, charlatans, whores, and drug dealers. They had no love for themselves, or one another. Especially not for her.

Well. That was changed easily enough.

Taking off her gloves, Bronya stopped to smile at the first man. A wiery, middle-aged man who squinted to hide his nearsightedness. His teeth were yellow and stained from cigarettes, and he had several old wounds that pained him.

Nikolay Chaly.

"Kolya, you should be wearing your glasses, you look very handsome in them," Bronya said, gently touching him. "You should be dressed more warmly, your joints are hurting you. Here, let me ease that."

The man blinked owlishly at her, and she quickly restored his pains as he gasped, then held up a hand and formed a pair of spectacles to his prescription, then put them on his nose.

"There. Thank you for coming out to aid us today. Russia and I have need of more men like you."

Nikolay stared at her in astonishment, love already kindled within his heart. Bronya didn't even have to stoke it. It had been years since Nikolay had a woman touch him like that, not since his wife left him and his mother died. He was hers now, and forever. For a few words, and a pair of glasses.

But she had already moved on. The next was a boy with the sort of mustache the young tried to grow out to show how adult they were, but only proved how childish they still were. His face was pimpled, but his face was already reddening from alcohol addiction. He had a knife in his coat and a gun as well, and he had killed many times on Anatoly or his lieutenant's orders despite not being old enough to shave.

Pyotr Uglov.

"Pyotr! How many times have you been told not to be drinking on the job?" Bronya said in exasperation, and reached out, drawing the half-emptied bottle of vodka from his coat. She sniffed it, and made a face. "And cheap swill at that! My Thief, do you not give your workers good food? Here, give Pyotr some bread and sausage. He is hungry, he needs food, not liquor!"

She purged the alcohol from Pyotr's system, which hurt, but she did it as she kissed him chastely on the cheek. "You leave off the drink, and maybe Olga will not be so quick to slap you when you greet her, eh?"

The boy stared after her, open-mouthed, but Bronya had moved on. It took nearly half an hour, but she had a word and a small healing for each and every one of the assembled criminals. When she was done, she didn't have a ragtag bunch of thieves.

She had an army. A fiercely loyal one, that loved her. Some as a mother, others as a sister, many because they wished to take her to bed. That was all fine. So long as they loved her. The ones who lusted after her would learn soon enough to find mortal women to take their affections. Or mortal men, though Bronya preferred the former. She needed many sons and daughters to carry out her will, and while love was good in all its forms, some were more useful than others.

"You need not concern yourself with them, they are simply peasants," Anatoly told her once they were in the private carriage, no, car, he had arranged for them.

"A nation is built by its peasants, my Thief. You must learn to love all your countrymen, from the highest to the lowest. For each has something to contribute to my work," she told him. She did not comment that it was amusing that one of no notable heritage she could discern would make such a comment. His father had been a weapons merchant who had become wealthy stealing from the government. Not a nobleman. Yet all mortals needed their little Delusions.

She would have to find a way to grant them such once more.

When they were within 100 meters of the Storm, the car stopped, and Bronya stepped out. "Stay here. My Thief, accompany me."

The Thief walked with her, though he was nervous as he did so. Fitting. A Thief should be cautious and work from the shadows. So much open action clearly unnerved her new player. She had chosen his role well.

When they were ten paces from the shimmering barrier, she turned to him. "This is where you must await me. From here, I proceed alone."

"You…you would go into that, alone?" the Thief asked, swallowing nervously. "I know you are powerful, Majesty, but-"

"I am a god. I may tread where no other can," she said and caressed his cheek tenderly. "Do not fret over much. A little is touching. Too much is unbecoming."

Then she gripped her gnosis tightly and strode into the chaos.

It was not like the Abyss, truly. It was a simple rending of matter, no distortion of Time or Dream at all. A little spatial distortion perhaps, but in a crude, basic level. She sensed only the Sustainer's power here, not that of the dead god she had smelled on Fortune's Fool.

Still, it was an impressive display of power. But it was simply energy. And all energy Ceased before the power of her Love.

The storm still raged around her, but it could not touch her. Nor did she let it harm her garments. She did note that it was obliterating the very ground she walked upon, but only slowly. Interesting.

She could see her way through the storm, but it was like walking in an alien desert, where there was no life, and hardly even any air. That was fine. Bronya did not need to breathe to survive and had not in centuries. Still, it was unpleasant, but she did not speed up her steps. She was the Tsaritsa. The Tsaritsa did not hurry.

She found what she sought at the center of the storm. A man, naked, laying on the ground, with hands folded upon his breast, eyes closed in apparent somnolence. But she knew it was but a decoy.

"Well? I have stepped into your parlor. Will you not deign at least to greet your guest?" she demanded of the storm.

There was silence for a few moments, then the sleeping man dissolved to ash. And the storm spoke.

Who are you? It's been so long, so very, very long. Am I dreaming?

"You are the Sleeper, are you not? It would be fitting for you to dream. But I am no apparition or figment of unreality. I am here, mortal. You have slept long enough," Bronya told the storm.

Go away. Let me rest. I'm tired.

"Indolence breeds weariness. Come. It is time for you to awaken. I have work for you," Bronya said.

But I can't wake up. I don't know how to stop it! I don't know how to end this nightmare! I finally found somewhere to sleep, where the noise would all stop. Just let me sleep.

"I cannot. You cannot remain as you are. You must awaken. I have need of you. Open your heart to me, and I shall grant you wakefulness."

If you won't go away, then I'll destroy you like the rest!

The storm grew in intensity, began to swell, began to actively attempt to grind her down and turn her bones to dust and her body to ash.

In response, Bronya summoned her own storm. Winter's own heart. Around her formed a bubble of true rest, truest peace. For ice was the embrace of emptiness.

What?! It hurts! It freezes! It burns! It…I can…feel it! I…I haven't felt anything in such a long time…

"Submit, mortal. Submit, and I will grant you the true rest you seek. But only after your work is done. And it is a mighty work I have in store for you."

How? I can't make it stop! It never stops! It's only destruction! I killed…I killed everyone I loved! Everything I had! Gone!

"Then you shall love me, and I shall be all you need. Only say that you will serve me and love me, and I will give you your heart's desire. For I see you, Ivan Petrov. I see your pain. Come into my embrace, and I will soothe your hurts and give you a new heart of ice."

If you can wake me from this nightmare…I will serve you eternally. My heart will be yours, for I have nothing else to love.

Bronya's lips curved upward in a wintery smile. So easy. All you had to do to get someone to love you was to simply see them, see their ugliness…and love them anyway. If you did that, they would do anything for you.

She reached out, not with her hands, but with her Authority. It was easy enough to find the angel behind this storm, the shard of the Sustainer that had possessed this mortal man named Ivan Petrov and turned him into naught but a storm of destruction. She caressed the angel, and it shuddered at her touch, for nothing had ever touched it before.

You seek someone to Love, do you not? Someone to complete you. To give you knowledge. Let me teach you of love, little angel. And I shall drag you from heaven to suffer amongst the mortals as I do.

The angel shuddered, tried to resist, tried to force its mortal host to fight her. But it was powerless against her Authority. For she was the object of its master's affections. Soon, it loved her too.

And so she killed it. For do we not always kill that which we love? She took the angel and shattered it to pieces, taking its body for herself. She had much work to do with it.

Then, she grasped the fading soul of Ivan Petrov. His body was gone, yes. But she could forge him a new vessel. So she did. She took the dust of the Earth, and formed it into the shape of a man. Not an ordinary, plain man, as he had been in life. But a handsome doll of a man, chiseled and carved to serve a purpose.

When she had formed the perfect body, right down to the cowlick in the dark curly hair, she leaned down, and kissed it, placing Ivan's soul within it. Her Prince sat up, blinking his eyes, as tears filled them.

"I…I'm awake," her Prince whispered.

"So you are," she said with a smile. She tilted her head up, pointing to the bright afternoon sky, though it had been morning when she had entered. "And it is a beautiful winter day."

Her Prince wept in her arms, and Bronya cradled him as her Thief and his band of rogues came running up to them, the storm having broken at last.

How she loved these mortals of hers, these players upon the stage she had sculpted.

And how it broke her heart to know she must write a script that would slay them.

But the show must go on.

And she would have her revenge. Let heaven Tremble at the strength of her Love. For the God of Love would conquer all.

PHILO: How cold-hearted of the Cyro Archon. The cruelest part is that for all her manipulation; she is sincere in her Love even as she tears her own Heart out to do what must be done. How ruthless. How admirable. How pitiful. A tragedy on both sides; a love that burns both ends.

Imperatrix Umberosa 19: Go Forth and Shine, Lightning Princess Ami!

"We seriously could have just taken the train. It would have been a lot simpler."

"But it wouldn't have been as exciting, and you didn't want to steal a car, so this is our only other option!" Ami told Sayu, who was grumbling as she peddled her bike up yet another hill. "Besides, this is excellent training!"

"I'm missing so much school for this, and I'm not going to get any sleep," Sayu muttered. "What if we get run over by a car? This is a busy road!"

"If a car attacks us, I'll blow it right up!" Clara said cheerily, her own bike whirring mechanically as she barely peddled at all. Ami thought that was probably cheating, but then again, Clara had complained on the first day that if she had to pedal all the way to Hokkaido then her legs were going to fall off, since she didn't have super strength or endurance like Ami and Sayu. The main problem Ami had was that her butt was sore, but she had Murasaki heal them every time they rested, so it wasn't so bad.

They were on the fourth day of their trip, in the mountains south of Aomori. There they would take a ferry to Hokkaido, then bike across it to Hokumon Shrine at the northern tip. All in all, the journey would take nearly a week. In the initial planning stages, Ami had dreamed of fighting rogue cape warlords, mutated bears, and various monsters.

Instead, the most heroic thing they had done was help an old lady find her lost dog, and get a ball out of a tree for some elementary school kids. It had been distinctly unheroic, and mostly just hard, sweaty work peddling their bikes across Japan.

"This road is hardly busy, Miss Nana. I planned our route to be optimal in its avoidance of heavy traffic, and the easiest to traverse on bicycles," Murasaki said, poking his head out of Ami's backpack where he was supposed to be hiding.

"Well you could have picked a route that involved us taking the train," Sayu pointed out testily. For a bodyguard, she sure did a lot of whining.

They peddled along the mountain road for several hours, something that was only possible because all three were capes. In the case of Ami and Sayu, they had enhanced endurance and strength. In the case of Clara, she'd made a motorized bicycle out of what she'd found in a dumpster on the first day. It wasn't that the Tinker couldn't make things besides Jumpty Dumpties, it was just that she wasn't terribly interested in doing so.

Around 11 o'clock they came to the small mountain town of Kosaka, having already peddled for three hours. They collectively decided to stop for some rest and food, and made for the nearest convenience store for food. Money wasn't a problem, as Ami had brought several million yen with them, just in case.

As they were picking out fried chicken, onigiri, candy bars, and soft drinks, two other teens entered the store. Ami noticed them mostly because of the smell: they both stank like they'd been rolling around in a dumpster. Their clothes looked like they'd come from a trash can too, as they were both grimy and tattered, with faces smeared with dirt and grease.

"Mistress!" Murasaki hissed as Ami wrinkled her nose and tried to ignore them. "Those two are likely the reason we are here!"

"Huh?" Ami watched out of the corner of her eyes as the two teens slouched and made their way towards the shelves of food, casually snagging bags and packages. The attendant looked up from where they'd been helping another customer and frowned, while Sayu had put her hand to the side as if to summon her sword as she glared at the teens suspiciously.

"I told you, I optimized our route! Well, I know you were seeking ne'er do wells to engage in combat, and there have been a string of robberies in this region! I believe they may be the perpetrators!" Murasaki hissed, his head poking out of Ami's backpack to whisper in her ear.

Ami studied the dirty pair more carefully. They looked to be her age or a little older, though it was hard to tell they were so filthy. Their hair looked grey under the grime, which was odd, and now that Ami looked at them, she saw their eyes were amber-colored.

"Are they capes?" Ami whispered, reaching out to try to sense any elemental energy. She sucked in a breath as she opened her spiritual sight: both were glowing with Elemental Energy, and both had Visions tucked away in their pockets.

As if sensing someone was on to them, both teens suddenly grabbed armfuls of food from the shelves, then turned and sprinted for the doors.

"STOP, THIEVES, IN THE NAME OF THE RAIDEN SHOGUN!" Ami bellowed, reaching within herself to where she stored her sword within her spirit, and drawing it forth. It hurt a little like she was squeezing it through too narrow a gap, but she could manage it.

"IT'S THE FUZZ, CHEESE IT!" the girl shouted, and as she did so, Ami nearly dropped her sword as a striped fluffy tail poked out from under her skirt.

"WINDS, BRING BINDING!" Sayu roared, and the doors slammed shut in the boy's face.

He squawked in outrage, falling flat on his rear, a tail popping out of his jacket as he dropped the food he'd been trying to steal.

"Stealing's against the rules," Clara said in a sing-song voice, two small Jumpty Dumpties appearing in her hands.

"Yeah? Well, rules were made to be broken," the thief girl sneered, and a glowing baseball bat of crackling purple appeared in her hands.

"Owww," the boy complained, getting to his feet. He manifested a bat of his own, this one made of swirling green winds. "Batter up, heh."

Ami couldn't have been more thrilled. Finally, worthy opponents! "Murasaki! Escort the civilians to safety! We will handle these two," Ami ordered, as the panicked cashier and other customer both cowered. She quickly drew out an eyepatch and put it over her left eye. "Fufufu! Do you wish to do battle with me, enemies of justice? For I am the Prinzessen des Blitzen!"

"I don't care if you're the Raiden Shogun! Out of our way, or we'll kick your ass!" the raccoon girl threatened, raising her bat on high.

"It's Lightning Princess Ami! She's come to save us!" the attendant, a woman of about 20 squealed in excitement.

Ami posed dramatically, then had to squawk and duck as the girl's baseball bat nearly took her head off.

"Wait, hold on," the boy said, his filthy face going pale. "Sis, don't you know who that is?!"

"Some jerk who's trying to keep me from my delicious snacks!" the girl responded, and Ami parried another blow of the baseball bat. Then she paused, as the boy yanked his sister down into a bowing position.

"We're sorry! We were just hungry! Please don't kill us!" the boy babbled.

"Get off of me, bro! I can take her!" the girl snarled, snapping at his fingers. Then she was suddenly gone, and tanuki with an Electro Vision on a cord around its neck was snarling and biting at the boy, who an instant later had turned into a tanuki as well. Both of the raccoon dogs began snarling and biting at one another as they rolled around on the floor in a flurry of fur and fangs.

"Oh great," Sayu groaned. "More yokai. And tanuki this time. Figures."

"Should I use my Jumpty Dumpties?" Clara asked hopefully.

"No," Ami said, and then zapped both the fighting animals, which yipped and spun to face her, both of them growling. She squatted down, eyeing both of them. "Look, if you're both yokai, we can forgive you, this time. But you can't go around stealing things. Yae started the same way though, and now she's training to be the head Shrine Maiden. We can probably find a job for you two as well. And a bath."

The girl popped back into humanoid form, glaring at Ami. "Yeah? Are you saying we stink or something!?"

"You do smell pretty ripe," her brother said, shifting back as well. He smirked at her, then bowed his head to Ami. "Please don't tell your mom! I don't know very much, but, uh, I think it would be a real bad idea to pick a fight with the Raiden Shogun."

"It's not my mom you have to worry about, it's me," Ami said, feeling a twinge of irritation. Then she sighed. "We could still have a duel though. Not inside though, we don't want to wreck the store."

"Yeah? And if I win, I get all your food and your clothes! They're cuter than mine," the girl said, grinning at Ami and displaying an overly large set of canines.

"Sis, don't be stupid! She's like, rich!" her brother whispered, his voice comically loud. "If we listen to her, we can like, get into her house! Then we take all her food and clothes and stuff!"

"I can still hear you, you know," Ami said in irritation.

"What?! But you're just a dumb human, they have terrible hearing!" the girl said in shock.

"Yes, but I'm the Prinzessen des Blitzen. I am no mere mortal," Ami said with a smirk of her own.

"Shit, she's got us there. So why don't we just beat her up and take her stuff?" the filthy girl urged. Then let out a yip when a massive claymore rested gently on her neck.

"Because my name is Sayu Nana, of the Shuumatsuban. And I am entrusted with protecting this moron. If you even so much as harm one hair on her head, I will end you. And quickly, because it's past nap time."

"You tell 'em, Tanuki!" Clara said gleefully.

"Tanuki?" the boy said, and two fuzzy ears popped up on top of his head. "Are you a tanuki too?"

"No, that's just my code name," Sayu said, sounding exasperated. "Though if you sully the good name of Tanuki, I'll have to kick your butts on principle."

"Look, if you agree to serve my mother, I'll buy you all these snacks, and some clean clothes," Ami offered.

"DEAL!" both of the tanuki said immediately.

After that, they took the two Tanuki to a nearby hotel and had them shower and change into clothes that Ami purchased for them.The two yokai gorged themselves on all the junk food that Ami could buy, alongside Ami, Sayu, and Clara, who were hungry teenagers themselves.

"So what are your names?" Clara asked curiously as they chowed down on instant ramen.

"I'm Sis and he's Bro," the girl said.

"That's not a name," Ami told them. "You have to have names. Yae had a name."

"There were just two of us who survived the litter, so I was Bro and she was Sis," the boy said with a shrug. Now that he had bathed and changed into something that hadn't come out of a dumpster, he was actually kind of cute Ami supposed, if you were into kemonomimi.

"Well, that won't do. I shall give you proper names," Ami declared.

"You can't just give people names!" the girl protested.

"I'm an Imperial Princess. I can do what I please," Ami sniffed.

"Wait…so you're really Her daughter? The one who gave me this so I could turn into a person?" the girl asked, holding up her Electro Vision.

"Yeah, so at least be respectful. I got mine from someone else but even I'm not stupid enough to pick a fight with the God of the Yokai," her brother said.

"Hmm," Ami tapped her chin, then nodded. She pointed first to the girl. "You shall be Stelle! And you shall be Caelus!"

"Ooo, good names," Clara said, clapping happily.

For the tanuki's part, they had gasped and dropped their food, making a bit of a mess on the floor, dazed expressions on their faces. Ami had felt…something…when she had named them. Was it a sort of magic?

"Stelle. I'm…a star?" the girl said slowly, looking down at her greasy hands.

"Yeah, well, uh, I'm like, a sky spirit, so there," her brother said, but he was examining himself as well.

Just then, Ami's phone vibrated. She checked it, then jolted upright, wiping her hands on her sweatpants and feeling underdressed. Kimonos were pretty, but they weren't very practical for cross-country biking. "She's here!"

"The Shogun!?" Stelle and Caelus cried, and both immediately bolted for the window, turning into tanuki as they went.

"No, you idiots. Yae Miko. The kitsune," Sayu growled as a gust of wind slammed shut their escape.

The two tanuki paused, slowly turning to face the three girls, cocking their heads to one side.

"Yae's funny and cute, you'll like her. I bet she brought WcDonalds, it's her favorite," Clara commented.

Instantly, both tanuki assumed their human forms again. ""Why didn't you say so?! We'd do anything for WcDonalds!""

They stepped outside the inn as a long black limousine pulled up. A moment later, a priest stepped out, who unrolled a small carpet before the door before opening it. Out of the limo stepped Yae Miko. She looked a little older now, though still like a chubby little kid. Despite that, her ornate ceremonial robes and headdress were pristine, and she had her nose up in the air, tails swishing behind her.

"Greetings, Princess Ami. I have come to answer your summons. Where are the new yokai for me to supervise?" Miko demanded imperiously, a smug smile on her face, along with a bright red smear.

Ami reached up, brushing her cheek, and Yae frowned at her. "You, uh, you have some ketchup, right there, Yae…"

Blushing furiously, the kitsune girl spun about, hastily scrubbing her face before slowly turning back around. Unfortunately, her efforts had smudged her makeup slightly, so she looked even more ridiculous now. "Thank you, Princess. Now, where are the yokai?"

Stelle and Caelus swaggered forward, baseball bats propped on their shoulders. "We're Stelle and Caelus."

"Caelus and Stelle! We're the Tanuki Twins!" Caelus said, adjusting his waistband and grinning smugly down at Yae. "Didn't think they'd send a little girl to pick us up."

Yae's eyebrow twitched. "Little girl? Boy, I will have you know, I am the preferred pet of the Raiden Shogun, and the High Miko of Narukami Shrine. I'm second only to the Emperor as the head of the Shinto Religion. Show some respect to your elders."

"Pff, elders? You're a kit! We're adults," Stelle said smugly, bending over to condescending pet Yae on the head, which made her other eyebrow twitch.

"So, you think me a child?" Yae growled, and her eyes began to glow. "Little Tanuki. You know nothing of this world."

"Oh boy," Sayu groaned. "Here we go again."

"Pff, what are you going to do, kick our shins?" Caelus snorted.

"Yeah, you're so tiny, we could…we could…" Stelle trailed off, her eyes growing wide as dark mist began to fill the afternoon air, darkening the sky.

"That's…that's just an illusion. Tricks! Ha ha, the little girl thinks she can scare us," Caelus scoffed, but he sounded rather nervous, stepping closer to his sister and bringing his bat up.

"Oh children. You have been naughty," Yae's voice chuckled, suddenly deeper as she vanished into the mist. "I think it's time for your punishment."

"Bring it on! There's two of us and one of you, and we're bigger!" Stelle cried, raising her bat and swishing it about to drive back the mist.

ARE YOU?

The deep rumbling voice caused the two tanuki to cry out in fear, dropping their bats as they clung to each other in panic. A massive beast of dark flames with two lashing tails stomped out of the mists, circling the tanuki siblings as purple flames licked about them.

LITTLE YOKAI. SO IGNORANT. I HAVE STUDIED WITH THE RAIDEN SHOGUN, THE GOD OF THE YOKAI. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? BURGLED A FEW MORTALS? PATHETIC.

"W-we're sorry Miss Kitsune!" Stelle sobbed.

"P-please don't eat us!" Caelus wailed, clutching his sister tightly.

DO YOU SUBMIT? The giant kitsune growled, its maw dribbling sparks as it loomed over the weeping tanuki. DO YOU SWEAR TO SERVE ME, AND THE RAIDEN SHOGUN?

"We swear!" the tanuki wept, and prostrated themselves before the horror.

Instantly, the mist vanished, and the giant beast was revealed to be nothing more than a smug looking Yae Miko as she smirked down at the kowtowing yokai at her feet. "Very good. I have uses for a pair of servants. Though I suppose you'll have to be house broken first."

Yae turned to Ami and bowed. "Thank you once more, Princess. We've been trying to locate these two for weeks with all the trouble they've caused. I am in your debt."

"All in a day's work for the Prinzessen des Blitzen," Ami said, posing dramatically with one hand to her eyepatch. "Keep these two troublemakers in line. Tend now to your duties, and I shall to mine. Until we meet again."

Blinking, Caelus and Stelle were sitting up now, looking dazed.

"She…she tricked us!" Caelus cried in outrage.

"That smirking little fox demon!" Stelle growled, reaching for her bat.

"Now, now, children. Do you need further…convincing?" Yae asked, her eyes suddenly glowing as her twin tails grew in size and lashed violently.

""No, we are your humble servants!"" the twins wailed, prostrating themselves again.

"Very good. Now come. If you behave yourselves, I'll let you have some of my leftover fries," Yae decreed, and stepped up to the limo, where the priest hastily put down a step stool for her.

After a moment, the two tanuki hesitantly looked up, until a chubby little hand extended out with a pair of french fries. "Come come, my pets. Or do you not like fries?"

"MINE!" Stelle shouted, leaping for the door and bowling Yae over with a squeak.

"NO, MINE!" her brother shouted.

The priest hastily shut the door behind them, then climbed back in. The limo drove away, but Ami could just make out a pink fox battling furiously with a pair of raccoon dogs over a spilled bag of french fries in the window.

"Well. That was something else," Sayu sighed, shaking her head. "At least they're not our headache now."

"Can we just take a car the rest of the way now? We had our adventure," Clara asked.

Ami considered it, then nodded. "Yeah, my butt is still sore. We can have another adventure later, right now I'm tired and want to go home. Let's just get this over with."

It was still an adventure, as when Ami asked for a car, the locals just gave her one. She had only driven in Mario Kart before, and Sayu was too short for her feet to reach the pedals, so Clara ended up being the one to drive when she assured them she knew how.

"I'm an expert! I built a car one time, you know. And it only blew up a little!"

"Uh, I'm not sure how confident that should make us," Sayu pointed out from the back seat, as Ami had insisted on royal privilege to get shotgun. Sayu hadn't complained much, sprawling across, arm over her eyes in a half-napping state.

"Mistress, I cannot help but think this is not a wise idea. Surely we could find a chauffeur," Murasaki said nervously from his own seat in the back. "Or I could fly you there myself."

"It's fine, she didn't build this car," Ami pointed out, and then was pressed back in her seat as the cackling Clara peeled out of the parking stall like she was qualifying for the Suzuka 1000.

They made it about 100 km before a policeman pulled them over, looking outraged. "Did you girls steal your parent's car?!"

"No, she's Lightning Princess Ami, we just borrowed it," Clara said.

The police officer paled, apologized, then firmly insisted that they all get into his cruiser so that he could drive them the rest of the way. Sayu and Murasaki immediately agreed, and Ami felt it would have been rude to contradict them.

Besides, Clara's driving scared her. Her friend seemed to believe that speed limits were just suggestions, and what really mattered was what your car's maximum speed was. The number of times she'd nearly careened off the side of a mountain road had left even Ami breathless.

After that, unfortunately, her trip was official. It was still kind of fun, as the mayor of Aomori and all his officials came out to greet Ami, and they had a small impromptu parade, with plenty of people cheering for them when Ami jumped on top of the roof and posed for them, traffic having been halted to make way for the royal motorcade.

Instead of taking the ferry, they got a private yacht to deliver them to Hakodate, where Ami fully embraced this event as an Imperial Procession , and regaled her devoted fans with only mildly (for her) inflated accounts of their battle with the Terrible Tanuki Twins, and how Ami had successfully bound them to the mortal world by naming them.

After that, they spend the next five days journeying through Hokkaido, stopping at every town and village to bless the shrines and populace, and sign autographs and take pictures with fans. Ami made sure to promise that they would stand fast with Hokkaido against the threat of Russia, which confused some as Russia hadn't been a threat to anyone in years.

But Ami could sense a chill wind blowing from that land now. She warned everyone that the Mother Bear was waking up, and Japan would need to be prepared. To her surprise, when she told the adults that, they took her seriously, and several police captains asked her about forming a militia.

"This is a matter for the gods," she told them. "My family will handle this."

They believed that too, bowing to her and thanking her. Several even asked if this was connected to the arrival of the Cryo Archon, as everyone knew that such Visions had begun to appear.

At last, they arrived at the Hokumon Shrine, where a bald old man in purple monk's robes waited for them. Upon seeing Ami, he prostrated himself.

"If my life is required by the Raiden Shogun, here is my neck, my lady. You may have this head, for I have already failed my lady once."

"Arise, Uncle. I've missed you," Ami said softly and reached down to gently pull the old man up. When he was on his knees, Ami embraced him, tears in her eyes. He had withered since departing her mother. Now it looked as though he didn't shave his head, but that his hair had fallen out. He had once been slightly tubby, but now he was thin to the point of malnorishment. Where his clothes had once been fine, now he wore tattered robes that smelled as though they were rarely washed.

"I remember when you would tell me stories, Uncle, and how much you did for my mother. Before…before your mistake."

"I led you astray. You nearly fought Lord Barbatos," Kenichi said bitterly, but he gave Ami a gentle squeeze anyway. "Why have you come, child?"

"My mother does not forget, but she can forgive. You are still banished, but you still have a task that you can perform to serve Eternity," Ami told Kenichi.

The hope that filled the old man's eyes nearly broke Ami's heart. She was reminded again of her solemn duty: She had the power of life and death with a word, and only seeing how her words had revitalized her uncle, did the nascent godling now realize how she might have forever altered the fate of Caelus and Stelle by Naming them. Swallowing, she said, "You are to go to the people of Korea, and ask them if they wish to Embrace Eternity."

Kenichi froze for a moment, his jaw dropping open. Then he swallowed, his Adam's Apple bobbing up and down. "But… Raiden is the God of Japan."

"She is. But Korea finds itself trapped between the lands of two gods, and soon, my mother fears that Dantalion of Russia will stretch out a greedy hand to conquer them. You heard my mother's stories of the Fatui, and what they did to her old land of Inazuma in their greedy quest. My mother would have given them Heaven's Poisoned Gift had they but asked, but they resorted to vile treachery and sedition. She has come to care for the people of Korea and has promised to shelter them in time of need. Now, they must decide if they love her enough to choose her as their god."

"But the Koreans are…" Kenichi struggled, his face turning red as his mouth worked.

"Do you question my mother's will? Or are you still the faithful servant you claim to be?" Ami demanded hotly. She had no patience for her people's prejudices against other nations, especially not since her Uncle Mushu was half Chinese and Clara was half German. Even Sayu was basically half-American, even if both her parents were native Japanese.

"I…I serve the Raiden Shogun," Kenichi said, bowing his head. "I will go to Korea, and tell them of the Shogun's generous offer."

"Make it in good faith, Uncle. This is your last chance," Ami warned.

Kenichi chuckled bitterly. "I tried to interpret the will of the Shogun once. No more. I will be a faithful messenger."

"Good," Ami said, and kissed his forehead, a small spark of energy transferring between them. "Go now, with my blessing."

With that, Kenichi arose and left, trudging off across the snow and ice without care or preparation.

"Shouldn't we like, give him some money or something?" Sayu whispered to Ami.

"Don't ruin the dramatic moment of it!" Ami hissed. Then she sighed. "Murasaki…"

"I will see to the logistics, and ensure Master Kenichi has adequate supplies for his journey," her familiar promised, and Ami grinned.

Sometimes, being a princess was awesome.

Author's Note:

I know I said I wouldn't put in any more Star Rail characters, but, well, Rules Were Made to Be Broken. And there aren't any playable Tanuki in Genshin. So, I found the nearest approximation.

PHILO: Good ol' Murasaki. The lynchpin of dramatic moments. Pray to the Lightning Princess Ami for success in the fantastic and bombastic, but do not forget to pay tribute to her Servant, the Kirin Murasaki, for help in the logistics.