Dust And Snow

[Amber Veritz]

The heat of the lower levels subsided behind the faunus with each set of stairs she climbed. Warm air wasn't her favorite, though, she preferred the chilling cold of the Frozen Fields just like Atlas back home. The air was crisp and harsh to the skin. She used to believe the frozen air was the reason she became so resilient to harsh weather and toughen her warrior spirit. 

When she reached the surface, she took a deep breath of that air in and let all sink in. The smells of white hot irons from blacksmiths and fresh foods like bread and meats filled her nostrils. Amber gazed upon the kingdom she had come to unite in the frozen wastes many considered inhospitable, besides trolls, dwarves and dragons, and smiled contently with the progress. It had come to her attention, however, that sourcing power out here could be difficult, even for a Prime of her stature. As much as she would love to just snap her fingers and lights poof to existence, that seemed more draining than she thought. Those lights would still need to be powered, and the furthest their power source reached was the bar and the security door at the wall.

The faunus sighed to herself. She would likely have to get stronger before she decided to power and entire city by herself. Her train of thought was interrupted by a woman running through the dirt/snowed streets of Atlas flailing her arms for the cat girl's attention.

“Amber! Hey!” She yelled, waving her arms back and forth. Many civilians giving her bewildering glares as she does so. When she finally caught up to the faunus, she had to catch her breath before she could speak. Her face and hair was covered in dirt, as if she had showered in clumped mud. Her clothing easily signified her as one of the Atlas miners.

“Uh, hi?” Amber muttered confusedly. “Do I know you?”

“No.” The woman said gasping for relief. “But, sure do know you. You run the show here, and there's a big problem.”

“What is it?! Trolls? Giants? Oh shit, did the dragons come after me to avenge Votamiks?” Amber said reaching back for the giant sword holstered to her backside.

“No, no, and no, but our miners are in big trouble. We found a gem like nothing I’d ever seen before and when we tried to mine it out of the ore, BOOM!” The dirt covered woman shouted. “The damn thing exploded and trapped our miners in a cave in. At least ten good men are stuck in the cave now.”

“Y-You found Dust? In the Omniverse?” The cat asked surprisingly. She never expected to find a pure source of Dust anywhere but Remnant. It was practically unbelievable, which made her think that perhaps this was merely a joke to gawk at her inability to return home.

“Yeah, there’s a whole lot of it in caves, you know?” The miner said, obviously oblivious to the term ‘Dust’ as compared to that of a native of Remnant. “It’s sort of the thing for caves.”

“No! Dust! As in a physical material used as power sources and focuses for magical powers?! You're telling me a crystal like substance exploded and caused a cave in around your workers? What did it look like?” She asked putting her sword hand back down at her side and finding it’s way to cross at her chest.

“Well,” The miner attempted to recall the details. “It was red. Looked nothing like ruby or garnet, though, even if it was uncut. I'd say it was like a rock, but had a faint shine to it like glass.”

“That is dust! Take me there now! This is more important than you could possibly imagine!” The faunus shouted frantically.

“The miners are st-”

“Yeah, we’ll free the miners and then you’ll show me these crystals.” Amber interrupted, getting a nod in response. She pulled out her scroll and called up Murasaki.

’Yo.’ His voice scratched through faint static.

“‘Saki, I think our miners just found Dust.” She said without even a proper hello.

’Wait, Remnant Dust? There’s Dust in the Omniverse, unrefined?’ He asked.

“I was just as confused as you are. I'm going to investigate this right now, if this real, this could be a turning point for Atlas. We would be able to filter a stronger source of power with lightning Dust.” She explained through frantic heaving as the miner lead her through the snow capes towards their primary mining operation.

Upon arrival, Amber knew they had found Dust. She could smell the blazing crystal fragrance in the air, like singed hair. The horrid aroma brought her back nostalgically. It made her feel even more at home in the frozen wasteland she had to make due with. The miner, on the other hand, grew a disgusted expression to the smell and urged Amber into the cave. The smell only intensified upon entering the dark mountain crevice.

The only light available were some torches until the got deeper into the tunnel system. Rocks had fallen from the ceiling and disturbed the dirt around them. Any torches that were lit before the incident were gone now.

“It’s just up here.” Said her travel companion. She could see it: The mound of dirt and rocks that had obviously fallen from a disrupted patch in the caves dirt-roof. Getting through such a wall would not be easy but Amber was anything but a quitter.

[Amber Veritz]

The faunus turned to her travel companion and pointed her towards the exit.

“Go get more help. Bring shovels and picks. Were changing the mining operation once we get these people out of this cave.” Amber says starting to dig at the rocks with her hands. She would just as easily taken Razorback to the pebbles in her way, but that would risk hitting another dust vein and caving them in even worse, or possibly killing everyone in the cave.

“It’s too dangerous to mine here, girl. This is well above our paygrade.” She scoffs. “Explosive fucking minerals.”

“Then we’ll raise your paygrade. This discovery is too important to ignore. Either way, go! These people need help and we’re the only hope they have right now.” Amber yells, sending the woman into a shuffled sprint.

“R-Right! I’ll be back within the hour.” She says running down the hall with the haste of a frightened hare. Amber’s hand shined with a pink glare tearing at the soil and rock that stood in her way. Even with all the strength she possessed, without precision and care, she could kill many innocent people. She knew that they weren’t capable of just ‘respawning’ like she was and one wrong move could bury all of them. “Hey! Can you guys hear me back there.”

Their muffled voices barely crawled out of the dirt, only audible to Amber because of her animalistic ears. “Yeah! What’s going on over there?”

“Don’t worry, I’m digging through to see if we can get you guys out of this mess. How many of you are back there?” She asks through labored breaths and heaves of dirt.

“Eight men, nothing minor injuries. Light bruising from rocks and slight burns from the explosive minerals. What was that stuff?” He says through the dirt, becoming much clearer as the prime-cat clawed her way deeper. It seemed she would not need help after all, until she found the biggest problem of her life: A dust crystal, large enough to power Atlas for months without fault between her and her miners held captive by mother nature. It was unrefined and ungodly dangerous to work around. One wrong move and the entire cave would become a crater. Amber reeled back in fear -- yes, even she was scared of the power of dust -- falling back as she brought her claw behind her before realizing the giant husk of unrefined alchemical magic.

She let out a sigh of relief knowing she didn’t blow them all into the oververse. Or, is that how that really works? Fuck if she knew. The faunus stood up and called to the miners.

“We’ve got a problem guys, but don’t worry, we can work around this. It’s going to take a little longer than usual. Whatever you do, do not dig through the dirt between us.” That must have scared them, cause they offered her no response in return. The faunus did turned to the dirt next her. “I’d better get started making my way around this crystal…”

Her pink claws tore through rock and dirt as she began to dig- again.

[Amaterasu]

When Amaterasu and Urist approached the site that Murasaki had marked for them, the goddess wrinkled her nose.

“Wha’s the matter?” asked Urist, noticing her displeased look.

“The smell of powder lingers in the air. Don’t you smell it too?”

“Mmmh, nae ah don’... bu’ yer nose’s finer’n mine, aye?”

“Well… that’s true. In any case, powder. The sort that the Nipponese used for fireworks… it smells like a lot of it exploded. Did they have a workshop here that got blown sky-high?”

Urist sniffed the air as his nose began picking up a scent too. “Ah, there it is… ah, tha’s the smell o’ gunpowder. Don’ think it’s too abnormal though, ah mean… we’re talkin’ ‘bout a minin’ operation, aye?”

“Indeed, but there was also mention of trapped miners… perhaps an explosion caused a cave-in?”

“Tha’s definitely possible… this sorta gunpowder gets used fer Blast Minin’ by dwarves too. It’s a dangerous tool though, ‘specially if it gets used by someone who doesn’t use it properly.”

As they drew close to the site - a mining camp with a very obvious mine entrance, surrounded by storage sheds and other buildings - Urist wasted no time. He jumped off the Nimbus as Amaterasu slowed down and rushed ahead into the mine, following the feeling in his gut, while the goddess first found a spot to leave the mount at and followed at a more moderate pace.

Inside the mine Urist accelerated his rush down the shaft as if he were pursued by the devil himself. He skipped the lift and ladder rungs, instead he simply grasped the lift rope with his gloved hands and slid down along it, and did the same with the ladders that got in his way. The smell of used gunpowder grew stronger with every step and that spurred him on.

Finally he came to the end of the shaft, and saw himself confronted with… an oversized feline? He made a shooing motion with his hands. “Oi, puss. Get outta here, it ain’t safe.”

“Be careful what you say, dwarf”, the cat replied much to his astonishment. She turned to him and transformed as she did, until a young human stood before him. She didn’t look very happy. “Are you one of the miners?”

Urist blinked, astounded at her sharp tongue. “Nay. Ah’m here because-”

“Then leave again. I can handle this on my own.” She turned back and looked ready to ignore the nuisance that had interrupted her work.

“Hold on!” Urist raised his voice. Not the best course of action in an unstable mine, but he refused to let this girl jerk him around. “Ah’m here ta help. An’ ah wouldn’ recommend tryin’ ta remove that rock I saw ye digging around unless ye wanna bury yerself alive.”

“What?” She sounded miffed to have her actions questioned, but at least she didn’t ignore him any longer. Urist calmed a little.

“Let me take a look, girl. Ah’ve had me share o’ minin’ operations before, an- Bruenor’s Beard…!”

The girl had shifted to the side and let the lantern she had beside her cast its light on an enormous raw ruby. It was a gem unlike anything he’d seen before. Of course, a Prime as King Bruenor could just summon a gem this size if they wanted, but for it to occur naturally… the greed native to all dwarves glimmered in his eyes and he walked forward, reaching out to touch the gem. He wanted it.

A forceful tug on his collar tore him back into reality, and away from the gem. “What do you think you’re doing?!” the girl’s voice rung sharp as a knife.

“That ruby, ah want ta…”

“That’s a Red Dust crystal, you idiot! Have you no idea how volatile these things are?” She shoved him back and Urist stumbled and landed on his rump. “If that thing blows up there won’t be enough left of you to fill a matchbox with.”

The dwarf blinked. “Dust crystal? What’re ye talkin’ about?”

Just as Amber was about to tell the dwarf that she had no time for expansive lectures a new set of footsteps, these treading softer than Urist’s boots, filled the cave. Soon Amaterasu came down.

Both her and Amber’s neck hair involuntarily stood on end as they saw each other. However, Amaterasu pushed the feeling back and bowed. “Good day”, she said. “You must be Amber… I’m Amaterasu, and I see you’ve already met Urist. Your friend Murasaki gave us directions here and pointed out that you might need some aid.”

“I don’t. And yes, I’m Amber, but there’s no time for pleasantries. There are miners trapped down there and our time is short. I have to break them out before something worse happens.”

“That is why we’re here”, Amaterasu insisted patiently but firmly. “I am a Prime with… an extent of powers that could aid you down here, and Urist has a fair amount of mining experience.”

“And that goes out the window as soon as he sees a sparkly gem”, Amber remarked with an angry glance at Urist, who was just getting up and dusting his backside off.

The dwarf had calmed enough by now that he didn’t snap back at the catgirl. “So, yer sayin’ tha’ this ehh… Dust crystal, tha’ it can explode?”

“As a rough estimate the gem behind us has enough energy to power Fort Amber for a year, by itself. Now imagine all that energy released at once.”

“Are those gems where the powder smell is coming from?” asked Amaterasu. When Amber nodded she stroked her chin. “In that case I should avoid using Cherry Bomb or Power Slash… Amber-san, have you tried using your Prime powers yet, to clear a path by de-summoning?”

The faunus’s ears perked a bit and her cheeks flushed. “Of course I have!” she replied, looking flustered. “I just haven’t felt it necessary yet. Anyway, your dwarf friend claims that it’s risky destabilizing the roof so we shouldn’t go about extracting Omnilium willy-nilly.”

“We could stabilize the walls and roof using our powers then”, suggested Amaterasu. “Urist, can you point us to which parts look least stable and we’ll create metal archways, roofs, walls and pillar supports to prevent the roof from collapsing? Amber-san, you are more familiar with these crystals than either of us are, so could you advise us on how to best handle them?”

“Ah can do tha’.”

“I… guess. Sure.”

“We’re sorry to jump on you like this”, she went on to say as she sat down on her knees, rump on her heels, and slowed her breathing to enter a state of focus. “I would like to speak to you afterwards, but it goes without saying that aiding these good people takes priority.”

[Amber Veritz]

Amber was nervous. This dwarf and dog-girl have come into the mine, one is a prime and the lives of her citizens are on the line. She didn’t know if she could trust them, but what choice did she have? By the time she got those workers free on her own, they’d suffocate from the lack of oxygen, and if she attempted to rush it, she would collapse the cave.

“The lives of those people are our first concern. I will talk with you after that is dealt with.” Amber said sitting down on the ground criss-crossed opposite of Amaterasu and focused her energy. She hadn’t done this as often, the aspect was a weird magic to her. Helpful yes, but still weird.

“I understand, that is why I came to help. Urist, if you would, let us know where we should put these metal beams once we summon them.” She stated as the two of them began to focus on their support beams.

“Aye, we should start over here.” With the special skill sets of a dwarf and the work of two primes, the cave was soon stabilized enough to begin extracting the dust crystal. Amaterasu placed her hand on the crystal, but Amber quickly grabbed her wrist.

“Allow me, I have plans for this later. A dust crystal this size would be completely beneficial to Atlas in a way I can’t ignore.” Amaterasu was about to state that if they both worked on dissolving it with their prime powers, it would be removed much more expeditiously, but it wasn’t worth arguing over. It took Amber nearly ten minutes, but soon the obstruction was dislodged. The miners trapped behind it began crawling through the opening in wall as soon as they were made able.

“Everyone go home, you’ve earned the week off. Spend it with your families.” The faunus said as they all funneled out of the cave they’d been trapped in for hours. Once they were all out, the three rescuers followed suit. Amber and Amaterasu made small conversation as they exited.

“So, what happened in there?” The Kami asked, gesturing at the mine.

“My miners were working on extracting raw minerals, iron and such, when they hit a vein of dust. With no one experienced in the substance was there to identify it, they tried to extract some of it to bring back to us. I’m sure they won’t do it again. Raw dust is pretty volatile and dangerous, when it’s used by someone so inexperienced.” Amber explained, leading the group back to Atlas.

“It’s an...explosive mineral?” Amaterasu looked a little dumbfounded; Urist even more.


“Yeah, harnesses the elements in ways like magic, only it’s more like alchemy.”

“So, now we ‘ave magic sproutin’ from the ground?” Urist asked himself with a slight facepalm. He should have expected it, as weird of universe this place was.

“You had something you wanted to talk about?” Amber asked.

“Oh, yes. When we get back to town, I will explain in depth.”

[Amaterasu]

“We can talk while on our way back, if you would like. I happen to have come with a mount that could carry the two of us”, said Amaterasu as they followed the way that the miners, too, had taken.

“We’re in no hurry to talk, are we?” asked Amber. Before Amaterasu could reply she motioned towards the ladder that they were to climb to get up. “After you, please.”

“Ah, thank you. And - no, of course not. It would probably be a better idea to talk while in the comfort of a warm room without heavy coats to muffle our voices.” She climbed the ladder, followed by Amber herself. Urist was the last in line, and grumbled about how the carpenter who had made those ladders must’ve been stingier than even Urist McUristsson, for having built the rungs so far apart. Once they arrived at the top, she spoke again. “You’ll return to Fort Amber, I take it?”

“Yeah. I need to speak with my teammates about those Dust crystals and what we can do to safely excavate them. Speaking of...” She reached into a pouch and pulled out a thin glass vial filled with a ruby-red substance. She held it out to Urist. “Here, have a sample. In ground form it’s less volatile, but be careful with it.”

“Eh?” the dwarf replied, stunned as the vial was pushed into his hands and, following the reflex both humans and dwarves were born with, he grabbed it. “Thanks, bu’ why’re ye givin’ me this?”

“As a token of thanks for helping us out down there. And so you can see for yourself how dangerous those red crystals can be.” She grinned. “Just try not to inhale it.”

“Yeah, ah’ll be careful. Thank ye.”

“We have the same destination”, said Amaterasu next. “Shall we meet up there?”

“Sure. I’ll meet you at the underground bar.”

Shortly after they stepped into the light at the end of the tunnel, literally, and Amaterasu retrieved the Nimbus from where she’d left it before descending into the cave. By the time she came back Amber had already departed, leaving Urist alone. She reached out and helped him climb on the Nimbus before steering its course back towards Fort Amber.

“Thanks”, the dwarf said as he settled behind Amaterasu, and pulled out the vial to hold it against the sun. The crystals reflected the light, casting weird shapes onto his beard-obscured face.

“A friendly girl”, Amaterasu remarked. “She’s the young and full of energy type, just like Fiara. I think they’d get along very well.”

“Aye”, the dwarf answered. “Bu’ she’s got quite some responsibility fer someone ‘er age. Leadin’ a community with such bustlin’ economy ain’t easy.”

“From the looks of the city she’s got it well under control.”

“So, wha’ are ye gonna be talkin’ to her about? Ye’ve not said a thing ta even Oki since we came back.”

“There’s two reasons: first, it’s a little long-winded and I’d prefer to explain it to everyone in one go, rather than answering the same questions twice or more often to different people. And second, what I want to talk about is a little long-winded and complex, if I had to focus on where we’re going or watch out for obstacles.”

Urist was content with that reply and they didn’t speak anymore until they arrived at Fort Amber again. Once again, Amaterasu went to leave the Nimbus in the stables while the dwarf went ahead into the fort building and borrowed Amaterasu’s Communicator to call Oki and Fiara. Shortly after they came back into the bar, reuniting with everyone. Amaterasu noticed that Amber was just talking to the girl behind the bar, likely about the events that had transpired at the mine.

“Hey, you guys are back!” Amber called out. And there was that brief moment again, where their eyes met and their hair stood on end. Oki felt the same as he first met Amber, and for a moment he wanted to bare his teeth threateningly… then it had passed. Weird.

Amaterasu cleared her throat. “Ehm… yes, well. Allow me to introduce you to my friends. These are Oki Kurumi and Fiara Moegami.”

“I’m Amber, pleasure to meet you all.”

“Likewise!” said Fiara, and they both bowed their heads.

“So, Amaterasu, you wanted to talk about something.”

“Yes, right. Could we go somewhere quieter? Preferably safe from eavesdropping?”

“Sure. Follow me… Murasaki, Bianca, Rose, can you guys join us too?” She led them out of the bar, through a corridor and down a staircase leading to the lower levels of the fort. There she opened the door to a large conference room.

Amaterasu noticed the puzzled glances exchanged between her friends, especially towards Urist, but he could only shrug. As everyone sat down around the table in the middle of the room, she remained standing at the head of that table and placed her hands on the surface.

“This may be an odd question, Amber-san, but what are your plans for Fort Amber?”

“My plans? What do you mean?” the catgirl asked.

“I mean what you aim to make of this place. Are you aiming to develop this place into a bustling economy hub? Do you want to turn it into a city or something larger? And more importantly, what are your plans for the trolls and the dwarves that are the numerically dominant civilizations in the Frozen Fields? Do you aim to create alliances or oppose either side?”

Amber eyed Urist, who sat diagonally across the table. “Do you promise not to run to your King and snitch if I say anything that disfavors the dwarves?”

Urist hesitated only for a moment. “Ye’ve me word o’ honor. What’s said ‘ere stays ‘ere.”

“Well then, where should I begin…”

[Amber Veritz]

The group of eight converged around the conference table that had done nothing but gather dust since the creation of Atlas. Amber was pleased to see it getting some use after so long of being dormant. Everyone took a seat besides Amber and Amaterasu. The two remained standing in front of their seats opposite to the other from the table. As Amaterasu began to speak, Amber rose her hand to stop her.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but there’s something important we must talk about first.” She said leaning against the edge of the table eyeing the group of four that had come to her city. The kami offered a response.

“And what would that be?” She asked curiously.

“Simply enough, I don’t know any of you. So, in order to share our information and discuss our business, I must be introduced to you all first.” She spoke, her voice the only thing breaking the silent hum of a machine in the room over. “I am Amber Patrica Vertiz. I am Patron to Atlas and what you would take for a governor. These are my trusted advisors,” she gestured to her friends as she spoke their names. “Murasaki, or just ‘Saki, is my vice and runs the normal operation of Atlas’s daily maintenance and such. Bianca Anne Serana is the bartender that you met when you first arrived. She keeps “in-the-know” of what happens around Atlas so we can take opinions into suggest with our common folk. And lastly, Rosalie Dalea Lanyi, head of the current militia that is soon to be our guard and police.”

The faunus then took her seat and gestured at the wolf girl, she silently wondered how comfortable the dress-thing she was wearing actually was. Distractions aside, she allowed her to speak.

“It is my honour to meet you, Amber-san and friends… I’ve already met some of you, but allow me to properly introduce myself and my friends. I am Amaterasu Okami, kami of the sun. These are my companions, Fiara Moegami, Oki Kurumi and Urist McGlodsson.” She pointed out each one as she named them off. Then she took her seat. “We’re here to discuss with you about the situation of the Frozen Fields.”

“The Frozen Fields? Is something wrong?” Amber asked sitting up with interest. Her ears stood up, paying 100% attention.

“Well, I’m sure you know of the strained relationships between the trolls and the dwarves?” Amaterasu asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Oh, yeah. I know about that.” She responded. “There’s also the dragons in the mountains.”

“That is also true, though the Dragonflight seem to keep to themselves for the most part. The dispute between the trolls and dwarven factions has a more direct influence on these lands however. Their state of war coupled with the general inhospitability of the Frozen Fields’ environment, its climate and wildlife - these factors make it difficult for new civilizations to spring up and grow, except for yours.” She emphasized the last part of that sentence. “Have you been unbothered by both factions thus far?”

“They have left us to our own devices since we began our city.” Murasaki spoke up. “We have had a few travelers from Dwarfholm, so I’m sure they know of our existence. I believe we aren’t seen as a threat to the dwarves, yet. As for the trolls, I’m not sure if they have noticed our presence here, but if they have, it’s not in our benefit.”

“Astonishing.” The kami muttered. She looked up at the faunus across the table. “Amber-san, I wish to extend to you invitation.”

“What’s with the son?” Amber asked. “My name is Amber, not Amberson.”

“N-No, the tradition in my country is to use san as a polite suffix when using someone’s name”, she explained to the oblivious Amber. She could see the confusion in the cat’s eyes. “ Are you willing to hear my proposal then?”

“Oh, yeah. Sorry. Go ahead.” Amber nervously scratched the back of her head and chuckled.

“I have a dream, or rather a vision, of the Frozen Fields as a prosperous land attracting merchants and settlers alike. I wish to find ways to bring peace to the trolls and dwarves, at least an armstice from which both sides can benefit, perhaps even leading to unity in the Frozen Fields one day. And I aim to build a city, not unlike what you have achieved here with Fort Amber, but deeper within the Fields, so as to make it easily reachable by both trolls and dwarves from their most densely occupied settlements.

Of course, this vision is but a rough outline and everything I am planning for will only be reached far in the future, if at all, but I believe that our goals are intertwined and that with our combined efforts, we would not only have better chances of achieving it, but achieving it much more quickly than we would on our own.” With all that said, Amaterasu held out a hand, though it was a symbolic gesture. Amber was too far away on the other end of the table to reach her. “I propose that we form an alliance, or something of a pact. Whatever you want to call it.”

“Hm, that is a pretty sweet deal.” The faunus said to herself. “I still barely know you, Amaterasu-san, but after watching your actions in that cavern, I believe I can trust you as a friend.”

The kami smiled as Amber used san with her name. “I am pleased to hear that. Does that mean you accept my proposal for an alliance?” She asked, seeking clarity to her original question.

“Team AMBR, your opinions?” Amber looked to her friends.

“This could only be in our benefit, as long as you trust this offer, Amber.” Murasaki responds.

“I agree. We have a better chance of surviving out here with more outside help.” Bianca spoke up, followed by Rose.

“Especially with another prime as our ally.” She mentioned, giving Amaterasu a glance. The kami’s expression fell as she saw the blackened part of the teenagers face. She had no idea what it was, but it seemed like a burn scar.

“Proposal accepted, Ama-san. Atlas will join your effort to make the Frozen Fields an appealing home to many who wish to make it that.” Amber said, moving around the table to shake the kami’s hand.

“Wonderful, I promise that you will not regret this decision.” She says as the two clasp hands with a firm shake.

“Meeting adjourned. By the way, Ama-san, where do I get one of those cool dresses?” She asked pointing to the garb she wore.

“You mean my miko dress?” Amaterasu asked. Amber replied with a nod. “Allow me to make one for you. There are still a few details I would like to clear, that we do not need everyone to be present for, we can speak about that while I summon it.” While the other six flooded out of the room she took a seat and began to weave Omnilium into fine silk, to form the requested clothing for Amber. The faunus watched the clothing form from the swirling golden light and accepted her gift when it was finished.

“Sweet! Imma go and try it on.” The teenager enthusiastally stated as she got up from her seat to change.

[Amaterasu]

Amaterasu stood up as well once she had handed over the silken dress to Amber. “Be sure to keep the sash at hand, the dress comes apart easily if not held together”, she remarked. “I gave you a basic cut, but that will make it easier to replicate if you like it.”

“I love the fabric! You said it’s silk?” asked Amber as she let the dress run through her fingers. “It’s so much softer than regular silk.”

“It would seem that the silk moths that are used to make Tamagahara’s clothes are-”

“Gesundheit.”

“What? Oh, no! Tamagahara is the name of the Celestial Plane where I come from!” She laughed. “Supposedly that is where the silk for my own dress was made. With Omnilium it’s very easy to replicate.”

“Makes sense.” Amber then opened a door along the corridor that they’d been traversing, which as Amaterasu could tell from a peek through led to her room. She went in but left the door open. Amaterasu didn’t follow, however. Amber peeked over her shoulder when she noticed. “I don’t have a problem with you coming in while I change, you know. We’re both girls.”

“I was actually intending on departing again”, the kami replied. “If everything is sorted out here, I should make haste to proceed with my plans. Time is short.”

“Right, well at least take one of these then.” With her shirt half over her head already, Amber picked up a business card from her desk that she handed to Amaterasu. “Here’s my Communicator’s number. Do keep me updated, okay?”

“Very well. I would like to arrange for another meeting fairly soon though, to build up the details of our alliance.”

“Details?” asked Amber while working out how to put the dress on. Its eastern cut meant that it was a little different from modern western clothing, and it might require some adjustments to fit her properly.

“Like a flower, it is but a bud now, but I would like to see it blossom soon. When that is the case though, we should know what flower it will be. I would like to work out who will stand at the head of this alliance, what our image outwards will be and such.”

“Huh. We should probably make up a name, first of all, if we want an outwards image.”

“A name? I haven’t thought of that.”

Amber, now fiddling with the sash, eyed Amaterasu, who still stood in the doorframe, and mumbled. “Wait. Celestial Plane, you said… Celestial… Sky, no, heaven… and Atlas, the titan… on his shoulders rested the… hey, this is kind of sudden, but how about ‘Heaven and Earth’ for a name?”

“Heaven and Earth?” parrotted Amaterasu.

“Yup. It’s a random idea, but you as a deity represent heaven very well, and I am from a city called Atlas, so earth is fitting. Besides, I’m a pretty down-to-earth kind of person!”

“I am not sure why this Atlas would be associated with earth…”

“Oh right, let me explain. Atlas was this titan in greek mythology who held up the earth, like the planet, on his shoulders.”

“That makes more sense indeed”, admitted Amaterasu. “And this name, Heaven and Earth, implies that we’re split, yet one.”

“Exactly. We don’t need to have just one leader. I’d rather stay in control of my city, and you want the same, I imagine. We could split leadership between the two of us.”

“Ah… that sounds feasible. But we would need to work out whose responsibility what matters are going to be.”

“We can discuss that on the Communicator. Let’s arrange for a conference call sometime. I want to involve the others on this, but not right now after ending the meeting.”

“Very well. I may return to Dwarfholm to see if we can get King Bruenor interested in involving the dwarves in this alliance. Hmm… do you by any chance have any affiliation with the trolls of Zul’gurand?”

“Nope. I’ve not had any real contact with the trolls yet. As for the dwarves, I had somewhat of a run-in with them before, but ”

“Perhaps I should seek a Prime who is on better terms with the trolls than I am. Though I may have judged them based on a biased first impression only, I am starting to think that making peace with them, one way or another, would be a good way to build up goodwill.”

“Why don’t you try posting on the Dataverse?” Giving up on replicating the knot that Amaterasu had done to hold her sash together, she did a simple shoelace-style one and looked at herself in the mirror. “How does it look?”

“It suits you!” Amaterasu exclaimed. “Although some adjustments may be needed. I have made it too big in some areas so you can adjust it downwards, rather than making it too small. Lacking proper measurements that was the best I could do.”

“That’s okay! I’ll get to work on it.” She turned around to face her again. “Be sure to call soon. I want to hear what my new ally is up to.”

“Very well! It will likely be a week or so before I contact you once more… I must first seek out a suitable location in the Fields to create a base of my own.”

“What’re you gonna name it? Fort Amaterasu?”

“The base itself, maybe. As for the city…” The kami thought for a moment. If Atlas was associated with Earth, she would need something associated with Heaven. With the hopes and dreams of humans. What about…

“I will name it Hoshi.” Seeing Amber’s puzzled face she grinned and pointed up. “It means ‘Star’.”

“Very fitting! Now, see you around!”

“Until soon, Amber-san!” With those words Amaterasu backtracked through the corridors and conference room into the bar, where Oki, Fiara and Urist were already waiting for her. No words were exchanged, only nods… Oki had already guessed what Amaterasu’s next step would be, and they had prepared for leaving immediately.

Not ten minutes later the gates of Fort Amber opened and Amaterasu, Oki, Fiara and Urist departed on two large Nimbus clouds, loaded with supplies. Their course: towards the center of the Frozen Fields, far out once more, like they had done not too long ago to reach the Roof of the World. Although, they would not be going that far this time. They needed only a suitable location to build what would one day be a city that rivaled Dwarfholm and Zul’gurand in size.

A city that would be named Hoshi.

[Amaterasu]

"I know you didn't expect to see us around again so soon after we left", Fiara said to Murasaki through the Communicator, "but we must burden you with our presence again. It won't be long, only until Mother Amaterasu returns, but- oh, we're welcome anytime? That's very kind of you, but... no, of course not. We're incredibly grateful, it's just that we came unannounced and... ah. Well, I cannot say no in that case. We'll be there very soon. Yes. Right, until soon then."

"What'd he say?" asked Urist when Fiara hung up.

"Murasaki says he's happy to have us over for as long as we need. But it won't be too long though before Mother Amaterasu returns, I'm sure, and I don't want to impose an undue burden on them."

"I do not believe that their openness stems from simple politeness", remarked Oki. "I do believe that they're genuinely happy to have us over. Even so, we can perhaps make ourselves useful to them while we're there."

"Wha' do ye propose tha' we do?"

"I would propose that you and I, Urist, conduct some research on the trolls. Our first priority is to get Hoshi back from them as soon as Amaterasu returns and to drive them away."

"Only language they understand is violence", grumbled the dwarf. "They ain't gonna leave unless they're told by their boss or they die."

"In that case we should think of a strategy. As for you two, Fiara and Kyusaku, you could perhaps help out while we're here. As we are now allies with Amber-san and her friends we cannot be treated as guests, but we should make ourselves useful. Besides, you will be staying for a longer time than the rest of us."

"Why's that? Do you want us out of the way for the fights?" Fiara asked, glaring daggers at Oki.

"Yes."

"I can fight!"

"Your strength lies not in battle, Fiara, and you're risking a lot if you die. But, Kyusaku and Urist will be staying with you anyway."

"Hey!" the dwarf now interjected. "Since when are ye takin' those decisions?"

"The only one of our group that risks more with their death than Fiara is you, Urist. And we've seen that the trolls are very powerful opponents... it may very well be possible that we die again. But Amaterasu knows me well and could return me if I were to die, so I would like to go with her alone when the time comes to return to Hoshi to take it back." He raised a hand. "Not to mention, we're waiting for Kushi to come back. You've received a message from her, haven't you Fiara?"

"Yeah. I told her to meet us in Fort Amber."

"I would prefer for her to meet someone who expects her. Not that I don't believe that she can handle herself, but it would be impolite to have her cover this much ground and not wait for her."

"Only one of us would be enough to do that", Fiara pointed out. "Kyusaku could-"

"Kushi does not know Kyusaku. And I've explained why I would like you two to stay... and Kyusaku, while you are a skilled individual you are unfortunately not a fighter either. Besides, I would ask that you learn a few western recipes in Atlas's kitchen under the supervision of whatever chef Amber-san employs, in case that we ever receive guests with a taste for dishes other than what Amaterasu placed in your mind when she summoned you."

"That makes sense, Oki-sama. I will be sure to not let this opportunity go to waste." Kyusaku bowed his head as he said that and Oki waved him off.

"Call me Oki, please. There is no need for formality within our group."


That evening they arrived at the gates of Atlas and used the two Fur-Selkies to slide inside. It felt like they'd left yesterday, and already they were coming back.