*** Alzi ***

"Champion," One of the priestesses says when I start to calm down. "Sorry for our actions. We struggle to see around us when there are words to write. Do you have the tools needed to write? We have a set we would love to give you if you need it. I know it isn't much for our rude behavior. If there is a work you wish to have copied for you, please let us know. One of our Priestesses loves to write children's stories. Would you like some sent to you? I know you have welcomed a number of new lives into the world. We would love to help you care for them, and reading a story is a great way for them to start learning about the world around them."

"That would be nice," I say. "Do the stories make them rapist?"

"No, Champion. We will read over them carefully to make sure they promote kindness and caring for everyone."

"Thank you."

"No need to thank us. This is our attempt to make up for our shortcomings. Please don't hesitate to ask us for help. I have heard about your child, Contract. We would be happy to help write out contracts for you if you need."

"I'll remember that."

"That is enough," Yuki says, stopping the Priestess. "I think we should get home. What do you think, dear? Irlo should be free to play with soon."

"Yes," I say. Yuki helps me stand up and leave the strange temple. Geta is waiting outside the door, holding Nakuma from bursting through the door. Geta sweeps me up into her arms the second I'm outside. A blur of orange flies past me, and Yuki lets out a yelp, but Geta just takes me to the carriage, letting the kitsunes figure themselves out.

"Try to get some rest," Geta says. "I'm sorry the Goddesses aren't very useful. If you wish, we can talk to War tomorrow before we head out to meet Duchess Fluvis. I just got word her Mother and Sister will be joining her for a bit, and she thinks you being down there would be a good idea. She is hoping to have her and the kids join our family."

"Ok," I whisper. "Will she make me fuck her for help?"

"Who?"

"War."

"Pregnancy makes it hard to fight, so I don't think so. I don't know how much she will do. She'll hardly help end it early, so the only way she'll truly help is if we are going to be at a severe disadvantage. But there are a few Goddesses that have temples that we can visit. Not unless the rest of the elder council enforces Fertility's message. Death is behind it, and I know Hearth is happy to join Love and Fertility as well. I don't know if Love has accepted Hearth. Nature won't agree. Future is unknown, as you can guess. Royalty is only good for information. So, without offering more kids to the Goddesses, there isn't much they will do."

"Dragon could've warned me how much I would have to whore myself out," I say, burying my head under my Geta's massive tits. How much bigger could they grow? "Can we go?"

"Yuki! Get that girl under control. Alzi wishes to leave!" Geta shouts at the fighting kitsunes.

"I fucking know! Nakuma, get inside the carriage!"

"You just want to be ignored by Alzi again. Getting all fucking wet over that stupid dragon that hardly loves you!" Nakuma shouts.

"Bitch!" Yuki screams. "Don't fucking block my... let me go or I will tell Mother you are a danger to Alzi."

"I love you."

"I know Nakuma, and I love you," Yuki says. It takes a few minutes for Yuki to coax Nakuma back into the carriage, the kitsune's tails looking like they've been tied in knots when they finally sit down across from me.

"Castle," Geta says, getting the carriage to lurch forward.

Yuki and Nakuma fight about something. Yuki keeps it private with her mana, but it makes her blush hard.

I can ask Nakuma about it and maybe promise to make Yuki immobile so she has to rely on Nakuma to take care of her. She should like that, right? And it isn't like Yuki doesn't owe me a lot for my treatment at the brothel. Or I can talk about the Space Goddess champion thing.

Maybe it'll distract me. Space has done some things that have helped me.

"Nakuma," I say, freezing their little fight. "Space told me to bring a kitsune that has the space affinity to her. Probably to make you a champion, or maybe she did tell me? I should ask."

'Is it to make them a champion? I feel like I may be making that up now.'

'That is the point, dear.'

"Yes. To make the kitsune a champion. Nanoka already said no, so it is between you and the Queen. Does the Queen have the space affinity?" I ask. "I just assumed she did after Nanoka told me to consider her."

"It is so strange that you use my grandmother's name so causally," Yuki says, probably happy to switch from their private argument. "But yes, Mother, Nakuma, and Nanoka have the space affinity. Are you sure you want to give that status to miss crazy?"

"I don't know. Would it be better to give the Queen that power?" I ask. Nakuma's eyes turn a little red at Yuki's comment, but Yuki doesn't seem to notice or care.

"I want to say no," Yuki sighs. "Which leaves us to giving it to my Miki's wife, or Tanatsu. Please don't give it to Tanatsu; she's weird and will not help you even if you give it to her. She's almost worse than Nakuma in her love life. She'll run away the second that dead woman is able to walk. I don't care to become Queen, so it wouldn't be terrible to give it to Miki's wife, but it is better to keep that power in the family, Alzi. So, Nakuma does become the right answer. However, my no to my Mother is purely based on my not liking her. She's strong, and becoming a champion would be very useful in the war. I'm not sure what she would give you in return for the opportunity, but it should be a lot."

"Of course I should have it! I could show you my love so much better if I had the power of a Champion, and what do you mean, not wanting to be Queen! I'm getting strong enough to take on your Mother! I think she let me leave our realm so that I would have a better chance of dying so she could keep the throne for longer."

"My Mother isn't worried about you, Nakuma. She's worried about her eldest daughter. Lucky for Mother, she doesn't have to worry about my older sister becoming a champion. At least a champion of space."

"She does have to worry about me! I'm one of the best fighters of our people. Your sister has been coming up with ways to beat me because she knows I could take her in just a few years."

This looks like a new fight between them, one that has a bit more feeling behind it.

"Dear," Geta says. "You should talk to the Kitsune Queen. You'll have to be careful. She'll only talk to you alone, just as the true Phoenix will find a way to separate you from anyone you come with. Do not make any promises to the Queen. Let her talk, then offer it back to Sarania, Kelly, and Yuki. I think Yuki will give in if her Mother really brings a good reason to let her become the Champion. I'll do what I can to watch over the conversation, but it isn't easy. The Queens are queens due to their strength."

"I guess," I sigh. " I was hoping it would be an easy answer. I need to pick fast, I think."

"Yes, a good reason to give the title to one that is already Strong. Did the Goddesses ever name a kitsune?"

"She told me Nakuma the first time we met."

"Then make sure the Queen gives you a very good reason it should be her over Nakuma."

"Alright," I say. Nakuma somehow forced their fight into a make-out session, which is a very pretty sight. I just wish I didn't have sex with those I didn't care about so much today. It would make their show a lot better.

"I think Irlo will be ready for us when we get to the castle," Geta says. "Would you like to eat now? I've got some sandwiches and you have room to sit on the bench if you like."

"Yes, Mommy will be mad if I don't eat, and I'm hungry. Thank you."

"Of course, dear," Geta says.

...

"DADDY!" Irlo screams as I shuffle out of the carriage. Sarania is standing by while Irlo comes running at me. She jumps up onto my thigh and hugs it tight. "I'm a champion like you, Daddy!"

"Yes, dear," I say, patting her head. "We are champions together. Are you feeling better? You and your sister scared me a lot."

"I'm good! Mommy was really worried, but I'm fine now that I'm used to the funny way everything looks. Mommy says I have to be careful."

"Yes, you need to be careful that others don't take advantage of you. But you have a lot of people to help you. I'm sure your Mother has a good plan to get you ready for your station."

"I'll be careful! I want to show you the flowers!" Irlo says, her cute tail wagging like a dog, her big eyes blinking at me. Not that I would ever tell her no.

"I would love to see them," I say, patting her head. "Where to?"

"This way!" Irlo says, running off across the castle grounds.

"Well, go get her," Sarania chuckles.

"Um," I say like an idiot. "Yeah. Shoes. No, I can run in heels. Ok." Irlo turns around, putting her hands on her hips. "Sorry, baby! I'm coming, I thought I had to switch shoes for a moment!"

Maybe I should've switched out my shoes. The small stilts aren't great for running, but my skills cover it up enough to catch up with my little kid. My long legs work well at catching up to my little girl as we rush across the well-kept grass. When I reach her, I lift her high in the sky and jump off, my wings coming out. Which slows me down a lot, ruining the effect I was going for, but it does make it easy to pull my little cutie to my chest and fly off.

"Point where I need to go," I say. "We can run around when we get there."