----------------------------------------

Following the rather abrupt end to the battle, Amaterasu and the Asgardians set about helping the Vanir recover from the invasion. That, and capturing the Marauders that surrendered or fled on foot. They didn't have anything fancy planned—they just started to clean up the mobile villages, or cleared rubble away from the occasional small town.

While the Asgardians used their absurd strength to haul away wood and stone, Amaterasu restored the buildings. Wood mended together, rock fused back into a whole, and structures looked as spotless as they had before the attacks.

That had stunned the Asgardians and Vanir further, while Thor laughed at their dumbfounded expressions.

So, they came up with a plan. Asgardian soldiers would spread across the planet and work on clearing out the damaged towns to prepare everything for Amaterasu. Heimdall would then use the Bifröst to send Ammy and Thor all over Vanaheim, dropping down from the sky to Rejuvenate the damage done, before vanishing in another burst of colour.

It took less than three hours to hit every major living area across the planet. The number of Vanir was small, in the low millions, which did speed up the process. Amaterasu was certain she'd seen more people in just New York City than she did across the entirety of Vanaheim.

Even so, Amaterasu could feel their appreciation and their praise. She was performing acts of magic and reality warping that not even the Asgardians possessed. Sure, it wasn't anything fancy, just returning something to how it was, but to those watching it was like magic—a new form of it anyway.

Every restored building, every healed wound, spurred the onlookers to view Amaterasu in a new light. Not just some magic wolf, but a Goddess the likes of which they'd only seen from Asgardian royalty. The whole world had witnessed the movement of the sun, and now they knew who did it.

By the time they'd reached the end of their helping spree, Amaterasu was literally glowing. The sheer amount of appreciation and praise flowing to her was almost overwhelming. She hadn't felt this fulfilled since her last life when the entirety of Nippon was praying for her—belief in her existence and ability to do good.

Yet, she still didn't have access to all her powers. She wasn't worried about it—the fuzzy warm feeling from all that praise and love had her tail swishing wildly. Today was fulfilling and crazy in all sorts of ways, so her missing abilities didn't concern her that much. She was certain she'd regain them with time anyway.

Despite being awake for hours, participating in multiple fights, regaining an ability, almost dying, and then absorbing another two objects of world-ending scale… Ammy wasn't even tired. The constant flow of praise was like a feedback loop, encouraging her to help out more, and she was happy to do so.

When they'd finally finished, the sun had begun to slip over the horizon. They all knew that Amaterasu could change that with a swish of her tail, but there was nothing to do that couldn't wait until tomorrow.

Everyone had a long day and deserved some time away to just celebrate with loved ones.

Thus began the feast.

When Asgard threw a party, they went all out. Massive tables filled with food lined the great halls. The streets were flooded with people celebrating alongside neighbours and strangers alike.

The Bifröst was repaired, they'd successfully saved Vanaheim, and they had renewed alliances. The constant reminder of Loki's betrayal was wiped away, and there was no sign of any damage. Thus, the cheers flowed as easily as the alcohol.

And by the Gods, there was quite a lot of it.

Amaterasu sat at one of the many large tables beside Thor, close to the King and Queen to honour them. Odin and Frigga sat at their own table, both rather red in the face from, presumably, the large amount of alcohol being served. Heimdall had joined them, standing off to the side, eating and keeping his vigil on Asgard.

One would expect the tables near the King and Queen of Asgard to be silent.

Thor had invited his friends to feast with him—it was decidedly not quiet.

"Lady Amaterasu, I… would like to introduce you to the bravest warriors in all of Asgard… and my closest friends." Thor was far from sober. He gestured toward the four sitting across from them, the drink sloshing from his mug with the move. "I have fought alongside them for many centuries. This is-"

"Thor, your introductions are horrendous. Allow me." The largest of the group got to his feet, jostling the table as he stood, sending drink and food spilling across the table. "Lady Amaterasu, allow me to introduce you to Fandral the Dashing, Slayer of Foes, and Wooer of Women." The man gestured toward one of his friends on his side of the table.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Amaterasu." The blonde across the table stood and took a bow, extending his arm out to his side. "It is hard to believe there is someone with more dramatic flair than Thor." Fandral laughed and sat down again, raising his mug to Thor and Ammy.

"And, this is Hogun the Grim, as serious as he is skilled in combat. Wisest among us- er, not including the King and Queen, however!" The large man sent a glance to the side, chuckling nervously at Odin's raised brow.

"Thank you for saving my home," Hogun spoke softly. He bowed his head toward Amaterasu and clasped his hands. "I am in your debt."

"Don't mind him, he hasn't smiled this year. This is the happiest you'll-"

Hogun's hand shot out, striking the large man in the side. He immediately doubled over and wheezed, laughing through the pain while clutching his belly. Thor and Fandral both laughed at their friend's misfortune, shamelessly cheering on Hogun.

"Gah! You- Why would you do that?"

Hogun cracked a smile, his teeth showing for a moment, before returning to a cool neutral once more.

"Ah… Watch this one, he hits you where it hurts." The Asgardian, last of the male warriors, stood tall once more and cleared his throat. "As for myself… I am Volstagg the-"

"If you refer to yourself as 'Volstagg the Svelte' again, I will hurt you," the lone woman at the table interrupted.

Thor snorted into his cup of mead, and Fandral choked on his laughter, spilling food across the table.

"… And that is Lady Sif, Killer of Joy, and," Volstagg turned his head to regard the Queen for a moment, "the second scariest woman on Asgard." He flashed her a smile and turned his attention back to Amaterasu. "We are Lady Sif and the Warriors Three. We are pleased to have fought alongside you, Lady Amaterasu."

"Arr?" Ammy asked.

"Indeed! We were on the battlefield and saw your display," Fandral replied. "It was most impressive, befitting for a goddess such as yourself." He shot her a smile and raised his cup. "I must say you are positively glowing."

Amaterasu's tail wagged faster if such a thing were possible. It was impossible to tell if the fuzzy feeling through her body was from the outpouring of praise and thanks given to her today, or if it was the absurdly strong Asgardian liquor she'd been sipping on.

It didn't matter. She was happy and pleasantly warm.

"He meant that literally," Sif spoke up, nodding to Amaterasu. "You have become brighter."

Amaterasu looked down and found that, yes, she was glowing. More than usual at any rate. Maybe it was the magic she consumed, or the praise that was empowering her. With a little effort, Amaterasu clamped down on the warmth and magic radiating from her form, dimming her fur to a soft white glow.

"I meant that both ways, dear Sif," Fandral replied. He turned his attention to Amaterasu and flashed her a grin, taking another large drink from his mug. "I must say, I'm not the only one in possession of wolfish charm at this table."

"Hogun, could you…?" Sif asked.

The quietest of the Warriors shot his fist out, catching Fandral in the ribs. Fandral choked and coughed up his alcohol, covering himself in the drink. The perpetual flirt doubled over and let out a groan, stomping his heel on the ground in pain.

"Hah… G-good shot," Fandral wheezed.

"Thank you, Hogun." Sif smiled.

"Don't give him any attention, Amaterasu. Fandral would bed a Bilgesnipe if he could," Volstagg laughed.

"That's why I bedded your mother," Fandral retorted. "Somehow, you are even more repulsive."

The hunk of meat Volstagg whipped at him went wide and crashed into the table with an explosion of food. Amaterasu had to hold back the despair that threatened to come forth. Not the food!

A sound caught Amaterasu's attention, and she perked an ear, catching even the King and Queen chuckling under their breath while watching from their table. She sent Odin and Frigga a wide doggy grin and turned her attention back to the feast before her.

Right as Amaterasu was about to dig into the food for the second time, a thought came to mind. She hadn't introduced everyone to one another at the table. A short, soft growl caused something in her fur to wriggle and move around.

Thor, Volstagg, and Fandral were not expecting the white rat to leap from Amaterasu's fur and land atop a massive roast. Thor reeled his hand back in surprise, Fandral let out a squeak of terror, and Volstagg jumped back, toppling over the bench and tumbling to the ground.

Hogun was unfazed and held out his hand, allowing the little rodent to clamber up into his palm.

Laughter rolled from the group again, and Amaterasu joined them, her barking laughter adding to the cacophony. Other tables witnessed the event and cheered, raising their glasses or plates. The cheer and laughter moved through the hall and down the streets of Asgard, just another one of the night's celebratory cries of joy.

That lingering loneliness harboured in Amaterasu's heart fell away just a little more, a feeling of belonging and kinship replacing it.

This felt right. That, or she was really drunk.

~{O}~{O}~{O}~

"Sir, you're pacing," Jarvis commented.

"I'm not pacing. I'm just thinking on my feet."

"Does 'thinking on your feet' involve four-hundred and eighty-two steps on the same stretch of floor?"

"Yes, it does," Tony huffed. "Now shush, lemme think."

"Very well."

Tony was once again left in the silence of the workshop, his steps echoing off the walls. His gaze roamed the basement, eyeing up the cars that lined the edge. Past that were the suits, all thirty of them. It didn't feel like enough, especially after today.

Stark turned his gaze to the glowing vial on his desk and grimaced.

He'd started this. He'd made this problem, and it led to the events of today. Tony was only trying to help a fellow scientist twelve years ago, and, surprise, it led to innocent people being hurt when out of his hands.

Again.

Just like his company. Like the weapons he used to make. Like his suit Rhodey 'borrowed' permanently for the military. He couldn't believe they just strapped a machine gun to the thing. There was no creativity in that whatsoever.

"Dammit, Maya," Tony grumbled. "Jarvis, have you finished analyzing the sample?"

"Still working on it, Sir," Jarvis replied.

"What's the holdup? It's been a couple hours."

"It's surprisingly complex, Sir. The formula you gave me is accurate, but the sample itself is five times more effective than what is mathematically possible. There are changes to the formula I have been unable to replicate."

"So, what, we have some Super Extremis without any way to recreate it?"

"To an extent, Sir. We can mimic the stability properties of the sample, but have no way to perfectly recreate it."

"Of course. Why wouldn't it be some simple thing?" Tony sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Did you analyze the video footage yet?"

"I have, Sir. Would you like the complete analysis?"

"Nah, just give me the highlights. Baseline information of the normal soldiers, and then the before and after with Killian and this… super juice." Tony walked toward the workstation and picked up the vial, peering at it. He shook it a little, watching the glowing fluid swirl inside the container. "What makes you different?"

"The Extremis soldiers, based on your formula and the recordings, are on average two to four times stronger than an average person, though some exceeded that. Their base temperature averaged around one-hundred and twenty-two degrees Fahrenheit."

"Don't people start to cook at one-o-five?" Tony asked.

"They do, Sir. It appears their bodies adapted. The soldiers began to retreat when their temperatures reached nearly thirty-three-hundred degrees Fahrenheit. That appeared to be the limit of their capabilities, and fluctuations started to occur. An overload was likely if they continued to fight."

"Cool. This is fine. I helped make superhuman walking bombs. Just awesome." Tony sighed and leaned against the desk. "What about Killian?"

"His Extremis adaptation was initially on the higher end of the recorded averages. After he took the enhanced Extremis, his capabilities multiplied. I wasn't able to get a base heat range due to the fighting, but he peaked roughly six-thousand eight-hundred degrees Fahrenheit."

"Jarvis, are you sure? Carbon sublimates around there."

"I'm positive, Sir."

"How the hell was he still alive?"

"I believe Killian's body was repairing itself faster than it could fall apart. That may explain why cutting him in half didn't stop him."

"That's… dark." Tony glanced at the vial in his hand again and held it just a little further away from himself. "Dammit. Hey, Jarvis?"

"Sir?"

"You think we could recreate Extremis, but make it last for maybe five minutes? Put some kind of kill-switch into the coding that activates after a person heals?"

"That is theoretically possible. It will require multiple trials to ensure accuracy. Why do you ask?"

Instead of answering, Tony paced once again. He admitted it, he was pacing this time. Thoughts were racing through his mind—ideas that he knew he shouldn't be contemplating.

"I should just destroy it." Tony looked at the vial again and narrowed his eyes. "Get rid of it now. Put a nice bow on the whole thing. Figure out a cure to return Killian and his goons to normal."

"Sir?"

"It'll be easy. Get Jarvis to purge the entire internet of every trace of Extremis, and prevent SHIELD from getting their mitts on it. Make a cure, and destroy it once and for all."

Tony raised the vial into the air and tightened his grip on it. He clenched his fingers and prepared to swing his arm down. He could destroy it once and for all. Shatter it. Forget about it.

…

He lowered his arm and looked at the vial in his palm.

"No. Don't do it Stark. Come on, use your brain," Tony mumbled.

But there was a thought in the back of his mind.

What if?

What if he could do it? What if he could tweak this slightly? Just enough so that this pure Extremis only lasted for mere moments? Something as simple as a shot at the doctor's office to cure any wound. Burn away someone's cancer. Get rid of illness and disease once and for all. No one would have to live life with an injury or be anything less than perfectly healthy.

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

Tony could effectively save the world.

But… He'd be putting Extremis out there. Someone, someday, would get their hands on it. Tinker with it. Experiment.

For now, it was contained and controlled.

But he could change that.

"Sir?" Jarvis prompted again.

"Jarvis, call Pepper for me."

"Of course, Sir."

Tony Stark held the vial of glowing liquid in his palm, and gazed down at it, his mind at war.

He could end it all so easily.

He could fix everything so easily.

"Hello?" Pepper's voice came through the workshop's speakers and a familiar warmth filled his heart. This was exactly who he needed to talk to.

"Hey, hun."

"Tony? Where are you? I thought you were coming back to the tower after your mission."

"Sorry Pep, I kinda ran into something unexpected. I needed my workshop." Tony let out another soft sigh.

"Tony? What's going on? Are you okay?"

Pepper always cut right to the heart of the issue. Dammit, he loved that woman. She didn't struggle with things like this. Didn't have the guilt to fix, or the drive to prove herself better than anyone. She did everything her own way and did it well. That's what he needed right now.

"Tony?" Pepper asked again. "Talk to me."

"I…" Stark hesitated. "What do you know about Oppenheimer?" he suddenly asked.

"What? Do you mean that guy with the bombs? I think that was him, anyway."

"Yeah, the nuclear bombs. World War Two, Japan, all that."

"I'm not too familiar, honestly. I've got a Bachelor's in accounting, not history." Pepper let out a soft laugh. "Why do you ask?"

"… How do you think he felt when he looked at what he made? Do you think he regretted making it? Was it just a means to an end to save more lives down the road? Or… did he know he might break everything?"

Pepper remained silent. Tony hesitated.

"I… In my hand, right now, I'm holding something that can change the world." Tony paused to think over his words carefully. "If I do this, I could help billions of people, Pep. For the rest of time, people will benefit from this. No more sickness. No more injuries. No more cancer. All of it, gone," Tony snapped his fingers, "just like that."

"So why don't you-"

"It could destroy the world," Tony interrupted. "If this gets out there, people can and will use it to hurt others. Wars have been fought over something exactly like this. The Fountain of Youth. The Holy Grail. Cap's Super Serum. I can end this all right now. Close the box, bury it, and clean up the rest of the mess."

"Or you could use it to help people," Pepper added.

"Mhm."

"You're hesitating."

"I am."

"I think… I think you're hesitating because you know the right thing to do." Pepper took a moment. "I think you should do what your heart tells you, Tony. You're a good man."

"Am I?" Tony asked. "After everything?"

"You are, Tony. I promise."

"How can you be sure?"

"Because you're hesitating. You want to make the right decision for other people, not for yourself."

"Pepper, I… I can't mess this up."

"I know, Tony." Pepper's voice was soft. "I think we both know what the right answer is."

"… I was afraid you'd say that." Tony tightened his grip just a little bit, his hand shaking.

"I know you'll make the right decision, Tony. I love you."

"Thanks, Pepper. Love you too."

The call ended, leaving Stark in silence once again. Other than the sound of his heartbeat, and the electrical buzzing of the lights overhead, there was nothing to distract him from the thoughts raging in his mind.

Tony looked down at his palm and relaxed his grip around the vial. He stared into the orange fluid, watching it shift and swirl with the slightest move of his hand. It was such a tiny thing.

A soft sigh escaped him, and he turned away from the desk, the Extremis still in his grip. It wasn't a long walk across the workshop, but to him, it felt like a death march. The vial, hilariously small in his hand, weighed more than the planet. It was an impossible weight he carried.

Yet, he was the only one that could.

He had to fix his mistakes. He had to do what was right.

Tony slid into his seat, and the holograms sprang up to life around him. He held the vial up once again, that orange fluid shimmering innocently in the light of his workshop. It hid the horrors that lay within, covered in layers of good intentions and hope for the future.

With a heavy heart, Tony did what he did best.

He got to work.

"Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds."

~{O}~{O}~{O}~

"Why are we coming out here again?" Stephen Strange asked. He looked around his immediate vicinity, taking in the sights of a vibrant Central Park at sunset. The two received odd looks occasionally, their clothing not at all blending in with normal street clothes.

Then again, they were so far from normal it was laughable.

"I would like to visit a friend, and you seem to be in need of a particular kind of magic," the Ancient One replied. She led the way along the path, taking a slow pace to their destination.

"Is this because of the-"

"It is."

"I said I was sorry."

"Apologies will not repair five-hundred-year-old magic pottery, Stephen." The Ancient One looked at him and raised a brow. "Besides, I thought you were eager to learn more magic."

"Well, yes, but aren't the libraries enough? I'm sure there's some kind of spell that just, I don't know, pulls it all back together." Stephen frowned, and gestured vaguely, searching his memory for some book he'd read through that could fix it.

"Oh, I wasn't aware you knew of the Blood Ritual of Siggolith." The Ancient One flashed Strange a smile and stopped in her tracks.

"Wait- Sorry, the what?" Stephen paled, as nervous as he was curious.

"Oh, you don't know? Why it's simple. We just need the shards of the pottery, five baby goats, and about three pounds of your flesh." The Ancient One turned around and started making her way back toward the Sanctum. "Come along, I'll show you where we keep the goats." She waved a hand to encourage Strange forward.

"Uh, that- that seems a little out of my skill range for the moment." Stephen laughed nervously and remained rooted to the spot. "I think we should go with your first plan."

"Are you sure? It's quite easy. I can walk you through it once you stop bleeding." Despite her serious tone, the Ancient One smirked at Stephen and turned around. She resumed her slow, measured steps along the path, unable to help her laugh at Strange's expression.

"That's not funny," Stephen griped. He fell into step beside her.

"I found it quite amusing."

…

"That's not an actual ritual, is it?" Stephen asked.

"I'll allow you to find that out on your own."

That stunned Stephen into silence. He could never get a read on what the Ancient One was thinking or doing. One moment she was deadly serious—one wrong word could lead to his death because of a certain incantation. Other times she spoke of things that seemed like utter insanity, or turned someone's robes hot pink for a day to show off a particular type of magic.

Or because they watered the plants a day too early.

Strange was certain that the Ancient One was just the physical embodiment of chaos some days.

"Who are we going to see, exactly?" Stephen asked.

"A friend of mine."

"No- I know that. But why are we walking through- oh."

"Oh?"

"Amaterasu?"

"Quite observant, Stephen." The Ancient One folded her hands behind her back and looked around the park, taking in the sights. "I don't know of any other magic users that live in Central Park. Do you?"

"Why not just portal there? It's faster." Stephen held up a palm, his other hand ready to create a shortcut into Amaterasu's shrine.

"Do you have somewhere you need to be?"

That made Stephen pause. He looked down at his hands, blinked, and then dropped his arms back to his sides, letting out a little huff. Instead of looking at the Sorcerer Supreme, who was probably watching him like some knowing mother would, he looked around the park instead.

"I thought not," the Ancient One chuckled. "We're walking because I want you to take in your surroundings—and because the exercise is good for you. Can you feel the magic in the world around us? Amaterasu's presence has done wonders for life here." She pointed toward the side of the path, guiding his gaze to it. "See that flower? What's wrong with it?"

"What? I didn't get a doctorate to be a florist," Stephen huffed. Still, he focused on the plant and narrowed his eyes. "That's… don't plants usually grow to face the sun?" His eyes flicked up toward the bushes and other plant life, finding that they'd started to face a certain spot within the park. Even the branches of the trees showed signs of curling in the direction of Amaterasu's shrine.

"Most of them, yes. But look how healthy they are. Feel how clean the air is—how alive the whole park is, Stephen." The Ancient One took a breath and sighed happily. "The Goddess of the Sun is certainly leaving her mark, and it's all for the better."

Amaterasu's shrine came into view when the duo rounded a corner, finally setting their sights on the vibrant painting on the outer walls of the structure. Due to the wolf's extended absence, there was no longer anyone hovering around the building. The only thing left seemed to be garbage from the people, but even that was gradually being taken care of.

A squirrel darted down from one of the trees and scooped up a wrapper in its paws. It turned toward the Ancient One and Stephen and squeaked in annoyance, before racing its way toward the nearest trash bin.

"About that whole Goddess of the Sun thing," Stephen started. They stepped under the arch into Amaterasu's shrine. "Is that real? I can believe a magic dog and all that. But an actual goddess? As in a higher being kind of thing?"

"Oh, it's quite real. I witnessed her abilities firsthand."

"What did she do?"

"She moved the sun."

"She what?" Stephen tripped on the uneven stones through Amaterasu's shrine, and staggered forward, managing to catch himself. "Wouldn't everyone remember that happening? That would have sent the world into chaos!"

"I know." The Ancient One flashed him a smile. "That's why I reversed time to undo the whole thing."

If he could grow more bewildered, Stephen would have. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. Once more, he attempted to say something to the Sorcerer Supreme, only to fall silent.

The Ancient One grinned, not from rendering her most narcissistic student speechless, but because Stephen's wide eyes and repetitive opening and closing of his mouth resembled a funny little fish.

"Sorry, you reversed time?" Stephen managed.

"I did."

"Wha- How!?"

"Magic."

…

"That's not funny," Stephen griped.

"On the contrary, I think it's hilarious."

Their back-and-forth banter faded as they approached the central building within the shrine. They walked up the steps, glancing around for any sign of Amaterasu—there was no one there. The only thing of note was the door to Amaterasu's home. One of the double doors was open a crack, allowing a sliver of light into the building.

There was a significant lack of warmth coming from the structure, which was highly unusual. Amaterasu's presence was usually accompanied by a warmth that seeped into one's very being and revitalized them.

Instead, there was an odd chill that oozed from the doors. It was cold, unnatural, and left one feeling almost hollow. Shadows seemed to creep from the open door, sizzling away into nothing in the sunlight.

"Amaterasu? Are you there?" Stephen called out.

Immediately the cold feeling spiked, and something large moved inside of the building. Stephen raised his hands, golden runes glowing, magic at the ready. The Sorcerer Supreme flicked her wrist, causing both doors to slam open, exposing the interior of the building.

There was a darkness that dripped from the shadows, almost tangible. The cold feeling grew, but it wasn't the temperature that dropped. Something else was there, stealing warmth and light.

Something that did not belong.

With a word the Ancient One summoned a fireball in her palm, the light flashing into existence. It pierced the shadows and lit up the entire building for a moment. The interior seemed normal, save for the large claw marks along the floor and up the walls of the shrine. She turned and set her sight on a patch of darkness huddled in the corner.

The Ancient One locked onto the singular glowing eye of the shadow, and she froze. A pulse of magic overloaded the fireball, causing it to burst in an explosion of light in an attempt to disorient the creature. She made the gesture to open the Eye of Agamotto, one she knew by heart.

It still almost wasn't enough time. She knew that Strange wouldn't have been able to act swiftly enough.

Time itself slowed to a standstill, but the Ancient One continued moving. She was able to look at the creature for a single moment, before all of her instincts screamed at her to move. Her magic forced the immobile form of Strange to the ground, while the Ancient One ducked to the side.

Reality itself shifted and bent itself at the behest of the creature. A large swipe of red ink brushed over their heads, across the walls of the shrine interior, and beyond. A force carved its way through the air, slicing clean through the interior of the shrine. The walls of the structure were slashed open and part of the roof exploded outward.

A quick portal sent Strange back to the Sanctum, leaving The Ancient One alone with this thing.

"So, this world does have magic users after all. How bothersome." The creature sounded bored; disappointed. It was similar to Amaterasu's voice, though wasn't nearly as elegant or pure.

"Return to your realm, creature. This world is under my protection. You do not belong here." The Ancient One spoke firmly, hands raised, glaring at the shadowy figure.

"Oh, but neither does Amaterasu. Yet, she walks freely among your people, does she not?"

"Amaterasu has more than proven herself an ally to this world and its people. All you've done is strike at myself and my student."

"My apologies, bald one. You can't ever be too careful in a new land, especially one filled with such power." The shadow stalked closer, still moving despite the Eye of Agamotto being used. Just like Amaterasu could. Its eye flicked down to focus on the amulet around the Ancient One's neck and lit up, as if it recognized the power flowing from it.

"You speak as if you are not of this world." The Sorcerer Supreme took several steps back, attempting to lure the creature into the light.

"Very clever. I'm sure it took you a while to puzzle that one out." It either didn't notice, or didn't care, shamelessly stalking forward. "Now, you know about Amaterasu. Where is she?"

The shadows enveloping the creature melted away as it stepped into the light provided by the setting sun. First, its paws were revealed, leading up to long legs. Its pelt was a rusty orange colour, and its fur looked both dishevelled and neat as if it were intentional. One long tail snaked back and around, whipping side to side like a serpent.

The Ancient One stared straight ahead into the blazing red eye of the fox, not at all intimidated by the large size of the creature.

"I was looking for Amaterasu as well. Whatever you want with her, she isn't here right now."

"Is that so? Well then, I suppose that's good news." The creature stalked closer, its claws digging into the wood floor. It snaked around the Ancient One, not touching her, but circling like a predator nonetheless.

"And why is that, beast?" The Sorcerer Supreme noticed the twitch of the fox's eye, and how its tail thrashed angrily at her words. It was prideful—vain maybe.

"Because no one will save you."

Sharp teeth flashed at the Ancient One, glinting in the sunset. Despite the lightning-fast strike, she merely tilted herself to the side, allowing the attack to brush by her, close enough to feel the fur on her cheek.

She took her chance to retaliate. The Sorcerer Supreme struck out with a palm and caught the creature in the side of the head, supernatural forces exploding outward from the point of contact. The fox rocketed off its paws and flew straight at the wall.

Wood exploded outward and sunlight streamed into the building, a new fox-shaped hole punched into the shrine. The Ancient One stepped through the hole with her hands behind her back, dropping to the grass nonchalantly.

"What manner of magic was that?" the fox asked. It clambered to its feet and shook itself off, looking no worse for wear.

The Ancient One frowned. That strike should have been enough to at least stun an Asgardian for a moment.

"The magic of the Sorcerer Supreme."

"I want it."

"Then come get it."

The fox snarled and lunged, shooting forward at an impossible speed. The Ancient One smirked. She spread her palms and pushed outward, the Eye of Agamotto losing its effect. Instead, a shimmering wall of sharp edges and corners rolled forward, sweeping over the fox and plunging the two of them into a much more favourable battleground.

The Mirror Dimension.

The grass beneath the fox's paws caved inward and folded up at the edges, shifting itself around the creature and crushing it between the two planes. The Ancient One knew this was far from over and took a step back, falling through the air and landing atop the roof of Amaterasu's shrine.

Sidewalk stones and chunks of dirt erupted from where the creature had been flattened. Rubble shot off into the air and peppered the folding walls of the shrine. A quick gesture had the walls ripple, the material itself rolling in its position up the walls and expanding outward in all directions, quickly enclosing the two in a cage of stonework.

"What trickery is this?" the fox hissed.

"Magic," the Ancient One replied with a smile. "You are now my prisoner. I suggest you cooperate."

The furious snarl from the fox didn't intimidate the Sorcerer Supreme in the slightest. She'd beaten far more intimidating and powerful enemies with far less effort. The only thing this creature had going for it was the ability to move when time was stopped, and its use of whatever instantaneous magic it had.

The Ancient One had centuries of experience, countless magics, and more than a few tricks up her sleeve.

Unfortunately, that experience did not include whatever this fox was doing. That sense of danger urged her to move, and so she did, just sidestepping a flash of red that carved itself through the roof of the shrine. She raised a brow at the creature and took a step backward.

The rippling stonework of the prison around the two parted for her, allowing the Ancient One to step through it, before it sealed itself once more. She watched as that sensation tugged at her being, again and again, slices of material being gouged out of the shifting stone prison, and immediately resealing itself.

The fox was imprisoned in the rippling and shifting brickwork that made up the walls of Amaterasu's shrine. Every strike led to the hole resealing itself faster than the fox could retaliate.

The Sorcerer Supreme raised her hands and looked at the shifting, rippling cube of masonry through her palms. Then, she pressed them together, physical and magical contact causing the cube to shrink. Constant pressure led to it shrinking smaller and smaller, though the insides remained the same size.

With a breath, she held the cube of shifting stone in a single hand, looking down at the surface. Every so often she would see the artwork Amaterasu and Steve made roll across the surface. How ironic. The fox wanted Amaterasu and now it was taunted by the reminder of the freedom the wolf possessed.

The Ancient One mumbled several incantations and golden chains hummed to life, quickly wrapping themselves around the box. The entire box shuddered, likely from a blow the fox dealt to the insides, but held. The chains tightened further, and flashed, sealing themselves around the cube.

"There we are. You're a tricky one, aren't you?" She held the box in a single hand, looking at it curiously. "I think I'll have to talk with Amaterasu once she's returned. Hopefully nothing more than her and this creature has slipped through to our universe."

With her grip firmly on the shifting cube, the Ancient One spun up a portal straight to the New York Sanctum. Just like that, she was back in the real world, looking down at a very confused Stephen Strange, who was picking himself up off the floor.

"What the hell just happened?" Stephen asked. He brushed off his clothes and held back a scowl at being thrown to the floor.

"I seem to have found a creature that Amaterasu may be familiar with. I moved you here for your protection."

"Protection? Come on, I know I haven't been here long but I'm sure-"

"Stephen," the Ancient One interrupted. "Let me be very clear. The creature within this box may very well kill you the instant it's released. It, like Amaterasu, is not bound to the same flow of time as you and I—the same plane of reality. If it sees you and decides it wants you dead, there will not be a warning."

"Wh- How? How is that possible?"

"There exist beings immensely more powerful than you and I. They may live in our world and feel as mortal as us, but they do not see the world as we do. They exist beyond us. To them, our world is a stage; a painting on a canvas; text on a screen." The Ancient One stared at Stephen, through him. "They can manipulate our world to their heart's desires. I am telling you now: do not trifle with the being in this prison." She held the shifting box for Stephen to see, the golden chains around it glimmering dangerously.

"I understand."

"Good."

Without another word, the Ancient One turned away and began her march through the Sanctum, intent on securing the box in bindings that only she could remove.

"Can I ask you something?" Stephen asked, falling into step alongside her.

"You may."

"How did you manage to capture it?"

"I used a similar being's magic to contain it."

"Oh." Stephen fell silent, continuing his walk alongside the Ancient One.

"You have another question," she stated.

"Oh, uh, yeah." Stephen was caught off guard. "What do you do if those beings don't want you dead? Obviously, this one is bad news. But you compared it to-"

"Amaterasu?" the Ancient One asked.

Stephen nodded. She turned to him and gave him a soft, knowing smile.

"I befriend them."

~{O}~{O}~{O}~

"Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!" the crowd chanted.

"Come on Volstagg, you've got this!" Fandral cheered, downing another pint.

"Go on, Ammy! Show 'em what a real God can do!" Thor exclaimed, sloshing his mead around, barely able to stay upright.

"Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!"

A sigh slipped from the King of Asgard, watching the proceedings from the sidelines.

"Whatever is wrong, dearest husband?" Frigga asked. She flashed him a knowing smile.

Odin remained silent. Instead, he turned to face his wife and gestured forward to the absolute mess unfolding before their very eyes.

"Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!"

"Oh, come now, they're having fun. They've earned it." She laughed.

"I was far more responsible at their age," Odin huffed.

"Oh, really?" She raised an eyebrow, and Odin looked away quickly. "I beg to differ. I can recount at least thirty-"

"Fine!" Odin interrupted. "I will not judge them for their… excessive celebrations." He took a breath, and let a sigh slip free. "At least they are behaving themselves."

An eruption of cheers shook the walls and flooring, the sound carrying across Asgard in a tidal wave. Glasses were smashed on the ground, and money changed hands, while the victors celebrated.

"Yeah ha ha! That is how it's done!" Thor shouted. He reached down to pick up a very drunk Amaterasu and held her high above his head. "Your victor, Amaterasu!"

The cheers renewed, Asgardians and Vanir alike cheering on the extremely dizzy Goddess of the Sun. Thor's constant staggering and jostling didn't help the wolf at all. Her head rolled back and forth, and Ammy looked like she was going to be sick.

"See? Everything is fine." Frigga laughed and leaned against her husband. "They're not going to burn down the palace."

Amaterasu projectile vomited pure fire.

Thor didn't notice for several seconds, jostling and holding the wolf high, causing the stream of fire to arc and shift with every movement.

Screams rang out.

Some people threw up.

Most of them cheered louder.

Odin's palm met his face with a glorious smack.

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