Muspell, the realm of fire, wasn’t a place most people would call home. Or temporary residence even, truth to be told. The fire and its violence had marked both the world and its people, for the good and the bad. Such a violent and merciless realm, bathed in fire and volcanoes, had bred hardy people, willing to relentlessly keep pushing forward to keep themselves alive; and yet they were selfish, traits such as mercy, forgiveness or what could be perceived as weakness finding no place among them. This applied to everyone regardless of status, so it hardly came as a surprise when the king declared war on the neighbouring realm of Nifl.

Both realms had fought viciously through the years, but the fire king’s brute force eventually managed to overwhelm the defences of the ice realm. And yet, Laegjarn had managed to somehow squeeze pity and mercy among her way of life. At the front of the army, she decimated the foes and offered them mercy at the exchange of their surrender. She knew the king would most definitely not approve, but her position gave her a leg to stand on. None of that mattered now, as the king had her imprisoned and stripped of all power, thrown in a prison cell with her younger sister and two other women she would have never expected to share cell with.
Laevatein, her younger sister, sat next to her, doing so quietly as she had always done. She had grown to be a fine woman, even if her quiet and too-obedient nature had stuck with her. Her red eyes were lost somewhere in space, while Laegjarn tried to comfort her somehow. She had never been good with these types of interactions, and the two women of Muspell formed a stark contrast with the other two prisoners. Sitting against the other wall were the princesses of Nifl, who had much warmer interactions between them. The younger one sat next to her older sister, who had her left arm around her shoulders while she tried to comfort her whispering words in a soothing voice. She didn’t quite understand what she said, but she had come to recognize them both during the years of fighting. And the irony of the contrast was not lost to her either.

- You really are different.

Out of every possible reaction, that one caught her completely off guard. Looking at the eldest of the ice sisters, Laegjarn was met with a surprisingly warm and serene gaze.

- Excuse me?

- You. You really are different. All these years of conflict, and yet you were the only one to offer some sort of mercy, even if it was by submission.

- I’m afraid you misunderstand princess; it was not done out of kindness or altruism, but with a practical approach. No need to shed blood if the foe can be convinced there is no hope. It also helps when occupying a territory.

- Oh? Really now? And yet both your actions and attitude say otherwise.

- Deception is a common trick in warfare.

- Oh, and princess Laegjarn, just call me Gunnthrá.

Laegjarn would have loved to keep the conversation going, but as the guards came for them, they knew their time was about to run out. Walking in complete silence, they were brought before the king of the fire realm. He was a mountain of a man, encased in a heavy armour and wielding a massive blazing axe. He had them kneel before him, sparing them a single glance of disgust and fury. He took a couple of steps away from them, enough for the former princesses of Muspell to recognize what he was about to do. With a single wide movement, he sent a wave of fire their way, one that would reduce them to nothing but charred corpses as he had done with the many enemies he had slain. As the fire closed in on them, the eldest fire woman noticed that in a sadistic twist, both Gunnthrá and herself mirrored their movements, as they tried to shield their younger sisters. Perhaps in other place, in other time, they could have had a different relation between them, and as the fire devoured them, she felt her consciousness vanish, fading to black, keeping the regret of having dragged her sister down with her.

&&

Camilla sighed loudly, laying down in the grass. More women had arrived, but this time it had been so much worse than before. The others had been battered and wounded as it had been Florina, Lyn, Byleth and Rhea’s case; and in Mikoto, Azura, Arete and Corrin’s they had almost been erased from existence. But these four… these four had almost been burned alive to a crisp, and it had taken quite the effort to merely stabilize them. Loki had put her skills to good use and had healed most of the wounds, but she had required help from the rest of them, using conventional medicine to put the new arrivals out of danger. Now, they rested, but a question had slowly started to creep in Camilla’s mind.

- Well, they are stable, but they’ll need more time and attention to completely heal.

Loki sat next to her, also sighing and relaxing. She had to use quite the energy for the healing, and with her power diminished she couldn’t exactly tell where her limit was. Overexerting herself would be no good, and they would have trouble if the only magic healer was out due to exhaustion.

- Loki, there is something I have to ask you.

- Go ahead. -Responded the temptress as she noticed Camilla’s serious tone.

- I have noticed that all who have arrived here have one common thing, and I’m sure you and Kiran have noticed too. Do you have any explanation?

- Not yet. – Said the temptress with an equally serious voice, something that contrasted with the image of the two nude metal women. – But I have some ideas.

- Mind telling me?

- Not yet. It’s just a hypothesis, but I’ll tell both you and Kiran if there are more arrivals.

- Good. Thank you dear. -Said Camilla as she gave a loving caress at the other woman, who purred in approval.

- Oh, you know for you I’ll do anything.

- Just for me?

- Well, for anyone in our merry band, but if you or Kiran ask, I’ll make it extra special, worthy of our queens.

The metallic temptress returned the caress and lay next to her, doing so on her left side and giving her queen a good look at her big, round and shiny metallic breasts. She always liked when Camilla or Kiran gave her some extra attention, she had been the first one to join them after all. However, before the caresses could escalate, they heard Kiran calling from them, both of them standing up and walking back to the main building, where they met her.

- Oh, I was looking for you.

- What is it dear? -Asked Loki.

- They have woken up, and it would be good if we gave them at least a simple explanation about what’s going on. Also, I wanted to talk with you two about… well, this. -She said as she moved the arm that had fused with the artefact.

- Yes, it sounds like a good idea. – Said Camilla- Is there someone watching over them?

- Rhea, Mikoto and Arete.

- Good. We’ll get going then. And we also wanted to talk about the arrivals, there is something… strange, so to say.

- Oh, so you’ve noticed too? Smart girls, good to know you aren’t all looks.

The answer left both Loki and Camilla stunned as Kiran ran past them, giving them a playful smile.

- Go with the new arrivals, I’ll round up the rest.

As she left them behind, both women looked at each other briefly before making their way to the room. They would get back at her in due time, but now there were more pressing matters at hand. Reaching the room, they met with Rhea, the woman coming out with two empty bottles which had previously held water, stopping when she saw them approach.

- Camilla, Loki.

- How are they?

- Confused and weakened, as expected but much better due to the rest and the healing we have done in them.

- That’s good to know. We plan on give them a simple version of their situation, to brief them completely when they fully heal.

- Good idea.

- We also plan on presenting everyone so that they don’t get any wrong ideas, so come back as soon as possible. Alright?

- I’ll be back in short time Camilla.

As Rhea walked away, both of them stepped in the room, finding Mikoto and Arete taking good care of their patients. The four of them were conscious, although they were still much too weak to properly take care of themselves, but completely recovered as far as their senses were concerned, immediately looking at the new two arrivals. The light blushes in their face were all too easy to see for the two metallic women, who chose to approach them in a much calmer tone, introducing themselves and giving them a simplified explanation of their current situation as the rest of the women of their group entered the room, forming quite the collection to look at, the blushes in the faces of the new four arrivals. Their smooth, glistening metallic bodies were a tempting sight to look at, even more so to touch, but they diligently held on, paying attention to the explanation that was given and the round of presentations that followed. Once that was done, they were left to rest once more, as Loki’s healing magic did its work and slowly but surely brought their health back. They were still confused and had plenty of questions, but they had the certainty that they were in good care for the moment, slowly drifting off to slumber like they had not done in a long time.

&&

Days had smoothly gone by, as the fire and ice sisters healed back and got to know each other better, working on their rocky past and the relation that had started first in a battlefield and then had strengthened in a cell. While Fjorm was still somewhat uneasy, playing with her long hair to try to distract herself, but the eldest of the muspell sisters understood. Neither Laegjarn nor Gunnthrá expected their younger sisters to change their attitude in a heartbeat, more so if one considered the history their former homelands shared. And yet, the eldest sisters had formed a surprisingly cordial and sincere relationship in little time, based mostly in the respect they held for each other and the affection they had for their younger sisters. Now, if Fjorm and Laevatein could manage to go down the same path…
The pair of women had left their younger sisters on their own, so that they could sort their differences out on their own accord something they would have to do using dialogue, since they were completely unarmed. Meanwhile, they had gone looking for two metallic women in particular, the purple one and the maroon one, wanting to ask some questions that had gone unanswered the past days.

They had grown accustomed to the sight of the metallic women doing their usual whereabouts, but they would be lying if they didn’t admit that the view was quite the thing to look at. They found Camilla in what could be considered the main room, along with Loki, Kiran and Anna, as they finished putting together some sort of list.

- Alright then, I’ll part in few days to gather what we need. We’ll get it done in no time.

As the golden woman took the paper and left the room, the other three turned to the two new arrivals.

- Good to see you fending off on your own. -Said Camilla- Anything we can help you with?

- We do have some questions before… well.

Laegjarn’s tone gave away that she still had not assimilated what they had been told fully, so Gunnthrá took over, the eldest of the ice sisters covering for her.

- Well, to start somewhere, how do you, well, live?

- What do you mean?

- You are alive, but we have seen little sustenance to go around. That doesn’t seem enough for the group that currently lives here.

- You do have a point. -admitted Camilla- We need very little to keep going, and what we need we can either easily gather or receive from one another. We are still figuring things out too, so I apologize for not being able to give a straighter answer.

- Let’s put it this way -Intervened Loki- have you seen any major life in the realm beside us?

Both women thought back to the past days. They hadn’t seen or hear any other being that weren’t the metallic women. No cattle, no horses or had they seen any wild life, despite coming out of the fort to what could only be called a sparsely populated land.

- As far as we know, there is no major life in this world besides us. There are some birds and other small animals, but nothing bigger. And as for us, we are not exactly “alive”, and as such we don’t exactly feed. Life feeds on life, but we do not exactly abide by that rule, which allows us to exist here, without disturbance.

- Not alive…?

- Something happened when we arrived, it’s a somewhat long story… -Said Kiran.

- I believe we have time to hear it.

- Certainly -corroborated Gunnthrá backing Laegjarn’s idea. - we are in no rush, so let’s hear it. Shall we?

Before anyone could tell what had happened, Fjorm and Laevatein joined their elder sisters. Kiran then told what had happened when herself, Camilla and Loki first met. The fight with the monster horde, the last spell and its effect on its two targets and how Loki had changed that with her magic abilities, allowing the to avoid a terrible fate and starting a new existence in a way they had never imagined. With the occasional intervention and note from Loki or Camilla, she also told about their experiences with the other women, how they had arrived and settled with them. When she finished, the four women in the audience were silent, both processing and fully understanding the situation and in awe.

- That certainly is quite the story… -Admitted Gunnthrá.

- “Quite the story” doesn’t do justice to it… -Murmured Laegjarn.

Camilla and Kiran looked at each other briefly, Camilla opening her mouth to speak, but Kiran taking the chance to speak herself.

- The thing is, we were going to offer you to stay. We know that is something you have to think about due to the implications, but-

- I want to stay.

All eyes in the room turned to Laevatein, the youngest woman of the fire sisters having spoken in public for the first time she had arrived.

- Laevatein?

- I want to stay sister. I want us both to stay.

- Wait, there are more thing to explain-

Kiran could not finish as the younger muspell sister hugged her older sibling. This not only surprised the nifl sisters, but worried the eldest muspell one, since Laevatein was not one to openly show emotions, usually keeping quiet and to herself.

- We can stay here. It will be good staying here.

- We… have been talking about things. -Intervened Fjorm- And we have been talking with the people around. Their arrival here is similar to ours, and they chose to stay.

- Are you sure Fjorm? What about home?

- Uh, if I may? -Cut Kiran, catching the attention of the four- I wanted to explain a couple or things more…

The explanation that followed was much shorter but shed light into important details, such as why everything that either Camilla or Kiran said sounded so attracting and convincing, the two of them having this alluring aura to them. She also explained that the main reason of the calm around was that seemingly they could not leave, even with Loki’s great power, so they had chosen to start anew in the realm, enjoying their time on it thoroughly.

- That sounds…

- …Odd. – Said Laegjarn, finishing Gunnthrá’s sentence.

Still, both eldest sisters looked at each other, seeking some form of reassurance or idea to follow. Although the more they thought about it, trying to keep their mind clear of the influence of Camilla and Kiran, the more they thought about going along their younger sisters’ idea. Back where they belonged, they had been effectively executed by the igneous king himself, they could count themselves very lucky to not have been reduced to a small pile of ash. And even if they returned, what did wait for them? Another chance to die in a battlefield for a country in ruins after many years of warfare had reduced their homelands to a shadow of their former selves? Or perhaps another prison cell only to be executed once again?

- Well then, -said Gunnthrá with a sincere smile- how do we proceed?

After a brief explanation by Kiran and Camilla, a very excited Loki got out to pass the word to the rest of the inhabitants of the fort, letting them know what was going to happen when the sun went down. Also, she made sure to find Anna, letting the golden woman know that she would have plenty of energy for her business trip that was coming up.
Eventually the day came to an end, the two pairs of sisters finding themselves in front of their soon to be queens with the entirety of their posse. What started as a warm welcome escalated at a steady pace, kisses and caresses giving way to more intense love-making, the new four additions enjoying each other and their new sisters in a way they had not done in a very long time. As the love-making became more intense, the four of them started to change, their skin changing colour and texture as their bodies became smooth and shiny metal. This enhanced their senses, turning the intensity of the pleasure they experienced so much higher, something they used to make sure they got to know the rest of the women intimately, very intimately. The others not only were eager to do so, but they did spy that Camilla and Loki were taking their sweet time in pleasuring and, in a way, tormenting Kiran. Eventually, the metallic women passed away in exhaustion, Laegjarn, Laevatein, Gunnthrá and Fjorm doing it so as the newest additions to Camilla and Kiran’s harem of metallic beauties.

&&

Laegjarn and Gunnthrá were both awake, merely looking around at the sleeping women and watching over their younger sisters. The two elder sisters had turned out to be magnificent additions, Laegjarn being now crimson metal while Gunnthrá was an icy blue, her new metallic self reflecting the light as much as ice did. Fjorm and Laevatein resembled their older sisters, the younger women having taken a different shade of their colour and reflecting their bond between them. They had heard someone move outside of the room, and after a quick look at the women they noticed that Anna was missing. If they recalled correctly, Loki had told something about her leaving, which brought into question them being trapped.
Moving quietly, both women got out of the room, closing the door behind them quietly. In the corridor they found Anna in her naked glory, her gold body reflecting the light of the rising sun. They both joined her, standing besides each other quietly, admiring the scenery as it was slowly lit up by the dawn. They also tried to conceal the looks they threw at their new bodies, which gleamed just like Anna’s under the light.

- You two are up early.

- We heard that you were leaving and…

- Yes, I’m out for some business. I’ll return shortly though.

- We were told there was no way out. -Said Laegjarn. - How…

- Professional secret. What kind of merchant would I be if I revealed all the aces up my sleeve?

- I… see.

- You two enjoy your stay, alright? The girls are caring and will help you out in a heartbeat. Now, if you excuse me…

Anna turned and left, disappearing from their sight as her footsteps also seemed to vanish, leaving quiet behind. Gunnthrá and Laegjarn, left on their own, returned to watching the dawn on the place they would come to call home. No words were spoken, but when they pressed their bodies against one another and gave each other a gentle caress they felt better. They had a very rough past behind them, but here they could start anew, forging a relationship that would have seemed completely impossible not so long ago.