Chasing Ash

By Rizember

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Summary: "It's not too much to ask for your first love to not return from the dead in the arms of your lying ex-best friend, is it?" Ash asked.

"I didn't lie," Puck insisted. "I simply gave the truth a sequel". Humour, romance, yaoi… Ash/Puck

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Important Warnings: Ash/Meghan at start but will be ultimately yaoi (meaning boy love, mano a mano, sexy men doing sexy things with each other, co-banana pilots …okay, I made that last one up…but gay shit will be occurring here)…eventually.

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Chapter One: Trip to the Underworld

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Puck's POV

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"No."

I stared into obstinate icy green eyes and shook my head for good measure, creating a mantra in my mind in the hopes that I had somehow developed awesome psychic powers over the millennia that would control the faery before me or at the very least, get him to accept my answer.

No, no, no, no. no…

If I had, Oberon was apparently already immune to them.

Either that or the stubborn old bastard's mind was an unmovable brick wall of stubbornness.

I was betting on the latter. I could see where Meghan got it from.

"A favour from me is not something to be sniffed at," Oberon said calmly.

"Yes but I can't cash in on that favour if I'm dead."

The man was unyielding.

"A favour from me and a chance at life with my daughter… Surely these should be incentives to keep you alive…"
I almost snorted at that and barely caught myself. It was best not to offend the Summer King when he was in such a cheerful mood. His face was blank and looked closer to frowning than anything but at least there wasn't any lightning and thunder right above my head. That was a good sign that I wasn't going to spend the next few centuries as a shrub.

But still…the thought of Meghan still caused an unpleasant twist in my gut, if only because I couldn't think of her and not think of her being with Ash.

I was trying to resign myself to the fact that they were going to be together and nothing was going to change that.

I'd come up with many reasons why I should not be with Meghan, which included the fact that I couldn't tell her my true name being in the top two and her being in love with Ash being in the top one. Those two reasons expanded and brought forth many others.

Life really wasn't fair.

I'd been with Meghan almost all her life but she fell for the first dark, brooding prince that came along and tried to kill her.

Maybe if I had been an emo faery ice prince with a dark haunting past and psychopathic tendencies, I'd have stood a chance…

I shook my head, poking at the flames of my fire with a stick and sitting back down. Oberon would have to forgive my rudeness. I couldn't think straight when it came to Meghan.

But now, he was offering me a way to have her. Again.

A way I desperately wanted to take. A way that would hurt no one…Well, it would probably hurt me and leave a considerable amount of scrapes and bruises…but if it worked, Meghan would be hurt but I would comfort her. After all, I had promised to always be there for her…I couldn't do that if she spent eternity with someone else.

I sighed and looked up at Oberon, whose lips had a suspicious quirk to them.

It almost looked like he was smiling.

"Fine. I'll do it."

When he nodded, I halted him with my hand. "I'm not doing it to get Meghan though. I think she's happy with Ash and won't turn that down. But I will do it as my retribution to Ash."

"You will do it for his forgiveness?"

Wow. It sounded utterly retarded when he put it like that considering Ash had already decided to kill me one day and I had decided to well, die when that day came- that is, if he ever got round to it.

I shrugged in answer to Oberon. "Well, I would like to see her again, I suppose."

Oberon's eyes took on an amused glint and he nodded. "Alright."

He vanished after that and left me to my thoughts.

I was in the wyldwood, taking a break from the Summer court where I'd returned when Meghan had gushingly announced that she and Ash were officially courting and Ash had shot me a smug look. Beneath the smug, contempt bastard's countenance, I could tell he was happy. And that he loved her.

And well, I hadn't seen them since.

Meghan had been sending messages, asking me to visit and whatnot but there was no way I was going to willing walk into that Awkwardness. I might as well carry crickets with me to fill in the vague silences.

I couldn't face Meghan and I damn sure couldn't face Ash.

He was obviously the better man here. For some reason, to her, he was better.

I'd often wondered what it was, whether it was his cold silver eyes or his pale skin or his dark messy hair…

So he was gorgeous, I could admit it in the privacy of my mind, but in what world was he the better choice? I own mirrors, I know I smoking hot so maybe Meghan just has a thing for the strong, silent type?

ARGGGH!

I had gone into the wildwood to train… I was getting rusty on my getting out of life-or-death situations and figured I'd at least have a go at the hedge wolves, but no…they weren't anywhere to be found and apparently it was too much to ask for any sort of wild, vicious blood thirsty beast out here to attack me. It was like they were all hibernating.

How the hell could they sleep on empty stomachs?

I was like a gift-wrapped meal, all set up just for them. What more could they ask for? Did they want me to start rubbing spices over my body and maybe start a fire to keep them warm while they mauled me?

I sighed and cursed under my breath. This was probably Oberon's fault. It would be just like him to ensure that I didn't die in this bloody forest before he sent me out on a suicide mission of his own.

Muttering and grumbling, I stood and put out the fire before grabbing my knapsack and slinging it over one shoulder.

There was no point in staying and I had to get going soon if I was going to do Oberon's bidding sometime this year.

I stopped at the edge of a clearing and pulled out a green cloak from my bag.

I was filled with anticipation as I placed it against the tree.

I was going to see her again soon.

Ariella.

I walked into a large tiled throne room, pulling my jacket closer around me.

Sudden smoke and fireworks filled the air before-

"Oh, it's just you."

Leanansidhe smiled beatifically at me before dispersing all her special effects for announcing her presence. A few of her servants were moving around, setting things in place.

The open hall we were in was on a raised platform. I looked outside and could see the cold, dank valley below, hiding all life.

"Puck, darling. What are you doing here?"

I was immediately put on edge by her smile- which struck me as evil- even as I smirked at her. "Lea, how nice to see you. It's been too long."

The Exile Queen rolled her eyes at me. "I saw you this morning. Why are you here?"

I clutched at my chest, faking hurt. "Someone would think you didn't want me around."

"Why are you here?" she asked again, forcefully.

"Charming," I said dryly. "Anywho, I need you to help me with something."

Leanansidhe smirked. "Are you asking a favour of me, Puck?"

"Goodness no," I chuckled, glad to see her smirk turn into a frown. "I just need you to tell me where I can find the gate to the Underworld."

Leanansidhe stared at me a long time before she sighed. "That sounds like a favour."

When I didn't answer, she sighed. "I don't like you, Puck and really, you've been even more miserable company recently. But even I don't wish you to go straight to your death. I'd have no one to entertain me."

"Why are you assuming I'd die?"

The faery queen snorted elegantly. "Because that is the most likely thing to happen if you go to the Underworld."

Leanansidhe waved her hand and a large comfortable couch appeared. She sat down and magicked one up for me.

"Why do you want to go to the Underworld?"

Now, there was a time I would have told her that that was really none of her business.

This was one of those times.

"That's really none of your business."

She huffed and continued to stare. I wasn't sure whether or not she was trying to track the wavelength of my thoughts and translate them into Evil, her mother tongue or whether she just couldn't take her eyes off my gorgeous self.

"Fine," she sniffed. "But of course, you will have to do something for me in return."
"I can't steal anything else from Titania," I muttered.

What was it with faery royalty and never just doing favours out of the goodness of their hearts? Why did it always have to be tit for tat?

"I want a musical instrument from the Underworld," she stated calmly.

I nodded. "Mm, yes. So that they can shove it up my ass when they're done sucking out my soul?"

"At least they can't shove it up your soul's ass," she said helpfully.

I sighed. "Fine. Now where do I find the entrance?"

"In my garden, behind the waterfall."

I stared at her incredulously. "So why the hell can't you go get an instrument yourself? Better yet, find an Underworld Wal-Mart and buy a guitar. Heck, you could do it online."

"Oh darling," she smiled, amused. "You say the silliest things. That I have a doorway here with me is inconsequential. I am unable to enter their realm."

"Why not?"

"Well, alright maybe not unable…simply unwilling. I enjoy being in full possession of my own soul, you understand."

"They are going to try to take my soul?"

"Try?" She giggled. "If there's a soul to be had, Hades will take it."

"I hardly think he would want my soul," I grinned.

Leanansidhe simply motioned for me to follow one of her servants but I paused.

"Wait, shouldn't you offer me warnings or something? You know, things that will help me not get trapped there?"

Leanansidhe giggled. "Avoid falling in the Styx," she offered before she vanished and left me cursing.

Some help she was. I promised myself I'd get her a flute and pee on the mouthpiece.

I followed her man-goat thing into Leanansidhe's bleak-looking garden before he motioned to the small waterfall. I nodded at him and walked toward it. There was a slippery rocky path leading to the path up the large stream that ran through the garden.

It looked ordinary enough, for a faery queen's waterfall I mean. There were tiny water nymphs splashing around in it and trying to swim up the falling stream of water. I sighed and took in a deep breath, preparing myself to get completely drenched. I ran across the path and dived underneath the spray.

Ugh. I hated getting wet.

My clothes clung to me and I briefly considered drying them before shrugging and looking around me. I was in a dark cave and eerily, met with silence. Considering the waterfall should have been making at least some sort of splashing, trickling, waterfall-ey sound, I turned and groaned. There was nothing but rock behind me. I ran my hands over the rock and frowned when I pulled them back and found them stinging slightly.

Okay…

I held my hand up, palm open and a small ball of flame immediately appeared. I let it float ahead of me and put my hand back down.

With light, I could see that I wasn't actually in a cave. It was a tunnel with a neat sign in large letters hanging just above my head.

'Abandon hope, all who enter here'.

I shrugged. I'd never really been one to pay attention to signs.

I especially ignored signs of impending doom and wet paint.

"Your foolishness is unparalleled."

I knew that voice. A deep, drawling tone that could only belong to one person…er, cait sith…cat thing…

"Grimalkin," I gave him a look of shocked confusion. "What are you doing here? Did you die?"

He shot me the feline equivalent of an unamused glare and I grinned.

"I heard of your 'quest' and decided to tell you its dangerous, fool-hardy and almost completely impossible to succeed. You should turn back."

I looked at him for a moment in genuine surprise. "Wait, did you actually think I'd listen?"

Grim licked his paw leisurely. "Of course not. I just enjoy saying 'I told you so' afterwards so I came to make sure I could."

Wow. I'll always cherish his blunt honesty.

"You do realise that trips to the Underworld are usually one-way," Grim said, swishing his tail lazily. "They will not let you out easily."

"Of course I know that," I said, affronted. "How stupid do you think I am?"

"You underestimate just how stupid I think you really are," the cat said easily. "So I suppose I'll come watch."

"Gee thanks."

I knew that the moment anything even minutely dangerous was in the vicinity, Grim would disappear and leave me to my own devices. I supposed that meant he could act as my 'spider senses'.

I walked forward, going through the tunnel. I made more balls of flame as my lamps, leading me to the river Styx.

If what I knew was right, and I figured my guess were usually at least seventy per cent spot on, Ariella would be in the inner most sanctum of the Underworld.

That was where Hades liked to keep the more beautiful of his treasures and souls or so I had heard.

I remembered Ariella's beauty and knew that she was probably there. Unless she'd grown really old and was a sickly corpse…

Gosh I hoped not. Otherwise this wouldn't work.

Grim had stopped and I took great care to stop right behind him.

Lucky for me I did. I could just barely make out that the ground in front of us was moving lazily. I blinked at that. A glamour? No…

It suddenly dawned on me and I sighed.

"The river Styx."

The black water was flowing slowly past us and I wouldn't have noticed it for anything other than solid ground. If Grim hadn't been there, I'd have definitely walked right into it.

And Leanansidhe had said to avoid swimming in it…or something like that.

There was nothing else but the darkness and the water for as far as I could see and I looked at Grim to ask if he had any bright ideas but he had vanished.

Stupid cat.

In the distance was a softly glowing green light that was steadily getting brighter. Upon closer inspection, as it drew nearer, I could see that it was a cloaked, hooded man standing in a boat, rowing his way toward me.

Ah yes. I supposed I recalled having read something about him.

He came to a stop right in front of me.

"Er…care to give me a lift?"

His face was blank and his eyes were completely black. If I hadn't hung out with ice-boy so much, I would have found his expression abit intimidating.

I sighed and took a gold coin from my pocket. "Here ferry-dude."

His hand reached out and grabbed the coin. He closely inspected it before he nodded at me to get into the boat.

I got into the boat and breathed easier when he started to row. I assumed there was only one place to go seeing as how he hadn't exactly asked me for a destination. If he had, I was sure I'd have said something like 'just take me to where all the dead guys are'…which I'm not positive would have been the right thing to say.

Grim still wasn't back which had me placing my hand on my sword in preparation for whatever dangerous thing was keeping the cat away.

"Squid."

I looked at the Ferryman and shook my head. I was hearing things.

Suddenly, the boat swayed and I clutched at the sides.

"Crap."

Before us, rising out of the water, was a giant squid.

That's not fair!

How the hell was I going to fight it without falling into the water? It suddenly tried to jab at me with one of its tentacles and I made haste in cutting it off. An eerie, pissed-off sound emanated from its beak-like mouth and I scowled, turning to the ferryman to ask what the hell he was going to do about it.

He was gone.

Of all the no-good, low, cowardly, not-having-any-balls things to do-

Another of the squid's tentacles approached slowly from the water. I watched it uneasily as it went underneath the boat and suddenly, there were spikes near where I'd been sitting earlier. My crotch was horrified at the damage that would have come to it had it still been planted there.

I backed away as the spikes vanished and the boat started to take in water.

"Shit, shit, shit…"

Suddenly, there were thousands of eerie shrieks. I looked at the water around me and saw hazy, white things coming toward the boat. They looked like humans. Dead ones.

"Aw come on!"

Well, falling in the water wasn't an option any more. I was going to die a long and terrible drowning and probably be eaten by the spirits of the dead cause really, who wouldn't want some of this action.

"Duck!"

I fell to the bottom of the boat before I even realised what was happening.

The squid was not looking too happy and was thrashing tentacles about all willy-nilly.

I looked up and saw what it was trying to attack.

A woman with long flowing hair on a dark stallion with wings was flying circles around it, laughing and taunting it.

Great. She was pissing it off so it would eat me quickly.

A second later, the irritated squid vanished into the water. I'd have sighed in relief if it wasn't for the cold, wet hand that grabbed my ankle.

I looked down saw that the water had increased and I was sinking fast. The dead were trying to have me join them and if the hands trying to clutch at me were any indication, they were pretty insistent.

I kicked at the hand but found my other foot grabbed.

"Let. Go. Dammit!" I swung my sword at them but it seemed to pass right through them.

How the hell was that fair? They could touch me but I couldn't touch them? Whatever happened to equal rights in murder?

As I swore colourfully, I felt my hand being grabbed before I was hoisted effortlessly into the air.

I stared at the woman whose hand was currently holding my own. I kept the sword in the other hand- just in case and kicked at the spirit that was still clutching at my leg. It felt back into the water and I watched the glowing green boat sink.

The woman helped me swing onto the horse's back with her and I held on tightly as we flew fast over the water.

I could see bright light in the distance and wondered where she was taking me.

It looked like a city lit with sunshine, though I couldn't see the sun anywhere. It was like the city was giving off the light itself.

It was a really beautiful place and reminded me of the summer court. Except for the silence. People were lying about in the grass or by rivers and streams, doing nothing. They seemed bored.

The horse abruptly swooped down and landed safely on the grass.

Looking around at the beautiful place, I frowned.

"I was under the impression that the Underworld was not a sunny sort of place."

The woman chuckled. "Yes well, I spared you the more common portions of it. I came directly to the centre. This is my home."

I stared at her. "Er…"

"I am Persephone. This is the inner sanctum of the Underworld."

She patted the horse's back and it neighed and ran off, flapping its wings.

"I'm afraid Hades isn't in but maybe I could be of service."

A queen…a faery queen at that, being of service? She must have been new.

"Uh…"

The beautiful woman smiled pleasantly at me. "You must be Goodfellow. I'd heard news that you would be coming."
I groaned. How was it that everyone and their grandma knew what I was doing half the time? If this kept up, Hades would catch wind of it and kill me. If his wife didn't get to it first…

"Persephone," I greeted finally, nodding at her.

She raised an eyebrow at me. "You offer no more by way of greeting? No bow or show of respect? No gift or gratitude for me having saved you?"

"Well," I said, running a hand through my hair. "I'm not sure whether or not you did that for the privilege of killing me yourself so I suppose I'm not certain as to what I should be doing."

She laughed quietly at that, eyeing my sword with amusement. "Interesting. You are as they say in the tales."

"Obscenely handsome and debonair?"

"Brash, rude and entertaining…"

"You sure there wasn't anything added there about my devilishly good looks? Cause I think there was."

Persephone chuckled. "You are a beautiful man, Robin Goodfellow, as you well know. There is no need to fish for compliments."

Wow. She was certainly new to the whole queen thing. Leanansidhe and Titania had never paid me a compliment. Ever.

And Queen Mab was completely out of the question.

"Not that I'm complaining but…why did you help me?"

Persephone simply smiled again. "It's been awhile since I've been in the company of the living."

Uh huh…

Well, one couldn't argue with that logic.

There was a loud shout and I turned, sword ready but Persephone stilled my hand and nodded in the distance.

I could make out two figures, one dressed in robes and with an armour helmet on while the other was fighting what was surely a wraith, from the dark wings on his back. The wraith was trying to dodge and failing terribly as they were whacked again and again with…a broom?

The wraith was having his ass handed to him by the crazy person with the broom and finally, it yelled out in defeat and vanished.

The person raised a fist in the air dramatically and turned to face us, abruptly stopping.

They reached up and took off their helmet.

It was a woman. A beautiful woman with short blond hair that just brushed her shoulders and vivid blue eyes.

"Persephone…welcome back. I see you brought company and-"

The girl stared at me before her face broke out into a warm, happy smile.

"Puck!"

She ran forward and tackled me to the ground in her version of a hug.

I smiled, wrapping my arms around her and trying to be manly and not cry.

"Ariella…"

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Next Chapter summary: Puck and Ariella return and prepare to meet Ash and Meghan in the Winter court. Of course, Puck hasn't exactly mentioned Ariella cause really, what fun would that be?

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A/N: I am sick and tired of having two guys fighting over one girl in books and movies. Twilight is killing me and as much as I LOVE the Iron Fey series, I can't stand that my darling Puck might not get the girl (Just like it was so obvious Jake wouldn't get the girl. But with regards to Twilight; kudos Jake, you dodged a bullet)

I AM WRITING AN ASH/PUCK FIC BECAUSE YAOI IS IN MY BLOOD! AND I'LL BE THE FIRST ON TO DO IT! HUZZAH!

Just in case you were wondering, I actually like Twilight. I just prefer the action to the kissy-kissy-goo-goo…or hash thereof.

Also, because I checked and believe I am the first to pair these two up on this site and I believe I will be met with quite some shock, horror and/or abhorrence (with indignation thrown in for good measure), if you want to complain or yell or something, please understand that I warned your stupid ass that it was a yaoi fic so you should have pressed the return button and searched for something else.

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For pictures of Puck being noble, press 1

For a video of Ash doing the Macarena, press 2

For blackmail evidence of Oberon in a frilly dress, and world domination, press 3

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