A/N: Sorry I've been away for a while. Needed to regroup ye old braincell during the holiday season. I've also been working on my non-fanfiction stories, which I hope to publish early 2020. Thank you!

Lucy could hear faint whispers of a heated conversation as she brushed her teeth. She felt through her bond with Mard that he was not happy, if not ready to launch a holy war. Well, unholy, he is a demon after all.

Her shoulders drooped as she rinsed out her mouth and adjusted her fluffy pink robe before stepping into the fray. As she came out of the bathroom, she saw a shirtless Mard sitting on the broken bed and glaring at Virgo. Lucy took in a deep breath, "what's going on?"

Virgo jumped and then turned to look at her before she bowed, "Princess, I'm here to take you both to the Celestial Realm. His majesty Mard Geer disagrees."

"Rosebud, I am not properly dressed for the occasion. Also, why would I want to talk to Pompous Ass? What is done, is done," he remarked.

"Virgo, why does he want to see us?" Lucy asked as she took a seat on the destroyed bed next to Mard. He took her hand in his own before giving her a gentle kiss to her knuckles.

"You have mated, he has many questions…"

"Accusations you mean." Mard said cutting her off and Lucy squeezed his hand while flashing him a hard glare.

"Mard, open mind. Virgo, he's right we'll need proper attire to go and visit. Can you handle that for me?" she asked, keeping her voice light and trying to maintain the peace, as fragile as it was.

Virgo bowed and vanished in a small shower of golden sparkles. Lucy let out a harsh breath through her nose as Mard wrapped his arm around her slim shoulders. She didn't even flinch at the contact and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Heavy is the burden that wears the crown," he opined, and Lucy glanced up at him. "I should have expected this, in due time. Least waited till we handled the curse, the plague, and then got you settled into the Underworld."

"Underworld?" she asked.

"You are my mate, one day I will have to make you their Queen. You will need to be amongst your people."

"What if I don't want to go?" she asked, uncertain if she wanted to uproot her life. She adored Magnolia and her Fairy Tail family. Lucy loved being a working mage, going on adventure and seeing more of EarthLand.

Mard's lips pulled downward, "you must. Rosebud, I thought you understood this. I am a King, I have demons who depend on me and a Plane to protect. When we mated you agreed to share that with me."

"I did not! I agreed to mate you because I love you, but you never once said it was going to tear me away from my friends and family. From my life." Lucy could feel her rage start to come out. If there was one thing she absolutely despised it was having her life dictated to her.

Mard pulled back and rose out of the bed, he looked down at her. His elegant face was twisted between a moment of disappointment and anger. The demon looked like he could hit something a drop of moisture gathered at the corner of his eye. He sighed as his hands clenched and unclenched into fists.

"You chose me, that is all of me. This is my life and I agreed to bind it to you. What more do you want from me? Is this the true selfishness of humans? Have you lied to me?" His questions were rapid fire and his voice cracked slightly at the words.

Lucy nibbled her bottom lip and looked away for a moment, trying to gather her own thoughts. Did he have a point? Perhaps she should have asked more questions about what mating meant, what he thought it meant. Why did she have to go on a drunken whim and mate him? She was usually better than this, making more informed decisions before acting.

She didn't like that he called her liar or said she was selfish, both things she despised in people. Her eyes narrowed as she fidgeted with her fingers in her lap, her eyes refusing to look at the demon. Her mate, she should start being a bit more precise.

Lucy could feel his emotions but couldn't hear his thoughts, not that she really wanted to hear them. She just needed her own space, but she also didn't want to be away from Mard. It seemed like he got into loads of trouble when left to his own devices. That almost made her laugh, for as many times as she gets kidnapped, it seemed Mard had a similar problem.

The familiar chime hit the air as Virgo came back, knocking Lucy out of her headspace. The maid put two packages on the bed, "here, you both will wear these outfits. Punishment?"

Lucy shook her head," no, I'll summon you after we get changed. Tell Stache Face we'll be there soon."

"Okay, Princess," the maid said before exiting again. Lucy looked at the two bundles, one was pink and gold and the other black and purple with an unusual talisman on top of it. It was a red and silver rose that pulsated in a darker energy, she raised a brow at it.

"That is a piece of the Underworld, it will allow me to walk through the Celestial Realm without harm and keep most of my Curse abilities."

Lucy touched it and felt a current of energy wash through her. The roses along her waist warmed up in reaction to it. It didn't hurt, just felt different and she could even feel a bit of her power drain away, which forced her to pull her fingers back. It was also when she had an idea.

"Mard, could I get a talisman like this for the Underworld? Also, how do you travel between here and there?"

Mard's larger hand covered hers as the mattress dipped under his weight. He was on his knees, the packages between them as he squeezed her fingers. "There is a gateway between the Planes, it joins Castle Tartaros to The Cube, which is my base here in Earth Land. We can only use it once a full moon, so any visits would have to be at least a month."

"The talisman?" Lucy asked, feeling a bit of hope in her chest.

"We could ask Pompous Ass or Merlin, they would know the jewelry maker who designed these." His voice lifted a bit and Lucy looked into his eyes, she could see a sparkle of hope and even felt warmth from him.

"Before you get too excited, my King. I want a talisman that will let me walk around the Underworld with my powers and I want a guarantee that at first we will spend six months here…" she didn't get to finish her statement when Mard tackled her to the bed and started kissing her.

That is all you want? That was what was making you upset? He projected into her head as his tongue curled around hers and his hands cradled her face.

I thought this was a one-way deal. Guess I was wrong. Lucy replied as Mard slowly lifted from their heated kiss. She could see the joy in his face, the corners of his eyes crinkled at the wide grin he had.

"Quite wrong, Rosebud. I am of the mind that I will need to get used to you thinking of the worst, first." He whispered.

Lucy shrugged, "it's a flaw but you mated me."

Mard chuckled, "I am not allowed to blame the liquor, am I?"

"Nope," she giggled, recalling her demand before they mated last night. The laughter faded and she could feel the tension leave the room, it made her heart light and gave her renewed hope. It was also a sobering reminder that her life was now completely different, because it wasn't just her own anymore.

No, now she had a mate and a new set of rules to learn, with the first one being. Where there's magic and a level headed compromise, there is always a way.

Mard thought his heart was under attack from their spat earlier. Rosebud had flat out refused to be with him in the Underworld, to share his life. As he put the talisman around his neck, he was grateful for the fact that Pompous Ass had requested a meeting. The argument may have descended further down a dark spiral, had this little sobering item not caught her attention.

In all fairness, he may not have thought of how to go back and forth between Planes immediately. No, he would have argued and gotten upset, throwing horrible insults and generalizations at her. That might have gotten him turned back into a cat quicker than whatever time they had left.

He put on the suit coat, admiring the subtle detailing of the black silk and ornate silver buttons. Least someone on Pompous Ass's payroll had fashion sense, well his version of fashion sense. As he inspected himself in the simple wall mirror, the bathroom door opened and out stepped Rosebud.

She was stunning with her hair up in a loose bun and wearing a beautiful delicate pink full-length dress. The dress molded to her curves in a way that was flattering, not sexual. It heightened her beauty and he could feel the protection magic emanating from it. Planar travel was always tricky, without the proper precautions it could be damaging.

Rosebud flushed as she looked at him and Mard premed a bit in Pride, he enjoyed that he had such an effect on his mate. However, as he looked at her, he felt the same way. If time was not so limited, he would have to take her again on principle.

"Flattery, Rosebud…" he teased letting her mind fill in the rest of the words.

She smiled, "later, my King."

"Promise?"

"We both know that's dangerous."

Mard chuckled, "I adore the fact you are a fast learner around me."

"I try," she said as he reached out to brush back a small tendril of golden hair form her shoulder. Mard adored touching her and could hardly get enough of feeling her. Perhaps it was the mating or the idea of this human love emotion.

"We should go, I would hate to turn back into a cat in front of my rival."

Rosebud nodded and then summoned Virgo, the maid spirit smiled at both of them before opening a temporary gateway. Mard had never travelled through a Celestial gateway before, he was used to Merlin's plane hopping. The joy of plane hopping was that Merlin always stopped to get him a fine cup of coffee, it usually lightened his mood before these meetings.

Crossing through the gate was the same feeling he had as when he took the one between his Castle and Cube. The difference was that his talisman activated, putting a thin layer of protection around his body. Mard hardly noticed it, the feeling less confining than the first time he experienced it. A credit to his age and how many times he's made trips to Planes that did not agree with his species or his magic.

They crossed into the throne room, it was ornate with accents of gold work and light jewel tones that shimmered in the light. Paintings of each Zodiac were on the walls, showing each constellation at the height of their power. Except for the broken one, a tragic mistake that rippled through all of reality and one his best friend carried the burden of creating. It was Mard's favorite painting, a bit of darkness and emotion in this pristine and too light world.

Pompous Ass was sitting on his large throne, his eyes glaring daggers at Mard. Mard could only smile at him as he held on to his Rosebud a little tighter, almost knocking her off balance.

"How could you?" the Spirit King asked, his voice gruff as his large hands clenched at the golden armrests of his throne.

"Pleasure to see you too," Mard retorted.

"Lucy Heartfilia, then you will explain." The demon got the hint, this was not a social visit or any kind of circumstance, Pompous Ass had hit a threshold of pure rage. Part of Mard wanted to exploit this and see if he could make steam come out of his ears, but as he felt his mate's emotions. The idea was nixed, she was terrified, and he held her close, trying to relay some of his strength to her.

Pompous Ass wasn't in control of his life or his powers, but he was in control of hers. That had Mard on alert and if this conversation would end in her being upset, he was going to destroy his rival. Somehow.

"Last night we mated," she whispered.

"I am aware of that. Do you know what you have done? You have given yourself to him, of all people."

"Little decorum, I am still a Planar Ruler," Mard shot back. He despised being treated as lesser, whether it was based on his species or the fact he was the youngest Planar Ruler.

"You are a low-class demon," Pompous Ass growled.

Rosebud stepped out of his grasp and marched up to the throne, Mard could taste the anger rolling from her. He found this delicious and wished he had that human popcorn to go along with the show.

"He has more class in his pinky than you are showing right now," her words were sharp, and the Spirit King glared at her. "Mard Geer showed up in my life in distress and nature followed a path from there. If you insult my mate, then you insult me."

"You think this is about mating?"

"Isn't it?" Rosebud questioned and even Mard was perplexed.

"One of my own will take a throne in a Plane that is dark and filled with demonic creatures. Think of what you will be doing to the spirits contracted to you."

Mard approached the throne, "this is about your bigotry, then. Typical."

The Spirit King let out a harsh breath from his nose as his fist slammed down cracking the armrest. "Your people are masters of corruption, they destroy light. Do not tell me that there are demons who would not happily savior the taste of killing a Celestial spirit."

Mard had a snappy comeback for this but for the sake of his mate he refrained. "What is light without darkness? What is darkness without light? How do we know one without the other? How dare you claim that I cannot protect my Queen or her Spirits?"

"I remember a certain King failing to protect…" Mard glared at the Spirit King, his power rolling from him as even the roses in the Celestial Realm began to heed his call. They weren't as glorious or blood thirsty as his demonic ones, but they would be enough to defend himself.

"Finish that statement and I will end you." Mard threatened, noticing from his periphery that Rosebud had stepped away from both men. She looked fearful, her eyes wide and delicate hand over her mouth, the feeling of being torn played around the edges of his mind.

The Spirit King stood up and put his hand on the hilt of his large sword. Mard refused to back down, he was sick of this treatment. He was tired of constantly paying a price for something he could not stop in his youth. It had been over two hundred years, more than several lifetimes since Jai and his heart had finally recovered.

"I was a young demon then. The Mard Geer Tartaros I am now, is not the same. The sins and blood of my past are just that. If nature found me inept and unworthy of a mate like Rosebud, then why would it grant me her? Why would she consent to it and love me all the more?" Mard realized he could go off on a three-hour monologue about everything, he was feeling that flaw rise. Which was always odd since he hated it when Zeref did it.

"How far are you willing to go for Lucy Heartfilia?"

"I would go all the way to Kingdom to slap God, if that is what I took."

"Lucy, how certain are you of this?" he asked, his voice relaxing a small fraction.

Rosebud stood beside him and took his hand, she looked up into his eyes. Mard relaxed as he took her hands in his own, concentrating on her beautiful face.

"I would go to Hell and back for him," she brought his hands up to her mouth and give them a gentle kiss. "I also know Mard would not take away my family or freedom and I love him."

"Love you too, Rosebud," he whispered, almost forgetting about where they were as he was lost in her coffee colored eyes.

"As long as it makes him more tolerable," Pompous Ass added and Mard shot a glance at him.

Rosebud giggled, "coffee is the key. Oh, and cuddles."

"Rosebud," Mard groaned, not wanting his weaknesses to be known.

A strange sound filled the space, it was laughter. The Spirit King was laughing, a rich heavy and loud sound that Mard had never heard the spirit make before. He blinked, looked at Rosebud and back to the king who was turning red as he laughed.

She shrugged, "he's really a softy."

"Rosebud is there any man you cannot wrap around your finger?"

"There's been quite a few, but the only one that counts is you."

"That was a most wise answer," Mard concurred as the Spirit King finished with his laughing fit. He kissed his mate quickly, feeling a bit of a tingle when their lips touched.

"Have you figured out how you will live between the Planes?" The Spirit King finally asked.

Rosebud pointed to Mard's talisman, "I need one of those and there is a gateway. We just need to figure out a schedule."

Mard noticed a moment of relief on the Spirit King's face, he was puzzled by this. He felt as if Pompous Ass was hiding something, a better way of making this work. Something that might be inconvenient to him. What could that be and could Mard get two of them? He was still going to troll the King because that is what he did.

"What are you hiding?" Mard asked, not wanting to keep the questions in his head.

Pompous Ass's eyes widened for a fleeting tick before the resting gruff look resumed on his face. "Nothing, it is a fine plan."

"Liar," Mard spat.

"Mard, the Spirit King wouldn't lie. It's bad form and goes against the rules of Celestial magic."

"The Rules for you, not for him."

"Mard's right," Leo's voice carried through the room and Mard was shocked to hear it. Not so much to hear the voice but the words. He would have to mark this day on the calendar, a day of many firsts and an unusual day to say the least.

"Loke!" Rosebud ran to the black suit wearing lion spirit and embraced him in a hug. Mard tensed for a moment at the contact and reminded himself that Envy was a horribly boring sin. She was his and if she wanted to hug everyone in the world, it did not matter, because he knew where she slept at night.

"Leo, you will shut up," the Spirit King commanded.

"Can't, Merlin already put Natsu on a quest for it."

"For what Loke?" Rosebud asked and even Mard was curious.

The lion adjusted his blue tinted glasses and smiled at her, "Corvus, a star iron key with the power to anchor your magic and let you travel between planes, any time."

"Leo!" the Spirit King bellowed and Mard rubbed his sensitive ear.

"Star Iron? As in a constellation you do not control?" Mard asked, eating this up with a massive silver spoon. The drama and the absolute anger of Pompous Ass was delicious, it was also comical. Now that the steam had started to come out of his ears.

"Silence and begone!"

Within a blink Mard found himself and Rosebud back in her small apartment. They stared at each other before both began to laugh.

"Is it always like that between you two?" she asked whisking away a bit of moisture.

"Worse, that was civil," he replied as he took off the talisman and held it in his palm for a moment.

"I don't know anything about Corvus, why would Merlin send Natsu?" Rosebud asked as she made her way into the simple kitchen. Mard followed and leaned up against the doorway, watching her fill the red tea pot with water. Least he was going to get more coffee, that was important.

"Knowing Merlin for two reasons. One it will let us concentrate on Corpsotis and two he will most likely find Meredy along the way."

"Three, it's also her way of apologizing for the curse." Rosebud added and Mard tilted his head.

"That is possible. However," he glanced at the clock, "I think that trip ate the last of my time."

Rosebud looked at him and ran into his arms, he held her, trying to savoir every last second, he could in his body. The copper clock on the wall ticked by, each tick louder in his ears and all screaming the same thing, "time's up."

Please review, fave and follow!