This was my original draft and I couldn't help but post it after someone's comment so I hope you like it. I really did.
Listen carefully Lucy for these are the most important rules to follow when courting your mate" Luce says making sure his apprentice is paying attention.
Tilting her head Lucy looks to her adopted parental figure confused, "What's a mate and why am I courting them?"
Choking Aquarius begins to laugh as she looks to the dumbfounded demon who realizes that he skipped a few lessons and never explained what a mate was. Sighing the demon sets the chalkboard he had the mermaid bring out on fire and requests a new one, the mermaid giving a look at the dumb demon for not just erasing what he wrote.
Facepalming at his mistake the demon looks to his little demon "Let me start over. If there is one thing that dragon and demon slayers have in common it is that we both have mates". Making sure the girl is following Luce continues "Now what is a mate you might ask, well they are lifelong partners whom you will want to be with forever. Yes, Lucy it sounds insane", looking at the wide eyed girl, " But there will come a time when your inner demon will start to call out to someone close to you, or not, in fact could be a total stranger , and when you see them you will stop at nothing to claim them" Luce finishes.
"Claim them" Lucy says, "What does that mean?" the blonde slayer in training asks.
Clapping Luce pats the girl head, "Excellent question, this is just a byproduct of one part of the mating ritual you will be taking part in. You see the mating process begins as soon you lay eyes on your mate and a fire begins to burn in your chest," dramatically pounding his chest, "calling out to the other person. When that happens, you will give them this bracelet", handing an intricate beaded bracelet to Lucy, Luce talks again, "and once you put that on them then you will have officially started the mating process, at least on your side. This means no one else can try and take his or her, whichever you prefer, hand away from you. If they try you can fight them to the death." Luce finishes grinning devilishly.
Nodding starry eyed at the prospect of one day getting a "mate" Lucy packs the bracelet in her pouch Luce made for her. "So what else do I need to do to win over my mate?" Lucy asks.
Happy that his little demon is catching on so quickly he starts to write down very messily the steps to courting her mate.
"After you have put on the bracelet is when the courtship begins, which comes in 5 simple steps". The demon says as he writes them down on the replacement chalkboard Capricorn brought out, since Aquarius was too stubborn to do it. Tsk you burnt the last one so you can write your stupid mating lesson in the dirt.
How to court your mate in 5 simple steps: By Lucifer
Step 1 The best way to your mates' heart is a homemade meal. We do this for a bunch of reasons, it shows you can provide for them, and you show off mate worthy skills to them like hunting and cooking.
This is an important step though Lucy. When presenting the homemade meal, you must make sure that it is something they desire, such as a favorite dessert or, or perhaps a human soul. Can't go wrong with a human soul" Luce says to his child, making sure she is writing everything down.
"Okay, homemade meal, mate worthy skills, human soul, favorite dessert. Check Luce" Lucy says giving a thumbs up, "what's next?"
Step 2 Giving a gift helps show your mate you are thinking of them, especially if it is something that reminds them of you. However, do not be lame Lucy, make sure it will be something useful for them.
"Don't be lame, give gift that reminds my mate of me and is useful" smiling Lucy gives the go head for the next step, missing Luce's facepalm at the girls shortening of his courting ritual.
Step 3 Scenting. This is important because you will need to mark your scent on their things to make sure others know they are yours. Do things like…throwing your arm around them so your scent lingers on them or go find where they live and mark your scent everywhere.
"Mark my mate with my scent, nuzzle them, break into where they live and mark scent everywhere" Lucy quotes.
Sweat dropping the demon pauses in his lesson, "Now hold on I never said break into their house, I just said go in and mark your territory…".
Nodding in understanding Lucy crosses out her previous writing and puts in sneak into house and mark my territory. When Lucifer reads this, he decides to move on knowing a lost cause when he sees one, but the encouraging adoptive father he is he gives her a thumbs up, receiving a smile.
Moving onto Step 4. At this point you and your mate should be comfortable with each other so you should be showering them with affection.
"What do you mean by showering them with eff-ek-tion" Lucy says trying to spell out what he is writing. Am I supposed to shower her with something?" Lucy asks confused.
Sighing the demon shakes his head, "No little demon, you show her how you feel with body contact. Any will do. My mate enjoyed when I nuzzled her neck though" he says smiling.
"Nuzzle neck, make lots of body contact" Lucy grinned with a thumbs up," this is good stuff Luce I'm gonna make my mate so happy".
"I know you will little demon, however we haven't gotten to the most important step yet and this is by far the most important so pay close attention",
Sitting up Lucy puts her pen to the journal Capricorn gave her ready to write down what Luce says.
Step 5 of courting your mate is the final step and the most important. This is the mark. This will show all slayers and regular humans that your mate is claimed, and no one can touch them.
"The mark "Lucy gasps. "Really is important. So, what do I do to give it to my mate?"
"Listen carefully. This is when you bite their neck to show everyone, they are yours officially. And so long as they have officially accepted you as your mate then a marking will appear on their neck showing they have been claimed by you" Lucifer finishes explaining.
Smiling Lucy writes down everything Lucifer has told her about mating, so she is prepared. She honestly can't wait for the day she meets her mate and they begin the courting ritual. Looking to Lucifer she promises him to obey all his steps word for word.
"I'm not done little demon" Luce says smiling.
"Really, what else is there?" Lucy asks confused on what else is to be done.
"In order for the mating ritual to be fully completed you and your mate must sleep together" chuckling at his child's red face he continues, "And yes I mean that kind of sleep. Only then will the mating will officially complete" he finishes.
Hiding her face Lucy completes everything her demon has said powering through her embarrassment. "Even though the final step is really embarrassing I won't skip any steps Luce!" Lucy yells with a determined face.
"I know you won't, now any questions before we get to the next lesson about mating season" Luce says with a smile.
"We-we're not done" Lucy whispers.
"Nope" Luce pops, "This lesson is almost as important as courting your mate" he explains.
Seeing the confused face on Lucy he burns the chalkboard for Capricorn to bring another one out.
"You see Lucy once a year dragon and demon slayers go through these animalistic urges while trying to find their mate" nodding to see Lucy writing this down he continues "most slayers hole themselves up during these times".
Raising her hand Lucy asks the demon why," Why is that, wouldn't that be the best time to find their mate?"
Nodding his head in approval at the question "It could be, but really during mating season for demon slayers our only thoughts are to sleep with anyone we can to get rid of our more animalistic side, so even if we did find our mate we'd be going out of order for courting them and that would be a no-no, that's not to say you can't sleep with anyone during mating season because you will be in some pain, you just need to make sure that there is no connection whatsoever."
Seeing her shake her head in acceptance she rights down his directions for mating season. "Okay, how do I do that, though?" Lucy says confused.
Shrugging Luce looks to Lucy and explains "Easy, outside of mating season whoever you feel no connection to just tell them you'll be sleeping with them soon and boom you'll be going through mating season without having to experience any pain".
"Wow that's a great idea, Luce!" Lucy says before being knocked forward from a slap on the head.
Looking to see who the culprit was she sees her first and most trustworthy spirit Aquarius floating above her with a tick mark on her forehead "Honestly you two are idiots, I mean the fact you think that would work." Glaring at Lucy who shrunk into herself.
Then looking to Lucifer who was looking away whistling "And you, stop corrupting Lucy by telling her to sleep around during mating season you dumb demon".
"I'm not corrupting her I'm preparing her for mating season you dumb fish!" Lucifer yells back to her the two preparing to fight, Lucy backing away as she finishes writing Luces notes, "Find someone to sleep with that I don't know or like during mating season".
When the two have finished and are out of breath from their fight Aquarius glares at Lucy muttering a "brat" leaving a smile on Lucy's face.
"Now then I believe we have covered all the basics any questions before we hunt for dinner.
"Uh, oh yeah earlier you said I would do anything to claim my mate, what did you mean by that?" Lucy asks as she flipped back to earlier pages.
Chuckling Luce looks to Lucy, "Simple. No matter how much your mate denies you, you will continue to court them until you break them down and they realize that they too have feelings for you deep down in them. We demons are relentless in the matter of winning over our mates" he says laughing, "Remember Lucy you are the daughter of the strongest demon in all of Earth land, if you are denied by your mate tell me what you will do!"
"Continue to court them until I win them over", Lucy yells jumping up with a fist pump.
"That's right my little demon!" Lucifer says laughing then putting Lucy on his back and going to hunt for lunch," Denial is just a mate's way of playing had to get!"
"Wow, so that's why you haven't taken Erza's denial to heart" Levy says intrigued by Lucy's retelling of the courting ritual.
"That is actually kind of romantic" Mira says while wiping down the bar.
Nodding her head Lucy sips her beer, "Guess so. I'm just not a fan of mating season".
"What, haven't had any luck with finding anyone to sleep with you Lucy" Macao yells, laughing around with Cana.
Sighing Lucy nods with her head in her hand, "Nah, I mean there were plenty of people who volunteered to do it when I asked them in Alvarez, actually they seemed pretty eager, which I guess since I helped get rid of a good deal of their Dark Guilds there, they saw it as a way to maybe reward me", she says lazily waving her hand and sipping her beer missing out on the awed look on her friends facing before continuing, " It's just how much energy you have to use when sleeping with –
"Okay enough talking about this subject there are kids here" Macao yells covering Romeos ears who stares at Lucy starry-eyed, She's so cool, he thinks.
"Jeez Lucy, You were pretty young to be doing that weren't you?" Levy asked laughing awkwardly.
Shrugging "Not really. I mean I was fifteen and I was there till eighteen, counting on her fingers, "and in Alvarez the mages there were very open minded and helpful during my mating season seeing as I was helping them with their dark guild problem sooo- "Lucy trails off looking away.
The entire guild now listening in goes silent, jaws have dropped, beers spilled, glasses broken, and members feinted over what they've found out.
"You mean to tell me you slept around during your travels" Cana says with a shit eating grin.
"Well not technically, it was only for a month and I was usually invited to their houses or palace the entire time. After that it was back to my cave" Lucy pouts.
"Pa-palace?" Mira says.
"Just who the hell did you screw Lucy?" Cana says even more intrigued by the girl's backstory.
"Uh, not that many people. There were just two girls with crowns and a lot of jewelry, that one son of the mayor. Those two sisters and", pausing for Loke, "Oh thanks Loke, I forgot about her, she was a queen, that one was a maid for that queen, and a baker" Lucy finishes ticking off the people.
Laughing the guild begins clapping for the blonde, impressed with this knowledge, until Erza walks up causing everyone to disperse and go back to their other activities.
"So, you've had other partners" she says seriously, and somewhat hurt at this new knowledge.
"Uh, yes?" Lucy answers confused.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't know I had too?" the slayer says confused, "Is that something I'm supposed to do before I try to claim you, tell you who I slept with" Lucy says biting her lip with a confused look.
Erza looks to the celestial mage/demon slayer slightly angry at this news however she brushes it aside when she realizes she shouldn't care because she doesn't even want to be her mate.
"No, because I'm not your mate and you can't claim me when I keep telling you to stop". Erza says venomously, "Just stop making a fool of yourself and move on".
Surprising the entire guild when they hear Erza speak so roughly to the kind hearted, slightly dense slayer whose looks slightly hurt.
For once Lucy doesn't says anything with the entire guild watching. Luce told her to never stop pursing your mate no matter how many times they tell you no, and she promised him before he disappeared, she wouldn't, which is why when she walks out of the guild head low, she surprises everyone including Erza.
Looking around Erza sees the looks of disappointment she is receiving from everyone. Walking up to her is Mira, Levy and Cana all whom look like they have something to say to her.
"Did you really have to be so harsh to Lucy, Erza? The girl's been nothing but sweet to you and you go and yell at her like that" Mira says shaking her head.
Clenching her fist Erza looks away while Cana speaks "Yeah Erza, if you were really mad about Lucy sleeping with all those people you could've just spoken to her about that, I mean did you even listen to her earlier speech about courting you" Cana says before walking off.
"No but-"
"Lucy really liked you, the ritual to courting you was really long and tedious but she was willing to do it because her inner demon says her lifelong mate was you Erza, sighing Levy continues " The only reason she slept with those other people was because during mating season it can be painful for demons to be alone, and besides she chose people she had no emotional connection too". Levy finishes walking off leaving Erza to her own thoughts.
While sitting alone Erza thinks about what she did, and why she feels so bad about rejecting the demon slayer so harshly, I don't even care for her like that. So why do I feel so bad that I may have broken Lucy's heart, she thought.
A week later
"I'm really worried about Lucy" Mira says looking around the guild to see hardly anyone doing anything.
"I know she hasn't been seen for days, not even Natsu has seen her" looking to the corner of the guild to see a downtrodden Natsu trying to be consoled by Happy and Gray sitting opposite looking far off.
"Man, Erza really screwed Lucy up, didn't she?" Cana said not even sipping from her barrel of beer.
Sighing Mira nods. The atmosphere of the once boisterous guild was now dark and morose. "Lucy may have been a little dense, but her spirit really changed the guild from the short amount of time she was here"."Erza's words must've really effected her".
"I'm worried for my child" Master says sipping from his mug worried for Lucy, not even he was aware of her departure. Then looking to the far corner of where a knight mage was looking down at an uneaten piece of strawberry cake.
With Lucy
"Princess don't you think you should've told the guild where you were going" Loke says to his master.
Taking a pause of what she was doing Lucy turns to her spirit with a toothy grin, "I mean yeah, but Luce always said spontantatiy was a sure-fire way to win back your mate when the going gets tough" going back to her previous job.
"That damn demon" he mutters "Okay, but what are you even doing?" he asked.
Stopping again Lucy turns around blood covered fists dirt all over her face and a new scar covering her face from monster she just faced. "It's said that there is a strawberry up through this mountain so delicious that one taste from it will make you cry" looking to Loke "Erza's favorite dessert is strawberry cake if you hadn't noticed, and I plan on getting it to make her a cake".
"Th-that's it" Loke says, baffled at her going through so much to just make a simple cake.
"No, after we are heading to this location where I heard there is a requip lightning outfit available only to those who can defeat this dark guild" Lucy says showing the location.
"Lucy, for Mavis sake that location is in Bosco!" Loke yells.
Nodding she goes back to punching the rock with her celestial fire punches, alongside Taurus "I know which is why need to get the strawberry fast so we can head to Bosco quickly. I can't make the cake until after I get the outfit, or the cake will go bad." Lucy says with a fire in her eyes.
Rolling his eyes Loke admits defeat at the fact his master will continue this job with or without his help and begins punching through the mountain towards the strawberry. Once they reach the point, she requests he holds it in the spirit world to keep it fresh as she journeys to Bosco.
One month later
"You did this Erza, you made Lucy leave" Natsu yelled with unshed tears in his eyes, "She was my best friend and you pushed her away!"
"Natsu stop!" Mira says trying to calm the dragon slayer down.
"No!, All Lucy wanted was Erza to accept her claim but Erza was too stubborn , instead she pushed the coolest person to walk into this guild away" falling to his knees, Natsu whispers " I found someone who was just like me, that could relate to what I went through and you pushed her away Erza" finally tears fall breaking the entire guilds heart including Erza's.
"I-I'm sorry Natsu, I-I didn't mean too, I was just jealous about Lucy sleeping with other people-
"So! It's what slayers do; how could you be so petty over something she needed to do so she wasn't in pain for a whole month!" Natsu yelled at the Scarlet haired mage keeping the attention of the entire guild, which caused no one to notice the guild doors opening revealing a blonde in tattered clothes with a new scar on her face covered in the same untouched white cloak.
"Natsu, why are you yelling at my mate?" Lucy asks casually, causing Natsu and Erza to stop their argument and the entire guild to turn around and look at the banged-up blonde.
"Luce...is that you?" Natsu asked tears in his eyes at seeing his best friend in a month.
Checking herself Lucy taps her arm double checking then looks to Natsu and grins "Yup it's me, Natsu!"
Tackling the girl onto the floor Natsu hugs her yelling at her at the same time for disappearing then questioning her.
"Where the hell did you go Lucy, you've been missing for a month, no one could find you when we were looking, and you didn't even leave a note?" Gray asked.
Looking away Lucy stares at Erza who looks away guiltily, "Well remember when Erza told me to give up on claiming her or even being her mate because I was embarrassing myself"
"Yeah"
"Yup"
"Hard to forget that rejection"
The entire guild says turning to look at the person who rejected the kind-hearted mage.
"Well", puffing up her chest, "I was taught by the strongest demon in all of Earthland that no matter how many times I get rejected to never give up and to pursue them until I wear them down" Lucy says with a toothy grin.
"After Erza rejected me I realized I wasn't trying hard enough so I went out and searched for some stuff that could win her over and, Virgo?"
In a flash of light, a maid spirit popped up with two boxes "Here you go Princess, good luck" then disappearing Lucy turned back to the guild." When I realized my advances weren't working, I first traveled to Stella for the best Strawberry in all of Earthland so I could make my mate's favorite dessert Strawberry cake"
"Aww" half the guild said.
"After I finished getting the strawberry, I headed to Bosco to fight this dark guild for a requip lightning suit to show my mate how much I'm willing to go through to get a gift which will remind her of me and is something she will be able to use "throwing a wink to Levy and the others.
The guild filled with silence, no one was able to speak at the amazing feat the girl was able to accomplish.
"Luce, are you telling me you spent the last month traveling for stuff to give to Erza, and after she rejected you?" Natsu said incredulous.
"Yup, Luce told me denial is just a mate's way of playing hard to get." Winking over at Erza who was looking at the gifts Lucy set in front of her.
"Well damn, why couldn't Lucy choose me for a mate" Cana said, slightly jealous.
"It's not me who chooses the mate Cana, it's my inner demon" Lucy says pounding a fist to her chest.
Walking up to Erza she slings an arm around the mage smiling "I'm sorry I slept with so many people", looking down "I promise you'll be the only one I sleep with during mating season which is great since it's coming up soon!" Lucy says to a blushing Erza who was stuttering excuses as to why she wouldn't be available those days.
"Not to worry I'll make sure Mira clears your schedule when the time comes" Lucy says with a toothy grin. The entire guild laughing at the Scarlet hair mage and the oblivious Wizard Saint.
Thank you for the comments and reviews. Each one makes me want to continue this and let's me know I'm doing something right. I'll have the next chapter up soon.
