SO surprise, in addition to an ending I am also 3 chapters ahead. I have decided this story will end with 40 chapters and should be able to tie up any loose ends you thought I forgot about. Soon my pets, soon.

Enjoy, rxr!

"But Kidddddd! Why can't we stop?" Patti whined from the back line. The sun was setting and Maka was growing colder by the second. She understood that there was a rush but there was no way that she would be able to survive the night outside.

"Because we will not arrive on time."

"What about BlackStar? Weren't we supposed see his place? I wanna go there."

"Patti. Stop whining. You know he doesn't want to deal with this as much as we don't." Liz pointed out from her resigned post on her horse. Even they were showing signs of the chill. What are we going to do if the horses freeze?

"Fine then? What about Maka?" Kid sat up like a bolt of lightning before turning to Patti with a dead serious look in his eyes.

"What about her?"

"We can stand the cold if we keep moving but Maka won't! She'll die! Is that what you want? Her to died and have to thaw tomorrow?"

"Maka. Are you cold?" Kidd's eyes turned soft as he addressed her. His gaze scanned her body checking for any signs of illness.

"Just a t-tiny bit." Maka couldn't help her teeth chattering and silently scolded herself.

"I was unaware please forgive me. I shall fix this immediately. Liz, get the fur ball out of your bag."

Fur ball? Maka was pondering on what exactly he could mean as Liz rummaged around. Finally she pulled out her closed hand and presented it to Kid.

"Age." His eyes glowed blue for a split second before a midnight mist shrouded Liz's hand. She released whatever she was holding as it grew larger and larger. When the mist cleared there was a large red fox with 5 tales in the middle of the horses. Standing as high as one it turned to Maka. Something sparked in its eyes before bounding on the horse and attempting to curl into Maka's lap. In the process, due to its huge size, it knocked the horse and Maka down with a loud thunk.

"Hehe, Hey!"Maka exclaimed as it licked her face with a rough tongue. "I know you! What are you doing out of the stove?"

Kid's anger subsided at her laughter and instead just cleared his throat. The creature stood at attention and awaited orders.

"Well you were going to warm her but seeing how you made her horse skittish it seems you have a new job." He directed a glare at the animal as it shrunk down sheepishly.

Honestly, there will be no horses left in the kingdom if we keep it up like this. "Maka You shall be riding the kitsune. And he will not be dropping you. Is that understood?"

The animal shook its head vigorously and crouched down to allow Maka a seat. His fur was warm and by his nature felted like a heated blanket*. "Liz tie her horse to yours and try not to have it run off. We need to keep moving"

They picked up back into a gallop. Maka was surprised to see the fox was keeping up with ease. As they travelled Maka marveled at the fox's soft fur. The heat it was emanating gave off a warm glow and Maka felt as if she were sun bathing on the beach. Before long her eyes started to drift shut.

I wonder why he brought the fox. From the sound of it, this wasn't part of the plan.

Maybe he wanted to surprise you. Maka turned her head to find the bandage girl stretched out near the fox's tails. Man! This is the life! He's so warm!

He?

What you don't know what a set of balls looks like?

Maka blushed profusely. She hadn't cared to check but there was no reason to be so brash about it.

Oh that's right. You don't.

What are you even doing here?

Just popping in to see how seducing the Prince is going. Just go to sleep kid, I'll keep an eye on the place.

Maka had wanted to argue but she was just too tired. Instead she just nodded and drifted into slumber.

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Kidd kept an eye on Maka's impromptu mount but he had seemed to be behaving himself. The Fox ran swiftly but landed as soft as a feather as not to disturb her. The natural warmth it gave off seemed to keep her from feeling the effects of the cold and he was happy to see her cheeks rosy with a smile. By the time they had neared the kingdom she was just waking up. Coincidently the sun was also rising to mark their arrival.

The big obsidian walls towered over them in the distance and the huge wooden gate was already pulled open for the day. Against the pale red light of the morning sun the place looked demonic and yet Kidd thought it had a charm all its own.

"Mmmm… Are we there yet?" Maka sat up on her bouncing mount and worked on establishing her surroundings. Kid chuckled to himself and idly wondered what she thought. As she turned to the city gates her mouth hung open. Kidd felt a sick feeling in his stomach as he now knew what she thought. With the black walls reflecting the light like flames, it really did look like the gates of hell.

"It's so… beautiful." She stared in open awe and Kidd had to scorn himself for thinking she wouldn't look past surface ideas.

"You think so?" The horses were tired and lingering behind as they neared home. The girls were in no better shape and just as grouchy.

"It's like a romantic movie."

"There are many ways to describe it but I must admit that is one I hadn't considered."

"It's like it's a castle in a secret land that you can only find when the sun comes up. Where the prince carries his bride to be away where no one will ever find him."

"Hehe." Kidd had missed the distinct clicking of horse's hoofs and hadn't even noticed he and Maka had stopped moving to stare at the walls.

Oh no.

"Well there, Mr. prince Charming." Liz laughed cynically in her tired state. "The go ahead and carry away your princess."

The two sisters laughed again but before Kidd made a reaction himself he glanced at Maka. Her cheeks were red and her hand was pulled to her chest as if she were hiding something. Maybe that embarrassed her. Perhaps a joke will assist.

"Ehmm." Kidd cleared his throat and reached out pulling Maka on to his own horse. "Shall we, My Princess?"

He kicked Bronte into high gear before galloping past the girls leaving everything else in the dust until everything was a blur except for Maka's laughter.

"Well damn." Liz thought.

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I despise this. I loathe this. I hope anyone who encouraged this as a good idea should be hung from a tree by their toes. It was indeed that time of year again. Kid stood in the rarely used throne room in his formal attire. His suit was embellished with golden skulls and small black roses with silver details. His father for once was next to him in person, instead of at the desk. This time the company was a bit more important than usual.

"Father, I must talk to you about this arrangement. Certain things have come up."

"You mean Maka?" His father sounded even more tired than Kidd had remembered and he suddenly felt sick for spending all of his time away instead of helping. He thought Maka had called it guilt. The girl in question had finally been separated fully from the prince's side and he never felt more alone. It was different when she was just down the hall with the girls. If she needed anything she could just call and he could hear her. Now, anything could happen and he wouldn't know. It just didn't sit right with him.

"Yes. Her." His voice was suddenly filled with emotion. He was unused to the feeling. As it was he was just getting used to his brain processing them and now they were leaking into his voice.

"We will discuss it later." As if to ruin the moment a purple and green portal opened in front of them. "But at the moment we have guest."

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"Mistress Maka?" One of the courier pages had popped his head in the stabled to find his target curled up with a fox on the hay sleeping soundly. "Mistress Maka?"

He stepped closer only to be swatted away by a burning hot tail. The kitsune cracked his eyes open before wrapping Maka tighter with his tails.

"Mistress Maka. I must insist you get up. The prince and his Lordship have called you." The man's voice rose but she still didn't stir. Now after fetching the girl multiple times he had learned the easiest way to wake her but had always felt bad doing so. However, this was an emergency.

"My. Is that the Prince looking up that poor girl's skirt?"

"WHAT?!" The girl jumped out of bed with such force that even her pet/pillow jumped backwards in shock. "I will Maka Chop him into the ground. That freaking Pervert! I KNEW it was never an 'accident'!"

"Uh… Mistress Maka?" The girl still seething turned her head to the side and recognized the messenger and what had just occurred. She had not intended to fall asleep out here but while waiting for the guards to pass so she could sneak the fox in she had dozed off.

"The Prince and his Father need to see you in the throne room. Immediately."

"Oh okay, let me go get changed." She started to move until the small man reached out with his hand and shook his head.

"I am afraid there is no time. Hold on." With that the two disappeared into a wisp of smoke. It was so unlike the portals at Tsubaki's house where it felt just like passing through a door. In this she felt them racing along and saw the castle shoot by. When they finally came to halt it took her a moment for the dizziness to subside.

"Uh, thanks for the shortcut. I can find my way back after." Her head still kind of hurt and she was making sure she got back all of the right parts.

"As you wish Mistress." He vanished leaving Maka to push open the big doors.

The first thing she had noticed was Kidd standing in the room with an unpleasant scowl. Next to him appeared to be his father but Maka had been fooled by the holograms before so she did not count on it. However, it was the next person she saw that made her understand Kidd's sneer. Staring at her with a false smile and bright eyes was Medusa. She was wearing a hooded dress in emerald with snakes of gold curling their way through the fabric. The smile that was plastered on her face was fake but seemed to Maka like it was hiding bad news.

"Ah, hello everyone. I am so sorry for my tardiness… and my current state." She had started to move towards the group and Kidd's mood had turned from anger to seething hatred. "It is lovely to see you again, Miss Medusa."

"Always my dear girl. I actually called you hear so I can't really complain about what activities I had pulled you away from." Her smile screamed for Maka to run. Like this was all a trap she could she but couldn't resist walking into.

"That reminds me. The whole reason why I called you here. I would like you to meet Crona. My daughter…" The men parted to show a girl with beautiful long hair. It fell in soft strands around her face and was decorated with equally as pink flowers. Her pale skin only glowed more with the rose dress she wore but honestly, while Maka was taken by her beauty, a small part of screamed that there could be such a thing as too much of one color.

"And the Prince's betrothed." Maka's world cracked.

*Kitsunes are tailed foxes usually associated with fire. Kid, being part of death forced it to mature faster using magic so it could provide the needed heat. No worries though, after they grow to have 9 tails they live forever… I love foxes

Oh ho ho, what have we here? Angst? Yes. But also a huge plot device later in the story. Be prepared. Remember to review and fan art is always amazing. Also would you guys like a roguh map of the underworld? Just for a point of reference? Let me know yah?

-om