Loki examined the quarters that the young queen had led him to. The room was pleasant and filled with sunshine. The open window allowed the island breezes to cool the area nicely. He was quite comfortable, but that was the problem. He'd been in this room for much too long.

It had been hours since he'd spoken with Queen Lusca about meeting her advisors. Surely if was to meet them he would have by now. While he'd always considered patience to be one of his best qualities, as it was necessary in any scheme, he was feeling irritable at the moment. This queen was a mere bump in the road of conquering the little island and yet he'd agreed to come to some compromise with her.

Giving up on ever being summoned, Loki opened the door, stepped into the hall, and began looking for the queen's room. As he strolled through the palace he noted the great wealth displayed. Obviously Lyron had enough resources to keep itself content. He wondered how they imported some of the treasures that lined the beautiful building. Surely not all of these had come from the island itself.

At the end of the hallway he found the office he'd been in earlier and noticed that the double doors were carved with words in a language he didn't understand. Music played behind the doors, though he wasn't sure if the noise should actually be classified as music even with its toe-tapping beat. The instruments used to play whatever song this was were loud and annoying and the few lyrics he could make out were the same.

Flinging open the doors with a shot of magic, Loki was amused to find Lusca lip syncing as she sorted through a stack of papers. When she looked at him her mouth dropped and she scrambled to the device that was playing the racket.

"I'm here to tell you, honey, that I'm bad to the bone!" The iPod sang before Lusca silenced it. In her haste to stop the music she'd knocked several files off her desk and the papers fluttered across the room. A few landed at Loki's feet and he picked them up to examine them. They were charts having to do with agriculture and if they were to be believed Lyron was doing an excellent job of feeding its inhabitants.

Lusca grabbed the paper out of his hand and quickly shoved it into a file. A blush was lighting up her dark cheeks and she brushed a stray piece of hair out of her eyes. Clearing her throat she glared at him.

"Please knock next time you wish to speak with me."

"And miss seeing your lovely performance? I think not." He laughed, sending a bit of magic to her iPod and unpausing the song.

"B-b-b-b-bad! B-b-b-b-bad!"

Lusca yelped and dashed once more to turn of her device. Her blush was greater than ever now and she looked down at the papers on her desk to try and hide it from him.

"You have quite an interesting taste in music, Majesty," He clasped his hands behind his back and slunk over to her desk. The files were a disaster and many of them had his picture in them. He raised an eyebrow and picked up a photograph of him giving a speech in France, "And it seems a bit of an obsession with me."

"What? Oh!" She grabbed the picture out of his hand, causing him to pick up another, "All of it is research. Lyron has been trying to find ways to help…" She flicked a glance at him, "To help the countries who have been most heavily hit from your invasion."

"Is that so?"

"Yes," She took the photo he held and he picked up another just to annoy her, "Would you please stop messing with my stuff?"

He tapped the insignia of a blue diamond that decorated each file. "This says that these files are the property of the government of Lyron. As I am about to run that government, technically this is my stuff."

"You don't run our government so please stop." She took back the papers he was looking over and he simply took another stack off her desk. The queen huffed indignantly.

"This is a lovely office by the way," He gestured to the intricate lighting fixture that was made up of the same blue gems that decorated her tiara, "I might even let you keep it when this island is mine."

"How generous," She deadpanned. Straightening her blazer again, she pasted that smile on, "May I ask the reason for your visit?"

"You said that you would introduce me to the island and I am holding you to your word," He finally set down all of the files he'd been looking at and smiled genuinely at her, "I hope you aren't too busy."

"As a matter of fact-"

"Excellent! I recommend you assemble your advisors now and I shall make a call to mine. Based on the satelite tower I saw on my way in I assume phones function here, correct?"

"Yes, but-"

"Wonderful. As I do not yet know my way around your home we shall have to hold the meeting in this room," He eyed the mess on her desk, "You may wish to tidy up."

"Listen, I am not prepared at this moment to hold a council meeting! You will simply have to wait until-"

"Oh, I'm afraid that won't due. I have a squadron of men waiting to attack at my command and I would hate to break a treaty before we even write it!" He placed a hand on her shoulder and looked her dead in the eyes, "Summon your advisors or I will be forced to take action, Majesty."

Lusca swallowed nervously. "Very well," She picked up the landline on her desk and pushed a few buttons, "Councilwoman Vea? Yes, thank you. Would you please call on the other six. I have an important matter that needs the immediate attention of the council. No, I'm fine. Yes, yes, of course. Are you certain?" The young queen sighed heavily, "I understand, thank you for trying. Yes. Thank you." She placed the phone back in its cradle.

"One of the councilmen cannot make it?" Loki guessed.

"Apparently there is an emergency in one of our farming areas. Councilman Agwe will not be attending."

"This hardly concerns agriculture, so it is no matter. The rest of your people will be in attendance." It was not a question.

"Certainly," She licked her lips anxiously, "Take a seat while we wait."

Loki did as she asked, grabbing another file as he sat. Lusca rolled her eyes and, when it became clear he wasn't going to converse with her anymore, she went back to sorting through her files.

Within twenty minutes all of the advisors (with the exception of Agwe) had arrived. As they entered the office they all gasped when they saw him lounging there. Many began whispering behind their hands, but one did not ignore the elephant in the room. A man, not much older than Lusca herself, slammed his fist on the desk. The queen jumped and stared at him.

"Zac?" She asked, worry in her eyes. Loki also spotted something else there. A desire to please was quite evident. Whoever this councilman was, he held Lusca's attention easily.

"What is this criminal doing here?" The blue haired fellow bellowed, "How did he arrive on Lyron? Why has he not been killed?"

"Councilman Azzaca, please, he is my guest here."

"The fact that he was even allowed to set foot on our island makes me question your ability to rule us." The boy seethed. His eyes were ablaze, which caused Lusca's to fill with hurt.

"She is quite competent at her job," Loki commented, "In the past few hours she has been doing everything in her power to ensure that I do not simply blow Lyron to bits. The queen had the same reaction as you do, Zac, when she first saw me, but when she realized the threat that I pose to her people's well being she did her best to steer me away from the prospect of violence," He steepled his fingers and glared at the other man, "It would be a pity for you to undo all of her hard work."

Lusca looked thankful for his interjection, but she was still worried. Loki observed the other advisors and found most of them were many years older than their monarch. Many of them seemed fierce, but others looked as if they wanted nothing more than to roll over and allow him to do as he would as long as he left them out of it. While these councilors disgusted him, they would probably also be the most easily used in the plot he was developing.

"Perhaps we ought to take this to the meeting room where we can all sit and discuss this calmly." An older woman said, looking pointedly at the chair Loki was occupying. He assumed it was because her ancient bones ached so he stood.

"Take my seat," He sat instead on the edge of Lusca's desk, somewhat blocking her view. Her irritated grunt amused him so he didn't move, "I feel we can come to an agreement about the future of Lyron relatively easily. We should be finished within the hour."

"How can you be sure?" An old man asked.

"I already have a plan that I think everyone will approve of. It's quite simple and it allows your island to go on mostly as it always has - of course it won't be exactly the same since the barrier is down," He gauged their reactions to this news and leered at them, "Did Lusca not tell you? I took down your shield on my way in. It's not her fault, so please don't place all of the blame on her. Yes, Azzaca, I saw you open your mouth indignantly, what would you like to say?"

The young man stared daggers at Loki. "You have exposed our people to the world. It will only be a matter of time until we fall to ruin!"

Loki looked over his shoulder at the queen, who was silently fuming by the looks of things. "Majesty, are you alright?"

"Councilmembers, please remain calm. Thus far, Loki has shown signs of cooperation and is open to the idea of peace between Lyron and the countries he rules."

"And if he suddenly becomes opposed to the idea of peace?"

"Then you'll all die," Loki stated plainly, "And I will gain total control of the island."

o*o*o*o

Princess Raeni was listening outside of her aunt's office with rapt attention. Her friends would be very pleased with this development. Maybe they'd even like it so much that her boyfriend would realise that he was wrong to dump her. A grin lit up the girl's face at the thought and she leaned closer to listen.

"What kind of alliance are you proposing?" That sounded like Oria. Her voice had a tendency to whine a little.

"You'll know soon enough," The alien replied, "I don't mean to disclose details at this time, but at the banquet you are holding in my honor tomorrow I will reveal everything."

Raeni didn't remember hearing anything about a banquet. She wondered when that had been planned.

"What banquet?" Vea asked.

"I'm sure you'll get something together." The alien sounded like he was about to laugh.

"Uh, yes," That was Aunt Lusca's voice, "Err, I have a large dinner planned for tomorrow evening." The queen sounded more nervous than Raeni had ever heard her. Part of the teenager wanted to get upset with this alien king for making her aunt stutter, something she'd never done at a council meeting before. The other half of Raeni wanted to agree with him. He had created world peace in record time and she was sure he wanted what was best for Lyron. Raeni's boyfriend had said so.

"The terms of our alliance will involve Queen Lusca still holding the highest position of power here, but all of her major decisions will have to go through me first."

"I'd have to ask your permission to do anything?!" Aunt Lusca stated angrily, "How would I ever run my kingdom if I constantly have to seek your approval?"

"I trust that you will do what is best for your country so only major decisions must go by me." Raeni though that sounded reasonable. The Queen would still be mostly in control and they would have the protection of this king to help them out.

"And I suppose after the queen passes on you will have absolute power here?" Azzaca spat, "The rest of us would have to forfeit our country because Lusca has no heir."

Raeni clenched her fists. The topic of Lusca's heir was a sore one for the princess who was not allowed to rule. It was part of the reason the girl wanted Lyron to join the rest of the countries under Loki's rule. If he was king then there was a good chance that she could hold a position of power someday.

"No heir?" Loki mused, "I suppose you are hoping to help her out with that."

Raeni held back a snort as the council gasped collectively. Everyone knew that Azzaca and Lusca had been close friends for the entirety of their lives. They had even dated once, but Lusca had regretfully broken it off when she'd been made queen. Azzaca was still a tad bitter about it.

"How dare you insult myself and the queen this way?!"

"Zac, please calm down." Aunt Lusca ordered, though she sounded upset.

"I will not be satiated. This arrogant boar has done nothing but fling mud at our great island since he arrived. Your Majesty, I beg you consider gathering our troops."

"You realize I have the whole might of the world behind me, don't you?" Loki scoffed, "Your soldiers may possess magic but I have unlimited resources if it comes down to war."

The room fell silent with the realization that they were insects under his boot and if he decided to put his foot down they would be obliterated. Lyron's warriors, though passionate, were too small a force to make much of a difference in combat against this king. It was a mockery to call the possibility "war", "slaughter" was a far more accurate term.

"To answer your previous question, no. In the event of the queen's death I would allow you to select a new leader to replace her. Or rather, I'd allow whoever the island chooses to replace her."

Raeni said the baddest word she knew. Even with Loki's rule she still wouldn't be important in the future. It was maddening to say the least.

"Will you immediately destroy us if we do not agree to these terms?" Aunt Lusca asked tiredly.

"No. I have other ways to persuade you."

The princess' mind flashed to the footage she'd seen of New York. The golden scepter that had controlled all of SHIELD's heroes was a dominant memory. Would Loki put the council and queen under mind control if they didn't do what he wanted? The advisors obviously thought so because from that point onward their conversation was much more agreeable to the king's plans. Raeni heard them discussing the little details of the future treaty and she would have continued listening if a guard hadn't found her eavesdropping and shooed her away.

Running to the nearest exit, the princess began thinking of all the information she could share with her friends. Her boyfriend would have to take her back after she told him the news. He would be so excited. The whole island should be excited, even if they didn't like the idea at first. Lyron was finally joining the rest of the world.

o*o*o*o

That Evening

Lusca was hiding in her favorite garden. Hiding from the people, the council, Zac… everyone. The sun had set hours ago and she still had much work to do before the "celebration" tomorrow. The thought disgusted her.

After the meeting she'd announced the treaty to her people over the radio, television, and from the squares of the four villages that made up the island. The elder citizens were furious with the prospect. Many accused her of dying her hair black and demanded that they see proof that Lyron had chosen her. It had been worrisome, but the younger members of the audience had an even more frightening reaction. They had cheered. When Loki had stepped up to the podium they had gone wild. It made the young queen sick. The "new ruler" had taken it all with that same infuriating smirk.

On top of everything else Raeni's bodyguard reported that she had gone missing again. The princess, though she'd been terrified of the invader earlier, was no doubt out celebrating his arrival with her friends. Lusca could only hope the girl remembered to behave like a lady.

When everything was going so poorly Lusca questioned why Lyron had approved of her being a monarch. It seemed she had done nothing right since she'd become queen. Her only boast was that their agriculture had improved significantly in her rise to power, but considering the years before had been plagued with famine and drought it wasn't that impressive.

Feeling tears spring up in her eyes, Lusca tried to distract herself by turning on her iPod. She selected her favorite playlist, which was comprised entirely of music from the 1980's, oddly enough. The song that greeted her ears made her laugh pitifully.

"Just a small town girl, livin' in a lonely world. She took a midnight train going anywhere…" The little pink device sang over the garden area.

Lusca sniffled and chuckled at the same time at how well the lyrics fit her current situation. She began to sing along quietly, trying to cheer herself up.

"Streetlight people, living just to find emotion. Hiding, somewhere in the night!"

Unbeknownst to the wet-eyed woman, there was someone else in her garden. He was listening with great amusement to the singing queen. He moved closer and was soon right behind the bench she sat on. At this distance he could see the water streaks on her face. He considered pointing out that a strong ruler wouldn't cry, but for some reason he held back.

"Don't stop believin', hold on to the feelin'!" Lusca sang and then Loki put a hand on her shoulder, causing her to fumble with her iPod and jump a foot in the air. He laughed as she, once again, hurried to hide her music choice from him. This time she was also quick to swipe her sleeve across her eyes.

"Despite my dislike for the songs you listen to, you sing them surprisingly well," He commented, scooping up her abandoned device and scrolling through the list of song titles. All of them were odd and a few made him smile, "Footloose? Eye of the Tiger? Killer Queen?"

"The classics," She gave a very small smile, but it was the first real one he'd seen on her face, "My oldest brother introduced me."

"You will have to show me some of them someday and I can decide if any of them are not wretched." He joked, handing her the iPod.

"What makes you think I'll be interacting with you anymore than just political meetings?" She snapped, obviously not caring for diplomacy at the moment. He didn't blame her. It seemed her entire kingdom had fallen in one day.

"I just have a feeling," He answered, looking away to examine a flower. It was exotic and he hadn't seen any like it anywhere else on Midgard yet. If he sent a team of scientists here after he got back to New York he was sure they would have the time of their lives examining all of the new plant and animal life, "Are the flora and fauna here affected by the magic?"

"I," She tucked her iPod in her pocket and fiddled with the buttons on her blaser nervously, "I really don't know. You could ask Councilman Agwe when he's finished with his emergency. I'm sure he knows all about the plants."

"Speaking of Councilmembers, what claim does Azzaca have to you?" He smirked as she blushed heavily and turned her brown eyes down to her shoes, "I'm just curious."

"Oh, um, well," She looked toward the palace and he could tell that she wanted to run from him, "He and I grew up together."

"There's more to it than that. I see the excitement in your eyes."

"We dated long ago - I don't really see why this is important."

"As I said, I'm simply satisfying my curiosity," He shrugged, "A king ought to know his people."

Lusca nodded politely and then turned to leave. "If you'll excuse me, I have some work that I need to attend to… preparations for tomorrow's party, official papers that need my signature, my niece is missing again… you understand."

Loki was upon her in a flash, causing her to gasp as he grabbed her arm roughly. "Wait for your phone to ring before you go."

"Pardon?" She asked, brow furrowed. He held her still and she was about to try and pull away again when her phone rang. It was the ringtone she'd assigned to all of her councilors (excepting Zac), an official ringing sound instead of the songs and various animal noises she'd given to everyone else. Quickly jerking off Loki's arm, she pulled her phone out of her back pocket, "Agwe? What is it?"

Loki smiled at her in a way that did not bode well. It looked as if he knew something she did not, something that would ultimately cause problems. She tried to ignore him and listen to her advisor's panicked voice over the phone.

"No! How?" She clutched the phone, "Strangers? By the volcanoes, can anything else go wrong today?!"

Loki watched as she paced with the phone in hand. Her face was stricken with horror and he could see the tears forming in her eyes again. She pinched the bridge of her nose and stared up at the stars.

"Yes, get it out, save what you can, and then come back to the palace. I assume you've heard the news?" She sighed, "You were right to worry about him and now I'm paying the price for not taking precautions," Hanging up the phone she turned to Loki and pointed at him accusingly, "You did this, you monster!"

For once his face showed no trace of mischief. "Consider it insurance."

"Insurance?!" Lusca cried, stepping closer to him, "You burned half of our crops! We will perish with no food! Agwe says the ground is burnt so badly they cannot begin planting again for weeks and because of a mysterious substance that has killed everything that touches it we cannot use the soil until we can safely remove the toxin! By that point the growing season will be over! What do you expect the Lyronites to do for food?!"

"I expect they will need to import it," He said calmly, "And for those imports they will need my help. This is the insurance that you will not go back on our treaty. If you break our agreement my men will kill more of your plants and then the livestock. Once you have nothing if you still attempt disobedience all shipments of food will cease."

Lusca covered her mouth as the tears poured from her eyes. It was a genius plan. He was putting Lyron in a position that would make her solely dependant on him and his charity. The once rich country had been reduced to beggars in a matter of hours.

He leaned down to her level and looked her in the eye. "From this moment onward if I say bow, you say 'how low?' If I say smile you say 'how bright?' And tomorrow, when we sign the treaty, you'll be welcoming of any amendments I suggest," His thumb brushed her tears and she pulled away, "Am I understood?"

Lusca turned to run from him, her mind a mess of worry, hate, and fear. He grabbed her arm and pulled her around to face him. He was dangerously close and she could look nowhere but his face.

"Am I understood?" He growled.

Lusca nodded, trembling. "Yes. I understand."

"If I say run?"

"How far?" She replied quietly.

"I was looking for 'how fast', but that's close enough," He patted her cheek and smirked, "Keep that mentality and Lyron will prosper."

The grip on her arm released and she sprinted from the garden as fast as she could. The king made no move to stop her this time. His business with her was finished… for tonight anyway.

A/N: Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it and are looking forward to more. :) Reviews, favorites, and follows are greatly appreciated! Do you guys like the random songs I threw in there or should I never do such a thing again? I dunno, the only other time I've tried to incorporate lyrics was in a rather old Labyrinth (it was a phase, ok?) story *shudders* and that didn't go very well. I kinda like it in this story, but I'm not sure.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bad to the Bone (George Thorogood) or Don't Stop Believing (Journey).