It's been a long time since I wrote anything for Iron Fey, so you'll have to forgive me if the characters are a little OOC. I haven't read the books in forever but I'm re-reading the serious so sorry if I get some of the info a little wrong. :) I don't own The Iron Fey series.

It had been six months since Puck had left Ash, and his new soul, at the entrance to the Iron Realm. The Wyldwood was flourishing again, full of life and the bloodsucking fey that called it home. The Seelie territories were as beautiful as ever- flowers bloomed, a whole army of different colours. The fey danced and sang, enchanting with their eerie yet stunning tunes. Oberon and Titania reigned supreme, bringing order and bitchiness to their fellow court politicians.

The Unseelie territories weren't doing so badly, either. Fresh coatings of snow covered the place, and the blizzards never died. Crystal like flowers sprung from the cold, harsh grounds like diamonds amongst rocks. It was damn cold there- but they liked it that way.

Puck reclined against a tree trunk in the depths of the Wyldwood. The land around him was blackened and dead, one of the few areas that was yet to be freed from the grasps of iron. The trees were rotting from the outside in, the grass was dark stubble and the flowers lay against it like fallen soldiers. Puck was enjoying himself there- it reflected his current mood. He tossed an apple in the air and caught it a few times before taking a bite out of it. He found himself not enjoying it quite as much as he used to, especially with nobody to throw the core at. As he ate, he absentmindedly played with the amulet that hang around his neck.

You see, he could go and visit anytime he liked, but it just wasn't the same anymore. Meghan was a queen now, and Ash was busy with their soldiers all the time. Any free time the two had they spent together, and Puck could tell that they wouldn't appreciate being roped into a prank brigade. The world, it seemed, was more interesting when it needed saving.

"Robin Goodfellow."

Puck sighed loudly and tossed his apple core to the side. It wouldn't truly be the Nevernever if Grimalkin didn't pop up unwanted in random places.

"Hey there, old buddy old pal." Puck said in a singsong tone. "What brings you to my humble abode?"

"Humble abode?" Grimalkin scoffed. "Lounging under a dying tree for three days eating apples does not make you at home, Goodfellow."

"Aw, now you're ruining all my fun."

"The Nevernever is fed up of you, Robin Goodfellow. You have done nothing but sulk ever since your quest to the end of the world." Grimalkin continued as if Puck had not spoken.

"Robin Goodfellow does not sulk. He simply lies around all day sighing a lot and hoping something interesting will happen to him." Puck said, imitating Grimalkin's voice.

"I have come to call in my favour." The cait sith explained after a few minutes of cleaning his paws.

"Oh?" The faerie boy was surprisingly disinterested. He found that nothing interested him nowadays. Not after saying goodbye to Megan, and losing the only other source of entertainment he had. Ice boy was too serious, but at least teasing him had been fun. On top of that, Ariella had died for a second time six months ago and that still kind of sucked for him.

"We're sick of you getting us down all the time, and Elysium is fast approaching. So, as your repayment to me, you will take part in the 'Nevernever-ending love seeker' show that takes place every two weeks in court territories. In two days from now it will be held in the Erlking's domain, and you have already been registered as the show's eligible bachelor." If cats could smile, Grimalkin would be grinning in satisfaction as he broke the news to a shocked looking Puck.

"No way! That show's so weird!" Puck protested, sitting upright. "It's full of desperate noblemen and cannibal ogres! Besides, I can find my own companion. I'm witty and attractive, remember?"

Grimalkin snorted from the branches of the tree.

"Just make sure you are there in two days, before nightfall. Oh and Puck?"

"Yeah?"

"You will keep going on the show until you find somebody to stop your stupid sulking."

…

A day's worth of travelling brought Puck to the Summer Court. Okay, so maybe stopping to prank those winter guards wasn't really necessary, but how could he pass up on such a golden opportunity? Although, he admitted to himself, turning their arms into ice-cream cones hadn't been as fun without anybody there to frown and kick at him. A certain girl with an orange backpack would have made it more exciting.

He could sigh and eat as many apples as he wanted. He could be increasingly ruthless with his pranks or sulk all day, but Puck couldn't hide the fact that he was still in love with Meghan Chase from himself. Alas, iron queen had wanted ice boy since way before she was the ruler of her own realm. Those who watched the stars knew- though it would have been nice of them to tell him. Puck missed having her around. Hell, he missed having them both around. He had lost Meghan to his sworn enemy who wasn't all that much of an enemy after all. He supposed that, based on the last few centuries, Ash probably deserved to have Meghan. But, that didn't mean that Puck didn't want her too.

The trolls opened the gates for him and he stepped inside the courtyard. It was all so happy- it made him want to vomit. Ever since the evil iron monarchs had been defeated and Meghan had taken over, life had been one endless party for all the Fey but Puck.

"Goodfellow!" Oberon's voice boomed over the harp music. "It is good to see you back in court."

"Aw, Oberon. You're too sweet, I missed you too." Puck joked. Titania sneered from her throne, and Puck waggled his eyebrows at her. The Queen raised her arm, probably to turn him into a squirrel, but Oberon stopped her with a glare.

"I hear you are taking part in the 'Nevernever-ending love seeker' show. Is this true?" The Erlking asked. As soon as he said it, all of the fey that had been milling around the courtyard stopped what they were doing to laugh their asses off.

"Puck?" One of the nobles almost fell over he was laughing so hard. "On that old show? I want to buy my ticket now!"

"It's true." Puck confirmed, grimacing. "Never make a deal with a cait sith."

"Maybe you'll end up with a nice Piskie." Titania smirked. "Or a goblin girl!"

"No, no. He will find himself a friendly manticore companion, or a mermaid to eat his whole head!" Oberon roared, his face reddening with laughter.

By the way of Mab, Puck thought. Just kill me now.