A/N: As much as I love Gwendoline Christie's Lucifer, every time I hear or read Lucifer, Tom Ellis is the first one I see, so I went with his looks when I described Lucifer.

Besides, for as long as I can remember, I was always taught that Lucifer is a male and I just have problems with imagining him otheriwse (while not watching the series). But please, do not hold it aganist me.

I hope you enjoy the chapter.

**********

Lucifer Morningstar stood with his back towards the guests, as they entered. His black, bat-like wings twitched against his back every once in a while.

"Hello," he greeted them, as he turned around.

Morpheus and Atia nodded their heads in acknowledgment. The Devil started approaching them slowly, waving his hand through fire as he went. For a second, the flame grew bigger and brighter, before getting smaller.

"Hello, Dream. Atia," Lucifer announced, as he stopped right before the two rulers.

"Greetings to you, Lucifer Morningstar," the Endless replied.

"And to you, Mazikeen of the Lilim," Atia looked towards the demon, standing in the shadows.

The woman slowly turned towards them, revealing the devastated half of her face, burnt off and scared.

"Greetings, Dream Lord. Atia," she sent them both a small nod.

"You both look well," Lucifer mused, looking both of them up and down, but his eyes lingered on Atia's form. "Are you well? And your family, Destiny, Death, Despair, and the others?"

The King of the Dreaming smiled without an ounce of humour in it. Instead, his smile was cold, as were his eyes, the question making unwanted and hidden disappointment flare within him.

He didn't know and frankly, for the time being, he didn't care. But he assumed they were just fine.

"I presume the Ruler of Hell knows this is no social call," he said instead.

"Have you come to join forces then? To ally your realm to ours? To acknowledge the sovereignty of Hell?"

"You know our feelings on that, Lightbringer."

"Feelings change," the Morningstar smirked, as he looked on the Endless. "Especially when one has been caught and imprisoned by mortals. We expected better of you, sweet Morpheus."

"We have come, because my Helm of State was stolen from me," Dream didn't let anyone see the effect that comment had on him. "I believe one of your demons has it. I should like it back."

When Lucifer only smiled, Morpheus' eyes narrowed.

"Now," he added, clenching his jaw.

"Dream, if only it were that easy," the Devil tsked. "But there are rules, you see. Protocols which must be followed."

"Surely, there must be some kind of exception, as the helm was stolen," Atia protested.

"Sorry, love, but there are none," Lucifer turned away from them, walking back towards the balcony where he stood earlier. "Which demon has your helm? Name it and we will bring it here."

"I confess I do not know the name," the Endless admitted.

Thanks to Johanna, who expelled the demon before they could find out. Or maybe the demon would've lied. Either way, they had no idea which demon could be in possession of it now.

"Then we will have to summon all of them," Lucifer mused, as he reached the edge of the balcony.

The four beings in the room slowly approached the Ruler of Hell, who with a lazy wave of hand summoned his subjects. Almost immediately roars and shouts sounded across, now, filled grounds beneath them. Fires roared to life, burning high and bright.

"There, now, Dream, you may inquire," the Morningstar smirked. "Which demon has your helmet? Shall we interview them one at a time, or..."

He looked towards the other monarch beside him. Morpheus slowly turned his head towards him.

"That won't be necessary," he declared.

In response, Lucifer only tilted his head and raised a brow. Dream Lord put his arm around Atia's waist and walked back inside the throne room. She sent him a confused look, as they seemed to go towards the exit.

However, the expression disappeared from her face, as she saw him reach towards his pocket, where the pouch with sand was.

"It surprises us how easily you would give up, Dream," the Devil taunted. "We know how you relied upon your tools."

The two stopped but didn't turn around.

"But tools are the subtlest of traps," Lucifer continued. "We become reliant upon them and in their absence we are vulnerable, weak, defenceless."

"Not entirely," Morpheus finally replied.

Letting go of his wife, he crouched down.

"I have recovered my sand," he explained and poured some sand on the ground. "It brought us to Hell and now it brings that which is mine in Hell to me."

Closing his eyes, he focused. In no time, the sand started whirling around them. After a short moment, it revealed what they were looking for. Or more likely, who.

Green-skinned demon, with purple spikes on his head where hair was supposed to be, stood with his back to them, looking around confused. As he turned around, they saw he was clutching onto the Helm of State.

"Tell me your name, demon," Dream demanded.

"Do I have to tell him?" the creature asked his own ruler.

"That is Choronzon," Lucifer revealed. "A Duke of Hell."

"Choronzon..." Morpheus repeated. "The helm is mine. You must return it to me."

"No," the demon protested, shaking his head. "It's mine now. I traded it from a mortal for a paltry thing. It was a fair trade. I've broken no laws. And if the Dream King wants his helm back, he will have to fight me for it."

"Very well."

Atia glanced unsurely towards her husband, but his gaze stayed on the demon.

"I challenge you, Choronzon," he declared.

The demon chuckled.

"You know the rules, Dream Lord."

"If I win, you will return my helmet."

"And if you lose, you'll serve as my slave in Hell for eternity."

Morpheus quickly glanced towards his wife. He saw the protest in her eyes, but he also knew he needed to do this. She'd be all right, even without him. She was strong and wise. She'd know what to do.

"I accept the terms," he declared.

Matthew cawed at his side, shuffling unsurely. He glanced towards Atia, who lowered her gaze to the ground and clenched her fists.

"And whom will you choose to represent you in the battle?" Lucifer asked.

"I shall represent myself."

"Choronzon, whom will you choose to represent you?"

The demon pretended to think, as he stepped closer to his opponent. He didn't miss the way Morpheus subtly pushed Atia behind him, squeezing her hand. He smirked.

Even though the terms said nothing about it, the demon couldn't help but think that the beautiful woman might stick around. After all, she seemed loyal to her husband above all, and she wouldn't leave him alone.

That gave him another reason to win.

"I choose you, sire," he declared.

Lucifer's outfit morphed and his white robes became black leathers. He slowly stepped behind the two Rulers of the Dreaming.

Morpheus couldn't help, but let a small smirk appear on his face as he turned around to face the other monarch.

"Apologies, Dream, but the laws of Hell demand that I become his champion," the Morningstar said, but anyone could tell he wasn't sorry at all. "But if you would not fight me..."

Glancing back towards the demon, he gave his answer.

"I have accepted the terms."

As he turned back around, his outfit also morphed into leathers, similar to the ones that Ruler of Hell had on.

"Let the challenge begin."

*****

Atia and Matthew stood back in the room, as the challenge was announced to the crowd. Choronzon stood at the edge of the balcony, addressing the demons. Lucifer stood to his right, Morpheus to his left.

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen," the demon announced, raising the helm high above his head. "Today for your entertainment and delectation, a formal challenge."

Roars and cheers sounded from below.

"The challenger is Dream. Once the Master of the Realm of Sleep," while Choronzon continued, the said Endless looked towards his wife and raven.

Atia was nervously picking at her nails, glancing towards him every once in a while. Matthew stayed by her side, cawing quietly and jumping around in circles.

"As the challenged, I've selected my champion, Ruler of Hell, Lucifer Morningstar..."

Dream blocked out the rest of the announcement, as he walked over to his Queen and bird. Seeing him approach, the two moved further into the room, to have some privacy.

"I need you to return to The Dreaming," Morpheus said as soon as they deemed the distance enough. "Both of you."

"What? No!" Matthew protested.

"You must be joking, if you think I'll just leave you here," Atia scoffed.

"It's the only reason I allowed you to come here," the Endless told the raven, ignoring the glare of his wife.

"So I could leave?"

"If I should not be able to leave, I would not have Lucienne left alone with no word of my fate. Not again," then, he looked towards Atia, and reached for his pouch. "The sand will take you both back."

"I will not go," she protested stubbornly, taking a step away from him.

"Me neither," Matthew agreed.

"Morpheus, am I interrupting a preliminary bout of some kind?" Lucifer called, as he walked back into the room.

"Just a ringside pep talk," the raven quickly responded, then added. "Your Majesty."

Then, he turned back towards the Dream Lord, who seemed like he couldn't decide which being he wanted to glare at more.

"We came here for the helm and we're not leaving here without it," he declared.

"We shall see," the Lightbringer said, then walked over to take his place in the ring.

Meanwhile, before Morpheus walked to his place, he turned towards his wife.

"Atia-"

"We will talk about it later," she told him with a light glare.

Then, she pursed her lips and put a hand on his cheek, before giving him a quick kiss.

"For now, focus on winning this, so we can go back home," she told him, and he gave her a light squeeze, before taking his place.

Lucifer smirked, as he looked at his opponent.

"As the challenged, I set the meter and take the first move," he declared.

"Very well," Dream agreed. "Make your move."

And the challenge began.

"I am... a dire wolf. Prey-staling, lethal prowler."

An image of beautiful, brown animal flashed through everyone's mind. It had yellow eyes, that seemed to glow in the dark and an angry snarl on its snout. The beast growled as it quietly stalked forward.

"I am a hunter. Horse-mounted, wolf-stabbing."

And they saw exactly that. A man mounted on a horse, clad in armour, with weapon in his hand.

He released an arrow, which hit the wolf. As soon as it made contact, Lucifer grunted and jostled in pain, clutching his abdomen. As he pulled his hands away, they all saw blood coaxing them.

Then, he clenched his fists and slowly, exhaled a long breath. His mouth twisted into a pained grimace, as he looked towards his opponent, one that almost looked like a dangerous smile.

"I am a serpent. Horse-biting, poison-toothed."

They all saw as the animal bit into the horse's leg. It whined, before falling to the ground. Meanwhile, Morpheus gasped, as he turned red, and his veins became visible as the poison made its way into his system. Atia shuffled from one leg to another, nervously biting her lip.

"I am a bird of prey. Snake-devouring, talons ripping."

And the said bird took the serpent into his claws, slashing at it. Lucifer's head snapped to the side, his hand going up to his cheek. There, three deep gashes ran across his skin.

"I am a butcher bacterium. Warm-life destroying."

The bird of prey slowly fell apart, as Morpheus fell to his knees with a pained wheeze. He was trembling, as he slowly raised his head, revealing his skin quickly paling and seemingly rotting, eating itself.

"I am a world. Space-floating, life-nurturing."

And they saw a beautiful meadow, full of healthy green grass and trees. Colour flowers grew across it.

Lucifer glanced around, before stretching his wings.

"I am a nova. All exploding, planet-cremating."

Morpheus screamed, as his skin was peeled away and burned. For a moment, he just laid there, staring blankly at the ceiling of the room. Atia wanted nothing more than to run towards him, but she knew the rules and she had to stay put.

With pain in her eyes, she watched as her husband struggled to get onto his knees groaning and grunting with each move, still failing to do so. He ended up just lying on his side, too weak to raise, before he continued the game.

"I am a universe. All things encompassing, all life embracing."

They saw a beautiful, colourful galaxy. Stars were everywhere, shining brightly. Morpheus healed and slowly stood up, before he was knocked down once again, as Lucifer spoke his turn.

"I am anti-life. The Beast of Judgement. The dark at the end of everything."

They saw the shadow fall over the universe, extinguishing all the light from it. And all they saw was darkness.

"What will you be then, Dream Lord?" the Morningstar asked, already knowing he was a victor.

For there was nothing that could destroy an anti-life. Or, so he thought.