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Chapter One~Family Vacation

Gregor wandered around his small hotel room in New York aimlessly. Coming to New York as a family vacation was a big mistake on his father's part. Especially after 5 1/2 years of avoiding the topic of New York and whatever lay beneath it. Gregor's father had noticed Lizzie's and Gregor's increasing disinterest in Virginia and basically everything in general. He had also not ignored Boot's constant asking for Temp and Hazard and Dulcet. Their mother, on the other hand, refused to notice these things. So, a week ago, Gregor's father announced that they were going to New York for two weeks for "bonding" and "relaxation" using the huge amount of money they had won in a local lottery. But Gregor knew the real reason: the Underland. He knew his father expected Gregor to end up into the Underland, whether by accident or on purpose. This didn't really bother Gregor. In fact, as soon as he heard the news, he was already planning his trip down. He would take Boots and Lizzie with him, of course. Boots would want to see temp, hazard, Dulcet, and probably whatever other friends she made down there. Lizzie would want to see Ripred and, Gregor assumed, the rest of the code team. As Gregor planned out his trip, he heard his mother call him over to one of the two queen size beds in the room. She was stroking the one small purple mark on her cheek from when she had gotten the plaque in the Underland, which was her nervous habit. People often mistook the mark as a bruise, which Gregor's mom was fine with. She didn't exactly want to tell curious coworkers about how her husband and two of her three children disappeared through a laundry grate in their old apartment and that there was a whole civilization of pale skinned, violet eyed people. Gregor walked over to where she was sitting and sat next to her. She visibly took a deep breath and stared into Gregor's eyes, silently telling him to be quiet until she was finished talking. Gregor obeyed.

"Gregor, honey, your father has told me about how you and your sisters want to go to back down to th-the U-Underland," she said with difficulty. "You are seventeen and a half so I can't control you for much longer. Just promise me this, Gregor: If you are going down there again, do not fight in another war, okay? You were and still are too young to fight. Just...just that one little thing, Gregor, and I will let you do whatever you wish." The look in her eyes was so desperate and sad that Gregor knew he had to agree, or at least pretend to agree. He knew that the Underlanders were constantly at war, and times of peace were fairly brief. Still...did Gregor even want to fight again? "No," he told himself," But knowing the Underlanders, they would have you fighting in no time. After all, you were the warrior. Even if you killed him off, you're still a rager. Nowhere is safe for a rager unless he is in battle." Sighing, Gregor nodded at his mom and stood up.

"I'm going to walk around for a bit," he told his mom. "I need to stretch out my legs." Pulling on his shoes, he glanced at her face. The last time he had taken a walk, it was in Virginia. He had accidentally dozed off at a local park and his mom freaked out, thinking that he somehow made it into the Underland even though they were many miles away. As Gregor headed out the door, he suddenly knew where he was going to visit...or rather...WHO he was going to visit.

Gregor walked through New York, relying only on his memory to get to his desired destination. He hoped that he would remember Gregor, but there was always a possibility that...no, he would definitely remember Gregor. After being friends for so long, they would HAVE to remember each other. Gregor carefully knocked on the door to Larry's apartment and waited. Gregor was greeted by a completely unexpected guest, however.

"Gregor!" Angelina shouted. She tackled him in a tight hug that made him slightly uncomfortable. Hearing the yelling, Larry slowly walked up from behind Angelina and his eyes widened as he noticed Gregor. At the sight of their old friend, the two of them bombarded him with questions that Gregor didn't even have time as to process. Gregor held his hand up, trying to silence them before it made his head spin.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, guys, slow down," Gregor intervened." My family is here in New York for two weeks as a family vacation and I figured I'd stop by to say hello," he said, grinning. When Larry and Angelina heard this, they smiled at Gregor and let him in. He talked with them for about half an hour before remembering he had to get to the hotel. Gregor high fived Larry and hugged Angelina, telling them his hotel and room number and a reminder to visit. In his hurry to get back, Gregor didn't notice the small gray rat following and watching his every move from the shadows.

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Gregor yawned and stretched, startling Lizzie, who was sleeping next to him in their shared hotel bed. Boots (who went by Maggie now) was on Lizzie's other side, still snoring softly. Gregor glanced at the alarm clock on the nightstand next to him, which read 2:43 AM. Was this it? Would this be the perfect time to take his sisters and sneak down to the Underland? Lizzie was watching her older brother think and whispered to him

"Now?" Gregor thought about it for a moment and then slowly nodded.

"Wake up Maggie. I'll pack life-I mean light. Let's go visit a few friends, shall we?" Gregor whispered back, a grin making its way up onto his face. He was going back.

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Armed with a backpack of supplies, Gregor held both Lizzie and Maggie's hand as they slowly tip-toed their way down the hallway and to the three elevators. He let Maggie push the button and as they waited for an elevator, Gregor heard someone curse behind him. He spun around and saw two of the most unexpected people in the world to show up at 3:00 in the morning. Larry and Angelina.

"What the heck are you guys doing here?!" Gregor hissed at them. Larry glared at his friend and said, "Well, we were GOING to prank you but I see that you have plans," he said pointing to Gregor's backpack." Where are you going, anyway?" Gregor, Maggie and Lizzie exchanged looks before they replied at the same time,

"The mall."

"The park."

"Grocery store." The siblings glared at each other and all three of them sighed. Angelina stared at them and raised an eyebrow.

"Fine, we'll take you," Gregor huffed. Larry responded, "Yes!" At the same time Lizzie said, "No! We can't take them, Gregor, it's too dangerous!" Angelina sighed heavily and said, "It's fine. We don't mind a little danger, right Larry?" Larry nodded eagerly and said, "But before we go, can you please explain WHERE we're going?"

Gregor replied, "I'll tell you as we walk," to which his friends nodded.

Gregor had just finished giving them a rundown of the Underland as they reached the big rock at Central Park.

"Any questions?" Gregor asked. Both Larry and Angelina stared at him before asking him an endless string of questions such as:

"So that's why you have scars?"

"Is that why you never take your shirt off?"

"Is that why you turned down Jade Turner when she asked you out?"

"Ohh, is that why you currently have a big claw chained to your backpack?" And

"Telling tales out of school again, are we Overlander? Wait...Gregor knew that voice and it definitely wasn't from the Overland. He spun around and found the rock had been removed from the entrance to the Underland and a young man with a prosthetic leg, leaning on a walking cane about 10 steps down.

"Mareth!" Gregor shouted, and almost tripping as he attempted to hug his friend from a few steps up. Mareth grinned at him and motioned for Gregor, Lizzie, Maggie, and his friends to follow him. Gregor handed Lizzie, Maggie, Larry and Angelina each a flashlight. As they walked down the steps, he heard Larry and Lizzie talking.

"So that's Mareth, and he is...who, again"

"The guard from Gregor's first trip and also his close friend. He's the one who lost his leg."

"Got it."

There was no more conversation between them after that. Meanwhile, Gregor was explaining how he was only there for two weeks and filled him in on his life in Virgina. Mareth filled him in on the peace between the gnawers and the humans and how the gnawers now walked around Regalia freely as if they were humans.

"Luxa also misses you greatly," Mareth said with a sly smile. Before Gregor could respond, they had reached the bats. He greeted Andromeda, and introduced her to his friends. He also did the same to Nike, who said," Greetings, Princess," to Maggie. Maggie looked confused for a moment before replying, somewhat shyly," Greetings princess. We are both princesses." And Nike made the "huh-huh" sound which showed she was laughing. Maggie, Lizzie, and Gregor mounted Nike easily but Larry and Angelina stood next to Andromeda, unsure how to get on. Mareth guided them kindly and soon they were off.