Gregor and the Prophecy at Gray Customized

by Frostking104

-COMPLETE- In this story, Gregor fell into the Underland when he was 5, and decided not to leave. Now, at the age of Fifteen he must conquer the Prophecy of Grey before the Underland falls apart. (Gluxa) Rate T for mild violence, light cursing. INSTALLMENT 1 in the Customized Chronicles.*AU*

Hello everyone. :) i would like to present my new book. This is a redo of gregor and the prophecy of gray, except theres one change. Gregor fell into the under land when he was nine, and is now living ther at the age of fifteen. Since i dont know how to explain what happend, i will be puting little notes through out the story """""that have these around them""""" so please have fun reading, and please rate and review. God bless

I, do not and never have own the Underland Chronicles. I only own the idea that gregor fell when he was nine, and a few tweaks i made. The rest is property of Suzanne Collins

Gregor sat at the edge of his seat as he tried to figure out the strategy, his best friend luxa was doing in there game of chess. "If you glare at the board any more intense, it shall run away, before we are done" luxa said with a chuckle. " well, it is not good knowing you've already beaten me sixteen times" gregor joked back. Luxa, and gregor had really grown close in the last six years. Since luxas parents were killed by the gnawers she had stoped showing much emotion, around any one except gregor. " just make a move, by the time you are done-" she started only to be cut off by mareth hurrying into the room. " Queen Luxa, Gregor, there is an overlander in the arena! " he said taking heavy breaths, having obviously ran there in a hurry. Gregor and Luxa jumped up and ran down the hall. Gregor felt the wind on his face blowing back his hair as he sprited down the windy halls. In what felt like an hour, but was really just minutes, they arrived at the highhall, where there bonds were waiting for them. The two didnt hestitate jumping off the side of the balcony, spreding there legs to be caught. "I am guessing that you have heard. " ares purred from under gregor."""""gregor and ares met and bonded in his time in the underland""""". "Yes, do you know anything i might not" gregor replied. "Only that they are female, and fairly young. " ares said in a wondering voice. They reached the arena then and, what they were presented with was rather odd. There was a group of crawlers surrounding a little girl who, as ares said, looked to be about five. Gregor glanced at luxa and she nodded. The two teens then did a series of complex flips off there bats that they only did when they had guests from other species. Gregor could see the little girls eyes light up at the arrival of someone her own kind, he couldn't help smiling. " hi! " She said in an excited voice waving her hand like there was an ant on it. "Hello, little girl what is your name? " gregor asked. """"" at this point yiu probly have noticed that, i have gregor speaking like an underlander. Smart right? """""

"Im margeret. But you call me boots! " she exclamed. " Hello i am gregor, how old are you boots?"

"Gregor! I had an older brother named gregor... But i never met him." She paused a bit sad. " i am sorry sweetie, how about you come back with us to my home and we get something in that little belly of yours. " he said with a fake smile, he needed to talk to luxa. He then saw the little girls face light up. "Yeah! " she said and walked with him to ares, while luxa handled the cockroaches. Gregor, not used to having to get on his flier with a little girl in his arms ( she had fallen asleep on the five step walk) had a little trouble, but got on nonetheless. Once luxa had agreed on giving the cockroaches 5 baskets of... Whatever it was, he spoke up. "Lux" gregor wispered trying not to wake the sleeping boots as they flew back to the palace. "Yes gregor? " she responded cathing on to the wispering. "I need to talk. " gregor paused, he wasn't sure how to say this. "I think that boots is... My sister. " luxa almost fell off aurora in surprise. " what makes you think this gregor? " she said still shocked. "Her name. Before i fell i heard my mom talking to my grandmother, saying that she was going to name my baby sister after her. My grandmothers name was margeret. " he said with a sad expression. "Yes this would make sense then, and she did say somethimg about having a brother named greogr. " luxa responded. Ending ther conversation at that, They zoomed back to the palace and, after sending boots of with a nannie, went to tell vikus, who agreed. "Yes, yes i to believe your theory." Vikus said, after a moment his eyes widened. "but, i believe i have one of my own. " he said rushing out of the room, the teens following behind. They ended at the the prophecy room, and with vikus placing a torch over the prophecy of gray. " gregor, i recieved news today... I Was going to tell you over dinner, but with resent events i feel i should tell you now" he paused very obviously nervous. " Gregor... Your father is alive"

"W-what? " he managed to stutter out.

" Spies have confirmed this a few times, the rats are keeping him alive, but sadly, we do not know why." vikus said. Gregors mind was spinning, his father was alive? how was this possible? "you think the prophecy of grey is upon us. " gregor more stated than asked. "Yes, with the arrival of the overlander i think it is a reasonabal guess " he said. Gregor nodded, because it did, when else were there two overlanders, one of them the warrior, in the underland at the same time? Vikus sighed "supper will start soon." He said leaving the room, but not before giving gregor a resuring pat. Luxa quickly embraced gregor, gregor returning the hug. They stayed there for a couple minutes, at some point gregor started crying, then sobbing. Luxa silently crying with him. Gregors fater was alive? this idea brought joy to gregor, but also sadness. This entire time gregor could have been working to rescue him, but instead he let him half starve in the rats land. They pulled away after about seven minutes."it is not your fault gregor. " luxa said reading his thoughts. " i know i just- 'sniff' thank you " gregor said. "any time" luxa responded with a reasuring half smile. She then gave gregors hand a squeeze. "We need to get to supper" she said. As they walked down the halls gregor tried to dry his face, but if you looked you could see he had been crying. They entered the room and gregor took his place next to luxa, who sat at the head of the table. Henry, luxas jerk of a cousin who was visiting , then came in with his smile that everyone who just met him thought was genuine. he said hello to everyone as he passed "hello overlander. " he said with a teeny bit of hate. Luxa took a sharp inhale "Henry! You know that everone here has accepted gregor as one of our own! He is no longer an overlander! " henry muttered to himself. "And as a prince" so only a few could hear it, but gregor could tell luxa did from the sharp glare she was sending henry. Gregor wouldnt lie, When he fell, luxas parents had basically taken him in as one of there own, this led to people treating him as if he was the prince, even though he wasnt. Of course he couldnt order any body around, but poeple were really really nice to him. They even bowed to him! You would think that being treated like this would be awesome, and gregor had to admit, it had its perks, but gregor wasnt a huge fan of the treatment. Through out dinner, he picked at his food not really hungry. Then when they were done gregor and luxa walked hand and hand down the hall to the royal chambers. Gregor found boots tucked up in a bed next to his and layed down. "Goodnight gregor" he could hear luxa from the other room, right next to his.

"Goodnight lux. " he said drifting off into dream land.

When gregor awoke he noticed it must be a little early. Because he didnt hear the usual camotion he always did in the morning. Gregor sat up and saw a peice of parchment laying on his dresser.

Gregor

Please meet me in the prophecy room at midday with luxa and boots, also wake luxa and tell her there is a council meeting she must attend in two hours time.

Sinsearly, Vikus

Gregor read the note and sighed. Stretching as he got up, he went to awake luxa for her meeting. "Lux" he wispered gently shaking her shoulder. " mmm... Go away" she said sleepily " lux its me, you have a council meeting you have to go to. " luxa sighed and sat up giving gregor a quick squeeze. "Good morning gregor" she said "good morning lux" he replied making his way toward the door. "vikus's note says that the council meeting is in two hours, although there's no telling how long ago the was. " he said now in the living room "thank you " he heard her reply. Gregor then woke up boots who was to happy when dulcet, the nannie took her to get a bath. After gregor got a bath himself, and made sure he knew where boots was, which was playing with other kids in the nursery, he decided to head to the arena for some exercise. After reaching the arena, and thanking ares he plugged in a casset player with some ear buds ( both of which he found in the museum) and jogged for two hours strait. Then he practiced his rager senses on blood balls, although he had pretty much mastered them, he could thurn it on and off at will.

At some point luxa flew over to me on aurora "gregor, it is time to meet vikus" she said, at this point landing " one of ares freinds is sick and he is visiting them, you will have to ride with me. " she said, although i could tell she wanted to talk. I mouted aurora and we made our way to the palace. "Gregor, how do you feel... About going on this quest. " she said. We both knew (after reading the prophecy for years) , that it called for a quest. "What do you mean? " i asked her, truly confused. "Well...it will be dangerous and... I cant help but feel it is my fault you are going on it... Sense im the one that begged my mother to let you stay and not send you back up... There... If something were to happen to you and i knew it was my fault... " she shook her head. "luxa, dont ever think that its your fault that im going on this quest. I chose to, and i know its dangerous but... at least you'll be there... " he saw her nod and was relived she felt better. They landed at the high hall, and quickly made there way to the prophecy room. Gregor was met with the wooden door he so disliked. Luxa gave him a reassuring nod and he opened the door. "Gregor, luxa, welcome. Are you ready to disect the prophecy?" Vikus said trying to sound happy. " Do we really need to? Ive been reading this prophecy for years now." Gregor said a little confused "well, by reading it again we might uncover some details we did not notice before. " Vikus replied sensing Gregors sad tone. "Okay, okay, lets do it" gregor said, just wanting to get it over with. Vikus then read the so dreaded prophecy

"Beware underlanders, time hangs by a thread.

The hunters are hunted, white water runs red.

The gnawers will strike to extinguish the rest.

The hope of the hopeless resides in a quest. "

He read the first part,

"So, the first line looks to be a warning. " gregor stated, the others nodded in agreement. So he continued. "The second ones... A bit tricky, the first part the hunters are hunted means the hunters, the rats, are hunted by us. " he said "yes, and the second part, white water runs red, i think, i know what this means" Vikuse paused "there was a gnawer attack at a beach the other day, mareth and perdita were involved in. When they killed the two gnawers they threw them in the river, hence white water ran red. " he finished. The others nodded "the rest is self explanatory, there is to be a quest. " he said, then gregor read the next paragraph

An overland warrior, a son of the sun,

May bring us back light he may bring us back none.

But gather your neighbors and follow his call

Or rats will surely devour us all.

"Thus again is obvious, " vikus said. "An overland warrior, a son of the sun, gregor. May save the underland he may not. " vikus finished with approving nods from the others. Gregor read the second to last part.

Two over, two under, of royal descent,

Two flyers, two crawlers, two spinners assent.

One gnawer beside and one lost up ahead.

And eight will be left when we count up the dead.

"The first two lines are explaining the quest members we must gather. The third, one gnawer beside and one lost up ahead. The gnawer beside will be, as you know ripred. "Vikus said with nods from gregor and luxa, they were the only ones that vikus had told about ripred. "And the one lost up ahead, assuming you want to take your sister, is your father gregor." gregor nodded, there was no way he was leaving his sister, who he just met, in a city that might be invaded by rats. "Then the third line is rather grim, if you count up the quest members there are twelve, four of which will lose there light on the journey. "Vikus said sadly. Which got deprssed nods from the teens. Vikus then read the last paragraph.

The last who will die must decide where he stands.

The fate of the eight is contained in his hands.

So bid him take care, bid him look where he leaps.

As life may be death and death life again reaps.

"This part none of us understand, i beleive we will not untill it happens. " vikus said ending with a sigh. "Supper is in an hours time, we will prepare for the journey after, leaving tommorow morning. " he said making his way out of the room luxa looked at gregor. "Do you want to go and check on your sister? She said trying to sound optimistic, but utterly failed. "yeah, lets go. " he responded. They walked through the halls hand in hand, after checking on his sister, she looked so happy playing with the other underlanders, he almost wanted to leave her there for the quest, but decided against it. She would be much safer with him. They arrived at the dining hall and took there seats, someway through vikus piped up. "We must discuss, who will be going on the quest." He stated "luxa, and henry. Gregor, margr- boots. Mareth, myself, my wife. And everyones respective bonds. " the old man finished every one nodded. The rest of dinner was silent, as everyone was in a sour mood. After that vikus sent gregor with mareth to get ready for the quest. First they went to get gregors hair cut (he hadn't cut it in so long, it was down to his nose) and then went to the meuseum, "you must hold what you take." Mareth said handing him a bag. Gregor went to his humongous pile of flash lights and batteries he had built up over the years. Then he got his camera, which he never went on a trip without, and finally he got his favorite root beer stuffing three cans of the stuff in his bag, finally ready he went back to his room, finding boots asleep, he felt bad. Of the two days she had been there, he had barely spent time with her. Well they would have lots of time together on the quest. Gregor sat his bag next to his bed along with his sword and layed down slowy dozing off...

Grgor was walking through a hall, he heard faint whispers from around the corner as he walked he saw his father "why" he said hate Dripping from his voice "how dare you, leave me here to die." He said suddenly gregor had a sword in his hand the next second it was through his fathers chest.

Gegor was shakeing, drenched in sweat. It was just a nightmare. He got up and remembered the quest. Looking on his bedside table he saw a note in vikus's hand writing. Man he loved leaving notes!

Gregor,

Please eat and come to the high hall with your sister, gnawers are marching on regalia at this vrry moment, you must hurry.

Vikus

Gregor jumped up and woke up boots grabbing his bag and sword. Seeing that luxa was already gone, He grabbed a bite to eat for him and boots and made his way to the high hall. When he got there he saw all of the quest members, and there fliers. He made his way over to luxa "you cut your hair. " she said with a frown. "Yes, it could be a problem in battle, you know this, lux. " he said. Luxa looked down blushing "yes, yes... It looks good. " she said quite enough for just him to hear it. Gregor looked down his face growing hot. "Thanks" he wispered back. Dulcet walked up to him, putting a few things in his bag. "Cloths, and some toys and treats. Be safe. "she said giving boots a hug. Gregor thanked her, giving her a quick squeeze.

Gregor saw henry trying to confort a crying nerissa. She then made her way over to gregor. "I believe you will be needing this. "She said handing him a scroll. He opened it and saw the prophecy of gray. "Thanks ner-" he started looking up to see she was gone. Gregor shook his head, to be so frail, she could move quick. Vikus spoke then. "Mount up! " he yelled. They all mounted there bonds, henry getting on vikus's bat ( he must not have a bond) and they started there quest. Gregor flew next to luxa. "We will be going to the fliers land first, while we have our bonds, we need the queens permission to take them on the quest. And while we have belived you to be the warrior for many years, we must convince the other races as well. " gregor nodded. after stopping ywo eat and rest two times, and a nap on Ares, vikus spoke up "we are aproaching the fliers land. " he said. In a few minutes they landed, surrounded by bats. A particular one with a silver coat stepped forward. "Hello queen athena, meet you gregor the overlander, the warrior. " gregor steped foward ignoring the part where he called him an overlander "be you the warrior, be you the one who calls? " the queen asked "i am the warrior. I am the on who calls. " gregor responded, she took a second to think "it is he. " the queen said with certainty. Gregor let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, and vikus walked up to him " you did good gregor, we will now discuss the war and battle plans, you do not have to be there for this. " he said giving him a smile, then he walked with his wife, solovet, into what looked like a meeting room. Luxa and gregor sat next to each other aroumd a camp fire mareth had made while he past out food luxa lay her head on gregors shoulder. "Gregor?" She asked quite enough that she thought just him could hear. "Yeah, lux" he responded. "Tell me about the overland. "

"What about it"

"What is one day like" she said curiously

And so gregor told her about the overland, or at least what he remembered of it. Untill eventually vikus, and solovet came out of the meeting. "It is time to be going." He said after they ate. So they moumted up and made there way to the crawlers land. Gregor started to doze off and ares noticed. "You may sleep gregor, it will be a long flight. " he said and gregor fell asleep on his back. Gregor awoke to vikus telling him they had reached the crawlers land. They went into a meeting like last time, and boots played with her crawler freinds that brought her to the arena, temp and tick. The five bats in a clump of fur, sleeping. From what Gregor haerd the crawlers really loved boots. They even called her princess! Gregor decided to go thruogh his batteries to make sure they worked, he loked at the hard hat he had grabbed from the museum, it took a different type of battery, he would have to save it for last. After going through all of them he had two that didn't work. "These are duds, they dont work. " he told luxa "i shall burn them" she responded, and befor he could react she through them in the fire. "Everone get down!!! "He yelled pulling luxa behind the solid stone bench with him, seeing mareth, and henry get down as well. Ther was a huge explosion of fire behind them, but eventually the fire burned down. "are you tryimg to kill us overlander!!! " an infuriated henry yelled at him. "Henry, it was my fault, i threw them in the fire! So do not yell at greg! And do not for the last time call him overlander!" Luxa screamed at henry, who instantly shut up. Once the group had settled down he spoke up, just quite enough for luxa to hear him. "I like it" luxa wispered back "what?"

"Greg, its cool" he said refering to what she had referred to him as when she was yelling at henry. "Well... I figured that not only one of us can have a nickname forfor the other." She said with a smile. At some point boots was singing patty cake "patty cake, patty cake, baker man bake me a cake as fast as you can. Roll it up roll it up mark it with a b put it in the oven for big bits and me! " she sang. "What is this the princess sings, what is this?" They asked me "oh its a song, from the overland. She must really respect you guys to put you in it. " at this point i was just telling them what they wanted to hear. Vikus and solovet came out a little later looking sad. We were eating when henry spoke "so, when do we leave? " he asked obvioisly wanting to get a move on. "We do not" vikus replied "the crawlers have refused to go on the quest. " he said reviling the reason for gis sadness "what! Why! " henry practically yelled "they are at even grounds with the humans and the gnawers and do not wish to disrupt it. " he said in a calm voice. "They think it would be better to keep there peace. "

"No, they do not think at all! They are useless cowards! " henry yelled. This is where luxa spoke up. "Henry, shut up! " she said, she had picked that last part up from gregor. Henry wasnt exactly sure what it meant, but got the point and was quite. "We must sleep. " vikis said and everyone settled down. Gregor thought he heard the bugs wispering "princess respects us? Princess respects us? " gregor woke up to luxa doing the universal 'be quite' sign and gregor sat up. He immediately took a sharp breath in boots was sitting in the middle of thousands of crawlers dancing around her "what are they doing. " gregor asked although it was very obvious they were almost worshiping her. "It is a sacred dance. " luxa said "the only other person they have done it with is sandwich himself. " she said obviously surprised. At that point all of the bugs slinked away from her and she walked over and fell asleep. Everyone slowly went back to sleep stuned at what had just happened. Gregor awoke again to the news that temp and tick were coming with them. And they made there way to the spinner lands temp and tick on ares with him.

They stoped a few times to rest and eat, with boots serenading them as they flew, with her nursery rymes... Over, and over, and over. Finally they coasted Down for a Landing. They were Just finishing up there meal when all of the bats jerked there heads up "Rats!" Hissed ares and everone jumped up, vikus shoved gregor toward the tunnel vikus had pointed out to lead to the spinners. "Go! Run! The rest of us are expendable, you are not! " he yelled and turned back to the rats who were now coming out of the darkness. Gregor tried to object but temp, and tick pushed him foward "make haste, you, make haste with the princess. " they said in unison gregor ran towards the mouth of the cave, he entered and looked back to see vikus knock a rat into the water, wait a minute, that was ripred! he knew Ripred To well, after the few thousand times gregor and ripred met up they, Were actually friends. Gregor knew then that vikus and ripred had planned this. Ripred wanted all other rats to think he had drowned, so he could help them on the quest without anyone suspecting it was him. Gregors thoughts got cut off as there was a wall of crawlers that enveloped the cave mouth, they were using themselves as a shield! Gregor couldn't go back though, temp and tick were right, he needed to protect boots. Gregor kept running and running through the cave, just as he was about to stop for rest he ran face first into a giant spiderweb. "Ahk!" Gregor yelled in suprise as his face was covered in web. Gregor ripped the web off and it felt like ripping duct off. Gregor looked down to see a spider wrapping him in silk, he was now covered up to his knees in the stuff. "Hey! Stop" the spider kept going, and was inching his way towards his waist. "Im the warrior, the one who calls! Vikus is going to be real mad your tying up regalias only chance at surving! " at the moment he said vikus the spider stopped, "yeah thats right vikus is coming here, right now! Now can you untie me?" Gregor was starting to get uncomfortable with boots pressed against his side, she was also wraped up to her belly. The spider walked towards them and snapped a piece of web with its jaws and gregor and boot were sent flying into the air, bouncing as if they were attached to a rubberband. "Hey!" Gregor yelled, but gave up, spiders didn't like loud noises so there was no reason to get it mad. While he stopped talking his thoughts wondered. How were the others? Were they okay? Did luxa get hurt? Gregor felt a sense of dread pass over him. If luxa got hurt because he ran like a coward... He didn't know if he could forgive himself. Just then he heard footsteps, not the creepy spider ones, but real human footsteps! "hey! Im over here!" He yelled. To his relief he saw luxa come out of the darkness "lux!" He yelled with a smile on his face "he lives! " she yelled behing her, and asked a spinner to let him down. Gregor felt himself slowly slink to the ground, and luxa came over and cut the string before wrapping him in an embrace which he returned. At that point the rest of the quest members, who thankfully hadn't died, came out off the darkness as well, even henry looked happy to see him! Then out of the darkness came a magnificent spinner, the spinner rubbed ita legs against It stomach to speak "greetings lord vikus, why has you come?" She asked. Vikus responded, by explaining their journy in five quick sentences. "As it is vikus, we will not drink. Web them" the queen hissed, turning away, and all of the sudden thousands of spiders spun a funnel around them in a matter of seconds, they were prisoners. Vikus sighed "i had hoped with the resent trade agreements... I hoped to high. " He said sadly. "We might as well clean our wounds. " while mareth and solovet help with the others luxa came over to gregor to help with the welts from were he had pulled off the web from his face. "We must wash it, or it will fester." She said, gingerly cleaning off pieces of web. Fester? Gregor was not good with medical stuff (hints why luxa was the one cleaning his face) but festering did not sound good. "I am glad you did not get hurt by the attack from that group of gnawers" he said trying to spark up a conversation. "Yes, i am lucky. Although i was also worry you would lose your light from the spinners. " she said grabbing his chin and moving around his face so that she could check for any pieces she missed. When she was sure she had got them all she turned gregors face back toward her, but did not remove her hand. Slowly their faces inched toward each other, but right as their lips were about to touch, vikus spoke up, much to gregors dismay. "My wife belives that we should leave emmidietly. " he said unaware of the position Gregor and Luxa were just in. "I am all for that, but how exactly are we going to do that?" He asked hopeing vikus had an answer "luxa and Aurora must... Preform the coiler. " he said with a worried voice. "We can do it, we have practiced enough." Luxa pronounced with confidence. "Okay then, we need a distraction. " vikus responded. A light bulb went of in gregors head. "I've got that." Gregor said glancing at boots. "Okay then, mount up! " he said worry evident in his voice. Gregor gave luxa a reasuring nod once everyone was mounted up, and turned toward boots. "Hey boots, the bugs need to here you sing itsy bitsy spider! But you have to sing really loud so that all of the bugs can hear you! " boots instantly started singing at the top of her lungs and luxa emmidietly took of spinning at a dizzying rate, with her sword held above her. They all took off on their bats as luxa shredded the web, she did a figure eight at the top letting the rest of them escape. Gregor was almost out when it happened, a string of web produced from the darkness and grabbed luxas sword arm yanking her off aurora who went toward the ground. Quern wevox was slowly bringing luxa toward her fangs. No! This couldn't be happening! He couldn't lose luxa! Not now! Luxa struggled, but couldn't get out of the oversized spiders grip. Gregor dug around in his pack searching for something, anything to help luxa, and of course gregor had left his sword on the ground. Gregor was about to lose hope when his hand wrapped around the can of root beer. "Ares, go!" He screamed shaking the can as hard as he could. As they approached he popped the top, and a steady stream of root beer flew at queen wevox, hitting her right in the face. She instantly dropped luxa, gregor grabing her hand, gregor held on to luxas hand as she dangled off of the side of ares. He just couldn't pull her up, his hand was doused in sweat, and her hand was slipping, he didnt want to let her go because under her was a swarm of spinners, and aurora had crashed on the ground, so he didnt know if he could count on her to catch luxa. He felt a tear fall off his face, and saw it land on luxas forehead. "No!" Gregor shreeked. Then he saw a flash of gold under luxa and smiled. Aurora. Gregor let go of luxas hand to see her land on aurora. They flew for a good twenty minutes until gregor felt ares descending. Gregor slipped off ares, and saw luxa make her way to gregor. Expecting a hug gregor was surprised when their lips met. He could hear the gasps of his fellow travelers, but he ignored them. When They finally broke apart, they were gasping for air. Gregor looked around to see the shocked faces of everyone, which he ignored. And began to make a fire, as if nothing happened. Eventually everyone started moving again, and gregor went to sit by luxa who was looking off into the distance. "You did good, with the coiler. " he said. "It was my first time in a real web." She confessed, looking over at him "thank you"

"For what? " gregor asked

"Saving me. What was the weapon that you used?" She asked

"Oh this?" He asked holding up the root beer "its not a weapon, it a drink. It has bubbles in it so when i shake it up it explodes out of the top. " he said taking a drink to show luxa, then handing it to her to try. She hesitantly took a sip and her eyes lit up "its... Amazing!" She exclaimed. She then stood up and faced the group. "I am drinking gregors spinner weapon!" She anounced, naturally everone wanted to try it. Once it was drained luxa seemed sad " i wish there was more, i think it is my favorite drink." Gregor reached in his bag and pulled out another can popping it open for her. "Really? What of you need it later? To defend yourself?" Gregor wave her comments away with his hand "i have got another." vikus called them all to dinner then and spoke in a rather sad tone. "I believe we can still go on this quest, the rats have taken many spinners hostage, we may be able to persuade two to join us, i have had good results with spinners." He said hopefully. "But vikus, you wil not be there." Solovet said quietly. Gregor and luxa already knew this, but henry didn't "what!? What does she mean!?" He asked/yelled at vikus. Who sighed "it is time for those not named by the prophecy to return to regalia. Me, solovet, and mareth will be heading back to regalia after we rest."

"But, you can't just leave us stranded in the dead lands!!!" Henry yelled anger evident in his voice "I do not plan to, i have arranged a guide."

Vikis responded stayimg calm

"a guide?" Henry questioned. Vikus was about to respond, but an all to familiar voice spoke out of the darkness. "Well i like to think of myself as a legend, but guide will do" ripred said walking out of the darkness. Gregor and luxa jumped up "ripred!" Gregor said giving the rat a fist bump ( which took forever to teach him) "hello, ripred. It is as nice to see you as always." Luxa said with a smile. "Hey, if it isn't my to favorite couple!" Ripred said with a laugh. Gregor and luxa both blushed. At this point henry had his sword drawn and was ready to attack, but was confused at gregor and luxas actions " luxa, overlander! Do you know this gnawer?!" He yelled agitation dripping from his voice. "Yes, we do." Luxa replied calmly, then her eyes sharpened and she walked over to henry. "And... STOP CALLING GREGOR AN OVERLANDER!! HE IS NOT!! " she yelled slapping him across the face. Henry was absolutely shocked, while ripred burst out laughing. "Oh! How you will defend your boyfriend! " he hollered. Luxa just gave him a glare and walked back two gregor grasping his hand. "No! I refuse to travel with a gnawer! " henry stated, a red hand mark across his face. Gregor smirked. "okay then, i guess we can count you off as the first person to lose their light, dont worry we will leave before you wake up, so you are not tempted to leave with us." Gregor turned to luxa "i wonder how long he would last in the dead land alone?" He asked her. That shut Henry right up. "Well then." Vikus spoke. "It is our time to leave." He walked to Henry, who had his back to them. "I know you may not undersrand my actions now, but hopefully you will find it within yourself, to forgive me. Fly you high. " the old man waited for a response walked over to luxa and gregor "fly you high Luxa, Gregor, may luck come your way." The two teens both huged vikus good bye, and watched as Vikus, Solovet, and Mareth flew into the distance. "We maymay as well get some rest. " Ripred said stretching out on the cold stone floor. Gregor walked over to wher boots was and made a pallet oit of covers for them to lay on, luxa making. Hers two feet away. Gregor leaned over and gave luxa a kiss on the cheek. "Good night, lux." The teen whispered. "Good night, gregor." And with that gregor dozed off.

He awoke to ripred. "Wake up, time to go!" Ripred walked to luxa and did the same. Ripred reached henry and smaked his tail down on the groumd next to him, causing henry to dart up and get in a defence stance, before realizing what was going on. "Uhg!" He growled grumply moving. Gregor and luxa made a sandwich for them selves tossimg on to ripred. Gregor glanced at henry noticing he was expecting gregor to make him something. "I am royalty, i do not prepare food." He said with a smug look. Gregor scoffed. "Yeah wel, im the warrior, and boots is the princess, so your going to get pretty hungry waiting for me to make you something." Gregor said throwing him the bag of food, then walking to boots and the roaches, giving them a sandwich. The travel plans were difficult, since the tunnels they were going through were to small for the fliers to fly. they ended up having to lay the bats to the crawlers backs, belly down. It looked really uncomfortable. "okay, lead the way." Gregor said motioning to Ripred. "Finally!" The old rat said rolling his eyes. Ripred went into the tunnel first, followed bu henry, next in single file were the roaches. Gregor and Luxa entered last side by side, boots holding the flashlight. It was awful. Cramped, and airless, with some foul liquid that smelled like rotten eggs dripping from the ceiling the bats were stiff, but the crawlers seemed comfortable. "Icky" luxa said her mouth shouing disgust. Man she had picked up a lot of words from gregor! Gregor tied some cobers to boots head, so that she wouldn't get to wet. After several, Long hours, they exited the tunnel. The bats were so stiff that they hed to stretch ther wings out themselves! He and luxa prepared food spreadimg it out among the group. They were just finishing up when the bats went tense. "Spinners," warned aurora. "Yes, they've been following us from almost the beginning. with this water, i can not smell how many." He flicked his tail at henry and luxa. "Three point ark." Luxa moved, but henry stayed. "This is no time to test my authority, pup!!! " he growled, getting henry to reluctantly move to his space. Gregor was behing them because he had left his sword in the spinners land. Some warrior he was! He didn't even have his root beer this time! Grehor braced himself for a wave of bloodthirsty spiders, but it never came. A large orange spider with a small brown one on his back staggered in, and collapsed. The brown spider was oozing its weird spider blood. Its front legs brushed it legs as it spoke "VIkus sends us. Gnawers attacked webs. Many spinners lost. We two. . . we join. . . the quest." And with that, the brown spoder fell over, dead. Gregor looked at the spider on shock. In its final momemts it had rolled over and curled up its legs. "We are all here" gregor hoarsely wispered. Thr rest of them nodded. "At least we were. For a few seconds."

"Well thats one down three to go. " ripred said looking over to the still living spider "what was its name?" He asked.

"Treflex. I am she called Gox." Gox replied strumimg on its chest "well Gox, our food supplies are limited. None of us would think less of you if you dine on Treflex." He said not at all bothered by the idea. Gox them pounced on Treflex pumping him full of juices then eating him. The whole party except ripred turned a little green. And of course gregor covered boot eyes. Gox then explained the whole rat attack. "Was there any mention of 'the prophecy of grey'?" He asked the spider. "There were no words, only death." She responded. "Well we have no time to waste, let us be off!" Ripred said leading the way into a tunnel thay was roomy enough for the bats to fly around, but not with riders. Ripred kept them goimg until they were all about to pass out. Finally they stopped, and made camp. Luxa and Grwgor pased out the dwindling food, and fell asleep the moment there heads toiche the pillow. . . or covers. . . or stone, you know what i mean! Something woke up gregor and he silently sat up. What he saw. Paralized him with fear. Henry was standing over ripred ready to drive his blade through the sleeping rats back.

Gregor silently daeted toward henry and knocked him over, landimg with his foot on his chest. "Why! Why would you kill the only person that can keep us alive!" At this point every one had woken up and luxa walked to gregor. "How did henry get himself in this position? " she asked glaring at henry. "I woke up to him trying to stab Ripred in his sleep." Gregor responded, not taking his eyes off henry. Luxa opened her mouth to say something but was cut off by henry. "Help me luxa! He is crazed! Who would you trust, me your cousin, or a sad excuse for a warrior!?" He yelled. And man Gregor mustmustbe spending way to much time with Ripred, because he yelled. "Your right i am crazed! I haven't killed you yet!" He saod while taking his foot off henry. "He is our only chance of survival henry, you mustn't drain his light!" Luxa yelled. "i do not think very highly of people who try to kill a person, in there sleep!" Gregor followed up. "He is not a person! He is a rat!" Henry yelled "if you can not tell the difference, you are sure not to survive!" At this poimt gregor grebbed his collar, and held him against the wall. "If youcan not tell the difference between the person keeping you alive! And the person you need to kill, you surely will surely not survive!" Gregor saod dropping henry, and heading with Luxa to make food. Henry had no smart retort to come up with, to coumter that. Ripred walked over to gregor. "I mist say, you do not lack in boldness. " the rat whispered. Gregor nodded in thanks and threw ripred his sandwich. After feeding everone who needed fed, Ripred spoke up. "Well, it obvious none of us are going back to dream land, we might as well go." As soon as gregor got boots he felt alarmed. Boots forehead was burning up. "Lixa, something is wrong. Boots is sick. " after giving her a few drops of fever medicine, they went on there way. Ripred led them through, and out of a huge tunnel, on the other side was a raging river, with i swinging bridge across it. When gregor shown his flashlight to see it, he saw them. Twenty rats on top of the rock above them. Waiting. "Run!" Ripred yelled getting them all tp dart across the bridge. Gregor was halfway across when he remembered boots on temps back. He was about tonturn around when he decided against it. Is she fell, Ares could catch her. They reached the other side of the bridge, and Ripred, Henry, and Luxa were sawing the ends of the bridge. On the bridge was Gox three quarters the way across, temp holding boots behind them, and the only thing between boots and the rats, was tick. Tick flew strait into the leaders face startling it, letting temp, boots, and Gox reach the end. The rat quickly recovered and smashed ticks head with its jaws as tgey went into the rapid river, giant peruanas eating them. And just lile that, tick had died. Gregor squeezed boots hand and, to his surprize, started crying. Tick. Who had shared her food with boots. Tick. Who were constantly talked down to, just because she was a crawler. Tick. Was dead. Luxa came over and kissed gregor, then wrapping him in a hug. Letting him cry into her shoulder. "While this is very touching, we need to move!!!" He said hurrying them up. They ran for about twenty minutes, until ripred ordered them to stop. They gave boots another dose of her medicine, and rested. "Your father is an hours walk, no more"

Ripred said cuttimg through the quietness. This gave gregor hope emmidietly. They were close to his father! Gregors hope started to dwindle as he popped in his last two batteries. "once we have your father we will need no light, our bonds can carry us home in the dark." Luxa said reading his thoughts. His gave her a sad smile. "They are going to have to." He responded. The quest members then regrouped. Ripred walking next to temp in the front, who had boots on his back. Next was henry, and gox wlking side by side. And last was Gregor and Luxa. After walking for about half an hour Ripred stopped, his nose twitching, and he crouched in a defensive postion. Two rats then sprang out from around the corner, and in 1 flash, they ley on the groumd dead. Ripred spoke. "They were the gaurds to this opening. Stay against the wall, single file. Tread carefully, for the fall is immeasurable, and the ground is brittle." He whispered, just loud enough for the rest of them to hear it. When they rounded the corner gregor saw exactly what ripred discribed. It was a huge revene (dont know if its spelled that way) with a slim side walk on the egde. Gregor through a pebble down, and never heard it hit the bottom. Suddenly Ripred took off in a run, the rest following behind. Aurora, and Ares, had taken to the air. The path ended at a circuler pit, with walls as smooth as glass. There was a forge in the pit, and someone was working on it. Gregors heart skipped a beat as the figure turned toward him, and he saw his father. luxa an Aurora went down and brought his father back up. What gregor saw was amazing. Somehow his dad had kept his physical state, and was very muscular. "Dad?" Gregor whispered. His dad embraced him. "Gregor!" He hugged his dad back "how is grace, and lizze? " his dad asked. Gregor looked down. "I do not know" a gregor said sadly. "We can catch up later, right now we need to get out of her!" Ripred said in a harsh whisper. "He is right" luxa sadly said. "Come, let is hurry." She said. Everyone started moving, exept henry. "Henry?" Gregor asked. "No cousin. There is no need to hurry now." He responded as if that explained everything. With that henry put his fingers to his mouth and let out a large wistle. The realization hit gregor lile a ton of bricks. "You, you traiter!" Gregor yelled. "And after they killed your parents!"

"I had to do it!" He yelled. "We were headed to disaster, under vikus! Luxa! We could rule, together, you and I!" Luxa seemed frozen

"No henry. Never." At that point fifty rats burst into the tunnel, and they formed a circle aroumd them. the circle parted, letting a impressive silver rat through. "King gorger!" Ripred said, then he walked over tp henry and nugded him foward with his nose. "Go henry, be with your freinds." He said. Henry tripped on the way, and stepped on king gorgers tail, who whiped it out from underneath him and slashed poor Gox in half. "Who is next!?" Gorger asked "maybe the pup? She looks sick anyways!" He said gesturing to boots. No. He wasn't going to get boots. Not while he was alive. Gregor that ran to king Gorger jumping over him as he went. He heard every rat chasing after him as he went. His fladhlight stated to dim, so he threw it behind him and, flipped on his hard hat. Ahead he could see the revine, oh no! He had forgotten how short the road was! Gregor was quickly comforted by the soumd of Ares wing behing him. Gregor came up on the edge and leaped off of it, flying through the air. Gregor twisted himself around, and saw all of the rats shooting towards him. To gregors surprise, he saw a human among the rats. Henry. He had jumped off the cliff after him. HA! Suddenly Gregor landed on ares, gregor loked up to see king goeger shooting towards him and, as he flew by, gregor plucked the crown off of his head. It was Judith, Luxas mothers crown. Ares flew back up towards the rest of them. Gregor saw a bloody ripred and three other rats, who must have joined him. "Delightfully, full of surprises!" Ripred said with a smile, as he started to run off. "Run like the river Ripred, Run like the river!" Gregor yelled after him "Fly you high, Boy, fly you high!" Ripred responded.

as they flew Ares spoke up. "We have trouble, Aurora and i do not know the way to regalia. "

"Okay um. . . find somewhere safe to land." Gregor responded. Soon they landed in a cave and, after one look at luxa he realized that she was on shock and couldn't speak. So Gregor made his way over to his dad. "We don't know the direction to regalia." He told him. His thought for a secong then said "Do we have any needles? If we do bring me a needle, a bowl, and some water." Gregor was a little confused but obliged. His father then proceeded to take a stone out of his pocket and strike it on the needle multiple times. "This rock is magnetic if i strike the needle with it." He then poured the water in the bowl anad carefully put the needle in the water. To gregors surprise, the needle did a seventy five degree turn. "It points north! And if i remember correctly, regalia is in the north of the underland." Gregor smiled and jogged to Ares "we know which direction to go. " he told his bat. "Good. Let us go." ares responded. Gregor turned to his father "dad. . . someone needs to ride with luxa a-" he was cut off by his dad. "I will ride with boots on Ares." His dad said, reading gregors thoughts. Gregor nodded in thanks, and moumted Aurora. They took off through the tunnels and in about 20 minutes Aurora spoke up. "Ares recognizes these tunnels." Great, they new where they were going. After a little while Gregor decided to try to get luxa to respond. Turning her aroumd to face him he spoke. "Luxa?" Nothing. "Luxa its me, Gregor." Nothing. "Hello?" Nothing. Finally Gregor leaned foward and kissed her. When there lips parted, her eyelids fluttered. "Gregor?" Gregor nodded in response, she then colapsed on him, crying. They stayed like that until they started to come up on regalia. The horns signaled there arrival long before they made it to the city. When they arrived at the high hall the bats just slid on there bellies, and emmidiatly passed out. Vikus greeted us and gave us both hugs, then i told him the story. It took about an hour, and after that i was very tired, me and luxa sat on the couch for a while talking. After a while we kissed each other goodnight, and went into our different bedrooms. As i lay here i think. "Maybe. . . maybe the prophecy of bane won't be as hard" I sit there for a minute then chuckle "with my luck, no way. "

Aaaaand thats it! Thankyou for reading through this, i hope you enjoyed it. If you have any questions please pit them in the comments, or pm me. This story, incase you wamted to know, is around 10k words. Again thankyiu for reading. Have a great day and, god bless. :)