Hello peoples of this world, and perhaps worlds beyond! Oh, how nice it is to slide behind a keyboard with a spark of life spinning around in my mind. . . So, I'll get down and dirty right off the bat here. While I like War of the Myriapods, I am un satisfied with it. It is not the story, it is the writing. I feel that I can do better, much better, and so I shall. I have had a few ideas rolling around here and there, and I am taking the times to gather them up and slap them down!

And so begins a new story! Enjoy, my friends. . .

P.S. Any words that are italicized are the current characters thoughts.

-Tytonic

Disclaimer: I do not own The Underland Chronicles, nor do I claim to. I do, however, hold rights over the characters and plot I create.

Gregor and the War of Severance

Chapter 1: Life Above

Gregor kissed Luxa good-bye and climbed out into the park. Then she backed down a few steps and they held each others gaze until Gregor's dad slid the rock in place, parting them forever.

4 years later. . .

As Gregor's eyes slid open, a luminous light shimmered through the window, setting the room ablaze with a spectacular glow. Birds could be heard singing outside, intertwined with the sound of leaves swaying in the wind.

On this particular day, Gregor held little to no ill feelings towards the world. He had slept relatively well, free from his usual nightmare-plagued dreams. No weight rested upon his shoulders, and he was unusually stress-free.

His life was starting to look up. He was beginning to fit in at school, to accept his life above. Despite his macabre past, Gregor was beginning to move on. There are, however, some things you can never forget.

Gregor felt his heart ache as his eyes passed over the picture of him and Luxa. Bound by trauma, he would always love her to some degree. No matter who he loved, she would always hold a special place in his heart.

As light shimmered across its surface, he felt himself smile. Against all odds, he had found happiness when his world was torn away from him.

She would be happy for me. And despite our separation, she is not gone. In fact, I feel that we are closer than ever before. We will meet again, be it in this world or the next.

Gregor exhaled slowly, and slid his legs out from under the covers. Pulling himself to his feet, he began to dress himself. Before he put anything on, he pulled a necklace over his head, allowing it to rest around his neck. At the end of the necklace hung a large claw. It met more to Gregor than anything else he owned, save his picture with Luxa.

It was Ares claw. Ares the flier, bond of Gregor the warrior. In the final battle, the Bane had struck a fatal blow upon Ares, thus ending his life. Gregor, however, was not depressed by this. While he greatly missed his old friend, he had died a hero, protecting the lives of thousands. Ares was a hero.

A small tear slid down Gregor's cheek, and he remembered his old friend. A sad smile slid over his face.

Rest in peace, dear friend. You died a hero, protecting us all. Your legacy shall never be forgotten.

Gregor completed dressing himself, and walked to his nightstand. Taking the old worn photo of him and Luxa, he looked at it for a few moments, before sliding it into his front pocket. With a deep breath, he left the comforts of his room, and entered the rest of his house. Having showered the night before, he walked past the bathroom, and into the dinning room, where breakfast awaited him.

Unlike before, his family now had an actual dinning room. Previously, they had lived in a small apartment in New York. However, since Gregor's journeys down below, they had moved to his uncles farm in Virginia. Due to certain business related things, his uncle was almost never present, so they basically had the entire place to themselves.

It was a generous arrangement, really. As long as Gregor's family helped pay bills, and kept the house clean, they were allowed to stay. And with Gregor's school only being a few miles or so away, things were simple.

Both of his parents now had well-paying jobs as well. His father was once again a science teacher, teaching the 12th grade, and his mother became a nurse, putting her college experience to good use.

With a now steady flow of income, his family could afford luxuries they previously could not, such as cellphones. True, Gregor had had a cheap emergency phone previously, but he now had a smart phone, which he used to keep in contact with his friends. Of course, Gregor felt it constantly vibrating as he ate breakfast.

Soon after Breakfast, Gregor pulled out his phone, afraid of what he might see. As expected, he had 17 unread messages. Four were from his friend Gage, and the other 13 were from his other friend Lillie.

Geez. Can't she lay off a bit?

If you didn't know better, it would seen as if Lillie was in love with Gregor, when in reality, she was in love with Gage, and was seeking Gregor out for help. An a,used smile covered Gregor's face as he read the messages. As expected, is was an assortment of questions pertaining to Gage. What was funny, was that Gage's messages had been questions about Lillie.

From Gregor's perspective, it was painfully obvious that they were madly in love with each other. However, due to their shyness, neither of them acted on their feelings. Gregor wanted them to get together, but he believed that they needed to work it out themselves, and that he should not intervene.

As Gregor was typing up a few responses, he glanced out of the window, only to see his bus in the distance, steadily coming closer. Putting his phone away, he slung his backpack over his shoulder, and headed out the door, bidding farewell to his mother. His father, being a teacher, would already be at school, and his sisters would still be asleep. As to be expected, of course, since it was only six in the morning (A/N: that's when my bus comes).

Gregor made it to the bus just as it slowed to a stop at the mouth of his driveway. Climbing on, he made his way to the very back, where he sat himself down across from Gage.

Gage was of average height and size. With deep blue eyes, and a head of black hair, he was average looking. Girls didn't go crazy over him, but they didn't dislike him either.

As a football player, he was constantly surrounded by the "popular" jocks. It was only his kind selfless personality that kept him from becoming one of them. Frankly, he didn't like the idea of being popular anyway. Too much attention.

As the bus sped up once more, Gregor and Gage engaged in some small talk. Considering the time, their conversation was very lively. Through the use of Echolocation, Gregor could tell that Gage was looking at him. Or more specifically, Ares claw, and the scars showing on his neck.

Over the years, Gage had learned not to push it. When he first met Gregor, he had been very depressed, and empty. Whatever had happened, it was clearly a painful memory, and he had made clear on several occasions that he did not want to speak of it.

However painful, Gage still wished he would share it. They had been best friends for the past four years, and Gregor still would not tell him, or anybody else, for that matter. All the more reason no to push it. To keep something so large from your best friend for so long. . . Whatever happened, it must have been serious.

Occasionally, he had caught glances of a picture Gregor always kept on him. He couldn't get a clear view, but it seemed as if it was a picture of him and a weird looking girl. He had his guesses as to who she was, but judging by the emotions on his face as he viewed the picture, she was very, very important to him.

For the large remained or the ride, they sat in silence. However, soon they came upon an average house, and Gage strained up immediately. He watched nervously as a girl stepped onto the bus. She had long, chestnut brown hair, and striking green eyes. Her name was Lillie.

Gage felt as if his stomach was caving inwards, and almost died when she sat down next to him, blushing madly. However, he failed to notice the blushing, or how she was just as nervous as he was.

He had been in love with her since the day they met, seven years ago. They had been very close friends for a long time, and being so close to her when he knew she didn't love him was burning him from the inside out.

They were all too tired to do much more than mumble a few hellos. From Lillie's stop, it was about ten minutes to school. Within three, Gage stiffened completely and he held something on his shoulder. Looking over, he found that Lillie had fallen asleep, and her head had fallen on him. He tensed up even more, but then forced himself to relax. It would be uncomfortable for her if he was tense.

Repositioning himself for her comfort, he looked down at her face. She was adorable, and seemed so peaceful while asleep, with a faint smile upon her lips. He couldn't help but smile, unaware of the pictures Gregor was taking of them.

Soon they arrived at school, and Gage was reluctant to get up. But as it happened, he had no choice but to lightly shake Lillie awake, and watch her yawn, completely unaware of the position they had been in.

They spent mere moments at their lockers, already having most everything they need on them. All too soon, the bell rang, and they found themselves sitting at their desks in homeroom.

Usually, the teacher would quickly take attendance, and then they would be on their ways. So when the teacher, Mr. Cutro, stepped to the front of the classroom, everybody was slightly surprised.

Everybody's eyes lit up as he announced a school field trip. Seeing as they were currently learning about the pre-historic age in history, they would be going to the museum of natural history. It would take place next week, and they would be staying at a hotel which the school has rented out for this trip.

Lillie and Gage, while excited, could not help but notice how Gregor had tensed. How the light had left his eyes, as if he had become devoid of all emotions. It was almost as if he was damming a river of emotions, closing himself up.

Almost as if something he had forced himself to forget, was re-emerging.

So, I hope you guys liked the chapter! I put a lot of thought into it, and I have a great conflict set up to focus the story around. I tried to make it more realistic than WOTM (War of the Myriapods). In reality, Gregor would move on and accept that he was never going back. However, some parts of him are forever changed and will never leave him. I think this is realistic, at least more so than WOTM.

So, I can't promise a set schedule. However, I do intend to update at least every month, preferably every week. I'll try to keep on top of that, but don't hope for too much.

Question: What do you guys think the main conflict will be? Remember, whoever answers right will be mentioned next chapter.

Authors Question: What do you guys think of Gage and Lillie?

And so, I bid you all farewell!

Bis Bald,

-Tytonic