So kind of like my last fic, this isn't a brand new story, but a redo. There's more detail, so it's longer, and it's not all just from Gregor's point of view. I hope you all enjoy it, and let me know what you think.


1

Click. Click. Click. This was unbearably boring. Even the internet couldn't entertain him. Honestly, he could just stare at a wall at this point. Then again, his family might notice him acting all sad if he just stared at a wall. Gregor thought about it for a moment. Was sad a good enough word? He really didn't want to admit depressed, but sad really didn't cut it. He sighed, laying on the couch, and flicked through channels again.

How long had it been since his last trip to the Underland? Four months. He forced himself to not count the days, thinking this would make him get over it faster, but it didn't help. The images of war haunted his dreams. The dead lying on the ground. The feel of cutting a body with his sword. The yelling and screaming. The smell of blood. When it wasn't war, it was the knowledge he would never see his Underland friends again. Howard. Ripred. Vikus. Luxa. Gregor sighed again, rolled onto his back, and gave up on the TV.

In his family's defense, they did try to help him get back to normal. It took a lot of effort, but his family finally convinced his mother to stay with his cousin, Wynn, even though there was an entrance to the Underland out back. He just had to promise never to go near it. Maybe knowing there was an entrance so close made it so difficult to get over the Underland this time.

Gregor and his sisters went back to school, his mother found a job, and his father was teaching. His cousin was working on her own education and future career. Still, Gregor just felt like it was all frivolous. He had helped in wars and diplomatic missions. How was he supposed to take a track meet seriously now? I was my queen's personal guard, and now I'm back in school? He rubbed his eyes. A queen's personal guard. Not my queen.

He heard someone enter the house, and knew it was Wynn. His parents and sisters would be gone for the weekend for a wedding and sleep overs respectively. At least he wouldn't have to deal with them asking if he was ok. Don't get mad at them for trying to be a good family. His cousin pulled off her hat, coat, and scarf, plopped down in a chair, and started to go off about something interesting she read today. Gregor let her rant, like he did with his father now, but ignored her. After a few minutes she trailed off.

"Gregor? What's wrong?"

"Nothing." His tone clearly gave away his mood. He didn't want to talk. She took the hint.

"Want to order out tonight?" she asked instead.

"Sure. Why not?" he mumbled.

She ordered for them, then sat in silence with him. Gregor felt bad now. She went through a lot too. In fact she had lost a lot more than he had when she went to the Underland with him last time. He still didn't want to talk, but figured watching a movie with her would help make up for snapping at her. They ended up spending the evening slouched on the couch, their feet on the coffee table, eating Chinese and watching bad movies. It cheered him up a little.

"So winter break soon?" Wynn asked.

"I guess."

"Any exciting plans?"

"Oh, you know. The usual. Drugs and parties and that sort of thing."

"Aw. They grow up so fast," she sighed, and messed up his thick brown hair. Then they both jumped. There was a scratching sound from the kitchen. They both turned around to kneel on the couch and look over the back toward the kitchen. Wynn looked at him. "Uh. You go check on it," she said.

Gregor shrugged, and got up to walk over to the kitchen. There was more clatter, like some kind of animal was in the cabinet. Gregor carefully opened the cabinet door, ready to jump back from any wild animal that had somehow gotten into the kitchen. When nothing jumped in, he stepped closer and gasped.

"What is it?" his cousin called, leaning over the back of the couch from the living room.

"A mouse," he replied. "Well actually. A nibbler."


They stood in the kitchen and stared at the nibbler who just introduced himself as Leibniz with a gracious bow. Gregor looked around, suddenly worried that a whole heard of mice would stampede into the kitchen. It had happened before with rats, but it looked like it wouldn't happen with mice. That was a relief. Instead, all he saw was his cousin with the most confused look on her face.

"I come with a message from Queen Luxa of Regalia," Leibniz said formally. The cousins just stared back in silence. "Her Highness has need of your assistance in Regalia, and requests that you return to the Underland at your soonest convenience." The nibbler looked quite happy with his delivery. They stared back some more. "Are there any questions?"

"Why were you in the cabinet?" Wynn asked. Gregor elbowed her.

"I arrived here much earlier, and opted to stay in the cabinet where I… I fell asleep," Leibnitz replied, sounding fairly embarrassed. He quickly pulled himself together, and in a more annoyed tone asked, "Are there any questions about Queen Luxa's request?"

"Yeah. Why?" Gregor asked simply.

"I am not at liberty to say."

"Is there a war?"

"Not currently, no." The nibbler was sounding even more annoyed and impatient. Gregor looked at his cousin.

"I'm going to talk with Gregor in private now," Wynn said politely, and dragged him into her bed room. "You're thinking of going," she hissed at him accusingly.

"Of course I am. Luxa asked for my help, I can't just say no." He didn't want to admit that he really wanted to see her again too. She was the best friend he ever had, with the exception of Ares.

"Yes you can. We just got back. You can't keep going down there, Gregor. It's not going to work."

"Why not?" He couldn't keep from being frustrated. Why can't I have any say in what I do?

"Because you can never tell anyone about the Underland. What happens when you finally get a girlfriend, and you can't tell her about half your friends because they shouldn't even exist? Not to mention Maggie and Lizzie have to keep this secret too. It would be easier to just end it now." Gregor was about to snap back at her, but the pained look on Wynn's face calmed him. He took a deep breath. She did have a point.

"Ok. You're right. But I'm not going just to keep in touch with old friends. I'm going to help people. It would be selfish not to." His cousin thought about this. He was going to go whether he had anyone's approval or not, but having Wynn on his side may be helpful later.

"I want you to think about it. I mean really think about this. And I want you to talk it over with your parents."

"I'm almost 18 now. I don't need their permission." Wynn just raised an eyebrow at him, looking completely unimpressed. He was actually pretty sure he did need permission. Being alive for 18 years does not mean you can suddenly ignore your parents.

"16 does not count as almost 18, dumb dumb," she said. "You need to talk it over. I'm going to buy us some more time." She left the room, and went back out to Leibniz.

"What is your answer, Overlanders?"

"We want to know what's in it for us," Wynn said, folding her hands in front of her. Leibniz was so taken aback he almost fell off the counter. Gregor put a hand out to steady him. "Luxa isn't telling us much, so we want to know what we get in return, especially in regards to safety." Gregor smiled. He was sure she really didn't care about what they got in return, she just didn't want to give an answer yet.

Leibnitz looked offended that they would demand something in return, but he agreed to ask the queen. Wynn carried him back out to the cave so he wouldn't have to walk. The nibbler mumbled about the audacity of Overlanders as they left the house. Gregor thought about how he would convince his family to let him go. He knew he had to, because already he was bubbling over with excitement to see the Underland again.


Leibniz didn't return for another week, which was fine with Gregor. He was sure he wanted to go, and Wynn, who was also invited, looked like she wasn't against going either. Gregor waited a while before telling his parents about Luxa's message. He just wasn't sure how to bring it up. Finally he decided it was just something he had to say, and he blurted it out while everyone was sitting in the living room. His sisters went quiet, his father listened patiently, and his mother just said no.

It took hours of arguing, with Wynn getting pulled into the mess, to convince his mother, who was completely opposed to allowing Gregor to return to the Underland. It was actually Gregor's father who did it. Gregor didn't know what he said to his mother (and he didn't ask), but she finally agreed under the one condition that there be some form of communication between them while he was down there. He also had to be home by the end of winter break (Gregor really doubted that would happen).

When Leibniz returned, he confirmed that Luxa would have messages sent regularly between Gregor and his family. She also extended an invitation to his family to visit. Again, Gregor's mother was opposed at first, but Lizzie and Maggie surprised them all.

"We want to visit," Maggie said with determination set across her face.

"Just one more time to say good bye," Lizzie added, a bit more unsure of herself. His parents exchanged a look, and Gregor thought the 'one more time' seemed to sway them.

"Visiting would give us a chance to keep a closer eye on Gregor," his father put in. They agreed to think about it.

Gregor and Wynn packed a few things quickly so they could leave before anyone changed their minds. Wynn still looked uncertain about returning, and Gregor saw her occasionally take a deep breath as if to encourage herself to go. Gregor hugged his family goodbye, and promised to write and come home safe. He made sure to memorize the moment, because he didn't know how long it would be before he could return. Wynn also hugged everyone goodbye, and promised to keep Gregor out of trouble.

The walk to the cave was bitter cold that night, though luckily there hadn't been any snow yet that winter. Gregor dug his hands into his pockets, and walked faster. He wasn't sure if it was the cold or his excitement that rushed him forward, but he didn't care. In a few minutes, they entered the cave, and made their way to the back with flashlights. When they came to the hole, Wynn hesitated.

"Wow, this is a lot more intimidating than I thought," she said. "You know. Jumping in a huge hole. Can we try falling by accident again?" Gregor laughed as she hopped back and forth a couple times as if pumping herself up for a fight, her quick breaths visible in the frigid air. Gregor himself wasn't worried at all: just excited to see his friends once again

"Do you want to go first, or shall I," he asked his cousin. "I mean, you might need a push." Wynn nodded, and said she would go first in case she needed to take him up on that offer. She ended up jumping in herself, and Gregor followed quickly behind. After several minutes of falling through the strange mists, Gregor landed lightly on the ground. I'm getting good at this. Wynn landed off to his right with a hard thud. He saw his cousin's face in her flash light. She looked worried, but not panicked like last time. Gregor pulled his hat off now that it was warmer.

"Come, Overlanders," Leibniz called from somewhere in the darkness. They followed him and slipped through the large crevasse. Just outside, a large flier landed on the ground. "Meet you Achilles. He will be flying us back to Regalia." Achilles was huge. Almost as big as Ares, and quite possibly as strong. His coat was dusty brown except for flecks of gold from his nose up his head.

"It is an honor meeting you, Overlanders," he said with a nod.

"Uh. You can call me Gregor. And this is my cousin, Wynn," Gregor said. "And nice to meet you to." Achilles nodded. They climbed onto the flier, and flew off to Regalia. Gregor felt his excitement grow with each passing moment, and wondered how he would last the hours it would take to get there.