"Hey Gregor!" Larry said as he ran to catch up with him.

"What's up?" Gregor asked.

"Angelina said she wanted to see us at lunch to practice lines for that play she is in." Larry said while trying to catch his breath.

"Alright. Tell her I'll be there."Gregor said reluctantly.

"Okay, Bye." Larry said as he ran to class.

Gregor had math class next. On the way there his thoughts began to drift towards the Underland. He hadn't been there in over 3 years He began to think of when he fought the bane with Ares...Ares had died at the hands of the Bane. Why had Ares died? Why did I survive? Then he began to think of Luxa, Hazard, Howard, Mareth, Dulcet, Vikus, Nerissa, Luxa... Did Luxa still have feelings for him? Had she moved on?

"Gregor!" he heard his math teacher, Mrs. Barnes, shout, "Stop day dreaming and do your work!"

"Yes Mrs. Barnes," Gregor said with a hint of sarcasm.

"Now." Mrs. Barnes said, "What is the square route of 1369?"

"I don't know. 40 something," Gregor said right away.

"Wrong. 37." Mrs. Barnes said sternly. Then the bell rang, "Okay, remember chapter 8 lesson 7 is due tomorrow."

Gregor walked down to the lunch room. When he got there, he saw Larry and Angelina holding scripts and saying lines.

"Gregor, grab a script." Angelina said in a harsh tone. He guessed Larry did something.

"Okay, jeez." Gregor said reluctantly. They went through lines while they ate. Angelina was really good, but she kept worrying that she would do bad.

Then Gregor had science, art and gym, where he dominated dodge ball. After that school was over. Gregor went to pick his sisters up from school and walked them home.

"Gregor, we go see Temp?" Boots asked.

"Not today Boots, but maybe soon." Gregor said back.

"Boots wanna see Temp!" Boots screeched as she started to stomp around.

"Do you miss them Gregor?" Lizzie asked.

"Yes Lizzie," Gregor sighed, "A lot."

Then there was silence the rest of the way to his apartment, except for Boots stomping in puddles. Luxa would be 16 next week, which means she would be crowned Queen of Regalia. He wondered how Regalia was doing. He wondered if any wars were going on. He missed his friends, and Ripred.

They went into there apartment and saw their mom doing the dishes.

"Gregor?"

"Yeah?"

"Please go do the laundry."

"Okay" Gregor said as he walked down the stairs towards the laundry room.

He started doing the laundry, and thinking about the underland when he heard a voice, "Overlander" it said. Gregor looked around and the voice said, "Down here" and then Gregor saw the grate open. He looked down and saw a human he recognized.

"Mareth!" Gregor exclaimed, "Good to see you again."

"You too, Gregor." Mareth said happily and then sighed, "There is a war and we need the warrior to return."

"I killed the warrior, remember?" Gregor said sarcastically, "Against who?"

"The cutters." Mareth replied.

"I don't know. I can't just leave my family. They would be a mess if I left." Gregor said. "Maybe if we go talk to them-"

"Would I not be seen?" Mareth asked.

"No one leaves their apartment at this time of day." Gregor said. "It will be quick."

"Alright." Mareth said.

"Let's go." Gregor said. "This way."

When Mareth got through the grate, he saw the laundry machines and asked, "What is this machinery? Is it a weapon?"

"It's called a washing machine." Gregor replied. "You put your clothes in it, and it cleans them."

"Oh" Mareth said, as they walked up the stairs.

When they got to the apartment, Gregor opened the door and said, "Mom, dad! We have a visitor!"

"Who is it?" His mom asked.

"Just come here." Gregor replied.

His mom walked in with a plate and a dish rag, and when she saw Mareth, she dropped it and yelled, "NO! YOU ARE NEVER GOING BACK THERE!"

"But mom, they need me." Gregor said. "I-"

"NO! I WILL NOT LET YOU GO DOWN AND GET YOURSELF KILLED!" his mom shouted, as his dad walked in.

"What's going on?" His dad asked.

"Dad, if you were in a situation where you could go stay with your family, or go help someone out, which would you choose?" Gregor asked.

"I would follow my heart, son, and do what I think is right." His dad said.

"Grace," Mareth said, "we need Gregor. Without him we would all surely perish."

"BUT HE HAS ALREADY DONE ENOUGH FOR YOU!" his mom cried. "HE HAS ALMOST DIED FOR YOU MULTIPLE TIMES!"

"Grace, honey, Gregor is grown up now. He can make his own decisions." His dad said.

"I know." His mom said, tears dripping down her face. "I just don't want him killed."

"Mom, I won't die." Gregor said. "I will come back alive."

"Okay." His mom said. "Be careful."

"I will." Gregor said as he walked out the door.

Gregor and Mareth ran down the stairs, and to the laundry.

When they got to the grate, Mareth said, "Are you ready, overlander?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." Gregor replied.

With that, Gregor jumped through the grate.