Gregor
Luxa and Gregor raced through the halls towards Luxa's room, just like they did when they were twelve. Elegant decorations and surprised Regalians blurred by as they navigated the twisting and turning hallways. Finally making it to Luxa's room, they collapsed on the closest couch, glad to have some privacy.

"So Luxa, how have you mmmf!" Gregor was interrupted by Luxa's lips pressing into his own. After a brief shock, Gregor began to kiss back. Gregor's tongue fought Luxa's for domination of their mouths, as they ran their hands around each other; Gregor's on the sides of Luxa's face, and hers on the back of his neck.

After a small marathon, the two parted for air. Practically gasping, they regained their breath, both in bliss at what they had just done.

"Wow." Gregor said. "That was… amazing!" Luxa laughed at his happiness; it had been a while since she was truly happy.

"Yes, it really was."

Relaxing on the couch, the two turned to each other, staring deep into each other's eyes, enjoying the company. "Gregor," Luxa asked. "Do you still…?" Gregor smiled at her hopeful face, kissing her. After he pulled away he answered, "Yeah, I do." Remembering the last time he said that, he frowned.

Luxa saw this, and placing her soft hand on his cheek, she asked, "What troubles you?"

Gregor shook his head. "I told everything last night, when you were, umm..." Luxa turned away sheepishly. "Yes, well…" She began.

"Luxa, why did you drink so much?" Gregor asked, concerned. Luxa put her face in her hands. "It clears my mind. Everyone expects me to have answers to everything; the inevitable war with the cutters, our relations with the gnawers, and the corruption of Solovet still conflicts our people. It's too much for me to bear." Putting his arm around her shoulders, Gregor tried to console her. "Luxa," he said softly said in her ear. "Luxa, look at me." Bit by bit, Luxa's eyes returned their attention to Gregor. Smiling, he said, "I won't let you go through this on your own. Let me help you."

Happiness returned to Luxa's face, like a sun had just risen behind her. Taking his free hand, she replied. "Thank you, Gregor. You understand what this entails, correct?" Gregor nodded. "I wouldn't have it any other way." Gradually, they moved closer and closer until their lips met. Gregor remembered the first time he kissed her, and how similar it felt now. Luxa melted at the touch of her best friend, losing herself in the warmth that enveloped her. They sat there, on the soft couch, making up for five years of absence from each other. Building up speed, they began to run their hands up and down each other, not even stopping for breath.

*AHEM*

Hazard stood at the doorway, holding his head in exasperation. Luxa pushed Gregor away so fast; he almost fell off the couch. "Hazard!" Luxa said, trying to smooth herself out. "Why are you here? Should you not be at your lessons?" Gregor sat up and got a good look at Hazard. He was nearly a foot taller than he was since they last met, his black halflander locks sticking out amongst the silver Regalian hair.

"Actually, I finished early today." Hazard said with peering eyes. "It seems that you have been busy." Both Luxa and Gregor blushed. Hazard just laughed and jumped onto one of the vacant couches. "Honestly," he sighed. "Some things never change." Luxa blushed again, but Gregor hadn't been paying attention, so he just laughed at Luxa's obvious discomfort. Glaring at him, Luxa took his hand, and stood up. "Well, we had better get ready." Hazard didn't even open an eye to respond.

"Try to keep your clothes on this time? Other people live here, Luxa." Luxa glared at him, walking quickly to her room, Gregor stumbling around behind her. Luxa plopped down on her bed, stretching, while Gregor just stood awkwardly by her. Laughing, she pulled him down on top of her, causing his face to turn red profusely. Feeling her breath, he looked deep into her eyes. After years of reminiscing and suffering without her, he had finally returned to the Underland; his home.

Luxa seemed to be thinking the same thing. "I missed you." She said. Gregor kissed her before responding. "I missed you too." They started making out again, Gregor running his hands through her hair. They were really enjoying themselves when a noise came from the doorway. "Oh and Gregor?" Hazard said with an exaggerated leisure.

"Your friends are waiting for you, and they don't seem very happy if I might add." Blood running cold, Gregor sat up slowly. How could he forget about his friends?

"They're using the room down the hall. I could show you if you like." Gregor got back to his feet and straightened himself out. "I'll be back," he told Luxa. "but it might take a while." Luxa simply nodded in understanding and stood up herself.

"Of course. Could you go to the War Room once you finish? Plans for the Cutters are to be discussed; we could use your help." Gregor smiled, and pulled Luxa to him.

"I'll be there." Kissing her goodbye, Gregor followed Hazard down the corridor.

"So, Hazard, how have things been since I left?" he asked. Hazard just shrugged.

"Things have been difficult. I hardly get to see Luxa anymore now that she is Queen."

Gregor nodded. "Yeah I bet." Thinking some more, he added. "When did she start to drink?" Hazard frowned; obviously things hadn't been very pleasant.

"She started about three months ago." Hazard said. "Although I never saw her drunk. Either she hasn't been intoxicated, or is just really good at hiding it." Gregor thought about this. Luxa wasn't really the kind of person that would get drunk, at least in front of her cousin. I wonder why she was drunk that night.He thought. Before he could finish, Hazard said they had arrived at Larry and Angelina's room. Returning to reality, Gregor noticed that this room was the one he used on his first adventure in the Underland, all those years ago. Standing on either side of the doorway were guards. Like Horatio and Marcus…Gregor thought, with good reason. The guards were tall for Underland standards, and had bulging muscles with a few veins visible. They were outfitted with wicked swords; one even had a broadsword on his back.

"Gregor, this is Cadmus and Perseus." Hazard introduced. "They are your friend's guards." Gregor was about to ask why they had guards; Larry and Angelina weren't dangerous at all. Then he flashed back to when Solovet had given him guards. "The guards are not to keep the rats out, but you in."As much as he had disliked her, it would help if Larry and Angelina didn't go running off; trying to get back to the Overland.

"Nice to meet you." Gregor said. The guards nodded in response.

"Well, Gregor, I am afraid I must take my leave. I have to be somewhere." Hazard said. Gregor smiled inwardly when he saw that Hazard had turned red a bit.

"Ok, Hazard, I'll see you soon." Gregor watched as the young adult walked away down the hall, and compared him to the child from his journey through the jungle. They really do grow up faster down here, don't they? He thought with remorse.

Gregor took a breath. It was time to talk to Larry and Angelina. His friends were probably really mad, really scared, or both. This isn't going to be fun. Gregor thought.

Taking a breath, he walked in.

Larry and Angelina stood clueless with what Perseus had told them.

"What do you mean, friends of the Warrior?" Angelina asked. Perseus and Cadmus once again had confused expressions on their faces.

"The one in the arena." Cadmus explained. "The one that accompanied you here."

"Gregor?" Larry said in exasperation. "W—" Larry started, pausing half-way through.

"What is it, Larry?" Angelina asked in a worried tone. Larry closed his eyes.

"We can't say he doesn't have the ability." Angelina opened her mouth to object, but thought better of it. "I wonder how all of this happened." Larry said, concerned for his best friend. "Gregor hates fighting; but he's amazing at it; prodigious even. Remember what happened with Jason? That just wasn't normal!"

Angelina put a hand on his arm, calming him down. "I'm sure he will tell us when he's ready." Larry nodded. Returning his breathing to normal. His asthma had faded over the years, but he had not quite outgrown it yet. Angelina turned to the guards.

"Can we talk to him?" Before one of the guards could answer, a male voice came from down the hall. "Of course," A boy of black hair and green eyes said. "I have a hunch on where he is now." Both Larry and Angelina were perked up at the news of seeing their friend again, even if he had been deceiving them. Their happiness was short lived, because Cadmus spoke up. "If there is to be a meeting, it will be here." The boy just nodded curtly. "Very well. I shall return within the hour with Gregor." With that, the weird boy left.

Larry and Angelina walked inside their room. It was a nice room with two beds and a decent sized dresser for clothes. The stone was of a silver color, like the rest of Regalia. "I like this room a lot better." Larry said, and he and Angelina laughed at the difference. "Yeah, me too." Angelina walked to the nearest bed and sat, bouncing a bit. Larry followed and put his arm around her. "Crazy, isn't it?" he asked, looking straight on. Angelina laid her head on his shoulder. "Very." She said softly.

Larry gently lifted Angelina's chin so they were face to face. He took in her beautiful blue eyes and perfectly tanned skin. Grinning, he moved closer to her. Feeling something on his lips, he opened his eyes to find Angelina looking away from him, holding her finger to his lips. "Larry, I can't do this." She said softly. Moving her hand away from his face, he asked, "Why? We've kissed be—" Angelina shook her head.

"That was a mistake. I was scared, and you were there…" she said, words sliding out of her mouth.

"You kissed me just because I was there?" Larry said, his voice rising in volume.

"Who does that?" he asked. Angelina looked at him, trying to hold back tears.

"And on top of that," Larry continued. "You lied to me!"

"Larry, I'm s—" Angelina began.

"How could you do this to me? I thought… I thought…" Larry pounded his fist against his thigh, and buried his face in the remaining hand. "I need some space." He said, standing up and marched out the room… almost.

WHAM!

Gregor and Larry ran into each other, causing them both to fall backwards.

Gregor walked in to his friend's room, only to be blindsided by one of them. Falling hard to the solid stone, Gregor slid back about a foot. Rubbing his head, he sat up to examine who he ran into. Finding Larry on the floor, Gregor got to his feet, and offered his friend a hand. Larry took it, and was hoisted to his feet. "Thanks." Larry muttered. Sizing up his friend, Larry saw that he was wearing a white silk looking tunic and black tight fitting pants.

Gregor was about to reply when he heard a slight squeal and a flash of pink before he was on the floor again. Upon further examination, he found that Angelina was his attacker.

"Oh, Gregor! Are you okay? Did they hurt you?" She said, sitting on top of him, running her hands around his head and his chest. "Um… No, I'm fine." Gregor said, trying to sit up unsuccessfully. "Are you sure?" she asked, continuing to run her hands over him.

"Positive." He said, a little violated. "Angelina, could you possibly…?" Angelina tilted her head in question. "Possibly what?" she asked, intentionally clueless.

"Get off me?" Gregor asked. Pretending to be surprised, she got up off him. Finally on his feet, Gregor inhaled. This is where the trouble began.

"So…" he said, setting his hands in his silky pockets. "Anything you guys want to ask me?" Larry was about to ask about the Underland, how Gregor was the 'Warrior', and why they were in this mess, but Angelina piped up first. "When do we get those clothes?" She said, touching Gregor's arm, feeling the silk. Gregor was starting to get a bit confused with her behavior. Usually, she was the mature one of their group, but now she was like a little kid at a toy store; constantly getting side tracked.

"Once you guys are done asking questions, you can go to the washroom and clean up. Then you can have your clothes." Not wanting to be interrupted again, Larry interjected.

"Could you explain why we're here? And why you're the warrior?" Gregor nodded grimly. "You might want to sit down. This will take a while."

Gregor then proceeded to narrate his story; the epic adventures through the Underland. The Prophecy of Gray, where he leapt off a cliff and was saved by Ares. How he bonded to Ares to keep him alive. The voyage across the Waterway, the whirlpool and finding out he was a rager. The serpents and his twists and turns through the Labyrinth. Giving the Bane to Ripred and almost getting stoned by Regalians. His forced return and Odyssey through the jungle, finding Luxa and losing Hamnet to the Cutters. Solovet's confinement. The ill-fated picnic that led to the near genocide of the nibblers. The prophecy of Time and his days in the dungeon with echolocation. Betraying Luxa to fight the Bane. The horrific battle on the Plain of Tartarus and the death of the Bane and Ares. His tragic departure from the Underland.

Both of his friends sat speechless at the amazing tale they just heard. "You were going to move to Virginia?" Larry asked. Gregor nodded. "Why didn't you?"

"Mom was the only one that wanted to go. The family needed to stick together."

"So why didn't you at least talk to them?" Angelina asked. Gregor looked to the floor.

"I was afraid my Mom would take us anyway if she found out. She always watched the entrances like a hawk." Larry put a hand on Gregor's shoulder. But before he could say anything, there was bustling in the hall. A messenger stumbled into the room, panting heavily. "Warrior… he croaked. "North Wall…Cutters…" He said as he passed out. Gregor sat there in belated shock.

"Gregor! What does he mean?" Angelina asked, terrified. Gregor regained his composure and took a deep breath. "It means," He said. "The Warrior is back."


Kevin, Donald, Goofy, and the large Regalian army stood at the base of the North Wall, staring down the advancing line of Cutters running quickly towards them.

Peacekeeper had been summoned to his hand, and Kevin had a difficult time telling people what it was and what its purpose was.

A large bat swooped down next to Kevin, and Luxa jumped to the ground.

Upon arrival, Luxa saw Ripred and Mareth discussing combat formations at the forefront of the wall. The wall itself was three stories high; built for the longevity of Regalian defense. Aurora coasted in, allowing Luxa to flip off and land a pace away from Ripred. Making a sharp u-turn, Aurora flapped her wings wildly to go retrieve the Warrior. Luxa quickly approached the veterans. She asked her question, stopping whatever conversation had been going on.

"What is our proximity?" she asked, right off the bat. Ripred didn't even bother to look up. "They are about three and a half clicks away. As of right now," Ripred directed attention to the map between himself and Mareth. "We plan to use a flank assault from the right side. I will personally fight the center for those who survive." Mareth took the break in speech to bring up his own thoughts.

"I sent Andromeda to scout the numbers. She estimates about four thousand Cutters march in this force. We no longer have the time to properly destroy the entrance to this tunnel without possibly causing a rockslide." Luxa nodded, absorbing all of the information. "Very well then. Aurora is on her way to bring Gregor here. Should we place him in the air or on the ground?" Ripred thought for a second.

"Place him with me. We have no fliers to spare at the moment, and he would be of more use on the ground." Mareth nodded ascent.

"With Gregor, Kevin, Donald, Goofy, andRipred, we should be able to hold off the assault until the Cutters retreat." Ripred grinned smugly.

"Or die."

A wave of red engrossed the stone beneath it as it rapidly came towards the North Wall. Luxa gazed with dismal eyes out at the scene. The wave never seemed to end; more and more Cutters just continued to propel themselves along with the hope of human annihilation. Ripred bowed sarcastically to Luxa and Mareth. "Well, Lady and Gentleman, I shall take my leave. I have enjoyed your eloquent and most enjoyable acquaintance." With his signature mocking attitude, Ripred, the Peacemaker, slid down the wall, and ran towards yet another battle.

Luxa watched as her bond ran to engage the Cutters, and protect the humans once again.

But must he do so in such a mordant manner? She asked herself. Mareth seemed to read her mind, and chuckled. "My Queen, your bond seems to fancy belligerent theatrics." Luxa moved her hand to her face, wondering how such a wise being, and experienced fighter could be as obnoxious as Ripred.

The red wave continued closer and closer. Regalian soldiers were mobilized and ready for combat. Lonely, only time stood between the clash of the two Underland superpowers.

Ever so slowly, Time ticked down.


Gregor and Aurora arrived at the wall, landing next to Luxa and Mareth, who were watching the advancing army. Mareth was the first to respond; by nailing Gregor with a hug. Gregor grimaced at the painful yet pleasant tradition ever since his second decent into the Underland. Awkwardly hugging back, Gregor realized how great a friend Mareth was.

After bruising Gregor's ribs, Mareth pulled away to notice his Overland friend's lack of a weapon.

"Gregor, we must get you outfitted. Come, I have a surprise for you." Gregor nodded, and glanced at Luxa. She smiled wanly, knowingly though too. The Cutters were a very formidable enemy. Even a Rager could be outnumbered.

They held each others gaze until Gregor had to tear his eyes away to follow Mareth. The wall had a small room housing a column of stairs leading below the top, to an armory. Even this one was picked over, but a lone section sat untouched. A full suit of armor was hung on the wall, made of black metal. It was his armor from five years ago.

"It was repaired after you left." Mareth said, understanding Gregor's feeling of de ja vu.

"When you arrived, we added some things to it. Would you like to see?" Gregor nodded, completely captivated by the armor. "Due to your back injury," Mareth stated, removing the back panel from its hooks. "We had this reinforced by two leather pads, and a small metallic alloy to fill the remaining space." He handed the chunk of metal to Gregor, who then began to strap it on his back.

"The arm pieces we elongated, but also thinned out the upper arm pieces for any added muscle. This will improve your swinging speed. For the lower arm, we added some metal hooks in case you fight an opponent with a sword." Gregor had put on almost all of the armor. "Two last additions were made. The helmet now has a visor to protect your eyes. Your feet, in case you lose your sword, have been sharpened at the toes." Gregor finished armor suiting up (lol), but noticed that there was something missing.

"Where's my sword?" he asked. Mareth went over to a rack, and pulled out one that was heavier at the hilt; the same style that Gregor had first used in his training.

"I know it is not the same caliber as your last one, but hopefully we may make do." Mareth said. Gregor swung the sword around in circles around himself, feeling a bit like a ninja. "Yeah," Gregor said, feeling the buzzing inside him. "We can make do."


Mareth hobbled as he dismounted Andromeda. He knew he would never be quite used to the whale bone leather clad object that was his prosthetic leg. Regaining his lost balance, he kept an eye on Luxa out of the corner of his eye. Facing an unknown dilemma, it was very rare in any hostile situation that there be tactful ambitions like they faced now without an underhanded motive. The Queen would definitely be the primary target.

Two Cutters approached Mareth and Luxa, stopping about ten feet away on the uneven gray stone. The Cutters were an oblong race, being about five feet long and only two feet tall. They had six legs and two antennae, connected to a red torso, one of them appeared to be half heartless, with a completely black half of his body with one yellow eye.

"Greetings, Queen Luxa," The half heartless Cutter stepped forward. "I am Lske23361859." Luxa grimaced. There was speculation that Cutters were named on the order of their birth, their only difference being a single number. Sadly, that theory was correct. Luxa nodded. "May I ask why you march towards Regalia with an army just to speak with me?" Lske23361859 stood unmoving and unfazed, along with his partner.

"We wish to ask you to surrender." Both Luxa and Mareth were taken aback. Mareth recovered quickly, however, and asked, "Why do you believe we would even consider?"

Lske23361859 answered, "So we can annihilate your kind." Luxa was starting to get frustrated. "What would be the purpose of giving you our light?"

"It would be a service."

"A service to whom?"

"All Underlanders."

"How would the death of the human's be a service to any of the Underlanders?" Kevin asked angrily, his Keyblade pointed at the Cutter.

"Humans are invaders, they do not belong in the Underland."

"I think that is enough. It is evident that we are wasting time here." Mareth said. Luxa agreed. Luxa had just signaled her bat when she saw Mareth fall to the ground. Lske23361859 stood over him, sinking his mandibles into Mareth's neck.

"Thunder!" Donald shouted, paralyzing the other Cutter

Goofy bashed his shield into the paralyzed Cutter, stunning it.

Kevin swung his Keyblade to late, by the time Peacekeeper sank into Lske23361859 it had already sank its mandibles into Mareth.

Peacekeeper swung into the Heartless half of the Cutter's body, the smell of burnt rubber filling the air, and a horrible sizzling sound erupting from it as he dissolved into the air.

A blade flew from the top of the wall the instant Peacekeeper sunk into the other Cutter, killing the second.

Gregor jumped from the peak of the wall, landing at the base next to Kevin.

"Mareth…" Gregor said, swallowing his despair

"No, Don't worry." Mareth said weakly, grabbing Gregor's wrist.

Mareth's bat craned its head at his side. "I'm sorry… I should have been there…"

"Nothing could've been done"

"Andromeda…Show them please" and with that, Mareth exhaled his final breath.

Gregor?" Luxa asked hoarsely. They all knew she had her own connection to Mareth; he was her coach and a friend that they had gone through wars and other hardships with. "Get back up to the wall. It's going to get real dangerous down here." Luxa loaded Mareth's body onto Andromeda and saw her off. She then drew her sword and boarded Aurora. "What are you doing?" Gregor asked in a rough tone.

"He was my friend too, Gregor." Luxa said firmly.

"So does that mean we get to fight now?" Kevin asked anxiously, itching to get into that fight and help his newfound friends.

Gregor took off into the half black wave of red that was only a few meters away.

"Does that answer your question?" Donald asked, whacking Kevin on the head with his wand and charging out with Goofy.

Luxa flew off on her bat, leaving Kevin as the last one to leave the wall. He was entranced by the way everyone fought, Ripred was hacking and shredding away at the Cutters, even those of them that were heartless he cut through with ease. Luxa and her bat flew only a few inches above the Cutters, only high enough so the forces could not attack them, she had her sword at her side, slicing through every Cutter in her way.

"What am I doing?" Kevin smacked himself in the fore head (FACEPALM!) and rushed into the battle.

The moment he reached the Cutters, they swarmed around him, clawing, biting, pushing, trying to overwhelm him.

Kevin jumped over the regular Cutters, slashing his Keyblade through them, making them fall apart at the seams.

The heartless Cutters jumped on top of him, biting at his clothes and tearing them off of him. His shirt had been torn to bits, with only a few pieces of it still on him.

Kevin turned in a complete three sixty, slicing through the Heartless that surrounded him, dissolving them into a thick black cloud of smoke.

Kevin began to radiate the white light he felt in the battle with the hooded man, and he directed it into his hand, summoning Light Defender into his left hand, spinning it around.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Gregor's voice could be heard from the area north of Kevin.

"Gregor!" Kevin jumped up, dismissing his Keyblades and leaping in Gregor's direction.

He shouldn't have let his guard down.

A heartless Cutter jumped up, and chomped down onto Kevin's arm

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Kevin screamed in pain as he saw his right arm get ripped completely off, leaving only the bottom part of his shoulder.

He fell back, Donald and Goofy swarmed around him, destroying the heartless around him.

A flash of gold went above him, picking him up. He felt the sensation of flying as a tear ran down his cheek.

'I'll see you soon mom'