Sorry it took so long. It's been like two weeks, I know, and I apologize. Writers' block has been cruel. But this chapter is here now. I hope to have the next chapter done within two days, and then there will be the sequel! I am so stoked to write it more.

And a BIG thanks to US and Mel for their big help with the last bit.

Over the course of the next few weeks, Luxa had steadily regained the ability to move around and make use of her left leg. Her official coronation ceremony was planned to be within a few days, though she technically already had full power as queen. She seemed anxious, of course, for the event.

"Cousins," she sighed, sitting down tiredly on the edge of her bed. Gregor stood across from her, and a single crutch leaned on the bed next to her.

"It seems as though for every Nerissa, there is a Stellovet," she said, staring at nothing, seemingly in thought.

"But for every Henry, there's a Howard," Gregor pointed out. The two were quiet for a few moments; Luxa staring at the wall, Gregor just staring at her.

Breaking the somewhat awkward silence, Luxa finally asked, "Once more to make it an even dozen?"

"If you're up for it." Gregor offered out a hand to pull her up. She accepted it with her right hand, rising to her feet and grabbing the crutch with her left hand. Slowly at first, she began to limp around the room, leaning heavily on the crutch. She gradually picked up speed, though not going much faster than before. Every time she stepped with her left leg, she clenched her jaw, wincing in obvious pain. Gregor hated to see her hurting like that.

Around halfway across the room, Luxa fell to the floor, gripping her ankle in pain. Worriedly, Gregor hurried over to her.

"Are you okay?" he asked, a dark note of concern in his voice. He knelt beside her, feeling bad about the obvious pain she was in and not being able to do anything about it. She took a deep breath.

"I will be fine," she snapped. Luxa's voice was sharp and bitter, full of pain, sounding much harsher than she probably would have meant it too. Gregor could tell she didn't intend for it to be so unkind sounding, though the words still stung. He just sat there with her for the next few minutes until she finally stood herself up with the help of her crutch, not saying a word.

The rest of that day was spent with no more words exchanged between the two, as Gregor had gratefully stalked off when Howard had came announcing that Luxa's coronation would be held the next day, if she was well enough for it.

The day of her coronation, in the whole ten minutes he'd gotten to spend with her, Luxa had made a big point of apologizing to Gregor, though he just dismissed it, saying it was fine. He didn't want her to be worried about anything stupid, today especially, as he could tell she was somewhat stressed out as it was. Besides, it really was fine with him.

The coronation ceremony was similar to how Gregor remembered it when they had returned home from the Labyrinth and Nerissa was being crowned. Gregor had not seen Luxa since that morning, and was very anxious to see her again, even though it had been only a few hours, no more than five. He'd only seen her for about fifteen minutes, which she spent apologizing to Gregor for the day before. He'd let it go, saying it was fine. It was.

Gregor was seated next to Hazard and Howard, with Nike and Atlas on their other sides. Ergane was somewhere across the room with another several fliers, one of whom Gregor recognized as Queen Athena. The others looked somewhat like Ergane and Nike; different patterns of black and white stripes. He took them to be the flier royal family.

Near the doorway, Gregor easily spotted Ripred, who had positioned himself strategically to be the first out to the feast. The rat was irritated scratching at his neck with his right hind paw, in a similar manner to dogs in the Overland. Fastened around his throat was a white bow tie and collar. Gregor started cracking up, and pointed this out to Howard and Hazard, who began laughing in turn. Ripred seemed to notice this, shooting Gregor a menacing look that said "You will not speak of this ever again if you appreciate having your stomach on the inside of your body".

Everyone was dressed up nicely, not just the rat. Gregor himself donned a fancy looking set of clothing that the Underlanders had laid out for him. It consisted of a charcoal colored vest with triangular sticking out structured shoulders, which he wore over a long-sleeved white shirt, both of which clung tightly to his arms and body. You could even see the scars on Gregor's chest slightly protruding. The pants were average-looking black Underland pants, like the ones he wore regularly. Howard and Hazard were wearing similar garments, as were the majority of the males in the room.

Gregor turned one more time to gawk at Ripred, when a stout old man entered the room. He was completely unfamiliar to Gregor, who assumed this was Vikus's successor. He had a scruffy white beard, and wore a long cloak, which dragged on the ground somewhat behind him. He attempted to make his way discretely down the aisle, to position himself by the throne for the crowning. The crowd hushed a bit, temporarily distracted by the man, who had cleared his throat to speak. His voice was thick and throaty.

"Excuse me, all. The ceremony will begin shortly."

There was a brief moment of silence before the music kicked in and Luxa entered the throne room, leaning heavily on her crutch. Gregor's eyes widened at the sight of her. He broke into a grin. Wow.

Breath-taking was more then a word for what she looked like. If Gregor had a dictionary right now, all the words that could describe what he thought of Luxa right now wouldn't be enough. Top to bottom, she was absolutely stunning. Gregor probably did not even blink throughout the whole ceremony, starting from when she slowly hobbled down to the throne. He didn't even here the words the old man chanted as he placed a large golden crown on top of her head.

Gregor could tell based on the expression on Luxa's face that she had wanted this day so badly for a good chunk of her life, and that she had thought she would never see it on so many occasions. He could name a few times where he'd had his doubts, too.

The ceremony went by rather quickly for Gregor, yet slowly at the same time. It was as though time had briefly paused for Gregor to stare at Luxa, though would be starting up again at whatever time it wanted, even in a hundred years from then. He was not aware that it had ended until Hazard tapped him on the shoulder, signaling for him to rise to his feet and applaud. He looked at the queen once more, burning the image into his brain, just as he had inadvertently done before with the nibblers in the pit, or Ares dead on the ground, or even, another new image, Ripred in that bow tie. He needed something more to hold on to.