This is my first fanfiction so please go easy on it. If you like the story I'll keep chapters coming. If not keep it to yourself, please don't hate on it. If you find any errors, whether it be spelling, grammar or anything else please just let me know. I've been reading many of the fanfictions on this site but I just wanted to add my own to them.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Underland Chronicles or any of the characters, save the ones that I will be adding. Both the Underland Chronicles and the characters within belong to Suzanne Collins.

-Ssi


Gregor's vision was blurred. As Vellac's broadsword was pulled above his head a single torch's dim light was reflected into Gregor's eye. Even in the Underland however, the smallest amount of light can seem like so much more than that. To Gregor it reminded him of the Sun. He let the Sun's warmth engulf him.

It felt so good, Gregor thought to himself. It had been, what felt like, forever since he had last felt heat like this. It was as if he was back in his old apartment, only hours before he had met Luxa. Back then his biggest issue in the world was being annoyed about not being allowed to go to summer camp like Lizzy had gotten to. He had had to look after his sister and Grandmother that summer. Which is what ultimately led to him falling into the grate chasing after Boots.

That had been his introduction to the Underland. Falling with Boots, almost directly into her "beeg bugs". They had brought him to Regalia. And, wow! That had been something he would never have forgotten. It had been a common location in his dreams over the years, but that first time had been something special. The polished walls of the simple arena had been a work of art. The dusky green moss covering the ground was almost like some of the park fields in the Overland. And the bats. There had easily been a dozen of them flying in complex intricate patterns as they had been in their game.

Not to mention the first sight Gregor had of Luxa. Dropping upside-down off of Aurora, she had executed a perfect double backflip, twisting at the last moment so she had landed facing Gregor. At the time Gregor thought she was so strange looking, but every time he closed his eyes he saw that moment. Her pale skin, almost see-through, revealing her veins. Her hair had been silvery blond, almost metallic, braided intricately at the time, before she had cropped it back. And her eyes, that purple… almost perfectly between a royal purple and a light lilac. Yeah, that moment was imbedded deeply in Gregor's mind. Had he actually been able to live to a ripe old age, he would've remembered that moment for each and every second of his life.

After that, Gregor had meet others like Vikus, Mareth, Perdita and so many that he would forever consider his closest friends. But that was all behind him. All that lay ahead was Vellac and his steel. Still, of all the places to die, this one wasn't the worst. A couple of drops from the river playfully tickled his face. It wasn't nearly as fierce as the whirlpool. That had been an incredibly awful time. The feel of the sharp cold water against his bare skin had pained him horribly for the rest of that trip. And the tiny pricks from Twitchtip's claws in Gregor's chest after having gone through his life jacket. But that panicked expression on her face, as they had been dangling. That had been heart breaking, as she had pleaded for him not to let go. He hadn't, and a lot of good that had done her… Gregor knew how her story ended. Perhaps drowning there would've been less painful. She was one of the worst memories that Gregor kept bottled up. He used to day dream that she had somehow lived. And that the messages were wrong… but they weren't and she hadn't.

Vellac's muscles tensed up as his sword slowed at the apex of its height before swapping its momentum back towards Gregor. At this point Gregor wasn't sure if it was blood or sweat, but he felt beyond sticky. Even Ares' claw that normally bounced against Gregor's chest was practically plastered to him.

Ares. Even while he was still alive, his life had been hell. Gregor was guessing that before they had all met him, Ares' life was probably at least somewhat normal. But he had ruined that for Ares. After Henry's betrayal Ares' was outcaste. Rejected. Shunned. Ignored. When he had caught the plague there weren't even friends around to find him, it had been by mere chance that a few scouts had come across him to bring him to the palace. Luxa and Aurora were still missing at the time and Gregor was in the Overland. He could only imagine the immense loneliness and fear that Ares' had felt. All that suffering for only a few extra months of life. Not even fun, relaxing life. No. It had been hell.

Was it possible to hallucinate sound? Gregor thought. He could've sworn he heard Luxa's voice calling out to him from far away. Oh, his first and only true love. It was weird really. Their story. It started with loathe and pity from both sides. But after Henry's betrayal and their journey back to Regalia they would never had been able to call the other anything but a friend.

Then they had shared that dance. Leave it to Luxa to use Hazard as a way of guilt tripping Gregor into that dance. It had been worth it though. That was the moment Gregor had first realized just how pretty Luxa was. Then was the "picnic", what a horror show that had been. Her words still echoed in his mind as she had, unknowingly to Gregor, declared war against the Gnawers. But there were some good parts too, he remember riding on Aurora while Luxa and he were pressed almost back to back with only his backpack in between them. Her head resting on his shoulder, and her hair brushing against his ear. Then came the fight. His words to her over that fight about Ripred needing to rest… "we can forget we ever knew each other! Okay?" The words tightened like thick chains around his heart. Not a moment went by he didn't regret them after realizing exactly what he had said to Luxa. And the look in Luxa's eyes as he said them, such beautiful eyes filled with disbelief and pain. His apology had been far too short for that one.

Then the cliff overhanging the jungle. Watching Luxa from afar while she couldn't sleep; Gregor wasn't able to keep his eyes off her saddened face. Ripred somehow had known Gregor's feelings and told him life was short and that there were only a few good things in it. "Don't pretend that one isn't happening right now," was what he had said. Yeah, he was sometimes blunt and rude… but in the end Ripred knew what really mattered in life. That was one of the wisest things that old rat ever said to him. It had been what really got Gregor to be honest with himself about his feelings as he had walked over to her.

Looking back at the memory he would never be sure, but he had guessed about then she had started to feel the same. She had known what the prophecy had said about his death, she had told him she wouldn't hold it against him if he had left right then.

At that point, nothing could have made him leave. He was too invested already. Sneaking off to the battle to find Luxa was reckless, yes. But necessary. He'd have done it again without hesitation. Stealing precious moments with Luxa while she was in the hospital. Leaving the picture of them dancing with her, because he had chickened out telling her face to face how he had felt. The glimpse of her smile as he exited her hospital room.

Her reaction to thinking the Bane had killed him. Her reaction to finding out he was still alive. The museum... as they took goofy pictures of themselves, the final of which was still in his wallet, in his pocket. He wished he had just enough time to take it out and look at it one last time. But there was no more time. Vellac's blade had already changed directions and was moving back towards Gregor.

It was alright really, he was supposed to be dead already anyways, right? The last few years he had only been a zombie, going through the motions of life. His last real day of life had been the one before the Bane had killed him. Starting with his betrayal of Luxa. He knew she would've tried to follow them. She needed to be safe. So Gregor did what he had to do. He sold her out to her grandmother. He told Solovet to lock her in the dungeon until it was over. The disbelief and hurt were so evident on Luxa's face, before both vanished and were turned to rage. Pure and true rage. That really should've been the last time Gregor ever saw her. Less than twenty-four hours later he should've died alongside Ares. But no, even in dying Ares had to be alone. Life had pulled Gregor back. Every minute since then had been borrowed time anyways, so what did it really matter if he was going to die. It really was the inevitable.

He was happy though, for that extra time. Waking up in the hospital, seeing Luxa and his family again. Finally getting to have that picnic… just the two of them. But as soon as he could move, his mother pulled them away. Holding Luxa's hand as they walked to the stone separating the Underland from the Overland. She had gotten only a short sight of the night sky before it was over. "This is where I will think of you," she had said… "You know where I will be."

He remembered holding her gaze as his father slid the rock into place. A single tear had left his eye. That was the moment they had been parted forever…

No! Gregor's mind screamed at him with its full force. They had not been parted forever. He had come back into her life and she had come back into his life. Watching her as that rock had separated them was the hardest moment of his entire life. He couldn't lose her again! He wouldn't lose her again!

So what, he had a few scrapes and cuts? He wasn't going to let Vellac end it here and now after everything Gregor had done since entering back into the Underland! Gregor's vision was clear and it was as if time was slowed around him. His vision wasn't fragmented and his purpose was clear. Using every ounce of strength that he could muster, Gregor fought against the pain and pushed with his knees away from Vellac.

The blade cut deep into Gregor's chest. Intersecting each of the scars left by the Bane, Vellac's sword also cut through the string holding up Ares claw. Gregor caught the claw in his right hand as it fell out of his torn up shirt. Vellac spun around fully and aimed another blow towards Gregor.

There is only going to be one chance at this, Gregor thought. Digging the pads of his feet into the sand and rocks Gregor launched himself forward getting as close to his enemy as he could.

Extending his left hand as close to the hilt as possible Gregor grabbed Vellac's blade to stop it. Blood spurted over both of them as the skin was cleanly sliced. Gregor was fairly certain the blade touched bone, but that's where stopped.

Gregor's eyes were connected with Vellac's as the life escaped them. His right hand slowly released the claw that extended out from between Vellac's ribs. The vile Underlander fell to the side, landing half on the shore and half in the water. After only seconds, Gregor could already see the deep red being washed away from Vellac's hair as the river ran over it.

Looking up from Vellac, Gregor's eyes met Luxa's as she continued to sprint towards him. Vellac had been wrong, she was safe. The mere notion was enough to warm his heart. Luxa was safe. Gregor smiled. The panic and determination on her face was pretty adorable, Gregor had to admit as his brain got fuzzier.

Aware that gravity was taking over again, Gregor fell backwards and got a single blurry image of the ceiling before everything went dark.


I know This chapter is a bit different from the rest but I very much hope you all enjoy it. I knew almost from the beginning I was going to have a single chapter from Luxa's point of view and I always knew I was going to have flashbacks taken from excerpts from the original books being shown as Gregor's or Luxa's life flashing before their eyes but it wasn't until you guys decoded my rhyme that it was set in stone exactly how I would do so and I personally am very happy with how it turned out. We are only probably two chapters away from the end of this story, and no, there will not be a sequel and there will not be an epilogue. I know this may displease some but I was not joking when I said I've had the last few paragraphs written out before I even posted the first chapter and I'm not sure you'll appreciate my strictness with this planning until you read it yourselves... but I do hope you love it as much as I do. As always please rate and review. Any and all feedback is welcome.

-Ssi'ruuk