"It's you Ripred you were the one who sent a message telling me to come, but why?" Gregor asked and said. "I have absolutely no idea to what you are referring" Ripred said. Gregor knew that couldn't be true it just couldn't Ripred life all the time and he would do it again. It was in his blood. But than Gregor realized Ripred couldn't write. "Oh" Gregor said. "Finally got it through that lazy head of yours that I can't write?" Ripred said laughing at him. Gregor blushed a bit. He wasn't used to Ripred teasing him anymore. And Gregor never seemed to have any remarks to talk back to Ripred. Ripred immediately knew how to hug Gregor. Perhaps that's what his specialty was to get under everyone's nerves and to make them irritated. That was indeed one of Ripred's talents but he was also a talented Rager and a warrior as well. As well as an outcast because he liked some humans like Vikus. "So Ripred how have you been doing?" Gregor said. "It's been lousy all I get to do everyday is go to meetings, and eat shrimp in cream sauce and relax a lot" Ripred says. "Oh yes that sounds absolutely miserable" Gregor said. It make Luxa laugh which in turn made Gregor happy. "So warrior have you been working on your echolocation?" Ripred said. "No" Gregor admitted. "I told you boy to keep practicing because it could save your life, but no you didn't take my advice" Ripred said in a sarcastic snarl. "Leave him alone Ripred" Luxa said. "Royal brat" Ripred remarked. "What did you say?" Howard asked. "Yes tell us" Luxa said crossly at Ripred. "I said yes your highness" Ripred said. "Good to hear" Howard said sharing a grin with Gregor. "Shall we have some food and drink ordered?" Luxa asked the group. "Yes" Ripred said. "Alright I'll send word right away" Luxa said. As they talked and went on about stories and things that have happened over the years Gregor's thoughts turned to the culprit, who had wrote to him telling him to come back and the higher question why? What did he or she want with Gregor. Gregor would have to do some investigating on his own time.
As the night went on and the food arrived. Gregor and his friends had a mini party of sorts. Hazard came as well. Luxa's bond come. Everyone's bond was there. Hazard now had a bond who was named Cervikus. They were playing games with Hazard like they have when they were young. Everyone was enjoying themselves yes, even Ripred who was gorging himself on shrimp. Vikus even came. He had recovered from his stroke. He didn't need a cane but his hand couldn't move very fast. The party got to large and moved out into the palace to celebrate the return of the renowned warrior Gregor. Gregor even saw a statue of him and Ares standing together. It made him sad but he was glad people didn't forget Ares. Ares would forever be part of the Underland. Gregor ate lots of food and talked with some old friends but eventually he exited the party to be alone with his thoughts. He stood near a balcony looking across Regalia. Luxa came up behind him and tapped on his shoulder. "Hey" Gregor said. "Hey" Luxa said her eyes sparkling in the torchlight. The two started dancing for some reason. It just seemed to come with the mood and the distant music. The two were finally happy after years of separation. At one point Howard came looking for them and shot Gregor a disapproving look. Ever the older brother Howard. Gregor knew the dance very well. It was the one where they had first danced at Hazard's birthday. Hazard was now 13. Gregor and Luxa were both 18. "what is it like being Queen now with no Council to make decisions?" Gregor asked her. "It's marvelous, no one to boss me around of course not everyone approves of my bond to Ripred but they have gotten used to it over the years, now rats and humans live together in the city, it feels different but more diverse" Luxa said. "wow things really have changed and for the better" Gregor said. Luxa nodded and diverted her eyes from him. He could feel her blushing realizing that they were close together again.
This was going to be a night he could remember.
They had danced for a long time but eventually everyone went to sleep. Luxa showed him the warriors bedroom which apparently had been reserved for him in case he ever came back. He never thought he would come back but his room looked the same as it had so many years ago. Not everything changes. Gregor fell asleep exhausted he had no idea what he would do tomorrow but he would share some of the rootbeer and other things he brought with him. The Underlanders were always amazed by the stuff he brought with him.
The next morning he awoke not to any sunlight but just randomly. How strange it was to not wake up with the sun. He had no idea what time it was since Underlanders did not have clocks but he could just ask someone what time it was. He put on some fresh clothes he had brought. Now that the war was over they allowed him to keep his Overlander smell as fighting with rats was over. He put on a T-Shirt and some jeans. As well as his sneakers. He went into the hallways of the palace and explored a little bit. He eventually ran into Mareth. Mareth told him that it was midday and that the others were in the dining hall. Gregor headed to the dining hall. He found a few people at the table. Luxa, Hazard, Howard and Ripred no one else was there. Gregor sat down next to Luxa. Everyone said "hi" to Gregor. Luxa handed Gregor a bowl of shrimp in cream sauce which Ripred quickly snatched away from Gregor. The old rat did not say sorry and just stuck his snout in the bowl. Gregor decided to bring up the subject on who sent the message. "So does anyone know why someone would write a message to me asking me to come back?" Everyone looked around but everyone replied "no" or a "who cares" from Ripred. After that Gregor shut up and decided to talk to Hazard. "How have you been doing Hazard it's been a long time since we last met" Gregor said. "I've been doing fine, Luxa has made me an ambassador between us and the stingers. In fact we now have an alliance with a large portion of the stingers." Gregor was impressed the big really knew how to be an ambassador. An scorpions were no little feat they were massive and had massive stingers. "That's really impressive " Gregor said and Hazard gave him a proud look. A man walked into the room. He was handsome and strong with a strange black hair that was not native to the Underland. Luxa introduced him as Cajet. Apparently Cajet was a half lander who decided to live in the Underland instead of the overland and he came to regalia a few years ago. He was a friend of many in the city. "it's nice to meet you warrior" Cajet said with a smile. "Nice to meet you, Cajet but you can call me Gregor" Cajet nodded and sat at the table. Luxa has some people prepare some food for Cajet. Cajet joined the conversation telling stories and jokes. Gregor already had a good feeling about him. He seemed like a great guy. Real friendly and outgoing. He was like Gregor because he was not technically from the Underland. They finished eating and eventually went their separate ways. Gregor had a good plan when he thought there was a war but now that there was no war he did not know what to do. He asked Luxa what he should do. She didn't have any use for him really but she said he could accompany her to some meetings and things. Gregor thought it was a good time to go back to the Overland. As he had nothing to do in the Underland he might as well prepare for his college classes. Gregor decided to work out a schedule where he could be in the Underland sometimes and in the overland as a normal person other times. "Luxa do you know where Artemis is?" Luxa looked at him and said "the bat?" Gregor nodded and Luxa said "no but she hangs around the plaza, why do you ask?" "I want to go back to the Overland" "What, but I just got you back!" Luxa said in surprise. Luxa blushes at her outburst. Gregor blushed a little too it was obvious they still had feelings for each other but they had so much catching up to do they would have to build their friendship again. "I have college classes to attend but I plan to come back every once in a while I no longer live with my parents" Luxa looked at him quizzically and said "what is this college?" "It's a school, like for scholars" Gregor said. Luxa understood that. "Ah I see I'm sure that Artemis would be glad to give you a lift" Gregor thanked her and said "I'll bring a camera back when I return I just need to grab my stuff" Gregor returned to his room and grabbed his belongings. He then went to the plaza. He found Artemis sitting next to the warrior's statue. "I think he was a true hero" Artemis said staring at the statue, at Ares in particular. "Did you know him?" Gregor asked. "No I never knew I'm him but I am his daughter" Gregor stopped. The bat he had rode was Ares's daughter? Gregor realized she was the closest he would ever get to Ares. "I'm sorry I tried to save him but I failed" Gregor said grimly. "I know you tried to save him and I hold no grudge against you" Artemis said. Gregor didn't ask who the mother was but he had a feeling he knew who it was. Aurora. It had to be she was the closest bat to Ares the only one who did not treat him differently because he had chosen to save Gregor. "Yes Aurora is my mother" Artemis said her golden speckles shimmering in the torchlight. It was like she had read Gregor's thoughts.
So I was wondering if you aren't busy, could you fly me to the surface world?" it sounded so awkward like he was asking someone on a date. Artemis responded with "I would be happy to Overlander, after all flying with you runs in my blood" she said. Artemis beckoned him to climb on which Gregor would do. As they took off he remembered flying over Regalia during the war. He remembered how the rats had breached the walls and that they created chaos destroying the city. But now they were peaceful and living in the city. How strange a war could make some places. "What do you think of living with gnawers?" Gregor asked. "I do not mind they are peaceful now I do not hold a grudge against them for the death of my father because that was the bane not the rats as a whole" Artemis said. Gregor realized how similar their names were. Artemis the greek goddess of love and Ares the greek god of war. But they were also complete opposites. One was love and the other was war but love and war mixed on a regular basis so he figured that might be why. But indeed Ares showed the spirit of the war god. fighting bravely in the war no matter what he faced he was always prepared for a fight. Gregor supposed that he had a warriors spirit that could not be crushed no matter how difficult the feat was.
as they flew across the land Gregor realized how much he enjoyed flying. It was like on an airplane but Gregor had only been on an airplane once and that was years ago. But you could feel the cool breeze swishing over you and you could enjoy the scenery. It was truly a miracle flying on a bat. He felt like he was the king of the world. In some way he was. No one could conquer him except maybe Ripred but he was a better fighter than almost everyone. As they neared the destination Gregor asked Artemis was she thought of Queen Luxa. "I think she is brave but stoic, she is a good leader but she is not my Queen so that is only my opinion" she said, Gregor had forgotten that the bats had a Queen, "Is Nike the Queen yet?" he asked Artemis. "No Queen Athena still rules but Nike has her duties however she seems to hang around Regalia with her bond, Howard more than she hangs around with the other bats" Artemis said. Gregor wondered what it was like having a Princess as a bond. He couldn't imagine but he supposed it might not be that different. As they neared their final destination Artemis said "Call me and I will be here Overlander" Gregor thanked her and he dismounted grabbing his stuff. "I'll be back in a few days tell Luxa that please" Gregor said. Artemis nodded and watched him walk through the tunnels under new york city with his flashlight on of course.
As he reentered the surface world he found it was night time. No one was out so he could sneak back to his dorm without anyone asking questions. It reminded him of the taxi drivers who didn't care when Gregor's family came back from the Underland wearing strange clothes. They didn't care but of course it was New York no one really cared. He hoped it would be the same if he someone saw him.
Unbeknownst to him someone was watching him. A person from the past a man named X. A man who almost never talked. A mysterious man. But why was he watching Gregor.
As Gregor headed back to his dorm he stopped at an open restaurant. He just ordered some diner and took it home with him. He walked to his dorm room. He opened it. The lights were off. No one was there. Again it made him sad with no one to welcome him home or say anything to him. But he would deal with it, it was his life after all. Gregor decided to just go to bed and decided what to do the next day. Gregor wanted to prepare for school the next day. He fell asleep silently.
Cajet walked back to his house on Regalia. He smirked. Everything had gone well. He was glad to have met the warrior. He was everything they said he was. Smart, Kind and fierce. He was perfect. Now it was his time. His era was coming and Gregor had no idea. But it was now time to set his plan on motion. Yes he had wrote the letter to Gregor. He had his reasons for bringing Gregor back. He would win Luxa over and if not he would destroy her and the Warrior along with her. If his plan worked and they would he would be ruling armies and the Underland itself. But he had to test the warrior and he would. He knew his weakness, Luxa. Cajet smiles again looking out his window at the city of Regalia. Soon it would be his and there was no one who suspected anything.
X watched as Gregor had exited the manhole. He knew Gregor had a secret. But what would a college student be doing in a manhole in New York. X would do some investigating. He needed a place to hide. They would never be able to find him. He would continue to do good deeds in the shadows. He would always be a shadow of a hero. X pulled out a stick with a tiny light on it and disappeared down the manhole in Central Park. X walked down the dirty tunnel underneath New York. His light lit up the tunnel allowing him to see everything. He wore a white backpack that held all of his precious tech. From night vision goggles to a laptop and multiple hardrives, he had it all. Technology could achieve things that people could only dream about. Eventually X came to the end of the tunnel. He stood above a massive crevice. He took out his night fission goggles and turned them on. He couldn't even see the bottom of the cave it was so deep. So what on earth was Gregor doing down here? X had to know. "Who's there?" X said reaching into his jacket pocket to retrieve his knife. "You're and Overlander" a giant bat said. X was freaked out. How was this bat so big and it could talk? "You are not the warrior" the brown bat said. "So who are you?" The bats eyes stared at him for an answer. It took a while for X to come up with some words. He didn't know what to think of a talking bat. Or a giant bat. "My name is X" the young man stuttered out. "Interesting, I am called Artemis" the bat said. "You should come with me" Artemis said. X didn't know what to think. He didn't trust her but than again he trusted no one. "Where will you bring me?" X said suspiciously. "To Regalia, it's a city down here in the Underland" the bat said. X knew he had to investigate Gregor and this looked like a way he could. X reluctantly agreed and went with her into the darkness.
While Gregor slept two other men set their plans in motion. One was villainous and one was mysterious. One was a hero and one was a villain. But what would happen when they met in Regalia and who would wonder why they were there.
Gregor woke up early the next morning he felt tired. But he got up anyway. He decided to make up his dorm a bit. He moved some stuff around. Unpacked some boxes of stuff. Set things the way he wanted them to be. He eventually went out to Regalia. The restaurant that owned. When he got there he was greeted by Mrs. Cormaci who gave him a free meal on the house as long as he talked with her for a bit. He told her about what happened in the Underland she was a good listener. She did keep her promise about giving him a free meal and Gregor was glad to have gone there to check it out. "Thanks for the free meal" Gregor said. "No problem just come back to visit every once in a while" said. Gregor smiles and nodded to her. He left the restaurant and hopped in his car. He would have to tell Luxa about this when he got back to the Underland. He wondered what she was doing now. Probably in a boring meeting or something. Gregor headed back to his apartment and decided to call his family on the phone. -ring ring- the phone went. It repeated for a few times until his mom eventually picked up. "Hey Gregor" his mom said. "Hey mom" Gregor said. "I just called to let you know I set up my dorm room and everything I'm all ready for school to start in a few weeks" Gregor said. "Good that's nice to hear" Grace said. "Have you gone on any trips to visit your friends in the Underland?" Grace said. Gregor didn't know whether he should lie or not be he decided to tell the truth. "Yes I have been to the Underland everything there is going good and the legends are still going around about the 'fearsome swatter" Gregor said jokingly. He heard his mom laugh a little. "What else have you been up to?" His mom said changing the subject. "I visited Mrs. Cormaci, she is doing very well and she has opened a restaurant" Gregor said. "That's wonderful" Grace said. "Her cooking was always superior to mine" Grace said. "No mom, your cooking is the best" Gregor said. "I suppose" his mom said halfheartedly. "Oh your dad wants to talk to you" Grace said. "Hey son" Gregor's dad said. "Hi" Gregor said. "I hear you got unpacked" Gregor's dad said. "Yes sir, I did" Gregor said. "That's excellent" His dad said. "So how does it go with the ladies?" His dad said. "Dad c'mon don't ask that" he said. His dad laughed. "It's gone fine though I have befriended Luxa again or at least somewhat. They don't really have any use for me now that the wars over and all the prophecy's are completed" Gregor said. "Must be good to have a place where you can relax though" his dad said. "Yes it it is very nice" Gregor said. His dad sighed and said "well I love you son, we both do but I got to let you go and do your things" his dad said. "Bye dad" Gregor said. "Oh by the way you should call your sisters sometime" his dad said. "Alright I will" Gregor promised. "Bye" his dad said. "Bye" Gregor hung up. Gregor decided to cook some food as it was more or less evening. The hours flew by. He cooked an omelette since he didn't have anything in the fridge other than some eggs and cheese. He would make a note to fill up his fridge a bit. He also needed to put the rootbeer in the fridge. He hadn't actually given any to his friends in the Underland he had forgotten due to the party. But for now he was going to sleep.
The next morning when he got up he received a text. It was from an unknown number. It read "don't worry I will protect your secret" Gregor texted back to say "who is this?" But it failed to send. This kind of creeped Gregor out. He did not know what to make of this text. He would try and text back later maybe even call. For now he would keep the number on his favorites. It would be fun to give Luxa a phone. He should do that someday but he opened his wallet and found only about a hundred dollars. Besides there are no outlets in the Underland or any service in the Underland so that idea ended quickly. He should invite her up sometimes as the council no longer forces her to do stuff he probably could sneak her up to the overland. But for now he was buying his textbooks and some merchandise from the college store. Gregor paid for his stuff and left the store.