This chapter is the end of Gregor and the Prophecy of Light. I hope you all enjoyed the story, and know that I will be continuing it but as a sequel, Gregor and the Bone of Bane. Thank you, everyone, for reading, and I hope you read Bone of Bane!
I will just add my disclaimer here, because I forgot in the beginning. I do not own the Underland Chronicles, only the characters in my fanfic that you do not recognize from the original books.
Chapter 29
The flight was not long; because Vikus called them in the next time they passed the palace. Hera touched down and Gregor slipped off.
"Gregor, we must be getting you home. You must bathe, and then I will give you an opportunity to take whatever you would like from the museum." Vikus said. Gregor led himself out of the High Hall. After over a year in the Underland, he could navigate the palace pretty much with his eyes closed. He made his way to the bathroom near Luxa's room. He used the relief room, really having to go, then stripped off his clothes and lowered himself in the steaming tub.
The bath took longer than usual, only because Gregor was savoring his time in the Underland. Finally, when he thought it had been too long, he got out and dried himself with the super soft spider silk towels. He dressed in the new Underlander clothes left for him and went out. He made his way to the museum where Vikus was waiting.
"Please, take anything you would like." He said. Gregor looked around, but finally found some things he wanted. He found a very new looking puzzle book, called 99 puzzles for the keen eye, and figured Lizzie would love that. For Boots, he found a little plastic tiara, since she had lost her old one in a flood crossing the Swag. He was about to leave when he saw a picture, in the corner, but it was framed. It was a picture he had had someone take at Hazard's birthday party. It showed him, Luxa, Boots, Temp, Hazard, Thalia, Ares, Aurora, Nike, Howard, his mom, Vikus, Mareth, and Solovet, all smiling in the arena at the party. Three of those who were in this picture were gone now, Ares, Thalia, and Solovet. Then, next to it, he found a picture of just him and Ares, claw and hand locked. This was one of the rare occasions when Ares was happy. It was also framed. This was the first time Gregor was seeing his bat whole again, not dead and torn apart. He needed it.
"Vikus, can I take these pictures?" Gregor asked. Vikus nodded.
"Of course you may. We have assumed you would like them, and we have put them in these…frames, or the like, that we have found in the museum. Please, take them." The old man answered. Gregor slipped them into his pocket, which was rather large. "But now it is time for you to go. Your sisters are awaiting you with Hera in the High Hall."
Gregor followed Vikus with a heavy heart down to the High Hall. Vikus had arranged for Hera to fly them to their laundry room entrance, and not the waterway.
A lot of people had come to see them off. There was Vikus, Luxa, Aurora, Hazard, Howard, Nike, Daedalus, Temp, Mareth, Perdita, Keedra, Ripred, Clipclaw, Lapblood, Flyfur, Sixclaw, Dulcet, and a couple of Underlanders Gregor didn't know. Lizzie went right up and gave Ripred a hug, and then she locked hand and claw with Daedalus. Gregor waved at everyone, but he pulled Luxa aside. She as practically in tears, but she was holding her strong position.
"Bye, Luxa. I'll miss you." Gregor said.
"Goodbye, Gregor. And I as well, much more than you know." Luxa answered. She pulled him close and kissed him, and they held together for the longest yet, when they broke apart, Gregor didn't want to let go, but he had to. So he went over to Hera and jumped, she caught him, and then swooped up his sisters. With a last wave back, they flew away from the city.
They were all practically silent on the flight back; the only sounds were Boots's coughs and Lizzie's quiet sobs. The currents were easy, and they reached the grate in no time. Gregor opened it for his sisters, but he stayed back for a last word with Hera.
Thanks, Hera, for everything. I had a great time with you." Gregor said.
"We are bonds; there is no need to thank me anymore, as you have done just as much for I." She replied. "If you ever have need of me, all you need do is whistle." She said, and Gregor nodded. She locked claw and hand with him quickly, then pulled away to go. "You know, queen Luxa's birthday is only four months from now." She hinted, and with a small smile descended down the pipe back to the Underland. Gregor smiled as he watched his bat spin down the tube until she was out of sight, and then backed away from the grate. Maybe he would go back.
Gregor closed the grate. "Lizzie, Boots, time to go back up." He said. He took both his sisters' hands and they took the elevator up to their apartment.
When he opened the door, their mom was on top of them, hugging them crazy. His dad did the same when she let go. Gregor almost wondered where his grandma was, but then his heart gave a jolt when he realized she was gone. He looked up at his mom and tears were pouring down her face. He just hugged her harder.
Mrs. Cormaci showed up in five minutes, and she, along with his parents, demanded to know what had happened. So, ignoring how upset his mother would be when he told about the battles, he told them.
He told about opening the door and finding Hera, about reading the note from Luxa's mom and the new prophecy, about Ripred's return, about Hazard's attack and the battle in the fields, and of looking for light in the tunnels near the spout and finding Clipclaw on Ares's body, of Howard and Nike's bonding, and the shock of finding Henry still alive and with Stellovet, then, this part shocked his mother, of Boots's kidnapping. He explained finding Apollo and boots turning up in the night, to his mother's relief. Then he told about the battle with the gnawers in the cavern, and of Stellovet's death and when he thought Hera was dead. He explained how Nyx turned good and helped him kill Henry, then of Hera awakening. Finally, he told about him and Hera bonding, and Lizzie and Daedalus's surprise bond. After explaining it all, he was exhausted.
His mom hugged him and said, "Well, it sounds like you've had quite a trip. That's all very well, but when will you listen to me about no more battles?"
"It's not that easy, mom." He sighed. She just shrugged. Lizzie bounded up to her.
"Mom, I have a bond! I have a bond!" she cried. Their mom laughed.
"That's wonderful, Lizzie. Now why don't you go to sleep, I'm sure you need some rest." She said. Lizzie gave a yawn.
"Mama, I ride the pretty bat! And Gregor fought mean rat!" boots cried. She showed her teeth and pretended to be a rat. She ran all the way into hers, Lizzie's and what used to be their grandma's bedroom. Lizzie followed her. Gregor just sat still, thinking about Luxa.
"What's on your mind, Gregor? I know its something." His mom said, wrapping her arms around him. Gregor considered telling her about Luxa, but he decided it was more of a private matter, so he kept quiet.
"Nothing, mom. I'm going to bed." He walked into his room and pulled the covers down he laid down without bothering to undress, but remembered the photographs in his pocket. He took them out and placed them on his windowsill. He lay on his stomach and looked at them for a while, remembering those happy times with his friends. Finally he lay on his back again and looked up at the ceiling.
He thought about Hera's words of Luxa's birthday. At least there was some small chance of him going back. For one last time.