And I'm back! Much longer chapter this time. Gregor goes to the Underland. A bit of Gluxa but it'll really start in the next chapter.
Enjoy,
A
Disclaimer: The only charecter I own is Maia, so far. I don't own anything else.
Chapter 2
The clock said 11:50, Gregor's mom and Boots had left for work and kindergarten, Gregor's dad was in the laundry room, checking if the cost was clear, Lizzie and Gregor had their packs on their backs. The packs were filled with the contents of the plastic bag (three flashlights, three packs of batteries, three water bottles, a roll of duck tape, a box of granola bars and a Ziploc bag of homemade cookies) along with jackets for both of them, Gregor's plastic bat and picture of Luxa and the puzzle book, box of pencils, box of markers and pencil sharpener that had been in Lizzie's pack. Lizzie had the new sneakers that had also been in her pack on and Gregor had his work boots on, they both wore t-shirts and jeans, which felt odd to Gregor. Excitement flooded through every inch of him, they were ready, it was almost time.
His dad's head poked through the door, "We're all set, come on down!" he said. They took the stairs two at a time, the laundry room door was a-jar. They burst in and opened the grate. To Gregor's surprise it was Nike's black and white striped head that popped through the grate, he had been expecting Aurora with Luxa on her back.
"Greetings, Overlanders. You have been missed."
"And we've missed all of you," Gregor replied. Hearing the voice of an over-sized bat was oddly comforting. He and Liz turned to hug their dad goodbye.
"See you soon," He whispered to them.
"See you soon," they replied in unison and they mounted the bat and rode away from the life they had struggled through for a long, long time.
Gregor practiced his echolation as they sped through many different sized tunnels, but the question haunting him refused to go away.
"Nike, where is Luxa?"
"Ah, I thought you would ask. She is in the hospital caring for Nerissa."
"What happened to Nerissa?"
"She is- unwell. I think it is unwise for me to tell you anything just yet. Vikus and Luxa will give you an update when we arrive." Gregor didn't know what to make of this, what had happened?
With his echolation he saw that they were approaching Regalia. It was so beautiful, spun of silvery threads in the darkness. The huge palace came closer and closer. Inside that building was Luxa, Vikus, Luxa, maybe Ripred or Howard, Luxa, Mareth, Luxa, Dulcet, Luxa and so many other people who were completely connected to him. He squeezed Lizzie's shoulders in front of him and whispered,
"Excited?"
"So excited I can hardly sit still," she whispered back.
Nike landed smoothly on the platform by the entrance to the palace. Gregor saw a flash of a cane and an army style shirt before he was engulfed in a huge hug.
"Welcome back," Mareth's rough voice spoke in Gregor's ear. When he was released he glanced over at Lizzie, she was being given her own hug, by a huge rat with two scars on his face.
"Hi, Ripred," Gregor said. Ripred let go of Lizzie and turned.
"Overlander." He offered his paw to shake. Gregor took it.
"No hug for me?" he smiled, trying to imagine Ripred hugging anyone but Liz.
"No," Ripred confirmed. "Now lets get you to Vikus, and I imagine Luxa will want to see you too." Gregor nodded and turned to Nike.
"Thanks for the ride, I guess I'll see you around."
"Yes. Your welcome, Overlander." She flew off the platform in the general direction of the arena.
"Nike and Howard never stop practicing." There was a note of regret in Mareth's voice and Gregor knew he wished that he and Andromeda could still spend all their time practicing.
"Did they bond?" Gregor asked, feeling completely out of the loop.
"Yes, about three months ago," Mareth answered.
Walking through the halls of the palace was as wonderful as seeing his old friends again. He felt happy and relaxed, as though he was returning home after a long trip. He recognized the route they were taking as the way to the hospital. He was suddenly struck with tons of questions. What had happened to Nerissa? Why was he needed? How long could he stay? His peace shattered, he picked up his pace.
They reached the hospital and Gregor swung the doors open. He spotted Luxa and half walked, half ran to her. Her back was turned but when he tapped her on the shoulder and she turned around, a smile lit her face so bright that it seemed the sun had finally found the place that had eluded it so long.
"Gregor!" She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her lips against his for less then a second. He had hardly noticed it before she stopped, but it had been heaven, pure happiness. As their arms went back to their sides Gregor glanced up at Vikus. He looked much better then he had when Gregor had left, but he had definitely seen better days. Gregor hugged him to. It felt so good to be back here.
"Welcome back Gregor! You have been missed by all."
"Not as much as I've missed all of you." Vikus smiled.
"Come, we have much to discuss." Gregor, Lizzie, Luxa and Ripred followed obediently. Vikus lead them to a room fairly near the hospital. It was furnished with elaborately carved stone chairs, with un-dyed spider silk cushions. There was also a wooden chair with red cloth on the cushions. Gregor stared at this chair, surprised that the Underlanders would use rare wood for a chair, but as Luxa sat in it became an obvious throne and his amazement ebbed away. The others sat in stone chairs and looked at Vikus expectantly.
"We are waiting for three more." Vikus informed them. Gregor wondered who these two could be. Perhaps Howard, but that was just one. A moment later two fliers entered the room, one that Gregor recognized, the golden Aurora, Luxa's bond. The other he didn't know, she had creamy white fur, speckled with gold and was slightly smaller than Aurora.
"Greetings," It was the smaller bat that spoke.
"Hello," Vikus replied. "Gregor, Lizzie, this is Maia, Aurora's cousin."
"Hi," Gregor said, uncertain why this bat was here, but trying not to show it.
"Hello, Overlander." Gregor didn't know what else to say so he didn't respond.
"Gregor, it is time that you are given an update." Vikus spoke the words that Gregor had been waiting for. "As you will have noticed, Nerissa is in the hospital. This is because she made her first prophecy about a week ago, and this drained her of most of her strength. She still has not opened her eyes. I suppose any more information would be pointless until you see the prophecy. Here it is." Vikus handed Gregor a piece of paper, he took it, recognizing Nerissa's handwriting, though it was shaky and messier than usual. His breath caught in his chest, because why would they have called him here if he weren't mentioned in the prophecy? Lizzie leaned over to read what was written as well.
The Prophecy of Peace
Peace has come
Under the land
Seven unite
At last, at last
But if the warrior
So recently killed
Does not return
Then peace be stilled
For war still churns
For death still reaps
For one and one
Is two
For hearts that long stopped beating
Are never truly heeding
And those who killed a sun
Wish to see the sky
At last, at last
Two princesses
Hold strong, hold strong
Three bonded pairs
Hold four, hold four
Six quest-goers
Add more, add more
Princess's guards
Add one, add one
Fliers two
Makes eight, makes eight
Nibblers two
Makes ten, makes ten
Now you leave
One sword you heave
Warrior do not fight
Fliers do not carry
Peacemaker only parry
Queen hold your light
Sisters loose no sight
Only love can save the last
Of the three who die
One night
Of the three
One bond is broken
One bond is strengthened yet
One bond is held in high esteem
And one is made to form a team
Go you ten
Stop the cutters
Beware of those
Behind your back
Take pity on your foe
Those who do not go my find
That surprises come with the end of the bind
Never smother what is good
Never break a tie
Never fight what will always be
Remember what is important to thee
And peace might reign
At last, at last
Parts of it were perfectly clear he, Lizzie and Boots were meant to go on a quest for peace, a quest where he couldn't even carry a sword. And, worst, three would die. Two of those three could be his little sisters; one could be Luxa, or…him.
"So, as soon as Temp arrives we will go over it, as a team." Gregor was glad he would have a moment to think before they started to dissect, but even as he thought it, Temp entered the room.
"Greetings, Overlander, Greetings." Temp clicked, as Gregor rose from his chair.
"Temp! How are you?" Gregor was quite fond of the bug after all they had been through together, and all he had done for Boots.
"well, I be, well. And you?"
"I'm great!" Gregor took his seat as Temp sat and Vikus spoke again.
"Gregor, could you read us the first stanza?"
"Umm…" Gregor cleared his throat. "Peace has come, Under the land, Seven unite, At last, at last."
"I think we'll all agree that that's pretty clear. Seven unite would mean the humans, the fliers, the crawlers, the spinners, the nibblers, the gnawers and the diggers." Vikus counted the species off on his fingers as he spoke. "The next stanza, Gregor?"
"But if the warrior, So recently killed, Does not return, Then peace be stilled"
"Right. So we'll assume that 'the warrior' is Gregor, as it tends to be so. He was 'killed' a little over a year ago and he left, now he is back, we hope that means that peace won't be stilled. Everyone agrees?" There were murmurs of assent around the room. "Good, please continue Gregor."
"For war still churns, For death still reaps, For one and one, Is two" Gregor paused.
"Why don't you read the next one too, as I recall they fit together."
Obediently, Gregor continued, "For hearts that long stopped beating, Are never truly heeding, And those who killed a sun, Wish to see the sky, At last, at last"
"War still churns, death still reaps. Not pleasant, but always true here. One and one is two, this line still confuses me, does anyone have ideas?"
"It could mean that we have two enemies who have joined forces." It was Ripred who had spoken, Gregor turned as he continued, "The hearts that long stopped beating could be one enemy, the ones who killed a sun, would then be another."
"That is quite possible. Then, all that remains is to figure out who those are. I would think that an army of the dead would not be raised against us. That is pure fantasy!" All of a sudden Gregor had a mad desire to laugh. It was odd to watch a man with white hair, translucent skin and purple eyes tell a giant rat and two giant bats about pure fantasy. "Does anyone have any more reasonable ideas?" No one spoke up. "I suppose we'll just have to wait then. As for killing a sun… I am not sure what to make of that. Cutters are mentioned later and they killed my son but that's different. The fact that they wish to see the sky is very unsettling though, any Underland creature in the Overland would be bad news."
"It's called the Prophecy of Peace." Gregor looked down, surprised that Lizzie was speaking. "As I've been told, after Hamnet's…mistake," she glanced at Ripred, "he loved peace. A sun is a bright light in the darkness. Hamnet would have been like a bright light in the darkness of hate and war. He was also the son of someone important which would make him being a son significant."
"Those are all very good points, thank you Lizzie." Vikus didn't seem nearly as surprised as Gregor was. Who had even told her about Hamnet? Oh wait, never mind, that much was obvious. Ripred. "Okay, so on to the next stanza? Lets take this one two lines at a time."
"Okay, Two princesses, Hold strong, hold strong." Gregor hated the words. He couldn't stand the thought that his sisters had to go on a quest. Boots had been on quests before, of course, but she was now of an age that she would remember things like that. As for Lizzie… he shuddered, not wanting to imagine what a quest would do to her.
"In the past, Boots has been our princess, but in the Prophecy of Time Lizzie was. This implies that they are the princesses. Of course they are under no obligation, it will be their choice." Gregor sighed a breath of relief, Liz would know enough to say no, and Boots would be easily influenced. But even as he thought it, Lizzie spoke.
"Of course I will go."
"No, Lizzie!" Gregor leapt to his feet. "There is no way I'll let you go!"
"You aren't in charge of me!"
"I am down here!"
"I know you're going! It mentions a queen and there's no way you'll leave Luxa!" Gregor would have been embarrassed if he hadn't been so angry. "We have to stick together, and you said it yourself, the ties have already been made!"
"I- Lizzie, please."
"You are such a hypocrite, Gregor! I'm going and you can't stop me!" Gregor stared coldly at her and took his seat again. He would stop Boots. That much he was certain of.
"Okay, I believe that is settled then." Vikus spoke slowly, as though waiting to be interrupted. "Lizzie shall go. Gregor? Go on."
"Three bonded pairs, Hold four, hold four" Gregor read the lines, his voice shaking.
"This line is confusing. Luxa has two bonds, which is more than anyone else we know of. But that is not three… Perhaps it could mean the mate of one of them, but Fliptail is dead," Vikus glanced apologetically at Ripred, "If Aurora has come anywhere near a spouse he is now dead, and that leaves Luxa…" Vikus said no more but most of the room glanced quickly at Gregor. "I suppose we should move on. Gregor?"
"Six quest-goers, Add more, add more"
"Continue, please, that line is of little consequence," Vikus said in response.
"Princess's guards, Add one, add one" Gregor hoped he might fit in here, of course he had to guard his sisters.
"Ripred, Temp, and Gregor would all fill that position. I believe Ripred is already mentioned, and Gregor may have been as well. Therefore this position should be offered to Temp. Agreed?" Everyone nodded. "Temp?"
"I come if the princess does." Gregor knew he meant Boots, and was fairly sure that Temp would not be going on the trip.
"Alright, next lines then, Gregor."
"Fliers two, Makes eight, makes eight"
"We assume Aurora was already mentioned, so that leaves space for one more. The other day, while Luxa sat with Nerissa in the hospital, Nerissa wrote two names on a piece of parchment. One was Maia, which happened to be the name of Aurora's cousin. Maia, we now formally offer you a place on this quest."
"I except," the bat purred immediately.
"Wonderful, we shall move on."
"Nibblers two, Makes ten, makes ten"
"As I said before, Nerissa wrote two names in her sleep. One was Maia, the other was Ellipse. We will go to the Nibbler's lands tomorrow to see if any bear the name Ellipse. As to the other nibbler, we will probably just take a volunteer. So, the two next stanzas, I think."
Gregor read on, "Now you leave, One sword you heave, Warrior do not fight, Fliers do not carry, Peacemaker only parry, Queen hold your light, Sisters loose no sight, Only love can save the last, Of the three who die, One night" The words 'four who die' had been hard to speak. He wouldn't let Luxa or his sisters die, they just couldn't.
"Only one sword shall go on this quest. It will not be held by Gregor, so then it will be Luxa's sword that is brought. The Fliers are not to carry anyone, which is odd but feasible. The Peacemaker," Vikus bowed his head to Ripred, "is to only parry, and therefore not to attack. The Queen is to hold her light, I don't know if this means light or life, but either way, it seems important. The sisters shouldn't loose their sight. I don't know what that means in relation to the prophecy, but that is the advice Nerissa has given you." He finished his sentence by bowing his head to Lizzie. "I apologize that I am not being too inclusive of others, but we really don't have much time." Gregor was sure that Vikus was anxious to get back to Nerissa, and he was probably exhausted too. "Gregor?"
"Yeah? Oh right, Of the three, One bond is broken, One bond is strengthened yet, One bond is held in high esteem, And one is made to form a team."
"Do any of you have ideas?" It seemed like Vikus was making a huge effort to slow down.
"Well, it sounds like it's talking about the bonds mentioned before, so one of the three is broken, which probably means someone dies." Gregor paused here, he thought about the people who had been placed in these positions: Aurora, Ripred, Luxa and him. All he could think was, not Luxa, not Luxa, not Luxa.
"One of the bonds is strengthened." Ripred continued for Gregor. "One is very useful, and one more is formed."
"Thank you, this is the conclusion we have all drawn, but the question remains, who?" Vikus was silent for a moment before continuing. "Alright, Gregor, next stanza?"
"Go you ten, Stop the cutters, Beware of those, Behind your back, Take pity on your foe, Those who do not go my find, That surprises come with the end of the bind" Gregor read the words slowly, carefully, his mind still echoing, not Luxa, not Luxa, not Luxa.
"Ten people embark to stop the cutters. At least this gives us some direction, the rest is rather murky. It gives us advice and warning but does not tell us much. We must beware of those behind our backs, and be ready for a surprise. But that leaves so much un-answered. I wish we could ask Nerissa when she wakes, but I don't know when that will be…" Vikus trailed of, his face full of worry.
"The last stanza says, Never smother what is good, Never break a tie, Never fight what will always be, Remember what is important to thee, And peace might reign, At last, at last" Gregor had continued, hoping that the optimistic words would have some effect on Vikus. Indeed, he did look up and speak again, though his voice sounded strained and burdened.
"Well, it sounds as though Nerissa is just giving us some good advice, but it must have some meaning."
"Not necessarily, it could just be telling you exactly what you need to do in order to find peace." This time it was Maia's soft, purring voice that broke the tension.
"Yes, I suppose we'll have to leave it at that for now."
:)