They were eating breakfast when Gregor suddenly realized that he didn't have a present for Luxa's birthday. Lizzie seemed to read his mind and said.
"Oh Gregor I want to get a present for Boot's birthday can we go to the mall?"(I don't know if it ever says when Boot's birthday is)
"Sure." replied Gregor, shooting her a grateful glance.
"Be home in thirty minutes!" shouted Gregor's mother as they ran to get their money (luckily no one questioned why Gregor was getting his money).
It took them ten minutes to get to the mall because all the shortcuts were being taken by gangs who had a habit of beating up younger walked into the mall
and looked around to find something Luxa would want.
"Hmm I would get her jewelery if I had enough money to buy something better than a queen would have."
"How 'bout something to do with bats?" asked Lizzie.
"Great idea Liz!" exclaimed Gregor.
They walked towards a discovery channel store and found an animal section. Gregor found a big book about bats while Lizzie looked at a cockroach picture book.
There was labels and pictures of the different pictures of a cockroach. Suddenly Gregor struck gold. It was a book about bats, mice, and their relations to
each other. They paid for the stuff and were walking out of the store when Gregor looked at his watch. They had three minutes left.
"Uh Oh." said Gregor
"What?" asked Lizzie.
"We're going to have to take the shortcut."
"But what about the gangs?"
"I have my pocket knife."
Lizzie bit her lip and nodded. They ran as fast as they could and made it to the alleyways in one minute. They began jogging through the dark alleys.
They were about to reach the end of the endless twisting of the alleyways two thugs stepped out of the shadows.
"You don't want to mess with me." warned Gregor.
"Oooo we're scared!" sneered one.
"Haven't you heard? This is our territory." said the other one.
"Guess I'll have to hurt you." sighed Gregor.
He expertly flipped out his pocket knife and slashed at one of them cutting the thug's arm. His vision began splintering and he sprang forward, taking the thugs by surprise he slid
behind one of the and kicked him in the back. As the thug fell down he kicked the other one in the back of his knees, causing him to collapse.
"Come on Liz." he said and they ran down the ally.
**********************************************************************************************************************
When they got through the front doors Larry and Angelina's eyes widened at the light of a bloody pocket knife.
"What happened?!" exclaimed Angelina.
"We went through the alleys." explained Gregor.
"Are you crazy?!" yelled his mom.
"Why would you go through the alleys?" asked Larry.
"We were running late." responded Gregor.
"So you decided to get yourself killed?" retorted Angelina.
"I've fought in wars, I don't think a couple of bullies with dull knives that they didn't even use are much of a threat." replied Gregor.
"Can we just leave?" piped up Ripred,"I for one agree with the Warrior."
"Fine but you better not get into any trouble down there." warned Grace,"I'll be watching you, remember?"
"Your father is also coming." she added.
"Yes." replied Gregor with an exasperated sigh.
Luxa and Gregor walked to his room.
"At this rate we'll never be alone." grumbled Luxa.
"We're alone right now aren't we?" teased Gregor.
"You're right." said Luxa.
She wrapped her hands around his neck and kissed him. Suddenly Larry walked in.
"Hey Gregor Angelina and I wanted to know if we---What the hell?!" yelled Larry as Gregor and Luxa jumped away from each other.
"What's wrong?" inquired Angelina as she entered the room.
"I just caught these two smooching!" exclaimed Larry.
"Oh" said Angelina faintly.
"Anyways can Angelina and I go to the Underland with you?"
Gregor shot Luxa a questioning look. She shrugged
"We've told them everything haven't we?"
"Everything that's not personal." corrected Gregor.
"I'm not sure how the Regelians would take it but......." her voice trailed off.
"I guess you're coming." Gregor told Larry and Angelina.
***********************************************************************************************************
They waited by the grate in the laundry room. Soon they heard a flapping noise and they saw Nike's face peering at them.
"Hello princess she said to Boots."
"We're both princesses!" giggled Boots.
"I have to introduce you to someone Gregor." said Nike suddenly.
"Who?" inquired Gregor.
"You may come up!" called Nike into the grate.
Gregor's eyes widened as he saw a dark grey bat that looked like Ares.
"Ares you're alive?!" he exclaimed.
Nike laughed and said,
"Atlas meet Gregor, the Warrior, Gregor meet Atlas, son of Ares.
****************************************************************************************************************
Gregor stared at Atlas in shock
"Ares had a son?" he thought.
As if reading his mind Ripred yelled
"SURPRISE! Now can we get going?"
Gregor turned to Nike.
"When did this happen?" he asked, mind still numb from the discovery.
"A few days after you left a bat named Athena had Atlas and confessed that it was Ares's child." responded Nike who was obviously enjoying herself.
"Do you have a bond already?" Gregor inquired.
"No, though having Ares as a father made me a popular choice." replied Atlas.
"Is Aurora with you?" Luxa asked.
"Right here." said a voice from through the grate.
"Hermes and and another flier are also here." said Aurora, poking her furry golden head through the window.
"Are we going soon?" asked Larry.
Gregor nodded and they all got on fliers and left.