Hell guys, and welcome! I'm deeply sorry that it has been over 2 months since my last update, but. . . well, things happened. To begin, my mother just got lung surgery, and is having a very slow recovery. On top of that, my aunt recently died from cancer, which was devastating to me. School also started, and my teachers love to give a lot of homework. Plus I have German, which I have to study endlessly for. On the bright side, I have a few classes with an old friend! I haven't seen her since kindergarden, and it's nice to know that were still friends (though I admit, I have developed a huge crush on her over the past few years, despite not seeing her. I'll ask her out, once I get enough courage). While that's good, my sister is also gone! She is now in college, and almost never home. A serious breath of fresh air if you ask me (though she needs my help daily to move stuff into her dorm, or wire stuff (she can't flick a light switch without getting electrocuted). In the time I have been absent, I have been working on my book. I'm making very slow progress (only have 2 chapters completely done and edited, but the whole this is outlined).

So, I'm sorry to say that I am not getting back into weekly updates, but I will try harder. No promises though.

See you guys in a bit,

-Tytonic

Disclaimer: I do not own any of The Underland Chronicles, nor do I claim to. I hold any and all rights to the characters and plot I create.

Return of the Myriapods

Chapter 4: Parental Talk

Splitting this silence, three loud horns could be heard from the palace. Three horns, a signal that has never before been heard.

Regalia was being evacuated.

-O-

It took three hours to evacuate every citizen. In that time, Holly had her mother, explain to her what was happening. Supposedly, Xano had lost leadership over the slashers, and their new leader was going to attack Regalia. They had sent a flier to confirm what Xano had said at the time. This flier never returned.

Holly did her best to pay attention, but her thoughts were still scrambled, and her heart was broken. Seeing this, her mother had tried to comfort her.

"Holly dear. . . do not fret, it will all work out. I'm sure he will understand if you just explain it to him." Her mother explained.

When Holly did not respond, her mother continued. "If he loves you at all, he will understand, and forgive. Your father did not want to be king, yet he accepted it for the sake of love. I'm sure Ty can do the same."

Yet again, Holly remained silent. Seeing this, Her mother gave her a small and sad smile, before leaving her on her own.

That had been three days ago. Since then, Holly had not left isolation.

In those three days, the whole of Regalia had traveled to the gnawers land, where they were offered shelter and protection. Regalia's destruction had been announced soon after the citizens had settled in.

Despite all that was occurring, Holly did not leave her makeshift room to address her people as she should. Instead, she spent her days crying, or just sitting, in her room thinking stuff over. After the first two days, her parents had given up getting her out. She had made it painfully clear that she wanted to be left alone. She wouldn't even let Nya in anymore.

She knew that, as princess, she would have no choice but to come out eventually. She just wished to delay that moment as long as possible.

Gregor's Point of View

A knock could be heard throughout the small temporary home, which happen to be a small cave with a sheet draped over the entrance. Footsteps could be heard from inside, and soon, the curtain was drawn back, revealing a man and a women, both middle aged.

With a gasp, both of them dropped to their knees. "Y-you majesty!"

Gregor frowned slightly. "Stand up, and please, call me Gregor." When he received a confused expression in response, he instantly understood. "I see that you do not know. Lets sit down, this mya take some time to explain."

Shortly after, all of them were sitting in a circle on the stone floor.

"So, let me explain what I meant." He said. "You know your sons friend Krystal, correct?"

"Yes, we do. They have been friends for years. We have not seen her since the evacuation though. We guess that she is with her father currently." The man answered.

"In a way, you are correct. You see, it seems that your son did not explain what happened before Krystal left."

"What do you mean? I'm sorry, but I do believe you are mistaken. He did explain to us what transpired." The women exclaimed.

Gregor looked at her, and let out a small sigh. "Then clearly, he did not tell you all of it. You are aware that he confessed his love to her, correct?"

When the women nodded, Gregor continued. "Now, before I continue, are you aware of who Krystal is?" Without waiting for a response, he continued. "Have you even wondered why she covers her hair, or why she never looks you in the eyes? How she seems too smart for an average girl her age?"

A realization dawned upon their faces, but was mixed with disbelief. "You seem to understand. Yes, Krystal is my daughter. Krystal is princess Holly."

"B-but why? Why would she hide her identity?" The mother muttered.

"Because she doesn't want to be princess. She never has. All she has ever wanted is a normal life, as a normal girl. Ty was able to give that to her."

"D-did he know? Did he know who she really was?" The father asked.

"No, not until he confessed to her." Gregor said. "And that is why I am here today. You see, While it is not my place to tell you, you need to understand. Holly loves Ty, as more than a friend. However, she is convinced that he hates her now for lying to him, and refuses to talk to anybody, let alone leave her room."

Both parents looked shocked, but managed to keep quiet. "So I have come to ask for Ty's help. I believe that only he can clear this up."

It took both parents a few moments to process this. "Then he will help in anyway he can." The mother responded. "But if I may ask, why are you allowing this? Why are you allowing a commoner, like Ty, to be with your daughter?"

Gregor chuckled a little. "Because he's who she chose. I don't care about status. In the overland, there was no status. If they wished it, anybody could marry anybody. In addition, look at me. I married Luxa, and became king. Not many know this, but in the overland my family was poor, very poor. We barley had enough money to feed ourselves. It is not some bodies status which should determine who and what they are."

Both parents nodded with enthusiasm. It seemed they like the idea of it.

"And just so you know, I fully expect, and approve, of Ty becoming the next king. It is always citizens who know what is best for the citizens." He whispered, so that Ty, who was surely eavesdropping, would not hear.

Standing up, Ty's mother looked deeper into the cave. "Ty, I am aware that you have been listening."

With a moments hesitation, Ty stepped out of the shadows, his eyes on the ground. He wordlessly followed as Gregor began to leave.

"Ty, my boy, relax. I know that you may not be happy with Holly right now, but it will be fine. You heard me say it. She loves you. While you shouldn't have found out this way, it's necessary, else you'll never get the courage to confront her." Gregor explained.

Ty did not respond. However, Gregor knew that his words had reached him, and had served their purpose. Through echolocation, Gregor could tell that there was a small smile on Ty's face. However nervous he was, he was happy that he would get to see her again.

It took somewhere around twenty minutes, but soon they found themselves outside of a small cave which had a curtain draped over the entrance. Holly's room.

"Are you sure this is fine? I mean, it's her room after all. I shouldn't just walk in without permission." Ty asked.

"Do not worry. Just go. . . She'll be happy to see you." And without waiting for a response, Gregor turned around and walked away, leaving Ty alone.

Holly's Point of View

She heard a soft knock at the entrance to her makeshift room. Intent on ignoring it, she turned her back to the entrance. However, when she heard the knock a few more times, she realized she could not ignore it.

"Go away, I don't want to speak to anyone right now!" She partially shouted.

However, instead of hearing a response, or footsteps leaving, she heard the shifting of cloth, and realized that the person had just entered her room.

Turning around sharply in order to yell at, or possibly attack, whoever had entered he room without permission, she froze in place. Standing before her, was none other than Ty, the cause of her distress.

Before she could recover, he walked forward and, wrapping his arms around her, drew her into a hug.

"I may not understand why you did it," he whispered, "But I forgive you for doing it."

This was terrible, by my standards. I was not in the mood to write at all, but even so, I should have done better. I'm disappointed in myself, but there's nothing I can do about it, unless I want to redo this entire chapter.

The talk did not work out exactly how I wanted it to, but oh well. It serves it's purpose, and I'm to tired to change it right now.

So, I will see you guys when I can get around the the next chapter, whenever that may be.

Thanks for stickin' around,

-Tytonic