Hello people, and welcome back to a story of epic proportion! Now, before you keep reading onward, stop. Go back and reread last chapter. I rewrote that chapter for my last update on Tuesday, but since I only updated the chapter on fanfiction, it you wouldn't have gotten any email or alert notifying you that I have updated. Even with that, I'm still a day late on updating, sorry about that, I'm kind of busy around now. As some of you know, I have begun to write my own book, which I plan on publishing as a real book, meaning you have to buy it. I can't tell you much about it other than that it's in a different universe, around medieval times. I'm about an eighth done this book, I have the first few chapters done, and I'm telling you guys, its so much harder to write then a fanfiction is. Since it's a real book, I have to go through it like, four times to find mistakes, let multiple other people do the same, and keep rewriting until I think the chapter is perfect. It usually takes an hour or two longer then a fanfic story to write a chapter. I still don't even have a title for the story, I plan on getting one, as well as a cover, after I finish the story itself. So, enough of my endless rambling, I will update you guys on the progress of my story in the next chapter. For the question of last chapter, Bane874 got it right! I won't tell you guys what he guessed (though you could just look at the reviews), so read on and find out! So, as usual, any and all feedback is encouraged and appreciated, see you guys later!

See you peeps later,

-Tytonic

Disclaimer: I do not own any of The Underland Chronicles, only the characters I make up and the plot itself.

Gregor and the War of the Myriapods

Chapter 25: Dating advice from Dr. Gregor

It was only about half way through luncheon that Zoey sprinted into the room, and up to Gregor. Everybody looked confused, she had been at Alex's side for a while now, why would she suddenly leave?

"Gregor, come quick!" Said Zoey, grabbing Gregor's arm, attempting to pull him.

"What is it?" Asked Gregor curiously.

Zoey's eye sparked. "It's Alex, he just woke up!"

-O-

Wait, Alex was awake? Wasn't he suppose to be down for the count for another week or two? These thoughts flew through Gregor's head as Zoey rushed back out of the room, and to the hospital. Gregor did not waste a second, he rushed out of the room right after Zoey. He could 'see' Luxa following him, just not rushing to the same degree as he was. After all, she was not exactly as close to Alex as Gregor was. It took but a few seconds for Gregor to catch up to Zoey, even though she was sprinting down the hall.

"Zoey, when exactly did Alex wake up? Isn't he suppose to be out cold for the next two weeks or so?" Asked Gregor.

Zoey huffed out in between breaths, "He woke up around five minutes ago, and he asked to see you. I don't know why he is awake, I was going to as the doctor, but he hasn't come to check on Alex yet."

Gregor needn't respond, so he didn't. His mind began to race, as he slowed down his pace to match Zoey's. She was never big on sports, though she was in the school band and chorus. She was also thin, even though she eats a lot and doesn't really exercise; she's just one of those people. Gregor was trying to figure out why Alex had awoken early, but he couldn't find a logical reason. He in every nook and cranny that his brain could offer, and yet, he found nothing. There is no reason Alex should have awoken this early, or at least, no reason he could come up with at this point in time.

It took Gregor and Zoey but a minute or two to arrive at Alex's room. Zoey entered first, Gregor trailing close behind. He was immensely pleased at the sight presented before him. Alex was sitting up in bed, and he looked a lot better than when Gregor last saw him. He looked a lot stronger, less helpless, but still very pale. This was most likely a mixed result of Blood loss, and lack of sunlight. He also looked very very skinny, like he hadn't eaten in a week or two, which he really hadn't. All of this aside, what caught Gregor's eye the most was the slight discoloration of Alex's lips. They seemed to be a tad more pink than usual. It was no noticeable difference, that is, for somebody with non pale skin.

Gregor glanced at Zoey and noticed that her lips were the same color. Despite being in the underland, surrounded by giant animals and death, she still found it necessary to apply lipstick, however light. This made Gregor smile, for more than one reason. Not only was he happy for Alex and Zoey, but this also confirmed Gregor's suspicions: Zoey was no longer an obsessed, lovestruck teenager over Gregor.

"Hey Alex! How's it going, how you feeling?" Asked Gregor, walking to Alex's side and giving him a monstrous bear hug.

"Great! I'm feeling fine, aside from my stomach. I feel like I got shot there, but it's nothing I can't handle, you just have to get used to it. Not much more I can say, so what's been going on around here? Your covered in scratches and cuts, I clearly missed something." Replied Alex.

Gregor though for a moment, recalling the events, and then began. "Yeah, well, you know. Regalia kind of got hit by wave of slashers. If it were not for your new swords, Regalia would have been overtaken. As is we barely won, if it were not for the gnawers, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now. Literally all of the Regalian army, save 60 or so soldiers, most of which are here in the hospital, have been killed. The slashers are going to attack again, so we won't be able to hold them off. There is going to be a small team send off tomorrow to assassinate the slasher's royal bloodline, end this war. Once completed, Xano will take over the slasher throne, and hold peace between the humans and slashers."

"And you didn't invite me?" Asked Alex, jokingly.

Gregor Laughed a bit. "I don't think a bedridden boy with a gapping whole in his abdomen would last very long in battle."

"Yeah, well, you never know till you try. So, how are things going with you mom?" Asked Alex, noticing how Gregor tensed up immediately.

"Not very well. We were given permission to return to the overland if we wanted. When my mom conformed me on that, well, let's just say that even Ripred would have run away screaming." Responded Gregor.

"That bad? Glad I wasn't there, must have sucked for you, what did you say?" Asked Alex.

"Well, basically I flat out defied her, and she really blew up. I just walked out of the room when she started ranting about how she is my mother, and I have no choice but to do what she tell me to do whether I want to or not." Replied Gregor. "Enough about that. Now, what's going on between you and Zoey? Her lipstick kind of stands out on your lips."

"Is it that obvious? Yeah, you caught me red handed here. Hardly had a second to figure out where I was before I had her tongue down my throat." Replied Alex. He seemed kind of embarrassed, albeit he had a stupid grin plastered onto his face nonetheless.

Gregor could easily picture that. "Good for you then man. Zoey hasn't left your side since the day you took a 'bullet' for her. Well, aside from meals and bathroom breaks."

Alex looked over at Zoey, who was sitting right next to him, as if looking for confirmation. Zoey looked away, flushing. This only further confirmed what Gregor had previously stated. Before anybody said anything else, a thought swam into Gregor's head. Alex and Zoey both really seemed to like each other, but they still looked a little hesitant, like it was to good to be true. Why not help them along a little? Yep, love advice from the all legendary warrior.

"So, you guys both seem a little hesitant. You love each other, but your holding back, like it's to good to be true, your afraid that the love isn't really there. Any reason why exactly?" Asked Gregor. This was defiantly putting them out of their comfort zones.

"I, umm. . . Zoey, could you leave for a moment, so I can talk to Gregor privately?" Alex Asked.

Zoey looked very hesitant, and her expression seemed to drop slightly, but she nodded, and left the room.

"I just. . . I feel like it was only the situation that made her say she loved me. Like I was about to die, so she wanted me to die happy, that she doesn't really love me, only wants me to feel better." Said Alex.

It took Gregor a moment to process this. "I can see how you would think that. That's not true though. You should have seen her after you lost consciousness. She was an absolute wreck, crying over your body. When we got back to Regalia, she refused to leave your side, and had to be forced away by doctors as they started to operate on you. I wasn't kidding when I said that she has been at your side this whole time. The thing is, she has loved you for a while now, it only took you almost dying for her to see that. You never know what you have until it's gone."

"But, hasn't she been ogling over you for the past 4 years?" Questioned Alex.

Gregor thought this over before responding. "You make a good point, but who has been there more for her, you or me? I tended to avoid her and ignore her more, while you were always there for her, supported her, and talked to her. She would only ever lead one-sided conversations with me."

Alex seemed to visibly brighten up after hearing this. "So your saying that she was more after the physical you, rather then your actual personality?"

"Well I don't mean to brag, but I'm kind of a chick magnet. You think I haven't noticed girls staring at me in school? I have echolocation, I could tell when they were staring at me, no matter where they were starting from. I have had numerous girls ask me out. I never got used to the look of disappointment on their faces when I said no." Responded Gregor. "Well I'd say my work here is done, now that will be ten dollars, sir."

"Wait what? Ten dollars for what?" Asked Alex.

"Girl advice, from Doctor Gregor, what else?" Replied Gregor.

"I would hardly call it advice. It was more of you telling me what happened when I was down for count. I know more about girls then you do, I've actually had girlfriends, all you ever had, or have, is the queen. By the way, how are things going with her?" Asked Alex.

Gregor thought for a moment before responding, getting the events in place. "That's a queen more then you've had. Well, mostly things a fine, but her fiancé Hayden woke up. He is a complete dick. He is so obsessed with her that it has blinded him. He is convinced that she loves him back. So convinced in fact, that when she publicly denied him, by bitch slapping him when he called her his 'beloved', that he thought it was just to make her seems stronger to the public. Then when she blew up at him during a council meeting, he still believes that she loves him. He takes her to be some weak and helpless little girl that he has to protect. When I supported her wanting to come on the quest, he accused me of attempted assassination."

"Really? Wow, he is a dick, and an idiot. So, what are you gonna do about him, how you gonna crash or prevent their wedding?" Asked Alex.

Alex payed very close attention as Gregor carefully explained his plan, and he seemed to approve of it, and he really looked like he love the idea.

"Good thinking, that should really work, at least for a while. I really hope that works out for you." Responded Alex.

"Yeah, thanks. I'm gonna go out and talk to Zoey now." Declared Gregor.

Gregor left the room to talk to Zoey in the hallway, after he got a nod in response from Alex. He found Zoey engaged deep in a conversation with Luxa. He payed no attention to what they were talking about, not that he cared anyway, and waited until they noticed him standing there. Only then did he speak.

"Hey guys. Luxa, could you go talk to Alex or something, I need to talk to Zoey about something." Asked Gregor.

He got a stern nod in response, and waited for Luxa to go into Alex's room. They would probably talk about weapons or something, considering Alex's natural skills as a blacksmith.

"So, why exactly are you hesitant around Alex?" Asked Gregor.

"It's. . . It's just that I feel like he doesn't really love me." Said Zoey.

"And why would that be?" Questioned Gregor.

"It's just that he never showed the slightest hint of liking me in the overland, and I've seen him look at other girls there. I feel that now were here, he only likes he because I'm the only overland girl, and he finds underland girls weird." Said Zoey.

"Wow, you really are paranoid aren't you? You seriously never noticed how much he started at you in the overland, how much he liked you, how he stuck to you like glue? And really, you would think that he doesn't love you, after he got stabbed so that you could live; he sacrificed himself for you! I don't see why you would think that he doesn't love you. I just talked to him, he felt like you didn't love him, that it was only the fact that he was most likely going to die, that you said you loved him. That you wanted him to die happy, feeling loved." Informed Gregor.

"But-" Said Zoey, before being cut off by Gregor.

"No buts. Go in there, and talk to him. He really loves you, and you really love him, now go make sure he know that." Said Gregor, pushing Zoey into Alex's hospital room.

Once they were in, they found a doctor that had come in through a side door, examining Alex. He seemed pleased with the results.

Zoey immediately rushed up to the doctor. "Doctor, what is his condition?" Asked Zoey. "He wasn't suppose to be awake for another two or so weeks, so why is he awake so early?"

The doctor smiled and looked at her. "It's not something that I see everyday but it is not rare. It's the human will. He should have died from his wounds, most anybody would have. Death was right next to him, ready to take him, but he held on. He wanted to live, he fought to live. He has a very strong will, something more then just life was giving him such a desire to live. I do not know what, I could guess fairly accurately, but that is a personal matter. No matter what it is, his desire to live has gotten him an extraordinary recovery. He is almost to full health. He will still need a week or so in bed, but under normal circumstances, he would have needed another month or so. It is truly amazing, the human mind, how it can influence you in such extreme ways."

This visibly made Zoey's eye spark, and she clearly caught the wink that Alex sent her way. He had lived for her. He had fought off death so that he could be with her, so that he wouldn't have to leave her. How romantic, how sappy, but great nonetheless.

Once the doctor finished His checkup, Gregor signaled for Luxa to come out with him, to give the two privacy. She nodded and followed him out of the room, leaving Zoey and Alex to droll over each other.

"Alex seems to be dong fine. Zoey seems to be doing more than fine. Looks to me like this is a common case of young love. What did you say to them?" Asked Luxa, breaking their silence.

"Just another job well done for Dr. Gregor. They both though that the others love for them was false, non existent. I only helped them see otherwise. Note how I said 'helped', I can't show them otherwise, they need to show each other." Said Gregor.

"Well, I am happy for them. I am also happy that Zoey is no longer infatuated with you, she and I did not get along very well while she was" Said Luxa.

"As much as I didn't wasn't you guys fighting, I'm used to girls fighting over me. A lot of girls liked me in the overland, and a lot of boys wanted to kill me because Zoey liked me, and a lot of boys liked her, so I was in their way. That aside, I think you and Zoey could make good friends. You told me how you never really had any friends, that you still kind of don't, all because or your social status. Zoey is above that crap. I don't think she really cares if you queen or not. I know I don't care if your queen or not. To me your Luxa, I wouldn't think any higher or lower of you if you were just some farmer. I think that Zoey feels the same way, she could really be a good friend for you. You two aren't to different either, you could really get along." Said Gregor.

Luxa looked up at Gregor, since he was a good five inches taller then her, even after 4 years. She soaked up every word that Gregor said, though he lost her after 'I don't care if your queen or not. To me your Luxa, I wouldn't think any higher or lower of you if you were just some farmer'.

Luxa nodded, with a huge smile on her face, and reached over and grabbed Gregor's hand. The two walked happily down the hall together, hand in hand. Where were they going? Who cares, all that matters to them is that they are together.

And cut! Perfect! I can't help but laugh at the title, I really like it. I really like how this chapter turned out, there hasn't been enough of Alex or Zoey in this story, so I hope this makes up for that. All that the doctor said about human will was true, by the way. If you are teetering on the edge of life and death, you will die if you don't have a strong enough will to live. Fight death, the human mind is one of the most amazing things. When your parents, or your teachers say, you can do anything if you put your mind to it, and you just shrug and don't really listen, they are 100% correct. If you put your mind to it, you can do anything (please don't go jump off a cliff thinking you can fly if you put your ind to it, I don't want to be responsible for anything bad here). My book I told you guys about, well, I developed more of it during writers block while doing this chapter. The book will probably be $4.99 once it is published. I plan on having it published digitally (ibooks, kindle, etc. . .), so any of you will be able to get it. I will get it published, I have put my mind to it. I am not a quitter, despite common knowledge (that means all of you, the one who keep thinking I'm abandoning this story. I. Will. Finish. This. Story. End of conversation) I will go through with it, and I hope you guys will be with me all the way. As usual, all feedback is encouraged and appreciated, so give me any and all ideas! See you guys later!

See you peeps later,

-Tytonic

Question: On a scale from 1-10, how strong is Alex's and Zoey's love? (I never got to answer the last question this chapter, don't worry, you will find out what it was soon)

*CLICKCLICKCLICK*

*POOF*

Tytonic: Thoughts, ideas, anything you guys think, spill it!

Gregor: You could kill Hayden, end the war.

Tytonic: Great idea, I would love to, but sadly I can't. I would if I could, but what type of story would it that be? I already have the bigger things like that planned out. Next!

Zoey: You could heal Alex faster.

Alex: I'm with her on that.

Tytonic: No can do. I already pulled a few strings here to get him awake this early, so sorry. Next!

Luxa: Oh, I have some great ideas!

*Luxa tells Tytonic ideas*

Tytonic: Wow. Nice, I think I might just use some of those, but I would have to change them a bit in the interest of the story, but overall great. Now, Gregor, I'm thinking of bringing your mom into this next time, how would you feel about that?

Gregor: I'm fine with it, as long as you leave me out of the screaming and yelling once she finds out your the one controlling everything.

Tytonic: Okay, if I remember, it shall be done! See you guys later, I got stuff to do!

Gregor, Luxa, Alex, and Zoey: Bye!

*CLICKCLICKCLICK*

*POOF*

Tytonic: Gregor's mom is going to hate me so much.

See you abide readers later and until next time,

-Tytonic