Gregor was stunned. "What do you mean, this is Regalia?"

Howard sighed. "This is why we need your help. The city has been attacked."

"By the rats?" Lizzie asked.

Howard nodded as he looked at the ground. "It turns out that a lot of the rats still see Ripred as a traitor. And they refuse to accept an alliance. That being said, many of the rats are good and trying to protect Regalia." He looked at Nike. "Thank you, Nike." She nodded and flew off.

"Is everyone okay?" Lizzie wanted to know. Her brown eyes were wide with fear.

Howard shook his head. "Not everyone."

"What... what about Queen Luxa?" Gregor asked in a shaky voice.

"And Ripred?" said Lizzie.

Howard turned to Lizzie. "Ripred's... um... stressed. He's been fighting nonstop." He turned to Gregor. "Luxa's worse."

"What do you mean, Howard?" Gregor asked, frantically looking around.

"When Regalia was attacked, the rats set off bombs," Howard told them. "Unfortunately, a bomb blew up right near Luxa. She's temporarily deaf, and she has a lot of broken bones. Yesterday, she suffered from a heart attack." Howard sighed. "The doctors say she has two weeks left."

The cave went completely silent. Lizzie clutched Boots tightly to her chest. Gregor clenched his fists and teeth, trying not to cry. He dug his fingernails into his palms.

After a moment of silence, Gregor spoke. "Tell me about the prophecy."

Howard nodded. "Sandwich didn't write any more prophecies about you, but... Nerissa did."

"Nerissa?" Gregor was shocked. Nerissa had been so weak... so pale... he was honestly surprised she'd survived. "She wrote a prophecy about me?"

"Yes," Howard replied. "And your sisters."

Gregor guessed it made sense. Nerissa's visions of the future were almost always accurate, just usually not in the way they expected. Sort of like Sandwich's prophecies.

"What do we need to do?" Gregor questioned.

"I... I can't explain it here," Howard said, looking around nervously. "The rats don't know about the prophecy. They could be listening."

"Just tell me if I need to go on another quest," Gregor said.

Howard sighed. "It is unclear."

"Well, take me to Luxa." Gregor was insistent on the fact that he needed to see Luxa. If she really had only two weeks left...

Howard nodded. "Follow me."

Boots squirmed in Lizzie's grip as she walked. "Temp! Wanna see Temp!"

"I know you do," Howard said. "Just wait a little longer, okay, Princess?"

"I a pincess!" Boots declared, crossing her arms. Howard chuckled a little at that.

"I've missed you guys," Howard told them. "I really have."

"Me too, Howard," Gregor responded. "I just... I can't believe all that's happened here. When was the attack?"

"Three days ago," Howard replied. "I wish you'd been able to come sooner, but I understand."

Gregor nodded. "Yeah. I can't stop thinking about this place. The things that have happened here... they're awful."

"For a while, things had settled down," Howard said. "Or so it seemed. Turns out the rats were just making a plan for future attacks." Howard sighed. "They had an inside man telling them all of our weaknesses. A rat pretending to be on our side. We trusted him," Howard continued. "Now, it is hard to trust any rat. But at the same time, we need every fighter we can get."

"How could someone betray us like that?" Lizzie asked.

Howard shook his head. "He was never on our side. It wasn't a betrayal. It was simply a plot for revenge that we got swept into. Unfortunately, so did Luxa."

"She really only has two weeks?" Gregor asked, feeling a pang in his heart.

"I'm sorry," Howard said quietly. "So many people were injured... so many people were killed... Luxa was lucky to be alive after the blast, considering how close she was to it."

Lizzie was shaking. "D-do you know what... what the rats are going to do next?"

Howard smiled slightly. "The rats aren't the only ones with an inside man."

Lizzie gasped. "Ripred?"

Howard chuckled and shook his head. "No, Ripred would be far too recognizable. Especially with his scars."

"Well then... who is it?" Gregor asked.

"I can't say," Howard said. "The rats hear everything. Follow me."

Gregor followed Howard into a building full of hospital beds. Many people and animals lay there. Some were recovering, others were dying. It was a morbid sight.

Suddenly, Gregor stopped and took a double take. "Oh my gosh," he whispered and ran forward, pressing his hands to the glass.

"MARETH!" Gregor shouted, banging on the glass.

Mareth looked terrible. He had cuts all over his body, and most of them looked infected. His eyes were closed, and his breaths were short and sharp. His amputated leg had blood seeping through the bandages.

"How did this happen?" Gregor asked.

Howard looked down. "He, um... he was caught by the rats after we captured their inside man. They tortured Mareth for information. Ripred saved his life."

"Did he say anything?" Gregor questioned, dreading the answer.

Howard shook his head again. "Mareth's very strong. But the rats nearly killed him. I just... I just hope he'll be alright."

Lizzie had been on edge this whole time. But seeing Mareth and hearing his story had done it for her. She burst into tears. Her breathing became shallow. She covered her face with her hands as Howard grabbed Boots from her.

"Hey, Liz..." Gregor said, walking over to her and embracing her. "What's seventeen cubed?"

Lizzie sniffed, still breathing heavily. "Four thousand nine hundred and thirteen."

"What's twenty-two cubed?" Gregor asked.

Lizzie thought for a moment, then smiled. "Ten thousand six hundred and forty-eight."

Howard whistled as he typed it into a calculator. "Wow. She's right."

"She always is," Gregor said with a grin. "You okay, Lizzie?"

Lizzie nodded. The tears had stopped falling.

"She recovers quickly," Howard commented. "That's a good thing, you know. It means you're strong." He patted Lizzie on the back. "See? You're fine."

Lizzie gave him a small smile. "I... I think I'm okay now."

"Is Mareth going to be okay?" Gregor asked.

Howard looked down. "I don't know. The doctors are working very hard, but his immune system is weakening. And with all the infection sights... I just don't know."

Gregor sighed. "I just wish I could see him."

Howard shrugged as he opened the door. "Go ahead."

"Mareth!" Gregor shouted as he burst into the room. "Mareth, it's me, Gregor! Are you okay?"

Mareth opened his eyes very slightly and gave Gregor a thumbs up.

Gregor smiled. "Just another day in the Underland, huh?"

Mareth let out what seemed to be a laugh, but it quickly turned into a coughing fit. He coughed up blood. The doctors came running into the room.

"You need to leave," one doctor said to Gregor. He nodded and waved to Mareth before hurrying out.

"Was I allowed to be in there?" Gregor asked.

Howard grinned. "Nope. But that's never stopped you before, has it?"

Gregor didn't reply. All he could think of was Luxa. Was she okay?

"Luxa's room is this way," Howard said, leading Gregor and Lizzie down the hall. Lizzie, who was now completely calm, took Boots from Howard's arms. They walked for a while, and then, Howard stopped.

Gregor looked into the room and saw her.

Luxa.