~ PANDORA

Leading the way to the luxury room, Pandora smiled graciously at Pan's shower of compliments. "You did very well back there," he said.

"I only did what I thought I needed to do, but I honestly had no clue I was going to get so involved!"

"I'm glad you did! Eurymedon is a great general and all, but he's stuck in the past. Too obsessed with the old-fashioned battle strategies, if you ask me. I mean, it's great my brother is learning a lot from him, but I think he's also picking up the general's ego."

"Was he always that.... Boastful?" Pandora asked, trying to find a more positive way to describe Pan's brother. Yes, Cleon didn't seem like the best guy, but he was still Pan's brother.

"Not as a youngling, but he started to catch on that his older brother wasn't the best role model." Pandora frowned sympathetically at this piece of news, it must have been hard for Pan to realize his younger brother didn't think highly of him. "He picked a new crowd to get along with... one that wasn't particularly nice to me."

"Aw, Pan, I'm sorry. That sounds awful."

"It actually turned out quite nicely. I studied when Cleon was training, and I trained when he was studying. It kept us apart for most of the day, until we returned home, at least."

Pandora laughed. "Hey, that doesn't sound too..." That's when they turned the last corner before arriving at the luxury room, and Pandora saw something coming down the hallway that made her insides turn completely cold.

Directly beside Aurora, Luxa's bond, was an Underland creature Pandora had only heard of. Its black legs made ticking noises as it walked along the stone corridor. Its many eyes shined in the torchlight.

Heading directly towards her was the most enormous spider Pandora had ever seen... and she immediately collapsed onto the floor.

***

"Pandora," came a voice she knew well. "Pandora can you hear me?"

Pandora tried to answer the voice, but her lips wouldn't move and her vocal cords wouldn't budge.

A cold, wet cloth was placed on her head, and she realized she wasn't completely on the floor anymore. Her head and shoulders were raised to lay on somebody's lap. Finally, she was able to open her eyes.

After a few blinks, the first thing that came into focus was Howard's concerned face. Pandora tried to smile, but her mouth still wasn't working. A hand came into view, moving in one direction, and then another.

"She doesn't have a concussion," came another voice just beyond her vision, "but she should still come down to the hospital to be sure."

"Just wait a few more moments for her to get her bearings, mother," Howard answered. "She is aware she has spells like this. She can tell us herself if anything is out of the ordinary, once she is able to."

Pandora suddenly became angry at herself. She had been without a seizure for a long time, and within two seconds of distress, she was left completely helpless on the floor. She didn't even remember what happened. When did Howard and his mother get here? Where was Pan and everybody else? How long had she been there on the floor?

Finally sensing she was getting control of her body back, she reached up and gently pushed the cold cloth off her forehead. "I'm fine," she said with a groan.

"Where did you fall?" Howard asked.

"Right here," Pandora answered, sitting up and looking around to realize she was in the same corner of the hallway where she had seen the spider.

"No, I meant where did you hurt yourself when you fell?"

"I don't remember. Nothing hurts. Maybe Pan caught me. Where is he?"

"Right here," Pan stepped forwards, leaving a group of people behind. It consisted of everyone who left the war room with her, as well as one lady whom Pandora assumed was Howard's mother. They were talking with Vikus. Some looked concerned, but others looked displeased.

"She fell on her back, but didn't hit her head very hard," Pan told Howard.

When Pandora tried to get up, Howard's mother came rushing over. "Please, stay down," she directed, looking at Howard. He removed his hands from Pandora, obviously getting the feeling his mother didn't want him to help Pandora stand before she was ready to. "I will call attendants, and we shall carry you to the hospital wing on a stretcher."

"Thank you, but I'm fine. I don't need..." Howard's mother started walking down the hallway, not listening.

"Stop, mother, she doesn't need to go to the hospital," Howard said more firmly. "I'll take her into the luxury room and make sure she sits for a while. This is a preexisting condition, so she will recover quickly."

Howard's mother took a step towards them and watched as Howard helped Pandora stand. She nodded, seeming to find Pandora's health acceptable, even though she was still wearing a frown. "Very well then," she answered. "Please make sure you are not late for your next shift, Howard."

And with that, Howard's mother turned down the hallway and into the nearest stairwell. The incident left Pandora feeling embarrassed and frustrated. Was Howard's mom always that way? Would she have been friendlier if they met under different circumstances? Pandora got the feeling she didn't give Howard's parents a very good first impression. With all her nerves knotted up in the pit of her stomach, Pandora was unsure how she was going to eat.

~ GREGOR

At first, Gregor didn't know what was happening. He was talking to Vikus, headed down the hallway that lead to the luxury room, when everyone started running around in a frenzy.

"I'll fetch a doctor!" Perdita yelled, sprinting past Gregor to the nearest staircase.

"What's going on?" Gregor asked Vikus. Vikus' smile turned into a frown as he pointed to a scene in front of them. The little tan bat and Mareth were huddled next to a figure on the floor, one with long brown hair and creamy skin. Pandora had fallen. She was unconscious.

No wait, she wasn't unconscious. She was moving. "What happened?" Gregor asked, getting closer to Mareth. Out of the corner of his eye, Gregor caught York escorting Aurora and a spinner into a different hallway.

"She's collapsed," Mareth stated the obvious.

"Give her a minute Gregor," the tan bat said. "She will get up soon." Holding onto her shoulders to keep her body on its side, he didn't seem too concerned.

"Is she OK?"

"Yes. I protected her head as she fell."

"She's not unconscious, is she?" Her hands were shaking very badly.

"No," the bat said. "This sometimes happens to her. Don't worry."

"This way," came Perdita's voice again. She led Howard and his mother over to the scene.

The little bat and Mareth stood up and backed away, giving those trained in medicine some space to examine the Overlander. It didn't take long for Pandora to snap out of it, sitting up... and then standing up after a minute or so.

"Come, everyone, let's get settled into the luxury room," Vikus said, nodded graciously at a servant who held the curtain away from the entrance so they could all go inside.

Gregor took a seat in between Mareth and Perdita on one couch and noticed Nerissa was already seated in the room, on the couch directly across from him. When she saw Pandora enter the room, her hand holding onto Howard's arm, she stood up and came over to her.

"Pandora! I knew you would be here soon!"

"I've been wondering when I'd see you," Pandora answered just as jovially. They hugged and Nerissa led the way to the couch.

Gregor saw the little tan bat take a seat in an armchair close to the couches. "I didn't catch your name," Gregor said to him.

"It's Pan," he said with a smile. "Sorry I haven't gotten a chance to introduce myself to you. It must be silly for someone to know your name and for you to not know theirs."

Just then, Howard's father came in. "Gregor, can I see you for a moment?" he asked.

"Uh... sure," Gregor got up and left the room, unsure as to the reason for York's calling.

~ PANDORA

Pandora felt instantly better the moment she saw Nerissa. Having arrived a few hours ago, she had not yet seen her friend. Nerissa seemed particularly excited to see her, and Pandora remembered she didn't have many acquaintances, aside from her family.

It wasn't a moment after they sat down that York stood at the doorway and asked Gregor to leave with him. Pandora wished both could stay to eat, for she didn't know much about either of them. "Why does your dad want to talk with Gregor?" Pandora asked Howard.

"I'm not sure," he answered slowly, a frown on his face. "He doesn't seem too happy." He got up from the couch. "I think I am going to go with them."

"Are you sure?" Pandora asked nervously. Howard's father seemed particularly upset. Before he knew anything earlier that day, York seemed like a nice, enthusiastic man.

Howard nodded. "I will see you before my next shift at the hospital, alright?"

"Okay," Pandora said, watching as he left the room.

"How brave it was for him to leave the Underland," Nerissa commented.

"Yeah, very brave," Pan chimed in.

"Howard's a nice guy," Pandora agreed, adding to the conversation although her mind was elsewhere. Weird images were fading in and out of her thoughts, and none of them connected in any logical story. In some, she recognized familiar faces. In others, they were complete strangers. They must have surfaced from the farthest reaches of her mind when she had her seizure, although she had never experienced so many images and so few words before.

"Nerissa," Pandora asked. "Do you sometimes get a whole bunch of pictures in your head that make no sense?"

"Yes," she answered.

"Because I'm getting some now. It's strange... I rarely ever see just images."

"You should draw them. Or describe them so you will remember," her friends advised.

"I'll do that later."

"Oh, and we should also discuss Sandwich's last prophecy. We did not get a chance to explain its meaning in full yet," Nerissa said eagerly.

"The one about the apple?" Pan asked.

Pandora nodded. "Yes. We should do that later, too. Maybe after we eat?"

"Sure," Pan said with a smile. "I'd love to. You know, I studied Sandwich's prophecies growing up. It's something I'm very interested in."

"Which one is your favorite?" Nerissa asked him.

"Hard to say. Although, the Prophecy of Bane strikes me as a very chilling one. 'Die the baby, die his heart.'"

"'Die his most essential part,'" Nerissa finished.

Although Pandora was curious as to what York, Gregor, and Howard were talking about, and having random images projected in her mind, Pandora was determined to enjoy the time she had with her friends. After all, it wasn't every day that a bat, an Overlander, and an Underlander got together to discuss historical poems chiseled into stone hundreds of years ago.

~ GREGOR

Gregor followed York out into the hallway. "Thank you for agreeing to come with me, Gregor," he began. "I had some questions to ask you."

"Alright."

"Firstly, I wanted to point out the terrible first impression set upon our newest guest."

"Newest guest?" Gregor asked.

"The spinner we call Bayvox," York explained. "Aurora was sent to greet him at the High Hall and bring him to Luxa, however, one of the first moments he spent in the palace was watching an Overlander faint at the sight of him." He shook his head. "The spinners are hard to persuade to take a stance during wartimes. And I believe Luxa has her work cut out for her now."

"I guess it was bad that Bayvox had to see someone who was really afraid of him. That can't be a good thing. But I don't think Pandora could help it." York grunted in response.

"That wasn't why I asked to talk with you, however. I wanted to know more about the Overland."

"Like what?"

"What is it like, when you leave here and enter your apartment building?"

"Its... fine. I mean... what are you asking exactly? Like, how I feel when I get home?"

"What's on the other side of the grate? What do you see?"

"You get to the basement," Gregor answered. "Where people can do laundry. My apartment was a couple floors up, so I would just go up the stairs to it."

"How many people would you pass?"

"It depended on the time of day. But usually I got home pretty late, so I didn't see anyone."

"And what do Overlanders do when you have a guest? What sort of hospitality do you provide?"

"Why're you asking all these questions about the Overland? I don't understand why you wanted to talk about this," Gregor said, utterly confused. The questions all seemed so random!

"I want to know what happened when my son went up into your world," York said, stopping completely in the empty hallway and turning to Gregor. "I want to know how he was treated. I want to know more about Pandora. Howard seems... infatuated with her. However, I only know her by hearsay. I wanted an Overlander's point of view. You and she have at least that much in common."

"To be honest, I don't know much more about her than you do," Gregor shrugged. They continued to walk, and soon, York ushered him into a lavishly decorated living space. It must have been his family's living quarters. "I know she lived at the apartment building at the same time as I did, but I never knew her. She seems pretty nice. Helpful, too."

"I apologize for intruding," came a voice at the door. Gregor turned to see Howard, who pulled open the curtain just enough for his head and shoulders to peek in. "May I come in?"

"Of course, son," York said. "This is where you are staying as well, is it not?"

"I only did not want to interrupt the conversation," he answered. Howard walked into the room, looking a bit uncomfortable. Gregor noticed how he rubbed the palm of one hand with his thumb on the other.

"Did you need something?" York asked.

"I only wanted to ask a question... if you have the time to discuss it, of course."

"Yes, I have the time. Gregor and I were discussing Pandora. I was asking him some questions about Overland hospitality and the Overland in general."

Howard stepped toward his father eagerly, "I also wanted to talk to you about Pandora."

"Well, what is it? Perhaps Gregor can help."

"I... I'm not sure he can. Not with my question at least."

"I could do my best," Gregor offered.

"He is an Overlander, just like Pandora," York said.

"That may not help with the type of question I have," Howard said, avoiding his father's gaze. He looked at Gregor with a pained expression; he might have been trying to convey a message to Gregor, but whatever it was, Gregor hadn't a clue.

"Come on, boy. What is it?" His father pressed.

"Well, my question requires your opinion, father. Not Gregor's."

"He can do nothing but help, Howard. Besides, you've been with him on a quest before, haven't you? Even I know him well enough to invite him in and ask him questions!"

"You're right," Howard said with a small laugh, even though he wasn't smiling. He gave Gregor another look, and this time, Gregor understood. He seemed to be saying 'I knew my father would say something like that. Please, bear with me.'

Gregor gave him a reassuring smile. "Ask away. I'm not going to tell anyone your business."

Howard nodded and paused for a minute, then took a deep breath. His words came out so fast, Gregor thought he hadn't heard him right. "Father, may I have your blessing to begin my courtship with Pandora?"

York laughed, causing Howard to look up at him with appalled confusion. "No. Absolutely not."

"Why ever not? Is it because she's an Overlander?"

"No, it's not that."

"Is it because..." Howard started, becoming angry. His father cut him off with a shout.

"You asked me to explain myself but you do not give me a chance to do so!" Apparently, Gregor thought, York was still mad at Howard for leaving without a word. His anger must have been boiling underneath the surface, ready to come back up under the slightest bit of tension.

"I'm sorry, father, you're right," Howard said, swallowing his anger and looking at his father with big eyes.

"I believe that you only wish to pursue this girl because you were the one who cared for her when she first arrived," York spat. "I believe you have unrightfully connected yourself to her simply because of her name."

"Her name?"

Howard's father shot him a nasty glance for interrupting but continued. "Yes, her name. It is the same one as your first bond, is it not?"

"It is, but..."

"You lost your Pandora. This new Pandora is not her, do you agree?"

"I agree, yes, however..."

"If you agree with me, then why do you attach yourself to her as if she is your old bond?"

"Father, I don't..."

"Listening to your father does not require speaking!" He shouted. Howard closed his mouth, his eyes wavering. He moved his hands behind his back, which were beginning to shake. "You've created an unhealthy connection to this girl... one that I want you to sever right now. This relationship is one that will never be right. She does not belong here, and you do not address her any longer." At this point, Howard seemed as if he wanted to argue. He opened his mouth but refrained from speaking and closed it a second later. "Do I make yourself clear?"

Howard looked down at the ground, swallowing hard. After a moment of silence, he spoke no more than a whisper. "You do, father."

"You may go, and I do not want to hear you speak of this again."

With a nod towards his father, Howard turned around. His sad eyes locked onto Gregor's before he silently and swiftly left the room. Howard's disappointment and heartbreak was tangible.

York sighed and rubbed his temples, "Now I see why Howard was hesitant of bringing that up in front of you. I apologize you had to be present for that, Gregor. I should have told him to ask me later. My anger got the best of me."

"It's alright, sir," Gregor responded with a nod. "If I can ask one thing...?"

"What is it?" he looked towards Gregor.

"If we can somehow prove that Howard likes Pandora... actually likes her, not just for her name... would you let him date her?"

"Date?" York's anger simmered, but with a sigh he kept his hostility from Gregor. "Overlander, all I want for Howard is a joyous life. I don't want him pursuing a love that does not exist. If you're able to prove their love is true, I will give him my blessing."

"Thank you, sir," Gregor said with a smile. He felt terrible for Howard, and somehow felt his strong feelings for Pandora were reciprocated. "You'll be hearing from me again about this."

"And until then, I will try to keep my anger in check," he smiled. "Fly you high, Gregor."

"Fly you high."