Underland Chronicles: 1 - The Border's Edge (A Gregor the Overlander FanFic)

Chapter 3

"What? I don't remember that," said Pandora. "Why would I even say that?"

Luxa shrugged her shoulders. "I do not know."

"I didn't even know that Bartholomew of Bologna even existed!"

"It is Bartholomew of Sandwich," Nerissa said matter-of-factly.

Aurora's quiet voice spoke up, keeping them on track. "You did say his name. Ripred and I heard you say it as well."

"The Last Prophecy is upon us," Nerissa said.

Pandora forgot that she was holding the prophecy in her hands. She held it close to her face to read the neat cursive handwriting printed there:

Apple of Regalia,

Of wisdom and release,

My time runs short,

I present you in peace.

Apple of Change,

Of compassion and might,

My faith goes with you,

I give you my light.

Apple of Spirit,

Of those lost and others found,

My words of meaning,

I find them unwound.

Apple of Mystery,

Of amazement and notion,

My name lives with you,

I give you my devotion.

"This is confusing," Pandora admitted. "He's talking about an apple."

"And yet there hasn't been an apple in the Underland for many years," Ripred said.

"And there have never been any apples growing in Regalia," commented Vikus.

"What if 'apple' is code for something?" A little voice spoke up. Everyone turned to look at the boy known as Hazard. "Like maybe in a different language, 'apple' doesn't mean a fruit you can eat."

"Can you speak different languages, Hazard?" Asked Pandora curiously. She took many different languages in high school and college. She partly was interested in asking Hazard this question, but also partly wanted to change the subject. The talk about prophecies was making her head spin.

"Yes, I can speak many," he answered.

"Tu parle Francais?" She asked, but only got a blank stare back from the boy. "German? Italian? Latin, maybe?" Hazard shook his head. "Well, what languages can you speak?"

"I speak crawler, nibbler, gnawer, and hisser," answered the boy. Pandora noticed his English wasn't as formal as the other Underlander's. He sounded less British and more... like he lived in New York City. "I am passable in flyer unless the tones are too high-pitched, and I am working on the vibrations the spinners use to communicate."

Luxa looked very proud; she was positively beaming at Hazard. Maybe they were half-siblings?

"I haven't heard of any of those," Pandora said.