Is this as delicious as the jelly beans? I asked Aximili as I held the warm paper box.
Even more, he assured me, smiling sadly with his eyes.
And this is why you care for these humans? I asked, eyeing the box with my stalk eyes, my main eyes looking deep into his.
Aximili was silent, as if deep in thought.
Yes, he said finally. That is why I like humans. It is all about cinnamon buns.
Aximili was making a joke, of course. But neither of us laughed. Aximili was trying to ease the departure, but it did not work... the tension remained.
He was so handsome… masculine, powerful. His tail blade so sharp and curved, his brilliant green eyes so warm and deep, his features so…
Don't think about it, Estrid!
I commanded myself, snapping out of my thoughts. It's too late for that. You can't think about it anymore. You don't love him. You can't love him. He would rather stay with these aliens then go home with you. You don't love him, Estrid. How could you? He doesn't love you. He doesn't even like you.He would not come with me. And he would never love me. But even though it was useless, I tried to convince him to come with me.
Aximili, come home with me, I pleaded, taking his hand in mine. Together, the two us and Gonrod, we can make the people realize the truth. That wasn't at all why I wanted him to come with me. But it was all that I could think of.
Aximili shook his head. My fight is here, he said.
Is it because you do not like me? I asked, trying to sound light-heartened even as I felt my three hearts would burst inside me.
He nodded. I still do not like you, he said. The statement was so blunt, so final. But I sensed the hesitation in his voice.
Good-bye, Aximili, I said sadly, as I climbed into the Ralek River.
Good-bye, Estrid, he said.
The hatch closed, and the ship took off.
As we flew through the atmosphere of the blue and green and brown planet, the planet on which Aximili was, I watched through the window.
In a few minutes we entered Zero-space and I lost sight of Earth… and Aximili… forever.
I turned towards what Aximili called a "cinnamon bun."
It was the gift he had given me in our parting.
I would eat it, of course. I would savor the delicious flavor of this food with my human mouth.
It would make me feel better, I suppose. For a few wonderful moments all my sorrows would be forgotten.
But as we translated into Z-space, my mind was not on cinnamon buns.
I cried silently, inside. My heart ached greatly.
Farewell. Aximili…
Far away from the Ralek River, on a tiny, insignificant planet in the middle of nowhere, another Andalite stood.
He was in human morph. He was on the human planet. He had the chance to return to his home, but he chose to remain with his friends.
In his mind, he was Andalite. He was Andalite. He knew it. He may remain on a human planet, he may defy his natural people. His loyalty may lie with the humans, and his Prince, the human called Jake.
But in his heart, he was Andalite.
Farewell. Estrid... Aximili called out silently into the darkness, a teardrop rolling down his human cheek.
