This chapter is the first crossover of Ellen's and Betmilionali's stories. Last chapter, if you recall, Betmilionali had escaped from Visser 3, morphed dog, and was almost run over by a human-controller on a bike. Don't worry, that cliffhanger will be ended in this chapter. I'm sorry that this took so long.

(Chapter 7)

(Ellen)

Time passed. I frequently visited the forest Eric had chosen as his home. We became good friends. A month passed before the next drastic event happened.

Jumping's so much fun!

I know, Ellen. We share a brain, remember.

Right. We were biking home from another horseback riding lesson. A dog ran in front of my path. I barely missed it. I jumped off my bike to see if it was hurt.

(Go ahead; take me to your Visser,) it spat "Visser." (I'll just kill myself on the way. HE won't like that.)

"Andalite? No. Eric said he was the only Andalite on Earth, besides Visser 3," I thought aloud. The dog sniffed me. Again. And again.

(There is a very familiar scent on you. But I must be smelling things,) it said wistfully.

"What do you smell?"

(An Andalite who is close to me. I thought he was sent back to the Andalite home planet.) Did it mean Eric?

"What is his name?"

(Eriaca-Maheen-Egfata.)

"You know Eric?!" I was surprised.

(And you call him 'Eric'?) The dog was indignant.

"I can't pronounce it in full."

(Oh.)

"How do you know him?" Was the dog his girlfriend or something?

(Why are you so full of questions?)

"Because it's my nature to ask questions."

(Oh. Eriaca is my brother.) Phew.

Really, Ellen? Enni asked.

"Do you want me to take you to his forest?"

(Yes.) It sounded excited.

"Okay." I bent down to pick the dog up.

(NO! Don't touch me!)

"Okay, then. Hop into the basket."

(The what?)

"The basket. The dish-like thing on my bike."

(Your transport is called a bike.)

I thought Andalites thought they know all, Enni remarked.

"Yes," I answered the dog, ignoring Enni again.

(Okay.) It hopped into my basket. I got back on and pedaled to Eric's forest. (Faster! Faster!) it cried.

"I'm going as fast as I can!"

(Do I look like I care?)

"Ummm…, no?" Was that a rhetorical question?

(Good answer.) We reached the forest. I stopped.

"Can you find your way from here?" I asked, concerned.

(Yes. Thank you for bringing me here.) The dog/Andalite hopped out and ran into the forest.

Don't blame me if it doesn't find Eriaca, Enni said.

Enni, dogs have good noses. Sooner or later, it'll find Eric. She snorted using my nose.

Oh, sorry.

It's okay, it was just a snort. We biked home.

"Ellen, what took you so long?" Mom asked me as I walked in the door.

"I stayed to help muck the stalls," I lied.

Liar, liar, pants on fire, Enni said.

Are you saying I should tell my mom about the Yeerks and Andalites? I wouldn't have to lie then, but I would be sent to the insane asylum.

"Well, you need to finish your homework now, Ellen," Mom said.

"Yeah, Ellen, do your homework," the pest, my little brother Mike, said.

"Shut up, Mike," I said.

"Mom!"

"Enough, you two," she said. "Ellen hasn't been home ten minutes and you're already fighting!" Mike stuck his tongue out at me behind Mom's back. "Mike, you need to do your homework, too, if you're going to soccer practice tonight." I walked upstairs to my room to do my homework.

Little pest, Enni said. I can't believe he's your brother.

Neither can I, sometimes, I replied.


Sorry this is so short. I ran out of ideas for this chapter in the middle of it.

Because I made you wait so long for this chapter, Chapter 8 will be coming later today.

~ukrainianelfhorse