A/N: Second-to-last chapter here. I hope you enjoy, although I have a feeling I may get a little hate for this one. Oh well, that's the way the cookie crumbles. Aiming to finish this fic up in the next week or so. Don't worry, I'm sure I'll come up with another crazy fic idea before long. :)

Happy reading,

T.


Chapter 25

Once, what felt like eons ago, I had promised my father that I would never join the military. Despite years of desperate dreams of freeing my father, I had heeded his wishes. I had not joined the military, at least not directly. Now, though, as I raced to battle with Zendat, I found that I was no better off than my warrior nothlit friend. I was no better off than Terenia, who had abandoned us to Visser One, or than Jennor, the proud Andalite who thought that her people could do no wrong.

I remembered Zendat's easy joking when we had first met. The way I had scoffed at his obvious youth and ignorance. The fervent belief that he would triumph in this war had shaken me. I had laughed at him, but in the end it was that very belief that drew me to him. In a world of loss you cling to any strand of hope that presents itself.

Now, Zendat and I walked together, hand in hand, towards inevitable death, and I saw the spark of that belief return to him. We were so close – all we had to do was survive this one battle and we would be free. I could recreate the Aldrea's Cube, Zendat could regain his morphing capabilities and return to the war. And I…

What would I do? After speaking with my father I felt nothing but emptiness where there had once been love and devotion. He had committed genocide. He had asked me to kill him. He was every bit as deserving of his disgrace as the Electorate had made him out to be. And yet…Zendat thought that I should not give up. Zendat, who had never given up, was trying to give me his strength even as he was dying.

(Are you ready, Allora?) Zendat asked. He was watching me with a bloodshot stalk eye. His flanks were slick with sweat. It was deeply disturbing to watch. He was in my body, and I was watching my body die.

(I am prepared,) I said. We had made our way relatively unnoticed from the bridge. The halls were ominously empty, a fact likely to be blamed on the battle I had left behind. We had reached the end of the hallway, and I knew from my initial trip that they would open on the last place that I had seen Jennor. I prepared to issue the command to open the door, but stopped abruptly when Zendat stumbled.

(Zendat, are you alright?) I reached a hand out to steady him.

(Yes,) Zendat said, although he looked far from alright. His breathing was shallow and I could tell that every move he made was painful. The hope that had alighted his eyes when I first mentioned the Aldrea's Cube seemed to be fading.

(Allora,) Zendat said in a strained voice, (we need…to talk.)

(What?) I asked, glancing at the door nervously. Our only chance was the element of surprise – an element that would not last if we waited.

(I was serious, before) Zendat said. I focused my main eyes on him, trying to look him in the eye. It was difficult. One of his eyes was not focusing correctly, and dried blood caked his nostrils distractingly.

(Serious about what?) I asked.

(Do not give up on your father.)

(I said I do not want to talk about it,) I said abruptly. This was hardly the time or the place to have a heart to heart about my father.

(No,) Zendat winced as he shifted on his hooves, (you have to listen to me. What your father did was terrible, and he does not deserve a daughter as wonderful and faithful as you. But you have spent your entire life trying to save him.)

(I was trying to save him because I thought that he was good,) I said, (I was wrong.)

(No…) Zendat's hand shook as it dropped my own, (perhaps you are right and he does not deserve your forgiveness or rescue. The reason you cannot give up is not because you need to save your father, it is because you need to save yourself.)

(What?) I inhaled sharply, feeling as though Zendat had smacked me with the flat of his tail blade. Before I could recover from his jibe Zendat pressed the palm of his hand against my cheek in a soft kiss. My stomach flipped and I felt lightheaded as he went on.

(I love you, Allora,) he murmured, (I love that you came back for me. I love that even now you are trying to think of a way to save me. Even…even if it is too late. I do not want you to lose that passion when I am gone.)

(What do you mean when you are gone?) I pulled away from his touch abruptly, (you are not going anywhere.)

(Allora, I told you. I am dying.)

(The Aldrea's Cube. I can fix it. I can give you the morphing power. I can-)

(No,) Zendat shook his head sadly, (there is no time. This body will not sustain me. I had hoped, but we need to be realistic.)

(Zendat, that isn't fair,) I felt as though my hearts would burst from aching, (I cannot do this without you…)

(Yes, you can,) Zendat said with a soft smile, (because you are strong. Stronger than you even realize. But you have to promise me that you won't stop fighting.)

(I can't,) I said, (it's impossible.)

(Do it for me, Allora,) Zendat glanced towards the closed door, (you have an opportunity to escape this ship. You can even build the morphing technology and give yourself that power. Use that to your advantage. I can buy you time.)

(What do you mean? You want me to run away again?) The idea sickened me, (I just returned! For you! I could have gone back to the Andalites, but instead I came back for you. You cannot leave me!)

(Promise me, Allora) Zendat said, and for a moment he had the voice of a true warrior, not a scared aristh facing imminent death. I flashed on my father, years ago, requesting a promise that I stay away from the war. Now Zendat was requesting the exact opposite. That I continue to fight, even if I must do so alone.

(Zendat…)

(Promise me,) he repeated, (that you will free your father. You will destroy the Abomination. You will work to right the wrongs committed by our kind.)

(I…I promise,) I said weakly, my mind scarcely able to grasp the magnitude of his request, barely able to process what was happening. Zendat smiled as I consented, and my hearts broke.

(Thank you Allora,) his hand moved back to my cheek, making my stomach flutter, (my only regret is that I will not have more time with you.)

Zendat dropped his hand then and turned, facing the door. He stood tall, with his tail upright despite the obvious pain he was in.

(Computer, open,) Zendat commanded before I could stop him. The door slid open silently. Immediately the sound of Hork-Bajir cheering met my ears. I searched the crowd desperately for Jennor. When I finally spotted her my breath caught. She was backed against one wall, surrounded by at least seven Hork-Bajir. Her tail moved with lightning speed, but it was no use. There were too many of them! When one Hork-Bajir fell another would merely take its place.

(Zendat, you can't go in!) I cried, turning to him in desperation. We had not been spotted yet. The Hork-Bajir were too immersed in the battle, cheering their comrades on as though it were a game of driftball.

(I must,) Zendat said, squaring his shoulders. One stalk eye turned to focus on Allora, (remember your promise.)

(Zendat, don't!)

(Goodbye, Allora. I love you,) before I could stop him, Zendat mustered all of his remaining energy and leapt over the threshold, attacking the Hork-Bajir from behind.

(I am the servant of the people,) he said, and it was all I could do not to cry out, to demand that he stop.

(I am the servant of my prince, I am the servant of honor,) his tail sliced through the neck of a Hork-Bajir, beheading it. Now the Hork-Bajir were turning, suddenly aware of the new threat.

(My life is not my own, when the people have need of it.)

Jennor cried out as she took a blow to the side of her head. She staggered, then fell, unconscious. The Hork-Bajir broke out into cheers, turning to face their new foe.

(My life is given for the people,) Zendat cried out as a Hork-Bajir laid a deep gash in his chest. Blue-black blood spurted from the wound, and it was all I could do not to run in after him.

(For my prince,)

With every bone in my body I wanted to rush in and save him, to help him with the fight, but I knew that it was useless. There were too many Hork-Bajir, and if I died it would invalidate Zendat's sacrifice.

(My honor,) Zendat raised his tail blade to his own throat as the Hork-Bajir descended upon him. As I looked on, he met my gaze, eyes glowing with fiery determination.

(And for you.)

I watched in horror as Zendat twitched his tail.