Disclaimer: Ok now this is just getting old. I don't own any of these characters. The end.

1 Chapter Five

I blinked a few times and wondered if I had just heard what I thought I'd heard.

"W. what?" I whispered.

"Your powers won't allow it. This is your destiny, Rachel. What you were born to do. You can't defy it, or you will lose your power."

"What do you mean 'what I was meant to do?' You said the Daughters of the Moon were put on earth to protect it from evil. In case you didn't realize, that's what I've been doing for the past 3 years," I snapped, angry about this whole thing.

"There is and evil being called the Atrox. The people it lures into its evil trap are called Followers, who are much like Controllers. There are also some called Regulators and Inner Circle members. They are a lot like Vissers.

"The Atrox and its Followers are what you were put here to fight. Not the Yeerks."

"Well why can't I just fight both wars?" I suggested.

"Mostly because it would put you and your friends in danger. You see, if the Followers captured you, they would find out about your friends and you fighting and morphing. They would no doubt inform the Yeerks, because they live off of evil and turning you in would be enough evil to promote them to the Inner Circle.

"Serena has the power to remove certain memories. If you choose to fight us, she will take away the memories of the Yeerks and the other Animorphs. It would be the only way to keep everyone from being discovered," Maggie explained softly. ((A/N: no bad reviews about this part please, telling me that Rachel would never ever do that cause I know. Just keep reading before you decide I'm gonna change Rachel's personality.))

"So, you're ripping me away from my friends to protect them?"

Maggie nodded. "I cannot let you fight in both wars for the same reason you can never reveal your true identities."

I closed my eyes. A thousand thoughts were rushing through my mind. Leave the Animorphs? Forget that there are mind-controlling aliens on the loose? Leave my friends to fight and maybe die? And what about Tobias? He'd always talked to me about his problems. What would he do if I were no longer there? And what could I do without him? Or my best friend Cassie? My cousin Jake? My friend Marco?

Speaking of which.

"My friends would still remember me. They would get me to remember everything. I had amnesia once, and they stood by me and helped me until all my memories came back," I pointed out. I looked up to see Serena shaking her head sadly.

"I would also take the memories of you from them. not all recognition of you, of course. Just the fact that you were ever in the group. It would be like you never walked through the construction site. ((A/N: again, I'm telling you. Don't send any bad reviews yet. I am completely aware that Rachel would never even consider this. But if she didn't I wouldn't have a story, would I? Just bare with me. The way I've written it there is a reason why Rachel might think about this.)) We're sorry, Rachel. It's the only way," Serena said.

I looked down at the floor and shut my eyes. I began to shake my head, slowly back and forth.

They were wrong. No matter what minds these girls could manipulate. I would never forget my friends. They would never forget me either. But wait. I hadn't met Tobias until after our little band of superheroes had been made. Did that mean he would lose memories of me altogether? No. Tobias would always remember me.

"Rachel, believe me. I know what it feels like to really care about someone you can't be with. But if you care enough about each other, you're right. You'll always remember. I know, trust me," Serena responded to my thoughts. I looked up.

"No you don't. Tobias is."

"A hawk?" Serena finishes. "Look at the bright side. At least he's not evil."

"What do you mean?"

"Ella loco. She's crazy. She's dating a Follower. A Regulator, to make things worse," Jimena said with a slight frown.

"Stanton's really sweet," Serena argued.

I just kind of sat back. Watched, as the friends teased each other just like the Animorphs did. I couldn't leave the Animorphs. but this was my destiny, Maggie had said.

I had to get out of there. I jumped up and ran out the peeling- paint door, letting the others call after me.

"Let her go. She needs to think," I heard Vanessa say faintly as I ran down the stairs. I thanked her silently. Then I pounded down the sidewalk, past the tiger I was crouching in a corner.

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A/N: Yeah, okay I admit it. I changed Rachel's character a little for the story's sake. So don't tell me that in reviews cause I obviously know already.

I'm not sure when I'll be able to get the next chapter up, because I'm going on vacation. But I will try to get it up by Sunday at the earliest.