Somewhere… Everywhere…

Once, a long time ago, Alan - then still an Andalite named Elfangor - had tried to explain to Loren what it must be like to see the universe as the Ellimists did. He had thought he'd done a fair job of explaining something he could barely imagine. But now, now he was seeing what the Ellimists saw, and it was more than he could have ever conveyed in words.

Alan had had the barest glimpse of this when he had first used the Time Matrix, but this was a thousand times more intense. Alan could see the very timelines that represented all creatures in existence. But, more than that, he could also feel and smell and taste those timelines.

It was the strangest, most awe-inspiring thing that Alan had ever seen. He looked next at the Ellimist, seeing him for once for what he really was. The Ellimist was a vast, intricate, indescribable being made of light, and time, and space itself. He was old, but in all that time he'd still found no place in the universe. He was alone, but there seemed to be others like him. Alan could at last understand the vast power that the Ellimist possessed to be able to see and direct those threads.

But, within the sheer power that he could now sense, against what was, what might be, and what was even now happening, Alan could see the Ellimist's limits. The Ellimist was a mighty creature, but he was not as Alan had once believed, all-powerful.

Alan turned away from the Ellimist, and saw what seemed to be a window in this strange world. It was hanging in the "sky". Within the window was an image of a young Andalite.

The youngster was so much like he had been himself, a lifetime ago. So serious, so determined to prove his worth. It was his own younger brother: Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill, Elfangor could hear the name in his mind. Hello, little brother.

The scene in the window shifted, becoming Arbron. Still a Taxxon, but his voracious hunger was held in check by his remaining Andalite pride. Hello again Arbron, you've become the hero I always wanted to be.

Another scene appeared in the window, this time of Loren and another human. They were holding each other in the way lovers did, and Alan was saddened to realize that he had been written out of her memory. I'll miss you, Loren.

The view shifted again, this time to show Grant standing behind a pair of unfamiliar humans. Both were in their early teens, and they were sparring with each other. They were both obviously related, since they looked so much alike. Well, Grant, it's good to see you're still keeping your skills sharp. I only wish I could still practice with you.

Alan remembered that Grant had had another friend, but Alan had always been too busy to meet him. Someone named Ulysses Carter. Alan hoped that Grant and Ulysses and whoever these two children were would be happy.

Alan looked at Loren's timeline, seeing that of the other human wrapping around it. It made him sad to know that he had been written out of her memory, and that he would be the only one to know about the good times they had had together. But then, Alan saw that his timeline still touched hers in some way. And, from those joined timelines came a third, like the newly grown stalk of a plant, just emerging.

What does that mean? Alan asked the Ellimist, surprised to discover that he was speaking in thought-speak again.

YOU HAVE A SON, ELFANGOR.

Alan decided that if he was really going to go back to the Andalite world, he might as well get used to people calling him Elfangor. That was when the Ellimist's words caught up to him. What? I - I have a son? Of course! That was why Loren went to the doctor. I should have suspected!

No! This changes everything! I have a son! Don't take me away!

ELFANGOR-SIRINIAL-SHAMTUL, YOU ARE AWAY. THINGS ARE NOW AS THEY MUST BE. THE CHILD WILL BE RAISED AS THE SON OF ANOTHER.

But what will happen to my son? Elfangor asked. Will he, will he even exist?

The Ellimist didn't answer, and Elfangor didn't waste time asking again. Instead he looked at the timeline that represented his son; Elfangor saw it flowing off through the void. Elfangor saw that his son's life would be a hard one, not something he would wish on his only child, and that he would often be lonely. Longing for the family he had never really known.

But then, at the edge of the future that even the Ellimist couldn't see, Elfangor saw a bright flash of light. The timelines of his son, his brother, four others who he hadn't seen, and a flickering of a fifth, joined together to form a light like a small nova. Elfangor knew, he didn't know how he just knew, that this flash of light was the entire point of the Ellimist's so called noninterference.

So, you don't interfere in the affairs of other species, huh?

WAS THAT SARCASM, ELFANGOR? Then the Ellimist, and everything in this strange universe, laughed.

Is this all just a game to you? Elfangor asked.

YES, and the laughing universe fell silent. BUT WE ARE NOT THE ONLY GREAT POWER IN THE UNIVERSE. THERE IS ANOTHER, OLDER EVEN THAN OURSELVES, AND HE PLAYS A DARK GAME. IT IS HIM THAT WE PLAY AGAINST, SO HOPE THAT WE WIN, ELFANGOR-SIRINIAL-SHAMTUL. HOPE THAT WE WIN.

Elfangor watched his body, still human up to that point, twist and reshape and reform into that of an Andalite. Elfangor knew there was a battle coming, the Ellimist had told him so, and now he could see it for himself. Elfangor opened his stalk eyes, flicked his tail, and then he was suddenly on the bridge of an Andalite fighter…