(A/N) Qwerty, thanks for reviewing again. And what I meant by what did you
not understand, was when you said that something was odd in your last
review. I thought you didn't get something or something like that. So I
asked. If not, sorry about that. Earth Guardian, thanks for reviewing
again. And hey, it was a great idea! Thanks for it. Qenies9, thanks for
reviewing again. Tabatha, thanks for reviewing again. Simply Sara, thank
you much for reviewing again. I should also mention that this chapter is
sort of a songfic at the beginning with "No Way Out" from Brother Bear. I
guess that takes care of all the preliminaries. IT'S SHOW TIME!!!
Written in the Stars
Chapter 11: 'Tis a Far Better Thing
{ What?! } Ax asked, shocked.
"I know it's hard to swallow but it's true. You both know the prophecy." Claire answered.
{ Of course. } Ax said.
"Yes, but what does that have to do with-" I broke off mid sentence. I finally understood what it meant. Ax was the Andalite mentioned. Stella was the Latin word for star. I was the star. That was what Visser Three had meant when he said that the star must die. He was talking about me. They shall see the plague fall. The plague was the Yeerks. It was all true! All of it!
{ Yes. } Elfangor said quietly as he saw the realization dawn on my face. { The burden that the Ellimist once gave to me now falls to the two of you. }
{ But Elfangor, how can we defeat Visser Three? He is so strong. How can we succeed where so many others have failed? } Ax asked his brother.
{ You must find a way. But before we go, there is something we wish for you to see. }
"What else could you possibly show me that I haven't seen?" I asked him bitterly.
{ You saw my murder, Stella. Before you can truly accept one another, Aximili must see the murder of your sister. } he answered.
Suddenly we were all standing in a hospital room.
"Oh no. Not this." I whispered in agony.
{ Courage, Stella. Let it be done. } Elfangor said.
As my gaze drifted over to the hospital bed I saw Claire lying upon it. I saw myself bent over her. I also saw Claire and Elfangor standing off to the side. Claire stood beside Elfangor and he clasped her hand tightly. I guess spirits can tough each other, just not mortals. I saw a pained expression cross her face. It must be painful to watch yourself die.
Ax's eyes were fixed on the scene before us.
"What should I do Claire? Should I tell the police?" I heard myself asking Claire.
"No! Many of the police are slaves too. If they find out what you know they might kill you. Stella, don't ever tell anyone what you saw and heard tonight."
"No Claire! I can't just let them kill you."
"You must. Just promise me something."
"What?"
"Don't ever let them make you a slave. Trust no one. Anyone could be one of them. And Stella, if Tom is ever freed, please tell him that I love him."
Then the doctor burst in. I watched as he killed her all over again. I watched as I backed away from my dead sister. Only this time it was different. As I watched this most painful of memories I let myself cry.
"They killed her! Those filthy slugs!" I screamed in rage.
As the scene faded away Ax put his arms around me. Trying to comfort me.
"Yes Stella. They killed me. But you must find a way to see past that. You have a job to do. You and Ax both have a job to do."
"I just want things to go back to the way they were before. I want to wake up at home. I want mom and dad to be there. I want you to be there." I cried.
"Stella, let go of what you want. This is bigger than that." She told me calmly.
"I can't do this! I'm just a kid. I can't be anyone's hero." I was sobbing uncontrollably now.
{ You are the star, Stella. It is you destiny to be a warrior. } Elfangor said.
"I don't know how to be a warrior."
{ Aximili will teach you. While you may deny who you are, you are the last hope for both your peoples. Without the two of you the Andalites and the humans are lost. Ask yourself this. Why does Visser Three want you destroyed so badly? He's scared of you. He knows the prophecy. He is afraid that the star will rise up one day to overthrow him. The strongest of all. Together with the other Animorphs, you all hold powers that will make Visser Three tremble. }
"I don't want to hear anymore!"
{ Stella, we must do this. It is our duty. } Ax said to me.
"So your against me now too?"
{ No! It's not like that. I could never- }
I didn't hear the rest of what he said. I was drifting back into my own mind. I was thinking about all of the people that I had hurt by trying to be a help.
Everywhere I turn, I hurt someone
But there's nothing I can say to change
The things I've done
Of all the things I hid from you
I cannot hide the shame
And I pray someone, something will come
To take away the pain
"Stella, are you even listening to us? You have already chosen to continue the fight. You cannot back out now."
I heard her but I didn't respond. I could feel the darkness descending on me.
There's no way out of this dark place
No hope, no future
I know I can't be free
But I can't see another way
I can't face another day
{ Stella please. Listen to them. } Ax was begging me.
I just wanted to lay down and die. I wished I could go back and make things right. But that wasn't an option anymore.
Tell me where, did I go wrong
Everyone I loved, they're all gone
I'd do everything so differently
But I can't turn back the time
There's no shelter from the storm
Inside of me
"I'll go back and fight Visser Three. But I don't want to be this great savior that you keep talking about. I'll probably end up dying anyway." I replied hopelessly.
There's no way out of this dark place
No hope, no future
I know I can't be free
But I can't see another way
I can't face another day
{ Stella, I know how you feel. You know that I do. I was once faced with the same choice. But you must do your duty, despite your pain. But know this. You did not kill your family. You did what you had to do. } Elfangor told me as he came towards me.
I can't believe the words I hear
It's like an answer to a prayer
When I look around I see
This place, this time, this friend of mine
Elfangor and Claire both came to me. They didn't exactly place their hands on me. But as their two hands, one a many-fingered Andalite hand, the other a human hand, passed through me I felt a strange warmth spread through my body.
"But Claire, you wouldn't be dead if I had stepped in. I'm a coward."
{ You are no such thing, Stella. You did what you had to do. } Ax said as he came to join us. He put his Andalite arms around me again. This time the warmth was real. Claire and Elfangor had tried to pass me some of the strength and courage that they themselves had possessed in life. It had taken Ax's love to make me see it.
I know it's hard but you
Found somehow
To look into your heart and
To forgive me now
You've given me the strength to see
Just where my journey ends
You've given me the strength
To carry on
I couldn't give into my weakness. Claire was right. I had to let go of what I wanted. I had to keep fighting.
I see the path from this dark place
I see my future
Your forgiveness has set me free
Oh and I can see another way
I can face another day
{ Are you ready to return? } Elfangor asked me.
"Yes." I replied calmly.
As I looked back at my sister and Elfangor I saw sadness on both of their faces.
"I will miss you very much Stella." Claire said sadly.
I finally realized that this was really the end. I would never see Claire again. I felt tears pour out of my gray eyes as I gazed back into her deep green ones. That was something that set me apart from the rest of my family. Everyone in my family had green eyes. Literally everyone. But I had gray eyes.
{ But remember, we will be watching over you. }
"Destroy Visser Three, for our family, Stella." Claire said as she began to fade away.
"{ Destroy him, for both our races.}" both of them said at the same time.
{ Destroy him! For you have the power within you. } Elfangor said as he too, began to fade away.
I see the path, I can see the path
I see the future
I see the path from this dark place
I see my future
I see the path, I can see the path
I see my future
I see the path from this dark place
{ Aximili, one last thing. } Elfangor said. He and Claire were barely visible.
{ Yes, my brother. } Ax cried out. I could tell that he wasn't ready to say good bye to Elfangor yet. I wasn't ready either.
{ Love her Aximili. Love her with all your hearts. Never mind what our people may think. You two are in love. Never let anything change that. Cherish her. }
{ Always, Elfangor. I could never stop loving my Stella. } Ax promised his brother.
The last things that I saw of Claire and Elfangor before they vanished completely were both of there smiling faces.
"Ax, did you really mean it? Always?"
{ Yes, always. I could never stop loving you, not for a minute. }
With that he put his arms around me. I did likewise and we held each other in a tight embrace for what seemed like an eternity.
IT IS TIME FOR YOU TWO TO RETURN TO THE BATTLE NOW. EVERYTHING WILL BE EXACTLY AS YOU LEFT IT.
As the Ellimist spoke it seemed as if the very fabric of his world was torn apart. Ax and I were both returned to the construction site. There was still a score to settle.
* * *
The second I returned to real time I ducked. I felt Visser Three's tail blade pass harmlessly over my head. Instantly, I rolled away from him. The ground was already soaked with rain.
"Let's end this." I said as I stared back at him.
{ All right. Your call. I'll give you five minutes to choose a morph. }
But I had already chosen. I started morphing almost immediately after he had finished speaking. Purple fur sprouted all over my body and my black hair receded into my scalp. The extra fingers appeared and my bones twisted to accommodate the two hind legs that were now coming in behind me. I felt a second and a third heart begin to beat in my chest. Last of all the tail sprouted. I knew that my blade was much smaller than his was and that I lacked experience but I didn't care. The challenge of trying to defeat Visser Three with such limited resources was exciting to me.
{ You- your not Stella! } he screamed when he saw my Andalite morph.
{ No, I'm Stella. I just have an Andalite morph. }
This seemed to unnerve Visser Three at first but he got over the initial shock.
{ And a female none the less. This will be all too easy. }
{ I wouldn't be so cocky if I were you. It ain't over 'til it's over. }
He didn't answer. Almost faster than I could track, his tail blade came slashing at me. Without even thinking I brought forward my own and blocked the blow. It went like that for a few minutes. We threw blows at each other and block them. Until at last I managed to get a hit in. He couldn't stop me and I sent my blade deep into his left shoulder. I felt a kind of thrilled satisfaction as I heard him cry out in pain. After that the action heated up. I got a hit. He got a hit. His Hork-Bajir guards and the Animorphs formed a ring around us. Lightening flashed overhead.
Suddenly he reared up on his hind legs and kicked. The kick struck me in the chest and I crumpled to the ground. Before I had time to move he came at me. The blow struck home. I felt a searing, devastating pain in my back. One of my Andalite hearts stopped beating. If I didn't move it wouldn't be long before he got to the other two. Before he could get in another strike I lifted my tail and struck his right foreleg at the knee. The lower half of his leg came apart from his body. He came crashing to his knees beside me. Rage lit every crease of his face. He tried to strike again but I blocked him. I raised my blade for another attack but my vision was getting hazy and I couldn't see where to strike. While I lay there hesitating Visser Three drove his tail blade into my back again.
{ DEMORPH! DEMORPH! } I screamed to myself. But it wasn't just me screaming. I could have sworn that I heard Ax's voice in my head too.
As I started to demorph I delivered one final blow. I swept my tail blade up and severed one of his stalk eyes. At the same time I left a deep cut in the left side of his head.
When I was finally human again I stood. I now stood taller than Visser Three, who was still on his knees. I saw that my last blow had blinded him in his left main eye and he was missing his left stalk eye. His Andalite blood dripped down the side of his head. I immediately noticed that he was morphing.
I expected something huge and horrible. But to my great shock he was morphing a human. It's not easy to imagine him in a morphing suit, but that seemed to be the case. Bike shorts and everything. Bad images. As he stood to face me I had an impulse to back away. What was he playing at?
"If I could have things my way I could morph something more useful and eat you right now. But that wouldn't prove anything. After all, this little contest is to see which of us is stronger."
That definitely wasn't a comment that Visser Three would make. Something was up.
"Ah, I see you doubt my sincerity. Well I have been accused of being unable to defeat a foe without eating them. I shall prove otherwise. I will fight as you humans fight."
"All right." I said, finally understanding what he meant. His people thought that he couldn't fight without using a large morph. He wanted to prove to them that he could defeat me in my own element. "But I think the odds are slightly in my favor at hand fighting." I replied confidently.
"I doubt that. It is a known fact that human males are physically stronger than human females. Besides, I am full-grown. You are but a child."
"Where do you get your information from? Have you ever fist fought in that human morph of yours?"
"No, but what does it matter? I am obviously superior to you."
I didn't answer to this. I simply sprang forward and punched him square in the face. I didn't hold back. I felt that strange thrill again as I felt his bones break beneath my fist.
"AAAAAAARRRGH!" he screamed in agony as blood gushed out of his nose.
He came at me. I took a defensive stance. He stood at least a head taller than me. But his human morph was large and cumbersome. I had the advantage of being smaller and more agile. He swung his fist at me. I ducked.
He swung again. This time his fist connected with my jaw. I went flying through the air. I crashed into the wall that the Animorphs had formed around us. I moaned in pain as he came after me again.
"Such wonderful limbs these bodies have." He said.
I climbed shakily to my feet. I leapt at him again and drove both of my fists into his stomach. Again and again I punched him as hard as I could. He slumped over onto the ground, clutching his stomach. Then I kicked him over onto his back. I was preparing to drive my fist into his smug little face again when one of the Hork-Bajir suddenly stepped forward. He fired his Dracon beam. I swerved away but the beam struck me in my right arm. Luckily for me it wasn't on high power. It only numbed my arm.
"Stay out of this!" Visser Three shouted angrily at the controller as he climbed to his feet. "I can defeat this child without any of your help!!"
Before I could continue my assault he came at me again. But he didn't attack me head on. He wrapped his hands around my throat and squeezed. As my air was cut off he lifted me into the air. I kicked my legs about helplessly. I tried to raise my left hand to pry him loose from my neck but it was already getting weak from lack of oxygen and my right arms was still useless. My left arm fell limply to my side. I only had a few minutes left. I gathered all of my remaining energy for a final desperate kick. My head was facing skywards into the driving rain, but I knew where to aim the blow.
I raised my leg and drove my knee right where it counts.
Visser Three dropped me and started screaming and cursing. When I was finally able to raise my head again I saw him clutching himself in the "general area" where my kick had landed. An expression of pain and fury was on his face. This face would have been laughable if it hadn't been for the situation that I was in.
{ Oooooooooohhh. } I heard Jake, Marco, and Tobias all moan behind me.
{ That's getting a little below the belt, don't you think Stella. } Marco said.
I turned to face them. If tigers, gorillas, and hawks could grimace in pain, I'm pretty sure these three would have been.
Visser Three finally managed to get to his feet. The way he was breathing and the way he trembled with rage reminded me of an angry bull.
"You cannot defeat me, Stella. I am Visser Three, the most powerful Yeerk in the universe. I have creatures so horrible at my disposal that you cannot even fathom them. You are nothing but a brainless, fragile animal." He shouted angrily.
"Visser Three, I would rather be a brainless animal than a heartless monster........like you." I replied calmly.
He came at me again. But he was too angry to aim straight. I caught his fist in my hand and I held on. I squeezed, hard. I dug my fingernails into his flesh. He fought to escape my grip but it was useless. I had found new strength. Strength born of anger and hatred.
"Even now all you can think about is how to destroy me. You don't care. The lives of my family mean absolutely nothing to you. And I don't care if you're a million times stronger than me! Mark my words, I am not going to let them down! I WILL NOT LET YOU BEAT ME!!" I screamed. I released him and drove my fist into his stomach once more.
He staggered from the blow.
"You- what are you? Tell me!" he yelled in blind fury.
"You didn't say please." I smirked.
"What? Please. All right then. PLEEEEEEEEEEAASE!!!" he shrieked as he came at me again. His fists rained blows all over my upper body. I staggered but I did not fall.
He finally backed away, breathing hard.
"It's true! ISN'T IT?!!" he screamed in rage.
"I am the Star. Nightmare to you!" I cried as I launched myself at him again.
He tried to block me but I was a more experienced fighter when it came to fists. I had to be after all those scrapes that I'd gotten into with those school yard bullies. They now seemed like cupcakes compared to the power that I was now facing. It didn't matter if he was full-grown or not. When you boiled it down he just didn't know anything about fighting humans. That would be his mistake in trying to take Earth.
Finally I knocked him down and he did not rise. He was covered in bruises. Blood dripped from places I didn't even know humans had. To my surprise he didn't even make a move to morph. His eyes were squeezed tightly shut in pain. I went to him and delivered a swift kick to his chest. He grunted in response. Good. He wasn't dead, not yet anyway.
I morphed quickly, back to Andalite. I lowered my tail blade to his throat. The Hork-Bajir moved to his defense but Jake stepped into their path.
{ Your visser is history. If you don't want to die too then get out of here. } he snarled at them and bared his teeth.
The Hork-Bajir ran away in panic.
{ Go on Stella. Waste him! } Rachel encouraged me.
I prepared to deliver the killing blow. Suddenly Visser Three spoke up. His voice was a hoarse whisper, barely audible.
"Please..........have- mercy. You can't- let me die- like this."
At that moment I was filled with rage. This Yeerk actually had the nerve to beg me for mercy! This was more than I could stand.
{ How many people have begged for their lives at YOUR feet, and you killed them anyway!!! Did you show me mercy when I asked you to spare my family?!! DID YOU?!!! }
"Please....forgive- me."
He didn't mean it. He was just trying to save his own skin.
{ Never. } I whispered vehemently.
I wanted to let the blade fall. I really did. But I couldn't. Not yet. Something inside told me that now wasn't the time. He wouldn't die today.......but someday.
I backed away from him and started to demorph.
"Good bye Visser Three. If you'll take my advice you'll leave this planet. Trust me. You don't want any of this. It's done."
His human eyes opened in shock. Then he started to demorph. When he was finished he spoke.
{ You just said it's done. What do you mean by that? }
"You've challenged and lost to a being who is superior to you. I'm satisfied. Your pride has been torn to shreds. And to make it worse.......I'm just a human. Right?"
{ Poor, stupid human. You honestly think you've won. You can't win, because I am mighty. And you.....are not. }
"Live with the shame." I countered. I turned to leave.
{ Where do you think you're going?! This must be finished here and now. }
"No Visser Three, it is only beginning. I'm tired of fighting. I'm going home." I said softly as I walked away with the other Animorphs beside me.
{ COME BACK! } he yelled after me, but I did not turn around. I knew he would not follow. Even Visser Three knew when to call it quits.
There would be other battles. But for now we all needed time to heal. Mentally as well as physically. He would attack us again but for now he would think about his defeat.
{ The day will come, Stella, when I will destroy you. I will make it personal. I will make it very personal. } Visser Three vowed as he walked away in the opposite direction.
For a moment I stood there, frozen. It was the exact same threat that he had made to Elfangor all of those years ago in that swirling vortex of space-time. I have heard the phrase history repeats itself. Not this time. This time it would be the other way around. One day Ax and I would destroy him. That was the important thing.
For now, Ax and I had each other.
* * *
Written in the Stars
Chapter 11: 'Tis a Far Better Thing
{ What?! } Ax asked, shocked.
"I know it's hard to swallow but it's true. You both know the prophecy." Claire answered.
{ Of course. } Ax said.
"Yes, but what does that have to do with-" I broke off mid sentence. I finally understood what it meant. Ax was the Andalite mentioned. Stella was the Latin word for star. I was the star. That was what Visser Three had meant when he said that the star must die. He was talking about me. They shall see the plague fall. The plague was the Yeerks. It was all true! All of it!
{ Yes. } Elfangor said quietly as he saw the realization dawn on my face. { The burden that the Ellimist once gave to me now falls to the two of you. }
{ But Elfangor, how can we defeat Visser Three? He is so strong. How can we succeed where so many others have failed? } Ax asked his brother.
{ You must find a way. But before we go, there is something we wish for you to see. }
"What else could you possibly show me that I haven't seen?" I asked him bitterly.
{ You saw my murder, Stella. Before you can truly accept one another, Aximili must see the murder of your sister. } he answered.
Suddenly we were all standing in a hospital room.
"Oh no. Not this." I whispered in agony.
{ Courage, Stella. Let it be done. } Elfangor said.
As my gaze drifted over to the hospital bed I saw Claire lying upon it. I saw myself bent over her. I also saw Claire and Elfangor standing off to the side. Claire stood beside Elfangor and he clasped her hand tightly. I guess spirits can tough each other, just not mortals. I saw a pained expression cross her face. It must be painful to watch yourself die.
Ax's eyes were fixed on the scene before us.
"What should I do Claire? Should I tell the police?" I heard myself asking Claire.
"No! Many of the police are slaves too. If they find out what you know they might kill you. Stella, don't ever tell anyone what you saw and heard tonight."
"No Claire! I can't just let them kill you."
"You must. Just promise me something."
"What?"
"Don't ever let them make you a slave. Trust no one. Anyone could be one of them. And Stella, if Tom is ever freed, please tell him that I love him."
Then the doctor burst in. I watched as he killed her all over again. I watched as I backed away from my dead sister. Only this time it was different. As I watched this most painful of memories I let myself cry.
"They killed her! Those filthy slugs!" I screamed in rage.
As the scene faded away Ax put his arms around me. Trying to comfort me.
"Yes Stella. They killed me. But you must find a way to see past that. You have a job to do. You and Ax both have a job to do."
"I just want things to go back to the way they were before. I want to wake up at home. I want mom and dad to be there. I want you to be there." I cried.
"Stella, let go of what you want. This is bigger than that." She told me calmly.
"I can't do this! I'm just a kid. I can't be anyone's hero." I was sobbing uncontrollably now.
{ You are the star, Stella. It is you destiny to be a warrior. } Elfangor said.
"I don't know how to be a warrior."
{ Aximili will teach you. While you may deny who you are, you are the last hope for both your peoples. Without the two of you the Andalites and the humans are lost. Ask yourself this. Why does Visser Three want you destroyed so badly? He's scared of you. He knows the prophecy. He is afraid that the star will rise up one day to overthrow him. The strongest of all. Together with the other Animorphs, you all hold powers that will make Visser Three tremble. }
"I don't want to hear anymore!"
{ Stella, we must do this. It is our duty. } Ax said to me.
"So your against me now too?"
{ No! It's not like that. I could never- }
I didn't hear the rest of what he said. I was drifting back into my own mind. I was thinking about all of the people that I had hurt by trying to be a help.
Everywhere I turn, I hurt someone
But there's nothing I can say to change
The things I've done
Of all the things I hid from you
I cannot hide the shame
And I pray someone, something will come
To take away the pain
"Stella, are you even listening to us? You have already chosen to continue the fight. You cannot back out now."
I heard her but I didn't respond. I could feel the darkness descending on me.
There's no way out of this dark place
No hope, no future
I know I can't be free
But I can't see another way
I can't face another day
{ Stella please. Listen to them. } Ax was begging me.
I just wanted to lay down and die. I wished I could go back and make things right. But that wasn't an option anymore.
Tell me where, did I go wrong
Everyone I loved, they're all gone
I'd do everything so differently
But I can't turn back the time
There's no shelter from the storm
Inside of me
"I'll go back and fight Visser Three. But I don't want to be this great savior that you keep talking about. I'll probably end up dying anyway." I replied hopelessly.
There's no way out of this dark place
No hope, no future
I know I can't be free
But I can't see another way
I can't face another day
{ Stella, I know how you feel. You know that I do. I was once faced with the same choice. But you must do your duty, despite your pain. But know this. You did not kill your family. You did what you had to do. } Elfangor told me as he came towards me.
I can't believe the words I hear
It's like an answer to a prayer
When I look around I see
This place, this time, this friend of mine
Elfangor and Claire both came to me. They didn't exactly place their hands on me. But as their two hands, one a many-fingered Andalite hand, the other a human hand, passed through me I felt a strange warmth spread through my body.
"But Claire, you wouldn't be dead if I had stepped in. I'm a coward."
{ You are no such thing, Stella. You did what you had to do. } Ax said as he came to join us. He put his Andalite arms around me again. This time the warmth was real. Claire and Elfangor had tried to pass me some of the strength and courage that they themselves had possessed in life. It had taken Ax's love to make me see it.
I know it's hard but you
Found somehow
To look into your heart and
To forgive me now
You've given me the strength to see
Just where my journey ends
You've given me the strength
To carry on
I couldn't give into my weakness. Claire was right. I had to let go of what I wanted. I had to keep fighting.
I see the path from this dark place
I see my future
Your forgiveness has set me free
Oh and I can see another way
I can face another day
{ Are you ready to return? } Elfangor asked me.
"Yes." I replied calmly.
As I looked back at my sister and Elfangor I saw sadness on both of their faces.
"I will miss you very much Stella." Claire said sadly.
I finally realized that this was really the end. I would never see Claire again. I felt tears pour out of my gray eyes as I gazed back into her deep green ones. That was something that set me apart from the rest of my family. Everyone in my family had green eyes. Literally everyone. But I had gray eyes.
{ But remember, we will be watching over you. }
"Destroy Visser Three, for our family, Stella." Claire said as she began to fade away.
"{ Destroy him, for both our races.}" both of them said at the same time.
{ Destroy him! For you have the power within you. } Elfangor said as he too, began to fade away.
I see the path, I can see the path
I see the future
I see the path from this dark place
I see my future
I see the path, I can see the path
I see my future
I see the path from this dark place
{ Aximili, one last thing. } Elfangor said. He and Claire were barely visible.
{ Yes, my brother. } Ax cried out. I could tell that he wasn't ready to say good bye to Elfangor yet. I wasn't ready either.
{ Love her Aximili. Love her with all your hearts. Never mind what our people may think. You two are in love. Never let anything change that. Cherish her. }
{ Always, Elfangor. I could never stop loving my Stella. } Ax promised his brother.
The last things that I saw of Claire and Elfangor before they vanished completely were both of there smiling faces.
"Ax, did you really mean it? Always?"
{ Yes, always. I could never stop loving you, not for a minute. }
With that he put his arms around me. I did likewise and we held each other in a tight embrace for what seemed like an eternity.
IT IS TIME FOR YOU TWO TO RETURN TO THE BATTLE NOW. EVERYTHING WILL BE EXACTLY AS YOU LEFT IT.
As the Ellimist spoke it seemed as if the very fabric of his world was torn apart. Ax and I were both returned to the construction site. There was still a score to settle.
* * *
The second I returned to real time I ducked. I felt Visser Three's tail blade pass harmlessly over my head. Instantly, I rolled away from him. The ground was already soaked with rain.
"Let's end this." I said as I stared back at him.
{ All right. Your call. I'll give you five minutes to choose a morph. }
But I had already chosen. I started morphing almost immediately after he had finished speaking. Purple fur sprouted all over my body and my black hair receded into my scalp. The extra fingers appeared and my bones twisted to accommodate the two hind legs that were now coming in behind me. I felt a second and a third heart begin to beat in my chest. Last of all the tail sprouted. I knew that my blade was much smaller than his was and that I lacked experience but I didn't care. The challenge of trying to defeat Visser Three with such limited resources was exciting to me.
{ You- your not Stella! } he screamed when he saw my Andalite morph.
{ No, I'm Stella. I just have an Andalite morph. }
This seemed to unnerve Visser Three at first but he got over the initial shock.
{ And a female none the less. This will be all too easy. }
{ I wouldn't be so cocky if I were you. It ain't over 'til it's over. }
He didn't answer. Almost faster than I could track, his tail blade came slashing at me. Without even thinking I brought forward my own and blocked the blow. It went like that for a few minutes. We threw blows at each other and block them. Until at last I managed to get a hit in. He couldn't stop me and I sent my blade deep into his left shoulder. I felt a kind of thrilled satisfaction as I heard him cry out in pain. After that the action heated up. I got a hit. He got a hit. His Hork-Bajir guards and the Animorphs formed a ring around us. Lightening flashed overhead.
Suddenly he reared up on his hind legs and kicked. The kick struck me in the chest and I crumpled to the ground. Before I had time to move he came at me. The blow struck home. I felt a searing, devastating pain in my back. One of my Andalite hearts stopped beating. If I didn't move it wouldn't be long before he got to the other two. Before he could get in another strike I lifted my tail and struck his right foreleg at the knee. The lower half of his leg came apart from his body. He came crashing to his knees beside me. Rage lit every crease of his face. He tried to strike again but I blocked him. I raised my blade for another attack but my vision was getting hazy and I couldn't see where to strike. While I lay there hesitating Visser Three drove his tail blade into my back again.
{ DEMORPH! DEMORPH! } I screamed to myself. But it wasn't just me screaming. I could have sworn that I heard Ax's voice in my head too.
As I started to demorph I delivered one final blow. I swept my tail blade up and severed one of his stalk eyes. At the same time I left a deep cut in the left side of his head.
When I was finally human again I stood. I now stood taller than Visser Three, who was still on his knees. I saw that my last blow had blinded him in his left main eye and he was missing his left stalk eye. His Andalite blood dripped down the side of his head. I immediately noticed that he was morphing.
I expected something huge and horrible. But to my great shock he was morphing a human. It's not easy to imagine him in a morphing suit, but that seemed to be the case. Bike shorts and everything. Bad images. As he stood to face me I had an impulse to back away. What was he playing at?
"If I could have things my way I could morph something more useful and eat you right now. But that wouldn't prove anything. After all, this little contest is to see which of us is stronger."
That definitely wasn't a comment that Visser Three would make. Something was up.
"Ah, I see you doubt my sincerity. Well I have been accused of being unable to defeat a foe without eating them. I shall prove otherwise. I will fight as you humans fight."
"All right." I said, finally understanding what he meant. His people thought that he couldn't fight without using a large morph. He wanted to prove to them that he could defeat me in my own element. "But I think the odds are slightly in my favor at hand fighting." I replied confidently.
"I doubt that. It is a known fact that human males are physically stronger than human females. Besides, I am full-grown. You are but a child."
"Where do you get your information from? Have you ever fist fought in that human morph of yours?"
"No, but what does it matter? I am obviously superior to you."
I didn't answer to this. I simply sprang forward and punched him square in the face. I didn't hold back. I felt that strange thrill again as I felt his bones break beneath my fist.
"AAAAAAARRRGH!" he screamed in agony as blood gushed out of his nose.
He came at me. I took a defensive stance. He stood at least a head taller than me. But his human morph was large and cumbersome. I had the advantage of being smaller and more agile. He swung his fist at me. I ducked.
He swung again. This time his fist connected with my jaw. I went flying through the air. I crashed into the wall that the Animorphs had formed around us. I moaned in pain as he came after me again.
"Such wonderful limbs these bodies have." He said.
I climbed shakily to my feet. I leapt at him again and drove both of my fists into his stomach. Again and again I punched him as hard as I could. He slumped over onto the ground, clutching his stomach. Then I kicked him over onto his back. I was preparing to drive my fist into his smug little face again when one of the Hork-Bajir suddenly stepped forward. He fired his Dracon beam. I swerved away but the beam struck me in my right arm. Luckily for me it wasn't on high power. It only numbed my arm.
"Stay out of this!" Visser Three shouted angrily at the controller as he climbed to his feet. "I can defeat this child without any of your help!!"
Before I could continue my assault he came at me again. But he didn't attack me head on. He wrapped his hands around my throat and squeezed. As my air was cut off he lifted me into the air. I kicked my legs about helplessly. I tried to raise my left hand to pry him loose from my neck but it was already getting weak from lack of oxygen and my right arms was still useless. My left arm fell limply to my side. I only had a few minutes left. I gathered all of my remaining energy for a final desperate kick. My head was facing skywards into the driving rain, but I knew where to aim the blow.
I raised my leg and drove my knee right where it counts.
Visser Three dropped me and started screaming and cursing. When I was finally able to raise my head again I saw him clutching himself in the "general area" where my kick had landed. An expression of pain and fury was on his face. This face would have been laughable if it hadn't been for the situation that I was in.
{ Oooooooooohhh. } I heard Jake, Marco, and Tobias all moan behind me.
{ That's getting a little below the belt, don't you think Stella. } Marco said.
I turned to face them. If tigers, gorillas, and hawks could grimace in pain, I'm pretty sure these three would have been.
Visser Three finally managed to get to his feet. The way he was breathing and the way he trembled with rage reminded me of an angry bull.
"You cannot defeat me, Stella. I am Visser Three, the most powerful Yeerk in the universe. I have creatures so horrible at my disposal that you cannot even fathom them. You are nothing but a brainless, fragile animal." He shouted angrily.
"Visser Three, I would rather be a brainless animal than a heartless monster........like you." I replied calmly.
He came at me again. But he was too angry to aim straight. I caught his fist in my hand and I held on. I squeezed, hard. I dug my fingernails into his flesh. He fought to escape my grip but it was useless. I had found new strength. Strength born of anger and hatred.
"Even now all you can think about is how to destroy me. You don't care. The lives of my family mean absolutely nothing to you. And I don't care if you're a million times stronger than me! Mark my words, I am not going to let them down! I WILL NOT LET YOU BEAT ME!!" I screamed. I released him and drove my fist into his stomach once more.
He staggered from the blow.
"You- what are you? Tell me!" he yelled in blind fury.
"You didn't say please." I smirked.
"What? Please. All right then. PLEEEEEEEEEEAASE!!!" he shrieked as he came at me again. His fists rained blows all over my upper body. I staggered but I did not fall.
He finally backed away, breathing hard.
"It's true! ISN'T IT?!!" he screamed in rage.
"I am the Star. Nightmare to you!" I cried as I launched myself at him again.
He tried to block me but I was a more experienced fighter when it came to fists. I had to be after all those scrapes that I'd gotten into with those school yard bullies. They now seemed like cupcakes compared to the power that I was now facing. It didn't matter if he was full-grown or not. When you boiled it down he just didn't know anything about fighting humans. That would be his mistake in trying to take Earth.
Finally I knocked him down and he did not rise. He was covered in bruises. Blood dripped from places I didn't even know humans had. To my surprise he didn't even make a move to morph. His eyes were squeezed tightly shut in pain. I went to him and delivered a swift kick to his chest. He grunted in response. Good. He wasn't dead, not yet anyway.
I morphed quickly, back to Andalite. I lowered my tail blade to his throat. The Hork-Bajir moved to his defense but Jake stepped into their path.
{ Your visser is history. If you don't want to die too then get out of here. } he snarled at them and bared his teeth.
The Hork-Bajir ran away in panic.
{ Go on Stella. Waste him! } Rachel encouraged me.
I prepared to deliver the killing blow. Suddenly Visser Three spoke up. His voice was a hoarse whisper, barely audible.
"Please..........have- mercy. You can't- let me die- like this."
At that moment I was filled with rage. This Yeerk actually had the nerve to beg me for mercy! This was more than I could stand.
{ How many people have begged for their lives at YOUR feet, and you killed them anyway!!! Did you show me mercy when I asked you to spare my family?!! DID YOU?!!! }
"Please....forgive- me."
He didn't mean it. He was just trying to save his own skin.
{ Never. } I whispered vehemently.
I wanted to let the blade fall. I really did. But I couldn't. Not yet. Something inside told me that now wasn't the time. He wouldn't die today.......but someday.
I backed away from him and started to demorph.
"Good bye Visser Three. If you'll take my advice you'll leave this planet. Trust me. You don't want any of this. It's done."
His human eyes opened in shock. Then he started to demorph. When he was finished he spoke.
{ You just said it's done. What do you mean by that? }
"You've challenged and lost to a being who is superior to you. I'm satisfied. Your pride has been torn to shreds. And to make it worse.......I'm just a human. Right?"
{ Poor, stupid human. You honestly think you've won. You can't win, because I am mighty. And you.....are not. }
"Live with the shame." I countered. I turned to leave.
{ Where do you think you're going?! This must be finished here and now. }
"No Visser Three, it is only beginning. I'm tired of fighting. I'm going home." I said softly as I walked away with the other Animorphs beside me.
{ COME BACK! } he yelled after me, but I did not turn around. I knew he would not follow. Even Visser Three knew when to call it quits.
There would be other battles. But for now we all needed time to heal. Mentally as well as physically. He would attack us again but for now he would think about his defeat.
{ The day will come, Stella, when I will destroy you. I will make it personal. I will make it very personal. } Visser Three vowed as he walked away in the opposite direction.
For a moment I stood there, frozen. It was the exact same threat that he had made to Elfangor all of those years ago in that swirling vortex of space-time. I have heard the phrase history repeats itself. Not this time. This time it would be the other way around. One day Ax and I would destroy him. That was the important thing.
For now, Ax and I had each other.
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