Title: Song of the Hork-Bajir

Author: weetzybat

Disclaimer: I own...let's see...oh, nothing.

Description: A young Andalite aristh learns what it means to be free.

*A/N* Yay! I have reviews! Fun fun! And look, this story is updated! You all are inspiring!

DH-First reviewer award! How's it feel? Thanks for reading another story of mine! Elaborating on Dakor's brother, just like you requested!

Myst4-dingdingding! Right you are...plus there may be the whole corruption circle, that wanted to get rid of him cuz he's crazy...except he's not...oh, never mind! Prince Aknar's kindness is kinda supposed to be an obligatory one...cuz I didn't want him to have no friends, that would be mean...and I'm trying to think if I want this story to connect to the other one somehow, or if it should be a stand-alone. We'll see, won't we?

TobyKikami-Love the name! Thanks for the review! Seconds, coming right up!

Elendil Star-Lover-Partly. That's the book I most recently reread...Thanks for reviewing!

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*~*~* Prologue

The memories are what hurt the most, because I can remember a time when I did not feel so hollow, so lost.

We had been young once, he and I. Our eye-stalks barely reached our father's elbow, but even then we dreamed of the glory of battle. There was even a plan: battle the notorious Pool ship, fry every Yeerk from here to the Hork-Bajir homeworld, and return home heroes with a few impressive, but certainly not disfiguring, scars.

Things began to change as soon as my brother began attending the Academy, while I was still too young. When he returned to the scoop during breaks in his rigorous schedule, he would begin asking me strange questions.

Do you think we will ever see the Yeerks up close? he wondered as we grazed under the clear sky.

Not if I have anything to say about it! I mimicked the hissing of shredders. I would not let them within a hundred feet of the Dome ship! Surprisingly, he did not join in our usual childhood game, instead choosing to gaze into the distance, almost sadly.

But, have you ever been curious? About the hosts, I mean. Do you wonder what they are like without the Yeerk controlling them?

I peered closely at him. This was not the same sibling of mine who was always "Captain" of our pretend Dome ship, and always the first to declare open fire on the Yeerks. He stomped the ground in embarrassment.

Never mind.

As young as I was, the conversation was quickly forgotten. I attributed it to far too much studying, and not enough time in the battle simulators.

When I entered the Academy, he was already a full warrior. He and his shorm, Aknar, were rising rapidly through the ranks. He was expected to go far, do great things, and maybe even command his own ship one day. When I told him these things, he would lie and say he did not deserve it, even though I could see the fervent hope in his eyes.

The Yeerks took that hope away. They laughed, so I was told, as they destroyed his ship and everyone aboard.

The captain told me there was a way I could avenge him. Fight, he said. Kill them, and it will make the pain go away. I did what he told me, even though a part of me knew it was a mistake; another way to die like him.

But I wasn't to die.

Someone would make sure of that.

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*A/N* Am I writing tons of really short chapters or what? I really wanted to update this story so people don't get bored, so here it is! Review and tell me what you think...please?