A week had passed since the children's disappearance. It was

raining again. Already the castle had recovered, having been

completely repaired from the rogue dragon's attack. And sitting on

her bed, her diary/journal on her lap, Princess Ariana scribbled

furiously, often dipping her feather into a handy inkwell. She

started with that happened the night of the ball, and went through

until the moment the Animorphs vanished

"""""""""""""""""

The whole castle searched high and low for them. Lecrian

looked to the past and future (or tried to), Crimber used his linking

sense, Father used his magic, and even I used my mind powers. But

it was futile. The children disappeared, completely and totally.

After several days, we all gave up. Whatever had spirited the

children away, we cannot follow.

Eran and I I had best finish with the children first.

Last night, Lecrian had a final vision. This is what he said to me.

~~~

I saw a new creature on the land. A living corpse, its blackened

flesh hung on its bones, and seared into its hand was a charred

unicorn's horn. It wandered away from the kingdom of Levakh,

other monsters scorning it and many actively trying to

destroy it. But the unicorn horn kept it alive I fear that Zilos

paid a heavy price for his power, Ariana, a very heavy price,

indeed. Worse, the creature is heading for us here in Hivena,

seeking vengeance. I warned Father about Zilos coming, and he is

ready.

The castle of Levakh lies in ruins. The prisoners in the dungeons

and cages had escaped, and as they gained their freedom they tore

down what little was left, including the mechanical gift that Zilos

had hidden with the unicorn.

A unicorn roams the land now. A single unicorn, and one without a

horn. But the scar on its forehead was healing, and I saw that the

horn would grow back in time. It is safely hidden in the woods near

the border of the dragon kingdom, and the Dragon King knows she

is there. He swears to protect her, and he always keeps his

promises.

Saurat has paid for his treason. Imprisoned deep beneath the earth,

the renegade will never harm another living thing ever again.

There was an island near a shore. A very small island, where

nothing but small creatures lived. One of those small creatures was

screaming in my mind, nearly blinding me with its unbearable loss

and insanity. It was David, Ariana, the same one who sought to

destroy the children and frame Eran and tried to kill Mother. I do

not know if he still has his power, but I do know he cannot turn

into anything he became here, and on the island there is nothing but

other creatures like himself to turn into.

I saw a battle. The children were there in the middle of it, and on

all sides were black bladed creatures, giant tube-like creatures, and

people wielding short weapons like the one David used on Tobias.

Also, there was a creature like Aximili, only larger and surrounded

by an evil aura that was almost tangible. Rachel was a "bear",

Marco a "gorilla" - I believe you have seen this creature - Jake was

his "tiger", Cassie as a warg-like creature called a "wolf". Aximili

was himself. Tobias was there, and as a bird. Everything was as it

was before they came here.

Somehow, the children escaped. The evil creature that looks like

Aximili turned into a terrible monster, but they still escaped. The

monster was screaming something at them, something like "You

cannot be here. You *must* not be here." Now they are safe, sound

and whole, if not wholly out of all danger.

There was a great place, where nothing was. It was an empty place,

without even a floor. Half of this vacuum was filled with shifting

light, the other with impenetrable darkness. On each side there was

a single presence. The one within the light was unseen, invisible

and filling the space. The one in the darkness was immense,

dwarfing the sky, half-made of metal and the other half of flesh,

and in place of a head was a single blood red eye.

At last a form appeared in the light. It was the young servant girl,

and on her face was joy. The little girl smiled up at the horrible

giant, and said,

"So, the little planet is safe?"

And the giant of darkness scowled down on her. "It is."

And the little girl laughed happily.

~~~

Lecrian's vision ended there. He said that it just faded to black,

with the little girl's laughter ringing in his ears.

There. I am done with the children. I will miss them terribly,

despite my rather erroneous first impression of them, but I am

excited. Very, very excited. You see, Eran and I

""""""""""""""""""""""""""

Someone knocked at the door. Normally Princess Ariana would

have been annoyed at the interruption, but she recognized the

particular rapt softness of the knock, and she leaped to her feet and

ran for the door, leaving her journal on the bed.

"Come in," she invited as she quickly opened the door. There on

the other side was Prince Eran, her husband. He was dressed in old

hunter's clothing, dirty and torn.

Impulsively she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly in

spite of his attire. Taken aback, Eran looked down at her, smiled,

and wrapped his arms around her, too.

"Sorry I took so long, Ariana," he apologized. "The hunt took

longer than expected."

"Oh, never mind that, love," she said sincerely, relaxing her hold

just enough for her too look up into his deep eyes. "I'm just glad

you're back."

Their eyes met, their faces glowing with happiness. They kissed

tenderly.

Each one still holding the other, husband and wife entered their

room, and gently shut the door behind.