A/N- I'm back! Everyone seemed to put in requests for mall fun, so here's my attempt- but first, review responses.
Panthergirl-Thanks for the review, and this chapter should speak for itself.
DH- Thanks for your review. Could you tell me exactly why you like Bri better? It would be a big help.
Wraithlord42- Thanks!
Korean Pearl- Thanks for reviewing, I try to update as soon as I can anyway, but prompts always help.
Birdie num num- I'm glad you like. Hope this chapter is goodMorph- Heh heh. I'm going to have fun with this one. Hope you like it!
Chessrook44- Doesn't necessarily mean trouble, although it's meant to be humorous. And well, it anyone sees two Bri's they'll just think they're twins.
Amazing. Amazing! That's how it feels to be human, and to actually look like everyone around you. To talk with a mouth like everyone else, to hear your voice with ears, to walk on two feet and not constantly fall down (Okay, to not fall down with practice, I guess. I hadn't quite made it there, but…)
Also, no stalk eyes. I had to look up and turn my head around, which was quite a new experience. And I was putting this ability to good use.
"Zak, you're gonna break your neck if you keep straining around to see us like that!" Bri complained. I was sitting in the front of Samantha's car, and Bri and Alanthi were in the back.
"But, how can-an I see you if I don't? On't." I was getting more used to a mouth, but couldn't talk fluently like most humans.
"You don't need to see us to talk to us! We'll hear you even if you face the other way," Bri grumped. "Hey, Alanthi, stop that!" Now Alanthi was turning around to look at the cars behind us, out the window.
"Why? I. Zantar-ar has point. Oy," Alanthi said, her voice slightly strained from turning around. "This is very-ree new. Ewe. We cannot ot help it."
That's pretty much how the rest of the car ride went, except I stopped turning around so much and looked out the windows at the buildings. I had never seen a building larger than my parent's house, so this was a shock. Then we came to a building that was larger than all the others, one that Bri explained held many stores inside it. I had never been in a store either.
"Wow! Ow. It is so-o big! I have never seen a building this-is big! Ig." I exclaimed as we walked through the parking lot.
"Oh, yeah, this building is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, its so big," Bri said, sarcastically. "Come on Zak, you had to have seen bigger buildings than this in books or on TV!"
"Well, yeah. Ah. But, never-er in real life. Ife." I walked up to a car and touched it, to see if it felt any different that Sam's. I was shocked by a loud noise that blared in my ears, and jumped higher than I thought possible with human legs.
We quickly hurried away from the car that was giving off this alarming sound, with Bri explaining the whole time that you shouldn't do that; the alarm warns the car's owner of thieves trying to break into the car. Whoops.
When we finally reached the mall's entrance, we were all starving. Bri suggested going to the food court, and everyone readily agreed. On the way, there were so many stores and so many humans. The noise, the sight of it all, made me dizzy, and I had a hard time balancing. This caused me to fall on Bri, who struggled to keep me standing while everyone stared.
"Uh, sorry everyone! Nothing to see here!" Bri said to the crowd.
'Ye-es, sorry-ee!" I said, adding my apology. For some reason, this gave them all the more reason to stare before finally moving on. Alanthi had the good sense to keep her mouth shut.
However, even she, trained as she was, wasn't able to keep it shut once we reached the food court. Sam ordered us fries and burgers from some restaurant called Burger King, while we found a place to sit. Sam brought the food to the table, and I raised my burger to my mouth. I couldn't wait to experience human foods, and bit into it right away.
Oh! The sensation! You cannot imagine what it was like to actually taste something for the first time. A thousand flavors exploding in my mouth, so amazing. It was so good; I couldn't help but eat more. And more. I quickly finished my burger and the bag that came with it, while Bri, Sam, and another crowd watched with open mouths. Meanwhile, Alanthi also had her first bite of fries. I watched as her eyes opened wide and she grabbed at more, slathering ketchup on them.
"Good! Ood! So much flavor!" she exclaimed.
We might have gorged ourselves to death if Bri and Sam hadn't intervened. They urged us to have something to drink and then quickly leave. But it wasn't that simple. The soda was so fizzy! It wasn't as good as the burger, but it was full of flavor as well. And I was very thirsty. I drank very quickly and my soda was soon gone. I felt very lightheaded after this, and barely heard Bri say, 'Okay, that's enough, lets go." I think her voice had a touch of panic in it. Sam and Bri dragged us away from the table, with both of us exclaiming at intervals how good the food was. I'm sure the chefs would have felt very complimented, had they not thought us insane.
When I regained a clear head, we were far away from the crowd and the food court. Alanthi and I both calmed down, and Alanthi said, "I'm so sorry-ree. It was just so wonderful! Full!"
She probably would have gone on gushing about the food, except that Samantha said, "Okay, Alanthi, I'm sure everyone appreciates a good burger now and then. Now, we did come here to shop, didn't we? Zak needs some new clothes. So if you both could regain your composure…"
"Ye-es. Of course. Horse."
"And no more playing with sounds!" Bri added, exasperated.
We ended up at some store called Target, to shop for clothes and shoes. Sam backed into a corner, and quickly morphed. Now she was a male human, able to help me put on new clothes. Females are generally not allowed in the male dressing rooms.
There are many types of clothes in Target, although some are for boys and girls, men and women, and different sizes. Often either Alanthi or I would point out an article of clothing that looked interesting to us, but which was inappropriate for a human of my age and gender. Like the time Alanthi pointed out a long shirt-article with a female human in pink on it.
Finally we had chosen some appropriate clothes for me, and a pair for Alanthi to keep as a souvenir. Once in the changing room, I removed my human clothes and demorphed before trying on my new ones. Some clothes were too big, others too small, but I found three outfits that fit me well, that I liked, and that Sam thought were acceptable. We met up with Bri and Alanthi, who had also demorphed and tried on her new clothes, and made our purchases. Afterwards, everyone was tired, but Bri insisted we experience playing 'video games' before our tour of the mall was over.
Video games are complex. You put money into little slots and then move characters around on screens. The most frequent objectives of the games are either to kill the most baddies or collect the most items before baddies get you. At first, it was awkward trying to play, but Alanthi soon became very skilled at it. She whipped controls around in her fingers so fast you could barely see them. Bri was shocked.
"You can barely stand upright and talk normally, but you can whip almost anyone's but at video games?"
I never got very good at them, but they were kind of enjoyable. After we had spent the last of Bri and Sam's change, we decided to go home. I had decided that Earth was an amazing place. It made me want to stay here, now that I would no longer be in danger. But how was I supposed to make a decision between the place I've lived all my life and a place I've only dreamt about?
I decided to ask Alanthi about it as soon as we got home.
Alanthi, what is the Andalite home world like?
We were back at my 'scoop', where last night's awkward exchange had taken place. It was a quiet moment, but probably only because I had asked Bri to wait inside for us. She had looked upset, and I didn't blame her, but I wanted to talk to Alanthi alone.
Why do you ask? Alanthi looked concerned.
I'm just curious, I said, trying to be vague and pass over the fact that I had to choose between that and Earth. I doubt she was fooled, though.
Well, it's pretty wonderful, although mostly only civilians live there. Andalites who are in the military are usually stationed around the galaxy, and come home occasionally to visit their families. What else do you want to know?
How do the civilians live?
Well, they live in scoops, pretty much like the one you've got here, except not totally surrounded by trees. Every family has their own grazing land, with only a fee trees on their land. The sky is pretty different too, it's red-gold.
Are there any cities or neighborhoods?
There are a lot of spaceports with walkways about as big as your mall, maybe bigger. The scientists have their laboratories, and children go to school, but all the buildings are wide open and spread far apart. It's not as crowded as here.
So far, so good. It sounded like a nice place to live. But there were still some things I was concerned about. I decided to ask the question I had been dreading. What about career choices, Alanthi? And home. If I were to come with you, where would I live, and what would I do?
She looked uncomfortable. Zantar, why…
Just answer, please.
She sighed. Okay. Well, as for home, you probably have some relatives there. Siblings of your parents, or their parents. They would probably be willing to take you in.
And what about career choices?
I… well, most Andalites are either scientists or are in the military. Civilians, they help to make equipment for either of those careers, or are in the media business. But there isn't as much media as there is here. There's basically just the news, and a few small entertainment companies…
Oh. Alanthi, most Andalites, well, you're really smart. I haven't had any of that training. This was the hardest part to say. I mean, I'm not training in tail-fighting, or anything, and I'm not as smart as any Andalite. What kind of response can I expect from my people to this?
Now who's interrogating who? Alanthi asked, attempting to change the subject.
Please. This is important to me. I need to make some kind of decision within two days. I have experienced Earth, and I need to decide whether your home is worth-while to experience as well. I tried to keep cool during this 'speech', but I'm afraid I was getting angrier and more frustrated as I spoke, causing my thought-speech to get 'louder and louder'.
She shook her head, seeming disturbed. Zantar, why does it matter? You belong with your people. What other choice is there? Then, sensing this would disturb me more, she turned and fled into the woods.
A/N- Okay. Pole time. In your review, tell me what choice you think Zak should make- Earth, or Andalite home world? I already have it planned out, but I would appreciate your thoughts. Thanks!