Adventure of the Planet of the Apes

Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing of the Planet of the Apes. My respect for the wonderful author, Pierre Boulle, the book was so awesome that I keep reading it over and over again. So only a few people in here are mine. I don't own any Tolkien quotes either.

A/N: I thought about having Taylor break her nose in the chapter so that I could make her suffer as much as I am, but I decided against it. Believe me, it is not a nice thing to have a broken nose. That is partially why it has taken me so long to update.

JoMarch95- Thanks, I liked the little sneak peek myself, just because I thought that I would be adding that part to the last chapter, but I didn't have anymore than that written. Thank you for your review.

Virusea- I also enjoy when people put themselves into a story too. Thank you for being so supportive. We need to get more people to update so that I can more stuff to read. Grrr! Oh well, I still am interested in your story. Update soon! Thank you again and again.

Larry- You are the first person to actually criticize my work, and I appreciate that. I have to agree that Ari's perspective is much easier for me to write than Taylor's, but I'm not sure why. Thank you for pointing out that PotA reference make the story a little boring. Your opinion is something that I needed badly. Thank you for reviewing and again for being able to tell me what needed work.

Elaine- Hahahaha. I find it kinda of funny that Larry likes Ari POV better and that you like Taylor's. But then again that is the different between men and women.

Ms. Thang- You will soon know what happens. I love leaving people hanging.

Enya- I'm not abandoning this story. Hehehe. Cliffies are so much fun to write now that I have the hang (no pun intended) of writing them. Still glad that you like this story so much!

Knock, knock, knock! Sandar looked up from the paperwork scattered all over his desk. Who would need me at this time in the afternoon. The senate session only ended a few minutes ago, they could not have come up with any problems since then. But then again… they could have. Well, it cannot be Ari, Galen or Nat, none of my children would ever feel the need to knock. Oh well, might as well find out who it is. "Come in!"

After a few seconds of hesitation Thade pushed the door open to face his destiny. All his life Thade had been in love with Ari, but only in the last few weeks had he been able to gain the courage to face her father. Of course, he had known Sandar since before he could remember and had always felt at ease around him, but since wanting Ari he had not been as comfortable as before.

"Well, hello, Thade. I wasn't expecting you. Come, sit down."

"Thank you, sir," said Thade as he pulled a chair in front of Sandar's desk.

Thade seemed overly nervous to Sandar, but he decided to ignore it. It was unusual for the son of his friend to be uncomfortable in his presence, so he, Sandar, wanted to put Thade at ease. "What has your father been doing lately? I have missed my visits with my old friend."

It was very unusual for Thade to suffer from anxiety or nervousness so he was very glad when Sandar started talking about a neutral subject. "My father is very well, but is also very busy. The humans seem to grow in population each day, they are multiplying fast than the army can contain them."

"Yes, these human rights activist are becoming a little too bold. I don't believe that all humans should be done away with, but the trouble makers do need to be punished." Sandar did not want to present himself as an activist for the human, yet he did not want it to appear that he supported the ape army and their cruelty, he knew that one day Thade would most likely become a general after his father retired.  "So, what did you come to talk to an old, like me, about?"

Thade's mouth became dry and his palms because sweaty and clammy. "Um… well, you see… I came to talk about, you know…" Sandar motioned for Thade to keep going, trying to follow the younger apes train of thought. After taking a deep breath Thade took the fatal plunge. "MayImarryyourdaughter?"

The usually stoic senator was absolutely shocked. For many years he had believed that Ari would eventually marry Thade, just because it would make sense. Not only because they were best friends, but also because of political issues. But Sandar had not expected it so soon. "What did you say?" He hoped that his ears had lied to him, but he didn't place much faith in that hope.

After finally saying it Thade was emboldened to speak his mind. "Sir, I love your daughter and I want to marry her."

"I see," Sandar was in a quandary about what to do. Ari was only sixteen, of course it was common for young she-apes to become engaged by the time they were sixteen or seventeen and not marry till they were nineteen or twenty.  This was a well respected part of ape life and Sandar and his wife had been engaged for three years till their parents finally allowed them to marry, but this was different. Ari was his baby, how could he give her up? Esau probably thought that when you asked him for Sari's hand. I know, but this is Ari. It seems like yesterday she was a baby in my lap. The boy does love her, but does he really mean it? "Tell me, Thade, why do you think that you would be a good husband for Ari?"

Carefully Thade thought about how he should answer. The fact that he love Ari, almost more than life itself, did not mean he would be a good husband. "Sir, I believe I would be a good husband for Ari because… Well, I love her and I want to be with her always. She means more to me than life…almost."

"Yes, yes. You say that you love her, but do you likeher? Don't answer yet!" Sandar held his hand up to stop Thade from speaking, "I can promise you that you will argue, you will fight and you will become angry with each other. Think about that. After you fight will you be able to love and cherish her again? Will you be able to look into her eyes and tell her that you are sorry and wrong, even if you weren't? Marriage is not an easy thing."

"In all sincerity, I had never thought about it in that light before. Senator, your daughter is one of the most precious things in my life. Just to be near her is almost more than I can stand. My heart breaks when she is sad. I will never intentionally hurt her."

"Good. Does Ari return your feelings?"

"Only in the last few days have I become sure that she does."

"Call her."

Thade's heart was beating so hard he was sure that everyone could hear it. Finally when he approached the kitchen door he could hear Ari and the two humans talking merrily. Once he pushed the door open they all looked up, and Taylor gave him a dark look. "Ari, your father would like to speak with you- with us, together." A glimmer a fear sparkled in Ari's eyes. Obviously she had done something wrong and was fearful of being punished. "Don't worry, it's nothing bad."

"All right. What is it that my father wishes to speak to us about?"

"You'll find out."

Once they were out of hearing of the humans Ari stopped Thade. "Thade, please, tell me what is going on."

"I'm not sure how to tell you, so I'll just have to show you." Ari watched as Thade brought his head down to hers; she closed her eyes and felt the gentle pressure of  Thade's lips against hers.

When Ari opened her eyes, she saw Thade looking down at her with a questioning gaze. "I think I understand now." A slight blush graced Ari's cheeks. "Let's go have that talk with my father."

I heard the door to the kitchen open; as Thade stepped in both Bon and Taylor fell silent. Out of the corner of my eyes I caught the disapproving glare that Taylor gave Thade. "Ari, your father would like to speak with you- with us, together." Immediately my heart skipped a beat. Was it about the new human? Or had he gotten word that I had sneaked out of Ape City that morning? A million questions raced through my mind. "Don't worry, its nothing bad," said Thade as he gave me a reassuring smile.

"All right," I replied. "What is it that my father wishes to speak to us about?" I purposely emphasized the 'us' part.

A twinkle of merriment flickered in Thade's eyes. "You'll find out."

What would be so important that my father needed to talk to both Thade and me? Finally we were out of hearing  from both the humans in the kitchen and my father in his study. I gently put my hand on Thade's arm. "Thade, please, tell me what is going on." I begged.

"I'm not sure how to tell you," he paused and looked deep into my eyes, "So I'll have to show you." As he lowered his head towards mine I finally realized that I was in love with Thade. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the pleasure of my first kiss. When Thade and I broke apart I could see the question that he wanted to ask. "I think I understand now," my voice came out huskier that normal. The heat on my cheeks assured me that I was blushing. "Let's go have that talk with my father."

Thad breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm certainly happy to hear that. For a long time I had hoped you would return my feelings." There was no more time for anything else because we had reached the door of my fathers study.

I entered first and jovially hugged my him and placed a kiss on his cheek. "What is it that you wanted to talk to me about?" Innocence, feigned or not, had always been the way to get my may with my father. There certainly are perks to being the youngest; but I truly do love my father.

"Has Thade not told you?" I saw Papa shoot a disappointed look in Thade's direction.

"Not in so many words, Papa." It was true. Thade had never actually told me what my father wanted to talk about. "Please explain this matter fully."

My father raised an eyebrow in Thade's direction. "Sir, I thought it would be best if you explained, so that Ari would not be, uh, influenced by me."

"Very well," my Pap gruffly replied. "Ari, grab a chair and come sit by me. Thade you can sit there where you are." After I had settled down in my chair and was ready to listen did my father begin. "This young ape has asked if he may have your hand in marriage. I will not say yes or no till I have your word that you do or do not love him. What do you have to say?"

There was a pleading look in my father's eyes that spoke more than a million words. I could see that he did not me to leave. For a split second in time I considered saying that I did not love Thade so that I could prevent my Papa's heart from being broke. But I heard myself say that yes I did love Thade. "Don't me sad, Papa, I won't leave you for quiet some year yet… Right?" The sneaky suspicion that I might be forced to marry Thade right away presented itself.

A gentle smiled graced my fathers lips. "No, my daughter, you don't have to leave till you are good and ready." Suddenly I felt the urge to sit on my fathers lap and feel his arms encircle me like when I was a small girl came upon me.

"Ari, Ari! Papa's home, come on!" Galen stuck his head up the stairway and yelled at his little sister. Sandar had been gone for two weeks to a neighboring city and had left his children under the care of his sister. "Hurry, or Nat and I will get all the presents."

"Galen, wait! Help, I'm stuck." Ari had been trying to invent some type of something with string and now she was tangled and unable to move. Unfortunately for her Galen had already dashed down the stairs and had not heard his little sister's plea for help. Alone and unable to free herself Ari feared her family had forgotten her, and that she would be stuck forever. Then she started to cry.

Downstairs Sandar greeted Galen and Nat, who had come home from boarding school for a visit, and Phyllis, Sandar's sister, was also waiting down with her nephews. "Where is Ari," asked Sandar.

"She wouldn't come down," tattled Galen.

A sad expression came into Sandar's eyes. He had lost his wife, now it seemed that he was losing his daughter too. "Oh well, your presents are in on the sofa." Galen and Nat raced into the living room to find their gifts.

Phyllis and Sandar were left behind. "Sandy, you really should go see her. She was so excited that you were coming home. I cannot imagine why she did not come down.

"Obviously it was something more important than me."

"Are you going to allow bitterness to ruin your relationship with your only daughter, who is also your youngest child? What would Sari say if she were here now? I know you better than you know yourself. Go to her, please."

"I'll go." Sandar made his way up to Ari's room. When he reached the door he could hear bitter sobs coming from within. He wondered what could be wrong and all his anger and jealousy vanished instantly. "Ari, are you all right?" As soon as he opened the door Sandar could see that something was not right, his daughter was nowhere to be seen. "Ari?"

"Papa!" Sandar swung around to find his daughter all tied up laying on the floor close to the door. "You came for me!"

"What happened?"

"Please don't ask me that, Papa."

"All right, here, I'll help untie you." Finally Ari was free of the ropes.

"Thank you, Papa. I didn't think that anyone was ever gonna remember me. I was scared." She started crying again.

"Oh, its fine now. Come here," gently he picked Ari up and cuddled her and they often did when either one of them needed comfort. "I love you, sweetheart and I'll never stop loving you."

"I never wanna leave you again."

"You won't have to." With that they made their way downstairs.

A/N: I know it has been a long time since I have updated and I am truly sorry about the wait. Thank you again to all who reviewed and to those who did not review, but still read the story I hope that you liked it too. More to come soon. No more school after next week for me. That will free up the time that I have to write. So remember to read the review!