Author's Note: This is my first Fic so please be nice. Some people may be out of character. This story replaces book 16: The Warning.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Animorphs.

ON WITH THE STORY!

Chapter One: Jake's POV

My name is Jake. Just Jake. I can't tell you my last name. Believe me, I wish I could. Then I might be able to say I was normal, too.

I'm an Animorph. That's short for animal morpher. I can become any animal I touch.

Since you're reading this, you probably already know about the Yeerks. You probably know about Hork-Bajir and Taxxons and Andalites.

You probably know all about the Animorphs.

Our last battle was a few weeks ago, and it really took a toll on my best friend, Marco. Since we both had some free time, we were wandering the mall, trying to act normal.

Just as I was starting to feel normal, a commotion began at the food court. One familiar voice rose over all the rest.

"Cinnamon buns! Buns! Bun-zuh!" Ax. Marco and I ran to the food court.

Ax, in human morph (duh), was stuffing his face like he hadn't eaten in weeks. Mall cops were closing in on him. But before Marco or I could interfere, someone else did.

"Wait! It's just my brother! He's like that sometimes, he'll calm down in a minute. Excuse me... sorry... Please, just let us handle it. He'll be fine." A seventeen/eighteen-year-old guy ran over to Ax. "I can calm him down." Tom darted out of the crowd and followed him. Tom—as in, my brother Tom. A known Controller.

I went white. If Tom was with him, that upped the chances of this guy being a Controller. If they took Ax with them... I shuddered at the thought.

Tom rambled an explanation to one of the mall cops as the other guy tried to 'persuade' (drag) Ax away from Cinnabon. After about five minutes of failure, he grabbed Ax's shoulders, spun him around, and gave him a very dangerous look. Ax froze, and then followed meekly. Tom and the other guy (Tom had told the mall cop the guy's name was Alan and Ax's name was Max) led Ax into the construction site.

"Oh, that was subtle," Tom snapped. "Don't frighten him, you say. Don't say or do anything threatening, you say. Our cover is blown, I say. Don't you mean we say? Well, how was I supposed to know you agreed? Read my mind. It should be easy, since you live in it! I live in your brain, Tom. There is a difference between the brain and the mind. I'm not sure what the difference is, but there is one! SURE THERE IS! Now our cover is most DEFINITELY blown."

I was confused. It sounded like Tom and the Yeerk in his head were having a conversation. But neither Tom nor "Alan" had noticed notice Marco or me yet (or cared if they did) so I wasn't complaining.

Alan rolled his eyes and turned to Ax. Ax looked like he expected Alan to pull out a Dracon beam and shoot him. He was terrified.

"Easy, Aximili," Alan said gently. "I'm not going to hurt you." Ax didn't look reassured.

"How do you know my name?" he gasped, apparently to frightened to play with sounds.

"I'll tell you later," said Alan uncomfortably. "Tom, why don't you invite your brother and his friend over here? I think they have a right to see this, too."

"Okay, midget, you heard him, get over here. You too, Marco." Tom's voice had commanding tone that I really didn't want to argue with. It was like my dad saying "you're grounded"—the only answer was "yes, sir."

Marco and I didn't actually say "yes, sir", but we did as he said. Alan seemed about to be psyching himself up to do something—he took a deep breath and closed his eyes—but Tom cut him off.

"Wait, Al. We should do this inside. Anyone could come along and see us out here."

Alan hesitated before nodding. He led Ax into one of the buildings. Tom led Marco and me in after them.

I expected a) Hork-Bajir, b) Taxxons, c) an entrance to the Yeerk pool, d) for Tom and Alan to pull out concealed Dracon beams and shoot us, or e) all of the above.

What we found was f), none of the above. The room was empty.

Alan stepped away from us, into the center of the room. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes... and began to change.

His skin and hair turned blue and extra fingers wormed their way out of his hands. His eyes grew larger and changed to a brilliant shade of green as extra eyes grew out of his head. His nose flattened out and his mouth vanished completely. A bulge grew out of his back and became horse-like hindquarters. His clothing, I noticed, was actually becoming fur. His shoes transformed into hooves. Finally, a massive tail with an amazing blade emerged. Alan was an Andalite. A very familiar Andalite.

My first thought was that he was Visser Three. Then I had a flashback.

He told the mall cops he was Ax's brother. But... Ax's brother was...

Ax gave a shriek of recognition.

"ELFANGOR!"

Author's Note:

Me: How many people saw that coming?

Audience: ME! I DID!

Me: Excellent. Now if I may direct your attention to the Review button below, please Review while I figure out how to add Chapter Two without doing a separate Fic entirely. I want at least one signed review before I post the next chapter. (Unless the signed review says to give up writing. Constructive criticism only!)

Audience: Aw, man. (Grumbles, then complies.)

Merci pour lis! (French—thank you for reading!)