Hello nurse! Yes I'm back and I'm free! No more SATs EVER! Now I have GCSE's, darn.

Irish Rage And Love: Yes, thank you I'm glad you think it was another one of my chapters!

Yeah, actually funny story about Seerow destroying the fleet. In my earlier idea he actually didn't he tried to speak with them, but, I dropped the idea as it sounded a bit too corny. LOL Asculin saying Seerow was cold! Well, you are correct something does happen to both Seerow and Asculin we'll all just have to read on.

Yes, Aylary finally accepts Asculin, and trust me she WILL complicate things.
'nods head' Noorlin is Elfangor's and Ax's dad. Again another dedication to my favourite Star Trek captain. Star Gazer was the name of Captain Picard's first ship. Thanks for the long review. Keep it up!

Kharina: Thank you.

I know the way Aylary seemed to fling herself at Asculin was a bit fast, but, again it's not the falling in love that's gonna be the problem. I wont say to much but trust me she is a MAJOR plotline.

On your story side of things. I read the Homecoming the moment I see there's a new chapter. It is most defiantly my fave. I'm afraid I still have to commit myself to your Aftran fic. The problem is, now please don't take this personally, I REALLY don't like Aftran, I'm not a Peace Movement lover, but then I suppose it's more about the writing so I'll have to give it a go.

Birdie num num: YAY! ROCK ON! Well yes he does get to be a prince. But actually he was promoted to warrior. Again Aylary isn't as sweet and caring as you think.

It might be happy now, but just you wait! LOL.

Elwing: Thanks. It's good to 'hear' from you again. You are gona get a dedication in this chapie. Which is part of the reason I'm writing it now.
Oh, yeah Aylary's more than a twist she's a back flip!

This chapter is DEDICATED to ELWING! For all his/her help and support.

Chapter Ten

The Coupling

Andalite date: 8555.45

Earth date: 1961

(I Asculan-Semitur-Langor choose you Aylary-Orcim-Sothil to be my mate, my partner, my confidant, my soul mate.

I pledge my all to you. Though life may not always be as perfect as it is at this moment, I vow to always keep my love pure as it is today. I promise to keep good memories alive, and to let the bad ones die. I vow not to let the suns go down on our anger, and to treat each morning as a new day to love you, the gift I have been given. I will not forsake you or these vows that I have made, but rather strive to show you my love for the rest of our lives. This is my promise to you.)

I reached forwards with my blade to reach Aylary's. We locked our blades and bowed our heads. The 'Coupling Ritual' was complete. Of course Aylary did not say the vows I had just said. It was only expected of males to have to say such things. The females were expected to just be loyal and true without reinforcing such promises.

(Yes, go Asculan!) Alloran shouted. He was standing in his place on my home territory. Captain Noorlin had allowed me leave to perform the 'coupling'.

My friends; Alloran, Feyorn, Breeyar, Sofor and of course Seerow were all there. As was my mother and Captain Eoptis.

It had been two years since I had left the homeworld on the StarGazer. The voyage had not been as – interesting – as the journey I had been on as a young aristh to Velocia-Rex. We had mapped a new nebula, not much interesting going on there.

We had charted solar-systems and found new exciting asteroid belts. I had often wondered how long this was going to go on. But then, finally, we had run into some Norshk pirates. They had attacked, but we had been stronger. I was promoted to Prince for my help in defeating the pirate scum.

As yet I was the only one of the six arisths to learn under Prince Eoptis, now Captain Eoptis, to become a prince. I should be proud.

I was a prince; I had at long last been 'coupled' to Aylary. What more could I want?

My father. I wanted him to be able to be here, to see me standing before my mate. He would never come back; I knew that, but still…

I jerked my mind away from those thoughts. I put them in the back of my mind, far, far away.

The ceremony went on. Alloran had brought his soon to be mate Jahar. They seemed very happy together, as of yet I had actually not seen any signs of a mate from either of my other friends. Not even from Seerow.

Surely he had no intension to be a loner? An Andalite without a mate?

Later that night Aylary and I ran across the fields of my scoop. She had become a qualified biologist and I had the feeling she would not, very often, be at home in our scoop, even when I was back on leave. But she was at last mine. That is all that mattered.

She looked at me, (Will you still serve under Captain Noorlin?)

I was rather taken back by her question. We were together and all she could talk about was under whom I was serving? (Yes, I think I will. He is a good Captain, maybe he doesn't get the exciting missions like Captain Ellemar does. I mean I would like to see Velocia-Rex again…)

(My father's a Captain now,) Aylary cut in.

So was that her game? (Yes, I know that. I was at the promotion ritual. I saw you and you told me to 'just wander away; it is not two years yet'. I believe?)

She smiled coyly. We stopped running and she stepped closer, putting her hands on my shoulders. (Why do you not wish to serve under my father? You could do very well under him. You could be a war-prince in a few years.)

I looked down at her, (I'm already very young to be a prince. I am happy serving under Captain Noorlin. He has been my captain for two years, I can trust him.)

Her eyes widened as if she'd been hit. (And you can't trust my father? He has taught you since you first arrived at the academy, he has made sure go got posted to all the new Explorer class ships. He made sure you made all the right connections. He allowed you to be 'coupled' to me! And yet you say you can't trust him!)

(Aylary I….)

(No! Asculan,) she yelled. Swiftly she turned and bounded away.

She left me standing alone in the light of two moons. I wondered why she seemed so desperate that I ask to be transferred. Did her father have anything to do with it?

Of course he did, but does he know he's the subject of this disagreement? I decided to go and ask my former tutor.

He was at the Academy when I eventually found him. Standing among some other warriors about my age. He saw me standing off, waiting for him to be done addressing them, and called for me to come over.

(Captain Eoptis,) I greeted him. (I hope I am not interrupting?)

He nodded and dismissed the warriors. (No, of course not Prince Asculan. What are you doing here on the night of your 'coupling'?)

I wondered how best to word the problem to the captain. Even now over three years from first meeting the old warrior I still could not find words to speak.

He laughed, (Lost words have you? Aylary didn't drag you into an argument did she? If she did, I am truly sorry. I am afraid I brought her up to be rather – strong willed.)

I smiled, (She wants me to ask to be transferred to you, sir.)

(Does she now?) He folded his arms across his chest. (And what do you think?)

(Well. It is not that I have anything against you, Captain,) I said. (But under Captain Noorlin I am on one of the newest class ships with one of the best crews, we are exploring space that no Andalite ship had ever been to…)

(What about being an even newer model ship? A prototype, no other ship like her in the fleet.)

That caught my interest.

(What about visiting that planet you first visited as an aristh, Velocia-Rex?)

Now I was most certainly interested. What I wouldn't give to see that planet again. Alloran and the others were stationed there. All but Seerow who was still stationed aboard the StarGazer and Freyorn who had opted to remain on-ship and was stationed aboard the Nexus.

(How about it Prince Asculan? Ready to go and visit some old friends?)

When my former teacher put it that way….really, I had no choice but to accept.

There you go. I know some of you might be ticked that I didn't go into his warrior years a bit more, but hey, rust me. I think I know what I'm doing. Please REVIEW!