Yes, over a week and I finally decide to update. Well, here it is. Read on! Or is it rock on? Oh well, whatever…do it anyway.

Kharina: I'm sorry about the whole not writing much to do with Seerow and the Yeerks, but honestly it never even crossed my mind! I know that I didn't show Asculan being told what a Yeerk was, as he doesn't know what they really are yet. He was only on the Yeerk Homeworld for a few hours, talking to Alloran. He hadn't yet found out what the species was called, let alone what they were!

Actually I did a little testing, covering up my eye and so on, if you do depth perception goes WAY out the window, thus Asculan having lost sight on one side would not be able to judge distances very well, or be able to shoot, fight e.c.t as he couldn't aim accurately. Or at least that's my opinion please tell me if I'm wrong.
In response to your last comment, Asculan never went outside, that's why he didn't know about the Yeerks and why he couldn't describe a pool.

Thanks for the thought provoking review, please continue.

Elwing: YES! I have finally launched the galaxy into total war! Go me! Ahem, well I think the story will continue a tad past the end of the war. Though you might not like what I do to Asculan at the end of the fic…I won't go on.

I don't have any ideas about what you could write personally, though I do like your idea about using other FFN writers character's (WITH PERMISSON!) to write a story using them. It could very well be a great way to bring the whole Animorph FFN community together, to free the world from boring never ending fics, such as the Tale of a Warrior!

Though I'll be sure to read and review anything you come up with! Bring on summer holidays!

The REAL Cheese Monkey: Oh yeah, big doggy-doo, Seerow! You started a war! Hit's Seerow over the head.

Irish Rage And Love: Gasp! I hope you enjoyed wherever you were, I left for an entire month a while ago. Yeah I like the way things happened, though I wrote it so I should. I'm glad that you liked it too. Originally I thought that Visser Three might give Asculan his scar, but then I decided that was WAY, WAY too cliché.

I don't know what I did to Asculan in chapter 16; he just kinda came out all screw-the-world didn't he? Well, I think he deserved to blow off a little steam. Hmm, on re-reading chapter 17, I don't think it was all that effective, well, I hope you like this chapter to.

Well, please read on.

Chapter Seventeen

I never want to say Goodbye

Andalite date: 8563.5

Earth date: 1968

They were yellow-green to grey-green, with unctuous hide. They bared a resemblance to slugs, although they had primitive flukes which they used to slowly swim through their home sludge, the pool.

They also had minute bulges around their bodies, and near the eyes, two dimples marked an area where eyes should be. Although, they had no eyes, nose, or visible mouth, or ears, they did possess small antennae, or palps.

They were naturally blind, and almost deaf. However, they were not stupid. To help amend their bodily inadequacy, vecolisms, they evolved a system of controlling other beings.

They would crawl into one's head, and, by wrapping around the victim's brain, effectively control the individual's actions and motions. When entering the brain, they secreted painkillers to stifle their victim's panic.

Once in control, they would access their host's thoughts and memories easily. They had a good sense of touch, and some form of echolocation. They communicated with each other in their natural state via messages sent through the palps.

They were a disease, a plague, a parasite. A whole race of vecols. But worse, they were our students, and they lied. We gave them our trust and they took our all.

They were our enemy, they were the Yeerks.

Even their name was insulting, like a curse someone would say, it did not flow like the word Andalite, or even Veloce. It just came out short, crude, Yeerk.

Yeerk, Yeerk, Yeerk.

I ordered the Kafit home immediately, as was to be expected the captain did not like me giving orders, but, as soon as I calmly explained that though I may not be able to aim very well I was still sure that I could still manage to cost him his tail, he stepped down.

I was now at home, in my lonely scoop, reading an info-pad about the Yeerk race. I wished I had been able to see them when I was on their homeworld.

As is I had not even stepped a hoof outside the Andalite-Yeerk Pease Cooperation Centre, or something like that, some stupid name that I was sure Seerow had come up with. If not him then Feyorn.

(At least Captain Eoptis names things well,) I mumbled to myself as I turned to the next section of the text.

We had reacted well to the threat, I thought. The Yeerk world was already being circled with some of our best ships. If I was not mistaken the Rebellious II was heading the fleet.

I was glad; Captain Eoptis would make sure nothing left the planet. And if he died, well, my hearts would not mourn to long.

Still though, a quarter of a million parasites lose in the galaxy? We were heading into dark times. Very, very, dark times. In fact they were so dark we needed a torch.

I find myself apologising, my mind…has a tendency to…become distracted.

Seerow's Kindness, that's what the People started to call it. Our peerless blunder. The once great prince for whom the title was reserved returned to the Homeworld, greeted by disgrace, shame and an angry, blaming people.

He was not disgraced just merely forgotten. Not by the sense that the People would ever forget his name, but the Council shunted him into stupid pointless tasks, undeserving of his patience and brilliance as an ambassador. For his one mistake he would be forever judged.

(The People are fools,) I said to none but me.

Now I wish that simply being branded a fool was all that poor Seerow and his family had to face. But no, their fate was sealed with three words…

(Hork-Bajir Homeworld?) I asked dumbly. (Who by the many suns and moons are the Hork-Bajir? I've never in all my years heard of them.)

Seerow stopped his pacing and turned to face me, (They are a simply people. Very primitive. Physically impressive but mentally…well, rather slow.)

I frowned (Then why are you going?)

(Because they feel that maybe the Yeerk renegades could target the Hork-Bajir,) Seerow muttered quietly.

We both knew that the Yeerks could have no interest in the planet and that the War-Council was only sending Seerow there so he could do no harm.

For my shorm's pride I decided not to point out the truth, (Your son Barafin. How will he handle this – assignment? I assume that your family are going with you?)

Seerow tried to smile but he simply looked too tired, too beaten to look sincere, (He will not be happy. But at least his 'friends' will no longer be able to tease him, or Aldrea. They call her Seerow's Unkindness you know? My poor children.)

I placed a hand on my oldest friend's shoulder, (It is not your children I am worried about.)

Seerow looked at me with sad eyes, (I don't know if I'll ever see you again.)

I didn't know what to say.

It hit me, what if the Yeerks did actually go to the Hork-Bajir Homeworld? Seerow would be killed, and I could never find out. I would lose my shorm, my most loyal and trusting friend.

I was losing him anyway. And why? Because of the Yeerks. Because of Alloran.

Sometimes I hate my race.

(Look after Aylary,) I said with a hint of sincerity.

Seerow reached forwards and touched my blade with his, (To the death, Asculan. My only shorm.)

(To the end of time, Seerow. My true shorm,) I said. That was the last time I ever saw my oldest friend.

Seerow the Peace Lover, Alloran used to call him. He was one of the greatest princes ever to have lived; the universe would not soon see the like again.

By the Ellimist, I would miss him.

My shorm, Prince Seerow-Tpal-Iskillion. Goodbye.

Alloran looked as stiff as a derrishoul tree, he stood tall and proud. His tale was kept arched up over his back. Captain-prince Ellamar-Shamtel-Isgar stood before.

As Alloran was actually rather small, smaller than Sofor who seemed to have grown much in the years, Captain Ellemar towered above him; the old captain of the Nexus was older than when I had last seen him.

Hiss hooves were dull and his fur had turned a light silvery-blue, but he was in no way too old to be excluded from military service. Captain Noorlin had however been eased out of active service.

(Warrior Alloran-Semitur-Corras,) Captain Ellemar began, (Do you swear to give your life to the People, to honour, and to your Captain?)

(I do,) Alloran replied.

(In this time of war we will need fighters, warriors, leaders, are you prepared to sacrifice your life for our ideals?) Captain Ellemar continued, playing out his role in the ceremony.

(For the People, I am,) Alloran answered. But I knew better, Alloran would in no way give his life unless there was a very, very good reason.

CLASHH! Captain Ellemar's tail smacked into Alloran's, (I hereby promote you to the rank of War-Prince.)

Alloran bowed his head. The ceremony was complete. Another friend promoted and leaving for the war.

I knew I should be thinking about Alloran but all I could do was hear the words of the Ceremony.

Do you swear to give your life to the People, to honour, and to your Captain?

I had taken the same oath when I was promoted to Prince. Thus far I had not given my life for the People; I had learned to hate them. For honour, I had disobeyed a direct order. As for my captain, I had called him an old fool.

In this time of war we will need fighters, warriors, leaders, are you prepared to sacrifice your life for our ideals?

My cousins where dieing far from home in a war I would never even be allowed to fight. My friends would die far away from their families and I, a loner without a wife or children, was safe on the Homeworld.

I had failed in all aspects of the Ceremony. Perhaps Alloran would do better.

(Look at this,) Alloran said to me. He stepped away from the consol.

On the screen I saw a face that looked so much like Aylary, but from her eyes I could see it was Aldrea, the daughter of Seerow.

(This is Aldrea-Iskillion-Falan. I am communicating from the Hork-Bajir world. Designation Sector Five, RG-Two-One-Five-Seven-Eight-Four. Prince Seerow, his wife and son have been killed. I am his daughter.)

I looked quickly at Alloran, (There's more. Look.)

The screen flickered and I saw her eyes widen in anger, so much like her grandfather. Obviously whoever had been speaking with her had said something, then –

(Then maybe this will be important enough for you: the Yeerks are here. Here in force, in orbit and on the ground.)

(What?) I screeched.

As if answering me Aldrea said, (I said the Yeerks are here.)

Alloran looked at me, (I am leaving with a task force of eight fighters, one re-supply ship, and one repair ship. A thousand warriors. We have reports that the Yeerks are in Sector Two, the War-Council have sent the main fleet there.)

(What if the Yeerks really are there?) I asked. (That will never be enough to defeat them!)

Alloran laughed, (Oh come on! We are trained warriors! The Yeerks have had no experience whatsoever, we'll win.)

My eyes darkened, (Are you so sure Alloran?)

He suddenly became serous, (Seerow the Fool started this war, and I will not be so foolish, so weak. I will finish it. Remember that.)

(I will,) I replied.

That night as I ran across the fields of home I counted my list of friends. Seerow, dead.

Alloran, going into a hopeless battle.

Sofor, travelling to the fight, perhaps to his death.

That left Feyorn and Breeyar, how long until I was the only one left?

And all because I was a failure. I could not fight. I was useless.

Something scared me. I was not upset, it hurt to acknowledge that but it was true. I felt no grief over Seerow's death like I did when father or Deodatus had died.

Why?

I did not know. I knew I should be upset, and I truly felt empty, but that is as far as I could extend towards being truly upset.

(Thank whoever's watching that father isn't alive,) I said.

Well, that's done. Please REVIEW!