XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

At 0801 hours

Sunday 16th May

SAM

I was dumbfounded

A hawk had just changed into my best friend's fiancée

I guess Adam had no idea either. He was just as dumb looking as I was

"Since when could you morph?" asked Dad

"Before we left, Leah gave me the morphing power and I acquired the hawk," she answered

And I'm also guessing that her morphing had shocked everyone

"Are there any more morphs you have under your belt?" asked Tobias

"Jaguar and owl"

"Why didn't you tell us?" asked Adam

"Leah made me to promise not to and to do it as a surprise"

Adam glared at his sister. I ran a hand through my hair and messed it up

"Well, now that's over," said Marco, "we've still got a war to win"

"Everyone, into the room," said Dad

I fell back with Adam

"How are you feeling about that?" I asked

"I'm very pissed off at Leah making her not to tell anyone, especially me"

"So you're not angry at Ashley?"

He smiled

"No, never. It just means she can morph and that it makes it easier for me"

"Well, at least you're cool with it"

"Sam, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah, sure, anything you want"

He smiled again. I messed up my hair. I'll spike it again later

"I was wondering if you could be my best man at the wedding"

I was shocked. And happy at the same time. Nothing could be better

"Sure, mate, I'll be there as your best man"

Adam smiled, accepting and flicked his hair back

"What about John, he wouldn't mind?"

"No, he would be cool"

"Thanks man, I own you"

"No you don't. Unless you let me win at Doom"

We entered the meeting room and sat down with everyone else

"So what's the plan, fearless leader?" asked Marco

"I'm not sure," said Dad, "we won the first war, and the second was unexpected with the snow, so we couldn't use the bombs. Now I don't know"

"Is it safe for me to offer a suggestion?" asked an eternal voice

(The Ellimist. He's returned) said Ax

A young man appeared next to me. I jumped and fell on the ground. I got up, embarrassed

"What do you want, Ellimist?" asked Dad, "you stick up in a war and we have only ten days left to win. We can't do that"

"Crayak is resupplying David's forces," said the Ellimist, "giving him hundreds of Howlers. However, he can't do the same for the Chatrè"

"What will happen to them?" asked Mom

"They will eventually die out"

I noticed that Ax had looked away in shame

"Okay, so David has hundreds of Howlers at his disposal," said Marco, "and what do we have? Twelve Animorphs"

"I can help," offered the Ellimist

(See what I mean) said Ax (You say you don't interfere and yet you're interfering)

"I'm not giving you a major advantage, so Andalite, it's not interfering," said the Ellimist, "I'm just boosting your ranks to equal David's"

"How?" asked Adam

"Think. Who are the mostly likely races to help you?"

"The Hork-Bajir," said Tobias

(And the Andalites) mirrored Ax

"There you go," smiled the Ellimist, crossing his arms, "by tonight, you'll have both Hork-Bajirs and Andalites at your disposal"

"Can I ask a question?" said Marco

"What?"

"Where in the blazing hell are we?"

The Ellimist smiled

"On an asteroid, floating in space above Earth. Oh don't worry, Earth won't pick you up on their radars," he said seeing our shocked looks

"Can we see Earth?" asked Leah

"No"

He looked around at each of us

"If that's all, I'll go now"

And with that, he disappeared

"So we're gonna get an army," said Dad, "then let's use an army"

"That's our fearless leader," grinned Marco

"A huge plan that may take a few days to plan and work out. But we'll use it for our last battle. Who's up for it?"

We all raised our hands, eager to win and go home

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX