Anyway, I awoke in my quarters by the thought-speak announcment from Captain Feelox, <Everyone, report to the dome for the morning ritual!>
I backed out of my quarters, knocking into a War-Prince. Something arisths really should not do.
<Aristh!> he cried, outraged.
<Oops! It was an accident! I-I-I meant no disrespect, sir!>
<I will forgive you this time, aristh. Do not let it happen again.>
Sometimes being an aristh is hard.
I managed to get to the dome without any more emberassing problems. The dome is a large field with a small stream in the center. It is where we Andalites feed while we're in space. It is attached to the top of the ship, surrounded by a clear forcefield. It is a segment of the Andalite Homeworld.
Everyone found a place around the stream. We began to chant the ritual. We ended it with, <For my prince, people, and honor, I give my life,> and pressed our blades to our throats.
The morning ritual was complete. Now, we would begin our daily scheduals and assignments. For me, that ment staying in the dome to train with my teacher, Zerlin. Zerlin was also my prince.
Soon, we were the only ones left in the dome. I was the only aristh on the ship. And the only female as well. <Aristh Swanilin, show me the block/strike that I showed you yesterday,> my prince instructed.
He struck at me! His blade aiming right for my neck! I saw the movement and arched my tail over my shoulder and blocked his blade with mine. I turned my body sharply left, and slashed my tail to make a big horazontal line in his chest.
<Very good, aristh Swanilin. I see you've been practicing,> he said as he started to morph. When he had demorphed, the cut was gone. Morphing consists of DNA, wich is not effected by injuries. <You have pleased me. You may go to the communication center and speak with one of the other arisths for a brief period of time.>
<You may speak with another aristh for fifteen earth minutes. I shall accompony you to the comunication center, and explain to the captain about your break.> We started to walk. <Which aristh would you like to speak with?>
<If I may, sir, I'd like very much to speak with my shorm, Aximili. He is on Captain Nerefir's Dome ship.> Aximili and I had gone to training school together. We had been assigned to different ships. I had not talked to him since we'd become arisths.
<Very well then,> War-Prince Zerlin replied.
We'd entered the comunication center. Zerlin walked to the computer, and concentraited. A few minutes later, a great captain appeared in front of us. <Captain Nerefir? My name is War-Prince Zerlin. I am from the BladeStar. If I may, sir, I'd like to make a request.>
<Speak,> the captain ordered.
<Well, sir-> he began, but right then, the computer exploded! We'd been Draconed! I could see through the hole that the Dracon beam had made is the wall of the ship. Right beside us was the Blade ship of Visser Three.
<Aristh! Get to the Dome!> War-Prince Zerlin ordered.
Another Dracon beam flashed. Suddenly, there was a jolt, as the engines were completely annihalated.
<GO!> he screamed in my head.
I headed up to the Dome, the only one who was not fighting. I could hear thought-speak cries of pain. The Yeerks had destroyed our engines. We could not get away. I knew the Yeerks had boarded our ship.
Suddenly, I felt this horrible feeling of absolute terror. I knew what that meant. They were on my ship.
He was on my ship.
The Abomination.
Visser Three.
I opened my eyes. I looked around. Then I saw him.
<Ah,> he sneered. <What do we have here? A young Andalite aristh?>
<Get out of here!> I cried. <Zerlin! Someone! The Abomination is in the Dome!>
<You little fool!> he laughed. <No one can help you! Now, what should I do with you? If I brought a young Andalite to the Councel of Thirteen, there is no telling what promotion I'd recieve!>
FWAPP!
I struck, but he blocked.
<Hork-Bajir!> he yelled. <Take our little friend to the Blade Ship!>
Twenty Hork-Bajir rushed in, each carrying a Dracon beam.
Visser Three laughed. <You can either go with us, willingly, or we will stun you and carry you to the ship. Wich will it be?>
FWAPP!
I struck the first Hork-Bajir. The arm that held the Dracon beam fell to the floor. <I will never surrender to you, Yeerk filth!> I sneered.
<Oh, what a pity,> he mocked. <I thought taking an Andalite child would be much easier. But I suppose even the children are as arogant as their elders. Stun her!>
Suddenly, there was a blinding light. I expected to be knocked unconscious, but instead, I could no longer move my tail.
Visser Three put his blade to my neck. The Hork-Bajir held my arms. I had no choice, but to walk with them.
As we walked through the ship, there were great warriors and Hork-Bajir lying all around us.
All dead.
I heard my prince's voice. I struggled to get free from the Visser, but I knew how futile it was to even try.
I looked around for my prince. I saw him, lying on the floor. <My prince! You're wounded!>
<Yeerk scum! Let the aristh go!.> Zerlin cried. He slashed his tail, weakly.
<Ha! Another surviveing Andalite?> Visser Three sneered. <Join your fellow warriors, fool! The young one will soon be ours!>
FWAPP!
The Abomination slashed his stolen tail blade, murdering Prince Zerlin.
<Nooooooooooooooooo!> I cried.
I struggled, not caring whether they killed me or not. Visser Three had killed my prince. Not to mention everyone else on my ship. I would never let them take me! I would fight him! Even if I knew he'd kill me, I'd fight for my prince, people, and honor. And, if I had to, for my prince, people and honor, I'd give my life.
As my captors dragged me toward thier ship, I knew that no matter what happened to me, if I escaped. . . or if I did not. . . I would someday have revenge on the Abomination.
Someday. . .
Swanilin's Story #2 The Rescue