Chapter 1
"Don't let Nigel be up," I whispered as I softly padded down the stairs. "I have school today. Don't let him be up."
I tiptoed into the kitchen and as quietly as possible, opened the refrigerator.
Pop tarts, I thought. They aren't as noisy as a bowl of cereal.
I grabbed the package out of the fridge and began to shut it.
And then the beast awoke.
Also known as the ice maker.
"Don't wake him up," I pleaded quietly of the rumbling motor. "Don't let him wake up."
But, of course, he did.
I flinched as he thundered into the room. "What are you doing?" he roared.
"Getting some breakfast," I said meekly.
"Where's mine?"
"Well, you weren't up, so I was just going to eat some pop tarts and head off to school."
That was all it took to set him off. He glared at me. "Serving yourself first? You ungrateful chit!"
"Nigel, no," I begged as his fist came hurtling towards my face.
After the initial sting, it doesn't hurt anymore. Just kind of gets numb. And so, even though the man I called Father was pummeling me unmercifully, it wasn't like I was going to die.
But I wanted to.
Chapter 2
^You know, that's really disturbing,^ commented a voice next to me.
My eyes snapped open. Leaves, shadows, apples around me. Orchard, my mind reminded me. You fell asleep in the orchard.
I looked down and saw the bright red mane belonging to my cousin.
^Well, Lei,^ I retorted, ^maybe you shouldn't be picking though my mind.^
^I wasn't picking. I was casually browsing,^ she said loftily.
^Whatever,^ I said, rolling my eyes. ^What are you doing here?^
^My mum wants you to babysit Ridian today,^ Lei drawled as she climbed up the tree.
Flatly, I replied, ^I'm busy.^
^Where ya going?^ she asked.
^Earth.^
^Again?^
^I'm a little homesick,^ I admitted. ^I haven't been there since I um.... you know.^
^Saved the day and became an Ellimist,^ sang my cousin brightly, waving her arms.
Forgetting, of course, that she was climbing the tree, and promptly fell on her bottom.
I began to laugh.
^You know, that really hurts my self-esteem, Pippa,^ Lei pouted. ^And you better make up for it good.^
^As punishment, I forfeit my chance to spend the day with Ridian.^
^That's not a good one,^ Lei frowned.
^Tough cookies, Lei. I'm going home.^
I dusted myself off and prepared to teleport.
^Byeeeee!^ was the last thing I heard.
~pov change: Lei~
~lei,~ Ridian said, wrinkling her nose, ~if you really want to go out, i can stay by myself.~
^Um, no,^ I replied. ^They'd have my head on a platter if I left you alone.^
~you could leave me with fieva,~ she suggested.
I looked at her like she was crazy. ^Willingly you would stay with Fieva?^
^Why wouldn't she?^ snapped a voice.
Sighing, I turned to face my irritable older sister. Fieva was older than me, bad-tempered, and incessantly jealous of everyone. She was even more irrational than me, which, if you think about it, is pretty hard to do.
^Hi, Fieva,^ I said cheerfully. ^Who stuck the rod up your butt this morning?^
^If you *must* know,^ she said melodramatically.
~which we don't,~ interjected Ridian.
Fieva ignored that. ^It was Pippa.^
Ridian folded her arms. ~somehow i doubt that.~
^Me too,^ I added. ^Pippa doesn't seem to be quite the rod-shover.^
^Well, you're wrong,^ Fieva growled. ^Do you know what happened?^
^If I did, would I want to know?^ I asked.
~probably,~ Ridian grinned.
Fieva began to flail her arms like a drowning idiot. ^Wes asked her to be his mate this morning.^
^And she agreed?^
^No, she laughed in his face.^
~then what's your problem?~ asked Ridian pointedly.
^She told him I liked him.^
^But you do,^ I replied, blinking.
^But I dind't want him to know,^ Fieva said exasperatedly.
^Well, how else were you going to nail him? Broadcast flirt to him and his friends? Doesn't work too well that way.^
~um, lei,~ Ridian said privately. ~let's leave before she starts throwing things.~
^Too late,^ I responded as an apple smushed up against my shoulder.
Chapter 3: Pippa
Snow!
It was snowing. Not a heavy snow, but a light fluff of flurries. I couldn't believe it. Grandma is very adverse to cold weather, so she keeps the weather on our planet from about 40 degrees to 70 degrees Fahrenheit year round. It will never be cold enough to snow there.
I spun around, reveling in the light shower, sticking out my tongue in hopes of catching a few stray flakes.
God, it was good to be back.
PIPPA, Mum had said worried, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GO BACK, I GUESS YOU CAN.
I knew I missed Earth, just not as much as I felt when I finally got back on it.
I submerge my Ellimistaincy and altered my human form to the age I should be.
And now I was running around at my old stomping grounds.
"Taco Bell," I said suddenly. "I have to get a gordita."
As I walked to the resturant, I faintly smiled and remembered trying to explain to my cousins what a gordita was- back when Lei was still a first stager.
~like what?~ Ridian had asked eagerly.
^Mexican food,^ I had tried to say.
Lei conjured up a sombrero.
^They don't eat those. They wear those.^
~is it like those tacos gran makes?~ Lei had asked after a second.
^Sort of. Except it's not quite so cruchy. More like a burrito, but fluffier.^
The poor, deprived children did not get it.
"Supreme chicken gordita, please," I ordered pleasantly, looking down at my wallet. Mum had made sure to load it with money. I rifled through the stack of bills.
"Hello, Pippa."
Blinking, I looked up. "Marco?" I exclaimed.
"Your total is $1.72," he said, without missing a beat. "And my shift's over in 10 minutes. Wait for me, okay?"
"Sure," I said, furrowing my brow.
I took the gordita and found a place to sit.
It was heaven. Within moments it was gone, and I thoroughly wiped my hands on some napkins.
Shortly after, Marco came out from behind the counter and motioned. "C'mon, kid. Let's go."
I rose and followed him out the door. "The Chevy," he said abruptly.
"I remember," I replied.
He opened his door and pressed the powerlock. "It's open," he gestured.
"Thanks," I said although I wasn't particularly thankful.
Marco's car was a pit. Of course, I wouldn't expect an Animorph to obsess over cleaning his car.
"There are things you need to know before you try to visit Jordan," he said seriously.
"Boyfriend?" I asked. "Cancer?"
Marco didn't answer.
"She's not... dead, is she?"
"No," he denied quickly. "Not dead. Although I'm sure that's the optimal position."
"It is cancer, then? Or a fatal disease?"
"No," he said, averting his eyes. "She was infested."
It felt like a knife in my back. My best friend was no longer in control of her own actions. She was governed by a yeerk, a twisted creature that fed off her life and emotions.
"How long?" I choked out.
"A few weeks," he replied. "She was visiting her dad alone when we think it happened initially."
Tears began to roll down my cheek. "It isn't fair," I whispered.
"No, it's not," he said grimly. "But war seldom is."
Chapter 4
"This can't be really happening," I said quietly. "This isn't real."
^You're right,^ said a voice. ^It isn't. But it could be.^
I turned my head, and my surroundings disintegrated like puffs of pixie dust. "Who are you?"
^Keil,^ introduced the towering Ellimist. For some reason he reminded me of someone. He brushed off his sides as if to rid himself of that filthy alternate timeline. ^As I'm sure you're aware, every other generation or so, an Ellimist is chosen to watch over time. My predecessor was your great-grandfather.^
I closed my eyes and pictured my great-grandfather. For some reason he had chosen as his Ellimist form an old man, with wrinkly skin and a fluffy grey beard. Time? I thought, reasoning things out. It's plausible, I suppose. I haven't really talked with him for extensive periods, but Jordy's sister and their friends seemed to be more familliar with him. So maybe this guy isn't a pothead- perhaps he's telling the truth.
"How much older are you than I?" I asked curiously. Like it would make a difference- but he was still a second stager, which meant he must have had some way to get around mating.
^A generation older,^ he said vaguely.
"Then how.. um..."
^Child,^ he said sternly, ^I'm the one who tells which Ellimists to manipulate what. I control time. Now, would you like to rephrase your last question?^
Child?
"Who do you think you are, anyways??" I flared. "I'm no less of a child than you are. What gives you the right to swallow me up from reality regurgitate me in what could be and what might be?"
^I'm trying to help you!^ he spat.
"You have a funny way of showing it," I said tartly. Impatiently I blew air through thinned lips. "So, is this Jordan-being-infested worse case scenario?"
^You just cast it off as insignificant, don't you?^ Keil's eyes flickered in annoyance. ^You have no idea what I've sacrificed for you, O Chosen One.^
"Why is it that everyone says that as if it's a curse? I didn't choose it. It's not my fault."
Keil became stonier than he already was. ^You have absolutely no clue as to what I had to do- what strings I had to pull, what strings I had to cut- in order for you to be born.^
"Maybe you should enlighten me." The look I sent could have killed a cat.
^I'm sure you're aware of your irregular conception,^ he said lightly. ^What you probably don't know is that your birth, from Gabriel and Kirby as parents, was a possibility in exactly one of the multiverses. Only one set of events would produce you. Thousands would produce offspring of Kirby, and thousands more children of Gabriel. Millions more could make it so both had children. Only one made it so that Gabriel and Kirby could together have a child.^ He jabbed his finger aimlessly in the air. ^And that was the one that had to happen.
^I don't know if you realize it or not, Pippa, but you are the one who will end it all. Either we will win or Crayak will, but it will end. Without you, we will flounder in this fight forever.^
"This makes you angry.. why?"
^You don't get it, do you, Pippa?^ he growled. ^I had to kill my brother for you.^
Chapter 5
I stepped back, confused. "What?"
In mock granduer he waved towards himself. ^Keil Dainn-filius.^
Dainn-filius. Son of Dainn... why was that...
^Brother of Lisky Dainn-filius.^
"But that's ridiculous," I said puzzledly. "Aryn killed Lisky. My mother told me so."
^And Kirby actually tells you this? About the man she was promised to?^
YOU KNOW, KEIL, THIS IS ABOUT THE TIME WHERE I SAY "BUTT OUT."
Kirby.
My mother.
I turned around to look at her. She radiated a sense of... pride, dignity.... I'm not sure how to explain it. My mum has this ability to look at someone and earn their respect in an instant. Not to say that my mom is likable- but well respected.
^Well, Kirby. It's been quite awhile, hasn't it?^
Mum regarded him cautiously. YES, she replied finally. YES, I SUPPOSE IT HAS, KEIL.
^The last time was... Lisky's funeral, was it not?^
She closed her eyes, a fresh wave of pain moving through her face. AYE. THAT WOULD BE IT.
^Although I could hardly expect you to remember it,^ Keil sneered. ^You were too busy basking in the afterglow of your coupling with Gabriel.^
I LOVED YOUR BROTHER, she said fiercely.
^And that's why you jumped right into Gabriel's arms,^ he retorted.
PIPPA, LET'S GO. Abruptly she took my hand and began the dual-teleportation process.
^Princess,^ floated his voice after us. ^You will be betrayed by one of your own.^
I flopped down on my bed, sighing.
~you okay, pippa?~
My cousin toddled in the room, her curls flouncing and her eyes shining.
^Hey, Ridian,^ I said, mustering up some cheerfullness. ^How are you, little one?^
~fine, i guess. i spent the day with fieva. let's just say she's not in a good mood.~
^Well, your sister doesn't usually reside in happy feelings. What's new about this time?^
~you're the reason she's upset.~
^Again, what's new about this time?^ I said jokingly.
~it's different, pip,~ Ridian warned, her eyes turning serious. ~it's not her normal mood swings. she's dangerous.~
^She won't do anything, hon,^ I assured her. ^I'll be fine. Now, go to bed.^
~yes, pippa,~ she said obediently, and skipped out of the room.
The room all of a sudden became cold. The air stirred and a blaze of light pulsed steadily. Ever so slowly, a pair of wings began to descend. They flapped with an even measure. Beat, beat, beat.
ºHi, Pippa.º
^Hi, Dad,^ I said softly.
Gabriel settled down next to me on my bed. ºI know you're upset. Do you want to talk about it?º
^What if I'm not the one everyone's looking for, Dad? What if I can't do what needs to be done?^ I said desperately.
ºPippa, you are the chosen one.º
^Dad, in case you haven't noticed, my powers suck. I cannot do an eigth of what you could.^
ºI was the chosen one of the flesh, Pippa. You are the chosen one of the spirit.º
^I don't understand the difference.^
ºSomeday, you will, Pip,º he assured.
^It's too confusing.^
ºYou need to sleep, Pip.º
^I can't possibly-^
ºSleep,º he said firmly.
Obligingly, I pulled up some blankets and shut my eyes. I began to drift off, but I could hear my parents talking.
KEIL SUMMONED HER TODAY.
ºAlready? The events are already being set in motion?º
I KNOW, IT DOES SEEM A LITTLE PREMATURE. I THINK CRAYAK HAD A HAND IN IT.
ºI wouldn't put it past him.º
YOU HAVE BEEN DISTORTING THE TIMELINE IMAGE, RIGHT?
ºSince her birth, yes. He doesn't know exactly what she's supposed to do, but he thinks it does.º
GOOD. THINK SHE CAN DO IT?
ºThere is no doubt in my mind.º
YOU'RE RIGHT. DESPITE ALL SHE'S BEEN THROUGH, SHE HAS SURVIVED.
Chapter 6
Where was I?
I focused.
Fieva's face hung above mine. ^You thieving wench!^ she snarled.
I threw a glance around. Not my room, definitely not Earth, and not around Keil's area either. ^Good morning to you, too, Fieva,^ I said blandly.
^Stop being clever,^ she snapped. ^You stole Wes from me!^
^That's a neat trick, considering I turned down his proposal.^
^It's all part of your elaborate plan to ruin me,^ she went on. ^You alrways need to be the best, you know.^
I coughed. ^Me?^
^You stole our family from me. They all loved me. They thought that I was hot snot. I was the first grandchild. When you were born, no one cared about me anymore.^ Her eyes narrowed, and in a sort of twisted way she cackled. ^And then I punished you for it. Do you want to know what I did?^
^I guess,^ I said, adding silently in my head, Being as you're going to strangle me if I don't...
A spark lit up her eyes. ^I told you we were going to go play. We teleported to Earth together.^
I froze.
^And I gave you to Nigel,^ she said smugly, awfully satisfied with herself. ^He's my grandfather, you know.^
I wanted to vomit. Every scar on my body was because of my cousin's jealousy. The lie I had lived had been instigated by my own blood.
^But no,^ she said crossly. ^Your darling father had to rescue from that abyss and bring you back. Well, I'm not going to watch as you steal my mate and my position.^ She paused. ^I'm going to a much better job this time.^
Weakly, I said, ^This time?^
Brightly she allowed me to sit up. ^That's right, Pippa. This time I'm delivering you to Crayak myself.^
I wrung my hands and hoped this was another one of Keil's false scenarios.
Deep down, though, I knew it wasn't.
~pov change: keil~
I let out a string of curses. Crayak had Pippa now- exactly what I didn't want to happen.
No interfering, nagged the little voice in the back of my mind.
I stared at the sky helplessly. What was I supposed to do? Sit around like a fricken doormat as the events unfolded?
That's what everyone else does, said the little voice.
^Well, I'm not everyone else, dammit!^ I shouted. ^I'm Keil Dainn-silius, and I can manipulate time! I will not allow this to happen!^
^Well, it's about time,^ said a voice critically. ^Although you could have probably left out the swearing.^ It was Lei- Fieva's sister and Pippa's cousin.
^It seemed to fit,^ I said lamely.
^I'm sure it did, dear. Now, are we going to go rescue my cousin from the clutches of Crayak or what?^
I glared at her. ^This is serious.^
^Seriousness is relative,^ she said sweetly. ^Let's get moving.^
~pov change: pippa~
I was sickened by the sight of him.
The room was steel. I felt as if I was encased in a sword. I was kneeling on the cold floor- not out of any particular respect.
He was hideous- a mixture of machine and rotted flesh.
Shifting, he turned his blood red eye on me. "Pippa," he rumbled. "Finally, I have you."
Don't look at him. Don't look at him.
^You have no one,^ I said quietly, averting my eyes.
"I own you," he gloated.
^No one owns me,^ said I softly. ^No one can own anyone.^
"You can't leave here," he informed me. "Ever."
Despair crept up in my throat, but I crammed it back down with a smile. ^We'll see about that,^ I said mysteriously. No, I didn't have any plans... but being as everyone thought I was more powerful that I actually was, it was worth a try.
"You are much like your father, you know that." Crayak leered. "He wasn't afraid of me. He was a fool."
^He killed your daughter,^ I said pointedly.
"And now I will kill his," he said, pleased with himself.
Don't look at him.
"I could crush you in an instant," he said mockingly, "but that wouldn't be nearly as fun. I'm going to kill you, alright, but I'm going to slowly torture you first."
Don'tlookdon'tlookdon'tlookdon'tlook-
^No, you aren't.^
The voice rang out clearly from the back of the hall.
My heart leaped. Keil!
^Yeah, Crayak! You better give Pippa to us right now!^ exclaimed Lei impulsively.
"I'll kill you both first," said Crayak calmly.
The end of the hall closed up, trapping all of us inside.
^Let them go,^ I said with a quiet fierceness.
"On one condition, Princess," he said slyly.
^No, Pippa!^ shouted Keil. ^Don't! He's a liar!^
^Depends on the condition,^ I said warily, lifting my head.
^Pippa! Listen to Keil!^ urged Lei. ^He actually knows what he's talking about!^
^Gee, thanks,^ Keil murmured drily.
The blood red eye caught contact with mine. "You will be my mate."
You shouldn't have looked up.
It was increasingly hard to maintain my will. I would have given in. In his gaze was pure evil, and my stomach began to tie in a million knots. I would have done anything.
This is why he wins, I realized. He scares them.
I was different, wasn't I? I was different because I could figure this out, even though I didn't have the strength of a full Ellimist.
I stood up. ^You don't understand. You can't make me do anything. You may be powerful, but there are people more powerful than you. You can make up conditions all you want, but the truth is we don't need them. You can torture us all you want, but you can't kill us. I am the daughter of the Chosen One.
^You think you can harm me? Think you can hurt me anymore than I've already been hurt? Think again. You can do nothing. You have nothing. You are nothing.
^And you know what else, Crayak? When I leave this room, you will have no one to spill your troubles to. Whereas I, simple Pippa, will have dozens of friends to tell the story.^
Each word was like a blow. In place of his supreme ego began to settle self-doubt, self-pity, and a loss of self-esteem.
I turned around and crossed the room to my cousin and the time-manager, and said, loud enough for Crayak to hear, ^He can't do anything at the moment. His powers are failing him. Let's go.^
"WAIT!" cried Crayak. "You must fight me! COME ON!"
^I don't need to fight you, Crayak,^ I said coolly, and helped Keil and Lei up from the floor.
"Come back and fight like a man!"
He was writhing in his throne at this point.
^Sorry, old chap,^ I said lightly. ^Things to do today.^
And just like that, we three teleported back home.
Epilogue
Pippa leaned on Keil's shoulder, absorbing in the sunset. ^It's pretty,^ she murmered.
^Yeah,^ he said quietly, ruffling a hand through her hair.
Curiously she looked up. ^You've never done that before.^
^Well, I did now.^
^True enough.^
Silence ensued.
^Pip, I was wondering... if.. you.. uh..^
^Hmm?^
^Would.. um.. like to be my mate.^
He flushed, incredibly embarressed. Time managers don't usually do that sort of thing, you understand.
Pippa squealed in delight and threw her arms around his neck.
I'll take that as a yes, he thought.
-FLASH-
Tii and Kirby sat down at the table in the elder sister's kitchen. TEA? asked Kirby.
YES, PLEASE, Tii accepted.
WHAT'S NEW? asked the elder sister pleasantly.
FIEVA AND WES HAVE MATED, the younger replied. I'M SURE THEY'LL BE A GREAT MATCH.
THAT'S NICE. HOW'S RIDIAN ADJUSTING TO THE SECOND STAGE?
NICELY, I GUESS. LEI IS SHOWING HER THE ROPES.
Kirby took a sip of tea. WONDERFUL.
-FLASH-
ºSuppose she's happy, Bri?º Lisky asked.
ºI think she is, Lisk,º Gabriel assured him.
ºI think she is, too,º Lisky replied reflectively, then slammed the cloud with his cards. ºRoyal Straight.º
ºCrap,º Gabriel cursed, and threw his lousy hand of cards over the edge of the cloud.
-FLASH-
I THINK WE DID GOOD, EREK, I said comfortably. LOOK AT HOW WELL IT'S ALL TURNED OUT.
"Wonderful, I agree," he said, smiling.
I smiled back, took his hand, and walked out into the sunset.