Okay, I'll be the first to admit it: this idea is completely, totally, 100% ripped off from another fic I read on this site. Said fic was called The Mediveal by Moon-wolf2. So if anyone reads this and thinks, "This sounds REALLY familiar", that's probably why.

That said, I was inspired to write this after reading a similar one. This story was burning a hole in my brain. I could not think of anything else until I started writing this. I just couldn't take it. So here, for your reading pleasure, is the story.

Basically, this is Animorphs. In a medieval-style world. That's about all you need to know; the rest of it should make enough sense soon.

And as always,

Enjoy or go go hell.

THE ARCHAIC

It was a very special day. The favorite day of the children of the kingdom. Of course, Prince Jake wasn't a child, so he wasn't very interested in it. But he had a duty, as Prince, to attend. This was the day that the traveling storyteller visited the kingdom and told tales to the children. The young royalty had to attend.

As usual, Jake's jester, Marco, followed him. Marco wasn't yet the official court jester, but he could well earn that title one day. His tale was a sad one, though. His father had been a brilliant inventor. But then, Marco's mother had drowned one night at sea. His father was never the same. Marco hid the pain behind jokes, but he also made jokes for the simple fact that he thought they were funny. He was probably the only one of that opinion.

Having him there made it a lot easier, since he made sarcastic comments during the entire telling. The stories themselves weren't bad, really. But Prince Jake had heard them all before, every single year. And he was required to be there at the beginning of the first story and not leave until the final one was told.

The local children were gathered around the fire. The storyteller, an old man calling himself Ellimist, stood before it, the flames casting odd shadows over him. It was late at night now. The time had come for his favorite tale.

Jake

"Children," Ellimist called, "it is time for a scary story. It is a great tale. An epic of bravery, sacrifice, and foolishness. A story of magic, betrayal, and war."

I saw my cousin, Princess Rachel, perk up at that. Rachel's father was my father's younger brother. As the younger brother, Daniel wouldn't inherit the throne, so he had went to make his fortune in a distant kingdom a thousand miles away.

I knew how Daniel must have felt. My older brother, Tomas, would inherit the throne, while I would be left with…well, not nothing, but considerably less than Tom. Not that Tom wouldn't be a good king, of course. He was brave, smart, handsome, and charismatic. He would be a good leader. He was a good fighter, too.

I also noticed Rachel's friend, Cassie. She and her parents were in charge of the royal animals. They also cared for those from around the countryside. I had a lot of respect for Cassie. And some other feeling as well…

"This is the story of the Andalites. The Andalites were once a peaceful people. Artists and farmers. Their kingdom was in the lands that surround this kingdom.

"The Andalites used to keep to themselves and they were happy. But then they began to explore the world and the surrounding lands. One day, one of their leaders, a great Prince named Seerow, came to a small village.

"In this village were the Yeerks. The Yeerks were small, weak people. They were very sickly. Seerow wanted to help them. So he taught them powerful magic so that they could explore the world.

"But the Yeerks fooled Seerow. They were a race of demons. They could possess other creatures and control them completely.

"With Seerow's magic, the Yeerks spread out throughout the forest. The Andalites fought them for generations. But the Yeerks grew more and more powerful. Eventually, they had enough power to challenge the Andalites directly.

"The Andalites fought long and hard but in the end, they were defeated. Their kingdom fell into ruin. Only a few scattered bands of Andalites still live. They do what little they can to hold back the Yeerks from peaceful unsuspecting kingdoms, but they cannot hope to succeed.

"Some say that the Andalites walk among us. They can change their bodies into any living creature. And the Yeerks can steal the minds of others. Yeerks and Andalites could be anywhere; anyone. They say that the two forces still fight, just beyond our vision."

Silence reigned. And then, Rachel said, "That's it? That's the story?"

"That is all."

"Why didn't anyone help the Andalites?"

"They were too proud to ask for help. And after what happened with the Yeerks, they did not trust anyone."

"But why—"

"Rachel," Marco cut her off, "it's just a story. Andalites and Yeerks aren't real."

Ellimist fixed him with an unnerving gaze. "Aren't they, Marco?"

Marco snorted. "Look, I know you make your living peddling these stories, but only an idiot would believe them. Is this your last story?"

"It is."

Marco turned to me. "Can we go now, Jake?"

I shrugged. "Yeah. It's pretty late anyway. Oh! If we don't hurry, the cooks will shut down for the night and I'm starving."

Marco looked horrified. "Well, we'd better hurry. I hate going to bed without dinner."

Rachel and Cassie decided to walk with us, since they were going back to the palace, too. "Well…" Rachel began.

Cassie gave her a look. "I don't like that tone."

"I was just going to say that we could get home a lot faster if we cut through the forest."

"Oh no," Marco protested. "People get killed in that forest!"

"Aww…little Marco too scared?" Rachel prodded.

Marco liked Rachel, so he'd never admit that he was, in fact, afraid of the forest. "Me? I'm not afraid of anything."

"Not even Chapman?" I asked. Chapman was the local schoolmaster.

"Okay, just him, though. Let's go, ladies."

"Marco?" Rachel began. "You do know that I could have you beheaded, right?"

"Then you'd put my head on a pike so you could look at it all the time," Marco answered. "What concerns me is what you'd do with the rest of my body. You know, you could just ask."

Rachel hit him in the shoulder and we all laughed. That made me feel a little better as we crept through the forest. Then, I heard an odd sound. A hawk, screeching.

"A hawk? At night?" Cassie asked. "That isn't right. It might be hurt. Let's go look."

I was about to argue, but then she looked at me and I couldn't refuse. "Okay, let's go."

We ran through the woods and suddenly emerged into a clearing. There were two people there, both on the ground. There was a hawk perched on one's shoulder. "Come on, you have to try to get up."

We gathered around. The one with the hawk was a boy about our age. He had dark hair, dark eyes, and he wore all black. I'm pretty sure he had the classic 'tall, dark, and handsome' thing going on. I guessed the handsome part from the look Rachel gave him.

The other guy, the one on the ground, was a man about twice our age. Light armor and a few weapons were in a pile next to him. There was a deep gash in his side.

The man coughed. "I cannot. I…" Suddenly, his voice was in my head. ((I will die here.))

"No," the other guy insisted. "You can't. You're the last of the Andalites!"

Andalites? I shot Marco a questioning look.

((Not the last. There are others. They will come to help you but…it will take time. But that is time you do not have. The Yeerks have come.))

I could tell that the Andalite was talking to all of us now. Come closer, children. Do you know about the Yeerks?

"I thought they were a myth," Marco mumbled.

((They are all too real. And they have come to your kingdom. Because they know that you believe it is all a myth. They are taking your people even as we speak.))

"No. They can't!" Rachel insisted. "Someone has to stop them!"

The Andalite nodded. ((Someone must. But we Andalites are too few. And your people do not have the magic to fight the Yeerks. Maybe…yes, that is the only way. In my pack is a small, blue cube. Bring it to me.))

I looked at the other guy, the one with the hawk. He nodded to me. "Go. I'm not leaving him."

I nodded and rummaged through the man's pack. I saw the name embroidered on the pack. Elfangor Sirinial, Prince.

I found the cube and brought it to him. He nodded. ((Each of you, put a hand on the cube. I will give you some Andalite magic. It our most prized power. The power to change your form. The power to morph.))

We didn't seem to have a choice. At the time, I didn't even realize what we were agreeing to. I just knew that we had to help in any way we could.

I locked eyes with the hawk guy. He nodded to me. "No choice," he said. I nodded back. At the same time, we placed our hands on the cube. Rachel's hand joined ours almost instantly. Slowly, Marco and Cassie joined us as well.

I felt a tingle go through my body and then it stopped.(( You must go now. You can change your shape into any living thing. But there are limitations, at least until you are more powerful. For now, at least, you can only become a creature you have touched. And you cannot remain in one form for more than two hours. If you do, you might never change back.))

"Is that it?" the hawk guy asked.

((There is more, but we do not have the time. The Yeerks are on their way. Their Visser will come to claim my body. You must go now.))

"What's a Visser?" Marco asked.

((A powerful Yeerk warlord. I can feel him. This is Visser Three, one of their most powerful. He will be your greatest enemy. Only he of all the Yeerks has the power that you now possess. Visser Three can morph.))

"How is that possible?" Rachel asked.

((He has stolen the mind of an Andalite named Alloran Semitur. Go, now!))

"Wait!" the hawk guy said. "What is your name? Who are you?"

The Andalite managed to smile with only his eyes. ((My name is Elfangor Sirinial. Prince Elfangor. Now go. You must fight the Yeerks until the Andalites come. The fate of your kingdom rests on your shoulders now.))

We pulled back to hide in the woods. Just when Elfangor was almost out of sight, two people joined him. One was a tall, dark haired man who bore a bit of a resemblance to Elfangor. The other was…Chapman. I'd recognize him anywhere.

With them were…demons, I guess. They were conjured by Yeerk magic, I suppose. ((Hork-bajir,)) Elfangor said in my head. ((A sweet people until they Yeerks took control of them.))

I saw some new demons. ((Taxxons. They are…as bad as they the Hork-bajir were enslaved, the Taxxons submitted willingly. They are cannibals and gluttons. But tey are not strong. In a battle, they are no threat.))

((Ah, who is this that I see? So it is true. The great Prince Elfangor himself came to stop us. And he came alone, it appears. Incredible, isn't it, Chapman? I thought that Elfangor, at least, was above the arrogance of his people. It woudl seem that I was wrong. He thought he could stop us all by himself. Noble. And foolish. Then again, they are one and the same.))

((Visser Three,)) Elfangor rasped. ((This is not over yet. Others will come. More than you can hope to defeat. The Andalites will come to save this kingdom.))

The Visser smiled with just his eyes. I didnt' know it was possible to give a cruel smile like that. ((Yes, Prince Elfangor. They will come. And by then, it will be too late.))

Elfangor tried to rise to his feet. He picked up his chain/sickle (a weird Andalite weapon) from his pile of gear and tried to fight the Visser, but he was too weakened by his wound.
The Visser laughed, and then he started to change. His flesh broke into scales and turned black. His eyes bulged out of his skull, huge, red orbs. Teeth the size of a sword filled his mouth. And then he started to grow. Even as he changed, morphed, Elfanogr struck at him with his chain/sickle. The Visser only continued to laugh. Within a minute, Elfangor stood alone before an enormous dragon. I didn't even believe in dragons until that.

((And now, Prince Elfangor, I bid you farewell.))

The Visser opened his mouth and expelled a torrent of flame. In less than five seconds, there was nothing left of Prince Elfangor Sirinial. That was when we ran. Rachel, Marco, Cassie, and I ran back to the palace

We slammed the gate behind us. Then, Marco turned to me, fear on his face. "Hey, what happened to that other guy? The one with the bird? I'm sure he knew who we were. The Yeerks want to keep themselves a secret, but if he tells them that we know…"

I nodded. "We'll have to find him. But I think we can trust him. I mean, he was trying to help the Andalite after all."

"Yeah," Rachel agreed. "I'm sure he's trustworthy. We'll find him. And then we'll talk about what we have to do to stop these Yeerks from taking over our home."

Rachel

I was pretty scared when I woke up the next morning. I half thought that it was all a dream that crazy Ellimist gave me. It was possible. But something made me think it wasn't. I hoped it wasn't.

It isn't that I wanted to believe that the Yeerks, who weren't even supposed to be real, were attacking us. But I liked the thought that I'd actually get to do something. I mean, my father had taught me to use a sword and ride a horse and all the sorts of things that he learned to do as a boy. But once he was gone, my mother would never let me.

Sure, I often did it anyway. I'd sneak out with Cassie or Jake and we'd go riding or whatever. When Jake wanted to practice his swordwork, I'd practice with him, since Marco was pretty bad.

To be honest, I kind of liked the idea that I'd actually get to put those skills to use in real life. Sure, I wouldn't be of much use against one of those Hork-bajir demons, but I could split open a Taxxon, that's for sure.

As usual, I had breakfast in my room. That's a privilege you get when you're a Princess. Cassie brought me my food. That wasn't part of her usual duties, but we usually ate breakfast together, so this made it easier.

Her first words were, "Did you have a weird dream about Andalites and Yeerks?"

I shrugged. "It might have been a dream. That guy with the hawk was too cute to be real."

Cassie gave me a look. I just laughed. "Okay, so he's not your type. I forgot; you go for a more princely character. Have you seen Jake today?"

Cassie blushed. She has a thing for Jake and thinks that no one knows. But I think that even clueless Jake has figured it out by now.

"We do need to find that guy," I reminded her. "Marco was right. I don't think he'd betray us, but he might give us away by accident."

"Do you have any idea how to find him, though?" she asked me.

I shook my head. "I don't know. We didn't even find out his name. All we know about him is that he has a hawk."

"He had a sword."

"Did he? I didn't notice."

"Maybe he's one of the knights in training. Elfangor's wound didn't seem to bother him, after all. I'll go and check out the practice fields."

"Are you sure you just don't want to see Jake all shirtless and glistening as he practices with Tom?" I teased.

She gave me a hurt look. "Fine. Have fun. But I'm not going there. It depresses me. I'm better than half the full knights and I'm not allowed to touch a sword."

"What will you do, then?"

I shrugged. "May dad just sent in a new eagle for me. I think I'll take him out for some training."

"Honestly, Rachel, I don't know how you can engage in that kind of behavior."

"What? It's just falconing. I let the bird do what birds do. There isn't anything wrong with it. It's no different than horse racing."

"And you know how I feel about that."

"Which is exactly why I'm not inviting you. Have fun with the big sweaty knights. I'll be enjoying some fresh air."

After breakfast, I went to the aviary and retrieved my new eagle. He was heavier than I expected. I hadn't named him yet. It's bad luck to name a bird before you start training it.

I took my eagle and went beyond the edge of the palace, over to the woods. I think eagles liked woods. It would make him feel more at home here.

Technically, I wasn't supposed to be alone, since the eagle could attack me. But I wasn't too worried. I was good with birds. It was a special talent of mine. Birds loved me.

I was enjoying watching my eagle soar and for a moment, I wished I could join him. He looked so free, so…happy. And then I remembered what the Andalite had said. Maybe I could join him. But I wasn't going to practice morphing alone. I can be a bit reckless, but playing with magic is crossing the line, even for me.

Suddenly, I heard my eagle cry out. There was an even larger bird flying with it. No, not with it. Attacking it. I tried to call my bird to me, but he didn't know enough to respond yet.

I cursed. I didn't want to lose my father's gift like this. And I didn't really want my eagle to die, either.

Then, from out of nowhere, a third animal joined the fray. A smaller bird, but it moved with a lot more grace and…skill, I guess…than the eagles. It was joined by a forth bird, identical to it.

The second eagle broke off and wheeled away. No one followed it. My eagle descended and landed on my gloved hand. I started checking him for wounds; there were some minor cuts, but nothing suspicious. The other two birds, hawks I think they were, disappeared into the trees.

"Hey!" I turned to the new voice. A blonde guy was walking towards me. I didn't recognize him. "Is that your eagle?"

I nodded. And then scowled when I saw that, on his arm, there was the same golden eagle that had attacked mine.

"Yeah, it's mine."

"Then I am terribly sorry. I don't know what came over Imaeus. I'm David, by the way."

I nodded. "Rachel." I held out my hand. He decided that was an invitation to kiss it. I yanked it back. "Sorry again," he apologized. "That was our custom back where I used to live."

"You're new around here?"

He nodded. "My father's with a mercenary company. The king here wanted to hire them to keep an eye on the Anati. I travel around with my father a lot. Sorry again."

He seemed nice enough. But there was something about him that I just didn't like. I don't know what it was. It wasn't that he was unattractive or anything…

I heard a rustle behind me. David and I turned to look. Out from the woods stepped the guy with the hawk from the previous night. I realized that it was his hawk (or hawks, apparently) that had saved my eagle.

And Cassie was right; he did have a sword. And he wore it comfortably. David had a sword, too, but it looked awkward and out of place on him.

This new guy was, as I said, incredibly good looking. He had the classic tall, dark, and handsome look going on. There was something in his eyes…something deep. A sorrow he couldn't hide. His face was cold, impassive. Only his eyes gave away anything that he might have been feeling.

"You saved my eagle, didn't you?" I asked, stroking my bird.

"It was team effort." I couldn't tell if that was a joke or not.

"Where's your other hawk?"

"He comes when I need him. You're Princess Rachel, aren't you?"

I nodded. How did he recognize me? Not that many people could recognize me on sight. They could figure it out if I was dressed for something formal or escorted by guards, but I was dressed as normal as I could be today.

"Yeah. I think we met last night after Ellimist was done telling his stories. Do you remember?"

"I didn't sit to listen to the stories. But yeah, we met." He paused. Then, "I'll think I'll be leaving now. I just wanted to make sure your eagle was alright."

"How did you know he was mine?"

"I didn't. But a bald eagle is a noble bird. And I hate golden eagles." He didn't shoot David a look, but he definitely could have been staring him down.

David took the hint, I guess. "Well, my Lady, I must be off. My father wants me in the practice yards. Maybe you'll stop by later? You could show me what the palace's best meals are."

"Maybe," I answered, noncommittally. David turned and left without acknowledging the hawk guy. Hmm…hawk guy. He needed a name. "Dou have a name?" I asked.

A stupid question, I realized. Of course he had one. But for some reason, I wasn't thinking as clearly as I usually did.

He shook his head. "No name. I'm just a figment of your imagination."

"Great. Another Marco. That's the last thing I need on top of everything else."

He sat on the ground and leaned against a tree. He looked…right.

I took a seat next to him. He gave me a look. "A princess sits on the ground?"

"A princess could knock you flat without breaking a sweat," I answered.

He gave me a smile. It looked out of place. "Now that would be interesting to see."

"Don't tempt me."

He stood up and spread his arms. "Come on. I'll give you a free shot."

"You're asking for it," I warned him.

"No. Hit me. Hit me. Now, I'm asking for it."

I didn't have much of a choice. I heaved my eagle into the air and rushed at the jerk. I meant to loop my ankle behind his and push him over.

He grabbed my wrist, spun around behind me, and, with is foot in my back, forced me to my knees. "Hey!" I protested. "You said I got a free shot!"

"Yes, yes I did. I didn't say which shot that would be." Somehow, I knew he was smiling.

He let me go. I stood up and turned around. "That was really unfair." Then, my eyes fell on the sword at his waist.

He saw what I was looking at. "You want your free shot now? Go on, then."

I grabbed the sword and pulled it out of its scabbard. I loved that sound. He gave me a look. "Oh, come on. What, you're going to stab me?"

"You said I get a free shot," I reminded him.

"So do it," he dared.

I don't really know what happened next. I really don't. All I know is that, suddenly, there was blood on his sword and the guy was clutching his side.

I dropped the sword. "Oh my god! I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to…" I trailed off. The wound looked pretty deep.

He smiled at me through gritted teeth. "I've had worse," he hissed. I could tell he was in pain, but he didn't want to show it. Stupid male pride.

"You need help. We've got to take you to a doctor!"

"A what? I'll be fine. Just…" He sat down, hard. Then, he pulled his shirt off. He was bleeding a lot. A small part of my mind noted that he had a lot of scars, too. He tore his shirt into strips and started wrapping his own wound shut. I couldn't think of anything to do.

After he had totally mutilated his shirt, he lurched to his feet. "Well…I suppose I'll be off now, Princess."

Just like that. Like nothing had happened! "No. You're coming with me back to the palace. You need to see a doctor."

"I'll be fine."

"Don't give me that. Come on, you're going and that's final." He grumbled but let me lead him to the palace. I grabbed his arm to make sure he didn't run off when I wasn't looking. That was the only reason. I swear.

About a quarter of the way there, it became apparent that we weren't going to make it. He wasn't walking very much and he was doubled over, one hand tight over his wound. "I'm not going to make it," he gasped.

"You are not going to die on me," I said. Pleaded.

"No. I'm not going to make it to the palace. My home isn't far from here."

I looked around. This wasn't the best section of the village. In fact, it was pretty much the worst. I'd never even been here. I was trying to take a shortcut to the palace but even I tried to avoid this area.

He stumbled down the alleys and I tried to follow him. Eventually, he collapsed against the door of a small hovel. I was amazed that the door withstood his body. He gave it a harder shove and stumbled through.

It was a tiny hut. There were two rooms. One was some kind of bedroom with several overturned kegs in it. The other was the main room. It had a table and some food. In one corner was a ragged blanket. The entire place reeked of cheap ale.

He collapsed into the pile of blankets. I realized with a shock that this is where he lived. His hawk flew through the open door, searching for its master.

The hawk landed next to the guy. He gently started stroking its chest. And then something weird happened.

Feathers grew on the guy's body. He shrank. In a few moments, he was an identical bird. A second red-tailed hawk.

((Oh, this is much better,)) I heard his voice say in my head.

"Is that you?" I asked.

((Could be. But I'm not sure who you're talking to.))

"Well, you never gave me a name."

((No, I suppose I didn't.))

One of the hawks grew back into the guy. He was shirtless, so I could see that his wound was completely gone. He did have a nasty scar now, though. He ran his finger along it. "Hmm…a souvenir from the Princess. I'll take it with me everywhere."

"Are you going to give me your name or will I have to give you another souvenir?"

He just smiled some more. "My name is Tobias."

I nodded. It was a nice name. A bit foreign, though. "Your family lives here?" I asked. I felt the need to say something, after all.

"In a manner of speaking."

"Must you always be cryptic?"

"It's part of my charm."

I laughed. But then I started to think. Maybe there was a reason he didn't want to answer me. He had a foreign name. Maybe he thought I'd laugh at him. Like I was laughing now. I stopped abruptly.

"So do you live here?" I asked again.

He didn't give me any answer this time. "Look, Tobias, it isn't something to be ashamed of. I don't care if you live here or not. I just want to get to know you better, that's all."

He shrugged. "Yeah, I live here with my uncle. He's a bit of a local celebrity."

"Really?"

"He's the town drunk."

"Oh. So…you sleep there?" I asked, nodding at the blanket.

"Sometimes. Usually, I'm in the forest."

I nodded. "So…where did you learn to use a sword? And train hawks?"

He gave me that odd smile. It reminded me of Elfangor's smile. "The Andalites taught me."

"Oh really?" He expected me to believe that?

"Yeah. Well, they taught me some stuff. I was sleeping in the woods one night. I must have been about four or five…"

"You slept in the woods alone at that age?"

He shrugged like it was nothing. "It was safer than being here. Anyhow, when you spend as much time in the woods as I did, you're bound to come across a random Andalite or two. After a decade or so of working with Andalites, I've learned a thing or two."

"Did you know that one from last night?"

"Only by reputation. Prince Elfangor…he was a great hero. The Yeerks were terrified of him. When I found him in the woods…he came here to try to stop the Yeerk invasion all by himself. He tried to do it alone."

"How can someone be that arrogant?"

"Not arrogant. Desperate. He told me…he has a son who lives in this kingdom. He's done everything he can to protect his son from the Yeerks. There wasn't enough time to rally the other Andalites to protect this place, so he had to come on his own."

"His son lives here?"

Tobias nodded. He looked like he was about to say more, but then shook his head. "It amazes me, really. Prince Elfangor crossed thousands of uncharted miles and prepared to fight an army all on his own to protect his son. And yet my mother just up and left without another word."

"Oh! I'm so sorry, Tobias. I didn't know. I just …"

"Of course you didn't know. My father died when I was very young. I'm not sure how; my uncle can't tell me because he didn't think it was worth remembering. And shortly after that, my mother ran off. So I live here when I can't make it in the woods."

"How often is it that you're here? I mean, we've got to fight the Yeerks together, so we need to be able to find you."

"I'm usually in the woods, actually. Even in the winter. But I could stay near the palace for when you need me. Maybe there's some work they'd give me in exchange for sticking around."

"Well, if you're good with that sword, there's a job for you. And that's a very well trained hawk. I'm sure the aviaries could find a place for you. Let's go now. Do you have anything you want to pack?"

Tobias reached in a keg and pulled out a pack. It wasn't nearly full. He stuffed his old blanket into it and tossed in a cloak hanging by the door. "This is all I have. Let's go."

This is another story that I wrote a while ago. I welcome (maybe crave) feedback (*is feedback junkie*), but any suggestions you have may take a looong time to be implimented. Still, I welcome suggestions and will try to work them in whenever possible.

~b;)d