Piper's Log,
Another day on the condor, another day of Finn's annoying antics, Junko's belches, and Storks rants on mind eating, mind-worms. Still have not found any new crystals to test, I'm experimenting with the old ones, but no new results. I have a strange feeling that I'm needed somewhere; weird.
~~Piper Out.
Chapter 1
Piper lays her journal back in its designated spot on her shelf. She decides to go find out what Aerrow is up to, and figures maybe he'll do some training with her. She finds him in the main hold, looking for signs of cyclonian terror. "Hey Aerrow, Radar, anything suspicious going on?" "Hey Piper, no, it's like Cyclonis has something planned, but she is waiting for a specific time to put it into action. I think she is waiting until we are off-guard." "Well whatever it is we are ready and prepared…. So, I was wondering, if you wanted to do some practice training?" "That sounds good, it will distract me from thinking about Cyclonis." Piper and Aerrow head to their skimmers with Radar in tow when Stork comes over the intercom, "Um…. Aerrow, we have company, I don't think it's a threat because I'm not twitching or excessively shaking." "Ok Stork, thanks, Piper and I are in the hanger bay, open the doors." "Aye, Aye, Captain." Piper stands behind Aerrow as the doors open and they see a skimmer heading down to the landing platform. Aerrow lets out a sigh of relief when he realizes who it is, "It's just Starling, I wonder what's wrong though." Aerrow walks toward Starling, while Piper stays where she is. Piper's heart sinks, which happens a lot when Starling is around. Piper loved Starling and all, but how could she compete with her, especially when it came to Aerrow. Starling has the skill, the talent, the experience, and the knowledge that Piper could only dream of having one day. Piper turns to excuse herself from the hanger bay when Finn, Junko and Stork run through to greet the amazing Sky Knight. Piper continues to take her leave when Aerrow tells everyone to gather round and listen up. Piper returns to her previous position to obey orders, "Alright team, Starling has informed me that Cyclonis has captured some Sky Knights, she needs me to help her save them." "Yes, I do, but I am incredibly sorry that I cannot take the entire Storm Hawks team with me, it is too dangerous. We need to fly under the radar, and that is Aerrow's strongpoint, that's why I chose him for this mission." Aerrow turns to his team, "What do you guys think; you know I would rather we all go." Finn jumps to Aerrows side, "Don't worry Aerrow, I'll take care of the Condor and the team, you go kick cyclonian butt." Finn leans in close to Aerrows ear, "I only hate how lucky you are, you get to fight alone alongside Starling, you go man." Aerrow pushes him away. "Yeah don't worry Aerrow, we will be fine, me and Stork can keep the ship in one piece." "Thanks Junko." "Just don't bring back a disease, or mind worms." Stork grabs his head and Aerrow smiles, "I promise Stork." Aerrow looks at Piper standing in the background, "Piper? You ok?" She looks at him and fakes a smile, "I'm fine with it, just be careful." "Thanks Piper, I'll be careful. You're in charge while I'm gone." "WHAT!!!! But that's so not fair! She is always in charge!" "Remember what happened last time you were in charge Finn?" Finn laughs nervously, "He, he, ok Piper's in charge." Piper smiles after making her point. "Ok I'll keep in contact, if something goes wrong you'll be the first to know. Only contact me if it's an emergency, we should be back in a couple of days." "Let's go Aerrow; we have no time to waste." Aerrow and Starling mount their skimmers and take off out of the hanger bay. Everyone leaves to resume their activities, except Piper, who stays until they are out of sight.
The doors close on the clear blue open skies and Piper turns to leave. As she walks away she hears a light tap on the hanger bay doors and turns around. Stork comes over the intercom, "Um…. Piper, there is a messenger bird outside." "Yeah, I hear it. You can let it in, I will take the message." As soon as the doors open the bird darts in and lands on Pipers shoulder. "Well hello little guy, what do you have for us?" Piper grabs the envelope from the falcon and he leaves. The doors close again and Piper looks at the letter confused. "It's….for me?" Finn appears from nowhere with an eager face, "Is that my Atmosis' hottest models magazine! Please, please, please tell me it is!" Piper gives him a dirty look, "No Finn, it's for me." "Awww Man!" Piper shakes her head and leaves Finn to sulk. In her room she stares at the envelope with her name neatly signed on the front. Turning it over, she tears it open and retrieves a letter and necklace. Pipers mouth drops open when she realizes it's her mother's necklace, given to her before she left home and joined the Storm Hawks, When she was instated as the new princess. The same one she returned to her mother when she decided that she did not wish to be the princess, but a Storm Hawk. It was a beautiful silver necklace with the insignia of her family on it. She remembered it well, two swords united, a Red rose perfectly designed on one hilt and a White on the other, to remind the kingdom that although everyone was different and may not agree, there was always love and hope that would be brought back to the Kingdom, no matter what the circumstances. The necklace also contained the engraved names of the past princesses and the present one on the back. Piper was a bit surprised to find her name still there. "This letter is from mom and dad." She draws her attention to the piece of paper and she unfolds it to read her mother's words,
My Dearest Piper,
It has been far too long since we have spoken and seen each other. We may not have liked the decision you made, to leave home, and fight with Sky Knights, instead of fulfilling your duties as princess, but we have always loved and respected you and your decision, we miss you, but I now more than ever am happy you are not here. I am sorry, but this letter is not to catch up with you. We are in the gravest of circumstances. We have been invaded by the Cerulian Guard, of the Wayward Kingdom. It is with great regret to inform you that our Kingdom of Warren stands no chance against them. Piper I am forced to write this letter as an invitation for you to come home. The Prince, Aron has put forth a compromise that I do not accept. But alas, it is not my choice. The Prince proposes that before three sunsets you are to marry him and combine our Kingdoms, or he will take over our Kingdom and make every survivor a slave. He thinks he is being chivalrous by making this offer and gaining the Kingdom the "old fashion way" through marriage. If it was my choice I refuse to give you away to this mad-man. I am free to put whatever I want into this letter, so please don't come, I would never want to put you through something like this, and if not for Aron forcing this letter, it would not even be written. I love you and you father does too.
Love Always,
~Mom
P.s: here is the necklace that rightfully belongs to you. No matter what you will always be a princess. It is to be passed down to your children.
Piper closes the letter, anger boiling inside her. After some thinking, she calmly gets up and starts to pack her clothes, and crystals. "I will go, at dawn. I'm sorry mom, but I cannot stand by and watch this happen to you and the Kingdom. I will not marry him, but I will think of something. He is going to wish he never stepped foot on Terra Warren." Piper tosses the letter on her crystal table, and puts on her necklace. She had a feeling someone needed her, but she never expected anything like this. She had no choice, she could not let this snob prince have his way, not while she is a Storm Hawk, she would have to do something. "I won't tell the others, it has nothing to do with them, I would like it to stay that way."
Piper waits for the morning to set in, and darkness to leave, hoping that no one would notice until she was far enough away, that she was gone. She rested, plans formulating, and being thrown away in her head. She figured that Terra Warren would take a full day and a half to get to with some stops for fuel. She slowly drifts to sleep.
With a sudden start Piper jerks up out of her sleep, and looks at her clock. She sighs in relief; she just gets up in time to leave before anyone else wakes up. She grabs her pack and tip-toes through the hall and to the hanger bay where she manually opens the doors, and sets them to close. She mounts her skimmer and flies out of the condor, looking back to see the doors close, with the hope that she will return as soon as she can.