"Because the sky is blue, it makes me cry." (The Beatles, Because)
Windmills
He leaves her on Terra Gale. With a charismatic smile that doesn't quite meet his emerald eyes; he throws one leg over his Ultra Air Skimmer and shrugs in the girls' direction. Radarr stuffs a leather helmet over his blue furry head and salutes the women. Dove, proud and self-confident in her homemade battle armour, places a hand on Piper's clothed shoulder. A cloud of brown smoke coughs out of the Sky Knight's exhaust pipe and both girls alternately blink to clear the sandy grit out of their eyes. With the familiar rumble of his engine, the redhead deploys his wings and takes to the sky with the only friend he will take on his long journey home.
Slowly, carefully, the Storm Hawks are breaking apart. Like pieces of a blueberry pie, large chunks of memory fall apart with the push of a button. Everyone eventually finds their own path which leads to different quadrants.
But Piper is glad she chose to come here; Terra Gale is a vibrant place and the moving winds create the illusion there is more going on in this small, concealed world than the blue-haired girl dares to admit. After all, this will be her new residence.
Years of scientific experience and crystal mastery tints her world with hues of the rainbow. Five out of six points of a matrix knows what they want. Junko is home. Stork takes The Condor. Finn is likely to be wrapped up in Vapos' gold. Piper is the sole, transparent facet of a complete crystal.
So she remains standing in the same footprints seven minutes ago when Aerrow and Radarr were still in her presence. Dove is inside her Grandpapa's home, preparing her friend's lodging and making sure the guest room is up to her standards. The retired Sky Knight is making cheese fondue. Yellow.
The First Officer of the Storm Hawks scans the lay of the land, her dark bangs flit about her face as the colourless wind winds its way around her ankles, strokes her back and sighs into her ear. As soon as Aerrow leaves she notices the overabundance of the colour green here. Verdant, vivid green. It is in the grass, the smear of moss on overturned rocks – it is in Dove's hair.
It is not her colour. It is his.
Aerrow promises he will be back. The redhead with fresh, optimistic eyes tells her his secret. Once his father is put to rest along with the rest of his motherland, he will return to her carrying the bright banner of heroes. They will be a family once again.
In the meantime, Piper is neutral and restless on Terra Gale. The change is not enough, but it will have to do.
A/N: Plot bunny time. For those who are curious, the Storm Hawks separate for some down time to discover truths about themselves just before the Final Battle with Cyclonia. Aerrow left to find some closure with the memory of his father and his past. And yes, he will come back. No plans to expand this ficlet at the moment, but there's always the potential to continue.