AN: OMG! It's actually underway! I never really expected to write this fic, but after making the video I was just too inspired. If anyone wants to watch the preview for this fic, go to YouTube and search Storm Hawks – Escape From the Far Side. It was intended to be a follow-up movie to the series, so hopefully it will remain IC and as true to the series as possible. If you notice anything out of sorts, please alert me to it. Thanks! And don't forget to review! (I chose to split chapter 1 in half, so sorry if Chp 1 and 2 are a little short… they'll be longer in future, promise.)
Storm Hawks – Escape From the Far Side
Chapter 1: Recon
The possibilities were endless. The Far Side wasn't composed of terras; it was a single, endless plain of earth. Faint green light glowed from the sky and the formations below. It looked like it may have been a city. So much to explore, so much to learn, so much to discover…
The Storm Hawks stared at the sight, no words to express what they never expected to witness. Finn stammered, but the only phrase he could manage to exclaim was, "Dude!". Radarr gave an excited chirrup which unlocked Aerrow from his shock and forced him to smile.
"This is going to be fun."
They were gathered on the bridge, trying to focus on the task at hand, yet continuing to sneak glances outside the windows. Aerrow stood at the table, his face burning with the thrill of discovery and the chase.
"Listen up, everyone!" The squad turned to him, Finn chancing one last glance outside. "Atmos may be safe, but this still isn't the end of the war. We all know what needs to be done. We must find Cyclonis and bring her to justice!" Aerrow dropped a fist into his open palm to demonstrate the serious and urgent business at hand. His squad nodded. "Stork!" Aerrow continued. "Are the extra skimmers alright?"
"I checked, and they haven't been touched. Also, may I remind everyone that it was my idea to install the secret room to keep the spares in for just this purpose?"
"Great," Aerrow said, turning to his mechanic. "And how's the Condor holding up?"
"Nothin's been messed with," Junko reported. "'Cept' for the weapons array, but Stork and I can get that back online in no time."
"Excellent," Aerrow said with a grin. "We have all we need. If there was ever a time for recon, it's now. Be careful. We don't know if Cyclonis had a backup plan, but if she does, I don't want any of you getting hurt." The Storm Hawks nodded. They understood.
"We need to cover as much ground as we can. This is totally uncharted territory. We'll split up, but try to stay within visual, at no matter what, don't leave radio contact."
The squad nodded one last time and left, making ready to fly. Aerrow held Piper back as the others departed.
"Are you… alright?"
Piper understood. Everything had happened so fast, it was hard to keep track of anything that was going on.
"I… don't know what happened back there," Piper explained. "But… I feel fine now."
Aerrow placed a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder. "We'll have time to figure this out later. As long as you're okay for now, we have a bigger task at hand."
Piper smiled. "Then what are we hanging around here for?"
They flew evenly spaced through the green glow of the Far Side, Stork trailing behind in the Condor. There wasn't much to observe – just rocky terrain as far as the eye could see. The … things… that were flying in the sky earlier had disappeared to some unknown hideout. The only item of notice was the city down below with the ominous needle tower looming before them, and the river running right through the middle.
Aerrow's radio crackled into life, and as he looked about, he could see Finn in the distance, waving.
"Should we go down?"
His question was echoed through the stillness of the Far Side and the radio - almost spookily so. Aerrow supposed his wingman felt the same thing he did… some vague aura of unease, almost the same feeling of a long abandoned war zone. It did nothing to put the Sky Knight's mind at ease, yet he signaled back to Finn and replied over his radio all the same.
"Let's go."
Four skimmers dropped into the mist of the ground below. As Aerrow grew closer, he could clearly make out the details of the structures beneath. It was definitely a city. However, as he continued his descent, he noticed that the layout was built akin to a maze, impossible to inspect fully by flight.
"Let's land," Aerrow buzzed in over his radio. "This place is bigger than I expected. We'll regroup and continue on foot. I don't want to rush into anything."
They landed in an open space big enough for the Condor. As the team reassembled, Radarr crawled onto Aerrow's shoulder with an excited, yet slightly nervous, chirp. Even Stork had come out, the prospect of uncovering new and terrible terrors both alluring and frightening.
The mist cleared a little, revealing the complex and astonishing craftsmanship of whoever built the place.
"The Far Side of Atmos…" Piper gasped, taken aback by the amazing sight. "It's beautiful."
"You think anyone's home?" Finn asked, looking around anxiously, crossbow at the ready.
Aerrow shook his head. "Look around. This place seems like it's been abandoned forever."
"But… who built it?" Piper turned to her leader.
Aerrow shrugged. "Who knows? What we should be focusing on is finding Cyclonis. This place is huge and she could be hiding anywhere. Let's stay together. I don't want us being separated and risk losing our way."
They made their way slowly but surely. Why they were all on edge wasn't clear, but Aerrow could feel the tension in the air. The city was huge and imposing. It was a ghost town yet held the feeling of some great, hidden power. It was… familiar?
Just as Aerrow was going to voice his thoughts, Piper beat him to it.
"Does anyone get the feeling that we've been here before?"
The rest of the Storm Hawks looked around curiously. Aerrow thought hard as he examined the intricately carved stone. A powerful city… in stone… in ruins… hid from the rest of the world…
He realized it in a snap, and couldn't believe he hadn't noticed it sooner.
"The Forbidden City!" Aerrow announced aloud. Everyone turned to him in surprise.
"Of course!" Piper agreed. "This place is built just like it! How did we not see?"
"The Forbidden City, huh?" observed Stork. "You know what that means…" He moved close to Junko, an evil, frightening look in his eye. "…booby traps."
"I'm sure everything is fine," Aerrow reassured his team, when really, he didn't know any such thing. "I just want to know what it means."
"Nobody knows much about the people who built the city," Piper informed her leader. "I suppose... anything is possible."
Aerrow thought about this sudden epiphany. Radarr squeaked in anticipation. "It makes sense," Aerrow concluded. "Think about it. The Oracle had the key to the Far Side. That right there is a link between the two."
"Do you think that means they were connected to the door too?" Piper asked.
"They must have been," Aerrow concluded. "Only..." Aerrow turned to his carrier pilot. "Stork, didn't you say you saw a monster guarding the door?"
"Not a doubt about it," Stork said a little over-dramatically. "It was the most horrible thing I've ever seen!"
Aerrow looked troubled as he continued to muse.
"What's wrong, Aerrow?" Piper asked.
"It's just..." Aerrow wasn't sure if he was on the right track. "If the people who built the Forbidden City were connected with the door, I wonder how Cyclonis got past that monster..."
The Storm Hawks looked unsure. Aerrow continued to frown as he thought quietly to himself.
"Whatever," he finally conceded. "We don't know enough to really come to any conclusions, so we may as well forget it for now. Let's keep searching."
The Storm Hawks continued through the city. As they moved closer and closer towards the center, it became clear just how deserted the place was. Shattered stone and decrepit buildings lined the streets. The green haze that filled the realm revealed dust motes which hung lazily in the air, undisturbed for years.
"You know," Junko said thoughtfully. "I'd bet that if Cyclonis is someone around here, she'd be hiding in there." He pointed to the large tower at the far end of the city. It was definitely the strongest looking and most grandiose of all the structures.
"It's certainly her style," Finn remarked.
"That was my first impression, too," Aerrow agreed. "However, I don't think it would be wise of us to just barge in."
"Then what do we do?" Finn asked.
Aerrow sighed. "I don't know. I'd like to know more about this place, but that doesn't really seem like it's going to happen." Aerrow ruffled his hair, unsure of their next move. "I guess I'm just sort of hoping something will pop out at me."
"Like... that?"
Stork was the one who spoke. He was pointing to a large building up ahead that only became visible in the split second that the mist had momentarily cleared. It was elegant in design and clearly important in nature. Its exact purpose couldn't be determined, yet it stood at the very center of the city, a place all its own. The sound of running water could be heard nearby.
Immediately Aerrow got the feeling that they should go inside, yet where this feeling came from, he couldn't say.
"Right," Aerrow said with a smile. "We'll go in, but be careful, okay?"
The party made its way inside. Aerrow – who was expecting darkness – was surprised to find that the interior of the suspicious ruin was also lit with the faint green light which seemed to be everywhere. Where this light came from was anyone's guess.
"Dude," commented Finn. "Serious déjà-vu."
Aerrow smirked, half-amused at the blunt obviousness of Finn's statement. The leader knew that the rest of his team must be feeling it; the inside of this place was almost exactly like the build of the Forbidden City temple – and that could only mean one thing.
They didn't have far to walk until they found it. Piper gasped as she realized, and Aerrow nodded, knowing this was coming.
"The Inner Sanctum..." Piper voiced in wonder.
They stood before a large, ornate wall, and behind the door in front of them glowed the green light – only brighter.
"Sweet!" Finn celebrated quietly in glee. "Treasure!"
His fellow team members turned to him, giving him 'the look' that he so often was the recipient of. "I mean..." Finn stammered, realizing this was far from the appropriate time. "Pretend I didn't say anything."
"Do you think..." Piper half asked to Aerrow. She didn't have to finish her sentence; Aerrow knew what she meant. Aerrow felt this was the place to be – like he belonged here. He knew (he didn't know how, but he did) that there were answers waiting behind this door. And it seemed there was only one person who could answer them, someone who knew the people of the Forbidden City – a spirit.
"Only one way to find out," Aerrow said with his youthful half smile of reckless excitement.
Placing both hands upon the door, he pushed it open, stepping into the Inner Sanctum.