Just so you know, this story happens two or three years after 'The age of heroes' so the Storm Hawks are somewhere between 16 and 17 years old. Enjoy...

Disclaimer: I do not own the Storm Hawks

Another distress call, another fight, another victory. However, none of the Storm Hawks feels victorious. As the sun's last beams disappear at the horizon the five Storm Hawks sit around the table at the bridge in silence, knowing there is nothing they can say or do that could possibly change what happened. The Condor had been put on autopilot and now floats slowly right above the cloud line and takes them away from the place where she crashed. The moon is the only thing that lights up the dusky room and allows them to see each other's faces reflecting their own emotions. Few more minutes pass and then the young Sky Knight can't take it anymore. Without a word, he stands up and walks to the window. As he stares at the full moon, with his eyes full of sorrow, he lets his mind go through the day's fight.

FLASHBACK

"The Cyclonians are coming!"

"Again? Have they never heard of a break?"

"Stork, you fly the ship. The rest of you come with me."

The three Storm Hawks followed their leader and his co-pilot out of the bridge and into the hanger, leaving the merb alone at the Condor's controls. They jumped on their rides and took off out of the hanger and into the sky. Aerrow flew towards the Dark Ace and let his squadron fight the other Talons. So far, everything was going as it always did when they fought the Cyclonians. And like always, they won. But as they cheered, they failed to notice the Dark Ace as he turned around for one last shot. The red, glowing shot headed straight towards the Storm Hawks and all but one was able to dodge it. It hit her heliscooter and the girl hung on it for dear life as she lost control of it. Time seemed to stand still as the three boys stared at the damaged heliscooter drag the girl with it trough the clouds below and out of sight.

"Piper, no!"

Aerrow raced trough the clouds, his two friends followed and they scanned the wastelands for their navigator - for their friend. Hours passed without any sight of neither her nor her ride, and feeling hopeless, the Sky Knight lands in the middle of the wastelands, near the place he swore he saw his friend fall towards. His heart ached as he continued to convince himself that she was still alright, but as time had passed his hope had faded. He rode slowly around the wastelands without caring where he headed.

"Aerrow... you should come see this."

Finn's low voice on the radio made the red-haired boy afraid and he sped towards his friend's direction. When he stopped his ride next to Finn's and Junko's the two boys greeted him with so much worry and sadness in their eyes that he knew he wouldn't like what they were about to show him. They quietly led him to a big rock and around it and his heart skipped a beat or two at the sight in front of him. Piper's heliscooter was completely destroyed and pieces from it lied scattered around it.

"This is all we found... We haven't seen her anywhere but... judging from the heliscooter..."

Finn trailed off, unwilling to even think that but knowing that no one could survive a fall like that. He stared down at the dirt and moved it back and forth with his foot, feeling worse than he believed was possible. A light coloured thing lied underneath the dirt and he bent down and picked it up, realizing it was his friend's crystal necklace.

"Umm, I think we should go now. Come on, Aerrow, I'm sure she's fine. She probably found a way out off here, just like in the storm few years ago. That's why we haven't found her yet."

Junko almost succeeded to raise his friend's hope a bit but Finn's next words ruined that completely. He walked to his two friends and held up the necklace so they could see it.

"I... I found this lying on the ground..."

His voice was only a whisper but they heard every word. Aerrow's eyes widened as he stared at the crystal and all hope he had left vanished. He grabbed it and held it tightly as he turned around and walked away.

"You're right. We should go back."

END FLASHBACK

He hits the window hard enough for it to hurt a bit, but not hard enough to break it. Behind him, the other Storm Hawks look at each other before quietly leaving the room, allowing him some time alone. He hits the window again, now with both hands, and shouts at the moon outside.

"Why!? Why her? It should've been me! He aimed for me!"

He falls down on his knees as he puts his hand into his pocket and draws out the crystal necklace.

"It should've been me," he whispers, staring at the light-coloured crystal.

Silent tears begin to run slowly down his cheeks and he does nothing to dry them. He stands up and puts the necklace back into his pocket, feeling like everything is somehow his fault. As he looks back at the night sky he sees a shooting star and makes a silent wish and shortly after, a promise.

'I wish I could see you again. I never got the chance to tell you exactly how much you mean to me, how much I love you. I promise we will win Cyclonia. We will win for you!'

Wow, I still can't believe I did that to them...

Anyway, tell me what you think and if I should continue...