Hello everyone, and welcome to the sequal to "Sky Prince". As I mentioned in the end of my last fic, the sequal will introduce you to Aerrow's lost siblings through a series of flashbacks, as well as tie up some loose ends from the last fic (I hope).
Unlike my previous fic, I'm posting this one as I write, so the updates won't be as fast, but I'm aiming to have this completed by the end of July (but don't quote me on that)! I should warn you right now that this fic will probably not be updated for the next week and a half at least, because I'll be on a trip and won't have much internet access. But, I will be bringing my laptop along, so I should have some chapters ready for you guys when I return!
As I also mentioned before, this fic will work a lot like an extremely long songfic. Each chapter will begin and end with a quote from the song "The Call" by Regina Spektor (kinda like foreshadowing at the beginning, and conclusive at the end). However, if I feel there is no quote that goes with a chapter, there won't be one.
Lastly, I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Bkipper, who has taken a great interest in Aerrow's siblings, and who's interest has really driven me to get this chapter up. I hope this will satisfy you for now Bkipper!
Disclaimer: I do not own Storm Hawks or the song "The Call", sung by Regina Spektor, and featured in the movie "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian."
Chapter 1
"You'll come back when it's over,
No need to say goodbye."
"Don't cry mom, we'll be back before you know it!" Brandon assured.
"Yeah, you won't even have time to miss scolding us!" Adrian piped in, a large grin spreading across his face.
Sophia looked up from her seat on the stony floor of the palace courtyard. She sat leaning against the cool garden wall, strangling her teddy bear in an frightened embrace. An early morning breeze pulled at her straight black hair, sending her delicate locks into her eyes. After many unsuccessful attempts to brush her flyaway hair aside, Sophia gave up, turning instead to squint her eyes against the blazing sun to regard her surroundings.
Glancing towards where she'd heard her twin brothers, Sophia say her sobbing mother embracing the two boys - to their slight embarrassment. At the age of twelve, they saw themselves as grown-up now, and in no need for their mother's loving gestures. Nine year-old Michael was not far away from the threesome. He was patiently waiting for their mother to turn to him, though trying not to show how desperately he needed a hug, in an attempt to maintain his boyish pride.
Continuing her scan of the courtyard, Sophia saw her two older sisters Crystal and Harriot. Fifteen year-old Harriot was bawling like a newborn, her older sister gently stroking her head in comfort. At sixteen, Crystal had always been the stronger, less emotional of the two, but today - even though she stood tall - the sparkle of tears was obvious in her deep blue eyes. The eldest girl held a bundle of cloth tightly to her, with the hand she wasn't using to comfort her sister. This was little Aerrow, barely three months old and fast asleep. The baby had not an inkling of what was happening around him. Though she'd tried her hardest not to show it, Sophia was a bit jealous of Aerrow. Her baby brother had taken much of her highly enjoyed attention from her. She now found herself jealous of the babe for another reason; he was oblivious to all these sad and frightening things around him.
Sophia turned as she felt a hand slide into her own. Six year-old Charles sat beside her. Both children had taken refuge by the garden wall. A look into her brother's blue eyes told Sophia that he was just scarred and confused as she was. Being so young, neither could totally understand or comprehend what was happening. They just knew that they were taking a trip without mommy and daddy, and that everyone seemed very sad about this.
Sophia moved closer to Charles - who she saw as her best friend - and the two sat watching the happenings of the courtyard together.
Looking over to a shadowed corner, Sophia spotted her father and her eldest brother, Jacob, who was eighteen. Both stood rigid, cold expressions on their faces. Sophia knew they must have been arguing again. She pointed towards the pair so Charles would notice them too. The angry atmosphere was different from the somber one that had encircled the children all day, and they watched the shaded pair in an odd interest.
"Please Jacob, just rethink all this! Your best friend just betrayed you! Nothing is the same now; nothing is safe!" their father begged, "Please, hide like the rest..."
"Just because you're scared, doesn't mean I have to be!" Jacob responded angrily, "I have a duty to my squadron, as well as a duty to Atmos; one I took as my own burden, the day I took my oath as a Sky Knight! I refuse to take the easy way out; to just hide and let the world fall apart around me!"
"If you will not obey your father, then obey your king!" their father's raised voice rang throughout the courtyard, so that everyone present now stopped to watch the battle of words.
" King? What king?" Jacob spat, "A king wouldn't abandon his people in their time of need! A king is brave and honourable! I see no king here, father, only a cowardly man who has lost all faith in his nation, his people, his children, and even himself."
Silence rang throughout the courtyard, more deafening and frightening then anything that could be spoken. Sophia tore her eyes away from her brother's enraged face and her father's downcast one, and hide her tear-brimming eyes in Charles' shoulder. The boy did his best to comfort his sister, gently rubbing her back, and squeezing her hand even tighter.
"You will go with the others," their father's voice was level and definite, "And that is final."
"It's time to go." the voice of the airship's captain broke the silence that had once again enveloped the royal family, after the king's last remark.
Charles stood, bringing Sophia with him. Flinging his heavy bag onto his back, he took the handle of Sophia's and began to drag it, and her, towards the waiting airship.
"Here sport, let me help you." both children looked up at their eldest brother. He wore a pleasant smile that seemed to laugh playfully at them, but Sophia could see much turmoil behind the happy sparkle in her brother's eyes.
"No one has forgotten anything, have they?" their mother asked, trying to put a brave face on and hide her tears.
Father and mother went to each child, saying goodbye for the last time before they headed out. First was Crystal and Harriot with baby Aerrow. Their mother gave each as kiss on the cheek, and their father hugged all three in one big embrace. Adrian and Brandon backed away from their mother's attempted kiss, and seeing the twins do so, Michael reluctantly did the same.
"You're all big boys now, right?" their father asked with a laugh, ruffling the boys' hair as he passed.
Next was Sophia and Charles, who still held each other's hand. Their mother bent down and wrapped her arms around the pair, giving each a kiss. Their father lifted them both up in his strong arms, spinning them around until they let out screams of glee.
Jacob let his mother kiss him on the cheek, and his father shake his hand, but he was stiff to both of their touches.
"Please Jacob, don't make this any more difficult for us." their mother whispered, but the young man only turned away, not willing to meet his mother's watery gaze.
"We have to get going," the captain said, walking forward, "Every minute we wait, the larger the risk of Cyclonian interception."
Their father and mother nodded in understanding.
"We'll be back soon, don't worry!" Michael assured, tyring to put on a brave face.
"This war will not last forever." Crystal added.
"It might be nice for you two to be alone for awhile." Harriot said with a laugh.
"Yeah, maybe I'll find some girls to play with!" Sophia pipped in, knowing her mother was always saying she played with her brothers too much.
"But Sophia, isn't that what you got Charles for?" Adrian joked.
Charles responded by sticking his tongue out at the older boy, to the amusement of his family.
Laughing, the siblings made their way towards the airship, following its captain. Charles led Sophia by the hand, the girl still clutched her teddy tightly in the other. As they made their way up the gangplank, Sophia glanced back.
Her mother and father stood holding each other, tears in their eyes. Sophia waved at her parents, her teddy flapping in the morning air.
"See you soon!" she shouted with a smile.
"You'll come back when it's over,
No need to say goodbye."
Who would have thought that dramatic irony could be so sad?
Anyway, I'd like to take this moment to apologise to SakariWolfe. I didn't see your review until today, and I've been working on this chapter, so I put it up first. I must say, you've picked a hard fic for me! I've kinda put it on the backburner... but I'll dig it out and do my best to complete it, just for you!
