Wow, four reviews already! You people impress me!

I'd like to congradulate Saerphe for guessing the song correctly. It was "A Hero Comes Home", sung by Idina Menzel, and is from the movie "Beowulf". I'd also like to apologise for any spelling or grammer mistakes. I do not have a beta reader (for many reasons), so it's only me looking this over, and I'm a horrible speller...

Anyway, on with the fic!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Storm Hawks or any plot line and characters associated with it, nor do I own the songs quoted below.

Chapter 1

"Don't give up
It's just the weight of the world
When your heart's heavy
I, I will lift it for you."

Aerrow stopped to let his eyes adjust as he walked into the main building of the Sky Knight Council, having just come in from a sunny day. A middle-aged man with a uniform and clipboard walked up to him.

"The Storm Hawks, I presume?" he asked, looking down at his clipboard, "The High Councilor has been awaiting your arrival. This way please."

With a glance back to make sure his whole squadron was still behind him, Aerrow followed the clipboard-man. They were led through a maze of halls and doors, until they stopped outside a door - extensively decorated with carvings of flying birds - at the end of one of the many halls.

"Right in here." the man with the clipboard directed, "You can go right on in. He's expecting you."

The Storm Hawks walked into a descent-sized room. There was a large, solid wooden desk facing them. The wall behind it was one big stain glass window of a sky knight on his ride. The walls on either side were overflowing bookshelves. Behind the desk, in a large leather chair, sat an ageing man. He was small in stature, and very skinny. He looked like a toothpick you could snap in two with a finger. He had long white hair and beard, and a pair of round spectacles were perched on the bridge of his pointy nose.

Looking up, the High Councilor jumped up from his chair, and rushed over to Aerrow. The old man seemed almost comical as he shock the young sky knight's hand vigorously.

"It's so nice to see you again!" the High Councilor said with a smile. "I'm not sure if you remember me, but I was the head of squadron registration when you came hear to register over a year ago."

"Yes, I remember you." Aerrow answered, slightly taken aback by the little old man's enthusiasm.

"He just doesn't remember this kind of welcome." Finn whispered to Junko.

"Oh, but I had a good reason for no accepting you!" the High Councilor had better hearing then Finn had thought, "And it wasn't because you were too young. But I'll explain all that to you in a minute. Come, sit!"

Grabbing Aerrow's arm the High Councilor excitedly led him to one of the six chairs that was laid out for each member of the Storm Hawks. The sky knight looked back at his squadron mates with a 'help me' look on his face. The others just shared amused glances before filling the seats next to Aerrow.

"Now, is everyone comfortable?" the High Councilor asked, smiling at each Storm Hawk in turn, "Yes? Good! Now, where to start? Oh, there's so much to tell—"

"Umm, excuse me?" Aerrow questioned.

"Why, yes Aerrow." the High Coucilor answered, turning to the red-head, eyes twinkling with happiness.

"Could you perhaps start with that thing you said about my real parents 'requesting my presence' here?"

"Yes, that would be a good place to start, now wouldn't it?" the High Councilor said, still a bit to happy for the Storm Hawks' comfort, "Well, Aerrow, until a few hours ago, you believed that your mother was Mrs. Debra Wing, and your father, her husband Jacob, a member of the original Storm Hawks squardron."

Aerrow nodded in response.

"I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but they were not your real parents. Your real parents are Atmos' King Jeremy and Queen Gabriella."

"What!?" all the Storm Hawks cried in unison.

"Yes, it is true." the High Councilor said calmly, "You, Aerrow of the Storm Hawks, are also Aerrow, prince of Atmos."

"That's impossible!" Piper said, trying to wrap her head around this new information, "It's a known fact that Atmos' royal family was whipped out during Cyclonia's initial invasion of Atmos, fifteen years ago."

"She's right." Aerrow joined in, "If my parents really were the king and queen of Atmos, how could they be 'requestion my presence'? They're dead!"

"Ah, but this is were Atmos' most closely guarded secret comes into play. A secret only a handful of highly trusted people know." the High Councilor said, his eyes twinkling, "Though most of the royal family was killed in Cyclonia's attack, the king and queen survived, as did their youngest son."

The other Storm Hawks turned to look at Aerrow. He sat ridged, stunned, as the information the High Councilor had just given them sank in. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. He was too much in shock.

"It just can't be." Piper tried to see things logically, "How could Aerrow not know this?"

"He was only a baby when the battle began." the High Councilor explained, "Aerrow had three older sisters and five older brothers. The king and queen knew that they and their children had to go into hiding, or be destroyed by the overwhelming Cyclonian forces. To give each of their children a better chance for survival, they split them up, sending them to all sides of the Atmos, to begin a new life. Your mother grieved your going the most Aerrow, you were not yet four months old at the time. It was very hard for her. Unfortunately, all your siblings were eventually tracked down and murdered by the Cyclonians. You were the only one to survive the slaughter. We believe it might have been because the Cyconians had not yet known of your birth, you having been so young. Your parents were also able to avoid capture, through much effort.

"Meanwhile, you, Aerrow, lived with Mrs. Debra Wing, fully believing she was your real mother. You were told that your father's name was Jacob, member of the original Storm Hawks, who was killed in the great battle between Atmos and Cyclonia, at the hands of his traitorous squadron mate, Ace. Most of this was true, except the fact that Jacob was your father, nor Ms. Wing's husband. He was actually your eldest brother."

"So, I am a relative of one of the original Storm Hawks?" Aerrow asked.

"Yes." the High Councilor said, nodding, "He was eighteen when he was killed. He was an excellent fighter, much like yourself Aerrow. You look a lot like him. You where the only two to inherit your mother's red hair and green eyes."

The old man stopped for a minute, his eyes glossy with tears.

"Did you know my brother?" Aerrow asked, his voice husky with the many emotions that he was feeling.

The High Councilor nodded, "I knew your whole family. I was your father's advisor, and came to be very close with all your siblings. Atmos lost a lot in those days they were murdered."

They all sat in silence for a moment. A silent memorial of the young lives taken far too soon.

"Maybe you can see now why I didn't want you having a squadron, Aerrow." the High Councilor said, breaking the silence, "I thought it might discourage you from taking any crazy risks. I can't bear to think what you're parents would do if they lost you too..."

Again, a deafening silence fell over the group, no one knowing the right thing to say.

"Ms. Wing took very good care of you, I hear." the High Councilor said, attempting to lighten the conversation, but Aerrow wouldn't have any of that.

"Yes," Aerrow answered, "Until the Cyclonians took her away as well."

"Yes, it was tragic." the High Councilor answered, sighing sadly, "The Cycloians discovered that one of the royal children still lived, and as they did in killing your brothers and sisters before you, they invaded the terra you had come to call home. As you know, you weren't there, but at the Sky Knight Academy. When Ms. Wing refused to tell the Cyclonians where you were, they killed her."

Aerrow's hands clenched the arms of the chair he was sitting in, his head down. Piper turned to him - being seated beside him - and layed a gentle hand atop his. Angry tears ran downs Aerrow's face as he shook in rage and sorrow.

"It was my fault." Aerrow said through clenched teeth, "My home terra was invaded, and my mother killed, and it was all because of me!"

"Well she wasn't actually your mother-" the High Councilor began.

"She was to me!" Aerrow yelled, cutting the old man off, "And she's dead because of me! It's all my fault!"

"Aerrow..." Piper laced her fingers with the sky knight's, not knowing what else to say or do to comfort him.

"I'm sorry." the High Councilor said, "I know this must be hard."

"That's the biggest understatement I've ever heard." Finn mumbled to no one in particular.

Aerrow sat up and looked at the High Councilor. The sky knight's face was hard and set, though tears still stained his features. "Are there any other pleasantries you'd like to tell me about?" he asked cooly.

The High Councilor was taken aback for a moment, but soon regained his happy composure, "Well, as I said before, your parents - the king and queen - were able to avoid capture and hid themselves away for many years. Now however - with much thanks to be given to you and your squadron - the Cyclonians have been pushed back, and the king and queen think it safe enough to come out of hiding. The first thing they want to do was to see you again. They have been worrying night and day about your safety, you being their only child left. They are anxious to see you."

Aerrow sighed wearily, "Do they want to see me right away, or can they wait a bit?"

"They've waited fifteen years, I'm sure they won't mind waiting another hour or so to let you absorb all this. I understand it is a lot to take in." the High Councilor answered, "I'll inform them that you have arrived and will join them for their evening meal. Until then, I'll have George show you to the palace quarters, where you can freshen up."

The High Councilor rung a bell and the clipboard-man came in.

"George, would you please escort Prince Aerrow and his companions to their arranged sleeping quarters?" said the old man.

"Of course, High Councilor." George replied.

"Thank you." he responded, "And I hope to see you again soon, Prince Aerrow."

"Yah, I hope to see you too, I guess." Aerrow replied, before exiting the room behind the others.

"Cool dude, you're a prince!" Finn said, smiling from ear to ear, as George led them back down the hall. "You'll get all the perks of royalty now! All the fame, the money, the hot princess babes..."

"Yah, I'm a prince." Aerrow said in monotone, unheard over Finn's antics.

"Don't give up
It's just the hurt that you hide
When you're lost inside
I, I will be there to find you."

Well, I hope you guys liked it!

Before anyone reviews to tell me I've got the High Councilor all wrong, I know he is not exactly the character that showed up in the show, but I wanted to make him a bit more my own. I also don't know it "High Councilor" is the actual position, so just humour me, ok?

Good luck on guessing the song (I'm not the happiest with these quotes, I think I could have found better ones)!