Disclaimer: I do not own anything affiliated with "Storm Hawks". Characters, places, and other aspects of the story (except for original characters, animals, locations, and some other aspects) that are referenced to do not belong to me.

A/N: So, Sparrow's mother was also in the squadron? Interesting…

11 years ago, early morning, Terra Quies…

The sun crested the horizon as its luminous beams marked a new day.

Six-year-old Sparrow was snuggled up cozily beside Concordia as the beams of light reached the cavern that they were hiding in.

The child stirred slightly as she slowly opened her eyes to view the rising sun.

Sparrow slowly rose and walked over to her work station.

Schematics of concepts, crystals, and other principles were carved or posted on the cavern walls.

A medium-sized stack of books stood on a workbench along with a bag full of crystals.

The child began playing around with the crystals, busily trying to recall the concepts that her mother had taught her the other day.

"You're up early." Concordia remarked as she viewed her child playing with the crystals.

"Mommy!" Sparrow exclaimed as she ran to embrace her awakened mother.

"Are we going into the city today?" Sparrow asked excitedly.

"Yes, we need to get some supplies." Concordia replied quietly as she rubbed her eyes.

"Yay!" Sparrow exclaimed as she pranced around Concordia.

"Darling, remember what we've talked about." Concordia reminded as she placed her hand on her daughter's shoulder as to calm her down.

"The city is a dangerous place." Concordia began.

"When we enter the city, don't talk to strangers and stay close to mommy, ok?" Concordia finished as she stuck out her pinky for a pinky-swear.

"I promise!" Sparrow replied as she curled her tiny pinky finger around her mother's pinky, sealing the promise.

Early afternoon, Incrementum's gates…

The former Swooping Sparrow and her daughter made their way to the capital city, Incrementum, in their respective worn brown cloaks.

Concordia observed the tall metallic gates which had been erected after the Cyclonians had fully occupied the city.

Sparrow held on to Concordia's hand tightly as the two made their way toward the imposing gates of the settlement.

"Remember, stay close." Concordia whispered as she held her child's hand in one hand, and a disguised blasting staff in her other hand.

"Yes mommy." Sparrow whispered back as she smiled up at her mother.

The two approached the gate where a Cyclonian soldier stood guard.

"Identification please." the guard stated flatly.

Concordia handed over two passes which were expertly forged by a friend of hers.

As the two waited for their identifications to be cleared, a scream followed by a thump was heard in the line of civilians next to them.

"I swear I didn't do anything! Please don't hurt me!" the distressed man shouted as he looked at the tip of the Cyclonian soldier's staff.

"Putrid filth." the soldier stated flatly.

Concordia covered Sparrow's eyes.

A loud scream of agony was heard as the terrified crowd witnessed the soldier stabbing the man in the chest.

Concordia glared angrily at the Cyclonian soldier from the safety of her cloak.

"Nothing to see here folks!" another Cyclonian guard announced as he and a few other soldiers started to move the crowd along.

"You and your child are cleared ma'am. Stay out of trouble." the Cyclonian soldier stated as he handed back their passes and motioned for the gate to open.

The metallic gates creaked open to reveal the innards of the occupied city.

Concordia and Sparrow walked in slowly to find civilians going about their duties under Cyclonian rule.

Soldiers kept guard as villagers carried, repaired, and delivered various construction materials around to construct the new city that the Cyclonians would use for mass production of skimmers, weapons, etc.

It all seemed alien to Sparrow as she had remembered the terra being serene and simple, rather than the industrial powerhouse Cyclonia was turning it into.

The two eventually made it to the market sector, which was the first sector to be completed among the blueprints for the new city.

Merchants busily went about trading their goods, selling their produce, and advertising their products in hopes of making a decent profit.

Concordia's eye caught a glimpse of some apples in the distance, and pulled along Sparrow to start purchasing some of the supplies that they needed.

As Concordia began picking and bagging the apples, the merchant came over to greet his customer.

"Hello there! Can I-

The merchant's jaw practically dropped to the floor as he recognized who he was talking with.

"You're-

Concordia put a finger up to her mouth to silence the man before he gave away their identities.

The merchant, understanding the circumstances, started to sweep the floor to avoid attracting any unnecessary attention.

"You're all that's left of them you know." the merchant whispered as he continued to sweep the floor aimlessly.

"With our terra's squadron gone, there's little to no hope of kicking these Cyclonians out." the man continued to whisper as Concordia continued bagging apples.

Concordia handed the man some money to pay for the apples.

"That won't be necessary." started the merchant.

"Just please, help us take back our terra." finished the merchant.

Concordia gave a small nod of acknowledgement before walking away with apples, staff, and Sparrow in hand.

Concordia and Sparrow continued to move through the bustling settlement.

They were approaching another shop when Concordia heard a cry from the alley way.

"Those who do not bow to Cyclonia will perish!" the Cyclonian soldier exclaimed as he brandished his staff at the helpless mother and child.

"Please, I just wanted to give my child something to eat!" stated the distressed mother as she looked at the two Cyclonian soldiers in horror.

"Stay here. Do not move anywhere until mommy comes back ok?" Concordia whispered to Sparrow.

Sparrow gave her mother a prompt nod, and kept an eye out as Concordia approached the two Cyclonian guards.

A blinding flash came and the two Cyclonian guards dropped to the floor in an instant.

Sparrow peered from behind the stack of boxes she was instructed to hide behind.

She saw her mother standing over the two incapacitated Cyclonians.

"Are you alright?" Concordia asked the mother and her child as she held out her hand to help the mother up.

"I can't believe it's you." the mother stated as she looked at the former crystal mage of the Swooping Sparrows.

"There isn't much time. Here take these." Concordia said as she handed the mother three apples.

"Thank you." the mother replied as she accepted the apples and offered one to her own child.

"Sparrow!" Concordia whispered as she motioned for her daughter to come join her.

"They're down this alley way!" a male voice shouted following the loud thumps of boots.

"Come on!" Concordia whispered hectically as she pulled Sparrow with her to escape the city.

Late evening, hidden cavern…

The campfire crackled into the night as Sparrow and Concordia sat around the small flame.

Concordia finished cutting one of the apples that she bought earlier and presented the slices on a plate for Sparrow and her to eat.

"Mommy?" Sparrow questioned.

"Yes Sparrow?" Concordia replied as she bit into a slice of apple.

"Why do those people think you can save them? Also, what are you saving them from?" Sparrow questioned as she picked up a slice from the plate.

"My little Sparrow, it's a long story." Concordia stated as she put an arm around Sparrow.

"Also, that lady we saw earlier, she was stealing, wasn't she?" Sparrow questioned as she looked up at her mother.

"She was trying to keep her family alive and well." Concordia stated simply.

"So, stealing is a good thing?" Sparrow asked in confusion.

"No darling, stealing is not good." started Concordia.

"But when it means life or death, and when so much has already been taken, there's more to it than just a simple act." Concordia finished.

"What?" Sparrow asked now in a deeper confusion than she was in before.

"Don't worry my darling. Just know that you still have much to learn." Concordia stated as she hugged Sparrow closely.

"I love you mommy." Sparrow stated as she returned her mother's embrace.

"I love you too my little Sparrow." Concordia replied as the two stared into the bright flame of the campfire.

Back in the present…

"My mother always looked out for others." Sparrow stated as she continued gazing into their campfire.

"I continued my studies in hopes of being just like her one day." Sparrow continued.

"As I matured, I learned about the truth of the world and our situation." Sparrow stated as she reminisced about her memories.

"I remember the day my mother found out about what we witnessed me perform on Vicis." Sparrow said now dragging her twig in the dirt.

"What do you call that move anyway?" Phoenix asked as he remembered Sparrow's actions on Vicis, which killed all the Cyclonian militiamen.

"I don't know, I never came up with a name for it." Sparrow stated as she brought her hand up to her chin to rub it in contemplation.

The three sat quietly for a moment.

"The Sparrow's Will!" Sparrow stated excitedly.

"I like the sound of that." Primiceriatus added.

"Same here!" Phoenix exclaimed.

"My mother gave me a precious gift that day." Sparrow continued.

"And that is?" Phoenix inquired.

"Restraint." Sparrow answered as she gazed into the fire once more.