The magma worms were unrelenting, and the constant attacks from the Talons were only managing to enrage the beasts rather than drive them off. Soara's grip was straining from holding up her and Dark Ace's weights, and she was starting to slip. Aerrow had to think fast, so he pulled out his blades and drove them into the rock face near his sister's feet.
"Soara, stand on my energy blades!" Aerrow shouted. Quickly, Soara did as she was told and placed her feet on the blade's handles and letting the weight be braced by her legs.
"Good thinking Aerrow!" Soara smiled as she felt the relief on her grip. "Now do the same with my staff!" She turned slightly, allowing Aerrow to grab her weapon from her back. Aerrow did as he was told and drove Soara's staff into the cliff face. Soara then heaved with all her strength, hoisting Dark Ace up so he could grab onto the firmly planted staff. Aerrow eyed Dark Ace as he watched his greatest enemy hold on for his life. With her hands now free, Soara grabbed hold of Aerrow's hand letting him pull her onto the Slip Wing. As her brother retrieved his energy weapons she looked at Dark Ace as he scowled back at the siblings.
"You have a choice Dark Ace!" Soara shouted. "You can either come with us, or face the worms on your own! What will it be?"
"Soara, you can't be serious!" Aerrow looked stunned at her. "After all that has happened today, you really think we can trust him?!"
"Of course we can't trust him," Soara replied. "However…I never abandon anyone, and I don't leave them to die. So what's your decision, Dark Ace?"
"You rotten little Sky Knights-!" Before he could finish his retaliation, Dark Ace felt a powerful tremor and heard a fierce roar from right below. "Okay! OKAY! I'll go quietly! Just get me away from that thing!" Upon his agreement to remain neutral for rescue, Soara reached out for him and pulled Dark Ace up onto her ride. Aerrow stood on one of the wings with both his energy blades charged and ready in case Dark Ace had a change of heart. Harvey beeped and squealed as he flashed red lights at Soara.
"Just bear with me, Harvey!" Soara shouted as she pulled her staff out of the cliff. "You have to manage enough power to carry the three of us! It's only a temporary extra passenger! Stop whining about the weight! Now give it all you got, and let's get outta here!" Harvey replied by shooting a velocity crystal into the engine and launching into a full powered dash away from the cliff and worms. Aerrow had to grab onto the wing just to keep from slipping off from the force of takeoff. The magma worms jumped and snapped at the teetering and fast flying Slip Wing and its overloaded crew. Fortunately, but with great difficulty, Soara was able to steer and dodge the giant worms by mere inches while Harvey ran out the charge on the velocity crystal as they slowly gained altitude. The power expended just as they reached the apex of another plateau and the vehicle conked out and slammed down on the flat rocky ground, knocking Aerrow and Dark Ace from their perches. Harvey gave a low whistle before shutting down.
"Well…" Soara huffed. "THAT was fun…" She looked at where Aerrow fell and left her ride to help him up.
"Yeah…" Aerrow coughed as he took her and rose to his feet. "Let's not do this again." The young sky knight dusted himself off and both siblings looked over at Dark Ace as he too picked himself up from the ground, and glowered at them. Instinctively, Aerrow drew his energy blades, expecting a fight, but Soara stood in his way.
"Some day, wasn't it Ace?" Soara said directly. "You could at least be grateful and say a simple "Thanks" like you used to."
"Don't call me Ace!" Dark Ace sneered. "And don't talk to me like you know who I am!"
"I still remember who you once were…Ace," Soara looked seriously at him. "I may have just been a child back then, but I could see clearly. And you know…I'm a bit disappointed…"
"Soara?" Aerrow looked at his sister oddly. "What are you talking about?"
"Both of you, be silent!" Dark Ace sneered. "What you think of me does not matter! I know who I am and I have everything I want!"
"Not everything," Soara shook her head. "You once rode as a hero, proud and dignified with honor and respect. Now, you mask what you lack and have lost with this façade of satisfaction with all your gained power and recognition…but you still live with the shame of your betrayal."
"Your words mean nothing to me!" Dark Ace spat. "I would dispatch you both right here and now-!"
"So why don't you?" Soara dared seriously. "Since you have no honor left…"
"I will show you I still have the honor of a warrior!" Dark Ace fumed before he recomposed himself. "Because you…helped me…I will spare you both…for now. This one moment of mercy will not be repeated again! Next time we meet…there will be no mercy!"
"Yeah…I've heard that one before," Aerrow rolled his eyes earning him a dark glare from his enemy. Dark Ace then spied a Talon heading his way, and he jumped onto the ride as it flew past. Soara watched Dark Ace as he flew away and sighed.
"It isn't too late for you…" She muttered. "You can still be redeemed…"
"Soara?" Aerrow's voice snapped her back to reality.
"Oh!" She looked at him with a grin. "Sorry about that. I guess I kinda got lost in the seriousness of the moment."
"Well, let's hurry and get out of here," Aerrow suggested. "I wouldn't trust Dark Ace to let us go that easily."
"Agreed," She nodded and looked back at her Slip Wing. "I think I'm going to need a tow. I don't think Harvey can start the engine in its current condition."
"How about we just give you a lift?" Piper's voice echoed from an intercom as the Condor swooped in next to the plateau.
"Hurry and get on board!" Stork shouted. "Before the Talons regroup and come after us again!" Soara and Aerrow grinned as they pushed the Slip Wing onto the Condor's launch deck and into the hanger as Stork turned the ship and flew out of the Wastelands. They headed south at top speed and anchored the Condor at Terra Amazonia. Despite the hap hazardous rescue mission that now lay behind them, everyone was glad the end was still successful and everyone was safe and unharmed. Junko volunteered to help fix up Soara's Slip Wing while Radarr nearly tackled Aerrow, nuzzling and purring over his pal. Later that evening, everyone had relaxed their gear and gathered to sit down for one final meal made for them by Soara. The Storm Hawks took their seats admiring the spread of food she had made for them.
"Wow!" Finn grinned and rubbed his hands. "A second meal made by Soara! I could get used to this!"
"Yeah! Her cooking is great!" Junko said as he sat down and reached for a turkey leg.
"Hang on guys," Piper stated. "Soara isn't here yet. We can't eat without her."
"Oh…uh…" Junko scratched his head. "I think maybe she's going to be late…"
"Junko?" Aerrow looked at his Wallop friend.
"Well, she came to tell me dinner was ready," Junko explained. "And when I showed her that I finished fixing her Slip Wing, she smiled and praised me for a job well done…just before she said…"You guys go ahead and eat without me. I'll see you all later," and she hopped on her ride and rode out of the hanger. I think she's going for a test flight…"
"No, not again!" Aerrow quickly got up and ran out to the hanger. He jumped on his Skimmer and sped out of the hanger, launching into the sky. He followed a light vapor trail at full speed until he spotted Soara's Slip Wing in the distance. He pushed the power of his ride to its max as he closed the distance between them.
"Soara!" Aerrow shouted as he caught up to her, catching her by surprise.
"Aerrow?!" Soara exclaimed. "What are you-?!"
"What am I doing?!" Aerrow finished her sentence. "What are YOU doing?! You're just going to leave again? Just like that?! You weren't even going to say goodbye?!" Soara sighed sadly and lowered her eyes. She motioned for Aerrow to land with her on the terra below. The two sky knights flew down and landed on the small grassy terra, dismounting from their rides and facing each other.
"Aerrow," Soara addressed him. "I'm sorry…but I don't have time for long goodbyes. I have spent too much time out here, and now I must head back to my own squadron. They need me-"
"And what about me?!" Aerrow spat. "Don't you ever think…I might need you here too? Or is it just more convenient to you…to just leave me like I don't matter. Just like before…" Aerrow's eyes filled with heated tears of anger and distress. Soara looked solemnly at her younger brother and walked forward to him.
"Aerrow…I'm sorry for how I left you three years ago…" Soara placed her hand on his shoulder. "But…I had a duty…"
"And you think that makes it Okay?!" Aerrow pushed her off. "You…could at least have said something to me…you could have said…goodbye. I was eleven…I would have understood…" Tears were now starting to fall down his face. Soara pulled Aerrow into a tight embrace.
"Aerrow…" Soara whispered as she hugged him. "I was…too scared. If I had waited to say goodbye…I wouldn't have had the strength to let you go. You are the most important person in my life. Despite all that has happened, or how long we have been apart, you'll always be my little brother. I always think of you…no matter how far away I am, or where I end up going…" Aerrow gingerly held onto Soara as she spoke and hugged him. He started to tremble from his pent up emotions as he listened to her speak.
"You've grown up so much since then…" Soara said as she felt him trembling. "You're no longer the little brother I remember. You took your dream of being a Sky Knight…and made it real, all on your own. You have built your own squadron and fought a war against Cyclonia, saving this side of Atmos on so many occasions…"
"You know…about all that?" Aerrow asked.
"Word travels fast on the winds," Soara laughed slightly. "I know of all your adventures and feats. You have done so much for Atmos in such a short amount of time. You've done things even the veteran Sky Knights couldn't even hope to accomplish on their own. You've become a great and successful Sky Knight…And I'm proud of you." Aerrow's eyes widened for a moment when he heard her speak.
"Wha…what did you say…?" He stumbled over his words.
"I'm proud of you," Soara repeated her words. Aerrow could hold back no longer and broke down in her arms. He held her tightly as he wept out his emotions.
"Aerrow?" Soara was a little worried. "Did I say something wrong?" Aerrow didn't answer, but shook his head. Soara just smiled and hugged him until her brother was able to calm down and get a hold of himself.
"No matter what we did," Aerrow sighed as he wiped his eyes. "Everyone just looked at us like we were nothing but a bunch of kids getting involved where we were not wanted, or getting into situations that we couldn't handle…"
"You wanted to prove that you were fully capable," Soara smiled. "I know you are. I know you and all your friends are fully capable of doing great things. I always knew. You are something special, Aerrow. And now I know why…you were chosen to rebuild Father's dream."
"Soara…" Aerrow blinked. "You mean…Lightning Strike…"
"Yeah, Dad never stuck around home very much," Soara nodded. "You were too young to remember him very well, but he had great expectations, and named you his successor when you were born. Ever since mom died, he always told me to take care of and protect you. I guess when I left you…I broke my promise to him. But the Sky Guardian Elders assured me they would look after you."
"So…You knew who those crazy bird guys were?" Aerrow scratched his head. "They didn't tell me anything other than about my destiny and that I was the last descendant of Lightning Strike."
"And you are," Soara poked his nose. "The last born…and the one chosen by him. And now, dear brother, I have run out of time. It is time for me to go."
"I…I understand," Aerrow smiled. "And…thanks Soara."
"I'll always be out there thinking of you Aerrow," Soara hugged him one last time. "Know that I will never, ever forget about you."
"Same here," Aerrow hugged his sister. "Maybe we will meet again someday."
"Oh, I'm sure we will," Soara chuckled. "And maybe the next time…we can avoid any hostage situations, and you can meet my squadron."
"I think we can arrange for such a reunion," Aerrow smirked and gave her a Sky Knight Salute. "Good luck out there, Sis."
"And good luck to you, Bro," Soara returned his salute. "And safe travels to your squadron." They returned to their sky rides and after one final passing glance, they took to the air and flew off to their separate destinations. Aerrow returned to the Condor where his friends were waiting in the hanger.
"Aerrow?" Piper walked up to him. "Are you Okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," He smiled. "Soara had to get back to her own squadron and mission. I just…wanted to say goodbye." Radarr gave a little whine and looked up sadly at Aerrow.
"Hey, yeah," Finn nodded. "Who knows when we'll see her again."
"Well, I just hope she comes to visit us again sooner than before," Junko smiled. "It would be nice to see her more often."
"I don't know if that's at all possible, Junko," Aerrow laughed slightly. "But she did say that maybe the next time we meet, we can meet her squadron."
"That would be so awesome!" Piper gave a big smile. "The Thunderbirds are almost as legendary as the old Storm Hawks were!"
"Umm…you seem to forget one thing…" Stork interjected. "They patrol the WESTERN skies of Atmos! The UNTAMED WESTERN SKIES! You guys KNOW where the Western Skies are, don't you?!"
"On the Far Side," Aerrow nodded. "But…we've been to the Far Side already, and we've made it back-!"
"By the skins of our teeth…" Stork grimaced. "
"Whatever," Aerrow shrugged. "The point is we survived there. And if Soara can somehow make the trip from the Far Side by herself on one skimmer, then I'm sure we can go back without a problem. After all, we're the Storm Hawks! There's nothing we can't do!" His friends all cheered in agreement.
"But for now…we have work to do here on this side of Atmos," Aerrow smiled proudly. "With Cyclonis and Dark Ace's return, and Cyclonia rebuilding its forces, we'll have to save the trip to the Far Side for another day. Let's get back to what we do best!" The Storm Hawks returned to their appointed duty and patrolled the skies of Atmos once again to defend against the return of Cyclonia.