Hey all!

I do not own the Storm hawks they are property of Nerd Corp

Enjoy and Review please :P

Reviewers:

Neko: here you go

Pluvia: good luck! take your time, I don't mind if you don't review just as long as you read it I'm happy :P

Freya: Japan was brilliant thanks. haha your meant to feel bad for Junko :P

Delphi: glad you liked it have another :)

M-R-D: the first time (with Piper and Aerrow) was referring to the Dark Ace but the second time with Kronos was talking about Theo, I didn't realize at the time of writing the chapter that it would confuse people. Sorry.

Underwaterwriter: you have no idea :P

Chapter 26 – Things just keep on getting better

Kronos brushed his hand through his grey hair, which was still surprisingly full of life.

"Well, not him specifically but those that were born in this very city… that's also why I have been feeling under the weather" Kronos explained.

"I am nowhere near my full potential nor is Weatherbeard, but you won't hear him admit it" Kronos chuckled before coughing violently "The only people left are little Theo here and his father and I have heard of what happened to him, I hope he is okay" Kronos sympathized.

The others stood over him, well everyone except Aerrow who was still on the floor "So your saying that the more people that were born here, the stronger you get?" Piper questioned trying to make sense of what is going on.

"You hit the nail on the head, as more people are born the more strength I require to keep everyone happy" Kronos smiled.

"So where is everyone else?" Aerrow asked which was met by silence as Kronos looked to Weatherbeard then back to the others.

"Years ago, Cyclonis, Our Cyclonis was running low on workers so she sent out the order to gather more… against their will. Day by day they would arrive to 'collect' another potential candidate, when there were none left they took those that looked healthy and so on until… well you know the consequences" Kronos explained.

"Is that what happened to your mother Theo?" Piper asked which Theo nodded slowly.

"She was the first of over three hundred who now either work in the crystal mine below the tower or worse"

"How horrible, we need to help them as soon as we can!" Piper gasped.

"How do we know their still alive?" Weatherbeard asked the difficult question.

"That's a very pessimistic look at the situation, Weatherbeard" Kronos scolded crossing his arms.

"Pessimist is what an optimist calls a realist" Weatherbeard mumbled back.

"Even so we can't just rule out that their dead, the Storm Hawks are going there anyway they may as well unearth such a mystery… that is if you're still willing" Kronos turned the attention to the injured Aerrow but before he could speak Piper replied.

"We need to recover from past events first, as much as we would like to jump in and attack. Aerrow's wounds are too dangerous for such actions" Piper explained walking over to her Sky Knight.

"I'm fine Piper; I just need a little rest"

"You need to see a doctor"

"But can't you do it?"

"I don't have the required crystal with me"

Aerrow sighed in defeat "Hey Piper" Kronos called out suddenly.

Piper turned around just in time to catch a small green crystal "a null crystal! Just the one I needed… but"

Kronos chuckled "don't think you're the only one that knows about the null crystal's power"

Piper smirked "I guess I have spent so long in a place where I was the only one, so much so that I had forgotten to see if anyone else knew about crystals"

She looked back down into her hands to find the crystal had disappeared "what the…" she spoke before a sudden sharp pain arose in her right arm as though she was getting a tattoo.

Latching on with her other hand she dropped to her knees in excruciating pain.

"Piper!" Aerrow cried out slowly crawling towards her.

Finn, being the only one able to move properly ran towards her as fast as he could only to run into an invisible shield surrounding the navigator.

Such sheer force was causing small pebbles and rocks to start floating in the air.

Aerrow had to do something quickly, he lifted himself up as quickly as he could even though he could feel the bones moving in the directions they were never meant to go.

An eerie voice boomed through the hall "This wall is impenetrable to those that do not have a place in my others heart! She will die if this is not interfered!" it screeched from inside Piper.

"O-Others heart?" Aerrow coughed as he knelt on one leg.

With one fist on the ground Aerrow breathed heavily as he stared at the dome like shield around Piper "I-I can't let her die, I promised… I promised everyone that I would protect them no matter what!" He cried before lifting himself on to his feet, he could feel the bone tear his lung but he continued on running as fast as he could towards the shield.

"RAAAAGGHH!" he screamed as he collided with the wall, a bright white light surrounded the hall, blinding everyone inside.

Within Piper's sub-conscious

Piper laid within a white room, her arm covering her face.

"Piper~" a voice echoed.

"Piper~~" it echoed again only this time Piper reacted.

"Who's there?" she demanded sitting up but as she did the white room turned to a light blue.

She was met with silence as she looked around only to find two arm chairs facing each other. The one facing her was empty but the other was occupied.

Piper noticed that this person was wearing high heel boots, so she assumed it was female.

As Piper stood up she noticed a pattern etched on to her right wrist.

It had two circles with one bigger than the other but the bigger one also had 5 smaller ones spread around it evenly.

"Intriguing isn't it?" the female in the chair giggled.

"Who… are you?" Piper asked slowly walking towards the chair.

"Oh you could say I'm… hmm how would you put it, beautiful, elegant… charismatic!" the female laughed.

Piper rolled her eyes "I asked who you are, not for a description of how you perceive yourself"

"But that is who I am" she retorted, by now Piper had reached the back of the chair.

Piper jumped out hoping to catch the person by surprise only to find no one there, not even the high heel boots.

"Looking for me?" whispered a voice from behind causing Piper to jump.

Piper turned around to find a woman about Pipers height, if you count the high heel boots. Her features couldn't be made out because she wore a dark blue hood only revealing her deep blue eyes. Unlike most hooded figures she wore a leather coat rather than a robe. Underneath the leather coat seemed to be some form of armored vest.

At first Piper thought it was Cyclonis but her voice was unfamiliar and she seemed to be chirpier then Cyclonis could ever be, no matter how good she could act.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Lillijana" the figure held out her hand to help Piper up while keeping a wide white grin.

Authors Notes:

Poll is now closed!!!! get it? got it? good...

you will have to see what it has to do with this story :D

Ever wanted to know where night crawlers came from? learn next chapter!

From the one they call Doilan.