Episode 35

I rested against the chair's back rest in the Imperial office. Finally I was done with everything that needed supervision, regular operations and new responsibilities as a result of conquering more terras. If only Ravess were here; I might be able to make a trip back to the Condor and return before Cycloniss missed me. Which reminded me I had to pay Ravess a visit and deliver some food she would most likely be grateful for. And the bad news that Snipe was sent to the Wastelands for not succeeding in killing the Storm Hawks. I really didn't want to do that-

"Starlight." I jumped in the chair.

"Hey..." Cycloniss smirked at me. I rattled off what was taken care of and what would need to be done in the future.

"I could go to the Terras and work closer with them?"

"Do you think that would be a good idea?" She asked.

"N-no..." I admitted. I just wanted to have an excuse to be out of the tower for a few hours, but anyone there could recognize me. She'd probably find out I left somehow anyway.

You don't need to go back to them. There's no need for you too, she said.

"Time for another trainning session." She pulled the papers out of my hands, put it on the table, and linked her arm with mine. I kept pace as she pulled me to the throne room but I felt like I was alone not seeing Starling or Brewer standing at the doors.

I followed Cycloniss' instructions perfectly, and I managed to pull the Chrysanthemum's energy into me, but I crashed and burned before I could transfer it to Dark Ace. It was worse than last time having been already weakened before. Feeling faint and like I was going to vomit came back.

"Be ready to do it again tomorrow." Cycloniss said. I kept fighting my body, make it keep breathing while it wanted to shut down.

"Come on." Dark Ace pulled my arm around his shoulders and dragged me out of the room. I tried to walk but I had to rest.

"Give me...a minute." I whispered, beginning to slip off of him. Wordlessly he picked me and carried me the rest of the way. I thought I had fallen.

I stared at him as he went. It was strange to see Dark Ace from this close up. I could see his age and dark circles.

"What are you looking at?" He asked, slightly irritated. I noticed that was how nervousness, defensiveness and the like manifested in his voice and body language.

"Nothing." He carried me into the Talon's Wing and set me down on the couch because it was closer than my bed and not exactly gently.

"Hurry up." He said, not too unkindly, and left me. I felt too tired to shift my body into a more comfortable position, and napped sprawled on the sofa.

I woke up after two hours and thought of taking this chance as I sipped some water to fix my dry mouth. Dark Ace and Cycloniss would think I was still sleeping. I had a few hours. I closed the door and sneaked out, constantly looking out for anyone who might see me before I took notice of them otherwise.

Is it just me, or is it cold? Cyclonia was a dry place. Dry of vegetation and any sort of temperture. It was never hot, or warm, or cold because of the constant cover of clouds and the terra's proximity to the Wastelands. It never rains and the sun never shines.

I caught up with the Condor on Terra Atmosia and landed in the patch of dirt it sat on, stirring up a small cloud. It wasn't the only cruiser on the terra. The Rex Guardians, Absolute Zeros and Rebel Ducks were definitely here. It seemed like lots of people were busy making repairs on their ships and skimmers. Those Nightcrawers seriously tore them apart. I wasn't sure if it was the night's chill or the blue glow the moon and dark sky casted on the earth that made me feel uneasy. Maybe my stomach had caught up to me. I was starting to push my ride up the ramp when Aerrow jumped out of the trees.

"...what were you doing?" I asked.

"I was...having some time alone. I thought it was someone else." I nodded, understanding why he thought it was an attacker.

"What's on your mind?"

"...back when we were separated, when the Condor was blown up, the Guardians came to me again. The first time they appeared, it was to tell me I was the last descendant of Lightning Strike. But now they said...I wasn't in Atmos' future. I-I don't know what that means."

"And you think it means you die." After a moment he nodded, as if being afraid was bad.

"Well...I know that we'll make it out somehow, because we would be together. But if something did happen, we would miss you a lot. It might be selfish to say this but, don't make us suffer that. And it could also mean something else. Maybe you just don't have a part in Atmos' future after the war. Sky Knights retire, it's normal to just be done with it all.

You're not just going to take what's handed to you, are you? The fate and destiny of a person is in their total control, Aerrow. You can decide to go farther down the bad path, or you can decide to deviate farther from it, into the path you create. It depends on the actions you take. Congratulations on becoming leader of the Sky Knight Alliance by the way." He smiled. I smiled back, wishing his parents could see him, wishing that he could see his parents were proud of him since that was what he's been wanting all this time.

"Thanks. You're a wish come true you know that?"

"I know."

"AERROW!" Piper screamed. We hightailed it into the bridge to see what was wrong and found the entire gang crowding around my room.

"What's going on?"

"You're working with the Cyclonians!" Piper yelled, pointing her staff at me. My heart stopped.

"What?" I squeaked.

"Explain that." Junko and Stork stepped away and I saw what they meant. There was my map in all it's detailed glory. I'd forgotten about it.

"I was...looking for you." Finn said. While Piper was angry, the others awkward, Finn was shocked. I wanted to run and hide.

"It's not what it looks like." I said with my hands up.

"You have some explaining to do." Aerrow said.

Thank you Brook Vengence and nightmaster000 for following. I hope you're enjoying the story. I hope all of you are open to checking out the new projects that this show has inspired.