Tadaa… even with work this weekend, I've still been enjoying the homework free evenings where I get to have fun writing. You have no idea how much I've missed writing just for the fun of it.

Anywho, here's the next chapter! By the way, I skimmed past reviews and couldn't nail down a specific name, but to whoever suggested / requested for Cyclonians to enter into these little stories, your wait is over, enjoy!

The chocolate from December 8th was actually a framed heart or something crazy like that. I guess I decided to use the chocolate to represent the picture frames on the mantel and even the heart part for Aerrow and Piper's friendship/fluffy moment. So, unfortunately, it was a tough one…. I tried to make this one a little better, best of luck everyone!

I do not own the Storm Hawks, they are the property of Nerd Corps.

December 9th

Beacon

Through the wind and the cold, I sat there all through the night, royally freezing my but off to be rather blunt. 'And I would love to be just as blunt with certain commanders of mine….' I thought to myself, not bothering to try to mumble, as I assumed that my mouth would be frozen shut after not opening it for hours. No normal human being would assign me on such a task, but then again, I had never regarded Cyclonians as being normal.

Even when I was drafted as a Talon after my terra had been taken over I had never truly accepted that I was marked as a Cyclonian for life. I guess even the uniform didn't quite make it all seem real to me. I've been serving the Cyclonian Empire for over five years now, and despite my best tries, I haven't found a way out yet.

Then there were nights like this. They were nights where I'd be sent on pointless reconnaissance missions in the poorest weather or climate conditions imaginable just because some commander didn't know what to do with all their Talons. I still couldn't quite decide where to rank this amongst my many previous assignments of unrelenting elements and boredom.

'Probably somewhere between having to hide in the swamps of Amazonia for a week, and having to walk halfway across Terra Sahar to a secret outpost after my ride was taken from me. Turns out the Dark Ace had a mean left hook even in a midair fall.'

I grunted in frustration at my memories and the new one that I'd have after this mission was done. It was tempting to just fall asleep, I mean, the storm was making it pretty hard to even see the Condor, let alone scope it out for weaknesses. So, I decided hours ago when my feet were long past frozen that I would just listen to the storm all night, knowing that even Master Cyclonis couldn't possibly have a mindreading device or crystal that could reach me at the far end of the Atmos during a blizzard of all things. With this hope in mind, I decided to think of all the things Cyclonia had taken from me.

It was a pretty long list. But, as I watched a small light appear in the darkness of the storm – even after daybreak – I couldn't help but slowly be reminded of what I'd truly lost all those years ago.

As the storm let up an hour later, two figures walking through the snow drifts caused my thoughts to pause. I would've been scared that they would see me, but I was currently buried in the drifts myself, so, there really wasn't any reason to worry. I watched as they leaned on each other whenever they lost their balance, or how the tallest of the pair would offer his hand to assist his friend. She seemed to oblige happily.

I looked on in silence, a spectator to two friends' journey home. Although the snow was letting up, the dull clouds above were still blocking out the sun's light and heat. I would have loved for some heat about now. However, in the minimal light, it looked like it was the steady and unyielding light that appeared part way through the night that was guiding them home. They walked among half buried snowmen and their laughter floated up from the valley below into my ears. It was all I could do to avoid frowning out of jealousy as their friends welcomed them home with bone crushing hugs and cries of victory.

I had once had family and friends of my own. Some of them even came to Cyclonia with me, and yet, over the years their resolve seemed to all but disappear. The coming Christmas season was the only time of year that they even remotely resembled the free men and women they used to be. It was amazing what five years could do to a person's spirit.

As I watched the young squadron walk into the undoubtedly warm depths of the Condor, united once again, I reminded myself that people like them were more like me than they could ever realize. I hadn't let my spirit of freedom break; it just remained hidden within me like I was currently hiding in the snow. The Storm Hawks, they were a part of the lucky few who were able to soar freely to the point where they could fight back for those who could not.

They fought for people like me. They just didn't know that me, and others like me were the ones they were fighting. I didn't blame them though. Sometimes a different perspective sheds light to a situation that you had never seen before. Just like the lantern's steady light from the runway guided the Sky Knight and his Navigator home, it helped to remind me why I did what I did. It helped me to see that there was still hope.

Whether they knew it or not, squadrons like the Storm Hawks acted like beacons of hope to the entire Atmos, even to Talons like me.

Well, this should just be a reminder for everyone, I don't think anyone quite got it last round… This time around, the actual object and its name were used in the story. Good luck all!

Strawberry Kaydee 4.5 (I actually looked over my entire list of chocolates, and guess what, there's no chocolates left involving actual physical snow and ice… bizarre, right? What kind of advent calendar did I have last year? Apparently one without a whole lot of snow…. Definitely a good guess though!)

kezzywezzy25 4.5

Amethyst Sparrow 4.5 (Blanket was a good guess, and I suppose I did mention it a lot… sorry if that threw you off!)

WhispertheWolf 5.5

Mitoki-hime 1

Arendos 1.5

Crimson Fox4

P.S. If at any point throughout this story you simply can't figure out the chocolate, send me a PM or let me know in a review to start making them easier to spot, okay? This contest is only fun if I give you enough hints within or without of the story so that you can make a guess. So, call me out if I'm not doing my part, okay? Thanks. :)

By the way, I've started to try my hand at Young Justice Stories if anyone's interested...