X – With The Crew – X
Piper struggled to get free from the Talons fierce grip, but to no avail. Finn was still silent, it was nerving for the rest of the group, and Finn was never silent. Stork was fidgety, whispering odd uncomforting words. 'Doomed' was a popular one. Junko was struggling a little at the beginning but gave up after a while.
If Aerrow was here… Piper began to think. He'd know what to do, those mischievous green eyes of his always had a backup plan. That wild hair always blew in the wind as he thought through a plan. And he's smile… that special smile, the one were we all knew what he was thinking. His sweet, cheeky smile.
Piper's head shot up as her cheeks began to go pink. The Talon held her hands tighter as she focused on where they were being taken. It didn't look good.
It seemed like such a long time since she last saw Aerrow, it had only been a day and a half, but it felt like forever. She could hardly visualise him anymore. She looked around and noticed another tear roll down Finn's cheek.
Why Aerrow? Why did you have to leave us? No, he hasn't left us… I know he's okay. In fact I bet he's thinking of a way to free us.
Piper gave herself a nervous chuckle as none other than Dark Ace greeted them.
X – With Aerrow – X
The Talon brought him back to Cyclonis, the girl curved the corners of her mouth as she looked at the tattered and torn skynight.
" Have you thought about my offer Storm Hawk?" She turned to face he crystal holding machine, as she waited for a reply.
" You actually still believe I'd even think about changing my mind?" The girl smiled to herself, as she moved her head slightly to the left, and Aerrow was dropped to the floor. The teen landed with a thud, his body was so weak, he hadn't eaten, he hadn't drunk anything and he had been stuck in a tiny cell for about two days.
That explains why I can't move a lot. He thought to himself. The redhead took a deep breath in, and began to stand up. His legs were a little shaky, but nonetheless he refused to act weak.
"Well… It seems I underestimated you Aerrow. To be perfectly honest with you I thought you'd be dead by now. Dying from either hunger, thirst, loss of socialisation or…" she paused. It was agonizing, waiting for her to speak again, "maybe your little secret would have killed you."
She does know… But how? The only person in the whole of Atmos who knows is Finn. Finn… I wonder how the rest are doing. Aerrow's figure slumped a little as he thought of his teammates, no. His friends.
The teen suddenly felt his head being lifted. It was Cyclonis. The teen took a step back, so her hand was left in the air. Aerrow gave her a scowl. How dare she touch him like that? "Now, now Aerrow. There's no need to be afraid." She gave him a wicked smile. The redheaded teen felt his heart beat faster, adrenaline rushed through his body and his breath quickened.
Something bad is going to happen.
X – With The Crew – X
" Well. I'm guessing you're here to save your excuse of a skynight." The Dark Ace spoke, his voice stern and somewhat scary. "You are more pathetic than I thought you were. Tell Me. Why do you bother saving a useless, weak child?"
"He's more of a skynight than you'll ever even hope to be" Piper, Junko and Stork all turned to see Finn fighting to get free. Dark Ace simply smirked at the blonde. "I bet you miss you childhood friend don't you?" he was over exaggerating his sympathy making it patronizing for the blonde teen.
Dark Ace smiled at the boy, loving the fact he got the last word. "Maybe you'd like to see you pathetic excuse for a leader?"
Is he serious will we get to See Aerrow? Is he toying with us?
Many thoughts ran through the blonde's head, before a blood hurtling scream cut off his train of thought. The Storm Hawks were sure they knew who that scream belonged to… Aerrow.
X – With Aerrow - X
His knees dropped to the floor as a wave of blurriness rushed through the front of his eyes, he couldn't see. Pain shot through his body, causing his hands to shake, his lips began to tremble and body collapsed.
What's happening to me? Why am I in so much pain?
The teen screamed again as more pain wracked through his body. It was unbearable and Cyclonis was enjoying every moment of it. She watched as the boy as every muscle in his body was overflowing with pain. She smiled.
"I'll make it stop Aerrow, but you must join me." Aerrow looked up to the girl as the pain throughout his body calmed. His vision was still a little blurry, but he noticed a crimson glow in the girl's hand.
A dragon crystal? It must be, it's the only crystal that can affect the human body like this. But a dragon crystal is blue.
"I'm sure you're wondering what type of crystal this is. Well, it's a dominance crystal. It'll try and overtake any other crystal within it range, causing the other to lose power, and eventually die." She smiled again, that wicked smile that could turn a man to stone.
Shit, That's what's going on.
"I'm sure you know what secret I was on about now, don't you? The fact that when you were just a little boy you were merged with a crystal. And by your own father. Sad isn't it?"
Aerrow glared at the girl, as she lowered the crystal towards him. More pain washed through his body.
X – With The Crew – X
As another scream was heard, they began to fight back. Aerrow needed them. But no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't break free. The Dark Ace looked at the door to his left, the door through which the scream was heard.
"What is she doing?" He looked confused, as if this wasn't part of the plan they had conjured up. "See what's going on… And ask her what must be done with these" he looked at the others.
"Yes Sir" A Talon went in through the doors.
An agonizing minute passed, before the Talon came back out.
"Sir, Master Cyclonis is dealing with him herself, as for the Storm Hawks…" Another agonizing pause. "She said to set them free."
The Talons let go of the Storm Hawks causing them to stumble. "LEAVE, before I kill you myself." Dark Ace was annoyed.
"You think we are leaving? Oh, you're so wrong." Finn said as a smile spread along his face. "JUNKO!" The wallop charged towards the doors and with an ear smashing bang…
X – With Aerrow – X
The pain without his body had loosened, and he was able to stand again.
"Just let me go Cyclonis, I wouldn't join you not matter what you did to me."
She frowned this boy was annoying. She was about to speak when the doors flew open.
"AERROW!" Piper screamed, they were all shocked to see him like this he was weak and bleeding. Wait… Bleeding? Cyclonis panicked, grabbing her staff she fired a shot at Aerrow, causing him to fall to the ground. The Storm Hawks rushed over to Aerrow's side.
Cyclonis vanished.
Finn screamed revenge, and he death glared every Talon that came near. He watched as Piper examined him, checking his vital signs.
"Okay Aerrow, please stay with me" Tears pushed their way out and dropped onto Aerrow's chest, which was rising at an unsteady rate.
"Come on Dude, you've been through much worse than this." Finn said panic rising in his voice. Piper checked his heartbeat. It was slow, quiet and unsteady. She shook him.
"Aerrow? Please, please be okay… I...I Don't want you to leave me! I… I love you Aerrow… Please stay with me."
Finn began crying heavily, his childhood friend was dying. He looked at him, that messy red hair in front of his green eyes. Aerrow had been through a lot in his life.
"Aerrow?" Piper shook the teen. She grimaced.
"Piper? Piper your being silly Aerrow wouldn't leave us, he can't die…" Finn said as more tears found their way past his jaw. But she was right Aerrow was dying, slowly. His heart rate began to slow down, his breathing got lighter and his chest rarely rose anymore.
Silence.
Was he really gone?
The one and only… Aerrow.
The best Storm Hawk.
The best skynight.
A true friend.
A true leader.
A compassionate teen, whose life revolved around helping. Who never did anything to hurt his friends.
Aerrow.
"AERROW!" Piper screamed as she cradled the half dead body in her arms, his weak, fragile body was limp. He was slipping.
"CAN'T WE GET HIM TO A DOCTOR OR SOMETHING!!" WHY ARE YOU JUST STANDING THERE?" Piper screamed, he teammates were too mournful to reply. Was he really dead?
"Yes…" Piper said, as she laid down his body.
X – On Aerrow's Home Terra – X
Since Finn grew up with the teen, he knew the perfect place to put the flag.
On a small isolated hill a group of people stood mourning the boy. Finn's parents were there, a few of Aerrow's old friends. But Aerrow's parents weren't.
"I guess that's the last of them, hey my Finny baby?" Finn didn't answer. "The entire family, taken down by Cyclonia. You wonder why Aerrow joined skynight academy in the first place. His father would be-" "MUM, JUST SHUT UP!"
Finn broke away from his mother's arms, and placed two energy blades by the flag. Aerrow's blades. Piper just stared at the bottom of the flag where she had placed a small red flower, the colour of his hair.
Her hands were still covered in his blood, her affection for him grew even though he wasn't there to hold her.
He was watching her. Protecting her. Always looking out for her, he would be there when she needed him.
His red blood on my hands, my red love I felt towards him, his messy red hair everyone loved.
Red Blood, Red Love And Red Hair.