Author's Note: I was surprised at how many people seemed excited by this story. Yippee! I'm really glad you like it! Some shout-outs:
TheSaneCrazyGirl: I'm glad you like it. Hopefully you'll agree with me on the pairings (I also like Cyclonis and Aerrow) Thank you so much for reviewing!
Helliexx: Thank you so much, and here is the next chapter!
Pascy: Wow! I'm glad you like it! As for the pairings, they are a bit crazy, but I hope you'll like them!
Zapwing: I have never denied my evilness! Mwahahahaahaha (see? I've even practiced the laugh.) Thanks for reviewing, and enjoy the next chapter!
The-Welsh-Random-Boy: I'm glad you like it! I hope this is soon enough for you, and you enjoy this chapter. Thank you so much for reviewing!
Disclaimer: I own nothing! (I'm so excited I'm not even going to bother about complaining about the disclaimer!)
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Cyclonis grinned at the rather full throne room. Of course, Ravess and Snipe were there, along with her trusted commander Dark Ace. Repton and his gang of Raptors also made an appearance, not that they were particularly happy about it. She even had a squad of Nightcrawlers waiting for their orders.
She waved her crystal staff, and a large, dark bag floated over to her. "For all fairness, we're picking from a hat. Technically, it's a bag, but it does not matter."
Dark Ace stared at her. "Master, leaving it up to luck? Isn't that not our style? I was under the impression that we were picking our pairings. It's bad enough to spend a week with a Sky Knight, but a randomly chosen one at that?"
The young empress flashed him a grin, which looked rather creepy. It is a known fact that whenever someone considered evil is grinning, you had better start running the other way.
"Dark Ace, of course I wouldn't leave it up to luck. I've rigged it. Would you expect anything less of me? Now, if we may begin, do you have any preferences?"
Dark Ace snorted. He should have expected it. "I'm cool with anything."
Her eyes narrowed at his obvious lack of care. She had spent hours soaking each strip of paper with a separate crystal energy, so she could literally feel which slip was which. Now he was brushing aside her hard work. "Cool…" An idea came to her head. She levitated a certain slip of paper out of the bag and into his outstretched hand. She wondered how much he would like 'cool' after freezing his fingers and toes off for a week. "Suzy Lu and the Absolute Zeroes. I hope you enjoy your 'cool' week. Next!"
Ravess stepped forward. "I want Finn."
Cyclonis grinned. Despite her disrespectful tone, at least Ravess appreciated all the hard work she had done. The request was not a surprise at all—it was obvious to everyone that Ravess was curious how the clumsy, irresponsible boy was such a good shot. Rigorous training and discipline for countless years was how Ravess achieved her perfect aim. It took the dark empress very little effort to locate and levitate the "Finn" slip of paper over to Ravess.
The violinist snatched the slip of paper out of the air, then grinned. "Thank you, Master," she said. After all, there was the saying 'Better safe than sorry.' With Cyclonis, it was 'better polite and respectful than slammed up against the wall in a giant crystal claw, wondering what you did to deserve this.'
"Snipe wants the strong one! We can play jousting together!" Snipe grinned. Cyclonis shot him a look. "I mean, um, please!"
She shrugged, then floated the slip of paper with "Junko" over to him.
Dark Ace glanced at her. "It's not like you at all to let others go first. Do you have a specific person in mind? Or are you hypocritically going to refuse to participate?"
"None of your business, Dark Ace," she huffed.
"It's that bratty Sky Knight Aerrow, isn't it? You think he's cute."
Cyclonis's cheeks tinged a light pink. It was something no one had seen before—she was blushing. "I might be able to convince him to join Cyclonia. He'd be a nice addition, since he always seems to beat you! So what if I think a guy is cute? Are you jealous?"
Her outburst had the hoped-for affect: he jumped backwards, disgusted. "Me? Jealous? What do you think I am, some sort of pedophile? I just want to make sure you don't decide to throw away the entire empire for guy."
She gave him a first-class haughty glare, nose far to high in the air and all. "That's not my style, Dark Ace. I don't throw away everything for some guy. I conquer the entire Atmos so that there's no option left for him but to admit to my superiority. Plus, he's a Sky Knight. He might be cute, but I bet he's all honest and honorable and polite. Where's the fun in that?" Dark Ace gulped. He almost felt bad for the poor kid.
"Well, if it's obvious enough that I'm taking Aerrow," she said, floating the slip of paper with his name on it out of the bag, "anyone else have any preferences?"
"This is a waste of time," Repton hissed.
Bad decision. She was already in a surly mood from not getting enough sleep staying up late working on rigging the picking, then Dark Ace had not shown the proper amount of reverence for her labor. Added to that the fact that he had openly teased her about her infatuation of a certain red-haired Sky Knight, she was not one to be crossed. "Fine. I'll pick for you." Not even bothering to look at the paper she levitated over to him, she continued, "Starling of the Interceptors. The only human ever to defeat you. She outsmarted you, too, I think. Stole your scientists right from under your nose."
"I have to spend a week with that human woman!?!" he roared.
"Are you questioning my orders?" she said, smiling sweetly, revealing a large, ominous looking crystal cradled in her hands.
"No, Master," he quickly hissed.
"Good. Now, what Storm Hawks are left? The silly little crystal mage and their Merb pilot, right? Well, they can spend the week with my Nightcrawlers. Otherwise, Talon squadrons will be randomly distributed to all Terras."
She glared at all her subordinates. "This is not a week off! You will be looking for weaknesses and reporting them to me. Do not fail me!"
The Talons nodded weakly. They didn't want to imagine what would happen if they did not give her precise details on how to defeat every single Sky Knight.
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All around Atmosia, people had different reactions to the news. Dove had to remind her grandfather several times that the Cyclonians were guests, and there was absolutely no throwing them into the Wastelands. Harrier gave a speech to his squadron about how no matter what, their guests were to be treated with honor.
Starling took the news pretty stoically, that she was paired with Repton. After all, she had been in a lot of tough spots before. Surely it wouldn't be too bad. If worst came to worst, it would be a boring week of just sitting there, glaring at Repton as he glared right back at her. Maybe he would let her hang out with the Bogatron scientists; she liked them.
The reactions in the Storm Hawks all varied, too. Finn looked scared out of his mind. Aerrow looked excited, like it was another new adventure. After all, the young Sky Knight was always optimistic, and treated everything like a new adventure. Stork was, as always, convinced of his impending doom. Junko looked uncertain, but not too scared. Maybe Snipe would like to try some of his cooking. Piper looked cheerful, as always.
Aerrow turned to his squadron. "You guys ready?" Then, not waiting for the reply, "Then Storm Hawks, let's fly!"
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So the week of fun begins! I hope you like the pairings. Please realize, none of them are intended to be romantic pairings.
Anybody have any particular opinion on who they want to go first? I'm saving Cyclonis/Aerrow for last, otherwise I'm going by your requests on the order for this one!
