Authoress' Note: Okay, so here's the next chapter. I hope you like it!

Disclaimer: Storm Hawks belongs to Nerd Corps and Ace Fipke.

Claimer: Idea, Kara, Adrian, Forestians (Queen Arra, Chase, Lorali, etc...), Terra Foresta, Star, and pretty much everyone and thing that is NOT in the Storm Hawks series. lol.

Please R&R!

As the Storm Hawks walked through the flower-filled courtyard, as well as the symbol-engraved corridors, not to mention the huge, grey stone-bricked walls of the castle, Stork was acting more paranoid and cautious than usual.

"Um… are you positively sure that there are no infectious diseases and mindworms here?" he asked Kara nervously.

"I'm absolutely positive," Kara reassured, "and for your satisfaction, I've ordered some floral-scented 'mind-worm' repellents for the Condor. They'll be in your room for your inspection."

"You can do that?" Finn inquired with a puzzled look on his face.

"Yep! Since I've lived here before and that I'm the 'legendary' Guardian of the Atmos, the people here kind of treat me like royalty," she explained.

Aerrow had a puzzled look on his face now. "I'm still kinda new with this 'Guardian-of-the-Atmos' stuff. Is there anything you know that could kinda clear this up for me?" he requested.

"Yeah, how does it work?" Junko agreed.

Piper looked thoughtful. "Well, according from what I heard and read, the guardian is chosen by the Oracle, and is recognized from the blue star pendant on Kara's necklace. The necklace is called the 'Spirit Star', because it has been said that it holds the power and strength of the pure spirit within the guardian herself," she explained.

"You flatter me," Kara commented, "thanks. But what Piper says is true. The day that the Forestians placed me in the people of Atmosia's care, and that evening when the 'Spirit Star' first appeared to me, was when my duty as the Guardian of Atmos first began."

Adrian placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "And the day afterwards was the very first day I met you and have been with you since," he said, smiling.

Radarr climbed up onto her opposite shoulder and she tickled him under the chin. "I know," she replied softly, "and I've been grateful to you ever since."

Suddenly, she stopped in front of a huge, double wooden door and used her magic to push it open.

Inside was a series of obstacle courses, training dummies, punching bags, and a whole bunch of other training equipment. It looked absolutely vicious.

Finn gulped. "It looks a lot more like a torture chamber than a training room," he commented nervously.

"You guys want to try some stuff out?" Kara offered, a tiny hint of teasing in her voice.

"Um… no thanks," Junko replied gruffly.

Radarr hurriedly left Kara's shoulder and returned to Aerrow's.

Aerrow gave an uneasy chuckle. "M-maybe some other time," he told her.

She laughed, then closed the door. "I thought you might say that," she joked.

"Did you actually used to train in there?" Piper questioned.

"I tell you…" Stork murmured, "it's the mindworms."

"Believe it or not, I actually did. Chase trained with me in there," she replied, "Now, Piper, I think you in particular would especially like our next stop. It's the Crystal Lab. If you ask Lorali, I believe she'll let you take a few. With my powers and certain crystal powders, I have created a Resurrection Crystal that is currently sitting aboard the Condor in my room. I'm not sure whether I've told you yet or not. Well, even though I've already made it, I've still yet to figure out the crystal matrix of the Resurrection Crystal."

Piper's eyes widened. "And you didn't tell me?!" she demanded.

"Sorry. I thought I needed to be sure whether it worked or not before I'd show you," she defended.

They arrived at a door with a few dormant crystals placed in them, and pushed it opened. Everyone (except for Kara) gaped in astonishment.

A young woman with light cropped chestnut hair and dressed in a simple blue tunic and red pants looked up from her crystal, and her shimmering golden eyes met Kara's. Immediately she arose from her stool, hurriedly rushed so that she stood in front of Kara and bowed deeply.

"M-Milady Kara! What brings you here?" she asked nervously.

"Ah, you're the same as usual, aren't you Lorali? I suppose you've added a few hundred more crystals to your collection," Kara replied.

In front of them was a huge room with hundred of cabinets of crystals, all alphabetized. The cabinets were wooden, and they seemed to fit as the wall. Several crystal-testing and analyzing machines sat on various metal desks, and Piper could not help but stare at the dozens of dozens of crystal cabinets surrounding her.

"Amazing," she breathed.

Lorali's face lit up with joy and pride. "You like it? Lady Kara has been helping me with the collection, before she was sent off to Atmosia, anyway," she stated.

Kara drew a tiny bottle from her sleeve and tossed it to Lorali.

"Are those- Are those shards of the Aurora Stone?" Finn asked.

"But- but that's impossible," Aerrow said, confused, "I destroyed the Aurora Stone myself in order to prevent Cyclonis from taking over Atmos."

"I found these, well, in the Wastelands after you had destroyed it," Kara explained, "I swear, I only just happened to find them while 'exploring' the Wastelands."

"You never cease to amaze me, Milady," Lorali sighed, emptying the vial and placing the shards on the scanner, "So, what do you need to know?"

She crossed her arms. "I need to know whether I am fully able to restore the Aurora Stone to its original state with only shards of it," she announced, shocking everyone.

"Restore the Aurora Stone?!" Adrian exclaimed.

"The Aurora Stone?!" Junko shrieked.

"Are you crazy?!" Finn yelled.

"Is it even possible?!" Piper gasped.

Only Aerrow, Stork, and Lorali didn't say anything, but were instead gaping at her.

Kara closed her eyes and her face was set into deep thought. "It's possible to restore it. Afterwards I can return it to it's rightful place on Terra Atmosia," she explained.

"But Kara, it's the Aurora Stone! As in, the Aurora Stone! It's said to be the most powerful crystal in all of Atmos!" Aerrow protested.

She looked at him. "Hey, well everyone was scared of the Dark Ace. As in, the Dark Ace! And look, you and I have both beaten him before," she countered sarcastically.

Lorali looked up at Kara from the scanner. "Um… Milady? It's possible for you to restore the Aurora Stone, but there's just one catch," she said.

"What is it?" Kara demanded.

"You won't be able to use your powers for a full 18 hours. Milady, if you restore the crystal right now, your powers won't work until 10 AM tomorrow," Lorali explained.

She dipped her head. "Very well then. I'll do it now. It'll save me the trouble later. Keep it in the Crystal Safe until I return for it sometime before I head off to Atmosia," she ordered, walking over and picking up the shards, "and you can call me Kara."

"Yes, Milady," Lorali said respectfully, "Er- I mean, Kara."

Kara smiled, then she closed her eyes as she held out the shards in front of her with both hands. Her necklace began to glow, and a soft blue aura formed around her. Ever so slowly, the shards began to piece together and were perfectly welded by Kara's powers. From there on, the crystal began to form, and after ten whole minutes, the crystal was finally restored.

The blue aura around Kara faded as she crumpled to the floor, the brand-new Aurora Stone rolling out of her hands.

"Kara!" her friends exclaimed as they ran over to her.

Adrian slipped his arms under her head and legs and sat her upright on his lap, her head against his shoulder.

"Kara? Wake up," he whispered.

"Aerrow, what's wrong with her?!" Piper asked her leader worriedly.

Kara stirred gently and her eyes gently fluttered open. "W-What happened?" she mumbled, a hand at her forehead. Then her eyes fully opened and she blinked. "Um… why am I on the ground? And more specifically…" she looked up at Adrian, "why am I on your lap?"

He blushed. "You collapsed after you finished restoring the Aurora Stone," he explained, kissing her forehead lightly.

"Are you okay, Kara?" Junko questioned worriedly.

She nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Finn sighed with relief. "You gave us quite a scare there, dude," he said.

Lorali picked the Aurora Stone off the floor and looked at it closely. "Astounding! It looks like it was never broken in the first place!" she gasped as Kara began to stand up, supported by both Adrian and Aerrow.

"Okay, now I won't be able to use my powers for the next 18 hours," Kara announced, "but that shouldn't be a problem if I really am the chosen one. And if not, I know how to swim."

"If not, we'll save you," Finn said, grinning.

"Let's just hope Cyclonis won't get her hands on this," Piper stated, picking up the Aurora Stone from Lorali's outstretched hands, "or else there's not going to be anyone to save us."

"Uh… right," Finn mumbled.

"That suddenly reminds me of the day we first became the Storm Hawks and the day I first encountered the Dark Ace," Aerrow said, looking at Kara, "you saved my life."

"I've a feeling there's a story behind this one," Lorali said, grinning.

"It all started on Terra Atmosia…" Piper began.

Okay, well... the next chapter is pretty much only just a flashback, 'cept for near the end of that chapter. lol. Hope you liked it so far! Please R&R!