Well... here's the next chapter! Please R&R! Much appreciated!
Disclaimer: Storm Hawks belongs to Nerd Corps and Ace Fipke.
Claimer: All OC's, Terra Foresta and idea of this story (with the exception of flashbacks within chapters).
"It's so beautiful," Adrian commented, "almost like its from a dream."
"It's real all right," Kara stated, "I come here when I need to relax, and when I need to think, calm down, or just be me."
"How did you find this place?" Aerrow asked.
She gave an easy shrug. "Just found it, I guess." She said, "I decided to keep it a secret from the rest of Atmos, so that it would remain undisturbed."
"Why are you showing us this place if its suppose to be a secret?" Adrian implored.
"Because you guys are my friends, and fellow Sky Knights," she replied, "and since I know a Sky Knight's duty may be tough at times, I figured there should be a time and place when and where they can relax, and just be themselves."
"It seems so… peaceful and… calming, just standing here," Adrian said, inhaling deeply.
"Is it always like this?" Aerrow questioned Kara.
She nodded. "The only other person who've I've ever told about this place was Chase, and now you two know as well. I plan to tell the rest of the Storm Hawks eventually, and we can come here at any time and any place."
A deer pranced up to her from the forest, and Kara gently stroked it's head. "You'll find a lot of wild animals here. But they're all friendly and kind. The truth is, there's a special shield around the doors so that only people with pure or good hearts can come here. And this place is prosperous with food and clean water, so the animals here are very healthy and are generous."
As she said this, two does pranced up to Adrian and Aerrow, and dropped an apple into their hands.
"Thank you," they said simultaneously, patting them gently.
"See?" Kara pointed out, smiling as a doe came up to her, an apple in its mouth, dropping it into her outstretched hand. She rubbed its head in thanks and the doe nuzzled into her.
Adrian watched her with loving eyes. Over the years (and months) of knowing Kara, he had grown to love those luminous dark brown eyes, that long black hair, that kind heart, and those soft lips he wished to caress with his own. He had fallen deeply in love with her, and he wished her with all his heart to be his. Little did he know, she felt the same way about him.
But they were both oblivious to the fact that Finn has tried to set them up before. As he had for Aerrow and Piper.
The three Sky Knights laid themselves down on the cool grass, closing their eyes and purely relaxing.
"Comforting, no?" Kara questioned, eyes still closed.
The two beside her didn't respond as they began to doze off. Kara opened her eyes and looked at them, at how peaceful they looked. She gave a light shrug and closed her eyes once more, calmly just focusing on the sound of her breathing while listening to the calm song of her heart.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
About an hour and a half later, Aerrow and Adrian were jolted awake by someone squealing. They snapped up and looked towards Kara. A small white rabbit had hopped onto Kara while she was dozing and began to lick her face, making her squeal because it tickled her.
She began to rise, and the bunny hopped off her, and she looked at the relieved Adrian and Aerrow.
"Oops. Sorry if I woke you up, guys. It's because of this," she patted the bunny on the head, "little guy that I squealed."
"It's okay, Kara," Adrian yawned, "that nap was relaxing."
Aerrow stretched his arms and legs and got onto his feet. "Are you guys ready to go back to the castle?" he asked.
Both Adrian and Kara got up, brushing dust and grass off themselves, and they nodded.
"I'll lead the way," Kara said, taking them to one side of the waterfall. On the side of it stood a wooden door. She opened it and they all walked in. They suddenly appeared back in the floral courtyard.
"We're back, wait, we're back?" Adrian stated the obvious quite puzzled.
"Do I need to say why?" Kara asked, annoyed.
Both he and Aerrow shook their heads.
"Excellent. Now, I think the others should be back at their quarters, so let's go back," she announced, leading the way back to their corridors of rooms.
To their surprise, Finn, Junko, Radarr, and Stork were standing outside of Piper's door.
"Hey guys, what are you doing outside Piper's door?" Aerrow asked curiously.
"Piper was dragged into her room by some maids, trying to get her to choose a dress for the ritual," Finn replied.
"I think the maids were infected with mindworms," Stork commented.
"Uh… Stork? You think everyone is infected with mindworms," Adrian said.
"Uh… right…" Stork mumbled.
Suddenly, Piper's door opened, and Piper stood there in a long, midnight-blue dress that reached the floor. Her back was slightly exposed, and the sleeves were long and big. An orange bow was tied around her waist and she wore her diamond crystal necklace. Her hair was drawn up into a high ponytail, and she looked a bit irritated.
"Someone kill me now…" she muttered quietly.
"Wow," Finn said, "is that really you, Piper?"
She glared at him. "Of course it is!" she hissed.
"Yep, that's Piper all right," Stork stated.
Aerrow gaped at her. He never realized that she looked so amazing in that dress.
"It's so pretty!" Kara exclaimed.
"And cute!" Junko added.
Adrian gently elbowed Aerrow in the ribs. "You're gaping, Aerrow. Just go and tell her you think she looks beautiful and that you love her," he told the redhead.
Aerrow blinked and closed his mouth. "No way. And how'd you know I liked Piper that way?"
He smiled. "It was kinda obvious, and Kara told me. She told me that you didn't tell her that, but she could a) see it in your eyes, b) tell by how you act around Piper, and c) sense your emotions when Piper's nearby, in trouble, and or in the room," Adrian explained," I'm lucky that she hasn't figured out that I love her yet."
Adrian had admitted to Aerrow that he had fallen in love with Kara during some time on the Condor earlier that week. Aerrow had promised to keep it a secret, but he never told Adrian he had grown to love Piper as more than just a friend.
Kara looked at them oddly. "What are you guys whispering about?" she asked quietly.
"N-Nothing," they lied.
She shrugged it off as three maids walked out of Piper's room. They walked towards Kara, pulling her to her room.
"Milady," one of the maids said," it's time to get you ready for the ritual."
Kara groaned, rolling her eyes. "Very well then," she sighed, following them into her room, which they proceeded to close.
"Wow, Piper, you look amazing," Aerrow commented.
She blushed, though it couldn't be seen against her dark chocolate skin. "Thanks, Aerrow," she replied.
Finn stated at her with a raised eyebrow. "Are you sure you're Piper?" he asked.
"FINN!" she yelled angrily.
Junko started to laugh. "Don't worry, buddy, that's Piper all right," he answered.
"So…" Adrian began," what are we going to do now until Kara comes out?"
Finn pressed his ear against Kara's door, listening. Then he grinned. "Don't worry, she'll be out soon," he said, "in about 10 to 15 minutes."
The rest of the Storm Hawks looked at him with a 'how-would-you-know?' expression.
"Trust me," he reassured, "I promise that I'm not crazy or insane, and that I'm just making this up."
As Finn promised, Kara walked out of her room 15 minutes later, a flush of embarrassment overcoming her face.
The maids had dressed in her in an odd sort of clothes. A bit more traditional than Kara's style.
It was a sleeveless dark blue shirt, which had a somewhat low V-cut neckline, revealing her necklace, and was open right above her slim belly, the shirt skimming diagonally to her sides. Semi-frilly white silk laced the edges of the shirt. The small of her back was open, and revealed the soft curves of her spine. She had a long, navy blue skirt that reached her ankles, and there was a slit on the right side of the skirt that ended at her mid-thigh, show off a bit of her legs. Clear light-blue glass slippers cradled her bare feet, and her hair was ironed into long waves that trailed down her shoulders. In her right hand she held a long staff, a dream-catcher type shape on the top end, made by twisted and welded metal bands.
The Storm Hawks were speechless. They were gaping in utter astonishment.
Kara sighed as the maids came out to admire their handiwork. "Tell me, do I really look that bad?" she asked her squadron.
"You look… well, like an angel that descended to us from above the Stratosphere," Adrian commented.
"Except that you're wearing blue," Finn added.
"Wow," Piper said, her eyes wide, "you look sooo good in that. It's so cute!"
"It looks adorable!" Junko exclaimed.
Radarr scrambled over to Kara and climbed onto her shoulder, hugging her neck.
"It seems Radarr likes it too," Aerrow commented, laughing," you look absolutely stunning!"
She chuckled, "Thanks Aerrow, thanks Radarr."
"Are you guys ready to go?" Piper asked.
Radarr hopped over back to Aerrow and Kara twirled her staff, stamping the end on the ground.
"Ready!" she exclaimed cheerfully.
"Let's get going!" Finn shouted excitedly.
They were driven there by a soldier, who returned to the castle after dropping them off in the middle of the dark, green forest.
"Right this way guys," Kara directed, leading them into a dark-ish clearing, fireflies lighting the dim place.
Dozens of people stood around a huge lake. A few of the people in the crowd were some castle guards.
"Kara!" A male voice gasped.
They all turned towards the voice and saw a young man no older than eighteen with a bushy mop of dark, nearly black, brown hair. His bright blue eyes lit up as her ran towards them, wearing a light brown sleeveless tunic over a dark blue shirt. He had smooth black slacks and high cheekbones. He was slightly medium built, and taller than any of the Storm Hawks.
"Chase!" Kara exclaimed, running and jumping into his outstretched arms, making Adrian feel a little jealous, "It's been so long since I've seen you!"
"I know! You've grown taller since last time!" he replied, hugging her close. Then he let her go, placing his hands on his hips. "So, I've been told you've become a big-time, hot-shot Sky Knight now,"
She punched him lightly in the shoulder. "Hey!" she scolded, turning to her squadron, "Piper, guys, this is my friend and old-time mentor, Chase. Chase, this is the squadron that I've joined, the Storm Hawks. This is Adrian, Piper, Finn, Junko, Stork, Radarr, and our leader, Aerrow," she introduced.
"Hey, hello," they greeted simultaneously.
"So… this is the infamous Storm Hawks squadron," Chase joked, his hands on his hips, "the new one, anyways."
"That's us!" Finn exclaimed, doing his trademark 'Chica-cha' with his fingers.
"It's nice to finally meet you guys," he said.
"So… is everything ready?" Kara asked him.
Chase nodded. "A perimeter has been set, and the guards are on high alert. You do remember that while the ritual is taking place, Terra Foresta will no longer be cloaked and we'll be seen by anyone passing by," he reminded.
"Yeah, I know," she replied easily.
Queen Arra walked over to them from the crowd of people. She dipped her head in greeted. "Lord Chase, Kara, Storm Hawks," she acknowledged.
They bowed and curtseyed. "Queen Arra," they responded.
Arra turned to Kara. "Are you ready, Kara?" she asked.
Without hesitation, she responded, "I am," and she began to walk towards the lake, staff in hand.
Kara stopped at the edge of the lake, gazing at her reflection, before stepping onto the surface of the Lake of Purity. Instantly, her glass slippers turned into dust and blew away, and a pure white aura faded into existence around her. The citizens gasped. Kara was indeed the 'chosen one' of Terra Foresta!
Please R&R!!!!