Chapter 15

Author's notes: Yup guys, I am still alive. I don't think I can apologise enough for making you guys wait so long for this chapter. I am genuinely sorry. Over the last 2 years (gods, has it been that long?) my life has been turned upside down, inside out and every which way. I took a break simply because I was struggling to cope; I lost two people who believed in me greatly very quickly among other things. But I'm back now and that's all that matters, right? You all know by now I own nothing other than the plot so does this really need to be disclaimed?

FINAL MOVE- phase 2

Tanner felt a cold dread creep down his spine. He turned slowly and sure enough, Aerrow was standing behind the door. Aerrow smirked where he saw the look on the Sky Knight's face, casually pushing the door shut behind Tanner, "You left the door open Tanner, that's really bad y'know. I mean," He began to walk towards Tanner, energy blade drawn. Tanner absently noted that the Striker Crystals Aerrow had favoured were gone, replaced by the Firebolt Crystals Tanner had favoured in his days as a Cyclonian, "Piper hates it when people leave the doors open after themselves. You would think she'd've gotten that one into your head by now."

"Aerrow, please, we don't have to do this. There's still time for you to be the Atmos' hero. We can leave, you and I, together and no one has to be hurt."

Aerrow's face twisted in a sneer, "You mean no one you care about has to be hurt. What about the people I care about Tanner, what if I don't wanna hurt them? I don't want to spend the rest of my life living a lie just to please people I could care less about. The people of Atmos don't want me, they want the Storm Hawks. They want someone to save their sorry little backsides time and time again. You save them once; you keep saving them until the day you die, no let up. You mess up once, everyone hates you. Being the hero," Aerrow gave a wry chuckle, "it's a thankless job. Why would I wanna do that? But you see now, now Tanner, now you get to be the hero," he activated the crystal, "You get to be the one who became the martyr to save the Atmos from Cyclonia."

He launched himself at Tanner, bloodlust coursing through him like wild fire. Tanner barely had time to activate his own blade before Aerrow was on him, attacking wildly while Tanner could only struggle to defend himself against the onslaught. Red and blue sparks flew around the room, briefly illuminating the cavernous room.

"Aerrow stop this!" Tanner yelled over the clash of blades, "You're not thinking straight. This isn't what you want."

Aerrow locked his blade between the gap on Tanner's energy blade, "And how exactly would you know what I want Tanner? Hmm? I'm not the kid that used to idolise you anymore. You know nothing about me Tanner."

Tanner pushed Aerrow away. One line. That's all he had. One question that would either make the boy stop and think or send him deeper into the rage that threatened to consume him, "Aerrow, what would your father say if he could see you now?"

Tanner watched anxiously as his words hit Aerrow. The rage in his eyes dampened and Tanner almost sighed with relief. "Don't you DARE bring my father into this when his blood is on your hands!" In truth Aerrow didn't know what his father would say. The best piece of advice his father had ever given him was 'Never give up on what you believe in kid, even when everyone else is telling you you're wrong'. Well he wasn't giving up. Not today, not ever.

Tanner grimaced. Well, that one backfired in pretty dramatically. The rage burned brighter in Aerrow's eyes now. Aerrow crouched, braced to attack.

Piper sprinted through the labyrinthine corridors of Cyclonia, hoping that memory served her correctly and she was going the right way to the crystal lab. Everything looked the same here, there were no discernible landmarks she could use, no pictures on the walls, no varying design on the doors, nothing. The fear pumping through her body was near overwhelming. Her hands were shaking. The only thing keeping her going was her single-minded determination to end this once and for all. At any cost? A voice in her head asked. Whatever the cost, she answered. Finn and Junko understood what could happen here. Tanner knew his life was on the line trying to save Aerrow. Stork was the only one guaranteed to survive the night. She bit her lip, the only thing she knew that would stop her crying. Atmos knew she wasn't ready, but Atmos be damned if she didn't go through with this.

The crystal lab was straight ahead. She almost whooped with elation before remembering where she was. Piper gripped her staff tightly, the cool metal somewhat comforting in her hand. She raced down the corridor, determined to make it to the lab before anyone could stop her. She barrelled through the door, rolling into a crouch before slowly getting to her feet. Cyclonis had rebuilt the Storm Engine. Part of Piper was in awe of the machine. There was enough power in the thing to take down an entire Terra. In rebuilding her greatest weapon, Cyclonis had quite possibly handed Piper the means of destroying Cyclonia. Piper frowned, where was Cyclonis? Piper spun around, checking the room for any sign of the girl. None. Piper stepped up to the Engine and began tapping at keys, hoping that the crystals she chose were the right ones, always keeping alert in case Cyclonis planned a surprise attack.

Aerrow brought the handle of hid blade down on Tanner's wrist, a sickening crack amplified by the silence of the room followed. Tanner dropped his blade and cradled his broken wrist against his chest. He looked up at Aerrow. Surely Lightning's boy wouldn't be the one to kill him. Wouldn't that be poetic justice, Tanner thought. Before Tanner could form another thought, the butt of Aerrow's blade cracked against his temple. Tanner crumpled to the floor. Aerrow kicked Tanner onto his back.

Through the haze, Tanner could see Aerrow, or was it Lightning, looking down at him with barely disguised contempt. "That one was for Lark," Aerrow plunged his blade through Tanner's shoulder, letting imitations of flames burn through Tanner, the elder's screams echoing around the room "That one was for Aerron," Aerrow brought the blade down onto Tanner's other shoulder, "That was for my mother, and this," the blade sunk into Tanner's stomach, "Is for my father," Aerrow pulled his blade out, "How's it feel to die a hero?"

Tanner couldn't form any words, his mind simply focused on stopping the blood pouring from his abdomen. Stork's words echoed in his mind. No one leaves Cyclonian servitude without suffering. Perhaps the Merb's paranoia was justified.

Aerrow scowled at his former idol before throwing his blade across the room. His family was avenged. Justice was done. He didn't have to fight for them anymore. He left the room, leaving Tanner alone with his thoughts. Tanner's hand came up to his earpiece, barely enough strength left in him to press the connect button.

Piper heard a faint crackle come through the headpiece, "Tanner?" She asked hesitantly.

"Piper," his voice sounded weak but there was no denying it was Tanner's voice.

She turned away from the engine, "Tanner, what is it? What happened? Where's Aerrow? Is everything alright?"

"Piper, stop talking for a minute," A deep rasping breath, "I-I couldn't stop him Piper," A tear trickled down Piper's cheek. No, not now, no. He couldn't be, "If you get through this Piper, tell the other's it's been an honour."

"Tanner, stop it, you're not going to die. Stop talking like that."

She heard Tanner sigh, "Piper, you can't see what Aerrow's done. Thank Atmos. I'm dying Piper, you have to accept that."

Piper bit her lip. Tanner was right. Aerrow had hated him as long as she could remember; he wouldn't leave a thing to chance. "I'm gonna destroy Cyclonia Tanner."

"Okay."

She tapped the buttons that would connect her to Finn, Junko and Stork, "Guys?"

Stork heard Piper's voice over the intercom, familiar if a little tinny, "Yes Piper?" he heard Finn and Junko answer her call too. She'd connected them all together. Stork's shoulders slumped. This time they really were doomed. "This is it isn't it Piper?"

"Yeah, this is it. So I guess if there's anything you guys have always wanted to do and you can do it in the next five minutes, you should," Piper's voice cracked as she came to terms with what she was about to do.

Junko looked at his best friend and pulled the blond guy into a near suffocating hug. Finn grinned up at Junko, "Thanks man." He sighed, "Piper, I'm not ready to die." For the first time ever, he was genuinely terrified. He knew he would probably die fairly young, but he wasn't even twenty yet.

"I know Finn, none of us are, but there's no other way."

"At least they'll name colleges after all you guys," Stork offered as encouragement.

Despite themselves, Junko and Finn began to laugh, "Thanks Stork." Junko managed to say.

In Aerrow's room, Tanner smiled, thankful to hear his friends' laughter one last time. He was too weak to say what he wanted to say, but he suspected that they all knew anyway.

Piper shook herself out and began tapping the keys again. Had four minutes ever gone so slowly? "You know guys, I love every single one of you."

"Even me?"

"Even you Finn."

"I love you guys too," Junko sniffled, "We did good, right?"

"Yeah, we did." Piper smiled to herself. She looked at the screen on the engine and set the co-ordinates to Terra Cyclonia. She picked up her own staff and activated the crystal on it. Over the whir of mechanics she heard quickening footsteps behind her, "PIPER! DON'T!"

She looked behind her and saw Aerrow, "I'm sorry Aerrow." She threw her staff into the machine, the crystal speeding up the detonation. She turned and pulled Aerrow towards her, kissing him like she'd always wanted to, but had never been brave enough to. Aerrow's eyes widened. All this time she'd loved him. How had he gotten it so wrong? The engine began to get louder, "I'm sorry too Piper."

On the condor, Stork turned off the intercom, not wanting to hear the moment his friends died. He watched, tears rolling down his face as Terra Cyclonia imploded in a mass of dust. And now all that was left to do was tell the last story.