Chapter Twelve

I watched Aerrow as his body was encased with a blue glow as we stood on the runway of the Condor. He jumped up and let loose an energy. I watched it go flying off into the Wastelands.

"Whoa." I whispered.

"It's called Lightning Claw." Aerrow said. "Every sky knight has a special move that they can use in combat. Lightning Claw is mine."

"How do you learn these moves?"

"You don't, really. It is a type of energy that just builds up." Aerrow scratched the back of his head. "It's hard to explain."

I crossed my arms over my chest. "So what you're saying is that your anger built up and you suddenly could use Lightning Claw for the first time. The attack only came around because of emotional stress."

Aerrow blinked then laughed. "Yeah! Exactly!"

I smiled.

"I'm not going to be able to teach you your move but your training as a Sky Knight starts now."

"Let's get started then."

Stork

The Condor listlessly floated in the air as everyone stood on the runway. Junko was attempting cooking again, Piper was tanning, and Finn was…being Finn. I read a book of dark stories that Alice had in her bag. I had to say, this Edgar Allan Poe man was a genius.

Telltale Heart was my favorite alongside The Cask of Amontillado. Alice had recommended both of them and they were good.

"Ngh!" Alice grunted as she swung at Aerrow.

I looked up to see them fighting. It was interesting. Aerrow was giving her pointers and showing her proper stances that he'd learned.

I watched as she lunged at Aerrow with her green energy blade. She swung at Aerrow's blades with full force, keeping her stance as Aerrow staggered back slightly.

Aerrow smirked as they held their blades together, sparks flying. Aerrow shoved Alice enough to make her stagger back. He then swiped his foot across her ankles. She fell instantly and was pinned down and disarmed by the Sky Knight.

I nearly cracked up laughing upon seeing the glare she sent Aerrow. It was priceless. She was scowling at him almost to the point that it reminded me of The Dark Ace.

Everyone else laughed as she was released from the ground and pouted at him. Nevertheless, she smiled up at her "Big Brother."

I liked that thought. Alice looked as though she needed a family more than anything in the world.

"Okay, guys. Food's ready!" Junko announced.

Everyone but Alice groaned. "I don't get it." She said as she walked up to me.

"Junko's…not the best cook." I said slowly.

"Oh."

We all escaped inside with Alice next to me. I sat in my spot as Piper pulled out her food. She served it to us. Piper even served her special Sand Cakes.

"You really like those, don't ya, Stork?" Alice asked.

"Her cooking is good." I protested as I turned to her. I flinched when I saw a devilish smirk on her face. I pulled back a little in defense. "W-What?"

"Do you like Pipes?" She asked.

Everyone busted out laughing at that. Piper smiled at it too. The sirens began to warring loudly.

"What've we got?" Aerrow asked, set in leader mode.

I looked out through the binoculars to see…

"Raptors!" I shouted.

"Raptors?" Alice asked as she stepped up next to me. "What are those?"

I passed the binoculars to her as Aerrow, Piper, and Junko ran out to face them.

"Lizard men?" Alice said. "That's not normal back home."

She ran beside me as I steered the Condor away. "Whoa!" Alice shouted. Her shout was followed by a loud thunk which was followed by a series of thuds. I looked over to see her buried under a bunch of crates filled with a bunch of tools.

I helped her out from under the crates as Finn took to the canon. Alice looked up to me with those bright golden eyes of hers, smiling. She nodded in thanks but went serious as soon as there was an explosion.

"What should I do?" She asked, turning to me.

The doors shot open to reveal Leugey and Spitz. I yelped and stood back. "Just make sure they don't take down the Condor!"

"You've got it!" She said.

Alice

Okay…time to use what you've learned.

I stood before the two Raptors. One was incredibly fat and the other was skinny and looked like a weasel.

"Hey, clowns. 'Sup?" I said with a smirk as I pulled out my energy blade.

"Dah!" The fat one said. "We're not clowns. We're R-Raptors under Repton's control."

I stared at the fat one with a straight up "What the hell?" face. I looked at the skinny one. "He's the lovable idiot of the group, isn't he?"

The skinny one nodded.

"Can I have your names? I at least wanna know who my opponents are. Ya know? Common courtesy and all."

"Nameth Thpitz." The skinny one said. "That'th Leugey. We're Raptorth."

"Got it."

"What's your name then?" Leugey asked.

"I'm Alice. You can call me an Honorary Storm Hawk." I then took a battle stance. "Ready, set, go!"

I then lunged at them with my energy blade. Spitz took out some weird blade that reminded me of a double edged blade. Oh wait. That is a double edged blade.

"Come and get it, human." Spitz hissed.

I scoffed as we locked blades. "Oh, c'mon. The whole point of telling someone your name is so you'll be addressed as such, Spitz. C'mon. Doesn't that Repton guy ever call you by your name?"

"Nope." Leugey said, lunging at me. I dodged, jumping up and spring boarding off the guy…lizard…whatever.

"What does he call you then?" I asked him.

"He usually calls us Idiot or Weaklings." Leugey said.

I blinked as our blades sparked. "Well…that's not very leader like."

The two looked at me funny.

"A leader should usually compliment the team and take care of them like family."

"Where would we find a leader like that?" Spitz said.

"Yeah. We're the bad guys!" Leugey said.

"Then try not being the bad guys." I said with a shrug. "Why not part from Repton and make your own squadron?"

The two looked at me funny before looking at each other thoughtfully.

"Alice…" Stork said behind me. "Stop making friends with the enemy and get them off the ship!"

"Fine." I said, teasingly. "Open a window!"

Stork raised an eyebrow to me but did as I said.

I slowly dragged the fight to the window. The two lunged at me but I jumped over them and kicked them both out of the ship.

"Way to go, Alice!" Finn shouted as I watched the two Raptors deploy parachutes.

I panted as the adrenaline shot through me. "Wow." I breathed, looking down at my hands.

"Great job, Alice!" I heard Aerrow shout from outside. I looked up at him to see him, Piper, Radarr, and Junko whooping for me.

I nodded but yelped when a darker colored Raptor appeared. "Aren't you an interesting looking human." He hissed.

He snagged me by his tail and dragged me through the skies. "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" I shouted. "Dammit! Bad guys! This is a public service announcement! Stop fucking kidnapping me!"

"Alice!" I heard Stork shout.

I looked over at the worried Hawks. "Attack them!" The vicious Raptor next to me ordered his squadron.

The started going after them as the Raptor that held me tried to take me away.

"Let me go!" I growled.

"Why would I want that?" The idiot hissed.

"Just who do you think you are?"

The Raptor gripped me by my collar and pulled me to his face. "The names-s Repton, girly. I'm the leader of the Raptors. You watch yourself or I might just drop you into the Wastelands-s."

I snarled at him. "You let me go right. NOW. Before I kick your sorry ass!"

Repton snarled back at me. "You little brat! You better shut your yap before I shut it for you!"

I growled and felt the adrenaline pulsing through my veins. "I'd like to see you try!"

Aerrow

I brought down Hoerk quickly and started to make my way to Alice…only to stop myself.

"What the?"

I saw that she was encased by a bright green glow while she was held in Repton's grip.

"I'd like to see you try!" I heard her growl.

She flipped up into the air and released all the energy at once. The energy took on the form of a dragon almost! The dragon roared and chomped down on Repton, causing him to fall from his undamaged skimmer.

Repton fell through the skies as Alice landed on his skimmer. She flew it expertly back to the Condor. "Um…A-Aerrow?" She said as soon as we were close enough. "What did I just do?"

"You found your move." I said, proud of her.

"What was it?"

"The was The Dragon's Wrath!" Piper said in shock. "There was only one other who could ever use that move! He's been dead for well over a millennia!"

Alice looked at her in shock while I stared at her in awe. "Way to go, Alice!" I said.

"You even managed to swipe a souvenir." Finn shouted from his canon.

Alice smiled shyly. "Heheh…heh…eh…" She said as she fidgetted on her "souvenir."

Ace

I knelt before Master Cyclonis as she played with her crystal machine.

"Well, Dark Ace, how long has it been since your last visit to Terra Rex?" She said in a childish voice.

How that grated my nerves… "Quite a while. Not since I tried to obtain the Phoenix Crystal."

She hummed in thought. "Don't you think it's about time for another visit with the Rex Guardians? I would very much like to see them squirm."

I nodded to her. "I think it is."

"Good. Go cause a little mayhem on their snobbish terra. Give the sky knight my regards." She said as she waved a hand over her shoulder, dismissing me.

I bowed and left, ordering a Talon to ready a fleet.

"Truth be told, I think it's because I'm too soft. Ya know?" An image of curious golden eyes and brown hair before me.

I mentally slapped myself. Dammit! That Alice girl…why is she on my mind right now?

I made my way to my skimmer, checking the crystals inside. All fully charged like I left them. Good.

"If today was your last day…And tomorrow was too late…Could you say goodbye to yesterday?"

STOP IT! I roared inside my head, halting the singing. Stop thinking about that damn girl!

"Ready when you are, sir." A Talon said.

I nodded. "We make to Terra Rex for an attack."

"Yes, sir!" He saluted. "You heard him. To Terra Rex. Move!"

I launched out of the hanger bay to fly out of Cyclonia.

Focus, man. My conscience told me. Stop thinking about that girl. A girl for-heaven's sake-should not distract you from your missions!

Alice

"HACHOOO!" I sneezed loudly into my arm, making the Merb next to me jump. I sniffled. "Sorry, Stork." I said, wiping my arm with my disposable napkin.

"You catching a cold?" Junko asked.

"Nah. There was an old wives tale back home that every time you sneeze, it means someone's talking about you behind your back." I said with a shrug.

Finn snorted. "It's a miracle Piper doesn't sneeze twenty-four-seven with how much I talk about her." He said sarcastically.

"You talk about me behind my back?" Piper said in disbelief behind him.

"When'd you get there?" He asked, jumping up.

I chuckled as an argument ensued. "They always argue like that?" I asked the carrier pilot.

"Yeah. Remind me of an old married couple."

I bit back a laugh as I turned to watch the skies of Atmos. "Wow. Stork, the ever so pessimistic Merb, actually tells jokes? I've seen it all now." I said.

"Hn." Stork grunted as he pulled a lever next to him.

Phew. This took a while because I wasn't quite sure how to introduce it. These next few chapters were inspired by angel on wings. She's (I hope it's a she! XD) been supporting me throughout the making of this story and I dedicate the Terra Rex Arc to her. Hoo-hoo-hooo! I'm going to have so much fun with this because Harrier...well...you'll see. Oh *Deep voice* you will see.

*All of Storm Hawks and (awesome) Cyclonians dead pan.*

Cyclonis: Whose turn is it now?

Me: Ummm... *Radarr jumps up and down and waves arms. i smile.* This is gonna be awesome. Your turn, Radarr!

*Radarr smiles. Turns to everyone. Points to me.*

Piper: Um...girl? *Radarr shakes head and points to me again.* Alanis. *Radarr pokes his nose. Holds up two fingers.* Second word...

*Radarr looks sad and looks at me*

Me: I really don't know how to write a disclaimer through charades. *Holds up laptop* Why don't you just type on this? It'll be easier.

*Radarr types the following: ALANIS CROSS DOES NOT OWN STORM HAWKS. THEY BELONG TO NERD CORPS. SHE OWNS ALICE, OOC, AND FUTURE PLOT DEVELOPENT*

Me: You spelled that last word wrong.

*Radarr retypes: PLOT DEVELOPMENT. PLEASE REVIEW.*

Aerrow: I'm kinda curious as to how the whole charades thing would've worked.

Me: Meh. I'll figure out how to use that later. I'm not sure how though. Oh well. Please review! And thank angel on wings for her (still hoping it's a girl) comment on my last chapter. Without her (?) these next few chapters wouldn't exist. :)