Chapter 20

Alice

In the darkness I laid, wondering if I was dead. What had happened?

It struck me as drops of cold liquid fell onto my being. I recalled the fight with Dark Ace, the Leecher that had landed in my-Well, technically, Repton's-engine. The explosion and…who caught me?

At that point, my eyes were slowly opening. The land around me was an ancient forest, by the size of the trees. I pushed myself up onto my hands and knees, wondering what happened to my friends.

The sadness struck me again. What am I fighting for? Is this really my war? Hell! I don't even know who this Cyclonis-chick is, let alone what she looks like.

I wonder if hand-drawn pictures by Finn count.

Static sounded in my ear. I began to play with the headset that Aerrow had given me as I sat on my butt, cross-legged.

"Storm Hawks, can you read me?" I asked.

Nothing.

"No signal." I sighed. "Well that's just fan-fucking-tastic."

I looked around, remembering to find whoever had caught me. In the corner of my eye, I saw someone lying right next to me. Whoever it was, was still unconscious. He was lying on his back but his black hair covered his face. I examined his uniform, seeing the crest on his chest.

"What the hell?" I asked. However, if I had asked him something, it wouldn't have been heard over the lightning that struck over head.

Aerrow

"Alice." I called again. Nothing but static. I dropped my head in concern. Alice…please be okay. I tried to tell her telepathically. Just…please be safe. I don't want you to get hurt.

"Aerrow?" A voice said.

I looked behind me to see a worried Piper. "Piper…"

"Get some rest." She said. "You look horrible."

I smiled, knowing she was doing that blunt thing to try to cheer me up. I was tired but-

"I know you want to find Alice. We all do." She said. "You've gotta have faith in her. She'll be fine. You taught her some pretty sweet moves, Stork taught her about survival in uncharted areas, and I've taught her about crystals. She can survive."

"But she's not a Sky Knight." I said. "She's never even been in an official Sky Battle until Ace-y Boy came here."

Piper smiled at the use of Alice's name for The Dark Ace. "Did that stop her?" She asked me. I blinked, looking at the girl before me. "Think to yourself: When has anything really stopped Alice? Haven't you noticed it, yet? She's always going head first into these things. She thinks ahead but still goes for the gold." Piper sat next to me on the bench by the radio. "Have faith, Aerrow. She'll figure it out. Likely, wherever she is, she can't get a signal. She's probably looking for some shelter from the rain anyway."

I thought about it. Even when I first met her, she was trying to do the right thing. She saved The Dark Ace's life! She's done nothing but help us. With her brains, she figured out whenever we have battle procedures to hold on to something. She learned quickly because she followed her instincts in combat. She even managed to help Finn with his singing which is a miracle.

No matter what, Alice would find a way if she didn't know how. She was more than worthy to be a Sky Knight or even more!

I nodded to Piper. "You're right. She'll pull through." I said, smiling up at her.

Piper smiled in relief. "Good. Now, bed." She said, pulling me up then pushing me up in the direction of my room. I chuckled and carried on to my bed.

Alice

Morning came, light shining into the mouth of the cave. Said light decided to blind my closed eyes. (Don't ask).

I pushed myself up and stretched, making my back pop.

"Where are we?" A deep voice said beside me.

I looked over with a slight smile. "Welcome back, Ace-y Boy." I then stood up and walked to the entrance. "Dunno about where we are. We should try to find our allies though. I can't get a signal through my communicator. We should try to get it from higher ground."

Dark Ace stepped up beside me, grunting slightly.

"You all right to move around?"

"I'm fine." He then scanned the area and pointed in a random direction. "Why not there?" I followed his line of sight to see what looked like a temple in the distance. "That seems pretty high up."

I nodded. "May as well." I started to walk forward. "Oh." I then turned to him. "Don't attack me. We have a temporary treaty until we're outta here. Okay?"

Dark Ace stared at me like I was insane. "Why would I fight you?"

"You work for that Cyclonis-Chick, don't cha? That makes us enemies. I don't like what she's up to. She is a threat to this world, and thus, a threat to my friends and allies. We assume you're an enemy as well, given that you've attacked us several times."

I then looked at Dark Ace with a smirk.

"Am I wrong?"

He chuckled and shook his head. "No. Absolutely correct."

With that, we made our way through the thick jungle, pressing on towards the temple.

Stork

I guided the Condor over a strange isle with a temple on it. Finn and Junko were overlooking the area for any signs of the lost brunette. Piper was going over countless maps, trying to understand where we were. Aerrow was trying to get a hold of Alice still.

I sighed as I gazed at the temple on the isle. It looked…ominous.

I heard Aerrow move to stand beside me. "You okay, Stork?"

"If," I said sardonically. "You count losing someone close to The Dark Ace and having no way of knowing whether or not she is alive or even if she's on that weird island over there that isn't even on any map in Atmos-" I took a breath after speaking so quickly. "Yeah. I'm peachy."

Aerrow sighed in defeat, knowing he couldn't cheer me up. I won't be happy until we know where Alice is. I need peace of mind.

"Any lucky, you guys?" Aerrow asked Junko and Finn.

"Nothing." Finn said.

"Just trees." Junko said.

Piper groaned in disappointment. "I've checked ever map in Atmos and I still can't find anything on this isle."

"What if…" Finn started. "She didn't land there?" He suggested. I grabbed Piper and pulled her to the steering then stormed out. I can't hear this.

The possibility of her falling in the Wastelands. I didn't want to hear that at all.

Aerrow

I watched the Merb leave the main deck before sighing. "Just keep your heads high, guys." I said before walking after my friend.

I found him in the hanger bay. He just sat on the crates, staring at the remnants of Alice skimmer. We found out that someone had thrown a Leech Crystal into the engine. I remembered the first time we'd dealt with those. I knew Stork was praying for her safety.

Radarr sat next to Stork, whimpering in concern. The Merb simply patted the cabbit's head, as if it would comfort them both.

"Stork?" I asked. He looked at me with an apathetic expression. "Keep your head up."

Stork shook his head as he looked back down at the skimmer. "Alice would have my ass if she saw me having a "Pity Party," as she'd call it."

I smiled lightly at that. Stork knew Alice better than anyone. I sat down next to him, looking at the parts. "She would probably tease ya for it, too." I said, raising an eyebrow to him.

Stork scoffed a laugh as a quick smile cracked onto his face. "Then she'd probably turn around and rant about some random game she used to play back on Earth."

"Or she'd probably give you a big hug for worrying about her." I said bravely. Stork looked at me funny. "Don't give me that look. I know how you feel about her. She's a bit oblivious sometimes but she's not emotionless, Stork. I think I know what I'm talking about when I say 'You love her'. What do you think?"

Stork blushed lightly and smiled, looking down. He nodded. "I do love her. I don't think she feels-"

"Bullshit." I said. "She likes you…a lot. Piper told me so." I smirked as Stork gave me another look. "When we find her, I know you're going to at least give her the biggest hug ever. Just like on Rex."

The Merb nodded again. "I probably won't know that you've said it." He joked.

Alice

The sun was beginning to set on the isle. It looked pretty out here at night…wherever "here" is.

"We should find shelter." Dark Ace said.

"Okay." I agreed. He quickly found us another fabulously decorated cave. The spear like pillars shooting up from the ground in the back matched beautifully with the rubble. If you can't tell, I'm using sarcasm.

I laid down on the ground, shivering slightly and exhausted. It was slightly warmer in the cave than outside but it didn't change the fact that it was cold. An entire day of walking can really wear you out.

The only plus side was that Dark Ace was actually good company. He was polite and we talked about music and whatnot. He reminded me of Aerrow though. Now that I think about it, his voice is almost the same.

"Cold?" Dark Ace asked from his side of the cave.

"No." My pride answered for me. I didn't bother to open my eyes until I felt something lay in front of me. Dark Ace was laying next to me. "What the fuck are you doing?" I yawned.

"Keeping you warm. It's too cold for someone running around in a tank top and sweats." He said simply.

I closed my eyes then snuggled into him. "Fine. Just don't molest me."

Dark Ace chuckled at my bad joke.

Ugh. Sleepy. *Looks at computer clock* Why is it only 5?

Aerrow: Because it's a lazy day.

Me: That works. I did not feel like doing anything but I knew I had to finish this chapter up. It was irking me. lol

Aerrow: anything to tell them?

Me: Hm? Oh! Right! I may be delayed in updating because of four things: 1) Mass Effect 2. FInally found a cheap copy of it on the 360 and I've been hitting it hard. 2) Skyward Sword. *Holy music* I absolutely love Lord Ghirahim (aka Fabulous Debbie) 3) Work. Duh. 4) Volunteering. At my high school, you have to have 10 hrs of volunteer work to graduate. i have completed 0 out of 10. Yeah. Thankfully, I'm doing something my town calls "Candy Cane Lane." You drive by and everyone on this route has decorated their houses for the public. I am going to be one of the elves saying "COME THROUGH HERE! IT'S AWESOME!"

Finn: She's only an elf because she's short.

Me: *glare; roundhouse high-kick to head* :3 Anyway, if i am delayed, it's cuz of those things. I'm thinking about doing a SKyward Sword fic but I don't know. What do you guys think? One-Shot? Chapter? OC? Canon? I'm not sure. Anyway, Cyclonis!

Cyclonis: *in distance* Yeah?

Me: *shouting* Disclaimer! Tell them about the plot!

Cyclonis: *in distance* Okay! *Magicians her way in front of you* Okay. We tried to plant a bomb in the Nerd Corps. building but they teleported it to Japan's Nuclear Factory-

Me: Too soon?

Cyclonis: -So they still own Storm Hawks. Lupin HIGHLY suggests that you watch Breaking Dawn pt 1 because it was hysterical and buy SUper 8 just cuz it's not a bad alien fic.

Me: I normally don't watch alien sci-fi's but this wasn't that bad. lots of funny stuff. *Dude gets high XD*

Please R&R!