Greetings, everyone, welcome to another chapter of Sky Knight & Witch. Today, we will be looking into the outcome of the Aurora Stone being stolen by Cyclonia. Aerrow and his friends vowed to get it back, but will they be given the chance? Read to find out! Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OCs.
Sky Knight & Witch
Chapter Four: Age of Heroes (Part Four)
Atmos was in a state of panic, the Aurora Stone was now in the clutches of the Cyclonian Empire. Citizens were filled with fear at the horrors that were to come when the most powerful crystal known was going to be used against them. The scariest thought was the unknown method of how. With the public on the verge of mass hysteria, a leader was called to calm the herd. And that leader took on the form of the one who ruled over the entire nation.
The King of Atmos.
Having resided over the throne for two decades, his Royal Highness quickly established himself as fair, just, and wise. All the makings of a true king. However, what was most impressive was his uncanny ability to lift the morale of the people even in the darkest of circumstances. With just a few words, he could rally a single Sky Knight Squadron against an entire fleet of Cyclonian warships, filling them with the hopes they may succeed.
Now, to bring Atmosians out of their despair, hours after the Aurora Stone was taken, the king held a live press conference. His speech was strong and steadfast, just like him.
"My dear citizens, I will not lie to you, we are in the midst of our biggest crisis yet. The Aurora Stone, the most powerful crystal in Atmos, has been stolen and now rests with Cyclonia. I know you are all terrified of what is to come, and I absolutely cannot blame you. But that is just what the empress of that unholy empire wants. If we allow ourselves to panic, to waste time, and cower, their advantage grows greater by the minute. I, for one, will not allow this intimidation to take effect! Our nation has endured an unspeakable amount of threats from Cyclonia for centuries, the odds rarely in our favor. But we have never let that stop us before and managed to come back stronger than ever. And, by the gods, we'll do it again! I vow, here and now, the Aurora Stone will return to its rightful home! And we will show the Cyclonian Empire just how strong the hand of Atmos is!"
(Cyclonian Empire)
"What a moving speech. As expected of Atmos's proud king."
"Indeed." Cyclonis remarked, watching the middle-aged man on the television screen mounted on the wall of her private office. From his slicked-back white hair, full goatee, and suit, he was a perfect symbol to rally Atmos together during a state of emergency. "I think it's time to initiate the next phase of our plan. If we show the King, one of the most influential figures in all of Atmos, how serious Cyclonia is, he will convince the nation to surrender peacefully."
"And if he doesn't?" Dark Ace questioned. "He is well-known for unwavering in the face of adversary."
"Well, then…" Cyclonis stood up, straightening out her robe. "The people of Atmos will realize what a fool he was for ignoring how severe the consequences were. This would make him lose credibility, possibly even being dethroned. With no one to lead them, they would have no other choice but to fall under Cyclonia's rule. No matter what scenario plays out, the outcome will be my victory. Now, Dark Ace…" she turned to the older man. "It's time I send a little speech of my own."
(Terra Atmosia)
"You have cuts, contusions, and bumps just about all over your body. Miraculously, there's no sign of internal damage. You'll be sore for a while, but you're a very lucky young man to have survived such an ordeal without serious injury."
"I feel lucky." Aerrow said to the physician from behind a curtain in the corner of the exam room, putting his uniform back on. "Does this mean I'm clear for piloting?"
Not long after making the vow to retrieve the Aurora Stone from the Cyclonian Empire, the young Sky Knight found himself practically dragged to Atmosia's clinic. Despite trying to convince them there were no problems, his squad wouldn't hear of it until a professional gave him a clean bill of health. As much as he wanted to spend valuable time coming up with a plan of attack, Aerrow knew he stood no chance when all his friends ganged up on him.
"Yes, but I wouldn't recommend it." the physician told him, a sigh leaving her lips. "Luck tends to run out quickly for most people these days. Honestly, children shouldn't be piloting Chariots in the first place. I don't know what you were thinking."
Aerrow didn't reply, re-strapping the pieces of silver armor to his uniform. He heard high heels click against the tile floor, the examining room's door opening, and multiple voices talking all at once.
"Is Aerrow gonna be okay?!"
"Nothing was broken, right?!"
"Does he need anything?!"
"Did you check to see if he had any diseases?!"
"Everyone, calm down!" the older woman shouted at the squadron, who had stationed themselves in the waiting room since they arrived at the clinic. "Your friend will be just fine. Aside from some small injuries, his health is perfect. But, if he wants it to stay that way, I recommend not getting back in a Chariot."
"Can we see him now?" Piper asked.
The physician stepped aside and gestured into the room. They went in and she left, closing the door to give them privacy.
"Aerrow, thank goodness!" Piper hugged him, being mindful of how much pressure to apply.
"Told you there was nothing to worry about." the redhead told her, returning the gesture.
"Glad you see you steady on your feet again, buddy." Finn clapped him on the back a few times.
"We brought a snack in case you were hungry." Junko said, holding up a large box and opening the lid, revealing half a dozen donuts of assorted flavors. "I, uh, kinda ate most of them. Sorry." his ears pulled back sheepishly.
"It's okay, Junko, I know stress makes you hungry." Aerrow reassured him. "Thanks all the same." he took a powdered donut. "So what's the situation?" he asked before taking a bite.
"Well, after the King's speech, the Sky Knight Council is currently coming up with a plan of attack to get back the Aurora Stone." Piper informed. "A bunch of other Sky Knights and their Squadrons have arrived to join the mission."
"They're definitely gonna need as much firepower as they can get." the redhead said. "What about our Chariots?"
"Thankfully, the Council agreed to get those repaired for us." Stork told him. "They should be finishing up soon."
"Which is the least they can do since we almost got killed trying to protect the Stone." Finn added. "Speaking of which, were you serious about us going to Cyclonia and getting it back, Aerrow."
"I was." he confirmed, giving the last piece of his pastry to Raddar. "As a Sqaurdon, it's our job."
He kept to himself the part where he secretly hoped to have a rematch with Dark Ace. Carver was a tough opponent, but the general of the Cyclonian army was on another level altogether. Even though he managed to get the jump on him once, he had the young Sky Knight on the ropes during their entire aerial battle.
Aerrow admitted he felt a bit overly confident after his fight with Carver, believing he stood a chance against Dark Ace. All that got him was a damaged Chariot and a wounded ego. While retrieving the Aurora Stone was top priority, he couldn't help but want to even the score.
"I know you're all for it, Aerrow, but I'm not sure the Sky Knight Council will agree with us taking part in the mission after everything that's happened." Piper told him. "What should we do then?"
"Well…" Aerrow thought for a moment. "It's as Ajax used to say, sometimes you have to make your own rules."
"That's the spirit, buddy." Finn grinned.
"Unless those rules get you killed." Stork spoke up, letting out a tired sigh. "One day, a nice, safe job opportunity will come along and I'll take it, leaving this life of daring adventure behind."
"Stork, you've been saying that since we were kids." Junko said, offering him a donut.
"And I mean it." the Merb emphasized with a wave of the pastry before taking a bite.
Raddar suddenly chittered from the ground, tugging at Aerrow's hand. When he got his attention, he pointed at the mounted television screen on the wall in the corner. It showed an important news broadcast alert, but the doctor had turned the sound off earlier when giving the Sky Knight his examination.
Aerrow grabbed the remote from the counter and unmuted the TV, turning up the volume. The screen showed the symbol for Insider Atmos, but soon changed to a dark background with the insignia of a shrieking crow.
"Is that…" Junko started to say.
"The emblem for the Cyclonian Empire?" Piper finished, nodding grimly. "Yeah."
"They must have hacked into Atmos's broadcast system." Stork said. "Oh, this isn't gonna be good."
The screen changed again, this time showing a dark room with a single figure standing on a platform, a strange machine behind them. It was a young pale-skinned girl, at least a couple of years in her teens, with short black hair and wide, violet eyes.
"Greetings, to all of Atmos. I am speaking to you live from Cyclonia. My name is Cyclonis, empress of the glorious empire."
"That's the evil Master Cyclonis we've been hearing about?" Finn questioned, blinking once at the girl on screen. "She's gotta be the same age as us."
"As you know, I have recently come into possession of your precious Aurora Stone." Cyclonis continued. "I assure you, I intend to put it to good use. This brings me to the reason for my little broadcast ." she took a step to the side, granting a full view of her machine. "I am proud to present my finest creation, the Storm Engine. For those who are curious, allow me to give you a demonstration of its capabilities." she pulled something out from within her cloak.
The Aurora Stone, its wing casing removed, shone brightly in the room as the young empress held it above her head. One of the Storm Engine's mechanical arms grabbed the crystal and inserted it into a perfect-sized slot in the front. Sparks of electricity appeared within the glass dome on top of the machine as the screen panned out to grant a larger view. The entire ceiling split apart, lowering to show the red, dark sky. Cyclonis stepped off the platform and it rose, lifting the Storm Engine higher and higher until it was among the clouds.
"On its own, it may not seem like much. But, thanks to the Aurora Stone, it gains quite a power boost."
Cyclonis walked over to a set of keyboards and began typing. The great machine hummed loudly, the Aurora Stone pulsing brightly in its slot. The screen then revealed a large glass cannon on top of the dome, metal rings around its length, with energy building up inside. It moved ninety degrees to the right, aiming at an unknown target. The camera returned to focus on the girl as she faced the audience…
With a smirk, she pressed down on a single key.
The screen changed again to show the Storm Engine's cannon firing its gathered energy in an enormous blast. It quickly switched to show a small, unknown forest Terra. In a matter of moments, a bluish-purple beam collided with it and there was a loud explosion. When the light disappeared, and the dust settled, nothing remained but a cluster of floating stones. No signs of life anywhere.
Aerrow and his team could only stare at the television in horrified disbelief. An entire Terra was wiped out instantly from just one attack. So this was the power of the Cyclonian Empire and its empress.
"If you thought that was impressive, imagine a thousand Terras erased within a single blow." Cyclonis addressed the audience when she reappeared on screen. "My demands are simple, surrender Atmos to me within the next few hours. If not, Cyclonia will be the only safe place left in the world. I look forward to hearing your king's response."
The screen went black.
(Terra Aeaea)
"Milady, did ya see that?!"
"I saw, Cocoa." Circe calmly told the Blizzarian shaking her by the shoulder, eyes on the now blank television screen.
"I knew the Aurora Stone was powerful, but I didn't think it could be used in such a way." Perse thought aloud, hand to her mouth in aghast.
"This will certainly grab the King's attention. Either he'll surrender to Clonie's demands, or carry on his crusade to retrieve the Aurora Stone."
"Surely he's not gonna take the risk of havin' all the Terras wiped out, is he?" Cocoa asked.
"The goal of the Cyclonian Empire is to rule all over Atmos, you can't very well do that when its people and territories are nothing but dust." Circe answered. "That being said, this little stunt will surely set everyone into a panic. Logically, in situations such as these, the people will want to choose the option that yields the lowest casualties. When it comes down to it, self-preservation tends to win against one's sense of duty."
"And what about those who do not follow what is logical, My Lady?" Perse questioned.
"Well…" the younger girl turned her gaze towards her. "There is a reason the King is Atmos's shining beacon. A shepherd to guide the sheep to safety. I don't think it'll be too hard for the Sky Knights to be convinced to launch a frontal assault on Cyclonia."
Suddenly, an alert went off from the electronic tablet on her office desk. She was getting a call and already knew who it was from. Setting the device sideways so it showed her whole face, she answered.
"Clonie! So glad you got in touch. I just saw the most interesting news broadcast."
"I take it you enjoyed my little display, Circe?" Cyclonis asked from the other side of the screen.
"It was certainly entertaining, just blowing up that Terra the way you did." Circe chuckled. "You never were one for subtly."
"I had to show them how serious the empire is."
"Of course, of course. But, then again…" the longer-haired girl titled her head ever so slightly. "It would have been more effective if you used an occupied Terra. Targeting one devoid of any people is a bit unorthodox for a ruthless empress."
"They don't need to know that little detail." Cyclonis waved her hand dismissively. "What matters is that I've given them a first-hand demonstration of what Cyclonia is truly capable of."
"No doubt the King and his people are meeting right now, split between their pride and their lives." Circe agreed. "By the way, when you mentioned destroying the Terras at once…"
"Oh, come now, Circe, you don't really think I would blow up a Terra with you on it." the empress feigned hurt. "Do you have such little trust in me?"
"I know you, Clonie, but I have citizens that don't. And I need to assure them of their safety."
"You have my word that my Storm Engine will not even point in Aeaea's direction."
"That's all I needed to hear, thank you."
"Just wait, Circe, once Atmos surrenders to Cyclonia, everything will be as it should." Cyclonis declared.
Circe stared silently at her twin, expression unreadable. All their lives they were taught that the Cyclonian empire was destined to be the true ruler of Atmos. Their grandmother started every lesson with the same speech, always going on about how the Sky Knights kept them from achieving their full greatness. Once upon a time, she, too, believed in her teachings. Now, however, she could care less what happened between the warring factions.
"I'm sure it will." she told Cyclonis. "But do keep in mind to leave at least a few Terras around, you need something to rule over if you achieve victory."
"You don't think I can?"
"On the contrary, I do believe it is entirely possible. However, Clonie, you should always be prepared for the unexpected. Winning is easier if you've thought off all outcomes."
"I assure you, I have everything under control." Cyclonis stated. "Soon, the symbol of Cyclonia will be all over Atmos. Just as it was always intended."
"Very well, then, I wish you the best of luck, dear sister. Do tell me how it goes."
"I will. And, Circe…" the empress looked at her twin with resolute eyes. "I will succeed."
Circe gave her an easy smile. "Take care, Clonie." she said before ending the call.
"So Master Cyclonis is gonna be the new ruler, then?" Cocoa asked.
"That still remains to be seen." the Cyclonian girl leaned back in her chair. "While the chances of her plan working are high, it is not a hundred percent."
"There is the probability the Sky Knights can recover the Aurora Stone before she goes through with annihilating more Terras." Perse remarked.
"Yes, there is that." Circe agreed. "Plus, there is one factor she most likely won't expect. If she is unable to overcome it when it appears…" her hand came up to touch her crystal. "Then she will fail."
(Cyclonian Empire)
After hanging up with her sister, Cyclonis sighed and ran a hand through her hand. Circe always thought logically, so she understood where she was coming from with her warning. But there was nothing to worry about, her plan had been going exactly as she thought it would. Soon enough, she would be getting a notice of surrender from the King, or a fleet of Sky Knights at her door.
If it came down to the latter, she would have the Storm Engine ready to wipe them all out before they could even blink. After her display earlier, though, it needed a few hours to recharge. Should they come before then, Dark Ace and the Talons can handle them.
"There is no need to be concerned." Cyclonis said to herself, staring at her office ceiling. "After centuries, Cyclonia will finally stand on top." she clenched her hand into a fist.
This is what she had been trained for since childhood. Victory was just a few steps away, she could feel it.
"I'll make you proud, Grandmother. I swear."
(Terra Atmosia)
After Cyclonis's broadcast, Sky Knights from all over Atmos gathered at the Council Hall to discuss their next course of action. By the time the Storm Hawks managed to sneak in, the meeting was in total disarray. Various, loud opinions echoed off the walls.
"The best move to make now is to surrender!"
"What manner of Sky Knight are you?! You would submit yourself to that witch?!"
"That witch has a weapon of mass destruction aimed right at us! She'll vaporize you before you can even start your Chariot."
"But we are oath-bound to fight for Atmos until the very end!"
"With the Aurora Stone in Cyclonis's possession, there will be no more Atmos!"
"Order! Order!" Jupiter banged a gravel, calling the attention of the masses. "Control yourselves!"
When everyone had calmed down enough, he sat in the chair of a large, tall dias built in a half-circle. With him were the rest of the Sky Knight council members, five other men and six women. All of them were middle-aged or older but wore similar grim expressions.
"Saturn, you have received word from the King of Atmos?" Jupiter addressed the man with seven small bald spots among his thinning, pale yellow hair.
"Yes, that is correct." he cleared his throat, showing a letter stamped with the king's official seal. "His Majesty has stated we will proceed with the attack on Cyclonia. The orders are to retrieve the Aurora Stone, as well as destroy the empress's machine. All available Sky Knights Squadrons are expected to be prepared."
"Surely the king does not think we have anything that can combat Cyclonis and her Storm Engine." spoke a petite woman with light lilac-colored hair pulled back in a too-tight bun. "We would be destroyed instantly."
"So you just want to give in to her demands?!" shouted a stocky man, streaks of grey in his red hair. "I would rather die in battle than become part of that Atmos-forsaken empire!" he slammed his fist on the dias so hard it shook. "Don't forget, she is a mere child, there is no reason to fear her."
"Eris is just stating what we're all thinking, Mars." Venus, a dark-skinned woman with perfectly styled wavy light orange hair, said calmly. She was the most well-dressed of the members. "Young as she may be, she is still the empress of a powerful nation. We certainly cannot go rushing head-first without a plan."
"We have no weapons that can destroy that machine." Neptune declared. He appeared human for the most part, but the stripes of blue on his exposed arms gave away his Aquanosian heritage. That and matching fins he had instead of ears. "It's too powerful."
"Perhaps we can use that to our advantage." a woman with a grey, pageboy haircut spoke up, a pair of goggles hung from her neck. "With the Aurora Stone, the Storm Engine is the definition of formidable. But something of that caliber must have intervals of when it can be used. If it was fired multiple times at once, it would very likely overheat and explode."
"What Uranus says makes sense." said Pluto. He was the shortest of the members, and his head was completely free of any hair. However, there was plenty to make up his thick beard."If it's true, we may have a window of opportunity."
"How long do you expect the intervals to be, Uranus?" asked silver-haired Moon. She rolled one of her moonstone rings around her finger, crescent-shaped earrings dangling from her lobes.
"I would speculate a few hours at the moment."
"Then we do not have much time." stated pale blue-haired Mercury, dressed in a doctor's coat. Around her neck dangled a silver medallion with a caduceus symbol. "Our time to strike must be now."
"B-But we are wholly unprepared." the youngest of the council, Earth, squeaked. Her hair was long and green with blue tips. It was easy to forget she was even in the room as she did not speak often during meetings. "If we were to come up with a proper plan, then-"
"If you want to sit on your ass and twiddle your thumbs, you can do it by yourself!" Mars shouted, causing Earth to shrink back to make herself smaller. "If the King himself has declared we will attack, then we will attack! Are you doubting his word?"
"Of course, I-I'm not, but we will have m-more casualties if we…" she trailed off, removing her glasses and frantically cleaning them with a cloth.
"What say you, Sun?" Jupiter asked the man sitting in the middle of the dais.
Pale-haired, tan-skinned, and dressed all in gold, Councilman Sun was the oldest of the members. His age and years of experience earned him the King's respect and was often in direct contact with him. Despite his tall, imposing physique, many Atmosians considered him warm and wise.
"Earth's concerns are valid." he addressed the entire room. "However, we also cannot afford to waste any more time. If we are to recover the Aurora Stone, it must be done right now. One of our spies in Cyclonia has informed us there are tunnels underneath the Terra. In those tunnels is a grate that leads into the tower we believe the Aurora Stone and the Storm Engine are being kept. Our plan is, while the rest of the Sky Knight Squadrons keep the Cyclonian army occupied, another will use the grate to break into the tower, find the Aurora Stone, and destroy the machine."
Everyone clamored to themselves over the plan. While it sounded like the ideal course of action, there was still the risk of losing too many soldiers during the assault phase. Not to mention, the infiltrating squadron would be in danger of being captured. Cyclonia was not known for treating its prisoners of war with kind accommodation. Over the centuries, those who managed to survive and escape could barely talk about the amount of torture they experienced day after day for years. Some even had their minds utterly broken behind repair and were never the same again.
"And who, may I ask, will be the squadron to undertake this covert operation?" asked a man with blue eyes and longish blond hair pulled back into a low ponytail.
"That, Sky Knight Harrier, we will leave up to you and the other squadrons." Sun answered. "This mission will include great risks for both sides, that is no lie. However, in order for it to succeed, we will need those willing to accept it. So, any volunteers?"
Before anyone could speak, a hand was raised near the back of the room. "The Storm Hawks will."
Everyone turned and looked at Aerrow and his team. They stepped forward, standing before the dias and looking up at the council. The rest of the Sky Knight Squadrons looked at them in disbelief. Despite the rumors they heard, they didn't think the new Storm Hawks were this young.
"You?" Jupiter narrowed his eyes at the redhead. "Why would we trust such a mission to you when you failed your last one so terribly?"
Piper glared and was about to reprimand the councilman, but Aerrow placed his hand on her shoulder. He squeezed it and gave her a reassuring look. After a moment, she nodded and let him take over.
"Councilman Jupiter, I apologize for letting you and the rest of Atmos down. But I vowed we would get the Aurora Stone back, and I intend to see it through. If you will just give us another chance-"
"So you can doom our nation again?!" Mars cut in. "Why you were even made a Sky Knight is beyond me. You do not deserve to wear that emblem."
"Hey! Aerrow's worked harder than anyone to become a Sky Knight." Finn defended.
"He was the best in his class." Junko added.
"And he graduated early, too." Stork said. "Proves he's got talent."
"More like the teaching system at Sky Knight Academy needs some updating." Eris sniffed distastefully.
"We cannot allow these children to hold the fate of Atmos in their hands." Uranus interjected. "The chances of them succeeding is less than ten percent."
"I know my team is capable of pulling this off." Aerrow declared. "All we want to do is help save Atmos, and to make up for our failure. Please."
Sun looked at the Sky Knight, the Academy's youngest production. It was laughable to think he and his so-called team could take on a mission of such high importance. They have to know the probability of never returning alive. However, that look of determination and confidence in those green eyes reminded him of a certain Sky Knight he was acquainted with years ago. The greatest he had ever known, taking on the most dangerous of missions and pulling them off with a self-assured grin.
"We shall put it to a vote." Sun announced, sticking out a fist. "Those who agree to allow the Storm Hawks to infiltrate Cyclonia?" he stuck his thumb upward. It might have been against his better judgment, but he felt this group of younglings would not let something like a vote stop them.
One by one, the council placed their vote. Moon, Neptune, Saturn, Pluto, and Venus agreed with Sun. Jupiter, Mars, Uranus, Mercury, and Eris turned their thumbs down. Everyone focused their gazes on Earth, who looked anywhere but the faces of her fellow council members. If she voted her for against, they would be stuck in a tie. Should that happen, an outside party will be needed to break it. The Storm Hawks held their breaths as she slowly stuck her fist out…
And turned her thumb towards the ceiling.
"There you have it." Sun said. "The Storm Hawks will take part in the covert mission. Sky Knights, prepare your Chariots and be ready to depart for Cyclonia within half an hour."
"This is insane, Sun!" Mars yelled as the oldest councilman stood up and stepped off the dais. "These children know nothing of real battle!"
"Yeah, you're such an expert." Finn said a bit too louder, earning a glare from the redheaded councilman. He had heard about Mars from Ajax, saying the closest he ever got to actual combat was sitting inside a cruiser ship while a good distance away from the battle the fleet he commanded was engaged in. While he was a skilled tactician, he was far from being a real fighter.
"Alright, guys, we don't have a lot of time." Aerrow said to his team. "Piper, think you can draw up one of your special plans on short notice?"
"Just get me a map of Cyclonia's tunnel system, and I'll have it ready in fifteen minutes or less." she gave a grin.
(Later)
The Storm Hawks were standing in Atmosia's harbor, gathered around a crate as their navigator explained the plan she conjured up. Other Sky Knights and their squadrons puttered around to finish last-minute preparations, making sure their Chariots, ships, and supplies were all in order. Some would throw scrutinizing glances at the young group, letting out disbelieving scoffs. Atmos's fate rested on the shoulders of a ragtag team of newbies. The danger they had put themselves in was almost pitiful, their chances of surviving exceedingly slim.
"After we drop off Finn and Junko at the nearest Cyclonian supply station, Stork and I will make our way through the Wastelands." Piper explained, pointing here and there on the map she procured. "By the time they arrive and locate the grate, we'll be waiting in the tunnels."
"And, while you find the Aurora Stone and destroy the Storm Engine, Raddar and I will be helping the other Sky Knights distract the Talon army." Aerrow added. He knew his team could manage this part of the mission without him, especially if Piper were put in charge. There was also a greater chance of him encountering Dark Ace again if he was part of the assault. "Once you've done that, get out of the tower as fast as you can."
"You can leave that part to me." Stork told him. "I'll put the Condor into hyperspeed if I need to."
"I know you'll keep everyone safe, Stork." the redhead smiled.
"Make sure you don't lose this." Piper passed a map that led to the designated grate to Finn. "We don't need you getting lost in enemy territory."
"Psst, Junko and I got this." the blond declared. "I bet we'll get to the grate before you do, and you'll owe me your dessert for the next two weeks."
"Finn, this is serious." the dark-skinned girl crossed her arms. "But, if Stork and I do arrive first, I get your turns for the radio."
"Deal." the two shook on it.
"How you feeling, Junko?" Aerrow asked the Wallop, who couldn't hide his anxious expression.
"A little nervous, honestly. This is such a huge mission, I'm worried we're gonna mess up."
"If we stick with the plan, nothing should go wrong." Piper reassured him. "Just make sure you're careful, okay, Junko?"
"I'll try, but I'm starting to get stress-hungry again." Junko placed his hands over his stomach. "Think it might be too late to grab a quick bite before we go?"
"Allow me to take care of that." Stork reached into a bag and pulled out six protein bars and three bottles of water. "Never go on a mission with an empty stomach."
"Thanks a lot, Stork!" the engineer beamed as the Merb gave him a bottle and two bars, giving the same amount to Finn. "Oooh, there's chocolate chips in them!"
"Aerrow."
"I think I'll be fine, Stork." the redhead waved off what remained.
"Oh, probably." the helmsman shrugged. "Unless you want to risk low blood sugar and dehydration during an air battle. Which, in turn, could hinder your performance and cause you to be overwhelmed by your opponents. The next thing you know… you're crashing right into the lava pools of the Wastelands. Whether we recover your body, that remains to be seen."
Aerrow gave a slow blink. "Uh, you know what, it's better to be safe than sorry."
"That's what I thought." Stork gave a satisfied smile as he took the protein bars and bottled water, putting them in the pouch strapped to his side.
"I honestly don't know what's crazier, Leda."
Aerrow turned his head at the posh voice and looked at one of the other Sky Knights that wasn't too far from them. It was Harrier, and he was talking to an incredibly beautiful young woman with snow-white skin, reddish-pink eyes, and long black hair tied in a high ponytail with a small red ribbon. Her uniform was the same as his, showing she was part of his squadron.
"What is the council thinking!" the blond man frowned, a crease between his eyes. "Assigning a group of children for such an important task. Perhaps we shouldn't even take part in the attack, it just feels like a suicide mission at this point."
Raddar, also overhearing the conversation, let out a low growl, but Aerrow petted his head to calm him down. As much as he wanted to tell off the older man, he could understand his reasoning. Compared to the other Sky Knight Squadrons, he and his team were vastly inexperienced. And, considering how their first assignment ended, it's only natural no one would have faith in them succeeding. He planned to change that. After all, showing is better than telling.
"I have half a mind to go tell the council to reconsider their decisions before these children get us all killed."
"We don't have time to be wastin' our breaths, Harrier." another man came up beside him. He was a large, muscular Blizzarian with dark pinkish hair covering his head and lining his chin. He chewed on a toothpick between his teeth as dark eyes looked down at the shorter man.
"Aspen, surely even you can see how plain ridiculous this is." the blond said.
"With all the complainin' you're doin', you're startin' to sound like a kid yourself." he chuckled, slapping the other on the back a bit too hard and almost making him fall over.
"I am simply stating what we're all thinking." Harrier griped, straightening himself out.
"Even so, kickin' up a fuss about it isn't gonna help get the Aurora Stone back. Just focus on the battle that's comin' our way, yeah? I'll be trusting you and your squad to watch my back."
"You can count on the Rex Guardians for anything."
"Good to hear." Aspen spit out his toothpick. "See ya'll in the sky." he waved and walked off.
"I swear, sometimes I don't know if he takes anything seriously." Harrier sighed.
"Aw, is someone jealous he didn't get picked to lead the attack?" the black-haired woman teased, poking him in the cheek playfully.
Harrier moved her hand away. "Aspen might be carefree, but there is no denying he is an excellent Sky Knight. If anyone was to lead us into battle, I feel more at ease knowing it is him."
"Then stop frowning about the little Storm Chicks before you get wrinkles." she wrapped her arms around his, armored chest pressing against it. "We have to finish getting ready."
"You can start by removing that gaudy rose decal from your Chariot, Leda." he told her blankly. "Don't think I wouldn't notice."
"But I want to give Aphrodite something that sets it apart from the others! It's boring that they all look alike!"
"You know what the Code mandates for our Squadron." Harrier removed his arm. "We are all expected to follow them, no exceptions."
"Harry!" Leda whined, following him to where their ship was docked.
"Your name's Aerrow, right?"
The redhead and his squad looked up at Sky Knight Aspen. Though their first time meeting in person, they knew about his reputation. While his team, the Absolute Zeros, were well-known for being a fun-loving, chill bunch, they were considered one of the best Squadrons around. They certainly made good work of the Cyclonians who have tried to take over their Terra over the years.
"Oh, yes, sir." Aerrow shook his hand. "It's such an honor to meet you. I've heard so much about you and your Squadron, Sky Knight Aspen."
"Just call me Aspen." the Blizzarian told him, putting a fresh toothpick into his mouth. "You certainly are a youngen, I remember when my daughter was your age. Tell me, ya know Ajax Alogo?"
"He was our instructor and guardian when we were at the Academy."
"Ya don't say." Aspen looked him and the others over, expression thoughtful. "I'm sure you're aware, but a lot of folks here think you and your team are gonna get us all killed. Now I've known good old Ajax for a while, and I've never known him to make a bad call. If he thinks you're capable, then I'm gonna trust him. But let me ask ya somethin' myself…" he leaned down until his face was right in front of the younger Sky Knight's, serious eyes staring into him. "Do ya have what it takes to do this?"
Aerrow returned his stare, unblinking. "My squad and I have no intention of failing, Aspen. We'll get the Aurora Stone back and save Atmos."
After a few moments of staring, Blizzarian grinned. "That's what I like to hear!" he pulled back and ruffled his hair. "Keep up that confidence, and ya sure to win! Just remember you won't be fightin' alone, everyone watches out for everyone, got it?"
"Yes, sir, thank you." the redhead said, fixing his hair.
"I couldn't help but overhear what ya'll are planning." one of Aspen's long ears twitched. "Why don't ya ride with me and my squad, it'll be easier when we get ready to attack Cyclonia."
"That would be great, actually!"
"Load your Chariot up onto our ship, we leave in five minutes. Sure hope you're ready, we got quite a flight ahead of us."
"Ajax wasn't kidding when he said he was cool." Finn remarked as the older Sky Knight walked away.
"Yeah." Aerrow smiled to himself. "At least one person has some faith in us, huh, Raddar?"
The sky lemur gave an affirmative chirp.
"I'll go collect the Jason and meet up with the Absolute Zeros." the redhead looked at his team. "I expect to see all of you when this is over."
"Same here." Piper told him.
"We got this, dude." Finn added.
"I know." Aerrow put his hand out, smiling as the others placed their own on top of it. Raddar jumped up on the crate to join in. "And, don't forget, we're still the Storm Hawks. No matter what happens, or what anyone says."
"Sir, yes, sir!" they shouted, throwing their hands into the air.
"Let's go, Raddar." the young Sky Knight said, letting the sky lemur jump onto his shoulder. With a nod to his team, he went to the Condor to quickly collect and move his Chariot.
Aspen went to where the Absolute Zeros' carrier ship, The Gyrfalcon, was stationed. As he approached, he saw a young, female Blizzarian waiting for him by the opened gangplank. She had the same dark pinkish hair as him, some tied in a small ponytail at the top of her head, and matching long ears, two golden earrings in each. As she looked at him, there was worry in her light green eyes.
"Daddy, please, let me come with ya. All available Sky Knights are suppose to join in. It's better to have more fighters, isn't it?"
"We talked about this, Suzy Lu, you and your squad hang back here. In case something happens to me, there has to be someone to look after Terra Blizzarus."
"But… nothin' is goin' to happen to you, right?"
Aspen looked at his daughter, his little snow flurry, and the traces of fear that made it onto her face. She could ride off a thirty-foot cliff without breaking into a sweat, but the thought of losing her father...
Wordlessly, he held out his arms and she immediately threw herself into his chest. He embraced her tightly, now knowing if this would be the last time he ever would. "You're a strong girl." he said softly. "No matter what comes, I know I raised you to be able to take care of yourself."
"I don't… I don't want you to go." Suzy Lu admitted, clutching the fabric of his winter jacket tightly. "I want us to go back home, playin' in the snow and drinkin' your famous hot chocolate."
"I know, darlin', I do, too. But it's our job as Sky Knights, Atmos needs us. It's like I always say, there's a time for work, and there's a time for play." Aspen gently pushed her back so they were face-to-face. "Just remember this…" he gave her the most affectionate, loving smile. "I love you, my little Suzy Lulu."
The female Blizzarian sniffled, holding back her tears as she smiled back. "I love you, too, Daddy."
"There is one thing I wanna give ya." he reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out a crystal. It was large and its blue-violet coloring glowed in the afternoon sun.
"Your Blizzard crystal?" Suzy Lu gasped as he placed it in her hands. "B-But I can't take this! You need it!"
"I've got a spare." he reassured her. "Besides, you might need it more than I do one day. Just make sure you put it to good use when that happens, okay?"
She looked at her father and nodded, holding the crystal to her chest. "I promise."
"That's my little snow flurry." Aspen rubbed her head.
"Aspen! We're ready to go!" one of the Absolute Zeros members announced from inside the Gryfalcon.
"Roger that!" he responded. Looking back at his daughter, he kissed her forehead. "When I come back, I'll make ya so much hot chocolate, you'll get sick of it."
"I could never." Suzy Lu chuckled softly. "Be careful, Daddy."
"Ain't I always?" Aspen grinned, walking up the gangplank. "Absolute Zeros! Let's fly!"
The Sky Knight Council and Atmosia's citizens watched as dozens of carrier ships flew into the air and headed for Cyclonia. The entire fate of Atmos was now in the hands of the Sky Knights. Most silently prayed that these brave heroes would return with the recovered Aurora Stone.
If only they knew what this battle would cost.
(Terra Thessaly)
"Are you sure about this, Ajax? I do not mean to sound offensive, but it has been a while since you've been out in the field."
"I might be rusty, but I won't be getting too up close and personal." Ajax stopped halfway on the gangplank of the small ship preparing to take off. He looked back at his fellow instructor; a fairly tall man with fair skin, dark blue hair neatly combed back, and round glasses over his bright blue eyes. "Knowing Aerrow and his team, they're going to be taking part in the attack on Cyclonia. I figured the least I could do is give them some support."
"Even so…"
"Don't act like you wouldn't do the same for them if you were a pilot, Char." the tanned man gave him a knowing look.
"They may be a Squadron now, but we are still considered their guardians. I haven't been able to stop worrying since they left home."
"I understand, but they're smart kids." Ajax placed his hand on the shorter man's shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly. "We trained them to handle any situation."
Char looked at him, smiling slightly. "Yes, we did."
"Tell you what, after Atmos is saved, how about you and I dine at that new restaurant you've been wanting to try out?"
"Just make sure you come back to do that." the glasses-wearer told him.
"You better believe I will." Ajax grinned, giving his shoulder one last squeeze. He stepped into the ship, waving as the gangplank lifted and closed.
Char stepped back and watched the ship lift into the air, heading in the direction of the Cyclonian Empire. "Come back safe…"
After dropping Finn and Junko off at the Cyclonian supply station, Piper and Stork moved on to the next part of their plan. They needed to arrive in the empire without being detected, and there was only one way to do that. Even if the helmsman wasn't too keen on the idea.
"Flying to Cyclonia is bad enough, Piper. But do we really have to get there through the- Ah!" Stork turned hard right, steering the Condor out of the path of an attacking lava eel. "Wastelands."
"It's the only way, Stork." she told him as he dodged a pair of lava geysers next, going over her map. "All we have to worry about is Finn and Junko pulling off their part. Aerrow and the other Sky Knights should be arriving just about now."
As focused as she tried to be on the mission, Piper couldn't stop hoping her friends would be okay. And that she would see their faces again.
(Aboard the Gyrfalcon)
Aerrow was in the hangar bay with the Absolute Zeros, giving his Chariot a final once over before the big battle. The mechanics on Atmosia had done an excellent job repairing it, you could hardly tell it had been in battle just the other day. If he did get a rematch against Dark Ace and his Achilles, hopefully, things will be different.
"We're not out of the game yet, Jason." he said, looking over the systems on the screen and seeing everything was operational. He just finished one of the protein bars Stork gave him, the other he let Raddar have. Glancing around the hangar, the Blizzarians were chatting, cracking jokes with one another, and discussing what they would be doing when the battle was over. He figured this was how they eased the tension, mentally commenting to himself that Finn would probably fit right in with them.
His eyes eventually landed on the Chariot parked beside him. With its sleek, ice-blue armor, the Boreas was a sight to behold. Even though it would stand out against the dark skies of Cyclonia, it made for perfect camouflage on the snowy plains of Terra Blizzarus. Along with its speed and strength, it was a force to be reckoned with. He couldn't help but be a little excited about getting to watch it in action soon.
On the control panel, Aerrow spotted a small photo tapped near the Chariot's screen. It showed a younger Aspen, his face beard-free, with another male Blizzarian. He had dark orange hair, and light green eyes, and was holding a female kit who looked no older than ten. They were surrounded by nothing but snow, bundled up in winter attire, with wide smiles on their faces as they looked at the camera.
"Not a bad picture, eh?" Aspen appeared next to the Chariot, gazing at the photo. "We took that on Suzy Lu's birthday."
"Your daughter?" Aerrow questioned.
"Yup, and that there's my darlin' Yule." he pointed at the other male. "Not long after I became a Sky Knight, he joined my squad and one thing led to another. Let me tell ya, he was one of the craziest pilots you've ever seen. He flew circles around those Cyclonians back in the day." a soft chuckle escaped him, a new emotion appearing in his eyes the longer he looked at the picture. "He would have been so proud of Suzy when she became a Sky Knight."
The redhead recognized the tone that now made up the older man's voice. "What… What happened to him?"
"Same thing that's always happened since this war started." Aspen sighed heavily, taking the toothpick out of his mouth and flicking it across the hangar. "Talons had us on the ropes one day, honestly thought that was gonna be the end. Then Yule offered himself up as a distraction so we could regroup. I tried to stop him, but he told me what mattered most was protecting Blizzarus and our little girl." his shoulders slumped. "We managed to beat them, but I never saw him again."
Raddar gave a distressed chirp as his ears and tail drooped. Aerrow turned his gaze to the floor, he shouldn't have asked. He may have lost his parents, but he barely had any memories of them. He can't even imagine what it was like to lose a loved one, he certainly didn't want to think about anyone from his team, his family, being taken away from him.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"
"Ah, don't feel bad, kiddo. Every Sky Knight and their squadron knows what they're signing up for when they agree to fight. One way or another, people always lose somethin' in war. But that's why I keep fightin', so others won't have to experience what I did."
"I became a Sky Knight because of that, too. I want to help those who are unable to help themselves. The war's been going on for too long, and too many people have suffered from it. I know I'm still young, and there's so much I haven't learned yet, but I want to do what I can to finally put a stop to all this fighting."
Aspen looked at the redhead, grinning at the resolution in his eyes. "I knew Ajax was right about ya. Ya do have a lot of catchin' up to do with me and others, but I don't think it'll take ya long to get there."
Aerrow smiled at the older Sky Knight. "Thank you, Aspen."
Suddenly, an alarm loudly buzzed. Immediately, the Absloute Zeros climbed onto their Chariots and started them up.
"Sure hope you're ready for the next part, kiddo." Aspen remarked as the hangar door lowered.
"Actually…" Aerrow felt Raddar grab onto his sides while he pulled back the Jason's handlebars, revving the engine when he saw red clouds. "I've been waiting for this."
(Cyclonian Empire)
"Master Cyclonis." Dark Ace entered the former throne room, finding the young empress standing before her Storm Engine. "A fleet of Sky Knights have just entered Cyclonian airspace."
So, the king decided to play things out the hard way. Very well, Cyclonis would be happy to return the favor. It was a shame her machine hadn't finished recharging, these intruders could have been vaporized in one fell swoop.
"Have the Talons ready to launch a counterstrike." she told the general. "If they buy enough time, I can fire the Storm Engine again and victory will be assured."
"Yes, Your Highness." Dark Ace bowed. "In the meantime, I think it be wise for you to find security somewhere else."
Cyclonis was going to argue she had no reason to hide, but then thought it best to retrieve her crystal staff from her office just in case. She could come back and check on her Storm Engine sometime after the battle officially started. "Very well, Dark Ace."
"You two!" he barked at the guards in the room. "Stay with Master Cyclonis at all times, keep her safe."
"Yes, sir!" they saluted.
"I will go and prepare our forces. Just leave everything to me, Master Cyclonis."
"Haven't I always?" the empress smirked as he bowed once more and left. "Follow me." she said to the guards, stepping off the platform. "There is something I need to get."
As they trailed close behind the young girl, one of the guards looked back at the Storm Engine and glowing Aurora Stone. They left the door open, wide enough to offer a view into the room.
Inside the loading bay, workers operated heavy cranes to unload the large shipping containers from the cargo ships docked on a landing pad. They checked to make sure they carried the required food, medicine, weapons, and other supplies. As Talons busied themselves, one of the containers was placed near the back of the area. No one noticed the loosened metal at the bottom corner.
After the crane drove away, a hand grabbed the edge from the inside and pulled. Two people slipped out, along with a dozen empty boxes.
"I never thought I'd say this, Finn, but I don't ever wanna see another croissant again." Junko burped.
"You didn't need to eat half of them, buddy." the blond pointed out, dusting himself off.
"Well, we needed the room! And Stork's protein bars weren't filling enough." the Wallop told him.
"At least we managed to make it in." Finn said as they peered around the corner of the container. "So this is Cyclonia."
"Hmm, kinda evilly." Junko remarked at the dark atmosphere.
"Okay, let's see here." the sharpshooter pulled out the map Piper gave them. "We're in the loading bay, which means, to get to the grate, we need go this way…"
"Uh, Finn?"
"Not now, Junko, I'm trying to make heads or tails of this. Ugh, why can't Piper write like a normal person?" he grumbled, squinting at the cursive words scribbled on the paper.
"Finn, I really think you should…"
"Give me a minute, will ya?"
"But, Finn." the Wallop poked his shoulder.
"What, Junko?!" Finn put the map down, turning to his friend.
Only to come face-to-face with the glowing tip of a Firebolt Crystal.
"Who are you?!" the Talon guard demanded of the now-frozen intruders.
So far, this mission was going swimmingly.
To be continued...
Thank you all so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please share your thoughts in the comments, I would love to know what you think. I can't wait for you to see what I have planned for the next chapter. Until then, take care!