Hello, everyone, so great to see all you readers! I want to start off by saying that I enjoyed watching the Storm Hawks series. It did make for a fun watch, but I did feel it could use some touching up in some areas. This story will be more nitty-gritty compared to the original, so keep an eye out for that.

I was heavily inspired by various mecha anime and Greek mythology to write this story. As well as the Circe by Madeline Miller, which I highly recommend. I hope you all enjoy the story.

P.S. Someone pointed out to me that the first chapter was pretty overwhelming with how long it was all together. So, to make it a bit easier for readers, I've decided to cut each chapter into parts. This will probably also work better for me in the long run, too. Anyway, sorry for all the confusion, and thank you for understanding.

Disclaimer: I own nothing in this fic.

Sky Knight & Witch

Chapter One: Age of Heroes (Part One)

High above the sky is Atmos, a world filled with thousands of floating land masses known as Terras. Below is the deadliest area of all, the Wastelands. Filled with nothing but raging infernos and unimaginable nightmare creatures, the people of Atmos had to devise a new method of travel. This answer was in the form of flight.

The Atmosians could freely soar the skies safely thanks to the discovery of energy-generating crystals. As well as find various other uses for the precious minerals to help them in their daily lives. However, the peaceful days did not last forever.

Among the Terras, one rose to power before anyone could realize it. By the time they did, it was too late. The Cyclonian Empire became the greatest threat Atmos had ever seen, plotting to place the entire nation under its control.

The arrival of this evil led to the formation of the Sky Knights, brave warriors who fought against the forces of Cyclonia. Riding in powerful machine units known as Chariots, each Sky Knight and their Squadron could protect their respective Terra.

It wasn't until ten years ago that the fiercest battle between good and evil took place. With their ultimate combined forces, the Sky Knights were led by Lightning Strike, the greatest of all Sky Knights and leader of the famous Storm Hawks. With him at command, the kingdoms saw hope shine through the dark skies.

However, they did not account for the most unexpected variable. Lightning Strike was ultimately betrayed by his closest friend, a fellow Storm Hawk. He had turned traitor, and Cyclonia was victorious that day. The Storm Hawks fell, along with the allied Sky Knight Squadrons.

With the Storm Hawks and their ship, the Condor, gone, Cyclonia would continue its pursuit of total conquest. To this day, there seems to be no end in sight for this drawn-out war.

Aeaea was well known for its lush greenery. The large Terra was home to forests, meadows, hills, and a tall mountain. Its wildlife ranged from the shyest critters to the most ferocious of beasts. But they were not the only ones occupying this floating paradise.

Built in the middle of Aeaea was a city, a port stretching along its edge to allow ships to dock. Citizens bustled around the streets, going in and out of houses, stores, cafes, and many other buildings. It truly was beautiful.

However, it was nothing compared to the palace towering above the city. Standing proudly on the highest hill, the impressive structure was made of white marble, almost appearing to sparkle from the bright sun rays. This was the home of the sovereign who ruled over all of Terra Aeaea.

A large gray stone fence encased the entire palace, half as tall as the building itself. Set on top of it were long rows of metal spikes, their deadly sharp points daring anyone to attempt a climb over them. In front was a black iron, double gate with green ivy covering the stone that kept it in place.

Behind it was a long, wide golden pathway that led straight to the palace. Some believed it was real gold, others an impressively made imitation. Regardless, it was hard work to keep the beautiful shine. Right now, a female servant of the palace was in the middle of sweeping the path.

She was tall and slim, hair reaching the middle of her back in soft auburn curls. Her eyes resembled the seafoam of a wave crashing onto a beach, surrounded by the light green of her sclera. Her skin was a lovely shade of sapphire blue, blending well with the short-sleeved, dark green chiton she wore. A small golden sash was wrapped around her waist.

As she carefully swept, a gentle breeze blew locks of her hair into her face and she paused, tucking it behind the fin she had instead of an ear. She turned her head, smiling at the small birds twirling across the bright blue sky. With only the sun and white clouds about, it looked to be another lovely morning ahead of them.

Suddenly, a growl caused her to look away. A gray wolf stood, ears pinned back as sharp fangs unveiled themselves. The fur on the back of its neck stood on ends, its tail positioned in a half-curl. The reason for this pose was on the other side of the iron gate. Walking up the path leading from the city below, a man in a knee-length blue and white tunic was making his way over. Resting over his shoulder was a large satchel bag.

Instantly recognizing him, the woman set the broom aside and hurried over before the wolf could scare him away. "Down, boy." she placed a hand on the back of his neck, hoping to calm him.

It worked to a degree as the large canine ceased growling, but his ears were still practically molded to his head. His tail twitched anxiously as his eyes never moved from the man making his way to the front of the gate.

"Good morning to you, Miss Perse." he greeted politely, casting a wary glance at the beast standing at her side.

"Good morning to you as well." she smiled. "I must say that I'm a little surprised, this isn't the usual day we receive mail."

"No, ma'am, you're right about that. We got this letter just now at the post office and thought it best to bring it over right away." he dug into his satchel, pulling out a single envelope.

"For Her Ladyship, I take it." Perse reached between the bars and took it from him. She turned it around and saw a wax seal. Embedded into it was the symbol of a bird, a crow with its beak wide open in a shriek.

"Yes, and considering who it's from, we thought it best to deliver it at once."

"A very good decision on your part." the Aquanosian gave him a grateful smile. "I thank you for your time and swiftness on the matter. I will be sure that Milady will get this straight away."

"Speaking of, how is Her Ladyship doing?"

"Busy as always, I'm afraid."

"That's no good, young people her age should relax more."

"I will make sure to pass that along to her, too."

"Ah, maybe not mention I'm the one who said it." the postman chuckled sheepishly.

"Understood." Perse giggled. "Thank you once again." she waved goodbye to him as she turned and walked down the golden pathway, the wolf trailing beside her.

Resting on the wide palace steps, a lion was sunbathing. Almost three times the size of a regular-sized one, his fur was as golden as the pathway. Chin resting on his front paws, the soft breeze blew his dark bronze mane as his tail swished back and forth in contentment. A small sigh escaped through his nose.

Then one of his round ears twitched, hearing the sound of approaching footsteps. Slowly, the large feline lifted his head and looked down. His amber eyes opened in time to see Perse and the wolf appear, already making their way up.

"I have a letter for Her Ladyship." the female servant spoke. "Do you know where she might be now?"

The lion got to his feet, quickly stretching his body as he yawned. Soon, he made his way up the remaining steps with the other two following. Passing by the white columns that helped to support the structure, they walked through the opened entrance and went down a hallway, passing other servants. The building could easily fit an entire city inside, so numerous hands went into its maintenance.

Perse exchanged quick pleasantries with a few of her fellow workers, being led through many turns, rooms, and hallways. It would be easy for anyone to get lost in the palace, but, being the longest-working servant, she was thankful for the years that helped her to become an expert on all its ins and outs. Because of that, she knew where they were going before they even went around the second corridor.

The lion had delivered her to a pair of large metal doors. Just behind them was the other side of the palace. It was one of the most private areas and was only accessible to Her Ladyship and very few others. Perse herself, included.

Grabbing a hold of the brass door handles with both hands, the Aquanosian pulled with all her strength. The large barriers gradually opened as she moved back, the lion and wolf slipping through the crack when it was wide enough for them. Perse went in next and closed the doors behind her. Whenever they were unlocked, Her Ladyship was always inside. This was her favorite spot in the whole building, after all.

Walking down a flight of marble stairs, Perse's sandaled feet settled on well-cut grass. Stretched out before her was the palace's expansive outdoor menagerie, easily called the most beautiful spot by those allowed to gaze upon it in full. Everywhere you looked there was some form of plant life.

Plant beds held flowers of various species; tulips, azaleas, camellias, peonies, lilies, and so many others one didn't know all their names. Rose bushes were scattered around, a rainbow of color invading your vision at every turn of the head. Across the whole menagerie were various trees, some bore fruit and others did not. Perse noted fondly the watermelon and pumpkin patches were growing splendidly. Her eyes then caught sight of the belladonna, wolf's bane, foxglove, and other plants that reminded her the menagerie could be as deadly as it was beautiful.

She passed a fountain carved into the shape of a dragon, clawed feet clutching a stone rock with wings spread wide. Its mouth was open in a fierce roar but spewed out a stream of water instead of fire, recycling into the round pool below.

Plants were not the only life the menagerie supported as Perse saw a pair of peacocks taking a drink from the fountain. A large boa constrictor slithered lazily on the branch of an apple tree before wrapping its long body around it loosely.

Various mammals, reptiles, and birds made themselves home in this part of the palace. Even the occasional pig would scamper across the grass now and then. An outsider would find it odd how none of the predators attempted to attack and eat the ones considered prey.

As the female servant came upon the hedge maze, briefly thinking Her Ladyship could be taking a walk inside it, she heard a familiar sound. A sound much like the cutting of scissors. Following it, she came to a spot where shrubbery of various sizes grew. Clipping away stray pieces of the plants was a single girl, a pair of pruning shears in her hand.

She looked no older than her early teens, sun-kissed skin complimented by the sleeveless, dark purple chiton she wore, left shoulder exposed. A long, sheer light purple cloth was dangling behind her, attached to a pair of golden bracelets on her wrists. Black leather sandals covered her feet, which a red fox was absentmindedly doing figure eights around, with the straps reaching to her calves. Tightened around her waist was a black sash with a golden design that resembled vines. A laurel wreath crown made of gold leaves rested perfectly on her head of black hair.

The lion and wolf that accompanied Perse were there, too. The feline lounged on a nearby wooden bench too small for his size while the canine obediently sat at the girl's side. A small group of warblers, doves, and hawks perched on the branches of trees, watching curiously from above.

"Excuse me." Perse made her presence known but felt the girl was aware of her arrival before she even touched the grass. "Milady."

Sharp, almond-shaped violet eyes turned to her, eyes that expressed authority and intellect despite their youthfulness.

"Perse." she greeted. "And here I thought I wouldn't see you until lunchtime."

"Forgive me for disturbing you, Your Ladyship." the older woman bowed her head.

"Oh, don't be." the girl's attention returned to the shrubby. "I was just removing unnecessary parts." she snipped a stray piece with one swift, expert squeeze of the shears. "To what do I owe this visit?"

"I know this is sudden, but this was just delivered." Perse held out the sealed envelope. "It's from her, Your Ladyship."

She stopped mid-cut, relaxed expression morphing into seriousness. Dropping the tool to the ground, she calmly walked over and took the source of nerves into her hand. With just a glance at the wax symbol, she tore it open and pulled out a folded letter. Perse held her breath, watching along with the animals as the young lady straightened out the piece of paper and silently read what was written. If it came from that person, the news would hardly be good.

"Heh." the corner of the black-haired girl's lip curled back into a humorless smirk, highlighting the beauty mark underneath her right eye. "Honestly, Clonie, you're becoming predictable."

"Lady Circe? What did Master Cyclonis write?"

"Oh, just the usual speech of how she has an extraordinary plan for conquering Atmos and how she would like me to be a part of it. Like I haven't heard that many times in the past year since she took over Cyclonia."

"Do you wish to respond, Milady?" Perse asked.

Circe looked at the letter once more, expression unreadable. The seconds ticked by slowly, time always seemed non-existent in the menagerie. Then she held the paper with both hands on the top and tore it two.

"That won't be necessary, my silence will be more than enough of an answer for her."

"Are you sure, Your Ladyship?" Perse couldn't help but ask as she watched the younger girl continue to rip the letter into smaller pieces. "Your sister is rather… persistent."

"That she is." the black-haired girl agreed. "But expanding control over Atmos is her thing, not mine. Besides, I haven't seen much of these big plans she's fond of talking about. I'll send something to her later, but, for now, let her do as she pleases."

"Yes, Your Ladyship. Please forgive me if I spoke out of turn."

"You know you're the only one who can get away with speaking to me like this, Perse." Circe smirked before tossing the torn letter.

A strong breeze came in, blowing them high into the air. She watched them dance and flutter in the wind, eventually taking her eyes away when they disappeared into the sky above. It was almost pathetic how she felt envious of scraps of paper.

Releasing a small sigh, she moved the long braid her hair was tied in to rest over her left shoulder, the end just an inch away from her hip. "Regardless of whether she has a plan or not, I can tell things are going to start changing, Perse."

"For better, or worse, My Lady?"

"That remains to be seen." the young girl's hand touched the crystal gem attached to the black choker around her neck, feeling the warmth and power tingling against her fingertips. It was amber in color, finely cut into the shape of a perfect oval half the size of her palm. In the middle was a black spot that resembled the slit pupil of a cat's. "That being said…" she looked back up towards the sky and smirked. "I do look forward to finding out."

If Circe was correct, and she always was, the winds were beginning to take a different form. A new era for Atmos was arriving.

Tires raced across the dirt ground below, the roaring engine echoing through the forest as the blue and red silver Chariot zipped around the trees. The silver emblem of a soaring hawk on the side was just a blur as the rider maneuvered further to the right to avoid hitting upcoming obstacles, his mop of bright red hair becoming more tousled in the wind.

"We're almost there, Raddar! Just hang on a little longer!" he took his emerald green eyes off the path for a moment to look back at his riding companion.

A rather strange, small creature that looked similar to a lemur. It had light blue fur, a lighter shade around its muzzle, a black nose, long ears, and a bushy tail. Purple hands and feet with working fingers were tipped with blunt claws. Dressed in a dark blue and purple bodysuit, a pair of goggles rested over pale yellow eyes to prevent dust from flying into them.

Suddenly, a sound came from behind them, another engine. Looking back, Raddar saw another motorcycle-like vehicle approaching them fast, this one blue and green. The one driving looked to be a male humanoid rhino with a head of short, greenish-blue hair, gray eyes, and a short horn resting just above his nostrils. He chittered a warning to the one sitting in front of him.

"Yeah, I see him." Aerrow replied. "But not for long." he grinned as he pulled back on the throttle.

The extra burst of speed pushed his Chariot up on the back tire for a moment before the front touched the ground again. Gripping the handlebars tightly, he easily dodged and drove around the trees. However, the one after them had a different method. Hitting the two brass knuckles over his gloves together, conjuring up a bright green glow, he settled for punching the foliage that got in his way, leaving stumps and trunks in his wake.

The two riders eventually made it out of the forest and into an open space. Not that far ahead, though, the edge of a cliff was waiting for them. Instead of slowing down, Aerrow made no hesitation in heading straight for it, soon sailing over and jumping into the sky. Raddar covered his eyes as gravity took effect and they began to fall.

Undeterred, the pale-skinned rider quickly hooked his foot under the gear shift pedal and pushed it up once. In front of him, the words "Cycle Mode" on the small black screen were replaced with "Flight Mode". In an instant, the wheels of the Chariot retracted into the bottom and two pairs of metal silver wings shot out of either side, one in the back and the other in the front. He pumped the throttle and bright blue flames burst from the exhaust pipes attached to the wings.

"Whoohoo!" he exclaimed as he pulled the vehicle up, taking them higher into the sky and doing a barrel roll before straightening out. "Not bad, huh, Raddar? You think we lost him?"

Just as Raddar put down his hands, something flew right by them, just narrowly missing the flying vehicle. Looking back, they saw the same humanoid rhino, his Chariot switched to Flight Mode as well.

"That answers that question." Aerrow said as their purser fired another projectile at them from one of his wings, a small missile with a painted-on face filled with glowing blue crystals. "Hang on tight, Raddar!"

As the sky lemur clutched onto his sides, the redhead pulled on the handlebars and caused his vehicle to spin in a wide circle. While they were in mid-spin, the attack sailed past them and into the distance.

"You missed!" he taunted as they returned to being right side up.

Then something collided with his ride twice, once on the front left wing and another near the engine. However, the attack didn't come from the rider behind them. From higher up, a yellow and blue Chariot flew in from the side. Sitting in the rider's seat was a fair-skinned, spiky-haired blond with eyes that were a deep blue.

"He may have, but Finn never misses!" the newcomer boasted.

"Radder, get that engine working!" Aerrow yelled as black smoke came out from where the second hit landed. The sound of it about to give out reached their ears as the vehicle started to lose altitude.

His riding companion dug through the small pack he wore, tossing out a variety of half-eaten foods he had left there and forgotten about. Eventually, he chittered excitedly when he pulled out just what he needed. A single wrench. Nimbly, Radder jumped from the back of the rider's seat and landed on top of the front right wing.

Above them, the blond rider pulled out a purple crystal-tipped arrow. Kissing it a few times, he pushed one of the buttons on his Chariot's handlebars, and a slot opened in the front. A crossbow came out and he loaded the projectile into it. A scope appeared on the vehicle's screen, bouncing around wildly before he aimed, focusing on the blue and red Chariot.

Raddar gave the engine a good few whacks, one more for good measure, and the worrisome sounds ceased. He chirped happily as the black smoke cleared as well. Before he could launch into a victory dance, Finn fired his arrow and hit the spot right next to him. An electrical shock ran through his small body, sparks of purple emitting from him as he stood erect.

"Yikes." Aerrow hissed as the effects of the attack eventually wore off. "Good work, Raddar." he praised as the flying vehicle stayed airborne. "How about we leave them in the clouds now?"

The sky lemur made a sound of agreement as he shook himself, leaping back into the spot behind the rider as he straightened out the Chariot. While Finn was loading in another arrow, the redhead put his foot under the gear shift pedal. This time, he pushed upwards twice and pulled on the handlebars, locking them in a vertical position.

"Let's show'em a thing or two, Jason." Aerrow grinned as "Battle Mode'' appeared on his screen.

The machine immediately began to change. The bottom part lowered and formed into a pair of mechanical legs while the top lifted and covered the rider and sky lemur, gaining a set of arms. The wings moved to the back of the now giant, humanoid robotic unit. Red, blue, and silver armor plating shone in the bright sun, a red glow on the visor of its head. The hawk emblem on the shoulder of its right arm gleamed proudly.

Finn fired his next attack and slots opened on the transformed Chariot's wrists. A pair of short twin daggers shot into its hands, soon coated in a bright blue energy. Effortlessly, it deflected the charged arrow with one of the weapons and sent it hurling back where it came from.

The blond screamed as his arsenal hit the vehicle, sending a painful electrical shock through it and his body. It was over as fast as it started, but his muscles twitched and jerked. "No fair!" he shouted as the other machine unit flew past him with new, impressive speed. "No way we're about to be shown up like that, right, Artemis?"

"I think we're in the clear now, Raddar." Aerrow told his riding partner from within his Chariot's closed-off cockpit, still able to see the outside thanks to the Jason's visual sensors. "They're not gonna stop us this time."

Once he said that, though, something huge appeared directly in front of them from below. Pulling on the handlebars, he made the machine unit halt in mid-air before it crashed with the blue and white carrier ship.

A tall and lanky male stood on the upper deck. He had light green skin and darker green hair, bangs falling over the right side of his face, features sharp and almost feline-like. A menacing look entered his dark eyes while he broke out into a matching grin.

"Gotcha, Sky Knight." he spoke lowly, traces of a snigger in his voice.

From his shoulder, Raddar chittered and pointed up. Aerrow looked and saw another transformed Chariot fly over the ship. It was smaller and had thinner armor, which was dark blue and orange with a glowing orange visor on its head. It held a long, staff-like weapon with an icy, glowing tip.

It shot a blast of energy and the Jason quickly maneuvered out of the way. The attack hit the middle of the carrier's long, wide landing strip below, and a thick sheet of ice spread out. The cockpit of the other machine unit opened.

A dark-skinned girl stood up, her dark blue hair kept out of her face by the orange headband she wore. Her copper-hazel eyes shone brightly with mirth as she looked down at the trapped Chariot, rivaling the blue crystal she wore about her neck.

"Freeze!" she said with a teasing wink.

Aerrow soon saw the other two riders he thought he left behind had caught up, both of their machine units in Battle Mode. The sniper's Chariot was more similar to the Jason, smaller but taller than the girl's. In its hand was a large, mechanical crossbow already loaded with a crystal-charged arrow, just waiting to be fired. The one belonging to the humanoid rhino was bulkier with thicker armor, a pair of heavy, bronze gauntlets covering its hands.

"Face it, Sky Knight!" the girl flew down in front of him, the cockpit still open. "You've been caught."

The redhead looked around him, trying to figure out how to escape. He was blocked at all sides, and they would surely attack if he tried anyway to leave. Except, maybe…

He glanced down at the unguarded space below him, and what laid further beyond it. A plan quickly formed in his mind. It was risky, and maybe a little stupid, but the easiest route was hardly ever exciting, wasn't it?

"You're surrounded! The only chance of getting away is if you were crazy enough to-"

The Jason made a sudden dive, speeding through the gap between the carrier's landing strip and one of the humongous engines. It quickly disappeared among the vast clouds.

"Dive into the Wastelands…" the girl finished awkwardly.

"So much for your big flanking maneuver." Finn remarked through the communication links established between their Chariots.

"I know a shortcut!" she plopped down in the cockpit, the hatch closing. "Follow me!"

Her machine unit flew off, the other two not far behind along with the carrier ship.

Aerrow never took his eyes off the clouds, minding how darker they became the further he flew the Jason down. "There's no way they would follow us through the Wastelands." he remarked as the masses gave way and revealed the dreaded area.

It was understandable why anyone wouldn't risk flying into it, much less go on foot. Nothing but tall, sharp molten stalagmites and pools of fiery lava that stretched for miles with no indication it stopped anywhere. Though there were no signs of life, it didn't mean the fearsome creatures that thrived in the environment were not lying in wait for their next victim. If they were lucky, the fires of the Wastelands would take them before the wildlife did.

"We'll be fine, Raddar." Aerrow told his riding partner, who clutched tightly at his back with a nervous trill.

He maneuvered Jason around the deadly rock formations with swift but careful movements. He had to be mindful of flying above the lava pools without risking an overheat. Up ahead, he spotted two dark masses surfacing from below the molten rock and stretching high into the air. Their giant, snake-like heads roared, jagged teeth greeting them with a sinister grin. Lava oozed out of the spots on the umber backs of their long, limbless bodies.

Raddar screeched as one of the lava eels leaped out of the fiery pool, hellish red eyes pinned on them. Aerrow, however, pressed down on the gear shift pedal twice and reverted the handlebars to the sideways position. The Jason returned to Flight Mode, flipping sideways to avoid the creature before it could snap its large jaw down and crush them into pieces. Its lighter underbelly sailed past them as it landed head-first back in the lava.

As the pilot dodged the second one, the sky lemur risked a peek by lifting his face from where he had pushed it against his companion's back. His eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets as two more lava eels from another pool showed themselves. Their foul, sulfuric breath singed the ends of his short fur as the machine unit twisted and turned in the air to avoid them.

"See, nothing to worry about." Aerrow reassured him as they cleared the nightmare creatures.

Before Raddar could respond, he saw a pair of geysers shoot out wide streams of lava directly in front of them. A high-pitched squeak left his mouth as the Jason turned sideways and flew between the burning hot molten rock. Just as they got through and straightened out, another lava eel sprung up from the left.

The Chariot pulled up, the creature's teeth nearly grazing the exhaust pipes of the back wings as it rose towards the clouds. Raddar didn't allow himself to release the breath he was holding until they cleared from dark to white. Then the mechanical vehicle broke through the masses into the open sky. High above and safely away from the Wastelands.

"There it is, Raddar." Aerrow said, nodding ahead. "Terra Atmosia."

Not that far away was the capital of Atmos, a large, floating plateau-like landmass. From this distance, one could see the tower built on the highest point, a warm blue-purple light shining brightly from it.

"We're gonna make it!" the redhead reached into the small pouch strapped to his side and pulled out a single crystal. It was medium-sized and glowed a reddish-orange. Pushing one of the buttons on the right handlebar, a round metal slot placed just below it opened. "You wanna do the honor?" he asked his riding companion.

Raddar chirped, climbing up his shoulder, and grabbed the Booster Crystal. Aiming carefully, he tossed it into the slot, which closed once it dropped inside.

"Hang on tight!" Aerrow said before pumping the throttle back.

The sky lemur barely had time to get a grip on him as the flames of the wings turned bright orange. His lower body was airborne as the Chariot headed for Terra Atmosia with break-necking speed.

"Whoohoo!"

While people had made homes all over Terra Atmosia, the main city was built at its highest point. Apartments, shops, and restaurants, just about everything you would find in a highly populated area. However, the crowning achievement went to the tall white and gold tower where the Aurora Stone was kept.

Considered the largest crystal to have a refined state, the Aurora Stone could always be seen shining like a beacon from its resting place. Along with the Red Eagles, the Sky Knight Squadron charged with protecting the Terra, the citizens felt they had little to worry about regarding attacks from those who wished them harm. Yes, just about every day was filled with peace.

Until today, however.

To their great surprise, the people of Atmosia saw a small group of unknown Chariots come flying in through the clouds. When they were close enough to the ground, they shifted from Battle Mode to Cycle and landed. They didn't stop and raced down the wide cobblestone street. Thankfully, pedestrians were far enough out of the way to avoid the risk of getting hit.

The team of three headed for the large tree planted in the town center. The first one to reach it was a blond riding the blue and yellow Chariot. The wheels came to a screeching halt and he quickly touched the bark of the trunk with his hand, the other two pulling up just a second later.

"Ha! Yes! I did it! I'm the winner!" Finn cheered, clenching his free hand into a fist and pumping it into the air.

"You sure about that?" a voice asked from above.

Turning his head up, his smile of victory turned into an open-mouth gap at the sight of Aerrow casually standing on one of the thick tree branches. Beside him was Raddar and the parked Jason. With a grin, he gave a two-finger salute as the blond groaned and hung his head.

The redhead jumped down and easily landed on the ground. "And, in case anyone forgot, the last one to the tree has to do dishes on the Condor for a month."

The dark-skinned girl, Piper, and the humanoid rhino, Junko, immediately dismounted their Chariots and touched the tree simultaneously. Raddar came crashing to the ground in his efforts to jump. He stood on both feet in a daze and reached out a hand to the tree, but fell back down when all he touched was air. Just a few moments later, the green-skinned male from earlier came running down the street towards the group. When he reached them, he stopped to catch his breath, hands on his knees as sweat dripped down his face

"See…" Stork said in between breaths. "This is why… I never leave the ship." he straightened out and pointed his thumb in the direction behind him, the Condor parked on top of a hill in the distance.

Some of the citizens of Terra Atmosia gathered around to get a closer look at this peculiar group. They saw the hawk emblems on their Chariots and sewn onto the back of their uniforms and began to chatter curiously among themselves. It was a symbol known by everyone in Atmos, even after so many years.

"Dad, look! It's the Storm Hawks!" one little boy pointed excitedly.

Finn couldn't help but give a wide grin at the instant recognition. They were just starting as a Sky Knight Squadron and were already getting attention. It shouldn't be long before the fame starts to roll in. As well as with the girls.

"Those aren't the Storm Hawks." the boy's father said. "Not the real ones, anyway." he led his son away.

At that comment, people were quick to disperse, their minds made up that they were just a bunch of pretenders. After all, who could replace one of the greatest Sky Knight Squadrons to exist?

Aerrow noticed his team had started to look rather disheartened at the reaction they just received. "Come on, guys, we're here to do something about that." he reminded them.

"You think we can do something about this strange rash I have, too?" Stork asked, scratching the side of his neck.

"If you ask me, this is all a big waste of time." Finn commented as they walked down the street, leaving their Chariots parked around the tree.

"First, Finn, we didn't." Piper looked back at him, seeing him roll his eyes in response. "Second, even though Aerrow went through the trials and was rightfully knighted, we still have to register with the Sky Knight Council to be an official Squadron. It's just a formality."

"You don't think they'll make us take a test, do you?" Junko asked worriedly. "Because I'm lousy at tests."

"If it's a lab test, I vote for this one to take it." Stork pointed at Raddar, who growled at him as he picked at his nose.

"You've got nothing to worry about, Junko." Piper reassured the humanoid rhino, touching the rough, light-brown skin of his arm. "It's just signing documents, that's all. And, even if they did, I could help you ace any test they throw at us." she smiled, which he returned.

"Thanks, Piper."

The group arrived at the Sky Knight Council Hall, an impressive stone structure and one of the tallest buildings on Terra Atmosia. Second only to the Aurora Stone's tower, of course. They wasted no time in heading inside.

They soon found themselves staring at an old man sitting at a desk significantly taller than them. Quietly mumbling to himself, he looked over the registration form they admitted. The longer they waited, the more nervous they became. It didn't help that he would occasionally glance and observe them over the small, round glasses he wore. Just when things started to look unfavorable, he cleared his throat.

"It appears everything is in order." he said, making the team sigh with relief.

"See? Just a formality." Piper said.

"I'll need your names and positions for the registry." Councilor Jupiter told them as he opened a large, thick red book. He held up an ink pen while flipping to a fresh page. "As well as the Chariots you pilot."

"Yes, sir." Aerrow gave a quick salute. "Aerrow; Sky Knight, leader, and pilot of the Jason."

"Finn!" the blond made a pair of finger-guns. "Wingman, sharpshooter, and pilot of the Artemis."

"Junko." the Wallop gave a small wave. "Flight engineer and uh… heavy ballistics." he flexed his thick, muscular arms. "Also pilot of the Heracles."

"Piper." the only female member went next. "Navigation, tactics, and pilot of the Athena."

"Um, Stork." the Merb introduced himself before letting out a sudden sneeze. "Carrier pilot, mechanic, and no Chariot."

Raddar stepped forward, doing a quick session of punches before jumping and doing a small spin kick. The councilman gave him a strange look.

"And what would that be, some sort of pet?" he asked.

The sky lemur let out an offended chirp, soon baring his teeth in a growl. Before he could think of lunging at the old man, Aerrow held him in place by the shoulder.

"He prefers mission specialist." he explained. "We just call him Raddar, he's my co-pilot on the Jason."

"I see." the councilor scratched at his white sideburns. "Regardless, the Council will be most pleased to learn a new Storm Hawks Squadron has formed after so long. Your predecessors were greatly admired, you have much to live up to, I must say."

"We're ready for anything, sir."

"Then just sign here, please." the older man held out the registry book and pen for him.

A grin formed on Aerrow's face as he stepped forward. After all the training and hard work he put in, he was about to become a real Sky Knight. His dream was finally turning into reality. All he needed to do now was write his signature.

Just as he was about to grab the pen, though, it was suddenly pulled from his reach. Surprised, the redhead looked up. Councilor Jupiter was fixing his glasses and looking more closely at his face.

"Wait a minute now…" he mumbled, a frown beginning to form. "How old are you again?"

Aerrow hoped he didn't see him flinch. "Oh, um… W-Well, I'm…"

"Speak up, young man."

"I might have turned fourteen this year…" he managed to say, trying not to sound as sheepish as he felt.

"What?!" the councilor practically jumped from his chair. "I've never heard of something so unprecedented. Candidates are meant to apply for admission to the Sky Knight Academy at the age of fourteen. Only after years of training are they expected to become official Sky Knights. There is no possible way you could have met the requirements and completed the trials so soon!"

"I was given special permission to be accepted at twelve, and was granted early graduation." Aerrow quickly told him. "It was all arranged by Ajax Alogo. Surely you know him, he's-"

"Yes, yes, I'm well aware of who Ajax Alogo is. He was a fabulous Sky Knight, even if he did retire early. I heard he was now a teacher at the Academy, but to think he would allow a mere child to go this far into playing make-believe. It seems his judgment has been slipping as of late."

The redhead clenched his hand into a tight fist at that, his brows furrowing.

"I take it your so-called Squadron is within the same age group, as well?" Councilor Jupiter focused his spectacles on the rest of the team now.

"Uh…" Piper grabbed Stork's elbow and pulled him closer. "Stork is two years older than us if that helps any." she gave a nervous grin.

Not long after that, the unofficial Storm Hawks found the tall, double doors of the Sky Knight Council Hall shut in their faces.

"I told you it was a waste of time." Finn said as they walked down the building steps, kicking a stray rock.

"Okay, so we didn't get made official. But I'm still a Sky Knight, you're still my Squadron, and we're still a team, right?" Aerrow tried to reassure them.

"Oh, I'm only with you until something better comes along." Stork informed.

The others gave him blank stares. Then Piper released a sigh.

"I wish people could take us seriously, we're not just kids. We have the skills, we have the gear..."

"We have Finn." the blond interjected. "Chika-cha." he winked.

"Ugh." the dark-skinned girl rolled her eyes in exasperation.

Suddenly, they all heard a sound coming from the street, growing louder by the second. Turning their heads, the team saw a Squadron of Chariots turn a corner. They all bore the same color scheme, red and tan with bits of blue. However, the one leading the charge, a handsome young man with sandy brown hair and a goatee, had the emblem of a red eagle on the front of his vehicle instead of on the side like the others.

"Oh, wow! It's Carver and the Red Eagles!" Junko exclaimed.

The Squadron stopped in the middle of the street, where a crowd of citizens quickly gathered around them. They buzzed with excitement at the chance to talk and shake hands with the protectors of Atmosia. And get an autograph or two.

"Come on, let's go meet them!" Piper said before jogging ahead, the rest of the team following.

"Now there's a real Sky Knight Squadron." the father from earlier remarked as his son marveled at the Chariot he was allowed to touch.

The Storm Hawks had to put up a bit of fight to try and get to the front of the crowd for a closer look. It was a tight squeeze, and Raddar got his tail stepped on more than once, but they eventually managed to make it through. They were face-to-face with the famous Red Eagles, widely considered Atmos's best current Sky Knight Squadron.

"Excuse me, Carver." Aerrow approached the leader. "It's a real honor to meet you. My name is Aerrow, Sky Knight of the Storm Hawks." he held his hand out to the other.

Carver looked him over with scrutinizing, pale brown eyes. Then he took in the sight of the rest of the team. "Aren't you a little short to be a Sky Knight, kid?"

"What?" the redhead couldn't help but scowl.

"Word of advice, you wanna be the best of the best, you might wanna take the training wheels off your Chariot first." the older man smirked, earning a bout of laughter from the citizens who heard him.

Before Aerrow could retort, the Sky Knight revved up his machine unit and drove off, the rest of his Squadron close behind. People cheered as they rode towards the Aurora Stone's tower, soon scattering when they were out of sight.

"Well, that could have gone worse." Piper remarked.

"You know the old saying, never meet your heroes." Stork added.

"I don't know about you guys, but I could use a pick-me-up after the repeated put-downs." Finn said. "So who's up for ice cream? Piper's buying."

"Hey, I didn't-"

"Oh, me! Me!" Junko immediately raised his hand, drowning out the navigator's protest.

"Race ya there!" the blond exclaimed before dashing down the street.

"No fair, I didn't know we were starting now!" the Wallop went after him.

"You think they have anything with nuts? Because nuts and I are one combo that should not mix. Ever." Stork said as he and Raddar trailed along at a leisurely pace.

"Boys." Piper let out a sigh but soon gave a small smile. Maybe something sweet would brighten the mood a bit. "You coming, Aerrow?" she looked to where the redhead stood. "Aerrow?"

The young Sky Knight was staring at a giant television screen pinned up to one of the taller buildings of Atmoisa. It was set to the news channel, Insider Atmos, where a newscaster was talking about the current events taking place around the world.

"And with Terra Nocturna having fallen, the control Cyclonia seeks to have over Atmos continues to expand. While Sky Knight Squadrons valiantly fight back, there seems to be no end in sight for the war that has tragically plagued our world for over five centuries. While an exceeding number of Terras have been lost, the ones who truly suffer are the inhabitants. People are forced to submit themselves to the forces of Cyclonia, meeting an unimaginable fate should they refuse. Many families have been torn apart and…"

Aerrow tuned out the rest, getting the main idea. He thought back to what Councilor Jupiter had said before. It burned him to hear Ajax being disrespected. He was the man who took him in and was the only one who ever gave him a chance to achieve his dream. However, going off on the old man wouldn't have helped their situation. It would have just proved his point, that he was a little kid who thought going into battle was nothing more than a game.

But that was far from the truth. Having been orphaned at the age of four, he knew firsthand about the horrors of war. People were suffering and dying every day because of Cyclonia, and that includes Sky Knights. Yes, he was young, but he wanted to do something, to at least try and help those who needed it. Was that such a bad thing?

"Hey, earth to Aerrow." Piper stood beside him, shaking his shoulder and bringing him out of his thoughts.

"Huh? Oh, Piper."

"Are you okay?" she looked concerned. "You were pretty out of it just now."

"Yeah... Yeah, I'll be fine. It just feels like it's been a long day."

"I know what you mean." a gentle smile came onto her face. "Come on, let's catch up with the others. Some ice cream will help stimulate those brain cells."

"That does sound good, actually." the redhead smiled back, allowing her to drag him along by the hand. He looked back at the television screen, the newscaster still talking about Cyclonia and the damage it continues to do. He let out a small sigh before turning his head away.

Perched on the branch of a nearby tree, a single black crow watched them curiously with beady, dark eyes. It hopped along the branch a few times, ruffling its feathers. Then it spread its wings and took the sky, caws echoing through the air.

To be continued...

Thank you all for reading, please let me know what you thought about the chapter in the comments. I have plans to add more depth to the character, and I hope I did a good job on that so far. Be on the lookout for the next chapter in the future!