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Chapter Text

“Terra Rex? Out of all of the Terras on Atmos that old bastard decides to send me to Terra Rex?!” Finn’s groan echoed loudly against the pristine walls of the administration wing as he stalked out of the headmaster’s office, a scowl on his face. “He completely shot down my idea of Terra Neon!”

“Ennith probably thought you could do with the extra manners,” Piper teased. A chorus of laughter erupted from their group as Aerrow looked between the two, smiling. Finn scoffed and rolled his eyes.

Dalton Ennith, headmaster of the prestigious Atmosia Academy, had the honour of sending off his best-performing graduating students each year to Terras all over Atmos as a chance to gain what he called ‘invaluable experience as a Sky Knight once you are all forced to part ways with this school.’ Atmosia Academy was the top Sky Knight academy in all of Atmos, and Aerrow was lucky to be offered a place among its students years ago as an orphan, along with his childhood friends Piper and Finn. Not to mention Radarr, who would probably attack anyone who referred to him as Aerrow’s pet. 

It was at the academy where the trio met Junko and Stork, gentle giant and paranoid gadget specialist, respectively. Throughout the years the six of them had grown close and became inseparable. They each had their own specialty - Aerrow’s leadership, Finn’s marksmanship, Piper’s crystal knowledge, Junko’s strength, Stork’s piloting abilities, and Radarr’s cooperation. Life at the academy wasn’t easy; training was grueling, professors were strict, competition was high and nobody enjoyed the monthly assessments, but everyone knew it was for the students’ own good. Being a Sky Knight required skill and dedication, and the academy was determined to best prepare its students for the role.

“Look on the bright side, Finn,” Aerrow chimed in. “Didn’t you and that blonde Rex Guardian hit it off the last time they visited?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.

Finn immediately brightened at the memory, and a grin spread across his face. “Hell yeah, she’ll be fawning over me in no time.” He winked with his signature finger guns, making everyone groan.

“You’ll get yourself sent back to Atmosia on the first day,” Stork muttered under his breath, ignoring Finn’s indignant hey! .

“What about you, Aerrow? Which Terra do you think you’ll get assigned to?” Junko asked, munching on a sandwich filled with something that was oddly slimy and seemed to be squirming.

Taking his eyes off of the sandwich, Aerrow shrugged and leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. “I don’t really have a preference, I’m sure I’ll be fine wherever Ennith decides on. Besides, the rest of you seem pretty satisfied with your placements.”

Piper nodded excitedly, clasping her hands together. “I can’t believe I’m actually going to Terra Tundras! There’s mines everywhere, who knows how many undiscovered crystals are out there?” She sighed, starry-eyed. 

“Of course you got the perfect match, teacher’s pet,” Finn grumbled. Piper elbowed him in the ribs, still smiling.

“Uh, sorry to ruin your moment, Piper, but isn’t Terra Tundras controlled by Cyclonia?” Stork asked in a low voice, eyes darting around the hall. 

Silence fell upon them, and Piper’s eyes lowered. Cyclonia was more closed off from the rest of Atmos after a war that had occured when they were all too young to understand. The empire had a negative reputation from their past, but had stayed relatively civil with the other Terras in recent years. Aerrow didn’t know much about Cyclonia, apart from Master Cyclonis, the young ruler of the empire, and the Dark Ace, commander of the Talons and one of Atmos’ most feared and admired fighters. He wanted to keep it that way.

“Don’t worry, Piper,” Aerrow reassured with a hand on her shoulder. “We’re protected by the academy when we’re on our placements, and I doubt Cyclonia would want to stain their reputation even more.” 

That seemed to lighten the mood, and even Stork relaxed. “Thanks, Aerrow!” Piper beamed. “You always know what to say.”

Aerrow was about to respond when a woman with her hair in a bob stepped out of the office, clipboard in hand.

“Aerrow? Headmaster Ennith would like to speak with you.” She announced, holding open the door.

He nodded and gave a little wave to his friends, stepping into the room.

The headmaster’s office was well-furnished, with mahogany furniture, shining tapestries and bookshelves that reached the ceiling. There was a fireplace on the left side of the office, its embers crackling quietly as the fire cooled. Aerrow had only been in Ennith's office once before, when he, Piper and Finn were offered admission to the academy all those years ago. Now they were only half a year away from graduating and the doors would open into a world outside of the academy. It felt surreal.

“Aerrow, please sit,” Ennith smiled from his desk, his spectacles glinting in the warm light. Dalton Ennith was a former Sky Knight who founded the academy with a few of his colleagues after he’d retired. Despite his weathered face and greying hair, he had kind eyes and a calming voice which made him practically incapable of being disliked. “I am sure you are anxious about where I have chosen for your placement.”

Aerrow shifted in his seat and looked at the headmaster. “Well, maybe a little,” he admitted. “But I have faith in your decision, headmaster.”

Ennith seemed pleased with that response, and cleared his throat before continuing. “Aerrow, I have known you for a long time now. When you first started out here at fifteen, I had no doubt that you would grow into the brave leader you are today. Your abilities, quick wit, and good heart have led you on this path to greatness.” 

Aerrow was taken aback by the praise. “I-Thank you, headmaster.” He replied, blinking.

“Therefore, it is with this in mind that I am sure you will understand my choice.” Ennith’s assistant - the woman with the bobbed hair - handed him a dark folder with Atmosia Academy’s insignia imprinted on the cover, a silver bird in flight.

“You are assigned to Terra Cyclonia, beginning a week from now.” The headmaster announced, glancing down at the contents of the folder.

Whatever words Aerrow was about to say got stuck in his throat. A stone of dread settled in his stomach. Suddenly the office seemed cold, despite the fireplace still crackling in the background.

“Cy-Cyclonia? But you’ve never sent students to Cyclonia!” Aerrow tried to keep his voice level, but the surprise escaped him. He grit his teeth, imagining the next three months there. Did Ennith just read my file wrong?

Aerrow faintly remembered reassuring Piper about Terra Tundras, but he wasn’t sure if he believed his own advice anymore.

“Times are changing, Aerrow. Cyclonia’s past is behind it now, and we can only look forward. I have spoken to its diplomats, as well as Master Cyclonis. We agree that this would be beneficial for both of our Terras,” Ennith explained, his voice firm. 

“Besides, I would not send my students on placements if I did not feel that they were prepared for the task.” The headmaster’s tone was final, and Aerrow knew he couldn’t argue his way out if he tried. 

“I understand,” Aerrow sighed, and tried to keep his expression neutral.

“This file contains all of the necessary documents you will need for your placement,” Ennith said, handing over the folder. “It includes your ticket, work documentation, instructions for the placement report you are to write, as well as contact information for your advisor once you are in Cyclonia. Please review them carefully.” 

Aerrow flipped to the first page of his file, and a small black and white photo of himself stared back. He looked annoyed. Snapping the folder shut, Aerrow stood and gave a slight bow. 

“Thank you for this opportunity, headmaster. I won’t let you down.” Aerrow tried to smile but it probably looked like he was in pain.

“I know you will not. This will be a good experience for you, Aerrow,” Ennith replied, reaching over to shake Aerrow’s hand. 

What have I gotten myself into now, Aerrow thought desperately as the woman with the bobbed hair led him out of the office and back into the administration wing. The folder felt heavy in his hand as Aerrow tried to prepare himself for the onslaught of questions from his friends.

♠♠♠

The steak in front of him did not look appetizing anymore.

Piper, Finn, Junko, Stork and Radarr seemed to be thinking the same, their food ignored in front of them in favour of gawking at Aerrow.

“Come on, guys, don’t you have anything to say?” Aerrow crossed his arms and frowned slightly.

“Alright, this time I’m really going to give Ennith a piece of my mi-”

“Cyclonia?! What was he thinking?”

“You did say the academy would protect us-”

“I heard Master Cyclonis drinks the blood of her enemies…”

“Stork!”

Radarr growled and banged his paws on the table, sending specks of mashed potato flying in all directions. Nobody seemed happy about this.

“Gee, thanks,” Aerrow said with a wry smile. “Makes me feel a whole lot better.” He sighed and pushed his food around his plate with his fork. Aerrow couldn’t blame his friends, getting assigned Cyclonia as a placement for three months seemed like the stuff of nightmares. The entire Terra looked dark and gloomy all the time and there was just a sense of something similar to evil that lingered when you looked at pictures and maps of Cyclonia.

Piper looked around the table before turning to Aerrow. “I’m sorry, Aerrow. This is surprising for us all… I never thought Cyclonia would use an Atmosia student to try to fix their diplomatic issues. But if any student here was fit for the role, it’s you.” 

“Yeah, Aerrow!” Finn said around a mouthful of pasta. “Ennith must’ve chosen you for a reason. You’re special, dude.” His blue eyes were wide. 

Fondness glowed in his chest. Aerrow nodded and took a deep breath. “I guess so, that’s what he said to me too. I’m just overthinking it. Thanks, guys.” He smiled warmly at them and let his shoulders relax. Maybe it won’t be so bad.  

“If any Cyclonian tries to mess with you, they’ll be answering to us!” Junko grinned and clenched his fists before clapping Aerrow a little too harshly on the back. Piper, Finn, Stork and Radarr nodded in agreement. “Besides, what’re you even going to do in Cyclonia anyways?”

Aerrow coughed slightly and laughed, his shoulders shaking. “Thanks, Junko. I know I can count on you guys.” He reached for the folder Ennith had handed him and flipped through the documents.

“I’m not sure, actually. The placement description is blank.” Aerrow frowned and closed the folder. Typically students would get a rundown of the tasks they’d be expected to compete at their assigned Terras, and who’d they be working with. In Aerrow’s case, those sections of his file had been suspiciously left empty. It unsettled Aerrow just a bit that he had no clue what he was meant to be doing until he arrived in Cyclonia a week from now. 

He sighed and looked around the open-air pavilion they were seated at, near the center of campus. The sky was clear and students were milling around, having finished the first semester a few days ago. This time was meant to be a break before the graduating students were sent off to their placements, and everyone seemed a lot more relaxed than they usually were during the normal semesters. The academy was beautifully constructed, with separate buildings located on their own mini Terra for each department in combat, crystal studies, engineering, communications and more. Beside the pavilion stood a tall clock tower which would chime lowly every hour. From his seat, Aerrow could see that it was almost 16 00. The day seemed to fly by.

“That’s probably ‘cause Cyclonia wants to keep up the mysterious act.” Finn scoffed, pulling Aerrow out of his thoughts. “Typical. Anyways, I gotta dash, I need to practice shooting targets if I’m gonna impress Harrier.” He jumped and scooped up his bag, a flurry of crumpled papers falling out.

“See you guys later!” He gave a quick two-fingered salute, which Aerrow returned with a wave. In a flash, Finn mounted his Skimmer, revved the engine, and rode to the edge of the cliff before activating the wings and flying off to the combat building. 

Piper coughed, using her hand to wave away the cloud of dirt that had gathered. “Ugh, why’s he always in such a rush? Anyways, I think it’s time for me to leave too, I have to figure out my packing situation.”

Junko slurped the last of his smoothie before scratching his head. “Good point, what are you even supposed to pack for three months? Your entire dorm?”

Aerrow shrugged and stood from his seat, picking up his dishes. He hadn’t really thought about all of the additional responsibilities that came with getting a placement; the uncertainty of living in Cyclonia was occupying his mind for the past couple of hours.

“Hey, we’ll figure it out together. We always have, right?” He gave the rest of his friends a crooked smile and slung his bag over one shoulder.

“You got that right,” Stork said with a nod. Radarr chirped happily and leapt onto Aerrow’s shoulder.

Everything would be just fine.

♠♠♠

Aerrow was about to panic. The previous week had passed him by faster than his Skimmer in a windstorm. Word had gotten around campus that Ennith was sending Aerrow to Cyclonia, and he’d been approached by several junior students and even some of his old professors to see if it was true. Aerrow felt slightly on-edge the days leading up to his departure, meticulously checking his luggage to see if he’d missed anything when packing. His energy blades and extra crystals had been stowed away safely, along with at least a month's worth of clothes and other essentials. He’d triple checked his placement file, and made sure that he hadn’t misplaced any of the important documents. Ennith had announced that students were not permitted to bring their own Skimmers to the placements, which hurt a little bit. Over the years Aerrow had continuously fixed and upgraded components of his ride himself, and the thought of going to Cyclonia without it felt like a part of him would be missing.

On the day of the departure, Aerrow woke up well before sunrise and couldn’t fall back asleep. He spent the morning alternating between pacing around in his dorm, flying his Skimmer around campus to get some fresh air, and worrying. In the mirror, his hair looked like the bristles of a paintbrush after it was dipped into red paint and left out to dry. He wasn’t sure if it was appropriate to arrive in Cyclonia in his regular clothes, so he opted to keep on the standard light gray and blue Atmosia uniform. It was fitted throughout his body and comfortable to move around in, but its high collar definitely didn’t make it fashion staple according to multiple students. After a quick shower, he felt somewhat more calm but Aerrow’s nerves were still all over the place. What if he suddenly got motion sickness during the flight despite having flown recklessly for years and threw up on a random Talon? What if Master Cyclonis had a troop of Talons waiting to kidnap him for information about Atmosia? What if what Stork said about her drinking her enemies’ blood really was true?!

A knock on his door sent Aerrow about a foot into the air. 

“Aerrow? You in there, buddy? Me and the others were about to get some lunch before our flights, wanna join?”

It was just Finn. Aerrow relaxed and ran a hand through his hair. The clock on his desk read a little after 13:00, and flights for each student’s placement were scheduled for 15:00. The time really was slipping from Aerrow’s grasp with each passing tick.

He opened the door and Finn was leaning against the doorframe, looking slightly concerned. “Are you feeling okay, Aer? I swear I heard you pacing outside your door.”

Aerrow smiled sheepishly and nodded. “I’m fine, really. Just some last minute nerves is all.”

Finn sighed and placed his hands on Aerrow’s shoulders, still wearing those fingerless gloves that Piper and Stork had teased him about years ago. “Dude, you really have nothing to worry about. We’ll keep in touch throughout the whole thing, and I know you’re ready for whatever those Cyclonians throw at you.” Finn said seriously, holding Aerrow’s gaze.

It was unlike Finn to be so serious about anything, so Aerrow knew he had a point. He smiled and pulled the blond man into a hug, sighing. 

“Come on, I know what’ll ease your nerves!” Finn exclaimed when they pulled back. “I heard the canteen is serving double fudge chocolate cake! We have to try it before it runs out-”

Before Aerrow could protest, Finn was steering him towards the dining hall and rambling on and on about how much he’d miss the food at Atmosia and how meals at Terra Rex were probably just bland chicken and oatmeal. With green beans. Aerrow laughed the whole way there. 

♠♠♠

“I know you’ll probably be super busy at Cyclonia but don’t forget about us!” Piper squeezed Aerrow tightly in a hug, and Aerrow wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Finn, Junko, Stork and Radarr all followed suit in a group hug, and Aerrow staggered back, almost falling over.

“You know I couldn’t forget about you guys if I tried,” he said, laughing.

Lunch had passed and Aerrow did have to admit, the chocolate cake was a nice parting gift from the academy. He still felt nervous, of course, but a new sense of excitement overtook him. This was the biggest challenge he’d faced in all twenty-two years of his life, and Aerrow knew he was ready.

They were gathered at the academy’s main landing strip and ships were docked and ready to board its students for departure. Each Terra was assigned its own ship, so Aerrow had the next five hours to himself, plenty of time to daydream what life in Cyclonia would be like. He really couldn’t wait.

Everyone’s luggage was already loaded, so all that was left to keep track of were the folders with their documentation and tickets. A robotic voice played over the loudspeakers - Attention all graduating students. Your flights to your placement Terras will be boarding shortly. Please make your way to the correct ship, and ensure all of your documents are in order. 

Aerrow took a deep breath and steeled himself. This was it.

“We don’t have time for a full pep-talk so I’ll keep it short. I know it’s weird to be split up after all of these years together, but I know we’re all more than ready to ace this placement.” Aerrow smiled widely and looked at each of Piper, Finn, Junko, Stork and Radarr.

They nodded back at him, eyes bright with determination. After exchanging a few more words, they each parted ways to their ships. Aerrow turned back to look for his ship, number CAR-90. It was located at the far left of the landing strip, and Aerrow wasn’t surprised to see that it was actually a cargo ship, and not one meant for passengers. The academy probably wasn’t anticipating sending a student to Cyclonia beforehand, so they were missing an extra passenger ship.

No big deal, there has to be at least one seat, Aerrow thought as he boarded. He handed his ticket to the pilot, who took it and looked at him expectantly. She was a lithe woman with dark green hair and gray eyes. There was a faded scar cutting through her right eyebrow.

“So I’m guessing I have to drop you off to the Talons before making this weapons shipment?” Her eyes narrowed and her mouth was a thin line. 

Aerrow looked to the back of the ship, where boxes filled with various blades and bows were stacked. There was one seat near the front, which looked like someone tore it out of an old bike and stuck to the floor of the ship. Thanks for the great accommodations, Ennith.

“Yes, that’d be me.” He replied, taking his seat and holding his file to his chest. Aerrow heard the sound of a turbo engine coming to life, and he watched the ship set for Terra Saharr take off into the sky.

The pilot glanced at him through the rear-view mirror and switched on the ship’s ignition. 

“Well, let’s make it quick. Ennith is making me fly to the other end of the Atmos for this delivery.” 

Within moments they were in the air and wisps of clouds floated past the ship as Aerrow stared out of the small window. In a few hours he’d be in Cyclonia, a powerful and foreign land, with the only knowledge of it and its people from rumours or old stories. Aerrow would finally get a chance to see if Cyclonia really was as evil as people made it seem, or if they were just stereotypes blown out of proportion. 

Without noticing, his eyelids closed and Aerrow rested his head against one of the wooden boxes. The slight hum of the ship’s engine slowly lulled him to sleep.

Soon… 

Chapter Text

A hand on Aerrow’s shoulder caused him to jolt awake, eyes flying open. Out of reflex, he reached back for his energy blades only to realize that they were packed away with the rest of his luggage. Only then did his eyes focus on the figure standing in front of him, looking wholly unimpressed.

It was the cargo pilot from earlier. Her arms were crossed and her mouth was drawn in what seemed to be a permanent frown. “Greet everyone like that, huh?” From this position Aerrow could see the name C. Sorren stitched in black thread on the lapel of her coat. 

“I-uh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to,” Aerrow stammered, flushing in embarassment. It was thanks to the academy’s training that caused him to be alert at all times, even right after waking. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and yawned, looking outside the window. The sky had an indigo hue and a billow of smoke slowly rose at the corner of his eye. 

Sorren scoffed. “We’re here, kid. Cyclonia. I assume you don’t need me to walk you to the front doors?” She turned her back to him, inspecting the crates of weapons with a clipboard in hand.

All at once the realization of where Aerrow was and what he was meant to be doing hit him and sent peaceful, post-nap Aerrow crashing into the ground. He scrambled out of his seat, head spinning, and swiped up his file before turning back to face Sorren near the ship’s exit.

“Thank you, Sorren,” he said. “I hope you make that delivery in time.”

“It’s Cath,” she replied. “Good luck, Aerrow.” She turned to face him with a faint smile.

He nodded and stepped off of the ship. He gathered his luggage before the engines roared and brought the ship’s propeller to life, lifting it off of the ground as it headed south. After sheathing his energy blades on his back, Aerrow looked around at where Cath had dropped him off and was struck at how dark it was. Apparently Cyclonia received less hours of sunlight than most Terras, and the remaining pollution from old crystal mines didn’t help either. Aerrow took a deep breath and almost immediately noticed that the air prickled his lungs slightly. Nice to know about their air quality, he thought grimly.

Aerrow was standing in the middle of what looked like a giant landing pad. He could see the Talon's insignia dimly illuminated by the light of a nearby crystal lamp. Aerrow tucked his folder away safely in one of the pockets of his bag. It was unsettling that nobody else was here, and he was about to walk over to the nearest tower when he heard distant voices coming from behind him.

“That’s him! The Atmosia boy!”

“I thought I told you to check the arrival time! We were supposed to be ready ten minutes—”

“Oh shut up , it’s not like we lost him—”

When Aerrow turned back around he was greeted with the sight of a short man wearing a dark red suit, flanked by two Cyclonian Talons. Aerrow tensed when he saw that they were each holding a crystal staff and looked warily at the man in the suit.

“Welcome to Terra Cyclonia, Aerrow,” he greeted. The corners of his mouth curled into a sharp smile. “I am Rene, your placement advisor. I do wish we had more time for introductions, but we mustn't keep the Master waiting. Come along.” Rene spun on his heel and walked in the opposite direction, while the two Talons grumbled before carrying Aerrow’s luggage and following him.

Aerrow stood and stared for a few moments before his brain finally caught up. Did he say Master?!

“Hey - wait! Where are we going? And I can carry my own luggage!” 

Rene sighed but kept walking. “To see Master Cyclonis, of course! She requested to speak with you upon your arrival. Also, that’s nonsense. You’re our guest.” He looked back boredly.

His throat ran dry and his palms felt clammy through his gloves. Okay, so the initial thought of going to Cyclonia was bad enough. Aerrow had gotten over that. But speaking with its menacing leader, alone? Aerrow gulped.

He panted as he caught up with Rene and the Talons while trying to quell the uneasiness in his stomach. Aerrow followed them into a corridor with dimmed red lights, the stone underneath his feet shifting to cold metal. “Why would she want to speak with me? I’m just a student.”

Rene’s eyes glinted. “Oh, but you’re special, Aerrow. You see, we haven’t had many high-profile visitors in a long time, such as yourself. It’s only fair for the Master to get to know you.”

Aerrow hadn’t thought about it that way. Atmosia Academy was well-known across the Atmos, but he hadn’t considered himself that important by any means. They rounded another corner and one of the Talons to his left snickered.

“Just hope she doesn’t hex you.”

Aerrow glared at him, narrowing his eyes. Ennith, I hope you have eyes in this place. I want to live to see Atmosia again. 

“Don’t listen to him,” Rene scowled. “None of us have spoken to Master Cyclonis before. She’s a very secretive person. It’s all speculation of whether or not she’s actually that scary.” He looked at Aerrow. “Besides, didn’t she just turn twenty in December? She’s a kid.”

Rene suddenly stopped outside of a pair of elaborate iron doors. The other Talon laughed, but he sounded nervous. “I guess you’ll be the first to find out, schoolboy.”

Aerrow swallowed and tried to ease his heart rate. This conversation could make or break the future of Cyclonia and Atmosia’s relations. No big deal. Rene smiled tightly and patted Aerrow on the arm.

“I’m sure you’ll be fine, you seem like a respectable guy. We’ll have your belongings delivered to your room. Dinner will be served at seven.” They started to walk away, leaving Aerrow in the corridor. 

Steeling himself, Aerrow rapped his knuckles against the door and held his breath. 

“Come in.” It was barely audible.

The door was heavy, and Aerrow strained to crack it open. Most of Cyclonis’ office was bathed in a white glow, emanating from a crystal levitating in the corner. Aerrow was reminded of Ennith’s office, but this one was much more spacious. Cyclonis owned what looked like a whole library, with rows of  books surrounding each of the four walls. A single desk littered with scrolls and maps was laid out in the center of the room, accompanied by an uncomfortable looking chair with a tall back. The entire office was the shade of cold metal.

“I see you’ve made it in one piece.” 

Aerrow couldn’t tell where the eerie voice was coming from until Master Cyclonis suddenly materialized in front of him. Her small frame was covered in dark robes which reached the floor, while her hood slowly unfurled like pointed feathers, revealing a sharp, pale face.

He straightened his back and bowed, before raising his gaze to meet her cold one.

“Master Cyclonis, it’s an honour to—” 

She waved him off, narrowing her dark eyes. “You don’t have to say what you don’t mean.” Her voice sent a chill down Aerrow’s spine. 

“I know you aren’t thrilled to be in Cyclonia. You’d probably prefer it if we weren’t speaking right now. But you’re here anyways, so let’s make the best out of it. Wouldn’t you agree, Aerrow?” 

Somehow Cyclonis had read his mind. Aerrow felt guilty, but he didn’t know why. His hands curled into fists at his sides.

“I’m grateful to be here. It’s an incredible learning experience.” He said honestly. Aerrow’s eyebrows lowered as he stared at the Cyclonian leader, waiting for her to object.

To Aerrow’s surprise, a smirk spread across her face. “Good.”

In an instant, Cyclonis’ long robes transformed into a fitted combat uniform. She stuck out her open palm and a large silver staff materialized. The lavender crystal on the end glowed faintly. Black nails closed around the hilt, and Cyclonis fixed Aerrow with a stare that seemed like she was looking right through him. His skin crawled.

“I’m curious to see what you’re capable of, Aerrow,” she said simply. “Your headmaster sounded as if he regarded you very highly.” The smirk was gone. “I want to see if that’s true.”

Aerrow felt sweat beading at the back of his neck. He hadn’t planned on this — on any of this. He was meant to be making new friends, getting settled into his new home, connecting with his mentors. Not accepting a duel with one of the most powerful mages in Atmos, who also happened to be the leader of Cyclonia. Aerrow snorted inwardly at what Rene said about Cyclonis being a kid. He didn't know the start of it. 

Aerrow’s fingers twitched, itching for his energy blades. Not yet. There has to be another way. He took a step back and looked at Cyclonis carefully.

“I… I’m not sure if this is the best idea,” Aerrow said while holding his hands out, eyes darting left and right. The doors were too heavy to open quickly, and the room had no windows. He was essentially trapped. 

Ennith, you bastard.

“Scared I’ll be too rough? Don’t fret, I won’t actually harm you.” Somehow, Aerrow didn’t quite believe that.

He couldn’t stand the taunting of her voice. He grit his teeth and reluctantly drew his energy blades, and screwed his eyes shut before opening them again. If Aerrow survived this fight, there would be no way that his friends would believe him. It was a lose-lose situation.

There was still a comfortable distance between them, but Cyclonis was slowly inching closer. “You said your time at Cyclonia would be an incredible learning experience ,” she growled. “So let’s not waste any of that precious time.” 

With that, Cyclonis leapt at Aerrow with a yell, swinging the crystalized end of her weapon at him. Aerrow ducked just in time and rolled to the right, eyes wide and heart racing. Her staff left a huge crater in the iron wall, and Cyclonis glowered as she yanked the staff out from where it was embedded, ripping the iron apart. If Aerrow had been a second too late, it would’ve already been over.

There’s no point in trying to run away. Cyclonis wants a fight, she’ll get one. It didn't matter who she was anymore, if anybody challenged Aerrow he'd be sure to give them something to work with. 

Aerrow saw a hunger in Cyclonis’ eyes before he charged at her, slashing one of his blades through the air. As expected, his attack was countered as the raven-haired girl blocked it easily with her staff. They began taking swings at each other, sending sparks of energy flying from their weapons. It was clear that Cyclonis was trained well in combat. She dodged each of Aerrow’s attacks gracefully, sidestepping out of reach like she knew his next move before he made it. Frustration burned through Aerrow’s body and with newfound energy, he knocked Cyclonis’ staff away from where it was protecting her chest. Aerrow managed to land a swift kick to Cyclonis’ middle, sending her staggering backwards.

Like nothing happened, the Cyclonian leader regained her posture and gave Aerrow a deathly stare.

“Maybe you ought to do more reading on combat techniques,” she hissed before thrusting her staff sideways. The crystal at its end glowed brighter and Aerrow heard a loud rustling above him. A row of books was levitating beside the high shelf they were previously resting on, and Aerrow barely had time to think before they started pelting down towards him. 

Aerrow heard Cyclonis cackle as he used his blades to send a bolt of energy through the cascade of books, reducing them to piles of ashes. “Didn’t I say I wouldn’t actually hurt you?” Cyclonis looked amused. “Pity, those were some of my favourites.” She sighed, looking blankly at the ashes that littered her floor.

Out of breath, Aerrow sheathed his energy blades and grimaced. “Enough games, Cyclonis. This isn’t what I came here for.” 

“We’re not finished yet.” Her hands tightened against her staff. “You call yourself a Sky Knight, don’t you?” This time, Cyclonis looked genuinely interested rather than murderous.

“Well, where’s your fancy move?”

Couldn’t she have waited until tomorrow?

Aerrow had enough, but he activated his weapon again. He was exhausted, hungry, and still wasn’t sure what Cyclonis wanted with him, but showing off a little wouldn’t hurt. Aerrow closed his eyes and allowed the tension to ease out of his body, while the energy from his striker crystals seeped in.

“It’s right here.”

He inhaled deeply and felt the thrumming of energy in his veins. Once the energy was at its peak, Aerrow leapt into the air and twisted his body before bringing both blades downwards, sending the power from his Lightning Claw towards Cyclonis.

Cyclonis watched in fascination while the blast flew towards her, the ice blue energy reflecting in her eyes. At the last moment she blocked it awkwardly with her staff and the impact caused her to stumble backwards.

Aerrow took advantage of Cyclonis’ second of hesitation, and rushed forward with his energy blades out. By then, Cyclonis had regained her focus and her signature deadly stare was back, her lip curled. She forced her staff against Aerrow’s blades and they were at a standoff.

“I’ll have to admit, Aerrow, I am impressed,” Cyclonis said. The glow from Aerrow’s weapon made her hair look silver. Aerrow couldn’t tell if she was mocking or actually praising him. 

Aerrow scowled, trying to think of his next move. It was slightly surprising that he was still standing. A hook to the ankle would send Cyclonis falling, and that would give him enough time to pry open the iron doors and make a run for it. After that, he’d hijack whatever ride he could find and fly five hours back to Atmosia. He’d explain himself to Ennith somehow. It didn’t matter that Aerrow didn’t have a map, or that all of his belongings were stashed away in some room. He needed to leave. Now.

Suddenly, Cyclonis’ eyes darted to the side and then back. He watched as a crooked grin split across her face. Aerrow glared at her while a drop of sweat rolled down his temple. He wouldn't let himself be distracted, not now, not when he was so close— 

The crackling of an energy weapon sounded from the entrance of Cyclonis’ office and Aerrow felt heat and electricity strike him in the shoulder, sending him crashing into the nearby wall. At once, the electricity coursed through his whole body and pain seared in his limbs. Aerrow’s head was pounding and his breath was escaping him in shallow pants. He tried to look around to figure out what just happened, but colourful spots obscured his vision.

Heavy footsteps and the clinking of armour were the last things Aerrow heard before the world blurred out. 

♠♠♠

“... was excessive… ‘ven for you...”

“...alm down… used a low voltage…”

Aerrow was underwater. The voices he heard seemed far away; too far to fully grasp what they were saying. He tried to move, but his limbs felt like someone had injected lead into his veins. As the seconds passed, it made less and less sense that he was underwater. Aerrow felt cold, hard metal beneath him, and his breathing was shallow but steady.

His eyes flew open.

Cyclonis’ heavily lined eyes peered into his face. “Oh, good. You’re alive.” 

Aerrow stared at her blearily, still disoriented. Someone had propped him up in a sitting position against the wall. Cyclonis leaned away from him and Aerrow’s attention was drawn to the taller man standing beside her.

When their eyes met, Aerrow felt the world tilt by one degree on its axis. He blinked, and everything came into focus.

Dark Ace, commander of the Cyclonian Talons and Atmos’ most feared and elusive fighters, was staring down at Aerrow with his arms crossed, an unreadable expression on his face. Aerrow wanted to think that he was staring at him out of interest, but it was probably something similar to confusion seeing as Dark Ace had just knocked him, a complete stranger, unconscious. The intensity of his red gaze made Aerrow’s skin prickle. He lowered his eyes to the floor, unsure of what to say.

“Are you going to explain why you destroyed your office while battling this stranger?” The Dark Ace asked in a smooth voice, his strong eyebrows furrowed. 

“He’s barely a stranger. I think we’re quite well-acquainted by now.” Cyclonis replied cryptically. She turned to look at Aerrow, a sly smile on her lips.

In one swift motion, Dark Ace drew his energy sword from behind his back and the long blade radiated red heat as the firebolt crystal’s energy flowed through it. Aerrow flinched at the crackling sound before patting the ground frantically, looking for his energy blades. They were on the other side of the room, presumably lost from when he flew into the wall and passed out.

What the hell has my life turned into in the past six hours?

“I should’ve known nothing would’ve come out of asking questions,” Dark Ace growled, not taking his eyes off of Aerrow. “It’s time for him to go back to where he came from.”

“Put that away, you barbarian. You’re scaring him,” Cyclonis snapped. “Besides, he’s meant to be here.” She reached out to grab hold of Aerrow’s wrist and dragged him into a standing position with a surprising amount of strength. Aerrow stood shakily and annoyance flared in his chest. He hated being treated like a child but after being struck once by Dark Ace’s weapon, he didn’t want to stick around for a second time. “Now he’s at risk for injury. That headmaster won’t be happy.”

Dark Ace just sneered and sheathed his sword.

“I’m fine,” Aerrow rasped. His entire body ached. Cyclonis ignored him.

“Aside from that, I feel that introductions are long overdue.” She let go of his wrist, and her tone was almost cheerful. Aerrow looked at the two Cyclonians warily before she continued.

“Dark Ace, this is Aerrow from Atmosia Academy. He was personally selected by his headmaster to complete his placement at Cyclonia.” He watched as Dark Ace’s eyes widened by a fraction, taking note of the academy’s insignia over his heart. 

Her gaze shifted to Aerrow, and her eyes were bright. “Aerrow, I’m sure you already know of Dark Ace.” He nodded, feeling exposed once again under the commander’s stare. Like many young Sky Knights, Aerrow had heard stories about a fearless Talon who never lost in battle before. He was a strong, calculating fighter who was also well-versed in flying mid-battle. Aerrow couldn’t believe that he was standing in front of the Dark Ace, wondering if he’d been hallucinating this entire time. He didn’t trust himself to speak, fearing any words would get stuck in his throat.

“He will be your mentor during your time in Cyclonia,” Cyclonis announced, smiling widely.

"What?!” the two men exclaimed in unison, turning to look at her in disbelief. It would have been funny if Aerrow didn’t feel like he was about to throw up.

He wondered if anyone had ever seen Cyclonis look this happy, ever. It was like she’d planned this all along, all the way back when Aerrow noticed that his placement description was left blank on his file. 

Yep, definitely hallucinating, he concluded, feeling oddly light. There was no way that Cyclonis was being serious. Aerrow’s head spun at the thought of the Dark Ace teaching him the necessary skills and values to have as a Sky Knight.

Dark Ace looked like Cyclonis had just slapped him. This was probably the first time she'd told him about their arrangement as well. 

After her words finally sank in, the Talon commander clenched his teeth so roughly that Aerrow could see a muscle jump in his jaw. “I will not have my personal duties held back at the expense of an inexperienced kid,” he said sharply. Dark Ace’s words caused Aerrow to frown in annoyance. He was tired of being treated like he knew nothing.

Anyone would have cowered under his fiery gaze but Cyclonis simply gave him an unimpressed look.

“I’m twenty-two, you know,” Aerrow managed to grit out. Dark Ace barely registered that he’d said anything and Aerrow wanted the ground to open up and swallow him whole.

“And I will not have my top commander disobeying my orders,” Cyclonis shot back. She walked away from Aerrow and Dark Ace, waving her staff towards the mangled crater in the wall. A swirl of energy escaped the end of her staff and into the wall. The iron mended itself in seconds, leaving no evidence that it had been smashed by that same staff earlier. 

“Think about it this way,” the Cyclonian leader suggested, turning back to face them. “You’ve been on your own for so long, Dark Ace. You will mentor Aerrow, and he will keep you company. It’s only for three months, if you really are opposed to the idea.” 

Dark Ace stood still with his eyebrows drawn downwards. The white crystal in the corner of the room cast shadows across his angular face, and Aerrow watched him silently before looking across the room at his abandoned energy blades. The younger man still was at a loss for words. Clearly, he had no authority to object to Cyclonis’ arrangement, but he wasn’t sure how to feel now that she’d made it final.

On one hand, Aerrow would be learning from the best of the best in terms of Atmos’ fighters. He knew from his combat training courses that Dark Ace was not only good at beating the enemy; he was cunning and clever as well. Aerrow respected that. But on the other hand, being mentored by someone with such a high degree of skill and experience intimidated him. Dark Ace’s bitter personality definitely wouldn’t help that case either, as far as Aerrow could see.

“No objections?” Mischief shone in Cyclonis’ eyes. “Wonderful. You are both dismissed. Dark Ace, show Aerrow to his room, please. North Maven hall.” 

Dark Ace grunted in reply and crossed the room in a few short strides to the doors. Aerrow scooped up his blades from the floor before hurrying after the other man.

Cyclonis’ voice made Dark Ace stop in his tracks. Aerrow almost walked right into his back, staring at the metal-crafted Talon insignia that rested between Dark Ace’s shoulder blades. 

“Make sure that Aerrow receives medical attention as well. It’s the least you could do after electrocuting him.” 

Aerrow watched as Dark Ace silently seethed before pushing open one of the iron doors and stepping into the hallway, not bothering to keep it from slamming shut in Aerrow’s face. Luckily he slipped through the opening quickly enough and squinted as he entered the hallway, eyes adjusting to the dimness.

Dark Ace’s footsteps were echoing further down the hall, and Aerrow huffed before catching up with his retreating form. His mentor obviously didn’t care for any conversation so Aerrow kept silent as he followed Dark Ace throughout the corridors to his quarters. Aerrow wasn’t entirely sure of how the facilities were laid out in Cyclonia, as they had been in Cyclonis' office moments before but were still continuing inside the same building. His best guess was that the Talons’ quarters were connected with its main training facilities through a system of tunnels and hallways. The sounds of their footsteps and Dark Ace’s clinking armour filled the air, with the occasional distant conversation between other people in the hallways. 

They walked past a pair of students wearing Talon Academy uniforms; a tall boy with green eyes like Aerrow and a girl with long violet hair tied into a ponytail at the base of her head. Unlike the Sky Knight academies throughout the rest of Atmos, Aerrow had never met anyone from the Talon Academy as the two schools hadn’t had any contact before. He heard that its students were trained rigorously and were especially skilled in one-on-one combat. 

It’d be nice to make some friends here, Aerrow mused. It would definitely make this experience more enjoyable. 

The students lowered their heads in respect to Dark Ace, who returned their gesture with a nod before continuing down the hall. The girl’s eyes lingered on Aerrow and her eyebrow arched as if she recognized him. Before he could question it, she’d turned back around and started chatting to the other boy about customizing her weapon.

Aerrow followed Dark Ace through a pair of automatic doors with the words NORTH MAVEN HALL engraved. The commander stopped at the last door along the hallway and turned to Aerrow, looking irritated. 

“Here’s your room. Press your hand to that panel to initialize the room’s security system. I trust that you’re competent enough to seek medical attention if you need it.”

Aerrow nodded, looking at him. “Yes, sir.”

Dark Ace’s eye twitched. “Don’t call me that.”

By the time Aerrow finished inspecting the security panel, Dark Ace had already crossed through the metal doors, the hydraulics hissing as the doors pressed closed. Aerrow’s shoulders slumped, feeling exhaustion deep in his bones. He pressed his hand against the panel as advised and a bright light shone from the screen, scanning him from head to toe. A beep sounded and the door to Aerrow’s room opened.

He stepped inside and the doors hissed closed. It was spacious, decorated mostly in deep red and green. A sigh of relief escaped Aerrow when he saw that his luggage was stacked neatly in the corner. The old-looking clock on his wall read quarter to seven, when dinner would be served. 

Aerrow collapsed onto the bed, throwing an arm over his eyes. He was still wearing his academy’s uniform, which would probably make him stand out in a sea of red and green Talons. The fabric clung to his skin uncomfortably, and Aerrow desperately wished for a warm bath before completely knocking out until tomorrow. Hunger still clawed at this stomach and he willed the minutes to tick by faster so he could eat something. Aerrow’s shoulder still ached slightly from where Dark Ace had struck him, but the pain had eased significantly already.

I can’t believe Ennith thought this was a good idea. Sure, his placement might improve relations with Cyclonia and Atmosia, but considering how his first day had gone, it was at the expense of Aerrow’s physical well-being.

The day wasn’t even over yet, but all Aerrow could do was hope tomorrow was better. 

Chapter Text

The short melody of a doorbell followed by insistent knocking made Aerrow open his eyes and look to his door in curiosity.

He pressed his hand to the security panel near the entrance of his room and the doors opened. It was Rene, alone this time. He was holding a large garment bag with an excited expression on his face.

“Aerrow, I see you’ve started to settle in,” he said lightly. Aerrow stepped to the side and allowed the man to enter, looking at him in slight confusion.

“I just got here, actually. I was about to head to dinner soon,” Aerrow replied, not bothering to explain the entire ordeal he’d just gone through after meeting Master Cyclonis and Dark Ace. Rene set down the garment bag on his desk and gave him a shocked look.

“Not wearing that you’re not!” Rene exclaimed with wide eyes. “It’s a miracle I caught you in time.”

Aerrow blinked, looking down at himself. “Um… I don’t really see the issue?” He was still in his grey and blue academy uniform which wasn’t exactly the most stylish thing, but he still looked more put-together than if he were dressed in rags.

Rene sighed and flicked his hair away from his eyes. His blonde hair was so light that it almost looked white.

“Maybe if you were still in Atmosia, sure,” he said. “That’s clearly not the case now. So, I’ve come to deliver a custom-made uniform, courtesy of one of Cyclonia’s top tailors!”

With that, Rene unzipped the bag and held out a pristine dark green uniform with crimson detailing and shards of varying sizes of shiny silver armour that shone in the light of the room. The Cyclonian insignia of a red falcon was painted onto one side of the shoulder armour, and the back of the uniform had a sheath for Aerrow’s energy blades along with a larger insignia, crafted out of metal. 

The uniform was different compared to that of an ordinary Talon’s. It seemed as though someone had put a lot of effort into designing it to be worn in battle as well as for regular wear. The material looked expensive; it wasn’t just regular fabric, it looked like it had been infused with the energy from a crystal to obtain its sleekness. Aerrow stared at it, outstretched in Rene’s hands, and didn’t know what to say. 

“This, I… Wow, this is a lot,” he stammered. Aerrow hadn’t expected such a grand gesture, or any for that matter. The uniform was worlds beyond anything he’d ever worn before. 

Rene’s smile faltered at Aerrow’s hesitation. “Would you like for it to be modified? I’m sure I can–”

“No Rene, that’s not what I meant!” Aerrow scratched the back of his neck and tried to smile. “It’s amazing, really, but I’m not actually a Cyclonian Talon. I just feel like it would be better suited for someone else.”

The blonde man sighed and gently pushed the uniform into Aerrow’s hands. “You’re too thoughtful, Aerrow. Think of it as a welcoming gift, not something permanent. Besides, this uniform was made for you. No one else.”

Aerrow clutched the sleek fabric and looked down at the rest of the garment bag. He could see a pair of boots, gloves and more armour accessories. He turned to Rene who was already at the door.

“Thank you, Rene, this means a lot,” Aerrow said warmly, admiring how the armour glinted as he tilted it from side to side.

“You’d better wear it, then,” Rene replied. “I can’t wait to see the look on everyone’s faces when they see you.” He winked and then paused. 

"I'm guessing you've heard about Dark Ace being your mentor. Lucky you." Rene raised an eyebrow and smirked slightly. 

"Yep, Cyclonis wanted it to be a surprise," Aerrow said wryly. 

"We all know that he's super stoic and intimidating and whatever, but it won't be the worst thing. I think you'll enjoy your time here." Rene shrugged and crossed his arms. 

It was like everyone kept speaking in code to him. What did they mean by he would enjoy it? 

"Anyways, I'm off. Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns. The info's in your folder." 

His advisor slipped out of the room while the doors closed gently. 

Aerrow stared at where Rene had been standing for a few moments more and started to peel off his academy uniform and put on his new one. There were a lot of components and additional accessories that his old uniform didn’t have, which Aerrow guessed was for the uniform’s aesthetic purpose.

Once he finally finished snapping on the silver wrist cuffs and adjusting the layered gloves, Aerrow turned to look at himself in the mirror adjacent to his closet.

He was surprised, to say the least. The uniform was more fitted than what he wore at the academy and it outlined the leanness of his body. After looking at himself more closely, Aerrow saw that there were more red details on the uniform than he originally saw, contrasting against the dark green. There was crimson around his collar, his forearms, and also a strip snaking around his thigh. Aerrow sheathed his energy blades on his back and smiled when he heard a quiet snick . His weapon fit perfectly. 

This really was made for me, huh, he thought. He was a little curious at how the tailor had managed to get all of the correct measurements and customizations. 

Aerrow’s stomach growled and a quick glance at the clock told him that dinner had started three minutes ago. He quickly removed some of the larger pieces of armour around his midsection and legs and took his energy blades out of their sheath.

I hope I won’t need these again today, Aerrow thought, thinking back to how Cyclonis had challenged him to a fight out of nowhere. Maybe everyone will be too hungry to want to fight. 

Aerrow wasn’t sure why he felt apprehensive as he stepped out of the automatic doors of his room and into an empty corridor. He heard various voices overlapping in the hallways nearby, and started following them to the dining hall. 

♠♠♠

The dining hall that served the Cyclonian Talons as well as students from the Talon academy was situated at the east end of what Aerrow learned was the main training base on Cyclonia. He had walked by a large map posted outside of one of the several corridors and stood in front of it for a few moments, in awe of how intricately the base was designed. It seemed even more complicated than the Atmosia campus, which took Aerrow at least a month to get fully comfortable with at first.

When he made his way to the dining hall’s entrance, there were already several groups of people there lining up to serve themselves at the buffet-style counters. Like the rest of the interiors on Cyclonia, the dining hall was dimly lit with warm lights. Indistinct chatter filled the air and Aerrow felt his shoulders relax. It was nothing different compared to the canteen at his academy.

Aerrow stood at the end of one of the lines and took a plate and a pair of utensils off of its rack, looking at what kind of food was being served. The scents of all of the foods made his mouth water. He didn’t recognize some of the recipes, but everything looked appetizing. It was only at that point when Aerrow registered that the voices he’d heard before had quieted down to a hush.

Immediately after Aerrow looked up, he wished he hadn’t. Every Talon and student in the hall seemed to be staring at Aerrow either in curiosity, hostility or envy. He took note of the eyes on him and tried to ignore the whispers of Who is that Where’d he get that uniform Is he new here He can’t be a student that floated across the room. 

Aerrow swallowed and turned his attention to the steaming pieces of chicken breast, asparagus and bread rolls laid out on the long table. He felt heat creep up his neck and willed everyone to lose their apparent interest in him and redirect it to their dinner.

So much for hoping to fit in. Is this what Rene meant before? 

After a few moments conservation started to flow again and the dining hall was once again filled with lively chatter. Aerrow exhaled and quickly piled food onto his plate before heading to an empty table near the back of the hall and starting to finally eat. 

He knew it was natural for people to be interested in a newcomer, especially when they live on a Terra that gets so few visitors. The attention made him uncomfortable but Aerrow couldn’t blame the Cyclonians. Aerrow briefly wondered if Dark Ace was among them, giving him the same unreadable expression as always.

A body plopping down next to Aerrow almost made him choke on his bite of bread. 

The girl with the long purple hair he’d seen earlier in the hallways smiled while the tall boy who accompanied her sat down across from Aerrow, fixing him with an interested green gaze.

“So my suspicions were right. You’re definitely new,” the girl said matter-of-factly while chewing on a carrot. Her words were lightly accented but Aerrow couldn’t put his finger on it.

“Jetta, don’t be rude.” The corners of the boy’s eyes crinkled. “I’m Victor and, well, that’s Jetta.” Victor spoke quietly while picking at his dinner and Aerrow had to lean in closer to hear what he was saying above the commotion. “We don’t mean to pry, but isn’t it uncommon for students to join the academy this late into the year?”

“Judging by that entrance, you’re either a celebrity or you’ve somehow skipped all of the classes we’ve had so far and decided to reveal yourself now in that fancy outfit,” Jetta snorted, tilting her head at Aerrow.

Aerrow’s eyes went wide and he shook his head rapidly. “No, no, neither of those. I… I’m a student from Atmosia Academy. My headmaster sent me here to complete my placement before I graduate, which is basically three months of ‘real’ Sky Knight experience.” He smiled sheepishly. “My name’s Aerrow.”

Victor raised his glass halfway to his lips and froze at Aerrow’s words. “No way, Atmosia?! That’s an amazing school. I heard the facilities there are the best in Atmos.”

Jetta stared at Aerrow with her head propped onto one hand. “You essentially are a celebrity, Aerrow from Atmosia. I’d give anything to leave Cyclonia for once and see what else is out there.” Her nonchalant manner suddenly changed and Jetta’s silver eyes wandered around the dining hall, focusing on the dull iron chandeliers. 

“So… does that explain why you were with Dark Ace?” Jetta took a strand of violet hair between her fingers and inspected the ends, pointedly not looking at Aerrow or Victor.

Victor rolled his eyes and took a sip of a red liquid that smelled like berries. “You’re still not over your crush, are you?” Aerrow raised his eyebrows in question.

Jetta opened her mouth and closed it, looking around if other people had overheard. She grit her teeth while a faint blush dusted her cheeks.

“It’s not a crush , I’m not in primary school,” Jetta snapped. “I just really admire him. He has so much skill and such a great fighting technique… And I like his voice a lot…” The long-haired girl groaned and rested her head on her arms.

“Yeah, you and half of the Terra, it seems,” Victor snickered. 

He turned to Aerrow in curiosity. “I’m assuming you’re working with Dark Ace for your placement?” 

Aerrow sighed inwardly and stabbed his last piece of chicken with his fork, not exactly grateful for the reminder. “Yep, you got it. Although I don’t think either of us are too thrilled about it.”

Jetta raised her head to look at him incredulously. “I know more people than I can count on my hands who would kill to be in your position. Dark Ace is a legend all over Atmos.”

Aerrow shrugged and finished the last of his dinner while Victor started to explain how things worked at the Talon academy. After a while, Aerrow learned that Jetta and Victor were the same age as him and were also set to graduate in a few months. Jetta specialized in sharpshooting and Victor was an engineer who designed mechanical weapons. They described training as long and exhausting each day, but they eventually grew to get used to it. Unlike what Aerrow had been taught at Atmosia, students at the Talon academy focused heavily on individual growth rather than teamwork and supporting each other, which created a highly competitive environment.

In return, Aerrow talked about his experiences at his academy, his friends and how Atmosia had shaped the last seven years of his life. By the time he’d finished talking the three of them were laughing together like they’d known each other for years. Aerrow watched as people gradually filed out of the dining hall until he, Jetta and Victor were the only ones left aside from a few stragglers.

Aerrow bid his new friends goodnight and headed back to the direction of his room while the low humming of a crystal converter sounded throughout the dim corridor. Today had been the first of many eventful and unpredictable days in Cyclonia to come. The more he thought about it, the more he preferred waking up to a new challenge every day rather than reliving the same routine of attending classes and studying. Granted, Aerrow’s courses at Atmosia Academy were nothing close to boring, but the thought of not having to be stuck in a lecture hall or on the training grounds for hours on end was relieving. As much as he missed his friends and the general feeling of safety in Atmosia, Aerrow couldn’t deny that the coming days of new missions and responsibilities made him restless with anticipation.

It was only when Aerrow returned to his room that he realized how long he’d been talking to Jetta and Victor. He’d spent over two hours at the dining hall, and just looking at the hands on his clock reminded Aerrow of how tired he was. He contemplated radioing Piper, Finn, Junko, Stork and Radarr before he went to sleep, but then remembered that they were in separate Terras all over Atmos with time differences. Tomorrow, then.

After unpacking a few of his belongings and washing up, Aerrow changed out of his uniform before shutting off the lights. He settled underneath the covers of the bed and watched as a streak of red light from a nearby tower slipped past the gap in the curtains and illuminated the ceiling above. Aerrow stared at it until it became fuzzy around the edges and let sleep tug him into peaceful nothingness.

♠♠♠

Despite how tired Aerrow felt the day before, his body apparently wasn’t ready to fully rest as he awoke three times throughout the night, tossing and turning before managing to fall back asleep. The third time Aerrow’s eyes opened, he decided to just give up and start his day an hour before sunrise. It was probably due to his subconscious nerves of being in Cyclonia, but he’d already been past that. However, today would be the official first day of his placement and new learning experiences which didn’t include getting buried alive under dozens of old books. 

Speaking of which, what am I actually meant to be doing today, Aerrow wondered while adjusting the collar of his uniform. Dark Ace hadn’t exactly given him a thorough breakdown of what the next few days would look like, so Aerrow could only hope Rene had some sort of collection of tasks for him.

Once Aerrow brushed his teeth and checked his hair in the mirror, he left his room with his energy blades and stood in the hallway for a few seconds, unsure of where to go. Rene didn’t tell him if any areas around the main Talon base were off-limits to him, but it was still weird to Aerrow that he was free to wander around such a complex, unfamiliar place. 

A sign reading NORTH EXIT glowed a few steps away from him. Aerrow made his way to the side-door and was filled with awe when he pushed it open. 

He was standing on a long balcony that winded around North Maven Hall and had a spiral staircase leading to upper and lower levels of the Talon base. In the distance, the sun was peeking out from the horizon and its faint rays softened the gray sky which was tinged with purple from crystal mine exhaust. Aerrow could see the outline of sharp mountain ranges and walked to the edge of the railing, taking in more of the Cyclonian landscape. A breeze drifted by, sending a slight chill down Aerrow’s neck.  

It was entirely different from the few pictures he’d seen in textbooks which depicted the Terra as constantly looking gloomy and miserable. Aerrow smiled at the sight of a flock of birds flying towards the rising sun and leaned against the railing. Suddenly, he heard the grumbling of a group of Talon academy students before the side-door opened. 

“Who cares about resistors and capacitors, did you guys see that new guy yesterday?”

“Yeah, who designed that uniform? Why can’t we look like that?”

“The redhead? He’s probably–”

Alarm bells started ringing in Aerrow’s head and he didn’t stick around to hear any more. He darted around the corner in the opposite direction of the voices, glancing behind him before walking right into a firm chest with an oof. Aerrow winced as his lip bumped against solid armour and froze when he heard a familiar growl from above.

“Didn't you ever learn to watch—”

Aerrow’s hasty apology died in his throat as he saw Dark Ace’s eyes skim down his body, taking note of his change of appearance. He cleared his throat and drew his mouth into a flat line before looking at Aerrow. 

“Come with me,” Dark Ace said evenly. “We have an important mission.” The Talon commander continued down the balcony without saying anything else.

Aerrow felt a spark of excitement as he followed a few steps behind Dark Ace as they stepped back into the main base and into yet another series of hallways. It was finally happening; Aerrow’s anxiety-filled days and near-death experiences have been leading up to this moment. He did find it slightly odd that most Talons and students were already up and starting their day while the sun only just began to rise. Must be Cyclonian willpower, Aerrow assumed. 

A few minutes passed and Aerrow found himself walking into a hangar with Switchblades and several types of airships aligned with impressive accuracy. A large banner with the Talon’s insignia was draped across the ceiling trusses. Out of the corner of his eye, Dark Ace stood at one of the large circular tables and inspected a map, his brow furrowed in thought.

Dark Ace’s gaze flickered up to Aerrow and back to the map as he walked closer. Aerrow didn’t think he would ever get used to looking right at the Talon commander; he felt like he was under a microscope every time their eyes met.

“The Colonel. Do you know him?” His voice was low and it snapped Aerrow back to the present. The name sounded familiar and he tried to put a face to it.

“Um… Four legs and very persuasive with an accent?” Aerrow frowned as he tried to remember the details and brightened as it all came back to him. “He visited my academy once to host an art exhibit, something felt off about it, though.” A voice in the back of Aerrow’s head wanted to ask what this had to do with anything, but he willed himself to be patient. 

He heard a scoff and watched as Dark Ace unfolded another scroll and smoothed it over the map. This one had intricate drawings of a green crystal, the colour so faint it almost looked white. Lines of handwritten notes which were once the colour of dark ink decorated the sides of the scroll, now faded to a dull gray.

“Months ago, Master Cyclonis travelled undercover to Terra Saharr to trade for the Sanatio crystal - a rare crystal with powerful healing abilities. There is only one of existence in Atmos,” Dark Ace explained, running a gloved finger down the scroll. He sighed before continuing.

“An unknown element contaminated streams and poisoned Cyclonians who took water close to the mountain ranges. It was becoming too deadly to conduct research for an antidote. Cyclonis needed the crystal to save her people, but that blasted Colonel threatened the merchant if he were to trade it to her. He wanted it for his collection.” The Talon commander curled his hand into a fist against the table. “Over one hundred died.” 

Aerrow stood still as he took in what the other man said. A somber feeling hung in the air as Aerrow recalled what had happened in the last few months. While Terra Atmosia was prospering with growth and new opportunities, Cyclonia was suffering. Although there was nothing that he could’ve done, Aerrow felt despondent that Cyclonia couldn’t reach out to other Terras for help.

Dark Ace spoke with a resentful edge to his voice, glaring down at the scroll. 

“We received news of a villager showing signs of poisoning again and unrest is spreading across the Terra, so—”

“We have to get that crystal back for Cyclonia,” Aerrow finished with determination in his voice, hitting his gloved fist against his palm. Of course, he wanted to prove to Dark Ace that he was capable of carrying out whatever tasks were assigned to him, but Aerrow also didn’t want the innocent citizens of the Terra to suffer any longer. 

The Talon commander raised his head from the scroll in slight surprise before his face shifted into a look of scorn. 

“We’ll see how well you do, Aerrow.” 

♠♠♠

Once Dark Ace had finished debriefing their mission, Aerrow stopped by the dining hall to scarf down some ham and scrambled eggs with a pancake that tasted oddly smoky. Back at the hangar, he was assigned a standard Talon Switchblade as his ride. The controls took some getting used to as the Switchblade was primarily built for combat, but Aerrow admired its firepower and stability which his own Skimmer couldn’t match. A few moments later they took off to the clouds with the Talon commander in the lead. The Cyclonian sky was a bleak gray despite the rays of sunlight that escaped the heavy cloud cover. 

Intel in Cyclonia had notified Dark Ace that the Colonel would be at the bazaar in Terra Saharr today, supposedly browsing the market for more valuables. The plan was simple - the pair of them would confront the Colonel alone to explain Cyclonia’s situation and why they needed Sanatio crystal. The whole interaction would be peaceful and Aerrow and Dark Ace would only use violence as a last resort. The Colonel was a shady character but he wasn’t bloodthirsty like other rogues in Atmos, so Aerrow hoped he would understand.

He watched as the exhaust from Dark Ace’s Switchblade created glowing red trails in the sky a few metres away from him. It was clear that the other man still didn’t fully trust Aerrow and his capabilities, but the fact that Dark Ace had taken him on this mission was probably a good sign. Or Master Cyclonis and Rene had just threatened him if he didn’t give Aerrow something to do. Either way, he’d be sure to prove himself today.

Over an hour later Dark Ace started to descend onto a dry, sandy Terra. Almost immediately the warmth from Saharr permeated through the material of Aerrow’s uniform and he relaxed at the absence of the slight chill from the sky. Aerrow could see rows of colourful booths and stalls at the bazaar, but it was less busy than he’d been expecting.

The pair of them retracted the wings on their Switchblades and inconspicuously drove to the edge of the bazaar before dismounting. Dark Ace scanned the area and ducked against a large boulder that obstructed their view of the vendors and buyers at the market. Aerrow did the same, his pulse quickening.

“He’s here,” Dark Ace said quietly. “Blue tent.”  

Aerrow craned his neck out from behind the boulder and spotted the Colonel standing near a table with various antique objects laid out. He felt slightly uneasy as he watched the four-legged creature walk to and from the table with a slimy grin on his face. Aerrow wasn’t sure what species the Colonel was and it seemed rude to ask. He was about to turn his attention back to Dark Ace until movement caught his eye.

“That’s a big crowd,” Aerrow observed. In a few seconds several buyers had gathered at the Colonel’s tent and conversation buzzed as they marvelled at his collection of antiques. The Talon commander turned to look and swore under his breath, a crease forming between his dark eyebrows.

“He’s holding an auction. There’s too many people, it’ll attract unwanted attention if we go like this,” Dark Ace said brusquely. His eyes glared into the sand and Aerrow thought Dark Ace could’ve shot lasers from them if he stared any harder. The intel had told them that the Colonel was an elusive character in Atmos and it had taken them weeks to track down his next location. If they didn’t get the crystal today, chances of taking it from the Colonel later were slim to none. 

If we go like this. But they didn’t have to, not necessarily… 

Aerrow suddenly shot up from his crouching position and peered beyond the boulder he was standing behind. 

“I got it! We don– Mmrph!”

A gloved hand clamped across Aerrow’s mouth while another grabbed the collar of his uniform, dragging him back down behind the boulder. His shoulder banged against the rock and he scowled at Dark Ace while the other man just rolled his eyes in annoyance.

“Are you dense? Keep your voice down,” he hissed. 

Aerrow panted at the stifling heat and brushed a few strands of hair out of his eyes. “I was trying to say that we don’t have to go like this,” he gestured randomly between the two of them. 

Dark Ace barked out a short laugh and narrowed his eyes. “And how do you propose we do that?”

“The Colonel is always in need of servants, isn’t he? And we’re on Terra Saharr, where all kinds of crystals are available.” Aerrow raised an eyebrow and watched as Dark Ace put the pieces together, a thoughtful expression forming on his face.

“Interesting,” he mused, giving a single nod. Aerrow felt satisfaction flow through him at the small sign of approval. 

“You’ll be the servant.” Dark Ace decided, looking at Aerrow evenly.

No problem, I took an acting course. This would be fun.

♠♠♠

The revised plan was simple - Dark Ace as himself would pretend like he was at Terra Saharr to trade like everyone else, when he would bump into Aerrow disguised as a poor villager boy, and they would approach the Colonel together. Aerrow had managed to trade for a small Cloaking crystal from an old lady at the opposite end of the bazaar with the few coins that he kept just in case. The crystal had transformed him to have short ashy brown hair with dull eyes the colour of seawater, while an off-white shirt a size too big for him and dark pants replaced his Talon uniform. He wore the small crystal around his neck, tied onto a piece of string.

After doing some recon beyond the bazaar, the Talon commander had discovered that the Colonel’s extravagant ship was docked nearby with his henchmen patrolling the perimeter. If he was guarding his precious belongings in that ship, the Sanatio crystal had to be there as well. 

Aerrow crouched beside Dark Ace behind the same boulder they were at before. The auction was due to start in under five minutes.

Dark Ace fixed him with a careful stare. “If something goes wrong it won’t be the last time you’ll be at the receiving end of my energy sword.” 

Aerrow could laugh. As if Cyclonis would let him live after that. Instead, he stood up and curled his hands into fists.

“Just trust me.” 

The two of them made their way over to the Colonel’s tent, with Dark Ace’s hand curled almost painfully around Aerrow’s elbow. A few people stared as the Colonel staggered over to them with a curious gaze.

“Do my eyes deceive me?” He drawled, his words slipping past his sharp teeth. “If it is not the infamous Dark Ace. What brings you to Saharr?”

“I’m an ordinary man like any other. We all need our crystals, don’t we?” The usual roughness of Dark Ace’s voice was gone and a smooth, almost jovial quality replaced it. It wasn’t unpleasant. Jetta suddenly popped into his mind and Aerrow stared at the ground, trying to regain his focus.

“And who is this?” The Colonel stepped closer and Aerrow could smell the overwhelming scent of his cologne while resisting the urge to gag. He tried to appear meek and said nothing. 

“Him? Just a stray I found near the edge of the bazaar. I figured you might want to take him in as a servant. It’ll be better to keep kids off of the streets,” Dark Ace said carefully. 

Aerrow held his breath and hoped the Colonel wouldn’t sense anything suspicious, or else their entire plan was gone.

He considered Dark Ace’s words for a moment and shrugged, turning back to his antiques. 

“Sure, why not. As long as he can sweep and mop, I do not care. I have an auction to run.” The Colonel snapped his clawed fingers and one of his henchmen appeared at his side, beckoning Dark Ace to follow him. 

Aerrow looked up at Dark Ace as they followed the man, but the commander stared straight ahead. It had only gotten hotter as the sun reached its peak in the sky and Aerrow tried to clear his dry throat. 

The henchman stopped at the entrance of a large ship, the same ship that Dark Ace had found on recon which belonged to the Colonel. He looked at the two of them expectantly. Dark Ace shoved Aerrow forward with a little too much force, and he gracelessly fell to the ground. He winced as his palms scraped against gravel, no longer protected by his gloves.

The henchman snorted and tugged Aerrow up by the back of his shirt. He turned back to look at Dark Ace who was already staring at him. It was no surprise that his face was expressionless but something told Aerrow that the other man would actually care this time if he got hurt, an upgrade from when he was electrocuted without remorse yesterday.

Aerrow felt Dark Ace’s stare continue to burn through the thin fabric of his shirt as the henchman led him onto the ship. 

Chapter Text

“You can’t be serious,” Dark Ace deadpanned. The sun was at its highest point in the sky and its strong rays reflected off of the man’s raven hair. Under all of the layers of armour, the heat was starting to get to the commander as well; Aerrow could see his chest heaving and beads of sweat forming above his brow.

Aerrow grit his teeth and turned to look over at the bazaar. In the time that they’d spent arguing over the change of plans, even more people had gathered around the Colonel’s tent and time was running out. His patience was wearing thin and Aerrow wished Dark Ace would just relax for once.

“I’m telling you, it’ll work,” Aerrow insisted. “If you leave Saharr with the Switchblades and head back to Cyclonia right after, no one will suspect anything. Just leave the rest to me.” 

“Need I remind you that I’m your mentor? I don’t think you’re in such a position to be giving orders.”

The other man was seething, his red gaze even more intense than usual. Part of Aerrow wanted to shy away and admit defeat, but he had a burning feeling that he’d be successful in retrieving the crystal without any major casualties. Aerrow took a deep breath and hoped his next words wouldn’t be his last.

“Imagine the outrage if we were to both get captured by the Colonel,” he said vaguely. “Cyclonia’s undefeated Dark Ace locked up in a cell next to some kid." Aerrow widened his eyes. He was treading on dangerous territory but he pressed on.

"What would Cyclonis think?”

Dark Ace looked ready to throttle him, and for a moment Aerrow thought he would. They were on a foreign Terra after all, with no one obligated to keep the Talon commander from taking his frustrations out on Aerrow. The leather of his gloves stretched across his knuckles as his hands curled into tight fists. 

He suddenly stood up from behind the boulder with his back to Aerrow. The younger man looked up to the line of Dark Ace’s broad shoulders, squinting at the sun in his eyes.

“When you get captured by the Colonel, don’t count on me to be at your rescue.” 

Lucky for both of them, it wouldn’t have to come to that.

♠♠♠

If Aerrow learned anything about the Colonel from this mission, it was that he never settled for the finer things in life. The interior of his ship was plated with glittering gold accents while expensive-looking paintings hung from the walls. Gold statues of people Aerrow didn’t recognize lined the entrance, polished to the point where he could see his own reflection. The low rumbling of the ship’s air conditioner echoed slightly off of the walls and Aerrow was grateful to not be overheating outside anymore. 

A mop and bucket were shoved into his hands, snapping his attention away from the ship.

The henchman stared down at Aerrow with a bored look on his face. 

“Get to work, kid,” he said gruffly while walking back to the ship’s entrance. “Don’t touch anything or you’ll regret it.”

With that, the ship’s door slammed shut and as far as Aerrow could see, he was alone. It seemed unwise to leave a stranger alone with a bunch of valuables, and he looked around warily at the multiple rooms connecting to the ship’s entrance. Dark Ace had mentioned an exit door at the back of the ship and Aerrow made a mental note of its location. The Sanatio crystal was somewhere onboard and he wasn’t leaving without it. 

Dunking the mop in the bucket of water, Aerrow began to clean, gradually making his way towards the different areas on the ship. After a while, the disinfectant mixed in with the water burned his nose and Aerrow was doing less mopping and more snooping. He’d cleaned five separate rooms already, and still no sign of any crystals.

Propping a hand on the mop’s handle, Aerrow leaned against a podium at the entrance of one of the rooms and ran a hand through his hair. The shorter length surprised him before he remembered the Cloaking crystal’s weight beneath his shirt. 

I haven’t done this much cleaning since the food fight in first year, he thought with a smile . Aerrow shook his head. The crystal was here, he was sure of it. He just had to be patient.

Just then, the sun shone through a small window and hit a burgundy coffee table across from where Aerrow was standing. A small glimmer of light from the fruit bowl caught his eye and he rested the mop against the podium before making his way closer.

There, nestled inconspicuously between a plum and an orange, was the Sanatio crystal. The size, cut and colour were unmistakable from the details of the scroll that Dark Ace had recalled prior. Although the sketch was large, the actual crystal was small enough for him to close his fingers around in the palm of his hand. The more Aerrow thought about it, the more clever the hiding spot. If it weren’t for that ray of sunlight, he probably wouldn’t have bothered to look around the fruit bowl at all. To his amusement, the crystal could easily pass as a green grape.

Smaller pills tend to be stronger… Is this crystal similar?

Aerrow reached out his hand, hesitant to take it. Even though it was thrown carelessly into a bowl with fruits, the Colonel had to have known of the Sanatio crystal’s power. Why else would he have wanted to take it so badly from Cyclonis? 

As he thought back to what Dark Ace had said about several Cyclonians being poisoned before meeting their demise, an ugly feeling stirred in Aerrow’s chest. While men, women and children were dying, their one hope was sitting in a lavish ship, collecting dust. He couldn’t imagine how Cyclonis felt, believing that she’d let her people down. This time, Aerrow would be sure to change that. 

“Feeling hungry, hm?” An accented voice spoke next to his ear, sending a wave of panic crashing through him.

Aerrow spun around to face the Colonel before dropping his gaze to the floor. Despite being so focused on the crystal, he swore that he hadn’t heard anybody board the ship. Without Aerrow’s energy blades or Dark Ace, there was no telling how this would end. He silently prayed that the Colonel wouldn’t detect the Cloaking crystal around his neck, tucked beneath his large shirt. 

Remember, you’re not Aerrow. You’re a villager, now the Colonel’s servant, he told himself, clutching the hem of his shirt to keep his hands from shaking.

Raising his head to look into the Colonel’s beady eyes, Aerrow steeled himself before speaking.

“I’m sorry, sir, I promise I didn’t take anything, I-I’ll continue cleaning right away–”

“Eh, help yourself,” the creature said, reaching behind Aerrow to grab a pear, biting into it messily. “Someone should eat them before they rot.” Fruit juice ran down the Colonel’s arm and Aerrow looked away in mild disgust, turning back to the crystal. It had moved from its original position but the Colonel didn’t even acknowledge it was there. 

Before he could get suspicious, Aerrow picked up the mop and bucket from the podium. He started to clean again while keeping a good distance between himself and the four-legged creature, who was humming and inspecting the paintings on the walls. 

Even though Aerrow always found small talk awkward, it seemed necessary in this case to come off as friendly and hide his ulterior motives.

“How is the auction going, sir?” Aerrow kept his eyes trained on the same spot he’d been mopping for a minute now, occasionally glancing between the Colonel and the fruit bowl.

“Same old, same old,” he replied vaguely with his back to Aerrow. “So much talking makes my voice raw. Good thing that Saharr has generous bidders.” The Colonel turned around with a greedy smile on his face, revealing too many sharp teeth. 

At his words, a lightbulb went off in Aerrow’s head. He tried to keep his face impassive before setting the mop aside.

“Would you like for me to make you a cup of tea?” 

A smile spread across the Colonel’s face while he sighed, stepping over to look out the window at the golden landscape of Terra Saharr. “I do not remember the last time I have had such a good lad working for me. Of course.” 

He nodded and stepped into the kitchen. When the Colonel was out of sight, Aerrow’s heartbeat quickened and he fumbled to fill the kettle on the stove with water. 

As the water was brought to a boil, Aerrow reached into the pocket of his pants and curled his fingers around a thin packet made of parchment paper. 

While Dark Ace was scouring out the area around the Colonel’s ship, Aerrow was trading for a Cloaking crystal at a tiny stall near the end of the bazaar, partially hidden from most customers. But he didn’t only trade for a crystal.

The same merchant he’d received his Cloak from – an old woman in colourful robes with a blast of white hair – was also selling a sleeping draught in powder form. After Aerrow’s two fitful nights of sleep in a row, he didn’t want to make it a habit of waking up and feeling half-dead especially when working with Dark Ace. The merchant had seen him eyeing it and offered him a packet for free, claiming that Aerrow had already overpaid for the Cloaking crystal. 

“Be careful, boy, that stuff’s quite potent. A few grains per night’ll do you good.”

Then a little more than that should have him out like a light, Aerrow concluded. The kettle started whistling and Aerrow filled a teacup with steaming water before tipping a quarter of the pouch into it. He watched as the water swirled into a translucent amber colour and carefully tucked the sleeping draught back into his pocket. 

“My throat is getting very dry, what is the problem? My tea collection is not very big.”

The Colonel started to sound irritated and Aerrow's hands almost knocked the cup over. 

“I’ll be right there!” His voice was an octave higher than normal and Aerrow willed himself to relax. In the next five minutes, he could have the Sanatio crystal in his pocket and be on his way back to Cyclonia. On the flip side, the Colonel could also have Aerrow locked up in a cell with a snap of his fingers. Way to explain that to Ennith, if Aerrow ever got the chance to. 

Guilt prickled at Aerrow’s skin as he carefully brought out the teacup on a matching saucer he’d found in one of the several cupboards. Not only was he about to drug this strange art-dealing-antique-collecting gangster, he was also about to steal from him as well. Both of these things collided with the Sky Knight values that Aerrow had been taught for years, but desperate times called for desperate measures. It was unfair to the people of Cyclonia that their cure was lying unused in a fruit bowl.

It’s only a sleeping draught. He might appreciate the extra rest, Aerrow told himself as he plastered on a courteous smile, setting down the teacup on the coffee table in front of where the Colonel sat. Aerrow clasped his hands together, waiting for the Colonel to take a sip of the drink. 

He sniffed curiously at the cup, flicking his yellow eyes to Aerrow. “This tea has no scent.”

Aerrow’s throat ran dry and he coughed slightly. “Ah, the leaves do lose their scent sometimes– I grew tea leaves when I was younger– the taste doesn’t change at all!” He was surprised at how easily the lie slipped past his lips. Aerrow clenched his teeth in anticipation as the Colonel nodded thoughtfully, beginning to take a sip.

The Colonel swallowed and set the cup down with some difficulty, his hand missing the saucer twice before letting go. The draught’s effect was instantaneous; Aerrow could see that the creature’s eyes slipped in and out of focus and his breathing had already deepened. 

Almost there… 

“... I s’pose the auction took a lot of energy,” he mumbled, blinking blearily his servant. “Get back t’work, kid, I want th’floors spotless…” The Colonel’s words were beginning to slur and Aerrow knew it was time to leave before his henchmen returned and things got messy.

“Yes, Colonel,” Aerrow replied with his eyebrows lowered, watching carefully as the creature finally fell into a deep sleep on the plush couch. 

With a swipe of his hand in the fruit bowl, Aerrow slipped out of the ship’s backdoor and set foot onto the deserts of Saharr.

Pressing himself against the ship’s exterior, Aerrow yanked the Cloaking crystal off from around his neck. He crushed it beneath his heel and the ground, allowing the fine dust to be swept into the golden sand. Immediately, pink static hissed around Aerrow’s pants and shirt before he saw his Talon uniform materialize along with the weight of his energy blades. A few red strands of hair fell into Aerrow’s eyes and he sighed in relief before surveying the surroundings.

Apart from more boulders and sand, the Colonel’s ship was the only thing that Aerrow could see. The bazaar was at least five hundred meters away, but he wasn’t going to take his chances by sticking around and waiting to be caught by the henchmen.

Aerrow walked backwards while turning a corner along the ship, cautious of whether anybody was approaching, until something hard dug into his back. 

“Guess it’s my lucky day,” Aerrow murmured to himself while he eyed the unmarked Skimmer that he’d bumped into, probably owned by one of the Colonel’s men. It seemed to be in good condition with its fuel tank full, and Aerrow didn’t have time to be skeptical if he should really borrow something else off of Terra Saharr.

I’ll be sure to return it someday.  

After mounting the Skimmer and flicking on the controls, Aerrow patted the small pocket at his thigh and grinned when he felt the outline of the Sanatio crystal. He drove through sandy terrain before activating the Skimmer’s wings and flying back in the direction of Cyclonia.

You didn’t have to save me after all, Dark Ace. 

♠♠♠

Aerrow was glad he’d paid attention to the important landmarks when Dark Ace led the way to Saharr in the morning. The flight back was shorter than their arrival; Aerrow pressed a little harder on the gas than he should’ve and almost ran out of fuel before making it back to Cyclonia in his haste to return the crystal.

Maybe it was also due to the red-haired man’s eagerness to prove to Dark Ace that he’d been successful in carrying out the mission, but Aerrow didn’t dwell on that too much.

After narrowly avoiding getting caught in a lightning storm at the Cyclonian border, Aerrow landed at the Talon base and quickly realized he had no idea where to go. The surroundings were different from when Rene had made his introduction. Driving slowly, Aerrow stopped a few metres away from a doorway with the sign SOUTH ENTRANCE as he watched students and Talons filter in and out of the base, some carrying weapons or textbooks.

He dismounted the Skimmer and left it behind what looked like a large storage bin, hoping nobody would find it and get suspicious. Aerrow started to make his way into the base, blending in seamlessly with the flow of deep red and green uniforms. To Aerrow’s relief, only a few curious glances were sent his way as most people were already engrossed in conversation as they walked past him. 

The main hallway Aerrow had entered soon branched off to separate corridors along with staircases leading to upper and lower levels of the base. The walls and floors were constructed out of metal in the shade of Cyclonian red. He moved to one side of the hall and sighed, eyeing which path to take as students brushed past him.

Where do you even go to look for the Dark Ace when you need him? There seemed to be a bit of miscommunication on his mentor’s end. 

A light tap on his shoulder led Aerrow to turn around. Bright silver eyes blinked back at him.

“Aerrow from Atmosia? What are you doing here?” Jetta asked, tilting her head. She had her crossbow slung over one shoulder while her arms held a textbook on Cyclonian History II . 

“I think I’m a little lost,” Aerrow replied abashedly, looking around. Most people had dispersed and he and Jetta were left standing in the hallway. “I need to find Dark Ace to return something from a mission.”

Jetta raised her eyebrows in curiosity before laughing slightly.

“Well, you won’t find him in the Arts wing of the Talon Academy, that’s for sure.” Her face soured. “Speaking of, this’ll be the third time this week I’m late to history. Damn it.” 

Aerrow crossed his arms and shrugged. “Not if you don’t show up.” 

“Cutting class? I like it.” A sly grin spread across Jetta’s face and Aerrow chuckled before his eyes landed on a slight dent in the wall. He began to think of where the commander might be located in this labyrinth of a base and didn’t notice Jetta’s posture straightening while her eyes widened at something behind him.

“So Jetta, where do you think I should look for him?” Aerrow asked, his eyes wandering over the ceiling details. Whoever designed this base probably didn’t account for what would happen if one of the dozens of exposed pipes burst. 

“Um, maybe…  You should just stay right where you are,” She replied strangely. Aerrow glanced at the violet-haired girl and watched in confusion as her face flushed, blinking past his shoulder.

“Huh? What do–”

“Good to know you made it out of Saharr, Aerrow.” 

Aerrow spun around at the low baritone of Dark Ace’s voice. The commander was walking towards them, looking skeptical. Aerrow felt his stomach flip as he watched the older man take each assertive step before stopping an arm’s length away from him. Out of the corner of his eye, Aerrow saw Jetta move behind him so that she was hidden from Dark Ace.

“The plan was a success,” Aerrow reported with a hint of smugness, reaching into his pocket to fish out the small gem. Upon closer inspection, the crystal seemed to be radiating a soft green glow in the palm of his gloved hand.

The Talon commander leaned closer and narrowed his eyes at the crystal. Without noticing, Aerrow held his breath at their proximity. A moment later, the crease between Dark Ace’s brows disappeared and he nodded once.

“Not bad,” Dark Ace said. Aerrow thought he saw the corner of the man’s mouth twitch upwards and he returned the older man’s almost-smile with a real one. Aerrow pocketed the crystal while the tension seeped out of his body. 

“Did you kill anyone?” 

The question caught Aerrow completely off-guard and he almost choked on an answer. It was impossible to tell whether Dark Ace was being serious with his signature unreadable expression.

“Wh– no, of course not– I didn’t use any weapons!” 

Dark Ace just hummed and folded his arms across his chest. Careful footsteps sounded behind them and the commander’s red gaze shifted to Jetta who was trying to slip away from the conversation without being noticed.

Aerrow mentally kicked himself. Say something, her hero is right here!

“Dark Ace, this is Jetta,” he said quickly, making the girl stop in her tracks and turn back to stare at Aerrow in surprise. “She’s a sharpshooter and one of the first friends I’ve made here.” 

Jetta walked up to them and bowed her head, avoiding eye contact with the commander.

“I recognize you,” Dark Ace said impassively. “Class 5A. You have a good eye.” 

With that, Jetta’s head snapped and she blinked rapidly. Her blush returned and Jetta tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. 

“Thank you, Commander,” she said timidly, before clearing her throat. 

“I should leave you two to your duties. See you, Aerrow.” Jetta bowed to Dark Ace again, setting down the hall to where Aerrow assumed was her history class.

“The mission isn’t over yet,” Dark Ace remarked, drawing Aerrow’s attention back to the dark-haired man. He started to walk back in the direction where he came and Aerrow quickly followed.

“More business with the Colonel?” Aerrow asked nervously. The thought of having to return to Saharr– to the Colonel’s ship– in the state that he’d left it in was slightly panic-inducing. 

“Him? Never again, if I have any say in the matter,” Dark Ace scoffed, looking straight ahead at the corridor they’d just entered. The bright lights that had illuminated the Arts wing suddenly shifted to a dim red, and Aerrow recognized this as the same corridor Rene had led him down. 

Dark Ace stopped in front of the ornate iron doors of Cyclonis’ office, turning to Aerrow. 

“The Cyclonians living up north would like to thank the person who retrieved their cure,” he stated matter-of-factly. 

Aerrow tugged at the collar of his uniform uneasily, staring at the door handles. “Are you sure? It was your mission, and I wouldn’t want to intrude–”

A strong hand on his shoulder made him cut off abruptly. When Aerrow looked up, Dark Ace’s eyes seemed to glow crimson in the dim light.

“As per Master Cyclonis’ request, you are to accompany us to the mountains to initiate the Sanatio crystal’s healing powers.” Dark Ace’s eyebrows lowered.

“Am I clear?” 

“Y-yes, Dark Ace,” Aerrow replied, blinking twice. 

The commander let go of his shoulder and knocked his fist against the door to Cyclonis’ office. Aerrow could still feel the warmth of where his hand had been seconds before. 

Chapter Text

With a few words exchanged between Dark Ace and Cyclonis, Aerrow handed over the Sanatio crystal before being whisked away on a carrier ship headed for the mountains. Four Talons accompanied them, keeping their perfect posture and crystal staves at hand throughout the flight. Aerrow watched the barren landscape zip by and noticed that dusk was starting to fall. Since the morning, the only thing on his mind was the Sanatio crystal and he hadn’t realized how quickly the day was passing. 

Once the ship landed, he followed Cyclonis and Dark Ace offboard with the Talons trailing behind them. The sun was slowly disappearing below the horizon and Aerrow shivered against the wind nipping at his skin. As they walked, curious and apprehensive gazes emerged from the small cabins lining the main path. It seemed like Cyclonis had been here before - she was leading them to what looked like a large metal statue at the center of the village, where five large rings were stacked within each other to create the shape of an orb. The feeling of déjà vu became more and more apparent as the red-haired man saw villagers point and whisper at them as they walked by, bringing him back to his first day at the dining hall. 

Aerrow quickened his pace slightly and looked at Dark Ace in question, hoping to get some sort of explanation of what was happening. The Talon commander simply glanced back at him wordlessly before facing forward again. 

Cyclonis stopped at the foot of the statue and set her staff against the ground as Aerrow, Dark Ace and the four Talons stood a few steps away from her. The villagers who had gathered focused their attention on the Cyclonian leader who surveyed them carefully for a moment. At second glance, many people had a sickly pallor to their appearance. Aerrow was unnerved by the look he saw in a few villagers’ eyes - there seemed to be nothing behind them. He’d underestimated the poison’s potency and how fast it had affected so many. 

“This poison has had you in its grasp for far too long,” Cyclonis began. Her voice was steady and it echoed against the mountains nearby. The sunset bathed the surroundings in a warm orange hue and Aerrow blinked, captivated at how scenic it was.

“After the first wave and my inability to obtain a cure, I do not blame you for losing trust in me.” For a moment, Cyclonis lowered her eyes and let the sharp line of her shoulders fall by a fraction. The Cyclonians continued watching her warily, remaining silent. With that sliver of vulnerability slipping through her hardened facade, it became apparent just how much responsibility the Cyclonian leader was shouldering.

She’s younger than me , Aerrow realized. I couldn’t imagine having to lead Atmosia at twenty years old.

Like nothing had fazed her, Cyclonis fixed her piercing gaze to the crowd with renewed dignity.

“This time, your suffering will meet its end.” 

The Sanatio crystal materialized between Cyclonis’ fingers and she raised it to the tip of her staff. The metal claws that usually held her lavender crystal curled smoothly around the small green gem, trapping it in the chamber. Aerrow’s eyes drifted beside him to Dark Ace, who was watching the villagers carefully with his hands crossed behind his back. 

Everyone watched with rapt attention as Cyclonis turned and thrust her staff towards the statue. A rush of bright green energy flowed into it before blinding light erupted, eliciting a shocked gasp from the crowd. Aerrow shielded his eyes before bringing his hand down as the light diminished.

When he looked around again, there seemed to be a growing sense of vitality among the crowd. The colour returned to their faces, as did the light to their eyes. Cyclonians turned to stare at the people beside them in surprise while laughter and chatter slowly filled the evening air. Everyone looked immediately healthier and even Aerrow felt more energized as he looked down at his hands and arms, wondering how such a small gem could breathe life and healing into so many people.

“Master, how did you heal us?” a man cried from within the throng of people.

Cyclonis stood next to the metal orb which now enclosed a glowing sphere of energy from the Sanatio crystal. A faint smile broke across her pale face as she tilted her staff, studying the green gem trapped in its claws.

“I merely harnessed this crystal’s healing powers,” Cyclonis began airily. Her eyes soon cut to Aerrow who swallowed and looked away. 

Please, I’m not good with crowds. Unfortunately for him, they both knew what Cyclonis was about to announce.

“The real credit here goes to Aerrow, Commander Dark Ace’s new apprentice.” 

Aerrow felt the weight of dozens of eyes shift onto him as he fixed his posture and reluctantly looked up to meet their gazes. Cyclonis was watching him with mild interest as she continued.

“He was able to successfully acquire the Sanatio crystal without any casualties, as I’ve been told.” Her eyes flicked to Dark Ace and back at the several intrigued faces of the villagers. 

“A true display of courage and wit.”

Even against the bite of the evening wind, Aerrow’s ears were warm from the unexpected attention. He wasn’t sure if Cyclonis just liked to watch him squirm or if this was her way of expressing gratitude for healing her people. Either way, Aerrow thought that it was bizarre how Cyclonis was putting him, a stranger to Terra Cyclonia, in the spotlight for something more important to her than it was to him. 

The scuffing of feet against the ground rippled through the crowd and Aerrow watched in slight mortification as the villagers sank to one knee, row by row, with their heads bowed. He blinked rapidly and looked to Cyclonis, who didn’t seem fazed at all.

“Um– please, everyone – there’s really no need for this,” Aerrow stammered, taking a few steps closer to the first row of villagers. “I was just carrying out the mission like any other!” He rubbed a gloved hand against the back of his neck awkwardly and hoped that they would be departing for the Talon base soon.

A blur of ashy hair suddenly appeared in front of Aerrow and a pair of hands clutching at his made him stumble back in shock. A woman dressed in taupe rags with a weathered face stared back. There was so much emotion in her watery eyes that any words on the tip of Aerrow’s tongue fizzled out. The rest of the crowd seemed equally as stunned as they watched the pair with anticipation. 

“Thank you, young man,” she croaked. “I was shattered when the wretched poison took my dear Damien away from me two months ago… My world would have been over if it also claimed our son.” 

Then, a whisper. “You saved us.”

There was movement at the woman’s leg, and Aerrow drew his gaze away with some difficulty to see a boy about six or seven, blinking back at him while hiding part of his face against his mother’s skirt. The boy had the same flurry of ashy hair and against Aerrow’s will, he felt his throat tighten and heat build behind his eyes. 

Aerrow didn’t remember the last time he’d cried, but he definitely didn’t want it to be in the mountains of Cyclonia surrounded by dozens of strangers. His background as an orphan never affected him as he'd always felt at home with Piper, Finn, Junko, Stork and Radarr. Despite this, seeing how deeply the woman cared for her son tugged uncomfortably at his heart.

After taking a deep breath, Aerrow tried to find the proper words. “I…” he faltered, watching the woman’s eyes searching across his face for a response.

He felt the warmth of a body behind him and jumped slightly when a voice spoke close to his ear.

“What Aerrow means to say, is that he is honoured to have put your worries about your family’s health to rest,” Dark Ace said evenly, drawing in the woman’s attention. A grateful smile lit up her face and Aerrow inwardly sighed in relief as he looked at the Talon commander, surprised that no malice laced his words. 

Who knew he could be so charismatic, he wondered. 

As the woman disappeared into the slowly dispersing crowd with her son in her arms, Aerrow watched the faintest smile form on Dark Ace’s face before looking out into the horizon where the last rays of sunlight blended with an indigo sky.

“Cyclonis knows I wasn’t the only one on that mission,” Aerrow mumbled without thinking. His face warmed as he saw Dark Ace turn to him with a pointed stare. 

“Are you implying that the entire village should have bowed at my feet instead?” The commander’s voice was low and mocking. Aerrow felt the same twinge of annoyance for what seemed like the umpteenth time whenever he spoke to Dark Ace. 

Aerrow liked to think of himself as a pretty level-headed person. However, if the rest of his placement were to progress like it currently was, he could only hope that Cyclonis wouldn’t send him to the prison on Terra Zartacla for accidentally elbowing his mentor in the face.

“Your humility is charming, Sky Knight,” Dark Ace continued sardonically. Aerrow turned to him, a retort sharp on his tongue before he saw the other man’s jaw tighten while his expression shifted into something more serious.

“Moments like these are rare. Without the shelter of your academy, you’ll soon find that opportunities to play the hero are scarce. Disappointment, anger and regret will overpower any semblance of control you thought you had.” 

Dark Ace faced Aerrow and narrowed his eyes. They seemed to be glowing in the darkness that slowly enveloped the village. 

“So don’t diminish your successes - the next challenge is always out to crush you.”

Aerrow hadn’t expected such a profound, albeit grim spiel from Dark Ace. He was silent as he let the commander’s words take effect. Growing up with the academy, Aerrow knew that life as a Sky Knight wouldn’t exactly reflect his future experiences. Even so, hearing it unexpectedly from someone older and more skilled struck a chord within him. The younger man briefly wondered if Dark Ace was speaking from experience. 

He must’ve been staring for too long as Cyclonis’ voice startled him out of his thoughts. Aerrow cleared his throat and nodded before turning away. He was surprised to see that the village square was empty aside from himself, Dark Ace, Cyclonis and the Talons.

“I believe our work here is done,” Cyclonis announced. She cast a glance at Aerrow’s direction and this time, he didn’t yield to her heavy stare.

“Impressive” was all the Cyclonian leader said.

♠♠♠

The metal doors to Aerrow’s room shut behind him as the red-haired man sat down at the corner of his bed. The plated armour was starting to feel heavy on his body and Aerrow removed the pieces one by one, placing them carefully next to him before examining his gloves. 

His first full day as Dark Ace’s apprentice had passed with flying colours. Not only had Aerrow been successful in completing the mission on Terra Saharr, he’d also received a great show of respect from an entire Cyclonian village who didn’t even know of his existence until today. Jetta and Victor were also kind enough to sit with him at dinner again, where Aerrow received barely any glares and whispers compared to that awkward first impression he’d left the day before. 

Above all else, Dark Ace didn’t seem to despise him. The other man was never exactly eager to take an apprentice under his wing, but Aerrow wanted to believe that he wasn’t quite the burden that Dark Ace thought him to be upon their first electrifying meeting. Aerrow snorted. He briefly wondered what the long term effects of electrocution by firebolt crystal were. 

A hiss of static sounded from Aerrow’s desk and he glanced over at his handheld radio, wincing slightly when the tell-tale holler of Finn’s voice shot through the speaker.

“Hey, Aerrow– you awake? Hope the Cyclonians haven’t been giving you hell–”

“Gosh, Finn, why are you yelling?” Aerrow could practically see Piper’s exasperated expression. “Hi, Aerrow.”

“Hey guys, it’s great to hear from you,” he replied, holding down the talk button. “It’s actually going fine, I guess. Had a rocky start, but you guys don’t have to worry about me.” 

“Just as I was expecting,” Piper said with relief. “See, our headmaster knows us. Ennith wouldn’t have sent you to Cyclonia if you weren’t able to handle the responsibility.”

“You were right, Piper, as always,” Aerrow sighed and smiled at his radio, sitting back down onto his bed. 

“So how’s Terra Rex and the Tundras been?” 

The booming of several small explosions suddenly escaped through Aerrow’s radio, laced with static. He looked at the device in shock before tightening his grip. “What was that?”

“Did you hear that too? I–”

“Come on, that all you got?! I could go faster blindfolded!”

As Aerrow listened closer, he could hear the rush of wind and the whirring of a Skimmer’s engine through the radio. He stared, dumbfounded, as he put the pieces together.

“Finn, are you… flying? What’s going on?”

“Target practice– these Guardians really have it out for me today!”

Piper snorted before exhaling loudly. “And I assume you’re their target?”

“Yup, I don’t even know why!” Another blast zipped by, louder this time. “All I did was call Harrier’s ponytail stupid–”

“Finn!”

“Be careful, Finn,” Aerrow said while trying to suppress a laugh. “You don’t want to fail your placement for disrespecting authority.”

“Nah, man, it’s cool. They love me.” Aerrow heard muffled yelling in the distance and winced. He sure hoped so. 

“Ugh, these guys are so uptight– I’ll call you back later!” 

Finn’s line went dead and Aerrow sighed, shaking his head in disbelief. Of course Finn would be bold enough to say something like that within earshot of his mentor. 

“Why am I even surprised with him at this point?” Despite her words, Aerrow could hear the fondness in Piper’s voice. 

“Tell me about it… Actually, tell me about Terra Tundras,” he replied, blinking slowly. When had his eyelids started to feel so heavy?

“It’s amazing! I’m working in a crystal lab with a few other mages and we’re studying the efficiency of engine crystals in specific converter types. I’m going down to the mines in a few days to take raw samples!”

Aerrow’s smile widened as he propped his chin in his hand. “That’s right up your alley, isn’t it? I’m happy for you, Piper.” A yawn suddenly made its way past his lips and Aerrow blinked at how tired he really felt. 

“Oh I’m sorry, am I boring you?” Before Aerrow could sputter out a response, Piper chucked and softened her voice.

“It must be late in Cyclonia. You should rest, Aerrow, we’ll talk soon.”

Rubbing at his eyes, Aerrow shook his head despite Piper not being able to see him. “No, it’s fine– I’m not that tired.”

“And have your superiors punish you for falling asleep on the job tomorrow?” she scoffed. “I’d rather not.” 

Now that got to Aerrow. Dread pooled in his stomach at the thought of making a misstep during a mission and having to explain to Dark Ace why he hadn’t gotten enough sleep the previous night. 

“All right, all right, I’ll sleep now. Have a good day, Piper.” 

“Goodnight, Aerrow. Keep us updated on your adventures in Cyclonia!”

With a tinny click , Piper’s line went dead and Aerrow set the radio back onto his desk before starting to get ready for bed. As he changed out of his uniform, his mind wandered to all of the tasks that were yet to be assigned to him. Aerrow wanted to chase the thrill that he felt in Saharr of tiptoeing the line between danger and excitement. 

This is what I’ve been dreaming of. 

That night, Aerrow slept more soundly than he had in weeks. The sleeping draught in the pocket of his uniform completely slipped his mind. 

♠♠♠

Whatever ‘adventures’ Piper had been referring to the previous night, this probably wasn’t one of them. 

“Border patrol?” Aerrow echoed incredulously. It probably wasn’t realistic to expect a high-action assignment every day but Aerrow thought monitoring what was coming in and out of Cyclonia at his level seemed quite underwhelming.

Dark Ace’s scowl deepened as he looked at Aerrow in disdain. “Is there a problem?” The commander’s voice was edged with something that sounded a lot like there better not be. 

“Surely at your age, you would be able to carry out such a simple task.” 

Aerrow opened his mouth and promptly closed it in irritation, looking around the hangar they were standing in. It was a busy morning and Talons were rushing in all directions, reporting status updates or delivering crates of supplies. He grimaced at the continuous din of Switchblade engines roaring to life and flying out of the open garage. 

“I’ll take that as a no, then,” Dark Ace concluded with a smirk. “Make sure to cover all quadrants and report back with any discrepancies.” 

A burly Talon with straw-yellow hair appeared beside them and saluted before handing Dark Ace a scroll, who accepted it curtly.

“All operations ready, Commander. Waiting for the green light,” the Talon stated before his attention flicked to Aerrow in curiosity. “Don’t sweat it, kid. Border patrol is practically a Talon’s rite of passage!” 

He followed that with a playful punch to Aerrow’s shoulder, laughing when the impact made the Sky Knight stumble backwards. Aerrow tried to regain his balance and flushed when he saw Dark Ace watching him with thinly veiled amusement.

“Got it. I’ll get going,” Aerrow cleared his throat and spun on his heel to board his Switchblade a few metres away. His pulse slowed only when he heard Dark Ace step out of the room with the rest of the Talons, leaving Aerrow in the empty hangar. 

♠♠♠

As much as Aerrow wanted to be out in Atmos protecting Terras and actively doing good, he couldn’t deny that there was an element of peace in just flying around the perimeter of Cyclonia. The border was closely guarded by Talons on separate shifts so it was unlikely that they would get any unwanted visitors. 

Even though the sun had risen hours ago, the sky was still dull and overcast as if it had just stormed. Cyclonia never really seemed to get any sunlight and more than once on the patrol, Aerrow looked over his shoulder to voice his observations before realizing that he wasn’t riding his own Skimmer and Radarr wasn’t sitting in the co-pilot’s seat.  

I guess I’m still getting used to working by myself, Aerrow mused. 

Out of thin air, a loud dissonant ringing from the Switchblade’s control unit cut into Aerrow’s thoughts and his heart rate spiked. The Sky Knight’s hands slipped over the handlebars as he brought his Switchblade to a steady hover, looking down at where the distress signal was coming from. 

A red dot pulsed repeatedly on the glowing red screen, indicating the signal originated from a few hundred metres below Aerrow’s current position. Gritting his teeth, he yanked roughly on the accelerator and pulled his Switchblade into a steep dive into the dense clouds. What lay beneath, Aerrow had no clue. He could be making a fatal mistake by picking up on an unknown distress signal, but he knew that doing something would always outweigh the remorse that came with doing nothing. 

Aerrow dove deeper and the red dot on his control panel grew in size. A familiar thrill settled in his bones as he braced himself. It seemed like patrolling Cyclonia’s borders wasn’t as underwhelming as he’d initially thought. 

The cloud cover quickly dispersed and Aerrow scanned his surroundings with narrowed eyes. Two airships were docked on a small rocky Terra– one was a standard cargo ship and the other a reinforced battleship with a large skull-shaped hull. Both sides seemed to already be engaged in tense combat, and it was unclear who had the upper hand. As Aerrow sharply retracted the wings of his Switchblade and dismounted, the glint of clear gray eyes below a long scar caught his attention. 

Cath? The cargo pilot–!

“I see we have company,” a gravelly voice rumbled amidst the chaos. 

Aerrow whipped around to see a stocky pirate with a severe burn across the side of his face. The fighting had come to a halt, and pirates and cargo workers alike watched Aerrow intensely. The pirate who seemed to be the boss grinned wickedly at him. He was holding a trembling dock worker by the throat in the sharp metal claws of his prosthetic arm. The man was turning paler by the second and Aerrow clenched his fists before unsheathing his energy blades. 

“Let him go,” Aerrow commanded, looking at the pirate dead in the eyes. “Don’t you think it’s a little pathetic to prey on innocent carriers?” The pirate’s grin only widened, revealing rows of jagged teeth. 

Uneven breathing sounded behind him and Aerrow turned to see Cath staring at him grimly. Dirt caked her hair and a deep gash ran across the side of her thigh. Still, her expression was unwavering. 

“You don’t know who you’re up against, Aerrow,” she rasped. “We sent the signal for backup, not for a kid.” 

A body suddenly hit the ground as the pirate released his hold. The dock worker’s chest heaved roughly as two other workers dressed in grey rushed to his side. Aerrow pushed down the indignation he felt at Cath’s words as he turned to glare back at the pirate. 

“She’s right, a boy like you shouldn’t be in such a dangerous situation .” Mock worry dripped from the pirate’s accented voice and Aerrow’s lip curled further in disgust.

I’ll show you why you’re wrong.

Violet energy blazed up to the tip of the pirate’s sabre. “Still, that’s never stopped me before.” 

Aerrow immediately lunged forward to block the pirate’s attack, jerking his head away from the electric heat that was inches off from searing his skin. The collision created a shower of blue and purple sparks before the pirate shoved Aerrow forcefully, sending him skidding backwards. 

The Sky Knight recovered quickly and dodged a series of slashes to his abdomen before landing a kick to the pirate’s jaw. Without hesitating, Aerrow aimed multiple sharp strikes of his energy blades at the pirate, taking careful steps forward as he slowly gained leverage. This only seemed to anger the pirate further as Aerrow barely had time to block the thrust of his sabre close to his face. His arms ached from exertion and Aerrow clenched his teeth, managing to sweep his energy blades rapidly in a downwards arc. Following the motion, the pirate snarled as his sabre became lodged in the ground, creating a large crevice from the impact.

Exhaustion was slowly encasing Aerrow’s limbs like a thick fog. With his last burst of energy, he leapt into the air, preparing to strike the pirate down for good. 

At the last possible moment before Aerrow landed his kick, fear spiked in his chest as the pirate suddenly took his eyes off of the sabre and uncurled his metal hand. The flashing of his pale eyes was the last thing that Aerrow saw before the pirate shot out his arm and grabbed hold of the red-haired man by the neck, slamming him into the ground.

A sickening crack sounded and exquisite pain bloomed in the base of Aerrow’s head and spread upwards to his skull. The wind had been knocked out of him and Aerrow struggled for breath under the pirate’s metal claws, trying to see past the stars that had exploded in his vision. Out of the corner of his eye, Aerrow could blearily make out Cath and her crew struggling against the other pirates. She stared at him helplessly, looking panicked. 

Aerrow recoiled further as the pirate finally yanked his sabre free, holding it too close to his neck. The electricity’s proximity made his hair stand on end as Aerrow tried and failed to keep his heart rate under control.

“Maybe this ought to teach you a lesson, boy,” he snarled, tightening his grip on Aerrow’s neck.

Still, the Sky Knight continued to glare at the pirate while his gloved hands scrabbled across the metal claws, trying desperately to free himself. Even if this was the end, he wouldn’t yield. 

Piper had joked that Aerrow’s fatal flaw would be his unrelenting honour. Aerrow had adamantly disagreed then, but seeing as where he was now, he really wished that Piper could just be wrong for once. 

I didn’t think that when I said goodbye to my friends it would’ve meant this. 

The thought of the previous time Aerrow saw his friends being the last hurt more than any physical pain he’d ever endured.

Just as Aerrow was about to let his hands fall away from the claws around his neck, a familiar crackling sounded. He watched, entranced, as a glowing red blade knocked the sabre away from his neck and in turn pointed at the pirate’s chest, who looked outraged. 

“I’m afraid he’s far too stubborn for that,” came Dark Ace’s reply from above. 

Aerrow whipped his head to the side, sending a wave of dizziness throughout him. He was met with the commander’s burning gaze against the sky, which somehow had transformed from a dull gray to a brilliant blue colour. There was sure to be an onslaught of questions directed towards him but for the time being, Aerrow heaved a sigh of relief and allowed his eyes to slip shut, hoping to dull the throbbing pain that had formed in his head.

The Sky Knight thought he heard someone call his name before darkness engulfed him. 

Chapter Text

The world was spinning behind Aerrow’s eyelids as he slowly regained his senses. Muffled voices floated around him and he tried to grasp onto them, hoping for an explanation of where he was and what was happening. To his frustration, the voices were too faint, too distant, and they slipped away like sand in his hands. It was as if all of the energy had been drained by a Leech crystal from Aerrow’s body. He’d never felt so tired.

At last, Aerrow felt himself be pulled up to the surface as his eyes blinked open before instantly narrowing against the glaring light. Everything was too bright and the light reflecting off of the white walls only sharpened the splitting pain that formed behind Aerrow’s skull, making him groan. 

Someone gasped and the light dimmed quickly as two faces popped into Aerrow’s vision– a woman in a white coat with silver spectacles, and after a few moments, he realized Rene was the blond man staring back worriedly. 

“I’m glad you’re awake, Aerrow.” The woman spoke first, inspecting the IV drip that was hooked into his arm. “My name is Dr Kestrel. How are you feeling?”

Aerrow blinked a few times, trying to clear the fuzziness that was outlining everything. The scent of disinfectant seemed to hang in the air. He looked around at the unfamiliar, pristine surroundings before sitting up and trying to swing his legs over the side of the bed. 

I’m not supposed to be here, I have work to do–

Unfortunately, an intense rush of nausea along with a pair of hands at his shoulders kept Aerrow confined to his bed. He screwed his eyes shut at the pounding against his skull. 

“Head... hurts,” Aerrow managed to slur with uneven breaths. He thought that he must’ve been under the effects of some drug to feel this lethargic. Aerrow’s throat felt like sandpaper as he unsteadily downed a glass of water from the side table. What had even happened for him to be in this state?

“You suffered a minor concussion, so that’s to be expected,” Dr Kestrel said, fixing him with a serious stare. “Not to mention, you fractured your clavicle and also sustained lacerations to your neck. You are in no state to be out of bed, Aerrow.”

“Don’t worry, there’s no permanent damage!” Rene added, trying to sound cheerful. There was a strain in his smile. 

Aerrow sighed and let his head fall back against the pillow as everything came crashing back, clearing the fog in his mind. The distress signal. The scorn in Cath’s eyes as she told him to stand down. The dock worker's terrified look. The pirate’s metal claws. The fear that he would’ve died on that Terra. The fact that Cath had been right. 

Dark Ace’s unreadable gaze as he knocked away the pirate’s sabre from Aerrow’s throat.

The thought of having to deal with the aftermath of that only amplified his headache.

With an unsteady hand, Aerrow gingerly touched the bandages around his head and neck before noticing that his uniform and gloves were replaced by a scratchy gray medical gown. His energy blades were nowhere to be found.

Rene must’ve sensed his panic and placed a comforting hand on the Sky Knight’s shoulder. 

“I’ve delivered your uniform and weapon back to your room,” he assured. “Besides, I think we have more pressing issues to deal with right now.” His advisor stared pointedly at Aerrow’s bandaged form and the corner of his mouth curled upwards.

Aerrow lowered his eyes to his hands, littered with shallow scratches. “Like how I screwed everything up for Cath? Or the fact that Dark Ace will probably keep me confined to the base for the rest of my time here?” The drowsiness had worn off and Aerrow’s voice was low and flat. It almost didn’t sound like him.

“More so the fact that you could have been seriously injured today and need time to rest,” Dr. Kestrel cut in sharply. She frowned at the red-haired man’s sullen expression before glancing down at her clipboard.

“You will need surgery to repair your clavicle and the dressings on your neck will need to be changed periodically. Press that button if you’re in significant pain, it will send a dose of painkillers into your system. Do not overuse it.” She finished by tapping her pen next to a small red button at the side of the bed. It was attached to a large capsule that held a glowing fuschia crystal. 

Aerrow turned to look at her and nodded. “Thank you, Dr Kestrel.” He bunched the bedsheets in his fists, trying to slow his racing thoughts. They seemed to only make the fading pain in his head worse.

What happened to Cath and her crew? Was everyone okay? How did Dark Ace deal with the pirates?

The clicking of boots against a tiled floor pulled Aerrow’s attention away from the crumpled sheets. The doctor stood at the door to his room, giving him a sympathetic look.

“Aerrow, I understand you’re upset. But the most important thing at the moment is your health and recovery. I will return later in case you have any questions.” She adjusted her glasses before nodding at Rene and stepping out of the room. 

The blond man leaned against the wall next to a window overlooking several landing strips, each supported by rods protruding from a jagged cliff edge. It was no surprise that darkness was already falling in Cyclonia, and Aerrow watched the glowing red exhaust trails glide over one another as Switchblades took off and landed.

“I’m afraid I’ll have to report this to your academy,” his advisor said with a sigh. 

Aerrow sat up dizzily and fixed Rene with an alarmed stare, blinking rapidly in an attempt to get the room to stop spinning. 

“You can’t,” he rasped with wide eyes. “Ennith will cancel my placement and have me sent back to Atmosia.” 

Rene drew his eyebrows together and crossed his arms over his narrow chest. His usual deep red suit was replaced with a crisp white button-up shirt and black slacks. 

“Trust me, Aerrow. This isn’t something I want to do. Regardless, it’ll be against protocol if this incident goes unreported.”

The Sky Knight was about to protest before Rene narrowed his pale eyes. Aerrow shrank back against the bed and let his shoulders fall, picking at the tiny scabs over his hands. Atmosia Academy had stressed that its students would be secure and protected while on their placements, and any violation of this matter would be dealt with accordingly. He scoffed, thinking back to his first meeting with Cyclonis. 

Isn’t it a little too late now to play by the rules? 

“You were injured on Cyclonian grounds, under our–”

“But I wasn’t,” Aerrow interjected. His voice still felt raw and he swallowed before continuing. “It was my choice to pick up the distress signal from an unclaimed Terra. Nobody put me up to it.” 

The blond man’s patience was wearing thin as he pinched the bridge of his nose. 

“Do you have any idea of the level of fallout if news that an Atmosian student almost died on our behalf were to spread?” Rene’s knuckles were white as he clenched his fists. “As if Cyclonia’s image isn’t already stained.” He sighed and looked at Aerrow with conflict in his eyes. It was strange seeing Rene, someone usually so flippant and matter-of-fact, seem so distressed and serious.

“I don’t need the entire Terra to protect me,” the Sky Knight replied wryly. His eyes flicked to the needle inserted into his arm and resisted the urge to pull it out. 

“I wasn’t hurt at the hands of Cyclonians,” Aerrow continued, frowning slightly. “In fact, it’s thanks to a Cyclonian commander that I’m still here.” His stomach did something odd at the reminder that Dark Ace was yet to come and reprimand him about the mess he’d inevitably caused. 

Rene paused at Aerrow’s words while several emotions flickered across his face. He pursed his lips and looked to the floor.

“If anything happens, I’ll tell the truth. They’ll believe me,” Aerrow said confidently. He stared at Rene for a few moments, hoping to change his mind, before sighing and turning away. 

“... I just don’t want to leave Cyclonia.” His voice was small, almost inaudible. Aerrow couldn’t believe he’d said those words, not after his initial reaction at the news of his placement. That was only a few days ago, but in Aerrow’s mind it felt closer to eternity after everything that had happened since his arrival. 

In less than a week the Sky Knight had survived a duel against Master Cyclonis, made new friends, helped save a village from an unknown illness and had even gotten his stoic mentor to warm up to him, if only a little. Aerrow had also learned that Cyclonia was nothing like what the outdated textbooks and papers reported. They were simply another Terra trying to recover from an unfortunate history that Aerrow might never fully understand. Either way, he didn’t want to have his placement cut short and miss out on what the next three months still had to offer. 

Out of the corner of Aerrow’s vision, he saw Rene drag his hands through his light hair before putting them on his hips. 

“Fine,” Rene said on an exhale, letting a small smile sneak its way onto his face. “As per your request, I will not notify Mr Ennith. Still, you’d better have a good explanation if he somehow finds out about this incident and decides to question me.” 

The blond man’s face sharpened at the last sentence, almost catlike, and Aerrow nodded eagerly. His headache apparently didn’t appreciate that very much as Aerrow groaned at the dull pain that returned momentarily. 

“I’ll leave you to get some rest,” Rene said, stepping towards the door. “You took quite the thrashing today.” 

Aerrow hummed a response as he suddenly remembered the button Dr Kestrel had mentioned. He reached over the side of the bed and pressed it once, after some hesitation. It was incredible how quickly the effects of the crystal took hold. Warmth spread throughout him as the pain at his collarbone and head dissipated. Aerrow sank deeper into the sheets and his eyelids suddenly felt heavy. He blinked slowly a few times at the sound of Rene’s voice, staring at the ceiling rivets.

“Just so you know, you did well today, Aerrow.” The Sky Knight tried to focus on the slow cadence of his advisor’s words but everything was becoming fuzzy. He wanted to sleep.

The doors gently hissed shut and the red-haired man felt sleep tug him back beneath the surface. He tried to quell the disappointment in his chest that Dark Ace wasn’t here when he’d awoken.

♠♠♠

Aerrow awoke to a dim but warmly lit room. He’d fallen into a deep sleep for what felt like an entire day, but the small clock on the table next to his bed indicated that it’d only been about two hours. To his relief, the discomfort in his head and neck was no longer driving him up the wall. It was only when Aerrow went to adjust his body in a half-sitting position that he almost jumped out of his skin, noticing the tall figure standing next to the doors of his room.

The Sky Knight’s mind was clouded as he watched Dark Ace turn at the sound of sheets rustling. The commander was still fully dressed in his usual uncomfortable-looking armour, with his energy sword strapped to his back. A small cut ran across the side of his jaw. Aerrow blinked, trying to clear his head. When his brain finally caught up, he noticed an edge in Dark Ace’s voice like he’d been saying his name repeatedly.

“–Aerrow,” he said with more force, looking directly at the Sky Knight. Glowing red light flowed in from the window and cast shadows against the side of Dark Ace’s face.

Aerrow’s throat ran dry and he wanted to fall back asleep to avoid the intensity of the other man’s gaze, but he was fully awake now seeing that his mentor was here. 

“When I assigned you to border patrol, I didn’t have the intention of landing you in the medical ward.” 

Trust me, neither did I.

Dark Ace raised an eyebrow slightly and crossed his arms over his chest, still standing next to the doors like he was about to slip out of the room at any moment. Aerrow bunched the sheets into his fists at the embarrassment that suddenly prickled at his skin, averting his eyes.

“Can’t exactly say the same for our first meeting,” Aerrow quipped under his breath. 

To his surprise, Dark Ace let out a short but unrestrained laugh, taking a few steps closer to Aerrow’s bed. The sound reverberated around the room. It had a rich, genuine quality to it that the younger man had never heard before.

“I had good reason to assume that you were threatening Cyclonia’s safety,” the commander replied. 

Aerrow looked back up towards him before staring for a few moments at Dark Ace’s expression. The usual crease between his eyebrows and downward tug of his mouth were smoothed out, and something similar to concern laced the man’s features. Aerrow squirmed under his attentive gaze before taking a deep breath and saying what he’d been meaning to.

“I’m sorry I caused such a commotion earlier. I should’ve listened to Cath and–”

“While it was not only childish but foolish of you to challenge the leader of the Murk Raiders and expect to win–” Aerrow glowered at his words, “your actions were quite significant.”

Wait… what?

The Talon commander turned away from Aerrow’s bed and looked out of the window on the adjacent wall, scanning the dark Cyclonian landscape. The land was illuminated by the soft glow of lights from various areas of the Talon base and the few Switchblades yet to turn in for the night. Aerrow sat up fully and blinked at Dark Ace’s back, waiting for him to continue.

“What do you mean?” he asked tentatively.

“Without your assistance, many of the crew were bound to have been slaughtered by Scabulous or have their supplies looted,” Dark Ace explained smoothly before facing him with a nod. “You managed to hold him off until my squadron arrived.” 

Aerrow tilted his head against the wall and let Dark Ace’s words wash over him before closing his eyes. His efforts hadn’t been in vain, after all. That didn’t take away from that fact that Cath had a point when she advised him not to challenge the pirate, seeing as where Aerrow wound up. He didn’t want to think about the recovery time for his clavicle and being bed-bound for who knows how long. 

Aerrow’s eyes flew open at the gentlest touch at his neck, so light he might’ve imagined it. He hadn’t even realized that the other man had moved so close. The Sky Knight watched with his heart in his throat as Dark Ace’s gloved knuckle tilted his head to the side slightly, examining the new bruising that had spread outside of the bandages with narrowed eyes. Aerrow blinked and the hand was gone. He turned his head in confusion and was met with Dark Ace’s impassive stare like nothing had happened. 

After a few beats of silence, the commander spoke low and carefully. “Are you all right?” 

Immediately, Aerrow brought his hand up to where Dark Ace’s had been moments ago and felt around the bandages.

“I’m not in any pain but I’ll need sur–” 

“I wasn’t referring to your physical injuries,” Dark Ace cut in with a frown. Aerrow hated how exposed he felt whenever the other man’s attention was on him. It was like Dark Ace could see right through him, so there was no use in trying to hide his true thoughts. 

Exhaustion slowly settled around Aerrow like a thick fog as he relayed back the events of the day. This was the first time he’d ever had a close call with a danger of this severity. Although Stork and Piper would’ve definitely berated him for doing something so stupid and flirting with death, Aerrow’s actions weren’t for nothing. He’d put himself into an unnecessary amount of danger and now had to live through the consequences, but that just came naturally as a Sky Knight. Rinse and repeat. 

Dark Ace’s voice rang in his head. Disappointment, anger and regret will overpower any semblance of control you thought you had. 

Doing something would always outweigh the remorse that came with doing nothing. 

“I’m fine,” Aerrow managed, giving his mentor a tight smile. He hoped he sounded more sure of himself than he felt. “It’s all part of the learning experience, right?” 

A conflicted expression appeared on the other man’s face before it quickly disappeared. Dark Ace cleared his throat and began to make his way back to the doors. 

“Next time, don’t go challenging any unknown rogues on your own.” 

Aerrow straightened at those words, wincing as the motion sparked a twinge of pain at his collarbone. He wasn’t sure if he’d heard his mentor correctly. 

“Next time?” he echoed with wide eyes. The red-haired man was sure that after causing such a disturbance he’d either be on a ship back to Atmosia or Dark Ace would’ve forbidden him from setting foot outside of the Talon base for the next three months. 

His mentor stopped beside the doors and looked back at Aerrow who was still gawking in disbelief. 

“You’re not going to be on bed rest forever, Aerrow,” he replied with a smirk, before stepping out of the room as the doors shut once more. 

Aerrow let out a short laugh at the empty room, shaking his head slightly. Ever since he arrived in Cyclonia and became aware of the fact that he’d be working under Dark Ace, Aerrow was always looking to earn his trust and approval. He hadn’t considered that maybe, he already had. 

Chapter Text

Aerrow could say with confidence that the following two weeks were the two most uneventful weeks of his life thus far, and in Cyclonia of all places. Apart from short visits from Jetta, Victor and Sorren throughout his recovery period, Aerrow spent his days in bed gazing out of the window, letting his eyes trail after the countless Talons and Switchblades that passed by against the rolling grey clouds. He rarely saw Dark Ace during this period of time, which he attributed to being busy with commander duties. The Sky Knight wasn’t sure if that was for better or for worse.

Dr Kestrel had informed him that the surgery had gone as planned and Aerrow was mostly bed bound for the next two weeks. He was allowed light exercise, occasionally taking walks around the Talon base with Jetta and Victor between their classes. The lingering pain from Aerrow’s concussion had eventually subsided for good and when his two weeks of healing were over, Dark Ace suddenly appeared at the doorway of his room and informed him that it was time to get back to work.

“Seeing as though you can read again without having the urge to throw up, there’s paperwork waiting for you,” the Talon commander had said matter-of-factly. Aerrow had no choice but to comply. Besides, it would’ve been risky to take on other tasks out in the field this early. 

That was essentially how the Sky Knight found himself seated at one of the multiple long desks in what looked like a large office, next to piles of folders waiting to be organized. 

Dark Ace sat across from him, studying a lengthy report with furrowed eyebrows. It was possibly the first time that Aerrow saw the other man without the extra armour. The commander was unsmiling as usual, but he managed to look more relaxed in this state. Without looking up, he slid another stack of papers over to where Aerrow was sitting. 

“Corroborate each report here with the matching set of documents in those folders. If you find any discrepancies, mark them on the report and organize them accordingly,” the other man explained, finally fixing Aerrow with a level stare. 

“Questions?”

Aerrow blinked and flipped open a report in the stack. The words Shipment EC-118: Cooking & Engine Crystals were printed neatly on the first page. It seemed like a simple enough task, reminding him of the administrative work that students at Atmosia Academy had to complete at the end of each term. 

The red-haired man looked at Dark Ace and shook his head. “None for now.” 

Dark Ace seemed to be satisfied with that answer, and the pair started to work in mostly silence. There were a handful of other Talons in the large office as well, and Aerrow liked the quiet atmosphere mixed in with scratching pens and rustling papers. It was different, almost calming compared to Aerrow’s fast-paced life at the academy and also to his previous days in Cyclonia. Still, he’d take high-risk rescue missions over filing maintenance reports any day. 

After a while, Aerrow eventually lost track of how many reports he’d already checked. He’d read and made corrections to countless paragraphs detailing anything from faulty braking systems identified in a few Switchblades to the last time someone had changed the hydraulic fluid in the automatic doors around the base. 

There definitely has to be a better way of organizing these, Aerrow thought with a sigh. Everything seemed to be haphazardly thrown together and the Sky Knight was sure that this wouldn’t be good for future reference.

Fortunately, his pile of unread reports was steadily growing smaller. Aerrow sat up straighter and he tilted his head to one side, trying to get rid of a crick in his neck. From the corner of his eye, he stole a glance towards Dark Ace who had been working almost mechanically for over an hour. To Aerrow’s annoyance, the older man’s posture was still impeccable despite sitting for so long. Dark Ace finished scrawling down the last sentence in his report and closed the folder with a flourish, his mouth set in a line of concentration.

Okay, time to focus. I’m almost done. Aerrow flexed his fingers and turned his attention back to his current folder. It contained construction records proposing a new landing strip that was to be built to accommodate the influx of air traffic in and out of the base. Unlike the other documents, this one was all handwritten and whoever was in charge of detailing everything clearly didn’t have time for neat penmanship.

Clicking his pen in frustration, Aerrow frowned and began to reread the same sentence for the third time. 

From the construction of similar structures, it was noted that…  And that’s where he got stuck, once again. The dark letters seemed to loop into each other on a slant and Aerrow couldn’t figure out whether the next word started with an S or an L. The harder he stared at the words, the more they swam in his vision. It was making him dizzy.

Across the table, Aerrow heard Dark Ace let out an exasperated huff. The younger man was slightly startled when he looked up to see deep red eyes boring into his own. 

“You’ve been scowling at that page for minutes,” the commander observed, raising an eyebrow. “What’s the matter?”

Aerrow rubbed the inner corners of his eyes and blinked back down at the documents before replying. 

“I can’t really read the handwriting here,” he said somewhat sheepishly. “The letters keep getting mixed up.” 

The Sky Knight was expecting a scoff or an eye-roll from Dark Ace, anything to show his disdain towards the fact that he had trouble with a task so simple. However, that never came, and the other man simply held out his gloved hand expectantly. 

While Aerrow handed over the papers, his fingers brushed against Dark Ace’s. Even through their gloves, he felt a spark of something . Maybe it was just his brain playing tricks on him. 

“The construction documents have always been illegible. I’ll file it.” The commander spoke softer than usual and it surprised Aerrow just a bit. He paused at the small gesture and twirled the pen between his fingers for a few seconds more.

“Do you usually spend your time doing paperwork?” Aerrow asked, letting his curiosity get the best of him. It was odd to see such a high-ranking official with experience in combat and tactics sitting among office workers, filing away documents. 

His question made the corner of Dark Ace’s mouth pull up into a smile, revealing a narrow flash of white teeth. The older man shut the last folder of documents and glanced across the table to Aerrow.

“Only when I’m in charge of supervising my apprentice out of the medical ward,” Dark Ace quipped with his head tilted back. Aerrow couldn’t help but chuckle before fiddling with the papers on the table, suddenly feeling slightly embarrassed. 

Am I imagining things or did Dark Ace just crack a joke? Aerrow cleared his throat awkwardly and was about to say something along the lines of I would’ve been fine on my own before the Talon commander spoke again.

“I’ll have the bookkeepers file the rest of the reports. You’re dismissed for the rest of the day, Aerrow. Go find your friends.” 

Aerrow’s hands stopped fidgeting with the corners of the pages. He’d been expecting to spend his entire afternoon holed up in this stuffy office, surrounded by growing stacks of paperwork and have his shoulders aching by the end of the day. Only when Aerrow actually took his mind off of the work he’d been doing did he finally realize the hunger that clawed at his stomach. Lunch did sound quite nice. 

With a nod, Aerrow stood up from the desk, a fuzzy feeling travelling down his legs from sitting for so long. 

“Thank you. I’ll get going, then,” he said while clutching the back of his chair. Aerrow’s eyes met the commander’s, managing to hold his gaze. He couldn’t be the only one who thinks that it’s difficult to make eye contact with Dark Ace, could he? The other Talons must have been equally intimidated at some point. 

As the Sky Knight turned back around to head to the office’s exit, a quiet murmur of “good work” floated up and into his ears. Aerrow smiled to himself and stood a little straighter as he slipped out of the sleek doors and vanished back into the rush of people on the winding balcony along the Talon base. 

A few moments passed and Dark Ace paused his reading of another set of documents, frowning. The quiet sounds of pages flipping and clicking pens from the other workers that usually blended into the background seemed to be missing. It made the electric humming of the stark lighting overhead even harsher. 

Dark Ace looked around at the rest of the office and was met with multiple Talons staring back at him with a range of expressions from curious to bewildered. 

“If you would like to keep your jobs, I’d suggest getting back to work,” he said darkly, scowling at his subordinates. 

That seemed to do the trick, and the rest of the workers ducked their heads back down to their desks so quickly it looked painful. Still, Dark Ace was a bit put off by their collective reaction to his conversation with Aerrow, especially the look from the strawberry blond Talon sitting two desks away from him that was too sly for his liking. 

Perhaps it was just the intrigue of having a new visitor in Cyclonia who happened to be working closely with him. After all, it definitely didn’t happen often. 

♠♠♠

About a week later, Dr Kestrel and Rene finally gave Aerrow the green light to begin his field activities with Dark Ace again. He barely got a wink of sleep the night before his first assignment after the incident thanks to a buildup of excitement. This led Aerrow to almost walk right into a swinging door the next morning, saved only by a lanky Talon academy student who shouldered him aside just in time. 

“Watch out, new kid,” he grumbled before stalking down the adjoining hallway. 

Aerrow stood on the spot for a few moments and shook his head to clear the fogginess. I really should’ve kept the sleeping draught on hand… 

Where was he supposed to be going again? Right, the large briefing room to discuss details of the new assignment. Aside from the fact that this mission was on Cyclonian territory, Dark Ace hadn’t disclosed much else. 

The Sky Knight was quite satisfied with how familiar he’d become with the Talon base in the span of a few weeks. Of course, there were still multiple areas of the base that he didn’t get to see yet and most likely never would in his time in Cyclonia, but Aerrow was past the point of sheepishly asking Talons and students he’d never spoken to before which corridor would take him to the dining hall. 

Aerrow rounded the last corner into the briefing room where Dark Ace and two other Talons were already gathered around the circular table. They seemed to be discussing tactics while pointing to various locations on a map. One of them Aerrow recognized as the blond man who’d shoved him a little too hard to be considered encouraging a few weeks ago, while the other had light brown hair tied into a knot at the base of her head. Aerrow exhaled before taking a hesitant step inside. 

“Good morning,” he said. Three pairs of eyes immediately looked to the Sky Knight and he squared his shoulders in response. “I’m sorry for being late.” I didn’t get enough sleep last night to properly navigate the base. 

“So this is the apprentice we’ve heard so much about,” the brunette Talon remarked with her brow raised. The two Talons both turned to look at Dark Ace expectantly, who shook his head and sighed in irritation. Aerrow felt like he was missing something.

“We were just getting started. Aerrow, this is Quinn and Eve. They will be accompanying us on today’s mission to Terra Tundras.” Dark Ace crossed his arms over his chest after gesturing down to a yellowed map of the mountainous terra. The location sounded familiar, but Aerrow’s sleep-addled brain couldn’t make a solid connection at the moment.

Aerrow nodded and went to stand next to Quinn, glancing at a few locations marked on the map with small red flags. “What’s happening over there?” 

“Search and destroy,” Quinn said with a wicked grin, yanking down a large sheet of paper showing a crudely drawn sketch of a winged monster with fangs the size of Aerrow’s forearm.

“These beasts have been terrorizing the Tundras for months,” the blond man continued. “It wasn’t that big of a deal before, but new mining operations are calling for them to be removed. We can’t have them stealing our crystals and destroying our equipment.” 

That piqued Aerrow’s interest as the tiredness slowly seeped out of his body. After spending so long cooped up in his small room in the medical ward, he was more than ready to venture out into the Atmos again to see what was waiting for him. Apart from that, fighting hordes of these winged monsters sounded nothing short of awesome; it brought back memories of sharing daydreams with Finn and Piper as young kids. 

Dark Ace nodded, rolling up a scroll. “It should be a fairly simple operation. There’s also a backup squadron waiting on Terra Tundras if we’re outnumbered.” 

Suddenly, his attention cut over to Aerrow, as it usually did these days. “Think you’ll be able to handle it, Sky Knight?” 

Although it wasn’t a competition, Aerrow took that as a challenge. He grinned, green eyes bright with determination. 

“You bet.” 

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Quinn and Eve share a look that he couldn’t decipher, all raised eyebrows and upturned lips. Aerrow didn’t get the chance to figure out what it meant before Eve glided towards the exit of the briefing room with her staff in hand. 

“We wouldn’t want to keep the monsters waiting, do we?” she called as the sage green of her uniform disappeared out of the room. 

Quinn scoffed and gave Dark Ace a quick salute before hurrying after the other Talon. 

Naturally, Aerrow’s gaze drifted over to the commander’s to find the other man already looking at him with a hint of amusement. 

“Let’s get going, then.” 

This time, Aerrow was sure that he’d make it out of this mission without falling unconscious. 

♠♠♠

Not long after, the four of them took off to the sky in the direction of Terra Tundras. As the days passed and the weather was getting gradually warmer, Aerrow noticed fewer clouds in the sky. Today was one of those days, and the calm blue seemed to stretch out for miles with nothing but the four Switchblades in sight. After spending so long indoors and on the ground, Aerrow was more than happy to feel the coolness of the wind on his skin and hear the purring of his sky ride’s engine. 

Feeling bold, Aerrow applied more pressure onto the throttle of his Switchblade, breaking out of the diamond formation to cut through the air in a clean loop before falling back into position. A grin spread out on the Sky Knight’s face as a good-natured scoff made its way over to him. 

“First day back and you’re already showing off?” Quinn shot Aerrow a look of mock annoyance while Eve just rolled her eyes and brought her Switchblade into a slight descent at the front of the diamond. They were quickly approaching Terra Tundras.

“Just making sure I didn’t forget how to fly,” was his cheeky response.

Aerrow didn’t have to look at Dark Ace to know that the other man was probably scowling back at him, actually annoyed. 

As he, Dark Ace and Quinn followed suit and retracted the wings on their Switchblades, more of the dry and uneven Terra came into view along with the noise of several jackhammers drilling away in the quarries below. From Aerrow’s vantage point, the countless Talons milling around, pushing carts of crystals or operating machinery seemed to resemble ants in a fast-moving colony. He was surprised at how barren Terra Tundras actually was; it was practically just hills and dirt. 

A distant roar cut through the din of the mining operations, catching everyone’s attention. Dark Ace’s eyebrows lowered as he scanned the skies. Five gray winged creatures were circling overhead, too close to the mines to not be considered a threat. 

“That would be our cue,” the commander said grimly. Aerrow saw Quinn and Eve tense slightly with their eyes flitting between the creatures and the Talons below. 

“Quinn, Eve. I want you to take the backup squadron into the empty mines and deal with any creatures you find.” The two nodded with a salute before heading down the quarry. 

Aerrow met Dark Ace’s red stare with his own and straightened his posture. 

“You’re with me. Let’s see how well acquainted you are with aerial attacks.” 

The Sky Knight couldn’t help but crack a smile at that. Dark Ace would be pleased to know that he could win an open-air battle in his sleep. 

♠♠♠

Adrenaline was searing through Aerrow’s veins as he and Dark Ace flew closer and closer to the swarm of creatures, who’d been hovering at the edge of the mines for a few minutes now. Aerrow pushed harder on the Switchblade’s throttle, making his engine hum louder. With that, one of the creatures at the edge of the swarm whipped its pointed head towards them, letting out a piercing screech. 

Dark Ace gave Aerrow a curt nod before pulling his energy sword from his back and aiming several blasts of electricity towards the creatures, causing them to flee in all directions. A pair of them fixed their beady eyes on Aerrow and shot towards him, baring their long incisors. Aerrow pulled his Switchblade out of reach from their snapping jaws just in time and shot a long streak of energy downwards. The impact sent the two winged creatures crashing into each other and out of the sky. 

Aerrow grinned before raising his head to locate Dark Ace driving off another handful of monsters. The commander stood, balanced between the wings of his Switchblade, steadily blocking the creatures’ attempts at knocking him off of the sky ride. Aerrow watched, transfixed at the red sparks that flew at each strike, at the amount of unwavering control and power that Dark Ace held. It was the first time that he’d seen the commander in battle. 

Suddenly, Dark Ace’s blazing eyes locked with Aerrow’s, startling the younger man into realizing that he was indeed in the middle of fighting a horde of winged monsters that could flick him out of the sky with one touch. 

“On your left!” Dark Ace yelled, jumping back into the pilot’s seat of his Switchblade. 

Aerrow yanked the throttle and twisted his sky ride in the air, knocking the metal wings against the side of a creature’s snarling face. Before it could take a chunk out of Aerrow’s Switchblade, the Sky Knight shot a bolt of energy right into its open mouth, causing the creature to begin choking and clawing at its chest before fleeing. 

Too slow, he thought with an inward smirk. 

The air cleared and for a moment all Aerrow could hear was his and Dark Ace’s uneven breathing, paired with the whirring of their Switchblades. Soon enough, the beating of strong wings followed by angry hissing sounded from behind. Without exchanging any words between them, Aerrow darted forwards and Dark Ace ascended. The new swarm of creatures split up, half of them chasing Aerrow while the other half went after the commander. 

As Aerrow accelerated, he could feel the wind shooting past him, lightly cutting into his skin. Despite this, the Sky Knight grinned back at the creatures struggling to keep up. When the distance between them was large enough, Aerrow brought his Switchblade to hover abruptly in the air and the sudden action sent him flying upwards, just enough to be able to twist his body and leap into the Lightning Claw position. 

The creatures shrieked as the large icy blue blast of energy hit them head-on and Aerrow watched with satisfaction as they hastily retreated away from the mines. As Aerrow sheathed his energy blades, his rapid pulse was steadily coming back to normal. He scanned the surrounding skies to see Dark Ace flying towards him, thankfully without any more of the creatures on his tail. 

The commander brought his Switchblade to hover a few feet from Aerrow’s position and the younger man blinked at his expression. It was like a switch had been flipped; Dark Ace’s normally intense eyes were alight with something similar to hunger, like he could take on a dozen more of the winged creatures without a problem. His dark eyebrows which always seemed to be furrowed in irritation were relaxed and slightly raised. Aerrow swallowed. Suddenly, Dark Ace’s mouth was moving, and he realized a second too late that the other man was speaking to him. 

“–ell done. We should head back down and regroup with the others–” 

Aerrow didn’t let him finish that sentence. Out of nowhere, another creature darted up and behind Dark Ace’s Switchblade. This one was smaller, lither and so each of its wingbeats was close to silent. Above the constant humming of their engines, there was a slim chance that Dark Ace would’ve been able to notice it behind him in time. 

Before the creature could open its jaws, Aerrow unsheathed his energy blades and leapt from his own ride, landing on the back wing of Dark Ace’s Switchblade. He swiped his right blade against the creature’s face, sending it hissing and reeling backwards. 

Aerrow finally turned to look down at Dark Ace, feeling inexplicably nervous. The older man stared back in genuine surprise, his gaze flitting away for a second to watch the creature flapping its wings away from them. 

Not knowing what to say, the Sky Knight cleared his throat and turned to his own Switchblade hovering close by. He was about to leap back before Dark Ace’s voice cut in. 

“Thank you, Aerrow.” 

When Aerrow looked back, he was met with a grateful smile that reached Dark Ace’s eyes. His shoulders seemed to relax by an inch as he breathed out a sigh of relief. 

Aerrow cleared the small distance between their sky rides before nodding at the commander with a bright look. 

“You’d do the same for me.”

Chapter Text

Within the next fifteen minutes, the remaining creatures had been cleared out both from the skies and from the mines. As Aerrow mirrored Dark Ace and pulled his Switchblade into a gradual descent back to the ground, he could see that Quinn and Eve were already gathered around a few others dressed in slightly different uniforms. Aerrow’s eyes widened and he blinked rapidly when he saw spiked navy blue hair paired with a familiar orange headband among the group. 

Terra Tundras… How could I forget? 

“Piper!”

Without hesitating, Aerrow called her name and Piper turned around, confused. A second passed and a wide smile broke out across her face while the other Talons looked curiously between the two of them before turning back to themselves. 

“Wh–Aerrow?!” 

The Sky Knight dragged in the wings of his Switchblade abruptly, coming to a rough landing a few steps away from where Piper stood. She grinned before darting up to Aerrow and pulling him into a hug. 

“I had no idea you’d be here!” Piper exclaimed, leaning back slightly. “What’s the occasion?” 

“Just a quick mission, nothing too major,” Aerrow replied with a shrug. “It’s really good to see you again, Piper!” 

“You too, I hope your placement in Cyclonia’s been going well! We really need to catch up.” 

Only then did it hit Aerrow that he hadn’t told any of his Atmosia friends about his run-in with near-death. Aerrow blinked and nodded before opening his mouth to reply when suddenly a tall shadow appeared at his shoulder. He watched as Piper looked somewhere behind him in surprise. 

“I don’t mean to interrupt, but it’s time to return to Cyclonia,” Dark Ace said evenly as Aerrow turned to look to the side. The commander’s eyes slid between the two of them in an unreadable expression as the sunlight emphasized the angles of his face. 

“Um, right– of course,” Aerrow stammered before clearing his throat and fixing his posture. With Dark Ace’s arrival, the rest of the Talons now had their attention fully focused on them. At this point, Aerrow had gotten slightly more used to it. 

“This is Piper, one of my close friends from Atmosia,” the Sky Knight continued, looking between her and the commander. “Dark Ace is my mentor back at Cyclonia.” There was no doubt that Piper had an onslaught of questions ready for Aerrow afterwards but she quickly masked her shock with a bright smile. 

“It’s an honour to meet you, Commander,” she said, holding out a hand. “I’m glad someone’s there to keep Aerrow out of trouble.” A few quiet snickers sounded from the Talons who were half-listening, and Aerrow couldn’t help but let a bashful smile make its way onto his face. 

The commander’s tense expression relaxed while he grasped Piper’s hand in a firm shake. The motion illuminated the Firebolt crystal from his energy sword in the bright sunlight. “Likewise, and I believe I’ve been doing that part quite well.” Dark Ace raised an eyebrow at Aerrow with a handsome smirk and–

Wait, what? 

Aerrow pointedly did not glance back at him or Piper, who was giving him a questioning look. 

As he was trying to formulate a plan of how he’d go about explaining his life in Cyclonia up until now, Quinn suddenly pushed past the throng of people standing behind Piper, out of breath. 

“Commander– you’re needed back– at the base,” the blond man said between gasps of air before standing straight and clearing his throat. “Something about a shipment dispute.” 

A sour look instantly made its way onto Dark Ace’s face, making the blazing red of his eyes seem all the more threatening. Aerrow couldn’t help but find the other man’s sudden shift in demeanour entertaining, knowing how many people looked up to him. Dark Ace returned Quinn’s slightly nervous stare with a curt nod before turning back to face Aerrow and Piper. 

“It was a pleasure to meet you, Piper,” he said evenly as the crystal specialist nodded back proudly. “I wish you and your team the best in your research.” 

“Thank you, it was great to meet you as well,” Piper replied before facing Aerrow. “I gotta go too. Let’s catch up when you’re free, okay?” 

“Of course. See you soon, Piper!” the Sky Knight beamed. Piper patted his shoulder and started to turn back when Aerrow suddenly felt like his knees were about to buckle. She’d used a little too much force against an area that Aerrow didn’t even realize was this sore until now. He doubled over while gritting his teeth against the pain, amid several shocked gasps.

Dark Ace was on him in an instant, putting a hand on Aerrow’s arm to steady him. Gently, the commander pushed back the sleek material of his uniform near the injured shoulder. Aerrow craned his neck to the side in confusion and caught Piper’s panicked stare.

“I’m so sorry– What happened, Aerrow? Are you okay?” 

Dark Ace removed his hand and gave Aerrow space to stand up straight. “He’ll be fine. It must’ve been a sprain from earlier.” 

Aerrow nodded and gave them both a comforting smile. “I don’t know how I didn’t realize it before, but it doesn’t hurt too badly. I’m okay.” 

“You’re getting that checked at the infirmary,” Dark Ace said firmly, crossing his arms. He cocked his head towards a small white tent in the distance. Aerrow felt like this was a bit much; he could rotate his arm and only feel an ache that was dull enough to ignore.

“There’s no time, you have to be back–”

“Aerrow, you are going to the infirmary even if I have to drag you there myself,” the commander cut in with narrowed eyes. A brief spell of silence fell over them, and Aerrow realized with embarrassment that Piper and a group of Talons he didn’t know were still watching and listening to their conversation, despite trying to appear like they weren’t. 

If this is Dark Ace showing that he cares, he sure has a strange way of doing it. 

However, something about the other man’s scowl and tone of voice told Aerrow that they weren’t leaving Terra Tundras without visiting a medic first. Even if he didn’t want to admit it, the Sky Knight liked knowing that his well-being was now something that Dark Ace cared about. 

After several seconds of Quinn wringing his hands and looking like he was going through an inner turmoil, he inhaled and raised his head to look at Dark Ace. 

“Apologies, Commander, but you are urgently needed back at Cyclonia,” he reported nervously while clutching a hand-held radio. “Ravess doesn’t sound too happy.” 

At this point, a few Talons standing behind them started slowly backing away at the shadow that passed over Dark Ace’s face. Aerrow was worried that the visible vein at the commander’s neck would suddenly rupture, but Piper seemed to have enough of the tension in the air. 

“How about this– I can take Aerrow to get his shoulder checked, and afterwards he’ll join you back at Cyclonia,” she suggested, turning to face Quinn and Dark Ace. The blond man nodded eagerly, looking desperate to get out of this situation. Aerrow put on his best placating expression and mirrored Piper. She shrank back slightly when Dark Ace narrowed his eyes at her. 

The commander sighed and he brought his hand up to squeeze the inner corners of his eyes. “Very well. Aerrow, report back to the administrative ward,” he ordered. Aerrow nodded with a firm of course. 

Dark Ace started to head forwards to where Eve was waiting with their Switchblades and Aerrow stifled a chuckle as he saw Quinn visibly relax before following. 

“One of you will accompany Aerrow back to Cyclonia,” Dark Ace ordered without looking behind him. Aerrow felt a twinge of irritation; he wasn’t a kid anymore, surely he could manage something as simple as flying less than an hour on his Switchblade. 

At the same time, what should have been a routine border patrol landed him in a medical bed for two weeks. Noted, Aerrow thought.

Regardless, before he could protest a Talon standing somewhere in the group shouted an affirmative “Understood!” and that was the end of it. 

Beside him, Piper sighed and ran a hand through her inky hair as the crowd of Talons dispersed off to other areas of the mine. 

“Well, that was something,” she said, fixing Aerrow with her amber stare. He didn’t miss the You’ve got some explaining to do look in Piper’s eyes. Looking away, Aerrow smiled and watched as Dark Ace, Quinn and Eve took off into the sky, leaving behind three pairs of glowing red exhaust trails.

“Let’s get your shoulder checked, hm?” 

“Yeah, that would be a good idea.” 

♠♠♠

“You’re good to go, Aerrow,” the medic chirped, scrawling something on his clipboard. “Just remember to be careful with that shoulder and ice it if the pain returns.” 

“Right, thank you,” Aerrow nodded and zipped his uniform back up to cover his shoulder. Dark Ace was right; it was just a sprain that would resolve itself in a few days. Piper stood up and shook the medic’s hand before he disappeared out of the small tent, leaving the two of them in silence. 

“So… You’ve been working as Dark Ace’s apprentice,” Piper said, facing where Aerrow was sitting with her arms crossed. He felt like there was a lot more she wanted to say but was waiting on him to elaborate first. Just what he was slightly dreading. 

“Uh, yeah,” Aerrow coughed awkwardly, keeping his eyes trained on the rack of medical supplies in the corner. “It’s been fine so far.” 

Piper hummed in response and scuffed a spot on the floor with the toe of her boot. “From the looks of it, I’d say that it’s more than just fine .” Her voice tilted playfully at the end, and the Sky Knight felt his face warm. 

“Come on, Aerrow, you’re working under the Dark Ace,” Piper continued, sighing wistfully. “Apart from him being one of the most powerful people in the Atmos, he clearly doesn’t hate you, which is saying a lot from what I’ve heard.” 

Aerrow snorted and turned to look at his best friend as she sat down next to him on the small cot. Piper looked back at him with a gleam in her orange eyes. 

“All I’m saying is that it must be nice,” she said vaguely. “You’re learning from one of the best, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s protective of you… And did I mention attractive?”

Aerrow sat there gaping at Piper like a fish while she counted off the traits on her fingers and gave him a smirk that he couldn’t shy away from. She was still wearing the same asymmetrical gloves from their academy days, the red-haired man noticed distractedly. 

Here’s the thing: along with Finn, Piper was one of Aerrow’s first friends. They’ve dealt with a lot together over the years, whether that be getting separated from the rest of their class on Terra Blizzaris, patching up each other’s injuries from sparring practice, or dealing with the professors who made it their goal to cause their students as much stress as possible. Aerrow’s been through it all with his friends.

However, the one thing that he didn’t talk about, even with Piper, was relationships. It wasn’t like Atmosia Academy discouraged them– knowing how often Finn went out with a new girl or guy, it was common knowledge that people were dating at school. Aerrow had no problem with it, but personally, he just wasn’t looking for anything or anyone and it had essentially always been like that. He’d definitely found people attractive before and Aerrow knew that he was decently good-looking as well, but becoming a Sky Knight and doing good out in the Atmos had always been his top priority. 

Besides, he’d never really let anyone besides his friends get close to him in a personal sense to gauge if he wanted something more with them. No matter, Aerrow had a whole life ahead of him for that. 

“You look like you’re thinking pretty hard.” Piper’s soft voice startled Aerrow out of his thoughts and he blinked at his best friend for a few seconds before replying. 

“It’s really not like that, uh– Dark Ace’s probably just worried about what’ll happen to him if something happens to me,” Aerrow said with a nervous laugh. It lacked conviction, and Piper could tell. 

She shifted on the cot so that she was properly facing him before reaching out and squeezing his hand. 

“Look Aerrow, it’s okay to be unsure of your feelings,” Piper reassured. She gave Aerrow a warm smile that crinkled the corners of her eyes, and the Sky Knight felt about a thousand emotions at once. 

What am I feeling? 

“I just want you to be happy.” 

There were so many things Aerrow could say in response to that, like How do you always know what to say or What if I do like Dark Ace and maybe even This definitely wasn’t what I was expecting to find in Cyclonia but he opted for pulling Piper into a hug and trying to organize his thoughts. 

“I’m not great at talking about these things, but thank you, Piper. It means a lot,” he said sheepishly, pulling away after a few moments. 

Shaking her head, Piper just smiled at him. “You’ll get there, don’t worry.” Aerrow watched as the crystal specialist uncrossed her legs and jumped off of the cot, stepping closer to the tent’s exit. 

“But for now, I believe a certain commander is expecting you back at Cyclonia,” Piper said, holding open the tent flap and gesturing outside like a guard escorting royalty. 

That really made Aerrow laugh, and he stood up and bowed, playing along. As soon as they exited the medic’s tent, their chatter was interrupted by a stern-looking man wearing a uniform like Piper’s with a long staff strapped to his back. 

“Aerrow, I presume? My name is Dane. I’m here to escort you to Cyclonia.” His green-grey eyes flickered over to Piper almost boredly. “You’re needed back in Aspen’s lab, Piper.” 

With one last look at Aerrow, Piper gave Dane a quick salute and strode past the medic tent to a cluster of long buildings furnished with metal. The grey skies had darkened considerably, and clouds rolled over the quarries where several Talons were still drilling into the ground and inspecting crystals. 

Dane caught sight of Aerrow eyeing the skies and frowned, starting to walk towards a row of Switchblades at the edge of the Terra. 

“We should leave now, wouldn’t want to get caught in that storm.” 

The Sky Knight nodded, looking back to see Dane’s undercut hair blowing in the wind. “Right behind you.” 

♠♠♠

Aerrow was shivering by the time he and Dane arrived at Cyclonia. The winds steadily grew stronger throughout the flight but no rain had fallen yet, luckily. He really did not envy Dane as he watched the other man take off against the biting wind back to Terra Tundras. 

After hastily stowing away his Switchblade in the hangar, Aerrow walked down the main hallway to admin, as Dark Ace had asked him to. It was thankfully much warmer inside the base than out, and the snippets of conversation that Aerrow picked up from other Talons and students seemed to think the same. By now, most people were aware of who he was and sometimes they’d smile and wave at the SKy Knight as they passed each other in the halls. It was nice, even if Aerrow couldn’t put names to the faces. 

It was midday so it made sense that the hallways were mostly empty since the Talon Academy students would have still been in class and the other Talons still had assignments to finish. When Aerrow rounded the last corner into the administrative ward, he was surprised to find it empty. Uncapped pens and sheets of paper were still strewn over the front desk, which led Aerrow to believe that someone was just here. 

He decided against scribbling Aerrow was here on a piece of paper and taping it to the door before turning back the way he came and heading for his own room. Dark Ace would probably find him later anyways. 

Alone with his thoughts, the Sky Knight couldn’t help but let his mind drift off to his conversation earlier with Piper. It was nearly impossible to tell how Dark Ace felt about him, if the extra attention and protectiveness were simply because the commander was obligated to treat his apprentice with some amount of respect, or if it all meant something more. 

Just then the sound of heels clicking loudly behind him made Aerrow stop in his tracks and turn around. A tall woman with spiked fuschia hair pinned him with her lime green stare, and Aerrow realized belatedly that she was Commander Ravess, who called for Dark Ace to settle a dispute earlier today, 

Not knowing what to say, Aerrow stood and blinked until Ravess was standing directly in front of him, still scrutinizing the Sky Knight. 

“Um… Can I–”

“You are Dark Ace’s apprentice,” Ravess stated, giving him a once-over. 

“I’m Aerrow,” he replied with a nod, unsure where this conversation was going. 

“I’m aware of that,” the woman all but snapped, before sighing and glancing up and down the hall discreetly. 

“Be honest with me, Aerrow,” Ravess said, narrowing her eyes. “What have you been doing to him?” 

His mind went blank– what did that even mean?

“Uh– I’m sorry?” Aerrow cleared his throat awkwardly while trying to maintain eye contact with the commander. 

Sighing exasperatedly, Ravess rolled her eyes. “Dark Ace handled the shipment dispute today without insulting the competence of my Talons once. He even offered to file the citation afterwards, both of which are unheard of from someone like him.” 

The Sky Knight still wasn’t completely following, what did those things have to do with him? He really didn’t believe that his presence simply inspired Dark Ace to be a kinder person. 

Ravess shrugged and began to walk down the hall. The clicking of her heels echoed as she moved farther away from where Aerrow was standing. 

“Whatever you’re doing, keep it up. It’s making all of our lives easier around here.”

The shrill sound of a bell ringing pierced the air. Even as students started to file into the hall and brush past Aerrow, he continued to stand there, dumbfounded.

This has got to be one of the strangest days of my life. 

Chapter Text

Five minutes later, Aerrow was back in his room at the end of North Maven Hall after manoeuvring through the crowded corridors with some difficulty. The metal doors shut quietly behind him as the Sky Knight gave the room a quick sweep. Over the weeks, Aerrow had gradually unpacked most of his belongings and moved them into their respective drawers or spots on his desk. He hadn’t finished unpacking everything because when his free time wasn’t eaten up by his mentor’s assignments, the Sky Knight was simply too tired to bother taking out the rest of his things from his suitcase. 

It was nearing the evening. Aerrow plopped himself into his chair and rested an elbow on his desk with a sigh. I wonder what I should do until Dark Ace inevitably tracks me down again. 

His eyes landed on the dark blue folder that his academy had given him with all of the important documents for his placement. Aerrow hadn’t touched it since he’d moved in and mindlessly thrown the folder onto his desk when he’d moved in. 

Ennith, the headmaster at Atmosia Academy, had informed students that their placement report must be completed by the end of the three months or else they could risk failing it altogether. Considering everything that the Sky Knight had experienced in Atmosia already, failing his placement wasn’t exactly one of Aerrow’s short term goals. 

“No time like the present,” he muttered while reluctantly reaching for the folder and flipping to the report instructions page. 

Section I. Briefly outline your day-to-day tasks and assignments. Describe any challenges you have faced while doing so. (1 page)

Section II. Reflect on your goals prior to the start of your placement. Compare and contrast them with your current experiences and/or new goals. (1 page)

Section III. Considering one new skill that you have acquired or strengthened, relate this to a lesson taught in one of your previous classes this past semester. Clearly indicate the course code and instructor. (2 pages) 

Section IV… 

Aerrow’s eyes started to glaze over as he kept skimming down the instructions page, which unfortunately consisted of six sections in total. He hadn’t set foot into a classroom after his end-of-semester exams which took place almost a month ago, so getting back into the routine of academic writing would take some getting used to.

The red-haired man sat up straighter in his chair before taking out a crisp sheet of paper and uncapping a pen from the desk. After a few moments of deliberating and staring down the blank paper, he started to put together the response to Section I. The slow ticking of the clock on the wall paired with the scratching of Aerrow’s pen continued on until almost three quarters of the page was filled with his handwriting. Aerrow sat back in his chair and quickly read over what he’d just written. It seemed good enough, perhaps lacking a few details here and there but he could just add those in later. Truthfully, he was never extremely studious and dedicated like Piper and Stork were, but Aerrow always managed to get by with better-than-average grades in most of his academics. That was fine by his standards. The Sky Knight’s interests always resonated with his Skimmer in the skies or at the training grounds, practicing combat.

After twirling the pen between his fingers for a few seconds, the red-haired man flipped back to the instructions page to look at the Section II requirements when rapid knocking on his door startled him. 

It’s probably Dark Ace… I wonder where he was when I went to look for him earlier. 

However, Aerrow realized that his prediction was quite off as he pushed the button to open the doors, revealing an excited looking Jetta paired with a somewhat tired looking Victor. Come to think of it, every time Aerrow had seen the lanky Talon, he seemed to have the same sleepy look on his face. Both of them had evidently changed out of their usual academy uniforms into more casual clothing; Jetta was wearing a charcoal coloured dress with mesh details while Victor wore a sage green button-up shirt and black pants. 

Aerrow opened his mouth to speak while his eyes darted between his two friends in confusion after expecting Dark Ace, but Jetta beat him to it. 

“Victor and I are going to Terra Neon! Wanna come?” The sharpshooter was practically bouncing in excitement, eagerly waiting for Aerrow’s response.

“Terra Neon? For an assignment? I’ll have to ask–” 

Jetta sighed and slumped against the door frame. “No, silly, to have fun! ” She put emphasis on the last word as if Aerrow never had a night out before, which was partially true. Loud music and large crowds had never really been his thing, but he could see the appeal in going. 

Sensing his uncertainty, Victor gave Aerrow a small smile. “Our professors cancelled our evening classes, and a few classmates suggested spending it somewhere fun,” he explained. “We’d love for you to join, Aerrow.” 

Aerrow pursed his lips and glanced between Jetta and Victor’s near-pleading expressions. On one hand, he was in the middle of writing his very important placement report, and was surprisingly making good progress. Also, there was no telling of how Dark Ace would react if he went to find Aerrow later and was unable to because his apprentice was off partying on another Terra. Aerrow shuddered inwardly at the thought of that.

But at the same time, when would another opportunity like this arise? After Aerrow would complete his placement, he’d likely be thrown into a full-time Sky Knight position and have few chances to enjoy living life in the moment. The past years at his academy had been consistently busy and stressful at times, so Jetta and Victor’s invitation seemed like a suitable way to celebrate the end of Aerrow’s academics; and surely Dark Ace would understand his decision for the night. After all, his mentor was once Aerrow’s age too. With a resigned sigh, he tore his gaze away from the sheets of paper sitting on his desk to shrug at his friends. 

“Why not? Yeah, I’m in.” 

Jetta and Victor shared an elated look and Aerrow couldn’t help but grin, too. Jetta flicked her long hair out of her face and suddenly pushed Aerrow farther back into his room. 

“Get changed, you’re not showing up to Neon in your Cyclonian-issued uniform,” she said with a wink and disappeared down the hall, the clicking of her heels echoing away.

“Meet us at the south exit when you’re ready!” Victor chimed in, before following suit. Both of their footsteps echoed throughout the long corridor. 

A few seconds passed and Aerrow heard the quiet hiss of the hydraulic doors closing. He hit the button to shut his own doors and the Sky Knight walked over to his closet, staring at the few shirts and pairs of pants that he’d packed. Aerrow hoped that Cyclonians weren’t too judgemental about fashion. 

♠♠♠

With a change of clothes and a quick sweep of a comb through his hair, Aerrow was out the door and on his way to the south exit. He hadn’t packed very much in terms of casual clothes, and eventually decided on going with a thin navy zip-up over a white shirt with black pants. Someone somewhere had told Aerrow that his red hair looked good with dark blue and white, and so that was possibly the only fashion tip he made note of. He had a feeling that it was Finn who gave him that advice. In the mirror, Aerrow looked decent and he silently thanked the blond man who was probably learning proper table manners at Terra Rex. 

As Aerrow approached the exit, the large panelled windows along the hall revealed a cluster of people waiting near a small airship. He pushed open the double doors and glanced around while a calm breeze ruffled his hair. 

“Aerrow! Over here!” 

Aerrow turned around at the sound of Jetta’s unmistakable voice. She was standing at the edge of the crowd with Victor, waving with a big grin. A few steps away, a few of their classmates caught sight of Aerrow as well. Victor smiled and gestured for him to come over and Aerrow did, somewhat awkwardly. 

“You look great,” Jetta exclaimed amid the surrounding conversation, giving Aerrow a quick once-over. “Not that you don’t look nice in your uniform! Those colours go well with your hair.”

I guess Finn really knew what he was talking about, huh.

Aerrow brought up his hand – which did not have a glove over it – to sheepishly scratch at the base of his neck. “Thanks, Jetta, I tried my best,” he said with a lopsided smile. 

Red smoke lingered in the gray sky from the nearby chimneys and Switchblades turning in for the evening. Someone gently tapped him on the shoulder and Aerrow turned around to see Victor’s green eyes blinking back at him in the low light. 

“Let us introduce you to our friends, they’ve been curious of you ever since the first day,” the lanky boy said while nodding towards the group of students. “The ship to Terra Neon is taking off in a few minutes, so we have some time.” 

From a quick glance Aerrow guessed there were around six others coming with them, and they were dressed casually in long skirts or shirts with graphic designs. Nobody in Cyclonia had been outright mean to him thus far, and apart from Dark Ace, Rene, Jetta and Victor, Aerrow really hadn’t socialized much since he’d gotten here – if talking to Dark Ace or Rene really counted in that sense. It’d be good to make a few new friends tonight. 

♠♠♠

As it turned out, Jetta and Victor’s friends were much less intimidating than Aerrow had thought. He’d chatted with them for a few minutes before their airship was set to take off, and he could definitely see the similarities between them and his own classmates and friends back at Atmosia. The Talon Academy students seemed hardworking and ambitious towards their goals, and like Aerrow, they were taking the night off at Terra Neon to destress and reward themselves before their graduation. 

Aerrow was leaning against a post near the edge of the airship, half listening while a girl with hazel coloured hair was listing off the potential clubs they could go to once they landed. Growing up, he’d always assumed that Terra Neon was essentially just one big amusement park meant for kids and families, not a place packed with bars and clubs meant for a more mature clientele. Jetta had laughed at the Sky Knight’s innocence and explained that the whole ‘amusement park/carnival’ appearance was just a front that was used for promoting tourism. That made a lot more sense given that the twenty-something year old Cyclonians didn’t seem like the type to ride rollercoasters and eat funnel cake all night.  

As Aerrow stared out of the large windows and into the deep indigo of the evening, the sky slowly became tinged with bright neon colours, indicating that the ship was minutes away from landing in Terra Neon. He suddenly felt a twinge of anticipation about what the night would look like; Aerrow wasn’t exactly experienced with this sort of thing, but he was comfortable around Jetta and Victor to know that he’d have a good time with them. 

The Sky Knight was nearly hit with sensory overload the moment he stepped off of the ship. Strings of bright lights and neon signs of all shapes and colours filled his vision while the cacophony of other visitors, upbeat music and the roaring of nearby amusement park rides and airships was loud enough that he had trouble hearing his friends an arm’s length away. 

Apparently, many other people had decided that they’d also fly over to Terra Neon tonight and indulge themselves while the night was still young. The airstrip that Aerrow and his friends were dropped off at was bustling with countless new arrivals and departures. Aerrow couldn’t remember the last time he’d been somewhere so lively and busy that could be comparable to this place. 

“It is a little overwhelming, don’t worry.” Next to Aerrow’s shoulder, Victor spoke louder than his usual quiet tone. The engineer turned his head to smile, probably sensing some uncertainty. “Come on, Lev knows a place that’s not too busy.” 

Aerrow blinked and nodded before walking a few steps behind Victor as they followed their other friends at the front of the group. It was a bit ironic; here he was, twenty-two years old and minutes away from enjoying a proper night out for someone his age, but Aerrow still felt child-like amazement at the constellation of lights and the aroma of various foods that wafted throughout Terra Neon. 

The walking paths weren’t fully packed but Aerrow and Victor still had to be aware of their surroundings and avoid the risk of getting hit in the face with a child’s giant balloon or a group of partygoers who were nearing their limits for the night. As they walked the paths became less crowded and the surrounding noise lowered considerably. 

Lev, one of the Talons who was a part of their group and also a gifted computer programmer, eventually led the group into a sleek-looking building, one of many on a long strip of clubs and boutiques. Its walls were charcoal with gold accents which reflected the lights in the distance, illuminating the word Neonetic . 

The atmosphere was completely different from the near-chaos of where Aerrow and his friends had been dropped off at. Aerrow blinked a few times, his eyes adjusting to the dim gold and purple lighting, while the group slowly started to split off into different areas of the club. It was rather quiet despite the amount of people gathered in the club. The low chatter of patrons at the bar or on the dance floor layered smoothly over a mellow song playing in the background. 

It’s a lot… Calmer than I expected. 

“Come on, let’s start off with a drink!” To Aerrow’s amusement, Jetta’s cheery voice was already drifting off in the direction of the bar where only a few other people were sitting. He briefly glanced at Victor who looked back with a shrug before both of them followed a few steps behind. 

As soon as Aerrow took a seat in one of the circular bar stools, a glass of turquoise liquid swirling with red syrup and ice was set in front of him. It smelled sweet, and the rim was dusted with something that looked like sugar. He eyed the drink with some confusion before glancing over at Victor who accepted a short glass of clear liquid.

“Don’t mind him, Victor always orders the same boring drink,” Jetta sighed while crunching on a piece of ice from her glass. Her eyes then flicked over to where Aerrow was still staring at his own drink in front of him. 

“Are you sure this is safe to drink?” he asked, confused when both of his friends burst out into laughter. “I-I’m being serious!” 

“It’s not poison, we Cyclonians aren’t that cruel,” Victor joked with narrowed eyes before leaning back and shrugging. “Try it, if you want to. It tastes sweet.” 

Aerrow lifted the glass to his lips and turned to Jetta once more, who nodded eagerly with a smile. 

He tilted the glass back slightly and swallowed, wincing when the liquid left a tingling sensation in his throat. It tasted mainly like cherry cough syrup; not unpleasant, but something that Aerrow didn’t quite see the appeal of. Given the burning feeling, he was thankful that the drink wasn’t straight alcohol. 

How can Victor do that? The Sky Knight wondered after watching his friend take clean sips of his drink without looking affected in the slightest. 

Aerrow held back a grimace as his drink left a sickly sweet aftertaste in his mouth which fortunately subsided quickly. “I guess it’s not so bad… I thought it would be stronger.” 

Jetta watched him for a few moments before a small smile crept onto her face. “Oh, it takes a while,” the sharpshooter stated cryptically, flicking a strand of violet hair over her shoulder.

If he had the chance to, Aerrow definitely would have pressed on about what exactly she meant, but at that moment the bar suddenly became much more crowded with the rest of Jetta and Victor’s friends flocking to them from the other end of the club. In a blur of laughter and conversation which Aerrow only half-grasped, Victor was swept up and pushed towards the dance floor, where a blonde girl wearing a leather jacket was standing alone. 

Jetta watched the whole interaction unfold with a wide grin, giving Victor a little wave as he looked between her and Aerrow with an expression that begged please help me .

“Victor’s liked Giselle for years and we all poke fun at him for not making a move,” she explained, thanks to Aerrow’s evident confusion. “Hopefully he’ll actually do something about it tonight.” 

The bartender’s gloved hand set down a bowl of spiced pretzels in front of Aerrow and Jetta, catching their attention. The two of them reached into the bowl and started crunching on the snacks while gazing off to the rest of the party goers enjoying themselves for the night. Some feet away from them, Victor and Giselle were swaying slightly to the music with shy smiles. 

He had to admit, being away from the busy atmosphere and constant flood of assignments of both Atmosia Academy and the Talon Base was a much-needed change of scenery, if only for one night. Aerrow hardly found his work to be a chore, but he liked taking some time to unwind without the reminder of assignments in the back of his mind. 

I’ll worry about my placement report tomorrow , he decided. 

A nudge at his shoulder made Aerrow look to the side at his purple-haired friend. She was glancing pointedly over to a pair of girls at the far end of the bar, who quickly averted their eyes when they saw Aerrow turn in their direction. 

“You’re catching people’s attention, huh?” was Jetta’s somewhat sly observation. 

The Sky Knight blinked and hastily adjusted the collar of his jacket, suddenly feeling self-conscious of where he was. “Can they tell that I’m not Cyclonian?” he asked in a low voice, trying to avoid eye contact with anyone else but Jetta. 

Her thin eyebrows were furrowed in confusion for a few seconds before she burst out in laughter, almost knocking over the half-empty bowl of pretzels. 

“No, no – that’s not what I meant,” Jetta snorted. “You’re most likely catching people’s attention because you’re an objectively good-looking person.” She shrugged, sipping on her amber-coloured drink before cocking her head in the direction of the two girls. “Why not give it a shot?” 

At that, Aerrow stopped fidgeting with his shirt to take in what she’d just said. It was daunting to imagine approaching a stranger and just striking up a conversation, not quite knowing where it would end up. He stole a glance at the girls standing at the other end of the bar out of curiosity. They were pretty and looked to be around his age, but Aerrow just shook his head and turned back to face his overly colourful drink that was still mostly full. Suddenly, an image of Dark Ace’s disapproving frown popped into his mind. 

What if he’s looking for me? 

“I’m… not really interested,” he said, tapping his knuckles against the cool glass while trying to push down the slight panic in chest. Maybe the Talon commander was out enjoying himself as well, Aerrow hoped.

“Besides, I wouldn’t be a good friend if I were to leave you alone here, would I?” He grinned, reaching for his glass and immediately regretting the decision to take such a large sip. A spell of dizziness quickly made its way to Aerrow’s head, and screwing his eyes shut was the only thing the Sky Knight could do to combat it as Jetta shook her head in amusement. 

“Whatever you say, Aerrow. Come on, let’s dance with the others!” 

With the alcohol gliding through his veins, Aerrow felt warm and relaxed. Time had flown by and his placement in Cyclonia was coming to an end soon, so he may as well spend one night not holed up in his stuffy room in North Maven Hall. Even if it was at the inconvenience of Dark Ace. 

Chapter Text

It was nearing the early hours of the morning on Terra Neon as the bartenders began reshelving colourful bottles of alcohol while the mellow music quieted down completely. The partygoers who were still left in Neonetic slowly started to file out of the club and onto the last airship departing the terra for the late night. 

Aerrow wasn’t sure how the hours had managed to pass so slowly yet rapidly at the same time. One moment he was still trying to stomach the sugary concoction in front of him, and in the blink of an eye he was on the dance floor with Jetta, Victor, and countless other students of the academy that he couldn’t remember the names of. The Sky Knight had limited himself to just one drink, but the environment and the people he was surrounded with all contributed to one of the most carefree nights of his life. He had to bring his friends from Atmosia back here sometime – heaven knows that Piper and Stork especially could unwind for once. 

Along with Jetta and Victor, Aerrow thanked the bartenders and left a folded stack of Cyclonian notes next to his empty glass before slightly stumbling out of the club, a loopy smile on his face. The printed face of a woman who starkly resembled Cyclonis stared back at him for a moment. Aerrow was surprised when he discovered the stack of money in the pocket of his suitcase before boarding for Cyclonia; apparently it’d been a welcoming gift which he was glad he didn’t spend until now. 

“Chances that people will even bother to come to classes tomorrow?” Jetta snickered, bumping shoulders with Aerrow and Victor as the three of them followed a large group to the airship back to Cyclonia. “I swear we saw at least half of the kids in Cartography and Aircraft Mechanics at Neon tonight!”

She sounds surprisingly coherent for someone who downed three cocktails… Hopefully this was a once-in-a-few months thing, Aerrow thought with a good amount of concern. 

The neat, braided knot that Jetta had pulled her hair into at the beginning of the night was long gone, leaving the violet strands flowing messily down her shoulders. Aerrow could imagine that he was in a similar state of dishevelment; his spiky hair was falling into his eyes and the heat from Neonetic had left his clothes sticking uncomfortably to his skin. 

“Three out of ten, I’d say. Professor Lykos will be so pissed, dear Atmos.” Victor sighed with a smile, rubbing the tiredness out of his hazy eyes. The distant neon lights cast vibrant shadows across his grinning face. 

After hearing countless stories about how strict Talon Academy professors were, from handing out detentions for being five minutes late to assigning hours of homework even during exam season, Aerrow winced at what Jetta and Victor’s morning would look like in a few hours. Without missing a beat, his mind unhelpfully reminded him that a similar if not harsher outcome could be placed upon him in the morning – if he’d even be able to wake up in time to receive Dark Ace’s disapproval. 

At least none of us have a curfew , he remembered faintly. Curfews were only imposed on the junior Talon Academy students, and Aerrow didn’t find any rules against staying outside of the base late at night in the handbook that Rene had given him early in his placement. So the three of them were safe. 

“Come on guys, you’re graduating so soon – you should have fun!” The Sky Knight protested, trying to shake the nerves of facing his mentor in the morning. Aerrow didn’t regret his decision to spend the night at Terra Neon, and he’d stand his ground despite whatever Dark Ace had to say to him. 

Reaching over to poke Aerrow in the shoulder, Victor gave him an amused look. “Glad to see you’re not so uptight anymore, Aerrow. Hah, if only the teaching staff was that nice.”

“U–Uptight?!” 

“You’re one to talk, Vic! Don’t you feel so accomplished now that you’ve said more than five words to Giselle?” Jetta playfully shoved the lanky engineer, causing him to stumble off of the dirt path and for the violet-haired sharpshooter to laugh louder. 

As Victor regained his footing and mumbled something under his breath, Aerrow smiled and shook his head when he saw the faint blush on the other boy’s face. Even though exhaustion was slowly creeping up on his body the Sky Knight didn’t want to sleep and wake up to a new day in fear of all the joy he’d experienced tonight slipping away. 

The airship revved to life soon after the three of them packed in tightly with other Cyclonian students and Aerrow felt his vision blur as the colours of Terra Neon began to fade into the dark sky. 

♠♠♠

“Are you sure you’ll be okay, Aerrow?” 

Under the familiar red-tinged lights of the Talon base, Jetta’s silver eyes looked like they were glowing. Victor stood next to her, sharing the same worried expression while shivering from the slight breeze. The base was calm and eerily empty at this hour, with most of the air traffic paused until sunrise. They were right outside the entrance closest to Jetta and Victor’s rooms and it was time for Aerrow to part ways with his friends for the night. 

Luckily for him, his dorm in North Maven Hall was at the opposite end of the base where the Talon Academy dorms were situated. It was nearing two hours past midnight, and Aerrow really didn’t want to be a bother when all three of them needed to rest as soon as possible. 

“Yeah, guys, don’t worry,” he began sluggishly, waving his hand in dismissal. “I know my way around, and…”, Aerrow’s sentence was soon cut off by a yawn, before he gave himself a little shake. “I’ll be fine. There’s… lights around here.”

“Dude, when did you even get so tired?” Victor asked, giving the red-haired boy a once-over in the near darkness. “Jetta and I don’t really go to the North end that much, but we can help–”

Aerrow didn’t let him finish the sentence before he turned and began to walk away from his friends, a sigh escaping his lips. 

“You’ve looked after me all night, so go and get some sleep already… Catch you guys tomorrow morning!”

He didn’t bother to turn back and hear their responses before rounding a corner and entering through an unmarked side door into the base. Aerrow hissed and instantly screwed his eyes shut at the glaring brightness as the door shut behind him. It was no surprise that he didn’t know which part of the Talon base he was in at the moment. In fact, this hallway looked almost identical to any other that Aerrow had seen in passing – dense, steel flooring and walls with Cyclonian red, paired with the same design of vertical automatic doors.

No big deal, I’ll just walk around until I find one of those main areas with a huge map of the whole base. Can’t be that hard. 

Ignoring the heaviness in his eyelids and limbs, the Sky Knight stifled another yawn and eyed his two options: continue down the same hallway or turn right into the adjacent one. It was too late and Aerrow was way past his functioning point to seriously consider one over the other, so he started heading straight until a booming voice sounded from behind. 

“Halt! Identify yourself!”

If Aerrow wasn’t awake before, he definitely was now. The sudden loudness was a shock which caused that awful sinking feeling in his stomach. Memories of being reprimanded by teachers in the elementary years at Atmosia Academy flashed in Aerrow’s mind instantly. 

Guards, really? At this hour?

He stood rigidly, slowly turning around to face a pair of Talons pointing their crystal staves at him a few metres away. The one on the right frowned, despite the clunky red goggles that obstructed her face.

“I won’t repeat myself. Who are you?” The Talon asked icily. 

Aerrow took a deep breath and held his hands at his sides to prevent them from shaking. “My name is Aerrow. I’m a graduating student from Atmosia Academy, here on a work placement with Commander Dark Ace as my mentor.”

After the last words passed through his lips, the other Talon lowered his weapon and slumped against the wall while trying to conceal his laughter. 

“I don’t know which part of your story you actually expect us to believe,” the young man sighed, smirking at Aerrow. “Atmosia or Dark Ace as a mentor… Oh, you’re funny.” He pushed back the goggles back on his forehead, which revealed dark circles under bloodshot eyes.

Why was it that all of the Cyclonians that Aerrow knew managed to look so menacing when they smiled? Rene, Dark Ace, Master Cyclonis herself, Jetta, even Victor sometimes, and now this unnamed Talon who clearly pulled the short stick with too many night shifts in a row–

“Stand up straight and shut up, Ryke,” Ryke’s companion snapped, pulling Aerrow back to what was looking to be the most baffling misunderstanding of his stay in Cyclonia. He sincerely hoped nobody’s sleep would be disturbed by their conversation in the middle of the night. Two irritated Talons was more than enough.

As Ryke huffed and fixed his posture, the Talon in front of Aerrow levelled him with a suspicious stare, still gripping her staff in gloved hands. 

“Well, Aerrow , it’s nice to meet you,” she said in a snippy voice, as if Aerrow was lying about his name. He eyed her warily, not knowing where this was going. Beside her, Ryke stood in a similar fashion with his eyes narrowed and staff directed at Aerrow’s chest.

“My name is Avexa, Second Lieutenant of the 89th Talon unit. If you really are who you say you are, provide reasonable proof at once.”

Proof? The only official documents that Aerrow had to show he really was an Atmosia student under Dark Ace’s mentorship were in his file that Headmaster Ennith had given him long before he’d even set foot in Cyclonia. A file which was unhelpfully tucked away in his room at North Maven Hall, wherever that was from their current location.

I really should’ve just taken Jetta and Victor’s help , Aerrow thought defeatedly. 

“Lieutenant Avexa and Ryke, look – my documents are back in my room at North Maven Hall and I’d be happy to show you them… If I could find my way back there,” he finished lamely, eyes drifting to the floor in embarrassment. Another long yawn forced its way out of him despite Aerrow’s sheepish efforts to hide it. 

Ryke’s eyes widened dramatically. “No way you’re living in the North dorms, those are the nicest in the whole base!” The younger Talon paused, looking Aerrow up and down like he was seeing him for the first time.

“Not to mention how you’re dressed in those civvies – where’s your Cyclonian uniform?”

Avexa gave a slow nod, taking one step closer as Aerrow followed suit with one backwards. His palms were beginning to sweat even in the air-conditioned corridor. 

“This whole scenario is far too suspicious to just dismiss, Aerrow: you’re seemingly lost after wandering into the base, you don’t have proof of who you say you are, you don’t look like you should be here… All while it’s a ridiculous hour in the middle of the night?”

When Aerrow finally mustered up the courage to meet Avexa’s hooded eyes, he noticed how she looked more confused than initially suspicious. At this point, he really did feel like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar even though he wasn’t in the wrong – everything just fell into place for the Talon guards to make their case against him. 

“I–I’m telling the truth, I promise,” Aerrow protested weakly, looking back and forth between Avexa and Ryke. “You can ask Rene, well, in a few hours, when he’s awake–” 

“Enough,” the Lieutenant decided with a wave of her hand. “We’ll deal with this in the morning. Cuff him, Ryke.” 

 Under different circumstances, where Aerrow’s energy levels were normal and the alcohol from earlier wasn’t still buzzing in his system, the red-haired man would have definitely made a stronger argument for himself. But it looked like sleep deprivation had gotten the best of all three of them, so Aerrow stood helplessly still as Ryke held his wrists together, fishing out a pair of metal handcuffs from his belt. 

As long as this ‘incident’ wouldn’t end up on his permanent record and result in failing his placement, Aerrow decided he’d be just fine. Getting arrested on Cyclonian territory for… Whatever crime this counted as didn’t seem like a pleasant conversation to have with the headmaster. Or Master Cyclonis. 

And after a few moments: if Dark Ace isn’t too upset with me, also.

The pounding in his skull definitely meant a headache was on its way.

♠♠♠

Another day, another chaotic briefing at the crack of dawn in the central hangar filled with revving engines, loud clanking, and most of all, shouting. This was a typical morning for Dark Ace. 

“Fowler, Pierceworth and the rest of your crew, crystals shipment incoming at Dock 11!”

“Dexter, reroute your unit’s border patrol to meet Eve and her squad at the west end – those bandit thieves are back again!” 

“Inferna, take a mechanic with you and meet Commander Snipe at the launchpad for a rescue mission!” 

Rows and rows of Talons clothed in Cyclonian red and green stood with their backs straight, listening attentively for their name and task to be called. Each responded with a sharp salute before rushing off to a Switchblade or out of the hangar into another area of the base. 

Dark Ace continued rattling off orders until every task on his clipboard had been assigned, and the hangar that was packed with Talons just moments ago was nearly empty.

He exhaled and let his shoulders slump just a fraction before holding out the clipboard and letting it go, fully expecting Aerrow to have been silently hovering behind him the entire time. 

“Take this, there’s a meeting with–”

The metallic clank of Dark Ace’s clipboard falling onto the steel floors reverberated throughout the hangar. He stared blankly at the empty space beside him where a certain green-eyed, spiky-haired apprentice should have been standing. A quick look at the clock indicated that the work day had technically already begun, and Aerrow had always been punctual to the morning briefings despite a rocky first day. 

Shit, did I lose him? 

No jumping to conclusions, the commander reminded himself harshly. He swiftly scooped up the clipboard and made his way out of the hangar, down the wide corridor. While dodging out of the way of the typical hustle and bustle, Dark Ace pressed a small button on the transceiver attached to the collar of his uniform and adjusted the tiny earpiece in his left ear. 

“Rene, you'd better be awake or so help me Cyclonia,” the raven-haired man hissed, not caring about the static feedback on the other end of the line. “Do you know where Aerrow is?” 

“ I am awake, thank you very much ,” Rene’s tinny voice shot back. “ His room is empty; I tried to deliver some letters this morning. You haven’t seen him? ” 

Dark Ace grit his teeth and started walking back in the opposite direction, since there was no use in checking Aerrow’s room now. The heated glare he shot curious onlookers sent them reeling out of his way. It was obvious that the man’s sour mood followed him wherever he went, but Dark Ace was never one to care about other people’s thoughts on his demeanour. 

“Not since yesterday afternoon,” he grunted. “If that brat really is missing, you and I both know that Cyclonis will have our heads on a silver platter.”

Of course, the Cyclonian leader’s trust in him to look after Aerrow was the only reason why Dark Ace felt such urgency ( not panic) to locate the apprentice. No other reason.  

“ I’m very aware of how important Aerrow is to Cyclonia and Atmosia’s diplomatic relations! ” The commander flinched and quickly turned down the transceiver’s volume at Rene’s shrill voice. 

Still, the advisor continued. “ He could be anywhere in or around the base, but sending a search party is clearly a no-go, too much publicity… Oh, hold on! ”

Rene’s line cut off with a pop, leaving Dark Ace alone in a random corridor. He’d been pacing around so much that he was at least two floors away from the hangar. The Talon commander ran a hand through his inky hair, pulling at the roots, before pushing open a side door and stepping out onto the winding balcony. 

Where could you have gone? 

Dark Ace’s crimson eyes caught sight of five Switchblades soaring towards the mountain ranges in a clean X formation until they became just a dark speck in the sky. A light but cold wind rustled his mussed up hair so that it swept into his eyes. Rene’s voice suddenly chirped back into the man's ear, making him jolt slightly.

“ Get to the basement holding cells as soon as you can. Don’t ask, I’ll meet you there .” Click . The line went dead.

It's far too early for this. 

Dark Ace's left eye twitched as he inhaled deeply and turned on his heel, heading back inside the base. 

♠♠♠

“So you actually arrested him?!”

Rene’s whisper yelling was directed at a stern-looking Talon and her less experienced counterpart – within moments of arriving Dark Ace and Rene learned that their names were Avexa, a seasoned Lieutenant and Ryke, a freshly graduated Talon. 

Dark Ace couldn’t help but feel more and more perplexed as Avexa – and occasionally Ryke – explained the situation of how they found Aerrow out of his Cyclonian uniform, wandering around the control rooms nearly three hours before sunrise. Not to mention, he claimed that he was originally a student from Atmosia Academy, and to top it off, the one and only Dark Ace was mentoring him. 

From an outsider’s point of view, it did seem a bit unrealistic. 

The four of them stood in the tiny office separate from the main holding cell area. A single, flickering lightbulb illuminated the whole room which was filled with filing cabinets and an old-looking desk. The low ceiling meant that Dark Ace had spent the past fifteen minutes hunched forwards slightly to avoid getting paint dust in his hair, and an ever-present smell of mould clung to every surface. Looking out of the office, he took note that there were around two dozen cells in total, with only two occupied by a sleeping Aerrow and a scrawny villager girl curled in the corner of her cell. She was brought in two days ago, after Talons caught her stealing food from the dining hall.

“The kid looked like he was seconds away from passing out,” Avexa shrugged. “Might as well’ve taken him back here for some rest. Either that or risk letting a possible intruder roam the base at night."

"Was that not a reasonable decision?” She lowered her thin eyebrows at Rene like it was a challenge. 

“Aerrow had a perfectly good bed waiting for him in his dorm room!” Rene retorted loudly, making Ryke shrink backwards. A few steps away, Aerrow shifted on the pallet but stayed asleep. Dark Ace exhaled a little, feeling pitiful that the Sky Knight had the displeasure of sleeping in such uncomfortable conditions. 

“But I suppose a wooden pallet nailed to the wall is better than nothing.” The shorter man swept his platinum blond fringe out of his eyes with a scowl. 

Puffing out his chest, Ryke clenched his fists. “No chance we would have taken him anywhere without a valid form of ID.” He glanced at Dark Ace apprehensively before focusing back on Rene. 

“Besides, I could smell that sugary cocktail on him an arm’s length away,” the Talon said flippantly as Dark Ace’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline. Alcohol consumption was strictly prohibited on Talon grounds, and the commander refused to believe that Aerrow was genuinely reckless enough to break one of the main rules. Rene glanced over at him with worry, noting the sudden paleness in his face.

It’s entirely possible that this is the most stressful morning I’ve had to endure as a Talon Commander. He’d definitely learned more about Aerrow during this conversation than in the several weeks they’d been acquainted with each other.

Right before Dark Ace was about to reach out and shake Ryke by the shoulders, demanding to know more, Avexa produced a crumpled lime-green slip from where it was pinned to her chest-plate armour. 

“The kid clearly had some level of awareness,” she said with amusement. “We found this in Aerrow’s pocket after we searched him.” 

With Rene leaning past his shoulder, Dark Ace saw a Terra Neon address printed in sleek, curly letters. It was a receipt for a nightclub, where Aerrow ordered a single drink named Azure Cherry Lagoon. 

He blinked a few times at the paper in Avexa’s hand before attempting to process everything. Then, finally, something clicked. Dark Ace broke his stunned silence with loud, unrestrained laughter that bounced off of the metal walls. Avexa, Ryke and Rene froze before watching the commander in a mix of shock and confusion while he tried to catch his breath. 

Who would have guessed that top-performing Sky Knight, Aerrow of Atmosia, who was personally selected by his headmaster as the only student to work in Cyclonia alongside Dark Ace, had gotten himself tangled up in such an unlucky misunderstanding? 

The poor kid just wanted to have a little fun, and he spent the finale of his night in a cold, dingy cell. 

“My apologies, but this whole situation is just too ridiculous to be true,” the commander finally managed, shaking his head. The other three Cyclonians visibly relaxed when they saw the rest of Dark Ace’s good-natured reaction.

“And yet here we are…,” Rene trailed off in semi-disbelief that the scowl usually present on Dark Ace’s face was replaced by an easygoing smile. 

Righting himself, Dark Ace focused his red gaze back on Avexa and Ryke, who fidgeted on the spot, unsure of how to proceed. “Good work on following protocol, you two made the right decision.” The pair nodded in respect and instantly looked to be in higher spirits. 

“However, Aerrow clearly did not commit any offences which justify his stay here.” He shifted around to glance at the cell where Aerrow was still asleep on the wooden pallet. Something tugged at Dark Ace’s chest as he thought of what a hectic night the red-haired man had gone through. Despite spending much of the night with only a thin zip-up over a white shirt, Aerrow must have been exhausted to stay asleep in such a place. A moment passed and the commander made up his mind.

“Forget the paperwork. Regarding the records, this never happened.” It was as if someone cut the imaginary strings that pulled Rene’s limbs taut with tension. The blond man sighed and let his shoulders sag, a bright expression of relief passing over his sharp face. 

“You spared me this time, Commander,” Rene joked. He glanced down at his gold watch before cursing under his breath. “It’s been an eventful morning, but if I’m late an extra minute to this meeting Ravess might actually shave my entire head.” With a nonchalant flourish, Aerrow’s advisor slinked up the staircase, looking all too excited to finally be out of the shabby basement. 

Dark Ace smirked at his retreating form before plucking the ring of keys off of a hook welded to the wall. He strode over to Aerrow’s cell and slid in the corresponding key, watching carefully as the corner of the Sky Knight’s mouth twitched. He looked pale and goosebumps littered the skin on his forearms. 

They couldn’t pay me to spend a night here, Dark Ace thought grimly.

Before turning the key in all the way, he looked between the two remaining Talons and the villager girl locked a few cells down from Aerrow’s. All the commotion had definitely sparked some curiosity in those dull eyes – she held Dark Ace’s stare for a moment before turning away. 

“Release the girl, too,” he said quietly. “Locate her family and send her back with some leftovers from the kitchen.” 

Ryke opened his mouth to protest, but a sharp nudge between the ribs from Avexa made him duck his head and rush out of the room. Dark Ace gave the lieutenant a nod and she returned it in silent understanding. No one should be locked in one of these cells unless they truly deserved it. As the door to Aerrow’s cell swung open with a smooth shwick, a pair of sage-green eyes opened and blinked groggily up at Dark Ace. Time for his apprentice to finally get some real rest.

Chapter Text

Aerrow jolted awake to the sudden banging coming from his door, sitting upright in a flash and becoming all too aware of the stiffness in his neck and shoulders. He sat slightly hunched over for a few moments, blinking groggily while taking in his surroundings. Somehow Aerrow had fallen asleep in the same clothes he’d worn to Terra Neon and ended up back in his bed in North Maven Hall, despite having little to no recollection of the events that had occurred in the time between. 

I can only remember bumping into some Talons while trying to get back to my room, the Sky Knight mused. Maybe they helped me find my way back? Aerrow didn’t have time to ponder more about what could have happened before a second set of knocks, louder than the first, cut through the silence of his room. 

“Aerrow, I know you’re in there! How long have you been asleep for?” 

The owner of that shrill voice was none other than Rene, the man who was assigned to ensure that Aerrow’s safety wasn’t in immediate danger when Dark Ace wasn’t around. The Sky Knight clambered out of bed and winced at the pins and needles that shot up his left leg. 

“Hi, Rene,” he said after swinging open the door to come face to face with the unimpressed blond. Aerow tried to smile. “Uh… What time is it?” 

Rene tugged the sleeve of his striped blazer upwards and tapped aggressively at the hands on his silver watch, and Aerrow felt his stomach drop when he read the time. 

“Almost five in the afternoon! Now I know that you’ve had an eventful night but—”

His mentor abruptly paused while he watched Aerrow scramble over to his closet and frantically unhook his Cyclonian uniform from its hanger. 

“What are you…”

“I don’t know how I could’ve slept in so late! Did Dark Ace not call for me earlier?” Aerrow pushed his red locks out of his eyes and tried to calm his nerves. Just his luck; the Sky Knight’s placement was almost coming to an end, and what might be his last major mistake was missing a whole day’s worth of assignments because he was asleep. Aerrow grimaced. That would look good on his transcript.

As his hands kept slipping while trying to pull on the gloves, Rene sighed and crossed over to where Aerrow was standing. 

“Relax,” the shorter man said with a smile. Confused, Aerrow turned his attention away from the gloves to meet his mentor’s gaze. “Dark Ace cleared your schedule today to let you sleep off the… Hassles from the previous night.” 

Aerrow frowned. “Hassles?” He echoed. “But all I did was go to Terra Neon with Jetta and Victor for a few hours last night. What happened that was serious enough for all of my tasks to be canceled today?” 

A series of emotions flickered across Rene’s face as he decided whether or not to fill Aerrow in on the gaps. Luckily for him, the Sky Knight seemed to come to that conclusion by himself, dread slowly making its way onto his face. 

“Don’t tell me… Ryke and Avexa… The holding cells, and—”

“Dark Ace was there to witness it all, bright and early,” Rene finished sympathetically with poorly disguised amusement. He chuckled and quickly cleared his throat as Aerrow slumped against the door of his closet, sliding a hand down his tired face with a groan. 

“We’re all well aware that it was a misunderstanding, so don’t get your blades in a twist. It was actually your commander’s idea to skip the paperwork on that one.” 

At that, Aerrow visibly relaxed and collapsed onto his bed, facing the deep maroon of his ceiling. Dark Ace, having my back once again, he thought, still in a state of disbelief. 

“Now don’t go falling asleep on me again,” Rene’s voice sounded, this time further away from him. “You’re needed after dinner, commander’s orders.” 

Aerrow glanced over in time to see his mentor toss a folded piece of paper onto the foot of his bed before stepping out of his room and shutting the door behind him. He blindly reached over to grab the paper and held it above his face, unfolding it.

When this note reaches you I’d hope that you are more aware of yourself.  

Cleaning duty, East Wing lavatories, 8 p.m. sharp. 

Consider it a show of gratitude towards Commander Avexa. 

— D.A

♠♠♠

By the time 8 p.m. rolled around, Aerrow had grabbed dinner and caught up with Jetta and Victor at the dining hall, where the two Cyclonians expressed their sympathy over how Aerrow’s night ended and his upcoming cleaning duty punishment. 

“Hey, at least you weren’t assigned to clean the smokestacks,” Victor had mentioned, causing him and Jetta to relive the memory from their junior years. In the dead of winter, most of the Talons had been shipped out of the terra for a major operation, and the main smokestacks on the Talon base were in desperate need of cleaning so as to not worsen the air quality from excess pollution. The last resort was to pull the Talon Academy students out of class in freezing temperatures to scrub and scrape soot from the chimneys, which to nobody’s surprise was quite the unpleasant experience. 

“It took me a whole week to get all the ash out of my hair,” Jetta had grumbled, sulking in her seat. 

So maybe scrubbing the toilets and doing some mopping wasn’t all that bad, Aerrow concluded. After all, he’d already had the experience while on board the Colonel’s ship all those weeks ago. Time did seem to pass by much too quickly for Aerrow’s liking; his placement was nearing its end and as comforting as it was to know that he’d soon be reunited with his friends again in Atmosia, Aerrow’s experiences in Cyclonia as well as the relationships he’s made here were invaluable. He couldn’t help but wonder what other events would transpire within the terra once he left, and how Dark Ace would adjust to working solo again. 

So here he was, standing in the middle of one of the main men’s washrooms in the Talon base, wearing the flimsy rubber gloves and plastic apron that were thankfully provided for him along with a set of rags, soap, a scrub brush, and a mop and bucket. The entrance to the washroom was blocked off with a cleaning sign but unfortunately this wasn’t made news to everyone, as a toilet flushed in one of the stalls and out walked a Talon who jumped at the sight of Aerrow.

Before the Sky Knight had a chance to explain, the man had hastily washed his hands and scurried out of the washroom, leaving Aerrow to start cleaning. At first glance, the green tiled floors and metal sinks didn’t seem to be too dirty, but as Aerrow bent down to mop away a pool of water he realized that a layer of grime seemed to cover every inch of the floors and walls. Still, not the worst thing that’s happened to me here, Aerrow thought with a sigh, pulling on the gloves. 

♠♠♠

Seeing as washrooms weren’t usually equipped with clocks and Aerrow didn’t have a watch on him, trying to tell how much time had passed in between scrubbing down the toilets, sinks and floors was a difficult task. Aerrow stood up from where he’d been crouching and winced at the stiffness in his knees ‒ just in time to meet the sound of heavy metal-studded boots echoing along the dry tiles. 

Dark Ace stopped a few steps away from Aerrow, surveying the state of the washroom wordlessly with his sweeping red gaze. The Sky Knight watched him warily; he wasn’t sure if it was the lighting playing tricks on him or if his mentor really did look exhausted. Despite the nature of Dark Ace’s job, the man somehow always appeared well-rested and groomed. However, the commander’s hair was out of its usual slicked-back style and his eyebrows were furrowed together, casting harsh shadows across his face.

“Satisfactory,” Dark Ace said after several moments before turning his attention to Aerrow, who nodded and tried to keep the confusion off of his face. I have no idea what he meant by that.

“I’m almost finished, wiping down the mirrors is all that’s left and—”

“There are more pressing issues at hand, I’m afraid,” the commander said grimly, dragging a hand down the side of his face. “Avexa will have to take what she can get.”

This was the moment that could kickstart Aerrow’s bland night into something exciting. He squared his shoulders in anticipation. Pressing issues could mean a variety of things, coming from Dark Ace. New assignments, imminent danger, or a major paperwork backlog were all plausible outcomes. Aerrow hoped those hours spent in the huge admin office during his recovery were his last. 

“What’s the matter? Did something happen in the base?” Aerrow asked, having completely forgotten about the dirty rags and brushes still sitting at their feet. 

The commander turned his head towards the exit of the washroom, listening for the occasional conversation echoing between people passing by. It was a regularly scheduled workday tomorrow, so most students and Talons were turning in for an early night. 

“Not necessarily in the base,” Dark Ace said, turning back around. “Yet.” He paused and gave Aerrow a slightly smug look at the alarm present on the Sky Knight’s face. 

“Something to do with your little stunt back on Saharr,” the other man continued vaguely. “Come with me, we shouldn’t talk here.” With that, the older man began to walk out of the washroom while a faulty light array on the ceiling flickered in a way that was too ominous for Aerrow’s liking. 

Aerrow felt like he was understanding less and less of what Dark Ace was trying to get at, but something was leading him to believe that it might have to do with him being in some sort of trouble. Nothing new with that, I guess. Either way, his mentor was right about not discussing serious matters in a mostly-clean washroom. Aerrow gingerly stepped over the mess of cleaning supplies and followed behind Dark Ace, still unsure of his fate as an apprentice. 

♠♠♠

After climbing up several flights of stairs from the east wing to the north end of the Talon base, Dark Ace led him into a large oval-shaped room with one of its walls completely made out of panes of glass. The structure they were standing in overlooked the terra as a whole, and Aerrow had to take a moment to catch his breath at the countless patterns of red lights and faint specks of stars that illuminated the night sky and the detailed architecture of the base. 

Footsteps echoed behind him and Aerrow jumped slightly as a familiar voice spoke at his shoulder. “Welcome to the Nexus, one of the most important rooms in all of Cyclonia.” Eve, the Talon that he’d worked with on an earlier mission, had her hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail and sounded much more alert than Aerrow currently felt. 

The Sky Knight didn’t get a chance to reply before another familiar voice sounded from the roundtable at the center of the room, which he’d completely missed upon walking into the Nexus for the first time. 

“That’s a bit of a stretch, Eve, don’t you think?” Aerrow chuckled as he saw Quinn sitting with his feet kicked up on the table and the sleeves of his uniform rolled up to his elbows. 

“Just trying to present the best of our terra to our esteemed visitor!” Eve quipped in return with a wide but cautious smile.

It was quite a contrast against Dark Ace who was seated next to him, red eyes focused on a scroll in his hands. Aerrow could practically see the dark cloud of stress hovering above his mentor, and it was unnerving to say the least. He could tell Quinn and Eve were trying to clear the tension in the air; as Eve motioned for Aerrow to take a seat at the table, the two Talons shared a look that he could only decipher as here it comes. 

The commander cleared his throat and surveyed the three of them. “My apologies for calling this meeting at such a late hour, I’m aware you two have just returned from a long mission,” Dark Ace said, nodding towards Quinn and Eve, who quickly motioned that they had no issue with it. Dark Ace left out the small detail of pulling Aerrow out of his washroom cleaning duties, which the other man decided he was grateful for. 

Before continuing, the commander nodded at Quinn who stood up and brought over a stand with several scrolls attached to the top. He pulled at the string connected to the biggest one, and the scroll unfurled to reveal a cutout of the Colonel’s face, staring back at them. 

Almost immediately Aerrow was reminded of that nerve wracking hour in disguise on the Colonel’s ship, as part of his first mission as an apprentice to cure a sick Cyclonian village via stealing the rare Sanatio crystal. In the moment, adrenaline had taken over and Aerrow was quick to think and make his next move, but looking back on it, going undercover was a risky move and there could have been mishaps at any point in the mission. 

“A few months prior, Aerrow and I traveled to Terra Saharr with the hopes of retrieving the Sanatio crystal from the Colonel to cure a small village in the north which was plagued by an unknown illness. The original plan was to negotiate, but the mission ended… Differently.” Dark Ace’s eyes slid over to Aerrow, as did Quinn and Eve’s with curiosity clear on their features. His mentor gave a small raise of his eyebrows and Aerrow nodded back before finishing the story. 

“I used a Cloaking crystal to disguise myself as a poor servant looking for work and snuck onto the Colonel’s ship, and…,” Aerrow began, faltering slightly when he saw Eve’s eyes widen slowly. “Uh, well, I slipped some sleeping draught into his tea, found the crystal, and hightailed it out of there.”

Quinn clapped his hands and let out a low whistle, giving Aerrow an impressed look. “Risky but resourceful, I’ll give you that.” The Talon turned back to Dark Ace, who was also watching Aerrow with something like amusement. “And it took that four-legged fella this long to do something about it?” 

“Apparently, yes,” Dark Ace replied exasperatedly, running a gloved hand through his unkempt hair. He slid the scroll he was studying before over to the center of the table. It looked like a letter, filled with several lines of narrow cursive. “The couriers received it this afternoon.” 

With a frown, Eve reached over and brought the letter closer to her face, squinting slightly. 

“Addressed to the head of diplomatic affairs of Terra Cyclonia:

Good evening. Allow me to formally introduce myself; I am the Colonel, collector of art, antiques and the finer things that life has to offer. It has recently come to my attention that your Terra is in possession of something of mine — a powerful crystal that restores health to any living thing it is used on. I have reason to believe this theft occurred on the day of my quarterly auction on Terra Saharr… Something to do with a suspicious servant boy with links to Cyclonia who served me some very bland tea. It should be no surprise that there will be repercussions to this.”

Eve paused her reading of the letter nervously. “That was only the first paragraph.” 

Aerrow could feel three pairs of eyes on him as the weight of the situation sank in. Making enemies on behalf of his placement terra that had the potential to lead to a full-blown war was absolutely not in Rene’s or Headmaster Ennith’s best interests, or anyone’s for that matter. Dark Ace was with him on Saharr and gave the go-ahead after some persuasion, so Aerrow couldn't be completely on his own with this. 

The situation’s still unfolding, so keeping a clear head is what I should focus on, Aerrow told himself, eyes trained on a small dent in the metal of the roundtable. He was sure all the colour had drained from his face by now. 

“Aerrow.” Dark Ace’s firm voice snapped him back into the room, and the Sky Knight was met with a red storm brewing in his eyes as he stared across at the commander.

“The right decisions are the hardest to make at times. You did the right thing. The Sanatio crystal saved all of the villagers from an untimely death, and it gave our scientists enough time to study the disease and create a cure.” 

A hand clasped settled lightly on Aerrow's wrist, and he blinked over at Eve who nodded in reassurance.

“We’re with you on this, Aerrow. You’ve proven yourself.” With that, Dark Ace let his shoulders fall and the corner of his mouth curled up in a firm smile.

You’ve proven yourself. It was all he needed to hear. 

Chapter Text

Aerrow didn’t sleep well during the days that followed the briefing. Despite the reassurance from Dark Ace, Quinn and Eve that his actions on Terra Saharr all those weeks ago was justified, the Sky Knight couldn’t shake the feeling that he might’ve just put the entire terra of Cyclonia at risk. With him being an Atmosia citizen, there was no telling how this whole situation would affect the delicate relationship between his home terra and Cyclonia, which Headmaster Ennith had tried so hard to repair. 

So much for setting an example for the future placement students.

It should be no surprise that there will be repercussions to this. It wasn’t a direct threat, but Aerrow knew better than to assume the Colonel was pleased by his deception. The rest of the letter simply glossed over the Colonel’s expertise in crystal collecting and wasn’t as alarming as the first paragraph, but that did little to calm Aerrow’s nerves. 

“Um, are you going to take one or not?” 

Aerrow jumped at the sharp tap on his shoulder and turned around. An unimpressed Talon academy student jerked her head towards the platter of muffins in front of them, her thin ponytail swirling in the air.

Right – it was a regular weekday morning for most Talons and students at the base, and Aerrow was currently holding up their breakfast. He glanced at the long line of people behind her who seemed to be getting more irritated by the second and smiled back sheepishly.

“No, no– you go ahead,” he stammered, stepping aside. “Sorry about that.”

Without waiting for her reply, Aerrow took his plate of breakfast (blackberry waffles and a side of ham) to his usual spot in the dining hall. From the rows and rows of Talons sitting at the tables, Aerrow spotted Jetta’s purple hair in the mix sitting next to Victor who was flipping intensely through a notebook. 

She eyed him curiously until Aerrow sat down in front of them, taking a moment to exhale before digging into his meal. 

“You seem skittish,” Jetta stated as Aerrow chewed his waffles. She frowned slightly and nudged Victor with her elbow. A messy head of brown hair popped up as the other man tugged on a pair of glasses and squinted at Aerrow. 

“Yep, something’s definitely up,” Victor concluded, burrowing back into his notebook. “Did you mess up one of your placement tasks or something, Aerrow?” 

His hands immediately felt clammy and Aerrow swallowed a too-big bite of waffles before replying. There’s no way that his friends would have heard the news about a possible conflict with the Colonel; everything discussed in that boardroom didn’t leave its four walls. However, maybe in this scenario, mess up is an understatement. More like high-profile drugging and theft that may jeopardize Cyclonia’s safety. 

“Uh– just didn’t get much sleep last night, is all,” Aerrow replied, reaching for the water pitcher to keep himself busy. He could practically feel Jetta’s silver stare on his skin– there was really no fooling the sharpshooter when she knew something was off. Aerrow downed a few unsteady gulps of water and forced himself to look at Jetta.

“Right.” She started to break apart the chocolate muffin sitting in front of her. “Must’ve been those broken generators next to Maven Hall, huh?”

“Yeah, tell me about it!” Aerrow plastered on a smile and forced out a laugh. He hated lying. It didn’t help that he couldn’t bear to look Jetta or Victor in the eye. They could probably see right through him as Aerrow sliced his ham into too many pieces. 

Jetta hummed before replying. “Interesting, since those generators were fixed weeks ago.” Her nails stopped tapping against the table and Aerrow knew he was busted.

“Not to mention, we’ve walked past them several times together,” Victor chimed in, closing his notebook and pinning Aerrow with a scrutinizing stare. 

“So you should know by now that the generators are next to the loading dock. On the complete opposite end of the base.” 

Aerrow let his fork and knife clatter against his plate and dug the heels of his palms into his eyes. 

“Fine, fine– you guys got me,” Aerrow mumbled. He looked up at Jetta and Victor through the gaps in his fingers to see them watching him with concern.

“I don’t think I can say too much about the situation, but you basically hit the nail on the head, Victor.” He glanced at the engineer who blinked back in surprise. Well, here goes nothing.

“I made a very… Bold move during one of my first missions with Dark Ace, and uh– let’s just say the consequences of my actions might finally catch up to me…” 

The words tumbled out of Aerrow's mouth before he could stop them. Despite the rocky start, he's managed to build up a good reputation of himself as an outsider in Cyclonia and it would be a pity if one mission gone wrong were to affect how his new friends viewed him.

With a sigh, Jetta set her half-eaten muffin on the table and smiled gently over at Aerrow.

"You aren't forbidden to make mistakes here, Aerrow," she said with a glance at Victor. "We would be the ones to know - you still remember target practice in first-year, right?"

The other boy winced at what Aerrow assumed to be a less-than-pleasant reminder. 

"Yeah, Jetta. I still remember." He looked towards Aerrow and leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. 

"We were instructed to practice shooting targets with standard Firebolt crystals. Well, about half of the class read the container labels wrong on the new shipment and loaded up their rifles with Slimer crystals, us included..." Victor cleared his throat and trailed off awkwardly, and Jetta chimed in with a snicker.

"You could probably imagine the outrage on our instructor's face when he saw the state of the training room afterwards," she said nonchalantly while biting into the muffin again. "Danzler eventually left us off the hook but it didn't come without hours of scrubbing the training room clean, even on weekends." 

"Jeez, I don't envy you guys for getting caught up in that mess," Aerrow replied with a touch of sympathy. "It's a good thing that it's in the past now, though." 

"Exactly," Victor affirmed. "Me, Jetta and our classmates owned up to the mistake, and we had each other's backs to get through it." The engineer paused with a crease between his eyebrows before continuing. 

"Coming here, you might've had the impression that there's an 'everyone for themselves' mindset amongst the Talons and students."

Aerrow shifted in his seat and looked between Victor and Jetta before nodding. "Well... maybe a little," he admitted.

"Hey, don't feel bad." Jetta reached across the table and patted Aerrow's hand. "It must have been an adjustment from what you were used to at Atmosia, but we still look out for each other here. Dark Ace is aware of the situation already, isn't he?"

"Yep, he dragged me out of my washroom-cleaning duties to break the news," Aerrow replied wryly. "Two other Talons– Quinn and Eve, were also there." 

Victor hummed, looking thoughtful. "They're pretty high-ranking members on the base. Either way, there's no chance that Dark Ace would make you, an Atmosia student, deal with the fallout of this on your own. It would make us as a terra look bad."

Jetta scoffed and a few wisps of her purple hair fluttered around her face. "Way to build up our already stellar reputation."

"Hey, you're working on it," Aerrow insisted, before the three of them broke out in a fit of laughter. 

The Sky Knight sighed and stared down at his empty plate for a few moments. 

"Thanks guys, I really needed that pep-talk," he said, looking up with a smile. Aerrow knew deep down that Dark Ace and his team would do everything in their power to not let the conflict with the Colonel escalate, but not knowing the exact outcome didn't help to settle his nerves. If only he'd remembered to ask Piper for any crystals that could predict the future.

"Anytime, Aerrow– you know we're here for you." Jetta and Victor rose from their seats and gathered up their plates, giving Aerrow matching smiles.

"And I got your backs too," he said, feeling much lighter than before. He followed suit and soon the trio were on their way to begin their respective tasks for the day. 

Coupled with his own abilities and the expertise of Cyclonia's top commander alongside him, Aerrow knew he was prepared to face whatever lay ahead.

♠♠♠

With a final drag of the polishing cloth over the handlebars of his Switchblade, Aerrow stared at the distorted reflection of himself in the shiny metal. He'd gotten used to the usual morning chaos inside of the hangars enough to mostly drown it out - the screech of a power drill or the buzzing from an air compressor, several loud conversations overlaid over one another, the endless metallic footsteps on the bolted floors... It all faded into the background as he stood still between a sea of Talons reporting for their morning duties. The pit of anxiety in Aerrow’s stomach made it difficult for many things to distract him from what he felt like was his impending doom at the hands of the Colonel. 

"Quinn, Eve, Aerrow!" Dark Ace's sharp voice reverberated through the room over the noise. Aerrow turned to see the Talon commander standing near the hangar's exit, his figure stark against the clear sky. Dark Ace beckoned them over with a wave of his hand and Aerrow followed the other two Talons as they made their way over. 

The commander's mouth was set in a grim line as he regarded the three of them.

“Five minutes until takeoff, so I’ll make this quick,” he started. “Again, we’re aiming to close out this mission without drawing our weapons– intel believes that the conflict with the Colonel can be de-escalated with a…” Dark Ace grimaced before continuing, and the Sky Knight had to hold back a smile.

“ Civilized conversation, as per their words.” 

Eve crossed her arms with a scoff. “Branching out, I see? Doubt that the Colonel’s up for that plan.” Her eyes drifted over to Aerrow as if to say especially after what this kid pulled. It was difficult to not wilt under the sudden attention. 

“Hey, let’s at least give it a chance before skipping right to the doom and gloom,” Quinn chided with a nudge at Eve’s shoulder. It was a bit amusing how the dynamic between the two older Talons seemed to resemble that of his friends at Atmosia. 

“I’ll do my best to justify my actions to the Colonel,” Aerrow said quickly. “I’m grateful that you’re all going to be supporting me, but I’m ready to be accountable.” He felt pressured to speak up with everyone’s eyes on him and in the same moment, Aerrow felt some of the anxiety leave his body.

Dark Ace regarded him with an approving look in his crimson eyes. “Good attitude, Aerrow. Putting aside your pride to own up to your actions is something that a lot of my Talons still need to work on.” 

The commander turned to look outside of the hangar and nodded when he caught sight of a Talon standing on the landing strip, holding his arm out in a signal. 

“That’s our cue– we’re cleared for takeoff,” Dark Ace addressed the group, walking the few steps over to his Switchblade before swinging a leg over the seat. “On me.” 

With one last grin over his shoulder, Dark Ace revved the engine and set off for the landing strip. 

Eve took off next, pulling her aviator glasses over her eyes. Aerrow all but scrambled to mount his Switchblade and a strong hand patting him on the back made him pitch forward.

“Try to keep up, kid,” Quinn said with an excited glint in his eye. 

“You bet I will,” Aerrow replied without missing a beat. He could feel his heart hammering in his chest but it was less to do with nerves and more about the thrill of finally settling this drawn-out dispute with the Colonel, no matter what was to come. 

The Talon standing on the landing strip saluted them as Aerrow followed Quinn out of the hangar, chasing after Dark Ace and Eve who were now specks in the sky. 

♠♠♠

Both the diplomats and intel highly advised against inviting the Colonel to Cyclonia in the event that the situation escalated and affected innocent civilians and Talons alike. Due to this, Dark Ace was currently leading the team to coordinates of the Colonel’s remote mansion, situated on an otherwise uninhabited terra. The ride was nothing short of difficult with turbulent winds and a swarm of aggressive birds disrupting the tail-end of the trip, but soon enough Aerrow touched down on the bare terra, a little dizzy if anything. 

Upon first glance, it seemed like the Colonel’s home terra lacked any sort of vegetation or other signs of life, save for the outline of a large bronze mansion in the distance. Dark Ace stepped up beside Aerrow and stared up at the mansion, mirroring the Sky Knight.

“The Colonel’s mansion– that’s our destination,” he said. “Let’s move.”

Quinn and Eve followed from behind, the latter tugging off her glasses with a grumble. “Invites us right to his front doorstep. Typical.” 

Aerrow shivered at the cold breeze as they walked. It was eerily quiet on the terra.  

“Hopefully he’ll be happy to see us,” he said in a small voice and winced immediately after. The air suddenly became tense between Aerrow and the Talons as soon as they touched down. Judging from the stiff line of Quinn’s shoulders and the scowl on Dark Ace’s face, the nerves were also starting to settle in for them as the Colonel’s mansion became clearer in their line of sight. 

After a few rather uncomfortable minutes of walking over the uneven landscape, the Colonel and his four henchmen came into view. They were standing at the short walkway leading to the double doors of his mansion, and Aerrow suspected that the gangster himself had made most of the design choices as everything from the material of the bricks to the colour of the picket fences were mismatched and gaudy. 

A loud clap brought Aerrow’s attention away from the wilting exotic plants that lined the walkway. 

“If it isn’t my most esteemed guests,” the Colonel hissed with a smile that showed too many jagged teeth. He glanced down to the clunky gold watch on his wrist. “Punctual as ever, in true Cyclonian fashion.” 

The Colonel’s henchmen snickered amongst themselves, looking smug behind their tinted sunglasses.

Next to him, Dark Ace clenched his gloved hands into fists as if resisting the urge to draw his weapon. 

“Why, of course, Colonel,” Dark Ace replied graciously, although it sounded a little forced. “We didn’t want to drag this… misunderstanding out any longer.” 

His voice drifted smoothly over to where the Colonel and his henchmen stood, the creature made a displeased face once he swept his beady green eyes across the four Cyclonians– Aerrow included. 

“So few of you, hmm?” he sniffed. “Am I not important enough for at least a squadron of Talons?” 

No time like the present. Aerrow swallowed against the dryness in his throat and took a step forwards. 

“Colonel, we were hoping that all of this could be resolved with a simple conversation,” he said, keeping his voice surprisingly stable. “With that said, I’m sorry for stealing the Sanatio crystal from your ship, and, um–  d-drugging you in the process...” 

Aerrow suddenly became aware of the several pairs of eyes on him as he trailed off and folded his hands behind his back, meeting the Colonel’s contemptuous expression head-on.

“You,” was all the Colonel said at first, making Aerrow shrink back a little. Beside him, Dark Ace and Quinn stiffened. To say the situation was unpredictable was an understatement, and the level of uncertainty only seemed to increase with every word exchanged between the Talons and the Colonel. 

“Yes… it’s all coming back to me now,” the creature hissed after a pause and squinted down at Aerrow. 

“Imagine my surprise when I learned that it was not a poor servant boy that, as you mentioned, drugged and stole one of my most prized possessions from me, but in reality an Atmosian in cahoots with the Cyclonians. The twist of the century. What has the Atmos come to?!” 

The Colonel paused his rant once again for dramatic effect and looked expectantly at the henchmen standing on either side, who immediately gasped and plastered scandalized expressions on their faces. Satisfied, the Colonel turned back to face the Talons and Aerrow kept his face impassive despite the massive urge to roll his eyes. 

A muscle jumped in Dark Ace’s jaw before he stepped forwards, just a few inches shy of the Colonel’s face. 

“Your surprise pales in comparison to what our citizens–”

“What Commander Dark Ace means to say,” Aerrow quickly interjected, “is that desperate measures drove Cyclonia to require the Sanatio crystal’s powers.” He shot a grateful half-smile at Quinn and Eve who had their hands on either side of Dark Ace’s shoulders, trying to placate the other man’s anger. 

With a scoff, the Colonel glared at Dark Ace before focusing an uncomfortable amount of attention on Aerrow. 

“Well, do go on, then,” he drawled. “I don’t have all day for you to hear your pitiful explanation on why you committed such a deceitful act.” 

The Sky Knight took a deep breath and let the tension ease from his body before rehashing the little-known details of the mysterious illness that plagued Cyclonian villagers living in the mountains. There was some back-and-forth between the Talons and the Colonel as he tried to comprehend the situation, but to Aerrow’s growing concern, the look of doubt never seemed to leave the four-legged creature’s face. 

“Entire villages would have been completely wiped out if not for the Sanatio crystal’s powers,” Eve insisted. Patience amongst the Talons was wearing thin, and Aerrow could feel the collective worry between the four of them in case a civilized conversation wasn’t enough to sway the Colonel, after all. 

The Colonel regarded her for a moment with an arched eyebrow before his expression suddenly shifted to something of exasperation. 

“Enough,” he ordered in a booming voice, the sound echoing across the vast emptiness of the terra. “This sounds like a child’s play-pretend story. My men and I have entertained your antics for far too long. Clearly, you Cyclonians have disrespected myself and my prized crystal collection, and so I believe it is time for retribution.” 

Aerrow felt sweat bead at his hairline as the henchmen inched closer and reached for the energy pistols holstered at their belts. He spared a glance over at Dark Ace who only gave a minute nod of his head, before the commander drew his own weapon with a smooth arc of his hand. With this, Quinn and Even did the same and Aerrow also unsheathed his energy blades after a moment of hesitation. 

Definitely not looking forward to explaining this one to Ennith, Aerrow thought with a grimace.

“Colonel, this is your last warning,” Dark Ace growled. “You are making a grave mistake by–”

In an instant, a blinding flash of light next to the henchmen caused everyone to shield their eyes and turn away. Aerrow’s thoughts were racing as he tried to blink away the colourful streaks burned into his eyelids. Were they suddenly under attack by some shared enemy between the Cyclonians and the Colonel?

“What in the world…” 

The light slowly dimmed into a white glow that gave way into a vertical pool of shimmering indigo. As Aerrow lowered his arm, he realized belatedly that he was staring at a portal.

He blinked at the low, resonant hum that emanated from it and suddenly felt dizzy, wondering if this was a hallucination or if he really was in the presence of such rare crystal magic.  Next to him, nobody said a word as both sides stood still in shock and tried to process what had just happened. 

The Sky Knight had learned that portals and gateways were among the most advanced techniques a mage could possess. There were only a handful of crystal mages in the Atmos who were at the level required to stabilize and sustain the generation of a portal, and the answer to the question brewing in everyone’s minds stepped out of the indigo pool before Aerrow could put together the pieces. 

The portal rippled and a cloaked figure holding a large staff stood between the Cylonians and the Colonel’s men. There, delicately fixed between the claws of the staff, was a glowing green crystal the size of a grape. 

The cloak disappeared gently like a lifting fog and Master Cyclonis’s dark eyes scanned the scene with a cold, unreadable expression before landing on the Colonel. The creature’s normally sandy complexion had faded into something oddly pale, and he didn’t so much as blink while the Cyclonian leader stared at him. 

“Pardon my interruption,” Master Cyclonis said. “I believe I have something that belongs to you.” 

Chapter Text

The silence stretched on for a bit too long before the Colonel finally spoke, a frazzled mess. He took a few hesitant steps forward with his hands clasped together. 

“M-Master Cyclonis– by all means, the– the crystal is yours if you so desire it, Your Highness–!”

“Nonsense,” the empress said, ignoring the Colonel’s frantic gestures to his henchmen to put away their weapons. 

With a flourish, the claws of her energy staff clicked open with a snick and the Sanatio crystal glided smoothly through the air to hover next to the Colonel. He plucked it out of the air with a shaking hand, looking like he was about to faint. 

“Although I find your collecting habit to be… overzealous ,” Cyclonis continued with a sneer, “I cannot deny that Cyclonia has been in possession of one of your crystals without your permission.” 

Dark Ace sheathed his energy sword with a frown. Aerrow thought he looked slightly more relaxed now that the threat of a fight breaking out was essentially gone. 

“Master Cyclonis, the villagers–” 

“–Are taken care of,” she finished, settling her stern gaze on the Talon commander. That seemed to placate Dark Ace enough for him to lower his head and step back in line with Quinn and Eve.

“The scientists have informed me that they have harnessed the Sanatio crystal’s powers to develop a cure for any future instances of the illness.”

“That’s amazing news!” Eve exclaimed with a smile. 

“Thank you for informing us, Master Cyclonis.” Quinn said firmly. 

“Indeed,” Cyclonis said with a nod. She suddenly focused her attention to Aerrow, who just so happened to be the only one who hadn’t said a word yet. Dark Ace gave him a sharp nudge to his side and Aerrow stood taller, meeting Cyclonis’ eyes.

“I’m happy to help in any way that I can,” he said, trying to mirror Eve and Quinn when they addressed their leader. 

Master Cyclonis seemed satisfied with that as her energy staff retracted fluidly into its compact form. She strapped it to her back and exhaled before regarding the Talons and the Colonel once more, this time with less intensity in her gaze.

“It is time for Terra Cyclonia to enter a new era. We must reopen our doors to new allies and reconsider how we are moving forward.” 

Her statement left everyone slack-jawed, with the exception of Dark Ace who only nodded in agreement. 

“Dark Ace, see me in my office once you’re back,” Cyclonis ordered. “We have matters to discuss.”

“Understood, Master.” 

Cyclonis turned on her heel and stepped back into the portal, which Aerrow realized had been shimmering behind her the entire time. It began closing as soon as Cyclonis stepped in, leaving the Talons alone with the Colonel and his henchmen. As they were before. 

“Well”, the Colonel said suddenly after loudly clearing his throat. “My apologies for causing such a stir, but I believe our… misunderstanding has now been resolved.”

 “.... I trust that you can see yourselves off of my terra. Good day.” 

The Talons watched wordlessly as the Colonel clapped his hands and his henchmen fell in line behind him, on their way back to the mansion. 

Aerrow let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding and turned at the sound of Dark Ace’s scoff. 

“I suppose the civil conversation tactic was more effective than I thought,” he said, looking around in amusement.

“Was it really if Master Cyclonis was the one who prevented the meeting from getting physical?” Quinn wondered out loud as Eve rolled her eyes and began walking back to their Switchblades.

“Let’s not dwell on that and just take what we can get,” she said as the rest of them followed closely behind through the barren terra.

“You said it, Eve,” Aerrow chimed in. “I wouldn’t want to run into the Colonel again anytime soon– that’s for sure.” 

The four of them finished the trek back to the Switchblades in a chorus of laughter and conversation. Aerrow felt oddly light, like a weight was lifted off of his shoulders once they landed in Cyclonia. 

♠♠♠

The hydraulic doors hissed shut behind Aerrow as he stepped into his room, neat and organized as he always made sure to leave it. With a sigh, he began to remove the pieces of armour attached to his uniform before sitting down at his desk. The Sky Knight’s unfinished placement report seemed stared back at him almost mockingly and Aerrow shut his eyes at the reminder of having to write three more paragraphs about his time working for Cyclonia. 

As the hands of the clock on Aerrow’s desk ticked on, a sudden realization dawned over him. The simple fact that Aerrow was at the stage of his career where it was necessary to write a placement report was a testament of how his days as a student would soon come to an end. His daily routines, time spent with friends, and responsibilities would all be turned upside down with the transition to becoming a real Sky Knight– whatever that entailed. 

The week before Aerrow’s placement was due to start felt like an eternity ago, where he was getting in his own head about the rumours surrounding Cyclonia and what would ultimately become of him on the reclusive terra. However, after being here for nearly the full three months, Aerrow can say that he doesn’t have that many complaints about how his placement progressed. 

A series of quick knocks at the door abruptly pulled Aerrow out of his thoughts, and he had an inkling of who was on the other side. 

With a press of his palm to the security panel, the vertical doors opened to reveal none other than Aerrow’s placement advisor, Rene. The blond man was dressed impeccably as usual, opting for a wine-coloured suit with swirling gold details with slacks to match.

“Aerrow, so nice to see you!” Rene greeted with a bright smile. 

“Hello, Rene– you as well,” Aerrow said. “What can I do for you?” 

“Accompany me for a visit to Master Cyclonis’ office?” Rene asked cryptically. His sharp smile gave nothing away as Aerrow tried to hide the surprise on his face. The Sky Knight felt a suspicious sense of déjà vu creep up on him. 

“You’re not in any trouble, so not to worry,” his advisor continued. He tilted his head slightly and regarded Aerrow as if deep in thought. 

“In fact, I think you will be quite satisfied with what our leader has to say.”

“Um–”

“Well, no more dilly-dallying. Come along now!” 

Rene set off down the hall without waiting for Aerrow’s response, and he had no choice but to hope he still looked presentable before hurriedly following after the other man. 

♠♠♠

Aerrow shivered as he and Rene approached the heavy doors leading to Cyclonis’ office, and it wasn’t only due to the temperature drop the closer they got to this part of the base. Realistically, Aerrow had no reason to not trust Rene. As his advisor, the blond man had direct contact with Headmaster Ennith back on Atmosia and along with Dark Ace, was responsible for Aerrow’s safety while on his placement. 

And look how that turned out on your first day, not to mention that time you woke up in the hospital– 

Aside from a few minor mishaps that mostly turned out to be the consequences of Aerrow’s actions, Rene was good at his job and realistically had no reason to sabotage him this far into his placement. So when Rene gestured for him to knock, Aerrow obeyed, holding his breath. 

“Come in.” 

Master Cyclonis’ reedy voice travelled through the metal walls and Aerrow put all of his strength in his arms to push open the door. 

At the centre of the office was a tarnished silver table with elaborate detailing along its supports. Only two people were seated at the table despite its large size– Master Cyclonis and Dark Ace. Their faces looked ghostly pale in the white light.

“Thank you, Rene. Dismissed.” 

The blond man bowed with a flourish and nudged Aerrow further into the room before departing. Unsure of whether he should approach the table or not, Aerrow cleared his throat and stood stiffly near the doors. 

“Master Cyclonis, Dark Ace– you asked for me?” 

“Have a seat, Aerrow,” the Talon commander said, beckoning him over. He could feel the weight of the two pairs of eyes on him as he moved closer to the table. 

Once Aerrow was seated, Master Cyclonis leaned forwards across the table with her hands folded. Her expression was difficult to read as always, but Aerrow thought he saw a flicker of a smile on her pale face. 

“Months ago before you arrived, I had little faith that Ennith’s student would succeed in an environment like Cyclonia. Perhaps that was why I was so harsh upon our first meeting.” 

Master Cyclonis shared a glance with Dark Ace before fixing her black-rimmed eyes on Aerrow again. 

“However, you’ve impressed me, Sky Knight.” 

Stunned, Aerrow sat up straighter in his uncomfortable chair and nodded at her words. 

“T–Thank you, Master Cyclonis. I’m glad to have contributed to the Cyclonian cause.”

He immediately winced at his response– they weren’t preparing for war, for Atmos’ sake! Luckily, Master Cyclonis barely spared him a glance before speaking again. 

“I paired you with Dark Ace due to his experience and skill as a commander. I was also curious as to how he would fare without working solo for once.” 

Aerrow dared to look at Dark Ace and found him scowling down at the table with his arms crossed. To say the commander had been less than thrilled upon learning that he would be Aerrow’s mentor was an understatement. Aerrow was glad that he hadn’t been on the other end of Dark Ace’s energy blade since that day.

“What I wasn’t expecting was for you two to work so well together,” Master Cyclonis concluded, looking smug. 

Aerrow blinked, at a loss once more of what to say. After working together for so many weeks on end, he hadn’t realized how naturally he and the commander developed a routine, from morning briefings to filing reports and the usual border patrols. Even during the handful of high-risk operations they’d been involved in, Dark Ace never left him floundering on his own despite his initial cold exterior. 

It really goes to show what a few months together can do… 

Dark Ace looked like he was about to protest until Master Cyclonis gave him a scathing look. The Talon commander promptly schooled his expression before turning to Aerrow, clasping his hands together on the table. 

“And this is precisely why Master Cyclonis and… myself,” Dark Ace began, saying the last word with some difficulty. 

“... Would like to offer you a permanent position among the Cyclonian Talons after your graduation, with distinction as a Sky Knight. You would continue working under me.” 

The words hung in the air and Aerrow felt all of the blood rush from his head. 

Me? Becoming a real Talon?

“Wow,” he breathed. “I’m honoured, um–” 

“We don’t require your decision right away, of course,” Master Cyclonis cut in, with a wave of her hand. 

“But it would be helpful to know that your Headmaster is aware of this offer and is in favour of it, depending on your final decision. If you accept, this will be a monumental effort in establishing Cyclonia’s future partnerships with other terras– starting with Atmosia.” 

Aerrow nodded on auto-pilot, still trying to process what had happened in the past two minutes. It was common for students to return to their placement terras after graduation, but Aerrow hadn’t expected that to extend to him, on Cyclonia of all places. 

“Thank you,” he said steadily after taking a breath. “This placement has honestly changed my life, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to return. I just– might need a day or two to fully think it over?” 

“Granted,” the empress said easily. She drew a small arc in the air and a scroll materialized on the table, unfurling in front of Aerrow. 

“This is your contract. Give it a thorough read and return it signed to Rene when you’re ready.” 

Hesitantly, Aerrow slid the scroll closer to himself and tried his best to keep his face neutral when he saw the number of zeroes scrawled delicately under Annual Compensation.

“Understood. I’ll be sure to let Rene know as soon as possible. Master Cyclonis, Commander– thank you both.” 

The Cyclonian leader and her second in command seemed satisfied with that response, and Aerrow was promptly dismissed. He gently rolled up the scroll and bowed somewhat sheepishly, to which Dark Ace smirked while Master Cyclonis simply gave him a level stare, which Aerrow accepted. 

He was an arm’s length away from reaching the doors before he heard Cyclonis’ voice again. 

“Are you aware of the upcoming Sky Knight Summit, Aerrow?”

He paused for only a second before his brain caught up. Every year, Sky Knights across the Atmos would gather on Terra Atmosia to discuss a number of challenges and triumphs shared between the terras. The annual meeting was also imperative for terras to coordinate any joint operations and tackle any high-priority concerns. Aerrow had been so caught up with his responsibilities on Cyclonia that he’d forgotten that the next summit was scheduled near the end of his placement. 

“Uh, yeah– it’s happening about two weeks from now,” he replied as he turned back around, still slightly confused. 

Master Cyclonis nodded and leaned back in her seat. “Cyclonia will be in attendance this year, the first time in several decades.”

Now that was some jaw-dropping news. The empress really meant it when she mentioned how her terra would be entering a new era. Aerrow’s sure the shock was written all over his face. 

“Would you be interested in accompanying us?” Dark Ace asked, standing up and leaning against the table. A look of amusement replaced his usual scowl, making the older man seem much less intimidating.

“Quinn, Eve, as well as a few other of my Talons and graduating academy students will also be joining.” 

Would I be interested in a lifetime supply of Striker crystals for my energy blades?! 

Aerrow had the same answer for both questions.

“Yes, of course!” he exclaimed, briefly wondering if all of this was still real life. 

As soon as Cyclonis concluded the meeting, Aerrow returned to his room in a daze. From narrowly avoiding a battle against the Colonel due to a crystal he stole, to being told the leader of Cyclonia would like for him to permanently join the Talons and represent them at the Sky Knight Summit… Aerrow would probably need the following day to process everything, and how much his life would inevitably change very soon. 

Cyclonia clearly wasn’t the same terra it was years ago, with Master Cyclonis keen on rebuilding its sullied reputation in an open and honest way by engaging the other kingdoms. The rumours and stories that Aerrow had gotten wrapped up in before his placement were laughable compared to the reality of the closed-off terra. They were simply another hard working nation trying to pick up the pieces.

The Sky Knight had spent his whole life growing up on Atmosia, surrounded by the academy and friends that he valued like family. Up until now, it was all he ever knew. Of course, the world wasn’t only limited to Atmos’ capital– there was still so much out there to explore.

Maybe, Cyclonia was a good place to start. 

♠♠♠

“Well, they definitely got the formal part down,” Jetta mused, stretching out an arm to stare at the intricate stitching on her sleeve.

“Evident in the collar, for sure,” Victor wheezed. He loosened the first button constricting his neck and took a large gulp of air, sending Jetta and Aerrow into a fit of laughter.

Next to his friends, Aerrow examined his own reflection in the mirror hanging on his closet door. The three of them were dressed in matching outfits delivered by Rene, specifically to be worn for representing Cyclonia at the Sky Knight Summit in a few days. Similar to the athletic uniform Aerrow was issued at the beginning of his placement, the formal blazers and slacks bore the deep shades of Cyclonian red and green with hand-stitched details in fine silver thread. 

Aerrow could hardly believe how quickly the day had come– it was already surreal that his placement had officially ended the day before and until he returned in a few months as a freshly graduated Talon, Aerrow’s duties under Dark Ace were put on pause. 

Ennith had sounded pleased and more than a little relieved over the radio a few days prior when he contacted Aerrow to check in regarding the end of his placement. So had his friends, for that matter– Piper had coordinated a group call between Aerrow, Finn, Junko, Stork and Radarr to catch up over the three months they’d been apart for. 

Apparently, all five of Aerrow’s friends were also invited to the Sky Knight Summit on behalf of their placement terras, marking the day that they would finally be reunited. A majority of the call was filled with excited cheering and shouting, needless to say. This year’s summit would be especially memorable to Aerrow and his friends as it was to be hosted on Terra Atmosia, their home. It was probably the best possible way to wrap up their hard work and years of schooling at the academy and their placements. 

“What do you think, Aerrow?” 

Jetta’s bright silver eyes blinked back at him through the mirror. Aerrow suddenly jolted back into his body after spacing out for a bit. 

“Yeah– the tailors really outdid themselves,” Aerrow agreed. He couldn’t imagine the time and planning that went into designing the beautiful uniforms. It would be an honour to wear them at such a special event. 

“I bet the Talons who graduated last year are so jealous,” Jetta continued, nudging Victor with her elbow. “Serves them right for constantly picking on us.” 

“Yeah, we’re definitely lucky for all of these new opportunities now that Cyclonia’s shifting their perspective.” 

The dark-haired man nodded towards Aerrow, giving him a careful look. “And I think we all know who to thank in making all of this possible.”

Aerrow paused, his hands hovering over the last few buttons on his uniform. Coming to Cyclonia on a placement and being the first Sky Knight in training to do so definitely was a hard pill to swallow at first, but what was even more difficult to accept was the truth to Victor’s words– the undeniable significance of Aerrow’s presence towards the shift that Cyclonia was currently undergoing. 

Up until this moment, living a humble life while striving for his goals were the only things that Aerrow really knew. Growing up in Atmosia as an orphan was anything but easy, but having friends who were more like family and a good support system in the academy slowly made the bad days less and less frequent. He wanted to become a great Sky Knight and do good out in Atmos, but Aerrow never would have thought he’d become someone so impactful before he even officially graduated yet. 

“You flatter me, guys,” Aerrow said with a laugh, adjusting the collar of his uniform. “I might be Cyclonia’s poster-boy for now, but I’m also just another student at the end of the day.” 

Victor’s expression faltered. “I’m sorry, Aerrow… I can’t imagine it’s easy to be in your position. It must be a lot of pressure.” 

“That doesn’t mean we aren’t super grateful, though,” Jetta added, smiling encouragingly. “Morale is up all across the base and the junior students are as excited as ever for the new changes coming to the Talon Academy.”

“So thanks, Aerrow.” Jetta shared a look with Victor before turning back to him. “You don’t know how much you’re helping out the next generation of Cyclonians.” 

Warmth settled in Aerrow’s chest at Jetta’s words. Breaking into a wide smile, he held his arms out towards his two friends. 

“Come on, bring it in,” he chuckled as he embraced Jetta in one arm and Victor in the other. “I didn’t mean to get so sappy before dinner, but I really am glad to call you guys my first friends in Cyclonia.” 

“Likewise, indeed,” Victor said, patting Aerrow on the back. The engineer’s eyes widened as he glanced at the clock. 

“Speaking of dinner, we’d better hurry if we don’t want to miss out on the shrimp cocktails.”

Jetta immediately brightened at the mention of seafood, and the three of them dashed out of Aerrow’s room in the direction of the dining hall. 

♠♠♠

The day of the Sky Knight Summit had come, and Aerrow was hours away from the event he’d dreamed of attending as a student. Despite being already dressed in his summit uniform and the letter sitting on Aerrow’s nightstand with the instructions to to make his way to the main landing strip at noon, it was still difficult for the red-haired man to believe that this was really his life.

He’d been summoned to Cyclonia of all terras for his final-year placement, separated from the academy and his friends for the first time in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Now that the three months were coming to an end with the option to remain in Cyclonia permanently, Aerrow wondered what exactly he was so worried about in the first place. 

A sharp knock at the door interrupted Aerrow’s thoughts. He’d zoned out at his desk while spinning around idly in the chair, just like old times at the academy. 

“Coming!”

Aerrow pressed his palm to the door’s security panel and was greeted by Dark Ace’s signature stony expression, rather than a bright-eyed Rene who would usually be the one to pop by his room.

“Dark Ace,” Aerrow said, startled. “What brings you here?” He fixed his posture and hoped his uniform wasn’t already wrinkled. 

“I wanted to check in before the big event,” the commander replied, regarding Aerrow carefully with a sweep of his red gaze. He’d changed out his usual tactical uniform for a sleek blazer and slacks, similar to what Aerrow was wearing for the summit. It was a bit jarring to see Dark Ace dressed so formally and without armour for the first time. 

“How are you feeling, Aerrow?”

The question took him a little by surprise– coming from Dark Ace of all people, and Aerrow took a second to really think about it. 

“Honestly, kind of nervous,” he replied sheepishly, fiddling with the collar of his blazer. “A lot of important people will be at the Summit.” 

Dark Ace nodded with a sigh. “That seems to be the general consensus. It’s been quite a while since Cyclonia has opened itself to the rest of Atmos.” 

Aerrow blinked as he took in the commander’s words. Attending the Sky Knight Summit wasn’t only a rather daunting experience for him, but also for the terra and its leaders as a whole. After so many decades of shutting its doors to any and all diplomatic requests with other terras, it was hard to say how Cyclonia’s presence at the summit would be received. 

Before Aerrow could reply, Dark Ace cleared his throat with a pinched look on his face.

“Excuse the short notice on this request, Aerrow,” he started. “But Master Cyclonis would like for you to say a few words at the Summit today. Just to reflect a little on your time here.”

“Sure,” Aerrow replied automatically before letting the commander’s words fully sink in. He hesitated after a moment, picturing the rows and rows of Sky Knights in the audience along with Ennith and his friends, all staring up at Aerrow as he made his speech.

“Uh, wait– in front of everyone ?” 

Dark Ace smirked at the alarm slowly making its way onto his apprentice’s face. He’d gotten the answer he needed to hear, and that was enough. 

“No need to panic, Aerrow,” he said. He didn’t sound entirely condescending. “I’m sure you’ll be able to come up with something on the fly. See you soon at the landing strip.”

With a pat on Aerrow’s shoulder, Dark Ace retreated down the hall, leaving the red-haired man alone in the doorway of his room. 

Less than two hours until takeoff to Atmosia… that’s more than enough time to plan this out, Aerrow thought with a deep inhale as the doors to his room hissed closed again.

♠♠♠

The ship was buzzing with excitement and conversation from the Sky Knight Summit’s Cyclonian guests. Aerrow, Jetta and Victor along with the rest of the selected Talons and graduating academy students were seated in the ship’s main cabin while Master Cyclonis, Dark Ace and their hand-picked Talons responsible for diplomatic and security affairs sat in the first-class cabin up ahead. The door separating the two cabins was guarded by a stern-looking Talon who knew some people were a bit too eager to get their glimpse of the Cyclonian leader or her top commander. 

They’d been in the air for about five hours now and Aerrow felt a spike of anticipation in his chest as he glanced out of the window and saw the clouds slowly disperse, revealing the shining top of the Aurora Stone Tower. 

“Attention passengers,” an automated voice suddenly sounded over the loudspeaker. “The ship has begun its landing sequence into Terra Atmosia. Please fasten your seatbelts.”

It’s almost like when I first touched down in Cyclonia. The feeling of finally being back home after the three months was hard to describe.

On Aerrow’s left, Jetta gasped as she stared out of the window with her fingertips against the glass. 

“Woah, Aerrow– is that your academy?” 

He followed her line of sight to the cluster of old brick buildings and modern towers plated with metal and glass in the distance. The mini-terras for specialized subjects were also visible from their vantage point, with students in Skimmers flying to and from each terra. 

“Yep, Atmosia Academy,” he said proudly. “It’s hard to believe I’ll be graduating soon after seven years.”

“It looks amazing,” Victor chimed in from Aerrow’s right side. He blinked wistfully and watched as the ship descended further. 

“I’ll try to show you guys around sometime,” Aerrow replied with a smile. “We’re here after all, right?”

“The terra really went all out for the occasion, huh?” Jetta mused as they flew past the academy and over the town square where the Sky Knight Council building was located. 

Aerrow and Victor turned back to see long, flowing banners with the insignias of various Sky Knight squadrons hanging from a few ships hovering close to the ground. Some read WELCOME TO TERRA ATMOSIA and THE 97th ANNUAL SKY KNIGHT SUMMIT. The sunlight illuminated the fabric in shimmering waves and Aerrow found it hard to look away. He glanced down and watched as another ship in front of them made its landing onto one of several large airstrips. The area looked busy as the Summit attendees started to trickle in on air rides and ships alike. 

Distantly, Aerrow noticed that the volume in the ship had fallen considerably, making the humming from the engines all the more obvious. He glanced around briefly and smiled a little as he took in the rest of the Talons and students glued to the windows with awed expressions, whispering amongst themselves.

“I wouldn’t expect anything else,” Aerrow joked back at the purple-haired girl as the ship continued its descent into Atmosia. 

♠♠♠

If Aerrow and his friends thought the view from the ship was anything to be impressed by, stepping off of the ship and making their way into the venue for the Summit was a completely different experience. 

The slightly chilly air conditioning on the ship slowly gave way to a gentle warm breeze as Aerrow stepped foot on the cobblestone path, lining up behind Victor and in front of Jetta. He blinked in surprise at the crowds of people gathered behind metal barriers excitedly waving at the Summit guests or trying to get a few signatures or photographs. Guards were stationed nearby to control the crowds and to direct the flow of guests off of their ships and inside the building where the Summit would be held. 

The sun was shining and decorative bunting and garlands lined the small pathway to the Summit’s entrance where guests were gradually being checked in. Aerrow felt a surge of excitement as he looked around, only a short while away from attending one of the most prestigious events of his career. While scanning the area, he happened to lock eyes with an Atmosian man and woman, judging by the pins that they wore. Their looks of excitement and admiration quickly morphed into suspicion as they took in the colours of his uniform. Aerrow averted his gaze, feeling put off by the reaction. 

“Something tells me we’re not the ones they’re lining up for,” Victor muttered under his breath, ahead of Aerrow. 

“Well, we’re here anyways,” Aerrow replied wryly. He glanced back at Jetta who shrugged, looking unfazed. 

“Come on, we’re almost inside,” she said, trying to see around the handful of Cyclonians ahead of them in line. “I’m dying to know what all the fuss is about.”

When they finally reached the front of the line, Aerrow felt the knot of anxiety twist in his stomach. He greeted the two Atmosian guards before stating his name and the terra he was representing. The blue-eyed guard seemed to hesitate when he heard ‘Terra Cyclonia’ come out of Aerrow’s mouth, possibly wondering if he’d seen the red-haired man before somewhere around Atmosia. Thankfully, the guard next to him whispered something indistinctly before the first guard brightened and crossed something off of his clipboard, allowing Aerrow to enter. 

There was a lot to take in as Aerrow stepped onto the deep red carpets inside the building. His eyes followed the faint golden swirls that decorated the walls before moving to the domed ceiling, made out of intricate glass panels that covered the chambers in dappled sunlight. There were quite a few guests gathered along the golden railing where Aerrow was standing, and he saw even more Summit attendees mingling about in the sloped rows of the chambers. Everyone was dressed differently to represent their terras and Aerrow smiled at the sea of colours and armour all gathered together in one place. At the very front of the circular room stood a podium and a stage which were still empty. The Summit hadn’t begun yet. 

“So, first impressions?” Arrow turned to his side with a grin. His expression faltered when he realized he was talking to an empty space, as Jetta and Victor were no longer next to him.

Quiet classical music from the balconies above drifted down to where Aerrow was standing. He leaned against the railing and thought he could make out several Cyclonian uniforms among the mingling guests, currently deep in conversation with a few Rex Guardians and a few members of the Third Degree Burners from Saharr.

Glad to see they’re integrating well, he thought while scanning the room for any familiar faces. He was eager to finally reunite with his friends again after being separated due to their placements. Aerrow started to descend the winding staircase down to where the rest of the guests were waiting for the Summit to begin. 

“Aerrow!”

“Over here, bud!”

Aerrow was a half-step away from losing his footing as he looked in the direction of the familiar voices and saw Piper, Finn, Stork, Junko and Radarr gathered near the bottom of the stairs. They were waving excitedly with bright grins and Aerrow practically leapt down the rest of the stairs to greet his friends in a group hug, paying no mind to the questioning looks they got from a few onlookers. 

“We all made it,” he breathed as he pulled away, smiling proudly. Radarr chirped and jumped onto Aerrow’s shoulder. “You guys look great!”

“So do you, dude!” Finn exclaimed. “This place is so sick, I still can’t believe the Rex Guardians allowed me to come!”

“Maybe they did manage to teach you some etiquette, after all,” Stork mused. Next to him, Piper snickered with a shake of her head. 

“Gosh, our placements seemed to pass in the blink of an eye,” she sighed. “We’ve got to catch up after once we’re all free.”

“Agreed,” Aerrow said, scratching under Radarr’s chin. “I’m curious to know what you guys have been up to for these past three months.” 

“As much as I miss Terra Wallop, I’m so happy to be back together with you guys!” Junko sniffed tearfully before squeezing the rest of them together once more in a tight hug. 

“Best friends for life!”

Radarr leapt off of Aerrow’s shoulder and onto Junko’s head to avoid getting crushed in the hug. Aerrow wheezed a little as Junko gently set him and his friends down again.

“Best friends for life,” he agreed with warmth blooming in his chest. 

A voice suddenly sounded over the loudspeakers and the Summit guests paused their conversations to look around the chambers and over at the podium. 

“Attention esteemed guests of the 97th annual Sky Knight Summit– the event is about to begin shortly. Please proceed to your designated seating area.”

Aerrow scanned the chambers quickly for anyone else wearing the colours of the Cyclonian uniform and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Jetta’s purple ponytail near the right side of the chambers. She was waving at him next to Victor with an empty seat beside them. 

“I’ll see you guys after the Summit?” Aerrow asked, turning briefly to his friends. 

“You betcha!” Finn nodded with his signature finger guns before he caught up with a group of Rex Guardians heading towards the center seats.

Piper, Junko, Stork and Radarr said their quick goodbyes and broke in different directions to their seats as Aerrow did the same. His seat was thankfully near the edge of the aisle so he didn’t have to worry about stepping on anyone’s toes as he maneuvered through the other guests. 

“Those your academy friends?” Victor gave Aerrow a curious look as he sat down.

“Yep,” Aerrow whispered back as the lighting over the podium brightened. “Grew up with them.”

“You should introduce us,” Jetta whispered, leaning over Victor’s shoulder.

Aerrow nodded and gave her a thumbs-up as he spotted a figure walking across the stage to stand at the podium from his peripheral vision. The chambers fell quiet as everyone awaited the official start of the Summit. 

An older man wearing gold spectacles and a tweed suit adjusted the microphone before speaking. His magnified face flickered on two large holo-screens mounted to the wall on either side of the stage. 

“Good morning and welcome, protectors of Atmos,” he began, blinking up at the audience. “I am Councilman Garnett of the Atmosia Sky Knight Council, and I am pleased to welcome you all to the 97th annual Sky Knight Summit. Joining me today to represent Atmosia at this year’s Summit are Headmaster Ennith of Atmosia Academy as well as Starling of The Interceptors. Please give them a warm welcome.” 

The chambers filled with the sound of applause and cheering as Ennith and Starling walked onto the stage and bowed, standing a few meters away from the podium. The large screens flickered before they appeared with wide smiles, almost glowing under the bright lights. Aerrow’s face started to ache from how much he was smiling as he regarded the two figures he’d admired for so many years of his life. Ennith had been the one to give him a real chance at fighting for his dreams. Starling was only a few years older than Aerrow but she’d already made a name for herself as a skilled Sky Knight with her squad, and regularly visited students at the academy when she was free. 

“Thank you, all,” Garnett continued, adjusting his glasses. “Before we allow each terra to begin with their recent updates over this year, I would like to also welcome two special groups of guests who are joining us today. Firstly, congratulations to the graduating students from our very own Atmosia Academy, who have recently completed their Sky Knight placements.” 

Someone in the crowd gave an excited whoop! , prompting the rest of the guests to begin clapping again. Jetta quirked her eyebrows at Aerrow while Victor leaned over her, whispering a quick congratulations. Aerrow nodded back somewhat bashfully as the applause quieted down. As he scanned through the audience, he thought he spotted Finn’s spiky hair a few rows ahead. The blond man had a proud grin on his face as he gestured animatedly to a Rex Guardian beside him. 

“Now, each year’s Summit understandably comes with a wave of new faces. However, this year’s gathering is quite significant in this regard as we welcome Master Cyclonis and the Cyclonian Talons to Atmosia.” 

Aerrow let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding when he didn’t hear any outraged gasps or hushed whispers as Master Cyclonis rose from her seat in the front row. She nodded at Garnett before briefly raising her hand in a wave at the rest of the chambers, a slightly guarded expression on her pale face. Instead, respectful applause filled the room once more from the Talons themselves as well guests from other terras. In the seats next to her, Dark Ace, Rene and a few other high-ranking Talons audibly breathed a sigh of relief as Master Cyclonis sat down. 

“So far, so good,” Jetta murmured as the cameras focused on Garnett once more. Clearly, Cyclonia’s re-integration into the rest of the Atmos wasn’t something to be taken lightly. 

The Councilman adjusted the microphone before his expression brightened. 

“With that, please welcome Headmaster Ennith and Starling to the podium as they reflect on the recent developments and goals within Terra Atmosia!”

♠♠♠

The Summit was in full-swing as Ennith and Starling concluded their opening statements which highlighted the prioritization of supporting its farmers and agricultural industry as well as strengthening its diplomatic ties with other terras, namely Cyclonia. They also touched upon Atmosia’s interest to continue its explorations of the wastelands from a safety and geological standpoint, which prompted a civil discussion from representatives from Terra Amazonia. Aerrow soon realized that raising questions was encouraged and a good way for other terras to provide their inputs and help one another out on issues they may be facing. 

Soon enough, Harrier of Terra Rex gave his closing remarks and bowed with a flourish before exiting the stage. He was exactly as Aerrow expected– prim, proper and old-fashioned, but what surprised the red-haired man was when the lead Rex Guardian proposed small changes to The Code in the last part of his speech. The majority of the Summit guests as well as Garnett himself agreed that the clauses Harrier had pointed out were rather outdated for the constantly-evolving Atmos.

Garnett took his place at the podium once again.

“Thank you, Harrier.” He nodded at the blond man before taking a breath. “I’d now like to invite Master Cyclonis of Terra Cyclonia to the stand.” 

Aerrow couldn’t remember a time when the chambers were this quiet. Everyone stared straight ahead, watching as Master Cyclonis rose from her seat and ascended the few steps onto the stage. She looked like she was almost gliding with how smooth her movements were. Up close on the holo-screens, Aerrow noticed that the Cyclonian leader’s usual dark robes were modified into a floor-length dress with subtle frills down the middle. Her eyes were as heavily lined as ever.

“Much appreciated, Councilman,” Master Cyclonis began. Her thin, eerie voice drifted around the room, seemingly captivating everyone. 

“I understand that Cyclonia’s attendance here today might come as a surprise to many of you, welcome or not. It was a decision made by myself, Headmaster Ennith of Atmosia Academy, and our diplomatic staff over a period of several months. We must let go of the past. Moving forward, my goal is to re-integrate Cyclonia into the rest of Atmos once more. We have abundant resources in combat, construction, trade and crystal mining, and I see little use in keeping it all to ourselves.”

Master Cyclonis paused. Her face was impassive as she scanned the crowd of guests, until her dark gaze landed on Aerrow and seemed to stay there. He resisted the urge to shrink down in his seat as a few guests nearby looked curiously in Aerrow’s direction.

“It isn’t entirely up to me to share Cyclonia's progress in mending our diplomatic relations,” Master Cyclonis continued. Aerrow’s palms felt clammy– he had an idea where this was going. 

A smirking Dark Ace suddenly appeared in his mind. 

“Master Cyclonis would like for you to say a few words at the Summit today.” 

“For the past three months, a graduating student from Atmosia Academy has been working alongside my top Talon commander Dark Ace. As his placement comes to an end, I believe it would be insightful for him to share a little bit of his experience in Cyclonia.”

Master Cyclonis’ eyebrows lifted expectantly. 

“Aerrow, would you please make your way to the stage?” 

Almost on autopilot, Aerrow stood up and began walking down the centre aisle stairs leading to the stage amidst some quiet applause. He smoothed out the creases in his uniform and kept his head up, looking straight ahead. Aerrow felt oddly calm about being seconds away from speaking in front of some of the most important people in the Atmos for someone who only had a vague idea of what he’d be saying. 

When he reached the podium, Master Cyclonis stepped away and gestured for him to take the stand with a smile. Aerrow turned to face the audience under the bright lights and exhaled slowly. Up here, it was easy to pretend that all of the people staring back at him could fade away into a single blur. 

“Thank you, Master Cyclonis,” Aerrow said somewhat shakily into the microphone. He wondered if the audience could hear how loudly his heart was beating. Aerrow glanced at the front row to see the Cyclonian leader and Dark Ace watching him carefully. 

Right, well– here goes nothing. 

“Hi everyone, my name is Aerrow. It’s an honour to be here today. Like many of you, I’m no stranger to challenges. Before I was accepted into Atmosia Academy, life growing up was an uphill battle. As a student, there were always moments of uncertainty and stressful situations that awaited me. I didn’t exactly mind this, though– to me, challenging times were what made life exciting, knowing you would come out stronger on the other side. 

“This is how I took in the news that I would be completing my Sky Knight placement on Terra Cyclonia. I viewed it as a challenge and a valuable learning experience. I had no idea that the next three months of my life would be so rewarding with all of the mentors and friends I made along the way. I felt as though I was able to make real impacts on the missions I participated in, and this definitely contributed to my development as a Sky Knight in training. Once I settled in, I never felt alone or isolated. There was always someone I could turn to.”

Aerrow took a breath to pause. He found Ennith sitting a few spots away from the Cyclonians in the front row. The Headmaster was looking up at the stage with a proud smile on his weathered face, and it spurred Aerrow on to continue. 

“I’m looking forward to helping Terra Cyclonia rebuild its connections to the other terras of Atmos when I return. Thank you to everyone who has supported me from the very beginning, both in Atmosia and in Cyclonia.” 

Aerrow felt a bit lightheaded as he leaned away from the microphone to a chorus of applause and cheering. Councilman Garnett patted him on the back as he left the stage and Aerrow sighed in relief that it was over. 

He made his way back to his seat as Garnett was introducing the next speaker, catching onto the slightly amused look in Dark Ace’s crimson eyes. 

♠♠♠

“Something tells me he’d fit right in,” Piper mused, taking a sip of her drink. 

About two hours had passed and the Summit was officially over. There was a courtyard at the back of the Sky Knight Council building where refreshments and drinks were being served for the remaining guests. The weather was as perfect as can be with the sun at its highest point in the clear blue sky. Aerrow and Piper were behind one of the standing tables, watching Finn throw his arms around two random Cyclonian Talons as he laughed loudly. Interestingly enough, they didn’t seem to mind. 

Aerrow felt a twinge of sadness as his eyes landed on Stork and Radarr at the corner of the courtyard. They were taking turns tossing vanilla tarts directly into Junko’s mouth, who managed to catch most of them with surprising accuracy. 

“I’m really going to miss you guys,” he said quietly. Piper frowned next to him and put her hand on his shoulder. 

“Hey, we’re all only going to be a sky ride away,” she said comfortingly. “I guess we really are growing up now, huh? No more lectures or training sessions at the academy– we’ll be doing real Sky Knight stuff from now on.” 

“Yeah, could you believe it?” Aerrow grinned at the crystal specialist, thinking back to when they were wide-eyed kids. 

“I know we’ll be okay even if we’re far apart.” Aerrow turned to look at Piper with a wistful smile. “We’ve been through too much to let distance get between us.” 

“As long as we finally make that trip to Terra Ray happen, it’ll be like nothing’s really changed,” Piper agreed, downing the last of her drink. She glanced somewhere behind Aerrow in surprise before taking a step away from the table. 

“I’ll catch you before your flight back– I’m gonna find the rest of the guys!” 

With that, Piper and her empty glass were gone. Aerrow blinked at the empty space beside him before a tall shadow fell over the edge of the table. 

“I’ve been looking for you, Aerrow,” Dark Ace said evenly, setting down an elegant glass of something dark purple. “That was quite the speech, if I may add. Master Cyclonis asked me to give you her approval.” 

“Thanks, Dark Ace. I'm happy to hear it.” The corner of Aerrow’s mouth lifted in a smile as he looked at the Talon commander. “And sorry– I was catching up with my academy friends.” 

“No need to apologize, I suspected as much. You deserve a break after completing your schooling. Especially before you return as a Cyclonian Talon and really get put to work.” 

Dark Ace’s eyebrows quirked up with those last words as he swilled his drink in a slow circle. 

“Not letting me off easy, huh?” Aerrow murmured under his breath, earning him a deep chuckle from the commander. 

“But really, thank you for everything, Dark Ace,” the red-haired man said in a more serious tone. “We might’ve had a rocky start, but I think I’m making the right decision in returning to Cyclonia, and with you as my mentor.” 

The older man paused as he raised his glass to his lips, looking slightly surprised. 

“I look forward to it, Aerrow. Here's to new beginnings.” 

Dark Ace held his drink next to Aerrow’s half-finished glass of sparkling juice before Aerrow clinked their glasses together. 

He took a sip and savoured the bubbly sweetness on his tongue, taking in the sunny Atmosia day.

"This is gonna be fun.”