Minn: Wow! Last chapter! I actually finished a story for once. See where planning ahead gets you? lol! Anywho, I'm still looking for ideas for my next story so if you have any SEND THEM IN! I don't know what my future story will be (whether one I have previously worked on or a whole new concept). I am considering completing 'More Than One', but to do that, I will have to know if people will actually read it, so if you want it completed send me a message saying so. Regarding the immediate future, I'm taking some time away from fanfiction to continue with my independent story. I will start writing FF again once I have a complete planned idea. However, with Grade 12 coming my free time is looking quite minimal so don't be surprised if updates are delayed. Regardless, I'll keep you all updated via my profile. Thank you VERY MUCH to all of you who reviewed. Without you this story wouldn't have been possible. ^_^

Chapter 6: Strength

When he first woke up, it was very confusing. Firstly, he didn't know he was awake. Reality blended with the old dreams, and it was a slow progress into the world.

The dream was different than normal dreams. It was not pleasant but nor was it unpleasant. There were no pictures or sounds like normal dreams, but there was feeling. The first was speed. He felt he was traveling very fast, but at the same time not moving. There was no weight and no wind. There was merely the knowledge of quickening displacement. The second was coldness, yet he was not cold himself. All around him was ice, but he himself felt no more than a degree or two above room temperature. The third was emptiness, or perhaps it was numbness. By then the dream was fading, so it was hard to tell.

Now that he was wakening, the first real sensation was sound, although he was not yet awake enough to make sense of it. A dull thrumming echoed in his mind. It was not an annoying sound. It was simple; mechanical and somewhat soothing. Slowly, he opened his eyes and light began to flood them. For too long they were denied their sight, and now they were drinking in their fill of what they could see. It was too harsh, so he blinked quickly and slowly until the light no longer hurt. Things were still fuzzy, but as they cleared, so did his head.

Aerrow sat up, (in doing so realizing he had been lying down) and slowly looked at his surroundings. He was in bed, in his own room aboard the Condor. Sunlight streamed in through the open window, which was letting in the steady drum of the engine. Aerrow sat in still silence for a while, trying to sort through what had happened. His thoughts were very fuzzy and hard to make sense of. However, after a time he was able to remember every detail of the battle. With a sigh, Aerrow walked towards the window and drew the curtain, shutting out the light.

***

The Storm Hawks were sitting around the table of the bridge in quiet discussion. Starling was amongst them, and she too was participating in the conversation.

Suddenly, a door opened and Aerrow came walking towards his team. He noticed that Starling filled the place where Piper used to sit. Aerrow sighed, and remained standing.

"Aerrow!" Finn said with a smile as he saw his sky knight. "You're alright." The wingman came forward to pat his friend on the back.

"Finn." Aerrow replied half-heartedly with a crooked smile. He looked around of the faces of his team. They all looked happy to see their leader walking about. There was some relief among the smiles. "What happened?" Aerrow asked, still a bit confused and looking curiously at Starling.

"Aw man, we almost thought you were a goner," Finn said. "If Starling didn't show up, I doubt any of us would have made it out." Starling smiled, slightly embarrassed by the praise and waved a greeting at Aerrow.

"I had some inside information that Cyclonis had developed a kind of weapon that was supposed to be incredibly dangerous," explained Starling. "Once again I went undercover to investigate. I was only there a minute before the battle broke out. I was able to stop Cyclonis just in time." It was then that Starling revealed the small green crystal in her hand. It was very badly damaged, and fissures were visible deep inside the stone. It was once again laced around a chain. Aerrow wondered vaguely why, but it seemed insignificant at the moment. Starling handed it to Aerrow and he examined it briefly in his hand before placing it around his neck. It still glowed dimly with power. Damaged, but intact.

"Getting out was no easy feat," continued Finn, rousing Aerrow from his thoughts. "But in the end, all of us were able to get out."

Aerrow didn't miss the inflection. "Where…?" He couldn't say her name.

"In her room," Junko said, slightly sobered now.

Aerrow knew that none of his team knew the whole story of how it happened, but it would have to wait. It wasn't something he felt like telling anyways. Without a word, Aerrow left his team quietly.

***

When he opened her door, he wasn't sure what to expect. But there she was, lying on the bed, looking just like sleeping. No, upon taking a closer look, not like sleeping. She was much too still, and there was no rise and fall of her chest. Aerrow fell to his knees beside the bed and rested his head near her still heart. He folded his arms around her as he whispered her name.

"Piper…"

But he couldn't say any more. He closed his eyes and quietly began to cry. It was not the anguished shock he felt earlier, only mourning for what could never be again. To Aerrow's numbed surprise, he felt a gentle hand rest itself upon his shoulder. He didn't look up or acknowledge the other presence. It was probably one of his team, come to comfort him. He still didn't say anything, wanting to merely be alone with her.

"Aerrow?"

At the sound of the voice, Aerrow inhaled sharply in real surprise. He looked slowly into the face of the person standing beside him.

It was Piper. She smiled tentatively down at Aerrow. Aerrow stared back at the body lying before him. By sheer chance, the crystal around Aerrow's neck had rested itself upon Piper's heart. Aerrow sighed in half understanding. This was no more than a vision. However, Aerrow looked back at the Piper standing before him and smiled back.

Piper grinned and knelt beside Aerrow, ignoring the body and looking into her sky knight's eyes. Aerrow looked back, his eyes still wet.

"Piper," he said. "I'm so sorry. It's all my…"

But Piper placed a delicate finger on his mouth, interrupting his words. "It's not your fault," she stated firmly yet softly. "It was the Dark Ace. He and Cyclonis both. Don't blame yourself for their evilness." She removed her finger and both of them smiled.

"I wish I had stayed," said Aerrow. "I would have if I had known…"

"I understand," said Piper, leaning towards Aerrow. "You did it for us."

"I did it for you." Aerrow paused and looked back at the body. "I still don't understand this."

Piper sighed. "It's a powerful crystal, Aerrow." She stole a glance at the crystal, resting across the still heart. She reached out as if to touch it, but then pulled away at the last minute. "Besides…" Piper turned to face Aerrow full on, and he turned at the same time. "I love you. That love will always stay in my heart." She quickly glanced again at the body. "Even in death."

"Piper…" Aerrow whispered. He loved her too, but he didn't need to say the words. She already knew. It was clear in both their faces.

Piper leaned closer towards Aerrow and at the same time they both met with the other's lips, sharing a sweet, gentle kiss. Despite the vision, the kiss felt warm and soft. As Aerrow leaned closer to make the moment last longer, the crystal slipped from the body's heart, and Piper vanished with less than a whisper.

Aerrow opened his eyes when he felt the end of the embrace, and she was gone. Aerrow looked back at the body. It was as still as ever, but he could accept that now. He would move on just like the rest of the team. It was that final kiss that gave him the strength to go on.

END