The Seventh Member of the Storm Hawks

Too Much At Once

With a frustrated toss, Nika scrunched her face up as she slept – her dreams consisting of her past, slowly the memories were getting darker and her fearful imagination began to take over.

"You really thought that you could defeat me?" Dark Ace hissed as he grabbed her shoulder, "You will never win. Why? Because you're weak and everyone around you will perish, because you are too weak to defend them. You ran away from your own people, hiding in fear from me!" Nika turned her head away, tears spilling from her eyes as the words cut into her deeply. "Stop..." She cried, he dropped her to the floor and walked away – holding her crystal, pathetically she reached for it. "The life energy from your ancestors, an unimaginable power but left in the hands of a little girl. A simpering wimp – you can't even defeat your own thoughts!" With an anguished cry, the brunette clutched hears trying to block out his voice. "You aren't even honest with your own friends, Princess. They had to force your secrets out yet you still have more!"

In her stricken state, the Yarisian rolled out of her bed onto the floor, the impact awakening her. As the nightmare returned to her mind, she sat on her knees and hunched over on all fours and took in deep breaths. Her bruises from fighting Snipe were slowly fading away, still ached but she was a fast healer – thanks to the crystal around her neck. Her parents never did explain what type of crystal it was, what it did and why it was important to wear it at all times. Groggily, she pushed herself up wrapping her blanket around her. "I need to stop running from who I am." She whispered to herself before rubbing her face with her hand. "I shouldn't be afraid." With a soft grunt she went back to bed and into a dreamless sleep.

Meanwhile in Cyclonia, the three Talon commanders were in a meeting with Master Cyclonis, well for the past half hour they had been staring at her back while she tampered with crystals. "Uh, Master Cylonis?" Snipe fearfully piped up, knowing he would regret it. The fourteen-year-old Empress tensed momentarily before calming resuming her work. "I have heard rumours, interesting rumours." She unemotionally started, Ravess and Snipe flinched, fearing what would come next while the Dark Ace listened intently. "Nika Striking, the Princess of Terra Yaris is the same Nika of the Storm Hawks. Tell me, why did none of you inform me?" She turned her head to the side, furious at the lack of information from her three top ranking commanders. "Forgive us, Master Cyclonis." Ravess stuttered, kneeling down her brutish brother following. "An admission of dissent?" Cyclonis asked, sounding darkly amused. "N-no! I personally haven't been able to... observe the newest member of the Storm Hawks!" Ravess pleaded, Dark Ace rolled his eyes – trust Ravess to try and dig her way out of a mess and only make it worse. "Spare me your excuses, you're pathetic." Cyclonis hissed, she turned to face her commanders – Ravess and Snipe shaking like a leaf while her most trusted Talon simply stood straight. "Master Cyclonis." He bowed, she smirked knowing he had found something out. "I apologise for the lack of information given to you, I am your most humble servant. I have observed Nika Striking and have found information that may interest you." Cyclonis nodded, this better be interesting or her three Talons had bought themselves a ticket to be a subject for her latest experiment.

"Go on." The Dark Ace stood tall and smirked much to the sibling's confusion. "I have seen what power this girl possesses, that crystal she wears seems to have stored energy and if she turns to our side then imagine the power you could have, Master." He paused before continuing, that alone would peak Master Cyclonis' interest but like himself – she enjoyed mind games. "I have also seen the relationship she has with Aerrow, they are rather close. And I mean "close" as in more than friends." Cyclonis smirked, her thoughts running a mile a minute – she was right when she infiltrated the Storm Hawks, pretending to be "Lark" – there was something going on between the two Sky Knights. "Excellent work, Dark Ace." She smirked, turning her back on the three Talons again, she was above them and only they would keep a gaze on her – never the other way around. "Continue to observe the Storm Hawks, give me all of the information that you acquire and if the opportunity arises for Nika Striking to pay us a visit – take it. Dismissed." With a nod, the Talon commanders vacated the room leaving Master Cyclonis with a wide grin, pure evil. "Oh, love is a wonderful emotion: so easy to manipulate and it hurts most of all. I am going to enjoy this little game..." She mused, holding her completed experiment – a white crystal that glowed blue when it pulsed.