The Stain of Atmos (Storm Hawks AU)

Chapter One - Indoctrination

In Terra Gale, Dove patrols the Terra for Cyclonians. Days earlier, the Storm Hawks stopped at the Terra to resupply. As she patrols, she hears the sound of battle near her home. She rushes to see what is going on. As she does, she spots Colin lying on the ground. 

Dove: Colin! What's going on?!

Colin: Cy.....Cyclonians......they're.....invading......

Dove: Grandpapa! Is he alright.....

Colin: I.....I don't know......Dark Ace.....he's.....he's......

Colin soon breathes his final words as he dies. Dove takes a moment to mourn him. She looks around to see smoke rising from her home. Meanwhile, Wren leads the Rebel Ducks squadron in a defensive against the Cyclonian invasion. 

Wren: Soldiers! Let us show these Cyclonian swine what a costly mistake they've made invading our home! 

As Wren and the Rebel Ducks lead the defensive, Dark Ace leads the Cyclonians and steamrolls through them. Wren fights a valiant fight, but Dark Ace overpowers him. 

Wren: Is that the best you got, you Cyclonian swine?! I've seen more effort in a Scarlet Maw Ticklefang! 

Dark Ace: As of now, Terra Gale is under the control of Master Cyclonis! Your squadron is dead! Surrender, and perhaps you'll live! I suggest you take this kindness old man!

Wren: I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees! 

Dark Ace: That can be arranged!

Wren: For the resistance! 

Wren then pulls out his Windstone Crystal and attacks Dark Ace with it, but Dark Ace uses his Two Handed Crystal Blade to slice through the wind attack. He then thrusts his sword through Wren's cooking pot armor, fatally wounding him. 

Dark Ace: Foolish old man. Talons! Leave no survivors! Let all of Atmos know what happens to those who defy Master Cyclonis!

The Talons then proceed to kill of the remaining Rebel Ducks. As the wounded Wren watches helplessly, Dark Ace then sets his home ablaze. 

Dark Ace: Talons! We're done here! Back to Cyclonia! 

Dark Ace then leads the rest of the Talons out of Terra Gale. Dove arrives to see her home in flames as she spots Cyclonian Skimmers in the distance. 

Dove: COME BACK HERE YOU CYCLONIAN SWINE! COME BACK HERE! THERE ARE STILL THOSE WHO CAN FIGHT! COME BACK YOU COWARDS! FINISH WHAT YOU STARTED!

As she screamed to the sky, she looks to see her fatally wounded grandfather on the ground. She rushes to him.

Dove: Grandpapa! We......we need to get you medical attention......

Wren: No.....it is too late for me.....

Dove: Don't say that Grandpapa! You are a fighter! Fight! You're going to be fine! We will strike back at these Cyclonian Swine! I......I......

Wren then raises his hand and places it on Dove's face. Tears began to fall down her face as her home burns. 

Wren: Dove.....thank you.......for giving this old man........a reason to fight.......I......I......

But before Wren could finish his words, he died in Dove's arms. As the tears fall down her eyes, she screams to the sky as thoughts of vengeance began to cross her mind. She soon made a vow to her dead grandfather.

Dove: Grandpapa.......I promise you......the Cyclonian swine will pay! Each and every single one of them will pay! 

As she makes her vow, a shadow looms over her. She turns around to see a man wearing dark combat suit, plated with metal armor across his body. He's also wearing a blood-red scarf and matching headband along with a tattered cloth as a mask. Dove sees a Crystal Blade behind his back and small Crystal Blades holstered across his body.

Man: Do you want vengeance on the Cyclonians? I can give it to you.

Dove: Who....who are you?

Man: Stain. 

Dove heard that name before. There are rumors of a man slaughtering Cyclonians all across Atmos. 

Dove: Stain......the Scourge of Cyclonia.....the Cyclonian Killer.......

Stain: Yes. The Cyclonians are a plague that infest all of Atmos! They represent an evil that needs to be purged! It is my mission to destroy them one by one! I will purge their ilk from the face of Atmos! No Cyclonian is safe from the righteous sword of justice! 

Dove became entranced by Stain's words. She saw truth in them. The Cyclonians were hell bent on conquering Atmos and would commit extreme atrocities to do so. She was a victim of that. Her grandfather was a victim as was the Rebel Ducks. She wanted vengeance.

Dove: Please......take me on as your student! 

Stain took a moment to think on Dove's request. Dove was anxious to learn from the Cyclonian Killer to avenge her grandfather. After a tense silent, Stain spoke. 

Stain: To truly accomplish anything...one needs will and conviction. Those without it...the weak ones...they'll be weeded out. It's only natural. Forget about yourself for a second and try saving others. Don't wield your power for your own sake. Because getting trapped by your own hate and acting out of pure self-interest...makes you no better than the Cyclonians.

Dove: I want to help you purge them! I want to make sure that they threaten Atmos no longer! Please! Let me fight by your side!

As Dove spoke, Stain was impressed by Dove's conviction. He saw himself in her. The Cyclonian Killer smiles as he accepts Dove's offer.

Stain: You're training begins tomorrow. I will give you time to bury your grandfather. Once you're done, we make way to my hideout on Terra Neverlandis. 

Dove: Thank you....I won't fail you!

Dove then proceeds to bury her grandfather. As she mourns his death, her vows to destroy the Cyclonians become stronger and stronger as she became indoctrinated in Stain's crusade. After burying Wren, she meets Stain and they rode on his Skimmer to his hideout on Terra Neverlandis. As they rode away from Terra Gale, Dove took one last look at her home as he began her new life as Stain's student in his crusade against the Cyclonians.