The Last Storm Hawk: The Tale Of Lark & Ace

Chapter I

Ten years have passed since Ace escaped Terra Cyclonia with Lark. He had taken her to an uninhabited Terra and took refuge there in a cave formation under a mountain. Ace had trained Lark in the ways of the Sky Knight. One day, the fourteen year old Lark was tracking an animal she was hunting through the mountainside. She comes upon a set of tracks.

Lark: Looks like it's heading west. Shouldn't be too far now.

Lark then followed the tracks until she came across a deer drinking water upon a river. She kept silence as she readied a makeshift bow and arrow.

Lark: (Breathe Lark....breathe. Remember what Ace taught you....)

Lark took a few deep breathes as she aimed her bow at the deer. The deer then set it's eyes on Lark. She locked eyes at the deer and felt a moment's hesitation. But she closed her eyes and lets the arrow loose, hitting the deer in the throat. 

Lark: Got it!

Lark ran up to the deer and saw it dying. She looked into the deer's eyes and saw pain. Lark took pity on the deer as she felt intense remorse for her action.

Lark: I'm....I'm sorry....

Lark pulled out an Energy Blade and finished the deer off. As she finished the deer off, she heard howling in the distance. 

Lark: That's not good.....

As Lark said that, she soon found herself surrounded by a pack of wolves. Lark readied her Energy Blade and readied herself as the wolves growled at her. 

Lark: (I can't let them get this deer! I have to hold them off!)

The wolves continued to growl at Lark. Eventually, one of the wolves attacked Lark, but she slashed at the wolf with her Energy Blade. Soon, the wolves began attacking her. Despite their numbers, Lark used her training from Ace to fend off the wolves. In the scuffle, Lark received a cut on her face from one of the wolves. Eventually, she managed to scare off the wolves. After they leave, Lark checked on the deer. 

Lark: Still in good shape. I should get back to Ace. 

Lark then picked up the deer and began making her way back to Ace. Meanwhile at the cave, the older Ace was tending to the fire. He was now in his mid twenties but felt far older. He still remembered the Cyclonian Invasion like it was yesterday. The events of what happened that day weighed heavily on Ace's mind.

Ace: (Lightning....)

Ace's thoughts fell on his friend Lightning Strike and how he was forced to leave him behind so that he could escape with Lark. Eventually, Lark returned to the cave with the deer. 

Ace: Lark. You're late.

Lark: This deer took a while to track. Once I did find a trail, didn't take long to find it.

Ace: Good. Very good.

As Lark set the deer by the fire, Ace noticed the cut on her face.

Ace: Your face.

Lark: Oh this? It's nothing. Just a scratch.

Ace: Hold on....

Ace grabbed a medical pouch and pulled out a bottle of a healing ointment. He poured some on his finger and rubbed it on her face. Lark winced in pain for a brief moment before.

Lark: Thanks.

Ace: Now let's get this deer ready before it spoils.

Ace and Lark soon prepared the deer for dinner. Once they do, they cook the deer meat over the fire. As they cooked and ate the meat, they heard a whirring sound in the distance. They didn't know whether it was a Cyclonian warship or a beast.

Lark: So when do we take on the Cyclonians?

Ace: You're not ready.

Lark: But you've trained me for years! How could I not be ready?

Ace: You're a good tracker. You're a good fighter. You know how to operate a skimmer. But all that won't be enough to beat the Cyclonians. You and I may be the last Sky Knights on Atmos. As long as we live, there is hope for Atmos. We can't afford to rush in and get ourselves killed.

Lark knew Ace was right, but she still didn't like the idea of just waiting around while the Cyclonian Empire ruled Atmos. While her grandmother Master Anarchis ruled. Ace placed his hand on her shoulder.

Ace: Don't worry Lark. When the time comes, we'll be ready. 

Ace's reassuring smile brought some comfort to Lark. Eventually, the sun went down. Ace put out the fire and used a Solaris Crystal to light the room.

Ace: I'll take first watch.

Lark: Are you sure? 

Ace: You spent most of the day hunting a deer and dealt with a pack of wolves. You deserve the rest. I'll wake you up when I need to rest.

Lark: Okay. Good night Ace.

Ace: Good night Lark.

As night fell, Lark went to sleep in a makeshift bed in the cave as Ace took watch. As he does so, his memory falls back to the first night Ace and Lark slept in the cave. As the younger Ace tucked the four year old Lark in, he could hear her softly cry.

Ace(Past): What's wrong Lark?

Lark(Past): I'm....scared. I'm scared that when I close my eyes and open them again you'll be gone. And I'll be alone and grandmother will come take me away and...punish me for running away...for running away. And she'll....and she'll....

As Lark began to sob, Ace put his hand over her head. He could see that Master Anarchis lingered on the young girl like a haunting specter. He couldn't fathom what kind of hell she had put this girl through.

Ace(Past): It's okay Lark. I promise I'll be here when you wake up. And I will be here by your side every moment as long as it takes. No one will ever hurt you again. 

The younger Lark felt some comfort in Ace's words as he wiped the tears from her eyes and tucked her in.

Ace(Past): Good night Lark.

Lark(Past): Good night....Ace.

As Lark fell soundly asleep, Ace began to have doubts in his mind. He glanced at the young girl who he was tasked with protecting. Ace wanted nothing more than to keep Lark safe from anything that sought to harm her. But even as he sought to keep that vow, the weight of this task weighed heavily on his shoulders.

Ace(Past): (What the hell am I doing?)

Back in the present, Ace looked at the sleeping Lark.

Ace: (Lark....I'll protect you. No matter what.) 

Ace lets out a quiet sigh as he continued his watch. He vowed himself that he would not only continue to train Lark to become a Sky Knight, but protect her above all else.