Disclaimer: I do not own anything affiliated with "Storm Hawks". Characters, places, and other aspects of the story (except for original characters, animals, locations, and some other aspects) that are referenced to do not belong to me.
A/N: It has been such a blast writing this story! I hope you all enjoyed the journey too! I plan to write more in the future, and I consider my first fan-fiction as a success in the sense that I found a new passion, and I am now actively exploring it. Thank you once again for reading! Also, who knows. Maybe I'll make a sequel?
1 week after the events on Terra Vicis, Terra Atmosia, early afternoon, Terra Atmosia ports…
The Thunderbird landed on one of the busiest ports on Terra Atmosia.
The cargo ramp dropped and Finch stepped out to stretch.
"That was a long trip." stated Finch to his approaching crew members.
"Lighten up man! We're getting medals today!" exclaimed Warbler excitedly.
"What's a useless piece of metal going to do." stated Crow jokingly.
"It's to recognize our actions as a squadron from the past few missions." responded Sparrow calmly.
"Medals or not, we're still the same old Swooping Sparrows. I agree, we don't let medals define us, but they're nice to have." added Phoenix.
"We can use them as paper weights, or even coasters!" stated Warbler who was now laughing along with his friends at his ridiculous ideas for the medals.
Late afternoon…
Many people gathered to see the Swooping Sparrows receive their awards.
After the long speech made by the senior sky council counselor, the Swooping Sparrows had medals pinned to their tunics in recognition of their service.
It was then that the counselor motioned for Phoenix, the sky knight and leader of the squadron, to make a closing speech.
"People of Terra Atmosia, let it be known that we will not tolerate Cyclonian suppression any longer. Day by day, resistance groups, sky knight squadrons, and good citizens like you are rising against the Cyclonian oppression. When my friend and I chose to defect from the Cyclonian ranks, we knew we were making a choice of great importance. A choice of seeing the truth in these unclear times. With the help of the Quies resistance, we took back our terra, and we rebuilt the Swooping Sparrows. So, I say to you, we aren't different from you. You can also rise against Cyclonia!" finished Phoenix triumphantly as the crowd roared with applause and joyous cheers.
Phoenix looked back at his crew who were also applauding loudly.
His eye then caught Primiceriatus looking content with his former student's maturity and improvement in being a sky knight, and personal growth in general.
Early evening…
After a celebratory dinner at a local restaurant, the Swooping Sparrows returned to their ship.
Warbler, Crow, and Finch walked ahead of Sparrow and Phoenix.
"Oh shoot, I almost forgot." started Phoenix.
"What?" continued Sparrow.
"We need to clear out Buzzard's stuff. Want to come clean it out with me?" offered Phoenix.
"Taking out the trash you mean? Sure!" replied Sparrow enthusiastically as the two shared a laugh.
The two entered the room slowly.
None of the crew had entered the room for a while as they had other tasks, or they simply did not want to be reminded of the traitor.
Late evening…
"Almost done." said Phoenix as he dragged out another bag of Buzzard's abandoned belongings.
"Almost clean over-
Sparrow paused.
"What's wrong?" asked Phoenix now walking over to Sparrow.
He saw her holding up a letter that had been crumpled up violently and tossed in a corner of the room.
Sparrow read it internally.
Dear Sparrow,
I hope you're doing well.
I've been really needing to get this off my chest.
I haven't seen you in so long, and I should've told you this the day that I left.
I just wanted to say,
I like you more than as a friend.
I love you.
From, your sky knight,
Phoenix
"This, this is the missing letter." stammered Sparrow in a bit of shock.
Phoenix scanned the crumpled letter.
"Wow, well now we know where that went." Phoenix stated flatly.
"I blamed you that time, but it was Buzzard who staged it to turn me against you. I feel so ashamed that I-
Phoenix interrupted Sparrow's apology with a kiss.
"You don't have to apologize for anything. It was Buzzard who caused all of the trouble, not you." stated Phoenix with a smile as he pulled away slightly to gaze into Sparrow's eyes.
"I'm so lucky to have you." Sparrow said now face to face with the sky knight."
"And I'm so lucky to have you." replied the sky knight as their lips met once more.
Midnight…
Crow, Warbler, and Finch had drifted off to sleep a while ago in their respective quarters.
Sparrow and Phoenix had just finished throwing out the last of Buzzard's belongings.
"That's all of it." stated Phoenix as he threw out the last bag of belongings.
"Yep, glad we got that over with." added Sparrow as she kicked at a bag of Buzzard's belongings.
"We'll dump it out fully tomorrow. We'll leave all of this in the hangar bay for now." stated Phoenix.
With that, the two hauled the bags into the hangar bay, and walked in the direction of their respective living quarters.
"Well, goodnight Sparrow." stated Phoenix as he headed into his quarters.
"Wait." Sparrow blurted out.
Phoenix turned around and looked at the crystal mage.
"Can we have a sleepover tonight?" asked Sparrow.
Phoenix turned visibly red.
"I would love to." stammered Phoenix as he grew redder by the second.
Sparrow entered Phoenix's quarters and sat on his bed.
Phoenix turned off his room's lights and laid down on his bed.
Sparrow laid down beside Phoenix and looked out the window.
Phoenix wrapped his arms around Sparrow.
She felt the warmth of his body as he brushed up against her.
"I have to admit. I've wanted to do this for a long time." said Phoenix as he rested his chin on Sparrow's head.
"I have to confess, I've wanted to as well." replied Sparrow quietly.
"Goodnight my little sparrow." whispered Phoenix as he kissed Sparrow on the top of her head.
Phoenix lay still for a while now with Sparrow in his arms.
Sparrow looked at her repaired pendant and admired how the sparrow and the phoenix circled one another for an eternity.
She then redirected her gaze to the moon, reminiscing the times when she had looked up to the moon and thought about Phoenix during his year of training.
"I'm watching too." whispered Phoenix which surprised Sparrow slightly as she saw the sky knight gazing at the moon followed by him returning his gaze to the crystal mage.
Knowing that all felt right in Atmos because her Phoenix was with her, Sparrow let the warmth of the sky knight and the moonlight slowly lull her to sleep.