It was all gone. All they saw was a bright flash of light, then they saw no more. The buildings lay in rubble, demolished by the onslaught of destructive power. The still smoking corpses lay within the rubble. The rescue team searched for signs of life. They had found 3 survivors only, the McCloud family. James' young daughter, Fana, was crying and holding on to her mother's paw. James was helping the rescue team look for living citizens of the now destroyed Corneria City.

"General, look!" a hawk pointed out one of the bodies. "He looks like he threw himself over this rock to protect it."

"Strange." added a weasel. He gently moved the body aside. "General, do you know who this is?"

The General sighed. "Captain John Flyr. One of my most trusted officers." General Pepper picked up the rock. "This is no rock, Lieutenant." he said to the hawk. "This is an egg. His child."

"The Captain has a child?" the hawk asked. "Why didn't he tell any of us?"

"I don't know, but we'd better make sure it's all right. This attack probably cracked it." said a jackal as he picked it up. He briefly checked it over. "I don't see a crack, but we should bring it to the infirm for closer inspection."

"You have my permission." General Pepper waved and the jackal left for headquarters. The General almost shed a tear at the loss of so many lives.

"Is the egg in good condition?" General Pepper asked a squirrel.

"Yes, and, it's actually about to hatch in a few days." he answered.

"Good. How are the other survivors?" he asked.

"15 of them escaped with minor injuries, 22 with major, and the McClouds made it without a scratch somehow." the squirrel reported.

"That McCloud." General Pepper chuckled. "Practically invincible."

A few days later, the egg hatched.

"It's a girl!" exclaimed the squirrel.

"What can we do with her now?" the hawk lieutenant asked.

"I'll take care of her until she is old enough to board at the Cornerian Flight Academy." General Pepper spoke up.

"All right then, I'll get the papers written up." said a panther, the only other animal in the room.

The squirrel gave the baby hawk to General Pepper. "So, what will you name her?" he asked.

The General looked at her small purple face. She looked back at him as a daughter would her father. "Avia." he said after a moment's thought. "Yes, that will suit her quite well."

"Avia, I think it's time for your first flying lesson." General Pepper acted like a father to Avia, that's what he was to her. He did not intend to send her away to boarding school.

"Really?" the small hawk's eyes brightened. "I've been waiting forever, Father!" she could hardly contain her excitement, but she had been taught in her few short years to always keep her cool.

General Pepper led Avia into a room full of chairs hooked up to computers. "This is the VR training room, Avia." he motioned for her to sit down in the nearest one.

She did, and the General pulled the helmet down over her head. "It's too big." Avia remarked, as the helmet rested on her beak.

"Yes. We can fix that." he showed her to another one, for a smaller animal. She tried that on, and it fit.

"What do I do?" she asked.

"You're very bright, Avia. You can figure this out. Let your instincts guide you." General Pepper advised.

She gripped the controls and moved the joystick from side to side. Her simulated ship followed her controls. "I think I'm getting the hang of this!" She shot at the oncoming enemies, and hit six. One hit her and she was sent spiraling into the ground. The General was amazed. She had gotten farther than anyone her age, except for one other avian pilot, Falco Lombardi. Her flight was just based on instinct. He knew there were great things to come in her life. He was right. "How'd I do?" she asked.

"Very well." he replied with a proud smile.

"May I go to train?" Avia, the six-year-old asked General Pepper.

"Of course you can. There's another student training now. If you make some friends, I'll let you go to the Academy to visit every once in a while." he replied.

"Okay!" Avia went skipping off to the VR room. There were connections there to the VR room at the Cornerian Flight Academy and other private institutions. They were all on the same course and you could talk to each other through an online com-link. Avia started to fly through the course when she was confronted by another ship.

"Hello!" said the animal in the other ship.

"Hi!" Avia replied. "What's your name?"

"My name's Sonja, and I'm a gecko. How about you?" she asked.

"I'm Avia. I'm a hawk." Avia said.

"Want to finish this training course together?" Sonja asked.

"Sure!" Avia answered. Avia had made her first friend. They went along together, blasting the enemy ships, maneuvering the course. "Do you go to the Cornerian Flight Academy?" she asked.

"Yep. And you?" Sonja asked.

Avia thought fast. "Private institution." she hoped she wouldn't ask which one. "Maybe I can come visit you."

"That'd be really cool!" Sonja answered with enthusiasm.

"I'll try to today. Where should I meet you?" Avia asked.

"Just meet me at the front doors. The rest of the day is VR time. I won't be missing that much."

"Okay! Let's just finish this first." Avia went skimming across the ground to avoid an enemy warship, while Sonja went over it. What they didn't see was a building hidden behind the warship. Avia managed to dodge it in time, but Sonja went crashing into it. 'Alright. Game over.' Avia crashed into the next row of buildings to end her training for the day and went to see General Pepper.

"Avia. What is it?" General Pepper asked.

"I made friends with that other student on the course and I was wondering if I could go visit her." Avia said.

"Of course you can. Do you know the way there?" the General asked.

"Pretty well." she answered. "Can I have an electronic map just to make sure?" General Pepper handed her what looked like a com-link. "Thank you!" Avia walked out the door and headed off to the Cornerian Flight Academy. She got there with little trouble, and there was a gecko there leaning against the front door.

"Avia?" she asked.

"Hi Sonja!" she answered. Avia could tell Sonja was a little bit surprised that she was purple.

"Hey, great to see you! Let me show you around." Sonja led the way through the doors. "This is my homeroom, where we learn stuff like math, science, english, you know, that kind of stuff." Avia looked into the classroom and then followed Sonja over to another. "This is for survival training. The big test is coming up next week. They put everyone in the class on a different part of Titania, and we have to survive for 24 hours with just one small canteen of water. Next year it's even worse." Avia knew what it was like to have that test. She had had it 3 months before. It was terrible. "Here's the room where we learn computer stuff. You know, hacking, cracking codes, stuff like that. One of the older students hacked into the Venomian system once. The teacher gave him an A." Avia giggled a little at the fact that he just got a good grade when he revealed useful military information. "Here's the unarmed combat room. We learn martial arts here." They moved on to the VR room. "This is, of course, the VR room. All the students are on the VR right now." Avia saw a huge room with hundreds of VR units.

"It's huge!" Avia exclaimed.

"Want to go play?" Sonja asked.

"No thanks." Avia said. "I've got to get back soon."

"I just have to tell you something before you go. See him over there?" Sonja pointed to her left.

"Yes. What about him?" Avia asked.

"He's the best pilot here our age. His name is Falco Lombardi." Sonja said. "And him?"

"Yes?" Avia asked.

"That's Fox McCloud. He's the best five-year-old pilot." Sonja said.

"Can you introduce me later? I've got to go now." Avia wished she didn't have to go, but it was getting late.

"Okay. It was great meeting you, Avia. Do you want to take a flashlight with you? It's dark." Sonja wanted to make sure Avia would be all right.

Avia flicked on a light that came from her electronic mapping system. "I'll be fine."

General Pepper called Avia into his office. "Avia, you've become quite a pilot. I have a surprise for you." He led Avia into the hangar. He walked over to a black and white ship. "This ship is yours, Avia. It's called the Airazor."

"My OWN ship?" Avia was in shock. General Pepper smiled. "Th-th-thank you so much, Father!"

"There's more. I'm so impressed with your piloting, I got the experts to do a professional assessment of your skills." he said with pride.

"And?" Avia asked.

"They think you should join the Cornerian Air Force." Avia gasped. "I agree. Would you?" Avia leaned up against the wall of the hangar and tried not to faint. She couldn't speak. The General laughed. "I'll take that as a yes."

Avia got into her ship. "I guess I have to call you 'Sir' or 'General' now?"

"It's not all that bad." General Pepper said. "Your first mission starts now. You know some of the officers. Take orders from whoever orders you, but stay close to Sergeant Browne. You know him better than anyone else. He knows the secret."

"Rick? Okay. Thanks again, f...um...I mean...sir." Avia saluted, then boosted her ship out of the hangar. She flew towards the battlefield. "Private Flyr reporting for duty, sir!" Avia said over the comm. 'I've always wanted to say that.' she thought.

"Avia?" Rick, the hawk who had found her egg in the first place, was surprised to see her. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm now the youngest member of the Cornerian Air Force, sir." Avia replied with a smile.

"Not quite the youngest. There's another pilot here your age. Alright, Private Flyr, get going!" Rick was at that time 26. He had always had a strong bond with Avia, almost as strong as hers with General Pepper, because he had found her and he was also a hawk. Avia barrel rolled to avoid the oncoming shots from a horde of enemy ships. She shot down eight of them which made a hole in the dense group of fighters, then flew through. 'She is really getting good.'

"It's about time I got some action here. I'm finally helping out in the battle! But I wonder who that other pilot my age is." Avia said to herself. An enemy ship came up behind her. She did a backflip and a u-turn, but couldn't get him off her. "I can't shake him!" she said over the comm.

"Need some help?" a fox answered her. He pulled up behind her and blasted the enemy ship into millions of tiny pieces.

"Thanks." Avia said.

"We all get in trouble every now and then. I'm White Fox." he said.

"Avia Flyr." Avia said.

"I'm the youngest on the force." White Fox told her.

"Not any more. I'm nine too." Avia knew they would become friends soon. "We can get to know each other later." Avia barrel rolled off to the left while White Fox took the right.

"Private Flyr?" It was Sergeant Browne.

"Yes, sir?" Avia asked.

"Cover me. I'm going into the enemy mothership." he ordered.

"Me? Why not somebody more-" She was interrupted in mid-sentence.

"That's an order, Flyr. You'll learn soon never to question your orders." he said harshly. Then, in a softer tone, "I trust you, Avia."

"Yes, sir." Avia flew behind Rick as he went towards the enemy mothership. She shot dozens of fighters off his tail."All clear." He flew into a small opening in the ship. Avia anxiously shot down one enemy after another as she waited for her friend. She saw a small explosion in the top of the ship. "Come on, Rick. You've got to make it outta there." The explosion moved down on the mothership. "Come on, Rick. Rick!" Avia was yelling pretty loudly, but no one could hear her because she never turned on the comm. There would not have been any point to that. There was a huge explosion and the rest of the ship went up in flames. "Rick! No!!!!!" Avia screamed. Among the debris and smoke clouding the air, she didn't see a Cornerian ship fly through. Avia put her head into her wings when a ship pulled up beside her.

"Miss me?"

"Rick? You're alive!" Avia was overjoyed.

"That's Sergeant Browne to you." Rick said in a friendly voice.

A voice came over the comm. "Mission accomplished. All aircraft report." Every surviving pilot reported, including Avia and Rick. They all pulled into the hangar at headquarters.

"Hey Rick! Way to go!" A crowd of cheering Lylatian pilots ran over to Rick, picked him up, and started carrying him around the room. Someone shook up a can of soda (from the soda machine in the hangar) and sprayed it all over him.

General Pepper cleared his throat and stood in the doorway. They set Rick down and he wrung out his uniform, which was drenched with soda. The General smiled. "Don't mind me." He left the room, then someone started up another cheer and everyone joined in. Avia went to look for White Fox after she was done cheering for Rick. She saw him leaning against his ship. "Hi, White Fox."

"Hi, Avia. We should get to know each other. Sometimes older pilots tease us. It would be better if we could defend each other." White Fox told her.

"Good idea. I'll need a friend to stick up for me." Avia agreed.

"So, I'll tell you a bit about myself. I was born on the planet Alderan, in a different system, then was rushed here when my father saw my natural flying skills. I received a bit of training at the Cornerian Flight Academy, then came to the air force. And you?" White Fox asked.

"My parents were killed before I hatched. I was taken to a private institution to board and I was brought up there. Being such a great student, they sent me here." Avia had a story made up in case someone asked.

"Want to go for lunch?" White Fox looked at his watch. "It's about time anyway."

"Sure." Avia walked with White Fox into the lunchroom.

"General, may I have the keys to the VR room?" Avia had been on the air force for three years and was a commander. She hadn't been on the VR for a long time.

"VR? It's been a while since you last did that. Sure, here you go." General Pepper handed Avia a set of keys.

"Thanks!" Avia ran down to the VR room, almost smashing into Rick on her way there. "Hey Rick! I'm headed for VR."

"It's been a while." he said.

"That's what the General said. Talk to ya later!" She sat down in a VR unit and switched on the helmet. 'I remember this.' she thought. She made her way down the course, when she came along another friendly ship. She boosted up to it. "Hello!" she called out over the comm.

"Avia?" She heard a familiar voice.

"Sonja? Is that really you?" Avia asked.

"It's been so long! Where've you been?" Sonja asked.

"I joined the air force when I was nine. Now I'm a commander." Avia couldn't wait to see her old friend's reaction.

"C'mon Avia. You're not serious, are you?" It was what Avia had expected.

"Dead serious, Sonja. I'm on the air force!"

"Wow. A twelve-year-old commander!" Sonja exclaimed.

"How've you been keeping up lately?" Avia asked.

"Nothing special has happened. Do you want to come to visit at the Academy? That is, if you have the time." Sonja asked.

"Today, I just want to hang out on the VR all day. Tomorrow I can come and visit." Avia said.

"You can stay for the whole day tomorrow if you want to. The instructors would like to have you as a guest." Sonja told Avia.

"Okay. I'll ask General Pepper for leave. But for now, let's do the course. I've forgotten how much fun this is." Avia remarked. They went along together when a strange array of buildings came up. 'Ooh, I love aerial acrobatics.' she thought. She tilted and turned, just barely escaping the buildings while Sonja lost her wing and crashed. "I guess that means I'm solo." She went along and came to the all-range mode part of the course. 'The battle arena. I get to face-off with other players.' she thought. There she saw three other ships just ahead. "Hello!" she said over the comm. Two of them held the brake and came on either side of her, while the other one had a bit of trouble, but eventually did the same.

They each greeted her in turn, but one sounded sad. "I'm Avia Flyr. What are your names?"

"I'm Falco Lombardi." The oldest one was the first.

"I'm S-s-slippy T-t-toad." The one who had trouble in the beginning also stuttered.

"That's Fox McCloud." Falco introduced his friend when Fox wouldn't himself.

"Fox, what's got you so down?" Avia asked.

"My dad just died. Killed by Andross himself." Fox swallowed hard before he could get out the word 'Andross'.

"I know how you feel, Fox. My parents were killed by Andross years ago. It was different for me, though. I hadn't even hatched yet." Avia felt like she could help Fox.

"So y-y-you're a b-b-bird?" Slippy asked.

"A hawk, to be exact." Avia said.

"Our friend Falco here is a falcon." Fox said. He was starting to forget his problems for the time being and enjoy himself.

"Let's start this battle, guys." Avia said.

"Alright." Fox opened fire on Falco.

"I'm warning you, though." Avia said. "I'm on the Cornerian Air Force." Everyone stopped fighting.

"Y-y-you are?" Slippy asked.

"Yep."

"What rank?" Falco asked.

"Commander." Avia answered.

"How can we believe you?" Fox asked.

"I'm coming to the Academy all of tomorrow to see a friend of mine. I'll show you my badges. Also, I'll kick your butts right now. That should help prove it." Avia told them. Fox attacked, but she barrel rolled to the right and did a side somersault, which brought her right behind Fox. She shot at him relentlessly until he was down to no power, but not dead. Slippy attacked as well, but Avia just made a somersault to get behind him and did the same to him as she had to Fox. Then Falco came at her. He was on her tail and she couldn't shake him, but she was deflecting the shots with barrel rolls. Avia executed her best move, which she had just learned. She quickly dropped just below him, then braked and let him fly above her. Before he could react, she shot his shields down to almost none as well. "Have I made a point?" Avia said.

"You're how old?" Falco asked.

"Same as you. Twelve." Avia said casually.

"How did you know I was twelve?" Falco asked.

"When I was six, my friend Sonja told me about how you were the best pilot our age." Avia said.

"Of course." Falco said.

"She also told me Fox was the best pilot his age, five at the time." Avia said.

"Thanks." said Fox.

"It's 22:00. I'd better get going. I'll see you guys tomorrow at the academy, okay?" Avia said.

"We'll be waiting at the front door." Falco said.

"You won't be the only ones." Avia said, and shut off the VR unit.

Fox, Falco and Slippy shut off their VR units as well. They all boarded at the academy, so they could stay there as long as they wanted. "Guess who's got a crush on the commander!" Fox taunted Falco.

"I do not!" Falco retorted.

"You two are the perfect couple. She's almost as cocky as you." said Fox.

"I'm not cocky." Falco tried to defend himself, but he couldn't.

"Y-y-yes you are, F-f-falco!"

Falco went into their room. They all shared a room, with Falco on the top bunk, Fox on the bottom bunk. Slippy slept on the other side of the room on the bottom bunk with Bill Grey on the top. Bill was already asleep. "I don't want to hear any more of this tonight!" Falco whispered. Everyone knew what was best for them, so they shut up.

Avia woke up the next morning excited about her visit. General Pepper had allowed her to go, and he was happy that she was making new friends. Times were getting worse, though, and they needed heavier security. If the secret was let out, the Venomians would find the weak spot in the Cornerian defense; Avia. General Pepper was afraid he might have to keep her out of the open and away from her friends, but he hoped it wouldn't come to that.

Avia knew her way to the academy pretty well, so she put on her uniform, then left. When she got there, she saw Sonja, Falco, Fox and Slippy waiting for her at the door. When they saw her, Fox whispered to Falco, "Purple? Be still your beating heart! Ow!" Fox clutched his shin. "Falco!"

"Avia, you really are a commander!" Sonja said when she saw Avia's outfit.

"I wore it to prove it to them." Avia gestured toward the boys.

"Well, I guess we'd better catch up after all these years," Sonja said.

"And we should get to know each other a little more." Fox said.

"Sure. Now, I wouldn't want to be late for school." Avia walked through the door as the others followed.

"Falco, you've gotta admit, she is just as cocky as you. Ow!" Fox clutched his other shin. "Falco, quit it!"

"Hurry up, guys!" Avia called from down the hall while Fox and Falco were still at the door. Fox smiled at Falco but dodged out of the way before Falco could kick him again. They ran down the hall to catch up with her.

"What do I do?" Avia paused before entering the classroom.

"We'll t-t-take care of everything, A-a-avia." Slippy said confidently and walked through the door. Everyone else followed.

"Who do we have here?" the instructor asked.

Sonja introduced her. "This is Avia Flyr."

The teacher gave them a questioning look, so Falco explained. "She's the youngest commander on the Cornerian Air Force. We thought you might want to have her here as a guest."

"You're a commander?" The instructor asked.

"Sure am." Avia replied confidently.

"We're honored to have you here, Miss Flyr." the instructor said, saluting. "I am a retired officer, you know." The class moaned.

"He's always bragging about that. He mentions it at least eight or nine times every week." Fox whispered.

The instructor cleared his throat. "We're having an assembly this morning. We would be honored to have you make a short lecture on what it is like in the Cornerian Air Force. I only have vague memories of the best times of my life. You could help me remember."

"I'd love to, sir." Avia saluted and the instructor sighed, remembering his old air force days.

"Teacher's pet!" Fox and Sonja teased in unison.

The teacher motioned for the four students to sit down at their desks. "Hmm...We don't have a spare desk." he scratched his head with a long nail. "You know Lombardi, I hope you won't mind sitting at his desk." Avia could tell that was not a question. She nodded and pulled a chair over. The instructor turned around and continued to teach his class.

"You don't mind, do you Falco?" Avia whispered.

"No, it's okay." Falco whispered back. He smiled to himself as they both watched the instructor write something on the chalkboard.

Avia heard someone giggling from across the classroom. It was Slippy, who had just read a note, that was being passed down the line to Fox, then to Falco. Falco took the note, crumpled it up and threw it on the floor. Avia picked up the note. It read, 'Avia and Falco sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G! First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Avia with a baby carriage!' Avia could tell Sonja had written it. She was about to throw the note at her, but instead folded it up and put it in her pocket.

The bell rang and the class lined up. Avia went with them at the back of the line. They entered the auditorium in silence. Avia sat down in the front row where all the guest speakers sat while the class sat in the row behind her. Their class instructor went up to introduce Avia. "We are honored to have with us today Avia Flyr, the youngest commander on the air force. She will be telling about her life there."

"That's my cue!" Avia walked up onto the stage and then to the microphone. "I haven't really had time to prepare for this speech, so I'll keep it short." she started. "On the air force, you follow a code. You obey your orders. You put your life before the lives of others. You win the battle or you lose it. You deal with it. Your friend lives, dies, or is caused to suffer. You deal with it. You live, die, or are caused to suffer. You deal with it. Basically, you follow your instincts. Do what you know is right. You must be ready to die at any time, but it usually doesn't come to that. You fight to the end, whether it's bitter or sweet. Life is hard, but it's worth it." Avia couldn't think of a better way to end her speech, so she just left it like that. She nodded her head to indicate she was done, and the audience applauded. Avia took her seat again. Falco, Sonja, Fox and Slippy complimented her on her great speech. "It was nothing." Avia blushed, but no one could tell because her feathers hid it. They sat through the assembly, which lasted the entire morning. As soon as it was over, all the students calmly walked over to the door in single file, then ran as fast as they could to the cafeteria.

They all picked out their spots and left Slippy to save the seats, and went to the lunch line. Slippy paid them the money for his lunch. Falco ordered for Avia, because she didn't know the school food, and because he had more or less the same taste, being a bird as well. They bought their food and sat down. "So, what do you want to talk about?" Fox asked, playing with one little piece of his salad, not able to find anything better to do with it.

"Why don't we play truth or dare?" Sonja suggested. Everyone mumbled an agreement. "I'll start. Avia, truth or dare?"

"Ummm..." Avia thought hard. "Dare."

"I dare you to..." Sonja trailed off, then Fox whispered something in her ear. "Good one, Fox. Avia, I dare you to kiss Falco."

'Oh great. I knew it would come to this.' Avia thought. Falco was thinking the exact same thing. She leaned over and quickly kissed him on the cheek.

"Avia, you didn't even complain. If I didn't know better, I'd think you wanted to." Sonja said slyly.

"Neither did you, Falco." Fox continued. "You know what that means."

Falco glared at Fox. "We made a rule last week, remember? No griping about it."

"Oh yeah." Fox said under his breath.

"Hey guys!" Fox's friend Bill popped up at the table. "Great speech...ah...what was your name again?"

"Avia. Thanks, Bill." Avia said casually.

"How did you know my name was Bill?" Bill asked.

Avia didn't want to give away the fact that she had access to the personnel files and had known all about each and every one of them. She had kept the secret well enough until that inevitable slip up..."Um, I saw your name tag on your desk." Avia hoped that there was a name tag on Bill's desk.

He shrugged. "Save me a spot, ok guys?" He went off to buy his lunch and Avia gave an inaudible sigh of relief. Unfortunately, Slippy suspected something. He didn't say anything, but waited until he could figure out what Avia was up to.

"Alright A-a-avia, it's your t-t-turn." said Slippy.

"Get Fox and Sonja back. You know how." Falco whispered to Avia.

"Ooh, romance!" Sonja said. "What are you two lovers talking about now?"

Avia didn't react to that. "Fox, truth or dare?"

"Dare." Fox said. No one ever chose truth, or they were really in for it. Fox was in for it either way.

Avia grinned evilly. "Fox, I dare you to kiss Sonja."

"Oh man!" Fox exclaimed.

"No griping, Fox..." Falco teased.

Fox kissed Sonja on the cheek. "Happy now?"

Falco and Avia laughed. "Yes." they answered in unison.

Bill came to the table. "So what have I missed so far in the exciting world that is our lives?" he asked.

"Not much. Avia kissed Falco." Sonja started.

"On a dare." Avia answered Bill's look.

"Then Fox kissed Sonja." Falco told Bill.

"On a dare." Fox defended himself.

"Well, changing the subject, Avia, what's your story?" Bill asked.

"My parents were killed by Andross before I hatched, so I board at a private institution now." Avia thought up that story years before, and she stuck by it.

"Oh. That's too bad. You okay about it?" Bill asked.

"Yeah. Never knew 'em." Avia waved her wing to dismiss the thought. As she waved her wing, she saw her watch. "Geez! I've gotta go now!" Avia started to get up. "I'll see you guys later today on the VR. Oh shoot." Avia looked out the window and saw that it was raining.

Falco jumped up. He took off his jacket. "Here. The next time I go out it won't be raining anymore."

Avia took his jacket. "Thanks, Falco." She remembered after about a minute that she had to get going. "18:00 on the VR. I'll be waiting." Avia called back to them as she ran out the door.

"Wow Falco, this really is serious." Bill said to Falco, who was still staring at the door. "Falco? Falco!"

"Wha...what? Oh yeah, sure." Falco pretended to have been listening.

"Falco, you just admitted you like Avia." Fox said.

"Whatever." Falco gave it up and just decided to eat his lunch.

"Hey, White Fox, how's it going?" Avia walked into the hangar and greeted her friend.

"Fine, fine. Hear you were at the academy today. I used to go there, you know." White Fox told Avia.

"I know. I was visiting some friends of mine." Avia said.

"Friends?" White Fox got up from where he was sitting. "Who?"

"Their names are Sonja, Falco, Fox, and Slippy." Avia said.

"I know them!" White Fox was really getting interested. "Not Sonja, but Falco, Fox, and Slippy. I think Falco's perfect for you, Avia."

"I just met him." Avia said.

"Yeah, you're right." White Fox turned away from her to hide his grin. "He has a huge attitude problem."

"He does not!" exclaimed Avia.

"Ah, so you agree with me, then. You like him." White Fox had just tricked Avia into admitting she liked him.

Avia frowned. "Alright, I like him." She looked at her watch. "17:45. Gotta go. I'm supposed to meet them o the VR."

"Can I come?" White Fox asked.

"Sure. I'm not going to stop you." Avia walked through the door. When White Fox followed, Avia was already on the VR, so he sat down on the one next to her and put on the helmet. "Avia, wait up!" White Fox saw her ship just ahead and boosted just as she hit the brake. They were flying side by side.

"Hey! Over here!" They heard Falco's voice over the comm and a ship flew above them. It was followed by four more.

"Hi guys! Glad you could make it. I've got someone here who you know." Avia said.

"Hello!" White Fox said over the comm.

"White Fox?" Falco, Fox and Slippy said in surprise. "What happened?" Falco asked.

"Yeah, ever since you joined the air force, you haven't been in touch." Fox said.

"A-a-avia, why d-d-didn't you t-t-tell us you knew White F-f-fox?" Slippy asked.

"Sorry I haven't stayed in touch. Life on the air force is busy." White Fox said.

"Avia stays in touch. She's on the air force too, you know." Falco said.

"It's still always gripe gripe gripe with you, eh Falco?" White Fox said.

"Hey!" Avia and Falco both said.

"Wait a minute, I still don't know who White Fox is." Sonja said.

"Me neither. An old friend, right?" Bill guessed.

"He came here to train, and shortly was moved to the air force." Fox told them the story.

"Let's finish the course while we talk, guys." Avia shot down a few target ships and flew through a cyber stone arch.

"Good idea." said Falco, and followed her.

"That reminds me. Avia, Falco confessed his love for you just after you left." Fox said.

"Falco, you did?" Avia was the flirty type.

"Well..." Falco didn't know what he should say. "Uh, yeah."

"I like you too, Falco." Avia said.

After a minute of silence, Fox spoke. "Dang. I really didn't expect you to admit it to her face, Falco."

"Maybe I've got more guts than you thought, Fox." Falco answered cockily.

"This could be fun, though." Sonja laughed.

"Guys, I've gotta go. General Pepper is calling me." Avia said. Everyone told her goodbye and Avia switched off the VR unit. She walked to General Pepper's office. "You called?"

"Yes. Avia, as you already know, times are getting tough. The Venomians are pressing closer, and security is needed more heavily. You know Sergeant Browne was just captured." General Pepper bowed his head in respect for the hawk.

Avia sniffed. She held back tears for the closest friend she had ever had. "Yes, I know. Why are you bringing this up?" She started to get nervous. She knew where the conversation was heading.

"I can't lie to you, or dress up the truth very well, so I'll be blunt. For security reasons, we have to keep you completely out of sight. You can't talk to your friends, serve on the air force, go on the VR system, or even leave headquarters. I'm so sorry, Avia, but it's for your good and the good of the entire system. If they found out about you, well, you're a weak spot in the Cornerian defense." Avia's entire world was crushed in that very instant. She couldn't see her friends, or do the one thing that meant the most to her in her entire life. Fly. She reached out for the arms of her father, for even though he had just killed her inside with those words, he was the only one she could trust, now. "There, there, Avia." He stroked her feathers as she leaned on his shoulder. She was too devastated to cry.

"If I may be excused," she said in a shaky voice, "I would like to go to my quarters."

"Of course. But one last thing. Avia, you may go to see your friends one last time tomorrow, and to say goodbye." Avia saluted to the General and thanked him, because she knew that it was hurting him just as much as it was hurting her. She walked up to her quarters and read a book, trying to get away from her own life. Unfortunately, it didn't work. She cried herself to sleep that night.

The next day, Avia walked into the cafeteria of the Cornerian Flight Academy. She had the most somber look on her face any of her friends had ever seen. "Avia!" They all rushed up to her. "What's wrong?"

Avia closed her eyes and opened them slowly again. "I can never see you guys again."

"What?" They were all shocked.

"General Pepper says I have to stay out of sight until this is over. The Venomians are attacking strongly now, and it could be years before I'm ever allowed out of my building. It's almost as bad as prison." Avia answered painfully.

Falco took her by the wing and pulled her away from the rest of the group. "Avia, why?"

"I..don't...know." she answered.

"I'll really miss you, Avia." Falco told her sincerely.

"I'll miss you too, Falco. I'll never forget you." Then, just because she would never get a chance to again, she kissed him, then started to cry and ran out of the caf. Falco just stood there, not able to say or do anything.

Avia was still stuck in headquarters. Luckily, General Pepper made a little courtyard for her, so she could still enjoy the beautiful Cornerian atmosphere. She spent most of her time thinking about all the things she had lost, wondering how long she had to stay concealed, afraid of becoming less of a person and more of a zoo exhibit. She was trapped in a cage, her courtyard, her quarters, a few areas of headquarters. "Will I ever get out of here?" Avia wondered aloud, looking at a flower she had picked. "Here I am, a fifteen-year-old with no social life at all. At least I don't have any nervous breakdowns. Not like there's anything to worry about. I'm no longer an issue. No one gives a damn about me. I wonder how Falco is these days. Has he forgotten me? I'll find out someday..." She heard a ship fly overhead. "Another ship. I wish I could fly one. The Airazor is getting rusty." It circled around and she saw it again. "Wait a minute, that's a Venomian ship! And it's coming down here?" Avia tried to get back into her quarters, but the door was locked. "Well, they're not taking me without a fight." She didn't have a weapon, so she just used her training in unarmed combat. A young wolf, about her age or younger came out of the ship. 'They can't be serious,' she thought. He did carry a blaster, though. He shot at her. Avia dodged out of the way. She ran up to the wolf and socked him in the face. He didn't move, so she kicked him in the stomach. He doubled over, and then she tripped him and pinned him down. "Who are you and what do you want with me?" Avia asked.

"I'm Wolf O'Donnell." he said. "I'm here to take you to Venom."

"Good luck, wolfy boy, 'cause I'm not going anywhere." she said.

"Oh, yes you are!" Avia spun around to see a chameleon standing there. He punched her in the face. Hard. She was out cold.

Avia woke up in a dark room. She was chained to the wall, surrounded by four other people. They were Fox McCloud, Falco Lombardi, Slippy Toad, and Katt Monroe, who she didn't know yet and who was only 13 at the time. Slippy was conscious, but the others weren't. "A-a-avia! Where are we?" Slippy asked.

"Venom." she answered. "We've got to break out."

"I've always s-s-suspected something about you, A-a-avia. I still do." Slippy said.

"You have good reason." Avia said. "But I can't tell you why."

Wolf O'Donnell entered the room. His cheek was swollen from where Avia had punched him. "You put up a good fight. You could join our side, and we'd let you go. One of my friends even is starting to have a thing for you. Well?" He came closer, and Avia spit in his eye. "If that's the way you want to be, then we'll have to do this the hard way."

"How old are you, anyway. I could swear you were 14, Wolf." Avia said, to show she was completely unafraid of him.

"Nevermind that. I think I'll have your first questioning session. Now, tell me all you know about the Cornerian defense." Avia looked at him blankly. "Don't be a fool!" he said. "I know you have access to the personnel files, and you have the key to the Cornerian defense. Tell me." Slippy overheard the whole thing.

"No way, Wolf. You can't make me tell." Avia retorted.

"Oh, but I can. You see this?" Wolf pulled out a metal box. "This-"

"I know all about torture methods." Avia interrupted him. "It's connected to pain implants throughout my body. At the push of a button, you can put me in extreme pa-" Avia was cut off because Wolf pushed a button on the box. Avia screamed.

"I can do that to all your friends, too." One by one, every one of them was hit by a shock of pain.

"Stop it! I know you only want me." Avia tried to save her friends.

"No, on the contrary. I want all of you. You see, we want Corneria's special fighters. The best of the best." Wolf said. "But we only took him because he was with McCloud and Lombardi." Wolf pointed to Slippy.

"Why?" Avia asked.

"Because you each might know something. We know you know plenty, but we just want to make sure. Plus," he pushed the button on the box for Falco, "They give us ways to make you talk."

"I won't trade Corneria for my friends. Sorry, guys." Avia had been taught to keep her secrets. Never give them out even for her life.

"It's okay, Avia. I'd do the same thing." Falco reassured her.

"Me too." Fox said.

"M-m-me t-t-too." Slippy agreed.

"You see? You can torture all of us, but we'll never talk." Katt spoke up.

"Who are you, anyway?" Avia asked.

"That's Katt Monroe. She's a friend of mine." Falco said. "Just a friend." he said quietly enough for Katt not to hear.

"None of you are going to talk." Wolf laughed. "How long do you honestly think you can keep that up?" He left the room giving them time to think about that.

Avia had been thinking of her options carefully while Wolf was talking. "I know what we have to do." she said with disgust. "We have to stoop to the lowest possible option. Katt, you and I have to-"

"Yuck!" Katt exclaimed, already getting the idea.

"You take Wolf. I'll take whoever else comes along." Avia said.

"What are y-y-you guys p-p-planning?" Slippy asked.

"It's a girl thing." Falco and Fox said at the same time.

Wolf walked back into the room with the chameleon. "Hi, Wolf." Katt said and winked at him. Avia fluttered her eyelashes at the chameleon, knowing he was the one Wolf had mentioned earlier.

"Maybe I'm going to rethink joining your side." Avia said.

"You traitor!" Falco yelled, to back up the plan.

"We trusted you!" Fox yelled.

"My name is Leon. Pleased to meet you." Leon kissed her hand and Avia felt sick to her stomach.

"Pleased to meet you." Avia said. She was a good actress.

Wolf released Katt and Avia. Leon held Avia's hand. Avia knew she had to act before they got to Andross, or he would be on their tail. She walked with Leon toward Andross's room, but slipped her hand into her pocket. There, she had her paralyzing injection gun, which she kept with her at all times. When Wolf wasn't looking, she pulled Leon into a dark corridor.

"What are you-" Leon was cut off as she injected it in his neck. He fell to the floor.

"He'll be out for a while." Avia said to herself. She knocked on the floor to check for a hollow spot. She found one and pulled up a large sheet of metal that was covering it. She dumped Leon inside and covered the hole back up. She went back to the other hallway and met Katt, who had just shot Wolf with her mini-blaster set on stun. They walked back to the room where they were kept in the first place. They released Falco, Fox and Slippy.

"You guys are great actresses." Falco said.

"You're not bad yourself. But we've got to get out of here." Avia followed Katt, who had already left. They quickly headed for the nearest way out. They found a door, but it was locked. She tried to open it, but couldn't. They all tried, but couldn't.

"Allow me." Avia kicked the door open. "Ouch! I think that sprained my ankle!" Avia fell down to the ground. "Go!" Katt ran out the door, but the others were determined to bring Avia out. They picked her up, but were stopped before they could leave.

"Going somewhere?" asked a pig wielding a blaster pistol.

"Pigma Dengar. You traitor!" Avia shouted and kicked Pigma in the face with her good foot. Unfortunately for Pigma, she was wearing high heels. That was the reason she sprained her ankle.

"You're more trouble than you're worth. General, take them away. We have no further use for them." Andross ordered. A lizard saluted and took them to a room with restraining chairs.

"What are you going to do with us now?" Avia asked.

"Erase your memories. You have no purpose to us now. We will make sure you have no purpose to Corneria, either." the lizard told them. He took out a needle. He injected it into each one of them. It knocked them out.

"How are they?" Andross asked.

"Unconscious, Emperor Andross. When they wake up, they will remember nothing from the the past five years of their lives." the lizard reported.

"Excellent." Andross said in a deep voice.

"One escaped, sir." the lizard prepared himself for the worst.

Andross thought for a moment. "No matter. We still have four fighters. No longer fighters, though. They can't remember how to fly!" Andross laughed maniacally.

They four were dumped on random places on Venom's vast surface, so that there would be only a slight chance of survival. When Avia woke up, she had no idea where she was. She felt as if she had a clot in her mind; a wall, blocking her thoughts. "Hmm. I've never seen this place before, but judging by the atmosphere, it looks like Venom." Avia said to herself. In survival training, she had been taught the characteristics of each planet; how to identify a planet from the planet's surface. Avia picked up a pile of dirt. She sniffed it, even though the avian sense of smell was not so great. "Yep, this is Venom for sure. I can smell the strong toxins. But how did I get here?" she wondered aloud. All of a sudden, Avia remembered her comm. She pulled it off her head. "Pretty badly damaged. How do I repair it now?" Avia had learned mechanics when she was 13. "I guess I've just got to try and survive until help comes. That could be years. Venom is a big planet." Avia looked for shelter. There was nothing except wasteland as far as the eye could see. She could find no water either, drinkable water, so she looked for food. There were some small Venomian rats skittering about on the ground. She spent a few hours sharpening a rock into a knife. Later, she held it and admired her handiwork. Luckily, she was a raptor and a natural hunter, and managed to catch a rat. She couldn't make a fire, because of Venom's volatile atmosphere, and that she had nothing to use for kindling. She didn't want to eat the rat raw, because it would probably cause a sickness, so she left it. Night was falling over Venom, and Avia was afraid she would freeze to death. Venom's nights were incredibly cold, and she had no fire, no blanket, nothing. As it got darker, she huddled up as tight as she could and pulled her jacket around her.

"General P-p-pepper?" Slippy Toad's voice came shakily over the comm. He had learned mechanics very early, and therefore been able to remember.

"Yes, this is General Pepper speaking. Who is this?" General Pepper was a bit surprised at the transmission coming from Venom, as the comm was on a friendly frequency.

"S-s-slippy T-t-toad, sir. I've been m-m-marooned on Venom, and I d-d-don't know how I g-g-got here!" Slippy reported.

General Pepper knew at once what had happened. Slippy was one of the reported missing, along with his dear Avia. Andross had questioned them, given up, and erased their memories. It was a common tactic the Venomians used. "Give me your coordinates. I'll send a rescue team out for you." Slippy did, and the transmission ended. The General told his teams to look for the five people most recently reported missing on the surface of Venom. He gave them the coordinates. They were on their way immediately.

Avia woke up the next morning shivering. It wasn't cold, it had already warmed up. She knew she had gotten sick from the cold. She tore part of her sleeve off her shirt, soaked it with the water from the nearest river, which was not clean, but cold, and tied it around her forehead. That was the best she could do for herself. It would help bring down the fever she knew she had. She looked at the rat, and its bones had been picked clean over the night! "Figures. There's hardly any food on this planet." she said to herself. Avia knew that she needed help. If a Venomian picked her up, she could pretend to be Venomian. If the Cornerians came, she just hoped she wouldn't be delirious by then. Avia picked up a stone and played with it for a while. That gave her an idea. She placed it on the ground, then did the same with others. In an hour, she had spelled the word 'HELP' in enormous letters. She took off her jacket, which was white, and lay under it. Venom's conditions were like a desert; hot during the day, sub-zero during the night. The jacket might also help her be noticed on the strange greenish sand. Avia was asleep in minutes. She slept through most of the day.

"There's one!" shouted a panther over the comm. He had just spotted Avia's 'HELP' sign. "I'm going in." The panther landed and got out of his ship. He saw Avia's jacket and found her there. He picked her up. "She's alive, but looks sick. She's taken care of herself pretty well, though. We'd better get her to the hospital." he said into the comm. He put her gently into his ship and put on the supply oxygen that all rescue ships have.

Avia woke up in a hospital bed with a cold compress over her head. She was aching all over, and she remembered her hard time trying to survive on Venom. Nothing before that, though. She beeped for the nurse. When a muskrat about her age came in, Avia asked what her condition was.

"You're running a high fever. Also, you're suffering from a mild case of air poisoning. Where were you, Venom?" the nurse asked.

"Well, actually, I was. It's a long story. Unfortunately, I don't remember it." Avia scratched her head in thought.

"You're a little young to be fighting, don't you think?" the nurse had seen many cases like this.

"I've been fighting in the air force since I was 9 years old." Avia answered haughtily. She had forgotten that she was pulled out of the air force at 12 because her memory was erased.

The nurse sighed. "I used to train to fly. When I actually got out there for the first time, I couldn't bear shooting anyone, so I went to the hospital to save lives, not destroy them. Everyone's gotta choose their own path, I guess."

"I guess so." Avia responded. Killing people was one of the things you have to deal with every day, or at least it was to Avia. She never really gave it much thought, all she knew was that it was a battle for survival; kill or be killed.

"Well, General Pepper has been waiting here for hours. I suppose he can come in now." The nurse opened the door and let General Pepper in.

"Nurse, could you leave us alone?" he asked. The muskrat left and quietly shut the door behind her. "Avia, I know what happened to you. You were captured by Venom, and Andross erased your memory. He does that to many of my best pilots."

"That explains why I can't remember anything. What's going to happen to me now?" Avia asked, a little scared.

"Don't worry, Avia. I've ordered memory reconstruction. How old were you in your last memory? That way we can determine how many years Andross erased from your memory." General Pepper said.

"10." Avia quickly replied.

"Hmmm. That's the standard treatment." Pepper said.

"How did your team find me?" Avia asked.

"They saw your help sign written in rocks. One of the other people who was kidnapped told us that he was stranded on Venom, and that's how we knew where you were." General Pepper told Avia. "If he hadn't learned mechanics earlier in life, you'd still be back there." Avia smiled. "There's one other thing. We've found implants in all of you, just beneath the skin. They are used by Andross to torture you."

"What can you do about them?" Avia asked.

"Nothing." General Pepper said with regret. "We've seen this before. There is no way to remove them without instantly killing you. The most unfortunate thing is that the one in your forehead is a camera. Andross can see everything you do."

"Well, can't we just break the camera?" Avia asked. "We don't have to remove it, just break it."

"It doesn't break without a blaster pistol shot. They're not that delicate." General Pepper sighed.

Avia pulled the feathers back from her head in that spot, exposing the camera. "It sticks out just a little bit. If you used a precision aim blaster, you could shoot it from the side."

"You're right!" General Pepper pulled out his blaster. He aimed at the camera from very close range, almost touching it, and fired. Then he checked it over and saw that it was clearly destroyed beyond repair. Avia was completely unhurt. "I'll make sure that all the others get the same thing done. I just hope the one who escaped has figured it out." The General left the room. Avia sat in her hospital bed, waiting until she could get her memories back.

After three years in memory reconstruction, Avia was a better pilot than ever before. She had learned all the skills she used to know and many more. She had also learned about everything that had happened. Her dream was to one day be in a team. A team with only a few members, five or six at the most, so she could feel like she made a real difference.

"Avia, today is Graduation Day!" General Pepper came into Avia's quarters, looking even more excited than Avia.

"I know! I can't wait." Avia put away a newspaper she was reading.

"You've come such a long way. I'm very proud of you." He gave her a fatherly hug.

Avia looked at her watch. "It's time for the graduation, isn't it?" Avia asked. She would be graduating with the Cornerian Flight Academy.

"You're right. You'd better go now." Avia left for the Cornerian Flight Academy.

Avia walked down the aisle as her name was called. She got her diploma and shook hands with the principal, then General Pepper, who was there as a guest. He came every year. Avia sat down again and waited for everyone else to finish. She felt as if there were three graduates she had seen before. Falco Lombardi, Fox McCloud and Slippy Toad. She didn't know from where, though. She did know one graduate for sure, though. Her old friend Sonja. Next, all the honor students were called up. Falco, Fox and Slippy were all called up, as well as Avia. There were only 15 honor students in total. They stayed up there for the rest of the ceremony, which was just General Pepper making a speech. At the end of the speech, they all went to the reception. Avia went up to Sonja, who was walking with Falco, Fox and Slippy.

"Hey! Sonja! It's been a really long time." Avia said.

"Yeah, I know. How've you been?" Sonja asked.

"Fine, I guess. What's happened to you during the nine years I haven't seen you?" Avia asked.

"Nine? Avia, it's only been six." Sonja was confused.

"Oh! That's right. Sorry. My memory was erased by the Venomians." Avia said.

"You didn't tell me that?" Sonja accused.

"Well..." Avia trailed off.

"Avia!" They both started laughing. The boys were having their own conversation.

"Will you introduce me to them, Sonja?" Avia asked.

"You know them, Avia. Oh, wait, never mind." Sonja was finding it hard to get used to Avia's memory loss. She turned to the boys. "Guys?" They stopped their conversation.

"Yeah, Sonja?" asked Fox.

"This is Avia. You must remember her, right?" Sonja crossed her fingers.

"No." They all answered.

"She does look familiar." Falco said.

"So do you." Avia and Falco looked at each other, trying to figure it out.

"I don't think we'll ever figure this out. Let's just go to the party." said Fox.

"G-g-good idea." Slippy agreed.

They all walked to the reception party. Avia only stayed for the first five minutes, because her curfew was at 22:00 and the graduation was late.

"I'll walk you home if you want, Avia." Falco offered.

"Uh, no, that's okay, just enjoy the party. Bye guys!" Avia called out to the rest of the group. She ran into a group of thick trees, so no one could figure out that she was living at headquarters. She went to the VR unit and saw White Fox there.

"How was the Graduation?" he asked.

"Good. Why didn't you go?" Avia asked.

"I forgot." said White Fox. "I didn't want to go, anyway."

Avia shrugged her shoulders and sat down in the VR. She flew through the course with ease. Soon, she was at the all-range battle arena. "You've gotten a lot better, Avia." White Fox complimented.

"Thanks." Avia said and shot him down to 63% shields.

"You really are good!" White Fox tried to get Avia back, but only managed to shoot her shields down to 80%.

"I think I'll go to bed early tonight. See ya!" Avia switched off her VR unit, followed by White Fox.

"Wait! Wait! Can't we even talk for a while? Who did you see at the Graduation?" White Fox called after her.

Avia stopped. "Alright. I saw my old friend Sonja, and met her friends Falco, Fox, and Slippy."

"But you...never mind. I forgot about the erased memory thing." said White Fox.

"I really am tired. Can I go?" Avia asked.

"Fine. I'll talk to you in the morning, okay?" White Fox asked.

"Okay." Avia walked to her room. That night, she fell asleep quickly, tired from the excitement that day.

"Avia, today is the big day," General Pepper said inside his office. "I've called Star Fox in."

"Why?" asked Avia, who was standing next to him.

"Because today, you are going to join the team." replied General Pepper, waiting to see her reaction.

"Me?! On the Star Fox team? Do you really think I'm good enough? They're the most famous team in the system!" gasped Avia.

"I'm sure of it, Avia." General Pepper said in a comforting voice.

I'll say it again, like I do on every story that you can use me, but ask first, Syra, Oski, or Lyla and I'll ask them, or Rick Browne, but I can't ask him because he's either trapped in Venom's dungeons or *sniff* dead *sniff sniff*. Just ask me. I'd like to thank White Fox for allowing me to write him into this, because it would have been really hard if he didn't. He was my best friend on the air force. Thanx also go out to Fana McCloud for letting me use her in the very beginning of my story.