'Heads up,' Nightingale whispered as Randy impaled his sword into the wall above her. Howard stumbled away, trying not to get himself killed in the process. Who was this girl, and why the cheese would Randy attack them?

'Do you want to explain the situation, or do I have to guess,' Howard grouched to this "Nightingale" as she impaled Randy's scarf with a dagger, rendering him immobile. 'No? Fine.'

Nightingale glanced at the false-Ninja, who was pulling at his scarf. She'd travelled to Norrisville because of this. This Ninja could absorb other's powers by some… sorcery. And he was under the Sorcercer's control, the Tengu brought in so easily as if it was a side-gift from the mall.

If they managed to get out into the world, they would wreak havoc in the mortal world.

Starting with Norrisville.

Once she'd sensed his presence back in America, she had raced here to keep the Sorcerer in bay. Only to find their hero lost, the Phoenix free and that old hag free of his binds.

'This is just a practice run, Celeste. Just get this over with,' she said to herself as she raised her scythe. 'Just a Rattata in Fescue City.'

Howard ruined the mood: 'Are you talking to youself? Is your name Celeste?' She glowered at him. 'Yeah, it is.'

She charged onto the Ninja who had just broke free of his bonds by cutting his scarf apart. He sheathed his sword and swing at her, but she disappeared into the shadows and appeared above him and crashed down onto him.

The Ninja lept aside and dodged her fatal attack. As that ancient chicken — that Phoenix — shrieked, it charged at her when the Ninja came at her from a different angle.

'Come on, kids, I don't want to hurt you,' she muttered. 'Back off or I'll have to hurt you.'

'Must. Destroy,' the Ninja replied.

'Worth a shot.' She snapped her finger and her scythe melted into a silver bird, the Nightingale. She wasn't familiar with this language, so there wasn't a Japanese name for her. It sang at full force — a low key that messed with the Sorcercer's magic and undid it.

The Ninja covered his ears in agony. As the Nightingale's song went on, eveeyone in the compound crumpled in fear they might go deaf.

'Leave,' she commanded the Sorcercer. 'Back to your prison you go.'

'Never!' the Sorcercer bellowed.

The silver birs sang lower.

'Arghh!' He dropped to his knees. 'Fine! I will leave. Stop that infuriating music!'

'The only way to stop is into your cell,' she said.

'No!'

The bird threatened to sing a whole new level of pure agony.

'Fine!' he surrendered. 'I will leave!'

Then he disappeared into the hole in a green mist. The Tengu shrieked and was sealed into the sacred stone once again.

'Stop it!' She felt someone shake her shoulders. It was Howard. 'You're killing my beat pal! Stop that noise!'

The bird's voice went from low to incredibly high.

'Gah! Not shrieking! Stop!'

The Ninja inhaled sharply and shot up back to life. Nightingale glared at Howard as the Ninja looked around in shock.

'Who — what — how — What happened?' the Ninja slurred.

'Yeah, welcome back to Crazytown,' Nightingale said. 'You have a habit of talking to yourself.'

'You too. I heard it,' Howard interjected. 'I heard it all. "Oh this is a rat from rescue little," and "Celeste calm down," and the lot.'

'Looks like we all share that annoying habit. At least for those who have duties.'

Howard cracked up. 'Duty.'

'Your name's Celeste?' the Ninja ignored him. 'I'm Randy. Norrisville Ninja.'

'I know,' she said casually and dismissed the bird. 'But the Sorcerer won't stay down long, and you've left. I'm staying here because of the Sorceress.'

Her eyes turned dark. 'Looks like I've got too much to handle.'