"What time is it?"

"Shuddup."

"What time is it?"

"SHUDDUP."

Finn was silent for a few moments. Then...

"What time is it?"

"Finn..." Piper swiveled to glare at him. "If you don't be quiet this moment, you'll wake up tomorrow morning breathing through a tube and pissing into a bag. Now shut the hell up."

Finn turned to Aerrow, who shrugged.

Women, they both thought.

The sky was overcast and bleak, even though it was night. Talons rushed about in a frenzy, disorganized in general. Nightwing roared orders at the top of his lungs, waving his sword to emphasize them. God help any Talon or Sky Knight who got in his way, now.

He ran as fast as his legs could carry him, slashing at tents and empty boxes. Finally, he reached the front. Climbed a ridge and looked down.

Sparks flew, both red and white. Slowly, his Talons were being pushed back. Perhaps this wasn't such a good idea after all...

He jumped down, gritted his teeth, and charged into battle. Clashed with one of the Taoists. His sword clanged against that of his opponent's. He jumped aside, let the Taoist come to him. And come he did. He raced forward, a roar stirring in his throat. Nightwing raised his sword with a grin and beat him back. One blast knocked him out.

He turned around, looked at the sky. Dawn was coming...

Suddenly, a shout. He looked down to see a raised sword, aiming right for his head. His own weapon hung limp and un-activated at his side. This was the end. He winced and tried raising an arm to deflect it, but white sparks were already singing the skin.

Then, a whine that he was only too familiar with. An explosion of red energy. He opened his eyes to see an arrow shaft, protruding from the ground, and the man right next to it, unconscious, sword still fizzing. He looked up and saw Gaeli, reddened bandage on her arm, wincing at her sudden movement. He ran over to her, sat her down and glared.

"I didn't think you were suicidal. What were you doing!?"

"Saving your sorry ass?"

"I don't mean THAT, I mean running out of the tent, into this fray!"

She shrugged, then winced again. "I thought you might need some help, out here. Turns out, I was right."

Nightwing closed his mouth in one swift movement, then frowned and raced back to battle.

He was a smart man, everyone knew that...

But one thing he'd never comprehend was women.

"Boom, bam, beep-beep..."

"Fauc?"

"Boom, bam...Yeah?"

"Could you keep it down?"

"No."

You HAD to ask..., Spark thought to herself. She went back to the ever important task of keeping Stork sane. He was giggling at inopportune moments and grinning in a very unsettling manner. She kept a steady hand on his back and her eyes on the sky in front of them.

"Junko?" Aerrow sped in.

"Yep?"

"Don't fire! You too, Finn. I think the fight's petering out..."

"Got it!"

Piper ran into the helm, a portable radio in her hands. "Guys, listen to this..."

"Crackle, crackle, pop, pop, Stor-crackle Hawks, we need hel-crackle, crackle, pop outnumbered, too many of the-crackle..."

"When did you receive that?"

"About a minute ago, it's not a live feed, I recorded it."

"You recorded it?" Finn exclaimed. "What kind of person-"

Aerrow slammed his palm against Finn's mouth. "Shut it. We're going down there. Spark, are you going to stay?"

"And let you guys get all the fun? Naw," she said, forcing a smile. She started towards the hanger bay after the others, Button jumping on her shoulder as they went. Aerrow clapped Fauc on the back.

"See? Told you she'd bounce back. I think."

Ying looked up into the sky and saw the Condor slowing down, blasts lessening. Skimmers were taking off. He sighed in relief and turned back to the fight. Even with the Shue Nu freed, there were simply too many Talons. And not enough time.

Dawn was coming, and as soon as these Talons could bloody well see, then they'd lose the advantage of a home field.

He saw the rides land and dispatched a few men to go and find the Storm Hawks.

He was many things, but a coward he was not.

He'd stay here and fight.

The Storm Hawks started down the mountain upon which they had landed. All of a sudden, a rustling in a nearby bush startled them. Button screeched and almost pushed Spark off the ledge.

"Sh, we're from the Taoists!" Two men slunk out of the undergrowth and beckoned. "We're here to lead you down. Ying sent us."

"Alright. How're things going down there?"

"See for yourself," one of the men said, with a grimace. He pulled apart some branches and pointed at the terra below.

Sparks were flying, men and women screaming, and part of the town was ablaze. The fury of battle was erupting full scale beneath them. They needed to get down there, and fast. Aerrow nodded at the guides. The sky was lightening, and they all felt tired, but a task awaited.

They touched the mountain's bottom, then ran for the battlefield. Ying was in the back, waiting.

"Storm Hawks, so glad you could come. Radio the Condor to stop blasting."

Stork was apparently taking out his paranoia on a few cannons. Aerrow moaned, picked up his portable radio, and gave Stork a ring.

"Hello...?"

"Yeah, Stork, erm...Stop blasting for a while, 'kay pal?"

"O...okay..."

The radio crackled off. Aerrow looked at Spark, who shrugged. Piper just gave a half-hearted grin at Ying's questioning look.

"He's a little..."

"Paranoid," Fauc finished.

"Oh."

Just saying that if I don't...you know, get some reviews or some message that you guys actually are still following this trilogy, then I think I'll just stop writing it. I've got some other things I want to work on, so, that's all!