Author's Note: Disclaimer: I do not own Wizard101 or any spells or enemies mentioned here. Miguel Spellblade, Talon Skullflame, and Kane Darksword are my characters.

I obviously took literary liberties with all of the characters and the spells. Look at this as a re-imagining of what the action could be like. I realize this is a long time coming, and I am sorry for that. I tend to have video game phases, and recently I have been in more of an Elder Scrolls phase than a Wizard101 phase. However, I am back into Wizard101, obviously, and I hope this chapter was worth the wait. The idea behind this chapter was to make Lord Nightshade as creepy and scary and dangerous a character as possible, because the game did him little justice in those respects. It is long, as a battle with one such as Nightshade should be. I hope the battle pace is alright for you guys this time.

Rowan Skulldreamer is a character of my lovely lady's creation, and may or may not feature/cameo in subsequent stories.

Enjoy, and don't hesitate to review. Thank you.

Shady Night Life

Part II of Lord of the Night

The three friends stood together before the stone bridge that led to Stormdrain Tower and the island that served as its foundation. The dark stone tower was not very tall, but still intimidating. Being surrounded by a small cemetery and having a cavern mouth shaped suspiciously like monstrous jaws in the background tended to lend an intimidating air to any situation.

However, only Talon seemed particularly perturbed by the view, frowning with uncertainty. He hadn't changed his robes for the battle, but had covered his head in a brown hood with a crimson stripe down the center, a Fire symbol emblazoned on the sides. He tightened his grip on the staff he brought, an iron rod with a head-sized red orb clasped in dragon claws, in an attempt to ease his anxiety.

I wish Kane would have let me bring Dakota, thought Talon, missing his trusty dragon that always brought him comfort and support. However, Kane and Miguel both thought it safer for the pets to stay home for this, and they were probably right. Talon inhaled and exhaled slowly, looking over to Miguel, who was dressed for battle exactly as he was for Prince Alicane.

Miguel looked back at his pyromancer friend, nodding and smiling reassuringly. He knew Talon hated undead like Lord Nightshade; wicked, vile, creepy creatures that made a point of striking fear into the hearts of others. That was why he came to the sorcerer for help when Headmaster Ambrose requested the pyromancer stop Lord Nightshade. Miguel had, like Kane, asked why he didn't seek out Rowan, and Talon confided his fears to him. Not only would Rowan possibly find his fears laughable, he had explained, he also hated being reminded that the beautiful necromancer was magically related to such horrendous creatures. Apparently, asking Kane for help was a different matter for the pyromancer however.

"Remember the strategy, guys," instructed Kane over his shoulder, standing in front of the two. Like Talon he hadn't changed his robes since leaving the dormitory, but he now carried a gnarled wooden staff, wrapped in the middle with cloth for improved grip. His violet eyes were narrowed and his face grim, ready for the coming fight.

"Let's do this." He moved across the bridge, his partners following without a word. They entered the tower with a similar, battle-anxious silence.

Once the door to the tower closed behind them, a low, forebodingly deep and harsh cackle echoed through the streets of the Haunted Cave. The living scarecrows and ghouls walking the streets stopped, looking to Stormdrain Tower. A moment later they vacated the street, hiding in the abandoned buildings and dank alleys between them. They knew what the cackle meant; someone had directly challenged their Lord, and it didn't serve well to get in his way.

The cackle filled the first level room of the tower, sending visible chills through all the boys except Kane. However, it was empty, soft light shining down in slanted rays from the windows above. There were cluttered bookshelves up against the walls, ringing the whole room and filled with books, trinkets and the occasional skull. A single desk sat across from the door, likewise cluttered with books and papers.

"What is that?" Talon pointed at the jar on the desk.

"A brain in a jar, obviously." Kane sneered.

"I can see that, genius," retorted Talon, looking quite aggravated with the answer. "I mean like, is it Nightshade's brain?"

"Wouldn't surprise me," muttered Miguel, "where is el diablo anyway?" A cackle rose around the room in answer, prompting the three to grip their staves defensively. A shadow black as a void rose from behind the desk, becoming a column of darkness.

When the shadow stopped stretching upward, it stretched out to the sides, two decrepit onyx wings extending as thin, long arms materialized. Long skeletal hands slipped out from under tattered sleeves as a hood formed, creating a dark cloak. A raspy hiss emitted from beneath the hood, which became ivory white as skull and jaw bone formed from the shadows. The wings closed and the wraith hunched over, looking over the desk at the wizards with eye sockets that glowed with unholy fire. A tentacle of shadow shot up from the floor, curling at the level of the wraith's head. The being's right hand closed around the tentacle, which solidified into a crescent-bladed scythe.

"You dare to challenge me?" A voice that was louder than a whisper yet quieter than normal speech brushed the wizards' ears, as if the speaker was just over their shoulders. Talon turned and glanced over his shoulder, but Miguel and Kane narrowed their eyes at the wraith.

"Lord Nightshade," Kane growled softly, his elbow nudging Talon to turn the pyromancer to face the wraith. "Remember Talon, control your fear or he will wield it against you."

"Right," Talon gulped, remembering their battle plan. He was supposed to turn his fear into a passion to destroy Lord Nightshade, to fuel his fire. But he was finding that easier said than done at the moment.

"Do you not fear me, Kane Darksword?" The whispery voice of Lord Nightshade asked the conjurer. The wraith's jaw never moved as the voice (which was more a magical projection of sound than speech) spoke, further unnerving Talon. The eyes continued to glow as if seeking to burn a hole into them.

"No, I don't fear you." Kane replied, his left hand glowing yellow. The abomination seemed amused by this as a deep chuckle filled the room.

"Young wizards should be playing, not fighting..." Lord Nightshade's voice declared, with a hint of demented merriment in the tone. "Let me introduce you to my children…" The wraith raised his left hand, glimmering with pale blue light. Two whirling columns of smoke arose at his sides and took on a similar pale blue shimmer. When Lord Nightshade lowered his arm, the swirling smoke dissipated to reveal two scarecrows, Jack-O-Lantern heads aglow with eerie candlelight. The crow on the post of one scarecrow cawed at the boys.

"Ahh…" the vile voice sighed with pleasure, "now the conjurer feels fear… What is wrong, Darksword? Defenseless against the Elements?" Once again a low and hoarse cackling surrounded them. Kane gripped his staff tighter.

He can't be serious. Miguel thought, trying to recall if element shielding had come up during the strategizing; it hadn't.

The cackling continued as Lord Nightshade pointed a long, ivory finger at the wizards. Both scarecrows reared back, sparks dancing over their gray cloaks and blue violet light growing quickly in their eternally grinning maws. Hastily Fire and Balance symbols flared before Talon and Miguel, casting glacial and elemental shields to defend against the coming onslaught of Storm magic.

A thunderclap echoed through the Haunted Cave as the three wizards were forcefully thrown from Stormdrain Tower by the combined attack. They landed beyond the bridge into the street proper, sparks of Storm energy crackling over them. Lord Nightshade emerged from the tower, his scarecrows floating at his sides. His cold visage examined each of the prone bodies in turn.

When the wraith began to move toward Miguel his frail wings spread behind him and his lower body became insubstantial smoke. The black smoke trailed behind him as he floated to the sorcerer, the wraith's body reforming upon reaching his prey and he crouched down beside him, hunching over to get closer to the boy. Miguel's hat had fallen off, revealing the silky black hair beneath, and Lord Nightshade gently trailed his cold fingertips over Miguel's forehead, brushing aside wayward locks.

"Wizard…" Lord Nightshade rasped as his claw-like fingers moved over the boy's cheek and under his chin. Miguel's eyes snapped open, glazing over as if drugged. "I am having a vision… I foresee darkness descending upon you." His hand pulled away from Miguel's face, an orb of ethereal blue light growing in his palm. Miguel's face began to ripple and warp.

"Let me seal your fate…" Lord Nightshade hissed, and a similar ethereal light began to bleed off Miguel's face, surging into the pulsing orb in the wraith's palm.

Eerie moaning entered Talon's mind as he recovered from the daze, and he groaned in response. His eyes peeled open a moment later to reveal the ceiling of the cavern, and shot wide open as he registered the moaning voice as Miguel's. The pyromancer rolled to his side to see his friend convulsing beneath Lord Nightshade's glowing hand, his soul slowly siphoning into the wraith.

"Miguel!" Talon cried out, etching a Life symbol with the hand not lying on the ground. He slashed the air with his hand flat as the symbol chimed out of existence.

"Imp, stop him!" Talon instructed as a tiny green imp flashed into being, armed with a golden fiddle and bow. Its miniature wings flapped furiously as it gave the wraith a wide grin, beginning to dance in the air. Bow met string to produce a fast paced rhythm, orange and green musical notes streaming out of the instrument as the song played. The notes spun at Lord Nightshade, flashing brightly as they surrounded him. The wraith gave a hoarse screech, severing the ethereal stream connecting him to Miguel as he reared back, skeletal hands holding his hooded skull. The imp played relentlessly, torturing the thrashing undead with melodious music until he finally dissolved into mist.

Talon scurried over to his friend's now still form, calling out to Kane but not seeking the conjurer actively. Miguel's eyes were still open and glazed over, his dark skin uncharacteristically pale. The sound of crackling magic prompted Talon to turn, seeing one scarecrow casting a Storm spell. He briefly looked around for his staff, but with his first glance failing he instead stood, arms rising over his head as a Fire symbol formed. He brought his arms down to cross over his chest before sweeping them out in front of him. The scarecrow's Storm symbol burst, a storm cloud forming between them, and Talon's own symbol flared. A pale blue orb of light joined the one from his previous glacial shield and a new violet sphere circled around the wizard as well.

Just as his shields formed, a large purple and yellow spiked beetle dropped from the cloud, mandibles clicking menacingly. It charged the pyromancer, bolts of energy dancing around it. Talon's violet orb flared, a bubble of purple light encapsulating him as the beetle rammed into it. For a brief moment it seemed there would be a stalemate, as the beetle ran in place, trying to shove through the shield.

With a thunderous crack Talon's shield relented, dissolving from the energy of the beetle. The chitinous head slammed into him (though with notably weakened force) sending him scrapping along the cobblestones. Victorious, the beetle loomed over Miguel, clicking its mandibles as if previewing a meal.

"Aid me, Golem!" Kane yelled, the sounds of Talon's battle having revived him. The beetle was caught off guard by the strike of a wooden staff, knocking it backward before it exploded into sparks. The summoned golem, a wooden, jointed mannequin with a blue nightcap and sash, stood between the scarecrows and Miguel, pointing a staff attached to its right hand at them.

"Help Miguel," ordered Kane as he swiftly moved to stand beside his minion, a blue orb and a red orb swirling around him. "We'll cover you." On cue, his minion spun its staff before it, Fire symbol burning into the air. Kane likewise began to form a Myth symbol.

Talon didn't need to be told twice. As he got off the ground he noticed his staff lying nearby, the large crystal ball cracked and partially shattered. Looks like I'll be going staff-less. It was irrelevant now, but would need to be tended to later. At the moment, Miguel needed his attention, and he hurried to his friend's side.

Kneeling beside the sorcerer, Talon drowned out the sound of trolls and fire and lightning coming from Kane's fight, focusing on his Life song. As a low hum began in his throat, a Life symbol etched in the air.

"You cannot save him, Talon Skullflame," the dark voice of Lord Nightshade whispered in his ear, snapping his concentration as a chill ran down his spine. He could feel the cold, hard bone of the undead's hand upon his shoulder, and whirled around. The Life symbol burned and fell to the ground as a pile of ash, forgotten.

To Talon's further fright, the only thing he found was the shadows of the alleys and abandoned buildings. Lord Nightshade was nowhere to be found. Talon looked down at Miguel, who returned his gaze with a blank stare and mouth agape.

Talon knew from Kane and Rowan that Death magic manipulated emotions, such as fear and courage, which were expressions of one's soul. Therefore, Death magic could cause physical or spiritual damage, depending on the spell. The problem was that damage to one's soul had not yet been covered in Life lessons. A proper Theurgist probably understood the subject at this level, but Talon was only taking general Life classes, not specialized. Could he actually heal Miguel's soul?

"You cannot even control Fire adequately, pyromancer… How could you possibly heal a soul?" The vile whisper came from beside his other ear now, making the hair on his neck stand. He tried to still his pounding heart as he swore he could feel the cold chill of death behind him. "One wrong note is all it takes… One wrong note to destroy his mind," the voice laughed, making Talon shudder before whirling around to once again find an empty street.

"Hurry up Talon!" He heard Kane shout as thunder echoed in the cave. "I can't keep this up for-!" The conjurer was cut short by the deafening crackle of lightning, crying out as a thunder snake sent him flying into the graveyard of Stormdrain Tower. The wooden golem rushed at the scarecrows in defense of its master, swinging its staff into the chest of one and turning to face the other. The golem brought the staff before it and spun the stick, sending a stream of coruscating magic at the enemy.

I have to try. Talon determined. Even if Lord Nightshade was right and he could destroy Miguel's mind and soul, Lord Nightshade would most certainly kill the wizard. At least there was a chance Professor Wu could correct his mistake, and Kane needed his help too. And Miguel's help, as well. Somehow, he had to block out the abomination taunting him.

"You will fail, Skullflame… You always fail," chided the voice, but the wizard swallowed his fear and focused his mind on keeping Death at bay. I don't fail my friends. He snarled within his mind, a Life symbol shining to being before him. The spell chimed, and two orbs of light, one yellow and one soft gray, joined the blue orbs already dancing around the boy. Immediately after forming, though, the pale gray orb flared, a dome of soft light covering Miguel and Talon.

It confirmed Talon's suspicions; Lord Nightshade was surrounding them, using the shadows to contain himself and magically tapping into their minds when they were unaware. Beneath his dome of shielding Talon instantly felt more confident, safer; braver. I can do this!

He wasted no time beginning the song anew; the shield would not hold forever. He kept his eyes closed and his concentration on his song, a throaty, wordless vocalization coming from deep within him. The Life symbol began to form, accompanied by chiming that mirrored Talon's rhythm. The spell burst forth as he ended the song, opening his eyes to watch a creature emerge from the flare of magic.

It was a small female form, a sprite like Kane's pets but different. Her wings were the color of autumn leaves and her dress reminiscent of tree bark. Smiling and emitting a high-pitched 'hi', the sprite fluttered over Miguel.

"Can you heal him, Apalla?" Talon asked, beginning to worry as the Death shield flickered. He had summoned her before, for healing, but never for damage like this.

The sprite nodded and chirped affirmation, snapping her fingers and looking up. The smoky gray dome flared brighter, strengthened by the sprite's magic and giving her time to heal uninterrupted. Apalla circled Miguel's body, multicolored sparkles trailing her and falling upon the boy. The fallen sorcerer began to levitate off the ground, and the sprite raised her arms. Emerald streams of light shot from the ground, wrapping around the wizard's body like vines and seeping into him, rotating him until he was upright.

Without warning, the sprite and the emerald light vanished, and Miguel dropped to his feet, swaying. Talon rushed to his side as the Death shielding finally failed.

"W-what happened?" He stuttered, sounding absent.

"You were hit bad, knocked out," Talon answered. "I revived you with a sprite, but it will be a few minutes before it finishes." Miguel was softly glowing a pale green, so it was hard to tell if his color had returned. His eyes, however, looked clearer. Both wizards started as a cyclops roared.

"We have to help Kane!"

"Where's my staff?" Miguel replied, looking around.

"I don't know, mine's broken but it doesn't matter right now. Come on!" Talon urged. Miguel bent down and picked up his hat, popping it into shape before putting it on. He walked towards Talon, managed without much swaying, and nodded.

"Alright, I'm ready."

Kane snarled as he slipped behind the Stormdrain tower, avoiding another attack from the scarecrows. His minion was eliminated and his skin tingled from the electrical energy he'd been exposed to; it felt like pins and needles all over his body.

How long is that buffoon going to take?

Kane inhaled sharply, rushing out from the other side of the tower and calling upon the power within his staff. He thrust it forward, a bolt of yellow and blue rushing at one of the scarecrows. Sadly, they had both erected Myth shielding recently, and the bolt harmlessly dissipated into the air around the monster.

However, there was no shield to protect the scarecrow from the giant scorpion that rammed into it, snapping its claws around the straw body and ripping it apart. Sparks of electricity danced out of the remains of the scarecrow as the scorpion turned to dust.

"About time!" Kane snarled, not even turning to look at them. Instead, he grinned at the remaining scarecrow, a dark Death symbol shimmering before him. The scarecrow tried to cast a spell as well, Storm symbol crackling with energy.

"Ghoul!" Both spells burst forth, but it was a swirling vortex of clouds that formed first, looming over them. The vortex belched out three small blue bats with yellow wings, sparks dancing over their hairy bodies. A moment later, a grave exploded behind the scarecrow, a ghoul emerging from the earth.

Just as the lightning bats took notice of Kane, three elemental orbs surrounded him, the violet one flaring to life as they dived at the conjurer. The bats were deflected by the shield, but the bolts of energy set his hair on end as it filled the air around him. As the Storm energy died away, pale ethereal light engulfed him; the ghoul had snatched a piece of the scarecrow's vitality, and the surging life force gave Kane renewed vigor.

A terrible hiss filled the cavern as Talon's firecat finished off the scarecrow, and Kane turned to see Lord Nightshade's form, vague in the shadows, with an ivory claw drawing a Death symbol. Before any of the wizards could react, a banshee floated out of the cobblestones, inhaling with an unpleasant whine before shrieking, Death magic rushing towards them. Miguel dived into the river to avoid it, trailing green light, and Kane rolled behind a tombstone, but Talon was caught in the blast.

Screaming, the pyromancer was flung into the branches of a dead tree, petrified wood snapping under his weight. A dark cloud hung before the tree, Nightshade's wings and arms stretching out from it. He hovered, level with Talon, and his crescent scythe reached out to ring Talon's body, glowing with that unholy light. One yank of the scythe, and he would be done. The fear was evident in his eyes, and he shuddered visibly, trying keep from slipping off the branches and catching himself on the blade.

"This is what Ambrose sends… Such weak-willed rabble…" Lord Nightshade's eyes burned into Talon's mind, even when he shut his own and tried to drive out the image. The scythe glowed brighter, and Talon cried out in pain; it felt like his very mind was being torn apart.

"Hey, diablo!" The wraith turned towards the voice to see Miguel dripping wet with his hands thrust forward, Balance symbol shinning. "Scarab!" It winked out of existence and the ground around the sorcerer shimmered, cobblestones becoming sand, and a mound grew in front of him. A scarab burst out of the mound, chattering and drawing sand into its mouth before spewing it out in a powerful stream.

Lord Nightshade cackled as the sand rushed at him, becoming mist and disappearing, leaving Talon caught in the blast.

"Dammit!" Kane snarled as Talon dropped from the tree. "This is really starting to piss me off."

Miguel rushed over to his fallen friend. Color had returned to his face and the green glow was gone, but he knew he still wasn't at his best. None of them were; Talon most definitely not as he got to his feet, supported by Miguel.

"Lo siento, mi amigo," Miguel stated apologetically, smiling hesitantly. Talon smiled back painfully.

"Not your fault. How could you know he'd… become mist," Talon groaned and cracked his back. "I'm alright." In truth, he wasn't; he felt like he was suffering from the worst migraine in history and his muscles ached, making it hard to concentrate.

"Heal yourself. Now." Kane ordered, standing on the bridge between Stormdrain and the street, searching for the wraith. "Miguel, guard him." The sorcerer narrowed his eyes at the conjurer as Talon began the song, Life symbol forming.

"Kane, you can't go-"

"Neither of you are fit at the moment, and he is everywhere, Miguel! We cannot afford to wait for him to come to us," Kane declared with absolute finality, turning away from them and bolting into the street. Miguel frowned.

"What a good friend you are… Letting him go to his death…" Lord Nightshade's whispery voice jabbed at Miguel, and he searched for its source, but the wraith wasn't there.

Kane knew this likely wasn't the best idea, but he didn't care at the moment. It had to be done; neither of the others were faring well, and unlike him they couldn't heal and damage simultaneously.

Besides, he was facing a Death opponent now, not Storm monsters. He had proper defenses for such a thing, and already had his ether shield swirling around him, ready to defend the wizard from a sneak attack. He could defend himself far better now than in the previous battle, and he'd gotten out of that one well enough.

"Quit hiding and fight me like a man!" Kane shouted. He was now on the other end of the block, keeping to the center of the street to try and force Nightshade out of the shadows.

"But I am not a man…" Lord Nightshade's voice announced with bemusement, seeming to surround Kane. The alley behind the conjurer became darker, shadows condensing to form the wicked creature. "So I have no such… obligation…" As the wraith spoke, wisps of smoke swirled around Kane, hugging close to him, and the undead lord turned to mist once more. The conjurer grit his teeth in anticipation; it was a Death trap. He swallowed his fear and concentrated his senses to stay sharp for the impending attack.

Hissing alerted him to activity behind him, and he whirled to find Lord Nightshade hunched over in the street, his expressionless visage somehow emitting a grim delight. A Death symbol flared before him, shadows hugging his cloak closely as he drew it. When the symbol burst, the shadows rippled and roiled, before a dark sprite shot out and charged at Kane.

Before he could flee, the dark sprite encircled him, a dark twister of energy forming. The shadows of the Death trap sprung into action at the touch of the creature's magic, suddenly gaining substance and wrapping around him, constricting the wizard. Even though the Death shield flared up, it could not hold back the trap, instead only deflecting the brunt of the dark sprite's vile twister of magic.

When he was released from the spell, Kane fell to one knee, breathing heavily.

"Did you truly believe you could defeat me?" Lord Nightshade's voice sneered, and the unholy eyes flashed beneath the hood. "You… a mere student wizard…"

"I am not weak," Kane snarled back, getting to his feet. Golden lights began to flicker over his arms.

"You are nothing, Kane Darksword…" Lord Nightshade growled with a threatening rumble. "I have lived ages upon ages… I was here when Ravenwood began… And I will be here still when it falls…" The wraith cackled, his head tilting back in mirth.

"Not if I have something to say about it," Kane muttered, Myth symbol gleaming before him. "Cyclops!" The ground began to shake violently, interrupting Lord Nightshade's cackle as stone cracked.

The eruption of a cyclops from the ground left a decent hole in the road, the sound echoing throughout the Haunted Cave. With a flourish the one-eyed giant brandished the massive stone hammer, swinging it over his head before bringing it down upon the wraith with earth-shattering force.

Like water disturbed by a stone, Lord Nightshade became an undulating ripple of shadows, dispersing in all directions. However, the shadows swiftly recollected above the hammer, and no sooner had Lord Nightshade's scythe reformed than he had slashed it across the exposed chest of the giant, leaving a glowing gash upon its body. The cyclops blinked for a moment before exploding into magical dust.

"You are persistent, wizard…" the wraith hissed, and Kane smirked. While the undead had survived, his wings seemed more frail and sickly than ever, and one also seemed to be rather limp. Kane had injured Lord Nightshade.

"But persistence is not strength…" the nightmare proclaimed with a hiss, a Death symbol forming before him. Upon casting, Kane felt his spine tingle, and turned to see a ghoul coming out of the alleyway, trailing smoke in its wake. Kane backpedaled, but wasn't fast enough to avoid the shovel colliding with his chest and knocking him to the ground. The shovel began to glow with eerie light, before Kane felt a piece of his soul being ripped from his body and transferring to Nightshade, who was cackling victoriously.

"Something's gone wrong," Talon declared as Lord Nightshade's wicked laughter filled the entire cavern like fog at midnight. He shuddered. He was holding Miguel's recovered staff and standing behind one of the abandoned houses, while Miguel climbed onto the roof.

Miguel stopped at the second story window ledge when he heard the laughter, and looked down at his friend. The wraith's words echoed in his mind again; some friend he was indeed… No! There was nothing I could do. And Talon needed me more than he did.

"If Kane is out, will you have enough power to finish the plan Talon?" While Kane was gone, the boys had used the distraction to consider how to deal with Lord Nightshade's annoying tendency to evaporate. Talon had come up with a plan, and Kane had played an unawares part in it.

"Yeah, I will," Talon assured him, and the sorcerer continued his climb. When he had reached the top, Talon tossed up Miguel's staff. "Wait until I give the signal," he called up before heading two houses down the street.

A few minutes passed before a flash of fire, as brief as could be, appeared two rooftops away. Miguel closed his eyes and focused on himself and the world around him, before twirling his staff over his head, Balance symbol etching into the air. He opened his eyes as he brought the staff down.

"Locust swarm!"

The rooftop he stood upon rippled like a mirage, turning into a swirling mass of sand. From the mass emerged a Krokotopian head, which rose until the open mouth was exposed, releasing an angry cloud of locusts. The mass of insects surged into the air above the streets, but Miguel thrust out his staff, his other hand stroking air softly in repetitive motions. Both staff and hand were aglow with orange light, and he pointed both down to the street below; the swarm followed.

Spreading apart his hand and staff, the swarm spread and covered the width of the street. Miguel moved his arms to one side, causing the swarm to buzz down the street like an angry mob, sweeping the area.

It wasn't long before a hissing snarl echoed through the cavern, and Miguel could clearly see the materializing form of Lord Nightshade beset upon by locusts. An instant later, he was surrounded as well by flashing green lights.

"Imp!" Talon's voice carried across the cavern as he cast the spell from another rooftop, and a small green imp burst into being just above the diminishing locust swarm. Putting bow to fiddle, the insects became replaced by flashing musical notes surrounding the wraith, causing him to grasp his hooded skull in pain.

It didn't end there, however, as the musical notes began to pop, and set off the green lights of the Life trap hovering around Nightshade. They exploded in brilliant emerald blasts, and Lord Nightshade dropped his scythe as he began to wither away from them; it turned to ash before it hit the ground.

"Leprechaun!" Talon's voice echoed again as the imp disappeared, and a rainbow swept past Talon's rooftop to land on the ground beside Lord Nightshade, a pot of gold forming there. A leprechaun surfed the rainbow with a gleeful chuckle, landing on the pot and regarding the agonized wraith with a glint of pleasure in his eyes.

Abruptly, the leprechaun leaped from his pot of gold and hurled it at the abomination. It hit square in Nightshade's chest, gold clattering everywhere, and the body of the wraith crumbled like an ash statue. However, an ethereal blue visage of Lord Nightshade remained where the wraith had stood before defeat. This spirit of Lord Nightshade reared back and gave a wispy roar of outrage before disappearing softly into the shadows. The pile of ash that had been his body still remained.

"Kane! Kane!" An annoying, grating voice banged upon his eardrums, like a troll with a drum set and no sense of rhythm. It took him a moment to realize it was Talon's voice, and the pyromancer was shaking him.

"What?" Kane snapped, opening his eyes to see Miguel there too, both looking concerned.

"You alright amigo?" Miguel inquired, genuine concern in his eyes but a smile on his face; Talon just looked concerned.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine… I think," Kane replied, getting up to his elbows. He fell to the ground at some point, and it took him a moment to recall it was because of a ghoul. "Nightshade!" Kane rushed to get up but both of his friends held him down.

"Taken care of, señor," Miguel informed him, still smiling. "Talon came up with a plan to handle el diablo's evaporating tricks."

Kane looked between Miguel and Talon incredulously; was he for real? Talon, the biggest oaf of all time (and Kane worked with trolls; he knew oafs) and all around class clown, trouble-waiting-to-happen-on-two-legs, and general naïve idiot, had come up with a successful plan to beat Lord Nightshade?

"I noticed it when I first used an imp on him, to save Miguel," Talon explained, now grinning. "Nightshade hadn't immediately evaporated, but seemed sorta paralyzed for a moment. I figured a coordinated, rapid attack wouldn't give him time to evaporate."

Kane blinked for a moment, unsure what to make of that. It was a good idea. It was a brilliant idea, really. Perhaps I misjudged him… or it was a one time thing. Miguel held out a hand to help Kane up, which he accepted.

"I think we may want to go to Professor Wu for some healing before reporting to Headmaster Ambrose," Talon suggested. "I'm still uncomfortable with the idea of healing the spirit as well as the body, and I think we have taken quite a bit of spiritual damage today."

"Talon, you were sounding rather smart until that last bit." Kane jeered at the pyromancer as Miguel gave him support until he felt ready to walk. "Quit while you're ahead, alright?" Talon crossed his arms and walked off, looking for his broken staff.

Once Kane felt strong enough and Talon had recovered the remains of his staff, the three headed for the exit onto Triton Avenue, hopping it was morning by now so they wouldn't have to deal with any more darkness. Just before they left the cavern behind, however, Kane turned to Talon with a small smile.

"By the way, good job on defeating Nightshade. Your plan was apparently better than mine," Kane admitted.

"Thanks. And, well, you can't be good at everything, man."

"I can damn well try," Kane muttered back.