Backfired

After Crimson's failed attempt to directly manipulate the Pectosphere results in repercussions, Falco, along with his fellow ninja friends and allies, continue to hunt down the rogue air ninja and find a means to locate the headquarters of Crimson's newly formed Ninja Syndicate. Despite their determination to stop him, the ninjas must reckon with the imbalanced Pectosphere's temperamental behavior, as this time it shifts in favour of the element of Fire.

Prologue
 ?????: FALCO!

Baron Hochstadt waddled quickly, swiping away at the bushes and plants in his path. Ahead of him was his 8 year old grandson, Falco Hochstadt, who seemed alarmed upon realizing that his grandfather was nearby. Falco stood in front of a O'Berry bush that appeared to have caught fire, despite the fact that it was a chilly evening and no other fires were present. Only part of the bush was aflame, although the fire was beginning to consume the rest of the log.

Baron quickly began kicking snow at the bush and stamping the fire out while the young Falco stood back and watched somewhat sheepishly.

As soon as the flames had been extinguished, Baron turned to face Falco, who looked down at his own feet.

Falco: I'm sorry, grandpa. It was an accident...

Baron sighed and shook his head, although he didn't seem too upset.

Baron: Fire is not a child's plaything, Falco. You must be careful not to use it outside.

Falco nodded.

Falco: Yes, grandpa.

Baron: Remember that nobody is to see you use your power.

Falco: But why? Why must I keep it secret?

Baron's face wrinkled slightly into an expression of solemnity.

Baron: There exist dangerous people, Falco. Hidden from us like shadows. We must take care to be hidden from them. Should they see you use your powers, they may surface and try to lead you astray. Come with me, Falco.

Falco left the berry bush and waddled over to Baron's side, somewhat confused.

Baron: The flame is a useful tool. Placed in the right flippers, it wraps the piercing cold with warmth, deterring the shadows and glowing with light. Placed in the wrong flippers, and it is a dangerous instrument of anger and greed, inspiring chaos and unspeakable ruin.

Falco: Where are we going now?

Baron: To train.



Chapter 1: Sparking Conflict
Falco: Here, catch!

Falco pressed his flippers together before slowly moving them apart, creating a fireball between them. It was a rather unusually warm night in Nightlife City, and the skies appeared to have a distinctly red tinge to them. Falco and his team of ninjas meanwhile, were training in an open field outside the city. Their elemental abilities created glows and flashes of purple, blue and orange light as they trained in the darkness.

Falco pulled his flipper back and hurled the ball of flame at his training partner, a water ninja named Pop Cat. Pop Cat put both of his flippers together, blasting a jet of water to extinguish the fireball. Falco's two other teammates meanwhile, Shoko and Ninja O'Dark were testing the effectiveness of their own elemental abilities against each other.

While Shoko was at a natural disadvantage against Ninja O'Dark due to the element of Fire being stronger than Snow, Ninja O'Dark appeared to be exerting a level of ferocity. Not that Ninja O'Dark didn't already exhibit a level of aggression or zeal as a competitive Fire Ninja, but his flame attacks appeared stronger and less controlled.

As Shoko slammed her two Ice Shuirkens on the floor, causing icicles to protrude upwards from the floor, Ninja O'Dark blasted the floor with a spin of his Fire Nunchaku, evaporating the icicles into steam. The flames swept across the ground, causing Shoko, Pop Cat and Falco to all leap out of the way to avoid getting their feet singed.

Shoko: Hey, take it easy!

Ninja O'Dark seemed somewhat bewildered.

Ninja O'Dark: I'm sorry! I don't know what happened... That was supposed to be a weaker attack.

Shoko: Well I suppose control is something you'll need to focus on then.

Ninja O'Dark: But I've always done that and its always resulted in the same thing? Maybe my nunchaku's broken.

Pop Cat: I don't think so. The Water Ninjas at the Water Dojo seem as though they are not as proficient with controlling water as they used to be. Perhaps it is linked?

Falco: I think it is. Ever since Crimson did his little magic trick the elements seem to be out of balance. Literally. As in the imbalance is the result of the Pectosphere itself acting up, rather than the fault of ninjas.

Shoko: So certain elements are stronger while others are weaker?

Falco: Something like that, I think. That's what Gunther told me anyway. Says he's started working for MyphCo these past months to study the Pecotsphere.

Ninja O'Dark: Well, if that's the case -

Ninja O'Dark flipped his nunchaku in the air.

Ninja O'Dark: Taking the Ninja Syndicate sure isn't going to be as easy as we thought.

Pop Cat: Which is why we need to be better than the average ninja. Even if the elements we use are not nearly as strong.

Falco: Yeah, Pop Cat's right. If we're going to take on the entire Syndicate, we've got skills to sharpen.

Unfortunately, the ninjas were given little time to sharpen their skills, as the cries of numerous individuals could be heard in the distance.

Shoko: What's going on?

Falco: Wait...

He looked into the distance and noticed an orange glow.

Falco: THE CITY!

Ninja O'Dark: Wha-

Falco sped past them as the others followed suit, sprinting back across the path to Nightlife City.

The team of four arrived at the gates of Nightlife City before following the glow into the city square. Several penguins were watching from afar as a group of ninjas with red ninja masks stood in the center of the area, their flippers ablaze. A number of them were wearing Fire Ninja suits. One of the ninjas was wearing a dark hood with a red mask and a dark red elemental ninja suit. A dark cape fluttered behind him, the wind seemingly curling around him in a protective aura.

Falco's flippers closed into fists.

Falco: Crimson.

Crimson: Hello, Falco.

Falco raised his flippers, ready to blast Crimson.

Crimson: Don't even think about it! Attack me and I'll have this city burned to a cinder!

The ninjas with red masks, who must definitely have been Ninja Syndicate members positioned themselves beside Crimson in a defensive stance, with the Fire Ninjas pointing their flames at some of the buildings. Shoko, Pop Cat and Ninja O'Dark all stepped forwards.

Ninja O'Dark: You DARE to show your face here of all places?

Crimson: I'm here now. Of course I do!

Pop Cat: Enough talk. What do you want?

Crimson: To give you all one last chance... to reconsider siding against me and instead join me!

Shoko: You came all this way thinking we'd buy into all of that?

Crimson: Considering what will happen to those who won't, I would definitely accept.

Ninja O'Dark: Yeah, well that's because you're you and we're not.

Crimson: I'd watch that fiery temper if I were you, O'Dark. Don't want this whole city burning down, do we?

A few of the Syndicate ninjas snickered. Ninja O'Dark glared at him, his grip tightening around his Hot Sauce Nunchaku.

Crimson: Last chance. Join us. Or burn.

Falco: I think we're fine with doing neither of those things, thank you very much.

A number of Nightlife City's ninja residents were now appearing on the streets, atop buildings and on balconies holding Card-Jitsu cards, shurikens, nunchakus and other weapons.

Falco: I doubt anyone here in the city is willing to do that either.

Crimson: Fine! Have it your way then.

Crimson did a number of rapid movements with his arms. All this ninjas reacted just as quickly, but Crimson rocketed himself into the sky and onto a deserted rooftop as his Ninja Syndicate fire ninjas unleashed wild masses of flame on town square, aiming for any unfortunate non-ninja residents who happened to be around.

Pop Cat was fast enough to respond with two torrents of water from each flipper, dousing the flames while the other ninjas present defended the citizens, placing down water Card-Jitsu cards. Ninja O'Dark quickly scaled a nearby statue, his nunchaku in flipper. As soon as Crimson saw O'Dark attempting to pursue him, he began to run.

Ninja O'Dark: OH NO YOU DONT! GET BACK HERE YOU-  

Crimson raised his flippers and began holding Ninja O'Dark back with the wind. Ninja O'Dark struggled to push back, fighting against the wind to try and reach Crimson. Suddenly, Crimson launched Ninja O'Dark backwards, causing O'Dark to fall onto his back, although he quickly got up.

As Crimson began to attempt another getaway, Ninja O'Dark spun his nunchaku quickly and swung it at Crimson, unleashing a riotous wave of flame. Crimson quickly turned around and began moving his flippers in a circular motion. The flames stopped short of Crimson, and began to circle, forming a cylindrical spiral of flame, which Crimson hurled at Ninja O'Dark.

O'Dark managed to dart out of the way, but the fire tornado was now growing stronger, heading for the other houses in the area. Suddenly, Falco leapt onto the roof with Shoko right behind him. Falco raised his flippers and the fiery tempest was drawn into his flippers, vanishing quickly.

Falco: The rest of the ninjas could use some help with the Syndicate ninjas and putting out the flames. We'll take care of Crimson.

O'Dark: But-

Falco: Hurry!

Sure enough, while a whole crowd of ninjas were helping to fight the flames that the Syndicate ninjas unleashed on the city, parts of the city were still burning, and the Syndicate ninjas were nowhere to be found.

O'Dark grumbled and obliged, leaping off of the building to go and save the residents, noticeably upset that he couldn't exact vengeance. Meanwhile, Falco and Shoko followed the direction Crimson had ran away in, making sure to waste no time hunting him down.

Falco and Shoko made their steps quieter as soon as they got closer to Crimson. They had arrived at Gunther’s Antique Store, the storeowner of which was acquainted with Falco and the rest of his group. The window of the second storey was wide open, and they could hear rummaging noises. Falco and Shoko retreated into the shadows of the alleyways adjacent to the building, waiting for their moment to pounce.

Crimson: …where is it!?

Crimson sighed. He jumped out of the open window, breaking his fall with a gust of wind.

Crimson: AAAAAAAAHH!

As soon as he touched the ground, both Falco and Shoko leapt and dived out of the shadows to tackle him. Falco punched Crimson in the stomach while Shoko jammed her two shurikens into the ground next to Crimson's flippers, freezing them in place. She then did the same with Crimson's feet, completely immobilising him to the cobblestone pavement.

Falco: Tell us. What exactly were you looking for up there?

Crimson: Nothing in particular. Just thought I'd pay a visit!

Shoko: Running the Ninja Syndicate must be stressful. Perhaps you just needs to cool down a little more—

Crimson: DON'T TOUCH ME! Let me free this instant!

Shoko spun her shrikes impatiently.

Shoko: Well, should I do it?

Falco: Go ahead. It's about time we took him in.

Crimson: Oh, but if you do you'll never be able to find Denise.

Both Falco and Shoko froze. Unfortunately, this was the perfect opportunity for two jets of fire to approach from behind. Both Falco and Shoko leapt out of the way as the flames passed just by Crimson, melting the ice.

Falco: NO!

But it was already too late. Now free of his icy bonds, Crimson took off into the sky, propelled by his own air powers. Falco aimed his flippers at the ground and blasted flames, propelling himself into the air after Crimson. Having never been able to successfully use his powers to fly, Falco's control over his jets of flame quickly and easily faltered, and he began to spin uncontrollably, doing several flips in the air before plummeting back down.

Disoriented and unable to tell which way was up or down, Falco tried to look for Shoko as he continued to do flips through the air.

Falco: Shoko! Uh... HELP!

Just when he thought he was about to hit the ground, Falco landed on a softer, colder surface. Still slightly dizzy, Falco got up to find that he had landed in a snowbank. Shoko was right by him, her two shurikens raised and glowing.

Both Falco and Shoko turned around to find the two Ninja Syndicate Fire Ninjas who had freed Crimson. As soon as they realised Falco and Shoko were pursuing them, they turned in the other direction and began to run. Unfortunately for them, as soon as they neared a fire hydrant, the valve started to turn. A strong and continuous jet of water burst from one of the outlets, knocking the two ninjas over. The water then suddenly surrounded them, coalescing and wrapping around them like a snake. The two ninjas tried to fight their way out, but the water only seemed to prevent their escape.

Falco and Shoko turned to see Ninja O'Dark and Pop Cat, the latter of whom appeared to be controlling the fire hydrant along with a group of Water Ninjas behind him. Shoko spun her two shurikens and pointed them at the ninjas. Rays of purple blasted out of them, freezing the water around the ninjas, encasing everything but their heads in ice.

Ninja O'Dark: He got away, didn't he?

Falco sighed.

Falco: Yeah.

Chapter 2: Dancing Flames
While the flames in Nightlife City had all been put out and extinguished, the damage was still done. All across Nightlife City, a number of streets and houses - especially the wooden ones - ranged from being only slightly burned to being completely charred. Crimson and the Ninja Syndicate's first attack had posed a considerable threat to the citizens of Nightlife City and their homes.

The group stood in the center of Nightlife City, discussing the next steps.

O'Dark: Nobody was able to find him. Crimson scurried away like a coward the moment he knew we were onto him.

Shoko: He may have evaded us for now, but we can't let him get far. If he decided he's going to pull something like that on Nightlife, you bet he'll be back to do it again soon. And who knows where he'll do it.

Pop Cat: Shoko's right. Crimson has already made the first move. Our only option now is to respond with a countermove as soon as possible, lest Antarctica suffer another Syndicate attack.

Falco: He said something else as well. Something about Denise.

O'Dark: What about her?

Shoko: I don't know. He said "we'd never be able to find her". Could be a bluff.

Falco: I don't think it was. When was the last time any of you heard from her?

Denise was the group's Air Ninja and Windjitsu expert, although Falco hadn't heard much from her since her leave of absence to locate the headquarters of the Ninja Syndicate and by extension, Crimson himself.

Pop Cat: Not since she left. I suppose her capture in that case would make sense as to why we've yet to hear from her.

O'Dark: What, so he's captured her?

Pop Cat: Perhaps, according to what Shoko's said. In which case if he has, he may be trying to lure us into a trap by trying to rescue her.

Falco: Well I don't know what our stormy friend has in mind for us exactly, but even if it is a trap, we can't just leave her.

Shoko: I agree. We go find her no matter what.

O'Dark: So where was she last, exactly?

Pop Cat: Well, she did say she was headed back home before embarking on her quest, didn't she?

Falco: Then that's the first place we look. Let's pay a visit to the Air Sensei.

The ninja quartet made their way toward a massive storm cloud floating above the Weddel Sea by boat while Pop Cat manipulated the waves around them to speed their journey.



Eventually they anchored themselves just below the cloud.

Shoko: They live in a cloud?

Falco: Yeah. Here, you'll see. They told us to give them a signal if ever we show up.

Falco summoned a fireball and sent it upwards into the clouds, and sure enough, a few moments later, three Air Ninjas descended from inside the cloud, coming down to the quartet's boat. Ever since their first visit to the Floating Islands, almost the Air Ninjas had become somewhat friendlier towards Falco, Ninja O'Dark and Pop Cat.

They seemed to recognise him upon coming closer.

Air Ninja: You are Falco, correct?

Falco: Yeah, that would be me. We're here to visit the Air Sensei, if that's alright? We need to speak to him urgently about Denise.

The Air Ninjas landed on their boat.

Air Ninja: Stay close to us. We will take you to him.

The group huddled closer together as the Air Ninjas positioned themselves in a triangular formation around them. Then, they all performed a number of movements in near-flawless synchrony. The wind picked up, rushing quicker and quicker until a mini-vortex formed around the whole group. All of them were then lifted quickly into the air, flying straight into the thick fog of the storm cloud.

After a brief moment of turbulence, they all emerged on the inside of the storm cloud, which was in fact hollow. Numerous floating, grass-topped islands of varying sizes occupied the inside of the storm cloud, most of them housing buildings, others growing trees or plants. Several bridges connected a number of the islands together. At the center of the cloud was a large island with a dojo not unlike Club Penguin's dojo.

The faint glow of the sun could be seen through the roof of the cloud, although the weather on the inside of the cloud still appeared somewhat cloudy and tempestuous.

O'Dark: Is it ever not a stormy day in this place?

Falco: I'm sure it has its nice days, it's just that we only come here when there's a problem.

Pop Cat: Also in addition to the instability of the Pectosphere.

Shoko, who was only witnessing the Floating Islands for the very first time, seemed to be in awe, and was marvelling the many hovering landmasses.

Shoko: This place is insane… I'd totally count this as a possible vacation spot.

The group touched down at the doorstep of the Air Dojo, where the Air Ninjas then escorted them inside. In the centre of the room, examining a number of scrolls was Denise's uncle, the Sensei of the Air Ninjas, a lime green penguin with a conical hat, busy eyebrows and a long, curled white beard. He appeared to be studying a scroll before turning to see them. He seemed somewhat uneasy.



Falco and the others bowed in greeting.

Falco: Greetings, Air Sensei.

Air Sensei: Welcome, Falco. I apologise if I seem overly agitated.

Falco: Oh, its quite alright.

The Air Sensei set down the scroll.

Air Sensei: What brings you and your friends to the Floating Islands?

Falco: It's about Denise. We've lost contact with her. We fear she may have been… captured. By Crimson or the Ninja Syndicate.

The Air Sensei's unease seemed to grow.

Air Sensei: I had imagined that was why you'd come.

Pop Cat: Might you know where she is?

The Air Sensei heaved a solemnly sigh.

Air Sensei: Yes.

Shoko: Okay! Well that's great. Where is she then?

Air Sensei: That, I'm afraid, was the cause of my agitation.

He placed the scroll in front of the ninjas for them to see. On it was a picture of a phoenix, amid other depictions of fire, flames and a map of Olde Antarctica. Annotations and paragraphs of writing were scrawled all around the images.

Air Sensei: Denise went looking for the Phoenix Clan. They're an order of fire manipulators who keep themselves secret, much we Air Ninjas have done for a number of generations. Prior to the fall of the Fire Kingdom and Olde Antarctica, they were aggressive and barbaric warlords, terrorising villages across the other kingdoms.

Falco and the others all leaned in to get a closer look at the scroll.

Air Sensei: They would often recruit members to their ranks from the Fire Kingdom, but they would also conquer a number of villages or small towns from the other kingdoms in search of potential members. They would steal the chicks or eggs to have them later grow up as part of the Phoenix Clan. Then they would burn the rest of the conquered villages down, forcing the residents to either flee or join. They would do so across the Asiapelago, too, mainly in Zhou.

Falco seemed somewhat confused.

Falco: So Denise… was looking for them? The Phoenix Clan?

Air Sensei: After Olde Antarctica disbanded and the Fire Kingdom was dissolved, the clan were believed to have been disassembled along with it. Of course, we knew better. The clan is still active to this day, and while it is currently hidden, they may very well be just as aggressive as they were to anyone who tries to visit. Denise, despite all our pleas and my advice not to, decided to look for the clan and try to negotiate them into helping us against the Ninja Syndicate.

The Air Sensei sighed.

Air Sensei: I believe that my worst fears have been realised. Denise would update us during her search for the Ninja Syndicate. Ever since her departure in search of the Clan, we have heard nothing.

He shook his head.

Air Sensei: Denise was always too trusting. Eager to defy the Air Ninja tradition of seclusion and caution. In this case, it may very well have worked against her favour. If the Phoenix Clan have captured her, she may remain in their captivity for the rest of her life, as do many of their prisoners.

Pop Cat: There's still a chance we can find her, Sensei.

Shoko: Yeah, not all hope is lost.

Air Sensei: I hope not.

Falco: We will bring her back. Can you give us the location of the Clan?

The Air Sensei frowned.

Air Sensei: If you are to go through with this, I want you to be aware of the great risk you are taking. The Phoenix Clan are not to be underestimated. I believe that whilst the Pectosphere is still recovering, they have taken advantage of the imbalanced elements to boost their own abilities. Fire has grown in strength. So will they.

The Air Sensei retrieved another rolled-up scroll.

Air Sensei: I must also warn you that the chief of the clan is in possession of an item known as the "Phoenix Charm", which utilises the Pectosphere to boost one's fire abilities.

Pop Cat: Like the Zephyr Katana?

Air Sensei: Yes, precisely. I assume it may also be the source of the elemental imbalance currently taking place. Or at least some of it. Taking it may facilitate the re-balancing of the elements while the Pectosphere recovers.

He laid out a bunch of maps in front of them.

Air Sensei: These will help guide you to the location of the clan. Again, I must caution you. You cannot take them alone.

On the boat ride back to the nearby Antarctic Peninsula coast, the quartet seemed to be facing a dilemma.

O'Dark: So what about the Ninja Syndicate?

Shoko: Well, we can't just leave Denise, can we?

O'Dark: I know, but what about Crimson? You saw what he did to Nightlife City. And like we said earlier, he'll be back to pay us another visit soon, won't he?

Falco: Well, we can't exactly do much about them. We have no leads to where the Syndicate could be hiding or where Crimson went, but with luck maybe the folks back at Nightlife will get the captured ones to speak up.

Pop Cat: It is true. Wherever they plan to strike next, we do not know. Realistically, our efforts would be better spent rescuing a friend who's location we may know than hunting an enemy that we're less likely to find.

O'Dark: Fine. Have it your way.

Falco: Hey, for all we know, Denise might've found something about the Syndicate we haven't yet. We'll rescue her and we can find something out about the Syndicate in the process. Besides, you heard the Sensei. We can't face the clan alone.

Chapter 3: Shadows in the Mountains
The four ninjas made their way south of the Antarctican continent, taking a plane flight from Shiverpool to an area near the Hanjuria region of Zhou the next morning. Studying the maps and information provided to them by the Air Sensei, they were pretty confident that they were near to the Phoenix Clan's location. After a bus ride to a small forest town, the four ninjas got out and started hiking across a small path that lead into rocky, barren mountains. They passed by a dark blue penguin in a purple conical hat who was playing a tune on a flute.

O'Dark: And you're sure this is the right way?

Falco: Yes, I'm very positive.

Shoko: Why, what's bothering you?

O'Dark sighed.

O'Dark: Nothing. I just hope we're going the right way and not coming all this way for nothing.

The quartet repeatedly checked the map as they continued their hike, the whistling of the penguin's flute growing fainter in the background. A few minutes into their trip, Falco stopped for a moment, then began waddling off the path. Pop Cat and Shoko did too.

O'Dark: What're you doing!?

Falco: It's this way.

O'Dark: We're not supposed to go there! That area's restricted from the public! And according to the signs behind us, it's unexplored. Who know's what's in there!?

Falco: Do you want us to find the clan or not?

O'Dark: Wha…

O'Dark grumbled and obliged, following them off the path.

About half an hour later, the sun was high in the sky, causing an uncomfortable heat to beat down on the four.

Suddenly, O'Dark stopped.

Falco: Listen, O'Dark, complaining isn't going to make this journey any faster-

O'Dark: No, no, no, not that. I saw something.

Pop Cat: Saw what?

O'Dark: Up there, on that hill.

He pointed at a hill in the distance.

Shoko: There's nothing there. Are you sure the heat's not affecting you?

O'Dark: I'm sure. And what do you mean "are you sure the heat's not affecting me"? I'm a Fire. Ninja.

Falco suddenly seemed to be on edge.

Falco: O'Dark might be on to something. I think I sense a presence.

All four of them stopped and listened. The wind was absent, leaving an eerie silence. Suddenly, something yellow streaked towards them from the distance.

Pop Cat suddenly lunged in front of all of them and produced a wall of water. The wall exploded into steam. All four ninjas assumed battle stances and grouped together. Shoko brandished her two Ice Shurikens while Ninja O'Dark whipped out his Fire Nunchaku.

From behind multiple different hillsides around them emerged what must have been 20 penguins in total. They all wore bronze-coloured clothing with bright red phoenix insignias on the backs.

Falco: Guess they found us first.

Shoko: Hey, at least we were right.

One of the penguins, a yellow penguin, stepped forwards.

Yellow Penguin: 你在這裡做什麼? What business do you have here?

Falco: We're just taking a walk. Nothing to worry about.

Yellow Penguin: You're looking for us. Another ninja came this way.

Pop Cat: And what exactly did you do to her?

Yellow Penguin: The same thing we're going to do to you.

All of the penguins' flippers suddenly lit up with flames.

Yellow Penguin: Surrender now. You're coming with us.

The four ninjas looked at each other for help on what to do, but none of them seemed to have an answer.

Phoenix Clan Penguin: NOW!

????: They do not need to go anywhere.

Everyone turned around to see the same dark blue penguin that the four ninjas had passed by on the way standing feet behind one of the Phoenix Clan penguins. Yet somehow, he had managed to sneak up on them without a sound. The penguin wore a black and gold suit and a maroon-magenta cape, complete with a cane. The penguin's face was obscured by his hat.



Dark Blue Penguin: You leave them alone. They're not threatening you.

The Phoenix Clan members were now turning to look at each other, seemingly unsure of what to do. The yellow penguin waddled towards the dark blue penguin. The other Phoenix Clan members stepped aside to make way for him, but the dark blue penguin remained firm with his position.

Yellow Penguin: You. Leave.

The dark blue penguin tightened his grip on his stick and tapped the ground with it once, in an act of defiance, still maintaining his stance.

Dark Blue Penguin: You. First.

The yellow penguin's flippers were suddenly ablaze. Before he could strike, the blue penguin jabbed him in the stomach with his stick, kicking him backwards. As the yellow penguins stumbled backwards and struggled to regain balance, his comrades advanced, their flippers bursting into flame.

Falco: Quick, now's our chance!

The four ninjas sprung into action, cartwheeling and leaping into action before unleashing blasts of water, fire and ice in all directions.

Several of the Phoenix Clan members who were still occupied with fighting the blue penguin blasted fireballs at him, although he gracefully dodged and seemingly blocked them, the fireballs apparently dissipating into nothing.

Falco seemed to be having the best luck with controlling the penguins, dodging their attacks or even stopping their flames mid-way before blasting them back. Despite this, the Phoenix Clan members appeared to have greater control over their flames, curving them into rings and blade-like objects before flinging them back.

Despite some difficulty, Pop Cat seemed to be extinguishing the returning flames with blasts of water. Shoko and Ninja O'Dark, meanwhile, had discovered how to help Pop Cat by combining blasts of ice and fire in order to produce jets of water.

Shoko: Pop Cat! O'Dark! Use this!

Shoko leapt into the air and turned the ground beneath her into a mini-iceberg using her ice shurikens. Ninja O'Dark spun his nunchaku and released a spurt of fire. The iceberg immediately cracked, melting into water. Pop Cat moved his arms in a wide circular motion, adding his own water to the mix before throwing the wave of water at the clan members. Many of them were caught off guard by the speed of the waves, and were swept off of their feet.

As Shoko tried to take advantage of this and freeze them, they immediately got up and resuming firing at them, forcing Shoko to abandon this.

The blue penguin, meanwhile, was making short work of the remaining Phoenix Clan members, but they seemed to be getting used to his attacks, before turning to fight the other four ninjas. A group of them gathered close together in a group before lifting their flippers into the air. A growing mass of bright orange began to form in the air, swelling from the size of a basketball to that of an igloo. Pop Cat and Shoko tried to disrupt the Phoenix Clan members, but other members blocked their attacks from the side with more flames before combining it into the now massive ball of energy.

The blue penguin looked up, clearly unsure of if it was possible to even evade the fireball.

Falco: Everyone, get behind that rock behind me!

Ninja O'Dark: I get you can absorb the flames but what exactly are you going to do against that? It's big enough to fry the rest of us!

Falco: Just do it!

The other three ninjas and the blue penguin obliged, gathering behind Falco at a large rock behind him, which was a safe distance away. Falco closed his eyes and concentrated, forcing himself to think. Angering, rage-inducing thoughts, more specifically. As his mind centred on the thought of watching Crimson and the Ninja Syndicate laugh at the burning of Nightlife City, Falco began to feel the air around him boil.

The others watched in surprise, awe or shock as Falco's entire body sparked before being engulfed with flames just as the Phoenix Clan members launched their combined fireball at the group. Falco, hair now flipping around wildly with the flames, opened his eyes and stopped the entire fireball in its tracks. Falco then catapulted himself into the air, the fireball still floating motionless, before landing on top of it, forcing it into the ground.

The result was a powerful explosion of flame, shaking the earth and throwing the Phoenix Clan members several meters into the distance as the flames chased after them. The blue penguin, Ninja O'Dark, Pop Cat and Shoko all shielded from the flames by the rock, cowered behind it as the heat rolled just over their heads. The yellow penguin from before was the quickest to get up, and after glancing back at Falco, who was still surrounded in flames, quickly ordered what must have been a retreat. The flames around Falco lessened into smoke, prompting Falco to sit down on the floor, exhausted and completely out of breath.

Falco: That… was what I call "Inferno Mode".

As they scurried off, Ninja O'Dark got up from behind the rock, ready to give chase. The blue penguin's flipper immediately grabbed O'Dark's shoulder.

O'Dark: Hey! What's your deal!?

Blue Penguin: Do not. It would be best not to agitate them further.

Pop Cat: But they could be calling for reinforcements? If we let them get away, we may find ourselves surrounded by more of them.

Blue Penguin: Which is why you're better off leaving. If you chase them, it's likely a trap.

He readjusted his hat and picked up his cane.

Blue Penguin: Don't be fools. If you leave now they will have less time to find you.

As the blue penguin began to waddle away, Falco got up, still panting and weary.

Falco: We can't. We're here looking for a friend.

Blue Penguin: I take it you're accomplices of that ninja who arrived here earlier, then.

Shoko: You've seen another ninja here before us?

Blue Penguin: A lime penguin, yes. Red hair.

Falco: Yeah, that's definitely her. Did you see where she went?

Blue Penguin: Only where she was going - to the same place we stand on now. If I had known she were looking for the Phoenix Clan, I would have stopped her from coming this way. By the time I suspected she was and set out to find her, she had already vanished.

Falco and the others stood silent in confusion and disbelief.

Blue Penguin: I suggest you be quick to make yourselves scarce. You're now running out of time.

Pop Cat: That's not an option until we find her.

Blue Penguin: Do not bother. Your friend is undoubtedly in captivity now. The Phoenix Clan is not to be underestimated. It would be foolish to try and save her.

O'Dark: Then I guess that makes us fools. Whatever. Come on guys, let's leave him.

Falco: Wait, O'Dark, not yet.

Falco turned to the blue penguin.

Falco: Look, we get you think its a death wish going after them, but we can't afford not to. Could you at the very least point us in the right direction?

The blue penguin stroked his beard in contemplation.

Blue Penguin: Over that way.

He pointed into the distance, where the flat lands they stood on began to escalate into plateaus not so far away.

Blue Penguin: Keep heading straight through the hills. As soon as you reach the top, the Clan's fortress will be visible.

The blue penguin turned around.

Blue Penguin: This is as far as I am willing to go to help you, I have already done enough. I will only warn you one final time - the Clan is a dangerous society of fire-makers and flame-shapers. Their leader is especially formidable. Do not expect to survive.

He began to waddle away, leaving the group somewhat speechless.

Shoko: Well uh… thanks for the um… reassuring thought. And for helping us. What was your name? I'm sorry, I don't think we ever got to know.

Blue Penguin: My name is Ying.

Falco: Well thanks for everything, Ying.

Pop Cat: We wish you a safe journey back.

Ying: Farewell, fools.

Ying waddled behind a large rock.

O'Dark: Hey, where'd he go? Did you guys see that? I saw him go behind that rock, but… now he's gone?

Falco: It doesn't matter. Come on, we've got a challenge ahead of us.