[Quote= Brave Emperor]'HEY! TURN IT DOWN! You're ma- WOAH!'[/quote]

Kuzco's yelling seemed to get a lot of the group's attention, as well as the shadows'. A few of them came for him and his guard in earnest.

[Quote=Kuzco]'You're making them stronger!'[/quote]

It took Phoebus a few seconds to push back the effects from the second firecracker. This [i]was[/i] a battle, and now he knew those bright things were a possibility. He quickly got himself into a better mindset. There were lives at stake. He couldn't afford to falter right now.

Just then, Emperor Kuzco landed between him and Gaston, after his successful attempt to get the fiery scarecrow's attention.

[Quote=Kuzco]'Hey, fellas! You mind if we join you?'[/quote]

"The more hands in battle, the swifter the victory," Phoebus said.

He sliced through another shadow with his sword.

Gaston let out a hearty laugh as he reloaded his blunderbuss.

"We're barely getting [i]started[/i]!"

[Quote=THE PUMPKIN KING!][color=orangered][b]"Normally, I'd like to keep my scaring in the name of fun, but even I know when to stop being scary!"[/b][/color][/quote]

The entire square went dark. Many shadows took those few brief seconds to regroup. A few merged with each other so they could share strength. Then, the light of Jack's torch sent several crawling back to their graves. Others were cut down or severely injured with the flaming bat boomerang that followed.

Back in the alley, Mulan cut her way through another tough shadow to try to gather near the tavern where most of the other fighters were grouping together. She felt Mushu's claws on her neck as he was pulled away.

[color=#cc5500]"Aaaaaaah! Let me go, let me--!"[/color]

Before Mushu could let out another burst of flame, the shadow clasped around his mouth. He pitifully struggled in its grasp.

[color=#40826d]"Mushu!"[/color]

Mulan dealt with the current shadow as quickly as she could, though the timing of the second firecracker allowed her to perfectly cut through the shadow and retrieve her dragon. Mushu blew a burst of flame towards it to finish it off.

[color=#cc5500]"Teach [i]you[/i] to mess with a dragon!"[/color] he cried. [color=#cc5500]"Next time, do it to my face, you limp di--whoa!"[/color]

His threat was cut short as Mulan ran for the middle of the square with Phoebus and Gaston.

[color=#40826d]"Then let's make that victory swift!"[/color]

Over by the tavern, Esmeralda was locked with another shadow. Even Djahli's headbutts weren't knocking it back. That strange man in the red dress was right. They [i]were[/i] stronger!

[Quote=The King of Thieves][color=035096]"Are these the fabled Parisian nights I’m always hearing about?”[/color][/quote]

Esmeralda fended off the shadow long enough for Cassim to cut through it. She accepted his position at her back, as it gave Pierre a chance to crawl away and courageously hide behind the bathtub.

"It hasn't been this exciting since last year's battle for Notre Dame," she said.

[Quote=Monsieur Jack, L'Pouvantail][color=orangered][b]"I believe they're regrouping for one final assault! Let's make them fear the day they messed with us!"[/b][/color][/quote]

Esmeralda worked with Cassim to take out a few more shadows, before the King of Thieves tucked and rolled towards the tricksters.

[Quote=King of Strategy][color=035096]"Looks like things are going to get worse before they get better! Everyone! Group up together! Around the children!”[/color][/quote]

[Quote=Cowardly featherball][color=red]”Nuts to that! I wanna li-i-i-aaaaah!”[/color][/quote]

Lock, Shock, and Barrel giggled.

"He can--" Barrel offered.

"--Hide in here--" Lock continued.

"--With Zero," Shock said, sweetly.

She gave the ghost dog a quick pet, before she rejoined her brothers in slingshotting the shadows.

Quasimodo barely kept himself from completely throwing his assailant to the ground when he saw a girl's face in front of him. He could smell the mead on her, and now factoring that he had a drunk girl on his shoulders, he shifted his position to better see the shadows.

[Quote=Drunken redhead]"Woah calm down, it's just meeeeeee… You take the ones in front, I will watch your back."[/quote]

Quasimodo picked out a strange tinge in her voice now that she was practically right by his ear, and as he read her lips, he "heard" her clearly.

"I-if you're sure," he said.

He didn't have time to fight or argue, as the shadows were coming together a lot more quickly. If anything, the drunkard on his shoulders was probably safer there than under his or anyone else's feet. Quasimodo pushed past two more shadows as he continued to make his way to the tavern.

He watched as the white stallion galloped towards the children in the strange basin. The three little hellions took notice immediately. Lock and Barrel each fired another shot while Shock reloaded. Lock, being the closest, looked up at this new white beast. Shock took notice as well.

"What--" Lock started.

"--Is--" Shock continued.

"--It?" Barrel finished, without looking up from his slingshot.

Shock fired another bone shard to cover him. Lock watched as the creature gestured into the tub with its nose while Barrel fired off again. The creature then looked to the shadows, snorted, then back to their tub. Lock got it a second later. The white creature was pointing out the fireworks. He nodded in understanding.

"We--"

Shock picked up on it next.

"--Got you--"

Barrel reached back for another projectile.

"--Covered."

They let the white beast situate itself near their bathtub. They would have to time this perfectly.

Zero, having been inspired by Jack's fiery show of shadow destruction, rose up to assist the strange beast. His glowing nose provided a beacon for the group overall, marking their gathering place.

At Cassim's command, Mulan ran for the bathtub.

[color=#40826d]"He's right, and so is the fiery one!"[/color] she cried. [color=#40826d]"They're desperate! Everyone, group up, hold strong, and keep a clear mind!"[/color]

Phoebus didn't need to be told twice. He followed Mulan and pulled Kuzco and his guard with him as they went behind the bathtub to provide cover from any shadows creeping up that way. Blunderbuss reloaded, Gaston was going to fire again, but reluctantly followed Phoebus and Mulan. As much as he wanted the glory of taking these things down, he knew he couldn't do it alone. Nevertheless, when the final attack came, he'd be ready for it.

Quasimodo wasn't able to hear Cassim or Mulan, but he quickly picked up on the plan when he saw the rest of those battling the shadows gathering around the children. He positioned himself near Esmeralda to close the gap.

The shadows all formed into one giant mass as the group gathered and situated then. Then, with those few precious seconds, they swooped forward in a wave of darkness to cover the brave heroes and Pierre.