The Night Flowers

Toushiro: "This forest seems to go on forever."

Ali: "My mom said that's how she lost her brother. It's easy to get lost in here."

Toushiro continued to follow Ali in hopes of finding the Golden Night Flower. The mist covered land made it hard to traverse. Every now and then he stubbed his foot on a rock or something.

Toushiro: "OW! Shit..."

Ali: "Are you ok, Toushiro?!"

Toushiro: "Yeah, I'm fine. Just wish I could see where the hell I'm putting my feet."

Ali: "Are you sure you're ok?"

Toushiro: "Yeah, I'll be fine. So where is this place that might have the Golden Night Flower?"

Ali: "Well... The stories have always described the flowers in a large, wide open field surrounded by a grove of willow trees. I know where a grove of willow trees are, but I've never been beyond them."

Toushiro: "Worth taking a look. I just hope we find them in time."

Ali: "This Vegeta must be really special to you. What's he like?"

Toushiro: "Strong, loyal, courageous. He's always ready to jump in and protect his friends and family with every ounce of his strength."

Ali: "Sounds like a great guy."

Toushiro: "He is. He's saved my life many times. That's why I can't give up."

Ali: "I hope we find this flower in time."

Toushiro: "I hope so too."

There was a crash through the trees and a hoop and holler. For some reason, it scared him. It suddenly dawned on him that this was the first time he's been somewhere without Vegeta or any of the Z-Fighters there with him for a few years now.

Toushiro: "Ali... Do you know what happened to this place?"

Ali: "It all happened way before I was even an egg. This place used to be beautiful and lush. But one day, it started to rain. It rained and rained and rained. It rained for days into weeks and into months. Finally, after 4 whole months, it finally stopped. But the damage had already been done. The land was now a swamp. What isn't in water is damp by the mist. The animals here are dangerous. In this land, it's either eat or be eaten."

?: "Indeed."

Toushiro stopped dead when he heard the voice. He looked around but nothing was there. Unknown to him, while he was turning around to look for the voice, the owner of the voice was slowly curling around him.

Ali: *Gasp!* "Toushiro!"

Toushiro glanced at Ali and then saw him. A giant red and black python.

?: "Hello."

Toushiro: "Uh..."

The young captain tried to get away but was blocked by the massive snake's body.

?: "What'sssss the matter, dear child? It painssss me to ssssee you look ssso uncomfortable."

The snake kept inching its head closer to the young captain.

Ali: "Scales! Leave him alone!"

Scales: "Well, well. If it issssn't little Ali. I haven't ssssseen you sssince you were a hatchling."

Ali: "You ate my brothers!"

Scales: "And they were deliciousssss. But enough about that. Back to you, my little treat."

Ali: "Don't listen to him, Toushiro! And don't look in his eyes!"

Scales gave out a loud hiss that sent Ali rolling across the sky. With the bird gone, the snake went back to Toushiro. However, the child prodigy had seized the opportunity to escape the snakes hold. The last sight Scales got was that of the boy disappearing into the forest. Once they were some distance away, Toushiro stopped to catch his breath.

Toushiro: "Ali! Ali!"

Ali: "I'm right here."

The yellow bird appeared from behind a tree.

Ali: "Are you ok, Toushiro?!"

Toushiro: "Yeah. But who was that?"

Ali: "Scales, a well known snake. A lot of animals fear him. He hypnotizes his prey with his eyes while casually drawing them in with small talk. That's how he got my two brothers."

Toushiro: "I'm sorry to hear that. Let's move away before he catches up."

Ali: "Good idea."

Wanting to leave the snake well behind, they quickly moved on. They continued on for hours. As time went on, Toushiro noticed that the forest seemed to be getting less and less active.

Toushiro: "Ali, what's going on? I'm starting to hear less and less wildlife."

Ali: "Evening's approaching. A lot of the forest residents start seeking shelter from the night's hidden dangers."

They suddenly appeared at the edge of a mist filled meadow. It seemed safe to cross, so Toushiro started walking out from among the trees.

Ali: "Wait, Toushiro!"

Ali suddenly flew out in front of the young captain!

Ali: "You can't go out there!"

Toushiro: "Why not, Ali?"

Ali: "It's dangerous! There are many creatures lurking within that mist!"

Toushiro: "It doesn't look too bad."

A sudden sound of a large creature rang out.

Toushiro: "Then again I've been wrong before."

Ali: "I know a way around this meadow. It's a little tricky, but it's much safer."

Toushiro glanced out at the meadow and just happened to see something large moving deep within the mist.

Toushiro: "Are you sure they're dangerous?"

Ali: "Even Scales dares not cross that meadow."

Toushiro gulped. If a snake that size is afraid to cross this meadow, then whatever lurked within it must be really terrifying.

Toushiro: "Let's got your way."

Ali: "Stay close."

It took half an hour to go around the misty field, but they finally managed. After another five minute walk, Ali chirped with joy.

Ali: "Look, Toushiro! There are the willow trees!"

Toushiro: "Then let's go!"

With excitement, Toushiro jogged into the willow tree nursery. It was getting really dark when they left the trees. But their excitement turned to sorrow. The field beyond the trees was empty. Just long grass and closed buds. They've searched all day and nothing. There was no sign of the Golden Night Flower. Did it ever exist to begin with? Toushiro leaned against a huge tree as he felt his heart break. He felt like he had failed.

Ali: "We can't give up, Toushiro. We have to keep looking if you want to save your friend."

Toushiro: "It's useless, Ali... It's either gone or never existed to begin with! ... ... And even if it was here, we'll never find it in time."

The little bird just watched as the young captain stood against the tree and slid down to the ground in defeat. Toushiro buried his face in his arms and knees. He was giving up.

Toushiro: "It's hopeless, Ali... I've failed."

Ali landed on Toushiro's shoulder and lowered her head in sympathy as the boy cried. He was going to lose his best friend. The sun was finally lost to the night as the stars shined down. The clouds above parted and a full moon lit up the night sky. As the sounds of night echoed around the defeated Soul Reaper and bird, a flower bloomed in the field next to them. And then another. And another. Soon the whole field was alit with hundreds of golden flowers. Ali was the first to look up and she tweeted with happiness.

Ali: "Toushiro, look! Golden flowers!"

Toushiro looked up and his eyes were filled with the beautiful golden light.

Ali: "These must be the Golden Night Flowers! We found them, Toushiro! We found them!"

As Ali flew around the bright flowers, Toushiro just gazed over them with joy. They found them.

Toushiro: "We found them, Vegeta... Wahoo!"

Both Ali and Toushiro cheered with joy! They had actually found the Golden Night Flowers. After a few minutes, they had picked 15 of the biggest and healthiest flowers they could find. Now they just had to get them back to the Soul Society.