Clock Tower
Toushiro and Mika found a way into the clock tower with no time to lose. It was slowly getting dark and they had to hurry. It was noisy inside as all the gears and circuits that operated the clock tower turned and twirled.
Toushiro: "Man it's noisy in hear!"
Mika: "I know! *moan* So how are we going to get to the top?"
Toushiro: "I don't know."
As if to answer their question, a black wolf like creature appeared before them. It had the body of a wolf but it had wings like a birds, fangs and a horn jutting out of its head. The creature was known as a Varu. It was ebony black all over and ironically... That was her name.
Mika: "Aunt Ebony!"
Ebony: "I thought I heard your voice Mika. I've been waiting for you."
Toushiro: "You have?"
The Varu glared at Toushiro. The poor boy felt a little uneasy.
Mika: "Ebony... This is Toushiro."
Upon hearing the name, Ebony relaxed a bit.
Ebony: "You're that Soul Reaper who rescued Vegeta. Forgive me but it takes me some time to get used to people. I don't really trust humans that much. The only humans I trust are those who are friends to Vegeta. But even then, I need a little time so please forgive me."
Toushiro: "That's ok... You said you've been waiting for us... What did you mean?"
Ebony: "Paurakou called to me telepathically and told me of the situation at hand. I'm here to help you get to the top."
Mika: "Ebony, can I ask you to do me a favor?"
Ebony: "Sure little one, what is it?"
Mika: "Would you please use your magic and give my friend Toushiro the ability to understand animals?"
The young captain was understandably surprised at what the cub just requested from Ebony. Ebony herself was a little surprised too.
Mika: "Since you know what's going on and what we're doing, it would be great if he could understand other animals. I'm sure that we'll eventually come across one that can't speak in our tongue."
Ebony: "... ... ... I normally don't do those kind of favors... But since you asked me and that he's helping you, I'll do it. I'll tell you now that it's only temporary."
In just a few seconds, Ebony's horn started to glow and she stood up on her back legs.
Ebony: "Stand still."
Toushiro gulped. The Varu's horn continued to glow until suddenly, she jabbed the tip against the boy's forehead. Just like that, it was over. There was no blood or even a bruise but it had felt like Ebony had jabbed her horn into Toushiro's skull. The three of them just stood there in silence for a moment.
Mika: "Feel anything?"
Toushiro: "Not now."
Then, Ebony spoke in animal tongue to them before flying off. Mika understood her... And so did Toushiro.
Mika: "Did you understand her?"
Toushiro: "We're to go up the stairs, carefully walk across the gears and head to the first exit."
Mika: "Yes that's it!"
This was a place were one needed good balance. It took a lot of nerve but the two were able to make it to the exit. The next room was a lot more quiet. The only things here were two giant swinging pendulums. At the top of a set of stairs, the two found Ebony waiting.
Ebony: "Ride the swinging clock pendulums across the room to get to the next exit."
Without another word, Ebony flew off across the room. Toushiro picked up Mika and waited as the first pendulum drew closer. Timing his jump just right, the Soul Reaper leaped onto the first pendulum and held onto the cord. When they were close to the second one, the boy jumped off again.
Toushiro: "Get ready Mika! I'm going to throw you onto the ramp first!"
Mika: "I'm ready!"
And just as they were close enough to the ramp, Toushiro tossed Mika off. The cub landed on the ramp safely and waited for her friend. Toushiro waited for the pendulum to swing back over, then he jumped off and landed next to Mika. In the next room, Ebony sat in front of a piston going up and down.
Ebony: "Ride the piston to the top of the room."
She flew off again and the two youths hopped on the piston. When it reached the top of its cycle, they jumped off and hurried for the exit. They had to hurry as it was getting dark when they arrived and they needed to be at the top by twilight. Upon entering the next room, Toushiro and Mika found Ebony waiting for them.
Ebony: "I just checked the sky outside and we are running out of time! You won't make it at this rate so I'll give you two a ride to the top!"
Toushiro: "Ok!"
Mika: "Let's hurry!"
Toushiro helped the cub onto the Varu's back before climbing on himself. Having ridden Vegeta as he takes off into flight, the child prodigy knew just what to expect. The Varu took off with her passengers holding on tight. Dodging counterweights and gears, Ebony flew passed them as if they weren't even there and with amazing speed. Finally, they reached their destination. As Toushiro and Mika dismounted Ebony, the young captain saw just why Ebony was in such a rush. Only the horizon still glowed a golden red of the sunset while the rest of the sky was a dark blue. They didn't have much time to waste.
Ebony: "You can take that elevator down to the lobby once you are done but I must go now. It's not safe for me to be anywhere near the city at night. Humans fear things that fly in the night."
Mika: "Ok, Aunt Ebony and thanks."
Toushiro: "Yeah thanks, we'll be just fine on our own for now."
And without another word, Ebony flew off into the night. The two looked around. A massive bell hung in the center. On each side there were four rusty old catapults with water balloons next to them. Clearly there had been some trouble makers, probably teenagers, playing pranks up here. It was a good thing they left so much of their ammunition.
Mika: "Ok. Paurakou said that I needed to roar to contact the Animal Chain."
Toushiro: "Right now we have company!"
Hovering next to the clock tower was a helicopter with a little blue man inside.
Mika: "Who is that?"
Toushiro: "If I had to guess I'd say that was Pilaf!"
Pilaf: "You're a smart boy, but it ends for you two here! I'm so close to taking my revenge on Goku and once I do, I'll hunt down the dragon balls and wish to become the ruler of the world!"
Suddenly, something was fired from the copter and almost hit Toushiro.
Mika: "Was that a tomato?"
Toushiro: "Watch it!"
They ducked as Pilaf shot more of his odd weapon of choice. After three shots, he stopped and waited for them to come out.
Toushiro: "We're not going to able to contact the Animal Chain with Pilaf hanging around! We'll have to get rid of him somehow!"
Mika: "Let's use the catapults!"
Toushiro: "Good idea!"
As Pilaf hovered around, Toushiro went to one of the catapults with Mika right behind him. But just as he loaded it with a water ballon, he was hit in the chest by a tomato and sent back.
Pilaf: "Gotcha!"
But Pilaf's joy was short lived as Toushiro fell back against the massive bell. The sound was deafening as it rang. Pilaf's tiny copter seemed to tremble from the sound waves.
Pilaf: "Shu you idiot! This bucket of bolts is falling apart!"
Shu: "Oh my! It seems the copters electronics on being scrambled by that bells sound waves!"
Pilaf: "Then I'll just end this quickly!"
Mika: "Toushiro! Are you ok?"
Toushiro: "Don't worry about me! I have a plan, Mika! That copter seems to stall every time this bell rings. So I'm going to hit it and when I do, fire at Pilaf!"
Mika: "Right!"
Pilaf's copter recovered and he continued to fly in the same direction. Then he flew over to within range of the catapult Mika was at. Plugging his ears with his fingers, Toushiro kicked the bell and it rang out. The copter hovered in place and Mika let lose a water ballon. It hit its mark. They did the same thing when Pilaf recovered but then he changed his tactics.
Mika: "He doesn't seem to be that bright."
Toushiro: "Stay focused Mika. It's not over yet!"
Pilaf started to fly in the other direction. But it didn't do him any good. When he was in range, Toushiro would kick the bell and while the copter was in a fritz, Mika fired a water ballon at him. This continued for two more hits before it was apparent that Pilaf was finished for now.
Toushiro: "Keep it up Mika! He can't take much more of this!"
One more hit was all it took for the copter to start spinning out of control.
Pilaf: "AH! I can't take any more! You may have won this round but I'll be back!"
And Pilaf left without another word. Their first encounter with Pilaf and they had won.
Mika: "Wahoo! We did it, Toushiro! We won!"
The cub eagerly ran over to Toushiro and jumped in his arms. The young captain was excited too. They had just beaten Pilaf on their own.
Toushiro: "You were great Mika! And now that that old maniac is gone, we can contact the Animal Chain."
Mika: "Oh right! Let's hurry!"
A few moments later, Mika was trying her best to roar as load as she could. But it wasn't much.
Toushiro: "I don't think that's loud enough to reach the Animal Chain, Mika. Try again."
Mika: "Ok."
Mika tried again, but still it wasn't enough.
Toushiro: "Louder Mika!"
The cub tried again, but no luck. She just wasn't loud enough. The young captain shuck his head, but then he laid eyes on Mika's tail.
Toushiro: "Forgive me for what I'm about to do Mika, but I just found your volume control."
Before Mika could even say anything to him, Toushiro stomped on her tail and she cried out with a roar. Within seconds, a dog barked and then a horse neighed. Soon the night was filled with the barks, roars and other sounds of animals.
Toushiro: "You got the chain started! Now all we have to do is wait for an answer!"
Back at the toy factory, Pilaf was in a rage.
Pilaf: "How could those little brats defeat me? Wait... I know... It's your fault!"
Shu: "But sire!"
Mai: "We tried to get them but they-"
Pilaf: "Silence! Just go get those brats NOW!"
Shu and Mai stormed out in a hurry.
Pilaf: "General Tao! Do you know who that boy is?"
General Tao: "His name is Toushiro Hitsugaya."
Pilaf: "AND?"
General Tao: "And he's here with Vegeta. That's all we know."
Pilaf: "Then get out there and find out more!"
General Tao left without another word. Back at the clock tower, Mika and Toushiro were getting a reply from a dog.
*Barking*
Mika: "I can't quite make it out."
Toushiro: "It's hard to hear... He says; Go..."
*Barking*
Toushiro: "And meet Tarble..."
*Barking*
Toushiro: "At the..."
*Barking*
Toushiro: "Museum!"
Mika: "The Museum! I know where that is, it's only a few blocks away from here! Let's go!"
And so they headed for the museum.
