Mickey heard Happy's laughter. Although it seemed very far away. Mickey's mind was not with his body, sitting in front of Ortensia's abandoned house. It curled in on itself, and recounted Walt's words to Mickey as if reading a good book. Mickey's heart swelled at the words 'If my body does not stand beside you, my heart will take its place'. He couldn't stand to be mad at Walt any longer. Yes, Walt owned up to planning the quest for a time after he was gone. No, he didn't give a reason for deceiving Mickey. But the mouse didn't care. This clue was a testament of Walt's love for his only son; a love that even surpassed the man's love for his wife. A hint of confusion and doubt hovered over Mickey's inner thoughts. 'My heart is always with you, just as yours and another's are equally and eternally with me.' Walt also said. Mickey didn't understand. He couldn't be referring to Lillian. Besides, Lillian didn't want Walt to say goodbye to her like this. The doubt slowly wrapped around Mickey, and pulled him back to the cold reality outside his safe and warm subconscious. 'Who?' The mouse wondered. 'Who could hold a place in Walt's heart... equal to me?'
"Hey, Mouse! Hello in there?" Happy called directly into Mickey's ear. The mouse's eyes broke from their empty dazed look. Instinctively, Mickey grabbed his ears, and ducked away from Happy. "Gee wiz. You've gotta stop zoning out like that." The rabbit reprimanded. Mickey frowned. Memories of previous events were coming back to him.
"Hmph. What I need to do is stop keying in codes in advance." Mickey stated bitterly. Happy folded his arms.
"Well you know I was only tryin' ta help." Happy pouted. "We both know that cat's split, and I said we don't need her. But you weren't budgin'." The rabbit rattled off.
"I know, Happy." Mickey stopped him. "I'm sorry I yelled at'cha earlier. I just got caught up in going by the book... Or snow globe, to find the treasure. On top of that I'm on edge from all the ghosts, riddles, and the Dip." Mickey breathed a heavy sigh. "I just need to stay focused on the reason Walt gave me the snow globe. He loves me, and trusted me to get the family treasure back." Mickey allowed himself to smile.
"So you're not mad at me?" Happy questioned.
"No." Mickey answered. "You were right anyway. We have to move on without Ortensia."
"Great!" Happy cheered. "No time to dilly-dally! We're off to the circus! The bright, dazzling, Technicolor circus!" He jumped up, twisting his right foot into a spiral. The rabbit hobbled backwards a few steps, ready to kick Ortensia's house's door, and spring off it a super toon speed.
"Hold it!" Mickey squeaked. Happy's foot unwound, making him lose his balance and propel face first into the paved walkway. He lifted his glowering face towards Mickey. The Disney toon stood up.
"I think we should listen to the clue a second time. Some things I heard just don't add up." Mickey reasoned. Happy groaned as he pushed his chest off the pavement.
"We can listen to it on the way, can't we?" Happy negotiated. Mickey shook his head. Not waiting for Happy's compliance, Mickey picked up the snow globe, and replayed the clue.
"My son, you must have realized by now that this was not a journey I intended to take in my lifetime. The voice you've been receiving instructions from all this time is not speaking to you from beyond the grave. The date is September 1, 1966. I've been recording messages for you in random order, and organizing clues with trusted cohorts over the phone for weeks now. I want you to understand that no matter what separates us, I will always be with you. If my body doesn't stand beside you, my heart will take its place. My heart is always with you, just as yours and another's are equally and eternally with me. With that said, this clue has been... revised. With all this talk about lions, where do you expect to see them? At the circus, maybe? How many elephants can ride bicycles and fly with a flap of their ears? Only Dumbo of course. That is who you were meant to seek out. However, this year I met another pachyderm who I deemed wise enough to keep the secret code. The next code is 020628. Again, don't feed the lions."
"Don't feed the lions. Who woulda thought your dad was such a wisecracker." Happy smirked, still getting a kick out of the black and white image of Mickey being chased by a lion.
"He said that phrase before. I didn't think anything of it, because it didn't fit with the rest of the clue. I figured it didn't mean anything." Mickey remembered.
"What was the clue?" Happy asked.
"The one that told me to find you. In a nutshell he said 'Cross the boundaries, and when you find the wise guy don't invite him back to Disneyland'." Mickey summarized. Happy rolled his eyes.
"Typical." The rabbit huffed. "C'mon. Maybe Dumbo's mom will know what it means." He suggested. Happy took a stride towards the street, but Mickey bolted in front of him.
"Happy! We're not ready yet! There's more to consider." Mickey proclaimed. Happy's eyes flashed bloodshot red for a second as he gripped Mickey's shoulders.
"Aw, c'mon Mouse! I'm going batty in this black and white town! Stir-crazy! Paranoid!" Happy screamed. "I gotta eat an orange carrot and know whether it's ripe or molding. I gotta see the blue sky and know whether it's clear or smoggy. I gotta smell the flowers and know which ones are daisies and which ones aren't! And above all, I gotta interact with the public and not worry someone's gonna recognize Happy! Do ya understand what I'm tellin' ya, Mouse!?"
"Okay! Okay!" Mickey surrendered. "We're leaving." Happy shakily let go of Mickey. The mouse stowed away the snow globe in his hammerspace as he made his way down the empty street. Happy skipped a few strides ahead of Mickey, trying to quicken their departure from Two Tone Town. But the mouse leisurely took his time. He knew Happy couldn't remember the way out of Two Tone Town, and if he did know the rabbit would be off like a rocket. Thus Mickey kept Happy irritably hovering close by his side, so Happy would hear him out about the clue. "Like I was saying, I don't think we're supposed to go to the circus. If Walt was following a pattern with the Alice Comedies dates, maybe this cartoon had something to do with the circus, but Walt had to change the clue for some reason. He had to deviate from the pattern." Mickey thought out loud.
"What are ya talking about? Of course we're going to the circus." Happy nagged. "Walt said we're looking for an elephant."
"But he also said the clue was revised." Mickey emphasized. "We're not supposed to look for Dumbo anymore."
"Dumbo's not the only pachyderm under the tent, pea brain." Happy mocked sarcastically, knocking Mickey on the head with his knuckles. Mickey shook away. He was really beginning to miss the more self controlled Bugs Bunny.
"If you'd just listen and stop thinking about yourself..." Mickey gritted through his teeth. Happy's skipping fell out of rhythm. He slowed to walk beside Mickey. "Walt gave us the date he recorded that message; September 4th, 1966. He said he met another elephant that year." The mouse explained. Happy bowed his head. He finally used his brains, and understood Mickey's point. Being somewhat of a split personality of Bugs Bunny, Happy knew the early 1940's were nostalgic to Bugs. One of those nostalgic moments of the '40's was Walt Disney's Dumbo. The white rabbit remembered well that he watched the rival studio's movie in 1941; definitely not 1966.
"The great Walt Disney, friend to all toons, wouldn't wait that long to meet all five elephants from Dumbo. I got it." Happy sighed.
"Exactly." Mickey nodded. "All we have to do is find the elephant Walt met for the first time that year."
"Any suspects?" Happy asked. The mouse was quiet for some time.
"Eight actually. The Jungle Book was in production that year. Walt probably chose an elephant from Colonel Hathi's herd." Mickey realized. "But now that I think about it, I have a pretty good hunch which wise elephant Walt chose to keep a secret better than Dumbo." The mouse pondered.
"How'dya keep a secret better than a toon who can't talk?" Happy inquired.
"I don't know. But Colonel Hathi sure doesn't fit the profile." Mickey joked. Happy agreed, laughing with him.
The town clock tower struck six when Mickey and Happy left the gates of Two Tone Town. Free once more, the white rabbit dove face first into a snowbank, and wiggled out as a grey bunny. Bugs reclined in the snowbank, not minding the cold at all. While Bugs graciously appreciated being himself again, black and white dot-eyed Mickey faced Two Tone Town. Something told him he wouldn't see the original Toontown again for a long time. How long would it be until next time? Thirty years? Fifty years? He hesitated to turn his back and leave Two Tone Town behind. In the '40's, Mickey had traveled to and from Two Tone Town a lot; always leaving a piece of himself behind that he would pick up again, the next time he came. But this time in 1983, was the first time he had to leave Walt's voice behind. The mouse had learned from the past day in Two Tone Town that Walt's voice hadn't left him even after his death, and Mickey was grateful for that. He had that piece of Walt which was also a piece of himself that he could hold onto forever. Still the voice belonged to the mouse's inkblot self, which belonged in Two Tone Town. Mickey closed his eyes, and let his ears be fooled by his imagination. He let himself believe.
"Don't worry. I'll come back. I promise... So long, partner."
When Mickey opened his eyes, he noticed his view of the gates adjusted. He stood a few inches taller. Then Mickey looked down for the true test. His shoes were yellow, shorts were red, and his hands were gloved. He didn't bother looking up at Two Tone Town again, and turned on his heel before lifting his head. The mouse, newly restored in color, met eyes with Bugs who watched him curiously.
"You ready ta go?" Bugs queried. Mickey smiled and nodded. That was the Bugs Bunny Mickey knew; still a wise guy but unlike Happy, Bugs knew when a situation didn't call for a laugh. Such as in this case, Bugs spoke no insult or jest of Mickey talking to himself. He simply stood back, minding Mickey's bond to Walt.
"I am. But if ya don't mind..." Mickey started, tossing a portable hole in the snow. "Let's travel my way this time." The rabbit shrugged.
"Sure, why not." Bugs complied. His leg stretched toward the portable hole, but just before he could fall in, Mickey added.
"Feeling any better, Happy?" Bugs' leg and arms cringed. He stumbled backwards as if something tried to bite him. In an instant Bugs hid his embarrassment with annoyance. He stomped right over the black hole, but did not fall.
"Listen Mac. Don't ever, and I mean ever say dat name around me again! Ya got it?!" The rabbit intimidated, jabbing his index finger into Mickey's chest. A little perplexed by Bugs' reaction, Mickey slowly nodded. Soon the rabbit eased off, and let himself be sucked down the portable hole. Mickey cannonballed in after him. The toons landed on their feet in a field of dried yellow grass. Snow packed between every prickly grass blade. The field was only a small clearing in the middle of a lush, green jungle. Mickey surveyed their surroundings. He detected no elephant footprints in the snow.
"It's still early in the morning. They'll pass through here soon." Mickey stated. As if on cue, an elephant's trumpet shattered the sound barrier. Then the ground began to shake in a steady rhythm. To the toons' right, Colonel Hathi's herd came into view, flattening the small shrubs and trees that stood in their way. The enormous elephants paraded by single file, reciting their marching song without batting an eyelid in Mickey and Bugs' direction.
"So how do you suppose we get der' attention?" Bugs questioned.
"Well, there is one easy way. But I don't think they'll hear me." Mickey said as a matter of fact. Bugs got the hint.
"Alright. Lemme show ya how it's done. And remember it's all in the chest voice." The coached, before dashing ahead of the herd. Since Bugs' voice actor was none other than Mel Blanc: The Man With a Thousand Voices, he too had developed a wide vocal range. Taking his position directly in front of Hathi, Bugs isolated Mel's voice from his own inside him, and bellowed a throaty holler which sounded much more like Sylvester than himself.
"HAAAAALT!"
Instantly the train of elephants became a train wreck. One by one the elephants lurched forward, and crashed into each other. Trunks and tusks jammed into tails and feet tangled over other feet. Seven pachyderm fender benders later, a baby elephant with a full head of brown hair sprinted to the front. Luckily the little one was completely unharmed. Meanwhile the dazed colonel tried to figure out just what happened.
"Gee, Pop. What happened?" The little elephant gasped. Hathi sputtered for a second.
"Ah-ehm! Well obviously son, it was mutiny! And I'll have no such thing in my herd!" Hathi shouted. "Company! Fall in!" The elephants tumbled into a straight. Hathi Jr. fell into ranks beside his mother. The colonel stalked down the line. "Alright, let's get on with it! Who's trying to take command? Who said 'Halt'? Speak up!"
"I said 'Halt'!" Bugs announced. He hadn't moved an inch from his spot. Hathi turned on a dime, and charged towards Bugs. The rabbit held his ground, knowing the colonel would rather drill him than squish him. Hathi pressed his trunk down on Bugs' chest, almost making him fall backwards.
"What's the meaning of this soldier?! Taking over my command! Disrespecting your commanding officer! Why, it's mutiny, treason, and a mockery of the elephant way!" Hathi blasted.
"Den it's a good t'ing I ain't an elephant." Bugs countered. Hathi blinked incredulously. "No, Doc. I'm a monkey." The rabbit teased. He hunched over, balancing on his toes and knuckles, and hobbled around Hathi's feet, chattering like a chimp. Mickey rushed in before Bugs could get underfoot.
"Colonel, wait. He's with me." Mickey defended. Still keeping up the monkey act, Bugs hurtled over Hathi's raised trunk like a jungle gym bar, and uttered a loud 'Ooh-Ah-Ah!'.
"Oh, yes." Hathi muttered unenthusiastically. If there was one thing Colonel Hathi couldn't stand, it was taking orders from a mouse. "So you're the one letting this miscreant run amuck in my jungle?"
"I'm sorry he bothered you. It won't happen again." Mickey apologized. Bugs wandered behind Mickey to prove his point. "We're only here to ask you a favor."
"A favor, ha! How droll." Hathi puffed. 'Because I'm a mouse.' Mickey thought. But he held his tongue.
"Please, Colonel Hathi. It will only take a moment of your time. We just need to speak with someone in your herd." Mickey begged.
"Nonsense. We've a busy schedule to keep and must be on our way. Company!" Hathi decided. Suddenly Mickey grabbed the snow globe from his hammerspace, and displayed it over his head for all the elephants to see.
"Hold it!" One elephant cut off Hathi's order. It was Winifred, the colonel's wife. She shot her husband a furious glare, and flapped her ears against her head aggressively; a sign of dominance that Hathi dared not challenge. Winifred stepped forward from the ranks. She stretched out her trunk to brush the snow globe gently. Mickey froze, letting the elderly pachyderm examine the snow globe. When she lifted her trunk away, Mickey noticed her smile.
"You two may come with me." Winifred invited kindly. Mickey breathed a sigh of relief. His hunch was correct. Winifred truly was the wisest of the Jungle Patrol. This time she offered her trunk to carry Mickey and Bugs up onto her back. But Hathi wouldn't let that be.
"Winifred, what on Earth are you..." Hathi started. But Winifred was already walking away from the herd.
"Save that tone of voice for your men, Colonel." Winifred shrugged off, taking her own path into the jungle. The scenery completely changed to the mouse and rabbit. The green flora closed in around them. Tri-leaved ferns poked out on the beaten jungle trail. Mickey and Bugs ducked their heads under thin tree branches supporting heavy loads of snow. On the ground, the snow quickly turned to mud and slush. Under several layers of leaf canopies, the whole jungle clicked with the drip-dropping sound of melting snow.
"Thanks for standing up for us back there, Winifred." Mickey thanked.
"Dear, it's exactly what Walt wanted me to do. Think nothing of it." The elephant commented.
"So where are we going?" Mickey questioned.
"Somewhere you can hear the forthcoming clue and understand the meaning of it. Walt made sure this clue would not be a riddle, and you would hold all the pieces you need at once." Winifred answered.
"Sounds swell." The mouse said.