In a Russian town covered by snow, a mamodo battle was happening on top of a building.
Goman shouted loudly from below the rooftop, "Gireido!" Donpoccho shot out yellow spikes from his belt, and he snickered with a confident look on his face. However, his opponent only took a minimal amount of damage. A Russian man shouted with determination in his voice, "Zonis!" Bari unleashed a powerful beam of spiraling energy from his antennae, and it destroyed half of the rooftop! Donpoccho struggled to lift himself over the edge, but he was able to do that. He exclaimed in a pleading tone, "That's enough! I surrender! It's over." Bari responded angrily, "There is no surrendering in the battle to become king! You're a naïve fool. In this battle, there is only victory or oblivion. It's not difficult to tell which one of those will be your fate." Gustav yelled in a stern tone, "Gigano Zonis!" Bari fired a giant purple vortex from his hand, and it struck Donpoccho! The attack did immense damage to him, and his book began to burn while he disappeared! Bari and Gustav climbed down the heavily damaged building.
When the sun began to set, they took a walk in the woods. Bari exclaimed in an annoyed tone as he slammed his fist against a tree, "It never ends! Gustav, how many more spineless weaklings must we face? Isn't there one mamodo that will challenge me to be the mamodo king?" Gustav replied, "Even after a great victory, you're always dissatisfied. Why would you have a reason to act that way?" Bari said aggressively, "Explain that to me!" Gustav told him coldly, "You are behaving like a spoiled brat. It's like you've taken away all of the other children's toys, but you still want more. What is it that you want?" Bari answered in a harsh tone, "I don't know what I want. However, I do know that I don't want to waste my time and energy against opponents who are unworthy to challenge me." Gustav said while glaring at Bari, "You want to face a worthy opponent. That's what you need, Bari. You must face someone who is as strong as you are. You want a challenge. I've heard rumors of a mamodo in Japan. Its name is Zatch.
The rumors say that anyone who has ever gone to face this mamodo has ever returned."
A smile formed on Bari's face, because he thought Zatch would be a terrifying dragon.
He told Gustav in an arrogant tone, "It sounds intriguing. Let's go to Japan."
They went to the airport, and they flew on a plane at night. Gustav explained with concern in his voice, "I hope that we're doing the right thing. This mamodo might prove to be difficult." Bari responded with a mean facial expression, "The more difficult he is to defeat, the better this fight will be. It will be my pleasure to vanquish a worthy foe.
I only hope that this mamodo is worth spending $300 on plane tickets."
After the plane landed, Gustav and Bari went inside a yellow taxi cab. Gustav told Bari as he looked out the window, "It is a big city, and we don't know what this mamodo looks like." Bari said impatiently, "When it uses its powers, I'll be able to pinpoint its exact location." Ten minutes later, the taxi cab drove past an abandoned factory.
Meanwhile, Zatch and Zakuro played in the sandbox. Zatch asked Zakuro in a happy voice, "Have you been getting stronger, Zakuro? You look really happy." She replied while finishing a giant sandcastle, "Yes, Zatch. I've learned some powerful spells, too."
They cheered, and a taxi cab stopped in front of the playground. Bari ran over to Zakuro, and he had an amazed look on his face. He wondered out of curiosity, "This female with wolf ears is my opponent?" Zatch looked at him and asked, "Mister, do you know how to make a giant sandcastle?" Bari drop-kicked him, and he walked over to Zakuro. He explained sternly, "I want to have a word with you, Zatch." Zakuro responded angrily, "Zatch is my friend who you just drop-kicked! Anyway, what do you want?"
Bari ignored her, and he walked over to Zatch. He said with a harsh facial expression, "You are the mighty Zatch, it seems. Anyway, I challenge you to combat to determine whose spell book is more powerful. If you don't accept my challenge, then I will track you down and destroy you! I'll also destroy the owner of your book, and any other puny humans that you hold near and dear. We'll meet at 3:00. That gives you three hours to prepare." Zakuro told Bari while giving him a death glare, "You would probably beat him, but I could take you down in only five minutes." Bari folded his arms, and he noticed Zakuro's purple spell book. He replied as they were face-to-face, "I'm sorry, but I won't fight female mamodos. They're all probably weak and sensitive! Basically, you would just be wasting my time." Zakuro clenched her fists, and she seemed to be extremely offended by Bari's sexist remarks. Zakuro stomped on his foot with all of her power, and Bari looked like he felt tons of pain from that. She left the playground with Zatch, and Zakuro was going to tell the other Mew Mews about what just took place.
Two hours later, Zatch was sitting on the sidewalk with Ichigo. He told her what happened earlier, and Ichigo was angry. She told Zatch with a confident facial expression, "Zakuro's testing out some new spells, but I'll teach this guy a lesson about messing with my friends!" Kiyo walked out of the schoolyard, and he could sense the tense energies from his friends. He asked with worry, "What's the matter?" Zatch replied loudly, "Someone's challenged us to fight!" Ichigo added with red flames blazing in her eyes, "It's another mamodo, and he is going to pay! I'll prove that female mamodos have power, too!" They ran towards the train tracks, and the heroic trio waited for the magnet trains to pass by. Zatch told his friends with a sad look on his face, "He was so scary.
Guys, he's not like the other mamodos that we've fought. I sense something inside him.
He's mean, and he's strong. I've got a really bad feeling about this fight. If we don't face him at the abandoned factory, he swore that he would destroy me and everyone that I care about! Someone like that has got to be stopped!" Ichigo replied with a smile, "You're not alone, Zatch. Kiyo and I will always be there for you." After the magnet trains passed by, the three heroes walked across the train tracks.
Bari and Gustav were heading towards the factory from a forested area. Bari explained with irritation in his voice, "He doesn't seem like a very impressive opponent.
However, I can tell that he has some power." Bari opened the doors of the abandoned factory, and four gang members were startled by him. One boy exclaimed, "We'll teach these punks that this is our turf!" The four boys picked up metal crowbars, and they ran towards Bari and Gustav! They used the Zonis spell to strike the gang members, and the boys ran out of the factory in fear. A girl came out from behind a trash can, and she looked really scared. Bari instructed loudly, "I want you to leave! I will not warn you again!" The girl responded in tears, "My friends are upstairs!" Bari groaned in anger, "Pathetic human. Let's put an end to her distress." Gustav shouted with determination, "Zonis!" Kiyo yelled loudly, "Rashield!" The shield successfully blocked the vortex, and Bari stopped his attack. He said with a cocky smirk, "You're finally here."
Ichigo asked out of curiosity, "Did you get tired of waiting for us? Is that why you're harassing this girl?" Bari responded defensively, "She's just getting in the way!" The girl shouted while looking into Ichigo's eyes, "Please save those two girls upstairs! I'll try to find some help!" She ran out of the factory.
Bari told Kiyo as he folded his arms, "You're a very confident human, or maybe just a fool who doesn't know that he's foolish to challenge me." Kiyo replied in a serious tone, "All right, we get it. You're incredibly strong. However, we've fought tons of mamodos.
We're ready for this, mister! Unless your only strategy is to stand there and threaten us like a chump, let's fight! Bring it on!" Bari replied arrogantly, "I've never met someone who's so eager to face his own destruction." Kiyo yelled as Zatch charged at his opponents, "Zakerga!" Gustav screamed with strong emotions, "Garu Zonis!"
Bari started spinning like a vortex, but the Zakerga attack pushed him backwards to make a giant hole in the wall! Kiyo wondered, "Did we beat him?" Unfortunately, that didn't happen. Bari survived the attack, and he was able to stand up! He said in a confident tone, "Well, that was good practice. Now, let's get serious!" Kiyo thought to himself, "This isn't going to be easy. We have to find a way to get those girls out safely." Bari yelled at Kiyo, "Stop loitering like you're in a daze!" Gustav shouted in a stern tone, "Zonis!"
Zatch and Kiyo used the Rashield spell again. Bari screamed angrily, "We've seen that spell before!" Gustav yelled fiercely, "Doru Zonis!" Bari used the vortex's energy to turn his hand into a drill! Then, he smashed through the shield! Kiyo said in a shocked tone, "He sliced through the shield like it was nothing!" Bari yelled with a mean look on his face, "Now you will be nothing!" Ichigo shouted furiously, "That's what you think, you big jerk! Let's see if you can handle this!" Ichigo's anger allowed her to create red lightning in her left hand, and a red Rasengan in her right hand! She slammed her hands together to merge the attacks, and a huge energy was created! Ichigo screamed while jumping in the air to strike Bari, "Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Chidori Rasengan!"
When Bari was hit, the Rasengan turned into a blast of fire! Bari couldn't push away the attack, and he fell on the ground. He wondered, "What kind of spell is that? I've never heard of any mamodos being able to combine their attacks like that!" Kiyo and Zatch ran upstairs to get the girls, while Ichigo distracted Bari. Her anger had taken some energy out of her, so she decided to be smart. Ichigo's book, outfit, and hair turned black.
Gustav said as he watched Zatch and Kiyo run upstairs, "They're trying to rescue those two girls." Bari responded coldly, "I can't believe that they're caring about humans, because their own lives are at stake." Gustav yelled harshly, "In any case, they're distracted! Now is the time to strike! While their guard is down, we can attack!"
Bari moved his antennae behind his head, and Gustav used the Zonis spell. This time, the spell was able to make Bari fly! He flew into the air, and Bari crashed into the room where the two girls were hiding! Ichigo exclaimed with determination, "You can't defy physics, but these weapons can! Ganzu Shuriken!" Five large shuriken appeared in her hands, and she aimed them at Bari! Ichigo could control them with her left hand. She made them go around Bari several times. Then, she made the five shuriken strike his legs! He lost his balance, and Bari fell down to the ground floor of the abandoned factory.
Kiyo kicked the glass out of windows, and Zatch took the girls down to safety.
Then, he quickly climbed the wall to get back upstairs. Kiyo told him, "You did a good thing, Zatch. We can't let innocent people get hurt in our battles, otherwise we would never be a kind team. There's only one thing to do." Zatch shouted fiercely, "We have to defeat those guys! There's no reason to lose against them!" They launched another Zaker attack at Bari, and he was pushed backwards. Gustav roughly explained, "I'll say this for those guys. They're all persistent." Bari shouted angrily, "Be quiet! Don't give them any compliments. One single blow from my fist will crush those three forever!"
Gustav looked at Ichigo and he thought, "The girl does not seem to be intimidated by Bari's wrath. She probably has enough strength and will to try and defeat us." Bari had an angry facial expression. He told Gustav with fury in his voice, "I've had it! I'm going to destroy those guys!" Bari began to build up power, and a blue aura surrounded him!
Kiyo shouted in an amazed tone, "I can't believe that he has so much strength left inside of him!" He used the Zakerga attack again, but Bari blocked it with his fist! Gustav screamed harshly, "Garu Zonis!" Bari jumped up into the air, and Gustav grabbed his leg!
Then, they started spinning up into the air like a vortex! Zatch said as he ran away with his friends, "They're coming after us!" Bari kicked the wall while he flew into the air, so that he could chase after them. He exclaimed furiously, "You can't win!" Zatch responded defensively, "Well, we haven't lost yet!" Bari shouted, "I'll end it with this attack!" He attacked Zatch with high-speed punches, but Zatch managed to endure them and grab Bari's arm. Kiyo instructed Zatch, "Look up at the ceiling!" He used the Zakerga spell again, but Bari moved his head to dodge it. Kiyo wondered in a surprised tone, "How could he have evaded an attack that close?" Bari shouted with tons of rage, "You fools can't hit me, no matter what you do!" Gustav used the Zonis spell, and Bari attacked the ground! Kiyo, Zatch, and Ichigo fell through the floor! Gustav yelled with anger in his voice, "Gigano Zonis!" Bari unleashed a giant purple vortex from his hands, and it was headed towards the trio! Kiyo said desperately, "There has to be something that can cushion the blow of his attack! Ichigo was still feeling angry inside. Her book, hair, and clothes turned red! She screamed angrily, "Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
Ichigo shot out twenty fireballs from her mouth, but the vortex didn't take damage from them! The purple vortex obliterated the entire factory!
Gustav said, "It looks like it's over. Bari, why are you still angry? You destroyed them."
Bari looked extremely angry. He wondered, "Why am I still irritated? I should be happy with the fact that the more enemies that I defeat, the closer I get to becoming king of the mamodo world. I've crushed every opponent that I've come across so far, yet something is still missing. Even after a victory, I am not fulfilled. Instead, the feeling of irritation just gets worse. For some reason, I thought that if I fought these last three opponents, my irritation would calm down. I guess they were the same as any other enemy I've defeated up to this point." Bari slowly walked away, but then he sensed something!
Kiyo said weakly, "We're going to win." Zatch added with a determined look on his face, "Yes, I refuse to lose after coming this far in the fight! Otherwise, I'll never get to become a kind king!" Ichigo told Zatch while she stood up, "We will help you achieve that goal, Zatch." Kiyo shouted loudly, "Bao Zakerga!" The electrical dragon appeared, and it headed straight for Bari! Gustav yelled with rage, "Zarushield!" Bari obtained a shield, and he used it to prevent the dragon from hurting him! The dragon crashed into the ground, and a large smokescreen appeared! The spell took tons of energy out of Kiyo, and he fell to the ground! When the smoke cleared, Bari was still standing! Zatch wondered, "The Bao Zakerga spell didn't work on him?" Bari said coldly, "My frustration still remains." Kiyo wondered, "Bao Zakerga is our strongest attack spell, so how can he still be standing? He was hit directly by the attack!" Bari asked harshly, "Are you guys through with your weak attacks?" Kiyo thought to himself, "He's too strong for us. That last spell took everything that I had. I'm completely drained. My body is too tired to move. I don't have the energy to even cast a Zaker attack." Bari thought to himself, "It's over. That's too bad. I had high hopes for these three opponents, but they turned out to be just like the rest. I have no more use for them." Gustav shouted, "Zonis!"
Bari fired a vortex from his antennae, but Ichigo blocked it! She yelled with confidence, "Now it's my turn to attack!" Bari replied while going into a combat stance, "This girl doesn't know when to be a good mamodo, and give up!" He looked over at Zatch, who glared back with a fierce fire in his eyes. Bari's fist immediately stopped. Ichigo tackled him, and she slammed Bari into the ground! When he got back up, Bari noticed that the trio disappeared! He wondered, "Where did they go?"
Zatch was carrying Kiyo on his back, and they headed to a safe area. Zatch asked with concern in his voice, "Kiyo, are you all right?" Kiyo responded weakly, "I'm okay.
Zatch, let me rest against that forklift over there." Zatch explained in a serious tone, "From here on out, I'll fight by myself. Kiyo, you should stay here and rest for a while. I'm not going to let anything happen to you." Kiyo replied, "When I get my strength back, I'll help you fight those guys." Ichigo told Kiyo, "Don't worry. Take as much time as you need. There's no reason to rush." Zatch wondered with a curious facial expression, "You really want to teach them a lesson, Ichigo. Why are you so determined?" She said while clenching her fists, "I don't want male mamodos thinking that female mamodos are weak and insufficient. We may be two different genders, but we're still equal in my opinion! A female can be powerful like a male, and I'll make Bari see that! When he told Zakuro that she was weak, he wasn't just directing that at her! I hate being offended, especially by someone with stupid ideas like that! Zatch, I'll help you fight that jerk!"
Bari said coldly, "They ran away." Gustav replied to warn Bari, "No, wait. I'm not so sure about that." Suddenly, Zatch and Ichigo broke through a pile of rubble! Bari shouted angrily, "You're persistent!" Zatch tackled Bari to the ground, and Ichigo headed straight for Gustav! He yelled loudly, "Bari, she's headed straight for my book!" Ichigo exclaimed furiously, "Give me that book now!" Bari got up quickly, and he grabbed Ichigo's left arm! Then, another Ichigo was up in the air! Bari wondered, "If that's her, then who is this?" The one who tried to grab the book had pink hair and a pink outfit.
The real Ichigo's hair was red, the spell book was red, and her outfit was also in red.
Ichigo screamed at Bari, "I don't know why you look so surprised at my Emotion Jutsu technique! You think that I'm too afraid to attack you myself?" She shouted with rage while a red aura surrounded her, "I've been charging up this move from the beginning!"
A red Rasengan formed in Ichigo's left hand, and a pink Rasengan formed in her clone's right hand! They struck Bari at the exact same time, and a pink explosion happened after the red explosion! Bari groaned while standing up, "That was a really cunning strategy.
You two must be desperate for me to send you back to the mamodo world or something. Well, you're going to get your wishes! Suddenly, a pile of rubble fell down on Bari and Gustav! The book owner pointed at Kiyo, "The human lured us here! He was hoping that the rubble from the weakened column would fall on us!" Kiyo said in a serious tone, "Oh, no. The forklift is dead. That's fine, since I'm also out of energy. I've got to find some way to fight those guys, as soon as I crawl over there." Bari asked menacingly, "Will you stop talking, and just hand over your book already?" While Bari charged towards him, Kiyo had a vision.
Kiyo's Vision
The red spell book was covered in flames, and Kiyo was crying. He said, "Zatch, I'm sorry." Zatch replied sadly, "Goodbye, Kiyo. I'll miss you."
(The vision ends.)
Kiyo screamed desperately, "Zatch, help me!" Zatch and Ichigo stood in front of Bari, and they formed a blockade with their arms. Bari shouted angrily, "Get lost, you pests!"
He kicked Zatch in the chest, and Ichigo's rage was finally unleashed! She yelled while punching Bari in the face, "You'll have to get through me first, you sexist jerk!"
Bari threw her off of him, and he looked very angry. He screamed aggressively, "Those bold words will be your last!" Ichigo closed her eyes, and she looked surprised when she opened them. Zakuro had teleported in front of her, and she grabbed Bari's fist.
Gustav had a serious look on his face, and he walked towards Kiyo's group.
He asked Ichigo, "You are one of the girls from that manga, correct?" Ichigo responded with tension in her eyes, "Yes, I am." Gustav asked her, "What is your goal as one of the girls in Tokyo Mew Mew?" Ichigo explained nicely, "My goal is to help others in need, and to fight against evil people." Gustav asked Zatch while he walked over to him, "Zatch, what kind of king do you plan on becoming?" He replied with conviction in his eyes, "I'll be a kind king. I think that I can end the fighting between mamodos. I know that I'll have to fight my friends eventually, but I will still try to become a kind king!"
Gustav said to Bari, "Then, this fight ends here. Bari, to you the battle for mamodo king is simply beating all of your opponents. You haven't put any thought into what kind of king you would be. That is why someone like you can't possibly defeat Ichigo or Zatch.
Their eyes have true conviction behind them, and you are only full of immature ideas."
Bari responded harshly, "You don't know what you're talking about, Gustav!"
Zakuro told Bari while crushing his fist with her hand, "You're forgetting what you said to me this morning, Bari. Your sexist views show that you are immature.
If you think that I'm wrong, then I challenge you to a battle." Kiyo groaned weakly, "Zakuro, you must be out of your mind." She replied while having her back turned to him, "Bari claims that female mamodos are weak. Well, let's see if he can prove that."
Bari shouted with an angry glare on his face, "I can destroy you with one fist, Zakuro!"
Zakuro said sternly, "I suggest that you accept my challenge, before you make me angrier than you already have." Gustav thought to himself, "This girl has maturity, and I can tell from her eyes that she is not joking." He announced while pointing at her, "We will accept your challenge! Hopefully, Bari will be satisfied with battling a female opponent."
Bari shouted in a vicious tone, "Listen up, Ichigo and Zatch! You better listen too, Kiyo! I'll let it slide this time, but there will be no mercy the next time we cross paths! For now, I won't burn your books! Gustav, let's go." He walked over to Kiyo, who was almost out of energy. Gustav said nicely, "I'm happy that your friend is going to challenge us. Maybe she will convince Bari to think about what kind of king he wants to be. Always remember that we had the chance to burn your books, but we decided not to."
He walked away with Bari towards the sunset.
Kiyo thought while he groaned in frustration, "I told Zatch that he could count on me for anything, but I let him down. Ichigo tried so hard, too. We lost!" Zatch was also crying about the loss. Ichigo asked Zakuro, "Where will the fight take place?" She responded in a serious tone, "At the end of the Black Forest, there's a clearing. That's where it will take place." The other Mew Mews showed up, and they carried our heroes back to the house.
A/N: How was Chapter 21? Will Zakuro be able to defeat Bari? What new techniques has Zakuro learned? Will some of them frighten Bari? Who will show up at Kiyo's house? Find out in Chapter 22!