15 The Magic Tower

CHAPTER FIFTEEN The Magic Tower The Brain Zapper 3000 weighed heavily on Princess Buttons' head. Making it to the top of the hill was difficult for a cat who had eaten as many Speedy Chicken nuggets as she had. 'Almost… there,' she panted. She glanced at the Fox Finder. She was close to the flashing red dot. Nancy was around here somewhere. After more huffing and puffing, Princess Buttons reached the top of the hill. She slumped against the base of the old electricity pylon and waited for the cats to deliver Ted.

They must have got him by now, the weedy little thing. She gazed up at the sky and saw two birds gliding overhead– larger than the ones in the Big City, but too far away to be of much interest. Then she heard the unmistakable rumble of a car engine. This was it! She giggled to herself as she stood up and switched on the Brain Zapper 3000. It hummed and the antennae began to flash and glow. A Jeep careered over the brow of the hill, skidding into a turn. 'DELIVERY!' A small sack was thrown out of the window, landing near Princess Buttons' feet. 'MMmpppph!' said the bundle, which writhed and wriggled.

Princess Buttons was just about to open the sack when it was torn apart from inside. Ted's snout poked out, gasping for air. 'AAAAAAARGH!' he cried, on seeing Princess Buttons and the Brain Zapper 3000. 'Finally,' sighed Princess Buttons. Though she also wondered why Denise and the cats hadn't stopped the car. 'H… hullo,' said Ted nervously. 'Where. Is. My. TAIL?' hissed Princess Buttons. 'Well. Erm. It was in my rucksack for a bit and then Nancy nailed it to the wall of our den. But now I'm not really sure, to be honest. Look… about the tail. I'm sorry. I honestly thought it was a hot dog.' 'SILENCE!' shouted Princess Buttons. The Brain Zapper 3000 was sparking and beeping. 'W-what's that on your head?' asked Ted. 'Is it a fun thing or is it a bad thing?' Princess Buttons did an evil cackle. I'm saying it's a badthing.

'This, dear boy, is a Brain Zapper 3000. And I'm afraid it's going to blast you and your sister into smithereens!' Ted gulped. 'But first I want my tail back,' said Princess Buttons, her sharp claws hovering over Ted's face. 'Where's that big sister of yours? I know she's around here somewhere!' 'How?' asked Ted. Princess Buttons whipped out Bin's phone. 'Easy. I tracked her phone. This red dot tells me that she's nearby. Now I want you to scream for your big sis! Scream so that she comes running to me!' Ted knew what he had to do. But he wanted to ask Princess Buttons one more thing while he still had the chance. He took a deep breath. 'Listen,' he said. 'I'm sorry I bit your tail off. But all the other stuff? I just think you've been really mean. All we tried to do was share the food equally among everyone! Don't you think we could forget about this fighting? We could all go back to the Big City, help each other out, share the good times and the bad. What do you think?' Princess Buttons blinked. And then she laughed. 'I think that you're the stupidest fox I've ever met. I don't like you. I don't like your sister. And I DON'T… LIKE… SHARING!' She pointed the Brain Zapper 3000 at Ted.

A voice called down from the top of the Magic Tower. 'OI. BUTTONS.' Princess Buttons looked up. 'I'VE GOT YOUR TAIL.'

And there stood Nancy. She was balanced at the very top of the tower, holding Ingrid's megaphone.