I'll Be Dog-Gone (3)

I'll Be Dog-Gone (3)

Sixth Sense Dreamer -- A dazed 6th took in her surroundings...

Cartoon Hotel room...window behind her with broken glass...she must have come in THAT way...Artist underneath her, his arms folded under his head, his ankles crossed, grinning up at her...Huh?

"Comfy?" he asked her.

"Um..." blushing, 6th pushed herself off of him. "How did we get here?" she asked, holding the lump on her head with one hand.

"Well, when we flew through the window, we landed on the bed, and I just was thinking..." he said. 6th held up her hands.

"I know what you were thinking. It's written all over your face." 6th said, thinking to herself *well not exactly your face...*

Artist got up to look in the mirror on the wall, wondering what exactly was written on his face, when 6th heard a noise outside in the hall. A spooky noise.

"What was that?" she cried. Artist moved to the door peeking his head outside. 6th meanwhile, pulled out a giant cartoon mallet out of her pocket.

"I don't see anything." Artist said, turning, then jumped at the size of the mallet 6th had swung over her shoulder.

"What's that for?" he asked, raising his eyebrows. He hadn't reaalized 6th liked to play that way...

"Don't get all excited. This is for protection." 6th said, wryly chuckling at his expression.

"You know, most people think there are other means of..." he started, but 6th cut him off with a look, and pushed past him, opening the door.

The hallway was empty and quiet. TOO quiet.

6th motioned Artist to follow her, and the two stepped out into the hallway. The door shut behind them, making them both jump. Artist tried the handle, but the door was locked.

6th was tiptoeing up the hall, mallet ready. Artist came up behind her. "Hey..." he began, and 6th, startled and spooked, whirled around and bonked him on the head with the mallet before she realized it was him. Artist went down with a thump, and 6th, horrifyed, threw the mallet down the hall. She knelt by the unconscious Artist, and grabbed the lapels of his tux, pulling him upright. His head lolled as his eyes opened.

"Oh, look! Stars!" he grinned loopily, and indeed there were little stars floating around his head.

"Come on Artist, snap out of it!" 6th cried, shaking him. His head rolled around on his neck, and he leaned forward, gazing at 6th.

"Boy, you really know how to knock a guy off his feet!" he grinned, slurring slightly.

6th sighed. "Your'e fine. Come on, let's go find the others."

Artist shakily got to his feet, holding his head, and grinning dazedly.

"You know, a kiss would probably make it feel better." he tried, but 6th just gave him a look, and shook her head, trying not to laugh.

"Come on." she said, taking his hand, and they walked down the hall, opening doors, looking for the rest of the gang, or at least another way out. At least 6th was. Artist seemed slightly addled.

6th peered into another room, Artist peering over her shoulder. He eyed the room, then looked down at 6th.

"Looking for some place more comfortable?" he asked. "The room we just left was..."

"Artist, honestly, would you behave!" 6th asked, trying not to let on how much she didn't want him to stop. After all, there was a time and place...

She was about to shut the door, whne the door across the room opened. 6th and Artist looked up as a gangly guy and a large Great Dane entered the room. They looked at each other for a full second, then the dog yelped(Actually what he yelled was "Ripe!") and lept into the man's arms, at the same time Artist with a similar yipe, leapt into 6th's arms.

6th looked at Artist, who had his arms around her neck, grinning at her, and dropped him on the floor with a sardonic grin.

She stepped over him to the guy and his dog, who were quivering with fear, their eyes both tightly closed.

"Shaggy?" 6th asked, and the guy peeked one eye open.

"You're not a ghost are you?" the guy asked, the Great Dane wimpering in his arms.

"No, but I'm a big fan." she said, sticking out her hand and shaking his. "You didn't happen to see a bunch of people wandering around in here, did you."

"Uh yeah, I did." Shaggy said, Scooby jumping down to the ground.

"Reah." Scooby nodded.

"Can you two show us where?" 6th asked hopefully. They shook their heads.

"Uh-uh!" Shaggy cried, "There's ghosts all over the place down there!"

"I have scooby snacks." 6th said. "But I can't give them to you until you help us find our friends, and get us out of here." Shaggy and Scooby perked right up at the mention of Scooby snacks.

"Well, I don't know..." Shaggy said. 6th reached into her pocket.

"Hey look, I've got two Scooby snacks right here. And I have a whole crate full back at the boat..."

"You're on!" Shaggy said, taking one Snack.

"Reah!" Scooby said, taking the other.

"What else do you have in that pocket?" Artist asked, reaching for 6th. She danced away, smiling. Then she whispered something into his ear, and the frustrated look on his face disappeared.

Shaggy and Scooby headed for the nearest door, 6th and Artist following. They wandered around for a while, when 6th and Artist both heard Mouse's voice, echoing up the hall.

"Come on!" 6th said, and they all ran up the hall.

RagnarRB -- Who Me?

Ragnar rounded the corner and skidded to a halt, nearly toppling over the cartoon figure that suddenly appeared in front of him. The figure started to fuss, then his eyes went wide with recognition...recognition? Stuttering he made excuses and sped away, holding his hat with one hand and stumbling as he glanced back over his shoulder. Familiar with how things worked in cartoon land the viking quickly turned to step back the way he'd come but....the way had changed. Too late again....but then everything was too late this trip. Turning back, the sounds of chains, horses, wagons and rollette wheels spinning in the bar filled his ears. Around him lay the perfect makings of a typical western town complete with the usually panarama of merry folks going their way. In his dress he sort of stuck out. Toons were beginning to look at him. As if they new him. Couldn't be he had been to this part of town before, had he? Women, dressed in their 1860's finery, hushed their kids and sped them along the boardwalk. Menfolk gawked. *Bar? Hmmm why not. Trying to smile while still not certain what everyone was looking at Ragnar finished crossing the street and entered what was labled "The Last Gulp Saloon." Sounded like a nice place didn't it? He wasn't three steps into the room when the place fell silent. Now don't get me wrong, silence can be nice, Some of my more enjoyable moments have been silent but...silence also seemed to always come before the storm. It could be downright earry. 'It's him...look, maybe we should...Sam...' Varried mumblings errupted as the room seemd to relluctantly regain its volumn. Feeling a bit awkward Ragnar made it to the bar. The barkeep eyed him a moment...finished wiping the shotglass then decided that a chance to collect some momey outweighted what ever else had been on his mind. "What'll it be?" Ragnar picked a place where he could watch the door. Old habits you see..."What's the strongest thing you've got?" "Farscape POD, imported it direct from the mansion itself." The barkeep smiled showing yellow croooked teeth.Proud distributer he was. *I'll just bet you did? Ragnar sourcastically thought to himself. Punch of Doom was a closely held secret. Dr. Teeth had yet to part with the recipe and with In2 riding heard on him, he wasn't likely too either. There was of course the lake of doom under the mansion but only a couple knew about that. "I take it..." Ragnar replied. "It's not often we get a celebrity in these parts..."The barkeep offered as he poured from a pint jar. Woah..stuff sure smelled like paint thiner...might be a little punch in there somewhere afterall!... "How so?" Ragnar asked. "Why you mister. Just walking right in like you own the place. And the Marshal being in town and all. *DinG DING DING!!!!! Was that bells he was hearing in his head? He nearly spit out the drink and it wasn't only because of the taste. Wiping his mouth..."I beg you pardon..." He knew he was glaring. The barkeep held up his hands and his face took on a worried expression..."Easy mister, didn't mean bothing by it." "By what?" "Why by pointing out the Marshal. You being a wanted man and all..." "Excuse me..." Ragnar reached out, grabbed the barkeep by the scruff and drew him closer. You could do that sort of thing in toon town... "Don't hurt me Mr. PLEASE!" the barkeep quietly pleaded. "I only said it cause of the posters." "What posters?" "Them..." The barkeep shakily tried pointing a little further down the bar. Some of the silence was returning again. Ragnar nearly cursed. Sure enough there was a brand new wanted poster hanging on the wall behind the bar, mixed in with several others. On it was a perfect likeness of his face....and an offer for a big reward put out by the Reality Trading Co. for damages and worse at one of their trading post! OH wait until he got his hands on 6th! "Mr. the marshall's coming!" somebody volunteered. Sometimes he thought tunes liked violence. They salivated over it. Ragnar started to ask just who the Marshall was when he saw the reflection in the mirrow. Humongous hat, wide stance, and blazing red handlebars on the mustache... Not Yosimity Sam!!!!

Sixth Sense Dreamer -- Ragnar stood still, looking down...

WAY down to the floor beside the swinging bar doors, where Yosimite Sam had just strolled underneath into the room. The little gunslinger took in the big viking by the bar.

"Wut in tarnation!" Sam cried. Ragnar backed away a step, more from the giant guns the little man had pulled out and aimed towards him.

"Why you goldurned horny toad! What'do you mean saunterin' into this bar? Don't you know I'm the rootinest tooninest goldurn sheriff whatever walked these plains!"

Ragnar backed up another step looking for an escape. There was none. The only way out was through the pintsized sheriff. Ragnar reached for his gun out of long habit and watching too many old westerns.

"Look out! He's going for his gun!" someone shouted. There was a scramble and Ragnar found himself in a suddenly empty bar facing down the meanest gunslinger this side of the Rio Grande. He wondered where the others had gone, what door they used...but he didn't see any other exit yet. He wondered what to do...

"Um...I don't have a gun..." Ragnar started, holding up his hands, and wondering how Sam was going to reach his hands to handcuff him. Then he thought, *well that wanted poster did say dead or alive*...thinking that thought, he began to get really angry at a certain red-haired secret agent.

"No gun???What kind of lily-livered hombre are you?" Sam said, pushing his hat back.

"WHAT'S THAT???" Ragnar yelled, pointing behind the little guy. Sam whirled around, and Ragnar took a flying leap over Sam's head, out the doors, and down the street. He could hear Sam yelling, but chances were the little man couldn't catch him. After all his legs were so little in comparison.

Somthing large whizzed by his ear. Ragnar heard a gun shot behind him at the same time. He began to run faster, towards what could only be the town. Just wait until he got his hands on 6th...and he wasn't thinking romantically this time...

RagnarRB -- "Ah she loves me!..."

Pepe crooned as he gamely bounced out of the cabin and onto the deck, his feet and ankles doing all the work. He paused and winked at the reader.

"Me love...(he hugs himself and a little heart shape beats in and out of his chest) she play hard to get with her Pepe. Pepe play now too." *wink

With that he looked around. "My cabbage leaf, where do you hide from your Pepe? Me L'amour, my love. Your Pepe will fiiinnnddd yyooouuu."

*wink at the reader...."Ah my love, she is bashful no?

Pepe bounced over to a pile of rope..."Are you hiding behind there my love?" He peered over..."No not there...."

"Might you be...over here?" Quicker than one might follow Pepe zipped over to the tiny table. "Pouring your Pepe a refreshing drink?...Aw not here either. She loves her Pepe, she doens't want to make it too easy. " Pepe continued to grin...

He spies a blanket stretched over Ragnar's hammock. "Ah my love...she awaits her Pepe in bed!..."

Artic, until this time, hidden under the blanket in hope Pepe might think she left the boat suddenely had company. "My L'Amour, you keep a spot warm for Pepe yes?" Taking one of her hands he began kissing his way up her arm.

Smooch, smooch, smooch....Pepe quickly reachs the shoulder...then her neck...

"Aaaaaaaa..." Artic rolls in an effort to escape only to find herself tangled in the blanket, off balance, and falling to the deck with a thud... Pepe is undeterred. He comes to rest atop her his head resting on his hand and his face beaming. He closes his eyes and leans foreward. "You promised Pepe a kiss yes?"

"NO!!!" Artic might kiss a lot of things but a skunk wasn't one of them! Like toothpaste squished of a roll, she shot out of the blanket.

Spying the mast...surely he wouldn't follow her up there, she mad a mad dash and scurried up its form. She didn't look back before reaching the crows nest.

Slowly, two ears appeared, then the white fur of her head, then her eyes, swishing back and forth...."Ah she loves me yes?" Pepe crooned somewhere benieth her.

Pepe calmly bounced up from the deck and nimble paraded over to the mast. Turning towards the reader again. "She is a spry one, my love, yes? She hide from Pepe up the mast. But pepe is wise. She seeks a secluded spot with her Pepe."

"My precious cabbage leave, Your Pepe will save you!" He called up at her.

*save me? artic wondered....then her eyes went wide!

"My love, she is stuck up this mast. Pepe will rescue her!" *wink for the audience.

Pepe looked around and spied one of Ragnars great axes. "Ahh just the thing Pepe needs to save his love. Fear not me L'Amour, my lovely morsel, Your Pepe is coming !"

Grasping the axe, he reared back to take a swing when....a cute little noise sounded from behind him.

"Rowwwwweerrr, roowwerrrr." He looked about and his smile grew. He turned towards the audience.

"My love she has shrunk!"

Kitten had come up on deck herself, having diligently counted all the crunch....including those few morsels that had fallen down her throat. Why she had had to swallow them to keep from choking! Surely that was okay. She had even hidden away a couple for Mr. Duckie later. She had been smuggling in his meals when the dogs weren't looking.

"Isn't she cute..." Pepe crooned.

"Roowwwertrr hiss hiss...rooowwwer..."

Kitten did her best to stand on her hind legs and shadow box the intruder. She took little swings with her paws but her little helmet kept falling over her eyes and she threatened to topple over.

Pepe dropped to the deck, reached out and place a finger atop the kittens head, steadying her. Artickitten really leaned into her work then, wailing away with rappid swings..."Hiss hiss..."

"My love what has happened? You shrunk for your Pepe?"

In the crows nest artic had peered over. "You leave her alone!"

Pepe looked up, the little heart in his chest beating again."MY L'Amour, my cabbage, you haven't shrunk!"

Artic rocked, way up there in the air. Kitten continued to swing...

"My love, she swoon for Pepe! Pepe must save her!"

With a twist of his fingers artickitten was spun around, pushed back onto all fours and with a repeated patting on her little rear shooed away.

"Make room for pepe little one. He must save his love, yes?"

Patting her on the head and shooing her rear somemore..."Run along and play now....Pepe's love his stuck and must be rescued..."

Pepe took up the axe and gave it a mightly swing. "I'm coming my Love, my cabbage, your Pepe is coming for you!"

Artic watched the first wedge of wood fly from the mast.

Ragnar was going to be pissed.

Kaybe0 -- Having left the trading post

so quickly, without purchasing some of the things she wanted, Kay decided to do a little window shopping while she was there. She had lost track of the other Scoobies, and decided, that if she wasn't in a hurry, she was bound to run into one of them sooner or later. Wondering into a pet store, she purchased a new red collar for Honey(decided that was the name), and a matching red leash. As she was leaving, she bumped into a small bear. "Oh sorry", she said starting past. "BooBoo, watch where you are going. Please excuse my little friend." said a much larger bear. "Yogi? Booboo?" asked Kay with delight. "At your service," said Yogi removing his hat and bowing. "I love you guys", said Kay trying to contain herself from giving them each a big bear hug. :) "What cha doing?" asked Booboo. "Looking for my friends," said Kay. "Can we help the pretty lady, Yogi?" asked Boo. Both bears took an arm, and escorted Kaybe out of the store and down the street in search of the scoobies.

SweetiePie Parrot -- As Pepe lePew pulled back his axe to...

take another mighty swing, Sweetiepie came in for a landing on the axe.

"Hey, jerkball." Sweetiepie said.

"And who are you?" Pepe asked, wide eyed.

"I'm Sweetiepie. And you're trespassing on this boat."

"Thiz is your boat, no?" the little skunk asked.

"No." Sweetiepie said. "But the captain left me in charge while he went into town. And he said not to let the natives on the boat without his permission. Do you have permission from Captain Ragnar to be here?"

"I have all ze permission I need." Pepe crooned. "I follow my heart. I follow my love. She is playing hard to get, no?"

"I'm sorry but that's just not gonna to cut it?"

With that, Sweetiepie grabbed Pepe by the back of the neck and flew off with him. The little skunk hollered and screamed but Sweetiepie flew down the coast and dumped him in the water. Unfortunately, Pepe started running before he touched down and ran across the water and up into the boat before Sweetiepie could get back. But Artic had snuck down from the mast and hidden again while he was gone.

"Where are you my little sugarplum?" he asked as he searched. "I will find you."

He came to the door of the hold where all the dogs were.

"Are you hiding in there my peach?" he asked as he reached for the door handle...

Chryse74 -- Chryse had gotten lost after leaving the

boat. She still didn't really know how she got separated from the others, but she figured that it wouldn't be too hard to find the boat later. Quite unconcernedly, she shopped, ate, and walked around for a few hours.

Eventually, she found herself walking around the outskirts of town. It looked like a typical cartoony western. Feeling thirsty, she headed for the saloon, when "BANG!" Instinct took over and she ducked and found cover. Peering above the rim of the water trough, she saw Ragnar running for his very life with Yosemite Sam shooting at him in hot pursuit!

Taking a length of rope from a nearby horse, she quickly fashioned a lasso and threw it over the tiny sheriff. Sam was stopped cold. He couldn't even fire his guns, his hands were pinned to his sides.

"Hey Ragnar! Stop running! I got him!" yelled Chryse to the quickly retreating viking.

Rag stopped and looked back at Chryse and Yosemite. "Phew, thanks Chryse. But we've got to get out of here. We're wanted outlaws."

"What?" asked Chryse as she gagged the swearing Yosemite Sam and tied him to a handy building.

"The trading post put out wanted posters of me and everyone else. Sam was trying to bring me in. We've got to get everyone out of here before someone else recognizes us!"

"Oh, dren. I sure hope 6th unloaded a dog or two already. This is gonna be harder than I thought!"

"Come on, let's get back into town and round everyone up. Do you know where everyone is?"

"Sorry, Rag, I don't have a clue. I've been wandering around lost here for a couple of arns already."

"Ok, we'll just have to round everyone up some how. Hey, is Yosemite Sam going to be alright? I always like the little guy."

"Yeah, he'll be fine. He won't get out of those ropes, but I'm sure someone will untie him, eventually. Let's go."

Thor T Rex -- Thor was sleeping in the hold...

High up on one of the crates so the dogs wouldn't mess with him. He had romped and played, romped and played, and romped and played some more, until he was tuckered out. Those dogs just never seemed to lose their energy.

Thor rolled over just as he heard the snick of the lock on the door. He leapt to his feet, and ran for the door, hoping it was 6th. The dogs came behind him, giving him a suitable wide area around him. He hated it when they crowded him. They all waited, silent, as the door slowly opened.

Pepe Le Pew stuck his head in and took in the dogs and the dinosaur with a smile.

"Leetle ones! Have YOU seen my love run through here?" he asked. His scent wafted through the doorway at the same time. The dogs, wimpering, backed away. Thor opened his mouth to growl and choked on the skunk's smell.

*Get back!* he yelled in the dogs' minds, and they scrambled, Thor following, deeper into the hold.

"Come back, leetle ones. Pepe will not bite you! Ah onlee want to ask you where mah leetle cabbage has gone to." Pepe said following them. He left the door open.

This would have not been so bad, if Thor had not seen, and, thinking only of escape from this dreadful black and white stinking thing, made for the open door, the dogs following in a yelping herd.

Pepe was peering into one of the crates looking for Artic(...ahem, excuse me...his cabbage!) when the dogs and Thor went thundering up the stairs.

"Come back, leetle ones. Pepe is thinking you know somethings of where mah L'amour es hiding!" he leaped nimbly up the stairs after them.

Artickat peeked out of the next crate. "Whew! I didn't think I could hold my breath much longer!" She said, then it hit her. "Sweetiepie!!!" she yelled up the stairs as she ran. "The dogs! Pull up the gangplank! The dogs will get out!" She ran straight into Pepe's open arms.

"Darling!" he cried.

"Oh yuk, NO!" Artic struggled out of his grasp.

Sweetiepie had pulled up the gangplank before the dogs had made it up the stairs. Chuckling, he watched the dogs skid to a stop before the raised gangplank, Thor in the lead. Artic came up behind them.

Artic realized that if she left the boat, the dogs would get out, causing more trouble than she was in.

"Come on Thor!" she cried, glancing over her shoulder at the nearing Pepe. "Let's play 'keep-away'!"

*Is now the time?* Thor asked.

"Of course it is! We're playing 'Keep ourselves away from him'!"

Thor needed no other explaination. He, Artic and the dogs began racing around in circles on the boat, trying to keep the furthest distance between themselves and the love-struck skunk.

Raven Kat -- Rae and Marvin raced to the longboat

"Damned Viking." Rae yells as they run. "If he EVER leaves me behind again..."

"Did you say Viking?" Marvin asks.

"He is Wanted. Dead or Alive."

"Wanted by WHO?" Rae howls.

"Drenn!" Rae breaks into a run towards the long-boat. "Got to warn him!"

As they approach the boat, though, they become aware of a horrible smell. Marvin sighs.

"What is that SMELL?" Rae demands, not wanting to approach the boat.

"Pepe LePew." Marvin says in disgust. He peers onto the deck of the boat. "He would appear to be persuing the affections of one of your crew."

"Artic?" Rae breaks into a run again, and a gas-mask appears on her face. "ARTIC?"

Rae runs up the gang-plank and observes the chaos around her for a split second, deciding on a course of action. "That's it!" She wades into the thick of things and grabs Pepe by the scruff of his throat. "YOU are in trouble."

"Is that so, Mon Cheri?" Pepe bats his eye-lashes at her.

"Does it LOOK like it's working?" Rae demands.

Rae nods. "Hey, you're right." Rae pulls a cell-phone out of her pocket and begins dialing. "Yes, I'd like to make a reservation for your Sensetivity Training and Sexual Harrassment Seminars. Name.. LePew. That's right, Pepe. Yes, it IS about time, isn't it. No, I think you'll need to send your goons." Rae hangs up and smiles down at the horrified skunk. "You're going back to school, little man."

Pepe gulps as two goons in white coats appear to haul him away.

Sixth Sense Dreamer -- Ragnar and Chryse rode up...

on the back of a tiny little donkey, the only steed they could find. Ragnar was hunched over the small creature, his feet in the tiny stirrups, Chryse was sitting on his shoulders. They had blazed through the town to the dock, the donkey surprisingly fast on his hooves.

Ragnar reined up the little donkey as Chryse jumped off. He stood, his back cracking from being hunched over so long.

Two men came down the gangplank with a mortified Pepe in tow. Ragnar watched them leave, then looked to Chryse for an explaination. She shrugged. Ragnar ran up the gangplank, suddenly worried, and skidded to a stop on the deck.

All of the gang's stuff was scattered across the deck. The cabins were trashed, as if several someones had run through them in quite a hurry. Leaning by his mast, very out of breath, were Artickat, Thor, and the dogs. The kitten was sitting on Artic's shoulder. Sweetiepie was perched on the rail laughing. Ragnar's mast...

HAD A BIG CHUNK CUT OUT OF IT!!!!

Ragnar's eyes widened. He sputtered. He pointed to his mast, his eyes on Artic.

"Hey big guy, don't look at me like that!" Artic said."It was that skunk!"

Ragnar whirled around and ran into his cabin. A terrible yell echoed across the water, as Chryse, Rae and Artic flinched.

Ragnar had seen the map room. To say that things were slightly damaged in there would be too easy. Things were shredded in there. Not a map remained whole. Ragnar staggered out of the room, holding onto the door frame. He was aghast. All he had been planning was a nice quiet time of cleaning his boat. Now, his boat was a mess, his maps were all shredded, and his MAST! Pepe had apparently been wailing away with...his AXE!!! Ragnar picked up his axe where Pepe had let it fall. The blade was dull, and chipped in two places. Ragnar looked almost in tears.

Then he heard her. Coming up the gangplank with Artist, and the rest of the gang. Her dogs...her idea...her fault!

6th ran into Drum's back as he stopped at the top of the gangplank.

"My..." Kara gasped.

"6TH!!!!" Ragnar bellowed.

"What's going on?" 6th pushed herself to the front, in between KaraS and Bugs. She took in the mess, the mast, and Ragnar, steam coming out his ears, in a second.

"Um..." was all she could manage. Shaggy chose that exact moment to call out from the back "Where's our Scooby snacks?"

Ragnar eyeballed 6th. "You gave away my only crate of Scooby snacks too?" he looked her up and down slowly, then said, his voice shaking slightly "Come here, 6th. I want to TALK to you."

"Uh..."6th said, trying to back through the gang.

"By the way Ragnar, did you know you're a wanted criminal?" Rae asked.

Lurkingghost -- Oh, what's this?

'Ghost says as she stumbles across a small black box. A note attached says "Gone adventuring--to follow, press button."

"Oh goodie, a new adventure." 'Ghost says as she pushes the button. Suddenly she is overcome by a stretching, pulling sensation. Suddenly, she appears among the Scoobies with a soft bamf of displaced air.

(Just wanted to join in. I'm not all caught up yet. I'm about a week behind, but I should be caught up by tomorrow. Hope you can make allowances for my jumping in without all the info.)

ArtistStudio -- As they are about to cast off, Artist

asks "Where is 6th?"

"Haven't seen her since Ragner lit into her about his boat - last I saw he was steaming off and she was just about in tears," Chryse says.

"I've been looking all over for her," says Artist "I don't think she's on the boat."

"What???!!!" says Ragnar, coming up behind Artist. "She'd better be here! The boat is wanted too and we need to cast off now!"

"Not only that, my spell will wear off soon and Cartoonland will become a dangerous place for us - those bullets can hurt you if you're not a cartoon," Artist adds.

The Scoobs break off and cover every inch of the deck looking for 6th, but she is nowhere to be found. Artist puts together an expidetion to find her - aboves Ragnar's stringent protest - Ragnar and Chryse - now wanted criminals - stay behind as does Articat - still deeply traumatized by her run in with the skunk.

The Scoobs break off in pairs to search for 6th - Sweetiepie Parrot with Artist to help coordinate the search. After several hours, the Scoobs return - and Parrot returns without Artist or 6th.

"What happened to them?" Articcat asks.

BBBBBOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!!!! - an enormous cannonball flies over the longboat.

"I hope Artist and 6th can take care of themselves!" Ragnar yells over the noise. "Cast off!! The Cartoonland Navy is after us! We've got to get to open water!"

At that moment a balista launches a piano from a nearby cartoon vessel - the piano lands on Mouse, flattening her - and shatters across the deck with a terrible sound. Drumhellor clears the deck and Rae fills the sail with magical wind.

Thinking quickly, Spyral blows into Mouse's thumb - she popps back into her proper form - it couldn't have come fast enough. A bare moment later Artist's spell wears off and the Scoobs are their normal (okay - abnormal) selves again.

Rae's magical wind is just enough to get the ship out to open water where the Cartoon navy has no power. From a distance the Scoobs hear a sailor hollaring "Come back her and fight like a mans - I'll shows ya to mess with Cartoonland!"

Hours pass as Rag tries to figure out their position without a map and the Scoobs worry about Artist and 6th - left behind in a now hostile Cartoonland.

Raven Kat -- There are many things

in the world that we are blessed not to encounter very often. A rabid Viking is definitely right up there...

"Ragnar, just calm down!" Rae reaches out to take him by the shoulders, but he shoves her away. "Drum and I can FIX the boat!"

Ragnar stomped off. It was no use talking to Rae when she got all reasonable.

"Hey!" Rae yells. "Don't you ignore me!" she starts after him.

"Rae, is that wise?" Drum asks.

Rae shrugs. "Dunno. Just, ah... Fix the mast." she mutters over her shoulder.