I'll Be Dog-Gone (4)

I'll Be Dog-Gone (4)

RagnarRB -- Oh in that case...yes

"Yes is the word you think of first?" Rae asked incredulously.

"No." Ragnar replied.

"No not that word either." Ragnar sighed...."Are you sure you don't need to relax? You're looking a bit strained and tense there young lady."

Rae looked at him. Ragnar shook his head. "Yes to coffee dear." he offered.

"You're, you're...."

Ragnar accepted his coffee and took a sip."The word you are looking for is Long."

"Long...as in LONG boat." Ragnar looked at his watch. Turning he picked up Mouse's gift and headed towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Rae hastilly inquired. She hadn't gotten anywhere yet.

Ragnar hefted the sextant. "New toy. I want to see how well it works. Besides what better time then when 6th isn't here to....well what better time."

With that he opened the door and stepped... Ooofff!!!...and tripped over Artickat, kitten, and Jila who were apparently listening at the door. Down he went.

Thump...his nose hitting a boot. If it wasn't boken he'd at least have a shiner.

"Oh I'm so sorry..."6th began wondering herself where all this bad karma was coming from.

Ragnar just lay at her feet. He knew that voice. His nose began to bleed...

Kaybe0 -- As the mayhem continued

on the boat, Kay went to help Mouse with the dogs, and then suggested they start dinner for everyone. That should help calm things down a bit. And everyone feels better with a full tummy. In the galley, they find the neccesary items and start preparing a feast fit for a scooby gang. By the time they had it completed and the tables set, Everyone smelling the food cooking, was more than ready to eat.

(sorry. not much time to post lately. any suggestions as to what it is we fixed and what we are eating? lol. )

KaraS -- Rewinding a little

Ragnar was in his room, sulking. Rae was in Ragnar's room trying to unsulk him. Kara, Jila, Viridian, Sweetiepie and Lurkingghost were in the map room, trying to put the maps back together.

"Wow Lurkingghost! Your spell allowed us to sort which scraps go with which map! That is incredibly helpful!" Kara said.

Now that the scraps were sorted, they still had to be put back together. That job was almost, but not quite, as hard as sorting the scraps had been. And it took a lot of scotch tape. Fortunately, Viridian had roles and roles of the stuff in the pockets of her smock.

"Well, this one is finished." Jila finally declared holding up the map, more tape than anything else, for all to see. "It's not pretty, but we should be able to navigate with it."

Drumheller entered the room.

"I fixed the mast." he said.

"How did you do that?" Kara asked.

"With a spell." he said. "It joins things that were once together back again."

"Will it work with map scraps?" Kara asked.

"I don't see why not." Drum replied.

One spell later and all the maps were back to their original pristine state.

"This'll make the Viking happy." Sweetiepie said.

Just then there was a cry from Spyral and then Sixth and Artist were back on board. Everyone went out to see them.

"Artist! Sixth! You're back. And you're still toons. Why didn't the spell wear off of you?"

"It did." Sixth explained. "Artist recast it when we stole the plane so if we crashed into the ocean we'd survive. Now let's get out of here before Jojo Mojo steals the dogs."

Sixth ran into the longboat's cabin and headed the boat out to sea.

"It's too bad we couldn't find homes for any of the dogs there." Sixth sighed.

"I talked to Bugs about that." Kara said. "He said that real dogs couldn't live there. It wouldn't be safe for them there."

"What a shame." Artist said. "Well Sixth, the toon spell should be wearing off again soon."

"Before it does..." Kara said as she grabbed ArtistStudio by the ears. She gave him a BIG kiss on the lips.

All of Artist's hair stood on end like he had stuck his finger in a socket. His eyes lit up and shot little sparks. He vibrated in place and there was an explosion inside his head. He shot up like a rocket with a trail of smoke, zoomed back and forth across the sky, and floated back down swaying back and forth like a leaf with a blissed out expression on his face. Then he and Sixth turned human again.

"I always wanted to do that." Kara said with a grin.

Just then Ragnar's door started to open. Sixth rushed over just in time for Ragnar to trip and fall at her feet.

"Dinner's ready. Come and get it." Kaybee called from the galley.

We now continue our regularly scheduled story.

artickat -- Mmmm...

The smell of Barbecue hits the Scooby Gang in waves..."Ummmm...I think it's time to eat!" Drum says, clears his throat, starts backing up slowly turns and begins to run towards the galley. The others follow suit while Ragnar sits on the deck as Jila cleans him up and checks out the damage.

Jila turns his head this way and that "Doesn't look to bad…but you will have a nice pair of shiners"

Ragnar grumbles and gets to his feet "Better get down to the galley before the feeding frenzy begins!"

As they walk into the galley Artic calls out "We saved you guys a spot!" As they take their seats at the table Mouse and Kabe0 drop food-laden plates in front of them.

Ragnar begins to dig in when out of the corner of his eye he sees a movement...there is kitten…wrestling with a giant barbecue rib...she leans forward and tries to take a bite but the rib moves...grrrrr! kitten jumps on one end of the rib <WACK> she is hit on the head with the other end of the rib *meow!* grrr! Slowly she begins to circle the rib waiting for just the right moment to attack...wiggling her butt she waits <POUNCE> kitten lands on top of the rib. It begins to rock back and forth as she happily digs in <munch> <munch> barbecue sauce smeared all over her...from the tips of her whiskers to the tip of her tail. Ragnar just shakes his head and rolls his eyes.

Raven-Kat -- “Hold still”

Rae orders Ragnar as the others go up the stairs. "Your nose is still bleeding. I can fix it."

Ragnar patiently waits as Rae works her magic.

"You know," Rae says, handing him a rag to wipe the blood off of his face. "'Long' is really a VERY interesting answer... If I were of a Freudian persuasion..."

Chryse74 -- As everyone’s hunger was

satisfied, the Scoobies began to talk to each other about their various adventures in Cartoon land.

"Too bad we won't be able to go back there anytime soon," sighed Chryse. "I was really looking forward to searching out all the cartoon characters I loved."

"Well, it's just as well, you a wanted criminal there. Whatever possessed you to assault Yosemite Sam?" asked Jila.

"oh, come on, I just tied him up. And he deserved it for shooting at Ragnar." replied Chryse.

"Well, where do we go next?" asked Spyral.

"Hmm, good question. It seems that the Trading Post has a pretty good communications system around here. Everyone'll be on the lookout for us." said Rae.

"yeah, we'll need a plan so we get around the river without being recognized and arrested." said Drum.

Everyone turned to look at Artist and 6th. And they weren't focusing on the food or the conversation at that particular moment.

"Hey, what are y'all staring at?" asked 6th. When she finally realized that everyone in the galley was looking at her and Artist.

"Well, ah, 6th, Artist, you guys are the resident experts at getting around without being noticed. We thought that maybe you had some suggestions on how we can travel without being arrested for the fiasco at the trading post. You guys got any ideas?" explained Kaybe.

ArtistStudio -- “Well, disguising a 1500 foot longboat

would take so much power it would be counter productive - I think I can get the help I need to do it..." Artist wraps an arm around Kara and grins. "But prolonged exposure with a phantasm of that power would degrade the boat and actually make it easily detectible to someone searching for magical power sources."

"Also, cartoonland is all about illusion - many of the places we are going to aren't and my spells will be less effective there. I can help get us out of tight spots - but a prolonged illusion like turning us into toons really only works where everything is illusion. There aren't any easy answers to this one."

Artist rests his chin on Kara's head, murmers a cantrip which creates the subtlest ripple across her clothing - Kara shivers and snuggles back into him.

6th pours a couple of glasses of the Punch of Doom. "What we need is a launch," she says. "Since we can't disguise the longboat - at least not for very long periods of time - we need to be able to leave it out in the deep water and go in small groups." She hands Kara a glass of POD - and the dweomer rippling across Kara leaps from her hand to 6th's, travelling rapidly across her. 6th raises her glass, winks at Artist and drains it slowly.

"Well," says Drumheller, "I could power one of the lifeboats - both of them, actaully." He makes a note to ask Artist about that cantrip.

Rae rests a hand on his shoulder. "Nice little dweommer there - now why did we never think to use our abilities that way? It will be awhile before our next landfall - think we have some studying to do... purely acedemic," sha adds as he gives her a strange look.

artickat -- Just then....

The gang heard a loud noise, they looked at each other for a second before jumping to their feet and running upstairs to see what it was. "What the Hazmana?!" The gang cries out as they drop to the deck while a plane makes another LOW pass over the longboat.

"Is it coming back?" Mouse mumbles from her spot on the deck.

"Doesn't look like it..." Rae grumbles.

"Whoever they are...seems like they are gone" Jila answers just as the gang is covered with fliers.

Drum grabs a flyer and reads it. "What does it say?" Ragnar asks.

"Ummmm...you're not going to like this..." Drum avoids making eye contact with Ragnar.

Ragnar frowns and grabs the flyer out of Drum's hand "What could possibly..." The Gang watches as Ragnar turns a bright RED.

"Man...if Ragnar was still a cartoon his head would pop off!" Artic whispers to kitten.

"Meow" kitten agrees getting a little bit closer to Artic.

"What is it?! What does it say?" 6th and Artist say as one.

"Well???" Kara can't stand it anymore "What does it say?"

"You want to know what it says? Do you?!!!" Ragnar turns to the gang "I'll tell you what it says...IT SAYS THAT I'M NOT ONLY WANTED FOR DAMAGES TO THE TRADING POST BUT ALSO FOR KIDNAPPING! WHICH ONE OF YOU KIDNAPPED SOMEONE?!!!"

The gang all look at each other in surprise "BUT WE DIDN'T KIDNAP ANYONE!!!" they answered as one...

KaraS -- “Uh” Kara said

"What ever happened to that mechanic?"

Everybody looked around at everybody else.

RagnarRB -- Just about then

the mechanic stumbled up from the engine room. "I think I found your problem Capitan."

"Dog biscuts sir." He said holding up the offending article. "I've been finding bits and pieces of them all thru the engine works. Wonder this tub can still go anywhere at all."

Ragnar's eyes narrowed as he looked back at 6th. He didn't say anything. Turning to Kara.

"It's not the mechanic Kara. I paid for him. As long as I get him back in the allotted time he's good...."

Sixth Sense Dreamer -- 6th stood...

6th, blushing about the dogs and their treats in the engine room (What was she supposed to do? Sit down there and guard them the whole frelling trip?) cleared her throat and changed the subject hurriedly "Uh gang, before we figure out who kidnapped who, I need to show you something and ask you something." she pulled out a map out of her pocket. A not ripped to shreads and taped back together map.

"Where'd you get that?" Ragnar asked, pulling it from her hands. It was the main map of their world, the one he found himself using the most of all of them.

"I just kept it with me. I've been studying it." 6th shrugged. Then she tapped the map Ragnar was holding up to the light *Tape, there's got to be tape on here somewhere!* Ragnar was thinking, examining the surface of the map. "Um, if I could just...see that for a moment..." 6th said tugging lightly on the map's corner. Ragnar eyed her, then laid the map out on the table in front of them both. The rest of the gang leaned in towards 6th as she pointed to different spots on the map.

"Here we are." She pointed, and Ragnar was going to correct her when he realized he didn't need to. She must have really been studying, because nothing was harder to read than a map of Cyberspace. "And here's cartoon land just to the right of us. Now here's where I need your input. See, we have four choices: One, we go here" she pointed "to Sci-fi/Fantasy land. They are two islands that have merged, so the characters roam freely about both lands. Problem is that there are some pretty nasty critters roaming around in Sci-fi land and Fantasy land. Like the aliens from 'Aliens'? So we'd have to be on our guard if we went there. Or two, we could go here" she pointed again "to kid land." she eyed the group, waiting for their reaction.

"Kid land?" Rae asked, "you mean like Sesame Street?"

Ragnar opened his mouth to elaborate, but heard 6th talking before he could begin, "Yes. and Teletubbies. And Blue's Clues. And Little Bear. And Barney." She looked at the grimaces on their faces. "I'm only suggesting options here. Not orders. Ok, three, we could stay here more, and send out launches back to Cartoon land. I mean, we were hardly there before we had to go, and it's a big enough place that we could explore some more. There's still Anime...and Disney...a lot of Cartoon Network's stuff...But there's always the risk that we'd get caught. Bugs would probably let us off the hook if we did. Right Ragnar? He's your old friend anyway..." Ragnar nodded, practically unable to speak. When had she had the time to learn all of this information?

"But staying at Cartoon Land wouldn't be helping much in finding the dogs a home...not that there's a big rush to do so. I want you guys to all have fun on this trip, and if you say stay, I'm fine. I don't care one way or the other where we go. And four, we could just skip all three ideas, pull up anchor and sail for the next port which would be..." she traced her finger across the map and stopped on a very big island. "Action/Adventure land. Car chases, explosions, skin of your teeth excitement every minute. It could get dangerous there, but good for the adventuresome. Now that's our four choices. But there's one other thing." She pulled Mojo Jojo's plans out of her pocket. "We have this monkey on our tail who wants the dogs. Apparently, he wants to build some kind of machine which will enable him to rule the world, but he needs my dogs, our dogs," She looked at Mouse and Kaybe0 "to build it, or run it or something. He's on his way by now to our location, in his submarine. He's going to try asking for the dogs. Then I don't know what he'll do until he gets them. If we stay here, we'll have to deal with him most likely trying to sneak aboard." she shrugged. "That's all I had to say, folks...Unless you need to add anything in?" she looked at the viking, who was still puzzling over 6th's sudden knowledge of his maps and the lands around them. Had she been reading his books? The gang all began to discuss their choices and Ragnar felt a sudden need to speak with his neighborhood secret agent.

"Uh 6th?" he began, when there was a rapping at the hull.

"Hello up there!" a voice familiar to 6th and Artist rang through the air.

"It's him! It's that evil monkey!" 6th hissed, and the gang all got up and ran up to the deck, peering over the railings at Mojo Jojo standing on the top of his surfaced submarine, wearing a fake mustache and a hat.

"Um..." said Rae, trying not to laugh at the pathetic disguise.

"I heard you had some dogs you were trying to find homes for!" the monkey yelled up to them. "I have a great big home, which the dogs could come and stay at!"

"Really..." Ragnar said slowly, a smile creeping onto his face. Then to 6th's astonishment, he asked "How much would you be willing to pay for them?"

Mouse2000 -- Mouse pulls on Ragnar’s arm

and reminds him in a forceful whisper," Not ALL the dogs are going, Viking. Make SURE you keep that in mind! And remember what 6th said about this guy? If you just want to mess with her mind for a little bit, that's fine, but NO ONE takes my Juno and Kaybe's Honey away. Got it? NO ONE!"

Sweetiepie Parrot -- A monkey on their backs!

Sweetiepie flew over to the railing and looked down at the monkey standing on his submarine.

"What do you want with the dogs bananna breath?" he said.

"I'll give the dogs a good home." the monkey said. "And I will pay much money for them."

"Much money." Mojo Jojo said.

"Why don't you come up here and discuss it." Sweetiepie said.

"I don't want that monkey on my boat." Ragnar stated.

"Relax chief." Sweetiepie said. "I've got a plan."

Sweetiepie flitted over to ArtistStudio's shoulder and whispered something in his ear. Artist nodded and faded to invisibility. Sweetiepie flew back to the railing as the monkey clambered aboard.

"Now you're sure you can take care of the dogs?" KaraS said. "They can be a little... rambunctious."

"Yeah, let's give this a test drive." Sweetiepie said. "Sixth, why don't you take our guest down to the hold and "introduce" him to the puppies."

"I don't know if that's a good idea." Sixth said.

"Just do it Sixth." Sweetiepie whispered urgently.

"Ok," Sixth said. "Come right this way."

The monkey followed her down the steps. There was the sound of a door opening and Sixth speaking sternly to the dogs. Then there was frenzied barking and the sound of a monkey screaming. There was a slam as somebody invisible shut and locked the door. Barking and screaming continued to come from the hold.

""I wonder if a cartoon submarine would come in handy." Mouse mused.

Raven-Kat -- As the group waits,

Rae says, "Hey, I've got it!" She jumps up and runs down to her room.

"What do you have?" Mouse asks, following curiously.

"I know how to help Ragnar relax!" Rae announces happily, rifling through her bag.

"This ought to be good." Mouse says, watching.

Rae nods impatiently and leans into the bag. "No... no... where the-"

"Don't fall in." Mouse warns because it looks as though Rae might do just that.

"Got it!" Rae announces coming back up with an armful of

"Bubble wrap?" Mouse asks.

"Yeah!" Rae nods enthusiasticly. "It ALWAYS works when I'm stressed out."

Mouse sighs as Rae runs up onto deck. "What about the rest of us?" she whispers.

"Here, Ragnar, try this!" Rae says, handing him half the bubble wrap. She tucks the other half into a pocket, then says, "I'm going to go check on our... ah, guest."

RagnarRB -- Gee.....thanks Rae

"...but cann't we, just like, let him have one of the dogs? I'll help toss it...I mean carry it over the side."

Ragnar popped the little bubbles as he forlornly looked at the ladies.

He had much nicer thoughts in the Dominion, that's why he liked it there. Out here, this close to realty the more cutthroat side of his nature started to shine thru. He'd have to keep that in mind for the ladies sake, but gee wiz, they hadn't dumped a single dog yet!

*I like puppies...Ragnar quietly mumbled in his mind, trying to convince himself of it.

"Sides what could a monkey really do with a bunch of dogs, and in Toon land to boot!"

Drumheller -- “Hey gang, I got an idea.”

"Ragnar, is there a 'Disney Land' or anything like that?"

Drumheller said looking for the maps.

"I think so. Why?" Ragnar replied.

"Well, that would be a perfect place to unload some of the

dogs. Wouldn't it?" Drum said. "In Disney movies, there is

always a happy ending right?"

"Well, I guess..." Ragnar thought about it for a minute.

"Except for 'Old Yeller' that is."

"Shhh, not so loud! Don't remind Sixth of THAT one." Drum

"Right, good idea Drum. Give me a hand changing course."

Ragnar said finding the right island on the map.

Ragnar and Drumheller ran to the control room, and began to

make the preperations to change course. Kara walked in after

"What's going on guys?" she asked.

"We're heading to Disney land." Ragnar replied. "Would you

let everybody know?"

"Wahoo! Disney land sounds like fun!" Kara said jumping up

and down like a school girl. "Sure, I'll go tell everybody

Viridian -- Viridian and Jila leaned on the railing

enjoying the fresh breeze as the long boat picked up speed.

"So Disney land sounds like it would be a great place for the dogs," Viridian mused,"I've never been there, but heck, I seen enough of it on TV."

"Just think," Jila said, "Maybe the dogs could live with the 101 Dalmatians." Both womem smiled at that thought. "We just need to keep them away from Cruella De Ville," Jila added.

The sounds of the screaming monkey had faded and a peaceful and RARE silence settled in.

After a while, Jila stirred. "Hey Vi, you still have those raspberries?"

"Hmm, yeah- we have to use them up."

"Let's make raspberry shortcake."

Viridian's eyes lit up at the suggestion. "Genius! Let's do it!" The two headed to the galley.

ArtistStudio -- Dolphins

Artist leans against the bow watching dolphins leaping through the waves. 6th and Kara on either side of him, their arms laced about his waist.

"They really needed this exercise. You know they must be loving it," Kara says. "They're so beautiful."

6th sighs, watching the dolphins intently - one after another leaping through the water - playing around the bow of the boat - easily keeping pace with the boat. "And they're keeping out of trouble for the moment. You sure they won't just swim off?"

"They'll be worn out soon - enjoy the moment, dear," Artist says, laying 6th's head against his shoulder. The dolphins play on for a few more minutes - the other Scoobs gather to watch.

"Well, they don't know it yet, but that's probably about all they can take," Artist says. Kara and 6th lower one of the life boats close to the water and the dolphins leap into the life boat. They lay exhausted in the lifeboat as Kara and 6th - with the help of curious Scoobs lift the life boat back up to the deck - the dolphins leap out of the boat onto the deck, becoming dogs and shake themselves vigerously.

Though they had thought themselves dolphins, they had been dogs all along and were exhausted from their swim. They pace about a little then lay tiredly on the deck. Artist, drained by his efforts, sags against the bow.

6th whispers something to Kara, then leads the dogs below to the hold. "Come on, Artist, you need your beauty rest," Kara says, taking his arm and leading him below.

Kaybe0 -- Stroking the head of Honey

and Juno, and the other puppies and dogs in turn, Kay, thinks to herself that Drum's idea of Disney land is the best bet. The dogs should get great homes there. But, in her heart, she secretly wished that 6th would keep her dogs. Yes, they did seem a little much at times, but, they were dogs. And, therefore, very special to Kay. And, that monkey had better stay away from these dogs for good. She knew that no one on the ship would let him take them. Well, maybe Rag. But, no, she had more faith in her friend than that. Still, he was acting awfully jumpy on this trip. Maybe if he came and relaxed and played with the puppies for awhile. Chuckling to herself at the thought, Kaybe went upstairs to join in the discussion of their new destination. Sitting next to Chryse and Mouse, they start discussing their favorite Disney characters, and all the great ones with dogs in them.

Chryse74 -- Yeah, Disney would be a great place!

"I always liked Disney. I'll bet if we could find Lady and the Tramp's family and the family that has the 101 Dalmatian, they could help us find homes for 6th's dogs." says chryse.

"I'm sure Mickey and Minnie Mouse would help too, they love dogs too." says Mouse.

"And don't forget Goofy, he *is* a dog." laughs Kaybe.

Viridian -- The scent of fresh baked shortcake

floated by the Scoobys. Jila and Viridian appeared with a bowl of raspberry shortcake topped with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. They found Ragnar in the control room mulling over the carefully repaired maps. "Ragnar," Jila said.

He looked up and started to say something, but as he opened his mouth, Viridian shoved a spoonful of shortcake in his mouth. "Amurrrrph? Mwaaa wwisss?"

Jila set the bowl down in front of him. "Here Rag, eat

this," Vi said, "you'll feel a lot better."

Raven-Kat -- POP....POP....POP

Rae sits atop the mast staring despondently off into the sun-set and popping her bubble-wrap.

POP... POP... POP... POP

Sweetie-Pie flies up to join her.

"I can't believe they're doing this to me." Rae mutters. POP!

"Doing what?" Sweetie-Pie asks.

"DISNEY land, Sweetie!" Rae groans. "Land of musicals and happy endings and revisionist history and..." Rae trails off. "I can't do it. I can't even sit through a disney movie, how am I supposed to endure gods know how long in their world? I can't do it."

"Well, you could stay on the boat."

"Yeah." Rae brightens. "I can, can't I?"

"Thanks, bird-brain." Rae hugs Sweetie who, as usual, begins screaming at her.