I'll Be Dog-Gone (9)
KaraS -- Meanwhile, back on the ship....
Aladdin, the Genie and Iago were just flying off (with Sweetiepie promissing to pay his cousin visits more often) when Mouse, SunAeryn and Spyral arrived back at the ship.
"Quick! Get ready to sail!" Spyral shouted.
"The smugglers are right on our tail!" SunAeryn said.
"We have to be ready to GO!" Mouse yelled.
"But, not everybody's back yet." Chryse said. "There's a lot of people missing."
"Oh no." SunAeryn said. "We can't leave without them. Who's still missing?"
"Well, Sixth and Ragnar and Drum for one." Kara said. "Where ARE they?"
"They should be right behind us." Spyral said.
"Lurkingghost isn't here." Viridian said, looking around. "And artic and her kitten. And where's Rae?"
"We lost her in the forest." Kara wailed. "The dragon spat acid at her. We don't know if she's even still alive!"
Everybody gasped.
"And where's Artist?" Mouse asked.
"The jerk we've got." Sweetiepie said. "See that scruffy looking black and white dog? That's him."
The cocker spaniel growled at Sweetiepie again.
Spyral stared at the spaniel with confusion in his eyes.
"How...?" he said.
"We can hear the whole story later." SunAeryn said. "If we have to wait for the others we'll have to protect the longboat from the smugglers. I'll go get the weapons. The rest of you keep watch. Those clowns could be hear any minute!"
So as Sun disappeared into the cabin, everyone else prepared for battle.
"I think I should leave." Mary Poppins said. Everyone jumped. They had forgotten she was there. "After you solve your little smuggler problem, come and talk to me about the dogs."
Then she opened her umbrella and flew away.
KaraS sighed. "I always wanted to do that."
"Maybe later." Spyral said. "In the meantime, let's get ready."
So they did.
artickat -- Ghost....
And Artic with kitten clutched in her arms are running hazmana bent for the docks but as they get closer they notice that the Longboat isn't there. Not only that but the docks are teaming with 'Momma's' henchmen.
Artic jumps behind a large crate sitting on the dock before she is seen "Frell! Now what?"
"Let me have a look around and I'll be right back" Ghost suddenly goes transparent right before Artic's eyes.
"Geez...I didn't know you could do that." Artic looks around "Where are you? Are you still here?" there is not reply.
A few minutes later "Hey" Ghost says and Artic jumps about a foot at the voice in her ear.
"Crips...you about scared me to death!" Artic holds her had to her chest.
"Sorry!" Ghost re-appears next to Artic.
After a few seconds of calming herself Artic asks, "Did you see anything?"
"Yeah...I could see the Longboat but it isn't docked anymore...and there are problems. I heard the men talking and..." As Ghost tells Artic everything she heard...Artic begins to form an idea in her head (Ut-oh).
"Okay…I've got an idea..." As Artic finishes telling Ghost her plan, Ghost has a skeptical look on her face.
"What?" Artic frowns at Ghost.
"Are you sure this is going to work?" Ghost hedged.
"If you've got a better idea...I'm all ears...no? I guess it's my plan then."
Ghost goes transparent again and moves into position…Artic sets kitten down and gives her a shove "Get into position"
With a 'meow' kitten is off down the dock, at hair-raising speed she dodges being stomped on again and again while Artic watches and hums 'Go speed racer'. Kitten begins to climb a large crate, after reaching the top she gives Artic the signal... "MEOW-MEOW-MEOW-MEOW!!!!!"
All the smugglers turned as one towards kitten "What the…?" Ghost had grabbed some rope from the dock and tied one end to a dock post and was circling the smugglers, Artic came out of hiding while the smugglers attention was on Kitten, Kitten was screaming her head off 'MEOW-MEOW!!!' while she dodged the smugglers as they made grabs for her.
"Hey! Pick on someone your own size!" Artic yells at the smugglers and they all turn to face her "Ummm...Hi!" Artic smiles, waves and begins to back away from the leering smugglers <GULP> "You know...you really shouldn't pick on poor defenseless kitten's." The smugglers begin making lewd comments to Artic as they advance towards her <GULP> "Ghost...Ghost?...GHOST!!!!! This would be a good time!" Artic screams as the smugglers advance even closer to her.
"Over here big boys!" Ghost appears behind the group, as they turn to face her she disappears. As they stand there totally perplexed they remember that Artic is behind them and they turn back towards her. Ghost tightens the rope around the smugglers, while Artic takes a flying leap (hi buddy!), bounces off of one of the smugglers chests sending him falling backwards and since the smugglers are all roped together they all begin to fall backwards. Teetering precariously on the edge of the dock, arms flailing about, the smugglers try to keep their balance as best they can…until Ghost appears right in front of them and yells "BOO!"
With an "AHHHHHHH!!!!" momma's henchmen fall backwards off of the dock and into the water. <SPLASH!!!!>
"We'd better hurry they'll be back in no time!" Artic calls out as she grabs kitten from the crate and jumps into a speedboat that is tied to the dock. Ghost unties the boat from the dock and floats in as Artic reeves up the engine.
"You know how to operate one of these?" Ghost asks…having heard stories about Artic from the rest of the Gang.
"Didn't my plan work? Just sit back and relax I've got it covered!" Artic smiles reassuringly at Ghost and guns the engine <CRASH> Ghost's eyes about pop out of her head "Oops!" Artic giggles "Wrong way! We want to go forward!" This time when Artic guns the engine they leap (there you are again...long time no see!) forward like a rocket.
After a few seconds Artic slows their speed down some "Everyone okay?" she asks as she changes course to intercept the Longboat. Ghost just nods and clutches her seat…kitten on the other hand lets out a loud 'MEOW!' as she leans forward, her paws on the dash, a pair of goggles on her face and her fur flapping in the wind *This is the life!* ;p
#%}
Thor T-Rex -- He had been exploring the longboat.....
something he had always wanted to do, but for SOME reason Ragnar would never let him. Now he was alone. He knew his mistress was off somewhere, but she went off a lot anyway. He was getting used to entertaining himself when his queen was gone. He was sure she had a lot to do, what with being the Lizard Queen and all.
Thor had visited the galley first, eating his fill of the food laying around. Full, he wandered down to the engine room. The mechanic was there, cursing and struggling as he tried to dig bits of doggie treats out of the engines. Thor kept to the shadows there, finally leaving quietly. He'd forgotten where he'd hid those treats, one of his favorites, when they'd first gotten aboard the boat. Oops!
Well, he was sure they'd blame the dogs, so he wasn't worried, It wasn't like he was planning to confess to it!
He made his way through the Scoobs rooms, avoiding the hold, where the dogs barked and yapped. He was seriously getting tired of the brainless animals, fun as they were to torment. *They just aren't any good for intelligent conversation!* Thor shook his head.
He'd gone through the girls room's without too much trouble. Vi had some pretty toys, jewelry and such, that he batted around for a while. Then one of her big gold earrings had fallen into a crack underneath her bunk, and Thor hurried out. *No one saw me, they can't prove I did it!* he thought.
He wandered through the rest of the girls rooms, avoiding only Rae's. He knew what she'd do to him if he messed with her stuff! He'd tried it once and had spent the rest of the day as a frog, until he was finally able to get 6th's attention. *Sigh*
Done with the ladies rooms, he wandered through the guys rooms. Ragnar had most of his things up on high shelves. Thor thought this was to keep it away from him, though it was really only because Ragnar, being tall, thought them normal shelves. *Sigh, again* Thor thought, trudging out of Ragnar's room. He looked through Spyral's, but the angel kept his quarters very neat. There wasn't much to play with there. *He must keep it all in that wing of his* Thor shrugged and walked to the next room.
Poking his head in the door, he sniffed. The room itself would have been obvious as to who it belonged to, had the scent of magic not given it away. *Drum's!* Thor thought *He always has neat stuff to look at* he began riffling through the nearest bundle. A lizard head poked up out of the sack.
*Louie!* Thor cried happily. He did like the little lizard, even if he did try to steal that rubber duckie away from him once. Louie flicked his tongue out at Thor, grinning a lizard grin. They conversed in reptilian for a while, since Louie had never volunteered to talk back to him in thought. He did have an extensive lizard vocabulary however, which Thor easily understood. They'd romped carefully around Drum's room for a while, Louie explaining how upset his master would get with them if they broke anything. They didn't break anything...much. *Well,* Thor thought, *Little glass vials just shouldn't be left lying around where anyone's tail can come along and knock it over!*
Louie decided they should both go at that point, and play somewhere else. So they wandered around the boat for a while, until they found what must have been Artist's room. It had his scent there, among other interesting smells that Thor couldn't identify. The room was empty save for a small cot in one corner.
*He must not sleep here much* Thor said to Louie in reptilian. Louie shook his head. Being around magic a lot, he knew a thing or two about it.
*It's got residue all over the place.* Louie said back to Thor. Their speech together would sound to any human like just a bunch of random clicks and gutteral growlings, but the two lizards understood each other perfectly.
Thor looked at the bottom of his feet to see if he'd gotten any residue on them. *If I step in it, will it wash off?* Thor asked. He'd hate to track residue all over the floor. 6th didn't like him to make a mess.
Louie shook his little head. *Residue from casting. He's an illusionist. He must make this room look different when he's here.* Thor looked around the almost empty room. He certainly hoped the man had better taste than this! He'd gotten involved in reading some of 6th's magazines at times, and among her many ssubscriptions to spy magazines and catalogs, he'd come across a home decorating catalog. It had facinated him for some reason, and he'd started developing a critical eye for home fashion.
He shrugged and turned to Louie, *Come on, let's go find something else to do.* he started off, when he picked up something from 6th. Running...upset...she was in trouble!
*Louie! 6th is in trouble!* he said. Louie scurried closer.
*Who's with her?* he said.
Thor concentrated for a moment *Ragnar and Drum, too! They are all in trouble. Lots of bad men chasing them. They need our help!* Louie couldn't help but snicker.
*What can WE do? Even if we knew where they were, I can't grow all that big, and you can't grow at all!*
Thor would have wiggled his eyebrows, had he had any to wiggle. He grinned at the lizard.
*But I do know where they are. And as for growing...* he hurried off to his mistress' room, explaining to Louie what he was planning. The lizard was laughing too hard to talk when they got to 6th's room, but he seemed to like Thor's plan.
Thor dug through 6th's drawers, until he found a small leather pouch. He sniffed it, and grinned. He was glad he'd remembered to pack this in 6th's stuff, he bet she'd forgotten all about it. He picked up the pouch in his mouth. Louie climbed up to sit on Thor's head. They scurried up to the deck, where the gang was preparing for battle against the smugglers, should they arrive. No one notied the little T-rex with the lizard perched on top of his head jump over the railing into the water.
Thor kept his head high, swimming in the direction his mistress was. They'd splashed underwater when they'd jumped overboard, but Thor had kept his mouth shut to protect the pouch, and Louie just swam back to sit atop Thor's head. They swam to the dock inside the mouth of the grotto. Thor did a quick thrash with his tail, propelling them both onto the dock. He looked around for 6th. He didn' see her, but he could feel her nearby, and heading this way.
*Louie, qiuck! Do your stuff!* Thor thought, tossing the pouch to the lizard.
Louie sat up, delacately opening the pouch with his paws. He pulled out a clawful of the powder inside and gave it a sniff. He recognized it's quality instantly.
*You know, this stuff would work much better if you ingested it instead of rubbing it on your head.* he said to Thor.
*Really?* Thor said back. He didn't know that. He'd always hated that the powder never lasted long enough.
*Here, you eat this. I'll eat some of it too.* Louie grinned, his tongue flicking out of his mouth.
*Cool.* Thor chuckled. They both ate the powder. Then they ran off to look for 6th.
*How long does this usually take to work?* Louie asked.
*Well, Iv'e never eaten it before, it usually doesn't take too...*He paused, feeling something *Uh oh* he grinned, *Here we go!*
Raven-Kat -- “Drenn.”
Rae says softly as she loses her grip on the rock wall and slides back to the ground. Examining her bloody hands, she realizes that she'll need to find another way up.
*The Scoobs could rescue you.* Her internal voice suggests sweetly.
*Like they aren't in it deep enough already!* Rae sighs. *What are YOU doing here anyhow?*
*Thought I'd come along for the ride.*
*Great...* Rae sighs, knowing the voice is lying. *What are you up to?*
The voice declines to answer. *You don't KNOW they're in trouble.*
"I SEE THEM EVERY TIME I CLOSE MY EYES!!!" Rae shrieks. "Now get out of my head." Rae pushes the voice away. Not really gone, but no longer bothering her. "It's that damn PK mentality." she mutters to no one in particular, leaning against the rock wall. "But I need to do SOMETHING. And not one word from you!"
*Hey, I know when to keep my mouth shut.*
"Good. I need to check, see if they're okay."
*How?*
"I have a mind-link with Artist."
*That you wouldn't USE to save both your lives.*
"Right you are. Uh, there are others..." Rae thinks hard. "Ghost or Thor might be able to hear me if I shout loud enough." Rae nods. "Yeah. Not Ghost, though. She'll worry."
*NOT that dinosaur?*
"Yup." rae nods. "He'll listen to me if I tell him not to tell."
*Have you lost it, love?*
"Years ago, as I've said." Rae replys mildly. "Now get lost." Rae leans against the rock wall and closes her eyes.
*THOR.* she mentally shouts, loud enough that her ears begin to bleed. *THOR?*
*...Rae?* Thor's mental voice is distant, but clearly incredulous. *...you?...*
"YEAH!!!* Rae thinks back. *LISTEN CAREFULLY.*
*Try... but... hear...* Thor sounds, even over the static, sorry.
*IT'S OKAY!!!* Rae thinks back. *IS EVERYONE OKAY?*
*my queen...* That comes through clearly, followed by a word that just might be 'Ragnar'. *...rum...*
Answer enough. *THOR, LISTEN TO ME!!! DO -NOT- TELL THE OTHERS WE'VE SPOKEN!!!*
*NOT tell... Rae?*
*YOU MUST PROMISE ME. PROMISE!!!*
Rae can feel Thor's discomfort. *but...*
*NO!!! THEY CAN'T KNOW!!! WANT TO BE A FROG AGAIN?*
*...kay...*
Rae assumes that is a 'no' tot he frog question and lets the link go. "That's it, then." she says. "They're in trouble." She reaches into her pack and pulls out a potion, which she drinks with a grimace. "Yuck."
*So, you aren't going to ask for help?*
"Not so LOUD!" Rae clutches her head. "Of course I'm not. They need my help, now. I can't have them worrying about me when they need to focus on the situation."
*Sounds like you got that from Basic Training.*
"I think i did." Rae sighs. "They need me. Got to find a way up." Rae regards the rock wall and shakes her head. "ANOTHER way out, I think."
*Use your magic?*
"Nope." Rae says, realizing that she has TRIED to use her magic more than once since she was hurt, and that it just hasn't been working.
THAT is the hardest blow of all, and it pushes Rae back into a way of thinking that she has tried to avoid since she first reached Earth.
In full PK Survival mode, Rae grabs onto the rock wall with a quite loud scream, and begins dragging herself upwards. *My friends are in trouble and I must reach them. If anything stands in my way, it will not live to tell the tale.* "AHHHHHH!" she yells as her hand wraps around a particullarly sharp rock. But she keeps climbing.
Drumheller -- Running as fast as they could
Ragnar, 6th, and Drumheller made their way through the stacks of crates. A large group of smugglers, led by the Sheriff and Hook, followed close behind.
"I think they're gaining on us!" Drum said, panting, not used to running this much.
"Yeah, we may have to fight our way out!" Ragnar replied, glancing behind them.
Just then, another group of smugglers cut them off. The three scoobs came to a sudden halt, and put their back against each other.
"Looks like you're right Rag." 6th said, taking a defensive stance.
"This don't look good guys." Drum said
Dozens of smugglers came out from behind the crates and boxes, and surrounded them.
"Well, look what we got here!" The Sheriff snarled.
"It's the boy, and his playmates." Hook said laughing.
"DON'T...CALL...ME.....BOY!!" Drum yelled and began to chant a spell.
"Not this time! Get 'em!" The Sheriff shouted.
The gang of smugglers began to advance of the scoobs when.......
************************************************************
*I can feel that powder starting to work* Thor said in the reptile language.
*Me too* Louie replied. *I can sense Drumheller just up ahead*
*Let's get 'em* Thor said with a big dino-smile.
************************************************************
Suddenly the ground began to shake, and a loud pounding sound was heard with every tremor. The smugglers looked around in surprise.
"Wh-what was that!" One of them yelled.
Just then, a HUGE T-Rex came crashing through the crates and boxes, followed by a 12 foot lizard.
"HAHA!" 6th laughed. "Who's in trouble now, you dren-heads!"
"EEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKK!!!" Hook let out a girl-like scream. "G-g-g-giant...l-l-l-lizard!!"
Hook quickly drooped his cutlass and ran, full steam ahead, strait off the end of the dock.
"HAHAHA!" Drum laughed. "I sure hope he can swim!"
The Sheriff took one look at the T-Rex, and feinted dead away. Thor roared as loud as he could manage, and with that, the rest of the smugglers ran screaming.
************************************************************
"Holy Mother!" Mama shouted in surprise as she watched the scene from her balcony. "What in the world is THAT!"
She quickly ran back into the hideout, praying out loud that those THINGS wouldn't trash the place.
************************************************************
"Whoa! I don't remember Louie being able to grow that big!" Ragnar said as he looked up at the lizard.
"LOUIE! How in the frell did you do THAT!" Drumheller yelled.
The giant lizard just flicked his tongue, and nearly knocked Drum on his butt.
*Greetings my queen* Thor thought to 6th *I hope you don't mind me getting into the special powder*
"Not at all Thor!" 6th said. "I'm glad you did!"
"Now, can we get back to the ship, please!" Drum said, climbing onto Louie's back.
"You bet!" Ragnar said as he climbed after him.
Thor bent his neck down, so 6th could climb up, and then the gang continued the journey back to the longship.
*My queen* Thor thought to 6th.
"What is it Thor?"
*I'm not supposed to tell, but Rae's in trouble*
"Oh, FRELL!" 6th said. "We'll talk about it once we reach the ship."
Raven-Kat -- Hugging the rock,
Rae lays her head against the cliff and closes her eyes for a moment. "Oh, Thor..." she whispers. "Bad, dino. Bad!" Grunting, Rae keeps climbing.
Mouse2000 -- Mouse, Spyral, and SunAeryn
Were in the longboat along with SweetiePie, Kara, ArtistPuppy, Viridian, Jila, and Chryse, ready to do some serious battle. Sun, Spyral, and Kara were armed and ready, while Mouse, Jila, Viridian, and Chryse were looking for more ammunition. Spells weren't going to help them much with pirates, so they wanted to make sure they were well prepared. Thank goodness Ragnar always believed in being WELL prepared.
Suddenly, the gang became aware that the longboat was bucking like a bronco. The waves had grown huge and there was not a cloud in the sky.
"What's the deal with the waves?!?!" Mouse shouted over the creaks and groans of the longboat.
"Don't know, but hold on!" Spyral yelled back. All on top deck held fast to the sides or the rigging, turned when they heard a really loud "ROAR" and were amazed at the sight. Mouse, Kara, and Spyral had a bad case of déjà vu as they saw 6th riding on a full-size Thor's head, and Kaybe and another puppy clutched in her arms holding on to his shoulders. "And I thought I'd never have to see THAT again!" squawked SweetiePie (see "Off to Mexico"). Behind him, on a giant-size Louie were Ragnar and Drumheller. Behind them, in the distance were a fleet of pirate ships, gaining slowly. Kaybe had jumped onto Thor at the last minute while 6th, Drum, and Ragnar were busy attracting the pirates' attention.
By the time Thor reached the ship, he was in water up to his elbows, and Louie was swimming. Thor dropped his "lizard queen" off onto the deck, Kaybe jumped off with the puppy, and Louie swam up beside the longboat and Rag and Drum climbed aboard using one of the many rope ladders.
"Well, I guess that explains the waves…" Viridian said softly, still marveling at Thor and Louie, both of whom she had never seen at full, and giant-size, respectively.
"How long will they stay like that?" Kaybe asked, amazed also.
"Oh, I don't know, depends on how much of the powder they used, a couple hours at most." 6th said matter-of-factly. She wasn't really concerned, but threw a rubber dinghy over the side for them both to hold in case they started shrinking and no one saw them before they got too small to grab.
Then, beside the dinghy, pulled up a cute little Cabin Cruiser with Artic, Ghost and Kitten in it. They tied up to the longboat, and Artic climbed up the side with kitten, while Ghost levitated on deck. Kitten and Artic did the same move as they both removed their goggles, and scarves, and joined the crew on deck. It would take a while for that grin to leave both their faces!
But Rae was still MIA. Mouse yelled this fact to SweetiePie, just as 6th mentioned that they had to help Rae. Meanwhile, the Pirate ships were getting closer and closer.
Mouse2000 -- Behind Rae,
climbing silently up the rock wall, was one hezmana of an anaconda. Magical power crackled and radiated from the snake as it approached the undaunted sorceress, still climbing like her life depended on it (actually, it did). The snake slithered up behind Rae, using all the crevices and cracks in the rock wall to secure it's huge body before continuing upward. Rae was beaten up, bloody, and still climbing, but not as fast as the snake. Thankfully, she was unaware of it's existence, because if she knew what was behind her, she may have hurried, and missed a crucial handhold. As Rae neared the top, a shadow pasted over her and she squinted up to see what it was. A big blue genie and two parrots (one looking very familiar) were hovering above her on a carpet. Rae shook her head, looked again, and felt the genie pluck her off the rock wall by the back of her neck.
"I was doing FINE by MYSELF!" she shouted at SweetiePie, as the carpet whisked them away towards the waiting longboat.
"I CAN SEE THAT!" SweetiePie yelled back, "But in another minute you would have been snake food!!"
"What?" Yelled Rae over the rushing wind, as she looked back, just in time to see the snake reach the top of the wall, stop, and turn into a huge, black and green dragon again.
"CRAP! Move this thing faster!" Sweetie yelled to the genie, who did what he was told, and the carpet made a beeline to the longboat, praying that they could out-run a dragon.
**********************************************************
Meanwhile, back at the boat, the crew was busy fortifying the ship and checking the GPSS system to see where Rae was.
"It appears, that she is coming right toward us at a great rate of speed." Viridian said, not really trusting the technology.
"INCOMING!!" Rae yelled as she suddenly appeared and jumped to the deck. "We've got one hezmana of a mad sorceress after us, and I'm pretty wiped out. Drum, can you take her?!?!"
Mouse made a tactical decision, and dove into the sea. No one saw her, and with the approaching witch, most of the attention was on the sky behind them. But Viridian picked up the movement on the GPSS system, and quietly muttered, "Frell. What does she think she's going to do? Desert us now?"
"Who's deserted?" Ragnar boomed, offended that any of his friends would run from a good fight.
"Mouse just took off over the side." Viridian said. "She wouldn't just desert us, there must be a good reason…" she trailed off as a black cloud of mad dragon approached the boat.
Mouse swam down and prayed that this would work. She didn't know many Disney films well, but there was that one, and she was hoping that she could find him. He had said he'd always be "under the sea". She swam to the amazingly clear bottom, found a large conch shell and yelled through it, "SEBASTIAN! ARIEL!! ANYBODY!!!"
Within seconds, Sebastian showed up and said, "What? Why you yelling, girl? And who ARE you anyway?"
"My friends and I are in real trouble, and we could use Triton's help. Is he around? And will he help against Malificent?" Mouse asked, amazed that she could talk and breathe underwater.
"Triton be a very busy man, but if you call for him, he usually show up!" Sebastian said. "Especially if he know it against Malificent! He HATE that witch more than he hate Ursula!"
Mouse shouted "Thanks!" and swam for the longboat. She climbed aboard, climbed up to the crow's nest past the crew who looked her like she was crazy, and shouted, "TRITON! TRIIITTTOOONNN!!! HELP US AGAINST MALIFICENT!!!!" as loud as she could.
Nothing. Precious seconds ticked by.
Still nothing.
"Crap…" Mouse said quietly and she nimbly climbed down from the crow's nest, and was confronted by the crew.
"Sorry," she said lamely, "thought it might help..."
The black cloud of the dragon was almost on top of the longboat and the crew prepared to fight with everything they had. Drum revved himself up, Rae straightened up and concentrated, and the rest of the crew took the safety's off and took aim.
And then...
a small, spiral whirlpool appeared off to starboard.
RagnarRB -- Triton?
ot oh...resounded in the corridors of the vikings mind.
*No Mouse...no, no, no,bad idea."Sssh, sssh, shush..." He mumbed aloud, cringing as past memories washed up in his sodden mind. Triton had a long memory, Triton was the last being he wanted to see at the moment.
*Bad Mouse...Sssshhh! Of course Mouse could neither hear what was transpiring in his mind nor the mumbles under his breath. She was still decending from the crows nest.
He was just coming up behind her to clasp a hand over her mouth when she voiced her apologies. He paused maybe Triton hadn't heard?....He could hope couldn't he?
"Look!" Someone exclaimed as the water began to swirl.
"Dren!"
Ragnar turned to slink back into the control cabin. A little judicial retreat was in order....huh?
He blinked as he caught sight of Artic and Kitten out of the corner of his eye. Side by side they stood, in identicle stances. Geeze their moves even looked choriographered as they hurried to the rail. A little and big version in perfect time. He shook his head.
*Must be the whisky...got to be the whisky! He ducked inside the cabin.
Even their tales swished in unison...wierd...no, don't think about that, time to leave.....
Sixth Sense Dreamer -- The water boiled and foamed, swirling
as Triton himself rose out of the water. He carried his golden trident in his hands, and as he turned, the dragon banked sharply very close by his head, a good thirty feet in the sky.
The Longboat tossed in the water, waves kicked up by Triton, as he turned to face the beast. Not that it was much of a match. The dragon was miniscule in comparison to the Lord of the sea. One blast from his trident and the dragon turned tail and fled, streaking through the sky, back to Disneyland.
Triton muttered under his breath something about "useless flying creatures" as he turned to the Longboat.
"Who called me?" his voice boomed. He peered down to the ship, leaning over and squinting at the gang.
"We did!" Mouse called up to him.
"What are you doing on Ragnar's boat? Is he there?" the mighty voice boomed over the waters.
"Yes, he's..." jila looked over her shoulder. Ragnar had been standing there a minute ago... "He's here somewhere!" They had to shout up to Triton, being so tiny, the deity couldn't hear them unless they yelled. Of course, in the cabin, Ragnar heard them yelling too. *Drat it all!*
"Well, where is that boy? I want to talk to him..." Triton's voice grew slightly threatening, and Mouse began to wonder slightly if she'd made an error in calling him...He sounded upset.
"Uh...Hello, Triton!" Ragnar called, stepping out of the cabin. He forced a smile onto his face as he waved up at the sea-god, who had his arms crossed, frowning down at the viking. "I was...uh...just trying to start the boat up! What a surprise to see you here!"
"Where have you been, boy?" Triton boomed.
"Uh...where? Well, a lot of places actually..." Ragnar did his best to remain calm.
"Did you have any reason for leaving like you did? Hmmmm?" Triton leaned down closer to the boat.
"Uh Triton, sir?" 6th asked, glancing over her shoulder at the pirate ships, which were still drawing closer. Triton either didn't hear her, or chose to ignore her.
"Well, HUMAN?" Triton asked Rag, softly for him, but his voice still booming over the water.
"Reason? For leaving? Well, my skin WAS getting pruney..." Ragnar hoped seriously that Triton would take that excuse, lame as it was. No such luck.
"You left her crying, did you know that?"
"Uh..."
"Do you KNOW how hard it is to deal with a broken-hearted mermaid?"
"Well, I..."
"What?" 6th said.
"Mermaid?" Artickat grinned.
"Broken-HEARTED???" Rae struggled to her feet, glowering at the viking.
Ragnar glanced at the ladies, then back at Triton.
"Well, I...that is...Look, it honestly was'nt my fault!" Ragnar said, more to the girls than Triton.
Triton sighed, and rubbed his giant face with one giant hand. He shook his head.
"Ragnar, Ragnar, Ragnar..." Triton leaned down, "I knew you were human, but I never expected you to leave her at the alter of all things!"
"ALTER!!!" several female voices cried behind him, some more shrill than others. Ragnar cringed.
"Is she, uh...she still...um upset?" he asked.
"No, no she got over it after a while--married some strapping young merman in the country. I just wanted to ask you your side." Triton leaned back, as if he were waiting. Ragnar struggled to come up with something.
"It would have never worked, you know." he said finally.
"UM TRITON, SIR???" 6th yelled. The pirate ships were almost there.
"What is it, tiny lady?" Triton asked, holding up one finger to the viking, to tell him to wait.
"Well, I was wondering if you could do something about the bad guys chasing us?" 6th asked. "Theyr'e really mean." she went into full cute mode, vamping hard. "They want to hurt us poor defenseless ladies."
"Oh man, Mama's boys! I forgot about them for a second!" Ragnar cried. "They weren't supposed to chase us. Mama always keeps her word, no matter what else she might do."
"Her word?" Chryse asked.
"I bet her I could get out of her lair with everything I came for including the...uh..." he trailed off, looking at 6th, who still ahd his jacket on.
"Including the what, Rag, sweetie?" she asked, foldingher arms, and cocking an eyebrow at him.
"The...uh...slaves..." Ragnar watched 6th with one eye, and Rae with the other. He suddenly felt the need for more eyes.
"The 'slaves' who saved your butt? It was all a bet?" 6th asked, her voice too sweet for comfort. "Is THAT why you didn't do much to help me get us out of there? Was THAT a part of the bet too? Risking my neck for you? Huh?"
"Uh 6th? Can we talk about this later?" Ragnar growled. "I have my hands a little full at the moment."
"You think you have your hands full now..." Rae muttered behind him. 6th was not happy either. "Sure, what ever you say, O MASTER." she fumed.
"What do you want me to do with them?" Triton interrupted the happy moment, his beard barely covering the smirk on his face. Ragnar felt the urgent need to go have some more whiskey, but first things first.
"They probably don't know I'm on the boat. If they saw me I'm sure..." He never had a chance to finish. Triton picked him up by the back of his shirt, and lifted him into the air. Dangling from the diety's fingers, Ragnar found himself swinging in front of the captain's cabin...right in front of Mama!
"SO there you are!" she said. "Where'd you get that dinosaur from?"
"Uh...trade secret. Anyway I'm on the boat. Bet's won."
Mama grimaced. Ragnar watched her, hopeing she wouldn't back out of her word. Finally she shrugged and spread her hands. "OK, you win, viking. But see that you stay on your boat and out of my lair!" she shook her finger at him. He couldn't tell by her smile whether she was serious or not.
Triton brought him back to the longboat, as the pirate ships turned and sailed off, back towards Disneyland.
"Now." Triton said as he set Ragnar back down on the deck. "What were you saying?" Ragnar thought hurriedly.
"I tell you what. The girl..."
"Alayna." Triton said.
"Alayna, yes, right. She's married now. I couldn't come back and marry her anyway. But I know there are still hard feelings...perhaps I could work out something with...say, Triton, you ever watch a show called Farscape?"
"How would they watch it underwater?" Mouse asked, Ragnar shook his head. It WAS a long shot but...
Triton's eyes lit up "I love that show!" he cried. "Especially the woman Aeryn Sun! If only she were merfolk instead of human, I'd..." Ragnar interrupted before Triton could go on. He knew what the sea god was thinking anyway.
"I could possibly arrange for you to meet her." Ragnar said, cocking his head and smiling.
"Really? Well, that is a different story then!" Triton rubbed his hands together in glee. The gang just stood ther, watching the conversation go back and forth like they were watching tennis.
"When?"
"As soon as I get back." Ragnar said *Which won't be for a while, but...*
"And I'd actually get to meet her?"
"Whatever you want. We'll let bygones be bygones." Ragnar began to breathe easier at least.
Triton nodded. "Well, then you know where to find me." he sank back into the water, a happy smile on his face.
Ragnar pushed his battered fedora back, scratched his head and sighed. *If only certain other people were so easy to please...*
He turned back to the gang.
"You almost got married?" Jila grabbed his arm, before he could take a step.
"Ragnar, why didn't you tell us?" Kaybe asked, holding the puppy in her arms and scratching it behind it's ears.
Well, it's not really..." Rangar looked at the puppy in Kaybe's arms. Then over to Kara, who held an unhappy cocker spaniel in her arms, Sweetiepie on her shoulder.
Back...and forth...back...
"WHERE did those dogs come from?" he asked, pointing. *FInally, a change of subject!
"I found this one, he was hurt!" Kaybe cried, clutching the puppy to her chest.
"And that one's the Hormone formally known as Artist." Sweetiepie laughed.
"Great, more dogs." Ragnar stomped towards his cabin. An escape! Perfect!
"But he's hurt!" Kaybe cried.
"And he's Artist!" Kara said. "He's not really a dog!"
"He certainly acts like one!" Sweetiepie chuckled.
"Fine, whatever." Ragnar started to close his door.
"We still need to talk." 6th said, stepping forward to put her foot in the doorway. Rae tried to step forward too, but hurt as she was, Spyral had to grab her to keep from falling over.
"Later." Ragnar muttered.
"Ragnar..." 6th said.
"Later, please, 6th?" Ragnar asked. 6th eyed him for a minute, then nodded.
"Alright, later." *he'd never said please before* she thought.
"Rae? Later, ok?" Ragnar asked, Rae just rolled her eyes and grimaced.
The gang began to scatter in different directions, and Ragnar almost had the door shut when he heard the mechanic coming up the stairs from the engine room.
"What?" he said, jerking the door back open and startling the rental mechanic.
"Uh, sir? The engine's...well, they're really bad. You should just sit tight here for a few days while I fix them. If you tried to run them now, well, we'd all be sunk, and I'm not talking figuratively!"
Ragnar just looked at the man. Days? On the boat? with the dogs? And the girls? He sighed and waved the man away, closing the door.
Where oh where did I put that keg of beer?* he thought, forelornly.
KaraS -- Kara clutched ArtistPuppy to her....
chest as she watched Ragnar stalk into his cabin and slam the door. He was acting so strangely, was unveiling such a surprising past, that Kara felt like she didn't know him at all. What if he demanded that Artist, in puppy form, be abandoned on the shore? The Ragnar she had THOUGHT she knew wouldn't have acted that way. But this new Ragnar...
She started as someone tapped her on the shoulder.
"Arrgghh!"
"Sorry, I didn't meant to startle you." Sixth said. "Is that really ArtistStudio?"
"I'm afraid so." Kara sighed. "By the way, what happeded to your clothes? Did the pirates steal them and leave you in your underwear like that?"
Kara looked closer. Who wore leather underwear decorated with chains?
Sixth cleared her throat and looked away. "This isn't underwear..."
"Oh." Kara said, embarrassed. "It, a, looks really good. I couldn't wear something like that. But you can get away with it just fine."
"Um, thanks." Sixth said. "Let's take Artist inside and get him some bones or something."
Sixht took ArtistPuppy from Kara and headed into the cabin. Kara watched her walk off. She really did look good in that outfit...
With a sigh, Kara followed after.
Raven-Kat -- “Hey Sixth. Hey Kara.”
Rae muttered as she passed them in the cooridor. She stopped, staring at the puppy with a confused frown.
"It's Artist..." Kara told her gently.
"Sure it is." Rae nodded. "Yeah. Artist..."
Kara pointed to one of Rae's burns. "Do they hurt?"
"No." Rae lied. "Not in the least." She smiled easily. *Training, don't fail me now.* "I put a... spell on them and they feel better. But I could use some rest, so..."
"Right. We won't keep you."
Rae smiled. "Bye, ladies. That's a nice look on you, Sixth."
Before Sixth can answer, Rae has locked herself in the infirmary. Ragnar is unaware of how many different articles Rae has hidden away on various locations of the long-boat. It is, after all the staging point for most of their adventures.
Rae pulled up a floor-board and rumaged around until she found a medical kit. Medicine was one of the draw-backs of being Sebacian. The human stuff just didn't do it for her. A few shots later, she is desensitized enough to apply a healing salve to her face and arms. That done, she replaced the kit and stretched out on the cot for a nap.
*Poor, Ragnar...* she thought, remembering the troubles she had had when certain details of HER past had become common knowledge. Maybe she could help him...
Kaybe0 -- Mending the retriever puppies leg
and taking it down to meet the other dogs, with Honey and Juno, Kay is accompanied by Jila and Mouse. Deciding the puppy needed a name, they tried to decide what to name him. Kay suggested Cody, as they introduced him to the others. After making sure he got his share of the food, and making him a bed to sleep on, they walk back up to the deck, still discussing the name, and chuckleing over the fact that they will never look at Disney with the same innocence again. It certainly wasn't as tame as they thought it would be. As they pass the infermary door, they pause and start to knock and go check on Rae. Mouse stops Jilla's hand before it meets the door and silently shakes her head. They walk quietly past. As they pass Ragnar's door, without noticing, they all pick up speed in unison. Ragnar has really been a good sport about all of this, but, this new side of him was a little strange. Kay for one, really hoped to see a little of the old Rag soon. She was starting to worry about her friend. But, once again, she was thankful that they had all made it back on the boat without too many serious injuries. She wished she could talk Sixth into keeping a couple of the dogs, though. Maybe if she kept the St.Bernard and the Gread Dane? They would be big enough playmates for Thor (good ole Thor and Louie saved the day), and Kay had a soft spot in her heart for them. Well, actually, she had a soft spot in her heart for all the dogs. And there was plenty room for the new puppy. Even the cutle cocker spaniel up on deck. Giggling, she thought she liked it better that way anyway.
RagnarRB -- Changing into some dungaries
Ragnar couldn't help but shake his head and wonder....at the rate selecive bits and pieces of his past were popping up the gang would think him an axe murderer before long.
It's not that he minded his past really, it was just that the way it was coming up didn't exactly paint a very good picture. Funny he'd never worried about that much before meeting this bunch...
*Geeze listen to yourself Rag. Like it really matters!
He sat on the bed and grabbed a boot.
*Alright, so you did buy a few women in your time. It's not like you actually REsold them. They are all safely married off and living out their lives far from that insepid world of slavery. You should be proud of yourself....but it sure does look bad on the surface. But then that is the price....
*But how to explain about that Mermaid thing? thinking while pulling on a boot. *That one might not be explainable! Frell Triton! What'd he have to go and reward me with a favorite Mermaids hand in marriage anyway? He could think of far better ways to seal a deal and show gratitude that that! That one'd almost pinned him down for good!
A shudder went thru him as he recalled that escapade Artikat had pulled on him with Brunhilda, back in the ballroom. Now that was scarry!
*No, No, Rag, he told himself, *You did what was required. No biggy...
*Heavy sigh.....oh well it's not like the other things are likely to pop up.....
As he slid his foot into the other boot he realized that maybe he should take a bit of mental inventory.
First to get the engine working. *To the engine room! he instructed himself.
Raven-Kat -- Rae sits up
when she hears movement below. Yawning, she wonders aloud, "Who's in the engine?" Rae slowly rises and climbs down to see. Ragnar is banging around in the engine room. "Hey!" Rae says.
Ragnar turns in surprise, holding up his wrench defensively. "Oh, sorry, Rae." He puts the wrench down. How will the others take THAT? Nearly braining Rae for saying 'hi'.
"Hey, cheer up." Rae grins at him and sits down on a pipe. "I know how it feels."
"How could you possibly-"
"Duh!" Rae laughs. "Remember what _I_ am?"
"Oh."
"So, wanna talk?"
"Rae... We've been through the shrink thing-"
"No. Not talking about the 'shrink' thing. I'm talking about speaking, one on one, with someone who's been there and done that. Someone who won't make judgements about your past actions because hers are worse." Rae rises. "I will be in the infirmary when you decide." She leaves.
Ragnar looks after her thoughtfully.
artickat -- Stuck on the Longboat....
...with nothing much to do while they waited for the engines to get fixed...some of the Gang where relaxing on deck talking and enjoying fruity drinks that Drum had thrown together. While others where up to...well...the usual. :)
*******
Kitten wrinkled her brow as she lay on the hidden rooms floor. "MEOW!" she called as she rolled a Crunch morsel over to 'Mr. Dukie.' The little yellow form turned up it's beak and ignored the golden nugget.
*Hmmmm...* Kitten's chin came to rest on one paw as she began tapping thoughtful little noises upon the floor with the extended claws of her free paw.
*Why wouldn't 'Mr. Duckie' eat? Doesn't he know Crunch is good for him? That it is oh soooo yummy?* Kitten's brow wrinkled even more when 'Mr. Duckie' kicked the golden nugget back to her...sticking a claw into the nugget Kitten brought it to her mouth and began to nibble on it.
*Mmmm...maybe only artickats understood the value of peanut butter Crunch...* Kitten continues to watch the little yellow fellow while she thinks.
*But he looks so weak and lifeless at times...he doesn't even squeak anymore when I pounce on him...he needs to eat something. I bet Artic knows what he would eat...but...she will be REALLY mad at me for this one...what to do...what to do.*
The wall of the hidden room begins to open *OH FRELL!* Kitten scampers across the floor grabs 'Mr. Duckie' and pulls him under the desk. Kitten watches as Ragnar makes his way into the room and shuts the wall behind him...turning he walks over to the desk and sits down at the computer. While the pc is powering up, Ragnar shuffles around some papers on the desk...looking for something...
"Maybe it fell" Ragnar mumbles and he leans down, feeling around under the desk. Kitten pushes 'Mr. Duckie' behind her and begins to back away. Ragnar's fingers grab her by the tail and give a tug "There you are" Ragnar chuckles. Kitten's eyes go wide as she digs her claws into the bottom of the desk...her back legs in the air. Ragnar frowns and releases Kitten's tail "Must be stuck on something" as he leans further and reaches for Kitten's tail again she sees what he is looking for...a pencil with a fuzzy head and two eyes glued on it...she snatches the pencil from the floor and stuffs it into Ragnar's hand. "What the..?" Ragnar frowns and sits up "There you are...can't work without you...fuzzy wuzzy."
Kitten can hear Ragnar typing away on the pc as she lets out a sigh *That was close!*
"Drat! I forgot it again!" Ragnar gets to his feet and leaves the room. Kitten...wondering what he was doing sneaks out from under the desk and climbs onto the the chair. Putting her paws up on the desk she pears at the computer screen.
*Lost Love...by Shelby Loven...who the heck is Shelby Loven?* Kitten frowns and looks at the newspaper on the desk *S Loven is to Romance what S King is to Horror...* Kitten looks at the computer screen...at the paper...screen...paper...screen...paper...*OH MY!* Kitten's eyes pop out of her head as she realizes just what she is looking at. *Ragnar is Shel....*
Just then Ragnar comes back into the hidden room with a notebook in hand and catches Kitten red handed (or pawed as the case may be). "YOU!" Ragnar dives across the room making a grab for Kitten. Kitten jumps off of the chair in a panic and dashes under the desk. "WHY YOU! I OUGHT TA!" Ragnar growls as he reaches in and drags Kitten out by her tail. Ragnar holds Kitten up in front of his face and is ready to let her have it when he notices the yellow fellow she has in her arms. "You didn't!" Ragnar sets them both on the desk and sits down "Wait until the others hear about this! You can't just go around kidnapping whoever you want! And you can't kidnap..."
"MEOW-MEOW-MEOW!" Kitten cut Ragnar off in mid speech and Ragnar frowns as he looks down at Kitten. Kitten points a paw to the computer screen and then to the little yellow fellow...back and forth until...
"You wouldn't!" Ragnar gasps. Kitten just smirks at him "You would...why you little!" Kitten wags a paw at him as if to say 'You'd better watch it!' Ragnar sits back and takes a good look at the little yellow fellow "He looks like hazmana...aren't you feeding him?" Kitten suddenly becomes very upset making motions until Ragnar understands "All right! All right! I'll try to find something he will eat!"
#%}
RagnarRB -- that little.....
Ragnar grumbled as he exited the hidden room and closed the entry. This little secret entrance was protected so well noteven magic could find it, yet that blasted kitten had found a way in! Not only that she had kidnapped....!EERRRRR.....
Well at least this one was fixable. *Sigh...what was the world coming to. I guess one of those secrets just popped up again.
Hmmm...what to get him to eat. He began rummaging on the bookshelf beside his bed. Finding the write text he slid it from its place and began rummaging thru the index. He always knew these things would have their uses one day.