Finally finished another story for the group after all these 
years.  Hope you all enjoy it.
                                                                   Tony, 
(A.T. Barnett)

The X-Fowls
By
A. T. [T2]Barnett


    Morning clouds dissipate overhead allowing a sunbeam to pass through. It flashes
down through a skylight onto a dozing Babs Bunny, waking her. Setting up she rubs
the sleep from her eyes. Looking round then down she sees Buster lying next to her,
still asleep. Then she panics!
    "Buster! Buster, wake up!"
    The Bunny Boy rattles awake with her vigorous shaking.
    "What? What! Babs? What's up?" He asks, still drowsy.
    "There's a big foul up here!"
    "Like what?"
    "All the Fowls are up!"
    Looking round the large tent the boy bunny sees they're alone. Two other sleeping
bags lying empty.
    "Babsie, they just went for a walk or they're making breakfast. Going back to sleep
now! Wake me around eight."
    "Plucky's wakened you, me and Shirley up every day of this trip, at the crack of
dawn, with his morning routine. Wheezing, grunting, preening, and snorting. Buster,
it's after ten!"
    Buster's eye pops open as he lays there, her meaning slamming home. Bolting
upright in his bag he looks stunned.
    "You're right! He's always doing that stupid stuff. No wonder I got such a good
sleep. But you know!"  He suggests, changing his tone. "Maybe the Pluckster and Loon
Girl just wanted a little alone time."
    Still concerned, Babs rolls over in her bag, reaching into Shirley's empty one.
    "This thing is ice cold. She hasn't been in it for hours. Try Plucky's."
    "Brrrr! Meat locker fresh." Turning he sees her blank look, staring off at the walls of
the tent.
    "Buss-terrr, I just got a glimmer from last night. She woke me up. About four this
morning, I remember looking at the clock. She said something to me but all I heard
was 'Bah bah, Plucky', something or other. I was really out of it from the hike."
    "She left out 'after' Plucky? That doesn't sound right. The only place you'ld want to
be by yourself is the little potty room. You don't suppose he got lost?"
    Glancing in wonderment then speaking in concert. "Nawwww!!!"
    "Well wherever they are they must be ok." Buster assures. "Shir would do her mind
thing if they were in trouble."
    "Yeah, right!" Babs agrees nervously trying to remain positive.  "Unless…"
    Seeing the fear in her eyes Buster acts.
    "Ok, look! Babs. You start breakfast and I'll take a quick look round. If I don't find
anything we'll both go looking for them, together."
    "How can you think of food?"
    Counting on his fingers. "One, I'm hungry. Two, you're hungry. Three, we can't
search very far on empty stomachs. And four, wherever they are they're probably
hungry too.
    We'll take some food with us and leave some here. Either way everybody gets fed."
    The busy work takes the pink bunny's mind off the subject, calming her. She hears
Buster calling in the distance to no avail.

    Later, on the trail they find webbed footprints in the moist ground not far from the
campsite. Following in that direction Buster finds a Plucky surprise.
    "Plucky, dig a hole, buddy!"
    Coming out of the tree line they move into a broad outcropping leading into a rock
covered valley. There they find a few strands of thread from Shirley's famous red
sweater on a branch in the rocks.
    "Shirley was here." Showing her the fibers.
    Hopping slowly they head onto the valley.  Into an arroyo, a dry riverbed.
    Big bunny ears pick up faint sounds in the distance. A funny noise, smooth but not
rhythmic. Nothing like they would have expected in that area.
    Hopping up to a ledge the bunnies creep closer to the source. Looking over they are
blinded by a brilliant light. Clearing their eyes they hear two people talking below.
    "Glad that's over!" Voice One says.
    "For now anyway." Voice Two replies.
    "Want off this rock, sooo bad!" Voice One cries out, lamenting their duty there.
"Blue skies, green plants. Who lives like this anyway?"  
    "That's the Space Foreign Legion for ya, Buddy. Another dumpster job on another
dumpster planet!"
    Their tone perks up, Voice Two wondering. "You think we should have told Her
Evilness bout the other one? She mighta wanted to check it out before she left."
    "No way! Look, our orders were to find her a green male alien, the darker the better
and we did! Nothing was said about anybody else trailing along. Besides, The
Princess's a Parcti and this one's a Parcti, I think. The Princess is covered with Gliss
and this one's covered with Gliss. Her Evilness is beautiful…"
    "But vicious!"
    "And this one's cute enough I guess. If you're into that sort of thing."
    They laugh a snorting laugh as Buster and Babs get a look at the off-world intruders.
They appear as half spiders. Two hairy arms and legs. Each having four eyes, both a
hair taller than the tops of the Bunnies' ears. 
    "E-yuck!" Babs whispers turning away.
    "Easy stomach! They're only tourists." Buster says.
    Not far from the aliens, a gray ring hovers, just above the ground, flat like a
doorway. Inside thick clouds swirl slowly.
    Alien One adding, "If she had seen this one the War Witch would have gone into
one of her raging fits."
    "Ho so right! The way I see it. She would have this one tortured just for fun. With
you and me suffering behind it all."
    "Think like this. The Evil One's got her green dude, she's happy! We get a meal of
good, fresh meat for a change, we're happy! And this one gets a quick chop and never
knows what bit her."
    "Everybody wins!"  Snorting and laughing as they produce Shirley spread out on a
crude serving dish.  Sans her red sweater and hair bow. 
    Surrounded by strange vegetables she has another one in her mouth. Her eyes are
open but weird looking as she lies motionless on the platter.
    The pair moves to a suitable rock, setting their dinner down. Alien One producing
two containers.
    "So, what goes with Parcti? Red or White?"
    "Ho red, always!"
    A shrill yell cuts the air as a 'Xena, Warrior Princess' styled Babs Bunny lands on
Alien One's head. Slamming him repeatedly with her enormous feet she pounds him
into the ground. Alien Two moves to help his partner. 
    Buster plows into the second invader sending him flying face first into the rock face. 
Recouping quickly the alien turns quickly to join the fight.  
    "Yippy oh kiy yaaa, Dirt bag!" Buster's huge foot sandwiching his head and the wall
again.

    The Aliens subdued and tied up, Buster inspects the floating disk. Babs shakes the
dazed loon out of her stupor.
    "Hey girl, you ok?" Helping Shirley set up on the platter. Still out of it she looks
around.
    "Plucky? Ooo! Like is that the sun?" Shielding her eyes. Babs helps her on with her
sweater, tying her ribbon in place.
    "What's going on? Why is it daylight out and where's Plucky?"
    "Long story short. It's well after midday. Plucky's missing and Space Aliens almost
had you for dinner."
    Shirley stares vacantly at the girl bunny, "Like, are YOU alright, Babs?"
    Babs points to the platter the loon still sits on. The vegetables and place settings all
around.
    "Yikes!" Leaping off, she sees the Aliens in the distance. "I remember those two, for
sure!"
    "What happened last night? You when out of the tent and that's the last I saw of
you."
    "Plucky went to the little duck's room and never came back. Like, I felt something
wrong and went out to find him. 
    I ran into those two and that's all…"  She ends then in sadden tones.
    "Babs? Where's Plucky? I can't sense his presence anywhere."
    "Don't know, girlfriend. Let's find out."
    They join Buster still inspecting the disk.
    "Hey girls! Shirley, you feeling ok?"
    "Much! Just glad I missed out on dinner, for sure! Thanks a lot."
    "What is this thing, Buster?"  Babs asks, taking a turn around the disk. 
    "I think it's a gateway." Shirley interjects. "I kind of remember seeing those two
talking to some other people. They took Plucky inside that thing. Then the lights went
out, for sure."
    "Let's talk to our little friends." Babs suggests.
    "Better yet. Shir, you up to a little mind bending?"
    "Like, I've already tried. They can block my powers."
    "Time to get tough." Babs says, about to go into her classic transformation spin.
    Putting his hand on her shoulder he stops her. "I got this one. Follow my lead."  
    Walking over to the tied up spiders he asks calmly. "Ok, where's the duck, boys?"
    "We're Imperial Legionnaires. You don't scare us, Snack Meat."
    "Snack Meat, good one!" His friend assures.
    Producing a large flat school ruler Buster holds it by one end and proceeds to bend
the other. Popping it against the Alien's nose. The girls giggle in the background.
    "Ouch! Son of a…"
    "Where is the Duck?" Buster asks again.
    "What's a du-ck?"  The Second Alien questions.
    "A guy, looks like her, only male and he's covered in green feathers. Wears a white
t-shirt."
    "What is 'Guy', 'male', 'green', 'white', or't-shirt'?"
    Babs interjects, pointing.
    "We're girls, females. He's a guy or male. These are feathers of which she has white
ones all over her body. These bushes are green in color and a t-shirt is something you
wear."
    Yeah! Like those tacky uniforms you're wearing." Shirley suggests.
    Oh, I get it! Quinten is white, Yodell is green, Fifin is female and Nodun is male."
Alien One says. 
    "You want to know what happened to the green feathered one, right?"  The second
Alien asks. "Come here… Guy."
    "Shut it!!" The first alien snaps.
    "I'll talk! Tell you everything you want to know."
    "Smart guy!"  Buster approaches, leaning in to hear.
    Alien Two head butts Buster viciously, sending him flying over a rock outcropping
and out of sight. Babs runs to his aid as Shirley watches the Aliens. The loon glares at
them as they laugh.
    Coming round the rocks Babs sees a smiling Buster leaning against a boulder, legs
crossed waiting for her. He had counted on two things, the Aliens would do something
stupid, like the head butt. And two, they wouldn't know about rabbit's ability to hop so
far.
    "You ok, Buster." Concerned.
    "Never better! Here's what you do…"
    On the other side, the Aliens wrestle with their restraints. Shirley picking up a large
stick as a weapon.
    "What ya gonna do with that, white duck?"
    "Like, I'm a Loon! And I'm going to hit one of you with it as hard as I can. So settle
down."
    "You think that scares us?"
    Asking Alien One. "Would you mind if I whack him over the head?"
    "Yeah I would! He's my friend"
    "So I should whack you over the head instead, right?"
    "No! Of course not."
    She turns to the other with the same question and response. Suggesting sternly,
"Like, one of you is going to get a good whacking and the other is going to talk about
our friend, for sure!"
    Adding in cheery tones. "You guys figure it out and get back to me, kay?"
    They argue between themselves as a worried Shirley wonders about Buster.
Suddenly Babs screams out, then shouting, "Buster, please! You've got to relax. We'll
get them to talk! We'll get Plucky back!" 
    Shirley can only wonder at what's happening. A large rock tossed overhead
disintegrates on contact. Babs' tone turns fearful. A deep, throaty roar comes from the
hidden area sending chills down the Loon's spine.
    Again Babs pleads. "Please calm down, Buster! Calm down, this isn't helping."
    Shirley glances over toward the Aliens. They're concerned if not frightened by the
turn of events, wondering aloud, "What is the problem, anyway?"
    "Plucky and Buster are best friends! More then best friends, if you know what I
mean. You shouldn't make him upset, you're not gonna like him …when he's upset." 
The loon stealing an old movie line.
    "We're Imperial Legionnaires! We can't be intimidated by threats!"
    Babs shouting out. "If you harm them we ill never know what happened to Plucky!"
    "Plucky!?" Buster's speech pattern almost primitive in tone. "Plucky! Little hairy
men know where Plucky. Me ask, they tell or me smash!"
    The sound and vibrations of huge feet rattle everyone. Buster's shadow appears on
the wall now five times the Aliens size.
    "Just a shadow! Just shadows on the wall!"
    "Right! Just a trick on the wall!"
    "I won't let you hurt them, Buster. They have to be turned over to the government
for study."
    "Pink Girl make too much noise."  Buster growls. On the walls the shadows show
Buster picking her up over his head as she screams in terror. The sound of her
backbone snapping echoes as she's bent in two.
    Shirley is almost panicked by the sight, but not as much as their guests.
    Buster flings Babs over the boulder. She impacts on the wall in front of the Aliens.
Her eyes slowly open, looking around, dazed. Noting the invader's look she glances at
a terrified Shirley, gasping.
    "Shir… Save yourself!"
    With that and thanks to Toon Physics, the bunny turns into a thick liquid goo
pouring down the rock face, out of sight.
    Leaping over the boulder a huge Buster lands hard. The impact sending everyone
into the air. Standing and turning Shirley sees the monster rabbit stomping slowly for
her. Buster gives a knowing wink to calm her. Composed, she thinks quickly then says
one word.
    "Buster?!" swooning and fainting. Buster stops, picks her up in his huge hand
sniffing at her. The Aliens hear as his grip crushes her ribs. Turning his hand over, she
drops like dead weight. A psychic blast softens her landing.
    "Not Plucky!" Buster seeing the Aliens. "Hairy men!"
    He stops, sniffs at them. Again asking calmly. "Where green duck?"
    "We don't know! We're just passing through."
    "Yeah, travelers! You should really cut us lose. Help us out here."
    "You lie! Me smell green duck on you!" he moves on them.
    "Ok! Ok! Ok!"
    "We are Imperial Legionnaires…"
    Buster yawns, reaching out to them. "Boring Me!"
    "No, wait! We were sent here, to your planet, to find a green male, someone to send
back to our home world."
    "The leader of our lands has to have a green body. It's the law, tradition. The Evil
One is white and must have a green mate to rule by her side as king. She sent the
legions out to locate suitable candidates. We found your friend and offered him the
position and he agreed to go."
    "Yeah, he agreed!"
    "Plucky, green leader? Leader of what?"
    "The fourth largest kingdom on our planet. He will want for nothing there."
    "Why you eat white loon girl? She like Plucky only girl and loon."
    "Meat's meat! Besides she'd only miss him."
    "You good guys! Kind heart. What hole in air?"
    "That's how we got here. It's a worm hole, a tunnel home."
    "You got big worms at home." Buster laughs. They join him. "Call worm. I want to
see worm."
    "There are no real worms, it's just the name."
    "How work?"
    "It's pre-set! We just have to time our departure with a chart. When the time's right
we just step through and bam we go home."
    "We're waiting for the next alignment. Not too long from now."
    "Just cut us loose and we'll leave your lovely little world. Never to return."
    "That's all we wanted to know!" Babs shouts as she bounds out of hiding.
    "For sure, hairy Alien Dorks!" Shirley says flying up on wing, landing near by.
    Buster breaks his masquerade deflating to normal size. Landing on tippy toe to the
girl's applause.
    "Ta da!"
    "You tricked us!" The aliens shout in disbelief.
    "Eee Yaaaa!!!" Shirley smarts.
    The three huddle, discussing the situation. The Aliens still seething about the hoax.
    "So now what?" Babs wonders.
    "One thing's certain, if the Pluckster thinks it's a good deal. Its not!"
    "Kay! But being green is, like, the only thing he's really good at."  Shirley laments.
"We have to find him before he gets in trouble."
    The bunnies scowl at her remark.
    "Kay! Too late for that." She admits sheepishly.
    "You said you saw them take him inside that worm-holely thing, right?" Babs asks.
Shirley nods.
    In his best 'Captain James T. Kirk' impersonation Buster states, "If our friend…  Is
in there…  Then we, three…  Must go in there…  To bring him… home!"
    They give a cheer, raising their spirits. Babs starting. "First we need stuff. We only
brought a little food with us. The rest is at the campsite."
    "Right! We'll have to strike the camp and hit that highway oasis we passed on the
way up here."
    "For sure! We better take those two…" Shirley starts, glancing over to see only a
pile of ropes. "They're free!"
    She launches a psychic burst as the pair race for the floating portal. Buster and Babs
hopping after them. The Loon's mind blast having no effect.
    "So long, Earth Scum."
    "Yeah! Eat ya later"
    The Aliens leap through the opening, causing a bright flash even in the daylight.
Buster and the others stop just in front of the disk, looking at the swirling mass inside.
    Babs leaps up on the rocky ledge where they had left their backpacks. Hopping back
Buster asserts. "We have to go! Now! Before this thing closes up."
    "Any ideas on how we're getting back?" Babs asks somberly. 
    "No thoughts come to mind."
    Shirley grumbling, "Pluc-ky!!!"
    Holding hands the trio leaps through. Inside, the wormhole's energy appears as
lengths of clear spaghetti all tossed around.
    Their bodies dissolve into long strands of light energy, stretching for millions of
miles. Still, they feel a sense of being whole as they race along faster then the speed of
light.
    Minutes pass and as suddenly as it began the ride is over. The three are hurled out of
the other end, another floating grey circle. Landing roughly on solid ground they see a
lightly tinted pink sky overhead. Reddish leaves cover light blue trees with orange
grass. The rocks appear about the same as home.
    "Girls Ok?!"
    "Totally!"
    "Fine, I guess. But I'm upgrading my flying cannonball act after this."
    The tops of a Palace can be seen above the tree line in the distance. Far below in the
valley, a vehicle comes to a stop. Dozens of Legionnaires pile out with strange looking
animals. They fan out moving towards the portal, the beasts tracking on the way.
    "Totally, time to leave!"  Shirley says as they move towards the Palace. The hunters
move fast, closing the range.
    Coming up on a ridge they find themselves surrounded by a squad of Troopers. They
look the same but have different uniforms from the legionnaires and appear friendlier.
    "Welcome strangers! Princess Cippeia sent us to find you."  The Officer in charge
says. "We should be leaving now! Before those Legionnaires see us."
    Unsure, but not wanting to deal with their old foes, the Earthers obey. Entering
another vehicle they are whisked away to the palace.
    Inside they are offered refreshments and a place to rest then an audience with
Princess Cippeia. She appears to be a swan, bright white feathers with a long slender
neck. Much taller and more statuesque then Shirley. The three are presented to her in
the main throne room.
    "So, Buster Bunny, Babs Bunny and Shirley Loon, what brings you through the
wormhole from… Earth?"
    "Like, see! Our friend, Plucky, he's a duck. Kind of like me only a guy! We think he
was tricked into coming here, or some junk!"
    "Something about the head honcho being green." Buster adds. "Dumb Duck agreed
to come."
    "Trust us! You do not want Plucky Duck in charge of anything!"
    "I see! We're quite familiar of the peoples you speak. Another country, along our
northern boarders. They have such a green law. They must have your friend. But if he
agreed to be their leader then what can you hope to do?"
    "He'd agree to be the village idiot if he thought he didn't have to work at it."  Babs
smarts.
    "Well!" Buster starts. "If he really wanted to stay…"
    "We couldn't… Couldn't." Shirley tears up.
    "If the Pluckster's happy here then we're happy for him. We just want to check
things out."  Buster states.
    "The tribes you're speaking of can be brutal! Especially to unwanted guests. You
would have to sneak in to see your friend."
    "Can you help us, your highness?" Babs asks.
    "Well! The Major did say their Legionnaires hadn't see my soldiers pick you up on
that road. So there would be no direct connection to my country. My people could try
to get you close to where they might be holding your friend, a fortress. It's the only
major structure in this region. But you'd have to make your way alone from there."
    "Not a problem! Shirley here has pyhi…" Buster starts. The Loon grabs him firmly,
planting a big wet kiss on him.
    "Oh, thank you, Buster! Like, you said you'd find my Plucky Wookey and you did!"
    Babs, like Buster is dumbfounded. She keeps her composure as Shirley releases the
Bunny, turning to the Princess with a smile.
    "It's settled then?" Cippeia asks.
    "Like, for sure. Thank you, your highness!"
    The Loon curtsies deeply before the monarch, as she does so her smile turns to a
deep scowl. She is uneasy. Buster bows at the waist and Babs curtsies as well.
    As they are lead out of the hall Princess Cippeia turns to the Major. "You know
what to do!"
    "And the remains, Your Highness?"
    Her expression changes. Glaring angrily, snarling. "Do I really look like I care?"  
    She storms out of the throne room. The Major licks his lips in anticipation.

    Coming to a door on her private level, Cippeia enters to see Plucky Duck setting on
a large cushion. Empty food dishes and drink containers lie about the room. He
intently plays video games on a royal sized view screen, never noticing her approach.
    "How's it going, lover?" She asks seductively.
    "Yeah, yeah! Sure, sure! Just put it down over there."
    Cippeia glares then puts on her happy face. "I'm not a servant. I'm the Princess,
remember me?"
    The Duck looks up for an instant. "Oh, hey babe. When'd you blow in?"
    "Ee… yes!" She answers, peeved. "I just came by to see if everything was alright.
Getting everything you need?"
    Her words fall on deaf ears as he plays away.
    "King?" she says. His ears perk up, listening intently until he loses a life in the
game.
    "Yes, you, king of the entire country. You can have anything you want!"  She says
breathlessly. "Anything!"
    "Terrific! Another soda would go great about now."  Handing her an empty beaker,
his eyes never looking away from the screen. Again she flairs but holds it together.
Handing the tumbler to a servant the Princess exits the room, unnoticed.


    On a back road, the transport carrying the rabbits and loon stops on a hill side. In the
distance, across the valley an imposing fortress stands on another high hilltop. The trio
overwhelmed by the sight. The Major pointing out the important landmarks as they
could not be caught with a map.
    Shirley and Babs hadn't spoken during the entire trip. The bunny still miffed by the
loon's actions before. Buster is caught in the middle. The kiss was unexpected but
nice! He had never thought about Shirley in a romantic way so he still was confused.
    The Major continues his briefing. Reminding them to never speak of the Princess'
assistance then adding, "There is the problem of the defense dragon."
    "Dra… Dragon?" Buster stammers.
    "You never mentioned anything about a dragon before. Why not?"  Babs wonders,
composed and calm as ever.
    "Sorry! We're so use to the beast it just slipped my mind."  The Officer says, taking
a large, frightening weapon out of the vehicle, powering it up.
    "Not to worry. You'll have top notch firepower. These are Legionnaire weapons,
taken in battle. They can kill the dragon if you get in three or more direct hits.
Remember, don't hesitate, it's fast. Aim for the glowing blue spot within it, not the
head or claws. It' ill be easy."
    "Radical!" The Loon says shouldering the weapon, aiming down the sights. "Wham,
bam, slam! No problems, for sure!"
    The bunnies are uneasy watching the bird girl in her altered state. They take the
remaining two weapons offered, just to hold on to.
    "We're sure your friend is in there. Once you get passed the defense dragon it should
be easy enough to over power the few guards and get him out."
    "Ah! Then what?" Buster asks.
    "When you get away and you will. We' ill be waiting to take you back to the palace.
Then through the portal to your home world."
    "And if we're caught?" Babs queries.
    "We're not getting caught, Girlfriend!"  Shirley interjects, storming off. "Come on!
Let's fry some dragon butt and get my ducky-wookey back home."
    Buster and Babs follow after, glancing woefully at each other. The soldiers remain
behind, stifling their laugher, the Officer saying. "The blue one's mine. I like my meat
gamey."
    The Trio reaches the fortress without incident. No guards, no cameras or sensors.
Finding a side entrance unlatched they enter ever wary.
    Closing the door they rest, exhausted from their run. Still miffed by that kiss Babs
confronts Shirley. "Ok Shir, fess up! What's with…"
    The loon slumps into the girl bunny's arms, their weapons clanging to the floor.
Buster helping her to the floor.
    "Shir? Shirley!?"  
    "Come on, Loon Girl! Stay with us!"
    Coming to, she looks round. "Like, got any ibuprofen or some junk? My head's
splitting, for sure!"
    Rested a bit the Loon explains. "Like, you have no idea how much pain I've been in
since we got here."
    "Pain?"  They question.
    "'Member back home. I said I couldn't read those creepies's minds. They blocked my
powers with some kind of gadget. So ever since we've been here I've been blocking our
thoughts."
    "All three of us?"
    "Why?"
    "Princess Cippeia is, like, rotten to the core is why! She plays nice but she's not. So
I've been feeding her looney information about us."
    "Looney? Like what?"
    "She's been reading Elmyra Duff's thoughts all this time, or some junk."
    "Elmyra?" They wonder.
    "You pack a lot of Elmyra's thoughts in a really little space." She smiles.
    "So now what, Loon Girl?" Buster wonders.
    "Like, I don't think Plucky's even in here. Cippeia wanted us here for some reason."
    "A no good reason!" Babs suggests. "But Shir! If you've stopped feeding the
Princess junky thoughts won't she know she's been tricked?"
    "This place has one of those mind jamming thingies. Like the soldiers wear, only
bigger. She can't read us in here."
    "That's why you wanted to get in here so fast!"
    "And that kiss?" The pink one queries.
    "Blue Boy almost blabbed about my powers. It was the only way to stop him."
    "Mmmmm! Well ok…"
    "She's still miffed, Shir."
    "Like, maybe you should give back the kiss, Buster!"  Her smile sneering.
    He puckers up leaning towards the bird girl.
    Babs grabs him by the neck. "Funny! Bunny! Back to business!"
    "Kayyy! There's something in this place blocking psychic energy."
    "Why would they do that?"
    "'Cause something's in hereeee!" Babs sings warily, looking round.

    At the palace Cippeia again enters Plucky's room. Bearing his favorite drink she
slides up next to him. Preoccupied as usual he plays on.
    "Here you go, Ducky."
    "That's Plucky! Thanks Babe." Taking the drink.
    "So… Plucky. Just who is this amusing Elmyra Duff?"

    Far away, the trio explores the fortress. Wondering what the Princess wanted them
to find…  Or find them. Moving slowly across the large courtyard they head to the
main structure. There a huge corridor, lined with torches, leads deep inside.
    "Maybe we should lose the hardware. Guns aren't our style."  Babs suggests.
    "Totally!"  Shirley dropping hers.
    Buster having other ideas. "We gotta keep them! You never know…"  The weapon
seemingly melding into his body by this time. The girls glance at each other.
    "Guy thing!"
    Farther in, bones and trash are scattered everywhere plus a distinct, loathsome smell
fills the air. A distant, echoy voice pierces the calm. "Shirley! Shirley? Come to me
Shirley!"
    "Plucky?"  She runs towards the voice, bunnies in pursuit. Ending in a blocked
passageway.
    "Dead end!"
    "Did you have to say 'Dead', Buster?" 
    Closing her eyes to go into a state, the floor suddenly falls away. Plummeting them
down a large shaft into the dark. Buster dropping his weapon.
    "Quick, grab my legs!" Shirley shouts. Pulling up her sleeves, extending her wings
she flaps vigorously. They continue falling but at a slower rate.  Dim lights appear
below as the loon struggles to keep flying. 
    "Ground coming up!" Buster assures her. "Ready, set… jump!"
    Leaping off the exhausted bird girl the bunnies use their legs to absorb the landing
impact. Shirley landing butt first. She just sets there regaining her composure.
    "Ah, Shirley!" Babs wonders. "Couldn't you just use your mind power to lower us
down here?"
    "Babs, I'm a bird first! Instincts are hard to beat."
    "Good point!"
    Above, in the shaft the opening closes off. Few torches light this area or the next
which is the only way out.
    Moving on, they feel the damp, dankness of the space. Entering the next room with
low ceiling they duck down.
    "Low bridge."  Buster leading the way.
    "Two words for this place. Maid service!" Babs suggests disgusted by the smell.    
    "Like, I'm getting something, but it's not much. We're getting closer."
    Passing through a smelly dripping waterfall they enter a larger area, standing upright
again, looking round. A heavy grunting noise comes from over head with a rush of foul
wind. Looking up they see the face of a huge dragon. The belly of which they had just
passed under. Not that they cared, they also see the mystic blue ball glowing from
inside the beast.
    They bolt in terror just as a wall of flame comes down to roast them. Shirley ducks
into a side passageway, quickly turning down yet another. The bunnies close behind.
The flames make the first turn but flashes passed the trio in their little enclave. The air
is consumed, leaving them breathless for a time.
    "Yikes!!" Buster wheezes almost passing out. Babs sets on the ground leaning back,
grumbling. "Tell me again why we're here!"
    "Like! I wish Plucky was here now." Shirley says, looking round.
    "Yeah! So we could get the heck outta here!" Babs snaps.
    "Or we could wring his neck…"
    "Noooo! I need an empty headed bobble head to get us out of here."
    "In English, Loon Girl!"
    "I need someone with low intelligents to hypnotize."
    Babs grabs Buster, pinning his arms to his side, flipping him around between the
two females. "Here you go, Sister. One bobble headed idiot!"
    "You're still mad, right?" Busters suggests.
    "Course not. Shir and me can't be empty headed bobble heads. We're just girls!" She
laments, a tear forming in her eye.
    "And don't you forget it!" Buster brags before thinking. "Hey…"
    Shirley comes up close, touching the back of his head.
    "Sleep! Sleep! Sleep!"
    The boy bunny instantly relaxes, slipping into a deep stupor.
    "Radical! Now, listen to me, Buster Bunny. I want you to follow only my voice. You
hear nothing else, you see nothing else."
    "I hear and obey, Mistress!"
    "Ah! What ya got in mind, Shirley?" a concerned Babs wonders.
    "Hush!" She snaps then begins to meditate. Hovering just above the ground, fingers
pressed to her temple, eyes closed. Mind linking with Buster she commands his
actions.
    "Buster, can you hear me?"
    "Yes, Mistress."
    "Like, you can call me Shirley!"
    "Yes, Mistress Shirley"
    She sighs then orders. "Buster, go out into the big hall we just came from and tell
me what you see."
    "Yes Mistress Shirley."  He walks past a bewildered Babs. Unable to hear any of
their mind link, she follows him out.
    Hearing the dragon stomping in the outer room she stops, watching Buster make his
way towards the sound. Glancing back the meditating Shirley just floats serenely. Babs
knows the loon would never knowingly harm Buster but still…
    "Shirleyyyyy!" She says softly.
    Shirley ignores Babs, ordering, "Look around, Buster. What do you see?" 
    "A big empty room."  He answers.
    "Look up."
    "A cage! In a blue mist! Just floating there."
    "Radical! Can you reach it? Try!"
    "Yes Mistress Shirley."  He bounces then leaps up just missing the cage's bottom.
On his fourth try he grabs hold hanging by one paw.
    "Got it!" he reports back. Shirley smiles.
    "Like, is there some kind of electric gizmo on there or some junk?"
    "Why yes, yes there is."
    "Well, hurry up and turn it off, for sure!"
    The device switched off, the stomping noise stops. Babs creeps out to see the dragon
gone. Overhead Buster clings to the mysterious blue glowing cage. Shirley joins her,
startling the bunny at first.
    "Like, there's your dragon, Babs! Just an illusion meant to hide that."
    "How did you know?"
    "Like, I'm psychic or some junk." Glaring at her friend.
    "Yeah, if you knew it was fake, why did you run screaming like the rest of us?"  The
bunny grins.
    "Ig-Nor-Ring you!" She says returning to the boy bunny.   "Buster, see if there is,
like, another thingy on the cage." 
    Feeling around finding a handle, He pulls it.  The cage makes a rapid descent to the
floor. The girls dart out of the way and Buster jumps clear.
    Inside they see… a dragon! Much smaller but similar to the fake giant one. A bit
taller then the trio, she's thin and tired looking.
    "Who are you?"
    "I'm Shirley the Loon. She's Babs Bunny, he's Buster Bunny…"
    "No relation!"  Speaking together. Babs asking. "And you are?"
    "Princess Titaron. You saw through my sister's trickery, how?"
    "I'm in the psychics club."
    "Can I get out of here, please?"
    "For Sure." Swinging the door open. The bunnies becoming concern.
    "Is that a good idea, Loon Girl?"
    "She's… A dragon. We're allergic to dragons, you know."
    "Come' on, she's cool. I can read her mind, 'member."
    "Okay! So what's your story, Sister?" Buster demands in a nineteen forty-ish P.I.
tone of voice.
    "Bad judgment! Cippeia is my younger sister by another mother.
    "Dragon, swan. We kinda guessed." Babs says.
    "I was next in line to the throne when our father, the late king, died. But I didn't
want to rule. I wanted to travel and study other worlds. I told Cippeia she could be
queen in my stead. She didn't believe me, I guess. She imprisoned me in this fortress,
telling the nation I was kidnapped by outlanders. She wanted to eliminate me and start
a war to consolidate her powers. But somehow you three figured out she used her
psychic abilities to control important people in the government."
    "Totally!"
    "She had hoped foreign powers would have dealt with me before now. But as always
Cippeia over did it. Her dragon illusion was so frightening their assassins were tricked
into lesser traps.
    "So, if the dragon was fake." Buster wonders. "Why didn't all the props disappear
with it? The bones and skulls and what's with that smell?"  
    "Oh, they're real! Cippeia was miserly on the food. Trying to starve me to death as a
backup plan."
    "You mean you…"  Babs asks, covering her mouth and holding her stomach. Buster
turns green and even Shirley is put off by the thought of what happened to intruders.
    "I had to eat… something!" Titaron retorts. "But that's all over now. I'm free! I can
reclaim the throne. I can free the oppressed masses. I can… Get some really decent
food. Come on I'm buying."
    "You got money? In here?"
    "I'm Crown Princess and heir to the throne. I think I can float us some quick food." 
The Dragoness smiles.
    Laughing and talking the group heads for the upper levels and the exit. Suddenly
two sharp, twinning sounds break the calm. 
    Princess Titaron and Shirley are ensnared together by flying restrains. Buster and
Babs the same. Struggling against the bindings they find them unbreakable.
    "Well alright! Alright, alright, alright!"  Princess Cippeia floats down from above. A
platoon of legionnaires comes from every entrance, surrounding the group. Landing,
the swan smiles.
    "Big Sis and her little band of heroes. A little longer and you just might have made
your escape. Luckily I figured it out in time. Yah me!"
    "Like, how did you do that?" Shirley wonders.
    "Its your own fault, you scummy little hen! You tried to do too much with your itty
bitty powers. You looped the same psychic waves for you and your friends here. I
bought the visions of you and her in a white and green outfit. But somehow I didn't see
HIM wearing a skirt and blouse. 
    Especially after my talk with future King Plucky, the Green. He knows a lot about
Elmyra Duff. Crazed human being, animal destroyer and all around insane person."
    "Pluckeeeyyy!!!" Shirley says grinding her teeth.
    "And as for you two!" Referring to Buster and Babs. "What really brings you to our
happy little planet?"
    "We're here to help our friend." Buster shouts.
    "Friendship, look it up!"  Babs snaps.
    Staring blankly at the bunnies Cippeia responds. "Quaint!"
    She gives a deep sigh, looking around the chamber, saying to the Major. "This
assassination thing isn't working for me. Finish them off and deal with the bodies.
Report to me at the palace when you're done eating."
    The Major's toothy grin brings a smile to her face. Looking back at Titaron she
moves towards her sister and new found friend.
    "As always, Sister. You cause me so much trouble. Why couldn't you be a good
dragon girl and die? Anyway, I suppose I should ask this. Protocol and all that rot. Any
last statements?"
    "Like…" Shirley starts.
    "Her! Not you, Molt Hen!"
    "Just this, Sister…"  Titaron says. Opening wide the dragoness unleashes a huge
stream of fire from her mouth. It engulfs Cippeia, the Major and most of the troopers
in the room. 
    A second blast sweeps the upper galleries, the legionnaires there retreat from the
great fiery plume.
    The Bunnies are horrified at the sight of Cippeia burning, trying to put out the
flames engulfing her as the others do the same. The few legionnaires not alight are
transfixed to the spot. Shirley observing the scene remarking, "Good one!"
    The main doors open with the fire brigade entering, hosing down the burning
victims first. The water pressure sending Cippeia and the others flying. Turning to their
Jailer Titaron demands. "Release us!"
    "I can not! Princess Cippeia…"
    "The King is dead and Princess Cippeia has gone insane. Who do you think will rule
this country?"  She asks sternly. The bindings fall quickly to the floor, freeing them.
    "That's my girl! Totally radical!" Shirley shouts as she and the dragoness dance
together. Spinning round the loon sees the looks on the bunnies' faces, vacant and
terrified. Turning to the dragoness she points.
    "Oh no!"  Closing her eyes the dragoness meditates. The room clears of smoke and
flames. The heavy drapes on the windows are un-burnt, the wood untouched. None of
the people are burned. All an illusion put in their minds by Titaron. The water from the
fire hoses, being real, having done the worst damage of all.
    Seeing the new state of the room everyone, even the legionnaires are relieved at the
outcome. Thankful they were not smoldering embers. 
    Princess Cippeia does not fair as well. Untouched by flames she still thinks she is
ablaze, demanding the fire brigade douse her with water for flames that will not go out.
    Titaron is horrified, seeing her younger sister in such a state. She starts for the
deranged swan but Shirley stops her. "I got it."
    Floating up to Cippeia, Shirley places her hands on the swan's head as the others
hold her still. Soon the evil one sleeps peacefully, slumping to the floor. Titaron comes
to her side, comforting her. "She's still my sister. Thank you."
    "For sure! But I left her a little suggestion. Whenever she thinks about hurting
anyone she'll catch on fire. Or at lease she' ill thinks she can."
    "And without your methods she won't be able to counter your psychic commands.
Thank you, Shirley the Loon. Thank you all!"
    Hours later, after leaving the country and planet in the hands of Queen Titaron the
Green, The group is again on Mother Earth, terra firma.
    Making their way back to their campsite Buster leads followed by Shirley. Plucky
coming up next, floating within a psychic bubble generated by the loon girl. Babs
bringing up the rear.
    "Ya know Babs." Busters says. "I think you hit the Pluckster a little too hard with
that mallet back on the planet."
    "Hey! He didn't want to give up those fancy videogames they had. Besides it was the
only way to keep Shir from plucking him featherless." She retorts
    "Like, who's up for pancakes?"  Shirley suggests, patting her tummy.
    "You buying?" the bunnies query eagerly.
    "Like, Plucky is, for sure!!"

--THE END--

[AB1]Completed February 2008
[T2]New September 1, 2006
The X-Fowls / A.T.        Page 5