Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 09:55:43 EDT Subject: Fwd: Bubbles intro In a message dated 4/27/98 7:34:54 PM, WatIsnaim wrote: Abmik giggled. He knew he should be mad, but she was just so dang c ute. "Bubbles?" The pink dragon looked up at him with her big soft pink eyes. "Yep?" her cute high pitched voice returned. "Umm... What do you think you are doing?" "YouÕre momma said, Ōkitchen needs cleaning.Õ So Yabsajubru spray some bubbles. Scrub with tail! Make clean! I do good thing, right?" Abmik sighed. "YouÕre breath soup is too strong!" he explained. "Your taking the paint off the floors! I really think it would be better if you let me use a rag to clean this up, rather than your tail." "OK!" the little pink dragon smiled. "But there must be something Yab sajubru can do. Maybe I use soap on your sword? Make nice and shiny?" "ThatÕs all right," he assured her. "ItÕs just fine as it is. if you REALLY need something to do, I guess you could..... dig up weeds in the fields." "OH BOY!!" She bounced up and down flapping her undersized wings. "I go do that right now!" Bubbles ran out the door and out to the fields. Abmik stood there for several minutes looking the mess of soap bubbles and dissolved paint. Even after about 15 years with Bubbles as his "pet" she still found everything and anything a fun game. She was still very much a child. He understood that, since she is a dragon with a long life span, Bubbles would mature more slowly, but she would eventually become more mature than most humans ever become. For now, however, she was a child.... a rather large child. On the up side, she never seemed to get angry at any one. There was always the fear that she would someday have a tantrum and go at him or his mother with her claws. Abmik could hold her off with his shield, but his mother couldnÕt do much. Also how do you spank a child with skin thatÕs like leather? It would really give new meaning to the phrase, "This is going to hurt me more than it does you." Abmik didnÕt know of any way he could punish Bubbles if she did anything wrong. He tried giving her chores, but she found them too fun to be a punishment. Fortunately, Bubbles had a good heart, and never would intentionally do anything to upset anyone. She just wanted to help. Unfortunately, this did sometimes cause problems like the kitchen. "Abmik?" he turned to see Bubbles at the front door of the house. "T hereÕre men coming. They are on horses, with swords and things. TheyÕre shouting a lot too. They make too much noise." "Raiders!" Abmik gasped. "How many?" "They five men, two woman, six horses, a dog, and they have many, many ouchie swords and things." Abmik grabbed his sword and strapped on his breastplate. "ThatÕs more than I have heard of hitting any other farms around here!" Picking up his shield, he turned to Bubbles. "We might need to fight them," he explained. "Can you still spray bubbles after.... cleaning.... the kitchen?" Bubbles nodded happily, "Oh yes, yes, yes! Yabsajubru still have many bubbles left! I help, yes?" "You may have to," he said as he started for his mothers room. "First we need to be sure they arenÕt just some adventurers or some one else on our side." He knocked on the door to the room where is mother had been takeing a nap. "Mom, we might have some raiders coming down the hill! YouÕd better get the crossbow over to the window." Bubbles had run back out side and watched as the possible bandits appr oached. Abmik came out in time to see them ride up to the front of the little house. "Can I help you gentleman and ladies?" Abmik asked the one in front. "Well, now isnÕt that a polite thing for lad to say just before we flay him alive?" the leader of the gang smiled. "Well, I suppose yaÕ could just fork over all your goods, and let us have our way with your women! BUT, your sword tells me, you world rather make it more interesting!" "My friend here might help you change your mind," Abmik said gesturing to Bubbles. "OH HOW CUTE!" one of the two women said. This brought a glare from the leader. "Tige? Have yaÕ lost yaÕ bean?! We are here for fun and profit, not to make all cutesy with the boyÕs pet lizard!" "Yabsajubru is no lizard!" Bubbles said, most offended. "Yabsajubru is Dragon!" The leader turned to his group "YaÕ hear that, boys? We got a dragon that sounds like a munchkin!" "He would make a nice plash toy!" one of the men commented. The leader groaned, "Not you too Gooshy!" "Listen," Abmik told them, "I am asking you nicely! Please leave! You can find some one else to bully!" "Aye!" said the leader. "We will find someone else. But first we sha ll loot, pillage, rape, and massacre you lot!" "NOW!" commanded Abmik. Bubbles belched up some foamy spry that caught the leader, his horse, 3 of his men, the horses of 2 of them, and the dog. "I CANÕT SEE!" the leader shouted, grabbing at his eyes. The pain and blindness sent the horses bucking. The commotion upset the other ho rses, and panic ensued. A bolt from a crossbow flew from the house window taking down the leader. His now rider-less hours jumped and thrashed about, colliding with the other horses as well as other members of the gang. Abmik used the chaos to his advantage and attacked the still sighted m embers of the party. Bubbles clawed at the blind dog until it ran whimpering away from the noise of the battle. The other blinded men had been thrown by their horses, and trampled underfoot. Abmik had taken down the last of the men, and looked about for the two women. That was when he smelled the smoke. In the confusion the female members of the party had managed to set fire to the house. Now the old wood and straw structure was engulfed in flames. "MOM!" Abmik shouted as he ran into the burning house. Bubbles started to dash after him, just as the doorway collapsed. She was unable to get in to help Abmik and his mother. She could hear the clashing of swords over the growing roar of the flames. In the end, no one had made it out. Abmik, his mother, and the two ba ndit women all died in the fire, and all she could do was sit and watch. Once again, She was totally alone.