We first discovered that the Tower Dweller was a real honest to goodness cuddler when she delivered a little note to all of CuddleLand.
Pooky sed:
"Look!!!!", exclaims Pooky, as he points at a paper dart which unmistakably came from the floating Tower ...
He watches it land ...
"I ain't going near it ...", he boldly states.
[But Pooky, always being the one to bow to peer pressure, goes forward, picks up the dart ...]
"Hey there's something written on it!" ...
The Tower Dweller had previously sed:
__________________________________________________________________ I I I Dear Cuddlelanders, The Tower Dweller Here I I I I The tuatara have left me alone for a few minutes, so I'm I I grabbing this opportunity to alert you to something you may I I have missed. It is true that I can see a long way from up I I here in my cell. In fact, I can see what most cuddlelanders I I are doing (without the need for a crystal ball.) I I I I Has anyone else wondered where Dame Denise has gone? She I I had a big decision to make, a process which usually requires I I many warming, fuzzy, overpowering CUDDLES. I was in a similar I I situation a couple of years ago, and not having enough cuddles I I I couldn't make the decision, and was captured. I've been in I I this tower ever since. I I I I Dame Denise, here's my warmest, longest, tightest HUG to help I I you trust your instincts. Does anyone else want to send her I I some? I I Cuddles to all, I I The Tower Dweller I I I I P.S. What was Sir Thumper doing with that rosebush? I I________________________________________________________________I
"Ooop! The Tower Dweller can see what we're
doing!!!", exclaims Pooky.
"Now what are we going to do?"
Pooky stops his senseless trembling, and reads the rest of the letter.
"Oooh! Denise!!!", Pooky says ...
"Many many good wishes to help you with your big decision."
*hug*cuddle*strength*building*cuddles*tickles*hugs*cuddle*
*kitty cuddles*pooky bear cuddles*happy cuddles*hug*cuddle*
*hug*snuggle*cuddle*nuzzle*kitty cuddles*pooky bear*cuddle*
"Oh!" ... a single syllable ... a short exclamation ... that's it.
Pooky's fear was completely dissolved away in an instant.
Now he feels stupid.
[lightbulb goes on, and glows brightly!]
"There's a real cuddler locked up in that floating Tower!! We should go and rescue her! It's not nice to be locked up in a Tower. Let's go and rescue her, and make her Tower Cuddly, and warm, and cosy!!! [and get rid of those nasty tuatara]"
And with that ... Pooky also beings wondering what Sir Thumper is doing in that rosebush ... *puzzled*look* ...
"Off to rescue a fair maiden imprisioned in her Tower ..."
"But ... ummm ... since it's a floating tower ... how do we get in?"
[lightbulb goes dim]
Paul Philipsen [wwdz@uniwa.uwa.edu.au] then provided all of CuddleLand with a superb summary of everything which had happened so far in the Tower Rescue ... right from the beginning.
(For those who came late...)
[Editors note: some things contained herein are fact, some fiction and all, not necessarily occurred in the order layed down in this narrative. Where inaccuracies exist the Editors wish to make it clear that this narrative is definitively inaccurate (cf Douglas Adams).]
Note: No chocolate chip cookie or Fudge covered Oreo was injured during this sequence of events.
The fair Princess Angela (in a bid to escape net.gremlins) had transformed her Cuddle Castle into a Cuddle Yacht. Inadvertently however, she had created an alternate reality. One reality contained the Cuddle Castle and all her friends, the other, her Cuddle Yacht with Comet the Wonder Cat and all her elves (obviously the work of those dastardly net.gremlins again).
To circumvent the problem she creates a Magic Portal from Snuggle Pond to the Cuddle Yacht. Quickly she is joined by Sir Thumper, Pooky, Colin Cooney, the Wandering Minstrel and his faithful steed Buttercup, NewDad, Princess Judy, Sir P'u, and Princess Yva.
Reference is made on how scrumptious Paolo Elf looks in his sarong and the likely effect this will have on the virtuous Princess Judy. Land is sighted shortly thereafter. Comet the Wonder Cat is extremely relieved. So is Buttercup, who, in a fit of chocolate chip cookie munching had almost become sea sick.
As they near the shore, Pooky spots a mysterious Tower. A dark and sinister place. It rests not upon the island, but floats by some unseen force above the clouds ("sounds like an X-file to me", thinks The Watcher :-) Pooky examines the Tower with the aid of a telescope. The Tower is tall, made of grey brick with two small windows at the top. It leaves Sir Pooky with an unsettled feeling.
As Pooky watches one of the windows, something pink flashes by. The Tower is occupied! Angela quickly takes the telescope and confirms that there is someone in the Tower!
As they near the shore, Dippy Elf warns of their imminent danger from the surrounding reef. The crew all work frantically to bring the Cuddle Yacht into the safety of the bay. They lower a motor boat and everyone makes for the shore.
During the disembarking, Comet is drenched by a freak wave and scampers off into the jungle. Dippy Elf chases after Comet. In the meantime everyone begins to do the only sensible thing possible. They begin to have a picnic. It is while the picnic is going on that a giant silver shape flashes across the sky.
The giant silver shape falls from the sky and finally (once buried under a pile of debris for which he can no longer reliably account for. 3,457 colorful feathers from unseated tropical birds?) resolves into the shape of Sleeth the Silver Dragon. Sleeth, who is slightly dazed, inexplicably proceeds to claim the island for the King of Spain!
In all this commotion, Sir Pooky has been able to forget about the sinister Tower. However, it is not forgotten by Princess Angela, who, after considering feathered boas implores Pooky to lead everyone to the Tower. This is something he is reluctant to do (even though he is courageous, valorous and generally immensely cuddly :-).
It is at this point that Sleeth produces a secret weapon: Fudge covered Oreos which are later known as Pooky Snacks (TM). There is much production and consumption of Pooky Snacks (TM) at this time. But the Pooky Snacks (TM) have an unknown effect on Sir Pooky! Sir Pooky's strength is bolstered. He fears nothing. Have cuddles, must ResQ!!!
Everyone gathers supplies and makes for the Tower. And since this is an exciting and unsettling place for the narrative to suddenly change tack, this is precisely what the narrative will now do.
Dippy Elf had caught up with Comet. They meet Kirrah the mermaid in a pond on the island. Comet, still unimpressed with the drenching, vents negative feelings about all things nautical. Kirrah proceeds to sing a beautiful song about the sea. To cheer Comet up. While Kirrah sings, Dolphin (the dolphin) arrives and adds a lovely counterpoint to the melody.
Dippy Elf and Comet head back to the beach, but are separated. Dippy later finds Comet on the beach grumbling. When asked what the matter was, Comet would only make veiled comments about "The Vet incident"!!!! (Smudge replies with similar dislikes (and catnip)).
Meanwhile, everyone makes there way to the Tower. Angela asks Sleeth to make a reconnaissance flight around the Tower which he does. It's at about this time when things get confusing with people coming and going and to-ing and fro-ing. Sleeth finds a series of Magic Portals. Where they lead no-one knows.
Suddenly Princess Kimba... er KaCee arrives ("I always knew that girl was magick" thinks The Watcher :-) and appraises the situation. A moment later a small dart drifts down from the Tower. Pooky braving all manner of possible dangers, collects the dart and returns to the awaiting A.C.ers. The dart has a message on it from the Tower Dweller!
The Tower Dweller, it turns out, is being held captive by a Tuatara ("Ha! Reptile! Might have known!", thinks The Watcher (who also thinks this is turning into one helluva long narrative. I mean it's now dark outside. Instead of being light and hot, it's DARK AND HOT. Boy this story is long.;-)
The Tower Dweller, being in such a high place, can see all over Cuddleland and is more concerned with other peoples' welfare (such as those of Dame Denise and Sir Thumper (who still can't explain what he was doing in that rosebush) than her own plight. What a gal!!!
The Tower Dweller has also sent another message to all of CuddleLand. BEWARE the dark Tower. Powerful magicks have entrapped the fair damsel and hold her prisoner from all manner of wonderful things (like Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch icecream!) and she entreats one and all not to risk the dangers involved in her ResQ.
Pooky and Princess Judy briefly laugh in the face of danger. Pooky is popping CouragOreos like nobody's business. Then Tasia arrives and indicates her willingness to help.
Sleeth meanwhile has made a flyby of the Tower. The Tower Dweller gets a fleeting glimpse of him as he streaks past her window. She is dazzled by his beauty (and his shiny silver scales). But something is wrong! Some force hurls the mighty dragon into the sea, extinguishing his pilot light. ("Ooooh! Dragon with an extinguished pilot light. Very nasty. Painful too.")
By this time we find Princess Angela caught up in a chocolate room resistant to magick. It appears she has been nabbed by one of the Magic Portals around the Tower. ("Funny, I somehow would have expected Princess Judy to find that room first given her affinity for chocolate" :-)
At the same time some of our travellers get caught up in the basement ("How does a floating Tower have a basement?"). Pooky and Kimba... er KaCee discuss ways of getting into the Tower. For various reasons this conversation degenerates into a tickling match. Fleeting sounds of this wafts up to the Tower Dweller and gives her some comfort.
This comfort is short lived however when she sees Sleeth trying to force bunnies who like red jelly beans to eat black ones and other tricks with black licorice ("Now hang on. Are we sure this isn't Princess Judy here? I mean there was that Pooky/red licorice/black licorice thing. If the shoe fits... you probably won't get blisters").
But is this the _real_ Sleeth. NO!! It's a doppel-anti-Sleeth. An evil twin. EEEEEEEEEEEEVIL! Created when Sleeth fell into the sea. The real Sleeth sends a comforting message to the Tower Dweller. She smiles.
Pooky meanwhile begins an examination of the Tower. It floats. But it also moves!!! Pooky plots the movement on a map and distributes this to all of CuddleLand. Pooky comes to a decision. The Tower Dweller MUST be ResQd. But how to gain entrance to the Tower?....
The _real_ Sleeth and the anti-Sleeth meet face to face and a battle ensues. Both are dazed by the fight. One mumbles "I claim this land for the King of Spain!" "That's the real one!" says Pooky. And the doppel-Sleeth mysteriously vanishes.
Dame Denise knights Sleeth as a KITA and much celebration ensues. Meanwhile, Princess KaCee ("Hah! remembered that time") enters the Tower by some unknown means, runs to the Tower Dweller and cuddles her relentlessly. However, the Tuatara captures the fair princess too. ("WHAT!! Right. That's it. This just got PERSONAL!! That Tuatara is GOIN' DOWN!)
At that moment it is found that one of the basement dwellers is Dolphin. He begins to sing a beautiful song in the hope of calming the fair Princess and the fair Tower Dweller. A cry rings out through all of CuddleLand to save the trapped cuddlers. A.C.ers from all around gather.
Ideas fly thick and fast to try and reach a solution, but access to the Tower causes major consternation. Many suggest flying, others suggest leaping. If only they could work out how Princess KaCee got up there. Maybe one of the portals, but which one. Who knows where they could end up.
A note wafts down from the Tower. It is from Princess KaCee. It explains that although the Tower Dweller is a swell gal and they are having fun with cuddles, ghost stories and campfire songs, they really would like to be ResQd now. The goon that keeps them captive is sometimes menacing. ("GOONS! Hmmm, looks like a job for Spike Milligan or Harry Secombe. I talk to da trees, dat's why day put me away" :-)
The Wandering Minstrel has an idea. As the Tower swings into view he notices that the gargoyles at the base of the Tower lead to a set of steps and up to the main door. With the aid of his faithful friend Buttercup, The Wandering Minstrel swings a rope up and snags a gargoyle. Up he climbs to the base of the Tower.
As he opens the Tower door however, The Wandering Minstrel is greeted by a terrible sight. The gargoyles come to life, creating havoc in their path. With the help of Daffy, Juanie and Kiki (the now Giant Cuddle Cats) the gargoyles are driven off and The Wandering Minstrel continues on.
Despite being trapped in the Tower, the fair Princess KaCee still continues with her princessly duties, comforts the captive Tower Dweller Heidi and manages to finish the first draft of her thesis and hand it in on time.
What happens now? Only time will tell, dear reader.
The story continues.....
The Watcher looks up from his screen. The fair Princess KaCee and The Tower Dweller Heidi trapped in the Tower with the Tuatara.
The Wandering Minstrel somewhere inside.
Princess Angela trapped in a magick absorbing chocolate room.
Dolphin in the basement.
All the rest of the A.C.ers outside with Sir Pooky leading.
The Watcher stands. No more can be learned from the Cuddle Chronicles. Now the Tower itself beckons. The Watcher gathers his portable electronic encyclopaedia (for access to essential Tower ResQ texts) and his coffee cup and prepares for the journey.
He walks over to the wall where his Ivy Staff (TM) (with secret emergency coffee-ration hideaway) and takes it down. It is surprisingly light for its size. Strong Magick!
The Watcher balances the staff on his finger. Twirls it gently. Time to go.
The Watcher raises his staff. There is a bright flash of light and he is gone...
Sleeth (Don G. Hanson) [dn954@cleveland.Freenet.Edu] then started the ResQ
Sleeth had barely managed to make it to the base of the tower and he realized he was pretty much through flying until his tail grew back in, gliding was possible so at least he could get back down. The gargoyles having been scattered by the CuddleCats and their riders, there was no longe anything between him and the door.
As he stepped through the portal into the tower, he could hear the Minstrel singing and saw him confronting a huge evil-looking goon of some sort. The creature was shying back from the music and circling the Minstrel looking for an opening. Sleeth crept up and leapt on the goon knocking him over. Sleeth began tickling the beast mercilessly and licking his face. The goon was soon out of breath. "Uncle!" the goon whispered breathlessly. "Where are the captives?" Sleeth asked him. "Or I'll be forced to tickle you a second time!"
The goon pointed out one of the doors. "T-t-top of th-th-the st-stairs. T- t-turn r-r-right, f-f-four-ourth c-cell. Take the keys, just don't do that again. Sleeth and the minstrel head off up the stairs as the goon holds his ribs and moans.
And then, because Heidi the Tower Dweller was leaving soon (in real life), and everyone wanted to have the rescue fully underway ... Pooky (Robert P. Beyer) [beyer@waterloo.hp.com] wrote the rescue story ...
POSTCARD: [Part 1] - Pooky hears the magic words ... POOKY SNACKS!
*The other cuddlers don't seem to want to wade through a veritable ocean of *tuataras to save Sir P'u. Not that they don't want to, but it would take a *superhuman effort to get past them. Sir P'u thinks quickly.
Looking around Pooky sees a lot of cuddlers, who have ammassed all of their weapondry for this legendary rescue ...
Pooky quickly assesses the extent of the cuddles ...
Angela, Sir Thumper have been rescued by Sleeth from the chocolate room, who had bravely lost his tail in the rescue. But dragons being magical, his tail has grown back in!
Princess KaCee, and Heidi the captive cuddler, are still trapped in the tower, guarded by tuataras which are primitive reptiles, which have a row of spines along their back, and also have a third eye. *shiver* ... Yuck.
Tasia's Goo Balls ... we have four different sizes, although *blush* ... I've almost depleted the stock of the really scrumptious ones ...
Matt and his cuddly cloud which can fly ...
Forne Marin who is a duck and can fly ...
Princess Judy and her infamous licorice whips, and licorice rope
...
Princess Yva and the blue lights ...
Huy the wizard, who can use his magic and his cloud to aid us!
The CuddleCats ... who can turn the gargoyles to stone by licking
them ...
Rose, who can grow with a lot of plant food to get us all up to
the tower ...
Princess Angela, whose flowing scarves could blind the tuataras
...
Sir Thumper, being small can slip by undetected (and can still
carry the CuddleCam to film everything ... :)
NewDad, Colin Cooney, Patty-anne, Sue, Dorothy Eng, Snow Monkey, The african Lion, Mark F., Bryan the Tattered Teddy Bear, Alex, and Elena, who are all ready and willing to help rescue the cuddlers!
He tries to think of a solution ... but nothing is coming to him ...
"But we've got no Pooky Snacks![tm], and we have tuataras to fight, and captive cuddlers to rescue", thinks Pooky to himself ... his knees still a shaking, and sounding like a mariachi band ...
The cuddlers are again looking to Pooky for guidance ... but they only hear his teeth chattering, and knees knocking ...
-- And in the tower already starting the second rescue ...
Sleeth who is currently tickling gargoyles, and getting the directions to the captive cuddlers ...
The wandering Minstrel is also racing to rescue the cuddlers ...
Sir P'u has his hands full with the tuataras flying through portals ...
Mark Fawcett who has climed up to the tower using his grappling hook and rope.
-- [Pooky ... who has been busy trembling below the tower, hearing all of the commotion ... contemplating what he could possibly do to help save the captive cuddlers ... suddenly hears these words rising above the din ...]
*"I'VE GOT POOKY SNACKS(TM)!"
[Ears perk up ...]
"Pooky snacks", Pooky mumbles to himself under his
breath ...
"Oh how I desperately need some of those right now ..."
And with that last thought [all thinking ceased after this point ...], Pooky quickly grabbed the largest Goo Ball, and holding it above his head with superhuman strength [come on ... teddy bears can do anything right? *giggle*], he finds that courage within himself (my goodness! Without a Pooky Snack?) and says ...
Huy, Matt! You both have clouds right? Great!!! Huy, can you take Matt's Cuddly cloud, and your cloud, and carry me and tasia's goo ball up to the tower? Like I stand with one foot on each cloud, and you both fly me up there? You can!!! *big*smile*
Huy, we need some extra-cuddly-super-qwik-gro plant food for our lovely Rose. So that she can grow up to the tower, and help everyone climb up! We need her to be able to wrap herself around the tower ... holding it still, so that we can get back out again by climbing down.
Forne ... you take Sir Thumper up there, so that he can sneak in and get to the captive cuddlers. That way Sir Thumper can tell us exactly where to go!
The cuddlecats! We need you to turn all of the gargoyles back to stone! Why should we fight them, if they're so quickly defeated!
Princess Yva ... your blue lights will calm the tuataras! Princess Angela, your scarves can dazzle, and blind those tuataras too! That way we can get close enough to them.
Judy, oh lovely Judy ... we're going to need a lot of your licorice rope, so that we can tie up those nasty tuataras ... You brought along an extra big supply? Great! Ummm ... what were you going to be using that for? Oh, never mind ... we've got cuddlers to rescue!!!
NewDad, Colin Cooney, Patty-anne, Sue, Dorothy Eng, Snow Monkey, The african Lion, Mark F., Bryan the Tattered Teddy Bear, Alex get yourselves ready for this cuddly battle ...
[and with that last word ... Huy creates enough extra-cuddly-super-qwik-gro plant food for Rose, who begins growing instantly!!!]
Upwards her lovely blossoms grow, stronger, and stronger she becomes, as if this were from Jack and the Beanstalk ... so much magic working so quickly! Huy! You are truly a powerful wizard! [And with that compliment, Huy begins growing as well!!!]
Magnificently Rose grows upwards, as the tower slowly comes around to the bottom point of the heart in it's path ...
Rose quickly wraps herself around the tower, her thorns, now strong and sharp grab fast into the grey brick of the tower ... jarring it, and holding it in place ... Rose strains against the tower's motion ... for a moment it looks as if she must let go ... but with all her might, she pulls herself taut, and grips the tower in a vice like embrace ... her lovely roses now blooming all about the tower, as if a garden encircling it. Her thorns are as large as steps, a starcase which can be climbed.
Pooky drops the giant goo-ball absentmindedly, and runs up and tries to encircle Rose with a hug Teddy Bear Hug, but only manages to Hug about 2/3 of the way around. "You look magnificent!", Pooky exclaims.
Pooky quickly grabs the giant Goo Ball, and stepping carefully first onto Matt's cloud, and then onto Huy's ... he looks at both Matt and Huy ...
"Let's go!", cries Matt ... and with that everything is set in motion!
The cuddlers begin climing up Rose, with Snow Monkey obviously being the best climber, not needing to use the staircase thorns of Rose ...
Huy and Matt's clouds lift off, with Pooky precariously trying to keep his balance while holding this giant goo ball ...
Snow Monkey is the first to reach the top ...
"Aiiieeee!!!", he screams ... as one of the gargoyles lunges towards him. He ducks this attack gracefully, and jumps up onto the gargoyles back, holding his hands over it's eyes ...
It stops moving. All the other gargoyles pile up behind it ... unable to reach Snow Monkey, because he's behind the first gargoyles wings, and the first gargoyle won't move, 'cause it can't see where it's going. It thrashes around trying to dislodge Snow Monkey ... but to no avail ...
This gives everyone else time to climb Rose ... the CuddleCats are soon to follow, as they quickly lick the first gargoyle, and it turns to stone!!!
The other gargoyles see this transformation, and begin scattering in random directions ... fearing to be turned to stone again ...
This makes such easy prey for the CuddleCats ... as they stalk their victims, and with a quick *lick* ... another stone gargoyle ...
Forne, and Sir Thumper have arrived on the scene, and are filming everything!
But all the cuddlers are blocked behind this first gargoyle ... how can we get through the doorway if there's a stone gargoyle here? ...
Dorothy ... Kamikaze Kuddler extrordinaire decides to use her pounceing and trouncing skills in a true Kamikaze fashion ... She builds up all of her might ... gathering strength from the many, many cuddles and hugs she's given to everyone (definate Princess material here!) into one gigantic super kamikaze cuddle. With one deft *HUG* ... she grabs hold of the stone gargoyle, giving it such an incredible cuddle ... that it begins cracking ... The stone itself is breaking!!!
All the cuddlers quickly seek shelter out of the pending explosion ...
Suddenly ...
* B O O O O M M M M ! ! ! *
Shards of stone, and dust is flying everywhere ...
"Dorothy!!!!", screams NewDad ... "are you alright?!?!"
From through the dust we hear Dorothy ... "Yes! I'm fine! Hey! You'd never guess what's inside these things!" ...
As the dust settles ... Dorothy holds in her hand a tiny little dragon ... in beautiful multicoloured hues of red, blue and gold ... It coughs and sputters out the dust ... and as it turns up to look at her, smiling peacefully, and gratefully ...
Slowly it squeaks out a little "Thank you." ... "I've been trapped inside that stone gargoyle for such a long time ... I thought I'd never be able to get out ..." ...
At this point, all of the cuddlers enter the doorway ... Dorothy knows that she must rescue all of the little dragons who were trapped inside the gargoyles, and now that the CuddleCats have turned them all to stone, that's an easy job for a Kamikaze Kuddler to do! :)
The CuddleCats return ... their tongues hanging out ... "Milk!", they cry, for they've licked about all that they can lick ...
Bryan, who is always prepared, takes out a saucer, and a carton of milk from his cuddle-pack, and sets a lovely saucer of milk down for the CuddleCats.
Dorothy, having her Kamikaze Kuddling Quest, rescuing all of the cute little dragons who are trapped inside the gargoyles, sets off for the next gargoyle and promptly cuddles it ...
"Onwards!", cries Colin, as he points his cuddle-sword forward!
POSTCARD: [Part 2] - Inside the tower ... to the Tuataras!
The group of cuddlers race through the hallways ... Sue and Mark taking the lead ... the halls are curiously empty for some reason ...
Very empty ...
"Where are the Tuataras?", Pooky questions ...
Just then, the Wandering Minstrel races into the hallway ...
"This way he exclaims!"
We all race after him, as he leads us through the widing passageways to where Sir P'u is standing in the middle of a ring of tuataras ... He can't throw any more into the portals ... there are too many flying through them already! Since, as soon as they fly through one, they fall into another, and fall into another one, and eventually they end up falling through the same portal again ...
With a bone trembling "Grrrrrooowwwllllll!!!!!", the African Lion shakes the entire room ... startling everyone including the tuataras ...
All of the tuataras eyes turn towards the African Lion ...
"NOW!" screams Alex ... Judy quickly gives one end of the licorice rope to Elena Bunny who with a massive bunny hop, leaps up over the beams in the ceiling, falling down towards Sir P'u in the centre of the tuataras ...
Sir P'u reacting quickly, gently catches Elena, and grabs tightly onto the rope ... and with Alex, Judy, Bryan, Colin, and Mark pulling on the licorice rope ... Sir P'u and Elena are quickly lifted out of the ring of tuataras and up to the rafters and safety ... before the slow witted tuataras can even blink ...
The tuataras turn back into the circle to devour their catch, only to find it missing!
As they are busy turning, and looking, Sue, Judy, Patty-anne, and NewDad take pieces of licorice rope, and stealthfully tie the ankles of the tuatara together (lie tieing their shoelaces!) ... One tuatara notices what they are doing, and tries lunging towards Patty-anne ... only to come crashing down into a heap, because it's feet were already tied ... Sue jumps away as the tuatara she was trying to tie up gets wise to her ... and hisses, and snaps at her ... Sue deftfully avoids it's lunge ... but it looms above her ... ready to attack ... it lunges ...
*CRACK!*
As the air is split by the sound of a whip being struck ...
... as it finds it's mark, striking the tuatara on the nose.
"Judy!" exclaims Pooky. "You've been practicing!!!" ... *smile*
In pain, the tuatara shirks back, letting Sue quickly escape back to safety. Patty-anne, and NewDad also had to give up on tying up the tuatara. They weren't distracted long enough ...
After watching so many cuddlers, performing so many brave feats, Pooky knows that he must do something about all the tuataras which Sir P'u has sent through the portals, and are still falling through them even now.
He carefully walks up towards one of the portals, and peers through ... He sees part of Cuddleland pond ... Nope. That's not good. He walks over to another portal ... peers into this one ... and sees the Cuddleland Forest ... he ducks away just barely quickly enough to avoid being hit by one of the flying tuatara ... He looks into another portal ... one of the smaller ones, and he sees the lovely green hills of New Zealand!
"Yes!", he thinks to himself ... this is the right portal!!! As he quickly backs away from it, avoiding the tuatara which just came flying through ...
With that thought, Pooky takes the giant goo-ball he has been holding, and throws it towards this portal ... it gets lodged!!!
A giant goo-ball is now blocking the portal! Loud *thumps* are heard through the goo-ball, as the tuatara crash into the goo-ball on the other side ... landing in New Zealand in their natural habitat again!
Soon the entire chain of flying tuatara disappear, as they all hit the goo-ball, and land back home ...
Suddenly a great blue light fills the room, as everyone is filled with peace and tranquility ...
"Princess Yva!", exclaims Snow Monkey ... "what a wonderful light ... it's ... it's so ... calming ..."
The tuataras are also calmed by this light ... and lessen their aggression, but the blue lights are not quite enough ... Princess Angela quickly takes this as her cue, and filled with the happiness of the blue lights, begins dancing ... her silk scarves scintillating in the light ... with her looking so lovely, and sublime ... dazzling ...
The tuataras eyes begin following the flowing scarves of Princess Angela. "They're all distracted again!!!", says Sir Thumper
Everyone quickly grabs Judy's licorice ropes, and races around tying up all of the remaining tuataras, as Princess Yva, and Princess Judy so distract them with their beauties ...
Sir P'u and Elena Bunny climb back down the rope, and quickly pulling it free, they help tying up the tuatara ...
"Here's one left!", says Alex ...
"But we don't have any more rope!", exclaims Patty-anne ...
"I can fix that!", says Judy ... "Just leave it up to me. I've had to learn how to be resourceful when the need arose ... like when I only had RED licorice rope for some STRANGE reason", as she winks mischeviously at Pooky, who promplty *blushes* as if on cue ...
With a deft and practiced hand, Princess Judy ties the reamining tuatara with her licorice whip ...
"There! We've got them!", says Colin ...
"Oh-oh ...", says Bryan ... "I think they like black licorice ... maybe we should have used RED ones ..."
Pooky quickly suggests ... everyone ... grab this tuatara, and help me throw it through the portal. It should fall all the way through the other portals, and end up hitting the big goo-ball, which should send it back home to New Zealand! Right?
As Pooky looks around he sees all the cuddlers looking back at him saying with their eyes ... "I ain't touching no slimy tuataras" ...
"Please?", Pooky begs ... "We can all go for a swim in the Cuddle Pond later to clean up? We can have a lovely party there ... I promise I'll even bake a lot of cookies! Just think about that, and let's get these tuatara back home where they belong!"
And with that cuddly thought in their minds, the cuddlers go over to the first tuatara, and with a mighty heave, lift the beast, as it writhes, and twists off the ground ... over to the portal ...
"On three", Pooky shouts ...
"One ... Two ... Thhhreeeeeeeeee!!!", and with a mighty toss, all the cuddlers toss the tuatara into the portal ...
*swish* ... as it flies through the first one ...
*swish* ... through the second ...
*swish* ... *swish* ... *swish* ... as everyone watches it fly by
...
Then suddely ... a *THUMP* is heard from behind the goo-ball.
"It worked!", exclaimed Huy!
Quickly, the cuddlers grabbed the next tuatara, and threw it through the portal ... grabbing tuatara after tuatara they get tossed through the magic portals with a satisfying *THUMP* heard through the goo-ball, meaning another tuatara has gotten home ...
Princess Judy, is making sure that the tuatara can't escape, and is constantly retying the knots which the tuatara keep eating through ...
Pretty soon they've gotten all of the tuataras through the portals, and the room is now empty except for the cuddlers ...
"Hey everyone!", exclaims Dorothy, as she walks in with a little cloud of lovely tiny dragons circling around her.
"Look at all of them! They're sooooo cute!", says Sue ... as one of the little dragons flies over, lands on her shoulder, and rubs up against her cheek.
At that moment, Sleeth the magnificent dragon walks into the chamber ...
"Hey!!! You're all finally here!", he extolls ...
"We got rid of all the goons here", says Princess Angela ...
"There's still one of them back there ... where I tickled him silly.", says Sleeth ...
"We'd better get that one too", says Pooky. "We can send them back by throwing them through the port..als ..." ... just then Pooky notices that the portals are shimmering and getting smaller ... many have already vanished!!!
"Oh no!!! We'd better get that one home quickly!", says Matt.
Everyone races back to the tuatara who is still holding his ribs from the massive tickling Sleeth gave it, and with a quick lift, it's hoisted up, and carried back into the chamber ...
"Oh no! All the portals are gone!", says Alex ...
"No wait! There's one left!", says Pooky ... "The one with the goo-ball!"
Pooky quickly races over to the goo-ball ... and tries to free it from the portal ... but to no avail ... "I'm not strong enough!", he says ...
Sir P'u thinking quickly says ... "Pooky ... if you move that goo-ball, I'll give you this bag of Pooky Snacks[tm] I've got here!"
Pooky looks at the bag to which Sir P'u is pointing ... and then looks back at the goo-ball, then back at the bag ...
"Mmmm ... Pooky Snacks ... *drool*". And with that, Pooky quickly grabs the goo-ball, and with a mighty yank, frees it from the portal.
The cuddlers quickly throw the tuatara through the slowly closing portal. As they see it return home ...
"Pooky!!!", Sir Thumper shouts!
"There's one still stuck on the goo-ball!!!"
Without thinking too much, Pooky takes the goo-ball, with the tuatara stuck on it, and jams it back into the portal ... barely getting the tuatara through ... and closing up the portal again ...
"We have to let the portal close tho'", says
Princess Yva ...
"You're right ... but how can we?", says Elena Bunny
...
"We could use some of Huy's magic to make the goo-ball smaller ... couldn't we?", says Matt ...
"Brilliant!", exclaims Huy, as he conjures up a spell ... and the goo-ball begins shrinking ... slowly, but steadily ... and the portal shrinking with it around it ...
Soon, the goo-ball was down to a tiny size ... about the size of a regular goo-ball ...
"I can't get it to be any smaller", says Huy ... "There is a limit as to how small things can be."
"I want a Pooky snack", says Pooky to Sir P'u ...
"I'm sorry Pooky ... I don't have any ... But I'll make you some when we get back out to Cuddleland.", he says with a meek smile ...
"Oh ...", Pooky has a dejected look ... "I was so looking forward to one now. I need it to build up my courage ..."
"But Pooky", says Princess Yva ... "you did everything without a Pooky Snack. You overcame your scardy-ness ..."
"I did?", *gulp* ... "I guess I did ... didn't I?", says Pooky ...
Everyone else nods ...
"Oh ... ummm ... neat."
"We must rescue the Captive cuddlers! I know where they are!", says Sleeth
Everyone quickly gathers up themselves, and begins following Sleeth who is heading up the stairs ...
"But I wanted a little snack ...", thinks Pooky ...
"Hmmm ...", as he watches all the cuddlers running after Sleeth ...
Pooky then reaches out, and grabbing the now tiny goo-ball, with a soft little pop! it pops out of the portal ... as he watches it shrink away into nothing ... he looks at the goo-ball ... and pops it into his mouth.
"Mmmm ... it is still quite yummy.", as Pooky charges off after all the other cuddlers and Sleeth ...
POSTCARD: [Part 3] - Rescuing Princess KaCee, and the Captive Cuddler
Sleeth is leading all of the cuddlers up the stairs ...
"The goon said that it was at the top of the stairs, turn right, and it would be the fourth cell!", Sleeth exclaimed to everyone ...
"Figures, that they would keep them both in the top of the tower", thinks Pooky, as he pants, and is out of breath having just (barely) caught up with everyone else ...
Mark gently touches one of Rose's lovely blossoms as he runs by the window.
Sleeth reaches the top of the stairs ... "Right", he states ...
"One ... Two ... Three ... Four ... Here we are!"
"They're here!", we hear Princess KaCee exclaim!
"Really?", says Heidi!
"Yes rilly", giggle Judy in reply ...
Heidi runs to the door, and looks directly at the magnificent Sleeth. "Oh my!", she says ... "you are very handsome ..."
Sleeth blushes ... (which is tough for a dragon to do ...) ...
KaCee looks through the door as well ...
"Wow! Look Heidi! Everyone is here!!!", she says ...
Everyone waves back ...
"Well ... come on ... get them outta there!", Judy exclaims ...
Sleeth, uses the keys on the locked door, and in a moment, a loud satisfying *CLUNK* is heard from the lock. The bars on the door pull back away from the walls ... as the door unlocks ...
He grabs the door ... and tries to budge it. But it won't move?!?
"Come on ... help me here ...", he asks ...
Pooky, Mark, and Colin go up, and grab hold of the door ... and pull with all their might ... but it still won't budge.
"We need more help here!", says Mark ...
Just then ... the Watcher, who has been keeping a careful eye on everything which has been happening arrives up the stairs ... "I'm here to help", he states ...
He quickly overlooks the situation ... and suggests ... "Tie some ropes or something to the door ... that way we can all pull, and try to open it! I also brought some CourageOreos for everyone to build up your strength!"
"Ohhhhhh!!!", drools Pooky, as he quickly snarfs down a Pooky Snack ...
As the Pooky Snacks are being handed out to everyone ... very deftly and quickly, Judy brings out her remaining licorice whips, and ties them to the door. Everyone then grabs part of the licorice whips, and pulls as if in a tug-of-war with all their might ...
A *GROAN* is heard from the door, as everyone pulls ...
"MORE!!!", shouts Alex ...
Everyone pulls with an ever greater might! ... A small *CREAK* is heard ... but it's still not enough ...
"AGAIN!!!", screams Matt ...
And with a mighty combined effort from all the cuddlers ...
*CRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKK!!!!*
As the door opens slowly ...
"We're FREEEEE!!!", exclaims KaCee, as she hugs Heidi relentlessly ...
"I can leave the tower now?", questions Heidi ...
"Yes!", says KaCee, as she takes Heidi by the hand, and they both emerge on the other side of the door ...
"Hooray!!!", everyone cheers!
As everyone quickly and lovingly *POUNCES* and *CUDDLES* Heidi ... who was captive for so long in the tower ...
*hug* *snuggle* *cuddle* *nuzzle* *kitty cuddles* *African Lion snugs* *nuzzle* *cuddle* *hug* *Magic cuddles* *pooky bear cuddles* *happy cuddles* *hug* *cuddle* *cuddle* *hug* *giggle* *monkey cuddles* *hug* *cuddle* *hug* *hug* *dragon snuggles* *cuddle* *snuggle* *hug* *huggle* *hug* *cuddle* *cloud snuggles* *hug* *snuggle* *hug* *tickle* *little bunny huggles* *nuzzle* *cuddle* *hug* *snuggle* *hug* *snuggle* *hug* *musical hugs* *hug* *cuddle* *snuggle*
* HuG* *HUg* *HUG* *huG* *hug* *Hug* *hUG* *hUg* *HuG* *HUg* *HUG* *huG* *hug* *Hug* *hUG* *hUg* *HuG* *HUg* *HUG* *huG* *hug* *Hug* *hUG* *hUg* *HuG* *HUg* *HUG* *huG* *hug* *Hug* *hUG* *hUg* *HuG* *HUg* *HUG* *huG* *hug* *Hug* *hUG* *hUg* *HuG* *HUg* *HUG* *huG* *hug* *Hug* *hUG* *hUg* *HuG* *HUg* *HUG* *huG* *hug* *Hug* *hUG* *hUg* *HuG* *HUg* *HUG* *huG* *hug* *Hug* *hUG* *hUg* *HuG* *HUg* *HUG* *huG* *hug* *Hug* *hUG* *hUg* *HuG* *HUg* *HUG* *huG*
And after all of the hugging and snuggling ... everyone descends back down the stairs ... with our rescued ladies ... the lovely little dragons, and all the tuatara returned to their proper home ...
Arriving at the front door, Heidi marvels at how lovely Rose is. As everyone descends back down, carefully ... and finally everyone is standing back on solid ground ...
"It's so lovely out here!", marvells Heidi ...
"Rose! Huy is now going to reverse the magic spell, and shrink you back down to your regular size! You'd better let go of the tower!", Pooky shouts
"Alright ... be careful down below ... I don't know where the tower is going to go ...", Rose explains ...
As she slowly releases herself from around the tower ... it begins drifting again ... slowly moving ... returning to it's original heart shaped path ...
With a wave of his magic wand ... Huy causes Rose to return to her normal size ... but her blossoms all stay! And she is truly lovely with so many gorgeous flowers ... A sight to behold ...
"Look at the tower!!!", exclaims Colin ...
"It's disappearing!!!", says Mark ...
And with barely a few seconds more ... the tower had dissolved into the air. Completely gone ... nothing remaining ...
"The tower is gone!", says Pooky ...
"I guess, since the captive cuddler has escaped, there was no need for the tower any longer ...", says Snow monkey ...
"Ummm ... can we go have that party now?", says NewDad, who is anxious to get the tuatara goo off of his hands ...
"Definately!", Heidi exclaims. "I've been waiting sooo long to be able to take part in a lovely CuddleLand party!"
And with that, she takes Sleeth, and Pooky in arm, and begins walking off with them towards the CuddlePond ... and hand in hand, everyone smiling, and happy ... off to celebrate their triumph ...
"Let's Party!"
A short notice to the newer Cuddlers: Little time after the above story Pooky and Heidi became a couple. They're happily living in New-Zealand now.....
Compiled by Olmur.
Please see the copyright notice.
Last modified: November 05, 1998 by Locksley