[Day 11 - late afternoon - during the trial]

An idea began to niggle in the back of Iris's mind - shadowy at first, it 
gradually began to take shape until she could hardly contain her glee.  It 
was perfect!  Now to put it into effect.

  {You're just the dragon to help me put this plan into action, Nitwit,} she 
informed Loki once she had given him an outline of her idea.

{It's *Dimwit*...and why would I want to help you, anyway?}

  {Because you'll have too much fun watching it not to.}

{You have a point,} he conceded.  { Now, we just have to set it up.  You got 
any ideas?}

  {Of course.  Now here's how we'll do it.}  And Iris proceeded to fill Loki 
in on the plan.

{Ooh, I like how you think, Sly.}

She ignored his last remark.  {I'll talk to Sabbith, while you talk to 
Selene.  Just be sure you don't mess it up.}

{Like I would,} he scoffed. 

****

Iris found Sabbith more than willing to help with Selene's new exercise plan. 
 {It will be fun to help her,} he stated.

{I hoped you'd feel that way.  Varaenna will be so pleased if we can get that 
fathead to shed a few pounds.}

  {Yes, I'm sure she'd approve of this plan.  It gives everyone what they 
want.}

{It certainly does,} Iris agreed in satisfaction.  Selene was definitely 
going to get hers by the time Sabbith was finished with her.  And then maybe, 
just maybe, they'd be even.

****

In the meantime, Loki was having more trouble convincing Selene than he'd 
anticipated.

{But Fathead, it's for your own good,} he cajoled.

  {I don't care,} she protested, {it sounds too uncomfortable to me.}

{And all this dieting is comfortable?} Loki countered.  {Look, the sooner you 
lose some weight, the sooner Varaenna will take you off your diet.}

  {It won't matter.  I'll be dead by then.}

{You will not!  Sheesh, what a fathead.  They're not going to let you starve.}

  {It certainly feels that way.  I haven't been this hungry since I hatched.}

{You only think you haven't.  You're always this hungry.}

  {And how would you know?}

{Trust me, Fathead.  I've seen you eat.}

  {Not anymore you won't.  I'm not allowed,} she began to wail.

{You are, too, allowed.  Five fish per day.  Now hush all that racket!}

  {But I don't like fish,} she whined.  {I'd so much rather have a nice juicy 
buck.  Mmm.  You'll bring me one, won't you, Dimwit?} she entreated.

{Sure, later.  But look at it this way, if this plan works, you might get to 
eat a little more without Varaenna even noticing because you'll be losing so 
much weight.}

There was a long pause while Selene considered this new development. {All 
right,} she conceded at last.  {I'll do it.}

{Great!}  Loki mentally rubbed his forefeet together.  {Let's go find 
Sabbith.}

As the two trotted along toward the hatching cavern, Loki checked in with his 
co-conspirator.

{It's all set,} she informed him.  {Meet us in the apartment Fiery used to 
use.  Safer that way.}

Loki turned to head toward the unused apartment.

  {Where are we going?  I thought Sabbith was in the hatching cavern with 
Varaenna.}

{He was, but he didn't want to disturb her while you do your exercises.}

  {Oh, ok.}  Selene went along with it.

****    

When they got to the apartment, Sabbith was waiting for them.  Selene looked 
warily at him, wondering just how uncomfortable this new exercise program was 
going to prove to be.  Still, it had to be better than starving to death, 
didn't it?

{Are you all ready to get started playing, Selene?} Sabbith asked eagerly.

  {Playing?} she wondered, {I thought this was supposed to be work.}

{Oh, no,} Sabbith responded, {I'll do all the work, you just enjoy it.}

  {Ooh,} Selene perked up.  {That sounds much better.}  She turned to Loki.  
{You could have told me it was going to be fun, Dimwit,} she scolded.

Loki sighed.  Sometimes that Fathead could be such a...well, a fathead.  {You 
just go on and play, Selene, while I,} he smothered a chortle, {just sit way 
over here out of the way and watch.}

While Loki settled himself comfortably in a corner, Iris poked her head 
through the entrance.

{Have I missed anything?} she called out.

Selene's head swung around.  {Just what is *she* doing here?} she questioned 
suspiciously.

{I'm here to supervise,} Iris retorted.  {Varaenna did tell me to help you 
with your diet and exercising.  Well, that's just what I'm doing.}  Keeping 
an eye on Selene, she positioned herself beside Loki, closer to the doorway - 
just in case.  You never knew when something could go awry when it came to 
these two.

Selene was still dubious, but if she continued to protest, she might find she 
actually had to *work* to exercise.  And although Loki was a dimwit, he 
wouldn't lie to her, so she figured this had to be all right.

{Ok, let's get started, then,} she capitulated.  {What do you want me to do?}

Sabbith looked her over from head to toe.  There certainly was a lot of her 
to work with.  {Why don't you lie down on your side.}

As soon as Selene was stretched out on the floor, the red dragon positioned 
himself above her.  From the first stroke of his claws across her sensitive 
underbelly, Selene was howling hysterically, kicking fiercely in a futile 
attempt to escape the maddening tickling sensation.  Sabbith, warming to his 
work, was relentless as he ran his claws along her body, drawing wilder and 
louder shrieks from her with every pass.

{STOP...I can't...stand it!} she gasped out between gales of laughter.

Sabbith hesitated briefly.  The queen had said much the same thing, though, 
and yet she had continued to laugh and had eventually gotten over being 
angry.  He ignored Selene's pleas.

Selene squirmed and flailed, all to no avail.  No matter how she twisted her 
bulk, she couldn't escape the incessant tickling.  

In their spectators' corner, Iris and Loki were no longer able to contain 
their own hoots of glee.  It really was comical the way Selene thrashed 
frantically about, roaring with both laughter and frustration.  

Loki suddenly ducked as Selene's tail whipped too close to where they were 
crouched.  Iris's reflexes were just a second behind his, but it was not 
enough to avoid a head-ringing smack.

When the stars had begun to fade, Iris realized that Loki was now doubled 
over with mirth, nearly rolling on the ground himself as he chortled over 
both Iris's and Selene's predicaments.

  {You're asking for it yourself, Nitwit!} she growled irately, looming on 
him menacingly, claws poised.

{Oh, no you don't!} Loki protested, backing into the corner.  {If it weren't 
for me, Selene wouldn't be getting tortured over there right now.}

Iris sat back down on her haunches.  {This is true,} she conceded.  {And it 
is definitely worth it!} She began to laugh again in spite of the headache.

Selene meanwhile was beginning to feel exhausted.  She couldn't ever remember 
having exerted herself so much - not even when she had nearly drowned during 
the hurricane or when trying to outfly Loki.  The laughter was beginning to 
fade into something more like piteous howls of defeat, and her struggles were 
much more feeble.

It was Loki who finally took pity on the pathetically writhing yellow dragon. 
 {Sabbith,} he called out, {don't you think maybe that's enough exercise for 
today?}

  {Do you think so?} Sabbith wondered, not easing up for a moment.

Selene's head was now sagging onto the ground, wheezing for breath as she 
faintly pawed the air.

{Yes, I think she looks like she's about had it,} Loki persisted.  After all, 
she was *his* fathead and he didn't want her to suffer permanent damage - he 
didn't know if that were possible, but he preferred not to take any chances 
just the same.  

  {All right,} Sabbith agreed, finally letting go of Selene - who just lay 
still on the ground, eyes closed, waiting until she felt like she could move 
again.  Perhaps sometime next week.

At long last, she listlessly managed to declare, {I'm going to speak to 
Doshayne about these exercises....  There just has to be an easier way.}

Iris and Loki exchanged alarmed glances.  {Um, you don't want to do that, 
Fathead,} Loki maintained.  {She would disapprove of this.  She considers 
tickling fun.  She'd certainly pick exercises that were much more work.}

{That's right,} Iris chimed in.  {And you don't want to work any harder than 
this, do you?}

Selene couldn't even imagine what might seem like more work than this.  Just 
the thought made her shudder.  {No, this was enough of a workout,} she 
sighed.  {What time do you want me here tomorrow?} 

****

[Day 12 - late morning]

At the appointed time, Loki arrived to escort Selene to her next exercise 
session.

{Come on, Fathead.  Time to go.}

  {I don't want to,} Selene replied petulantly.  {I'm still hungry, and it's 
almost time for training, anyway.  Be a good little dimwit and go away.}  She 
laid her head back down and closed her eyes.

{I'm not going anywhere,} Loki retorted, {at least not without you.  You know 
this is for the best.  Now, come on!} 

  {I told you, I'm not going.}  She refused to look at him.  {Just leave me 
alone.}

He nudged her firmly with his snout, repeating the gesture until she sighed.

  {I can see I'm not going to get any peace today.}  She twitched irritably.  
{If you ask me, you're getting far too much enjoyment out of tormenting me.} 

{What else is new?}

****

Meanwhile, at the still-empty apartment, an anxious Iris had already arrived 
and was waiting for the others.  No way was she going to miss seeing this.  
It had been too much fun yesterday.

She sat down on her haunches to wait...and wait...and wait.

   {Loki!} she finally called to him.  {What's taking you two so long?}

{She says she's not going today.}

  {What?  She *has* to!} Iris insisted.

{Well, she's refusing to cooperate.}

  {What a nitwit!  I can't believe you can't do a simple thing like get that 
behemoth here.}

{It's not so simple when she refuses to budge,} Loki protested.  {I'd like to 
see you get her to move.}

  {I'm sure I could do a better job than you're managing, or rather *not* 
managing.  I'm tired of waiting.}

{Waiting is a lot easier than what I'm trying to do.}

  {Well, try a little faster, anyway.}

By this point Loki was getting annoyed with Iris's nagging.  Where was 
Sabbith anyway?  Surely he could keep Iris occupied until Loki was able to 
convince Selene of the need to do her exercises.  

{Sabbith?  What's keeping you?}  

  {Varaenna.  I should be there soon, though.}

Loki conveyed his understanding.  There were certainly enough difficult 
females for one warren.  {Selene will be late this morning, but Iris said 
she'd like to do the exercises while you wait for Selene,} he told Sabbith.

  {Wonderful!  Maybe we could make this a warren-wide regimen.}

{Um, I'd hold off on that proposal, if I were you,} Loki hastily encouraged.  
{Let's just concentrate on Selene for now.}

  {Ok, if you're sure.}

{Oh, I am.  I *am*.}

****

Selene's head abruptly popped up and her nose frantically sniffed the air.  
{Mmm, what's that delicious smell?} she wondered.  Hauling herself quickly to 
her feet, she dashed off in search of its source, Loki close behind her.

Several workers from the dining hall were wheeling a massive pot of stew down 
to where the ship was being overhauled.

{Oh, no you don't, Selene!} he cried.  {That's not for you!}  He desperately 
tried to interpose himself between Selene and the pot.  He was no match for 
Selene and her appetite, though, and so he promptly found himself run right 
over.  Scrambling to his feet, he made another valiant effort to stop Selene, 
his greater speed an advantage that helped compensate for their difference in 
size.

Within moments he was sprawled in the dust again.  He wanted to give up in 
disgust, but something - something inexplicable - spurred him on.

****

When Sabbith arrived at the apartment, he discovered that during her long 
wait for the others, Iris had dozed off on the nest.  Might as well just get 
started, he decided.

The sudden intense tickling sensation on her belly produced a rather rude 
awakening.  {What's going on?  Stop!} she ordered between giggles.

{I can't stop,} Sabbith countered, {we're not done yet.}  He continued to 
draw his claws along her hide, over all the most sensitive places.

Iris bellowed and twisted, shrieked and squirmed but all to no avail.  
Sabbith believed in doing a job to the fullest apparently.

  {Sabbith!} she squealed, {Just what do you...think you're doing?} she 
gasped out in the midst of the laughter.

{Helping you exercise.}

  {It was Selene...you were supposed to exercise,...not me!} Iris complained, 
hardly able to breathe as she fought to get away.

{Yes, but since she's late, you're having a turn.}

  {But...I don't want...a turn!} she protested.

{Yes, you did, so that's what I'm doing.}  He tickled her vigorously beneath 
her forelegs.

  {No, I don't,} she wheezed, {I'm not even fat...I don't need it.}

{But it was your idea.}

She bucked frantically again.  {What was?}  

{To do the exercises today.}

  {No, it wasn't!}

{It wasn't?  But Loki told me you were willing to take her place,} Sabbith 
defended himself.

  {Loki?  Loki put you up to this?  Why that...} Just wait till she got her 
claws on him.

Sabbith continued his merciless tickling, despite Iris's furious writhing.

Then an idea flashed through her mind.  {Hey, Varaenna's calling you!} she 
informed Sabbith, snickering as he quickly stood at attention,...and then she 
was through the door before Sabbith figured out her trick.

It took several long minutes before she had caught her breath.  Then she 
leapt into the air, circling the area in search of Loki.  As soon as she 
spotted him, she plummeted in for a landing.

The frenzied flapping alerted Loki, while the sight of Iris's enraged 
expression gave his feet wings.  Ducking behind Selene, he sought to escape 
her wrath.

Iris pursued him around Selene, her feet barely touching the ground.

Loki bolted, but as he was keeping an anxious eye on Iris behind him, he 
failed to notice how close he was to the pot.  He plowed into it, splattering 
half the stew on himself in the process.

{Nice work, Sly,} he groused, feeling the heat of the stew through his thick 
hide.

  {On the contrary, Nitwit, you've done better than I expected when I came 
after you,} Iris countered.

The nearby kitchen staff howled with laughter, pointing at Loki as chunks of 
meat and vegetables slid down through the thick, hot broth dripping off him.

Never one to miss an opportunity, Selene promptly dove onto Loki, pinning him 
down so that she could slurp up every dribble of the stew now adorning Loki.

Iris stood by, laughing uproariously as she watched Loki get his just 
desserts by being made Selene's main course. 

****

{All right, all right,} Loki protested some time later.  {That's enough.  I 
know you must have licked up every drop by now.  Are you satisfied?}

  {Temporarily,} Selene crooned in contentment, then growled as the restless 
feeling came over her again.

{Come on, we'll be late for training,} he reminded her as he got to his feet.

  {Do you suppose there'll be any more of that coal to snack on again today?} 
she wondered hopefully as they trotted along toward the training grounds.

{Can't you think of *anything* but your stomach?}

  {No.}

****

[Many thanks to John for the original evil ideas.  :-)]

****


Submitted by:

Dana Zuhlke                             

Elvynia (Elly) and Iris

Ro'gen and Apollo
Evlan and Athena
Ed'wen (Eddy) and Hesperus
Dalaine (Lainie) and Selene

Jasra Warren