When Soap Gets In Your Eyes

The Lair was in turmoil. The Cat signal had suddenly shone out in the west and the Thundercats were scrambling for the Thundertank.

"Why can't we come?" pleaded WilyKit, struggling to keep up with Cheetara as she hurried along the corridor. "Why do we always have to stay and guard the Lair?"

"I'm sorry, kittens," Cheetara said. "Someone has to."

"But Snarf is here, why can't he do it? We're Thundercats too, we should be going to help Lion-O."

Cheetara stopped outside the door to the Paw Hangar where the tank was kept and smiled down at them. "I know it's frustrating," she said. "But guarding the Lair is a big responsibility. We trust you to defend our home should the Mutants come calling. Next time perhaps you can come, but not today."

She shot through the door and leapt into the waiting Thundertank. With a roar from the engines, the other Thundercats sped away in a cloud of dust. The twins forlornly watched them disappear into the distance.

"It's not fair!" WilyKit grumbled. "We always get left behind."

"They don't think we can look after ourselves," said WilyKat. "But we were good enough to almost beat Lion-O in his Anointment Trial."

"Yeah," agreed his sister. "I say let's get our spaceboards and go anyway. The Mutants won't try anything against the Lair."

WilyKat was more than willing to go along with the plan. They were half way to the locker where their boards were stored when an annoyed voice brought them up short.

"And where do you two think you're going, snarf, snarf?" They turned to find a most disgruntled Snarf. "You aren't thinking of hopping out on me, are you?" he said. They blustered but Snarf was having none of it. "And who is going to guard the Lair once you've gone?"

"Oh, Snarf, you're more than capable of managing," WilyKit wheedled. "Besides, nothing is going to happen here. Nothing ever happens here."

"Brrr, don't you believe it. Those Mutants would do anything to get in the Lair. Then what would happen to us?"

They knew he was right. Without the Lair, the Thundercats would be without their main line of defence, sitting ducks for any of the hostile elements on Third Earth with a grudge against them.

"But Snarf," said WilyKat, "it's so boring being on guard duty. Wouldn't you prefer us to be out helping Lion-O?"

"Lion-O's a big boy now, even though I do worry, snarf, snarf. But I've got things to do. I can't keep one eye on the monitors and another on the weekly wash, can I?"

"We never get any fun," grumbled WilyKit. "I wish we could have a really big adventure here in the Lair and, when the others come back, we could tell them how we saved everyone on Third Earth without their help."

"Be careful what you wish for," said Snarf. "Things have a nasty habit of coming true on this planet." He gave a small shiver. "Come on now, you've got duties." He chivvied them out and activated the Paw mechanism. As it descended, a small insect darted under its massive claws and began to fly around his head.

"Get out of here, you little bug," Snarf yelled, dancing around, arms waving, trying to escape from the insect's unwanted attention. It flew through an open doorway into the Lair and vanished. Pleased to be left alone, Snarf left the Hangar and went on his way.

Down in the laundry room, he busied himself with a pile of assorted clothes that had to go into the washing machine. "Fun!" he muttered. "If those kittens had half the jobs I have to do, they would never moan again!"

He took the container of washing powder down from the shelf. It was something new he had bought from a Wollo trader, who had called a few days ago. "'Sparkling Spring Sunshine'," Snarf read from the label. "'Your wish is its Command!' Hmph, well, I wish it would get these grass stains out of Lion-O's clothes. It's not right for the Lord of the Thundercats to go about looking green." He opened the container and delicately sniffed the contents, only to wrinkle his nose in disgust.

"Poo-ee! Smells worse than Panthro's boots, snarf, snarf."

For a moment, he contemplated tipping it down the drain, but the Wollo had promised him he would be amazed by the results. Against his better judgement, he emptied a goodly dose into the washing machine. It disappeared into the swirling waters and a contented gurgling noise rose up from the tub, along with a pleasing soapy smell. Leaving the machine, Snarf turned his attention to the ironing. As he worked, he began to sing an old snarf ditty and was quite happy until he heard a familiar buzzing sound near his ear.

"So you've come back, have you?" he growled, looking around for the insect. It landed on the tip of his tail and twitched its wings at him. "I'll show you not to mess with Snarf!" he said, flicking his tail and tossing the bug up into the air. Quite by chance, it fell into the foaming waters of the washing machine.

At that, Snarf was distraught. "Don't worry, little fellow," he cried. "I'll save you!"

He peered anxiously into the whirling tangle of colours and fished out the insect in a cup. It was not best pleased and making an angry buzzing noise. In fact, Snarf could have sworn that he saw an annoyed look on its little face. The bug was flexing its wings ready to escape, but Snarf clapped a saucer over the top of the cup. Feeling guilty about half-drowning it, he took the insect outside and released it. It flew quickly away. Snarf waved it goodbye and then trudged back to his duties.

The door to the laundry room slid open and Snarf wandered in, lost in thought. To his surprise, his feet went from under him and he skidded across the room, colliding with the ironing board and sending the newly-pressed clothes flying, most of which seemed to end up on his head. Pulling them off, he looked round to see what had happened. The washing machine was happily pumping out mountains of bubbles, which were cascading onto the floor. He was already up to his waist in soapsuds and they were growing higher by the minute.

"It's never done that before," said Snarf. "Must be the new powder."

He tried to make his way over to investigate, but every step sent him slipping and sliding into a heap of bubbles. "Oh, snaaaarf!" he groaned, thinking of how long it would take him to clean up the mess. "As if I didn't have enough to do."

Again, he tried to make it to his feet. As he stood, he caught a curious noise coming from the washing machine. It sounded for all the world like a growl. Snarf edged his way across and pressed his ear to the tub. He was right, there it was again. A strange feeling of impending doom sent shivers down his spine.

"Pull yourself together, Snarf," he chided himself. "What possible danger could there be from washing powder?" Then he looked up.

Struggling to free itself from the tub was what he could only describe as a Soap Bubble monster. It gave a gurgle-roar and swiped at him with its giant hand. Snarf fell backwards and tried to scuttle away, but still the monster came after him. Pushing with all his might, he propelled himself through the open doorway and out into the corridor. The monster followed, trying to grab him, and as Snarf made it to his feet, he felt it catch him by the tail. For a moment, he seemed to be running on the spot, but then his tail slipped from the monster's grip and he flew down the corridor.

"Snarf! Somebody help meeee!" he yelled.

In his headlong flight, he collided with WilyKit and WilyKat, who had come down from the Control Room to see what all the fuss was about.

"Hey, Snarf, what's the big rush?" WilyKat asked.

"Brrr, there's - there's a really big problem down in the laundry room!"

The kittens laughed.

"What? Can't find any matching socks?" WilyKat said.

"Shrunk all the clothes?" giggled his sister.

"No, it's serious, it's big and it's coming this way, snarf, snarf."

They looked unimpressed. "You'll have to do better than that, Snarf," said WilyKit. "No way are we getting stuck with guard duty and folding the sheets." They both laughed again, but trailed off when Snarf failed to respond. Instead, his eyes seemed to be fixed on something behind them and he looked horrified. They turned and came face to face with the Soap Bubble monster.

Before they could react, the monster had sent a stream of bubbles in their direction. They yelped as the bubbles popped in their faces and stung their eyes. Snarf dragged them into a nearby room and locked the door behind him. Outside, the monster roared in frustration as he tried to get at them.

"What is that thing?" asked WilyKit, rubbing her sore eyes.

"Well might you ask," Snarf said. "One minute everything was normal, then that monster appeared."

They looked anxiously towards the door as it shuddered under the monster's beating. "It can't get in here, can it?" WilyKat said.

"We have to call the other Thundercats," said Snarf.

"And say what?" said WilyKit. "That we're under attack from soapsuds? They wouldn't trust us to look after a toffee berry stall after that, let alone the Lair."

"You've got a point," Snarf agreed. "And I do have my pride."

Suddenly the door buckled and fell in. With a roar, the monster burst into the room and glared at them out of two liquid, rainbow-coloured eyes.

"Split up," yelled WilyKat. "That way, it can't get us all."

The twins ran either side of the monster and Snarf elected to dart between its bubbly legs. But he was not quick enough. The monster picked him up by the tail and he dangled in its grasp.

"Snarf!" cried WilyKit. "Come on, WilyKat, we have to save him!"

They pulled out a pair of capsules and hurled them at the monster's feet. Twin clouds of vapour rose to form a toothsome dinosaur, which turned on the bubble monster. Snarf was dropped unceremoniously onto the floor and the twins dragged him away and out of the room. Rushing to the Sword Chamber, together they hid and listened to the sounds of battle from down the hall.

"What are we going to do?" said WilyKat. "I don't think we can handle this alone."

WilyKit glared at her brother. "Do you want to be a scaredy-kitten all your life?"

"So what do you suggest, smarty-pants?"

"It had to come from somewhere," she said. "Snarf, tell us everything that happened."

Snarf gave them a quick run down of his morning. "And then I went back downstairs and there were bubbles everywhere and there it was, snaaarf, all big and bubbly. Weeow, think of my laundry," he wailed. "I blame that new powder."

"What new powder?" asked WilyKit.

"'Sparkling Spring Sunshine - Your wish is its Command!' Cheap, nasty-smelling plop, if you ask me, snarf!"

"'Your wish is its Command'?" echoed WilyKat. "Did you wish for a bubble monster, Snarf?"

"Of course not. All I wanted was to get the clothes clean. I'm so angry, I could..." He stopped as something occurred to him. "That little bug was angry. He might have wished for a way to get his own back when he fell in the tub."

"A bug?" WilyKit said incredulously. "You have to be joking."

"He was very angry."

"Who cares?" said WilyKat. "The point is, how do we get rid of this monster?"

The trio thought for a moment.

"Okay, I've got it," said WilyKat. "It's made of bubbles, so we 'pop' it."

His sister rolled her eyes. "Is that the best you can come up with? Honestly, have you got anything under that mop of yours?" she said, playfully tapping him on the head.

"I don't hear you coming up with any good ideas," he muttered.

"I say let's throw everything we have at him," she said. She looked a little less sure when the door to the Sword Chamber began to shake violently as the monster tried to hammer its way in.

"The last two capsules didn't work too well. I've only got a couple of sneezing powders and a smoke dust left. They won't be much good," said WilyKat.

"What about a bucket of water?" suggested Snarf. The vacant look had vanished from his face and now he was beaming. "That gets rid of bubbles, snarf, snarf!" It was a stroke of genius and by far the best plan they had. The only problem was how to get to the kitchen.

"Not the ventilator system," groaned Snarf, watching the twins remove its cover. They heaved him up and pushed hard when his fat bottom stuck in the hole. As he disappeared, they clambered up behind him. A crash sounded behind them as the monster finally broke through the door.

"Hurry, Snarf!" WilyKit hissed. The aroma of newly-washed clothes started to filter down the vent. A stream of bubbles overtook them and started to form a barrier up ahead. They had to work quickly to burst them before the vent became impassable. Avoiding the bubbles and finally reaching the kitchen, they kicked out the cover. They slithered out of the hole, brushing away dust and cobwebs.

"Quick!" said WilyKit. "Let's get the water before old Bubbleface finds us."

They filled several pails to the brim. Peering out of the door, they could hear the monster roaring in rage that his quarry had again evaded him.

"Snarf, get him to chase you and we'll drench him when he comes past," said WilyKat.

"Brr, why me?" said Snarf.

"Because it's you he's mad at!"

Still muttering, Snarf bounded away down the corridor, only to reappear seconds later with the bubble monster close behind. The twins waited until the monster was within range and then let fly with their buckets. Hundreds of bubbles popped. When they looked, they saw that the monster had been reduced to a heap of soapy suds on the floor. Together, they whooped in delight. Their delight quickly turned to horror when they saw the monster start to rise again, replacing his lost bubbles.

"Not enough water!" yelled Snarf. They ran down the corridor with the monster once again hot on their heels.

"Get him to follow us to the stream in the forest," said WilyKit as they dashed out of the main doors. "That should do it."

Once outside, however, they came to a screeching halt. The bridge was not extended.

"Weeow, we're trapped!" Snarf cried. "What are we going to do?"

The monster was right behind them. It raised its arms menacingly, filling the air with its deafening roar. They backed away down the steps. The monster seemed to know that they had nowhere to escape. As it advanced, it left a bubble wall in its wake to hem them in.

"Talk about being between the devil and the deep blue sea," whispered WilyKat. "It's a long way down unless we think of something."

"That's it!" exclaimed his sister. She whispered her idea to Snarf and WilyKat and both nodded in agreement. They ran to the edge of the precipice and taunted the monster.

"Hey, you big soapy thing, come and get us if you can!" yelled WilyKat.

"Yeah, you ugly bubble beast, see how you like a dose of Snarf!"

The monster roared and charged. As it hurtled towards them, the trio sidestepped out of its way. Unable to stop, it plummeted down into the swollen river below. From their safe vantage point, they saw mountains of bubbles flow away on the fast moving water. The monster was gone for good.

"Whew," said Snarf, wiping his brow. "That was too close."

"But we beat the mighty bubble monster!" whooped WilyKat. "And we did it all on our own. Wait till the others hear about this."

Their celebrations were short lived, however, when they went to investigate the damage. The floors were slippery and bubbles seemed to be everywhere. Doors had been shredded and chairs ripped to pieces. Not even the Mutants could have done a better job. In panic, they grabbed mops and buckets and tried to bring some order to the chaos. But they had barely started when they heard the roar of the Thundertank and the hiss as the bridge extended.

Knowing they were in for a major telling-off, they reluctantly wandered out to where the other Thundercats were staring in horror at the rippling mounds of bubbles clinging to the front of the Lair.

"Everything all right?" said Snarf nonchalantly.

"What in the name of Jaga has been going on here?" asked Lion-O.

Snarf shrugged. "The kittens have been helping me to spring clean the Lair."

"Spring clean?" Lion-O echoed.

"But, Snarf, it's late summer," Tygra said suspiciously.

"Well, no one told us," grumbled Snarf. "Are you saying that we've wasted our time?" He gave the twins a knowing wink. Their downcast expressions were promptly replaced with broad grins. "Oh, and Panthro," he continued, "you might want to take a look at some of the internal door sensors. They've been acting very strangely."

Panthro regarded the threesome with narrowed eyes. "What exactly have you been up to?" he asked.

They all smiled innocently. The Thundercats looked at each other. Clearly something had happened, but the twins and Snarf were keeping quiet.

"Well, no harm done," said Lion-O. "I'm famished. What's for dinner, Snarf?"

"Nothing," he said, tossing him a mop. "Not till this place is sparkling. You guys keep running out and leaving all the work to us. Well, now you can clean up while we have a rest."

They protested, but Snarf put his hands over his ears and marched away with the kittens in tow. Once inside the Lair, they all burst out laughing.

"Brilliant, Snarf! What a smokescreen," giggled WilyKit.

"Thank you," he said. "Although I prefer to call it a 'soapscreen'!"

The End

THUNDERCATS, characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Ted Wolf. All rights reserved. Stories, characters and incidents mentioned in this work are entirely fictional. Characters, names, etc. are used without permission and the above story has no official endorsement. This is a work of fan fiction, for entertainment purposes only and certainly not for profit. No infringement of rights is intended nor any harm meant by its creation and existence. If this work brings a little happiness into this dreary old world, then so much the better. May you enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it. Thundercats Forever! Ho!

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