"The Incredible Hulk Meets
Thundarr the Barbarian" 
Written by: sshilling72@yahoo.com
This is purely a work of fiction.  Any resemblance of a character to another 
person, real or fictional, is purely coincidental.
Thank you to Mr. John Norman, whose Gor series were the inspiration for my 
characters of Tarl Barlot, Caprius, and Flemigus.


CHAPTER 1
ENTERING LAS VEGAS
Horses hooves pounded the ground, and a trio of riders crested the hill.  The 
sun was setting, and the lights of the desert village were coming on, creating a 
twinkling labyrinth.
The blond leader of the trio looked over it all.  The beast-like creature with 
him growled a question.
"It was called Las Vegas by the people of the past," answered a raven-haired 
woman with them.  "It was a resort town where people came to gamble away their 
money, feast, and have fun."
Their leader, Thundarr, made a move as if to turn away from the 
village.  "Perhaps we should find a calmer oasis," he said, but his horse 
whinnied in protest.
"It's getting late, Thundarr."  Princess Ariel pointed out, "And, we're going to 
need a place to camp for the night."
In the animalistic tongue of his people, the Moks, Ookla pointed out that this 
was the first oasis they had come to after days of riding.  Their stores of food 
and water needed replenished.  To most human ears, the language of the Moks was 
that of an animal, but Thundarr and Ariel could understand him.
Thundarr agreed that his friends were right, and turned back to the oasis.
The future had not been kind to Las Vegas, as it had not been kind to the rest 
of the earth.
A comet had passed too close to the earth, and the sudden burst of gravity 
shattered the moon, and laid waste to every sign of earthling 
civilization.  After a thousand years, people rebuilt their lives from the 
ruins.  
The world to which Thundarr belonged is a world rather primitive by our 
standards.  A brutal world of slaves, super-science, and sorcery.  
Thundarr himself was the former slave of an evil wizard, named Sabian.  Sabian's 
step-daughter, Ariel, helped the young barbarian to free himself.  Joining 
forces with the animalistic Ookla, the three set about righting the wrongs of 
the future, and challenging the absolute rule of tyrants, like Sabian.
The streets of the futuristic Las Vegas were crowded, just as they had been in 
the past, and the three friends soon found themselves caught up in the cheering 
throng that was headed for the central plaza, all that remained of the once 
grand Ceaser's Palace Hotel and Casino.
In its glorious past, Ceasar's Palace had played host to many legendary concerts 
and sporting events.  But, the building was destroyed by the earthquake brought 
on by the comet.  The villagers used the tumbled down masonry to create a kind 
of fence around the inner plaza.  Thundarr, Ariel, and Ookla were soon drawn 
inside with the mob.
"What is all this?"  Thundarr inquired of a by-stander.
"We captured intruders to our village," the man answered.  "This one spoke so 
passionately about a monster, we will see if it appears.  We will have our fun 
with him."
At the stage, Dr. Bruce Banner was in chains, hands and feet, to prevent 
escape.  "Please!  Leave me alone!  We came in peace!"  He pleaded as the 
villagers began to pelt him with verbal and physical abuse, stones, rotten 
vegetables, or anything else that was handy.
Although Banner was a stranger to him, Thundarr knew that what these people were 
doing was wrong.  His blue eyes smoldered with anger.
"He wants his friend!"  Shouted a spectator.
"Yes, bring out the other one!"  Agreed another.
Thundarr could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw who was shoved up onto the 
stage, also in shackles.  None other than his friend from the past, Tarl Barlot.
On a mission to restore a lost treasury of books to a tribe of orphans, Thundarr 
and his crew were captured by Sabian.  The wizard then tried to make an example 
of his escaped slave by marooning him in the past.
The plot back-fired when Thundarr became acquainted with Tarl, and his then-
fiancee, Andy Simmons.
Tarl offered Thundarr lodging at his apartment, while Andy helped him on his 
quest.  She also offered him the use of her own time machine for returning to 
the future.  Oddly, Thundarr had felt a strange kinship with the young police 
officer.
Now, Thundarr's host was being shoved onto the stage, in chains.  "ARIEL, 
OOKLA!  RIDE!"  Thundarr emitted his battle cry.
The crowd gasped when a white stallion burst through their ranks, followed by a 
brown mare, and a lizard-like creature.  Thundarr loosed the flaming blade of 
his magic Sun Sword, and used it to free Tarl.  Tarl then drew his own sword 
from a hidden scabbard, and helped to fight off the tormenters.
Thundarr swirled to help Banner, but the chains had already been shattered.  A 
snarling, green-skinned giant stood in Banner's place.  At the sight of the 
newcomer, the tormenters fled.  The giant seized a fallen girder, and, with a 
roar of warning, threw it over the heads of the villagers as they fled.
Thundarr returned the Sun Sword's flame, and placed it in its holder.  
"Thank you, Thundarr," Tarl sheathed his own sword.  "How did you know we were 
here?"
"We didn't," Ariel explained that they had come to this desert oasis, seeking 
only shelter for the night, and happened upon the mob.  Thundarr turned to 
Hulk.  "And, who is your friend?  You certainly frightened those cowards."
"Everywhere Hulk go, people run away," the giant growled, sounding rather 
sad.  "Vampira, Trisha friends."
"Who is Trisha?"  Thundarr wanted to know.
"Andy's cousin," Tarl explained.  "Andy and I are your friends too, Hulk."
"Hulk?  Is that your name?"  Ariel inquired gently.  Hulk tapped a misshapen 
finger on his massive chest in introduction.  "Hulk,"  he croaked again in 
introduction.
"I am called Thundarr the Barbarian, my friend.  My companions are Princess 
Ariel and Ookla the Mok.  How is it you have come to my world?"
"Take Andy and Vampira.  Save!"  Hulk declared.
"What is this, Tarl?  Your beloved is also here?"
"She and Vampira were kidnapped by a vampire named Draagon," Tarl answered.  "My 
friend and I were taken while trying to help them.  We were ejected from the 
castle, and came here, looking for help."
"Well, you've found it," Ariel assured him. 
Ookla looked around, puzzled, and growled a question.  "Yes, were is the little 
man who was here?"  Thundarr wanted to know.
"What little man?"  Hulk growled.
"No one, Big Guy," Tarl answered, hastily.  In an aside to Thundarr, Tarl 
promised to explain it later.  Knowing full well Hulk's hatred of his creator, 
Banner, and vice versa, Tarl wanted to avoid a potentially explosive 
explanation.
"We'll camp here for the night," Ariel decided.  Thundarr turned to his friend 
from the past.  "I have little to give you in turn for the hospitality you have 
shown me, my friend.  But, you are welcome to join us."
Tarl's eyes were brown fire.  The flames had been kindled in him when he was a 
young warrior, but had lain dormant since knowing his beloved Andy.  The thought 
of her rescue from the clutches of an evil vampire made those flames flare.
"I shall not be able to rest until my beloved and her friend are freed!"  Tarl 
declared.  
His statement proved to be prophetic.  During the night, Thundarr heard his 
guest's restless tossing and turning.
Sleeping on the ground was nothing new for Tarl.  As a boy, growing up on his 
father's farm, he had slept on the cottage's dirt floor, covered only by animal 
skins.  As a young warrior, marching toward some inevitable battle, he had often 
camped on the ground.  Then, again, as a slave, he had been compelled to sleep, 
bound, on the floor of his cruel mistress' grass hut.
Since coming to America, however, he had grown accustomed to the air conditioned 
comfort of his apartment.  His bones had forgotten sleeping under the stars, in 
full exposure to the elements.  His body was now adjusted to the soft, white 
bed, back in Buffalo, New York, where he and his beloved wife, Andy, would 
snuggle and share warmth on cold nights.
As Tarl camped with his friends, Thundarr could hear the restlessness as Tarl 
readjusted himself to the un-yielding ground.
Hulk turned back into Banner as he rested.  Bruce Banner didn't need to adjust 
himself to the ground.  Now a homeless man, an earthen bed was as good as 
any.  His only comfort, sometimes, was Vampira's cape.  Curling into a ball, to 
conserve body heat, Banner was soon sleeping soundly.


CHAPTER 2

KING DRAAGON
Miles away, Vampira and her human friend, Andy Barlot, were being held prisoner 
in the dungeon that belonged to King Draagon.
Draagon had been the vampire's king, but the world had always thought that he 
was dead and buried.  But, vampires do not stay dead.  In the earthquake that 
had followed in the comet's destructive wave, the grave was jarred open, and 
Draagon prowled the nights once more.
In his day, Draagon was considered a real ladies' man, by vampire 
standards.  However, he had never settled down and found himself a queen.  He 
loved his freedom as much as he loved women--vampires or otherwise.  
Draagon was now beginning to regret his decision, since he was running out of 
women to romance
"It is sad," he said to Glomus, his apprentice vampire.  "In all my years, I 
have never found a woman worthy of being considered as my queen."
"Indeed, sire.  A grand shame," the human boy agreed.
"That is where you are wrong, Oh King," replied a different voice.
"Who are you!?  Show yourself!"  Draagon demanded.
A grey skinned man in a blue space suit appeared.  A staff of amber in his hand.
"I am called Apocalypse, mighty Draagon.  I know of a vampiress who will satisfy 
your noble taste."  Apocalypse waved a hand over the amber.  Vampira image 
appeared in the ball.
Apocalypse was a time-traveling mutant, who had been a pharaoh of ancient 
Egypt.  The superstitions of the day led people to believe that mutants were 
descendants of the gods.  
The superstitions began to give way to the fear and hatred of ensuing 
generations.  Apocalypse was determined to rule the world once more.  First by 
destroying the X-Men, who strove for a peaceful co-existence with their human 
neighbors.
Vampira was his prime target.  Being she was once human, her best friend was a 
human.  It was that connection with the human world Apocalypse wanted to 
destroy.
The time-traveling mutant was right.  Draagon was deeply interested in Vampira, 
and demanded to know more about her.
"Her name is Vampira.  She was once human, but desired to become a mutant.  Her 
wish was granted, and she has become the form you see before you.  She turned 
against her creator, and vowed to use her powers for good.  Thus, ensuring her 
acceptance into the X-Men."
"And, who are these X-Men who continue to defy me?"
"Human sympathizers.  Charles Xavier is a fool!  Being Vampira was once a human, 
she gained the X-Men a human ally in the person of her best friend."
"These X-Men will protect their own," Glomus pointed out.  Apocalypse chuckled.
"Not so, dear boy.  Vampira was chosen to guide a wayward X-Man, called the 
Incredible Hulk.  The two are often given safe haven with her best friend.  The 
humans are no match for my horsemen."
Draagon studied the blond, mutant bat-girl in the amber, then turned to 
Apocalypse.
"Can your horsemen fetch my bride?"
"They are ready at my command."
"Go, then," Draagon commanded.  "Do what you want with the others, but I want 
the women brought before me alive, and unharmed."
Hulk and Vampira arrived in Las Vegas, only to be confronted by Hulk-busters. 
robotic cops designed with the same purpose as the Sentinels, to capture 
mutants.  But, these robots were piloted by soldiers, and more focused on Hulk.  
While Hulk fled, Vampira's palms made short work of the pilots.  Following the 
lead of her bat allies, Vampira caught up to Hulk after he had turned into 
Banner.  According to the bats, Andy and Tarl were in Las Vegas on 
vacation.  Vampira suggested they ask her for safe shelter for the night.  She 
wouldn't mind.
Vampira was right.  Andy allowed Banner to spend the night on the floor of her 
hotel room.
That was when Apocalypse's horsemen struck.  Fire, War, Death, and Pestilence 
swept down on the hotel room.  Tarl seized his sword, and tried to help 
Vampira.  Death's powers prevented Banner from turning into Hulk, and ruining 
everything.
The four were soon brought before King Draagon in chains.  The vampire king was 
pleased.
"Well done, all of you," he congratulated the horsemen.
:What do you want from us!?"  Banner demanded.
"It is not you I want, my boy."  Draagon answered, smiling at Andy and 
Vampira.  "It is your women I desire.  From among you, I will choose my queen."
"I'm a married woman!"  Andy snapped in defiance.
"Then, you shall serve as maid to your lady."  Draagon descended the steps, and 
caressed Vampira's cheek.  She pulled away.  "It is you who are my chosen one."
"Not interested, sorry."  She retorted.
"Turn these two out!"  Draagon indicated to Tarl and Banner.
"TARL!"  Andy screamed, and tried to struggle free of Fire and Death.  Vampira 
stomped on War's foot, and slammed an elbow across Pestilence';s face, in a 
futile attempt to fight back.  It would be useless to summon her bat 
allies.  Their sharp teeth could work wonders on rope, and make short work of 
wires, but were next to useless on iron and steel.
Draagon then gave orders that the mutant vampiress and her human friend be 
locked in the dungeon until they agreed to his demands.
Vampira rose to her feet now, and paced the dungeon cell.  Her cape swirled in a 
cloud of black and red.
"Maybe they'll get lucky and find Thundarr," Andy tried to keep hope alive.
"I hope they'll remember how to get back here," Vampira pointed out As Draagon 
arrived.
"So, you are the vampiress who does not bite," he began.
"How do you know about me!"  Vampira demanded.
"Apocalypse has told me all.  He also said the reason for your rejection of me 
is because you are not an 'evil vampire.'  Those are words from your own mouth."
"So, what's it to you?"
"Perhaps, that is how I shall win your hand."
"Me?  Marry you?  Please!  I'd sooner kiss Mick Jagger!"  Vampira couldn't help 
shuddering at her declaration.
"Soon, my sharp-tongued one, you will learn to appreciate me!"  Draagon 
hissed.  He turned on his heels, and departed as quickly as he had come.
The visit gave Vampira an idea.  She squeeked to the bats of the dungeon, and 
they flew to her.  Hanging upside down from the rafters, they listened to 
Vampira's chattering, and the message coded within.  Finally, chattering in 
respose, the lead bat spread his leathery wings, and released his claws.  Soon, 
a squadron of bvrown fur and wings was leaving the dungeon.
"What did you say to them?"  Asked Andy, who could not understand the language 
of the bats.
"I told them to show Tarl and Banner the way back," Vampira returned to the 
straw upon which she and Andy had been sittign.  The bat-girl flopped down with 
a disgusted sigh.  "Andy, what did you do when Prince Cernus kept trying to 
force you to marry him?"
"My situation was a lot different, Vampira," Andy began to recount the adventure 
she faced in her husband's home dimension.
Prince Cernus, the spoiled, hot-tempered son of the land's dictator, cast his 
eyes on Andy, and desired her for his wife.  She rejected his proposal of 
marriage, because it was Tarl that she loved.  In anger, Cernus ordered the 
arrest of Andy and her friends.
Cernus also approved of the murder of of Caprius, a former scribe Andy had 
befriended.  Caprius had been the scribe for their rightful king.  After a bit 
of bad advise, Portus, Cernus' father, ordered the scribe to be thrown into the 
dungeon and tortured.  Andy stood up to that injustice, and freed the scribe.
Caprius loved Andy like a daughter, and refused to force jher to marry Cernus, 
and paid for it with his life.
Cernus then threatened the lives of Andy's friends if she did not comply with 
his demands.  Andy consented to be his bride, only to save her friends.  She was 
saved, however, when Tarl fed his former friend to a crocodile.
"That wouldn't work for me.  The rest of the X-Men are in New York," Vampira 
commented.
Thundarr rose for the day.  Tarl and Banner joined Ariel and Ookla on the 
quest.  The villagers provided what information they could on King Draagon.  But 
none, no matter how brave, would give directions back to the castle.
Ariel stopped her horse at a watering hole.  "Looks like we'll have to wait for 
sundown.  If Vampira still communicates with bats, she'll send them to show us 
the way."
Tarl dismounted, knowing the sorceress was right. " just hope I won't be too 
late to save my wife."
Thundarr looked surprised.  "Your wife?"
Tarl smiled, shyly, and blushed.  "Andy and I are now married."
"Why, it seems like just yesterday you two were engaged," the barbarian marveled 
at how swiftly time had flown.  "Do not fear, my friend.  Your beloved will be 
restored to you.  You have my word."
Banner's mind was already working on a way to free Vampira and her 
friend.  Something he had seen, or not seen at the castle was the key to their 
freedom.


CHAPTER 3

EVIL VAMPIRA
King Draagon entered the throne room feeling frustrated.  All his life, he had 
considered himself a real vampire-cassinova, irresistible to any females who 
crossed his path.  Now, here were two women who threatened to shatter is 
delusion.  Andy still loved her husband, even though deprived of him, and 
Vampira had rejected his proposal.
"How can I get through to her!?"  Draagon demanded of Glomus and 
Apocalypse.  "I, King Draagon, the most desirable bachelor!  Rejected by the 
only vampiress worthy of being considered as my queen!"
"It's not you, sire," Glomus tried to appease his master.  For once, however, 
Draagon was in no mood to be patronized.
"OF COURSE IT'S NOT ME!"  He snapped.
"Perhaps, your majesty, the only reason Vampira finds you repulsive, is because 
she is not a "real" vampire."  Apocalypse suggested.
"What are you getting at?"
"Bite her, turn her into one of your females."
Draagon thought for a minute.  Apocalypse was on to something.  The only way for 
a vampire to create another vampire was to bite a human.  But, Vampira had not 
been bitten.  She had received her powers in genetic transfer from a 
bat.  Perhaps in biting her, Draagon could make the rebellious bat-girl more 
accepting of him and his proposal.
"She will not be taken so easily," Glomus predicted.   "Shall I prepare the 
Holding Cell, my lord?"
"Yes, and be quick about it!  Horsemen, bring my bride!  She will soon learn to 
love me" Draagon gave the order.
The Holding Cell was a specialized dungeon cell where Draagon kept prisoners he 
intended to bite.  Whoa to any man who refused to let his daughter, wife, or 
sister be taken as a concubine for Draagon!  Alas, also, for any woman who 
refused the advances of the vampire king!  The victims were brought here and 
chained.  When the mood struck, King Draagon killed the prisoners by biting them 
and drinking their blood.
That was the situation in which Vampira soon found herself.  It had taken all 
four horsemen, and Glomus, to drag the brave mutant to the Holding Cell, and 
chain her.  Draagon soon arrived with Apocalypse.
"Where is the other one!?"  Apocalypse demanded of his horsemen, thinking they 
would have brought Andy as well.
"Leave her, Apocalypse," Draagon spoke.  "With her, I will test my new bride's 
obedience."
"LET ME GO!"  Vampira screamed.
"Tsk, my dear!  That is no way to talk to your future husband!"  Draagon moved 
in, only to dodge when Vampira kicked at him.  He tried again, from a different 
angle, only to be met by a defensive foot.  "Do not struggle so, my lovely," 
Draagon purred.  Apocalypse's power held Vampira's feet down, and Draagon closed 
in on her.  
Vampira closed her eyes.  Through a psychic outlet, she sent a desperate s.o.s. 
to her bat allies.
Out in the twilight forest, the bats were beginning to mill.  Several knocked 
into Ookla and Banner, several more tugged at Thundarr and Tarl's hands, urging 
them to hurry.  Ariel understood, and quickly mounted her mare.
"Thank you, Vampira," she quipped.
The others had followed Ariel's lead.  "RIDE!"  Thundarr sounded the 
charge.  Suddenly, two, winged beings blocked their path.
"Going somewhere?"  Asked a familiar voice.
"Who are you?!"  Thundarr demanded.  "Show yourselves!"
"You mean you don't know us?  You're getting forgetful."  The women hove into 
the moonlight.  There were horrified gasps all around when the women's faces 
were revealed.  Andy and Vampira!
Vampira's eyes were now a shockingly, evil red, instead of the soft, gentle blue 
they had been.  Andy's skin was now blue, just like her friend's.  There were 
black, bat wings on her back, and sharp fangs in her mouth.  Her eyes were 
blood-shot and her palms concealed suction cups.  Vampira, acting under 
Draagon's mind-control, had bitten her friend.
"Now what?"  Banner muttered.  "We can't hurt our friends."
"Suggestion.  You could just hold still, I hate fast food," Vampira quipped.
Just then, the bats who had been serving as guide swooped down, and began 
attacking Andy and Vampira!  Even Vampira's stern squeaking couldn't call off 
the attack!
"What's wrong with you!?!"  She scolded.
"They know you're not evil," Tarl answered, and started forward to hold his 
mutated wife.  "Andy, my beloved."
She drew back with a hiss.  "Who are you?!  I serve my king, Draagon!"
"They don't remember us," Ariel stopped Tarl.
Thundarr pressed the button on the sun sword's hilt.  The vampiresses emitted a 
painful squeak, as if the glow from the flaming blade caused them pain.  They 
fled into the night.
"AFTER THEM!"  Banner shouted.
The riders thundered after the fleeing pair.  Vampira was about to attack a 
village, when Andy noticed their followers.
"Let's fly, Vampira.  They've followed us, but we won't lead them to our king."
The two vanished before anyone knew which way they had gone.  Thundarr stopped 
his horse to rest and think.
"How did Draagon get through to them?"  He muttered.
"It would appear that he bit them," Banner answered.  "According to legend, in 
order for a vampire to be created, a human must be bitten."
Ookla growled a question.  "He wants to know if there's a way to destroy 
vampires?"  Thundarr translated.
"None were very pretty," Banner admitted.  "One way was to burn them with fire, 
beheading was another.  Still another was to drive a sharpened stick through 
their hearts."
"Maybe the cleanest way was exposure to sunlight," continued Ariel, who also 
knew the legend of the vampire.  "Sunlight turned them into dust."
"But, Vampira is only a mutant," Tarl pointed out.  "Sunlight has no effect on 
her."
"It may reverse the spell," Ariel theorized.
Meanwhile, the two vampiresses returned to their king after a less than 
successful night's raid.  Draagon, however, seemed rather pleased.
"All is well, my lovelies.  You obeyed by voice, which is all I commanded.  Now, 
then, my princess, return to your crypt.  The sun will soon rise."
"Yes, my lord," the mind-numbed Vampira drone.  She turned to her waiting crypt 
and climbed in, pulling the lid shut behind her.  Draagon turned to Andy.
"The one seemed to know you, but you fled."
"He wished to hold me.  Only the king of the vampires may do that," the new 
vampiress explained.
"Innocence only," Apocalypse theorized.  "About the neck of the one called Tarl 
is an amulet.  I desire it for my wedding present," Draagon began.  "Play with 
his mind.  Seduce him, then bite him," he instructed.
The bats went to roost at daybreak, so Thundarr and his posse stopped to 
rest.  They chose an oasis to make their camp.
Noontime found Tarl seated on the banks of a river, under the shade of a willow 
tree.  Nestled in the palm of his hand was the amulet Draagon coveted.  Tarl 
called the gem a luck stone.  Tarl studied the amulet, with the bits of gold 
melted into it, and the gold, star burst design that served as its backing.
"What are you thinking about?"  Tarl looked up when Banner placed a friendly 
hand on his shoulder.
"I was thinking about how my life parallels that of my luck stone," the young 
police officer explained as the former scientist sat beside him.
"How's that?"
Tarl then began to tell Banner how the luck stone reflected the history of 
Tarl's relationship with Andy.  Tarl never grew tired of telling the tale, even 
though others grew tired of hearing it!
The luck stone had been given to Tarl by his father.  Then, it was only a 
crystal on a golden wire.  When Tarl was captured and sold as a slave to the 
Reed People, he had hidden the crystal in his ear.  One of the unwritten rules 
of slavery was that a slave was forbidden to have a treasure that rivaled the 
master's possessions.  Andy was kind enough to help him hide the stone.
The luck stone had been broken by Queen Sura, whom Tarl had served as bodyguard 
when she was a princess, after learning that he loved Andy, and not her.  Andy 
then offered Tarl the use of her magic mantle in place of the broken luck 
stone.  Her love for Tarl, and her willingness to part with her own treasure, 
combined to repair the luck stone.
"It is not the same stone it was before being broken," Tarl explained.  "Nor am 
I the same man.  I was broken, as a slave, but Andy's love healed me.  That is 
the gold holding the pieces together.  The stone is stronger now, less easy to 
break, as am I."
Thundarr approached from the direction of the forest.  He had come upon Tarl and 
Banner in time to hear the story.  The barbarian couldn't help smiling to 
himself.  He had seen how in love Andy and Tarl were when he had come to the 
past on his quest for books.  He admitted to himself that Tarl was lucky to have 
found a love like Andy's, and, after hearing the story, was certain the two 
should not be separated.  Thundarr approached as Tarl was concluding his tale.
"I have heard your story, my friend," the barbarian greeted, joining Tarl and 
Banner in the shade.  "How is it the X-Men were unable to protect their own and 
you?"
"I believe I would be a part of the problem," Banner answered.  "The creature 
you saw the other night was me."
Thundarr looked surprised.  "You are, then, a powerful wizard?"
"A powerful fool is more like it," Banner admitted.  "Years ago, I was involved 
with an experiment on gamma radiation.  A young boy happened upon the test 
site.  I ordered a halt to the experiment while I retrieved him.  Little did I 
know, a jealous coward allowed the experiment to continue.  I was able to save 
the boy, but not myself.  As a result, Hulk was created.
I came to the X-Men looking for help to control the brute, but even that 
failed.  Professor Xavier sent Vampira to serve as my guide on this trip.  Andy 
often gives us shelter for the night."
"I think this Hulk knows who his friends are," Thundarr theorized.  "He did not 
attack us at the ancient plaza."
"My wife's cousin is one of his friends," Tarl continued.  "Trisha said Hulk 
saved her life, and now she's trying to convince the world he's not evil."
"Speaking of not evil," Banner changed the subject.  "Tarl, you said Andy's love 
fixed your luck stone."
"It did."
"Maybe, the luck stone's magic could heal Andy!"  Banner's scientific mind had 
already come up with a solution.
"It's possible.  I love her as much as she loves me," Tarl agreed with the 
theory.
"But, how can you be certain she will attack here again," Thundarr pointed out 
the obvious.
"I have an idea," Tarl answered.  "There are two ghosts only my Andy can 
see.  I've never tried to contact them myself, but, if they can appear to my 
beloved, then there is hope."
Back at the castle, the new vampiress lay in her stone cold crypt, awaiting 
nightfall.  As Andy slept, her ghostly guides appeared.  One was short, and 
dressed in yellow, the taller in red.  Both had long, flowing white beards and 
hair.  The shorter was Caprius, the taller was his brother, Flemigus the Cloth 
Worker.
Flemigus was the first person with whom Andy had contact after crashing into 
Tarl's home dimension.  She saved Flemigus from robbers, and, as a reward, was 
given the magic mantle.  
Flemigus had also brought about the chance encounter between Andy and Tarl, by 
directing the girl to Reed People's swamp, where Tarl was enslaved, for help in 
getting her time machine off the bottom of the lake.
I don't want to be like this!  Andy's dreasm-self called to them.  Help me, 
please!
"Your beloved Tarl has the power to heal you, my child," Caprius assured her.
"You must get his luck stone," Flemigus instructed.
I will, Andy promised.  I will.


CHAPTER 4

HOW TO CATCH A VAMPIRE
As the last rays of sunlight slipped below the horizon, the bats who had been 
serving as guide began to mill.  Thundarr and his posse broke camp, preparing to 
follow their guides.
Tarl was about to saddle his horse, when he became aware silhouetted against the 
trees.
"Andy!"  He called, hoping it was her.  She stepped forward, uncertain but not 
about to let her vulnerability show.
"Tarl, my love," she greeted.
Joy exploded on the young man's face.  "My beloved!  You remember!"
He started forward to hold his mutated wife.  She did not flee, as she had the 
previous evening.  Ookla growled a warning.
"No, he knows what he's doing," Thundarr assured the creature.
"Your lips are begging for my kiss, darling," the new vampiress purred.
"And, my arms have ached to hold you," Tarl admitted.
"Come, then, heart's desire."
Tarl took Andy into his arms, but could feel her hands searching his back 
pockets for the luck stone.  "Is this what you seek?"  Tarl removed the amulet 
from an un-searched, side pocket.  "Take it as a token of my love."  He slipped 
the gold chain around Andy's neck.
"What is this?!"  Andy pulled back.  Something was up if Tarl were letting go of 
such a valuable amulet without so much as a struggle.  He seized his wife's hand 
before she could flee.
"Let the luck stone's power heal you, my love, as you healed me."  Andy stopped 
trying to struggle when she saw Caprius appear.
Do not try to fight it, my child, the ghost instructed.
"Tarl," Andy murmured, softly.  He took her into his arms once more.  
"Hold on to me, my beloved.  I won't let you go."
Andy held tightly to her husband as a strange warmth began to course through 
her.  There wasn't as much pain reversing the mutation as there had been 
initiating it.
The wings disappeared from her back, the suction cups disappeared from her 
palms, and the fangs from her mouth vanished.  Her skin returned to a more human 
tone.  Slowly, she stepped back, and looked at her husband in wonder.
"Tarl, thank you."
He gently touched her face.  "You're all right now, my love.  Thank you, Dr. 
Banner."
"I don't know how much luck Vampira would have doing that," Princess Ariel 
commented.
"Maybe sunlight would break the spell."  Banner theorized.
"Draagon did say something about getting the wedding over before sunrise.  Come 
on, I know the way back to the castle," Andy provided.
Back at the castle, King Draagon had chosen the site for his nuptial 
ceremony.  It was a statuary garden, the moonlight reflected whitely off the 
plaster statues, and cast weird shadows.  Hardly a romantic spot by even 
Vampira's standards, but one Draagon would frequent.
The moon and stars were beginning to move, but Andy had not yet 
returned.  Draagon turned to Apocalypse and Glomus.
"Did I not know she still loved that man?!  I will destroy them both, 
later!  Horsemen, bring my bride!  We must wed now before the sun rises!"
Andy led her posse to the front door of Draagon's castle, and found it 
unguarded.  The Horsemen were busy in the statuary.  
Banner let the thought of his guide being held prisoner in this castle to fill 
him with anger.  The anger turned him into Hulk.  Thundarr and Ookla watched 
with the look of wide-eyed wonder the two were capable of producing.
"Demon dogs!"  Thundarr exclaimed, his favorite expression.  "This is powerful 
magic!  I didn't understand before, but now I do."
"Vampira in ugly place!"  Hulk roared.
"I know how you can hurt Draagon," Andy said.  "Hulk, you and Ariel make the 
place look like a piece of Swiss cheese."
"Swiss cheese?"  Thundarr was unfamiliar with the food item represented by that 
statement.
"Yeah, full of holes.  When Draagon runs in here, to get away from the sun, 
he'll be in for a nasty surprise.  The statuary+'s this way."
Pestilence whispered to Draagon that everything was set and ready.  Vampira was 
ready.  Draagon gave the signal for the ceremony to begin.
Fire and War opened the garden gate, and Vampira entered, wearing the vampire's 
wedding costume.  A slinky, black dress with projections that looked like spider 
legs, held in place by black lace.  A red, hour-glass shaped design on the 
bodice, and Vampira's golden hair had been tucked up under the black veil.  A 
train of lace, that looked like cobwebs, trailed in her wake.
"Excellent, my dear," Draagon commented when she came nearer.  "Little did you 
realize, that one day you would be the queen of vampires."
"Let us begin," Apocalypse urged.
"Yes, let us begin," Draagon agreed.  He lifted Vampira's gloved hand to his 
lips.
The door flew open with a slam, kicked in by Thundarr.  "Sorry I took so 
long.  It's hard to find a decent wedding present any more!" Andy announced.
"Stop them!  They must not interrupt this!"  Apocalypse ordered his Horsemen.
"We've got to make this last until sunrise," Tarl reminded Thundarr, as he 
readied his sword.
Thundarr, Ookla, and Tarl fought the Horsemen and Glomus.  Andy managed to get 
close to Vampira's side.
"I see some powerful, new magic is at work," Draagon observed.  "Vampira, teach 
her a lesson."
The mutant vampiress grinned, wickedly.  Andy caught her friend's wrists as she 
lunged.
"VAMPIRA!"  She shouted.  "Snap out if it!  You're not evil, you're an X-
Man.  Remember Wolverine!"
"I am the Queen of Vampires!  You will be punished for your disobedience!"
Back inside the castle, Ariel's magic, and Hulk's fists, created windows in the 
castle walls, where none had been before, Hulk smashed the stone crypts.  He 
destroyed Draagon's protection from the sunlight that would turn him to dust.
Ariel paused to examine their work.  There, on the distant horizon, was a pale 
glow.  The sun was coming!
"Come on, Big Guy," Ariel motioned Hulk to follow her.  "We've got to help the 
others."
Down in the statuary, Draagon also noticed that the sky was rapidly growing 
lighter.
"NO!  SUNLIGHT!  WE MUST FLEE!"
He ran across the courtyard, cape shielding him from the rising sun.  Apocalypse 
had not counted on his new allie's weakness being used as a weapon, and 
fled.  Vampira stopped grappling with Andy, and followed her king at a fast 
sprint.  Suddenly, a wall blocked her path.
"LET ME IN, KING DRAAGON!"  Vampira screamed, pounding, desperately, on the 
"wall."  "PLEASE!  THE SUN'S ALMOST UP!"  Her fists caught.
"Vampria, Hulk help!"  Hulk caught his guide's small, blue fists.  It was Hulk, 
not a wall of the castle, that blocked Vampira's way.
"What?  You want to help me?"  The mutant vampiress stopped trying to struggle.
"Look at the sun, Vampira," Andy instructed.  "You won't turn to dust."
Doubtful, Vampira turned to the ball of fire that was rapidly ascending the 
sky.  As the bright light touched her eyes, Vampira blinked and shook her 
head.  Her eyes were sapphire blue once more.
"W . . . What happened?"  Vampira was surprised to see herself in a statuary, 
wearing the costume of the vampires' queen.
"What do you remember?"  Ariel urged.
"I remember Draagon . . . . Made me bite Andy!"  Vampira frowned, and started 
toward the castle.  "I'm taking the vampire king down!"  She declared.
Andy stopped her.  "That's been taken care of, Vampira," her human friend 
assured her.
King Draagon ran into his castle.  After a momentary struggle with the bats, 
coming to roost in the entryway, Draagon bolted for his throne room.  He lowered 
his cape, and gasped in horror.
There were windows in the wall!  His stone crypts were smashed, there was no 
escape!
"NO!"  Draagon cried out in pain as the sunlight touched him.  Slowly, he began 
to burst into flame.


CHAPTER 5

STONE PEOPLE
Glomus stood speechless.  All his life he had followed King Draagon, serving him 
faithfully, and learning from him.  Now, his bread and butter was blowing away 
like so much dust on the morning breeze.  Where would he go now?  What could he 
do?
"You can do anything you want, Glomus," Vampira assured him.  "You're a smart 
guy."
Just then, Andy's voice echoed across the statuary.  "Hey, guys!  Check this 
out!"
Following the sound, Andy was found with her hand over the chest of a stone 
woman.  Nothing seemed to be out of place.
"What is it, Andy?"  Thundarr wanted to know.  "Is somthing wrong?"
"You're not goign to believe this one," Andy predicted, then motioned to 
them.  "See for yourself."
One by one, Vampira, Tarl, Dr. Banner, Thundarr and his crew all put their hands 
on the spot Andy had showed them.  Although the outer surface was of stone, far 
beneath it came a small, throbbing.  The familiar beat of a heart!  The statues 
were alive!
"Demon dogs!"  Thundarr exclaimed.  "This is Draagon's work."  Vampira began a 
mind probe, the way Professor Xavier and Jean Grey had showed her.
"She said that this is her castle.  She and her people were turned to stone, and 
Draagon took the castle and surrounding village."
"I'll try to free them."  Ariel unleashed her powers on a stone man.  It was no 
use.  As long as Ariel's power was focused on one victim, the stone began to 
break.  But, once she turned her attention to another statue, the first returned 
to its former, stoney state.  Glomus stepped forward.
"Let me try.  When I was Draagon's apprentice, I learned to undo his 
spells.  Join our energy on one, then the rest will follow."
Glomus and Ariel joined their powers, focusing on the stone woman Andy had 
found.  From her, the power spread among her people.  The once solid stone 
became plaster that began to crack and fall away.  Limbs that had been frozen in 
time were now smooth and pliable.  The stone king stretched his newly freed 
limbs.
"It feels good to be free again," he commented, breathing in the morning 
air.  He stepped, stiffly, from his pedastl.  The othger stone people followed 
his lead.  After they had been in the warm sun for a while, their joints would 
find movement easier.
"What has happened to Draagon?"  One villager wanbted to know.
"He has been destroyed," Thundarr declared.  "You are free now."
A mighty cheer went up.  "We owe you our thanks," the stone king said.  "You 
were chosen for Draagon's wueen but destroyed him."
"We, my friends and I, are visitors from the past," Vampira indicated to Andy, 
Tarl, and Banner.
"Then, you shall return to your own time," Glomus promised.  "Come with me."
When Vampira had been captured, Apocalypse had also commandeered Andy's time 
machine, with hopes of destroying the craft.  Glomus led them to the alcove 
where the make-shift machine was stored.  Tarl turned to Thundarr, and warmly 
shook his hand.
"Thundarr, I can't thank you enough for all yopur help."
"You helped me on my quest, so, now, I have helped you," Thundarr clapped Tarl 
on the shoulder.  "Love your wife, my friend.  I know very little about this 
thing, but what I do know is this.  You are very lucky.  No one has thought of 
me the way your Andy thinks of you."
Ariel's eyes flashed like sparks on coal.  "Oh, they haven't, have they?"
Thundarr looked surprised.  "You, Ariel?"
Andy and Vampira looked at each other, then flashed a thumbs-up signal of 
approval.  "Pucker up," Ariel ordered, and placed a kiss on Thundarr's lips, a 
mid a whoop and cheer from Andy and Vampira.
Once they were safely back in the apartment in Buffalo, Andy asked Tarl how he 
had known to use the luck stone to free her from King Draagon's power.
"It was Dr. Banner's idea.  I told him how your love healed me and the luck 
stone, and he suggested that its power be used to heal you, my beloved."
Thundarr, Ariel, and Ookla returned to the futuristic Las Vegas to try their 
hand at the ancient sport of gambling.  When Ariel decided they had lost 
enough of their money, they moved on to the next town.
As they camped under the stars that noght, Thundarr lay awake long after Ariel 
and Ookla had fallen asleep.  Seeing Andy and Tarl together, and how in love 
they were, called Thundarr's attention to things he had seen before, but to 
whcih he had never paid attention.  How the birds, in the lofty branches of the 
trees, seemed to have found their right mates to nestle with.  
It made sense to him, now, how a gander, the mate of a goose Thundarr had killed 
on a hunting trip, had followed the hunting party around for days, honking 
sadly.  It was nothing less than love.  
Thundarr glanced at Ariel, sleeping yunder her blanket.  Sure she cared for him, 
why else would she have helped him to free himself, but did she love him the way 
Andy loved Tarl?  Thundarr lay down, pulling his blanket around him.
Be happy, my friends, Thundarr thought to himself, and willed his wish to carry 
itself through the fabric of space and time to his friends in the past.
THE END