The Chans, Tohru, and Mrs. T decided to go to the Japanese Cultural Expo together. While waiting for the performance Mrs. T was hoping to see, the group went together to view the other exhibits, including the Kyoto Octopus. Jade and the fillies marveled at the golden, jewel-encrusted sculpture that clutched a huge gem in the tentacles that rose up to resemble a crown, as Mrs. T lectured them on its history and various other important details. Jackie had declined Captain Black's request to act as additional security for the Octopus, though knowing that Jackie, Tohru, and the others would be there had been a big comfort for the Agent.
After having seen the Octopus, the group split up to explore the Expo in whatever direction they wanted. Scootaloo and Jade raced off together, Scootaloo on her cloud and Jade on Scootaloo's old scooter. Sweetie Belle wandered around with Jackie in tow, hitting every stall that looked like it sold something as she looked for any souvenirs she might want to collect, while also carrying a large bag for anything she could pick up that was being given away free. She didn't know if there would be anything like that here, since it was an Expo and not a Convention, but she figured it paid to be prepared. Apple Bloom raced off with Tohru close behind, enjoying the fact that she could now walk on normal terrain without causing plants to spring up at random unless she willed it. Audrey III, also enjoying the freedom to wander separately from Apple Bloom, explored the Expo while wearing the fake mustache that somehow still caused everyone who didn't know he was a giant plant to see him as human.
On seeing that, Uncle idly wondered to himself if he'd ever needed the Normality Pendants, or if fake mustaches would have been all it took for the fillies to blend in. He eventually came to the conclusion that he didn't want the answer to that question, and instead went with Mrs. T to reminisce and to see Kara Noki and her yodeling kabukis. Of course, after the show the pair had gotten into an intense debate as far as the validity of 'yodeling kabukis' as part of Japanese culture, arguing history, comparative music trends, Japan's history of cultural appropriation of outside trends, and the applicability of the term 'yodeling' to the music thus presented. The debate got so lively that a large portion of the audience thought it was part of the Expo, and staff decided to take advantage of it by placing microphones near the two debaters without them noticing. When the debate got especially heated, an enterprising staff member managed to attach mics to Uncle's vest and Mrs. T's jacket so the debate could still be heard as it extended into a demonstration of traditional Japanese martial arts as compared to Chinese martial arts, as well as how the practice thereof helped preserve vitality far into old age.
The 'old age' comment on the part of one of the staff members acting as announcer brought Uncle and Mrs. T's ire, bringing an end to both debate and demonstration, along with the announcer's dignity. However, both walked away with Kara Noki's autograph, so overall it was a profitable interchange.
As they continued to explore the Expo, Mrs. T grilled Uncle regarding recent events, especially in regard to Tohru and Apple Bloom. Uncle was vague regarding Apple Bloom's origins, as well as the nature of the 'Harmony Blast' that had fundamentally altered the world at large even if Mrs. T wasn't aware of it, but did bring up Tohru's indispensable contributions to the battle with Shendu. On learning of Shendu's apparent fate, however, Mrs. T frowned darkly. "This not good, Billy Goat," she pointed out dourly. "If Shendu is dead, then Yin and Yang out of balance."
Uncle snorted derisively. "I may be old, but not senile. I know this...not to say Yin and Yang haven't been out of balance since girls arrive. Good chi is strong with them, and not of this level of existence."
Mrs. T shrugged that aside. "If no greater evil appeared since their arrival, then balance took them into account somehow. But death of Demon Sorcerer? That great blow to darkness, and balance will restore itself. New, stronger evil will replace it."
Uncle nodded. "I am already making preparations. With luck, I will be able to handle things on my own, with help from children."
"Pfui!" Mrs. T derided. "Billy Goat can barely take care of himself! How he handle demons alone?"
"Will not be alone," Uncle corrected. "Fillies have very strong magic, and have studied books very carefully whole lives. One more thing, their magic seems designed to be combined amongst the three of them, to work together as a greater whole."
"While good chi creatures using good chi against demons is good, how will that be different than before?" Mrs. T demanded coldly.
"Because fillies' magic has stabilized with appearance of Cutie Marks," Uncle explained. "As such...the three of them together are now the equivalent of a complete Master Chi Wizard. I will trust them to make their own plans and preparations to battle demons."
"Is that all you have up your sleeve?" Mrs. T demanded. "Nothing else to hold back the evil that will come?"
As she spoke, the disparate groups gathered back together, Audrey III towering over all but Tohru as Captain Black approached. "Any sign of that gang you were worried about, Augustus?" Jackie asked curiously.
Captain Black shook his head in frustration. "We know they were here at the Expo, they were sighted making their way towards the Octopus...but then it's like they vanished!"
Audrey belched loudly, then said nothing as everyone looked towards him suspiciously. Idly, he began to whistle 'Oops, I Did It Again'.
Uncle grinned widely at Mrs. T's shocked look. "One more thing," he offered impishly.
Oh, that Audrey
And they never spoke of man eating plants again.
Ah, that ending!
Start up the "One more thing!" conter agian. Were going to need it.
I have to ask, do you know about the Harry Potter fanfiction author kbinnz or her fic "Harry's New Home"? Or was that a nod to Audrey's second namesake?
7907677
I have no idea what you're talking about.
Pretty good set up there. I would've liked to hear what they were debating about myself if I was one of the crowd there too. With how knowledgeable those two are, it would have made an interesting debate to listen to.
And the acting announcer, yeah. Probably deserved the loss of their dignity after that. Seriously. There are two people who are in their elderly years, but look like they can STILL kick ass as much as they did back in their 20s or 30s. Do you REALLY want to piss those kinds of people off?
They are sure to have picked up a trick or two to humiliate their targets, either physically or verbally.
They are like the ancient "Jacked Up Fish" the Marlin. Don't Fuck With Them. EVER!
Well.....That's ONE way to prevent a big mess. That said, Go Audrey.
Uhhh... That's kind of... Disturbing... Like seriously, there were several ways you could have explained their disappearance and yet you just have Audrey eat them? What about the other people the chan family has befriended, like Viper, or the sumo that was using the bull talisman?
Well...that happened...guess Audrey just took a bite out of crime.
7907689
These are the people who, in canon, tried to feed Jackie, Tohru, Uncle, Mrs. T, and Jade to a shark.
How did no one notice Audrey eating people or there screams
Best part of the whole chapter
Short but sweet.
7907696
Uncle and Mrs. T's debate and fight were very noisy and drew a lot of attention.
7907693
...
I actually don't know how to respond to that...
Carry on I guess.
7907696
It's the moustache.
7907709
People are pretty distracted.
BTW, is Shendu going to be Mushu size or is he gone forever?
7907679
In the fanfiction I mentioned Minerva McGonagall hinted that she transformed Umbridge into a toad and ate the toad in her cat form (after finding out about the blood quills) in an almost exact same way Audrey did only instead of whistling "Oops I did it again" She said "it must have been something I ate". Or my second thought was you were giving Audrey III more of Audrey II's characteristics.
7907727
Ah.
Audrey III is basically Audrey II, except his primary food source is Apple Bloom's excess magic. So anyone around him who is evil and doing evil things is food to him, especially if they threaten Apple Bloom.
Oh god that end
7907731
Ah, I got it. But I still feel the need to do this because of Audrey's whistling after he burped...
Well, it looks like Audrey nipped that one in the bud.
7907718 mustache or not cannibalism is noticeable
7907843
Audrey is a PLANT. It's not cannibalism.
7907853 I was pointing out although fir some reason the mustache makes others see him human it would be cannibalism in there eyes
7907863
You're assuming...
1) Audrey didn't take the mustache off to eat.
2) Anyone but the baddies saw it happen.
This chapters title is no laughing matter.
There goes Mrs. T and Uncle on another age old debate again.
Don't worry about the Octopus, it's got security covered eight ways till Sunday.
7907866 not arguing with you there was just saying that all because there's a mustache if people saw there still be panic
*sniff* Oh nasty, Get some mouthwash Andrey!
It's been sometime from the last 'one more thing'.
Why I imagine Audrey dressed as Koro Sensei walking around the Expo?
That was fun, may I have another? Looking forward to more.
Keep up the great work. Deus tecum.
Now that is one powerfully disguising mustache.
I'm really enjoying the Uncle and Mrs T dynamic. I don't remember how much of it is from the show but I like it.
Oh Audrey, you never cease to amuse me.
Love the story so far mate, keep it up.
Crowning moment of funny for the chapter right there.
Well, that takes care of the Yokonawa crime family. And yes, I'm glad that the whole balance issue's been addressed.
Hopefully this means Apple Bloom's been able to research Shendu enough to know that there are seven more demons where he came from! Maybe eight, including his kid.
I prefer to assume Audrey scared them off. I acknowledge the other interpretations, but innocent until proven guilty.
7907709 It has taken a long time, but i finally have an answer to the age old question of why Jackie's pants didn't combust around his groin. The runic writing to protect him was applied all over his body except that area, and protects from damage done under them. This causes Jackie's body to become saturated with this energy and the only escape for the energy is the one area that has no markings. The protective energies thus effect his pants, but only directly around his groin because the energy quickly dissipates outside his body.
7908793
Except the runes weren't applied to his legs. Just his torso, arms, and face.
Chapter Eighty Four
"Aiyah!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 43
"One More Thing!"
\
\\
Chapter Count: 2
Total Count: 75
I feel like this is supposed to b a reference to something... but I Still don't get it...
7907674 I never stopped...
7909135
Dan Vs. It's how Dan got his cat, 'Mr. Mumbles', into everywhere. Even made that blatant back on the trip to Bavaria, and even more blatant in the chapter 'Cameos'.
7909138
Gooood.
I have a few questions that have been on my mind for awhile now. While our favorite trio is growing up with Uncle. What is happening in Equestria? How did Zecora explain things to Twilight and the rest of the mane 6? Did she even explain? Are they working on possible ways to retrieve the girls? Will the Chan's, the CMC (and Tohru and Audrey) ever get to visit Equestria? (Heheheheh...imagine the Equestrian reactions to Audrey XD)
7909997
In regards to everything but the last question...
As I've spelled out repeatedly in comments, and explained (I suppose vaguely) in Zecora's segment of the second chapter, Equestria's timeline and the JCA timeline are not in sync. This means that once the portal was closed, there was no direct relation between passage of time in San Francisco and passage of time in Equestria. This means that if six seconds after the portal closed, Zecora opened another one, it could...
1) Open 2 hours before the CMC arrived in Uncle's shop.
2) Open 2 years in the future relative to the story present CMC.
3) Open in the stone age.
4) Not even open on the same planet.
So would everyone please stop asking about Equestria?!?!
...whew,needed to get that out.
In regards to your last question, that's spoilers.
I can just see some burglar coming up to rob the shop and seeing a sign reading, "Beware of Man Eating Plant" with a very recognizable Audrey pictograph and laughing it off, only to find themselves hoisted up by vines and tossed into his mouth.
7907689 I think Audrey only eats bad guys. I can't see him eating everyone, how else would they get the mail? The mail man probably started bringing a rat or something as a bribe to let him get to the house.
7907693 Then they deserved to be eaten themselves.
7909978 Can always spruce it up a little once it's built.
7909127 Has anyone been keeping track of 'bad day'? If not, any idea of when it might've stopped?
Oh Audrey, You DIDN'T!!