Jackie sighed as he leaned back, watching over Section 13 for Augustus while he took care of...other business. His friend wasn't telling him what all he'd gotten involved in - as he'd pointed out a while ago, things didn't revolve around what Jackie and his family got up to - and he really didn't want to know, especially not when it involved him being able to call on a member of the Jade Council at a moment's notice. That had been just unnerving.
Still, it was only one night. What was the-
"No, don't you dare!" Tiger snapped from Jackie's shoulder. "Don't you dare even think it!"
"Too late," Kitten groaned as he pointed to a coruscating flare of light taking shape near the Vault.
Gripping the railing of the catwalk he was on, Jackie flung himself over to land between the light and the Vault...just as the light faded to reveal Finn, Ratso, and Chao. Finn had an empty bag, and Ratso and Chao each carried full bags. "Yo, Jackie!" Finn called out, giving a relaxed wave.
"Oh, it's you three," Jackie observed as he relaxed. The other agents nearby also relaxed, going back to their duties save those nearest who stayed alert but at rest. "What brings you here tonight? Does Valmont need something?"
Chao rubbed the back of his head nervously. "Yeah...see...the Boss wants us to steal the Talismans." He shrugged helplessly. "No hard feelings?"
Jackie stared at him for a time before finally asking, "...really? And you're just...saying that?"
"Well," Ratso spoke up as he reached into his bag, "we've got Jump Runes that can get us in and out without leaving a trace, an Anti-Scry Circuit so we can't be detected by magical or mundane security, a Befuddle Bundle so no one can be certain of what they remember, a potent enough Nip Mix to make you loopy for a day, a Phase Shifter for the Vault door, and an iron clad alibi elsewhere once all is said and done." He shrugged after displaying each such item before putting it back in the bag. "So...it's not like you could stop us."
"And you think just telling us that's what you're doing will mean us just letting you do it?" Jackie demanded in frustration. "Why are you even doing this?"
"Big V heard Dao Long Wong is targeting the Talismans," Finn explained readily. "Since one of the only things known to be an effective deterrent for him is Light Magic, which makes the boss the best one to keep them safe from him."
"Especially since Captain Black won't be on this job at all times anymore," Chao continued easily. "That was specifically one of V's concerns, and why he sent us in rather than making contact."
"And...what? You thought that because we're on more or less good terms, you could prove you could take them and instead just ask for them?" Jackie pressed in disbelief.
"Well, that way there's no bad feeling, right?" Ratso offered earnestly without a trace of sarcasm or irony.
Jackie sighed ruefully before turning to Finn and Chao. "His idea?" he asked, gesturing at Ratso. He sighed as that got two nods in return. Jackie groaned as he rubbed his forehead. "...look, I'm just supposed to be watching the base until Augustus gets back. I don't want to tell him I just let you walk out with the artifacts...and I don't want the kind of damage an actual fight would cause. Could...could you maybe just wait until he gets back and ask him about it?"
"Don't see why not," Finn allowed easily. "Only time limit on this job we got is 'before Wong steals them', so as long as Black gets back before Wong gets here, that works for us."
"And we're on salary, so it's not like a fast job gets us paid better than a slow one," Chao agreed.
"And Chao's got the anti-Dark Wizard gear in case Wong gets here first," Ratso added before pulling out a deck of cards. "You play rummy?"
"...seriously?" Augustus demanded as Jackie got his injuries treated. "They come to rob us and you ask them to wait until I get back, and then play cards with them?"
"Well...they did ask nicely..." Jackie pointed out ruefully. "It seemed like the best idea at the time. At least then I'd have them as extra backup if Wong showed up before you did..." He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Which was better in my head than what actually happened..."
Augustus sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "So Wong showed up," he allowed ruefully. "Which led to the three of them trying to get the Talismans before Wong did, which turned it into a three-way magical brawl over the Talismans?"
"More or less," Jackie allowed apologetically. "Though Wong was rather quickly limited in what he could bring when Chao pulled out the Urn of Wei Cheing, already primed to entrap his Dark Warriors. Apparently Valmont had located and secreted it back when he was still utilizing Wong as a resource, and gave it to Chao to even the odds if Wong showed up."
"So he's without his Dark Warriors, that's a relief," Augustus allowed. "And the Talismans?" He frowned as he saw one of his agents looking sheepish.
"A...mixture of magic and a high powered laser blast resulted in...catastrophic integrity failure..." Jackie allowed evasively.
"Somebody green tried to fight a mage with a laser weapon, and things exploded," Augustus translated. "Somehow I doubt that destroying the Talismans destroyed their powers, that would be far too simple..."
"Hey Jackie?" Jade called out as Hsi Wu swooped in carrying her and a rather scruffy looking mutt. "Any idea how this guy wound up with Dog Talisman power inside him? Found him while we were looking at a dog show trying to decide whether or not to attend. He walked right up to me, and my magic - and Sweetie's, for some reason - resonated with his and made the Talisman symbol appear in his eyes." As Hsi Wu set her down, she stared around at the mess of the base. "What the heck happened here-" Her words cut off as she caught sight of Augustus. "We didn't do it!" she cried out guiltily.
Augustus buried his face in his hands. "...and here we go again..."
Ooo the Noble Animals hunt begins!
Well at least at this time they will be able to have three different groups hunting them. Let’s see how on his back foot Wong will be.
This was quite the pleasant surprise to see! :D
yay update!
I guess some things just can't be avoided. At least Valmont tried, though I do hope the Enforcers don't end up being enthralled by Dao Long Wong.
Anyway, Uncle isn't here to do it, so I'll do it for him. Ai-yah!
(sighs deeply) someone better tell uncle and velmont what happened here so that they can pool info on what to do.
No kidding.
....
(looks at the comments for chapter)
....
Whelp guess it's up to me to use the meme
A surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one.
Funny enough I just re-read this fic again the other day. Regardless, it's always good to see an update from you.
Hi Scruffy.
Now to go get Eggbert, Mordecai, Sasha, Haiku, Lucky, Bob, Royal Medicine, Sampa, and Aesop. And a rat from an Aztec temple.
Those moments where everyone is acting perfectly logical, and yet it still looks like no one was.
10963718
ill one up you on that...
10963731
*GASP* I've been out MEME'd?!!!
10963694
Remember the world is actively aware of magic now so in not unlikely that a few more faction could want at least one of the talisman powers for themselves or be trying to keep it safe from both sides.(Considering how easily Wong got in its not unbelievable that people would want the powers to go back to that same location)
10963726
So, who wants to bet that Jake Long is the Noble Dragon. Least we can avoid Shendu trying to revive himself.
Edit: Also the Noble Animals was my favorite season of JCA.
It's still amusing that some of the people who used to be bad guys aren't really bad guys anymore (not including Tohru, that was a given anyway), and are even... I dunno if I'd say allies but they cooperate, at least.
Always fun to see this updated!
Chapter Two Hundred Seventeen
"Bad Day"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 50
"I'm not his/your Mistress!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 12
(Yep, still at it! )
10963748
You should start a we didn’t do it count as well
10963726
Ayaiyaiiiiii~~~
holy shit my guy i stopped reading like, 2 or 3 years ago after getting to chapter 161 and your still going with another 56 chapters? damn dude
Poor Capt. Black...
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
At least black has a 4 armed Wiafu to go to after this adventure.
10963748
You are not leting go, are you?
Well, I think things are better off than in Canon since Valmont is a decent demon and wanted to keep the talismans safe. It would have been hilarious to see the Tiger Talisman go into Jackie since he was RIGHT THERE. I can't wait to see how the issue of the Dragon Talisman is handled.
10963744
Could also see Ron being the monkey.
Yes update!
Hehe. Who here thinks after this is over someone (probably valmont) is gonna yeet Wong into orbit?
10963726
Royal Medicine is replaced by Sweetie Belle, and given what has happened in this series I'm not surprised.
10963859
For some reason I'm thinking the ability to Split into Tiger and Kitten like *snaps fingers* would make for an interesting upgrade to his fighting style.
10963861
Are you talking Ron from Kim Possible? That would be a lot of fun and quite the curveball.
I don't remember this season all that well. This should be interesting
Glad to see you back.
WELCOME BACK!
How you been?
And now to celebrate your triumphant return...
10963861
But, he's not a Monkey, he just has Mystical Monkey Powers. The whole thing with the Talisman Powers is that they go to the Noblest of the Animal depicted on the Talisman. Same reason why Jackie wouldn't of gotten the Tiger Powers as he's not a Tiger, but a Human/Werecat. Jake Long is a Dragon, thus it's possible for him to gain the Dragon Talisman's Powers.
10964066
I think Sun Wukong would be the noblest of monkeys being the Monkey King and all.
Mae govannen, mellonin, you have been missed.
10963825
Pffttt...Wong better watch himself if Damn Shotokahn get involved, or any more of the Mortal Kombat characters...Uh oh...Guys...are the talisman choices limited to Earthrealm?
10963848
Nnnnnope.
Honestly, I'm REALLY surprised that 'Bad day' count isn't higher. And the 'Mistress' counter seemed to just hit a dead stop after that last one.
10963771
Nah, two counts is enough. My comment boxes get big enough as it is with those there.
10964066
To be more precise, isn't Jake half dragon and half human, cuz you know, parentage?
BwaHAHAHAHAha...(wheeze)... hahaHAHA. this is gunna be good.😆
UPDATE!
10964118 EXCELLENT question
10964103 THAT would be to easy but would be entertaining.
Looks like Scruffy came early, I wonder how he will get along with Ruby?🤔
10963794
That reminds me. I really should be reading is off-site fics as well, but I keep putting them off.
10963683
Nah, it is gonna be Talismanimals Hunt! Gotta catch them all!
It's a shame there's a high chance Valmonte won't turn into a kid in this timeline looking for the Honse-er, horse talisman bearer, I'd love to see Bai and the Dazzling's reactions to Lil' V
...then again, as XCOM has proven, a 99% chance can still end in failure...
10963859
Cant remember if this season was Dragos first appearance or not...
10966164
No, I distinctly remember they had to revive Shendu to get the dragon spirit to enter him since he was the only dragon. Nobody on the good guys' side was happy with the plan. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a much friendlier dragon they could get to help, or one who got the talisman power and never noticed because they could already breathe fire. I can just see a line of fire breathing dragons parading past Uncle as he uses a Chi Spell to check for the Talisman Power.
10966397
Oh wait..didnt Drago first show up in an episode with Future Jade?
Man, I can't tell you how much I've been craving your return. These stories are great, and the humor was on point this time as well. It'll be interesting to see if Shendu becomes a threat again.
10966527
10966397
You both are wrong. Drago was introduced in the filler episode during the Oni Mask saga. It wasn't the Chan Clan that revived Shendu it was Dao Long Wong who revived Shendu in return for the power of Combustion aka the Dragon talisman but Shendu double crossed Dao Long Wong.
10968976
Thanks for the correction, I knew he got revived but I forgot WHO did it.
This is the best way to kick off the Talisman animals arc.