"Pony!" Jade shouted once again, pointing the Monkey Talisman at herself. In a flash of light, the horse talisman was clutched in the teeth of a tiny brown and white horse for a brief few seconds before an angry whinny reversed the transformation. "Aw, come on! I've been trying to get this to work for hours! Why isn't it working?"
"It's doing what you tell it to do," Sweetie Belle explained softly. "I mean, I didn't mean komodo when I said dragon, but that's what I got."
"But how do I be more specific?" Jade asked curiously. "I tried pegasus, but I was this big white thing that looked like a horse. I even tried pegasus pony, but I was just a smaller version! And it shorts out every time I say Qi Lin."
"Have you tried unicorn?" Scootaloo offered, gesturing at Sweetie Belle.
Jade frowned, crossing her arms. "I did. I wound up a white horse-looking thing with a horn. Not like Sweetie Belle, even when I said 'unicorn pony'. What's it take to get this thing to turn me into something like you girls?"
Apple Bloom shrugged. "Maybe the magic just don't work that way. Maybe it's somethin' about us that the Talisman can't handle."
"But it transformed you into a Storm Dragon!" Jade complained angrily, waving the Talisman towards Scootaloo while gesticulating at Apple Bloom.
A light flashed out of the Talisman, and Scootaloo stared down at her transformed state. "Sweet!" she purred happily as she spread her much larger wings.
"There's a thought," Jade murmured. She pointed the Talisman at herself. "Storm Dragon!"
The light flashed out, arced around Jade, and struck Sweetie Belle. "Where's my horn?" she screeched out, starting to panic as she pawed at her forehead with her claws, her sense of magic seriously twisted. "Where's my horn?"
"Change back!" Jade called out quickly, reversing both transformations with blasts of light. "You okay, Sweetie?"
"I don't think I like this Talisman very much..." Sweetie whimpered, putting her forehooves to her horn with relief. "I'm gonna go sit in the corner where I'm not in the crossfire."
"Don't be such a baby, Sweetie," Scootaloo scolded. "It wasn't that-"
"What if you'd been turned into something without wings?" Sweetie interrupted acidly.
Scootaloo's eyes went wide, and Cumulo shot up to the ceiling out of range at her silent mental command.
"Uh...?" Jade asked, confused.
"Accordin' to the book Uncle's got, horn and wings are the primary magical foci for Sweetie and Scoot, and those like 'em," Apple Bloom explained. "Also a direct link to the magical fields. Without 'em...it'd be like suddenly being unable ta see color, or movement, but more so. Really not fun for the brain."
"Oh..." Jade gasped softly. "I'm...I'm so sorry, Sweetie-"
"Not your fault," Sweetie Belle hastened to assure her. "...still gonna stay over here until the Talisman is safe in the vault."
"Well, there goes my other idea..." Jade murmured softly. "For you two, anyway..."
"Other idea?" Apple Bloom asked curiously.
Jade rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Well...it might work for you still, Apple Bloom." She leveled the Talisman at the red-headed filly. "Human!"
The beam of light shot out, split around Apple Bloom, and struck a broom directly behind her, transforming it into a wooden sculpture of a human.
"Stupid useless hunk of magic junk!" Jade snapped out angrily, hurling the Talisman across the room before turning around and sinking into a sulk. The Talisman flew right through the warp into the Section 13 apartment, followed by a 'thunk' and a pained exclamation from Jackie.
Apple Bloom blinked in confusion. "Uh...don'tcha think that was a bit extreme?"
"Probably," Jade murmured grumpily. "But...I know how much it bugs you that you can't control your magic, and all three of you that you have to wear the pendants to go around when that just means you're always overlooked. I thought...I thought I could turn myself into a pony like the three of you so we could spend time together...or that I could turn the three of you into humans so you could walk around with me without the pendants, and get noticed for your skills. So you could show how special you are...instead of everyone overlooking you as 'normal'..." She blinked her eyes, refusing to let the tears at the corners fall.
Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo exchanged glances, then swiftly moved to Jade's side to wrap her in a three way embrace.
"I thought...magic could finally be used to fix something..." Jade whimpered, hugging them back. "I mean...I know Scootaloo's attempt didn't work out...but this wasn't that big..."
"Still a lesson you needed," Uncle offered softly as he stepped into the room, a tray of cookies and sweet tea in his hands as he sat down amongst them. "It is why I insisted Jackie let you try."
"Uncle?" Jade asked in confusion, wiping away the tears she hadn't yet shed as she accepted the offered sweets. "What do you mean?"
"You quest for magic eagerly," Uncle explained. "Not bad thing in of itself...but you must exercise caution and wisdom. You see magic as a fix all, but that is not so. Magic has its own rules, and limitations. Different from those of physics, but just as limiting in their own way." He rested a hand on Apple Bloom's head. "Apple Bloom learned this in bringing her own magic under control." Another hand stroked Sweetie Belle. "Sweetie learned this as she struggled to master chopsticks."
"Uncle!" Sweetie Belle whined with an embarrassed blush as Apple Bloom and Scootaloo giggled. Jade just tilted her head in confusion.
"But things came easily for both of you as you've adjusted," Uncle explained as he pulled Scootaloo and Jade into his arms. "This is why I let you both experiment with Horse and Monkey Talismans. This is most important lesson of magic, and one only truly understood when experienced. Only so much can be gained through instruction."
All four girls snuggled up in Uncle's embrace. "Not exactly a happy lesson..." Jade grumbled softly.
"The important ones seldom are," Uncle allowed wearily.
Wait...
D--> Why not just use me again?
Poor Jade. We need a fluff chapter to counteract the feels.
Awe man, this is a lesson that the show needed. I can see so many of the episodes going in monumentally different ways just from Jade being forced to learn this so early on. Almost makes me wonder why the show Uncle never tried teaching her this way.
Yeah, I'd agree with 7705199. This was a lesson that Jade definitely needed to learn. Magic is not something to be fooled around or played with,
7705173
...huh?
There is much wisdom in this chapter. Looking forward to more.
Keep up the great work. Deus tecum.
Another enjoyable chapter. Well done.
What is it with you and hitting me right in the feels? I love how Jade is trying to help the CMC. Keep up the good work.
I don't think even I can transform these feels into laughs. Let's just offer virtual hugs.
7705222 Hey, I just got an idea. Next chapter should be a fitter chapter with the CMC getting their cutie marks.
7705222 Let me tell you about Homestuck...
(In a PM, of course.)
7705301
That's not going to be a filler chapter. That's a plot event.
7705308
Oh. A homestuck reference. Nevermind.
Well said Uncle. Well said.
Ai-yah. And Echo was so optimistic...
Seems Jade was not only one needing to learn this lesson.
7705448
Yes, that was the reference.
And Uncle hasn't figured it out, but the reason it's so finicky has to do with the chapter title. It can only transform an animal into something native to the same plane as itself, due to an inherent magical balance. So the CMC can be turned into anything native to Equestria, while Jade can be turned into anything native to Earth...but not vice versa.
And despite the Demon Nether Realm, the Demon Sorcerers (such as Shendu) are native to Earth. That's why Shendu was also the Noble Dragon. (By the same token, none of the CMC will be viable as the 'Noble Horse' for the same reasons.)
Too bad for Jade and the CMC... Maybe Jade is looking it wrong, maybe she need other thing instead of the talisman. Too bad she can't just ask Shendu.
Weighty, meaty, poignant chapter.
What would have happened if they said Equestria Girl while using the talisman? I know they have no in-universe reason for them to try but I'm just curious.
7705694 want an in universe reason? Equestrian girl is a girl who rides equines, close enough. Where the talisman may use it
7705469 So, you're saying that Pegasus actually existed in this universe, but fire-breathing, or Eastern dragons didn't? They're all creatures of myth, after all.
7705469 Of course, this WOULD put "Alicorn" on the table... if any of them were familiar with the term. Which, thanks to the CMC not really remembering Equestria, isn't the case...
Which brings us straight back to that discussion regarding the Talismans requiring more power from the user or environment to affect greater change. Because the Crusaders are inherently magically powerful, when they are the focus of the spell they have more options regarding transformations. But when Jade is the focus of the transformation, at least in regards to becoming a magical creature, the Talisman defaults to the closest match. She is powerful magically, but it's not a magic she can control, and likely can't access, yet.
Though, now i wonder. What would be the result if someone like Sweetie used the Talisman to make Jade a Pony? Would it be possible, or would the differing types of magic prevent a true transformation?
Eh, it's still doesn't change the fact that it's the most powerfull of the talismans(it literaly gives you the power of The Beast Boy and he really can kick an ass when he puts his all into it.)
7705736 We saw that with Jackie. She'd become the closest mundane equivalent. When one of the ponies tried to turn Jackie into a dragon, he became a Komodo, the closest mundane equivalent to the Equestrian dragon, but (I'm assuming it was Apple Bloom) Apple Bloom became a baby(?) storm dragon.
It's an important lesson to learn.
Too bad I've resolved to take it as I do all rules.
There's exceptions to it.
I refuse to believe some things can't be done.
There's ways around it, paths through it, and walls to break.
Sheer will will get us through.
The will to think, fight, and just go through to get to or goal.
So pardonnez moiz,
But fucking hell,
Never give up.
7705726
Pegasus were native. Dragons weren't.
7705736
Actually, power has nothing to do with it there. Simply put, the CMC have the magic of their world, and can only turn into creatures of their world. Same with Jade and Earth.
7705839 Pegasus refers to the winged horse bequeathed to Heracles/Perseus/whatever myth of the time. Not the entire species. I don't even know if there was more than the one. And fair enough about the dragons. But another thing, does the talisman take the target's age into account when changing them?
7705848
Yes. So Jade turned into a half-grown Pegasus, whether horse or pony.
7705839 Ah-HA!!! I knew my streak of guessing your thoughts was gonna end soon!
Still, that makes more sense than a lack of power, because the more I considered it, the less sense Jade not being able to turn into a Pony made if that was the case.
Here with another theory. So now we've established the rules regarding the monkey talisman, let see what the limits are. What if the talisman could be used to heal injuries? Go with me on this, let's say the talisman was used on a person with one arm and was turned into a dog. Would the dog have three legs or four? And if it did come with three legs, could being specific fix that like saying turn into a four legged dog? This idea doesn't really seem far fetched, remember this talismans power is literally changing the DNA of anything. So if it's possible then could the one arm person turned into a four legged dog be changed back into a human with two arms if you told the talisman to turn the dog into a human with two arms?
7705901
Would not work.
The talisman would only use the word 'dog' for the transformation trigger. Everything beyond the species - or breed - would be ignored by the Talisman.
7705915
Hmm, can you back up that claim?
7705922
Sure.
If the Monkey Talisman could be used to heal, the Horse Talisman wouldn't be needed.
But we already established the limits of the horse talisman. The horse talisman is mainly used for certain illnesses. The inscription states this and I quote, "If activated the noble horse expels all alien forces within." You can't really compare an illness to a loss limb.
7705942
Horse Talisman is accelerated healing. When combined properly with the Dog Talisman, it's continuous regeneration. Which is what Shendu uses to fix holes in his belly during the fight with Jackie in the season one finale.
7705944
Exactly, the horse talisman can only do that with the dog talisman.(since those blast would have killed Shendu even with the horse talisman.) Also the horse talisman can only heal fresh wounds. I doubt it can grow back an arm even with the dog talisman if the arm was severed years ago.
7705950
Actually, it could, because the Dog Talisman restores youthful energy, which would turn back time on the injury.
7705951
That just mean you'll never get worn out. You said it yourself, it would restore youthful energy not youthful limbs. By that logic if Uncle was in possession of both the horse and dog talismans he would turn back into a young man.
7705956
He would. You notice he never has both simultaneously.
(Of course, when he gave up both, his body would rapidly age back to normal.)
7705962
So does that mean the talismans magic is only temporary? I'm pretty sure there are plenty of episodes that would contradict that statement. Also with the discussion of how the two talismans work together then that would mean as soon as they get the dog talisman, Scootaloo can try again and this time succeed in curing those kids.
7705971
The Dog Talisman only is temporary. And it amplifies all the other Talismans by providing a limitless source of vital energy to power their spells.
As such, anything done using the Dog Talisman would also be temporary.
7705974
So what your saying, for example if the two talismans were used on the one arm man to grow his arm back, then once you remove the dog talisman his regrown arm will go away?
7705979
No, once the limb is back, it's back.
But if you use it to cure someone of a disease that's ravaged their body, the damage from the disease will return when you take the Talismans away.
7705987
So you're saying that even with both talismans the cancer kids will never be cured? That's messed up man. I don't believe that.
Chapter Sixty One
"Aiyah!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 34
"One More Thing!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 63
7705469 I wonder how this limitation would be affected if the talismans are brought to Equestria, and from there through the portal to the EG verse.
... And much like physics I daresay magic has 'loopholes' as well. What they lack is knowledge to use them. For example, if Jade had turned the girls into something that could shapeshift under its own power, they could probably have at least _appeared_ human.
7705987
Similarly, if regeneration of the lost is permanent but the rejuvenation of the injured is temporary, then the loophole here is to excise the afflicted organ entirely (if possible) and regenerate it.
Poor Jade. But yeah, it's true: Even magic has rules. Them's the breaks.
7706097 Uh, sort of. Shapeshifting also tends to affect the mind. A lot. Hence why thrope kids who shift too often when young tended to go wild, and ended up getting put down by humans. Shapeshifting is really intense, and somewhat traumatic, even when painless.
7705991
Even with magic, cancer is not yet something that is subject to 'cure'. Remission? Easily. But cure?
7706033
It would not. The spell form of the Talismans would not have changed.
The difference would be that any creature that goes through the portal between Equestria and the EqG world gets forcefully adapted to whichever world they're travelling to.
7706097
Your point about shapeshifting is accurate, though they'd have to learn how to master such abilities...and the shapeshifting creature would have to naturally be able to assume a human form.
As for the regeneration point, that would only work if
A) they could survive for an extended period of time without the organ or life support naturally
B) the affliction of the organ was the result of external influence, not genetic flaw
After all, even with the Dog Talisman, the Horse Talisman can't fix genetic issues. As far as the magic can tell, that's what the patient is supposed to be like.