"Are you sure I should go, Uncle Jackie?" Jade asked worriedly as she turned back towards him before leaving their rooms in Section 13. "I don't mind skipping a day if you're still upset."
"Jade, that's the fifth time you've asked me that," Jackie groaned, shaking his head to hide his smile. "Trust me, I will be fine. You get to school. You need your education."
"Apple Bloom's staying," Jade pointed out logically.
"Apple Bloom has a stuffed up nose, and every sneeze causes her magic to go haywire," Jackie countered. As he spoke, a loud sneeze echoed through Section 13, followed by an explosion from the greenhouse. "Do you really want to see what that would do to the school?" Noticing Jade's mischievous smirk, he spoke up, "Don't answer that."
Jade managed a giggle. "Would be fun to see, but you're right that it wouldn't be good for Apple Bloom. Besides, what if she's got some sort of magic-powered germ that will infect humans and turn them into magic powered zombies?" Her eyes lit up in excitement as her imagination ran away with her. "Oh, that would be so cool! Dangerous, but cool!"
"Apple Bloom has been sick before," Jackie pointed out. "Each of them has. They tend to recover quickly."
"Aww!" Jade pouted. "And here I was hoping maybe the magic germs would give me super powers!" Jackie only rolled his eyes. "So...you're sure I should-"
"For the last time, Jade, yes!" Jackie insisted. "Go to school. Study. I'll be fine here. Captain Black and I are going to take some time to talk about things from a long time ago. That will help too."
"Alright," Jade agreed finally. Glancing around, she grabbed her book bag and lunch box, making sure she had everything. She then glanced at the clock. "Oh no! I'm going to be late!" She started towards the table where the small box the Rabbit Talisman was sitting in, only to pause, then retract her hand.
"Jade?" Jackie asked curiously.
"I was thinking of using the Rabbit Talisman to get to school on time," Jade began contritely, "but...that wouldn't be a very disciplined use of magic, would it? Besides, what if the Dark Hand were out there with that thing they use to detect Talismans?"
Jackie smiled widely. "Very good, Jade," Jackie praised, reaching out to muss her hair affectionately, even if it did simply fall back into her preferred style. "You are quite right that you shouldn't use the Talisman so recklessly like that. I'm proud of you."
Jade grinned happily, pleased that her following the lesson she took from the previous day had cheered Jackie up. "Still going to be late, though," she murmured softly.
Jackie chuckled. "How about I write you a note saying you stayed back to take care of Apple Bloom? I'm sure Mrs. Hartman will excuse that."
Jade shrugged her shoulders helplessly. "Doubt it, but thanks anyway-"
At that moment, the green column of light in the corner of the room flared, and Scootaloo stepped out. "Hey, Jade! Need a lift to school?"
Jade grinned widely. "Oh yeah! Forgot you had a cloud ride that can break the sound barrier!" She waved happily as she raced into the column of light. "See you after school, Jackie!" With that shout, the pair vanished in light.
Jackie chuckled to himself, shaking his head as he made his way out of the little apartment. Stepping back out into the main area of Section 13, he began to stroll around, taking the time to look at everything for once. The walls were still plain metal, and the people were still the same, but he'd never really taken the time to see it before...as much for his own sense of reality as out of any rush. If he took in too much here, he was afraid he'd start wondering if he was still just an archaeologist, or if he'd really become a secret agent. That was the last thing he wanted to actually happen, but at this point the change over felt inevitable...and beyond that, he couldn't deny that part of him enjoyed the race against the 'bad guys' to the artifacts, in the same way part of him had always enjoyed dealing with booby traps. The thrill of it wasn't something he'd ever escape enjoying, no matter how much he disliked the part of him that actively sought out those thrills.
He let out a thoughtful sigh as he finally made it to where Captain Black was waiting for him, two cups of coffee and two rice bowls on the table. "Hello, Augustus," Jackie greeted as he took a seat.
"Hey Jackie," Augustus replied, taking a sip of his own coffee as he glanced through some papers. "Glad to see you doing better. You've gotten better at recovering from these episodes."
Jackie shrugged his shoulders. "I am not entirely certain that is a good thing," he countered as he picked up his chopsticks. "Then again, I have more people in my life wanting me to be better. That could explain it."
"It probably does," Augustus agreed. "Your nieces are determined young ladies, and frighteningly resourceful."
Jackie chuckled softly. "Don't remind me..." He began eating the prepared food. "You've gotten better at making these," he pointed out happily.
"Thanks," Augustus replied as he picked up a fork to eat. "Why so great a sigh earlier, Jackie?"
Jackie shook his head. "I'm just...unsure of where my life is going now. All this...given a choice, I'd avoid it like the plague...and yet part of me revels in it." He looked thoughtfully at an old scar on his arm. "I remember what it was like when I listened to that part more..." His voice trailed off as he stared at the scar.
"Something bothering you, Jackie?" Augustus asked.
"You ever get the feeling something was supposed to happen, but didn't?" Jackie asked cautiously.
"All the time in this job," Augustus answered readily. "You get lots of weird feelings like that when you work unofficial law enforcement. The problem is sorting out which actually mean something, which are paranoia, and knowing you can't really do anything about it either way."
"How do you deal with it?" Jackie asked, hoping for some help to deal with his own issues.
"I just accept that my life is going to be weird," Augustus explained.
At that moment, Audrey III began to dance his way across the doorway, swinging his roots up as he waved a top hat and cane, towing a highly amused Apple Bloom behind him in a little wagon, wrapped in a blanket and sipping from a thermos of soup as her nose almost glowed red from stuffiness. As usual, Audrey was singing.
"Hello my baby
Hello my honey
Hello my ragtime gal..."
"Meeting your nieces has made that much easier," Augustus observed idly as he flipped a piece of chicken at the plant before digging into his rice.
Did he meet Pinkie at some point in his life to say that?
Yes! The Frog Song is still alive!
Looks like Jade doesn't... make light of getting to school late this time.
Guess Applebloom was... carted off this chapter.
Seems that Augustus learned the... rice thing to do in these situations.
7530914 The day that song dies will be the day comedy as an art will ceace to exist.
I definitely like how you write characters- namely, they learn from their mistakes and experiences, and it doesn't always take an entire season.
7530950
I'm surprise you didn't make a pun about Audrey doing the Michigan Jay frog song.
Nice little break chapter.
7530950
Audrey better cut own on the singing less it get a... frog in its throat.
7530979 the song was already posted by 7530910 so I feel I have nothing to add there. Must be a frog in my throat or something.
Chapter Forty Two
"Aiyah!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 25
"One More Thing!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 44
I was hoping for a scene with Uncle (I would LOVE to have seen his reaction to/thoughts on Jackie's brief rage moment and the fact that two of his nieces were almost eaten) but nice work
7531003
I just gave you the ammo you needed didn't I.
7531073 It was worth a shot anyhow.
"There is no good news! Just bad news and weird news..."
7530984 Nice profile picture
7530951 I had a weird childhood.
I knew that as the Diner Chestburster song before I ever saw the original Looney Tunes version.
New Product! Spaceballs the nostalgia!
No time travel, eh? Works for me. Can't say I'm looking forward to the Sheep Talisman, though.
"Check please!"
7531079 Did you mean to make that gun pun on purpose? Because if you didn't, it would be even more funny.
Nice chapter, though I would have liked some snuggle therapy time between Jackie and the girls. Still, glad Jade is growing more mature about using the Talismans.
7531177 Probably 50/50 subcouncious normal reply and auto punning.
Well, for some reason I knew that part was coming, just didn't know when.....I am talking about the end.
"...send me a kiss by wire, baby my heart's on fire!"
Greeeeeeat. Now that song's stuck in my head.
7531295
"If you refuse me,
Honey you'll lose me
Then you'll be left alone
Oh baby telephone!
And tell me I'm your own!"
HAHAHAHAHA!!!! Okay, that was funny!!
7531237
It's okay, it just means you're a pundit.
... I will return to my crawlspace in the woodwork.
7531327 Leave before you become... punbearable.
7531327 Oh no! Not a roving band of pundits! They've been known to punt, punch, and punish whoever they run into! Quick! Send them to the punitentiary!
That scene with Audrey made me laugh at the end, honestly it did
7530905 nope he has been on damage control of the Chans and the CMC.
7531391 This is Pinkie we're talking about, she can and will do whatever she wants in regards of shattering the fourth wall.
I cant wait to see what he dose with the monkey king. Frankly I hope he dose it a little different than the show did and more like the movie Monkey King: Hero is Back.
7530914
7530910
I thought this was the source of it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrxlbLVcpqI
7531300 I love that song.
Jackie should fight dancing to a swing song!
7531370
Did you do a "Sans?"
Huh, so no time travel this time, eh? I kinda would've liked them to see the younger 8-track Uncle.
Ah, good old Michigan J. Been so long since I thought about him.
7531484
The 'Farore's Wind' link between their Section 13 apartment and Uncle's shop was established at the end of the arc covering the second episode.
7531424 The song was used by Michigan J. Frog (the character) in the Merry Melodies cartoon "One Froggy Evening" on December 31st, 1955.
Whether or not that cartoon is the direct inspiration for this scene in Tatsurou's story I can't say, but this cartoon is what set off the fad and very likely gave birth to what did give him inspiration.
And yes, I did have to look up the exact date.
7531376 The Comedy Grandmaster that is Michigan J. Frog does that...
The way you worded things I didn't think you would get into shoshone content, I do find it entertaining however.
It had to happen sooner or later. Guess Audrey III was waiting for when it would help Apple Bloom the most. Looking forward to more.
Keep up the great work. Deus tecum.
THAT'S HOW YOU DO THE MICHIGAN J!!!
7531488
7531088 Great, now we just need Spaceballs the Reboot, and the cycle shall be complete.
just asking, but is Captain Black's first name really Augustus? It's been a while since I watched the show so I don't remember if it is or not.
7532441
Yup. In the first episode, when Jackie wakes up with Captain Black looking down at him, he screams out "Augustus Black" as he embraces him.
7532452 Ah, thank you.
Perfect explanation.
So what's the proper etiquette for using commas in lue of periods when ending dialogue? I've only ever seen it online, whereas novels and books use standard punctuation.
OK, so this stuck out to me like a Left Shark: In "Wily's Wittle Wub" around the FART's end Wily and his "Wittle Wub" are hardly seen but in "Three More Things" where UNCLE CHAN is RAISING three little ponies... well, that's just...
One More Thing! ...wrong here?
tbh I don't have a problem with your writing; I just wanted to make an Uncle Chan joke/pun.