The pattern created by that first day when Jackie visited persisted in Uncle's Antiques for some time, whether or not Jackie was actually there. Uncle would wake up, have his coffee, and feed the fillies. He would then mind the shop and do research until Scootaloo started pawing at the front door. If Jackie was there, Uncle would have him take the fillies out for some exercise. Jackie would have some degree of 'bad day' based on how well he anticipated the trios energetic antics. If Jackie wasn't there, Uncle would take them out himself, and they would behave with him all the way to the park, where their magic would get away from them to a certain extent, at which point Uncle would take them back to the shop.
After that first day, Uncle had started to teach them meditation, in the hopes of teaching them to better guide and control the powerful magic surging through them. While they took the instructions well enough, more often than not they fell asleep in their chosen meditation positions: Apple Bloom in a planter surrounded by bonsai trees that flourished in her presence, Scootaloo on her tame cloud which continued to ignore physics by maintaining itself in the shop (Uncle tolerated it because it absorbed excess humidity to maintain itself, which was good for the antiques), and Sweetie Belle on his head. Uncle had given up trying to convince her not to sit there, and instead had decided to wait until someone complimented him on his 'fashionable headgear' to make his point for him. The fillies had already shown that they understood when someone spoke to them, and Uncle had taken to switching between speaking to them in English and Chinese. He figured Sweetie Belle would eventually take offense to being called a hat and decide not to sit there anymore.
After the trio fell asleep in meditation, Uncle would cover Apple Bloom and Scootaloo in a blanket and Sweetie Belle with a winter hat before returning to his research. When they awoke, he'd feed them dinner and then engage them in tasks around the shop to focus their magic. Scootaloo was given a duster to clean up high around the shop, working her way down. Apple Bloom was set to tending a hanging vegetable and spell ingredient garden. Sweetie Belle was set to shelving books, as Uncle had - with Jackie's assistance - put a color coded sticker at the base of each book, matching an identical sticker on their spot on the shelves.
Once the three were tired out at the end of their chores, Uncle would give them a night time snack of the chi magic supplement he'd given them when they first arrived, modified as they'd started to grow a bit according to the formula given in the book, and incorporating a few of the plants that the new book listed as being good for health. Once they'd eaten, he'd put them to bed together in a basket he'd left at the foot of his own bed. At first he'd leave it at that, but he'd quickly discovered that none of them slept well if he didn't give each of them a good night kiss...and if they didn't sleep well, neither did he. They were quite vocal when they needed or wanted something.
One thing Uncle had noticed as he'd tended to the trio was that, as much as the pendants made them seem ordinary to others, people still seemed to be aware at some level that the three were more than just ordinary animals. Their presence in the shop when someone was browsing, making a purchase, or making a sale often resulted in a much more amicable discussion, allowing Uncle to easily maximize profits on exchanges. Even the most hardened of his customers turned to goo when all three of them made an effort to be adorable.
In order to keep them entertained in the mornings, Uncle had invested in a few cat toys after seeing how much all three liked batting at things. He made certain to institute the rule that all such playing was done upstairs, and as a result one of Sweetie's most common spot magic practice involved snatching a toy out of the air as it fell down the stairs or from the second floor landing. He quickly grew used to the sounds of tiny hooves dashing back and forth above his head...and capable of distinguishing between those and the sound of Scootaloo's hooves on the ceiling above his head. She often tried to sneak that, and found it highly amusing when he called her on it, even if she did immediately obey.
By the end of the third month taking care of the fillies, Uncle had gotten so used to their presence and the new habits developed from taking care of them that he could do most of it without even thinking. At the same time, he was surprised to find that he enjoyed having them there with him. He kept his mind as far away from that realization as he could, however. He knew that as soon as he reached the point where he never wanted to let them go, he would have to. Besides, they were only left with him in trust. It wasn't his place to want to keep them.
As a result, he was actually pleased when his late night ruminations over these subjects were interrupted by the three fillies wailing, apparently upset that he wasn't in bed yet or something similar. However, Uncle's own mixed emotions resulted in him feeling a bit harsher than he actually wanted, so instead of calmly going up the stairs, he stomped up them and threw the door to his bedroom open. "What?" he demanded angrily. "You had food, you had play, you had exercise, you have bed! What more do you want from Uncle?"
"Unca!" all three fillies called out at once.
Uncle staggered back, stunned. While he'd noticed that the babbling sounds they'd made were not equine, he'd never have imagined... "Aiyah!" he screamed out. "You can talk?"
"Aiyah!" the trio called back, throwing their hooves into the air happily.
So, it begins... Adorably.
7190325 that was actually the premise for my theory
Have you made some back story for Uncle? I don't think there was a lot of it in the show and I'm sure you could come up with some really good stuff. His early magic training days, any embarrassing tales, how he ended up in SanFran.
Another enjoyable chapter. Good job.
Probably when she's the equivalent of a teenager.
HHHHHNNNNNNGGGGGG!!!!! Oh gods, right in the feels!!!!
Very nice chapter, can't wait to see how Jade's arrival changes things. Though I can totally see her teaching Scootaloo how to roller skate and ride a skateboard.
I laughed at this.
Aiyah indeed.
So...does that count towards the Aiyah count or not?
7190758 Half a point?
I guess taking care of the three is finally a... walk in the park.
At least having the cloud in the shop doesn't... suck after all huh?
Guess Sweetie is getting a... cold reception with that winter hat. (Now imagine her purring like a cat)
Looks like Uncle has... one more thing he got stomped on.
7190772
Regarding that third one...
The Cat of Khartoum.
dude, are you trying to give me both diabetes and a heart attack at the same time. That ending was just to cute
...the diabetes is real.
Aiyah! Sweetie Hat too adorbz!
Ohh.. my sides... they're killing me! that chapter ending!
That ending... Anyways, a bit short but very cute.
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Chapter 8:
"Aiyah!"
\
\\
Chapter Count: 2
Total Count: 10
(Note: Not sure if the second should count as 3 instances... )
"One More Thing!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 22
7190772 That...that was just terrible.
You are truly worthy of the legacy of Sans, Other Sans.
7190876 It might make the most sense to do individual character counts which would put Uncle at 9 and each of the Crusaders at 1.
I can't wait for Jade to be introduced.
And you thought they were a handful before
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My heart actually hurts right now, I get the feeling that I should hold off on the ponies for a while.
I am going to ignore this feeling.
A: Sooo. Should we call it a Scootaloo talisman?
Sc: Aiyah, Applebloom, I'm not a rooster!
A: But yer a chicken!
Sw: I thought she was a dodo.
Sc: One more thing: shut up!
A: One more thing: pony talisman. Not a horse; a pony.
*Jade accidentally fires a laser from dragon talisman*
Sw: Aiyah! Jade!
J: Sorry!
Okay that's just too adorable.
7190887 You fool! You'll doom us all!
All bow down to the power of cute little ponies!
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7190876
Bad day counter:
Chapter: 1
Story total: 8 ...yes I'm counting that one, it was put in such a way I heard Jackie's voice say it in my head, so it counts.
Also, once more the feels continue to build. Also, also...they're talking now...this will only deepen the daws...I CAN'T WAIT!!
Like anyone can deny the power of Cutiebloom, Cutiebelle and Cute-a-loo.
Aiyah!
Jade will get themin a lot of trouble won't she?
Hrrk.... Once again, A.C.C.A. (Acute Cuteness Cardiac Arrest) strikes.
And now they can speak. This can only get soo much better. For our amusement anyways.
I need this chapter after a dull day. I bet Uncle will find Equestria to be to his liking.
OMaiGawsh, a JackieChan MLP! Awesome! I hope the ponies will use the talismans
7190778 the yes is strong with this one
That nearly made me tear up
That made me crack up.
I have an important question.
Why can't I give this more than one like?
7191175 A land practically swimming in "Good Magic" like Fallout swims in Radiation, where Karma loves to kick people in the teeth when they're silly enough to say phrases such as "What could possibly go wrong" or "What's the worst that could happen"...?
Yeah, I could see it too...
7190733 Your comment on the last part is basically how I felt
I can imagine seeing the CMC with Uncle's mannerisms. Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash are going to be in for quite a surprise when they see them acting like Uncle. I so want to see each of them say that they "Have the Willies".
7191373
Applebloom : "One more thin'!"
Well I'll be a pony's "Unca."
Round 2 Uncle, now you get to teach them how to talk.......Oh man Jackie is gonna flip when he finds out...please say he flips out...Please? And I can't wait for the next chapter to see what happens next
7190778
7191224
The amount of adorableness is staggering should it happen... I'd vote yes too if only to continue having Sweetie atop someone's head while doing so.
Oh God my poor heart
Great chapter!
Soon... soon... soon~