Ruby yawned and stretched as she watched the water flow by as the cruise ship sailed its course, the sunlight beaming down on the deck. It hadn't taken long with the promise of a vacation cruise for the group to finish taking inventory and packing, and now everyone was enjoying the cruise in their own way. Idly, Ruby decided to investigate how everyone was handling things. Leaping off the railing where she had been balanced, she stalked across the deck to investigate her people.
Though several of the other people on the cruise bent down to pet her as she passed by them, she mostly ignored them unless they offered treats. Those she would stop momentarily for if they were good enough quality. Still, it didn't take her long to find the first of her people. Jade - her human - was playfully flaunting herself in front of her familiar, who looked to be in a war with himself over whether his blood would rush up or down based on the brightness of his cheeks and the pheromones his temporarily human body was putting out. While the green tankini Jade was wearing wasn't anywhere near as skimpy as what some of those around were wearing, it showed far more skin than she normally did and showed off where she was starting to develop quite nicely. That, and it was stretchy enough that if - for whatever reason - Jade suddenly rapid-aged to late adolescence, it would just barely stay on her. Ruby doubted that Jade - or anyone else present - had the magic to make that happen, or if they did would be reckless enough to make it happen...but Ruby could easily see Queen making it happen on Jade's shoulder just to torment the demon, much to his and Saint's chagrin.
She didn't have anything personal against Hsi Wu, as he was certainly a good boyfriend for Jade-
He's not my boyfriend! Jade snapped at her mentally.
That's not what your pheromones and that stretch say, Ruby teased back.
-after all, he'd coached her in how to shape her thoughts so she could speak in animal language, which made conversations with Ruby much more efficient. Still, Ruby couldn't help but think that she would have made an excellent familiar for Jade if Hsi hadn't already had the job when they met, so it was only proper she take pleasure in his torment. It wouldn't be proper for a feline to do otherwise. Still, she needed more of a distraction for Jade and Hsi to keep things from getting too awkward between them...or too unawkward. She didn't care if they were in international waters now and Jade remembered what it was like to be a teenager, even the eldest Siren child would agree they were too young to go further.
Water balloons proved effective distractions, courtesy of Scootaloo and the middle Siren. Spying them in matching purple leotard-style swimsuits (the fillies wore swimsuits to protect parts of their undercarriage that got sensitive to contact in cold or wet, to avoid cramping or injury), Ruby felt she should have known they would team up as pranksters. Seeing Jade and Hsi Wu take off after them - Hsi using magic to shape water into balls to throw - Ruby knew they would continue to have fun.
Nearby, Uncle and the giant's mother engaged in one game they'd discovered that they could match each other in and thus have the outcome of the games in doubt...Pai Sho. They certainly seemed to enjoy the competition...even if several other older passengers glanced curiously at the table any time either player grabbed a particular tile with a white flower on it. Ruby decided that wasn't her problem, so she went on to seek out others.
Apple Bloom was playing amongst Audrey III's vines, along with several dozen other children of various species who were also passengers aboard the cruise ship. While sea water didn't agree with Audrey, the sun and sea breeze most certainly did, and he'd happily expanded enough to let all the children use him as a living jungle gym. Various parents watched with attitudes somewhere between curiosity and amusement, depending on how aware they were of Audrey's nature.
Jackie and Viper were enjoying the sun as they lay back in chairs, though despite Viper's rather revealing and flattering black bikini, she couldn't help but glare daggers to her left and envy to her right. The daggers to her left was understandable, as that was where the eldest Siren child was also sunning in her feline form...after having used a combination of flirtations and magic to get a fellow passenger - a man she didn't know - to liberally apply sunblock to her back. His wife had then stormed up angrily...only to fall under the Siren's spell and apply the sunblock to her front, much to her husband's entertainment. After letting them go on their way, Adagio - then fully sunblocked - had discarded her swimsuit and taken her cat form to enjoy the sun and envious glances.
To the right was the giant and his minotaur females, who dominated the buffet table that had been laid out. All four of them had enormous appetites, and if the table hadn't been enchanted to replenish itself automatically it would have been emptied long ago. While Tohru eating easily his weight in food wasn't a surprise - his metabolism since actively tapping his chi had drastically accelerated - the three minotaur girls got more than their share of shocked looks from the men on the boat, and envious ones from the women. This was hardly surprising, if unfair. Minotaurs by nature had a much more efficient metabolism than other races, which rarely collected fat and what fat was collected was far more easily distributed pleasantly.
Of course, their choice of swimwear only drew attention to that. Sofia in a strapless one-piece wasn't much of a surprise (beyond how it was staying on, magic had to be involved). Ysabelle in a backless one-piece was a bit of a surprise...
But Ruby couldn't help but wonder how under the sun Adagio had managed to get shy, mousy Lucia into a bikini!
Deciding not to dwell on that, Ruby glanced briefly back to see that Jackie was doing his part to reassure Viper, and then wandered over to the other side of the deck. The LightBearer stood staring out to sea, the MountainBearer standing behind him. He was plainly just enjoying relaxing...
...or perhaps enjoying the sight of the WaterBearer leaping from the water in her Siren form (her human form with fish-tail instead of legs...and no clothes), clearing the boat on each jump with acrobatics that dolphins would envy. The huge grins that split both watchers faces answered that question.
Ruby went over her checklist of her people, and went looking for Sweetie Belle. It didn't take long to find her, as she was in the arcade with 'Mr. Cool' and 'Mr. Old School', as Ruby thought of those two enforcers. Jade referred to them as Chao and Finn, respectively. Finn and Sweetie were in the midst of a DDR elimination dance-off, with Chao waiting to face the winner. Many other passengers were gathered around to watch, cheer, and place bets...so Ruby felt safe in leaving them to it.
She generally didn't involve herself in her people's affairs unless she was needed. Taking on more than necessary in terms of work went against what it meant to be feline, and in the long run would be bad for her people. Taking on more in terms of curiosity, on the other paw, was a completely different bowl of fish, and one frequently cooked with cream. So Ruby now went looking for the two individuals she hadn't spotted that had boarded with her people...Sonata and Ratso. Ruby felt those two deserved being thought of by name at all times, if only because trying to label them otherwise failed miserably as they proved far from predictable.
As she wandered, she found herself going below decks into the vault chamber, where valuables - like the statue they were escorting - were stored. There she found a group of four humans she could only mentally classify as thugs. One seemed to be the leader, and was completely calm. One was most definitely their tech, and had all sorts of tools and computer gear at his fingertips. The third was plainly their wizard, with all sorts of vials strapped to belts that went over his shoulders like ammo-belts.
The fourth, who by size looked to be the muscle, was pacing back and forth in terror. "This is stupid," he muttered under his breath. "This is so so stupid! We're all going to die-"
"Oh hush!" the leader snapped irritably. "Everything's under control-"
"Under control?" Muscle gasped out in shock. "Under control? Big V himself is on board! How are we supposed to pull off a heist of this magnitude right under his nose without being paste?"
"He's just one man," Tech pointed out idly. "Even if he has Enforcers with him, we wouldn't have this job if his group were targeting the Dragon-"
"Just one man?" Muscle snapped in fear, the stink pouring off of him. "Did you forget he's a Demon Sorcerer now?"
"Even better for us," Wizard pointed out dryly, his voice a breathy whisper.
"How so?" Leader asked coldly.
"Criminal politics," Wizard pointed out dryly. "Our organization does business with his. If we were a genuine threat to his well being, he would have grounds to interfere with our operation here without accruing our organization's ire." He gestured to the group with one hand, his other drawing runes as he examined the protections on the vault. "As prepared for this job as we are, we are hardly a threat to an unchained Class 2."
Leader snorted derisively. "I doubt if we'd be able to actually contain or overwhelm him back when he was human."
"Precisely," Wizard agreed. "So as long as we avoid him and make sure not to harm anyone who is his, it would be...unwise for him to interfere directly. As long as no one notices us, we have nothing but the vault to concern ourselves with."
"Hey Ratty, what do these do when you mix them together?" Sonata asked happily, holding up two of the Wizard's larger vials. The Wizard's eyes bulged in terror.
"He seems scared of the idea," Ratso observed thoughtfully. "Mix 'em and throw them at him to find out."
"YAY!" Sonata cried out excitedly as she poured the contents of one vial into the other, gave it a thorough shake, and chucked it at the thieves.
Ruby's ears went flat as she watched the multi-colored cloud of gas that erupted from the exploding vial take shape, extending foggy limbs to seize the thieves and smash them repeatedly against the walls as Sonata and Ratso ran away laughing. Well, I can see their biological father in that one, at least, she thought to herself before scampering. She'd tell someone about the fog monster in the vault chamber...
...eventually. The breakfast bar had lox, and the Giant was putty in her paws when she made effort to be adorable for a treat.
I take it that the white flower reference was a nod to the theory we all had that Uncle was a member of. Let’s see how that fog monster does.
Well that answers the question of where Ruby ended up. Also, Pai Sho? How much of that is reference and how much is foreshadowing?
Truly, cats do rule the world!!! When they think about it and put some effort into it. Any effort into it...eventually...sooner or later... ...
. . .
Any second now...
. . .
Any century now...
Oh look! A mouse!
Best. Vacation. Ever.
Sonata and Ratso probably saved them having deal with everyone else being pissed that someone ruined their holiday.
8673961
tell me about it; I mean, what else is there to expect: the Spanish Inquisition?
I was wondering what happened to Ruby. Fun to see this scene from her perspective instead of an outside narrator's.
And of course Uncle and Momma T are members of the Order of the White Lotus. I would have thought that was common knowledge. But Sonata and Ratso take this chapter for me. I have a feeling that's going to happen a lot in the upcoming chapters.
Chapter One Hundred Sixty-Nine
"Bad Day"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 43
"He's Not My Boyfriend!"/"I'm not his Mistress!"
/
Chapter Count: 1/0
Total Count: 48/6
So either the fact magic being unleashed has made it so the Avatar cycle is active here or Uncle took a trip here and started his own independent chapter of the White Lotus! ...Bring out the Overlord of all things tea!
Chapter One Hundred Sixty Nine
"Aiyah!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 48
"One More Thing!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 83
Oh, snap... I wonder what their connection, if any, to the Order of the White Lotus might be...?
8673956
With this story as it is, I wouldn't be surprised if he IS a member.
So you're only allowed a single familiar? Or is Jade just not at a high enough level to manage more than one?
Some members of The Order, i take it.
8674103
It's unwise to have more than one type of familiar. At a young age, your familiar's magic can influence how your own grows. When you're older, it's frequent to draw on your familiar for extra power for your spells.
Having multiple types of familiars can cause problems in either situation.
It would be perfectly acceptable for Jade to have the entire Demon Brotherhood as familiars (shocking and curious, but acceptable).
It would also be perfectly acceptable (from a magic perspective) to have a couple dozen cats as familiars. (So yes, in this magic world beware the crazy cat lady. She's probably a powerful witch, and not nearly as crazy as she seems.)
But having both would be...unwise.
8674131
Great... now I'm imagining someone getting on the wrong side of a crazy cat lady, and everyone one of her cats (except maybe one) suddenly getting glowing eyes of power...
I'm sorry I could barely read this line through the massive foreshadowing.
8674139
isn't that already what happens when you shine a light into a dark room full of cats.
...Chemistry?
Puspuspuspuspuspuspuspuspus.
8674139
If you've ever watched the show Codename: Kids Next Door, there's a villain who literally a crazy cat lady with an army of cats.
DAT ENDING tho!! <3
So Ruby is now the Chan's clan-sitter? They really need someone sane to keep them out of trouble. (and Jackie was oblivious in most cases)
8674001
At this point, I think all bets are off.
Now I want to see Uncle in a conversation with Iroh,
I LIKE this cat. Can we have her appear more often?
.............That's one way to deal with this problem. And no one important got hurt.
Yeah that's a what a cat would do alright. I ought to know. I've got two of them myself.
Seems Ruby is making sure equine of her humans are in ship shape.
That rapid-adolescent aging scenario for Jade doesn't seem like such a stretch y'know...
Clearly Sonata and Ratso haven't the foggiest idea what they did.
It’s chapters like this, that I wish had pictures.
Very nice chapter, I liked the groupings and Ruby's views on everyone. Ratso and Sonata stopping the robbers was hilarious!
8674727
If there were pictures this story would very quickly be turned to M
8674079
More likely, he is listed as a member, but doesn't remember it due to being at ground zero of the reality reset. The time-y wime-y stuff be all wibbly and wobbly.
8674727
Amen to that.
Also, LOL
8674727
I want them on an island postcard.
You know the ones that say “Wish You Were Here!” I bet someone would grab a few cards, take them to their computer, and do some CSI TV show things.
“Zoom! Enhance! Oh s😮 it’s Valmont! Above him is some topless mermaid! I thought they were myths! Next one! Remove the blur! That’s a sunbathing cat lady. There’s a swimsuit on the ground- there’s a man stuck in a choke hold by some lady.”
Sonata and Ratso, though
I see that Avatar: TLA reference
Are you trying to kill us with cat puns? Because I'm pretty sure that counts as a war crime.
up tWo
That's some deadly chemistry.
OK Tats I have one question about his multiverse now, are the sirens interdimensional sisters to the princess as the elder scrolls story had the princess end discords kids, so was ruby claiming discord as sanata's dad or another nutjob like Sheo or DP?
8674758
Then he should poke big V about it if they ever pop up, because I'm sure his organization gathered as much information about this worlds version of the white lotus as possible and would have the records to confirm it or not
8675586
In terms of the "Three More Things" timeline, the Dazzlings are Bai Tza's kids by Discord. However, the Discord of this timeline is not Celestia and Luna's father.
In terms of the "My Little PWNY" fused timeline, that's going to be a little more complex (assuming the fusion doesn't retcon them into being Bai's kids by Valmont, I haven't decided yet).
8675618
Ok thanks for that I was curious and while a DEMON of LIGHT is a pretty chaotic point on the balance of reality in a normal view as a dark being of light so when the worlds fuse back together it wouldn't quiet as weird since V became a demon thanks to one of the three most chaotic forces of Equestria he could become another aspect of Chaos to the universe just like Sheowag still would be from his madness side so the parental essence could resync to reside within, otherwise it would be hard to see discord not accept V as a father to them
8675654
Keep in mind that the Discord of this timeline barely knows they exist, let alone that they're his biologically.
8675660
Which with how his about responsibility the doesn't have to take I'm sure he would like at at them and go no V is your father, before walking away. That is assuming he doesn't have his own little mind warping from the worlds coming back together, though It will be very funny and awkward when AB meets Papa Dante, 3 demon slayers in the family and only one of them is free of demon blood
8675668
Keep in mind it's Daedric King Discord who will be weaving the timelines back together to create the "My Little PWNY" timeline. So any discrepancies that need to be resolved or rationalized, he's the one doing it.
Mou~ I just finished diving this awesome story, and I friggen LOVE it!
So many times I've burst out laughing hysterically with the chaos that goes on and I love how Lawful Evil Valmont can be especially when he works business deals with the Chans, since most of their conflict is just business and nothing personal.
8675683
Which is why I brought up the point of aspects. A few examples at least dealing with V and the sirens can be pulled from your other stories. Twilight basically all but became the daedric prince of knowledge with King Discord, but with Ratchet she is known as one of the two best minds in the universe especially with tech which still ties back to knowledge.
AJ becoming a demonslayer with Papa Dante comes as a point of balance and justice, much like V does as a Demon of Light as a point on balance, and order between the two sides. In short Aspects can be seen as embodiments or emmesaries of what they represent so biggest question to tie it back together who is on what team in the flow of the universe, like you did with King Discord's challenge to Equestria on his return
8680371
Immortality alone will put a massive strain on the mind, let alone the Stone.
I just cought this by does anyone think Ruby is something more then a femiliar class cat?
8674413
"Oh, no, Motley! Little Timmy has fallen down the well!"
'...tuna?'
Loyalty Bearer = Rainbow Dash
Honesty Bearer = Apple Jack
Magic Bearer = Twilight
Generosity Bearer = Rarity
Kindness Bearer = Fluttershy
Laughter Bearer = Pinkie Pie
LightBearer = Valmont
WaterBearer = Bai Tza
MountainBearer = Po Kong
SkyBearer = Hsi Wu
I'm going to guess Sweetie, because she has more feet.