Bai Tza wasn't certain what Valmont's plan was anymore, and she couldn't be more excited. She was used to humans being barely able to keep up with a Demon's ability to plot, plan, and anticipate, while being evenly matched with the brighter of her siblings and far smarter than Shendu. But despite Valmont having explained his plan in detail, she still was never certain what he was going to do from one moment to the next. She found herself wishing there was someone she could pray to so that he'd achieve a Demonic Ascension of his own so they could share eternity. Even eternity in the Demon Netherrealm wouldn't be so bad if it was the two of them. She made a mental note to ask Santa if she was still on Earth come the Christmas season. She doubted anyone else would hear her out, and unlike most higher powers, Santa had never inflicted her with pain for praying to him, since it was hard to send a letter from a place without paper.
As she leaned back in her chair thinking such happy thoughts, she was startled by the touch of good magic on her skin. She thanked her lucky stars she'd based her human form so closely off her siren form, since that meant her siren Wild Magic created a buffer between her demonic Dark Magic and any Good Magic she touched...not enough to directly handle the Pan'ku Box without pain - since it was directly attuned against her and the others - but enough that she didn't jerk back with a hiss of pain when that hoof touched her. Instead, she only jumped in surprise, glancing down at the little yellow filly that was looking up at her with a smile. "Can...can I help you?" she asked carefully.
"I'm Apple Bloom!" the filly offered eagerly. "Are you and Valmont dating?"
Bai Tza blinked in confused surprise. "...why does this matter to you?" she asked finally. "I was under the impression your family and Valmont were..."
Before she could find the proper word, Apple Bloom shrugged. "Valmont seemed to put it right. We're business rivals. He wants to do a job, we don't want him ta succeed, but it ain't personal either way. Sides, Tohru still respects him even though we're on opposite sides, so he can't be all bad. And if'n he ain't all bad, then he deserves ta be happy. So do ya make him happy?"
Bai Tza couldn't help but chuckle at that innocent perspective. "In ways your guardians would be unhappy with me talking about with you," she replied teasingly, a throaty purr in her words. "We've gone a way past dating."
Apple Bloom gasped happily. "Are ya gonna get married?" she demanded eagerly.
"Probably not," Bai countered. "I've...never had the best relationship with god, upper or lowercase." She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Or with law, for that matter. But then, if you know anything about Valmont, you already know that."
Apple Bloom shrugged. "Grown ups care too much about Law vs Chaotic," she admitted dismissively. "I care more about Good vs Evil, and I'd say Valmont's at least a Neutral given how well his men are treated."
"That's an odd way to look at things," Bai observed curiously.
Apple Bloom shrugged as the other two ponies - Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, Bai recalled - and Jade joined her. "We're pretty close ta Chaotic ourselves," she pointed out. "We ain't ones ta judge."
Bai Tza couldn't help but chuckle at that. "So you four are little troublemakers, then?" she asked teasingly.
"You bet!" Jade crowed eagerly. "We get up to no end of trouble!"
"It's not our fault all the fun stuff is against the rules!" Scootaloo insisted.
"Well, not all the fun stuff," Sweetie Belle pointed out disapprovingly.
"Just the best stuff," Apple Bloom countered.
Sweetie Belle opened her mouth to counter, then sighed. "Yeah, guess I can't argue there."
Bai Tza chuckled at their antics, only for her throat to catch suddenly as tears beaded her eyes. Three faces appeared in her mind, superimposing themselves on the three troublemakers before her... D'gi...A'ri...S'na...
"Are you okay?" Apple Bloom asked softly, reaching up to touch her cheek.
Bai managed to get herself under control. "I'm...older than I look," she explained evasively. "I...once had three daughters, real troublemakers in their own right. You...reminded me of them for a moment." She gasped in surprise as Valmont placed his hand on hers. She turned to face him curiously.
Valmont's gaze was comforting and serious. "I'll help you find them," he stated firmly.
Bai's lip trembled. "You...don't know what you're promising-"
"Not don't know, don't care," he corrected. "And I don't care if it expends every resource at my disposal and the remainder of my life. I will find them, and bring them back to you." Leaning in close, he kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear, "Even if it takes another thousand years, I will make it so."
Bai Tza couldn't stop the tears at that point. Part of her wanted to throw herself onto Valmont no matter who was watching, but she couldn't bring herself to do so. All she could do was smile at him, holding both his hands in her own. A part of her mind registered the shadow of Shendu within Valmont, looking nearly as stunned at this sudden proclamation as she was, but she didn't care. She didn't want this moment to end.
"Aww..." the three fillies and Jade said together, touched at the scene.
A sudden sneeze jerked attention towards where Ratso was wiping his nose with a hanky, the Pan'ku Box in his other hand. "That's...so sweet..." he murmured, the Box slipping from his hands, bouncing back over his shoulder...and shooting a beam of light at a prop door on a nearby set. "Oops."
The girls gasped as they raced back to their family, Valmont and Bai Tsa standing up. "Well, so much for the touching scene," Valmont observed dryly, a twist of rueful humor in his voice. As the Box embedded itself in the lock and generated the portal, he lifted his hands. "Rise, Demon of Thunder! Rise and face your jailers! Your trial is at hand!"
Seeing nearby cameras still rolling, Bai Tza did her best not to laugh aloud. Then she realized she should be dramatic at this point, and let loose with her best maniacal laugh. She was pleased to see it send delighted shivers down Valmont's spine. Still got it...
Interesting perspective from Apple Bloom. Surely can feel profound thinking behind those arguments. AJ would be impressed.
Very nice chapter... and make me think Bai Tza will take steps to protect the Crusaders and Jade if any of her siblings mention being hungry and wanting to taste unicorn or pegasus. Even if they figure out her real identity, I can see them trying to help her find her daughters after the whole demon sorcerer issue is resolved and then helping the Dazzlings adjust to the modern world and becoming Frenemies with them.
Guess Ratso inadvertently showed them the door.
Figures her disguise would have that Wild touch.
I'm sure everyone found that scene touching.
Edit: Now I have that gnawing at the back of my head that Valmont's 1000 year remark is a reference to something and I don't mean MLP.
*Raises Eyebrows* Methink they are nowadays called Adagio, Aria and Sonata...
At this point, the odds are fifty-fifty that there will be another successful demon breakout.
I'm kinda hoping there isn't, though. Valmont might be winning Magnificent Bastard points, but I don't want him to be invincible.
I just realized something, since magic is the new norm wouldn't it be easier now to find the girls homeworld
Okay, if Bai can pray to God or Santa without problems, i don't think she can be entirely bad
8093133
Santa, yes.
God, no.
But Santa doesn't judge Good/Evil. He judges Nice/Naughty. And he reads all letters either way.
OK, Valmont has shown he ain't the village idiot. IMO, it's about time for the Good Guys to show they're not wimps. They need to either put upa better show or admit they're outclassed & call in reinforcements. Hong Kong Phooey! #1Super Guy or maybe the Shirt Tales? They ain't shown much so far.
8093133 I think it was just Santa.
8093099 no doubt they had to change a bit to fit into the crowd, Equestria or otherwise.
Let's hope Valmont didn't hire a ciertan Phoenix as the defence attorney.
I have the feeling Bai will have a stern talk with Sunset Shimmer and the Rainbows after all...
...at least the demonic version of a stern talk.
8093153
8093147 Either way, she does seem to believe in both. Especially Santa.
Heh. Smooth, working the D&D alignment system in there.
8093171 so, with lots of fire and water , and lesser demons looking menacing?
8093074
Well those three would already be adjusted to the modern world, it just would be that they are returning home after an extended punishment in their third dimension. If they do show up I hope Sonata and Aria can be at least a little more humble.
It's great seeing how the having the ponies here in this universe seems to be bringing out the best in both people and demons. Bai Tza seeing her daughters superimposed on them and Jade was a nice touch, showing that despite her natural demon wickedness, she still cares for her missing daughters after all these years.
I wonder what Shendu must be thinking about all this. He's been shown the best of humanity so far, but typically only in how useful they can be to him and his siblings. But now seeing his human host promise such a thing to his younger sister is showing the more generous and loving side of humanity. It's fun to think that the demons really aren't all that evil, just mostly misguided in their current goals.
Can't wait to see more!
Okay good for the most part....Except with Bai praying to Santa. I get she's different from canon and everything but still, kind of hard to take a scene where a Demon is praying to Santa seriously.
Just kind of jarring is what I'm saying. If it was Valmont or something it would be funny, but demons frankly don't strike me as the types to even consider that an option.
Because, it's called adapting to the situation!
Considering that in the end most of the "Good Guys" are worse than the "Bad guys" Okay, are quite often worse than the Baddies could ever be, AB's got the right idea on how to judge.
Considering that Bai used to be mortal, it stands to reason that'd she'd care more for her offspring than a "natural born demon" would.
the end was hilarious
8093214
Well yeah, in this universe, Santa's real. There was an entire episode about Dao Lon Wong trying to steal Santa's near-limitless reserves of chi.
I'd almost be willing to bet that this will be the most fun the Demon Sorcerer of Thunder had in AGES even if it ends up being a very short visit to the mortal world. I need to baste my ham with thunder.
Of course one can Pray to Santa be they demon, human, god, or other he does not judge bases on ones nature or species simply on ones actions. THose poor Dazzlings they haven't always had the best of luck in Tats fics, particularly when it involves Spartans.
If she prays for getting Valmont, does this mean we have a Santa-worshipping demon? Wonder if Krampus has any openings?
Bai Tza actually getting a reformation arc? ...Well, that I wasn't expecting.
8093147 Santa's a pretty cool guy like that.
8093254 I'm pretty sure there are some differences from the EQG universe they'll have to get used to, especially if they're in Siren form like the Crusaders are in Pony form. I think Valmont would be able to give some focus to Aria and will find Sonata charming. I also think the Crusaders and Jade would be their Frenemies
8093552 I can't stop laughing at this. But it make sense
I can't wait for a siren family reunion, since it almost feels inevitable at this point. Probably still a ways off though. Nice chapter!
8093552 Well Krampus is suppose to be the other Santa technically, the Bad Cop of the whole Good Cop/Bad Cop situation with Santa in terms of the Naughty/Nice thing. So it'd stand to reason he would be there helping out and making sure the worse of children that not even the parents can control properly are punished so they become better people later in their life, kinda like an intervention of sorts involving briar whips and demonic eves and snowmen. IF America Dad's interpretation of him is anything to go by, he cares about the kids and it hurts him more than them to punish them but knows he has to in order for them to be better citizens in life and not end up in prison or worse because of their actions in life.
Alright, I have no idea why this would happen, but please, at some point in this story, have Jackie and the adults of the J Team get incapacitated or trapped somewhere or something, forcing the CMC and Jade to spend at least a week getting babysat by Valmont and Bai.
Helping with various capital-G Good operations that Valmont preforms while they are with him is optional, but would be hilarious.
For some reason, I'm laughing at the thought of praying to Santa.
The part with Bai Tza recalling the Dazzlings and Valmont's genuine care and proposition for her was indeed touching. Too bad Ratso blew it
Now I wonder if they will even find them...
8093552 Thanks to American Dad, I can't think of the Krampus without humming/singing the song "You Get The Rod"
this has got to be the most thouching moment ever in that story. pleases keep it up.
Drama button
Chapter One Hundred Five
"Aiyah!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 46
"One More Thing!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 80
8093074
In Epona's name... THAT is how they are getting home! The CMC and the Chans are going to crash the first Equestria Girls movie!
Edit: ...and the second, obviously. It starts only a few days later, after all.
Lights...Camera...Hamming!
8093989 Uh... not sure if you were paying attention, but Twilight got the Friendship Palace in between movies. Considering Tirek was on a rampage for some time, to say nothing of the rest of Season 4, I'd say there are more than 'a few days' between EQG and RR.
I for one will totally watch Valmont's movie when it comes out.
8093876
I know, but all I have is old Romanian Lei and a block of shredded Marks.
It's so sweet that the CMC really do want even the villains to have a happy ending, even if Valmont's remarkable genre savviness and general roguish capacity has already, in a certain immature sense, resulted in that. And I think that also helps to show that the Demon Sorcerers are still people, no matter how driven they are towards evil.
Valmont et al might not get away with it in totality, but I bet the CMC will be bridesmares in this universe too.
8094266
I said that the second movie starts shortly after the first movie. It isn't clear when the Sirens invade Canterlot High, thus prompting the call to Twilight, but it does start at the ending of the first movie. And then you have to factor in potential time dilation between "Earth" and Equus. I still say that, given where we pick up from with Sunset, it couldn't have been more than a few weeks "Earth" side, tops.
Does it means that we will have a story in the Equestria Girlsverse?
Doh! RATSO!!
If santa judges nice vs. naughty, this helps Bai… How, again? She's been very naughty, indeed.
I always did respect Valmont as an excellent villain. Is it wrong that I'm rather hoping some, if not all, the Demon Sorcerers stay free?
8095027 acturally i have not seen this season of jackie chan adventures but im sure that changes to the world are in order. (This is actually makeing me think of the hole balance needs leaders of both light and darkness to make harmany)
I was wondering if the Demon Sorcerers know Haku?
Gotta agree with Bloom on this one. Light, Dark, Law, Chaotic, none of that matters. What matters, is which side of Good vs. Evil you're on.
8095027 she's also been imprisoned longer than most could stand and has yet to do anything actually nefarious since her release. I would imagine even demonic entities need a break now and then, Just ask Dante.
8093099 Naaaaah.
Larry, Curly, and Moe, obviously.