Uncle, Jade, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo carefully made their way through the mall, stepping around the far more varied clientele than what they were used to from previous trips. With the world magically normal, not only was the mall much bigger on the inside - with blue police boxes on every floor, for some reason - but humans were actually the minority as far as those seeking various items at the various stores. In their quest for fresh school supplies, they had spotted several ogres, a centaur, three griffons, two basilisks, and a demon, each going their own way in search of all sorts of items.
The fresh school supplies required had come as a surprise to Uncle...but apparently, general education now offered intensive magic lessons for students gifted in general magic practice to get the basics, as well as advancing any independent study for a chosen specialty. Thankfully, they didn't have to wander the mall to find what they were looking for, as the mall directory could scan their shopping list and print out a map highlighting any locations that sold the items they were after. The four youngsters had marveled at just how convenient that made things. Uncle had complained that it took all the fun out of deal hunting.
"So...what else do we need?" Jade asked as she looked over the list, checking it against the basket Scootaloo was towing through the air.
"Looks like we're at th' end of what we need for classes," Apple Bloom observed as she glanced at the list. "But Uncle still needs ta restock a few ingredients. Looks like there's a few shops that sell 'em."
"We will see what these shops sell," Uncle observed dismissively. He didn't really think a mall - even a mall of a magical world - would genuinely have quality magical ingredients.
"Maybe we could ask the giant green lady over there?" Sweetie Belle suggested, gesturing to a rather colorful group nearby. The figure Sweetie Belle had indicated towered over the rest of the group, easily topping nine feet in height - hardly unusual, with ogres around - with a blue-haired girl clinging to her back like a spider monkey.
"Ah'll ask!" Apple Bloom decided firmly, walking up to the group. "Excuse me! We're looking for magical ingredients? Do you happen to know where they are?"
The woman turned to Apple Bloom, her gaze familiar. "Friends of yours, sir," she said calmly, and Apple Bloom's mouth fell open as she recognized the voice.
"Po Kong!" Apple Bloom gasped happily. "Yer outta the Netherrealm! That's wonderful!"
"I'm glad you feel that way, Apple Bloom," Valmont observed as he turned with a smile.
"Oh, hi Mr. Valmont!" Apple Bloom greeted him.
"Oh," a purple haired girl standing next to Valmont - and Bai Tza, now that Apple Bloom could see her - stated gruffly. "That's how you knew about that kind of pony."
"How do you know a pony, Aunt Po?" the blue haired girl on Po Kong's back asked.
"Aunt-" Apple Bloom gasped happily as the others approached. "Valmont! Ya got Bai's daughters back!"
Valmont chuckled happily. "Yes, with a little help from Santa."
"So is this where I'm going to get my pony?" the blue-haired girl asked.
"No, Sonata," Valmont corrected ruefully, from expression plainly not the first time he'd said it. "We're here to get you three some durable clothes, since you all only arrived with the set you're wearing."
"Three?" Scootaloo asked curiously. "Uh...unless you count Po Kong, I only count two."
Bai glanced around quickly, then groaned. "Dear, would you go find Adagio...again? Preferably before security this time?"
"Already on it," Valmont promised ruefully as he seemed to fade out.
"So...is Adagio a trouble maker?" Sweetie Belle asked curiously.
Bai hesitated. "Let's just say...she takes after the old me in ways I feel uncomfortable discussing with those society dubs minors," she offered delicately.
Jade and the fillies blinked a few times...only for realization to strike all at once. "EEEWWWWWW!" they declared in unison.
"So where's brother Hsi?" Bai asked Jade. "I'd think he'd always be at your side."
"He spotted some demons in a pub he knew," Jade explained. "He promised to meet up on our way out. He felt I was safe here."
Valmont sighed as he faded in, having easily zeroed in on Adagio's location from the bit of his own magic in her gem choker. He was rather unsurprised to find that she had found herself a 'dead end alley' even inside the mall, and a cleared throat from himself was all it took to send the others in the alley seeking business elsewhere as they fixed their wardrobes. He made a quick mental count of those sent running.
An ogre, two centaurs, an elf, a Deathknight...really? And a...gnome. He blinked thoughtfully at the last. ...I wonder if Adagio plays Tetris?
Stepping into the alley, he found Adagio - looking, to put it delicately, rumpled - glowering up at him. "What do you want?" she demanded sourly.
"Your mother wondered where you were," Valmont replied readily. "We encountered some friends we wanted to introduce you all too." A quick application of magic cleaned her up and fixed her clothes. "Why do you do this to yourself?" he asked as he helped her to her feet.
"Why's it your business?" Adagio snapped grumpily. "You're not my Dad. I'm not your blood."
"Is it truly so unbelievable that I'd care about you regardless?" Valmont asked carefully, keeping his tone carefully neutral.
"And that gives you the right to judge me?" Adagio groused.
"I'm not judging," Valmont pointed out dryly. "I'm just asking a question. If this is a lifestyle choice, I see no reason to interfere...as long as it is choice, and not because you don't know how to stop anymore."
He saw it, the momentary flash of tension. It was barely a split second, and anyone else would have missed it. He liked to think he'd have caught it when he was human, but he was too realistic for that. "What's that supposed to mean?" she demanded coldly.
"Just that your choice of targets - and locations - is rather indiscriminate," he pointed out calmly. "If security found you before I had, this would have been the fifth location today we'd have been asked to leave before we could get you a change of clothes."
"Nah," Adagio purred as she swayed her hips seductively. "I'd have just-"
"Mall security is golems," Valmont pointed out.
"Tch!" Adagio spat irritably. "Magic takes all the fun out of everything!"
"You're very good at dodging the question," Valmont observed idly. When that got no response from Adagio, he shrugged. "If it's a lifestyle choice, then you obviously want something out of it, and your indiscriminate selection indicates you aren't certain what you want out of it anymore. If you enjoy being dominant and bringing humiliation, target virgins. If you want full physical stimulation, hit a gym for anyone working cardio. If you want to be dominated, I know several places to find that. But first make sure you know what it is you really want."
Adagio slowed enough that Valmont passed her. "...you really do care," she said softly. "And...you really don't judge..."
"The first thing you learn to run a successful criminal enterprise is how to read people's motivations for what makes them tick," Valmont explained calmly. "You learn not to judge rather quickly if you want to survive in that world, let alone thrive."
"...criminal?"
Valmont smiled. Ah, there it is...power. The ultimate drug, as it were. "Let's get you some new clothes and see where your skills are in that world, shall we?" He held out a hand.
He was rather surprised that she took it in her own. She would be...interesting.