//------------------------------// // Counting Sheep // Story: Three More Things! // by Tatsurou //------------------------------// Uncle shook his head in amusement as he watched Jade and the fillies bouncing around the shop excitedly. Jackie was going to get back today, and Jade had managed to get Jackie to promise to take the four of them to Mooseworld as soon as he got back. "I do not understand your fascination with these roller coasters," Uncle offered thoughtfully. "Why insist on rides that do not agree with Uncle's digestion when you can have better rides on Cumulo? Roller coasters limited by gravity, cannot break sound barrier." "Theme parks aren't just about the extreme rides, Uncle," Scootaloo pointed out. "There's a bunch of other stuff there, too! Like the food-" "One more thing bad for Uncle's digestion," Uncle murmured softly. "-the games, the prizes..." Scootaloo continued, seemingly not having noticed Uncle's interjection. "It's about the experience," Sweetie Belle explained. "All of us going out to do something special as a family where we all have fun together. It's about making memories." Uncle smiled softly. "Has been a long time since Uncle could enjoy such things. I am sorry I was old by the time you three were ready for such things." "And that's why ah'm still lookin' for a spell ta turn you into a teenager," Apple Bloom spoke up happily. "AIYAH!" Uncle shouted out in surprise, leaping to his feet. "Do you have any idea how dangerous messing with age spells can be?" "Of course I do!" Apple Bloom responded. "The fact ya ain't done it yerself tells me that! That's why ah'm gonna make sure I know everything about the spell and everything that could go wrong before testing it out. Do ah look like Jade to you?" "Hey!" Jade snapped out angrily as she stopped bouncing. "What's that supposed to mean?" "You...do have a tendency towards recklessness," Sweetie Belle pointed out. "Especially when it comes to magic," Scootaloo added. "Yer almost as bad as Scoots!" Apple Bloom piped up playfully. "Why you!" Scootaloo barked out as she lunged for her, the pair of ponies tussling on the floor, being careful not to knock anything over. Jade, meanwhile, crossed her arms and grumbled under her breath. "Aiyah..." Uncle groaned softly. "Uncle needs-" "Here you go!" Sweetie piped up happily as she levitated a hot, full cup of tea over to him. "...to be less predictable," Uncle chuckled softly, taking the cup. "Thank you." At that moment the door opened and Jackie stepped in, bags hanging limply from his shoulders and eyelids drooping, slumped over like he was barely staying upright. "Jackie!" all four young girls shouted out, rushing forward to hug him. "Hello..." Jackie murmured, patting heads as he stumbled forward. "We're going to Mooseworld!" Jade squealed out happily. "Have fun," Jackie murmured as he let out a yawn. "I am going home to sleep..." Jade pulled back in surprise. "What? But...Mooseworld!" "You said you'd take us!" Scootaloo whined. "Please!" all four girls begged, giving their most adorable pleading expressions, eyes wide and hands - or hooves - clasped together under chins with winsome smiles. Jackie smiled absently and took another step into the shop as he let his bags sink to the floor. The girls stepped back in surprise, having been certain the concerted cuteness assault would have broken through his tiredness. "Wow," Sweetie Belle murmured softly. "He must be really tired..." "Jackie!" Uncle called out warmly. "Uncle!" Jackie responded tiredly, spreading his arms for a hug. "What did you bring me?" Uncle asked, bending towards Jackie's bags. Sighing, Jackie fished a small stone out of his pocket. "The Sheep Talisman," he mumbled, showing the carving of the sheep on the front and other runic symbols on the back. "Good!" Uncle proclaimed happily as he took the Talisman. "Then we must do research!" Jackie stumbled blindly after Uncle as the older man towed him towards the back room, but Apple Bloom quickly inserted herself between Uncle and the door. "Uncle, Jackie's dead on his feet!" she pointed out. "Ah don't think he's gonna be able to stay awake to research the Talisman. Ah mean, it's a sheep!" "But Uncle needs capable assistance to research Talisman!" Uncle pointed out. "Scoots and I can take care of that!" Apple Bloom pointed out. "Scoot can grab books off the high shelves, and I can grab 'em off the low shelves. The wood of the shop's floor has adapted ta my magic so it doesn't try to sprout with every step." Uncle frowned thoughtfully. "That is true. You are both good with research. One more thing, Jackie must mind store-" "Jade and I can do that!" Sweetie Belle offered. "I can even use my magic to sweep!" "One more thing!" Uncle insisted. "Jackie sleepwalks! Who will keep him from breaking many antiques when that happens?" "Ah'll tell Audrey ta keep him in bed!" Apple Bloom insisted. Uncle thought about that for a time, then nodded. "Very well. Is good plan. For now, time to copy inscriptions from back of Talisman for research. Then we must prepare magic box that will keep Talisman from perception of Dark Forces." "I know how to do that!" Apple Bloom squealed happily, racing to the lab as Jackie stumbled off to sleep, Audrey at his side. It wasn't long before Sweetie Belle was engrossed in tending the shop, Jackie in his dreams, and Uncle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo in their research. As such, no one noticed Jade slipping the Talisman out of the box and sneaking upstairs. "I'll show them who's reckless," she muttered to herself. "I'll find out what the Talisman does before any of them!" She frowned somewhat nervously. "Just...hope this isn't the exploding head talisman..."