Wings Folded
Valmont sat at his desk, sipping tea with Tso Lan. Bai Tza had decided to let the two brainiacs plot out the next move on the chess board without her, preferring to finish cleansing herself in her spa since - apparently - she found wearing a face not her own somewhat distressing. Tso Lan had been highly amused that Valmont's first response to that was to offer to tend to her personally to ease her mind, and that Bai Tza had to practically order him to stay and plot with Tso Lan and that she desired 'feminine privacy' to get Valmont to stay. He pushed the amusement from his mind as Valmont spoke up. "About your siblings who remain..."
Tso Lan nodded. "Dai Gui, Po Kong, and Hsi Wu," he elucidated. "Tchang Zhu will have to remain for some time, if only to keep our options open."
"And we've established Po Kong is last," Valmont confirmed. "So that leaves Dai Gui and Hsi Wu as choices for next. Describe them for me, please."
"Given our shared ability to shape shift, I presume you are asking for my personal opinions and perspectives on them?" Tso Lan pressed, his tone completely neutral.
"It would be useful," Valmont confirmed. "I would ask Shendu, but...to be blunt, I don't trust him."
"A wise move," Tso Lan observed in amusement. "And yet you trust me?"
"You said it yourself, my mind is valuable to you," Valmont explained. "Valuable enough to invest personal time and effort towards its upkeep by seeking to bring about my demonic ascension should the need arise. That means it's in your personal self interest to be straight with me, and work with me. So yes, I trust you."
Tso Lan let a smirk touch his human lips. "Brilliant, devious, ruthless, and amusing..." He chuckled softly. "If my sister hadn't already staked a claim..."
Valmont swallowed in surprise. "I...I'm flattered, but I don't-"
"I arose as a Demon Sorcerer from the Elemental Force of the Moon's gravity, upon the dark side," Tso Lan interrupted. "I came into existence without gender. I only shaped myself as male in the past because they held the political power, making it easier to make mortals heed me. What bonds I have shaped have been based entirely on intellectual and emotional connections. Physicality is a minor concern at best. It would be neither a difficulty nor an adjustment to take a female form should I so desire for such companionship...again, if my little sister had not already staked her claim."
Valmont closed his eyes and took a few calming breaths. Yet again, he'd been caught off guard by his own preconceptions. Yes, when it came to the deeper motivations the Demons were very human, which was to say talking animals. All the same motivations drove them...but their means and methods to achieve those motivations went far beyond what most humans would even conceive of, let alone utilize. He carefully reorganized his thinking as he put this new detail into account. "Perhaps we should table that discussion so as to not upset-"
"She'd find it kinky," Tso Lan interrupted, "and if it weren't me, she might actually extend an invitation for a one-night indulgence. However, she knows all such bonds I make are permanent, and she is unwilling to share you on that scale. But yes, let us return to the original discussion. I've had my fill of tormenting Shendu this way for the moment, and I have no desire to torment you." He smirked wickedly. "That's Bai's purview now.
"Dai Gui is headstrong, fierce, and not very bright," Tso Lan continued as Valmont steadied himself. "His first response to any situation is to smash something, and if that doesn't work he tries again from a different angle. He's implacable like the Earth that is his Element, but he has a very difficult time changing. Like Tchang Zhu, he was one of us who was outvoted as far as accepting your plan, and part of why I stated you would not be penalized for the fates of those of us who did not heed your guidance in achieving our freedom.
"Hsi Wu couldn't be any more his opposite. He is cunning, clever, nearly as skilled a mage as myself, and fiendishly creative where it comes to the use of his Elemental abilities. When he comes across a problem, his first response is to withdraw, study it carefully from all angles, and then find either the most efficient or most fun means of ripping it to shreds. He is a pure demon like myself, though the youngest of us save Bai Tsa. However, do not let that lead you to underestimating him." He crossed his hands and narrowed his eyes. "After all...was it not four children who most greatly thwarted your efforts for Shendu?"
Valmont nodded in understanding. "It sounds like you have a great deal of respect for your brother Hsi."
"Indubitably, and it is well earned," Tso Lan confirmed. "His Element gives him command of the Sky and all within it...and he has used that power to tap all our Elements in his own way. Commanding the weather, reshaping the air currents..." He shuddered violently. "Though the most terrifying was when he defeated an entire squadron of mages and magic-protected warriors come to banish or slay him by - as modern science would define it - peeling back the electromagnetic field to cook them alive with the sun's unfiltered rays."
In that moment, Valmont desperately regretted being atheist. He couldn't help but think that having some sort of religious gesture that warded away evil would be of great comfort right at that moment. "That sounds...impressive."
"Terrifying," Tso Lan murmured. "The unfiltered Eye of the Sun would be lethal to any of us if exposed directly...and he was so excited to discover that he could unleash it. He went on and on about what he could do with it, the ways he could use it...he is very excitable, and very passionate about new things. Of all of us, he is the one most suited to change."
Valmont managed a smile, though it lacked conviction. "Then he is one we want to free quietly, if we can manage it. As you put it, that is a mind we cannot be without."
Nearby, Ratso began unlocking the Pan'ku Box to the Trigram of Sky.
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THANK YOU for making use of Tso Lan to such a degree! Even with the cartoon as it was\is, he could have amounted to something in it. The entertaining part is that you made him "Moral?", at least compared to others. Which DOES explain where Luna gets her personality. Besides you
The interactions of Hsi Wu with the cast this time around should be even more interesting as well entertaining!
Looking forward to the next update
I distinctly remember an episode centered on Hsi Wu where he becomes a kind of love interest for Jade in his disguised form, completely one sided of course.
With the way things are going in this story, I get the feeling that could be explored and expanded on.
In other words, Paco might get some competition.
Oh my god, Paco and Hsi Wu having a rivalry!
Yep, this confirms that Tso Lan became a man on the dark side of the moon.
Releasing Hsi Wu is definitely gonna get things cooking it seems.
Should've known Hsi Wu would tap all that.
8187972 I would have thought you'd have made some crack about Tso Lan being the original man of\on the moon before now
... I am suddenly reminded how scary science and nature are.
8187963
To be fair, his reaction to Hsi Wu's 'new spell' was less about what it did to the humans and more about what it would do to any of them. As he said, none of them would survive the unfiltered gaze of the Eye of the Sun.
does anyone think that when they start writing a story they want to make it over 100 chapters long
Well, good to know that V-dog can still be surprised. Granted, it took a near-deity at a casual sit-down commenting "I'd tap that", in reference to V-dog himself, and following it up with "I can be anything you want me to be, baby". So it's hard to imagine a stronger 'wut' moment, but it is proven possible!
Sounds like my DnD characters.
He's a Mistborn with his own superweapon. I love this guy, and I haven't even met him.
RELEASE HIM NOAW, V-DOG! THIS GLORIOUS DEMON MUST BE FREED TO ROAM THE WORLD AND BREAK AAAAALL THE MAGIC!
8187979 When you learn how bend, and break, the laws of X you should always learn what those laws are. Because then you can learn how to bend, break, AND abuse them directly to get what you want.
Example. There is a high level spell in D&D that implodes a target area. One of the many "Save or Die" spells. A player in our group had as his backstory, "Average joe from the modern world finds himself in the land of Faerun". He made the various checks to realize "Wait you're making a black hole?! What the hell? Why not just throw it at them and blow it up!? Screw 'This might kill you' and go for 'This will do so much raw damage you're dead anyway!' It will work better." Thus with just some basic understanding of college physics he allowed the party wizard to craft a new spell that did EXACTLY that. Next time the party found itself facing 'The Big Bad', said wizard tested the new spell. The Big Bad, his fucking dragon (an actual dragon, not the trope) and a large chunk of his army all went BOOM. And the DM decided the group was NEVER allowed to make custom 9th level spells EVER again.
...holy crap, Hsi Wu just got a whole lot scarier.
An almost childlike mind with sadism to make even demons shudder...But can he love?
8187993
Any DM who lets their players make custom 9th level spells is just asking for trouble, anyway.
8188003
Oh you said it, say didn't he seem to get a crush on Jade in the show that time when he got released, if so will he get a crush on her again or will he get a crush on some other girl instead?
I shipped Jade with Hsi then and even more so now. He's just too badass to ignore and she's too conveniently smart and devious not to be his better part.
Given that magic has "always" existed, Earth MUST know of other dimensions. It occurs to me that there could be a great deal of help available in getting the CMCs home. Given that EQ was in contact with other dimensions as long ago as Starswhirl's time (he dumped the Dazzlings on Earth), someone on Earth might even be in contact with EQ (Sunset Shimmer, for instance?)
Of course, given EQ's habit of using other dimensions as a combination toxic waste dump/ penal colony, EQ might not have a real good reputation.
8187993 To be perfectly frank, that sounds less like a 9th-level spell, and more like an Epic-level spell. The spell Implosion is limited by the user's concentration, and it can only affect a maximum of four creatures, one per round. What YOU just described is essentially a scaled-down spell version of the Planet Buster from Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri. There is no feasible way that's 9th level if it deals enough damage to insta-kill a (presumably) 20th-level Big Bad, a dragon, AND a good portion of their army.
To wit: there is an epic-level spell called Vengeful Gaze of God, which deals a staggering 305d6 damage to the target, as well as 200d6 damage to the caster. It is single-handedly the most powerful spell in the Epic Level Handbook, and requires a Spellcraft DC check of 419 for a mage to create. The 'Black Hole Bomb' you described would fit right in next to that spell, and would likely require, if not as high, a nonetheless high Spellcraft check.
8188050
One, it was established that the Dazzlings were banished from this Earth before eventually ending up in Equestria.
Two, the fact people have normal color skin in this world shows it's not the same Earth as the EqG world.
That reminds me of
shamelessmag.com/images/made/images/blog/2008/05/_resized/runaways3_920_810_90.jpg
Ah, Ratso knows what's up. Perhaps he isn't as dumb as he seems.
8188055
You sure about that? ICR where, (start of the movie with the battle of the bands?) but I swear I remember the Dazzlings were sirens & Starswhirl banished them
8188067
...allow me to give you the Dazzlings timeline, as established by this story.
This Earth, ancient times:
Bai Tza, Queen of the Sirens, has a torrid affair with a being of chaos and gives birth to three daughters: D'gi, A'ri, and S'na.
This Earth, shortly after the Immortals battle:
Li Tieguai (the Immortal who banished Bai Tza to the Nether Realm) banishes Bai's daughters to another world when their attempts to avenge their mother become too aggressive. This starts a sequence of banishings for them, as their attempts to gain power in each world they arrive in gets squashed by local magical authority.
Equestria, centuries later:
The Dazzlings arrive in Equestria, finding the world very rich in magic. They immediately begin building up power again, only to be stopped by Starswirl the Bearded, who deliberately banishes them to a world with extremely low local magical fields in order to limit their ability to cause mischief.
EqG World, modern day:
The Dazzlings attempt to seize Equestrian magic for a supercharge, only to have their power broken.
So yes, I know exactly what I'm talking about when it comes to important plot devices in this story and world I've painstakingly built from pieces of others to craft a fun story.
8188016 I'd allow a custom spell like Quickened Maximized Scorching Ray (possibly with Energy Substitution thrown in) as a 9th level spell in 3.5 simply because it's already doable using Metamagic (Scorching Ray is a 2nd Level spell, Quicken is +4, Maximize is +3, and optional Energy Substitution is a +0) what harm is there in allowing it as a baseline spell? But completely original stuff? That's going to take some research.
8188073
Well, OK, since you're sure.
Though I stick to my point about dumping things on other dimensions is a good way to earn a bad reputation.
2 words. LOCATE CITY.
Look it up
8188064
Wasn't that established like five chapters in to the story?
8188102
To be specific, that would be the "Locate City" bomb chain of feat exploits.
Edited:Oh Bother! I didn't notice the link you attached to your post, sorry.
And so, we have the rival for the kids. It was one of the episodes I liked more, how the demon disguised as a child and fooled Jade.
So just to clarify there's one whom could easily wipe out all life on the planet besides the space exactly around him if he wanted to be released can I in any way say that's pushing god mods over the line
I remember this from my childhood, I really loved the cartoon and I watched it in it's arabic dub on MBC 3.
(I'm Arab).
8188103 Mmmmaybe?
And now, the demon we've all been waiting for!!!
Hsi is definitely my favorite. I hope he's not going to be (entirely) evil...
Interesting take on Sky magic. We never see him do anything other than fly.
A demon of the sky (atmosphere) given access to modern science with what is clearly an already-broad command of related concepts...
"Cease your interference before I turn all the oxygen in your body into chlorine."
Loved your stuff on fanfic and I am so happy to see hsi wu enter the stage
Valmont should really turn off his swag...Also, I wonder if Hsi Wu will still encounter Jade, and by extension the CMC.
I can see Sweetie Belle seeing through his disguise with ease; a hilarious moment in itself
Definitely an interesting take on Sky magic. I always considered it a lesser version of Wind, much like Po Kong's Mountain a greater version of Earth.
Yiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
8188585 still wouldn't even slow wukong down... just saying.
8187987
Wait a tick, are we that far in? *Checks* Oh Epona, we are that far in! Time flies when you're having fun.
Also, word of warning. The chapter limit is 1000. Yes, we have a fic on this site that is over 1000 chapters long and has now been broken up into two parts. ...and counting.
8188064
I was instantly reminded of the time Aku took the guise of a woman...then of the comic on Snafu (before the Adult Swim series) where Aku has a daughter and spends most of it's time in their fem form.
Also, really hoping that Ratso somehow becomes the final antagonist through sheer cunning and the element of surprise
Chapter One Hundred Seventeen
"Aiyah!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 46
"One More Thing!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 80
8188665 it would explain why Ratsu has no problems working on unlocking the box.
Please, please, tell me you aren't going the Jade/Hsi Wu route for this story.
8188665 So... sort of like Fawful?
8188880 With a better grasp of the English language.
8188832 Hsi Wu cutie mark crusader
8188633 fair enough
I like your take on the Sky element. I think this is the first time i've read it being done like this.
I have to admit out of all the Demon Sorcerers, Hsi Wu is my favorite, and the one i've been looking forward to the most.
Really looking forward to seeing what kind of role he will play in the story. Here's hoping we will see some Jade/Hsi Wu romance develop as the story goes on.
8188051 Very true. But at the time Epic wasn't a thing. And trust me, there were in game consequences as welll.
8188016 Also true. But damn if the first time a "You should never let this happen" thing actually happens if it isn't either amazing or hilarious.
Sky, or air, is a very powerful element. Imagine, removing all the air resistance in a cylinder shape, then hitting something through it with a blast of compressed air. Instant cannon, or instant getaway.
8188665 That would be awesome.
Makes me think he might be turned to the good side by Jade and the Crusaders
Man, Hsi Wu is going to be interesting. I can't help but feel he'll want to challenge Scootaloo to some races for fun once he sees how agile she is in the air.
And apparently Valmont is so awesome male demons would be willing to turn female for him. I will freely admit that is impressive!
8188327
To be fair, peeling the Electromagnetic Field back for Hsi Wu is ritual magic, requiring a lot of power, control, and set up time. It's not an at-will thing.