Three More Things!

by Tatsurou

Tiger, Tiger

Jackie slowly gathered the things he'd need for the expedition he and Uncle were going on for the Museum. A recent earthquake had uncovered a passage into an underground city, right here in San Francisco, and the passage was too unsteady for any Earth magic to stabilize. As such, they needed to get down there and explore and document before another tremor - however minor - caused the passage to collapse and the opportunity was lost, potentially forever. As excited as he was, however, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was forgetting something important.

And that was when he was startled from behind by Jade, who was wearing a top hat, bushy white fake eyebrows, and a cape. "RAAR!" she cried out playfully.

"WAAAUGGHH!" Jackie let out with a gasp, patting at his chest. "You scared me Jade...isn't it a little early for Halloween?"

Jade's excitement from spooking him quickly turned to a crestfallen expression. "You didn't forget, did you Uncle Jackie?" she asked plaintively.

"...forget what?" Jackie asked in confusion.

"The school play!" Jade insisted earnestly. "I'm playing Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde! It's my big debut tonight! You're going to be there, right?"

Jackie groaned, rubbing his face with one palm. "I'm so sorry Jade..." he offered pathetically. "The museum insists Uncle and I go check out the passage to the underground city that's opened up before it can close again." He unrolled the map to show her. "It will take several hours...there's no way we'll be able to make it back in time for the play..."

"But..." Jade whimpered sadly. "But who's going to be there to see me shine?"

"Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo will be there," Jackie pointed out. "And Tohru, and Sofia, Lucia, and Ysabelle. And Mrs. T will be there, and so will Viper." Seeing that didn't really cheer her up, he decided to try an impish notion that had occurred to him. "And your boyfriend!"

Jade 'tsk'ed dismissively. "He's not my boyfriend, he's my familiar," she insisted firmly.

Jackie smiled softly. "Either way, there will still be plenty of people there to support you."

Jade's face fell. "But...but you promised..."

Jackie winced. He hated disappointing Jade, especially in a way that taught her a bad lesson like this. He knew how she looked up to him, and it was plain she'd really wanted him to see her perform. "I'm sorry, Jade," he offered sadly. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I can't turn it down, as much as I'd rather be at the play with you."

Jade lowered her head and sighed. "Yeah...and it's not like you can be in two places at once..." Turning, she walked away sadly.

Jackie stared after her, desperately wanting to comfort her.

With a puff of not-quite-real smoke, Light Jackie appeared on his shoulder. "Oh, you did not just put that idea in our head!" he snapped out.

Dark Jackie appeared similarly on the other shoulder. "Me?" he gasped out defensively. "I thought it was you!"

"Why would I come up with an idea that breaks so many of our personal rules?" Light Jackie demanded angrily.

"Because it was a way we could be there for Jade and meet our obligations?" Dark Jackie pointed out. "Have to admit, I didn't expect something so rebellious out of you." He leaned against Jackie's ear. "Going a little bad for your role, aren't you?"

"One," Light Jackie pointed out, counting on his fingers, "we aren't good vs evil morality, we never were. We're more responsibility/optimism vs fun-loving/cynical practicality. Two, it wasn't my idea!"

"Well it wasn't my idea," Dark Jackie pointed out. "Can't say I don't like it though."

"Do you think you two could remind me what the idea was?" Jackie asked hopefully. "I...kind of forgot while you were debating whose idea it was."

"Using the Tiger Talisman to be in two places at once," Dark Jackie explained. "One of us could go to the play to support Jade, and one of us could go on the dig with Uncle."

"But which of us would go where?" Light Jackie asked. "If we're talking responsibility-"

"You go to the play," Dark Jackie stated flatly. "You're much better at being supportive than I ever could. If I went, I'd probably get bored halfway through, jump up onto the stage, and take over the play."

"...and I suppose your cynical practicality would be helpful on the expedition in case any danger occurred," Light Jackie allowed. "Just don't be too gruff with Uncle, alright?"

Dark Jackie shrugged. "If he complains, I'll just say I'm upset about missing Jade's play," he replied readily.

"...I can't believe we're in agreement on this," Jackie observed ruefully as he made his way to the vault, Light and Dark Jackie vanishing from his shoulders. It didn't take him long to find who he was looking for. "Captain Black," he began nervously, unsure how his friend would react to this, "I need to borrow the Tiger Talisman-"

"Sure, go ahead," Captain Black responded readily. "Here's your access ID and passcode for the Vault. Don't lose them or tell anyone."

Jackie blinked at the pieces of paper in his hand. "...wah?"

"I've seen what your nieces are capable of," Captain Black pointed out. "I cleared it with the superiors. It makes more sense to give you an access pass to the vault where we keep the magical artifacts so we can keep track of the inventory than have them breaking in whenever one would be helpful."

"And...you're not going to ask why?" Jackie pressed, trying to work through his confusion.

"If there's anyone without innate magic I trust to use it responsibly, it's you Jackie," Captain Black continued. "The two of you have fun. From what I've seen, using the Tiger Talisman has been good for you." He rubbed the back of his head idly. "Just don't let your dark side whack me upside the head again, okay?"

Jackie chuckled softly. "I'll do what I can," he allowed, heading for the vault.

Comments

[dangerbrony]

This can only end well.

[the other sans]

Dark Jackie shrugged. "if he complains, I'll just say

1. Forgot to capitalise.

Woah there Tiger, can't believe you think it's a good idea. It's actually a great one.

Alright gang, let's split up, look for clues and keep our family happy.

Good thing Jackie didn't have to Vault over any bureaucracy to get the talisman this time.

[Starcat5]

I am once again reminded that my knowledge of JCA is limited to season 1 and the one with the talismans as their respective animals (season 3?). I honestly have no idea if this is based on an episode or not.

[Tatsurou]

8357177
It is.
A season 2 episode called "The Return of the Pussycat". Though in the original, splitting Jackie with the Tiger Talisman so he could be in two places at once was Jade's idea.

[Starcat5]

8357179
Ah. Meaning that the earthquake was related to our oversized Demon Sorcerer somehow. Good to know. (Edit: Just reread some old comments, and she is apparently sealed in Japan. I lost count on how many are free, and wait with bated breath to find out who is down there.) I just hope Ego Jackie gets some shoulder screen time, bugging his Id and Super Ego counterparts, canon be danged.

8357166
It is only a Tony the Tiger reference if you draw out the "r".

[theillustriousq]

"Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo will be there," Jackie pointed out. "And Tohru, and Sofia, Lucia, and Ysabelle. And Mrs. T will be there, and so will Viper." Seeing that didn't really cheer her up, he decided to try an impish notion that had occurred to him. "And your boyfriend!"

I see being intimate with Viper is doing wonders for Jackie. He never would have told that joke before they finally got together.

Jade 'tsk'ed dismissively. "He's not my boyfriend, he's my familiar ," she insisted firmly.

You say potAto, I say potato. In either case, he is your future husband.

With a puff of not-quite-real smoke, Light Jackie appeared on his shoulder. "Oh, you did not just put that idea in our head!" he snapped out.

I seriously wonder if the girls can actually see Jackie having these three way internal discussions with himself and they just simply choose to ignore it.

"You go to the play," Dark Jackie stated flatly. "You're much better at being supportive than I ever could. If I went, I'd probably get bored halfway through, jump up onto the stage, and take over the play."

*chuckles* I love the almost 4th wall awareness humor in this line.

"...and I suppose your cynical practicality would be helpful on the expedition in case any danger occurred," Light Jackie allowed. "Just don't be too gruff with Uncle, alright?"

I'm fully expecting Dark Jackie to receive a mild concussion from uncle for being his surly self. Something along the lines of Uncle giving Jackie a refresher course in respecting his elders.

"Sure, go ahead," Captain Black responded readily. "Here's your access ID and passcode for the Vault. Don't lose them or tell anyone."

…

Captain Black, have you met Shield Director Phil Coulson? Cause I think you two would get along swimmingly.

And we're finally going to see the introductions of Simone Magus. Excellent. I am very curious as to what a world full of magic is going to change in her history. I wonder if Tats is going to us this as an opportunity to introduce a few more of Jade's classmates who will become important later on in the series.

[Greenhorn]

8357157
Or end hiraliously!

[The Fan Without a Face]

I would quite litterally pay you to include a line where Jade refers to Viper as her Aunt. I don't care in what context, I just wanna see that.

[Raybony]

8357166
Is it even possible for you to not come up with at least three puns on anything? Are you a professional or something!?

[Level Dasher]

Man, I can't wait to see what happens to the Jackies since you're swapping who goes to which event.
I still think that even though she didn't outright suggest it, it still was Jade's idea, and she deliberately planted the idea by bringing up the option in the first place. Sounded like Light Jackie was on point:

"Oh, you did not just put that idea in our head!"

Oh yeah, she totally did it on purpose. All we're missing was a narrative of Jade smirking as she turned her back. Doesn't mean it didn't happen.
And I have to admit, I'm impressed at how logical Dark Jackie is getting. Probably a little 4th wall knowledge going on there.

8357387
It would not surprise me in the slightest if 8357166 has been to Punderdome or O. Henry.

---

Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Seven

"Bad Day"

Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 35

"He's Not My Boyfriend!"

"He's not my boyfriend, he's my familiar," she insisted firmly.

/

Chapter Count: 1
Total Count: 42

[The Feline Bard]

...So anyone else expecting Simone Magus to have a couple of armed magical guards protecting her from S-H Jack?

[SeventhBrony]

Sees the title, oh this can’t be good!
Reads the chapter, well this could have been much worse. and we ALL JUST KNOW it’ll work out swimmingly.
Even without the cement mudpack

[the other sans]

8357396
Actually, let me surprise you there.

I've been to neither as I don't live in America at all.

[EchoWing]

Well, we know how it went in the official version of events...let's see how things go this time!

[MythrilMoth]

And a purrfect time was had by all.

[Winter Quill]

8357157
I think this is one of the rare cases where that is actually true!

[theillustriousq]

8357406
That might be interesting. Though what might be just as much fun, if not more, is if someone else looked into the ruins aside from Jackie and Uncle. There are three demons who are out on the loose who weren't originally when this episode aired. Perhaps one of them might have a vested interested in the ruins for a reason outside of Spring-heeled Jack.

I so want to see Tso Lan and Uncle become the best of friends, and perhaps bond over their shared experiences of being parents. Would be nice to see Uncle make a tea drinking buddy.

[Winter Quill]

8357179
I like how your setting has made Jade responsible enough not to try that anymore, yet made Jackie flexible enough to go with it himself.

[Dirty Bit]

Tiger, Tiger, burning bright...I forgot the rest of the poem. Haven't read it since college.

8357406 I just want to see how he rhymes in this story

[Level Dasher]

8357521
...Whoops. Well, you're still pretty damn good at what you do, so carry on.

[The REAL Mister Pkmn]

Improved story-line compared to the show''s episode. I think this'll end well.

[AyanamiRei]

Even though I know I shouldn't...I kinda want Bad Jackie to smack his boss upside the head ^^;

[Kenshinryuu]

I can't wait to see Viper rib Jackie over breaking his rules to make Jade happy. I'm also eager to see how long it takes someone to figure out what he did and what happens in the underground city since I don't remember this episode.

[cyberlord4444]

8357157
8357297
forums.na.leagueoflegends.com/board/attachment.php?attachmentid=894438&d=1392272502

[MLPMekarm]

................. ( pulls out a large bin of popcorn & a large soda ) might as well get ready.

[Flame Heart]

media.giphy.com/media/rzBUxFJm1EJ20/giphy.gif

[PrincessLenaLadyKittuna]

8357166

That was a split second decision in Jackie's mind.

[Void Runner]

Chapter One Hundred Thirty Seven

"Aiyah!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 47

"One More Thing!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 82

[the other sans]

8357387
Oh right, I forgot to reply.

There are many times where I can't pun three things such as not being familiar with the source material or the situation in the chapter isn't suitable for puns. The three puns here as you can guess, fits to the title of 'Three' more things. Now I started punning heavily on Heart of The Dragon General which is themed on... well, you can imagine how things went from there.

And no, I'm not a professional despite what you think, I just enjoy puns.

[KVFFour]

8357878
*hauls out popcorn machine*

[PrismStrike]

hahahahahaha I love this version of the chans world its so much more fun than the how it goes in the show

[Jake Witt]

I guess not everything is Captain Black and white.

Well, there's my comment; time to be a Jackie and split!

[Rogue Shadow]

.....aaahhhh it was getting greater, please update soon

[Flame Heart]

8359569
*Grabs a bowl*

[Ytak]

It's chapters like this that make me wish I could vote the story up again.

[fractalman]

"I've seen what your nieces are capable of," Captain Black pointed out. "I cleared it with the superiors. It makes more sense to give you an access pass to the vault where we keep the magical artifacts so we can keep track of the inventory than have them breaking in whenever one would be helpful."

Teehee.

[Spike in mlp]

Jade 'tsk'ed dismissively. "He's not my boyfriend, he's my familiar," she insisted firmly.

A bit of familiar of zero, I see