Adagio sighed ruefully as she walked out of the fifteenth shop she'd ducked into looking for a place she could work her magic and get information. Unfortunately, only three of those shops had actually been bars, two had refused her entrance for reasons she hadn't bothered to understand, and the third had been full of people who - to her eyes - looked as old as she was. Even if she had been tempted to work her magic there to get some information, she'd be half afraid of giving them all coronaries before they could answer any questions.
She saw Aria making her way towards her, an angry scowl on her face, bruises on her knuckles, and blood on her bladed star-shaped hair pieces. "I take it you had no better luck than me?" Adagio called out to her rather aggressive sister.
"Only that we might be in a bigger mess than we want to be," Aria grumbled irritably. "What happened with you?"
"Couldn't find anywhere good to work my wiles," Adagio complained as she leaned back against a wall. "What about you? What makes you think we're in a big mess? Have a hard time finding targets?"
"That was easy enough," Aria allowed as she paced, vibrating with nervous energy. "I found at least fifty thugs of various apparent rank within various groups around here, criminal and otherwise. Beating them into submission was easy enough, but..." She paused, staring at one of her knuckles.
Adagio frowned. "If you're waiting for me to coach you just so you can make your revelation more dramatic, you'll have a long wait."
"Are you sure? This one's worth it."
Adagio rolled her eyes, but kept her mouth shut.
Aria glared at her for a time, then 'tsk'ed at her. "Fine. The moment I asked any of them about the Cat of Khartoum, they ran screaming, trying to get as far away from me as possible. Some even tried to leap into a river when they couldn't swim! I finally tried to grab hold of one of them to demand answers..." She opened her closed hand and dropped a severed middle finger to the ground. "He cut off his finger with my hair-piece to get away. I was so stunned I couldn't get another grip. I managed to shout in shock, and he shouted something back at me I didn't understand."
"What did he say?" Adagio asked nervously.
"It sounded like...'Makhalib Sayukhimat'," Aria explained. "Whatever it was, the moment he uttered it, literally every window in the area slammed shut, even the ones who had been cheering while I'd been beating the crap out of him. Any idea what it means?"
Adagio ground her teeth irritably. "Whatever it is, it's a proper name. If it weren't, our siren magic would have given you the meaning, same way we can talk to people here without knowing the language."
"I still think you use that as too much of a crutch-" Aria began, only to pitch forward as something slammed into her back. "Gyack!" she screamed out as she collapsed forward on top of Adagio.
"Ouch!" Adagio snapped as her hand went to her forehead, where she felt a small cut. "What the hell?"
"Oops, sorry!" Sonata spoke up quickly. "Wasn't watching where I was going!"
As the three sat up, Adagio and Aria stared at Sonata as she sat on the ground behind them with a huge grin on her face...and a black statuette of a cat with glowing red eyes sitting in front of her. The sharp points on the statue's claws showed the source of the sudden cuts they received. Aria was the first to speak up. "Is that...?"
"The Cat of Khartoum!" Sonata stated happily as she lifted her leg and started to lick her calf.
"How did you get it?" Adagio demanded in shock. "And so fast?"
"I waited at the airport for the Chans to show up," she explained happily. "Told them since we were all after the same thing anyway, and it would only end up with us confronting them to try and swipe it when they got it out of whatever ruin or temple it was in, it would be more fun and safer if I just tagged along with them and then tried to swipe it."
"And they bought it?" Aria gasped in surprise.
"Jackie was even worried about me staying safe after I set off a booby trap and used the distraction to slip the Cat out of the box and into my hair!" Sonata declared happily as she lowered her leg and began batting at a tassel hanging from a nearby drape. "Then I just used the magic New Daddy left in all our pendants to find you after I gave the box back and apologized for putting everyone in danger."
Aria stared oddly at Sonata. "Sonata...are you feeling alright?" she asked worriedly.
"I feel great, actually!" Sonata stated happily as she rolled onto her back to continue batting at the tassel with both hands and feet. "Why?"
"You pulled off an honestly rather brilliant plan putting your best attributes to your advantage," Adagio explained in awe. "Did you hit your head while performing with that juggler and his genie?"
"Oh!" Sonata allowed happily. "No, didn't hit my head." Leaping into the nearest residence, she snatched a jar of cream from a fridge before leaping back out and lapping it up. No one tried to stop her. "I thought it was the cat-like behavior I'm doing."
"Sonata, it's you," Aria replied, rolling her eyes. "You once spent three whole weeks insisting you were a Golden Retriever and that we call you Spot." She raised her head, staring at a cloud wistfully. "...I kinda miss walkies..."
"Aria's disturbing habits aside, Sonata, this is nothing new for you," Adagio explained. "And since you just swiped a cat statue, it's even thematically appropriate."
"Oh," Sonata allowed, then turned to stare at her butt. "How about the new tail I just sprouted? Is that something I should worry about?"
Apple Bloom, Jade, and Hsi Wu followed Ruby's directions as they prowled the streets of Tangiers, following the trail Sonata had left behind. Unfortunately for them, Sonata was not only quite fast when she wanted to be, but she had run through half a dozen streets, crossing her own path and backtracking no less than seven times by the time they finally found her trail, and seemed to have unwittingly sought out the best ways to conceal her own trail as she ran. Ruby had frequently complained of being a cat and not a bloodhound, and only having the barest sense of the statuette's magic to follow.
This had resulted in the group splitting up as they were now. Apple Bloom, Jade, and Hsi Wu stuck with Ruby on the ground, following the trail. Jackie and Viper had climbed to the rooftops to take a direct route back towards the airport, just in case the Dazzlings had already made for their plane. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were riding Cumulo for an aerial view of the city, hoping to spot the Dazzlings' unique hair styles from above.
As they walked, Apple Bloom paused as they passed an ice cream shop. She found herself staring at it, licking her lips. When she realized what she was doing, she blinked and shook herself off. "What the hay?" she demanded in confusion. "Ah can't even hold an ice cream pop, so why do ah suddenly want one?"
Ruby let out a soft, sighing meow. Jade and Hsi Wu both stiffened in shock. "The Cat of Khartoum turns people into cats?" Jade asked in shock.
"And we all got scratched by its claws?" His Wu added. "Does that mean all of you are going to get feline transformations?"
"What do ya mean, 'all of you'?" Apple Bloom demanded hotly. "You got scratched, too!"
"In demon form," Hsi Wu clarified. "My dark magic is stronger than that of the statue, so it would have been absorbed and metabolized when I got scratched."
"...pity," Jade mused thoughtfully as she moved up against him. "You'd look pretty cute with cat ears..." Without even seeming to think about it, she started to rub against him like a cat.
"...I am feeling very conflicted right now..." Hsi Wu murmured worriedly as Apple Bloom and Ruby giggled. None of them noticed Apple Bloom's coat starting to get thicker.
Jackie leapt down from the last viable rooftop on the path to the airport. They'd have to go the rest of the way on foot, but he wanted to stop for a time before he did. He found his back was really itchy for some reason, and without really thinking about it, he backed into the nearest alley to rub his back against a wall.
Just as he'd started to get relief from the itch, Viper leapt down to in front of him before pinning him to the wall, locking lips with him as her nails dug into his back. He was so caught off guard that he reciprocated for several moments before his brain caught up with what was happening. "V-Viper, we don't have time..." he tried to say, only to lose his voice as her teeth dragged along his neck.
"Audrey stayed at the airport," she purred softly as she rubbed her body against his. "He's got a mind link with Apple Bloom through plants, and already knows to keep an eye out for the Dazzlings. He won't let their plane take off before we get there. We can spare a few minutes..." Dragging her tongue up his neck and chin, she caught his earlobe in her teeth and twisted. "Or an hour..."
Jackie wanted to argue that they needed to be responsible...but he wanted not to a great deal more. Without even seeming to think about it, he began to reciprocate her attentions...
...and neither noticed fur starting to grow in on their bodies.
Cloaked figures made their way through the city, tracking the taint of the statue's magic. Their senses were attuned. Soon, soon they would have what they needed. Soon their goal would be accomplished.
Soon the blood offering would be ready, and their Goddess would reclaim her throne.
VERY Bad Day.
Uh, Sonata? I think maybe...
Oh, you're doing it on purpose... I guess I was worrying for nothing!
...what the? YES THAT'S SOMETHING YOU SHOULD WORRY ABOUT!
i'm thinking arabian cat goddess, it could also be bast(et) from egypt
Well it seems things are going to get very interesting and mass confusion and panic shall soon be near.
I have the weirdest boner right now.
We will need a truck load of catnip to cover all our gangs.
... and Adagio, Aria? Won't it concern you that your sister is turning into a cat? ... I mean fish's destined enemy?
Welp. I know how everything is likely to end up (or at least how it ended up in canon), but it's the journey we're all here for.
Sonata and Aria... apparently have some interesting kinks. Gonna have to remember that... Anyways, a slow chapter, but the buildup is definitely something to keep an eye on - or better yet, two eyes, as often as you can spare them.
8578840
I believe this is what you were thinking. ;D
Fun science facts
Did you know:
Felines have a barbed penis
Cats almost always get pregnant after sex (IIRC, the sex act stimulates the release of the ova, (but I couldn't swear to it & I'm too shiftless & inept to look it up))
We now have our straight man Hsi. Who is going to have so much blackmail material against Jade that it may even be worth it
8578811
Get the feeling that it is going to be a very bad FUR day.
8578815
Took the words right out of my mouth.
Is it the Egyptian cat goddess Bast?
vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/ageofempires/images/8/81/Bast.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20160526130321
8578856
No no catnip not unless you want a horny butch of cat people catnip when bitten releases enzymes that mimic female in heat phamones and increases sex drive in cats for both sexes.
8578897
Wow that is completely relevant and not at all disgusting. Good job you for making me picture that.
I will happily go to sleep tonight with that image in my head.
Not at all disturbed.
Given the reactions of the locals, I'm guessing less Bast more Sekhmet.
Aw nuts. We're gonna need a whole lotta scratching posts!
8578840 The only time a boner is weird is when you're taking medication that's supposed to kill that function. Everybody has kinks, and may not ever truly know what all of theirs are.
Cat-tastrophie?
My Little Kitty?
Too much of meow-thful?
:33 < you gotta be kitten me right meow this is a cat-tastrophe oh who am i kitten this is going to be purrfect
8578816
It could also be Catrina (from generation 1 of MLP)
Gotta admit, even though all this chapter was was buildup for the reveals, it was still totally worth it. It's just gonna make them so much more purrfect later.
...I'll show myself out.
Chapter One Hundred Sixty-Two
"Bad Day"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 41
(Gonna have to wait for these, I guess...)
"He's Not My Boyfriend!"/"I'm not his Mistress!"
Chapter Count: 0/0
Total Count: 46/3
8578933
no dude. this cat godess:
pre00.deviantart.net/7e46/th/pre/i/2011/232/0/7/my_little_pony_redux__katrina_by_sacredcandybar-d479jrr.png
elsewhere:
Bruce Wayne/formerly Batman: ...I'm suddenly having mixed feelings about Rarity's little sister, yet know not why
Hold up, I just realize something...
You mean in the next chapter we will have a gang of CATs hunting three FISHes?
Ok I'm curious about a additional details with the last two chapters, First the temple guardians Ruby that that big cat that showed up at the end of the last chapter, and these cloaked figures. Are they one and the same, are the conflicting forces over the cat and it's temple, or are they aliened in goals in some way such as the cloaked figures being "mortal" servants to the big cat and goddess they mentioned. On a side note this now makes me want to see viper cosplay as Catwoman
On mobile. Somebody link "Everybody wants to be a cat" for me, eh?
8579164
8578994
stop it with the puns your not sans
That was a great chapter as usual, but I would really like to see more Maud.
Why am I suddenly thinking about the cat monster people from Scooby Doo Zombie Island?
Ah, if only I could become part cat, if only for a short moment.
8578994
8579021
8579205
You know, I would have said that Adagio would have tried just about anywhere to get information bar-none but...
Seems the barest of transformations are taking place fur now. Though Sonata might be getting the tail end of that much quicker than the others... Who knows, she could become a catfish.
8579307
sans you best start running
8579314
He doesn't need to run he can just teleport
Oh goodie a cult is now gonna try yo kill everyone who her thinks they try and you get not one not two not three bit four demon sorcerers show up
8579205
8579307
:33 < No I'm not sans I am Nepeta pre00.deviantart.net/607a/th/pre/i/2012/224/6/2/nepeta_leijon_by_blackmatter234-d533ywo.jpg
8578948
not as well versed on god/desses as i could be... also forgot about Sekhmet, though she is more based around lions as opposed to cats in general
8579320
i said that because Papyrus is standing right behind him when he made those puns
Bum! Bum! Bummmmmm! (dramatic reverb)
Sorry. Couldn't help it.
........ vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/villains/images/4/4b/Wicked_Mirage.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120726015611 ?
Well, I do like cats.
8579355
I wouldn't be surprised at all if Hsi-Wu was wrong about not being affected. Would be a hilarious turn of events if his demon form looked a lot more like a panther than a gargoyle the next time he turns into it.
Oh there's a ton of ways Tats could go with this. Though if the Goddess ends up being Mirage, I wouldn't put it past Tats to tie Mirage to another villain closely associated with anthropomorphic cats. Heck it wouldn't be a stretch to have Mirage and the other villain be the same being. There's at least two instances of the other villain being a woman in the form of the Netherwitch and Silky.
I would only have three questions if he were to go that route. The first, is Ruby going to play the role of Snarf or Lion-O? The second, who is going to wield The Sword of Omens: Ruby, Jade, or Jackie? The third, will we hear Mirage utter the words "Ancient spirits of evil, transform this decayed form to Mumm-Ra, the Ever-Living!"
I look forward to seeing where Tats takes this. Also, if Jackie ends up with Tiger stripes, I will laugh, laugh, and laugh!
8578947
You know, now that I've thought about it, I'm not really sure it's true. I've read it, but everyone know that you can't believe everything that you read on the internet (& some days you can't believe anything that you read on the internet)
So, what you should do is conduct an up close & personal inspection of a cat's junk. Then, you will know for sure because The Truth Is Out There. Pay no attention to what the neighbors say -they're just jealous.
8575906
I meant “Amazing Race”. Autocorrect is powerful sword... with a knife blade grip.
Then again Gravity Falls is more complex than the Amazing Race.
8579328
D- - > I would STRONGLY suggest you stop playing these games Nepeta.
D- - > Though, I would not forbid you from 100king at this story... e%actly. Despite it being a bit 100d.
D- - > Can you fetch me a towel?
EDIT: Let’s kill two birds with one stone.
8579307
And even with 'cat-tastrophe' and 'purrfect' used before he comments, Sans still comes up with some great ones. Keep 'em coming, dude.
That escalated quickly.
Well the cloaked figures will have to deal with a horny Viper, a pissed off Hsi and/or plant life defending the fillies and Mr. Popo.
Methinks this goddess won't be getting back in her throne just yet.