Safety
Tohru sat huddled up in his penthouse apartment, paid for by Valmont to give him the best of the best of accommodations so long as he worked for him. A blanket big enough for an elephant was wrapped around him as he sat in front of a space heater, a hot pack on his head and a thermometer in his mouth as he tried to watch TV to relax, flipping through the channels as he tried to keep his mind off his physical state. Still, it had been quite a surprise that as soon as he started sneezing in the office, Valmont had told him flat out to take a sick day. Tohru still felt upset he hadn't had the strength to refuse, claiming he could work through the cold. Valmont hadn't given him the chance to argue, and sent him straight home with full pay for the day.
A massive sneeze tore its way out of Tohru's throat, sending the thermometer flying across the room to embed itself in the opposite wall, alongside no less than 20 others already there. Sniffling, Tohru reached to the side table, fished another one out of a bowl, and stuck it into his mouth to keep track of his body temperature. Reaching to his other side, he jotted down the temperature on the thermometer he'd just embedded in the wall. He figured between sneezes was a good amount of time to get an accurate temperature.
As he pulled his arms back under the blanket and wrapped himself up tight again, he wondered why it was that he was so sick just from being under dressed at the north pole. He'd dealt with more hostile environments than that with just his normal attire without problems, and the shirt wasn't exactly thick or effective at retaining heat. So why was he so weak now?
All unintended, his mind turned back to the weakness he'd dealt with after being merged with Apple Bloom and Audrey III, a weakness he hadn't fully recovered from before the North Pole, since he hadn't felt completely 100% when he was sent on the mission. It had only been a slight headache and some stiffness in his joints...but now he could barely move. Despite his own discomfort, he couldn't help but wonder if Apple Bloom was experiencing a similar weakness. He had tried to take the majority of the burden of the fusion, but...
A knock on his door interrupted his thoughts. Grumbling to himself, he staggered to his feet and over to the door. He looked through the peephole, but saw nothing. Muttering under his breath, he started to turn away, but the knock repeated...far below him. Confused, he pulled it open.
Looking straight out, he still saw nothing until a cleared throat drew his attention downward. Apple Bloom was there, sitting in Audrey's vines and helping him balance a massive Tupperware container that steamed from within, big enough for Apple Bloom to take a bath in. "A-Apple Bloom?" Tohru asked, shocked.
"Sweetie heard from Ratso that you were home sick," Apple Bloom offered nervously. "Ah...ah wanted ta check up on ya. Brought ya some chicken soup and honey-lemon tea."
Tohru blinked in surprise. "T-thank you," he stammered out, stepping back. "Come in, please."
Audrey slithered in on his roots, carrying Apple Bloom, the massive bowl of chicken soup, and two huge thermoses of steaming tea. "Ah made sure to cut the chunks of chicken and vegetables small enough that ya could chew 'em if yer up to it, or just swallow if you'd rather drink it straight down. Same with the noodles."
"How did you find where I live?" Tohru asked curiously as he sat down, letting Apple Bloom and Audrey prepare food and drink for him. "Did you...pick something up from my head?"
Apple Bloom shook her head. "Again, Ratso told Sweetie Belle."
"Why was Ratso telling her so much?" Tohru pressed gently.
"Well, we used the Horse Talisman to get rid of the poison Jackie was infected with," Apple Bloom explained, "so the trade for the antidote instead turned into a sting. Sweetie Belle went up first so she could spy things out, but it was just Ratso, Finn, and Chao. Since she had enough magic to handle all three of them, she asked where you were. Once Ratso said you were taking a sick day, she said she'd give them all a chance to get away if they told her where you lived."
Tohru nodded. He wasn't at all surprised they jumped at the deal. None of them were all that eager to be enemies of the little fillies, now that they were all aware of the fact they were fillies. "But why would she make that trade?" he asked curiously.
Apple Bloom paused in her work preparing the food, letting Audrey finish. "Cause...cause she knew I was worried about ya. So by finding out where ya spent yer sick day, I could come take care of ya."
Tohru turned to meet Apple Bloom's gaze. A slow smile split both their faces.
The soup and tea were both delicious. But it was the company that truly chased away the sick and the doldrums.
As Shendu turned his mystic gaze away from Tohru's penthouse, he brought his attention back to Valmont. "Are you aware of the company your large Enforcer is having on this 'sick day' of his?" Shendu hissed out angrily.
"No, and I don't really care," Valmont responded as he went through some papers, marking down a few details.
"Even if it is the Qi Lin with the dryadic familiar, and said familiar?" Shendu growled out.
"Especially not then," Valmont responded readily. "Ratso already reported he traded Tohru's home address to escape the sting that came of the 'antidote trade'. Apparently, the Horse Talisman is the healer?" He turned and gave Shendu a raised eyebrow.
Shendu seethed in rage, but held it in check. "An oversight that would have been easily avoided had I been informed it was the Horse Talisman. But that does not explain-"
"After what Tohru contributed during the fiasco with the Rat Talisman, I would not hold it against him if he chose to retire tomorrow," Valmont interrupted. "That despite being faced with literal eldritch horror, he still remains loyal to me...I have no doubts about his loyalty."
"And his effectiveness?" Shendu demanded coldly.
"That's a completely separate matter," Valmont continued. "I never hired him for his effectiveness as an Enforcer. I hired him as a bodyguard, and for the intimidation factor of his sheer size. If I want someone who won't hesitate to crush those fillies into paste if that's the order I give, I will hire someone who is willing and capable of doing so. Tohru, Ratso, Finn, Chao...none of them were hired for that sort of ruthlessness."
He smiled softly as he came across a specific paper. A resume, submitted by one 'Black Tiger'. "After all, that sort of ruthlessness is easy to find...so long as one knows where to look."
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haha oh man I forgot about Hak Foo I look forward to many ridiculous attack names.
Hak Foo? Aiyah! He will share the Angry Crow!
One more thing! Apple Bloom makes for good company during sick day.
huh, talk about reasonable authority figure, good on you Valmont good on you. Has he been reading the evil overlord list? I mean honestly it seems like he has. You know if it weren't for the fact that he's working for Shendu and a Black Market dealer I can honestly say he might have invited Jackie and family for dinner. Hopefully after the whole dragon talisman event he'll have learned to not trying to absorb a energy field bigger than his head.
as for Shendu I love when he heard that there was an old one running 'round he was ready to go nope and get the hell out of this plane of reality. Is it wrong that I want the CMC to chase Shendu's son around playing the I'm not touching you game?
It's nothing to sneeze at if Tohru is this sick.
Guess we can be sure Tohru is gonna be souped up and ready to go after this.
At least their failed operation didn't sting so much for our Enforcer trio that badly.
ANGRY CROW TAKES FLIGHT!
7658462 MONKEY PLUCKS TWO PEACHES!!
7658460 Actually, it still STUNG for them. They really should not HORSE around much. The bad guys are starting to get WALLED in after all.
:D
It's time for Hak Foo to shine... and come up with new attack names when he encounters the CMC.
Hospitality is said to be in the Apples' blood.
7658458 evil overlord list? Is that a real thing and if it is whete can I find it?
The fun just keeps on coming, and dang if it wouldn't get better next time.
7658556 Pegasus takes flight!
7658460 you and
7658526 you are my idols
If you think about it Tohru is like the equivalent of Big Macintosh tall, super strong, and usually gental as can be
7658458 also that would be funny
Nice to see Valmont depicted as a schmott guy. Bumbling nice guys for your regular henchmen: not only will law enforcement take it easier on you, but they're unlikely to backstab you. Those ruthless asshole killer types are more expensive anyways, better to hire for single jobs than to put on the payroll.
7658626
peter's evil overlord list. http://www.eviloverlord.com/lists/overlord.html
it's a list of do's and don't of being an evil overlord it can also be applied to other villainous professions
7658626 TVTropes is one good place.
Tohru is all heart
7658626 Here's the list
7658692
The Black Tiger is Hak Fu's other title.
So why do I think that Finn, Ratso, and Chao will turn at the same time as Tohru? All because of Shendu.
7658787 If they reform, they are not going to have a reason to be villains for the other seasons. This is still season 1.
7658834
As Velmont stated in this chapter he is planning on killing the CMC. He keeps them around because he needs his "nice guys" because they do a good job but are not killers. He seems to outsource that job. They may in this canon switch over earlier because they are working with a killer. Plus after season one they became a little to much like Team Rocket for my tastes and they loss their threat value. Only Hak Foo was threatening because he was a competent martial artist and now he is a killer.
And now for Hak Foo. This should be interesting. Looking forward to more.
Keep up the great work. Deus tecum.
7658956
No he did not, he said he knew were to get some with the required skillset and personality to do such an act if he ordered it.
As for Hak fu, while he is a dedicated professional, he is not so soulless as to needlessly kill children. so it is unlikely that he would do is if ordered.
BLACK TIGER ENTERS STAGE RIGHT!
7658458
It may be hard to remember considering all the ways the series makes Valmont into fate's butt-monkey (especially second season onwards) but the man did run a successful criminal enterprise before he started mucking about with Demons and ended up facing off against the Chan family.
So before everything repeatedly blew up in his face and he began suffering a serious case of possession, he must have been reasonably competent at it.
Aaaaand incoming Hak Foo. Why do I get the feeling Tohru will leave Valmont's service a LOT sooner here...?
i see this ending quite unpleasantly for Black Tiger.
Wow... you've kicked up Valmont's cruelty for this story, didn't you? Though I do admit he makes sense. Those four were never meant to be assassins or killers. At least, not heartless killers.
Ah, Hak Foo. My favorite scene with him in it is still the one where they were in anti-gravity and he actually free-styled his attack names due to moving so slow.
I wonder how long it'll take for Hak Foo to be on the receiving end of "tiny filly bucks two apples."
Hak Fu. That guy was meant for the job... even though he got the short end of the stick. Can Tatsorou fix this?!
Chapter Fifty Six
"Aiyah!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 34
"One More Thing!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 62
7659554
"Tiger prowls...through...pudding?"
Out of curiosity, Will Rhino the Hamster make an appearance soon?
7658437 Scootallo would be a good match.
I really hope that if Hak Fuu tries to attack the Crusaders that Tohru and Jackie BOTH hit him as hard as they can and call a truce long enough to subdue him and tie him up out of the fight so the girls stay safe.
Hmmm, I think Apple Bloom is remembering a bit about Big Mac and Tohru's generally quiet and strong personality is making her relax more.
7660811 Oh my. And Scootaloo's just getting super into it, but Hak Fuu's getting all upset that she's just making up names instead of using traditional attack styles, but Scoots doesn't realize he's actually angry at her and thinks he's just playing along.
7661166
Hak Fuu: "Black Tiger crushes Little Fillies." *Goes to attack the trio but is stop by two punches from different sized fists.*
Torhu and Jackie talk as one: "You will not lay a finger on those three." *Turn to look at each other*
Jackie: "Truce?"
Torhu: "Just until he is beaten." *turns and gives the the trio some money*. "Why don't you three go and get yourselves some ice cream, my treat."
Sweetie Belle: "Alright." *Takes the money as trio begin to walk away.*
Scootaloo: "Hak Fuu is going to be in major pain isn't he?
Apple Bloom: "Yep." Sounds of a beating are heard in the background.
7661181 I think I just want Hak Fu to get along with Scootaloo.
7661462 Yeah, that's what I imagine. And then they take a break for tea and to catch their breath, make sure the fillies are all right and in a safe place to watch them fight, then go at it. With any thrown projectiles being deflected at Hak Foo to keep knocking him out.
I wonder if Valmont will hire some of the other tertiary characters as extra muscle now that his opposition is more than just "one guy". Origami might be barter-able with the right art/antique. That jade hand guy could supply an OC assassin. I guess that one card themed minion from the episode where Jackie basically took over the job of a top agent at Section 13 by accident could be a potential candidate. I believe Pizza Face should still be in the secluded monk temple at this point in canon. Ummm, Daolong Wong is too independent to be hired...Maybe the Monkey King? If Shendu catches his doll before he is released I bet he can arrange something. I can't think of anyone else with notable strength that should be around at this point in the timeline. Still OC Enforcers are a thing that can be done, maybe an "in it for the money" styled rouge cowboy like Dr.Peace or something.
I do like Valmont in this. He is clearly looking out for his employees, but is solidly in Lawful Seflish on the morality scale. Valmont was never a good guy, but he did act nice in his own way to his own, and is consistantly pragmatic.
you i am starting to wonder who is gonna be an surogate AJ, becuase tohru is Big mac and his mom makes a perfect granny smith so whos gonna be AJ
7658437
Kitten Lies Down With Stuffed Animal!
I am especially loving this story now. At first it was just a replay of the original Jackie Chan Adventures plus ponies, which mind you is all well and good. But NOW, now it's actually becoming it's own story. Completely new plot-lines and alterations in character development. You sir (or madame if the case may be) have crossed the threshold into original work and i applaud you for it. Your efforts are appreciated and i hope it becomes rewarding.
7665574 it is my opinion that soneone needs to take a quick trip to the moon after reciving a Consecutive Normal Punches to the face... but that may just be me...
That's a pretty reasonable approach to things, Valmont.
Enter Hak Foo.