My Little Pony: Friendship is a Bizarre Adventure

Part 3: Stardust Coachriders

Chapters Lost In Time: Wet with Resolution

Swimming. Swimming with the current of the oceans. The clean water, the magical sights of the sea floor, the colorful marine life. Fish of all kinds, sea mammals, crustaceans. Big ones, small ones, flora and fauna. Sea snails, bright coral, deep fields of jellyfish. Whales, dugongs, and dolphins too. A large school of fish simply swimming in a sphere. The chemistry, the technique, the simple instinct and cooperation was astounding. Jotaro, really loved the sea. He loved to look from above the surface. To read articles and see the pictures of the world below. To dive under and visit it himself. Even the dark drew him close, that separated him from other marine biologist. Not all, but he was not shy nor afraid, only excited. He saw a chasm in the sea floor he explored, the blackness became less, appealing. The excitement gone, but he would not lose to his fear. Regret left a bad taste in his mouth. He swam. Deeper and darker he went, then small lights. A strange species of jellyfish lit up the area around him. Strange, but not monstrous fish swam by. A colossal squid drew near, but merely looked his way. Jotaro began to have trouble breathing. He was running out of air. However, he could still the light of the sun. He'd be fine as long as he didn't panic.

"Jotaro..."

His eyes widened. That voice. He knew that voice, all too well, even after ten years. He began to swim faster, being careful to not just float up.

"Jotaro..."

There it was again... Closer. Colder. Jotaro turned and saw him entrapped by a single tentacle of the colossal squid. Kakyoin had gently grabbed Jotaro's heel.

"I... I don't feel anything... It's cold down here..."

It was a corpse. Rotted, unrecognizable, if not for the clean and healthy face. A dead body, but Kakyoin's face hadn't changed one bit. Jotaro felt a hand wrap around his ankle. It came from the light of the jellyfish. Only Zecora's anklets and voice were with the hand.

"Was it destiny that we died, all too early...?"

Jotaro began to pull at his leg. He had to calm down. This was impossible. An angler fish, a fish he swore wouldn't be this far up, neared his snared foot. It opened it's mouth, a third hand and voice came out. A burning grip, tight and painful, but not crushing at all. Avdol's voice echoed out.

"The Star represents hope... So why, why is it so dark... Where did you lead me...? Mr. Joestar... Jotaro... It's too dark..."

He froze at the end of the sentence. It began to become freezing in the water. His chest heavy and his head light. He needed to breathe. Where was Rainbow Dash? Where was Polnareff, Joseph, Pinkie Pie even. He needed somebody, anybody, to save him. Wordlessly, a paw came out of blackness of the ocean and placed itself on the tip of his foot. Right on the toes. Jotaro had to scream. He put his hand over his mouth and nose to prevent the water from pouring in. From his eyes, water began to leak. He wasn't drowning in the ocean. He was drowning, in his personal sins.

"AAAH!"

Jotaro shot up from his bed, panting as he was covered in sweat. This nightmare haunted him since Kakyoin's funeral. His parents, they weren't too kind, but that was their right. Their son died for something that had nothing to do with him. Indirectly, Jotaro killed him, as much as DIO did. He heard coughing in the next room and got up to investigate. In the kitchen, sat Rainbow Dash, cheeks tearstained and eyes slightly red.

"I had that dream where... We were all on the plane, again... We were all there, everything was right and... It just crashed. Why... Why, Jotaro?"

Only a few months had past since their adventure. Rainbow Dash lived with him and Holy. She didn't object, and actually welcomed Rainbow Dash like a long lost family member. Pinkie Pie stayed with Joseph in New York, occasionally leaving for a month on a vacation notices at random times. But, even as time passed, scars never fully heal. Rainbow Dash held a cigarette in her hand. They had promised to quit, and even challenged each other to who would break first. Jotaro sat next to her as she laid her head on the kitchen table.

"..."

"..."

"I had one too."

"... Huh?"

"A bad dream, a nightmare, I had one."

"... That screaming was you? You can actually be scared?!"

She tried to smile, but saw his eyes had been on the cigarette. She shrugged and leaned back into the chair.

"Yeah I... I thought it'd help right now. All it did was make it rain harder in here."

Jotaro brought his hand to hers. He held it softly, before he took the cigarette and smoked it right in front of her.

"Wh-Huh?! Why'd you do that?"

"... Looks like we tied each other and cracked at the same time. Yare Yare Daze... How do you keep up with me?"

He spat it out and crushed it under his heel.

"You didn't have to stay... You didn't have to go all the way to Egypt, we would've gotten it for you. You didn't have to keep saving me. Looks like we both do unnecessary things to each other, for each other."

"... Jotaro... That is the most emotion I've ever heard out of you!"

"Pfft, whatever. Just shut up and go to sleep."

"Hah, like you can make me!"

Jotaro pulled Rainbow Dash close and kissed her. Her eyes flew wide as his closed, both savoring this moment. She threw her hands in the air in triumph before she pulled herself deeper. Seconds passed before they broke it to breathe.

"Do... Don't think that was clever or anything!"

"It wasn't me being smart, Dash. Just being smooth."

"... I hate you."

She pushed him away with a smile and got up to leave for her room.

"... Hey, Dash. You don't have to be by yourself."

"I already live here with you and Holy."

"You know what I meant."

She looked back at him, and flipped her hair.

"I have to go back to Equestria one day, y'know?"

"I do."

"That could be literally, any moment!"

"I know."

"And you still want to... Are you sure?"

"You can just say no. You're my friend."

Rainbow Dash stared at him, then grunted as she stormed off. Jotaro returned to his bed right after. The morning came, and he woke up fwith a soft feeling. His eyes opened to Rainbow Dash by his side. Asleep soundly. The nightmare echoed faintly in his mind. He had learned so much... Changed and grew. And through it all was his family to support him. Now, it was his turn. He hugged Rainbow Dash in her sleep and whispered.

"I'm never going to let you drown..."