DIO rocked His Morning Star gently in His arms. The boy rested against his chest, eyes opened as he stared into the mirror. Neither Twilight Sparkle or Princess Celestia could tell if the child knew about them. DIO opened His mouth and began softly speak. Near sing even.
"The rusted chains of prison moons
Are shattered by the Sun
I walk a road, horizons change
The tournament's begun
The purple piper plays his tune
The choir softly sing
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue...
For the court of the crimson king."
The child's eyes began to drop slowly as DIO continue to rock him with great care.
"The keeper of the city keys
Put shutters on the dreams
I wait outside the pilgrim's door
With insufficient schemes
The black queen chants
the funeral march..."
A separate voice rang out. Beautiful and entrancing, hypnotic in tune and pure.
"The cracked brass bells will ring
To summon back the fire witch
To the court of the crimson king..."
Morning's eyes fell away. Lightly did he snore, as the arms of a midnight blue goddess took him. DIO merely stared at this boy of His. This boy He shared with JoJo. This boy whom in any other world, any other timeline, He could care less for if not hold in contempt. Here, this was His, Morning Star.
"He always falls to that one..."
"As did you... We both know, what happens from here. Everything is set."
"You could-"
He raised a hand to her cheek and brushed her hair away from her face. The two eyes were one, Princess Luna sadly looked upon this creature. This Man she had been captivated with.
"I, DIO, have been many things. I could have been, even more, or completely nothing. My One True Moon... Guiding Moonlight, You gave Me something no other one being could. A chance to be... Good. To do something, right. I, DIO, will not run from my fate, nor shall I blindly accept it. You have a path, He has a path, I am in neither paths... You know what happens in these days now."
"You could stop this! You could... We can explain to them, everything! What is truly going on, what is-"
"Luna. Princess of Equestria. That is who you are. Not, Nightmare Moon. Not, the Queen of Darkness and Dread. Not, the Right Hand of the Earthly Devil... I am DIO, and I, have no place in your life. This is and was how it was always meant to be. You and I tried but..."
Princess Luna slowly nodded and looked off to the side, away from Him. He brought her gaze back to her with a careful touch of the cheek.
"It was always too late for I... But if there ever was the chance, the moment, the smallest frame of time possible. That moment of opportunity, open, for Me to be with you... I would take it. Don't live in regret. I will do as I will, proudly. That, is the True Man's World. I..."
It was He who had turned away. Nothing more was to be said. This was the last time He would ever see His Guiding Moonlight, and His Morning Star. Princess Luna opened her mouth to say those words, the words He refused to utter, yet couldn't find it in herself. She let out a small mumble, but simply could not say those words, those three words. She left with their child. Left Him alone in the dark. Alone in this cold building. DIO lifted a hand to his face and sensually pointed to the mirror. Pointed to the two alicorns. Twilight Sparkle could finally see His eyes. It felt like decades had passed, yet for them it had most likely been a few hours. Something was wrong with this gaze of His. She felt no anger, no superiority, no vanity or insane ego. Princess Celestia herself noticed this change in Him. All this time, DIO had always shown strength, even in His weakest moments. For Him, there was only victory by ever and any means. This was the DIO they had learned and experienced until this very moment. The eyes of DIO, were that of a heartbroken man... It was only a moment. A split second, before that old sly grin of His returned.
"You're Watching Me Again, Good. I, DIO, have nothing to hide any longer. I have, no regrets."
It was impossible to her, but Twilight Sparkle would've sworn on her horn, DIO had shed a single tear in the darkness. Neither she, nor DIO, would ever know if such a thing happened. The pieces on the board were set. The group had finally done it. Egypt was just within reach. This Journey, was finally coming to an end.
My Little Pony: Friendship is a Bizarre Adventure
Part 3: ~Stardust Coachriders~
Episode X: Diamond Hard Bonds, Egypt At Last
The group had done it. At long last, they were in Egypt. Though only in the coral reefs of the Red Sea, they had entered Egyptian territory. For once, everyone was silent. The thoughts of how this journey started echoed in their minds, the crazy events that transpired, the tears of joy and pain that were shed. They could only imagine what DIO had in store for them. Kakyoin put six cups of coffee on the coffee table, which got a raised brow from Jotaro and Pinkie Pie.
"Oi, Kakyoin, didn't you say there were only five cups?"
"Yeah there's six here!"
She picked up the cup and inspected it. Without warning, it came to life and severed her entire hand.
"PINKIE!" "NANA!" "MÈMÈ!" "PINKIE PIE!" "GRANDMA!" "MS. PIE!" "MS. GRANDMA!"
"I... Guess I could, use a hand...? G-Get it?"
She stumbled back in shock, despite wearing a goofy dazed smile on her face. The creature responsible tore the some of the fingers off the severed hand, and threw them with a tremendous force in Pinkie Pie's jaw and throat, flying at incredible speeds. She fell back, limp and with wide eyes slowly closing. The creature that too her hand was an odd one. A body like a liquid ball of hair, it had a kabuki mask-like face with two thin arms, each one with sharp claws. It threw the last few fingers with incredible force, yet the fingers and hand were evaporated by a beam of light by Ra. The Stand screeched as Star Platinum and Star Seraphim threw a blow at it. It dodged and splashed onto a several meters. Kakyoin held Pinkie Pie tightly. Polnareff glanced around anxiously.
"Nana?! Nana! This is bad, she's lost so much blood!"
"Every time we hitch a ride on anything, it always goes badly! Maybe we're all just cursed!?"
Zecora growled and knelt down to Pinkie's wound. She pulled a small bag out and rubbed a powder on it, with Ra cauterizing the wound afterwards. Pinkie Pie squirmed weakly.
"I personally know this User, the woman's name is Milder. None of you have ever dealt with a Stand like this, you should all be prepared, together we now face the [High Priestess]!"
Avdol's eyes narrowed at the several meters that were before them.
"I have heard of her. Her Stand has the ability to posses and gather minerals, even become them. Glass, metal, even rubber oddly enough. She must be above sea level if we're being attacked down here. If she has infiltrated this submarine, we must make our exit! Now!"
Jotaro looked to the several meters before them, his eyes narrowed as his fave showed great animosity.
"Dash. Did you see which one it was?"
Rainbow Dash had a rather similar expression as she took out one of the cigarettes.
"I've got a way of finding out. Got a light?"
"This isn't the time for a quick smoke."
"Just light me up!"
He gave her his lighter. She huffed out a small cloud of smoke. She flicked a finger at it, the cloud became thicker and darker, it rumbled as bolts coursed through it.
"Hey, Avdol. I finally found out what [Star Seraphim] really does. My lightning are like your flames, made of that Stand energy, so if I blow a cloud and send it to find my target..."
The cloud shot out a powerfully, thunderous, lightning bolt. It shot at a light bulb, and struck down High Priestess. The Stand fell limp and the image flickered.
"It'll find them even if they're hiding in plain sight. I guess my lightning weakens the Stand like a tazer. Looks like I'm the counter pick for this fight."
Star Platinum caught High Priestess and squeezed it tightly. However, instead of tearing it apart or crushing it flat, High Priestess turned into a razor blade. Star Platinum shredded his hands and opened them, allowing High Priestess to fly and slice down on one of Rainbow Dash's eyes.
"Argh! B-But!?"
The slight trail behind High Priestess became a small metal ball. It whipped itself and swung across Rainbow Dash's face, knocking her into Jotaro. Polnareff couldn't believe it.
"Wh- It got Jotaro and Dashie?! Who is this crazy bitch!?"
Joseph opened the door to the exit as Pinkie Pie began to stirr. Small unnoticeable leaked became water spouts. High Priestess had simply attacked the submarine to enter, this was her plan. To sink them at the bottom of the ocean.
"Everyone! We've got to get out of here!"
Jotaro looked down at a dazed Rainbow Dash. Her eyeball was just fine, yet the lid would need medical work. The wound made it down the cheek. He glared up at High Priestess, who hissed as it slowly melted and merged with a wall.
"You... I, Jotaro Kujo, will personally beat you to death."
He lefted and locked the door behind him as he carried her. Avdol and Joseph growled under their breaths.
"We've got to ditch the submarine and swim to the surface! We're lucky she attacked us this close to the reefs, land isn't too far from here!"
"Indeed, but we must be careful. She moves extremely fast, and can travel without us knowing! We only have one way to go!"
"Everyone, I hope you all know how to swim!"
Rainbow Dash's remaining eye widened. She could fly underwater, even use her Stand as a scuba suit. But she never actually did swim in this human body. Even with Dark Blue Moon, she had relied on Jotaro to get her out of the water. Just as she was finally getting the hang of it. Everyone began to put the equipment on, Joseph helped Pinkie Pie.
"Having only one hand sucks, doesn't it?"
"Well at least we can finally do our comedy sketch! Remember?"
"Oh yeah~! Suzie Q almost had a heart attack when my hand popped off that time you were playing with it!"
"You think if I get a mechanical one like yours, it can fire weapons? Ooh! Ooh! What if I got a Party Hand Cannon!? dio would never see it coming! Hamon charged cupcakes and confetti blasted right in his face!"
Joseph gave her a deadpanned expression.
"That's ridiculous, but if you shot ice cream charged with Hamon so it didn't melt, He wouldn't be none the wiser! Not even DIO could expect that!""
"Ah! Good idea! Éclairs too! Though I should be careful with you too. I shouldn't share anymore sweets with you, old timer."
"Pinkie, if I'm in danger of high blood pressure, you're the poster gal for cavities and diabetes."
She merely shrugged with a silly smile and wink. Everyone stared at the elders with fear. This couldn't be a more possible bad time to joke. Yet, it was reassuring to them, Pinkie Pie had a knack for bring the best out of the worst situation. Joseph then began to explain how sucba diving worked.
"For every ten meters you go down, the water pressure increases by one. The surface is at one, and we're at forty meters below sea-level, so it's five times that now. If you were to just float up, your lungs and blood vessels would explode-"
"So like how you blew up when you realized you had a crush on your mom?"
"IT WASN'T A CRUSH I WAS JU- Ignoring that! Just swim along the sea bed. At that speed, we should be just fine. This device will allow you to breathe, there's a valve inside that gives you air when you inhale. The exhaust on the left is for when you exhale, and before you ask Polnareff, yes saliva too. Mr. I Spit On Everything When I Talk."
Polnareff rolled his eyes as Joseph continued.
"Naturally, none of us can breathe underwater, nor could we even speak even if we grew gills, so we'll use hand signals. This for okay! Wave your hand like this if there's a problem!"
Zecora raised a brow.
"Although it may be harder underwater, wouldn't using our Stands to talk be easier?"
"Ah! That is true!"
Polnareff then lifted his hand, as if he was back in school.
"Hold on! I do know an important hand signal we should all know!"
He then did a small series of gestures, as he finished the last one, Kakyoin spoke up.
"Oh, I do know that one! You said, 'I Can See Your Underwear'."
"YEAH!"
like schoolboys, they did a silly handshake as water rose up to their waists. Joseph was ready to scold them.
"What the fuck are you two doing!?"
"Hey, leave my grandsons alone, JoJo! If they want to drown in a sinking submarine, themln by golly-"
Kakyoin and Polnareff were the first to leave. Pinkie Pie snickered as Zecora locked the door behind them. Completely submerged in water, everyone glanced to each other. Each one gave the okay sign to the other. Polnareff however, gave the wave as he began to struggle. High Priestess had became the mouthpiece. It bit down on his lip, not the harm his face, but to force his mouth open. Jotaro sent Star Platinum to grab High Priestess, yet she simply slithered in as Polnareff began choking. Then, he patted himself cautiously. Pinkie Pie held High Priestess in Candy Shop's vines, a portal of Polnareff's innards closed behind it. It became a spike ball to shred the remaining hand, but was sent into another portal. The group escaped the submarine at last and swam close to the coral reefs. Polnareff used his Silver Chariot to give his thoughts.
["This place is unbelievable... Now I wish I did have gills!"]
Jotaro looked behind him in the sub.
["Grandma, where'd you throw her?"]
["Back in the cockpit! Should be a minuet before she catches up, she's fast in close quarters, but you speedster Stand Users should have the advantage here!"]
Zecora shook her head.
["It will not be that easy, considering Milder's determination, her strategies to victory can make one quite queasy."]
Joseph nodded as he looked around.
["She could return as a propeller or a harpoon... Be careful of rocks that move!"]
Jotaro looked down at Rainbow Dash who held him tight.
["What's wrong. Is that eye any better?"]
["N-Not so loud! I'm not used to talking using [Star Seraphim] it just feels weird..."]
"That's not what's wrong though."]
["... I... Can't swim..."]
["Holy shit, no wonder you were choking me back at the first time our boat sank."]
["Shhh! Shut it! Shut up! I-I can swim back in Equestria, I'm like, one of the best!"]
["Oh right, you're from a different world altogether. Still, you can't swim. Yare Yare, this is annoying. Just hold on and use your wings to propel us if we need to go fast."]
Rainbow Dash grumbled under her breath as Avdol pointed ahead.
["Ah! There are the tunnles we landmarked! We're nearly there! We... Are... Oh no."]
Joseph himself roared at what truly was there. High Priestess was the entire sea floor, and they were just above the mouth.
["OH NO!"]
Rainbow Dash summoned her wings, but the suction of High Priestess was simply stronger than any current of wind. Everyone was eaten and were held prisoners in the mouth. The water was below the tongue, so everyone could stand and breathe again. Milder began to laugh.
["AT LAST! ADILAH ZECORA AND THE JOESTARS, WHAT A PLEASANT TREAT! I'LL CRUSH AND BREAK YOU ALL WITH THESE DIAMOND HARD TEETH! OR MAYBE I'LL SWALLOW YOU ALL TO DIGEST ALIVE! HM~ I COULD EVEN JUST WAIT HERE AND LISTEN TO YOU ALL STARVE TO DEATH!"]
She cackled as everyone grimaced at the dire situation. Then, she spoke up again.
["JOTARO! YOU I'LL REGRET KILLING! YOU'RE MY KIND OF GUY, SERIOUS BUT RELIABLE! IF ONLY WE COULD FIGHT TOGETHER!"]
Rainbow Dash raised a brow at that, then noticed Polnareff whispering into Jotaro's ear.
"Yare Yare, do I have to...? Ugh. Milder... I thought about what you said and... I think I'm... Falling... For, you..."
It was a moment of silence. Anyone elseelse, and nearly everyone, could tell he had lied. Until Rainbow Dash yelled out.
"Her!? HER?! Of all the girls here, you fall for her?!"
"Dash look-"
"I can't believe this! I thought you were better than that! What's next, we beg for our lives!?"
"Probably. She could take my hat to DIO, make him think I'm dead. What do you think, baby?"
Milder was stunned. She wasn't sure if this was an act, or if due to Rainbow Dash's behaivor, this was for real.
"B-Baby!? You gave her a stupid pet name while she's h ltrying to kill us!? You can't be Jotaro."
"This bitch is annoying, has been since day one, I'll gladly take you over her. And you took Grandma's hand, so I hope you know I mean what I say."
"Y-You...! I HOPE SHE CHOMPS YOU UP AND CRAPS YOU INTO SOME CHASM IN THE SEA!"
Milder had enough, she needed to test this man herself.
["JOTARO~ SWEETHEART! WHY THIS SUDDEN CHANGE? WHY DO YOU LIKE ME!"]
"Ergh... Ugh... Uhm... You're... Strong and... Fast thinking... And have nice teeth-"
I HAVE ALL OF THOSE!"
"Dash, seriously."
"I AM SERIOUS! Y-YOU! MILDER! DID YOU KOW HE SLEEPS IN THE SAME STUPID JACKET!"
"She's just prideful. Can't I at least see your face? If you have to kill me, I'd like to see your precious face before I die."
Rainbow Dash seethed in anger. Everyone waited for Milder's response. She was silent for some time. Then, roared loudly.
["THE ONLY THING I HATE MORE THAN ZECORA'S WORTHLESS HIDE, IS LIARS! AND THE WORST KIND OF LIARS, ARE THE ONES THAT ALMOST GET ME SUCKED INTO THEIR LIE! I HATE YOU JOTARO, YOU'VE PLAYED WITH THE WRONG GIRL'S HEART! MORNING STAR WAS RIGHT, ONLY HE AND LORD DIO LOVE ME!"]
The tongue they stood on began to thrash and squirm. It flicked Jotaro and Rainbow Dash at the teeth, that opened and slammed down on them. The remaining group was shouted out their names. Zecora summoned Ra with a fierce glint in her eye.
"I will make sure that this time, I'll evaporate your precious teeth!"
Pinki Pie put a hand on her shoulder and wagged a finger at her. She was the only one calm in the current situation.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you. You could hurt someone! Look just listen, can't you guys hear that?"
Joseph held a hand up to his ear before his eyes widened. Kakyoin looked to the teeth with hope.
" I do hear that! It's a faint rumbling!"
"There's a voice to go with it too!"
Polnareff smiled brightly.
"Those sounds! It can't be but! No other two could do it!"
Avdol shook hus head with a sigh of relief.
"Goodness... These two never stop surprising me."
A fist flew through the bottom front tooth as a foot broke down a molar. Stars Platinum and Seraphim began to not only break the teeth that failed to crush them, but the others as well.
"ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA! ! !"
With a final combined strike, High Priestess' mouth was forced open as teeth and blood spreas into the sea. Jotatro pulled Rainbow Dash close, but nearly lost the air in his lungs from a punch to his gut.
["Guah! At least, wait, until we're out of the sea."]
["Don't talk to me."]
It took some time, but at last. They had reached the surface, and swam to the shore. They found a woman in rather strange clothing. A like a belly dancer who used the sea itself as her clothes. Polnareffleft the group to see if she was alive. Pinkie Pie held her face down, her hair covered her face as she shook. Kakyoin was worried.
"Nana... You're shaking horribly. We've got to get that hand looked at!"
"T-That's not it, Kakyoin... I'm..."
She lifted her face up, sheer joy and laughter barely held back.
"I'm about to cry at that over there! It's ki-killing me!"
She pointed at Rainbow Dash, who had her arms folded and back turned to Jotaro.
"Dash, it was all a lie. You cannot be serious right now."
"Prove it!"
"Polnareff told me to say it, we were desperate. You flew off the handle and I had to work with it. See, it's all Polnareff's fault."
"We got out just fine. Maybe you just don't need annoying Rainbow Dash to hold you back."
"What do I have to say to stop you being so damn bitchy."
"You really wanna know? Tell me something you wouldn't tell any other girl! Bet you c-"
"I'd die for you."
"... Huh?"
"You heard me. You're loud, you're annoying, and you go all in all the time. You could've gone on this all on your own for that gem, but you stuck around. I hate saying things already obvious, but you're loyal. I respect that, admire it even. So, now are you done?"
"..."
"Dash?"
"J-Just gimmie a minuet! I, I need to consider that. You're on thin ice."
"... Are you, sniffling?"
"MY EYE JUST GOT CUT OPEN, OF COURSE I'M GONNA CRY! IT'S A NATURAL BODILY INSTINCT!"
"Dash it was only the eyelid-"
She stomped off as Pinkie Pie rolled on the ground and howled in laughter. Polnareff came back with Milder's supplies. Zecora treated Pinkie Pie's stump and Rainbow Dash's eye with the medical equipment Milder had. Polnareff rubbed his head.
"She's an amazingly beautiful woman but, you two fucked her face up by knocking all the teeth out!"
"Good." "Good."
There was silence as they neared the sands. Joseph broke it with a serious tone in his voice.
"As soon as we step past this line. The very moment we take a step on these sands. We'll finally be in Egypt, and a step closer to our goals."
Kakyoin looked back to the sea.
"We've been through a lot together..."
Avdol nodded with Zecora.
"Many a hardship we have shared."
"Many ordeals and burdens we've bared."
Polnareff and Pinkie Pie chuckled.
"Are we getting sentimental already?"
"Lighten up you super powered dorky grandchildren of mine! This is just the start!"
Jotaro and Rainbow Dash merely looked at each other with a nod. Everyone lined next to each other and held hands as they leapt as far as they could past the border. A wacky pose and smile. Nothing would stop them now.
