This is a minor chapter designed to set up the next arc, but said arc won't officially start until we've finished Jonathan's portion (which isn't too far away.) Disclaimer: I don't own Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, or Overlord.

Spirit Tracks Chapter 36: Reluctant Alliance

Remedios waited at the newly accessible station of Hoburns, capital of Roble. With her was her sister High Priestess Kelart, the squire Neia Baraja, and the adjutant Gustav Montagnes. The train that was promised them pulled up, Hekkeran at the controls. "Sorry for the delay," he said, "We've been busy. A few people wanted rides of their own, which really helped expand the Spirit Tracks." The four ambassadors got on the train. "I can't believe we have to seek help from Stand users," Remedios said. "I wouldn't mind getting a Stand," Neia pointed out, "With power like that you could protect anyone."

Remedios scoffed. "Only weak people need Stands." "And yet only strong ones get them," Hekkeran pointed out, "A Stand is one's fighting spirit, so those who are too weak to withstand the power get destroyed by it. It almost happened to Holly, from what I understand." Remedios looked surprised. She had always heard how Stand power developed in certain people seemingly by chance. Her mindset was based on the idea that these people were just lucky and couldn't find any other means of getting power. "Really sister," Kelart said, "Even if they were weak before a Stand, they aren't anymore. And Ulbert said the people we are seeing have mastered their Stands."

The train soon stopped in E-Rantel. "This is the place," Hekkeran said. The group looked on in surprise. Under the Nazarick-Re-Estize alliance, E-Rantel had flourished. Goblin soldiers patrolled the streets alongside human ones. The market was tended by creatures of various races, including some beastmen, lizardmen, dwarves, and humans. The main office was guarded by two giant ogres in armor. "How is such a thing possible?," Remedios asked. "Well for starters," Hekkeran said, "Citizens are forbidden from eating other citizens." He lead the group to the main office.

Inside was a bit of surprise. There was a newcomer, and from the look on George and Holly's face it was someone they knew. "So who's this?," Hekkeran asked. The man turned around. He looked to be much bigger than most men, easily standing six feet if not slightly higher, and built like he was part lizardman. "This is my son, Jotaro Kujo!," Holly said excitedly. Hekkeran looked at Jotaro, then at Holly. "How did you pop him out?" "I was a lot smaller as a baby," Jotaro pointed out, "Anyway, Uncle George, the reason I'm here is because the Speedwagon Foundation noted a peculiarity with the Stand arrows."

He brought one out. "This is the one previously used by Passione. As you're aware it was broken into pieces when Polpo, the one who last had ownership of it, shot and killed himself." George smirked. "You mean was tricked into killing himself by Uncle Giorno. But I get what you're concerned about. Somehow the arrow has been made whole again, including the piece you left with Jolyne." "Isn't that a good thing?," Holly asked, "Now the arrow can work, right?" "Mom, the arrow doesn't need to be whole to grant Stand power," Jotaro clarified, "Even just a small shard was enough to give Jolyne's friends Gwess and Ermes their Stands."

"Perhaps it was caused by energy radiating from the tear," George suggested, "Leaked from the magic wells and their outlets after so many years contained." "That's the most likely explanation," Jotaro noted, "Anyway, I only stopped by to mention this, and because Josuke mentioned Mom was staying here for the time being." He smiled. "Glad you finally got that annoying Stand under control." Holly beamed. "Well, I can't stay around the house all day when it's empty for weeks on end. It gets boring. And even someone as laid back as me can only take so much."

They then noticed Neia had been looking at the arrow. "This arrow... Can give someone a Stand?" "Well, it's not as cut and dry as that," Jotaro clarified, "They need to have Stand potential first. Several of Josuke's friends, for example, have Stand potential and got their Stands from an arrow identical to this one. This particular arrow also gave many of Giorno's capos their Stands." He picked the arrow up. "But if you're curious to see if it can work for you, a simple prick on your finger is all it takes."

Remedios was about to object, but Gustav stopped her. "We came here to garner help from Stand users. Having one of our own become one would only enable that goal." Neia held out her finger and pricked it against the tip. Instantly her body flared up with energy, and before her eyes a screen appeared. George took a look at it. "Looks like an old D&D character sheet." Neia played around with the settings, and realized that everything she did on the screen affected her. She was able to trade her worthless levels for stronger ones, changing her from a servant to a paladin and upgrading from standard archer to sacred archer.

She smiled, tears of joy streaming down her face. "This power let's me control how I level. I can choose how my strength is distributed. This Stand... Life Will Change. That's its name." The others saw a tear fall from Remedios' eye as well. "I was... Only given this job because of my strength. I had no choice in the matter. But... I'm not suited for anything but fighting. I'm stupid. I can't lead men, I can't plan battles. All I can do is fight. And even that... These beastmen, despite my feelings, don't count as evil by the nature of the weapons I wield, which are designed to kill evil creatures. And the demon who leads them, Yaldabaoth... He's a coward who keeps running when it looks like he's about to lose..." She bowed deeply. "So please! Our kingdom needs your help!"

A council was made an hour later. In attendance was Ramposa, Jircniv, Pontiff Avalon, Momonga, and George. "It was our intention to aid the Holy Kingdom from the beginning," Momonga noted, "But now that one of its own paladins is practically begging for help... I feel compelled to go the extra mile." "Our Stand users can be sent to aid Roble right away," George noted, "But what about military support?" "We've finished construction of the transports cars for trains," Jircniv said, "But it will take a few weeks to scramble our armies."

"We can hold out until then," Avalon noted, "This war is to ensure that all our nations are united. In addition, we must find a way to access the Sand Temple, which houses the last of the magic wells. No doubt the Unity Faction is using it as a staging area. Once we have sufficient forces assembled, we can seek to retake it." "Then it seems we are all in agreement of our course of action," Ramposa noted, "I always suspected my eldest son of such reckless ambition. But to think he would go so far as to try and subjugate the entire realm... We must put an end to this nonsense, no matter the cost!"

We've got a new Stand to explore!

Life Will Change (From Persona 5)
User: Neia Baraja
Ability: Life Will Change allows Neia to direct how her levels and attributes are distributed with each level up. This Stand takes the form of a menu not unlike an old-fashioned D&D character sheet.
Power: E
Speed: E
Range: E
Durability: A
Precision: A
Potential: B

Keep in mind how leveling works in the alter verse. Basically when you kill a creature, you absorb some of its life force, and that's how you gather experience. With enough life force gathered, you earn a new level of power. So that's how this Stand works. Read and review.