Get ready for a sudden surprise at the end of this chapter. Disclaimer: I don't own Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, or Overlord.

Spirit Tracks Chapter 40: A Missing Component

The next few days were nothing but waiting. The people of Hoburns were on edge, not liking the quiet that was coming from the bafolk. No one doubted that the forces lead by Buser did not represent their full army. Some were still loyal to Yaldabaoth. The defenders in the capital were now in session, talking about recent events. "Was it wise to release Buser to his people?," Remedios asked. "If we had him executed," Demiurge pointed out, "We would only turn him into a martyr. That would galvanize the other beastmen against us. By showing we are capable of mercy, it will limit the number of reinforcements the bafolk can receive from the other tribes."

He adjusted his glasses. "Still what they can get will be sizeable. Yaldabaoth is well known amongst my people for having a silver tongue coupled with high charisma." "That doesn't mean they'll be attacking quickly," George noted, "After all, a beastfolk army is no different from any other army. It needs time to be equipped, watered, and rationed. Marching time needs to take into account time to eat and rest." "And beastmen tend to have higher metabolism which fuels their greater strength," Zesshi pointed out, "Meaning they will need more food than normal, and more time for rest."

"Meanwhile our forces have an advantage," Momonga chimed in, "The Spirit Tracks encircle both sides of the Desert Temple, allowing us to catch them in a pincer attack. Our plan is to have the first unit mobilize near the Hoburns gate, which will act as both defense and distraction while the temple is infiltrated. Once the Joestar Faction is inside, the second unit will make its move to keep the Unity Faction outside. If our calculations are accurate, both forces should reach Hoburns at just around the same time, with perhaps a few hours margin for error."

"A few hours to defend the city?," Neia said with a grin, "We've been barely holding on for months. Holding an enemy force off for a few hours until reinforcements arrive won't be a problem." Remedios looked at her former squire. It was clear her new Stand had given her a serious confidence boost. "Have you been getting used to your new Stand?," Starlight asked. Neia nodded. "I'm sticking to my natural archery skills and used Life Will Change to develop an agility-based build, with a little defense in case of enemy snipers. As I improve I can afford to balance out my attributes more."

"There's one more thing," George said, "My nephew Jotaro. He's sticking around in this realm for a bit longer. He says he has reason to believe that group of missing Stand users from our world was infested by a vampire's spores." Evileye looked confused. "Ah," George realized, "I guess you never tried that power. Stone mask vampires can mold their cells into flesh buds that can control the minds of a victim. They're nearly impossible to remove without causing serious brain damage, and if enough time passes or the vampire dies those infested will die as well." Evileye sighed. "Yeah, not even exploring that power..."

"I remember DIO using such a power to insure the loyalty of certain individuals who would not follow him otherwise," Momonga noted, "Most of them died when he did. Only one survived due to a Stand that allowed him to repair any damage, but the combination of DIO's cells and his Stand would have horribly disfigured him. But you said 'nearly impossible'." George nodded. "Jotaro's Stand, Star Platinum, has superior precision and eyesight as its primary ability. With such powers it can easily remove a flesh bud without causing damage. But I wonder why he thinks such a vampire is in this world. The only trace of one should be-" His eyes suddenly widened.

Jotaro was on one of the trains with Fluder. "You're sure the head was missing," Jotaro asked. Fluder nodded. "I received the head of this vampire, named Baron Kelvin, just over a hundred years ago. Jonathan Joestar allowed me to keep it, since once Kelvin died his Stand would die, leaving Jonathan stranded in this world. I had it attached to several blood machines to keep it fed, knowing that would only allow it continue living and not suddenly regenerate a new body." Jotaro nodded. "DIO needed to steal the body of George Joestar II to regain his former strength. Kelvin would likely need the same."

"The head disappeared a few days after the opening of the last portal," Fluder noted, "The one I was never able to close. Now that I think about it, that was the day Count Femel visited my research lab. And since we now he was involved with the Unity Faction..." He grimaced. "I hope to all the gods that watch over our world that Barbro was not so foolish as to offer Kelvin a new body. The two vampires who aid us show just how powerful one can be. If one were to become an enemy... I saw firsthand how dangerous Kelvin is, and unlike Shalltear and Evileye, he will not hold back due to a sense of honor."

Barbro, Boullope, and Yaldabaoth entered the Desert Temple and reached the chamber with the magic well. Inside was their chosen guardian, Skeldritch. Skeldritch was a stone mask vampire much like the others. "Greeting My Lords," he saw, offering a sweeping bow, "To what do I owe the pleasure?" "We need to transport the decayed one to a new location," Barbro replied, "Our enemies are awaiting our next move, and I've no doubt they'll use the next skirmish to infiltrate this temple." Skeldritch nodded and walked over to a small shelf, taking a glass bell jar off of it.

The bell jar was attached to several tubes filled with blood, and inside was the head of Baron Kelvin, still alive after more than a hundred years, but having lost all sense of thought. "Barely a hint of life within his eyes," Boullope noted, "But enough that his Stand still functions, to say nothing of the spores he can produce." Barbro nodded. "It was quite the coup finding those Stand users with ties to the world beyond ours. I'm not sure yet if we have the forces needed to conquer such a world. Their military is bound to even more advanced and deadly than our own. Time and strategy will be needed, which we cannot get until the throne and all of this world is mine." He smiled as he held up the bell jar. "But with resources like this, it almost seems possible."

That's right, the still-severed head of Kelvin has fallen into Barbro's hands, and apparently he's had it for some time. Read and review.