Home. A very simple word, really. In its most basic form, it merely refers to the place an organism dwells for most of their recreational time. Everyone has a different definition of home, though. Some people view it as a city. Others see it as a group of people. Philosophers often ask what can define "home," but such a simple question really shouldn't be dissected too thoroughly. To Blondie, home was the place she could let her hair down and be herself. That meant, for the time being, that her home was the Red Eden sector of the Speedwagon Foundation's underground base.
The subdermal catacombs housed many mysteries. Most members of the organization barely had the clearance to know there was an underground. The few lucky enough to be allowed down were still kept in the dark in regards to its true secrets. There was a small base hidden away that even fewer knew of.
Red Eden was composed of under twenty people at the moment. Though, that count was actually a bit outdated since the death of several members. Blondie didn't worry in the slightest, though. She knew she would accomplish her plans. The Joestars fluttered away into the night, but they would come back. She would have that feather. It was only a matter of time.
She relaxed in her chair, looking up at the ceiling of her Eden Office. This room was different from her actual office above ground. She usually came down to think, or to organize activities for her underlings. She was currently contemplating her next move. No one from the Foundation would recognize her as Madam Dolly anymore. Of course, there were pictures from decades prior that could prove her identity. That wasn't the problem. The issue was whether or not she should take the time to explain her new form to the useless pencil-pushers upstairs.
The door opened slowly after a brief knock. Blondie's eyes drifted over, meeting with the operative who dared disturb her.
"Yes?" She asked in a dry tone.
"She's being difficult again, Ma'am." The uniformed guard said with concern.
Blondie nodded her head, standing up and passing right through the man as well as the door.
His eyes widened at her power. She had just phased directly through him. No, that wasn't right. The very composition of his body morphed to suit her. Every skin cell, every drop of blood, his very soul , it all changed to suit Blondie's whim. His body became nothing more than air around her. The guard's breathing hitched suddenly, and his heart nearly beat right out of his chest. He fell to his knees, letting out a small whimper. Sweat dripped down his back as he watched her walk down the hall. The elegant woman had a certain sway to her hips, but that didn't detract from the pride in her steps. She was utterly oozing confidence and power. He just thanked his lucky stars that she didn't want him dead. There would be nothing he could do. He decided then and there that he'd sooner kill himself than upset his boss. That was simply the effect Blondie had on people.
She walked into a dark room with two armed guards. There was a dead man on the floor, and the two living ones were screaming. They waved their guns like flags and ordered their comrade's killer to stay still. Their screams weren't directed at a man, or a monster. No, their screams were directed at a long, willowy woman sprawled on the floor. She was nibbling on the dead man's hand as the armed guards barked.
The moment the woman's eyes met Blondie's, she ceased. She dropped the hand from her mouth and smiled.
"Your Grace!" She squealed.
" DON'T FUCKING MOVE!" The guard wailed.
Blondie raised a hand to the security officers. "Leave us. I'll handle this."
There was confusion and grief in their eyes, but they complied. Being a guard for the Eden sector paid twice as well as the others, but it came with a price. You were never to ask any questions. Your memory of the workday was also stored in a drive by the entrance. You were allowed to obtain your work memories at the start of each day, but had to retire them to the proper storage tanks before you were allowed to leave. Blondie took no chances.
Once they were alone, she got down onto one knee, looking at the woman with disappointment.
"Sabella." She frowned, speaking in a soft voice. Her tone was the type one would use if their pet peed on the carpet, but knew it was their own fault for not letting them use the bathroom. "Why did you kill this man?"
The deceased guard was lying flat on his back. His guts had burst from his chest in an odd gradient of colors. His chest cavity was wide open, and it seemed as if a few bites had been taken from him. This caused Blondie to raise a brow.
"He poked me in the back with his rifle, Your Grace. It startled me." Sabella admitted.
Sabella was very tall, standing at six-foot-nine. Her body was malnourished, and her ribs were visible. Her limbs were all a little too long, and her scarlet hair was frayed, unkempt, and greasy.
"Why are there bite marks? Do you eat people now?"
"Well… Not exactly. When his stomach burst, I got a bit in my mouth. It tasted weird, but cooked! So I wanted to try another bite in case I liked it."
"Did you enjoy it?"
Sabella frowned. "Nah. Now I'm messy."
Blondie smiled fondly, summoning Rapture. The blood and gore slowly shifted, turning to water and washing the woman clean. She patted Sabella's head, snapping her fingers. Rapture took the large chains that were attached to the wall and locked them around the tall woman's body. When they were in place, the chains receded, pulling Sabella against the wall and keeping her in place.
"Your Grace?" She asked softly.
"Yes, dear?"
"I.. Did a good job in Paris, right?"
"Yes, you did a wonderful job. You kept such control and only did as I instructed."
The restrained woman frowned. "Then why do I have to go back into the chains?"
Blondie walked closer, kneeling at eye-level with Sabella. She fixed the woman's long hair, cleaning it with her Stand as well. She pet the girl's cheek, rubbing it with her thumb.
"You killed this guard, didn't you? And you killed two members last week. You're not in control of your actions. Once you're better trained, you can walk around wherever you like."
"Can I have another mission soon? I loved being outside."
"Not yet, my sweet." Blondie kissed the woman's forehead. "Sleep. Sleep until I come for you again. Can you do that?"
Sabella pouted, but nodded her head. "Anything for You, Your Grace."
Blondie stood up, clapping her hands softly. "It won't be long now. Everything will be different in just a few short days. Perhaps you'll wake to the new world." She said soothingly, placing Rapture's hand on Sabella's head. Her Stand shifted the chemical balance in the woman's brain, raising the levels of melatonin.
The woman fell into a deep slumber, unable to harm anyone for the time being. Once she was sure the girl was asleep, Blondie rubbed the bridge of her nose. She exited the room, pointing to one of the guards. "Call the cleanup crew. And please, don't startle her next time. The Sabella Protocol is very specific." She mumbled, leaving the room.
Once she was out of earshot, the other guard scoffed.
"Specific? It's only one rule."
"Don't piss Sabella off." The first guard recounted.
When Blondie arrived back in her office, she saw a large hooded man sitting in front of her desk.
"Ah, Mortimer, you're back too. How was she?" She asked.
"Only killed one additional person. Nothing to be worried about. I think the message was clear, too. Piaf's place was quite the spectacle when we left."
She nodded. "Good. And how is she progressing in her training?"
"Amazingly. I'd say she can be ready within the month with minimal casualties."
Blondie sat down in her large chair, closing her eyes and nodding. "Good, good. Anything else?"
He cleared his throat, looking for a respectful way to continue. "If I may, Ma'am, what's our plan for the Joestars? Should I get ready to mobilize?"
"No." Blondie opened her eyes, resting her chin on her clasped palms. "We're sending the new recruits. They have a history with Jotaro and Joseph and want a chance at payback."
"The brothers? Do we think they can actually get the feather?"
Blondie's glossy lips curled into a sickly grin. "No. But wouldn't it be nice if they killed one of them while they tried?"
Shizuka was in a deep sleep on the Kujo balcony. She was in a state between waking and dreaming that had become very common in decent days. She recognized it immediately. The blue void… She was being shown another vision by The Circle Game. She prepared herself for whatever strange, nonsensical scene she'd be presented with next. The girl had already surrendered herself to ending up with more questions at the end.
The void around her slowly shifted, presenting Shizuka with a dark gloomy night. The scenery was foreign to her, but she could tell it was different from wherever the previous vision took place. She recognized the architecture of the buildings and streets. It appeared to be somewhere in Italy. She didn't really know any cities in the country besides Rome and Venice. Still, it was just how she remembered them from the movies she watched growing up.
The focus drifted to a young blond man in his twenties walking down the quiet stone path. He had brilliant golden curls in his hair, piercing green eyes, and wore a fashionable dark black suit that was cut in the shape of a heart to reveal his shaven chest. There was a diamond stud in his right ear, and an expensive gold ring on his left hand. Something about him seemed oddly familiar. Shizuka knew this was ludicrous because she'd never even been to Italy.
A faint sob could be heard from a nearby alley. He turned his head curiously, walking over to it. He was shocked to find an injured little girl crying all alone. She was clutching her own bloody stomach as snot trailed down her face. Each sob caused her injury to hurt even worse than before. The peaceful man knelt down in front of the girl.
"Are you alright, little one?" He asked in a tone that would soothe even the most feral of beasts.
She looked up at him with an empty, hollow stare. "My Dad…" She sniffled, still holding herself. "They took my dad. And they-" She winced in pain, coughing violently. "They cut me bad. Is it really bad? You can tell me. I wanna know." She sniffled.
The girl couldn't be much older than Shizuka. It broke her heart to see such a thing. However, the same question rang in her mind. Why am I seeing this? What was the purpose? Was The Circle Game only meant to show her suffering?
The young man rested his hand on the girl's bleeding stomach. There was a beautiful, radiant golden glow. She squirmed underneath his hand, crying out in a fit of fleeting pain. It didn't last long, though. A moment later she was completely healed. Blood still stained her body as well as his hand. Still, she was completely shocked. Her hands tapped and rubbed all over her stomach looking for the wound, but it was no more. Tears of joy replaced the sobs of pain.
"M-Mister, how'd you do that?"
He smiled softly. "Don't worry about that. The men who took your father, I want to hear about them. Will you tell me what you know?"
She considered it for a moment, biting her lip. "People who talk in this neighborhood get cut even worse than me. I don't want to put myself in danger."
He gave her a serious look. "I can assure you that nobody will hurt you. Whoever did this is working alone. I can have them taken care of."
His words intrigued Shizuka. He didn't promise to take care of it. His words were explicitly clear. He'd have it taken care of. Hence, he had people working for him that could resolve violent problems. He seemed awfully young to have such connections.
The little girl nodded, still anxious. "W-What's your name, Mister?"
He lifted her chin so they were looking into each other's eyes. Then, he lifted a flower up out of thin air, presenting it to her. The rose blossomed, growing into an even bigger beauty right before her very eyes.
"Giorno Giovanna. My passione flows through this country, giving it life. If you or anybody else need a savior, I'll be there."
Shizuka's eyes opened slowly. For a moment, she had no idea where she was. However, a familiar scent quickly put her at ease. She knew exactly what was happening. She was being carried in Joseph's arms. The young girl let out a yawn, burying her face in his chest. This was a regular occurrence even as she got to be ten years old. She'd regularly fall asleep on the living room couch and find herself to be in bed the next morning.
It slowly dawned on her that she wasn't being taken to the warm comfort of her bed, nor the safety of her room. No, she was hundreds of miles from her home. She wearily came back to reality, pulling her face from her father's chest and looking around. They were walking into the Valkyrie once more. She stretched, wiping her eyes. Her ears finally started to register the words being spoken around her.
"That's too bad." Jotaro mumbled. "What's the plan then?"
Joseph just sighed. "I don't know. The medicine seemed to help a little bit, but he's not waking up. I'll be honest, I'm worried."
That completely woke Shizuka up.
"Josuke's not cured!?" She squeaked, squirming to be put down.
She saw Marina, Ripley, Pepsi and Shirlie sitting around the unconscious sergeant. They all had grim expressions. Her eyes quickly darted up to her father's expectantly. Joseph rubbed the back of his neck.
"Dr. Piaf was…" He looked for the right wording.
Jotaro wasted no time in finishing the thought. "Dr. Piaf was killed by an unknown member of Red Eden. Gruesomely, I've heard."
Joseph groaned. "Jotaro! My daughter doesn't need to know the details!"
The other man just shrugged. "She's not like most kids, Jiji. She deserves to know what's going on. If you wanted her to be uninvolved you should have sent her with Maura."
"I wouldn't have gone." She said with certainty.
"Exactly." Jotaro nodded. "She's a Stand User. A capable one, at that. We need all of the power we can get."
"Not to mention she was the only one who stood up to Santana. Everyone else ran away." Marina chimed in. "Your kid's tough as nails, gramps. She gave him a good beating."
Joseph rubbed the bridge of his nose anxiously. "Oh, for Pete's sake, I just can't picture my little girl fighting Santana of all things."
Shizuka had already moved past the conversation and took her place at Josuke's side. She rested her hand on his forehead. He was still burning up, but his skin wasn't bubbling like before. In fact, he seemed to be doing a little better. That's when it clicked. The Circle Game came through for her. It wasn't useless. She saw exactly what she needed to see.
"Italy." She said to no one in particular.
Jotaro was the first to hear. "Pardon?" He questioned.
Shizuka looked up at the two men with confidence in her eyes. "Giorno Giovanna can heal my brother. We need to go to Italy. Right now." She stood up like walking would get them there faster.
No one knew who on Earth she was talking about. Nobody but Jotaro, that is. His skin turned pale when she uttered that name. He'd been keeping a close eye on Shizuka for the past week. She brought up Dio in Amsterdam the other day, claiming she had a dream about him. Now she knew the name of his bastard child? Nobody except top level intelligence at the foundation knew of Giorno Giovanna. He doubted that Ripley even knew. So how did his ten-year-old niece of all people know such a thing?
Joseph was more confused than anything else. "Err, Giorno? Who's that? Is he some kind of healer?"
Marina raised a brow. "Why didn't we hear about this before we flew all the way to Paris? Then, y'know, back to Florida?"
Shizuka sighed. "I just learned about him. I don't expect everyone to understand, but I've been having these weird dreams. Jotaro and Josuke know about them. I don't really know what they mean, but they've never been so clear before. I just had a dream about an Italian healer named Giorno Giovanna. He even said that he'd help anyone in need. He called himself the savior, or something."
Joseph looked at Jotaro with skepticism. "Really, Jotaro? You didn't mention this before?" He asked in a sour tone.
"Oh gimme a break, when have we talked for more than two minutes in the past week?" The biologist groaned.
"It can't be helped. We have to entertain this theory. Does anybody have a phone I can use?" Joseph looked around the group.
Ripley shrugged, tossing her phone to the large man. "Can't you use your own?"
"Not for this. I need an accurate image. That means I need to go hard." He took a deep breath, raising a firm hand up in the air. " Hermit Purple!"
His hand smashed right into the phone, destroying it instantly. Ripley screamed in a mix of shock and anger as the device was sent all over the Valkyrie.
"What the fuck!? You wanted someone else's phone because you were gonna destroy it!?" She screamed.
Joseph wasn't listening. He watched as the shards of glass from the broken screen aligned on the floor. After a moment they flickered with an image. It was a picture of a young blonde man sitting on a balcony overlooking a beautiful Italian city. Shizuka's eyes widened.
"That's him! That's Giorno Giovanna."
The man didn't look anything like Jotaro remembered. His black hair was a golden blond, his meek expression was filled with confidence and pride. It was a total transformation. The last time he heard anything about the young man was in the early 2000's. The Speedwagon Foundation notified him that the son of Dio had become the leader of Italy's most prominent gang. He was worried, but they suddenly called in and said not to concern himself with it. Apparently, they had it on good authority that Giorno wasn't a threat and Jotaro's involvement would be bad for international politics. Knowing Blondie's true nature changed his opinion on that. Perhaps he should have gotten involved. He needed to share what he knew.
"I know of this man." He said abruptly.
All eyes were on him now.
He cleared his throat. "Giorno Giovanna, or Haruno Shiobana, is a half-Japanese immigrant who spent a majority of his upbringing in Italy. He obtained a Stand Ability and joined the organized crime syndicate Passione in 2001. I had a good friend of mine check in on him and make sure he wasn't a threat."
Joseph raised a brow. "What? Why would you look into this random gangster, Jotaro?"
He took a deep breath. "Because Giorno Giovanna is the son of Dio. "
There was silence. Half of the plane had never heard that name before. However, Agent Ripley, Shizuka, and most notably Joseph all hitched their breathing at the revelation. He just stared at Jotaro for a moment in disbelief.
"Dio had children?" He asked in an eerily calm voice.
Jotaro just nodded.
"Okay." Joseph mumbled. "And my daughter just had a vision about the son of the Joestar's greatest enemy?"
"He's a Joestar himself, even if he doesn't know it. He has the birthmark, and inherited his Stand when Dio pierced Jonathan Joestar's body with the arrow."
The gears in Joseph's brain were churning, nearly coming to a complete standstill as he attempted to process this information. "So, what you're saying is, he's actually the son of Jonathan? It was my grandfather's body that caused the birth."
"Exactly." Jotaro nodded. "Like I said, he's not a danger. I'm just hesitant to go asking him for favors. He's the leader of the most powerful mafia in the world. It's hard to even justify calling them a crime organization. They're practically the Italian government at this point. Dolly forbade me from ever looking into him. She said something about world politics hanging in the balance."
Marina finally had to ask, "Who the hell is Dio, and why does everyone look like they've seen a ghost?"
Jotaro looked over at the blond with serious eyes. "Dio was a shitstain on the planet. I killed him. That's the story."
"Well that's nice and all, but it seems like there's more to the story." She muttered.
Joseph sighed. "Dio is a complicated tale. He was born in the 1800's, was adopted into my grandfather's family, and eventually found a way to become immortal. He terrorized my bloodline for a century until Jotaro and I put a stop to it."
"But not before he knocked someone up." Marina added.
The man just ran a hand through his brown hair and sighed. "Not before he knocked someone up." He admitted.
Shizuka was growing restless. "If this is true, that's even better. Josuke is family! Of course Giorno will heal him!"
Joseph was uneasy. "Or he'll drink his blood."
"No, Dio's vampiric DNA had yet to overtake Jonathan's body. As far as my intel goes, Giorno Giovanna is essentially 100% human."
" Essentially." Joseph muttered. "Maybe an overdrive will test that."
" Children!" Marina barked. "Josuke's hurt, and we don't know how to fix it! He's dying right now. Even if our only move is one we don't like, we can thank our lucky stars it's a move at all! I'm flying us to Italy. You can argue about it while we move."
Jotaro and Joseph felt a tinge of shame. Were they putting their fears before Josuke's well-being? After a moment, Joseph nodded. "Okay. Let's go then."
"That's what I like to hear. Mandy, let's get this show on the road!"
The Valkyrie hovered above the ground for a moment before zipping out of sight.
The boss of Passione sat on a throne of vines overlooking the city of Naples. It hung from the side of a building, allowing him to enjoy the gentle evening breeze. He had a glass of wine in his right hand, and a small bird rested on the index finger of his left. He was reading a fascinating piece of literature being suspended in front of his eyes by yet another living vine. That's when the window beside him opened up.
"Gio," Guido Mista said quietly, trying not to disturb the boss.
Giorno closed the book and handed a vine his drink. "Yes, Mista?"
"An unidentified aircraft just entered the country. The Quirinal Palace wanted you to know."
The Quirinal Palace is the official office of Italy's President, Giorgio Napolitano. Always sympathetic for another " Gio", Giorno set up relations with the president shortly after he took office. He explained Passione's relationship with the Italian government and set strict expectations. The agreement was simple, the Quirinal Palace would keep Passione informed on international affairs and run any important decisions by Giorno before signing off on them. In return, Giorno kept the streets of Italy clean of drugs and violent crimes. It was a level of symbiosis originally believed to be impossible. However, Giorno Giovanna's dream had no concern for the impossible. He made it happen all the same.
The boss nodded his head, ordering the vines to lower him through the window. He accepted his book and wine, causing the vines to return to their normal state. "I'll obviously want to be kept up to speed with the whereabouts of this plane."
Mista nodded, always keeping his eyes lowered in respect. "Is that all?"
"No." Giorno said with a hint of concern. He looked out the window, resting a hand on the glass. "I felt something earlier. A strange sensation."
"Indigestion? I told you to cut back on the cheese, Gio."
A soft smile appeared on the boss's face. He let out a brief chuckle before nodding his head. "Very funny. I'm being serious, though. It felt like someone was watching me."
"Well, you were hanging from the side of a building as magic vines catered to you. I'm not surprised."
"Not like that, Mista. It was as if someone was staring right at me. They felt like they were mere centimeters away, maybe a meter at most. It felt personal."
"Personal?" The gunslinger lifted his head curiously.
"Like family." The boss admitted, tapping the window. "I don't have any living family. That's why I'm bothered by this."
"What do you want me to do, Gio?" Mista asked with devotion, willing to solve the problem by any means.
The boss just hummed in contemplation for a moment. "See if Trish is in the country. I'd like to talk to her about family ties. If she's on tour, set up a video call."
"Yes, Sir." Mista turned and began walking to the door.
Giorno snapped his fingers, taking another moment to consider. "One more thing. I want the arrow. Just in case. Something isn't sitting right with me."
Mista nodded. He was definitely concerned, though. Giorno hadn't used Gold Experience Requiem in over three years. If he was this worried, that meant it was serious business.
"Of course, Gio. I'll get it from Mr. Polnareff. Is that all?"
Giorno sipped his wine, looking thoughtfully over his city. "That will be all, yes."
The Valkyrie landed in a field outside Naples in the early morning. The hatch lowered into the grass as morning sunbeams lit the inside of the ship. Joseph stepped out, stretching his arms and cracking his neck.
"Okay. We're not exactly in friendly territory right now. It's probably best to leave Josuke here with someone. If this Giorno really wants to heal him, he can come back with us."
Shirlie nodded, staying seated beside Josuke. "Power wants to stay, so I guess we'll be here." She smiled.
Pepsi just nodded, their arms crossed as they rested against the far wall.
Marina stretched as well, letting out a satisfied groan. "I'm not on watch duty this time. I'm going to enjoy some sunlight. You coming, Jojo?"
Shizuka nodded, giving Josuke one last glance before standing up. "Uh huh. We're chasing my vision after all."
Jotaro stepped off the ship, holding his hand over his eyes to protect them from the sun. "Giorno Giovanna probably knows we're in Naples. There's no use in searching for him. We'll wait for him to find us. This man owns Italy. He has thousands of people willing to die for him. I bet there are eyes on us right now. The best thing to do is to put ourselves in a public space and wait." Jotaro adjusted his hat as he looked toward the city.
"So what're we supposed to do in the meantime?" Shizuka asked.
"...I hear the food's good here?" Marina suggested.
There wasn't exactly a thunderous agreement, but nobody seemed to object either.
The crew found themselves at a local restaurant about twenty minutes later. Libeccio was the name. Little did they know, but they had selected the very restaurant that had been Passione territory for over a decade. They had a large table, all sitting around and waiting for their food to arrive.
Outside Libeccio, two men stood across the street. One was tall, and one was short. They were huddled over a book in the shorter man's grip. The taller one got closer, breathing heavily in anticipation.
"Okay, Boingo, " The older brother began. "What does your comic say? The god of knowledge, Tohth, who can never be wrong?"
The younger brother was hesitant to open his comic too soon. "Remember, Oingo, we lost to them all those years ago because we didn't trust Tohth one-hundred-percent. If we don't listen, we'll be the losers."
"Of course I remember, Boingo! We're on a winning streak, though! Your comic told us about that Blondie lady! And now look at us! One final chance at revenge against that horrible Jotaro! The man who ruined our lives!"
A sickly smile appeared on Boingo's face. "Just imagining that no-good punk breathing his last breath… Ku-kee… Kukee, kuekekekekekekekeke!" He let out an unnatural laugh, clenching the comic in his hands tighter.
"That's right, Boingo!" He slapped his brother's back. "So open it up! Let's see their defeat!"
The book opened up, and art began to manifest onto the blank page. Boingo smiled as he narrated the text out loud.
"After numerous defeats throughout their lives, Oingo and Boingo were super sad! Waaaaaaaaa!" An image of the brothers crying in a hospital appeared. "They tried to move past that time in Cairo. They tried to be good! But every single time they tried they just got hurt again! Decades of loneliness and defeat! Boo hoo!"
A rather grotesque, lanky depiction of Blondie appeared next. "That's when the Blonde Woman enlisted our help! She wants us to get the magic feather from that Marina girl! If we do, she'll pay us ten million dollars! HOORAY! We're rich!"
Oingo nodded. "Uh huh! But what about the restaurant!? Am I going to sneak in wearing a disguise?"
"Just hold on! Don't interrupt the comic!"
A blond man appeared on the page, walking into the restaurant.
"They're waiting for a man to arrive! A very important man that they need! And here he is! Giorno Giovanna! Ewwwww! But don't worry!" The drawing of Giorno winked. "It's actually big brother Oingo in disguise! Yippie!"
Oingo grinned, pulling at the skin of his face for a moment. "That looks easy enough. Giorno Giovanna, ey?
"They're really super eager to see Giorno! They're so happy that they will do anything he says! Victory!"
The book closed itself.
"Where's the rest, Boingo? Once I can make them do anything I want, what happens after that!?"
Boingo looked at the book thoughtfully for a moment. "Hmmm. It must still be too far in the future for my Tohth to see, yes. Once you get there, Tohth will update, yes."
"How will I know what the book says then!?"
The smaller man reached into his backpack and pulled out a small earpiece. "I told you we were prepared this time, Oingo. Put this in. I'll be able to update you on Tohth's prophecy in real time, yes!"
Oingo held the device with reverence, grinning ear to ear. "Ohhhhh yes, Boingo. Yes, yes, yes! With this futuristic technology, our power is unstoppable! We'll finally destroy that no-good Kujo!"
The meals seemed to be going without a hitch as Shizuka finished up her pasta. She looked around curiously. Was it really possible that they were being watched? It was difficult to imagine someone as powerful as Giorno Giovanna existing in the real world. She twirled her fork around the plate slowly, toying with her remaining food as she stared at the door. That's when it opened.
Shizuka's eyes widened when she saw the one and only Giorno Giovanna walk right into the restaurant. He looked around for a moment before spotting the group. She put her fork down and looked over to Jotaro. It seemed he noticed the man as well.
"Well, this is unexpected." He mumbled under his breath.
Giorno (actually Oingo) stood in the entrance awaiting his brother's instructions. He didn't want to do anything wrong. They only had one single precious shot at this. After a moment of white noise, he could hear the younger man's instructions.
"Okay, big bro, here's the deal." He began. "You need to convince them to leave the restaurant, yes. And then, once you've left, you lead them to the left and down the sidewalk, yes."
Oingo approached the crowded table confidently. He cleared his throat, looking at Jotaro. "Hello, I'm Digiornos." He said with a smirk.
Everyone raised a brow in confusion. By their expressions alone, Oingo knew he'd messed up.
" It's Giorno! Giorno Giovanna, big bro! Not Digironos! Digiorno's is a brand of frozen pizza!"
Oingo kicked himself mentally for making such a ridiculous mistake. He'd be able to recover from this. They didn't even seem too confused. This wasn't the end. It couldn't be. The Oingo Boingo brothers were going to destroy the Joestars once and for all!
"...like the pizza?" Shizuka asked awkwardly.
SHIT.
That horrible little girl had completely blown Oingo's cover. How could she do something so heinous? So petulant!? He'd make her pay. A slow death awaited anyone who dared get in Oingo's way. He'd be sure of that.
It took a moment to realize he'd been silent for too long. Jotaro was beginning to look suspicious. He had to say something, quick!
"I'm Italian."
BAD. That was the wrong thing to say. He was really up shit creek. He could only take comfort in the fact that Tohth had already prophesized them following him outside. He just needed to play it cool. They feared him. They respected him. They needed him!
"Anyway," He cleared his throat. "I hear your group has been looking for me. Well, I'm here, in the flesh."
Nobody felt quite right about this. Despite that, they decided to play it cool as well for the time being.
"Well, yes." Joseph leaned back in his chair skeptically. "You wouldn't happen to be the very Giorno Giovanna who runs Passione, would you?"
Oingo waited with baited breath.
"Yes." Boingo said into the earpiece.
"Yes, I am." The older brother smiled. "And who might you be?"
"Joestar, Joseph Joestar. Friends of your dad." He said with dangerous eyes.
The fake Giorno did his best to hide his shock. He remembered Joseph as a silver fox, and that was decades ago! How did he look so young? It didn't matter. He needed to stay on target. He'd get his revenge yet.
"Well, we can discuss all of that in a more…" He looked around. "..discreet location. Please, everyone, follow me. Bring your things. We won't be coming back.
The group gathered their belongings and followed Giorno out the door. Joseph had a nagging suspicion that something was amiss. His instincts were flaring up. He decided to be polite and play along for the time being. 'Giorno' led them outside and to the left of the restaurant just as Tohth predicted.
"Another prophecy, yes. You're doing great so far, yes. Big brother Oingo leads the Joestars down the sidewalk for thirty seconds before noticing a bee pollinating a nearby flower."
Boingo's voice fell silent for a moment.
"Then Oingo grabs the bee and puts it right in his mouth before the Joestars can notice."
The imposter's eyes widened, tears threatening to escape at the very thought of it. A bee? In his mouth!? He was allergic. Why in the world would Tohth predict something so cruel? If he didn't have such absolute faith in his brother, he'd be freaking out.
The pseudo-Giorno kept his composure as he walked down the sidewalk. After about thirty seconds he saw the bee in question. It was blood-boiling. He felt like he was going to throw up. Still, he had to be brave. He plucked the flower before anyone got a good look at it. The culprit raised the lovely flower up to his nose, pretending to sniff it. The bee was inches from his face as he did so. He stared into its vacant, soulless eyes and took a deep breath. Then, with absolute conviction he bit the flower's top from the stem, flicking it aside.
There was a bee in his mouth.
Oingo felt as it flew around in confusion. To be perfectly frank, he was confused as well. Neither party was pleased with the current situation. Like any unhappy bee, it did what bees did best. The imposter felt as the insect's stinger pierced the inside of his mouth. A sharp pain surged through his jaw. The damn bee stung him! Its venom seeped into his gums.
"Say." Jotaro mused quietly as he followed the gangster. "Mind if I ask where you're leading us, Mr. Giovanna?"
Oingo was in no position to speak. He kept silent, giving off the impression of a stoic mobster.
Please let it end. He thought to himself pathetically, eyes watering. I want to cry. I seriously, seriously want to cry! It hurts so bad!
This was no ordinary bee, either. You see, this bumble bee was very down on its luck. Humans have no way of knowing about such things, but bees can actually become very distressed with their home life. This particular bee was feeling insignificant due to its poor performance at bee-related activities as of late. Nothing delighted Beenard (the bee's name is Beenard, a noble title among the Italian bee population) more than stinging annoying humans. He was a very psychopathic bee, you see.
Beenard was currently shredding the inside of Oingo's mouth more than a skateboarder on adderall. Still, the man was determined to see this through.
"You're doing good, brother, yes. You're almost there, yes. Once you arrive at that alley at the end of the sidewalk, you'll lead the Joestars into it."
Joseph stopped walking, causing the rest of the group to follow suit. He crossed his arms.
"You know, Mr. Giovanna, I may be speaking entirely out of line here." He narrowed his eyes, his thick brows accenting his deep brown gaze. "But I can't shake the feeling that we're being had. Your walk is all off."
My walk? Oingo questioned in his bee-infested head. He turned to face the group nervously. His expression was stone cold.
"Maybe it's nothing, but you don't walk with purpose at all. You trudge around like your destination hardly matters at all. This is hardly becoming of a big mafia boss, right?"
Oingo just stared into Joseph's dangerous eyes, unable to defend himself due to the aforementioned bee situation. A bee-mergency, if you will.
"What're you saying, Gramps?" Marina rested a hand on her hip. She'd been feeling it too. For a moment she wondered if this was the real Giorno's intern or something. He was absolutely dripping with anxiety and awkward body language.
"I think Jiji's suggesting that this is an imposter." Jotaro said firmly.
SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. They knew. How did they know?
Boingo, quick! Help me! Please! What does Tohth say!?
That's when he remembered that Tohth's prediction was already set in stone. He was to lead the Joestars into the nearby alley. He took comfort in knowing that they'd make it that far. He just had to be brave.
"Are you sure?" Shizuka asked with a frown. "We don't really know him, and I think it's rude to make that kind of accusation."
"You can't impersonate a Stand." Jotaro said in a low tone. "Giorno Giovanna's Stand ability can create life. That's what Koichi told me. Please, Mr. Giovanna, excuse our skepticism, but I'd be very happy to see an example of your Stand in action."
Oingo was completely fucked. How was he supposed to bring something to life? He didn't have Giorno's Stand. His stand, Khnum, could only mimic someone's appearance and smell. That's when all the pieces fit together. He understood what he needed to do.
The imposter parted his lips slightly, allowing a bumble bee to fly freely into the outside world. It exited his mouth, flying around the group for a moment before going back to its utterly mundane life as a sociopathic bee.
The Joestar party watched in awe as Giorno gave life to a bee from his own body. They were utterly convinced. Joseph frowned a bit, standing straighter as he cleared his throat.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Giovanna. You'll have to understand our paranoia." He mumbled in defeat.
Oingo smiled. "It's quite alright, Joseph. You're all on edge. Once we get out of the public eye, we can discuss your troubles."
Yes! I've done it, I've done it, I've done it! Fuck you, Joestars! Fuck you and your incessant, petulant skepticism! He rejoiced in his head.
Tohth had once again come through for him. He knew he could trust his brother's Stand. With a newfound sense of confidence Oingo led the group into the predicted alley. He stood there for a moment awaiting instructions.
" Big brother successfully led them out of sight, yes! Now he has them right where he wants them, yes! He just needs to keep them there! In exactly one minute, disaster will strike for the Joestars, yes!"
They were really doing it. They were going to win! He just had to keep them occupied for a little while longer. He looked around, putting his hands in his pockets.
"So, why come all the way to Italy? Something must be wrong." He asked casually.
Shizuka clenched her fists. "We know you don't know us very well, but we're desperate. You can heal people, right? I had a vision about you helping a little girl with a stab wound. My brother is hurt. It's bad, Mr. Giovanna." She admitted with a frown.
He lifted his head in recognition. "Ah, I see. So you want me to heal him?"
"Yes! Please." She begged.
"We're not happy about owning a crime organization a debt, but this is pretty much our last hope." Joseph said in defeat.
"What are his injuries?"
"We're not exactly sure. Severe internal burning?" Marina mumbled.
"How did he get such a strange injury?"
"The less you know, the better." Joseph interrupted, crossing his arms. "We're in some dangerous trouble, Mr. Giovanna. You'd better keep your distance for the safety of your organization."
Oingo stood there in contemplation for a moment. Every second he spent thinking was another second closer to their demise.
"The comic is nearing its close! Big Brother successfully distracted the Joestars, yes! Now, they're doomed, yes! In a few short seconds the building to the left of them will explode, yes! The bricks and flames will kill the entire Joestar party, yes! Jotaro, Joseph, Shizuka, Marina, Ripley, all dead, yes! And Big Brother Oingo survives the explosion, lucky!"
The older brother's eyes widened. Tohth had finally done it. Boingo's predictions were one-hundred-percent absolute. They would come true no matter what. There would be an explosion, and the Joestars would die. This was fate. He couldn't help but smile.
"Big bro, we did it. We actually did it… Kue kee… Kue kee… kuekekekekekekekekekeke!" He laughed hysterically into the earpiece.
Oingo knew they'd won. He was so pleased with himself that he grabbed his face and changed his form.
"JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooestars!" He cried out in joy. "You've been utterly had! You're all fools! This isn't Giorno Giovanna. It's me! Your arch enemy! Someone who's been trying to destroy you for decades. It's…" He fully morphed his face back to normal. "OINGO!" He screamed menacingly.
…
…
…
"...who?" Joseph asked in confusion.
"I've definitely never seen him before." Jotaro mumbled.
Oingo's stomach sank when they said that. Come to think of it, the Joestars were never aware of their presence. That didn't matter! They were now!
"This game is over, Joestars. I have thoroughly defeated you. My ally's Stand, Tohth, had predicted your demise with one-hundred-percent certainty! It's over!"
Shizuka gritted her teeth. "So you can't heal my brother?" She asked in a dark voice.
"Your brother can get bent, kid! I hope he dies too!"
She lifted her head, revealing her dangerous expression. "Then what are you even doing here?" She questioned.
In a flash, Ultra Violet appeared in front of Oingo. His eyes widened in fear. The Stand was radiating power. He knew he wouldn't stand a chance against it.
No matter! Tohth already predicted that I'd be completely unharmed! I just need to wait another moment.
"Hooooooooora!" Shizuka screamed, Ultra Violet balling a fist and swinging it at Oingo's face.
The confrontation was interrupted by an explosion. The wall to their side burst, sending everyone flying against the other end of the alley.
The only thought going through Shizuka's mind was that she had a terrible track record when it came to alleys. She'd have to avoid them from now on.
Oingo was basking in victory. Despite the fact that his body was blown aside as well, he knew he would be okay. There was nothing but a smile on his face.
That's when the unthinkable happened. The flames and debris from the explosion froze in place. Then, they slowly reverted back to the building from which they came. Everything was restored to normal. The Joestars weren't dead. They were very much alive. Shizuka's eyes darted around in confusion. She was looking for Oingo. That's when she saw a figure Standing at the far end of the alley.
Giorno Giovanna.
It was the real Giorno. She could tell by his stature alone. He stood there powerfully with a large golden Stand hovering beside him. The gangstar was looking at Oingo with disdain.
"That was a powerful force. Fate itself tried to kill these people just now." Giorno said in a calm voice, approaching the group. "Unfortunately for you, they'll never meet that end. Due to my power, the Joestars will never arrive at that reality. This is not their time."
Oingo looked up at Giorno in fear. "What!? But… But! But Tohth's predictions are accurate! They're one-hundred-percent accurate!"
Giorno scoffed. "My Gold Experience Requiem is beyond accuracy. I saw the fate you had planned for them and rejected it. That's my ability. I can prevent the end of an action. So why don't you try to attack me? Go ahead."
Joseph watched in awe. He'd witnessed intimidation tactics before, but this was on an entirely different level. Giorno had proudly proclaimed the power of his Stand for a very good reason. If that was truly his ability, it was unstoppable. It didn't matter who knew about it.
Oingo, on the other hand, was not as smart. He panicked and grabbed the gun from his waistband. "You piece of shit! You ruined everything! I had them! I had the Joestars right where I wanted them!"
He fired the gun.
The bullet tore through the air, whizzing right toward Giorno. However, it froze in place as well. Everyone watched as the bullet returned to the gun, even the residue went back to its starting place. The boss kicked Oingo's gun out of his hand, pushing his foot against the man's chest and pinning him down.
"Useless. Completely, totally useless." He mused.
Oingo was petrified. He knew in his heart that he would never beat Giorno. That's when he clasped his hands and begged.
"Please! Please spare me! I'll turn a new leaf, I swear! I'll go back to law school! I'll be good! Just let me and my brother go!"
Giorno smiled. "I know you will."
"R-Really? You do!?"
"Of course." The golden haired man purred. He got down on one knee, looking into Oingo's eyes. "Because if I find out that you haven't, I'm going to have to make a very upsetting phone call. A call that will seal your fate." He took his index finger, pressing it between Oingo's eyes. "One-hundred-percent."
The man screamed in fear, scurrying back and protecting his face. "I promise! We're done harassing the Joestars! Pinky swear! Cross my heart and hope to die!"
Giorno stood back up, looking down at the man apathetically. "Then go. Have a good life, Oingo."
The man crawled away at an impressive speed, whining and crying the entire way. He made it down the sidewalk before standing up and brushing himself off. He made it. Despite the failure, he escaped with his life. He'd be able to recover and report this to Blondie. Victory would still be theirs!
That's when he noticed something odd. A black blur was moving through the air towards him. His eyes focused on it, and that's when he heard the buzzing. An entire swarm of bees were flying directly at him! He was allergic! He was already feeling stuffy from the few stings before. That entire swarm would do him in for good!
Yes, it would appear Beenard found a way to become accepted in bee culture. As it turns out, every bee is a heartless sociopath who enjoys stinging people. Once Beenard invited everyone to help swarm the fabled "bee eater," they were putty in his hands. It's entirely irrelevant to the story at hand, but it's only fair to mention that Beenard eventually became the first trans bee, taking the Queen's position and ruling over the entire hive.
The swarm stung Oingo mercilessly. He cried out, but nobody came to help him. The stings caused his skin to bloat, and an allergic reaction soon followed. This was it for old Oingo.
Oingo: Completely defeated. His allergic reaction permanently disfigured his face in a way even his Khnum couldn't modify. No longer able to see, he lives the rest of his days in a luxurious nursing home. RETIRED.
After that odd display, Giorno turned his attention to the group. They all regained their composure quickly. Shizuka rubbed the side of her head in pain.
"Are you the real one?" She asked in a tired voice. None of them were particularly clear on what happened, but she just wanted to be sure they weren't being tricked again.
"My name is Giorno Giovanna. It's a pleasure to meet you. However," He looked over to Jotaro. "Kujo Jotaro, you cannot be here." He said in perfect Japanese, his voice low and threatening.
To be Continued...