No one had seen Madam Dolly in over a week. The official story was simple. Overwhelmed by a busy quarter, Dolly Harris took a spontaneous vacation to the Bahamas. There, she would take a load off. The ninety-one-year-old deserved some relaxation, didn't she? Of course, Madam Dolly was no more. The persona perished when Blondie restored her youth. The real story was a little more complex. Blondie operated both Red Eden and the Speedwagon Foundation from her shadowy catacombs beneath the nation's capital. Whenever she needed to go above ground, she posed as Clementine Harris, Dolly's great-granddaughter. She still avoided much exposure, but the Clementine persona was helpful in a pinch.
Blondie was sitting in a crowded cafe at around three in the afternoon. She wore casual attire in an effort to blend with the city masses. Anyone who knew her true identity would be rather surprised to see the almighty Blondie in a white tee shirt, an undone plaid button-up and blue jeans. She even had Converse on! As she sipped from her raspberry tea, the woman couldn't help but look around. She observed each patron of the cafe carefully, curiously studying their habits and movements. As an upper-class woman in her nineties, seeing youth culture up-close was a rare treat. So many people were on their smartphones and compact laptops. She had to wonder what her life would be like with such inventions as a commonplace.
It was hard to believe that this way of life would be gone in only a matter of days. She lifted her lemon scone up to her lips, taking a small bite of it while making eye-contact with a man on the other side of the establishment. He was checking her out. If it weren't for her gluttonous ego, Blondie would never tolerate the prying eyes her body received every single day. She was mature enough to admit that. She gave a small smile to the man before turning her head away once more.
A jingling bell indicated that someone new had arrived. Blondie glanced over, relieved to see the woman she'd been waiting for. She was almost done with her scone, after all. If her date had taken much longer, she might have cancelled. The tall woman leaned back in her chair, folding her hands on the table as she smiled over to the new arrival.
A tiny young woman approached Blondie's table. She was 4'10" and couldn't weigh more than 95lbs. Her shoulder-length hair was a mix of black and green. She wore it messy with strands falling over her ears and face. Still, it was clear that she put some effort into her look, because it never got in her eyes. She wore large pentagram earrings on both sides of her head, and thick circle-lensed glasses over her golden eyes. The woman was in an ankle-length black coat, an orange skirt, and a dark green top. Her right hand had rings on every finger. Each ring had some spiritual meaning as far as Blondie could tell. She vaguely recognized the symbols. Needless to say, the woman really enjoyed the neo-pagan aesthetic.
"Aura," Blondie smiled, gesturing to the chair across from her. "Please, sit."
Aura did just that, flopping into the chair and looking around. She took a clementine out of her pocket, biting into it without removing the peel. After chewing for a few seconds, she swallowed. The woman adjusted her glasses, smiling at her boss.
"I assume you're Clementine, hmm? I say, the family resemblance is striking."
"This is your only warning to take me very seriously, Aura. I've nearly reached the end of my patience."
The young woman considered her next act carefully. She was aware that Blondie could reduce her to dust with a single touch. Still, it would be too big of a blow to her reputation if she just barked obediently like a dog and behaved. Instead, she crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. She even resisted the urge to help herself to a sip of Blondie's tea.
"Why'd you call, boss?"
"I didn't call you, Aura. I called Rein."
"Rein didn't play well with others. We overthrew him last year. I'm the leader of Pumped up Kicks now." Aura explained, looking directly into Blondie's eyes.
"I see. That must have been gruesome."
"No one's too strong for an ambush, Clem. We made the unanimous decision to remove him from power. You need to keep your subordinates happy. Otherwise, you might feel all of the shoulders you're standing on begin to sway. Next thing you know, you're six feet under."
"I'll try to keep that in mind." Blondie mumbled in a dry tone. "Either way, I can see that I'm speaking to the right person now. Let's talk business. There's a group of people I need you to intercept. They're all powerful Stand Users." She took a folder from her lap and rested it on the table. Opening it up, she grabbed a headshot and slid it over to Aura. "This is Marina Archer. She has something that belongs to me. A stray feather that once belonged to Kars, the ultimate being. With it, I can finally achieve my goals. Do you understand?"
Aura eyed the picture carefully. She glanced up at Blondie with a smirk. "What's to stop me from taking the feather for myself?"
"It would be useless to a layman like you. I'm the only one on Earth who could use it. Don't worry, though, Kicks will be rewarded greatly for its efforts."
"So, you want my team to take on a group of high dangerous individuals for a feather, and you won't even tell me what it's for? Why not send your own people? Or are the rumors of Red Eden true? You're understaffed… Apparently half your organization bailed when they caught wind of your coo coo bananas cult."
Blondie was nothing if not convicted. She showed restraint, but her eyes shot daggers across the table.
"This is your last chance to say yes, Aura. Otherwise, you'd best hope to never see me again. Do you understand?"
The tiny woman considered her options for a moment before sighing. "Fine, fine. Most of my men are still loyal to Red Eden anyway. We'll get your silly feather. Anything else?"
"There is, actually. I don't care about the life or death of your targets. There's just one exception, though. You'll find a little Japanese girl with them. She's a tiny thing, even smaller than you." Blondie's eyes flashed orange, and the air around her turned cold. "I want you to kill her. Do it yourself if you must."
"...Jesus, Dolly. I'll be accepting a bonus for that." Aura mumbled, standing up and stretching. She took the folder, tossing Marina's picture inside. "We'll be in touch. Expect the feather soon."
Just as Blondie was about to finish her scone and leave the cafe, a shiver ran down her spine. She felt a cool wave of energy surging through her mind. It felt like rushing water purifying her brain. As quickly as the feeling struck, it was gone. She knew exactly what that experience meant. Small bits of memory shifted here and there in her subconscious. She could remember the truth.
Diva was dead.
She sent him to the Hotel California decades ago. The idea that he was actually dead gave her a sense of peace. It also indicated something far more promising. It would seem that the Joestar party was very close to breaking free. She was worried that she'd have to send someone in to get them. However, it was much better if they could get out on their own. As long as Marina brought Kars's feather back into the real world, everything else would fall into place.
Blondie stood up with a smile on her face. Aura would take care of the Joestars. Now she just needed to see to a few more loose ends. The confidence in her strut was apparent as she exited the cafe. She had a new spring in her step. Whether the world was ready for it or not, Blondie was about to change everything.
The Rapture was near.
The aftermath of Diva's rampage was quite confusing. Granted, everything about Diva was very confusing. Most of the group couldn't get their own stories straight. Everyone was scattered around the hotel in odd pairs with various injuries. Trish, Jotaro, Ripley and Marina were in one hall while Joseph, Hol Horse and Polnareff were inside Coco Jumbo. Shizuka was lying on the carpeted floor alone. Over time they would remember the truth of what happened. September had damaged them all so much that it would take a while for their minds to sort through all of the events.
While a majority of the Joestar party was busy recovering from the memory madness, Josuke and Pepsi were standing in a new room. The lobby of Hotel California. Mist kept a gentle hand on Josuke's shoulder to keep him within its shroud. The lobby was a large, grand room. There was a fountain in the center with several marble benches circling around it. A statue stood in the center of the lovely fountain. It depicted a tall, slim woman standing with both arms extended. Water poured from her eyes, and a wound appeared to be plastered on her stomach. Upon further inspection, water was pouring from the wound as well.
The two were staring at the hotel's front door. It was hardly much of a door at all. Instead, it was an empty door frame with a radiant white light emitting from the center. Pepsi stared at it with a grim expression.
"You wanted the way out? There it is." They mumbled.
"It's that easy? What's the problem then?"
"The hotel is alive. It won't let just anyone leave. Before you can get through, you go to the penthouse. That's where Shirlie is." Their Stand let go of Josuke. "There's no point in using the shroud here… No one's stupid enough to come to the lobby. Most people stick to the hallways and rooms. If they're cocky, they might try to hold power over the ballroom, or even the kitchen."
Josuke stepped forward, cracking his neck. He unbuttoned the sleeves of his lavender shirt, rolling them up to his elbows and flexing his surprisingly muscular arms. "I'm going in. You can wait here if you need to."
"Wait." Pepsi grabbed the man's wrist rather suddenly. "You don't stand a chance against Adrian. Not inside the hotel…"
Josuke gave them a small, reassuring smile. "I've probably fought tougher."
"You don't understand. He's not human, not anymore. This place changed him. You can't spend your life here without turning into a monster… You can't win." They were visibly shaking.
The sergeant took a deep breath, placing a hand on Pepsi's shoulder. "My grandpa taught me a lot about the world. He was a police officer for over thirty years. When I was eight-years-old, his partner was killed in the line of duty. The poor guy was looking into a noise complaint at a drug house. Right when he opened the door, they shot him dead. It was pretty unheard of in a town like Morioh, but it could happen. When we were leaving his funeral, I knew Grandpa was going back to work. I asked him how he could do something like that after seeing what happened to his friend. He smiled at me and said, 'Josuke, you never know what's going to be on the other side of a door when you open it. You might find a room full of gold, or you might find a room full of criminals. Someone's gotta open the door, though. That's why we have law enforcement. We open the door no matter how scared we are, no matter what's on the other side. We're brave for you. For everyone else. I'd rather open that door and know we're safe than let something dangerous hide on the other side.'" He smiled fondly.
"That's why I became a cop. I wanted to be the one who opened the door. I wanted to help people when they were afraid. I'm going through that portal because your sister's in danger, and I'd rather die on the other side than let anything happen to her. No matter what Adrian's capable of, I've gotta try. Otherwise we should just lie down and let the world roll over us."
Pepsi stared into the man's eyes attentively. They saw something within them. Josuke had a flame burning within his gaze. There was a purpose in him. The teen realized that they'd seen those eyes before. Jotaro had those eyes… Joseph had them too. Shizuka even got them when she was provoked. The Joestar family wasn't afraid of death. They were afraid of a life that wasn't worth living. Pepsi wanted to be like them. They wanted that certainty. They wanted to view the world through those eyes...
With a flash of like, Shirlie appeared back in Adrian's void. She was panting, sweat dripping down her back as her mind reeled from the vision. Her ability forced her to experience the emotional turmoil of a dying city. That was the true horror of Feel Good Inc. Its artificial reality felt far too convincing. Yes, the people weren't real, but the Stand could replicate human emotions rather well. She was on her hands and knees, hair drooping down over her face and obscuring her vision. Pa-Pa-Power knelt beside her, supporting her with his large arms.
Adrian towered over them with disdain. "You know why we're here, Shirlie Temple. You understand what's at stake. So why did you flee? Is your happiness really more important than mankind's survival? Every last Stand User needs to be contained. The virus has to be purged from the face of the Earth. No exceptions. No sentimental hang-ups. You, Pepsi, and all of your friends will remain here forever."
"You're full of shit." She spat.
The father snarled. Feel Good Inc.'s leg appeared in front of him, striking the teen in her stomach. Pa-Pa-Power grabbed the enemy Stand, and Shirlie sprang to her feet. She swung her fist right at Adrian's face. He caught it effortlessly. She tried her other fist, only for it to be caught as well. With both of her hands occupied, there was little she could do to prevent the headbutt that came next. She stumbled back, Pa-Pa-Power retreating to cover her.
"Why can't you accept the world? Why are you and your sister so unwilling to make sacrifices in order to save humanity!? How did any daughter of mine end up as such a brat?"
As Adrian's rage filled the room, Pa-Pa-Power absorbed it like a sponge. The pink Stand was fuming. He looked down at Shirlie and noticed she was close to tears. Power acted as a filter of sorts when it came to Shirlie's empathy ability. He could take the brunt of it. In turn, he could amplify her emotions before surging them into others. The man's sense of pure anger was contaminating Power's standard gleeful mood. The Stand's disdain wasn't toward Shirlie, though. He was getting furious with her father.
Pa-Pa-Power stood up, standing in front of Shirlie and glaring at Adrian. Her father raised a brow, maintaining his casual slouching posture. He wasn't impressed one bit.
"What're you doing? Do you really think your feelings are real?" Adrian stepped closer to Power. The Stand didn't flinch. "You're a vessel. A part of Shirlie that she's boarded off to handle whatever she's too weak for. All you are is a pathetic splinter of a shit personality." He growled.
Pa-Pa-Power pounded his gloves together and lunged forward with a new sense of urgency. He managed to strike Adrian twice in the stomach before finishing with an uppercut to the chin. The tall man stumbled back, holding his jaw. A small amount of blood dripped from his lips as they curled into a grin.
"He's a big softy wears boxing gloves, yet he tries to hurt me. I'm glad to see that you're getting mad though, Shirlie! Do you feel it? I know you can! I know you can feel every single emotion coursing through my mind! Open yourself to them! Stop harboring them inside your Stand like a coward! Feel my strength! Feel Good!"
Feel Good Inc. sent out a swift punch, knocking Power back to his user. The green Stand levitated defensively in front of Adrian. Shirlie was still hunched over on the ground. She hugged her stomach, panting heavily in an attempt to catch her breath. Adrian stepped closer, glaring right at Power.
"Your Stand can make people feel things. It's cute. You developed it as a desperate social crutch. Why articulate yourself when you can just artificially insert feelings into people? Are any of your bonds real, Shirlie? Are any of your friends genuine?"
She shook her head, rejecting his implications. "Power helps me understand people… He makes me better."
"Bullshit!" He barked, the deep voice cutting sharply through the empty void they dwelled in. "My Stand isn't selfish like yours. It doesn't work on me. It doesn't help me. You can give people cheap emotions that fade away. You're nothing but smoke and mirrors. I, on the other hand, give people experiences. I influence how people feel."
The world around them began revolving at a nauseating speed. The void's bland dark patterns shifted into a plethora of colorful waves. Shirlie knew what was coming. She was about to be dropped into another reality. Feel Good Inc. was going to give her an experience…
Shirlie woke up in a dark room. Memories of reality slowly faded from her mind. In a little while, only the smallest of traces would be left. She'd endured her father's terror enough times to know the drill. By the feeling of her surroundings, she determined that she was lying in bed. Faint rays of light spilled in from the slits of her curtains. It was morning. She stretched her arms and let out a moan. Something felt strange. It felt like her soul was naked. That's when it hit her. In her groggy, tired state it was almost too easy to miss.
Pa-Pa-Power was gone.
He wasn't in bed. He wasn't in a chair next to the bed. He wasn't doing pushups underneath the bed. He wasn't even put away in Shirlie's subconscious. He just wasn't there. The redhead jumped out of bed with a start. Sheer panic set in. Her back was sweaty, her eyes darted left and right, and she felt herself trembling. Being separated from Pepsi was a rare discomfort. Being separated from Power was an impossibility. She couldn't recall the last time she was alone.
The twins had been under the impression that Power and Mist were spirits watching over them. How else could they explain such an unbelievable reality? When they were young, their Stands developed rather suddenly. Adrian and their mother didn't take the time to explain anything. As silly as it might sound, they were convinced that guardian angels came to protect them from him… Later in life, they matured past that belief in exchange for the spirit theory. It wasn't until their encounter with Shizuka and Jotaro that they came to understand the truth. Their guardian companions were actually extensions of themselves. Pa-Pa-Power was a reflection of Shirlie's fighting spirit. Despite that, he still carried such personality! She still felt like he was his own person. Even if he was a part of her, he acted in ways that her conscious mind couldn't predict or control. That's why his absence was so troubling. Where was he?
Shirlie sprinted out of the house and searched the yard. It was no use… Power's maximum range was five meters. He had to be close by. If not, he wasn't there at all. She was in such a frenzy that any memory of Adrian's spell faded away. All she could think about was her missing friend. Soon, she'd even forget about him. After another hour or so Shirlie would be fully assimilated into Feel Good Inc.'s world.
She felt blind. She felt deaf… She couldn't feel the faint emotional wavelengths of the ants beneath her feet. She couldn't tell how the distant jogger's day was going. It was so quiet. She suffered the same sensation of an amputee trying desperately to wiggle their missing limb. She felt where Power was supposed to be. It was as if she could almost summon him. The muscle was still there, but its purpose was long gone.
The Standless user fell to her knees, cupping her face in her trembling hands. What followed next was a long, miserable reality. Feel Good Inc.'s worlds could last for months. Very little time passed in the real world, but it could feel like an eternity inside. Shirlie lost track of time. She lost track of herself. Quite literally Powerless, she had no choice but to live her life alone. She forgot about her friends, her Stand, even her twin. Instead, she spent her time being misunderstood by others. She couldn't comprehend their complicated feelings and intentions. It wasn't long before she became a complete and total reject of society. Outcasts would bully her to prop themselves up to a higher status. She was the freak, the annoyance that everyone wished would just crawl away and never come back.
It must have been over four months inside the dream world before Shirlie finally came to. Feeling a fist gripping her hair, the teen was yanked from the reality and out of the transparent floor in Adrian's void. A thick gradient liquid oozed from her body for a moment or two, plopping and pooling back into the ground. Soon, she was spotless once more. Her real memories and experiences came rushing in like a cool wave crashing against the back of her mind. Despite that, she still trembled. Even though it wasn't real, she couldn't just shake that hell off so easily. She was twisted inside, conditioned to live life a certain way. How could anyone recover from that so soon?
Pa-Pa-Power sprouted from her body a moment later. He held her so tight, the teen feared her entire body might just collapse into itself. She wondered where he had been all that time. Did it feel like four months for him as well, or was he outside for the few moments it took in real time? She started to cough harshly against the transparent ground.
"Do you see what I mean? You're worthless without your Stand. If nature was just, you wouldn't have one. Nobody would. So, what would you be then? Hmmm?"
Shirlie just shook her head, trying her hardest not to vomit. She hugged her stomach, sweating profusely. The back of her shirt clung to her skin. She was a complete and total wreck. A firm hand grabbed her hair, lifting her head up to face the abusive father above. He glared into her weak, empty eyes.
"You call him Power, but all he does is weigh you down. Feeling every single emotion of your enemy is a weakness. How can you kill someone while feeling their primal need to survive? How can you hurt someone while feeling their fear? I bet you feel how ashamed I am to call you my daughter. How does that make you feel?" He growled.
"Misunderstood." She whispered.
He raised a brow. "Misunderstood? What's that supposed to mean?"
A powerful red fist slammed into Adrian's face. He was struck hard enough to send him flying back a few feet. Pa-Pa-Power towered over Shirlie from behind, his boxing glove steaming from the strike. Adrian cupped his cheek, unsure of how to feel about the attack. Shirlie stood up, leaning against the enormous Stand as it supported her.
"You hurt us." She spoke in a calm, level voice. "Every day when Mom wasn't around, you'd hurt us. Most of the time it was with words, but we could never be sure with your temper. We didn't understand. We couldn't. We were children. You were supposed to protect us." She began to speak with venom. "I know what these things are now, these Stands. Pepsi and I developed them because of you and Mom… Our abilities were meant to help us cope. Pepsi wanted to hide from you. I can understand that. I even envied it... "
She stepped closer, her entire stature seeming different from before. "I got something different… I didn't want to hide. I wanted to understand. To understand why a father could possibly hurt his children. To understand what we did to deserve it. I wanted to understand you, Dad."
The air around them seemed uneasy, as if something terrible was about to happen at any moment. Adrian didn't lose his cool. He just raised a skeptical brow, shrugging with indifference.
"And?" He droned.
"I understand. It's because you're sick. You're a sick, twisted little boy who needs the kind of help I can't give. At one point, you deserved pity. That's long gone, though. Now you're a monster. You think my empathy makes me weak? Real strength is knowing what your actions will do to someone and doing them anyway. Ignorance is bliss. If you felt a single shred of the pain you caused us, you'd have stopped! My power makes it so I can't do anything to anybody without it being done to myself. I'm the strong one here…"
Pa-Pa-Power raised his hands up, pushing them together. Then, he slowly removed the boxing glove from his right hand. Underneath the rubbery protection was quite the intimidating sight. Large pink spikes protruded from his knuckles. Being struck by that fist would be devastating. The second glove fell to the void below as well, revealing that both fists possessed dangerous spikes on each knuckle. Power clapped his newly-freed hands together, the clap containing so much force that it blew Shirlie's hair in the process. Each clap filled the void with a loud boom. She glared at her father, clutching her own fists in the process.
"You really messed up, Dad. I would've taken anything. You could've left me in that dream for the rest of my life. But you're threatening my friends. My twin. That's not going to fly. I don't care how much is hurts us, I'm going to stop you right now."
Adrian wasn't going to let that happen. He steadied his stance, shaking his head with a growl. The large man pointed at Shirlie, manifesting his Stand once more. "You're going back into the dream, Shirlie!"
"Like hell I am!" She threw her head back in rage, arms spread out like a raging beast as Power roared silently. "Let's see how you can handle my reality! Try coping with even a bit of my trauma!"
Adrian was struck by Power's empathy ability like a train. He stopped in his tracks, arching his back and looking up into the air. Shirlie was forcing him to experience her pain. She focused all of the grief, insecurity, and trauma he caused into one place. He couldn't even move. All he could think about was how someone could make him feel so little. His emotions were twisted and shoved away by those of his child. The tall man fell to his knees, cupping his face as tears pooled in his eyes.
"Is this how you feel…?" He questioned, wiping his eyes.
Shirlie stepped even closer, looking down at the weeping man.
"It's… It's.." He shook his head. "Not. Bad. Enough."
The teen's eyes widened. A moment later, Feel Good's fist came soaring toward her. She managed to deflect it at the last second. Power struck back, digging one of his spikes into the green Stand's arm. Adrian cried out in pain, his Stand kicking Shirlie in the gut. She gritted her teeth, but a moment later two pink transparent hands came from inside her stomach. Power had reached through her, only becoming physical on the other side. He pulled the Stand closer by its foot until they were only inches apart. Then, through Shirlie's body, Power delivered a barrage of devastating melee attacks.
"Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa- POWER!" Shirlie cried out with each blow, finishing the flurry with a swift uppercut to Feel Good's jaw.
Adrian flew into the air before rolling onto the transparent floor. It rippled against his touch as he skipped across it like a rock. His head shot up, thick unkempt red bangs getting in his bulging eyes as he gritted his teeth. He haphazardly stumbled to his feet, Feel Good Inc. levitating above him. A curious hand drifted to his stomach. He could feel blood pooling underneath his baggy shirt. Power's spikes did a number on Feel Good Inc.'s body. Globs of blood fell to the ground. Adrian realized his chin was bleeding as well. He attempted to level his breathing, panting heavily as his vision blurred. The father could barely manage to focus his gaze on the young woman before him. He flashed yellow teeth with a sickly smile, shaking his head.
"How did that feel, Shirlie?"
The teen had tears welling in her eyes. She wiped them on her arm, sniffling softly. "You tell me, Dad. Wanna keep going? Or will you let my friends through?"
Adrian didn't dignify that with a response. He merely looked up at Feel Good Inc.; the green Stand seemed to be pulsating strangely. It flexed both of its arms as Adrian let out a pained groan. Then, its arms and legs burst out with enormous muscles. The massive green torso opened up, and Adrian sank inside of it. His human body was contained within the Stand! It closed around him, completely protecting him from outside forces. Feel Good Inc. started to sprint toward Shirlie, kicking up chunks of ground as it stomped across the void.
She'd never seen her father fight before. His Stand possessed terrifying strength. Within two seconds the bulging green Stand stood before her. She could barely raise Power's arms in self-defense before they were struck. Their arms clashed, sending Shirlie skidding back on her feet. A moment later Adrian returned with another barrage of attacks. Power deflected them, but wasn't fast enough to avoid them all. He sustained several damaging blows to the face.
Shirlie was rather dazed from the attacks. However, something came to her mind. She didn't have to block the attacks. It didn't matter if Feel Good Inc. was faster or stronger. Pa-Pa-Power had fucking spikes on his knuckles. The next time Adrian attacked, Shirlie matched his Stand's fist directly. Power drilled four of his pink spikes into Feel Good's hand. It let out an otherworldly roar, pulling away in pain. She knew this was her one opportunity to have the upper hand. Adrian wouldn't fall for that again.
"Y'know, I remember what you always said… 'This hurts me more than it hurts you.' I believed you. So, believe me when I say I'll feel this, and I'm doing it anyway." She growled, readying her Stand.
Adrian didn't have enough time to defend himself. Pa-Pa-Power drilled him center mass once again with those devastating fists. The spikes tore through his Stand, damaging both bodies in the process. He thrashed and swayed in agony as Power thoroughly inflicted sweet justice. Shirlie reeled her leg back, swinging it forward with all her might. Halfway through the motion, Power's muscular leg emerged from her own, making direct contact with Feel Good Inc.'s stomach. Upon impact, its entire body rippled. Then, as if it were in stasis, the body stayed perfectly still for a solid second. A moment later, it was flung back at unbelievable speeds.
The teen just stood there gasping in exhaustion. She hugged herself, nearly falling forward as she struggled to stay upright. Pa-Pa-Power's empathy ability was weighing her down immensely. He was experiencing quite a few conflicting emotions. His unfathomable rage toward Adrian collided with his unwillingness to hurt a fly. Not only that, but he was also experiencing all of Adrian's emotional turmoil. That culminated into a grief gumbo in Shirlie's stomach. She felt like she was about to hurl.
About fifty feet away, Adrian and his Stand were writhing on the ground. Feel Good Inc. let out an otherworldly groan. It sounded like an ill T-Rex moaning through garbage disposal. The garbage disposal also had three forks inside. The troubled father attempted to stand up, finding the task rather difficult. He pounded the ground with his fist, causing a crack in the void. It was obvious that he wasn't used to his child fighting back.
"I can see you're beyond help." He fumed. "You just refuse to see the world properly. You refuse to see what your mother and I taught you."
"Mom's dead. Do you really want to live the rest of your life in her shadow like this?" Shirlie huffed, hunched over.
Adrian was quiet for a moment. "It's not about what we want, Shirlie. It's about what the world needs. Stand Users are a menace to society. Your mother and I made a tough decision for the good of mankind. When she caught word of a Stand with the ability to stop time, she knew something had to be done. We couldn't just sit idly by and wait for someone to blow up the planet."
"What you're doing here is wrong. Kidnapping, imprisoning, abusing… You're hurting people. It needs to stop."
"It's for the greater good."
"How many millions have died throughout history in the name of a greater good? It's what cruel, broken monsters use to justify their actions instead of STOPPING. You could stop, Dad. You could stop right now. Just let everyone go."
"NO!" He roared, shocking the teen with his sudden outburst. "I can't stop now! I need to keep going! The entire world needs to be free of us!"
Shirlie stomped her foot, storming over to the wounded man. "You stubborn son of a bitch. We're done talking, and I'm not asking. You're going to let us out right now."
Adrian rose to his feet, the green Stand melting around his body as it struggled to maintain its shape. He stood tall, wicked eyes striking hesitation into the young woman as she approached. Shirlie paused for a moment, letting Pa-Pa-Power take point. The father heaved in discomfort from his bludgeoning. Power really did a number on him. Still, it wasn't enough.
"Such arrogance… This is my void, Shirlie. You're in my domain. You think you can tell me what to do?"
His body began to flux and ripple like before. Soon, the wounds in his stomach were crudely sealed shut, leaving nasty scars and countless bloodstains. Veins protruded from all of his exposed skin, and a few of them even popped. Blood spurted from those burst veins, causing Shirlie to cringe. She was on guard, though. Adrian could attack at any moment.
"I'm going to ask you one more time, Shirlie. If you want to live, you'll answer." He growled, taking a step forward. His body's weight seemed to rock the entire void, and a powerful booming sound filled the air. "Who. Killed. Stella?"
"You're sick, Dad, and nothing I can do will ever make it better. I'm sorry." She whispered, tears beginning to well in her eyes.
Adrian roared in a blind rage, pummeling the air before him with powerful attacks. Shirlie countered with her own, Power's spiked fists clashing with Feel Good Inc.'s fleshy hands. Blood got everywhere, but the father seemed beyond things like pain and reason. Tears flowed freely down Shirlie's face as she attacked, but that didn't mean she was ready to back down. Their blows clashed ferociously, gusts of wind blowing their hair back as they tried to stand firm. Feel Good Inc. pooled a bit of Adrian's own blood in its hand, throwing it right at Shirlie's face. The blood got into her eyes, causing her to stumble back with temporary blindness. She felt a foot greet her stomach, sending her down to the ground with force. Adrian kept her pinned by the stomach. She coughed violently in pain, gasping for air after having it knocked from her lungs.
"I suppose Pepsi will have to tell me what happened to your mother… Such a shame." He droned without emotion.
Shirlie pried at his foot with all her strength. She was exhausted, though. Her Stand energy was fading along with her consciousness. Her airflow was almost completely obstructed by the pressure on her stomach. Blots of black appeared in her vision. This seemed to be it. She could take solace in the small victory of dying alone, though. At least Pepsi was with the others. They'd all figure something out. She was sure of it. Shirlie let her head fall back, the pound of her heartbeat obscuring all other noise as it roared through her head. None of it was fair… Then again, when did anything work out for her? The very man meant to protect her from the world was about to snuff her out of it. If her own father wouldn't stand up for her, who would?
"Great."
A tired voice panted from a distance. It echoed and bounced throughout the void. "Looks like I made it in time."
Adrian weakened his pressure on the teen, eyes darting over to the source of that voice. His eyes met with a well-built man. Granted, he was shorter than Adrian and Shirlie standing at a modest 5'11". He had some muscle definition to be sure, though he wasn't exactly a brute. Still, he looked like Arnold Schwarzenegger when compared to Adrian's sickly thin frame. Before the father could speak, his train of thought was interrupted.
"You there." Josuke growled, pointing at Adrian. "Is that supposed to be fatherly love? Do you feel big and strong right now?"
Shirlie coughed, gasping for air. She managed to cry out with a hoarse voice. "Josuke! Get out of here… We're in his world. You don't know how to fight in it!"
The sergeant ran a careful hand through his awesome hair, shaking his head confidently. "No can do, kid. What kind of cop walks away from blatant child abuse? Unfortunately, I don't have jurisdiction in whatever spirit realm we're trapped in. I suppose I'll just have to perform a citizen's arrest."
Adrian laughed hysterically, throwing his head back in amusement. "Arrest? The law doesn't apply to Stand Users! That's the whole reason we're here! It's so punks like you can't push everyone else around! If you had it your way, the world would be anarchy…" He glanced over Josuke's form for a moment before adding, "anarchy with terrible haircuts."
Josuke let out a hearty laugh. "Now you've gone and done it. Raggedy Ann is trying to mock my hair. I'm not a kid anymore, friend. You won't throw me off with simple bullying."
"Oh, but I've been inside your head, Higashikata Josuke… I've been in the head of your entire group. We all want something in life, and you're no different…"
Adrian sank into the floor like it was a body of water. Moments later, he emerged behind Josuke. The sergeant felt a hand on his shoulder, and the chilling breath of his enemy on the back of his neck.
"You're unhappy."
Crazy Diamond clasped its fist so hard that it sounded like a choir of clapping hands. It spun around, swinging right for Adrian's face. Before the action could complete, a green hand was lifted in front of the father's head. He grinned, eyes flashing red for a moment. Josuke stopped in his tracks, his entire body twitching as if he were zapped by lightning.
"Sleep…" Adrian purred.
Josuke's eyes faded, losing their sharpness. He fell to the floor, his body slamming harshly against the void. Shirlie cried out in anger, pulling herself to her feet. She gasped for air, coughing as her chest pounded in pain. Pa-Pa-Power was enraged beyond belief. For some reason, he felt particularly attached to Josuke. Perhaps it was the man's gentle nature, his healing spirit, or the way he always talked politely to Power like he was real. Either way, he was furious. The Stand let out a silent roar, pounding his fists together.
"What did you do to him? Where is he?" Shirlie demanded.
Adrian slowly turned his attention back to the whiny child, tilting his head. "I'm doing him a favor… Right now, he's seeing how pointless his life is. He's not missing anything by staying here. I mean, really, he's pathetic. A single man pushing thirty with no social life? No girlfriend? He rushed into a career with zero consideration for the future, and now he's unhappy."
"Get out of his head, you bastard. What gives you the right to say that someone's living their life wrong? You boarded yourself up in a fake hotel for all of time! You're the one who's pathetic!"
"Enough of this! I think we can all agree that this has gone on long enough! You and your friends are not going to leave! Not now, not tomorrow, not ever! You have two choices: get the fuck out of here and live the rest of your days in the hotel, or die." Adrian threatened.
Suddenly, another redhead appeared. Pepsi grabbed Adrian from behind, putting him in a headlock. Their brass knuckles reflected the void's shining light, alerting him that they were prepared to seriously harm him if necessary. "I choose option three, where you let everyone go and wither away in this hellscape."
"P-Pepsi!?" He gasped, struggling to break free from their grip. "When did you get here?"
"Pepsi!" Shirlie called out, a big smile on her face. "I didn't think you'd set foot in here."
Their expression was hard to read, like always. Still, they took Adrian to the ground and tightened their grip around his neck.
"Let Josuke go, okay? Then we'll talk details." They growled.
Adrian couldn't help but chuckle. A low, throaty laugh began to escape his chapped lips. Soon, it turned into a hearty laugh. After about twenty seconds, he was thrashing hysterically, laughing harder than he ever had in his life. It was nearly enough to make Pepsi let go, but they stayed vigilant. The father roared, his voice bouncing off the void's walls and filling it with his thunderous amusement. After a painfully tense minute of non-stop laughter, he finally shifted into a fit of coughing. Once he was done, he simply relaxed his head against his child.
"It's just so funny… I let you two slip away for a few months, and you're suddenly all grown up? Not only that, but you're challenging me? Me?"
Feel Good Inc. swiftly struck Pepsi in the back of their head. Adrian quickly rolled onto his side, showing a surprising amount of agility as he rocked back, springing onto his feet with no hands. He delivered a quick kick to Pepsi's stomach, stunning them once more so they wouldn't disappear.
"I'm not a fan of your attitudes, kids! In fact, I think I'll be lowering your allowances! And, you can't sleep over at your new friends' house! You're grounded. Right. Into. The. Ground." He shouted, losing more and more composure as his tangent continued.
Shirlie bolted over, clashing blows with Adrian once more. There was a short scuffle between Power and Feel Good that ultimately resulted with Shirlie lying on the ground. Her father was unhinged. He'd ceased holding back in any way, completely complacent with the idea of murdering his children. If they could just wake Josuke, he'd be able to heal them and even the scales. Shirlie could still see her twin, which meant Pepsi was seriously frazzled. Things were looking very grim.
The strange color spectrum circling around the otherwise empty void began to shift in appearance. It distorted strangely, flickering and bugging out. Soon, the image changed to that of blood trailing down all four walls. The ceiling changed to pure blackness, and the floor resembled cracked glass. Adrian was losing grip with his Stand's ability.
"Everyone's just going to stay put and have a nice long timeout! You can come out when SOMEONE tells the truth about Stella's death! Someone needs to come clean! SOMEONE DID IT! ONE OF YOU KILLED HER!" He screamed at the top of his lungs, the booming voice bringing pain to both teens' ears.
Shirlie and Pepsi just rolled on the floor, covering their ears and groaning in pain. A strange high-pitched noise rang throughout the void. It pierced their eardrums and caused even more of a headache than his shouting. The ringing kept going, getting louder and louder. Blood starting raining from the ceiling, the warm thick liquid splatting against everyone's skin. It was unbelievably thick, and the globs falling were so large that it seemed like buckets were being dropped.
"Who did it!? Who? Who!?" He threw his head back, his own skin cracking like a pillar of sand.
Pepsi and Shirlie made eye-contact. Neither of them had the strength to act. They just shared a solidarity without words. They were there for each other, and that was enough to power through whatever hell Adrian was about to unleash. The walls all began to fragment and crack like the floor, and the blood accumulated at a much greater speed. It seemed like the world was ending all around them. They'd escaped from their father for a time, but it seemed fitting to meet their end in his grasp. He'd never left their dreams, after all…
"You did it, Adrian. You killed me…"
That voice pierced the noise like a sharpened blade. Everyone heard it loud and clear. Not only that, but they recognized it. After all, how could anyone forget such a beautiful voice? More so, how could one forget the voice of their own mother? Everything fell silent after that. The blood stopped raining… The white noise was gone. Adrian stood still, too shocked to move an inch.
A radiant light began to shine through the void. As it dimmed, they could all see a floating woman inside. She was tall and lithe with freckles scattered across her face. Long red hair wavered above her, flowing in the supernatural space around her body. Her eyes were a striking blue, and her skin was so pale it was as if the sun had never kissed it. She lowered herself to the floor, walking on her toes as she approached Adrian. He stared at her in horror, twitching a bit.
"N-No…" He shook his head.
"Yes, my love." She finally arrived in front of him, cupping his cheek in a glowing hand.
"No, I wouldn't have done that." He argued.
"You were driven to it, driven to madness… None of us understood what was going on. It was an agent of chaos sent by our enemy. A horrible man with the most terrifying power I've ever seen. That man is dead now. That's why I can finally explain myself. Every time I tried, he simply wiped it from your memories."
Shirlie slowly pulled herself up, resting on her elbows as she struggled to see the woman. "M-Mom…?" She called out weakly.
Stella Artois turned her head to the wounded girl. A warm smile came to her lips. "Yes, dear. It's so good to see how you've grown."
The teen dragged herself over to Pepsi defensively, manifesting Pa-Pa-Power to the best of her ability. "You're still here?"
"I never left. How could I? The Hotel California and I are two sides of the same coin. It's my Stand." She explained.
"Stella." Adrian gripped her tightly, squeezing her arms in his large hands. "Why don't I remember? How could this happen?"
The ghost sighed, lowering her head in remorse. "Diva was a terror to us all. Blondie caught wind of our plan all those years ago and sent an agent to foil it. Unfortunately, no one can leave the Hotel without my permission. He was trapped… Still, he completed his mission to the best of his ability. Diva wasn't a fighter. He manipulated his enemies into killing one another. That's why you killed me, and that's why you don't remember. His power doesn't work on spirits, that's why I have clarity. You'll slowly remember his deception now that he's dead, but it will never be crystal clear. I'm sorry."
"None of it makes sense…" He whispered, sinking to his knees. "I remembered the kids doing it. I swear, I remember the kids hurting you. That's why I… That's why I did what I did. I wanted them to admit it. I needed them to admit it."
Stella raised a dismissive hand. "I couldn't watch you torment my children any longer. It killed me to send them into the world without any parents, but it was better than staying here with you. It might not be your fault, Adrian, but you turned into a monster. I let them go."
It all started to click in Shirlie's mind. She finally got it. Blurry memories from her early childhood started to come together. She and Pepsi managed to escape, but it was never clear how. It's because their mother set them free.
"What happened to Diva?" Adrian questioned, looking up at his deceased wife like a hollow, broken husk.
"He was defeated by someone rather special. In fact…" She raised both of her hands skyward and began to radiant with another powerful light. The entire room shattered, disabling Adrian's Stand ability and returning them to the main lobby of Hotel California. "I think it's time to meet her."
Shizuka had been wandering aimlessly through the winding halls in search of answers. She hardly remembered anything. Last thing she remembered, she was searching for everyone with a cowboy. Then she woke up with a throbbing headache alone on the floor. Eventually, and happened to meander right into the lobby. Perhaps it was by Stella's subtle hand, or maybe it was honest luck. Either way, she was now standing in the presence of the Hotel's master. Her eyes widened when she saw the scene before her. Josuke, Pepsi and Shirlie were all lying on the floor wounded. A magic glowing woman was smiling at her, and a ragged man was trembling on his knees.
Ultra Violet sprang from her body, and she clenched her fists. Before she could say anything, Stella interjected.
"Tsuru, as I live and breathe. It's been quite a while, hasn't it?"
Shizuka raised a brow. She was in no mood for mind games. The name "Tsuru" certainly rang a bell. That was the strange Japanese woman from her visions. In fact, she was Dio's live-in-scientist. Why on Earth was she being mistaken for someone like that? Unless… Perhaps the fears in her deep subconscious were true. Was she really Tsuru's daughter?
"My name's Shizuka." She mumbled.
Stella seemed intrigued. "I saw recognition in your eyes, though. The name Tsuru means something to you?" She gracefully glided across the room, circling around Shizuka and levitating above her. "You're a carbon copy of her, down to the last detail." She lifted Shizuka's hair up, noticing a little birthmark on her upper neck. Not the strange Joestar mark, this one was rather normal. "You even have her birthmark! This star tattoo is new, I'll admit. But aside from that, you're Tsuru through-and-through."
Shizuka swatted the woman away, turning to face her in irritation. "Tsuru is a grown woman. I don't look like that!"
"No, darling, you look like she looked. Tsuru and I grew up together. You look exactly like her. You sound exactly like her. Hell, you've even got her attitude. So, out with it, what crazy experiment is this? You turned yourself into a kid? You can tell me."
The child said nothing. She just stared at Stella. The tension eventually compelled the woman to speak.
"...you do remember me, right?"
"I'm not her. I'm Shizuka Joestar."
Stella recoiled back, a wave of shock overtaking her. "Joestar?" She questioned in disbelief.
"You've heard of us?"
"What on Earth are you doing as a Joestar? Who the hell are you?" She crossed her arms.
"Lady, I'm getting a little sick and tired of this. Start making sense, or leave me alone." Shizuka growled.
"But you're the same! How can this be? Are you…? Could you really be her daughter? Could her daughter be this similar? Did she sleep with a Joestar?"
"I don't know! I never met her! I was found on a sidewalk by Joseph Joestar and his son Higashikata Josuke! I hope she's not my mom, because she seems like she'd be really, really bad at it!" She shouted, getting a little angry at all the questioning.
Stella raised a hand to her mouth, completely speechless. The gears in her head were turning as she tried to make reason out of the madness. Eventually, when the dust settled, she cleared her throat.
"You, the daughter of Tsuru, just so happened to land in the Joestar's care? Then, by dumb luck you ended up with my children? And to top it off, you were trapped in my Hotel California? The world is small, but it's not that small. " Stella scoffed.
"Your children…?" Shizuka murmured, glancing over the woman's shoulder and getting another good look at the twins. "You're their mother!?"
"Adrian and I had the twins a few years before it all happened. They came to the Hotel California with us. I let them free in the year 1999. Time works differently here. We're removed from reality, in a sense."
"We just ran into them by chance. It wasn't like we were looking or anything." Shizuka explained.
"My children somehow ended up traveling with the daughter of Tsuru…? This has to be a part of that plan she was always talking about."
"Plan?" The young girl raised a brow.
"The three of us had our own plans for stopping Blondie. Cynthia stole Kars's feather, I started the Hotel California, and your mother…" She paused.
"What?"
"Your mother did something. She never told us what. She just promised it was taken care of. I do know that she got very close to Blondie, much closer than any of us dared. After years of planning, she fell off the grid. That's the last any of us heard of her."
"Wait… Cynthia? You wouldn't be talking about Cynthia Archer?" Shizuka mumbled, lifting her head in surprise.
"Cynthia Armstrong. Though she was seeing a Neil Archer last time I checked. Why?"
"I'm traveling with her daughter. And your children. What are we all doing together? You, Cynthia and Tsuru all had a pact to defeat Blondie? But why are your kids miraculously involved? What the heck is happening?" She rubbed her forehead, the headache only getting worse.
Stella's eyes sharpened as she considered the mystery. "I can only assume this is a part of Tsuru's plan. She's the smartest woman I know. If this is by design, she's the only person on Earth who could pull it off."
"Aren't you curious about how the plan ends?"
Stella seemed conflicted. "You know that I see all here? I know about the blonde girl's feather. I know Blondie needs it. What if I think it's better to keep you all here? That way she couldn't fulfill her plans."
"Would you honestly mess with Tsuru's plan? Do you really think you know better? Let's face it, your bright idea was to build an elaborate pillow fort." Shizuka mumbled with dry resentment.
Stella Artois's eyes lit up with recognition. That was exactly how her best friend spoke back in the day. The tone, the choice of words, the well-placed arrogance.
"I… I don't know better, no."
"Then let everyone go. Trust her."
"Why should I do that? Everything will be just fine if I keep you and the feather here."
"Hiding under a blanket won't stop a nuclear bomb!" Shizuka's tiny voice packed quite a punch at that moment. "This place isn't fool-proof. When Blondie knows we're trapped here, she's going to come for the feather. You're acting like we're being protected in some state-of-the-art shelter, but we're actually just fish in a barrel. If you don't let us go, everyone dies. The entire world will be infected with the arrow's virus. Is that what you want?" She panted, still fuming with rage.
Stella held her breath until the girl was finished. Then, and only then, did she speak. "You're not like most children."
"I've heard that a lot." She shrugged.
"I'll let you and your friends go, but the rest of my guests are staying. I refuse to let it all fall apart. Not even Tsuru could make me do such a thing." Stella warned.
"Then we don't have a deal." Shizuka mumbled, wandering over to the main desk of the hotel. She leaned forward, resting her weight against her elbows as she propped her face up with two fists. "I mean, this place seems pretty sweet. Does it have room service?"
Stella Artois sighed, stepping toward the desk. "Shizuka, I'm offering you a life. The chance to leave with your friends. Why are you putting that on the line for a few dozen Stand Users you've never met? For people who would try to kill you in these halls?"
"Because they matter too. Everyone matters, even if they don't directly benefit me."
"You're certainly different from your mother, then." Stella frowned. "I hope she knows what she's doing."
Shizuka slapped the prominent golden bell sitting before her on the desk. It chimed cheerfully, and she smiled. "Even if she doesn't, I do. Now open the door and let me prove you wrong."
A tired, shaky hand reached forward. It was followed by a hoarse voice. "Wait…" Adrian called out weakly.
Stella and Shizuka turned their heads to face him.
"What about me…? What's going to happen to me?"
The ghostly figure skated through the air once more, lowering herself down to Adrian's eye-level. She got on her knees, resting a hand on his shoulder. "You're sick, dear. You're very, very sick. I can't let you go. You'll stay here with me. Maybe someday, you'll recover from Diva's madness. Until then, you can't rejoin society." The woman glanced over to Shizuka for approval. "You don't want him free too, right?"
The little girl shrugged. "I mean, he's the one who hurt my friends, right? It's not like he could go to jail. This place will be a prison until he's better."
Stella nodded, standing with grace. She lifted her arms, spreading them out as a powerful light appeared between them.
"If you see your mother, tell her I'm sorry for all of it. Everything."
The entire room was engulfed in a bright white flash. Shizuka felt herself becoming lighter and lighter until it was as if she weighed nothing at all. The floor was no longer supporting her feet. She experienced the shocking sensation of a sudden fall. The most curious aspect was her trajectory. It felt almost like she was falling up. "Ascension" might be a better term to describe it. Oddly, Shizuka didn't know the word ascension until very recently. When did she learn that? In fact, she seemed to be using a lot of words, ideas, and confidence that seemed absent before. These thoughts were banished from her mind as the upwards falling increased in speed. She trembled, body thrashing against the wind like a plane experiencing turbulence. She closed her eyes, unable to take it anymore. Then, suddenly, she felt herself on solid ground.
Her eyes shot open, revealing a shocking sight. Out with the lovely hotel scenery, in with the foliage of nature… It was dark out. Shizuka scanned the sky in an attempt to locate the Big Dipper and the North Star. Once she saw them, it was only a matter of calculation and imagination to determine the time. Judging by the position of her reference line and hour hand, she figured it was around four in the morning. A moment later, she experienced another spiking headache. She cupped her face with both hands, audibly pained as she fell to her knees. When did she learn to tell the time with stars? What was she? Was she even human? Could Santana be right?
Footsteps could be heard in the distant brush. They were loud and frantic, clearly possessed by someone with little regard for cover. Moments later, Joseph bounded through the trees. His eyes locked on the pained girl, and he cried out dramatically.
"Shizuka! Thank God!" He sprinted over, collapsing to his knees and scooping her into a big hug.
The headache was subdued after some deep breathing. After that, she just felt so tired. She closed her eyes, leaning against Joseph's chest. Her arms draped around him weakly, and she felt close to slumber. "Dad?" She mumbled.
"I don't know what happened. Everyone was lying on the floor. We woke up one-by-one, scattered in strange groups. We hadn't even met some of the people we were paired with. You, Josuke and the twins were still missing though. Right when we started the search party, there was this flash of light. Then, go figure, I woke up lying face-down in the grass. I used Hermit Purple to find you, and here we are! It looks like we're out, but we need to find the others!"
"You talk a lot…" Shizuka laughed, slipping closer and closer into unconsciousness.
"Hey! I was worried about my precious little girl! You talk a lot." Joseph quipped.
There wasn't a response, though. She was already asleep. Joseph scooped her up, standing tall as his eyes scanned the trees. If everyone was released from the hotel simultaneously, they could be in some serious danger. There were some nasty Stands inside. Sure, everyone was lashing out in a kill-or-be-killed battle dome, so it might be safe to assume they'd be less violent outside. Still, Joseph didn't want to chance it. He slipped back into the tree line, minding the sound of his steps all the while.
The situation might have been dark, but there was always a bright side. They were out of that hellish hotel. Even if they were still in enemy territory, they seemed to be safer than they were ten minutes ago. "Take things as they come" was Joseph's mantra. He'd get everyone to safety, then they'd deal with the rest. He'd certainly been in tougher binds before. Fighting a vampiric hamon master without a single day of combat training, wiggling his way into being spared by the Pillar Men to fight another day, surviving a baker's dozen plane crashes, it was safe to say Joseph could make it through anything. He just needed a bit of luck, and a great big smile…
To be Continued...