Love Live! Bizarre Adventure Project: Starlight Crusaders
Chapter 11: The High Priestess
Last time on Love Live! Bizarre Adventure Project!
This is it. We're taking the submarine Nozomi-chan helped me rent the other day from one side of the sea to the other, and we'll be in Hokkaido in less than an hour!
Am I glad I have friends like Umi-chan, Nozomi-chan, Eli-chan and Maki-chan to back me up on this journey? What would I ever do without them?
"Driving this is actually pretty easy!" Said Eli, driving the submarine. "Guess that's how you were making it look so simple, Nozomi."
However, the submarine ran over some rocks. "For Pete's sake! Don't get so carried away, Elicchi! The sea is riddled with potential hazards!" Nozomi groaned.
"Yeah, yeah." Eli shrugged. "All right! Let's speed this tub up a b-" The blonde was interrupted by a loud clanging noise.
Nozomi tried to pull Eli out of the seat. "Elicchi!"
"I have nothing to do with that!" Eli protested.
Eventually, Umi took over driving the sub as Eli yawned. "I'm so tired. Tell me we're almost there..."
Meanwhile, Maki opened a drawer to reveal coffee cups inside. "One, two, three, four, five..." She took one out. "Oh, exactly five cups in here."
"Hey!" Maki looked behind her to see Eli ask her "Hurry up and make the coffee, Maki! I want some now!"
"Make it yourself!" The redhead pouted.
1:15 PM
Nozomi looked out the periscope to see how far she and the others are from Hokkaido. She saw that the shore was not too far away!
"Good news! I've just spotted the coast of Hokkaido! We'll be there soon!"
Everyone else was delighted to hear Nozomi's news as she showed them a map.
"Near this coral reef, lies a natural undersea channel. The exit is two hundred meters inland. We can surface there."
"We've finally made it to Hokkaido." Said Honoka.
"It took long enough." Added Eli.
"So this is Hokkaido..." Concluded Umi.
Maki didn't say anything so instead she nodded.
"Yes, we have arrived." Nozomi replied.
Eli chuckled, which made Nozomi ask "What's so funny?"
"Nothing." Answered the blonde. "I'm just feeling sorta happy, that's all. It's been a while a lot of us were all gathered together like this."
A couple minutes later, Maki had finished preparing coffee for herself and the others.
However, something was weird to Umi. "Hey, Maki. Why'd you grab six cups for five people?"
"That's peculiar. I guess I didn't notice. I could have sworn it was five..." Answered Maki.
Honoka took one of the cups and drank away. However, said cup morphed into something else! It made a knife and sliced Honoka's ponytail off!
"Wh-!?" Exclaimed the others.
Honoka was not sure what was going on at all! "What the!?" Whatever this thing is, it launched Honoka's loose hairs at her like needles!
"Honoka!" Cried Umi and Maki.
The thing that attacked Honoka screeched instead of properly introducing itself!
"Impossible!" "It's a Stand! I don't know how, but it managed to sneak on board!" Said Eli and Nozomi respectively.
Umi summoned Slight Fever Mystery and attacked the new enemy Stand, but it dodged her! This new Stand fused with the submarine!
"Now it's gone!" Said Eli.
"No, it didn't!" Corrected Umi.
"It transformed! It disguised itself as one of the gauges! Just like with the coffee cup!" Added Nozomi.
"Come again!" Asked Eli as the submarine advanced to one of the places Nozomi was talking about. "The coral reef! And we were a few hundred meters from reaching Hokkaido!"
Maki lifted Honoka off the ground. "Luckily, it looks like Honoka was only knocked unconscious. The problem is her hair."
The two girls heard Honoka's phone ring.
"H-Honoka's phone!? Who'd be calling her now!?"
"Ignore it, Eli! We have to stay focused!"
Nozomi spoke. "It's the High Priestess. Our enemy is using a deadly Stand called the High Priestess."
"So you know it well?" Asked Umi.
"Somewhat. The name of this particular Stand user is Midler. She has the ability to control her Stand from far away, so she's most likely on land."
"What's its power?" Asked Maki.
"It can turn into almost any inanimate object, as long as it comes from a mineral. Plastics, metal, glass or vinyl. There's no way to recognize it, until it decides to attack."
"But how'd it sneak aboard in the first place?" Asked Eli.
Suddenly, water started leaking into the submarine as its alarm went off!
"I get it now, so that's how it did it. How simple... It cut a hole and moseyed on in?" Said the blonde.
Nozomi read the sub's status. "The ballast tanks are damaged! We're sinking even faster!"
"Not to mention we're losing oxygen! We can't go on like this!" Added Maki.
Honoka's phone rang again. "Shut up! Whoever's calling has horrible timing!" Groaned Eli as Umi took the phone out of the ginger's pocket. "Umi!?"
Nozomi warned Umi about High Priestess. "Hey! Anything we touch could be the-"
Umi answered the phone anyway. "Hi again, Honoka-chan, it's me! We weren't finished with our conversation, so I thought I'd call back."
Umi knew that voice anywhere. It was Kotori. She didn't know how to answer. "Why aren't you speaking?" Kotori could hear the sub's alarm and the water leaking from the phone.
"Come to think of it, what's with all the ruckus over there? Is that a... siren I'm hearing? And that running water... Is your bathtub overflowing?"
"Sorry, but Honoka can't come to the phone." Umi answered.
"I know that voice... Is that you...? Umi-chan!? Where's Honoka-chan!? Why can't she answer!? Umi-chan, answer me!"
Umi tried to think of something to say. It took about five minutes, but she could finally talk.
"There's nothing to worry about, Kotori. She'll be fine. I'm right here with her. I'll see you later. We'll call back once things calm down."
"Umi-chan!" Then Umi hang up.
The submarine makes a crash course to the bottom of the ocean! "Brace yourselves! We're about to hit the bottom!" Warned Nozomi.
"Oh my God!" Exclaimed Eli as the submarine crashes and slowly loses power. "I knew this would happen! Every vehicle we use gets totaled!"
Umi got off the ground and tilted her hat. "I'm never riding in a submarine again."
Back in Tokyo, the only thing Kotori could hear from her phone is now static.
"How strange..." Said the silver haired girl before hanging up. "I was getting through a moment ago. It's as if the line's suddenly gone dead. But... Why would Umi-chan...?"
In the submarine, the flood is now about nine inches deep. Eli could barely breathe. "H-Hey, the oxygen's getting thin in here."
"Maki. Did you catch which one of the gauges the Stand merged with?" Asked Umi.
Maki tried to identify which gauge it was. "It..." She pointed to one of them. "It looked like it turned into this one."
Umi signaled the redhead to back off, then she summoned Slight Fever Mystery. However, Nozomi noticed that both Umi and Maki were wrong! High Priestess emerged from behind Maki! "That's not it! Umicchi! It already moved! It's right behind Maki-chan!"
The enemy Stand slashed at Maki, who dodged it just in time! "Psychic Fire!" The redhead's Stand fights back! However, the enemy Stand dodged the attack and sliced Maki's neck open!
"Maki-chan!" Cried Nozomi.
"Ora..." Slight Fever Mystery attacked again! "ORAAH!" But it was useless! High Priestess is just too fast! It transformed back into part of the submarine!
"Everyone, head for the door! It's traveling across the machines' surface!" Said Nozomi.
Eli replied. "You say that, but..."
"If we stay in this room, there's a very good chance we won't survive! Maki-chan, are you all right?"
"Y-Yes..." Answered the redhead.
"Everyone, get to the next room!" Nozomi grabbed the wheel on the door. "We'll seal the room off, and trap it inside!" To the purple-haired girl's shock, High Priestess is already the valve! "There's no way! It already moved to the door and transformed into the wheel..."
"I have to let go before it's too late! Its claws were able to slice Maki-chan's neck open..."
Before the enemy Stand could slice Nozomi, Umi's Stand was finally able to grab it! It is now the bluenette's hostage.
"Yes! We got it!" Cheered Eli.
Nozomi was relieved. "Th-That was close..."
"Apparently, our little friend here isn't as fast as Slight Fever Mystery." Said Umi. "So, what should we do with it?"
"Umi, what are you waiting for!? Show it no mercy! Hurry up and rip its little head off!" Answered Eli.
"Aye-aye, miss." Umi's Stand slowly tore High Priestess with its bare hands! But it changed shape!
"That little... It turned into a goddamn razor!" Priestess' new form cut SLM's hands, which reflected to Umi! It darted to the ceiling, its sudden movement startling Eli and making her accidentally drop Honoka!
"Damn..." Cried Umi.
"It's strong!" Added Nozomi.
The drop was enough to wake up Honoka as High Priestess laughed at the girls.
"I can't believe it outsmarted Umi! What an enemy..." Said Maki.
Honoka was now aware of her surroundings. "What is going on? Whatever's happening here, I'm pretty sure we're in a pinch."
"Not now, Honoka-chan." Fire surrounded Nozomi. "The beast will attack us if we touch it. Meaning we must use our Stands instead! Pure Love Lens!" Nozomi's Stand shot fire at High Priestess, which dodged!
"Soldier Game!" Eli's Stand attacked High Priestess, but it hardened so the sword couldn't pierce it! "It's a tough one! Soldier Game's sword can't pierce its armor!"
"Pick up the pace! We have to attack before it gets away!" Said Honoka.
"Everyone, stand back!" Added Nozomi as Eli opened the door to a corridor.
"There's still some oxygen over here."
Maki followed her. "It's going to run out soon!"
"Are you all right?" Nozomi asked Honoka.
"Yeah."
Nozomi told the bluenette not to fight. "Forget it, Umicchi! It'll only transform again. We're taking on water fast, so we need to trap that thing! We'll figure out how to fight it then!"
Umi watched as High Priestess cackled at her, then it dissolved into the ceiling. Umi spoke one last sentence before retreating.
"Know that it'll be Umi Sonoda who'll hammer you into a bloody pulp."
Then she followed the others.
"What did you say!? Umi-chan, why would you answer a call from Kotori-chan!? Damn it... You really shouldn't have done that!" Whatever... We'll talk about it when we get out of this mess. Leave everything to me!" Exclaimed Honoka.
"Do you have a plan?" Asked Umi.
"You bet... And it's a brilliant one. Honoka Kosaka has gone through situations like this before!"
In Tokyo, Kotori, Rin and Hanayo converse outside a classroom. "I can't begin to understand why Umi-chan wouldn't call me until now. Did she say anything to you?"
Hanayo shook her head. "Not at all..."
"Though... My heart jumped with joy to hear Umi-chan's voice. She hasn't told us much since she became a Stand user, but deep down she wants to help Honoka-chan the best she can. I'm sure she's doing exactly that."
Rin and Hanayo silently cried at Kotori's words. "Yes, Kotori-chan. Honoka-chan and Umi-chan are most likely in the midst of battling a common enemy as we speak." The two of them thought in unison. "They're fighting to save Yukiho-chan, someone very dear to them, from a curse of unbridled evil."
"What do we do now? I have a feeling that devil of a Stand isn't really the one trapped here. Sooner or later, that monster will cut its way out of that room and catch up to us!" Said Maki as she and the girls ran for an escape.
"Being sealed off with all this machinery makes us sitting ducks in here! This submarine is done for! We need to abandon ship and escape! We'll have to find some other way to Hokkaido!" Added Nozomi.
"We're forty meters below sea level! It doesn't sound that bad, but how are we supposed to get out of here?" Eli asked.
At the airlock, Eli and Maki are given scuba gear. "We're really gonna scuba dive?" Asked the blonde. "I've never done anything like this..."
"Hurry everyone! Suit up on the double!" Said Honoka.
"Give me a break." Groaned Umi.
"I just realized I might have trouble suiting up myself. Umi-chan, can you give me a hand?"
"Do it yourself." The bluenette shot back.
In the bridge, the water is now about 6 or 7 feet deep! Under the water is High Priestess, preparing to swim its way to its foes!
While the girls prepared to abandon ship, the submarine shook before them.
"Anyone else getting nervous?" Asked Eli.
"Try to stay calm. Times like these require us to keep our heads on straight and be prepared." Said Honoka, gearing up. "Putting this stuff on is a lot heavier than it looks."
Nozomi looked at the others. "So has anyone ever scuba dived before?"
"Not me." Answered Maki.
"No." Answered Umi.
"I haven't." Answered Eli.
"The High Priestess will break through any moment! You have to teach us how to dive now!" Said Honoka.
Nozomi explained scuba diving to the others. "Try and calm yourself, Honoka-chan. You must never panic, no matter what. This is the most important rule when scuba diving. When you're underwater, for every ten meters you go below the surface, the corresponding pressure increases along with you. The surface pressure starts at one atmosphere. We're forty meters below the surface right now, so we'll endure five atmospheres of pressure. If we surface too quickly, the pressure will cause our lungs and blood vessels to burst. We have to rise slowly so our bodies can adjust. We're nearing the coast of Hokkaido. It's best to ascend along the sea floor."
Nozomi turned a wheel. "Okay... I'm letting the water in."
Water flowed into the airlock room as Nozomi showed the others a piece of her gear. "You're looking at a regulator. The valve inside allows air from in the tank only when you inhale. The air you breathe out exists through the piece on the left."
The purple haired girl raised her hand. "This goes without saying, but we can't talk underwater. Instead, we'll use hand signals. Let's keep things simple and use two."
Nozomi curled her thumb and index finger to make a circle. "When things are going smoothly, we'll use this to say 'okay.'" Then she tilted her hand, her thumb and pinky finger pointing in the opposite direction and the rest of her fingers pointing straight. "When they aren't, use this."
"Nozomi-chan, couldn't we just use our Stands to communicate?" Asked Eli.
"Oh yeah, I didn't think about that." Said Nozomi.
"Aww, man! And I was about to say I know a really good hand signal." Said Honoka.
Honoka clapped her hands, did a peace gesture with her right hand, an OK gesture with said hand, then moved her hand to her forehead.
Maki translated the signal. "Pan-tsu-maru-mie."
(TL Note: Your underwear is showing.)
"Yeah!" Honoka celebrates by engaging in a friendly handshake with Maki as they leave Eli baffled.
"We could be attacked and killed at any moment! Stop fooling around and let's go!"
Honoka was fully prepared to leave the submarine. "This room is about to be filled to the brim with water. Put your masks and regulators on."
The other girls did exactly what Honoka said. The ginger opened the airlock, then she does the OK hand gesture. The others respond with the same gesture, but not Eli!
"Elicchi!" Cried Nozomi.
Little did the blonde know that her own regulator was just High Priestess in disguise! It attacks Eli by chewing on her lower lip and popping her mask off!
"When did..."
"Th-The Stand had already integrated with the regulator!" Said Maki.
"That bastard... It's gonna rip her apart from the inside! Damn it!" Growled Umi as the enemy Stand tried to stuff itself in Eli's mouth. "Drain the room!"
Nozomi explained to Umi why she can't do that. "It's too late! It must have been lying in wait for just this moment!"
Slight Fever Mystery tried to grab High Priestess but it was too late! It already burrowed down Eli's throat!
"D-Damn!" Exclaimed the bluenette.
"It managed to burrow inside Elicchi! It'll tear out her guts!" Cried Nozomi.
"What should we do!?" Exclaimed Honoka.
Maki summoned her Stand. "Psychic Fire!" The veiny Stand's tentacles crawled down Eli's nostrils to catch High Priestess!
"H-Hey..."
Maki finally caught it! "I grabbed it before it went too far down her throat! Now to pull it out before it transforms!"
"Success!" The redhead has the enemy Stand out of Eli's mouth!
Umi summoned her own Stand again. "All right, keep it just like that!" But Priestess morphed and escaped from Psychic Fire!
"It's transforming into something else!" Said Nozomi as the foe is now a spear gun!
"You've got to be kidding me! It turned into a spear gun!" Exclaimed Honoka.
"Emerald Splash!" Psychic Fire's emeralds and High Priestess' spear fired at the same time!
"Soldier Game!" Eli's Stand parried the spear! The two Stands' sharp points clashed as Eli managed to keep the foe from harming the others! "Let's get moving!"
Maki stated Priestess' next move. "It's already reloading!"
"It doesn't quit!" Said Nozomi.
The Stand pointed at the girls, whom were leaving the sub! "H-Hurry!"
Umi helped Nozomi, Eli and Maki out, then she lends Honoka her hand. "Move it, Honoka!"
Honoka grabbed Umi's hand and pulled herself out. "Yeah, I'm coming!"
The ginger and bluenette closed the hatch before High Priestess could fire again! It reverted to its original form after misfiring.
Maki was relieved that everyone got out in one piece. "Th-That was too close..."
"It's too soon for us to relax. That monster knows exactly how to hit us where it hurts most." Said Honoka.
"Elicchi, are you all right?" Asked Nozomi.
"Yeah, I'll be fine... Maki saved me back there." The blonde turned to the redhead. "большое спасибо (Bol'shoye spasibo)."
(TL Note: большое спасибо = Thank you very much)
The five girls swam to the other side of the sea and Eli, who had been given a new regulator, admires the underwater terrain. "Just look at how beautiful it is down here. This would've made a spectacular place to visit on vacation."
Umi reminded Eli of the stakes. "Plan your getaway another time! We have to surface before we run out of oxygen."
Maki asked Nozomi "Think we're safe?"
"I believe so. The High Priestess can transform into metals and glass, but it can't take the form of bubbles or fish." Answered the purple haired girl.
"Just keep your eyes peeled. If it pursues us, it'll probably transform into a part of our gear. Be careful of moving pebbles or stones, too." Said Honoka.
The five advanced to a place that caught Nozomi's eye. "Look! I think it's the sea tunnel!" She pointed to two caves.
Honoka looked at a device. "We're at seven meters. We've finally reached the shore of Hokkaido!"
"We can swim along these rocks to the surface!" Said Nozomi.
However, the two caves were just nostrils on a giant face! It opened its eyelids and lips to reveal eyes and teeth! It then opened its mouth and proceeded to swallow the five girls whole!
"What!?" Exclaimed Umi.
Eli asked "Is that the..."
"It's the Stand! It merged with the sea floor! And it's gargantuan..." Said Nozomi.
"It's pulling us into its mouth!" Cried Honoka.
Once High Priestess has all five girls in its mouth, it closes, leaving them no hope to escape.
"This is impossible!" Exclaimed Maki, spinning in a whirlpool-like current.
"How is it so gigantic!?" Exclaimed Nozomi.
"The hell!? It's colossal! This power! It was so small before!" Cried Nozomi as the enemy Stand cackles victoriously.
"You girls are so slow on the uptake! Didn't it cross your minds that if the rocks are mineral, it would mean the sea bed is mostly mineral, too?" Said Priestess.
"If the Stand is this powerful, the Stand user must be close! And I'd wager, she's closer than we think!" Said Maki.
High Priestess congratulated the redhead for giving a right answer. "You guessed it! I'm seven meters above you, on the shore! But since you're about to be ground to bits by High Priestess, you'll never have a chance to see my face!"
On the surface of the ocean is Midler, watching as her Stand drains the water from its mouth! Honoka and crew fall onto Priestess' tongue. It's so dark that they can barely see.
"I can't tell what part of the Stand we're in." Said Maki.
"Seems like we're still inside its mouth. Luckily, we weren't sucked down its gullet." Honoka replied.
Midler called a certain bluenette's attention. "Hey, Sonoda! You're just my type, so this is going to be as painful for me as for you. It's too bad I have to make the High Priestess digest you. If only things were different. How sad! But if I kill you, Lord DIO will shower me with praise. So don't hate me!" While Midler confessed her feelings for Umi, Eli whispered something in her ear.
Umi blushed at what the blonde told her. "Give me a break, Eli. Do I have to? I already have a girlfriend, you know."
"Just say it! Come on, hurry, get on with it!" Eli winked.
"Say what?" The two girls caught Nozomi's attention.
Honoka teared up a little. "Are you cheating on me, Umi-chan?"
Umi breathed in, then breathed out. "Midler, I wish I could've seen your face, if only once. You might've been my type, too. I just might've fallen for you."
Umi's words made High Priestess' mouth light up.
"I bet she's a beauty! I can tell from that voice of her's." Said Eli.
"Yes. She comes across as an elegant woman. My fortune teller's instinct senses it." Added Nozomi.
"If you ask me, she sounds just like Yoko Hikasa." Added Maki.
"Man, I bet you're really cute." Concluded Honoka.
The girls' words were enough to make High Priestess turn about as red as Maki's hair. However, Midler was able to see through the girls' lies.
"You bitches! You don't mean a single word of all that! I'll kill you all!" High Priestess' tongue propelled the girls into the air!
"Holy smokes!" Exclaimed Honoka.
"Everyone, look!" Said Maki.
The girls saw a giant pink flesh right above them as the ginger asked "What is that!?"
Maki answers "I-It's a tongue! It's the Stand's tongue! Here it comes!"
"Umi!" Priestess' tongue slams right into the bluenette!
"Umi-chan!" Cried Honoka.
Umi coughed up some blood as the force of the Stand's tongue launched her towards its teeth!
"Umicchi's going to land in...!"
The semi-conscious bluenette crashed on one of High Priestess' lower teeth!
"She landed right on the molars!" Said Honoka.
"Umi! Get outta there!" Cried Eli.
"You'll be crushed!" Added Maki.
"ORA!" Just before Priestess could crush Umi with its teeth, Slight Fever Mystery stopped it!
"You want to pit your strength against mine, do you?" Mocked Midler.
"Damn, such crazy power..." Groaned Honoka.
"Umi! These teeth are about as hard as diamonds! You'll never be able to break them! I'll crush you to death!"
Honoka summoned Love Marginal. "We have to save Umi-chan!" The ginger ran to the bluenette's aide as the other three girls summoned their own Stands to help her.
"Get outta my way!" However, Midler saw them try to interfere, so she attacked them with High Priestess' tongue again!
"That damn tongue again!" Exclaimed Eli.
Before the tongue could hit them, Maki lifted herself and her friends with Psychic Fire! "Pure Love Lens!" Nozomi's Stand shot a massive flame at the tongue, which made Midler cry in pain! But it was too late! High Priestess had pretty much crushed Umi!
"We're outta time!" Cried Honoka, who rushed to her with Love Marginal. "I'll pry her out of there!"
Before Honoka could make it, Priestess had fully closed its teeth! Umi Sonoda is flat as a pancake!
"Umi-chan!" "Umi!" "Umicchi!" Cried the four girls.
"Those giant teeth pulverized Umi!" Said Eli.
There was silence. The tip of Umi's oxygen tank lied on the ground, the rest of it bitten off.
"U-Umicchi..." Whimpered Nozomi.
Honoka shed a couple of tears. "We didn't make it in time!"
But not all hope was lost. Honoka could hear a noise from within High Priestess' teeth. "Hold on a sec. I think I hear something."
Nozomi could hear it, too. The noise sounded like punching and yelling. "It sounds as if it's coming from far away..."
"I think it's getting closer." Said Maki.
Eli knew exactly what that noise was! "That voice belongs to..."
As the sound got louder, the yelling sounded more like "Ora ora ora", Slight Fever Mystery's battle cry!
"The teeth! It's coming from inside the teeth!" Cheered the blonde.
"Everyone, brace yourselves!" Honoka ducked, which confused Eli a bit. "Huh?"
"ORA!" A fist broke through one of High Priestess' teeth! It was Slight Fever Mystery! "ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA!" It repeatedly punched the teeth to break itself and its user out!
"They were hard as diamonds, and she still punched her way out!" Eli narrated.
"Oh, my God!" Said Honoka. "And look!"
"ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA!" Umi's Stand proceeded to break the rest of the teeth! "She's busting the rest of them!"
"I thought Umi didn't like to show off..." Maki smirked.
Nozomi smiled. "Her Stand's immense power never ceases to amaze me."
"Hurry! I'm getting us out of this hell hole!" Warned Umi.
"ORA ORA ORA ORAAHH! OORRAAAAHH!" With only half a dozen punches, Slight Fever Mystery shattered High Priestess' teeth out, breaking the girls free!
Umi looked back at the defeated High Priestess. "Give me a break. Well, you were right about those teeth being sturdy, but they weren't sturdy enough. Guess your so-called diamonds were a little low on calcium."
After Umi made her one-liner, High Priestess disintegrated. The girls on the other hand made their way to the surface.
Stand: High Priestess
User: Midler
Status: DEFEATED
Honoka, Umi, Maki, Eli and Nozomi stood on the snowy beach of Hokkaido as the ginger groaned. "You couldn't pay me to do that again..." She looked up and saw a girl on the ground, shaking. "Hey, there's a woman passed out over there."
"I assume it's Midler, the user of the High Priestess." Said Nozomi.
Maki asked "Should we leave her? She looks harmless."
Eli walked to her. "I think I'll go see if she's cute or not. Not that I have any romantic interest in her." The blonde examined her former foe. "Let's see..."
"Well? Eli-chan?" Honoka asked.
The sight of Midler's face gave Eli a scare. "N-No comment... Stop! Don't look! Her teeth are all busted! Don't even bother!"
"Hmm..." Honoka nodded as Umi tilted her hat down.
The five girls saw the sun in the sky, and the snow on the beach. "Well, we've finally made it to Hokkaido." Said Nozomi.
"Indeed. What would have taken a mere two hours by plane, ended up taking more or less than a week." Replied Honoka.
"It's been quite the adventure. We've gone inside a brain, and even inside our dreams." Added Maki.
Umi was confused at Maki's mention of their encounter with Death 13. "Our dreams? What do you mean, Maki?"
"What's all this about dreams? It's afternoon, wake up already!" Said Eli.
Maki shrugged. "Oh, right. You girls don't remember that."
Umi decided to disregard what Maki said about dreams. "Whatever. Let's go."
The give girls turned around, continuing their adventure on the snowy plains of Hokkaido. They are many steps closer to DIO than before, much like the past week or so.
The Stand. An otherworldly essence, powered by the mystical, symbolized by the Tarot. Around the World in Eighty Days. So was Honoka Kosaka's description of their nationwide journey.
From Tokyo to Morioh, they survived their private plane crashing. In Morioh, they encountered Hanged Man and Love Deluxe. Near the Iwate border, they fought Wheel of Fortune. In the mountains of Iwate, they battled Justice. In Miyako, the Lovers. And in Aomori, Death 13. And now, on the Sea of Japan floor, they've defeated High Priestess.
With several of DIO's assassins vanquished, they have finally arrived in Hokkaido! Only a few Tarot Cards remain.
But little do Honoka and crew know, new threats lie ahead, ready to take our heroes on.
DIO's mansion lies in Sapporo. Because Winter is near, it's been pretty snowy. One of the Speedwagon Foundation's men spy on the Kosakas' fiend.
He sees something rather interesting. "That's..." He sees trucks carrying people and crates of steel. "One, two, three... eighteen. There are eighteen in total. Both genders..."
The SPW member hears the door open. He looks back and sees someone point a sniper rifle at him! A shot is fired, and it kills him instantly! The assassin retreats to the shadows.
In DIO's mansion, the man, or vampire himself consults the assassin. "Have the meddlesome flies swarming about been swatted? The Speedwagon Foundation... For pity's sake. I can't let my guard down for a minute."
The assassin chuckles as the dead SPW member lies in front of them.
DIO places his left hand on the Kosaka birthmark. "I've gotten quite used to this body. Tell me, Honathan, can you feel it? Your granddaughter is inching even closer. It can be so cruel and unforgiving... This wretched little world of ours."
In Tokyo, Kotori engages in another phone call with Honoka while Rin and Hanayo sit by. "Did you really make it to Hokkaido, Honoka-chan? I'm so glad Umi-chan and the others are okay. That's fantastic!"
In a city called Hakodate, Honoka replies to the silver haired girl on her phone. "I wasn't sure if I could do this, but Umi-chan, Nozomi-chan, Eli-chan and Maki-chan helped me get my confidence back."
"Yeah, I mean we saved Otonokizaka as nine last year, so you can definitely defeat that monster!"
"Right! This is our most important mission yet. It's imperative that we don't mess up. But as long as we work together, we should get the job done."
"Say, Honoka-chan. Could I speak to Umi-chan?"
"Sure, but what about?"
"Nothing much. Is it wrong that I want to hear my friend's voice?"
"I don't see why not!" Honoka handed Umi her phone. "Umi-chan."
Umi took the phone. "It's me."
"Honoka-chan told me everything, Umi-chan! Work hard. And take good care of Honoka-chan."
"Sure thing."
"I know in my heart if you work together, you can overcome just about any hardship. Just like when we were μ's. I truly believe that."
Umi remembered her days as a second year. She, Honoka and Kotori finding out Otonokizaka is going to close, the three of them training to become school idols, performing START:DASH!, the first years and Nico joining μ's, performing Korekara no Someday, then performing Bokura no LIVE Kimi to no LIFE soon after Nozomi and Eli joined, and the school being saved not much later. Those beautiful memories brought a tear to her eye.
The bluenette chuckled, and then she spoke. "I guess I got my wish when I said I wanted to do something fun as a team again, right Kotori?"
"You call that fun? I thought it was dangerous?"
"You wouldn't understand."
"All right, I'm hanging up. I look forward to good news. See you!"
Back in Tokyo, Kotori hangs up and sees that her conversation with Honoka and Umi moved Rin and Hanayo to tears.
"Kotori-chan..." Said Rin, which caught Kotori's attention.
Hanayo continued. "We're so glad to have met you, Honoka-chan, Umi-chan and everyone else! I can honestly say we've never faced anything of this magnitude."
Kotori pets Hanayo. "I'm so glad I met you and Rin-chan, too. Don't worry. When Honoka-chan comes back, we're gonna have the best night out in a while!"
"R-Right, nya!" Said Rin.
In the Homura sweets shop, Yukiho and Mr. Kosaka rest in futons. Their conditions soothe a little as they sense Honoka is close to saving their lives.
In Hakodate, Umi gives Honoka her phone back as the latter notices an abnormal expression on her face. "What's the matter, Umi-chan?"
"It's nothing."
Honoka signals the girls to advance. "All right, it's time to head out! After fifty years, it's time for us Kosakas to bring an end to DIO's grip on my family!"
Umi smiled at the ginger. "But we don't have to do it alone."
Honoka hears a car's horn honk. "Hey, Honoka! We got the car!" Said Maki, sitting in a dune buggy with Nozomi and Eli.
"Let's hurry and hit the road!" Added Eli.
"We should probably get to where we're going before it gets too dark." Concluded Maki.
"Honoka." Said Umi.
The ginger chuckled. "Guess we are pretty lucky."
"If you don't hurry up, we're gonna leave you behind." Said Eli.
Honoka answered. "Yeah, yeah, we're coming."
Honoka and Umi held each other's hands as they walked over to the car.
This is the land of Hokkaido: a prefecture with a different history than the rest of Japan. In sharp contrast to Japan's mainland, where a farming-based culture thrived from early on, Hokkaido maintained Jomon culture characterized by hunting and fishing until about 2,000 years ago, which was then followed by Ainu culture.
In this land, what bizarre adventures and challenges await Honoka and crew?
Eli stops the dune buggy in the middle of the snowy plains, and the five girls step out of it to await something.
Above the snowy plains of Hokkaido, a helicopter from the Speedwagon Foundation had been ordered to rendezvous with Honoka and the others. Someone short sits in the backseat. They are wearing a trench coat and a fedora. The only visible part of their face are their red eyes.
"I didn't expect you to join Kosaka on this mission." Said the pilot.
The mysterious passenger scoffed. "I heard Tojo almost kicked the bucket, so I came all the way here. I'm also joining because there's someone among the Kosaka group I have to watch out for."
"Is that so?" Asked the co-pilot.
"Absolutely." A pink aura formed around her. "I'll do anything to protect her."
Stand Profile: MIDLER
Stand Name: High Priestess
Namesake: The High Priestess Tarot
Type: Long-Distance Stand
Appearance/Personality: High Priestess is a Stand bound to minerals. Its "default" form is that of a small creature having a tribal mask with vicious eyes and bared fangs for a face, and clawed thin, muscular arms sprouting out a mush of inorganic matter. Moreover, it can turn into anything inorganic. Its design takes elements from traditional outfits for African magic. Its color is bone white with brown fur. It represents the Tarot Card The High Priestess, which symbolizes intuition, mystery, and arcane knowledge.
When Midler doesn't talk through it, High Priestess acts feral, only letting out savage cries or laughter and endlessly chasing after the Kosaka Group.
Abilities-
Mineral Possession and Reformation: High Priestess is a formidable opponent physically speaking. Its small size and nimbleness make it difficult to strike and its claws are very dangerous, being able to cut through steel. This, combined with its ability that multiplies its options, makes for a fearsome opponent. Moreover, because it is a long-range Stand, Midler can sit away from danger while she commands High Priestess. On the other hand, it also means that Midler can be taken out through defeating High Priestess. High Priestess possesses teeth harder than diamonds, making them almost unbreakable. It can use them to bite hard on or crush the opponent by chewing them.
High Priestess possesses the ability to shapeshift and assimilate itself into any type of inorganic matter, so long as it's a material made from a mineral substance, be it rock, metal, glass, or plastic. Moreover, it can also replicate rather complex structures, transforming into a spear gun to shoot itself at the Kosaka Group. The transformation is convincing enough that cautious examination or even trying to touch it will fool anyone. Because of that, it can disappear into a wall and then reappear elsewhere to strike. Its small size by default belies an ability to turn gigantic if it can assimilate a great amount of material like the stone of the sea floor.
Stats -
Power: C
Speed: B
Range: A
Durability: A
Precision: D
Potential: D
Love Live! Bizarre Adventure Project
Starlight Crusaders: Hokkaido Arc
Coming January 6, 2023!
I'm so happy with how this is turning out so far! I was afraid I was going to end up dropping it before I even make it to Justice, but instead I've made it this far! Thank you for your support along the way! Tune in for January, when Honoka and friends face off original Stand users in rather chilly environments! And last but not least, who is the mysterious passenger!?
As always, any feedback, positive and negative alike, is well appreciated and comments are absolutely encouraged!