Hello! This is the final chapter of the Bloodhound Saga, and the end of Jonathan's tale. I hope you find this enjoyable so far as I am hoping to move onto the next saga as soon as possible.
-Outbreakgirl
March 31, 1889
The cold weather has already brought snowfall to the countryside even though it is already Spring, the sky is covered in gray and frost is falling softly. It is also falling on the remains of what used to be where Joestar Mansion used to stand. The homestead and everything within has been destroyed, all that is left is blackened timber in a large pile. It is the grave of Jonathan Joestar, someone taken so young in a tragic event, along with his beloved wife on what was supposed to be their wedding.
Conrad is standing in front of the ruins, looming sadly as he is in morning. "Lord and Lady Joestar, forgive me for not protecting your home and your precious son. I have failed you both, I deserve nothing but this shame of my failure." He moves closer, placing a single red rose on the ground.
He bundles his coat, turns around, and gasps at the sight before him that almost makes his heart leap out of his chest. Standing before him is Jonathan Joestar, riding on top of his horse and dismounting as he approached. "L-lord Joestar! Is it really you?"
"Indeed," He answered as he looked at the ruins of his home. "I am sorry for worrying you all this time. I just came to say goodbye to this place, as soon there will be a new beginning." He bends down and takes the rose, then turns to Conrad.
"I am just glad that you survived such a horrifying ordeal, I was in a state. As a servant of the Joestar family, I have served with much diligence and pride. Please, allow me to do so once more." He begged, as he looked at him earnestly.
"Conrad, you are indeed loyal. If you wish to continue to serve me, there is one thing you have to sacrifice: your humanity." He was serious about the offer. "Are you willing to do that? There is no turning back once you have made this decision."
The old man didn't hesitate as he begged. "Yes, please, if you let me!"
"Very well, but it will not happen just yet." He walks up to the ruins, touching the blackened beams. "First things first, I need to find Dea. The ruins might hold some kind of clue of her whereabouts."
"Not to worry, Lord Joestar. I have something that might help." He offered. " I have a house in the outskirts, its not far, but I think that it may help."
This intrigues the Joestar, as he would need to see it. "I see, I would have to meet with you tonight. I have other business to attend to. I will find your abode, until then, Conrad." He mounts his black stead and leaves the ruins behind, and the former butler couldn't be more happy to have his master return.
JOJOJOJOJO
Conrad returned home quickly to prepare for his master's arrival. Alas, it is but a humble cottage surrounded by trees. He is inside tending to the fireplace, it is still snowing outside and trying to keep warm. The sky is already dark and cloudy, so he sits in his armchair and waits patiently. There was a knock on the door, and he quickly opened it to answer it. As promised, Jonathan is at the door, covered in a black cloak. Behind him is Speedwagon and Mara.
"Welcome, Lord Joestar! Please, come in!" He moves out of the way for him to enter and takes his cloak to hang it. "This way, my lord. I have it right here." He lead him to the living room and took a brown wooden box from the table. He opens it up and inside is a pearl earring and a single pearl. Jonathan picks up the loose pearl, recognizing it.
"This is…" He trails off, inspecting the pearl, as it is still pure white with no sign of damage.
"I found this among the ruins of the mansion. In the early days, there were scoundrels searching through the ruins for anything of value. I found them near the house, and have kept them ever since. They are real, otherwise they would have been destroyed." He said, as he hopes it is of help.
"This is the remnant from my mother's keepsake. Dea's scent is on this…" He shivers in delight just at her scent, it is still present even though it is faint. "Dea, she is alive, I know it. With this, I can find her." He seems elated by this, sighing with relief. "Conrad, you have my thanks for this. I will need your help." He turned to him. "Can you still ride a horse carriage? It might be a long trip, so you must prepare." He told him, gripping the pearl.
"This is good news, milord!" Speedwagon nods, but he frowns a bit. "But, even when we find her, there might be a chance we would have to fight the Hamon warriors."
"It doesn't matter, " Jonathan said, "I will have what is rightfully mine. I will tear down any obstacles that get in my way. It wouldn't be like last time." He sits in an armchair, still peering at the pearl. "I suggest you get some rest, Conrad. We will stay here and bide our time."
The old man nods as he leaves the three to their devices and goes into his bedroom. The trio made themselves comfortable around the fireplace, as Speedwagon is sitting on the rug while Mara is standing next to the armchair.
The former noble is staring into the fire, playing with the pearl between his fingers. He has been patient and will continue to be so, and he will have his beloved returned to him, no matter what.
April 3
It is a bright, sunny day as two women are walking together on the dirt path, in the middle of flat, green farmlands, heading towards a small town facing the sea while carrying baskets of vegetables with them.
"Hey, big sis, Miss Dea!" A young boy waves at the ladies passing by. Dorothy and Dea stopped as the boy walked up to them.
"Poco, if you are out here, that means that all of your chores are done?" Dorothy asked him.
"Yeah, totally! I was just playing 77 rings with the lads. Don't worry, I'll be home before the ship arrives!" He promised, showing off a simple wooden sword. It is a knight's honor!"
"Well, since it is a knight's honor, I expect you to uphold it." She tells him and pats his brunette curls before she continues to walk along the path to let her little brother continue to play with his friends. "I hope he hasn't been slacking off. We are going to have guests soon."
"Don't worry, I am sure that he has done his duty. His parents will make sure of that." Dea responded, chuckling. "By the way, what is 77 rings?"
"Its a game based on the knights' trials. I have told you already that Windknight's lot was a training ground for potential knights during the Middle Ages. They would carry rings through the mountains, all the while avoiding obstacles along the way, until they reached the castle at the end." Dorothy points at the distant castle that can be seen beyond the mountain. "We get very few people here and mostly they are historians who venture to the castle. The way to it is near the far tunnel. Go left and there will be a small forest where there is another tunnel. If you want, we can go and explore the castle for fun."
"I'll keep that in mind, but it might be a while." Dea isn't sure if she wants to explore dingy castles.
They reach the entrance of the town, instantly heading home next to a blacksmith shop called Puck. They entered the house and were greeted by a middle-aged woman walking out of the kitchen.
"Welcome girls!" She smiles, as she takes the baskets. "Thank you so much, I'll take care of these, you can rest until the guests arrive. I think it should be any moment now."
"I can help you out, Mom. You are going to be making a feast! The least I can do is to help you cook." Dorothy offers.
"Oh alright, you are always so helpful, dear." She smiles, but then something comes to her. "Oh, there is one more thing. I forgot to pick up some sage from Arabelle. I should head out to fetch it."
"No need, I'll volunteer to get it." Dea said, as Mary thanked her and gave her the money to complete her purchase. It's not far; the town is small and easy to navigate. Regardless, it is bustling as most of the concentration is at the market and pier. Arabella's herbal shop is there, and after going through the crowd, she enters the shop. An old woman is tending to the plants before turning to Dea.
"Welcome, dear." She smiles as she greets her. "What are you looking for?"
"Sage, Mary asked me to pick them up." She explained, looking around a bit as her eyes caught white flowers she had never seen before.
"Oh, the Windknight's Moon Flower has caught your eye, huh?" Arabella coos as she returns with a jar of grounded sage. "It is a plant that only grows here during the early spring. They are beautiful, but are very poisonous when ingested and can be fatal within a few moments. Make sure you take care."
Dea turns away from the plant, and pays for the sage. "Thank you for this tidbit of information. I'll keep it in mind." She said as she thanked her and exited the shop, and her eyes turned to the pier, as a passenger ship closed in at the docks. Out of curiosity, she approaches the dock where a man with a long black braid is standing to greet the ship coming in. It didn't take long for the ship to set itself in it's proper place and the crew to prepare for the passengers to disembark on land. William Zeppeli is on deck, and he is patiently waiting until the time is right. His son, Mario and his companion, Dire are with him.
"Mr. Bruford," Dea greets him, and he turns to face her. Even though he is middle age, he looks like a handsome young man, like he hasn't aged a day from 25 or 30.
"Hello, you are just in time for their arrival." He said, as he waited for the passengers, that it didn't take long for William and his group to leave the ship. "William!"
"Bruford! It's been so long!" He happily approached him, and he gave him a tight embrace.
"It's only been a year, but I can see for you, it must have been an eternity." He chuckles, thankfully breathing again when he lets him go. "Dire, Mario, I see that you are in good spirits as well." He smiles at them, Dire nods in respect as he is more relaxed than his usual stoic demeanor. Mario is smiling brightly as he sports a thinly trimmed soul patch on his jaw.
"Y-yes, Signore Bruford, very glad to see you again, as well as you, Signorina Brando."
Dea can tell that the young Zeppeli is a bit too cheerful, as the grin is still plastered on his face, which amuses her as she has an inkling as to why. After the pleasantries, they gather their luggage and have Bruford escort them into the village to lead them to his home. As they pass, the locals greet the hamon warriors with respect, and a few even offer gifts, but William declines. Once they approached the homestead, Bruford opened the door to invite them inside. "Mary, our guests have arrived."
Poco is the first to greet them as he walks down the steps, excited to see the guests. Mary and Dorothy exit the kitchen and join in the greeting. "My, welcome back! How are you fine men?"
"The trip was pleasant as always. When we travel to Windknight, the journey is smooth sailing." William said pleasantly, "And as always, I bring gifts!" He smiles, which makes the young boy excited.
"Thank you so much, Uncle Zeppeli!" Poco happily appreciates the gift, as the others of the household receive their gift, including Dea. Mario approaches Dorothy, as he pulls something from his inner jacket.
"Ahem uhh…signorina…I give this to you." He hands her a round wooden box, and she gratefully accepts it.
"Thank you," She said to him, her cheeks lightly blushed. They are being watched, but the two do not seem to mind at first before they realize that they were eyes on them before they both looks away in embarrassment.
"Mio Figlio…I see what is going on." William gives a knowing look, teasing him a bit.
"Padre, per favore…" Mario groans as he couldn't handle his father teasing him like this.
JOJOJOJOJO
The sun sets, giving the sky an amber glow as it slowly slips beneath the sea's horizon. Dea is viewing the sky from the bedroom window as she brushes Dorothy's long brown locks.
"I can't believe he actually gave this to me. It is so sweet of him." She is holding a silk brooch with a Spanish red rose engraved in cameo. "They had left Spain from their mission, and he picked this up for me." Her face is still pink, as she placed it in the wooden box. "They will be spending some time in town for a day or two, and I wish to spend as much time as possible with him."
"I love to see this little romance bloom between you two. You couldn't stop gushing over the man when he sent you letters. So sickeningly sweet." She said sarcastically, teasing her further.
"Don't be mean to me, it was a kind gesture!" She pouts, crossing her arms.
"Mmm, it sure was." She ceased brushing and placed it on the vanity. "Dorothy, I am happy that you seem to be head over heels for a guy. Young love is a wonderful thing."
"You sound like a woman with an old soul." Dorothy points this out, standing up from her chair. "We are both young, I am confident that things will work out."
Dea nods, not changing into her nightgown just yet. She wants to catch as much of the sun as she can while it is still shining."I will be back in a short while, don't wait for me." She told her as she left the room and headed downstairs. It is peaceful as Bruford is sitting with his wife near the fireplace, turning his head to see Dea grabbing a coat.
"Going to see the sunset? Be careful, alright?" He told her, even though this is a small village, one cannot be too careful, but he still trusted her to travel alone. She leaves the house, properly bundled from the cold of spring as she walks. Most people are inside their homes by this hour, but the only inn in Windknight is in full swing. She strolls quietly down the street and stops right at the docks. The ship is still there, but she is more concentrated on the sunset, shivering a bit as the darkness surrounds her.
She slowly breathes, the stars are showing their luster the more the sun sets and the moon is showing its glory in the coming twilight. She hears footsteps behind her and is greeted by Dire. "Oh, Mr. Dire, we meet again so soon."
"Yes, we have already settled in the inn, and I am walking about after spending a long time on a ship." He said, as his eyes wandered around a bit, as if he expected that there were eyes upon them.
"You seem suspicious of your surroundings. Is something wrong?" she asked him.
"Sorry, it's a habit of mine. I am used to watching my back for any danger that might strike. You never know what lurks behind the corner." He sighs, crossing his arms as he stares at the fading sun.
"That sounds like a harrowing life to live. I am not a hunter, but I experienced something similar when I was living in the slums. It helped me survive before I was taken into a more privileged life. It never quite left me."
"I understand, but you have a chance at a peaceful life. I have chosen the path of the warrior, and so I must always be vigilant." He looks at the sea, as the sun finally set for the night to take over completely. The stars are in full display as they accompany the glowing moon. The darkness made Dea shiver, as she was trying to overcome it as best she could. She soon calmed down as she realized that the looming shadow wouldn't keep her captive. She was outside with no fear of being dragged back into the cage that she was used to. She opens her eyes to view the quiet waves, making her feel at peace somewhat, but there are some things that still linger.
"He's gone…He's gone…" She told herself softly, making absolutely sure. "I must go back. Thank you for this accompaniment, brief as it was."
"Would you like me to escort you?"
"No, I will be fine. Thank you, and bid your good night. " She said as she walked away to return to the blacksmith's house.
Flocks of birds are flying overhead as they are flying towards the wilderness, but there is one that separates and heads towards the sheer cliff beyond the farmland. The only entrance into Windknight's Lot is a tunnel, and the bird flew into the entrance, landing on a chiseled arm. Its green eyes glow in the darkness as it caws a few times.
"...She is here." Jonathan smiles at this news, stroking the creature's head lightly. "But also William…Hahaha, this is perfect. I'll recover my bride and exact my revenge at the same time." He grabs at the bird's head and harshly rips it from its body, gripping its body as he drops its head.
"Right-O, so we know that they are all here at once." Speedwagon rubs his chin. "How should we proceed?"
The young Joestar walks to the front of the horse-pulled carriage, feeling the carrion on one of the vampiric horses. "Conrad." He calls for the old man, and he moves quickly to stand behind his lord.
"Yes, my lord?" He asks, ready for his command.
"It is time for you to prove your worth. I'll give you what I promised, but first, you must die." He looms over the man, raising his hand to grip his neck.
"I am ready, my lord. Imbue me with your grace." It was the last thing he said before his fingers jabbed into his flesh, rapidly draining his blood and losing his flesh in the process as he died. After it is said and done, Jonathan, still holding Conrad's corpse, turns to Speedwagon. "Start with the outskirts, invade the houses. We would need zombie servants to complete our goal." He commanded. "We attack at midnight."
JOJOJOJOJO
The village was mostly resting at this witching hour, with the only exception being the inn, where the patrons would finally leave in their stupor, some more drunk than others. William is with Bruford and Dire in one of the rooms as he is looking over a single piece of parchment. "I believe that is what we need. We will be on the road in the afternoon at the latest."
"You are rather busy, Will. Are you sure you wouldn't want to stay for a few days to rest?"
"I'm afraid not, Bruford. Evil never sleeps, and we must be there to stop them." He sighs, and he places the paper on the table.
"I know that very well, but it is a miracle that you have lasted this long."
"The path of the warrior is a harsh road, and I have made peace with it, and I will follow it until my last breath." He turns to his son, who is sleeping peacefully on the bed, then pours himself a drink. "Ahh, but still, I am hoping that I will live long enough for Mario to prosper. He is full of life."
"I concur, as a parent myself, I want my children to have the best in life." He raised a cup.
Dire is standing near the window, staring out into the night as he is calm, but that changed once he heard a scream from outside. Even William and Bruford heard it, as they stopped their merriment and turned to the window.
"What was that?" Zeppeli stood up immediately, joining Dire at the window. From the second story of the inn, they can see the entire town square and that there are a few of the locals screaming and running across frantically.
"What is happening?" Bruford asked, standing up and looking worried.
"It seems that evil has once again come to this place." William's face hardened. "Prepare for battle, Dire. We have to get out on the street to stop this." He races over to Mario's sleeping form and shakes him awake. "Svegliati!
"Huh?" He grumbles, but then sits up alert once he realizes that he isn't asleep anymore. "Father, what's the matter?"
"The village is under attack. We must move out into the streets." That gets Mario's full attention, as he jumps up quickly off of the bed, looking serious now.
"Willaim, i'm going back to my house." Bruford remarked, as he understood that the villagers need help, but he has to go back to check on his family. They are all in agreement as they leave the room quickly.
Meanwhile...
Dea opened her eyes, as she was jolted awake as if a force forced her to. It seems quiet as she moves out of the bed, a bit cautious as she is surrounded by darkness, but she is surprised that she heard a scream. It froze her in place, wondering if she was still dreaming.
"Mhmm…Dea?" Dorothy stirs from her sleep, noticing that she is up. "I thought I heard something. Was it a dream?"
She didn't say anything at first, just looked at the window as there was shouting coming from outside.
"I don't think this is a dream. Hurry, get up." She ushers her to get up from her bed and to alert Poco and Mary of this sudden situation. Both women leave their rooms into the dark hallway, and one of the doors opens as Mary walks out with a lit candle holder.
"Dorothy, gather your brother and join us down the stairs." She said quietly, and her daughter obeyed, as she went to fetch her brother. "Quickly, my dears. Danger is coming. "
Dea quickly joins her as soon as Dorothy drags the still sleepy Poco downstairs, where he is woken up and is pulled along by his sister. He is confused at first, but then he pays attention when he hears a loud bang on the front door. The wood shakes with every impact, as if someone from the other end wants to get in.
"Quick! To the cellar! Ah!" Mary gasped when something broke the front window, and glowing eyes were watching them. A middle-aged woman crawls through the new entrance, joined by three others. The locals are now zombies, as they snarl and hiss at the house's occupants.
"The mistress! We have found her! The masters will be pleased!" The woman cackles, giving a demonic look. "Kill the rest, we don't need them!"
"Yes, kill them! Rip their stomachs and hang their intestines for garters! Just take the mistress outside before that happens. " The ghouls approach them, and Dea walks in front of them to protect them.
"Stay back, you vile creatures! Don't hurt them!" She glares at them as they come close, but she gasps when a knife flies at the back of one of the zombie's heads, making them cry out in pain and reduced to dust. The others turn around, only to be smacked around by fists, causing them to suffer as Hamon rips their bodies and share the same fate. Bruford slams his fist into the last one, and then, after making sure there are no more enemies at the moment, he approaches his family and Dea.
"Are you all alright?" He asked, worried about them as he embraced his wife. "I came as soon as I could. The town is in chaos. The houses are burning. We have to get to the inn right now." He quickly informs them, and this has sent dread to Dia's heart. She remembers that day of her wedding. The zombies were creations of vampires. Those poor souls were forced to become undead slaves.
"Father, is it the vampires again?" Poco asked, and the fear in his voice was evident.
"I'm afraid so, but do not fear. We will make it through this." He pats his head as he leaves them for a short while to head into his smithy, grabbing two hand axes and two finished knives with him before he joins the group to guide them safely.
They look around as it is indeed chaos; screams and shouting can be heard, houses are on fire, and frightened people are running trying to escape the zombie threat. Mario is on the other side of the street, guiding the citizens to safety and annihilating any zombie that comes close. He waves for them to come closer.
Dea follows the family as they flee, avoiding the fire and racing across the circle to the inn where the survivors have gathered.
"Hurry! This way!" He let them inside, and closed the door when no more survivors were coming. He sighs, carefully looking out the window, and can see a few zombies coming, looking around as if they were looking for prey, only for William and Dire walks from the alley and slay them.
"Father and Dire have been sweeping the streets. I don't think the perpetrators have been discovered as of yet." Mario frowns, but he shakes his head. "I'm sure that victory will be assured. They are one of the best Hamon warriors around."
Dea has a look of fear on her face like many of the gathered, but a recent memory has her shaking: the zombies called her mistress. It spurs a horrifying realization.
"No... no... it cannot be…" She whispers to herself, bundling the coat as if she is cold. "No…no…"
"Dea, do not fear." Dorothy held her hand to comfort her, but it didn't seem to be working. The young Zeppeli approached them, concerned.
"Signorina," he said softly. She looks up at him.
"They are looking for me." She told him. "The zombies called me mistress. They were looking for me, I am responsible for this." She almost choked on her words.
"What?" He was confused at first, but he turns his head as there is more commotion outside. The two warriors outside are facing numerous zombies as they growl at them before they move out of the way as two horses wade through the crowd, revealing the beasts and their riders: Jonathan Joestar and Robert Speedwagon, accompanied by Mara.
"This cannot be! He lives?" Mario was shocked, but none was more distraught than Dea. Her worst fear had been realized. She couldn't believe her eyes. Jonathan is alive here and now. She starts to breathe heavily at this revelation, like her own throat is closing in on itself, making it hard to breathe. He was alive all this time, and now this has happened because he was looking for her.
"No…Jonathan…" She gasped but took this time to look around her at the civilians, and she could see how terrified they were. If she stays with them, then it could only lead to a terrible fate. There is only one thing she must do, as she regains her composure somewhat. "I must go."
Dorothy turns to her, confused. "What do you mean?"
"This is all my fault, I cannot endanger you and your family any longer. He has come for me, and I must lead him away from the village." She told her, as she turned to the side windows. They are large enough for an adult to vault over, and she can use it to her advantage.
"No, wait!" Dorothy held her hand, halting her. "You can't go out there; he would take you away and lock you back into a cage!"
"But I must go. I will lead them out of the village as best as I can." She stares into her eyes sadly. "You and your family have been good to me, and I am thankful for it. Now, it is time for me to leave this place."
"No!" She shook her head, and then turned to her parents and Mario. "We cannot let her go out there."
Bruford shook his head, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Dorothy, this is her decision. She is willing to take the risk to save the survivors. I am sorry." He understood that this is what she wanted to do. His daughter didn't like this one bit, and he embraced her tightly.
"It'll be okay, thank you for everything." Dea told her, embracing her as well before letting go. "I'll lead them away from here. At the very least, he will follow me, being too distracted, and it might give Mr. Zeppeli enough time to do something." She goes to the side window, and she struggles a bit to lift it up before Mario helps her out, easily lifting it wide enough for her to go through.
"Be careful out there. You are brave for doing this." He frowns, but allows her to leave.
She nods, as she carefully climbs over the seal and back outside. She turns to the square, as the crowd is still focused on the two warriors, but not for long, as Jonathan notices her, and she runs down the alley.
JOJOJOJOJO
William and Dire took out the zombies in the town square, but more surrounded them, and they prepared for battle.
"So many people, whoever is responsible for this will pay dearly for this." Dire growls, as he is ready to take them on, wanting to release them from their forced servitude. They waited for the masses to attack, but they didn't as they made way for two horses that approached. The young Joestar is facing them while riding his stead, as his closest allies are with him. Both warriors are surprised by this, the vampire they thought died a year ago has returned."...what? Its you?"
"Surprised to see me?" Jonathan remarked coldly. "I told you that you'll face oblivion by my hand, and now fate has provided me well." He points his way. "This is your punishment, for destroying my family home, attempting to take my life, and stealing my beloved away from me. I will never forgive you for these transgressions, and before I exact my revenge, i'll have you suffer greatly."
"Oblivion, you say?" Willian clicks his tongue. "That's where you will be going when I am through with you. I'll kill you thoroughly this time."
Jonathan stares at the two, but then his eyes look at the inn, realizing that they are protecting the building, as he could hear the various heartbeats of the living souls inside. There is one that is in the darkness, and his eyes peer at a woman in the alleyway, and he looks in astonishment when he sees her face. "Dea!" He knows that it is her, and he is desperate to have her. "Bring her to me."
William and Dire look in the direction where the vampire is looking. If they believe it is Dea, then they look at each other and run down the alley just as the zombies are obeying their master. "If you want the girl, then you will have to deal with us!" The man teased as the horde is chasing them, which angers the Joestar as he begins pursuit.
Dea ran for her life and could hear the zombies behind her as they were chasing her. That's good, and now they are focused on her. She gasped as she skidded to a stop, almost running to a horse. It stood on its hind legs and neighed loudly. She backs away as its front hooves come back to the earth, dropping a body from it's saddle. She saw it was a headless corpse of it's rider, but the animal seemed to be unharmed but frightened. It is a brown Arabian horse with dark eyes and brown hair. After calming down, she decides that this creature would be of use.
"Hey, hey, calm down." She coos at it, rubbing its head as it quickly calms down; it must be accustomed to human remembers that there was a horse stable on the outskirts, and the rider tried to escape. "I'll need your help." She mutters as she quickly climbs onto the leather saddle and takes the reins. It had been years since she had ridden, but muscle memories kicked in as she commanded the steed to gallup.
"Look!" Dire pointed at the fleeing horse as it raced away from the approaching horde. "Fortunately for her, she found a horse."
"We still need to follow before the vampires catch up!" William fought off the hostiles that had gotten close, but they were more focused on chasing the horse.
They cannot catch up on foot, so they manage to exit the village and take the chance to check their surroundings.
The wailing of horses caught their attention, two of them were in panic as they were attached to a broken wagon, stuck in the mud off to the side. "Ask and you shall receive as they say. Come, we must act quickly."
JOJOJOJOJO
The Arabian horse sticks to the main road, as she has a good idea of where she is going; the exit tunnel is a good distance away beyond the farmlands, but she can make it. She looked behind her, and she couldn't believe it. The zombies were on her tail, using their enhanced speed to chase her. What catches her attention the most are the black horses. She looks forward, focused on the rock face she is coming towards.
Even though the pursuers are at full speed, two horses behind them are catching up. The hamon warriors are approaching the tail end of the horde and taking them out with hamon techniques. Some have noticed, and hang back to attack them, jumping into the air to pounce on them. Still, the attackers were no match for the warriors, as they defeated them easily with quick jabs and punches imbued with the power of the sun.
Jonathan turns his head, seeing the warriors gaining, killing his zombies. Mara was riding with her master, quickly standing on the hind, keeping balance as she threw daggers at them.
One of them hits William's horse on it's head, making the poor thing fall forward. He flew into the air from being flung from his horse, but he raised his hand as he was close to Dire, and their hands connected, pulling him onto the horse.
Another barrage of daggers came their way, but Dire quickly raised his hand and created crackles of energy, making a barrier which knocked the blades away in mid-air. She frowns deeply at this as they come close, and so she lifts her arms and something comes out of her skin. They are her veins that spring to life; five of them are wriggling about.
Dea is coming close to the tunnel, she can see it clearly as all she has to do is go through it. The horse comes to a halt, however, when something is blocking the tunnel, or rather someone, as there is an old man standing there. "Now what?" She looks closely, and she recognizes him. "Conrad?"
"My lady," he greeted, giving a respectful bow to her. " I am terribly sorry, but your run ends here." He stated with a determined expression. He approaches, and she looks to see that her pursuers are also catching up. Thinking fast, she looked to her left as she could see the distant castle. Yes, that castle that she heard about long ago. Dea makes the quick decision to turn onto the path to the castle. Seeing the path that was described, she made the horse turn and run to the path into the forest.
"My Lady, wait!" The butler calls out to her, but she ignores it, going into the woods as the Arabian steed gallops on the trail. Jonathan watches the whole thing as he turns to Speedwagon. "After her!" He commanded, as his companion and the surviving zombies followed her. He stopped his horse, glaring at the two warriors. Mara jumps down as she uses her strength to fling a nearby boulder at them.
"I'll take care of this!" William jumps into the air to meet with the flying rock, transferring energy to his hand as he punches the surface of it, causing it to explode into tiny pieces. He looks down at his enemies, then repositions himself for a kick, spinning his body like a drill. Jonathan widens his eyes, only for two purple laser beams to shoot from them.
The Zeppeli stopped his assault, now dedicated to dodging the upcoming attack, and did so successfully. Unfortunately, this left him wide open, as Mara met with him, knocking him back down to earth with a kick.
"Ack!" He gasped as his back smacked on the surface, as he winced in pain.
"Mara, come." Jonathan ordered. "We will deal with them soon enough. Dea is most important."
"Yes, my lord." She joins him as they depart for the forest. Dire is caught up, but is more concerned about William, and he jumps from the horse.
"William! Hold on!" He goes on his knees, placing his hands on his chest. "Hold still, i'll try to mend your injuries."
"Hamon!" Energy flows through the warrior, mending his bones quickly. "There, how do you feel?"
"A-a lot better than I was before. Thank you, Dire." He grunts, sitting up as he places a hand on his chest where the maid kicked him. "Where are they heading?"
"Into the woods, he has to make sure they won't get their hands on the girl." He helped him up.
"Right, I think I know where they are going." He looks at the mountains, and beyond that is the castle.
"Father!" They both turn their heads to see Mario approaching with a horse of his own that he borrowed. "Father, thank goodness I caught up with you." He sighs in relief.
"Mario, what are you doing here?" The senior demanded, standing up. "What about the town?"
"Don't worry, we made sure that we took care of any stragglers, but the fire quickly spread out and went out of control. Luckily, the captain of the Deep Purple left the survivors on his boat, and is out at sea, just in case." He explained, pointing back at the rising smoke. "I wanted to join you, so I followed as best as I could."
"Since you are here, we need as much help as we can." Zeppeli dusted his jacket. "They are most likely heading to the castle, we must end this here and now." The warriors mounted their steeds, and galloped into the forest.
JOJOJOJOJO
The forest trees are in green bloom, but letting in enough moonlight to let Dea see the path, and there is an opening into the mountains that she takes right away. The more she travels into the unknown, the more her concern grows. Her horse slows down as the road becomes narrow and she is growing tired. It stops at the beginning of a cliff road. The path is wide enough for a horse-drawn wagon, but she must go carefully. Below the cliff is a dark abyss into which she dares not stare, or she might become sick. "Come, we must go forward." She, at the very least, makes it trot.
Speedwagon takes note of the surroundings. It is rather windy here as the cool night air blows loudly, but it doesn't matter to a vampire. He held his tall hat in place. "What are you fools waiting for? Get the girl!" He ordered as the zombies did as he commanded, as the remaining horde chased after her. The battle with the Hamon warriors greatly dwindled their numbers, but they continued forward. Jonathan joins his companion from behind. "Milord! Don't worry, she will be brought to you soon enough." He assures him.
"Good, let's continue on the road." He said this as he could not wait for them to bring her to him.
The Hamon warriors have reached the mountain road and can see the pursuit from their vantage point.
"Its no good, we are far behind them. I don't think we can make it in time." Dire grimaced as the wind blew through his oversized flat top. William noticed that there are a few trees hanging on the sides of the cliffs; some have leaves, and others don't.
"I have a plan; abandon the horses." He dismounts and approaches the closest tree. This one is in bloom with green leaves. "This will do. Hamon!" When he placed his hand on the ground, the leaves in and around him began to magnetize, forming a large grabs the organic handlebars. It looks similar to a large hang-glider. "Hop on the top of this; I'll be its guide through the cliffs."
"W-wow, father, that's amazing! Have you ever used this before?" Mario asked in astonishment.
"Only once, now get ready to jump." He warns them, as the warriors jump from the cliff, as William hangs below while the others are on top of the wings, using their energy to stay balanced as they fly above the ravine.
Dea could hear the cackling behind her; they were too fast, and they would catch up to her in no time at this rate. Her horse is slowing down from running too much, snorting as it stops as it reaches its limit. "Come on, don't stop now!" She pleads, but it is no use, hugging close to the wall. She has no choice but to dismount and continue desperately on foot. The terrain is harsh, the road is half smooth but also bumpy, and the wind is making her shiver fiercely as she tries to endure. Even with a heavy coat to cover herself, she is unfit for this condition, as she is wearing a gown underneath and ill-fitting shoes that are not meant for mountain travel.
"My lady!" Conrad is right behind her, leading the pack as they catch up with her.
"See? There she is." Speedwagon and Jonathan's horses are here, and the look on his face is one of happiness, but hers is of malcontent.
"Dea! At last!" He wants to hop off his horse to gather her himself. He might just do it himself, but he stops as he notices something.
"W-what is that?" A zombie pointed out, everyone noticed something flying by.
"Signorina, reach your hand out!" She instantly did it, as she reached out, and Mario caught her, carrying her as the leaf glider moved forward, carried by the wind. He quickly pulled her on top with him. The surface was solid for her to stand on.
"What in the bloody hell is that?" Speedwagon couldn't believe his eyes, as it was on the verge of bulging out. "Unbelievable! This is simply bollocks!"
Jonathan glared angrily, but he calmed somewhat as he could not attack, not while Dea was on that thing. "We got them cornered. There is only one place they can go to." He points to the castle. It is the only thing waiting for them all at the end. "There will be nowhere else to run."
JOJOJOJOJO
"Oh my God!" Dea is holding onto Mario for dear life as she is in the air, this is a new experience and it is freaking her out. "I can't believe this!"
"Believe it, signorina, isn't this exciting?" He laughs as he tries to ease the tension as they glide. They are far from the hostiles, at least, but they will catch up. William takes the glider a bit lower above the ravine, as it is home to a small river that flows into the forest. Nearly all of them are black and leafless, as if the call of spring hasn't reached them.
"We are going to land soon, and we will be at the castle's doorstep." He said, as he glided over the forest, landing on the other side and running a bit before stopping. The three jump off from the top, then William drops the glider casually as it didn't hold it's shape anymore and turned into a pile of leaves. "Is everyone alright?" He made sure of that before he turned to Dea. "Signorina, it was dangerous for you to leave the village, especially with the vampire present."
"That very well may be, but it had to be done, otherwise he would have killed everyone to get to me." She said, trying to calm her heart after flying through the air.
"Alright, at least they are here, and we can end this once and for all." He turns as they are at a graveyard, and beyond that is the entrance of the castle. "Our final showdown is inside."
The graveyard is very old, having ancient headstones weathered by time and the elements, but some recent ones as well. Dea noticed that there are Windknight's Moon Flowers have bloomed here, as if they are powered by the light of it's namesake. She took the time to hang back from the group traveling to stare at them for a moment, as she remembered what the herb woman had said about them. Leaning down to pluck the petals.
"Signorina?" They call to her, so she quickly joins them and ignores their brief questioning before facing a wooden double door in the castle. Luckily, it was unlocked, and they entered the large, cold foyer. A grand staircase is in front of them, but no doubt it goes higher. No candles are lit, there are fewer furnishings, with only the odds and ends here and there, and cobwebs are in the corners and ceiling. They agree to ascend the castle, as they need to be in control of their new battleground.
Jonathan and his servants exit the forest and slow their pace at the graveyard, where the castle is close by. He dismounts his horse, striding with purpose. His beloved is waiting for him, and he will exact his revenge. He opens the door, but there is nothing in the foyer. "Search the area. If they aren't here, then they must be higher." Speedwagon instructs the zombie minions as he walks on the stone floor, but nothing seems amiss. "Um…we could be walking into a trap. They are pretty crafty buggers, it seems."
"Then it doesn't matter, as long as we can get to Zeppeli." Jonathan walks up the stairs, Mara, Conrad, and Speedwagon are behind him. A zombie approached the master.
"Milord, we have searched, but there is no sign of them. We did find the stairway that leads to the upper floors." Without a word, the Joestar began to walk fiercely towards these stairs, eager to face the warriors as quickly as possible.
It only took a few moments to reach the top of the stairway, where they saw a corridor with large double doors at the end of the tunnels. On the outside is William Zeppeli, waiting for them alone with his arms crossed.
"Zeppeli!" The lord growls, as he walks in anger. "No more running this time, we settle this once and for all!"
The Hamon warrior opens the door and enters the room, and Jonathan follows. It is a large throne room, lit by torches on the wall. At the farside is a small platform where a throne should be, but there is none as Dea is standing there while the three men are in between. There are several arched openings that lead out to a balcony, where moonlight shines through to light the room.
"Jonathan Joestar, this will be your last night on this earth. We will make sure of it. You and your abominations will be given no quarter." William declares loudly, pointing at the young lord.
"I have had enough of your prattle. It won't save you from what's to come. " He turns to the zombies. "Zeppeli is mine, kill the other two." He ordered as the zombies moved into attack.
"Oh no you don't!" Mario quickly takes a torch and he breathes in air, and then blows into the fire, making it into a flamethrower as the nearby zombies are burning, screaming as the fire is infused with hamon, soon turning them into dust. "Ha! You blood-sucking fiend! Your zombies are pretty useless, now you are down to two!" He points out, confident that they will win this final fight.
Mara and Conrad didn't join the others at first, but they would be to battle the minute their master told them to do so.
"Hm... they are, aren't they? Which is why I must do it myself." Jonathan is prepared for battle, as he takes his steps towards them. William was about to meet with him, but Dire held out his hand to stop him.
"Wait, let me take care of this." He is now in front, as he gives a hard glare at the vampire. "There is one thing that I have that he won't be able to escape from, he'll die for sure!"
William does hang back, he knows that Dire is a very capable fighter. "...Just be careful." He warns him.
The warrior is meeting with his foe halfway, and as he walks, his movements are starting to slow down, and Jonathan stops as he takes notice of his slow stride.
"I see, you have mastered such agility for a mere human." He lightly mused. His eyes could tell that he was manipulating his speed, that he was casting blurred illusions of himself. The man jumps, still in slow motion as he dives at him with a kick. Curiosity struck him. What was he planning on doing with such an obvious attack?
Not wasting time, he waits for him while raising his arms to attack. However, as soon as Dire becomes close to him, he does the split with Jonathan's arms, leaving him open.
"W-what?" Speedwagon couldn't believe it; it was trapped all along to leave him defenseless. "What is this sorcery?"
"I see," William nods, but Mario is confused. He has never seen this technique. "It is inescapable. Dire has mastered this particular attack for years. It has never been broken, and now you'll see it in action!"
"Ha! Fell for it, did you, fool?" Dire mocked him, then hamon flowed through his hands as he crossed them, then thrust them down at the Joestar. "Thunder cross split attack!"
"No!" Mara shouted in utter terror; her master was about to die if they did not do something.
"Utterly foolish." The chop stops during mid attack, as Dire notices something is wrong. His legs became frozen over and it spread throughout his body quickly. With the exception of his neck and head, he is covered in ice now.
"W-what? Impossible." Zeppeli is in shock. "I have never seen a vampire display such power... he drain Dire's body heat this quickly?"
Speedwagon sighs in relief. "T-That's right! He has been training hard for this fight! Since that chap's fluids were halted, he effectively stopped that hamon nonsense in its tracks!" Mara is elated at the sight, as the warrior is the one vulnerable this time.
"I-I can't move..." He shivers as the vampire looks up at him with an expressionless glare. "You bastard... I hope you burn in hell. "
"You first." Jonathan simply retorts, as he used his hands not only to free himself, but shatters Dire's body like glass as his icy remains are scattered, and his head flew back towards his companion and William caught it.
"O-Oh mio Dio…" Mario was horrified at what he had witnessed. "This is…Dire is one of the strongest fighters I know."
"... William..." Despite losing his body, he is still living for now. "I am sorry... I have failed... His eyes flutter a bit, his life is draining him.
"You have done your best, amico mio. I…I shall avenge you. Rest easy." He said to him, sorrowful as he still held him as the light faded from his eyes. The head also freezes over and shatters into tiny pieces, leaving no traces of him as the shards slip through his fingers.
"Zeppeli! Let's begin!" Jonathan demanded. "You'll be the next i'll send into oblivion!"
"Bastardo! You'll pay for what you have done!" The younger Zeppeli shouted with fury, gripping his fist. "I'll make you pay!"
Before the young man could step forward, his father moved ahead of him, tranquil fury in his eyes as hamon crackled with life in his body, like shockwaves ready to be unleashed. "No forgiveness... there will be no forgiveness!" He charged at him, striking with his left hand, but his enemy was stepping away from his strikes.
"You are being reckless, but I am glad to see you motivated!" He lifts his leg and gives a kick to the old man's chest. Although he withstands the attack, he stumbles backwards, holding his chest in pain and falls on one knee.
"Father!" Mario turns to the vampire, and he grabs another torch from the wall. "You won't have your way, monster!"
"Mario, wait!" His father tried to warn him, but the youth didn't listen, as he got in between them to protect the senior. He once again breathed in the air, attempting to once again spread the fair, but he gasped as he was choked by Jonathan's large hand. He is lifted off the ground, trying to breathe as he struggles.
"William, I was content with killing you first, but I had a thought: why not let you suffer greatly by letting your son die right in front of you?" He said coldly, gripping his neck tighter.
"Jonathan!" Dea calls out to him, and he snaps to attention. She had been watching all this time and was frightened all this time at what transpired. She is now enraged, and she will not let the Zeppeli's suffer the same fate as Dire.
"Beloved," he said, his expression softening as he laid his eyes on her. "Wait just a little longer, my love. We will be together soon enough. "
"You are deluded! I will never return to your side!" He paused for a moment as he threw his captive to the side, causing him to be smacked again by the wall and fall to the ground.
"Dea….I do not understand. I have become stronger to take you back. This horrid baron took you from me and destroyed our home."
"I hate you. I was hoping you would have died in that fire so I could live free at last! I never want to see you again. You are a monster!" Her words cause him such emotional pain as he suddenly shuts down, falling on both of his knees, lowering his head in disbelief.
"Milord! Milord, please get up!" Speedwagon tries to usher him to get up, very concerned, but Mara is mad.
"You ungrateful wench!" She shouted angrily at Dea, which surprised everyone while her master was still in a state of shock. "I have had it with you,Master Joestar has done everything to get you back, and you are still the same venomous woman now as you were back then!" She quickly separates herself from the group, heading straight for the humans, but Conrad tries to stop her.
"Wait, she is the mistress; calm yourself!" He warns her, but she doesn't listen to him, being pushed back.
"You do not deserve his love! You are still human. I can snap you like an insignificant twig!" Her face twisted with psychotic glee, her predatory teeth showing. "The master doesn't need a fragile, spiteful woman. I love him with all my heart and soul. True love! I'll show you, i'll show you-" During her manic raving, a hand violently punctured her stomach, leaving a bloody hole and her paralyzed in pain and confusion.
"Ahh…w-what…"She looks down at the fist protruding from her body and realizes that it was her master that had done the deed. "M-Master…" She whines, gasping as her black, curly hair is yanked, forcing her to face him.
"As I told you long ago…" He growls, gripping tighter. "There is none other than Dea, and you have just endangered her life, you loathsome servant!"
"B-ut….she..doesn't love …you…" She is choking on her own blood, and tears flows down her face, but he didn't care as he easily rips her from her body. He let the body fall to the ground. William took this time to run at him again, and he was going to strike.
"Hamon!" He jabbed at him, and Jonathan was too distracted and didn't have time to do anything. Williams' attack connected but struck the chest of Conrad as he protected his master. "What?"
The old man quickly held Zeppeli's arm while he was still alive. "M-Master... Joestar..." He beseeched him, and his body began to disintegrate. Jonathan snapped out of his anger long enough for him to attack. He sent eye beams through his servant's chest, hitting Zeppeli's stomach, making him fall backwards as his blood was pooling. Conrad fell face down, fading into dust as the hamon destroyed him. The lord drops Mara's head, approaching Zeppeli, who makes him squirm in pain from his injury.
"William Zeppeli, I told you I would send you to oblivion." He stepped on his stomach, applying pressure. He has used the freezing technique next, rapidly making his lower body frozen solid. "And now, my revenge will be complete." he raise his boot, attemping to stomp on him.
"Jonathan, don't do this!" Dea pleads with him, rushing over to stop him. He looks at her, making her stop in her tracks.
"Beloved, he will be gone soon enough." He coos, assuring her. Meanwhile, Mario grunts as he looks at the state of the battlefield as he regains consciousness. His body is damaged, but he crawls on his belly over to his mortally wounded father.
"Father…oh my god…" He is distraught to see him in this state. His attention turns to Jonathan, his anger flaring again. "You are a curse. You destroy everything you touch! The Zeppeli family curses you, Jonathan Joestar. You will burn for what you have done!"
The Joestar sighs as he turns around, looking down at the men. "You have already condemned me to the fire, and I have escaped. Your petty tirade means nothing to me." He turns his attention back to his beloved, as she flees to the balcony, and he follows her. Speedwagon is behind Jonathan as they leave the humans wallowing in misery. Mario held onto William, seeing that his stomach was starting to freeze where he was stomped on, and it was spreading to his torso.
"Father, hold on. I-I can save you." He promised, then noticed the freezing had gotten to both of his legs and was creeping along his chest.
"...Mario…I cannot move. He has hit the vital organs in my stomach and it is freezing over. Mending bones is one thing, but the organs are beyond repair." He coughs, shivering from the cold. "My son, take my hand." He told him, and he obeyed him. "I will lend you my strength while I still can. Take it from me." Hamon energy flows through Mario, transferring what energy he has within him. This causes his skin to thin and become much older as the life in his eyes leaves him.
The power flows through him now, and he feels energized, gaining enough strength to heal and let him stand. He saw the pitiful state of his father as he was almost frozen over. "Father... father, thank you. I will not rest until I avenge you." He promised.
"Mario…I-I wanted a peaceful life for you, but regardless, I am proud to have you as my son." His eyes were closed now, as he had been taken over completely, much to Mario's sadness. He held him until William Zeppeli's body shattered into tiny pieces.
Dea is trapped since she has nowhere to go. In front of her is the half railing, which gives a clear view of the sea and the cliff below.
She has a look of despair and determination on her face. She cannot bear to be locked up again, so she clings to her left hand and opens it, revealing three flower petals she had all along. She kept them close so they wouldn't be blown away by the winds.
"Joestar!" Mario calls out to him, charging at the vampire. "This is for my father! With his power, i'll kill you with my own hands!" He jumps up in the air with all of his might, as his arms are glowing, surging with hamon. Speedwagon gasped, as he quickly tried to warn him.
"Milord!" He quickly went into action. He hardly ever used his vampiric powers, but he quickly jumped as well, grabbing the man's ankles.
"You fool! You'll die first!" He reaches down at him, knowing that one touch of his harm will destroy him. Speedwagon swings the man back into the room, causing him to fly and crash to the floor.
Still, the human is persistent, still full of energy, and he stood up, still having the desire to kill. Even Deas's pleadings fall on deaf ears because he is acting recklessly. With blind rage, he rushed after the vampires again, only to feel a sharp pain in both of his arms as lasers were shot at both of them, making holes in them . He was blown back, but these are major injuries. He came to a halt and fell on his back because he was in physical pain.
"Fine, you'll join your father soon enough." Jonathan was about to approach, but Speedwagon stopped him. "Robert?"
"Look! The lady!" He points to Dea as she climbs and then stands on the railing. This causes the lord to be in a panic.
"Dea, what are you doing?" He asked her,
"I see now that it was pointless." She said softly. " As long as I am alive, I can never escape. I thought I could escape my fate, but now... there is only one way now." She eats the petals of the moon flower, swallowing the plant afterwards. "I will not let you possess me any longer. I choose this path, a new one that grants the true end." Her eyes closed as she started to fall backwards.
"Dea! No, DEA!" He screamed, running towards her to try and catch her, but it was too late as she fell from the cliff and quickly descended. The poison is already spreading quickly, and she can feel herself dying. She will have to endure it. She had made this decision.
She is fading from the world, and when she opens her eyes, she thinks that she saw something falling towards her before her vision became white.
"By God…oh no…" Speedwagon was alone on the balcony, shocked at what had happened. He couldn't believe that she had willing thrown herself off the castle after consuming something. Plus, Jonathan threw himself as well, and now both are falling towards the rocks and water below. "I-I have to get down there somehow." He turns and runs, passing the still injured Mario.
"Wait…" He skidded to a stop as he heard the young Zeppeli's voice, looking at him.
"What now? You still have it in you to continue fighting?" He asked incredulously.
"...no, a warning..." He coughs, sneering at him. "Whatever it takes, the disciples of Hamon will not stop hunting you. They will see you and your kind dead, and there will be nothing you can do to escape such a fate. "
The vampire scowls as Mario is getting dizzy from the blood loss, leaving him to bleed out as he goes in search of Lord Joestar.
JOJOJOJOJO
It has been hours since the events at Windkinght Castle, and Speedwagon has found himself at a small beach below the cliffs. He is shouting for Jonathan, pulling the reins of the vampiric horses as he walks along the sands. "Milord! Milord!" He calls out, hoping that he could see or hear him, but all is quiet except for the waves crashing. "Damn it all. Why did this have to happen?" He turns to the sea. The sun could appear at any moment, and he doesn't want to be exposed when it does. Still, he doesn't wish to leave his lord. "Lord Joestar! Lord…ah!"
A hulking figure is appearing from the surface of the water, a man carrying a body in his arms as he rises, walking onto the beach. He is very sure that Jonathan is safe and sound. He approached him as he is on the dry sand, then dropped on his knees.
"Milord! There you are! It has been hours since i've been searching for you!" He stopped looking down at him as he held Dea close to him. "...Milord?" He didn't hear her breathing or heartbeat at all, which made him realize. "...O-oh…" He frowns sadly. He doesn't see the lady's face as it is against his chest, but didn't wish to. Even though her body and wet clothing are intact, her skin is cut by the sharp rocks. Robert placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to console him. The Lord's head is downcast, solely looking at her. "I am sorry, this is a tragedy...I know you must be suffering right now for your lady love. "
He heard Jonathan chuckle, which confused him. It soon turns into a roar of laughter, throwing his head back in glee as Speedwagon steps back in fear and bafflement. He does stop, but he is still smiling as he tenderly strokes Dea's face.
"Suffering? I am elated!" He told him, as he embraced the body. "Dea, I finally understand! You desired to be with me for all eternity, which is why you sacrificed your human life! You wanted to be by my side much sooner!" He laughs again, joyous about this event. "Now that I have taken my revenge, we can finally live in peace, and no one will stand in my way!" He stood up, heading to the horses. "Come! Our new life can begin. Dea and I will finally be reunited and will never be parted."
"Y-yes, milord." He simply said as they rode their horses across the beach, away from the looming cliffs to parts unknown.
Dawn of April 4
The town in Windknight's Lot is burned, but there is still hope as the survivors are out at sea, returning to the docks to find their homes in ruins. At the very least, the vampire threat is long gone, leaving them the chance to explore and figure out what to do. The Puck Smithy and the house caught fire during the uncontrollable spread and are now blackened. The four family members are standing in front of it; at the very least, they are alive and can start over. Bruford held his wife, Mary, and his children closely.
"What a horrible night, what shall we do now?" Mary asked, looking over the destruction.
"This isn't the first time we have endured vampires here; the town is lost, but we can start over as long as we have each other." He assures them.
"Father, mother, look down there!" Poco points as a horse trots down the path, heading towards them at a moderate pace. The patriarch of the family moves to protect his family, only to realize that it is an Arabian horse, and on top is an injured Mario Zeppeli, shirtless as he is using his clothing as makeshift bandages to keep himself from bleeding out anymore.
"Mario? Lad, is that you?" He quickly goes over to stop the horse in his tracks, then can see his state.
"...B-Bruford…" He mumbles weakly, holding on. "I…I couldn't…"
"Stay focused; we will get you help." He grabs the reins as he leads the horse. "Follow me; we must find the doctor to get him healed." He took them back to the square, where most of the citizens were gathered after returning to the town. Luckily, their local physician is among the survivors, helping to see if anyone has injuries.
The young man was brought to the doctor quickly and is being taken care of as best as possible. The only place nearby that hasn't been ravaged is the nearby church, which would be a suitable shelter for the time being. He fell asleep, drained from his battle.
Mario opens his eyes and stares at the ceiling for some time. "Mario?" He turns to Dorothy, who is beside him, relieved that he is okay. "Thank God, I was beginning to worry." He is in a modest room on a bed, with only one window behind him as the sun casts its light. The woman is sitting in a chair by the bed.
"Where am I?" He pondered; it doesn't seem familiar.
"In the church, they had a spare room." She answered. "The doctor took care of you while you were unconscious; it's already noon."
"Yes, I have watched over you from time to time to make sure. The people are sheltering here for the time being." She informed him, then became silent for a few seconds. "It was a miracle; I am glad you have returned."
"...It was my father's life force that has kept me alive…" His voice trembles, he cannot move his arms. "I…I couldn't do anything…I couldn't save him…" He starts to tear up. "H-He is gone…they are gone…" He felt the shame hit him at once, his father and friend had perished in battle, and he couldn't even save the girl who fell to her death. "I'm so sorry, I wasn't strong enough to stop them."
Dorothy was shocked and heartbroken to hear such terrible news. "Oh no…" She took his hand into hers. "You do not have to apologize; you have done what you could, I am sure of it." She is also trying to hold back her own tears. "It was Dea's decision to save us from the monsters that came for her. She was my friend, and I would have done the same if they were after me. You, your father, and Dire have done a noble deed as well, and I am sorry for your loss."
He turns to look at her, feeling her warmth as she still held his, which brings him a sense of hope. "Dorothy, thank you for your kind words." He sighs, and they both share their tears for those that were lost. His father and Dire are gone, but he would not let their sacrifice be in vain. He is still a Hamon warrior, and he wanted to make the one responsible for their deaths pay for what they had done. Jonathan Joestar is still out there, hiding in the darkness. Perhaps he has gotten what he wanted, as he sought out the woman he is overly possessive of. The Zeppeli name still lives on, as Mario swore an oath that he would continue his father's legacy in ridding the world of the blood drinking demons of the night.
Part 1- FIN
Italian Translations:
Mio figlio-my son
Padre-Father
Per favore-Please
Svegliati-Wake up
Amico mio-My friend
Signorina- An unmarried woman, Young woman/girl