"...and that's pretty much it," said Lincoln, he and the others having completed giving Lucy a recap.

"I see…so these two have been in conflict for some time now, their destinies intertwined due to the meeting of their fathers. A simple premise, but add in the supernatural elements and it's a great story in the making. Hopefully I can get some more inspiration through this next episode."

"Yeah, let's get back to it! I can't wait for Jonathan to expose Dio to their father as the scum he is!" said Lana as Lincoln hit the play button, starting the next episode.

~PB~

The episode opened on the outside of the Joestar manor, the storm still raging outside as lightning flashed. It cut back to the inside with Jonathan and Dio, right where the last episode left off.

"You're a poisoner, Dio Brando," said Jonathan. "I have all the proof I require and then some."

~LBR~

"Anybody getting a serious case of deja vu?" asked Lynn.

"It's not just you, I think they reused the animation for the first few seconds," said Lincoln. "Though considering how the last episode ended, it makes for a good opening."

~PB~

Dio flinched, then grimaced as lightning flashed, revealing Jonathan had stood up.

'He's found his proof, so be it,' thought Dio, eyes twitching. 'This moment's been a long time coming, JoJo.'

~LBR~

"'I mean, I had to WALK back from London!'" joked Luna.

~PB~

The scene cut to the statue by the stairs, lightning illuminating it for a moment. 'Now, I finish what I started,' thought Dio before it cut to the opening.

~LBR~

"Gah, whiplash again!" shouted Lincoln as he and Lucy backed up.

"So this is the opening, hmm?" wondered Lucy. "A bit more energetic than I usually like, but I suppose it's fine."

"So what do you think Dio's gonna do? His plan with the mask won't work now that he knows what it does," said Lincoln to his sisters.

"Maybe he's gonna use it on himself," said Lana. "I mean, it's not like he'll be too different than he is now. He's already a bloodsucking monster."

"I'll have you know that's…is he walking up the wall?" asked Lucy, her train of thought having been derailed by the opening.

"Yeah, that was our reaction too," said Luna.

"Well, anyway, even if he did become a vampire, there's no way Dio could win against JoJo!" said Lynn, most of her siblings agreeing. Most of them.

"We'll just see about that," said Lucy as the opening ended.

~PB~

The scene cut to the outside of the mansion as subtitles displayed the episode title: "Youth With Dio." "I tracked down the antidote," said Jonathan as the camera panned across the courtyard. It then cut back to the inside as Jonathan set the candelabra down. "Father took it moments ago."

~LBR~

"'He said it was peach-flavored, for whatever reason,'" said Lana.

~PB~

"Dio," said Jonathan, "this pains me greatly. For years, you were my brother, and now, I have no recourse but to turn you in."

~LBR~

"'Then it's a good thing I studied law!'" joked Lynn.

"His dad already gave British people a bad name, now it's his turn to do the same to lawyers," shrugged Luna.

~PB~

"I'm sorry, really," said Jonathan as Dio scoffed and turned his head, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple. "I'm sure you don't believe a word of it, but I'm telling you the truth."

Dio sighed as he sat down, revealing a sling over his left arm from his injured shoulder.

~LBR~

"Wait, when did he get that?" asked Luna. "How long has it been since he used the mask?"

"No idea, but I'm sure he told the most unusual story to whatever doctor treated him," said Lucy. "Or that he fell down some stairs."

~PB~

Dio turned to Jonathan. "Even now, you show compassion," he said. He then looked down and closed his eyes. Jonathan's even look turned into a mixture of caution and concern.

"JoJo," continued Dio, his voice quivering, "I've been a devil, but grant me this one wish." Jonathan gasped as Dio looked up and put his good hand over his heart, a look of sadness and regret in his eyes. "Allow me to do the right thing for once in my life and turn myself in."

'What's this?' thought Jonathan, taken aback as Dio reached for his sling, pulling the bandages. 'I thought once I confronted him, he'd fight me tooth and nail like a cornered beast.'

~LBR~

"You'd think after first-hand experience and seven years of living with him, JoJo would be able to tell when Dio was lying," said Lincoln.

"Maybe he actually feels bad, and wants to repent," said Lynn. There was silence for a few seconds, then the four who had watched from the beginning burst into laughter. "Bwahahahahahaha! Did I actually say that?!"

"Hahahahahaha! No way!" laughed Lana.

"It wasn't that funny," said Lucy as they calmed down.

~PB~

A red and magenta striped filter covered Dio as his inner self scowled. 'JoJo,' he growled in his mind. 'You should be dead in a gutter right now.' An orange image of the knife and mask, the blade of the former in the mouth of the latter, appeared over him. 'I must distract him long enough for the knife and mask to find their mark.'

~LBR~

"Is he… still planning on killing him with the mask? Did he just repress what happened to him?" wondered Lucy.

"If I went through what he did, I'd definitely want to," said Luna.

~PB~

The colors returned to normal as Dio looked up at Jonathan. "My wicked deeds gnaw at me. The poverty I knew as a child ate away at my moral compass until greed was all that remained. I'm the lowest of the low. Your father took me in off the street, and I repaid his kindness with poison." Tears began to form in his eyes, flowing freely as he continued his speech. "The only reason I came back was to surrender myself. If I'd wanted to flee, you never would've laid eyes on me again."

~LBR~

"Give the guy some credit, he's definitely convincing," said Lynn.

"And apparently, he can only cry when he plans on stabbing someone," said Lincoln.

~PB~

"I see your point," relented Jonathan.

"Please allow me to make amends," said Dio as he reached into his sling, no doubt for his weapons.

~LBR~

"Because reaching into your sling like that is totally inconspicuous," said Lucy.

~PB~

"Dio… "

"Look alive, Master Joestar."

Jonathan was caught off guard as he turned around, only for a match to be lit beside a suit of armor. Holding the match was none other than the bowler hat-wearing man he met on Ogre Street. "He's trying to lure you in, like as not," he said.

~LBR~

"Hey, it's that guy, sweet!" said Lana. "So he is a major character!"

"Looks like he put the covers back on his bladed hat," said Lincoln. "Unless he has an identical hat that's just normal."

"Hey, you've got, what, twenty of those orange shirts? It's not like you can talk," said Lynn, reaching over Lucy and tugging on his shirt sleeve.

"What about the rest of you? You all wear the same outfits every day too!" rebutted Lincoln, earning silence and wide eyes from his sister.

"Touché, bro," said Luna, looking down at her standard punk rock getup as Lynn sniffed her lucky jersey before shrugging.

~PB~

Dio grimaced at the new face, his plan starting to come apart at the seams. "Right about now, you're probably wondering who I am," said Bowler Hat as he put out the match with a wave of his hand. "Allow me to elucidate you." He put a fist to the left side of his chest. "The name is Robert E.O. Speedwagon."

~LBR~

As soon as Speedwagon revealed his name, the Loud house became much more quiet. One could hear a pin drop in the family room as Lynn, Lucy, Lincoln, and Lana had completely slack jaws, stunned into silence by this reveal. After several seconds that felt like hours of staring at the paused image of Speedwagon's smiling face, Lucy, of all people, succeeded in breaking the silence. "What," was all she said, less a question and more a demand for an explanation.

"Is… is his name really…" started Lana.

"... R.E.O. Speedwagon?!" finished Lynn.

Very slowly, Lincoln turned his head to look past his immediately younger and older sister to see Luna staring at him. She was just as silent, but unlike her younger siblings whose jaws touched the floor, she had the biggest smile he had ever seen on her face. He could practically taste the cocktail of smugness and euphoria radiating from her pearly whites.

"Uh, Luna?"

"Say it," she said.

"C-C-Come on, sis, do I-"

"SAY IT," she said more forcefully.

"Okay, okay! I was wrong! They were music references the whole time! I know when I'm beat! Are you happy?!" screamed Lincoln as Luna leaned back, hands behind her head as she crossed her legs.

"I'm walking on sunshine, and don't it feel good," she said.

"I take it there was a bet of some sort?" asked Lucy.

"Yep," nodded Lynn as Lincoln reached for the controller, as he dropped it in his shock.

~PB~

"I had a hunch Jonathan's run of trouble might not be done," said Speedwagon, "so I followed him back home." Both Jonathan and Dio were looking at him as he spoke. "I like you, Jonathan, so I'm gonna offer up this little tidbit pro bono."

At this point, he started walking towards them, walking behind Jonathan and holding the brim of his hat. "Living in the gutter, you learn to spot lowlifes pretty quick, if you want to see tomorrow." He turned his attention to Dio, briefly putting his finger on his chin. "I've trained my nose to sort out the bad ones from the good just from a sniff."

Dio began to sweat as he trembled, Speedwagon clicking his tongue. "This fella reeks of brimstone and blood, worse than anyone I've ever laid eyes on!" he cried as he kicked the candelabra towards Dio, who tilted his head to dodge the now-extinguished projectile.

~LBR~

"So if Dio reeks of brimstone and blood, what does JoJo smell like?" wondered Lincoln. "Flowers?"

"Why would anyone want to smell like flowers?" asked Lana, genuinely confused.

~PB~

"He is pure evil, right down to his very bones!" screamed Speedwagon. "Is he a victim of circumstance, you're wondering? Not on your life!" He pointed an accusatory finger at Dio, who tightened his grip on the arm of the chair he was in. "He's been evil since he drew his first breath." As if to drive the point home, a roll of thunder lit up the stoic face of Dio.

~LBR~

"Wow, he's spot on, isn't he?" asked Lynn rhetorically.

~PB~

"But don't you fret, 'cause I brought you a friend." Speedwagon then reached into the darkness and pulled out a short man with spiky black hair with a widow's peak, a long and thin fu manchu mustache, and a red and green silk robe. "Remember him?" Dio couldn't conceal his shock as he gasped, recognizing the man as the one who sold him the poison.

~LBR~

"Man, old age didn't do Vegeta any favors," joked Lincoln.

~PB~

"This man confessed to selling you the poison you used on Father," said Jonathan. Dio hissed, desperately trying to think of a way out of this.

"I've heard enough."

Dio gasped as he turned his head. The curtains opened, revealing George standing behind it using a cane. Beside him was the police inspector, a middle-aged balding man with blonde hair, a goatee, a thick unibrow, and round glasses. He was wearing a navy blue jacket over a blue and white suit, showing his higher rank. The two of them were flanked by several police officers, all wearing the standard navy blue suits and caps.

~LBR~

"Apparently, they were just standing behind the curtain while JoJo and Speedwagon did all the hard work," said Lucy.

"They had to make sure they got their reveal just right," said Lana.

~PB~

"You break my heart," said George, giving his adopted son a sad look, his heart no doubt broken. "Why, Dio? From the day you arrived, I have loved you as though you were my own son."

~LBR~

"Actually, you treated him BETTER than your own son, but continue," said Luna.

~PB~

Dio hissed and twitched in frustration as George coughed. "Father, you're too weak to be down here," said Jonathan.

"You're right," said George. "I'll return to my chamber." Dio looked down as Jonathan and the inspector led George to the stairs. "I don't want to see my boy in chains. Do what you must, JoJo."

~LBR~

"'Now could one of you kindly take me back to my room? Going down the stairs was hard enough,'" joked Lynn.

~PB~

"I will," said Jonathan as Dio stood up.

"Is this how it all ends?" wondered Dio aloud.

As George walked away, the apothecary owner finally spoke. "He won't see the inside of a cell this night," he forewarned as George looked at him. A black filter covered the man as an image of Dio in profile appeared. "I read his face and the trio of moles on his ear. The devil smiles on him and grants him luck." George looked worried hearing this and looked over his shoulder, seeing Jonathan approach Dio.

"Hmm…"

~LBR~

"Considering all he's gotten away with and survived, including getting pushed from a balcony and almost getting his blood completely drained, I totally buy that he's got some serious luck," said Lynn.

"You also believe that sitting on the left side of a couch and eating hot dogs with powdered sugar is lucky," said Lincoln.

"Hey, you've already been proven wrong once this episode, Stinkoln, don't jinx it."

~PB~

"JoJo," said Dio as he held out his hands, "I want you to be the one to put the cuffs on me. Please, brother."

"Alright," said Jonathan as the inspector handed him the pair of handcuffs, the chain rattling.

~LBR~

"Wow, this isn't a trap at ALL," said Luna with an eye roll.

~PB~

"Be careful," warned Speedwagon. "He's a crafty one." As Jonathan went to put the cuffs around Dio's wrists, his "brother" spoke.

"JoJo, it was hubris that led me to this ignominious end," he said, looking down with a smirk as Jonathan's expression became fearful.

~LBR~

"Quick, JoJo, run away while he's monologuing!" shouted Lana.

~PB~

"This fall from grace has taught me well," he continued as he looked away. "However one may scheme and dissemble, my downfall this night is part of the human condition."

~LBR~

"That's certainly true," said Lincoln. "I may be the man with the plan, but several of my plans fell apart because of something I overlooked or didn't plan for in the long run."

"Like when we freed all those frogs before they could be dissected, but they wouldn't go into the wild?" said Lana.

"I was wondering why you two weren't at lunch that day," said Lucy. "Sigh. I was looking forward to that come fifth grade." Hops popped out of Lana's overalls with a horrified expression before fainting, causing Lana to glare at her older sister.

~PB~

"A condition I now forsake."

"Wait, forsake? What do you mean?" asked Jonathan. A brief glint could be visible as Dio reached into his sling.

"You see, I am about to become so much more!" shouted Dio as he pulled the stone mask out of his sling, showing it to Jonathan. He was smiling like a madman, the lack of lighting making his orange eyes look blood-red.

~LBR~

"'I shall become… a cosplayer!'" joked Luna.

"So you were right, Lana," said Lucy. "He does plan on becoming a vampire, and no doubt wants JoJo's blood to initiate the transformation."

"I don't feel happy about being right," said Lana.

~PB~

Dio pulled out the knife from his cloak and rushed towards Jonathan, who was completely frozen. "Help me shed this mortal skin."

"Mother's mask. But how?" wondered Jonathan.

"Watch out," warned Speedwagon in a split screen.

~LBR~

"Very helpful, Speedwagon," said Lucy.

~PB~

"Fire at will, men," said the inspector in another split screen.

"JoJo, your blood is the key!" shouted Dio as he lunged forward.

~LBR~

"Hold on a sec, dudes," said Luna. "I get why he couldn't use the dead dude's blood, since it was daytime. But it was cloudy, so why didn't he just use the mask with his own blood? He had a knife, and only a drop is needed."

"Because this is Dio, and making Jonathan suffer is a top priority," said Lincoln.

"Yeah, you got me there."

~PB~

The knife soon found flesh, blood gushing out as it found a mark. Jonathan let out a loud gasp as he dropped the handcuffs, a purple filter appearing as he looked down. The police and Speedwagon looked on in shock as they saw the stab wound. The shopkeeper smirked as Speedwagon choked out, "Oh my God!" But it wasn't Jonathan who had been stabbed.

"FATHER!" shrieked Jonathan as he held his father in his arms. George had rushed in to protect his son, and now he was hunched back with Dio's shiv in his back, barely able to cling to life.

~LBR~

Once again, the five were stunned. But this time, the circumstances were far less comedic.

"H-Holy crap," muttered Luna.

"Just like his mother," said Lincoln as he held Lucy and Lana closer.

"He's not gonna die, right?" asked Lynn, frantically looking back and forth. She wasn't fond of the character, but she didn't want him to be killed off, especially in such a cruel twist of fate.

"Unfortunately, I doubt he's that lucky," said Lucy, her tone a bit sadder than usual.

~PB~

As Jonathan held his father in his arms, Dio burst into sinister laughter as he brought the mask to his face. He slid his other hand, which was covered in George's blood, over the front of it, triggering the thorns' release as they dug into his skull, small splashes of blood coming out as they hit their mark. The eye holes began to glow red as the mask once more emitted a blinding light. As the mask did its magic, Dio continued to laugh as he pointed at Jonathan, the mask muffling his mad cackles which were steadily becoming louder.

"Shoot that maniac!" shouted the inspector as his men pulled out their revolvers and opened fire. Over a dozen bullets pierced Dio's body as he fell backward, breaking through a window. As the police stopped their barrage, the twitching body of Dio lay in the rain, covered in glass shards and smoke rising from his bullet wounds. He tried to lift his head, only for it to fall limply onto the cobblestone. The inspector glared at his body through the shattered window, Speedwagon walking up to him.

~LBR~

"Well, that was pretty cathartic," said Lynn.

"Indeed, but due to the mask's reaction prior to the gunshots, I highly doubt that's the end of Dio Brando," said Lucy, the smallest hint of a smile on her face. After all, Dio may have been despicable, even to her, but a vampire was a vampire, and she certainly wouldn't complain.

"Also, wasn't that from the opening?" asked Lana. "I wonder if other stuff from the opening is gonna happen."

"Only one way to find out," said Lincoln.

~PB~

"JoJo," said George as he raised a trembling hand to Jonathan's face, his son's breath hitched.

"Father," said Jonathan as his father caressed his cheek. He began to cry as he grabbed his father's hand. "This is all my fault. I should've blocked his knife. The mask, when I saw it, I froze. And you paid the price."

George groaned before he shook his head and smiled at his son, not holding an ounce of blame or ill will towards Jonathan. He held out the hand he was caressing Jonathan with, revealing the ring on his pinky, gold with a diamond on it. "Take this ring." Jonathan's breath hitched again as he took a closer look at the ring. "It was your mother's, JoJo," said George, causing Jonathan to gasp.

~LBR~

"Oh hey, I just noticed he's had that ring the whole time! I guess Dario didn't steal it from him after all!" said Lincoln.

"I mean, he was probably caught red-handed, so he didn't have much choice," said Luna.

"He said it was his mother's, though," said Lucy. "Unless she gave it to him? Perhaps I'm overthinking this."

~PB~

"Father," cried Jonathan as he wrapped his hand around his father's.

"Damn it," cursed Speedwagon with a trembling fist. "Ain't a doctor on earth who can fix that."

~LBR~

"Okay, I'm pretty sure that's not true, even if it is the 1800s," said Lynn. "I bet they could fix a stab wound."

~PB~

"How'd that devil get the drop on us?" muttered Speedwagon.

"It's all my fault," cried out the inspector, holding his head in his hands as he spoke in a trembling tone. "If only I hadn't listened to you, Sir Joestar." This caught Speedwagon's attention as the scene cut to the unmoving body of Dio. "If I had run his father out of town, years ago, like I had a mind to, none of this would have taken place."

~LBR~

"I mean, he's not wrong," said Lincoln.

~PB~

"Hold on. Whose father?" asked Speedwagon.

As the inspector continued his story, an image of a jail appeared behind him as a flashback began. "Back when I first joined the force, there was a ne'er-do-well who tried to pawn that very ring you now see on Joestar's finger. The suspect was Dio's birth father, Dario Brando."

~LBR~

"Okay, so he did try to steal the ring and got caught," said Lana.

~PB~

The flashback cut to what seemed to be an office of some sort, presumably the warden's. George, who was wearing a cape in addition to a dark-colored suit, was shown holding the ring in his right hand, while comparing it to an identical ring on his left. "It's mine, of that there's no doubt," he said with tears in his eyes.

~LBR~

"Wait, there's two of them?!" asked Lana. "So wait, the one he gave to JoJo isn't the same one Dario took? Or is it? Ahh, my brain hurts!"

"Maybe if we keep watching, we can find out," said Lincoln as Lana held her head in her hands, the six-year-old managing a nod.

~PB~

"My late wife and I had them made to celebrate our betrothal."

The inspector, wearing a blue suit and having a full set of hair, walked up to the nobleman. "A local cutpurse by the name of Dario Brando was trying to sell it."

George seemed surprised by this revelation before he looked at the rings again. "Can it be?"

"Sir Joestar thought he owed his life to Dario," spoke the present-day inspector over the flashback, "but he was sadly mistaken." The scene cut to a walk down a stone hallway in the prison. "Dario hadn't scrambled down to the mangled carriage that fateful night to look for survivors, but to root for ill-gotten riches." At the end of the corridor was a single jail cell, containing one Dario Brando in a plain shirt and overalls, not even wearing shoes.

"Huh? You stay back!" snapped Dario as George and the inspector approached his cell.

"This man, what has he said, Inspector?" asked George.

~LBR~

"'He just told us to stay back. Keep up,'" joked Lana.

"No, he kept demanding that they return his 'precious,'" said Lincoln.

"He certainly has the teeth for that," said Lucy.

~PB~

"Did he ever tell you that I gave him the ring?"

"Aye. He swore up and down," said the inspector, holding out half-clenched hands. "You filthy liar."

~LBR~

"As opposed to what, a clean liar?" asked Lynn.

"Dude, I don't think Dario's been clean for one second of his life, outside or inside," said Luna.

"Even I agree with that," said Lana.

~PB~

"He swore with good reason," said George. "I gave him the ring, just as he told you."

"Huh? You have got to be kidding!" said the inspector.

"He is innocent," said George. "Let him go at once, inspector."

"But sir, this man stole from you."

"But for providence's hand in my life, I might as well have done the same."

~LBR~

"Dang it, why does he have to be such a good guy to someone who doesn't deserve it?!" said Lincoln, desperately holding back tears.

"I think the biggest problem is imagining that George would steal from anybody," said Lynn. "Or that Dario has anything worth stealing."

~PB~

The inspector gasped as George walked up to Dario and offered his ring. "Sell this ring, if you may ease your family's burden by it. Walk an honest path henceforth, and I give it gladly." Dario slowly held out his hand to receive the ring, George holding his hand with both of his own as he placed the ring in his palm.

~LBR~

"And they say Dario considered following that honest path… for about two seconds before he realized how much booze that ring could get him," said Lucy.

~PB~

A light filter covered the scene as the flashback drew to a close. "He knew he didn't owe Dario a damn thing," said the inspector as he continued his story, the camera fading to a window and panning down to Jonathan and George, "and he took Dio in all the same."

"Father, hang on," said Jonathan with a sad smile. "The doctor is on his way now."

"JoJo, don't hate Dio for what he's done," said George. "I am to blame for this."

~LBR~

"JoJo is to blame, the inspector is to blame, George is to blame," said Luna. "Is nobody gonna acknowledge that Dio is the one to blame here?"

"Yeah, what's next, Speedwagon is gonna say it's his fault?" asked Lana.

~PB~

"I was hard on you, because you are a Joestar. I went too easy on Dio, and he might have felt I didn't care. Perhaps he did this for want of a father's love." He turned to look at Dio's body. "Please, see that he's buried next to Dario."

~LBR~

"Even when he's dying, he's still a bad judge of cha…char… b-bad ju… " Lynn felt her snark lock up in her throat, a lump too big to swallow as she grit her teeth and balled her hands into fists. Tears streamed down her angry face as she pounded her fists on her thighs. "I can't! I can't say it! Even after all he did to JoJo, I can't make fun of him!"

"It's okay, dude," said Luna, her older sister instincts kicking into overdrive as she hugged Lynn. "Just let it out." Lynn hugged Luna back, the rocker letting out a small wince of pain. Still, she kept her warm smile, even as she started to cry. At the same time, Lincoln and Lana were hugging as well, both crying quietly. Even Lucy, the queen of darkness herself, had a morose look as she lowered her head, allowing a single tear to run down her cheek and drop onto the floor.

~PB~

Jonathan nodded. "Father," he said, his smile fading as he felt his father's hand go limp. He held it closer and closed his eyes, a smaller smile on his face as he did his best not to cry.

"Don't look so sad, JoJo," said George. "Where better to die than in the arms of my son?" His voice started to falter as he asked this, his hand slipping out of Jonathan's grasp and falling onto the floor, completely limp. Piano music played in the background as Jonathan let out a gasp, an orange and yellow filter briefly covering them as lightning flashed in the background. George Joestar was dead.

"Sir Joestar!" cried two of the officers.

~LBR~

The five siblings remained quiet, save for the sounds of crying and comforting, as they mourned a fictional character they had known for an hour. George was a flawed man, they had no doubt, but he was a kind and generous soul to be sure, and especially didn't deserve to die at the hands of someone he welcomed with open arms. After a few minutes, they were all feeling much better, although the lingering sadness was still in the air. Without saying anything, Lincoln picked up the controller and resumed the episode.

~PB~

The inspector whimpered. "We have lost much this night," he said as he put a hand on his face and wept for George. "A noble man's soul has been taken from the world."

Speedwagon frowned before pointing at Jonathan. "You're wrong! All that was good in that man, he passed it along to Jonathan, every bit of it!" The camera zoomed in on Jonathan, who was covered in a papyrus-like filter as he held his dead father, weeping.

~LBR~

"And then Jonathan suddenly sprouts a mustache," said Lana.

"No way," said Lynn. "I can't imagine him with a mustache for the life of me."

~PB~

"You can be sure. JoJo's gonna live an upright life, using what his father gave him." Speedwagon looked up in thought. "Rich folks are rubbish."

~LBR~

"Can't argue with you there," said Lincoln. "Take it from my experience with Lord Tetherby."

"That Jerry Kling dude was pretty cool, though," said Luna.

~PB~

"Watching 'em flounce around, I wanna throw the whole lot of them into the Thames," said Speedwagon before finally allowing himself to cry, "but not the Joestars. They're heroic and merciful and just. The whole damn lot are giants among men."

~LBR~

"They sure are," said Lincoln with a smile, the quintet touched by his words once more.

~PB~

Content, Speedwagon turned to leave before he gasped. "What the hell? The body!" And sure enough, Dio's body was gone, the only remaining trace being the stone mask. "Dio's corpse, it— it vanished!"

~LBR~

"'He's become one with the Force, lads!'" joked Luna.

~PB~

The camera zoomed in on the mask as lightning flashed, the others gasping as they saw the same. Speedwagon took a step towards the inspector, who was the closest to the broken window. "Oi, copper! Away from the window!" he warned as he ran further into the mansion, panicked.

But the warning came too late. As a sinister sound played, the inspector went to move away from the window. He had only managed to take a single step when a hand came from above, fingers impaling the back of his head and ripping it in two horizontally. The inspector let out a gurgled groan as his head from the upper jaw up landed on the carpet, blood pouring out of it. He could only manage another gurgle before he fell to the floor, dead.

~LBR~

Save for Lucy, who had a much higher tolerance for horror and gore, the Louds recoiled as they saw the brutal, and no doubt painful, kill. Of the four, Lynn was the first to recover, on account of the amount of nasty stunt fails she had seen. "T-Talk about a nasty headache," she said.

"What a shame," said Lucy. "He only had two more days before retirement."

~PB~

As the body of the inspector fell, the camera changed to the outside of the manor, the right hand of Dio hanging from above as blood dripped from it. "Wry…" breathed the newly turned vampire as the camera panned up to show him hanging upside down along the wall. "JoJo," he whispered as lightning flashed, drawing attention to his razor-sharp set of fangs, a purple filter coating the image briefly.

~LBR~

"Oh, this is going to be WICKED," said Lucy with a smirk.

~PB~

The scene cut back to the inside of the mansion. "The inspector!" shouted one of the officers as Dio leapt from his hiding place and landed on the broken frame of the window. The others gasped as he posed, standing on his toes and knees bent while turned so his right faced the inside. His left arm was hanging down while his right hand was raised, his thumb, index, and middle fingers pushed against a shard of glass that was still in the frame. This revealed that his nails had grown and sharpened into crude claws, explaining how he was able to make a clean cut when killing the inspector. As the camera panned up his body, a sound effect traveled up his body.

~LBR~

"What's with the pose?" asked Luna. "Is he threatening them or posing for a camera?"

"Either way, it's creepy, especially with that glare of his," said Lincoln.

~PB~

"No, that's impossible!" cried Speedwagon in disbelief. "How is he alive!?"

"He can't be," said an officer as Dio turned his head to face the room, showing a cut under his right eye, smirking at his next set of victims. "We all filled him full of bullets." Dio hissed, his breath visible in the cold air, before he slinked inside.

"Keep your distance, lads," said an officer, who sported a white mustache. "He's armed with something."

~LBR~

"Well, he did use his arms to do that," said Lana, "so he's not totally wrong."

~PB~

Jonathan set his father's body on the ground gently, before turning to look out the window at the stone mask. 'Was it the mask?' he thought as Dio stepped into view, walking forward.

One of the officers gasped. "He's coming right at us!"

"What are you waiting for? Hit him with everything you've got left!" shouted Speedwagon.

~LBR~

"And what if they used up their bullets with the first barrage?" asked Lana.

"Maybe they're gonna throw the pistols at him," said Luna.

~PB~

Jonathan sprang to his feet and snatched the revolver out of one of the constable's hands. With a trembling hand, he pulled back the hammer and pointed it at Dio. "Come no closer," he said. His words did nothing to slow Dio as he slowly walked towards his brother. "Not another step! I mean it." Dio continued approaching as Jonathan's hand shook, either out of fear or hesitation. Dio's glare sharpened as Jonathan continued pointing the gun, a sound effect covering the screen.

"Blow his brains out now!" shouted Speedwagon. "Do it before he kills us all!"

~LBR~

"'Okay, smart guy, do it yourself!'" joked Lynn.

"He does still have that bladed hat," said Lincoln. "Maybe."

"Even if he did, would it do much against Dio if over a dozen shots couldn't kill him?" asked Lucy, with Lincoln unable to answer.

~PB~

Jonathan continued to tremble, when finally a shot was fired from the pistol. The bullet went straight through Dio's skull and shattered a vase behind him, leaving a perfect hole in the left of his forehead. However, as the angle changed, it was revealed that Jonathan didn't fire the shot, as he was still shaking. Rather, the gun that was fired, barrel still smoking, was held by Speedwagon.

~LBR~

"Huh, points for Speedwagon, I guess," said Lynn.

~PB~

Speedwagon glared at Dio, but suddenly gasped when Dio didn't fall. A drop of blood fell from Dio's wound before he took a step forward. He kept walking despite the hole in his head that was still bleeding, causing Jonathan to recoil. Without changing expressions, Dio brought his hand to his wound and touched it with his middle and ring fingers. He brushed them down his forehead, creating a small trail of blood, before he rubbed his thumb against his middle finger, getting it bloody too. Jonathan and Dio whimpered at the sight before he stuck out his tongue, licking up the blood on his fingers. "Mm."

~LBR~

"You know, this has me thinking," said Lucy as she put a hand to her chin. "What would happen if a vampire drank their own blood? Would it give them nourishment, or would it be useless, like swallowing spit?"

"Are you really asking this right now?!" asked Luna.

"Great, now I'm gonna be thinking about this for an hour," said Lynn, causing Luna to look at her with confusion.

~PB~

Jonathan and Speedwagon recoiled as they stared at a menacing-looking Dio, eyes glowing red as he held out his hands toward them. "Shot him in the head, and it didn't even slow him down," said Speedwagon, staring at his borrowed revolver as a half-red-half-green filter covered the screen. "It doesn't make any sense. With all the lead we put in him, he should be worm food by now."

'How can this be?' thought Jonathan as he stared at the monster that was once his brother.

~LBR~

"The mask," said Lucy. "You just thought of it, why are you still thinking about why he's alive?"

~PB~

"JoJo," said Dio as he jumped into the air, much higher than most humans, once more holding out his hands, "I should thank you for the source of my newfound power, your father's blood and the ancient mask." With a hiss released a cold breath, he lunged his hand forward, boring his index and middle fingers through the cap of an officer with enough force to shatter it and into his skull. He lifted the screaming officer by the head and began to drain his blood, the officer croaking as he shriveled up. "Wryyyyy," hissed Dio, having somehow latched himself onto the ceiling with his other hand.

~LBR~

"What is that noise he keeps making?" asked Lana. "He sounds like he just stubbed his toe or something."

"Or he's sick of these normies," said Lynn.

~PB~

"He takes his very life. But how is that possible?" wondered JoJo, shocked by the new powers Dio possessed. "Dio, you villain…" As he spoke, the remaining police officers and Speedwagon pointed their guns at Dio. "...what sort of monster have you become?!" Red eyes filled with bloodlust, Dio threw his victim at the other officers, the dead policeman spinning like a discus. His limbs struck the officers with so much power they were torn apart, limbs and heads flying from the impact.

~LBR~

"Whoa, did he just kill a bunch of guys…with another guy?" asked Lynn. "Okay. I still hate the guy, but that was pretty cool!"

"Welcome to the dark side," said Lucy with a smirk. "We've been expecting you."

~PB~

Speedwagon was spared from the slaughter, but a foot that had been ripped off one of the constables struck him hard in the gut, causing him to cough up blood. Dio snarled from his vantage point as Speedwagon dropped the gun and fell to his knees, then fell face-first onto the floor while groaning in pain.

The background changed to purple and green rings as Jonathan's head was shown in profile, a black and purple filter covering his shaking head. 'How did this happen? Think, JoJo, think.' As he ran through the course of events, brief cuts of flashbacks played in his mind. 'The knife, Father, blood, Dio, the mask, my notes, the brain, unknown abilities, unknown strength.'

"There is nothing human left of you, Dio!" shouted Jonathan as Dio let out a "Wry" and cackled.

~LBR~

"Bit of a problem there," said Lincoln. "You're implying there was anything human about him to begin with."

~PB~

Jonathan's knees began to buckle as he looked at the corpse of his father, having been arranged with folded hands funeral-style out of respect. 'Father,' he thought before he glared at a smirking Dio, panic being replaced with courage and determination.

~LBR~

"Ooh, things are about to get good," said Lincoln, rubbing his hands together.

"Tell me about it," agreed Lynn.

~PB~

"Don't do it, JoJo!" warned Speedwagon aa he managed to lift his head, cradling his arm as Jonathan walked past him. "You haven't got a chance in hell. I've never seen anything like this, lad. He broke those coppers to pieces like they was bleedin' twigs."

Jonathan walked up to a suit of armor holding a spear and grabbed its weapon. "I know," he said as he held the spear in both hands, getting used to the weight before getting into a stance with it. "Honestly, I'm terrified. All the same, I can't let Dio kill anyone else. This demon must be annihilated!"

"Please, JoJo, I beg of you," pleaded Speedwagon. "He'll tear you apart!"

A green filter covered Jonathan as he had an epiphany. 'That's it. According to my research on the mask, it was fabled to unlock the brain's hidden potential.'

~LBR~

"So our hidden potential is being vampires? Really?" asked Luna.

"Sigh, you say that as if it were a bad thing," said Lucy.

~PB~

'To vanquish Dio, all I have to do is…'

~LBR~

"'Get him to do tongue twisters so he bites himself!'" joked Lana.

"'Kick him out of the house and don't invite him in until the sun comes out!'" added Lincoln.

"'Have him read Sunset!'" finished Luna.

"You've read that trite that somehow passes as a book?" asked Lucy.

"Middle school book report, one that I had to stick with after I picked it," explained the oldest one there. "Definitely not my best decision."

"Ouch," muttered Lucy. "I'll mourn for the time you lost."

~PB~

As Jonathan thought, a gray, shriveled hand twitched, bones clicking into place. Speedwagon turned to his side to see what the noise was and gasped. The officer Dio had drunk from sat up, only he was no longer human. His shriveled skin had turned a grisly blue-gray, his white hair a murky black. His eyes were bloodshot, and the holes in his head from Dio's attack were still wide open. But the worst parts were his hooked, razor-sharp teeth and his long tongue that was sticking out. He was now a zombie, groaning and flailing about.

~LBR~

"And we finally have a proper zombie three episodes in!" said Lincoln.

"Words cannot describe the joy I'm feeling right now. I can't remember the last time I raised my voice this much," said Lucy, still as monotone as ever.

~PB~

"This one's alive," said a panicked Speedwagon.

"Your blood," said the zombie as it crawled forward, "it smells so delicious." Frozen with fear, Speedwagon could only whimper as the undead officer inched closer, Dio pointing at him as if to direct the zombie.

~LBR~

"Quick, plant a Peashooter!" shouted Lincoln.

~PB~

The vampire chuckled as the zombie grabbed Speedwagon's face, knocking his hat off. The zombie laughed evilly as it rose to its knees. "Now I'm going to turn you inside out," it said as Speedwagon let out a muffled scream, tears running down his face as the zombie widened its mouth and went to feast.

Before the zombie could sink its teeth into the former gutter rat, Jonathan swung his spear and struck its neck. The zombie groaned as Jonathan let out a war cry, the tip of the spear ripping through the decayed flesh and decapitating the zombie, putting it down for good as Speedwagon started to calm down, if only slightly.

"He was my brother," said Jonathan as he looked at the blood-covered spearhead. "Look at him now. Father, please lend me the strength to do what I must."

~LBR~

"'This spear is a lot heavier than I expected,'" said Lynn.

~PB~

Dio snarled, a cold breath coming from his mouth. A light blue filter had coated Jonathan's hair and outfit as the camera closed in on him. 'Courage, JoJo,' thought Jonathan as he steeled himself. 'Dio is powerful, but you know how to end him. And end him you must!'

Dio took this opportunity to leap from the ceiling towards Jonathan. "Watch out!" warned Speedwagon as Dio let out a primal scream.

~LBR~

"Watch out! Hey! Listen!" joked Lincoln before Lynn smacked him in the shoulder.

"Enough, Stinkoln," she said.

~PB~

"It's over," said Jonathan as he spun the spear in his hands before propping it on his shoulder, tip facing forward like a javelin. "I'm not going to let you kill anyone else, Dio!"

~LBR~

"'This is the spear that will pierce your heart!'" joked Lincoln.

"'Who the hell do you think I am?!'" added Luna, earning a laugh from the both of them.

"Okay, that one was good, you guys," admitted Lynn.

~PB~

With a scream, he lunged the spear forward, planning on striking Dio through the head with it. Dio had other plans, however, as he held his hand out to catch the spear. The tip pierced straight through his hand, but he managed to grab onto the shaft of the spear and stop the attack in its tracks.

Jonathan struggled to push the spear further as Speedwagon let out a horrified gasp. "He caught the soddin' spear, right through the hand, and he don't even flinch."

~LBR~

"Dang it, Dio! I'm trying to hate you here!" said Lana as she pointed to Dio. "Stop being so cool!"

"I guess all our hate for the guy is turning into a 'love to hate' kinda thing," shrugged Luna. "Still hope JoJo comes out on top, though."

"Dio winning wouldn't be awful," said Lucy under her breath, resulting in shocked stares from either side. "Dang it, that was out loud, wasn't it?"

~PB~

"No way," gasped Speedwagon. "The hole from where I shot him in the head, it's healed up." And sure enough, a close up revealed that the gash on his cheek and even the bullet wound in his forehead were gone, not even a hint of scarring to show they were even there. "That spear ain't gonna hurt him. He's immortal."

~LBR~

"Well, it's not too different from before, like I said," said Lana. "He just put a 't' in there."

~PB~

Dio tightened his grip on the spear as Jonathan continued to struggle against his supernatural strength. "You're such a weakling, JoJo," said Dio as he pushed back, crumpling the metal pole as though it were paper. Jonathan let out a scream as the bending spear was pushed down onto his shoulder. Dio forced his hand down, snapping the head of the spear off as it lodged itself into Jonathan's shoulder. The Joestar gasped in pain as he dropped the ruined spear, Dio landing on the ground behind him.

~LBR~

"Oof, he's gonna feel that one in the morning," said Lynn.

"He's feeling it NOW," said Lana.

~PB~

"On your feet, insect," said Dio. "I've yet to gauge the full extent of my new powers, so let's play a little longer, shall we?"

~LBR~

"'Couldn't we play something like chess instead?'" said Luna.

~PB~

"I trust you'll be long since dead by the time I figure them out," said Dio, only to realize it was much quieter. "Hmm?" He looked over his shoulder, only to find that Jonathan and Speedwagon were nowhere to be seen.

~LBR~

"See? This is where monologuing gets you!" said Lana.

"Yeah, but it's gotta be fun," said Lincoln. "And it's not like the heroes don't do it too."

~PB~

Dio chuckled. "Hiding, are we?" he asked in an amused tone, like a large cat playing with its food. "Hmm." He looked over the room, seeing nothing but candles and vases on display. He sniffed as he looked over his shoulder towards a curtain, a pool of blood leaking from underneath.

~LBR~

"'Dang it, I knew I shouldn't have tried to pour juice with my messed up arm!'" joked Lynn.

~PB~

Dio scoffed as he approached the curtain. "Ha! You were a fool to attack me," he said as he bared his teeth and pointed at the curtain. "I have disowned my weakness in favor of life everlasting. You're behind the curtain, like Polonius. And, like Polonius, it is there that you shall meet your end." He grabbed the red curtain, pulled it back…

…and was greeted by a wall of flames.

~LBR~

"The fire wasn't caused by JoJo or Speedwagon," said Lucy. "He pulled the curtain so hard, the friction alone set it on fire."

"'Aw man, Dio opened a portal to hell again!'" joked Luna.

~PB~

Dio screamed in agony as he was set ablaze, the entire mansion having been set on fire. "No one's immortal, not even you," came Jonathan's voice from the fire as his theme swelled. The flames separated to reveal Jonathan and Speedwagon standing before him, color schemes back to normal. Speedwagon was holding a lantern, evidently the source of the inferno, while Jonathan's arm was on his shoulder, keeping him upright.

Dio grunted as his hand burst through the burning curtain. He screamed as he tore it apart, glaring at the two mortals. He had major burns that had eaten through his skin on his cheeks, but they slowly started to close up.

~LBR~

"Okay, it's a start," said Lincoln. "At least the fire does SOMETHING."

~PB~

Speedwagon gasped. "He's able to heal faster than the flames can hurt him. If that ain't immortality, then I'm the queen."

~LBR~

"It's an honor to meet you, Queen Speedwagon," said Luna with an exaggerated bow, speaking in her faux British accent.

~PB~

"Fire hurts him, but not enough," said Jonathan. Despite being on fire, Dio was still approaching them. He roared as he lifted a burning chair above his head.

Before he could do anything, Jonathan pulled Speedwagon by the shoulder and threw him outside the flames. As Speedwagon landed with a tumble, he dropped the lantern in front of him, breaking it and spreading more fire to cut him off from Jonathan and Dio. "JoJo! What are you doing?" asked Speedwagon as he got to his knees.

"Just get to safety, Speedwagon," said Jonathan.

~LBR~

"'We already have a narrator to point out the obvious, we don't need you risking your life to do the same,'" joked Lincoln.

~PB~

"If Dio wants a fight, I mean to give him one." He then turned to the wall beside him, which had three swords on display. He grabbed one of them off the wall just as Dio threw the burning chair and planted it into the ground, the side of the blade blocking the attack. Dio grunted as his attack failed.

~LBR~

"Sweet, now he's got a sword! This fight is gonna get even better now, I'm sure!" said Lincoln, shaking with excitement as he beamed from ear to ear.

"Come on, JoJo! Cut that jerk down to size!" cheered Lana, Hops peeking out of her pocket to smile.

~PB~

As it cut back to Jonathan, he was shown kneeling on the pommel of the sword. Using it as a springboard, he jumped up and grabbed onto the upper floor of the foyer, holding on by one hand as the fire spread further beneath him.

~LBR~

"Wait, he's just using it to get to higher ground? That stinks," complained Lincoln as he folded his arms.

"Better than roasting," said Luna.

"But there's two more swords down there! He couldn't have grabbed one of them?!" asked Lynn.

"Need I remind you that Jonathan already tried using a weapon against Dio," said Lucy, "and now it's sticking out of his shoulder like a tombstone." It was a bit more macabre than necessary, but it did the trick as Lynn leaned down and pouted as she stuck her hands into her pockets, but didn't complain.

~PB~

Jonathan struggled to pull himself up. As it was his right hand holding onto the upper floor, the movement caused blood to squirt out of his wound, as the spear head was still firmly in his body. Pushing through the pain, he managed to pull himself up enough to get his other hand on the edge.

"What are you doing?" asked Speedwagon. "Are you mad? The flames are gonna box you in up there!" Suddenly, the flames began to rise as he backed away.

~LBR~

"The fire doesn't like complaining," shrugged Lana. "Good thing Mr. Grouse isn't there."

~PB~

Jonathan pulled himself up and used his good arm to vault himself over the railing, landing on his feet and turned to face the lower floor.

~LBR~

"Guess he had to make sure the audience saw his butt," said Lana, as the angle had the unfortunate consequence of his rear end taking up most of the screen. "I think you've got competition, Lynn!"

"WHAT?! No way!" said Lynn as she jumped from the couch and started doing power squats. "One, two, three…gah, this won't work! I need more weight! One of you, get on my shoulders!"

"Uh, I think I'll pass," said Lincoln.

"Agreed," said Lucy.

"No way, dude," said Luna.

"No thanks," said Lana.

"Ah, forget it," said Lynn as she got back to her seat.

~PB~

'JoJo, you brave fool,' thought Speedwagon as he stared at Jonathan from the ground floor, 'I hope to hell you've got a plan.'

Jonathan looked down at Dio and held out his hand, waving it forward and beckoning him to follow. "I'm waiting for you, Dio."

Dio grunted and flexed his upper body, ripping off his burning shirt and cape. He posed with his left arm pointed down and his right bent back, as if he was preparing to strike. He smirked in anticipation.

~LBR~

"Oh crud, he took his shirt off! That means he's gonna be twice as strong!" said Lincoln.

~PB~

"Know this, it ends here," declared Jonathan as the camera closed in on his face. "I will not allow you to leave this mansion alive."

"No, that's lunacy!" screamed Speedwagon.

~LBR~

"Don't even think about it," said Luna. "I get enough of those jokes from Luan, thank you."

"We weren't gonna," said Lincoln, although he had been sorely tempted.

~PB~

Speedwagon screamed as the fire suddenly exploded outward, knocking him backwards. The doors to the mansion exploded as Speedwagon was sent tumbling back, miraculously landing in the fountain with no major injuries.

~LBR~

"Quick, make a wish!" joked Lana.

~PB~

Dio looked to see the flames had blocked off the path to the stairs, then started walking towards the wall. "Luring me away from the gutter rat? How very noble of you," he said as he came to a stop in front of the wall. "No matter." Suddenly, he kicked the wall, his foot lodged into the stone.

~LBR~

"Wait just a moment," said Lucy. "You don't think…"

~PB~

Dio smirked as his foot was firmly into the wall, then plunged the other one in. He was now perpendicular to the wall, walking up it by sticking his feet through the stone to create holds.

~LBR~

"He is!" shouted Lana, pointing at the screen. "He's doing the thing from the opening! He's walking up the walls!"

"Holy cow, this is crazy!" said Lincoln, hands on his head.

"Like I said, stairs are for WIMPS!" said Lynn as she flexed her muscles.

~PB~

"Ha! I'll drain you dry," said Dio, "and your blood will help me mend from this little adventure."

Jonathan, who was climbing up the stairs to reach the top of the manor, looked down to see Dio scaling the wall, a hand on his hip as if he was leisurely strolling down the street.

~LBR~

"Okay, this is kinda hilarious," said Luna as she held back a laugh. "We've got a shirtless vampire walking up the wall of a burning mansion, and he's acting like it's the most ordinary thing in the world."

"Well, it's not called JoJo's Normal Adventure," said Lincoln.

~PB~

"You climb the wall in vain, JoJo," said Dio. "In your haste to flee from me, all you have done is guaranteed your doom. You will be consumed tonight, by the inferno below or by me."

Jonathan looked down at his right hand, revealing that he was wearing the ring his father gave him. "Father," he said somberly before looking to see his father among the flames. Looking one last time, he grit his teeth and ran up the stairs. "Father, rest in peace," said Jonathan. "Let the rising smoke guide your soul to heaven. But first…" The scene cut to George's body surrounded by the flames. "...please, lend me your aid one final time. Let the fire burn with your strength."

~LBR~

"He doesn't look very strong," pointed out Lynn, "so you're kinda out of luck there."

~PB~

The scene changed to the outside of the mansion, showing that the entire lower half of the Joestar manor was set ablaze. Speedwagon was standing in the fountain, clutching his arm. "What does he mean to accomplish up there?" He suddenly gasped in realization. "No, that's crazy! You're throwing your life away! Don't do it! Don't do it, JoJo!"

As the camera moved away from Speedwagon, it moved to the burning manor as there was a color shift. The top of the manor was now various shades of purple, as was Jonathan's hair and part of his outfit. Jonathan was standing on the roof, looking around as the shingles began to shake. "Any moment now," he said.

From behind him, a now purple-haired Dio burst through the roof, ready to strike. As he descended, he went to kick Jonathan, but Jonathan was prepared. He pulled out the spear tip, flinching as the wound was reopened, before he used it to block the kick, though Dio managed to push the spearhead to his face.

~LBR~

"Cool," said Lincoln, leaning forward a bit.

~PB~

"Useless," said Dio. "You fight as if you want to die."

Jonathan glared at Dio before his eyes shrank in realization. "In that moment," said the narrator, "JoJo's short life flashed before his eyes." Brief scenes from previous episodes flashed over his theme as he was slammed into the roof, broken shingles flying into the air as his weapon landed tip-first behind him.

"My lonely youth," said Jonathan as he struggled to get up. "My time with Dio." Finally he managed to get to his knees. "You did me wrong time and again, so now I'll settle the score."

~LBR~

"Here it is," said Lucy. "The final confrontation between the hero and the villain. Only one will get out alive."

~PB~

The scene cut back to Speedwagon, the flames having turned pink due to the shift. "The longer the fire burns, the hotter it gets, and JoJo knows it," said Speedwagon.

~LBR~

"He's gonna burn out the day and burn out the night," said Luna.

~PB~

"He means to use the mansion as a funeral pyre and burn the devil faster than he can replenish himself. And now that the house is hot enough, he's gonna knock him back in." As Speedwagon said this, the expanding air from the extreme heat burst a window open, letting some flames escape.

Briefly, the scene cut to Jonathan jumping, then to a screaming Speedwagon, who was covered in a yellow filter. "JOJO!"

With a mighty yell, Jonathan tackled Dio, wrapping his arms around him as they broke through a wall and fell back inside, the colors having shifted back to normal.

"How dare you lay your hands on me, you insect?" shouted Dio.

~LBR~

"Yeah, that's the biggest problem you've got," said Lana, rolling her eyes.

~PB~

'The only home I've ever known will be in ashes before the dawn,' thought Jonathan, eyes closed. 'Father is dead, and I am alone. I have nothing left to lose, but my life itself.' His eyes opened as he glared at Dio. "We go to the flames together, Dio! I'll gladly die if it means an end to your evil!"

~LBR~

"Please don't let it come to that," said Lincoln, fingers crossed.

~PB~

Dio scoffed and drove his knee right into Jonathan's stomach. Jonathan grunted in pain as he let go of Dio. Dio thrusted his hand into the wall, breaking through the stone and creating a hold to keep him from falling. "Die for nothing, fool!" shouted the vampire as Jonathan continued to fall, screaming all the while.

~LBR~

"Man, Dio really hates walls, doesn't he?" joked Lana.

~PB~

"All I lose by your sacrifice is the blood I would've taken."

~LBR~

"And his father's ring, not to mention the mansion and all his wealth thanks to the fire," said Lynn. "You lost quite a bit, actually."

"What does a vampire need money for anyway?" asked Luna.

"Maintaining a lair isn't cheap," said Lucy.

~PB~

"Blacken and burn among the bones of your damnable father, JoJo!" shouted Dio as Jonathan continued to fall.

~LBR~

"They've been falling for half a minute," said Lana. "How tall is this manor?"

"It's best not to think about it," said Lincoln.

~PB~

'I am a god in all but name,' thought Dio as a magenta filter covered his sinister smirk.

~LBR~

"Technically, you're one in name too," said Lucy.

~PB~

'With the powers at my command, I will rule this world. Thank you, 'brother,' for this great boon.'

Jonathan continued to fall, his hair seeming red and his outfit yellow due to the light of the flames. Things seemed grim until, by a stroke of luck, he saw the spearhead falling beside him. With no time to lose, he grabbed onto it and plunged it into the wall, stopping his free fall.

~LBR~

"Well, that's…pretty convenient," said Luna. "I ain't complaining, though."

~PB~

With one hand, Jonathan swung up and over the spearhead before he landed on it, then used it to propel himself up, sending it out of the wall and into the fire below as he jumped higher.

~LBR~

"Sweet form, ten out of ten," said Lynn with a clap.

~PB~

Jonathan reached his hand out to grab Dio, but his jump wasn't high enough. He began to slow down before he started falling again, Dio's legs just out of reach. "Damn it," he cursed, though he had no intention of giving up.

Thinking quickly, he grabbed his belt and undid it, then threw it upwards. This did the trick as his belt wrapped around Dio's ankle like a lasso, causing him to grunt as he stared at the one who snared him. "Dio!" yelled Jonathan as he pulled on the belt. "I'm not done with you!"

"Why don't you die already?!" snapped Dio before he looked up at his hand buried in the wall. With Jonathan hanging onto Dio, the weight was too much as the brick he was clutching gave way, the both of them falling towards the inferno.

~LBR~

"Guess Dio is regretting having such a big dinner," said Lana with a smirk, happy that Jonathan was able to get one over on him.

~PB~

"There's no escape, Dio," said Jonathan. "You brought this doom upon yourself." He then pulled out a very familiar dagger. "This is the knife you used to kill my father!"

~LBR~

"Wow, first a spear, then a sword, now a knife? Guess JoJo picked the warrior vocation," said Lincoln with a chuckle, only to be greeted with silence. "Oh, come on! Don't tell me I'm the only one who played Dragon Quest IX!"

"Dragon Quest? Isn't that the show where the spiky-haired kid tries to find those magic balls and get a wish?" asked Lana.

"That's Dragon Ball!" said Lincoln before sighing. "Forget it." He slumped over in defeat as Lucy awkwardly gave him a pat on the back.

~PB~

"So as you did to the man who raised us both, I now do unto you!" shouted Jonathan as he stabbed the knife into Dio's side, grunting as blood gushed from the vampire.

"WRRRYYYY!" shrieked Dio in pain. He slammed his arms down on Jonathan's shoulders, audibly breaking them. But despite the shattered shoulders, Jonathan's grip didn't falter this time. His clothes suddenly caught on fire, either from the rising embers or the sheer heat alone.

'I've crushed his arm bones to splinters,' thought Dio, 'and he's already ablaze, but his grip on me is still that of a vise.' Despite this, he smirked. "So be it, JoJo. Consign us both unto the flames. But perish knowing I will survive this moment. For everything you have done, even this inferno cannot devour me!"

~LBR~

The Louds were dead quiet as they watched the two brothers plummet towards a fiery demise. At this point, even Lucy was hoping that Jonathan would make it out alive, all five watching with bated breath.

~PB~

Jonathan's breath hitched as he shouted to the ground below. "FATHER! LEND ME YOUR POWER!" he screamed with all his might.

"His desperate cry echoed in the night," said the narrator. "Whether urged on by his departed father," he continued as a shot of George's body was seen, untouched by the flames, "or heeding an instinct borne of a long familiarity with the home which burned around him." This time it briefly showed a painting of Jonathan's mother being consumed by the blaze. Suddenly, in one final desperate act, Jonathan kicked the wall and propelled them forward. "He kicked… and that put them right in line with…"

Dio turned to look beneath him and gasped as he saw the statue from the stairs directly under them; specifically, he was looking at the spike on top of the urn in the woman's hands. "What the—" he said before he was impaled by the spike, Jonathan managing to roll out of harm's way before the impact.

"...the statue of the Joestar family's guardian angel," finished the narrator, a close-up of the statue's face visible as Dio screeched like a banshee.

~LBR~

The Louds were still silent, when…

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"...WOO-HOOOOOOO!"

Lincoln was the one who broke the silent, jumping off the couch and dancing in celebration. It wasn't long before his sisters joined him: first Lana, then Lynn, and finally Luna.

"Yeah! Yeah, yeah, yeah! JoJo did it! He beat Dio!" shouted Lincoln.

"It wasn't easy, but he showed that jerk what's what!" added Lana.

"That was an awesome move he did! So sweet!" cheered Lynn.

"JoJo's the champion, dudes! Rockin'!" finished Luna with the double goats in the air.

"Hmm," sighed Lucy, causing her siblings to look at her.

"What's wrong? You're not sad that Dio lost, are you?" asked Lincoln.

"I'm conflicted. I am upset about that, yes, but despite that…I'm still happy that JoJo won," said Lucy with a small smile. "I suppose it's fine for the light to triumph against darkness every once in a while. Besides, Dio was certainly entertaining while he was onscreen."

"I hate to admit it, but you're right there, sis," said Lincoln. "Come on, let's wrap this episode up!" And with that, they all got back into their spots on the couch and resumed the episode.

~PB~

"How could a worm like you—" screamed Dio as he groaned, the spike going further through his torso. "I— I forgot who I was dealing with. Bloody his nose, and he comes back twice as fierce."

~LBR~

"Now that's an awesome call-back!" said Luna, remembering the line from the first episode.

~PB~

"JoJo!" screamed Dio in vain, the fire incinerating his flesh, his voice slowly dying out. "I had such plans for this world. Such plans…"

~LBR~

"'I was gonna make Taco Tuesday mandatory!'" joked Lynn.

~PB~

The scene cut to the outside of the manor, the entire building engulfed in flames. One of the windows burst open and Jonathan was sent flying out, landing on the cobblestone of the courtyard, raindrops falling from the storm clouds above. "JoJo!" said Speedwagon as he walked up to Jonathan. The blue-haired man was bruised, battered, and no doubt exhausted, but he was alive, breathing heavily.

"It's over," said Jonathan.

"You're alive," said Speedwagon with a smile, picking up his friend in his arms as he cried tears of joy. "You lucky bastard. He did it. JOJO BESTED HIM!" he shouted to the heavens as the credits played.

~LBR~

"These episodes are just getting better and better!" cheered Lincoln. "That was fantastic!"

"I have to agree," said Lucy. "The atmosphere, the tension, the final confrontation, it was like the climax of a horror movie. I loved it." As the credits continued, she got up from the couch and grabbed her journal. "If you'll excuse me, I've got a lot of new inspiration for my poems, and I don't want to lose it."

"Okay, maybe you can join us again some time!" said Lynn. Before she could leave, however, the five were surprised to see a post-credits scene.

~PB~

A clattering noise could be heard from the smoking ruins of the Joestar mansion. The apothecary owner, now sporting yellow hair and clothes due to a color shift, was digging through the bricks in search of something. He laughed as he lifted a chunk of brick to reveal the stone mask, still in one piece. "There it is," he said as he went to grab it, when suddenly a singed purple arm came out of the rubble and grabbed his wrist. The hand's fingers dug into his skin, draining his blood as the man shriveled up with a scream. From a hole in the stone, a single red eye could be seen, a mist coming from below as Dio exhaled, the "To Be Continued" arrow appearing to end the episode.

~LBR~

"Wha…huh? Dio survived that?!" asked Luna.

"I guess so," said Lana before she smiled and balled her hands into fists. "But that means that their next fight is gonna be even better than the last one!"

"I suppose so," said Lucy. "Too bad I won't be here to watch it. Enjoy, you four."

"I'm gonna head up too, just for a bit!" said Lana. "I've been holding it since they were on the roof! Wait for me!" The two youngest made their way upstairs as the others had the same thought.

'How will their next fight play out?'


I'm back! Sorry for the longer wait, I had to deal with the beast known as "finals." After all, I'm a college student first and a fanfic writer second. Still, I made sure that this one would be worth the wait! Also, anybody familiar with the sub and dub should see that I kept the "wry" noise Dio made in the original, something that was absent from the dub. There's a reason for this that will come into play much, MUCH further down the road. However, this also helps lead into something I should cover early on (don't worry, this should be the last wall of text in these author's notes for a while): dub name changes.

There are two types of these name changes, so I'll cover them separately. The first is the more common one: changes due to copyright (i.e. Crazy Diamond becoming Shining Diamond). While I don't hate the changes (in fact, some I think are pretty clever, like J. Geil becoming Centerfold), I'll be sticking with the original names for these, partly because it's easier for the Louds to recognize the references, and partly because it's faithful to the source material. The other is less common, but still present: changes due to translation (i.e. Nukesaku becoming Loser). I will be keeping these name changes, if only because it makes things easier for the Louds. Anyway, on to the guest reviews!

Zer0: Thanks! Trust me, it'll only get better from here!

Guest: I appreciate the suggestions, but as I've said before, I don't plan on having them react to anything else, since I'm already juggling two stories.

Ridermanga: See above, though I certainly appreciate it.

And that's all for now! Please feel free to leave your thoughts in the reviews, telling me what you liked and what you think could be better! Also, if you want, please vote in the poll on my profile for when I'm creating my Kamen Rider stories! Starpion out!