I'm so, so so sorry for the wait! Though in my defense, this week has been quite a ride…I got a new job, a suit, a parking ticket, and a new haircut… and that was just Wednesday! I haven't even mentioned the national exam or those new SU episodes!
Speaking of which… those two episodes… they were something, weren't they? Everything is different now… including this fic. I think most reading this already have already seen them, but I want to be on the safe side.
WARNING: If you haven't seen Steven Universe season 5, episode 18 (A Single Pale Rose) DO NOT READ THE NOTE AT THE END OF THIS CHAPTER.
SPOILER WARNING
Seriously though, I do not want to spoil that episode
Hopefully, this delay in updates was only temporary, and you can expect the third Act of chapter 7 next Sunday.
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Chapter 7: Everyone Wants To Go To Heaven But No One Wants to Die, Act 2
"I wanna live well like the rich do
If they're ruthless, then I am too"
Oh, the power was almost intoxicating! Better than any alcohol or drug. Yes! Power over others, that was the greatest high there was! To know, that at any moment he wished, he could kill everyone on the plane… nothing could compare to that feeling.
It wasn't even that he wanted to kill those people. He was only after four of them. But the knowledge that he could, that was where it was at. Now he finally understood why people fought so hard over power.
Jason had never had much power. Though he hadn't exactly been powerless before either. He could do as he pleased most of the times. As long as he kept within the constraints and expectations society and other people placed on him that was. So you tell me: did Jason have power? If you're ruled over by the laws or other people, can you honestly say you have "power" or "free will?"
After all, it doesn't matter whether you're a king or a peasant. Gravity still pulls on both. Both will fall. Both die. Both want to go to heaven. But neither wants to die.
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"So… anyone willing to bet whatever Santana's looking for, it has something to do with that thing?"
There was a quiet moment. The question didn't need answering. The answer was quite obvious. Whatever that statue was, there was no doubt Santana was after it. The question then was…
"Yes, we believe so," Jotaro said.
"But what for?" Koichi asked. He had taken the picture after Josuke and was taking a closer look. Ominous as it was, he had to admit it was pretty beautiful. Like an ancient Hindu goddess, it had several arms. at least four, maybe six that Koichi could see in the picture. Most had been broken off, and large parts were covered in moss and climber plants. Despite its deteriorating state, however, it was still a magnificent sight to behold. On top of its head rested a mask, one of the ones the pillar men used to turn humans into vampires, Koichi assumed.
"We don't know," Jotaro said. He muttered something just too low for Koichi to be able to hear it. "But… we have our suspicions."
The statue was holding something in its hands. Or rather, two of its arms seemed to be holding something. Koichi squinted, trying to make out what it could be. It looked almost like… a house? Why would someone build a house in the hands of an ancient statue built by man-eating monsters?
"There's a bit more to the pillar men than I told you before," Jotaro continued. "There is a reason why they had been sleeping for two thousand years in rocks and why there were only four left." He pulled yet another file from his briefcase. It had a couple of images of the pillar men from when they were encapsulated in rock, of the stone masks, and… a gemstone?
"A long time ago, the pillar men had an advanced civilization. They were apex predators, feeding on humans, with only one weakness: the sun," Jotaro explained. "In an attempt to overcome this weakness, the pillar man known as Kars started experimenting, trying to unlock their full potential. The stone masks were tools to accomplish this. However, he needed one more component." He held up the image of the red gemstone.
"The red stone of Aja, also known as the super Aja. When combined with the stone mask… it allows a pillar man to… evolve."
"Evolve?" Josuke said. "Whaddya mean by that?"
"I mean that it allows the pillar man to evolve… evolve into the ultimate life-form."
Koichi wasn't sure he knew what that meant. Ultimate life-form? The pillar men sounded pretty ultimate already, what could there possibly be higher than that? But the tone Jotaro used… it let Koichi know it was something bad. Something, very, very bad.
"In essence, it turns them into unkillable, unstoppable, perfect organisms. It's bad news." He paused. "And Kars got his hands on the stone."
Throughout the beginning of this journey, Koichi had this feeling somewhere in his stomach. He recognized it well, though he couldn't quite name it. It was the same feeling he got when he was doing a presentation in class or was afraid to disappoint his mom. It was a heavy, sinking feeling. It felt like it was weighing him down.
One stray thought passed through his mind. Maybe that's where Act 3 gets its power?
"And… what happened then?" he asked Jotaro. Jotaro made a grunting sound, which might have been his way of chuckling.
Koichi knew he wasn't much of a fighter… Sure, Act 3 was a decently powerful stand, but he himself just wasn't cut out for fighting. He also knew he was probably in above his head with this adventure. Stands in all their glory, but prehistoric vampires and ultimate life-forms... If he was honest with himself, the thought made Koichi shake in fear. How could he ever think he stood a chance? What had he been thinking?
"The old man shot him into space."
Wait, what?
Koichi blinked in surprise. Jotaro had said it with a completely straight face… granted, he said everything with a straight face, but still. Shot into space?
"Hold on, space?" Okuyasu piped up.
"Yes," Jotaro said. there was a shadow of a smile on his lips. "Gramps set off a volcano, and shot Kars into space."
You know what? Koichi didn't care anymore. That sinking feeling in his gut, all of his anxiety and fear, they could all skedaddle to where the pepper grows.
"He shot him into space with a volcano? Damn, Josuke, your dad must have been really cool back in the day!" Okuyasu laughed and slapped Josuke on the back. Josuke blushed and muttered something intelligible.
"So you think Santana might be trying to become this, um… ultimate life-form too? That there's something in this statue he needs?"
Koichi had always been scared. Sure, he might live in a constant state of fear. But he wasn't really that brave of a guy either. And that was even before his universe got invaded by the supernatural. For example, if someone got bullied in school, you could trust Josuke of Okuyasu to stand up for them. Not Koichi. He'd look the other way because he was scared.
"That does seem to be the case," Jotaro said. "He has the stone mask. However, he would still need a super Aja. According to Gramps, there was only one stone."
Koichi was tired of that. He was tired of being afraid, of being so weak. He thought back to that day when he had first encountered Kira. The invincible stand Sheer Heart Attack had taken out Jotaro, leaving Koichi alone to deal with it. It had nearly killed him. But… Koichi had stood his ground. In spite of the impossible odds, despite the fact that his stand couldn't do anything against the tank… he had stayed. And he had matured that day.
"Why do I sense there's a 'but' in there?" Josuke said.
Koichi had read somewhere that being brave meant doing something even though you are scared. If that was true, then Koichi decided, that from now on out, he was going to be brave. He wasn't going to run or look the other way. He was going to fight, even against the worst of odds, and he was going to do it alongside his friends.
"But we don't know where the stone is. The Foundation collected Santana and the stone mask after the incident. But gramps refused to tell me where the stone is. All he said is that it's in safe hands."
While he had been thinking, Koichi had kept one ear listening to the others. That last part, in particular, caught his attention. Safe hands? Safer than the Speedwagon Foundation's? This whole thing was turning out to be a great mystery. And it all leads back to when the pillar men had first awakened from their sleep. What had really happened back then?
Koichi was about to ask a question to that effect, but he silenced himself before he even opened his mouth. In the corner of his eye, he had seen another passenger on the other side of the cabin standing up. It was a middle-aged man in a casual business suit. He was looking…no, starring at them. His eyes seemed to be transfixed on Jotaro and Josuke in particular. It was quite unnerving.
A couple in the row in front of him looked back at the man, though the did their best to make it look like they didn't. Jotaro too had noticed, but he was a lot less subtle about his annoyance.
"What are you looking at? Mind your own goddamn business!" The correct answer would be not to say anything, but to look away and pretend you never looked in that direction ever in your life. Jotaro was the kinda guy whom you looked on, and just knew he could, and would kick your ass if you annoyed him. Now, that was what you'd see if you, as a stranger, just looked at him once. If you actually got to know him… you'd know it was true.
However, this man seemed to lack the usual survival instinct all other living beings had. He didn't look away, but his stare actually intensified. His eyes opened wide and… they were black.
Koichi blinked in surprise. The man's eyes were completely black; not just the pupil or the iris, but the entire eye. Like a bird's.
The couple had given up all pretense of not looking at the incident unfolding, they were both looking openly, quite excited to see where it was going. What they didn't see was a small wisp of black smoke moving right behind them. Not even when it moved right up to their faces, and into their nostrils did they react.
"ORA!" The sudden cry from Star Platinum and the shockwave nearly blew Koichi of his seat. The mighty stand's fist was mere centimeters from his face. Just two centimeters, if Koichi had moved when Star Platinum did… he would be one head shorter.
"We are under attack by an enemy stand," Jotaro declared, as the full form of Star Platinum appeared beside him. "Sorry Koichi, but it was about to get you too."
Indeed, a wisp of smoke had moved right under Koichi's face as he sat staring at the other passengers. Only Jotaro blowing it away with Star Platinum had stopped it from… doing what exactly?
Koichi turned back to look at the other three passengers. The couple had inhaled the smoke. Their eyes were black now too, just like the other man. And they looked absolutely furious. Boiling with anger, pure, unadulterated, animalistic fury.
"Ah, very impressive! Very impressive, indeed! A mighty stand you have!" A man stood in the door between first class and business class. Clad in a big (fake) fur coat and sporting a pencil-thin mustache, he gave the impression of someone who wanted to pull of the 'gangsta' look, but just couldn't get it right. All the essentials were there, but something was missing.
Whatever it was, it wasn't confidence. The man oozed of that, from his stance to his cruel smile. The white aura of spiritual power and black mist surrounding him probably also had something to do with it.
"Perhaps I should introduce myself?" The man did a mocking bow. "I am Jason Timbuktu, and I'm here to kill you." With that, the smoke around him gathered itself, forming a humanoid figure… A ghastly replica of Star Platinum made from the black smoke hovered in front of the man.
"Star Platinum: The World!"
If the copy could stand up against the original, they would never get to know. Because the instant it formed, Jotaro appeared in front of it, Star Platinum's fist raised…
"ORA ORA ORA ORA!" with a fierce roar, the real Star Platinum unleashed a barrage of punches on the imposter. Its fists had little effect, however, as it only served to spread out the smoke once again. Black tendrils moved around Jotaro, headed straight towards the three teens behind him.
"DORARARARA!" Now it was Crazy Diamond's turn to let out its battle cry, as its fists hit the smoke, spreading it out further.
"Y-you dumbasses!" the man known as Jason Timbuktu said. "Your stands may be strong, but that means noting against my…" He didn't get much further, as Jotaro's fist connected with his face, knocking the man off his feet. Around him, Star Platinum seemingly grew multiple pairs of arms, as it kept the wisps of smoke at bay. Behind him, the three teens did the same with their stands.
"Hmph," Jotaro mumbled. "Mist stands are such a pain to deal with." And the mighty stand Star Platinum took a breath.
Now, to the uninitiated, Star Platinum might look like a pretty simple stand. It was strong and fast, and that was about it. In this mad world, that did seem a bit dull. People that thought like that often found themselves on the receiving end of a beatdown, because they had underestimated Star Platinum's versatility. One of its less appreciated abilities was the ability to take really deep breathes.
"What the actual…" Jason muttered as he watched his smokey stand getting sucked into the astral lungs of Star Platinum. He starred in absolute disbelief. To be honest, Koichi did too. Seriously, it was kinda stupid. But hey, as long as it worked… Which it did, Soon, all the black smoke was cleared, contained within the strong lungs of Star Platinum.
"That is unless you know how to handle them," Jotaro said. The image of Star Platinum was ruined somewhat, as its chest had inflated, and its chins stuffed like a hamster's. Still, one would need nerves of steel not to be the least bit afraid as it hovered just behind the man in white, waiting for the next opportunity to unleash its fists.
"Did-did you just eat my stand?" the enemy stand user said, still on the floor, after Jotaro knocked him down. "No… you inhaled it! Like cigarette smoke!"
Jotaro grunted as he grabbed the man by his shirt, and lifted him off the floor.
"Yeah, that is a good analogy. Now, tell me. Did Santana send you? Where is he, and what does he want? Tell me now, and I promise I won't break anything important."
To everyone's surprise, the man didn't shiver in fear. No, he… laughed?
"He, he, he… That's it… you breathed it in." A slow giggle turned into an all-out manic laughter. "Oh, you just made my job so much easier. Thank you, you stupid fucking dumbass!"
Koichi saw Jotaro's shoulders tense at those last words. He expected Star Platinum to throw a punch, but instead… Jotaro let the man go? His back was turned against them, so they couldn't see his face. Yet, Koichi felt a shiver travel down his spine.
"You know…" the man Jason said as he corrected his fur coat. "What I said before wasn't a lie. Strength means nothing against my stand."
Jotaro turned around and faced the three teens. His eyes were black like a bird's.
"After all… the greatest enemy is the one within."
"ORA!" Star Platinum roared as it lunged forward, a bone-shattering punch aimed squarely at Koichi's head.
"To bring that out… the worst parts of a human being… that is my stand. That is To Heaven!"
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Author's Note
One last warning: SPOILERS! Do not read if you haven't seen "A Single Pale Rose"
…
Just don't
…
Don't think I don't see you scrolling there, Mr. Curious-in-a-cone!
…
We good?
Okay, so Rosie Q is Pinkie D. First of, congratulations to all you "Rose is Pink" theorists. I'm sorry I ever laughed at you. I bow my head before your superior intellect and wisdom.
As much as I loved the twist, and look forward to seeing what's coming next, this does throw some wrenches into my planning for this fic. I don't want to get too heavy on the spoilers, but I do have something planned that does require Rose and Pink to be, you know, different people.
Now, I don't have a strict plan that I follow per se, more like several plot points, scenes and moments that I want to write. Most of everything else is just a way to get there, connecting the dots, so to say. Now, for this specific plot point, there has been some set-up, but not a whole lot. I could change it, and most of you would probably never notice.
As a matter of fact, I kinda wanna change it… because it opens so many juicy opportunities for drama and just loads of cool stuff. (cough, jasperdemption arc, cough)
But I won't. I'll stick to my plan. So, in this universe, Rose and Pink are different gems. Rose shattered Pink during the rebellion. There is some more backstory, regarding Rose and Pearl, but you'll have to continue reading the story to find that out.
That's all I have to say about that. Next chapter whenever.
Until next time, protect the planet Earth and remember that anything can happen in Steven Universe.
