My Little Pony: Friendship is a Bizarre Adventure
Part 1: ~ Phantom Shimmer ~
Episode V: Fire and Ice, A Heartfelt Goodbye...
With heavy hearts and a new resolve the party continued to town, their plan to get Poco home, and then to go finish this tragic journey. On the road to town Speedwagon, who had taken Zeppeli's hat as a keepsake, had noticed the strange quietness of the town in the distance. Moonlight lit the path and fields, but an odd darkness shrouded over the town, the mansion was the darkest area. The air was still and the sounds of insects of the night were naught. It was if everything but the Earth itself had died.
"Say... What do you think is going on around town. You don't think, Dio's taken over already, do you?"
"No, look, it's a friend of mine! Hey Adams!"
Poco waved at a man that had came from the town and waved back.
"Poco! What're you doing all the way out here so late at night?!"
"Adams, how's the town, is everyone okay?"
"Oh yeah, but she's so cross with you, she said she'll lock you up in the barn until you learn your lesson."
"... Sounds about right! Looks like the town's safe at least."
As they kept going, Adam's head turned all the way around, tongue snaking out longer than any human should have, and lunged at Poco.
"HeH! iTs A kid! HeHeHeH! i GeT To sucK somE Young wARm bLooD!"
The tongue lashed out for him, yet was stopped by JoJo, who grabbed the tongue and pulled at it. The zombie's skin burst apart revealing an undead creature with an armadillo like hide. As the pull lifted him from the ground as Twilight elbowed the face, caving it in. JoJo shook his head with a flare in his eyes.
"This city is-"
"That's right. It's been compromised, but it's not too late, Jonathan Joestar and Twilight Sparkle."
A voice from off the road belonging to a strange man.
"The name's Dire."
With that he came at them with a rather slow dropkick aimed for JoJo. It was blocked easily, however, Dire had spread his legs and in extension JoJo's arms. He bent down ready to strike with his hands coming down on the shoulders, just to have it countered with a headbutt. Distancing each other as Dire held his hands up.
"Wait! Forgive me for the sudden attack, but I was curious to see what Zeppeli taught you."
"Wait, you knew Mr. Zeppeli?"
"Why not look on the note I placed on you, son?"
JoJo looked to see a note placed on his shoulder. Twilight took and read it to herself.
"It's him asking for help and as his friend we couldn't ignore him. Zeppeli is like my brother, if he asks me of anything I'll be there to do it."
"We?"
"They're running a bit late, but we can't wait on them, tis town is in danger. Where is he anyways."
"Mr. Zeppeli, has passed..."
Dire's eyes widened as he took a step back and lowered himself. As he recovered from the shock he gritted his teeth.
"I-I see. Then we must, end this as quick as we can. Who knows how many more lives will be lost if we don't?"
"Of course, but first..."
JoJo turned and looked at Poco.
"We need to get him home."
They journeyed into to the city, townsfolk locking themselves away for fear of being taken away next by the unknown creatures of the night, and finally made it to Poco's home, the closest house to the mansion. There they had learned his sister had been the most recent to have disappeared. Without anything else to deter them the group made it to the front door. Busting it down and ventured into the darkness, an ominous mist enveloping the entire manor, and a striking chill crawling in the skin.
"This feeling... What is this Dio?"
"A real monster, who's going to pay for everything. Mr. Dire, don't underestimate him."
Right then Spike belched as royal letter formed from the flames and handed it to Twilight, who stopped to read it as the rest went on.
'Dear Princess Twilight, this is a warning. Please, brace yourself, what comes next is something no one can stop. It is with a heavy heart that I ask you obtain the Element of Harmony and leave as quickly as you can using the shard. There is nothing more anyone can do. signed, Princess Celestia.'
"What's it say?"
"It's, a good luck letter."
"Well, we've got all the luck we need, now let's catch up before we got lost in this place! This is literally the last place of all laces I never want to be in, ever."
As they caught up, they noticed they had missed something. A pile of ashes with snakes writhing in them, a girl hugging Poco, and JoJo walking up a small stairway. He opened the door and spoke with fury in his heart. Never has he felt so fulfilled, so prepared, never before even in the housefire has he felt this way. Only one word could describe the feeling. He was filled with the memories of his loved ones, the ones lost and still there, memories that filled him with one emotion. Determination. The demeanor in his eyes were clear as well as Twilight as she looked upon their target. He looked out to the sky night from the balcony with fire on the railing, the moon full, the stars were many. On a small table stand next to a royal sofa was a bowl of roses and the Element. Twilight glanced over to it, but Dio was a problem she would have to face.
"We've come back from Hell, Dio!"
The blonde vampire turned and raised a brow at what he saw. Jonathan Joestar, determined to settle the score, of many years.
"So you've arrived. Hmph, that means you beat the knights. But wait~! Where's that strange fellow with the hat?"
Their eyes flared but Dire was the one who marched in at Dio.
"So, you're Dio, the killer of my best friend..."
W-Wait Dire, stop! He can-"
"Another ant who's worth in the grand scheme of things is as pointless as a side character in an opera, or a blade of grass in a field? Please, why must I, Dio, lower myself to deal with degenerates? Zombies, eat them all, but JoJo. He's mine."
With a snap of his fingers zombies poured out of the shadows of the room. However Dire had attacked already, the same attack used on JoJo.
"YOU'LL DIE FOR YOUR SINS! SINK INTO THE DEPHTS OF HELL!"
"Such slowness. A mere mortal like you, facing The One that is me..."
Dio had blocked it and his arms were spread. This time Dire crossed his arms as he charged himself with the Ripple, coming down like thunder, roaring loudly as the blow came down on Dio's head. It never came, he had been frozen entirely, his head freezing at a slower rate than his body.
"Is Useless, Useless, USELESS! Weakling, weakling, who are you to think you are even on the same plane as I, Dio!? Be vaporized, be thrown into cold oblivion!"
Without another word Dio had broken the ice with his grip alone. Dire's head fell into the bowl of roses as Dio walked over and picked up the Element and wore it on his head.
"I, Dio, had noticed beforehand, how invested you were in this item, girl. What is it? I can feel some form of power coming from it..."
Then a rose flew into his eye, spat out by a grinning Dire, charged with the Ripple and caused Dio to hiss loudly.
"A rose thorn charged with the Ripple, hurts, don't it...?"
Dio crushed the head without any mercy. His face contorting into a sheer rage, inhuman anger, as he flew into a frenzy.
"You... HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU SCAR MY, DIO'S, FACE!"
He truck the bowl, destroying the table stand, and spreading the flowers everywhere. He glared at the others and roared loudly, enough to have even JoJo lean back in surprise.
"Beneath, Frog Piss... All of you... LOWER THAN THE DIRT ON THE HEEL OF A CUR! I'LL FEAST ON YOUR WARM STILL BEATING BLOODY HEARTS, ALL OF YOU!"
With a great hesitance JoJo raised his hand behind him as Speedwagon threw him the sword as zombies began to attack themselves. A small group from outside went to attack from behind, but soon were struck by a fist, turning into ash. A man with a fair face and an elder smoking a pipe.
"Looks like we're late. We'll deal with these damnable beasts. You two focus on the source!"
JoJo didn't look behind him but nodded with Twilight. He unsheathe the sword as he came to a revelation upon Dire's death.
"Twilight, I have an idea."
"If you're saying you're taking him on alone, not a chance-"
"On the contrary! But I do need you to have the utmost caution... This sword just may be the key to our key to victory. Follow my lead. Those roses would make a good distraction."
"On it!"
Speedwagon grabbed a Warhammer hanging on the wall as Spike took his place behind him.
"Not only do we have to deal with these ugly blighters, but Ms. Sparkle and Mr. Joestar, as strong as they are it'll only take one mistake."
"Less talking, more swinging, please!"
As the two charged at Dio he leapt at them, hands emitting a cool frost and stretched out, yet his eye not yet recovered. However his attention had been on JoJo alone, and his tantrum allowed Twilight to gather the roses on the ground. Throwing them filled with the Ripple.
"Ugh! When did you-"
Blocking and swiping them away, JoJo strafed to Dio's blindside and swung his new sword. Cleaving Dio's arm right off. Without wasting another moment, he raised the sword and brought it down on Dio's head, yet stopping right at the waist. JoJo's hands were frozen and Dio's viens shot out from his stump to his arm, swinging it like a whip to Twilight and seized her by the throat, she tensed as she could feel it, her blood being drained away.
"URRRREYY~! How sweetening! JoJo! I'll rid this girl of her meager existence, then..."
He dug his fingers into JoJo's throat and lifted a vein from his skin, not yet damaging it.
"With this delicate carotid vein, I'll send some of my extract into you, you'll serve me yet... Brother!"
"DIO! LET HER GO NOW!"
JoJo threw a knee to Dio's head, only to be countered with a knee of his own, freezing his leg. Dio chuckled and stepped on JoJo's remaining foot, freezing it as well.
"Hm... That tone of voice. I, Dio, haven't heard you speak to me like that since that one girl years ago. Wait, don't tell me, are you two..!? HAHAHA~!"
Like that the grip on Twilight's throat grew tighter, yet the draining seemed to stop. She felt weak and could barley breath, even her eyes felt heavy. JoJo snarled as Dio kept laughing away. And then he began laughing too.
"Hehe... JoJo? Have you gone mad, or finally accepted your fate?"
"No Dio, but I find it humorous, that your own home will be your undoing!"
"What're you- THE SWORD!"
He had noticed JoJo's hands began to recover, his ice melting, and the culprit was the tip of the sword. Channeling heat through the blade and intensified by the Ripple. Dio retracted his arm from Twilight and broke the blade, but JoJo's Ripple charged fist still connected to his face, forcing Dio to stumble back and let go of the vein. Then, he smirked as JoJo looked over his frost covered hand. Dio's body had mostly healed, his eye still closed.
"W-Was it not enough?!"
"You weren't able to seal the deal! Before you die, I'll let you know that you have gained my acknowledgement, and admiration JoJo! But you are as a monkey to a man, nay, a man to a God! How Could One Such As You Dream Of Defeating ME DIO!"
Dio leapt high as his arms became ice. JoJo ran to him, putting his fist in the fire before throwing both of his hands at Dio, charged and intensified. Yet, Dio had kicked a hand away as JoJo faltered. Still moving forward with one hand out.
"YOU'RE ALONE AND HAVE LOST! UUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEYYYY~!"
Right before the two finally met, Twilights own hand caught ablaze, clasped with JoJo's. A powerful golden glow shimmered from them, as if the Sun itself was gleaming in that room. Both thrust forward into Dio as he put his frozen hands to block and stop them, yet they had slipped past his frozen grasp. His eyes widened as he screeched in sure agony. Their fists had not only pierced his body, but went straight through his chest. In the eyes of those watching the fight, they couldn't believe the sight before them, the golden aura surrounding JoJo and Twilight became that of an alicorn piercing the vampires heart. As he flew away melting, Dio's rage had reached the peak.
"T-This pain ! ! ! I-I shouldn't feel any pain! THIS CAN'T BE! ! I... I... I ! ! ! I DIO WAS TO RULE FOR ALL ETERNITY! I CAN'T LOST YOU! I WON'T LOSE TO YOU ! ! !"
Dio's remaining eye shot out a pressurized liquid at the two as he fell over the balcony. He had grazed their cheeks, killed the remaining zombies that had been in the way of the blast. The beam went through the entire mansion, and cut the clouds above. JoJo looked over losing sight of Dio in the dark as tears formed in his eyes.
"... Dio."
Twilight noticed this and hugged his arm. She remembered the two had grown up together.
"We didn't really have a choice... I'm sorry, JoJo."
"Twilight... Thank you."
He fell back, unconscious, as she held him there in her arms. Speedwagon and Spike ran over, sighing in relief.
"You two are amazing. I don't think anything can top this, not in my lifetime at least."
"Twilight wh-what about the Element? It fell with him!"
She shrugged. It was all she could do before passing out herself. She would wake up to a joyful Spike hugging her, and her two new friends smiling. That following week was dedicated to burning any remains of the zombies that didn't become ash, as well as Dio's clothes. No other trace could be found and the mansion was empty once more. The Stone Mask was destroyed by Speedwagon himself. They had learned of the two strangers, Straights a fellow disciple of the Ripple like Dire and Zeppeli, and Tonpetti the master who had taught them all. They found the shard of the portal hidden within clothes of Dio, and before leaving Tonpetti approached Twilight as the group prepared to take a coach back home.
"Miss Twilight. If I may have a word?"
"Yes Master Tonpetti?"
"It is quite clear your bond with JoJo is strong."
"O-Oh you don't have to remind me-"
"Then I will ask you, I have been able to look into the future, it is how I knew of Zeppeli's demise. Much to my dismay even warning him ahead of time, he still pursued his fate. Now I shall ask another. Do you wish to know your fate?"
She had been taken aback. Everything had seemed so certain now, life was becoming easier, now another event could pop up. Yet her curiosity still won.
"By all means."
He had offered his hand. She took it as images of a great inferno flew into her mind, an ocean red as the evening sky, a baby crying could be heard before a loud explosion with a close look at a star birthmark, one JoJo had. Then colors flashed, images too fast for her to see, to take note, to even comprehend. Finally it ended.
"On a stone cold ocean, a fire will start the curse on a righteous family line, broken only by aid of six mares of fortune. Forgive me."
With that he left her in confusion and shock. By the time she had regained enough of herself to ask a question, he and Straights, had already left. She turned, more than worried, and got in the coach next to JoJo.
"What's the matter, Twilight?"
"Jonathan, I promise I'll help you whenever you need me. Nothing is ever too much or too little to ask. Promise me you'll call for help whenever you need it. Please."
"Of course! B-But why the sudden shift in mood?"
"I'm just worried... You know Spike and I have to leave soon, so-"
He cupped her cheek with his hand and planted a kiss on her lips. Her eyes widened as she stared at him.
"I just want to see you smile wherever you go, Twilight."
"JoJo..."
"So, I want you to promise me this. No matter what happens, smile. It's the only thing I'll ever ask you to do for me."
"Y-You're too much, you know that? I promise."
She smiled brightly, even as she noticed Speedwagon and Spike making kissing sounds. Then Speedwagon's eyes widened as he leapt out of the coach. In a moments noticed he came back in grinning madly as he held a strange box.
"Hey! One of my contacts came across this doohickey, said to take photos. Why not take one here to remember, eh? This one's even got a timer on it so we can all be in the shot."
"Hey! That's great idea, hold on, how do you work it?"
"Don't worry about all the detail Spike, miboy! Just get in there with Mr. and Mrs. Joestar!"
"H-Hey enough with the teasing!"
He laughed and set the timer. A few shots were taken, but upon the last one, Twilight had pulled JoJo in for one more kiss, with Spike and Speedwagon pointing and laughing. She had noticed then the shard in her pocket began humming, a strange warmth encompassed it, as well as glowing. Upon taking it out they were blinded by a light. It was silent at first. Then she opened her eyes, to see herself and Spike be in a roaring fire, explosions ravaging the area. She looked around in horror as Spike hugged her leg.
"W-W-WH-WHAT HAPPENED?!"
"I-I don't know!"
They were panicking, and tried to travers around and through the flames. Then she came to a frightening sight. JoJo, holding the head of Dio Brando. He was bleeding badly and heavily injured. She couldn't stop herself is she wanted to and ran to his side. Shouting his name. He looked up at her, and smiled. Dio looked at her but said nothing.
"T-Twilight? What are you doing here?"
"I-I promised I'd be there! Whenever you were in trouble I-"
"Twilight... You did promise that, but. Do you remember what else you promised me?"
"... I can't smile when you're like this! You're dyin-"
"Twilight. It's okay..."
He lifted the Element of Harmony and offered it to her weakly. She took it reluctantly, confused to where he even got it.
"I got you this... I told you I would support you in any way I can."
"You..."
She took it as tears fell from her eyes, sobbing loudly. He brought a hand to her chin and took in a weak breathe.
"Please... Let the last thing I see, be your smile."
She wiped her tears away, looking down for few seconds, before beaming at him. A painful, somber, smile. With that he smiled.
"Beautiful... You know, ever since I've met you and Dio... I've had a recurring thought."
"Wh-what is it?"
"Friendship is Magical..."
He lowered his head and his grip on Dio went limp. Yet the vampire spoke up.
"JOJO! I-I CAN GIVE YOU IMMORTALITY! THINK ON IT, Just... He's dead..."
She paid him no mind, nor gave him any attention. Spike had witnessed it all and hugged her as he shed his share of tears. Neither of them noticed the glow surrounding them until it was too late. As they stopped crying they found themselves in familiar territory.
Her JoJo piece erupted into flames and exploded. The Twilight piece shone and returned to pony form. Princess Celestia had won. But to her, there was no such thing.
"Are you happy... All this pain, all this torment, for your sick amusement! ARE YOU SATISFIED?!"
"L. I. K. E. Y. O. U. W. O. U. L. D. N. T. B. E. L. I .E .V. E. Y. O. U. W. I. N."
"Have I?! This doesn't feel like a victory! How will I know when to send these letters, or when she'll return!?"
The figure pointed to the pair of eyes, watching and rooting for Celestia since the beginning of the game.
"H. E. W. I. L. L. S. E. N. D. T. H. E. M. Y. O. U. W. I. L. L. W. R. I. T. E. T. H. E. M. H. E. R. E. A. N. D. W. H. E. N. Y. O. U. L. E. A. E. V. E. S. H. E. W. I. L. L. B. E. T. H. E. R. E. I. T. W. I. L. L. B. E. F. U. N. P. L. A. Y. I. N. G. W. I. T. H. Y. O. U. A. G. A. I. N."
"Again... The others... what will I do..?"
"You'll have help Miss! Me and your friends! He's so full of himself that he'll give you all kinds of handicaps!"
"Then I demand a handicap. Rewind to that last moment. I want to see if-"
Right then, the entire dimension lit up of images of Jonathan Joestar. All kinds, in different takes. These were his fates in other outcomes. This was a fate that was meant to be. She sighed and looked at the figure with a glare, a pieces of paper appeared before her with a quill. She wrote each letter and they sent themselves. Images in the area appeared, images of Spike belching a letter out.
"Y. O. U. M. U. S. T. B. E. T. I. R. E. D. P. E. R. H. A. P. S. A. S. E. C. O. N. D. G. A. M. E. M. A. Y. R. E. L. A. X. Y. O. U?"
She scoffed and turned away from him with the eyes guiding her back.
"I'll be back soon."
"I. K. N. O. W."
She left the dimension with Princess Luna turning around surprised.
"Sister! You look dreadful! What happened in there?"
"I have much to tell, and so little time, but we must brace ourselves..."
"What for?"
At that moment the portal convulsed as Twilight and Spike were thrown out with the Element as well. Tears still streaming down their faces. She looked around before staring at the portal, and ran to it.
"TWILIGHT, STOP!"
She froze right there, sniffling as Celestia comforted her.
"There... There was nothing we can do. I'm sorry..."
"No one will ever know..."
It had hit her. The worst thing possible. No one in that world will know what they did but a select few. She didn't want the recognition of a hero or the praise as a savior. She wanted a man to be remembered for being the best mankind had to offer. She left without a second word, cleaned herself up, went home and began on writing into a book. It was labeled 'The Ballad of Jonathan Joestar.'
End of Part 1