My Little Pony: Friendship is a Bizarre Adventure

Part I: ~ Phantom Shimmer ~

Chapters Lost In Time: Just Smile, I'll Always Support You...

A single day. One whole day passed, no, not even a day. It felt like years had past but the terrible truth hit them like a mountain. Twilight and JoJo had only spent nine hours with this man named William A. Zeppeli training in the ways of the Ripple. She was more than ready to give up, her body silently screaming bloody murder, but she had to press on. Of the exercises consisting of boulder carrying, push ups, ten kilometer runs, balance on the tips of her toes while carrying more rocks, at this rate she felt death was upon her. JoJo was in the very same condition, while they had mostly been trained equally, the boulders he carried were slightly more than Twilights. This in truth did not bother him in the slightest, but the fatigue had caught up to him, he was still human. They were on the ground panting and wheezing away, sweat dropping from the as rain would drop from a cloud, and Zeppeli simply ate a sandwich. He was a mean teacher, but he was one to prove he was no joke despite his odd way of speaking. He had participated in the training with them to show them how it was done as well to show the results. He looked at his pocket watch and smirked.

"Okay kids, it's been a good five hour start with a pitiful three hour slump fest. I guess you can take yourselves a break about two, maybe three."

"Three what? And where'd you even get that sandwich?"
"Minuets? Hours, Mr. Zeppeli?"

"If I'm feeling generous maybe four."

"Th-That doesn't answer our question at all..."

"Here you two, the boy brought these for you. He'll probably be back with something else."

He pulled a basket of sandwiches from behind him and placed it in between the two.

"I'm thinking we should all just take five."

"Why are you so mean and eccentric?"

He shrugged at her and left them alone with the basket. She took one but just stared at it. So much has happened in such a short time, the pressure to get the Element of Harmony and the shard of the portal back home only increased, and these torture sessions weren't helping her. She shook her head in an attempt to shove doubt to the back of her mind. She needed to be focused. But doubt was a thing everyone has. It only grows with time, and her doubt had grown rather large.

"Hey, JoJo? Do you really think this is going to help us?"

"It has to, I can't let something like Dio remain in this world."

"Not that I don't agree with you, but I don't see the point in all of this physical trauma."

"I presume it's for our breathing, however, you don't need to do this."

"What makes you say that?"

"You have your crown, your friend, what more do you have to do here?"

"He has this, thing, it's my way back home."

"Then I'll get it for you, you don't have to make yourself suffer for someone else's problem."

She sighed and looked at him with a deadpanned expression.

"I appreciate the thought, but I can't leave it to someone else, no offense. This is something I have to do for me and Spike."

He chuckled with a nod and looks up at the evening sky.

"I'm sorry. I just want to do something for you for once, you've done so much for me in such a short time. You, Spike, and Speedwagon are really the only friends I have."

"Really? The only friends? You?"

"What, is it really surprising?"

"Yes! You're nice and caring, and willing to help people, you're also pretty strong for someone so soft."

"I am? I'm not exactly the greatest fighter, I don't even like the idea of exchanging blows with anyone. Not even Dio."

"He's really something... I don't want to fight him either."

"I wish he would just understand... Even now after everything, I still think of him as a brother. "

"Still?"

"I just can't do it. I can't find it in myself to hate him forever. Is that wrong?"

"You don't have to hate someone forever, it's nice to forgive and forget, but... This guy?"

"Heh, I'm hopeless. You mentioned friends before Twilight, what are they like?"

"They're great friends, I wouldn't be where I am without them... I just worry for them. I didn't know this world would be so, dark."

"Well if they're your friends, I'm sure they'll brighten this world up a bit. Feeling better?"

"Actually, I am. It doesn't hurt as much anymore."

Zeppeli tapped her noggin with his cane and a sneer.

"That's the breathing method that's working, and I ain't even taught it to you! Looks like I've happened upon naturals of the Ripple. Hope you both know what that means!"

"... It'll be easier from here on out?"
"We don't have carry so many rocks?"

"Both wrong. The exact opposite is the answer!"

He smiled brightly as Twilight groaned.

"Oh hush up lass, we still haven't gotten down to the most important part. Breathing Meditation!"

"Please tell me no rocks are involved."

"Rocks are not involved! Unless you count sitting on them. Then, yes, yes they are."

"... Seriously?"

"You sit there, calm yourself, think clear and peaceful thoughts as you use the breathing method for activating the Ripple. That's all folks."

He plopped down on the ground crossing his legs and with his two pupils following him.

"Now it's like many other forms of meditation you may be familiar with. Simply relax, focus not on your breathing, but on something you enjoy. We're skipping a few steps, but you two have made fantastic progress already. You can close your eyes if you want."

Following his orders, Twilight found herself in a trance within seconds, the world simply vanishing around her. All she could hear was her soft breath and gentle heart beating. She began to feel afloat, a small humming echoed in her mind. Then faint voices murmured around her. Familiar voices. Images, ethereal and blurred, yet she could still make them out. Applejack and a girl both in cells yet smiling as she flipped a coin. Fluttershy and a blonde boy, with the same strange birthmark as Dio's, riding a boat with a group of young men. Rarity sewing up a wound for a boy with messy hair sprawled all over, they were laughing over something. Rainbow Dash grinning with a group of men and a dog. Pinkie Pie and a man similar to JoJo, but with more wild hair, throwing pies and other sweets at each other. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna smiling brightly at her. These thoughts filled and visons filled her with something empowering. She felt lighter as her breath slowed, unconsciously smiling. Then she felt a sudden jot in her body as she was grabbed from her shoulder and shook her violently.

"KIDSWAKEUPIT'STIMEFORMOREROCKS!"

"EEEYAUGH!"

Zeppeli snickered as JoJo merely jumped a bit. Twilight however flew into the air. It was as if her wings had sprouted from back. She had leapt into the air sitting down. Zeppeli applauded with a hearty laugh as she fell onto JoJo.

"I heard your doubting me quite a bit back there and decided to give you a test on your progress. This kind of results could make a father proud enough to cry, I'm just moved nearly to tears!"

"Y-You! You're insufferable!"

"Oh don't fret lass, you'll thank me by the end of this!"

She scoffed and turned her head with a huff as JoJo kept himself from howling in agony of his sore body. Twilight opened her eyes to a roof. An unfamiliar house. She sat up and felt a stiffness around her throat and neck. She put a hand to it and felt bandages wrapped around where Dio had stuck his claws into her, she then noticed her hand had been bandaged too, due to the small burns caused by the fire. She had looked out of the window near the bed, it was still night out, yet she could hear voices outside. JoJo's and Speewagon's. She peeked outside and down to the floor where the two had been talking. Speedwagon scratched his head.

"Are you sure about this Mr. Joestar? Don't get me wrong, it's nice to give gifts and all, but this ring my boys found the manor..."

"There isn't anyone else I know who deserves it. I've already placed it on the dresser."

"It's a beautiful ring. Was it your fathers?"

"No. He wore it, but it belonged to my mother. He kept it as a keepsake. I don't have anything but that now."

"And you're giving it to Ms. Sparkle and Spike... Mr. Joestar, JoJo, you don't have to keep giving."

"I know Speedwagon, but this just feels, right. Thank you for uncovering it and, well, for all your support."

"I am the Incredibly Helpful Speedwagon! What are friends for? Now get some rest. We're gonna be cleaning out that dark mansion soon."

The two chuckled before parting ways. Twilight sighed in relief, it was finally over, all that was left was to clean up. She looked at the dresser next to the bed and found the ring. Beautifully crafted in gold with a small red jewel, words encrusted that said, 'Forevermore'. She put it on the only finger it fit, her ring finger, and left the room. She came to realize she was in an inn and made her way down the stairs to the lobby. The old man and fair faced man sat across from each other, the younger one drinking from a small cup with a bottle of liquor on the table between them. The old man noticed Twilight and nodded to her with his hands together as she approached him.

"You're awake at last. Good. I am Master Tonpetti, this is Straights, my disciple."

"Evening. We've gathered and burned what little was left of Dire... Thank you for sending that demon to where he belongs."

"If you are looking for your friends, the young one is still asleep in one of the rooms. The other two are outside."

She nodded and thanked them before going outside. Beforehand the night was chilling, dead, and dreadful. Now it was brisk, night life and stars breaking through the atmosphere. With Dio gone, life began to return slowly to the world. Cicadas and owls never sounded as good as this to Twilight. She found Speedwagon leaving a pub next to the inn with a letter in hand.

"Hey Speedwagon!"

"Huh- Oh, Ms. Sparkle, you're up already? Yeesh. You don't ever seem to get tired for too long."

"My neck and cheek still hurts if that means anything. What's in the letter?"

"Oh this? Just sending a letter to the boys back home. They've been meaning to apologize about last time you saw them. One of them said they didn't mind the rock in the face."

"Huh?"

"The karate guy. You threw a rock covered in snow, broke his nose clean! Taught him some manners ya did!"

"O-Oh, uhm, good."

She giggled nervously as the memory flashed back to her. She thought it was JoJo who did that. Speedwagon laughed and adjusted the hat.

"If you're wondering about Spike, he's fine. That head injury of his from Tarkus finally got patched up. JoJo went off somewhere down the stream outside of town."

"Thanks, be careful out there."

He nodded and left with a warm smile. She noticed he had looked the ring before leaving and made her way to the outskirts of town. She remembers a river being nearby and decided to try there. And there he was, sitting there on a small hill, staring up into the sky. Twilight sat next to him and nudged him in the side. The clean cut from Dio's pressurized eye liquid didn't heal quite yet, she could tell from the small red stain behind the bandage.

"So, how's your hand? Setting it on fire was pretty crazy of you."

"After everything else we've done? Leaf gliding, fighting a vampire in a burning house, neck chains?"

"You made your point at leaf gliding."

"How about you? Your hand was also burned."

"My hand's fine. See?"

She held up the hand as JoJo noticed the ring.

"It fits you. Truly."

"I'm not sure if I can take it... What will we do now?"

He wrapped an arm around her and shrugged.

"I don't know. But, after all this, I'm sure we'll find it together. I'll make sure to get you both home. One way or another, I'd like it if you kept that, think of all of us over here when you go home. Okay?"

"I will. Thanks, for all this, you've been a great friend."

She leaned into the hug and closed her eyes. She opened them back in her house in Equestria. Not even a day passed, barely hours passed. A simple nap and a trip down memory lane. She got out of her bed and looked in the mirror. Wounds had healed, but faint marks around her throat and a small scar on her cheek. She noticed the ring barely fit onto the base of her horn, and considered taking it off... Only to look into her eyes and have his words echo in her mind.

'I'll support you whenever you need me, anytime. I just want to see you smile wherever you go, Twilight. I want you to promise me this. No matter what happens, smile. I'd like it if you kept that, think of all of us over here when you go home. Okay?'

Shaking her head, she decided to keep it on her, for now. Then Spike belched as she turned from the mirror. He held up a royal letter reluctantly.

"L-Looks like our work's never done."

He gave a small smile with a bright one in return as she took and read it.

"We've still have the others to help. C'mon Spike!"

"Yeah!"

He hopped on her back as they flew back to the castle, more determined than ever.

"You okay Twilight?"

"Actually Spike... I've never felt better. Let's go get our friends!"

"Yeah!"