My Little Pony: Friendship is a Bizarre Adventure
Part 3: ~Stardust Coachriders~
Episode II: Debut of The Star Crossed Duo, The Adventure Begins Now!
Rainbow Dash and Jotaro carried Kakyoin through the estate. To her surprise he had given her his coat to warm up with before they left the school. She looked behind them as she noticed the small but noticeable blood trail with a frown.
"We, uh, really did a number on him... Are you sure he'll be alright?"
"Well he'll need a few days to take it easy, I'm not sure if you went easy on him or not, but these wounds aren't too bad."
"How would you know? You don't even know how a bandage works!"
"Maybe, but I do know what a broken body looks like."
"And how would you know that?"
"I've broken a few. How else? Mom'll clean that up anyways."
Rainbow Dash looked around the estate and saw one room with an open door, a woman holding a picture of Jotaro closely as she spoke seemingly to herself.
"Even now, I can feel my own heart resonate with my sweet angel, he's thinking about me right now!"
Jotaro sighed and shook his head.
"You're imagining things."
The woman jumped and turned to him in surprise.
"J-JoJo! Shouldn't you be at school? And who are they? I hope you didn't do that to that poor boy, did you?"
He scoffs at her.
"None of your business. Where's the old man at? We need to ask him something."
"He should be in the tea room with Mr. Avdol and Auntie Pie, but don't you have school?"
"Nope. Hey, you feeling alright? You look sorta tired."
Rainbow Dash gave the woman a close look, however she seemed quite fine, lively even. The woman beamed at him and threw up a peace sign.
"Yes! I'm fine, thank you!"
He looked away trying to hide his expression under his hat.
"Heh."
Rainbow Dash saw the small smile on his face and would have made a comment about it, had she not found herself plucked from the ground and into a pair of arms with an all too familiar giggle.
"I FOUND YOU~!"
"Gah- Who the heck!?"
"Whaddya mean 'Who the heck' it's me!"
Rainbow Dash was held out and above ground with a pout as she stared at the pink and silver haired lady who beamed a bright smile at her.
"I don't think I... Wait a minuet! You're-"
"The next thing you'll say is, 'Pinkie Pie?! Why're you so old?!', right?"
"Pinkie Pie?! Why're you so old?!"
"Never mind all that! You look beat, I think I can fix that!"
Jotaro shook his head as he continued on into the tea room. He placed Kakyoin down on the ground as Joseph and Avdol listened to his story. Joseph shook his head slowly.
"I'm afraid we won't get much from him. As he is, he's loyal to DIO for life. Not like he has many years to live anyways."
Jotaro looked at Kakyoin, wondering to himself if he and Rainbow Dash went too far. Joseph even in his old age noticed this and sighed.
"It's not your fault. You see, this boy is under the influence. Not of drugs or some strange spell, but from this!"
He lifted Kakyoin's hair up to reveal a strange fleshy bud beating right at the hairline. A tendril shot out from it and lashed out at Joseph's hand, cut in half by a Hamon charged chop, and forcing it to recede back.
"This flesh bud is of DIO's vampiric body! It's a parasitic piece of Him that has entered this young man's brain. It's manipulating him, controlling his very mind with DIO's greatest skill. His inhuman charm! That same charm that tyrannical dictators use to have their soldiers die for them! That same charm that a guru has over his followers! His Charisma! Before this bud, this young man was charmed and lured in by DIO, it was out of his control."
"Then have him get an operation."
At that moment Jotaro felt a hand on his shoulder, belonging to Pinkie Pie, wagging a finger at him while she shook her head. Rainbow Dash looking down at Kakyoin, specifically the strange flesh bud.
"Sorry to say new JoJo, but the brain is a sensitive thing. This dio guy is a vampire, so that thing is still alive and moving. Any surgery we have here would ruin that noggin of his and endanger the doctor as well."
Joseph scowled at her.
"Oi! Don't new JoJo him! I'm still around after all!"
"Yeah but you look like you're aching from a back breaking."
"Pinkie you have crows feet on three different spots on your face, and speaking of spots you got a couple right there on your cheek, you can't talk!"
They got into a heated argument, Avdol shaking his head and looking to Jotaro and Rainbow Dash.
"While those two duke it out, I have some information to give to you. Something to better understand this menace. You see, four months ago, I met DIO in my home in Egypt."
He looked off to the side, he could remember it all so clearly.
"I work as a fortuneteller in a bazaar named Khan Kalili. There was something wrong with the area as of late. It was a full moon, for more than forty eight hours, two days passed with night and the moon unchanging. I had been closing up shop, making my way home, until I had met Him."
He gulped recalling his frightful memories of that night.
"A cold icy look that pierces the soul, diaphanous skin and gold hair, an unlikely combination for these parts at that time. Even for tourists. He was leaning on the door to the first floor blocking my way. He spoke to me with a softness unhuman. It was as if He was someone I had longed to meet in my life. A certain kindness to His voice that soothed my soul, and that is what terrified me. Mr. Joestar had told me about Him before our encounter. Had he not, I would be right where that boy is right now. In service to Him."
He spoke with regret, a hint of self-loathing.
"Instead, I managed to escape using a nearby window, throwing my body past the wooden barrier meant to stop pests and trash from coming in. I ran but something was on my tail. I didn't dare look back, I used [Magician's Red] to blow a short burst of flames behind me, then sending it a different way as far as I could. Fate had been on my side that night, I knew that area and the alleys like the back of my hand and escaped. It is unfortunate that this Kakyoin did not. His fate has been sealed, within a few years, his brain shall be consumed and he will die."
"Die? Hold on there."
Jotaro leaned down and over Kakyoin. His Stand hovering over him and grabbing the bud.
"This guy isn't going to die. I'll put this thing out."
A single tentacle shot out and flashed to his hand, yet Rainbow Dash's Stand caught it with a stomp. Volts coursing from the heel and into bud, stunning it as it went limp for a moment, as if it had suddenly stopped beating entirely.
"You're so reckless! And didn't you hear what they said? He could die from this!"
"Then don't bother me and keep it calm like that."
Then two more shot out, surprising them both, one entering his hand and the other snaking up through her thigh. While Jotaro's face hadn't changed as he focused pulling the bud out, Rainbow Dash was deeply disturbed, yet she kept herself still as a statue in fear her movements could ruin the operation. Kakyoin's eyes flew open wide as he stared up at them both.
"What are you..."
They stop him short with quick responses.
"Don't talk."
"We're trying to save your life here."
He could only blink at that. Utterly stupefied by their answers.
"But, why?"
They didn't reply as the tentacles reached near their brains with both of their eyes widened and dilated as he suddenly saw flashes of a house fire, and from the perspective of a falling man, being pierced in the stomach by a statue howling his nickname. Rainbow Dash saw the second half, from her view, the man was holding someone who looked remarkably similar to Jotaro. She heard the man who's eyes she saw through speak with a venomous tone.
"You intended to kill us both!? THEN I, DIO, SHALL GRANT YOUR WI-"
Was the last thing she heard before Jotaro's Stand successfully pulled out the flesh bud. Pulling the tentacles out of them both and throwing it over to Pinkie Pie and Joseph. Both of the elders striking it with Hamon, causing it to evaporate entirely. Pinkie giggled and lightly punched Joseph's arm.
"Would you look at them?"
"Hmph, not exactly up to snuff, but they're on their way."
Kakyoin sat up as Jotaro began to walk away.
"Wait. Why did you do that? Both of you?"
Rainbow Dash shrugged.
"You weren't in your right mind, it's not like you deserve to croak for not being in control of yourself."
Jotaro didn't turn to glance at him, merely tipped his hat over his eyes and sighed.
"I don't know, what she said I guess."
"Come up with a real answer, it's not that hard!"
She groaned as Kakyoin looked down, unsure of what to do, what was left for him. Holy had seen the entire scene play out and smiled to herself at her son. She always saw past his rough exterior. Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash began to catch up in one of the guestrooms, Pinkie using her Hamon to heal the bruises and fractured bones on Rainbow Dash's body.
"Where'd you learn to this weird magic stuff? How long have you been stuck here?"
"I'll tell you later! For now we've got to work together to get those Elements back."
"But we don't even know where to start looking. All we have is some shady picture."
"Well then we'll have to get something more than a photo, right?"
"What do you mean, Pinkie Pie?"
Pinkie Pie smiled and flicked her wrist as a strange light surrounded her entire forearm. Then, colorful vines lashed out, decorated with what looked like candy growing from them as they hung from short thorns like flowers on a branch. The vines themselves seemed to be made of licorice, and coiled to make frame as a strange screen phased in, mimicking a TV with no signal. Rainbow Dash gave Pinkie Pie a skeptical look, she couldn't help but wonder if it were edible or not.
"Whoa, what did you even do?"
"I opened up a hole in the wall. I guess this is what my own weird ghost thingie does! Show us the Elements of Harmony!"
The screen began to flicker before showing the Elements being shipped away, sent in different locations, all but Rainbow Dash's. That one alone had been missing.
"Where's mine? You sure you know what you're doing?"
"Well this is the second time I'm using it, but I think I can spy on people better than old JoJo! We're about to find out, show me dio too!"
The image showed them both sitting there. Then the view left the estate for the town, then airport, past the sea into a large city and into the sands of a vast desert. Soon it sped to a town and stopped at a strange structure. It ventured on inside, past strange stairways, eventually reaching a room where all but one of the Elements of Harmony in the hand of a Shadowed Figure. They looked back with a single blood red eye staring directly at them.
"How interesting... So you can see where and how to get here. It's too late anyways. I, DIO, will end you here."
Pinkie Pie giggled and waved Him off as she rolled her eyes.
"Oh c'mon, I doubt he can actually reac-"
She stopped as His hand slowly reached out to them. She closed it immediately by retracting the vines as a large fist dented the air, only visible through the outlining of the glowing aura that vanished soon. Pinkie shrugged and let out a sigh.
"Okay so, he's scarier than I thought."
"Scary? Psh. We've faced much worse than some creep in shadows!"
"Heh, I knew I could count on you, these guys get worked up over every little thing. And I thought I had to worry about you adjusting to these parts, look at you, shaking with excitement eh?"
"Y-You know it! Can't wait to get out there and get those Elements back."
Pinkie Pie snickered and elbowed Rainbow Dash lightly as she left leaving a frightened Rainbow Dash t shake in her lie. She didn't lie to Pinkie or herself about facing worst, but she was scared for some reason, like she was still being watched by that man. It felt as if sharp icicles rubbed against her spine before being stabbed into her and brushing the heart.
She shook her head and left looking for the kitchen. She was hungry after all that had happened, it didn't help that estate looked similar, but she eventually found it. With Avdol on the ground, holding up a passed out Holy. Rainbow Dash's eyes widened as she ran to their side.
"What happened to her?"
"No, look, on her shoulder!"
She looked and saw a shimmering ethereal thistle. He turned Holy on her back, yet stopped there, looking to Rainbow Dash.
"I-I feel it is not my place to do this, but I need to see her bare back, I fear she may have fallen under the influence."
"Wait, are you serious. Ugh! Fine, I'll do it!"
Rainbow Dash tore Holy's shirt as both came to witness the beautiful thorny vines coming from her back. Avdol gasped at the sight of them.
"I-I didn't want to believe it... Mrs. Kujo, she's developed a Stand! We can see through them, and my hand goes right through them as well!"
"B-But it's like the Old Man's and Pinkie Pie's! What's with the heavy fever?"
He bit his lower lip in frustration before answering.
"The nature of the Stand has always been a mystery, but it's clear they are meant for fighting. I've told you before it's not uncommon for them to go out of control. Mrs. Kujo is a pure-hearted woman, her body and mind, it's not conditioned for any form of battle. In fact she's used to the very opposite lifestyle! Her Stand can't handle this, it's attacking her due to her own nature!"
"But why? How and why could this happen?!"
"It's Him. DIO. Remember, Mr. Joestar, JoJo, both of their Stands awakened due to DIO's own awakening through the body of their ancestor... In truth, it was only a matter of time before Mrs. Kujo awakened hers. At this rate, she'll die!"
Both of them looked down at Holy for a moment before shadows loomed over them. Joseph, Pinkie Pie, and Jotaro all looked down at Holy in worry. Jotaro's cap was lowered over his eyes as Joseph looked at his daughter, his sweet princess, and grabbed Jotaro by his stiff collared jacket. It looked like he slammed him into a wall, in truth, he was trying to keep himself from falling to his knees in grief as he roared in agony. His voice trembling as he lowered himself.
"This is exactly what I didn't want. She's too weak! I-I never wanted this life for either of you! She was never supposed to get involved in all of this!"
Jotaro snatched Joseph's hand, his prosthetic hand, and squeezed tight enough to force him to let go. He lifted his head to show the fire in his eyes. His pupils like a black flame dancing wildly.
"Tell me how to cure her, Old Man. I don't care what it is, if either of you know, tell me now."
Jotaro let go of Joseph who lowered himself to take Holy into his own arms, glancing at Avdol, both of them nodding.
"We've come to a conclusion... If it was through our ancestor's body, the link to us to Him, then the destruction of that very link may save us all from DIO."
"In truth it is only speculation, but we have taken this into consideration for quite sometime."
"The problem is we don't know where He is!"
Pinkie Pie spoke up as she took a step forward, and held up her hand as the vines snaked out, wiggling idly in the air.
"Me and Rainbow Dash saw him. I think my Stand thing can make openings to far away places, it can even show me people just like yours, JoJo."
Joseph's eyes widened for a moment until he narrowed them at her.
"Unfortunately he's in an intensely dark environment. Clearly meant to be away from the Sun, we both know this, it's like in Switzerland all over again."
"Well, I could use mine in the sunlight, I can't open it any larger than this though."
Joseph lifted Holy up as he and Jotaro stepped out of the room.
"We'll be waiting for you all, perhaps, we can end this here and now."
It didn't take long for everyone to meet in the courtyard. Pinkie Pie summoning her licorice vines once more, coiling together to make frame for the screen, the white noise crackling in the air.
"Show us dio!"
With that, the images from before flashed, as if a determined trail set for the course. However as they entered the mansion like building, they were greeted by the eyes of their enemy. The iris' opening up as the pupils brightened. Joseph pulled everyone back on instinct.
"PINKIE, CLOSE THAT NOW!"
She did just that, yet the pressurized liquid still made it through, bee lining for Joseph's head. Rainbow Dash's Stand was just fast enough to trip him, the attack barely missed him, and flew outside of the house. It passed through a drivers head, killing him instantly as he caused a small pile up right outside of the estate. Even though they did not see it, everyone heard the destruction on the streets. Jotaro was the first to wake up from the shock.
"What the hell was that?"
Joseph was helped up by Avdol and Rainbow Dash.
"It's the vampire's greatest attack. That move is what allowed DIO to possess grandfather's body, and nearly took my life before as well. This would be the second time actually."
Pinkie Pie's head lowered as she watched the vines recede back into her arm. She perked up rubbing her head with a chuckle.
"A-At least we know where he is! Right?"
Avdol shook his head with a small frown.
"Unfortunately, I cannot say, that could be anywhere within the Middle Eastern region."
Joseph groaned as he looked at the photo of DIO pulled from his pocket. The only non-lethal lead they had.
"Even with my Ideographs, He keeps himself in a dark environment, even then some other form of interference is keeping me from seeing His face!
Jotaro took the photo as his Stand shot out of him, inspecting the photo closely.
"You won't have to, Old Man. He's found something in the dark, what a sight he's got, guess my Stand does it all."
He glanced over to Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes at him. Jotaro took out a pocketbook with a pen, giving the pen to his Stand, it sketched a strange fly perfectly. Everyone was taken aback, the accuracy of the sketch was photorealistic. Avdol was the first to exclaim.
"He saw a fly through all that?! W-Wait, I've seen this fly before. It's a common pest known to be near the Nile, I had custom made windows just to catch them. Ha! DIO is in Egypt of course! Mr. Joestar! We must depart at once, any business we have here must be finished or be put on hold immediately!"
"I hear you Avdol, this is great news. Hey, you up for another round of vampire hunting, Pinkie?"
She scoffed and waved Joseph off with a wide smirk.
"Like you had to ask? You'd be so lost without someone holding your hand through all this!"
"Technically you took mine in a Kars accident."
"Hehehe~! He'd be so mad if he heard you."
Jotaro sighed and pulled his cap up to show his eyes, calmed down and back to normal as Rainbow Dash blurted out with a proud smile.
"Hey, don't forget me."
"Or Me! That guy was a scumbag to begin with getting us all into this for no reason, but doing that, now he's a real jerk!"
Kakyoin made himself known with a polite yet loud cough. Hiding the pain in his aching body.
"So then it's decided, we're headed to Egypt? When do we leave."
Jotaro eyed him, looking for a tell on him, to see if his assumption was correct. Was Kakyoin giving his services to them?
"You want to help, you, why?"
"... I don't know myself I'm afraid. I do know that I can confirm, DIO is in Egypt, I received the flesh bud three months ago while traveling with my family at the Nile. In truth, I haven't felt this calm in such a long time, to have my own thoughts. And, to talk with someone like Mrs. Kujo. Really, I guess this is just me indebted to you two."
Rainbow Dash sneered until Jotaro plainly reminded them.
"Psh. It was me who pulled it out."
"Hey!"
Kakyoin grinned at their banter. As far as he was aware, she had only just appeared before them, yet the two already seemed like bickering siblings.
"Heh. It was only a small interaction, but to save you both and Mrs. Kujo from DIO's terror I, Noriaki Kakyoin will do all I can to aid you."
Avdol perked up, groaning and mumbling at himself as he pulled out a deck of cards, holding it out to Jotaro and Rainbow Dash.
"I cannot believe I almost forgotten. A Stand name for the two of you. As fate would have it, I am a fortuneteller by trade, and as this would be a quest of destiny it would only be best to have your Stands be named after the Tarot. Please, without looking, take a card."
Before either of them could take a card, a great gust of wind blew the first few off the deck, both snatching the same card at the same time. Rainbow Dash yanked it away and stuck a tongue out at Jotaro as Avdol sighed.
"Sorry bud, this one is-"
"Actually, Rainbow Dash, you both took the same card at the same time. Such an oddity cannot be coincidence, and thus you shall share the same card."
"Oh c'mon!"
"Hmph. Well then, read out the card you have."
She turns it over, not understanding or even knowing of the existence of Tarot, she tilted her head at their reveal.
"The Star?"
Avdol chuckled. His intuition led him to silently predicting that one, though he had thought it to be for her, not for them both. Fate has something in stored for them.
"It seems you two are star-crossed indeed. Excuse me, Mr. Joestar and Ms. Pie are both horrible influences. JoJo, your Stand is still a mystery. With great strength, accuracy and speed, I believe you have merely begun your growth as a person. The restraint you show despite his apparent violent demeanor is astounding. Truly, without a heart of nobility, your Stand could possibly have ran amuck. However I must give it credit as well, it is clearly intelligent already, adapting to situations on the spot and a great sense of self preservation shows a strange loyalty. Henceforth, I shall name your Stand, [Star Platinum]!"
Jotaro simply nodded in response, summoning Star Platinum, inwardly he admitted to how fitting the name seemed. Then, Avdol looked to Rainbow Dash.
"Rainbow Dash. Your Stand is as graceful as your are strong headed and determined. While I cannot speak for it's durability, it's speed perhaps unmatched and the strength may rival even [Star Platinum]. What amazes me most is your abilities already to be revealed. To use itself as armor and protect you despite having an amazing range and to manipulate the weather! Find the weakness and strength to these abilities. It acts like an angelic guardian as such loyalty is rarely seen. Like [Star Platinum] it acted on it's own accord to save you. Therefore, I name your Stand, [Star Seraphim]!"
"Seraphim?"
"An angelic being of the highest order, according to it's respected beliefs. While the name may not mean much, seeing it in action was quite the revelation."
She grinned and summoned Star Seraphim. Her growing confidence expressing itself in the Stand's movements as it posed in a grandiose manner.
"Yeah, I knew mine was awesome! Wait, what about Pinkie Pie and the Old Man?"
"She already named hers, she insisted on it."
Pinkie Pie threw her hands up summoning her licorice vines briefly.
"I named mine [Candy Shop]!"
Avdol gestured to Joseph.
"And Mr. Joestar's [Hermit Purple] does not require an explanation."
The old man rolled his wrist making his hand spin around fully finding Rainbow Dash's wonderous expression satisfying.
"I explained it myself pretty well."
Avdol looked to Holy, his shoulders slumped as she barely manages past haggard breaths.
"All that remains is to assure that Mrs. Kujo is under constant watch so that we may be notified of any abnormal changes."
It took only a day, but an entire day nonetheless for the Speedwagon Foundation's advanced medical specialists team to arrive at the Kujo estate. Avdol and Kakyoin waited at the entrance of the state, the shaman stared up to the sky.
"It's only the back, but soon, the Stand will envelop her body, constricting and mummifying her as if she was an enemy. She will be struck with a mighty fever, then several illnesses, before falling into a coma... And then, dying. In truth, this is what one could consider an initiation to the Stand. To see if ones body and mind is conditioned to undertake the trials of wielding on, but Mrs. Kujo would fail this even if it were a natural occurrence. We only have fifty days. There is nothing those doctors, nor I, or anyone on this planet and beyond could do. This is a trial we all must endure."
"... I never knew it was this dangerous to have a Stand. My [Hierophant] has never attacked me, in fact this is near unheard of for me..."
Avdol rubbed his chin thinking of a delicate way to explain.
"I have been studying Stands for as long as I can remember. You and I have had ours since birth. To attain a Stand in such an unorthodox manner may have horrible effects within the Joestar family. Perhaps it is true after all."
"What's that?"
"The Joestar Family is one of a great many tragedies. I can only hope this will be one of the last few. If our theory is correct, and this is all due to a link to DIO's body, she will be the very first person to escape the Stand Illness."
Kakyoin's eyes lowered upon learning a cruel secret of this otherwise noble family.
"A family of tragedies... I wonder how this is all affecting them."
Inside the estate within Holy's room, Joseph put a hand over her head as she laid in bed, a surprised expression on her face. Jotaro leaned against the door frame as he eyed the small branches poking out from her new shirt.
"I don't know what came over me, but all this attention isn't necessary, really Daddy!"
"Nonsense Holy, we'll have you feeling two thousand percent in no time! Now lets get those teeth and face washed up."
"Okay~!"
Joseph brushed her teeth for her then washed her face. He then cut her fingernails, brushed her hair, and then fed her apple slices. Holy giggled at the royal treatment.
"Daddy, could you help me change my underwear next?"
"Uh!?"
"Pfft! I'm only kidding, I can take care of myself! Anyways, what do you want for dinner Jota-"
She began to get out of her bed, but Jotaro shouted at her.
"DON'T YOU MOVE! You Just Stay In Bed And..."
He sighed and lowered his cap over his eyes. He hated this helpless feeling. He hated shouting, loudness over all annoyed him, it was one stressful thing building up from another. Lowering his voice he leaned back and turned away from her, even then she still smiled at him.
"... Get better... You shouldn't move around with a fever. I'll be fine, Mom."
"Heh, I-I guess a little more rest wouldn't hurt. It's nice to have so many kind people around when you're sick..."
Her eyes closed as she tried to blink, only falling back into her futon, limp.
"Holy!"
Joseph put a hand to her head as she passed out once more, clearly in pain, struggling to breathe. The same could be said for the elder man, it took most of his will power to not shed tears himself at this display. All they had to go on was a theory, one that while joins into their original goal, could still end tragically.
"She... She knows full well about her Stand. Who knows how long she's awakened hers... She didn't want us to worry, that's just the kind of person she is! Dammit... Dammit!"
"..."
"We'll save you Holy. I swear it, just rest now, I'll do anything to fix you right up... So just hang in there sweetie."
She only winced and cringed in unconscious pain, barely moving. They left her, meeting Avdol and Kakyoin at the entrance, Joseph looking around for the last remaining members. Avdol noticed his glancing and rubbed his neck.
"Rainbow Dash went on ahead with Pinkie Pie following her, they're waiting for us at the airport, has everything been taken care of?"
"Yes, Avdol. It's time now! Let's Hit The Road!"
In Egypt, in a darkened room, a hand with purple thorns slithering out of them lightly taps a camera. An Ideograph coming out of Joseph and Jotaro on the plane, half way across the Chinese sea.
"They know where I am. Almost down to the point. Good, it's all coming together... My, DIO's, plans are finally taking fruition."
Almost the entire plane slept tight, save for the crew, the Joestars, and Rainbow Dash listening to Joseph's Walkman. Joseph's eyes snapped open as Jotaro glanced over to him.
"Did you feel Jotaro? DIO, He's watching us again..."
"Yeah."
"We have to be on guard. At this moment from here on, we are in constant danger."
Then, a loud buzzing was in the air. Loud enough to wake up the entire group, yet the passengers all slept soundly, Rainbow Dash took off the headphones and groaned.
"Can whatever that is shut up, I'm trying to- Whoa. Uh, are bugs allowed on planes here?"
She pointed to a strange dark stag beetle flying about idly towards them, larger than any beetle should have been. Avdol eyes widened as he held a hand up.
"No, an insect of any kind simply flying around, and of that size? It's a Stand no doubt. Notice how only we can hear it's wings flap so brazenly? It is because as Stand Users, we are the only ones aware of it's existence at all... Is this one of DIO's minions already?"
It vanished in an instant, and appeared behind Jotaro's head as he stood up. Without warning, Star Seraphim threw a kick as Star Platinum threw a chop, both colliding with each other. Both missing as the beetle dodged, a proboscis shooting out from between it's mandibles with a strange vile goo drooling from it, the mouthpart shooting out at Jotaro aiming for his Stand's tongue.
Star Platinum and Jotaro both lifted a hand to stop it, but it went right through. Star Platinum caught the attacking limb with his teeth in the nick of time. It pulled back and chuckled as it flew about. It all happened near instantaneous, even Avdol exclaimed his nervousness.
"Dear Gods! It's faster than Stars Platinum and Seraphim-
"Why does his name go first!"
"I've heard of a Stand like you, a Stand that loves to tear the tongues of his victims out. It causes destruction and catastrophes, making them look like natural disasters. Train wrecks, arsons, and even plane crashes, this is the Stand that represents mayhem and destruction, [Tower of Gray]! I remember your atrocities within the world! Be careful, he caused a crash in England who killed over three hundred people!"
"Killed? Then we've got nothing to be sorry about!"
Star Platinum threw several punches in as Star Seraphim launched kicks from behind, Tower of Gray dodging and weaving, even directing their blows to have them strike one another a few times. Star Seraphim flew back, visibly cracked and dented, as Star Platinum floated back a bit staggered. Rainbow Dash found herself launched as well into the aisle, coughing blood as she attempted to stand on her own, Jotaro followed after his Stand trying not to fall to his knee. Tower of Gray, laughed at the display.
"YOU cOUld All bE OnE Inch AwAY... A gUn In Each hAnd And thEn sOmE... YOU stIll wOUldn't hIt mE! nOt thAt bUllEts wOUld wOrk. OnlY StAnds cAn hUrt StAnds!"
It vanished with everyone looking around, Jotaro offering a hand to Rainbow Dash. She glared but took the hand as he pulled her up.
"W-Why do you hit so dang hard? I feel like I've been trucked by a moving mountain."
"Yare Yare Daze, you're one to talk. We need to hit him and not each other for this to work. Anyone got any ideas?"
Joseph nodded as he rubbed his chin.
"Find the User, and this dangerous game is won. However... Anyone here could be the Stand User..."
Kakyoin glanced around to each passenger.
"But, could someone use a Stand while asleep?"
Joseph's sharp gaze narrowed as he readied his own Stand.
"It's not impossible if the Stand itself is remote or Automated, sentient if you will. Avdol has gone over this."
Rainbow Dash pointed to the beetle right before it appeared, flying all the way back. Then flying through each and every head of the passengers in a single row, taking their tongues. before she could even speak. The act silenced everyone in shock.
"thAt's rIght! I rIppEd out All thEIr tOngUEs! And I Am plAnnIng On OnE hEll Of A..."
He flew to the door to the next room and painted 'Massacre' with blood of the severed tongues in cursive. Avdol was the first to react, enraged as he summoned Magician's Red.
"You shall burn for your sins, vile villain!"
"Mr. Avdol, wait!"
Kakyoin held a hand out as an old man alone woke up.
"Mrhn... It's far too noisy here... I'll just go to the next room."
He made his way, Tower of Gray ignoring him completely as the elder put a hand on the painting.
"Ehm? What's this gooey stuff? M... A... is, iS THIS BLO-"
Kakyoin knocked him out with a single strike before glaring at the beetle.
"We can't allow anyone to wake up. Mr. Avdol, JoJo, Rainbow Dash. Your Stands would endanger everyone on the plane as well as the plane itself. Mr. Joestar and Pinkie Pie Stands would work, had we had the element of surprise instead. My [Hierophant] is the ideal counter to this fight."
"hEhE... nOrIAkI kAkYIOIn! mAstEr DIO tOld mE AbOUt YOU AhEAd Of tImE! YOU'rE nOt fAst EnOUgh fOr mE!"
Kakyoin summoned Hierophant Green, shooting his strange attack, the Emerald Splash. Yet, it was to no avail as Tower of Gray dodged deftly, attacking with the proboscis once more he broke the mouth guard of Hierophant. Kakyoin lurched forward as he spat up blood to the pleasure of the sadistic insect. Still firing.
"hAhAhA! YOU fOOl, YOU'rE jUst tOO slOw, sEE hOw I cAn mOvE?! I sEE YOU qUIvErIng In fEAr, sO nOw fOr thAt tOUngE, bOY! I'll mAkE YOU shUddEr In pAIn!"
"Shuddering in fear and pain? You idiot."
Just as Tower of Gray dodged the last Emerald Splash, he went for the kill and dove for Kakyoin. That was until tendrils shot from all angles at an alarming speed, piercing through and coiling around the beetle, wrapping him up like web being mended from the inside to the out.
"My [Hierophant] quivers, whenever he's tearing things apart! You were too busy having fun, you didn't notice his feet extending below the seats, I was baiting you from the beginning."
With that, the tendrils snapped and ripped him into near ribbons. The old man on the ground shook violently as his tongue snaked out, the shape of the beetle forming on his tongue before being split apart, as his head cut wide open. Still twitching. Kakyoin brushed the his hair with his hand with his head held high as he looked down at him.
"How fitting, a disgusting end to a disgusting man. We've got to hide the body."
Pinkie Pie suddenly began to make a beeline for the cockpit, Joseph following after her as Avdol shed his robe to cover the body.
"Ms. Pie, Mr. Joestar, what are you two doing?"
Joseph and Pinkie Pie speak quickly, nearly finishing each other sentences.
"I don't know if anyone's noticed."
"But the plane just tilted. I hope we're wrong about this one."
"Like those other times we were wrong?"
"Shut up Pinkie."
They made it to the cockpit, the pilots dead and a bloodied mess. Pinkie Pie and Joseph both took over the seats and began to work on the plane. Just then, the old man cackled from behind them. Pointing at them as he threw his jeers past his split tongue.
"None of you will make it to Egypt! You thought your journey would end, but the Tower, I represent disaster and mayhem! Even if you survive, you-"
Rainbow Dash slammed the door on his face and looked over the bodies, feeling nauseous, she unconsciously held onto Jotaro.
"E-Eugh... Who does things like this? Crazy gross coot..."
"You're handling yourself better than most people. Guess you're not all talk."
"What that's supposed to mean?!"
She pulled him down to eye level as he pulled out a cigarette to smoke. Pinkie Pie turned back and pointed at both of them as Joseph looked over the controls.
"If you two start fighting again I swear we'll make sure this plane nose dives into ocean!"
"Huh... I've flown a propeller plane before, it should be the same right?"
"Hey, JoJo, wouldn't this be the second time we've gotten in a plane crash?"
"Actually this would be the third time for me. I only remember you crashing with me once!"
"Nuh-uh~! That plane to Italy broke down the second we got off, I remember that clear as sunshine. That means you've been in four plane crashes!"
The entire party looked at the two elders before screaming out the same words.
"WE ARE NEVER FLYING WITH YOU EVER AGAIN!"
The old man opened the door again and glared at Rainbow Dash.
"Stupid bitch! You'll die a death worse than this! Stands far and wide shall hunt ALL OF YOU DOWN! WHAHAHAHAH-"
Star Seraphim kicked him out into the bathroom for the crew as Kakyoin closed the door with a sigh.
"What have I gotten myself into..."
Despite their inexperience, Joseph and Pinkie Pie landed the plane thirty five kilometers off the Chinese coast of Hong Kong. Only minimal injuries among few of the passengers were sustained. After being fished out of the ocean, they all met in a restaurant, discussing their misfortune. Joseph himself was quite vocal.
"Dammit! I should have known taking a plane was a bad idea... We can't risk anymore innocent lives in this journey of ours."
Avdol nodded as he read over the menu.
"Indeed. Our only choices now are to travel by land, or by sea, not that it matters in terms of danger. The Tower said it himself, DIO will be sending as many Stands after us he can gather. And with his inhuman charm, as well as his apparent wealth to buy out those like the Tower... We can't let our guard down for a moment."
Kakyoin and Rainbow Dash expressed their worry.
"You're right Mr. Avdol, but if were still on that plane, we'd be there by now."
"I bet [Seraphim] could have flown faster than that plane, in fact I won't lie guys, that idea is sounding pretty good right now..."
Pinkie Pie elbowed her with a small frown.
"Not that I don't believe you can't do it, but you plan on carrying us the whole way there?"
"Ah, w-well? Maybe not..."
Then, both Joseph and Pinkie Pie smiled.
"Don't worry about it! JoJo, I know you've got a plan for this."
"And I know I can count on you all for support. A hundred years ago, someone wrote a book detailing their adventures around the entire world in just eighty days, back in the steam engine days. Even without a plane, we'll make it to Egypt in no time. If we're going to throw out ideas, I say we take the sea. We get a ship to go around Malaysia and head straight through the Indian ocean."
Pinkie Pie clasped her hands together
"Sounds like a plan!"
Avdol grinned nodding his head approvingly.
"I've never been on either route before Mr. Joestar, but it does sound the more desirable option."
Jotaro waited for his food in silence as Kakyoin thinks aloud.
"Land would lead to difficulties due to the mountainous region of the Himalayas. The sea makes the most sense."
Rainbow Dash leaned back in her chair balancing off of the back legs.
"Well at least we won't be sitting around..."
Joseph smiled pridefully.
"Then it's decided. But, what of enemy Stands? DIO may have Stands for days. Anyone around us, anything, could be a possible Stand enemy..."
Rainbow Dash simply stared at the menu, a loss of appetite with the experience on the plane.
"Hey Pinkie Pie?"
"What's up?"
She paused. This is not something that should bother her. She loved beating things to a pulp, fighting is in her blood, victory is what she is all about! However, such disturbing levels of violence even for her or more accurately especially for her, is unprecedented.
"How do you deal with all that, gross, stuff? The stuff on the plane I mean. I've got a feeling we're gonna be doing that a lot around here."
"Oh. Uhm? Hm... How you deal with most things! We can't help ourselves when it comes things like that. This world is a lot more intense than Equestria, if you haven't noticed. Some people, you can't exactly just beat or make up with here. But I always meet it all with a smile head on! So you do what you do best!"
"Tough it out? Yeah, yeah I can do that."
She forced on a grin and looked at the menu, pretending to know what she was looking at as Kakyoin lifted the teapot lid on the table just a bit. Jotaro raised a brow at this, with Kakyoin catching onto his curiosity.
"This is how you say 'refill please'. In Hong Kong, if you remove the lid just a little, a waiter will come and fill up the pot. And while they're pouring the tea, tap your fingers on the table twice to express your gratitude."
A man of above-average height and athletic or muscular build approached them. He had a receded hairline and had silvery hair that rose directly above his head, straight, to a height about half that of his head. He had no eyebrows. He also wore earrings in the shape of jaggedly halved broken hearts. He wore a fitted sleeveless black top; shoulderless except for one strap running from his chest over his left shoulder.
"Gentlemen~! pardon me, but you seem to know a lot about China. Could I trouble you for just a moment, I'm a tourist from France and well, it's quite hard to understand the menu. Could you help me?"
Jotaro waved him off.
"No. Go away, we're busy."
However Joseph chuckled and motioned for the tourist to stay.
"Now, now Jotaro, that's no way to treat someone in need! There's no harm in lending a helping hand. I've been to Hong Kong in the past, so I remember a bit of kanji here and there. Let's see..."
They ordered their food through Joseph and Kakyoin, the tourist amazed by both the food and graciousness was awed, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie began eating as soon as the plates were set. Joseph laughed.
"Some things just don't ever change. Well, what are the rest of you waiting for? Dig in already!"
Everyone began to do just that, then the tourist held up a sliced carrot, shaped like a star.
"The food is amazing in quality, just look at this cutting work! This carrot is so accurately cut. In fact, it reminds me of something. This star shape..."
Immediately the atmosphere tensed. Everyone but Pinkie Pie stopped eating and looked to the silver haired man.
"Yes, that's right, I remember meeting a man and a child both with this birthmark..."
Rainbow Dash elbowed Pinkie Pie lightly for her to stop and pay attention, but she kept going.
"Pinkie, we can eat later, this is serious!"
"I'm working on something, gimmie a second."
The man laughed as he placed the star right below his neck.
"At ease, let her savor her last meal. I am a man of honor, it is why I have come and announced my attack, I'll take you on one at a time or all at once. It's your decision."
He chuckled with a shrug as Pinkie slurped the last of her noodles, spitting them out charged with Hamon, stiffening out like a pair of shackles ready to close around his face and throat tightly. However, they were cut apart and flew past him. No one saw the cause. Then in Joseph's bowl, his soup erupted as an armored hand with a thin rapier aimed for his throat. He lifted his hand to stop it in time, the blade going through, yet no blood due to the replacement.
Avdol summoned Magician's Red as Pinkie and Jotaro flipped the table together. However, it only flew over the man as the fire spewed at him was caught by the rapier. Besides him was a thin, robotic humanoid clad in medieval armor, armed with the blazing rapier. It had an extremely thin waist, consisting of little more than a cable about as wide as the Stand's small head. It swung the sword once against the turned table, making a clock with the flames.
"My Stand represents the Chariot. It's name, [Silver Chariot]!"
He pointed to Avdol then thumbed to the table.
"I've used your flames to make a clock on that dining table. The minuet hand is on eight, I'll beat you before it hits twelve, three or even two minuets!"
Rainbow Dash whispered under her breath.
"What th-?! That's so cool...!"
Avdol snickered at the swordsman showmanship.
"Is that so? You are quite skilled in swordplay, I must admit, but isn't this time limit a bit cocky of you Mister..."
"Polnareff. My name is, Jean Pierre Polnareff."
"Thank you. However I must apologize for my rudeness of not introducing myself."
Avdol waved his hand as the table soon burned away, as if dipped in magma, the flames flew into the air around them. Idly floating as Avdol moved them with subtle hand gestures.
"Mr. Polnareff. Do not mistake my flames as a natural occurrence. My Stand is called [Magician Red] for a reason, the flames obey my very will."
"So I see. The world was said to be started with flames, however, you think I'm overestimating myself?"
He threw up several coins in the air as Chariot swiped at them with a single swing. Piercing all the coins, and even Avdol's flames for each coin. Rainbow Dash pointed at him shouting in a mocking tone.
"I saw that! You had to swing twice!"
Polnareff's eyes opened for there was no one that could see his sword swing before. This garnered an appreciative smirk from him as he retracted the blade from the items and turned on a heel. She hastily marched after him, stopping short when he turned around.
"Where are you going?"
"Come! His Stand works best in open areas, oui? And I refuse to have our duel cost an innocent bystander their life, so we shall find a more suitable place for our fight!"
Avdol has prepared to fight then and there, but this? He could see the flesh bud barely hidden in his hair.
"It is a shame to have to fight. It is rare even among our people to meet one like you."
They found themselves in the Tiger Balm Garden, home to many amazing sights and scenery. Polnareff chuckled as he kept his steely gaze to the party.
"This will do. Now then, Mohammed Avdol, I predict your defeat! You will be burned by your flames, down to a crisp! What say you to that?"
"..."
"Speechless, eh? Well if that is how you'll be, that is how the performance I shall give! En Garde!"
Silver Chariot swiped at Magician's Red, a parry for each idle swing at it. Polnareff scoffed and smiled at the display.
"What? Won't you make the first move? If not, then allow me to begin! Hora~!"
Silver Chariot's blade became a blur as Magician's Red spewed its flames from the beak. Silver Chariot deflected it back as Avdol himself had to step to the side. Looking back, he found a statue of his Stand carved from a lone rock. It was lifelike and near life size too.
"It fits with this garden, don't you think? Quite nicely if I do say so myself!"
Avdol's face sharpened as his movements became smooth, Magician's Red itself became calmer as it followed after him. Joseph pulled everyone back upon seeing this.
"We've got to move out of the way, he's about to burn his signature all over that guy!"
"Signature? What're you talking about, Old Man?"
"Just watch Jotaro. Crossfire Hurricane is what makes Avdol a name to be feared."
Rainbow Dash looked on folding her arms.
"Avdol can kick butt, that I've seen him do. That Polnareff guy is gonna be toast."
Avdol crossed his arms a small circle of flames surrounded him, all before quickly forming an large ankh, firing it directly at Polnareff.
"Hahah! That's all you have? I can deflect something like this as well, like so!"
Silver Chariot cut it apart and threw the flames all back at Magician's Red, setting the Stand on fire. Still it lunged for him as Polnareff laughed.
"Even in death you attack me? Pathetic!"
With two consecutive strikes, Magician's Red was cut in half and disarmed, yet from within the body a fire exploded and lashed out at him. Silver Chariot was lit aflame as Avdol shrugged.
"That was the statue you struck, you fool. Trying to predict the future of a fortune teller to his face? Isn't that rather foolish?"
Before Polnareff could react, he was hit by the true Crossfire Hurricane, Silver Chariot melting as they flew back. Polnareff laid there seemingly unconscious. For a moment Avdol turned around and would have made his way back to his friends, but before he could take a step he heard a strange noise, turning back to see a strange sight. His fallen opponent leaping into the air from the ground on his back, floating above ground with only minimal burns. Clapping and mockingly praising Avdol. Silver Chariot carried him without it's armor on.
"Bravo! Bravo! That was quite the attack! However you did not account of Silver Chariot's armor! Without it, I am more nimble, much faster, and most of all..."
Polnareff flipped out of the air and landed gracefully with Silver Chariot behind him, floating up and with a snap of a finger, splitting into eight copies. Avdol took a step back as the party went wide eyed. Polnareff reveled in their reactions.
"Now, now, there's still one [Chariot]! But his speed is unrivaled, as many of these are but afterimages! Any hope of hitting me now is out of the water!"
Pinkie Pie raised and waved her hand no different than being a student in class.
"Ooh! Ooh! But I bet if we did hit you, it'd be over for you, yeah?"
Polnareff tapped his temple.
"True, but good luck with that! You'd all have to coordinate some masterful joint attack to even scratch my Stand, let alone myself."
Avdol did not respond, firing another Crossfire Hurricane, only for it to make a hole in the ground past one image. All of them swiped at him accordingly before lunging back to their User's side, carving small ankhs onto Avdol's face and clothes.
"Ah! You could have cut my eyes out... It seems you are correct, however, Crossfire Hurricane has another variant. As So!"
He fired another large ankh, yet it split apart into smaller ones, about the size of his own body that surrounded him. Avdol fired them all at once, yet Silver Chariot caught them all, however an eruption from the hole beneath him caused the Stand to be burnt away. Polnareff himself actually caught ablaze. No strength left, he laid there in agony as Avdol pulled out a knife. Tossing to the ground within reach for the Frenchman.
"Burning to death is a most painful way to go. Use that to end your life."
As he turned away and walked, Polnareff raised the knife, as if to throw at him before turning the blade to his throat. Then, dropping it.
"No... I was far too arrogant. I didn't even consider the possibility of my loss. I'll die like this as recognition to your strength, suicide at this point, would be disgraceful. Dishonorable."
Rainbow Dash stepped up to Avdol, looking over to Polnareff somewhat awed.
"Y-You're incredible! But... You're not gonna actually let him burn away like that, are you?"
"Of course not. Someone like him does not deserve to die. I was waiting on you and JoJo to simply speak up and rid him of the flesh bud."
Jotaro smirked as Rainbow Dash ran over to the burning man. The fire vanishing as Avdol dispelled Magician's Red. In few moments Polnareff was free from DIO's control. Joseph chuckled as he held the silver haired man up, helping him stand on his own.
"I guess from here on out, we'll be buddies, eh?"
Avdol and Kakyoin looked away embarrassed. Jotaro huffed out a disappointed cloud of smoke as he asked Pinkie Pie.
"Oi, Old Lady, how're friends with this guy?"
Rainbow Dash began to walk away having her own experience through Pinkie Pie.
"You have to be that bad at puns to be friends with Pinkie Pie for so long..."
The elder woman stifled a laugh seeing Joseph's reaction to a harsh crowd.
"Pffft! JoJo that was awful!"
"All of you can choke on my Hamon charged fist, that joke was funny!"
"Hey, don't get mad at us that you can't tell a good JoJoke! Huh? Huh~?"
Everyone was silent before Jotaro began to make his way to the docks.
"I'm getting us a boat. All for leaving the old people behind raise your Stands."
"Hey! I'm the one with the budget here!"
"Oh right. All for holding the Old Man ransom?"
"Jotaro!"
Down at the port, Polnareff had followed them, at first to see them off and give thanks. However a recurring thought in his mind echoed until he had to ask.
"Monsieur Joestar. May I ask you a strange question?"
"If this is about my secret to a powerful body you're out of luck."
"Non non non! Although now that you mention it that would be nice to know later. However, I've noticed that even at the table whilst we were eating, you kept your gloves on. Do you happen to have or know anyone with two right hands?"
"Huh? Two right hands? Well, clearly I've got a fake left hand. In fact I lost my entire arm, shoulder to fingertips, almost fifty years ago. Why do you ask?"
"I'm looking for a man who murdered my younger sister. I only know that he has two right hands."
A stiff silence washed between. The sounds of ocean waves crashing muted by the tension.
"... Is that how you obtain the flesh bud?"
Polnareff looked out to the sea and sighed.
"It was three years ago. My sister and her friend were walking home from school in the rain. On the way, they came across a man, a man who was dry in the rain. As if a field protected him from the weather. From then, her friends chest was cut open, the wound no thinner than a razor. Then he... Had his way with my sister before killing her. Her friend survived, but no one believed her."
"No one but you."
Polnareff swallowed hard.
"It was the first time I had heard anyone with an ability similar to my own. I had always practiced with my Stand, but from then on my training with my it intensified, all until a year ago when I would meet Him. When I met DIO. Yet, that wasn't in Egypt, it was in Italy. There was a strange occurrence, the moon was full for more than one day. He showed me an image using an ability very similar to yours Monsieur Joestar. An image through a crystal ball. The man with two right hands."
All eyes locked onto the swordsman. Joseph looked down to his arm.
"Similar to [Hermit Purple]?! That would explain how He can give me so much trouble when I look for Him."
"The way He spoke to me, it was otherworldly. I'm not one to trust someone even on a perfect first impression, but... He felt so warm to be around. It was as if I had found someone I needed in my life. And before I could snap out of that daze, he snagged me with that damn bud!"
Avdol stepped forward seeking information.
"Could DIO's Stand be a more powerful [Hermit Purple]?"
Polnareff shook his head.
"I'm afraid I'm not sure... If I knew I would definitely tell you. In fact, I want in with your crusade! That man works for DIO no doubt, if I find DIO, I'll find that man."
Joseph took in this tale with his heart, but his mind also agreed to this alliance, for it would be foolish to deny someone with such speed and precision. He of all within the group would know. However, this is a group and he must hear them out as well.
"Well, what do you all think?"
Jotaro tilted his head up clearly annoyed.
"Why the fuck did you take so long with your back story?"
Pinkie Pie leaned onto Polnareff, catching the Frenchman off guard.
"Th-That's so sad, I'm so sorry!"
Avdol simply smiled with closed eyes as he waited for their vessel.
"Quite the experience. I see no reason for him to no join, Mr. Joestar."
Kakyoin as well merely stared off to the side.
"It doesn't matter to me."
Rainbow Dash raised a brow unable to believe a small part of the story.
"Is DIO really that charming, I doubt it!"
Satisfied, Joseph offered his hand out to Polnareff, yet one thing bothered him.
"Well I've only got one question for you Polnareff. You mentioned a child having the Joestar birthmark, but you've never met Jotaro in your life, and he's hardly a mere boy. Who were you talking about?"
"Oh... You didn't know? DIO's-"
Two girls interrupted him, hovering around Jotaro, clamoring for a picture. Jotaro yelled at them to leave him alone. At that moment Polnareff changed on a dime from being grim to joyful and playful.
"Hey! Hey! Don't mind that punk, I can take some pictures of you if you'd like!"
The party could only watch on in bewildering dismay at such a turn. Jospeh threw his hands in the air.
"Whatever! I've hailed down a boat with no passengers, only us and the crew. If you really want to join then you're welcome aboard."
Everyone boarded, with Joseph dragging Polnareff on board. Once they had set sail there was an uneasy feeling on deck. Then a sailor dragged a stowaway out in the open. A small boy thrashing about.
"Hey! What's the meaning of this! I specifically asked there be no other passengers!"
"S-Sorry Mr. Joestar, but I found thi- YEOW!"
The boy bit the sailor and jumped overboard. Rainbow Dash looked over the railing and scratched her head.
"Shouldn't someone help them? They look like he's having trouble keeping afloat..."
Jotaro scoffed and glanced over.
"He must've been confident or desperate to have done that. Not our problem."
"But isn't this area of the sea known for it's sharks?"
"... Oh yeah."
Jotaro dove off the ship and into the water without warning. A shark neared the boy as Kakyoin watched the scene unfurl.
"You know, sharks aren't actually that violent or menacing, their often misunderstood creatures. Perhaps this one is floating by due to th-"
"ORA!"
Star Platinum shot out from under, striking the shark into the air as Star Seraphim kicked it out of sight. Kakyoin gave a soft glare to Rainbow Dash.
"Well there goes the murder machine of the ocean, I hope you two are proud of yourselves."
"Shut up, Kakyoin."
Jotaro came up after Star Platinum and seized the boy by his sleeve, pulling him to the boat.
"It's literally one fucking thing after another- Hold up. Hold up what is this."
He patted the chest of the kid, then took their hat off. It was a girl. She glared at him and went to slap him. He caught the hand and sighed.
"Not that I don't blame you for trying kid, but like, what are you even doing out here?"
"Who are you asking me stu-"
"Fuck it, I don't care."
He pulled her once more but felt something change in the water below. Looking back he found a strange shape closing in after them. Star Seraphim shot down with a heel to the head of the shape, with Kakyoin using Hierophant Green to pull them both out. Pinkie Pie groaned as she looked the girl over.
"Yeesh, we can't get a break! This is already as getting out of hand, we just dealt with an enemy. How're you doing?"
"Get back! I-I'll take you all on!"
The girl pulled out a switchblade on Pinkie.
"I've fought people before! My knife's bloody, it's crying for it's three hundred and fortieth victim!"
She stuck her tongue out and hesitantly shoved it around Pinkie Pie's face. Kakyoin and Polnareff held back their laughter as Joseph face palmed, Avdol and Rainbow Dash wondered if she was going through trauma or was under some influence, Jotaro merely smoked. Pinkie Pie grinned and pressed her nose against the tip of the blade, charging it with a attaching Hamon, and taking the weapon right out of the girl's hand. She balanced the knife before snatching it in the air, dexterously playing with it before finally putting the blade back into the switch. She then cackled like a witch and loomed over the girl.
"My fingers are about wring the neck of their eight hundredth victim! CRY FOR ME CHILD!"
"AIEE!"
She ran away from Pinkie Pie hiding behind the mast.
"Wai-Wait don't actually cry, it was just a joke! H-Here you can even have your knife back!"
Joseph spoke up, trying not laugh himself.
"Pinkie don't give weapons to kids!"
"Says Mr. Tommygun!"
"That was one time-"
She turned to him fully as she shouted at the top of her lungs.
"NINETEEN THIRTY EIGHT! TWO HUNDRE-"
"Okay! Okay so I may have been a wild gun back in the day, shut up, and do what you want!"
She smiled at her victory, sauntering over to their stowaway.
"Good! Here's your knife back kiddo."
Pinkie Pie handed it over to the girl who reluctantly took it back.
"Who are you bunch of weirdos?"
They were about to answer as the girl went to put the knife away, only to be seized by the captain.
"You there! You're the one who snuck on my ship, eh? Even with children, rules are rules, I'll lock you up in the cellar until we get to our destination!"
He pulled the girl away, dragging her off until Joseph called for him, he needed to know. He knew someone on the ship was responsible for that shape.
"Captain, you did the background check I requested, correct? No errors were made?"
"No sir! I've known these men for a whole decade, they can attest to that, but if you wish I can do it again."
"N-No that won't be necessary-"
"EXCUSE ME!"
The captain snatched Jotaro's cigarette right out of his mouth, the teen looked at him surprised, but not upset.
"What?"
"Smoking is strictly prohibited on this vessel! It could cause a possible burn, and I refuse to have any litterbugs on my ship! What were you planning to do with the ashes and cigarette butt?"
"Oh, sorry man I didn't kn-"
The captain snuffed out the smoke by crushing it against the palm on his cap, and placed the butt in his coat pocket, shoving a finger in his face.
"Are we clear? Do you understand?"
"... You just fucked with the wrong marine lover today."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, because thanks to that, I just found out you were the Stand User."
"A Stand what?"
Rainbow Dash punched his arm with a scowl.
"Hey JoJo, don't get us kicked off the boat! You were the one who broke the rules!"
"If he told me ahead of time, I would've just waited until we got to land. But, I've been smoking, because it's how I found out how to distinguish normal people from Stand Users."
All blink at that, especially Rainbow Dash.
"Wait, really?"
"Yeah. When smoke is applied to the skin, the blood vessels on a Stand User's nose will show faint visibility."
Everyone was shocked save for the crew and the girl, all raising their hands to their noses to check, even the captain. Polnareff tilted his head at his hand.
"You're kidding us, right Jotaro?"
"Of course I am. I just proved you're all actually dumb enough to fall for that, including you, captain. All you had to do was keep up the act, and even I would be doubting myself. Guess this was one of those lucky guesses."
The captain took a step back as the party stared at him in shock. Then he sneered as blood trickled down from his head as he took off his hat, the grip he had on the girl only tightened.
"Not bad, kid. I got rid of the captain quite some time ago, he's resting peacefully, at the bottom of the ocean."
Jotaro subtly rolled his head letting out a small series of snaps and pops.
"Is that right? You won't be resting when I'm done, you'll be wide awake, down at the bottom of Hell."
"Ooh! Shonen, how intense! However I'll be using my environment to my advantage. [Dark Blue Moon]!"
A hand shot up from the railing and grabbed the girl. A humanoid Stand with aquatic features manifested itself, appearing as some sort of merfolk-like entity with a flat head, four eyes, a large dorsal fin lining most of its back, additional fins on its legs, and webbed hands and feet. It snatched her up as the captain dove into the water with it, grinning at first.
However, it was too late for him to notice Rainbow Dash already above him, Star Seraphim summoned and raining down kicks onto Blue Moon. As they fell, Rainbow Dash caught the girl and flew up to the deck, tossing her over the railing, but descending back into the water slowly.
"Oi, I don't think going after him is a good idea, not like this."
"Jotaro, guys, my legs! I feel like I'm being dragged down!"
Star Seraphim's feet were covered in sea barnacles, spreading up to her thighs in moments. Rainbow Dash herself felt the strength waning as her feet began to bleed. She fell into the water. Donning Seraphim as a suit once more, she couldn't tell if she had a limited air supply or not, she did not want to find out. She found the captain and Dark Blue Moon.
"[Welcome to my world, the Ocean! Heh, I've not seen a Stand like that, can you talk through it like I can through mine?]"
"..."
"[Judging from how loud you were before, probably not! Doesn't matter, you're dead anyways! My webbed hands are strong enough..."]
Blue Moon raised a hand to the propeller and destroyed it easily with no damage to itself or the User.
["And sharp enough to destroy a boat's propeller! It'll cut right through you along with my scales scattered all around the sea!"]
In truth it was within the immediate area alone, yet his Stand began to make strange swirling motions, creating a large whirlpool. Above, Kakyoin sent Hierophant Green to dive in for assistance, only to retract the moment the hand went into the water.
"Agh! Everyone, get back! The scales of his Stand are all over the place, and are razor sharp, if we jump in we'll die!"
The captain laughed as Rainbow Dash spun helplessly, skidding against the scales against the edge of the whirlpool. Rolling and swirling about.
"[You'll be dead soon! I know your weakness, even though that frosty fuck nugget didn't say much, he said enough for me to know you're not allowed in the sky! So I'll jus-]"
"[ORA!]"
Jotaro not only dived into the whirlpool, but also used Star Platinum to pound Dark Blue Moon over to Star Seraphim and Rainbow Dash, the heel of the right foot shot out and extended into the head of the Stand. Due to the current motions, not only was it shocked violently, a piece of the head had been cut clean off. Jotaro's arms and body had been shredded, but he was far from done. It helped that the whirlpool and scales vanished as soon as the heel had pierced the head. He grabbed Rainbow Dash as the barnacles fell apart and swam up to the surface, the false captain drowning and falling into the depths of the sea.
"Hey, you alright? You look beat."
"It's been literally about two days and we've almost died more than once on each one."
"Four days with three of them having us almost die, if you wanna count the one we had before leaving Japan."
"... Ugh. It only gets worse from here."
"Don't jinx it. We might actually get a brea-"
The ship exploded with everyone making it on life boats, the two looking at each other, neither one speaking. Both thinking the exact same thought. 'We jinxed it.'
Twilight Sparkle and Princess Celestia glanced at each other, then back to the board. They didn't have anything to say that wasn't already obvious or stated before. The figure before them simply hummed to himself before waving a hand, several pieces unveiling themselves and sliding to their pieces. One was a giant freighter ship, coming right for them.