My Little Pony: Friendship is a Bizarre Adventure
Part 3: ~Stardust Coachriders - Egypt~
Episode XI: A Sacrifce For Love, DIO's Friends
Egypt. A land of eighty-seven percent of sand deserts. One of the few lands in the world with little to no rainfall, yet the Nile River is plentiful, and the land fertile. Food is a very little issue. It is here in these vast sands that group waited near a small mountain with a jeep Joseph had bought from a small town. A helicopter flew down and landed nearby. Jotaro noticed the logo on the vehicle.
"The Speedwagon Foundation? I know you and Grandma have mentioned it before, but how well do you know these guys? They're international, serious and expensive stuff."
Joseph shrugged with a casual expression.
"Uncle Speedwagon himself said, without Jonathan Joestar, he'd still be a street thug in England. Apparently he fought with our ancestor against DIO. He's passed away now, but although it has a new CEO, the Joestar Family basically own it. Still, I try to only use these connections when absolutely necessary, and this is such a moment. Everyone, we're bringing with us one final member of the team, [The Fool]."
Rainbow Dash and Polnareff bursted into laughter. Avdol became serious as Zecora held her mohawk with a concerned face
"W-What!? THAT is his name!?"
"[The Fool]!? You mean the idiot!"
Avdol turned away from them both with a sigh.
"You should both be grateful he is on our side. Neither of you would be able to defeat him."
"Eh!?" "Que!?"
"I know him quite well, which is why I am somewhat unsure about this. Mr. Old Man-"
Joseph began to flail and throw punches and swings in the air, like a bratty child who didn't get what he wanted, he calmed down in a few seconds.
"Fucking Hell Avdol, what?"
"Are you sure this is a wise decision?"
"About as sure as we'll all make it out alive. I'unno about Pol though."
Polnareff gave Joseph an insulting hand gesture as the pilots left the helicopter. Jotaro eyed them carefully, but couldn't make out which of them was the User.
"Alright. Which of you is the Stand User."
They loomed at each other confused, then opened the back door.
"It's neither of us. All we do is fly the helicopter. That's all we do. It's all we know..."
"He's actually in here."
There was only a small blanket. Polnareff looked inside and slammed a hand down onto the seat.
"What is he, a midget or something!?"
Kakyoin raised a finger and began to speak in a studious manner.
"Actually Polnareff, the politically correct term for them is-"
A small black and white dog lunged out from under the blanket.
"Oh my god the midget's a dog."
It landed on Polnareff's head and began to chew on his hair. He ripped out mouthful of it and chewed contently. Zecora his behind Avdol.
"That vile beast is Iggy, his bad attitude teeters on villainy!"
"Not too long ago, Zecora and I had traveled to New York, to meet with Mr. Old Man. However animal control had issues with him, so we stepped in. It took a bit of smart thinking, but we were able to subdue and calm him down. Although as you can see he's left an impression."
Polnareff grabbed Iggy and threw him off. Iggy gave a strange, eerie smile.
('Tonight. You.')
"H-Hey guys, what do you think he meant? Tonight, me?"
Everyone looked at Polnareff strangely, except for Zecora. Avdol thumbed to her.
"What are you talking about? You sound as crazy as ZiZi."
Jotaro nodded as Rainbow Dash scoffed.
"Yeah dude, it's just a dog with a Stand."
"Really! Unless his Stand can make voices in your head."
Iggy strolled up to Polnareff.
('Yeah... I'm just a dog.')
"HHHHHNNNNNNNG-"
Iggy began to chew more and more of Polnareff's hair out. Avdol sighed and took out a pack of gum. He held a single piece.
"Coffee flavored gum is the only way to get him to listen."
Iggy leapt off of Polnareff and snatched the whole pack out of his hand. He chewed on the wrapper, paper covering, and gum. To everyone, this dog was nothing but trouble. However, he lifted a nose with a few sniffs before chewing his gum. Far away, a blind man in drifter clothing sat down with an illustrious walking cane in hand. Wild hair and tan skin, he scowled.
"Vehement mutt. That's a strong nose, even for your kind, to sense N'Doul..."
"Not like you're hard to miss when you smell as bad as you do."
Gilda, fully human, rested against his back. He sighed and smiled.
"If there is one good thing about this, we're working together again."
"Stuff the sentiments, we're on a job."
"Hah... You're scared that He'll punish you, huh?"
"..."
"Don't worry. I, N'Doul, will make sure nothing ever harms you again. Just as I swore before."
"Yeah, yeah, that was ages ago. Besides they'll be on edge without these."
She held up the two precious gems. The Red Stone of Aja, covered by a cloth to prevent the beams of light attacking them. And the Element of Harmony, Laughter. She dug a small hole in the sand and placed them there.
"Now, even if we somehow fail, they'll never get these back!"
N'Doul nodded as he continued to listen in on the group. One of the pilots was stopped by Joseph.
"Holy. What's her condition."
"S-Sir... In the past thirty-one days... She's gotten worse. The doctors at the Foundation give her two weeks at best. And, for the other one... We can't seem to find the people in Morioh. At this moment, there's a terrible snowstorm going on. No one can get in or out."
Joseph grimaced as Jotaro stared down at the ground. The pilot shook a bit as he coughed for attention.
"T-There's more... We investigated Cairo as you said. There were nine mysterious people we had found relating to DIO."
"What!? Nine more Stand Users?!"
"We weren't sure, we aren't like any of you, so the risks were even higher for us! We did manage to hear one of them speak of DIO's wife or mistress. She's left with their son to a different continent. The only known thing about her is that she has a strange condition of blue skin."
"The blue pair of arms..."
"That's all, Sir. We've left with you some food and medical supplies. Even the mechanical hand and pinky finger you requested."
"H-Huh!? You're leaving us with that?!"
"I'm afraid to meet your desired request of keeping Ms. Pie in your party, you all will have to install it on her personally... We greatly implore you to reconsider. She should come with us."
Pinkie Pie looked into the crate of supplies that were in the trunk. She pulled out the hand and shrugged.
"Does it have instructions and the right tools?"
"Y-Yes ma'am but, you'd need a trained doctor with excellent precision to-"
"PolPol! Jotaro! You'll help Nana out with this, right?"
Polnareff sat up dazed as his hair was a slobbered mess, yet Jotaro gave her a thumbs up. The pilot shook his head.
"As you say. Good luck to you all."
The helicopter flew off. Kakyoin smiled as a thought came to his head.
"Nana, there's nothing in there but candy and sweets, huh?"
Pinkie Pie pulled out parts and and mechanical limbs. Kakyoin's face paled greatly.
"A-At least wait until we get to a more sanitary area! What if you get another infection!?"
"Oh pipe down, I'll be fine! I can take care of myself! You all on the other hand worry me!"
"Nana you have no pinky fingers left to make Pinkie Promises."
"Oh shush before I ground you."
Everyone hopped onto the jeep. Joseph drove with Pinkie Pie shotgunning, and Zecora in between them. There were only two seats behind it, and Iggy took up both. Everyone else resided in the open trunk. Pinkie Pie looked at Joseph curiously.
"What was that guy on about for Morioh Town?"
"..."
"JoJo. JoJo. JoJo? JoJo? JoJo? Oldseph! Oldseph! Oldseph! Oldseph! Grandad~! Gra-"
"Pinkie, I swear I'll turn this thing around and duct tape you the side of the helicopter."
"Well just answer the question!"
"I... Can't."
"Can't and won't are two different things, JoJo. I'd like to remind that [Candy Shop] and [Hermit Purple] are essentially the same Stand."
"Would you really look into my head for something not important?"
"If it's not important than just tell me! You've told me all kinds of stupid things and vice versa, that's how this works!"
"Pinkie, I can't tell you because it's... Family, matter."
Pinkie Pie frowned at that.
"I thought we were family."
"... Okay. Okay, fine! Only because you used the, 'you kicked my gator', voice. I can't let anyone know for now. But one day soon, I will... Jotaro. Has an uncle in Morioh, Japan, of the name Jouske Higashikata."
"Wait but if he's the uncle doesn't that mean he's your son? What's the problem with that, we should-"
Pinkie Pie's eyes widened as she saw the guilt on Joseph's face.
"Oh... Ooohh..."
He's ill, like Holy. His mother, barely got to me in time before we left for Japan. He's not even in his double digits..."
Joseph's grip on the wheel tightened. Although the two spoke quietly, Jotaro noticed his Grandfather's tenseness. He wrote it off as the Old Man composing himself as he thought about his mother. Jotaro himself had bruised his hand with how tight his fist had clenched upon hearing the news. Polnareff slowly reached for Iggy, but jumped as the dog growled. He caused a heavy box to fall on his leg, hit his head on the edge of the trunk, and nearly lost his comb. Rainbow Dash couldn't help but laugh.
"Good Grief, Polnareff! You suc-"
"Tais-toi , tu rainbow morveux!"
She snickered as she looked off into the distance. Something was off.
"H-Hey! Old Man?"
"Dashie if you even think about saying you'll fly ahead, Grandad is about t-"
"No! There's smoke coming from that way! The way the helicopter went!"
"What!? They couldn't have crashed all the way out here! Unless..."
Joseph drove in the direction of the smoke. The helicopter laid there in ruin. One of the pilots had died with his nails scratching at the paint and metal of the vehicle. As the group left the jeep to investigate, Jotaro noticed the oddest thing.
"Hold up... His mouth is open, like he tried to scream for help. He even scratched the body of the helicopter. There's water in his mouth..."
Jotaro lifted the body slightly, the head turned as water poured out like a small river. Even fish fell out.
"In his lungs! He, he drowned here in the desert!"
Polnareff shouted just a few feet away.
"We found the other pilot! He's alive, but heavily dehydrated!"
Zecora eyed the helicopter itself.
"On the surface there are no signs if an attack, and these men are mostly in one piece, this can only be a Stand attack."
Joseph lifted the pilot up.
"What happened here!? Are you alright!?"
"W... Water..."
"Water? Of course, Avdol, that canteen fell out of the copter too. Bring it here."
Avdol handed Joseph the canteen. He eased it closely to the pilots mouth. The man screeched out in fear. Zecora snatched Joseph's hand in an attempt to stop him.
"MR. OLD MAN! THE ENEMY IS IN THAT CAN!"
"N-NO! THE WATER IS WHAT ATTA-"
A hand came from within the canteen and tore the pilot's head off, it crushed the skull and pulled the whole thing into the canteen. Everyone stood there in shock at the speed it happened in. Even in real time, it was all in a single second. Just as the canteen hit the sand, the group dove away from it. Jotaro pulled out a pair of binoculars and used Star Platinum to enhance his vision.
"Nothing... No stupid tricks like the [Sun] so the Stand has to be small."
Kakyoin glanced at the canteen, then to Pinkie Pie and Polnareff who were by his side.
"I have an idea. Polnareff, attack the canteen with your Stand-"
"I have another idea just as good, why don't you go fuck yourself?"
"Well for starters, it's hot and sandy, unless the glare of the Sun were to blind all of you-"
A watery hand slithered up to Kakyoin's face and brought itself down. It cut open both of his eyes. Pinkie Pie let out an ear shattering scream as Kakyoin fell limp.
"MY BABY! IT GOT MY BABY!"
She lifted him up with one arm and slung Polnareff over her shoulder with the other. Polnareff himself began to wonder how strong Pinkie Pie had to be to carry them like puppies. She stopped as the hand appeared right in front of her. Dead silent and statue still. The body of the headless pilot had a watch, a watch with an alarm on it. The alarm sounded, and the water attacked, severing the hand entirely. This gave Pinkie Pie the chance she needed. With a deep breath, she charged the sand beneath her with Hamon and leaped onto the jeep, the sand acting like that of a Olympic trampoline. Her hair had become straighter.
"DRIVE! DRIVE! DRIVE! DRIVE! DRIVE!"
Is all she could say as she scrambled around. The Stand attacked, but merely splashed against the metal of the jeep. Joseph slammed down the gas as everyone stared at Kakyoin. Though in a panic, Pinkie Pie used Candy Shop's vines to make a hand for her as she treated Kakyoin with Zecora's aid. He laid there with his eyes wrapped with care, his hands slowly wandered around.
"Uh... Is, everyone, alright...? Did we learn, anything...?"
Pinkie Pie let out a heavy sigh and hugged him tightly as Avdol rubbed his head.
"It uses sound, and is a Stand of water. However, I believe we have lo-"
"Hurk!?"
Polnareff began to choke as a glove filled with water strangled him. Silver Chariot's sword arm appeared from his chest and diced the glove.
"Ha! A cheap tactic like that is no match for the great-"
The water pierced gas can in the trunk. The gas and water became one and flew at Polnareff's face. A water sphere surrounded his head and began to drown him. Jotaro and Rainbow Dash sent their Stars, but the blows did nothing. Avdol and Zecora stood up.
"Punching and Kicking will have no affect here!"
"This opponent for us has been set, for in our many years we have learned the only way to defeat water!"
"Is To Burn It!" "Is To Burn It!"
Ra had summoned a golden sphere around the dome, a tiny opening at the top allowedMagician's Red to evaporate every drop. Polnareff finally could breathe again, but now was as blind as Kakyoin. Joseph turned back.
"Are you two just trying to put that on a shirt!?"
Jotaro noticed Iggy leapt out of the jeep before a large spire of water erupted right under them. Everyone fell with a heavy thud and laid still. A bird hovered and circled over them, yet Avdol was far from ready to die now. He took and threw his bracelets one by one. Zecora followed after him as she realized his plan, to fake their steps. At the last ring, the puddle appeared! This was their chance! They summoned their Stands to finish this once and for all! However, Zecora's shoulders and back were torn apart by Gilda. She fell back slowly as the water Stand had just barely dodged Magician's Red's assault, and nearly cut open Avdol's throat. Gilda threw them both away with a kick. As they landed, the water rose around them from the sands, and closed in on them like the device Jack the Ripper himself used to attack Twilight Sparkle and Jonathan Joestar. Rainbow Dash felt helpless, as all she could do was shout.
"DON'T YOU TOUCH MY FRIENDS!"
Star Seraphim's magenta glow became brighter, a loud him sounded from it before a small Sonic Rainboom shot out from the Stand. Gilda flew back as her wings molted and faded away. She fell hard on the sand in her human form. The water Stand flickered and dropped into the sand. N'Doul himself convulsed violently.
"W-What is that power!? I...! I lost control! That girl! she turned my Stand off! I can still hear them, I'm still there, Gilda... Don't do anything reckless!"
Gilda rushed at Rainbow Dash. She threw her hands up to block a kick from Star Seraphim, but her forearms were broken in two from the impact alone, the kick followed through as Gilda's jaw clearly broke. As she tumbled away, Jotaro ran for Iggy, and snatched him up from the ground.
"Okay you little shit, you knew we were going to be attacked, and your nose told. So."
He shoved Iggy to the ground.
"You're gonna take me to the User."
Iggy yelped out and wiggled out of Jotaro's grip. He summoned his Stand, The Fool. The sand drewtogether and formed a mammal-beast with wheels for hind legs, wires that connected to the wheels, and an Aztecan mask with feathers on the head. It flew up with Iggy and grew gliding wings. Jotaro had leapt on.
"Fuck you, you're not leaving me behind. I'll snap into your neck like a Slim-Jim."
It took little time for Jotaro to find N'Doul. It was a straight shot, until he noticed something dangerous. Iggy lowered himself down to drag Jotaro lightly across the sand.
"You bastard! God fucking dammit, this is why cats and fishes are better!"
Jotaro summoned Star Platinum as he saw the Stand come for him. Star Platinum snatched Iggy out of The Fool's paws, held him high, and threw the dog with great force. Right at N'Doul.
Gilda laid there, practically broken. Rainbow Dash made her way to her slowly, then noticed Gilda's terrifying ability. Not just a transformation to a lethal beast, but a beast with a wild healing factor. A factor she could only active upon using the potential energy stored in her body. What she didn't know, was the cost was a more fragile body. Gilda didn't care, this would end here. She donned her Battle Beast and flew off. Rainbow Dash knew where she was headed as Gilda flew low. N'Doul knew where everyone was now. Gilda would be there too late, he only had one option. He retracted his Stand, and had barely blocked Iggy, who had used The Fool to keep the two from colliding. N'Doul's walking cane fell from his hands. He searched for it anxiously.
"W-Where!? I hear Dash and Gilda but, I can't find Jotaro! Where is he!? ... Ah..."
Jotaro stared down at N'Doul from right behind him. It was like an Old Western, the two merely waited for the draw. N'Doul sighed.
"You're fast. And dangerous. You even got yourself a mean backup. Hah... I won't need this walking stick anymore, but, it'll still be useful. Eh, Jotaro?"
N'Doul held out the cane and let it fall. Rainbow Dash saw them, and Gilda closing in on Jotaro's back. She had to fly fast. Faster than ever before in these past thirty-one days. The cane neared the sand with each moment. This game, this race of Stands, this Duel to the Death. Would be over. That final centimeter was it! No turning back, do or die! Jotaro and N'Doul sent their Stands out at the same time. The speeds were so unreal, upon meeting, it was as if reality had warped. The very light itself to create the images within their eyes couldn't catch up. Rainbow Dash had made it in the nick of time, flying even lower than Gilda, her back to Jotaro's as she kneed Gilda in the throat. N'Doul's Stand scratched Jotaro's head and sent his cap flying. Star Platinum had near punched through the blind man. Both of the servants of evil coughed up blood. Gilda returned to her human form as she fell on top of N'Doul. Both gaspied desperately for air. Star Platinum let out a thunderous victory cry as both Stands vanished. Rainbow Dash was beyond tired, the adrenaline rush from before began to leave her body. Jotaro looked down at the two assassins.
"You managed to knock my cap off, not even the ocean could do that."
"Hah... Hah... Just... Tell us what we need to know! We don't... Hop, we didn't hit you hard enough to kill.
Gilda lifted herself up, a hand on the sand and the other clasped with the blind man. She had tears in here eyes and nodded.
"I... DIO... I failed... We failed..."
"Gilda, s-sweetie. I couldn't keep my promise after all."
N'Doul's Stand came back and slit Gilda's throat and stabbed through N'Doul's own head. It was a surgical attack. He had little time to speak, but still time. He didn't need to see, he heard the gasps and grinned.
"It's real simple really, why we agreed to die instead. We owe Him our lives. There was no money in this for either of us, no threats or blackmails... I could do whatever I wanted with my Stand. No one would ever know. Gilda, was my only friend. She defended me from the physical pain... But we were bleeding to death, from the emotional pain. No one knew us, no one cared, not even others like us... Then, He appeared. So deep, so profound... So beautiful... Him, The Lady, and Their Son... We finally had worth... Don't you see, kids? Hehehe... Even Evil Needs A Saivor."
Jotaro and Rainbow Dash were silent as they listened to N'Doul. His last moments were approaching. He opened his eyes and proclaimed to the world. His last words.
"We refuse, to be any kind of hindrance. We do not fear death, but failure to Him... But, you remind me, of us... So... As a reward, hear my last words. My name is N'Doul! And that was my Stand, [GEB] of the Nine Egyptian Gods! The origin of the Tarot! Hehehehehe! JoJo! Dash! Those gems, are by a ruin to the West of here back at where the helicopter first landed. Now you do me one favor. My walking cane... Get that... To our Morning Star... Oohhh... This isn't so bad... To die with a loved one... Eh, Gilda?"
With smile, their eyes closed. Gilda the Battle Beast and N'Doul of GEB, had died serving their friend. Jotaro and Rainbow Dash made a grave for them, with Gilda's anklet acting as a tombstone. Rainbow Dash let out an exhausted sigh.
"What kind of Person is DIO, to have people follow him so blindly... If, if we met them before Him, we could've been friends..."
She couldnt help but think of the Gilda she really knew, back at Equestria. How would she ever look at her the same? She remembered Pinkie Pie's words to deal with this heavy emotion. Toughing it out, could only do so much. Jotaro looked down at the grave, and merely nodded. They turned at the sound of Iggy growling. Jotaro had nearly forgotten all about the dog and pulled out a piece of the coffee flavored gum.
"Hey. No hard feelings, right?"
Iggy ran off. The two scoffed at him and turned to retrieve the Red Stone and the Element of Harmony. However, Iggy's barking returned as he strolled up to Jotaro with his cap. Rainbow Dash was surprised.
"Oh wow! He actually came back! Y'know, I wouldn't have blamed you for leaving, even I didn't want to do this whole thing at first. You've really got no reason to be here."
Jotaro grinned and put the cap on, then made a face of disgust as he noticed the slobber on it.
"Damn dog..."
('TonightYou!)'
He sniffed the sand and led the Star Duo back to the ruins. He dug up the gems. Rainbow Dash pocketed them as she eyed the walking cane in Jotaro's hand.
"I know DIO is the main had Guy here but, that son of His is coming up a few times too, I wonder what he's like... Ugh."
Jotaro swept Rainbow Dash up, a yelp escaped her throat as he did so.
"W-What're you-"
"You've been swaying side to side like a drunk horse. If you're tired, then just take it easy. I got you."
"Then who's got you when you're tired!?"
"Yare Yare Daze, you just love hearing me talk, don't you. I've told you I hate stating the obvious, andu I hate repeating myself."
What does that mean?"
"That I'm putting my life in an annoying girl's hands."
She stared at Jotaro for a moment, then took his cap.
"Yo what the-"
"Shut up and let me try it on! Besides I need the shade for my eyes."
"I'm starting to think you're not even trying to hide it anymore."
"Whatever."