My Little Pony: Friendship is a Bizarre Adventure

Part 4: ~ Diamond is Charitable ~

Episode XIV: Ghost Stories Of Ghost Girl Alley

Koichi and Senset walked to school on a sunny morning.

"And that's when the urinals explode! Now, you'll cover the sound wit-"

"S-Senset! I don't think this is a good idea! It sounds utterly crazy!"

"Dude, you still got complicated feelings for the psycho bitch."

"No fair..."

"Besides! I was just joking! Even I gotta take a break from being a domestic terrorist."

As they passed a town map, they heard whispers.

"Pssst!" "Ms. Sunset!~"

Both of them glanced around cautiously.

"S-Senset...!" "Koichi, get ready to run."

One voice chuckled.

"Oh, there's no need for that, Nijimura. I'm sure we can get along."

The other voice followed.

"Aren't we friends? I know that'd we'd never hurt a fan of ours, let alone our own friends!"

Two people walked from behind the town map. Koichi and Senset gasped.

"Y-You...!" "Gah! N-Not this freak!"

Rohan smiled and held up a camera.

"Now, now, don't be so alarmed."

A woman by his side raised an open notebook and pencil in hand.

"We're all familiar with each other by now, aren't we?"

Senset blinked before she narrowed her eyes at the woman.

"Uh... Who're you? I don't know any businesswomen around Morioh Town!"

"Hm? Oh! Sunset, please, it's me!"

Koichi's eyes widened as he stood closer to Senset, putting her behind him.

"M-Ms. Faust!?"

"Hello again, Koichi!~"

Senset rubber her eyes and blinked to active her Stand.

"Wh... But you look... Normal! Serene even!"

Lauren rolled a wrist and her eyes with calm smile.

"Well, as we were admitted into the hospital, I found the proper time to rest! I must've made an awful first impression, but you know how I get!"

"Don't remind me... Whaddya whackos want!? If it's a fight, I'll take you on!"

Lauren frowned and shook her head as Rohan rolled his eyes.

"No, no, we'd never try that again!"

"We find you both rather, compatible, and that shitbag Josuke would stop us if we tried."

"Oh Rohan, don't use such crass language! ... But it's true."

"We only want about, ten or even five minuets of your time, really."

Senset narrowed her eyes, but Koichi relaxed.

"H-How come you came to us then?"

Rohan leaned forward with a sneer.

"I don't find myself in common, or even on the same level of competence in other people, Koichi. When I read your files, I grew to respect you, quite a bit actually. Even you, Nijimura."

Lauren nodded.

"We honestly trust you two more than anyone. But, we know you've got classses, so I'll get to the point."

She pointed at the map, right to the very street they stood on.

"See, we're looking for Rohan's family house."

He shrugged.

"I've been feeling nostalgic, coming from a humble town like this, but something is off on this street. See, on the map, this street is lined with several stores."

Lauren pointed to a few along the street.

"Arisugawa, the ramen shop. Kisaragi Drugs, the drug store. Owson, Convenient Store..."

Senset and Koichi both gave blank stares and blinked. They simply wanted to get to class. Lauren then pointed across the street.

"There's Arisugawa. Then Kisaragi Drugs..."

She paused and pointed into a barren empty road. An alley, not marked on the map, before she continued.

"And finally. Owson."

Koichi raised a brow.

"Huh? I don't ever remember seeing this road before! I stop by Owson everyday to check for new comic books!"

Senset shook her head.

"Yeah, something rank is going on. That wasn't ever there before!"

Rohan nodded.

"See why we were so stumped?"

Koichi then snapped his fingers.

"This isn't so bad actually! You get a prize for any mistake found in the maps!"

Lauren began to enter the alley.

"We were hoping you two could accompany us! At least ten meters in, it would means so much to us!"

Senset rubbed her arm. Inwardly, she wanted to fly at this opportunity, but she hadn't let go of her grudge. Koichi was still uneasy about the duo's sudden appearance, yet his curiosity always won in most situations, this would be no exception.

"I... I guess if it'd only take a few minuets. Can't hurt too much! Right, Senset?"

"... Well, only until that turn! After that, we're gone!"

Rohan smirked.

"Good! I knew we could count on you two!"

Senset rolled her eyes as she followed the group into the alley. It was blank, barren, and all around generic. A number of houses lined next to each other, abandoned. Rohan checked the map he had in his bag.

"I don't recognize these family names, nor does the map show these houses, no amount of prizes can forgive this!"

Senset shrugged.

"What, do you think this is, an enemy Stand?"

Everyone turned to her with an unsettled expression. She gave a nervous smile and waved her hands.

"H-Hey, chill out! It was just a joke, look! [All Seeing Eye]!"

Senset blinked and activated her Stand. She glanced around with a sneer before she deactivated it.

"See? I picked up nothing strange! Erm, except that mailbox, strange no one cleaned that up."

A simple red mailbox sat on the side of the road. Dog poop sat before it with a shoe print. Koichi reeled back in disgust.

"G-Gross! At least put in a bag!"

Lauren looked over her shoulder and took a deep breath.

"I'm getting rather odd chills for some reason..."

Koichi looked around as he carelessly wandered.

"This is something out of a mystery movie!"

He bumped into something and stumbled back.

"Ah! What the-"

Senset looked down at Koichi in surprise.

"H-Hold on... Weren't you just, in front of me? How'd you get behind me?"

"I am? Huh! I-I am! But I was sure you entered last!"

Rohan began to walk ahead and made a turn, only to stop right in front of Lauren.

"Hello Rohan!"

"Gah! How'd you get there, Lauren?"

"I haven't moved since we passed the mailbox."

"The mailbox...? I think we've seen enough!"

He grabbed Lauren and began to run as Senset lifted Koichi from the ground.

"Wait for me!"

"D-Don't I weigh anything to anyone...?"

"Koichi you weigh about as much as a box of anxiety ridden kittens."

"So does that mean we're in the same weight class?"

"Shut up."

The pairs ran fast but came to an abrupt stop at the sign of the mailbox with dog poop before it.

"This isn't right...!" "Are we lost?" "Don't tell me I jinxed it." "I-Impossible...! We passed by that box again!"

A new voice called out from behind them.

"Excuse us, but are you lot lost, it's a common thing around here. There are mailboxes like that everywhere."

The group turned around and saw a teenaged girl holding hands with a toddler. The girl wore a choker and a short pink sleeveless dress with bows at the front. Bands at her upper arms taper into a criss-cross at the top of her forearms. She wore platforms sandal and pale pink nail polish. The child wore an oversized hoodie in reverse, two holes cut to out reveal beautiful eyes, yet hid the rest of the face. A simple knee length pleated skirt and diamond patterned stockings with school shoes. The toddler hid behind the girl silently. Rohan flashed his hand in the air and began to trace in the air. Lauren flexed her fingers as she made a frame shot.

"[Heaven's Door]!" "[Pure Imagination]!"

The girl fell back as her face opened up into a book. The child's limbs elongated and thinned into film. Many of them blank. Senset scoffed as she put Koichi down, yet Rohan shouted triumphantly.

"Victory goes to those who strike first!"

Lauren blinked before she smiled.

"I just thought we were going to read them for the sake of it!"

Koichi grumbled.

"H-Hey! That's not right at all! Senset could've just seen if they were Stand Users or not!"

Senset nodded.

"Even if I didn't see the Stand, I'd know if they were a User."

Koichi scratched his head.

"Still... What did you do to her, Mr. Rohan? It was like you made a drawing in the air."

Rohan smiled as he held up the unconscious teen.

"Ever since our run in with Josuke, I've learned a thing or two from my Stand, and luckily this girl was compatible."

Lauren whispered to the teens.

"Actually it's all a matter of sight, but Rohan's a bit too stubborn to let that be known."

Rohan scoffed and began to read the girl.

"Hush! It never hurts to check! Let's see, Reimi Sugimoto... She's not a Stand User! But what's this? Currently boyfriendless, a hopeless romantic, her measurements are eighty-"

Senset interrupted him.

"Eighty two, fifty seven, and eighty four with a beauty mark on the side of her left nipple. You can close the book now."

"Hmph! Guess you don't want to learn about her first kiss?"

"Why would I care about someone else's romantic life?"

"Because you'll never have one yourself?"

Senset opened her mouth, yet nothing came out. She leaned over his shoulder and began to read.

"Her first kiss, she let the boy use his tongue..."

Koichi shouted as he pulled at them both.

"Ah! Stop! I won't let you ready anymore into her if she's not a Stand User! Either of you!"

Rohan smiled smugly and closed the book.

"Such a boring guy, I already wrote down that she'd not remember this experience, happy?"

"Yes! Good! Thank you!"

Koichi glare at Senset, who whistled innocently, before he glanced over to Lauren. She erased a film of her meeting the group, yet the girl's eyes were wide open, as if she still bared witness to the Stand Ability.

"Ms. Faust! She's not asleep!"

"Yes she is. This girl sleeps with her eyes open. It's strange but nothing noteworthy."

The girl's had reset themselves, both stared intently at the group, yet were curious if anything.

"Are you lot lost? It's a common thing around here. There are mailboxes like that everywhere."

Koichi looked at it with a raised brow.

"Well, it is pretty standard design..."

She nodded.

"Many people get lost here, but Sweetie Bell and I know the way, we can show you!"

Senset smiled, there was just something sweet about Reimi, she didn't know what.

"Yes, we'd really appreciate if you could."

"Oh, by the way, want some pocky? Hey, kappa head, why don't you hold this end?"

She offered one to Rohan. He scowled with a raised brow.

"Kappa!? You're not much better yourself! Why should I do anything you say after that?"

"Guess you don't want to experience life? What a shame."

"Tch! I'm not sure what I could experience from this..."

Rohan grasped the end of the pocky stick. It broke with Reimi giggling.

"Uh-Oh!~ You're gonna get dumped by a girl!"

"Excuse me?"

Reimi pointed at him.

"It's a horoscope! You're very self-centered, and have a personality that pisses people off, right?"

Rohan laughed as he wrapped his arms around Lauren and Koichi.

"Do you hear this? Self-centered, me? Hahaha!"

Koichi only smiled nervously as Lauren nodded with a beaming smile.

"I think it's pretty funny too, the accuracy is outstanding, I almost can't believe it!"

Rohan let go of them to lean forward and point at Reimi.

"Exactly! Unbelievable how outstandingly inaccurate that is! Horoscopes? Who believes in fairytales like those, children do. I deal in facts, and here's a scientific one, pink nail polish is the sign of a girl afraid of love! You'll jump into a relationship until it gets serious. You freak out and want out, right?"

Reimi staggered back, shocked.

"Ah-! That's..."

She turned around and looked down at the girl known as Sweetie Bell. She had pulled on Reimi before she pointed to an abandoned house.

"Huh? You want me to tell them about the house here? Good idea, it's a really fun scary story, you'll love it!"

Everyone glanced at each other, but unanimously agreed.

"No harm in it." "If it passes the time." "A scary story...?" "..."

Reimi nodded and looked up the large house.

"It's a murder story. We heard it from the old lady next door. It all started with a girl in bed with her sister. The sister always slept by her sister when she got scared at night, and her sister held her close when she was scared, they kept each other safe. And even if they both were scared, they could always rely on their dog, Arnold. He was a big guard dog who kept the sisters safe and happy. One night, the older sister heard a loud thump outside her room. Then, dripping. Drip, drip! Drip, drip! The door opened and figure ran into the room crying softly. Though the light dark and her vision blurry, she knew it was the little sister. "

Sweetie Bell picked up and spoke with a raspy voice. Trembling and meek.

"Sis... It's cold, and scary, there's a monster here..."

Reimi raised her hands in a eerie manner.

"So the girl holds her close and tight. I heard it too, she says, but don't you worry. Arnold is here, see? The girl held her hand to the edge of the bed. She felt lick after lick, it was Arnold. See, the girl asked, just stay here and we'll wait for mom and dad."

Sweetie Bell began to make dripping noises.

"But as the sound continued, the older sister grew impatient, frightened. She heard the soft snoring of the younger sister and tucked her in bed carefully. She opened the door further, and found Arnold, hung by the the throat on a coat rack."

A strange fog began to form on the floor and the sky darkened. Reimi paled as her eyes grew wide and Sweetie Bell's began to dilate.

"She wanted to scream, but was too scared, she had to save her sister. She thought this and whipped back around, horrified. The face fell off, as the girl saw the face behind the sick mask, a face too ugly for the light of day."

Sweetie Bell giggled menacingly.

"Sister... What's wrong? Don't you want to snuggle?"

Reimi held herself as she leaned closer. Senset and Koichi shook as they imagined the scene in their heads with slight sweat.

"The girl looked down at her hand. A man's gripped it tightly as she felt his tongue lick her hand. Sister, your hand I'd so smooth and cute, rero rero rero~ I've already killed your parents... And then, HE KILLED HER TOO!"

Koichi and Senset shrieked together for a moment, even Rohan had let out a small yell, but all blushed at the sight of Reimi and Sweetie Bell laughing. Reimi wiped an eye as she calmed down.

"Hahaha!~ I think that makes for good payback for my nail polish! What did you think that was real?"

Koichi rubbed his neck.

"I guess not, it'd be really awful if it were"

"Yeah, just imagine though, how scary it'd be knowing that such a gruesome murder happened."

Lauren perked up as she heard a strange sound. Behind the group, came a soft drip, a wet droplet splashed against the cold ground. Everyone turned to see a large dog with his throat slashed opened stare at them. Senset's eyes widened as she activated her Stand, then backed away.

"Ho-H-Hol-Hold on... Y-You two... No way...!"

The hood over Sweetie Bell's face fell, to reveal no face at all, no skin. From her lack of ears to the jawline was skinned. No lips or eyelids, not even cheeks or a nose, even her hairline was gone despite her beautiful hair remaining. Reimi donned a grim expression.

"That's right, that night me and Sweetie Bell died that night. The rest of out family has moved on, but we can't, not until they've been put to justice. Our murderers still live here in Morioh Town."

Lauren nodded.

"I know, I saw it all with my special ability, you want us to try and find these people, because they still strike in the dark. Correct?"

"Yes. Please, you all are my only hope..."

Lauren gave small smile and bowed halfway.

"We'll do all we can to help you, right everyone?"

Senset kicked the air as she stumbled back in sheer terror."

"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME!"

Rohan yelled as Koichi kept screaming.

"Let's get out of here! This place is cursed!" "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-"

Rohan snatched the two teens and ran for their lives. However, they ended up running circles, always ending up by the ghosts and Lauren. Rohan dropped them both and pointed to the sky.

"Koichi, your [Echoes] can fly far, see if there's an exit nearby!"

"[Echoes, Act One]!"

Echoes flew high, but hit it's head against a flat surface. Koichi gasped.

"There's something there! I can't move above the walls!"

Senset pointed at Echoes.

K-Koichi! It's not your Stand, it's you, you switched places!"

"Eh?"

Koichi looked up to see the ground headed for him. He fell onto the ground as Echoes wiggled in a handstand stance. Reimi shouted at the three clearly agitated as Sweetie Bell began to tear up. Though tears at first, as they rolled down the face, blood came down with them.

"Hey, what's with you all, don't treat me like some poltergeist! You're making Sweetie Bell cry!"

Senset blinked a few times to attempt to understand the ghostly alley. However, most of the area was static in her eyes. A form of interference she had never encountered before. She looked back at Reimi and Sweetie Bell, then jumped as Lauren leaned in front of her from the side, a stern face on with a strict tone."

"Sunset Nijimura! I can't believe you! Even dead, these two have been only courteous and kind to us, this rudeness is unwarranted! It's not like they're the ones keeping us here!"

"... They're not?"

Reimi rolled her eyes and sucked her teeth.

"The way out, right? I was going to show you guys the way out of here, whether you wanted to help me or not. This place us the area between life and the beyond. So, follow us, and do as we do. Okay?"

Everyone nodded and began to follow the duo. However they stopped at the mailbox.

"From here on out, there is one rule, and only one. Do not look back. No matter what, they cannot do anything to you as long as you do not turn to face them. Even Arnold knows that."

Senset raised a brow."

"For curiosity sake, what'll happen if we do?"

"You'll be dragged away into the afterlife."

"... Yeesh, now we're living a scary story..."

The first few steps were the start. A sudden darkness oozed from behind them. Bizarre whispers brushed against their ears. Koichi shuddered at the feeling alone.

"A-Ah... I can barely hear them...!"

Reimi simply rolled her shoulders.

"Just ignore them. Look, we're almost there."

Senset shivered as she felt hot breathing on her neck, and a hand brush against her own.

"T-This is a load of crap, what kind Beetlejuice bullshit did we get into?"

Reimi shook her head.

"It doesn't matter in the end, we're just a few steps closer to the end."

Koichi began to run.

"Gyaaah! I can't take it!"

Koichi found himself in a strange cold light. Reimi spoke out to him.

"It's okay now, you can turn around,it's safe."

He sighed heavily with a small smile as he turned.

"What a relief! I was going craz-"

Reimi, shocked and frightened, shouted out.

"That wasn't me! They mimicked my voice, they've never done that before, don't open your eyes!"

But it was too late. Koichi opened his eyes to see countless hands reach from the blackness before him. They grabbed him and ripped Echoes out as well. It was the end for Koichi.

"[Heaven's Door]!"

Rohan turned Koichi into a book and wrote inside of him."

"I will fly back by sixty miles per hour and am blind!"

Koichi flew from the grip of the ethereal being, and weakly flailed his arms in despair as his eyes remained wide opened, yet at last. They had escaped Ghost Alley.

"I'll return your sight, Koichi, calm down. Whatever I edit, I too can remove, that is [Heaven's Door]."

Senset held a hand over her heart. Unlike Koichi, she had Lauren and Sweetie Bell hold onto to her keep her from panicking. She noticed that the child was gone, as was Reimi, yet she felt their presence still. Then, heard their voices, or rather Reimi's.

"We'll be here. We'll be waiting. But we want to thank you, for listening and understanding, for talking with us. Please, be careful the killer is still here in Morioh Town. We can answer any question you have about his victims. You can come to us here at anytime. Please... Be careful, Little Rohan."

Like the apparition they were, they vanished into thin air. Lauren brushed a lock hair from her face with a calm expression.

"We've gotten ourselves into quite a bizarre situation."

Rohan's nose scrunched up as he frowned.

"Just who does she think she is? Calling me something like that like we're close."

Koichi rubbed his eyes and shivered.

"As scary as that all was... I think she's really nice... And, I want to help put Sweetie Bell to rest."

Senset looked at her watched and groaned.

"Dammit! Look how much time has passed! We may as well have been there for a whole month! C'mon Koichi, we're late!""

"Agh! W-We are!? Oh No!"

They group went their separate ways, but soon all became aware of the dark shadow over their home.