I'll level with you guys, I like taking my time in writing. Gives me time to go through everything and make sure everything's as perfect as can be. Kinda feel more and more like Araki, minus forgetting things.

Got nothing much to say now. But I hope you guys enjoy this chapter.

Ch. 32
Nothing In Common

JANUARY 12TH, 1989
13:48
LUXOR, EGYPT

"The sun always sets in the direction of the Theban Necropolis. Once, in order to prevent the pilfering of grave robbers, the ancient pharaohs of Egypt sought out a safe heaven after death in a steep valley deep in the middle of the Nile. This is the Valley of Kings. Nevertheless, dozens of tombs were illegally dug up. And until modern times, only one remained unstolen: the tomb of the infamous Tutankhamen."

It was on the outskirts of Luxor that the group had come across the sight of these sacred grounds across the west bank of the Nile. They had been dropped off by their cab driver, confident that they could make it the rest of the way. Before they continued further to the city, Mohamed stopped them to talk briefly about this incredible landmark. Despite the desecration it endured, it still filled Joaquín with wonder as to what other treasures may still lay there.

"That village in the rocky mountains," he added, pointing to the small homes behind them, "is where the descendants of these grave robber reside. To this day, these men are still digging caves within the basements of their homes, searching for treasures of gold and silver in secret from their government."

"Do you think there are still some tombs or treasures they haven't discovered yet," asked Jean Pierre, who was genuinely enraptured by all this.

"Perhaps."

Joaquín felt his arm hugged by her girlfriend, who said curiously, "Do you think maybe its places like these that Dio's been able to hire so many dangerous Stand users?"

"I wouldn't put it past him at all," said Joaquín, patting Della's head with his free arm. "How else would he have the means to pay guys like Hol Horse, or that bastard who killed Dad? If he had the audacity to steal from a museum, then it's highly possible that he's desecrated a lot of graves here, too." It wouldn't be the first time the madman showed great disrespect for the dead, he thought bitterly, hating the injustice his great-great grandfather's body suffered from Dio.

Ripping him out of his thoughts was his brother, who asked, "By the way, where did jijii go?"

"At a toilet," answered Mohamed. When they had stopped to listen to him talk about the necropolis, Joseph had excused himself wandered off in search of a bathroom. Surprisingly, there was one a little ways away from town, a wooden outhouse Joaquín saw him duck into. A strange sight, but not an unwelcome one. "Iggy has gone with him in to keep an eye on anything out of the ordinary."

"A toilet," asked Jean Pierre incredulously.

"Do you have to go, too?" The fortuneteller gave him a wry smile, which was clearly referring to the Indian toilet incident.

It took a moment for their slightly-confused friend to understand before his expression soured, grumbling "Only if it works decently…"

As soon as he said this, Joaquín distinctly heard an all to familiar exclamation of "OH MY GOD!" in the distance. Summoning Preciosa, he tuned in on what was going on with his grandfather. The only sound her heard was Iggy's snuffling, the sound of light wind, and Joseph's shocked complaining.

"The air here is so dry," he said in disgust, "that the shit immediately turns to dust and flies off… Is this a wind-powered toilet..? And… OH MY GOD!" There was the sound of him sifting through some sand. "Could this possibly… a sand washlet?! SAND?!"

"Wait a minute," exclaimed an amused Joaquín, turning to Mohamed. "Do people really wipe their asses with sand here?!"

Everyone looked at him in bewilderment before Mohamed chuckled in understanding. "It is not uncommon. Desert sand is considered sterile."

As if Joseph had heard this, there came an even louder and absolutely disgusted "OH MY GOD!" from his direction. Joaquín had to stifle an equally grossed-out laugh as he saw his shrieking grandfather hurriedly leave the toilet. I personally don't blame him, he thought. This is a public toilet he was trying to use. You can't exactly trust them. Stick to hotel bathrooms next time, Abuelito.

"Just give him a few minutes, guys," he said to the others. "He's relocating right now."

"Glad to know someone has as bad a luck with toilets as Jean Pierre," Della joked, which garnered a glare from the Frenchman. "I'm just joking! Honest, I am!"

"Hey, can you blame any of them? These toilets here are far different than what any of us are normally used to. At least we're not digging up any holes like a dog would."

Joutarou grunted and turned to his brother with a smirk. "What're you talking about," he asked mildly. "You were the one who nearly pissed yourself that one night back in the Emirates cause there weren't any big rocks around."

"So I felt a bit self-conscious," he retorted, his face reddening and garnering a giggle from Della. "You and Abuelito were the ones making unhelpful water jokes!"

As soon as he said this, he heard what sounded like an electric shock, followed by his grandfather shouting and falling against the outhouse. While it wasn't the best way to drop the conversation, he did just that and ran over to Joseph. The man's artificial hand twitched as he tried to sit himself up, muttering about how he was shocked. "Hey, Abuelito, you okay? We've been waiting for you so we can leave. What happened here?"

He looked up at him and then back at one of the rocks. "Y-Yeah, I'm going," he said with a sigh of relief. "But that sure surprised me… There was electricity passing through there… I wonder if there are wires running underground."

"Wires? What on earth are you talking about?" Joseph then pointed at the rock he was looking at, which had an electrical outlet bizarrely mounted against it. Another strange sight out in the open, more so than the outhouse. "Don't tell me you touched some random outlet like some kid."

"I barely did…" Joaquín helped his grandfather to his feet. "Bah, who knows… It's surreal."

"Ay, por favor… Stop goofing off and let's go…"

They didn't enter town just yet. Rather, they stopped at a small resting point, with a bench set up and a vendor offering them all sodas for them. They didn't speak much, simply enjoying the Coke and relaxing for the moment. However, not all of them were able to unwind. Joseph seemed to look rather concerned about something. His drink remained untouched.

"Hey, what's wrong, Monsieur Joestar," Jean Pierre asked after uncapping his drink.

Joseph seemed to be lost in thought as he looked at his robotic hand. He raised it and then mused, "Hmm… There's something funny going on with my artificial hand… And I just got it from the Speedwagon Foundation… Oh dear…" He tried to bend his fingers, but they seemed to struggle to do so. "I think the oil's run out in these joints…"

"That ain't the only thing acting up," said Joaquín, pointing to the vendor banging on a radio he had turned on for them. Rather than music, it kept emitting static. "But as for your hand, maybe some oil will do it some good. We can check out the city and see if we can find some. Speaking of which, Mohamed," he turns to the fortuneteller. "I know we're taking a train, but how long till we get to Cairo from here?"

"Two days, Joaquín," he answered. "However, we are all equally exhausted and are still recovering from some injury or other." Indeed. For while he felt better, his bones had a tired ache to them. Joutarou couldn't help but wince slightly when he sat And Mohamed's neck was still bandaged up. "How about we stay in Luxor tonight?"

"Let's do it," said Jean Pierre adamantly. "Especially since these Stand users have been getting stronger since we arrived in Egypt. It's feels like we've been barely able to win."

"And with only a handful of these guys to go," Della said before taking a swig of her soda, "we need as much rest as we can afford."

Joseph hummed in agreement as he plucked a bottle cap off his hand. "It's best we do so before we reach Cairo," said Joseph, still preoccupied with his prosthetic. "However, that doesn't mean we keep our guards down."

Everyone finished their sodas and resumed their trek to the city. As they walked away, the radio came back to life. Joaquín could hear its owner wondering if he or his group had a magnet on them. A magnet, he wondered. No, I don't think anyone else does… Do they? It felt bizarre, but it wasn't exactly anything to be too concerned over.

However, it didn't stop with just that radio. A little ways before they reached Luxor, they passed a man hammering away at some box for his cart. Nobody paid him any mind until they were a few feet away. Out of nowhere, Mohamed had suddenly caught the man's hammer, who was doubled over and crying out in pain over some nail. It looked as if it had slipped out of his hands, but something about it felt off.

"Hey, hey, did you hit your fingers with this hammer or something," called out Jean Pierre a Mohamed tossed the hammer to the ground. "Be careful! Throwing your hammer around like that is pretty dangerous!"

Something was definitely bizarre. But as much as he wanted to figure out what it was, Joaquín felt like they should wait until tomorrow to look into it. He wanted to unwind as badly as the others.

~+JO*JO+~

The next morning began rather normally. Joaquín awoke to Della brushing her bushy hair before a mirror, having just came out of the shower. He had gone and bathed as well, got himself dried off, and joined his girlfriend in an embrace from behind. "Good morning, Della," he said with a kiss to her cheek. "Don't you look beautiful today."

"Well, good morning to you too, Jojo," she said with a warm, flattered smile. "Did you have a good sleep last night?"

"Every night with you has been the most peaceful sleep I've had," he whispered, taking in the floral scent of her shampooed hair. "I've had no nightmares whatsoever. Which makes me wonder, do you feel the same when you sleep with me?"

"Hmm… Sometimes. I still get nightmares, but they aren't horrible or anything. Nothing that makes me stew on it. By the way, where's your locket?"

He had left it on the nightstand by the bed, usually keeping it of whenever he laid down to rest. But when he let go of Della and turned to grab it, he noticed that it wasn't there.

"That's odd," he muttered. "Maybe it fell?" Joaquín around the floor and saw nothing. Then he checked under the bed. Nothing there. Even under the sheets, just in case he might have brought it to bed. But there was no locket. Panic slowly started to set in on him. That locket meant the world to him as much as Della and his family.

"Where's my locket," he asked in a shaky whisper, turning to his girlfriend who was pulling her hair in its usual bushy tail.

"It's right there," pointed out Della, who glanced back at him through the mirror."

"No it's not."

She turned around, now looking worried herself. "Have you checked?"

"Yes, I looked." His voice was rising now. "What the hell do you think I'm doing?" He resumed his search, looking all over the room now. In the drawers, and even in their luggage. Clothes flew everywhere as his calmness slowly started to deteriorate. It wasn't normally like him to start panicking over a simple object, but this was his grandmother's locket. It was the only thing he had of hers, having worn it throughout this entire journey. "Where's my locket..? Where the hell is it..?!"

"Jojo, are you sure you didn't go to bed with it? Maybe it's-"

"No, Della, it isn't!" He raised his voice a bit more than he wanted to, but he couldn't help it. "It's not in the bed! It's not under it! Look!" And without even summoning his Stand, Joaquín lifted the mattress off its frame and flipped it onto the floor with the scattered clothes. There was still nothing beneath. "My locket was on the nightstand! I fucking saw it when I woke up! It should have been there but it fucking isn't!"

Della cautiously approached him, her worry now changed to trepidation. It was clear she didn't like to see him in this state, and he felt awful that he was exploding on her. This was not her fault at all. He shouldn't be raising his voice and losing his composure. But he was. All because his priceless memento was missing. "Jojo, it's… It's okay," she quietly whispered. "We can find it together… Let's… Let's go get Iggy."

"Iggy?" The words tumbled out of his mouth before he could even register why she would suggest him.

"Yes, Iggy…" Her hands found his, caressing them in an attempt to soothe his wrath. "His nose is so strong… I'm sure he could pick up your locket's scent… If you take Iggy, you can find it… Trust me, Jojo…"

"Of course I trust you," he whispered calmly as his body slowly began to relax. Her warm touch and soothing voice was all he needed to help alleviate his panic. "I've always trusted you… I need to relax and clear my mind… Can't search for it if I flip out."

"Take as much time as you need," she whispered back, never looking away or letting go. "Breathe. Think of it as your hamon. Breathe gently and steadily."

And he did. The two stood there for a few minutes, Joaquín controlling his breathing and relaxing until all of his panic was gone. When he finished, he pecked his girlfriend's lips and said, "I'm gonna go fetch Iggy. I'll be right back," before leaving to hunt down the grumpy Boston terrier. He wasn't too far, taking residence several rooms down in Joutarou and Jean Pierre's room. Looking inside, he found the dog sleeping in an empty bed.

"Iggy!" The dog's ears perked at the sound of his name. When he cracked open an eye, he stretched and immediately bounded off the bed to his friend. "Good boy. Listen, I need a favor from-

"Niisan," called his brother tired voice. Joutarou peeked his head out from the bathroom, already in his gakuran and adjusting his cap. "What's going on? I heard shouting. You weren't fighting a Stand user, were you?"

"No, I'm fine," he assured him, appreciative of his concern. "I lost my locket. It was Abuelita's before she passed. I'm gonna borrow Iggy for a bit to go look for it. Why are you guys up so early?"

Joutarou huffed and stonily answered, "He wouldn't stop griping about how hungry he is. I told him it was only eight in the goddamn morning, but he wouldn't listen. He's downstairs screaming his head off to jijii's window. Said something about trying to get him up from the door being rude."

Typical Jean Pierre. If he wasn't thinking with his second, lower brain, then it was his stomach. This garnered a chuckle from the elder brother. "And are you gonna hunt him down?"

"Maybe. I'll try to get jijii to hurry up if he's being too annoying. Good luck with your search. If I find anything, I'll let you know."

With a thanks, Joaquín led Iggy back to his room. Della was already rearranging their scattered clothes together with All My Love. The bed was messy, but back on its frame. He picked Iggy up and brought his nose up to the spot on the nightstand where he was certain he left his locket. "Okay, Iggy," he directed as the dog started sniffing. "It's a golden locket on a chain. It's got that weird scent metallic jewelry has. Shouldn't be too hard to pinpoint. I'll give you a whole pack of gum for this."

A few more sniffs and then he stopped. The dog's nose twitched up into the air and sniffed again, turning now to the window. Joaquín opened it up as Iggy scrabbled his forelegs over the ledge, smelling the outside air to locate the missing memento. He sniffed to his left and then barked. Looks like you found where it went… But then this means that someone took my locket…

"I'll be back later, Della," he announced before sitting on the windowsill. "I'll meet you guys at the entrance. Go catch up with Joutarou and Jean Pierre outside." He then summoned Preciosa and bounded down the single story of the hotel onto the street below. He wasted no time in running in the direction Iggy's nose took him, keeping him in his arms to help guide him. Just lead the way. Hopefully we can find it in time to join everyone else for breakfast.

Iggy barked and leaned right towards an alley, which Joaquín turned to. Then left on another street, and left again. The scent of his locket seemed to have gone all over the city. It was clear that whoever stole it wanted to get as far away from the hotel as possible. But they wouldn't get far. He would make sure of it. And the minute he found the thief, he will make them pay.

After running out of another alley, Iggy immediately began to growl and struggle to get out of his arms. "W-Whoa, Iggy," grunted Joaquín as he set the dog down. "What's going on? Do you still smell it?" When he looked up at where he was glaring at, he could see why he was freaking out. He hadn't realized that he had ran all the way to a massive temple, right to its sphinx-lined avenue. There was only one type of thief who would lead him to a place like this.

"Keep your guard up," warned Joaquín as the two made their way to the entry way and into the temple. "There's a good chance that a Stand user's luring us into a trap." The courtyard was devoid of any life, and all too quiet. It was the perfect spot for a Stand battle, if his opponent were the open type. But the thief was not out here. He needed to go deeper in. Straight into an open hall filled with columns, where they would undoubtedly be ambushed.

Both of he and Iggy cautiously approached, Preciosa still out and keeping a lookout. The Fool hadn't been summoned yet, perhaps due to its user not needing it straight away. Stepping within the hall, Joaquín looked between each of the stone pillars for any sign of life. And yet, there was still nothing. "Iggy, do you smell them," he whispered to the dog, who responded with a huff. No, then. But he was growling when he saw this place. Shouldn't they be here?

"He's not going to smell me because my scent has been masked."

A gentle, yet somehow emotionless voice echoed among the columns. It came from one of the closer columns. Looking up, Joaquín saw a pair of pale, thin legs in a pair of leather boots swinging over the edge. They fell off to reveal their owner, a tall, thin, beautiful man with a long chin and straight black hair covering one of his rather feminine eyes. He wore a pair of short shorts and a red tube top that complimented his petite, girlish frame.

"Good morning, Joaquín Trejo," he said softly and politely, his voice sounding very convincingly female for a man. "I'm sorry for bringing you here on such short notice. Believe me, I would have sent an invitation to challenge you, but my brother was adamant that we provoke you to chase us. Forgive me for allowing him to steal something undoubtedly precious from you."

Joaquín didn't know what to say. This man sounded genuinely sincere, more so than any other assassin sent his way. There was a certain air to him that made him wonder if he really wanted to be here at all. "Um, it's no problem," he said slowly, still unsure of what else to say. "Um, listen, you sound like you don't want a fight. So… just hand over my locket and I'll forget this even happened."

"Not on your life, fucker," called out a gruff voice. Another man landed beside his feminine brother, shorter, stout and bald save for a black strip along the middle of his fat head. He was dark eyed as well, which matched the long, leather trench coat and pants he wore. His chest was bar to expose the tattoo of a lion's head bearing its bloody fangs. Joaquín's locket hung around his neck. "We've been given a job, and I'm not going back empty-fucking-handed! Your ass is ours, Trejo!"

The thinner of the two quietly muttered, "T-Tom, maybe we shouldn't… Look at the state our comrades were left in thanks to him and his friends."

"The only reason those idiots won was because their Stands were weak. But not ours. Not Divine Shu and Goddess Tefnut. So shut your shit and move your ass in gear, Alan!"

"It's A-Alannah…" He (or she in this case) sounded tired, as if this had been repeated countless times. "I'm not a man…"

Tom didn't even look at his sister, annoyed from the correction. "Whatever, piss off with that bullshit and bring out Tefnut! And you…" He pointed to Joaquín and Iggy. "We've heard about both your Stands. And let me tell you, they don't fucking scare me in the slightest! I'm top dog out of all of Dio's Stand users! And with my brother-"

"Sister," interrupted Alannah meekly.

"And with my brother," Tom uncaringly repeated, "there's no way you fucking mutts will leave here alive!"

Both he and Iggy ran after the man, Preciosa and the quickly-manifested The Fool ready to pummel their assassin. In response, a humanoid lion with a whispy, grey mane and a white, plastic-like body roared into existence. When it did, their came a powerful gust of wind from his gaping mouth. The force of it was enough to blow both Iggy and every grain of sand from his Stand away.

"IGGY," shouted Joaquín, looking back at his confused comrade skidding across the ground unharmed. However, in this moment of distraction, Shu began to slash directly at Preciosa, whose grabbed his arms and headbutted the beast. Disoriented, his enemy soon suffered from a quick barrage of punches that sent he and Tom flying into a pillar. But they didn't crash into it. The lion's wind pushed them back to him and resumed trying to slash at him.

His movements are like wind, Joaquín noticed as he and his Stand weaved through each slash. Fast, smooth and powerful… This bastard's almost on par with Preciosa… Both their fists clashed, the impact making the users skid apart for a moment before resuming their attacks. I gotta find a way to break through before-

Something wet and hard smacked him across the face, throwing him out of his thoughts. Out the corner of his eye, he saw Alannah had summoned her own Stand, a lioness with constantly weeping eyes and grooves along her arms and chest filled with water. Tefnut's hands were held out and drops of water formed and grew at her fingertips. All of them immediately shot straight at Joaquín like bullets, all while Tom's Stand brought his claws down to slash once more.

Preciosa smacked the clawed hand away and swiped a glob of his oil at the water bullets, catching and stopping them. Both he and his user leaped atop one of the pillar. "You both ought to reconsider fighting me," called out Joaquín. "You have no idea what I'm capable of. Either of you! So just give back my damn locket and back off!"

"Don't count on it" growled Tom, his Stand's mane whipping around and generating a whirlwind around itself. "Our Stands represent the very air itself. My Shu can pull in the air and create the strongest, sharpest of winds this side of the Nile!" The whirlwind blew directly at Joaquín, which he jumped out of its way. Not only did it shatter the pillar, but one of the gusts managed to nicked him on the arm. It was as sharp as a swift paper cut.

"And my Tefnut," muttered Alannah, "can generate water from the moisture particles in the air and fire them like bullets." The lioness pointed at Joaquín as he jumped and formed anther ball of water directly in before it. She then flicked it, which shot directly for Preciosa. It had the strength to craze his cheek, mirrored on Joaquín's as he landed against another pillar. "I may not want to fight, but I think it's you who should reconsider fighting us."

Before Joaquín could even argue, there came growl and the unmistakable sound of shifting sand from the entrance of the hall. All eyes turned just in time to see The Fool tearing through on its hind tires. Iggy rode proudly atop it, his mouth in an uncharacteristic, furious snarl. Neither were happy, and they were ready to take it all out on their attacker:

Tom himself.

"This little mutt's got balls! But mine are bigger!" Shu bellowed a gust of wind directly at them. The Fool split in two and let it blow between the halves. Its master jumped straight off and lunged for the lion's master and bit him in the arm. "GRAH! GET OFF! GET THE FUCK OFF!" As Tom roared in pain, Joaquín jumped off from the perch and delivered a punch straight against his chest. The Fool rejoined itself and tackled Shu at the same time, its user letting go just as both Stand and user were knocked away some feet away.

Both he and Iggy approached the now unconscious man, kneeling down to search for his missing locket. He found it immediately in his pocket before putting it back on. "And that's that," he said with relief. Now all that was left was Alannah, who's Stand still remained but looked unwilling to fight anymore. Joaquín turned to her and said, "I got what I came for. You can run away from all this now. I actually do believe you when you said you didn't wanna fight."

"I-I really don't," she admitted, head down but keeping eye contact with him. "I was only dragged into this fight because of my brother… I wanted nothing to do with Dio or you folks… I only wanted the power of a Stand… Not because I shared in his homicidal tendencies or because I desired fortune…"

"So why, then?"

"I… I told you my name is Alannah… I was born Alan Thompson. And…" He gripped his arms in a hug, clearly uncomfortable with saying that. "I despise it… I don't feel like myself, you know..? I don't identify myself as a man, but… but a woman… I try to dress like one, act like one… Act naturally, I mean… And I just want to be accepted for it… Our parents, they had no qualms with that. I was their daughter. They loved me. And they encouraged me.

"But then they passed away. And it was just Tom and myself… He lives in constant denial… And he's a bully… Constantly calling me a queer and refusing to even use my true name… I disassociate with Alan. I'm Alannah… And… I just wanted to be accepted… That's all I want… for him to stop acting like a jackass and see me as I truly am… Alannah…"

Joaquín felt pity for her. She was no assassin like her brother, but a normal woman who wanted to be recognized for who she was. In this day and age, he knew how hard it was for someone like her to be accepted. He had seen and heard it several times back in New York. "But… What does that have to do with wanting a Stand?"

"Simple… They represent who you are inside. Who you are meant to be… Your Stand… it's you. It's male, like you… Now look at my Stand…" Tefnut took a step closer by her user. "It's a lioness… a female… Like I am meant to be… Irrefutable proof that unlike what my brother may thinks, that I might be mentally sick, I am a woman…"

"So you got a Stand just to prove a point..?"

"Partly… Another part of it was curiosity as to what I was truly capable of… And look. I can create water from air. I can pull particles from hot air and create as much water as I need. You know how useful this is for people who have little to no access to proper water? I… I want to help this world… not be a part of this madness that Dio or his minions thrive for…"

"How did you even get a Stand?" It's one of the few things he wanted to learn, apart from the nature of Dio's own Stand. Just how were normal people able to attain them?

Alannah shook her head and sighed. "I ended up giving my body to him for his pleasure… He promised me a Stand if I did… But how he gave me one… I don't know how it happened… I was stabbed in the back with… something very sharp. There was immense pain shooting all throughout my body… I fell unconscious before waking up to having Tefnut."

"And why did he keep you on as part of the old Nine Gods? You're technically part of them, right?"

"I- How did you know?"

"Della interrogated Carmen. Plus we kind of theorized that there were more than just nine when we were attacked by gods not part of the Ennead."

"She was right… But I was kept… Not as a concubine as you might think, but… because Dio saw potential in me… I believed him… Still do… But not for the reasons he thinks… I see myself as having the potential to help others rather than kill. That's all I truly want to do, right next to seeking acceptance for my gender. Which… I can tell you have no problem showing."

"I don't." He recalled his Stand and approached Alannah, who put away Tefnut. "I know a few people like you, so I can understand our plight. I think you're brave, but you need to be braver if you want to fully be accepted." As soon as he reached her, he rested a hand on her shoulder and smiled down at her. "You can do this. I believe in you."

It must have been quite some time since she heard those words, or perhaps never heard them before, for she suddenly teared up and smiled. "I… Thank you, Joaquín… That's… Thank you…"

"You're welcome. So, what will you do from here on out?"

She gave her unconscious brother a quick backwards glance before saying, "Well, I'm leaving him. I'll… probably hide out somewhere away from Dio. Maybe at the hospital with Carmen. She needs the help, especially since my brother was the one who ran her over." Well, that explains why she was there to begin with, he thought pitifully. "But… I think I can help you with another problem before I go. You see, we didn't come alone."

"Of course not," sighed Joaquín, who had a sneaking suspicion something like this would have happened. "Who are they?"

"Mariah and Alessi. They're in town already. They've probably separated your group by now. I don't know about their powers. All I know is that Mariah is a bit of a seductress, and Alessi is… a freak… I don't know why, but I'm so uncomfortable around him… I suggest you run back and help them. I'm going to go back to Edfu."

"You cowardly, fucking faggot…"

Everyone turned back to Tom, who slowly got back on his feet. He had regained consciousness, and judging by the disgust-filled daggers he was staring with at his sister, he was not happy at all. "You think you can run away that easily," he growled. "You think that, just because you don't wanna fight, that you can leave me for dead? Your only family? Your fucking brother?!"

Tefnut immediately roared into existence, Alannah could only glare at her brother. "You… were hardly family… Family is supposed to love and support you. You were all I had left… And all these years, you showed none of that… You used me to fuel your desire for money and blood… That's all you ever joined that… that monster for…"

"Yeah, and so the fuck what," he shouted, Shu forming beside him. "Look at me now, Alan! Look at us! We are Stand users! The world is our oyster for the taking! We can do whatever the fuck we want ant get away with it! You know how long I've waited for this?! All my fucking life! I can finally let loose on this god-forsaken world, and it's all thanks to Dio! Why can't you see the way I do?! You are practically a demigod! You're fucking invincible!"

"I told you… I never cared for that… I wanted just to be me… Not some killing machine you and that horrible man see me as… I'm Alannah… I'm a Stand user… But I would never stoop as low on the moral scale as you, you freak…"

The word freak seemed to affect him deeply coming from her. Tom and his Stand roared louder than before. And rather than be blown away, the entire ground blew up against them. Everyone except for him was sent flying into the air. Water droplets from Tefnut's body and the grains of sand that made up The Fool's body scattered about everywhere. None of them could reach Tom. They were all prey to the raging lion waiting below.

"¡Coño!, what the hell do we do now," shouted Joaquín as he witnessed Shu's mane whip out and prepared a sharp whirlwind around itself. "At this distance, Preciosa's oil can't reach him!"

"Neither can my water," Alannah shouted back. "The wind's too strong! It'll only blow it all back! Even if I wanted to form some next to him and shoot, I can't! I can only form water at a range of three meters, and we're much higher than that!"

A blast of wind shot straight at her. Before anyone else could react, a wall of sand formed before her and shielded her from the sharp vortex. It looked like Iggy could still control his Stand, despite it being scattered. And seeing it still work gave him an idea. "Hey, Iggy!" The dog turned to his friend, jowls flapping from the updraft. "You wanna get this sucker like I do?! Try to gather as much sand as you can around us and make a big ball! Can you do that?!"

He could only growl, but it wasn't one of anger. It was one of concentration. The sand all around them slowly came together, struggling as if a magnet was keeping them apart. The grains that found one another began forming walls that grew in size, slowly connecting with others they could reach. Sensing what they were doing, Shu launched another whirlwind, which the sand blocked easily. Not a single gust went through.

Before long, they sand enveloped around the three in a ball, More gusts sliced al around it, but the walls quickly regenerated. And they grew thicker. And heavier. Even with the ball formed, more sand was being gathered. Joaquín could feel it. They were no longer suspended in one spot, but were descending back to the ground at an increasing rate. Tom's annoyed growls could be heard as they eventually landed hard on the ground, jostling the three inside.

As they got up, two angry-looking eye holes appeared for them to look out of. Tom looked furious. his Stand's mane now creating a larger whirlwind around itself. "You know something, you little bitch," he growled. "I've always known you were the freak among us… Me, I'm fucking normal! We're all born into sin… It's in our nature to give in to our inhibitions and commit the kinds of crimes you see every day… That's why I live like I do..."

"But you… You're different… You're a fucking freak… Always have been… I've noticed it growing up… Our parents… I don't know how they could still look at you as their kid… And call you… their daughter..! It was sickening..! I hated it! I wanted to kill you and prove to them and the world that you're no woman..! And yet, I couldn't… You were still family, no matter how much I hated you..! But there's only so much I could take before I just can't stand you anymore!"

The barrier around them shifted. The Fool growled, and the sound of wheels could be heard revving. Iggy was preparing to strike him down, his Stand taking a larger form than before. Preciosa and Tefnut waited beside their users in preparation a well. "I'm just as sick of you as you are of me," Alannah said shakily, her face showing nothing but disgust. "That's why I'm leaving… Why I wanted to leave for the past few months since I got my Stand…

"Iggy, was it?" The dog looked up at her in acknowledgement. "Ram him. And clog his airway and neck"

Tires squealed on brick as they all shot at Tom. Shu roared and blew out his wind at The Fool. The eye holes closed, and the sound of sand being scrapped echoed in the nearly hollow inside. "Why did you ask Iggy to clog him," asked Joaquín as low as he can to be heard over the noise.

"Think of it as an air conditioning system," she said. And just like that, he understood. It'll stop his wind. If he can't breathe, he can't use his power. "All of his wind is generated in his lungs. The mane comes from that air escaping through holes on his neck. If his airway is obstructed, he's absolutely powerless. Tom only has himself to blame for letting me know his weakness…Just wait for me signal…"

As soon as they were close enough, the sand split apart for a split moment and consumed Tom and Shu, placing them right in front of two very angry Stands. "NOW!" And before the lion could attack, a ball of sand shot from a wall down his mouth. The wind-like mane died down slowly, revealing holes all along his neck. Smaller sand balls shot into those holes as well, probably for safe measures. He was no longer able to use his wind. There was no way to fight back.

Tom and Shu were in for a world of hurt.

Preciosa and Tefnut both pounded away them mercilessly. The walls shot out again with paws that struck all over as well. They made sure they was thoroughly beaten into submission before the walls opened again and the two punched them out hard, straight into a pillar. The Fool and Iggy howled victoriously before the former dissolved back to sand, leaving the others to land back on stone. The fight was over; it didn't look like Tom would be getting back on his feet any time soon.

Or so they thought, for Shu struggled to his feet and tried helping his user back up. But Alannah wouldn't let him. She stormed over to him and pinned him by the throat. It looked like he was struggling like any other person would if they were strangled, but it quickly turned panicked. His eyes were bulging out and he was making gurgling noises in his throat. Water began to dribble out of his mouth.

"A-Alannah, stop," hurriedly said Joaquín, knowing that she was trying to drown him.

"No," she whispered. "I had enough… He's only going to continue… He needs to be put down like the animal he is…"

He reached her and took hold of her arm. "And stoop down to his level? To Dio's level? Look, I'm not gonna lie and say I'm innocent myself. But you… you're not like them… You're better than this… He'll be punished in due time… but not like this… Not by your hands… Please… Don't do it…"

Alannah didn't look at him, but it was clear in her slowly watering eyes that he had gotten through to her. The water spilled out completely down Tom's front before he was let go to collapse in a wet, coughing mess. "You're right," she admitted quietly, wiping her eyes"I-I'm sorry… I'm… I'm not a killer… I… won't be a killer like my brother."

"You won't. You're better than that… Look, I'll take care of everything here. You go on and leave. Make a better life for yourself. I'm gonna try and squeeze some info out of him."

"Alright… Thank you, Joaquín Trejo." She then flashed him a soft smile and walked out of the hall, leaving him and Iggy with their fallen foe. As Tom tried to normalize his breathing, Joaquín pressed his foot against his chest, causing him to groan in pain.

All he asked was, "Powers?"

"For w-who," he coughed.

"No haga el tonto. Mariah and Alessi. What're their powers?"

A second of silence, and the shoe dug into Tom's chest. "F-Fine," he wheezed. "Fine! Magnetism and de-aging! Are you happy now?"

Joaquín looked confused for a brief moment. "What the hell do you mean by that?"

"Goddess Bastet… Whatever touches it becomes a living magnet. And Divine Sethan makes someone younger through similar means…"

A living magnet… Hold on a second… He recounted yesterdays odd events. His grandfather touching the outlet in the middle of the desert, the malfunctioning radio, and the flying hammer. It slowly made sense. "Abuelito touched Bastet..! He's become a goddamn magnet!"

"And no doubt… Mariah's chasing them down… Alan was right when he said they might have split your friends up… Because that was their fucking job... Divide and conquer… She's got her eyes on that old man… As for Alessi…" His face twisted into a cruel smile. "He's got his sights set on your girl… Probably might end up making her young and have his way with-"

Joaquín didn't let him continue, for a swift punch to the jaw knocked the man unconscious. He wasn't too worried about Joseph, despite the danger he was in. He was more than likely being helped by Mohamed, who shared a room with him. But Della and the others…

He wheeled around and ran out of the temple, calling out to Iggy, "We've got to get back, and as quick as possible! Come on, boy!"

~ALANNAH: REFORMED~

~TOM: RETIRED~

STAND TIME

STAND USER: Alannah (アラナ)

STAND: Divine Tefnut(テフヌト女神)

POWER: C, SPEED: C, RANGE: B, DURABILITY: C, PRECISION: A, POTENTIAL: B

ABILITIES: Tefnut is a simple Stand capable of pulling molecules from heat and create water droplets. These droplets can be increased in size the more molecules are pulled into it. They can be drank from, used as a means to clean, or can be weaponized. Each water ball or droplet can be used in various ways, mainly as projectiles that can either pierce or strike hard. These can only be fired in a set path and cannot change directions, as Tefnut has limited control over the water she produces. She can only produce water at a range of three meters, and can shoot up to 8 meters. The water within its grooves is an extra reserve, which can be used in environments without heat. Very little water can be pulled from colder temperatures, excelling mainly in humid climates like those found in Egypt.

STAND USER: Tom (トム)

STAND: Divine Shu (シュウ神)

POWER: A, SPEED: C, RANGE: B, DURABILITY: B, PRECISION: C, POTENTIAL: C

ABILITIES: Wind is generated from within the lungs of this Stand, which can form a wind-like mane. It can both blow from his mouth and the mane, which can create a type of barrier around him. This wind can reach up to 80mph, with enough force to push even heavy boulders and lift up foes. It can also be pressurized to the point of being able to cut, mimicking the folkloric kamaitachi. Shu's only weakness comes from both its mouth and the small holes along his neck. If his airway is blocked off, then he is unable to generate any wind.

Geez, that's a lot. But I didn't wanna split the Stand parameters for this chapter and the next. Anyway, I like these two Stands. Tefnut was created with the idea of an actual water-based ability separate from what Geb showed. If anything, I think if the proper research was done, Tefnut would have ended up exactly like Geb. It was a bit tricky thinking up of the ability. Until I looked up atmospheric water generators, which fit in perfectly with Tefnut's representation with moist air. Shu was simpler given that it's just wind.

Alannah's character and Stand were actually based on a story I read where Jotaro was a female identifying as male, whose Star Platinum was male itself. It was a nice idea, something you really don't see in the series proper (except maybe Jorge Joestar with Mista's The Iron Ladies or Buccellati's Goodnight Moon). Her being transgender kinda ties in with the LGBT movements and the stigma people like her faced in the 80s. Tom's interactions with her were pretty much common at the time, and she will unfortunately continue to witness this behavior for the rest of her life. Silver lining is that there will be people amidst those bigots who will accept her, just like Joaquin.