With Dio slain, Jonathan must decide what to do with himself.
The four remained silent for what felt like hours, simply unable to process what had just happened. Speedwagon was the first to react, releasing a primal scream and pounding his fist against the ground. "We...we've won!"
Releasing a collective sigh, Erina dropped to her knees, tears of relief flowing freely knowing that evil man was finally gone from the world. Despite his debilitating injuries, Zeppeli couldn't help but laugh, finally putting an end to the stone mask's evil influence.
Gripping the bleeding stump where his arm had once been, Jonathan also shed tears. Not of relief but of sadness. Despite everything, he couldn't find it in his heart to truly hate Dio. He didn't regret his actions, of course, but the fact that those actions were necessary to begin with filled him with a deep sorrow. With a silent prayer, he hoped his brother could somehow find peace now that he had left the living world for good.
"The mask is here," Erina said, finding the cursed object on Dio's corpse.
"Destroy that thing once and for all!" Speedwagon exclaimed, helped along by Jonathan despite the latter's lack of an arm.
"But if we do that, then JoJo..."
"She's correct," Zeppeli said from his seated position against a ruined storefront. "Jonathan Joestar, do you believe there's a way to return yourself to human form by studying the mask? If you say yes, I'll allow you to take it into your care for as long as needed."
With a sigh, he shook his head. "It's not impossible, but I fear this affliction is permanent. Even if I were to find some cure, my body is damaged beyond the point of recovery. Unless I were to consume the blood of the living, I'd simply die once returning to my true form."
"There must be a way!" Speedwagon said. "Mr. Joestar, I beg you to take my blood! Some or all, I'll give whatever is needed to help you! Body and soul, I've sworn to assist you however I can!"
Jonathan smiled, still refusing. "I cannot take from you. You're much too loyal and good a friend, Speedwagon." Looking to Erina and feeling the weight of her hopeful eyes upon him, he forced himself to make a decision. "In the end...I believe it to be best if I die alongside Dio."
"But there's no need!" Erina told him. "You've more than proven yourself as the just man we knew you were! We'll protect you from anyone who might wish to harm you, as well!"
"She's correct," Zeppeli said. "Jonathan Joestar, you've managed to resist the temptations of the stone mask and retain your humanity against all odds. If ever there was a man deserving of another chance at life, it would be you."
"We can even find a way for you to sate your hunger without killing!" Speedwagon added. "Please, we beg you to reconsider!"
He simply shook his head. "No, I believe my time has come. What kind of life can I lead lurking in the shadows? I couldn't bear the thought of dragging you three, my true companions, down into that abyss with me. More than that, I've committed too many sins to be allowed to continue on. Whether you blame Dio's manipulation or the mask's influence, my actions were still my own and I must face the consequences."
Holding back her tears, Erina made one last plea. "Then...if you've decided...allow us to see you off in the proper fashion befitting a gentleman!" Jonathan blinked, unsure of what she meant. "Let us all take time to recover from our injuries. After that, we'll be by your side as you meet your end."
Sighing, Jonathan couldn't help but smile at her dedication. "In truth, I'd have hoped you all would do me that courtesy, but I didn't wish to ask. Is this truly what you want?"
"Of course," Zeppeli said.
"Undoubtedly!" Speedwagon agreed.
"Then I suppose that settles that." He nodded. "Thank you for everything, my friends."
A week passed. Jonathan's injuries, while far from regenerated, had managed to close themselves well enough despite his lack of blood. Erina, Speedwagon, and Zeppeli had had their wounds treated at a nearby hospital, having to fight for such an early release despite still being in somewhat poor condition. They knew they couldn't afford to wait for too long, though, as Jonathan's hunger would only be suppressed for so long.
They met at the Joestar mansion an hour before dawn. Speedwagon assisted Zeppeli, wheeling him up to the front doors in his chair. Erina was the one to answer after a knock, having arrived a day before the rest, wishing to make up for all the lost time between herself and Jonathan over all these years.
"Is it difficult to get around?" Jonathan asked, pouring his companions cups of tea with his single arm.
"He's adjusting quite well from what I've seen," Speedwagon said. "And yet he still makes me move him from place to place."
"Respect for your elders, Speedwagon. If you cannot master Hamon, you can at least master etiquette."
Erina nodded. "A man such as yourself should be more than happy to help those in need."
Grumbling, Speedwagon drank his tea. "I'm only trying to help you be self-sufficient. You can't expect me to travel to Italy just to push you around."
"I'm sure Italy is wonderful this time of year," Jonathan said with a smile despite never being able to confirm this form himself.
"That's hardly the point!" he protested. "Enough with the lot of you! Your nonsense is spoiling the tea!"
"That might just be the tea itself," Erina said.
"Yes, what exactly is this blend?" Zeppeli asked. "It's rather ghastly."
Jonathan chuckled. "It seems Dio purchased a different brand while we were away. He always did despise the kind my father and I preferred."
The four continued to chat about pointless things such as this, none wishing to think about what would happen in such a short amount of time. In what felt like mere minutes, a clock could be heard chiming, the sun nearly ready to rise.
Heading outside, they faced the horizon without fear. "This is it," Speedwagon said, voice low to try and hide his sadness.
"It's been an honor fighting by your side, JoJo," Baron Zeppeli told him, shaking his hand one last time.
"Thank you all for everything you've done," he replied, looking over the faces of his friends. He lingered a moment longer on Erina, the two reaching out to hold the other's hand almost as if it was an instinct. "There's little time left."
"Enough time to reconsider," she said, trying one last time to make him change his mind. He shook his head though. "I thought not." As she said this, the first beams of light appeared over the treeline. Jonathan winced as they touched his skin, his flesh beginning to burn. "It's going to be alright," she said in a sweet tone as she held back her tears once more. "We're here with you."
With a smile, he nodded. Taking one last look at all of them, Jonathan felt at peace. "Thank you," he repeated. He could feel himself begin to fall apart. Despite the pain, he tried to put on a brave face, though it was clear this was far more excruciating than he would have hoped.
Placing a hand upon his cheek, Erina stood on her toes to plant a kiss upon his lips, breathing some of her Hamon into his body. "To ease the pain," she said, hoping that it would help to numb the feeling of the sun at least a bit. The two shared one last smile as the sun finally emerged. Jonathan Joestar was no more.
Though there was no body, Jonathan's clothes were buried beside his parents. This was the same situation for Dio, having what was left of him placed in an unmarked grave beside his father; both the bare minimum of respect and a fitting end for someone like him.
With the death of both Dio and Jonathan, there was no longer anyone left to lay claim to the Joestar fortune. To everyone's shock, however, Jonathan's will – fully notarized and officiated – listed Erina as the one who should take his share of inheritance should he pass before his time. Whether this was made before or after he became a vampire could not be determined.
Regardless, this was seen as a binding document despite the circumstances, the Pendleton family moving into the mansion shortly after. Erina thanked Jonathan every day for this gift, as well as the gift of their child born nine months after the night they shared together before his death.
Zeppeli returned to his home in Italy, reuniting with his wife and son after finally destroying the stone mask he hated so much. For the first time since that fateful day at sea, he felt as if his life could truly begin. No longer was his every moment obsessed with eradicating the evil of the vampires from the world. He could now be a simple husband and father as he, in truth, always wanted to be.
Speedwagon, too, eventually left England on a trip to America. With Jonathan gone and his former life as a thug in Ogre Street no longer feeling like a fit, he took to traveling in order to find a new purpose. After a near-fatal mishap in the Texas dessert, he found himself a millionaire upon striking oil. Inspired by the memory of his old friend, he set about creating the Speedwagon Foundation to ensure there would always be good men to fight the evils of the world.
The three stayed in touch frequently over the years, their experiences having bonded them in ways much like soldiers in a war. All of them held the memory of Jonathan Joestar near to their hearts, never forgetting him for as long as they lived.
We've finally reached the end. Jonathan's story can finally conclude. While he may die, we can all take solace in the fact that Erina got her some of that good English beef before it was too late.
At the very least, George Joestar II still exists. Maybe he'll find Lisa Lisa out there in the world and make Joseph. Someone has to be there to take care of those stony boys even if there's no Dio around anymore.
Before anyone asks, I don't think I'll be writing any follow up around that or a response to the Kira/Diavolo problems. I set out to do one thing and I've accomplished it. Anyone who feels like it can write their own sequel using me as a base if they really think that's worthwhile. I don't believe in copyright, so you're free to steal from anything I do so long as it's not straight up plagiarism.
The Zepplis sure have a much happier ending now. I wonder what Tonpetty's prediction for Will was like in this world. He certainly didn't die this time around even if he's got to use a chair now. Wheelchair Hamon would probably be pretty cool, though.
If nothing else, I hope Speedwagon finds him a man at some point. He deserves to be happy. He got to say goodbye to Jonathan this time, too, so maybe he won't be eternally stuck thinking about him.
That's all we've got for now. Thanks for reading. Share with a friend if you enjoyed. Always remember to fight the good fight.