Chapter 3: The Curse of DIO

"Jesus fuck, what the hell is that thing?!" Adora found herself screaming, looking about ready to puke at the sight of the pulsating fleshy mass on Kakyoin's forehead. 'Is...is that seriously controlling him?'

"That Wriggling piece of flesh… it looks like some sort of spider." Jotaro said, keeping a level tone, but even he couldn't hide how unnerved he was. "So that's why he became DIO's minion?"

"Mr. Joestar… what even is DIO?" Adora asked, horrified and absolutely certain DIO was no human.

"It's called a 'Flesh Bud.'" The one named Avdol told them both. "It is made up of DIO's own cells. It connects directly to the boy's brain." Avdol slowly pointed towards Kakyoin's head. "As small as it is, this bud is capable of exerting power over his psyche."

"In other words, the Flesh bud functions to elicit control, like some form of antennae, towards DIO's Charisma!" Joseph quickly declared. Adora had already begun to notice how dramatic the older man could be, but was still focused entirely on the Bud on Kakyoin's head. "The kind of Charisma that compels a man to follow a dictator, or believe in a nefarious Cult leader!" He clenched his fist, before quickly pointing back at Kakyoin. "This young man idolized DIO, and swore loyalty to him in the process!" Adora nervously gulped. Mara was right, DIO really was some kind of demon. "DIO knows how to use his Charisma, his intoxicating charm to overwhelm and exert control over a person's mind. It's how he ordered Kakyoin to try and kill you both."

"So remove the bud." Jotaro replied, hands in his pockets.

"No, the human brain is too delicate." Joseph replied, shaking his head. "If he so much as twitches while trying to remove it, he'll suffer irreperable damage."

"My stand can heal, what if I try to remove it?" Adora asked, not moving her gaze from the twitching bud.

"That may be so...but if it goes wrong, could your stand revive the dead?" Joseph asked her, pointedly. Adora slowly shook her head. "Then it's far too risky to use…"

Avdol then audibly grunted and looked at them. "Jotaro. Adora. Please, listen to me a moment." The two turned to look in his direction. "About four months ago, in Cairo, I too, encountered DIO!" Both of them were surprised, but allowed him to continue. "I am a Fortune Teller by trade, and I had just returned to my shop in Khan Khalili when, under a full moon, I saw him…" Avdol's tone was grim, and he closed hisn eyes as he spoke. "He just stood at the top of the stairs outside my shop, silently, with eyes so cold it felt as though they were piercing my heart. Golden hair, with near transparent alabaster skin." Adora had begun to picture DIO in her mind as Avdol spoke. "Most of all, he emanated a strange, inhuman sensuality." Avdol then motioned over to Joseph. "Because Mr. Joestar had warned me prior, I knew who it was I faced. It was DIO, rising once more from the depths of the Atlantic." Avdol shuddered slightly as he remembered his encounter. "It was then that I truly found him to be terrifying. Every word he spoke calmed my heart, his voice dripping with a dangerous sweetness. It was horrifying! I ran for my life, I didn't even dare think of attacking him. I was lucky." He finally opened his eyes. "Had Mr. Joestar not warned me, had I not leapt through my window, and made it into the maze of streets which I knew like the back of my hand, I may not have escaped with my life. I may have ended up like this poor young man… another pawn of DIO, implanted with a Flesh Bud."

"And like the boy, you'd have died within a few years." Joseph added. "With the Flesh Bud having completely devoured your brain."

Adora found herself covered in goosebumps from Avdol's story, and truly began to realize the horrifying events she had become involved with. She turned to face Jotaro, who to her amazement was unshaken. "Died?" He said calmly. "Don't be so sure. Kakyoin may not be in great shape but… he's not dead yet!" As he spoke, he summoned his own stand out to his side. "I'll pull it out with my stand." He knelt down by Kakyoin and rested his hands on the sides of his head.

"No Jotaro! Stop!" Joseph shouted, shotting to his feet.

"A-are you sure about this?!" Adora added.

"Old Man! Adora, Back off!" Jotaro shouted, "I can remove the bud fast enough to avoid damage to his brain. My stand has the speed and precision to catch a speeding bullet."

"Listen to me! That Flesh Bud is Alive!" Joseph shouted, Jotaro's stand slowly reaching for it. "There's a reason part of it is outside of his skin! Even a skilled surgeon can't remove it!" The moment Jotaro's stand pinched the bud, a tentacle shot from Kakyoin's head and embedded itself in his hand. "SHIT!"

"Jotaro!" Adora shouted, summoning her stand and preparing to slice through the tentacle.

"You have to let go of it JoJo!" Avdol shouted as well.

"It can infiltrate the brain of anyone who tries to remove it!" Joseph shouted. "Adora, hold back! You might hit either of them with that sword!"

"Dammit!" Adora once again called off her stand and watched in growing horror as the tendril made its way up Jotaro's arm. She then noticed Kakyoin's eyes snap open.

"You…"

"I would try not to move." Jotaro quickly said, silencing Kakyoin. "One wrong move, and you're dead." He began the process of extracting the bud as Adora saw the tendril making its way to Jotaro's neck.

"Jotaro! It's at your neck!" She shouted.

"You have to let go!" Avdol reiterated.

However, Joseph quickly shot out his hand in front of the two. "Wait, both of you. This is my Grandson we're talking about here." He told them with a sudden calmness. "That thing is halfway up his body, but he's still completely calm. Not even a tremble from he or his stand." Adora watched, noticing that indeed, Jotaro was calm, and slowly removing the bud with an inhuman ease. "He's more powerful and precise than any machine!"

With one mighty tug, the Stand tore the Flesh Bud from Kakyoin's head and Jotyaro's arm. It pulled on both tentacles that were currently expose and sent the bud flying as they tore. Thinking fast, Joseph struck the Bud, and Adora saw flashes of Yellow lightning pulse around his hand, an energy she recognized as Hamon! The Bud was reduced to ash in an instant.

Kakyoin began to sit up as Jotaro adjusted his hat and began to leave. "Hold still." Adora told Kakyoin, allowing her stand to reach towards his head injure and heal it shut.

Kakyoin nodded at Adora, then looked over at Jotaro, who was looking back. "Why?" He asked Jotaro. "Why did you save me? You put your own life at risk."

Jotaro looked out at the estate for a good minute before he finally answered. Even then it was a non-committal, "Well...I couldn't really say."

After Kakyoin had gotten a futon and laid down to rest up, still exhausted from the earlier fight, Adora was sitting by the estate's pond in deep thought. "You know, it might be a good idea for you to stay here tonight too." Joseph said, approaching behind her. She turned around to face him, and quietly nodded. "Why don't you use the phone, call your parents."

"Good idea, Mr. Joestar." Adora replied, standing up and heading back towards the house.

"Say, you look familiar." Joseph said as she passed. "Have we met somewhere before?"

"No, but you probably know my family." Adora told him. "My last name is Akiratsuki, but my mother was from England. Her maiden name was Grey."

"Grey, Grey…." Joseph rested his hand on his chin for a moment, before his eyes widened in realization. "Holy Shit!" he suddenly shouted in English. "You're Mara's Great, Great granddaughter?!"

"Yeah. I never met her though." Adora replied, smiling slightly in amusement at his sudden English. "Did you?"

"Met her? She kicked my ass Fifty years ago." Joseph replied, nervously rubbing the back of his head. "My own mother Elizabeth brought her in to help train me for my battle with the Pillar Men."

"Uh...the what Men?" Adora asked, blinking in surprise.

"Long story involving ancient warriors and launching an arrogant prick into space." Joseph dismissively waved. "I'll tell you all about it later." Adora had to admit she was genuinely curious about the story, but calling her mother took priority. "Still, it's strange how your family and mine are tied up in this all again. Holly mentioned you were a friend's daughter, but I didn't expect you to be related to one of my Grandfather's allies."

"Great Granny Mara… she fought DIO didn't she?" Adora asked, her voice quiet and shaken slightly from the day's events.

"She was there when Grandpa Jonathon vaporized the Bastard's body." Joseph told her. "If only she was there with him when DIO came back, she might have been able to save his life."

"Who...what even is DIO?"

"You don't know?" Joseph asked in surprise. Adora simply shook her head and he sighed. "I'm probably not the best person to tell you. But DIO was my Grandfather's adopted brother. A greedy, sociopathic genius. He was also a Vampire."

Adora blinked a few times in shock. "A….A Vampire."

"Again, it's a long story. Honestly...you should probably ask your mother. I'm sure the story was passed down." He told her bluntly. "I know it would have been. One thing I can tell you about Mara was that there was a harshness behind her eyes. I don't think she ever got over what happened with DIO." Adora nodded quietly and continued into the estate, slowly taking the phone and beginning to dial.

A million things ran through her head, about what she planned to say to her mother. Her family was tied to DIO, and her mother hadn't said a word. She wanted nothing more than to explode on her about all this. Was her stand tied to this too? She listened until the ringing stopped, and her mother answered the phone. "Hello, this is the Akiratsuki residence?"

"Hey mom." Adora said, pushing her worries and anger below the surface.

"Oh! Adora! Is everything alright? I heard you weren't at school."

"There was..an incident today. I'm actually at the Kujo residence." Adora explained. "Listen, I'm gonna be staying the night here. Jotaro and his grandfather would like my help with something."

Her mother quickly took note of her tone. "Adora. What's wrong?" She asked concerned.

"I'll tell you tomorrow Mom." Adora replied. "Like I said something happened today, and I need a bit to process it. We'll talk after school?"

"Alright, if you're sure dear…" Angela replied, still not convinced. "I'll tell your father and sister you won't be home tonight."

"Thanks mom. I love you." Adora finished.

"I love you too dear, stay safe." Angela replied, before the two hung up the phone, and Adora went to get her own futon for the night.

STAND NAME – HERMIT PURPLE

USER – JOSEPH JOESTAR

POWER – D

RANGE – D

PRECISION – D

SPEED – C

DURATION – A

POTENTIAL – E

The next morning, Adora had left the guest room and quickly changed into her school uniform. She'd left Kakyoin resting, and started making her way towards the ktichen. On the way there, she ran into Avdol. "Good morning Mr. Avdol."

"Ah, good morning Ms. Akiratsuki." He replied, smiling. "Please, just Avdol is fine."

"Then, you can just use Adora." She responded, smiling back and walking with him. "You said you're a fortune teller, right?"

"Indeed I am." He said, nodding. "Why do you ask."

Adora thought a moment. "I've got a question about Dreams." She told him.

"Dreams aren't normally my area of expertise." He told her bluntly.

"Yeah but...well...I had a dream the night before last night." Adora began, walking alongside him. "I saw my ancestor Mara. And she told me of DIO, and predicted the incident with Kakyoin." Avdol stopped in his tracks and looked at her. "Could I have had some sort of vision?"

"It's possible...or perhaps something else was occurring." Avdol thought for a moment. "Perhaps your Ancestor's spirit actually visited you in your sleep?"

"That's possible?" Adora asked.

"Perhaps. There are things in this world that can't be-" Avdol began to say, until he and Adora caught sight of a spoon, laying outside the kitchen as if it had been dropped. He and Adora exchanged a glance, before slowly looking into the dark kitchen. The first thing they noticed was the fridge wide open. And as the door creaked shut...they saw Holly Kujo laying unconscious on the ground. "M-Mrs. Kujo!" HE and Adora ran in, and Avdol immediately checked her forehead. Adora saw that she was sweating profusely and seemed to be breathing heavily. "She's running a high fever...is she sick-?" Avdol and Adora were then startled when they saw strange vines and fruits briefly appear from around her neckline.

"Avdol, is that-?"

"Only one way to find out. My apologies." Avdol said, turning Holly around and lifting her shirt. Sure enough, along Holly's back was an arrangements of translucent vines and berries. Avdol demonstrated he was able to run his hand through the vines. "This can't be...she has a Stand!"

Adora was stunned, and then she remembered how sick she was when her own Stand began to manifest. But she also saw that Holly was even more ill than she was. "She manifested a Stand too?"

"It's worse...this high Fever. The Stand is hurting her." Avdol said, lowering Holly's shirt and cradling her. "We were all so relieved when DIO's body seemed to only affect Mr. Joestar and Jotaro…"

"DIO's causing this?" Adora asked, taking a step back.

"DIO's body was stolen from Mr. Joestar's grandfather, Jonathon. When DIO manifested a stand of his own, so did Jonathon's descendants…" Avdol explained, Adora slowly clenching her fists. "We thought Holly would be safe from his curse, we were just deluding ourselves… so long as she has Joestar blood in her veins she's not safe from DIO's curse!"

"She looks worse than I did when I started developing mine." Adora told Avdol, starting to get concerned.

"A Stand represents the User's fighting spirit. Their inner strength, and battle spirit personified." Avdol began to explain. "But Mrs. Kujo is a kind and gentle woman who doesn't have the power to withstand DIO's curse. She isn't capable of controlling her own stand. Instead, her Stand is acting against her." Adora kneeled down next to them and checked Holly's temperature herself. "At this Rate...she'll die."

Adora rose to her feet and nodded, she turned to go get something for Holly's fever, and froze in her tracks when she saw Jotaro and Joseph standing in the doorway in shock. "She...has a Stand? Oh Holly…" Joseph said, his voice trembling, before he grabbed Jotaro and shoved him into the wall, yelling in grief. "This is my greatest fear...the last thing I ever wanted to happen!" Joseph sounded on the verge of tears. "My daughter has a Stand… oh my poor Holly. I always knew she wasn't strong enough...she can't resist DIO's curse-"

His terrified rambling was swiftly cut off by Jotaro grabbing his wrist and pushing him away. "Tell me. What can we do." He asked his grandfather, his voice cold and stern.

"I'm willing to do anything to help Mrs. Kujo!" Adora added.

"There's just one thing." Joseph replied, taking a deep breath. "We must find DIO, and kill him before my daughter's stand fully manifests!"

As Holly was laid down in a futon to rest, Adora joined Avdol and the Joestars in going over several photos laid across the floor. She'd been told by Joseph that his own stand, Hermit Purple, was able to take spirit photographs, and that they had been trying to use that to Locate DIO. As they continued to discuss their plans, Adora stood up and walked to the door. "I'm going with you all. When you find out where that son of a bitch is, you let me know." She told them, looking over her shoulder.

"Where are you going?" Jotaro asked, holding up one of the photos.

"I need to talk to mom." Adora replied. "She has a lot of explaining to do. I'll be back, I promise." And then she left the estate, taking the short walk back home. Her mind raced the entire way home abnout what she'd say to her mother. She knew it was time to confront her about what she'd been hiding, about her family legacy. It can't have been coincidence that she awoke to a Stand so soon before her fate would be tied to the Joestars. She also made up her mind, and no matter where the Joestars needed to go, she would go with them, and had to inform her mother of that. Eventually coming up to the front door of her home, she took a deep breath and knocked. The door was answered by her mother, who seemed stunned at the sight of her daughter during what would normally be school hours. "Mom. We need to talk."

Angela soon sat down in the living room with her daughter, having made tea for both of them. "Adora, please tell me. What happened." She asked, setting Adora's cup down in front of her. "You're not yourself."

Adora took the tea in her hands and took a deep breath, before dropping the bombshell. "Mom. Who, or what, is DIO?"

Angela nearly dropped her own cup and had to set it down on the table. "Where did you hear that name."

Adora slowly looked down at her tea. So her mother did know who DIO was. She was going to get answers now, no matter what. She began to tell about the previous day. Her dream about Mara, the fight with Kakyoin at school, and Holly's condition. Angela went white upon hearing that Holly's life was in danger.

After she told her story, Angela sighed and nodded, then began to tell Adora about Mara's story. How she was a warrior trained in the ancient art of Hamon but the last practitioners of the art. How she, along with her fellow students Baron Zeppelli, Dire, and Straizo aided Jonathon Joestar in his battle with DIO. How Zeppelli and Dire met their untimely deaths at the hands of DIO and his followerrs. How Jonathon destroyed DIO's body, but was later killed when DIO survived as a severed head. And how Mara's fear of DIO's return haunted her until the day she died. "I learned Hamon when I was five years old." Angela told her daughter. "But there was never any sign of DIO again, so...I thought we weere safe. I refused to teach the art to you or Glimmer, and moved to Japan to just live a normal life." She sighed sadly. "I never wanted you to be involved in such a nightmare. And then you developed that...what did you call it, Stand?"

Adora looked at her tea for a moment, and sighed deeply. "The Joestars are looking for DIO to kill him, and save Holly. I'm going with them."

"Adora-"

"Mom, please, don't try to stop me." Adora quickly interjected. "My Stand could be valuable to keeping the others safe." Adora stood up and showed her Stand once more. "I had to have gained this for a reason. How irresponsible would I be if I just let them march to their deaths when I can help! Besides, if our family really did battle DIO before...who's to say we won't come after us when he kills the Joestars?" Angela found herself unable to reply and Adora hugged her. "I'm as involved in this as they are...I'm sorry mom."

"You have a good heart, Adora." Angela replied, hugging her back. "I'll tell Micah and Glimmer you've gone on a trip with Jotaro. And if I'm able to help Holly at all, I'll visit."

"Thank you mom." Adora replied, before she ran up to her room to pack up and change into her usual clothing. Once packed, she gave her mother one last, long hug, and left the house to meet up with the others.

When Adora left, Angela sighed deeply and headed up to her room. Micah was at work, and Glimmer at school, so she had the privacy she wanted for this. While Glimmer and Micah could only see a vague shape of Adora's Stand, Angela saw it perfectly clear. Because unknown to her family, She indeed had a Stand of her own. She took a deep breath and spoke low and quiet. "Pictures of You…" In an instant, her stand appeared in her hands. IT resembled a white Photo Album with beautiful Gold trim, and the Stand's name across the front in gold. She began to flip through the Album, each page of which belonged to a close friend or family member of hers. She turned to the page representing Adora and watched the images upon the page clearly. Pictures of You had the ability to create magical photographs telling the many potential futures of whoever Angela desired, with the images either becoming more clear, or slowly fading based on the likelihood of the future. Adora had several photos in the album, but Angela had her focus on only one of them. The image was of a Gravestone in their hometown, with the dates obscured. But the name was clear as day: Adora Akiratsuki… Angela tried to keep herself from crying, and could only pray this prediction of an early grave could be prevented.

STAND NAME: PICTURES OF YOU

USER: ANGELA AKIRATSUKI

POWER – E

RANGE – E

PRECISION – A

SPEED – E

DURATION – A

POTENTIAL – B

Adora quickly returned to the Kujo estate as she saw several black vehicles arrive, with a number of medical staff and other figures entering the building. Soon after, Joseph and the others, now including Kakyoin, exited the building. "The Speedwagon Foundation. They'll be takin round the clock care of Holly while we're on. We can trust them." He confidently stated. He then noticed Adora walking up, hands in her coat pockets. "You're back! Good, we intend to leave immediately."

"You're coming too, Kakyoin?" Adora asked the redhead.

Kakyoin nodded. "I will put my very life on the line for Mrs. Kujo." He firmyl responded. Adora nodded and walked over, shaking his hand with a tight grip.

"Before we go. JoJo, Adora, as a Fortune Teller by trade, I would like to name your Stands." Avdol declared, approaching with a deck of cards. "With the Tarot, the cards of fate. Do not look, but let fate guide your hands. It will not only suggest your fate, but also your Stand's abilities." Jotaro nodded and cut the deck in two, before drawing a card and showing Avdol, the Star. "The Star Card! I shall name your stand… Star Platinum!" Avdol then turned to Adora, but she put her hand up.

"Please Avdol, allow me to name my own Stand." Adora told him. You're all going with Tarot? Then I shall take an Arcana from a different Tarot deck."

"Very well, Adora. What shall your Stand be called." Avdol asked, putting the deck away.

Adora thought for a moment, mentally running through the Stands of her comrades.

Jotaro Kujo's Star Platinum, with the power of Strength and Precision.

Joseph Joestar's Hermit Purple, with the power of Spirit Photography.

Mohammed Avdol's Magician's Red, with the power of Flames and Heat.

Noriaki Kakyoin's Hierophant Green, with the power of Remote Stand manipulation, and the Emerald Splash.

And then there was her own Stand, with the abilities of Healing, and close range combat. She could only think of one thing to name her Stand. She stood confidently alongside the others and declared the chosen name.

"White Aeon!"

===TO BE CONTINUED

And thus, they are off! And Finally I can start using Jotaro and Adora's Stand names! I wanted to keep Adora's Stand named after the Tarot theming of Stardust Crusaders, rather than music.

Aeon - The Tarot that I chose for Adora's stand comes from the Crowley Tarot decks, where it takes the place of the Judgement Card. I chose the card because of its use in the Persona Series, oftentimes for characters who's stories revolve around their own fates, and identities, such as Marie and Aigis. the themes are the cards are balance, insight, fairness, diplomacy, discretion, mediation, relating, and the Divine Feminine. Most of which I believe fits Adora, as well as the fact that if it wasn't taken I'd likely have given her the Judgement card.

Angela's Stand is named after the song Pictures of You, by The Cure. I moistly wanted a name based around the idea of her stand being a Photo Album, and I couldn't think of many good names for its precognitive ability other than the Sonic Unleashed song Endless Possibilities.

She-Ra and Jojo's Bizarre Adventure belong to their respective owners.

NEXT TIME: The Tower