Pain. A sharp stinging sensation, sudden and without any warning, yet subtle as a the soft breeze in an afternoon. A hiss came as he stumbled back with a hand on the handle of the switchblade in his side. No, stomach? Somewhere in the abdomen, his focus was on the blow the had just received to the head from another direction, a surprise attack. Giorno Giovanna was now the target of an assassination for his own lineage. Enemies of his Father, now spiteful at the missed opportunity of their vengeance, aim for the next best thing. His bastard child.

"Did you think you could just live a double life so easily?"

"We'll make sure everyone at that stupid school knows about their, Fallen Star."

The school? Canterlot High, he remembered now, he had to distance himself from those he knew and cared about. To find the truth, Giorno would have to be who he was, a boy with nothing but his life to lose. His vision was blurry, yet something shiny caught his attention. He had to act. He had to use this special power he unlocked weeks ago to fight.


Morning Star woke up with a jolt as he shot up with the diary still in hand. Celestia's knocked on his door with a tired sigh.

"Morning, it's time to get up...! I know you were up late with, whatever, but it's no excuse to be late for school."

She leaned in on the door with a hand on the doorknob.

"Unless there's more you'd like to share?"

He shook his head to himself as he left his bed with a small grunt.

"Unfortunately Auntie, I can't tell you much than you've already been told."

"And that's the final word on it?"

"... I-I want to tell you more... But you wouldn't understand."

Celestia opened the door with a somber expression rather than a stern one.

"Isn't there anyway that I can... Oh my word!"

Morning Star had hidden the diary with his Stand Ability. The chipmunk idly looked around within his hand. He shrugged as he opened a draw near his bed and placed the small animal there without closing it.

"He didn't want to leave so I let him stay for the night. I think I'll let him out in the park or the schoolyard."

Celestia shook her head at her odd nephew. In truth it was almost a relief for her that he was still kind to such a simple creature. The fear of him being a sociopath or possible killer, it was nearly too much to deal with as he was already a criminal, even if he hadn't been caught by the police.

"I think that'd be best... Let's just get ready, I'll make breakfast tod-"

Morning Star jumped to his feet with a panicked expression.

"I'll cook! N-No offense Auntie but your cooking..."

Celestia folded her arms with a small grin.

"Oh? What about it? Is there something you'd like to say now after eating it for how many years?"

"I just think your cooking is to be, appreciated, and I should do something to show that, I'll need to be able to cook for myself one day anyway."

Celestia raised a brow at him with a skeptical expression. Morning Star met it with his own neutral expression before smiling.

"You could coach on me breakfast today! We haven't really done many activities together as of late. This won't make up for much, but it'd be a start, no?"

"A real start would be telling me about your nocturnal activity."

Her face softened as she saw the genuine disappointment on his face. In a moment she tapped her chin.

"Well... I could teach you a few things here and there, though these are family secrets! Then again, you're pretty good at keeping those."

Morning Star rubbed his arm but managed to chuckle at Celestia's remark and smirk. As she left, he returned the chipmunk to it's diary state and kept it hidden in his backpack as he got ready for school. Celestia thought of checking the safe she kept the diary in, but she wanted to trust her nephew, she knew he wouldn't stop but would hopefully tell her what he's truly been doing. Investigating Luna's murder, it couldn't be. It was car accident and nothing else.

There was an awkward atmosphere during breakfast. Celestia told Morning Star what to do and he followed her directions. She watched him carefully at the start, but after several words of reassurance from him, she relented and made her way to the table. Morning Star smiled brightly at her, something he rarely ever did, and nearly forgot about all of last night. After the heat from last night, she needed a break from everything, and thankfully she was getting just that at breakfast.

As he turned away from her to focus on the food, he pulled out from his sleeve a drug he made himself in the garden outside, a garden used specifically for his ventures in the streets. It wasn't a toxin or narcotic, simply a mix of a flowers to make a sleeping drug. He placed the plates on the table and the two had a silent meal. At the end of it all, Celestia finally spoke.

"Are you going to take the bus today?"

Morning Star raised a brow at her with a curious grunt.

"The bus...? You'll allow me that option? I thought I'd be restricted to your car."

Celestia let out an offended sigh.

"Morning, I'm your Aunt, not your warden. Of course I'm scared to think you'll come to class late due to your... Activities. However, apart of me believes you're still the wonderful boy I know. I want you to know that I'm on your side. I trust you want to do the right thing."

He only gave a silent blink which gained him a quiet groan as a response. Silence once again ruled the day. The two entered her car and pulled out the driveway. However, they hadn't even left the suburbs before Celestia began to feel drowsy. A yawn first, her driving and reaction began to slow down next, and soon she simply pulled over.

"What in the world is going on...?"

"You must be tired from staying up so late and getting up rather early."

She rubbed her eyes yet the lids felt like lead.

"Is that it...? No wonder you've been sleeping in class, we really shouldn't make a habit out of this..."

"I'm wide awake though, I can drive us to the school if you'd like, we practiced in traffic before so it'll be no different."

She yawned yet again before unfastening her seatbelt with a nod. Not even bothering to argue or even think about it, he wasn't wrong, she had taken him out to drive not too long ago and even managed to get him a permit.

"Just make sure to follow your lanes and signs..."

"Yes ma'am... Say, today's a half day, correct?"

Morning Star turned the car around as he began to ride her back to their house.

"Why don't you just take this one day off?

Celestia shifted herself in her seat with her eyes closed.

"Mrhn... Morning, we still have to go."

"I didn't say that I wouldn't go, someone has to open the school early for the teachers, just that you take some time out to rest and think. I'll ask to see what I can do about my grades. If you wake up during school hours remain, I'll come back and get you."

"I..."

All she could do is yawn and concede to her drowsiness. She nodded before drifting off into sleep as Morning Star let out of a small sigh of relief.

"Now comes the hardest part..."

He planned this from the start, even using the holiday today as a means to lower suspicion. Celestia was a diligent and stubborn person, she would attend her duties as principal in a wheelchair if she could, but even she would relax around the breaks and holidays. He believed this to be his easiest plan until it came to the second act of getting her back into the house. Morning Star was stronger than he let off, and with his Stand aiding him in fights, he was a force to be reckoned with. However, while Celestia was far from the largest woman in town, she was certainly one of the tallest.

That height, while comical at times as she'd hit her head against the door frames a few times, would be his challenge today. Handling her would be what he needed to be careful of. As he opened her door, he decided to test the effects of his drug with a light slap. He was amazed that she gave no reaction outside of quiet incoherent mumbling. With a determined look, he lifted her from her seat in a bridal style and made his way to the door, surprised how smooth his plan was going.

Morning Star laid Celestia in her bed and quickly made his way back to the car with her keys to the school. From here, the plan was simple. Get to the school before anyone else, unlock the doors early to raise no suspicion, and tell the staff of Celestia's condition. That she worked herself into an exhausted state and decided to take a leave for the holiday. He smiled at himself as his "story" was a half truth.

Morning Star parked Celestia's car in her usual spot and made his way to the school entrance.

"Excuse me...?"

He stumbled back a moment in surprise of the door being unlocked. A note was on the other side, visible through the small glass window.

"'Meet me in the Teacher's Lounge Office'... Good grief."

Now alert and on edge, Morning Star warily entered the school. Nothing seemed out of place, whoever had entered before him had made a beeline for the Faculty Office, but this only made him nervous. He neared the door and could faintly smell the aroma of a freshly made coffee. With a self reminder of his goal, he donned a new expression and mindset, Morning Star remained out of the room as Giorno Giovanna entered.

Giorno found an odd young man sitting at the teacher's table with a hot teacup of coffee in hands. The man stared at Giorno with unrelenting intensity, though his face showed neutrality, balanced further with a genial smile.

"Buon Giorno, Giorno Giovanna. That is who I am speaking with, yes?"

Giorno merely nodded in silence as he returned the gaze. Internally taken aback by the older gentleman's shocked expression.

"My! Such a horrible glare, if only looks could kill, merde! And so young too!~"

"... Who are you."

The man's face steeled and voice grew cold as he stood up.

"Business it is. I prefer that, it seems Dingo actually was useful for something."

Giorno raised a brow as he took an aggressive step forward.

"Dingo? Are you a member of Passione? Why are you here?!"

"HOLD YOUR TONGUE, BOY!"

Giorno had already finished speaking and remained silent as the gangster approached him.

"We usually keep ourselves within our territory, but if what we've been told is true then..."

He pulled out a lighter from his pockets and lit it.

"I'm going to gamble with fate. Giorno Giovanna, Passione is here and ready to work with in finding whatever it is you seek, but we will decide if you are worthy with a test first. For the entirety of this day, you will keep this fire lit and safe, that is all. Do so, and you will have us by your side at any moment."

He offered the lighter to Giorno. Giorno was already in thought as he saw the man stand. Looking for a tell or weakness, but it was difficult. Not since Celestia had he had so much trouble reading a person.

"This is my initiation, correct?"

"That is not incorrect... You're not joining Passione, but there's something we both want. Rather, our goals lead to the same destination. So, do we have a deal?"

"What if the lighter goes out before the appointed time?"

"You will die."

There wasn't a hint of hesitance or reluctance in the adult. Giorno replied this by taking the lighter while maintaining eye contact.

"Am I allowed to ask your name, as you know mine?"

"Bruno Buccellati. Everyone but myself is expecting you to fail. I hold a semblance of faith now that I've gotten to meet you. Perhaps..."

Giorno's eyes flew wide as he heard the voices of staff and students nearing the door in the halls. Class was going to start soon. His head snapped to the door for a moment.

"D-Damn...! I wasted time!"

"No. The test has begun."

Giorno heard a zipper being pulled and turned to Bruno. The gangster was nowhere to be seen, not even a trace. He looked to the mysterious flame he held with an inquisitive thought. Just what was the challenge of this test? Or more importantly, what would be his demise for failing?