Chapter 4: Tower and Chariot

Day 1/50

Adora had never had the chance to leave Japan throughout her life. Today would be the first day she ever left, and the first day she'd be aboard a plane. Normally she would have found the experience relaxing, downright enjoyable. But given what their goal was, what awaited them at their destination, she couldn't help but feel a sense of slowly creeping dread. Then again, she almost felt in that moment like she was the only one worried, as she sat in the seat directly behind Jotaro, who himself sat next to a sleeping Joseph.

"You didn't have to come along, Adora." Jotaro suddenly said, keeping his eyes looking forward.

"Huh? I came because I wanted to, not because I had to." Adora replied, a little stunned by Jotaro's comment. "Holly's a family friend. Besides, it sounds liker my own family's tied up in this DIO thing too."

Jotaro tipped his hat down somewhat and sighed. "Good grief… I don't freaking get you." He grumbled.

"I don't get you either Jotaro." Adora bluntly told him. "You keep trying to act like you don't care about anything or anyone. If that was true, you wouldn't have saved Kakyoin." Jotaro just turned to glance at her, his expression unchanged. "You're a good guy Jotaro, even if you don't act like it."

"Whatever. Crazy bitch." Jotaro deadpanned, looking forward again. Adora justn chuckled and leaned back in her seat.

The peace was interrupted when Joseph's eyes snapped open and he jolted up somewhat, sweating. Even Jotaro seemed put on edge. "I felt someone watching us…" Joseph said, looking over at the others. "I think...I think DIO is looking our way."

"I know what you mean, Old Man." Jotaro said. "I felt it too… there may already be a Stand User on this plane…"

Adora paled slightly at the thought. She, Jotaro and Joseph began focusing on any sign of a possible enemy they could. Avdol and Kakyoin didn't seem alert, but she was certain they felt the same presence she began to. Then, she heard the faintest of sounds…

Buzzzzzzz

A strange buzzing, like that of a fly, could be heard reverberating around the Plane. Avdol and Kakyoin opened their eyes and began looking around as well. Adora squinted, trying to see in the darkness. Suddenly, her eyes caught movement. It was small, but fast. Then it began getting closer, and closer. From the size of it, it looked like a large, black beetle flying directly for them. Jotaro quickly stood up from his seat. "A Rhinocerous Beetle? No wait...it's a giant Stag Beetle!"

"Avdol, is it a Stand?" Joseph quickly asked.

"Another Stand user? Already?!" Adora suddenly said, starting to panic.

"It's possible." Avdol replied. "A Stand that takes the form of an insect." Adora tried to keep watch of the beetle, but very quickly lost track of it as it vanished behind a seat.

"What the-?! It hid in the shadow of the seats…" Joseph commented, Jotaro cautiously moving in to check.

"Damn, it could hbe anywhere. Nobody let your guard down." Avdol added. Adora began to look around the area, trying to catch any sign of movement. As big as the Stand was, its black coloration and speed made it far more difficult to track than it realistically should be.

"JOJO! It's By your head!" Kakyoin suddenly shouted, drawing Adora's attention to Jotaro. Sure enough, there it was, hovering next to Jotaro. The insect was almost the size of Jotaro's head and snarling like a monster. "That thing has to be a Stand, there's no doubt about it!"

Jotaro seemed unphased, hands in his pockets as the beetle began drooling and a strange appendage came out from its jaws. "That's disgusting. Just sit tight everyone, I'll take care of it." Jotaro said, preparing to unleash his stand.

"Be extremely careful." Avdol warned. "I've heard of an Insectile stand that is said to rip out its victim's tongues." Jotaro quickly called out Star Platinum and swatted at the Beetle, but to everyone's shock, it managed to dodge Star Platinum's insane speed. "It...dodged you! I can't believe it!"

"But Star Platinum can catch a bullet midair!" Adora yelped.

"Then that bug has to be a Stand!" Kakyoin added, frantically looking around. "But where the hell is the user?! Jojo, be careful, it's going to attack!"

The warning couldn't have come quicker, as the Stand lashed out with a smaller jaw attached to its tongue and shot straight for Star Platinum's mouth. The attack pierced through his hand and was only stopped by Star Platinum's teeth. The damage was quickly reflected on Jotaro's palm and jawline. "Thank god for Star Platinum's speed, it stopped the needle with its teeth!" Joseph said, terror in his voice.

"It's just as I feared, that Stand is going for Jotaro's tongue!" Avdol stated. "It's him! Representing the Tower card of the Tarot! It symbolizes Destruction, Calamity and the interruption of a journey. This stand's name is Tower of Grey!"

"Fitting for this disgusting thing…" Adora groaned in disgust. She considered calling out White Aeon, but she was concerned about her Stand's sword harming the other passengers, or worse breaking a hole in the plane.

"Tower of Gray is responsible for countless mass murders, which the bastard made to look like accidents!" Avdol continued to explain. "The plane crash in England last year, which caused over 300 deaths was likely his work… and who knows however many others over the years." Adora was horrified at the sheer level of evil and cruelty this stand was capable of, and could only hope they could find the user. "I'd heard of his handiwork, but to think he'd ever join up with DIO!?"

"ORA!" Jotaro shouted, unleashing a flurry of blows at the Stand, tearing off the appendage that went for his tongue and destroying it. "ORAORAORAORAORAORAORA!" Yet still the Stand was unharmed.

"How fast is this freaking Stand?!" Adora shouted. "How the heck did he dodge THAT too!?"

In response, the shrill, creaking voice of the user began to laugh, channeled through Tower of Grey. "Heh heh heh, even if you fired ten guns from a mere centimeter away, you'd never hit my stand!" The voice declared. "Not that a simple gun could even hurt a Stand. You're all about to die, along with everyone on this plane."

'He's gotta be on the plane with us…" Adora though, glancing over at Joseph who was clearly thinking the same thing. 'Where's the stand user? If we find him, White Aeon might be able to send this in only a few seconds!' Again, Tower of Gray vanished among the seats. The Group searched for it, hoping to avoid another ambush.

"Head's up, he's over there!" Kakyoin announced, pointing out the bug as it appeared behind a row of passengers. They then noticed Tower of Gray beginning to slowly lower to the level of the passenger's heads, and Adora's eyes went wide.

'Is he seriously…..no! No he's not going to-!'

A sickening series of splats and crunches told Adora all she needed to know, as she winced away from the sight of the disgusting stand flying through a row of people. It tore clean through their heads like tissue, impaling their tongues on its own, and laughing manically as they died. "Bingo! Got their tongues!" the stand announced. "Now for the best part!" Like some macabre paint brush, it slammed the bloody, severed tongues into a nearby wall and began to paint english letters. The word 'Massacre' soon formed from the blood of his innocent victims. Adora quickly found herself ready to hurl at the sight, and the sheer cruelty of Tower of Gray.

"Bastard! Hew actually did it!" Kakyoin stated, his voice shaking.

Avdol gave a furious glare and prepared to call out Magician's Red. "I'll burn that bug alive!"

"Avdol wait! Not in the plane!" Adora quickly shouted, when movement caught everyone's eye. An old man had woken up and rubbed his sleepy eyes.

"Ugh...what's all the ruckus?" The man mumbled, standing up and walking to the back of the plane, making his way to the bathroom as the Stand buzzed around. He then felt the blood on the wall. "Wha….what's this sticky stuff… M….A…." Soon the man realized what was on the wall and screamed in terror. Before he could wake the other passengers, Kakyoin walked up behind him and delivered a swift neck chop to knock him out once more.

"We need to kill that bug before it causes a panic." He firmly stated, "But Adora's right, Avdol. Using Magician's Red in this plane is dangerous, it could cause an explosion." He then looked at Jotaro. "And Jojo, we can't risk Star Platinum tearing a hole in the fuselage or the cabin. This calls for a silent, more discreet stand. Like my Hierophant Green." He then got into a stance and stared down Tower of Gray.

Again, the bug laughed. "Noriaki Kakyoin eh? Lord DIO has told me all about you." It mocked, hovering in front of him. "Don't bother. You think you have silence on your side, but no stand can match my speed!" Back and forth, Heirophant Green and Tower of Gray exchanged blows. The mocking laughter of the insect Stand ringing out as Kakyoin continued to fire his emerald splash.

'Does Kakyoin really think he can hit that thing if he fires that many shots?' Adora thought to herself. 'He hasn't landed a single hit. No.. Kakyoin is clever, Jotaro and I needed to brute force past him when he fought. He's planning something.' She was suddenly startled at hearing Kakyoin gasp in pain, Tower of Gray having landed a blow across Hierophant's mouthpiece. "Kakyoin!"

"HAHAHA! No Bingo for you! You're just too slow!" Tower of Gray mocked, flying around in circles. "And now, Kakyoin. With this next attack, I shall tear out your stand's tongue!" Kakyoin merely responded with another volley of Emerald Splash. "Don't you get it!? You can't hit me! I will rip out your tongue and drive you mad from the pain!"

Adora then noticed Kakyoin was grinning. "Is that right? I'll go mad from pain?" Tower of Gray launched itself right for him, but he showed no fear. "My Hierophant Green will go mad alright…" As the Insect neared, strands of Hierophant Green shot at it from all sides, impaling the deranged stand. "Once it rips you apart, it will go mad with Joy!" Tower of Gray shrieked in agony as blood poured from its wounds. "My Hierophant Green had already slipped under the seats. It appears you failed to realize that my constant Emerald Splash was simply to hold you in place for my attack." With a final swipe of the many tendrils, Tower of Gray was torn to shreds. Adora then noticed the old man from earlier scream in pain, a symbol of a beetle forming on his tongue. Then, his tongue tore clean in half, along with a massive gash forming on his head, spurting a large amount of blood, and the man collapsed once more. "So it was the old man after all. Hmph, a repulsive Stand for a repulsive Man."

"Is he dead?" Adora asked, shakily.

"Most likely. Damage to a stand is reflected on its user." Joseph explained, putting the man back in his seat.

Adora quietly stared at the man, as Kakyoin confirmed what she feared. He was not implanted with a flesh bud. As Avdol began to explain. "It's said he would often kill travelers and tourists, making their deaths appear accidental...all for money." He threw a blanket over the old man and grimaced. "DIO likely bought his loyalty, with the man's pure greed." Adora felt ready to puke at the thought of someone being so disturbed, but couldn't say much before she noticed the plane seemed….lopsided.

"Something's wrong…" Joseph said, confirming her worries. "We're not flying straight anymore. We're crooked." His eyes widened in horrified realization. "It can't be!" He suddenly ran for the cockpit, Adora's heart sinking further as she knew what he was insinuating. The team quickly hurried out the front of the plan as Joseph pushed his way into the cockpit, against the protests of the flight attendants. Jotaro also rudely shoved past them, Adora swiftly following while Kakyoin tried to calm the ladies down. As they entered, the sight of the dead pilots filled her with dread. "Damn, we've been had! He killed the pilots before we got here, and destroyed the Autopilot too, we're gonna crash!"

A gurgling laugh rose up behind the group. They turned to face the Old Man, Gray Fly, up on his feet, but barely alive. As his jaw oozed blood, he mocked them. "My stand is the Tower Card, symbolizing horrible accidents, and the end of a journey. You'll never reach Lord DIO!" He began to wobble on his feet but continued. "Even if you somehow survive the crash, you're still 10000 Kilometers from Egypt. Those loyal to DIO will hound you every minute of every day! There are Stands in this world more horrifying than you could ever imagine, and Lord DIO rules over them all! His Power reigns supreme over all Stands!" He held his hands out and laughed again. "You bastards will never even see Egypt!" With a final gurgling laugh, he crumbled to the floor, dead.

The stewardesses looked ready to faint when Jotaro turned in his seat. "You're professionals alright. It would have been annoying if you screamed. Now, listen up." He told them firmly. "This heap's gonna hit the water, the old man here's gonna try and land safely. Get the passengers into their life jackets and their seatbelts." The women agreed and rushed into the plane.

"You...can land this thing...right Joseph?" Adora nervously asked.

"Huh? Well, I have experience with Propeller planes…" HE admitted, causing Adora to pale a bit. "But, Jotaro...this will be the third plane crash I've ever been in. Isn't that weird? Have you ever heard of someone surviving three plane crashes?"

Jotaro sighed and tipped his hat down over his eyes. "Old Man...I am never flying with you again."


STAND NAME: TOWER OF GRAY

USER: GRAY FLY

POWER – E

RANGE – A

PRECISION – E

SPEED – A

DURATION – C

POTENTIAL – E


Hong Kong:

After a relatively safe landing, The group gathered at a restaurant in Hong Kong to discuss their next course of action. "While the quickest way to Egypt would be by plane...we can't allow any more civilians to be hurt should another Stand user attack us." Avdol explained, as Adora sipped at the tea they had ordered. She was still pretty shaken about the days events, and had begun to realize just how dire their situation would be. She still refused to call it quits though. She had to go on, for Holly.

"It's now completely out of the question." Joseph replied, cupping his hands together and leaning forward. "If we encounter a Stand user like the last one on a commercial flight, it'll only cause another disaster."

"And I'd rather not risk another plane crash, thank you." Adora added, half sarcastically.

"With that in mind our only options are Land, or Sea." Joseph stated.

Avdol still seemed concerned. "We only have Fifty days to reach Egypt and find DIO…. Before…" Everyone at the table went silent at the thought of what could happen if they aren't fast enough, save for Kakyoin who was angrily grumbling about how the plan would have had them in Cairo by now.

"Indeed...However, it's too soon to worry just yet." Joseph suddenly said, cracking a small grin. "A Hundred years ago, Jules Verne wrote the novel 'Around the World in Eighty Days.' That's a story about ttravbelling 40000 Kilometers in a matter of weeks, with only trains and steamboats. Even without a plane, 50 days should be more than enough to cover the 10000 kilometers to Egypt." He pulled a map out from his jacket and unfolding it in front of them. "As for our route, I say we go by sea. We charter a suitably sized boat and circumnavigate the Malay Peninsula, to the Indian Ocean. A 'Silk Road of the Sea,' as it were." He calmly explained, tracing their path with his finger on the map.

"That is probably the safest option." Adora noted.

"Agreed, crossing borders by land could be difficult. We would also need to cross the Himalayas and the Desert." Avdol also added. "We could lose a lot of time. And the road is likely to be filled with danger."

"I haven't travelled to either places by either route before...so I can't offer any advice." Kakyoin admitted. "I'll leave it up to the rest of you."

"Same here." Jotaro added.

"Then it's decided." Joseph said, nodding and folding the map back up. "Now the greatest danger we'll face will be the Stand Users sent by DIO. We have to do our best to get the Egypt undetected." While Joseph spoke, Adora noticed a strange looking man the table over, who seemed to be sitting quietly. He had a tall, flat topped head of Silver hair, and wore afitted black tube top, shoulder-less except for one strap running from his chest over his left shoulder. He also wore a pair of light trousers with pouches tied to the belt on each of his hips. She immediately grew suspicious, but then she caught sight of another figure in the window. This one was harder to identify as they wore a light brown cloak with the hood raised, obscuring their features. She instantly went on guard while the others continued to speak.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Kakyoin shift the lid of their teapot slightly to the side, and raised her eyebrow. Even Jotaro seemed confused. "Oh, this is just to signal the staff that we'd like more tea." he explained with a smile. "In Hong Kong, place your lid like this, and they'll bring you some more." Sure enough, a server came by and refilled his cup. "Also, when the server brings you more tea…" He tapped the table twice with his index figure and she smiled. "Tap the table, it's a way of saying Thank You." Adora was impressed by Kakyoin's knowledge, and when her cup was refilled, she tapped the table twice with a smile. The Server nodded and left in a good mood.

"Excuse me. Sorry to be a bother." Another voice piped up as the man Adora saw earlier walked over with his menu. "I'm a tourist from France, could I trouble you for some help? My Chinese is a bit rusty and I'm having difficulty understanding the menu. Would you help me decipher it?"

Adora was about to speak up, when Jotaro acted...well, like Jotaro. "You're annoying. Beat it."

"Come now Jotaro, it's fine. Try and be nice to the man." Joseph chided his Grandson, taking the menu from the silver-haired man. "I've been to Hong Kong enough to read a menu. Why don't you join us?"


Joseph's order arrived pretty quickly, but the group was left...a bit surprised by the dishes he had ordered. While the others either complained or tried to process what they had before them, Adora was just happy to have something to eat after a long day. Joseph clearly felt the same, laughing uproariously. "Well it makes no difference! It's all on me everyone." He happily told the group. "Besides it doesn't matter what you order, it's delicious. Dig in everyone!"

Everyone began to take plates, most nervously, but Adora just grabnbed what she thought looked good. As she tried a bite of the meal, she was captivated by just how good the food really was. "W-wow. It doesn't look appealing but this… this is incredible!" She stated with a wide smile.

"Well, they've certainly taken a lot of time to prepare this." The silver-haired man said, reaching with his chopsticks and grabbing something. "Take these Carrots for example." He held up a small, star shaped carrot with his chopstick. "Cut into perfect little stars. In fact...they almost remind me of something…" His voice suddenly changed, sending a chill up Adora's spine. Everyone present also was immediately on edge as the man glanced over at them with a smirk. He slowly held the carrot up to his neck. "I remember now. Someone I know has a mark just like this… a birthmark on the back of their neck. Know anyone like that?" Before anyone was able to react, a rapier shot out of one of the bowls and swiped at Joseph.

He managed to catch it with his prosthetic hand. "It's a Stand!" He shout, quickly flipping over the table as Avdol summoned out Magician's Red. Adora called out White Aeon as well to swat the sword away with her own. As the enemy Stand fully revealed itself, it caught Avdol's flames in the wind of its slashes, twirling it into a cyclone. The stand resembled a thin, lanky medieval Knight wielding a cutlass. Its entire body was a shining silver color, save the two eyes visible under its visor.

The stand flicked its sword at blinding speed, throwing the flames onto the flipped table and forming a flaming clock. The group was left in sheer awe of his speed. "My stand is the Chariot card, and it's name is… Silver Chariot!" The user announced. "Mohammed Avdol, it appears you desire to die first. Adora Akiratsuki, you Second." He motioned to the table nearby. "I have carved a burning clock into that Table. Before it strikes Twelve, you will be a dead man."


STAND NAME: SILVER CHARIOT

USER: JEAN PIERRE POLNAREFF

POWER – C

RANGE – C

PRECISION – B

SPEED – A

DURATION – B

POTENTIAL – C


"You truly do have a way with a sword, I shall grant you that much." Avdol retorted, seeming unphased by the threat. "But if you think I'll be dead by the time the clock strikes twelve, you're sorely mistaken." He pointed at the man with a glare. "Your pride may very well be your undoing, mister..?"

"Polnareff." The man replied. "I suppose I haven't introduced myself properly yet. My name is Jean Pierre Polnareff."

"Well met Polnaredd, it is good to know the name of one's opponent. However.." Avdol grinned as the clock burst, the flames falling entirely under his control. "Back to the task at hand, Monsieur Polnareff. You'd be mistaken to believe my flames burn upward, or with the Wind. My stand, Magician's red can control fire as it sees fit."

Silver Chariot drove its sword into the floor of the restaurant. "Hmph. It all started with Fire. I should have expected as much from Magician's red, wielder of such flames, and one who symbolizes Beginnings." Polnareff never changed his tone, and Adora yet again caught sight of the hooded figure watching them. "However, you dare to speak of Pride and Ego?" Polareff showed five coins in his hand. "I assure you that my pride… is well deserved!" He tossed the coins in the air, and with a single motion, Silver Chariot pierced not only them, but severed the flames produced by Magician's Red as well!

"N-no way, how the hell is anyone that fast!" Adora shouted in surprise.

"Now you see that I am every bit as deadly as I've said." Polnareff boasted. "It can cut through fire with ease, slice through the atmosphere, creating a gap between the gases. In other words, your flames are useless against my Silver Chariot!" He then glanced at Adora. "And I am aware of your Stand's ability with a sword. However, your strength means very little against Chariot's speed." As Silver Chariot allowed the coins to fall, they at once noticed Polnareff had already reached the door. "Victory and Conquest, represented by the Chariot defines my stand as well. While I have the advantage in this cramped space, it wouldn't be sporting of me to handicap your flames, Monsieur Avdol." He lingered at the door a moment. "Beating you at your apex is the only victory worthy of my stand!" As he exited to find a new area to do battle, the group followed. Upon exiting the restaurant, Adora again saw the cloaked figure trying to leave and nudged Jotaro.

"Someone else was watching us. I'm going after them." She told him. "You guys go with Polnareff. If I'm not heard from when you're done, come get me." He nodded to her and she ran after the figure, pursuing them in the alleyway, away from civilians. Slowly creeping along, she scanned the area as thuroughly as she could, readsy for an ambush. Suddenly, a flash of movement appeared in her peripheral, and she barely dodged in time to avoid another stand, which raked long claws extended from the back of its fist along the wall, carving four long gashes. "Who's there!?" Adora yelled, calling White Aeon and facing the stand. It resembled a muscular, bipedal feline figure clad in Arabic pants, with some markings covering it's reddish-purple body. Around its neck, a mane of blue flames. It's face was that of a cat, with solidly blue eyes, and a sharp, pounted muzzle. On the backs of its hands were four retractable claws per hand. It slowly pulled back towards the hooded figure, who let out a feminine cackle.

"Niiiice. Not many people can dodge my Stand when she goes on the attack." The woman said, pulling off her hood. Adora was stunned at the strange looking woman. She appeared to be Adora's age, and was rather beautiful, but her skin was covered in a thin layer of what seemed to be brown fur. Her head resembled a Neko, and she had black hair, rather messily cut short to around her cheeks. Her catlike ears twitch as her mismatched Blue and Gold eyes focused on Adora. She smiled, letting a single fang glint in the sunlight. Adora wasn't sure if she was even human. "My name is Catra D'Riluth. And I am here on orders of Lord DIO to kill you and your little team." The woman declared, putting her clawed hands on her hips.

"Are...you even human?" Adora asked, stunned.

"For the most part, I am." Catra told her, examining her claws. "Supposedly, this is some form of genetic defect my family gets once every few generations. But enough about me, say hello to my Stand~" She narrowed her eyes and readied for battle.

"Tear her apart, Crimson Faith!"

=====To Be Continued


This one was a bit of a pain in the ass due to how little Adora would be able to do against Tower of Gray. Still, I'm happy with the chapter, and finally got to introduce Catra into the story.

As for the Stand name...yeah I admit I stole the Arcana from Persona 5. I am wanting to keep as close to the Tarot motif as possible, it isn't easy though. And yes, her stand is in fact a humanoid Melog.

I do not own She-Ra or JoJo.

If you're enjoying, feel free to share with your friends! And check out my other stories as well, I appreciate it.

NEXT TIME: One Pissed off Cat.