"Wakey, wakey..."

Johan recalled what Guido Mista once said to him, "Do you know that cliche of when someone gets knocked out and he wakes up saying, 'Where am I?' Don't be surprised if you find yourself in that situation." Non avrei dovuto ignorare il tuo consiglio, Zio Mista.

"Where am I?" From what he could tell, he was in a cave lit only by candles. In one corner of the room were large trunks full of money, clothes, and jewelry. He tried to get up, but he found he couldn't move thanks to the chains keeping his body down.

"You are sitting with your new owner, my treasure." That voice. It belonged to the girl he heard earlier. "Anne? Is that you?"

"Anne? Who's Anne? I am the great Ram Bamboo!"

"Huh?"

Johan's vision cleared and he finally saw the face of his kidnapper. It was a little yellow frog with red hair and wearing a black cape and cap that was a bit too big for her. The smile she was making scared him a little. "I wonder how much money I'm going to get from you, a one-of-a-kind specimen."

"Kid, where are the three robbers?"

"Three?" She chuckled and shook her head. "Man are you dense. You already figured out those were scarecrows."

"Wait. You mean to say there's never been a group of highwaymen. It was all just one little girl?"

Ram Bamboo frowned. "I'm not little! I'm thirteen!"

Johan suddenly felt a chill that's when he realized something important was missing. "AAAUUUGH! MY CLOTHES! THEY'RE GONE! I'M NAKED!"

"Duh. I steal everything from everyone. Even the clothes off their back." She opened the cape to reveal she was wearing Johan's clothes. "Sadly, I can't find a single one that fits me." Then she returned her gaze to Johan. "What are you exactly? Eh, I'll find out soon enough," Ram Bamboo said as she reached into Johan's pocket and pulled out his wallet.

"Hey! Don't touch that, you little-!"

"Let's see. Your name is Johan Shiobana, you were born in Naples, Italy on October 21, yada yada yada. You really are from another world, aren't you? You'll fetch a pretty penny for sure." She unfolded the pictures in the wallet. "What have we here? Giorno Giovanna, Guido Mista, Pannacotta Fugo, Bruno Buccellati, Narancia Ghirga, Leone Abacchio... Ugly people aren't they?"

"No one talks about my familia like that!" shouted Johan, feeling anger rising. His aura glowed as DARE appeared behind him and freed him. "Now, you're going to return all this stuff to their owners and give me back my clothes and my wallet!"

She showed no fear however as a green female humanoid with leafy hair appeared behind her. "Surprised?"

"Not really. Only a Stand User could pull an operation this big."

"Not just any Stand User," Ram Bamboo sang. "Green Onions! Show our guest a little welcoming present." The green Stand lunged at the two of them, but Johan ducked while DARE punched Green Onions in the face. Ram Bamboo felt the punch and landed on her back but instead of groaning in pain, she started laughing.

"What's so funny?"

"I already won and you don't realize it."

"Huh?" Suddenly, he felt his body stiffen up. "I...I can't move!"

Ram Bamboo stood up and rubbed her sore cheek as she explained, "Green Onions releases gases from her pores. Right now, you just breathed a paralytic nerve agent that quickly absorbs itself into your bloodstream and directly attacks the nervous system." Ram Bamboo smirked. "Don't worry, I won't kill you if you play nice and don't think of fighting like that again. I've already sent your sheriff friend back to Wartwood with a ransom letter. And if they don't agree to my demands, I'm sure I can find another way to make money off of you."

Maledizione, è proprio come è successo il mio primo giorno qui. I am not a freak show!

Stand: Green Onions

User: Ram Bamboo

Power: C

Speed: B

Range: C

Durability: C

Precision: E

Potential: C

Ability: Generates gases from its pores with different effects.

"Three treasure chest full of solid gold coins," a barrel wearing Leatherleaf read to the townsfolk. They found him just outside the town's border, stark naked and robbed of everything, even his clothes.

"Well, guess that's that," the mayor said.

"What?!" exclaimed Felicia. "You're just going to leave him to die?"

"Now, now, the boy's going to live. We're just not going to see him again. Call it a win-win situation."

"It's just one mammal anyway," said Mr. Loggle, the local carpenter.

"What if it was one tadpole then? How would you react?"

"Felicia," said Hopediah. "You also have to look at it at a realistic sense.

Felicia frowned. "Unbelievable. We've got to save him, Mom." Sylvia made an annoyed croak. "You're not helping, Mom."

"Don't worry," said Leatherleaf. "I'll get him back. As soon as I'm out of this barrel first."

"No! No! No one wants to see that," Felicia shouted. "Especially not Ivy." She was met with silence. "Ivy?"

Hopediah looked around, realizing two people were missing. "Dang it, Sprig!"

"Are we sure we should be doing this?" asked Sprig as the kids walked into the forest. "I mean, Hop Pop's going to get sore if he finds out I'm doing this."

"I say it's worth it," said Polly. "I've been wanting to have an adventure ever since JoJo came. I've got this pent up excitement in me and I NEED TO RELEASE IT IN DROVES!"

"Guys, I need you to cooperate with me on this," Ivy said as she checked the map. "We're getting close to the hideout and according to the map it's under that tree." She pointed to a dead oak tree. "I have a plan, and it requires using Invisible Touch."

"But, how can we help?" asked Sprig. "We don't have Stands and we can't see yours."

Ivy smirked. "By doing what I do best. And by letting Polly do what she does best."

Polly made a mischievous smile. "Ooh, I like where this is going."

Johan wished he could move at all. But as he was still paralyzed, he couldn't. So, he just lied down on the stone slab Ram Bamboo left him on and counted the minutes that ticked by as Ram Bamboo counted her loot. Suddenly, some dirt landed on his face. He looked up and was surprised to see Sprig and Ivy crawling in through the wall and climbing on the rafters. Ivy put her finger to her lips then summoned Invisible Touch to make herself and Sprig disappear.

"Uh, actually I could use your help with something," Johan said, getting Ram Bamboo's attention.

"You? You want my help? You're about to be my meal ticket."

"I'm looking for my friends. They're girls, Anne, Sasha and Marcy. They should be around here somewhere."

Ram Bamboo raised an eyebrow. "You're stalling."

"It's true! There's a picture of them in the pocket in the pants you're wearing."

Not believing it at first, the frog girl reached into the left pocket. Sure enough, she found the photo. "Ugh. Is this your human standards for beautiful? They're so skinny."

Johan chuckled. "Well, you're no spring chicken yourself."

Ram Bamboo stared. "Frog. I'm a frog."

"It's an expression. It means you're not that beautiful either."

"Oh. It's a human expression." Then she realized, "Hey, wait a minute! I'm beautiful! I could steal any boy I want! Ones that are less ugly and hairy than you!"

In realtà ha fatto un po' male. "Please, like anyone could fall for a common thief like you."

"Common?! I can get any boy I want with Green Onions! I can use her to create a powerful aphrodisiac that makes any creature fall head over heels for me!" At that moment, Green Onions appeared behind her and a pink gas sprayed out of its pores. "Would you like an example?"

Johan held his breath, but the gas forced its way into his nose like it had a mind of its own and he immediately felt its effects. He felt lightheaded, hot and...well... His face turned red with embarrassment.

Ram Bamboo laughed with sadistic glee. "What did I tell you?! No one can resist me!" Suddenly a rock hit her in the face. She turned around, looking for the perpetrator. "Friends of yours, mammal?"

"Uh..." was all Johan could say.

"So you won't talk, eh? Green Onions!" The gas from her Stand turned from pink to green and began to fill the room. She heard a coughing sound behind her and she smirked. "Found you." Green Onions reached out and grabbed whoever was behind her, and it turned out to be Sprig and Ivy. "All I had to do was turn the air in here into pure sulphur to smoke you out. Now, you two are going to suffocate for hitting me in the eye!"

"That...that wasn't us," Sprig choked.

"Don't lie! I can see your friend's little Stand, there!" Green Onions flicked Invisible Touch off Ivy's shoulder.

"Actually, we didn't intend on using my Stand," said Ivy.

"Huh?"

"SURPRISE ATTACK!"

"What the-"

CLANG!

Ram Bamboo fell to the ground as something hard hit her on the head. Polly jumped down from a pile of treasure and laughed in triumph as she swung around her flail. "That's right! No one expects Polly Plantar!"

Johan immediately felt the effects of the paralyzing nerve agent instantly wear off and he stood up. "About time. I was starting to worry no one would come."

"They almost did," said Ivy. "But I didn't want to leave you. You're a good friend." She handed him his clothes. "Now put these on so I don't have to see your hairy body."

Johan let out a yelp of shock, quickly snatched the clothes and ran behind a pillar. "Don't look!"

"Too late. We saw everything."

That made him yelp. "E-Everything?"

"Everything."

He let out a sob.

Once Johan was back in his white undershirt, red jacket, green pants and black shoes, he looked down at the unconscious Ram Bamboo. "What are we going to do with her?" Ivy asked.

"Let Sheriff Leatherleaf deal with her. Besides," he turned to look at all the piles of riches. "We gotta return this stuff back to their owners."

"Uh, we don't have to return all of it," said Polly as she wore a tiara and purple robe. "I mean, we can keep some of this stuff if no one claims it."

"Polly..." Johan then sighed. "You're right. You should at least keep some of it if no one claims it. Lord knows your grandfather could use the money to improve that dirt farm."

"Hey, that's my dirt farm too. We Plantars have owned it for hundreds of years, even if it is dirt," Polly snapped. "Right, Sprig?" Silence. "Sprig?"

"MMMH! MMMH!"

"Sprig?" asked Ivy.

"Sprig?" called out Johan.

The trio slowly turned to see Ram Bamboo had gotten back up, her hand over Sprig's mouth. She was panting heavily and there was a mad look in her eyes as blood dripped down her head. "You...ain't getting away, freak." Green Onions appeared behind her and sprayed out a red vapor. "Red phosphorous. An explosive chemical found in fireworks." She held up a lighter. "And if any of you make a move, my finger might just slip and ignite this whole room like a bonfire!"

"Put him down!" Ivy and Polly wanted to attack her, but Johan held them back. He looked into Ivy's eyes and nodded. Then he approached Ram Bamboo. "It's me you want, Ram Bamboo. I'm your meal ticket after all."

Ram Bamboo's finger on the lighter trembled. "Don't come any closer! I mean it! I'll blow us all up sky high!"

"And take your money with you?" Johan took another step.

"I don't care! You're more trouble than you look!"

"I don't think you mean that." He took another step.

"Stop! I'll blow you up!"

"JoJo, just do what she says," Polly said, afraid.

"She won't do it."

"Oh, yeah? Prepare to eat your words, Johan Shiobana!" Nothing happened. In fact, Ram Bamboo lost all feeling in her hands and felt them slump down to her sides. This gave Sprig the chance to run. "What's going on," Ram Bamboo shouted. "I can't move my arms!"

"That's because DARE numbed your sense of touch," Johan explained.

"What?! Impossible! I would have known if you summoned your Stand!"

"That is unless Ivy's Stand activated at the same time."

"Wh-What..." DARE appeared behind her, with Invisible Touch riding on its head. "Oh, no..."

"What was that you said? Prepare to eat your words, Ram Bamboo." Before the little frog could call on her Stand, DARE completely numbed her body and she collapsed to the ground. "Still hungry?"

"Boo," Sprig and Polly jeered.

"Oh, like you two could come up with a good one liner."

"I've got plenty," Polly said.

"Guys, what's that?" Ivy pointed to something blue on Ram Bamboo's upper bicep. Johan lifted up her sleeve and saw a tattoo of a blue oyster with a pearl in it. "What's this?"

Johan slammed the trunks onto the ground in front of the town's folk. "Here's your stuff back. And here..." He tossed an unconscious Ram Bamboo at Sheriff Leatherleaf. "Is your thief. And your clothes." He tossed him his clothes back.

Leatherleaf was stunned. "Thief? This little gal? But, there should be two more!"

"There were no thieves. Just this one little girl. You're welcome, by the way. Especially when you all decided not to come rescue me."

"We were about to form a posse," assured Mayor Toadstool. "Why, we were just comin' to rescue you now."

"We were," asked Toadie. Toadstool slapped his mouth shut.

"Either way, I think you should do something about her," Johan nudged Ram Bamboo. "Be gentle with her, she's just a kid."

"Well, I think this calls for a celebration," the Mayor said. "We got our stuff back and JoJo is safe!"

"Save it," the boy said. "I know none of you didn't want to find me. Save for these three." He gestured to Ivy, Sprig and Polly. "If it weren't for them, I was probably going to be sold off to a zoo in Newtopia."

"Why didn't I think of that..." someone in the crowd said.

"Ahem." Ivy, Sprig and Polly slowly turned to see a cross Felicia, Sylvia and Hopediah.

"Uh, hey Hop Pop," said a sheepish Sprig.

"It was all her idea," Polly pointed to Ivy.

"I think we're going to have to have a long talk about running away," said Hop Pop.

"That goes for you too, young lady," said Sylvia.

"Hopediah," called out Johan. "Sprig and I had a little talk, and if no one claims the rest of this treasure, we think it should go to you."

Dollar signs appeared in Hopediah's eyes. "Y-You mean it? Oh, thank you, JoJo! I can finally pay off all my debts! But you two are still in trouble."

Sprig and Polly frowned. "Dang. I thought that would get us off."

Later that evening, Johan was setting up the tea shoppe when Felicia came down the stairs. "Well, I just had a word with Ivy. She's going to be doing a whole year's worth of chores to make up for this. And I have a feeling Sprig and Polly are getting the same lecture from Hopediah."

"I'm sorry," said Johan. "I didn't want those kids to get involved in this."

"Don't be. This isn't the first reckless thing they've done and it won't be the last. Although, Sprig is the one that usually starts it."

Johan smirked. "I like that kid."

Felicia sighed. "You didn't have to do that, going after that thief."

"I had to," Johan said as he finished putting the finishing touches. "I figured if this could make the townsfolk, especially your mother, like me, maybe I won't feel like an outcast. Or make you feel like one."

Felicia laughed. "That's the biggest load of snail dung I ever heard. You didn't have to go through all this trouble. You saved my daughter and we took you in, it doesn't make me feel like an outcast and it shouldn't make you feel like one."

"But, your mother said..."

"We Wartwood folk have a motto. 'Slow to accept, and even slower to respect.' It's actually written on the town's gate." That didn't make Johan feel better. "I'm afraid it's going to take a lot more than stopping a thief and giving back everyone's possessions to earn everyone's respect."

Johan sighed. "I wonder when that will be. Why can't I do that now?"

"Well, you can't," said Sylvia as she walked into the room. "Not in a day."

"I thought you didn't like me, Mrs. Sundew."

"I don't. But if my daughter is willing to put up with you and if my granddaughter is willing to get herself in trouble just to save you, I can tolerate you living here." Johan smiled. "Don't get too mushy on me, boy."

At that moment, someone knocked at the door. Felicia opened it to find Sheriff Leatherwood. "Oh, Sheriff! What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to talk to you lot."

They sat down at one of the tables where the Sheriff began, "Well, that girl's gonna be doing at least one hundred hours of community service, gathering eggs without the use of her Stand."

"That doesn't sound too bad," said Johan.

"Giant spider eggs."

Johan's eyes widened a little. "Oh, God."

"And I've been thinkin' of takin' her in as my newest deputy after that."

"Really?"

"She's got nowhere to go and no parents to return to, from what she's told me." Johan felt sad when he heard that. Then again, it didn't surprise him, if Ram Bamboo's age was any indication. "But that's not what I wanted to talk about." The sheriff held up a drawing of Ram Bamboo's tattoo. "It seems she was part of a gang that hides out in the forest near here. Call themselves Blue Oyster Cult. When they find out you cut off one of their money supplies, they're going to want revenge."

"Oh, great! You put us all in danger, JoJo!"

"Me?! How was I supposed to know she was part of some gang?! I just wanted to give Felicia her stinking tea!"

"Hey!" snapped Felicia.

Johan sighed. "Alright, what else do you know about them?"

"Well, not much," said Leatherleaf. "Other than these guys are ruthless. They like to dismember people if they failed."

Compared to the stories his father told him of Diavolo and what he did to people who crossed him, it didn't sound much to Johan. He stood up. "I've made my decision," he said. "We're gonna take down Blue Oyster Cult and I'm gonna protect this town if anything happens to it."

"Wait, you want to actually go to war with these guys?" asked Felicia, worried. "You could get yourself killed!"

"They started this when they stole your tea and everyone else's stuff and forced a girl to do their bidding. I gotta put a stop to it."

"You, by yourself?" asked Sylvia with a laugh. "This I gotta see."

"Who said anything of being alone? I'm going to need some help. Sheriff, keep talking to Ram Bamboo. Get her to reveal everything she knows about Blue Oyster Cult. Felicia, I want you to talk to the folks around town, ask them anything they know about these Blue Oysters. Who's calling the shots and what business they're running."

Felicia looked up at the ceiling, where Ivy's room was directly above them. "I...I don't know, would this get Ivy involved?"

"No," said Johan. "As much as I want her and her Stand to help, she's too young." Though mentally, he was hoping Ivy would help somehow, indirectly at least.

"Can you assure that my daughter won't get hurt either?" asked Sylvia.

"She can take care of herself, given what I've seen," Johan said. "Now, I can't guarantee that any one of us could get hurt and maybe even killed, but let me assure you, I'm gonna see to it that our little town isn't gonna fall prey to these guys anymore."

"'Our town'?" asked the sheriff.

"This is my home for now, and I'm gonna protect my home. Now, I was thinking of a name for our little group. La Passione della Rana."

"I'm sorry, what?" asked a very confused Felicia.

"It means 'The Frog's Passion'."

Somewhere in an undisclosed location, a frog wearing a wool cap met with a salamander in a white suit with a blue oyster and pearl on the back. "Gentlemen, how was business today," he asked in a deep voice.

The frog in the wool cap handed him a moneybag. "Here's today's take."

The salamander jingled the bag. "It's surprisingly light."

"Yeah, I couldn't get ahold of Ram Bamboo for some odd reason."

"That brat would dare steal from Samandarin?!"

"Hey, I'm not saying that!" The frog then turned to the toad sitting next to the salamander. "Hey, creepy, stop giving me that look while I'm talking to Samandarin."

"On the streets, you may be a popular musician, Dendrobatidae, but in this wagon, you will know your place."

Dendrobatidae lowered his glasses and glared at him. "My place?"

"Bufo, Dendrobatidae, be civil," said Samandarin. "Dendrobatidae, look into the matter of the missing money. If Ram Bamboo has decided to betray me after everything I've done for her, I want you to cut off her foot. I doubt she'll betray me again. But if something's happened to her, I think we may have a problem."

"You-you want me to cut off a little girl's foot?"

"If she stole from me, she needs to learn."

"Y-Yeah, that makes sense."

"Is there a problem?" Bufo asked.

"No! No! It's no problem, I got this..."

Author's note: For those wondering where Anne is, remember, she was all alone in the woods for a whole month. This segment focuses on Johan making his own mark before Anne comes into the picture.