TheSBRdude: Hol Horse is going to have an interesting arc. He's a changed man, different than he was in Stardust Crusaders. He's older, tired, and he really just wants to go home and put away his gun for good. But he has been threatened into serving DIO once more.

Author's Note: DIO won't be appearing much in this story, because he is the main antagonist of A Legacy to Build. However, that doesn't mean he won't have a presence.

Jotaro yawned, blinking the exhaustion out of his eyes as he slowly rolled over in his bed...

Only to find Susan laying next to him.

"GUH!" Jotaro fell out of the bed as Susan sat up, startled. "Honey?! What's wrong?!"

"You're dead!"

Susan blinked, before as sad look came onto her face. "Another nightmare? Oh Jotaro, I thought those had stopped...do you need me to call the doctor?"

Doctor?! Susan, alive?! SLEEPING NEXT TO ME?!

"Oi! What's with all the racket?!" Johnny's voice called from across the hall.

"Jo-"

"Your father had another nightmare, it's okay!" Susan called back, and Jotaro deadlines as Johnny responded as if his dead abusive mother being in Jotaro's room was a common occurance.

"Okay! Is he alright?"

"Are you alright Jotaro?" Susan asked, genuine concern on her face. Her eyes held no madness, no hostile intent...

She looked like a concerned wife.

"Yes...I'm fine." Jotaro said, brushing himself off. Something is definitely wrong...I'll have to play it safe until I can figure out what's happening.

"Good." Susan smiled. "You've had enough pain in your life, wouldn't want a sprain to go with it!"

She's making...jokes?

Wait...

Isn't Johnny supposed to be at the dorms? Why is he here?

Jotaro got up and Susan took his arm, causing him to flinch. "Sorry, forgot you'd still be jumpy." Susan smiled sheepishly. "Just thought I'd offer you some comfort."

"I'm fine...I just need to take a walk."

"Okay..."

Jotaro walked down the hall, almost bumping into his daughter. "Whoa! Watch where you're going old man!" Jolyne laughed as she lightly punched her father in the shoulder. "You wouldn't want to trample your only daughter, would you?"

"I'm considering it." Jotaro responded, earning a snort from Jolyne. Well at least Jolyne seems somewhat normal...

Jolyne's phone buzzed, and she pulled it out and sighed. "Romeo, you cheese ball." She said as she walked off.

Romeo?!

As in Romeo Jisso?! The guy that framed her for murder?! Why would she still be dating him?! And Susan being a normal person?

Where's Johnny?

"You good Dad?" Jotaro turned and did a double take. It was Johnny, but he was...different. His hair was cut short, like it was before the Steel Ball Run, and he was dressed in a uniform similar to his first hero costume. A blue jacket and a horseshoe for a belt buckle, the only difference was the cowboy boots.

"Yes...you?"

Johnny smiled, a bright one. "I'm going off to the track, I need to practice for the big race coming up! Man...I never thought I would have so many fans!"

Fans? Is Johnny...is he a jockey? Not a hero?

I must be in some sort of alternate timeline...or a delusion.

"Well, good luck...I'm sure Slow Dancer is waiting for you."

"Slow Dancer? My horse's name is Mac."

"...Mac...right. Sorry."

Johnny shook his head. "Yare yare...you can be so dense sometimes, old man. I've got to get going, give Mom a big kiss for me!"

"...sure."

Disgusting, I would never... Jotaro thought to himself as Johnny exited the house. Jotaro passed by the fireplace, and stopped.

There was a picture of his family...and Susan was in it. In fact, there were others...

Kakyoin...

Avdol...

Polnareff...

Joseph...

They were all there, with his children. They...they were alive. Everyone looked so happy, as if the tragedy in Egypt never happened. It was...

Beautiful...

Jotaro put a hand to the photo as Susan positioned herself beside him. "We've been blessed, haven't we? When we lost Nicholas...you and those men were there for me. I'm forever grateful for that...for our family." Susan took Jotaro's hand and rested her head on his shoulder.

Jotaro could only stare in shock, it was like everything wrong with his life had just been erased from existance. The friends that he had lost so long ago were alive and well, Susan wasn't an abusive monster, and his children seemed...genuinely happy.

"Ah, that was a good day." A familiar voice said, and Muhammad Avdol stood beside him, followed by Noriaki Kakyoin. "I've always been so grateful that we got to do this, that we could go back to some sort of normal lives since our fight with DIO."

"Yeah..."

He could get used to this...

If only it wasn't too good to be true.

"I'm going for a walk Susan, I'll...I'll be right back."

"Okay JoJo." Susan kissed him on the cheek. "Come back soon!"

"Yeah...I will." Jotaro said as he exited the house.

What the hell is going on?!

Jotaro walked down the street, stewing over recent developments. Why his life was suddenly perfect, he still had no idea.

This has to be the work of an enemy stand...whether it warped me to another reality of imprisoned me inside my own head, I have to escape...

I...I have to escape, right?

Johnny's happy, he never suffered...Jolyne probably never went to prison...and in this world I was there for them. I...I could be happy here...

Jotaro checked his pockets and pulled out his phone, swiping through the current events and headlines.

Famed Jockey JoJo Once Again Takes First Place!

Shigaraki: Behind Bars!

Crime at an All Time Low!

Everything seemed to be alright. Jotaro scrolled down some more, and found something that caught his eye.

Quirkless Foundation raises half a million dollars.

There's a foundation for the quirkless? That's nice...

Curiosity peaked Jotaro's interest, so he clicked on the link.

The Quirkless Foundation is a benevolent organization dedicated to the prevention of discrimination against the quirkless. The organization was founded by Inko Midoriya after the unfortunate suicide of her quirkless son, Izuku.

Jotaro's breath caught in his chest. Izuku couldn't have done something like that, it wasn't in his nature. Quickly, he dialed his son's number.

"Hi Dad, what is it?"

"Midoriya...what happened to him?"

There was a moment of silence on the other side of the phone. "You know I haven't been friends with him since I was six, right Dad? I honestly don't know why he did it...but one day Kachaan just told him to jump off a roof, and he took the advice. It's disappointing...but I guess that's what happens when you lose all your friends."

"Why...why weren't you friends? I thought you were close. "

"Well...it wasn't really cool to be around him anymore...I kind of just went with everyone else...I always felt bad for him though..."

Johnny never had a bad childhood...so he never understood how Midoriya felt...they never had the same brotherly relationship. Without Johnny, Midoriya never had anyone...

Jotaro looked down, remembering the One For All user, and the way he always lit up whenever quirk information was involved.

"Why did you call about this? I mean, it happened a while ago."

"I don't know Johnny...I'm, kind of reevaluating a few things."

"Okay...are you sure you're okay? You looked a little out of it this morning."

"I'm fine, sorry for worrying you."

Jotaro put his phone in his pocket and sat down, rubbing his face. Someone that was extremely important to Johnny's life would've been destined to die if he wasn't in it. Jotaro couldn't help but feel disturbed by this revelation.

"He was always more important to you than I thought...wasn't he Midoriya? He kept you sane..." Jotaro muttered to himself. "Wait..."

Jotaro pulled out his phone again. If Johnny never wanted to become a hero...what became of the Steel Ball Run? He quickly typed in: What country am I in?

The United States.

Valentine got his wish, the world was America. Jotaro should've known when the Quirkless Foundation raised dollars instead of yen. Johnny never participated in the Steel Ball Run, because he didn't feel the need to prove himself. He already had a strong career. His goal was always horse racing.

Which meant that Susan's abuse was what caused Johnny to aspire to be a hero. He didn't want others to feel the same pain he did. And now, in this world, this big America, Johnny didn't really care.

But he was happy, and that was what Jotaro had always wanted for him. Jotaro had always regretted watching his son go through all that pain...but Izuku...Gyro...Jiro-

Wait.

Didn't Johnny save Kyoka at the USJ?

Jotaro searched up the incident, and he froze.

UA High Finishes Building the USJ Memorial.

The USJ incident was one of the biggest tragedies of our time. After the League of Villains infiltrated the training center, the stand user known as Magenta Magenta went on a killing spree. Promising heroes such as Momo Yaoyorozu...

"This is why you're my favorite teacher..."

Denki Kaminari...

"Yay!"

Kyoka Jiro, Tsuyu Asui, and Minoru Mineta all fell to the crazed madman's bullets. The death of these children caused the school to shut down, and a wild manhunt for Tomura Shigaraki was started. While the school has recently reopened, many are calling for it's permanent closure, including the parents of the victims.

Jotaro could only stare at the piece of text, not believing what he was seeing.

Those were his students...

He had watched them grow, develop into capable heroes. Even Kaminari, who wasn't all that bright, learned to stand on his own. And because Johnny wasn't there, they never had the chance...

Jiro.

"Dad?"

"Yes Johnny?" Jotaro looked up from his desk.

"So...I went to visit Kyoka in the hospital today...and...I might have a date."

"About damn time."

"I need help."

"Do you?" Jotaro asked. "She clearly likes you for you, I don't think you'll have to try too hard."

"I want to make it special...I've felt this way for a long time." Johnny said, sitting down next to his father. "Dad...I'm in love..."

"A lot of kids think that they're in love when they develop feelings like this." Jotaro responded.

"No. No Dad, this isn't teenaged hormones. I know what they feel like, and this isn't it. I...I think I'm genuinely in love with her. She...she makes me really happy Dad, and she's saved me in more ways than one. I-I want her to know how grateful I am...I want her to know just how strongly I feel for her."

Jotaro scratched the stubble on his chin. "She really means that much to you?"

"Yes." Johnny said it without hesitation, and Jotaro had to smile.

"Then I'll support you, and her. If she is seriously who you want to have a future with, I will do my very best to help you make it happen, even with my lack of experience."

Johnny smiled, brighter than Jotaro had ever seen him before. "Thanks Dad! You're the best!"

Johnny turned to leave, but he stopped. "I know I don't say this enough...but I love you Dad. Never forget that."

Jotaro's normally steely gaze softened. "I love you too Johnny...more than anything."

"Even Jolyne?"

"No, don't start that shit, I love you both equally."

"I know." Johnny said, smirking. "It's just fun to see you all flustered."

"Go to your room already."

Here Lies: Kyoka Jiro

Rock on, our little songbird...

Jotaro stared at the gravestone, remembering how his son professed his love for the girl that was now six feet beneath his feet, with one of Magenta's bullets in her head. He remembered the way she used to look so...passionate, about her interests, and how Johnny shared it.

Johnny loved her...and for what she did to help heal his son...Jotaro had come to love her too. In many ways, she was already his daughter-in-law.

"Jotaro?"

Jotaro turned to see Susan standing behind him, with his family and friends. "Jotaro, honey...why are you out here? You've been gone all day..."

"Something's wrong...and I think I've finally figured it out."

"What?"

"This is an illusion, isn't it?!" Jotaro shouted.

"Jotaro." Kakyoin stepped forward. "I know what happened in Egypt was stressful for you, but it's over now...everyone is okay..."

"No, you're DEAD! DIO killed you!" Jotaro responded. "And Avdol...you and Iggy were killed by Vanilla Ice. I just wished you had survived. I will forever miss you, but it's time to move on."

"Dad...please, think of the life we are living...don't you want to be happy, don't you want me to be happy?" Johnny said, stepping forward.

"You aren't my son!" Jotaro said, pointing at him. "You're the life I wished he had...but I love Johnny the way he is, I know he has gone through pain, but I would never wish for him to be any different!"

"Jolyne..." Jotaro turned to his daughter. "I abandoned you. I may have had good intentions...but you still suffered. I will forever regret that...but I won't deny it happened. I'm sorry."

"AND YOU!" Jotaro pointed at Susan. "You were nothing but a monster. You put my family through hell, and even if I'm partially responsible for it, you were still insane! And this girl,"

Jotaro motioned towards Kyoka's grave. "This girl made sure that you paid for it! And she's still alive, because this is all a dream! I want my life back, my REAL life! It had hardship, and it had suffering...but in the end I would never trade it for the world."

Jotaro summoned Star Platinum. "Do you hear me?! I WANT MY LIFE BACK!" He shouted into the sky.

Trevor Butterfield was an easygoing man.

More than anything, he wanted everything to go his way. He was the kind of man that detested bad luck and misfortune. So when Lord Santana had approached him and offered a life free of worry or strife, he took it without hesitation.

And all he had to was put a UA teacher to sleep.

It was easy, after all, who would expect a simple street performer of being a stand user?

His stand, Euphoria, can put people to sleep the moment they hear him play an instrument. While his stand doesn't have an established physical form, it's effect allows him to hide in plain sight. Once under the stand's ability, the victim would be trapped in a world in which all of their dreams would come true.

Trevor reached into his guitar case and pulled out a long jagged blade. At least Dr. Kujo will die a happy man...

Paradise, here I come!

He plunged the knife downwards, when a purple hand emerged from Jotaro's chest and caught his wrist. "What the-"

Jotaro's eyes shot open, and they soon developed a steely glare as the Kujo patriarch sat up. "So...you're the one behind this..."

"I-Impossible! You can't wake up! You shouldn't want to wake up!"

Star Platinum grabbed Trevor by the throat and lifted him off the ground as the dark shadow that was once Jotaro Kujo slowly approached him.

"What was the point of all that? What was pissing me off gonna buy you?"

"I...ga-gave...you...everything...you've ever wanted!" Trevor choked out, trying to free himself from Star Platinum's vice grip. "I...made...your dreams...come...TRUE! Why...why...would you want to wake up?!"

"Some dreams aren't meant to come true." Jotaro responded. "Reality is often disappointing, but it's worth more than a fantasy. My life has been full of hardship...but that's what makes the joyful moments so special. Actually, I should thank you."

"Thank...me?"

"Yes. Thanks to you, I've finally learned that I should stop living in the past. I'm done moping, done worrying, and those I've lost wouldn't want me to mourn them anymore. It's time I've started living for the future...and the first thing I wanna do for that future..."

Jotaro and Star Platinum loomed threateningly over Trevor.

"And that's to put another scumbag in the hospital..."

"NO! WAIT! I'M SORRY, PLEA-"

"ORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORA!"

"Well, how do I look?" Johnny asked.

"Yare yare daze, you looked fine three outfits ago." Jotaro responded. Johnny was wearing a light blue polo shirt and navy blue shorts. The date wasn't anything fancy, although Johnny seemed to think otherwise.

"I just want this night to be perfect." Johnny said, looking down. Jotaro walked over and put a hand on his son's shoulder.

"Nothing is perfect Johnny, and that's the beauty of it. You never truly know what fate has in store. Life has it's ups and downs, and the downs help shape who we are. If Jiro is truly the one, then she'll stick with you through all of it."

"That was...uncharacteristically wise of you." Johnny said. "You sound like some wise old sage."

"I'm giving you life advice, isn't that normally something fathers do?"

"Yare yare daze, you tryhard."

"Better than not trying at all. Look, just be you, be ready for anything, and have fun. That's all I've got."

The doorbell rang, and Johnny immediately bolted to the door, earning a snort from his father. He opened it to find Kyoka standing there, awkwardly.

"A-are you ready?"

Johnny looked back at his father, and Jotaro gave him a reassuring nod. Johnny smiled and turned back to his date.

"Yes."

Kyoka returned the smile and took his hand. "Then what are we waiting for?"

The two left, and Jotaro watched them retreat, completely engrossed in what seemed to be an interesting conversation. Their hands were entwined together, as if they were two puzzle pieces that were always meant to fit together.

Jotaro didn't need things to be perfect, because seeing his son with someone he genuinely loved was enough. In the end, despite all the tragedy, it was truly love that could save a person.

On Jotaro's desk, a walkie talkie buzzed.

"The lovebirds are on their way, ready to spy on them?" Gyro asked over the device.

Jotaro rolled his eyes and picked it up. "It's not spying, it's observing from a distance to make sure things don't go wrong."

"It's spying."

"Yare yare...yes Gyro, I'm ready."

Ready to embrace the future.

Credit goes to Guest for the stand!

I really think Jotaro needed a chapter to get some growth, and this stand was perfect for that!

Next chapter will be the date between Johnny and Kyoka, I'm not quite sure how it's going to play out just yet, just that it will eventually end in the two deciding to pursue a full relationship. If anyone has ideas, I would love to hear them!