Episode 1 - Dio Brando the Invader
The atmosphere in the room was musty and damp. It was barely lit outside a single oil lamp, not covering the entire room.
"Dio? Can you hear me?"
An old man was lying in bed, ill. A raspy cough escaped his throat.
"Dio… Cone here Dio! Are you deaf?" he coughed.
Dio was a young boy with well-combed blond hair, basic clothing, sharp facial features and soulless eyes. You could look into them and not see a drop of emotion.
He was sitting on a chair reading a book on the other side of the room. Closing his book and standing up, he sighed and walked over to the old man.
"Yes, father? Your medicine?" he said, a slight tone of annoyance in his voice.
"N-no, no medicine. Dio, I just wanted to talk about something with you…"
The old man coughed particularly loudly, shaking about in his bed. Dio watched, silent. His father began to speak.
"You can probably tell, but I've not got long left in this world… You're my only concern once I pass."
Dio's father paused. "Listen carefully, Dio." His father pulled out a letter, and using his trembling hand he handed it to his son.
"Y-you're to mail this letter and head to the place it's addressed to! The man owes me a favour, I'm sure he will look after you… Maybe even take you to school!" The old man softly laughed.
Dio looked down at the letter, taking it all in.
I'm sure he will remember me, the idiot thinks he owes me big time. It was a rainy day 12 years ago, 1868. I can never let Dio know what happened that day…
The cliffs tended to crumble on rainy days and carriages fell off. I was with some girl from the bar when I noticed a fancy-looking cabin crashed. I immediately scrambled down the rocks.
"Wait, honey! I don't want to get involved with this!" the girl called out.
"It's a rich man's cabin, it's gotta have something good!" I called out
To my shock, there was a person impaled by a wheel of the cabin. There were other dead people scattered around as well.
"There's a dead woman in the carriage, but she's holding a baby that is alive! Must've been protecting him," the girl called out.
I ignored her and began to pull off a diamond-laced ring off a noble's finger. Giddied with excitement, I looked over more of his stuff, including this suitcase.
"Huh? It's this creepy-looking mask." Inside was a stone mask with a spiral on the top and fangs on its lips, chunks knocked outa it.
Suddenly, the nobleman grabbed my hand. "Eh!"
"Y-you.. you're the one who saved me? Thank you…" the nobleman gasped.
Confused, I nodded along. "My wife and son… are they safe?" The man said trembling in the cold.
I clasped my hands, "Aw, your wife and driver have passed away, but the child is safe." I thought to myself that this idiot thought I saved his life, a lucky break on my part.
The man began to cry and rambled on with how he should have been the one to save them and how he should have lost his life instead. "I was going to repay you, but my wallet seems to be snatched by someone… My name is Joestar, I'd like to repay you someday. T-tell me your name before I faint again, I swear I will repay my debt."
I laughed to myself. No harm in telling him my name… "I am but an unworthy commoner, but my name is Brando."
I used the money I received from him to start a pub, but my life and luck went to crap. My ol' wife died and the pub shut down, now I'm on my deathbed, goddammit!
"DIO! You're a smart boy, never lose and become the richest of 'em all, make your father proud!"
Dio stayed silent once again and looked straight into his father's eyes with his cold gaze.
Dio stood in a coat, hair waving in the wind. In front of him was a grave reading "Dario Brando, Born 1827, Dead 1880".
"You worthless, ugly, scumbag of a father! You drove mother to an early grave, bastard!" Dio muttered to himself.
You want me to become the richest man? Fine, I'll do it! I'll accept your stupid "inheritance"! I could do it alone, but I'll use everything and everyone I can. I'll milk the Joestar Nobles for everything they're worth and never lose!
"Piece of shit!" Dio swore as he spat on his father's grave, walking out from the graveyard.
The 19th century! A time when development was on the rise and lifestyles changed dramatically! However, many people remained starving and poor, men both young and old wished they could one day live like a nobleman!
This thirst and dream for riches took people like a plague!
"No! Give it back, you're ripping her hands off!" A young blond girl jumped up, trying to grab her new doll from the hands of two boys, stealing it and teasing her.
"Hey, how bout we rip these clothes off and see how lifelike they are to the real thing!" one of them laughed.
"Erina, Erina! Erina the crybaby!" the boys called out, chanting.
"Knock it off!" A voice came from the left. "Give her half the doll!"
Erina wiped away one of her tears, turning to look. Another boy in rich clothes and short blue hair was standing up on a stone wall nearby.
"Who the hell are you?! Erina's friend?"
The boy charged forward. "I don't know her, but I've got plenty of reasons to fight you!"
"Ah!" one bully called out, getting slammed with an elbow from Erina's protector.
"B-bastard! I hate guys who try and suck up to girls! I'm gonna kick your ass!"
The bully slammed a fist down into the boy, him now punching. The fist banged into his head, knocking the air from him and crashing him into the floor.
The bullies burst out laughing at the boy, shaking on the floor and with a bloody nose. "What a sight to see! Acted all strong and tough for a girl and got his ass kicked! This guy's a joke!"
The other bully chirped in. "He's the Joestar kid, right? Makes sense he would be a weakling, sheltered by his daddy and never had to face hardship!"
"Oh wait, he is that kid! I hate rich people, stuck-up brats! If you are a Joestar, we got even more of a reason to beat you to a pulp!"
The noble boy pulled out a handkerchief with his name written on it, 'Johnathan Joestar'.
"You are the bastard after all! You think you're all high and mighty, time to teach you!"
The bullies began to kick and stomp on Johnathan, taking turns beating him up. "Hmph! Go play on your own property, let's get outa here!" The bully ushered the other and they walked off, leaving the doll behind.
Johnathan collapsed on the floor and started to try and regain his breath. Erina reached out, but he swatted her hand away. "Leave me alone! Get out of here! I didn't go after them to get thanked by you!"
Huh? Erina stared at Johnathan, feeling weird.
"I want to be a true gentleman, courageous and fight even when he's bound to lose! A gentleman has to stand up to injustice towards the weak."
He scoffed. "One day, however, one day I'll be able to beat them." Johnathan walked off, limping a little and wiping his nose more with his hand.
Erina looked at the ground and the handkerchief he had dropped. "Johnathan Joestar…"
Why did he take the handkerchief out? They wouldn't have attacked him again if not for knowing his name… It must be about being a "true gentleman" like he was talking about…
Johnathan had made his way back to his house, a huge mansion with two stories and an attic. Pristine windows laced the outdoors, a fancy gate surrounded the premise and the overall architecture conveyed wealth.
He then noticed a cabin outside the front gate. It had seemingly just stopped by how the horses were just slowing down.
A leather suitcase fell onto the floor. Soon after, a blond kid with similar clothes to Johnathan jumped out. Picking up his posture, he straightened his jacket a little, turning to look at Johnathan.
"Who could you be?" Johnathan asked.
Oh, I know, that's Dio Brando, father talked about him and how they went way back. His father passed away recently so his father decided to let him live here. He's about the same age as me!
"You must be Dio Brando, right?"
"And you must be Johnathan Joestar."
"Everyone calls me JoJo though… Nice to meet you!" Johnathan laughed.
The sound of woofing and panting crept up behind the two boys. "Danny!" Johnathan called out, dropping onto the floor and ushering the dog over.
Danny was a Great Dane with a white body and black spots all over his torso. His tongue flapped about as he ran about.
"Dio, this is my dog, his name's Danny! He's a clever old hunting dog. Don't worry, he doesn't bite!"
"Hmph." Dio scoffed.
Dio let out an uppercut-like kick right into the poor dog's face, slamming him into the ground and knocking the breath out of him.
"DIO, whatever do you think you're doing?! I'll never forgive you! Why'd you kick Danny!" Johnathan shouted, fist trembling.
So, this pathetic boy is the Joestar heir, JoJo… I'll psychologically torture him and bring him to the edge, then I, Dio, will take his place as heir to the Joestar fortune! Dio thought, clasping a fist as well.
Johnathan's Father, George Joestar, welcomed Dio into the mansion soon after. "You must be exhausted, Dio! It's a long journey from London, now you're a part of the family."
Dio stood proudly. "You will now live as my son JoJo does."
George ushered over to a group of people. "They will be your servants. I work in grade and there will be times I must leave the house, everything is up to them in those cases."
Johnathan started at Dio, still shocked about Danny. Dio's eyes traced over the entrance room of the mansion. The carpet was a silky vibrant maroon, covering the whole floor. The stairway was made of the finest mahogany wood buy. A large statue of an unknown figure was in the corner of the room, next to the stairway. Everything was polished and seemingly cost thousands to put together.
"I cannot express my thanks in words for your goodwill. JoJo also lost his mother, and you are both the same age. I hope you can be friends. JoJo, it's time to get over Danny, alright?"
Johnathan was still slightly trembling. Dio smirked. "Yes sir… if an unknown dog ran up to me, I would be shocked as well. It's all right."
I do wish he would apologise, though… But since we'll be living together, I should try and become friends with him.
"Come, Dio, I'll show you where you will be staying," George called out, beginning to walk up the stairwell.
Dio started to follow, noticing a peculiar stone mask hung on the wall. While he was staring, JoJo picked up Dio's suitcase to help him out. Dio's hand latched backwards and clasped Johnathan's arm.
"Waah! U… Ugh!! L- Let me go!" JoJo winced in pain.
"What do you think you're doing? Don't touch my suitcase." Dio said coldly, staring directly into Johnathan's eyes.
"Huh?"
"I said, get your dirty hands off my suitcase, imbecile!"
Dio twisted JoJo's arm around even more, amplifying the pain. "I-I was going to carry it up for you…"
"No thanks! I'll have my servants carry my suitcase, your hands are covered in dog slobber!"
Dio smashed his shoulder into Johnathan's chest, making him collapse and gasp for air. Pinching JoJo's ear, he whispered, "Let's get this straight, don't you dare look down on me just because I'm staying at your house and am a commoner. I am the greatest. Number one. The best. I'll not tolerate someone looking down on me!"
Johnathan let out a sigh of relief when Dio backed off. "I just… wanted to be friends!"
Dio ignored Johnathan. "One more thing! I hate dogs! I'm not afraid of them, just think they're disgusting how they grovel up to us humans! Don't you dare see that mutt Danny around me again!"
George turned around, unimpressed. "What are you two doing? Hurry now."
"Yes, sir." Dio climbed up the stairs, an accomplished look on his face.
JoJo had led an enjoyable life until that moment, then it turned into something wretched.
"Wrong again, JoJo!"
The two boys were being homeschooled by Johnathan's father. George slapped down onto JoJo's hand with a belt. "Ouch!!"
"That's the sixth time! You've made the same simple mistake six times! You say you don't get it, but it doesn't matter how much I teach it, you don't understand!"
Johnathan rubbed his hand, trying to ease the pain.
"Look at Dio!! He got 20 out of 20 correct!"
Johnathan cast a salty look at a calm Dio doing his work flawlessly.
The three of them were eating dinner, expensive steak, peas and potatoes. Johnathan was stuffing his mouth full, crumbs of food falling down his chest. Suddenly, he banged over his wine glass, spilling it over the fresh table cloth.
Slamming his fist into the table, George had had enough. "JOJO! You call yourself a gentleman! Your manners are boorish!"
George was fuming, Johnathan was still comprehending what was happening.
Taking a deep breath, George waved over to one of his servants. "Clear JoJo's plate."
"W-What…?!" Johnathan exclaimed.
"That's enough dinner for you tonight! You will go to bed without supper! Head to your room immediately!! Ever since Dio arrived, I realised that I have been too lenient on you all these years! You're an embarrassment! Learn from Dio, his manners are perfect!!" George screamed.
Dio smugly looked over with sly eyes. "Hmph. Imbecile."
Johnathan ran off, locking his door and collapsing on his bed face first, tears falling down.
"…" Johnathan started out the window and to the moon, a waxing crescent.
I'm so lonely… I'm going to die here, alone, drowning in my own tears.
No one will mourn for me when you find my body… I wonder if they would even care?
He noticed the portrait of his mother on top of his bed frame. She looked a lot like Johnathan, he took after his mother a lot.
Maybe she would have been nice to me…?
Staring and crying for a bit longer, he noticed an unfinished bar of chocolate lying on his bedside table.
"My chocolate! I never finished it!"
Unwrapping it instantly, he started to devour his chocolate, regaining his happy mood. In what felt like almost no time for Johnathan, it was morning again.
Not really any changes for the first chapter, and very few in the next couple. The beginning of Phantom Blood is almost perfect, and I won't be changing too much until the prologue is finished.