Bearticguy7: Could be interesting!

Monster King: You've got it!

Jabrahz: Yeah...they aren't winning yet...

Kashmir Kenshiro: I guess we'll have to wait and see!

Memelord16: Ah, yes, they are indeed. Also...I'm not sure that's true. I believe there were plenty of stories where beheading the Wendigo, or even just fatally wounding it, would've been enough to kill it.

Or to go for their icy heart, which Gyro did.

Delrosario: I believe that is true, but Joseph had sustained a cut before Josuke accidentally de-aged him, so the power worked. Doesn't really matter, I've decided to place a tiny limit on Josuke so he wouldn't just become the medicine man.

Euphoria: Pretty spot on!

Dumpstertrashfire123: The Operator is an enemy that can't be beaten with violence. The Infinite Rotation? Yes, but there aren't any horses around...normal ones at least. It is very much an overpowered, dominating threat, made all the scarier by it's silence.


*A/N: The Operator is and isn't Slenderman. It has a different appearance and motives, but it has a similar vibe, and shares a name with his Marble Hornets counterpart.

Think of it as...my version/interpretation.


*Gyro's notes.

Fate.

It's...truly a scary thing when you think about it. I'm a Zeppeli...and as you know, previous members of the Zeppeli family have unfortunately passed...often by protecting their respective Joestar.

There was a point where it looked like I was heading in the same direction...

Fate exists. There are certain things that are bound to happen...but that doesn't mean we are slaves to it. Fate can be changed, molded...shaped. Whether it's by some godlike Heaven Stand...

Or...something that seemed small, but could change the course of your life. Fate is actually much more fragile than people realize...and it can be changed by one action. You never really know if it has changed, or if you're on the path towards it...

That day...our third day in the Forest... I found out a truth that seriously frightened me.


The Dark Forest: Day 3

*Izuku and Katsuki have been discharged, and are recovering.

*Johnny and Mirko have been searching for Ochako for a whole 8 hours, with no luck. Johnny is still severely wounded, more so than Mirko.

*The Barge sank yesterday, and Kyoka has returned...different.

*UA gave an official statement on the attack, stating that the two students that were harmed will still be attending, and reparations were being made.

*People have begun flying Santana's flag.

*Jotaro has reemerged...wet. It appears as though he was at the Barge when it sank. Sightings show that he is making a break towards the Gunga Mountains.

*Ochako has been surviving on her own, constantly being hunted by The Rake.


Gyro finished applying the antidote to his arm, wincing at the sting. Luckily, they had run into the mysterious salesman again.

"Gee wilikers! You guys actually beat a Wendigo! It usually takes about...10 people to do that!" The Broker remarked

"Gee wilikers?" Hawks muttered..

"We couldn't touch the Operator though, we had to run." Hawks said, rubbing his cheek. "I strained my broken wing flying too...so I probably won't be doing that again until I can get it healed."

"Of course you couldn't. That's why people normally hide during a Blood Moon...but you two definitely caught the Operator's attention. I mean, you killed a Wendigo, just the two of you...you both probably got it worried for the page."

"Well, I'm down a steel ball." Gyro said, and jerked his thumb towards Hawks. "Now Hawks is a flightless bird...and depending on what comes next...he may go the way of the Dodo."

"Hey!"

"Well, I'd sell you one of mine, but I only have two, and they ain't Zeppeli grade."

"It's fine...say, are you selling steel?" Gyro asked.

"No, but I'm sure you can find some in an old building. That is...if you can get through some of the savages living in them." The Broker pointed towards what appeared to be a ghost town in the distance. "Tried to do business in there once...they wanted to rob me and cook me. Probably driven insane by the Forest."

"Are they Tainted?"

"No...the Tainted are a different kind of savage. They have lost all individuality...slaves to the Operator. These guys were probably driven insane by the...situations we sometimes get into."

"Like?"

"Well, there are weather patterns here too. We're due for a locust plague soon...you'll need to be inside for that, they eat human flesh."

"Of course they do."

"Honestly? You boys have already made quite a name for yourselves, for the three days I have known you. Two uncorrupted heroes...hunting the page and outwitting the Operator. I knew I made the right choice selling to you!"

"Yeah...but how did you learn the Spin? Seriously, it's such a niche power-"

"He's gone."

"He-"

The Broker was indeed, gone.

"Why does he keep doing that?!"

"Dunno...so, you need steel to carve those throwing things of yours? Also...you keep mentioning a Spin...what is that?"

"It's a power that only a select few can master, and it is the pathway to unlocking one's true potential." Gyro explained, tossing his remaining steel ball up and down. "I dare say it might be the most powerful art form there is."

"Really? I know you can rotate things, but I always assumed that was your Stand."

"No, my Stand was born from the rotation, not the other way around. The Spin unlocked my true potential, and that's Ball Breaker." Gyro spun the steel ball, and his Stand manifested beside him. "I still don't know about it's full realm of capabilities."

"You still don't have any idea what your Stand actually does?!"

"I know it uses a version of the Infinite Rotation...but its different than Johnny's...I haven't necessarily used it yet...only one failed attempt."

Hawks hummed as they entered the ghost town, and both froze when an elderly woman came out of the old bar and grill to their left. She was covered in sticks and mud, and when she grinned, both heroes were disgusted as a yellow tooth fell out.

The old woman picked up the tooth, and put it in her pocket.

"Hello! You must be those two the Broker was fangirling about!"

"And...you are?"

"I am known as The Seer."

A massive, singular eyeball opened on the woman's forehead, but it didn't appear too be a result if the Forest. In fact, it was some sort if Mutant-type Quirk.

"I can see that, Nyo Ho!"

Hawks smacked Gyro upside the head, hissing "Don't be rude!"

The cyclops woman laughed, waving the two off. "It's fine, EYE make jokes about it myself!"

"I like her."

"Young man...may I...see your hand?"

Gyro eyed the Seer with an inquisitive look. "What for?"

Her old, wrinkly, mud caked hand rose up. "I...may be able to aid you in your quest. The Broker mentioned you were a Zeppeli...if that is the case...I would like to read your fortune...I, as well as many of the more sane people in this world...have lived in fear for far too long, and we're tired of it."

Gyro looked at the hand, and saw a faint spark travel through her fingers.

Hamon...

Some Hamon users develop clairvoyance, such as the legendary Tonpetty, and Joseph to some extent. This old woman, must be really old if she looked the way she did, as a practicing Hamon user ages quite slowly.

Clairvoyant Hamon users are masters, so she must've been training constantly. The only solution was that she had been trapped in the Forest for a very long time.

So...despite the look Hawks was giving him, he took her hand.

Hamon sparked as the woman's one eye shined, and she hummed in thought.

"Interesting...you can beat the Operator and prevent the Forest from spreading, but you'll have to take the most hazardous path presented to you. You have a long road ahead of you, Zeppeli."

"I see...thanks for the hint." Gyro moved to pull away, but the woman held his hand steady.

"Boy...did you know what was supposed to happen during the Steel Ball Run?"

Gyro blinked, confused. "Johnny and I kicked Valentine's ass and began our journey as heroes. That's it, right?"

"No...no, not at all...my boy...you were supposed to die."

"...come again?"

"Valentine was going to gun you down, and your sacrifice was going to give your friend the edge needed for victory...that...was your fate...but it changed..."

"Waitwaitwaitwait...I was supposed to die?! Like, actually?!"

"Yes, and Kujo would've mourned you for the rest of his life. He would've met a rather gruesome end himself...involving a rock...but it changed. Something happened during that fight, something saved you, in turn saving him. You were going to follow in the footsteps of your ancestors..."


Fate.

It can be broken and changed...but you don't need to be overpowered to do so. You don't need a Heaven Stand, or the Spin...

Sometimes...it's as simple as HAVING FAITH.

Johnny and I were both supposed to meet a grisly end, me during the Steel Ball Run, and him later in his life...do you realize how terrifying of a thought that is?!

We were going to die...but...Kyoka changed our fates.

You'd never think it would be possible, but the simple act of putting her trust in me, asking me to take care of the guy she had fallen in love with, giving me a fucking harmonica of all things...

It had changed the course of fate itself.

I would've never met, or gotten to know any of the people I hold so dear...Momo, the beautiful genius who captured my attention, and then my heart. Izuku, his tenacity and charming dorkiness. Hell, Kyoka herself...I had barely known her at that point, and now she's like a sister to me.

I would've never have gotten to follow my dreams.

I would've never have buried the hatchet with my father.

I would've died...that's it.

Kyoka was the one that truly gave me the opportunity to end, or at least prolong, the Zeppeli Curse.

One act of faith...can change destiny.


"...what?" Kyoka's voice came out hoarse, her eyes widening in horror. "You're...joking right? This has to be a joke..."

"Kyoka...I'm sorry!" Ochako sobbed out, falling to her knees at her friend's feet. "I couldn't find him! I tried...I really did..."

"No, Johnny can't be dead!" Kyoka shook her head, going even deeper in denial. "That's a load of bullshit! Come on JoJo, it ain't funny!"

"Kyoka..."

The purplette's lip quivered as reality hit her, and she fell to her knees too. There was a blank stare on her face as a tear made it's way down her cheek.

"Why?"

"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry Kyoka..."

"I...I really lost him this time...why didn't anyone save him? Why...you were THERE, WHY DIDN'T YOU SAVE HIM?!" Kyoka screamed, and Ochako backed away, still sobbing.

"I TRIED!"

"YOU DIDN'T TRY HARD ENOUGH!"

"I DID THE BEST I COULD!" Ochako screamed back, and Kyoka smacked her across the face, hard. The brunette gasped, not expecting the burst of violence.

"You left him to die...that was the love of MY LIFE! If you really tried your best, then it ain't good enough! We all put you on the team because we fucking believed in you, NOT TO DRAG US DOWN!"

Ochako couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"WHY ARE YOU BLAMING ME?!"

"YOU FUCKING FAILED! I TRUSTED YOU! I PUT ALL OF MY FAITH IN YOU, AND YOU LET HIM DIE!" The tearful Kyoka screamed at the top of her lungs, stumbling back. "I...I should've known...you never had what it takes...you became a hero for fucking money, you aren't cut out for this!"

She had gotten nothing but support from Kyoka before, so the current beratement was making her extremely confused. That's when she came to a realization:

Kyoka would never say this. Sure, she'd be utterly devastated and inconsolable...but she would never take it out on anyone other than The Rake itself. She's far more understanding than this. This is my own guilt for nor measuring up.

That's when Kyoka's tears turned to blood.

Ochako scooted backwards, horrified as her friend's eyes rolled back into her skull, and the purplette's mouth opened in a silent scream. Her mouth only got wider...and wider...

Until the flesh of her face began to tear.

Blood pooled on the ground as a hand emerged from Kyoka's torn features, a white, gross looking hand with elongated fingers.

*SCLORCH!*

Tearing itself out of Kyoka's corpse, The Rake emerged with it's wide grin, covered in blood, as it towered over the terrified teenaged girl, taking great pleasure in her horror.

It then proceeded to flick a ruined earphone jack off of it's shoulder, and it began to speak with it's shrill voice.

"Poor little Ochaaakoooo...poor little wooorm...poor...little...failure."

"S-s-s-stay back!"

"You can't sssave them. You can't save anyone...you're just...a poor little worm...impaled on a hook, for the fish to devour. They...will look for you...and they'll find you...with the marrow in your bones sucked out."

"No..."

"They'll find you, but only after...I have...poor...uselessss...little worm..."

The Rake raised a bloody hand, getting ready to strike her down.

"WAKE UP!"

The hand came down, and Ochako could only scream.


"NONONONO! PLEASE!"

Ochako jumped up, hitting her head on a wooden board.

"Owwww..."

It had all been one heartbreaking, terrifying dream.

The brunette stretched, and opened the small shed she was sleeping in, a collection of...rakes falling out. Ochako picked up one of the garden tools, and threw it aside in disgust.

She had to find the others, she refused to believe they were dead.

Still, Johnny had taken a hit to Act 1. Any of the other versions of his Stand could've taken the hit, and he would've been somewhat okay, but the smallest version had taken it.

In fact, Ochako couldn't help but recall when Kyoka had plugged a jack into the tiny Stand during the Sports Festival, unaware that she was vibrating Johnny's insides. Kyoka had unintentionally sent him to Recovery Girl's office, on the verge of collapse, for what was intended to be a stunning blow.

Tusk Act 1 taking the hit meant that Johnny was dealt far more damage than he would've gotten if the Rake had attacked his physical body.

Still, that didn't necessarily mean the hit was fatal, and Mirko was tough and smart enough to avoid being crushed.

She just had to believe they were alive, she couldn't bear to think about the alternative.

Ochako began hiking down the trail, flinching at every noise that came from the woods. With the dark clouds being blown from the center of the forest, it was basically an endless night, which made it so that a nocturnal creature such as the Rake would be active 24/7.

"Carefully and calmly analyze the situation, you need to be alert at all times...otherwise we could very well die here." Johnny's advice played out in her head, and the brunette adopted a serious expression.

She had to weaponize her fear and worry.

She had picked up a small map from a small hunting tower, and found bullets for a hunting rifle...unfortunately, not the rifle itself. She also found an old flare gun though...

If The Rake is nocturnal, that means it isn't used to sudden bright lights. Those fireworks really disoriented it...and I have a feeling it wasn't just the burns.

Light is a weakness.

Analyzing the situation... memorizing the details from their previous encounters...learning from the enemy.

Ochako had always been a kind and thoughtful person. Even to the point where Kyoka had brought her along for the Pluck mission for her good heart and tendency to help bring people togather. Now...however...she was fighting to kill something.

Ending a life...even the life of something as malicious and inhuman as The Rake's, was something Ochako had never considered doing. Now, she was actively carrying a gun.

Guns are scary, they can snuff out a life from a distance, and almost instantly. To hold such a scary weapon in her hands...and contemplating using it on someone...

Well, something.

*SNAP!*

The brunette paused, her hand going to the gun on her side.

Looks like I'll be making that decision sooner than I thought...

Ochako removed her hand from the gun, and instead touched her fingers together, floating herself. She rose from the ground, using the lack of gravity to her advantage, swimming through the air to avoid making sound.

She didn't have flares yet, only the gun. A confrontation now would be suicide.

A rustle in the bushes below, and a deer came out, followed by several of it's kindred. Ochako breathed a sigh of relief, floating herself down to the ground.

As of right now, she was still winning the game of Hide and Seek.


Johnny was resting on a couch in the middle of a cabin, drifting in and out of consciousness. He had been meditating with Hamon in order to self-heal, but his wounds were still pretty bad. A few cracked ribs, a fractured arm, and a series of closing lacerations all over his body.

If the Rake had hit him any harder, the impact would've killed him.

There was a lot on his mind, his abysmal failure when dealing with the Rake, Ochako being out there on her own with almost zero experience, and what could be going on with Gyro and Kyoka.

I wonder if their luck has been as shit as mine...I hope not...and I hope Uraraka is okay too.

"We are in deep shit, aren't we?"

Johnny turned to find Tusk Act 4 staring at him, sitting on the couch next to him. "I knew you were somewhat sentient, but this is new."

"Well? I'm you, and you need a pep talk that I don't think Mirko has the capacity to give, so..."

"Self-motivation?"

"Sure...well, to put it bluntly, you fucked up."

"Self-deprication, that's more my style."

"Yare yare daze...Johnny, do you know why I reverted back to Act 1?"

"Because the Rake has that weird Ghost Rider Penance Stare ripoff?"

Tusk chuckled. "In a sense...yes. However...it's a little deeper than that. We have grown stronger over time, going from a glorified gun to a force to be reckoned with. We could kill someone like Funny Valentine, or AFO, with a fingernail and a horse...but...the Rake does not only inspire fear."

"Really?"

"It's stare is designed to cause as much psychological damage as possible. People have gone insane by looking at it's eyes for too long. We read that, remember? When we let it make eye contact...it reopened old wounds."

Johnny closed his eyes, huffing. Shifting his weight to face his Stand.

"Act 1 was when we were at our weakest...both physically, and mentally...so when the wounds were reopened...we felt all that pain all over again."

"So I briefly reverted. It fucking sucks...but let's be HONEST here Johnny. We were deprived of a normal childhood by Cummings, we were forced to assassinate a world leader, our girlfriend killed our mother, and we have nearly lost our friends multiple times...we are FUCKED UP."

"So I'm actually extra vulnerable to the Rake, even more so than the other two...and I threw myself at it because I couldn't listen to Mirko." Johnny finished.

"Exactly. Johnny...you have acknowledged that you are just a kid...but do you really understand what that means?"

"..."

"It means that we are still growing, still learning. Johnny, you want to prove to Mirko that we're capable...but we don't have all the answers. We may be a Joestar, does that doesn't make us any different from any other kid. We don't always have to be right...and we don't always have to succeed. I know you've agreed to let Mirko help you...so I'm going to hold you to that."

Tusk turned it's head to find the No.5 hero listening from the doorway, her arms crossed. The Stand sighed, rubbing the back of it's head, and disappeared.

There was silence between the two heroes, both trying to find the right words to say.

"You know...a 16 year old should never have to worry about killing the President." Mirko finally said, her eyebrows knitting together. "Or...any of the stuff you've been through."

"I know."

"...but...I...admire how strong you are."

Johnny turned his head towards the pro, who was looking out the window.

"I...finally understand what Hawks was talking about. You have done some...remarkable things. You don't quit, even when you couldn't move your legs, and your friends follow your example. Hell...I bet Uravity is thinking about you, using you as motivation to keep going herself. It's not about enabling kids to endanger themselves...it's protecting, and encouraging a generation that will surpass us."

Mirko walked over to the couch and sat down beside him.

"I became a hero because of pride. Growing up...everyone always assumed I was some softie thanks to my Quirk, and I resented that. I got into fights, acting out...because I couldn't stand to have people looking down on me."

"I see."

"...I basically became a hero out of pure spite...but...I gradually grew to love what I do. So...what's the plan JoJo?"

Johnny's eyes widened slightly, and then he smirked.

"Well, since I'm wounded pretty bad...I won't be able to move as fast as I used to, but movement has never been that serious of an issue for me, not with Act 3...so...I think I'll meditate a little more...but...I may have a way to draw Uraraka back to us...but it also could draw the Rake."

"Well, it wouldn't be fun without a little risk, would it?"

The Joestar chuckled. "You ever hear of smoke signals?"


*CRACK!*

Ochako watched as the Rake began breaking down a door, not any she was hiding behind. She was in a tree, across from the abandoned shack, getting the flare gun ready.

She had found a few flares in a bloody hiking bag. Clearly, the Rake didn't want the hiker to use them.

In the shack, she had simply turned on the lights and an old radio, and had simply left the shack empty for the Rake to find.

The Rake punched through the door, screeching as it ripped it off of it's hinges. The cryptid looked around the shack, snarling, before it realized what was going on.

As soon as it turned around, Ochako fired the flare, watching as it exploded into red sparks, all over the Rake's face.

The cryptid squealed, covering it's eyes, as the brunette lifted up Mountain Tim's revolver, her hand shaking.

Do it Ochako.

Pull the trigger...this thing isn't human...just do it! It's scary, but it's the right thing to do!

Take a deep breath...just like JoJo said.

So, she did.

*BANG! BANG! BANG!*

She managed to squeeze off three shots, two of them hitting the Rake in the chest, the other one flying into the woods. The cryptid staggered back, blood pouring from it's wounds, and it proceeded to retreat into the underbrush, screeching in pain.

Ochako shakily put the gun back at her side, and focused on her breathing. There was no way the Rake was seriously hurt, it had retreated to regain it's eyesight.

If she could incapacitate it...then maybe she could buy herself time to search for Johnny and Mirko.

They have to be alive, I know it! First, I need to get Mr. Ugly out of the way...

Mr. Ugly? Yeah...insults are more JoJo's thing.

To be fair, the Rake was quite ugly.

Ochako adjusted the gauntlets of her hero costume. Her grappling wires were primed and ready to fire when the cryptid decided to attack again. Just the thought of staring into it's eyes again was enough to give her goosebumps, but she knew she had to fight her fear.

A rustle in the trees behind her...and Ochako fired her wires in several directions, just as the Rake emerged.

"FOUND YOOOOU!"

"I wanted you to."

She yanked her arms back, and several boulders came flying from the woods. She had used her Quirk to hide them in the trees, and had yanked them over herself. Pressing her fingertips together, she used the jet propulsion in her boots to float away from the trap.

"METEOR SHOWER!"

The rocks fell on the screaming cryptid, one pinning it's hand to the ground with a CRUNCH. The Rake attempted to wriggle free, only for another flare to explode in it's face.

Ochako flipped over the cryptid and touched one of the rocks, before dropping it on the Rake's other arm.

Just like JoJo said! Analyzing the situation carefully achieves the best results!

Touching down, she looked at the struggling creature.

You won't get an ounce of pity from me. All the people you've tortured and killed...and eaten...you deserve at least a bit of humiliation.

The Rake stopped moving.

Why is it staying still like that? Ochako backed away, worried. The Rake was not moving in the slightest, but it didn't seem like the type to give up. Instead...

It was...eating the dirt?

It's yellow fangs bit into the ground as the creature began wiggling it's arms, swallowing a chunk of dirt. Ochako didn't understand what was going on, or why the Rake would suddenly want to chew the soil...

*bleck!*

The Rake made a motion as though it were coughing up a hairball.

*BLEEECK!*

WHAT IS IT DOING?! IS IT...trying...to make itself throw up?

The Rake turned it's head in her direction, opening it's mouth impossibly wide. Ochako could only stare in horror as the creature's soulless eyes shriveled into tiny glowing dots, and it's jaw unhinged itself like a snake's.

Rows of wickedly sharp teeth, ready to gnaw on her bones, filled it's enlarged mouth.

Then, it vomited up bones.

Ochako screamed as the small shards of bone peppered her, digging into her flesh. The Rake screeched as it lifted a hand, and hurled the boulder straight at her.

Ochako managed to touch the projectile, but the freed Rake slammed into the other side of the rock, causing it to slam into the brunette too. Ochako fell to the ground, grunting and panting.

She could feel something dripping from her face, and it didn't take much to know it was blood.

The Rake advanced on her, and she used her jet boots to get away. However, it's arm turned out to be much longer than she anticipated, and she found her foot caught in it's vice grip. Ochako grunted as the cryptid raised a hand, trying to pry her foot loose.

The Rake's claws proceeded to sink into her leg.

OW! NONONONO!

Terror struck at Ochako's heart as the Rake proceeded to drag it's claws all the way down her leg, leaving her screaming in agony. Blood poured from her shredded leg, so, she ended up making a split second decision.

*BANG!*

She unloaded the gun directly into the Rake's hand...and her own foot.

"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!/RAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!" Both Ochako and the Rake screamed at the same time, and she pried her bleeding foot from it's grip. Floating into the forest, her jet boots caused her to crash into a tree, scraping the right side of her face against the bark.

There was no control, she had to release.

Ochako crashed to the ground, groaning, as the Rake punched the ground in frustration. The cryptid began running after her, and the terrified Ochako could only hobble, tears coming down her face.

It was gaining on her, and she wasn't getting any faster.

"In a crisis, make sure you do what is necessary to survive. The decision may be hard to make, but you need to make it fast. This is do or die Uraraka." Johnny's advice was coming in real handy.

Ochako reached down and picked up a large branch, and swung it just as the Rake caught up with her, clubbing it across the face. The Rake angrily spat out blood as she dove between it's legs, touching both of it's ankles as she slid through.

The cryptid floated upwards, screaming an clawing at the air as it attempted to reach her. Ochako simply grunted, fleeing into the woods.

She waited until she was out of it's sight before she pressed her fingers together. "Release..."

The sound of crashing, followed by a THUD, rang through the forest. She then proceeded to use her Quirk on herself, floating upwards and into a tree to hide.

"AAAAAAIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" A cry of pure rage echoed throughout the night, and Ochako covered her ears, leaning against the tree trunk.

The bloodied Rake rushed past her tree, bounding after it's prey with vicious speed, speed that Ochako knew she couldn't compete with. Before, the Rake was only hunting her for it's own sick enjoyment, but she had proven herself a threat...it was now personal for the creature.

Ochako's eyes watered from the pain as she pried of the remains of her boot, and looked at her leg. Four long scratch marks traveled down her shin, still leaking copius amounts of blood. As for her foot, she put a hand to her mouth, horrified by what she found.

She had shot off part of her big toe.

Her face had luckily taken the least damage, only a few small cuts and brusies.

Ochako knew she had to do something about her leg, otherwise she would bleed out. Never before had she been in a situation like this, never had she been in so much pain. Looking at the tree, she stood on her good foot and began pulling on a branch, eventually snapping it.

I need...I need...to start a fire.

She had never cauterized a wound before, hell, she had never really BEEN cauterized before. However, she had heard from Izuku that it was the fastest way to stop the bleeding in a pinch.

Apparently Hol Horse had done it when Izuku almost died during the battle with Santana.

It took her a while to start the fire, but now she had a makeshift torch. Ochako looked at the torch, then at her mangled leg, and began breathing heavily, preparing for the worst.

It already hurts...what's a little more pain? You...you have to do it Ochako...this is a do or die situation, like JoJo said. You can do this..."

Ochako put the remains of her boot between her teeth, in order to stop herself from screaming and attracting the Rake.

You can do this.

The only sound that could be heard in the woods was sizzling, and the pained whimpers of a teenaged girl, desperate, scared, and way out of her element.


*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!*

Johnny glanced at the door to the cabin, his eyes widening slightly. We didn't start the smoke signal yet...Mirko is still gathering wood. Did Uraraka find us?

Or...

The injured Joestar hobbled towards the door, leaning against it. He didn't dare to speak a word, or to open it. It could be a trick by the Rake.

*KNOCK...KNOCK...KNOCK!*

Johnny began spinning a nail bullet as the knocks became louder. There was definitely something outside, and Johnny was pretty sure it wasn't friendly-

That is...until he felt it.

My birthmark is prickling...is...there a JOESTAR on the other side of this door?!

Focusing on the prickling feeling, he began sensing more of a presence...a familiar presence...

"Dad? Is...that you?"

"Open the door Johnny, I know you're hurt."

"Dad!"

Johnny's heart soared. He pushed aside the barricade, and let his father in. Jotaro entered the cabin and wrapped his son in a hug, making sure to be gentle with Johnny's wounds. There was only silence between the Joestars, both happy beyond words to see each other.

"I came running as soon as I felt it."

"I'm sorry I worried you...I fucked up."

Johnny's concern grew as his father suddenly put a bit more weight onto him, and he separated from the hug...

Jotaro looked exhausted.

"DAD! HOLY SHIT!"

"I'm fine."

"You're on the verge of collapse, even more than me!"

Jotaro regained his footing, blinking crust out of his eyes. Johnny suddenly began pulling at his father's jacket.

"Johnny, I'm fine."

"Take it off old man."

"Jo-"

"Now."

Not wanting his son to unnecessarily strain himself, Jotaro reluctantly obliged...revealing he was covered in wet old bandages, dried blood, and some seaweed. It became apparent just how worn out his father was...as if...

"Dad...how long have you been fighting?"

"...I had to act. All of this...it's connected Johnny...I had to track down the source, or you'd all be be doomed. Bad things have been happening...disaster events. A massacre throughout downtown...the Barge...HERE..."

"Okay...I knew that there had to be a connection...but...a massacre? What?"

"Kars woke up."

There was a moment of silence as Johnny put a hand to his forehead, massaging it. "Kars...holy shit...how many people were killed?"

"We are estimating it to be around 60. Gramps ended up partnering with Santana, Yaoyorozu, and Endeavor to send him back into space."

"YaoMomo was involved?!"

"Santana and Kars had a...disagreement, which led to a fight that spanned across the entirety of Mustafu. It...ended up reaching UA...and AFO had broken out of prison beforehand, so they thought it was him-"

"ALL FOR FUCKING ONE?! Kars?! Wait...if they thought Kars was AFO..."

"...Both Midoriya and Bakugo were injured in the fight Johnny. Bakugo...took a hit from Kars' Hamon on his behalf...and...from what I heard...Midoriya went apeshit and ended up breaking himself pretty bad. I'm...sorry..."

Johnny's face was a mask of horror. "What was he thinking? Is...Katsuki?"

"Don't worry...they'll be able to recover. Yaoyorozu's actions made it so they wouldn't be injured any further...I was on the other side of the battlefield at the time...by the time I found out they were already being treated by healing Quirks."

"...when did that happen?"

"Two days ago."

"You've been fighting since then?!"

"I haven't stopped...I couldn't afford to stop...I had to get to you and Jolyne...I had to protect you from his plan..."

"His? Wait...you were at the Barge weren't you? Is everyone alright there?"

"Shit went down Johnny...but...your girlfriend wanted to tell you all about it herself...after the shock with your two childhood friends...she wanted it to be gentle."

"Is she okay? Is Jolyne okay?"

"Johnny...I'm sorry, we should focus on your situation. They're both fine now...but...I would...be prepared for a...surprise."

Johnny stared at his father for a moment, struggling to come to terms with what he was just told.

I...I have no idea what to say...Kars...Izuku and Katsuki were hurt...and something happened at the Barge?

Jolyne...Kyoka...they are literally the most important women in my life. If something happened to them...

"Why are you alone in here Johnny?"

"...Mirko is out getting wood to make a fire. I'm currently not in any condition to carry things."

"Allow me to rephrase that...where is Uraraka?"

Johnny clenched his fists, pressing his lips together.

"We don't know...the Rake separated us. That's why we need the fire..."

"Shit."

Jotaro got up, stumbling, as Star Platinum manifested behind him. Even Star Platinum looked tired and worn out, bags forming under it's eyes. However, both Stand and user had the calm, calculating glare that they were known for.

"Dad, sit back down."

"Fuck no, that's your job. I'm still in better shape than you...and it's my duty to protect my students. Then...I've...got to find Gyro in that pocket dimension..."

"Dad! Don't go after Gyro too! He can handle himself!"

"He's close to the source dammit...the source of all of this. He's in the most danger out of anyone. That page...it's the cause of all this."


Johnny's Notes:

My father has always been my role model.

However...that does not mean I am oblivious to his faults. My father is a good man, but he's haunted by ghosts of the past, ghosts that he just can't shake. He lost his closest friends to that rat bastard DIO and his goons...

Now...he's pushing himself in order to make sure the same thing doesn't happen to me.

I get it, I truly do. My father is a damaged man...and it hurts. It hurts to see him like that, because I know what he's thinking.

He fought Shigaraki, ran all the way to The Barge to help there, and now he was in the woods with me, having tracked me down using the blood connection...and he was a mess.

He didn't even get a lick of sleep, he had been fighting and running around for TWO WHOLE DAYS, and...as much as it hurts...

My dad isn't getting younger.

I'm not saying he's OLD of course, he's still one of the most powerful and capable Stand Users alive, the fact that he made it this far without collapsing is prove of that. He can take a beating, but...he will only get older.

He's in his forties...he's not necessarily in his physical prime anymore. Some day...he'll be 50...

Not everyone lucks out like Gramps, and my father can't use Hamon due to...something I found out later.

It breaks my heart whenever he's like this...when he's risking his health for our sakes...because I know how stubborn he can be. Hell, I'm pretty sure I got my own stubbornness from him.

Still...if he hadn't been running around every battlefield like that...and if he hadn't gone out to help search for Uraraka...we'd all be dead.


The Operator walked through it's domain, placing a hand on a tree.

It lived and thrived in the darkest part of the Forest, a place where no one ever dared to go. Covered in thick bristles with thorns, flesh pits with mouths, and some of the more feral monsters in the realm, it was basically suicide to go in there.

Yet...Gyro Zeppeli and Hawks have brazenly set foot in it's territory, no doubt after the page.

That's when it felt something curious.

A third presence...tailing them. Appeared to be over a century old...

The Operator simply took it's hand off of the tree...and began walking in their direction.