Monster King: Thanks!
Bearticguy7: I like it!
Dumpstertrashfire123: He may have been un-Joestared in canon, but he's DEFINITELY one in this continuity. As for the whole Postmortem Stand apocalypse...I...uh...I don't think I'm gonna look too deep into that.
Euphoria: Well, All Might is going to have his own character arc soon, although I'm not sure he'll be getting this Stand...
Delrosario: They can't spend the money, they just get the money right back. So...they can't buy food.
BreadConnoisseur: I'm not sure about Part 9 yet, although I'm obviously going to have to include Rohan if I do end up doing it.
Kasumi Kenshiro: Well, the Milagro Man will DEFINITELY show up again.
Guest: I don't know, he has both death flags AND life flags, it could go either way. As long as he takes a certain villain with him, I'm good.
Jonat Herman: Diego would have been forced out of his body, like Kyoka was. So he would just be DIO. As for GER, it is only active at certain times, sometimes Giorno has to "reapply" the arrow. Right now he only has base Gold Experience.
The reason why DIO couldn't truly possess Giorno is because (at least in this fic), he's Jonathan's son, just with some DIO-esque qualities. He needs someone who is practically identical to him in order to return to life...and that's Diego.
Shiro007: I'm glad you've been enjoying it! Yes, I will always accept Stand ideas! I might not always use them, but I will always lend an ear and fit them in when they fit the current arc!
It's a great idea! Could make for an interesting antagonist down the line!
I'm back.
I'm sorry for the huge delay, IRL stuff has been kicking my ass, and I've been very tired as of late. I'm going to be taking it a little easy, but I will hopefully be uploading a bit more frequently.
Hopefully.
Anyway, today we're beginning Joseph's arc! Accompanying him are characters I feel as though I have neglected, so to make up for that each of them will be getting focus.
Alright, without further ado!
"Gramps, are you sure you want to do this?" Johnny asked, adjusting the tie on his school uniform, ready to take it off at a moment's notice. "You should have some of us come with you."
"By 'some of us', I assume you mean yourself?" Joseph responded with a grin, and Johnny's cheeks turned a slight tinge of pink, much to his great-grandfather's amusement. "Awww, I love you too, kid."
"A meteorite is a huge deal...and if someone else is looking for it, they're bound to give it all they've got. They're probably strong too..."
"...you have your own problems." Joseph said, putting a hand on Johnny's shoulder. "Right now...the world is fighting against you, and frankly... I wouldn't be a good parental figure if I added more to your burden. I'm young again, enough to handle it...so I'm going to shoulder some of it for you."
Johnny nodded, and Joseph smiled, ruffling his great-grandson's hair. As capable as Johnny and his friends were, they were still teenagers, still kids, and he knew what copius amounts of stress could do to the young. Between one of their classmates working for the villains, the new Stranger, and everything they had been up to until now, they needed someone to lighten the load.
They shouldn't have to worry about an ancient meteorite on top of all that. That was a different beast entirely.
In fact...Joseph wanted to create a future in which they wouldn't have to worry at all.
"I'll leave the traitor to you. Stick to your plan, Johnny...keep your friends and family close, I'll see you when I get back."
"Good luck, old man."
"Right back at ya!" Joseph gave Johnny a thumbs up, and boarded his plane.
"Wait...is that a plane? Gramps-"
"So long Johnny!"
"Gramps! Dammit, learn your lesson already!"
"I promise it won't crash this time!"
"I don't believe you!"
"It'll be fine!"
"Don't you know the basic rules of foreshadowing?!" Johnny screamed after his great-grandfather. "When a character says, 'it'll be fine', it usually isn't!"
"Pizza Mozzarella, pizza mozzarella-"
At that moment, Johnny's ringtone for Gyro went off, and he begrudgingly answered it.
"Yeah? I'm seeing off the old man, so you better have a...what? WHAT?! How did you...? You know what? I'm not even gonna ask, just calm down and I'll be right there."
Johnny pocketed his phone, a dark look on his face. "It's like I'm babysitting an Italian toddler..."
"What's wrong?!"
"Gyro got himself tangled with a crazed Stand User...I gotta go. You better be careful, or I will come to Nepal and kick your ancient ass myself, understand?"
"Heh...you really are Jotaro's son...don't worry, this old man has still got it! Especially since I'm quite literally back in my prime. That's a promise!"
Joseph and Johnny gave each other one last wave, and the elder Joestar joined his allies in the plane, while Johnny ran off to go assist Gyro.
Neither Joestar realized it...but Johnny's statement about foreshadowing was 100% correct. From the shadows behind one of UA's buildings, the figure of a teenaged boy was watching intently, a listening device in hand. Terrified, and now certain that Johnny was onto him, the Traitor broke out into a sprint.
He had to report this to the Stranger. As much as it hurt...it was the only way he could hope to survive.
From the plane itself...a silhouette was hiding in the cargo hold, patiently biding it's time. Joseph and his party had a stowaway.
"So...Joseph Joestar...I've heard of the guy. He has a reality business, but he's also quite the warrior." A shadow figure said, sitting on top a throne made out of spears and weapons. "Are you sure this Stranger isn't just pulling our leg? Joestar is really after the meteorite?"
A woman, sitting on a throne pulsing with yellow light, and in the center of the room, crossed her legs and chuckled. "The Stranger is an investor of ours, he is already funding our efforts. He wants to make sure his money is well spent, so he has no reason to screw over our operation."
"What would he want with it?" A disfigured man, sitting in the corner on a throne of brass asked.
"I imagine he finds our plans with it to be...'morally wrong', so he's trying to stop us for the 'greater good.'" A woman with blue hair, and on top of a throne made of glass, containing a functional aquarium, said. "As if he has any authority on what is good, and what isn't."
"So...do we do anything about it? My miners are working hard to get into the mountian, if he disrupts them, I doubt they'll be able to continue their work." A man on a throne of jewels and bones responded, holding what appeared to be a branding iron.
"I think...we should leave that to our god of war." The woman on the light throne said with a dazzling smile.
The man on the throne of weapons stood up, grinning.
"I was hoping you'd say that...this is gonna be fun!"
The council watched as the man threw open the doors and exited their meeting room, concerned looks on all of their faces.
"Was...sending him the best decision?"
"For a man like Joestar...we have no choice."
Kyoka opened Johnny's locker, grabbing his homework from within. With Johnny out in the woods with Gyro for some odd reason, she would have to turn it in for him again. Not that she minded, in fact, he had often done the same for her when she was busy, it's just that she felt a little weird poking through his locker...particularly because it was in public.
Knowing Johnny's combination was pretty telling.
Not that she necessarily minded people knowing about their relationship anymore, it was just a little embarrassing.
Kyoka paused, and took out a small piece of paper with her name written on it. He had drawn an earphone jack on it, and wrote 'love you, thanks!' next to it. Kyoka couldn't help but smile, finding it cute.
'Love you too, JoJo. Now if only you and that meatball would stop trying to give me gray hairs at 16.'
She took his homework out of the locker, and was just about to close it when she felt someone behind her.
"I'm getting his homework for him, fuck off."
"How did you even know it was me?" Setsuna Tokage asked, scowling.
"I have a keen nose for sniffing out jealous bitches." Kyoka retorted, eyeing her rival. "I don't have time to deal with you right now, so please...kindly fuck off."
"...look, I just wanted to apologize for what I said."
"..." Kyoka was silent for a while, and then huffed. "Fine, but make it quick, I've got to turn in Johnny's shit on time."
"I went too far, I was frustrated and I lashed out, and for that I'm sorry. I shouldn't have called you a whore. I was being an ass, I acknowledge that." Setsuna said, bowing her head. "I've had some time to think it over...and I realize that a lot of what I thought I saw was circumstantial. I'm still not sure about you, and more than ever, I want to beat you...but it wasn't very heroic of me to go that far. So sorry...I won't do that again."
Kyoka was about to fire back a retort.
'Still not sure about me?! I'm not sure about you! God you fucking piss me off so bad, I
I...don't really know you either.'
Now that Kyoka thought about it...why did Setsuna even go that far at all? She wasn't thinking rationally, that was for sure...but there had to be a deeper reason than just a guy, right?
Then she thought about DIO. Stuck in the past, stubbornly clinging to this world, forever deprived of peace of mind due to his inability to let go of things...
So...she calmed herself down, and responded.
"I can kind of accept that, I can let the 'whore' thing go...but I won't forgive you...yet."
"Good, because I still have a bone to pick with you." Setsuna said with a somewhat malicious grin. "I still don't trust you."
"Same here."
The two women stared each other down for a moment, almost egging each other on. The brief apology was a good step forward, but it was clear that little had changed between the two. Their rivalry was still just as cold as before...
It was progress though.
"Next time we fight...I don't care about your new jacks, I'm beating you."
"I'd like to see you try."
Setsuna laughed, and began walking away, briefly glancing at Johnny's locker. Truth be told...this wasn't even about him anymore, the rivalry had escalated to the point that it was now about each other.
Still...knowing his combination was not a good sign.
"Oh, trust me...I will."
With that, Setsuna faded off into the crowd, leaving Kyoka glaring at her from the middle of the hallway. With a huff, she turned back towards class.
'Yeah...I still don't like her. Now...I wonder how that fight went...'
The plane touched down without any scares. Joseph Joestar had successfully beaten the "bad pilot" allegations...this time anyway.
"Ha! Didja see that?! I'm an ace flyer and no one can say otherwise."
Shota Aizawa disembarked from the plane, looking sick to his stomach. He had come along in Jotaro's place, due to the students needing a Stand User nearby more than himself. Jotaro had made him promise to keep an eye on the old man, and while he owed the Joestars more than he cared to admit...
He felt as though Class 1A needed him too. With the traitor in their midst...
"Mr. Joestar, you still have crashed more than you've landed." A somewhat snooty voice retorted.
Rohan Kishibe disembarked from the plane, carrying a sketchbook and a bag of pens. Unlike Aizawa, he had come entirely for his manga. He wanted to visit Mount Everest in order to draw inspiration from it, in order to come up with a new arc for Pink Dark Boy: Shippuden.
"You know, when I asked for someone 'crazy' enough to come with me on this trip, I should've known it would have been you." Joseph retorted.
"Yes, I'm the one who's sanity needs to be questioned...definitely not the man who jumped into a fight with the Ultimate Lifeform for the second time in his life, and somehow emerged somewhat unscathed." Rohan shot right back, and the unlikely trio began walking away from the plane, and into the airport.
The Speedwagon Foundation had hooked them up with a private runway in order to divert suspicion, but they didn't account for the contents of the plane. Another figure climbed out, coughing, and began tailing them.
They didn't realize it yet...but the stowaway was making their move.
"I hope everyone packed some good winter gear, Mount Everest is a treacherous climb. We aren't going with any tour groups, the three of us will be completely alone without any guides." Joseph said, adjusting his map.
"Great...well, getting lost and being found decades later as a frozen mummy wasn't how I expected to go out...but whatever." Aizawa replied.
"We'll be fine!"
There was that dreadful phrase again, "we'll be fine", the famous last words before disaster strikes.
*BOOOM!*
A large explosion ripped through half the airport, barely missing innocent tourists, and several armed gunmen stormed the place, clad in strange Spartan-esque armor.
"...okay...maybe we're in a bit of trouble."
"Oh really?! Who would have guessed?!" Rohan spat out, glaring at Joseph. "Josuke's father indeed..."
"Alright blockheads, I'm here, what's the resul-"
Kyoka froze, completely lost for words.
Gyro Zeppeli was staring at her, one end of a recorder in his mouth, and the other end was in Johnny's. As in the musical instrument, the one primarily used in elementary school band classes to teach kids the basics, was currently in both of their mouths at once like some weird version of Lady and the Tramp.
"What the fuck happened to you two?!"
*Tooot! Toot! Toot!*
The recorder started squeaking as the two tried to communicate with her, and then they just ended up pointing at a downed villain carrying instruments on her back. Whoever the woman was, or what her ability entailed, she had clearly effected them with it.
"Are...you two stuck?"
*Toot!*
"Er...okay, this is, *snort", concerning. Uh...well Johnny, I turned in your homework for you..."
*Toot!"
Kyoka snorted, covering her mouth with her hand as the two angrily began tooting at her with the recorder, before she burst out into laughter.
"HAHAHAHAHA! YOU TWO LOOK RIDICULOUS!"
Gyro took off his hat and began hitting her over the head with it, the recorder going nuts as he attempted to curse her out. This had the opposite effect, as she only laughed harder, the squeaking sounds of the recorder sending her over the edge.
"Oh my God! I needed that today, thank you!" Kyoka said with a grin, wiping a tear from her eye. She then grabbed the recorder by the middle, and began dragging the two along with her. "Alright, come on you dorks, I'll help you out. Let's get to Momo first."
*Toot! Toot! Squeak!*
"Hey, better finding you like this, then finding you covered in blood, right? By the way, I'm definitely getting a picture of this. "
*Toot!*
A large man emerged from the flames, catching Joseph's attention. This was clearly the guy in charge.
He wore black armor, and sported dual swords on his back, made to look like Ancient Greek Xiphos, or Leaf Blade. Two automatic assault rifles were bolstered on his sides, and straps containing bullets were wrapped around both his chest in an 'X' shape...and also his thighs.
He had long black hair, tied in a ponytail, and red eyes. Scars and stubble lined his face, and yet they did not detract from the fact that the man was handsome.
"Alright everyone! No need to panic! We're just taking care of some business, so sit tight...anyone who makes sudden moves will be gunned down on sight!" The man declared, cockily twirling a sword. "Now...I'm looking for Joseph Joestar."
Aizawa gave Joseph a look, and they both exchanged a nod.
"What would a big guy like you want with me?"
Joseph stood up, and the armored man whirled around, and grinned.
"Wow...you're quite a sight, Joestar. I heard Hamon training does wonders for the body, but damn! I appreciate that you came out of hiding so quickly!"
"I asked, what do you want with me." Joseph responded, smirking. "Listen, I know I'm gorgeous, but you really didn't have to cause a ruckus just so you could oogle at me, a simple 'hello' would suffice."
"Oh! A funny guy, huh? I like that!" The man responded, and he and Joseph began circling each other. "You gave yourself up quite fast too, I can appreciate a man who doesn't give into cowardice. Unfortunately, I'm not here to flirt, I'm here to either get you to leave Nepal, or to bring your head to my comrades...your choice."
"Did you ever realize why I so boldly approached you, despite you being armed to the teeth?" Joseph asked, smiling. "I wasn't doing it to have a conversation with you."
"Oh really? Then-"
Half of his men suddenly turned their guns on him.
The man blinked, glancing around, and then began laughing. Several of the men were turned into books, and many were frightened out of their minds. Rohan appeared, Heaven's Door hovering behind him.
"Our turn to ask questions. What is it you really want? Who sent you?"
"We know why you're here, and no one is getting their hands on that meteorite except us, it's that simple as that. We're not letting a couple of old farts stomp on our dreams." The man responded, unfazed by the fact that Heaven's Door essentially turned his mercenaries against him. "You're dealing with Pantheon now, and I'm it's god of war."
The man took a deep breath, and red smoke came out of his mouth once he exhaled, swirling around his head until dissipating, revealing a jet black helmet with a red plume.
"You want things to get nasty? Fine, my Stand Ares can make things nasty real quick!"
His eyes flashed a bright crimson, and almost immediately...a mother chucked her own baby at someone. The baby then latched upon the victim's face, and began beating on it with it's merciless tiny fists, shrieking in fury.
Tourists, mercenaries, everyone...launched into a full on brawl.
"By the way...the name is Sampson, Sampson Rodriguez." The god of war said, drawing his swords. "Sorry, Mr. Kishibe...you aren't the only one who can influence people!"
People began shrieking, clawing and biting at each other with full lethal intent. Rohan was tackled to the ground, shouting in confusion as a feral mercenary began trying to stab him with a bowie knife. Aizawa sprung into action, yanking the man off of Rohan using his capture cloth, before the knife could do serious damage.
Joseph jumped back as Sampson swung a sword at him, and began cooking up a plan.
'Okay...this just turned into something terrifying...but in the process, he's left himself wide open!'
The eldest Joestar reached into his jacket, and all of a sudden a bunch of round glass orbs came falling out.
"OH NO! Looks like I...lost my marbles!"
Everyone in the vicinity began to trip and fall, the confusion of the brawl preventing them from seeing Joseph's trap, just as he had intended. Now, Sampson was wide open for Aizawa to take the lead.
Which he did.
Class 1A's homeroom teacher was not one to let an opening slide, and his capture cloth wrapped around the God of War's wrists.
Joseph grinned. "Glad you caught on!"
"This is all I can do...I can't erase Stands, so it's up to...YOU!" Aizawa grunted out, as Sampson was putting up a hell of a fight. "Hurry! I can't hold him much longer!"
"Aren't you that UA teacher who got his eyes glued shut?" Sampson asked, slowly pulling Aizawa towards him using nothing but his brute strength. "Must've been tough, abandoning your students to suffer."
"You-"
Aizawa's eyes went wide.
Sampson's eyes flashed a bright crimson, and the capture cloth was torn in half. Aizawa staggered back, holding his head, as the God of War then used the remnants of the cloth to bind Joseph.
Joseph gasped as the cloth wrapped around his torso, restraining his arms.
'What the hell?! How did he use Aizawa's scarf on the first try?! It took him years to master this thing!'
"War...is born from tragedy, and it creates more tragedy. Everyone has a reason to fight...to win, to live...and anyone who has known that feeling of loss, is more susceptible to Ares than anyone else!"
That's when Aizawa drew his knife, and charged Sampson, screaming in an uncharacteristic rage. Sampson then sidestepped him, grabbed the remains of the capture cloth, and flung the teacher into the large crowd of brawlers.
Joseph then broke free.
He had been using Hamon to relax the support item, allowing him to slip through, and he sent Hermit Purple along the ground to trip Sampson.
'It looks like beating him is up to me! Alright...all you've got to do is find his weakness, and a method of-"
The crimson eyes turned towards him right then and there, meeting his...
"Are you sure sending Sampson was the right choice? It's always a bloodbath when he's involved...that Stand of his..."
The woman on the light throne huffed, putting a hand to her forehead. "Joseph Joestar, from what our contact has told us, primarily fights with his brain more than anything else. Sampson and Ares actively stop the opponent from strategizing. Sampson is our best counter to that man."
The man on the throne of bone and jewels nodded, and closed his eyes. "Still...while the carnage is necessary...I wish he wouldn't go overboard with fatalities. Life is too precious to cause so much death..."
"You're one to talk, God of the Underworld."
"I am not the God of Death, I simply watch over the dead. That's what a spiritual medium does." The man replied. "As such, I understand how valuable life actually is, and I understand value better than any of you."
"Still...the loss of life is just an expense we will have to live with, in exchange for scrubbing a man like Joseph Joestar off the map."
"...and if they send a more powerful Joestar in response? Ares would only make things worse if Jotaro Kujo ends up involved. His Star Platinum would brutalize us..."
"By that time, the meteorite will be ours...and our dreams will be realized." The woman promised. "Your mining operation, and your Stand, will make sure of that."
"I hope you're right..."
Joseph felt as though everything was becoming a haze.
As soon as he met Sampson's eyes, he felt angry...VERY angry, and it was an odd sort of anger. Not directed at the enemy, or the situation...but himself.
He couldn't see what was around him, it was all a red haze...the only thing he could see...
Was Sampson himself, gloating amidst the chaos.
"Finding it hard to fight the urge to tear me a new one?"
"What...did you...do to me?!"
Sampson began laughing, twirling his swords, and clanging them together in challenge. "Feeling a little frustrated? Perhaps some unfortunate memories are coming to the surface...things that you can't STAND!"
'No! This is his Stand...it's...somehow spurring everyone into fighting! I...need...to resist! Focus on a plan!'
That's when a random man attempted to bash Sampson with a chair. Half of the man's face was bloodied and torn, indicating that he had just escaped a brutal fight, and was ready to leap into another one.
Only to be cut down as quick as he showed up.
With a flip of the blade, he plunged the sword through the back of the man's chest...and they both turned into Kars and Lisa Lisa, right before Joseph's eyes.
His mother, stabbed through the back, after Kars had tricked her with a body double, forsaking what was supposed to be an honorable fight.
Images began flashing through Joseph's brain...
Caesar's blood seeping out from under a cross shaped rock.
Kakyoin flying into the water tower, a hole ripped through his stomach.
DIO's laughter.
Finding bruises on a young Johnny's back.
Suzi Q on her deathbed.
Susan choking the life out of a terrified and bloody Kyoka.
Becoming even younger.
Izuku lying in the ground, his arms torn to shreds, Kars standing over him.
All these things culminated into Joseph seeing nothing but red. Whatever thoughts or resistance he had were gone, and a river of pain took its place. Everyone had always forgotten, no matter what, that beneath the line predictions, corny one-liners, and cheerful attitude...
Joseph has known suffering, more suffering than most...and all that repressed anger, grief, despair, fear...it had just come to the surface.
Next thing he knew...he was already attacking.
"HERMIT PURPLE!"
Sampson caught the vines in his fist, and smirked. "A man who has lived as long as you, must understand my Stand better than anyone. That's why I was the one sent after you, Joestar."
*CRACK!*
The God of War bashed Joseph across the face with his armored fist. Joseph, desperately trying to regain his senses, was unable to stop himself from attacking again, unable to hold back his rage.
"Pain, trauma, fear! All of which comes from war! Ares forces those feelings to the surface, causing any under it's influence to go berserk! Everything you've been through is being used against you, preventing you from using one of those eccentric plans of yours!"
Sampson proceeded to grab him by the cheeks, and lifted him up, keeping his infuriating smirk.
"Why are you even here, old man? What have you got to prove?"
"STOP...DOING THIS...TO ME!" Joseph snarled, and even he was shocked to hear the venom in his voice.
"Come on old-timer, you know I can't do that. You're actually about a whole century old...right? Yet you look even younger than me...heheheheh...if I didn't know any better, I think someone's here to try and find some purpose!"
"What do you know?!"
*CRUNCH!*
Sampson slammed him into the ground, and kicked him in the ribs for good measure. Joseph attempted to get back up, only for an armored boot to stomp down on his back.
"You have already lived one lifetime, and I don't think you really know what to do with the next. You're almost having an anti-midlife crisis of sorts, desperately searching for some meaning in your extended life."
Sampson snorted.
"Pathetic."
Joseph screamed, and threw off Sampson with brute strength, before driving his elbow into the side of the helmet. Sampson caught the elbow, and buried the pommel of his sword into Joseph's side, before headbutting him.
"You can't think straight now, Joestar. Face reality, you're just a sad old man, trying to cope with his situation by meddling in someone else's business, playing 'hero' to fill the void that his longevity has left on his heart. This is what happens when you cheat death, Joestar...it's misery incarnate."
Joseph stopped Sampson's sword with his mechanical hand, and bashed his opponent in the face, before taking a deep breath, and kicking out at Sampson's ankle. The warrior went down, surprised, as Joseph took one of his swords and punched it down.
That's when he was kicked in the balls.
Joseph wheezed as Sampson caught the sword with his bare hand, blood dripping from his wounded palm.
"You and I are as different as can be! I fight as if every day is my last, like a true soldier, while you're still clinging to life like a coward, and for WHAT?! What do you have to live for, OLD MAN?!"
Sampson, still grabbing the blade, wrenched it from Joseph's hands, slicing the fingers off of his prosthetic hand, and stabbed Joseph through his thigh with his other one. Joseph screamed, but the butt of the other sword hit him directly on top of his head.
Then Sampson hit him again.
And again.
And again.
Sampson raised his sword, prepared for a final blow, and Joseph couldn't help but think about what the God of War had said.
Even in his enraged and fuddled state, the mercenary had said something that really struck a cord with him...
'What am I living for?'
Joseph had always lived his life based on wherever the path has taken him. He was often spurred into action, rather than seeking it. He was kinda lazy, but worked harder than anyone else when push came to shove.
Now...with his lifespan having been extended, and knowing he was going to outlive both Holly and Jotaroat this rate...
'Why should I have to go through that? Why am I just going on another adventure, why did I even decide to go?
What am I still going for?'
*BAM!*
A large mechanical fist slammed into Sampson before he could plunge the sword into Joseph's chest, leaving both him and his aggressor stunned.
'What?!'
"Hey...has anyone seen my Piston Fists?" Momo asked, frowning as she dug through Exodus' storage room. "I swore I put them here..."
"It's not like you to lose things, you're organization incarnate." Ochako replied, leaning over her friend's shoulder. "That's so weird, where could they have gone?"
"The only people who have access to Exodus are us, and the adults that we trust. Only we have the password...so either we have a security breach, or someone borrowed my tools without asking." Momo theorized, pacing as her brain began doing it's thing. "I wouldn't leave those support items just lying around, especially since they're Dr. Stewart's invention...so someone had to have taken them."
"Do...you think it might be the traitor?"
"No, absolutely not. The traitor has no way of knowing about all of this, their eyes are focused on our activities at UA, and UA alone. This is our one safe space...no, it had to have been someone affiliated with us."
Momo closed the storage room and went over to the camera system, and began browsing through the history at an alarming speed. She stopped when she saw someone wearing a cheap ski mask entering the password at the door.
"Okay...that's kind of dumb, but still effective. However...I can clearly tell who this is."
"Really?! Even with that mask?!" Ochako exclaimed.
"Yes. A mask can hide a face, but with the theory that this is someone we know in mind, this is a dead giveaway. He's an adult male, abnormally tall judging from the proportional distance from the door..."
Momo played the footage, and stopped when the masked intruder entered the door.
"See? He has to duck in order to look inside for the Piston Fists. Now that his back is to us...we can see that he's incredibly skinny, almost like a skeleton...based on the theory, this is clearly All Might."
"All Might?! Why would he steal your stuff without asking?!"
Momo clasped her hands together, staring at the screen. While she was convinced on the identity, it was the retired hero's motive that escaped her. Why would he suddenly steal the Piston Fists from his students?
"Can we get an update on where he is right now? He wouldn't resort to petty thievery unless he had to..."
"I'm letting everyone know right now." Ochako responded, texting into her flip phone. "We should at least check on the guy, I just wonder why he'd steal weapons..."
'That's right...All Might stole support items specifically meant for combat...what is he about to do?!'
Rohan sucker punched a feral flight attendant in the face, trying to make his way through the sea of bloody chaos.
'His eyes...he did something with his eyes. That's what caused this mess! We can't make eye contact!'
An old man shrieked and charged him, bearing his own severed arm. He seemed to be oblivious to that fact, and was more focused on the battle, and killing as many people as possible.
Heaven's Door pushed the man back, turning him into a book and forcing him to sleep.
It was utter madness, war incarnate. Man's urge to tear each other to shreds was on full display, and as far as Rohan knew, he was the only one unaffected.
"Mr. Kishibe! Over here!"
'What? That voice...'
Toshinori Yagi, a.k.a All Might, was dragging a wounded Joseph through the chaos. His skeletal frame was unmistakable...which only further added to Rohan's confusion.
"What the hell are you doing here?!"
"I'll explain later! Mr. Kishibe, we need to find Aizawa and get out of here!" Toshinori screamed back, and used a Piston Fist to bash one of the mercenaries aside. "The longer we stay, the more chaos that man will cause!"
"GET BACK HERE!"
Sampson sliced through friend and foe alike, gunning straight for Toshinori and Joseph, a wicked smile on his face. He was not going to make it easy for them to get away.
Rohan knew he had no time to ask questions...even though the sudden arrival of the retired number one hero was suspicious to no end. He would have to question their stowaway at some other time.
"Heaven's Door!"
Rohan used his Stand on Toshinori and Joseph, and made them both catapult into the air before Sampson could cut them down. Rohan then turned and sprinted in the opposite direction, towards their plane.
'Whatever you do, don't look into his eyes!'
Rohan vaulted over a guardrail, and was about to get into the plane when he was grabbed from behind. He whirled around to punch the culprit, but it turned out to be a bloodied Aizawa, affected by Ares.
'Shit...he could kick my ass! I just need to use Heaven's Door on him-"
*CRACK!*
Aizawa kicked him in the face, and captured him with his scarf. He then raised his foot over Rohan's face, ready to cave his skull in.
"SHIRIKUMOOOO!"
'Who?!'
Rohan tilted his head to the side as the enraged Aizawa stomped just barely to the left. The target of his anger wasn't Rohan himself, but someone who Aizawa clearly had resentment towards. It didn't seem to be this Shirikumo though, rather he seemed enraged on Shirikumo's behalf.
That's when Aizawa was hit over the head with a book called Teaching For Dummies, and Toshinori dragged his dazed colleague in with Joseph. "Come on, get in!"
"Hold on, Mr. Joestar is the only pilot."
"COWARDS!" Sampson screamed through the massacre, and drew his assault rifles.
"...screw this. Heaven's Door!"
Toshinori turned into a book, and Rohan inscribed: 'I am now an ace pilot', into him, before pushing him into the pilot's seat. "GET US OUT OF HERE!"
The plane started up, and took off down the runway, while Sampson fired his rifles at it. However, it was too late, they had barely managed to escape the God of War's murderous onslaught with their lives.
Sampson stared at the plane soaring off into the distance, and his frown slowly morphed into a grin.
"Some other time, perhaps."
He snapped his fingers, and the carnage ceased. The entire airport lobby was covered in a river of blood and corpses...innocent people forced to kill each other for sport.
Sampson took a look at his handiwork, and sighed, lighting a cigarette and sitting down on a pile of bodies. "Damn it all...all that just for the old fart to get away...I hate this fucking Stand..."
Kyoka paused, noticing that Johnny's expression had shifted. It was pained, and worried...and she was initially concerned that she had been pulling on the recorder too hard, but she soon realized that he was scared more than anything.
'Did something bad just happen...?'
"Hey, JoJo...I know you can't speak at the moment, but...is someone hurt?"
Johnny nodded, and Kyoka's heart dropped to her stomach.
"...how bad?"
Johnny shook his head, and put a thumbs up. Whoever it was, the wounds werent lethal, or too serious. Kyoka breathed a sigh of relief, putting a hand to her chest.
"Good, I was about to panic...you Joestars and your freaky psychic warnings, always making me worry about you people."
*Toot!*
"Hey, I'm just as freaky as you at this point, it's sort of a badge of honor. Not for Gyro though, you're just weird."
The Italian angrily poked her in the back in response.
*Toot! Toot! Toot!*
Kyoka laughed, and began climbing the ladder toward the hatch to get inside of Exodus. "Hey, I heard Momo is doing an investigation, maybe you two can provide her with some background music!"
She opened the hatch, and called out.
"YaoMomo, I've got some idiots for ya!"
*Toot!*
Momo stuck her head through the doorway, suppressed a giggle, and went back to work. "Don't worry boys, I'll *snort* get you unstuck in a moment."
Johnny and Gyro looked at each other with deadpan expressions, and they were dragged into the laboratory. Momo got up, looked them over, and proceeded to karate chop the recorder in half.
"Woah!" Ochako, who was on the other side of the room, leaned back in her chair.
"WAAAAAAAAGH! OW! MY FUCKING MOUTH!" Gyro yelled, spitting out blood and pieces of recorder. "That was way too harsh!"
"Wow...I was thinking you'd have some super smart sciencey way of removing it...that was kinda brutal, YaoMomo." Kyoka remarked, her eyebrows raised.
"Sorry! That was the only way I could see it coming out. Do you need some ice?" Momo asked, genuinely feeling guilty over hurting the two. "I can go get some."
"No...no, we're good." Johnny muttered. "Damn...I think I chipped a tooth."
"Goodbye recorder, I can never repay you for the entertainment you have given me." Kyoka said solemnly, sweeping the pieces into a dust pan. "You will be greatly missed."
"Careful Kyoka, we can respond now."
"I could sass circles around you two, and you know it."
"As entertaining as you three and your antics are...I think you should see this." Momo cut in, pulling up the camera footage of All Might.
"Why...are you here?" Joseph grunted, after bandaging his leg. He was now meditating with Hamon in order to patch up his wounds faster.
From the pilot's seat, Toshinori sighed.
"I have my reasons."
"In case you forgot, you don't have OFA anymore." Rohan said, looking at the retired pro from the co-pilot's seat. "I think we all appreciate the save, considering that Sampson guy was kicking our asses to Kingdom Come...but I don't recall you receiving an invite."
"Like I said, I have my reasons. I'm not defenseless...I borrowed some weaponry from Young Yaoyorozu." Toshinori responded, brandishing the Piston Fist. "I'm helping you, and that's that."
"You are the only person here who does not have any powers. Listen All Might, I respect you, you're a legend...but frankly you being here could drag us down." Rohan responded with his arms crossed.
"Rohan!" Joseph scolded.
"Am I wrong? I'm only trying to be practical, Mr. Joestar."
"It's too soon to tell. We were heavily outmatched by that Stand regardless. Our best bet is to touch down in an unpopulated area...he has strength in numbers, so the less people, the better. I...need to lay down and focus on meditating for a while...alright?"
Rohan raised an eyebrow, nothing how glum Joseph looked. It was the same kind of face he had when Eri had accidentally de-aged him, disheartened...not defeated by any means, but conflicted.
'What did he say to you during that fight?'
Aizawa, now in his right mind, spoke up. "The real question is...how did they know we were coming? We walked right into an ambush, despite the Speedwagon Foundation going out of their way to cover our tracks..."
"...isn't it obvious?" Toshinori responded, a dark shadow being cast over his eyes.
"...unfortunately."
"So, they got away...and All Might of all people was with them?"
Sampson nodded, sitting down on his throne. "Afraid so...don't worry though, I put the fear of God into that cocky bastard, at the very least."
"It won't be enough."
A dark shape rose from the floor, and the Stranger unveiled himself. His mouth, formerly a disgusting maw of flesh and teeth, was now a normal human mouth. He now sported horns on the mask, making him look like some sort of demon...
His red cape still covered his body, but underneath you could see a tuxedo of sorts.
"Excuse me, Spooky?" Sampson sneered.
"It won't be enough. The Joestars are more resilient than that. The fact that you failed to kill him means that he's going to beat you later." The Stranger bluntly replied. "You're the rival that presents a challenge in the beginning of the game, only to be beaten by the end to show how far the player has come."
"As if! Joseph's greatest weapon is his mind, and I actively remove that. Ares causes people to go into battle mode, no matter what!"
"Sure, sure...now are we gonna talk business or what?" The Stranger said, turning to the woman on the light throne. "I want to be sure my money was well spent. With Joestar still alive...I'm frankly a little concerned."
"Rest assured, you will get what you paid for." The woman responded. "Despite our God of War once again proving he's more of a meathead than a strategist..."
Sampson shot the woman a glare, and crossed his legs.
"It makes sense though. Ares was the God of War, but he represented the brutal and unforgiving parts of it. Athena was the Goddess of Strategy and Wisdom, and technically a second deity of war." The Stranger replied, grinning.
"I didn't know you were knowledgeable on Greek Myths." The woman said, impressed.
"I read the Percy Jackson books."
"Ah...well...it's better than nothing. Rest assured, if Joseph Joestar tries again, he will be dealt with accordingly."
The Stranger nodded, and pointed a finger at them.
"Don't disappoint me...or we'll be putting that 'godhood' to the test."
All of Pantheon felt a shiver down their spines from that closing remark. The Stranger was a customer...and yet at the same time it felt as though he had them in his grip, this was one customer who they knew damn well they needed to please.
The Stranger walked over to the end of their hall, and put a phone to his ear.
"Kurogiri, I'm done."
A black portal opened up in front of him, where the frame of a teenager could be seen in the darkness. The Stranger chuckled, reached out to pat the figure of the Traitor on the head, and disappeared before their eyes.
So, the Lost Meteorite arc has begun, and it's jam packed to say the least.
I really wanted to give Joseph a challenge with this one, so I gave him an opponent that actually prevents him from strategizing, his greatest weapon.
I've always wanted to play with All Might too, he'll be the deuteragonist of this arc...although his intentions with stealing Momo's weapons and stowing away are still not clear.
Plus, if anyone has Stand Ideas related to Greek Gods, feel more than welcome to chip in! This arc is going to make more use of audience interaction, so feel free to suggest ideas and matchups with the current cast!
Now...time for stats!
Stand Name: Ares
Stand Master: Sampson Rodriguez
Appearance: A plumed helmet that materializes over Sampson's face, it is jet black with silver trim. It completely covers Sampson's face in shadow, except for his eyes.
Ability: Ares uses subliminal messaging to cause humans to go berserk, utilizing Sampson's crimson eyes to do so. Any and all strategies go out the window when you're under it's effect. Unfortunately, anyone who makes eye contact is affected, not just Sampson's target, so there is inevitably a bloodbath every time he uses it.
As of right now...there is no way to protect yourself from the effect.
Stats:
-:-
Power: B
Speed: D
Durability: A
Range: D
Precision: C
(Stand is mostly just armor for it's user, everything else is Sampson's own skill.)
