"So, what are we going to do now," Sprig asked as they walked down the coach.

"The same as usual," said Polly, bored. "Fight a Stand user and keep going down this never ending train!"

"I think it's pretty fine," said Hop Pop. "It reminds me of the time I played an engineer in my youth."

"You were an engineer," asked Hot Pants.

"No. It was the role of a play."

"One that barely anyone attended," giggled Polly.

"On opening day!" the old frog snapped. "We had a bigger audience the following day!"

"Only because they were forced by the teachers," said Sprig.

"The point is," Hop Pop said, irritated. "I have a little experience with trains."

"Not like me," said Jones, popping out of nowhere, and making everyone jump.

"Would you quit doing that," snapped Polly. "You're going to give Hop Pop a heart attack! His fat filled heart cannot take it!"

"Hey! I'm not fat! Okay, I am fat, but not that fat!"

Joan Jett stared at the kid. "Hey, Jones. Have we met?"

Jones looked up at her. "Why do you ask? This is the first time meeting you. I remember every person who gets on this train."

"No, I've seen you. I just don't know where."

"Where?" asked Grime.

Joan Jett grumbled, "Yare yare daze, if I did know where I wouldn't be asking that question, would I?"

"Hey, I'm just trying to..." Grime stopped and gasped, dropping Barrel's Warhammer in the process. "This presence. I haven't felt it since..."

"Hey, did you just gasp in horror," asked Johan with concern. "I've never seen you do that."

"He's here," Grime whispered.

"Who's here," asked Sprig.

"I think the better question is," said Hop Pop. "Who could make the legendary Captain Grime become a chicken? Heh, heh," He chuckled.

"Shut up," snapped Grime. "He's the only person who made me and my sister Beatrix fear for our lives! He's-"

Whatever Grime was going to say, he didn't, as he and everyone else suddenly went stiff. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't move, or speak. They heard footsteps approaching, and Scarlet Valentine came into view. She was carrying a blowpipe and had a tommy gun strapped to her back. "My, my, that was close," she said as she walked over to the group. "The girls are in the coach after this one. Can't have you reunite just yet. Naughty, naughty, Jones. You were supposed to keep them away from each other."

Everyone moved their eyes in Jones' direction. "That's right," she said. "He's the conductor of this train. It's his job to keep you from reaching the end until the trials are done." She approached Johan and wrapped her arms and tail around him. "It's a good thing I decided to bring these paralyzing darts and this blowpipe. This way, I can keep you lot from reaching the girls for a little while. And..." She leaned in to whisper in his ear, "And I get to have a little fun with you. I know I'm married, but there's something about humans that is so...exotic. I want to keep some for my own should I go to Earth. Both as servants and as...ways to relieve myself."

She reached under his shirt and his pupils shrunk with fear. She leaned in and sniffed his hair deeply. She patted his head and said, "So soft. And you smell of earth, just like that Boonchuy girl. Your hair is as gold as my husband, skin pale as snow, and your eyes...golden brown like honey. I think...I will keep you. Just don't tell my husband." Her tail went down his pants and she tilted his head to make him look at her as she leaned in to kiss him.

Internally, Johan was screaming for help, for someone make this hag of a newt stop from kissing him. Luckily, his wish came true as before Scarlet could plant her lips on his, Hot Pants punched her in the face and sent her crashing into one of the pews. "Lady, you are sick!"

Scarlet got back up and looked at Hot Pants with confusion. "How? I shot all of you with the paralyzing darts!"

"I used Cream Starter to add more layers of flesh to my body just before you fired, protecting my bloodstream."

Scarlet chuckled. "Aren't you clever," she said as she took out the tommy gun.

Hot Pants gasped pushed everyone down as she fired the gun. "I need to borrow this," she said as she grabbed Johan's gunblade. "The poison should wear off in a few minutes." She poked her head out, only to duck it back as Scarlet fired again. The sound of the tommy gun clicking made Hot Pants immediately jump out from her hiding spot and fire the gunblade.

Scarlet let out a yelp and reloaded her weapon. Hot Pants jumped behind another pew, only to have a bullet shoot through it and hit her in the arm. She reminded herself to heal that later. She rolled out of the way to avoid another onslaught of bullets and fired the gunblade again, this time at Scarlet's leg. No longer playing, Scarlet took out some boom shrooms and threw them in Hot Pants' direction, but she managed to jump out of the way before they exploded. Scarlet took out another boom shroom, but before she could throw it, Hot Pants fired and it exploded in Scarlet's hand, making her scream and writhe around in agony as she held what was left of her hand.

Hot Pants saw the others starting to get up, the paralyzing agent having finally worn off. She ran up to them and asked, "Are you all okay?"

Johan shuddered, "Not really. She tried to..." He couldn't finish the sentence. He just took the gunblade back from Hot Pants without saying a word.

Hop Pop put a comforting hand on him. "It's okay, JoJo."

Joan Jett looked around. "Where's Jones? Damn it, he's disappeared! I knew there was something I didn't like about that kid!"

"No time for that," said Grime. "We have to get out of here and find Sasha and her friends! If they're up against who I think they're up against, they'll die!"

"You know this is serious when even Grime is panicking," said Polly. "Come on!"

The group tried to leave the coach, but suddenly, Johan felt someone grab his ankle and he fell. He turned around to see Scarlet holding onto him with a mad look in her eyes. "So gullible..." She held up a boom shroom and activated it. Thinking quick, Hot Pants pushed the group into the next coach and grabbed onto Scarlet.

"Hot Pants!" Johan shouted.

"Save Sasha from herself, JoJo," Hot Pants said before the door closed just as the explosion occurred.

The group stood in silence at the door. Then, Sprig and Polly broke the silence first and began to cry. Hop Pop held them close. Joan Jett looked away. Johan cried as well, only a bit more silently. "Why am I crying," he asked himself. "I barely knew her. So why am I feeling bad for her?"

"Because you lost a friend," Joan Jett replied as she wiped her tears. "Even if it was for a brief moment, she was a friend."

"There's no time to grieve," Grime said. "We've gotta find Sasha before she meets...HIM!"

"Slow down," said Hop Pop. "Who's 'him'?"

Johan wasn't paying attention to that. He was thinking about Hot Pants' last words. "Save Sasha from herself? What did she mean?" He stuck his hands in his pockets, and was surprised to find one of them not empty. He took out the object and was surprised to discover it was a newspaper. When he read the article, his eyes narrowed.

"Whatcha got there?" asked Hop Pop.

Johan didn't say anything at first. Then he stuffed the paper in his pocket and said, "Not important. Let's go find Anne and the others."

Joan Jett said, "And I want to have a word with that Jones kid when I find him."

Earlier...

"This is it," said Sasha as she and the girls walked down the coaches. "The final test. I wonder what it could be."

"Knowing Valentine," said Anne. "Probably some stupid puzzle about hidden strength."

"Maybe something about teamwork being stronger than the strength of one?" suggested Marcy.

"Actually," said Valentine as he rose up from the floor, making the girls battle ready. "This one's a bit more straight forward." He held up the Strength tarot card. "What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word 'strength'? Most definitely the muscles. Perhaps you might think of inner strength and the potential you have but don't know yet." He put the card away and continued, "But all that strength has to come from somewhere. I ask you Sasha, what is the source of your strength? To figure that out, you must fight...this guy."

He walked to the side and allowed a large fire-bellied toad to step forward. He had white hair, dull gray eyes, and wearing nothing but a tattered pair of white pants and brass-colored boots, and carried a sword that resembled a meat cleaver on his hip. He said in a gruff voice, "So this is Grime's lieutenant? Hah! She's as skinny as a twig and her Stand is unimpressive!"

"Hey! Who are you to say that?" Sasha demanded. "I'm tough!"

"Not the way I see it, shorty."

Sasha's eyes and hair glowed brighter. "What was that?"

Anne asked, "How do you know Grime?"

The toad chuckled. "My name is Bombina. I'm Grime's mentor." The girls gasped. "Oh, yeah, I taught that little tadpole everything he knew. I'm just disappointed he decided to take in a...a...an alien for a lieutenant. And him losing Toad Tower South because of that one..." he pointed to Anne. "...has got to be the biggest failures ever! I'm not surprised. He never did live up to my expectations. His sister Beatrix on the other hand, what a gal. She always surprised me."

"Hey!" Sasha summoned Slash in response to her anger. "You can diss me all you want, but you don't diss my friends! Grime is tough, strong, and taught me become strong to survive this world!"

Bombina leaned in to get in Sasha's eye level. "What are you going to do about it, skinny? You're not even worthy of facing my Stand." Sasha glared at him and her eyes and hair glowed brighter. "Oh? You want to prove me wrong? How about we STEP OUTSIDE?!" He grabbed Sasha by the shoulders and launched himself up through the ceiling.

"Sasha!" Anne and Marcy shouted. They wanted to help, only to be stopped by Valentine. "I'm sorry, this challenge is one you cannot partake in."

"To hell with that," Anne said as she and Marcy activated her powers. They were about to fly out the hole, only to be blocked by a wall of fire.

Valentine shook his head. "I hope Bombina doesn't go too far with her."

Bombina threw Sasha onto the roof of the train and landed in front of her. "Here we go. Just you and me. Time to raise some hell!" Sasha got up, took out her swords and summoned Slash. "Hmm. You know, when I look at you, you remind me of Grime when he and Beatrix first came to me. Wild, unfocused, and with the eyes of a beast. Wanting me to give it all, only to instantly regret it. Heh. It was a lot of fun then. I hope you don't disappoint, because to disappoint me is to disappoint Grime! Give me everything you've got!"

He laughed and Sasha flew at him and punched him square in the face. He did not even flinch. He smirked and punched her back, sending her flying across the train. She got back up and charged up her powers and summoned Slash. Bombina raced up to her and tried to punch her again, but Sasha caught his fist. He tried to punch her with his other fist but Sasha caught that one too, then quickly summoned Slash to stab him in the chin and send him flying.

He quickly got back up and spat blood. "This is fun! It's like hunting," he laughed.

"And you're the game!" snarled Sasha. She charged at him with Slash, who proceeded to try to stab at him, only he dodged every strike and countered by grabbing Sasha by the face and slamming her into the ground. He was about to stomp on her head with she grabbed one of her swords and stabbed him in the foot. He winced in pain, giving Sasha enough time to push him back. He grinned.

Sasha and Bombino charged at each other and punched each other, each blocked by each other's fists. A couple of lucky shots made both opponents stagger back, but they still fought on. Then, Sasha grabbed both of Bombino's arms, slide kicked him, then stabbed him in the gut with both swords. But to her surprise, the fire-bellied toad laughed between bloody coughs and got back up.

"I have had carnal knowledge of the fairest maidens in Newtopia... and have tasted the finest wines of Amphibia. But none of it- none of it- excites my blood more than using my blade!" He unsheathed the cleaver and it glowed with Stand energy. He laughed and said, "Behold my Stand, New World Symphony!"

He charged at Sasha with the cleaver and brought it down on her, but Slash managed to catch it between its hands. Bombino pressed the cleaver down, adding more weight to it. Sasha sank to her knees as she felt herself being overcome. "Too...heavy. I can't do it...not alone. Cannot do it alone..."

You're not alone, Sasha! We're here for you!

"Really? How can you believe in me after I was such a jerk to you?"

Because you weren't just a jerk, you also inspired us. You're fierce, you're brave, and most of all, you never give up.

Sasha's eyes and hair lit up again. "You're right, Anne." Out of sheer force of will, she and Slash worked together to get back up, lift the cleaver and its owner up and throw them across the train. "I'll never give up. Not today, not ever!"

Bombino chucked. "That's it! That's what I've been looking for!" He slashed at the air, creating horizontal and vertical laser blades that shot out of the cleaver's blade and at Sasha. "More, more! Show me more!" Bombino raised the cleaver in the air and Sasha almost gasped at the sight of the blade stretching out to impossible length. He brought the cleaver down, but Slash blocked it while Sasha caught it with her hands. Then she ran along its line, catching Bombino by surprise and kicked him square in the face, sending him flying across the coaches' roofs.

He got back up and said, "I love it! I haven't felt this kind of excitement since Grime and Beatrix teamed up and beat me! I thank you, Sasha Waybright for making this memorable. But all good things must come to an end." The cleaver stretched out again, and Sasha and Slash grabbed it, making the girl's hands bleed. But to her shock, the blade continued to grow, making her slide along the coaches.

"Only the strong survive," Bombino shouted. "I would have thought Grime would have taught you that much!"

"That's not up for you to decide," Sasha shouted back as she felt herself being lifted off her feet. But the blade still kept growing. "How long can this stupid thing go on," she thought out loud.

"You, Grime, and I are so much alike," said Bombino as he hoisted Sasha up into the air. "The thrill of the fight are all that matters!"

"I'm nothing like you!"

"Then tell me, Sasha! How are we so different?!"

Images of Anne, Marcy, and Johan appeared in Sasha's mind. "My strength doesn't come from my power alone! It comes from the people who care for me, who put their trust in me! My friends are my strength!" Her grip on the blade tightened and Slash repeatedly stabbed it with its rapier. "MURI, MURI, MURI, MURI, MURI, MURI, MURI, MURI, MURI, MURI, MURI, MURI, MURI, MURI, MURI, MURI, MURI, MURI, MURI, MURI, MURI, MURI, MURI, MURI!" The blade cracked, then shattered, sending pieces everywhere, with one shard ending up in Bombino's skull. Sasha then took out her two swords and, along with Slash, stabbed the fire-bellied toad repeatedly.

Bombino crashed onto the roof of the coach they were on and Sasha pulled the swords out of him. This time, he did not get back up. He chuckled, coughing blood. "That was quite a battle. I loved it. Grime taught you well." His eyes slowly began to close. "Tell me, how is Grime doing these days? All those insults I said earlier, I just said them to get you riled up."

Sasha's hair and eyes flickered then returned to normal. "He's doing great, all things considered. We fought General Yunan, we've started a coup against Newtopia..."

Bombino's eyes widened. "Really? Wow. Grime's going places. Shame I can't be around to see the outcome. Oh, well."

Sasha was confused. "Huh? What do you mean?"

"Valentine only brought me out of retirement because he promised me one last great fight before I die. And you delivered it. Thank you, Sasha Waybright, for curing me of my terminal boredom."

"What?! No! I can help you! Anne and Marcy can heal you and..."

"It's alright. I got what I wanted. A good fight, lots of good food, fine wine, and plenty of beautiful women to share my bed with. What about you? Do you have what you want? Oh, and keep your friends close. They're your strength..." There was nothing more to say. And for Sasha, all she saw next was black.

When Sasha awoke, she found herself in the arms of Anne and Marcy. "She's awake! Oh, thank frog," said Anne.

"Sash, are you alright," asked Marcy. "Your hands were bleeding, but I used the Spin to close the wounds."

Sasha looked around. "Where's Bombino?" She tried to get up, but she was too weak to move.

"Easy, girl," said Anne as she kept her from getting up. "You took a heavy beating out there and drained yourself."

"Where's Bombino," Sasha asked again.

Marcy said, "Valentine disposed of his body by setting it on fire."

Sasha didn't know what to say. She just stared at her hands and clenched her fists until they started to hurt and then punched the nearest pew. "Damn it! I wanted Grime to know I met his mentor, and beat him! I thought maybe he could help us, and maybe bash some heads together. Help us beat Valentine."

"He's already done his part," said Valentine as he approached the girls, all of them grabbing their weapons and pointing them at him. "So, Sasha, where does your strength come from?"

Sasha got back up with the help of Anne and Marcy and glared at him. "You're looking at 'em."

"Straight to the point as always," Valentine said. "In any case, you've passed the trials. You're now ready."

"Hold on," said Marcy. "Why are you putting us through all this? What's the point of making us face all these Stand users?"

Valentine said, "As I told you, I wish to save Amphibia from repeating its dark history. A history I will teach you in the next coach."

"If I want to learn about Amphibia's history, I'd learn it from Marcy," said Anne.

"What I'm about to teach you is something you cannot find in a book, especially no from Newtopia's library. Come. Your friends are waiting," Valentine said as he turned to leave.

Marcy said, "You know, I don't trust that guy as far as I can throw him, but I'm kinda curious about what he has to say."

"I don't either," said Anne. "But he's the only lead we have of finding our friends and our only lead of getting back home. For now, we have to do what he says. And THEN we can beat him up."

Sasha chuckled, "Heh. Finally, something we can agree on." My friends are my strength, she thought, but how long will it last?

To be continued ➟

Stand: New World Symphony

User: Bombino

Power: A

Speed: A

Range: A

Durability: C

Precision: C

Potential: E

Ability: Takes the form of a sword with the power of fire. The blade extends and grows, and there doesn't seem to be any limit.