The Figure looked over his book, standing within a great, cavernous library, as he walked about the place, his suit and dress shirt tossed upon a fine gothic chair, a strange crest tattooed on his chest, as his servants stood waiting. One was a skinny, boney girl dressed in loose fitting cloths that looked too small for her, kept attached by several belts and wrappings along the shin and wrists, while the other was dressed in red and green apparel and spiked hair in the front, while his back hair was curled, looking like something out of a renaissance fair, contrasting with his serious expression.
The Figure read from the book in silence for a moment, before, looking over his shoulder at them. “Two of your comrades have failed me. This is why I am activating you two for this mission.”
“What’s the job, Boss?” Asked the First nervously. She had never asked to meet them in person, so the situation was very out of the ordinary. She did not want to provoke his wrath in anyway, be it something major, or an offhand comment.
“Sunset and her friends attend the same High School as you.” He said simply. “Once they return from the weekend, take them out, as quietly and quickly as possible.”
“That it, boss?” Asked the second, glancing around uncertainly. “Why not just do it now?”
“They will most likely hole up in one of their hovels to test the arrow.” He explained. “A school, while more open, will be easier for you to reach them, especially as they separate for different classes.”
“We will not fail you, Boss.” They both said, bowing their heads slightly.
“Remember, your fellow Skoutatoi have disappointed me. Do not join them.” He said coldly, as they flinched back. “Amber Spice, Lucky Diamond. You are dismissed.”
The two made a second bow, and ran off, leaving as quickly as they came, as he closed the book, and began moving towards a map of Canterlot High and the surrounding township, his fiery eyes focused on it as he clenched a single fist.
“Let the game begin.”
Rainbow Dash got off groggily off of Sunset’s floor, groaning as her head buzzed and throbbed. She scratched her head, as her vision swam in front of her.
“Oh…What the heck?” She mumbled. “What did we do?”
Sunset was sitting watching TV, and turned with a smile.
“Oh, you’re awake.” Sunset said. “You want some coffee, some orange juice or something?”
“Ugh, no.” Rainbow mumbled. “Why am I on your floor again?”
“You really wanted to use the Stand arrow,” Sunset explained, indicating the arrow on the nightstand beside her. “So you just jammed it in, and went into a coma.”
“Where is everyone else?” Rainbow asked, as the memories started to come back.
“Kitchen.” Sunset said. “Rarity is in the bathroom.”
“Alright, I guess I’ll just head over there, to the kitchen.” Rainbow mumbled, rubbing her eyes.
She staggered in slightly, as she the others, either seated or leaning against the wall, and all looking very drained, but never the less awake now. She smiled at them as the group turned to see her and give her the thumbs up or smile in turn. Rarity came in after, looking miserable.
She groaned. “I haven’t felt this miserable since Sweetie Bell made me a birthday cake.”
“Speaking of.” Applejack said. “I have work to do, and I need to get on home.”
“Wait.” Said Sunset. “The Stand needs to come out first.”
“How long is that gonna take then?” Grumbled Applejack.
“Try and concentrate.” Sunset said. “This is a fighting spirit type thing.”
“Concentrate?” Pinkie asked. “Is it really that hard?”
She indicated the area to her left, as a figure appeared in a flash of blue and yellow sparks, skeletal and of androgynous build, with thin robotic legs, a clawed hand, and another ending in a canon. The figure bore a wide, red-lipped smile and goggles on its eyes, and was a white color with blue, yellow and pink paint marks along its body in various strips, patterns and markings. The group gasped in surprise, as the figure gave them a thumbs up.
“I call him [F U N].” Pinkie said simply, before turning to her Stand. “Isn’t that right Fun?”
The Stand seemed to consider her words for a moment, before quickly nodding. Rainbow immediately stood straight, stamping her foot slightly.
“I gotta get my own!” She declared, before closing her eyes and holding her hands in front of her, as if in a martial arts stance. “Come on, come on!”
Nothing happened, as the group looked around for any sign of her Stand appearing. Nothing happened causing Sunset to raise an eyebrow.
“Do I not get one?” Asked Rainbow, looking downcast.
“No, the Invisible guy said you either get one, or you don’t live.” Twilight said. “And if its fighting spirit, Rainbow has got to have one.”
Applejack concentrated as well, before a flash appeared on her boots, causing her to jump slightly. When she came back down, she left to small craters in Sunset’s floor, revealing a pair of boots very different from her old ones. While they retained the brown color, they had a silver heel spreading to the tip of her toes, as a series of pistons came out the top, near her calves.
“Hey, watch…it.” Sunset said, eyes widening in surprise, as she realized what had just happened to Applejack.
“Is this…my stand?” Applejack asked, holding up one boot. “A pair of boots.”
“A pair apparently strong enough to destroy my floor.” Sunset said deadpan. “You owe me, by the way, for that.”
Applejack grinned and blushed slightly. “Sorry. But anyway, are Stand supposed to smell weird and all?”
“What do you mean?” Asked Rarity.
“It smells like oranges.” She replied. “Why the heck does my Stand, of any of em, smell like oranges?”
“Who knows?” Sunset said, legitimately confused. She was certain Ice Phoenix didn’t have any sort of smell at all.
“And why a pair of boots. I ain’t picky, but boots seem weird to me.” She said shrugging in confusion.
“I saw a Stand that was a bunch of rocks, and a invisible lizard-man.” Sunset replied. “These don’t have to make sense, I think.”
Applejack walked around for a bit, testing them out. They were surprisingly comfortable, and almost felt like nothing, as though she was wearing a pair of clouds on her feet.
“I think I’ll name them…[Cowboy Town].” Applejack said finally, shaking her head. “Yeah, that’s a good name.”
“Great, that’s two.” Sunset said, turning to the others. “Anyone else?”
A strange green creature flew by Sunset’s face, buzzing around, before landing in front of her on a spoon. Sunset raised an eyebrow at it, and leaned in close to look at it. It was a somewhat robotic figure, with yellow compound eyes, mosquito-like wings, and a noseless, human face, thin mouth, and human-like hands. The small figure stared up at her, before flying over to Fluttershy and landing on her shoulder, as she mixed her tea.
“Fluttershy, was that your stand?” Sunset asked.
“Was it?” She replied nervously. “I wasn’t very sure. These new things are kind of scary, I just didn’t know.”
“Just one tiny Stand?” Twilight asked. “That’s most odd.”
“Well, it had friends.” Fluttershy said nervously, as dozens more began to appear, each a varying shade of green, changes in the yellow color of its wings and eyes, one of them even blue.
Sunset’s eyes widened at the host of tiny flying stands before her, as she raised her hands. “Alright, alright, get them under control now, please.”
“Ok.” Fluttershy said quietly, as they, one by one, wicked out in a pop of light. “Where do they go though?”
“Honestly, I have no clue.” Replied Sunset, rubbing her head. “Ice Phoenix just appears and disappears when I concentrate a little.”
“Well, [Beautiful Day] is a good name, right?” Fluttershy asked. “I could change it…”
“No no, Your Stand is your own.” Sunset said. “Whatever you want, you name it.”
“Okay.” She said quietly, finishing up her tea and sipping it quietly. She herself wasn’t to certain about the idea of having to fight, and using a Stand, but if she could help, she would do anything for her friends. She wasn’t even sure, though, that her Stand could help in a fight.
Fluttershy was about to raise her concerns, before, Rarity gasped, as a humanoid figure appeared in front of her. Everyone turned to see the figure, similar in stature and height to her, but purple and white, and covered in blue armor, looking like fractal crystal, and a mask covered its face, small jewels encrusting the forehead of its mask, and a round speaker-like object fitted over the mouth. Numerous blue crystals sprouted from its back like a turtle shell.
“My, how beautiful this truly is.” Rarity remarked, looking over her Stand as it stood patiently with its master. “The armor looks like beautiful jewels. How amazing.”
“Your Stand is very beautiful, Rarity.” Fluttershy said. “What can it do?”
“Not sure,” Rarity said, scratching her chin. “Blue jewelry and armor. Hmm. I think [Blue Ruby] will be a good name for it.”
Sunset nodded slightly, before turning to Twilight beside her. She concentrated, as a blaze of purple and black energy surrounded her body. There was a flash of energy that seemed to bounce away from her body, then hit the floor in front of Sunset’s couch, and quickly took the shape of a figure similar to Twilight in build and appearance. It had a stone-face similar to Twilight’s but with dark purple skin and darker armor on its forearms and shins, with a hood covering much of its face and forehead, and lavender markings along its arms, legs and body, twirling and bend around its body like tattoos.
It turned to Twilight, looking at her with cold white eyes, before speaking in a voice similar to Twilight’s but far more robotic, and otherworldly. “Orders master?”
“Um, no orders.’ Twilight said, before holding up her hand. “Wait, what exactly can you do?”
The Stand seemed to consider her words, before picking up a lamp and unplugging it. Sunset’s eyes bugged out.
“Wait no, not that!” She screamed, before the Stand's eyes flashed, and the lamp started on again, before shutting off, then on again.
The stand briskly set it down, as Sunset flinched from the impact.
“Satisfied with my abilities master?” It asked.
“Ah, yes, I guess.” Twilight said, stepping towards the stand. “What is your name?”
“Whatever you wish it master.”
“How about Bob?” Asked Pinkie. “You seem like a Bob.”
The Stand shook its head. “Unacceptable.”
“Well, I’m calling him Bob.” Pinkie said, crossing her arms in front of her.
Twilight raised an eyebrow, before turning to her Stand. “Dee Purple I think will be better.”
The stand nodded. “Acceptable.”
She held her wand back up, as the Stand broke apart and shattered into dust and vapor, as this floated back into Twilight's body. Twilight looked at it for a moment, as the others looked to Sunset.
“Well, that should be all of our Stands.” Sunset said, looking around. “Now, we have to start piecing together what we now of this “Boss”.”
“Based on what you’ve said, he seems to keep a high level of secrecy.” Twilight said. “They don’t even know his name.”
“That’s really, really scary.” Fluttershy admitted, looking around nervously.
“Can’t be any worse then what we’ve dealt with before.” Rarity said. “We’ll just have to follow his trails he’s left.”
“We have to find out more about Brute Force first.” Sunset said. “When did the arrow hit him, and from there, we can trace back more of his life, and when he possibly met this ‘Boss’.”
“That creep? If the arrow knocked him out, he’ll probably have hospital records.” Rainbow Dash said, arms crossed in front of her.
“And those linked to this Boss, will show up as well.” Twilight said.
“All of em potential fights in the makin’.” Applejack remarked, adjusting her hat slightly. “Which raises another question.”
“What?” Sunset asked.
“This Boss figure has a whole lotta reach, and at least two guys with murderous goals.” Applejack explained. “What about our families and houses back home? I don’t want my sister getting hurt.”
“I left Sweetie Bell alone back home.” Added Rarity with worry, her face edged with fright.
“I wanted us to all hunker down here, but this is a good point.” Sunset said, scratching her chin. “Let’s head home, and meet back up at the school.”
They all nodded in agreement, before heading out for their bikes and the like to head back home. Rainbow was the first down the stairs and unhooking her bike, one, to get some rest after all this, and two, to be by herself. Her inability to bring out a Stand of any sort was disappointing.
‘Even Fluttershy has one, or 30, at least.’ She thought gloomily. ‘Does that mean she’s more of a fighter then me?’
She stepped on her bike a bright flash enveloped both her and her bike, as the others were walking out. Their eyes widened as they saw her bike transformed, taking the appearance of an armored dark blue and black motorcycle, with rainbow lightning bolt patterns along the side, and large pistons near the rear. Rainbow found her cloths had been enveloped by a jump suit of similar coloration to her new motobike. Rainbow smiled as she ran her hands across the surface and front of the bike, the handles, and reeved up the engine.
She turned to the group, sitting up slightly with a wide grin on her face.
“I think I’m gonna like this Stand.” She said, resting her chin on her palm, as she placed her elbow on the front of the Stand-infused bike. “Like it a whole lot.”
Sunset could not wait to get back into the school at the end of the week. Walking down the halls, she felt as though a million unseen eyes were watching her. While many of the students eyed her, mostly because of the cuts and bruises she had taken from her fight with Brute Force, she knew that, among those thousands of students, anyone of them could be an enemy Stand user.
Her eyes darted about, trying to find anyone out of the ordinary. She found no one worth writing home about, but figured that was the point. Would make for a poor criminal/underground/whatever group if they stuck out. Still, she knew deep down that they would be attacking today, with everyone in one easy place.
‘If it’s going to happen,’ She thought, peering around a corner uncertainly. ‘It will be today.’
As she opened the door to her first class, she did not see the boney, thin girl that had been following since she entered the building, the lithe figure leaning against a wall as she pulled up her phone.
“Lucky Diamond, this is Amber Spice,” She said. “All targets are in the building.”
“Alright, which one do we go after first?” Lucky Diamond replied.
“The farmer and that arrogant little fashion designer.” Spice answered, a strong note of malice entering her voice near the end.
“My, my, jealous?” He snarked.
“No, but I’m gonna take her out.” She answered sternly.
“We’ll take them both out.” He corrected. “Just make sure not to attract attention.”
“Fine.” She replied quietly. “You want me to start this?”
“No, I’ll bring em in.” He replied. “You do your weird thing when they get close.”
Rarity waited by Applejack’s locker, tapping her fingers against the metal door for her counterpart to leave the classroom. Her class had finished up early, all the better in her mind. Rarity, while not one to have to much nervous energy, found herself restless today. It made her wish Applejack would hurry up already get a move on.
‘I really should be more patient today.’ She thought, placing a hand on her forehead. ‘It would be selfish to think I’m the only one…’
She stopped as she noticed someone staring at her. A strange young man, dressed in strange Renaissance style clothing. She raised an eyebrow at his choice.
“Is that…?” She began to ask.
“Genoese Parade style dress?” He finished, grinning slightly.
“Oh yes!” She said excitedly. “Very old school, but still very wonderful to look at.”
“Why thank you.” He said with a slight bow. “I pride myself on my love for the older artistic designs.”
“So, when you join the school.” Rarity asked. “I know I would’ve spotted someone of your taste before.”
“Oh, I came here a week ago.” He said, before his voice took a darker tone. “After I meet my friend Brute Force in the hospital.”
She froze in shock and terror at his words, his eyes focused in rage at her.
“Brute was a good Skoutatoi and Stand user.” He said, his face grim and words biting. “You and your friends will pay for what you did.
Applejack came out of her class, back pack slung over the shoulder, as she saw her friend. “Hey Rarity, whose your friend here?”
“The name is Lucky Diamond.” He declared. “The Boss sends his regards.”
Applejack did not freeze up like Rarity, instead stepping forward to shield her friend, and activating Cowboy Town, her boots transforming with a loud hiss, as she pinched the side of her hat slightly. The halls seemed to empty of any students, as the area all around them buzzed with an unnatural energy.
“You better be ready to throw down, boy.” She said icily.
“Ha! A new Stand user like you, defeating me? Silly!” He said lightly.
“I may be new to Stands, but this ain’t my rodeo.” Applejack said, hands falling to her sides like a gunslinger in the wild west. “Now, bring out your Stand.”
He chuckled, as he reached into his side pocket, and pulled out what looked like three springy linguine noodles. Applejack raised an eyebrow, as Rarity’s jaw dropped slightly. He gave the noodles a brief twirl, before bringing up his other hand, and gesturing towards himself.
“Come on then.” He said. “Let’s throw down.”
Applejack jumped forward, snapping out a kick aimed directly at his head with her left boot. Lucky Diamond grunted, bending away slightly, before flicking his wrist, the linguine extending outwards and changing appearance, becoming thicker, and taking on a glossy green appearance. He quickly brought it up, grabbing both ends with both hands, and wrapping it around Applejack’s foot. Her eyes widened in shock, as she tried to pull her foot back, but the cords were now wrapping tight.
Rarity snapped out of her fog of confusion and terror, and activated her own Stand, Blue Ruby flashing outwards, and attempting to slam a punch directly into Diamond’s face. He quickly pulled out and activated another set of linguine cords, and swung them forwards, wrapping around Blue Ruby’s wrist, and yanking backwards to pull the surprised young woman off her balance.
“Spaghetti Incident may look like a simple tool for battle.” Diamond said with a grin. “But it has much more use then your glorified shoes or your frankly pathetic combat Stand.”
He studied the two with a smile as they struggled to break free of his Stand, crossing his arms in front of him, the vines of Spaghetti Incident extending further backwards. “I could take you out right now, but this is too obvious. So, I’ll just lead you along to my partner’s removal site.”
He walked calmly away, humming slightly, as he put both hands in his pockets, still gripping the vines of his Stand slightly. Even as he walked away, the two could not break free of the Stand’s grip. Applejack struggled to set her foot down, and Rarity tried to have her Stand pull its arm away, but nothing seemed to work. Rarity’s eyes widened as she say the stand’s grip was not only tightened, but the Stand itself was extending and gaining length.
“How in the world is it even doing that?” Rarity yelled.
Applejack shook her head slightly, teeth grinted together as she watched Diamond turn a corner and disappear. “Well, might have something to do with his Stand power.”
They waited for several minutes, as his foot steps grew further and further away. Finally, they felt a tug, as they were dragged along by the Stand, moving against their will. Rarity next tried to ‘put her Stand’ away, but it seemed unable to vanish away now. The Stand mimicked her frustrated expression, as she groaned.
“Of all the things to end up getting killed by,” She grunted. “A bunch of noodles has got to be the worst.”
“I don’t know,” Applejack said. “Could be worse.”
“Like what?” Demanded Rarity in annoyance.
“I don’t know,” Applejack admitted. “But I’m sure his pardner will be just as silly.”
Rarity rolled her eyes, Blue Ruby shaking its head with its master. The two continued to be dragged through the halls and around the lockers and all, winding down empty room after room, until they cam to a stop, their feet dragging along until they reached the front of two drinking fountains. Lucky Diamond looked around for a second, before sighing slightly.
“Alright, Amber Spice, come out, come out.” He said in irritation.
They heard a rattling above them, as one of the ceiling tiles snapped out of position, and a thin, pale arm extended outward carefully, gripping one part of the ceiling, as the other hand extended outwards, as a thin feminine figure lowered herself slowly to the ground, landing in a squat. She raised her head tossing back her long hair, as she raised up slowly.
“Why do you do this?” Grumbled Lucky.
“The ceiling is the safest area of a school!” She declared. “No one ever looks up there, and nothing ever ends up there.”
“But its so filthy in there.” Muttered Rarity, sticking out a tongue.
“Quiet you!” Shouted the girl called Amber Spice. “I especially don’t want to hear anything out of you!”
“Me? What in the world did I do?” Rarity asked, perplexed. “I don’t even know you!”
“Yeah, you and your lot, stealing all the attention from others, with your magic, and your elements and your saving the school and all that.” She ranted. “But now, you aren’t the only ones with a special power.”
She snapped her fingers. “Help me bring out my Stand.”
Lucky Diamond nodded slightly, holding the strands that tied down Rarity and Applejack in one hand, while flicking another set of vines outward with his other hand, wrapping them around pipes of the two drinking fountains, and pulling back. With a groan, the pipes began to break apart, before finally breaking apart, water gushing outwards in a torrent.
The water bubbled and pooled under the fountains, before shifting and wobbling, as something began to rise from the water. Applejack squinted her eyes, realizing it was not rising from, but rather the water was shifting and forming into the new creature that was joining. All the water soaked and pooled around and into the creature, before it rose to full length, and slowly walked over to Amber Spice. The being was blue with white colored joints and black eyes. Its head was, while humanoid, unnatural in shape, bending and twisting like glass. The creature leaned against Amber Spice, wrapping its arms around her shoulders and waist.
“The Secret Emperor gave me this Stand, gave me purpose in life.” She declared, pointing outwards at them. “And I’m going to destroy you.”
The water Stand began moving forward, slowly marching towards them, each step leaving behind a trail of water, before disappearing. The creature neared Rarity’s Stand, and grabbed it by the head, pulling back slightly. Blue Ruby grimaced, before swinging a punch and hitting the Stand’s body, before the fist went straight through and was caught in the Stand’s liquid mass.
“Idiot, idiot!” Amber Spice declared. “You cannot punch the oceans, can you? How about the rain? As such, [ RIVER PEOPLE] is invincible! The water of its body cannot be touched!”
“Besides, yours is not a close-combat Stand.” Lucky Diamond muttered, looking rather bored, as he twirled some cords around his head. “Even if you could, that Stand wouldn’t do much.”
“Wait, what?” Rarity asked, dumbfounded. “I thought Stands just hit things so you didn’t have to!”
Lucky Diamond narrowed his eyes in annoyance and shook his head. “A Stand can basically be anything. I can’t believe you don’t know this.”
“Enough talk, we finish them now!” Amber Spice declared.
“Mizu mizu.” River People muttered, pulling back its head, and opening it into a knife hand.
“A single strike should cleave right through your neck!” Amber declared.
Applejack struggled against the cord, as Lucky Diamond merely shook his head. “There’s no escape. My stand may not be the most destructive, but it cannot be broken. Give up.”
“We’ll see about that.” Rarity said, as Blue Ruby pulled its fist back, and opened its hand. A flash of white and silver powder enveloped its hand, before she flicked her wrist.
A large, white jewel flew out, going straight through River People’s right leg, and slashing through one of Spaghetti Incident’s cords, the color immediately vanishing as it snapped apart and shrunk into a piece of linguine. Almost immediately, Rarity fell back, her Stand with, right as River People’s hand slashed down, barely missing Blue Ruby’s neck.
Applejack’s eyes widened surprise, as she smiled broadly. “How the heck did you do that?”
“I have no idea!” Rarity said, stepping away slightly, Blue Ruby raised both hands for combat.
Lucky Diamond titled his head to one side, a look of mild surprise on his face. “How interesting.”
“I thought you said your Stand couldn’t be broken.” Applejack taunted, as the white powder gathered around Blue Ruby’s hands again.
“I stand corrected.” He admitted, as River People moved forward.
“Come on then, bring it!” Amber Spice yelled, eyes wide with rage. “My Stand will pulverize you utterly!”
Rarity almost panicked for a moment, before taking a deep breath and calming down. While she was no fighter, she simply couldn’t let her emotions blind her with her friend in need. She fired three of the crystal shards at River People, two hitting it in the chest, and getting trapped within its body, the last slicing past its arm, and leaving a wide gash. Its arm briefly fell slack, before the water reformed and adjusted to heal itself.
The crystal itself lodged in Amber Spice’s leg, who yelped in pain, bending down and holding her leg in pain, her eyes widened in anger.
“I’ll crush you!” She yelled at the top of her lungs.
“Wait wait wait wait.” Lucky Diamond interrupted, before whispering. “We have no idea what her Stand’s crystal powers can do. Let’s fall back and heal.”
“And if they follow?” Spice demanded.
“They’d have to cut Spaghetti Incident first.” He answered, as the two ran off, River People stopping, turning away, and following after them slowly.
“Rarity, you need to follow them.” Applejack said. “That’s the only way you’ll get me loose.”
“No, I have another way.” She said, Blue Ruby moving towards the discarded Linguine and picking it up, as Rarity moved to examine it.
She narrowed her eyes, noticing the piece was cut perfectly in two. “See how its been cut right down the middle. That might be the key. I need to find the perfect center to defeat his stand.”
“You would need to know where Spice and Diamond have run off to.” Applejack said, scratching her chin. “If she draws her power from water, you’d have to find the closest drinking fountain where she’ll be powering up.”
“I don’t so.” Rarity said, crossing her arms in front of her with a confident smile. “That would be far risky, leave far too much of an ugly mess.”
Applejack thought for a moment, before nodding to herself. “That leaves either the boiler pipe room where the water comes from, or the pool room.”
“Indeed.” Rarity said, clicking her tongue. “The pool is much easier to get into then the boiler room, and much closer.”
She ran off, following the trail of Spaghetti Incident, Blue Ruby floating ahead of her like a blood hound on the hunt. Applejack looked around for a moment, not having much to do, before sighing to herself.
“I guess I’ll stay here.” She muttered, crossing her arms, and looking around once more to make sure no saw the wreckage around her.
She hoped Rarity didn’t take too long.
Rarity herself was actually having a little fun on the hunt. While she at first was hesitant of this whole affair with Stands, not liking violence or fighting, this had morphed into something quite fun once she found her own way to enjoy it. She slowed to a stop as she ran up the stairs, and rounded a corner to see Spaghetti Incident winding through the halls.
She slowly walked along, careful not to step on or entangle the Stand cord, as she tapped her chin.
‘Like a fabric, its all about cutting it at the right place, and at the right time.’ She thought Blue Ruby beside her now, hands glowing white.
She walked along, tapping her fingers against her cheek as she began looking over and strategizing. ‘If I take into account how fast they were going, along with the injury to her foot…then the half way point should be…here.’
Blue Ruby slammed its hands together a crystal bursting forth, and slashing straight through the object and cutting the cord in two. Rarity clapped her hands together excitedly, proud of herself. Perhaps this whole Stand ordeal wasn’t so bad after all. The pieces of Linguine fell to the ground, as she was about to pull her phone from her purse, before shaking her head. She had a feeling Applejack could find her way here.
“Crap!”
“What is it?” Amber Spice asked in annoyance.
“She cut the cord.” Lucky Diamond answered, bringing his hand out of his pocket to reveal nothing. “I’m running out of noodles to use.”
“Well, don’t…” She was about to say, before she was interrupted.
“Hey! Are you two supposed to be here?” A security guard demanded.
“Yeah, swim class.” Lucky Diamond said. “We got here early from the office, you can ask the lady at the front desk.”
“I just came from there, and didn’t see you two.” The guard said. “We have a burst water pipe in one of the areas, and I have you two here nearing the swimming pool. What are you up to.”
As he waited, River People rose up behind him, slowly and ominously bringing itself up, as it stood over the guard, now much taller then before, as it raised its opened knife hand over head.
“You have a lot of questions, but allow me to finish this.” Amber Spice answered.
“Wait…What?” He asked, raising an eyebrow, before River People slammed its knife hand down on his neck.
Lucky Diamond jumped back, eyes wide as he cursed.
“Jesus H Christ on a Bearowl, what the heck?” He sputtered.
“We don’t need witnesses.” She replied icily.
“Yeah, but leaving a body will draw attention!” He shouted in protest.
“He wouldn’t have left either way, not without causing us trouble.” She said as River People grabbed him by the head and neck, and opened one of the doors to a closet.
“They’ll still find him, even if we win.” Lucky pointed out.
“Yes, but we’ll be long gone by then.” Amber declared. “And the Secret Emperor will be pleased.”
“Not if we cause others to start following his trail.” Lucky said. “You know how paranoid he is.”
“And if more come, we’ll get rid of them too.” Spice answered, as River People approached from behind, standing over its master like a massive guard dog. “River People will surpass any threat.”
She turned the bathrooms, a twisted grin on her face, as she and her Stand slowly headed off. Lucky Diamond shook his head, as he began to plan out his traps for the two targets.
It took Applejack some time to make it back to Rarity. While she told her friend it was because she got lost, in reality, her foot had fallen asleep, and it took some time to get her feeling back. Stumbling along the hallways with a limp foot was embarrassing, and she didn’t believe Rarity needed to know the details. As the two made their way to school pool area, Rarity glanced at Applejack as they ran.
“Did your foot really fall asleep.” She asked.
“Uh…yeah, totally.” Replied Applejack, not looking right at her. “What else would’ve happened?”
“You got lost didn’t you?”
Applejack didn’t answer merely shouting. “Oh, look at that, we’re at the pool already!”
Rarity raised an eyebrow at her reaction, but said nothing. Applejack looked over the pool area, before turning to her friend.
“Should we go in and kick some butt?” She asked.
“Perhaps it would be wiser to get Sunset and the girls here.” Rarity said. “We have no idea what they’ve been up to in there.”
“Well, maybe then we shouldn’t wait.” Applejack said. “Can’t let them escape or attack one of the others.”
“That’s a good point.” Rarity said. “But we have no clue what we’ll be dealing with.”
“Well, we won’t charge in without a plan.” Applejack replied. “I wouldn’t charge in, especially with that Amber Spice’s Stand still active.”
“Of the two, she is definitely the more dangerous one.” Rarity muttered. “Alright, do you have a plan.”
Applejack thought for a moment, scratching her chin. “Actually…nah.”
“Rgh, figures.” Rarity groaned. “Well, we’ll just take it one step at a time.”
“Fine by me.” Applejack replied, as she stepped forward and opened the door.
The two peered inside, nothing to see but the equipment, and nothing to hear but the lazy back-and-forth of water in the pool. In fact, it was almost too quiet, as though an eerie sense of calm in the area that didn’t belong had washed over them. Rarity’s eyes widened as she spotted some obscured figure shambling towards the restrooms.
“It looks like one of them is heading in.” She said. “You cover the exit, I’ll trap her in.”
“My oh my, Rarity.” Applejack snarked. “If I didn’t know you, I’d think you were the violent, un-ladylike fighter in our group.”
Rarity gave a bashful smile, before pushing the door open. The two immediately stepped in, looking around for anything, before bee-lining for the restroom. Rarity brought her Stand again, Blue Ruby looking around, before grabbing the door and holding it up for its master. She stepped followed by her stand. Applejack looked around for a moment, before leaning against one of the pillars off to the side, crossing her arms.
She was about to start whistling a tone to herself, before she saw something dart out of the corner of her eye. She jumped away immediately, as a tendril slammed into the pillar were her neck was, and creating a large crack where her neck had been. She back flipped away as two more tried to snake around and wrap up her ankles, these two much larger and thicker then before. She turned her head to see Lucky Diamond standing atop the stands used to watch the swim teams compete, slowly clapping his hands.
“Nice, nice, very nice, Applejack.” He said sarcastically. “But how do you intend to win?”
“What do ya mean?” She asked, eyes darting about.
“You are surrounded by my Stand, and I have more than enough pool noodles to strangle you with.” He explained. “And, since you’ve separated, your friend is walking into a horrible trap.”
Applejack said nothing, glaring back as she began to measure her options. His stand was fast, dangerously so. And she lacked seriously in range. Once he wrapped around, she would have no way to escape.
“I will give you one out though.” He said placing a hand on his chin, and grasping his elbow with the opposite hand. “You can submit to my boss and become a…Skoutatoi, as he calls us. If you help us subdue your friends and this realm, I’m sure he’ll reward you.”
“Really?” She asked, voice ice cold.
“I’m a man of my word.” He said with a mock bow, before jabbing a finger in her direction. “But don’t try and bluff me. I know you also are one bound by your own words, more or less.”
“Perhaps you got a point, hoss.” She said, scratching her chin as though to consider it.
“Really now?” He said, tilting his head slightly. “You’re willing to consider it?”
“Yeah, I’ll stand with you.” Applejack said calmly, her expression not changing.
“Well, you’re not lying. You’re terrible at it.” He muttered, as he summoned three more of the strands from Spaghetti Incident, coiling outwards from his feet, all the way up to Applejack. “This is a wonderful occasion. The Boss will be pleased.”
Rarity looked around the bathroom, looking over the stalls, before turning to the showers as she heard a noise from there. There was the figure she had been following before. She almost stepped forward, before deciding against that, and sending Blue Ruby ahead. It snaked and slithered through the air like a ghost, leaning against the walls, before coming within inches of the figure swaying in the center of the showers. Rarity hesitated a moment, before having her stand touch the figure’s shoulder. When it didn’t react, she had Blue Ruby turn the figure around forcibly by the shoulders…
And saw that it was not Amber Spice, but another of her classmates. Rarity recoiled in shock at the sight of her, blue veins etched across her face and fingers, her eyes now completely blue. Blue Ruby withdraw, as Rarity began to run over to help the classmate, before the young girl began to shudder and groan, her body swaying like a puppet. The figure stiffly bent over, wretching and groaning before coughing up a massive puddle of water from her mouth and eyes. She withdrew Blue Ruby back to herself, as the ceiling tiles behind shuddered and shook, as Amber Spice herself jumped down, and the water formed into the inhuman shape of River People.
The water stand shifted and warped forward, wrapping its hand around Blue Ruby’s neck. Rarity gasped and struggled as River People gripped tightly, its shiny black eyes glaring down at her Stand, as Amber Spice approached from behind, chuckling slightly.
“You thought I’d let you and your Stand catch me off guard?” She whispered with a hiss. “I came prepared to deal with you the moment I entered this restroom.”
“Why are you…?” Rarity asked.
“Don’t talk!” Amber Spice shouted. “You and your gang, always stealing attention from people like me, just because I screwed up in life.”
She crossed her arms, as River People raised a fist, aiming at Blue Ruby’s face.
“So I’m gonna cast you right into the oceans.” She declared. “And leave you for the sharks.”
As she was about to have River People punch away, Lucky Diamond and Applejack suddenly entered, the various tendrils wrapping and flowing around Diamond as he confidently strode in, a wide grin on his face.
“What are you doing with her?” Snarled Amber, pointing an accusatory finger in her direction. “We’re to execute them!”
“Take it easy.” Snapped Lucky. “We were to remove a threat. She’s agreed to join us. Hence, not a threat.”
“How did she agree and all that then?” Asked Amber, still obviously untrusting of Applejack.
“Protecting her farm and all, didn’t want to be involved in this fight, only did it because of Sunset.” Lucky explained, with a shrug. “Yadda yadda, I offered her protection, and rewards to her family from the boss.”
“Fine, prove yourself!” Amber ordered, pointing at Rarity. “Use your stand, and destroy her and her own.”
“Kick that to death?” Applejack asked, her expression not changing as she tipped her hat. “I can do that.”
She stepped over to Rarity and angled up, her own friend’s eyes wide and in shock, hardly able to believe what she saw. She managed to muster up a few words, as Applejack raised her foot to attack.
“Applejack, how could you?” She whispered in a mixture of terror and anger.
“Relax, it’ll be over soon.” Applejack said with a wink.
She raised her foot up, and snapped it out. Rarity closed her eyes, expecting the painful crunch of a stand infused boot to her face. Indeed, she heard a sharp crack, like a pistol being fired right next to her, but only felt the grip on her neck relax. Amber Spice gasped in pain, as Rarity cracked open her eye, as Applejack drew back and slammed another sidekick into River People’s head, before slamming kick after kick into it.
“Hidzume! Hidzume! Hidzume!” She shouted, before spinning and slamming her other foot straight into the stand’s gut. “Hidzume!”
River People went flying away, slamming into a stall wall for one of the toilets, and shattering into a puddle, as Amber Spice fell to the floor, blood dripping from her mouth and nose. She groaned as she rubbed her head, as Lucky Diamond recoiled back in shock and snapped his fingers, five of his tendrils launching forward at them. Rarity reacted immediately, bringing Blue Ruby out, and looking at each stand tentacle. Although it was down on the fly, she fired off jewel after jewel, each of the projectiles flying forward, and slicing the five tendrils in half.
Applejack smiled as she and Rarity got back to back, both of them in combat stance, as Lucky Diamond brought out more of his Spaghetti Incident Stand vines, and Amber Spice rose to her feet slowly, her hair a disheveled mess, leaving only her angry eyes glaring at them. She turned slightly to Lucky Diamond.
“You idiot!” She barked. “She can’t lie to save her life, and yet she somehow fooled you with her lies!”
“Her face didn’t break at all!” He protested. “I…I was told she couldn’t lie! The Boss and his Guards said so!”
“I didn’t.” Applejack chuckled. “It’s really embarrassing, hoss. I told you I would stand with you, and I did. I stood next to you.”
Lucky Diamond’s face fell, and he looked as though he wanted to drop off the face of the earth. He turned to Amber Spice, his face pale.
“When we report our victory, let’s leave this out when we tell the boss.” He said, his voice hollow.
“Agreed.” Amber Spice muttered, her still obviously tinged with anger. "but you owe me big time!"
River People reformed from where it had landed with a hiss. It stood for a moment, before turning and smashing the door down, and reaching into the toilet. As it did so, a large whirling sound could be heard, as it grew significantly larger. It turned back, the Stand now nearly brushing the ceiling with its head. Applejack raised her left foot, before slamming it down, leaving a large crater in the tiled floor under her foot.
“Howdy howdy, let’s get rowdy.” She said, a smile beaming out from under her cowboy hat.
“I believe the two of us can handle these two ruffians.” Rarity said with a smile, as Blue Ruby prepared another jewel to attack. “Even if that was a nasty trick you played on me.”
“Sorry. But now I’m going to be completely honest,” Applejack said, before looking over her shoulder at the two enemy Stand users, and pointing right at them. “And honestly? You’re not getting out of this. No forgiveness.”
“My Blue Ruby will have no mercy!” Rarity declared.
“Good, we didn’t intend to give mercy or forgiveness!” Retorted Lucky Diamond, as more of Spaghetti Incident’s strands flowed outwards from his wrist and pockets.
“Prepare for the end!” Amber Spice declared. “All because you two couldn’t mind your own business!”
River People lumbered forward, as the Spaghetti Incident strands began to stretch and cover the restroom area, from toilets and into the shower area.