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// Something Funny to Mention 
// Story: KONO DIO DA: Wrath of Sombra 
// by DIO Brando 
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"A vampire?" Phoenix questioned. While she perhaps should have been concerned, she was moreso intrigued. The remnant of Stalker-54 were bowed before Phoenix, as ordered by Sombra at an earlier time, giving a report of the operation.

"Yes, it seems the human with him invigorated some mix of power within himself," Clarity said, "I noted a particular response from the vampire, they seem to be closely related. Yet, he also backed up in response to the ability, as if keeping a distance."

"Noted," Phoenix said, "And you say Cicada was KIA?"

Clarity was silent for a moment.

"Yes."

"A shame," Phoenix said, though it was clear she had no sorrow for them whatsoever. Clarity knew this, yet he still felt conflicted with the behavior. To him, though he knew he was doing evil by others for the sake of a proper living, the lack of compassion for ones own team seemed sorely out of place. His sense of morality was ambiguous, to say the least, but he held one ultimatum close to his heart: a team functions not for an individual, but for one another. To lose even one was a significant loss, even if it did not affect the mission.

"The Royal Ambassador was involved," Fury explained, "he meets my capability in strength, as foul as it is to admit."

"Bare in mind that he does not meet your capability in training," Phoenix said, "do not allow yourself to be emotionally-involved, whether that be anger or even romanticism. Think with meticulosity, not with feeling."

Fury hid her gritted teeth in response to the very notion of romance, yet also pondered whether or not "meticulosity" was a word. She was quite certain that it wasn't, but said nothing for obvious reason. Something was strange about this mare that Sombra had employed, and Fury was certain she wasn't the only one questioning Phoenix's authority. Fury's job was founded on her strength, yet it was only physical strength that she had mastered. The strength to hold her tongue was going to need more work, but she managed for the sake of her team.

"The market has collapsed," Nightlight said, "when we were coming back, I had Clarity use an information spell to view the status of the economy and it seems prices have already began to climb higher than my own ratings."

"Quite a height," Phoenix said, earning a gratuitous chuckle from Nightlight, "it will not be long before they become unstable and yearn for our rule to save them."

"It may be sooner than you think," Saint said calmly. The equines and dragon turned to face him in response; given, of course, that his nature was so mysterious to even Phoenix, she dismissed the fact that the other four had not remained bowed.

"How do you mean, Saint?" Phoenix asked. Saint rose his head to face her directly, the one piercingly-blue eye staring directly into Phoenix's. She was secretly taken aback by the sheer fearlessness on him—unsure whether or not to feel insulted by his tendency to present himself as equal, or perhaps even greater than she.

"Thanks to the clever words of Clarity, the city had already began to change their hearts towards your cause," Saint replied, "I had left for a moment upon our return before arriving to this room to see from a distance how the city was responding. The equines have risen against their leaders, chanting the name of their 'New King'. Banners have been torn down, buildings destroyed, and the riots are raging across the city. The Royal Guard is not able nor equipped to properly handle civil unrest, and have been unable to fight against the citizens due to outdated rules of engagement. They cities are being taken by local groups, and I heard rumors of militias forming in favor of Sombra's rule. They are surely turning to him."

"As they should," Sombra said, walking in. All but Saint bowed to him. Phoenix, who herself was also in a reverent position after having vacated the throne for her king, glared at Saint was if she were about to speak before Sombra's hoof rose to her in a gesture of silence. Phoenix immediately closed her eyes, looking back down to keep her rage from getting to her. Sombra simply chuckled, "Saint, you are a very interesting creature. I assume you wouldn't behave like this if you did not find yourself to be. . .how should I say. . .better than we?"

Saint was silent.

"A wise choice of words; it seems your actions speak loudly for you," Sombra noted, sitting upon his throne, "as I might have wished to kill you as my younger self, I now find it rather admirable that you have such confidence. I believe you will be remarkable against the Vampire."

"The Vampire does not teleport," he said suddenly. Sombra had a gesture of confusion, as did the rest of them.

"How do you know this?" Sombra asked, repositioning comfortably into his throne as he looked on with curiosity. Saint turned to look him in the eye.

"I've seen that stand before."





There was a painful silence back at the cottage. Only minutes had passed, but the stillness made it feel like hours. No one knew what to do. Everyone knew that no one knew what to do, but no one wanted to say that. No one wanted to point it out, as if something were stopping them from doing so. A sense of dread shrouded them, as there was more information to take in than they were capable of interpreting. For the equines, it was the political status. For Jonathan, it was a new and unfamiliar world. For Spike, it was the first use of force. For DIO, it was simply the truth.

After just a few moments longer, DIO stood up. 

"I'm going to go on a walk and calm down," he said softly, "I haven't had time to myself for thinking about everything, yet."

Before anyone could respond, he had already vanished from the house presumably using his timestop. Spike got up for a moment to head out the door before Jonathan's hand was laid over Spike's shoulder, stopping him.

"It's alright, he'll be back," he said with a reassuring smile. Spike sighed as he sat back down, deciding to break the ice by finally stating the blatantly obvious.

"This is going to be different from anything the Princesses or the Elements ever dealt with," he pointed out, "it's not just lasers and magic anymore, it's. . .politics. . .and war crimes."

"I don't think any of us but DIO are really equipped for this shit," Rainbow Dash said, trying to keep her confident tone but failing greatly, "maybe Jonathan too, but not us."

"It's so terrible," Fluttershy whispered, closing her eyes and curling into a ball, hiding her face from the light. Jonathan looked around at them, then back at the door before standing up.

"No," he said firmly, "that is not the thinking we should have!"

Fluttershy opened one eye to peak out while the other two turned suddenly to Jonathan. 

"Then what do you suggest?" Rainbow Dash asked, seeming almost hostile in her tone. Jonathan took not even a second to fire back with a passionate reply.

"No world can be held together with lies of peace," he said to them, "only the truths of it! Because of that, it's not up to a leader, government, or even a Stand Power to make and keep the world a better place—it's up to the individuals."

Before Jonathan could continue, Dash offered a rebuttal as she was feeling angrier by the moment by the situation itself, not knowing that she was beginning to take it out on DIO's brother.

"Enough with the individuals crap!" she shouted, and without notice causing Fluttershy to retreat once more to the safety of her foreleg, "We were told that shit when Friendship was in control, and now that it's not, the real world is just staring us in the face and waiting on us to give up! The individual can't do anything!"

"Do you remember what you told Dio?" Jonathan asked. Dash paused, seeming confused as she didn't know that Jonathan was watching DIO from the other world, and though he still knew little of the equine-inhabited land, he was sure to keep an eye on his brother whether it was to keep him from killing everyone in the past, or to keep him from being killed now, "You told him about the stars. That's something that's true even in our cruel world—but it's only as cruel as we make it. Humans aren't the greatest of creatures, and vampires surely are not, but you changed DIO, in a way that even I thought impossible. That wasn't a Stand power, that was you."

Dash was silent now, thinking about what she said.

"One hundred years ago, even more," Jonathan continued, "Dio would have never allowed a pastel-colored pony that loves animals to tackle him with a hug. He wouldn't have even allowed me to breathe. When we were young, Dio made it his mission to make my life as miserable as possible, and when he discovered the stone mask, he sought to rule over our world. He killed many of my friends to try and kill me, and I thought I had defeated him. If there's one thing, however, that I respected Dio for then and still do now, it was his determination. Yet, that determination can translate to stubbornness. You changed a vampire from that. . .that absolute hatred for living creatures, with the determination to steal my body as a decapitated head to a self-sacrificing and compassionate almost-human person, and you wish to convince me that it was not by your own kindness?"

"I. . .I guess you're right. . ." Dash said quietly, "I'm sorry."

"No need to apologize," DIO said, having suddenly appeared in the room, "Jonathan didn't tell the whole story."

Fluttershy smiled, getting up to hug DIO before being warded off by a halting gesture from him. In confusion, she sat down. Jonathan turned back, stepping away in almost a sense of fear for what DIO may have had intentions on revealing about himself.

"Jonathan left out some crucial details," DIO admitted, "my cruelty was boundless. Whether human or animal, whether male or female, whether grown-up or child, I killed, fused, and consumed thousands of humans if not more. I am not a good person, nor will I ever be. You have not made me good—but that is not what your goal should be."

"Then. . .what is it?" Rainbow Dash asked, "Good is. . .well. . .good. . .right?"

"Good and evil are not absolutes, nor are they standardized," DIO explained, "you should seek what is effective for you, for those you love, and then for the world. What you taught me was not that I could be good, but that the world could be better. That it wasn't something to hate for what it is, but to admire for what it could be. You should keep that goal in mind."

"In doing so," Jonathan continued, "you realize that you can't make the world a perfect place, but maybe you could make it a better one, as life will always have conflict."

". . .and in those conflicts, you build friendships with unlikely people," Spike said with a chuckle, "I remember Twilight mentioning something about that."

Dash, Fluttershy, and even DIO smiled briefly at the memory of Twilight. It was saddening, however, as the former two remembered once more the rest of their friends—but when those memories flooded back, they remembered what they fought for. They remembered why Sombra's reign was a threat. Not economic attacks, propaganda, or even domination. It was trading the conflicts of a free life, with friends to help. . .for a life under tyranny, where everything was dystopian, and friendship was no longer required. Where everyone was a cog in the machine—something that would destroy any world faster than an army ever could.

"Then let's take the fight directly to Sombra," Spike suggested, "we know how they operate now, but they think they've got the upperhoof."

"Let's teach 'em a lesson," Dash said with a grin.





"How can you have seen that stand before? The Summer Sun Celebration?" Phoenix asked suddenly, seeming a bit anxious for some reason. Something about this stallion didn't set right with her, she had to know now who she was. Sombra, as well, was rather curious, as he knew little of the identity of the equine, only baring knowledge of his ability.

"A man I once knew," he said, "with a stand that could stop time."

The remainder of Stalker-54 was shocked, as was Phoenix. Sombra quirked a brow, finding it to be significant but surmountable challenge.

"What is your real name, Saint?" Phoenix asked suddenly. Sombra began to interject, but Saint quickly answered.

"I suppose it is time," he said, removing his hood slowly. His coat was pink, but his mane was a bright and illustrious blonde color, curled magnificently in one of the most peculiar styles of mane. He looked up at Phoenix directly, without hesitation, "I am the president of the United States of America, and I have a score to settle with one of the Joestars. This vampire you've been fighting is an alternative version of one I knew with the same ability. I believe he may have insight to a way to defeat them, and restore power to my own world. I have helped you because I expect, in return, a way back."

"That will be given as soon as the task is completed," Sombra said, "but I don't believe you answered Phoenix's question."

"Ah, yes," Saint said with a chuckle, before suddenly shifting back to the grim tone, "My name is. . ."



"Funny Valentine."