//------------------------------// // Chapter 16: Truly Disturbed // Story: SuShi's Bizarre Adventure: Nugget Run Horizon // by Jojoleopard //------------------------------// Sweetie Belle couldn’t believe her eyes as she looked at the living, breathing figure of her sister standing just a few feet away from her. Rarity threw one hand forward, then turned her body to the side and lifted one knee and planted her foot against her other leg. “Sister, my dearest sister, it has been some time, hasn’t it?” “R-Rarity? How are you here?” Sweetie Belle took a step closer. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. “Who are you talking to?” Gipsy Dance asked her. “It’s… It’s my sister. Rarity. I thought she died giving her life for her friends, but… Here she is. She’s here!” Sweetie’s hands shot to her mouth as she choked on her words. “Sh-She’s really… She’s here…” “Yes, yes I am, Sweetie Belle…” Rarity walked closer, her hips swinging from side to side. “When the rock crushed me, I used my Stand’s abilities to protect myself. All that happened was me getting pushed further underground. I escaped and I’ve been recuperating ever since, away from the public eye to protect myself from my enemies.” “Sweetie Belle,” Gipsy warned. “I don’t know what you’re seeing, but there is something wrong here. Don’t let your guard down! Whatever it is you are seeing, it is not your sister.” “She can’t see me because of my Stand ability, Sweetie.” Rarity reached out a hand. “You can see me because I allow it. I can’t have anyone know where I am, not yet.” Sweetie Belle wanted more than anything to run to her sister, to let her know how much she’s missed her all these years. After hearing about the news of their sisters more than thirty years ago, she and Applebloom had been distraught and Scootaloo had to work hard to finally pull them out of their slump. She had gotten over her sister’s sacrifice four years after that, but she had always wished she could see her one more time, at least just to tell her how much she loved her. And now here she was, standing across from her and Gipsy, in the flesh. But it all seemed too good to be true. She had to be sure. “How do I know you’re really my sister?” Sweetie Belle said hesitantly. “Don’t you recognize me?” Rarity brushed a hand through her curly hair. It was here that Sweetie Belle realized the first warning sign. She did recognize her sister. She looked exactly as she did before the day she died, but that was just the problem. She looked like she hadn’t aged in thirty years. “You didn’t grow old, Rarity?” “She looked down at her body, then smiled. “It’s also my Stand ability. It keeps me from aging.” “No. It’s not really you, is it?” Sweetie Belle clenched one fist, then lifted it as she swung her other arm behind her back and crossed one leg in front of the other. “I want it to be you, Rarity. But you can’t fool me. I’ve figured out your secret.” “You have?” Gipsy Dance looked at her, then back at the empty air in front of her. “I’ve been thinking about it ever since the plane attack.” Sweetie Belle nodded as the colors around her began to change from her rage rising up from inside. Rarity’s hair now looked red and her skin looked pinkish and the building they were standing on turned into a shade of blue. “The plane vanished after it got far enough from us. I found it weird that it didn’t come back for a second run, and then the wave. You remember what happened? After a certain distance, we could no longer see it, but the people down there were still running as though they could.” “And the boy…” Gipsy raised two fingers. “The one with the headphones. He was unaffected.” Sweetie nodded, then threw a hand forward and pointed her index finger menacingly at Rarity. “We always hear your attack before we see it. What we hear becomes a reality, but once we can no longer hear it, it can no longer affect us. And it has to be a sound you would know. That’s why Gipsy Dance can’t see you. She’s never met you before.” Rarity put a hand to her chin, then began laughing. Her laughter got louder and louder as time went by. “My, my. I didn’t expect you to figure it out so quickly, darling.” Her fingernails began to grow longer and blood began to drip from her forehead, dripping into her eyes, turning them red. “Yes, that is exactly the power of my Stand. But do you think you can defeat me just because you know how it works?” Rarity jumped at her, her claws already poised to slash her to pieces, but Sweetie rolled out of the way, then spun around and removed REO Speedwagon from her back. She swung her Stand at Rarity, knocking her to the ground before reaching her hand into it, digging around until she found a pair of noise-canceling headphones. Slapping it to her ears, Sweetie Belle removed her phone and cranked up the volume of an Italian music piece, drowning out all sound around her. “No!” Rarity jumped at her again, but before she could touch her, she faded away faster than anyone could blink. She removed her headphones and gave Gipsy a thumbs up. “It works!” “Good plan, Sweetie Belle. But how do we find the Stand now? As long as it's around, it can keep making sounds to attack us with.” “I have a feeling it’ll show itself soon, after realizing it can no longer fight us by its sounds.” Sweetie looked around the roof, then spotted a beige hand attached to the edge of the roof. All of a sudden, a long lanky figure threw itself up into the air before landing on the roof to their north. It had red glowing eyes and a mouth that resembled an insect, along with what looked like a pair of speakers behind its head. “There it is.” Gipsy Dance readied her stance as Spandau Ballet appeared behind her. “You fools, you think sound is all I can do?” The Stand raised both hands and laughed. “I am Disturbed and you won’t make it off this roof alive!” Steam spewed from holes on its body and it charged at the two women, raising its long fingers to its sides and curled them into hooks. He swung at them, but as they both leapt away from it, its arms seemed to detach from its shoulders, connected only by what looked like tendons, reaching out and grabbing both women around their throats. Sweetie Belle gasped as she fought to remove its fingers from her neck, but Gipsy’s Stand swung its fans down and formed cuts across Disturbed’s arms. “Aagh!” The enemy Stand dropped them and stepped back as blood sprayed from its wounds. It boomed sound from its head and Sweetie and Gipsy heard what sounded like a whale. All of a sudden, a dark shadow blanketed the area around them and they looked up, spotting a giant sperm whale falling towards them from the sky. Sweetie Belle reached into her backpack and retrieved a second pair of headphones and tossed it to Gipsy as she put hers back on. As she clicked play on her phone again, the shadow above them disappeared, leaving them with only a raging Disturbed, smashing its fists against the ground. It pointed at them and said something, but the two women could no longer hear it. Instead, Spandau Ballet ran forward, then spun as it jumped, kicking both leg spikes into Disturbed’s chest repeatedly, adding more holes to its body as it staggered back with each stab. It extended its arms out again and tried to clobber Spandau Ballet, but Gipsy’s Stand leapt back with one final stab, then flipped in the air and threw both fans at Disturbed. The enemy Stand tried to avoid it, but they curved into its path and slashed across its legs before returning to Spandau Ballet. Disturbed shook a fist at them, but REO Speedwagon was already on it, using Spandau’s distraction to get closer. With its crab-like legs, it had made its way up to the enemy Stand’s head and before Disturbed realized what was going on, REO Speedwagon had already gripped the speakers behind its head with its front legs and ripped it off the Stand’s head. Sparks shot out as the Stand began to spasm and shake as REO Speedwagon returned to Sweetie Belle with its prize. She gestured to Gipsy to remove her headphones after pausing her music. “Simple as that, is it not?” “That it was…” Gipsy smirked and pounded her fists together. “Now time to finish it off. Spandau Ballet! Round and Round!” “No, it can’t end like thissss…!” Disturbed yelled as it grabbed the back of its head. Spandau Ballet jumped forward and crossed its arms. Then it threw them forward and released its bladed fans, sending them spinning towards the enemy Stand. The slashed at it, then curved round and round and round around it, repeatedly shredding its body into pieces. Sweetie Belle and Gipsy could swear they were hearing screams from somewhere nearby. “N-No!” Disturbed tried to get away as one of its mandibles were sheared from its face, followed by two of its fingers. “St-Stop you don’t need to do this!” Gipsy raised a hand and Spandau Ballet recalled its fans. Now, Disturbed was nothing more but a pile on the floor, sliced to pieces, unable to stand. “Will you stop Weather Alternate from pursuing us any further?” “Weather Alternate can never be stopped.” Disturbed pushed its body up on one hand. “Weather Alternate encompasses the world, they will stop at nothing to achieve their goals and Gloriosa wants your heads. What she wants, she’ll get.” “Gloriosa? Gloriosa Daisy?” Sweetie Belle knew that name well. Gipsy looked confused, so she decided to explain it to her. “Gloriosa Daisy is the owner of Camp Everfree in Canterlot, where we’re from. I’ve been to the camp twice, and she’s always been so sweet to us.” “You clearly don’t know her like I do.” Disturbed chuckled. “I tried to buy the camp grounds from her. But she would not let me. What do you think it looks like when she joins Weather Alternate after me and rises the ranks faster than me? Now, I have no choice but to do what she says, and that also meant coming here to deal with your group. And that is why I can’t leave empty handed!” With one final bout of strength, Disturbed threw himself up at them and extended its arm to try and take at least one of them down with it. Before Spandau Ballet could throw its fans at it again, Sweetie Belle unslung REO Speedwagon and swung it by its bag straps as hard as she could. She knocked Disturbed to the ground, then swung it again and again. “This is for impersonating my sister!” Sweetie lifted her Stand with both hands, then sent it crashing down against Disturbed. The enemy Stand screamed out in pain and they could hear the distant scream again before Disturbed vanished from sight. “It’s safe now.” Sweetie opened her bag flap to let the others know before slinging her Stand back over her shoulders. “I think it came from over there.” Sweetie and Gipsy went down the staircase of their building and across to the next one before exploring around. It was a multi storey carpark and it was there that they found the body of a frail old man. He was balding at the top and his skin was tight across his bones, but he was dressed in an extremely expensive suit with three bags of money printed on its breast pocket. His eyes had rolled back into his head and his mouth hung open in an endless silent scream. “Filthy Rich.” Sweetie Belle recognized him. “I’m surprised he was actually still alive. He’s ancient.” Gipsy shook her head in disgust. “The rich. They always think they can do what they want just because they have money. I’m glad he got what he deserved.” “Weather Alternate will get what they deserve in due time as well.” Gipsy ran a hand along the scar on her forehead and her brows creased in resolve. “That they will. No one else should end up like my family and friends because of what we are. Weather Alternate should not get to decide who lives and who dies based on their bloodlines.” Sweetie Belle looked out to the city before them and nodded. They were close now. Once they got to Mount Fegel, they were going to stop Weather Alternate and they would rid their influence on the world forever. -------JO-JO------ Along the mountainside of Mount Fegel rested two bases, the Fegel Ein Base, and the Fegel Zwei Base. Weather Alternate had constructed these two bases after learning that the Nugget Run would allow them access to the Nugget People down below and their engineers had been quick to build up working stations along the mountainside. These bases had internal heating, good lighting sources and were completely undetectable to the naked eye, built into the sides of the mountain to look like rocks and for the case of Fegel Zwei, to look like the snow-covered caps above. Here, they had an array of communication devices, allowing them to have contact with their agents anywhere in the world, along with access to much of the web, including the police databases and banks, and it was also here that they were waiting, ready to defend their plans should anyone come to stop them. Deep in the inner sanctum of Fegel Zwei, Dolfy Horner sat at his desk, his chair spun around to watch a large LED screen which showed him the progress of the Nugget Run in the caves below. People had flocked here from all over the world to get their share of gold and they had already dug deep into the caves, deeper than he had first expected, but that changed nothing, because once they found the Nugget People, Weather Alternate would move in to clean up before awakening them from their ancient slumber. If they wanted to dig faster, then by all means, Dolfy wasn’t complaining. A knock at the door turned him away from the screen as Auto Gunship walked in, shutting the stoney entrance behind him. “Ah, Auto, what do you have to report?” Dolfy raised a hand to beckon him forward. “I trust that Gloriosa has dealt with the Sushi group?” “Is that sarcasm, master?” Auto Gunship stopped before Dolfy’s desk, where he had a map and photos of Sushi’s group laid out. “Of course it is!” Dolfy slammed a fist on his desk. “Time after time, the agents I’ve assigned to her have failed and we have not been any closer to stopping Sushi and her group! What news do you have for me?” “Sushi and her group have made it to Berlin,” Auto told Dolfy. “Cadance and Filthy Rich went down there to stop them, but we haven’t heard back from either for hours. We have to assume the worst and that Sushi’s group has killed them.” Dolfy stared at Auto Gunship blankly. “Is something wrong, sir?” Auto asked hesitantly. Casting his gaze down at the map on his table, Dolfy muttered to himself and ran a finger along the paper, seemingly looking for something. Finally after about five minutes, Dolfy looked back up, a peeved expression on his face. “Where is that?” He demanded.  “I don’t understand, sir,” Auto stammered. “Where is what?” “Berlin!” Dolfy exclaimed. Auto gulped. He could feel a rant coming on and he would prefer to avoid that. “Where is it?” “It’s the capital of Germany, sir,” Auto said, not entirely knowing what Dolfy was asking. “I know that,” Dolfy snapped. “But where is it?” “I don’t know what you mean, sir.” Dolfy stood up and slammed his hand on the map. “Auto, you moron! I’m asking where is Berlin on the map!” Auto looked down at the map. Dolfy’s fingers were spread over the words ‘Berlin’ on the map’s surface. “It’s right there, sir!” Auto managed to say, his eyes looking at the map. Dolfy looked down at the map on his table. “Where?” He asked furiously. “There, sir!” Auto pointed with his finger. Dolfy’s eyes scanned over the map and his mouth worked intensely as the leader of Weather Alternate searched for the city. “How am I supposed to plan what to do with Sushi next if I can’t even see where they are?” He ranted. “This is absolutely ridiculous! Where is Berlin, Auto?” “It’s there!” Auto felt a bead of sweat run down his face. “Right here, sir!” Dolfy grabbed Auto by his collar and shoved him towards the door of the office. “I’ve had it with your inane babbling, Auto! Either tell me where Berlin is, or get out of my office!” “Sir, I’ve been trying-” “GET OUT! OUT!” Auto scrambled out of the office and back into the hallway, where several other members of Weather Alternate were standing. “What are the great leader’s orders?” A woman with grey skin and long black hair holding a cello case asked. “What are we to do to stop Sushi and her group from leaving Berlin?” “The great leader… is having some trouble finding Berlin,” Auto admitted. “He says he cannot formulate a plan if he cannot find it.” “But it’s right there,” Another member said, confused. “How can anyone miss it? It’s the capital of Germany.” From inside Dolfy’s office came muffled shouting and half audible German cursing. “I think it’s best that we come up with a plan on our own for now,” said Auto. “At least until the great leader can manage to locate Berlin.” “Agreed,” the others nodded, trying to ignore the sounds of Dolfy’s office being trashed. “I will let my wife know and we’ll coordinate another attack before they can get closer.” A bald man with dark skin raised a fist. “Now, it is no longer just the principle of revenge. If they get here, Master Dolfy is going to be livid. And we all know how he can get already.” Everyone nodded and Auto Gunship wiped his forehead with a handkerchief. “They will not get far once they get here to Mount Fegel.” A man in a black suit covered a cough with a hand, then rearranged a white flower sticking out of his pocket. “I will ensure that. I’ve fought stronger Stand masters in my time and won.” “They took down Gobble Gab,” Auto Gunship reminded the others. “And she’s part of the inner circle. We need to not underestimate them. Vinegar, who else is out there ready for the Sushi group?” “Octavia’s already ready to intercept them before they can get to Leipzig.” The bald man put his phone down and straightened his white shirt. It was tight over his muscular body and it had no problem in showing off his well toned torso. “This should buy us enough time to get ready, failure or not.” Another man with round glasses and a flat-top haircut nodded and clapped his gloved hands together. “We’ve worked too hard for our plans to be foiled now because of a group of kids and one adult. We are Weather Alternate and we will eliminate all that are unfit to live in our new world.” The others cheered alongside him. It had been seventy years since Weather Alternate’s founding and their goal for a perfect world in which those who were not of noble lineage do not exist had never been closer to achieving. The weak did not deserve to live and be taken care of and nothing, especially not a group of children, were going to stand in their way.