//------------------------------// // Chapter 17: Apocalyptica's Shadow // Story: SuShi's Bizarre Adventure: Nugget Run Horizon // by Jojoleopard //------------------------------// Summer Shine looked from car to car in a parking lot as she tried to help determine which would be better to steal. They had been wandering around Berlin for a while now and they still had not decided on a suitable mode of transport to get to Leipzig. They had found a parking lot between three buildings, away from the sun, making it cooler here and if that wasn’t enough, there was also a row of trees next to the pavement, providing them additional cover from the setting sun’s rays. Summer didn’t know if that was such a good thing, considering how close it was to winter, but there wasn’t anything they could do about it anyway, at least until they decided on a vehicle. What she really wanted was to get to a hotel where they could crash in a warm bed for the night, away from the cold and the outdoors. Prism Dash had wanted a green car with a large bumper in the front, saying that they would be able to run people over with it if they encountered anymore Stand users. Cajole Joyride, on the other hand, wanted a pickup truck so they could all fit in the back, which actually made sense, seeing as their group was bigger now with Gipsy Dance and Bushido Spirit. Before, they could easily fit in a five-seater car, but now, they would have to find something bigger. In her opinion, Jojo’s car would’ve been more suited for them, but she didn’t like how some of them had to sit at the back without seatbelts or anything to keep them from flying off if anything happened. “How about this one.” Gipsy Dance pointed to a hearse-looking car. “Lots of room in the back.” “Good choice,” Fuchsia agreed. “Save them the trouble of loading us into another one when we inevitably die.” Gipsy squinted at Fuchsia and whispered to Prism, “Is she always like this?” “Pretty much,” Prism confirmed. “But those in the back can’t sit upright. We can’t possibly pick this car,” Jojo protested. “We need that pickup truck.” “The logic has it.” Bushido Spirit ran a hand along the pickup truck’s surface. “We must drive carefully to avoid getting thrown off.” “I guess we’ve no choice.” Summer looked at the blue pickup truck and sighed. “Come on, we better get going before nightfall. Let’s just hope we don’t have to deal with a Stand user on our way to Leipzig.” She looked up to the orange sky above and sighed. The journey to Leipzig wouldn’t be as far as they’ve been traveling, but if they didn’t decide on a car soon, it was going to be nighttime and that would be precious hours of sleep disappearing from her hands. “Right. Sounds good.” Prism nodded, then waved to them before leaping into the car. “Shotgun!” “Gipsy, Bushido, can either of you drive?” Summer asked her newer companions. “Sweetie Belle was the only one who could drive other than us. I don’t think it’s fair for her to keep being the driver every time.” “I suppose not.” Gipsy said. “Unfortunately, I cannot. I don’t even know how to start a car.” “And I’ve never needed a car back in Japan.” Bushido folded his arms. “I apologize for not being able to.” Summer sighed. In the end, they would still have to rely on Sweetie to get them where they needed to go. “I’m sorry, Sweetie. I guess you’re still the driver.” Summer blinked a few times. The spot Sweetie Belle had been standing at was now empty. “Sweetie Belle?” Summer spun around, then back around, but she still couldn’t see her. “Where did she go?” The others all looked around and Prism ducked her head out of the vehicle. “I don’t see her. Where is she?” “Did she hide under the car?” Jojo bent down around the other side to have a look. “Do you see her, Jojo?” Prism looked out the other window. “Jojo?” There was no more reply and when the others went around the truck to look, he was gone as though he had vanished into thin air. “Jojo?” Summer called out, but there was still no answer. “The air. It has shifted.” Bushido lifted his nose up, then lowered his head as his hand went for his sword. “We are not alone.” “What? What does he mean? Is it another enemy Stand?” Prism looked around wildly. “Man, already?” “Keep your eyes out. We don’t yet know what we’re up against.” Gipsy put her back to the truck and called forth her Stand. “That was fast. You have sharp eyes,” a voice echoed around them. It sounded like it was coming from some enclosed space. “But no matter. It won’t change what’s going to happen.” “Where are you? Show yourself!” Gipsy tilted one palm back near her head, and the other one dangled by her left leg. Nothing moved and Summer and the others kept their eyes over the whole area. Jojo and Sweetie Belle had disappeared right here and that meant the enemy was close. Closer than they would’ve liked. But still, they saw nothing, and the setting sun didn’t help in the area’s visibility. Summer shook her head. They were missing something. They hadn’t seen the enemy when it had taken Jojo and Sweetie Belle, but they also hadn’t heard it. Whatever it was, it seemed to be working from the shadows. “From the shadows…” Summer repeated her thought. Then it dawned on her and she looked down just as something under the car seemed to shift near Gipsy Dance. “Gipsy, look out! Under you!” Gipsy jumped back and got her Stand in front of her as a hand as black as night shot out from under the car towards her. Spandau Ballet unfurled its fans, then slashed downwards, but they passed harmlessly through the weapons and grabbed Gipsy by the poncho. She quickly kicked off the ground, jumping back as the shadow tried to grab her. She recalled Spandau Ballet and rolled over the car behind her. The hand continued its pursuit, but as it passed from the shadows into the light, the arm began to smoke and there was a hiss before it retreated back under the car. “Of course. It can’t pass into the light,” Gipsy Dance said as she looked at her friends. “This Stand can only exist in shadows! Stay in the light!” “But the sun.” Summer pointed to the dimming orange in the sky. “It’ll be gone soon.” It was true. The sun’s radiance was fading fast, and the only sources of light now were the streetlamps and the lights from the nearby buildings. Everywhere else was free real estate for this shadowy Stand. “Inside. We need to get inside now.” Bushido let go of his weapon and got Prism out of the pickup truck before pushing Summer along. “Ugh. More running.” Fuchsia tossed her finished ice cream cup and spoon away as she followed after them, with Gipsy trailing close behind, keeping up the rear. “Fusch these enemy Stand masters that keep coming to bother us.” “It attacks from the shadows, so avoid any shadow on the way!” Summer swished a hand to the side as they ran. “But what about the shadows we’re casting!” Prism eyed Summer’s shadow running underneath her. “There’s no way we can get rid of those!” “I don’t think we have to worry about that as much as you think.” Bushido Spirit pointed to her shadow’s legs. “Our shadows are constantly on the move. If the Stand manifests itself in them, they will almost immediately be exposed to the light. The Stand master must know this. They would not dare attack us from our own shadows.” “Good point. What about Sweetie and Jojo?” Prism asked as they curved in their path, heading towards a tall building with a green door. “The enemy Stand has them.” “Let’s worry about how we’re going to avoid the same fate first.” Summer pushed open the door and ushered her friends in. “Night falls fast this time in Germany,” Gipsy told them as they stood in the electric lighting. “It’s close to winter. We could be here for at least fifteen hours before the sun rises again.” “We can’t wait that long!” Summer groaned. She had planned for a good night’s sleep. Now it seemed as though she wouldn’t get any sleep at all. “If we don’t move around enough, the enemy Stand can attack us from our own shadows. As Bushido said, they won’t be able to do it if we keep moving.” “How are we supposed to keep moving for fifteen hours?” Prism threw her hands up. “I mean, we’re softball players and all, but fifteen hours is ridiculous! It’s outrageous! It’s unfair! Why don’t I have a Stand?” Bushido looked around the building they had entered. “I think we’re in luck,” he said and began to go around picking up lamps off the tables. “This is a bookstore. We can just surround ourselves with these lamps and we’ll be safe.” “We can’t put them down either, or they’ll cast shadows for our interloper to attack us from.” Gipsy warned. “We need to formulate a plan, or we’re going to be in for a long night.” “We’ve got lights.” Fuchsia flicked a switch and the area lit up and blinded everyone for a second. “Did no one think of this?” “We need to get rid of the shelves.” Summer looked at the shadows the shelves were casting. Each layer had dark shadows near the rear. A perfect spot for their foe to wait for them. “We need to limit the amount of shadows in the room.” “Sushi’s right. Use our Stands.” Bushido nodded and gave her a pat on the shoulder. Then he realized what he had done and removed his hand. “Quickly. Boney M!” Bushido’s Stand appeared with its gigantic shield and with a mighty shout, it smashed the first two shelves apart with one thrust, splintering them into shards of wood and books. It placed its shield against the ground, then shifted it to the side, dragging all the debris into one corner. “Guess that’s what we’re doing.” Summer shrugged and called forth Pegasus Forever. Her Stand yelled and charged into a row of bookshelves, smashing them all to pieces as it passed through them. Once they had cleared enough room around themselves, the group kept as close as they could under the bookstore’s lights above, reducing their shadows to a minimum. They wanted as little room as they could for the enemy to move about, at least, that’s how they thought it worked. “We know the enemy can’t pass into light,” Summer stated as she kept watch on the shadows of their pile of debris in the front corner of the store. “But we don’t know much else about it or even where its user is.” “She spoke to us earlier. Female voice, slightly low,” Bushido added. “If I had to guess, it would be a woman in her forties.” “She’s probably here because we killed that guy and that guy’s girlfriend and her dog again…” Fuchsia grumbled and swung her lantern. “Fusching Weather Alternate can’t leave the past alone.” “This Stand isn’t using brute force, which means the Stand user could be further away. Like with Disturbed.” Gipsy spun around as she looked at the shadows. “Disturbed’s Stand user was in the neighboring building.” “But we could hear her just now. She has to be close enough, watching us.” Summer was in the process of having Pegasus Forever smash apart another bookshelf when two shadowy hands emerged from inside, grabbing its fist just before it could hit the wood. “It’s here! It’s here!” Everyone’s eyes shot to the bookshelf as the arms began to pull Pegasus Forever towards it. It vanished past the backing of the bookshelf, taking Pegasus’ arm with it, pulling it deeper into the shadows. “Sushi!” Bushido was the first to get to Summer and wrapped his arms around one of her shoulders and her waist as he fought to pull her to safety. Boney M appeared and grabbed her Stand, digging its heels into the ground as it pulled. Spandau Ballet, Gipsy, Prism and even Fuchsia dashed in to help as well, eventually prying Pegasus Forever’s arm from the darkness, falling back into a heap from the momentum. “Sushi, are you okay?” Bushido asked, quickly checking up on Summer’s arm. Where the shadow had touched her Stand was now scorched black and Summer winced as she ran her fingers over the blackened skin. “Ouch, it stings.” “Ah yes, I forgot to tell you kids…” The woman’s voice echoed around them in the bookstore as she began to chuckle. “If my Stand, Apocalyptica, touches you, its shadow burns you. It isn’t as strong as regular fire, nor will it kill you as quick as fire, but in the realm of shadow, you will burn endlessly, and you will beg for death like your friends already are, but it will not come to you, not as soon as you think. Come, come to Apocalyptica, end this now.” “Finally, someone is inviting us to end it…” Fuchsia stood up and dusted her skirt. “Someone gets it.” She looked over her shoulder and frowned. “I know, but this is what I’ve always- Alright fine, I’ll just hold on a little longer. I’ve got my mom to think about anyway.” “Yes. We’ll beat you yet, Stand master.” Bushido Spirit pointed a finger at the bookshelf, then brought it down to his side and gripped his katana. “We’ll find a way to free the others and your evil will end here.” “You’re welcome to try. In the mean time, I’m also welcome to try pulling the rest of you into my shadow world.” She laughed as her voice trailed away. “Any plans?” Summer put her back to her friends and kept an eye on the bookshelf in front. It was the only one left, but she didn’t dare go near it again after what happened. “Yeah. We stay in the light,” Bushido replied. “As long as we’re not in the shadows, that Stand can’t touch us.That will give us enough time to figure out how to beat her and save the others.” There came an ominous chuckle from the enemy Stand master. “Oh, so you think it’s that easy? We’ll see about that.” Above them, the ceiling lights began to flicker and after the third flicker, they went out permanently, plunging the room into darkness save for their three lanterns, but the shadows had grown longer and darker, reaching out across the room as their shadows turned into ominous shapes. The pile of debris stirred and Summer spotted a humanoid figure emerging. It was slim like a woman, but somehow it was also disfigured and monstrous, sporting a crooked back with its spines protruding slightly and on its head were two curled horns like that of a devil. “There!” Summer turned her lantern towards the pile. The shadowy figure darted away from the light and vanished behind the last bookshelf. “Celldweller says the power’s been cut. We’ll be sitting ducks here. Even with the lanterns,” Fuchsia said. Just as she said it, arms reached out from her own shadow, but then she whipped around and twisted her shadow away. Apocalyptica entered the light for a second and shrieked before zipping away into the dark. “This is madness. We can’t expect to fight something we can’t even hurt.” Summer raised a fist to her chin. “We have to beat her another way.” Summer turned left and right, checking the corners, then leaned closer to the others. “The power went out, that means someone must’ve tampered with the circuit breaker. I’m willing to bet it’s the enemy Stand master. That would mean she has to be nearby.” “Sushi makes a good point.” Bushido nodded his head. “If we kill the Stand master, we kill the Stand. Our best chance at dealing with this is to cut the head off the snake.” “We first need to determine where the circuit breaker will be.” Gipsy looked up at the extinguished lights and hummed. “Well, back in Canterlot, that’ll be either around back or in the basement. Sometimes on the roof.” Prism explained. “And I don’t think this bookstore has a basement. Look out!” She pushed Gipsy out of the way as shadows reached out from the wall where their shadows were cast. Without the lights, there was so much more to look out for, but if they moved, they could still survive yet. All of them started wiggling and moving around the room, changing the location of their shadows, forcing Apocalyptica to retreat once more. “Man, this Stand is so creepy. I really want a Stand!” Prism grabbed the sides of her head and whined. “Stop saying that. It’s not going to help you get one,” Fuchsia growled. “I will go.” Bushido gave his blade a pat. “I will find this master before they can use their Stand to get away. It will have to be a fast and swift attack. It would do me good to know where she is beforehand.” “I think I can help with that.” Summer smiled. They shared a smile for a few seconds, then realized they were looking at each other for too long and flicked their heads to the side. “Right. I just need the right moment.” Summer looked to the green door they had come from. “This way.” She gestured to the others and they all gathered near the wall of the front door. “Are you sure this is a good idea, Sushi?” Prism rolled her eyes from the ceiling to the ground. “It’s tight here. We won’t have a lot of space to move.” Summer smirked. “We won’t have to. Bushido, on my signal.” The Easterner nodded without a word. “Celldweller says this is a bad idea…” Fuchsia swung the lantern near her feet. “Ah, but Fusch this. If we die, we die. I won’t be complaining.” “Your friend has quite the mouth, doesn’t she?” Bushido clicked his tongue. “See, I told you, Fusch, you’ve got to stop that. It’s not the real word, yeah, but you’re using your own name like that.” Prism nudged her, only to get her elbow swatted away. “Learn to lighten up a little.” “I’ll lighten up when I die.” Fuchsia shot a glare at her. Prism was about to retort, but then something grabbed her legs and she felt a burning sensation spread across both her ankles. She looked down to see shadowy hands coming out of her own shadow. “It’s got me! It’s got me!” “Now! Pegasus Forever!” Summer summoned her Stand and with a yell of power, it swung around and smashed a fist into the wall as hard as it could. The whole front wall, including the door, collapsed into debris, letting the light from the street lamps outside flood in, changing the positions of their shadows, bringing Apocalyptica into the light. It began to smoke as it shrieked again and this time, another shriek could be heard from somewhere nearby. “Up. She’s above us,” Fuchsia pushed Prism out of the way to further expose the enemy Stand to the light. It began to snake away back towards the shadows, but Bushido was already on the move. Rushing down the front steps, he spun around, throwing himself backwards as Boney M appeared behind him, its shield raised. As Bushido Spirit’s body bounced against it, Boney M redirected it up and pushed with all its might. Bushido was launched into the air as blue energy began to fill his blade. He placed one hand on its grip and the other to the sheath and waited as he sailed through the air. The wind whistled in his ears for about a second before concrete disappeared, revealing a darkened roof of generators and condensers. And there she was, not even hiding behind a piece of machinery. She must’ve never guessed they would find her on the roof, especially not from where he had come from. The woman had a white buttoned up shirt with a large purple bowtie, and a purple pleated skirt with musical notes on it and white leggings. She had her arms clutched around her shoulders as her back smoked, but she looked up as he came into view. “What?” But it was too late. Drawing his weapon, Boney M reappeared behind him with a leap and pushed its shield against its master again, sending him rocketing forward at great speed as he fully removed his weapon from its sheath. By the time Bushido had his arm extended out to one side, he was already past the enemy Stand user. He flicked his weapon down as its glow faded and looked over his shoulder. The woman looked down at her chest where her shirt was slowly turning red. And all of a sudden, a cut formed across it and began to spray blood into the sky and she screamed in pain. “Aaaaaagh! This is impossibleeee! How did I loooose! Aaaaagh!” Her hands scrambled across her dark hair and her knees bent backwards and her upper body fell to the ground with her knees still touching it. “Gloriosa, I’ve failed yooooouuuuuu! Aaaaaaaaah!” Then her head tilted to one side and her tongue stuck out of her mouth. Bushido turned the rest of his body and swiped his sword down to flick off blood before sliding it back into its sheath. “Another evil-doer served the heavy arm of Justice.”