> SuShi's Bizarre Adventure: Nugget Run Horizon
>  by Jojoleopard
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue: The Next Sushi
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Over the clear skies of Canterlot flew two birds, one blue and one yellow. The yellow one did flips around the blue one, then let out a series of chirps. The blue one followed suit as they moved down past the taller buildings, then glided down towards a sports stadium, where the cheering of people could be heard for miles.

As the birds landed atop one of the stadium’s floodlights, a ball was thrown down below towards a batter and she took a deep breath before swinging her bat with a quick burst of strength.

“Strike two!” The umpire raised a finger.

The girl groaned in disappointment, then got her stance back into position again. One more strike and she was going to be out. She didn’t want to let the team down. Not now, not when they were so close to finishing the game against the Ruber University’s Warlocks.

She looked out to the field and standing atop one of the bases was her best friend, Prism Dash. She swiped locks of her multicolored hair from her forehead and stuffed it under her helmet, then gave her a nod of absolute confidence.

You got this, Summer… she told herself. If Prism believes you can do it, you’ve got this. You can get the team the win.

With a deep exhale, Summer Shine lifted the bat up, squinting her eyes as she waited for the pitcher to throw the ball her way.

The Warlocks pitcher let loose the ball her way and time almost seemed to slow down around Summer as she kept her eye on the ball’s trajectory towards her. She angled her bat lower, then swung it forward. The bat connected with the ball and it sent it rocketing back away from her, spinning high as Prism took the chance to dash off her base, followed by Summer’s own run out to first base.

The Warlocks’ team scrambled as they danced underneath the ball to catch it and by some stroke of luck, when all almost seemed lost, the ball bounced off one of the catcher’s mitts and rolled across the grass, allowing both girls to clear the home base.

The crowd went wild and it was like a time bomb had exploded in the stadium and they jumped to their feet as the Canterlot College Firebirds won the game.

Summer threw her helmet down on the ground and let her red and white hair fall behind her, then jumped into the arms of her teammates as they yelled to the air in victory.

“You did it, Sushi!” Prism grabbed her around the neck, then grinded a finger over the top of her head. “We beat the Warlocks!”

“Come on, stop!” Summer giggled and managed to get her friend off. “It’s what I learned from you, the best softball player on the team.”

“Yeah, I am pretty good at softball.” Prism grinned, then she slapped a hand to Summer’s and they held it there in an arm-wrestling pose. “At least I’m not like my nerd brother, Fractal.”

“Aw, come on. He’s got good qualities in his own way.”

“Is that affection I sense?” Prism nudged her jokingly as she tossed her long rainbow ponytail aside. “I always knew you had a thing for him.”

Summer’s cheeks lit up like a Christmas tree. “N-No, I don’t. I do not.”

“Uh huh.” Prism tossed her helmet aside and high fived another team member. “Well, big victory today. I’d say we should celebrate!”

“Isn’t that what we’re already doing?” Summer asked, then laughed.

“Well, I mean like drinks or something.” Prism stretched her arms to her sides. “Or like singing, or video games. We deserve a bit of a pamper.”

“Uh huh.” Summer shook her head, then looked out to the field where the Warlocks were standing defeated.

The pitcher, however, caught her eye. That was Bryce Bullion, one of the top ten pitchers in the States, and he was glaring daggers right at her. He wasn’t even hiding the fact that he was doing so.

Weirdo much?

“Sussshhiiii, there’s my girl!”

Summer turned back towards the bleachers to see her mother walking down towards her with her arms open wide.

“Mom!” She ran over and threw herself into her mother’s embrace.

Sunset Shimmer began gently caressing her daughter’s head, then gave her a pat on the shoulder. “I’m so proud of you, Summer. You did good today. You sure showed those Warlocks.”

“Team effort. But we sure did!” Summer looked back to the field. Bryce Bullion was still there glaring at her. He hadn’t even moved. “Uh, why don’t we head out. Prism wanted to celebrate.”

“Is that right?” Rainbow Dash hopped off the last two steps and gave Prism a fist bump. “That’s my girl. “What did you have in mind? I was thinking dessert. Nothing like a good old chocolate cake down the gullet to feel good about winning a game.”

“Mom, you know I don’t like chocolate,” Prism complained.

“Psshh, yeah, you strange kid. I still don’t know anyone else who doesn’t like chocolate.” Rainbow made a face at Sunset. “You like chocolate, Sushi?”

“I mean, who doesn’t?” both Sunset and Summer replied. Then they looked at each other and laughed.

Summer Shine had also adopted the nickname of ‘Sushi’, seeing as her name also had the letters in it. Her mother had started calling her that when she had been three years old, and now, sixteen years later, it had stuck and that was what everyone called her. Well, except her father. Only her father called her Summer.

Flicker Footage was a photographer. An ace photographer. Summer had never seen anyone take such amazing shots of a toilet bowl before, but her father could do that with both his eyes closed. She had heard the stories from her mother how they had met on one of her mother’s many tours across the country. Sunset Shimmer was an artist and she had plenty of award-winning sculptures across the city and beyond to prove it, and her father had been one of the photographers then.

She had always mentioned it was love at first sight for the both of them, but Summer never really bought it. She always thought that was only something that happened in the movies.

Right now, he was off in France taking photos for some royalty, but he would be back on Monday, and Summer couldn’t wait to tell him about the game.

On the back of her left shoulder was a birthmark of a sun, and that was how she knew she was her mother’s daughter, because her mother had the exact same birthmark. She had always found it weird how birthmarks could take the shape of such precise objects, but she let it be. After all, it was a cool birthmark.

As for Rainbow Dash, she had become a sports analyst after college, working hard to study professional sports players from head to toe. She could tell you all about someone’s heel power to kick off the ground, or how someone’s finger could bend at a certain angle to give a ball more lift, or even how smelly their breath could be.

Summer had thought that was an easy job when she was younger, but now that she was older and more sensible, she knew it was tough to have to track someone so closely. Till today, she still didn’t know how Rainbow found out what she needed to find out.

In the end, they had all decided to spend their time in Sugarcube Corner for a little celebration. After all, that was also where Fuchsia Blush and Pinkie Pie were working. Fuchsia Blush was the daughter of Pinkie Pie, born one year before Summer and Prism, and… Summer didn’t know how to properly say this, but she was very different from her mother.

“Rainbow! Sushiiii!” Pinkie tackled her friends as soon as they swung the glass door to the cafe open. She sported a white uniform, along with an apron that said World’s Best Wife and Sweetie.

Pinkie had married a party planner by the name of Cheese Sandwich, and together, they were definitely Canterlot’s wildest couple. Altogether, they had three children, Fuchsia Blush, Magenta Pie, and Rocky Road. Fuchsia was the eldest and the most experienced at cake-making of her siblings, but she hadn’t really taken on her family’s energetic and over the top personalities for some reason.

“Fuchsia, come say hi to your friends!” Pinkie beckoned to her daughter, who was standing behind the counter placing a cake into the cooler display.

“Do I really have to?” Fuchsia drawled. “I’m twenty and independent.”

Fuchsia Blush had pale pink skin that almost looked grey, and she was dressed in an assortment of black and grey tops, along with a dark skirt and darker leggings. Her pink hair was of a dull color and it flopped straight down on the left side of her head, while her right side had been shaved, giving her a punk rocker sort of look.

“Come on, they’re your friends!” Pinkie called again as Summer and the others found a table by the window.

“Fuchs this…” Pinkie’s daughter groaned, then tossed her apron aside and emerged from behind the counter.

“What did I say about saying that?” Pinkie gave her daughter multiple pats on the shoulders. “It’s offensive.”

“It isn’t even the actual word…” Fuchsia sighed. “Hi, Summer. Hi Prism. Hi, Mrs. Shimmer. Hi, Mrs. Dash.”

“Fuchsia, having fun back there?” Prism pointed a thumb to the counter.

“No.” The girl slouched and looked at her mother. “Can I get back to work now?”

“Sure, honey pie, go get ‘em cakes!” Pinkie gave her a slap on the back as she retreated back behind the counter. “What a bubbling personality, am I right?”

“Um, right, Pinkie.” Rainbow chuckled and whipped out a menu. “So, I’m thinking about cakes. Chocolate cake?”

“Mom!” Prism groaned. Her mother really enjoyed teasing her about chocolate.

“Drat.” Summer lifted her arm off the table. It seemed the Cakes missed a spot in their table cleaning. She had a line of fudge along her elbow now. “Mom, I need to go wash up.”

Summer got up and headed to the rear of the cafe where a row of sinks were placed. There was a pudgy child already there washing his brown stained face under the tap. Because he was splashing water everywhere, Summer decided to wait a good distance behind him. It was then that she felt a prod in her shoulder and as she turned around to see who it was, a hand closed around her neck and she was shoved out the back door to the cafe and slammed against the wall beside some metal bins.

“Ow…” Summer opened her eyes to see it was Bryce Bullion. Judging from his livid expression and the puffs of steam coming out of his nose, she guessed he wasn’t here to say hi.

“You cost me the game!” he snarled at her. “I had fifty bucks on taking you Firebirds down.”

“Well, sorry that you decided to bet on your own game,” Summer replied. How in the world was that even her fault? “Now look, you should let me go. We don’t want this to get messy.”

“Yeah, neither do I.” Bryce lifted his other hand and formed it into a fist in front of her face. “So you hand me a hundred now and I don’t cave in your face. How’s that?”

“Hey, you can’t do that. That’s illegal, you know?” Summer tried to pry his fingers from her neck, but he wouldn’t let go.

“I’ve done worse to little girls like you.” Bryce squeezed harder. “Now give me my money.”

“You’re a terrible person.” Summer looked away from him.

“Yeah, and a whole lot of scary, aren’t I?”

Summer shook her head. “No, not scary at all.”

“I’ve got a fist with your name on it. That isn’t scary?”

“Nah… Not really.”

“Why you…!” Bryce huffed and puffed. “I’ll show you scary!”

His fist closed the distance towards Summer’s face, but before it could hit her, it suddenly stopped in midair as if someone had pressed pause on a video.

“What?” Bryce exclaimed, trying to move his arm.

Summer stared at the occurrence, unsure of what was going on. She felt strange, like she was much lighter all of a sudden. Forgetting Bryce for a second, she glanced down and saw that she was wreathed in some kind of aura, bright and orangey-gold and flickering around herself like flames. Then she glanced to the side and recoiled.

There was some kind of creature standing next to Summer, huge and muscular with a horse-like head whose lower half was covered in a blue guard like a football player’s helmet visor. 

“What?” Summer said in awe.

“What are you looking at?” Bryce Bullion demanded. “What did you do to my arm, you witch?”

“You mean you don’t see… that?” Summer pointed at the horse-headed being next to her. 

The being reached out and gave Bryce’s fist a punch down the direction of the alley. All of a sudden, the boy’s arm went spinning in that direction, pulling the rest of Bryce with it. He flew off down the alley, dragged along by the momentum in his fist and landed in a pile of garbage cans with a crash.

Summer looked on at the football playing horse creature, then back at the Warlocks’ pitcher. He twitched in the pile of garbage and groaned. The girl quickly took this chance to duck back into the store to head back to her table, but not before washing her hands, because after all, that was what she had aimed to do before Bryce interrupted her.

“Took you long enough, Sushi.” Prism was the first to see her coming back. “Couldn’t find the taps?”

“Just ran into a little problem. Um, mom, could I speak with you about something?” Summer pointed to the door.

“Oh, sure, Sushi.” Sunset got up. “I’ll be right back. Save some cake for us, okay?”

“No promises.” Rainbow chuckled.

Summer followed her mother out the front door, then stopped along the sidewalk.

“Now, what is it you want to ask me, dear?” Sunset folded her arms and waited.

“How do I put this…” Summer rubbed the back of her head. It was a bizarre thing she was going to mention. “Are ghosts real?” She figured that was a good place to start.

“Are ghosts real?” Sunset Shimmer looked amused. “I mean, I don’t think anyone knows for sure, but I think they’re real. What’s with this sudden question, dear? Did you see one?”

Summer didn’t know whether she should say yes or no. “I don’t know, but something weird happened out back. That pitcher came and tried to rob me, but then…”

“Someone tried to rob you?!” Sunset yelled. “Where are they now? I’m going to teach them a lesson. No one robs my precious daughter-”

“No, mom, it’s okay.” Summer grabbed Sunset’s arm before she could storm back inside. “The thing is… This thing appeared and it did some magical things and Bryce got knocked out against a pile of garbage. I don’t know what it was. But it had a horse head and it wore some blue football armor.”

At this, Sunset calmed down and her eyes went wider. Then she nodded and ran a hand along her hairline. “Sushi, dear. That’s no ghost. I think I know what that is, but… I didn’t think you had one.”

“Had… what?” Summer watched her mother’s face closely. Her mother knew something about this.

Sunset nodded again. “You have a Stand, dear."


> Chapter 1: Pegasus Forever
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summer Shine sat back down at their table, her mind still reeling from everything she had just learned from her mother. Apparently, a Stand was a manifestation of someone’s soul, and they had been birthed through the entrance of magic in this world from her mother’s world of Equestria. How she only noticed her Stand just now, Summer didn’t know. Perhaps the portal had opened again? But if she were to guess, Stands would only manifest around magic, so whatever it was, something magical had happened, be it the portal or not.

Her mother had told her stories of her youth before, but today, for the first time in her life, she knew the rest of it. She had gone on an adventure years ago to protect the world from an evil principal who wanted to control the minds of everyone, but because of Sunset and her friends, they had vanquished her, but at the cost of some of her dear friends.

Summer had always thought they had died in accidents, but now she knew they had sacrificed themselves to ensure the principal wouldn’t win.

And now here she was with a Stand of her own. It was cool and all, but she had absolutely no idea how to use it.

“Man, a Stand? Cool!” Prism jumped up at the table and leaned closer to Summer. “Do you think I have one too now? Since you have one? Man, mom, why don’t I have one?”

“Wait, you know about Stands?” Summer blinked.

“Yeah, my mom told me all about them and how they saved the world!” Prism flexed an arm, then placed the other one around her waist pocket. “Yours didn’t?”

“No, it seems she left that out.” Summer looked to her mother, who laughed awkwardly.

“I just wanted her to grow up like a normal kid,” Sunset said.

“Well, she has. They both have.” Rainbow Dash pointed at their children. They’re nineteen now. They’re old enough to make their decisions. They’re in college. They deserve to know things now.”

“Well, I’ve already told her, so yes, they do.” Sunset smiled at her daughter. “Sushi, since you have a Stand now, I think it’s time I show you how you can use it to defend yourself.”

“Um, yeah, okay. I’d like to do that.” Summer and Prism shared excited looks and grinned at each other.

“Man, that’s so cool!” Prism began punching at the air. “How do I get my hands on one?”

“Not everyone’s destined for Stands, Prism.” Rainbow gave her a pat on the back. “But if you do get one, I bet it’ll be pretty awesome.”

“Right, so…” Sunset waved at the cakes on the table. “Finish this up. Then we’ll go see some Stands, alright?”

Summer and Prism shared a look, then got to eating their celebratory cakes. True to her word, Rainbow hadn’t ordered any chocolate cake, and instead, they had a cheesecake and a raspberry cake. The raspberry one was a bit sour, but it wasn’t half bad. As for the cheesecake, Summer enjoyed that very much. Maybe a little too much. She always knew what too much cake would do to her bowels, but she always went ahead with eating it anyway. But for today, there would be something more interesting than cakes, and that was the power of Stands.

She had only just learned of them so very recently, but she found she was already hooked on the idea of her body conjuring up a spirit to protect her. She had intended to go over to Prism’s after this to play some video games, but this was so much more interesting. Plus, it would be some quality time with her mother.

With the cake soon out of the way, Summer rubbed at her belly as she leaned back and let out an earth-shattering burp, then put a hand over her mouth as other patrons in the cafe turned to look at her.

“How unlady-like, Summer.” Prism made a face and shook her head. “Watch this.”

She placed her hands on her own stomach at the sides, then with a puff of air, she opened her mouth and let out an even bigger belch.

“Ten outta ten.” Rainbow got up and wiped at her mouth with a tissue before tossing it on the now empty plate. “We best skedaddle before people get the wrong idea about you girls.”

Summer quickly gathered her belongings and swooped for the door, both out of excitement and embarrassment for that sudden release of air. Sunset watched her daughter go and chuckled to herself. It had been some time since something like that had happened to her. And it had also been some time since she’d even used her Stand for anything other than getting her to higher places when she was sculpting. A part of her worried that she might’ve forgotten how to use her Stand, but she knew it was somewhat like riding a bike; it wasn’t something she would easily forget.

The four women got into Sunset’s car and they were soon disappearing away from the cafe and heading down a few curving streets as they got further and further away from the city center. Sunset Shimmer’s home sat on the edge of the city, past a swiveling road heading up a short hill and around a segment of woods.

She had picked a house further away from other people, somewhere she could live in solitude and away from the hustle and bustle of life. She knew that was a contradiction to her discovery of friendship and being with her friends, but she needed the silence to work on her art plans. After all, she still went to visit her friends all the time, so that was still okay.

Soon, her single storey house came into view at a turn off the main road, going down a dirt path into the woods. Sunset’s house stood at the end of the road, a white-walled structure with oak beams supporting its porch shelter, along with a slanted roof that went down to the left side of the house. Sunset had rows of windows lining the sides of the house, but around its backyard, where a swimming pool sat, was a segment of glass that could slide aside to merge the interior with the outdoors.

As she drove the car to a stop beside a sculpture of a pegasus rearing up on its hindlegs, Sunset shut off the car’s engine and got out. “Well, here we are. Home sweet home.”

“This one’s new.” Rainbow ran a hand along the pegasus statue. “Reminds me of your Stand, Sushi.”

“Mine?” Summer asked. She didn’t know Rainbow had already seen her Stand.

“Okay, we’re gonna have to work something out here.” Rainbow walked over and put an arm on Summer’s shoulder. “See, your mom’s called Sushi too. We can’t call both of you Sushi.”

“How about Sushi One and Sushi Two?” Prism suggested.

“I don’t want a number in my name.” Summer shook her head.

“It’s fine. My daughter may have the Sushi title.” Sunset waved a hand and laughed. “I’ve already had over forty years of the Sushi title. It’s her turn.”

“Then the odds have it. Summer retains her nickname of Sushi!” Prism held up her friend’s hand and cheered.

“It’s gonna take me some getting used to.” Rainbow shrugged. “But whatever. Sush- Ah, Sunset, you were gonna teach your daughter how to use her Stand?”

“That’s right.” Sunset pointed to the woods. “Let’s do it there. Don’t want to accidentally damage the property.”

“Not like you don’t have the money to rebuild it anyway,” Rainbow added.

“Hey, it doesn’t mean I want to wreck my house if I could’ve done something about it.” Sunset looked at her home in the middle of the woods. “I like this place a lot.”

“Yeah, I suppose. Lots of space to run around.” Rainbow followed along as the four women headed off through the trees. “Inside and outside. Remember that time when we tried to trap Santa Claus in the fireplace? And then he came out all smokey and tried to kill us?”

“Wait, that wasn’t Santa.” Summer still remembered what had happened seven years ago. 

Someone had tried climbing down their chimney during Christmas and when they saw the boots appear at the fireplace, Sunset had been quick to lock up the fireplace’s little gates. He had struggled for a while, but then he managed to break past the brittle hinges and got out to chase them with a knife.

Sunset had beat him up that day before calling the police. Summer guessed the fool had picked the wrong house.

“He wasn’t Santa, but he had the figure.” Rainbow pointed out. “Lesson number one, never mess with a Sushi. Or a Jojo. He’s got plenty of stories of his own too.”

Jojo was another confusing name. Summer never knew if they were talking about Jostle Joyride or Cajole Joyride. Jostle Joyride was another friend of their parents, working over at the Canterlot Steelworks, along the side of the Freedive Canyon. He had also been on the long adventure with her mother and Rainbow Dash, which Summer now knew was a little more… bizarre than she had first thought.

Cajole was his son and he was three years younger than Summer and Prism. He was still in high school and what better school to send him than Canterlot High School, where Sunset and the others had been from. Jostle Joyride had been teaching him to ride the motorbike for as long as she could remember them, but Cajole was still young and he had a lot to learn before he could ride around like his father could.

“This will be far enough.” Sunset shrugged her shoulders around, then dropped her coat on the dirt ground. “You have to bear with me a little, dear. It’s been a while since I’ve called up a Stand like this.”

“No worries. I don’t even know how to do it.” Summer opted to keep her own coat on. She had a cropped black jacket over her usual blue top, and she didn’t want it getting dirty from being on the ground. “How do you do it?”

“You’ll get it.” Sunset hopped up and stretched her legs. “Jojo taught me the same way. Your Stand always appears when you’re in danger. After that, you’ll eventually figure it out. Here, I’ll show you.”

Summer watched as a golden aura appeared around her mother and a Stand emerged from within her and flew forward. It had wings and a horn on its head and it was clad in golden armor with sun emblems on them.

“Mom, wait, no, don’t!” Summer crouched down and covered her head as Sunset’s Stand closed the distance.

But then Summer felt a welling in her body, like a pin was being dropped and suddenly, that same blue-armored Stand showed itself, placing both hands against her mother’s Stand’s shoulders to stop it from getting any closer.

“Huh?” Summer looked up to see her Stand before her, its plated hooves digging into the dirt ground to stop itself.

“So that’s your Stand. Interesting…” Sunset smiled. “I guess it takes after mine, Alicorn Fantasy. Well, before that, Pegasus Fantasy.”

“That’s a cool name. What’s mine?” Summer watched as the two Stands disengaged and faced each other.

“You will have to look into yourself to find that out. Two ways a Stand gets its name. Either from within its master, or you could always just give it a name yourself, though I prefer the former.”

Summer stared at her Stand. It looked equine, like Alicorn Fantasy, only hers had no wings and was dressed in blue armor that resembled a football player’s gear. It stood in front of Summer and pawed the ground with one hoof, like a horse that was eager to start a race.

“So this is my Stand…” Summer breathed. “It looks so strong!”

The Stand stood proud in front of the group. Sunset nodded approvingly. 

“Yes, your Stand looks powerful indeed. Now, do you know what it can do?”

“Um, punch things?” Summer suggested, pointing at her Stand’s bulky fists. They looked tough enough to smash through a brick wall with no problem.

“All Stands have some kind of ability, like how mine, Alicorn Fantasy, is able to reset you to a state you had been in recently.” Sunset snapped her fingers.

Then she blinked and did it again and only after the second time, her Stand’s horn emitted a soft blue light, then Summer found herself seated in the car, looking at the headrest to the driver’s seat.

“What the…” Summer looked at her hands, then out the window. Her mother, Prism and Rainbow were still standing out in the woods, now waving at her. She pushed open the car door, then made her way back over to the other women. “That’s really neat. I don’t even realize you’ve sent me back there until I’m there.”

“Been a while since I’ve used Alicorn Fantasy to reset anything…” Sunset rubbed at her chin. “Seems I’m a little rusty. But hey, at least it worked. Now, the next thing I want to test is how strong your Stand is, and what exactly its ability is.”

“How strong?” Summer repeated. “How are we going to do that?”

“We’re going to have a little fight, you and I.” Sunset smiled and gave her daughter a pat on the shoulder before walking further away. “My Stand against yours.”

“Uhhh…” Summer looked to Prism, but her friend just shrugged. “O-Okay.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t give it my all, dear.” Sunset stretched one arm to her right, then the other one covered her left eye. “Alicorn Fantasy!”

Sunset’s Stand emerged again and threw a punch towards Summer, but like before, as she ducked for cover, her Stand leapt out from behind her and stopped the punch with a hand. Alicorn Fantasy threw a second punch, smacking hers across the jaw. Summer dropped to the ground and rubbed at her face. That had hurt.

“Sorry, Sushi.” Sunset recalled Alicorn Fantasy for a second. “I forgot to mention, what happens to your Stand happens to you, since they’re extensions of you.”

“Could’ve told me that sooner, mom.” Summer got back on her feet and sniffed. “My turn.”

Summer sent her Stand charging forward, its armored blue hooves digging into the ground as it swung its arms wildly. Alicorn Fantasy blocked each hit with its muscled arms, the sound of the blows ringing all around.

“What’s everyone looking at?” Prism asked as she saw the rest of the group staring into space as if something extremely interesting was happening. “Is it more Stand hocus pocus?”

“Yeah, that’s right.” Rainbow Dash gave her daughter’s back a pat. “Only Stand users may see Stands. They can still affect you, but you would not know where and when they’re gonna strike.”

“Man, I wish I had a Stand…” Prism groaned and looked on to empty air, trying to picture a battle she could not see.

Summer’s Stand took a step back, then charged forward, placing its arms across its chest, becoming like a battering ram. Before it could hit Alicorn Fantasy, it was suddenly back where Summer was. It tried it again, but this time, as Sunset tried to have it reset, her daughter’s Stand flickered, and its position didn’t reset.

“Rusty…” Sunset shook her head and instead, Alicorn Fantasy grabbed the other on one shoulder and its neck, then spun to the left and let go, throwing it into a tree face first.

The tree split in half and fell on top of it, sending Summer down on her front, her back feeling as though a ton of bricks had fallen on top of her. She grabbed for her bloody nose, which had likely been broken from the impact.

“You okay, Sushi?” Sunset called as Alicorn Fantasy lifted the tree off her.

Summer rubbed at her face, then got back on her feet. “I’ve still got fight in me yet. If it’s anything I learnt from hanging out with Prism, it’s to not give up just because we get a little hurt.”

Sunset smiled and bent her body forward, then back, then swept one arm to the side through her long hair. “Then let’s find out what your Stand can do! Alicorn Fantasy!”

Sunset’s Stand dashed forward with its mighty wings and began throwing punches at her daughter’s, but Summer had it drop to a knee and raise its arms in front of its head to protect itself from the rain of blows. Summer didn’t know how to explain it exactly, but something in her mind seemed to click and the more she looked at her Stand blocking her mother’s attacks, the more she began to know about it, including its name.

“Come on, dear, is that all you’re going to do?” Sunset bent one knee up, then rested an elbow against it as her arm crossed over and grabbed her opposite shoulder. “You can’t keep it up forever. Alicorn Fantasy is really strong and it’ll get through soon enough.”

“But I don’t need to keep it up forever, mom.” Summer struck a pose, raising one leg up to her waist and putting both hands behind her head. She lifted one arm towards her mother, then pointed one finger down to the ground. “I know what my Stand can do now and it isn’t just defending against your attacks. It’s building up energy. Potential energy, to be exact, and it can do so with anything it touches, including itself and right now, it’s absorbing your Stand’s punches and saving it up as potential energy, and do you know what happens after that?” Summer’s Stand’s arms began to emit a bright glow as more and more energy from the punches built up inside its body.

“I can put all that energy into one big, serious punch!” Summer had her Stand do a backstep, just so that Alicorn Fantasy’s next punch barely missed. Then all the glow from the absorbed energy transferred itself into Summer’s Stand’s right arm as it sidestepped Alicorn Fantasy’s next strike. Sunset’s Stand saw the threat coming and kicked back and away from it as it threw a mighty straight punch, creating a small sonic boom as the fist broke the sound barrier in flight, ruffling the bushes and trees, sending leaves falling down all around them.

“Pegasus Forever!” Summer threw one hand forward, opening her palm and pointing all five fingers towards Alicorn Fantasy.

Bars on its back lit up and slid open, revealing twin thrusters, pulsing bright with overflowing energy. Pegasus Forever’s feet lifted off the ground, allowing the energy to launch it forward as its punch kept going, catching Sunset and Alicorn Fantasy by surprise.

Pegasus Forever closed the distance faster than a blink of an eye, connecting its fist with Alicorn Fantasy’s muscular abdomen. Sunset’s Stand doubled over as it got punched, spraying blood from its mouth like it was a tap. Sunset dropped to her knees and spat out a similar glob of blood.

“Mom!” Summer ran over to her as her Stand dissipated into thin air.

Sunset rubbed at her belly, then got up and hiccupped. “That one caught me off guard. Don’t you worry, dear. Mom’s been through much worse. But that was a good punch. Really, I hadn’t been expecting something like that.”

“Yeah, I don’t know how I knew, but I knew it could do that,” Summer said.

“I knew you knew it could do that.” Sunset smiled and ran a hand along her daughter’s paler hair. “So, Pegasus Forever, huh?”

“Yeah, I don’t know, I guess it was that option you told me. About finding out my Stand’s name.” Summer dusted at her outfit, then rubbed at her nose and winced.

“Here, I got that for you.” Sunset took one step back and stretched an arm up.

Summer Shine suddenly found herself standing back at the fallen tree, but her injuries had disappeared.

“Wow. That reset thing’s really cool.” She ran a hand over her face, quite surprised that nothing hurt anymore.

“And now we know what you can do too, dear.” Sunset walked over and gave her a hug. “Pegasus Forever. I like it. It reminds me of the friendship I gained when I had first discovered my Stand. It used to be called Pegasus Fantasy before I evolved it with the Stand Geode. A story for another time.”

“Man, all this Stand stuff!” Prism ran over and threw an arm around Summer. “How can I get one of my own?”

“No one really knows.” Her mother shrugged. “Sushi’s just awoke. Perhaps in time, you might have one too. But I’m sorry, Prism. Not everyone gets one.”

“Bummer, I wish I had one.” Prism folded her arms.

“Hey, if you’re as awesome as me, you’ll have one. Don’t worry.” Rainbow gave her a squeeze. “You wanna know how I got mine? It had been two weeks before I was due to get a checkup at the doctor. Suddenly, I was ambushed by some drug dealers who wanted me to smuggle coke for them through to the doctor’s assistant, who was working for Fillydel Caspo. But I wasn’t going to let ‘em, so I ran and they chased me into a restaurant that was currently being reviewed by Goredon Rampage.” 

“You met Fillydel Caspo?” Prism widened her eyes. “I thought the cops got him?”

“I thought they got him got him,” Summer added. “As in, I thought he died?”

“I don’t know, I’m no history buff like Sush-Sunset.” Rainbow punched her arms forward and Running on Ice, her sleek blue Stand, appeared behind her, copying her movement. “But anyway, I think he was a Stand user too, because the drug dealers were surprised when Running on Ice suddenly appeared behind me. Only Stand users can see Stands, you see. Anyway, I didn’t know what had happened then, but they were suddenly frozen into ice sculptures and Goredon Rampage came out and shouted at me for freezing oysters. Of course I didn’t work there, so I was arrested for trespassing and getting involved with drug dealers. But when I was in jail, I thought I was being possessed, like that princess from Iced.”

“Wait, you were in jail?” Prism did a double take on her mother. “You have a criminal record?”

“Psshhh…” Rainbow waved a hand at her. “Like it did anything to dampen my job search. Anyway, I was in jail for all of three days when Principal Cinch found me and took over my mind. After that, Sushi, your mother eventually rescued me and I decided to join up with her to stop Cinch from taking over the world.”

“That’s… quite the story.” Prism looked at her mother in awe. “So it took drug dealers and an angry chef to bring about your Stand. Man, maybe that’s what I have to do. Where can I find some of Fidel Caspo’s men?”

“Fillydel,” Summer corrected.

“Yeah, him.” Prism pounded her fists together. “Come on out, Stand!”

She reached a hand for the sky, but nothing happened. She just stood there in silence, hoping something would happen.

“I… don’t think that’s going to work,” Rainbow said bluntly, patting Prism on the head. “Hey, it’s getting late. We should get going. I think the Sushis have some catching up with Stands to do.”

“Awww. Shame I can’t see ‘em.” Prism sighed, but nodded. “Alright. Sushi, I’ll catch you tomorrow on the flippity flip.”

After waving goodbye to Rainbow and Prism, Sunset put an arm around her daughter’s shoulders and looked at the tree they had knocked down earlier. She hadn’t thought her daughter would gain a Stand as well. Back then, they had surmised that the opening of the portal to Equestria was the reason they had received Stands, but she didn’t think anyone had come through recently. It must’ve been something else, something they didn’t know about. But what?

Sunset shook her head. For now, she owed her daughter a better explanation of their adventure years ago.

“Come on, Sushi. I’ve got a great deal to tell you about Stands and what we had to do to save the world when I was about your age,” Sunset said as she steered Summer towards the house. “How about I do that over a cup of hot tea?”

“Sure, I like tea.” Summer followed her in.

Unbeknownst to them both, they were being watched from the trees by a green haired individual, who clenched his fists when he saw them both enter through the front door. He had been wanting revenge for years and he had never known what had really happened, but their group had recently gained some intel from a visit to an old associate trapped in a cave in the Everfree Forest and he had learned more about the situation that had transpired years ago. He had lost someone very dear to him, along with his favorite companion that would follow her around.

Now that he knew who was responsible, he was going to take them down one at a time, starting with Sunset Shimmer and anyone she was with. They were all going to pay.


> Chapter 2: Revenga
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“So this Principal Cinch was the one responsible for killing the friends you lost?” Summer Shine asked her mother as she held a mug of tea between her hands. It was a chilly day today and the hot tea did wonders in warming up her body.

Sunset Shimmer nodded and looked at her reflection in her own tea. “They heroically sacrificed themselves so that we might eventually defeat Cinch. We couldn’t just let her control the minds of everyone on this planet. People deserve to be free, to think what they want to think, to do what they want to do.”

“Do you think she’s still there, in that cave?” Summer asked, trying to imagine being stuck in place for all time. It was horrible, but at least she would never have to feel tired or hungry or thirsty.

“She has to be.” Sunset clenched a fist and Alicorn Fantasy’s emerged from hers, doing the same. “It’s her punishment, for everything she’s brought everyone through. She’ll never get to harm anyone ever again and she’s paying for all the wrongs she did when she was free. Rainbow Dash and the others had fallen thrall to her Stand’s power. Who knows how many others were enslaved to her.”

“I can’t believe my own mom saved the world,” Summer said. “And I can’t tell anyone!”

“Well I mean, you could, but no one’s gonna believe you.” Sunset leaned back and laughed. “Wow, you know, it’s nice that I can now tell you all this. Perhaps one day you’ll have an adventure of your own. Let’s just hope it doesn’t involve the end of civilization as we know it.”

“I wish Prism had a Stand too.” Summer sipped at her drink. “It would be nice to talk about Stand stuff with her. “She can’t give herself one?”

“The coming of the Stand is as much of a mystery to me as it is to you. From what I know, they awaken when the time is right and you have to have been exposed to magic. This world lacks it, and the only way, like I’ve said, is for the portal to Equestria to open. It can only be opened every thirty moons and someone would have to come through for it to open.”

“That’s so complicated.” Summer took another sip, then stood up and put her mug on the table. “Pegasus Forever.”

Summer tried calling her Stand and it appeared behind the couch she was sitting on, standing over her and looking down at her with its bizarre green eyes. She willed for it to move in her mind and her Stand walked around to the front of the couch and picked up her mug, which looked tiny in its muscular hands.

“I think I’m really getting the hang of this now.” Summer smiled at her Stand and it reached over to hand the mug back to her. “Well, today’s been quite the big day. We won our softball game, we had a ton of cheesecake, which I’m sure I’ll still regret later today, and now I have a Stand of my own. I wonder what else we can expect.”

“I think you better expect to finish up your papers.” Sunset stood as well. “You’ve still got classes tomorrow, don’t you?”

“Only two, and the first one starts at nine.” Summer downed the rest of her drink. “And we don’t really need to be there anyway, mom. As long as we work on our reports and hand them in by the end of the semester, we’re good to go.”

“Then you better go deal with those.” Sunset took the empty mug from her. “I’ll wash up, so you go on, scoot.”

Alicorn Fantasy appeared and shoved Summer gently as Sunset made her way over to the kitchen, which overlooked their swimming pool. Getting closer to winter now, the pool wasn’t going to be a place where they would chill in the day, seeing as it didn’t have a heating system. She had meant to go put the tarp over it, but she had been so busy with her latest sculpture that it kept passing her mind by.

Deciding to get it over with, Sunset pushed the sliding door open and walked over to the shed in the back where she kept all her gardening supplies, tools and the works. The tarp lay folded neatly next to a storage cabinet and as she pulled it out, a layer of dust puffed up into the air. Sunset scrunched up her face in disgust and stepped back outside with the tarp, giving it a shake before throwing it up into the air. Alicorn Fantasy appeared and grabbed it for her, unfolding it and giving it a mighty shake to further clean it up.

“There, time to set it up before anyone can fall in and catch a cold.”

Sunset was about to order Alicorn Fantasy to throw and unfurl it across the pool, but there was a stinging pain in her lower back and she instinctively reached back to smack at whatever insect had done that. She had her fair share of insect stings in her years living in the woods, but this was different. It somehow hurt a lot more, but then faded almost immediately. 

“What was that?” Sunset attempted to spin around to find the culprit, but she found that her foot wasn’t listening to her and instead, she just crumpled to the ground, hitting her head on the ground and blurring her vision. Alicorn Fantasy dropped the tarp and dissipated. “What gives?”

“Ho ho,” A male voice said from behind her. “Looks like you’ve gotten rusty over the years. Nice to finally meet you… Sushi.”

Walking out in front of Sunset was a man with green hair and a goatee, wearing a ragged t-shirt and shorts, the former of which had ‘Camp Everfree’ written on it in faded letters. In his hands was a stubby pocket knife that he was tossing up into the air, catching it with great precision.

“Who are you? What did you do to me?” Sunset tried to move, but her body wouldn’t respond.

“You have my Stand to thank for that.” The man walked over to her and crouched down in front of her face. “You don’t know me, but I sure as hay know you. You’re Sushi, the one who stopped Abacus Cinch. I suppose we have to thank you for that. We didn’t want her to succeed either. My name is Timber Spruce.”

“If you’re not with Cinch, what do you want, then?” Sunset strained to move herself. “Why are you doing this?”

“I’m here for a most noble cause,” Timber sneered. He poked his knife in Sunset’s direction. “Revenge. I’d be going against the master’s orders, but so what? This is my big chance to avenge Twilight Sparkle.”

“Twilight? You know Twilight?”

“More than know her.” Tinder spun his knife and rested the tip against Sunset’s cheek. “She was my girlfriend, and she was the sweetest and smartest person to ever live in this world. And Spike… You killed my girl and you had to go as far as to kill my favorite dog as well? Spike was the cutest and most intelligent dog you would’ve ever seen! And you had to kill a defenseless and innocent dog like him! You took away any chance of him having a normal life. If he had been a human, I’m sure he would’ve wiped the floor with you! Spike was one of the most powerful Stand users I’ve seen and together with Twilight, they were supposed to be invincible.”

“Hey, they tried to kill us first. If they hadn’t been acting on Cinch’s orders to kill us, we would’ve just let them be.”

“I don’t care about that.” Timber pressed the knife down into Sunset’s cheek, tearing through her skin and sticking the blade around in her mouth. Sunset let out a screech of anguish. “If she had killed you, so be it. But you killed Twilight and Spike. And now you’ll pay with your life. And once I’m done with you, your friends will be next. None of you will leave here alive.”

“No. You won’t!” Sunset struggled to get up, but there was still something wrong with her body. She couldn’t even move a finger.

“You like it?” Timber chuckled and got up, leaving his pocket knife in Sunset’s face. “It’s poison. Fast acting nerve poison. You have my Stand to thank for that.”

Timber waved a hand in a circle and placed his other hand on the beanie on top of his head and an insectoid creature appeared, buzzing around his head, then around his right arm. It was no bigger than the size of his hand and it had green chitinous plating and beady yellow eyes like that of a mantis. At the end of its thorax was a tail longer than the rest of its body, ending in a sinister red blade. 

“Behold, my Stand, System of a Down, is capable of inflicting a paralytic poison that will stop you from moving.” He stretched his arms out to the air. “So far, it’s been thirty seconds since the poison’s entered your system. The poison, at this time, is already making its way to your heart and in five minutes, it will also paralyze your heart and you will die, Sushi. Twilight and Spike will be smiling from the other side. I still can’t believe you killed them. They had so much potential. I love Twilight so much, and Spike had such potential, but you had to take that all away. All that potential!”

“What potential are you even talking about?” Sunset had to find a way to get that poison out of her system before it got to her heart.

“You don’t deserve to know.” Timber pointed a finger down at her. “Seven seconds have passed since I told you you had five minutes. I won’t kill you just yet. You deserve a slow painful death.”

Timber laughed and began walking circles around Sunset as his Stand buzzed in front of her face, darting in and out of her view. She still couldn’t move and true to Timber’s word, she could almost feel the poison seeping through her veins, circulating up her body towards her heart. If she didn’t think of something soon, it was all going to be over.

“Hey, you know what?” Timber tapped a finger against his chin. “I can still have my fun without killing you immediately.”

He walked back to Sunset and grasped his pocket knife, yanking it from her face with a tiny spurt of blood. By now, blood had been pooling in Sunset’s mouth and it was already slowly dripping to the floor under her chin.

“How about here?” Timber went to her legs and cut her across the back of both knees. Sunset screamed out in pain, but was still unable to do anything. “You like that? I’d cut deeper, but then you’d probably bleed out.”

Sunset winced as Timber sliced her across the arms next. “When I get out of this, you’re gonna wish you never set foot on my property.”

“Psshh, you sound just like an old man.” Timber waved a fist and spoke in a hoarse voice. “Get off mah property! No, Sushi. You’re gonna wish you never killed my girlfriend and her dog all those years ago. You think I’m the bad guy here? No. We used to go on the most amazing dates, Twilight and I. Once, we even went to a planetarium to look at the vast universe and made out. But then you had to ruin everything when you chose to kill her. I had just bought a new collar for Spike that day and I had been so excited to give it to him. I knew Twilight would’ve loved it and I knew Spike would’ve treasured it for the rest of his life, but no. You had to take that away from me. Twilight was such a lovely girl and Spike had so much potential!”

“You know, you’re starting to sound like a broken record now.” Sunset gritted her teeth together as Timber stabbed the knife into her shoulder. “We did what we had to do. There was no other way. Twilight was acting under Cinch’s orders to stop us. If anyone’s to blame, it’s her.”

“True, but she’s already getting her just desserts.” Timber shrugged and left his knife in her shoulder. “Twilight and Spike are watching down at me from above and they’ll be pleased with what’s about to happen to you, your friends, and even your daughter.”

“No, you won’t touch her. You won’t touch any of them!” Sunset continued to try and get her body moving, but it was still to no avail. The poison was incredibly strong.

“Sorry. My mind’s made up.” Timber waggled a finger and then pressed it against Sunset’s forehead. “You’ll die. And then I’ll go in and find your daughter and she’ll die the same way as you. Lying on the ground unable to do anything else.”

There was the sound of glass smashing and Timber suddenly rolled out of the way as a bronze globe sailed through the air and rolled off into the forest.

“Why you-!” He waved an arm, but then a coffee table flew into him and sent him flying back away from Sunset.


> Chapter 3: System of a Down
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Mom!”

Sunset couldn’t turn her head, but she would know Summer’s voice from anywhere. Timber looked past her, but jumped aside as Pegasus Forever leapt over Sunset’s prone body and threw a punch at him.

Timber narrowly dodged it, then slid to the side as System of a Down flew in a zigzag pattern towards Pegasus Forever. Summer stood behind her mother’s body, an arm extended towards Timber as her Stand swung another punch at the enemy Stand.

“Sushi, watch out, it can paralyze you. Don’t get stung!” Sunset called out to her daughter.

“So, your daughter is the next Sushi, huh?” Timber lifted one arm and placed it on top of his other hand and bent it at a forty-five degree angle. “I would’ve had a daughter by now if it weren’t for you. And if Spike were a human, he would still be alive now and he’d have children too. He had so much potential and you took it all away!”

“Enough with that already!” Sunset yelled.

“Enough with you! I’m going to kill you and end your bloodline here. System of a Down!” Timber placed a hand on his belt and the other on his right knee. “Get her!”

“Don’t worry, mom, I’ll sort him out.” Summer narrowed her eyes and threw two fingers into the air. “Pegasus Forever!”

Her Stand got into position and charged at Timber’s Stand, bringing both arms up in front of its chest. System of a Down easily avoided its charge, then moved in to attack its rear, but Pegasus Forever dropped to its hands, then kicked its legs out in the air. The flying Stand just narrowly avoided one hoof and sped back, hovering in the air above the swimming pool.

“Do you think you can stop System of a Down?” Timber bent back with laughter. “No, I’ve seen your Stand now. And I know Pegasus Forever is a short-ranged Stand that can punch. What can you do if System of a Down stays flying above the swimming pool, a place you cannot reach? And it can also spit a powerful acid from its mouth. Watch!”

System of a Down did a vertical spin in the air, then unfurled its legs and its mandibles as a glob of yellow was ejected from its mouth. Pegasus Forever raised its arms, but the acid splashed into it and began melting its blue armor.

Summer screamed as her forearms began to burn and her skin began to peel, but she couldn’t let it end without even trying. She had to think of something, and she might just have the right thing.

“Your mother’s heart is going to stop. And then you’ll be next, young Sushi.” Timber pointed his index finger to the ground.

System of a Down continued firing acid balls at Pegasus Forever, but Summer knew better than to get hit a second time. Pegasus Forever ran around the pool, avoiding the acid as it splattered against the ground, melting the tiles around the pool’s edge.

Pegasus Forever took a moment before the next spit of acid to punch an arm into the water as hard as it could. As the water splashed up into the air, Pegasus punched at it again, but this time, it stayed in place, neither flying higher or falling back down. It simply stayed in place.

“What good do you think that’ll do for you?” Timber scoffed. “You freezed some water in the air. Good for you. Now die!”

System of a Down continued spitting acid at Pegasus Forever, but Summer’s Stand punched at the water in the air and they began flying at System of a Down, much to Timber’s surprise. Because he wasn’t expecting it, the water cut through the air with great speed and bore holes through his Stand’s wings and one went through its thorax.

Timber dropped to a knee and coughed out blood as a similar hole appeared on his chest, clean through to the other side. “Impossible! System of a Down is small and fast, but you still fired that water at it like a bullet and you managed to hit it!”

Summer raised one hand and put it in front of her left cheek, then the other on her waist. “Pegasus Forever is able to manipulate energy and when it turned the water into potential energy, it was just sitting there, waiting for something to kickstart it and Pegasus Forever turned that potential energy back into kinetic energy and the speed depends on how hard and fast it touches it, and my Stand hits pretty hard. It can turn the simplest of things like water into bullets.”

System of a Down hovered in the air, finding it harder to fly now that its four wings had holes in them. Timber watched his Stand as a pit began to form in his stomach. He had come here confident, sure that if he first took out Alicorn Fantasy, the rest would be a breeze, but he hadn’t anticipated Sushi’s daughter would’ve already learnt how to use her Stand to this capacity. He was sure he would take her done faster than he would her mother.

“I had miscalculated my revenge,” he said to himself. “But I can’t lose to the likes of you. You who kill girlfriends and favorite dogs!”

“You did.” Summer smiled and crossed her arms. “But you also shouldn’t have messed with my family.”

“You may win here today, young Sushi, but you won’t live to see the next decade.” Timber stared daggers at her. “Now that you’ve messed with me, you’ve messed with my organization. You can’t stop us. My master is aiming to find something that would soon reshape the world into the likes you’ve never dreamt of. The weak will be eradicated. Governments will topple. Only those born of noble lineage will live to see the dawn of a new era. You will not stop him and you won’t stop that which we aim to release. It’s only a matter of time now. Once we trace the gold, you’re done for.”

“You talk too much.” Summer raised a palm to System of a Down.

Pegasus Forever punched more water up, soaking System of a Down’s already failing wings. It struggled to maintain its flight and crashed into the water with a tiny splash. Working fast, Pegasus Forever grabbed the tarp Alicorn Fantasy had dropped and threw it over the pool. It punched its surface, turning its energy into potential energy and freezing it in place. Timber’s Stand tried to push its way out of the pool, but the tarp held strong and kept its head underwater. At the same time, Timber himself was finding it harder and harder to breathe, no matter how he tried to inhale.

He fell on his side and grabbed at his throat, gasping for air, but to no avail. Soon, System of a Down stopped struggling against the tarp and flipped on its back as its body went still. Timber’s hands lost their strength and they fell to his sides as his eyes now stared blankly into the woods.

Summer struck a pose with Pegasus Forever flexing an arm behind her, then she rushed over to her mother’s side to help her up.

“Sushi, you did it!” Sunset rubbed at her arms as feeling returned to them.

“I did, mom!” she said excitedly. “You okay? Did the poison wear off?”

“I think it disappeared once you defeated him.” Sunset looked to Timber’s body. “It’s a shame… He came here to kill us because we killed his girlfriend and her dog. We had to do that because she was with Cinch and we had to stop her no matter what.”

“What’s going to happen now?” Summer helped her stand. “He said his organization is going to release something that would end the world or something.”

“Not another world-ending plot…” Sunset rubbed at her face and sighed. “He mentioned gold? That means whatever they’re looking for must be underground. The question now is…”

“What are they looking for?” Summer finished for her. “None of this can be good.”

Sunset stared at the ground ahead of her, her mind racing in thought as she tried to process this new information. Timber had come here on a revenge plot, but he was part of something bigger, and now that they had taken him out, his organization will surely come knocking. They would have to be ready and they would have to find out what these people were after.

“I think we better get the others. They’ll need to be prepared too.”
-—-----JO-JO—-----
The cool night breeze wafted over the fields that lay on the lower parts of Mount Fegel in Germany. Autumn was turning into winter, and the air was growing colder by the day. However, high up among the peaks of the mountains was a motley collection of people, none of them interested in the picturesque view that stood below them. 

Instead, they were looking at a deep pit that had been dug in the mountain’s top, reaching deep into the earth like a yawning, toothless mouth.

“I found it here, just yesterday.” A man with a horseshoe moustache and a bowler hat pointed into the pit. “But the Nugget Run has attracted many since the gold was found. Folk from all over the world have flocked here to dig up their share.”

“Finally, after so many years of searching…” One muscular man with outlandish blonde hair raised a hand and formed a fist. “According to the legends, gold forms around them. A side effect of their cursed blood. We’re closer than we’ve ever been. Our old associate, Abacus Cinch, couldn’t see this. She was a fool to lose hope so soon and search for a different power, one that had eluded her grasp and fallen into the hands of her enemies.”

Airsoft Yodel had been keeping tabs on the cave system here ever since the recent earthquake revealed them to the world. They had eventually found gold deep down, and in such vast quantities that it couldn’t have been anything else. What they seeked was down here and on their home turf.

“Once Weather Alternate gets its hands on them, we will finally secure our place in this world.” The blonde man crouched down and clenched his fists tightly. “The legends were all true and we will soon have them to prove it.”

“What if someone finds them before we do, Master Dolfy?” another of the companions asked. This one was a woman with purple hair that frizzed around her face. “With this booming Nugget Run, someone might just dig them up before we do.”

“Then let them.” Dolfy stood up and gazed down into the pit as an orange aura began to form around him. “Weather Alternate had been founded not on hard work alone, but built atop the sacrifices of those unfit to survive in this world. This will not be any different. Let them come. Let them dig for their nuggets, but once we find the source, then I, Dolfy Horner, will use the knowledge of the ancients to conquer this world and weed out the weak and find the strong.”

“But what of the one known as Sushi?” Airsoft Yodel rubbed at his moustache.

“What about her?” Dolfy turned to them.

One woman pushed past Airsoft. She had magenta hair under a wreath of flowers atop her head, along with a baggy poncho too big for her. She was livid. “What about her? She killed my brother! She killed my brother’s girlfriend and our favorite dog, Spike! I had been calm enough to let Timber handle this, but now he’s dead. My precious brother is dead! I demand retribution against her and anyone she knows!”

“Why should we divert our assets to wasting time with this Sushi business?” Airsoft groaned loudly.

“No.” Dolfy walked closer to the rest of them. “I think Gloriosa has a point. This Sushi is a problem. She managed to defeat Cinch and even we hadn’t been confident to go after her, even in our prime. Sushi might be the only thing that could stop us from awakening them.” He unfolded a parchment that had been in his pocket and gazed upon it. It depicted ancient markings of beings in the middle, with floating figures behind them, along with smaller humans at the sides, bowing down to them. “I will not tolerate failure again, especially not now that we have an actual lead to the myths. No, Sushi must be taken out of play. Gloriosa, you’re in charge. Do what you must to destroy them.”

Gloriosa’s expression changed into one of glee. “I will, Master Dolfy. For Weather Alternate, but also for my brother. I will turn Sushi and her friends’ insides out and I will spread their organs across the world for all to see!”

“Excellent. Then you will return to America at once.” Dolfy returned his attention to the dark pit. “A new dawn is at hand and once we have the ancients, then Weather Alternate will rise and shape the world into our image. Time to get started. You all know what must be done.”


> Chapter 4: A Reunion of Sorts
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summer Shine found herself sitting in Sugarcube Corner again the next day, but this time, their table was a lot bigger and it was overflowing with food and people.

Her mother had called her friends together for an urgent meeting and some of them had brought their children, or at least, some of their children, and she had just found out why: They were all Stand users too. Well, except for Prism.

“Man, seriously, why do all of you get all this power and I’m just plain ol’ me?” Prism Dash threw her hands into the air and complained. “I’m missing out on the party!”

“Trust me, Prism, you’re not.” Jostle Joyride said from across the table. He had on a plain green shirt with stars patterned on it and he looked like he was going on some holiday to Hawaii. “So is this meeting important? I was gonna go away for the holidays to Hawaii. I really need a break from all the metal and fire.”

Oh, looks like I was right.

“School isn’t out yet and you were going to go on a trip?” Rainbow Dash laughed. “Man, you really are a slacker, Jojo. Always have been.” Then she looked at his son, who looked up when he heard his name being called. “Uh, not you, Jojo. Uh, Cajole. Man, you guys had to do this, huh? With the same names.”

“Nah, Jojo’s fine on his homework. He was going to do it overseas.” Jostle placed an arm around his son’s chair.

“Yeah, I’m doing fine in my classes anyway.” Cajole put down the pen he had been scribbling with. “Mr. Cranky Doodle says I don’t even have to be in class.”

“He’s still teaching, huh?” Rainbow twiddled with the straw to her juice. “That old goat doesn’t know when to retire.”

“Oh, come on, don’t say that!” Pinkie Pie popped in between them carrying two trays of cakes. “If he likes what he’s doing then he can feel free to teach forever! Here, order of chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream cake!”

“Is there any reason we only ordered cakes?” Summer rubbed at her stomach as it growled from within. “We should have some normal food too. It’s lunch time.”

“Fuchs this…” Fuchsia Blush pushed her chair back and stood up. “Why am I even here? Can I get back behind the counter?”

“Fuchsiaaaaa…” Pinkie shook her head. “What did we talk about?”

“We talked about it not being an actual swear word.” Fuchsia sighed. “This is boring. There’s no meaning to this. I want to go make cakes instead…”

“Dad, is it really?” Cajole looked at her with intrigue. “It sounds offensive, but it isn’t the real word.”

Jostle Joyride suddenly pointed at Sunset after folding his arm close to his chest. His other hand flew up and rested against his forehead. “Sushi, your next words are, ‘We don’t have time for this, I called you all here to discuss something important.’”

Sunset slapped a hand on the table to get their attention. “We don’t have time for this! I called you all here to discuss something important.” Then she jumped back in shock. “Jojo, you did it again. Seriously, how do you do that?”

“Trade secret, remember?” Jojo smirked and folded his arms. “So, what’s up, Sushi?”
“So…” Sunset folded her hands together and leaned closer at the table. “Just yesterday, Summer and I were attacked. At our own home.”

“What? Really, we missed that?” Rainbow made a disappointed face. “We were there. The killer must’ve waited for us to leave before attacking. They wouldn’t have been able to handle Rainbow ‘Danger’ Dash.”

“Yeah, and if I had a Stand, they would already be begging for forgiveness,” Prism added. “So what happened?”

“So this guy called Timber Spruce attacked us,” Summer began. “Mom said he used to run some camp in the Everfree or something. But turns out, he’s the boyfriend of this girl who mom and the others killed on their adventure to save the world.”

“Twilight Sparkle.” Sunset mimicked shooting a gun. “Remember? She had the Stand that was a ray gun.”

“Oh yeah! I remember that!” Pinkie returned with a plate of fries. “And she had the dog that could stop us from moving! What was his name again? Spork? Spoke? Spake? I know it had something to do with speaking.”

“Timber would’ve killed you first, Pinkie, if he heard you say that,” Sunset chuckled. “His name was Spike and Timber was really upset we killed him as well. He kept going on about how he had so much potential.”

“No idea what he’s going on about,” Rainbow snorted. “It’s a dog. Big deal. Plus, he was helping Twilight attack us, so I call self-defense. So this Timber guy. He’s croaked?”

Sunset nodded. “And we have Summer to thank for that. She got him all on her own. I guess I’m a little rusty. He got the jump on me.”

“He managed to surprise you?” Prism repeated. “Maybe you should invest in better home security.”

“We’ve never needed it till now.” Sunset shrugged. “I never lock my doors and we’ve never been robbed. Besides, he got me outside anyway.”

“So what’s the problem? You've dealt with the threat. Quite well, I may add.” Jostle gave Summer a slap on the back. “Nice first time, Sushi!”

“It’s what he said that troubles me…” Sunset looked at her faint reflection in the glass of her drink. “There’s a plot of world domination.”

“Again? Really?” Rainbow kicked a foot against the table’s legs. “One Cinch plot to take over the world was enough for my lifetime.”

“Apparently Cinch used to be a part of Timber’s organization or something. But Timber mentioned something. That they were tracing gold to something. Whatever they’re looking for must be underground.”

“Wait, gold?” Jojo leaned forward. “Gold like… mining for gold?”

“Well, I would think so…” Sunset rubbed her chin. “You know something, Jojo?”

“Pinkie, could I have a newspaper?” Jojo waved for the pink girl’s attention. “I thought I saw something in the news this morning.”

“Here’s one!” Pinkie dug around behind her apron and pulled up a newspaper. She flipped through it and grinned. “Here! Booming Nugget Run in Germany!”

She slapped it to the table. The article had a picture of all kinds of people in a mad rush towards the camera. A lot of them carried pickaxes, while some carried drills and other technological equipment. 

“Nugget Run?” Prism said aloud. “What’s a Nugget Run?”

Cajole put down his pen, then raised a finger. “I can answer this. A Nugget Run is basically the same thing as a Gold Rush. When signs of gold are found and news gets out, people flock to the excavation site from all over the world, looking to score themselves some gold. In the case of Nugget Runs, the gold is found in nuggets instead of giant ore veins. An odd phenomenon, but it occurs in various parts of the world and in this case, in Germany.”

“Germany…” Summer looked at the picture in the article. “Do you think this is what Timber meant? Do you think there’s some kind of secret weapon down there?”

“It can’t be anything good.” Sunset clenched her fists. “What if it’s another plot like Cinch’s to take over the whole world with the power of Stands? If there’s another Stand Geode down there, we can’t let that fall into evil hands.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” Prism stood up and placed one foot on her chair. “Let’s go to Germany!”

“Woah, hold your horses, young’un.” Rainbow tugged on her daughter’s ponytail and sat her back down. “You’re not going anywhere. We don’t even know what this baddie organization really is. We can’t make any decisions based on the word of one man.”

“But what if it’s true? We’re wasting time sitting here,” Prism protested. “We’re letting the bad guys carry on with their plan while we decide if they’re real or not.”

“Timber could’ve been lying,” Summer shrugged. “We don’t have anything concrete to go on.”

“You know, somehow, I don’t think that’s true.” Jostle Joyride flicked his fingers together. “Research time. Time to see if the old family line had any information on something like this. Lesson number two: A Jojo is resourceful as is his family knowledge.”

“What if we’re attacked again?” Pinkie came back and danced around her friends. “Sushi got attacked. If we don’t want to become sashimi ourselves, we should get ahead of them!”

“I’m sure Jojo and I can take care of ourselves!” Jostle Joyride slapped his son across the back as he was taking a bite from his burger, and a slice of tomato spun out of his mouth across the room. Summer had to duck to the side to avoid getting smacked in the face with it. “Hey, don’t sweat it. We’ve dealt with enemy Stand users before, haven’t we? I mean, me more so than the rest of you, but still, it’s a shared experience.”

“Jojo’s got a point.” Pinkie shrugged and grinned widely. “I know! Just in case, Fuchsia and I will see if we can get passage to Germany!”

“Do we have to?” Fuchsia grumbled.

“Settled! And my son and I will do what we can to find out just what your Timber Bruce was talking about!” Jojo flexed and flipped one thumb up.

“Timber Spruce,” Summer corrected him.

“Yeah. That’s what I said.” Jojo cleared his throat and got up. “Come on, Jojo, let’s go.”

He made for the door and whistled for his son to follow. Cajole Joyride said his goodbyes to the group and followed behind his father. This Jojo wasn’t the best of fighters, having studied more than he had trained to fight, especially with hamon, but he was confident enough that he could hold his own in a Stand battle.

Cajole had first discovered his Stand almost ten years ago and his father couldn’t have been any more pleased with that. As early as six years old, he could already call up his Stand and command it, and by eleven, he had mastered his Stand’s power, though in his opinion, there wasn’t much to master.

“Hey, dad?” he called as he caught up with Jostle. “What do you think’s out there in Germany? Do you think there’s really some organization that’s after us now?”

The older Jojo shrugged and pursed his lips together. “Who knows? But our records are old and stretched far. We might be able to find out something as long as an older Jojo had dealt with it before.” He reached a hand skyward and spread his legs out wider. “White Buffalo!”

Jojo’s Stand made itself known beside them, its engines rumbling as steam puffed from its buffalo skull above the handlebars. Cajole knew his father’s Stand well and he had always thought it was weird that a Stand could be just a motorbike, but it didn’t make it any less cool. After all, it could breathe fire and, in his own words, fart fire to go faster.

He got on behind his father and before he could even make sure he was sitting there securely, Jostle Joyride gunned his Stand and they were off down the street faster than he could say ‘Speed’.

Their home was outside of town, meaning it took a sizable amount of time to get there, though it wasn’t as far as Summer’s house, which was all the way out in the woods. Jojo’s house was a giant mansion in a suburb, complete with a fountain at the driveway where cars could go around to drop off their passengers.

With how fast White Buffalo could travel, they soon found themselves heading down the long driveway after their front gates, which had been emblazoned with the family crest, which was a single star that was slightly askew. Cajole had never asked why it was so, but he didn’t mind. He did enjoy stargazing himself and it made him feel like he could be one of the stars up there in the night sky. A silly idea, he knew, but he wished he could be up amongst the stars one day.

“Home sweet home,” Jostle said as they slid to a stop.

Cajole looked up at the rows of windows along the two storeys, but something was wrong. All the lights should’ve been off, but there was an orange glow coming from one of the windows and the air around them smelt weird.

“Fire…” Cajole breathed as he got off his father’s Stand. “Dad, there’s a fire!”

All of a sudden, the window shattered outwards, sending glass spilling down towards them.

Jostle righted himself and looked through the window. The fire inside was twisting and turning all the way up to the ceiling. “The library. The Jojo Texts! This must be the work of an enemy Stand.”

“So they already know we’re on to them, after Summer killed that Timber,” the younger Jojo dusted shards of glass from his cyan hair. “And they knew we had a library of texts passed down through the ages. Whoever we’re up against, they know how things work. They knew we had a wealth of information stored in the family house. They know we have something that could point us towards their goal.”

“Good assumption, Jojo.” Jostle Joyride kept his eyes peeled around their estate. The fire was still raging and judging from what was burning at the moment, the fire had only started minutes before their arrival, which meant that… “Eyes up, Jojo. We’ve got company.”

Up above, there was another explosion, tearing apart part of the mansion’s facade, before a figure descended down towards them, clad in fire.


> Chapter 5: Napalm Death's Rage
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cajole Joyride rolled away from the front of their house as a being with fire coming out of its shoulders in arcs around it landed just where he and his father had been standing, blasting up rubble into the air as it crashed into the cobbled floor.

“Jojoooo!” a voice came from inside their house as the Stand lifted one arm, firing fiery rings at them.

Jostle Joyride summoned White Buffalo and spun it around before releasing Faster than Fire from its exhaust pipe, blanketing the air around them in a cloud of flame. Sometimes, you just had to fight fire with fire.

“Except when fire isn’t yours…” the voice cackled and suddenly, the cloud of fire folded back over the two Jojos.

Jostle quickly threw himself over his son and covered him as much as he could as the flames rained down over them. Cajole looked up at his father and rolled his eyes. His father had forgotten one important thing about his Stand.

“Tenacious D!”

As he shoved him out of the way, Cajole’s Stand erupted from within him and rolled forward with a fist held up to the encroaching flames, using its body to protect the two Jojos.

When the fire subsided, there it stood, Cajole’s bright red Stand. It had the head of a bull and wheels in place of legs, and steam puffed from its nostrils as it pounded one hand on the ground, waiting for the enemy to make their next move.

“Fire resistance, eh?” A figure appeared at the broken wall, clapping. He had blue hair and pale white skin, almost like he never went out into the sun ever. “If you think that would faze me, then think again. After everything you’ve done to my family, you’re going to pay with that for your lives.”

“Another of these weirdos, huh?” Jostle stood and rearranged his blue hair. “Nice thinking, Jojo. You’re right in assuming I would’ve forgotten about your fire resistance. Now as for our mysterious opponent, let me guess, you’re somehow related to Twilight Sparkle or Spike, the dog with potential that everyone loves?”

The interloper raised a finger at them. “That’s right! Twilight was my sister and you took her from me. And then you had to kill Spike as well, and just yesterday, Twily’s boyfriend, Timber Spruce. His sister has hired me to take you down and I couldn’t have agreed on a better opportunity to tear you and your team apart. I am Shining Armor, and me and my Stand, Napalm Death, are going to burn you to a crisp, and then burn you some more!”

“Not if you can’t burn it, you can’t.” Cajole raised a fist and reached his other arm behind his back, before sliding one foot back and turning his foot to the side.

As his brown jacket billowed in the wind behind him, he quickly threw his fist forward and Tenacious D followed suit, spinning its wheels hard enough to release a cloud of steam into the air. It sped towards Shining Armor’s Napalm Death as the enemy Stand unleashed another torrent of fire from its shoulders, but Tenacious D powered through it, resisting its high temperature as it swung a fist at the enemy.

Napalm Death took it to the shoulder, which looked like a bumpy plate of metal, then spun on one leg and swept the other one low, but Tenacious D didn’t have any legs to get swatted on its back. Instead, it bent low and drove forward, spearing both its horns through Napalm’s chest.

Shining Armor grabbed for his own chest and coughed up blood as two holes appeared through his black sweater, but then Napalm Death caught it and kept them from pushing in deeper.

“Wow, you almost got me there, I’ll give you that one.” Shining wiped his mouth and smirked. “But that won’t happen again.”

“We’ll see about that. All you can do is burn,” Cajole said. “Tenacious D is resistant to your attacks.”

Shining Armor guffawed. “You think burning’s all I’ve got? Napalm Death can wield fire in ways you never would’ve imagined.”

The flames spewing from its shoulders wrapped around its arms, then flowed down to its palms before extending themselves into fiery whips. With them, Napalm Death lashed out at Tenacious D and caught it around one of the horns. It flicked its arm up and Tenacious D was thrown into the air, before being slammed back into the ground, cracking it and sending debris up into the air.

Cajole fell back and clutched at his chest. Jostle raced to his son and helped him up as White Buffalo raced to the enemy, its horns already snaking away from its skull and curling around in the air towards Napalm Death.

“You think that’ll work on me?” Shining Armor folded his arms and looked down at them.

Napalm’s fiery whips lashed out and caught White Buffalo’s horns before they could reach it. Already, Jostle Joyride could feel his head heating up almost like the whips were directly on his own head. It swung its fire over its head, then lifted White Buffalo from the ground and threw it to a nearby tree. White Buffalo crashed against it and split it in half. Jostle flew a good distance too and cried out in pain as he collided with the stone floor.

“You will be the first of Sushi’s friends to die.” Shining Armor leaned against the broken wall. “Every single one of you. You will all pay for the murder of my beloved sister and beloved pet. And Gloriosa’s brother as well.”

“So you’re all part of that group, huh? The group that plans to unearth something in Germany?” Jostle got up and tensed his muscles, ready for anything. “And you knew we had something on it, so you came to our home and burned our library.”

“That’s right. Your Jojo family line has the habit of getting mixed up in business unrelated to them,” Shining began. “Weather Alternate intends to awaken the very beings that once ruled this land. Soon, everything will be as it once was, as it was intended. Although, I couldn’t care less about their plan. All I want is the heads of every single one of you responsible for my sister’s death. Starting with you Jojos.”

“Then why burn our library?” Cajole stepped closer to their home and waved a finger at him. “If you don’t care about their grand scheme, then you didn’t have to burn down our library. Inside, you do care about it.”

“You ask questions you will never understand.” Shining cut one hand to the side. “Now, Napalm Death will finish you.”

Below him, his Stand leapt up into the air, forming the fire in its hands into guns, raining down fiery bullets around the two Jojos. Tenacious D reversed and brought itself between them and Napalm’s onslaught. The fire didn’t affect it, but each bullet pelted against its body like hail and Cajole was beginning to feel sore from the multitude of bullets his Stand was taking. They had to do something fast.

Unfortunately for Shining Armor, Tenacious D’s fire resistance wasn’t its only strength.

Napalm Death brought its hands together and a giant broadsword of fire the length of a two-storey house formed between its hands. It swung it to the side, forcing the two Jojos to drop to the ground and push their bodies as low as they could as the flaming blade passed overhead. After that, Napalm brought it up above its head, holding it high as fire began to pool into it from its shoulders, making it grow bigger.

“You fools, now you will die and your entire estate will evaporate along with your burning corpses!” Shining brushed one hand through his hair while the other one pointed a thumb at them degradingly. “Napalm Death is now drawing more fire and the more fire it puts into its attacks, the more powerful they get and I don’t care how resistant your Stand is to fire. Get ready to burn! For Twily! For Spike, the most amazing being ever, and for Timber!”

“It was just… a freaking… dog!” Jojo shouted over the crackling of the flames. “And you haven’t won yet, you tool!”

Tenacious D revved its wheels like a motorcycle and charged towards Napalm Death. Shining Armor’s Stand swung its even bigger sword to intercept, but Tenacious D suddenly seemed to gain a burst of speed, rocketing under the fiery greatsword and catching Napalm Death in a foe-tossing charge.

Napalm Death crashed to the ground behind Tenacious D and Shining Armor grabbed for his chest and dropped to a knee. The fire around his Stand vanished into thin air as it released the sword’s grip from its hands.

“What did you just do?” he gasped.

“That’s one of Tenacious D’s strongest attacks.” Cajole turned his body sideways, folded his arms and spread his legs a little further apart. “With wheels for legs, it can suddenly gain a burst of speed, accelerating straight from zero to a hundred in a mere blink of an eye. I can’t even see it move and in that instant, though it cannot turn once it starts, it’ll run you through before you even know it.”

“I’ll show you… running you through…” Shining Armor waved a hand and brought his palm up towards Cajole. “Napalm Death, pound him blue! Avenge my sister and her boyfriend and her precious dog!”

Napalm Death was about to get up, but Cajole wasn’t about to let it form another giant sword to kill them with. Speeding over, Tenacious D brought up both arms and formed them into fists and before Napalm could even lift a hand to blast its face full of fire, Tenacious D had already begun punching, raining blows all across Napalm Death’s body, beating it so hard that fist-shaped indents were forming all across its body.

Shining Armor’s body followed suit, being pumped full of holes by Tenacious D’s tenacious punches. He soon fell out of the hole in the wall, dropping down in a bloody mess in front of the Jojo mansion, his eyes rolled back and his Stand disappearing from sight.

“That takes care of that,” Cajole said proudly and recalled Tenacious D.

“Well done, son. Couldn’t have done it better myself.” Jostle Joyride gave his son a pat on the back. “Though now, we’re going to have to explain the burning library to your mom when she gets back.”

“If we had been a little earlier, we could’ve saved the texts.” Cajole watched as the fire raged on inside. There was nothing more they could do for the library.

“I wouldn’t say there’s nothing left.” Jostle walked over and planted an arm around his son’s shoulders. “I doubt the fire destroyed the underlibrary.”

“The… what?” Cajole looked at his father, who had a big smile plastered on his big face.

“Come on, I’ll show you. Time for some hamon.”

Jostle Joyride rubbed his hands together and sparks of energy flowed from his fingers and he planted them on the wall and began climbing up to the hole in the wall above. Cajole followed after him, but stopped before the wall. He had been trained by his father in the art of hamon as well and he could mostly use it as he needed to, but when his Stand could do something for him, he figured it would be cooler to do that.

“Tenacious D!” he called and he got on his Stand’s back.

Tenacious D’s wheels were special, able to move quickly in one direction, but it could also travel up vertical surfaces and it did so, speeding past Jostle as it dropped Cajole off in the burning library ahead of him. Then it proceeded into the fire and returned with a fire extinguisher, which Cajole took to put out the fire in the library.

The room had been scorched and what was left was a blackened floor and walls, along with destroyed bookshelves and ashes in place of books and scrolls.

“Looks like a washout, dad,” Cajole commented. “That enemy Stand user sure cleaned this place out.” He picked up a half-burnt book. “Man, this one was my favorite, too.”

“A little old for fairy tales, aren’t you?” Jostle replied.

“Isn’t what we do kind of a fairy tale?” Cajole said back. He put the burned book down. “Anyway, where’s this underlibrary anyway? I’ve lived here all my life and I’ve never even heard of it.”

“I was going to show you when you came of age,” Jostle explained. “But since we’re in the middle of a crisis, I’ll just show you now. Remember, what you see here is the culmination of Jojo’s, going back for generations. It’s pretty heavy stuff.”

“It’s old sacred Jojo texts. How heavy can it be?”

“Well, some of them are etched on stone tablets. Those can be pretty heavy.”

Cajole rolled his eyes. “Very funny, dad.”

“It’s true though. Some of those things weigh a ton.” Jostle placed his hand on what was left of a bookshelf. He passed hamon through it and a portion of the wall suddenly popped out next to it. He pried the rest of it aside, revealing a stony staircase leading down seemingly deeper than the house. “It’s a good thing we Jojos usually have tons of muscle to back that up, huh? Come on, I’ll show you around.”

Cajole followed his father deeper into the earth, looking around using the light of his phone as they got further away from the library. The walls here were of an older stonework, nothing of the carved stone they had above. Everything here seemed to just be rocks picked off the ground and stuck together. Wooden beams kept the ceiling up, but even they looked worn out over the ages. The fire above probably didn’t help with the structural integrity of their home.

Cajole sputtered as he walked right into a spider web, but his father hadn’t seemed to get any himself. Panning his phone’s flashlight across the new expanse, he found that they were now in a larger room, one about the same size as the library above, but much older. There were shelves here filled with parchments and scrolls and some of them looked long untouched.

“Behold, the Jojo family underlibrary.” Jostle held his arms out and grinned. “Here, you will find details of anything our bloodline has ever dealt with, Stands included. I actually learned a thing or two here before I met Sushi.”

“So it’s true?” Cajole walked to a row of folded scrolls. “Stands existed long before Sushi’s mom came to our world?”

“So it would seem,” Jostle replied. He took out a collection of diaries from a shelf on the wall. “These journals document early Stand sightings. Not an easy task, especially since Stands can only be seen by other Stand users. Sushi, uh Sunset, told me that it was because magic flooded in from when she came through the mirror.”

“Do you think she’s right?”

“There is sense to be made from what she’s said, but that would just mean…” Jostle shoved through the books on the shelf and brought out one with a blue star on its binding. “That the portal to her world has been used many times before. Here we are, the Tale of the Ancients. I knew I remembered something about nuggets…”

“What do we have here? I haven’t heard this story.” Cajole Joyride looked through the book as his father flipped the pages.

Everything in it was handwritten, of course, but there was the occasional picture scrawled between paragraphs, and they all consisted of humans bowing down to larger figures. There was one with these figures standing together, dotted with countless blocks around their feet, and then there was another with floating beings behind them, not as human in resemblance.

“History tells of an ancient civilization that predated humanity, beings that resembled humans, but were an entirely different species. Ones that they worshipped as gods when they came about.” Jostle pointed at a line of text. “They were known as the Herrakries in their ancient language, but our family and any such explorers of the truth called them…” Suddenly, he burst out laughing, much to his son’s confusion.

“What? What is it, dad?” Cajole tried to grab the book from him to see, but with his convulsing laughter, it was hard to get.

“Sorry about that.” Jostle wiped tears from his eyes and tried his best to stifle his laughter. “They were called… They were called… pffftttt… They were called the… Hah… the Nugget People.”

And he continued laughing again. Cajole couldn’t help but join in. That did sound silly for an ancient race of pre-people.

“Okay, okay, time to be serious.” Jostle wiped his eyes again and flipped through the book. “According to these, the Nugget People were the earliest Stand users. Whoever came through the portal all those thousands of years ago must’ve released magic into our world for the first time, creating them.”

“So what happened to them?” Cajole looked at a picture in the book where the Nugget People seemed to be locked away by the humans.

“They taught early humanity how to use and control Stands as well. And that’s when they were turned against. It says they were sealed away deep in the earth, doomed to eternal sleep and to never again see the light of day. Their blood is golden and when they bleed, it is said they form trails of golden nuggets.”

“That must be what made the gold at the Nugget Run in Germany!” Cajole snapped his fingers. “Weather Alternate must be looking for the source to reawaken them. Why would anyone want to reawaken these Nugget People? That can’t be anything good, especially after humans had betrayed them.”

Jostle made a sound. “Bad guys always have bad plans. So that’s it, we’ll have to stop them. We’ll have to get to Germany, but…” He looked at his son. “They’ll keep coming for us, this Weather Alternate. Unless we set a diversion for them.”

“Hmm? What do you mean, dad?”

“They want us for murdering their girlfriend, slash sister, slash dog or whatever, and they’re gonna keep coming. What they’re not going to expect is us going for them, especially since they burned down our library.” Jostle Joyride put the book down. “What we can do is take the majority of the heat away from you kids as you go to Germany.”

“That sounds like a plan, wait a minute. What?” Cajole shook his head and looked at his father again. “You want us to go to Germany?”

He nodded his head. “They’ll keep coming. And we’ll keep taking them down, but when they’re focused on that, you kids have a chance to slip to Germany and take down the head of the snake. They must never awaken the Nugget People, or we’re going to be in big trouble. Fuchsia and Pinkie are already after tickets. I’ll call the others and I’ll let them know the plan, but you, Cajole, my Jojo, you kids will be the most important piece of the plan. Trust me, that’s what all your training has been for. You did well today. You’re ready.”

Cajole didn’t like having to split up with his dad, but he did make sense. The enemy would send their minions out to get them, like they already have with that Timber Spruce and now Shining Armor. Who knows how many more would keep coming. They had to get to the source and stop Weather Alternate. That was the only way to be sure they would stop.

“Dad, I won’t let you down. I’ve trained all my life for something like this. I’ll make you proud.” Cajole clenched a fist firmly. “We’ll stop Weather Alternate.”

“That’s my boy.” Jostle wrapped his muscular arms around his son. “Now it’s time to set our own plan into motion. Weather Alternate’s gonna have a taste of our little smokescreen.”


> Chapter 6: Universal Collapse
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“You managed to get four tickets?” Sunset Shimmer held up the airplane tickets in her hand.

“Yeah, but sorry, they didn’t have any flights to Germany…” Pinkie kicked at a loose pebble on the walking path and gave them her best smile. “The best we could get was this flight to the UK. From there, we can take a boat over to the Netherlands before crossing over to Germany.”

“I still can’t believe we’re going…” Fuchsia Blush sighed and shoved her backpack higher up her shoulder. “Just kill me now…”

The group was currently standing in a Chinese Ninja Garden path in Canterlot Airport, waiting for time to pass. Sunset had been very impressed with how they managed to make it look like they were in a different country, at least in this little garden area. There was even a small stream with round stepping stones in it to get to the other side. There were also some garden gnomes that were designed to look like shinobi. Lawn ninjas.

Summer Shine watched as Cajole Joyride picked up a fallen blade of grass and stuffed it in his mouth. He now looked like one of those samurai guys, except he lacked the wide hat. She forgot what it was called.

“I might not have a Stand, but you can bet that if a Stand shows up, I’m gonna beat it up with my own two fists!” Prism Dash pumped her hands up as she did a little cheer atop one of the garden’s larger boulders.

“Celldweller thinks you have too much confidence,” Fuchsia mumbled. “Confidence is arrogance. If you feel cocky, there’s something you don’t know.” She went back to eating the cookie she had bought at the airport bakery. “Bleh. This is so dry.”

“Well, I haven’t seen your Stand do anything better,” Prism challenged.

“Now now, we’re not here to compare Stands,” Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Remember your mission, Prism. You’ve got to work as a team, or the enemy has already won.”

“Wow, surprisingly sage-like of you, Dash.” Jostle Joyride flexed an arm, then put the other one behind the back. “You’re like a fine wine, you get better with age.”

“Why, thank you- wait, doesn’t wine turn into vinegar when you leave it for too long?” Rainbow demanded. “Are you calling me a sourpuss?”

“Well, I didn’t go that far. But let’s hope you don’t get there.”

There was a moment of silence that was broken by the sound of Fuchsia throwing her half eaten cookie into the trash.

“Worst. Bakery. Ever.”

“Is this really our best plan?” Summer asked. She wanted to be sure of their plan. “What if we’re not good enough?”

“Sushi, listen, you’ll be okay.” Sunset wrapped her arms around her daughter. “They’ll keep coming, and trust me, they won’t beat us. We’ll hold them off while you find out where they’re heading this operation and take them out. Those Nugget People cannot wake up.”

“See, that’s a lot of pressure, mom.” Summer looked at her friends. “Do none of you feel that?”

Fuchsia shrugged and rolled her eyes, Prism nodded vigorously and Cajole gave her a confident flex of an arm.

“We’ve got to try, Sushi,” Cajole tried to reassure her. “If we don’t do anything, Weather Alternate will awaken the Nugget People and we’re gonna be in some big soup.”

“I don’t think that’s how the expression goes.” Pinkie rubbed her chin.

“Doesn’t matter. What matters is that our children will be heroes once this is over.” Jostle pulled the four of them in for a group hug. “You kids, stay safe. And show ‘em who’s boss.”

“And don’t worry about us. We’ll hold things down here.” Rainbow Dash gave them a thumbs up. “Whatever these goons send at us, we’ll send them right back. In pieces!”

“We’ll give them their just desserts!” Pinkie licked her lips. “Ooh, dessert. Now I want some cake!”

“Just you wait, mom, we’ll have an even better adventure than you did when you saved the world!” Prism smirked and leaned against a bamboo tree.

“Oh, I don’t doubt that. You’re all going to Germany, after all.” Rainbow gave her daughter a hug. “Now go on, boarding’s about to start.”

Each parent said goodbye to their child and Summer shared one last embrace with her mother. “I’ll miss you, mom.”

“I’ll miss you too, Sushi.” Sunset patted her on the head. “Now you go out there, dear, and you show these bad guys that no one messes with the Sushi family. When you’re back, we’ll have lots of sushi to celebrate.”

“Funny, mom. I’ll hold you to that. It better be a big sushi feast.” Summer grabbed her back and slung it over one shoulder. “Love you, mom.”

“Love you too.” Sunset waved as Summer and her group stepped out of the Chinese Ninja Garden and followed the signs towards their gate. She turned around and gave them one more wave and then kept on going.

“It feels like it was just yesterday I was still feeding Fuchsia with that ol’ airplane spoon tactic.” Pinkie sniffled and blew into a tissue. “I miss her already.”

“Don’t sweat it, Pinkie. They’ll get this done.” Jostle ran a hand along her shoulder. “They’ll stop Weather Alternate. I trust them. In the meantime, we’re going to have to be on the alert. Weather Alternate will keep coming and we’ll keep kicking them back to whatever hole they came from.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Sunset said. “Now, we need to get ready for whatever goons Weather Alternate sends our way. Our kids are out of our hands now, and we have to trust in them to do what’s right.”

The four adults watched them go, standing together in a line beside the garden. Unknown to them, a woman with purple and pink curly hair followed along after their children, wheeling a luggage bag behind her.
—--------JO-JO------------
“First class, yo this is bad!” Prism grinned as she reclined in her airplane seat. She picked up a champagne glass full of orange juice and drank it.

“I’ve never flown first class before,” Summer commented as she played with the little TV next to her seat. “It’s surprisingly spacious. I can’t believe your mother got us first class, Fuchsia.”

“I hope the cake is better here,” Fuchsia Blush took a bite of a slice of cheesecake she had ordered from the stewardess. “Nope. Well fuchs that.”

The plane ride so far had been quite uneventful, with just a small delay on the runway when taking off. The pilots kept the plane as steady as could be, so that the girls barely felt like they were in a giant flying metal tube.

It had already been six hours since they had left the ground and everything was as comfortable for them as it could be in a plane thousands of feet in the air. Jojo flipped through the safety instructions of the plane, just in case. He liked to be prepared. In front of him, on the foldout table, was a stack of papers and a bulky textbook. He had to make sure he finished up the rest of his homework on this mission to save the world.

“So, what’s the plan once we land?” Prism asked once she had finished her drink. “We driving to Germany or something? Swapping planes?”

Summer rolled her eyes. “You gotta start paying attention during our planning sessions, Prism. We’re landing at Norwich Airport, after which we’ll meet with one of Jostle’s contacts. They’ll have a mode of transportation ready for the next part of the trip. We’re supposed to head to Rotterdam after that.”

“Oh. Cool. Hey, Jojo, how’s your dad know this guy again?”

“Some old associate. He saved him from some street in England once.” Jojo shrugged. “I can’t remember the exact details.”

“Plane rides are long and boring…” Fuchsia groaned and placed both palms over her eyes. “Why did I have to be a part of this…? All I wanted to do is bake.”

“Yeah, that reminds me, what does your Stand even do, Fuchsia?” Prism turned around and looked past the back of her chair. She and Summer were beside each other and Jojo and Fuchsia were sitting behind them. “I mean, I’ve seen Sushi’s. I’ve heard of Jojo’s. What does yours do?”

“What, Celldweller?” Fuchsia looked out the window. “It tells me things. Think of it as a second person.”

“So it… doesn’t do anything else?”

“Well, it’s not for combat, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Pshh, Sushi has a cooler Stand.”

“Hey, at least I have a Stand.” Fuchsia took another bite from her cheesecake, then spat it out. “Ugh, disgusting…”

“Well, uh, you know what…” Prism remained silent for a few seconds, then flipped back to face forward.

“You don’t need a Stand to be cool, Prism,” Summer told her. “You're my best friend. You’re already cool.”

“A little cooler won’t hurt.” Prism sloped down in her seat. “Well, no use mulling over it. I think I’ll watch something on TV. Maybe a movie or something.”

“Yeah. Why not.”

Summer had been searching for something to watch the whole time, but she still hadn’t decided on anything. She had sifted through all the new releases and some of them did sound interesting, but she still passed them by anyway. Perhaps it wasn’t something she wanted to see at the moment, perhaps she actually didn’t want to watch anything because her mind was elsewhere.

She found herself thinking about her mom, and what they could possibly be up to right now. They were probably already defending themselves against another member of Weather Alternate. She had heard it from Timber Spruce himself when he had tried to kill them, but she still didn’t exactly know what kind of organization they were. He had said something about eliminating weak people, maintaining noble lineages and toppling governments and if she didn’t know any better, that actually sounded like a totalitarian group, which she didn’t believe existed in this day and age, at least before now.

What puzzled her the most was what they intended to do with the Nugget People. There was no reason to do so unless they thought they could gain something from it, but after what humanity had done to them eons ago, she doubted they would offer up their assistance to humans again.

“What was that?” Fuchsia asked from behind her.

“Hmm? I didn’t say anything,” Summer answered.

“I wasn’t talking to you, Sushi. I was talking to Celldweller.” Fuchsia peeled her earphones from her head. “Something’s off…”

“Hmm? What do you mean off?” Summer looked around her chair.

Fuchsia Blush got up and proceeded down the aisle towards the cloth separating them from economy. She felt a tap on her shoulder, then a brush of air against her cheek. It was a warning from her Stand. Something was back there and it was agitating it. But it couldn’t be an enemy Stand user. They couldn’t have possibly found them already, especially since their plan had been to get to Germany while their parents acted as decoys back in Canterlot.

“This was a piss poor idea…” Fuchsia shook her head. “Why did I have to get involved? Everything is meaningless anyway…”

She slid the curtain aside an inch just to look, but then something purple zipped past her and knocked her back.

Fuchsia lost her balance, but she felt Celldweller place its hands under her and it pushed her back on her feet. She turned around to see that there was now a rather tall purple being standing between them and the cockpit and it had its arms folded across its chest. It had a chitinous appearance, like it was covered in overlapping plates. Between the plates were golden, eye-like holes that seemed to glow slightly, and there was a bright yellow cross pattern on its chest.

“Oh. It’s a Stand,” Fuchsia sighed and shook her head in exasperation. “Can’t get a moment’s peace around here…”

“Looks to be the work of an enemy Stand.” Jojo unbuckled himself and got up.

“You think?” Fuchsia grumbled and muttered under her breath.

“We got an enemy Stand!” Jojo exclaimed before sending Tenacious D out towards it, horns at the ready.

Tenacious D slammed into the enemy Stand, but then simply bounced off and crashed into a bearded man by the front. His arms splayed to the side and he dropped the newspaper he was holding. Immediately, the woman on his left screamed and got up, putting her hands to her face.

“Uh oh.” Jojo partially hid himself behind his seat as a stewardess rushed to the front to check on what was happening.

Summer readied herself as well, but the enemy Stand was making no move to do anything. It just stood there with its arms in front of its chest.

“What gives?” Jojo joined her. “It’s not doing anything.”

“Man, what are you all looking at?” Prism slapped her thigh. “I want to see Stands.”

All of a sudden, the plane dipped down and everyone was thrown forward. Summer called forth Pegasus Forever, who caught her and Prism before they could smash their faces against the seats in front.

The stewardess was thrown forward and she bounced off the enemy Stand and repelled against the window. Blood smeared against it as she slid down to the ground.

“The front!” Summer deduced. “The Stand user has to be in the cockpit. That’s why it’s not moving. It’s keeping us from getting there!”

“What is happening?!” one woman cried out from the back. From behind the curtain, more people slid down, falling against the enemy Stand and bouncing off with enough force to crack their heads against the sides.

By now, there was a pile of people against the bottom, all the while, the plane continued to plummet.

“We need to get to the cockpit before we all end up dead!” Summer sent Pegasus Forever to the enemy Stand.

It brought its fists up and with a snort, it brought them both against the Stand’s head. There was a resounding blow and Pegasus Forever was thrown back. There was not even a dent on the enemy.

Summer sent her Stand back to it, but instead of attacking it, she had it try to pry its way past, but even with Pegasus Forever’s bulging muscles, it could not get the enemy Stand to move. Tenacious D sped over to help, but they still couldn’t get it to move out of the way.

“We’re all going to die here.” Fuchsia shrugged and sat back down, buckling herself in.

“No, we’ve got to think of something!” Summer looked out the window to see the clouds shooting up past them. They didn’t have long before they hit the water below. If she had to guess, she thought they had about four minutes before they went under. “Keep that Stand busy!”

Jojo looked at her. “What are you going to do?”

“I’ll find another way to the cockpit.” Summer put her hand on Prism’s shoulder. “Prism, buckle in and hold on.”

“Well, I’m not gonna do anything else, if that’s what you’re wondering.” She got back in her seat and fastened the seatbelt. “Don’t die, alright?”

“Trust me, I’ll get us out of this.” She nodded, then she began making her way out of first class. 

Pegasus Forever grabbed her around the waist and kicked off the back of Fuchsia's seat, launching itself past the curtain that divided it from economy and began grabbing various chairs to make its way up the descending plane. Most people were still belted in and they were screaming their heads off and doing everything in their power to panic. No one paid her any attention as well, seeing as there were bigger things to worry about than a girl making her way up the plane. Once she hit the next section past the curtain, Summer had Pegasus Forever pull open the little hatch to the cargo bay below.

Getting back down was easy, seeing as the plane was still tipped forward, but Summer still had to watch out for bouncing luggage. She had the airline to blame for this. It seemed they didn’t secure the bags down properly and she almost got swatted in the face with a rather large one.

Making her way as far as she could, Summer eventually ran into a curved wall at the end, meaning the only way she could go now was up.

Pegasus Forever reached a hand up and wrapped its fingers around the lever for the hatch. It ripped out the entire door and leapt up into the cockpit, taking Summer up with it.

The two pilots lay slumped in their seats, their faces bloody and disfigured, dead. From behind Summer came a swing of a long pipe. She ducked and Pegasus Forever grabbed the weapon out of her attacker’s hands. It was a man with blonde hair and white skin and he wore a white tuxedo. He looked absolutely offended that he had lost his weapon.

“So you’re the Stand master, huh?” Summer watched him back away. “Well, your plan ends here, whoever you are.”

“You don’t know who I am? Oh, offended I am indeed.” He placed the back of one hand to his forehead and attempted to faint. “I am Blueblood, and if this world still had kingdoms of the old days, I would be a prince! I am of royal blood and lineage and you are not worthy to even touch my skin.”

“Uh huh. Well, this lowly peasant is going to kick your butt out of this plane.” Summer cracked her knuckles and looked at her Stand, which did the same. “Pegasus Forever!”

Pegasus neighed and threw a punch at him. Blueblood flinched and raised his arms, but then a purple blur swooped in through the crack of the door and stood between them. Pegasus’ fist connected with it as it brought its arms up in front of itself and the impact launched both Pegasus and Summer back. The girl crashed against a row of panels on the side and sent sparks up into the air as she shattered a console.

“There’s nothing you can do to me, Sushi.” Blueblood began laughing. “My Stand is called Universal Collapse, and it has the power to change between being an unstoppable force or an immovable object. While it is unstoppable, it can get through anything no problem, including that door, including your bag. When it is an immovable object, you can do nothing to hurt it or move it. You can’t win! Soon, this plane will hit the ocean and you will all disappear without a trace!”

Summer wiped blood from her forehead and stood. “You’re in it too.”

“I’ve destroyed all the parachutes.” Blueblood pointed to a stack of torn fabric. Then he turned around to show Summer he had one on his back. “Except this one. I’ll be long gone and there’ll be no hope for you.”

“You’re not going anywhere!”

Pegasus Forever charged again, but Universal Collapse got in its way, blocking off its path to Blueblood. Instead of punching, Summer had her Stand try to get around it, but there was no room in this narrow cockpit and Blueblood sneered at her and pointed to his parachute.

“Have fun dying. You’ll never get to your destination, and you’ll never stop Weather Alternate. Master Dolfy will rid the world of people as low as you. And Gloriosa will be pleased with your demise. You should have never killed her brother. Timber was dear to her and now she’ll stop at nothing to wipe out your family.”

“Just you wait. I’ll get to you.” Summer pointed at him. “When I do, you’re going to regret this.”

“Unlikely.” He waved at her, then struck a pose, bending his body to one side while he slid two fingers around his belt and his other hand around the back of his head. “I would say it’s been an honor, but you are like the dust beneath my feet. You don’t deserve to exist in the same space as I.”

Summer had to stop him before he got out. She grabbed a fire extinguisher from the corner and threw it at him. Pegasus Forever touched it in flight and it froze in the air. From behind it, it punched it as hard as it could and it began moving again, zipping past Universal Collapse and towards the door Blueblood was going for. The man ducked and squeaked as it bounced off the door like a comet. It clipped him in the neck, then bounced again, its head now broken, allowing the gas inside to propel it faster. Universal Collapse moved, switching modes, and Summer knew she didn’t have many chances like that.

Pegasus Forever grabbed the Stand’s arm and yanked it closer, but then it just slipped through its grip and swung a kick at it. Pegasus ducked and aimed another punch at the enemy Stand, only for it to deflect it and punch out an arm at the flying extinguisher. It bounced off the plane’s controls and then back at Pegasus, who swatted it aside and reached for Universal Collapse’s throat. It grabbed it, but the Stand slipped through it again, this time raining blows against Pegasus Forever’s chest.

Summer felt each one connect with her Stand and she felt her insides getting turned to mush as the punches rained on. She had Pegasus block its attacks the best it could, but Universal Collapse’s arms seem to bend and squeeze past its defence, still hitting it square in the chest, making Summer cough up more blood.

It can really get through anything. I’m in trouble.

“I was going to run and leave you to die.” Blueblood’s feet appeared in her vision. “But now that I see exactly how weak you are, I’m going to enjoy watching my Stand beat the life from your eyes.”

He had the fire extinguisher in his hands and he held it up high, ready to attack. As he swung it down at her, it suddenly vanished from his hands and the blow never came. Both Summer and Blueblood looked behind him as Fuchsia Blush walked around, holding the extinguisher in her hands.

“Not gonna happen, fancy pants.” She held it firmly in her hands.

“The name is Blueblood! I am of noble lineage. The likes you’ve never once seen or touched!” He curled his fingers inward as he said it.

“Yeah, whatever. Fuchs you.” Fuchsia swung the extinguisher at him and Universal Collapse stopped its attack on Pegasus Forever to aid its master.

But this time, Pegasus Forever reached over and as it punched the Stand in the left shoulder, it turned its energy into potential energy and froze the Stand in place.

“What? No!” Blueblood looked in horror at his Stand as the fire extinguisher connected with the side of his face. He spun around and dropped to the ground with blood already pooling around his jaw. “Wh-What have you done…?”

“Simple enough.” Summer balanced herself as she walked over to him. “Your Stand, while an Immovable Object, cannot move, but cannot be damaged or attacked. But when it is an Unstoppable Force, it can move like lightning and get past anything. In this state, it can be hurt, and it is in this state that I have transformed your Stand’s kinetic energy into potential energy. Remember what I said I was going to do to you, Blueblood?”

“No-no, please. I’m rich. I’m famous…” He tried to get up, but Fuchsia stepped on his back and grinded her heel into it. “I can give you… anything!”

“I’m a woman of my word, Blueblood. So you know, this peasant keeps her word.” Summer widened her stance and shoved one hand into her jacket pocket, while her other one brushed up her fringe from her face. “Pegasus Forever!”

Pegasus let out one vicious ‘NEIGH’, then threw a punch forward. It hit Universal Collapse in the face and its energy changed again and the force sent it flying out through the already cracking windshield. It shattered the glass and it disappeared around the corner, out of sight.

Blueblood screamed in pain and part of his face crumpled in, matching that of his Stand’s. He writhed around on the ground, gasping and screaming from the pain, but then Fuchsia dropped the fire extinguisher on his head and he stopped.

“Fuchsia, thanks. You saved me.” Summer gave the older girl a hug. She was instantly shoved off.

“No need for all your sweetness and meaningless show of affection.” Fuchsia dusted her outfit, then looked at the controls. “What are we going to do now?”

With the windshield broken, wind whipped around the cockpit and through the open door to the cabin. Alarms began blaring on the damaged controls and oxygen masks dropped from above all along the cabin.

Summer wasted no time in grabbing the controls, trying to right the plane, but even if she could, the air pressure had changed and there was not going to be a safe way to land this, especially out in the middle of the ocean.

“What are we going to do?” Summer looked through all the plane’s controls, hoping to find a magic button that could right all this.

If they weren’t in trouble before, they were now.


> Chapter 7: Operation Airpain
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

If things had been bad before, Summer Shine felt as though she had been downplaying it. Sure, the plane’s controls were damaged. Sure, the windshield had shattered, and there were plenty of screaming people on board as well.

But as she had been busy trying her best to level the plane out so that she could potentially land it on the water, someone had run in and grabbed Blueblood’s last remaining parachute and then popped open one of the emergency doors and hopped out. More wind flooded the cabin and some people who hadn’t buckled themselves in had been sucked right out.

Now, Summer had lost what control she had left of the plane and it began to plummet from the skies. Summer was no ace in physics, but she figured that going at this speed, when the plane hit the water, it was not going to be pretty.

“We’re going to die, it’s the end for us!” One woman ran around the cabin screaming. She grabbed Prism by the sleeves and yelled in her face. “We’re all going to dieeeee!”

“Get off!” Prism shoved her away. The woman staggered back and got sucked out the open doorway. “Oops. Things aren’t looking so good!”

“Nothing ever looks good.” Fuchsia had returned to her seat and buckled in. “What is the point of even living?”

The windows began popping and glass was shattering into the cabins, slashing people across the skin and killing groups of them as well. Summer didn’t know what more she could do, but it wasn’t going to be pretty, especially not for all the poor souls on board.

“I can’t save them. I can’t.” Summer looked at the damaged controls, willing for them to fix themselves, but unfortunately, that wasn’t something her Stand could do.

“It’s not over yet, Summer.”

“How is it not?” Summer asked, then realized she didn’t know who was speaking to her.

She turned around and there was a woman she didn’t recognize standing behind her, her purple and pink hair whipping around her face from the turbulent wind in the plane. She had on a purple jacket over a striped shirt and a yellow skirt. 

“Who are you?” Summer got up off the pilot’s seat, though she still had to hold on or risk falling around as the plane buckled. “You’re with Weather Alternate too, aren’t you?”

“Far from it.” The stranger shook her head. “I’m your way out, Summer. Or should I say… Sushi.”

Summer eyed her carefully. She didn’t know what to expect. “Just who are you?”

“I’m an old friend of your mom. She traveled with my sister on an adventure thirty years ago…” She looked down for a second. “And my sister sacrificed herself for them. I still visit her monument in the forest everyday.”

“Her monument?” Something in Summer’s mind clicked. “You’re Rarity’s sister?”

The woman nodded. “That’s right. I’m Sweetie Belle, and I’m here, Sushi, to make sure you all get to your objective safely. Honestly, I didn’t think I would have to step in so soon.”

“You can help us? You can help us land this plane safely?” Summer looked at her hopefully.

“I don’t know how to fly a plane,” Sweetie Belle shook her head. “But I can keep the quest alive, with my Stand, REO Speedwagon.”

“You’re a Stand user too?” Summer asked, but she was interrupted by the sound of the plane’s altimeter going off. By the looks of things, there were only about thirty seconds before the plane impacted the water below. “We don’t have much time before we crash.”

“Actually, I don’t even think we’ll have as much time as you think.” Sweetie pointed a finger to the side. “The turbine on the right has been damaged. I think someone flew into it when they fell out of the plane. Even now, it’s already on the verge of exploding, which will take out the rest of the plane with it. Either that or the plane’s gonna tear itself apart from the pressure.”

“But you have a way out of all that?” Summer looked at her incredulously. She couldn't even think of what to do. She figured she could use Pegasus Forever to change the plane’s energy to keep it frozen in the air, but that would likely kill everyone else from the sudden stop. “We have to help everyone on board.”

“Well, I’m not sure how many people can fit.” Sweetie Belle snapped her fingers and a camping backpack appeared beside her, though, it wasn’t just any normal backpack. This one was brown and it had what looked like crab legs coming out the bottom. “This is my Stand, REO Speedwagon. It might look just like a backpack, but think of the space inside it like a portal to another dimension. It can fit fishing rods, food, rope, you name it, anything one might need to survive.” She pointed at the side of her head with a finger. “And it also becomes a space where people can be safe, say, from a situation such as this?”

“We’ve got to get everyone in it, there’s not much time left.” Summer looked out the windshield. She guessed they still had another twenty seconds before impact, and less time before the plane would explode, according to Sweetie Belle. They had to move. Now.

“It’s going to be a little hard to get everyone into my Stand. Especially if they can’t see Stands. It’s gonna mess with them a little bit.” Sweetie Belle reached a hand out to help Summer over. “And I might help us survive the crash and explosion, but we’ll be dead in the water.”

“You leave that one to me. I have an idea. Part of one, at least.” Summer cracked her fingers together. “I just need to know, which direction is the UK? As precisely as possible.”

“Um…” Sweetie Belle looked out the window. “That’s a good question.”

“It’s east.” Fuchsia suddenly appeared beside them, not looking one bit worried in the slightest. “We haven’t changed course throughout the plane’s destruction.”

“Alright, everyone get in.” Sweetie Belle waved a hand and her Stand’s zipper swished open, revealing a black void within it.

“What? Who’s this? Why should we listen to her?” Prism still sat in her seat, holding on for dear life.

“Prism, she’s a friend. She’s Rarity’s sister.” Summer pointed to the Stand. “Just get in the bag.”

“Get in the bag? Are you joking?” Prism looked at it. Summer didn’t know what she could see, looking at it, but at least she could see there was a bag on the floor. “How am I supposed to fit in there?”

“Fuchs this…” Fuchsia Blush grabbed Prism and flipped her seatbelt off. Then before she could react, she tossed both Prism and herself into the bag and to Summer’s surprise, they simply shrank down and got sucked into the Stand.

“Now, REO Speedwagon!” Sweetie spun around and flicked one wrist forward.

The Stand began to run through the dying plane on its spindly crab legs, snatching up screaming people from their seats. By the looks of it, there weren’t many people still alive and in their seats, but they were going to save who they could. The remaining people began screaming louder as they saw the bag approaching them, sucking up people. One man tried to get away and unbuckled himself, and before the bag could reach him, he opened another emergency door and tossed himself out.

“They certainly aren’t making it easy.” Jojo shook his head as he watched more people scrambled from the bag. “They don’t know that the bag is their only chance out of this.”

“Well, even for us Stand users, it’s… bizarre.” Summer gave her arms a wriggle. Once REO Speedwagon returned, she would have to enact her plan. “I hope this works.”

“Me too. I hope you know what you’re doing, Sushi.” Jojo put a hand on her shoulder, then as the bag came back, he hopped in himself.

At last, Summer and Sweetie were the only ones left. Sweetie Belle nodded to Summer and hopped into the bag, which scuttled over onto Summer’s back. It felt very light, but then again it wasn’t an actual bag but a manifestation of psychic energy or something.

Summer made her way over to the door of the plane and, taking a deep breath, closed her eyes and leapt out. She shouted as she was caught up in the air currents and she smacked into the plane’s wing. She couldn’t hold on, but Pegasus Forever’s hands had a stronger grip. She used her Stand to steady herself, and just as the plane’s nose hit the water, she and Pegasus Forever gave a mighty leap, jumping clear of the doomed airplane as it smashed into the water and exploded into a giant fireball.

Now came the most risky part of Summer’s plan. If she remembered science class correctly, anything that was in motion had kinetic energy. This included flames and explosive blasts. At least, that was what she hoped. If she was wrong, she would end up as crab food at the bottom of the ocean.

Spinning around, Pegasus Forever planted a finger against her forearm and Summer found herself floating in the air as they waited for the fiery carnage to get close enough. When the time was right, Pegasus Forever brought its arms up and took in the blast as it seared across its form. Summer stayed behind her Stand, but she could still feel the heat of the fire as it raged around her, even singing the ends of her hair. Absorbing the kinetic energy of the explosion, Pegasus Forever used a portion of it to blast itself up into the air with its jets, then slung Summer around in front of it. She only had a second to unzip the bag before her Stand punched REO Speedwagon as hard as it could, sending it blasting through the air at supersonic speed.

Summer quickly got herself into Sweetie Belle’s Stand as they rocketed through the air above the ocean,  the speed of the bag’s flight sending shockwaves of water across the surface of the sea.

She thought the inside of the bag would be all dark like it was seen from the outside, but instead, it was quite well lit. It resembled a large area with shimmering walls and a high ceiling, and there were shelves and chests scattered about, containing all sorts of items, like books, canned food, sleeping bags, and even things like guitars and harmonicas. It was completely still inside, with no indication of the bag’s movement noticeable.

“Wow,” Summer said to Sweetie Belle. “I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this.”

“Wasn’t expecting you to launch us across the ocean as well.” Sweetie Belle got up from a bench and walked over to shake Summer’s hand. “Great idea. You’re indeed your mother’s daughter, Sushi.”

“You knew my mom?”

“I mean, of course I knew her. We went to school together. Same goes for Fuchsia's and Prism’s parents.”

“What about mine?” Jojo walked over. He had been hanging around by one of the bookshelves, browsing through its contents. “My dad never went to school with the rest of them. Did you know him?”

“Not much, I’m afraid, though I did know about him.” Sweetie smiled. “Nice to meet you, Jojo.”

“Likewise.” Jojo waved a hand at the room. “All this is amazing! It must be really convenient to have a Stand that can do all this.”

“Yeah, I guess it is.” Sweetie looked around the room.

The other plane survivors were all across the room, some still shaking from the experience, while others were busy going through Sweetie’s stuff. Fuchsia was just sitting in one corner, looking as bored as ever and Prism was running her hands through a stack of cricket bats.

“What is all this stuff?” Summer asked as she looked around.

Sweetie shrugged. “I’ve kind of been using this place as a spot to store things that I have nowhere else to put. It just kind of accumulates and sorts itself. And hey, you never know when you might need one of these things. There was one time I got trapped in a restroom cubicle. It was a good thing I had a power drill, or I would’ve been stuck in there for much longer.”

“Could come in handy one way or another.” Jojo nodded. “So, did our parents send you to keep an eye on us?”

Sweetie Belle laughed, then shook her head. “No, I’m doing this on my own accord. You kids are children of my sister’s friends. If you’re going to Germany to fight this shady organization, you won’t be doing it alone. I owe them as much for avenging my sister’s death.”

“So how long till we reach the UK, anyway?” Fuchsia blew a raspberry and sloped down closer to the floor. “This is more boring than the plane ride. Do you at least have snacks in here…?”

“I have some on that shelf.” Sweetie Belle walked to one between two couches and grabbed a packet of gummy candy and tossed it to Fuchsia.

She caught it and tore into the packet immediately. “Meh. better than nothing…”

“How do we know how far we’ve flown, by the way?” Summer asked once she realized they couldn’t see where they were now, nor could they feel it. “Could we be in the UK already?”

“Would you like to see?” Sweetie Belle clapped her hands and a lever appeared beside her. She yanked down on it and a portion of the wall slid open, revealing a glassy dome with a view of passing clouds and blue sky. “We’ve been flying for ten minutes now, that would mean we’ll be arriving on land in… thirty seconds.”

“Woah, that’s fast,” Jojo commented. “Just how hard did you punch the bag, Sushi?”

“Pretty hard.” Summer grinned.

“So your Stand…” Jojo looked to Sweetie. “How hard of a landing are we expecting? Like, we can’t feel the travel through air, but what about the landing?”

“We shouldn’t feel it.” Sweetie gestured to the wall, then bent her body at a forty-five degree angle and put her other hand on her waist. “REO Speedwagon is a highly durable Stand, and also took one of Pegasus Forever’s kinetic punches. It’ll be fine.”

True to her word, as they began descending towards what looked like fields and farmland, the Stand continued to hold strong, not even tilting or flipping them all over as it smashed into the dirt, rolling forward for a while before coming to a stop against a large tree. People had begun screaming, but once they realized they were safe, everyone calmed down.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived in the United Kingdom. Please ensure you have taken all your baggage before you disembark Speedwagon Airlines.” Sweetie Belle walked around the room. “Once again, I would like to thank you for traveling Speedwagon Airlines and we hope to see you again.”

“Never!” One chubby woman yelled and pushed her way past other people as she exited through an opening zipper-like exit beside two of Sweetie’s bookshelves.

Once they saw her leave, the rest of the plane passengers followed suit, quickly exiting the Stand in an unruly manner, leaving only Summer and her group in the room with Sweetie Belle.

“Good work, Sushi!” Prism ran over and grabbed her around the neck, before twisting a knuckle against the top of her head. “You got us to the UK! And you too, Sweetie Belle! Your Stand is awesome. I can’t believe I can see it! I wish I had a Stand.”

“Fret not, Prism Dash.” Sweetie Belle gripped her shoulder firmly. “One does not need a Stand to be useful.”

Once everyone was out of the bag, Sweetie Belle picked up REO Speedwagon off the ground and slung it over her back. “Right, we’re on the west coast of the UK, based on my calculations.”

“We were supposed to meet someone near Norwich airport,” Summer supplied.

“We’ll need to get to the other side of the United Kingdom, then,” Jojo confirmed. He looked around to see if there were any means of transport nearby. “By now news will have reached the authorities that the plane went down. And even if they didn’t know, those survivors from the plane won’t stay quiet.”

The group headed towards the main road where the other passengers were going. It was an idyllic countryside with long, winding roads and very little traffic. In the distance they could see a beachside town that looked fairly large.

“Shouldn’t be more than a few miles’ walk,” Prism said. “Then we can get a taxi or something to get to Norwich Airport.”

“We don’t need the airport, now that we’ve landed.” Fuchsia sighed. “It’s just going to take us longer to get to the port now…”

“We should probably also give our folks a call,” Jojo suggested. “Let them know we’re alright, in case news of the plane crash reaches them first.”

“Yeah, uh…” Summer fished out her phone from her pocket. “I hope we’re not charged a whole lot for calls here.”

She entered her mother’s number, then put the phone to her ear and waited. There was a series of beeps and boops, then a frantic voice made itself known on the other end.

“Summer?!” Sunset Shimmer’s voice was fast and flustered. “Sushi, please tell me everything’s okay! We got word that your plane exploded?!”

“Umm… yeahhh…” Summer smiled awkwardly, not that her mother could see her. “But we’re okay. We had to deal with another Stand user on the plane. Sweetie Belle helped us. You know her, right?”

“Rarity’s sister? Well, I wasn’t expecting to hear that, that’s for sure. So no one’s hurt?”

“We’re all fine. Maybe a little shaken.” Summer let out a small laugh. “Never been in a crashing plane before. Especially one that blows up.”

“Just be extra careful, alright? I love you.”

“I love you too, mom. Everything alright on your end?”

“Had another Stand user attack, but we handled it easily enough. Turns out it was an old classmate. Weather Alternate seems to have roots all over the world. We thought we would have attracted the attention away from you, but it seems they’re more resourceful. Be on your toes, Sushi. You and your friends.”

“We will mom.” Summer nodded. “We landed somewhere close to the west coast, so we’ll be heading to Norwich by land, I guess. I just hope it doesn’t take too long. The plane would’ve gotten there quicker.”

“It would’ve. But we make do with what we have, yeah? You’re a Sushi. Your best weapon is your mind, remember that, dear.”

“I will, mom. And don’t worry, we’ll be okay. I’ll be sure to keep Prism in line.”

“Hey, I can hear you, you know?” Prism folded her arms.

“Wouldn’t have said it otherwise.” Summer smirked at her best friend. “Anyway, we better get going, mom. We still need to find out where in the UK we landed.”

“Alright, get going then, Sushi. In the meantime, we’ll see what we can do to convince Weather Alternate to keep their attacks in Canterlot.”

Summer said her goodbyes and hung up, slipping her device back into her pocket. “Well… It could’ve been worse.”

“How so?” Prism looked at her.

“Well, we could’ve been at the bottom of the ocean by now. Or maybe not even reach Europe.” Summer shrugged. “But hey, if life gives you lemons, you make lemon soda, right?”

“I think you’re thinking of the grass is greener saying,” Fuchsia added, then got off the grass and dusted her skirt. “But fuchs this, what do I know? I’m just someone who enjoys making cakes… Something I can’t do on this mission… Ugh.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll get to the head of Weather Alternate, cut it off, then you’ll be back home making cakes in no time, Fuchsia.” Sweetie Belle put an arm around her as they began walking away from the field. “You certainly don’t have your mother’s optimism.”

“She doesn’t have her mother’s anything,” Jojo said. “Well, except her love for dessert.”

“I’ll cut you.” Fuchsia narrowed her eyes at him.

“You see what I mean?” He looked to the others for support.

“Umm, right, we better find a car and get moving.” Sweetie Belle put a hand over her eyes as she surveyed their green surroundings. “Do you think they have cars around here?”


> Chapter 8: Across England
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summer Shine watched as her friends walked around the farmland, looking for anything they could use to get out of here towards Norwich. From what they had gathered after walking around, they had landed somewhere in Launceton, along miles and miles of farmlands and fields. There hadn’t been any vehicles around, but they were feeling a little better about this current farmhouse, for no apparent reason. 

“Sweet, two cars!” Prism ran back from a shed by a white house. “I knew this one was our pot of gold!”

“Neat! But which should we take?” Summer went around the corner to see a red and a blue car, as dusty as they could be, but definitely functional.

“Note down the address of this place,” Sweetie Belle instructed. “We want whoever lives here to be able to find their car again after we take it for a spin to Norwich.”

“Norwich is across the country.” Prism pointed to a map on her phone. “These farmers aren’t going to travel all the way there just to get their car back.”

“It’s still the courteous thing to do.” Sweetie Belle had her Stand appear and she pulled a piece of paper and a pen from it. “Here, I’ll do it, just give me the place.”

After writing a short note for the farmers, the group decided on the red car. Summer, Prism and Jojo piled into the back, while Fuchsia sat in the front with Sweetie Belle, who was the only one who could drive a car.

Once they were all set, she stepped down on the pedal and got them out of the shed, heading down a dusty old road towards civilization. It was a long drive before they even started seeing clusters of buildings, but eventually, they found themselves on a real road with lampposts and lines on the ground. They passed by rivers, bridges, city centrals, looking out the window to look at the English architecture around them. None of them had been to the UK before, and these were all new sights to them. Jojo began snapping pictures of buildings along the way on his phone.

After an hour of driving through the streets silently, the group decided to pass the time by swapping stories of myths or legends. Summer had told her friends of the legend of Gaia Everfree, a spooky campfire story her mother had told her once. It was about an evil spirit who haunted a summer camp’s grounds, taking away unsuspecting campers and of course, horny counselors.

“That doesn’t sound like the right story,” Prism said.

Summer shrugged. “Well, that’s what my mom told me.”

“I’ve got a good one.” Prism planted one foot on top of her other leg. “It’s the legend of the Maneating Mud.”

“I don’t know this one.” Jojo looked up from his homework. Even now, he was busy working on it.

Prism grinned. “Some kids went down to a swamp one night, long after their parents had gone to sleep. No one knew they were there and they decided they wanted to play in the mud. But all of a sudden, it seemed to come alive around them and one by one, it dragged the children under and they could do nothing as they suffocated. Their bones were then consumed by the mud, adding into the horrible, smelly mass. So don’t go playing in swamps at night.”

“That’s… bizarre. But then again, everything we’ve been doing the last few days has been quite bizarre.” Summer nodded. “Interesting story. Fuchsia, do you have one? A myth or legend.”

“Fuchs this…” Was all she said.

“Umm… okay. I guess I have one.” Cajole Joyride cleared his throat. “It might be kinda a real story. This was documented in the family’s sacred texts. One of my ancestors had the Stand ability to see into the future. In the texts, he actually claimed to have seen the end.”

“The end? Of what?” Summer asked.

“Well… The end of the universe,” Jojo continued. “He saw the very end, where everything had converged in on itself in some supermassive extinction event. There, only one sanctuary remained, and it was but an asteroid in a field of nothing, kept going by The Last Stand. The end of all things, and even then, there were still people trying to prevent the end, even though they lived in it.”

“Sounds a bit too far-fetched for me. The end of the whole universe?” Prism made a face. “I mean, yeah, I believe the world will end one day, but everything else? All the other planets? The stars? Don’t planets keep forming from time to time?”

“You know, I don’t actually know. Good thing I’m not being tested on it.” Jojo scribbled a note on his homework sheet. “I shall find out once this is all over. Maybe I can write my thesis on it.”

“What happened to this ancestor of yours? Surely he must’ve gone crazy from seeing so far into the future.”

“He did, actually. He gouged his eyes out. Then he danced on the roof naked and yelled down to people in the streets below to stop bullying little kids, for whatever reason. I don’t know. That’s all the texts say. And this was close to a hundred years ago.”

“Hundred years ago, huh?” Prism looked to Summer. “Sushi, I wonder if anyone else had come through before your mom did. I mean, after the time of the Nugget People at least, since they seem to be the first recorded Stand users or something.”

“I wouldn’t know, and I doubt my mom would know that too.” Summer gave her another shrug. “Hey, Sweetie Belle, you have any such myths? I mean, since you’re older and all, you’ve definitely heard more than we have.”

“You know, I actually do have some,” she chuckled as the changed lanes on the road. “My friends, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and I used to be truth seekers at one point when we were trying to find out what we were good at. We would go explore old warehouses, hospitals, even caves. It was in one of these caves that we had gone spelunking that we had found symbols of an ancient cult or something. From what we could gather, they worshipped something monstrous from another plane and they believed one day, this monster would enter our world and destroy everything and bring it all into some kind of new age.”

“Wow… I think that’s actually worse than Jojo’s ancestor’s vision.” Summer looked at the others and they all nodded together.

“Hey, the end of the universe? I’d like that,” Fuchsia suddenly said from the front. “Then we’d all be done with this pitiful existence.”

“Umm…” Jojo had no reply for that. “So Sweetie, what did you do with this discovery? How come we haven’t heard about it, you know, on the news or something. Surely you’re famous after discovering something like that.”

“I guess we were for a while,” she laughed as they entered another highway. “But we were just kids when we found it, and we didn’t know nuts about all this, nor did we go on to research it. We just left it to the smarter people to continue on for us, you know, scientists and the government and all that. Oh, yeah so, uh, I’m not supposed to have told you anything about that. So don’t go spreading it, alright?”

Everyone in the back shared a laugh.

Then the car sputtered and everyone looked to the front as it began to slow down.

“Oh, uh…” Sweetie Belle twisted around in her seat to face her passengers. “We’re out of gas.”
--—----JO-JO—------
“At least we still had your Stand.” Prism lounged back in a purple sofa. “This is more comfortable anyway.”

“Just kill me now…” Fuchsia Blush groaned and buried her face in a pillow.

The car died somewhere along the way to London and they had to leave it where it was, though Sweetie Belle had left another note on it, seeing as its owner would most likely head to Norwich instead of wherever the car was.

With no other mode of transport and not wanting to steal a car in broad daylight on the city streets, the group opted to travel using REO Speedwagon, at least till they found somewhere more secluded to steal another car. According to Sweetie, her Stand was invisible unless it started sucking up non-Stand users, so that was why they could see it on the plane, and how no one else was reacting to a walking backpack right now.

Its speed was roughly that of a rather fit walking person. It was a lot slower than a car, but at least it was getting them where they needed to go, though everyone was starting to get bored.

“I’m bored…” Fuchsia groused and began twirling the handle of a fishing rod. “This day couldn’t get any worse.”

“Pretty sure it could,” Prism said.

“I doubt it.”

The sun was already setting by now and they were no closer to getting to the other side of London, but at least they were safe. Since the airplane, there had been no other signs of Weather Alternate. Summer hoped that meant that the enemy had no idea where they were and Blueblood had just been a fluke. She wouldn’t mind going on with the rest of the journey to Germany without an enemy Stand in their way.

When night finally fell, the group went around the outskirts of the city, searching for unattended cars away from cameras. They had recently learned that London had tons of cameras and not wanting to become international criminals, they opted to keep looking, and they eventually found a row of vehicles away from the cameras just outside the city along a grimey and dark road.

There were a bunch of cars Prism liked, but in the end, they had to take a silver car that had enough comfortable room for all of them; the last car was a rather tight one.

Once they obtained their ride, the group continued making their way to Norwich, using the cover of night to get through the streets quicker.

Summer had shut her eyes for a minute to rest them, but when she opened them again, she realized it was already morning and they were now parked outside a low one-storey building made of bricks and the rest of her group were also in the midst of stirring.

“Where are we?” Summer asked as she stretched her arms to remove her soreness. Sleeping in a car wasn’t the best of ideas.

“We’re here. This is Norwich.” Sweetie Belle yawned. “Took us about three hours to get here, then we spent the rest of the night sleeping.”

“Wow.” Summer popped open the car door to stretch her legs. “Great work, Sweetie Belle.”

“What can I say, someone had to drive.” She smiled and raised her arms, then she pointed to a small off-white building ahead. “Anyway, that’s where we can find a ride to get us across the ocean.”

“Not long now. We’ll be at Rotterdam soon enough.” Jojo stuffed his books into his bag and climbed out. “That’ll be one step closer to putting an end to Weather Alternate’s plans.”

Tenacious D appeared beside him and he high-fived his Stand.

“Yeah.” Summer thought back to her friends’ stories of the end of everything and she shuddered to think what Weather Alternate’s release of the Nugget People could spell for them. She hoped it wouldn’t be anything like Jojo’s and Sweetie Belle’s stories.
--——JO-JO——--
As Summer Shine and her group marched their way onto a fairly decent-sized yacht, a figure joined in with the crowd, pulling her hat low as she walked past the captain ushering his passengers on. Frizzy purple hair jutted out from under her cap and she had on a grey jacket to stave off the cold air, along with striped gloves that went all the way up her arm under her sleeves. A silver piercing hung off the edge of her bottom lip and she smiled to herself as she found a seat by the port side, giving her a good view of everyone else coming on board, including her targets.

After the whole airplane fiasco with Blueblood, they had lost track of the daughter of Sushi and her friends, but by a stroke of luck, they had decided to ring their folks back home in Canterlot, giving Weather Alternate their location. Now that they knew Sushi’s plan to stop them, there would be no pause, no reprieve. She and anyone else after her would come down hard on this Sushi’s group and they would do everything in their power to ensure they never get to Germany.

Gloriosa Daisy was in charge of the task force to end their lives for the deaths of her brother, her brother’s girlfriend, her brother’s girlfriend’s brother, and of course, that cute little purple dog that everyone was so sour about.

But Gobble Gab wasn’t part of this task force. Born and raised in Germany, she was part of the inner circle of Weather Alternate and she answered only to her master, Dolfy Horner. It was just too bad for Gloriosa that she nor her team would get the satisfaction of ending Sushi’s group. By the time their ship got to the other side of the water, every single person on the ship would already be dead.


> Chapter 9: Alestorm's Tempest
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Sea air!” Prism Dash inhaled and grinned to herself. “Fuchsia, don’t you think the air smells really good out here?”

Fuchsia looked up from a magazine she was reading and she frowned. “No.”

“Come on, you don’t like anything. Surely there’s something other than baking you enjoy.” Prism walked over and leaned against the railing beside her. “You can tell me.”

“No. I don’t enjoy anything pointless.” Fuchsia groaned. “I just want to be done with this and go home.”

“Come on. Learn to live in the moment.” Prism slapped her on the arm, only to receive a glare from her friend. “What? Come on, don’t always be so broody and dark.”

“Fuchs this…” Fuchsia sighed and slapped her magazine shut. “Why don’t you go bother Sushi instead? You’re her best friend. Just leave me to wallow in my self pity.”

Prism shook her head and grabbed the magazine from Fuchsia. “Sushi’s asking the captain questions. So here I am, hanging out and trying to be friendly, Fuchsia. Hasn’t your mom ever told you that you have to be more friendly?”

“Of course she has. But no, I’m the disappointment of all her children.” Fuchsia pulled her legs up to her chest. “I’m nothing like my siblings and I’m definitely nothing like my parents. So leave me alone, Prism. I don’t even know why she sent me here with you-”

She suddenly stopped and looked up, then to the side. Her left arm began twitching and she scratched the right side of her neck.

“What, what’s wrong?” Prism raised an eyebrow in confusion.

“It’s just Celldweller.” Prism put her arm down. “But we’re being watched. Someone’s on this ship with us.”

“I mean, there’s at least twelve other people on board.” Prism looked to the deck where a fat man was lounging on the opposite end from them and a blue haired boy was busy toying with the lifebuoy attached to the side. “Of course there are people on this ship with us.”

“I don’t mean that.” Fuchsia pushed Prism aside and got up. “The person watching us has a different energy. The only people I know with such signatures are us and that last Stand user on the plane. There’s a Stand user among us and I don’t think they’re friendly.”

“They found us already, huh?” Prism looked around at the other people. “Man, how I wish I had a Stand.”

“Well, you don’t. Stop whining.” Fuchsia rubbed her temple. “Act natural. We don’t want the enemy Stand user to know we’re already on to them.”

“Uh huh.” Prism rolled up the magazine and held it like a bat. Just in case. “Hey, do you think it smells a bit weird?”

Fuchsia sniffed at the air. Now that Prism had mentioned it, there was a faint odor coming from somewhere on the ship. It smelled strangely familiar, but at the same time, not something she could immediately recall.

“Maybe it’s a fart.” Prism waved a hand in front of her nose. “Won’t surprise me that someone decided to let out some air.”

“It reminds me of my mother’s Christmas cakes…” Fuchsia mumbled. She cocked her head to the side and nodded slowly. “Yes, Celldweller. It does make me think of the kitchen when the cake is being baked.” She clapped her hands together. “It’s rum. That’s what the smell makes me think of.”

“Your mom adds rum to cakes?” Prism asked. 

“Yes, it’s a great ingredient for depth of flavor,” Fuchsia sighed. “You wouldn’t understand, you don’t know how to make cakes.”

Prism looked skeptical. “Won’t that just make people drunk when they eat it?”

“I don’t expect you to grasp the intricacies of being a patissiere,” Fuchsia looked at Prism sternly. “What’s important now is that we find out what the source of the rum smell is.”

“Why? So what if the air smells like rum?” Prism sniffed again. “Kinda smells nice. I’ve never had any myself. Maybe I should.”

“It’s too strong to be coming from any one source.” Fuchsia put a hand to her nose. Already, she was beginning to feel her head swirl from the fumes.

The fat man must’ve smelt it too, because he suddenly got up and licked his lips before walking over to the railing to look over the side. He suddenly threw himself overboard and Prism rushed over to check on him.

Fuchsia just rolled her eyes and followed. “Finally. Someone who’s got the right idea to finish life here.”

To their surprise, the area of water around their yacht wasn’t blue. It was a slight orange instead and the man was busy slurping up what he could.

“Hey, get out of there!” Prism waved to him.

“No way! It’s all alcohol!” He sucked up more of it and swallowed again. “This is anyone’s dream!”

“It’s way too much.” Prism remembered her lessons in class. She never found this fact important, but she strangely remembered it from an experiment her lecturer had shown them. “Dude, you’re swimming in alcohol down there. If it’s too concentrated, you won’t stay afloat much longer!”

The man didn’t reply, but as he slurped up the next mouthful, he found that it was getting harder to come up for air and soon, he couldn’t even get his nose above the surface level. He struggled and grabbed for the air, but he was fairly large and he didn’t exercise as much as he should’ve. Instead of floating on water when he was tired, it was not working here and he couldn’t keep himself above the surface any longer. He gurgled and opened his mouth in a silent scream as he sank deeper under the waves and soon, he had disappeared from sight completely.

“This is definitely the work of an enemy Stand.” Fuchsia flipped around and scanned the ship. “The Stand user had to be one of the people here on this yacht.”

“Man, the smell really gets to you, doesn’t it?” Prism swayed on her feet and had to grab the railing to steady herself. “Hey, you know, you should really try more things, Fuchsia. You’re way too irritating all the time with your attitude.”

“Why’re you suddenly bringing this up?” Fuchsia gritted her teeth. “You wanna have a go? Is that it? Bring it on if you dare, Prism.”

Fuchsia blinked. That was weird. That had come out of nowhere. It must’ve been the alcohol. The fumes coming from the ocean were strong. Maybe a bit too strong and it was already showing across the crew and passengers on the ship.

One woman ran to the side and threw up, while another just collapsed on the spot. Two bearded men stared each other down, then got into a brawl before falling over the side.

“The enemy Stand, it can create alcohol…” Fuchsia deduced. “And its alcohol works fast and makes us drunk from inhaling it.” Then she looked over her shoulder and she nodded. “Yes, that too. Drinking too much alcohol can cause your liver to fail. Smelling it at such a high concentration could potentially do that too.”

“You don’t really have a Stand, do you?” Prism poked her in the face. “You always make fun of me for not having one, but I don’t see your Stand doing anything useful, like taking care of this Stand user, or making us fly, or even breathing fire. Nada. Just admit it, you’re like me.”

“Prism, you’re not thinking straight, but we need to stop breathing in these fumes. Hold your breath.” She tried to shut Prism’s mouth, but she was shoved away.

“Nope, you ain’t gonna silence me, sister.” Prism raised her fists. “Bring it on.”

She threw a punch, but Fuchsia bent back and Celldweller pushed her back up before she hit the floor, then she grabbed Prism around the neck and began dragging her back towards the cabin. It would probably be better inside. And she could find the others too. Sushi’s or Jojo’s Stand would be more effective at combating an enemy Stand.

Sliding open the glass door to the cabin, the first thing that hit Fuchsia in the face was the smell of alcohol, even more concentrated than outside, likely because of the enclosed space.

Everyone in here, including Summer, Jojo and Sweetie Belle were already unconscious on the ground and standing against the bar, pouring herself a drink was a woman with purple hair and a very ugly lip piercing.

“Ah, I was wondering when you would find out what was happening,” she said and turned around to face them. She had a large pirate hat on top of her head that had glowing green crossbones and a large red feather. “I didn’t think it would be this easy, but here we are.”

She grabbed the side of her grey jacket and with one swipe, she tossed it aside, leaving her in a dark green and orange shirt with puffed shoulders, and a grey pair of pants with a red line going down the right leg. She reached her free hand to her belt, where she kept an assortment of pouches and unsheathed a curved knife from it.

“This is your doing,” Fuchsia concluded. “You must be a Stand user.”

The woman sneered. “And how did you figure that out?”

“Well, duh,” Prism slurred. “You’re, like, the only person here who’s not being affected by the… the… stuff. The chemicals.”

“And that hat’s looking rather suspicious.” Fuchsia pointed a finger at her. “That must be your Stand.”

“What, the hat?” Prism hiccuped. “It's green.”

“Observant one, aren’t you?” The woman lifted a glass to them. “That’s right. Alestorm takes the form of a hat, and it has the power to change water into alcohol. Highly concentrated alcohol, mind you. Nothing the likes you’ve ever drank, I can assure you.”

“So you’re with Weather Alternate?” Fuchsia turned her body slightly, then brought up one fist to her face, while the other one curved around her back. “You’re here to stop us for killing someone and some dog.”

“Ja, you guessed right, except for the revenge plot. I have no part in that.” She took a sip from her glass. “My name is Gobble Gab, and I’m one of the top members of Weather Alternate. You’ve been a thorn in our side and it’s time to get pruned. And oh, you don’t have to worry about us anymore. None of you will be reaching land alive.”

Prism staggered forward and whirled her fists in front of her face like a pugilist. “Oh yeah?” she said unsteadily. “Bring it on! We’re not afraid of nobody from Werther Avocado!” 

Fuchsia sighed heavily. It was clear that Prism was a lightweight and being strongly affected by Alestorm’s attack. It would have to be down to herself to sort out this enemy Stand user.

“Your Stand can’t immediately attack us.” Fuchsia picked up a woman’s blue scarf and tied it around her nose and mouth. “If I kill you, its effects will wear off.”

“What do you think this knife is for?” Gobble Gab spun her weapon in her fingers. “If you think you can take me on, then come, both of you. I’m ready for the fight and fate.”

Prism screeched and charged forward first, but then she tripped over the sofa and sprawled across it. Fuchsia closed the distance between herself and Gobble Gab, keeping her eyes on the older woman. 

Gobble Gab lashed out with a cut from her knife, but Fuchsia spun around the strike and took something from her pocket. Gobble attempted a stab, narrowly missing Fuchsia. 

“You know, nobody ever said I was a nice person,” Fuchsia said as the two of them skipped apart to survey the other. “And I’ve only ever used this once on a thief before, but looks like you’ll be number two.”

“What’s that?” Gobble asked, looking at her opponent’s hand. There was what appeared to be a comb in Fuchsia's hand, with a heavy black plastic and steel handle. “A comb? You’re going to fight me with a comb?”

“Fuchs you. This isn’t just a comb.” Fuchsia pressed a button on the comb and a six inch long blade clicked out from the handle. “I normally just use this on myself, but it’s a good thing I carry something like this.”

She jabbed it low at Gobble Gab, but she swung down with her own knife and deflected the attack, knocking it from Fuchsia's hand. Celldweller caught it and tossed it back to her, putting a surprised look on Gobble Gab’s face as she watched the knife miraculously curve in the air before returning to Fuchsia's hand.

“How did you do that?” Gobble Gab snarled. “What is your Stand? I can’t see it.”

“My Stand is Celldweller, Fuchs face, and only I can see it.” Fuchsia attacked again with her shank-comb. “It acts as a second person close to me. It can’t attack you directly, but it can support me as I shank you in the gut.”

Her attacked was deflected again and no matter how many times she tried to stab her enemy, Gobble Gab just kept blocking with her own larger knife.

“You might have a weapon, but you’ve no skill with it like I do with mine.” She smirked and kicked out a foot as Fuchsia ran back in to attack. Celldweller pushed her back on her feet and she slashed forward again, only for Gobble Gab to twist to one side and slice forward, nicking Fuchsia on the shoulder. “This is too easy.”

“You may be right,” Fuchsia admitted. “Your skill with a knife is better than mine. But, there’s still one thing I beat you in.”

“Oh? How do you plan on that?” Gobble Gab said menacingly. “I’ll stab you in the face.”

“Yeah, you might,” Fuchsia said, edging away from Gobble’s weapon. “Or I could beat you in a running race.”

And with that, Fuchsia turned and sprinted out of the cabin, her boots thumping on the wooden floor.

Gobble Gab stood there in shock for a second. “HEY!” She shouted and ran after Fuchsia. “Get back here!”

Fuchsia bumped against the cabin wall as she ran on, before Celldweller steadied her and kept her going. Her tolerance against alcohol was stronger and the scarf was helping dull the smell, but she could already feel it affecting her more and she didn’t have long before she would possibly end up like her friends. She had to think of a way to end this, fast.

“Where do you think you can go?” Gobble Gab called after her. “We’re on a ship in the middle of the ocean. Unless you plan to swim to the Netherlands, you better come back here and face me.”

Fuchsia ran into one of the supply closets and shut the door. There must be something in here that could potentially help her deal with Gobble Gab. She looked around and a whisper entered her ear from her Stand. Her eyes landed on a bottle of pink liquid. She glanced at Celldweller, as if to confirm something. Then she picked up the bottle and sneaked out of the closet.

Meanwhile, Gobble Gab was still hunting for Fuchsia. She was the last person of the group who was still conscious and once she was dealt with, there would be no more threat to Weather Alternate. 

“Where are you, you little rascal…” Gobble muttered. She heard a small thump from the back of the boat and ran over to take a look. Gobble was rewarded with the sight of Fuchsia's shoes disappearing around the corner. That path led to the rear viewing deck of the ship, and there was nowhere to go after that. 

Gobble Gab ran up after Fuchsia, who was standing next to the railing that kept people from falling into the ocean. The goth girl was holding a bottle of something, but seemed to be having trouble standing. She was swaying on the spot like she was about to collapse.

“Aha, my fumes have finally gotten to you!” Gobble Gab shouted as she ran at Fuchsia. “Prepare to die!”

Gobble Gab’s feet crashed on the surface of the wooden deck, but then suddenly she skidded on the spot, losing her footing and sliding towards Fuchsia.

“I knew you wouldn’t notice,” Fuchsia said. “I coated the floor in soap, something I found in the supply closet earlier. With it all over the floor, you’re not going to have any traction and at the speed you were going when you were coming after me, well, have a nice swim.”

Fuchsia jumped up and she was suddenly thrown higher up by an invisible force and Gobble Gab slid across the deck and hit the railing, flipping over it falling off the ship into the water-turned-alcohol with a splash.

Fuchsia looked down at the churning liquid below. You couldn’t float or swim well in alcohol, and Gobble Gab knew it. In a pulse of energy, the alcohol changed back into water, leaving the member of Weather Alternate treading water at the back of the boat. That hadn’t exactly been her plan, but she had other ways of dealing with this problem.

It would take a while for the passengers and crew to regain consciousness, and that was just fine with Fuchsia. She made her way to the bridge of the boat and in very little time found the controls.

“Let’s see how you like this…” Fuchsia muttered and threw the boat into reverse. 

Down below, the yacht’s powerful engine jumped to life and the propeller spun like a buzzsaw, churning up the water further.

Gobble Gab watched the propeller get closer and splashed about, trying to get further away.

“No! No! Not like this! I was supposed to win!”

Fuchsia nodded at her task and went back to the viewing deck. She looked down. There was a faint red smear in the blue seawater, and the remains of Gobble Gab’s pants floated to the surface.

“And that’s the end of that fuchsing moron.” Fuchsia gave her Stand a high-five, then dusted her hands together and removed the scarf. The air smelled better again and for once, it actually smelled good to her. “I guess I shouldn’t take air for granted. Now, to wait for the others to get up again.”

She made her way back to the front deck and got herself on the deck chair she had been lounging on earlier before Prism decided to bother her.

“Peace and quiet.” She leaned back and then groaned. “I hate life.”


> Chapter 10: The Dance of Spandau Ballet
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Ugh, I’ve never once gotten drunk in my life, and now here we are…” Summer Shine leaned back on the couch and put a bag of ice to her face. “I didn’t even know what was going on, but I suddenly felt like passing out.”

“Strongest alcohol I’ve ever smelt…” Sweetie Belle rubbed at her face before splashing some cold water on it. “Can’t believe it put us all out. But you did it, Fuchsia. You got us out of that sticky situation.”

“Wasn’t much. Don’t mention it. I don’t need your praise and recognition.” Fuchsia had one leg on the chair, while the other dangled down below her. “It’s all pointless anyway. What matters is we’re finally close to land again. It’s about time.”

“Whatever it is, you did it!” Prism slapped her on the shoulder, much to her annoyance. “Hey, if it wasn’t for you, we’d probably all be dead already, though I would never have guessed it would be alcohol that would do me in.”

“Yeah, and I’m still underage.” Jojo rubbed at his nose and sniffed. “My dad would kill me if he found out. No one mention this to him, okay?”

“Right, uh, where do we go now?” Summer looked on as their yacht entered a long channel between two sides of buildings and streets. “I mean, once we land. We still need to get to Germany after this.”

We’ll have to get another mode of transport,” Sweetie Belle toyed with a packet of gum. “The fastest way there would be by train.”

“How many of these people do you think are also headed there?” Prism pointed a thumb at the other passengers, who were also still recovering from their hangovers. “With the Nugget Run and all, at least some of them must also be headed out there to get their hands on some gold nuggets.”

“You know what, that’s actually an idea.” Everyone turned to Summer as she spoke. “Uh, I was going to say, if everyone’s headed for the Nugget Run, all we have to do is follow the crowd. Right?”

“Sushi’s right.” Jojo gave her a thumbs up, as he flexed one arm. “The closer we get to Mount Fegel, the more people we’ll start to meet who are in it for the gold.”

“Hey, Jojo, random question, but can you do that thing your dad does? The one where he predicts what you’re going to say next.” Summer laughed. “I always did enjoy it, but I have no idea how he does it.”

“It’s a trade secret. Unless you can figure it out, I can’t tell you how it’s done.” Jojo wagged a finger in front of her face. “But… I don’t have my father’s talent. Unfortunately, I haven’t yet successfully predicted anything anyone’s gonna say.”

“Try it now, you’ve nothing to lose!” Prism raised an elbow, with a finger pointing out, while her other arm crossed over her chest and held the elbow up. “Try it on Fuchsia.”

“No, come on, even I know what Fuchsia's gonna say.” Jojo quickly averted his eyes as the girl in question glared at him. “Fuchsia, you’re gonna say… Fuchs this.”

“Fuchs this.” She looked away and went back to her magazine.

“See, I told you. Everyone knew she was going to say that.”

“If you’re going to try and have fun, leave me out of it.” Fuchsia grunted.

“Guess what I’ll say next!” Prism giggled, then groaned and put a hand to her head. “Man, that alcohol really hits hard.” She pulled her rainbow colored ponytail and placed it over her eyes. “I’d say I need a drink, but that’d just be the opposite of what I need right now.”

“You should get some chocolate cake, then.” Summer snickered as her friend tried to kick her blindly.

“Funny, Sushi. Very funny. I don’t see what you all see in chocolate. It’s disgusting! Especially bitter chocolate, I mean, come on, why are you torturing yourselves?”

As the yacht pulled further into Rotterdam, the group marveled at the buildings on either side being along the water’s edge. They found it cool that they were simply cruising down through a city on a yacht. But that soon had to end as the ship pulled alongside some docks.

The captain stumbled out and wished everyone a pleasant day before dropping atop a pile of rope. Summer and the others followed the group of hungover tourists down the ramp, all of them feeling very under the weather.

Everyone was too bumped out to travel far and instead, they found a quiet little cafe by the river to sit while they waited for their hangovers to pass.

“It’s a good thing Fuchsia and I weren’t inside with the rest of you when Alestorm hit.” Prism threw herself on a chair. “But wow, it feels like someone took a hammer and they’ve been pounding me non-stop… I can’t imagine what it feels for the rest of you. Can’t be all that awesome.”

“You have no idea…” Summer covered her face with a hand as she leaned back.

They decided to order lunch here, seeing as they hadn’t eaten anything since Norwich. Summer had herself a big platter of eggs, waffles and some cheese. She figured she needed to fill up her belly as much as she could before their next journey. There was no telling when they would stop to eat again.

Fuchsia Blush got herself a single slice of mango cake. Summer didn’t know how she survived on just dessert, but judging by how skinny she was, she definitely didn’t have enough to eat.

She probably just doesn’t care.

Prism ordered a cheeseburger, a staple American food, but she didn’t know anyone who didn’t like burgers. Even Prism liked them.

Jojo and Sweetie Belle ordered some noodles, which came in a thick soup that smelled absolutely wonderful. Summer looked down at her meal and started having second thoughts.

“So… plans now.” Sweetie Belle slurped a long strand of noodles into her mouth. “We’ll need to find the nearest train station and get some tickets for Germany. Leipzig’s the closest town to Mount Fegel, so I suggest we stop there.”

“She’s right.” Jojo flipped the map in his hands and pointed at Leipzig. Then he drew a line from it to Mount Fegel, which wasn’t all that far away. On the map. “It’ll likely take us about two hours to get there on foot.”

“Well, we’re not walking there, right?” Prism chuckled. Then she realized no one else was joining her. “What, really?”

“We could probably drive half the journey there until we can no longer proceed on wheels. But there might be a lot of traffic as well, with how many people are running to Mount Fegel for the Nugget Run. We might not even be able to get close by vehicle.”

“Just great. Just great.” Prism leaned on a hand as she prodded her burger with a fork. “Man, I wish I had a Stand that could just teleport us wherever we need to be. Think about it, no more traveling by plane, boat, car, whatever. No more traveling. Fuchsia, surely you agree with me on that.”

“I guess I do.” She brushed a hand through her straight pink hair, then cut out a slice of her cake. “Travel is meaningless. It does nothing but get you from one point to the next. In the most boring way possible.”

“See?” Prism waved both hands at Fuchsia. “Someone gets it.”

“We didn’t say we don’t agree with you, Prism.” Summer put on her hand on her friend’s shoulder. “Well, if that’s a Stand to get, then I hope you get it.”

“Yeah…” Prism sighed, then bit into her burger. “I just hope I get a Stand while I’m still alive.”

Summer thought about those words as she ate her lunch. Her mother had lost three friends on her adventure to protect the world. She looked to everyone seated at the table here: Prism, her very best friend in the whole world, Fuchsia, Jojo, Sweetie Belle. No matter how much she wanted everyone to make it through to the end, she knew that it might not be the case. Her mother was strong, stronger than her, but even so she had lost friends. Summer wasn’t ready for that to happen, not to any of them. There had to be a way to protect them.

“Any takes on Weather Alternate?” Summer’s thoughts were pulled back to reality by Prism’s words. “Like, how do you think such organizations are started. Like, say I’m the leader of Weather Alternate. I’m just one woman, alone at first, then I start finding people in the world and I convince them to join my bizarre cause, and then they start finding more people, do you think it works like that?”

“Fisch this.” Fuchsia put her fork down. “I”m going to go get some fresh air. The cake isn’t even good anyway.”

She got up and walked out the door, while the rest of them watched her go.

“What, did I say something wrong?” Prism raised her hands innocently. “Though I have to say, it must be killer to be the head of some secret organization. I’m sure people like that get paid a lot.”

“Um, just how exactly do people like that get paid?” Jojo asked. “Who pays them? And for what?”

“You know, that’s a good question.” Sweetie Belle leaned closer. “My friends and I tried to start an organization for human welfare once, but while we were sending money out, it wasn’t coming back in.”

“Wow, is there anything you haven’t tried, Sweetie?” Summer was impressed. Her resume must’ve been packed with skill sets.

“Hmm…” She put a finger to her chin. “I guess we haven’t tried drug running.” Everyone looked aghast. “Well, yeah, we haven’t tried anything illegal. Not yet anyway. Besides, now I’m here helping you kids out. I’ll have a big story for them once I get home.”

“You know what we haven’t tried?” Prism snickered. “Joining Weather Alternate.”

“Yes, we haven’t tried that too.” Sweetie Belle raised a finger and grinned.

“Maybe we should. That would certainly help us get closer to Mount Fegel.” Jojo chuckled.

Before anyone could take another bite out of their food, there was the sound of something swishing through the air and suddenly, a spinning object flew in between them and Jojo had to throw himself clear as it bisected their table and his chair.

“What in tarnation?” Sweetie Belle slid her chair back and got up. “This looks to be the work of an enemy Stand.”

“Where are they?” Summer ran over to help Jojo up. “What was that?”

The swishing noise came back and Summer turned around just in time to see it coming back towards them. She kicked Jojo’s legs out from under him and dropped to the floor as it passed by their table again. Other patrons in the cafe got clear of their wrecked table and looked between them and a shattered window to the outside.

“Owww…” Summer rubbed her head. The hangover certainly didn’t help.

“It came from there.” Prism pointed outside, but she didn’t see anyone particularly suspicious. “Come on!”

Prism ran ahead and jumped through the broken glass, searching around the streets as Jojo leapt through after her.

“Prism, did you see them?” He looked around himself.

The girl shook her head and grunted. “No, I don’t know who’s the one attacking us.”

“Just keep your eyes- look out!” Jojo threw himself into Prism and knocked her away just as another spinning shape sliced past over their heads. He was about to look up, but then he remembered they came back and he ducked again just as the projectile passed by them again. “We’re clear.”

“Yeah, we are. Can you get off me. Taking the chance to feel me up, huh?” Prism grinned.

Jojo looked down and he realized one hand was over one of her breasts. It was squishy to the touch. He blushed and quickly threw himself off. “I didn’t… It wasn’t…”

“I know. Save it for later. We’ve got a Stand master to catch.” She gave him a pat on his head.

“Well, about that.” Jojo pushed past her. “I’ve got a Stand to catch. You don't have a Stand and we can’t have you running into one of those spinning weapons. I’ll find them and I’ll stop them. They can’t be far, whoever they are.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter. I think I see the Stand master.” Prism pointed to a corner around the next street.

Jojo followed her finger and saw a woman peeking out from behind a brick wall. When she saw them looking, she quickly ducked and disappeared behind it.

“Good eye, Prism. Now stay here.”

“No chance. I’m coming along.” She picked up a shard of glass from the floor and followed after her friend.

Jojo jumped up and called forth Tenacious D, which appeared under him and acted as his ride before reaching out and grabbing Prism.

“Woah, this is so fast!” she yelled.

“It’s just Tenacious D.”

“I’m moving so fast! This is crazy!”

“Hey, you said you wanted to come along.”

“I didn’t say I wasn’t enjoying it.”

Its wheels spun hard and they were at the alley faster than Prism could imagine and there, standing at the other end, was the woman. Her back was facing them, but her head was turned to them, her eyes wide and wild, surprised that they had reached her so quickly. Instead of continuing her escape, she straightened her stance and turned around to face them.

“So… You’ve found me.” She flicked one hand up, then bent it back down and placed her fingers on top of her head, as she stood on tip toes on both feet, with one angled forward and the other curved around her back.

She had on a red bandana covering the top of her head, and under that was a caramel face with curly raven-black hair and shimmering pink eyes, set in firm resolve. Her outfit consisted of red poncho over a white half top, followed by a red skirt, and her arms had bangles of gold dangling from them. She had a faint scar on her forehead, poking out from under her bandana and it made her look a little more sinister.

“So you’re the Stand master.” Jojo swiped one hand to the side, then brushed up his fringe with his other hand. “Tenacious D!”

Jojo wasted no time in sending his Stand after the enemy, but as his Stand rushed her, its horns bared, the woman cartwheeled to one side, and all of a sudden, a golden Stand shot out from under Tenacious D and delivered a palm right under its chin. Jojo’s Stand fell on its back and his chin felt like it had just been hit by the butt end of a hammer. 

“Oof!” Jojo said as he flew back and fell onto the floor. “Watch out, Prism! She’s a crafty one!”

“What am I even supposed to do?” Prism exclaimed as she looked around. “I don’t have a Stand!”

“Well, you insisted on coming along! Ugh, great. You got my clothes all dirty.” Jojo rolled back up and raised both fists. “Just get behind something, Prism.”

“How foolish of you to bring a Standless human here.” The woman lifted one leg and gracefully spun around, then brought it low till she was almost doing a split with one leg, reaching a hand towards her toes, while the other hand went high. “If you truly intended to kill me, you should’ve come more prepared. I’m going to get what I came for and that’ll be your heads!”

“That’s what you think!” Jojo growled and summoned Tenacious D once more. “I’ll show you! Tenacious D, Time Warp!”

Jojo’s Stand began to spew exhaust from its back and from inside its wheels as it planted both fists on the ground. With a loud bellow, it suddenly charged and before the woman or her Stand could even react, it was gone, speeding forward so fast that a blink would miss it completely.

It hit her golden Stand in the chest, then lifting its head, Tenacious D tossed it up into the air, then spun around and grabbed the ground, tearing its fingers into the asphalt to stop itself.

The woman flew back herself, clutching at her chest as her blood began to run down from her mouth. “Im-Impressive…”

Her Stand got up and flourished twin fans in its hands. Blades extended from their ends as it did a spin, its golden skirt spinning in the air with it. Instead of feet, its legs ended in spiky points and it ran forward on them, then jumped towards Tenacious D legs first.

Jojo’s Stand blocked one foot with an arm, but the enemy Stand spun upside down and jabbed its other foot forward, catching Tenacious D in the left shoulder.

“Ah!” Jojo grabbed his bicep as blood sprayed from it, but it wasn’t over yet.

The Stand next flipped back to its front and swung its fans forward over and over, forcing Tenacious D on the defensive and with no choice, Jojo had it reverse away from it to get enough space to charge again.

But the woman wasn’t having any of it. Pointing a palm forward, her Stand twisted one fan on its side, then threw it, sending it spinning forward like a helicopter rotor. Tenacious D ducked under the first one, and remembering how it comes back, Jojo had it stay down.

“Ha, you think you’ve figured out Spandau Ballet’s fans?” The woman placed a palm under her chin. “They’re not as straightforward as you think, stolto.”

Instead of going straight back the way it had come, the fan suddenly tilted vertically and sheared Tenacious D across the back before returning to its master.

Jojo dropped to his knees and cried out as a line of blood gushed from his back.

“Jojo!” Prism ran to his side, then glared at the woman. “You’ll pay for this!”

The woman scoffed at her. “What are you even going to do? You don’t have a Stand. Now, I would just kill you here and now, but first, I will need some information.”

“What do you want?” Prism held the shard of glass out in front of herself.

“Tell me, where is Eximus Exo?” She stalked forward alongside her Stand as a golden glow warped around both of them.

Prism lifted an eyebrow. “What’s that?”

“Playing dumb, huh?” The woman crossed her arms in front of her, then lifted her wrists higher. “You’ve done enough to hurt my people. Now away with you.”

Her Stand, Spandau Ballet, pirouetted on the spot, then threw both fans out in arcs, which now spun towards Prism and Jojo from the left and right.

“Not yet!” Jojo grabbed Prism again and threw them both back as Tenacious D charged back in from behind the woman. The fans swished back again and Jojo had to run a few steps further as they passed again before returning towards their owner.

The woman jumped out of the way and her Stand was about to punch it, but then Tenacious D spun on one wheel and one arm, then to her surprise, it flipped itself up on its arm and swung its entire body weight at Spandau Ballet, smashing it across the face and chest and launching it into a nearby brick wall.

The wall shattered from the impact and the woman was thrown back across the alley, landing a good distance away.

“You okay, Prism?” Jojo kept an eye on the hole in the wall.

“You know, if you want to keep holding me, you could just say so.”

Jojo looked down and he had one arm around Prism’s back and the other one on her shoulder. His face reddened like a peach and he scooted away.

“Uh huh.” Prism dusted her shirt, then gave his cheek a pinch. “Anyway, thanks, hero. Did we do it? Did we win?”

“No, it’s not over, not yet…” The woman pushed herself off the ground, clutching a shoulder. “You still… need to pay for the crimes… of your organization.”

“Our organization?” Prism and Jojo looked at each other.

“I heard it from the mouth of this one earlier!” The woman pointed at Prism. “I am Gipsy Dance, and I am here to destroy Weather Alternate for the death of my family and my people!”

“I don’t even know who you are,” Prism said.

Gipsy Dance’s aura returned and her Stand appeared beside her, fans brandished. “You will.”

“Wait wait wait wait wait!” Jojo waved his hands around before Spandau Ballet could throw its fans again. “Gipsy, can I call you Gipsy? You’ve got it all wrong! We’re not Weather Alternate. We’re here to stop Weather Alternate! Prism was just asking questions about them earlier, we’re not with them!”

Gipsy Dance’s conviction seemed to waver. “No, you’re just trying to fool me now. I am no stolta.”

“Stop, just stop!” Jojo raised his hands, then Tenacious D vanished. “I won’t fight you anymore. We thought you were Weather Alternate. We’ve been getting attacked all the way from Canterlot. We thought you were one of them. We’re here to stop them from awakening the Nugget People!”

That made Gipsy’s eyes widen. “Nugget People? What do you know about the Nugget People?”

“Weather Alternate, they’re planning on waking the Nugget People at Mount Fegel. That’s where we’re headed. They need to be stopped.”

Gipsy looked to a portion of the wall, deep in thought. Then with a clap of her hands, Spandau Ballet faded away and she walked closer. “The Nugget People are a force of destruction. My people, the Romani, have passed down stories through generation after generation. What could Weather Alternate possibly hope to achieve- of course.” She snapped her fingers. “Like they did with my family. They seek to prune what they deem as weak in the human race.”

“You should come with us.” Prism reached a hand out to her. “You hate them more than we do. They have to be stopped and you can get your revenge at the same time.”

“I had thought you were too young to be members of Weather Alternate. I am sorry I attacked you. I should’ve waited longer to make sure.”

Prism raised both hands. “Hey, I’m sorry I made you think I was Weather Alternate.”

“Well. Now that this is all settled, uh, we should get back to the others.” Jojo pointed a thumb back down the alley. “They’ll be wondering what happened. I need some new clothes too. These are starting to stink.”

“And I believe I can help with your injuries.” Gipsy put a hand to her chest. “We specialize in healing herbs.”

“Prism Dash, your next words will be…” Jojo gave her a thumbs up. “I wish I had a Stand.”

“I wish you were taller, Jojo.” Prism laughed. “Hey, you almost got it.”

“Dangit.” Jojo swung an arm down.
—--------JO-JO—-------
Deep in the Weather Alternate bunker, Dolfy Horner was sitting at his desk, going through the logistics of his organization. They needed to be organized and well positioned if they wanted their plans to succeed without anyone being the wiser. The Nugget Run did a good job of covering up Weather Alternate’s real intentions, but it also meant that there were a lot of strangers running around. None of them could be allowed to see the truth. Not yet.

The door to Dolfy’s office opened, letting in one of Dolfy’s inner circle, Auto Gunship. He was a tall man with neatly combed back hair and wearing a purple suit with spinning rotors as cuffs. He had a green shirt and a red tie on the inside, done up nicely.

“My leader,” Gunship said, standing at attention in front of Dolfy’s desk. “There’s been news.”

Dolfy looked up and gestured with his hand. “Well, out with it.”

Auto put his hands behind his back. “I’m afraid Gobble Gab has been killed.”

“Gobble Gab is dead?” Dolfy exclaimed. “That’s unacceptable! What is everyone’s problem if they can’t take down a bunch of kids?! They suck! I sent her ahead of Gloriosa’s task force to stop them before they can reach us, and yet she failed!”

Auto Gunship continued to stand there as Dolfy ranted.

“We must take extra precautions! Keep a close eye on these children, and move our people over to Fegel Ein Base!”

“Fegel Ein, sir?” Gunship managed.

“Yes, Fegel Ein!” Dolfy stood up and slammed his fist on the table. “Fegel Ein! Fegel Ein!”

“Yes, sir!” Auto Gunship saluted and marched out of the room, eager to deliver Dolfy’s instructions to the rest of Weather Alternate. He was also glad to get out of his leader’s office, as he tended to rant at great lengths at small matters.

Gobble Gab was a member of his inner circle, people that were born right here in Germany, people born of noble lineage. There was no reason for her to have failed, unless they had underestimated the enemy. They might be children and of lesser bloodlines, but if they could take down members of Weather Alternate, then they were formidable enemies indeed.

Dolfy put his hands together and tapped the index fingers against each other. He would have to keep an eye on these children. For now, perhaps it was better if Gloriosa’s team continued after them.

He gazed at the picture of Fegel Ein Base on a map on his desk as he grabbed a gold nugget in his hands. They had two bases along the slopes of Mount Fegel, and should this Sushi group approach the foot of the mountain, they would be there and they would be ready for them.

Pressing his hands together, Dolfy crushed the nugget into pieces, then threw it across the room. That was what would happen to anyone who crossed him.


> Chapter 11: One Train Ride Away
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gipsy Dance woke up with the air burning around her. Smoke clogged her nose and ash stung her eyes and skin as screams filled the air.

She blinked and rubbed the pain from her face, then pushed off a fallen wooden beam from on top of her body.

A hole through the wall of her home gave her a view of the carnage unfolding outside. There was fire everywhere and there were other houses doing far worse than hers. The Sfera’s home was completely demolished. Gone. Reduced to rubble, and she could see half a body sticking out from underneath.

A man struggled down the streets, grasping his neck as he gagged for air. He could find none and he collapsed right there in front of her, twitching twice before going still.

Then there was a man, standing there behind his body. Gipsy didn’t see him appear, but there he was now, decked out in a black suit with a white flower hanging from one pocket, which matched his white hair. He had a scar running down one eye to his chin and he looked at the dead body and smirked.

All of a sudden a figure standing almost twice his height appeared next to him and stomped a foot down on the man, grinding him into the ground.

“At last…” the man laughed. “All these pathetic Romanis are dead. Italy has been cleansed of their filth and soon, they will be wiped off the face of the earth completely. Ah, but one of you remains…” He suddenly turned to Gipsy and she fell back a step. “Ciao, little one. So you survived. But… I am soon about to change that.”

Gipsy Dance wasted no time in fleeing. She ran through the wreckage of her home, scrambling for the front door on the other end. She could hear it now, there was something that sounded like a trumpet behind her, followed by a crashing of wood. Whatever that thing was, it was coming for her.

Squeezing out the front door past a pile of wreckage, Gipsy ran and ran, looking back occasionally over her shoulder as she anticipated the thing to burst through her home any moment.

And there it was. Once she arrived at a curving street at the end of her path, there was a loud trumpet and her house exploded in a shower of wood and cement, flying high into the air as she caught sight of the figure’s golden apparel.

The young girl rushed down the street, but she had only made it halfway before something swiped at her legs and she fell on her chin. Pain shot up through her head like vines, but she mustered enough strength to crawl ahead and turn around.

The mysterious man was now standing on top of her, half bent and smiling at her with amusement. There was nothing more she could do and he knew that.

“Kudos to you, girl, for getting this far. But I’m afraid the game is up.” He planted a finger on her forehead, then swiped down.

Gipsy felt fresh pain blaze across her face and only after putting a hand to her forehead, she found that it was now bleeding. Looking down at the man’s hand, she realized his index fingernail of his right hand was sharpened into a spike.

“What d-do you want?” she managed to get out. “Wh-Who are you…?”

“My child, I do not want anything specific with you.” He chuckled. “I, Eximus Exo, a member of Weather Alternate, seek to eradicate the impurities of humanity and you, my dear, unfortunately are one of them. It is a shame of what you are. If you were born of a pure bloodline, I would have taken you under my wing, train you, teach you the ways of the world unknown to many. But you are of mud. To us, your people are nothing but the dirt of which we plant our feet when we walk.”

“Why, what did we ever do to you?” Gipsy cried.

Eximus’ smirk widened and he straightened himself and dusted his jacket. “You existed.”

The giant figure appeared beside him again and lifted a foot over Gipsy. The girl shut her eyes and planted her hands against her ears, but the end never came. Cracking open one eye, she saw a golden frame standing in front of her, holding up the giant’s foot with its own hands.

“So, you’re a Stand user too, hmm?”

Those were the last words Gipsy heard from the man as the giant swiped a hand at her, knocking both her and her golden helper off the side of the road, sending her plunging down into the sea below.

After that, all she remembered was the pain and the anger, and they both remained to this very day.
--------JO-JO-------
“And since then, I’ve trained myself and how to use my Stand, Spandau Ballet,” Gipsy Dance said, now seated at a table with Summer and the rest of her group. “I’ve longed for the day where I will meet Eximus Exo again and I will cut out his heart and feed it back to him. And then I’d do it all over again. Fifteen times over. He killed my parents, my siblings, my neighbors, my people, all because we were not like him and the rest of Weather Alternate.”

“Man, these people deserve to die for what they’ve done to poor Gipsy’s people.” Prism Dash hammered a fist against the table. “Now we’ve all the more reason to take them down for good.”

“It’s good to have you on the team, Gipsy.” Summer gave her a pat on the shoulder. “Once we find this Eximus Exo, we’ll leave him for you.”

“I’ve been searching for him for twelve years now and I just caught wind of some information that he was heading for Germany.” Gipsy clenched her fist that was resting on the table’s surface. “Now I know why. If we are to stop him and Weather Alternate, we must head there with haste.”

“Yes, welcome to the team, Gipsy.” Sweetie Belle shook her hand. “Now, I’ve found a train headed for Berlin at three o’clock. If we can successfully finish our lunch, we should be able to make it there with time to spare.”

“Berlin?” Prism asked. “Then we’re getting pretty close, aren’t we?”

“We should take care when we reach Germany,” Jojo advised. With his last outfit all dirty and smelly, he had purchased himself a new attire, consisting of a blue scarf, a brown coat without sleeves, and some new pale green jeans. “Who knows how many members of Weather Alternate might be lurking about.”

“Let them come.” Gipsy growled. “They’ll see their end to a girl of lowly blood. Especially Eximus Exo. He’ll be there. I know it.”

“I wonder about the leader of Weather Alternate. For sure he’s going to give us trouble,” Summer mused. “What did they say his name was, Dolfy something?”

Everyone shrugged and mumbled to themselves.

“Even I do not know that. I am sorry.” Gipsy toyed with the bangles on her left arm. “But know this, he’ll pay just as much as Eximus Exo will.”

With a new member and newer resolve, the group quickly finished up their lunch, constantly looking over their shoulders as they expected another enemy Stand to appear. Thankfully, by the time their plates were empty and they had put their utensils down, no enemy Stands had showed up and they were free to leave for the train station within Sweetie Belle’s time frame.

Summer Shine got to know her new companion a little better on the way. Apparently, her people had originated from Asia and they’ve spread across most of Europe since. Her family roots were Italian, and she had grown up in a place called Gaeta, near the southern shores, and that was where her quest for revenge had begun.

The train station wasn’t far from the cafe and they made their way there in a little over ten minutes. Summer found herself constantly rotating her head around, taking in the details of everyone that passed them by. Weather Alternate had proven resourceful in their last few encounters and they could’ve been any one of these people around them. They had no way of knowing, so it was better to keep a good lookout.

It was here that they also discovered that Sweetie Belle was quite loaded. Ever since meeting her from the plane crash, she’d been paying for everything, even the train tickets to Berlin.

“We set up some startups to see what we could be good at in our time,” she explained. “Some of them didn’t work out, but some of them have been pretty resourceful. I guess our biggest one is the Crusaders Foundation. Would you believe it, we have a huge oil company out in the Middle East, somewhere near Saddle Arabia. It also doubles as an organization used to help people who have fled their countries and need some help getting started elsewhere.”

“Wow. That’s… two completely different things.” Jojo beamed. “But awfully nice of you, Sweetie.”

“Me and the girls,” she corrected him. “I would’ve asked them on this journey with us, but I felt I had to do this on my own for once.”

“Do what on your own exactly?”

Sweetie looked at her friends and smiled. “I wanted to do this for my sister. Perhaps if she was looking down at me this moment, perhaps she could be proud of me. We haven’t always seen eye to eye, but I hope I’m living up to the generosity she always showed others.”

Summer put a hand on Sweetie’s arm and held it firmly. “You already have. You didn’t need to help us. You didn’t even need to follow us all the way across the ocean, but you chose to. All on your own. Your sister would be proud.”

The others, with the exception of Fuchsia, nodded their heads in agreement.

“Thank you. Thank you all.” Sweetie’s eyes glistened and she couldn’t help but smile wider. “Come on, we better get a move on. The train will depart in forty minutes.”

“About time.” Fuchsia rolled her eyes. “You were all getting too soppy for me.”

“Time to grab another snack?” Prism asked and licked her lips.

“Did you not already eat enough at the cafe?” Summer raised one eyebrow. “You had two whole burgers and sides.”

“Yeah, well…” Prism sniffed and slapped her belly. “Girl’s gotta eat, Sushi.”
-------JO-JO------
Ripple Fancy watched as Sushi and her group walked onto the platform from the train’s window and smirked. She had foreseen their arrival on time. They entered the train at least four cars down. Not too close by, but to Ripple, it didn’t matter.

Once they caught wind of them arriving in Europe, Weather Alternate had guessed that they would be on their way to Mount Fegel, where the Nugget Run and their nefarious plot were taking place. It would only make sense for them to take a train to Germany now, and that train would be the three o’clock train to Berlin.

She had purchased her tickets earlier and she had already been here, looking out the window and waiting for them to show up. She had a hunch they would be taking this very specific train, and she was glad her hunch had been right, otherwise she had wasted a lot of her time, especially with how long her Stand took to work.

She crossed one leg over the other and looked down at it, partially tucked under the seat next to her. Right now, it was but a pulsating pinkish egg, but soon, once the time was right, she would let it go, and as the train made its way out into the countryside, there would be nowhere for anyone to go. They would be trapped on this train with her, and Gloriosa would have her revenge.

Ripple had been one of the members roped in to help Gloriosa take this group down. This Sushi group had already taken out her brother, her brother’s girlfriend, and her precious dog. She had never seen this dog before, but everyone seemed extremely worked up about it dying. Gloriosa had been absolutely livid when she was briefing them on the task, and only from the soothing of her husband did she cool down and explain it properly.

In her opinion, Ripple thought this would be a simple task. It was only a matter of eliminating a few souls, plus, they were basically children with one adult. It didn’t seem all that hard, though they did manage to take out Timber, Blueblood, and even Gobble Gab, a member of Master Dolfy’s inner circle. That last one, at least, gained them a little respect from her, though it wasn’t going to matter much once things got started.

“Try as you might, Sushi…” Ripple looked at her pink painted fingernails. “You won’t get much sleep tonight. Once I set my sights on you, it’s the end of the line. You’ll never get to Berlin, or perhaps… maybe just a portion of you will…”

She kicked one foot against the egg and there was a squelching sound, followed by something that sounded like metal being dragged against metal. A lid at the top of it popped open and something slithered around inside it.

People were going to die here.


> Chapter 12: Train to Berlin
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Madam Greygourd sat in her own personal train car, scrubbing through magazine after magazine as she pondered on the latest fashions of the year. She had gone through the winter section and agreed with every single piece on it, which just made it all so much harder to decide on what to get. They were all just so good.

“Confound it.” She beat a hand against a model wearing a long grey coat and an ushanka, then tossed the magazine at the window. “Why must there be so many choices?”

She had been in need of a new winter coat for some time now, seeing as the one she had on had lost a bit of fur on the collar. And just earlier before entering the train, she had bumped into another woman, who left a little black smudge on her right coat pocket. It was an absolute disaster.

“I didn’t come all the way from England to have someone put some dirt on my coat,” she grumbled and flipped through the next magazine. “Disgusting behavior is what it is.”

There was a knock at her cabin door and she grumbled even more. She had specifically told the captain that she wasn’t to be bothered unless she rang her bell.

At first, she tried to ignore it, hoping for whoever it was to just leave, but the knocking came again and again and again.

Greygourd threw her magazine aside and stomped to the door, making her face look as irate as she possibly could before throwing it open.

“What is it?!”

But there was no one there. She looked left and she looked right, but other than an attendant pushing a food cart to the far left, there was no one else in sight.

She was just going to let it be, but a skittering sound caught her attention and she looked down. She only had enough time to gasp as a pinkish creature the size of a football lunged up at her face, grabbing on hard with six spindly legs and a long rat’s tail, sending her sprawling back into her cabin as the door swung shut.
——-JO-JO——
“Fuchs this. The cake here tastes bad too.” Fuchsia Blush threw her fork into the air. “Why even bother? I’m never gonna be happy with the cakes on this journey.”

“Guess that’s what comes of being raised by the baker extraordinaire, Pinkie Pie,” Prism sighed. “It’s going to be hard to find cakes that measure up.”

“You think…?” Fuchsia ran a hand down her face.

“It’s not so bad.” Summer put her phone down from her ear. “Just look at the sunnyside of life.”

She had just ended a call with her mother and things back home seemed to be going alright. They were still getting the occasional Weather Alternate Stand master attack, but her mother was strong, and so were all their parents. They were taking care of this easy enough, and they were more worried about them.

Weather Alternate had picked up on their plan relatively early in their travel and that just meant they would be pulling more resources to stop them from getting to Mount Fegel, leaving less for their parents to deal with, which Summer also felt was a relief. She didn’t want to worry if her mother was going to be caught off guard like with the Timber Spruce incident.

Jojo sat in the corner, finishing up his homework for the week. He had already finished the bulk of it and he was only left with one worksheet for chemistry class. Summer didn’t know how he could focus on something like that. Her mind was constantly buzzing, thinking of all the ways things could go wrong as they made for Mount Fegel.

“Hey, do you think anyone on this train is headed for the Nugget Run?” Prism nudged her to get her attention. “I did see some guys who looked like prospectors earlier. Like, they had the mining hats and pickaxes and everything. Not to mention the scruffy beards.”

“We’re getting closer to the mountain now.” Sweetie Belle was flipping through a menu. “We’ll be seeing lots of people here for the Nugget Run. People like to get rich.”

“I’d like to get rich.” Prism leaned back and placed both hands behind her head. “Maybe we could pick up a couple of nuggets before we complete our journey. Gipsy, what are you going to do once this is all over?”

Gipsy Dance looked up from a book she was holding and blinked. “I do not know, Prism. I’ve been set on finding Eximus Exo for so long, I haven’t thought what I would do once I’ve found him.”

“What stuff do you like to do?” Prism pointed at her book. “Reading? Maybe you can open a bookstore. They’ve got plenty of bookstores in Italy, right?”

“They have plenty of bookstores everywhere…” Fuchsia slapped a hand to her forehead. “I can’t believe you just said that.”

“How am I supposed to know?” Prism raised her hands defensively. “I’ve never been outside America. I don’t know what the rest of the world has.”

“That’s called ignorance.” Fuchsia shook her head.

“Yeah, well… This ignorance has a steady passing rate in college.”

“That’s nothing to boast about. Ah, fuchs this. I’m going to go see their cake selection…” Fuchsia got up and swept out the doorway.

Summer chuckled lightly at the squabble, then looked back out the window to watch the passing trees and fields. They had left the Netherlands about forty minutes ago and they had at least another three hours to go and the sky had already turned dark. She figured they should get some rest, but she didn’t know if she could.

She leaned on her side, facing the window and she closed her eyes. In the blackness of her vision, she could see past Weather Alternate members sneering in her mind, telling her that their whole adventure was pointless and in vain. She could see the Nugget People, rising from their tomb and bringing the world to its sixth extinction. She could see their wide mouths as they grinned at her. She didn’t even know what they looked like and they could still mock her in her own mind.

But then she saw the faces of her mother, of Rainbow Dash, of Jostle Joyride, of Pinkie Pie. They had been through their own adventure, they had been opposed every step of the way to the end and once they got there, they had done the impossible and they had defeated their great adversary. Her mother put her hand on her shoulder and gave her a firm squeeze.

“You can do this, Sushi. You’re my daughter, and you’re stronger than you realize.”

Summer nodded to herself and managed a smile at the corner of her mouth. Maybe she couldn’t sleep, but there was hope yet.
-------JO-JO-------
Madam Greygourd woke to the sound of tapping. The first thing she saw was the ceiling of her cabin and she rubbed at her eyes as she struggled to sit up. Her muscles felt weak, like she had just been through a triathlon.

Her mind was hazy, but she remembered something had jumped at her, wrapping its appendages around her face. She had fought to get it off, but where was it now?

She looked around, hoping it was a dream, but it was not to be. Under the seat on her right was a pink shape, long like a capsule, flipped upside down with its legs curled up to its chest and its tail spiralled around its body. One leg continued to twitch, tapping against the floor, making the sound that woke her.

It didn’t look like any animal she’d ever seen in her life, but then again, her knowledge on wildlife was limited, seeing as she had never once needed to know anything about them. She prodded its side with one of her magazines on the floor, but it made no attempt to spin around and attack her again. It was truly dead, or at least, dying.

“You deserve that.” Greygourd threw the magazine against it and scoffed.

The creature’s attack on her had been for naught and now she would simply forget its existence as the train continued on to Berlin. She had come all this way for the Nugget Run and though she already had plenty of money, more wouldn’t hurt, especially if that meant she could keep others from acquiring more nuggets. She wanted it all, to have the riches of the world piled at her feet, to have the masses begging her for scraps, and even then, she would not give them any. She would let them suffer and she would watch them with a crooked grin on her face.

Crack!

A hand shot to her chest as her face morphed in agony. A small gasp escaped her mouth as pain flared across the inside of her chest. It felt as though something had pounded against her ribs.

Reaching into her handbag, she grabbed a vial of pills and spun the cap off. In the stressful environment she had to live in, she had a history of heart trouble and she figured it must’ve been the constant struggle of having to put up with people who would dirty her attire, or strange creatures that wanted to attach themselves to her face.

Putting a pill in her mouth, she grabbed a flask of water from the chair and undid the lid.

Craaack!

She spat the pill from her mouth and dropped the water all over the floor as both hands grasped for her chest. This time, the pain was greater and she found she was having trouble breathing now.

“No… Not now…” She reached for the door handle. She had to get help.

Craaack!

“Aaaaah!” She screamed as another pound came, this time, shattering her sternum. She could feel it better now, the squirming of something inside her and it was threatening to break out. “H-Help! Help me!”

She placed two fingers against the handle, but as she pushed the door open, there was another vicious crack and blood sprayed out against the door’s fine wood. Greygourd fell on her back as the pounding increased, faster and harder than before. Each pound let out a scream from her mouth and she had already lost sense of everything else. The pain was too great and after one more pound, her vision turned red as blood splashed against the ceiling above her. Something reached out of her chest cavity and she could see a pinkish arm with three fingers reach for the sky. After that, her head drooped to the side and she was gone.
--------JO-JO-------
“Did you hear that?” Gipsy Dance dropped her book and turned her head towards their door.

“Hear what?” Prism looked between all of them and cupped a hand over one ear.

“I heard screams. A woman.” Gipsy stood up and placed her ear against the door.

Summer Shine tried to listen out for it, but from where she was, along with the train’s wheels against its rail, she couldn’t hear any screaming.

“What do you think that could be?” Jojo put his homework away and sniffed.

“Could be a robbery.” Sweetie Belle got up. “We should check it out. Someone might need help.”

Gipsy was about to tell them she couldn’t hear anymore screams, but one pierced the air around them, forcing her away from the door. This one sounded close. Very close. Wasting no time, she swung their door open and looked down the hallway. At just the next cabin, the door was ajar, smashed into two and there was a woman halfway out the door, bloody and torn, her eyes frozen in a glassy gaze.

Summer dashed out the door and saw the carnage, unconsciously raising a hand to cover her mouth. More screaming came from inside the cabin and she ran over to see a strange pink beast tearing into a man’s chest inside. It had a strange plated head and a ridged back and a tail like that of a rat thrashed in the air behind it, reaching as high as the ceiling. The beast itself was no higher than Summer’s thighs, but it looked no less intimidating.

It turned from its meal and snarled. Its head had no eyes, but it had rows of irregular and very pointy teeth, stained red. In a fraction of a second, it had twisted itself around and was already off the ground, sailing towards Summer with its short stubby arms raised to the sides to tear into her.

Pegasus Forever emerged from her and raised both arms to block the attack. The creature slashed against its armor, leaving grooves across it before landing on its feet and spinning in a circle, knocking its feet out from under it. Summer too lost her footing and fell on her back as the creature jumped on top of her Stand, roaring in its face before slashing repeatedly at its chest. Summer felt her own chest burn and she had Pegasus Forever punch up, freezing it in the air as it changed its energy, then punching it down the corridor with a second punch, transferring kinetic energy into it and sending it rocketing all the way until a bend in the path. It got up and skittered away, knocking down a fire extinguisher in the process, blanketing her view with white.

“We’ve got an enemy Stand here!” She clutched at her wounds. “It’s quick!”

Prism joined her outside and instantly covered her nose and mouth. “Gross!”

Gipsy peeked out from the doorway and frowned. “My Stand will do no good here. It is too narrow for it to throw its weapons.”

“I’ll go find it,” Summer volunteered. “The rest of you wait here. Jojo, in case it comes back, I’m leaving it to you.”

“Right. Be careful, Sushi.” He gave her a nod.

Summer slid the door to their cabin shut and proceeded down the corridor to the cloud of gas from the broken fire extinguisher. All along the way, all the cabin doors were open or destroyed and their occupants lay in there, partially eaten and long dead. Summer had to hold her stomach back as she witnessed the Stand’s carnage. Whatever it was, it seemed to need food, but Stands didn’t have hunger like normal people. This thing must’ve been eating for another reason.

But what reason?

Summer heard a hiss from ahead as she passed the steam. There was a clitter clatter of talons scraping against the train floor, followed by a growl. Wherever it was now, it was waiting for her to make the first move.

She spread her feet further apart and darted her eyes along the corridor. This definitely wasn’t going to be easy.


> Chapter 13: Alien Queen
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summer Shine sent out Pegasus Forever ahead of her, checking the first cabin, which was now on her right. The door here was open as well and there were only two dead people inside. They had been the two prospector-looking guys Prism had seen earlier and one even had a hole between his eyes.

“Where are you…?” Summer walked to the next room, where she found a dead woman lying on her side facing the window, but no sign of the Stand, though she could still hear it.

Claws continued to tap against the train as she made her way to the next room. If she didn’t know any better, she’d guess that it was…

“Above.” Summer looked up to the ceiling. “Pegasus Forever!”

Her Stand materialized and punched right through the train’s roof and when it brought its arm back down, it yanked the enemy Stand right through the ceiling, tossing it into the cabin she was standing next to. Wind whistled in from the hole in the roof now as Summer placed her Stand at the doorway. The cabin was now like a deathtrap and there was no way out for the enemy Stand.

It spun on its back like it was doing a breakdance, then crouched low on both legs before spraying spit as it roared at them. Pegasus Forever charged forward and swung a punch at it, but the enemy’s tail snaked around it and grabbed its arm, holding it tight. Turning, the Stand tossed Pegasus Forever against the right wall, then the left, smashing it through the wood and into the next cabin, where Pegasus crashed against a man reading a newspaper, knocking him off his seat.

“What the…?!” He lifted his cracked glasses further up his nose and flailed his arms around. Then he saw the Stand through the new hole in the wall and shrieked as it pounced on him.

The beast began tearing into his chest and pulling out his innards with its mouth. Pegasus Forever grabbed it by the neck and spun it backwards in a suplex, smashing its face through the opposite seat. It then began pounding it rapidly with one fist, smashing apart its protective head plate.

Before it could deliver even another blow, however, the enemy Stand slipped through Pegasus’ grip and slashed the back of its knees. Summer fell to her own knees and groaned in pain as blood began to coat her pants. The enemy Stand climbed up the ceiling on its legs and tore a hole into the next cabin before disappearing from view.

“It can sure take a beating, this Stand…” Summer fought against the pain and pushed to her feet.

She had to find a different approach to finishing this enemy off.

“Sushi!” Prism Dash ran in from behind her and held her under one arm to help her better stand. “Are you okay? You’re bleeding.”

“I don’t have time to bleed. This enemy Stand has been killing people on the train and eating them.” Summer motioned her head to the cabin with the most recent victim. “It’s feeding for a reason, and I don’t think I like what it means for us.”

“I’ll help you find it.” Prism hauled Summer out of the cabin and back into the corridor. “There’s only one way it can go in this direction. The train only goes in two directions, away from the front or the front.”

“Well, yeah.” Summer looked at her to make sure she was alright. “But you should go back, Prism. You don’t have a Stand. It’s dangerous.”

“Hey, we’ve gone through worse,” she said.

“No. We haven’t.”

“I think we have.”

“I can assure you, we haven’t.”

The next few train cars were bloody messes as well, with the enemy Stand already having eaten its fill from the people in them. It seemed to only go for internal organs, seeing as all the bodies were just torn through the chest cavity, their insides now hollow with the exception of some bits hanging out; it was a very messy eater.

They had gone through the entire car and they still didn’t have sight on the creature, nor its Stand user.

“It must be a long range Stand. My mom told me about these,” Prism said. “It’s where a Stand can act independently from its master, but that also means it has its own directive. Any harm done to the Stand does not affect the master as well.”

“That means we’ll have to take out the master too.” Summer nodded. “Great. That’s gonna be a problem. We don’t even know where to look. Do you think they’re even on the train?”

Prism shrugged. “I don’t know. But I think we should deal with the Stand first. It’s leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. If it keeps heading in this direction…” Prism pointed a finger down the hall.

“The driver’s car. It’s this way.” Summer understood. “If it takes out the driver, we’ll be sitting ducks out here in the middle of… nowhere.” She looked at the passing fields.

Prism ducked into one of the rooms and yanked out a piece of wood from one of the shattered walls. “You know, just in case.”

“You can’t harm a Stand unless you have a Stand of your own, remember?”

“Doesn’t hurt to have a weapon, just in case. Hey, I could club the Stand master over the head if we find them.” Prism swung the piece of wood in her hands like a bat.

“Right.” Summer pushed the door open into the next car.

This one was the bar car and there wasn’t anyone around, not even the bartender. Glasses swung gently from a high rack because of the train’s rocking, and opened bottles were left on the counter. Whatever happened here, people were in a hurry to leave, because there was not a body in sight, not even a hint of blood.

Summer squinted one eye in thought. “They must’ve definitely seen the Stand arrive and run, but why didn’t it kill them like it did with everyone in the previous car?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it had its fill?” Prism gave her belly a pat. “I know when I’m done, I’m done. I’m no glutton.”

“And Stands don’t have any natural hunger to fill…” Summer rubbed her chin. “Prism, you don’t think… Let’s look ahead.”

The two girls proceeded through the bar car and slid the door to the next car open. Just then, someone crashed into Summer and sent her down on her butt.

“It’s gonna kill us! It’s gonna do it!” A woman shrieked and ran through the bar behind them.

More frantic people followed behind her, screaming and mumbling about getting away.

“I guess we’ve found our missing people.” Prism looked between them and the next car. “But why would they be coming back this way?”

“The Stand must’ve chased them into the next car when it first entered the bar,” Summer deduced. “And the only reason they would turn around and come back this way was if it blocked the other direction, but why isn’t it chasing them back here, then?”

The two of them entered the next car, getting their answer at the very end, just before the next car. The Stand stood in place, writhing its body back and up, forcing through what was now a charred shell of its former body. The Stand now had longer arms with thumbs, reaching much longer than its legs. The plate on its head had become bigger and more pronounced, looking more like a crown and its maw was at least double the size, sporting more teeth than before.

All in all, it now stood at least two feet taller and its length had doubled.

“It was eating to gain biomass,” Prism surmised. “The more it eats, the bigger it gets.”

“We have to stop it before it gets too large,” Summer said.

The enemy Stand stepped away from its old shell and wiggled its tail out. It spiralled around its back, then poised itself high like a scorpion’s stinger, ready to strike.

And that it did, striking forward through the train car with unbelievable speed and reach. Pegasus Forever lunged for the tail, wrapping an arm around it just before it could spike Prism in the face, then with a yell and a punch, it froze the tail in place, changing its energy state. The enemy wasn’t having any of it and instead, it yanked back and the tail tore right off its spine and stayed there, floating in the air as another one already began to form out from its wound.

“It can regenerate.” Summer swung an arm down, then reached another one above her head and stuck two fingers out. “But we need to stop it before it can eat more. If it grows too big, we might not be able to stop it then. Now, we still have a chance.”

“Yeah!” Prism wobbled her plank in the air. “I’ll get its attention. You get ready to hit it where it hurts. Hey, look at me, you beast!”

Prism ran forward a few steps and brandished her plank high as she bent forward till her right knee almost touched the ground.

The enemy Stand swung both arms in the air one after another then charged forward, using the huge crown on its head to smash apart the seats. Prism ducked behind a row of seats just as it extended a mouth from within its mouth, almost catching her through the forehead as its second jaw slammed shut in front of her eyes. She threw herself to the ground and swiped at the Stand’s legs with her plank, which didn’t even make it flinch.

“Pegasus Forever!” Summer saw her chance and sent her Stand ahead.

Summer’s Stand kicked off the ground, splintering it as it threw itself over the Stand. It wrapped its muscled arms around the enemy’s neck and pulled hard, keeping both hooves rooted on the floor as it squeezed as hard as it could. The enemy Stand tried to shake itself out of the hold, reaching its claws behind to try and gouge out Summer’s Stand’s eyes, but Pegasus Forever kept its head low and only squeezed harder.

The enemy Stand’s movements seemed to slow, but then there was a stabbing pain in Summer’s side and she looked down, finding blood spurting out from a hole near her pelvis. Returning her gaze to her Stand, she could see that the enemy’s tail had fully reformed and it was now piercing through Pegasus Forever’s tough armor. Her Stand’s grip loosened and the enemy launched its back into it, knocking it in the face and smashing it against the windows on the side.

Summer coughed up blood and fell back on a row of seats, clutching at her wound. The enemy Stand hissed and stalked over, standing above her as it slowly opened its slimy maw, revealing the second jaw within. As it shot out, she recalled Pegasus Forever and it grabbed the mouth along its shaft, keeping it just out of reach of Summer’s face as its jaws began to snap open and close, trying to get at least a nibble out of her. But the wound on her side needed medical attention and she didn’t have the strength to keep the maw from her face forever.

Just then, a piece of wood thudded against the Stand’s head and it turned to look at Prism, who was now standing behind it, picking up more pieces of broken wood.

“Hey, pick on someone a little smaller than you!” She threw the next piece of wood at it.

The enemy let go of Pegasus Forever and snarled at her before it lumbered its way towards her, smashing apart more seats and even throwing one at her. Prism dived backwards and pushed open the door to the conductor’s car. She had to get it as far away as she could from Summer while she mustered her strength, and she had to make sure to keep its attention on her.

“Did your mom ever tell you that you shouldn’t stuff your face?” Prism called out as she waited for it to get closer. “If you keep at it, you’re gonna be so fat that your weight’s gonna be your phone number!”

She had to protect Summer. She was her best friend, and she and all the others had done so much on the journey and all she could do was watch from the side. Not this time. This time, she was going to be the one doing the protecting. All she had to do was figure out how.

What I wouldn’t give for a Stand… she groaned.

The Stand got close enough to shoot out its second jaw, but Prism twisted herself to the side and slammed the door shut, smashing it against the jaw’s shaft, but again, it was a Stand and it was barely affected by it. It swung an arm against the door, knocking it off its hinges and sending it and Prism flying back into the car. The conductor turned from his controls and squealed when he saw the beastly Stand approaching, smashing its head through the doorway to get in.

“Yeah, that’s right. Come on.” Prism raised her fists and started hopping around. “What’cha gonna do, eat me? You’ve already got all that lard clogging your windpipe. You sure you want some more?”

It swung another arm at Prism, but for some reason, it seemed to be getting slower and slower and Prism was seeing each one before it could even reach her. She weaved under one arm and punched it in the side, then delivered an uppercut to its cheek. The Stand roared in her face, covering it in spit as its second mouth extended, slower, but still fast enough to reach her before she could get out of the way.

Prism tried to duck, but the jaw clipped her on the side of her head and a tooth cut across her skin, drawing blood as she fell to the ground, dazed and woozy.

The Stand dropped to all fours and climbed on top of her, opening its mouth once again for another strike. Before it could hit her, a fist emerged from the side and punched the jaw, stopping it in place. The enemy Stand tried to recall it back, but it was locked in the air. Pegasus Forever then delivered two punches to its face, knocking it up and back, then ripped the jaw from its mouth and punched it again, changing its energy back to kinetic and launched it through the air like a fleshy bullet. The jaw speared into the Stand’s crown and it reared up, roaring to the air as it scratched at its head, trying to dislodge the projectile.

“Thanks, Prism. You got me enough time to recover…” Summer appeared by her side, one hand clutched against her wound.

Pegasus Forever picked up two chairs and froze them in the air before delivering a volley of punches to them. Once it was ready, it delivered two quick punches, unlocking the two chairs and sending them rocketing towards the enemy faster than Prism could see.

They smashed against the Stand’s head and sent it down on its back before Summer pointed a finger up at it menacingly. “Now you’ll wish you were dead.”

The Stand got back up and tried to attack, but its movement seemed even slower than before and Prism watched as Pegasus Forever ducked under them without much effort, then its muscles bulging it as it went for another punch. This one caught the enemy Stand in the chest, its movements too slow to avoid the punch. Its energy became potential energy and it was frozen on the spot, this time unable to tear itself away from its frozen body part.

“It’s the end of the line for you here.” Summer narrowed her eyes at it and turned her body sideways before pointing two fingers up. “Kinetic punches!”

Pegasus Forever tensed itself, then began raining blow after blow on the enemy Stand, building up its potential energy further.

“Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh!” her Stand yelled with each punch.

Once it was ready, it skipped to one side, then delivered one more punch to the enemy Stand’s side, transforming its energy back into a kinetic state. The enemy Stand broke apart into pieces as it shot out through the side of the car, smashing apart the entire wall from the speed it was traveling and rocketed out into a row of trees past the railroad tracks, shattering them and demolishing the entire area in the second they could see it before the train whizzed on, the damaged forest disappearing from view in a flash.

“We did it…” Summer collapsed back against the wall and sighed with relief. “This was a bad place to fight. Trains are so narrow…”

“Yeah, I was pretty good, wasn’t I?” Prism put her hands on her hips. “Man, your Stand was pretty awesome, Sushi. It punched that thing so many times that it just blew up into smithereens.”

“Wait, you saw Pegasus Forever?” Summer suddenly realized.

“Oh. Oh. Yeah. I guess I did.” Prism put one arm over her back and the other one flexed. “Wait, I’ve been seeing Stands! I don’t know what that means, but I’m pretty pumped!”

More blood dripped down from the wound at the side of her head and she groaned from the pain.

“Hey, let’s just get back. Gipsy can patch us up. But wow, you did good, Prism. You saved me with just your plank of wood.” Summer chuckled. “You don’t need a Stand to be awesome. You’re already awesome.”

“I know I am.” Prism grinned widely. “But I would be more awesome if I had one.”

Summer rolled her eyes, but the two of them made their way out of the conductor’s car, back towards their cabin, leaving the conductor standing there motionless, still wondering what exactly had just happened to his train.
——-JO-JO——
Ripple Fancy leaned against the bar counter of the rear bar car, swirling a glass of wine in one hand as she waited for more news of her attack to reach her. Earlier, people had run through, screaming about monsters and beasts, and that was exactly what she had wanted to hear.

She smiled as she gazed at her distorted reflection in the liquid before her eyes. By now, Alien Queen would’ve already eaten its fill of the passengers near the front and that would mean it would be well on its way to reaching mammoth proportions and soon, it would even be too big for the train.

“But that’s good…” she chuckled lowly to herself. “That’s good indeed. Grow. Feed. Kill. That’s just the nature of Alien Queen.”

Another manic woman ran into her bar car and looked around wildly. She spotted Ripple Fancy and lunged at her, grabbing the edge of her yellow coat and began crying out in danish. All she did was scoff at her and usher her to run to the rear of the train, which she swiftly did without a second thought.

Ripple watched her go and sneered at her retreating form. She would let her live for now, but it wouldn’t matter for very long. After all, everyone on this train would be dead eventually.

She was just about to get back to her beverage when a fork stabbed through the back of her hand on the table. Her mouth opened in a silent gasp of pain, then she tilted her head slowly as her eyes followed a pink arm holding the fork. Up the pink arm was a girl decked out in dark clothing with a skull on the shirt and she looked absolutely emotionless as she stared into Ripple’s eyes.

“So you’re the Stand master of that thing.” She twisted the fork around. “I heard you. You don’t have to lie. It won’t work on me, anyway.”

“Ah-Ahh!” Ripple groaned and grabbed the girl’s arm to try and dislodge the utensil.

But the girl reached another hand out and pushed her off the seat before ripping the fork from her hand. “The cakes here are disgusting, but as a Stand master working for Weather Alternate, that makes you even more disgusting, you aberration of a human.”

“I don’t know what you mean.” Ripple still tried to play it cool, but then she received another stab, this time in her chest. The girl pulled it out quickly and stabbed the fork into her again. And again. “Aaagh, stop! Stop! Please!”

“It’s only a fork.” She held it up, then jammed it into her skin again. “I heard all the commotion earlier, about a giant monster roaming around the front of the train eating people. It’s safe to say that if I kill you, the Stand will be gone, right?”

“Please, spare me!” Ripple eyed the bloodied fork. She had always hated forks. Even when she had been small, she’d only ever use her spoon, even for pasta. “I’m sorry. I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have sent out my Stand.”

The girl shrugged and poked her in the shoulder with the fork. “I don’t believe you at all, but even if I did, I wouldn’t believe you.”

Then she poked her again in the eye and Ripple screamed in agony as blood burst from it. She reached a hand up to cover it, then scrambled back, trying to get away from the deranged girl. But she had only made it about a foot away when she stomped down on the back of one leg. Ripple screamed again, then felt the fork enter her back again and again and again. It was shallow and it wouldn’t reach any of her vital organs, but it hurt. A lot.

“I have to get away. I can’t stay here!” Ripple mustered a burst of strength and sprinted for the train car door. “You’re a maniac! A looney!”

She reached for the door handle, but then it was as though she was in the grip of some invisible force. She felt hands on her shoulder yank her back and she sprawled across the floor.

“Celldweller won’t let you go too.” The girl spun the fork between her fingers, then threw it at her. It bounced off Ripple’s forehead as she picked her up by the sleeves. “You know what, I’ll let you go.”

“Really? You will?” Ripple feinted as much gratitude as she could. “I promise, I’ll never attack anyone again. I’ll get as far away from Weather Alternate as I can and you’ll never see me again!”

Then she turned her head to the side and smirked. That fool. Once she lets me go and I get a good head start, I’ll come back and attack them again with Alien Queen. She was a fool to decide to let me go.

“I know I’ll never see you again.” The girl opened the door to the train car.

“Wait, what are you doing?” Ripple watched the passing scenery outside, a blur before her eyes with how fast the train was moving. “The fall will kill me!”

“I’m counting on it.” And the girl threw her out the door with strength Ripple didn’t know she had.

Ripple Fancy could only scream for a second before she was smashed against a pole, breaking every bone in her body and flattening her skull. She dropped to the grass in a heap and her eyes rolled back into her head.


> Chapter 14: There Lived a Certain Man
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cadance walked around Berlin, watching the train station from the street as she browsed through a selection of sunglasses and caps. She had earlier arrived on the orders of Gloriosa Daisy a day before and she had accepted the call without a moment of hesitation. Her dear husband, Shining Armor, had been taken from her, beaten to a pulp and left for dead. Her dear husband whom she loved with all her heart, he had gone away from her life and she missed him dearly.

Her heart had burned after learning that it had been the same people who had taken his sister, her dog, and her boyfriend, Gloriosa’s brother. She pleaded with Gloriosa to use her, to send her to bring justice to these unwholesome foes, to bring them to their knees as she showed them the power of love.

A swirling mist of pink flew around her finger tips as she picked up a pair of red sunglasses. They were cute, but a little too flashy.

“Would you like this one, miss?” The shopkeeper placed his hands together and grinned. “It’s a one of a kind. You won’t find this anywhere but in Berlin.”

“I think I will…” She wiggled her fingers and the pink miss entered his head. It was as though heart shapes had appeared in his eyes and he smiled manically at her.

“You, my beauty, can have it for free.” He waved his fingers at her. “It’s the least I can do.”

Cadance winked and blew him a kiss, then walked away as she slipped the sunglasses on. All of a sudden, the man clutched his heart, then he fell to the ground behind his stand where no one could see him.

She next found a turquoise scarf she liked and she found that it went well with her blue and pink dress. She peeled it off the stand, then wiggled her fingers again as pink mist swirled into the woman manning it.

“You’re so lovely…” The woman clasped her hands together giddily. “The scarf suits you. Please have it. In return, please have my babies!”

“That’s not possible, but I shall have the scarf.” Cadance blew her a kiss, then walked away, only for the woman to fall seconds after.

It won’t be long now before that Sushi gang arrives in Berlin. Gloriosa had sent another of her people to deal with them on the train, but Cadance hoped she would fail. She wanted the satisfaction of dealing with them herself. They had taken more than everything from her and forget all the morals she had learnt throughout her years. All that mattered now was their deaths by her hand.

Cadance swirled more of her Stand around her, sending it across the street as it floated from person to person, infecting their hearts and minds with want for her. She closed her eyes and breathed in their scents, reveling in the love in the air.

People began crowding towards her, their eyes reflecting hearts as they wished for her love. But she would not give any. The only one to ever receive her love was Shining Armor, and he had been taken from her all so suddenly. For that, Weather Alternate would have their prize once she dealt with Sushi and her group.

One by one, as she blew her kisses to them, the people clutched at their chests and went down, covering the street in a multitude of bodies.

“So you are the one causing this…” a thick accent said somewhere behind her.

Cadance whipped around and creased her eyebrows at that sudden intrusion. There was a man in a brown and orange coat standing there, holding on to a sword at his side, sheathed in a long black scabbard.

“You’re interrupting me.” She said, eyeing the steely gaze in his eyes. This wasn’t some regular nobody. He was something else. “Who are you?”

“I should ask you the same.” He placed one foot forward, then angled his body back and lifted a hand up, his palm facing up and his fingers curled like he was asking her for something. “For all that is good in the world and to the promise I made to my late grandfather, Stand users who use their power for wrong will be swiftly dealt with.”

“And you’re going to stop me?” Cadance pointed at his sword. “With that?”

She lifted a hand and pointed all five fingers at him. Her Stand began spiralling out from them, floating through the air towards the stranger. But suddenly, to her surprise, he lifted a scarf from under his chin and placed it over his mouth and nose.

“Impossible! How did you know how Love You to Death works?” Cadance took a step back. “You knew that my Stand can only affect you if it goes through your nose or mouth and you raised the scarf over them to protect yourself!”

“I’ve been watching you work from a distance.” The man put a hand between his eyes and put all his fingers together. “Therefore, I also know the range of your Stand is ten meters and that once you blow a kiss, you induce heart failure in your targets.”

“What do you want? I didn’t do anything to you!” Cadance backed away further.

“But you did do something to all those people who you’ve killed with your Stand,” the katana wielding man said. “And if I don’t speak for them, who will?”

He suddenly broke into a run, charging at Cadance with one hand on the hilt of his weapon. But Cadance wasn’t completely helpless either. She reached into her purse and pulled out a compact submachine gun, German made of course. Her husband, having been a military man, had taught her how to shoot, and Cadance squeezed the trigger and sent a barrage of bullets in her foe’s direction.

The young man changed his course and dived to the left as the bullets from Cadance’s gun perforated the space he had just been occupying. Cadance fired again and kept him on the move. Moving like that would mean he had to exert himself more and with the scarf over his mouth and nose, it would get harder for him to breathe and he would either slow down or remove it. Either way, she was going to win.

Cadence stopped to reload her weapon, backing away towards the train station as she did. There was no way that ridiculous child was going to get her. 

A security guard saw the gun in Cadance’s hands and came over to investigate.

“Hey, ma’am. What’s with the weapon? Do you have a license for that?” He had a hand on his hip where a pistol was holstered.

Cadance simply used her Stand, coiling it into his mouth and nose. The security guard went slack and stopped talking.

“There’s someone here out to kill me,” Cadance told the guard. “He has a sword and is wearing a long coat. If you see him, kill him for me.”

“Of course, my love,” the guard droned. “Anything for you.”

Leaving the guard behind, Cadence pushed further into the train station.

In the meantime, the guard saw the young man with the sword come closer. He drew his pistol and pointed it. 

“You must be the one she was talking about,” the guard said. “I will kill you, just like she told me to.”

He pulled the trigger, but his target dropped down to one knee and held up his left arm. A vaguely circular object the size of a car door manifested there, blocking the bullets from the guard’s gun. The shots ricocheted from the shield and hit other surfaces harmlessly. Civilians heard the gunfire and began to panic, running about in a confused mass.

The guard continued to shoot his weapon, but none of the bullets did the slightest amount of harm to their intended target. As the guard paused after his gun clicked empty, the young man stood up, and swung his left hand downwards. The shield spun like a top and whizzed towards the guard, striking him on the arm and then in the chest. The guard’s gun went flying away, and its owner was knocked off his feet and slammed into a pole. He fell to the ground, knocked out.

“Sorry about that, friend,” the young man said as he pushed through the crowd and past the unconscious guard. 

Cadence was hiding on the other end of the station. A train was coming soon and she planned to sneak aboard, escaping this lunatic and his katana. She kept her submachine gun inside her purse, fully loaded now. There was no need to incite any more panic among the masses.

“So there you are!” Cadence stiffened and turned to see who had spoken. It was that same person from before, the one she was trying to avoid. “By the bones of my grandfather, you will not escape me today!”

Cadence wasted no time with words and simply took her gun out of her purse and started to empty it in the young man’s direction. In such a narrow space there was nowhere for him to dodge.

Once again, the young man dropped onto one knee and summoned his shield. But this time, instead of the bullets bouncing off and hitting around, the pieces of metal stayed stuck to the shield’s surface. Then they began to glow orange, and Cadance barely had time to hit the deck before the bullets she had fired were all sent back at her, puncturing dozens of holes into the wall behind her.

But Cadance was not to be deterred. She slipped a new magazine into her gun and shot again. She could see the train coming and as long as she was able to get aboard, there would be more people she could use her Stand on to get the upper hand, especially since the train may have Sushi and her group, or perhaps Gloriosa’s agent.

“You won’t kill a…” Cadance tossed her empty weapon aside. “A defenseless person. Would you? If I had to guess, you were born in China. They have honor there, do they not?”

“Wrong on both counts.” The man pointed at her. “I am Bushido Spirit, protector of good, hero of justice. And you are a destroyer of the innocent. You have no honor and you are not worthy of my honor.”

He approached and Cadance backed all the way up until her back was to the platform wall. All seemed lost when a train suddenly arrived, slowing to a stop, but still at a great speed, blowing her hair into her face. As soon as its doors slid open, people began running out frantically, muttering and mumbling about monsters. They ran in between Cadance and Bushido and the woman smiled as Love You to Death began making its way into various people, granting them love for her, and eventually, a group emerged from the car she was next to, younger than most of the other passengers. One of them had red and white hair and Cadance immediately recognized her as Sushi, the one she was sent to eliminate.

“Jackpot,” she said.

“Hey, is that a dude with a sword?” Sushi’s rainbow haired companion asked, but then Love You to Death entered their nostrils and their bodies straightened and spun around. “We love you, Cadance!”

“Yes, I know.” She clapped her hands together. “I know you are Stand users. You see that man there? He’s trying to kill me with his sword. Won’t you protect me? The one you love the most.”

“We will do anything for you, Cadance.” Sushi grinned.

“Yes, we love you the most,” Sushi’s male companion said. “Once we’ve dealt with him, please go out with me.”

“Oh, I’ll do more than go out with you…” Cadance ruffled his hair. “Now, get him.”
-——JO-JO——
Bushido Spirit leapt back out of the train station as a trio of Stands rushed towards him, barreling through hordes of people and swatting them aside. He hadn’t expected there to be Stand users on the train, not to mention so many of them. Now, Cadance had control of them and he didn’t know if they were evil or not, and that meant he couldn’t kill them until he was sure.

Like they said in a court of law, one is innocent until proven guilty.

“Grandfather, what do I do?”

A red Stand with a buffalo skull for a head drove towards him on wheels and would’ve gored him if he hadn’t called forth his Stand in full, Boney M. It manifested out of him, grabbing its shield straps with both hands as it thrust it into the head of the bull Stand. Now that his Stand was using it, the shield extended into its full form, standing taller than Bushido himself. His Stand stood behind it, clad in its blue and indigo armor, glimmering in the sunlight.

With its shield, Boney M swung at the next enemy Stand, which was a golden ballerina-lIke figure with bladed fans. The fan-wielding Stand shuffled backwards and retaliated with a slash of its own weapons. Boney M was able to block them in time, but then a humanoid Stand with a horse’s head in blue armor slammed its fists into Boney M’s exposed back, knocking Bushido Spirit over onto the ground.

“Arrgh…” Bushido spat. “Looks like it's time for a little back to back action!”

Boney M reappeared behind Bushido and held its shield up to guard against anything that might attack from behind, while Bushido drew his katana and held it in a guard position in front of him.

“What are you going to do now?” Cadence taunted from behind the other three Stand users. “Can you fight a Stand with your sword? Can you cut a Stand with regular steel?”

“It’s you who doesn’t understand,” Bushido growled back. “A Japanese man’s sword is his soul! And a Stand is a manifestation of my fighting spirit! Combined, they create a power that I can use to my advantage! That, is the Japanese samurai’s Bushido Spirit!”

Bushido held his sword up and a shimmering blue glow covered the blade of the weapon. 

The golden Stand slashed down with its fans, but to everyone’s surprise, Bushido Spirit brought up his sword and blocked the attack. Cadance gasped as Bushido swept his sword in an upwards blow, striking the golden Stand under the chin with the pommel of his katana.

The Stand’s master clutched at her chin and fell back, dazed from the blow. The equine Stand attempted to attack again, rearing up on one foot before throwing itself high, coming down from above with a muscled arm in front of its face. Boney M swung its shield up and blocked it, but then as it tried to bring it back down, the shield remained in the air, unable to be moved.

“Sushi’s Stand ability changes the state of energy from potential to kinetic or vice versa with anything it punches. Until it deems otherwise…” Cadance pointed a finger at him and ran her other hand through her hair as she laughed. “Your shield is now useless!”

“But I still have this.” Bushido lifted his katana to position the blade diagonally in front of his face. “Boney M is not just a defensive Stand. With the spirit manifested in my sword, Boney M can also manifest its power through this and I can end you in one fatal slice.”

“We’ll see about that.” Cadance placed the back of a hand under her neck, then the other one curved around the top of her head and she slid both legs closely together, then slightly lifted her left one. “I’ll get these Stands to remove your face scarf. Once that’s out of the way, you’ll love me more than you’ll ever have loved. And then… you’ll die. And so will the rest of Sushi’s group. And all will be well with the world. My husband will be avenged, and so too will my sister-in-law, her boyfriend, and her most precious and innocent dog.”

“You are crazy.” Bushido lowered his stance, then slid his sword back into his sheath, still holding on tightly to its grip. “But by the power of my Stand, Boney M, your crazy ends here.”

“Crazy? You’re the crazy one, attacking me from nowhere! And these kids are the crazy ones for destroying my family! Enough talk, get him!”

The three Stand users grinned lovingly at her, then they sent their Stands forward. Bushido kept his weapon in its sheath, then bent his legs lower as he closed his eyes. It was as though everything turned into slow motion around him as the Stands left the ground, leaping in the air towards him, ready to tear him to pieces. The easterner continued to stand there, waiting for the right time to move. He would only have one chance at this, but by the looks of it, he was most likely to succeed. The red Stand flew towards him from his right, its nostrils puffing smoke as it poised its horns downwards to his chest. The blue equine Stand came from the middle, its muscles bulging as its hands reached for his head, and the golden Stand flew in from the right, spinning in a circle with its fans, ready to dice him to bits.

And right before any of them could touch him, Bushido Spirit moved, unsheathing his blade with inhuman speed as Boney M’s hand appeared over his. His blade swung in an arc with a trail of burning blue fire behind it, scorching the air and cutting against all three Stands’ hands. The force that hit them from his sword sent them back as they lost their balance, giving him just enough room to bypass them as he aimed for his true target: Cadance.

Her expression gave away her surprise that he had made it out of that, but it was too late for her to move now. The sword, imbued with the energy of his Stand, slashed forward at unbelievable speed. Cadance fell back a step and raised her hands in defense and for a while after that, nobody moved. Then a line of red formed along Cadance’s left shoulder to her right hip and it began to spread over her clothes and the wall behind her also had a long cut that saw right through to the other side.

“You… you…” Cadance looked up at Bushido as he swung his sword to the side, flicking blood off its thin blade as the aura faded from it. Then Cadance dropped to her knees and then her face.

“Justice be served.” Bushido spun his sword around and slid it back into its sheath.

Bushido looked around at the other Stand users standing around him as his Stand retrieved its shield and disappeared. One by one, they started blinking and screwing their eyes shut before bonking the sides of their head as they groaned in annoyance.

“I feel like jelly…” the one with red and white hair said.

She had on a black jacket over a turquoise shirt that showed off her amazing form. Bushido realized his gaze was set too long on her and he averted his eyes.

“What even happened, I only know we left the train and then here we are…” A boy with cyan hair rubbed his head.

“We’re still outside the train. So nothing much.” A goth-looking one groaned. Then she suddenly looked over her shoulder and nodded. “Someone has answers to your questions.”

She looked straight at Bushido and pointed at him.

“Cool, he’s got a sword!” A girl with rainbow hair pushed her way past the others.

Bushido kept his hand on his weapon, but he sensed no hostility from these strangers. And Cadance had been talking about getting her revenge against them, so they would be against that terrible woman too.

“What were your ties with that woman?” Bushido Spirit pointed to Cadance, whose body was lying there behind him.

“I don’t even know who that is.” Rainbow hair looked at her. “You guys know who she is?”

“Cadance?” An older woman with pale skin gasped. “She used to be the dean of Crystal Prep Academy, a rival school to Canterlot High. Why did you kill her? Who are you?”

Everyone got into fighting stances and the blue Stand reappeared behind the beautiful girl.

Bushido got the message and raised his hand from his sword. “I am Bushido Spirit, Protector of Good, Hero of Justice. I scour the world for Stand users that use their power for evil. This woman was using her Stand to bewitch the minds of people here, and I decided to put a stop to it. Not to mention I have deep suspicions that she was in deep with another group of unscrupulous Stand users calling themselves Weather Alternate.”

“Weather Alternate? You know of them?” The older woman asked.

Bushido confirmed her question with a nod. “As a protector of those unable to protect themselves, I have come across this name in my travels and they use their powers for evil. They intend to conquer the world and to eradicate all whom they deem weak.”

“We’re going after Weather Alternate too,” the rainbow haired girl said. “They’re planning to awaken some kind of ancient life forms called the Nugget People.”

“The what people?” Bushido asked, certain that he had heard her wrong. “What kind of a name is that?”

“It is kind of dumb,” the owner of the buffalo skull Stand agreed. “That’s just our human names for them. But whatever it is, we can’t let Weather Alternate wake them.”

“All lives are at stake here.” The beautiful one continued for him. Bushido couldn’t help but lay eyes on her once in a while. “If they awaken, they could potentially spell extinction for all of us.”

“You seem to be noble in character.” Bushido gave them a short bow. “Please allow me to help, to aid you on your journey to protect the world. That way, I will serve the good and my grandfather would be proud of my actions.”

“More help against the enemy is welcomed.” The older one nodded. “We gratefully accept your help. Come, we can talk on the way.” She whistled and a backpack with crab legs appeared beside her. “It’ll be safer to travel in REO Speedwagon for now.”

As they left the station’s compound, none of them saw an elderly man looking at them from around the corner, flipping a coin in his fingers.


> Chapter 15: As Long as There's a Memory in Your Mind
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summer Shine had got to know more about Bushido Spirit as REO Speedwagon walked down the streets of Berlin, passing through cobbled pathways and rows of cars as they made their way for the closest car rental service.

His grandfather had groomed him into becoming a protector of the innocent ever since he was five years old and even though his grandfather had passed away, he still resolved to live the life his grandfather had trained him to lead.

“I made him a promise as he breathed towards his last,” Bushido had said. “I promised to never go back on that promise to myself.”

He had traveled long and far from some small town in Japan called Kantarijji, at least, that’s what it sounded like to Summer. She wasn’t all that well versed in other languages.

Bushido Spirit had discovered his Stand when he was ten and for the next twelve years, he had been learning the intricacies of his Stand, Boney M, and Summer thought he was being modest, but he said he still had much to learn about his Stand.

That got Summer thinking about her own Stand. Did she know all there was to know about her own Stand? Perhaps there was more to it yet.

“Pssst, Sushi.” Prism prodded her shoulder to get her attention before whispering in her ear. “He talks a lot to you specifically. I think he might fancy you.”

“What, him? No way.” Summer’s cheeks turned red as she watched Bushido clean his sword in the corner beside the fishing rod rack. “Besides, we’ve only just met.”

“You know I have an eye for such things,” Prism giggled.

“You do not. You keep thinking I like your brother.”

“You make that one easy. That’s cause you keep sticking up for him.”

“That doesn’t mean anything!” Summer hissed.

Prism flapped a hand back and forth. “Anyway, I think it would be cool, you know? Having a Japanese boyfriend. He’s quite exotic.”

“Well, if you think so, why don’t you go for it, then?” Summer challenged.

“That’s cause he likes you. I’m pretty sure of it.”

Summer looked between Bushido and Prism, then shook her head. “You’ve got to find me some proof then, detective. I won’t believe you till you do. And besides, we’re on a mission!”

“Mission fission.” Prism stood up and dusted her red jeans. “I’ll sort it out for you, Sushi. It’s a good thing your best friend is so direct, huh?”

“Prism, really, I don’t think now’s the time.”

“We all deserve a little love in life, don’t we?” She turned to Fuchsia. “You think so, Fuchs?”

“Fuchs this…” The girl in question walked away from them to raid the fridge. “Love is meaningless. It won’t get you anywhere. It’ll just make you more upset.”

“Your parents definitely don’t think so!” Prism called after her. Then she waved a hand and shrugged. “Fuchsia's just being Fuchsia. Jojo would agree with me. Don’t you, Jojo?”

The boy looked up from his math paper and widened his eyes. “Uh… Sure, Prism.”

“See? He’s a good boy.” Prism chuckled. “Sweetie Belle, do you have someone you love?”

“Matter of fact, I do.” The older woman grinned and walked over, sitting down on a yellow worn couch beside Summer. “His name’s Button Mash. He’s a pro gamer. He competes in the greatest tournaments in the world for Factions of Folklores.”

“Hey, we’ve played that before,” Prism beamed. “Fun game, but I stopped because the players were too toxic.”

“I know the feeling.” Summer snorted. Her mom had introduced her to the game a few years ago, but she never understood how a game like that could be fun when your teammates constantly swear at you. They were worse than Fuchsia.

“So, you miss him, Sweetie?” Prism continued, sitting on the floor in front of them. “Surely it’s not easy being apart from him, even if it’s for a mission.” She gave Summer a wink.

“I do miss him all the time.” Sweetie Belle leaned back and looked up towards the ceiling. “But I deal with it. He’s away a lot because of the tournaments, so it’s not anything new. And hey, I wouldn't let a mission get in the way of love. Is it because of that new boy, Bushido?” She gave Summer a pat on the arm. “No harm in trying, Sushi.”

“You know about it too?” Summer groaned. “Fine, but I’ll get to know him before I make any decisions, alright?”

“No rush.” Prism waved both hands. “Just make sure to do it before he gets back to Japan or wherever.”

Summer sighed and took a look at him as he continued to wipe his sword down with a cloth. All of a sudden, there was the sound of a train driving by and the horn it emitted was loud. Really loud. Her hands flew to her ears and she ducked her head lower as the insides of REO Speedwagon began to rumble.

“Train? There’s a train here?!” Jojo put his work down and ran to the Stand’s looking glass. They were still walking down the streets of Berlin outside, along a row of parked cars and buildings. “That’s not possible.”

“It must be coming from the station back where we came from.” Gipsy Dance pointed to her back.

“It’s too loud.” Bushido stood up and sheathed his blade. “This is no natural circumstance.”

All of a sudden, a train appeared in the view of the looking glass and the group stared in horror as it came barreling towards REO Speedwagon. They didn’t have enough time to get out of the way.

“Hold on to something!” Sweetie Belle warned as the train collided with them.

Her Stand flipped back as it crashed through the window of a clothes store, tumbling a few more times before smashing into a cabinet, stopping only because of the brick wall behind it, which had cracked from the sudden impact.

Summer stood from the ground, rubbing at her forehead. She had smacked it against a wooden chest earlier and though there was no blood, it felt as though it was starting to swell. “Everyone okay?”

Bushido pushed a table off his body and dusted his hair. “I am.”

“Ow…” Prism rubbed the top of her head. “What was that? Why was there a train on the road?!”

“Sorcery is at play.” Gipsy Dance arranged her bandana and pointed out the window. “The train came out of nowhere. I’d say an enemy Stand is at work.”

“What are we even up against here?” Summer rubbed her growing welt. “A Stand that creates trains?”

“I do not think it’s just trains...” Gipsy pressed her face against the looking glass to get a better look. “There’s definitely something more to this enemy. I will take a look outside. Stay in here.”

“I’m coming too.” Sweetie Belle swung a fist up, then bent her left leg as low as it could go without touching the ground. “Two heads are better than one.”

Gipsy Dance nodded and made her way out of the backpack, with Sweetie Belle following close behind her. They emerged out in the wrecked store, pushing bits of wood off themselves and REO Speedwagon. The shopkeep looked out from behind the counter and looked around the room before setting his eyes on the two women.

“You’ve damaged my rack!” he squealed as Sweetie swung her Stand over one shoulder. “Someone needs to pay for all this material!”

Sweetie Belle and Gipsy Dance paid him no attention and stepped out of the store, standing back to back so as not to be taken by surprise. He followed after them, but before he could say anything else, something else began to make itself known, something in the air above them.

“Is that… is that a plane I hear?” The shopkeeper asked. He looked up into the sky, and so did Gipsy and Sweetie. There, bearing down on them was a World War 2 era German plane, swooping towards the ground.

The chatter of machine gun fire rang out and bullets tore up the ground near them. Gipsy pulled Sweetie out of the road and behind a wall, but the shopkeeper wasn’t as lucky. Bullets tore through his body and he spasmed about before dropping to the ground. Sweetie and Gipsy continued running down the lane as the plane zoomed down the street they had been on. They hid around the corner as they watched it go, only coming back out once they could no longer hear it in the air above.

“Just what is this enemy Stand?” Sweetie Belle pounded a fist against the wall. “It can call forth vehicles to attack us.”

“Keep your eyes peeled.” Spandau Ballet appeared behind Gipsy, its fans already brandished. “The Stand user has to be around here somewhere.”

“But the Stand user could be anyone,” Sweetie said. “They’re probably disguised as a normal person.”

Unfortunately for them, there were no other people on the street at the moment. Wherever this Stand user was, they were probably hiding in one of the buildings.

“They must be somewhere where they can see us.” Sweetie looked from window to window, hoping to catch a glimpse of someone ducking down, but there was none. “They would have to be somewhere they can be safe, somewhere they can comfortably see us where we won’t be able to easily spot them.”

There was the sound of hissing behind them and both women turned around and looked to the ground, automatically realizing it was the sound snakes make. The floor here was slightly damp and there were puddles of water around and from the puddles, two snakes suddenly slithered out, snaking straight for them. Sweetie Belle gasped and lifted an arm as they jumped through the air towards them, mouths open to reveal twin fangs dripping with venom. From behind her, two spinning fans sliced through them before returning to Spandau Ballet. The snake pieces flew by them, landing a few feet behind them before disappearing into nothing.

“So the Stand is creating these things from nothing…” Gipsy Dance surmised. “It must have a limit on these abilities.”

“Judging by what we’ve been hit with so far, this enemy Stand has a lot of variety,” Sweetie said, looking around for anything suspicious. “Who knows what it might throw at us next.”

“Maybe it’s a long range Stand,” Gipsy muttered. “But for something to have this kind of power and target us so precisely, I am of the opinion that it isn’t a long range one.”

“We need to find somewhere to retreat to,” Sweetie and Gipsy walked towards an alley. “Get out of the open. We’re sitting ducks if we stay in the streets.”

There was a low roar that sounded like river rapids, and Gipsy and Sweetie Belle turned around to see a flood of rushing water surging at them. The deluge was at least three meters high and churned with white foam.

“Run!” Gipsy shouted. 

The two women broke into a sprint as the tsunami rushed at their backs. They sprinted past other people once they were out the other end of the alley, who also saw the water coming and ran with them. However, one teenage boy with headphones seemed too busy looking at his phone, and Sweetie Belle gasped in horror as the deluge engulfed the boy completely.

“Get to higher ground!” Gipsy jumped onto a table and pulled Sweetie up with her, then used an open window and her Stand to climb onto the roof. The water foamed and gushed past in a flood, but soon the water stopped flowing as it followed the path of least resistance downhill.

“Whew, that was close,” Gipsy panted, out of breath. “You okay, Sweetie Belle?”

“I think so,” Sweetie looked down at the destruction that the flood had made, before reaching a hand out to give REO Speedwagon a pat to make sure it was still there. Then she saw something strange.

The same boy with the headphones was standing in the street, his eyes still on his phone. He was completely unharmed, and didn’t even seem to be wet.

“What the…” Sweetie Belle muttered. “Gipsy, do you see that?”

“He survived!” Then she rubbed her chin and her brows creased in thought. “But it’s no illusion. The clothing store man, he got gunned down.”

Sweetie Belle looked down the hill at the path that the water had gone. There was little sign of the flood, even though people still seemed to be running. “I don’t see the water any more,” she said slowly. “But what does this mean?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know, dear?” Their thoughts were interrupted when a laughter sounded from behind a chimney nearby. Sweetie recognized the voice, and she turned with disbelief to see her older sister standing there with her hands on her hips and a devious look in her eyes.


> Chapter 16: Truly Disturbed
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.


> Chapter 17: Apocalyptica's Shadow
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.”


> Chapter 18: A Quiet Riot
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Just hold still…” Gipsy kept one arm on Cajole as he sat on a bed. His and Sweetie Belle’s entire bodies had blackened, burned in Apocalyptica’s shadow realm. They stung, especially when in contact with the air, which was all the time, but at least Gipsy Dance had remedies for burns, though they stung too.

“It wasn’t a pleasant experience, I’ll give you that.” Sweetie Belle lay on another bed, wrapped up in bandages with ointments and leaves sticking out underneath. “It was so dark and so cold, but at the same time, you’re burning. And you can’t see anything and there are noises all around you, echoes from another world…”

“Don’t worry. You’re safe now.” Summer gave her hand a squeeze. “You’ve got Bushido Spirit to thank for that. He took out the enemy in one synchronized move. It was almost like watching a bird grab its prey.”

Sweetie looked between the two of them and smiled. “I’m sure it was.”

“I’m poofed!” Prism tossed herself on another bed and put her hands behind her head. “Glad we’ve got beds tonight! Berlin hotels rock!”

“At least take your shoes off before getting on the bed.” Fuchsia gave her a disgusted look.

“What’s wrong?” Prism tilted her head up. “I do this at home too. I’ve never had any problems.”

The goth girl shook her head. “Fusch this. It’s your bed. You do what you want. Couldn’t I have had my own room? I hate sharing rooms.”

“Is there anything you don’t hate?” Prism asked.

“The dark and cold embrace of death and nothingness. And skeletons,” Fuchsia replied.

“Yeah, sorry we have to share rooms, Fuchsia.” Sweetie Belle tilted her head to see her. “They only had two rooms available, and I thought the boys should get their own.”

“Pretty sure Jojo wouldn’t mind bunking over with me. Wouldn’t you, Jojo?” Prism flashed him a cheeky grin.

“I’ve uh… homework.” He took interest in the ceiling and scratched his cheek. “Ouch!”

“The less you squirm, the faster this will be.” Gipsy rubbed more ointment on his arm. “Anyway, the rest of you should get some sleep. We only have four more hours before daylight.”

Summer groaned and leaned on her side after kicking off her boots. She tried to stay positive and looked at it from the other side. At least she would have four hours of sleep on a comfy bed away from the cold.

As she closed her eyes, she thought about their parents. It had been a while since they’d called each other and she was wondering how her mother was doing. Her mother had Alicorn Fantasy with her at least, but if she was caught off guard again like when Timber Spruce attacked them, there was nothing even her powerful Stand could do. But again, like with the bed, she chose to look at the sunny side of life. Her mother was strong. She would be able to look after herself, probably even better than she was doing. And she trusted her mother’s teammates. They’ve been through a lot together. If it was anyone she knew her mother would be safe with, it was with the parents of her friends.

It was only a matter of time now. Tomorrow, they would set out to Leipzig and if that pickup truck was still there by morning, they would already have their transport down. Once in Leipzig, they would be closer than ever to getting to Mount Fegel to stop Weather Alternate. And after that, they could all go home and she would see her mother again.

Summer held on to that thought and resolve as she dived off to sleep.
-------JO-JO-------
The pickup truck, in fact, was still in the parking lot after they left the hotel the next morning. The gang quickly got in before Sweetie Belle got it to work and they were off, heading down the streets of Berlin towards its outskirts. The drive would only take about two hours and they would be in Leipzig before lunch.

Just thinking about food made Prism Dash’s stomach growl and she grabbed her gut as she grinded her teeth against each other, wishing there was a piece of bacon between them. They had left the hotel at about six in the morning and that hadn’t left them any room for breakfast and they didn’t exactly have dinner either.

“Sweetie, do you have any meat in there?” Prism rubbed her belly.

“‘course I do.” She grinned and her Stand appeared in Prism’s lap. “Help yourself. Front compartment. That’s where I keep all the food.”

“Sweet, bacon!” Prism pulled out a few strips and shoved them in her mouth. “You’re my bescht friend, Schweetie!”

“Hey, I thought I was your best friend?” Summer folded her arms. She was seated across from Prism in the back, her hair whipping across her face from the wind.

“This is different.” Prism chewed on her food, then dug around REO Speedwagon and took out a crab roll. “Here, Sushi. No hard feelings.”

“Little heavy for breakfast. But alright, I accept your offer.” Summer chuckled and took the roll.

“Sappy…” Fuchsia groaned and leaned an arm on the truck’s side as she gazed at the passing buildings.

Jojo sat across from her, holding on to his backpack as his scarf fluttered in the wind. He kept his eyes on Bushido’s blade. Seated beside him, the easterner was busy cleaning his weapon with a cloth and Jojo was afraid if the car were to jerk, the sword could go right through him if Bushido wasn’t careful.

“It’s not going to stab you,” Bushido suddenly said as though reading his mind. He didn’t even look up at Jojo. “You’re going to ask how I knew that.”

“How did you know that?” Then Jojo realized what had happened. “You just pulled the oldest Jojo trick in the book!”

“I can feel your gaze on my blade,” Bushido said, continuing to clean his weapon. “That and your slowed breathing. You’re wary of it. That it could stab you if I lose my balance. Trust me, I will not.”

“I don’t know…” Jojo held his bag tighter. “The road’s getting bumpy.”

“Here…” Prism handed him a ham sandwich. “Have something to eat. You’ll feel better.”

Jojo slowly accepted the sandwich, then went back to looking at the katana as he chewed.

“So, your grandfather, Bushido, was he a defender of others too?” Summer decided to strike up some conversation. It would be good to get to know him more, seeing as he was their newest member.

“He was.” Bushido nodded. “He was the greatest defender of our family line. Throughout the nineteenth century, he protected Japan from corrupt rulers to defeating the Yakuza. Uh, Japanese Mafia.”

Prism had raised a hand, but then lowered it.

“He had no Stand of his own, but the achievements he had accomplished in his lifetime dwarf anything I’ve done. He was a true Hero of Justice. He would sometimes come home full of cuts or bruises, but he never once thought that it was time to give up, not until his cancer overtook him and he had to remain at home for the rest of his days. That was when I made my promise to him, to continue his work and to ensure others would not use their powers for evil.”

“Noble as always. Here, have a crab roll too.” Prism handed him food from REO Speedwagon. “No wonder Sushi finds you attractive.”

Summer almost choked on her meal. “W-Wait, what, I never- hey.”

Bushido looked out the back, but they could see his cheeks changing color as well.

Jojo looked between the two of them, then at Fuchsia. “What was that all about?”

“You don’t want to know.” She rolled her eyes and drew a finger across her neck. Then she accepted a string of candy from Prism. This time, she didn’t complain about it, but she didn’t say anything nice about it either. Fuchsia stuck it in her mouth and began chewing on it.

Gipsy Dance sat in front with Sweetie, her body still wrapped with bandages like Jojo’s. The healing ointments were already taking effect, but until then, she would have to stay like this and they would have to apply a new one when they got to Leipzig.

She tapped a finger on the door’s handle, following the rhythm of the bumps under their wheels as their pickup truck traveled, nearing a hundred and forty kilometers per minute. All she could think about now was eventually finding Eximus Exo, the man who destroyed her family. They were almost to Weather Alternate’s base of operations. The closer they got, the higher the chance of finding that murderer and avenging her people.

“This is kind of boring,” Prism said after a while. “Can you turn on the radio and put on some tunes or something?”

“Can you even hear the radio from back there? With the wind in your ears and all?” Sweetie Belle reached over for the radio, but instead of turning it to a music channel, she tuned in to the news.

“Is that the radio? Why are we listening to this borefest?” Prism complained.

Summer glanced at her friend. “It’s important to know the state of things in this country, in case it could affect our journey.”

“As you all know, the Nugget Run has pulled many flocking to Mount Fegel for a chance of all that gold,” a newscast said. Summer and Prism had to bring their heads closer to the back window to listen. “There have already been reports of fighting and authorities had to disengage some of them before they got violent. Everyone please remember that no one lays claim to any of the nuggets until they have acquired them by hand. It is fair game up there and as of now, there is enough for everyone. In fact, the deeper you go, the more nuggets there seem to be.

“A resource group, Winging Alternative has set up shelters at the bottom of the mountain for weary travelers and for them to get their gold in order before returning home. Aid has been coming to Mount Fegel from all across the world in the form of food stands, clothing, and even a setup for free warm showers. It seems this Nugget Run is very much bigger than we thought.”

“They have no idea.” Sweetie Belle clicked her tongue. “Did you catch all that?”

“Winging Alternative?” Prism scoffed and stuck her tongue out. “And they call me unoriginal.”

“But you’re the one who came up with Fun Day.” Summer poked her. “A day where we take a break from practice and have fun.”

“It’s still better than Winging Alternative. I mean, come on.” Prism raised a hand. “They’re not even trying. Anyone can tell they’re Weather Alternate.”

“That’s if anyone else even knows what Weather Alternate is,” Jojo said. “I’m thinking we’re in the ten percent of the world who know what Weather Alternate is.”

“Ten’s a bit generous!” Gipsy yelled to him from the front. “They’re a secretive bunch. If we count the people who actually know who and what Weather Alternate is, it’s probably less than a hundred thousand people, which isn’t even one percent.”

“I guess that’s fair.”

“Hey look.” Prism pointed to another red truck they were catching up to. There were a trio of people sitting in the back carrying pickaxes. “More prospector dudes. We must be getting close.”

“There’s still a way to go. Leipzig’s only just come in sight on the horizon.” Sweetie Belle looked back. “But the traffic seems to be picking up. They’re the closest city to Mount Fegel, after all. I won’t be surprised if we can’t find a hotel later.”

“Ugh, fusch this…” Fuchsia put her head between her legs. “No, I don’t know why it takes so long…”

“I didn’t say anything.” Prism eyed her with a raised brow.

“I wasn’t talking to you,” Fuchsia said without looking up.

“Oh, right. You’re talking to that ‘Stand’ of yours…” Prism curled her index and middle fingers on both hands up and down. “I’ve seen Summer’s Stand now. I’ve seen Gipsy’s. I’ve seen Jojo’s. I’ve seen Bushido’s. I’ve seen Sweetie’s. I’ve seen all their Stands, except yours. Now I’m not so sure you actually have one.”

“I don’t have to prove-” Fuchsia was cut off by the truck screeching to a halt, almost throwing off everyone in the back. “Hey. What gives?” She asked the driver.

Sweetie Belle pointed ahead to the road. There was a man standing in the middle, staring into the distance. He had a pickaxe strapped to his leg and a long length of rope wrapped around his shoulders. “Someone’s blocking the way there.”

Sweetie Belle honked the horn. “Oi! Would you mind getting out of the way? We’re in a rush here!”

“What if he’s an enemy Stand master.” Jojo clenched a fist and Tenacious D appeared on the road beside their truck. “I’ll take him on.”

“Do nothing until they engage us.” Bushido held a hand out in front of him. “We do not yet know if he is a Stand master.”

“What else could he be?” Summer asked, getting ready to call forth Pegasus Forever.

“A drunk?” Gipsy suggested. “His movements are not regular. It’s almost like he’s… shambling.”

“You don’t think…” Prism gulped and her eyes widened as she turned to her friends. “This is Germany. You don’t think that’s a… Nazi zombie?”

“Nazi zombies aren’t real, Prism.” Summer gave her friend a knock on the head. “They never figured out how to reanimate the dead.”

“Then what’s the matter with this guy, then?” Prism demanded. “Hey! Get off the road!” She shouted. The man didn’t comply. “Ah, it’s no good. Sweetie Belle, just go around him.”

“I don’t want to accidentally knock him down if he moves.” The older woman didn’t step on the gas.

Before they could do anything else. The red truck they had driven past earlier overtook them now that they had stopped. They sneered at them as they drove past, heading straight for the dazed man ahead. When they got close enough, the man suddenly snapped into action and as they attempted to swerve around him, the man jumped at their truck and swung his pickaxe through the driver’s glass. It shattered in an instant and as the car moved, the man’s pickaxe hooked on to the side and he was dragged along the road as the truck picked up speed.

The red truck fishtailed and drove off the road, dragging the man along with it. Both of them slammed into a rock and the truck flipped over, rolling down the side of the hill and out of sight. A few seconds later there was an explosion in the distance and a plume of black smoke began rising into the air.

“What was that?!” Jojo stood up and tried to look down the hill. “That can’t be normal.”

“Something strange is going on here,” Summer agreed. “We’re getting closer to Mount Fegel; this might be the work of one of Weather Alternate’s Stand masters.”

“Of course it is…” Sweetie Belle placed an elbow on the door and rested her head against it. “Well, the road’s clear now. I think we should get to Leipzig as quickly as possible. Jojo, sit down.”

The boy complied and placed himself down as the pickup truck started again. “Hey, how far do you think-”

Summer looked at him and she was surprised to see he just had a blank look on his face. His mouth was still moving up and down, but nothing was coming out.

“Jojo? Hello?” She waved a hand in front of his face.

“Jojo… Hello…” he repeated. “Jojo. Jo. Jo. Jo.”

“What’s wrong with him?” Prism shook him by his shoulders. “Yo, Jojo. You sick or something?”

“It’s like he’s suddenly forgotten how to think,” Summer frowned. She snapped her fingers in front of Jojo’s face. “Jojo! Snap out of it.”

“Snap. Snip snap. Scissors.” Then Jojo suddenly scowled and his throat began to rumble.

Suddenly, he threw himself at Summer and summoned his Stand, which appeared over them. Tenacious D crashed down on top of the hood, denting it and shattering the glass on all the sides. Sweetie Belle swerved the car and stepped on the brakes, stopping the car as it grinded to another halt. The rest of the cars behind them had to stop, unable to get past now that they were horizontally across the road, unless they wanted to drive down the hill the truck had gone down.

“Jojo, stop!” Summer tried to push him off, but energy pulsed through his arm and he put it against her face.

“I’ve no choice. You leave me no choice, Jojo. Pegasus Forever!” Summer yelled as energy began going down his arm. Pegasus Forever appeared from her and pushed Jojo off, throwing him off the back of the car as it swung both arms to its sides with a roar.

“Scissors!” Jojo groaned, then flipped himself around as Tenacious D barreled into Pegasus Forever.

Bushido Spirit and Fuchsia had to hop out of the way as the two Stands smashed through the rear of their truck, knocking their truck up almost vertically for a second, throwing Prism and Summer off as well before it dropped back down, smashing and puncturing its tyres on impact.

“Fusch this…” Fuchsia rubbed her head. “Fusch. This. Fusch. Fusch.”

“Fuchsia’s gone nuts too!” Prism rubbed the side of her head. She had hit her cheek against the gravel and scraped her skin. “Something’s messing with their brains!”

“We need some brain protection.” Summer looked around wildly. She remembered her mother could use her own Stand to form a protective armor around herself, but she didn’t think Pegasus Forever could do that.

Summer’s eyes landed on the food that they had been eating earlier. Some of it had been wrapped in foil, and she quickly picked up the silvery sheets and folded them into a pair of hats. “Quick, put this on!”

“What? Have you lost your mind too?” Prism eyed the tin-foil hat in her hand.

“This enemy can affect our brain waves.” Summer went on to explain as she put the hat on her head. “I saw this in a movie once. Certain frequencies can affect the brain, sometimes harmless, sometimes lethal, like radio waves or microwaves. If you wear a tin-foil hat, you can keep your brain from being tampered with. Aluminum is a natural deterrent to such waves.”

“That is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard come out of your mouth,” Prism said incredulously. “But fine. We’re wearing sandwich wrappers on our heads. What do we do about the others? Or the enemy Stand master for that matter?”

“The others…” Summer looked around for the rest of the group. Fuchsia was now walking away from their vehicle, swinging her arms in front of herself, smiling like a madman, a stark contrast from her usual look.

More people began leaving their cars and one of them suddenly swung a crowbar at Fuchsia, but it looked as though something left her fingers and then went back into her skin, pulsating under it as the crowbar smacked into her face. Fuchsia didn’t even flinch and instead, the crowbar shattered before she punched the man in the chest, sending him flying back into the front of another car, denting it.

“What was that…?” Summer looked on in confusion before returning her attention to her other friends.

Bushido had also been affected by the mind waves and already, he was drawing his sword from his side, which was going to be a deadly situation if they didn’t deal with that. Sweetie Belle and Gipsy were just slumped in the car, staring blankly out the damaged window. That was good, at least they weren’t going anywhere, at least not yet.

“Prism, we need to stop Bushido.” Summer stretched an arm out and Pegasus Forever delivered a wicked uppercut into Tenacious D’s jaw.

The Stand flew up into the air and before it could return to the ground, Pegasus grabbed it by one of its wheels and spun it through the air before throwing it into the car behind theirs. Jojo flew back and hit his head on the road and got knocked out.

“Well, good on you, you beat up the poor kid.” Prism ran to Jojo’s side and put a hand against his neck. “But what do you expect to do against Bushido? What do you expect me to do against Bushido? Hey, you know what, I think you should handle it. You’ve got a crush on him anyway.”

“N-No, I don’t…” Summer slightly covered Prism from her view. “Anyway, he’s gonna hurt people if we don’t stop him. You stay here with Jojo then.”

And with that, Summer left Prism and ran ahead into the crowd of brainless people.

“Man, Jojo, will you look at this?” Prism sat down beside him and gave his head a pat. “Everyone’s losing any sort of rational thinking here. This Stand master is able to manipulate brain waves and stop people from thinking. They begin acting on impulse and unfortunately, most of that means aggression, from what I’ve seen. The question is, which one of these people is the Stand master? Which one of them is from Weather Alternate?”

At first, she hadn’t picked up on it, but after watching the crowd of mindless people in silence for a while, a faint scraping sound began to make itself known. At first, she didn’t think much of it. Prism figured it was the sound of the road settling, or the sound of a car moving, but it sounded close. Too close.

Deciding to check it out, Prism turned her head, looking under their vehicle as a pinkish hand reached out from underneath. She got up and backed up as a woman with magenta hair crawled out, clad in a poncho much too big for her body, making her look like one of those boxy people from that boring game her brother enjoyed playing, Moblocks or something.

“I didn’t expect you to smash the car, but it was a good thing I managed to get through that unscathed…” She smirked almost devilishly as she got to her feet. “How does it feel? To know that everyone around you is a bumbling idiot incapable of rational thought?”

Prism tilted her head. “I guess it feels good, but who are you? Are you the Stand master?”

“I am more than that.” The woman twisted her arms together in front of her body and rested her chin on one palm as she crossed one leg in front of the other. “I am the one who’ll finally get my revenge today, once and for all, with the destruction of you and your group!”

“So another member of Weather Alternate, then!” Prism bunched up her fists and raised them.

“But not just any member.” She slid one arm down the side of her body, then flicked it back up into the air, stopping next to a wreath of flowers on top of her head. “I am Gloriosa Daisy! Sister to Timber Spruce! My brother went after you on his own when he found out it was you who killed his girlfriend and their beloved dog! And then you took my brother from me! But oh, your little Sushi group ends here. For the death of him, his girlfriend, their dog, his girlfriend’s brother, and his girlfriend’s brother’s wife, and for Weather Alternate, you’re all going to die here!”

A form shimmered beside Gloriosa, a being clad in red and pink and it raised a fist in front of its face before curling its fingers out like it was going to grab onto its face.

Prism put one foot back then pressed her teeth together. Summer was further away now, trying to get Bushido back and the others were all mindless, and she would’ve joined them if not for the foil hat on her head, which was miraculously working. But she couldn’t count on help right now. She was going to have to settle this herself.


> Chapter 19: A Sky Full of Stars
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Come on! Get some!” Prism swung a fist at Gloriosa, but the woman just smiled and stepped back, moving her head back just enough that Prism’s fist passed just mere centimeters from her jaw. “Just stand still!”

“I’ll show you my Stand.” Gloriosa waved a hand and her pink and red Stand moved into action, pushing Prism back as she moved in for another strike, knocking her to the ground.

Prism bounced off the road, one hand clutching on to the tin foil hat to prevent it from flying off. If she lost that now, it was all over.

Gloriosa cackled as her Stand weaved through the air towards Prism like a poltergeist, reaching out its hands to strangle her. Prism swung a fist at the Stand, but it was as effective as throwing a marshmallow at a campfire. It was terribly ineffective.

“Foolish girl! You know that only a Stand can hurt a Stand!” She raised both hands to the air and roared to the air. “Quiet Riot, my Stand, is capable of sending out a signal that blocks your brain waves from transmitting, effectively making your brain useless. Aluminum might be able to resist its ability, but Quiet Riot still has hands and I’ll use those hands to wring your head from your body!”

Gloriosa’s Stand closed its fingers, but Prism moved out of the way in time, saving her neck by a fraction of a second. However, she wasn’t out of the woods yet as Quiet Riot’s arm bent down and grabbed her arm before she could push the distance between them. It squeezed hard and Prism winced, but didn’t have enough time to try and escape before the Stand threw her into another car on the road, denting the driver’s door before knocking it off its hinges.

Prism slumped to the ground and groaned. Fighting Stands was tough and if it was anything to go on like the fight with Alien Queen, there was nothing she could do against an enemy Stand. She looked at Jojo, still unconscious on the road close to Gloriosa. Her friends needed her and Summer had entrusted her to protect Jojo and by extension, the others. She couldn’t fail now, especially since her friends had worked so hard to get them where they were now, all the way from Canterlot.

So far, she’d done almost nothing but be a burden for the rest of them, since she was the only one without a Stand. She had tried her best to help out, but really, besides distractions, there was no real way for her to win. But this time, she couldn’t hide behind anyone else. She was the last line of defense here.

“Poor Prism Dash. All alone now.” Gloriosa feinted a sad face. “It is a shame you never joined us at Camp Everfree before. I would’ve put you through the toughest of tests for what you did to my brother. And you even killed a dog all those years ago! I know it’s not you, but your parents’ generation, but the sins of the father run deep. Dogs are such precious creatures, how dare you kill a harmless little purple dog! How would you like it if I killed you?”

“Isn’t that what you’re here for…?” Prism planted a palm on the ground to push herself up.

“Why, yes. Yes it is.” Gloriosa rubbed her hands together and her Stand did the same. It had a slim frame and what looked like pipes coming out of its arms and head. “My brother will rest easy knowing you’ve died, and so will Master Dolfy. You’ve come further than any of them would like and you’ve been a thorn in Weather Alternate’s side, but no more. Because it is I, Gloriosa Daisy and Quiet Riot, who will end your adventure here. Now.”

“No, everyone’s put in too much effort… to stop now!” Prism pushed against a pain in her side and rose to her feet. “One way or another, this ends now.”

“What can you do? All I need to do is finish you and Sushi,” Gloriosa declared. “Then nobody will be able to stop us from awakening the Nugget People!” She reached into her poncho and drew out a handgun. “I’ll make it quick. After all, you’re not even a Stand user! I got this! For my brother!”

Prism raised her head up, seeing Gloriosa pointing the gun at her. There was no way she could get out of the way fast enough, and with her injuries, she wouldn’t get around the car in time. Gloriosa’s finger curled around the trigger, a sinister smile on her face.

“Goodbye, kid. I would say it’s been a pleasure, but it really hasn’t. Finally, revenge is mine and my brother, his girlfriend, her dog, her brother, her sister-in-law, they are all smiling now! Can you say the same? Oh, no, you won’t be able to.”

And she fired.

Prism waited for the bullet, but nothing happened. She chanced a look up at Gloriosa, who looked just as puzzled at the turn of events. She tilted the gun forward and the bullet fell out onto the ground harmlessly.

“What?” Gloriosa said, shaking the gun. “What’s going on?”

That was when Prism noticed something about herself. There was a shimmering layer of light over her body, and two arms reached out from behind her, palms facing Gloriosa as they glowed with power.

“What is this?” Gloriosa exclaimed. “This can’t be! You don’t have a Stand!”

Prism got to her feet and looked back. Behind her there was a humanoid creature with a shock of pink hair and wearing a dark bodysuit. It had a pair of orange goggles over its eyes and two curved pale appendages extending from its back.

“A Stand…” Prism whispered. Then she stuck one leg behind herself and held both her arms into an ‘S’ shape, while her Stand formed the other two branches perpendicular to Prism’s arms, making a windmill-like pose. “You’re in for it now, Gloriosa.”

“No! Quiet Riot! Kill her!”

Quiet Riot dashed forward, raising a fist to punch Prism, but Prism’s Stand caught the punch and slammed Quiet Riot onto the ground, throwing up a shower of debris. Gloriosa staggered back and a spray of blood came from her mouth.

“How can this be?” Gloriosa choked. “You don’t have a Stand! We did all our research on your group.”

Prism’s Stand was fighting Quiet Riot, pummeling Gloriosa’s Stand with its fists. It smashed Quiet Riot into a car, making the alarms go off.

“Well, your research sucks, cause I didn’t even know I had one.” Then she put both arms in front of her chest, bent down, then stuck them up to the air when she rose. “I have a Stand! I knew it! I knew I had one!”

She pointed her gun at Prism and fired again, or at least attempted to. Each click of the trigger didn’t produce the ear-piercing gunshot, but instead, the bullets fell out again like the first time, clattering harmlessly on the floor.

“How are you doing that?” Gloriosa demanded.

Prism didn’t exactly know, but since the arrival of her Stand, it was as though there was a flood of new information in her head. She suddenly knew things she never did and her Stand’s abilities were one of them.

“You see, my Stand can absorb heat.” Prism clicked her fingers, then stuck her hip out on her right side and raised her left hand in front of her body, palm facing up like she was asking Gloriosa for something. “When you fire a gun, the buildup of heat when the gunpowder ignites sends the bullet flying out, but if you remove that heat, there’s nothing really to send the bullet flying when the gunpowder does its thing. Same goes for your body.”

Prism’s Stand lifted one hand and while it was winter and Gloriosa was feeling a little cold, the temperature suddenly dropped and she could feel her bones shaking inside. She lifted her arms to wrap around her shoulders, but it was as though she was moving in slow motion. Her joints were locking up and they were ice cold, making her less agile.

“My Stand can also take away your body heat and without heat, your body slows down.” Prism grinned and pointed at her. “Your Stand might’ve beaten me in a fight, but it can’t beat my Stand in a fight.”

Gloriosa groaned and slid onto her knees. She reached under her poncho and drew out something green about the size of a tennis ball with a metal ring on the top.

“If I can’t take you down… I’ll at least take satisfaction in killing your friends!” Gloriosa pulled the ring on the grenade and threw it at the truck that Gipsy and Sweetie were still sitting in.

“No!” Prism watched as the grenade flew in an arc and landed in the back of the pickup truck. She sent out her Stand to grab it, but she knew it wouldn’t make it in time.

There was a flash of light as the explosive detonated, but instantly the blast was snuffed out, the grenade rendered harmless.

Prism’s Stand stood there with one hand extended as an orange glow surrounded its outstretched arm. The fiery aura traveled up into the Stand’s body before collecting in its chest. Then a beam of energy shot out and blasted Gloriosa, sending her flying into a tree where her body was impaled on some branches.

She screamed in pain as blood pooled down her mouth and nose. Her arms were burnt from the blast and the bones of her arms had broken from the impact. Just under her chest, two large branches stuck out of her abdomen, staining her poncho and her clothes underneath. She had only stopped when her back had hit the trunk of the tree, leaving at least ten inches of wood sticking out of her.

“You… There’s no way… I’ve had my Stand for years.” Gloriosa clawed at the branches sticking out of her. “There’s no way a lowly scum like you… could’ve beaten nobility…”

“Yeah, well. I really don’t know either,” Prism shrugged. “But this is the end for you, Gloriosa. You and all the rest of your cronies. We’re going to get to Mount Fegel and we’re gonna stop you from awakening the Nugget People!”
“You’ll never…” Tears began to stream down Gloriosa’s face. “Timber, I’m sorry… I couldn’t avenge you, Twilight, even Spike! Vinegar, I’m sorry, you told me to be careful, but… I wasn’t… It’s not fair, it’s not fair!” She coughed out a mouthful of blood. “No matter. You’ve beaten me, but… You’ll never stop Master Dolfy. The Nugget People… will rise and a new age will be ushered… onto this world, one way or an-”

Gloriosa’s Stand flickered beside her, then it vanished. All at once, the people mindlessly wandering around or fighting each other just stopped, like they had all just woken up from a daze. Fuchsia, who had been smiling like a crazed serial killer, stopped in her tracks as the floating particles around her faded, along with the spark that she never once had.

“We’re… we’re okay.” Gipsy ran a hand through her hair. “The car’s totaled.”

“Is everyone alright?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Prism, did you deal with the enemy Stand user?”

“You betcha!” Prism grinned widely as she took off her tin foil hat. “And guess what? I have a Stand!”

Summer and Bushido returned to their vehicle just in time to hear the word ‘Stand’.

“Stand?” Summer looked bewildered. “Prism, you have a Stand?”

“That’s right!” She cheered as her Stand reappeared, clapping behind her. “This is it! And I beat Gloriosa, I can’t believe it!”

“The camp counselor?” Sweetie looked where Prism was gesturing to and saw her hanging from a tree with the branches coming out of her guts. “We got her. It’s a shame. All these years I never knew she was with Weather Alternate. My friends and I have been to Camp Everfree a few times. I never once suspected her to harbor any ill intent.”

“Weather Alternate had been mentioning her.” Summer recalled. “You think now that she’s defeated, they’ll leave us alone?”

“Tough luck…” Fuchsia Blush joined them and sighed. “It’s not going to be easy getting up that mountain, enemy Stands or no. Ugh, I don’t feel right. I feel as though I’ve been happy. Happiness is for jokes.”

“What happened, what did I miss?” Jojo rubbed his head and got off the road.

“I’ve got a Stand!” Prism yelled in his face. “I finally have one! I can’t believe it!” She helped him up and began dancing with him on the spot. “I’ve got a Stand, I’ve got a Stand! Oh, my sky’s full of stars today.”

“I’m so glad for you, Prism.” Jojo smiled awkwardly.

“Me too!” Summer gave Prism a pat and squeeze on the shoulder. “You’ve got to tell me all about it. For one, what’s it called?”

Prism rubbed her chin. Her Stand hadn’t come with a name in her mind, so it was her job to think of one now. She thought about its abilities, to suck up heat and turn it against her enemies. It could very well make something frosty because of the lack of heat.

“I’ve got it!” She snapped her fingers. “This is my Stand. Coldplay!”

She reached a hand up to the sky and stuffed the other one in her pocket. From behind her, Coldplay floated in the air, stretching both arms to the side as it tilted its head up.

Today was a big day. Prism watched her Stand do a cartwheel in the air and smiled. It was a big day indeed.
--------JO-JO--------
The sky was dark over the range of Mount Fegel. The winds whistled through the air and a familiar wet smell floated through the air, a sign of things to come. It seemed a storm was in the making and even the miners had called it quits for the day, returning back down to their campsites to wait it out before resuming their digging once it was through.

Within the sanctum of Fegel Zwei, a storm was also brewing, but over the head of a particularly angry blonde man. One hand shakily removed the glasses from his face as he stared down at a report before him. Auto Gunship, Airsoft Yodel, and the rest of his inner circle stood before him, their foreheads sweaty and their throats parched.

The report before Dolfy Horner detailed the death of Gloriosa Daisy, one of his best members. On top of that, Cadance, Octavia, and Filthy Rich had also all been eliminated in very short order. Dolfy ground his teeth in anger. 

“Is there any good news at all?” he demanded, slamming his fist onto the table. The map on it jumped; he had still been searching for Berlin when the news had come in.

“Progress towards finding the prison of the Nugget People is at an estimated seventy percent, the nuggets are appearing in greater quantity-” Auto supplied before Dolfy threw a pencil at him, which bounced off his forehead.

“Don’t tell me worthless information like that!” Dolfy shouted. “Tell me when it’s done!” He stared at a photo of Summer Shine and her gang that had been taken by spies shortly after Gloriosa’s demise. According to them, they had just made it to Leipzig, the closest city to Mount Fegel. “Sushi…” Dolfy spat. “We never should have let them get this far. I never should’ve let Gloriosa handle this!” He slammed another fist on the table and this time, a bluish hand appeared over his and the table split down the middle, sending papers fluttering into the air. “Will nobody competent step up and wipe out those cretins?”

“You can count on me, mein meister.” A man in a black suit stepped forward and bowed. “I may not be from Germany like you, but I have never failed you.”

Dolfy looked each one of them in the eye, going down from Auto, to Yodel, even to Vinegar Petrol, the husband of Gloriosa.

“Eximus is right, master.” Vinegar stepped forward. His voice was rough and low and Dolfy had always found it hard to understand what he was saying. “Those children have made a grave mistake. They think that their friendship will win the day, but family is stronger. I’ll make them pay for taking my wife away from this world.”

“I have an idea, mein meister,” Auto spoke up. “So far we’ve been sending only one Stand user to fight these kids. Based on reports, their strength is only growing. So why not send more than one after them? They’ll never see it coming. Vinegar and Eximus can take the first attack.”

“We will all stop them, Master Dolfy.” Another man with a flat-top haircut and a scar over one eye stepped up and planted a fist on his chest. “They won’t be allowed to reach the deep halls of Mount Fegel.”

“They had better not,” Dolfy grumbled.

“Mein meister, may I suggest we focus our efforts on the digging?” Airsoft Yodel pulled at his coat collar. “As of yet, we’ve only been letting the various people from all over the world do the digging. If we were to go down there and dig, dig within the concentration of nuggets, we might be able to find them faster.”

“If you feel like that, Yodel, nobody’s stopping you from digging yourself,” Dolfy retorted. “I would prefer to focus our efforts on eliminating Sushi. Then we will have all the time in the world to unearth the Nugget People.”

“But what if we do not stop them before we unearth the Nugget People?” Yodel asked rapidly like he only had a few seconds to ask his question. “We should focus on both fronts.”

“We will stop them before they reach us, even if I have to go out and grind them into dust myself,” Dolfy replied. “We are the most powerful group of Stand users in the world. Surely we can stop a gang of misfit children. Eximus and Vinegar, you know what to do.”

“At once, meister.” A glint flashed in Eximus’ eyes. “They will not set one foot on the mountain.”


> Chapter 20: Knocking on Leipzig's Door
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It had been a long walk from the highway to Leipzig, and even though they had all sat in REO Speedwagon to get there, Summer Shine still felt as though they had run all the way from Berlin. She fell asleep partway, waking up to a night sky brimming with stars when they came out of the Stand.

The air here smelt fresher, containing something minty and woody. Summer figured it must’ve been the mountain air flowing down from Mount Fegel. Even in the dark she could see it looming ahead of them, just past a row of taller buildings.

“We should bunker down for the night. Get some rest before our big day tomorrow.” Gipsy Dance pointed a hand to their destination. “Tomorrow, we climb the mountain.”

“What do you think we’ll encounter on the way up?” Jojo sighed and kicked a foot on the ground. “Weather Alternate’s not going to just let us waltz on in there and stop them from awakening the Nugget People.”

“Plenty of people have already flocked here from all over the world.” Bushido Spirit stuck a blade of grass in his mouth. “By now, the mountain would surely be clearing of gold nuggets. Who’s to say we would even get there before they find the Nugget People?”

Summer shook her head. “We can’t think like that. We can’t afford to, not when we’re this close.”

“Summer’s right.” Sweetie Belle put her arms around Gipsy and Jojo. “We’re going to see this through. To the end. And I’m going to do my best to make sure everyone gets there in one piece. That’s why I volunteered for this. I didn’t have to be here, but as a friend to your parents, besides you, Gipsy and Bushido, I will do my best to protect you and to honor my sister’s sacrifice for them.”

“Well, we’ll need to find a place to stay first…” Fuchsia put her hands behind her head and lifted a corner of her lip in disgust. “We’re not going to find a nice place. The city’s probably packed with prospectors and other annoying people…”

“Anywhere’s better than nowhere at this point.” Prism sighed and pointed to a neon sign of a hotel ahead. “We should check there first.”

“There’s a hundred percent chance they won’t have any rooms left.” Fuchsia folded her arms. “I doubt you’re the only one to spot that sign miles away.”

“Come on, we better start looking. We need some rest…” Jojo rubbed his forehead. “The faster we find something, the better.”

“Yeah, hey let me just call my parents, see what’s up.” Summer fished out her phone. “I’ll follow along, just keep looking. I’ll get them updated on our situation.”

“Alright, this way. We’ll go down the street and check with all the hotels on the way.” Sweetie Belle motioned with a hand. “And keep an eye out for enemy Stand users. We might’ve beaten Gloriosa, but we’re not done with Weather Alternate yet.”

Everyone nodded and followed behind her. Fuchsia wasn’t at all pleased with their predicament, but there was nothing else she could do but complain, and so complain she did.

Summer put her phone to her ear, listening to the soft ringing as it attempted to connect her with her mother. It felt as though the ringing went on forever, but when it finally picked up on the other end, Summer was dismayed to know it was just the recording telling her to leave a message at the tone.

She looked at her phone’s screen and frowned, then she tried again. When her mother didn’t pick up again, Summer decided to ring another number instead, one she didn’t know if it would do anything, but it would be nice to hear a familiar voice if he picked up.

The ringing began for two rounds, but then went silent as another voice appeared on the other end of the phone.

“Summer dear, is that you?”

“Hey, dad.” Summer smiled. Her father had gone off to Prance before she had set out on her adventure and it had been a while since she’d seen him.

“Hey, everything okay? I heard from your mom that you’re off trying to save the world?”

“Yeah, we are…” Summer chuckled. “We’re in Germany now, actually. I could probably come see you once all this is over, see what you’re up to.”

Summer declined to tell him she couldn’t get through to her mother. The last thing she wanted to do was make him worry more than he already probably is, with his only daughter off on a road trip to save the world with a bunch of her friends. Besides, she didn’t even know if her mother was in any trouble. It could be that she was just unavailable at the moment. She was strong, after all, stronger than her.

Flicker Footage joined her in laughter. “Hey, you’ve got this, Summer. You’re your mother’s daughter and your mother saved the world once. You’ll do it again. You’re a Sushi, whether I like to say it or not, you’re meant to do great things.”

“Thanks, dad. I know.” She nodded. “Hey, thanks for talking to me. It’s nice to hear your voice.”

“You get ‘em good, Summer. I know you’ll get through this. These people don’t have the right to prune away the weaker branches, they don’t have the right to decide which bloodlines fall and which rise up. You find them, Summer, and you make sure they never get to do that ever again. I love you, you know that, right?”

“I know, dad. Love you too.” Summer could only smile wider as she ended the call.

It was refreshing to hear the voice of one of her parents and it did help to put her heart at ease. They’d already come so far and going back now wasn’t an option. Her mother hadn’t picked up, but she trusted that she was doing okay. She was a Sushi, and Sushi’s were hardy and they wouldn’t back down from a fight if it meant the safety of those around them.

As for their walk through Leipzig, as expected, there were no available rooms for them to stay for the night, as every hotel seemed to be fully booked by people from all over the world, here for the booming Nugget Run.

Fuchsia Blush groaned all the way, something Summer hadn’t thought was possible. She didn’t know someone could make strange noises without even a second of pause.

When they got to the end of the street, they still had no such luck and even Sweetie Belle was starting to feel that there was no hope for a good night’s sleep.

“If all else fails…” She sighed and her Stand appeared over her back. “We can sleep in REO Speedwagon. There aren’t any beds as you’ve all seen, but at least it won’t be on the hard ground.”

“I’d like to see things get worse from here.” Prism toyed with her fringe.

“Things can always get worse.” Fuchsia glared at her. “Fusch this. We already knew we wouldn’t find a place. We shouldn’t have even bothered looking.”

“Don’t lose hope now.” Bushido kept his eyes ahead. “I’m sure we can still find a place to rest. To surrender to uncertainty is to have already lost.”

“That’s good.” Gipsy Dance waggled a finger in the air. “Did you say that?”

Bushido Spirit looked around, then blinked and nodded. “Yes. Yes I did.”

“There’s a place there.” Fuchsia pointed beyond the front row of buildings. Everyone had to squint through the dark to see what she was pointing at. “Celldweller says it’s abandoned. We can take shelter there.”

“Why would we want to take shelter in an abandoned building?” Prism threw her hands forward. “That’s how you get killed in a horror movie!”

“Well, this isn’t a horror movie, Prism.” Sweetie Belle grabbed the straps of her Stand and walked forward. “We should at least check it out. See what kind of amenities they have.”

“Why would they even have any?” Prism asked as her friends began to walk past her. “Are you guys serious?”

“It beats standing here on the street like a fusching moron.” Fuchsia flicked a hand in her direction and moved on.

“I mean, it’s not… I don’t…” Prism followed after them. “Hey!”

The streets were near empty of life now and it was the perfect chance for a Stand master to attack them. Summer made sure to keep an eye out for anything remotely resembling a Stand or a Stand master, but at the moment, there was none. She didn’t know whether to feel relieved or cautious, but one thing she was sure of, she wanted to be out of the cold darkness and somewhere warm, preferably with a warm bed and a belly full of warm food. Now that she thought about it, that seemed to be asking a tad much.

The base of the abandoned building had a gate that was off its hinges, overgrown with vines which was the reason it still held up. There was a gap between the gate and the fence, not enough for them to squeeze through, but Pegasus Forever pushed it further aside and changed its energy into potential energy, leaving it floating in the air, giving everyone enough room to get through.

The grounds here were dark and the grass was overgrown as well. A concrete building stood before them, standing five stories high, broken and the group quickly ushered themselves in, getting away from the cold night air.

Prism led the way up the staircase, using her phone’s flashlight to guide the way. Amazing that it still had enough battery after all this traveling.

“It’s not as bad as it looks on the outside,” Gipsy said as they arrived on the second floor. This place looked as though it might have been used as a den for unsavory people in the past, with graffiti on the walls and empty beer bottles lying about.

“Actually it looks just about the same as outside,” Jojo yawned. “But it’s better than being out in the open.”

“A tad chilly, though,” Sweetie commented. “Should we see what’s further up in case there’s someone else here?”

“No need,” Prism grinned. “Coldplay!” 

Prism’s Stand leapt out and put its hands together as if in an Oriental greeting. After a few seconds of this, the Stand went away.

“I just had Coldplay check for heat sources in the building. We’re the only ones here, unless you count the birds nesting on the roof,” Prism said to the group. “Also, there’s a room downstairs on the other side, seems like a basement. It’s the warmest area in this building.”

“That’s a really useful ability.” Sweetie smiled as she took out a flashlight from her Stand. “Good offensively, but also supportively!”

“I know, right?” Prism squished her cheeks together. “It’s so awesome to have a Stand! Imagine everything we could’ve done if I had it sooner.”

Fuchsia rolled her eyes.

Prism Dash led the way through the current floor they were on, then back down a staircase at the other end. Over here, there were holes in the wall, broken and left to decay over the years after its abandonment. None of them could tell exactly why this building was abandoned, but they had their theories.

“I bet this was some crazy mental asylum and the patients got out and started killing everyone, so they had to leave,” Prism had suggested.

“Or possibly, the owner died and no one bought over this place. For some reason.” Jojo shrugged, saying his piece.

“Or maybe people thought it was haunted after his death and decided to stay clear of it.” Prism nudged him.

“You mean there might be a ghost here?” Gipsy unconsciously began playing with the bangles on one arm. “I would not like to meet it, especially since we are trespassing on its territory.”

“Don’t worry. It’s all just theories.” Summer gave her a pat on the shoulder. “I for one, think that whoever was staying here got kicked up for not paying the mortgage. Perhaps they lost it all in debt, or perhaps they made a bad investment.”

“What I do know is that you’re all fusching wasting time with this…” Fuchsia moved a finger in a circular motion beside her head. “What’s the point of even trying to guess what happened? The building’s wrecked. That’s it.”

“Party pooper…” Prism breathed.

“I’m not the one that pooped at the only party she’s been to.”

“Hey, I’ve been to more parties than that!” Prism shot up a finger. “And that was just one time! I was drunk, okay?”

“It’s a good thing I’m not in college with you and it’s a good thing I’ll never die of embarrassment.” Fuchsia folded her arms.

“That’s because you’re already dead inside,” Prism countered.

“That’s because I know the reality of things.”

“Life isn’t all miserable!” Prism threw a hand into the air. “It’s pretty awesome. Even better now that I have a Stand!”

“Fusch this. I’m going to find a place to have a shower. I smell.” Fuchsia looked at the rest of her party. “You all smell. Celldweller agrees.”

Prism watched her go, one eye twitching as she tried to process the state of her friend. “Can you believe her? And where is she going to find a place to shower? This place is abandoned!”

“She is right though.” Summer sniffed at her armpit and tilted her head away. “We stink. We could do with a shower.”

“Hey, you find me a shower, I’ll take one,” Prism said. “But there isn’t any running water in this place.”

“We’ll look around more tomorrow.” Sweetie Belle pulled out sleeping rolls from REO Speedwagon and handed them out. “This is the best I have. Once we get to that warm space, we’ll call it a night. We all need some rest after the long day.”

Eventually, the group came to a long hallway, which led straight ahead into a larger square room that had a few pieces of machinery near the center of the room. Now Summer understood why this was the warmest place in the building. These machines were boilers, used to pump heat through a building to keep it warm during the winter. Even though it was now abandoned, the room was still pulsing with residue of a forgotten time, continuing its purpose past the end of its life.

“Hey, if we could get these working, we won’t even have to worry about the cold.” Prism ran a finger along one boiler. “No one has any Stands that can interact with machinery, huh?”

“I am afraid not.” Gipsy Dance pulled a shoal from her pack and wrapped it around herself. “We will have to make do with what we have. On the upside, this is already better than most situations. Ever since Eximus Exo destroyed my home, I’ve been spending most of my nights on the streets or in the sewers.”

“Hey, speaking of cold…” Prism ran a finger under her chin, then stretched one arm out to her side and the other one bent down at a ninety degree angle. “Coldplay can absorb heat from its surroundings. I’m sure it can also release it. Coldplay!”

Prism’s Stand appeared, spinning in a circle before stretching both arms to the side. Steam began to pour from pipes behind its back and in only a minute, the warmth had a considerable change.

“Wow. Why didn’t you do this sooner?” Jojo rubbed at his bare arms. “This is great!”

“Cut me some slack, I just got my Stand. I won’t immediately know everything it can do,” Prism said as she set up her roll beside the first boiler.

“Good job, Prism.” Sweetie gave her a thumbs up, then sat down against the wall on top of her sleeping roll. “This will make for a much better night. Get some shut eye, all of you. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Everyone set up their corners before tucking in. Sweetie just left one roll near the entrance for Fuchsia when she came back as everyone began to turn in for the night.

Summer had placed hers near the end of the room below a row of pipes running up into the ceiling. As she closed her eyes and darkness surrounded her, she only had a moment of silence in the void before color began to fill her vision. Her mother ran down a street, looking back over her shoulder over and over again before her right foot smacked into her left, sending her crashing to the ground as she spun around and began scurrying back. A shadowy figure stalked towards her at the other end of the street, its eyes and mouth glowing red. It chuckled evilly, then stretched an arm out and grabbed her around the ankle.

Sunset Shimmer summoned Alicorn Fantasy, but with its other hand, the shadow struck it in the snout, sending it crashing through a brick wall on the side. Sunset’s face began bleeding from her Stand’s impact, but she said nothing as the figure pulled her closer, pointing a finger at her.

“You should’ve never killed Timber. You have brought on curses for centuries to come. Curses that will never leave until you are dead,” the shadow said. “Your children will face it, your grandchildren will face it, your great-grandchildren will fall to their power. The end comes for your bloodline, Sushi, and all because you interfered with powers beyond your understanding. Weather Alternate is eternal, Weather Alternate will never fall. But you will. Your daughter will.”

It twisted its hand and Sunset cried out in pain. Summer wanted to run over to her, to pry the shadow’s hand away and to give it a good beating with Pegasus Forever, but she couldn't. Her legs ran, one in front of the other, but her position did not change. No matter what she did, she could not get closer and she couldn’t save her mother.

“Mom!” Summer cried out, but neither her mother nor the shadow could hear her.

And when it felt as though there was nothing more she could do, the shadow turned its attention to her and jumped at her faster than she could even breathe.

Summer’s eyes flashed open and she sat up, breathing hard as her arms reached out in front of her. It was a dream, they were still in the abandoned building.

She breathed a sigh of relief, then put a hand to her chest, feeling the pounding of her heart, still beating rapidly. She was still worried about her mother. She hadn’t picked up her calls earlier in the day and even now, she had yet to call back. She didn’t know what was happening back home in Canterlot, and even though she wanted to trust that her mother would triumph over any battle, a little part of her still worried that she was overestimating her.

Summer ran her hands through her face and up through her hair, letting out another drawn out breath before standing up. She wasn’t going to get much more sleep tonight, at least not while her heart was beating like a wind-up toy.

She found a high window near her, in the rear of the room, looking out to the street level. She could see rows of buildings on the other side of the street from here, along with the moon, high in the night sky. The rays of light shining in illuminated the floor around her and Summer felt a little better. She couldn’t explain it, but the light seemed to release a calming presence, taking away her worries, at least partially.

Summer exhaled again, then shoved her hands in her jacket pockets. It had been a little more than a week since they had left Canterlot and now standing near the mountain that represented the end of their journey, Summer had to think about the outcomes when they got up there. They had always been confident that they would get to go home once they stopped Weather Alternate at Mount Fegel, but they had never once considered what would happen if instead of stopping them, they managed to free the Nugget People. What would they have to do should the Nugget People reawaken? This was something they had to account for realistically, something she couldn’t yet answer.

“Can’t sleep? Neither can I.”

Summer turned her head as Bushido entered the light rays beside her, a cloth over his katana’s blade.

“Just a bad dream. I just needed to cool off before trying to sleep again.” Summer returned her attention to the moon. “I… I saw my mother. Back home. She was being attacked. It looked so real.”

“But it was a dream. Dreams sometimes blur the lines between the imaginary and reality.” Bushido swiped the cloth down his blade, then shoved it into his pocket. “I am sure no harm has come to her. From what I have heard, your mother has saved the world once from evil. A person like that has will and resolve beyond the normal human. My grandfather, in all his goodness and love for the world, had never saved it all at once. We could never stand up with someone like your mother. You do not have to worry about her safety. I’m sure it’s the other way around. She must be worried for you.”

“I know, it’s just…” Summer took her phone out of her pocket. “She hasn’t answered.”

“Worry makes you lose focus. I know how it is, afraid of the possibility our loved ones may be in trouble.” Bushido kept his weapon. “I worried about my mother too when I was searching for an evil Stand master in Japan. He found out where I lived and I had to get my family into hiding.”

“What happened?”

Bushido paused for a second. “He eventually did find my family, but I managed to get there in time and stopped him. It was a tough battle, but Boney M and I served justice to him that day. But you see, Sushi, the point of this was… I did not let the worry control my actions. I trusted my mother to be safe, I trusted her to protect the family. And it was because of her, my family lived to see another day.”

“But it was on your action too. You saved them,” Summer said.

“And that is what you’ll do, Sushi.” Bushido put a hand on her shoulder. “You’ll save them. Trust your mother and finish your task set before you.”

“I… yeah.” Summer nodded. Her mother had Alicorn Fantasy. Weather Alternate should be the ones afraid of her, and Prism’s mom was with her too, along with Jojo’s dad and Fuchsia’s mom. “I’m sure she’s kicking Weather Alternate back to Germany.”

Bushido leaned against the wall and slid down till he was seated. “I’ve never met her and I can tell she can hold her own. I trust her too.”

“Yeah.” Summer joined him. “Thanks, Bushido. I guess I really needed to hear myself say all this. I feel better already. In fact…” she let out a huge yawn. “I think it’s time to continue my rest.”

“Yes, rest well, Sushi, we’ll get to the mountain tomorrow and that means the final push.” Bushido watched the ray of light shining in from the window above them. “Stay strong and stand tall. We’ll finish this and you can see your mother again.”


> Chapter 21: Blood and Thunder
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summer Shine awoke the next morning, opening her eyes to a lit up boiler room, barely illuminated thanks to the grime on the window above her, but enough for her to see her immediate surroundings. She wiped at her mouth, then she looked to the side where she had been leaning. Bushido Spirit still sat beside her, still as a stone with his katana in his lap.

She quickly panned her head to see the rest of her friends as she leaned further from him. She sighed a silent sigh of relief when she saw that they were all still asleep. She blushed hard as she got to her feet. She had fallen asleep beside him and she had been using his shoulder as a cushion.

Coughing, Summer walked over to her pack and downed half her bottle of water before waking her friends.

“Mmm, morning already?” Prism Dash stretched her arms up, then tilted from side to side. “Well, the floor’s a little hard, but hey, I slept like a log.”

“Well, I hate it here…” Fuchsia groaned from her spot across from them.

“Did you at least find somewhere we can wash up?” Prism rolled her eyes.

“Matter of fact, I did. While you were all wasting time here, I found a public bath across the street, just a block down.” Fuchsia pulled at her arm sleeves and stood up. “Not many people at night, so I had the whole place to myself. I’m all clean now, which is more than I can say for any of you. By miles. You stink. Metaphorically and physically.”

“Yeah, yeah…” Prism blew a raspberry and grabbed her things. “Let’s go. I could use a bath.”

“There’s separate rooms, right?” Jojo rolled up his sleeping bag and put his scarf back on. “Umm, I mean… you know. Guys and girls and stuff.”

“Come on, Jojo. I knew you want to sneak a peek.” Prism walked over and put an arm around him. “I’ve watched enough anime to know how these things work. You’ll want to peek over the partition to look at our amazing bodies. Is it always like that in Japan, Bushido?”

“Not at all.” Bushido Spirit stood up and straightened his coat. “Like with all lands, there are the few who would do something like that. Japan is no different from Germany or America.”

“Well, it happens in anime.”

“Anime is not real life, Prism.”

“Alright, we should head out.” Sweetie Belle walked over and stuffed a cracker in both Prism’s and Bushido’s mouths. “Eat up. We’re going to the bath. Fuchsia, lead the way.”

“Fusch this…” The goth girl shook her head. “This way. If you fall behind, it’s your loss.”

Summer downed another mouthful of water before slinging her pack over one shoulder. They left the decrepit building and crossed the road to a building with a brick front. The bath now had quite the crowd, but there was still enough space for them to have their privacy.

Summer slipped her clothes off, then stood under a shower and washed the grime off her body. The baths here weren’t even close to what Prism had guessed and they each had their own little cell to wash up. Prism was probably going to be pissed Jojo couldn’t look at her. There seemed to be something going on between the two of them, but Summer didn’t know for sure. Whatever it was, she resolved to find out at some point.

As warm water splashed down around her, Summer pictured the mountain ahead of them and the tunnels the multitude would've dug to get the abundance of nuggets forming deep in the earth. She pictured the beings there, locked away for thousands of years, just waiting to come back. Weather Alternate thought they could control them, but what made them so sure the Nugget People would even listen?

To them, Weather Alternate would fit in with the rest of the world: Humans.

More than ever, they had to get there and ensure the Nugget People never saw the light of day, or things were going to take a hard turn for the worse.

Once she was satisfied with her cleanliness, Summer shut off the water, then wiped her towel down her body, then through her hair repeatedly. They hadn’t brought any towels when they left Canterlot, but it was a good thing Sweetie Belle seemed to have everything in her Stand. Well, almost everything. She didn’t have beds.

Summer soon met the others back outside the shower once she was fully dressed. Gipsy Dance had been the first one to finish and she was out there sitting on a bench minus her bandana, chewing on a banana. She ate rather bizarrely, nibbling at it in extremely tiny portions like a rat, then occasionally running her tongue over it, making a weird sound as she did.

“Rudurrudurrudur rudurrudur…”

Prism Dash was the next out, exiting her cubicle with a jump and kick in the air. “Man, it feels good to be clean!”

"Sure is," Summer stretched her arms and windmilled them to work out any kinks. "I could do with a cup of coffee or something, though."

"No time for that," Sweetie Belle said bracingly and handed Prism a donut. "We've got to secure another ride so that we can reach Mount Fegel at all speed."

“That won’t be hard.” Gipsy got up and continued to chew on her banana. “It’s just a matter of finding one in a carpark, like we’ve done before. As long as no Stand masters attack us there like the last time, we shouldn’t have a problem with getting something that’ll take us to Mount Fegel.”

The group's search was rewarded by the sight of a bus that had 'Mount Fegel' on its front. There was a small line of people waiting to get on, many of them holding shovels and picks.

"Looks like we've found our ride to the mountain," Jojo said. “Makes sense for them to have public transport up the mountain. They’ll be earning loads this way.”

“Yeah, the people in charge of this really know how to make their money here.” Prism snickered and led the way to the bus.

Getting tickets was a little different from what Summer knew back home. You had to go online through an app, then select the route and the journey, which in this case, was a trip to Mount Fegel, something everyone here was likely doing, seeing how packed the buses were.

The price for one person was seven hundred euros. Summer didn’t know the exchange rate, but it sounded exorbitant. Even she could tell that they likely jacked up the prices for all the folks desperate to get to the mountain before it ran out of nuggets.

“And we’re in the same boat…” she sighed.

“It's the same bus, Sushi.” Jojo flicked a finger from the right side of his head to the left. “Sushi, your next words are… ‘It’s an expression’.”

“You’re just trying to be funny, Jojo.” Summer gave him a friendly punch.

“Dangit.” He swung an arm down.

“Hey, no sweat. You’ll get it. One day. Maybe.” Prism put an arm around him and sneered. “Just keep studying. Maybe you’ll learn something.”

“Expensive tickets, but it’s a good thing I have huge businesses.” Sweetie Belle grinned as she bought seven tickets on her phone. “But by the looks of it, we might not even make it on this bus. There’s so many people.”

“Fusch this…” Fuchsia folded her arms and groaned. “There are too many people going to the mountain. If only there was a plague around to reduce the numbers.”

“You wouldn’t want a plague, Fuchsia,” Bushido Spirit said.

“Says who?” Fuchsia brushed a hand through the hair on the left side of her head. “I’d welcome it.”

Their group joined the queue of excited gold diggers and prospectors, looking ahead to see all the people chattering happily about how much they were going to bring home and how rich they’d all get.

Summer kept an eye out especially for anyone resembling Stand users. With this many people here, it wouldn’t surprise her if there was a member of Weather Alternate amongst them, getting ready to cut their journey short to prevent them from getting to the mountain.

“I cannot wait to get me hands on some nuggets!” One pudgy man with a shaven head said and rubbed his hands together. “It’s been about time since we struck rich, ‘innit?”

“Too true, brother.” A similarly pudgy woman said beside him. “We haven’t had the luxury to eat whatever we want. Soon, we will be able to once we get enough nuggets!”

“Nuggets for nuggets!” The man licked his lips.

“People have all their different reasons for coming here,” Sweetie Belle said, then turned to her companions.

Prism puffed out her chest and pressed a thumb into it. “But none have a reason as just as ours!”

Bushido held his sword firmly. “No, they do not.”

“Weather Alternate will not see the light of day.” Gipsy balled a fist and then swung her other arm behind her back and bent one leg low. “They’ll pay for the death of my people and my family.”

“And they’ll regret using their powers for evil.” Bushido nodded in agreement. “Justice will always prevail.”

“And they’ll regret messing with the Jojo family.” Cajole pounded both fists together.

“The Sushis are in this too.” Summer grinned.

Summer felt as though all this had happened long ago, but in actuality, it had only been a little more than a week. It had all started that one day when Timber Spruce had decided to attack her mother at their home. Perhaps if Timber hadn’t been bent on having revenge, Weather Alternate would’ve continued on in the shadows and Summer and her friends wouldn’t have left Canterlot to stop them from awakening the Nugget People. Gipsy Dance and Bushido Spirit would’ve still been here to stop them, and Summer realized she would’ve never met Bushido if she hadn’t set off for Germany.

Even in situations like this, there could still be some good.

Summer got on the bus and sat beside Prism, who busily nudged her to go sit beside Bushido, but Summer resisted her attempts and planted herself firmly in the seat. She didn’t want to appear too desperate.

“Hey, your loss.” Prism gave up and shrugged. “As your best friend, it’s my duty to get you hooked!”

“That doesn’t sound right.”

“Sounds right to me. Come on, once up that mountain, trust me when I say, I’ll get you two together. Alone. And that’s when you make your move, Summer. You know what the Japanese are like! They can’t stop themselves around women! Once you activate their inner man, their hands will be all over you! Well, unless Bushido’s a bumbling protagonist who touches all the women, but can’t assert himself.”

“You’ve been watching too much anime.” Summer shook her head and laughed.

“Uh, no. I haven’t watched anything since we left for Germany!” Prism pulled out her phone and browsed through it. “I missed the release of the latest episode for Dearest in the Flanxx! How long is this bus ride? You think I can watch it?”

“I think you better get some rest instead.” Summer pushed her best friend’s shoulder. “We haven’t gotten enough sleep since setting off. We keep getting attacked. The chances of us getting attacked on the way again are incredibly high.”

“Psshh, I’ve got Coldplay now.” Prism stuck her earphone cable into her phone. “If anything comes up, I’ll deal with it.”

Summer shrugged and waited for the bus to start. This was an express ride with no other stops on the way to Mount Fegel, so she assumed that any enemy Stand user would have to get on now or jump them at the end of the journey up.

Leaning on the back of her seat, Summer scanned the bus for any unusual or suspicious people, but as far as she could tell, there were only prospectors and miners here with them, greedy for the gold nuggets in the mountain. For once, it seemed she could relax a little.

“What do you think these Nugget People look like, anyhow?” Prism flipped her phone on its side to begin watching her anime. “I mean, they’re ancient. Like, really ancient, right? What do you think? Greek? Egyptian? Caveman?”

“Well, they can’t exactly be human. They live a long time and early humans worshipped them. And the fact that Weather Alternate wants to awaken them does tell you a little about their physiology. They can apparently hibernate? No human would live this long after being locked away for eons.”

“What happens if…” Prism snickered. “What happens if Weather Alternate finds their way to them and all they find are a couple of skeletons?”

“That would be a real shame to them.” Summer chuckled and gazed out the window at the passing cars beside the bus. It seems people were driving up the mountain as well.. “And great news for us. That just means our work here will be done.”

“Yeah, won’t it?” Prism tucked her legs up to her chest as her eyes locked onto her phone screen.

Summer kept her eyes on the passing scenery as Prism got to watching her show. They were already leaving Leipzig behind, trading taller buildings for smaller ones and forests further beyond the streets.

More cars and trucks drove by, most of then carrying people and equipment; more excited opportunists heading to the mountains. There was a red car with two girls wearing only bikinis in one and they leaned out to wave at the bus Summer was on. Her first thought was how they weren’t cold in this weather, but most of the people on the bus thought differently and plastered their faces against the glass as one girl removed her bikini top and waved it in the air.

“I need to get out there!” One man tried to pull the window open.

But then from behind them came a speeding squarish black car with its engine halfway sticking out of its hood and it rammed into the back of the girls’ car. The squealed and popped back inside their vehicle, but it was too late. They swerved off course and crashed through a fence and a telephone pole beside a farm and they were thrown out of their car.

Summer watched as the woman’s yellow bikini top fluttered in the wind alongside the black car as the other passengers began to gawk in disbelief.

“That’s what happens when you don’t wear your seatbelt. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.” Fuchsia spat and groaned. “Fuchsing morons. Well, freezing to death is a decent way to go…”

“What, what did I miss?” Prism paused her show and looked out the window, though by now, the red car was long gone.

But for some reason, the black car remained alongside their bus, matching their speed. A window winded down and Summer caught sight of a bald dark-skinned man at the wheel, wearing shades that glinted in the light from the sun ahead of them.

“What’s that guy’s deal?” Summer asked Prism. “Why’s he just driving next to us like that? Is he gonna ram us off too?”

“I dunno,” Prism said. “Maybe he’s lost?”

“When there’s only one road?” Summer asked. “I don’t believe that.”

The man in the car turned his head to talk to someone presumably in the passenger seat, then rolled up the window. The car fell behind the bus and tailgated it.

“Hmm,” Summer said. She took her eyes off the car and yawned. “Guess it was nothing.”

“Nothing? They just sent those crazy hot girls off the road!” Jojo stood up and tapped a finger on the window. “That’s not normal! Is it?”

There came the heavy thump on the roof of the bus, which caught the attention of the group. None of the other passengers seemed to notice. 

“Man, it’s stuffy in here,” Sweetie Belle said, shaking her head. She tried to open a window, but it seemed as though the windows weren’t designed to open. “It’s making me feel tired.”

As soon as she said that, one of the other passengers fell from her seat on the bus and landed on the floor of the bus. She seemed to have fallen unconscious.

“Hey, whassamatter with you?” The passenger next to her asked groggily. “Wake up.”

More people began to go limp and one man even began clawing at his throat. It was here that Summer began to feel it too. A warmness on her face, making it harder and harder to breathe. Each breath got heavier and heavier and her nose and throat felt like it was burning each time she tried to inhale.

“Is it me? Or…” Prism put her phone away and opened her mouth to take in a huge gulp of air. “I can’t breathe…”

“This is the work of an enemy Stand.” Bushido Spirit stood and pulled at his scarf. “We need to open the windows. Boney M!”

The smaller shield appeared over his left arm and he spun to the side and smashed his window open, spraying glass on his seat and on the road outside. But as soon as Bushido put his hand on the windowsill, a mass of green bubbles began popping across the back of his hand and he fell back on the seat, grasping his hand and screaming in pain. The skin under the bubbles began to turn black and he soon had a cluster of them spreading to his fingers, making the hairs on Summer’s neck and arms stand.

“Don’t touch the windows!” Sweetie Belle warned and stretched her arms out. “Don’t touch anything!”

Then her legs wobbled and she gasped for air before falling on her side.

“This is like bacteria. I’ve seen its work before. It mutilates the body’s cells from within.” Gipsy knelt down beside Bushido and inspected his hand as he gritted his teeth together in pain. “The intense bleeding causes the black spots to appear in the body and it transfers by contact.”

Suddenly there was what sounded like a trumpet from above the bus and Summer grabbed for her throat again. It was even harder to breathe now. It was as though the bus was running out of oxygen. They needed to open more windows, but there seemed to be bacteria spreading across them. This was likely the work of two enemy Stands.

“I know that sound…” Gipsy Dance looked at the ceiling as she followed the sound of what sounded like footsteps. Big footsteps. Then there was another trumpet and the air seemed to thunder around them. “It’s him.”

Summer turned to her as she tried to breathe. Already her vision was warping, making it seem like there were two Gipsy’s standing before her. “W-Who?”

Gipsy Dance summoned her Stand behind her and she pointed a finger to the ceiling, while her other arm cast itself to her right, flaring all five fingers out as one foot crossed behind the other.

“Eximus. Eximus Exo, the man who killed my people.”


> Chapter 22: The Battle of Anthrax and Mastodon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Spandau Ballet!”

Gipsy Dance’s Stand flicked its two bladed fans out, then spun in the air and flew up through the ceiling, legs first, piercing a hole right through its surface, spinning like a top before turning to face the enemy.

A man in a black suit stood across from Gipsy’s Stand, sniffing at a white rose, before placing it back in his coat pocket.

“My, my. And I thought you looked a bit familiar…” He grinned as Gipsy Dance jumped through the roof, making sure not to touch it with her hands as she passed by. “I never forget a mark.” Eximus Exo traced a finger down his own facial scar as he looked at the one on Gipsy’s forehead. “The last of the Italian gypsies…”

“My people are called the Romani!” Gipsy threw one hand to the side and Spandau Ballet twisted around and unfurled both fans. “And today, you will pay with your life, Eximus Exo. The cruel deeds of Weather Alternate end here today! I, Gipsy Dance, will be the one to avenge my people!”

He crossed his arms and lifted one pinkie finger to the corner of his lip, the one that was sharpened into a spike. “And, what, you think it will be you to stop us? I’ve dealt with your people before. It’s time I finished the job. And I didn’t come here alone.”

From the roof of the black car beside the bus, a red and brown Stand leapt up at her, spinning its body around in the air for a kick. Spandau Ballet parried it with a fan, then threw it at the enemy Stand. It landed on the bus’ roof and dropped to its back, dodging the projectile, then flipping its body back up on its hands before green bubbles began to spread from its fingertips.

The Stand sported two curved prongs that met atop its head and it had a sort of sash around its waist and light plated armor across its body.

Gipsy hissed and got her Stand to grab her and jump away from it, only for a towering elephant-like Stand to appear behind her, reaching its giant arms towards her. Spandau Ballet dropped Gipsy and turned to face it, bringing its fan up to cut at its hands. The giant Stand reared forward faster than it could anticipate and headbutted Spandau Ballet between the eyes.

Gipsy Dance grabbed for her broken nose as blood sprayed from her nostrils. The elephant Stand stomped a foot on the bus and dented it before releasing a trumpet cheer of victory before smashing its fists together. It had greyish-brown skin under golden armor and red lines went down its body like warpaint. Twin tusks protruded from its face, and because Gipsy didn’t see a mouth on it, she guessed the sound must be coming from its snout.

Her other hand had been on the roof of the bus and the other Stand’s approaching bubbles had reached her, with one touching the tip of her right index finger. The immediate burning sensation got Gipsy back to her senses and she threw herself to her feet as the bubbles began to pop and scatter across her finger, leaving behind black marks as the cells under them burst.

“It can’t spread this quickly!” Gipsy grabbed her finger as the burning only increased.

The window of the black car winded down again and the bald driver inside whipped out a shotgun in his left hand, pointing it at her.

Gipsy widened her eyes and threw herself to the side, but the red Stand flipped on its back and spun its legs in the air, kicking her in the gut and sending her flying on her back.

“It’s no use.” Eximus dusted his hands and placed one hand on his Stand. “Mastodon and Anthrax are hard to beat alone and impossible to beat together. As I’m sure you’ve already figured out, Anthrax has the ability to spread a deadly bacteria across any surface and it spreads faster in areas with low oxygen. It attacks your body’s blood cells and destroys them from inside, and once it spreads through your entire body, I’m afraid you’ll die of extreme blood loss.

“And that’s where Mastodon comes in.” Eximus smirked and adjusted his tie. “Mastodon is able to suck oxygen from an area. The smaller the area, the more effective. You made the right choice, coming out of the bus to face us in the open, but out here, against the two of us, there’s nothing much you can do. Perhaps it would’ve been better if you suffocated down there in the bus.”

“N-No, it’s not over yet. I’ll beat you yet! I’ve grown stronger since the last time we met, Eximus. I’ve been waiting for this day to face you again, to exact my revenge!” Gipsy looked up, a fire in her eyes.

“Nothing’s stronger than family,” the bald man said. “And you took my wife, Gloriosa Daisy, from me. And now, I’ll show you just how strong the resolve of family is. You’ll pay for what you did to her, her brother, her brother’s girlfriend, her brother’s girlfriend’s brother, his wife, and their poor dog.”

“Keeping a list, huh?” Gipsy looked between the two men. “I’ve got a list myself. Gipsy Flash, Nitty Gritty, Rose Bard, Old Man Bojangles, Arcturus. These are the names of my family and some of my people. The people you annihilated because of your sick values. You’ll be the ones to die here today.”

“Well, so far, it’s been all talk and no show.” Eximus waved a hand and Mastodon bellowed into the air again. “Then face me, gypsy. Show me what your years of hatred have taught you!”

Eximus stepped out of the way and Mastodon charged towards Gipsy and Spandau Ballet, poising its tusks lower to gore them.

Spandau Ballet turned to block another kick from Anthrax, but then her fan returned and forced Anthrax to duck under it, giving it enough time to spin both of them towards Mastodon. They buzzed against its chest plating, spinning and causing sparks to fly out all around them, but the towering Stand was not to be fazed. It smashed them both away with his arms, then swung its trunk up in front of Gipsy and Spandau Ballet.

The air shimmered in front of it, and Gipsy’s hands immediately shot for her throat as she dropped to her knees. She felt as though the air had been sucked right out of her lungs and no matter how hard she gasped, she could not find any oxygen.

Mastodon swung an arm under her Stand’s chin and launched her in the air before grabbing its leg with its trunk, swinging it back down against the bus’ hood with a crash.

Gipsy’s hands touched the surface and more bubbles began to spread across her hands, blistering across her skin and leaving black marks up from her wrists. She coughed out blood, staining her white shirt. Her vision was blurry, but her whole body felt like she had been thrown into a furnace. Everything was on fire and everything hurt, and still she could not breathe.

Is this… Is this the end of me? Even now, I couldn’t… I could not avenge my people… Mother, father, I’m sorry… I thought I could do it.

Gipsy gasped and closed her eyes for the end, but there was a yell from below and Tenacious D burst out of the roof and smashed into Mastodon faster than anyone could blink. The bull-like Stand crashed against the larger Stand, the impact knocking both of them back as Tenacious D landed between both of them. Eximus fell back a few steps and winced.

Gipsy Dance gasped and found she could breathe again, though shallow. She leaned her head up and spotted Jojo climbing out of the bus, the tips of his fingers sparking with electricity.

“Don’t touch… Don’t touch the bus’ surface! It spreads by contact!” Gipsy warned, but Jojo turned and gave her a thumbs up.

“I found a way to outsmart that.” Jojo grinned. “With hamon, I am able to harden a layer of air between my skin and the bus. Essentially, I was able to climb up here without actually touching the bus.”

“So you outsmarted my Stand’s ability…” the man in the car growled, his voice was low and Gipsy found it hard to make out what he was saying. “But did you know I can still outsmart your outsmarting?”

“I would like to know how you plan on that.” Jojo folded his arms and Tenacious D puffed steam from its nostrils.

“Anthrax’s bacteria thrives in low oxygen.” The man leaned out of the car and threw an arm out towards them like he was asking for money. “When Mastodon sucked the oxygen from the area, the clusters of bacteria were able to grow and fester faster than before. You might have protected your hands, but your foot had stepped out against the cluster earlier. It might be able to spread across clothes, but when you stepped on the larger bubble of bacteria, it burst and shot them higher into the air. Already, they’ve gotten all across your arms.”

“I didn’t get half of what you said, but- ah!” Jojo looked down at his arms to see black spots forming across them. Already, more bubbles were beginning to appear across his skin, burning through his skin and his blood cells as they flowed through his blood stream.

“It’s over now. No matter what any of you do, you cannot beat us.” Eximus Exo walked closer and snapped his fingers. “Weather Alternate will finally see the end of your little group of freaks. The world will have a few bloodlines less to cleanse.”

“We’ll see about that.” Jojo uttered another cry of pain as another bubble burst, but then he swished one arm out and pointed at the bald man. “You, you might’ve outsmarted my outsmarting, but I’m going to outsmart your outsmarting of my outsmarting!”

“The name’s Vinegar Petrol, kid. Gloriosa Daisy was my wife, and I’m here to kill you, because you fought against my family. How do you think you can outsmart my outsmarting of your outsmarting?”

“Your bacteria spreads fast across low oxygen environments, but what happens if I do this? Tenacious D!”

Jojo started in a run and leapt off the roof towards the black car. Vinegar swerved the car away and Gipsy watched in horror as Jojo was about to smash against the road below. But then Tenacious D was on him, grabbing him around the waist before hauling him onto its back. Its wheels smashed against the gravel and traveled after Vinegar’s car, easily keeping up with it before Jojo reached a hand out and placed three fingers against the glass on the passenger’s side window.

“Hamon overdrive!” he yelled and energy passed from his fingers to the window, shattering it to pieces. “All I have to do is take you out and your Stand’s powers will fade! And Mastodon wouldn’t lower the oxygen around you, or you would die along with us!”

“We’ll see about that. Anthrax!” Vinegar called.

His red Stand spun on one hand, then backflipped off the bus’ hood and swung an axe kick at Tenacious D. Jojo’s Stand lifted an arm to block the attack, but then Anthrax planted its hands on Tenacious D’s arm. Jojo had it pull back, but the damage had already been done. Bubbles burst across Tenacious D’s arm and it repeated itself on Jojo's, further blackening his arms.

Eximus Exo laughed wickedly as he watched this unfold. “Your journey ends here, unworthy ones. Master Dolfy will reward us massively for taking care of you!”

Suddenly there was a sound of tearing metal and a pickaxe flew out of the bus wall, forcing Eximus to dodge. The mining tool smashed into Vinegar’s car’s windshield, shattering it. The bald man swerved and almost slammed into the side of the bus before he regained control of his vehicle.

“What? Where did that come from?”

Gipsy Dance looked down through the hole in the roof of the bus. Summer Shine was on her feet, with Pegasus Forever levitating another pickaxe in the air using its potential energy. It then delivered a flurry of punches to the pickaxe, sending it spinning out at Vinegar. The bald man stepped on the brakes and the pickaxe missed his face, but carved a deep gouge in his car’s hood.

“This car is priceless! There’s isn’t another one of it in the world,” he growled, but then Tenacious D reached a hand in and clubbed him in the side of the face and he fell away from the wheel, letting his car swerve into the bus. The car smashed its headlights against the bus’ side and left a dent and tore away metal. With a stroke of unforeseen circumstances, a shred of the bus’ metal bent out and Vinegar’s car’s side caught against it, allowing the bus to drag it along as Eximus cursed under his breath on top of it.

“Your friends should be knocked out by now! There’s no way they should still be breathing down there!” He turned to Gipsy and curled his fingers into a fist.

“We had one way to avoid the lack of oxygen down here and now with the bus torn open, it’s a little easier to breathe.” Summer pointed a finger at him, then lifted one foot so only her toes were touching the ground. “REO Speedwagon, Sweetie Belle’s Stand is able to act as a safe room for us and it has its own oxygen supply. I just waited for the right opportunity to leave and join the fight.”

“Thank you, Summer, but you may proceed back into REO Speedwagon.” Gipsy held out a hand. “This is my fight. I must do this alone.”

“You… are you sure…?” Summer asked, but then she saw the resolve on Gipsy’s face and she knew there would be no changing her mind. She nodded and proceeded back into Sweetie’s Stand. Gipsy had come all this way for a chance to put Eximus in his place. It wasn’t her right to change that.

Sparks continued to fly as Vinegar Petrol’s car was dragged alongside the bus, scraping the bodywork against the railings. Eximus Exo sent Mastodon out to hit Gipsy, but Spandau Ballet was able to pull her out of range in time. But her retreat had a cost, and she watched as Eximus Exo’s Stand began to suck more oxygen out of the air. Staggering, Gipsy slipped backwards and fell into the bus.

She landed hard onto the bag of one of the prospectors, scattering its contents all about her. Food, digging tools, a box of cigars, and a boombox spilled all over the floor of the bus. Gipsy’s head swam with the effort of getting up, and as she used her hands to prop herself back up, her left palm landed on something small and metallic. Bubbles began to appear along her palm, popping and leaving behind their black marks, but suddenly, her mind raced and she picked it up. There was only one way to see if this would work and she would have to brave Anthrax’s bacteria to do it. Her friends didn’t have much time left.

“I must admit, you’re putting up a better fight than I expected!” Eximus said as Gipsy and Spandau Ballet jumped up onto the roof of the bus. “But it’s over now. You might have stood a chance with your friends, but alone, you’re no match for me and Mastodon.”

“Yeah, Eximus!” Vinegar shouted from his damaged car. “Give them the old one two!”

“You know, I’ve had just about enough of your jibbering,” Gipsy growled. “One way or another, only one of us is walking away from this. I’ve been waiting for the moment to finally gain vengeance for the lives of my friends and family.”

“But I drove here,” Eximus frowned. “Bah, whatever. I look forward to stomping on your corpse! Go, Mastodon!”

Mastodon trumpeted and thundered across the roof of the bus to charge Gipsy, who summoned her own Stand. Spandau Ballet ducked under the first swing, but was grabbed by Mastodon with a second swipe. Spandau Ballet kicked its feet, scraping against the other Stand’s body as Mastodon attempted to crush it in a bear hug. Gipsy had her Stand do a flip and twist Mastodon’s arm in an awkward angle, forcing the larger Stand to let go, and in mid air it threw both its fans at Eximus, who was too focused to notice.

But both fans flew past him and into the air.

“Ha! You missed!” Eximus crowed. “Now, Mastodon, get her!”

Gipsy waited until Mastodon was right on top of her before dropping into a crouch and rolling between its massive legs. As she did so, there was a glint to the right and the left as both of Spandau Ballet’s fans flew back in like a pair of boomerangs and sliced into Mastodon’s back. There was a hissing sound like a leaking balloon as Spandau Ballet faded from existence.

“Just what I was waiting for!” Gipsy took out the small object she had picked up in the bus. It was a silver lighter and she lit it before throwing it at Mastodon’s back, where the fans had pierced its hide. “Mastodon sucks up oxygen from the air, but all that oxygen has to go somewhere. And wouldn’t you know it, oxygen is also highly flammable in high concentrations. Meaning you, Eximus…”

Eximus realized a split second too late what was about to happen. He tried to recall Mastodon, but at that very moment, the lighter touched the escaping oxygen and set it aflame, causing Eximus Exo’s Stand to explode in a huge ball of orange fire.

“No!” Eximus jumped from the bus, but the fiery inferno launched him through the air and he landed on the road, rolling across the gravel and tearing apart his pristine suit. His skin was set on fire as he rolled, taking the damage his Stand had received and parts of his flesh melted away, trailing across the road.

He pushed himself up, relieved he had survived, though badly hurt, but then the approaching bus brought him back to reality and he could only gasp as he was caught under the right front wheel. There wasn’t even a bump as it went over him as his body disintegrated into ash and dust. All that remained was the white rose he kept in his coat pocket, now lost to the wind.

“For my family. For my people.” Gipsy placed her right index finger against the scar on her forehead, then flicked her other hand to one side, parallel to the ground.

“Nothing’s stronger than family. But the fight’s not over yet.” Vinegar Petrol righted himself and summoned his Stand once more, pressing its hands against the bus’ surface. “Anthrax will infect the entire bus with its bacteria and you won’t be able to escape! You’ll die slowly and I’ll be far from here by the time you fall.”

The bus was nothing more but a rickety chassis, torn apart from the battle and the explosion. Most of the passengers were already dead and even the bus driver had difficulty with keeping the bus on course now, missing an arm and half his hair from the explosion. He eventually succumbed to his injuries and fell on the wheel, swerving the bus off the road, pulling Vinegar’s car along with it.

Gipsy fell against what was left of the roof and as Anthrax’s bacteria skittered across its surface, they caught on her fingers and began to spread up her arm.

Every cell in her body screamed as though they were being burnt, but they had to take him down, or everyone here would die from the infection.

“Gipsy, jump!” Jojo reached out his infection-laden arm for her as Tenacious D rode alongside the bus.

The blackening had already reached his shoulders and it wouldn’t be long before it got to his head or his heart. Gipsy estimated she had thirty more seconds to stop Anthrax. Jojo had even less.

“Not so fast!” Vinegar called and his Stand reached out and grabbed Gipsy around one leg. “The oxygen levels might’ve returned to normal, but Anthrax can still spread its bacteria!”

Gipsy cried out in pain as bubbles popped across her exposed ankle and made their way up her leg. She could feel her flesh melting away under her attire, but if she were to stop now, then it would all really be over. She had to end this, now or never.

Gipsy spun around on top of the car and Spandau Ballet appeared over her, fans at the ready. She threw one at Anthrax, who swatted it away with its other arm, but before it could move again, Spandau Ballet was already on top of it, slicing down with its other fan. The blade cut clean through Anthrax’s arm and blood shot out from it like a fountain. The same happened to Vinegar and he grasped his bloody stump, unable to hold the wheel as Gipsy shook off Anthrax’s detached arm. Jumping off the car, she took Jojo’s arm, then swung around in the air and landed behind him on Tenacious D.

Anthrax looked up at them and scowled, but then Spandau Ballet’s second fan returned, spinning through the air and cut off one of Anthrax’s horns.

Vinegar screamed and clutched at his bald head as blood began to pour from it, and he had Anthrax blindly reach out, trying to catch Gipsy or Jojo, but Tenacious D spun around in a circle, then rammed itself into the car, detaching it from the bus and sending it swerving in circles towards a row of trees.

Vinegar closed his eyes and braced himself as his beloved car crashed into one of the trees. The left side of his car crumpled and the back and front folded around the tree like it was trying to give it a hug. The bus rolled down a hill and lodged itself between two trees, and one of the prospectors flew out the windshield, but other than that, it didn’t look too bad.

Jojo brought Tenacious D to a stop in front of the bus and he and Gipsy hopped off, but they were instantly sent down on their knees. The bacteria had spread far by now and it was almost too painful to move.

“It’s… not… over.”

Vinegar Petrol kicked his car door open and staggered out. One of his arms had a shard of bone sticking out and one side of his face was a bloody ruin, smashed against the inside of the car when it smacked into the tree. He limped towards them and raised a finger. The middle one.

“You killed my wife… my sweet wife… How could you. Weather Alternate stands for all the good in the world. We seek to rid the weak from the world. Imagine a world where only… the strong… survive!” He reached one arm skyward. “But you’re too weak to see it, the good it will bring…”

“Do you know what he just said?” Gipsy looked at Jojo. She still couldn’t quite process the words coming out of his mouth from his gravely low voice.

“Not a clue. I got a little.” Jojo scratched his cheek. “I think he said something about family.”

“Why you-!” Vinegar growled and Anthrax jumped out from behind him, reaching both hands towards Jojo’s neck.

But Tenacious D emerged from within him, crashing into Anthrax with both horns, spearing it in the chest. Vinegar spat out blood and clutched at his own chest, but then Tenacious D tore itself from the enemy Stand and as the Stand flew back over Vinegar, it charged forward and began swinging punch after punch at the enemy Stand user, beating his body into a pulp.

Vinegar Petrol stumbled back, his mouth agape in a bloody mess, still dripping blood from the sides. Then he lifted a finger, pointed at them, then dropped on his back.

Gipsy Dance breathed a sigh of relief as the bacteria stopped spreading over their skin. Jojo’s arms had blackened completely all the way to the edge of his chin. It seemed they had stopped Vinegar just in time to prevent the bacteria from reaching his brain.

“You have something for this, don’t you?” Jojo rubbed at his arms, then winced from the pain. “I’m glad it’s finally dealt with.”

“Are the others okay?” Gipsy Dance pointed to the destroyed bus as smoke poured from its wrecked engine.

Just then, a greenish backpack hopped down the steps, using its crab legs to push itself forward before the flap opened and Summer Shine leapt out of it.

“We’re fine. Well, better now that the bacteria is gone. I can’t believe I missed walking on grass again.” She tapped her foot against the ground. “You two did it! Are you okay?”

“It still hurts to touch, but at least it stopped spreading.” Jojo sighed and wrapped his scarf around one arm. “The cold isn’t helping against this.”

“I told you to get something with sleeves.” Summer pointed at his bare arms. “Pretty sure Prism warned you about the cold too.”

“Well, no one’s wearing winter gear. Maybe except Bushido.” Jojo looked at REO Speedwagon.

“That’s probably about to change once we get to the mountain.” Summer looked at the towering terrain ahead, past the tree line. Its peak vanished past the cloudy sky. “Gipsy, you did it. You finally took him down!”

“I did.” She clenched her fingers together. “After all these years, I’ve finally brought my family and friends peace. They can rest easy now, knowing their killer has been destroyed. He will harm minorities no more.”

“You can say that again.” Jojo picked at a rock on the ground, which didn’t do more than flip over. “Weather Alternate will be waiting for us up there. And I doubt it’s going to be easier than anything we’ve dealt with so far.”

“But we’ll show them. We’ll show them all.” Gipsy narrowed her eyes and stared at the mountain resolutely. “The world will not sit idly by as they pick and choose who lives and who dies. We won’t. And we’re going up there to stop them once and for all. The Nugget People cannot see the light of day.”

“But first…” Jojo held up a finger. “We need to find a new ride. Again.”

“You don’t have to worry about that.” Sweetie Belle stepped out of her Stand. “I knew something like this would happen again, so I’ve made some arrangements over the last day of travel.

Just then, the sound of something rumbling through the air could be heard around them.

“I told you that my friends and I had done various things over the course of our lives, and one of those things was a foundation for welfare called the Crusaders Foundation.” Sweetie Belle put both her feet together, then bent her body back till it was almost at a ninety-degree angle before reaching one arm skyward and pointing as a shadow appeared over them. “Let’s just say I got some help coming.”
———JO-JO———
Dolfy Horner was staring hard at the documents that Auto Gunship had just brought him. The leader of Weather Alternate had his glasses on and was sitting very still, glaring at the pages of paper on the table that covered the map.

Finally the leader of Weather Alternate spoke.

“Well?” He spat. “What have you got to say for yourselves?”

“What do you mean, sir?” Auto asked nervously.

Dolfy stood up suddenly, capsizing the table and throwing papers all over the place.

“How is it that a bunch of school-age children have been able to progress this far?!” He shouted, the wind from his yelling blowing Auto’s hair back. “This is a disgrace!”

“Mein meister, it just seems that everyone has been underestimating them since the day they left Canterlot,” Auto Gunship said very quickly, sweat beading around his brows.

“They should never have left Canterlot!” Dolfy roared. “If it wasn’t for that revenge-addled moron Timber Spruce, they wouldn’t even know about us!”

“Mein meister, there was nothing we could’ve done about that boy, he was too full of revenge to listen to us,” Auto shot out again, constantly averting his eyes from his furious leader.

“Every single one of our Stand users has been eliminated by this Sushi group!” Dolfy continued to rant. “How is it that the greatest fighters in Weather Alternate could be beaten by a bunch of schoolchildren! Incompetents, all of you!”

Dolfy began to shimmer with an ominous light and two huge monstrous hands appeared beside himself. The rest of the Weather Alternate members took a step back.

“Maybe we can come up with a new plan,” Heavy Hammer stammered. “After all, we are very close to uncovering the Nugget People. I’ve even had to get someone to take care of my fish.”

“What fish?” Dolfy raised a hand and removed his glasses, all the while, his fingers trembled with rage.

Auto shot Hammer a glance to tell him to shut up. “N-Nothing, sir.”

Dolfy scoffed and went over to a computer display on the wall. It showed a cross section of Mount Fegel and the digging process of a very specific tunnel, boring deep into the mountain. The shaft was several miles deep by this point and their machinery had pinged some kind of anomaly a few more hundred meters down. That must have been the Nugget People.

The gold nuggets had been increasing in number as they got closer to the anomaly and to no surprise, miners from all over the world had converged on this point, doing the dirty work for them as they dug deeper in hopes of returning home richer than ever.

Dolfy didn’t blame them. He wouldn’t mind being the richest man alive as well, but there was something down there greater than anything nuggets could buy. What they would find below would forever shape the world and everything they knew. Things were going to change and those that didn’t keep up, were going to be dust in the wind.

Dolfy spun back around and lifted a finger to Heavy Hammer’s face. “Sushi and her group must not reach us. You make sure you do everything in your power to keep them from even setting foot on Fegel Ein! Fegel Ein!”

“Y-Yes, mein meister!” Heavy lifted a hand in salute, then stumbled out of the room.

Auto Gunship and Airsoft Yodel shared a look, then gulped. They were so close to their goal now and they knew the temper of their esteemed leader. Dolfy was going to be harder than ever on them and failure was already not an option before. They wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of his wrath this time.


> Chapter 23: Du Hast Mich
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“This is so cool! I’ve never been in a helicopter before! We can see everything!” Prism Dash leaned her head out the side and grinned as the wind whistled through her face.

“What are you so excited for? You’ve been in a plane.” Fuchsia grumbled.

“Yea, but a plane isn’t a helicopter.” Prism shot her a look.

“Fuch this.” Fuchsia shook her head and groaned.

“What?” Prism sat back against the back of her seat and furrowed her brow. “It’s different, okay? It’s like sitting in a, I dunno, a car and then a truck. It’s different!”

“You tell yourself that…” The goth girl leaned back and draped a towel over her eyes.

Summer shook her head and gave Prism a pat on the shoulder before turning her attention to the front of the helicopter.

Sweetie Belle sat in front with another woman with red hair and a huge bowtie on top of her head, holding up a bushy ponytail. They had been introduced to her earlier and her name was Apple Bloom. According to Sweetie, she was another member of her little Crusaders party and a co-founder of the Crusaders Foundation, which was where they got the helicopter from. Jojo had asked why they hadn’t just called in the helicopter from the beginning, but Sweetie had assured him that it took time to arrange something like that.

That didn’t sit well with Summer, because if their vehicle got destroyed again, it was back to walking for them; they likely wouldn’t get another helicopter for days, and they likely didn’t have much time left before Weather Alternate unearths the Nugget People. They had to get up that mountain as quickly as they could.

“Sweetie Belle tells me y’all are some o’ the most capable fighters she’s ever seen,” Apple Bloom said, her voice buzzing into their headsets. “It’s too bad I ain’t got a Stand myself, or I’d be fightin’ out here with y’all.”

Apple Bloom was the sister of Applejack, another of Summer’s mother’s late friends and she too had stepped up her game to help others alongside Sweetie Belle after they had lost their sisters. She worked on a farm just outside Canterlot, but with the advancement of technology over the years, she also now oversaw an apple cider brewery, which they made using the apples around the farm.

“Wait, you’re the owner of Brew Mah Apples?” Prism pressed her hands against her headset. “I love that apple cider! My mom does too!”

“That I knew, Prism.” Apple Bloom chuckled. “I’m surprised she never told you.”

“Now it makes me wonder what other secrets she’s got up her sleeves.” Prism rubbed her jaw. “We’ll get to that once we get home. First, we’ve got to stop Weather Alternate once and for all!”

Already, Mount Fegel was before them, unobstructed now that they were far from any settlement. The craggy surface spanned high into the sky in front of them, even though they were at least a hundred feet in the air. Its rocks were a dark blue-grey color and they could see a whole lot of people and vehicles down there, some of which left the mountain side with carts of golden nuggets. It seemed the Nugget Run really was booming.

“How are we even supposed to find the Nugget People?” Jojo asked, pointing from the top left mountainside to the bottom right. “There could be thousands of caves up here now with all the digging. How do we know where to look?”

“It’s got to be somewhere Weather Alternate has its eyes at.” Sweetie Belle mused. “Their base is up here somewhere. Perhaps it's best we first find it.”

“Sweetie Belle is right.” Bushido Spirit nodded. “There could be useful information in there.”

“Then we first need to find a place to land.” Apple Bloom turned slightly to face the others in the back. “There ain’t much place to land on a mountain. I’m afraid I’m gonna have to land y’all at the bottom.”

“Great. More walking…” Fuchsia pulled the towel off her head. “Just kill me. Please…”

“Hey, there’s no need for that.” Prism waggled a finger. “At least not yet. Hey, what’s that?”

She pointed out the side. Summer turned her eyes to follow her finger, but it didn’t need much more guidance as a ball of blue electricity crashed into the base of their helicopter. 

“I’ve lost control!” Apple Bloom tugged at her joystick, but it was unresponsive. “Everyone, brace!”

The helicopter spun out of control and out of the air, sailing down towards the bottom, with not even a single alarm going off. The helicopter had lost all power.

Summer Shine didn’t even have time to say anything else before the helicopter smashed against the top of a tree. Her head jerked back and she hit it against the seat hard.

When Summer opened her eyes again, she realized they were in a forested area and the back of her head throbbed with every movement.

“Augh…” she groaned and screwed one eye shut to accommodate her pain. “Wh-what happened?”

“It came from the mountain…” Gipsy Dance threw her headset off her head. “It must’ve been Weather Alternate. Is everyone okay?”

“Not really…” Jojo pushed a first aid kit off his face. It had given him a bruise on his left cheek. “So much for these things saving lives.”

“We’ll need it here.” Sweetie Belle reached a hand out from the front and wiggled her fingers, asking for the medkit. “Apple Bloom’s not doing so good.”

“I’ve had worse…” The pilot groaned as she clutched at her side. Blood seeped through her fingers and her skin had grown paler. “Remember the time we lost control of that nail gun…?”

“This doesn’t compare.” Sweetie Belle lifted Apple Bloom’s now stained shirt and pressed a roll of swab on her skin. “You’re in no state to travel.”

“Of course the helicopter had to crash…” Fuchsia Blush wormed her way out of the vehicle and dropped to the grassy ground. “Fuch this, everything always has to go wrong.”

“On that, I can agree with you, Fuch.” Prism got out herself, nursing a cut on her forehead. “Hey, so what’s the plan now? We should get Apple Bloom to a doctor.”

“But a doctor means we’ll have to travel back to Leipzig.” Summer Shine sat herself on the ledge of the helicopter’s bent frame. “We don’t have that kind of time. But we can’t just leave her here as well.”

“I could get her back.” Jojo flexed one arm. “Tenacious D can travel faster than fire, as my dad would say. “I’ll make my way back as soon as I can once everything’s okay.”

“What a hero.” Prism wrapped an arm around him and grinned. “Hey, you stay safe. Don’t go dying on us out there, you hear?”

“I’m coming too.” Sweetie Belle got out carrying Apple Bloom, bandages wrapped around her torso. “She’s my friend. I’m… I’m sorry. I know I said I would protect all of you, but…”

“We get it, Sweetie.” Summer put a hand on her arm soothingly. “She’s been one of your lifelong friends. We get it. You’ve done enough, getting us this far. We would’ve never made it all this way if you hadn’t shown up.”

“That’s right. You take care of what needs to be taken care of.” Gipsy gave her a firm smile. “It hasn’t been long, but it’s been a good opportunity to travel with you.”

“Likewise.” Bushido Spirit pulled his sword from the wreckage and slicked a hand through his hair.

“Yeah, maybe we’ll kick Weather Alternate off the mountain by the time you get back to the hospital!” Prism swung a fist sky high. “It won’t be long now.”

“Yeah, we just have to climb a mountain…” Fuchsia rolled her eyes and folded her arms. “Real easy…”

“Hey. You have me.” Prism prodded a thumb into her own chest. “I’ll get us there and we’ll finish them off and return home stinkin’ rich.”

“Thank you. All of you.” Sweetie Belle managed a smile and her Stand appeared beside her. She lowered Apple Bloom and she vanished into REO Speedwagon. “I’ll be as quick as I can. But before I go…”

She dug around her pack and removed a few sets of parkas, gloves, boots and even goggles. “You’ll need this where you’re going.”

“I don’t.” Prism tilted her chin up smugly. “Coldplay will be able to deal with the cold.”

“Then we should head out. Tenacious D!” Jojo put a hand in front of his face, then spun the other one behind his back. His Stand appeared beside him, smoke pouring from its nostrils.

“Hey, you make sure you keep an eye out for more Weather Alternate chumps, huh?” Prism walked over and gave him a fist bump on the shoulder.

“You make sure you keep an eye out for them,” Jojo repeated back.

They both shared a look for a moment. Summer looked between them and lifted an eyebrow. It was a very strange look, but then Prism broke eye contact and slapped Tenacious D on the rump. “Alright, off you guys go. Apple Bloom needs that medical aid.”

“Right. Stay safe. All of you.” Sweetie Belle handed Jojo her Stand before disappearing inside.

After slinging REO Speedwagon over his shoulders, Jojo pointed forward and Tenacious D growled before speeding off down the road, leaving a trail of fire behind its wheels.

Summer watched them go and sent her silent wishes with them. She knew Jojo could deal with Weather Alternate if they went after them, but if everything went well, then they wouldn’t have to. Summer and her group were about to head up Mount Fegel and that meant Weather Alternate would possibly pool all their resources to stopping them here before they could get to their base of operations.

“Come on, Sushi. Time we head out.” Prism broke her thoughts and tossed her a parka. “Time to kick some Weather Alternate butt.”
—-----JO-JO—---
The walk out of the forest grounds had been easy and without incident. Once they had gone back on the main road, it had only been a half hour’s walk to little camps at the base of the mountain where people from all over the world had pitched up camps and small settlements. There was even a log cabin sitting at the edge of a campfire. Summer didn’t know why anyone bothered constructing one, but at least they were more comfortable than the regular tent.

“There’s the path up.” Prism pointed to a winding bend leading up the mountain. A truck was in the process of driving down, marshalled by a man carrying a sack of tools. “I say we just walk on up there and kick Weather Alternate down from the peak.”

“We don’t even know where their base is,” Summer said. “And I doubt it’ll just be there for everyone to see. It probably has a secret entrance.”

“Secret entrances will have a tell,” Bushido Spirit added, sliding his sword slightly behind himself as they entered into the mini settlement. “They will need to have oxygen. There will be vents leading out from the mountain. That is where we can start.”

“You’ve delved into secret hideouts before, Bushido?” Gipsy Dance asked, intrigued.

The man nodded. “The Yakuza back home, some of them hide stashes of valuables or secret weapons. In hunting them down, I have learned to pick out a few to make quick work of them.”

“You’re quite the hero.” Summer walked alongside him. “How come we’ve never heard of you?”

“Humbleness is a virtue, Sushi.” Bushido smiled. “There is no need for fanfare or public awards. I do what I need for the better of people, then I leave before authorities show up. My grandfather taught me that true heroes are the ones rarely seen.”

“That explains why no one knows our parents saved the world too.” Prism nudged Summer. “I had wondered why she never had any awards for such a heroic thing. What bigger thing is there than saving the world?”

“Well, telling people that they used ghosts made of psychic energy that can’t be seen might be stretching people’s belief a bit far, even if it is true,” Summer told her.

“Yeah. Just like how you don’t believe I have a Stand,” Fuchsia mumbled. “Which I totally do.”

“You don’t.” Prism pointed at herself. “I have a Stand. And my Stand’s pretty awesome. I haven’t even once seen yours!”

“How do you explain me seeing Stands, then?” Then she shook her head and sighed. “Fuch this. Why am I even arguing? It’s pointless. Life is pointless. I just want to be done here and go home.”

“What are a bunch of girls like you doing here?” One man with a beard suddenly walked over and stopped in front of them. “This is no place for young ones like you. You can come stay in my tent. It’s warm and I have candy.”

Bushido moved himself between his group and the man and narrowed his eyes. “That will not be necessary. And do not do what you would soon regret.”

“Tough guy, aren’t you?” The man prodded him in the shoulder. “But I wasn’t asking you. I was asking your girl friends there.”

Another man walked up behind them and laughed. “You girls aren’t packing any equipment. You should take up his offer. He has tents. Comfy ones for many people.”

Then more and more started showing up and soon, there was a chatter around them, making all their dialogue unintelligible.

“Are they serious?” Prism ducked down and tried to find a way out. “This is insane. Who are they trying to kid?”

“Well, us, apparently.” Summer pushed one man’s hand away as he reached for her chest.

“Okay, enough!” Fuchsia raised her voice louder than anyone had ever heard her.

With a shove, she launched one man back into a cluster behind him, knocking them all down. That was enough to get the crowd to silence themselves and back up slowly.

Summer had been in awe of what she had just witnessed as well and while her attention was on her friend, she felt a hand touch her chest again and she pushed it away.

“Hey!” she growled at the man who had done it.

It was a man with a scruffy beard and round spectacles and he was looking at his hand and wiggling his fingers.

“Amazing chest you’ve got there,” he said. “Squishy too.”

Summer moved her hands in front of her chest, feeling violated. But then something felt odd. She realized that she couldn’t feel the thump of her heartbeat. She moved her hand around, then to her wrist, trying to find it, but it was as though she didn’t have one. There was no pulse.

“Hey, what-” She looked back up, but the man with the round glasses was gone, vanishing somewhere past the crowd.

“Something wrong, Sushi?” Bushido was beside her, his purple eyes trying to get a read on her.

“Yeah, I’m not sure, but…” Summer took his hand and placed it against her chest. The man blushed and took one step back, but didn’t do more. “I can’t feel my heartbeat. It happened after some guy with round glasses touched me.”

Bushido relaxed and closed his eyes. Then he opened them again and nodded. “I cannot feel it either. Something is amiss. We are likely dealing with an enemy Stand user.”

“Aren’t we always?” Summer grunted. “Wait, does this mean I don’t have any circulation?”

And then she swayed and collapsed, but Bushido caught her in time, preventing her from hitting the ground.

“I feel a little faint…” Summer’s eyes struggled to stay open.

Seeing the commotion, Prism and Gipsy ran over, while Fuchsia continued giving the other miners dirty looks as she pounded her fists together.

“Someone stopped her heartbeat,” Bushido explained. “This is the work of an enemy Stand. Stay with her. I will find whoever did this.”

Summer opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

“Do not worry. I will find the enemy. And I will regain the functions of your heart.” Bushido put a hand against her cheek and shared a look with her.

“A normal human can go about ten minutes after their heart stops. Do you think you can find them before then?” Gipsy worriedly looked at him.

Bushido’s face morphed into a steely gaze and he stood back up. “There is no other choice. I will have to. Summer reached a hand up for him, and though he wanted to stay by her side, he had to go to save her. “Do not worry, Sushi. You have me. I’ll find this enemy and I will end them in the name of justice. I will be back before ten minutes is up and you’ll be alright again.”

Bushido broke off into a run. Summer had pointed towards the east and this enemy would not have gone far if he was planning to kill all of them. He would be back again when the opportunity came, so he just needed to keep an eye out for any suspicious individuals, but he only had ten minutes. He was not going to fail, not for Summer, not for his grandfather.


> Chapter 24: Rammstein's Heartburn
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bushido Spirit inspected the crowds of people around him. Most of their attention was on Sushi and the group now, but some had returned their attention to polishing their gear or heating up their meals over their campfires.

None of them here had round glasses, nor did they seem malicious. Years of taking down evil Stand users and the Yakuza had given Bushido an eye for evil, especially when he had to pick out targets in a crowd.

And so he kept moving, looking around at all the tents and makeshift buildings, looking for the one who had taken Summer’s heartbeat.

“So many people…” Bushido growled, looking around. “Kuso, how am I supposed to find and defeat the culprit in less than ten minutes?”

There were so many places a Stand user could hide in this mass of people and tents. Not to mention Bushido had no idea of the extent of the enemy Stand’s power. It was entirely possible that it had more tricks up its sleeve and was lining up to kill him even now. He was at a heavy disadvantage in terms of knowledge, time, and tactics.

“Come on, Bushido,” the Japanese youth said to himself. “Think! How can I rat out an enemy Stand user quickly?” He supposed he could just start attacking at random, but he had sworn to stay his blade from the innocent. He couldn’t just cut people down without a righteous cause. Not that it would do him much good anyway. The odds of chopping the correct target were pitifully small, doubly so if the enemy knew he was searching for him.

The precious seconds ticked by as Bushido ran through the camp. The one thing he was sure of was that the culprit would be in hiding, and what better place to hide than in a crowd? He sought out the largest group of people, barging through them and flicking his eyes all around to search for any sign of an enemy Stand.

It was still no good. Three minutes had elapsed now.

Bushido felt his frustration well up inside of himself and he punched a nearby tent pole in anger. Nearby a couple of prospectors heard the noise and leaned over to see what had happened.

Then he got an idea. Something that might help him sort the Stand user from the rest of the people. 

“Boney M!” He shouted, summoning his Stand. He made his Stand begin to punch and kick at the people around, but always stopped short of touching them so that they wouldn’t be harmed. The Stand swung its shield to and fro, making many moves which would have seriously injured someone if they had been hit. Fortunately, after years of training, Bushido had honed his Stand control to a razor’s edge. 

After another few swings, he saw someone on the right duck as Boney M’s shield whiffed harmlessly over his head. Bushido looked over and their eyes met. He had round glasses on top of a potato-shaped nose. Then the man turned and began to run away.

“Now I have you!” Bushido said to himself. Four minutes had passed.

He placed one hand on the grip of his blade and ran after him in pursuit.

The man shoved his way through people to get them to block Bushido’s path, but able to maneuver the tight streets of Japan, Bushido easily avoided them. 

This was when Bushido encountered his first real sign of resistance. The man was fleeing, yes, but not aimlessly. A pair of soldiers dressed in an odd uniform stood by a cliff, where there was parked a strange device. It looked like a podium with a sort of metal barrel built around it, like a cylinder. There was a large set of rotors on the underside that made it look like a boat engine. But Bushido had a hunch it was anything but.

“Stop that man!” The glasses-wearing fellow told the soldiers. Both of them stepped forward and raised their rifles at Bushido, who summoned his Stand to block the bullets.

“I don’t have time for this!” Bushido roared as Boney M hurled its huge shield in an arc, knocking one of the soldiers off the cliff and the other one into the mountainside.

“You’re too late, boy!” Bushido’s quarry declared as he jumped onto the odd device. The propellers began to spin and the Bushido could see the man’s Stand appear next to him, holding up what looked like a human heart. It was dark and skinny, and its fingers were long and gnarly, like that of tree roots. “Know that I, Heavy Hammer, was the one who rid Weather Alternate of its greatest foe!”

“You tea-leaf sucking toad!” Bushido ordered Boney M to throw its shield again, but then the platform that Heavy Hammer was on took off into the air and the shield missed. 

The enemy Stand user flew up and out of throwing range. If Bushido didn’t act fast, he would escape, and with it, Summer’s chances of survival.

“I cannot let that happen!” Bushido said, snatching up the rifle that the soldier had dropped. He had never fired a gun before, but as Boney M’s aura surrounded the weapon, he knew that he had to make the shot. Remembering the stance from the movies he had seen, Bushido fitted the stock to his shoulder, looked down the sights, and fired.

The gunshot was louder than he expected, and the kick of the gun almost knocked it from his grasp, but the bullet flew true, up into the enemy Stand… and passed through it harmlessly.

“Oh, come on,” Bushido looked at the gun. “It seems as though Boney M’s power to make weapons able to hurt Stands only extends to weapons that were in contact with Stand power. The moment the bullet left the gun, it was no longer in contact with a source of energy and it lost the property to damage Stands.”

He had no alternative. Again, his sword was the only weapon he could rely on. But the enemy was high above him now and Boney M had never gotten him that high before, but he had to try before Heavy Hammer got too far beyond his reach.

“Time for your magic, Boney M.” Bushido ran back a few steps as his Stand readied its shield in front of itself.

He sprinted forward as hard as he could, and just before reaching his Stand, he leapt high and Boney M ducked low, planting the shield under his right foot.

Rising up, Boney M pushed with all its might and Bushido was propelled high into the air, higher than he’d ever been before. He actually felt like the king of the skies all the way up here, but there was no time to enjoy the wind in his face.

Reaching up, he grabbed onto the underside rungs of Heavy Hammer’s craft. He had actually done it, he had thrown himself at least sixty feet up.

His added weight caused the flying craft to jostle and tilt backwards, but Bushido easily swung his legs up to it, then flipped himself up topside, where Heavy Hammer’s head was turned to him in disbelief.

“Impossible! You couldn’t have gotten up here!” he yelled.

“Think again, you villain!” Bushido shouted before slamming his fist into Heavy Hammer’s nose.

The man’s spectacles shattered into two and he fell back against the wheel of his vehicle, spinning it to one side and causing the craft to spin back towards the camp.

“I’ll show you…! Rammstein!” Heavy Hammer flicked a hand out. “I’ll have your heart too!”

His Stand reappeared in front of Bushido and it reached out its other hand of serpentine fingers to his chest.

Boney M lifted its shield and deflected the appendage, but then the Stand growled and lunged its face forward, opening its mouth to reveal a set of jagged teeth. It snapped at his Stand, but Boney M backed up a step, then smacked it in the face with its shield.

But then Rammstein dodged a second shield strike and slid under the shield, almost like it had no bones, then raised one hand and placed it against Boney M’s chest, this time, connecting its fingers to Bushido’s Stand’s armor.

A pulse of red energy swirled around Rammstein’s fingers, then it recoiled, gliding back beside its master and raising its left hand, now holding a heart in it as well.

Bushido’s eyes went wide and he placed a hand against his chest. The Stand had taken his heart too and he could no longer hear his heartbeat.

“You fool! It was foolish of you to come after me! I, Heavy Hammer, am a member of Master Dolfy’s inner circle!” He pulled what was left of his glasses off his face and tossed it off his aircraft. “Rammstein might not look like much, nor is it as apt in combat or defense as your Stand, but it’s fast and agile, and once it touches your chest, it can steal your heart, and once I have your heart, what do you think you can possibly do against me? You have about a minute before your body goes into shock from the lack of blood pumping through your veins and then another ten before you become brain dead. But…”

Heavy Hammer reached into his pocket and brought out a lighter, holding it under his palm.

“What do you plan on doing?” Bushido eyed him wearily, keeping one hand above his sword’s grip, resting his palm gently along its wrapped surface.

“Whatever happens to me also happens to my Stand. And vice versa.” Heavy brought his palm closer to the fire.

There was a warm sensation coming from Bushido’s chest now and once Heavy’s hand completely rested against the fire, it was as though his own body was burning up from the inside. Bushido clutched at his chest and dropped to a knee as his heart in Rammstein’s hand glowed red, before an aura of fire swirled around it, turning the edges black.

“I will burn your heart to a crisp, and you will die here, knowing that you never had a chance to save the Sushi girl!” Heavy Hammer bent his head back in laughter. “Master Dolfy will be so pleased! Once I get back, I’ll celebrate by giving a double portion of food to my fish! If you try to attack me, what do you think I’ll make Rammstein do to your heart?”

Bushido looked through squinted eyes at his burning heart in the enemy Stand’s hand. He didn’t have long before his body gave out and he had even less before his heart would be burned to nothing. He had to think of a plan and he had to do it fast.

He had to make a move that Heavy Hammer would not see or anything where he could have time to further destroy his heart. Already, he could feel the veins in his body tightening and it was getting harder to stay standing, but he had to push through. For Summer.

Materializing the smaller portion of Boney M’s shield, Bushido threw it forward, letting it spin towards Heavy Hammer and his Stand as he lowered his hand back to his sword’s grip. The Weather Alternate member had already flicked the lighter away as he clenched his fist. Rammstein did the same, squeezing down on Bushido’s heart.

He could feel the pain bursting in his chest, but he was already on the move. putting his hand on his weapon, Bushido’s Stand powered the blade up and in one swift motion, Bushido cut out as fast as he could, hitting the shield as it flew. The blow connected and launched the shield faster than the eye could see.

Heavy Hammer didn’t even have time to react as it sliced right through his Stand’s left arm, the arm holding Bushido’s heart. Its arm fell away as a gush of blood erupted from both Stand and master alike. Heavy Hammer’s arm landed beside his feet and he clutched the stump in pain and horror as he let out a bloodcurdling scream to the air.

Bushido gasped and held a hand to his chest as his heartbeat returned and the tugging faded away. Now that he was free once more, there was nothing holding him back from pressing the attack.

“Boney M!” He pointed to the wounded enemy.

Boney M roared and dashed forward, swinging its shield back and forth as it smashed it over and over again into Rammstein’s gnarly face.

The enemy Stand lifted the arm with Summer’s heart to protect itself as Boney M pressed its offensive, hoping that it would hit it and hurt Summer, but Bushido was smarter than that. Boney M’s larger portion of the shield fell away and it used the round, smaller attachment to weave under and over Rammstein’s arm, before reaching out and grabbing it before giving its face a good pounding, preventing it from escaping.

With one big blow to its lower jaw, Boney M let go and Rammstein recoiled, with Heavy Hammer doing the same, staggering back and landing on one of the control sticks for the flying platform.

“What are you doing!?” Heavy shouted above the wind as best as he could with a broken jaw. “Are you trying to kill us both?” The heart appeared in Rammstein’s hand again, beating faintly. Summer didn’t have a lot of time left, and neither did he. “If you kill us, the girl dies as well!”

“No, no, no,” Bushido said, putting his hand onto the hilt of his blade, preparing for an iaijutsu strike. “You will die!”

He sliced upwards and slashed right through Rammstein’s arm, causing it to drop onto the floor of the vehicle. Almost instantly after, Boney M crashed its shield into the flying platform’s control panel, ruining it beyond repair.

“Sayonara,” Bushido said as the flying machine plummeted toward the ground. Grabbing the lopped off hand of Rammstein, Bushido leapt off and landed with a roll on the cliffside. Heavy Hammer was too paralyzed by the pain of having his second arm chopped off that he didn’t realize what had happened until it was too late.

Bushido stood up just as the flying craft smashed into the mountainside below in a huge orange fireball. He did not look back. 

Rammstein’s arm and Summer’s heart faded from his hand, and he guessed that it would’ve gone back to her by now. She was safe. She was okay.

“I would never let anything happen to you, Sushi.” Bushido flicked his katana to the side to remove excess blood, then he swung it up and in an arc before returning it to its sheath.

Boney M appeared behind him, raising its shield high as Bushido spun himself to one side, placing one hand to his chin, resting it on his other arm as he crossed it over his chest, before lifting one leg to stand on its toes.

“And another round of justice delivered to the evil of this world.”


> Chapter 25: Kreating Memories
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The first face Summer Shine looked at when she opened her eyes was that of Bushido Spirit, kneeling over her body as her eyes fluttered open.

“Sushi, you’re back,” he said as the corner of the left side of his mouth tilted up.

“My heartbeat…” Summer placed a hand on her chest and breathed in. “You found him?”

Bushido nodded. “Found and taken care of.” He placed one hand over one of hers. “Justice has prevailed once more. And you are safe.”

“Bushido, thank you.” Summer’s cheeks flushed and she pushed to her feet once she realized the rest of her friends were standing around looking at them. “What’s happened since then?”

“We’ll likely have to camp down here for the night.” Fuchsia Blush sighed and spun a metal pipe in her hand. Summer had no idea where she had gotten it from all the way out here, but it didn’t change the fact that she had one. “If you didn’t get your heart stolen, we might’ve already been a fair distance up the mountain. Now we’ll have to stay here longer with all these horny old nugget diggers… fuch my life.”

“Come on, cut her some slack.” Gipsy helped Summer up all the way. “Her heart had stopped pumping for close to ten minutes. We’re lucky Bushido stopped Weather Alternate in time or we would’ve lost Sushi.”

“At least we’re all still here.” Fuchsia rolled her eyes. “Weather Alternate’s going to pay once I make it up there.”

She balled a fist and for a fraction of a second, Summer thought she saw something black dancing around her fingers, but then she blinked and it was gone.

“Man, what are you going to do?” Prism Dash hopped over and put an arm around Summer’s shoulders. “I still don’t know what kind of Stand she has, or if she even has a Stand. But now I have one and believe me, given the chance, I’ll show Weather Alternate what I’m packing. I call the next battle.”

“Sure you do.” Fuchsia folded her arms.

“It’s late. We should get some rest before our climb tomorrow.” Gipsy Dance motioned to a set of green tents by the side. “Sweetie Belle left these with me before leaving for Leipzig. We can use them for the night, but we’ll have to squeeze a little.”

“Bushido gets a tent all to himself?” Prism stretched her arms up. “Sushi, you should bunk in with him. Give the rest of us more room.”

“What? I can’t do that!” Summer’s face could only get redder.

“Yes, it is immoral to do so.” Bushido stood straighter and hurried over to the other tent. “I will see you girls tomorrow.”

“Such a man of justice, that one.” Prism slapped Summer on the arm. “Man, I was trying to help you, Sushi. You two look like you could use a push to get to know each other more.”

“What you’re planning is jumping past all that getting to know,” Summer said.

“Well, it’s still getting to know him, just a different part of him.”

“Okay, that’s enough.” Summer pushed past her. “You better take first watch. Don’t let those miners get in here.”

“What, I don’t want to take first watch.” Prism folded her arms, but Summer was already through the tent flap. “Well, great.”
—------JO-JO—------
Thankfully for Prism, nothing had happened her entire watch and when she had opened her eyes again after lying down on the tent floor, light was already pouring in, signaling the start of a new day, a day they were finally going to climb Mount Fegel to get to Weather Alternate’s base of operations.

“Aw yes!” Prism stretched her arms high as she exited the tent, cracking out all the kinks in her arms. “It’s game time.”

“And I’ve got our gear right here.” Summer tied up a bag of tools from Sweetie Belle. “It’s a good thing REO Speedwagon can hold so much. But if we lose this, we’re not getting anything else for a while.”

“Yeah, well…” Prism accepted her parka from Summer and slipped it on. “That’s right, I guess. Man, if only my mom could see me now. She’d be so proud that I’m following in her footsteps to save the world!”

“I hope so…” Summer looked down at her pocket where her phone was resting in. “I still haven’t been able to reach home. I hope nothing’s happened.”

“Come on, give them more credit.” Prism slapped her in the back. “Our parents saved the world once. And we’ve come this far. If Weather Alternate can’t beat us, they certainly can’t beat them.”

“That’s quite right…” Summer sighed. She wanted to believe Prism, that their parents would trump any foe sent their way, but a part of her still worried about them. “It’s probably just the signal. Maybe we have a bad connection so close to the mountain.”

“That’s the spirit. Hey, we should head out. Is there anything else to eat?”

“Nothing good, anyway…” Fuchsia Blush passed them and tossed Prism a paper bag of donuts. “Fuch this. I want to go home.”

“The faster we’re done here, the faster we can return.” Gipsy Dance exited the tent, already decked out in a thick layered coat. “Whatever awaits us on the mountain, they’ll dread the day they sent Eximus to destroy my family. Weather Alternate ends here today.”

“On that we can all agree on.” Bushido Spirit slid one foot forward, then raised one hand to his right shoulder before bending lower. “Justice will be delivered to those who use their powers for evil.”

“So, do we have ice picks in there? Or rope?” Prism grabbed the bag of equipment from Summer and ran her hands along it.

“Even better. Grappling hooks, or at least, they look like grappling hooks.” Summer grinned. “They hook up to wherever we shoot them, then with a pulley system, help us ascend to the point of contact. These should get us further up the mountain quicker instead of using the main paths.”

“Neat.” Prism widened her smile as the group proceeded on towards the base of the mountain.

Looking up from where they were, the mountain’s craggy surface loomed over them like a sleeping giant, standing higher than any building they’d ever seen in their lives. Most of it disappeared behind a layer of cloud and fog, but even then, they could still see at least a hundred storeys above their heads.

Prism excitedly planted the bag on the ground, quick to unbind it before flipping it open to unfurl on the frosty ground. Inside were six long devices, shaped like enlarged pipes and at the head of each of them was a speartip with four hooks around it. Along their surfaces were some rather durable ropes, going through rungs and pulleys and all kinds of mechanical bits and bobs that Prism didn’t know what they were called. She didn’t know how they worked, but she was already very excited and couldn’t wait to use them.

“I can’t wait to use these!” Prism lifted one and pointed it towards the mountain’s side. She found a trigger by the rear of the device and without waiting, she fired it up.

With a release of air and gas, the spear left the barrel and sailed through the air, with the rope behind it whipping around like the coiled body of a snake, and then it slammed into the mountain’s rock and its four hooks latched on tightly as small debris and snow rained down around them.

“Let’s see here…” Prism attached a harness around her legs and waist before hooking herself onto the device. “Am I doing it right?”

With the push of a button, she began to ascend up the rope, but something went wrong and she flipped upside down as the device continued to go up.

“Hey, help!” Her voice trailed off as she proceeded on without the others.

“I guess we better go on and help her once we get to the top.” Summer attached the harness as well and then picked up one of the grappling hooks.

The rest of her party did the same and soon, they were all ascending the cliffs alongside Prism, who was still busy trying to flip herself around. Summer had to eventually give her a hand, pushing her up from behind as she managed to readjust her legs the correct way, before grabbing on to the rope and hauling the rest of her body up as well.

“Man, blood rush!” Prism held the corner of her head and winced. “But that was… awesome! We should do it again!”

“You’ll have plenty of opportunities to do that.” Summer pointed to the rest of the mountain before them. They still had a really long way to go.

As they arrived at the first plateau, they could see plenty of equipment set up outside various tunnels leading into the mountain. There were lights, generators, and trucks with open backs to be filled with golden nuggets by the day’s end. 

Looking up as she tightened the belts around her body, Prism spotted more holes bored into the mountain higher up, along a narrow zig-zagged road where miners were already busy wheeling down their early morning hauls.

“You know,” Summer said thoughtfully. “Gold is only valuable because it’s rare. If people suddenly introduce such large amounts of gold into the economy, won’t the gold be worth less money then?”

“That’s a good point,” Bushido said as he looked around. The view was really something from up here. “I suppose we can expect a dip in the gold market in the near future.”

“That’s if we stop Weather Alternate from awakening the Nugget People.” Fuchsia loaded the grappling hook again. “Otherwise, it’ll be the end of the world.”

“Come on, we can beat this.” Prism finished resetting the harness around herself. “We’re not going to let them destroy the world. I’ve still so much to do! It’ll spoil my life.”

“Uh huh. Hey, we better keep going. The other miners are already starting to stare.” Summer cringed slightly as she watched their gazes. “They might want to steal our stuff.”

“I would want to steal these too if I saw someone using them to get up the mountain faster.” Gipsy smiled and readied her gadget, pointing up to the next cliff. “Now, if I were Weather Alternate, where would I build my secret mountain base?”

“I won’t use huge glass windows, that’s for sure.” Prism pulled the harness up higher around her waist and huffed. “Reflections off them will just give your base away for miles. Plus, if I had a grappling hook, I could just zipline my way into your secret mountain base. Oh wait…” She lifted the grappling hook barrel. “Look, we do have one.”

“Weather Alternate is too smart to do something dumb like that.” Bushido shook his head. “No, to maintain the power they have today, they must act discreetly.”

“Discreet doesn’t seem to be their game.” Summer mimicked a steering wheel with her hands. “They just attacked a bus full of miners and stuff on our way here. Everyone must’ve seen it.”

“I’m sure it’ll just get chalked up to some criminal assault or something.” Prism sighed and fired off her grappling hook again. “We’re the only ones who can stop them at this point and be sure that Coldplay and I are going to show them who’s boss!”

She began ascending as the rest of her group readied their devices to follow. Prism planted her feet on the craggy surface from time to time, steadying her ascend, making sure that she would be facing up the whole way this time. Having the blood rush to one’s head wasn’t something she’d like to try again anytime soon.

As they continued their ascent, something caught Prism’s eyes along the mountain surface. At first, she thought nothing of it, but when she stopped ascending, she reached a hand out and ran her fingers along the strange object. It was some sort of tube and it seemed to run into the mountain itself. Inching herself over, Prism placed one eye against it, feeling a rush of air coming from it, drying her eye and forcing her to recoil as she blinked rapidly.

“Hey, I found something!” She rubbed her face and waved to her friends.

Fuchsia was the first one beside her and she peeked into the tube as well. “Celldweller thinks this is an air vent for Weather Alternate’s mountain base. Honestly, I thought they would be smarter than this, making an air vent on the side of a mountain people would use grappling hooks on. Fuching morons.”

“Well, we can’t get in through here.” Prism waved a hand. “But I think I just hatched a brilliant plan. Coldplay!”

Prism’s Stand appeared in the air beside her and flicked one hand down to its right knee, then the other one curled over its head.

“What’s the plan?” Fuchsia looked unimpressed.

“You’ll see in a minute.”

“Fuch this. Just tell me.” Fuchsia groaned.

Prism’s brow deepened and she let out a strange sound. “Fine, fine. I’m going to trace the heat coming from this vent using Coldplay. Then we could get a rough location of their base entrance!”

“Pshh.” Fuchsia said nothing more and kept ascending.

“Uh huh. And when I get this done, I’ll be the one to have found Weather Alternate.” Prism watched her go for a bit, then cleared her throat and focused on the vent.

Coldplay raised one hand, then curled its fingers until only one remained pointing forward. Dipping it into the vent, Prism felt what her Stand was feeling and traced the heat coming from within, following a snaking path deeper below them. The vent eventually led out into a squarish room with an elevator. Prism couldn’t exactly see it, nor could she explain it, but she could feel the elevator behind the doors and at this moment, it seemed to be going up.

“An elevator is a good sign…” Prism said out loud. “Secret bases don’t always have elevators leading from one section to another. They usually served as secret entrances to secret bases and that would mean that the entrance would be close above us. If we can find it, we’ll have our entrance down into Weather Alternate’s first base.”

“How many people are inside?” Bushido asked, reaching her position. “It would be useful to know the number of the enemy in case we need to fight them.”

“Let me see…” Prism focused herself on Coldplay’s powers even further. “It’s not easy,” she said with some strain in her voice. “The further away living beings are, the harder it is for Coldplay to detect them. And this is one big mountain.”

“As we’ve learnt from the fight before…” Summer stopped beside the two of them. “It seems not all our enemies are Stand users. Weather Alternate employs regular people as well. I’m sure we can handle them easily, but if they have a Stand user in that base, we’ll have to be ready for a fight.”

“I wonder how many Stand users they have left,” Prism pondered aloud. “They must have had quite a few if they can afford to send them at us one after another like they have been.”

This statement sent a ripple of unease through the group. Battling one of Weather Alternate’s Stand users was hard enough, and they had barely survived fighting two. If there were more of them inside the base, they might have to be careful about how to proceed.

“We’ll deal with them as they come. I have Coldplay now!” Prism stuck a thumb to her cheek. “They want to stop us, they’ll have to go through me.”

Prism clicked down on her barrel and continued up the mountainside. It wasn’t long before the rest of them joined Fuchsia at the top of their next cliff. This next part was flatter than the one below and there were less people up here, though there were still some miners investigating the walls up here.

“Alright, time to spread out and search for the entrance.” Prism pushed Summer’s shoulder as she unhooked herself. “We know Weather Alternate has an elevator coming down from somewhere up here. It could be higher, but I have a feeling their elevator would be on this plane.”

“Right. Once we find it, we’ll have to get into their base and find whatever they have on where the Nugget People are buried,” Summer continued. “Then we find their boss and we put an end to him and his organization and make sure the Nugget People never see the light of day.”

“Sounds like a solid plan.” Gipsy nodded. “I like it.”
“Okay, then we know what to look for. Let’s get to it!” Prism pumped a fist up, then rushed off excitedly as she sent Coldplay out ahead of her. “Machinery generates electricity. Electricity has heat. If there’s any machinery nearby, Coldplay will find it.”

Her Stand slinked forward, moving in a zig-zag line as it raised one finger up to feel the air current around them. And then she felt it too. Ahead and around a fairly large boulder, there was a buzz of heat, slowly increasing in power the closer Prism got to it.

“It’s here. I knew it! I knew the entrance to the secret base had to be close!” She hopped into the air and swung a fist under her left leg before returning to the ground.

Prism Dash made her way across to the boulder as quickly as she could and she had yet to cross around to the other side when she heard a very family ding. She knew that sound well. It was the sound an elevator makes when it reaches its destination.

The girl immediately stopped in her tracks and her Stand did the same, gliding back to her side and putting both arms up in front of its face, stretching all its fingers out wide.

Over the sound of the wind howling around her, she could just make out the faint sounds of footsteps against snow and soon, a squarish man with shaved sides and a plume of hair on top appeared from around the boulder, dressed in a grey parka with a thick fur lining around his neck.

“At last, you’ve arrived. I have been expecting your team.” He rubbed his hands together and flexed one arm up and the other one down. “Today, you’ll feel the full might of Auto Gunship, member of the inner circle of Weather Alternate. Oh, what memories I will have of this day where I tear your spine from your body.”

“We’ll see about that. Coldplay!” Prism waved a hand down as her Stand raised both of its hands.

Auto Gunship immediately grabbed his shoulders and started shivering. “W-Wh-What are you d-d-doing?”

“I’m taking your heat away. Without it, you won’t be able to protect yourself from the cold.” Prism placed one hand on her left knee, then the other one on her right ear, stretching her fingers up to touch her hair. “And when you can’t do anything to retaliate, Coldplay!”

Prism sent her Stand forward, parting the snow under its glide before delivering three punches to Auto Gunship’s face. His cheeks waggled in the air with each blow and the third one knocked out two of his teeth. Spinning on one foot, Coldplay bent low, then stood up faster than the eye could see with a vicious uppercut to the man’s jaw. Auto lifted into the air, then crashed down beside the elevator, one eye still twitching. His jaw seemed to have come loose from his face and it was hanging off his face, kept attached only by the skin.

“That was easier than I thought.” Prism dusted her hands. “And as I thought, up here in the cold, my Stand reigns supreme! Because I can take heat away, your body won’t be able to fight against the cold. They won’t be fast enough to keep up with my Stand that way.”

Prism stepped over the man’s body, then approached the elevator to inspect the console beside it. There were blinking lights on it, along with one square button.

“Looks simple enough.” Prism dusted snow from her shoulders, then pushed one finger against the button. The door to the elevator slowly slid to one side, revealing a steel cage with white plates attached to the sides. “Now I just need to signal the others and get them here.”

Prism was about to backtrack to their starting point when something shifted in the air around her. Snow was falling around her, but she still felt something, like a change of the wind, or a breath of air.

“Breath of air…” Prism spun around and looked at the body of Auto Gunship.

The dead Weather Alternate man’s head had turned to face her and his eyes were now balls of yellow fire. Prism almost jumped out of her skin, but then one of Auto’s arms stretched out like rubber and tried to grab her. She rolled out of the way just as a blade of bone tore out of Auto’s forearm, almost taking her leg off as she leapt over the body, spinning in the air as Coldplay emerged from within her and fired a beam of heat at the man. It scorched half his body, but then somehow, his skin miraculously healed over except for a few missing patches, then Auto got up and staggered towards her, his limp jaw hanging open like an entrance to a dark cave.

“This has to be the work of an enemy Stand! But just what are we dealing with here?” Prism swished one arm to the side as Coldplay delivered a flurry of punches to the man’s gut.

Auto Gunship backed up with each blow, but nothing seemed to hurt him and before long, he had shrugged off the punches and reached both arms for Prism’s Stand, grasping it around the neck. Auto’s dead fingers squeezed hard on Coldplay and Prism quickly began to feel its effects as she dropped to a knee, unable to breathe.

“There’s no way… He can still… be this strong!” Prism gasped.

As Coldplay looked into the burning eyes of Auto Gunship, Prism couldn’t help but feel she might’ve been a little too confident of her own abilities.


> Chapter 26: The Ripping Korpse of Kreator
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“The end comes for you now…” a low and gravelly voice came from Auto Gunship’s throat, even with his dislocated jaw hanging from his face.

His hands were still gripped tightly around Prism’s throat and the grip only continued to increase in pressure.

With no alternative, Prism summoned Coldplay again and her Stand released a wave of heat around itself, knocking Auto back, but to Prism’s surprise, his hands still stayed attached to her neck. When he got blown back, his arms stretched like rubber and now he lay on the ground at least ten feet away, still grasping tightly to Prism’s throat.

“Let… go!” She struggled to pry his hands away.

It was no good. She wasn’t as strong as Auto and she was slowly losing consciousness. Brute strength wasn’t going to solve her problems here. She needed to look at an alternative, or she wasn’t going to make it to the Nugget People.

And that was when she had an idea. On the last shreds of her oxygen, Prism Dash remembered that Auto Gunship was actually dead.

“And zombies… are weak to… a variety of things…!” Prism grunted. “One of which is fire!”

Coldplay reappeared and began absorbing heat from all around it, including Prism’s own body. The girl began shivering immediately, but she braced through the biting cold, knowing what she was going to do in a few seconds. Auto’s limbs began to stiffen and his pressure on her neck seemed to slow. That was when Coldplay pushed both hands out to Auto’s chest, before releasing a blast of intense heat from between its fingers, scorching the uniform off the dead man and melting the flesh from his bones. Prism used the chance to squirm from the man’s grip as the fire spread down his arms, burning his skin to bone, which snapped off once Prism yanked herself to the side. Free to breathe at last, she gulped in a mouthful of frosty air before returning her attention to the burning man.

Auto Gunship’s arms flailed around as Coldplay continued to burn more skin off his body, and when the heat finally died down, all that stood there in front of her was the charred skeleton of what was once a Weather Alternate member.

“That takes the cake, doesn’t it?” Prism dusted her hands and grinned madly. “And you thought you could defeat Prism Dash.”

“You have won nothing, Prism…” the skeleton said without moving so much as a muscle, because it had none. “Auto Gunship’s body is merely a vessel for my power now… Now you face Kreator, and you have yet to see my true power.”

“A Stand that needs no living master?” Prism stepped back. “Impossible.”

Steam hissed from its bones and meat began to build back over its body and before Prism could even say ‘uncle’, the body began to rise on its feet again and the yellow glow returned to its eyes as even hair reformed atop the Stand’s head. Once again, Kreator, Auto Gunship’s Stand, stood before her, swaying its elongated arms from side to side as Prism could only stare in disbelief.

Its arms extended from its body again, but Prism knew better than to let them get her this time. She sent Coldplay to intercept them, smashing one in the side before chopping down on the other with the side of one hand. The limbs recoiled, but then spun around in the air and corkscrewed towards her Stand again.

“This dude is unkillable!” Prism had Coldplay grab both hands, stopping them in place, but even now, she could feel the strain through her Stand. She was already giving it her all to keep those bendy arms back and she wasn’t going to hold on for much longer. “There has to be something I can use to defeat this Stand!”

She had already tried ice and fire. If neither of those worked, there was nothing fancy she could do with Coldplay. She would have to think of something else, another way of beating this masterless Stand. 

“Face it, there’s nothing you can do…” Kreator’s voice hissed out of Auto’s throat. “You and your friends will die up here in the mountains and you will be forgotten when the snow washes over your lifeless bodies. I will endure for all time and Master Dolfy will awaken the Nugget People. The world will enter a new age, but none of you will be alive to see its fruits…”

Kreator moved again, but this time, it swished its arms’ bone blades at Coldplay. Prism’s Stand brought its arms up to block the attack, but the bone cut right through its forearms and Prism’s own arms sprayed blood in vertical lines across the back of her arms.

“Aaagh!” she gasped and took a step back.

But Kreator would give her no room to react and slashed its arms around more, swishing them through the air like water hoses out of control. Coldplay wasn’t a defensive Stand, so the best it could do here was to try and push its arms out of the way with its palms. Kreator’s speed only seemed to get faster and Prism was getting more and more cuts across her body. Eventually, the best she could do was have Coldplay raise its arms to protect its face as bloody lines formed across their bodies, spraying blood across the stark white snow.

“This is not good!” Prism groaned internally. “I need something incredibly strong to stop this enemy Stand!”

Laughter emerged from deep within Kreator’s throat as Coldplay and Prism tried to back away, but its arms simply extended and kept on its onslaught of cuts.

“It’s no use. My arms can travel great distances. The only way to get away from them would be to throw yourself off this mountain…” it chuckled, which sounded like feet being dragged across gravel.

Prism winced from the pain of more cuts along her arms, but then she suddenly looked up and flashed Kreator a look of determination. “You’re still going to lose.”

“Are you sure about that? And you’re going to stop me?”

“That’s right.” Prism’s brow dipped lower. “All this while you’ve been attacking me, I’ve been having Coldplay leech the warmth from your body. Even now, you should see yourself starting to freeze and your movement will slow.”

Kreator looked down at its arms and true to her words, its arms, especially its skin, had started to ice over and its rapid swinging of its arms started to wind down.

“You might’ve made me slow, but that alone will not stop me.” It took two steps forward.

“Not yet.” Prism snapped her fingers.

Coldplay took this chance to deliver a combination of punches to Kreator’s arms, shattering its skin and bones as frost slowly took over. This gave Prism enough time to back up and increase the distance between her and the enemy Stand as its body began to regenerate.

There would be no stopping Kreator by brute force and power alone, but Prism knew something else that could.

When she was a good distance away, Prism stretched out her arms to her sides, then bent one knee slightly and stood on her toes. Coldplay glided above her and did the same, beginning to absorb the heat from Kreator again.

The Stand’s skin started to ice over again, but this time, it swung its jaw from side to side as its movement slowed, but it wouldn’t stop completely.

“Oh yeah, you can still move, huh?” Prism pounded her fists together.

“You may slow me down, but I am invincible. You will never stop me. You can run, you can hide, but I will always find you…”

“We’ll see about that. Because you’re going to regret ever fighting me.” Prism stretched one arm forward, then the other one curled in a ‘V’ shape and the back of her hand pressed against her forehead. “See, there are things you should never do on top of a mountain. For one, launch rockets. I don’t have a rocket, but I’ve got something pretty darn close.”

Coldplay whipped around and held both hands out like a flower opening its petals. With a breath out, it released a concentrated beam of heat up the mountainside, blasting a chunk of it into pieces with a resounding crunch.

It took some time before anything happened and Kreator was about to forget all about it and try to strangle Prism again, but as it took one step forward, the ground under their feet seemed to tremor, then the snow on the mountainside above them began to slide and it started to build up, shaking the ground even more as the sound of rushing snow filled their ears.

“What have you done?” Kreator looked to Prism and pointed a finger at her from one of its stretchy arms.

As the avalanche descended upon them, Coldplay released a pulse of heat around itself and Prism, knocking back Kreator’s arm and at the same time, instantly melting the snow that drifted by, creating a sort of protective bubble around its master. Kreator wasn’t so lucky and was swept away by the avalanche as it passed, leaving only one arm above the surface as it went over the mountain side, disappearing from view.

“You might not be able to die…” Prism struck a pose with her left index finger on the tip of her nose and her other hand curled under her waist. Coldplay raised one arm up and wrapped the other one around Prism’s shoulders. “But people have died being trapped under an avalanche. You might not, but you’ll be trapped here for all eternity, unable to escape the tons of snow above you. This is the end, Kreator!”

When she was done posing, Prism melted a pathway back to the elevator, then pushed on the button again to get the doors open. Another Stand of Weather Alternate had been defeated and now, all she had to do was wait for her friends to come back. Judging from how loud the avalanche had been, she guessed that it wouldn’t be long before they returned.
—-----JO-JO—--
As the enemy Stand washed away further down the mountain, it did its best to grab all the rocks around it, trying to pull itself out of the avalanche, but the force was too great and each time, its fingers were torn away from its grabbing point and on its third attempt, Kreator’s fingers tore off completely.

“No, I refuse to be defeated by a mere child. I am Kreator!”

It clamped the top half of its jaw on the next rock. The avalanche blew all around it, but Kreator held on firm and for a few seconds, it looked as though it was going to escape the rolling snow. It pictured Prism Dash in its mind and her blue and pink Stand. It imagined all the terrors it was going to inflict upon the girl once it got out of this. She wouldn’t even see it coming and Kreator would exact its revenge in the most horrendous of ways. It would first go for her eyes, blinding her, then it would tear her intestines from her body and force her to eat them, then it would-

Kreator’s teeth tore from its face and it sank beneath the avalanche with one final gurgle as it tumbled over another edge, this time landing amongst jagged rocks. The snow piled all around it and as Kreator found its footing on the hard rock, no matter how much it tried to push, it could not move.

“No, my revenge!” it wailed.

It had no way of telling how deep it was buried under the snow, but one thing Kreator knew for certain, it would try for all eternity to escape its snowy prison. One day, judging by how the world was moving, the ice caps would melt and it would be free. And when that day came, it would find Prism Dash and it was going to make her pay for its temporary torment. But it was not this day and all Kreator could do now was push in vain and howl in fury.
—----JO-JO—---
“Meister Dolfy, I believe we have something.”

Dolfy Horner put down his clipboard and approached the man who had called to him. “Well, what is it?” He stretched both arms out to the side. The burly man had recently changed into a pale-green bulletproof vest, covered by a grey coat with black gloves and black boots.

“A miner here at section C-47. He and his team had been digging into the earth when the ground gave way beneath their feet. He was the only survivor. He claims that he found not only golden nuggets in abundance unlike anywhere in the mountain, but columns of an ancient civilization.”

The man pointed at the screen where they had a video feed from one of their many cameras planted around the tunnels of Mount Fegel. It was now facing a tunnel that looked too perfectly circular to be dug out by human hands. Ahead, there were six columns, three on each side, before leading down a slope unseen. Each column had carvings of what looked like humans on them, but these humans were off. Their heads had protrusions on them resembling horns and they all varied in number, with some of them having one, others two, some three.

“We found it. They’re here. The Nugget People are here…” Dolfy grinned and marched away from the control room. It was time he saw them for himself and to be the first to welcome them to their new world.


> Chapter 27: The Electrical Avengers
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“You just had to make it harder to walk, didn’t you?” Fuchsia Blush dusted snow from her coat as she climbed through a thick layer of snow to get to the elevator.

“Hey, I took out an enemy Stand. I did whatever it took.” Prism folded her arms, unsurprised at Fuchsia’s remarks. “I didn’t see you doing anything.”

“That’s because I’m not uncultured like you.” Fuchsia prodded her in the chest and walked past her into the metal cage that would lead them down below. “These things always happen in one on one confrontations. Maybe two at most. But only one person dishes out the beating.”

“What was that?” Prism eyed her suspiciously.

“Nothing your brain can handle. Let’s just move on.” Fuchsia hit the down button and waited for everyone else to get in.

“You two need to give this a break.” Summer Shine gave both her friends a pat on the shoulder. “We’re almost to the end. Just put up with it for a little while longer, alright?”

“Right. Once we’re back in Canterlot, I don’t care what you do.” Prism prodded a finger in Fuchsia’s chest. “You can go make all the cakes you want and talk to your imaginary Stand, but leave me out of your complaints after that.”

“As if I want to complain about you all day long.” Fuchsia rolled her eyes.

“The bond of friendship is powerful,” Bushido Spirit said. “Harness it and you will be more powerful than you can ever imagine.”

Fuchsia groaned. “Fuch this. Let’s keep moving.”

She pressed the button and the elevator doors shut behind them, shutting them off from the outside world as the metal box began to descend, the only light being the dimly lit bulb above their heads.

“Well, at least there seems to be heating in this complex.” Gipsy dropped her parka and dusted off snow from her bandana. “But something about this place feels… off.”

“What do you mean?” Summer eyed her friend.

“The walls. There’s a…” Gipsy placed her fingers against the metal sheet of a wall. “There’s a humming coming from it. As though it has electricity coursing through it.”

“Well, it must be from the elevator.” Prism shrugged. “This thing needs electricity to make it move.”

“She is right.” Bushido placed his own hand against the wall. “The minute we stepped foot into this elevator, I felt the uneasy air of being watched. Something is amiss and we have to be careful.”

Prism spun around on the spot, looking up and down and all over the elevator. The box was no bigger than her garage back home and there weren't many places for someone else to hide. “I don’t know what you’re all talking about, but there shouldn’t be anyone in here with us. Well, maybe except Fuchsia’s imaginary Stand.”

The pink haired girl’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll cut you.”

Eventually, the rumbling of their elevator stopped and everything fell silent. Only now did Summer hear the faint humming sound around them. She looked to the wall where Bushido and Gipsy had touched and tilted her head to one side.

“Perhaps there’s a machine behind this panel.” Summer reached out and tried to move it, but the wall wouldn’t budge. “Maybe a secret button or something. Pegasus Forever!”

Summoning her Stand, Summer got it to grab the metal sheet with both hands before yanking it off the wall. In that instant, something sparked from behind it and she was blown across the elevator, denting the wall on the opposite end before sliding down to the ground, dazed.

“Summer! Are you alright?” Bushido was the first by her side, helping her up.

“Something… Something shocked me.” Summer shook the blurriness from her eyes and looked at the spot behind the wall. There was nothing there but cracked concrete. “I could swear… I saw something blue, like a blue glow.”

“Well, there’s nothing there now.” Prism helped in getting her on her feet. “Maybe it was a booby trap. Ha, booby. I’m sure Jojo would like that word.”

“We might be dealing with another enemy Stand. We must be careful.” Bushido stared at the wall, then he turned one ear towards it and frowned. “The buzzing. It is gone.”

“He’s right.” Gipsy placed a hand on the wall. “The feeling, it’s no longer here.”

“Maybe it’s outside now? Let’s see what this secret base looks like.” Prism pressed down on the open button and the elevator door creaked open, revealing a long greenish and circular tunnel. “Wow.”

“They have this whole thing under the mountain?” Gipsy walked out and spun around. “How’d anyone ever find the time to do this? This is amazing.”

“It would be more amazing if it wasn’t a place used for evil.” Bushido frowned and placed a hand on his sword sheath.

“This goes on a long way.” Summer’s eyes trailed from her feet to the other end of the tunnel. “And they said they have a second base higher up?”

“I don’t even think we need to go there. We just need to find out where the Nugget People are in the mountain and make sure no one ever finds them.” Prism folded her arms. “Simple enough, isn’t it?”

All of a sudden, the lights around them began to flicker erratically and they were occasionally plunged into pitch darkness, only for the lights to return and sear their eyes.

“There it is again. The humming. I hear it.” Bushido slid one hand around his katana’s grip as Boney M appeared behind him, shield at the ready.

Summer had half expected something to rush down the tunnel and meet them for battle, but after a long while of standing in silence, save for the humming, her group grew restless and decided to move forward. Carefully.

Bushido led the way forward, keeping Boney M in front of himself, its shield facing forward. There were a few doors along the tunnel at its sides, but even as they passed them, no Stand or Stand master jumped out to face them. After the fourth door, Fuchsia sighed and pushed past the others, walking forward at a decent pace. Summer called for her to come back, but even after passing the eighth door, she was feeling they were stalking ahead at snail’s pace for nothing.

The tunnel eventually led out into a round room with monitors strewn across one wall, showing views of Mount Fegel and its caves of gold within. A central console sat in front of them, unmanned. Summer watched one screen, picturing prospectors smashing away at a rock wall with their pickaxes. She turned her eyes to another where a single man drilled away into the rock with some kind of bipedal machine. It seemed people from all over the world with various levels of technology, methods and money had come to get richer back home.

“There. That one,” Gipsy broke her attention as she pointed to a screen at the bottom left.

Everyone gathered around to see a feed of what looked like ruins and a single man stood in the center of the camera, his back to them, but his arms were stretched out, seemingly marveling at the structure in the mountain.

“He must be Weather Alternate. We have to get down there. They’re already there!” Gipsy pointed back to the tunnel. “We have to find out where this cave is in Mount Fegel. Fast.”

“We’ll have to check the rooms one by one.” Bushido nodded. “Weather Alternate must have a map room, or at least a room where they have been pinpointing all the caves gold nuggets have been appearing in.”

“Maybe this one?” Prism rushed over to the nearest door and grabbed the handle.

The buzzing in the air grew louder and Summer only had enough time to try and grab her friend before her hand touched the round knob. There was a burst of blue sparks and Prism jumped into the air before being thrown across the room into the central console. She smacked her head against the corner and stopped moving.

“Prism! Aah!” Summer grabbed her hand.

She had touched her friend just before she got blasted across the room and electricity arced across her fingertips, sending pain signals across her arm to her brain. She dropped to a knee and clutched at her hand before raising the other one.

“Don’t touch that door!” Summer glanced at the knob. The buzzing sound had died down and everything seemed quieter again. “It must be booby trapped.”

“Weather Alternate must be cautious indeed if they set up traps in their own base,” Gipsy mused. “Or do they just not have faith in their Stand users that they thought we would actually get this far into their plans, therefore necessitating the use of traps?”

It was a good point, and Summer would have liked to continue that line of conversation, but then she heard the buzzing sound again.

“Everyone get away from the doors!” She barked.

“Eee hee hee!” a high pitched voice said, startling the group. “What do we have here? A bunch of children, poking their noses where they shouldn’t? Hee hee!” The voice echoed and reverberated, as if there were many people speaking at once.

“It seems we are not alone.” Bushido placed a hand on his sword and drew it from its sheath.

“You don’t say?” Fuchsia yanked a fire extinguisher from the wall and held its body in both hands.

There was a whirring sound, and a piece of wall opened up above the tunnel, revealing the smiling face of a man with a brown horseshoe mustache, gazing down at them with one arm behind his back and the other pointing straight up.

“Honestly speaking, Master Dolfy never expected any of you to get this far and you have surprised us.” He placed the raised hand on top of his bowler hat. “Not only did none of you die on the way, but you’ve defeated all the other Stand users as well. Sehr gut. But I am afraid you will not make it further. You see, I am Master Dolfy’s right hand man and it will be your end here.”

“We’ll see about that.” Bushido swiped a hand to his side and Boney M threw its shield at him.

To the group’s surprise, it deflected against thin air and returned to his Stand.

“Nice try. Did you think I would just leave myself open?” The man guffawed. “There’s several layers of bulletproof tempered glass between us and it can withstand even a nuclear bomb!”

“That can’t be possible.” Fuchsia waved a finger at him. A specific finger.

“It’s gonna take more than a simple Stand attack to take me, Airsoft Yodel, down.” He folded his arms, then spread his legs further apart and bent back slowly. “If you want to beat me, you’re first going to have to outsmart me. Actually, that’s not even going to happen. I am the smartest member of Weather Alternate, save Master Dolfy! My intellect is far beyond your understanding! After all, what can children do against me?”

“Just you wait. We’ll find a way up to you!” Prism shook a fist, then looked to the console behind them. “One of these buttons must bring us to him!”

She began pressing them vigorously, activating more lights above them and opening certain doors in the tunnel. All of a sudden, the humming sound intensified again and Summer looked down to a green button near Prism. She caught a glimpse of a blue flash and a figure before Prism’s finger blocked her view, heading right for the button.

“Prism, wait!”

But before she could stop her friend, again, sparks flew and Prism levitated into the air, encased in an aura of blue lightning.

“Aaaaaaaayayayaa!” She spasmed and twisted around.

Bushido sent Boney M in front, placing its shield between the button and Prism. Unfortunately, the electricity didn’t stop there and encased his Stand’s weapon in blue, spreading to its hands and then its body. Bushido fell to the ground in a cry and clutched at his chest as both of them were zapped by the attack.

“Bushido! What kind of Stand ability is this?” Summer growled, calling forth Pegasus Forever. “Some kind of electrical ghost Stand?”

Boney M was eventually thrown back into the tunnel, and Bushido’s body followed suit, landing on the ground as he continued to twitch from the electricity. Prism too, now lay on the ground, groaning as she clutched her stomach.

Airsoft Yodel laughed at them again, running a hand across his belly, then the glass. “You fools! You will never defeat me and my Stand, Avenged Sevenfold!”

“It’s the electronics and metal, Sushi!” Gipsy’s eyes widened in realization. “Since the elevator, his Stand has only attacked us through metal or this console. Do not touch any of it!”

“Uh, slight problem with that, Gipsy…” Summer pointed down at the floor, where there were metal plates. She and the others hopped over to a patch of floor that wasn’t metal.

“Keen eyes you have, witch.” Airsoft folded his fingers together. “Yes, Avenged Sevenfold is even able to electrocute you through your rubber soles, but there’s more…”

“What else?” Gipsy summoned Spandau Ballet and it brandished its bladed fans.

“You think my Stand is immobile?” Airsoft yelled. “While you were busy trying to avoid the metal flooring, it had already moved to a more strategic location. Can you guess what I am referring to?”

Gipsy looked around the room, but blue light caught her eyes and she looked down, realizing her mistake a second too late. Two tiny figures no larger than  half a foot in height were dancing around her bangles, squealing with delight as the electrical humming got louder again. Both of them were angular and skinny, looking almost like childrens’ toys brought to life. One had red shoulder plates, while the other had a visor instead of two eyes.

“Hee hee! Look at this! It’s a metal bracelet!” One of them said in an annoyingly high pitched voice.

“A bunch of them!” the other one sneered. “What were to happen if we touch them?”

They both looked up at Gipsy at the same time, then leaned down and planted both hands against them. The woman was instantly set ablaze with blue light and she was lifted into the air before being slammed against the ceiling, breaking a tube of light and sending sparks and glass raining down around Summer and Fuchsia.

“T-The m-metal! Remove… all your… m-metal!” Gipsy gasped before being thrown back on the ground.

The two women immediately got to work removing any metal they had on them, including their belts, boots and Summer’s jacket. When they got to Fuchsia’s piercings on her left ear, she simply said “Fuch this,” and put them inside her boot. “This melon farmer is going to pay for making me take out my accessories.”

She pounded her fists together and Summer thought she saw a swarm of tiny dots fly from one hand to the other.

“Do you surrender? Or do you want to end up like your friends?” Airsoft stretched his arms high. “Because this is the end of the road for you, Sushi.”

“Nothing’s over while I still breathe!” Summer sent Pegasus Forever out. In a flash, it reached one muscular arm out, grabbing one of the tiny Stands, squeezing hard enough to make its eyes pop out of its head. She looked up to Airsoft, expecting him to be squirming in anguish now, but he still stood there, smiling at them. “W-What?”

Airsoft Yodel laughed a very annoying laugh that made Summer want to punch him in the face. “You really aren’t that bright, are you? I wonder how you managed to outsmart the others with such puny thinking.”

Another two of his Stands hopped onto Pegasus Forever’s hand and yanked at its fingers with strength Summer didn’t know they would have. They loosened one finger enough to release their companion before planting their hands on Pegasus’ armor. The jolt sent Summer down on both knees, gasping for air.

“Avenged Sevenfold might not be as powerful as your Pegasus Forever alone, but when you pair it with the rest of my Stand, their electricity grows with each added Avenger. Observe as I add a fourth Avenger to the mix!” Airsoft raised one clawed hand above his nose.

Another small, imp-like Stand popped into existence. Like the others, the color scheme was slightly different. It too, giggled and joined up with the other three Avengers that were floating around.

“I can do this all day!” Yodel grinned as it joined hands with the others.

The electricity around Summer’s Stand grew and so did her pain. She felt as though her skin was being burnt off bit by bit and her nerves were screaming in agony to her brain, which felt like it could blow at any moment.

“No, you don’t!” Fuchsia swung the fire extinguisher, clubbing all four Stands off Pegasus Forever.

Summer dropped to the ground, exhausted from her ordeal.

“Ah, the nihilist one.” Airsoft clapped his hands together. “I hadn’t expected you to even put in any effort to try to stop me.”

“While I find life meaningless, I find your life more meaningless.” Fuchsia threw him another finger, then sprayed the four Avengers with the extinguisher’s hose.

The four of them cried out, then scattered, disappearing from her view too fast for her eyes to follow.

“They’re too small to follow…” Summer dropped to one side and panted. “But watch out, Fuchsia. Alone, one of them will do nothing more than knock you back. Together, they could prove lethal…”

“Uh huh.” Fuchsia looked over one shoulder. “Celldweller would like to see you try against us, Yodel Doodle Doo.”

“It’s Airsoft Yodel, and you underestimate me.” Airsoft lifted a hand and stroked his mustache with the other hand. “Avenged Sevenfold, attack!”

Four of the Avengers reappeared again and swarmed around her, scratching at her with their tiny hands. One tried to get her from behind, but Fuchsia was suddenly pushed to the side by her Stand and she stepped in a pivot before slamming the fire extinguisher against it. It squeaked, then fell to the ground before she stomped on it with a foot. She didn’t relent and continued stomping on it, even as the other three clawed at her as they swooped around her face and neck.

“Why. Won’t. You. Die?” she said, looking up at the amused Airsoft Yodel. They were missing something.

Summer got up again and grabbed one of the chairs, swinging it above Fuchsia’s head, swiping two of the Stands away. “Without metal or electronics on us, he can’t harm us. All he can do is send his Stand at us to scratch us. We have to use this time to find his weakness. I can’t use Pegasus Forever until we find out what that is.”

“And that is time you don’t have,” Airsoft said, leaning his forehead against one arm. “I have been toying with you all this time, but did you think my Stand cannot affect you, just because you don’t have metal on you? Avenged Sevenfold is able to transfer electricity from one place to another, as you will soon see for yourselves…”

The three Stands stopped assaulting Fuchsia and returned to one of the fallen monitors. Another of the Avengers slid out from behind it, this one colored red instead of the usual pale blue the other Avengers were, then stretched its arm out towards another of the Avengers. It reciprocated the movement and blue electricity passed between their hands, before transfering to the next Avenger.

Fuchsia attempted to swing the fire extinguisher at them, but as the fourth one connected, electricity passed from the monitor into her chest and knocked her down, freeing the Avenger under her foot, allowing it to join the other four. The humming around the two women grew louder and as a sixth one appeared, carrying another monitor, it got close enough to link with the rest of the Stand’s electricity, releasing a brilliant aura of light that made Fuchsia’s cells cry out in anguish and she gritted her teeth together as she rolled on her back. Her insides were on fire and it was as though something had ruptured inside.

Summer tried to help her, but the first Avenger raised its hand and another surge of electricity blasted out, hitting Summer in the chest, dropping her to her hands and knees as she screamed and spasmed.

“By now, my Stand would have vaporized the very nerves in your body. Your brain will be calling for relief, but it will not come!” Airsoft roared, looking very pleased. “Face it, this is the end. Six of my Avengers are pulsing electricity into you. Four will be enough to kill you at a constant charge, but with six of them, your brain will melt into mush in just thirty seconds, and so far, I’ve only been doing this for three. Prepare yourself for another twenty-seven seconds of agony!”

“This is… this is not the end! It can’t be… our parents… depend on us!” Summer tried to resist the electricity coursing through her veins, but it was too much and it was as though her brain was about to explode. She couldn’t open her eyes and she couldn’t breathe.

“That’s right, Sushi. There’s nothing more you can do but to die!” Airsoft cackled. “And for your friend, Fuchsia. What I give you now is the end you’ve dreamed of. You should be thanking me for ending your miserable life here. Behold, the power of Avenged Sevenfold!”

His six little Avengers joined in, laughing with their high-pitched voices as they swirled about in front of the monitors, drawing the electricity from them to Summer and Fuchsia. One of them spun around in a circle and another one began clapping its hands.

“They’ll die here! They’ll die!” The red Avenger cheered.

“No one can defeat our electricity!” another one kicked a leg out like it was doing martial arts.

“The Sushi’s about to be cooked! Die, die, die!”

“Know your place, Sushi.”

On and on, Airsoft’s Stands kept up their insults as they increased the channeling of their electricity.

Airsoft smiled to himself and folded his arms. It was all about to be over in another twenty-two seconds and it would be him who would tell his master that Sushi and her group had finally been eliminated. The others had all failed to please him, but he would not fail, not for his glorious leader. And soon, Dolfy would return with the Nugget People and the world would enter a new era, one where only the purest bloodlines would continue and the unworthy would become dust under their boots.

Airsoft was about to close the window and return downstairs, but to his surprise, Fuchsia had stopped struggling against his electricity and was beginning to get on her feet again.

“Wait… That can’t be right.” He pressed his face against the glass to get a better look. There was no way she could suddenly stand against his power. “You should be on the verge of death!”

“There’s something… You should know about me.” Fuchsia’s arms were the color of charcoal, with the color still crawling up her arms like an infection. “Emotionless, my Stand, Celldweller, is nothing but a voice, a second person to my actions. I may put on an expressionless face, I may pretend nothing means anything to me…”

“W-What, Fuchsia?” Summer couldn’t believe her ears. Her friend had been pretending all this time?

“Cliche, I know.” Fuchsia sighed. Now, the blackness had already crawled up to her cheeks and she stood up completely. “I suppress everything because I don’t want to go through the hurts of life. I still don’t want to, but you’re leaving me no choice here. So fuch everything. I’ll show you just what Celldweller is meant to do.”

The creep completely covered Fuchsia now and she looked like she was wearing a suit of latex under her clothes; her skin was sleek and shiny like rubber.

“Celldweller acts as particles that give me a second layer over my skin, acting as the first line of defense. You’ll find it hard to get through it.” Fuchsia clenched a fist and flung it to one side. “You hurt my friends. You attempted to kill all of us here, but not anymore. After today, you won’t be hurting anyone again. Because you’ll be dead.”

“Are you sure about that?” Airsoft Yodel snorted and slapped both his hands together. He looked absolutely livid. “I’ll show you the full might of Avenged Sevenfold! Unlimited Electric Charge. Do it now!”

The six Avengers looked at one another, then snickered and twisted their heads back to Fuchsia as they linked hands together, floating around the two monitors in a star shape. Two of them picked up another two monitors in their electrical grasp, then the one in front released a star-shaped beam of electricity from its chest. It smashed Fuchsia right in the chest, but after taking one step back, she held her ground firmly.

She raised both arms up and began moving, stepping between the enemy Stand and Summer, taking the full blow of Avenged Sevenfold’s beam attack.

“Sushi, I’m sorry I’m nothing like my mother, nor do I really want to be,” Fuchsia said. “But I’m still her daughter, after all. Even if I don’t look like it, I look out for my friends. I’m going to get you the opening you need and when you have it, send this fuchsing moron to the end.”

“That… I can do, Fuchsia.” Summer blinked the whiteness from her eyes and clutched at her chest. She felt as though the electricity would’ve burned a hole through her, but here she was, alive, if only barely. But it was enough to show Airsoft Yodel just how wrong it was to mess with a Sushi, especially after Fuchsia had done the most surprising of things, giving her an opportunity to win. And she already had the perfect idea. She just needed one more thing, if her theory was right. “Teach him a thing or two.”

“How dare you defy me!” Airsoft Yodel ranted. “How dare you go against Weather Alternate! When I’m through with you, they’ll have to bury what’s left inside a matchbox. Witness my true power! Go, my Avengers! Assemble!”

A seventh Avenger with blue lightning patterns blinked into existence beside its counterparts and joined hands with them.

“Sevenfold, it’s time! No one bests us!” It screeched. “All together now!”

“Unlimited Electric Charge!” They all roared together as the blue beam began to turn red.

Electricity zapped out from the beam, scorching thick black lines across the ground, tearing up metal and cement. One even lanced across Airsoft’s safety glass, cutting a deep groove into it, but still, Fuchsia stood her ground, pushing as hard as she could against it. Celldweller remained over her skin, protecting her from any harm and at the same time, forming across her toes into hooks, allowing her to stay rooted on the ground, keeping any of it from touching Summer, who was now crouched down behind her. Thankfully, Bushido, Gipsy and Prism were out of reach of the devastating attack, or they would've been evaporated on the spot. Summer wanted to run out there to get them as far as she could, but until this was resolved, it was too risky to do anything else.

“Harder! Push harder! More electricity!” Yodel hollered over the crackling of his Stand’s ability. Through the glass, Sushi noticed that the Weather Alternate member was beginning to sweat, with dark patches appearing under his arms and around his collar.

Summer knew he was giving it his all and looking at the seven Avengers floating in the air past the deadly red beam, she knew this was the extent of Airsoft Yodel’s powers.

“Alone, one Stand couldn’t even hurt a person,” Summer said, unable to hear her voice from the carnage in front of her. “But add on another, and another, until there are all seven of them, and they could potentially wipe out an entire building with the amount of electricity they have. But that’s what I had wrong before. Harming one Stand isn’t enough to hurt its master, because they are split into seven beings. But now that they’re here together…”

“They’re all yours, Sushi!” Fuchsia turned her head back to look at her.

Summer got on her feet and nodded. It was time to put her theory to the test. “Pegasus Forever!”

As Pegasus Forever flew out, fists raised, Summer thought back to her high school physics class and how sometimes people would ask weird questions in the hopes of delaying the class.

“Is strawberry a chemical element?” Slugs had asked.

“No, Slugs. Strawberries are not a chemical element.”

“Is wood made of carbon?” Someone else asked. 

“Wood contains carbon, but is not a hundred percent made of carbon,” The teacher had sighed.

Quartet Tier had blurted out, “Is electricity kinetic energy?” 

The teacher looked about ready to explode, but replied, “Yes, Ms. Quartet. Electricity is indeed a form of kinetic energy. Now, no more questions. We have a lesson to get through.”

Summer didn’t know why she remembered that exact moment, but she wished good fortune on Quartet Tier, wherever she was, because her seemingly inane question had given her an idea that might just save all their lives, if it indeed worked.

Pegasus Forever dashed from Summer’s position, pulling one arm back as its lips peeled back in a powerful neigh. Its fist connected with an offshoot of red electricity, transforming its kinetic energy into potential energy, stopping the entire thing dead in the air, Avengers included.

“What? How can this be?” The Avenger with the visor attempted to move, but could not manage even a wobble.

Fuchsia backed out of the way and Celldweller crawled back down her body, returning her skin to its normal color. “He’s all yours now, Sushi.”

“About time.” Summer cracked her neck from side to side, then stretched one arm out, her palm facing forward, while the other one hooked around her pants. “Time for you to get a taste of what you’ve been doing to us!”

Pegasus Forever smashed its fists together, then let out a ferocious roar before pummeling its fists against the beam of lightning and the seven Avengers.

“Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! 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Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh!”

With its final punch, it reverted the energy back to kinetic and Avenged Sevenfold and its electricity disappeared in a giant explosion, flying up against the ceiling, melting right through it and out the mountain before being engulfed in a much larger explosion.

“No, no! It can’t be! I couldn’t have lost! Aaaaaagh!” The same had happened to Airsoft Yodel and lines appeared across his body before it splattered across the tempered glass and the rest of the room, disappearing from sight.

Pegasus Forever dissipated behind Summer as she looked out through the new hole. Another Stand master was down.

“Fuchsia, thank you.” She returned to her friend and gave her a pat on the back. “I… I’m sorry, I never knew you were hiding so much.”

“If you knew I was hiding things, then I’m not doing a good job of hiding, am I?” She drawled. “But… you did a good job. Sushi. But not a word of this to Prism. I have enough from her as it is.”

Summer smiled and placed a finger to her mouth. “My lips are sealed.”

“Now we just need to find something on the whereabouts of the Nugget People in this fuchsing mountain.” Fuchsia grabbed her piercings from her boots before putting them back on. “With Celldweller, I’ll bash open the doors and check each room. You check on the others, Sushi.”

As Summer stepped to Prism’s side, Fuchsia called Celldweller back, forming over her arms to the elbows. From the first day she realized she had a Stand, she had already known this was its true power, but because she always acted emotionless and bored outside, her Stand took a different approach and instead became something like an imaginary friend, as Prism would say.

Balling up her fists, Fuchsia began smashing them against the doors as she went on, busting them off their hinges and peering inside each room, looking for anything that might point them in the direction they needed to go. Most of the rooms here seemed to be offices and common rooms, with the exception of one restroom, but towards the center of the tunnel, on the right, smashing the door down, Fuchsia found a room decked out with a large map and a table in the center with papers scattered all about.

Finding it promising, she entered, pushing the papers about, looking for anything that could be useful to them. It was a strange looking datapad under some stacks of paper that soon caught her eye. There were coordinates on it, marked out by a red blip just south of their position, somewhere lower down the mountain, followed by the location of a second Weather Alternate base called Fegel Zwei Base. It seemed to have a sort of tube system that connected directly to that line of caves.

“Fegel Zwei, two squares forward.” Fuchsia drew a finger across the pad. Each square was about half a mile forward, so the next base was a mile ahead. Without opposition, it wouldn’t take long for them to make this trip.

“But the issue now is…” Fuchsia rubbed her chin. “Do we have that long before this Dolfy releases the Nugget People from the age-long slumber? Ah, fuch this. We’re going to be cutting it close. Fuch it all.”


> Chapter 28: The Blind Guardian
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dolfy Horner stalked past statues of what he presumed were Nugget People, heading deeper down the circular tunnel in front of him. There were ancient texts scrawled into the base of each statue, either spelling out the tales of ancient heroes, or warnings for those who would dare tread this place. He didn’t have his scribes here with him right now, so he had no idea what any of these actually said, but it didn’t matter. Ahead of him were a set of double stone doors, filled with markings and images of beings with floating entities behind them.

“At last… The earliest Stand users recorded…” Dolfy raised his arms at his sides. “The Nugget People, in mountain halls entombed. At last, we have found you. You, who would lead our new world order into reality. Only those worthy of survival shall live on into the new world!”

He ran two fingers down the door’s surface. Its carvings were thousands of years old and they would’ve had primitive tools working on the rocks here. It must’ve taken years to finish just one side of the door, much less the whole tunnel here. Whatever this place had been to the ancients, it must’ve been extremely important.

“Time to crack it open and see what we have inside.” Dolfy cracked his knuckles. “Dragonforce!”

Dolfy Horner’s Stand materialized behind him, rising off the floor, folding its arms above its master’s head. It was covered in blue spiked armor, with a rather thin waist and a thick neck, with horns that curled to the back of its head. Its teeth grinded against each other, opening in a bellow that shook the caverns.

Behind Dolfy lay the remains of nosy miners, hoping to score some loot within this sacred place, but Dolfy’s discovery was not to be sullied by those of weak bloodlines, lured out by the booming Nugget Run by promise of better lives once they acquired enough gold. No, he wasn’t about to let the weakest of mankind revel in the beginning of his new world.

Dragonforce smashed its knuckles together, then thrusting both arms back, it shot both arms forward as fast as it could, brandishing both palms up. In front of them, giant orange hands glowed into existence and crashed against the doors, pushing with all their might as Dragonforce leaned in, moving its arms in the same fashion.

Dust and debris rained from the ceiling, but slowly, bit by bit, the doors began to slide open, dragging along the rocky ground and tearing up more debris on the way. It wasn’t long before the doors were open wide enough for Dolfy to walk through comfortably and he went on with a smug grin on his face, sliding one hand down his hair to slick it back in place.

Past the doors was a staircase leading down into a vast round cavern, with four pillars around the ring supporting the ceiling up above them. A single slab sat in the middle of the room, likely for human sacrifices of old and past it was a large piece of wall, jagged and rough without any adornments, standing out from the rest of the room, which had carvings alongside the enter ring, depicting humans and their Stands, building structures that reminded him of those of the Egyptians and Greeks.

“So, the Nugget People taught humans how to build using their Stands…” Dolfy surmised, pulling at the ends of his gloves to tighten them over his hands. “Of course. The Nugget People predated all known humankind. There was no way they could’ve built the pyramids if they hadn’t learned from the Nugget People. How they came to be, that is still a mystery to me. They must be the remnants of some kind of advanced race before humans came about.”

Dolfy walked down the steps of the circular ritual chamber, his boots echoing off the walls all around him. He found it ironic that the room that had once been used to sacrifice for the Nugget People had become the final struggle against them, ending with the entombment of their ancient masters.

But their imprisonment would soon end as Dolfy arrived at the sacrificial slab. All he had to do now was to push through this final bland wall and his dreams would finally be realized.

It had been thirty-eight years since he started his journey into creating a world with only the purest bloodlines. Weather Alternate had been started as a radical website from his parents’ home all the way back at the beginning of 2006. He had eventually found other like-minded individuals, some of them with money and influence and only three years later, Weather Alternate had become a full-fledged secret organization, slowly influencing aspects of the world, weeding out the strong from the weak.

Now here he was, seasoned and skilled, his goal closer than it had ever been before.

“Dragonforce, destroy that wall.” He twisted his body to one side, then slid his feet together.

His Stand swung both arms down, then punched one up before readying an attack. Before he could see the wall crumble before him, its surface shifted and rolled, like it was made of water and to his astonishment, a jagged shape pushed out from it, resembling a face with a covering over its eyes. Its mouth opened in a growl and air poured from its opening.

“The way… shall never be opened. This is the dying wish of the Almighty, those that stood against the last of the Herrakries.” The face seemed to speak. “They will never be freed from their entombment. Not while the Blind Guardian stands guard.”

“A Stand from days gone?” Dolfy cracked his neck to one side. “A final test, then.”

Dragonforce thrust its arms forward, forming its giant hand constructs again, punching against the rocky surface. From both sides, statues melted out from the rocky ground, sliding between Dragonforce and Blind Guardian. The hands hit them, but they didn’t even crack from the blow.

From the statues, rocky arms shot out in arcs on Dolfy’s left and right, intertwining together to form a wall around the man and his Stand before climbing higher.

“Nein, not if I have anything to say about it!”

Dragonforce turned its hand constructs up, bashing against the forming hands, but they were still unable to shatter even one. Whatever these stone constructs were, they seemed to be unbreakable. Instead, Dolfy got onto one of Dragonforce’s hands, using it to leap up through the opening just before it could close around him. He slid down the surface of the newly-formed dome and rolled to a stop away from Blind Guardian, looking back at the eyeless face looking back at him.

For a while, nothing moved, but as Dolfy attempted to maneuver around the statues, more of them emerged from the ground, pushing him up into the air before flinging down against one of his feet, spinning him around in the air before he collided with the ritual slab, knocking it over.

The Weather Alternate leader wiped at his nose, bloodied and broken from the impact, but he still got up and spat a wad of blood on the floor. “The battle has only begun.”

He was about to call forth Dragonforce again when a slab fell from above, forming into a spike before impaling the spot he had spat at.

Is that how it attacks? Dolfy thought to himself. I think I just found out how to defeat this thing.

Summoning his Stand, Dolfy got Dragonforce to conjure a hand construct to the left, smashing it against the wall. Immediately, Blind Guardian’s head turned and a statue rotated out from the wall, opening its arms. It slammed itself against the spot Dragonforce’s ethereal hand had been at, melting across the surface, which would’ve likely absorbed Dolfy if he had been there.

It hunts by sound. He surmised. Dragonforce is able to create ethereal constructs of its body, sending it to locations away from me and itself. I can use this to my advantage against the enemy. Blind Guardian cannot actually see me and if I play with its senses, I think I can find a way to get past it and free the Nugget People from their age-long entombment.

Using his Stand once again, Dolfy slammed Dragonforce’s ethereal fists into various parts of the cavern, knocking against the ceiling, other statues, and even Blind Guardian’s face. The masterless Stand shook around its post, bringing forth statues to guard its face and raining debris from above before sending more statues to attack the various places Dragonforce’s hands had hit.

Dragonforce kept this play up, sending Blind Guardian’s attacks in all directions while Dolfy moved during the sound of crumbling rock, which masked his footsteps.

Blind Guardian’s structures might be unbreakable, even to Dragonforce’s ethereal constructs, but it protected its face from my attacks. You only protect something when it can be destroyed. You just revealed your greatest weakness to me, and now, you’ll pay the price.

Dragonforce continued sending the masterless Stand’s structures all over the room, getting them as far as it could from Blind Guardian’s face. It created ethereal feet that ran along the left side of the cavern, making it seem as though Dolfy was attempting to leave. Blind Guardian took the bait and the statues around its face slid forward, going right past Dolfy and Dragonforce before sealing the door, while one of them crashed into the spot the footsteps had arrived at, sinking into the wall, taking its imaginary target with it.

Now or never. Dolfy pointed at the enemy Stand as Dragonforce floated into the air, bringing both arms together and curling its head down towards its hands. A fiery aura spread from its hands, going up its arms, then its neck. Its eyes glowing orange, Dragonforce flicked its arms out and raised its head and behind it, a giant ethereal head of a dragon appeared, mimicking its movement.

Leveling its head back towards Blind Guardian’s position, Dragonforce opened its mouth, with the ethereal head copying its action. Blind Guardian must’ve heard it, because it tried to call its statues back, but it was too late now. The statues were further away from its face than Dolfy and Dragonforce was. The leader of Weather Alternate knew this situation well. He had only ever resorted to using his ultimate move when he was sure the battle would be over. In his whole life, he had only ever used it thrice and each time, the enemy would disappear from this world completely, maybe except for a sprinkle of ashes.

“And now the same will happen to you. Through the fire and flames, we carry on.” Dolfy grinned as Dragonforce’s fire left its ethereal head.

The cavern was instantly lit up with orange and Dolfy’s clothes rippled as the flame tore through the entire room, melting the stone all the way to Blind Guardian, with only its statues unaffected. For a few moments, the whole room was full of burning stone and scorching hot air. Dolfy closed his eyes so they wouldn’t dry out and waited out the surge of flames from his Stand’s fury. He could hear Blind Guardian roaring either in anger or pain on the other side of the fire. He hoped it was the latter, because if this didn’t defeat it, he wasn’t sure he had anything else in the tank.

Dolfy only opened his eyes again when the blazing heat had died down and the glow of flames vanished from his eyelids. The entire middle section of the floor had melted away, forming a deep groove in the rock all the way to where Blind Guardian once was. The masterless Stand was gone and the wall now had a hole through it, still dripping molten rock.

He had done it. He had finally reached the peak of his quest. The final seal on the Nugget People had broken and now all he had to do was enter and awaken them.

“At last, the time has come,” he breathed. “The new world order comes…”

Clenching his fists, Dolfy walked through the cavern, stepping down into the groove, heading through the wall to halls deeper still. Past the wall, he found a simple room with a stone door at the end, cracked and askew. He walked up to it and pushed, finding it wasn’t even anchored to anything anymore. Shoving with his sizeable muscles, Dolfy knocked it back, where it landed on a carved ground, its fall echoing across the entire cave system.

The room through the doors was smaller than the cavern earlier, but this one had two thrones at the end of the room atop a raised platform taller than Dolfy, with a short flight of steps leading up to them.

But what really caught Dolfy’s eyes were four statues on their knees before the thrones, facing the door he had just come from. Three of them looked to be female, and one, the biggest one, was male. At least, he thought so, seeing as three of them had boobs.

“Is this it? Where are they?” Dolfy walked to the statues. They resembled all the statues outside on the way in, even the ones Blind Guardian had been using.

Dolfy ran a hand along the nearest statue, then recoiled. The statue didn’t feel exactly like rock. Something about it felt… organic. He put his hand back again to confirm the feeling, tracing them across the statue’s shoulder to a single horn protruding from the top of its head. When his index finger touched the horn, it was as though there was a blinding flash in his head and he couldn’t move for a second.

And just then, the statue’s head lifted and Dolfy almost fell back in surprise. Not shock. Surprise. He was sure it was surprise.

The statue’s stone flesh began to fade and what lay underneath was instead a dark shiny skin and its mouth opened. It was dressed in colorful cloth, covering only the bare minimum of its body and this one had long flowing green hair. “It has been millenia since this feeling has returned to me once again after humans used the power of the sun against us.”

“Y-You speak our language?” Dolfy stood amazed. These beings had been inactive for thousands of years and yet, this one knew what he was saying.

“I have seen part of your memories when you touched my horn with the warmth of the blood flowing through you and I have learned your language.” The being, a female, stood up, rising higher than Dolfy, her joints cracking. Her horn was now red, a stark difference through her green hair. “It is a simple language. It does not convey your thoughts as easily as our language did. Primitive for something from the future. And you have been in search of us to bring about your… new world order?”

Dolfy clapped his hands together excitedly. “Ja! That is correct! I have been searching so very long for your kind. With your power, you can show us, show us how to conquer all of the world and weed out the weakest bloodlines!”

The Nugget Person stared down at Dolfy, towering over the man. A haughty look lingered on her face. “You had a much larger following before. Tell me, why are they not here to welcome us back into the world with you?”

“Ach,” Dolfy grumbled. “They were killed by a group of children who are here to stop your awakening. But they are too late, for here you are!”

“So your followers were killed by children,” The Nugget Person said, the look of displeasure growing on her face. “In my age, only the most mighty and powerful warriors were able to stop us. Your so called ‘new world order’ was doomed from the start.”

Without any warning, the Nugget Person’s body glowed with a fiery aura and Dolfy was thrown aside into the wall, where he lay unconscious. 

“I would have killed you, but you did set us free from our imprisonment. For that, I will spare your life this once, but if you come before me again, I will slay you like stepping on an insect.” She spun around and lifted her hands before the other three Nugget People. “Jein Herrakries, Gerun Drei Berol Voos. Awaken now, my comrades of old, Eortsuh, Souyul, Lowodda. The time has come to march on the world and take it back from the pitiful humans that betrayed us.”

Her body began to glow and a red haired figure materialized behind her, raising its arms as well. At once, the other three statues pulsed orange, then their stone shells faded, giving rise to three more Nugget People.

Through her horn, the Nugget Person transferred the images of Dolfy’s memories to the others, catching them up for all the years they had been slumbering.

“Mhag… Mhagmea…” The male Nugget Person took a step forward, dust falling from his knees. “It has been so long… my queen.”

The green haired one ran to him and embraced him tightly, running a hand through his purple hair. “Eortsuh, my love, it has been so long.”

“The humans, they must pay… Pay for their betrayal. For sealing us in here…” He wrapped his arms around her. Being male, he was simply decked out in a loincloth, with piercings and strings decorating his face and arms. His twin horns were of shades of blue, poking out above his brows. “They turned the very power we taught them against us. This is the thanks we received for helping their species advance?”

“Yes. And now they will know our fury. Our… rage.” She combed a hand through his hair. “And your time to release it will come. Eons have passed since we first came to this pathetic world and in our absence, it has descended further into madness. It is time to right it all. But first, the world will have to be cleansed.”

The other two Nugget People got on their feet, one dressed in maroon cloth and the other in grey cloth. They were both females, but the first one had red hair with a stubby blue horn, and the second one had brown hair and three short orange horns.

The four of them stood close together, raising their arms to flex, while at the same time, moving their feet closer together, with Mhagmea rising up on her toes. Finally, they were free, and their wrath was going to be felt soon enough.


> Chapter 29: The Nugget People
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summer Shine was the first of her friends to run across the smoking groove in the cavern, heading towards the huge melted wall. She could already hear voices coming from within and that was not a good sign.

On their way here, they had found dead miners along the way, along with a swathe of destruction, which was likely the work of Dolfy Horner, the leader of Weather Alternate. It had taken them some time to get through Fegel Zwei Base. There hadn’t been anymore Stand users there, but there were plenty of regular people. With guns. They had to take it slower, trying to avoid getting shot, but once they found the elevator, it had been a straight shot down to the cave system they were currently in. From there, it was a matter of following the bodies to the Nugget temple, where they were now rushing through.

“We need to hurry, we can’t have much time left!” Summer urged her friends before leaping through the melted wall.

Almost immediately, she was greeted by a repetitive chant of voices and then the ground under her feet shook violently. Summer would’ve fallen if Pegasus Forever hadn’t caught her, stomping its hooves into the ground to steady itself. 

“The arrival of more humans. Expected.”

Summer looked up to the center of the room where four beings now stood, each of them striking a different pose. Their eyes were all locked on her.

The four beings were all thinly-dressed people, standing taller than Summer, their skin dark and glossy. Each of them had bushy hair, reminding Summer of lion manes. What caught her attention were the horns on their heads. She was immediately reminded of all the statues on the way in and she knew exactly what these people were.

They were too late.

“You must be the ones the fool mentioned.” The Nugget Person with green hair gestured to the wall where Dolfy Horner lay slumped against. “The ones who stood up against his people and emerged victorious. You would be more fitting to see the ‘new world order’.”

“New world order? You’re going to do what this man wants?” Summer spread her legs further apart and pointed a finger at them.

“Do what he wants?” The Nugget Person looked at her comrades and smirked without moving her eyes. “No. His goals are beneath us, beyond your pitiful human desires. No. No stone will be left unturned. The world has been reduced to fodder for the pigs in our absence.”

“The world will be remade. Rebuilt from nothing.” The male Nugget Person walked forward, brandishing his muscles. “Its surface will be wiped clean, free from the pest of humanity. The right to rule had been stolen from us before your time. The humans rebelled, turning against us for all the advancement we taught them, wanting to rule themselves.”

“Things have not been well under the rule of humans, have they?” The Nugget Person with red hair crouched down, resting her arms on her knees.

Summer watched the Nugget People and looked aghast. They had traveled all the way to Germany to stop them from reawakening, to stop the end of the world they believed would happen. And they had failed. Now, the Nugget People stood in front of her, alive and well, ready to enact their greatest fear. She remembered the nightmares she had of her mother being unable to stop an unseen enemy. If she did nothing now, that would definitely happen. She had to do something and she had to do it fast.

“Pegasus Forever!” She attempted a sneak attack, sending her Stand out in a swift punch.

Pegasus Forever galloped towards the Nugget Person with green hair, but before its punch could connect with her face, a flaming aura burst forth around her, turning her skin darker and her eyes, hair and horn brighter. She was no longer standing there and Pegasus’ fist missed her. Instead, she was now behind Summer’s Stand and from within her, a ghostly figure emerged, grabbing Pegasus’ fist with a dark clawed hand. Golden light poured from jagged lines on its face, resembling eyes and a mouth, looking something like a demented jack-o’-lantern. It bent low and rammed two curled horns protruding out of its head into Pegasus Fantasy’s face, knocking it back, at the same time, yanking on its arm to pull it back only to throw it over its shoulder. Pegasus’ impact cracked the ground beneath them and Summer dropped to her hands, pain searing all across her back and head.

“Weak. And that ridiculous human lost to you?” The Nugget Person looked at Dolfy as he began to stir. “Take heed, young fledgling, by no means are you a match for us, not today. But at least you have proven more durable than him.”

The fire around the Nugget Person died down and her Stand disappeared as she stepped back to join the rest of her kind.

“You are all beneath me. And I shall sully my hands no longer.” She raised both arms high, then curled them behind her head. “I am Mhagmea, the final ruler of the Herrakries. You at least deserve to know the name of the future ruler of the world before the end. But now, Souyul, finish this.”

“Su-Sushi, you must get up now.” Dolfy groaned and pushed himself up against the wall. “The Nugget People, they plan to destroy the whole world. This is not the plan I had for us all. You must fight.”

“Yes, fight. I would like to see you try.” The one called Souyul walked forward. She had red armbands above her elbows, hanging down like banners behind her arms. On her forehead were three painted dots, likely some kind of ritualistic marking. “I will rip your soul from your body. And I will grind your body into dust. You will beg for your life, but I will not give you reprieve.”

Before Summer could right herself, there was a yell from behind her and a shield and two fans flew out from the entrance, spinning towards Souyul. A skeletal Stand spun around in the air behind her, then swiped what looked like some kind of shovel at the projectiles, knocking them away from itself and its master as Boney M and Spandau Ballet leapt out of the previous room, catching their weapons.

“Sushi, we’re here!” Prism hopped over Gipsy’s shoulders, dropping to a roll before rushing to the aid of her best friend, with Coldplay in tow.

Fuchsia and Bushido appeared behind them, ready for battle.

“Five of you,” Souyul said, licking the corner of her mouth. “I like the odds if you think you can win.”

“Make that six! I will not let you wipe out all of humanity, even the pureblooded!” Dolfy Horner stepped out beside them. “Dragonforce, melt them all!”

His Stand roared into existence, curling downwards as a giant dragon head rose up above it. Bushido and Gipsy recalled their Stands as Souyul’s Stand spun its weapon, its robes swirling about its body. It had a tall squarish hat and it didn’t seem to have a body, but that didn’t stop a cackle from coming from its mouth.

When Dolfy’s attack was ready, Dragonforce leaned in and its giant dragon head breathed a wave of flames, scalding the entire room before them. Summer had to take a step back from the intense heat, but the Nugget People didn’t even waver.

Instead, Souyul’s Stand spun its weapon in a circle and the flames were absorbed into the weapon, much to Dolfy’s disbelief.

“Im-impossible. Impossible!” Dolfy stomped a foot repeatedly as the flare in the room cooled. “That’s my most powerful attack!”

“And it will be your last.” Souyul grinned. “Grave Digger, finish it.”

Her Stand pointed its weapon forward, then cut it down to one side. Faster than the eye could see, a wave of orange flashed from its weapon, slicing right through Dolfy’s legs, cutting his right leg from the knee and his left from near his waist.

“Aaaaagh!” Dolfy fell to the ground and bounced on his back. “My l-legs!” Blood burst out from his wounds across the floor.

Summer dragged him away from the frontline as Prism and Fuchsia took a stand against the enemy. Souyul, the Nugget Person, wasn’t even the most muscular of the four, but the team knew better than to go in there confidently. They had to be careful, more careful than they’ve been on their journey here.

Fuchsia thrust her arms to her side and her Stand formed over her limbs, hardening over her skin.

“Wait, when could you do that?” Prism moved her eyes between Souyul and Fuchsia. “Is that actually your Stand?”

“Now’s not the time. Eyes front.” Fuchsia groaned. “Fuch it all. Face the enemy.”

“Yes. Face the one who will bring your end. I, Souyul, Keeper of the Dead.” She lifted one knee up and slid a finger down her calf before pointing down to the ground with the same hand. “It was my duty to ferry the souls of humans to the next life. And I will continue to do so, but this time, you won’t like where you’re going.”

“We’ll see who’s going to the afterlife!” Prism put her hands together, resembling a flower. “Coldplay, do your thing!”

Coldplay mimicked its master’s movements, then began absorbing heat from Souyul and the surrounding Nugget People. Souyul didn’t quite pick up what she was up to immediately, but the drop in temperature was easily recognized and she looked at her hands and began to wriggle her fingers as frost built up over their tips.

“With your body temperature lowered, your movements will be slower!” Prism let out one sharp laugh. “You won’t be able to dodge our attacks so easily now!”

“Now’s our chance. Move in!” Bushido said and drew his sword.

Boney M spun in a circle, then tossed its shield forward as Spandau Ballet jumped over it, throwing both its fans in arcs to Souyul’s sides. Fuchsia threw herself forward, rushing right up to Souyul with Celldweller boosting the strength in her legs, already swinging a kick right for her gut. Without even moving a muscle, Souyul’s body turned darker and her eyes, hair and horn burst into flames just like Mhagmea had done earlier.

To Prism’s disbelief, the frost had immediately evaporated and her Stand swooped around her, skilfully parrying Boney M’s shield before swiping its shovel up and down, knocking both of Spandau Ballet’s fans from the air. But it was not fast enough to defend itself or its master from Fuchsia as the armored girl’s kick sank into Souyul’s abdomen. The Nugget Person doubled forward slightly, her glowing eyes wide with surprise. Clearly, she had not expected anything to hit her.

“Impressive.” But then she grabbed Fuchsia around the ankle and held her there.

With a spin, she swept Fuchsia off her foot, holding her high before throwing her out with a mighty roar, sending the girl sailing over her friends’ heads before rolling across the floor towards Summer and Dolfy.

“You thought your Stand would slow me down by freezing me.” She twisted the fingers of one hand into a fist. “Herrakries are able to channel the heat within our bodies.”

“If only Jojo was here.” Bushido grinded his teeth together. “He knows the most about the Nugget People. Surely they must have a weakness.”

“Weakness? They can’t possibly resist our strongest attacks!” Prism wiped a hand down her face and grimaced. “We just have to push harder.”

“No, Bushido is right.” Gipsy placed a hand in front of her. “We can’t keep throwing ourselves at them and hope something will happen. We’re already struggling with just a single Nugget Person.”

“Fuchsia did some damage. If we try hard enough, we can do it.” Prism pushed Gipsy’s arm away. “They might be able to heat themselves up again, but how about a taste of their own medicine? Coldplay has been absorbing the cold from the room this whole time. Let’s see her dodge this one!”

Coldplay thrust both its palms forward, its thumbs pointed up. From between its palms, a ball of orange formed, swirling out of the air like a vacuum, then a single beam flashed out, moving right for Souyul’s forehead.

“Grave Digger!” she said, not even attempting to dodge the heat beam.

Her Stand glided down, its robes fluttering behind it like a wisp. It stretched its shovel out, placing it between Prism’s attack and its master’s face. The beam hit the shovelhead and disappeared completely, just like with Dolfy’s ultimate attack.

“You humans do not learn from each other.” Souyul folded her arms and tilted her head to one side. “Grave Digger, my Stand, is able to absorb any attack and the stronger it is, the stronger my counterattack.”

Her Stand’s smile widened and as it soared back over its master’s head, it pointed its shovel at Prism and a wave of heat sliced out of its weapon, cutting through the air right towards her. Prism had been so absorbed in acknowledging her attack had failed completely that she failed to see the attack coming. She only moved her feet now, but she could see it, she was too slow. In less than a second, the attack was going to cut through her midsection like it did to Dolfy’s legs. She had been a fool, thinking she could do something against these Nugget People when Dolfy was unable to do so with his dragon attack.

She wanted to turn back to Summer, to tell her best friend in the whole world that she was sorry for being too overconfident, but she knew that there was no way she was going to even get a word out before getting sliced in half. Instead, Prism decided to close her eyes, knowing there was nothing more she could do here. Looking back now, she would’ve taken things more cautiously, as Bushido had said. If she had stopped and took a step back to examine her opponent, then perhaps the fight would’ve gone a whole lot differently.

But it was not this day. Prism sighed to herself.

But it was not this day indeed. Prism felt a pair of hands against her shoulder and arm, turning her head ever so slightly as her peripheral vision caught sight of a red bandana in her face.

Gipsy had already moved before the energy blade had left Grave Digger’s shovel and she had thrown herself against Prism, pushing with all her might. Prism could only watch in slow motion as Gipsy’s mouth opened in silent agony as Grave Digger’s attack sliced clean through her midsection. Her body dropped down on the ground in two pieces, splattering more blood on the ground.

“G-Gipsy! Nooo!” Prism got up and yelled, running to her friend. “No, no, there’s got to be something we can do!”

Souyul’s flames dissipated and she turned back to her fellow Nugget People. Mhagmea scoffed, then folded her arms and motioned her head to the right. Souyul looked back to Sushi’s group, then shook her head and walked back towards her kind, her Stand vanishing from view.

Prism hauled Gipsy’s head up on a knee, holding one of her hands. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry! This is all my fault. You didn’t have to get me out of the way! Why did you do that? I was supposed to die…”

Gipsy’s eyes fluttered and blood ran down from her nostrils and mouth, but she still gasped for breath. “Can’t say… I even thought… about it. I was just… protecting a friend. You can… you can do this, Prism. I believe in the fates of… all humans. What I did, I did… unconsciously, but… trust that it was for a reason greater… than us.”

“What? No, how can I think that?” Prism shook her head. “All I ever do is mess up and get you all in trouble. And this. This is because of me…”

“No, don’t say that…” Gipsy gripped Prism’s hand harder. “There’s nothing more I can do… With Spandau Ballet’s abilities. But you, Prism… There is still much to do. I have no regrets… for what I did. My family… they’ve been avenged. All that I wanted in life, I’ve done. There’s nothing more for me now. Maybe… Maybe that’s why I pushed you out of the way. Maybe I felt it was my time…”

“No, no…” Prism still refused to believe Gipsy was lying before her, cut in two. “This can’t be…”

Gipsy fixed her gaze on Prism and smiled, running more blood down her chin. “Non preoccuparti, Prism. I have lived my life. It had been taken from me when I was young… but I have honored my people… The rest of this journey… you must aid Sushi. You will win this… Believe… that. Arriverderci. Thank you all…”

Gipsy coughed up more blood, spraying some over Prism’s coat. She gave her hand one last squeeze and met her eyes as her eyelids began to droop. Prism maintained the gaze, her eyes getting blurry as Gipsy’s hand finally lost its grip on hers, dropping to one side. She shuddered once, a tear dropping down on her friend’s face.

“GIPSYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!” Prism cried out. She pounded the ground with both hands and wailed between them.

Summer stood from her spot, partially bandaging up Dolfy’s limbs with some spare cloth from her pack. “N-No…” Tears began to flow from her eyes too. Gipsy had been invaluable in getting them here and getting to know her, she had become a good friend as well, and now she was gone, just like that.

Bushido clenched his sword’s grip tighter, his head angled down, casting shadows across his eyes. Fuchsia remained stoic, but even her hands started to tremble.

“A pity. Really.” Summer and her friends looked up as Mhagmea and the other Nugget People had stepped closer. “A pity humans die all so easily. But this one had fire, giving her life up for another. I honor her sacrifice. Today, you will see another day to live because of her. It is time we move out to see the world for ourselves. The end will come soon enough, so cherish the last few days of existence.”

“If you come after us, you will die.” The male flexed both arms, one pointed up and the other one down. “Do not waste your lives further.”

“Yes. Do what you humans do before it is all taken from you.” Mhagmea spread her arms wide, then angled them diagonally. “Hear the glory of the rulers of your planet. It is I, Mhagmea, the Final Ruler of the Earth, who will scorch this land anew. It is I who will bring this world into a new era, one without the corruption of humanity. Eortsuh, Carver of the Earth, the one who’d lain the foundation for our very civilization. It is through him that our structures still stand, immortal over the fleeting human constructs.”

The male, Eortsuh, stepped to the side, turning his body and lifting his shoulders higher as he touched one finger to his left horn.

“Souyul, Keeper of the Dead,” Mhagmea continued. “The one who would ferry the living from this world to the next, all for the greater good of their kind.”

Souyul snorted, then ran a thumb across her cheek, then put her legs closer together.

“And Lowodda, the Lifegiver. The one who brought life to barren lands, and can easily take it away.” Mhagmea looked to her last companion.

Lowodda lowered her head, pointing her three horns towards them. Then she crouched low, placing one hand on the ground.

“Behold, the last of the Herrakries, and eventually, the last of all life on your planet.” Mhagmea spun on a foot, then shot one arm straight up, while the other one rested on her hip. “Remember our names well, for they will be the last names you know. Farewell.”

Mhagmea’s Stand reappeared and with its clawed hands, it shook its limbs against the ceiling and the earth above them opened up, swallowing all four of them before returning to normal, plunging the room into a dead silence.

With the exception of shivering voices and sobs.
—--------JO-JO—------
“I command you, bend to me!” Mhagmea lifted her arms, pressing them against the ceiling of the underground tunnel they were in.

Her Stand did the same and at once, the ground around them began to shift and fall away, slowly forming into a more structured shape, one that began to rise higher and higher.

Parts of the cave’s roof came away, letting in sunlight from the lands outside. One such beam touched Eortsuh’s hand and he stepped back into the shadows with a hiss. Where the sunlight had touched was now stone. Even after years in stasis, he was not used to the sunlight’s effects.

Mhagmea pushed the ceiling higher, slowly expanding it out as the earth was reshaped in the way she wanted. Soon, they had emerged from underground as their shelter spread further and further, pushing buildings out of the way as people ran for their lives, avoiding the spreading mound of earth.

But being out in the open wasn’t enough and soon, Mhagmea and the others were high in the sky, now looking down at the human settlement below. Standing high above the city was now a towering rocky fortress, complete with temple pillars and thrones at the end, resembling their throne room down below, the place they had become their prison all this time.

And it was from this point that the end of the world would come. By her hand. And all things would be born again as they envisioned.


> Chapter 30: The Power of the Sun
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dolfy Horner yelled in pain as Summer helped him down the final ledge, finally back into the open once again, away from the darkness of the tomb.

“Stop complaining.” Summer gave his arm a flick as she put him down. “Be thankful you didn’t have to crawl all the way out.”

Bushido Spirit made his way away from Dolfy’s other side and dusted his coat’s shoulder as snow softly fell around them. “Maybe now you will understand that what you’ve unleashed on the world was never meant to be found.”

“I was wrong, I thought they could cleanse the world of impurity for me!” Dolfy slammed a fist against the snow-covered ground. “To them, all bloodlines are weak, pure or no. Nein, nein, nein, nein, nein! This was not how it was to happen!”

“Fuchsing idiot.” Fuchsia combed loose strands of hair out of her face. “That’s why you never mess with something you only think you understand.”

“This isn’t over.” Dolfy gave his clothes a pat and removed a walkie-talkie from his waist pocket. “I can still call for backup! We can still take down the Nugget People!”

“What’s the point?” Everyone turned to Prism, who had found a spot against a round boulder. “We’re not going to win. No matter what we do, we can’t beat them or their Stands. They taught humans how to use Stands, didn’t they? They must know everything there is about this Stand business. They… they got Gipsy…”

Summer and her friends sighed and looked behind them where they had rested her body, now partially covered in some of their parkas.

“But that’s precisely why we can’t give up now. Not yet.” Summer crouched down in front of her friend, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Gipsy gave her life to save you, to save us all. If we stop now, her death would be for nothing.”

“It’s all my fault. I did this. I killed her.” Prism covered her face with one hand.

“No, stop it, Prism. She told you. Your job’s not done here yet.” Summer gave her a squeeze. “We’re not giving up and I’m not giving up on you, Prism.”

“Coming all the way here was all for nothing, Sushi.” Prism sighed. “We came close to stopping them, but now here we are. The world’s going to end soon. We can’t stop them.”

“Hey, snap out of it. Existentialism’s my thing.” Fuchsia suddenly appeared and slapped her. “This is not the end. Our parents are still counting on us. Now are you going to get your fuchsing act together or do I have to drag you along with us?”

“I…” Prism looked down, tears forming in her eyes again.

Summer looked at the state of her friend and shook her head. They had all been shaken by Gipsy’s death and she didn’t blame Prism for feeling like that, seeing as it was her life specifically that Gipsy saved, but if they gave up now, everything they had done up to this point, everything they had worked so hard to stop, would be for naught.

Deep in thought, Summer hadn’t heard a familiar jangle coming from her coat. Reaching in, she took her phone out and looked at the screen.

Widening her eyes, she put it to her ear and accepted the call. “Jojo? Where are you, is everything okay?”

“Yeah, you won’t believe it, Sweetie got me another chopper. I’m on my way back.”

Summer was glad to hear a familiar voice, especially after everything that happened. “Wait, Sweetie Belle isn’t with you?”

“Yeah, she decided to stay with Apple Bloom while she recovers. It’s just me. What’s going on? Did we win? Did we stop Weather Alternate?”

Summer looked down at her feet. He didn’t know what had transpired. With a shaky breath, she recounted everything that had happened, trying her best to not deliver it to him too sharply. She was afraid he would crash the helicopter if he didn’t take the news well.

“No… Oh, no. No, no. It shouldn’t have been like that…” Jojo’s voice returned after a few seconds of silence, his mind likely still comprehending the news. “Is-is Prism okay? Is she hurt?”

Summer looked at her friend, then sighed. “In more ways than one. Look, we need a ride out of here. Why don’t we talk about it when you come get us? We’re also going to have to plan out our next move.”

“On my way, I’ll push this chopper to the limit. Give me another fifteen! Jojo out.”

Summer put her phone down and before she could do anything else, the ground rumbled, almost making her lose her balance and fall off the side of the mountain. Learning from that experience, she stepped away from the ledge, but rumbling wasn’t a good sign. She looked around, trying to see if she could find out what was causing the rumbling, but to no avail.

“That can’t be good…” Bushido stood up, instinctively reaching for his sword.

“I wonder what the miners are doing now.” Fuchsia sat down, resting her chin on her hands. “They came all this way to strike rich, but they won’t even have the chance to spend any of that gold. What a waste of time.”

Just then, a troop of people clad in black uniforms rushed out of the cave system, carrying automatic weapons. Bushido brandished his weapon and was about to cut them to pieces when Dolfy began clapping.

“Endlich, gut, gut.” He laughed as the new arrivals stopped in front of him. He turned to the rest of Summer’s group and she put her feet further apart, just in case he was about to try anything. “Weather Alternate has a plan, fraulein, and in order to stop these Nugget People, I must first return to Fegel Zwei and prepare.”

His men pulled out a stretcher and placed him on top of it.

“You don’t think conventional weaponry’s going to work, do you?” Summer asked. Weather Alternate didn’t have any other Stand masters left, thanks to them.

“The Nugget People mentioned a something. How they had been imprisoned by the sun. Something had turned them to stone once before, I intend to find out how.” Dolfy snapped his fingers. “I have just the idea. I’ll be back. With weapons. Lots of weapons. More weapons you will ever have seen in your life! Mein truppen, gehen! We shall meet again, Sushi.”

And with that, Dolfy and his group marched back into the tunnel, likely going back to the elevator to Fegel Zwei.

“What did Dolfy say, Sushi?” Bushido approached her. “Something about being imprisoned by the sun?”

Summer shook her head. “I’m not sure. I think he was insinuating that the sun had something to do with turning them to stone.”

“The sun?” Bushido looked up at the fiery ball of light in the sky, squeezing his eyes shut after a second. “Perhaps these Nugget People cannot go out in the day. Like vampires.”

“Vampires don’t exist.” Fuchsia was unimpressed. “Believe me, I know. I tried looking.”

“We can’t rule anything out. With all this Stand stuff going on, nothing’s impossible,” Summer said. “Perhaps they were beaten by humans with sun-like Stands all those years ago.”

“At this point, we’re making too many assumptions.” Fuchsia blew a raspberry. “We should just wait for Jojo in silence.”

So they waited there, listening for the tell-tale sound of Jojo’s helicopter. After what felt like hours, but must only have been minutes, there came the faint noise of rotors cutting through the cold mountain air, getting louder by the second.

Eventually, a black helicopter swooped around the side of the mountain, blowing snow and frosty air into their faces as it descended towards them. Jojo waved from inside the vehicle, but Summer noticed that his face wasn’t as excited to see them as she had hoped it would be. She was likely more excited to see him, but something wasn’t quite right.

Once the ladder was lowered, Summer made sure Prism went up first, using her Stand to get her off her bum and then a little up the ladder before she took over on her own. Summer made sure the rest of her friends were safely aboard before making her way up. Once she was in, she made her way to the front, where the copilot’s seat was.

“Hey, Sushi. Been a while.” Jojo handed her a pair of headphones and motioned for her to buckle in.

“Yeah, good to have you back, Jojo…” Summer squeezed his shoulder. “Hey, listen, things aren’t going too well right now, as you know.”

“Oh, I know, Sushi. Believe me.” Jojo gulped. “So uh, on the way here… I mean… Something’s transpired.”

Summer had read his face correctly earlier. Whatever news he had didn’t sound good. “What’s going on?”

“I think it’s easier I show you. Hold on, everyone!” Jojo flicked one of the switches, then slid the helicopter away from the mountain.

He kept them facing forward as he weaved back around the mountain and to Summer’s horror, in the middle of a city, there was now a giant mountainous structure of stone, reaching high into the sky, almost as high as Mount Fegel. It ended in a domed structure, opened on all ends that was supported up by rows of pillars. Around it was a secondary ring of hills, not more than two hundred feet and between that and the tower, the unfortunate part of the city was now submerged in water, leaving only the tallest buildings visible.

“That’s Berlin,” Jojo explained as the helicopter zoomed on, flying towards the new structure. “I saw people scrambling to escape when the waves came. It was as though it just erupted from the ground, some kind of hidden spring, maybe.”

“It must be the Nugget People.” Summer leaned forward in her seat. “Mhagmea, the leader, she was saying she was leaving to end the world. She would be doing it up there.”

“That isn’t all. I thought something odd was going on before I left the hospital.” Jojo slightly turned his head towards her. “Sweetie had been saying there was something off with Earth’s magnetic field. She said her tools were going haywire, like something was messing with the core of the planet. I think… I think I know why now.”

“The core? No way, they can’t possibly control the core.”

Jojo shrugged. “According to the annals of my ancestors, the Nugget People created the world as we know it. Lush grasslands, barren deserts, vast oceans, but it was humans who started taking their creation and reshaping it themselves. So if they can manage that, who’s to say they can’t control the planet’s core?”

“But what do they hope to gain, controlling the core?” Summer’s eyes widened. “You mentioned the magnetic field.”

Jojo nodded. “That’s right. The magnetic field’s the only thing keeping us from the full power of the sun. And that’s not the worst thing. If the core stops spinning… let’s just say the results would be… catastrophic. Like, end of all life catastrophic. As in everyone could be thrown off the planet.”

“We have to stop this!” Summer slammed a fist against the side window. “We can’t let the Nugget People wipe out everyone!”

“Do we have a plan?” Jojo tilted the helicopter’s controls, bringing them forward, towards the giant spire.

“What more is there to plan?” Fuchsia said, her voice being heard over the helicopter’s comms. “We take the fight back to those fuchsing nuggets and we kill every last one of them.”

“It’s not that simple. We can’t just rush in without a plan.” Summer turned to look at her friends. None of them really looked sure of what they were going to do.

“We have no choice, Sushi…” Bushido said slowly. “The Nugget People are already disrupting the core of our planet. If we continue to let them do this, the world will not recover from it, even if we stop them. We have to do this before it gets worse.”

Summer sighed and returned her attention to the front. The Nugget People’s new lair was getting bigger as they got closer. There wasn’t much information to go about the Nugget People. Mhagmea definitely seemed to have some kind of control over the earth, especially if she could slow the planet’s core. Eortsuh and Lowodda’s powers were still a mystery to them all. They hadn’t even revealed their Stands yet. As for Souyul, they knew she had a Stand that could reflect anything back at their attackers.

“Wait… there’s more…” Summer recalled, leaning back up. “Jojo, Dolfy Horner, the Weather Alternate leader, he mentioned that the Nugget People had been locked away by sunlight thousands of years ago. Isn’t your hamon sun-related?”

“Hamon generates energy resembling the sun, yes.” Jojo nodded. “Yes, now that you mention it, I think I read that in the library. Though my ancestors have no record where they are from, the Nugget People would turn to stone in the presence of sunlight. Hamon… Hamon might just work.” He lifted a hand and rubbed two of his fingers together, generating a burst of golden energy.

“If we can get you close, we can win this. We can.”

More than ever before, Summer once again felt they could do this. They could still save the world and their parents.

Her parents.

Summer looked down at her phone, still finding there had been no contact from her mother back home. Whatever they were busy with, they had to know the urgency of their mission now. She typed out a message to her, telling her of their whereabouts and how Weather Alternate was no longer a threat. At least for now. If they could not stop the Nugget People now, the world would be over for all of them.

“Mom, I hope you get this… Things are not going to be easy from here…” Summer thought of her friends. She still had Bushido, Fuchsia, Prism and Jojo with her. She didn’t want to think of it, but a part of her knew not all of them were going to make it home, but whether she would or not, she resolved to give it her all. They had to stop the Nugget People here.

“Whatever it takes.” Summer’s brows creased at the towering spire, now casting shadows across their helicopter.

“Whatever it takes.” Jojo gave her a thumbs up and a glint in his eye, before pushing down on the throttle and taking their helicopter further in towards their final battle.


> Chapter 31: By Low Water or High Sea
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

From the minute she set foot on the helicopter, Summer Shine knew their ride wouldn’t last long and true to her thoughts, as they got closer to the spire, the water came alive beneath their vehicle, growing tentacles as it lashed out at them.

Jojo attempted to take evasive maneuvers, but the attack had come so suddenly that they weren’t able to react fast enough and the tail end of the helicopter was hit. Alarms instantly began going off across the board and the helicopter started spinning out of control.

“Jojo, do something!” Summer yanked on her joystick hard.

“It’s no good, we won’t make it. We’re going down!” Jojo began flipping more switches. “I’m no helicopter expert. I only know how to fly this thing once it's been turned on! Hang on!”

The two of them pulled and yanked on whatever they could, trying to aim the helicopter for the nearest rooftop. They had a close call, almost crashing right into a skyscraper, but Bushido had called out Boney M, using its shield to safely push them away, spinning them around the building before they bumped into the side, breaking the tail off the helicopter and sending them further out of control.

“There!” Fuchsia was suddenly beside them, pointing a finger at a squarish piece of land that stuck out of the water just in front of the spire. “Celldweller says that’s an entrance. Land there, for fuch sake.”

The underside of their helicopter bumped into the next building, but with enough yelling and pulling, Jojo and Summer eventually got the helicopter to the landing spot, scraping it against the ground as it came to a halt just off the ledge, causing everyone to scream even more. But they were alive and they had made it.

“Out, out, out…” Jojo ordered as he peeled of his seatbelt and hopped out of his seat.

Fuchsia was the first out, spinning around and grabbing the bottom of the helicopter as Celldweller formed over her arms, holding it in place. Summer and the others scrambled out, hopping past her and onto dry land. Once they were all accounted for, she let go of the helicopter’s rail and the entire thing tipped off the edge, landing in the water below with a loud splash.

“Looks like we need a new vehicle yet again. Everyone alright?” Jojo patted down his jacket and scarf, then adjusted the hair on his head.

“You pilot like someone who just woke up from a coma.” Fuchsia narrowed her eyes at him. “But at least we’re here.”

“And we’re not alone.” Bushido pointed with a hand. “It seems we were expected.”

The group looked to a huge cave entrance into the spire ahead, where their platform led across a narrow rocky path. Walking towards them, one foot in front of the other, was one of the Nugget People. Summer remembered her almost immediately. She was dressed in grey cloth and she had three blue horns atop her mop of brown hair.

“Lowodda,” Summer breathed.

“I have been expecting you.” The Nugget Person placed one hand on her barely covered chest, then the other one behind her back before giving them a bow, tilting one foot up at the same time. She had adornments across her thighs and ankles, along with  spikes coming off her waist sash. “Mhagmea knew you would come. She knew you would waste the last moments you had been given to come and stop her.”

“You seem to know a lot,” Bushido declared. “Then you also know that you will lose. The human spirit cannot be stopped by monsters like you. We will endure whatever you have to throw at us.”

Lowodda smiled sinisterly at Bushido. “You talk a lot, but say very little. Is hot air all you have to bring against us, the mighty Herrakries? If so, you stand no chance of beating me, let alone Mhagmea.”

At this, Bushido fell silent, clenching his teeth and gripping the handle of his sword tightly.

“It is because we cannot lose. When you risk everything, you do everything in your power to beat all odds.” Jojo clenched a fist, then stepped forward on his opposite leg and pointed a finger at her. “That is why no matter what, we will find a way to beat you Nugget People.”

“This one is a new human.” Lowodda placed one hand on top of her other arm as she crossed them in front of her chest. “But it makes no difference. But you call us Nugget People. A degradation of your future rulers. Dirt People. That is what you are. You will all be nothing more than the dirt under our feet, and then, my waters will wash you away. Observe, Running Wild!”

A greenish Stand appeared behind her, its tail coiling around its master as it placed both hands together on top of Lowodda’s head.

“We’ll see about that. Tenacious D!” Jojo stretched an arm forward and flexed the other.

Tenacious D sped right out from Jojo, its wheels kicking up bits of debris as it accelerated on, tilting its head downwards so that its horns were now aimed for Lowodda’s chest. The Nugget Person did nothing, nor did her Stand, and Jojo thought he was going to get a free strike in as Tenacious D got closer and closer.

But Jojo couldn’t help but feel something was off. There was no way she would stand there and let him hit her. She was making a move, but it wasn’t something he could see. In fact, this thought became so prevalent in his head that Jojo stopped his Stand in its tracks, still three feet away from the enemy. He didn’t like how confident she looked, standing there with her arms crossed.

“Saw through my attack, did you?” Lowodda lifted a hand under her chin and chuckled. “Too bad. I would’ve liked to see you drown.”

It was then that Jojo looked down at her feet and noticed the thin layer of water just over the rocky surface, pooling around her and then off to the sides.

“If you had continued on, your Stand would’ve gotten stuck in Running Wild’s trap and you would’ve washed over the side where you would drown until you die,” Lowodda began explaining. “Perceptive of you to have seen through it like that…”

Jojo put one arm to his left, parallel to the ground, then the other one went through his hair, brushing it back. “That’s because you now face Cajole Joyride, son of the great Jostle Joyride, grandson of the illustrious Jolly Joyride! And your next words are going to be, ‘I have never heard of you. But have at you.’”

Lowodda shrugged. “I’ve never heard of you. But have at you.” Then her face warped into one of surprise, followed by a smile. “That was some trick. But I accept your challenge, human. Fair and square, as you say.”

The water trap under her leaked off the side and disappeared.

Jojo looked back at his friends, then raised a finger and grinned. “Don’t worry. I got this. I won’t let you down. Tenacious D!”

Jojo’s Stand smashed a fist into the ground. Its wheels began spinning and steam poured from its nostrils, ready to attack once more. Lowodda’s Stand, Running Wild, glided forward in the air, its tail swishing behind it like a mermaid’s tail, except it was coiled like a spring. Its body was clad in green and purple plates, all decked out with yellow markings resembling gills all over its body.

As Tenacious D charged, Running Wild raised its arms and water from the sides erupted up, forming into spiraling tentacles, whipping around in the air before its master. Tenacious D ducked under a swipe from one tentacle, then threw its body over another one before punching through a third, giving it an opening right to Running Wild, but almost instantly, the tentacles converged on Tenacious D’s position, breaking down and forming into a ball of water around it. The lack of air was quickly noticed by Jojo as he grabbed his throat, trying to keep his composure, but then Running Wild threw a hand forward and his Stand was flung back, crashing against the ground before flipping around, causing Jojo’s muscles to ache across his body.

Everyone flinched as Tenacious D’s bubble burst, drenching all of them with water.

“M-Man, we had to get w-w-wet…” Prism clutched her shoulders and shivered.

The water in the cold weather chilled them, but Jojo wiped down his face and arms before flexing both arms, fighting against the cold with his fighting spirit. But something felt weird about that. It was as though something about his fighting spirit had waned. He didn’t quite know how to explain it, but Lowodda started laughing, a soft mutter at first, soon blossoming into a full blown laugh to the sky.

“What's so funny?” Jojo asked. She was up to something again.

“I shall tell you in a minute.” Lowodda licked the corner of her mouth. “Actually, I shall tell you now. You were just affected by my Stand’s ability.”

Jojo looked at himself, then at his Stand, then at his friends. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary except for that weird feeling. He couldn’t quite tell what she had done to them.

“Why don’t you try attacking me again? I promise you will find out.” Lowodda smirked.

“Tenacious D, go!” Jojo wasn’t going to find out just by standing there, so attack her he would.

He was about to make it use its special attack, but then its wheels sputtered and it never accelerated from zero to a hundred as he had intended. Instead, it rolled over to Running Wild, only for the enemy Stand to see its attack coming and pivot around it, knocking it down from behind with a whip of its tail.

“Steam!” Jojo called out.

His Stand breathed and attempted to release a cloud of steam to burn the enemy, but only a puff of breath came out.

“What’s happened? What have you done to my Stand?” Jojo pointed an accusing finger at the Nugget Person.

“Running Wild has the ability to take your Stand’s ability away.” Lowodda pointed a crooked finger at him. “Its water washes over you and infuses itself in your cells, nullifying the length of your fighting spirit before retreating away from your body, carrying the abilities of your Stand. It is now hidden away in a chest underground, all locked up in locks, ready for you to find. But… you will also have to contend with me and my Stand.”

Bushido Spirit looked at his hand, then directed it forward. “Boney M!”

His Stand moved forward and attempted to throw its shield, but it left its hand and clattered uselessly to the ground.

“What happened to fair and square?” Jojo flipped back to face her and threw one arm to the side, cutting the air. “Not much of that, are you?”

“You should’ve known to not immediately trust people when you don’t know them. And you should know, I will do anything it takes to win, even if it means going around you.” Lowodda pointed one finger on each hand forward, then moved them together. “I’ve another present for you.”

From under Summer and the others, tentacles of water had wrapped around their legs and they were lifted up into the air upside down before the tentacles swirled and encircled the rest of their bodies. Summer tried to send Pegasus Forever out, but the same thing just happened to her Stand, with the tentacle tied to her somehow also already tied to Pegasus.

“It is now just you and me, Cajole, son of Jostle.” Lowodda spun on her heel, then shot both arms straight up. “Now let us see what kind of power you have without your Stand ability. My guess is that it isn’t much.”

“Grr…” Cajole stared daggers at Lowodda. “Your Stand is strong, I’ll give you that. But I’m not out of the fight yet! Like my dad told me, it’s not about the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”

“Right of you to compare yourself to a dog. But you Dirt People should be even lower. Come now, witness the true power of water.” Lowodda was raised into the air by a pillar of water beneath her as Running Wild circled around it, before launching itself at Jojo with a splash.

Jojo dived to the left, only getting a faceful of water as he did so, but his mind was racing. How was he supposed to fight the Nugget Person if his Stand had lost its ability? Then it hit him. Literally and mentally as a jet of water erupted from the puddle he had splashed in. If the Nugget People were weak to sunlight, then he could use his hamon to his advantage here. Finally, a good use for his abilities, but it wouldn’t work against the enemy’s Stand. Only a Stand could hurt a Stand, so if he wanted a chance at stopping Lowodda, he would first have to find a way to get past her Stand.

It was either that or find out just where she had buried their Stand abilities, but in a location like this, a created structure over a ruined city filled with water, it was going to be like finding hay in a needlestack.

Jojo spun himself around in the air, then dashed to one side as he summoned Tenacious D again. His Stand ability might be gone, but it could still pack a punch. And he had to rescue his friends. 

Lowodda gestured and her Stand reared up, shooting a jet of water from its mouth. Jojo dodged again, but the stream of water caught his shoulder slightly. He yelled and grabbed the point, coming away with red mixed with the water.

“Did you know that water can cut like a blade, if enough pressure is used?” Lowodda told him. “My Stand is capable of generating such high pressures. Face it, human. You never had a chance.”

“Doesn’t mean I’ll stop trying!” Jojo leapt onto Tenacious D’s back and drove forward. Even without its ability, it still had wheels for feet. It could travel faster than two legs could run.

Running Wild swooped around its pillar of water, now grabbing balls of water with its hands and tossing them at Jojo and Tenacious D. They swerved around the projectiles and Tenacious D even jumped up and spun one wheel through an orb, blasting it to droplets before attempting a punch at the enemy Stand. Running Wild snaked around the pillar, then dashed through it, grabbing Tenacious D around the horns and throwing it to the side, sending it flying off the rocky bridge.

“Aaaagh!” Jojo cried as he was thrown off along with his Stand.

If Tenacious D had its powers, he could simply have it ride back up the rocky surface, but right now, there was no way and the water was coming up to his face fast. He guessed there was no alternative now. He had to find their Stand abilities, and he would also have to make sure Running Wild couldn’t do the same thing again.

“Bah, I’ll have plenty of time to figure this out as I look for the locked chest,” Jojo told himself. “But I can’t take too long. My friends are still up there and Lowodda could be doing anything to them right now while I’m falling. I have to find it before she decides to kill them. But how do I find something that’s supposed to be hidden? It’s like pirate treasure, but I don’t have a treasure map!”

Jojo looked down at the water’s surface below him. There were about three stories left to fall. Falling from such a height wouldn’t kill him if he fell properly, but it would still hurt. But before falling in, he had to think of a way to find the chest, or he was going to be spending too much time in the water, water that the enemy controlled. There was no telling what Running Wild could do with all this water he was soon going to be swimming in.

Looking back up, he confirmed that Lowodda no longer had her attention on him and was likely already making her way to his friends. He contemplated taking her attention away from them, buying them more time, but if he were to do that, he would surely fail down here, because he was about to fall into her domain. He wouldn’t last a second if she was still after him.

“I’m sorry, everyone. But please… bear with it for a while more. I need time to do this.” Jojo looked back down at the water’s surface. By now, he had about two storeys left to fall. “I have to find a way to find the chest. I have to!”

Jojo angled his body so that his feet were facing down. He put them as closely together as he could as his mind continued to race. “Think, Jojo. Think! All that homework, for what? If you can’t think of something, then you might as well quit school now!”

And then the thoughts hit him again. Running Wild never traveled far from its master. When he and Tenacious D were further away, Running Wild would use its water abilities on them, only venturing out to the melee when he was close enough.

“That would mean it’s a close-range Stand,” Jojo said. “It won’t be able to go far from its master, which means its treasure chest has to be close as well, maybe at a range of twenty meters! There might just be a chance to find it if I suss out its possible locations! We can do this!”

And he had finally got his prediction right earlier against Lowodda. Perhaps he was more in tune with Nugget People than real people, but whatever it was, it gave him more confidence that he could think like one and that would mean he would find the chest with their Stand abilities and save his friends before Lowodda could kill them. Now came the next bit, where he would have to prevent their abilities from being stolen again, but he already had a plan for that.

As the water rushed up to meet him, Jojo could only smile and hope for the best, knowing that they would surely triumph against this ancient enemy. They had to, or there would be nothing they could go back to. He took a deep breath and braced himself for the impact. The longest he had ever held his breath for was about five minutes, usually less. It was a good gauge to urge him on to save his friends, so he was hoping to get it done in one go. They were depending on him now.

Jojo screwed his eyes shut as his body pierced the water’s surface and everything around him went silent.


> Chapter 32: Running Wild's Treasure
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jojo was welcomed to a world of blue when he opened his eyes again. Everything around him was quiet and muffled, but occasionally, he could hear the deep rumblings of the earth, likely its plates shifting as Mhagmea, the Nugget ruler, attempted to slow the planet’s core, something that would spell disaster for them all.

Down here, he could see the submerged city of Berlin, most of it completely underwater with exceptions of the taller office buildings. He could spot the Reichstag from here, clad in its new steel and hologram refurbishments from the fire in 2035, though if they got through this world-ending event, they would need to fix up the whole of Berlin. From the city center, where whole buildings had been pushed away, the earth had risen up from below the ground, now shooting high into the air where the Nugget People resided, and next to him, above the water, was the bridge that divided the platform they had landed on and the main spire.

Judging by where Lowodda was on the bridge, Jojo guessed that the chest had to be somewhere under her position. Under the bridge were a few smaller buildings, each one at most five storeys tall. It had to be in one of them, on one of the floors.

But which one? Jojo thought as he squeezed his nose shut with two fingers. He pointed up with a finger, then followed the line back down. Lowodda was standing around here. That would mean that the chest could be twenty meters directly below her, because this body of water Lowodda has created is about forty meters deep. Her chest wouldn’t be at the bottom of the city.

Jojo pinpointed a building hiding under the shadow of the rock bridge above, one with a square roof and rows and rows of windows, with most of them shattered by now. The building had been pushed from the bottom slightly, now resting against another building, the only thing that still kept it standing. If the treasure chest was here somewhere, it had to be in that building.

Okay, no time to lose now. Tenacious D!

Jojo’s Stand appeared and he kicked off its chest before it disappeared again, giving him a quick boost forward as he began sliding his legs back and forth, making his way to the building. The water down here was surprisingly warm, almost like it was some kind of hot spring and it was a good change from the cold weather above, but there was no luxury of spending time in the warmth of the water. He had to finish this as quickly as possible.

For Gipsy… Jojo pushed on.

The swim over to the building itself took him about twelve seconds. He still felt like he had plenty of air in his lungs, but he couldn’t afford to waste even a second. One second could be the difference between making it to the surface or blacking out and sinking to the bottom.

He got Tenacious D out again to give him a boost into the building, gliding through one of the rows of broken windows lower down the building. Lowodda was a sneaky being, that much he knew. He knew she would put the chest in the most outrageous place possible, a place no one would think to look. In that case, he wasn’t going to go right to the bottom. It had to be somewhere else. Instead, Jojo swam up to the second last floor. It was neither the bottom nor the top, but just one level away from the top was an unlikely choice for him to check, and so he decided he would check it.

There were tables strewn across the floor, some crumpled under others. Some lighter pieces had broken off and were floating about, but Jojo shoved them aside and kept swimming, keeping his eyes out in the murky darkness for anything that could give him a hint of where this treasure chest was. In here were also two bodies, at least, bodies he could see, gently bumping against the ceiling. The city of Berlin received no warning when Mhagmea created her fortress from under them. Not many people would’ve escaped such a furious change of environment.

There was a stack of cubicles against one wall and it looked a tad bit odd for them to fall together like that. Swimming over, Jojo got them out of the way, noticing a grey box underneath, locked up by two chains and locks around it.

This must be it! I got it! I guessed where she had hidden it! Jojo raised a fist in triumph before picking the chest up. He gave the locks a shake, finding them firmly bound around the chest. Of course it wasn’t going to just come off. But you can’t fault me for trying.

He lifted it above his head and Tenacious D made an appearance, grabbing the chains on both sides. With a puff of steam from its nostrils, blowing out a cluster of bubbles, it tilted its head and back backwards and pulled with all its underwater might. The chains clanked under its strain and Jojo could see the metal already starting to give way. Lowodda might’ve taken his Stand abilities away, but Tenacious D was still a tenacious fighter, with strength that could rival even Summer’s Pegasus Forever.

Jojo pinched his nose tighter, finding it harder and harder to hold his breath in. He had been underwater now for about four minutes and his oxygen was slowly running thin. There was no more time for him to swim all the way to the surface. The only thing he could rely on now was releasing the chest and giving Tenacious D its abilities back so it could get them both out of here.

He continued to watch his Stand tug at the chains, slowly but steadily straining each link. More bubbles erupted from his Stand’s nostrils and it lightened its grip, only to yank hard again, breaking off a chunk of metal from one chain link.

It’s now or never! Tenacious D, do it! For the sake of the Joyride family, get your abilities back!

With a rev of its engine, Tenacious D bent forward and yanked the chains diagonally, shattering them and their locks in that instant, sending the debris floating away in the water. Jojo wasted no time in prying the chest’s lid open and instantly, he was filled with a red glow before it swirled around his Stand and vanished into its chest. He had done it, he got all their Stand abilities back.

And now for the push back to the surface. Jojo slung the chest around his back, then grabbed what was left of one chain and tied it in a knot on his chest before flinging himself on Tenacious’ back. He pointed with two fingers as he let out a stream of bubbles from his nose. He guessed he only had about twenty seconds of air left.

Spinning its tyres, Tenacious D grabbed the edge of the building and threw a punch, smashing an exit hole for them to swim through. Placing both wheels on the side of the building, it suddenly sped up faster than any vehicle could and they were off, sailing up through the water like a slingshot, right towards the surface.

Jojo felt the pressure go to his eyes and ears, but he braved through it as his face finally breached the surface of the water. Jojo gasped as he took in breaths of cold air, chilling his throat and his lungs, but at least he could breathe again. With Tenacious’ powers back, it was time to teach Lowodda that ancient Nugget Person or not, she shouldn’t mess with a Joyride.

“If only dad could see me right now,” Jojo said, then looked to the spire’s surface. It was rugged and rocky, but it would serve its purpose regardless. “Tenacious D, let’s do this.”

Jojo’s Stand swam forward with its powerful arms, then grabbed the side of the spire and placed both wheels against it. Speeding up, it drove right out of the water, climbing vertically as they got higher and higher, with his Stand snorting steam from its nose, covering its body in a thin layer of smoke.

As they neared the bridge, Jojo’s Stand threw itself off the side, flying right past Lowodda as she turned her head in surprise. It was a moment she had not anticipated and Tenacious D threw a punch directly in her face, smushing her cheek before launching her back into the spire’s entrance, before wrapping a muscular arm around Running Wild’s neck as it flew behind its master.

Tenacious D squeezed and Running Wild let out a hissing sound as it tried to squirm away from its grip. Its body was lean and slippery, but Tenacious held on as tightly as it could.

Lowodda lifted her head on the other end, but with her Stand being choked, she was also losing air and she gagged and coughed as she flipped herself around to her hands and knees.

“You thought that was it, but alas, here I stand before you again, Cajole Joyride!” Jojo put one hand in his pocket and pointed a finger at her with the other. “I will be the one to show you that you Nugget People are not invincible!”

“It’s… not… over!” Lowodda’s body blazed to life, her brown hair burning bright behind her face now. Running Wild got out of Tenacious’ grip and slithered up its arm before biting it on the neck. “It is you who will die!”

Blood squirted from marks on Jojo’s neck. He winced, but rushed forward as Tenacious sped up again, goring Running Wild in the chest as it tried to get distance between them.

“Your Stand might be strong, but I know your secret, Lowodda!” Jojo called out as the Nugget Person as he ran over to her flaming form. “The reason you steal Stand abilities is because your Stand wouldn’t be able to win in a head on fight, even with its control over water! If you can’t steal our Stand abilities, then you cannot beat us!”

“What makes you think I can’t just steal them again? Running Wild!” Lowodda swung one arm to the side, extending her fingers as fire burst from her fingertips, forming into dagger-length flaming points.

Her Stand spat a mouthful of water at Tenacious D as she tried to stab him with her flaming nails. Jojo felt his fighting spirit dim again, but then he smiled and threw the chest from his back, catching her wrist and knocking her arm aside as its lid flipped open. Instantly, the light from inside returned to him and his Stand and Tenacious D charged again, catching Running Wild in the chest again as more blood spurted from new holes in Lowodda’s chest.

“You insolent fool, you took the chest with you!” she growled and brandished another hand of flaming nails.

“That’s right. This is over, Lowodda. Today, humanity stands strong. You Nugget People will be stopped and the world will live to see another day.” Jojo stuck a foot forward, then placed one hand on his scarf and grinned.

“You will regret the day you challenged the Herrakries!” Lowodda’s eyes glowed brighter and she took a powerful step forward, throwing herself at Jojo as Tenacious D grappled with Running Wild, both Stands pushing against each other.

Jojo stepped to one side and pushed one of her flaming hands away. The fire was hot against his skin, but then he took a deep breath in and pointed two fingers forward. “Overdrive barrage!”

Jojo repeatedly jabbed his fingers at Lowodda’s side as he breathed, pumping hamon energy through his arm. As his fingers prodded against her blazing skin, it left marks of stone that started to form across her skin.

Lowodda hissed and did a sweeping leg attack, but Jojo jumped over it before crouching low, breathing in as he kicked out with a spin. Lowodda raised a hand to deflect his foot, but when it connected with her, a burst of energy turned her palm to stone.

“No! What is this?” She stepped back, clutching her hand. “This cannot be possible! You are generating the power of the sun within yourself!”

Jojo leapt back, buttery golden light coming off his body. “One sure mark of a fool is to dismiss anything outside his experience as impossible. You have a strong Stand, but you didn’t count on the Joyride family’s secret technique.”

“Running away?” Summer asked, running closer to them from behind, the rest of their group in pursuit. Her Stand appeared beside her, smashing its fists together.

“Ye- no!” Jojo said, holding his hands up above his head as they began to focus with golden energy. “I mean the power of Hamon. The power of the sun in every single blow!”

Running Wild opened its mouth and blasted Tenacious D’s face full of water, but as its ability retreated to the chest, Jojo simply opened the lid again and it swooped back to its rightful owner.

Tenacious threw Running Wild to the ground and it was about to get up when Boney M’s shield crashed down against its tail, pinning it into the ground. Pegasus Forever raised a fist and with a mighty yell, it grabbed Running Wild around the neck before repeatedly pounding it in the face.

Lowodda grabbed for her own face as the fire around her shorted out, unable to act, giving Jojo the room to close the distance, charging his Hamon in both hands. “This is it, Lowodda. Your end! Hamon Overdrive, thousand cuts!”

Jojo splayed his fingers open, then repeatedly slashed them against Lowodda’s body as Hamon traveled from him into her, turning more of her body to stone as he drew his fingers across her skin.

“No, I am of the Herrakries! I will not be beaten by humans. Not again!” Lowodda raised one hand to her face, but Jojo’s fingers made it through and jabbed her in the eye.

Hamon was thrust into her face and her mouth opened in a scream as it spread across her head, instantly turning it all to stone before traveling down her body. She curled forward towards her gut, then reached an arm out to Jojo before completely turning to stone in front of him.

“And that takes a bite out of the nugget.” Jojo turned to his side and stood one leg on its toes before placing an index finger under his chin. “For Gipsy. For my friends. For the Joyride family!”

With a breath, he thrust a finger forward, building up more Hamon as it pierced right through Lowodda’s stoney body. He pushed his hand forward one more time and cracks spread out from his finger. Her right arm was the first to break off and after that, her entire body gave way and all that was left of her was a pile of rubble on the ground.

“Jojo, you did it!” Summer ran over and gave him a hug. “You beat a Nugget Person!”

“You’ve proven to them that they can be killed.” Bushido placed a hand on Jojo’s shoulder. “You have done your family proud.”

“Yeah, good work, Jojo.” This was the first time he saw Prism smile after reuniting with them again. It was nice.

“Enough with the praise.” Fuchsia groaned and pointed to the entrance into the spire. “We still have three Nuggets to deal with. The water might be receding now, but we still need to stop them from slowing the core of our planet.”

 The mood grew serious at that. It was true that only one of four Nugget People had been felled, and the other three were bound to take the threat more seriously once they learned of what had happened to Lowodda. From here on out, it was only going to get tougher, and the longer they took allowed the Nugget People more time to end all life on the planet.

With nothing more to say, Jojo nodded at his friends before they rushed down into the darkness of the spire, wondering just what else was going to be in store for them at the end of the world.


> Chapter 33: Rematch with Grave Digger
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Prism Dash trailed behind her friends as the spire’s path led to a rocky stairway, leading round and round above them. Summer was already a flight above them by the time she set foot on them. She knew there was limited time to finish this, but for some reason, she just couldn’t motivate her body to move on. Even though Gipsy had said it was meant to be, she just couldn’t take the blame off herself. Her impulsiveness had cost her friend her life and no matter what she or her friends tried to tell her, she just couldn’t accept any of it.

“Prism, come on!” She could see Summer’s head poking out from the stairway above. “We’ve got to stop them!”

“Coming, Sushi.” Prism sighed, then dragged her feet up the next few steps.

Jojo had beaten one of the Nugget People earlier and that had given her a glint of hope, a sliver of happiness as one of Gipsy’s killers had been eliminated. It showed them that they could overcome all odds, even the Nugget People, and she wanted to hold on to that, to believe they could win. They could win, but it just didn’t help to push her on.

“Okay, hop on.” Jojo was suddenly beside her, bending low and patting the small of his back. “I’ll carry you all the way up if I have to. But you’re coming along. You can’t keep living in misery, Prism. You have to move on.”

“You don’t get it, Jojo. It’s all my fault Gipsy’s dead. You weren’t there. You didn’t see how I caused her death,” Prism said.

“I know enough to know that she wouldn’t want you to wallow in your own self-pity.” Jojo grabbed one of her hands and squeezed it firmly. “Prism, there’s still three more of them. If you stop now, then Gipsy would’ve died for nothing. Do you want her to have died for nothing?”

Prism shook her head. “I don’t even want her to be dead.”

“Then press on. Fight, because every step you take is an honor to Gipsy’s sacrifice.” Jojo gave her a thumbs up. “Come on, you’re older than me. This is something you shouldn’t need me to tell you.”

Prism managed a smile. Whatever it was Jojo was doing, at least it was making her feel a bit better, though only slightly. At least he was trying to be there for her. “Alright, you know what, I’ll take on your offer.”

“That’s the spirit, let’s- wait, what?” Jojo had begun going back up, but turned his head again.

“I’ll get on your back,” Prism told him, gesturing for him to come back.

The boy’s face grew red as he hesitantly stepped back down, turning his back to her.

Without warning, Prism leapt up and landed on his back, and Jojo’s hands scrambled out to catch her to keep her from falling, squeezing down hard on both her butt cheeks.

“Mm, hold your horses, this is not the time and place for something like that,” Prism whispered in his ear.

“I wasn’t… It’s not on purpose!” He scrambled for words as he began going up two steps at a time. “But… hey, it’s good to hear you not moping around.”

“Sure is, isn’t it?” Prism sighed and rested her cheek on his shoulder. For a seventeen year old, he was rather strong and muscular. “Thanks, Jojo. For trying to talk sense to me. I might not fully accept it yet, but thank you. For trying.”

“Hey, we’re all in this together.” Jojo flashed her another smile. “If it’s not me, it would’ve been Sushi. She’s your best friend, after all. She probably cares more about you than I do.”

“Are you sure about that?” Prism pinched his cheek.

“Ow! I mean, I dunno. Hey, let’s catch up now.”

The climb up the spire had no windows and after turning round and round and round, the group began to lose track of how far up they had gone, with everything looking the same, above and below. They had seen the entire thing from the outside and it was at a point their helicopter could not reach and they could only shudder at the thought of how much longer they had to climb.

After what felt like twelve more flights, the ground underneath them shook and Jojo stumbled to the side, almost dropping Prism off his back and off the side of the stairway. She projected Coldplay out, grabbing both of them and throwing them against the wall as the rumbling continued, shaking up the spire all the way to the top. Summer, who was leading the group two flights above Prism and Jojo, placed an arm on the wall to steady herself, but looked down to check on her teammates.

Bushido had shielded himself and Fuchsia against the wall with Boney M, but the pink girl soon pushed him aside to ascend the stairway once the rumbling had ended.

Jojo looked at Prism, then back up the stairs. “What do you think that was?”

“I’m the one who should be asking you all this. You’re the smart one.” Prism gave him a knock on the head. “But it can’t be anything good.”

“No. It can’t.” Jojo shook his head once. “As she slows the core down, so will the revolution of our planet. If it stops, it would throw everyone and everything off the planet and there would be widespread destruction that nothing can recover from.”

“Well, except the Nugget People, whatever their plan is…” Prism mumbled.

“We can count on them having a plan.” Jojo stopped and put Prism back down. “Hey, this is going on for too long. There must be a faster way up. Tenacious D!”

Jojo leapt up and his Stand appeared from under him, allowing him to land directly on its shoulders as he stretched an arm out for Prism. “Come on, this might work.”

Prism took it and got on behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist as Tenacious D sped on, swooping up the stairway step by step, bouncing Jojo and Prism along as it went. When they passed Bushido, Fuchsia and Summer, Jojo reached out and grabbed each of them, piling them up on top of himself or behind Prism. They soon looked like a circus on wheels, but at least they were proceeding up the stairway faster now, though at the speed they were going, even Prism was having trouble maintaining her vision as everything started to split into two. She closed her eyes, hoping it would help, and while it did for a while, she started to feel woozy from the motion and she felt the bile rising in her stomach.

“I’m going to be sick…” Prism cupped a hand over her mouth.

“Just hold on a while longer!” Summer grabbed her shoulder. Her voice sounded stressed as well.

Prism screwed her eyes tightly and gritted her teeth as she tried to breathe calmly, thinking of rocky walls and Nugget People, and finally, the movement around her stopped and she cracked an eye open, realizing they were now in some kind of open air dome with a single pathway leading over to what looked like a huge circular area that looked like a racetrack, only it was at least three racetracks put together, but seeing as they were far from it, it could’ve been far larger than that.

“Where-ugh… where are we now?” Prism hopped off Tenacious D and her feet wobbled around, forcing her to crouch lower and cover one eye.

“Seems to be some kind of holding area,” Bushido said as he inspected some sort of crate and their surroundings. He knocked a finger against the crate, finding it was made of some kind of plated metal, shaped like an armadillo’s back.

There were chairs here, or at least, raised platforms that could be used for seating and there were two stairways ahead, leading down on either end of the room. Everything was made out of rock except for the mysterious crates.

“What do you think are in these?” Summer joined Bushido by his crate and gave it a kick.

“It’s food,” came a voice and everyone turned around. From the staircase they had come from, a familiar Nugget Person with maroon cloth and red hair now stood, placing four fingers against her lower lip, while her other hand rested on her hip. “Not food you humans would enjoy, because we Nugget People can eat raw food without dying.”

“Souyul…” Prism pushed past Jojo and Fuchsia and growled at her, before shaking a fist.

“Ah, the rainbow one, yes, we meet again.” The Nugget Person clapped her hands together, then walked into the room, causing everyone to back up towards the two stairways leading down. “I must give you praise for your actions. Defeating a Herrakrie is of no easy task, and yet, Lowodda is no longer with us. Only the strongest of humans had been able to defeat us in the past, but yet you… you! Children! The male who released us had reason to fear you. But I do not. I have always thought of Lowodda as a weakling who used her deceptive tricks to gain victory in battle.”

“You would talk like that about your own?” Summer cut one arm to the side, upset at what she was hearing. “You should at least treat your friends better.”

“Please, we left our kind long ago to come to this pitiful world of yours.” Souyul waltzed over and sat herself on one of the stony platforms. “Mhagmea had plans far greater than our kind could ever hope for. And we had built a great empire indeed, until you humans rebelled against us and sealed us away. I trust her, but Lowodda has always been underhanded. It makes no difference that she’s gone, but you will not stop Mhagmea. Just like your friend, you will all die here by my hand.”

“Not if I have anything to say about that!” Prism summoned her Stand in front of her, placing both hands together in front of herself, forming a triangle shape between them. “Guys, I’ll take her on.”

“Yes, challenge me again…” Souyul chuckled, raising a finger skyward. “How many of your friends can you kill before you understand you cannot win?”

“Prism, you can’t do this by yourself.” Summer stood next to her. “Pegasus Forever and I have you covered.”

But Prism shook her head and motioned back. “No, Sushi. I have to do this. I have to right myself. I made mistakes before, but if I don’t learn from them, then I really don’t deserve to live. Please, leave this one to me. All of you, please trust me.”

Jojo looked hesitant, but Summer was the first to nod and step back. “Let Prism do this.”

“Are you sure, Sushi?” Bushido’s sword was already out of its sheath. “Together we are stronger.”

“I have to do this.” Prism watched the Nugget Person sternly. “Gipsy would want that. She knew I would avenge her when the time was right. This is that time. I can do this. I’m gonna shove this Nugget Person so far up the butthole-”

“You’re not saying that right…” Fuchsia interrupted her and snorted. “We get it. Just get on with it.”

Prism nodded and put on a resolute smile before facing Souyul once again, Coldplay by her side, fists up and ready.

“Grave Digger and I are ready for your challenge, human. But be warned, your grave has already been dug and all we’re doing is putting you in it…” Souyul swept her red hair back and formed a fist of fire. “Come, let us see what you’re really capable of.”

“Coldplay, first move!” Prism thrust a hand forward, all fingers pointed in the same direction.

Coldplay kicked one foot off the ground, then launched itself at Souyul as Grave Digger materialized above her head, holding its shovel in both hands. Prism eyed its orange hat on top of its head and thought it was dumb, using it as more motivation to completely destroy her for killing Gipsy.

Coldplay aimed a blast of heat at Grave Digger, keeping its power low just in case as she tested the lengths of its shovel. As expected, the enemy Stand raised its weapon and absorbed the blast, spinning it upside down before swinging it back up, launching a blade of heat back at Prism and her Stand.

Coldplay dodged out of the way before attempting it again, this time from both hands. However, Grave Digger simply moved its shovel from one end to the other, absorbing both projectiles before reflecting them back at them. Coldplay avoided one again, but Grave Digger had angled the second one in a better angle, cutting it across the thigh as it swooped to the left. Blood sprayed from Prism’s own leg as she fought against the pain, trying to ignore it.

“Coldplay again!” She had an idea this time.

Her Stand absorbed more heat from their surroundings, taking it from the rocky surfaces that bathed under the heat of the sun. Raising both hands, Coldplay thrust out a beam of heat from between its fingers, sending it spiraling in a helix towards Grave Digger, who with no effort, deflected it, sending it right back at both of them.

As the beam of heat flew towards them, Prism had her Stand reduce the heat of the attack. Since it was a reflection of her attack against it, it should still be of the same qualities as it was before hitting its shovel. And that would mean she could still affect it. True to her theory, the heat blade shrank and shrank and when it finally reached Coldplay, it lifted a palm up and closed it around what was left of the attack, rendering it useless.

“You can’t hurt me with my attacks. Not again.” Prism balled a fist and pointed it at the Nugget Person.

“You think if my Stand cannot reflect your attacks that it is now harmless?” Souyul snapped her fingers. “Think again.”

Grave Digger cackled and glided forward, its robes swishing behind its bony form as it pulled the shovel back for an attack. Coldplay found an open and attempted to deliver a strike to the Stand’s face, but its shovel came back around from its other side, passed from one hand to the other. It swung in under Coldplay’s fist and clubbed it in the side of the head, knocking it down as Prism fell to one side, clutching her head.

Everything in her vision spun and her hand came away with blood. It was just a shovel, but that Stand hit harder than any punch she had ever received. It was a dangerous weapon even without deflecting attacks back.

“Down already?” Souyul placed one hand over her mouth, feigning surprise. “I have fought humans who could take more than one hit from Grave Digger. But now you will join them, ferried away to the afterlife.”

“N-No. This isn’t over…” Prism groaned and fixed her gaze on Souyul.

Coldplay advanced again, avoiding another blow from the shovel before swinging a punch around it. Grave Digger curled back and brought the shovel between them, blocking the punch. In that small distance, it pushed its shovel forward, sending out a wave of white as it reflected the punch’s attack, smacking Coldplay in the chest with its own fist.

What followed were blows from the left and right from its shovel, smashing its head into Coldplay’s face, shattering one of its goggled eyes, before spinning around and smacking it at the back of Coldplay’s left leg, making Prism’s Stand do a somersault before crashing into one of the pillars supporting the roof up.

Prism fell back, bruised and bloody from her Stand’s damage, but she placed a hand down on her knee, preventing herself from falling flat. She couldn’t afford to lose, not when everyone counted on her, not when she had to bring justice for Gipsy’s death.

“Everyone’s… counting on me to win…” Prism took an unsteady step forward, clutching at the side of her head as blood poured down her face from a cut. “Sushi, Jojo, Bushido, Gipsy… my mom… everyone on this planet… You won’t win, Souyul. It’ll… be you going down… to the afterlife…”

“You can’t do anything against me or Grave Digger. Give it up and die.” Souyul bent back with laughter. It was then that she realized there was something off. She ran a hand down her back and came back with ice. “What are you doing?”

“You… forgot…” Prism took another step forward. “Coldplay can… absorb heat from anything. That includes… your body.”

“But you forgot I can do this.” Souyul clapped her hands together and her body burst into flames, her stubby horn extending in length as fire coursed through it. “You cannot freeze me.”

“I might not… be able to. But I can still do something…” Prism smirked, one eye now closed as blood ran down over it. Grave Digger’s bones began to ice over as well, with frost spreading up its fingers and robes. “Your Stand wasn’t out the last time I tried to take away the heat from your bodies. I realized that your Stand couldn’t burn up like you Nugget People could. That would mean that it could still feel cold, and if it can, that means you can too.”

Grave Digger attempted to swing its shovel again, but already, heat had left its body and being a skeleton-like Stand, there wasn’t much heat in the first place and Coldplay could easily see its attacks coming now.

“You fool, I can still remove my Stand from the battlefield!” Souyul swiped a hand to the side and Grave Digger disappeared into thin air. “And with the eternal fire burning within me, you will never suck out all my heat! I can still kill you with my bare hands!”

With that said, Souyul formed a long scythe in her hands, its entire length made of fire, the same fire that burned in place of her hair. She took a slice at Prism, who rolled out of the way as it slashed through a rock chair, cutting it clean in half.

“That’s not what I’d call ‘bare hands’!” Prism said as she threw herself back from another slice, her skin feeling the heat as the scythe cut too close for comfort. She could feel the hairs on her arms being singed off.

“It’s time you join the afterlife, foolish human! The Herrakries cannot be beaten!” Souyul snarled and raised her scythe back.

“Wrong. You’ve been beaten before. Sealed away. By humans!” Prism stretched an arm out and Coldplay flew through her chest, delivering a powerful uppercut to the Nugget Person’s chin as she readied another attack.

Souyul was thrown back, her scythe passing harmlessly through Coldplay. Whatever magic or power her internal flame was, it still wasn’t a Stand and only a Stand could harm a Stand.

“I have you now!” Prism planted a finger in her pocket, then dangled the fingers of her other hand downwards, that arm stretched out. “If you bring out Grave Digger, Coldplay will take the heat from it, freezing it and eventually you. If you don’t have your Stand out, my Stand will pummel you to dust. You can’t win now!”

Souyul glowered at Prism, but then a savage smile spread across the Nugget Person’s face. “We’ll see about that, human.”

Souyul hopped backwards and summoned her Stand again. Before Coldplay could drain its heat, Souyul held her arms wide and Gravedigger sank into her skin, fastening its bony body around her like a vise and covering the Nugget Person’s head with its skull. The shovel was grasped in Souyul’s left hand and she spun it around experimentally before pointing it at Prism.

“What?” Prism asked, Coldplay standing next to her like a guardian. “Did you just combine with your Stand?”

“You’re brighter than you look, human. My Stand, Gravedigger, can become part of me in order to increase both our strengths. And to make it better, you can’t drain my Stand’s heat when it’s part of me like this!”

Her fire blazed brighter than ever, her hair extending towards the sky as her eyes began to glow whiter. How combined with her Stand, that stupid hat Grave Digger had now sat atop her head, it and the robes somehow not getting burned up. The burning scythe in her hands had now been replaced with the shovel, which was now also on fire entirely.

With astounding speed, Souyul suddenly rushed at Prism, who was only saved by her stumbling back as Gravedigger’s shovel cleaved the space that she had just been standing in.

There was much Prism had to rethink about the fight now if she hoped to defeat Souyul.


> Chapter 34: Hell is My Purgatory
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Now combined with her Stand, Souyul became faster than ever, her feet no longer touching the ground as she swung her shovel repeatedly, trying to smash Coldplay’s face in. Prism had it duck and weave around each attack, keeping itself low to get under each swing.

She tried to find an opening to attack, but her heat blasts and her punches could be turned back against her. If she wanted to attack Souyul, she had to make sure it would be something she wouldn’t see coming.

Instead, Prism continued to have Coldplay move around, avoiding Souyul’s attacks to the best of its ability while her eyes scanned the fight, pinpointing the Nugget Person’s movements, trying to find a tell. Anything she could use to her advantage.

“You cannot escape me forever, human!” Souyul jeered as she aimed another swipe at Prism. “You will pay for the death of Lowadda!”

“You literally just said you didn’t even like Lowadda!” Prism complained as she backpedaled to give herself some breathing room.

Prism could feel the heat coming off of the Nugget Person. It was like a bonfire. Worse than a bonfire, and as much as she could keep sapping the thermal energy, Souyul would just generate more. Whatever Nugget People were, they seemed to have an everlasting source of fire within them, maybe an extension of their fighting spirit and life force.

“Lowodda might be a deceiving little snivel, but even she was worthier to live in this new world than you ever will be.” Souyul spun the shovel in one hand, then swapped it over to her other hand. “You humans prove resilient, I will give you that compliment, but nothing more.”

“Prism, hang in there, you can do this!” Summer cheered her on. They still kept their distance, respecting Prism’s wish to fight Souyul alone, but it was more than that for Summer. She believed her friend could do it. She believed Prism could win.

Coldplay dodged another of Souyul’s attacks, then attempted to swerve a punch around her shovel, only for her to smile and yank it sideways, pulling Coldplay’s arm down to the ground, where the shovelhead lodged into the earth, sending cracks webbing out from its point of impact. Trapped between the shovelhead and shaft, Coldplay couldn’t get its arm out and Prism could feel Souyul’s fire against her skin, burning her sleeve and her skin underneath.

“Have you ever been burned alive?” Souyul leaned closer to her Stand, and Prism felt the heat rise on her face. “Of course you haven’t. You’re still alive. In our time, we set countless humans on fire, sending their ashes to the sky to birth the land anew. Our fires were never big, so that they wouldn’t die too quickly. They would scream in the first three minutes. Then it would be silent for the next four as their bodies slowly burnt away. The humans sacrificed for us willingly, but for you, I will let you feel the full power of the flames of a Herrakrie. You would last no more than a minute.”

As she cackled, Souyul’s fire pulsed around her, then exploded in a deafening blast, knocking Prism and her friends down as Coldplay began to burn. Prism’s clothes were engulfed in flames and it quickly spread across her body, melting away skin as she rolled on the ground, struggling to put it out.

She attempted to have Coldplay absorb the heat, but Souyul’s fire burned strong.

Through wincing eyes, she looked at her friends, lying on the ground with hands raised, trying to protect themselves from the great flame. Even from where they were, they could feel it. Prism had to think of a way to end this.

“But how do I stop something that burns eternally?” she gasped in pain as her mind raced for ways to beat this foe. And then something clicked. She looked down at Souyul’s weapon, trapping her Stand under her. It might just work. “Coldplay, absorb! Quick!”

Coldplay lifted its palms, absorbing the massive flame that threatened to burn them all.

Souyul noticed her feeble attempt and let out a howl of laughter. “Foolish human! You cannot remove the heat within a Herrakrie! We burn forever! And with Grave Digger powering it, you will die before you even drain a percent of my power!”

“I’ll do it! Everyone’s rooting for me. Do or die, I’m going to beat you today!” Prism swatted at the fire on her face.

“I’ve ushered countless souls to the afterlife. Not once have I felt anything for them, but today, sending you there, I’m going to enjoy it.” Souyul’s grin widened as did the heat of her fire. Even the rocks under her feet started to melt.

With Coldplay so close to Souyul, Prism’s clothes had been completely burned away now and her skin was starting to fade, giving way to bone, especially that of her arms. She didn’t have long, she had to give this her all before it was too late.

She could sense all the heat Coldplay was absorbing, and even now, Souyul’s fire hadn’t faded even a sliver. There was no way she could absorb enough to stop her from killing them all, but it should be enough now. Enough to end it.

“Coldplay, it’s time! For a Sky Full of Stars!” Prism yelled, stretching one arm to the air.

Souyul furled one brow, not sure what Prism was up to, but then she tilted her head down a second too late as Coldplay now had both hands raised in front of her. Its palms glowed brightly, before a giant single beam of heat blasted out from the middle of both hands, followed along with a myriad of spiraling smaller blasts, each one tearing through Souyul and Grave Digger with ease, coming out behind her, destroying the ceiling and the stairway entrance they had come from.

Souyul stood there, her mouth agape as her fire died down, returning her hair to its usual maroon. Grave Digger fell from her body, collapsing on the ground as its shovel began to flake away like ashes in the wind. The left side of Souyul’s head was gone and there were thousands of holes through her body, straight through to the other side as blood began to pool at her feet, forming gold nuggets in the melted ground.

Her mouth wagged up and down, as if she was trying to say something, but nothing was uttered.

Prism slowly staggered to her feet, wiping some ash and soot off her face and breathing heavily. “That was where you made a mistake… You thought… I was trying to absorb all your fire… But I really just… needed enough. To send you to… hell.”

Then she pressed her index finger against Souyul’s chest and pushed her over onto the ground with a heavy thud. The Nugget Person fell into the rays of sun coming down from above, instantly turning to stone. Though, there was likely no way she was coming back from something like that.

“How do you like… them nuggets? Your fire was… powerful indeed. Powerful enough that it could be turned against you… lethally…” She panted before putting one arm behind her back and standing with both feet at a ninety degree angle. “For… Gipsy…”

Standing there now, she looked almost like a charred husk of a person, with nothing more than burnt skin and flesh for a body. Her once radiant rainbow hair was gone and she was barely recognizable.

Satisfied with her victory, Prism sighed and dropped on her back with a thud. That was when her friends rushed over, gathering around her and tapping her shoulders and her face.

“Prism, Prism!” Summer called her name.

“We did it…” Prism smiled and looked for Summer. “We did it, Sushi. I righted my wrong.”

“Yes. Yes you did, Prism. You did good.” Summer’s eyes were misty as she ran a hand down Prism’s head.

“Then that’s it for me… I did it. Gipsy was right… There was a reason I didn’t die then… I’m ready now.”

“No, no no no. You’re not, Prism. You’re not going to go.” Summer grabbed one of her hands, squeezing it hard.

Jojo was by their side, digging through his backpack. “I-I have medical supplies. From Sweetie! A-And I-I’ll get in touch with her. She can send another helicopter down here. We’ll get you out, Prism. Please, just don’t go.”

“Jojo…”

“It’ll sting a bit, but please hold on.” Jojo pulled out some ointments and medical sprays before spraying her burns, which meant spraying her all over her body.

“I don’t think… I can feel pain anymore.” Prism managed a grin at the corner of her mouth. “You don’t have to do this… It’s my time.”

“Not if we have anything to say about that.” Fuchsia knelt down beside them, much to Prism’s surprise. “You’re not getting out of here that easy. Jojo, get that chopper in. I’ll patch up this fuchsing moron.”

“Hey…” Prism groaned.

“You just saved us all and what you did was rather cool. I will do what I must, but you’re not dying here. Not today.” Fuchsia unrolled some bandages. Just then, the earth rumbled under them and everyone placed their hands and knees to the ground, steadying themselves. “We don’t have time. Sushi, you have to go. I’ll stay with Prism. I know what to do. My mother taught me first aid for all my self-harm. I guess I know how to do it.”

“A-Are you sure?” Summer looked between her and Jojo and Bushido. She didn’t want to leave them, especially her best friend, but after that last rumble, which was more powerful than the ones before, she knew there wasn’t much time left before the end of the entire world. They would have to go.

“For fuch sake.” Fuchsia sighed and gestured for them to go. “You know what you have to do.”

Summer shared a look with Bushido, then with Jojo, who was busily trying to communicate with Sweetie Belle on the phone. She knew Bushido well enough at this point. He would do anything for her. With her. And that would mean standing against the end of the world. And as for Jojo, he was the descendant of a legendary line of humans, each with secrets and strengths of their own. The Joyride family was strong and she knew he would see this to the end as well. As for Fuchsia, knowing her real feelings now, she knew Fuchsia would take good care of Prism in their absence.

“You did well, Prism. Rest now. Just don’t die.” Summer gave her a squeeze, then gave Fuchsia a pat and an affirming nod.

“Hey, even if you kill me, I won’t die… I’m awesome that way…” Prism gave them a weak thumbs up. “Go. Save the world, Sushi. Finish the adventure…”

With their goodbyes said, Summer led the way from the domed shelter they were under, walking out across the walkway that led to the huge arena ahead. Above it, a storm had begun to swirl, blocking out the sun’s rays and filling the sky with green lightning. Whatever Mhagmea was doing to the core, it was starting to show.

“Time to go…” Bushido stood beside Summer, secretly giving her hand a squeeze, away from Jojo’s eyes. “We can do this, Sushi. We will stop the Nugget People.”

“Yeah…” Summer agreed and the three of them broke into a run. “We will. I don’t know what we’ll do if we don’t.”

And there they were, heading towards the storm ahead. They had come far since the beginning of their journey, from Canterlot all the way to Berlin. Their adventure had been a heavy task, but now more than ever, they had to hold on to hope, because if they couldn’t stop Mhagmea, all life was going to end.
—-------JO-JO—------
Atop a throne of rock, Mhagmea crossed one leg over the other, then rested her chin on one hand, looking out at the huge arena before her. Eortsuh had specifically requested for this, knowing that Sushi and her gang would arrive to try and stop them.

Truthfully, she hadn’t expected them to stop Lowodda and she certainly hadn’t expected them to defeat Souyul, but as her eyes lingered on their approaching forms in the distance, she knew she had underestimated these children. That Dolfy had good reason to fear them.

“It seems that not all humans of this age are scared and worthless,” Mhagmea mused to herself. “Some of them are still good sport.”

“Then it would mean more to me when I quash the life from their bodies.” Eortsuh threw a shard of stone from one hand and got up from the steps leading up to the throne. “A legendary battle. One on even terms, unlike the humans who sealed us away.”

“Yes, my love. A battle should be enjoyed.” Mhagmea smiled and brushed his muscled arm with two fingers.

“Yes. I will be sure to give it my all. No holding back.” Eortsuh tilted his gaze and watched a hand as he balled it into a fist. Bangles around his wrist jingled as he moved, strings swaying from side to side as they led up to piercings along his arms. “A good death before their world’s end.”

“Before we remake everything anew.” Mhagmea continued stroking Eortsuh’s muscles. “Yes, Eortsuh. Then all will be well once again. Behold, humans! Foulest of all creatures! Your extinction comes!”


> Chapter 35: Eortsuh's Rage
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summer Shine hadn’t thought much of the length of the bridge across Berlin to the arena on the other end, but after six minutes of running, she realized exactly how far the other side was. At this point, they weren’t even halfway there yet.

“This is taking too much time!” Jojo placed his phone back in his pocket and stopped. “Tenacious D!”

He jumped and spun around in the air diagonally, one hand hooking on to Tenacious’ left horn as it appeared beneath him, using it to swing himself around and on its back. Bushido and Summer nodded and jumped on as well, with Bushido having to stand behind Summer and Jojo, doing his best to stay on.

“Did you manage to contact Sweetie?” Summer asked as Tenacious D sped down. They should’ve thought about this much sooner.

Cajole Joyride nodded, then gave her a smirk and a thumbs up. “Help’s on the way. Prism’s going to make it, Sushi. I know she will.”

“Maybe then you’ll tell her how you feel, huh?” Summer nudged him cheekily.

“Hey. You’re one to talk.”

Summer glanced at Bushido, then looked back embarrassedly. “Fair point. Hey, have you had any contact with Canterlot in the last few days?”

Jojo sighed and shook his head. “None. I don’t know what they’re up to. I know they’re alright, but I just wish they’d tell us what’s going on.”

“So true, Jojo. So true. I really hope everything’s good back home. With Dolfy defeated, I didn’t think our parents would still have to worry about Weather Alternate. I just hope we get to go home soon.”

“That’s if we have a home to get back to.” Bushido was the one to bring them back to reality. “That is why we cannot fail. These Nugget People are the pinnacle of evil in this world. Weather Alternate was just the breakfast for evil such as this. Therefore, they must be stopped. By my blade and my promise to my grandfather, we will destroy them and rid their evil from the world forever.”

“Well said, Bushido.” Jojo gave him a fist bump. “We’re not going to make the same mistake as our ancestors. If I’m turning them back to stone, I’m breaking them down to dust.”

“Agreed.” Summer gave him a pat. “We can’t have them ever surfacing again. Let’s get to work, boys.”

“Time Warp it is, then.” Jojo clicked his fingers.

Tenacious D bent low and in that instant, its speed increased, sending it speeding forward faster than Summer and Bushido could handle. They had to close their eyes as Jojo’s Stand cleared the distance of the bridge, slowing to a quick stop at the edge of the arena.

“We’re here. You can open your eyes now.” Jojo got off his Stand.

“A little warning next time?” Bushido hopped off, swaying a bit.

“Well, I got us there faster.” Jojo shrugged as Summer got off before Tenacious D dissipated. “What do you think this place is?”

Now that they were closer to the arena, they could see that it indeed was an arena, one for racing, to be precise. There were grooves dug into the rock leading around in a circle, creating what looked like three pathways. The third path was closest to the edge and it looked like one could fall right off the side if they weren’t careful.

There was a huge depression in the center, where what looked like a giant metal plate sat, at least twenty feet in diameter.

“What is that?” Bushido pointed to the other end of the arena, where a smaller platform stood, complete with steps leading up to a throne where two figures looked back at them, one of them seated comfortably on the throne as green lightning zapped down above them.

“Nugget People…” Jojo clenched both fists.

“Welcome, humans. We’ve been expecting you.” The male one stepped down and walked towards the arena. “I am Eortsuh, Carver of the Earth. And it is here that you will do battle with me, one that will shake the very bearings of this world and the next.”

Bushido drew his weapon and leveled it to Eortsuh’s neck. “You will pay for the evils you commit.”

“Evil?” Eortsuh lifted a hand and looked at it before sliding it over his short purple hair. “We were benevolent rulers. We helped elevate humanity from the other creatures of the planet, and we taught them agriculture, how to cure ailments, cooking, the power of Stands… Every advancement you humans have today is because of us!”

“Our ancestors must’ve known your true evil when they overthrew you. I know it.”

Eortsuh shook his head. “Foolish humans. You never know what you speak.”

“I know what I speak just fine. You’ve come back to our world long after it has forgotten you and you still think you can rule over it as you please.” Bushido placed his second hand on his sword’s grip. “This world is not yours. And everyone who lives on it deserves a chance to fight for it and their lives. To just take it all away by force is evil.”

“Then you will be the one to challenge me first?” The Nugget Person lifted a hand as fire danced between his fingertips.

“I will be the first and last. Your tyranny began today, and it will end today.” Bushido lifted his blade in a combat stance.

However, Eortsuh wagged a finger, then made a clicking sound in his mouth. “Not so fast. We won’t be battling in head on combat, no. I have something grander in mind. That is, if you are willing to accept this challenge.”

Bushido looked at his friends, then back at the Nugget Person. “I accept your challenge.”

“Good, I was hoping you would.” A smile spread across the Nugget Person’s face as he raised both arms skyward in a ‘V’ shape.

Around them, the rocky structure rumbled and shook before the entire ceiling folded back like some sort of origami, rolling over itself over and over before melting down into the arena’s earth. Instead of sunlight pouring in, the sky above was now overcast with dark clouds and more green lightning, and it was slowly spreading out from above Mhagmea’s throne.

In the center of the arena, where the metal plate sat, a giant flame suddenly burst to life, spiraling and rising higher and higher into the air, almost meeting the clouds. It cast shadows across the arena, with Eortsuh’s stretching all the way to Summer and the group, making him look more menacing than ever.

“I have a bad feeling about this,” Summer said.

“You have read about the gladiators of old, have you not?” Eortsuh walked towards the three tracks that ran around the arena. “Your Roman Empire had adopted a sport we Herrakries had created millenia before. Rage, come forth!”

Eortsuh lifted a hand up, then curled the other one beside his head as he spread his legs further apart. A spectral neighing echoed around them before a silvery stallion trotted along next to him, braying and stomping a hoof into the ground. Steam hissed from holes along its neck and side, then it lowered its head for its master to run a hand along its snout.

“Behold my Stand, Rage,” Eortsuh said. “Your challenge will be a race around the arena, where we will do combat. The first to fall forfeits his life.”

“Then you will need me as well.” Jojo stepped forward and flexed an arm, his muscles bulging. “Tenacious D will be your horse.”

Eortsuh seemed to grimace at this, but then he nodded and laughed. “Very well. I will permit this. It has been ages since I last rode against an opponent. Twice the humans, double the fall.”

Jojo shot out two fingers and put them against his forehead. “Your next words are going to be, ‘I’ve been looking forward to this’.”

“It is time to do battle!” Eortsuh jumped on top of his Stand and raised a fist.

“Dang it.” Jojo called out his Stand and climbed on top of its back. “I thought I could get a second one in a row.”

“The Carver of the Earth stands before you now!” Eortsuh’s Stand rose up on its hindlegs and let out a thunderous neigh. “It was I who laid the foundation for your early civilizations, it was I who modeled the countless temples that still stand to this day. All of our previous civilization you see is because of my power.”

Bushido hopped on Tenacious D and kept one hand on his blade. “And you will be here to witness it crumble before you as I end your evil forever.”

“You are obsessed with cleansing the world, are you not?” Eortsuh turned to face the start of the track. “Just like that Dolfy. But you aim to remove those who commit atrocity. A good task, but one you cannot hope to succeed in once I take your head.”

Summer gave them both a determined nod before stepping to the side where rows of bleachers had emerged from the earth. She looked past her friends to Mhagmea, still seated on her throne, with an amused smile forming across her face. She knew that battle would soon come and she would be glad to wipe the smile off her ancient face when the time came. But for now, it was all up to Jojo and Bushido.

Tenacious D lined up beside Eortsuh’s Rage, both Stands puffing out steam as three pillars of earth dropped from the sky at their side one by one. Jojo held on tightly to his Stand as Bushido hooked his feet into Tenacious D’s back. As the second pillar fell, he gazed a weary look over to Eortsuh, noticing how the Nugget Person carried himself with confidence. It was something all four of them shared, which was no surprise, seeing as they once ruled humanity. It would be that same confidence that would be their downfall, just like Lowodda and Souyul.

Sushi, I’m going to do this. And then I’ll come back to you.

As the third pillar smacked and crumbled against the ground, Rage and Tenacious D were off, with Rage getting a headstart, speeding around the track, kicking up dust in its thunderous wake. Eortsuh reached behind his back and removed a heavy club, swinging it in the air once before readying it beside his body.

Bushido kept a tighter grip on his sword as Tenacious D gained speed, closing the distance between them both again. Eortsuh’s Stand galloped like the wind, just keeping ahead of Tenacious D, even at full speed. Tenacious would be able to go faster if it used its Time Warp, but with the path curving around the bonfire, there was no way it could do it without risk of throwing them all off the side.

“You would be wise to not let my Stand gain speed,” Eortsuh said to them, his voice echoing behind his fleeting form. “It would be… bad for you.”

“Presumptuous of you to assume your Stand is faster than mine!” Jojo pointed a hand ahead, then pulled it back and clenched it into a fist. “Tenacious D, let’s go!”

Exhaust poured from Tenacious D’s throttle and it tried to catch up to Eortsuh and Rage, kicking rocks up as it traversed the arena’s track. Eortsuh saw them coming and swung his club backwards. Jojo ducked, but Bushido lifted his weapon and tilted its blade downwards, allowing the club to slide down its length before he swung his sword in the opposite direction, aiming straight for Eortsuh’s neck.

Instead, the Nugget Person ducked his head, followed by kicking out with Rage’s hindlegs, catching Tenacious D in the cheek. They spun off course, but Jojo, with his cheek bruised, still managed to keep them from falling to the ground, eventually maneuvering Tenacious back on track, chasing after Rage again.

“Any plans, Bushido?” he asked his companion, holding on tightly as his mind raced for ways to catch their opponent unaware.

“I can think of a few.” Bushido stepped higher on top of Tenacious D. “Just keep the race going. As long as we don’t fall, I will find a way to triumph over Eortsuh. Just keep us steady and secure.”

“Right. You got it. And when the time comes, I’ll be sure to lend a helping hand.” Jojo held up two fingers as energy zapped between them.

Tenacious D and Rage were now halfway across their first circuit of the arena. They kept on gaining speed, which kicked up a violent wind that seemed to stir the skies themselves. Summer watched as Rage went faster and faster until it was almost a blur on the arena ground.

“Is it even safe for them to go that fast?” Summer wondered. “If they can’t stop in time, they might go right off the edge. That would be bad for Jojo and Bushido, since the water below is now gone.”

Leaning out of the saddle, Eortsuh drove his hand into the ground, digging up a chunk of debris before throwing it like a baseball at Jojo and Bushido. Boney M imbued its power into Bushido’s blade and he swung it skillfully around them, slicing every chunk in two, sending them flying back to the ground on their left and right.

It was already getting harder to see with the dust swirling around them. Rage almost looked like it was starting to leave an afterimage, but Tenacious D kept after it, its wheels working in overtime as it sped on after the enemy Stand.

Bushido had Boney M throw its shield at them, but Eortsuh saw it coming and maneuvered Rage aside, dodging the shield as it bounced back to them.

“I am now traveling at thirty-four gersch an hour!” Eortsuh suddenly called back to them. “Your demise will soon come once I hit forty-two!”

“Gersch? What is that, Jojo?” Bushido didn’t like the sound of that.

“Uh…” Jojo snapped his fingers together. “Ancient measurement for their Nugget civilization, I believe. I think I saw that in the book, one gersch is about, uh… I don’t remember the math. But we can’t let him reach eighty-eight miles per hour.”

“Eighty-eight? Is that even possible?” Bushido held on tighter as Jojo sped his Stand up further.

“For kilometers, yes. A horse can run that fast. But Rage has proven to be above that. And so are we. I’ve still got one more trick up my sleeves!” Jojo’s eyes lit up with electricity, then he pressed both palms against his Stand’s back. “Hamon overdrive!”

Energy blasted down through his Stand and more steam hissed from its pipes and pistons as it drove faster still, fire now burning in trails behind its wheels.

Summer watched with bated breath as the fighters raced even faster, thundering past her in a torrent of wind which blew her hair around. She had to raise her arms to protect her eyes from the flying dust and debris. Mhagmea seemed completely at ease, lounging on her throne as she watched the race, but the sky above her continued to thunder and grow, expanding further across Germany as the Earth threatened to stop.

“So you too can travel fast.” Eortsuh had an impressed look on his face as Tenacious D pulled close to Rage. “But will you have what it takes to defeat me?”

He swung his club at them, only for Bushido to parry the strike before lashing out with a counterattack. Eortsuh continued his club’s swing and blocked Bushido’s katana from behind his back, then kicked up, sending his sword spinning in the air before it lodged into the earth behind their moving forms.

Eortsuh raised his club for an attack, but Boney M appeared from Bushido, raising its shield to block it before pushing the Nugget Person back, then delivered a bash to his head. They thought Eortsuh would fall from such a strike, but the Nugget Person stayed on his Stand, clinging on to its side as his forehead dripped golden blood, turning into gold nuggets along the way.

Instead of righting himself, Eortsuh circled around Rage’s underside, spinning around back on top from there. In that instant, he swung his club again, but Boney M was ready to block once more. However, instead of getting whacked in the face again, Eortsuh pulled on Rage and his Stand leapt into the air above Tenacious D, its legs kicking out as it soared. Boney M protected them from the brunt of it, but each kick was like a toll of a bell, resounding echoes through Bushido’s and Jojo’s ears, disorienting them enough as Rage landed on their left, its master igniting in flame as he tossed a fireball from his fingertips.

Jojo tried to pull back Tenacious D, but he could not get it to cover them in time and the fireball slammed into his left shoulder, searing his skin and his scarf as he cried out in pain. Bushido quickly gave him a pat down before ripping his scarf from his neck and tossing it aside.

“It is no use. It is too late for you now.” Eortsuh lifted his head high and laughed to the air. From his Stand’s belly, winding sounds could be heard, like that of a propeller plane ready to take off. “Rage has achieved forty-two gersch per hour. With that, its power is charged and you are about to witness the full strength of my Stand! Rage’s Hollow Gaze!”

Rage neighed, then thundered ever faster across the arena, creating more distance between itself and Tenacious D. It’s eyes began to glow yellow and with a burst of flame around its face, two yellow laser beams fired out into the air in front of it.

“You missed!” Jojo let out a whoop.

But Eortsuh wasn’t reacting the way they expected and that made Bushido all the more cautious. “No, he didn’t miss. Look out!”

The laser beams suddenly zig-zagged and came right back towards them, passing its master. Bushido called forth Boney M to block the attack again, but then it stopped before its shield before going around it, hitting Boney M in the shoulder.

The impact launched Bushido off Tenacious D, but Jojo reached out and grabbed his foot, using his hamon to reel him back in before he could crash against the ground.

“You have yet to hit the floor. But don’t you worry. You soon will.” Eortsuh’s eyes were flaming balls under the ever darkening sky. “As per our deal, should you fall to the ground, your life is forfeit!”

More lasers erupted from Rage’s eyes, spearing straight through the air before making a u-turn and coming right back for them. Boney M readied its shield again, but as the lasers moved around, Boney M yanked its shield in the same direction, but before it could do so again as the lasers move. Boney M was going to move its shield again when the lasers moved before it could even get into position. They zig-zagged in the air like someone was drawing them with a pen which was abruptly changing direction at a whim, moving even before it could react to its new position.

Bushido’s Stand was hit again, this time on its back. Bushido screwed his eyes shut as his back felt like it had just been splashed with lava.

“Rage’s Hollow Gaze can see through your future movements and move before you can even attempt to avoid it!” Eortsuh let out a warcry before raising a fist to the sky. Rage snorted out a cloud of steam before yet another two beams shot out from its eyes, heading right for Bushido. “You cannot hope to stop the might of the Herrakries!”

The man readied his Stand again, but he knew trying to block it again wasn’t going to do him much good. The lasers could move on their own and if he moved the shield, it would simply find a way around it.

“How are we supposed to beat this?” Jojo asked, his voice distorted by the rushing wind. By now, they were traveling way over eighty-eight miles per hour. “We’re just going to keep getting shot by those lasers at this rate!”

Summer watched anxiously as Rage fired off more and more of those tracking beams, each one of them striking her friends. She knew that Jojo and Bushido were tough, but so were the Nugget People. They couldn’t keep this up forever. Something would have to be done.

“Come on, you guys. You can beat Eortsuh’s Stand. You’ve just got to!”

The fate of the world depended on them now, and Bushido knew it more than ever. Should he let evil triumph here today, it would bring shame to his entire family name, but that was trivial now considering the end of the world was about to happen.

“There must be a way to beat Rage’s lasers…” Bushido mused, trying to think of a way to defeat it as another of its lasers seared across the top of his left hand, burning it to the bone. He cradled his arm, yelling in pain, but it was not over. Not yet. “Its lasers have the ability to turn through the air and even predict our movements in advance so that we cannot counter them.”

Suddenly he had a flash of inspiration. It was a mad strategy, but they simply had no other options.

“Rage’s laser beams can predict our next movements…” Bushido said to Jojo. “But what if we don’t know our next move? Then maybe we might have a shot!”

“What? But if the lasers are coming for us, we’ve got to try and avoid them somehow!” Jojo winced at the blackened skin on his arms. “What kind of plan is that?”

“Trust me!” Bushido ripped off some strips of cloth from his coat. “Here! Tie this over your eyes!”

“Are you mad?” Jojo accepted the scrap of cloth. “I might just run us off the cliff if I can’t see!”

“Here. Feel the rush of air.” Bushido stuck an arm out, brushing it against the dust storm their Stands were kicking up. “The storm is moving in a circle because of your Stands. Follow its path. Trace the current. You don’t have to see. Just keep Tenacious going. Leave the fight to me.”

“Well… I’ve got nothing else, so your plan tops anything I don’t have.” Jojo placed the cloth against his eyes and braced himself against Tenacious D’s back. “Whatever you’re planning, just do it fast!”

“I intend to.” Bushido nodded and tied another cloth around his eyes.

In that instant, everything went dark around him and he started tuning the unnecessary sounds one by one. Through the chaos around them, he found it, the thundering of metallic hooves against the rocky ground, the breath of steam from the nostrils of the enemy Stand. The crackling of fire from Eortsuh’s body. They were ahead of them at least by ten meters now and they were still pulling further ahead.

Then he heard the winding up of an engine. It was Rage, preparing another burst of lasers from its eyes. He didn’t know if his plan was going to work, but he was about to find out.

“Here goes nothing, Bushido!”

There was the telltale hum of a laser coming for them. Feeling the air around him, Jojo could somehow sense that the air was growing warm in one direction. That must be where the attack was coming from. But how to avoid it? He didn’t know what to do next.

But that was the key.

“Bushido!” Jojo shouted.

In reply, Bushido made Boney M slam its shield against the ground, launching them over the beams and further ahead on the track. The beams passed under them and hit the ground instead, unable to even turn to get them in the air.

Bushido could picture the shocked expression over Eortsuh’s face now as he had Boney M pull its shield back.

“We have one shot at this. Be ready!” Bushido warned and sent his Stand out ahead of them.

He knew they were coming up on the location of his sword. They’d run enough rounds around the arena to remember. It was going to be a close call, but he was sure he could succeed.

Boney M now floated in the air in front of them and as Tenacious D rammed full speed into its shield, it tilted it so that Jojo’s Stand would slide off its rounded edge before pushing out with all its might, sending Tenacious rocketing towards Rage like a missile.

“Bushido, what did you do!!!” Jojo’s voice trailed away as they flew right over Bushido’s weapon.

Reaching out, he grabbed it with one hand before Bushido returned to imbue the sword with Stand energy. Eortsuh hadn’t expected them to approach him so quickly, but already, Rage was firing off another set of lasers.

Bushido twisted his body as the lasers speared past, avoiding one while the other one went right through his foot. But this was his perfect chance. Moving so quickly, even Eortsuh could not get Rage out of the way in time and Bushido’s sword went right through Rage’s master, coming out the back as Bushido let go of his weapon.

Using the force of jamming his sword through Eortsuh, Jojo spun Tenacious D around their opponent before grabbing one of Rage’s legs.

Tenacious D’s wheels stopped in their tracks and Rage was thrown off its feet, sending its master sailing high above before bouncing against the rocky ground ahead, breaking Bushido’s sword in two as he eventually slid to a stop near the giant bonfire.

“We… we did it. We did it!” Jojo cheered as he watched the Nugget Person struggle to get up.

“Very… impressive.” Eortsuh spat blood out under his body. “Something I did not even see coming… To have beaten me, you really are… true heroes to the human race.”

“The fight is over. You have lost.” Bushido said as Tenacious D stopped in front of him, pounding its fists together. Jojo and Bushido hopped off its back. “By your rules, you have been defeated.”

“It… is true. As it has been said.” Eortsuh couldn’t get himself up and collapsed back down on golden nuggets that were forming around him. “My life is forfeit and my flame extinguished. Perhaps the human race does have a chance through the undoing of your world…”

“You have fought fairly, Eortsuh. It’s not the same we can say about Lowodda or Souyul, but though you have lost…” Jojo knelt down beside him. “You have done so honorably. And that will go with you wherever you find yourself next.”

“That is an act worth… remembering.” The Nugget Person closed his eyes. “My time is up. Do what must be done… And though you have beaten me, you may not find it as easy against my love. May you live or die honorably against Mhagmea…”

Jojo looked up to Bushido and as the japanese man picked up his broken sword, he gave him a nod before returning what was left of it to its sheath.

“Goodbye, Eortsuh. Rest assured, the Joyride family will remember you.” He put both hands together, forming a star between his fingers. “Hamon star zapper!”

Jojo breathed and his breath passed through his fingers and became a cloud of yellow energy, spreading across Eortsuh’s face, then down his body. The Nugget Person took one more breath before his entire body was encased in stone once more.

Summer ran to them and threw her arms around both of them, squeezing them tightly. “Jojo, Bushido, are you two alright?”

“Ow, ow, watch the arms!” Jojo grimaced and Summer let go. “We took a beating, but we did it.”

“Only one foe stands in our way now…” Bushido clutched at his burnt hand. “Eortsuh fought well and hard. I can only imagine how powerful Mhagmea will be.”

The three of them looked up the stairs to the sitting form of Mhagmea. She still had one hand on her cheek, keeping her head up, but she didn’t look to be in distress that they had just eliminated Eortsuh in front of her.

Already, the thunderclouds above them had spread way past Berlin and continued to spread further as the ground rumbled beneath them once more, harder than before, throwing all three of them to the ground.

Summer shut her eyes as she anticipated impact, but instead, it came slowly and she opened her eyes again to find smaller rocks floating around her.

“The gravity. It has changed,” Bushido said as he got up. “We don’t have much time left. The core will stop soon.”

“Then we’ll have to stop her. Now or never.” Summer narrowed her gaze at the lounging Nugget Person as Pegasus Forever appeared behind her, one fist to the air. “It’s time to finish this!”

Mhagmea grinned at her, intrigued. Then she got off her throne and spread her arms wide. “Come, Sushi! Come and try to save this pitiful world of yours! And face the full might of the Herrakries!”

Just then there was the sound of trumpets and everyone turned, facing the bridge they had come from, their eyes growing wide. This wasn’t something any of them had been expecting.


> Chapter 36: De Futura a la Earth
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summer Shine couldn’t believe it even after seeing it with her very eyes. Even now, after looking at them for twenty seconds.

Standing on the bridge before the arena was Dolfy Horner, leader of Weather Alternate, or at least what was left of it.

And that’s right. Standing.

Dolfy was standing there, somehow, smug as ever with his hands on his hips. More of his Weather Alternate lackeys stood behind him, pointing their rifles ahead, while behind him, two helicopters circled around in the air, whipping their hair and clothes around as two giant cannons were rolled along behind the rest of the group.

“Behold, Nugget People! The might of pureblooded humans!” Dolfy cackled away as he curled his fingers together. “Weather Alternate has arrived to end your brief return!”

“Oh. It is you again. Dolfy.” Mhagmea descended the steps very slowly. “You have come to witness the end of your kind.”

Dolfy blinked for a second. “Nein, nein. I said I have come to end your brief return!”

“You think you can stand up to the might of the ruler of the Herrakries? Witness the might of Helloween!” Mhagmea bent her knees low, then placed one hand on the ground while her other arm curled around her head. “The world will begin anew. You will not stop this.”

Her Stand came into view above her, stretching its oversized arms to the sky. It’s jack-o-lantern-like face sneered back at them before the ground around the arena started to come alive. Summer grabbed ahold of both her friends as rocks began tearing out of the ground they stood on. Dolfy and his men rushed forward as the bridge they stood on began to wobble and fall apart. One of his soldiers wasn’t so lucky and plunged off the side as the ground beneath his feet vanished.

“The Stand, it controls the very earth we stand upon!” Dolfy cried out in horror as another of his soldiers got thrown off the side by a floating boulder. Then he spotted Summer and her friends and ran over. “Sushi, it is time! I have acquired everything possible to defeat the most powerful of enemies!”

Summer looked at the two cannons behind him and then furled a brow. “You do realize she has a Stand, right? What do you hope to do with those?”

“Ah, she might have a Stand, but we can still kill Nugget People with our advanced weaponry!” Dolfy raised a hand up and grinned madly. “With pure German technology, I’ve even recreated the limbs that I’ve lost.” He gave his legs a thump. They sounded metallic. “Titanium with diamond reinforcement. They’re unbreakable!”

“She will not go down easy,” Jojo joined in, dusting his sleeveless jacket. “Unbreakable diamonds, cannons or not. Mhagmea’s Helloween seems to be able to control the very ground we walk on. That must be why it can affect the earth’s core. Everything, including the core, is part of the earth. With power like this, she can easily see the new age she is about to bring.”

“Well, how do we stop something that can stop the core, then?” One of Dolfy’s men stuck a hand out.

“With our cannons, dummkopf!” Dolfy gave him a thwack on the head. “We didn’t bring them for nothing. Ready the cannons!”

“You cannot stop the inevitable!” Mhagmea floated up on a rock platform as her Stand raised more spires around them, breaking them off into sharp spikes, turning them all towards Summer, her friends and Dolfy’s group. “The end comes for you all now.”

As the spikes rocketed towards them, Summer conjured up Pegasus Forever, who stopped two projectiles in the air, converting their energy into potential energy. Dolfy took out a bunch with Dragonforce’s ethereal hands, while Jojo got down beside Bushido as Boney M slammed its shield into the ground, protecting them from the barrage.

Dolfy’s men began opening fire, but Helloween brought up a barrier of debris around Mhagmea, absorbing their bullets.

“The cannons! Ready the cannons!” Dolfy had his Stand continue to smash rocks from the sky as he looked back at his men.

A handful of them stopped firing at Mhagmea and scrambled back to the massive guns to operate them. Each one was boxy in nature, clad in white and grey plates over a large rectangular barrel. With a push of some buttons, the plates opened up, revealing a long barrel with vents on either side and some pipes that pointed behind it. Each cannon was also outfitted on top of treads that were able to wheel their massive bulk around.

“Fire! Fire them now!” Dolfy flung his arms around.

“Mein meister, we cannot!” one of them replied. “The kinetic cannons take time to charge. They will not be ready to fire for another ten minutes!”

“Why didn’t you charge them before bringing them here?!” Dolfy ranted. “What kind of soldiers are you? You suck! Did you really think that the enemy would give us time to ready our weapons for ten minutes?! Get out of my office!”

“Mein meister, we’re not in your office!”

“Then why don’t you do your job and FIRE THE CANNONS?!” Spit flew from Dolfy’s mouth as he shouted and raved.

Summer watched him stomp his foot repeatedly on the ground, then turned her attention back to her friends. “We can’t rely on Dolfy’s weapons. We’ve got to take the fight to Mhagmea before it’s too late. Bushido, can you get us close?”

“Boney M will protect us till we’re there.” He gave her a smile as his Stand posed beside him, putting one arm behind its back.

“Dolfy, you better get those cannons up and ready, just in case.” Jojo interrupted the Weather Alternate leader’s ranting. “If we don’t make it, the world ends and you’ll never get your stupid bloodline going.”

“Ja, I… I don’t know what I’ve been trying to accomplish. You children are more capable than I.” Dolfy adjusted his hair. “If I were as determined and brave as you, perhaps I would already have had my world of purebloods. Trust our German engineering! These cannons will succeed! Sushi, Jojo, uh, Japanese man, go finish your adventure!”

“Right.” Bushido rolled his eyes. “Let’s take the fight to her.”

Jojo summoned forth Tenacious D. “My Stand will make getting there faster. Tenacious D is speedy enough to dodge any flying rocks!”

“And Boney M will add to the defense.” Bushido and his Stand got on top of Jojo’s. “Sushi, we leave the rest to you.”

“Got it,” Summer nodded, climbing onto Tenacious D’s body. “Let’s do this.”

“Once and for all.” Jojo smirked and gave his Stand a pat.

With its tyres grinding against the rock, Tenacious D was off, speeding through the arena towards the stairway leading to Mhagmea. More rocks and debris crashed down around them, but true to Jojo’s claim, Tenacious D was agile and quick enough to dodge most of the big chunks, leaving Boney M to deflect the smaller, faster pieces away from them.

The ground under them began to dislodge, floating up into the air as Mhagmea got higher and higher from them. Tenacious D had to begin using its arms, pushing itself up from platform to platform, using its powerful arms to launch itself and its passengers through the Nugget Person’s rock field.

Helloween spun in the air, then tilted its head down as a giant boulder soared out from behind it, hurtling towards them. Summer called out Pegasus Forever, who smashed right through it with a powerful punch forward.

“Neigh!” it yelled as it did so.

Summer then had her Stand absorb the kinetic energy from the flying boulder and used it to push Tenacious D higher. Mhagmea might think she was the queen of the skies, but Summer and her friends were bent on dethroning her.

As they soared higher, Helloween broke apart more rocks, shooting them forward like hail, forcing Boney M to lift its shield to defend them. But after lowering its shield, Mhagmea and Helloween were no longer in front of them, much to their surprise.

“Where did she go?” Jojo swung his head left and right.

All of a sudden, the ground under them melted and folded, sucking in Tenacious’ wheels, causing it to stop abruptly, throwing Jojo, Summer and Bushido off its back as they scrambled for anything to keep them from falling all the way down into the ruined city.

“Bushido, the shield!” Summer called out as she summoned her Stand.

Bushido seemed to understand and got Boney M to place its shield under them. Pegasus Forever punched away at the shield, building up its energy before delivering one more solid punch to swap its energy back to kinetic. The blast sent the shield spinning away and Summer and her friends shooting up into the air, where they managed to grab on to different rock platforms, climbing on top of them to safety.

"Phew," Jojo gasped once he was no longer in danger of plummeting to his death. "They sure don't make it easy out here."

"No, they do not," Summer agreed. "Still, you and Bushido did good. But we're not out of the woods yet."

The sky grew ever more violent, with green bolts and forks of lightning coming down almost continuously now. Higher now, the lightning was uncomfortably close and some bolts crashed down against other floating rocks, shattering them into a million pieces.

From above them in the clouds, Helloween suddenly lunged out, its claws digging into Boney M’s back as it knocked Bushido’s Stand to the ground. Boney M raised its shield and spun it back, trying to hit the enemy Stand, but Helloween blocked it with one set of claws before rocks formed around it, making it look like a big punching glove. It smashed it down against Boney M’s head, shattering the rock gauntlet, but also knocking Bushido out as he collapsed on the ground.

“Oh no you don’t!” Jojo had Tenacious D ram against Helloween’s back, spinning its wheels to tear into its back.

Pegasus Forever joined in, raising a fist high as it took one leap forward. Helloween twisted its head back, letting out an echo of a growl before bending low and kicking back with one foot, knocking Tenacious off its back. It grabbed it in midair, before swinging it against Pegasus Forever, hitting it in the face with one of its wheels before slamming Tenacious back on the ground.

Both Summer and Jojo were knocked to their bellies, but Helloween wasn’t through with Tenacious D just yet. Warping and heating the ground under them, Helloween turned their platform into seething magma. While Tenacious D was resistant to fire, being under its surface was a different story.

Helloween repeatedly began shoving Tenacious D’s head under the magma and Jojo found himself unable to breathe. Summer took it upon herself to free him, sending Pegasus Forever over as it aimed a punch for Helloween’s head. Mhagmea angled its head down, then tilted it back up as a pillar of rock erupted from under Pegasus, launching it up into the air as a green thunderbolt struck it in the back.

Summer twitched on the ground and screamed as lightning coursed through her body as her Stand landed back on the platform beside her.

“It is no use. You have put up a good fight. You all have…” Mhagmea emerged from a cluster of rocks and stepped onto a platform beside her Stand. “While you have fought valiantly, your time is now up. I have played around long enough. The end comes.”

She stretched her arms to her sides and closed her eyes. Helloween let go of Tenacious as the magma re-hardened back to rock, trapping it in the earth as it copied its master’s movements.

Summer leaned her head off the side of her platform as the sound of rumbling came again. The ruins of Berlin below quaked and some began to fall over as the ground under them began to break apart and ascend.

“By now, with the core’s slowing, the world’s gravity would have changed,” Mhagmea said through closed eyes. “Once I halt the core entirely, the world would be entirely cleansed as everything floats away into the great beyond. In another five minutes, you will all cease to be!”

“N-No, you can’t do this…!” Summer crawled forward and reached an arm out to the Nugget Person. “You were sealed away long ago. The humans then were wrong to do so. They were greedy, they wanted the power you gave them, and to rule in your place. But those alive now have nothing to do with that! They don’t deserve to die!”

“You are born from their mistakes. I have seen the chaos your kind created over the years of our imprisonment.” Mhagmea pointed a crooked finger at Summer. “In our time, humankind was united under our one rule. Look at what has happened since then.”

“Humans still deserve the chance to prove themselves. There are bad people, but there’s also plenty of good people. People who want to make the world better!”

“But the world will be better.” Mhagmea rose higher in the air as her group of rocks floated up. “It will all be better. It will be beautiful.”

Summer strained with all her might to get to her feet. However, no matter how hard she tried, she just could not find the  strength. It was like her limbs had turned into jelly.

Is this it? Is this the end? Have we… failed?

Summer squeezed her eyes shut with the effort of trying to rise. All she could hear was the sound of thunder and rocks cracking against each other. But then came a new sound. It sounded like someone banging two frying pans together.

“Hiii-yaa!” Dolfy shouted as he leapt up onto the platform. The sides of his metal legs had opened up to reveal small rocket boosters in them, which he used to propel himself upwards. “Dragonforce!”

Dragonforce’s huge arms swooped out and grabbed Mhagmea’s own arms, pinning her in place. Dolfy wasted no time in leaping forward and nailing the Nugget Person in the face with a spectacular flying kick. He then kicked off Mhagmea’s front side and landed with a backflip next to Summer.

“Did you forget about me?” Dolfy sneered at Mhagmea, reaching down and pulling Summer to her feet. She leaned against Dolfy for a few seconds while she recovered her balance. “Weather Alternate will not lose to the likes of the Nugget People, or anyone else!” Then to Summer, he slapped her on the back and said, “Come on, get up, fraulein Sushi. Did you kill all of my Stand users just to give up and die here?”

That brought Summer back to reality. The journey here had been difficult, filled with Stand users trying to kill her. She hadn’t fought all this way just to watch the world end. No, she was going to fight. To the very last breath.

“That’s right. It’s not over.” She put her strength back on both her feet and staggered forward. “Mhagmea, I’m going to fight for the better of all humanity.”

Just then, Tenacious D burst out of the rock and pumped both its arms to the sky.

“So will I!” Jojo pointed a thumb at himself as he joined Summer and Dolfy. “The Joyride bloodline has fought countless threats. You’re just another one of them. You’re going to meet your maker, Mhagmea!”

Mhagmea pulled her arms out of Dragonforce’s grasp and wiped a small trail of golden blood off her chin. She looked annoyed at Dolfy’s arrival, glaring at the leader of Weather Alternate with narrowed eyes.

“My rule will not be interfered with again.” She shot an arm out and Helloween jumped past her, claws bared.

Dragonforce punched out with both arms, sending ethereal copies ahead, but Helloween tucked and rolled, forming a ball of rock around itself as it barreled into Dolfy’s Stand. Pegasus Forever stopped it from rolling over him, punching its surface and converting its energy to potential before wailing on it with repeated punches.

“Neigh, neigh, neigh!” With one more punch, it shattered the rocky barrier and sent it flying in pieces ahead as Helloween leapt out of it.

Some of the shards pierced its skin and drew golden blood from its master, but it grabbed Pegasus Forever around the snout before delivering an uppercut to its jaw. Pegasus didn’t go down and instead, brought its head back in for a headbutt, only for Helloween to tilt its head low so its horns took the brunt of the blow. It formed rocks around both fists before releasing a flurry of punches to Pegasus’ midsection.

Pegasus Forever’s armor helped against the majority of the blows, but Helloween was much stronger and eventually thrust a punch in that made it double over, causing Summer to spit out blood from her mouth.

Dragonforce pried Helloween away from Pegasus, but pressing one leg down, the ground under it sank and Dragonforce was swallowed up, leaving only its arms. Lifting a hand, Mhagmea’s Stand encased Dolfy in a rocky prison. Jojo got on top of Tenacious D as it charged at Helloween, pressing both hands on his Stand’s back as he charged his hamon through it. Energy laced around Tenacious D’s horns as it pierced Helloween’s left arm when it raised it to push the Stand away. Hamon passed from Jojo’s Stand into Helloween’s arm, turning Mhagmea’s own arm into stone almost immediately.

She hissed at them, then called back her Stand as Dolfy and Dragonforce broke out of their rocky prison, complete with an enormous breath of fire. Mhagmea had Helloween bring up wave after wave of earth, putting it between her and the blast of flame as she stepped back on rising platforms, escaping closer towards the dark clouds.

From behind, Boney M’s shield spun in an arc, breaking through one of the platforms just as she was about to step on it. Mhagmea fell through her own earth, before Helloween created another mound just under her, which swallowed her whole. Layer by layer, it built itself up, like a snowball rolling down a hill. Dragonforce’s fire blazed against it, but this time, it didn’t melt through.

“This is no longer just rock. It’s the earth itself!” The man raised his hands and flinched.

Bushido and Jojo ran over to join Summer on her platform as the earth mold began to grow and take shape. 

“This has gone on long enough!” Mhagmea’s voice echoed around them. “Let me show you the true power of the earth!”

“What is she doing?” Bushido’s face had blood running down its left side from the blow he received earlier.

“I don’t know, but we’re running out of time. We should squash her now while we have the chance!” Jojo sent Tenacious D to the growing mound.

It smashed its fists repeatedly against the surface, but even as it began to crack and give way, more earth formed around it and with the risk of being absorbed into the fold, Jojo had his Stand back away.

Dolfy made a snap decision and bent down onto one knee, his other leg popping open to uncover a rocket launcher inside. He fired it at the growing mound of earth, but even the blast of the missile didn’t leave a lasting dent in Mhagmea’s construct.

“Well, I’m out. Any ideas?” Dolfy asked, snapping his leg closed again.

Before anyone could suggest anything, the mound began to move and it was then that Summer realized that it was now an arm. Fingers closed around the platforms they were all standing on and they had to jump off, heading back down as more earth was added to it. A head appeared over a thick stump, and the giant colossus opened its mouth in a booming roar.

“It’s a giant golem!” Dolfy exclaimed. “She’s constructed a plating of earth around herself that can do her bidding, all thanks to her Stand!”

Jojo took a closer look at the earthen giant. “Aim for the joints!” he shouted. “We need to bring it down!”

Pegasus Forever and Boney M whisked down to a forming leg as it joined with the body, bashing away with fists and shield. Dirt and debris was blasted up into the air with every impact, but then the colossus swept a hand down, knocking both Stands away as Summer and Jojo fell on their backs. Summer felt as though every bone in her body had just been cracked in half. Summer lay there, stunned and unable to do anything except watch the Mhagmea golem grow in size as it absorbed more earth.

Dolfy hit the golem with a torrent of superheated flames from Dragonforce. However, it just made a hard layer of solid clay on the golem’s body which cracked and was re-absorbed by the monstrosity.

“Verdammt!” Dolfy shouted. “Can nothing stop this thing?”

“The end of your world is inevitable!” Mhagmea bellowed through her creation as it took a step forward.

As the last pieces of earth formed around it, what stood before them was now humanoid in shape, vaguely resembling Mhagmea, but instead of a singular red horn, it had the twin curled horns of Helloween, along with its oversized arms. Stepping forward, the colossus’ knee crashed into the rows of platforms, forcing Summer and the others further back towards the start of the arena.

Summer and her friends were slowly running out of walking room and none of them could fly. They had to think of something before that happened.

“How are we supposed to deal with this?” Jojo shouted as the huge stone beast made a grab for him that he was barely able to dodge. “Oi Dolfy! Got any more tricks up your legs?”

“We just need two more minutes!” Dolfy looked back at his giant cannons. “When they’re fully charged, these Nugget People are gonna wish they were never awakened!”

“The core’s going to stop in another four minutes. That leaves us with two to stop Mhagmea!” Summer pointed at the side of her head. “That leaves us with little room to stop her if those cannons fail!”

“The projectiles are fired by the buildup of kinetic energy!” Dolfy moved one hand through the air before going past his other arm. “It’s strong enough to punch through the strongest battleship!”

Mhagmea’s colossus roared and rained down shards of rock around them, cutting through their clothes and skin before Boney M brought up its shield to protect them.

As metallic thumps echoed through her ears, Summer was about to pin all her hopes on Dolfy’s cannons, when something else crossed her mind. Perhaps there was a way to make sure his plan worked. But she would need time, and that wasn’t something they had the luxury of having right now.


> Chapter 37: Surpass Space and Time, Pegasus
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Boney M held firmly to its shield as the earth colossus smashed a fist down against it, cracking the platform they were standing on.

“It won’t… hold!” Bushido struggled as he and his Stand gave it their all. Blood ran down his mouth and his eyes as he grabbed one shoulder with a hand. “We need to move. Now!”

Jojo called Tenacious D back up and motioned for everyone to get on it. Once it was set, Tenacious used Time Warp and sped away from their platform in a blink of an eye, sailing back down to the arena which was still mostly in one piece. The impact jarred all of them and threw them in different directions, with Summer sliding dangerously close to the edge. She spun herself around and had Pegasus dig a hand into the ground to keep them from going off the side.

Her whole body ached and every movement caused stars to dance around her eyes, but she could not give up, not when they had a plan to follow through with.

“One minute to go!” Dolfy pointed at his cannons as the jets on his legs activated and got him off the ground. “You have to make sure their charge isn’t interrupted, or we’re all doomed!”

With gravity getting more distorted by the second, Dolfy’s men had to grab the sides of the cannons to make sure they wouldn’t float up into the air. The two Weather Alternate helicopters were struggling to maintain control as rocks pelted against them from above and below.

The earth colossus continued to stalk forward, sticking a hand out as sand began to flow from its fingertips, whipping around Summer and her friends as it got harder and harder to see.

“Augh, sand!” Jojo removed his scarf and tied it around his head. “It’s getting everywhere!”

There was the sound of something powering down and sputtering. Summer’s fears came true as she turned her attention to the Weather Alternate cannons. Blinking lights along its vents were reducing, retreating back to the base of the barrel as sand blew into the weapons.

“The sand, mein meister! It’s damaging the cannons!” One of Dolfy’s men rapidly began tapping away at a console. “Their charge is reversing!”

Dolfy swore in German. “Well, don’t just stand there like a useless fisch! Get the helicopters to fly close and blow the sand away! Do it now!”

Via radio, his men attempted to get the helicopters to do so, but with the raging sandstorm, their rotors began to lose wind and they began to spin out of control. One disappeared from sight below, while the other one crashed along the bridge, still in one piece, but it wouldn’t get back up into the air.

“Nein, nein, nein!” Dolfy shook both fists in front of himself. “Our plan cannot fail! It cannot! Fix this problem now!”

Summer looked around through squinted eyes, trying to assess the situation and find something that could work. Bushido and Jojo were already down on their knees, likely exhausted from the ordeal. They didn’t get a break from the fight with Eortsuh, and Mhagmea had really done a number on them. Summer knew she wasn’t faring any better, and she was already pushing her body way beyond her limit to fight. Her plan hinged on the cannons firing, but with their charge being held back, she knew they would have even less time to make it work now.

If only we had more time… Summer thought desperately.

The last word repeated inside her head, echoing like water rippling on a pond.

Time…

Time.

Time.

All of a sudden, Summer’s mind was brought back to that science class in high school. Specifically, to a class about physics.

“Time is relative to motion,” their teacher had been telling them. “It’s part of the theory of relativity that the more kinetic motion and movement that an object has, the less affected it is by time. To put it simply, the faster you move, the slower time is perceived.”

“Motion…” Summer mumbled. “Motion is kinetic energy. Kinetic… potential… Pegasus Forever…” 

A new plan began to form in her head. It was a crazy plan that might well backfire on her, but there was no time to think of something more sensible. Perhaps this was something she could’ve done all along, but there was really no way of knowing it would work.

“I just have to try…” Summer closed her eyes.

She could hear the sand whipping around them, the wind whistling in her ears, the growls of Mhagmea’s earth colossus as it got closer and closer, the barking of Dolfy Horner as he tried to get his men to get the cannons to work. But Summer ignored all of that. Instead, she looked deep within herself, to the source of the fighting spirit welling up inside.

Pegasus Forever spread its legs out behind her, then put both palms close together, almost touching. Everything around Summer went silent and in her mind, it was as though she was standing in a dark void, with nothing but her Stand with her. A gust of wind flowed in and began collecting between Pegasus Forever’s palms, glowing yellow as it began to accumulate.

“There! I can do it! I can siphon kinetic energy from around Pegasus Forever!” Summer opened her eyes as she exclaimed.

Putting it to use, she moved her Stand towards the two cannons, and everything around her seemed to slow down. Dolfy’s mouth opened extremely slowly as he pointed an accusing finger at one of his soldiers. Boney M was in the process of putting its shield down to protect its master from the sandstorm and Jojo panted where he was, his chest heaving up in slow motion. Even the sand flying around them had slowed enough for Summer to see each individual particle wisping by.

“Because Pegasus Forever absorbed the kinetic energy around it, everyone’s slowed down, but we’ve also been sped up,” Summer continued. “I’m moving at a sufficient speed that time isn’t affecting me as much.”

As Pegasus Forever stood between the two cannons, it pressed both hands against each one, transferring some of its kinetic energy into them, bringing them into real time before Summer’s eyes. With the sand now slowly affecting them, the charge for both cannons began to speed up and she could see their green lights building up once again.

She turned her eyes to the colossus and even in slow motion, she could tell that the Nugget Person was trying to process just what was going on; she was likely seeing something unbelievable before her eyes right now, as was Summer.

The girl had started counting and with the energy transmitting into them, the kinetic cannons charged in only twenty seconds, with all the lights on the barrel switching from green to blue.

This is it. This is how we win!

Summer took a breath and had Pegasus drop its kinetic pulse, returning everything around her to its normal speed.

“Do it, fire it now!” she yelled through the raging sandstorm.

“Was?” Dolfy turned to her. Then he looked at the cannons and flailed his arms around wildly. “You fools! The cannons are charged! Fire them. Fire them now!”

“Yes sir, mein meis-”

“Don’t waste time saying anything!” Dolfy ranted. “Fire! Do it!”

Two men rushed to the controls and pointed the barrels at the colossus’ chest, where Mhagmea had been absorbed into. With a push of a button, the barrels of both cannons pulsed white before the air around them shifted and rippled as they released shots so fast that no one could see them. Except for Summer as Pegasus Forever reengaged its kinetic pulse.

The two projectiles looked like clusters of bullets put together and they were now zipping on towards Mhagmea. Summer didn’t know if they could penetrate her shell, even with such speed, but she knew of one way to make it certain.

With a roar, Pegasus Forever dove at the projectiles, getting up close behind them as they moved through the air slowly. With all its might, it began pounding against the back of the projectiles, turning them into potential energy as it smashed away, its arms moving so fast that it looked like it could set the place ablaze.

“Neigh, neigh, neigh, neigh, neigh, neigh, neigh, neigh, neigh, neigh, neigh, neigh, neigh, neigh, neigh, neigh, neigh, neigh!” It yelled with each punch.

A red glow began to build around the kinetic projectiles and as it grew more intense, and when Pegasus brought their states back to kinetic energy, they shot forward like a gigantic laser beam, so fast that even in her enhanced state, Summer could not see them.

The beam pierced right through the earth colossus, hardening the earth with its intense heat before shattering it from the center of its chest to the rest of its body. The force of the beam crashed against Helloween, but because it was not a Stand, it could not harm it. Instead, it brought up waves of earth to try and stop it, but the beam broke through every single one before pushing it and Mhagmea right out the back of her creation and high into the sky, her screams trailing behind her as she faded from sight.

As the colossus crumbled, Summer deactivated Pegasus Forever’s kinetic pulse, returning everything to normal around her as the sandstorm faded, dropping out of view of the arena.

Dolfy clapped his hands together over his head, then dropped to one knee and clenched his fists as he let out a deafening scream. “WE DID IT! Those cannons made quick work of her! I told you! I told you humans were superior!”

“Su-Sushi. It’s… over?” Jojo limped over to Summer as rocks began to float back down and the skies began to clear. With Mhagmea gone, the core had likely started speeding back up to normal and the world was finally returning to the way it once was before Mhagmea's interference. “I don’t know what happened. One moment you were here, then you were at the cannons, then Pegasus Forever was punching so fast.”

“I’ll explain it. Eventually.” Summer placed a hand on his shoulder. “Right now, all I want to do is sit down and have a cold drink.”

“I can get you one of those,” Dolfy said, coming over and taking a flask out from his jacket. He handed it to Summer. “The finest German brew.”

Summer took one look at the saliva-stained rim and winced. “You know what, maybe I don’t need a drink after all.”

Dolfy shrugged and took back the flask, drinking deeply from it. “Ahh. Nothing like a post-victory drink. You did well, children,” he said, screwing the cap back on the flask and putting it away. “We may have started as enemies, but maybe we don’t have to end as such. What do you say, want to join Weather Alternate?”

Summer and Jojo looked apprehensively at each other.

“Nein, nein!” Dolfy waved his hands around. “Weather Alternate will not be what it once was. I see now that banded together, humanity can accomplish anything, even defeating our old gods. Nein, perhaps the world does not need to be divided by bloodline. Pureblood or muddied, we are all one and the same race. No race wars will ever change that.”

“It’s a generous offer, Dolfy Horner,” Jojo said at last. “But I think I’ve had enough excitement for a lifetime. I’m ready to go back to my old, boring life. I’m not even done with high school yet.”

Dolfy didn’t seem too disappointed. He shrugged and turned back to his remaining troops. “Ah well. If that is your wish, I will honor it,” He looked back over his shoulder. “But as a token of my respect, I swear I will name my firstborn son after you two! Male or female, they will be the greatest defender humanity will ever have to offer! Auf wiedersehen!”

“No, hey, you don’t have to.” Jojo gave Summer a weirded out look.

“It has already been decided. Till we meet again, mein kinder.”

As Dolfy walked away from them, Summer spotted Bushido getting up, giving her a warm smile from where he was. “Whatever, let him do what he wants. And hey Jojo, give me a sec. I’ll be right back.”

Summer jogged over to Bushido and before he could do anything, she threw her arms around him and hugged him tight. “We did it! The fight’s over.”

“O-Ow, bones…” Bushido winced. “But yes, evil has been vanquished this day. At last, our journey here is over. If my grandfather could see me standing here today, I’m sure he would be proud beyond belief.”

“What will you do now?” Summer asked as she released her grip on him. “Will you go back to Japan?”

Bushido sighed, wincing as he did so. “I need to take my family sword back home to be repaired. After that, who knows? Maybe I will continue to wander the world and strike down evil with my skills. Why, did you have something in mind?”

“Oh, I don’t know… Maybe…” Summer shuffled a foot. “Maybe you could come to Canterlot? For a while?”

Bushido smiled and hummed. “Maybe I will take you up on your offer.”

They shared a smile before the ground under their feet started rumbling. The edge of the arena began crumbling towards them, falling away to the city below.

“Helloween’s power of the earth is gone, and it’s no longer staying up,” Jojo said and ushered his friends away from the arena. “We’ve got to get out!”

“To the helicopter!” Dolfy yelled and waved to them as his men rushed for the downed vehicle.

Summer helped Bushido along as they raced to outrun the crumbling floor. The helicopter pilot had already started up the engines again, and without the sandstorm interfering with the rotors, it got to work almost immediately.

Everyone piled into the vehicle as the ground beneath them fell away, with the helicopter remaining in the air. The cannons, unfortunately, could not be saved in time and they plunged down to the ruins below as the pilot took them away, flying out as the mountain range around Berlin began to sink back down.

“At least I finally found Berlin.” Dolfy looked down at the ruins.

“It will take a long time to rebuild it,” Jojo remarked.

Dolfy shrugged. “Ach. With all the money that we made mining up the gold nuggets, I do not think that prospect is as bad as you think. Besides, I have a few ideas on how to make Berlin better and more recognizable than ever before.”

“Right...”

As the helicopter soared into the distance, Summer looked on at the crumbling base of the Nugget People’s fortress. At last, their adventure had finally come to an end. It was over.
–—--JO-JO—---
In the quietness of space, there were a few things orbiting the planet of Earth. There were space stations, satellites, and even chunks of debris from parts broken off from them or probes ages gone. 

Among these was a new object. Mhagmea now glided along in space, her legs curled up to her chest and her expression stoic, forever frozen in stone as she made her eternal rounds around the planet she had wished to renew.

Once she had passed the atmosphere, there was nothing to protect her from the rays of the sun and she was instantly turned to stone. Now forever trapped in the endless void of space, there was nothing more for her. No one would ever find her and release her again.

All Mhagmea had ever wanted was to rule over the world, to help her people prosper, to realize the best of themselves through the power of Stands. Instead, they were betrayed and sealed away. After that, it was a matter of cleansing the filth humanity had accumulated over the years of their imprisonment. There had been wars, famine, destruction aplenty. Restarting the world was the most plausible of solutions, but instead, humanity would rather live in the mess they had created and banish their rulers once again.

But it was too late now. She was nothing more than a block of stone floating through space to maybe one day disintegrate into nothing as she collided with debris. The threat of the Nugget People was gone. But she knew it to be true. The humans would be their own undoing and all they were doing now was prolonging the inevitable. Their extinction will come, be it this generation or the next, and it will be by their own hand.


> Chapter 38: The Family Reunion
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summer Shine opened her eyes as she heard the rotors grow slower. The air felt cold against her skin once more and as she breathed, a puff of frost exited her mouth, dissipating into the air outside. She blinked a few times to rid the soreness from her eyes, then leaned up as the helicopter doors were opened. Her whole body still felt as though a road roller had run over her after she had run a full marathon and it took her some time to get out of the vehicle now that her adrenaline had worn off.

Once outside, she found that the sky had already turned dark and they were back in Leipzig, the closest town to Mount Fegel. Looking at the mountain now, everything looked so still and calm, as though nothing had happened since their journey to the mountain.

According to one of Dolfy’s men, all the hospitals around Berlin had been activated to rescue and care for those who had been displaced from the Nugget People attack. Already, rescue teams had been dispatched to the city’s ruins to search for survivors. Summer didn’t know how many people could survive in a mostly submerged city that had been shaken by the Nugget fortress coming out of the ground, but the picture of people flying in there to help other people they didn’t know gave her confidence in the human race. Not all of them were as bad as Mhagmea had said and there was still hope that they could all become better than they were before. Even word had gotten around that the various prospectors that had come all this way for the Nugget Run had mobilized to help those in need, giving up some of the gold they had found to fund rescue operations.

“Sushi? Sushi!”

Summer recognized that voice very clearly and turned around as her mother barreled into her, grabbing her around the shoulders as she pressed her face against hers.

“M-Mom?! How… You’re here?” Summer asked, bewildered. She was safe. She wasn’t in danger as her dreams had shown her. It was just her mind being paranoid.

“Courtesy of Weather Alternate. Take it as returning the favor for the trouble caused.” Dolfy Horner appeared from around the chopper, his metal legs gleaming under the lamplight, his pants now rolled up. “It took them some convincing that this wasn’t a trap, but I thought they could help in the final battle, seeing as they took down every agent I sent against them. Unfortunately, my men weren’t as quick to get here as I would’ve liked them to be, but at least here they are all the way from Canterlot.”

“I couldn’t get you on the phone.” Sunset Shimmer stroked her daughter’s head. “But it’s so good to see you, Sushi, my dear daughter. And you did it! You ended the threat of the Nugget People. And you made some friends, I see.”

Summer followed her gaze to see her looking at Bushido Spirit as he and Jojo exited the chopper, with the latter using a crutch as support.

“Yeah, I sure did.” Summer blushed and her mother could immediately guess what she was thinking of. “Mom, wait, Prism, Fuchsia, have you see them?”

“What’s all the worry for, Sushi? You think we died or something?” Prism Dash suddenly ran in from the darkness, accompanied by Fuchsia, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie. “Nope. I’m too awesome for death.”

“Prism!” Summer ran over to her and grabbed her in a bear hug. “You’re completely okay! I thought you got… burned.”

“Weather Alternate had flown Fuchsia and I back before they came to help you out.” Prism pointed a thumb at herself. “When our parents came, your mom reset my body back to its former glory, all thanks to Alicorn Fantasy.”

“Oh yeah, it could do that, huh?” Summer nodded, remembering her mother’s Stand had powerful abilities.

“And your next words are… ‘It’s sure good to be back among familiar faces’...”

Summer rubbed the back of her head. “It’s sure good to be back among familiar faces. Wait…”

“Surprise!” Jostle Joyride popped up behind Pinkie, wearing a pair of shades.

“Dad!” Jojo went over to meet him. Jostle put an arm around him and ruffled his head. “You won’t believe what’s happened all the way here.”

“You won’t believe what’s been happening back home!” Jostle laughed. “When Weather Alternate suddenly approached us without the intention to kill us, I had my suspicions, but a Joyride is never wrong and we followed them here to help you kill the Nugget People.”

“But it looks like you didn’t need our help in the end.” Sunset gave her daughter a pat on the back. “I’m proud of you, Sushi. And I’m sure your dad is too. I haven’t told him all the details, but I’m sure he is. This was a long and hard journey, but you did it. You saved the world. If only I could’ve been there to see it all.”

“Yeah, I’m sure we could’ve used your resetting ability.” Summer squeezed her mother’s arm. “You could’ve frozen her in time like you did to that principal all those years ago.”

“It was epic.” Jojo gave her a thumbs up and a smirk. “She shot the Nugget Person into space! I doubt she’ll ever return from something like that.”

“You’ll have to tell me all about it.” Sunset pinched Summer’s cheek and chuckled. “Quite the thrilling adventure, hmm?”

“Quite bizarre, is more like it.” Summer leaned against her mother. “Man, where do we even start? On the plane, we were already attacked by Weather Alternate…”

And as Summer and her friends recounted their adventures to their parents, she couldn’t help but feel like they had grown more as friends along this journey. She had never really spent time with Fuchsia until they left Canterlot and she had learned so much more about her true self and her real dedication to her friends. Besides her, they had also met up with Sweetie Belle, Gipsy Dance and Bushido Spirit whom she had begun to care about as well.

Gipsy… She gave her life to make sure they could take down the Nugget People. Her sacrifice would be remembered for years to come and Summer would forever cherish her selfless deed that kept her best friend alive to beat Souyul.

She didn’t have to worry about Sweetie Belle. With the resources she had and all the friends she’d made along the way, she was probably safe in whichever hospital she and Apple Bloom were in, getting the best medical care anyone could afford.

As for Bushido, Summer had never thought she would find someone she would have feelings for on an adventure to save the world, but life had mysterious powers to make anything possible. Perhaps in time, they could certainly become more than friends.

And then there was the complicated circumstance with Dolfy Horner. They had started their adventure, trying to thwart his group from reawakening the Nugget People and she only had disdain for someone like that. But he had since realized the folly of his ways and vowed to change. She didn’t know whether to trust him or not, but in her opinion, he seemed genuine in wanting to help the human race, pureblood or not. Perhaps Weather Alternate was going to be a very different group of people once they had settled everything with Berlin.

Their adventure to Berlin had been a bizarre one, but Summer realized she would rather have come on this journey than stay back in Canterlot. She would remember every moment spent here for as long as she lived. All in memory of Gipsy.

“We haven’t had anything for a whole day.” Jojo rubbed his belly. “Let’s go eat, huh?”

“I could use some food. I hear German sausages are the best in the world.” Jostle Joyride flexed an arm.

“Ugh, I just want to go home…” Fuchsia tilted her head up and groaned.

“Hold your horses, Fuchsia.” Prism slapped her on the back. “We haven’t got to really enjoy Germany since we got here. I think it’s time to take in the sights before heading back.”

“Fuch my life…” The pink girl sighed. “I can’t believe I managed to survive this whole fuchstorm.”

“Fuchsia, language.” Pinkie wagged a finger in her face.

“Yeah, and that’s not even the right word to match with ‘storm’,” Prism added.

Summer and the others joined each other in laughter as she wrapped an arm around her mother’s waist. It was good to be back amongst family and friends.

Family. Friendship. These were what they fought for, and without the power of friendship, then they were no better than the Nugget People. Even though they wanted to help the human race and be worshipped by them, they never had the one thing that would’ve made them the best rulers and that was friendship. Perhaps if they had developed bonds with the humans that served them, things would’ve turned out differently for the world.

She knew it more than ever now. There was nothing stronger than friendship and the willingness to lay one’s life down for one’s friends. If they remembered this, then nothing would ever stand in their way, not a Nugget Person, not aliens, not anything.

Feeling so much more sure of herself than she had been when she had first set out on her journey, Summer closed her eyes and let the streetlamp’s rays fall onto her face. She knew that this was an adventure that she would never forget and it was a story her children were going to hear all too often. The Battle of Berlin would be remembered in years to come, but only they would know what really went down.

And that would be their little secret.

Summer hugged her mother tighter and closed her eyes, content.


> Epilogue: Kantarijji of the East
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twenty-five years later

“Uh, excuse me…” A man who was wheeling a luggage bag behind him stepped back after accidentally rolling over a woman’s boots. He spoke in broken english. It seemed he was one of those people who didn't carry a translator with them. “Could you, ah, teru me… where I can find… za terminal office?”

The woman he had carelessly bumped into turned around, her greying hair flowing in the air as she whipped around to face him. She had on a beige coat that dropped all the way to her knees, along with a pair of white gloves. Her face was wrinkled, but she still looked lithe and strong for someone of her age.

“The terminal office?” she repeated, her brow creasing over her blue eyes. She didn’t look like she had even registered his luggage going over her feet.

“You see, ah, I cannot find za terminal for my departure,” the man continued, struggling to find the right words. “And I cannot read za signs. Could you direct me?”

The woman gritted her teeth together and clenched a fist. “You can’t read English, but you’re here in Canterlot? Without a proper translator?”

“Ah, tourism, you know. Nice place to see sights…” The man smiled. “I buy plenty of souvenirs to bring home to Japan.”

Japan…

“See this then!” She suddenly kneed him in the abdomen, leaving him reeling on the floor as she walked down the long domain walkway.

Sunset Shimmer had only brought a single suitcase of clothes as she grumpily stalked down towards her gate. People saw her expression and moved out of the way, glad to avoid ending up like the Japanese man earlier.

“Oh, why is my life so miserable…” she complained to herself. “Why did my one and only daughter, whom I love so very much, have to move all the way to Japan after getting married? And not even in a city near the airport, but somewhere so very far away that I still need to take a train once I get there. Tell me why… Now I have to travel all the way there just to see her. Even with the planes and trains getting faster in the last ten years, the journey is still so long.”

She stopped in her tracks and looked up at the glassy ceiling, giving her a clear view of the bright afternoon sky outside. She raised a fist and shook it firmly. “I’ll never forgive the Japanese!”

Still grumbling, Sunset continued the walk to her flight, only stopping to buy some sushi from one of the shops for lunch.

“Then again…” Sunset said as she picked up one of the rice rolls. “They do make some good food. It’s what our nicknames are, anyway.”

Besides traveling all the way there to meet Summer, she would also get to see Bushido Spirit again, Summer’s husband, along with their young daughter, her dearest granddaughter, Shiho.

“Ah, little Shiho…” Summer picked at her sushi’s seaweed. “Perhaps I’ll buy her a present.”

She had been fourteen years old since she had last seen her. Three years have passed since she last set foot in Japan, but she could still remember how cheerful the girl was all the time. It would be awful if her personality had somehow changed drastically since she last met her.

After finishing her meal, Sunset continued to grumble all the way as she eventually boarded the plane, unbeknownst to her, something else was unfolding back in Canterlot, where the Wondercolt statue of Canterlot High School stood proudly.

The base of the statue shimmered and rippled as a lavender arm stuck through it. What came out was a tall and lanky woman, dressed in a tight-fitting striped outfit of purples and pinks, with little blue and magenta crystal stars scattered across the surface. She had long purple hair with pink highlights going through it and behind her, a male followed her through, sporting a green mohawk running down the back of his head. He was dressed in a purple short-sleeved hoodie with a similarly striped shirt inside.

“So this is the human world…” The woman toyed with her fingers as she wriggled them vigorously. She had heard of such things, but this was her first time having them. “Celestia seemed to have loved this place according to her journals. Time to see what all the fuss is about, Spike.”