TWIST AND SHOUT (MLPxJOJO)


                                            Originally posted on April 19th, 2019 in the MLPxJojo thread


                                            BACK IN THREAD 24

                                            >You hear the doorbell ring.

                                            >You leave the comfort of your couch to see who it is this time.

                                            >You open the door and become blinded by the dazzle of fireworks.

                                            >"The Great and Powerful Trixie has found out your secret! Prepare to battl-"

                                            >You close the door and lock it.

                                            >You go to your phone and dial 911.

                                            >In a matter of minutes you hear the officers come and arrest the blue magician.

                                            >That was the fourth time this week some rando came to your house trying to become an ally or to fight you.

                                            >You summon your stand to grab some more popcorn and continue watching a movie.

                                            >Such is the life of the stand user.

                                            >Everyone looks at you like you're crazy for not posing or speaking dramatically, but you just ignore them and call the cops

                                            >The one time someone used their Stand to snatch the phone from your hand you socked him in the face without hesitation or posing

                                            >Eventually word gets out about a Stand user who "doesn't fight the same way", and more users begin to seek you out, both to learn from you and to fight you

                                            >Your "pupils" pose dramatically on your front step every morning and look confused when you try to explain to them(after much prodding) the importance of not posing mid-battle

                                            >Though they try their hardest, none of them can master it

                                            >One day you "demonstrate" by smacking down an enemy Stand user who knocked your front door down during a so-called lesson

                                            >The "students" are totally shocked that you defeated him without even using your own Stand

                                            >You're just annoyed, and force the guy to give you his insurance info and the cash from his wallet before kicking him to the curb after threatening to call the cops

                                            >Your "pupils" rally around you, hailing your hand-to-hand style as the cutting edge of Stand combat techniques

                                            >Though none of them can master it completely thanks to some arbitrary Stand retardation.

                                            >And that's how you accidentally became the "Stand Battle Sensei of Canterlot".


                                            >"There was a legend."

                                            >"It told of an entity of unmeasurable power and evil, sent from a distant world to drown everything in a dark slumber."

                                            >"It took the effort of every single stand user to hold its power back and seal it in the moon."

                                            >"Still, droplets of its power seeped through and made their way to our planet."

                                            >"At that moment, a prophecy was foretold. 'On the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape.'"

                                            >You finish your coffee and look back at your...guests.

                                            "Cool story, but what does that have to do with me?"

                                            >"[The Voice] in my dreams has most likely pointed out Canterlot for this reason. And I'm certain the prophecy also refers to the day this town celebrates the summer solstice."

                                            "Voice in your dreams?"

                                            >>"Don't think too much about it," says the man with the talking doll, looking almost as bored as you, "He is usually right about these things somehow."

                                            >"We've heard of your prowess. A stand user unlike any other."

                                            >He stands up dramatically.

                                            >"Please, help us out on our mission! To stop the forces that will free the evil from the moon!"

                                            >You ponder all the information that has been dropped on you.

                                            >And finally, you come up with an answer.

                                            "No."

                                            >You kicked those weirdos out of your house and watched a marathon of "I Dream of Jeannie".

                                            >It was a good day all things considered.


                                            >>32245672

                                            >"I told you it wasn't going to work."

                                            >｢It's like if you only went for the anti-social guys.｣

                                            "Shut it both of you!"

                                            >You are currently in a diner regrouping after the last fiasco.

                                            >｢It was when you told him of your imaginary friend that you fucked up.｣

                                            "I don't want to hear that from you!"

                                            >"And what was the deal with that guy? You hyped him up so much, but he was just some random dude."

                                            "You don't get it, he is the Stand Battle Sensei! He can beat any stand user with just a flick from his phone!"

                                            >"I should have just called the cops on you the first time we've met." he mutters to himself although not low enough to not be heard.

                                            >｢It wouldn't have been fun at all.｣

                                            >These two assholes.

                                            "Are you two going to take this seriously?! We have less than a year to prepare for the solstice!"

                                            >Both Sean and [Little Prince] look at each other and then back to you.

                                            >"The thing is, we don't believe you."

                                            >"｢Yeah, you are kind of crazy.｣

                                            >What?

                                            "Then why did you come with me?"

                                            >"I just wanted to make sure you weren't going to attack another stranger."

                                            >｢I was hoping you'd get your shit kicked in by that so called Sensei.｣

                                            >Fuck.

                                            >And here you thought he'd be on your side since he showed mercy the last time.

                                            >"I'll say, at least I'm relieved that you are looking for 'allies' instead of just fighting random people."

                                            >｢Yeah, you'd think he'd just look for those 'stars' and beat them up before anything happened at all.｣

                                            >Who the hell do they think they are...

                                            "...That 's it!"

                                            >"What?"

                                            >It all made sense.

                                            >It was so easy you can't believe you didn't think of it before.

                                            "I'll look for the 'stars', defeat them and foil their evil scheme!"

                                            >Sean facepalms.

                                            >"Ok. let's pretend for a moment that isn't a retarded plan that will take you to jail. How are you even going to find these guys?"

                                            >... that's a good question.

                                            >It's not like you had any leads on a potential suspect.

                                            >And from what [The Voice] told you, there wasn't much you could work with.


                                            >｢How about that guy?｣

                                            >[Little Prince] points to a man sitting not too far from you.

                                            >He is big and flashy, with screwed-up eyes and screwed-down hairdo, like a man from... abroad?

                                            >You pay close attention to what he is wearing.

                                            >It's a green hawaiian shirt with... PINK STARS!

                                            >"You can't be serious." says Sean "There's no way it would be that obvious."

                                            "I'm going to do it."

                                            >"God damnit."

                                            "I'm gonna go there and see for myself if he is an evil stand user or not."

                                            >｢Yeah, kick that jacked-up Ace ventura in the ass!｣

                                            >You get up from your seat and march towards your target.

                                            >He seems to be concentrating on his meal.

                                            >He is not eating it, just staring at it.

                                            >You cough to get his attention.

                                            >He keeps staring.

                                            >You cough louder.

                                            >He hands you a glass of water, still focused devotedly on his plate of nachos.

                                            >So he wants to do this the difficult way huh?

                                            >You slam your fist on the table.

                                            >He gets startled and finally acknowledges your existence.

                                            >"C-can I help you?"

                                            "I know what you are up to."

                                            >He is left flabbergasted by your accusation.

                                            >"Was I that obvious?"

                                            "You can fool everyone else, but not me."

                                            >"I'm sorry, I didn't think it would be such a big deal to-"

                                            "NOT A BIG DEAL!?"

                                            >He gets scared by your outburst.

                                            "Do you even consider the consequences to your actions?"

                                            >"I usually do, but-"

                                            "But THIS was the one exception?"

                                            >He looks down in shame.

                                            "You make me SICK. You are nothing but SCUM."

                                            >You begin to feel the air rumbling.

                                            >This is it.

                                            >He is going to retaliate now that you outed him.

                                            >"I..."

                                            >You prepare to summon [Brave New World].

                                            >"I'm soooorrryyyyy" he says, tears cascading from his eyes.

                                            >He gets up and runs away.

                                            >"I'm never eating nachos agaaaaaain." you hear him scream in the distance.

                                            >...

                                            >You return to your table.

                                            >Sean and [Little Prince]'s looks seem judging.

                                            >｢I guess... you won.｣

                                            "That didn't go like I expected."

                                            >"And how did you expect it to go?" asks Sean sarcastically.

                                            "You know... an epic battle?"


                                            >Sean facepalms once again.

                                            >"And instead, you ended up harassing a 'non-user'."

                                            "We don't know if he..." come to think of it, he didn't seem to have the will to put up a fight,"...shit."

                                            >"What's next, going to a high school and starting to fight random students?" he says, mocking you, "You are bound to find the correct guy eventually that way, right?"

                                            "You know what fuck you, I don't have to listen to this."

                                            >You storm off the diner.

                                            >｢Was it something you said?｣

                                            >"Don't mind him. At least this time nothing came back to bite us in the-"

                                            >>"Excuse me, " a waitress comes over to Sean" those two were with you?"

                                            >"Uh, I-"

                                            >>"You will have to pay for their meals sir."

                                            >"...spoke too soon."


                                            >You are Care Root.

                                            >It has been... you don't really know how long.

                                            >You were at the school's parking lot with the Dazzlings.

                                            >The orange one had touched you and...

                                            >From there on, everything else feels like a hazy dream.

                                            >You recall a battle, no, battles?

                                            >You are not sure.

                                            >What you DO remember was your future burning up.

                                            >And then... like a used up battery, you were discarded.

                                            >When you came to your senses, you were all alone.

                                            >Your house had been raided by whichever group you hurt the most.

                                            >You thought things would get better if you found her.

                                            >Dernier.

                                            >But...

                                            >You shake your head.

                                            >There is no use in thinking about it.

                                            >You've been trying to lay low long enough for a chance to escape to show up.

                                            >You gathered as much money as you could and decided to skip town.

                                            >You have nothing left here, and even if the future holds nothing good, you'd rather be somewhere where you aren't a walking target.

                                            >Rumble.

                                            >You can feel it coming.

                                            >RUMBLE!

                                            >A stand user is drawing near.

                                            >You sprint.

                                            >You only need to go to the bus station and your worries will be a thing of the past.

                                            >The rumbling draws nearer.

                                            >You make a quick turn to your right.

                                            >Behind you, a STOP sign bends in half.

                                            >You make haste and beeline your way across the street through the honking of cars.


                                            >You stop and turn around.

                                            >There's no sign of your pursuer.

                                            >It couldn't have given up so easily.

                                            >Does it not want to attack you in public?

                                            >You catch a bit of your breath.

                                            >You turn around to continue-

                                            >And bump right into someone else.

                                            >You fall ass first to the ground, all while contemplating the man towering you.

                                            >The sunlight hides most of his features, but you can tell his eyes are bloodshot.

                                            >He reaches his hand towards you.

                                            >You can't call [Timbuk Three].

                                            >There's only one possibility for you to have a future.

                                            >You can't spend even a fraction of it here!

                                            >You instinctively cover your face with your arm.

                                            >And then you are grabbed firmly.

                                            >Then picked off from the ground and also dusted off.

                                            >...What?

                                            >"Sorry, I didn't see you there." he apologizes with a little smile in his face.

                                            >You don't answer.

                                            >You are still a bit shocked from being handled so easily.

                                            >"There you go. All nice and-"

                                            >You attempt to dash away but he continues to block your path.

                                            >"Hold up."

                                            >You try to escape the other way but he just backsteps to keep in front of you.

                                            >"That face... I've seen you before."

                                            >The rumble starts again.

                                            >He knows who you are?!

                                            >You've never seen this man before and he can't possibly be an acquaintance from your parents.

                                            >Did one of the groups get help from stand users outside of the school?

                                            >You can't overpower or outrun him.

                                            >Not without using your last shot.

                                            >The rumbling continues.

                                            >"You are..."he points at you with his index finger and you steel yourself at the oncoming attack,"Featherweight's brother?"

                                            >The rumbling stops.

                                            >"Wait, did he have any brothers in the first place?" he thinks out loud.

                                            "I don't know any Featherweight."

                                            >"Oh! My bad. Sorry for wasting your time!"

                                            >He leaves mumbling something about you looking the same as a kid.

                                            >That was odd.

                                            >You decide to continue your way before-

                                            >Your whole body spins around and you bump once more with the weird man.


                                            >"Hmm? Did you want to say something else?"

                                            >You ignore him and begin to frantically look around you.

                                            >The stand user is still nearby.

                                            >You need to get away as fast as possible.

                                            >The coast is clear.

                                            >You sprint towards the other side of the street.

                                            >Maybe if you are able to take a roundabout route then-

                                            >You are forcefully yanked from the collar of your shirt.

                                            >"Are you crazy!" the man yells at you, "You can't run into the traffic. You'd hurt yourself really bad and upset the drivers!"

                                            "What are you talking about?" you trash about trying to get away,"There's no tra-"

                                            >You feel the wind rush right in front of your face followed by a loud honk.

                                            >Something just went really fast right in front of you.

                                            >"You... can't see the cars?"

                                            >You feel yourself get paler.

                                            >"Is this like a medical condition?" he gets worried,"Oh boy, where are your parents?"

                                            >It is too late.

                                            >You are already under the effect of an enemy stand.

                                            >If you aren't able to see the traffic, then there is no sure way to know what else you aren't looking at.

                                            >There is no way out.

                                            >"Oh, you precious kid. I know what you must be going through."

                                            "I doubt it."

                                            >"No, really! When I was your age I was quite prone to getting on accidents, it was as if problems were drawn to me or something." he laughs at the last part and begins to check your arm.

                                            >"So my dad made me wear a bracelet with my address and a..." he finds nothing on your wrist "Well that's irresponsible."

                                            >You yank your arm from his grasp.

                                            "Look, if you are done fooling around then you can..."

                                            >No, wait!

                                            >There is a way out of this!

                                            >It is risky, but at this point you'll take anything you can.

                                            "...you can help me find out my... friend."

                                            >"Sure! Who should I be looking for?" he asks while shielding his eyes from the sun and looking around.

                                            >You wish you knew that yourself.

                                            >There has to be a way to identify the attacker.

                                            >What do all the groups have in common?

                                            "It's a... menacing looking girl?"

                                            >Sadly, that's the best you can come up with.


                                            >The man keeps looking around despite your poor description, mumbling "menacing" to himself as if not trying to forget.

                                            >All you need is a bit of luck.

                                            >He keeps scanning.

                                            >You know it is useless, but you pray to whomever is listening to at least give you a chance.

                                            >He stops searching and looks back at you awkwardly.

                                            >"I'm gonna need you to be more specific boy."

                                            >There goes your plan.

                                            >"Because, going by what you just described, I can only see a girl angry because she just stepped on poo-"

                                            >Why the fuck would the world grant you a chance?

                                            >"-and this other girl with a stand."

                                            >!

                                            >You can't make up your mind on what to address first.

                                            >That the plan worked despite your lack of luck and poor communication skills, or that this man could see stands too.

                                            >Your sense of survival comes first.

                                            >If the user is far away, then they must know you are in the general area but can't pinpoint the right place, so as long as you don't draw attention you'll still have time to escape.

                                            >And so you begin to plan the best route to avo-

                                            >"HEY! OVER HERE!"

                                            >You scream internally.

                                            >"YOUR FRIEND IS HERE! CURRENTLY DEFENCELESS AND UNABLE TO LEAVE ON HIS OWN!"

                                            "Please stop."

                                            >"IT IS THE LANKY GUY WITH A BOWL CUT WEARING A WHITE BUTTON UP SHIRT AND A PIN OF A SQUARE ROOT OF A... heart? Math got weird since I finished school."

                                            >This man is going to get you killed.

                                            >You begin to hear it.

                                            >Footsteps getting closer followed by that menacing rumble all stand users hear.

                                            >Wanting a girl who had stepped on poo to appear next to you wasn't something you ever would have ever thought until today.

                                            >But the one who appears wasn't anyone you'd expect.

                                            >You've seen her before hanging with Applejack's sister.

                                            >The ginger girl with thick glasses.

                                            >>"Tho, we finally meeth Care Rooth."

                                            >...and the lisp.

                                            >>"You thouth you were smarth, buth you can'th ethca-"

                                            >"Wait a minute. I don't think this is going to work."

                                            >Lisp girl stops to look at the weirdo.


                                            >"I thought that maybe you were taller but looked small since you were far away," he tries to demonstrate making big gestures with his hands, "but actually you are smaller than this guy!"

                                            >He draws his arms really close to point out the height difference between the little freshman and you.

                                            >>"Who are you?" she asks with disdain.

                                            >"Don't worry lil' girl, " he says while patting her curls, "I'll take care of him and bring him to safety."

                                            >He picks you up bridal style and begins to leave.

                                            >The little ginger is speechless.

                                            >So are you for that matter.

                                            >She snaps and begins to follow after you.

                                            >>"Thir! Waith! You don'th need tho thake him away!" she tries to catch up but her little legs aren't fast enough to compete with the stranger's long strides.

                                            >This... is actually good!

                                            >You'd gladly take the shame of being carried away by a man in public if it meant you could escape from a fight.

                                            >>"I saith waith!"

                                            >The world begins to spin around you.

                                            >Your vision becomes a bunch of blurred lines moving faster and faster.

                                            >Your blood and your lunch begin to make their way to your face.

                                            >And then you stop, although you feel as if your innards were still on a crazy merry go round, facing straight to the little red menace.

                                            >>"Thath bether. Now, where wath I? Oh, yeth! You can'th ethcape!"

                                            >You are lowered to the ground.

                                            >The weird man has his cheeks puffed.

                                            >The dizziness must have also gotten to you, because you swear there are little stars spinning around his head.

                                            >He swallows loudly and tries to regain his breath.

                                            >"Ok... I'm gonna -ugh- stop for a bit."

                                            >You both proceed to ignore him.

                                            "Why are you doing this?"

                                            >She snorts.

                                            >>"Don'th acth dumb. You know damn well how many of uth you dithposed of."

                                            "I... killed someone?"

                                            >You feel even sicker.

                                            >>"Noth really."

                                            >That's a relief.


                                            >>"Ith wathn'th anything currenth methical sthienth couldn'th threath." she spits out. "Buth the facth sthill remainths. You workth for the Dazthlingths, and even if ith wath againth your will, we will dethroy you."

                                            >You take a second to understand what she said.

                                            >Your blood boils.

                                            "Are you for real?!"

                                            >The dizziness leaves your body as you rise above the girl.

                                            "You all knew I was being controlled and still trashed my house!?"

                                            >All of your pent up frustration comes out.

                                            "What do you people want from me? I'm not even a threat anymore. I've never even wanted to take part in any of this! I just wanted a little bit of happiness with Derpy and even that you took away!"

                                            >The girl isn't fazed by your outburst.

                                            >>"You forzed our handths to make her become that thing."

                                            >?

                                            "What does that mean?"

                                            >This seems to surprise her.

                                            >>"You don'th know?"

                                            >You don't answer.

                                            >Her body does a small twitch, and then another, followed by a body shaking cackle.

                                            >>"You really don'th know!" she says gasping for air between laughs.

                                            >The weirdest laugh you've ever heard.

                                            >She seems to calm down a little, but then she looks at you again and the giggling returns even harder.

                                            >You are getting tired of this.

                                            "Then just tell me already! What happened to her? Why has our connection vanished!?"

                                            >the little ginger manages to control herself.

                                            >>"Fine. If you really wanth tho know, she wath uthed up."

                                            >"Uthed"?

                                            >What does that... Did she mean "Used"?

                                            >>"We needed sthomeone ath powerful ath you. We originally wanthed for both of you to defeath each other. Buth your girlfriend wath harder tho manipulathe than we thougth."

                                            >She pauses.

                                            >She looks unsettled for a moment, but it doesn't last long.

                                            >>"The problem thook care of ithself though. And abouth the same thime, the Dathlingth dithcarded you."

                                            >You want to tell her she is wrong.


                                            >You want to find a contradiction in her story, to have misunderstood something in her speech or even for anyone to interrupt and say none of those things took place.

                                            >But you know that won't happen.

                                            >It all fits into place.

                                            >Derpy isn't here anymore.

                                            >She left and all the lights went away with her.

                                            >Even if you were able to leave this unforgiving city, you 'll just be tripping without purpose in the dark.

                                            >There is no light at the end of the tunnel.

                                            >>"Thith ith hilariouth. You look like a puppeth who hath ith sthringth cuth!" she continues to mock you.

                                            >You'd have liked to blast her and everyone else away.

                                            >To make them experience what it means when the most important thing in the world goes away.

                                            >...but you can't even spite them.

                                            >You just feel drained.

                                            "You are right. In the end we were all just puppets in their game..."

                                            >The laughter stops.

                                            "...Derpy, me-"

                                            >>"Shuth up."

                                            "-even you and the whole school."

                                            >>"SHUTH UP!"

                                            >The wind howls as it begins to pick up speed.

                                            >>"You don'th geth tho thalk abouth who is in conthrol!"

                                            >She is overflowing with stand energy.

                                            >Just now you become aware of the multitude of screams coming from around you.

                                            >Something knocks you over your stomach and the wind begins to push you around.

                                            >And all of a sudden you can see them.

                                            >Everything that was hidden from your view returns.

                                            >There are people running away in panic.

                                            >Some are being flung away by the wind, others are holding from lamp posts or fire hydrants.

                                            >The cars reappear too.

                                            >Some crash while trying to dodge pedestrians, others are being turned over by the gusts.

                                            >You try your best to fight the wind and get up, but you are slowly being dragged away.

                                            >You reach out for anything to get a hold on.

                                            >A crack on a wall, the door of a car, a loose tile on the floor.

                                            >There has to be something you can-

                                            >A sharp pain breaks your thoughts.

                                            >Something fast and gray just smashed your fingers.


                                            >A scream of pain begins to come out from your mouth, but it is forcefully interrupted.

                                            >You feel another blow, this time in your right shoulder.

                                            >You fight the pain as much as you can and focus through the tears in your eyes on what is coming.

                                            >Cinder blocks.

                                            >Was there a construction site nearby?

                                            >You aren't sure.

                                            >Too much pain to remember.

                                            >Too much pain to even see straight.

                                            >You give one last look at your hand.

                                            >Your fingers are pointing in the wrong directions, red all over and although you can't see it you feel your shoulder smart just as bad.

                                            >with two hits your arm became a painfully useless lump of flesh and broken bones.

                                            >They zoom towards you.

                                            >Everything in front of you goes black.

                                            >...

                                            >And then you hear the blocks hit against something.

                                            >What just-?

                                            >There is an upside-down dumper truck right next to you serving as an improvised barrier.

                                            >"The weather forecast didn't mention a tornado. Don't you just hate it when that happens?"

                                            >The weird man is taking cover next to you.

                                            >You had forgotten about him.

                                            >"Regardless of that, we didn't have tornadoes where I'm from, so I can't help feeling kind of excited about this, don't you agree?"

                                            >You only groan in response.

                                            >"I know, the dust is getting everywhere." he says as he puts on a pair of star shaped shades,"I'd hate to be the one who has to clea- What happened to your arm?!"

                                            >He just now notices your injuries.

                                            >"Ooooh boy that doesn't look very-" he pokes you with his finger on the most swollen part of your arm.

                                            >With an unholy screech your voice returns.

                                            >"-sorry. Although if you still feel pain then it probably can still be treated."

                                            "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!"

                                            >"That's the spirit!" he beams at you," Now we can be back on our way to the hospital and finding your parents."

                                            "You are still on with that?"

                                            >"Yeah!" he agrees cheerfully.

                                            >This guy can't be real.

                                            "You- why are you so calm? Doesn't any of these things worry you?"


                                            >He remains still for a moment pondering, the wind howling behind both of you followed by the sound of more objects crashing.

                                            >And then he just shrugs.

                                            >You gotta be kidding me.

                                            >"Say, there is something that's been bugging me." he clears his throat,"Could it be that that girl isn't really your friend?"

                                            >A mad howl of unadulterated rage bellows from the center of the tornado.

                                            >You'd like to be snarky with this man, but you just can't right now.

                                            "No. She isn't."

                                            >"I see. What did you do to her though? She is throwing a big tantrum."

                                            >This isn't the moment to retell everything that's happened so far.

                                            >The longer you stay here the lower are your chances to...

                                            >...escape?

                                            >Oh, right.

                                            >The pain and adrenaline made you forget for a moment.

                                            >There is no point in fleeing.

                                            "We were all... fighting."

                                            >The words just flow out of your mouth.

                                            "We all formed our own groups and fought over and over."

                                            >You recall Fido and the wristwatch, Golden and her love for her family, Dernier...

                                            "We-no, I didn't want to be used by the others..."

                                            >The guy next to you begins to smile.

                                            "Then those three appeared and offered to protect me and her..."

                                            >His smile turns into a big grin.

                                            >At the time, you thought it was the right decision.

                                            >"She was so important to me..." tears begin to pool in your eyes, "And I never told her I lov-"

                                            >The man's unhinged laughter cuts you off.

                                            >"Oh my stars! Ha ha ha ha ha!"

                                            >He is wheezing trying to hold back.

                                            >He looks back at you.

                                            >And then goes back to laughing all over again.

                                            >"It is so much like an animeeee!"

                                            >...

                                            >If you had any last bit of power left, you wouldn't doubt for a second to blast off his face.

                                            >"Ok, Ok, I think-snrk- I think that was the last of it."

                                            >He sighs satisfied.

                                            >"It's ok if you don't want to tell me."

                                            "I just did."

                                            >"But being mean to little girls isn't nice. You should apologize to her."

                                            >GOD.

                                            >DAMN.

                                            >IT.

                                            "Are you ser- this is way past that!"

                                            >"Really? You didn't mention that."

                                            "I JUST DID!"


                                            >Your head becomes lighter with that outburst.

                                            >"You... don't have many friends, right?"

                                            >That hurts more than it should.

                                            "It's hard to make them when everyone wants to make you miserable."

                                            >He grimaces at that.

                                            >"Is that how you look at the others?"

                                            "There is an enemy stand user literally trying to murder everyone here right next to us."

                                            >He rolls his eyes.

                                            >"Now that's an exaggeration. She doesn't want to kill anybody."

                                            >A billboard zooms over your heads and smashes into a building.

                                            >"If you look around, you'll see everyone just left."

                                            >He is... right.

                                            >You two are the only ones left here.

                                            >"Also, she doesn't have them."

                                            "What do you mean?"

                                            >"You know, the ｢Dark Intent｣."

                                            "The...what?"

                                            >"In her eyes!" he tries to gesture at you by pointing at his glasses,"It looks like fire- you know what, it doesn't really matter."

                                            >This man's words make no sense to you.

                                            >"The point is, you shouldn't call someone an... 'enemy'", he shudders when saying it,"and assume they are dange-"

                                            >He stops his speech and contemplates the tornado.

                                            >"Although... there may be someone who is really in danger."

                                            >Suddenly, he dusts himself off, puts his glasses away and makes an effort to stand up.

                                            >"I'll go check on something. You stay here for a while."

                                            >He grasps the dumper truck, his legs wobbling, and begins to shimmy his way towards the tornado.

                                            >He has to be mental.

                                            >Going that way is suicide... unless...

                                            "Are you going to... fight her?"

                                            >He stops and looks back at you.

                                            >!

                                            >"Fight? With a little girl?"

                                            >His eyes are crimson.

                                            >Blood dripping down from one of them.

                                            >"That's not how I do things."

                                            >You want to say something back.

                                            >But you can't.

                                            >He makes a step.

                                            >Then another.

                                            >Each time more firmly.

                                            >And then enters the typhoon.

                                            >You feel chills.

                                            >The wind howls madly.

                                            >That man did nothing but bother you, ruin your escape,annoy you and even lecture you.

                                            >Your arm gets number.

                                            >Why do you feel worried about him?

                                            >...

                                            >Should you...?

                                            >Your cover disappears.


                                            "Wha-?"

                                            >No.

                                            >Something isn't right.

                                            >You can still feel it pressed against your body.

                                            >There is also a bunch of smashed rubble a few meters from you, being stopped by an invisible force.

                                            >The dumper truck is still here, but you can't see it.

                                            >Just like with the cars!

                                            >This is bad.

                                            >There is still another stand user here after you!


                                            >You are Anonyeemoose

                                            >Or as you hope your allies call you, The Dream Master!

                                            "This is just what I've been waiting for!"

                                            >You knew it wouldn't take long for them to appear.

                                            >It was a simple matter of finding where the people were running away in panic from.

                                            >And the tower of dust just made it easier.

                                            "So they have no problem with going all out against civilians in the middle of the day."

                                            >You grin.

                                            "Fine by me! I'll defeat you and then take you to Sean!"

                                            >He will have to believe your word if you bring a villain with you!

                                            >And that annoying stand of his won't call you crazy anymore!

                                            >!

                                            >The wind is stronger than you thought.

                                            >You are almost sliding on the floor with how much it pushes you.

                                            "Sonova- this won't sto-"

                                            >Wait.

                                            >There is someone in the middle of the twister?

                                            >It must be the stand user!

                                            >You steel your resolve.

                                            >It might take a while, but you begin to march your way inside the storm.


                                            >You are Twist.

                                            >Currently in the epicenter of a death tornado.

                                            >At this point you can't even tell what you are attacking.

                                            >There is too much dust and debris clouding the outside in a grayish barrier.

                                            >Is almost claustrophobic.

                                            >But you are no stranger to that feeling.

                                            >You've known it too well since you began high school.

                                            >Unlike before, it felt as if everyone there was against you.

                                            >Against the color of your hair, your thick glasses, the way you talked.

                                            >It wasn't that bad at first.

                                            >But as time went on you were left behind by what little group of friends you used to have.

                                            >After that everything began to spin out of control.

                                            >You got treated worse both verbally and physically.


                                            >They tripped you, spat on you, filled your locker with trash, and even told made up stories about you to the teachers.

                                            >Little by little, you began to become close to others.

                                            >You stopped seeing your speech therapist.

                                            >You even stopped talking with your brother.

                                            >If you didn't talk back or cried, then they would just leave you alone when they got bored.

                                            >You weren't a person.

                                            >You were just a plaything for them to use and discard as they saw fit.

                                            >...

                                            >That was until she came to you.

                                            >You were given a new chance.

                                            >You were given power!

                                            >When you were faced again by those mean bullies, their insults didn't mean a thing to you.

                                            >You just twisted them back towards them.

                                            >Along with their teeth and their eyes.

                                            >That delivered a solid message.

                                            >You had control.

                                            >Your name became a synonym of fear and respect.

                                            >And whoever defied you had to face your [Dead or Alive].

                                            "Geth outh where I can zee you Care!"

                                            >Still nothing.

                                            >That rat can't have gone too far away.

                                            >Something is coming closer.

                                            >There is a shadow advancing through the storm.

                                            "Oooooh? Zo you finally grew a pair and dethided tho fight?"

                                            >The figure grows larger.

                                            "Come on! Thry to athack me!"

                                            >The figure stops.

                                            >You hear some mumbling.

                                            "Wha-?"

                                            >It seems to be trying to say something, but you can't listen to it with the wind howling all around you.

                                            "Fine! If you don'th come I'll justh pummel you from here!"

                                            >Your stand comes out from behind you and raises its hands.

                                            >You extend the focus of your power through it.

                                            >Your aura grows brighter.

                                            >You aren't sure why, but you have lots of it today and you are going to use it all to end Care.

                                            >The figure tries to move forward, and you twist its right leg as if it were a doorknob until it points the other way around.

                                            >The wind carries his scream to you.

                                            "Ha Ha Ha Ha! Zee? That'th whath you geth for mocking me!"

                                            >It tries to get up, but a bunch of stray rocks hit him in the back pushing him to the ground again.

                                            "Pathetic."


                                            >You heard he was a threat, but it seems not even him can stand to your might.

                                            >Time to end this.

                                            >Your wind gets stronger.

                                            >Just as the shadow struggles to get up, you see them.

                                            >You had thrown some rusted nails you found before into the tornado, and they have finally taken enough speed to finish the job.

                                            "Bye Bye Care! Thith ith the end!"

                                            >The nails strike their mark, right into his face.

                                            >And the figure falls back.

                                            >The sound around is overcome by your own heartbeats.

                                            "Heh."

                                            >It isn't moving.

                                            "Heh heh heh!"

                                            >You think you see something black pooling under him.

                                            "I did ith!"

                                            >You feel your body shake from top to bottom.

                                            "I finally did ith!"

                                            >The thumping inside you gets louder.

                                            "I finally ki-"

                                            >The figure stands up.

                                            "N-n-nnn"

                                            >You can't talk.

                                            >You don't hear a thing anymore.

                                            >You feel as if the world has turned to ice.

                                            >Just like when you were bullied.

                                            >Fear.

                                            >That thing is still standing there, but you can feel it looking at you.


                                            >You are Anonyeemoose.

                                            >Your body is hurting all over.

                                            >In hindsight, you should have thought a better way to walk into a literal death trap.

                                            >Or find a way to protect your body from all the junk flying around you.

                                            >You channel your might into your [Brave New World], currently cleaved into the ground as support.

                                            "I can't stop when I have you so close to me."

                                            >The stand user is a few meters ahead.

                                            "You can hit me again and again, but you can't dent my determination!"

                                            >[Brave New World] powers up.

                                            >It twists, thrusts and moves as if it were an extension of your unfathomable will.

                                            "Take this!"

                                            >The tip of your stand emerges right under the figure and pierces it cleanly!

                                            >You can feel it pushing the figure's weight up.

                                            "How do you like that!"

                                            >The wind carries away your cry.

                                            >Something in the distance answers back at you.

                                            >"-oooo."

                                            >?

                                            >That sounds weird.

                                            >"-oooooooo-"

                                            >It is getting louder and... closer?

                                            >"-oooooooooooooooooo."

                                            >Before you can react, something large and heavy flanks you and smashes you into a wall.


                                            "S-sthay away!"

                                            >Care, or rather that menacing figure is walking towards you.

                                            "Don'th geth any clother!"

                                            >It keeps moving forward.

                                            >"You don't have to do this." he says.

                                            "Thwisth!"

                                            >[Dead or Alive] channels your desperation, and bends that man's elbow.

                                            >"That power-", his voice sounds forced "Don't let that hate take over."

                                            >[Dead or Alive] responds before you can.

                                            >His left leg bends and he falls again.

                                            "Don'th you zee? Thankth to thith power everyone rezpecthz me! That ith why everyone fearz me!"

                                            >The man stands up again.

                                            >This.

                                            >This is impossible.

                                            >He can't keep getting up!

                                            >Everyone else you used your power with begged for their lives.

                                            "No, no, I won'th let anyone elth hurt me again!"

                                            >"I won't fight you."

                                            "Twisth! Twisth!"

                                            >His other arm bends back.

                                            >"I won't fight. That is my decision. Don't let that rage decide for you!"

                                            "B-b-buth I."

                                            >"Power used like this will only make more fear and rejection."

                                            >He keeps coming towards you.

                                            >"And you won't really feel good with yourself!"

                                            >Why?

                                            >Why is he telling you this right now?

                                            >"Don't use your power to hide your true feelings!"

                                            >Why couldn't someone else tell you this before?

                                            >Your stand jumps towards him and grabs his head with his bare hands.

                                            >It begins to forcefully twist his neck

                                            "S-sthop! I didn'th tell you to do that!"

                                            >It doesn't listen to you!

                                            "Sthop it! I don't wanth this!"

                                            >The man isn't fighting your stand, but keeps resisting.

                                            >"Make your feelings clearer!" he says while choking.

                                            "I don'th wanth to be like them!"

                                            >The tornado goes out of control!

                                            >You feel yourself being carried away by the winds!

                                            >Your eyes tear up.

                                            "I just wanted them to treat me like a person!"

                                            >Your stand is about to break his neck.

                                            "Please help me!"

                                            >Your cry resonates throughout the giant twister.

                                            >And then everything is swallowed by a bright neon light.

                                            >Just before closing your eyes...

                                            >You think you heard him mumble "Well said."


                                            >"You were very lucky young man, not many have lived to tell they survived the inside of a tornado!" says a plump nurse as she wheels you to your room.

                                            >You don't say anything.

                                            >You don't really hear what she is saying either.

                                            >It has been hours since the stand attack.

                                            >When the tornado stopped, you found no trace of that ginger girl.

                                            >Only a mountain of debris scattered all around.

                                            >And a mess of a man bleeding in the middle.

                                            >>"D-Did you know that-gkh- a tornado blows counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern?" he said while struggling to walk straight.

                                            >You aren't sure what made him keep talking.

                                            >Maybe his injuries made him delirious.

                                            >Perhaps it helped him keep conscious.

                                            >Was there something else you didn't know?

                                            >But... you think... he was just really trying to keep his promise.

                                            >Whatever the case, he was still smiling at you.

                                            "Why?"

                                            >>"Oh. I'm not really sure, but I think it has to do with low-press-"

                                            "Not that."

                                            >His silliness irks you still.

                                            >You force yourself to look at his face.

                                            >You were hurting a lot, but seeing him made you almost throw up.

                                            >There were marks punctured in his cheeks and right eye.

                                            >His left arm and hand had long rusted nails and bolts pierced from one side to the other.

                                            >He'd been lucky to block them on time it seems.

                                            >There was also a deep cut that seemed to have pierced through his shoulder and lifted him up.

                                            >>His arms and legs seemed to have been thrown inside a blender.

                                            >How was he still walking?

                                            "Why did you try to stop her?"

                                            >He didn't answer.

                                            "Why didn't you fight her?"

                                            >He kept silent.

                                            "Whatever."

                                            >You both had a few more streets to travel in order to get to the Canterlot Hospital.

                                            >It was a long way there and you didn't like your chances of fainting on the way there.

                                            >>"I...wanted to eat nachos today." he began to say, "I ordered a big bowl of loaded veggie nachos, but the waitress served me something else."

                                            >You weren't sure why he brought the topic.


                                            >But you feared he would drop dead any minute without you hearing it, so you felt somewhat relieved to hear him talk.

                                            >>"It was a big casserole of korean beef nachos. Perhaps she mixed up the orders with someone else? I dunno. But the smell and look of it made my mouth water."

                                            >He chuckled to himself.

                                            >>"So I thought 'I'll eat them and just pay the difference later'. Devious, isn't it?"

                                            >This time you didn't answer.

                                            >>"But a man came, probably a hero, and scolded me."

                                            >You slowed down to match his pace.

                                            >>"It would have been wrong of me to eat someone else's meal. Even if I could have gotten away with it, that would have been at the cost of someone else."

                                            >Did he choke a bit when saying that?

                                            >You aren't sure.

                                            >Your head was getting fuzzy.

                                            >>"I guess... I didn't want that girl to grow and make the same mistakes as me..."

                                            >...

                                            >>"But I'm not really good at scolding other people." he said while attempting to hold his mangled arms.

                                            "That's... dumb."

                                            >He half-laughed, half-coughed.

                                            "I mean it. Going that far to help someone you barely know is stupid."

                                            >>"Really? Then why did you light up the place?"

                                            "I..."

                                            >>"You were saying you had ｢enemies｣, but you also refused to fight back."

                                            "It's... complicated."

                                            >You didn't want to answer him.

                                            "My powers... aren't the type that would bring me a good future."

                                            >He seemed to ponder at your words.

                                            >>"You know... the future is an interesting thing. You aren't certain of what will happen, but still do your best, clinging to that probability of something that it will make you happier."

                                            >Huh. Perhaps he was more perceptive than you thought.

                                            >>"I think- no. I'm sure even a gloomy kid like you could have a happy ending if he really tried. Perhaps making some friends would help!"

                                            >You know that's not going to happen anymore.

                                            >>"Oh, we are here. " he pointed at the hospital entrance.

                                            >>"Let's get in- oof."

                                            >But he couldn't finish that sentence.


                                            >The automatic doors opened and you fell inside, exhausted and shivering.

                                            >The man however, was held back by a light barrier.

                                            >You didn't want it to happen, but you knew it was inevitable.

                                            >Back then, when you were hiding behind that dumper truck...

                                            >It was only for a second, but you thought it would make you happy if you both got out of that alive.

                                            >[Timbuk Three] reacted to those feelings and made a big flashbang that scared away whoever was after you.

                                            >And then took away that future from you.

                                            "I'm...sorry."

                                            >You said as your consciousness began to fade away.

                                            >The man didn't try to force his way inside.

                                            >He just smiled sadly at you and turned around.

                                            >His figure limped slowly, becoming smaller...

                                            >And then everything went black.

                                            >You never got to know that man's name...

                                            >But you had doomed him just by meeting him.

                                            >You know you will never see him again.

                                            >"I've never seen an arm so badly bruised in all my years working here."

                                            >The chatty nurse's voice brings you back to the present.

                                            >"It's a miracle the head doctor managed to see it in time. Otherwise we would have had to amputate it!"

                                            >That isn't something a nurse should say so carelessly to an injured patient.

                                            >"It's going to take a few months and plenty of rehabilitation, but it will get stronger than ever. Aren't you glad?" she says while lightly tapping the cast in your arm.

                                            >You mumble a bit, but that seems like a satisfactory enough answer to her.

                                            >"Now then, let me take you to..."

                                            >She suddenly stops in her tracks, you almost falling from the wheelchair.

                                            >"You know... I was supposed to take you to room 506, but the patients in there are a bit... rowdy."

                                            >She spins you around and resumes her march towards another corridor.

                                            >"That won't do at all. I'll better take you to room 409. You'll have a better time there!"

                                            >Is everyone here that quirky?

                                            >Whatever the case, it doesn't really matter.

                                            >Hospitalized or on the run, is all the same right now.


                                            Meanwhile in room 506

                                            >｢Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!｣

                                            "Shut it you muppet!"

                                            >You are Anonyeemoose, currently in bed at the hospital.

                                            >"You know, If someone had waggered to me I would get to see a man get crushed in a tornado by a flying cow, I would have lost all of my money."

                                            >[Little Prince] just laughs harder.

                                            >｢Old Mcdonald had a farm!.｣

                                            >You throw your pillow at him but he just dodges it and keeps singing.

                                            "I was so close. I almost had him Sean, you have to believe me!"

                                            >"Yeah, sure. You 'had him'." he says making air quotes.

                                            "I swear. It was as if I got cursed with bad luck just for a moment. I should have won!"

                                            >"Anyways, I have two good news for you."

                                            "Huh?"

                                            >"First, the cow is alright, and its owner won't press any charges against you."

                                            "Oh... I guess that is good."

                                            >"And second, that sensei you like so much called to my phone."

                                            "W-w-w-w-what?"

                                            >"I'd normally get angry for giving away MY number instead of yours, but I think you had enough for today."

                                            "I don't care about that! What did he say?!"

                                            >"He mentioned something about his sister coming home and that a friend of hers cured her speech impediment. In light of that happy event, he decided to give you a second chance and 'train you' after all."

                                            >You jump from your bed and dance in place.

                                            "Yeah baby! We are gonna rock it! We are going to train to become the strongest stand users this city has ever seen!"

                                            >"You are still pulling me into this? At least give me back the money from your lunch!"

                                            >｢And ask that sensei to teach you how to defend your sides!｣


                                            Back to Care

                                            >You get wheeled swiftly among the other patients.

                                            >Surprisingly, not many were hurt by the tornado.

                                            >You see a few bruised people and some other with barely any scrapes.

                                            >You'd say it is kind of unfair for you to be the only one with an injury so bad, but you are used to getting the short end of the stick.

                                            >As you get closer to your new room, you feel your arm smart right where that man had touched you before.


                                            >If the treatment didn't work right, you know it will be his fault.

                                            >"Today has been eventful, first a tornado, a patient wakes up from a coma, and there's even a guy that was injured by playing with cattle!"

                                            >You begin to think this woman became a nurse only to gossip.

                                            >"And here we are! Make yourself comfortable and be nice to your roommate!"

                                            >The nurse drops you inside and leaves before you even have time to say thanks.

                                            >You pick yourself up from the ground.

                                            "What a crazy wo-"

                                            >!

                                            >"I-"

                                            >Your words get stuck in your throat.

                                            >Your arm is burning up, but you don't care.

                                            >Right in front of you is a living miracle, surrounded by teddy bears, flowers and 'get well' cards.

                                            >A few seconds pass, and finally she speaks first.

                                            >"I... had a dream. With men in black uniforms, homeless women, swordsmen, flying lemons and refrigerators... and I was very scared."

                                            >You can't manage to say a thing, only to stare at her uneven teary eyes.

                                            >"Then everything went black and cold... and I felt as if I sank into despair."

                                            >"But... I saw a little light. A speck so small that I was afraid it would dissipate if I got closer to it. And despite that, I held to it, because it reminded me of you."

                                            >Her tears are falling now.

                                            >"And then, I woke up. And I knew. I knew I would see you again today."

                                            >You jump over the beds and hold her tightly.

                                            "I... I... wanted to see you too."

                                            >You both cry holding each other as if letting go would torn you apart once again.

                                            >But you both knew that wouldn't be the case.

                                            >From your cast came out a little star.

                                            >When both of you hugged it exploded into a myriad of galaxies.

                                            >Each made of little stars containing happy probabilities.

                                            >This time it was so strong both of you could feel it.

                                            >"The future's so bright we should wear shades." Derpy jests.

                                            >You stifle the groan.

                                            >You don't want to admit it, but you think you are beginning to like silly jokes like that.


                                            BONUS TRACK


                                            >Curly Winds did not have a good day.

                                            >He had been tasked to follow Twist and see that she took care of her mission.

                                            >Care Root was supposed to be powerless thanks to what happened to that Dernier girl, so it should have been an easy job.

                                            >But the girls giving the orders didn't want to take any chances with him.

                                            >They even sent out an unstable but powerful freshman to get rid of him.

                                            >"They must have known she was going to explode like that," he talked to himself, a bad habit he picked up from being alone in his missions, "They probably wanted to get rid not only of Care but her too if she ever decided to turn against them. What a bunch of heartless bitches."

                                            >Curly sighed.

                                            >He hadn't talked much to Care Root, but he always thought he was someone who could have befriended him.

                                            >"You'd have expected me to get an ability that created tornadoes, but noooooo. I had to get [Breakdown of Sanity] and get stuck hiding and misdirecting people."

                                            >He spat on the road, his feet hanging from the roof he was hiding.

                                            >"Even so, they seemed happy with the results. Care definitely has no more juice after that flash, and that girl must have grown too afraid to use her stand if she survived that."

                                            >But still, something bothered him a little.

                                            >There was something he didn't include in his report.

                                            >Although his ability covered a huge area, he couldn't determine exactly what his targets could and couldn't see.

                                            >Even he missed out on some information.

                                            >"Was Care Root alone when fighting Twist?"

                                            >The more he thought about it, the more he began to dismiss the idea of other unidentified stand users helping out Care.

                                            >"I would have noticed if someone had used his stand. I could still see everything that happened above the ground."

                                            >He was sure of it.

                                            >It would have made no sense.

                                            >He looked up at the clouds being blown away by the remains of the tornado.

                                            >"Yeah. There's no need to worry. After all, nothing escapes my-"

                                            >A flying shoe with poop on it, being carried by the winds since that afternoon, found its mark on his face.

                                            >And Curly Winds fell into a trash container thus being ｢RETIRED｣.

                                            >All of this went unaware to the oblivious Ziggy Stardust, who had been struggling to push the bell button with his tongue.

                                            >"Oh boy. Doctor Zecora is gonna give me an earful." he said out loud while his partially destroyed body slid to the floor.

                                            >He saw the full moon in the sky, it's radiance covering the whole of Canterlot.

                                            >"Although, it might be worth it if I keep seeing such a beautiful moon every night."

                                            >Many stand users dwell in Canterlot.

                                            >Each of them with their own stories and goals.

                                            >"Ah. I never got the name from that kid... well, it doesn't matter right now." Ziggy laughed to himself.

                                            >But every now and then...fate might bring them closer to give each other a hand.

                                            >And although today has ended, their tales are far from over.

                                            >Their stories are to be continued...