MLJ: SAM CH5 IT BEGINS

MY LITTLE JOJO: STANDS ARE MAGIC
CHAPTER 5: IT BEGINS
OPEN THE GAME!

>So, someone with a Stand you have no idea about just sent shards of a soulstone all across Equestria(?)
>If you weren't just waking up from a night-long train ride, you might be quite nonplussed about this
>As it is, you're too busy snuggling with Fluttershy
>Christ, you were hoping last night was a nightmare
>You thought Wind Rider was joking about that 'threatening aura'
>And what was he trying to say to that cloud-copy in the club?
>And why did he sound like what he sounded like?
>Was his Stand's power activated at the time?
>It probably was, but what was it?
>Was he manipulating your perception of time? Time itself? Your mind?
>Fuck, you're not awake enough to answer those questions
>You rise to get off of your bunk when you bump into Rarity in the walking space
"Shit, sorry about that."
>R -"No problem dear. Could you get Fluttershy up? We're home."
>You turn to Fluttershy and pick her up, trying your best to wake her up
"Come on Fluttershy, we're back in Ponyville."
>F -"...nngh...five more minutes, honey..."
>Well, that was unexpected
>Probably had quite the dream last night, what with all the bucking around
>Nonetheless, it was time to wake up
>...
>Maybe you could give her a few minutes
>She's too goddamned adorable
>You could carry he-
>Wait, what are you talking about?
>There a metric shitton of stuff to discuss
>The time for sleep has passed
"Come on Fluttershy, you gotta get up."
>She's roused from her sleep and follows you and everyone else out of the train
>You all reconvene at the castle, Wind Rider included
"So..."
>Fuck how do you start?
>T -"Let's just get the obvious question out of the way."
>Oh good, you were hoping someone else would take charge of this conversation
>T -"What happened last night?"
>RD -"I think it's pretty obvious what happened. Something attacked us and we ran away."
>T -"You know that's not all that happened, Rainbow."
>W -"Actually, speaking of last night, what did he talk to you about when you were knocked down?"
>AJ -"Sweet sassafras, how did we not notice ya? Ah apologize."
"No no, it's fine. You were terrified out of your mind. I would've done the same in your shoes."
>W -"So, as you were saying..."
"Right. Long and short of it is whoever was talking to me through his stand was basically bashing ponies, talking about how they don't know suffering and pain, and that he would show it to them."
>W -"Really? That's all. Either you're leaving something out or he's a sloooow talker."
"Well, he did mention me by name."
>S -"And you didn't bring this up first."
"Shut up, I'm tired."
"Anyways, he said something about me knowing and understanding pain. That I 'didn't look at like through rose-colored glasses.' It was weird."
>F -"Why would he say that?"
>No need to draw attention to yourself
"No idea. I lived a pretty good life back home."
>Not exactly a lie, no need to inform them otherwise
>You didn't need another shitstorm after last week
>P -"I dunno Nonny. It seems silly for him to mention that if it wasn't true."
"Look, that's not really the most pressing matter here."
>AJ -"I dunno Anon. That seems pretty important if he knew something about ya."
>Shit, that's a good point. How in the hell did he know enough to make those claims?
"While, admittedly, the fact that he knows me freaks me out to no end, that's not the most important thing to discuss at this moment, considering whoever the hell that was at the club also flung every shard of that soulstone out... wherever."
>T -"He's got a point."
>Good deflection, me
>Thanks, other me. I try
>T -"No one is that impulsive to just send a bunch of soulstones flying out like that. Besides, he did something with them beforehand. But what?"
>S -"If I were a betting mare, I'd say this has something to do with those Stand things you were talking about last week. He clearly knew enough to hire someone who has one to attempt to steal something that gave you one."
"Technically it didn't GIVE me one. It just helped you bring it out from me."
>S -"Nonetheless, he knew enough about what happened to want it. Hell, I'm pretty sure whatever that thing we saw in the mind-link WAS his Stand."
"Wait, how did you see it?"
>S -"What do you mean?"
"I probably should have mentioned this before, but non-Stand-users can't see Stands, as demonstrated back when Wind Rider attacked us."
>AJ -"That sorta thing mighta been nice to mention beforehand Anon."
"Look, I just discovered I had one. I'm sorry I couldn't exactly give out a 'How to accept your friend as a Stand user' pamphlet. I wasn't even sure it WAS one at first."
>P -"Nonny has a point, Applejack. Heck, I was confused when I got MY stand at first. But now we're best buds! Isn't that right BB?"
>BB -"Hay yeah Pinkie, gimme some hoof!"
>BB appears next to Pinkie and gives here a high hoof, and you're pretty sure you hear a guitar riff coming from somewhere
"Alright stop, stop. We're getting off track. How did you see it if you aren't a Stand User?"
>S -"Well, we WERE seeing what Wind Rider was seeing, and he's one."
>...
>Good point
>T -"So what was he doing to the stone pieces? Enchanting them with the ability to give ponies Stands?"
>S -"I'd guess so. Does he think it'll spread chaos and suffering across Equestria?"
"I don't know. All I know is that we should probably find them before shit gets out of hand."
>Sp -"Uh, guys, I have an idea."
>T -"That's all we can do at this point."
>Sp -"No, we could-"
>AJ -"Well, I'll make sure to keep watch for 'em around the farm."
>Sp -"Guys, I ha-"
>R -"I'll help look around town for them when I can. Anypony else have any way to assist us?"
>Sp -"Guys, I-"
>F -"I guess I could search around the Everfree when I get the chance. Maybe Nonny could come with me. HE has a Stand. He could protect me."
>Did she just call you Nonny?
>Isn't that Pinkie's thing?
>Sp -"GUYS-"
>P -"Wait, I'm a Stand User too. I could come with you! It'll be like a St-"
>Sp -"GUUUUUUYYYYYYS!!"
>Everyone looks over at Spike in shock
>Noticing he has everypony's attention, he begins to speak
>Sp -"I was thinking we could write a letter? Y'know, to Princess Celestia?"
>Well you feel stupid
>T -"Great idea Spike! Take a letter!"
>Twilight conjures up a quill and paper, and Spike grabs them eagerly
>Sp -"Just like the good old days."
>T -"*ahem* Dear Princess Celestia..."

"The past week has been somewhat hectic, and I write to inform you that something terrible might be afoot."
>What could possibly be wrong? So they had a run-in with Wind Rider (if the hospital reports were to be believed), what could possibly be going wrong?
"To properly explain, I also need to tell you of what happened to the human I have in my care, Anon Y Mouse."
>Ah, yes, the human who was brought here a few months ago. Nice enough. Not much for conversation, but a good lad nonetheless.
>You have to bring him over for tea sometime, check up on him
"He says he's gained something he calls a Stand."
>...
>You're sure he's talking about something completely different than what you're thinking of
>Surely
"Pinkie has also claimed to have gained one."
>That's probably just Pinkie being Pinkie
>Yeah, there's no way she has a Stand
>Nope, you're pretty sure she doesn't have one
"We currently have retired Wonder bolt Wind Rider with us, who claims to have one as well."
>S-surely he doesn't know what he's talking about
>There's no way he could have one...
>Right?
"Anon says he got his when Starlight tried to examine his body for any latent magical energies. It was a clump of energy near his heart that Starlight had found and dragged out."
>...
>That sounds familiar
>Too familiar
"If you have any idea what these Stands are, we would like any information you have on them."
>You'll tell her just enough to satisfy her
>You swear she's just too curious for her own good
>Just like Starswirl
"But back to my main point, we fear someone may be trying to spread Stands across Equestria."
>How would one do that?
"Wind Rider was hired by someone to steal the soulstone that Starlight used to bring out Anon's stand. We followed him to the next meeting with his employer and were attacked by him."
>Ohhhhhh dear, this can only end badly
"Anon says the assailant knew him, and that he was somewhat sympathetic towards him."
>The next few lines are a direct quote from the assailant to Anon
>Is he the one who brought Anon here?
>Why would he bring Anon here, of all places?
>Why does he care so much about ponies 'understanding pain and suffering'?
>*Sigh* Whoever it is, he's dead set on bringing it upon your populace
>And you wouldn't have that
>You dealt with Discord
>You dealt with 「DARK SIDE OF THE MOON」
>You can handle this
>Some upstart villain thinks he can take Equestria on?
>He'll see what happens when he threatens the bull
>Or country of ponies, in this case
>You had taken care of the Stand problem before
>You can do it again
>But you would need some help
>You teleport to Luna's room and awaken her from her slumber
>"Good morning sister. How have you been?"
>You hand the letter you got from Twilight to her
>Her expression goes from curious to worrisome as she reads on
>"Oh my. This spells nothing but trouble. What would you have us do, sister?"
"Go down to Starswirl's workshop and dig up his old notes on Stands. We need to be prepared for anything."
>"Anything else?"
>Whoever this was was clearly dead set on causing as much chaos as possible
>Unbeknownst to them, however, you also had a way to create Stands
"Get the Arrow."
>"Are you sure that will be needed sister?"
"We're taking every precaution."
>"Shall I reform the Starswirl Brigade?"
"Normally, I'd say that was only for the worst-case scenario, but it seems that scenario has arrived."
>You swear you should have just smashed that universe-traversing-mirror when Starswirl first showed it to you
>Would have saved you the trouble of dealing with this now
>...
>No, there's no point in acting like you could change anything
>This world was headed down this path, and there is no way of preventing that at this point
>All you can do now is do your best to ease it along the right route
>Here we go

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