Diamond Is Not Cheap

If you walked past Canterlot High School at Four PM you'd see a cute little scene, a group of young men and women in an ardent (if friendly) conversation. What were they discussing ? Perhaps life, perhaps the future, perhaps what they may do on the weekends or even the back-and-forth gossip of 'who liked who' in their group. It was all very scenic and represented the calm and peaceful lifestyle afforded by those living in Canterlot and Equestria in general, after all nothing unusual happens in Americas third least crime ridden city right ? Wrong.

If, however you guessed that they were discussing magic, supernatural guardians or 'weird events' you'd be dead right.

"A Stand ?" Fluttershy whispered getting a feel for the concept. Magic was one thing but this ? This was just bizarre. A quick glance at Sunset confirmed that she wasn't particularly enamored by the idea but then again she'd had much more experience with magic then she or any of her friends had. Koichi smiled nodding before she could reply though the short teen had yanked Josuke and Okuyasu back into the limelight both boys put out somewhat.

"I thought you said you could handle it Koichi, you know I'm no good at explaining this stuff" huffed Okuyasu, he'd been daydreaming of the after-school strawberry sundae he'd be snacking on right now if Rainbow Dash hadn't decided to get punchy with Josuke.

" I just need you and Josuke for a demonstration is all" he said running his hand through his hair and sighing lightly, corralling his friends could be a chore at times.

Sitting on the sidelines wasn't Applejacks style, she'd been described as 'proactive and headstrong' once by one of her more flowery suitors."Darn pansy couldn't even lift a bale of hay" she thought idly whilst keeping an eye on Rainbow Dash. That girl was more miserable then a steer in a slaughterhouse even if her current misery was justified, you just don't go for someone unless they've done something first. Then again she'd come from the Granny Smith school of learning aka 'Anyone tries to hurt ya you plug 'em in the face' so she couldn't exactly say she wouldn't have done the same thing in her place and mindset. The sight of Pinkie Pie covered in dust, ice cold and unconscious had done a ringer for the athletic girl who'd been at the scene when it had occurred.

"What are they talking about ?" muttered Rarity curiosity evident on her face.

"Something about lands and angels" replied Pinkie Pie matter of factly whilst looking through a pair of binoculars with one hand and stuffing popcorn into her mouth with the other. Having known Pinkie for long enough she didn't question where the girl had obtained the binoculars (quite unnecessary considering they were roughly 4 meters away from each other) or the deckchair and popcorn. That way lied the route to madness. As for land and angels, well it was interesting food for thought. A small part of her squee'd at the idea of Josuke with a pair of beautiful white wings, looking proud and majestic yet still demure and car-

"SWEET CELESTIA ON A STICK !"

Then she noticed the monsters.

The....creatures had barely appeared for a picosecond before Sunset cried out, she rarely used her mentors old name unless it was important --the odd looks she gained in CHS for it had led to that-- but this was most definitely one of those times. She bounded backwards dragging a flailing Fluttershy with her, whatever these things were seeing them up-close seemed like a bad idea. She wasn't the only one to react however if the cries of shock (and one of 'cooool') behind her were any indicator.

Once again however her expectations --rapid dismemberment by the monsters-- had been subverted for the day if the looks of mirth and confusion on their male counterparts were anything to go by.

"What in tarnation are those things !" piped in Applejack as she and the others hesitantly approached, determined to protect their friend from whatever the creatures were.

"This is a Stand" Josuke gestured to the three creatures, two large armored humanoids and one small oddly reptilian like creature "I'm guessing since you all reacted you can all see them right ?"

"Yes indeedy" vouched Pinkie showing no fear as she rapidly observed the Stands, circling them each with an occasional poke to a joint or armor pad before stopping at the reptilian Stand "Why's this one look like a turtle, lizard and a car had se-"

"Pinkie, a lady does NOT ask such questions!" an embarrassed smile was Rarities only answer from the energetic girl before she bounded back to the group.

"Six unmanifested Stand users in one place, all friends ? This is beyond unreal" was all Okuyasu could say boggled by the sheer odds. Even winning the lottery or picking up ultra-rare loot in World of Warhammers was more likely then this and someone had crunched the quintillion-to-one odds on that !

"This is a bit unusual I've got to admit" Koichi quickly ran to his and his friends former grassy seats where their schoolbags lay. Searching within he found his prize the incredibly thick Speedwagon report "Hopefully this may have something to work from, I did only get to page three-hundred and twenty-six". Amongst the uneasy glances of the girls (minus an ever jubilant Pinkie of course), bored sighs of Okuyasu, Jojos reassuring smiles and the rustling of Koichi speed reading a single arm was raised skyward.

"What is it Rainbow Dash ?" the short boy asked in a carefully neutral tone, he still hadn't quite forgiven her even if he had a rough idea of why she attacked his best friend.

"Uhh...whats a Stand ?"

One repeated explanation later and the girls were feeling rather more confident around these 'Guardian Angels', with Sunset taking the lead approaching Crazy Diamond in study first followed by Applejack tapping lightly on the blue and white exterior testing its inherent sturdiness whilst Rarity framed the spirit in her fingers, mentally testing several different designs for the Stand. She could definitely see Josukes touch on it, the strong musculature yet cool feminine touches of the pink screamed a confident man not afraid of being in touch with his sensitive side, that heart motif was very cute as well she had to admit.

Crazy Diamond wasn't the only one to be receiving attention though, The Hand was being led on a merry dance by Pinkie with the girl swinging the silent spirit in one part jitter bug three parts sugar-fueled raving. Echoes on the other hand was given the full 'Fluttershy Experience' as she coo'd over the squeaking wraith. Even Rainbow Dash had left her self-imposed misery giving Echoes a light pat on its shell.

"I always wanted a turtle" she muttered a small smile on her face.

"Oh it's not always like that" replied Koichi as he and the boys leafed through the report, three heads better then one. They were feeling more confident in the girls trustworthiness at this point, none of them were giving off particularly 'evil' vibes so to speak and if they'd wanted to they could of attacked by now so they were more concerned with the sheer oddity of so many friendly simultaneous unmanifested Stand Users then 'whom was the bad guy' so to speak. "Echoes Act2"

With those words the creature glowed softly, the girls withdrawing their hands in fear of being burnt only for Echoes to metamorphosize in front of their eyes into a much larger bio mechanical looking humanoid, elements of the 'old' Echoes apparent in its coloring and elongated tail. Whilst a tad shocked Fluttershy began petting the creature once more returning to her prior banter with the now mute creature.

"So it's a Pokemon ?" asked Rainbow trying to wrap her head around the Stands sudden change in appearance. Could Josukes and Okuyasus evolve as well ? If they could they'd probably have enough experience by now the way the girls were treating their Stands.

Chuckling Josuke nudged his friend "Show 'em Act3, i'll bet they'll love him"

Sighing Koichi nodded, he knew if he didn't they'd only get distracted and he needed as much help as he could getting through the monolithic --and exceedingly dry-- text of this report for any kind of 'mass stand awakening'.

"Echoes Act3"

Curious this time Rainbow placed her hand on Echoes Act2's shell followed by Fluttershy, both girls smiling at each other. A tingling warmth enveloped their hands as the burly figure once more lit up, this time shrinking to roughly its users height. When the glow subsided they found themselves touching a pale green humanoid figure covered in 'pads' and wearing a loincloth emblazoned with the number three. Rainbow found him cute in kind of an action figure way though he-

" 'Sup Bitches"

The girls backpedaled in shock, it had talked ! The damn thing talked !

Letting out a gleeful chuckle the spirit floated in mid air, reclining lazily in front of its owner with a cocky smirk on its face "You throw quite the party boss, lots of cute girls eh ? " glaring at the talkative Stand he focused for a second, Echoes Act3 suddenly bean glowing once more, as it was transforming however it turned and winked at Rainbow dash giving the girl a parting cry of "Happy Trails !" before returning to its diminutive Act1 form.

"What. The. Hell."

"Yeah sorry about that Rainbow" Koichi said casually "Act3 can be a bit mouthy at times but he's got a good heart."

Approaching the now cute-and-cuddly Act1 Fluttershy paused "Can they all talk ?"

Okuyasu replied this time, rooting around his ear with disinterest at their rapidly ending search through the report "Nah, sometimes they make noises but there's only a few with their own personality really...our bosses think their could be more though" the mention of their 'bosses' however caught Sunsets attention. She'd been the only one to really overhear the conversation with Echoes Act 3 such were the girls focus on their new playmates --Applejack even punching Crazy Diamond lightly on the arm to confirm Josukes claim of it being 'stupid tough'-- but had seen things far more surreal then creatures unexpectedly talking (it was the quiet that had gotten to her upon arriving in this world, so many creatures were just...silent) and wandered over to investigate.

Before she could begin though she was interrupted by Koichi frustratingly slamming the massive report into the grass followed by Okuyasu growling in disgust, Josuke took a more relaxed approach however and merely laid back onto the grass sighing.

"Nothing, over eight-hundred pages and not a single damn thing" grumbled the blonde a scowl on his face.

"You know what lets just do this the old fashioned way" Josuke said standing up once more and rubbing his left arm slightly, Applejack had a strong punch. "Guys, go get your stuff and give me a few minutes alone with them this'll be over one way or the other.......Yo girls !"

The six teens all approached Josuke, missing the disappearance of The Hand and Crazy Diamond whilst Echoes Act1 faded from a disappointed Fluttershys arms. They all seemed fairly upbeat from their experience with the Stands although Rainbow Dash had returned to her morose state, now with her Guitar case over her shoulder once more.

"So we've looked through --though more skimmed on his part-- the report and found nothing like this so I've got to ask you a few questions ok ? No good cop bad cop crap though just simple to-the-point questions" the girls nodded in response, Sunset the most obviously curious from the looks she had been giving their Stands. "Have you ever encountered or been shot with an arrow...not a wooden one either like normal but one made out of a weird brown stone" from the looks on their faces he'd take that as a no "Ok then have any of your family ever exhibited weird abilities ?"

At that question Sunset began giggling, curious Josuke approached the girl making sure to make himself not seem intimidating "Whats so funny ?"

"It's a in joke, you wouldnt understand" she replied with a smile.

"Try me."

"Well" began Sunset "You seem dead-set that we're Stand Users but I've already given you the answer to all of our 'abilities'. It's all magic"

Josuke rolled his eyes in frustration "Magic doesn't exist, if you can see and touch a Stand though your a user, nothing else can do so. Its a scientific fact !"

"There's science regarding spirit creatures ?" the teen snarked in response.

Sighing Josuke balled his fists slightly "Look me and the guys have been in with our bosses for tests, Okuyasu ? His Stand can erase ANYTHING with its right hand, that's how he got your friend out of that 'Dark dimension energy drain spell'" bunny ears were used liberally when said 'spell' was mentioned "Koichi can create an area with over five hundred times its own gravity and Crazy Diamond can shatter a three inch plate of titanium with a single punch and repair the damn thing afterwards !"

"Sounds like magic to me."

"How the hell can you be so sure !" was his only reply so infuriated at the girls flippant responses.

"Simple" Sunset replied "I know magic exists because i've used it before, I came from a world where magic flowed freely. Hell this isn't my original form either ! Where I came from I was talking Unicorn !"

Jojos look said everything she needed to hear on the subject.

"I am NOT crazy"

"It kinda sounds like it when you say it like that sugarcube" muttered Applejack, the group mostly silent at the battle of wills going on before them.

"S-sure thing Unicron girl" Jojo snickered, the absurdity of such a straight faced claim getting to him. "S-so can y-you show me some of this magic ? Like get your horn out or som-"

"Can I interrupt" asked Rainbow Dash quietly, both Jojo and Sunset looked at the girl wondering what she could have to say.

"I know things have kind of spiraled with us Josuke and you don't have any reason to believe me but Sunset is telling the truth, she and another girl both came through a magic portal inside the school statue, you know the horse one ? Sunset would show you some magic but it doesn't really exist in our world."

"So then.....you've got no proof."

"Well I kinda do" Rainbow whispered looking at the floor hefting her Guitar case around "I was gonna show you girls but after what I did today I don't really feel I deserve to so...uh Applejack if you don't' mind ?"

The farm girl pointed at herself "What me ? You know I can't play that damn guitar of yours I'm a bass player !"

"Wheres this going exactly Rainbow Dash ?" asked a concerned Rarity, her friend rarely ever let anyone else play her guitar unless it was for something serious.

"There practically the same thing AJ, I don't need you to do anything fancy just shred a bit, it's ok Rarity you'll see in a minute"

Shaking her head in exasperation Applejack popped the case open revealing a slightly battered green electric guitar, after a few moments of making herself comfortable she began strumming lightly, the rainbow colored pick causing the strings to reverberate in a satisfying manner. After a few seconds of this she raised her speed, the strings now blurring to Josukes eyes, that wasn't the only thing blurring though.....

A red energy suffused itself around the girl as she seemingly levitated off the ground. As the whine of the strings grew faster though so did the energies opaqueness before finally (with a shrieking crescendo) the energy shattered revealing a slowly descending applejack, now resonating with a light glow as well as the owner of a cute set of horse like ears and a floor length ponytail.

To the agape Josuke --no doubt full of questions-- Sunset had a single word answer.

"Maaaagic"