Diamond Is Not Cheap

Plans and strategies were something of a forte for her, she'd mastered 'social-fu' as some of the snobbier girls at CHS had refereed to it within a matter of weeks. Humanity was very much more ill at ease with themselves and their emotions then Pony-kind and thus easier to read, manipulate and cajole, she wasn't necessarily proud of the fact that she was good at it but it was a skill that even in her newly reformed time had saved her from the odd intimidating situation with the many people she'd wronged.

Which was why Sunset Shimmer was aghast when Rainbow Dash ( a girl she'd pegged as reckless but also generally harmless) dropped her guitar case and practically launched herself at the unsuspecting Jojo, --his back turned to the unseen girls whilst in discussion with his friends-- tackling the boy to the ground.

"I'll teach you to try and hurt my friends you Evil Wizard bastard!" she cried slamming her fists in the fallen teens back. His two friends however rapidly attempted to remove the furious girl only to be held back by her flailing fists. A competent warrior she was not but her sheer anger and energy were making up for what skill couldn't. Despite having over five feet in height and around thirty pounds in weight over the slim (if athletic) girl Jojo seemed to content to continue eating dirt and let the girl attack his unprotected back, either out of fear or perhaps some form of male chivalry she'd heard existed here --What was it Flash had said once....'You never hit a girl even if she's hitting you' or something like that ?-- either way his friends had turned to them since they were unable to remove the girl.

All in all it was a poor showing for a guy that Rarity had been harping on about all day. Doubly so if he was some kind of Dark Wizard, any competent magic user would of not only been able to detect the girls charge but throw her away as if she were an insect.

"What the hell is Rainbow Dash doing !" yelled the shorter of his companions, his hair seemingly rising of its own accord with golden strands defying the neat comb work they'd been given. This must have been the Koichi both Rainbow and Rarity described.

"Being an idiot" mumbled Applejack pulling her hat over her eyes, she'd give it a few more seconds then intervene if Rainbow hadn't worn herself out, that girl was looking for a mighty heap of trouble. It didn't help things that Pinkie had bounded over there alternating between 'removing' Rainbow Dash (a wasted effort) and vehemently apologizing for the girl 'being a big hotheaded meaniepants'. Fluttershy was no good either, her 'stare' might have been able to calm the hotheaded girl from her violent attack but she was too busy attending the unconscious Rarity who --for once-- had actually fainted for real.

Shrugging the taller of the two (definitely Okuyasu from Pinkies escapade in the 'darkness cube' ) had a surprisingly nonchalant look on his face even as his friend was getting rapidly beaten upon "Eh Josuke's a tough guy, he's been in plenty of fights before...not with girls admittedly but as long as she-"

"You think you can hurt my friends with your dark magic you loser, you think your so cool with your weird outfit and your stupid hair !"

Sunset felt a pit open up in her stomach if the looks on the boys faces meant what she thought it did.

"I'd tell Pinkie Pie to back away quick if I were you" was her only explanation from Okuyasu.

Things were about to get bad.

Dark Wizard powers ? Bah this guy was a pansy, just lying in the dirt taking all her super-cool punches like a hunk of meat. She could take him with or without Pinkie pulling at her...or his weird friends, hell she could ta-

The number one athlete of CHS train of though was immediately derailed by the unexpected rising of Mount Josuke, one minute flat on his face and the next throwing her off with ease. Shocked she lay there in the dirt, things definitely not going for her short --and rapidly dawning on her-- stupid plan. Terror blossomed though when she noticed the 'transformation' that had overtaken the seemingly laid-back guy she'd encountered in the few classes they'd had together. His whole demeanor was different, threatening and reeking of menace. Needless to say Rainbow realized she was screwed.

"What the fuck did you say about my hair!" Josuke roared an evil glint in his eye even as he turned slowly to face the girl.

"Uhh....it was cool"

The lame smile didn't help, if anything it seemed to aggravate the boy even more.

"Don't fucking lie to me, you said it was stupid didn't you asshole !" with that he hefted the girl off the ground, one hand gripping the scruff of her collar. The look of fright etched on her face said it all, she hadn't realized he was anywhere near this strong. "I oughta break your face so much you wouldn't recognize it in the mirror" he growled "So be happy it's just gonna be your nose" with that he pulled back his arm ready for the strike, the other holding the now-struggling girl aloft.

"Josuke stop please !"

Wrapped around the taller boys torso was the thin frame of Fluttershy, desperately trying to hold his arm away from hurting her friend tears spilling from her eyes.

"I know what Rainbow did was wrong, she was stupid and violent and we WILL punish her for this but please...please don't hurt her...shes our friend...she was..she was just trying to protect us."

The petite girls tearful face awoke the gentler nature in the boy, his blind rage ebbing away as quickly as it arrived. Visibly sagging he lowered Rainbow Dash to the ground whom scurried back to her --noticeably distant-- friends, her only greeting being a light smack across the head from Applejack and glares from Pinkie and the boys.

"Its you" was all Josuke mumbled looking down at the girl in an an awkward embrace with him.

"I...umm...never got to thank you for saving Angel...well I tried but you couldn't hear me" she whispered returning to her naturally shy demeanor.

"FLUTTERSHY HOW COULD YOU!"

"Aww darn it Rarities woken up" Applejack had had just about enough of today.

Moving through the newly brewing -one sided-- argument between Rarity and a released Fluttershy, the cold shoulders given by the remaining group to Rainbow Dash and the boys relief at their friends abrupt return to his usual self Sunset approached a disheveled Josuke now attempting to remove the grass stains from his uniform.

"I think we all need to have a good long talk, don't you ?"

After five minutes of separation and cool down time both groups had returned to whatever could be considered normal in such a situation. The girls recovering their composure (especially Rarity whom had expressed incredulity at the idea of her Jojo thuggishly attempting to attack Rainbow Dash) whilst the boys huddled together planning their next move. With a single gesture Sunset imitated the boys, the girls grouping together in a circle, even a quiet Rainbow Dash no doubt reeling from her rash attack and subsequent trouncing. She'd been distant and withdrawn since the event even ignoring the harsh questions Rarity had thrown at her regarding the assault, barely mumbling in response.

"Alright then girls if Fluttershy is right and I've no reason to doubt her then Josuke is our 'wizard'. Now I'm the one here with the most experience in magic so please....let me take the lead ok ?"

The girls all nodded --Pinkie Pie practically shaking her head off-- which was good enough for Sunset. Her friends kept their word. Just as she was about to separate from the huddle however she felt a small-but-strong hand grip her forearm. Following it up to its owner she found herself staring into Fluttershys aquamarine eyes.

"I know he was a bit...umm...scary when fighting with Rainbow but please don't be frightened of him, he's got a kind heart in him. I just know it."

As much as the former Unicorn wanted to believe her friend she just couldn't remove the vision of Josuke holding Rainbow Dash like a rag doll, practically eager at the chance to hurt her. Swallowing her fear though she gave the pink-haired teen a nervous smile.

"Don't worry Fluttershy I can take care of myself" was what she said "I hope" was what she thought however as she broke away from the comforting embrace of her friends. What she wouldn't give to have her horn back now.....

Noticing his counterpart in the girls group approaching the center between their respective 'zones' (concrete for the girls, grassy field for the boys) Josuke ended their little planning session. It was simple enough. Talk to the leader-girl about stands, if things got violent again --even with Rainbow now in some shock over how easily he'd defeated her the possibility was still there-- then they'd let loose, Koichi and Okuyasu could back him up. He'd doubt it would happen since Fluttershy (he was sure that's what they called her) seemed to be pretty demure but then his experiences back home with him had shown how appearances could be deceiving. He stretched his back out slightly, that girl was surprisingly dense for someone so slim, before leaving the group he gave a quick wink to let them know to stay on their guard for anything unusual.

Strolling towards the girl a ready smile on his face he couldn't help but feel a slight twinge at how uncomfortable she looked, he guessed violence was unusual for her and he hadn't exactly been a model gentleman during the scuffle. Time to rectify that.

"Names Josuke" he said sticking his hand out in greeting to the girl "I know a few of your friends, Rarity and....uh Rainbow Dash, sorry 'bout that by the way, but I don't know your name."

Hesitantly the girl accepted his hand, her grip surprisingly weak.

"I'm Sunset Shimmer and i'd like to first of all apologize for Rainbow Dash, she's a hothead and whilst what she did was really stupid what Fluttershy-

"Straight pink hair ?" Josuke asked pointing at the girl whom dashed from the finger, hiding behind Pinkie Pie whom had somehow obtained a fold out chair and popcorn during the scant few seconds both of them had last seen her.

"-yeah, the girl with the hat is Applejack and the one stuffing her face...." Sunset frowned slightly "...that's Pinkie Pie, but back to Fluttershy what she said was right, Rainbow Dash thought she was protecting us from...well..you."

A dark eyebrow raised slowly.

"How so ?"

Sunsets frown deepened "Don't play coy Josuke, Fluttershy saw you heal Angel with some kind of regenerative pink energy. A cell restoration spell perhaps ? Or what about your sudden burst of strength during your scuffle, looked like a basic Boost-and-go to me" she sighed "Look i'll cut to the point, we know you've got magic somehow, what we want to know is were you the one to create that dark dimension energy drain spell and if so why ? You don't really seem like the 'I want to be an immortal liche-lord' kind of guy to me."

The teen tensed, it was all or nothing now. If she was wrong he'd probably splatter her across the landscape, if it did happen then at least she'd be the only victim and her friends could escape. Perhaps it'd be worth it ? A worthy sacrifice to make up for all the harm she'd done this world.

What she wasn't expecting was the boy to burst into laughter.

Not just any laughter though, a full on belly laugh that was a tad unsettling if the looks on her friends face said anything, her only response to it was a shrug. This was just too weird. Wiping the joy-tears from his eyes however the taller boy gestured to his friends .

"Come over here guys you gotta hear this, not only do they think we're magic but that we're using EVIL magic" the joke needing to be shared apparently.

"That sounds about right" muttered Okuyasu a small smile on his face as he sauntered over hands deep in his jacket pockets Koichi at his side hair now returned to its more controlled look.

"Look if your not using magic then what else is there ? Did you come through the portal ?" this was starting to give Sunset a headache.

"Not more Alien crap" sighed Okuyasu, he'd had more then enough of that back in Morioh no matter how nice said 'Alien' was it was still infuriating trying to figure it all out.

"If I may Josuke ?" interjected Koichi a focused look on his face.

"Hey be my guest you were the one who read the full report" with that Josuke stepped to the side allowing the shortest of the three to take center stage.

Radiating competence the boy gave Sunset a friendly smile "Could you bring your friend over please...Fluttershy was it ?"

"Uh yeah" between a simple 'come here' gesture and frenzied shoving from Rarity and co the girl scurried over to Sunset and the boys, she clung tightly to her friend though reluctant to the extreme. Even with the relaxing smiles of the three guys and her presence she doubted Fluttershy would give much more then a squeak to any questions or attention.

"Sunset, you seem to know something of 'magic' and Fluttershy is reported by Josuke to have seen 'something' when he healed her rabbit correct ?" said the teen in a slow methodical and matter of fact way. The girls simply nodded in response.

"This 'magic' of yours doesn't exist, what Fluttershy saw and what you attribute to magic is in fact something rather different. In fact we suspect Fluttershy may unintentionally be the cause of some of the problems in this town and the school, maybe even the incident a few days ago" there was snort of indignation from Okuyasu but Koichi continued "It's got many different names in multiple cultures, some call it a guardian angel or ghost-spirit, whilst only those truly in touch with their spiritual side can manifest it fully its abilities can be unwillingly activated by its user in dangerous or stressful situations of which your uh...shy friend would no doubt be involved in regularly."

Feeling out of her depth yet immensely curious Sunset couldn't help but interrupt "Whats it called then this 'not-magic' ?"

With an almost ominous tone Josuke answered her.

"It's called a Stand."