My Little Pony: Phantom Shimmer

Days and nights passed until the evening engagement party was held in the main hall of the Joestar Manor. Many friends, classmates, peers and business partners attended. From far exotic countries to the simple baker of the local town. It seemed the whole world came together for but two people joined in matrimony. However this could not be said for JoJo as he looked around the crowd from the second floor by himself.

Alone, he felt as if he was surrounded by strangers, not one he recognized outside of the few classmates he'd only ever greeted. These were but numbers to fill something that he couldn't understand. He had everything a privileged youth could ask for, yet he worked hard as any lower class boy as he grew into a man, he earned his achievements and status. Even so the emptiness within his chest only grew ever colder.

He wanted to feel something, joy or anxiety, yet there was none. He felt nothing.

"Jonathan?"

His head snapped to the side as Trixie made her way to his side. A dazzling gown with an ice blue hue that grew into an ocean blue from her stomach down. Dark violet silk gloves that glittered like a starry night sky. Her snow white hair bounced freely as that of the mane of a sacred mare.

He smiled the one he had for so long, a glass mask he hid behind these past seven years, and took his betrothed by the arm in a hook with his own.

"Ah, yes they're waiting for us!"

"Wait."

She halted and anchored him in place as she took off a glove to gently caress his face.

"I'm worried that... Something will go wrong. It's selfish of me to ask of you but, could I stay by your side for the rest of the evening?"

He took her hand with a soft kiss as he nodded.

"That had been my intention from the start, my dear... Though I must ask you, have you seen Twilight? I'd thought she would be with Dio or Father's colleagues downstairs."

She only leaned into him moaning lowly.

"I asked her to run an errand! It's dreadful but we were but a few bottles short on wine, and she simply insisted on going herself instead of one of the servants. I urged and urged but, you know Twilight."

"As stubborn as ever... Well, let's enjoy ourselves..."

Trixie giggled as she nuzzled into her lover's embrace, but Jonathan could only stare back as his smiled faded some, his mind stagnant on Twilight as he inwardly prayed she'd be safe. He fixed his cracked mask as Trixie looked up to him and they walked out to the crowd that showered them in their praise.

Twilight huffed as she ran through the streets. She couldn't believe it, not a servant to go fetch a few bottles of wine, Nora single store open to buy from. She thought it odd that from the windows, all the wine had been taken away.

She still could remember Trixie's condescending voice.

"We're like sister's aren't we? If no one is around to get any, then maybe you could go get it? I'd do it myself but whoever heard of a bride being late to her own engagement party?! They'd all get the wrong idea, and I would kill myself if I ever hurt JoJo that way!~"

Twilight scoffed as her brows furrowed. She would not be deterred from her goal. This was for JoJo alone, she thought to herself as she entered a bar. She blinked as the patrons were far from gentleman. Ruffians, thugs, sailors and whores all mingled amongst each other until Twilight had entered. She gulped some, not that she was afraid, but she knew this wasn't her place. To them she was a tresspasser in their society.

She approached the bar counter with a nervous giggle and fingerwave.

"H-Hello... I'd uh, I'd like a bottle of wine?"

The barkeep sneered as he spat to the side.

"You even old enough to walk out this late? Ain't you heard about the Ripper, dolly?"

"I have, and it doesn't matter, this is important. I'll pay whatever price, I only need one bottle."

She silently berated herself. The murderer of the century was most active in this area. She felt like an absolute fool as few of the patrons began to near her. One man sat right by her as he put money on the counter. He tipped his bowler hat up with a sly smirk.

"Cheers luv'! Ain't right of one of the upper class to come down 'ere to mingle with us poorer folk. Lemme treat ya this bottle, eh?"

"Rich or poor, I don't judge one by their status, but by their heart."

The man gasped comedically with a chuckle.

"Is tha' right?~ And how does this mysterious lass, judge by one's heart, eh?"

"Through their actions, sir... But perhaps judge was the wrong word, forgive me."

A few of the patrons raised their brows as they glanced at each other. Many began talking amongst themselves again, but Twilight could feel them all still staring at her. The man took his hat off to run a hand through his unkempt hair. She noted the scar on his face as she glanced to him from time to time.

"Forgive you? You ain't done nothin' to me! 'ave you?"

"I can't say exactly... I feel that I've been the one wronged honestly, but I can't tell who, so it may be myself I need to apologize to."

"Might be."

The bottle made it to the counter as Twilight took it. She looked to the thuggish man.

"Thank you for this. What is your name?"

He thumbed to himself with a prideful grin.

"R.E.O. Speedwagon, milady!~ I can escort you if you'd like!"

"I wouldn't want to impose, you've been quite a gentleman."

"You've seen the riff raff 'ere!~ Ain't no wenches nor servants to help you out there! Besides, it'd make us lower class look like animals if you ended up dead in the snow somewhere!"

She only nodded as Speedwagon hopped out of his seat and opened the door for Twilight. As they traversed the roads, she noticed that the air grew colder, the area only grew further dilapidated, she swore to herself that the walls snarled at her under the howling blizzard winds.

"I don't believe this is the right way...!"

"Cause it's not! Sorry luv' but it's nothing personal. Just plain business!"

"What...?!"

He turned and tapped the tip of his hat as the edges fell away. Blades revealed underneath as men crept out of the alleys of the street. It had dawned on her on just what street as well. Ogre Street.

Speedwagon sighed lowly with a frown.

"Y'know, I really wish we didn't have to do this, but we were paid just a small sum and couldn't refuse! Judge us however you want, this is a street dog's life!"

He threw his head up with the hat in the air, a flick of his wrist at it caused it to spin at incredible speeds, rotating fast enough to fly about before he sent it right for her head.

"A clean quick painless kill my darling, don't say I didnt do you any-"

She held up a hand as it and the hat were enveloped by a bright violet aura. The hat curved past her and around back to Speedwagon. He was so stunned he couldn't dodge the attack. He never saw anything like it and now he wouldn't be able to see the end of his life. Or so he thought until it fell to his feet.

"... Wh-What was that?!"

"I'm not afraid to defend myself from all of you. I can't die here and let the one I love be alone!"

Speedwagon was astounded by Twilight. This meek girl turned into a powerful woman in but a moment. The others began to charge but he shouted out.

"Wait you morons! Lass!"

He pointed at Twilight with sweat beading down his brow.

"That was magic, wasn't it?"

"Yes."

"... That was, Equestrian magic, right?"

Her eyes widened as one of the thugs uttered out.

"Y-Ya mean like Spike, boss? You ain't thinking that-"

Speedwagon hissed at the man.

"Shut ye gob! I asked her, not you!"

She nodded slowly.

"I'm from Equestria... How would you know of it?"

"Because we got one of our own from there... Would you... Would you know anything about a treating a disease he's got?!"

Speedwagon bit his tongue. He just attempted to kill this girl, and yet out of desperation he asked an idiotic question. He grumbled and growled as he kicked the hat up ready for another attack.

"I'll do anything I can. Please, take me to him."

"Of course you wouldn't you... Eh?"

"I want to help this Spike, if he's suffering from an illness native to Equestria, modern medicine may not be enough for him."

"Did you not forget what happened just a moment ago?!"

Twilight began to march towards Speedwagon. An intense expression that made him quiver just a tad under it. He dealt with con-men, murderers, even blood thirsty gangsters. This young woman smaller than him gave all of his experiences a run for it's money as she passed him.

"A life is worth more than all the gold in the world. You were going to take mine, hoping to find the medicine with that money for your friend, that's something a man would do for someone he loves. Not a street dog that scrapes for bones, Mr. Speedwagon."

She looked to him with a smile.

"You really are a gentleman to go so far for someone."

"...! ... U-Urgh... Fine! I'll lead the way. C'mon lads, blood money ain't worth this one's life."

The thugs all let out dour faces as they mumbled complaints under their breaths, but straightened up at Speedwagon's snarl. Twilight stared up to the snowing skies in thought.

"Please be safe... Oh, what am I thinking, I'm sure JoJo is having the time of his life."

JoJo dreadfully sat in his chair as the numerous lords and bankers spoke of each other highly. If not themselves it was praise for he and his family's actions throughout the years.

"I never imagined George's son would be an archeologist!"

"Have you studied the Joestar family line? You can't imagine half the occupations they've excelled in!"

"But they are all are so kind yet powerful! And such an eye for character!~ Mary was a saint, God rest her soul!"

His mood grew darker as he remembered his mother, but Trixie placed a hand on his as she leaned her head on his shoulder. He smiled back at her as they continued to listen to the mingling royals and privileged class.

"It must be in the bloodline to be blessed though! Look at him, he's as built as the great Heracles!"

"What a model wife as well, that Trixie works herself to the bone for the children across London, I swear she's an angel in disguise!"

"Ah, yes!~ I've heard about her donations and magic shows for the orphans in those posh shacks down below!"

"Oh yes, I recall that Jonathan would escort her at times! Those vile gangsters would ambush them often, but he'd give them a pounding they'd not forget!"

"Ahh!~ I was there for such an occasion, it was quite cathartic to see such drivel driven off by a righteous figure!"

"What a gift from God they both are, only fitting they'd be with one another!"

Dio gave a haughty laugh as he spoke with lawyers and tax collectors.

"Now, now, it's set in stone that JoJo will inherit the fortune! It's only right as blood is thicker than water!"

"Ah but Dio my boy! At least a sum of it is in for you? George is why I'm even rubbing shoulders with these lot, but he won't be around for long I hear!"

Dio sighed as he looked down.

"It's sadly true... He's too sick to even leave the bed. I treat him what the doctor prescribed but he only worsens over time."

He then looked to JoJo and waved as he and Trixie waved back.

"JoJo knows this as well, he's put up a good front, but it's eating him up inside. I pray he's ready to step in our father's shoes."

One man laughed loudly.

"Our father? It seems you've finally become one of the Joestars at last!"

"So it seems."

Dio laughed with his cohorts, but he wanted nothing more than to cut open the man's throat with a broken glass bottle. This party, these people, he hated them and all of it. But it wouldn't be as it was before long. He was and will always be in control of every single muppet under this roof that was soon to be his. He noticed Twilight's absence and for once was genuinely gleeful. That was until the front doors swung open.

Twilight ran with a child near mummified in worn stained rags as Speedwagon followed her with hasty greetings and excuses as the two traversed pass the party and vanished behind the room of George Joestar. The atmosphere became tense as murmurs began.

"Wasn't that George's apprentice? She's a girl of higher intelligence for sure, but it comes to question with acts such as these..."

"Indeed, how rude and disrespectful! In my land, we'd kill a woman for such an act!"

"George spoils her rotten that's for sure."

"Have you heard the rumors of her being a witch? They say she can lift objects with but a thought and be anywhere at once...!"

"She's done me nothing but good yet I simply can't stand her. It's like she holds herself higher than me!"

Trixie cared little for what the guests had to say, but she did show concern for JoJo as his fist began to tremble, his face that of stone as he began to rise. She spoke up.

"Darling, you should go check on Twilight! I'm sure she'll explain herself to you."

"Yes. An excellent idea."

He loomed away after Twilight for George's room. Dio watched curiously as Trixie began to entertain the guests herself.

JoJo opened the door to see Speedwagon there in front of him with his arms folded.

"Sorry sir, can't let anyone in!"

"This is my father's room and I saw Twilight run in, what's going on?"

A horrible cough sounded as a raspy but jovial voice spoke up.

"That one is allowed in, Sir Speedwagon, come on my boy!"

Speedwagon stepped to the side with an apologetic smile. JoJo saw George stand from his bed with cane in hand. The head butler reached out to him, but stepped back from a strike of the cane. George shouted indignantly.

"I may be sick, but this child is even sicker! He'll need this bed over those dirty rags! Now go get that lake dew spring water!"

The butler bowed and hurried out the room. The old man snickered as he made his way to a desk cluttered with piles of scrolls and books.

"That oughta stall that codger. Everyone's already ready for me to keel over and die outside, right Jonathan?"

JoJo nodded solemnly but was surprised by George's laughter.

"Bah, greedy bastards and gold digging bitches the lot of those wolverines out there! Let this be a lesson Jonathan. Be kind but not giving. Let those who earn their achievements recieve their blessings. Like these two here."

He picked up a book and reading glasses as he glanced over to the boy in his bed. Twilight had tucked him in and looked him over.

A short pale boy. His hair was of a deep lilac and skin fair as marble. What struck her wasn't just the quality of the skin, but the odd textures around the eyes and on the nose, similar to scales.

Speedwagon stepped forward with a shaky voice.

"Er, milord? I can't thank you enough for this and... I'm uh, I'm sorry for our-"

George interrupted him with a question.

"Any fangs in that mouth? How about his eyes, slit or solid? And check for horns!"

Twilight did as she was told as she and Speedwagon confirmed it.

"H-He's got all that, but there's a reasonable explanation!"

"A number of spikes that are growing in hidden under his hair. Green eyes with slit pupils and elongated canines that may as well be fangs."

"Ur-Urgh...!"

George looked to JoJo.

"My boy! You know that safe in the closet? Just below that photo of Mary? Open it, there's a combination lock, but the blasted thing has been busted for years! Good thing we've never had any competent thieves!"

JoJo glanced to Speedwagon, who had glanced to him, both confused as George groaned.

"Bah!~ The boy's not ill, he's starved, he's a dragon."

JoJo had made his way to the safe and opened it to see numerous jewels the size of his own hand. He, Speedwagon, and Twilight all turned to George puzzled. This only made the elder laugh into a coughing fit.

"Dragons from Equestria eat minerals much like iron, steel, or more specifically gemstones! Sure they can burn through meat, bread, and water but that's like if a man were to eat chocolate or drink swill his whole life! Jonathan, toss Sir Speedwagon one of those, that way it'll be a friend who's feeding him."

JoJo did as he was told, as did Speedwagon, though he was reluctant.

"What kind of cockamanny bullshi- AIE!"

He shrieked as Spike shot up like a corpse raised from the dead, jaw nearly unhinged as he inhaled the large ruby, the sound of the gem being crushed between his teeth was as clear as pleasure-filled moan that came from the boy as color returned to his body.

"B-Blimey! This whole time, I was taken care of a real dragon...?! I-I thought they were big winged fire breathin'-"

Spike burped a spurt of emerald green fire that dissipated as quickly as it came. George snickered as he hobbled over to them with JoJo's aid.

"I had a similar reaction... I once knew a man like this a long time ago in my visits to the land. Sir Speedwagon, you've done this old man a service he'll not forget! Taking care of this child, where others may have mistaken him for a demon, surely you knew more than you're letting on!"

Speedwagon gulped with a nod.

"Aye, I thought he was that. A demon from 'Ell, but in Ogre Street we're all demons sir, demons in the eyes of those outside this room... But you? You, and Ms. Twilight, even your son 'ere saw past all the grime! It's me who ought to thank you lot!"

He was shaking as Twilight fed more gemstones that had been tossed onto the bed earlier by JoJo. Sweat poured as guilt he hadn't felt in years welled up like geyser in his chest, ready to explode any moment.

"I-I must confess how I came to know Ms. Twilight! I was paid just the other day to wait for her and kill her! At the time, it seemed so simple, a rich bloke paying for the death of another if not richer bloke? That's the best kind of deal...! But when I met her, and learned about her, from her...! I couldn't do it and now... Here you all are...!"

He stood to his feet with his hat on his chest.

"I swear myself to you from 'ere on! I don't care if ya don't want my services, ye're getting them anyway, anyhow!"

George struck Speedwagon's leg with his cane.

"Shut your mouth for a moment boy! I'm old not deaf, you could kill an elephant with those vocal chords of yours!"

"F-Forgive me..."

"Besides, think of this as nothing more than man aiding man. That, is the essence of friendship, Sir Speedwagon."

George winked to Twilight who beamed back at him. JoJo however held his dark and stoic expression as he finally spoke up.

"Speedwagon. Who paid you to kill Twilight?"

"Eh? F-Funny you say that! I coulda swore they were in that main hall downstairs!"

Everyone was shocked to hear this as Speedwagon struggled to remember.

"She tried real hard to hide herself, but I knew the woman was beautiful as one could possibly dream of! Much like Ms. Twilight actually! But... She was also so lowly, like she could've been from the streets like me or Spike. She wasn't a prostitute, nor was she poor from the money she gave.... The more I think the more I recognize he- Ah! I know who it was now!"

The door opened as Trixie walked in.

"Jonathan? We're about to have our toast!~"

She stopped dead as she saw Speedwagon. The rough man stood up and pointed right her.

"That's the one, who paid me to kill Twilight Sparkle!"