The Bridge: Earth, Wind and Fire

by Zillafire101

Rating: teen
Tags: Gore, Alternate Universe, Other, Starlight Glimmer, Original Character, Equestria Girls, Science Fiction, Comedy, Queen Chrysalis, Profanity, Adventure, Violence, Crossover, Human, Sunset Shimmer
Length: 15312

Another Universe, Another Kaiju, sucked into adventures beyond understanding.Varan joins the reformed Cult Leader Starlight Glimmer, and the tempramental thief Shizuka Joestar on a Bizarre Adventure of their own.

As the world reels from the loss of so many kaiju, Varan, another of Earth's Guardian Beasts, is brought into a conflict in another dimension of the Equestria-verse, this time coming into contact with two other dimensional travelers. The hot-blooded thief Shizuka Joestar, and the erratic magic-user Starlight Glimmer. Once all three develop a Stand, a mystical object of great power and resolve, it is up to them to face down the threat to the city they find themselves in, and grow beyond their original limitations along the way.

Based on the works of Tarbanto, and serves as a sequel of sorts of Stars of the Phoenix. Reading either isn't required, so considered this story a self-contained story all it's own, that you can get into an enjoy without prior knowledge.

Published 2019-05-27 16:20:01 UTC
Last updated 2019-06-10 00:28:54 UTC

Diamond Express

Starlight Glimmer leaned back slightly in her chair, as she waited for Sunset, sitting in the cool night air, on the veranda of a nice, but low budget restaurant. The moon was out, the stars twinkling like candles in the dark. It still took her a while to get used to this form, especially the strange clothing styles. Torn up jeans and a jacket she could understand, but her initials, in bright purple and blue pins on her breast pockets, made no sense, neither did the open palm on her hat. She waited, as Sunset came in, dressed very differently from the last time she saw her. While the overall style remained the same, she now sported a long, leather coat instead of the smaller jacket, with her name emblazoned on the sleeves in fiery print.

"Hey Starlight." She said, the chair seemingly pulling itself out as she sat down.

Starlight raised an eyebrow, and blinked several times in surprise, but didn't skip a beat. "Hey."

"So, you believe your「Problem」from Equestria has shown up here?" Sunset asked, lacing her fingers in front of her.

"I found her journal, I read her plans, she had with the others." Starlight explained. "You had someone else to deal with here, right?"

"Yes, a... Secret Emperor, as he called himself." Sunset explained. "I thought he acted alone, but this adds a whole new problem to things."

"Do you think Chrysalis escaped to here?" Starlight asked.

The air around them seemed to grow a bit colder, as Sunset's eyes grew a little harder. She took a deep breath in, before nodding.

"I've gone to the trouble of hiding Stand Arrows from most of the population here." Sunset explained, holding up a picture. "These are extremely dangerous to leave unchecked."

"But?" Starlight asked, tapping her fingers on the table.

"3 have gone missing." Sunset finished. "If she has just one, it will be beyond words how dangerous she is."

"I need to find her." Starlight stated. "It's my fault she got here, I need to fix this."

"Not happening until you get a Stand." Sunset replied, tilting her had a little, as she snapped her fingers.

Starlight narrowed her eyes slightly, as a gold and orange figure appeared beside Sunset, similar to her in build, but very different in looks. She couldn't make much out. Sunset nodded.

"This is what's changed. Not just magic, but these as well." Sunset explained. "If you can see it though, you might be able get your own."

"This is...weird." Starlight replied, trying to process everything she had heard. At this point, she wasn't sure if she was crazy, or Sunset was. 'Or maybe we both are.'

Sunset reached into her jacket, and pulled out the arrow. It was gold and silver, with a beetle design on it, and various glyphs and runes etched across it, in a language Starlight had never seen. The air seemed to glow around it, as Starlight watched the thing nervously. She had seen many magical artifacts in her time. All of them hummed with energy on some level, created a feeling around themselves of power and energy. This one took that to a whole other level. Sunset handed it to her, and, as Starlight took it, she felt like she had taken the sun in her palm. It wasn't very warm, but it felt like this had the same destructive potential.

"It won't be easy, unleashing a Stand." Sunset said. "Come back to my place, and we'll get started with planning things out."

Starlight nodded, as the two stood up, and took their leave, Sunset dropping a few dollars on the table, as a man sipping coffee in the back watched, dressed in black and blue, a darkened, skeletal figure briefly appearing beside him.

Varan stood upon a hill. The small, reptilian being was surrounded by a large amount of various mutated creatures, some resembling Dinosaurs and such, others look like gangly deep sea beasts, with impossible amounts of eyes, tentacles and arms, some of which were, because of her, broken. The small kaiju, turned on her heel, arms raised to fight at the thundering sounds of another beast, but relaxed when she saw it was Gamera, the closest thing to a leader the Earth Defends had left. The large terrapin carefully approached, picking his steps through the gaggle of defeated Kaiju.

He said with a slight whiff of cheer in his voice.

Varan remarked, tilting her head slightly at his approach. She waited for a reaction from him, but got nothing.

Gamera remarked.

She replied coldly.

Gamera asked, shaking his head slightly.

Varan said, turning around to look upon the full, fiery sun.

Gamera began, before she held up a claw.

Varan said, shaking her head, as her membranes extended from her limbs.

Gamera said with a growl, eyes growing fiery and angered.

She interrupted,

She leapt up, and glided off, towards the mountains, and far from sight. Gamera watched her leave, but shook his head sadly, turning away. He did not blame her. Godzilla, Mothra, Anguirus and Rodan may have been fine, but the fact still stung for many, that their peers had been carelessly targeted. The chance to defeat the Mutations and others may have come, but there was no lost love between the two sides. But the time for divisions was for after their won, not now.

Gamera shook his head, turning to leave. Varan would need time to process everything. If she could be left alone for a bit, perhaps she could come around. Perhaps not. He retracted his limbs in, and flew off, taking off towards the skyline, in the opposite direction of Varan, as she flew over the mountains, and landed amongst her worshippers and villagers. Varan landed carefully, making sure her enormity and weight did not shake the ground and cause her villagers too much trouble, as she carefully traced her path to her personal pool, where she could meditate and rest up for a while before duty called again.

The kaiju spent many days here, away from others. It was not in her nature to congregate often on Monster Island, not liking the willingness of others to be all in place at once. As the water reached up to Varan's shoulders, she shook her head slightly.

'We see where that has gotten them.' She thought sardonically.

Varan dipped below the waves, disappearing from sight completely, before settling the rocks near the bottom, and soon, dousing off without much resistance. The hours of fighting, combined with injuries, made it easy for her to sleep off, though, what she did not notice, was a blue briefly surrounding her, before vanishing, with the kaiju as well. No villager, kaiju, or instrument on earth picked up the disappearance of the ancient Guardian Beast.

Varan awoke in an alley, eyes slowing creaking open as the horrific noise of traffic and city life hit her ears. She groaned as her eyes slowly peeled open, and she got to her feet. She staggered for a bit, looking around as she got her bearings. And almost screamed. Her hands were completely human-like, and the by the look of the things around her, she was, for all intents and purposes, completely human. She looked down at herself, and while pleased that this form was muscular still, it was dressed in a strange brown and orange pants, jacket and tank top, with her name in English along the legs of her pants, and her name in katakana along the sleeves and back.

She looked around, trying to see where she was, as she got to her feet. She looked to her left in an alleyway, to see a homeless man looking at her, with some concern. She furrowed her eyebrows, already irritated with this man.

"You alright?" He asked.

"Not really." Varan said.

"You need help or anything?" He replied, getting up and dusting off his ratty old coat.

"Don't bother yourself." She said curtly.

"You should be careful." He warned. "Lot of strange stuff on the streets here, for a strange like you."

"I'll be careful." Varan replied with a nod, as she looked around.

"Do you need money for breakfast or something?" The man asked, reaching into his pockets. "Ain't got much, but I think..."

"Why do you want to give up what little you have to help me?" Varan asked, looking over at him in confusion and irritation. "Just look out for yourself, you have enough of a hard time."

"Everyone needs a little help sometimes." The old man explained with a shrug.

Varan looked back at them for a moment, her gaze softening, before quickly turning around to get a bearing on the situation, and, most importantly, not look the man in the eye. She felt a mixture of deep sadness, and disgust wheeling up in her.

'Is it common for humans to leave their own to die like this?' She thought bitterly. 'Why would anyone deserve a fate like this?'

She turned around to speak with the man again, only to find a massive figure looming over him, a massive black cloak and cape draped over it's body, skeletal hands grasping from the shadows, and a skull-like head, grinning at the man. It held up with silver-grey hands, splashes of color and across the surface of the skull, as it's right hand slowly drew back, and pulled out a long arrow.

Varan shivered at the sight of it, the air shifting as the light of the sun caught on it's silver and gold surface. The being locked it's jewel-like eyes on the man, as he struggled against the creature, yelling in confusion and terror.

"With this blessing, I can anoint you with a power like none before!" The Shadow figure declared in a deep, booming voice. "But first you must prove worthy of this ability and arrow, or be tossed out life's door."

The man didn't seem to hear any of this, as the being stabbed him in the chest, and then dropped him. Varan ran forward and caught him, gently holding his head as she tried to keep him alive. Already, his eyes were distant and his breathing was shallow, as Varan tried to help him.

"Hold on, old man." She said, trying to check for a pulse. "You can't die here."

But already, the man was dead, eyes empty, body completely cold and stiff, as she shook slightly in anger and sadness. She glared up at the being, who seemed more concerned with the corpse then her.

"It seems he was unworthy." The Shadow being declared. "I must find others who are worthy."

Varan looked up in rage, as she set the man down. She slowly stood up, pointing a finger at the figure.

"I don't know what you want, but if you're looking for those to abuse and mistreat, you've made the wrong enemy." Varan declared, slowly rising to her feet as a fire burned in her eyes. "I will be the one to judge you."

The shadowy figure studied her for a moment, as she jumped at the ghostly being, and swung right at it's face, yelling at the top of her lungs. She expected to hit something, to feel the recoil on her arm and some pain in her fist, but instead, her fist slipped right through, and went falling to the ground, yelling in shock. The being quickly turned and grabbed her by the back of her neck like a cat, and slammed her against a wall.

"Such drive will serve you well." The being declared. "To the spirit within, this arrow will call out to your soul like a bell."

He drove the arrow right into her chest, and pulled out, dropping her as energy sparked and burst from her body like a newborn star, as she fell to the ground, vision blurring, as she tried to reach towards the shadow figure disappearing into the darkness of the alley.

"You...You won't get away!" She croaked, as her vision swam, and went to black.

Varan's eyes snapped open, her body shaking as she felt a hand touch her neck. Her eyes rolled about for a moment, before angrily focusing on the offending person.

"Can I help you?" Varan growled, narrowing her eyes at him.

The man merely reached into his waist and flicked out a knife. "Money. Now."

"I don't have any." She stated coldly.

"Sucks for you."

She looked around, noticing two other thugs standing nearby, one with a gun holstered in his waist, the other with a bat. It was around dusk, the sun beginning to dip below the buildings and horizon, as the other pulled back his knife to stab. Varan began to strategize a defense, before she heard someone clear their throat and shout to the three.

"Ex~use me!" A young girl's voice called. "I don't think you'll find any money with her. I already picked her pockets."

The knife-thug made a strange face as he looked up, before standing up from Varan and looking at her. Varan looked over at the new comer as well. She couldn't see much of her. She was young, around high school age, with two "J"s over a gold heart pinned to the chest of her school uniform, and shades placed ontop of her head.

"You already robed her?" The Knife-Thug said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Is this a joke?"

"I wish." She said with a shrug. "Not even enough in her pockets for a pizza though."

"You're funny." The Knife-Thug said, face unmoving, voice monotone. "So, for that, I'm gonna give you a warning to leave before you get skinned, alright?"

"And I'm giving you a warning, big boy." The girl said, with a small, ferocious grin. "Gather your boyfriends up before I make you all my bitches."

The Thug approached, eyes narrowed. Whoever this strange girl was, she was getting too uppity for his tastes. He twirled his knife slightly, as she held up a hand to stop him.

"I'd stop if I were you." She warned. "One more step and you'll get hurt."

"I can't tear you a new one without getting closer." He snarled.

"Then get as close as you like." She said, smile going wider.

Varan watched carefully, as the girl got into a combat stance. So, she knew how to fight at least, but Varan wasn't certain if that could help. These thugs were all bigger then her, especially the knife guy, who looked like he had nothing but red meat since he left the womb. And they were armed. She must've still be sick from the arrow, because Varan swore she saw a glow coming off the girl, a white and blue one, as the thug approached.

Varan's eyes widened as he got within arm's reach, smiling, as he pulled back to stab her. The Knife came inches from her, before a figure emerged from her, light blue and pink, but hard to see. It swiped out, striking the knife away with an open hand and shattering the blade like glass. He leaned back in shock, as the girl, pointed at him confidently, before the figure pulled back and struck him in the face, splattering his nose like a stuck pig, and sending him flying to the ground. The Gun-tooting thug's eyes widened, as he ran forward, standing over Varan, and un-holstered his gun, pointing at her.

"Don't move, or I'll blow your brains out!" He yelled, half-terrified, half enraged.

Varan was shocked that the girl didn't seem bothered at all, and gestured towards herself. "Come on and try it, you won't be able to pull the trigger with my trick."

"Trick? I'll shoot you before you even come close!" The thug yelled.

Varan noticed a stray bolt, left on the ground, from some forgotten project or construction, lifting off the ground slightly, before disappearing into thin air. Varan's eyes widened slightly, as he guy cocked back the hammer on his gun. The girl extended her hand out, as though to stop the bullet with her palm, but titled her head to one side, as though measuring the distance. She a sharp crack, followed by the sound of a small flying through the air, before a loud snap followed, something hitting the gun's trigger finger, and bending it at an unnatural angle.

The Thug yelped in pain, dropping his gun immediately, and falling to the ground, holding his finger in agony. The baseball thug's eyes bulged out of his head, as he ran towards the alley entrance, presumably to get away from the scuffle. The girl stepped out of his way, as he passed by her, before seemingly tripping over his own two feet, as she planted an elbow in the back, between his shoulder blades.

The girl bent down, rifled through his pockets, and pulled out a wade of cash, as she turned to Varan with a wide grin.

"Hey, you want some corndogs?" She asked jovially.

Varan stood up, dusting herself off. "First, what's your name?"

The girl pointed at herself with her thumb. "Shizuka. Shizuka Joestar."

It took them a while to make their way to the closest mall in the city, and by then Shizuka had revealed a lot of her family history and the like, from the founding, a man named Jonathan, all the way to the current members. While interesting, Varan only half listened. She was more concerned with the strange power she had seen Shizuka use, and the ghost figure that had stabbed her with the arrow hours earlier. She wondered if they were somehow linked. Shizuka had spoke of her family having a "strange set of abilities", but seemed to avoid any gritty details.

As they made their way to the food court, Shizuka pulled out and counted the money, as the two made their way to the front of the line, before giving Varan a sideways glance.

"What do you want?" Shizuka asked. "Your pick. I'll have whatever you have."

"What were those Corndogs you spoke of?" Varan asked, slightly confused. She had devoured much of the sacrifices her villages put out for her, but how corn and hounds mixed was beyond her.

"You'll love em." Shizuka said with a wink and wide grin, as she wrapped her arm around Varan's and practically pulled her to the front.

"Two corndogs please. Mustard, nothing else." Shizuka ordered with a smile.

The vendor nodded, and reached down, pulling two smoking hot corndogs from the cooker, and handing them to Shizuka. The girl handed one to Varan, and lead her away to a table, the two sitting down, as Shizuka began to eat hers. Varan looked at hers, uncertain.

"What's the problem...Varan." Shizuka asked, slightly uncertain of the name, but not wishing to offend by asking about it.

"I've never eaten dogs before, is that legal?" She asked.

Shizuka laughed, before shaking her head. "No, no. It's not dogs. It's pork."

"Oh, then why the name?" Varan asked.

"Who knows." Shizuka said with a shrug.

Varan dug in, biting in and chewing on it, before a wide smile spread across her face. "This is amazing!"

"Calm down, it's just corndogs!" Shizuka said in surprise as Varan chowed down. "Slow down, you might choke!"

Varan's eyes practically glowed with bloodlust as she roared to Shizuka. "I MUST HAVE MORE!"

'It's like a shark smelling blood.' Shizuka thought with a shutter, before clearing her throat. "So Varan, I clogged up the conversation, what about your family?"

"From another dimension." Varan said bluntly. She wasn't sure what to expect from a human, but Shizuka nodded.

"You too?" The girl asked quietly. "I went to bed in Manhattan, and woke up here."

"So something took us in our sleep." Varan said, scratching her chin. "But why, and how?"

Varan chewed on the last of her hotdog, as she looked up at Shizuka. "I also have another question. Earlier, me and an old man were attacked by a strange spirit. It had a golden arrow. It stabbed me, and the old man. He died, but I didn't. Why?"

"Where I'm from...my family has dealt with those arrows." Shizuka said, looking around, suddenly far more taciturn and serious. "It...brings something out. Called a Stand."

Shizuka gestured to her right as an armored figure similar to her in height appeared, covered in blue and purple armor. Thorns covered it's shoulder armor and shoulder blades. A pair of green shades hung on it's face, and three star-like points sprouted from it's face, and stars decorated it's chest armor and the back of it's fists.

"This is Achtung Baby. I've had since I was born." Shizuka stated. "I don't know much about the arrows. Uncle Jotaro promised to fill me in later. But if this guy is attacking random people with it, we need to find him and stop him."

Varan nodded. "He's harmed innocent people. I won't rest till I spill his blood."

The two tried to return to the original scene, but found it surrounded by cops. Shizuka seemed disdainful of them, calling them "Pigs" and "class traitors", though Varan decided not to ask why she was so negative, and simply followed her as they searched around. By now, it was completely dark, and Shizuka, after picking a few pockets with her stand, suggested a hotel. Varan wasn't for thievery, but was too tried to argue, and followed her and her "cellphone" guide to the nearest rest stop.

They could continue tomorrow.

After paying and returning the key, Shizuka lead Varan away to the front doors, as the two continued onwards around the city.

"People might raise questions about why I'm not in High School right now." She remarked with a shrug. "We'll just say I'm out of college and older then I look or something."

"As long as they don't get in the way." Varan stated bluntly.

Shizuka raised an eyebrow, but said nothing as they continued on. Varan seemed unusually violent and surely, but Shizuka simply chalked that up to her just being similar to her uncle Jotaro, or wanting to get back to her family. Shizuka couldn't blame her for being impatient, though wondered if some random Stand user could really be attached to them being here.

'Of course, there's usually an evil boss.' Shizuka thought sardonically. 'There's always an evil boss.'

The two tried to gather any clues on this mysterious Stand user, but it was difficult without anything other then 'attacked an old homeless man'. Many hours had passed without any breaks, and Varan seemed much grumpier and more silent then usual.

"Come on, let's take a break." Shizuka offered, gripping her shoulder. "We can find more if we get some food."

Varan bared her teeth, grinding them slightly, before slowly nodding. As they turned to leave a child yelled out in terror, the two turning immediately on their heels, as a metallic, skeletal hand reached out from the shadows to grip his ankle in a death hold.

"Another chosen! Will he rise to be great?" The being yelled, as it's skull-like visage appeared. "Or be tossed aside and forgotten, to be put in a corpse crate?"

"Hey! Leave him alone!" Shizuka yelled, running at the shadowy figure as another hand appeared, producing an arrow.

Achtung Baby appeared beside her, as her stand slammed it's foot down directly on it's wrist, causing it release the child, before Achtung Baby barraged the figure's face with a lightning-fast volley of punches.

"KORA! KORAKORAKORAKORAKORAKORA!" Achtung Baby yelled, it's punches striking the skull-like face multiple times, as the Shadow figure grunted in annoyance and disappeared into the shadows, sinking down as in the waves.

Shizuka turned to the child. "Get outta here, quick!"

The kid ran off, as Varan came to Shizuka's side, the two looking around for any sign of the attacker, as Varan thought about activating her Stand. It would be difficult. She had never done such a thing before. Shizuka had explained it required mental fortitude, but what kind?

As she was lost in thought, a hand appeared from her shadow, and latched onto her heel. She yelled in surprise, as a yellow glow surrounded her body, and a figure emerged from her. It struck like lighting, crushing the offending hand with a fist, fingers bending as the Stand released her and immediately sunk into the shadows. Varan turned to look at her Stand, and Shizuka let out a small gasp at the sight.

The Stand was tall, a head taller then Varan, with four spikes along it's shoulder blades, and brown armor over orange flesh. It had strangely long arms, down to it's knees, with knuckle braces, and four spikes along the top of it's head, which looked similar to Varan's kaiju form, vaguely reptilian and pug-like. It groaned slightly, pure red eyes looking around, as drool and saliva dripped from it's mouth.

"Gloragh! Aargh!" It grumbled, steam billowing from it's maw, as it looked around.

"That's your Stand?" Shizuka asked quietly. She had never seen a Stand quiet like that in her life. Most never spoke, much less acted like animals and drooled.

"I guess so." Varan said simply, as her Stand kneeled down slightly, hands scrapping the ground. Shizuka seemed disturbed by it, but, although annoyed with the slobbering, Varan quiet liked her Stand. If it was a reflect of her spirit, she preferred a violent one to protect what she cared about then a weak one.

The two looked around, prepared for any new attack from any direction this Stand could come from.

"It comes from shadows." Varan stated, as her Stand hissed. "Watch any shadow for movement."

The two looked around, waiting for anything out of the ordinary to attack them or make any moves against them. Varan was used to such moments like this. Gyaos Attacks, other beasts. Many were brutes, but she was used to foes who could display a little more intelligence then the average kaiju. A shadow to her left bubbled and shifted like lake water. Shizuka reacted immediately, Achtung Baby jumping and slamming her foot onto the shadow repeatedly, smashing the rocks and leaving nothing but splintered stone and shattered concrete in her wake.

Shizuka looked around for her foe, before a fist struck out from a midair shadow of one of the street pieces, and struck on the side of her face. Shizuka's eyes widened, as blood gushed from the side of her face, as she yelped in pain.

"Nani?!" She yelled, as Achtung Baby swiped it's hand at the offending limb, trying to catch it, only for it to quickly slink back into the shadow it had come from.

Varan did not react, merely glaring at the ground near Shizuka's feet as the stones fell and scattered around them. Shizuka looked at her in confusion, as she became as still as a statue, barely even blinking or breathing, the only sounds coming from her, was her Stand's quiet groans and retching. Something moved behind one of the stones, as Varan's Stand immediately lashed out, crushing it with it's fist.

"GAAARAGH!!" It roared, shattering it as another hand reached out from the stone.

Varan and her Stand both turned and focused on it, as her Stand released a barrage of punches onto the limb, expecting for it to retreat from her barrage. Instead, it seemed as though it didn't feel a thing, it's hand reaching at her despite the punishment. Varan and her Stand ducked under it, before Achtung Baby crushed it with another well-placed stomp.

"KORA!"

Immediately, the Black Cowl-wearing Stand was ejected out, falling onto the ground, before shifting and reorganizing itself, and slamming a backfist into Varan's face. The Kaiju-turned-Woman groaned in pain as she was sent onto her back, as the Stand stood there for a moment, as though considering things. Shizuka did not wait however, immediately attacking again with Achtung Baby. The Stand fired off several punches, every strike's sound echoing through the alley. The Stand blocked every strike, before jumping and disappearing into her shadow. Shizuka's eyes widened in surprise, as she looked around, before going to Varan's side.

"You ok?"

"Fine." Varan answered, Standing. "And I think I know a weakness to this."

"Destroy the source of the shadow, and it will be forced out, like an emergency escape." Shizuka said with a grin, as Achtung pumped a fist. "We better finish this quick though. The sun will be going down soon."

Varan nodded, as the two got back to back, Varan's Stand raising it's fist, as Achtung Baby got into a low, Shaolin-style combat stance. The two looked around, expecting an attack from any shadow, watching each carefully. As they prepared for an attack, a young man, with yellow hair and a black shirt, happened to be walking by, backpack slung over one shoulder, headphones over his ears. He looked at the two tiredly for a moment, before shaking his head at their strange behavior.

'I've got not time for escaped psyche patients.' He thought with a shrug.

As he walked towards them, Varan shot him a look, and held out her hand. "Stop! This is serious."

"The heck is your problem lady?" The guy asked, shaking his head tiredly as he continued on. "I have things to do!"

Once he got within ten meters, his shirt shifted and bubbled, before the Stand jumped out, skeletal hands out-stretched. Varan's Stand threw a sucker punch into it's face, to new effect, as it wrapped it's cold, corpse-like fingers around her neck. Varan's eyes bulged as she struggled to release the choke.

"My master desired Stand users, yet now our minds are cleared!" The being declared, as Achtung Baby fired off several punches into it's body, only to notice part of it was still coming out of the boy's shirt, who had now lurched forwards onto his stomach. "Our goals to continue the Secret Emperor's work must be finished! You must be sheared!"

Shizuka looked around. If it was a long distance or special type of close-ranged Stand, she could maybe find a User to beat down, but there was no telling where he could be hiding to observe his Stand and their location. Sweat poured down her face, as she tried to find someway to help. Achtung Baby reached out and gripped onto it's wrists, trying to apply bone-crushing power to it, but even with it's power, the Stand didn't seem to mind.

'I haven't seen durability like this since Uncle Jotaro's Star Platinum!' She thought in terror. 'How can we beat this thing?'

As she watched however, the Stand began to be dragged away from Varan, whose eyes widened in shock, as the Stand seemed to be struggling to stay on her. They both looked up in shock as the man's body was dragged off, by a newcomer. A girl dressed in a purple shirt, light green vest, and torn jeans, who moved the man further back. The mysterious Stand howled in anger and frustration, before bending and loping around like a snake, and diving back into the shirt. Varan slowly got to her feet, before looking the new comer over.

"Who are you?" She asked, rubbing the bruises on her neck.

"Starlight Glimmer." She answered simply. "I was looking for a rogue Stand user attacking people. I think I just found him."

A series of stars and flashes appeared next to her, as the air crystallized next to her and her Stand came into being. It resembled her, to an extent. It was a light purple, with light green runes and markings across it's body. The Stand a simple headdress and kilt-like structure around it's waist, and dark blue eyes and no mouth. It leaned against Starlight's chest, arms pulled back and ready to strike.

"My Stand Hectic will be the one to defeat you." Starlight declared, glaring about. "Hide while you can!"

The three looked around before, Shizuka spotted someone in an alley across the street. He was a tall man, but cloaked completely in darkness, the only thing she could tell was he wore a long jacket black and dark blue, and had dark blue hair with red highlights on the edges. He had strange blue eyes, an unnatural shade.

Only a Stand user could look so strange.

Shizuka charged at him, running across the street. "Hey! Hey you!"

As she drew closer, stepping beside a black car, two hands reached out from the trunk of the car. Shizuka stepped away and turned invisible, disappearing from the naked eye, as the man's eyes widened. The arms retracted back inwards, as he looked around for her. He suddenly doubled over, as a fist-shaped indentation appeared in his stomach. Blood spurted from his jaws as he struggled to stay up.

Shizuka appeared, standing over him with Achtung Baby, as her two allies ran to her, both yelling for her to stop.

"Return! Black Magic Woman!" The man shouted, his voice deep and commanding despite his injuries.

From his cloak, Black Magic Woman, the same Stand that had attacked them before, zoomed out, striking Shizuka in the face and knocking her backwards, as it stood in front of it's master, awaiting orders. He stood up with a grunt, rubbing his injured stomach, as he studied the three.

"You're interference will not be forgotten." He growled. "I don't know you two, but Starlight Glimmer is the only one I want."

"You should've thought of that before you decided to murder an innocent bystander." Varan growled, her Stand pulling it's lips back, revealing sharpened fangs. "I'm going to avenge his death with your blood."

"I've killed a lot with Black Magic Woman. You'll forgive me if I don't remember clearly." He replied, narrowing his eyes.

"No better then Xenilla, Gyaos and the like." Varan spat, clenching a fist. "There's only one treatment you deserve."

He tilted his head slightly, before noticing Shizuka was gone again. Starlight ran at him, Hectic pulling back to punch at him, as he noticed a small amount of dirt to his right, moving slightly.

'Starlight's trying to distract me, while this other one is trying to ambush me.' He thought coldly, as he bent his legs.

"Don't move Coxa!" Starlight warned.

"Too late Glimmer!" He roared, as he jumped backwards, the wall near his head shattering from a punch as Shizuka appeared again. "Black Magic Woman!"

He and his Stand jumped into a shadow, and disappeared into it, as though it was water. Starlight glared for a second at Shizuka, almost wanting to yell at her for costing her Coxa's capture, before calming herself. He was more alert then she bargained for. Blaming this girl wouldn't help matters. She turned to the other one, but her back was already turned, looking around for Coxa to reappear, as her Stand stood ready, a slight trail of dripple tracing down the corner of it's mouth.

Starlight walked out of the alley with Shizuka, the two ready for another attack. While Starlight could tell the invisible girl knew her way around Stands, Starlight saw something else entirely with the other girl. Though she appeared only two or so years older then the other two, something in her eyes, some sort of fire in them, made her seem not only older, but more fearsome and savage.

"Shizuka, Starlight." Varan called. "Be ready."

Shizuka nodded, standing side by side with Varan, as the two looked around. Starlight began to move towards them, before stand reached out and grabbed her ankle. Almost immediately, bone crushing pressure was applied to her foot and ankle, as Coxa and Black Magic Woman's head appeared from her shadow, eyes coldly studying her.

"I don't need to kill you all to win, not right away at least." He declared stoically. "I just need to start breaking limbs. Then I can pick and choose who I want to kill."

Starlight did not wait a moment, Hectic slamming her left fist into the ground behind her head, before twisting and punching her afflicted leg with the other hand. Immediately, the leg gained a grey, stone-like surface to it, as Black Magic Woman struggled to shatter the leg. Coxa raised an eyebrow in confusion, before he heard an explosion behind him, and was ejected outwards from her shadow. He landed beside Starlight, who struggled to her feet, and slammed Hectic's punch into his right leg, shattering the bone.

"I tend to be the kind that holds a grudge." Starlight explained. "I think this is fair. Your attempt to take my leg, vs me taking yours for real."

"I'm not done yet!" Coxa declared, slamming a palm down onto the shadow of a trash can, and immediately diving into it.

"Gone again." Shizuka said, hands on her hips.

"Not far though." Varan stated, crossing her arms. "With that injured leg, he will drastically slowed down."

"Given his Stand I doubt it will effect things." Starlight replied. "He'll keep diving in, hitting and running. Like a cowardly little bug."

Beside the trash can he had disappeared into, was a small, abandoned microwave, pure black. It's surface bubbled, as Coxa's eyes peered out from it, glaring at the three. They could call him a coward all they wanted, he would be the one to win.

"Make yourselves out to be great." He growled to himself. "Make yourselves feel good. I'll destroy you either way!"

His Stand snapped outwards, wrapping around like a snake, gripping Starlight's neck, as half his body, up to his waist, slowly climbed outwards. Taken by surprise, her and her Stand had no way to counter the attack. Hectic tried to reach towards the trash can, fingers barely able to brush against it.

"If I can Loot... it's metallic surface...!" She struggled, trying to loosen his grip. "I...I can resist him!"

"Nobody move!" He shouted. "I'm in control now!"

"I doubt it." Varan stated.

"What?" He asked, turning his eyes on her.

"I doubt it." She repeated, hands on her hips. "Your attack was one of desperation and pride. You're nothing but an animal with an ego."

"My Hive will reign over Equestria, our Stands will dominate the world!" He declared, not noticing Shizuka vanishing from sight. He turned to Starlight, leaning in close to her ear. "And we start, by destroying the one who made us weak! The Changelings will rule the world, and we shall have peace!"

Hectic slammed an elbow into Black Magic Woman's chest, to no effect, as Varan watched coldly. Starlight wanted to yell at her to help, to do something, but given the pressure around her throat, she knew it was no use. And given how much more durable BMW seemed then before during her first attack, she guessed him coming out of objects increased his durability.

'So, is this it?' She thought, shaking slightly.

"Bold of you to think you could win against the world." Shizuka stated, still invisible. "When you can't beat us."

Coxa looked around, angered. "Don't do anything, or I snap her neck!"

"Try it." Shizuka dared, her voice gleeful. "Let's see whose faster on the draw."

Before he could react, the microwave he had appeared from vanished into midair, ejecting him and his Stand. Grip loosening, Starlight pried it off, before turning and slamming a punch into the side of his skull. He gasped in shock, before Hectic slammed a barrage of her own punches into Coxa and Black Magic Woman's body, before sending him flying with one last climatic punch, and sending him into a pile of trash cans. He looked around in terror, before grasping at one of the trash can's shadow. Before he could reach it, Shizuka touched it, rendering it invisible, and preventing it's shadow from being cast.

Varan approached, her Stand hissing at him, as he looked up in terror.

"Your life is mine to take." She declared coldly. "I will be the one to judge you."

She stepped towards him, her Stand reaching for his neck, before he looked behind her for a moment, then at her feet. He smiled, as Black Magic Woman slammed a punch into her Stand's stomach, knocking the air out of her, and sending her back a bit, before he slammed a hand onto her foot's shadow, and dived into, disappearing without a word.

"He got away!" Shizuka cried out in dismay, pressing a fist against her forehead. "I'm sorry Varan, I tried my best to get him."

"I should've been here sooner." Starlight said, shaking her head sadly. "I'll make sure to double my efforts to find him."

"There's no need for that, either of you." Varan declared, crossing her arms. "I already have him beat. Just follow my lead."

Coxa slowly climbed out of a shadow of a building, appearing in alleyway. He breathed a sigh of relief, and rubbed his injured leg, as he laughed hysterically. Three enemy stand users, and he had survived them! He had taken the worst of Starlight and her little helpers and come out standing. Once he made his way back to Chrysalis, he could tell her what she needed, heal up, and begin creating new Stand users for her army.

He looked at the chain-link fence before him, before freezing.

Someone was standing right behind him.

A cold, stiff hand gripped his shoulder in a crushing grip, as he opened his mouth to scream, but nothing came out. Drool ran down his shoulder, as he was forcibly turned around and slammed into a nearby wall. He struggled as he was lifted off his feet, by Varan's Stand.

The girl stepped out, standing beside her Stand as she glared coldly at Coxa. Although her face showed little emotion, her eyes blazed with fury as her Stand pulled back it's fist. He kicked feebly, as his voice finally croaked out.

"S..Stop! Stop it damn it!" He yelled in terror. "I give up! I surrender!"

"You killed a man without even considering his life, all so your brood could rule." Varan declared coldly. "You're no better then Kenas-unarpe, the Gyaos."

"I can give you my master's location and allies!" He begged.

"I'll find them all soon enough." She responded coldly. "Just die already."

Her stand hissed and growled, as it prepared to pummel him, before he noticed a small toy beside him, a few meters away. The sun was shinning in such a way, that he could easily reach it and grab the shadow, and, most importantly, get away from here. He grinded his teeth together in determination, sweat rolling down his face, as he summoned his Stand.

"Black Magic Woman! Give it all you got!" He ordered. "Get into that Shadow, and get us out of here!"

Black Magic Woman reached as best it could, fingers getting closer, inch by inch. He could almost feel it now, his and his Stand's body beginning to melt away into shadow again, without Varan's attack reaching them. He smiled, before, without any warning, the object simply vanished. His jaw dropped, as his fingers reached to try and grab it.

"Fire away Varan." Shizuka stated.

"SKREEEEEAAAAASSHHAAAAAAAAAA!" Varan's Stand bellowed, slamming punch after punch into Coxa and Stand's bodies, each thunderous blow enough to shatter the side of a building. Every blow broke bone and pulverized muscle, as her Stand let loose.

With one final strike, Coxa's tattered, blasted remains flopped to the ground, a final, pathetic groaning escaping his lips, as a body of shattered bone and grounded up flesh and muscle fell to the ground, the fall looking more like a used bag of meat then a corpse. Varan noticed a glint, carefully reaching down and pulling out an arrow head, most of the shaft broken and shattered, but the arrow head still in one piece. Varan chalked it's survival up to dumb luck, and carefully balanced it between her fingers, as her Stand vanished, like gas dissipating.

"Well, you don't leave anything to chance." Starlight said, looking at Coxa's remains, her face turning slightly.

"You needed him taken care of, right?" Varan asked, before holding up the arrow. "You need this?"

"Sunset said they had those!" Starlight said, jogging over and reaching to take it. "We've been looking..."

Varan pulled it away, as Shizuka appeared behind her. Starlight's face bent in irritation as she clenched a fist.

"What are you doing?"

"I don't know your, this 'Sunset' or your intentions." Varna stated coldly, glaring at Starlight with her cold, fearsome gaze. "I keep this until I know I can trust you."

Starlight opened her mouth slightly, ready to protest, before closing it and nodding. "Alright, I see why. I ran a cult for a bit, so perhaps you shouldn't exactly trust me. I'll take you to Sunset."

Varan nodded slightly, as Shizuka leaned against her. "Fine. Whatever gets me to these scum faster."

"What about you?" Starlight asked Shizuka, as she popped off Varan, and the three began moving away from Coxa's final resting place.

"Me? Well, Varan's my only friend here." Shizuka replied. "And if she wants to stomp some baddies, I'm along for the ride."

"We have other questions for Sunset once we meet her." Varan stated. "But that can wait til we get there."

"One more thing." Starlight asked. "What are you gonna name your Stand?"

"Yeah, everything needs a name." Shizuka pipped up.

Varan though for a moment, before nodding. "Spirit in the sky. My Stand will be Spirit in the Sky."

A tall, athletic woman sat in an office building, overlooking the city below with a cold, emerald gaze. She taped a finger against the two arrows on her arm rest, nails clicking slightly, as one long, sinuous leg folded over the other. Rain began to pour down, as a man entered, most of his body obscured in shadow, except for the white suite with red lines throughout it and the tie with skeletal shark jaws running down it.

"Your minion is dead, Chrysalis." He reported.

"The last of my loyalists, used up." She said, shaking her head as reached up with the other hand, and tapped the side of her face, eyes narrowed. "But how did Starlight defeat him. She couldn't have had a Stand for long."

"She had help." The man replied, eyes burning with fury.

"So it would seem." She said, slowly turning her chair to look over her shoulder at him. "Is our...family reunion complete?"

"Yes." He replied. "All of us are ready."

"Good, you Six Finfolk should be enough, correct?"

"More then enough." He responded, as he turned and left.

She turned back to the rain before her, lacing her fingers in front of her. "Soon, the Day shall come, and the Ritual will be done. And you will pay for everything, little Starlight!"

<---- TO BE CONTINUED__/__|

Author's Note

So first off, special thanks for Tarbanto for allowing me to do this. His enthusiam was really as inspiring as the original story, and I'm glade he took such a shine to my ideas. I wasn't sure if he'd go for it, and I'm aboslutely flattered he put such faith in me.

So the idea for this was in the works for a while. I always wanted to do a story following Varan, and he's one of my favorite kaiju, and set in the Bridge. When I began working on Stars of the Phoenix, another Jojo/MLP crossover, the idea morphed into something similar to this. I was further inspired by the Jojo Light Novel "Purple Haze Feedback", into morphing the story even closer to this.

Of course, I wanted to stick as close to canon, and while this story might not be canon, I wanted it to be ambigious, like PHF, in case fans liked it enough to see it as partially canon. Basically, it's all up to you whether or not this is part of the same universe.

Making Varan a female was odd, because I'm used to him being male, but since Humanity's Stand went ahead with the change, I decided to swing with it. It also would've geled well as a call back to the Trifecta in Stone Ocean, one of my fav parts. Her Stand, "Spirit in the Sky", was based on her kaiju form and a bit off Weather Report. Despite her stoic front, I designed her to be ultimately deeply flawed and, if you couldn't tell, disdainful of humans, reflecting her Stand's feral actions and attitude.

Shizuka was added to not only give new dimensions to the Crossover, but work with a character I felt got unfortuantly forgotten by Araki, a not to uncommon fate mind you. Achtung Baby is still her Stand, but to reflect how she's grown over the years, it's become a capable, combat Stand capable of fighting on her own now. Design cues were taken from Hermit Purple, Crazy Diamond and Stone Free, as I imagined those three's users would have the biggest impact on her and inspire her the most.

Starlight was the hardest to work. I wanted her to of course be the smart one in the group, but I found it difficult to really work out what her Stand could do. I named it Hectic after Freddie Mercury's first band, and also because it sounds similar to Hekate, a Greek Goddess associated with magic and occult. The ability, to reflect Starlight Glimmer's early role, is the ability to steal aspects and abilities from materials. It's limited to inanimate objects.

Their enemy at the start if Coxa, a minion who seeks to achieve the goals of his master while she acts in the shadows. I based him off Jonagelli A, N'Doul and various other cult members and such and thier fanatical desire to fight and die for the cause. Coxa was made specifically so the three Stand users could come together and test their abilities, and learn to work together. His Stand, Black Magic Woman, was based on a wraith or spirit, while it's metallic bones and skull was designed after the Mexican Day of the Dead holiday, to reflect that I designed him on Cinco de Mayo, and my own liking for Mexican culture.

While this is a sequel to Stars of the Phoenix, you don't need to read that to understand this. Every story is as self-contained as possible, like Jojo itself.

The To Be Continued theme was Sweet Lady by Tyrese, but I decided that 2 Become 1 by Spice Girls fit the story theme better.

Overall, I'm happy with this story and for Tarb allowing me to get it off the ground, and I'm happy to contribute in my own way to the never-boring storyline of the Bridge, be it Canon or no.

The Sunset Warrior's Tale & Capitone's Attack

It would not take them long to arrive at the apartments where this "Sunset Shimmer" was staying. Although it wasn't a long walk, Varan was icy cold and silent the whole time, eyeing everyone around her like a predator. Shizuka tried to make small talk with Starlight, but found her manner off-putting. The Japanese girl shook her head at the girl's strange responses.

'And I though Papa was weird when he started talking about Aztec Gods and Nazis.' Shizuka thought as Starlight was yammering on about "cutie marks" and "Equality". 'This crazy lady ain't even a real commie. Why the heck is she obsessed with equality?'

She was grateful when Starlight finally caught sight of the apartments. Shizuka had to admit, they looked rather nice. Not something she expected to be the living space of a high school student. While she tried to ignore most of Starlight's ramblings, the fact they were from another dimension like her and Varan gave her a bit of hope. If they found a way into here, they could get them out.

Starlight lead them up to the Apartment doors, as Shizuka fell behind to walk side by side with Varan.

"What do you think of Miss Equality over here?"

"A tad unstable and needs to stop for air more." Varan said bluntly.

"If anything, she'll get us answers on how to get home at least." Shizuka replied with a shrug.

Varan grunted, as the three made their way up. It was not a long walk, just a few flights of stairs, some turns here and there, and Starlight already was stopping in front of one of the doors, knocking it out three times, and waiting. There was a side of stuff getting shuffled about, some fumbling and cursing, and finally, the locks being clicked off and the door opening a crack, as Sunset looked out.

"Starlight. I see you're back. Do you bring the other two users with you?" Sunset whispered.

"Yeah, they're with me." She replied, before lowering her voice and leaning in. "Really weird types though."

Sunset raised an eyebrow. "You would know, wouldn't you?"

Starlight recoiled in shock. "Hey I...I...I guess you're right actually..."

Sunset grabbed her long jacket form a nearby coathanger, threw it on, and opened the door wider to take in the two companions. One was a girl her age, the other, a few years older, and both looked rather tired. The older one was what drew her attention though. Something about the women made her feel smaller somehow, as though she was in the presence of something older then even Celestia.

The woman gave her a heavy-lidded stare, not at all impressed by the sight of her. Sunset merely put on a smile, and motioned for them to come inside.

"Well, in case you don't know, I'm Sunset Shimmer." She introduced, trying her best not to sound uncaring or the like towards her new guests. "Starlight is a friend of mine. So if she thinks you're good people, I'll trust that enough to trust you, alright?"

"No offense, but I barely know you." The older one stated bluntly. "Not until I have a reason to."

The other girl cleared her throat and held out a hand for Sunset to shake. "Well, I don't know about her, but I'm happy to meet someone who isn't trying to rob me or attack me with a Stand today. The Name's Shizuka."

Sunset shook it and smiled. The way this one looked and even spoke reminded of Rainbow Dash. This would be a good start to things. "A pleasure. So, Starlight texted to me that you dealt with Coxa and his Stand, right?"

"Yes, not enough of him to smear on a sandwich." Varan stated, crossing her arms as she and Shizuka entered.

Sunset was slightly unnerved by the response but shook it off, and kept going, not losing a beat. "So, did you find his Stand arrow?"

"Yes." Varan stated. "But I won't hand it over. Not until I'm sure you're trustworthy."

"I understand, completely." Sunset said with a nod, sitting down at the couch, and indicating for the rest of them to sit. "Take a seat and let me explain how I came to have them."

Shizuka sat to her left, Starlight to her right, as Varan stood over Starlight, arms crossed, face as cold and hard as it usually was, a deep frown on her face. Sunset cleared her throat, before continuing.

"A few months back, me and my friends were hit with the arrows ourselves, and found ourselves wrapped into an organization of Stand Users." Sunset explained. "They were lead by a man called the Secret Emperor."

Sunset nervously readjusted her jacket, as she continued. "We finally did him in, but he sought these arrows not only to conquer Equestria, my original homeland and dimension, but to complete a ritual."

"Appearantly, he serves another, and so does Chrysalis." Starlight explained. "I convinced the Changelings to leave Chrysalis' tyranny and find another way. She fled her with her last servant, Coxa, and decided to use the arrow for herself."

"Chrysalis is power-hungry, but not foolish." Sunset explained. "She pulled a lot of strings to distract me and nab three of the arrows. Coxa has or had, been running about ever since, but I'm more worried about who she gathers around her."

"Isn't Coxa her only supporter?" Shizuka asked. "What else could she have."

"Back in my home dimension, there are more then just Changelings that Shapeshift and all." Sunset replied, lacing her fingers in front of herself. "Long ago, six Kingdoms arose to try and conquer Equestria. Our ruler and my teacher defeated them, and banished them to the seas' worst area."

Sunset looked up at both of them. "These six were the last of the Fin-Folk, sea-going shapeshifters who sought to rule Equestria. Recently, Twilight has reported strange activity in the oceans of Equestria, and the magic around the school is getting out of balance. Really, really out of balance."

"Chrysalis brought them here then, to assist her then." Varan commented, nodding slightly.

"They are related to her kind, but wholly separate." Sunset said with a nod. "Their focus will be on Starlight."

"Why not you?" Varan asked.

"I will be on a ship with my friends soon. I can't get out of this." Sunset explained. "Starlight volunteered, and I'm more willing to let her go because of you being here now."

"Chrysalis got here because of me." Starlight stated sternly. "Whatever you two think of me, I have to stop her before she hurts anyone else."

"If these six, and Chrysalis is all there is to face, I'm with you." Varan stated. "It can't be that hard if Coxa went down so easy."

"Same." Shizuka remarked, gesticulating slightly. "We're kinda far from home at this point. A little hard to do anything else right now anyway."

"Far from home?" Sunset asked, crossing her arms in front of her. "Like Equestria?"

"No." Varan replied bluntly. "It's too difficult to explain, but where I'm from has no equine beings."

"What is it like exactly." Sunset asked, looking over at Varan's unfeeling face.

Varan stood for a moment, tapping her fingers against the opposite forearms, before shaking her head slightly. "Nothing fun."

Sunset opened her mouth to respond, but then thought better of it. 'Obvisously, it's something worse then Equestria's situation at it's most turbulent. No need to pry."

"If nothing else, I wish all three of you luck." Sunset said standing up. "I have a cruise to plan out, and magic shenanigans to deal with there."

"Will you need this?" Varan asked, holding up the arrow head from Coxa. "I wasn't sure if I could trust you but...I have no where else to hide this artifact. I figured you could keep it safe."

Sunset was taken aback at first by Varan's action, but smiled. "Thank you. I'm happy he won't be able to misuse this anymore. You've done good."

Sunset reached under the table and pulled out a blue colored folder. "This is contains what information I could get on Chrysalis and her current whereabouts. She's located in the big city, and taken up an identity in buisness. Be careful."

Varan and Shizuka began to look over the folder, as Sunset grabbed a travel bag from behind the couch and began to move towards the door, only stopping to speak with Starlight.

"I think you've got a good team here." Sunset said, voice low.

"I wish." Starlight muttered with a roll of her eyes. "The younger one tries to pick everyone's pocket, and the other one looks like she's planning to murder everyone she meets."

Varan nodded, as she looked over her shoulder, Varan glancing at the two through narrowed eyes. "Yeah, I don't think anyone from her world would be easy to befriend."

"And people say I'm a bad seed." Starlight grumbled with a roll of her eyes. "Take over a town and suddenly no one likes you..."

Sunset put on a smile and gave her a good natured pat on the shoulder. "Well, hopefully they'll keep you from going too crazy."

"I'm not crazy!" Starlight protested as Sunset made her way out the door.

"Good bye and good luck!" She shouted as she left. "Lock up when you leave!"

Starlight waved good bye, and looked over at the two, groaning to herself as she watched the two start to argue about where to begin their search. This was going to be a long journey.

Starlight was quiet surprised at the lengths Sunset had taken to prepare for this mission. She had them a whole back account set up with money and checks ready so they could buy any food, cars or even cloths for the mission ahead. Shizuka raised an eyebrow, looking at the other two as she read over all the account numbers and such, as they prepared to get their rent-a-car.

"Where did your friend get all this crazy stuff?" Shizuka asked, taken completely aback. She was used to money. Her father Joseph and "Uncle" Jotaro never wanted for much. But for someone like Sunset to have all this money was something different.

"She told me the magic and Stand use attracted some scientific organizations." Starlight explained, as she tossed the keys to Shizuka. "The Speedwagon Foundation, Valentine Memorial Network, etc."

Shizuka smiled a bit at the first name, before jingling the keys. "Why do I drive?"

"I've only found out about cars like a few months ago." Starlight explained. "They don't have em where I'm from."

Varan shrugged. "I only step on them, I don't drive them."

Starlight looked at her in surprise. "Step?"

"Alright, I'll drive. But if we crash and die..." Shizuka stated.

Varan rolled her eyes as she got in the back seat. She already hated it. This thing was constrictive, enclosed, and the air inside was heavy and not at all natural. It was just one more reason to despise humans. Shizuka sat in the driver's seat, as Starlight took shotgun. Shizuka started the car, as she looked over the map, and then handed it Starlight.

"Alright, hold onto your butts everyone." She declared, as she drove off.

As they drove off, a man in dull green dress pants and a dull green tank top with tiny spikes all across it watched them. He readjusted his sunglasses, as he started his own car and drove off after them. He pulled out a cell phone and hit a button, waiting a moment, before someone answered.

"You're on speaker."

"This is Capitone Grigilato." The Man stated quickly. "I have the targets in sight, I am in pursuit."

"Wait til they enter they enter the city, Capitone." A second voice ordered. "We'll be near if you need backup."

"Back up? Come on Ojinguh, they took out Coxa, we need to move!" Capitone roared into the phone. "I can remove them right now!"

"Do that, and you can take it up with Yuchi himself." Ojinguh answered bluntly. "Tail them and attack them in the city. And keep your attack dog on a leesh"

Capitone snarled, shaking his head slightly, before nodding to himself. "Alright, I'll follow Yuchi's word."

Ojinguh grunted. "Alright. Keep calm friend. We'll defeat them. Don't lose sight of the plan."

"I got it." Capitone replied. "I gotta go."

He hung up as he sped up to keep up with them. He was certain he could take them out, but decided not to interfere with the plan. Even if he succeeded, Yuchi was not a merciful leader to those that defied him. He would continue with the plan, and not defy Yuchi or Ojinguh's words.

The sun was almost going down by time they entered the city. The highways were surprisingly clear, and all that was around them was a black car behind them, and a cop car. Shizuka tapped her fingers against the wheel as they drove, before the cop car suddenly flash it's lights. Shizuka groaned at this.

"What the heck did I do?" She groaned. "Don't these idiots have anything better to do? Crimes to stop? People to sprinkle some..."

"Hey, hey, just pull over." Starlight grumbled tiredly. "I'm not going to jail for you."

Shizuka grumbled a couple of insults at Starlight and the police, but pulled over, as Varan slept suddenly in the back. The other car also pulled over, as the cop parked in between them. The cop walked out, a burly man, almost stereotypical in looks, with a bushy moustache and tinted shades. He marched over to the second car, spoke with the man in there for a moment, before walking up to the car.

"Alright, get your license and registration ready." The cop ordered brusquely.

"What did I do?" Shizuka asked, as she began rummaging through her pockets.

"Just do what I tell you." The cop barked, turning away.

Shizuka grumbled, as the cop moved towards the other car. Varan awoke, grumbling in irritation, before slowly rising up and looking back towards the cop. She raised an eyebrow as the cop came to a stop, standing rod straight in the middle of the road. She turned to the other two.

"Guys, check this out." Varan stated, pointing to him. "What's he doing?"

Shizuka opened her mouth to make a snarky remark, before sparks began flying off his body as smoke arose from it. A flash of blue sparked from beneath his feet, as he was sent flying off the bridge by some unknown force. Shizuka and Starlight opened the door, stepping out, as Varan lowered the window and climbed out, getting on top of the car. The three watched the other car, as it's door opened, and a the man in the spiky green tank top walked out, taking off his shades as he glared at them.

"Are you the enemy stand user?" Varan shouted to him.

"Sure, why not." The man said, blue eyes flicking around to study each and everyone of them. "So these are the three that want to resist Chrysalis. Of course she would be pathetic enough to need us."

"Are you not her ally?" Varan asked, her Stand beginning to manifest beside her.

"Distant family, us Fin-Folk and Changelings. Grogar had a hand in making both of us." The man explained. "Something like that. When we needed her help, she shooed us out. Better treatment then that tyrant Celestia."

"Don't speak of Celestia like that." Shouted Starlight. "You're nothing but a tyrant yourself. The Fin-Folk flooded and besieged vast regions of Equestria. You tried to enslave the sea ponies and Hippogryphs!"

"Yeah, what do you care?" He shouted back, stepping towards them, stretching an arm behind the back of his head. "Last I checked, most of you ain't from Equestria right? Only that Sunset lady."

"I'm from there." Starlight replied, as the man continued walking. "Now stop right there!"

The man stopped, narrowing his eyes as he studied her. "A pony huh? Your kind are so tough, so privileged to rule the land, having a ruler who rules the entire sun practically."

He focused on her in rage, as he pointed at her with his left hand. "Alright, Ride the Lightning! Time to strike like a thunderbolt and leave nothing but ash!"

A Stand manifested beside him, a long, thread-like body, topped with an eyeless head, that opened to reveal several needle-like teeth. It had two long thin, rubbery arms that would've gone to it's knees, had it any. Shizuka walked towards the guy, before Varan held out a hand.

"Wait, don't move towards him yet." Varan shouted, Spirit in the Sky appearing beside her, on all fours. "We don't know what the heck he can do yet."

"You too scared to approach me?" The man declared. "Is Capitone too terrifying for you all to face."

"Don't worry, once we figure out whatever the heck your Stand can do, we'll be right there to kick your ass!" Shizuka yelled at him, before flipping several rude gestures to him.

'Fine, hold still.' He thought, eye twitching. 'I'll just target you all."

He held out his hands, forming box with them, as though he was ready to take a picture. Without waiting another second, he activated his Stand. Ride the Lightning's body flashed orange and blue for a moment, before a bolt of electricity flew out, striking the area between Starlight's feet. The former equine jumped back in terror, as Capitone smiled.

"I can't control the bolts too well, but give it time, and I'll zone in on you eventually." Capitone declared, walking a little closer, as Shizuka and Starlight both forward to intercept him.

"Wait, Shizuka." Starlight said, stopping them both. "We don't know how this guy fried a cop yet. We need to test this guy's abilities to get a read on them."

Varan remained on the car, however, watching them carefully. Something didn't feel right about this. Something was definitely going on, much then just Capitone. She just couldn't put her finger on it. He fired another bolt, narrowing missing Shizuka, as he turned his attention to Varan.

'Can't have her staying back and watching the show.' he thought, bringing up his phone and calling as he flew another bolt at Starlight's face, as she ducked. "Fregola, your turn. Target the one on the car!"

Varan raised an eyebrow, before she heard a crash, of stone and metal being blasted apart, as a man arose from out of a newly made hole in the bridge. The best way to describe him was a toad. Large, ponderous eyes, misshapen head, and a large, bulky body. He wore camouflage pants and a brown muscle shirt and glared at her with a level of hate she found surprising. His very eyes seem to show someone who believed she had wronged him somehow.

"Fregola..." Starlight muttered, scratching her chin for a moment, before turning. "Varan, be careful. If that is the Fregola I've read about, you'll have to engage him very carefully."

"I'll be sure to carefully blast his face off." Varan remarked.

"I found the lummox during my time in the Pits after Celestia dealt with us." Capitone explained. "He makes for good muscle at least."

The being trudged towards Varan, slowly but surely, but Varan wasn't about to give away her advantage, or let him make the first move. Once he got in range, she sent out her Stand, Spirit in the Sky growling, lifting it's gnarled hands near it's face as saliva drooled down. Fregola seemed to stop for a moment, before advancing further in. Before his Stand could manifest, Spirit roared, before lashing out with a right hook. Fregola stumbled backwards, before wiping the blood from his lip.

His Stand appeared in a flash behind him. To Varan, it looked like a cross between one of the Rift Kaiju she had slain once, and the alien beast Orga. It had a long head crest and jaws that couldn't quite close from it's strange and mismatched teeth. It was a hulking figure, with muscle bulging underneath it's green and black armor, as blue lights glowed across it's head and back.

Fregola ran at her once more, and as Spirit swung a hammer fist down, His Stand blocked it, before grabbing the car. Varan struggled to overpower the enemy Stand, but immediately recoiled in shock. The area around Fregola's stand's hand was breaking down and beginning to rust an break from some unknown attack or element in it's hand. She disengaged, as he reached with the other hand, and tried to swipe at her, only for her to jump off the car. Fregola roared in rage, his Stand lifting up both hands, and smashing the car down.

"His Stand Overkill is a bit straight forward, but trust me, you won't want to get close." Capitone stated.

"Quit your talking!" Snapped Shizuka, rushing at him, Achtung Baby at the ready.

Starlight turned to Varan. "Varan, this guy broke an island once in a fit of anger! Don't underestimate him!"

As she got close, she briefly saw a thin, wispy white line, like a string of some sort, floating in front of her. She barely had time to comprehend this, before it touched part of her face, and a massive jolt struck, sending her flying back, sliding across the ground, and groaning in pain.

"Shizuka!" Starlight yelled, turning to her, only for Capitone to launch another electric bolt at her. Though it didn't hit her, the sheer force of the blast also threw her backwards.

"I'm gonna enjoy frying you!" Capitone shouted, as his Stand bore a wide, tooth-filled grin. "It's you ponies that are the reason we Fin-Folk have nothing. It's you ponies that tossed us into that Dark Magic-filled hell hole."

He glared down at her, preparing another attack, before she suddenly vanished from sight. Not wasting a moment, he fired another bolt, but nothing was hit. He glared through the smoke, before firing off several more, filling the area with smoke, as he tried to find where she had disappeared to. To his right, near the edge of the bridge, the smoke wavered slightly, as he fired another bolt. He hit nothing, as the guard railing electrified from the bolt.

Capitone snarled to himself, before snapping his fingers. Ride the Lightning wrapped it's hands around him, as numerous strings appeared out of it's body, surrounding him in a spiderweb.

'They won't be able to come near me at all.' He thought with a grin. 'No matter how invisible they get.'

Varan glared out at Fregola, her Stand's hands raised, hissing at the beast of a man, as she entered a combat stance.

"Why are you fighting for this man?" She asked, indicating with her head towards Capitone. "He's just using you."

"No where to go." He said simply. "Like to fight. Fought too much at home. Broke things. Broke leaders. Broke island. Will break you next."

"Then come and try it."

Fregola ran at her, and once in range, his Stand's fist disappeared into a blur as he tried to initiate a Stand rush against her. Varan leaned back, as her Stand pulled it's fist back, and swung hard, knocking Overkill in the face. Fregola backed away, before trying again. Varan sighed, preparing another hit, before he suddenly ducked down, and Overkill swung both open palms downwards, striking the ground, and causing the ground to instantly break down and crumble away as it rapidly aged away.

Varan yelled in shock, as she was sent plummeting into the waters below. Fregola smiled slightly, before turning and heading towards the partially ruined car. The other two were around here. He would break them. He would smash them. Then, he would wait for another target from Capitone to attack.

Shizuka and Starlight, still invisible, approached the tires and what was left of the car. Shizuka gestured towards them, Starlight taken aback at how the two were still able to see each other.

"Get the tire and Loot it or whatever you do." She whispered.

"Why?"

"It's rubber." Shizuka whispered. "Doesn't conduct.."

"Got it." Starlight muttered, her Stand punching the tire, before striking her in the chest with two fingers.

Across her body, her skin took on a blackened, bumpy texture, very similar to the tire, as she reappeared. Capitone smiled slightly, as he prepared another bolt of electricity. Starlight ran straight at him, determined as ever, her glared focused on him. He grinned broadly, as Fregola ran towards her, eyes wide with bloodlust, eager to make another kill. As he ran past the car, Shizuka suddenly appeared by his side, and swung out, Achtung Baby landing a strike against the side of his head.

"KORA!" She shouted at the top of her lung, knocking the brute away, as Starlight continued on her way.

Capitone fired a bolt of electricity, striking her straight in the chest, and knocking her back slightly. He wondered why she wasn't fried. Sure smoke was rising from her and she went back a few inches, but kept on coming regardless. He fired several more, some hitting her, some just blowing smoke and debris all around, but nothing was stopping her. Capitone's eyes bulged out of his head as he stared in terror.

Starlight got within a few meters of him, Hectic appearing beside her and ready to attack. She didn't have long. She could steal properties from other materials for around 7 seconds or so. She had already used up 3. Without a moment's delay, she struck out, hitting the Stand user in the face. Capitone stumbled back, before Hectic fired off more punches, striking both him and Ride the Lightning. She pulled back another fist, ready to strike, before the rubber faded from her body, and she realized something else. Wrapped along her arms, legs and torso, were several thin, sinuous fibers. Random sparks zapped outwards from them, as Capitone straightened himself.

"You were hitting hard, but I managed to wrap my Stand's strings around your body as you attacked." He stated, teetering slightly. "Your Stand wouldn't be effected, and I knew this state couldn't last forever."

He wagged a finger at her, eyes a glow with a determined fire. "I hate your kind. You're gonna be the first of many ponies I fry away with Ride the Lightning. Be honored in this fate."

He turned suddenly, releasing thousands of volts at something neither could see, as he glared angrily at something behind him. Starlight furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, as smoke rose from some unseen attacker. Capitone clenched his fists as he pointed outwards.

"Show yourself you coward!" He demanded. "I won't be ambushed by a fool like you who thought I would be defenseless."

Shizuka revealed herself, smoke rising from her, as she coughed weakly, falling to one knee.

"What did you think to accomplish?" Capitone demanded. "I can detect anything that touches my strings. Even invisibility won't save you."

"True." Shizuka stated, nodding. "Anything I touch turning invisible can't really help."

She grinned broadly at him, as a bunch of tire pieces strapped to her shoulders, chest, knees, and forearms revealed themselves, as she stood up and posed dramatically.

"I tore up the tires on my car and placed them all over my body." She explained. "With this armor, I could resist all your attacks."

Before Capitone could even respond, Achtung Baby lashed out with a punch to his face, before kicking at his knee, breaking his leg with a wet, horrific crack. A brief surge of electricity went through Starlight, as she yelled out in agony. Shizuka stopped as Capitone smiled up at her, despite nursing his leg.

"Go on, try and hit me." Capitone said, tapping the side of his face. "I'll be sure to leave your Kentucky Fried Pony as chard as a volcano."

Hectic snapped outwards and struck the tire on Shizuka's body, as Capitone's eyes widened.

"Don't try it, Starlight Glimmer!" He declared, about to activate his electricity. Sparks and smoke began to rise from her body, as cracks appeared in her Stand.

Before he could finish the job, Shizuka landed a punch, with her own fist on the side of his face, knocking him off balance slightly, and allowing Hectic to strike it's master, and transferring the rubber abilities from the tire to her skin. Capitone roared in anger, activating his stand to full power, electricity flying through the air, smoke all around them, as Shizuka and Starlight flinched.

But nothing happened to them.

Realizing his mistake, Capitone tried to retreat, but both were too quick to let him get away now. With a yell both proceeded to send their stand at him in break-neck speed, fists flying from both as they pummeled all throughout his body, bones cracking from every impact.

"KORAKORAKORAKORAKORAKORAKORAKORAKORAKORAKORAKORAKORA!!"

With one final, earth shattering hit, both landed their coup de grace, and sent him flying over the side of the bridge.

"He's done for." Starlight muttered, looking around.

"What about..." Starlight began, before an absolute inhuman sound echoed across the bridge.

Fregola glared at them both, eyes wide and bloodshot, as he lifted his fists. Both stepped back in surprise. The man was absolutely shaking in rage, eyes now burning red.

"Capitone promised me fights. Promised me was strong!" He roared to them, stepping towards them, eyes twitching. "He was not! He lied! I hate liars!"

His Stand appeared, smashing it's fist into the bridge, creating a massive crater. He stood there for several moments, glaring down at it, before suddenly becoming calm.

"I still want a fight." He growled, eyes still red, his iris looking like freshly spilled blood. "I want something worthwhile!"

He was about to run towards them, his left hitting the ground hard, before something reached out and grabbed his right leg, and pulled back. Fregola roared in rage, as he was pulled off balance and sent directly on his face. Following that, the hand retreated from the ground, and went back into the hole, disappearing for a moment ,before something began to pulverize the rock and concrete, and send bits of it flying upwards.

"GREEESAAAAAH!!" Spirit in the Sky roared, as it, and it's master floated from the now much larger hole she had made, and settled down onto the bridge itself.

Fregola rolled over his back and jumped to his feet, Overkill appearing beside him, it's face twisted in absolute rage.

"How?!" He Demanded, before his Stand began speaking. "How did you survive the fall?!"

"I've been keeping this a secret for a while, but I figured out my Stand can manipulate air particles." Varan exampled, as Spirit twisted and twitched beside her. "I manipulated the air beneath me to create clouds, and floated on them until you opened up the bridge."

His stand's lips curled back in rage, as he studied her. "Do as you wish, beast-women! My user and I will crush you!"

Varan tilted her side to one side, narrowing her eyes in annoyance. "Tch. You talk tough, but I've faced much worse then you."

Fregola charged, Overkill jumping slightly from it's user, to strike at Varan. She docked under and swung and upper-cut form Spirit into his face, striking him off balance for a moment, before he swung with the other hand, Overkill touching her elbow, as the flesh rapidly rotted off. She pulled back, Spirit slamming a kick into the side Overkill's head, knocking him to the ground. Spirit growled, drool dripping from it's fangs, as strange cloud layers appeared around her. Fregola stood up, watching Varan as she took a combat stance.

"You're bluffing. Injury hurt you bad." Fregola stated, stomping towards her. "Will finish what I started. Prepare to die."

His Stand partially manifested through his body, it's arms overlapping with his own, as he swung both at her head. Varan didn't move or react, as Shizuka and Starlight cried out. Right before his hands could touch her, fire exploded to life across his body, as Fregola jumped away, trying to put the fires out.

"This atmospheric layers were to protect me. You moved so quickly through them, it created the friction needed to light you on fire." She stated coldly, as the two glared at each other. "Now you're the one that needs to be finished off."

Fregola did not even stop rushing at Varan, as Overkill landed several punches across Spirit in the Sky's body, it's armored form cracking from the abuse, as Varan gasped and backed away from the abuse, creating new atmospheric layers to cover herself, blood dripping from the right corner of her lips, as she held her side. Shizuka jumped to her feet, heading towards Varan, as the Kaiju-women held out her hand.

"I'm gonna finish this alone." She declared, feet snapping into a combat stance. "Better stand back, this fight will be done in five minutes."

Fregola charged at her, swinging another hook, as she waited for her atmospheric layer to protect her. Instead, he slowed down his punch, and settled on trying to touch her face. Varan ducked away, as he advanced, attempting to grab her with Overkill.

"Speed makes friction. That makes fire." he stated, as it continued to burn across his body. "So no speed."

He attempted to grab her neck once more, before Spirit in the Sky grabbed his wrist with one arm, keeping it from touching it's master. Fregola pushed against her defenses, trying to over power her as he suddenly dropped to his knees, and struck the ground with the other hand. The bridge crumbled apart underneath both of them, the two soon falling as Varan released him in surprise.

Fregola swung both hands at her, both inline to attach to her face. "I win! I'm the strongest! I'm the strongest!"

His hand passed through the atmospheric layers she had set up around her, exploding into fire, as she shook her head.

"Wrong, this victory is mine." Varan stated. "You grew arrogant and forgot how fine tuned my control of these particles are."

Fregola roared in agony, as he still attempted to strike at Varan. She didn't waste a second, dodging his final clumsy attack, before smashing into his body with several punches, rushing him with a battle cry, her Stand's fists disappearing into a blur of earth shattering motion.

"Skreeeeeraasshhhh!" It roared at the top of it's lungs, before slamming a final strike into his stomach, creating a fist sized indentation, and sending him and his Stand into the seas.

Before she could hit the river herself, she manipulated the air particles again, creating several clouds, and floating upwards onto the bridge, slowly rising up, before touching down onto the ground carefully, and heading to the other two, who gasped in surprise as she approached, holding her arm.

"Those were our first two enemies." She stated coldly, moving towards his car. "5 more, then the queen."

"Varan, are you alright?" Shizuka asked, as Varan opened the backdoors in Capitone's car.

"I just need to treat my elbow." Varan stated, looking at them coldly. "The key mechanism is in the slot here. Time to drive Shizuka."

Shizuka and Starlight looked at each other, before following her in, and jumping in, starting it up and driving off, the rest of their drive in silence, as they neared the city outskirts. Shizuka turned to Varan slightly, taking a deep breath.

"Why didn't you reveal your Stand could that?" Shizuka asked.

"I don't trust you." Varan stated bluntly. "More then most, but from my experience, most humans have done a lot to burn me, as you would put it."

Shizuka's eyes widened, as he looked at Varan uncertainly, before looking at the road.

"Three of my closest friends where annihilated by the humans. So sorry if my words hurt." Varan remarked stoically. "You're better then most, but I still don't want to fall for their same mistake."

"I...I understand..." Shizuka replied, focusing on the road, as Starlight studied from the corner of her eye.

'I don't blame Varan. But it seems she hit a nerve with Shizuka.' She thought to herself, before looking out at the side of the highway, sighing slightly. 'What a mess we all are.'

As Chrysalis sat in her office, overlooking the city, she heard the distinct sound of clicking, of two pairs of shoes, and a cane of some sort. She raised an eyebrow and smiled, as she clicked a button.

"Is the next guest here?"

"Yes Ma'am." Her secretary said nervously.

"Send him in."

Chrysalis leaned back in her seat, lacing her long, elegant fingers together, as she titled her head slightly at the man entering. He was a large, rotund man, and it was hard to tell what age, but he was very old. He had an elegant black overcoat over grey pants, and leaned heavily on his cane, breathing heavily. His lips were cracked, and his eyes were yellow and bloodshot.

"Who are you, and what do you want." Chrysalis demanded, getting straight to the point.

"Ah, one of buisness are you." The Man stated, gesturing around the office with one of his hands. "Quite impressive. I adore buisness myself."

Chrysalis raised an eyebrow, as he marched along the room, his raspy breath echoing as he studied the paintings on her walls. "These kind enable me to grow so much back at my home dimension. Looting and pillaging the world, so I may grow to spread rot and decay all around!"

"What. Do. You. Want." Chrysalis repeated, clenching her teeth, as the blackened form of her Stand briefly appeared beside her.

"Calm yourself. I see that, like I, you may take human form, but you are very much a monster, like I, at heart." The man said, breathing heavily, as he threw his other hand onto the cane. "I am Hedorah, The Smog Monster. Bringer of Rot and Ruin, The Lord of the Flies, Master of Decay."

"What do you want then?" Chrysalis asked, her stand vanishing. "You know of my own master, somehow, and have a Stand. What do you want?"

"My master wishes to have one of the arrows." Hedorah stated. "His name, is Bagan. I am enjoined to him, for his promise of conquest offers me much chance to rot the flesh from many, many bones, and see the maggots grow fat and happy on their liquified remains."

"So you are helping me?" Chrysalis asked.

"Our goals are not incompatible." Hedorah stated, clicking his ringed fingers across the cane's head, eyes unblinking. "Allow me to help you eliminate these three Stand users, and I will leave with my arrow."

"How do I know you are not deceiving me?" Chrysalis asked, narrowing her eyes.

"I am honest, my dear. If I wanted you to rot within a corpse's shell, I would have stated my intent." Hedorah declared, tapping his cane across the floor. "I will depart. Contact me once you have made your decision."

Chrysalis watched him leave, intrigued, and disturbed, all in equal measure.

<---__TO BE CONTINUED___|__/

Author's Note

So, the first big fight of the story. The Six Fin-Folk are based on the Barraki from Bionicle, each representing a sea creature with their style and name. The first one here, is Capitone Grigilato, a character named after A type of Grilled Eel. Capitone's Stand, "Ride the Lightning" is named after the Metallica Album of the same name. I designed him to sort of the first bump in the road the trio would face going forward.

His minion, Fregola, was originally supposed to be appear later, but I decided the fight needed some urgency to it to make it feel more impactful. His Stand "Overkill" was originally to be named Slayer, but I actually perfer Overkill's sound and guitar work, so favoritism sorta came into play there :raritywink:. Where's Capitone's attacks are complicated and require some guessing work and such, Fregola's Stand reflects him quite well; simple and straight to the point.

I also changed the To be continued song to Spice Girls' 2 become 1 song. It felt more fitting for the three and their adventures, in a way.