Author's Note

Side Chapter to the Crystalling Parts 1 and 2/ Gauntlet of Fire

We Picked Up Something Crazy!

*Opaline's POV*

Josuke, Koichi, Okuyasu, Keicho and Ichigo, with Shizue in tow, met up with Midnight, Joseph and I at Cafe Rengatei as my husband placed down a briefcase before opening it, revealing the Bow and Arrow.

Josuke asks "So you managed to get the Bow and Arrow back, huh?"

Midnight spoke "Yep, found it in Akira's home, not to mention he's been using Chili Pepper to steal what he wanted. Petty theft if you ask me, even though all he stole was as much as five hundred million yen, but good thing the police are already investigating it."

*Giggle!* I remember Midnight threatening Akira like it was yesterday, in fact it was yesterday.

*Flashback*

Midnight snarls "If you wanna use your Stand to get out, go ahead. But do that, I'll finish this hunt and put you down for good."

That scared Akira real bad, amusing me greatly. "You can't lay a finger on me while I'm in here!"

*End Flashback*

Midnight spoke "Chili Pepper's out of energy, and even if Akira escaped, he won't be causing any trouble. *Drinks some coffee*"

I spoke "I strongly recommend we keep that jerk far away from Ash though."

Midnight spoke "Don't worry, I already considered that."

*Swoon!* Midnight's so cool!

Koichi asks "Mr. Midnight, what about the Bow and Arrow?"

Midnight spoke "I'm sending them to the Speedwagon Foundation so they can analyze it. And we'll be able to understand more about Stands if it goes well."

Josuke spoke "Great!"

Koichi spoke "That's fantastic!"

Keicho spoke "I always was curious about Stands."

Koichi spoke "After you're done, all of this will be over! It feels weird celebrating, but whoo-hoo, we cracked the case!"

Midnight spoke "Hold it, we don't know how many Stand Users were awakened, so Akira's still being questioned on that subject. So don't relax just yet."

I spoke "There's two alicorns with Stands though. Plus Ichigo's got two stands which is kind of unnatural. I don't have a Stand, Pearl's got a Stand."

Joseph spoke "The Japanese sure know how to make a cup of joe. Waitress, *Accidentally makes teacup fall off the table* refill please!"

Josuke spoke "*Dashes and catches cup* Guh-Careful! Pay attention. I swear, you're such a klutz. *Places cup back on table* I can't turn around for one second."

Koichi asks "*Smiles before remembering something* Josuke, it's almost time for the bus, isn't it?"

Josuke spoke "Huh? Oh, uh, yeah. I guess you're right. Come on, get up. We gotta go."

Josuke started heading to the bus stop with Joseph.

Koichi spoke "You think those two are gonna be okay? I'm kinda worried."

"I can help keep an eye on them." I assured as Pearl giggled while hugging me.

Okuyasu spoke "Holy cannoli, *Eats some cake* this is the yummiest cake I've ever tasted! Waitress, I want some more please!"

Ichigo spoke "Uh Opaline, Deep Blue's got a kid though. Regular Stands can't have kids."

I spoke "My bad."

Later, I kept an eye on Josuke and Joseph while having Pearl with me as Joseph unknowingly went onto the bus heading to Sapporo before Josuke managed to catch up and help Joseph get off the bus while the he panted from the long run.

Joseph spoke "Sorry for the hassle, you said we were going to get on a bus so I did. And it would seem you caught up not a minute too soon, from the looks of things, we were just about to merge onto the freeway."

Josuke spoke "*As I covered Pearl's ears* I'm starting to think I should've let that damn bus take you all the way to Hokkaido! At least then I-Doh! *Clutches midsection* Damn stomach cramp!"

Joseph spoke "*As Josuke sat down* I didn't mean to be an inconvenience to you."

Ichigo pops up with Shizue on her back before using a healing spell to ease Josuke's pain.

Ichigo asks "Did that help you Josuke?"

Josuke: I guess."

But then Joseph, Pearl and Shizue looked at the bottom back of Joseph's left pant leg as it was pulled by something invisible.

Joseph spoke "Hey guys, sorta feels like something pulling at my pants leg."

Josuke sarcastically spoke "Yeah? Better be careful, if you drop your guard it'll drag you off somewhere and eat you.

But then Joseph's cane was swiped, lifted up and swung around from the bottom by something invisible before the cane fell on its side.

Joseph spoke "Huh? J-Josuke! Get over here, we got a Stand User!"

Josuke spoke "Huh? Oh yeah, you're right. In fact, there are four Users, and for the record, I'm talking about me, you, Ichigo and Pearl. I'm really thirsty."

Joseph gasped at seeing tiny hand prints and leg prints on the dirt. "W-Wait a minute, these aren't footprints. Hands? They're handprints!"

Three more appeared with a leg print before giggling was heard.

Joseph spoke "Oh my god! The Stand just laughed, Josuke! Did you hear that? It's right there! You can see it in the sand! *As Josuke looked skeptical* If it weren't for all of this dang blasted concrete, I could find it! Where'd it go? It vanished! Why did you disappear? Come back!

But then we saw a rabid dog growling at something as Joseph noticed it before the canine leapt.

Joseph spoke "Hermit Purple!"

Purple vines emerged from Joseph's left arm as they grabbed something invisible and yoinked it into the air before placing it into his hands as the vines then vanished before crying was heard from that invisible thing while the dog barked.

Joseph spoke "Beat it, mutt! *Kicks leg in the air* Go on! Shoo! Shoo! *As the dog whimpered before running away* Get!"

Josuke asks "Hey, am I crazy or is that crying?"

Shizue and Pearl weren't crying.

Joseph spoke "Over here, Josuke. It's just a baby. I'm holding a tiny naked baby in my hands. I know it sounds strange, but it's invisible."

Josuke spoke "*Bead of sweat* What?! *Touches what was in Joseph's hands after the crying stopped, making it giggle* It's hard to believe, but you're right. I can feel its soft skin. How is it possible? A bonafide invisible baby!"

Joseph spoke "From what I can tell, it can't be any older than six months."

Ichigo's motherly instincts kick in before she took the baby from Joseph.

Ichigo spoke "A baby that young needs a mother to look after them."

Josuke spoke "What I wanna know is how it turned invisible in the first place, and how'd it get out here. I'm guessing it's the work of a Stand, but... why on Mobius would an enemy Stand User turn a baby invisible? And where is this kid's mother? Nothing about this makes any sense."

Joseph spoke "Huh... Hey, Josuke, call me crazy, but I think the baby is the Stand User."

Josuke asks "What?"

Joseph spoke "Yeah, it just isn't aware of its abilities yet. Whenever it separated from its mother, the poor little thing must've turned invisible based on pure instinct. Duress in adults can trigger ulcers, hair loss, and premature graying, but in the case of this baby, it's activated its Stand powers. If we can find its mother, I think we might be able to solve this."

But then the invisible baby started crying.

Josuke spoke "Aw, freakin' great! Well, don't just stand there, make it stop crying!"

Ichigo spoke "Shh, shh... it's okay."

Joseph spoke "I think I can help, but I, uh, don't know exactly how to do that. I have a little experience with it, but that was a long time ago. *Tries to tickle the baby to help calm it down* There, there. Coochie-coochie coo. *Gasp!* So that's where it is!"

That made us anxious to find out what.

Josuke asks "Well, is it a boy or a girl?"

Joseph spoke "Yep, this hand has never let me down. Hmm... I'm pleased to say it's a girl."

Josuke asks "Oh, I get it. That's why you had to use your hand, right? How else could you tell?"

*Giggle* Yeah. *Realizes* Wait a minute... Next thing we knew, Josuke was chasing screaming Joseph with an angry roar while holding his cane before Ichigo gasped.

Josuke asks "*As he and Joseph stopped* There something else I should know about?"

Ichigo spoke "*Pinches nose with her free hand* Josuke, we need tissues pronto."

Josuke spoke "Huh? *Sniff sniff!* Bueck!"

A nasty stench hit our noses as that came from Ichigo's right hand, where she was holding the baby up.

Josuke asks "Th-That nauseating smell... Why is it coming from your hand? Are you saying she...?"

Ichigo spoke "Yeah... And I never noticed it since it was invisible too until my nose was whacked by that odor."

I spoke "And I think this is one case where a Stand lacks a physical form."

I pulled out some diapers and wet wipes before handing them to Ichigo who took the items with her magic.

Ichigo spoke "I'll be back in a bit, I got a few things to do."

Ichigo flew off to the washroom building before heading inside to clean the baby's bottom up and get a clean diaper on, then changing Shizue's diaper and then washing her hands to get the stink off.

Ichigo tickles the baby's stomach to make her giggle.

Later, we were back in town.

Josuke spoke We're stuck with her for now, so it looks like we'll need to pick up formula just in case and some diapers. Since we don't want her going au natural, she needs some clothes. *As we saw a shop saying "Family Club* I'm counting on you guys."

Joseph asks "What? We want us to buy everything?"

Josuke spoke "Yeah, I can't go in there. You have ANY idea how that would look to people? Somebody could walk by and catch me buying baby stuff, people would start to talk. They'd see me as some stupid 17-year-old bad boy who knocked up some poor chick..."

Ichigo nervously giggled at that.

Joseph spoke "Okay, I see your point, but I only have American Traveler's checks at the moment."

I spoke "My money won't work so I'll start asking around if anyone lost a six month old baby."

Ichigo spoke "I can't help either."

A box of baby clothes appears in front of Ichigo, courtesy of Danyelle.

Ichigo spoke "Would you look at that, someone sensed that we had found a baby so they got some baby clothes for the baby."

Josuke spoke "Now let's get going while the gettin's good."

Later, we were at a park as the baby was on a blanket on a table, wearing clothes, socks and a hat while holding a toy while cooing.

Josuke spoke "Now we don't have to worry about losing her, but there's still a problem. Without a face, she's gonna freak out everyone she comes in contact with."

Shizue giggles as she plays with the baby.

Ichigo spoke "We have to give her a name though."

I ask "How about Naomi?"

Ichigo spoke "Actually, I was thinking Shizuka. Besides, we'll need to make the face visible."

Shizue gave her mom a look that said "But it too similar to my name."

Ichigo giggles "Think about it, Shizue, you'll be getting a sister."

"Dunno why, but the makeup pack Rarity gave me might help here." I said as I brought out a box of makeup. After putting on some foundation, the baby's face was visible, having a beak, giving me a feeling that she's a bird, octopus or squid.

Josuke spoke "Well, whaddya know? She's actually pretty cute when you can see her."

Joseph spoke "Yeah, you're right. A vision of beauty."

Josuke spoke "Good idea, this may make finding her mother a heckuva lot easier! We might actually pull this off, consider me impressed. Nice one Mrs. Opaline."

Ichigo spoke "I didn't feel any tentacles, so that rules out squid and octopi. Plus I feel a pair of wings on her back so it's possible she might be a gryphon, opinicus or hippogriff."

Soon, I got some lipstick, brows and lashes on Shizuka.

Joseph chuckles "With your new makeover, we could walk around without attracting any attention. *Brings out a pair of sunglasses* And since we can't exactly powder your eyes, sunglasses should do the trick. *Puts sunglasses on Shizuka* Now she's even cuter! *Laughs*"

Ichigo spoke "We don't know if she has parents or not."

Joseph spoke "*Picks up Shizuka* Hmm, do you think Opaline went too light on the foundation? It doesn't seem to be sticking to her."

Josuke asks "Huh? *Gasp!*"

Shizuka started becoming clearer with everything on her as she laugh.

Josuke spoke "No! That's not it!"

Joseph spoke "What the?! She's fading out!"

But then a small burst of energy came out of Shizuka, turning everything on her invisible, along with Joseph's hands.

Joseph spoke "She's gone! And my hands went with her!"

Josuke spoke "This is horrible! She can make other things invisible! That means no solid object is safe from her!"

Joseph asks "Gyah! What now?!"

Josuke spoke "Mr. Joestar, drop the baby! Let go of it! Hurry before she turns the rest of you!"

Joseph placed Shizuka into a stroller that Danyelle sent in with the clothes as she cried. "What? I let go, but they're still invisible!"

Josuke spoke "I think she's powering up!"

Another burst of energy, this time, turning part of the stroller around her invisible as Shizuka kept crying before Josuke tossed pacifier towards it before it turned invisible and landed by Joseph's right foot.

Josuke spoke "What are we supposed to do? Anything that gets within a 30 centimeter radius of the baby is gonna be turned completely invisible. She can't be trying to protect herself with her Stand. No one can take care of her if she did. Something else must be going on here."

Joseph spoke "It seems like the effect is triggered by anxiety. Stress is the culprit... Clearly, she doesn't like to be handled by people she doesn't know."

Josuke spoke "And if she powers up anymore, then no one will be able to get near her. We'll end up invisible too!"

Shizue mewls cutely at Shizuka, calming her back down thus cancelling the power.

Ichigo spoke "Hmm, telling the police is a no-go since they won't believe us about a baby that is invisible."

But then the stroller started going downhill.

Josuke growls "What the heck are you doing, Mr. Joestar?! Either get with the program old man, or get out of the way! *Runs after the stroller*

Joseph spoke "Oh, I didn't know it started going downhill. Sorry for the trouble."

We followed Josuke before Shizuka started crying again as the stroller turned completely invisible, while turning parts of trees invisible and an invisible trail that looked like a dug trail.

Joseph spoke *Standing on invisible ground* The stroller outright vanished! It took the ground with it! He was right, it is stress! The more she freaks out, the stronger her invisibility power gets!"

But then we heard a crash.

Joseph spoke "Tell me I didn't just hear the stroller flip over!"

Then we saw a splash in a nearby lake.

Josuke asks "A-Are you for real?! The invisible baby just fell in the water?! Where is she?! Come on, make some noise! I don't see any bubbles! Is she...?!"

Joseph asks "Josuke, is there any sign of her?"

Josuke growls "Shut up! Listen, just stay outta this! *Jumps into the water to look for Shizuka*"

Ichigo and I started looking too, but we found nothing as Josuke resurfaced.

Josuke asks "Son of a... How are we gonna find an invisible baby, especially when we're way steep in crystal clear water?"

Joseph spoke "*In water as well* I'm truly sorry, Josuke. I won't be able to hold out long, so I have a request, tell your mom hello. It'd be the world if you gave her my message. *Holds a knife* After all, I'm just a doddering old man, you know."

Josuke cut his right wrist, causing blood to spill into the water.

Josuke asks "What do you think you're doing?!"

Joseph spoke "*Sits in the water* I'm giving the water a little bit of... color."

Among the underwater red cloud, we saw a clearing spot.

Joseph spoke "There, in the center. Do you see it? The blood disappears towards the middle, that's where the baby is. You and Ichigo take care of her, Josuke."

The spot became a light beacon, leaving us shocked at what Joseph was doing.

Josuke spoke "Mr. Joestar... *As Shining Diamond and Bast rose from the water, with the former carrying a crying Shizuka* No regular person would even attempt what you've just done, not for a stranger's kid they'd only met that day. You're... *Smile*"

Joseph asks "*Smile* Well, I just wanted to look cool for you. Tell me, did it work?"

Josuke helped Joseph up while healing him as Ichigo gently grabbed Shizuka before she and Shizue managed to calm the invisible baby down.

Ichigo's eyes were glowing with magic thus looking past the invisibility.

Ichigo spoke "She's a hawk Mobian, pinkish brown feathers and green eyes... Wait... Opaline, can you contact Lillian? I think we got this case figured out."

"Okay." I responded.

*soon,*

Lillian steps out of a warp ring in her human form despite wearing a few of her molted feathers in a hair clip.

Lillian gasps "Naomi! I was looking everywhere for you, you silly baby! You nearly gave me and Tempest a heart attack."

Ichigo passes the baby hawk Mobian back to Lillian.

Lillian spoke "Mr Joestar, Mr Higashikata, Miss Momomiya and Miss Arcana. I can't thank you four enough for finding my missing daughter."

Ichigo spoke "Well, you won't believe what we found out."

Lillian asks "Hmm?"

Ichigo spoke "Your daughter's a Stand User."

Lillian spoke "But how? Neither Tempest or I are Stand users."

"Hmm... I'm no expert on Stands, but maybe it was just luck." I noted.

Lillian spoke "But it still doesn't explain why my sweet Naomi is invisible...."

Josuke spoke "It's actually because of her Stand."

Lillian asks "But can it be cancelled out?"

Joseph spoke "Yes, because stress is what triggers it."

Lillian spoke "*looking at Joseph* And if it wasn't for your future daughter in law, I wouldn't have been able to find Naomi."

That made Ichigo mentally panic.

Lillian giggles "What's the matter catgirl? Direwolf got your tongue?"

That made Ichigo sweat even more when suddenly...

Shizue mewls "Momma?"

...What?

Josuke spoke "*As Joseph sighed* This is just great..."

Lillian asks "...Huh?"

Ichigo spoke "Lillian, you can't tell anyone about this. If word reaches Tomoko's ears, she'll have Children's Aid Society on my tail and I'll have Shizue taken away from me."

Lillian spoke "*Snaps out of it with a serious expression* Right. You have my word."

Ichigo spoke "*ears flatten* And for Naomi's sake, I won't call Children's Aid Society on you for what happened either since we got her back to you before they found out about the mess."

Lillian spoke "Thank you."

Ichigo spoke with a scared mewl in her voice "If Children's Aid Society is called on me for what I had done a year ago, they will take Shizue from me regardless if I'm a princess or not..."

Lillian spoke "Don't worry, Ichigo. I'll keep it quiet."

Ichigo spoke "Aside from Opaline, the only other ponies that know are Applejack and Rainbow."

Joseph spoke "Based on their suspicions."

Ichigo spoke "Applejack figured it out that I had been lying."

Josuke spoke "Soarin and Rainbow Dash heard Shizue."

Ichigo clamps a hand over Shizue's mouth as her left ear twitches.

Ichigo spoke "You might as well come out Tomoko, I smell you nearby."

Josuke spoke "*Facepalm* For the love of..."

Ichigo asks "What do you want Tomoko?"

Tomoko asks "*Not noticing Joseph yet* Why are you with my son?"

I turned Joseph invisible with magic.

Keeping Shizue silent, Ichigo spoke "Josuke and I are just friends though."

Tomoko didn't seem convinced, noticing that Ichigo was hiding something.

Ichigo asks "It's the truth, Josuke and I are just friends. Right Josuke?"

Josuke spoke "Yeah, whatever."

Shizue was starting to get fussy but Ichigo had to keep her quiet.

Tomoko glared while pointing two fingers towards her eyes, then towards Ichigo, saying that she's watching her, before walking away.

Ichigo was sweating bullets since Shizue nearly blew her cover.

Ichigo spoke "*Sigh* Okay sweetie, I'll get you your milk."

Ichigo gets a baby bottle that had her milk inside it and gives it to Shizue.

Josuke spoke "That was too close."

Ichigo spoke "She reminds me so much of how my dad was before he died...."

Joseph spoke "Please, try to calm yourself, Ichigo. Sometimes it isn't best to hold onto the past, especially too tightly."

Ichigo spoke "Emotional scars never fully heal anyways... But I know that my parents, my sister and my previous boyfriend wouldn't want me to be sad forever. I have a responsibility now."

Joseph: *Smile* I'm glad you understand that much."

*Rei's POV*

I arrived at the Fire Temple in Earthrealm to meet up with Liu Kang as I saw him meditating in front of a crackling fire before he opened his eyes, sensing me as a dust devil forming before it faded, with Geras appearing.
"
Liu Kang spoke "Geras, my old friend. It's been eons. It is good to see you. And it is good to see you once more, Rei.

"A pleasure to see you too, once more, Liu Kang." I greeted back.

Geras spoke "Likewise, Lord Liu Kang. I have watched you and others with the Hourglass. *As Liu Kang stood up* You are relishing your role as Earthrealm's Protector."

Liu Kang spoke "It suits me far better than being Keeper of Time ever did. I never wanted to replace Kronika. Being history's architect drove her mad. I had no wish to share her fate."

"Too true, Liu Kang, too true." I agreed.

Liu Kang spoke "Which is why I am forever grateful that Geras and Dialga volunteered to safeguard the Hourglass. Despite my having relinquished its power, the new era has unfolded as it should."

Geras spoke "*Grabs and carries a mini jade statue of a jaguar on its rear legs* You created me in your own image. Duty is my highest calling."

Liu Kang asks "*As Geras placed the statue back* While I am glad you are here, you are not one for social calls. Is there trouble with the Hourglass?"

Geras spoke "With something it has shown me."

Liu Kang asks "What, Geras?"

Geras spoke "When you restarted history, you altered the destinies of certain malefactors to neutralize them. At least one of them is defying that destiny: Shang Tsung."

"That's ominous." I said.

Liu Kang spoke "Go on."

Geras spoke "He has escaped his meaningless life and is on his way to becoming a powerful sorcerer. He has already infiltrated Sindel's court."

"From the sounds of that, he's a master of deception." I noted.

Liu Kang spoke "I saw no sign of him during the tournament. But if that snake is in Sindel's ear..."

Geras spoke "Your vision of peace may already be compromised."

Liu Kang spoke "I appreciate this warning, Geras. We will investigate. Please return to the Hourglass and see what else you can learn."

"And don't worry, I'll assist in choosing who will help us." I assured as I had a feeling that things were about to change. "Plus I'm well aware that Danyelle sensed it too."

End