《JoJo’s Bizarre Tournament Arc (JJBTA)》 The Prospia Mansion Information. Historically speaking, its been something that was controlled by few. Even in the age of democracy, information is something that you got from a few select groups. Wether it be through newspapers, news broadcasts, or whatever your local library can supply you with, information is something controlled by the few. There has never been a way for information to be shared throughout the world by the masses for the masses. That was until the age of information and social media; until the twenty-first century. With social media came a fundamental change in how information spread. Now anyone and everyone could share information and opinions with the world. And as such the world became aware of many political viewpoints. And as such, the twenty-first became known as a time of political tension. Not tension between rival nations (though that wasnt absent from the time), but rather tension between the average citizens of those countries. Despite this, however, not all people were caught up in this political tension. If you were to explore English countryside, you may come across an estate that stood as a testament to this. If you were to find the dirt road that leads to the house of the estate, along the way you would first be met by thick woods on either side of the road. The road twists and turns so that you cannot see where the road leads for a while until straightening out. Youll then see a that the road reaches a clearing. Once you reach the clearing youll be met with rolling green hills as far as the eye can see. Trees sparsely dot the landscape, and a few buildings can be seen. These were things like supply sheds, barns, and storage buildings. People could be seen working on the landscape, and in the distance inside a large fence you may see a man riding a thoroughbred chestnut horse. All of this in view and more belonged to the same estate, owned by an extremely influential man. Eventually, after making your way through the expansive estate, you would eventually come to the manor of the estate. You would first be met by a brick wall that surrounded the manor and a gate in the way of the road. If you were permitted to enter, a man in a suit and shades would open the gate for you. After getting past the gate you would find a statue in the driveway, which the road circled around. The statue was that of a robed female carrying a large pitcher over one of her shoulders with both arms. It was very clearly Roman inspired. The mansion itself was a three story brick building in the Queen-Anne Victorian style. On either side of the estate main courtyard were two smaller buildings with triangular roofs. Atop the main building were three columns, the outside ones serving as chimneys and the center one serving as a bell tower. Once entering the gate and parking your car, a servant of the manor would help you out of your car, assuming you didnt have one yourself. This servant is a man of progressed age and clean-cut class. His hair is finely cut short with a part in the right side of his hair, and the hair on top of his head is combed away from the part and somewhat back so that his snow white hairs gradually go down in length. His tux is of utmost quality, with the typical white undershirt, black pants, black coat, and black tie of a butler. The mans face is somewhat weathered, but he wears it with a subtle smile that is simultaneously welcoming and strictly businesslike. This man was currently opening the back door of a black sedan. The vehicle had just finished taking the route described accompanied by three black SUVs. From the back door stepped out a blonde woman in shades, a black suit, tie, and a knee-length straight skirt. As she stepped out of the vehicle her hair flowed to the side before resting behind her at waist-length. She tilted her glasses to get a quick look at the butler with her crystal blue eyes. He doesnt look like the one the associate mentioned, she thought to herself. But Ive been wrong before. This woman is Jasmine Carrey, an operative under the employment of the Speedwagon foundation. If you asked her to describe herself, and by some miracle chance she decided to pay you any mind, she would say shes a very simple kind of person. Clock in, get the job done, and clock out is her favorite phrase to use for such introductions. However, if you ask anyone else that is well acquainted with her, youll get a much different answer. Egotistical, self-conscious, easily flustered, busybody, plastic, and arrogant. Those are just some of the words they would use to describe her, though opinions on her do vary. But no matter who you ask, there is one thing they will always say about her: She gets results. She is buy and large the most trusted and relied upon SWF operative. Whether it be identifying and locating stand users, finding supernatural artifacts, subduing criminal stand users, or even something as mundane as securing extra government funding, if the Foundation wants to ensure something gets done, they turn to Carrey. And as such, they usually reserve their higher priority operations for her. Her current assignment was no exception. Welcome to the Prospia Mansion, Ms. Carrey. Weve been awaiting your arrival for quite some time now The butlers voice was deep and soothing. He bowed with a hand across his chest after finishing his sentence. The woman seemed to ignore him as she turned back towards the car. Im gonna talk to the associate on my own for a while, so you stay out for the time being. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. She was speaking to a man in the back seat of the sedan. He was only in his forties, but his platinum-blonde hair, rough beard, and sunken green eyes made him look much older. He was wearing a cheap brown suit and tie, the kind you would get for a job interview and never wear again. The contrast between his lack of grooming and the formal suit served to make him appear even more disheveled. The man didnt give any reaction to Carreys words. He simply continued to stare forwards. What a pain, Carrey sighed internally, turning back to the butler. Go ahead and lead the way, mister..? Refer to me as Denver. Strange name for a butler. Lead the way then, Denver Denver nodded as he shut the door and turned to walk into the manor. Jasmine followed behind with a strut calling attention to the hips. As they approached the doors to the manor, two servants in maid outfits that were standing still near the doors began to move. They opened the doors, revealing the manors impressive interior. From outside the door, Carrey could see the floor, a few walls, a statue similar to the one outside, and the large staircase at the opposite side of the main room. The walls were various shades of red and purple, though none of those shades were excessively bright. The floor had a slanted black and white checkerboard pattern except for the red carpet that led from the doors to the staircase. The staircase itself was made of wood with a dark brown finish, polished so that you could see your reflection in the sturdy material. Once inside, the agent was met with a high roof from which intricate crystal chandeliers hung, giving off a subtle light that resembled natural sunlight. To the right was a wide hallway with at least five doors on each side before turning to the right. To the left was a large rounded wooden door. Various paintings dotted the rooms walls, a full-scale replica of Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte hanging centerfold at the top of the staircase. Denver led the unimpressed Carrey up the staircase. After reaching the top, he took a right into a long hallway. After passing several doors, the butler stopped in the middle of the hall and next to a set of dark brown double doors. He turned back towards the agent and gestured towards the door. The master of the manor is waiting for you in here. Thank you. Jasmine gave no other gesture of appreciation other than those two words. She immediately went to go open the door, though when she reached for the doorknob she hesitated for a bit. I wonder what this mans like. Other than the mans name, occupation, and prior work with the Speedwagon Foundation, Carrey was not given any information on the master of the manor. His age, personality, appearance, marital status, and many other things were completely unknown to her. There could be any kind of person waiting before her. Though that didnt mean she had a few assumptions based on what she knew. One of the things she knew for sure was what he had worked on with the Speedwagon Foundation. He had done extensive research on stands, the results of which he shared with the Speedwagon Foundation, for a price of course. Because of this, Jasmine guessed he might be one of those nosy intellectual types, the kind of person that has no sense of social boundaries and asks any question they want without a second thought. Also since he had done such extensive research, he was obviously at least in his late thirties. But that guess to his personality wasnt Carreys first guess. In fact, she had only thought that because of a bad experience with a man that was a researcher. Her actual first guess, which she was almost 100% certain of, was based on the mans name. More specifically, it was based on his last name. Carrey realized she had been standing in from of the door for a little too long and began to turn the knob. As the door opened it revealed a quaint little office with what looked like family photos on the wall. In front of the door was a reddish-brown desk, behind it a dark brown leather chair. The chair was turned around hiding the man who sat in from view. Master Joestar, Denver spoke to the man in the chair, Ms. Jasmine Carrey of the Speedwagon Foundation has come to speak business with you. Joestar. Nobody at the Speedwagon foundation was unfamiliar with that name. Members of the Joestar bloodline had been closely associated with the foundation since before it was even created by the oil tycoon Robert E.O. Speedwagon. And as such, everyone that worked for the SWF had heard many a story of the Joestars. And after hearing those stories, a pretty clear pattern of their personalities developed. Brash, extremely confident, cunning, popular with the ladies, and a strong sense of justice. Thats what makes a Joestar a Joestar. So Carrey had a pretty good idea what kind of person awaited her. Even so, Jasmine was taken aback when the Joestar turned their chair around. The first thing she noticed was how old he looked. Rather than the middle-aged man she had expected, she was met with someone with most of their life ahead of them. They were obviously still in their teens, albeit the latter half. The other thing that surprised Jasmine was his green eyes. They did not shine with the same youthful vigor that accompanied the other Joestars she had previously met. Instead, they felt more piercing and analytic. His brown hair was shortly cut, styled with a part in the right side of his hair and so that the top was combed away from it. The young Joestar wore a blue, bespoken suit. The jacket was buttoned up to his chest. Beneath it, a white undershirt could be seen with a blue tie in the middle. Strangely enough, the stitching used for the suit did not match the color of the suit, but rather opted for a white color. If you were to look beneath the Joestars desk, you would see that his shoes also had the same white color. Allow me to formally introduce myself, he said as he extended a hand to Jasmine. The names Josiah, Josiah Joestar Once again, Jasmine was taken aback. This man was supposedly a Brit, yet he spoke with a plain, American accent. Jasmine Carrey, she replied, shaking Josiahs hand, I assume you know why Im here? Of course, replied Josiah, taking his hand back and resting it upon the table, What is it that the foundation wants? We want you to find the user of a stand Seriously? replied Josiah, squinting his eyes, You came to me for that? Isnt that your job, Ms. Carrey? Yes, and thats why Im here. I know youve been able to identify stand users in the past, so Im sure you can do it now In other words, you believe my stand allows me to somehow find other stand users? Exactly But dont you already have someone with such an ability at the Foundation? I mean, Id assume you would He... replied Jasmine, looking down at the floor, He died during a recent operation So now you need to come to me? Exactly I can help you, but first, I need to clear up a misunderstanding, said Josiah as he got up from his chair. Denver, could you step into my office real quick? At his masters command, the servant that had welcomed Jasmine into the building entered Josiahs office. What can I do for you, Master Joestar? This is the man that will help you locate the stand user, said Josiah, gesturing towards the butler, it is his stand who Ive used to locate stand users in the past So it wasnt your own stand? Exclaimed Jasmine, Yet you made it seem as if it were your discovery? Denver, I need you to find a stand user, said Josiah, ignoring Jasmines exclamation, Ms. Carrey, tell us what you know about the stand Its a stand in the form of multiple ink stamps, said Jasmine, trying to hide her frustration with Josiah, it has a worldwide range and the stamps can be used by other stand users. The stamps are used to stamp numbers on other stand users That doesnt sound dangerous at all. How come you want to find the user? Asked Josiah. Thats because once the number is put on a stand user, they- Become apart of a game for the users amusement Denver, Jasmine, and Josiah turned towards the door of Josiahs office. Menacingly standing in front of it was the man that had interrupted Jasmine. A smile spread across his face, its smugness accented by his shoulder-length blonde hair and blue eyes. The man wore a red leather jacket with a fur interior and a flared out collar. His undershirt was a plain white tee, and his pants were jeans with a red tint to them. At his waist a belt buckle with the word bad on it could be seen. His left arm crossed his body and he held an golden ink stamp in his hand. I think youll find that you have no need for that mans ability, he said, if youre able to defeat me, I may be able to point you in the users direction 「Dangerous Woman」 vs. 「Smooth Criminal」 And you are? Josiah asked the intruder. You dont recognize me? he replied, I worked as a servant here a couple months back. Does the name Karter Alice ring a bell? Not a bit, but I presume you took a job from me so that you could prepare your ability Well arent you a smart one? Karter replied, his grin widening. He pointed towards Jasmine with his free hand. Me, you, the lobby Before anyone in the room could respond to those four words, Karter vanished before their very eyes. Despite this strange occurrence, no one in the room seemed shocked by it. Teleportation, huh? muttered Jasmine. Mind if I observe your fight? asked Josiah, Im interested in what the secret behind that stand is. Im also interested in your stand Sure, just stay out the way ?? ? As expected of a woman, you always gotta keep a man waiting, huh? said Karter as Jasmine and Josiah entered his field of view. He stood in the middle of the lobby while the other two were atop the staircase. I hope you arent planning on paying me back by making me wait for you to bring out your stand replied Jasmine. Just as she said that, a woman with a hourglass figure made of gold began to take form next to her. Blue gemstones ran up and down her body and even made up her eyes and hair. The woman lacked a mouth and had a small, rounded nose. Her hair appeared like dreadlocks made of gems. That thing got a name? asked Karter. Dangerous Woman. No need to remember it So you chose a name for it that describes yourself? Funny, because I named my stand for the same reason Karter quickly swung both of his arms in front of him in a pose. Smooth Criminal! A red man dressed in a red suit manifested beside Karter. His eyes and hair were a bright golden color. A symmetrical pattern of yellow stripes ran all across his body. The stands face had a look of silent fury to it, as if it were going to attack at any moment, which it just might have done. Feel free to come at me whenever you like, said Karter. You dont have to tell me that, said Jasmine as Dangerous Womanheld out her palms. Within them were two large, gems in the shape of a plumbob. She dropped the gems on the stairs a step below where Jasmine stood. Jasmine then leapt forward as the crystals suddenly exploded in a burst of energy, propelling her towards Karter. Jasmines opponent stepped out of her way as Smooth Criminaland Dangerous Womanbegan to exchange blows. As they did, it became apparent to both Karter and Jasmine that their stands were equally matched in direct combat. After about five seconds of rapid punching, Karter and his stand suddenly vanished from Jasmines field of view. Before she could react, Smooth Criminalwas already readying the finishing blow. But right before the punch landed, a burst of energy came from a group of gems stuck to Jasmines back. A jolt of pain ran through Karters arm causing him to take a step back. He could feel that he fractured a few bones due to the gems. However, Jasmine was completely unaffected despite the explosion coming from her back.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. As soon as the explosion went off, Jasmine turned around and hadDangerous Womansend a flurry of punches at Smooth Criminal. They all connected undefended. The attacking stand ended its barrage with an uppercut to the jaw, sendingSmooth Criminal and its user back a couple feet. Since you made it so obvious that your power involved teleportation earlier, it was obvious where you were going to attack, said Jasmine as her stand formed two more crystals in its hands. All I had to do was make precautions so that I wouldnt be killed the moment you got to my backside.Dangerous Womanplaced the two crystals on Jasmines backto replace the ones detonated by Karter. All across her back were several groups of gems of the same size. As expected of someone who hunts stand users for a living, responded Karter as he got up, wiping blood from his mouth. Im gonna have to get some work done after this. You messed my face up pretty bad Once Karter got up, the two combatants posed as they sized each other up. As they did,Dangerous Womanprepared gems in between each of its fingers. Take this! Exclaimed Jasmine asDangerous Womanthrew the gems towards Karter. But before they could connect, he teleported out of the way. As soon as Jasmine saw where he ended up,Dangerous Womanthrew more gems at him. This went on for a while, with Karter doing nothing but dodging. Eventually, however,Dangerous Womanbegan to only use one of her hands to throw gems. Reaching your limit, huh? said Karter right before he teleported right in front of Jasmine. Nope, replied Jasmine, havingDangerous Womanreveal a gem in its other hand, I just had to prepare this for you. Just as she said this, all the other gems that she had thrown about began to rush towards Jasmine and Karter. As they got closer, they got faster and faster. Check, said Jasmine smugly. Jasmine has no way of knowing this, but because of the way Karters ability worked, this situation was much worse for him than it would appear. His teleportation had limits to it, and this giant minefield was a near-perfect counter to it. But only near-perfect. Karter teleported to the outside area around the crystal mine field. As soon as he did, five nearby crystals detonated around him. Pain shot throughout his body as he fell to the ground. Meanwhile, all the other crystals attached to each other with the crystal Dangerous Womanwas carrying acting as the center. Never mind, guess it was checkmate after all, quipped Jasmine. She walked over to the downed Karter, who had recalled Smooth Criminal. As she did, she prepared another crystal with Dangerous Woman. Now time to make sure you hold up your end of the ba- Just as Jasmine said that, she was interrupted by Karter disappearing from her line of sight. Once again, Smooth Criminalattacked before she could react. Only this time, it attacked from the side, where she was usually defended, but not at the moment. The stand hit her right in the jaw and sent her flying. She was dazed for a second, but was able to gather herself quickly. But when she did, she felt that something was on the back of her hand. When she looked down at it, she saw a 30 made out of ink. It had been put on their by Karters golden ink stamp. And thats my victory, exclaimed Karter as he made a victory pose. And why is it your victory all the sudden? A voice chimed in. Karter looked up on top of the staircase, where the voice came from. His eyes fell upon Josiah, who now had a menacing air about him as he himself posed. What exactly does that stamp stand do? Questioned Josiah. Ill gladly tell you, responded Karter, especially since its in my job description to tell anyone I stamp what the stand does. He began to hold up the stamp as he began his explanation. This stamp is a part of my employers stand,Imagine, he began, it is a stand with the ability to enter other stand users into a contract, with the ink on their skin acting as proof. The contract? Karter sneered. They must fight to the death with someone else under the contract, and they will continue to do so until only one of them is left standing So it forces you to fight other stand users? Asked Josiah. Exactly And its your job to have people undergo this contract? Indeed So in other words, since Im a stand user, its your job to induct me into the contract as well? You pick up quick, Joestar And if thats the case, started Josiah as he began to walk down the steps, then Id have to defeat you here to keep that from happening, right? If you want to fight, then I should warn you, said Karter as he posed, ready for combat, I held back against that dangerous woman Oh, I could tell, replied Josiah, but you dont need to warn me, because I wont defeat you Admitting defeat already, huh? Not really fitting for your last name No, Im not admitting defeat, said Josiah, Im saying that I wont beat you because I wont fight you Are you stupid? retorted Karter, If you dont fight, I will stamp you Exactly Wait, are you saying...? Yes I am, replied Josiah, Im saying that I will go under that contract Just then, Josiah posed, the air feeling like it was triumphantly rumbling. Willingly! Stand Information Dangerous Woman Power: B Speed: B Range: D Durability: A Precision: B Potential: B Ability Turns energy into crystals, which can be turned back into any form of energy in a sudden burst. The crystals are set to either detonate on command or to detonate when near someone other than Jasmine. The energy released from crystals do not effect Jasmine. Stand Information Smooth Criminal Power: B Speed: B Range: C Durability: B Precision: A Potential: B Ability Allows Smooth Criminaland its user to teleport. The exact rules and limitations of this ability are currently unknown. Entering the Contract Karter began to laugh heartily. Well I certainly didnt expect the guy that stayed back and watched as someone intruded his home to willingly sign up for a tournament to the death, he said, trying to calm his laughter, I know Im supposed to be recruiting people for this, but are you really sure you want to do this, kid? I mean, no matter how good your stand is, theres always at least one that could counter it When it comes to my stand, I beg to differ, replied Josiah, Its quite versatile Is that so? And here I thought it was a stand that relied on a cheap trick that you needed to keep hidden. Otherwise I wouldve discovered its secret during my time here I dont like to use my power in unnecessary situations So, what, are you entering this game so you can put your stand to good use or something? Not quite, replied Josiah, I actually see it as an opportunity to observe the stands that I fight against, though testing the limits of my stand along the way doesnt seem like a bad idea All in the name of curiosity, huh? said Karter, Guess I shouldnt be surprised. In that case, come over here so I can Wait a second, interrupted Josiah, I have a conditionyou have to give me that stamp first Excuse me? exclaimed Karter, You know I cant do my job without this, right? I know, replied Josiah, but what if I told you that along with stamping myself, I will also stamp two other stand users capable of combat? Would you now? And who are these stand users? My younger siblings, answered Josiah, and theyre natural-born stand users, in case that informations relevant Youre selling out your siblings just so you can have this stamp? Asked Karter, Why Exactly do you want it that badly? Same reason as Im entering this death tournament, replied Josiah, curiosity Well then, assuming youre keeping your word, then I cant pass down this offer. Stand users are hard to come by, but youre basically offering me three for next to no effort Exactly But the thing is, why should I trust you, Joestar? Because you know my motives already, thats why Cant argue with that, I guess, replied Karter as he tossed the ink stamp to Josiah, go ahead and stamp that on yourself as proof of our little deal. Josiah obliged, opening his shirt, revealing his bare chest. He then used the stamp on his left pec, marking it with a 31. By the way, I get a certain amount of money for each stand user Im able to stamp, said Karter, If anyone screws me out of money, I make a note to kill them. Keep that in mind, Josiah Joestar I figured that was the case anyways, replied Josiah, Dont worry, those siblings of mine will be more than enthusiastic about this once they hear what it entails. As he said this, Karter turned his back and began to walk away. One last thing, Joestar, he said, I hope you dont believe this is the last well see of each other. As he said this, he pulled his jacket back to reveal a number 13 on the back of his neck. I do hope to face you and that versatile stand of yours. After saying that, Karter disappeared from Josiahs line of sight. ? ? ? Jasmine woke up in an unfamiliar bed a few hours later. As soon as had regained consciousness, Jasmine tried to get up, only to be hit with a massive headache. She looked about the room. It was a small room, but it was more cozy than cramped. Next to her bed was an empty chair and a small table with medical supplies atop it. On the wall nearest to Jasmine was a window with exquisite curtains drawn back. She could see that it was still daytime. Slowly but surely, Jasmines headache subsided and she was able to get herself to sit up. Once she did, she began to collect her thoughts. Jasmine then remembered what had just transpired before she had been knocked out. She looked at the back of her hand, trying to confirm to herself whether it had actually happened. And, as she feared, there was a number on her hand stuck on with ink.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. As this happened, someone entered the door to Jasmines room. Ms. Carrey, how are you feeling, Asked Denver. That doesnt matter right now, she replied hastily, where is Josiah? Right this way, said Denver, gesturing into the hallway. ? ? ? I have some news to break to you, Ms. Carrey, said Josiah as soon as she entered his office, I made a judgment call while you were unconscious Please tell me it wasnt anything stupid I willingly entered the tournament WHAT!? exclaimed Jasmine, Are you brain dead? You know its my job to stop that thing from happening, right? The more people that join, the closer it is to starting! I expected as much, calmly replied Josiah, but when I thought about it, I realized that entering the tournament may be the best way to stop it And what do you mean by that? Its your job to prevent the tournament so that innocent stand users dont get killed, and to do so, you need to prevent the tournament from starting, correct? And what of it? Well the thing is, as it currently stands, Denvers ability wont be able to track the user What do you mean by that? In the past weve been able to track down stand users by locating the effects of their abilities, then cross-referencing that information to find likely suspects. After that, we investigate those suspects to find out who the true user is Wait, are you saying that his ability doesnt tell him who a stand user is outright? Exactly Are you kidding me? sighed Jasmine, what a pointless stand In his defense, his ability to track stand users is only an alternative application of his actual ability, said Josiah, but I can tell youre not going to feel any better about this with that explanation Youre right, I dont feel better Anyways, continued Josiah, the more places that someones stand is active, the harder it is for his stand to locate them. And with the current number of contestants, which is at least thirty-one, it will be nigh impossible to track the user So what do we do about it, then? We enter the tournament and get to the second round, answered Josiah, By doing that well be able to track the effects of the stand better and we can begin investigating You really must be stupid, replied Jasmine, you do realize that half of the people involved will have to die if we do that, right? Indeed they will, answered Josiah, but your job isnt to simply prevent deaths, its to prevent innocent deaths. And do you really believe that everyone in this tournament will be innocent? Thats even worse! That means that more than half of the innocents may die in the first round, if not all of them! If that happens then you could have the chance to purge the world of the ones that arent innocent. I mean, isnt it your job to hunt down criminal stand users? Yes it is, but protecting the good ones comes first! Thats not what I read in your file Huh? It said you have a pretty set-in-stone philosophy: purging evil, even at the cost of some good, will better the world in the end, said Josiah, Dont tell me youve somehow gone through a change of heart? I havent, but started Jasmine, recently I lost one of the members of my team. His philosophy was the opposite of mine, helping the innocent even if it meant allowing some evil to exist. I just wanted to honor his memory by following his philosophy for just this mission So its love, huh? What made you jump to that conclusion? A woman like you would only break her ideals for something like love And since when were you an expert on stuff like that? Youre just some stuck-up intellectual who spends his time in the country Exactly, and during that time Ive done plenty of reading on psychology Ah, whatever, said Jasmine, Its not like youre wrong. But so what? I also believe a woman like you wouldnt react like this because of unrequited love, replied Josiah, and if youre able to respect his philosophy, then Im sure he respected yours Whats your point? My point is that he probably wouldnt want you to change your morals just because he died And how do you know that? I dont, answered Josiah, but whatever, its not like I require your permission to go through with the plan. Josiah held up his hand, revealing the gold-encrusted ink stamp he had Ben holding. How did you get that? Asked Jasmine. Karter have it to me, answered Josiah, In exchange, I agreed to stamp myself and two other people with it Two more stand users? Theres a stand user other than you and Denver here? asked Jasmine. Just then, as if to answer her question, a boys voice chimed in. JoJo Nii-Sama, what do you need? said a silver haired boy as he entered Josiahs office. Again with the Japanese phrases, Sam?, replied Josiah with a sigh, is Sofia with you? Yeah, replied Sam, Hurry up, Nee-San Coming, Nii-San, replied a girls voice. Soon after, a silver haired girl entered the room. The two children were very similar in appearance. They both had silver hair, green eyes, a small nose, and thin lips. Despite the house they resided in, they both chose to wear casual clothing. The brother, Sam, opted for a black and neon-blue pullover hoodie, black jeans, and a pair of black ankle socks. The sister, Sofia, wore a black tee with a neon-green design, a black hoodie with a green design that she left unzipped, a black skirt, and a pair of thigh-high black socks. They both looked no older than thirteen. Sam, Sofia, come over here, said Josiah, I have a proposition for you two Wait, youre getting kids involved!? exclaimed Jasmine. What kind of proposition, JoJo Nii-Sama? asked Sam, ignoring the Speedwagon Foundation agent. This ink stamp is a part of a stand, started Josiah, also ignoring Jasmine, If I stamp you with it, you will become apart of a fighting tournament consisting of stand users So its a real life shounen tournament arc? asked Sofia, excitedly. I guess you could put it that way Please use that stamp on us, Nii-Sama! exclaimed Sofia and Sam simultaneously, extending their hands out. Now I should warn you, each fight is to the death, said Josiah. Upon hearing this, the two siblings looked at each other for a second before looking back at their older brother. Please use that stamp on us, Nii-Sama! Wait a second! exclaimed Jasmine, Youre not seriously going to let these kids join a damn death tournament? Oh, its alright, maam, we wont get killed, said Sofia. Shes right you know, said Josiah, their stands are as versatile as they come Are you serious right now!? asked Jasmine. Entirely, replied Josiah. Fine then, said Jasmine, Just let them throw their lives away Like Nee-San said we wont die, said Sam before he and Sofia stretched their hands out again. Once they did, Josiah promptly stamped both their hands. Well I didnt expect this, said Josiah. What do you mean, Nii-Sama? Asked Sofia. Well, I expected two different numbers, but you two... said Josiah, trailing off. Curious as to what he meant, Jasmine looked at the two childrens hands. When she did, she saw that they both had the number 32 on their hands. Please tell me this means you used the wrong stamp, said Jasmine as she looked back up towards Josiah. No, it does not, said Josiah, and while Im not completely sure what it means, I have a pretty good idea As he said that, he was interrupted by an intense pain coming from where he had stamped himself earlier. He looked about and see that the other three in the room were clutching their hands out of pain. Josiah could also see that their numbers were glowing, and upon pulling back his shirt, he saw his was too. The glowing ink began to peel off, flying off to a single spot in the room. Within the whirlwind of ink, a humanoid form began to take shape. Once the whirlwind settled, the shape became fully visible. No need to theorize, Mr. Joestar, spoke the form, for I, the stand known asimaginecan explain 「Imagine」Appears Dangerous Woman! Jasmines stand manifested in front of her, quickly sending a punch towardsImagine. However,Dangerous Womansfist simply went through the enemy stand. My, arent we impatient? said the stand, Sorry to burst your bubble, but I am merely an auditory and visual illusion. You cannot strike me, even with a stand Imaginewas dressed like a circus ringleader. Its suit and hat were green in color. It wore a pair of white gloves. It carried a wooden staff with a gold sphere at the end that the stand rested itself upon. The stands face was like a robots, grey and lacking any facial features other than eyes which were ovular and green in color and a fake, curly mustache. Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to more formally introduce myself, said the stand as it bowed, I am the mascot of the standImagine. It is my job to explain to you the rules of the tournament and to tell you where your next battle will take place. Well in that case, can you explain why those two have the same number? Asked Josiah. In due time, Mr. Joestar, repliedImagine, but first, I need to address why I have suddenly appeared And why would that be? asked Jasmine. The reason I have appeared before you, saidImagineas he dramatically posed, gesturing his hands upwards, is because the tournament has begun! NANI!? exclaimed Sam and Sofie simultaneously, laughing immediately afterwards. What!? Already!? asked Jasmine, half panicked. Yes indeed, replied the stand, with the addition of those two children, there are finally enough contestants to fill out a bracket that is satisfactory to my users desire So its a thirty-two contestant bracket, then? asked Josiah. Indeed, Mr. Joestar, replied the stand, It is a thirty-two contestant tournament consisting of five rounds of one-on-one battles to the death So why do we have the same number if thats the case? asked Sam. Thats because the two of you are considered a single contestant due to the duality of your stands repliedImagine. Are there any other contestants who are actually multiple people? asked Sofia. Sorry, but I cannot disclose information on your opponents at any time, lest I put someone at a disadvantage So well be going into each battle blindly? asked Josiah. Indeed you will Speaking of which, how will we know who our opponents are and where will we fight them? asked Jasmine, who had calmed herself down. A very good question, Ms. Carrey! replied the stand, You see, prior to a match, I will tell you a place where you and your opponent must go. These meeting spots will vary, but in most cases they will be otherwise unpopulated areas. A battle begins when both combatants enter the area So the environments well be fighting in will vary? asked Josiah.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Exactly What happens if were unable to reach the designated area? Your lives will be forfeit, Mr. Joestar, replied the stand, But do not fear! With the help of other stand users, my user has made arrangements to make sure that no one will have any trouble reaching the designated locations, no matter where the destination is! Well in that case, where are our first battles taking place? asked Josiah. That is to be determined, Mr. Joestar, replied the stand, You see, some stand users may enter an alliance of sorts. And my user would like to prevent fighting amongst allies, at least in the early rounds. So to prevent that, he is going to wait and see who teams up to determine the best bracket possible So the brackets arent randomized? asked Jasmine. No, each battle is chosen by my user Wait, so if were on the same team, we wont have to fight Nii-Sama? asked Sofia. Unless you all get to the later rounds, no, you wont have to Ah, thats such a relief, said Sam. In that case, Id like to join that team of yours, Joestar, said Jasmine. Good, that certainly simplifies things, replied Josiah. You know, you shouldnt call JoJo Nii-Sama Joestar since technically were also Joestar, said Sofia. Wait, those are your family!? You sent your own family into a death tournament? exclaimed Jasmine. Well of course were family, said Sam, I mean, weve been calling Nii-Sama this whole time What does that even mean? Its Japanese for honored big brother, replied Sofia. Theyre your younger siblings!? exclaimed Jasmine, Youre seriously messed up, you know that? Hey, they willingly entered, so is it really that big a deal? said Josiah, Besides, whats done is done. You should be more worried about how youll address us since were going to all be traveling together for a while You should call Nii-Sama JoJo, since first names are a little too personal, said Sofia, squinting at Jasmine. I really dont wanna know what you mean by that, said Josiah, But yeah, call me JoJo. I dont like being called Josiah Noted, replied Jasmine. Ladies and Gentlemen, I will now take my leave, suddenly saidImagine, I will appear to you once again once the brackets are set. Until then, go ahead and assemble your team, and feel free to get help from any stand users that arent in the tournament. And with that,Imaginefaded away. ? ? ? By the way JoJo, did you speak with the man I had brought with me? asked Jasmine as everyone left JoJos office, including himself. What man? he asked. Wait, he hasnt been in that car for the entire time, has he!? exclaimed Jasmine, asking nobody in particular. No, I welcomed him into the manor, said Denver, Hes currently in the study You welcomed someone into the house without telling me? said JoJo. Well, I normally would have asked you about it first, but... said Denver as his voice trailed off, I think you should come this way, Master JoJo. Denver began to lead JoJo to the study. JoJo was curious as to why Denver would invite someone into the manor without asking him first. Once he entered the study, however, he quickly found his answer. In the study sat a man wearing a cheap, tacky brown suit and tie. He appeared to be in his forties. His hair was long, silver, and messily styled. His eyes were a bright green. Across his face was a rough beard. This face was a face that JoJo recognized. Denver, said Josiah with an irate tone, how long has he been here? For the last three hours Thats three hours too long, said JoJo, Get him out of my sight But JoJo, its been so long, dont you- I want him out of my sight, and thats final! Josiah, I get that youre mad, but I can explain said the older man. Explain what, Daniel? That you were somehow justified in leaving your children alone when the oldest was only twelve!? I dont want to convince you that I was justified, I just want you to understand, son Fine then, whats your explanation? I- started Daniel, I couldnt stand to be in this house. It reminded me way too much of your mother Seriously!? exclaimed JoJo, You expect me to believe that cliche answer!? Id sooner believe and forgive you if you said you ran off because you fell in love! But its the truth, Josiah! replied Daniel, But its more complicated than that, of course. Truth is, the reason it reminds me so heavily of her is because of my stand And what do you mean by that? My stand has the ability to travel back in time, though it has heavy limitations, one of those being that I can only sometimes choose what time to go to So why did you not want to stay here, then? Because if I had stayed here, I wouldve gone back to that day, replied Daniel, and I wouldve taken you all with me What do you mean, take us all with you? asked JoJo, his irate tone slightly fading, though still present. My stand,Hotel California, turns the building Im in into a time machine that effects everyone inside, said Daniel, I didnt want to risk all of you seeing your own mother die So why didnt you just not use your ability? Because it can automatically activate with emotional distress JoJo fell silent. He was coming to a loss of words. Why didnt you just take us with you then? asked JoJo, his irate tone nearly gone. I dont know, responded Daniel, I guess I wanted to punish myself for not being a good enough husband Well I hope you felt properly punished, then, said JoJo, his irate tone returning, Do you know how distressed Sam and Sofia were when you left? For the longest time they would cry themselves to sleep wondering when their Papa would return to them Josiah, Im sorry.., If it werent for Denver, they probably still would be, said JoJo, Hell, even now Im worried that they lost something back then Im really sorry... I hope you are, said JoJo, I really shouldnt forgive you, but I think I can give you chance to earn my forgiveness Wait, really, son? Yeah, and it involves your stand, replied JoJo, So tell me more about yourHotel California. ? ? ? Stand Information: Imagine Ability: Enters other stand users into a contract forcing them to participate in a series of one-on-one fights to the death. Tournament ends with one winner.