Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The year was 2025. It was early morning in Paris, France, so early the night sky was still out. Across the roofs, something was making the sound of quick and nimble footsteps. However, anyone watching would not be able to see who was making those footsteps. Whatever it was landed on the roof of the local precinct, its form shimmering to become visible, and revealing a young woman in greaser-style clothes, a mask over her face that resembled bee eyes. A tattoo of a five-pointed star was visible on her neck. She tapped the mask.

"Sting reporting in. What's the word, Chrysalis?"

'The file is precisely where Joker suspected it would be,' came a woman's voice on the other end, 'After seven years, we can finally close in on James Ironwood.'

"And the rest of Remnant with him," Sting agreed, "Learning all those master thief techniques was certainly worth it."

'Just be careful in there,' Chrysalis said, 'Your grand-niece, Shiro Kujo, is the Interpol inspector in charge.'

"Celestia's here?," Sting asked, "Well now Ironwood is screwed. Shiro's name is written as 'Jo', and my name can be read as 'Jo' as well."

'So we got two JoJos!,' a younger woman's voice called in.

'Settle down, Fortune,' Chrysalis said, 'Sting, we're waiting in the getaway van. Don't worry, Guernica's driving.'

"Gotcha," Sting said, "Time to make my debut."

She hopped onto a nearby water tower and shimmied across the rim to leap across two antennas and over to a large vent. A white hand manifested from nearby and wrenched off the vent for her, giving her access. She peered down and noticed a string of security lasers.

"They've trapped the vent," Sting reported, "I can see the holes in the web, but I'll need to carefully hit the ledges going down."

'You've really improved in your Stand since you were a baby,' Guernica noted, 'Used to be it was tied to your stress levels. Now you can control how much you make invisible, and even see things that are supposed to be invisible.'

'Just make sure not to hit the lasers,' Chrysalis warned, 'One touch will set off alarms and magnify the lasers. Then another hit will fry you.'

Sting carefully leapt down, soon finding the control box for the security lasers. She grinned and broke it, clearing out the entire hallway.

'Nice work,' Chrysalis said, 'Celestia's office is at the end of the hallway, behind the red door.'

Sting moved through the empty hallways. Clearly it was so early in the morning most of the cops were still in bed. Sting found the door, but there was a problem.

"Door's locked. And both it and the walls are made from anti-Stand material."

'Hold on, I'm seeing the office from our vantage point,' Fortune called in, 'Looks like there's an open window you can use.'

Sting noticed an open window and shimmied out onto the ledge to reach the window in question. This let her slip into the window and reach the office. Inside it was clear Celestia had been studying the movements of Remnant's final five members, including Ironwood.

"She's been really thorough these last seven years," Sting noted.

'Ironwood was the mastermind behind the theft of the Joestar Collection back in 2016,' Chrysalis said, 'A thousand years of your family's history stolen. You can't blame her for wanting to get justice personally.'

Sting noticed the safe and smirked. Unlike the walls, the safe was of normal materials. The same white hand appeared, and the door suddenly became just transparent enough that Sting could see the inner workings.

"9... 3... 7... Nice!"

The safe door swung open, letting her take the file on Ironwood.

"Normally those of us working under Phantom Thief Joker only steal from criminals. But there was no other way to get this information. Besides, family should be sharing."

She placed a star-shaped calling card in the safe, then went to make her getaway. But as she did, she saw a nearby portion of space warp up on the roof. Out stepped an older woman with multi-colored neon hair, a star-shaped birthmark on her neck.

"Auntie Shizuka," the woman said, "Nice to see you. But if you really wanted that file, you only had to ask."

Sting, really Shizuka Joestar, grinned.

"And mess up the dynamic we've built over the last five years? Come on, what's a little family bonding time between ladies?"

Celestia smirked as she leapt down, manifesting a stand that looked like a warrior in magenta-colored armor decorated in bar code stripes.

"Millennium!"

Sting just manifested her own Stand, a female humanoid covered in white bandages and wearing a bee-like mask.

"Achtung Baby!"

The two Stands had their fists collide. Millennium's suddenly exploded, but instead of sending Sting flying, she seemed to vanish. Celestia was confused, until she heard the sound of something landing on the cars nearby.

"I see you borrowed a power from a world with Quirks," Sting said with a wink, "Good thing I'm all too aware that my Stand is physically weaker than yours."

Celestia snapped her fingers, and Millennium pulled out a large gun with a cylindrical barrel, blasting the area with magic bullets.

"HOLY SHIT!," Sting called out.

She dashed across the parking lot, and managed to reach a van with three other ladies. Chrysalis had green hair and dressed like a hooded assassin with a carnivale mask. Fortune had brown hair and was dressed in a classic tuxedo and cape with a white domino mask. And Guernica had white hair and was dressed like a modern punk with a gas mask. As the van drove off, Sting smirked at Celestia.

"You're next line is, 'I'll get you next time, Sting'."

"I'll get you next time, Sting!," Celestia called out.

She then blinked and grumbled.

"You'd think having a great-grandpa like Joseph Joestar would make me immune to that..."

Let's take this from the top. My name is Shizuka Joestar. I was born in 1999 in the small town of Morioh. My birth parents sadly passed away shortly afterward, though no one knows what happened to them. Luckily, I was adopted by Joseph Joestar, and he's the best dad ever. Eight years ago I was visiting a branch of the Speedwagon Foundation when I saw the craziest sight. Part of the ceiling had been caved in, a large part. And our family's greatest historical treasure, the Joestar Collection, had been stolen. Luckily, a mysterious figure named Phantom Thief Joker had systematically found and stolen back each piece. I gotta admit, I got inspired. So when I learned of the ones responsible, a group of extraterrestrials from a planet named Remnant, I knew my destiny. I trained for years to become a Phantom Thief, going by the name Sting.

It wasn't long before I got some awesome partners. There's my girlfriend Christina Blackwing, the brains of our unit. We also have Catarina Claes, a woman who apparently has hopped between three different realities, her original, one that she got isekai'd to via reincarnation, and this one. She's the muscle of our group, and very ditzy to the point that she hasn't yet realized she's got a harem of good-looking guys and girls. And finally there's Tao Nezumi, a skilled street artist, and the driver of our team.

One thing I should mention is that I have a rival in Shiro Kujo, known to her friends as Celestia. She's the youngest of the three Kujo children, after her older sister Jolyne and her older brother Josefumi. She's got her own skilled team of crack investigators. Her boyfriend Shuno Kuwagata, known as Thorax to his friends, is the main communications director. Senior detective Zenkichi Hasegawa acts as the muscle of the team. And Sophia, an android designed with a Smart AI, provides the brains.

Both me and Celestia have the title of JoJo due to the alternate readings of our first names. The elusive James Ironwood, a general on his home planet, has been planning something for the last seven years, ever since he fled Japan following his group getting hammered by Phantom Thief Joker's gang Strike Back. But now we're finally closing in on him. The time to end this dark chapter of Joestar family history is near.

Chapter Text

The first stop in dealing with the Remnant Quintet was Sir Raleigh Greenwood. According to the file he was the chief machinist for Atlas's military, developing massive battle mechs. Apparently he'd started off as a privileged young man, but it got boring for him. So even though it wasn't required for a man of his stature, he decided to enlist in the military for a bit of excitement, and he's never looked back since. After Remnant's fall in Tokyo, he's been spotted in Wales. Curiously, the region has undergone nonstop stormy weather for the last year. Whether this is due to Raleigh's Stand or a machine he cooked up, me and my girls will put a stop to it.

The gang had taken a boat to remote island in the middle of the Welsh bay that Raleigh was using for his base. Guernica pulled the team van up to the edge of the island to use as a mobile base. Sting hopped out and took a look at the "Keep Out" sign.

"First warning, I'm assuming. Too bad it won't work on everyone."

She leapt over the sign and into the main pathway leading up to the base. She seen soon noticed a large gate some distance away.

'Only way over that gate is above it,' Chrysalis noted, 'Luckily there's a few options for that. Ladder nearby, likely for maintenance. And a rope leading over that you can also use with some careful climbing.'

"They always leave holes in their security without even thinking about it," Sting agreed.

She used her invisibility to slip past the guards while knocking them out, and also made sure to shut down the security search lights scanning the area. She soon noticed a massive blimp from her position on a wide cliff.

"Hey, check it out. This looks like a storm machine."

'That would explain so many wrecked ships in the area,' Fortune noted, 'Without a proper lighthouse, they'd crash easily. Then Raleigh's men could seize the cargo for themselves.'

'So he's using it to build up capital via piracy in a different form,' Guernica said, 'I'm willing to bet Raleigh's inside that blimp monitoring his operation as we speak, and maintaining the storm machine.'

"We'll need to find a way in there," Sting decided.

She noticed a gate with a hook above it.

'You'll have to swing over that hook to get over the gate,' Chrysalis noted, 'Now's a good time to use that special grapple hook Joker gave you.'

As she neared the end of the path, Sting noticed a large vault and made the door transparent to view the mechanism and unlock it.

"7-9-2... Nice!"

Sting opened the vault, grabbing the Tungsten Gear inside before planting her calling card. Not far away, she found a key that let her unlock the gate into the main part of Raleigh's base.

Sting overlooked the area using a set of binoculars.

"So, what's the best way to reach that blimp."

'There's an high-voltage power tube just on the right side of the base from your perspective,' Guernica said, 'It's the only way in without alerting the entire base. It's electrified, and the generator powering it is locked behind a strong cage made from anti-Stand material. You'll need to gather more of the special keys like the one you just found in order to breach it.'

'Looks like you'll need a total of five keys to access it,' Chrysalis noted, 'They're all hidden in special zones that contain the backbone of Raleigh's operation. You can grab the keys and start shutting him down at the same time.'

As Sting climbed up the side of the base, Raleigh's voice came in over the intercom system.

'I say chaps, my heartiest congratulations to you all! The storm machine has sunk its 50th ship last night, and the loot has already been unloaded. Our operation is moving along splendidly, with the possible exception being the grounds negligence displayed below decks. And, I demand the boilers stay at full pressure at all times! If you lazy, low-brow, technically incompetent pack of guttersnipes did your jobs right, we'd have sunk 100 ships by now! But of course, 50 boats is a fine, fine achievement. Carry on, my boys, carry on.'

Sting slipped into the main engine room.

'Follow the crankshaft to its source and you should be able to shut down the engine,' Guernica said, 'Most likely you'll find the key for this zone there as well.'

'Watch the furnace doors as you go, Sting,' Fortune said, 'Slam them closed to avoid getting burned.'

Traversing the machinery proved a simple task thanks to Sting's training. She carefully smashed her way into the piping to continue following the crankshaft.

"Whoa, Raleigh must be having his engine crew work overtime. The fans here are using so much power they're electrified. Better slip through them carefully."

Her enhanced eyes started seeing invisible laser grids in the furnace vents, letting her bypass them with some careful jumping.

"Okay, I've found the main engine. And it looks like Raleigh was right to berate his crew down here. The whole thing's slowed down with tar from all the coal being burned."

'All the easier to shut it down,' Chrysalis noted.

Sting noticed the vault at the bottom of the machine and started to work it.

"2-2-7... Nice!"

She opened the vault to swipe the Fire Dust Crystal. After placing her calling card, Sting swung through the top of the engine, causing massive damage and stopping the cylinders to allow her through to get the key.

The next zone was Raleigh's treasure room.

'The stuff in here must be worth millions,' Fortune said, 'But that's only going to mean tighter security.'

'Yeah, but it we can secure it,' Chrysalis said, 'We can make sure the police can return it to its rightful owners.'

The laser system included a sensor beam that tracked movement, meaning Sting had to be especially mobile when getting through it. No sooner did she shut down the security box for it, however, than Celestia slipped into the main hallway.

"Well well. I came here hunting down Raleigh with my team. And who do I find but my renegade aunt."

"I was wondering if you'd be keeping up with me," Sting quipped, "Hate to cut a family outing short, but I have a key to find in here."

"You'll have get past me first," Celestia declared, "Millennium!"

Her Stand shooting some sort of energy beam. Sting dodged one and it hit the guard behind her, turning him into a toad.

"OH MY GOD!," Sting called out, "She's gone to a Final Fantasy reality!"

She carefully moved to dodge both Celestia and the laser security, soon reaching another vault to plunder.

"4-3-6... Nice!"

She grabbed the Pirate Skull inside the vault and left her calling card before grabbing the key as well.

"See ya at the next family reunion!," she called out to Celestia.

The next zone was reached by using a makeshift elevator built into a crow's nest.

"Wow, check out the heat in this place," Sting said.

'Looks like you've reached the main power source for the storm machine,' Guernica said, 'Shut it down and it won't be long before the rain stops and the clouds part.'

Sting revved up a conveyor system and climbed through the machinery to reach the main control station. Along the way, she found the next vault to crack.

"5-7-9... Nice!"

Sting cracked the vault and grabbed the Bladed Gauntlet inside, leaving her calling card before nabbing the key.

The next zone was reached by climbing a pipe up to the nearby roof and slipping in through a window. As she moved through the halls, a few rats scurried away from her and suddenly got struck by hidden dart guns.

'That's not good,' Chrysalis said, 'Those dart guns are linked to a pressure pad.'

"Invisibility's not gonna help me get through that," Sting admitted, "I'll need some kind of barrier."

'Try that barrel up head,' Fortune suggested, 'It looks sturdy enough to protect from a few dozen darts.'

The barrel proved the perfect defense, and Sting made sure to break the guns after she was past them. She soon found the next vault on the second floor of the library.

"2-4-2... Nice!"

She swiped the Frog Statue inside the vault and left her calling card, then grabbed the key to leave.

With the keys in hand, Sting was able to unlock the generator and make her way through the tube to the other side.

'Okay, one step closer to Raleigh,' Chrysalis said, 'Now we just need a way to get you into his blimp.'

"I'm seeing a large cannon to my right that's locked down," Sting suggested.

'That could work,' Chrysalis said, 'But first you'd need to get the remaining keys to unlock it.'

The first key was down through a tube into a large ship graveyard. Raleigh called in through the intercom.

'Ahoy, dock hands! Capital job unloading that cargo last night. You're the crown jewel of my operation. Do me the service of proving your worth yet again by protecting the key that I have stored down there. It appears there's a prowler on the premises. And if any of you let him get his hands on that key, I'll personally flog the lot of you for an entire fortnight!'

"You won't have the time once we're done with you," Sting noted to herself.

She climbed across the wrecked ships and planes, soon coming upon another vault to open.

"7-1-9... Nice!"

She opened the vault and plundered the Black Box inside, leaving her calling card behind. She then grabbed the nearby key and left. The last key was down in the depths of the treasure collecting room, which required using a submarine to navigate.

With all the keys active, Sting was able to aim the canon right at Raleigh's hideout and fire herself into it. To her surprise, she was soon joined by Celestia. Raleigh, a squat man with a frog-like face, grimaced at them.

"How delightful. We have a guest. The only thing is... I hate unexpected guests!"

"You've had this coming for a while, Raleigh," Sting said.

"You try to step to the Joestar clan, and you'll only get pain in return," Celestia added.

"How amusing," Raleigh said, "Two heroes from opposite sides of the law working together because of family. It'd move my heart if you weren't throwing a spanner into my works. So how about I, what... Unleash the power of my Stand, and squash you both like the insignificant bugs that you are! Die Another Day!"

Raleigh become wrapped up in an energy bubble. Celestia fired her Toad spell beam, but it bounced off without harming anything. The duo quickly dodged as Raleigh bounced around trying to crush them. His barrier had to drop, however, since not even air could pass through it and he did need to breath. He tried to unleash a powerful whip to strike, only for Sting to easily catch it.

"Let's do this JoJo style!," Sting called out.

"You know it!," Celestia agreed.

Raleigh was dragged forward as the duo unleashed their Stands.

"Millennium!"

"Achtung Baby!"

The two powerful Stands started pummeling Raleigh.

"MADA MADA MADA MADA MADA MADA MADA MADA MADA MADA MADA MADA MADA MADA MADA MADA!"

"BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU!"

With only final strike, Raleigh was sent flying into the water.

"Buzz off!," Sting called out.

Raleigh coughed as Celestia pulled out the cuffs.

"Blast it all! You've beaten me! Well, gloat all you want, Joestars. You're no match for Muggshot, my villainous cohort in Utah. You will see, Mesa City is so well-guarded, a snake couldn't slither in without setting off alarms."

I managed to slip way while Celestia was busy arresting Raleigh. She was a little miffed, but to be honest it was good to take down such a dangerous villain together. Now that the storm machine was shut down, the seas around Wales were safe once more and the shipping routes could be reopened. Me and the girls decided to enjoy a vacation in London. Me and Christina enjoyed a date at a local fish and chips restaurant in Whitechapel, Catarina snagged a pic of Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross Station, and Tao was permitted to leave her stencil art on a large mural on Ogre Street. It was a great time to unwind, before our next big mission.

Chapter Text

Let me introduce myself. I'm Christina Blackwing, a member of the goth community. Though I only go goth for the fashion, I hate doom and gloom types. Maybe that's what drew me to Shizuka. We both met in the same high school, and I gotta admit her style made me fall in love at first sight. We started dating after a few weeks of getting to know each other, and when she asked me to help her out when she decided to go Phantom Thief I did not hesitate. Now I go by Phantom Thief Chrysalis, the brains of our team.

We were heading off to face our next big challenge, Burgundy "Muggshot" Malone. When he was younger, Muggshot was the runt of the liter. But he was inspired by old war movies and decided to train to become tough enough to be a soldier. He got his chance when he graduated from Atlas Academy, and no I don't know why the academy is named after the country, and became a Specialist for the military, eventually rising through the ranks to become Petty Officer. But he refused every promotion past that, wanting to continue fighting on the front lines. That all changed when he and his unit wound up on Earth. Now he's turned to organized crime, taking over Mesa City, Utah. But if I have anything to say about it, he won't have it for long.

The van parked right outside the closed-off gate to Mesa City. Chrysalis hopped out and climber over the gate.

'Don't forget to make use of your Stand as needed,' Sting said, 'Unlike me you need the special filter in your thief mask to see invisible lasers and search lights.'

"I'll be careful, Sting," Chrysalis assured her, "But it looks like Muggshot turned what used to be a thriving boom town into a ghost town. I'm willing to bet his goons are the only ones still here."

'Looks like we have a new infiltration opportunity here,' Guernica said, 'Those lights near you would be perfect for spire jumping.'

"No way like the Thieves' Highway for getting where you need to go," Chrysalis said with a grin.

She made her way through the cliffs. A few guards turned her way, but got confused when they made a second look, only find another guard patrolling. Soon Chrysalis noticed a subway train car that had its floor hooked up to a laser grid.

"Looks like they're starting to use electronic floor sensors."

'The laser grid switches sectors periodically,' Sting noted, 'Keep in mind that when they're flashing, the lasers are safe to walk on.'

Chrysalis slipped under a set of hydraulic pistons repurposed as security measures, and soon reached the vault. She smirked when she saw a nearby guard.

"Live Devil!"

She summoned her Stand, which resembled a gorgeous insectoid princess with four arms. Instantly Chrysalis transformed into another guard, letting her ask the guard for the vault combination. Once she had it, she started working the lock.

"3-1-4... Perfect!"

She opened the vault to reveal a Framed Royal Straight Flush. She left her own calling card, which resembled a bee's head. Chrysalis then managed to swipe the key and open a nearby vent to reach Mesa City proper.

The main hotel of the city had Muggshot's nickname plastered on a large decorative hydrant affixed to the top.

"I'm willing to bet Muggshot is hold up in there. The original schematics for the hotel note that's the penthouse suite."

'We just need to break in somehow,' Fortune said, 'But it looks like the hotel's locked down. The only way in without alerting the whole city is the front door... Which is lined with ant-Stand material.'

'Hey, check the boot on that nearby muscle car,' Guernica said.

Chrysalis took a look and grinned.

"I see. It requires four of the keys from this location."

'Let's get them and get some alone time,' Sting said, 'It's been a while.'

'Wait,' Fortune said, 'Chrysalis, do you use your Stand to--'

"Let's keep the chatter Teen rated over here, shall we?," Chrysalis interrupted.

She then heard Muggshot coming in over the intercom.

'Yo! Hey, yo, yo! It's the boss! You know, I am the first to admit that maybe driving everyone out of town, while necessary to set up shop, might have taken a hit out of the business. So, now I hope you mugs would be obliged to any visitors that come here to lose their money in my casino. But, I got a reliable tip that a cop might be snooping around the operation. So from now on, greet any visitors you see with a hail of lead! Capiche?'

"Sounds like Celestia and her team are here as well," Chrysalis said, "We'll have to keep an eye out as the operation proceeds."

Chrysalis slipped into the hotel's casino. Inside were several guards sweeping the interior with flashlights and guns.

"Classic Tommy guns," Chrysalis said, "Old-fashioned, but far from obsolete. Better be careful around those typewriters."

She carefully made her way up and over the guards, noting that parts of the casino were flooded.

'Looks like you'll need to use the Thieves' Highway to get to the key,' Sting noted.

Some of the water was electrified, and Chrysalis had to move across spinning roulette wheels that were rigged with laser security. She spotted the vault and soon had the combination to enter.

"3-3-8... Perfect!"

Inside the vault was a Poker Chip Trophy. Chrysalis left her calling card, then navigated a massive roulette wheel security system to get the key.

The next two keys were simple to obtain, with Chrysalis covering Fortune's run for a key using a turret to take out guards, and Guernica winning a local street race for another. With all the keys, Chrysalis was able to unlock the boot and send the muscle car slamming into the gate blocking the hotel entrance. Inside was a massive statue of a bull dog face.

'According to the schematics of the hotel, that statue hides an express elevator to the penthouse,' Sting noted.

"Looks like the controls are locked down," Chrysalis said, "I'll need to get the rest of the keys in order to get up there and handle Muggshot."

She started by heading up into the rooftops.

'Looks like the key is in a jewel case in one of the nearby rooftops,' Fortune said, 'Wait! Watch out!'

Chrysalis managed to dodge what looked like a data-based bullet hitting the rooftop near her. From nearby jumped a young woman wearing a white coat and black leggings, her red hair done up in red pigtail.

"Christina Blackwing, alias Phantom Thief Chrysalis. I am here to arrest you."

"Well if it isn't the police android Sophia," Chrysalis said, "I was under the impression you were here for Muggshot."

"He takes top priority," Sophia said, "But right now I'm dealing with the criminal in front of me."

"Not exactly good with priority then," Chrysalis said.

She smirked as she changed into a cheerful black-haired female researcher.

"I wonder what your creator, Kuon Ichinose, would think?"

"Leave Mama out of this!," Sophia wailed, "I'm taking you down! Real Eyez!"

She summoned her Stand, a female figure wearing what looked like a folded out box. It generated a green firearm that blasted digital bullets. Chrysalis kept a step ahead as she dodged a red digital hand. Sophia kept up with impressive speed and agility, taking down any guard that got in the way using a blue sword and yellow hammer. As Chrysalis moved through one of the hotel rooms, she spotted the vault for the zone.

"5-3-2... Perfect!"

Inside the vault was a Bull Dog Statue. Chrysalis left her calling card before continuing the chase, eventually sending Sophia sailing off on a large balloon.

"This was unforeseen. I'll need to get back to ground level. Muggshot must be taken down."

Chrysalis smiled as she pocketed the next key.

The next zone saw Chrysalis heading into the back alleys.

'Watch your step out here,' Fortune said, 'It's a long way down, and despite your name you don't have actual wings.'

"We've been training at this for years," Chrysalis reminded, "During which you've made no moves with the guys and gals in your life."

'I keep telling you, we're just friends,' Fortune said.

"Right," Chrysalis said, "And I suppose friends are keen to kiss each other full on the mouth just because. Did Geordo stick tongue in?"

'That was a dream!,' Catarina insisted.

'It still implies you might be attracted,' Guernica quipped, 'And let's not forget how Nicol makes you feel.'

Chrysalis could swear she could see the mobile base light up from how red Fortune was getting. As she made her way through the back alley roofs, Chrysalis soon found the vault.

"5-6-5... Perfect!"

She opened the vault to nab the Atlas Medal, then left her calling card. Chrysalis then nabbed the next key.

The next zone took Chrysalis up an elevator to the roof above the penthouse. She noticed the key in a large glass skylight.

"Anti-Stand material. Thick too. No way I'm breaking this without some heavy machinery."

'There's a nearby crane with a wrecking ball you can use,' Guernica suggested, 'You just need to get on top of it.'

Chrysalis started climbing up the neon tubes of the jumbo letters. As she climbed up the scaffolding to reach the crane, Muggshot called in over the intercom.

'I got a personal message for the two-bit thief who's making off with all my keys... You're dead, pally! If I get my hands on you, I'm going to fit you with your own pair of cement bunny slippers. You hear me? You're lunchmeat, jerk!'

Chrysalis rolled her eyes as she started on the vault just outside the crane.

"4-6-8... Perfect!"

The vault swung open to reveal an Iron Barbell. Chrysalis left her calling card, then slammed the crane's wrecking ball onto the skylight to grab the key.

With all the keys in hand, Chrysalis was able to unlock the switch to activate the express elevator. Sophia dropped down to join her.

"You're actually joining me?," Chrysalis asked.

"You did bring up a good point earlier," Sophia said, "I said Muggshot took priority, so I must focus on him before I can try to arrest you. Let's bring this meathead to justice."

The duo headed up and confronted Muggshot in his suite.

"What? My boys have been yapping about some master thief and dangerous cop cracking skulls, and... And this is it? You're the monkey wrench in my operation? Some goth chick and a Vocaloid mascot?"

"Never underestimate your opponent, Muggshot," Chrysalis said, "They may just surprise you. You and your crew have a lot to answer for regarding my girlfriend's family."

"Not to you're under arrest for RICO violations," Sophia added, "Now come quietly, or we will be forced to take action."

"Are you kidding!?," Muggshot declared, "You break into my place, steal my stuff, trash the joint. I feel transgressed and violated. Let's rock!"

He got up and pulled up twin Tommy guns that glowed with energy.

"Casino Royale!"

The first couple shots nicked Chrysalis and Sophia, and then they noticed the other shots were following him.

"His Stand must give him tracking bullets!," Sophia realized, "Real Eyez!"

She conjured a bomb that exploded and caused the bullets to slow down, making it easier to disrupt their path. She then unleashed a digital whip to grab Muggshot. He smirked and aimed his gun, only to hear Chrysalis clearing her throat. He looked over and his jaw dropped.

"An Atlas Paladin!?"

Sure enough, he was staring up at a giant humanoid mech.

"Guess you used to pilot these things," came Chrysalis's voice from the mech, "Because your desire to do so again is quite strong. And my Stand can change my shape based on those desire."

The mech fired off a burst of energy that sent Muggshot flying. Sophia followed up with a powerful hammer strike that finally knocked the bruiser out to arrest him.

"This is impossible! A couple of pipsqueaks like you beating a big, strong bruiser like me? It ain't right! But if you think I'm tough, you're gonna to have to go down to Haiti and cross paths with Miss Ruby. And then believe you me, you don't want to be you!"

With Sophia busy arresting Muggshot for her team to pick up, I was able to slip out and join the girls. Celestia made sure the entire operation. A criminal empire that took seven years to build up, taken down in one night. Poetic, really. It wouldn't be long before Mesa City was thriving again. We took a couple weeks traveling around the US, enjoying the major cities. Catarina even showed off her incredible appetite by completing several famous eating challenges. Shizuka knew we needed this break. After all, the next member of the Remnant Quintet was going to be even harder.

Chapter Text

So now I guess it's my turn to introduce myself. My name is Catarina Claes. If that name sounds familiar to you, chances are you've played the popular otome game series Fortune Lover. I used be a normal high school in another reality, and was reincarnated in a second one. To my shock, I'd been reincarnated as the villain of Fortune Lover, the rival to the main character, Maria Campbell, in two different routes. Luckily a chance accident allowed me to remember all my past life memories. Wanting to avoid my doom flags, I didn't just improve myself, but the other characters as well, who all became my friends. I've since come to realize I'm no longer a villainess, but almost the new heroine. Then one day a magic research project brought me and my friends to this reality.

I'd only known JoJo's Bizarre Adventure as a manga and anime series. I certainly didn't expect this new reality to be an amalgamation of numerous other franchises I'd heard of. But I settled in, and soon gained my own Stand through the familiar Stand Arrow! And it fits me perfectly! I became friends with Shizuka, Christina, and Tao. And when I heard about the organization who tried to steal from Shizuka's family, oh you can bet my classic villain face came out from how angry I was. And so I joined her team as Phantom Thief Fortune, the muscle of the group. Yeah, turns out what I lack in magic I make up for with martial capability.

But enough about me. Right now our gang was tracking the third member of the Remnant Quintet, Carmine Rubicante. Or as she prefers to go by, Miss Ruby. Originally a scientific researcher for Atlas, she made her career researching Dust and its various properties. Not just for military usage, but for everyday usage as well. Though after she and the rest of her team came here to Earth, something changed. Somehow she's started getting into voodoo mystic abilities. And she's been using this ability to create an army of undead out in the Haitian jungle, likely to use for Ironwood's attempt to conquer Earth. But we won't let that happen. This time, I'll be taking charge. I've removed all my doom flags, but now Miss Ruby has a few of her own to deal with.

The van pulled into the outskirts of the jungle, and Fortune leapt out of the back.

'Watch yourself in there,' Chrysalis warned, 'There's confirmed presence of ghosts in the area. Most ghosts are harmless, neither capable of harming the living or even willing to. But under Miss Ruby's power... Well, anything is possible.'

"I've handled dark magic before in my world, Chrysalis," Fortune said, "As the Ray Parker Junior song once said, I ain't afraid of no ghost."

'Good news is traversing the region should be a breeze,' Sting said, 'The vines slick with moss are perfect for rail sliding, and you can cross the worn down branches like makeshift bridges.'

"Right," Fortune said, "But first, a little power up. Got Boost!"

Her Stand, which looked like a blonde baker woman, appeared as Fortune consumed a small chocolate chip cookie. Instantly she felt her muscles tense up and expand slightly. This was the power of her Stand, which let her increase her physical ability for an hour after eating any sort of snack. Experimentation had revealed that there were 112 different foods that would definitely trigger Fortune's Stand, ranging from fruits to vegetables to candies and baked goods to even fast food items. The path ahead was guarded by insects and even plants that had been controlled by Miss Ruby's powers.

"I'm seeing the lair up ahead," Fortune said as she reached a set of huts, "But it looks like the key is protect by a mystic barrier."

'Stands can't penetrate through Bounded Fields like that,' Guernica noted, 'But unlike Magi, voodoo mystics need an anchor to create a Bounded Field. Taking out the nearby candles should remove enough of the mojo powering the field to cause it to drop. Just watch out. It looks like Miss Ruby has set up a number of voodoo guards.'

As Fortune took out the guards and the candles, she spotted the new vault. Fortune slammed her fist against the vault, not to try and break it open or somehow cause the mechanism to spin on its own. She wasn't stupid. Rather, she felt the vibrations her fist caused and smirked when she had the right combination.

"5-8-8... Sweet!"

She opened the vault and retrieved the Loa Emblem from inside. Her calling card was a small valentine heart, which she placed in the vault. She then grabbed the key that had been released and opened the door to the main lair.

Once inside the lair, Fortune looked up at the large animal skull at the back end.

'Hey, that structure is radiating Stand energy,' Sting realized, 'Looks like Miss Ruby's new voodoo powers come from a Stand rather than true mysticism.'

"At least we know where she is," Fortune said, "Now we just need to get to her."

'There's a large locked gate not far from your location,' Chrysalis said, 'Some sort of massive natural creature is being kept in there. We let it out, it might just open the way forward for us.'

The intercom suddenly crackled with Miss Ruby's voice.

'Wake up, you lazy bags of swamp gas! The voodoo vibe is thick tonight. Let's take advantage of this powerful mojo and step up production. Keep piling those shiny bones into the soup. We'll have an army of ghosts by morning and take over Mexico by the end of the week. Hear that voodoo, children? Our family is about to grow, grow, grow!'

Fortune headed inside a large swamp with a voodoo gate blocking the main entrance.

"This looks more like it's meant to keep something in than out," Fortune said, "Good thing, otherwise I'd never get the key inside."

As she made her way through the swamp, she large the nearby reeds get disturbed by something under the water. The something turned out to be a titanoboa.

"Oh no! I am not becoming part of the vore fetish community!"

Fortune leapt across the branches and vines, staying a step ahead of the giant snake. Luckily it soon lost interest and sought dinner elsewhere, giving Fortune a chance to crack open the nearby vault.

"4-4-4... Sweet!"

Inside the vault was a Crystal Bell Jar. Fortune left her calling card, then swiped the key from nearby.

To get the next key, Fortune had to use a swamp skiff with a flamethrower to light up the nearby Loa torches and build enough mojo to shut down the gate, using the oil from the nearby piranhas as fuel. As Fortune headed into the next zone, she was surprised to see Zenkichi waiting on a nearby hill.

"I had a feeling you'd be showing up sooner or later."

"Zenkichi, nice to see you," Fortune said, "Your team have jurisdiction out here?"

"This place may be sacred ground for the local Voodoo sect, but they acknowledge that Miss Ruby is committing a number of crimes," Zenkichi said, "So they gave us authority to investigate. But since I got you here, I'm gonna to have to handle you first."

He called in his Stand, which looked like a knight out of the French Revolution with chains around its arms.

"Visions!"

Fortune smirked as she quickly gobbled up a cheeseburger she had.

"Got Boost!"

With her increased strength channeled through her Stand, Fortune broke through the chains Visions created. Several ghosts controlled by Miss Ruby's powers started to intervene, but they stopped appearing when certain gravestones were destroyed.

"You had an easier time handling the politician that pulled a hit and run on your wife," Fortune noted.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it!," Zenkichi said, "I'm better against guys my own age! Look, I can only chase you for so long before I gotta wrap this up and meet up with my daughter! She's coming home from college!"

Fortune smirked as she stopped near the vault and began to crack it.

"1-2-8... Sweet!"

She grabbed the Swamp Crystal from inside the vault and placed her calling card, then grabbed the key before racing off. Zenkichi sighed.

"I'm getting too old for this..."

Using the keys she had, Fortune was able to unlock the gate holding in the titanoboa. It smashed through the heavy gate made of anti-Stand material, then returned to its home, apparently content to stay there. Once past the gate, Fortune scoped out the guarded cauldron.

'They're really stirring up the bad mojo with that brew,' Sting noted, 'And they've got the lid locked down.'

"Crack it open and stand on the lid," Fortune said, "And I can build up enough pressure to launch me into Miss Ruby's lair."

'And break up their production in the meantime,' Chrysalis added.

Fortune used the shadows made by the masks to avoid the guards, then slipped into a nearby waterfall cave, which was the source of Miss Ruby's production. As Fortune made her way across hanging planks and platforms, Miss Ruby suddenly called in over the intercom.

'Hey there, Catarina Claes! Or Phantom Thief Fortune, if you prefer. That's right, I know you're here. I've seen it in the stars. It's all over my tea leaves. I'm in your mind, girl. I know your game. You better run for it, or me and my voodoo children are going to sign you up for an eternity in zombie servitude!'

"Laugh it up, but I got a dark magic puppy that won't take kindly to you messing with his master," Fortune said, "I'm not even lying!"

She soon reached the vault and started to crack it.

"5-7-1... Sweet!"

Inside the vault was a Gator Statue. Fortune left her calling card, then continued on to grab the key.

The last two keys involved using another skiff to blast through a fortified swamp section to reach an altar, and helping a ghost grab enough chickens for a gumbo. Fortune used the lid and blasted into the main lair. She spotted a chain grab a nearby tooth, and soon spotted Zenkichi flying in after. The two were soon right in front of the raven-haired woman Miss Ruby, looking rather gorgeous in her voodoo robes.

"Mmm, I could feel that Joestar vibe coming. Most distastefully bad juju."

"Yeah, well you give us the creeps as well, lady," Zenkichi said.

"Speak for yourself," Fortune said, "I've seen freakier in a dragon's cave. But I gotta ask, what exactly does your Stand do that lets you use voodoo powers?"

Miss Ruby laughed.

"My voodoo? Honey, that voodoo ain't what I do. It's my minions that do all the voodoo."

She summoned a Stand that looked like a skull statue, green soup pouring out of its mouth.

"I just supply them with the mojo they need through my Stand, From Russia With Love. It generates a potent ectoplasmic ooze, perfect for channeling voodoo powers. Though it does have one potent offensive ability. You best keep to the rhythm, or you'll be zapped by the actual voodoo that I do!"

She backpedaled across her lair, From Russia With Love firing off several blasts of mystical energy. Fortune and Zenkichi dodged as they leapt across the various platforms to reach Miss Ruby. Once she was close enough, Fortune chugged a soda and slammed her fist right into Miss Ruby's face, letting Zenkichi tie her down with his chains.

"You've certainly got some rhythm, but it won't help none if you're fixing to go after the Panda King. He's tough with a capital T. If you go poking around his stronghold in China, you're likely to get poked back."

While Zenkichi was processing Miss Ruby, I managed to slip out and rejoin the rest of the gang. She was arrested for conspiracy to commit terrorism. As for the gang, we decided to take in the local Haitian culture. It was here that all my friends arrived, having learned that apparently in this country it's legal to marry multiple people at once. Wait, when did I enter the harem route? What a way to find out that all my friends really are in love with me. Shizuka, Christina, and Tao say I'm an idiot for not realizing it sooner, and honestly that's pretty much how I feel. Though I did have to let everyone down since we're technically we're not old enough for marriage. Something to consider for the future though. In the meantime, there's only one more member of the Remnant Quintet to deal with before searching for Ironwood.

Chapter Text

The name's Tao Nezumi. Seven years ago, I lost my older sister to thugs working for a corrupt police officer, who I later learned was working for Remnant. Wanting to bring this corruption to light, I researched what buildings were legal to tag on and started using my skills as a street artist. People loved my art, and how it shed light on what was going on in Japan. But Remnant apparently didn't like being the villains of their own story, and tried to have me killed. Luckily, I was saved by Phantom Thief Joker. At his suggestion, I joined up with Shizuka's team, both as their driver and kinda their PR manager, going under the name Phantom Thief Guernica.

Now we're off into the Kunlun Mountains of China to track down Heisede King, known to the world as Panda King. A faunus, or person with an animal trait, Panda King was trained from youth to be a demolitions expert, which he put to good use maintaining munitions for Atlas's military. He also was apparently a skilled fireworks artist, creating elaborate displays during times of celebration. But now he was doing gunrunning operations for the Remnant Quintet. If his creations get out on the streets, it could cause mass havoc. My older sister died from just a pistol. I'm not eager to learn how many could get killed from whatever Panda King is cooking up.

Once she parked the van to establish the mobile base, Guernica hopped out and started cracking skulls. As she reached a snowy cliff, she watched as a firework was launched at hit a nearby mountain, causing an avalanche that buried a village.

'That's horrible!,' Fortune said, 'How many people did that kill!?'

"Hopefully none, but it doesn't matter," Guernica said, "Panda King was the one who lit that fuse, and he's going to pay for causing that avalanche."

She looked out to the statue where the firework came from.

"And I think I know where to start looking for him."

She carefully made her way through across snowy ledge until she reached a reinforced door. Nearby was the vault. Guernica smirked and summoned a Stand that looked like a heavy metal street artist.

"Trust Last!"

Her Stand sprayed on the nearby wall, creating an image that Guernica used to crack the vault.

"5-7-8... Bingo!"

The vault opened and allowed Guernica to swipe a Jade Dragon. She left her calling card, a cartoon mouse head, and grabbed the key to open the gate into Panda King's fortress.

Guernica climbed up onto the roof of the compound.

"Okay, now I need a way into the main base."

'There's a reinforced hatch not far from your location,' Chrysalis noted, 'And plenty of fireworks to break through it. But it looks like you'll need to access them using the keys from around the area.'

Panda King's voice was then heard over the intercom.

'Attention, valued employees. Sadly, Hinkau village has elected not to pay for our avalanche protection service, and so I am forced to bury them alive under many tons of snow. Please be on guard for any surviving villager that comes looking for revenge. Thank you, that is all.'

"Wow, so casually," Guernica muttered, "Must be Tuesday."

She headed into a large temple that doubled as a martial arts training ground.

'Careful in here,' Sting said, 'The security lasers along the floor are more sophisticated than what we've been experiencing before.'

The main temple had several students balance on spires, so focused on their training that they didn't even notice Guernica as she moved to the other side of the temple. After shutting down the final laser security, Guernica found the vault to crack it.

"9-3-2... Bingo!"

She opened the vault and stole the Engraved Nunchaku, then left her calling card. Guernica then swiped the key before leaving.

The next zone was a massive powder depot, with flashlight guards and searchlights everywhere.

'This is where Trust Last's secret weapon comes in handy,' Chrysalis noted.

"Right," Guernica said, "I can cover myself in a special paint that refracts light without leaving me blind, letting me slip through heavily secured areas like I was the Predator."

The paint was so effective it didn't even trigger security lasers, letting Guernica slip through without anyone noticing. She soon found the vault near the top of one of the pagodas.

"6-6-7... Bingo!"

The vault swung open to reveal Dud Pipe Grenade. Guernica left her calling card, then slipped into the pagoda to grab the key she needed. Guernica got the next key covering Fortune as she a run to grab it.

Guernica unlocked the fireworks and set them off. They careened into the reinforced skylight and broke it open to allow Guernica through.

"There's a second set of rockets up ahead," she noted.

'You should be able to use them to launch into Panda King's lair,' Sting said, 'But you'll need the rest of the area's keys into order to unlock them.'

Guernica started off nabbing one of the keys in a race around a clearing in the mountains. The next key involved using another hovercraft armed with a turret.

'The same kind we found in Miss Ruby's lair,' Chrysalis noted, 'And it's made from the same metal as the Paladin I transformed into when facing Muggshot.'

"You thinking Ironwood found a way to bring Atlas tech to Earth?," Guernica suggested.

'Maybe, but he'd need the same materials,' Chrysalis said, 'I'll do some research into this. Sting, Fortune, I'll be going dark for a bit.'

As Guernica busted into the munitions production line, Panda King's voice came over the intercom.

'Attention, valued employees. It has come to my attention that a thief is loose somewhere inside the firework production facility. Please do your part to pitch in by killing this intruder on sight. Thank you, that is all.'

Despite the opposition, Guernica was able to reach the key at a temple altar.

The final key was located near a large dragon statue. Sensing something, Guernica conjured a paint barrier that blocked a powerful fire blast.

"I was wondering when you'd show up, Thorax."

The blonde-haired man leapt onto a nearby roof.

"Sorry to have to go after you like this. Celestia and the rest of us know you're good people. But you're still acting as thieves, and we were handpicked by Goro Akechi to track you."

"Speaking of which, how is Celestia doing?," Guernica asked, "Can't imagine she'd be happy losing Sting twice in a row."

"Oh, that," Thorax said, blushing a little, "I was... Able to help her calm down."

Guernica realized what he was talking about.

"Damn. Well, Celestia did a get a lot of her mom's good looks. Anyway, hate to cut this duel short, but I'm on a timetable. Need to stop Panda King before he buries another village."

"You'll have to get past me first!," Thorax declared, "Almighty!"

His stand, which looked like a green humanoid cross between an insect and a horse, appeared. Suddenly Thorax started bawling and causing a massive torrent of water to be unleashed. Guernica quickly launched away on a paint spray, creating paint copies in order to dodge wind blasts, fire blasts, and more water blasts. Dodging across temple roofs and fallen icicles, Guernica reach the final vault and started to crack it.

"2-3-1... Bingo!"

She opened the vault and grabbed the Panda Statue, then left her calling card. She then launched a number of fireworks at a statue Thorax was standing on. He quickly healed himself by going into a state of calm before leaping away.

"Alright then. One criminal at a time."

Guernica smirked as she took the final key.

As Guernica latched onto the rockets she launched at Panda King's lair, she saw Thorax falling, laughing joy as he flew using a small whirlwind. They both landed right in front of Panda King, his panda ears twitching at their presence.

"So here is the thief who steals into my sanctum. I take it you are here for my munitions? Perhaps my money?"

"Wrong on both counts," Guernica said, "I'm here to stop you from burying any more villages."

"Why should you care if I bury a few worthless villages in snow?," Panda King asked, "You are a thief, just like me."

"Actually, you're an extortionist," Thorax pointed out, "Legally speaking, there is a difference. Also, I'm pretty sure you can be held accountable for manslaughter."

"Ah, how dishonorable of me not to acknowledge the police presence before my eyes," Panda King said, "Allow me to make up for this oversight, by defeating you both with the martial style I perfected with the help of my Stand. Moonraker!"

Panda King started lobbing fireballs, and striking with limbs set ablaze thanks to the power of his Stand. Luckily, despite her looks Guernica didn't fight like a street punk, and Thorax had plenty of combat experience. Thorax had Panda King doused using his Stand power, while Guernica kept him blinded using her manifested spray paint long enough to get some good damage in. Eventually, Panda King was knocked unconscious.

'Guernica, I found something interesting,' Chrysalis called in, 'Turns out other than Dust a lot of the minerals on Remnant can be found on Earth. In fact, the metal that made those skiffs can only be found in one place, the Krakarov Volcano in Russia. That must be where Ironwood is hiding out. Come on back, it's time for the final assault.'

I was able to take advantage of Thorax being busy arresting Panda King to slip away, but I knew he was close enough to overhear what Chrysalis had said. He'd be relaying that info to the rest of his team, no doubt. Regardless, we now had Ironwood's location at long last. In the meantime, mountain villages across China would no longer have to be concerned about avalanches. Well, not man-made ones at least. Before heading off, we enjoyed some time in Hong Kong, taking in the food and the fights. Turns out we were just in time for Kumite. But the action we saw would never compare to the struggle we'd find once we reached Russia.

Chapter Text

Sting here again. So, we were now ready to finally take on James Ironwood, former general of the Atlas military on Planet Remnant. He had once been part of a massive organization aimed at protecting humanity from the monsters that threatened it. But those monsters had a leader, and that leader was sentient and smart enough to plan and scheme, until Ironwood got broken down. Mistrust, mismanagement, and general inability to handle things well beyond his control caused the downfall of all he tried to build. And if not for DIO, he'd have died on Remnant. He's had two decades of time here to learn about our world, and he's apparently been planning a grand scheme to someone transfer the population of Remnant to Earth. But apparently he recognizes there's only so much room on the planet without messing it up, hence why he wanted to destabilize what was already here.

And of course, he had to deal with the Joestar clan. DIO's remaining followers had obviously warned him of us. Had to, after Jotaro killed their boss. But he didn't believe in the idea that our family was favored by fate. He believed in no gods, no fate, no destiny but what he could grasp with his own two hands. Hence why he tried to claim dominion over us by stealing the Joestar Collection. Only for Phantom Thief Joker, secretly Speedwagon Foundation intern Ren Amamiya, to ruin his plans by stealing it back. Speedwagon's always had our backs, even long after he died. Word is Ironwood has spent the last seven years in Russia hunting for something. I don't what it is, but we need to destroy it, before he does something he's going to regret.

Fortune used the high-powered cannon installed on the team van to blast through the reinforced gate.

"Ironwood's been busy. Not surprising, he's had seven years to consolidate his operations out here."

She started using the gun to clear away a mine field just inside the door. Up ahead the group noticed an owl-shaped tower.

"Ironwood appears to be holding up in there," Chrysalis noted, "Wait... That's not just a tower, it's a weapons platform."

Sure enough, the tower disgorged several robotic falcons.

"Drone fighters!," Guernica realized, "Their trying to dive bomb us!"

"Don't worry, the van's chassis is made from duralumin," Sting said, "Regardless, make sure they can't get close, Fortune."

"Got it," Fortune said.

A few drone started to bypass her shots, only to get wrapped up in chains and thrown into the nearby cliff. It turned out Celestia and her team were driving up as well.

"Wasn't expecting you to be helping us," Sting admitted.

"We're still family in the end," Celestia pointed out, "And both of us are JoJos. We'll focus on taking down Ironwood. On then... I'll give your team a twenty-four hour head start."

Sting smirked.

"Generous of you."

Sophia was firing off shots using Real Eyez, giving Fortune some back up in long range. Suddenly the tower fired off an energy ray, causing a large rockslide.

"Millennium!"

Celestia called in her Stand, which conjured up a massive earthen wall to block the rockslide.

"Picked up some Bending," she said with a smirk.

As the two teams entered a large cave, Fortune brought the turret back into the van due to the low clearance. Inside the cave were 120 hanging computers.

"Sophia, can you help me analyzing all those computers?," Chrysalis asked, "We can each take half. They contain the security codes needed to access the door to Ironwood's inner sanctum."

"Of course," Sophia said, "I'm humanity's companion."

Several fire slugs, created using special computer chips, tried to destroy the computers, but luckily Thorax was able to douse them long enough for Guernica to run them over.

"He's certainly got a complex system," Chrysalis said, "Without Sophia's help I don't think I'd be able to get through so easily."

"It's not any easier for me," Sophia admitted, "It's like his system is designed to try and reject AI programming. If not for my Smart AI, I wouldn't have the adaptability to bypass it."

Still, they were able to get the door open, letting both teams through to the next room. Which looked like a nightmare of a of security maze.

"I'm gonna push my invisibility to the limits on this one," Sting admitted.

Celestia smirked, and amazed Sting by leaping across the various rails and spires like she was a Phantom Thief herself.

"What world did you get those moves from?," Sting asked.

"One with anthropomorphic animals," Celestia said, "A nice raccoon thief let me borrow his family's book of thieving so my Stand could work with it. Now let's get going."

Sting grinned and followed her niece through the pathway they saw. Unfortunately, at the end they got trapped inside a glass case.

'Sorry to ruin your momentum,' came Ironwood's voice over the intercom, 'But I anticipated your arrival. You know, there's a funny thing about Stand users. Their Stand are powerful, but they themselves are only human.'

The sound of gas being released into the room was heard.

'Prone to mortality.'

"Nice try, Ironwood," Chrysalis said, "But we anticipated your anticipation. Sophia, let's get to work."

"Time to get cracking," Sophia agreed.

It took a few seconds of complex hacking, but before long the duo was able to shut down the gas and vent the room, allowing Sting and Celestia through to the tower access corridor. Chrysalis and Thorax quickly got to a pair of cannons to back them up.

"You got a good man backing you up," Sting noted.

"And you've got a woman," Celestia added, "Grandpa Joseph have any problems when you told him you were lesbian?"

"Nah, he was cool with it," Sting said, "Especially since he's already got three other kids that give him grandkids. I mean, Holly, George, Josuke, all three of them have sons."

They reached the tower itself.

"Up there," Celestia said, "That jetpack was developed by the Speedwagon Foundation. Something to use for emergencies. There's only one and I can borrow flying powers from other worlds. So..."

Sting grinned when she realized what Celestia was implying.

"All right then, let's get moving."

During the previous job, the support field for the tower had been destroyed, causing the entire unit to start sinking into the lava. The duo quickly hurried through the wires and cables to reach the top of the tower before it disappeared. Sting soon reached the jetpack as Celestia used Millennium to manifest a pair of steel wings from her back, while the Stand itself once again manifest the energy gun from the Paris incident.

"What kind of gun is that, anyway?," Sting asked.

"It's called a Caster," Celestia explained, "It was designed to combat mystics."

Suddenly, the tower erupted from the lava, now as a flying owl mech with Ironwood standing astride it.

"HOLY SHIT!," Sting called out in shock.

"Sorry to have taken so long," Ironwood said, "I decided to finally get a proper shave after so many years. Wanted to look presentable... As I finally deliver your end! The problems you Joestars have been giving me, when all I wanted was to make my people a new home."

"At the expense of people already living here," Celestia pointed out, "Your actions have constituted numerous criminal actions. I'm afraid you never had the moral high ground, especially when you agreed to accept help from our family's greatest enemy."

"I'm still wondering how you're controlling that thing," Sting said, "I'm not seeing a control station anywhere."

"Ah, you mean the Clockwerk," Ironwood said, "Ingenious piece of tech, really. Surprisingly ancient, built by geniuses centuries ahead of their time. Normally quite complex to control, but thanks to my Stand, known as On Her Majesty's Secret Service, I can control it and any other piece of technology I want. Well, so long as no other living thing is touching it, which is why I haven't shut down that jetpack yet. Now, if you'll excuse me... It's time to finally be rid of you and your so-called destiny!"

"He's sounding unhinged!," Celestia realized, "We need to shut that thing down fast!"

She started using her Caster to create holes in the Clockwerk's armor, followed by Sting pounding it with the jetpack's cannon. The mech fired energy bursts, electrical circles, and even more robo falcons as the duo had to go through several rounds of destroying the individual pieces. Eventually they were able to reach the head module, which was now spouting weird mumbo jumbo as it started to shut down.

"One more for the road!," they both called out.

"Millennium!"

"Achtung Baby!"

The two Stands emerged and started pounding the head module of the Clockwerk.

"MADA MADA MADA MADA MADA MADA MADA MADA MADA MADA MADA MADA MADA MADA MADA MADA!"

"BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU BAZU!"

The module was destroyed with a final blow, a chip flying out of it.

"Buzz off!"

Sting then noticed Ironwood still clinging to the side of the mech.

"Here," Sting said, "Gimme your hand."

Ironwood looked at her like he was seeing her for the first time. He closed his eyes, remembering all that had gone wrong because of his own bad decisions.

"Remnant... Is better off without me..."

And with that, he let go, letting himself fall into the lava.

I never imagined that Ironwood would commit suicide like that. Seeing the sudden change in his eyes, I have to wonder if the Clockwerk mech was controlling him more than he was controlling it, Stand or no Stand. As for Celestia, well she held to our agreement, and we decided to make good use of the twenty-four hour head start her team offered us. Of course, both our teams would be ready if the call to action ever decided our destiny was not yet over.

Little did either team know, a young woman with violet hair was picking up the chip that had been dislodged from the head module.

"I have the location. But it will be some time before the device can be retrieved."

'We're in no hurry,' came a sinister voice on the other end, 'I've waited this long for my dream. What's a few more years?'

Chapter Text

It was the early hours of the morning, and Shizuka Joestar, aka Sting, slipped into a museum in Cairo, Egypt.

"Hornet's in the hive."

'Roger that,' Chrysalis said, 'We have confirmation of police presence in the area.'

"Can you blame them?," Sting said, "Celestia knows as much as I do how dangerous Clockwerk is. And we were hired to find a way to destroy it once and for all."

'But it's in pieces now, isn't it?,' Fortune noted.

'Even the individual parts can be put to nefarious use with the right mind,' came a new, male voice.

"Hence why we need to get them back before they fall into the wrong hands," Sting said, "Chrysalis, what's your status?"

'In the basement, ready for pickup,' Chrysalis said, 'I need elevator access.'

"Gimme a second," Sting said, "Fortune, you fueled up?"

'Yeah, but it turns out anything hotter than a ghost pepper can't trigger my Stand,' Fortune said, 'I literally gorged the One Chip Challenge about two dozen times finding that out.'

Sting winced. She'd tried the One Chip Challenge once, a nacho chip covered in spice made using Scorpion Pepper and Carolina Reaper. She couldn't handle one, yet here was Catarina handling them like they were Pringles.

'Any other surprises you have for us?,' Guernica asked.

'Well it turns out Sophia is reincarnated from my best friend in my previous life,' Fortune said, 'I learned this some time ago when I found out she could already fluently read Japanese.'

"I'm getting that elevator now before we delve any deeper," Sting said.

She headed up and turned on the power for the elevator, letting Chrysalis rewire it to take her up. She then worked the computer and shut down the security.

"Okay, we're clear."

"Nice!," Sting said, "I'm really glad you decided to join me on this, babe."

"We can do cuddle time later, gorgeous, right now we're on the clock," Chrysalis quipped.

'Ugh, those two have been like this ever since they got married,' Guernica said, 'Fortune, just move into position to meet up with Sting for the next of the operation.'

Sting and Chrysalis giggled.

"I need to stay here and monitor the security to make sure it doesn't start up again," Chrysalis said.

She pecked Sting on the cheek.

"For luck."

Sting gave her flirtatious wink and headed through the halls. Once she got to the balcony, she noticed the police presence down below, but grinned when she spotted a nearby rope stretching to the opposite balcony. She easily ran across it like it was a sidewalk. She reached it, Fortune came crashing through a skylight with a powerful axe kick.

"Hey, I noticed Celestia's on her own for this one. No sign of Thorax, Zenkichi, or Sophia. But there is a new individual. A raven-haired Indian woman who turns out to be a constable for Interpol."

'Oh boy,' the male voice said, 'I think I know who that is. This is going to be an awkward conversation.'

"Old girlfriend, Ben?," Sting joked.

'Current girlfriend,' the man known as Ben clarified, 'It looks like I'll have to get involved personally.'

An armored warrior was now scene leaping across the roofs. He had a helmet that looked like a stag beetle, his gauntlets had a bee stinger on the left and a firefly's light on the right, his chest plate looked like it was made from a rhino beetle with a dragonfly emblem, there were mantis blades attached to upper arm plates made from a cicada and ant, his leg plates were made from a grasshopper, and there was a pair of butterfly wings on his back. It was Ben, using the power of his Stand.

"Chem-Story!"

Ben leapt onto the balcony and smashed through gate. He then turned to the girls and gave a dramatic bow.

"Ladies first."

Fortune rolled her eyes as she headed through, then picked up a heavy statue and heaved it to smash through a distance gate.

"Show off," Ben said.

The trio headed across the ropes onto the next balcony. But inside the room was only Celestia and another woman, who from the description must have been the constable.

"Hey, Neyla," Ben said as he disengaged his armor, the pieces turning into technorganic insects before turning again into cards.

Neyla looked stunned.

"Ben..."

"Old boyfriend?," Celestia asked.

"Current boyfriend...," Neyla admitted, "Oh, this is going to complicate matters."

"So what's been going on here?," Sting asked, "Those Clockwerk parts are important to our client Ben here, but..."

She looked around the empty room.

"They're not where our intelligence said they'd be. Did you happen to anticipate us?"

"More like someone beat you to the punch," Celestia admitted, "A small group of known crooks called the Klaww Gang arrived and stole the Clockwerk parts."

"So what's she doing here?," Fortune asked, pointing to Neyla.

"Special favor to the Contessa," Neyla said, "One of Interpol's senior officers."

"Listen, if you still need to get after those parts, I can give you guys a ten minute head start," Celestia said, "But the police around here aren't under my authority, so you'll need to move fast."

"You heard my niece," Sting said, "Let's am-scray!"

They hurried to reach the van, where Chrysalis and Guernica were waiting.

"Mission not accomplished, I presume," Guernica said.

"Someone got to the museum before us," Sting said, "Get us out of here, we need to do some research on the Klaww Gang."

As we sped away from Cairo, I had some time to think. The current year is 2027, two years after we defeated what was left of Remnant. Ironwood had seemed like he was being controlled by the mysterious mech called Clockwerk, at least in terms of his emotional state. Then a month ago, we were contacted by someone I never expected to see. A young man named Benjamin Shigure, who as it turned out is actually a blood relative of mine! I never even knew my birth family, but the DNA match confirmed he's my cousin. He wasn't surprised that I'd become a Joestar, since our families had actually created the Clockwerk mech centuries ago, but buried it in the Krakarov Volcano because it was too dangerous. The power source was the mysterious chip, called the Hate Chip. So long as it existed, Clockwerk could repair itself, which is why it was retrieved in pieces for safety. But now the Klaww Gang has their hands on the parts. I'm not sure they even know what they have, but if they do, it paints a dark picture. This is about more than just me being a Joestar or a Shigure. This is about me being a JoJo, and the destiny that comes with that name.