The Successor; Part 2
In the dark castle towering over Windknight's Lot a mother was begging for the life of her newborn.
"Please spare my child" She asked with tears streaming down her face as she hugged the baby in her arms as Dio crushed an iron cross with his bare hands.
"So madam what you mean to say is. You will offer me your life as long as I stay away from your child..." He was playing with a red rose in his hand twirling it around, it reminded him strangely of you, beautiful but with thorns able to hurt them who approached them. "Is that correct?"
"Please anything but my child." He cried.
"You move me to tears. Alright neither I nor any of my cohorts will lay a finger on your precious child." Dio agreed standing up from the comfortable arm chair next to the fire. "On my name, Dio I swear! While they were human all my servants succumbed to their fears and willingly gave their souls to me. But I must say you will be happier if you and your child joined us. You will be free from worry. No sadness, no hatred toward each other!" He offered walking up to them.
The woman looked at the ceiling seeing the zombie hanging upside down, red eyes piercing her soul, she led out a squeak.
"Please, just spare my child!" The woman shook her head; she did not want her child to become a monster. "Just this child..."
"Ok." Dio gave his permission turning her into a zombie. The baby was crying.
"My sweet baby!" She looked down at her screaming child with hunger evident in her transformed face, nothing was left from the caring mother she was, and she devoured her own child completely.
"Yes, I said we would not lay a finger on him. You, his devoted other devoured him yourself." Dio chuckled looking at his rose. "A tragedy of your own choosing. I hope you Y/N will make the right choice when time comes. I know you won't be foolish, you will choose me, Dio! Instead of those pathetic worms who call themselves human. They are useless, use less, useless, useless! You are a goddess, you deserve more, and you shall be mine, the only human worthy to stay by my side forever!!"
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In the middle of the night the full moon illuminated your way. Speedwagon and you chatted silently about your plans for your future; he finally agreed to take up your offer to found the Speedwagon Foundation. You still carried Zeppeli in your arms, but Speedwagaon took him out of your hands, claiming it would be too heavy over a long period of time. You only laughed at him trying to lift him up. He was struggling a lot. It seems Zeppeli had to give up his Hamon abilities in exchange for survival. Your Hamon did not seem to be compatible or suited for him to use as a weapon. It kept him alive but nothing more. So Jonathan was truly his successor.
Something is different about Mr Joestar, Speedwagon observed. His expression is pensive and I am the same, only Y/N seems to be not greatly affected, but even she broke down earlier. I am sure she is just trying to act tough to not worry us more. He tipped Zeppeli's top hat. We must endure our anger. We cannot think about Zeppeli's condition until Dio has fallen!
"Mr Joestar, Dio said he will wipe out the town in one day and one night! Zombies will surely breed like rats! What is happening down there? Are the people of Windknight's Lot still alive?" Speedwagon wondered aloud, pointing at the small town slumbering seemingly peacefully in the night.
"I wonder if my sister is alright..." Poco was worried, you could tell.
"Do not worry Poco. I am sure your sister can look out for herself, after all the stories you have told me on our way here." You winked at the small boy.
"We must hurry." Jonathan only said moving on. The moon disappeared behind a dark cloud as you noticied a man walking up to your group, immediately you were alarmed.
"Mr Adams!" Poco ran up to him.
"Poco what are you doing roaming around at this hour?" Mr Adams scolded him.
"Mr Adams what about my sister? And the town? Are they all well?" Poco questioned him breathlessly.
"Are they all right? All right?" He mumbled disbelieving, shaking his head at the young boy's words. "SHE IS LIVID BOY! She will lock you in the barn when you get home!"
"Wow! Your sister is even more impressive than you make her out to be! I really would like to meet her!" You laughed holding your stomach at their perplexed expressions.
"I guess the town is safe..." Speedwagon looked after you, adjusting Zeppeli who was hanging over his shoulder.
"Let's move!" Jonathan exclaimed determined.
"Thanks, Mr Adams!" Poco shouted rushing behind you.
Suddenly Mr Adam's tongue stretched out of his mouth twitching.
A child! He viewed Poco. I want to drink the fresh warm blood of a child! His head twisted 180 degrees running at Poco. However Jonathan caught the long gross tongue with his left hand. Mr Adam transformed in front of your eyes into a full zombie.
Damn it, this I bad. You thought.
"He is already a zombie!" Jonathan said in a matter of fact.
"Think you can outpace me?" The zombie leaped at him.
"Jonathan, could you please take care of this disgusting creature fast? I really want to kick Dio's ass." You rolled your eyes."Furthermore, I want to know Zeppeli in safety."
"Of course Y/N." Jonathan jumped in the air stepping onto Mr Adam's tongue and finished him off with a simple Hamon kick. That was fast.... You smirked. He is making great process.
"The town my already be..." Jonathan started.
"Your conject is correct." A familiar voice interrupted the young noble man., the voice conjured a smile on your face. "The outskirt of the town is overrun with zombies." The buff man with silver hair that defies gravity informed. He was walking up the road o your group casually.
Of course, Speedwagon moves Poco behind him. "Another one?"
You had to suppress a giggle.
"My name is Dire." He introduced himself before he went to attack Jonathan; you only shook your head in amusement watching the fight play out.
A kick? But why is it so slow? Jonathan wondered. He went to block the incoming attack but Dire spread his legs, leaving Jonathan surprised and off guard.
"Take this! THUNDER SPLIT ATTACK!!" He shouted.
Jonathan reacted fast, head-butting him; both men fell to the ground.
"Impressive!" Dire whispered. "The usual reaction is to pull your head back not charge forward with a head-butt!"
Jonathan caught himself rather fast standing up ready for another round.
"Wait Jonathan." You decided to interfere patting him on his shoulder. "He is human, I assure you." You moved out of his shadow, flashing a smile at Dire.
"Y/N!! What are you doing here?!" Dire questioned you but the stern glare of yours prevented him from storming at you.
"Oh apologize." Dire held his hand to his cheek. "I wished to test the techniques you learned from Baron Zeppeli, Jonathan Joestar."
"Did you say Zeppeli?" Jonathan inquired surprised. "And you know Y/N here?"
"Zeppeli and I have been through much together. We trained under the same master for twenty years. For Y/N she is like the older sister of us, our guardian and friend whenever she visited. I have a really high opinion on her however she convinced, well more like threatened me to call her by her first name, much to my dismay," Dire explained as you shoved Jonathan to the side to hug Dire, suffocating him.
"Indeed." A man with long straight hair black hair walked up. "I am Straizo. Read this..." He held out a letter to Jonathan before looking at you blushing slightly, but it was not visible in the dark of the night, or else Dire would have teased him for the next months.
"A letter...It is from Baron Zeppeli!!" Jonathan realized seeing the familiar signature of his Hamon teacher.
"It is a letter from Baron Zeppeli asking for help. He writes about the location of the mask and the man who bears it, still he forgot to mention the most important aspect; Lady Y/N. If we had heard it in advance, Dir here would have rushed us to move even faster." Straizo said smiling the tiniest smile, before being crushed by you. "Lady Y/N!"
"Oh shut up Straizo, I told you to call me Y/N countless times; you know I hate to repeat myself." Then you saw your master approaching you in the distance, nodding to Dire and Straizo, you three made a pass of the elder.
"This is our master Tonpetty. "Dire announced his arrival.
"My respects." Master Tonpetty smoked on his pipe.
"You are Baron Zeppeli's and Y/N's teacher, Master Tonpetty." Jonathan stretched out his hand for a handshake. Then Tonpetty stared at Jonathan's hand seeing his Hamon flow.
"Where I come from shaking hands is not customary. Our greeting is such..." He clapped his hands in front of him and bowed his head. All of you stood there greeting each other in silence.
"And where is Zeppeli now?" Tonpetty asked.
"Geez, master, your eyes really are jot the best anymore. HE is right here in Speedwagon's arms....WAIT SPEEDWAGON WHERE DID YOU PUT WILL?" You screamed.
"Huh? I lied him down on the grass for the greeting..." He stuttered as you sighed in relief before turning really mad.
"How irresponsible can you be Speedwagon!" You lectured him picking Zeppeli up from the ground.
"I see Y/N, you were able to change his fate, rescuing his life." Tonpetty smiled.
"I hanged his what?" You asked confused. "There is no fate to be changed. We all go our own paths; our future is build upon the decisions of the past and present. There is no fate that cannot be changed, so you cannot call it fate in my opinion. Nothing is bound to happen!!" You raised your voice. "At least that is what I believe in. As long as I am alive I am going to rewrite the fate of many people. If not...go to hell fate!!" You declared.
Tonpetty shook his head. "He was bound to die, I read his life wave. As I saw his Hamon in Jonathan's body I wrongly assumed he has passed away." He chuckled.
"Not on my watch, however Zeppeli will never be able to use his Hamon ever again." You frowned as Dire and Straizo looked to the ground in sadness. They were friend for such a long time; hearing that their training mate cannot use his Hamon anymore broke their heart.
"Alright, however this man called Dio is still in possession of a devasting power! His life energy is both evil and staggering!" Tonpetty stated grimly. "Let's find a place where Zeppeli is able to rest properly..."
Meanwhile:
In the castle was Dio lying on a luxurious sofa, surrounded by red roses and his "pets". They had the head of a human but their bodies resembled a squirrel.
"This town is now mine and it took less than a single night." He mused looking over to a teenage girl with brown hair, Poco's sister who was squatting against the could wall on fear.
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"Poco what were you doing wandering about at this hour? And who is this tall stranger in our home with and unconscious person in their arms?!" Poco's father shouted at the poor boy after hitting him. You could tell he was really worried about his son so you let it go.
"I am sorry sir." You apologized. "My friend here was attack at night and he won't wake up in less than twelve hours. For the time being could he rest in your humble home until I finished my quest in Windknight's Lot? I promise I can compensate for your hospitality." You tried to convince the wary man.
"And how might you, a fine young man compensate me?" He asked.
"I can assure you I am able to pay with money, please tell me the price. I stand to my word." You used your poker face, throwing him off guard at your sincerity in your voice.
"What if I want one hundred gold coins?" He joked.
"Father that is too much, we cannot ask for-" Poco protested.
"Alright, one hundred gold coins." You placed them on the wooden table like t was no big deal, where did you have that much money. You liked to be prepared. When you informed yourself about Windknight's Lot you packed in advance, including money. You set down Zeppeli down at one of the chairs, turning to leave.
"What, WAIT?!?! Please wait, Sir!" Poco's father shouted. "This is way too much; I was just testing the waters. Not even the finest hospitals get that much. I am an honest and upright man I do not want to accept that money!"
"Please consider it as a repayment. Poco here is a fine boy, he will grow into a fine gentleman, he rescued the life of my student risking his own. I owe him. This is nothing but my repayment of my depts."
The father was left speechless. Who exactly are you? He has never met such a generous person, you were indeed a fine gentleman. Maybe he could introduce you to his daughter?
"Well at least you are safe father. Where is sis?" Poco interrupted his father's thoughts.
"She went out to look for you." His father answered confused, your eyes widened in panic.
"She left the house?" You questioned alarmed.
"Yeah, Poco what is the matter? You are acting strange."He hunched down as Poco was shaking uncontrollably.
"SIS!!" He screamed out before you patted his head. "Do not worry. I bring her back..." You promised him, however you were not sure if you could keep your promise exiting the house.
"Wait let me come with you!!" Poco ran after you.
"no! " You replied sternly. "I want to know you save Poco. I trust you and your father to take care of my friend; I could not trust anyone else right now. So please watch over Zeppeli and I will get your sister. Deal?"
"Deal." Poco answered. You turned around facing the group.
"Dio probably has Poco's sister as hostage, I am not sure how much time we have left. So let us hurry." You golden eyes looked at the dark castle. Dio your end is near!!