In the pocket castle, everything was as usual. Monsters going on with their day, chatting with each other, and sharing a meal at the cafeteria, while others laze around in the respective area made specifically for each species.
Everyone could find their place in this haven… Except for a certain delinquent-looking man.
His sharp jaw was clenched, and a lit cigarette dangled precariously from his lips. His jacket, perpetually slung over his shoulders, shifted with his hurried pace.
"These bitches are so annoying!" Jotaro gritted his teeth after walking away from a demanding monster girl.
Ever since he arrived here, he couldn't go five minutes without being harassed by some girl—whether she wanted to fight him, eat him, or fuck him. Sometimes, all at once.
"This place is a nightmare," he muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets as he walked away. He needed an escape, someplace where they couldn't follow.
His gaze landed on a staircase that led to the underground. It wasn't a place he had visited before—hell, he hadn't even thought about it—but if it could offer him some peace and quiet, it was worth a shot. Without hesitation, he descended, each step taking him further from the cacophony above.
The air grew colder as he went deeper, dampness clinging to his skin. A faint, rhythmic sound reached his ears—the distant crash of waterfalls in a small pond. From the corner of his eye, Jotaro caught sight of a group of slug girls gathered near the water's edge. Their glossy bodies glistened under the faint glow of bioluminescent fungi, and their conversation was a mix of soft laughter and idle chatter.
"Good grief, they're everywhere," Jotaro muttered, his voice low with exasperation as he climbed down the last step. He stuffed his hands into his pockets, keeping his gaze fixed ahead, hoping none of them would notice him. The last thing he needed was more attention.
He glanced at the cells to his right. A small chuckle escaped his lips as he saw the succubus he had punched the other day, locked up and tied up with her friend. With a smirk on his face, he approached the cell to taunt them silently.
But when he passed it, the girl barely reacted. Her stare was vacant and she was muttering so quietly he couldn't even hear what she was saying.
Her friend, who seemed to have noticed him looked up at him. "It seems she suffers from brain damage after our last... encounter."
Jotaro raised an eyebrow, his smirk faltering as he turned his attention back to Myusca. Her murmurs became clearer now: "It's cold... it's cold... it's cold…" She repeated the phrase in a monotone loop, her voice flat and distant, as if trapped in her own world.
Before Jotaro could respond, the pink-haired succubus sitting beside her suddenly looked up, her eyes widening with sheer terror. "AAHH! NO MORE PUNCHING, PLEASE!" she shrieked, her voice echoing off the stone walls. She recoiled, throwing her hands up to shield her face as if expecting another blow.
Jotaro blinked, startled by the outburst. He opened his mouth to retort, but the girl abruptly fell silent. Her trembling subsided as she slowly returned to hugging her legs, rocking slightly as she muttered again, her voice low and rhythmic.
"Ora, ora, ora, ora…"
Jotaro's grimace deepened. The sound of the repetitive phrase was unsettling, digging under his skin in a way he couldn't quite explain. For a brief moment, he lingered, unsure whether it was pity, disgust, or frustration that made his chest tighten. Whatever it was, he wanted no part of it.
"Tch," he muttered, turning on his heel. "Not my problem."
Without another glance, he walked away to the other cell. There, a face made him almost have a heart attack.
"Kakyoin!?" he shouted, the name escaping him before he could stop himself. His voice was loud enough to bounce off the walls, drawing curious glances from the slug girls by the water. But Jotaro didn't care. There, sitting in the dim light of the cell, was someone who looked exactly like his former friend—his companion from Egypt.
The man blinked at Jotaro, his expression blank at first. Then he smiled, a faint, awkward grin that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Kockyoin," he corrected in an oddly cheerful tone. "My name's Kockyoin. May I ask who you are?"
Jotaro's jaw tightened, his confusion quickly morphing into irritation. "What kind of sick joke is this?" he growled, taking a step closer to the bars. His sharp eyes darted over the cell, taking in the two other figures seated beside him. A guy wearing only his underwear and a guy drinking…
Without looking back, Jotaro walked away from the cell, he had seen more than he should and he had reached his limits.
On the way back up, he finally saw a face that put him at ease.
"Oh, if it isn't Mister Jotaro!" the Monk's face beamed up upon seeing him.
"Hakunen," Jotaro nodded with a smile.
"I was looking for you, actually," Hakunen continued, his eyes scanning the area warily, making sure no monster girls were in sight. "I know your troubles. Follow me!"
Jotaro raised an eyebrow but didn't hesitate, trusting the monk's word. Hakunen had been a reliable ally in the past, and right now, Jotaro could use a break from everything else. With a silent nod, he followed him, hoping for at least a moment of peace.
They soon reached what looked like a small dead-end, and, with a few words from Hakunen, a small door appeared on the wall.
"This is a small room Lauratt found. It's a safe space for us guys." Hakunen explained after pushing the door open while making sure no one else was around.
"Good grief…" Jotaro sighed, tipping his cap. "Didn't think I would need that."
The room beyond was small but surprisingly comfortable. There were several chairs and sofas arranged around a small, low table. The atmosphere felt calm, almost soothing, a stark contrast to the madness of the castle outside. It was the kind of space Jotaro hadn't realized he'd been craving until now.
Hakunen waved him toward the nearest couch. "Make yourself at home, mister Jotaro. You look like you could use a break."
With a slight smile, Jotaro sat down, his shoulders finally loosening as he sank into the cushions.
"Thanks, Hakunen. You truly are a reliable guy."
The small monk smiled while preparing a kettle full of tea. "Just make sure that no one is following you when entering this room."
Jotaro gave a reassuring nod, tipping his cap to cover his eyes. "Don't worry. It's the last thing I want."
Hakunen nodded in return, his eyes thoughtful as he set the kettle on the small stove. "Good. This room is safe, but only if you're careful. Not everyone knows about it, and we'd like to keep it that way."
Hakunen finished preparing the tea, carefully pouring it into two small cups. He sipped from his own quietly, the warmth of the drink filling the room as the soothing calm continued to settle over them both. The silence was comfortable, neither of them feeling the need to speak as Jotaro leaned back into the couch, his thoughts drifting. The exhaustion from the day's events began to catch up with him, his eyes growing heavier. He couldn't afford to sleep the whole night, but a quick nap wouldn't hurt.
As the gentle hum of the castle filled the background, Jotaro let himself relax, his mind at ease for the first time in a long while. His breath slowed, and within minutes, he slipped into a light sleep, his body finally unwinding.
After a few hours, the door creaked open, cutting through the silence.
Jotaro's eyes snapped open immediately, his body tensing as he sat up.
"Oh, sorry to wake you up," a kind voice murmured, causing Jotaro to stir slightly. The door clicked shut softly behind the newcomer.
Hakunen, who had remained silent the whole time, greeted the red-haired man with a warm smile. "Kazuya! How are you feeling?"
Kazuya, his face weary but carrying a hint of amusement, sighed as he leaned against the doorframe. "Lampas and Muruko didn't give me a break the whole morning. I managed to escape after they got into a fight."
Hakunen frowned. "Is that really okay?"
Jotaro, still adjusting to the sudden presence, sat up straighter. He took a moment to study Kazuya. Of all the people that inhabited this place, and aside from the detective Luka, this man looked like he was from his world. The jeans and jacket he was wearing would betray his modern look only if he wasn't wearing a gun to his belt.
"It's fine," Kazuya replied to Hakunen. "They're going to stop at some point anyway." He then glanced at Jotaro sitting on the couch. "Wait… you are…" his eyes went wide in realization. "Kujo Jotaro!?"
"Looks like you already know me…" Jotaro sighed. "Have we met before?"
Kazuya hesitated, his gaze shifting uncomfortably for a moment as if caught off guard by the question. "N-No, it's just..." He trailed off, as if searching for the right words. "I've heard of you. You're... You might not believe me but you're a character from a mange where I'm from."
Jotaro raised an eyebrow. "A manga character?"
Kazuya nodded earnestly. "That's right. You have a stand, right?"
"Yes," Jotaro replied with a strained sigh. "Still, it wouldn't be the strangest thing after the other day."
"We should at least make you visit, right Hakunen?" Kazuya suggested.
Hakunen smiled lightly, glancing toward Jotaro. "It could be a good idea. A change of scenery might do you some good."
"No thanks," Jotaro interjected, holding up a hand to stop them. "I would rather not right now. Unless there is something important."
Kazuya blinked at the immediate refusal but quickly shrugged it off. "As you wish. I get it. Honestly, I can understand why you wouldn't want to move from here. I thought my world was demanding, but this place is on a whole other level."
Jotaro leaned back on the couch, tipping his cap lower over his eyes. "Now let me sleep."
But as soon as he closed his eyes, someone else opened the door in a rush.
"K-Kazuya! We need your help!" the strained voice of Luka caught everyone's attention. "Th—There's…!"
"Oi, what's going on?" Jotaro jumped from his seat.
"It's the thing!" Luka stammered, his hands gripping the doorframe as if to steady himself. "The name—the name you're not supposed to say! Back at the party with the dream fox!"
Kazuya's face paled, his body going rigid as he processed Luka's words. "You're kidding," he said, his voice low and tense. "You mean that thing?"
Luka nodded frantically, his eyes wide with fear. "It's here. It's real."
Kazuya's lips parted to utter a single word…
"Pok[redacted]"
"Prepare for trouble!"
"And make it double!"
"T-There is no way…" Kazuya stood there, bewildered at the sight of the cat-shaped balloon floating above Illiasville.
Two figures in matching flamboyant outfits stood in triumphant poses, one with flowing lavender hair and the other shorter with fiery red long hair.
"They… they're real too?" Kazuya muttered, still unable to tear his eyes from the scene.
Jotaro crossed his arms, glaring at the sight with a mixture of disdain and exhaustion. "Good grief. That's what had you all panicked? A talking balloon and two idiots cosplaying villains?"
Hakunen, ever calm, tilted his head in mild curiosity. "This is… not what I was expecting, either."
"When I received the report from Mephisto, I didn't imagine this either," Luka admitted, his voice tinged with disappointment as he let out a heavy sigh. He glanced at the flamboyant duo, feeling a creeping sense of secondhand embarrassment.
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To unite all peoples within our nation!"
"Please make it end," Kazuya squeaked, cringing from embarrassment.
Jotaro pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering under his breath, "Of all the nonsense I've seen in this place…" He shot a glance at Luka and Kazuya. "You two better have a good explanation for why we're dealing with this instead of something serious."
The figures outside, undeterred by the exasperation radiating from their unwilling audience, continued their dramatic routine with unwavering enthusiasm.
"Jessie!"
"James!"
"Team rocket blasts off at the speed of light!"
"Surrender now, or prepare to fight!"
"Meowth, that's right!" the small, feline figure chimed in, stepping forward to complete their grand introduction.
Jotaro's eyes narrowed as his attention snapped to the talking cat. "A talking cat?" His voice was flat, but the disbelief was clear.
Before anyone could respond, an excited voice piped up from behind the flamboyant duo. "Purupuru, that's right!" A cheerful slime girl bounded in front of Team Rocket, her translucent body jiggling with each movement. She wore an enormous grin, utterly delighted to be the center of attention.
Kazuya's voice trembled as he pointed at the slime girl, panic creeping into his tone. "T-They already caught one!"
"That's right, twerps!" James declared dramatically, pointing both fingers at the group. "This world is crawling with Pokémon! And with the help of this adoraaable little one here, we're going to catch them all!"
"Oooh, I can't wait, James!" Jessie added, clasping her hands together with mock delight. "Think of all the money we'll make! All these unknown Pokémon, just for us!"
Meowth grinned smugly, crossing his small arms. "Yeah, and da boss is gonna be real pleased when we show him dis haul!"
The slime girl beamed up at them, entirely unaware of the situation. "Does this mean I get to help with something fun?" she asked, her voice bubbly and innocent.
"Oh yes, you dooo!" James cooed, scooping the slime girl into a dramatic hug. "You'll be our first and shiniest partner in this new world of Pokémon!"
The slime girl giggled, clearly enjoying the attention. "Yay!"
Jessie, however, crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently. "We still need to figure out why our Pokéballs aren't working," she reminded them, her voice tinged with irritation. "Perhaps this world uses different Pokéballs? Something compatible with all these exotic Pokémon?"
"Yeah, it's weird," Meowth chimed in, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I threw one at dat big scorpion monster earlier, and all it did was bounce off."
"We almost got hurt pretty badly, too…" James nodded slowly, visibly shuddering at the memory.
Kazuya let out a long sigh, watching the clueless trio continue their bizarre discussion. "They're not going to survive long here if we just let them be." He reached for his gun, the click of the safety being disengaged breaking the air of exasperated silence. "I'm going to blow up their balloon."
Luka's eyes widened, and he quickly reached out, grabbing Kazuya's wrist. "Wait, wait, wait! Let's not escalate things right away! They're… mostly harmless."
"Trust me, Luka. I'm doing them a favor." Kazuya's eyes were full of pity.
"There's a slime girl inside," Hakunen interjected calmly, squinting up at the balloon. "Is that Lime?".
Luka blinked, turning toward Hakunen. "Lime? You're sure?"
Hakunen nodded, his tone thoughtful. "It looks like her. She probably joined them out of curiosity. That would explain why they think she's a Pokémon."
As if to confirm Hakunen's observation, James pointed dramatically into the distance below them. "Now, Lime! Go and capture us more Pokémon!" he ordered, his voice filled with theatrical fervor.
"Right away, Mister!" Lime chirped, her voice bubbly with excitement. With a gleeful leap, she launched herself from the balloon, her translucent body flapping slightly as the wind caught her. She descended rapidly, looking more like a blob of jelly falling at terminal velocity than a competent minion.
Kazuya chuckled."She has no idea what she's doing, does she?"
Luka sighed deeply. "Nope. Not at all. But if she took a liking to them, it's probably because they are mostly harmless."
Lime hit the ground with an audible splat , her gooey form spreading into a puddle on impact. A moment later, she reformed herself effortlessly, beaming as if nothing unusual had happened.
"Ta-da!" Lime exclaimed, throwing her hands up in victory.
Jotaro tipped his cap forward, sighing deeply. "Good grief. Let's go get your friend."
The group approached Lime and Luka waved his hand at her. Lime answered cheerfully, waving her hand as well. "Luka! Purupuru!"
"Time to go home, Lime," Luka said, keeping his smile up. "We need everyone on standby. Things could get dangerous soon."
Lime's smile wavered for a moment before she pouted playfully. "But I'm having fun~..." she protested, her voice drawing out the last word as she swayed slightly from side to side. "These new friends are so funny, and they said I could catch more shiny monsters!"
Kazuya folded his arms, his expression somewhere between exasperation and amusement. "Lime, they're not your friends. They're idiots who think you're a Pokémon."
"I know!" Lime replied instantly, nodding her head vigorously. "But they're funny! And they'd totally get hurt without me!"
Luka tried to keep his tone gentle but firm. "Lime, you're not responsible for them. They'll figure things out. You can't stay with them. We need you back home."
"But they really are hopeless without me," Lime insisted, glancing back up at the balloon where Team Rocket was still shouting incomprehensible commands. "What if they try to catch a dragon next or something?"
"They probably will," Kazuya said dryly. "Lime is right. Perhaps we should bring them in as well before they cause any unnecessary trouble."
"You're probably right…" Luka nodded. "But how do we—"
Before he could finish, a sudden flash of light lit up the sky, and a lightning bolt, striking from a clear blue sky, struck the balloon with a deafening crack. The balloon burst with a loud pop, sending Team Rocket careening through the air in wild zigzags.
"WAAAAH!" Jessie screamed as she spun uncontrollably through the air.
"Team Rocket's blasting off again!" James shouted, his voice trailing off as the force of the lightning sent him spiraling even higher.
Meowth yowled in panic, his tiny arms flailing. "I told you we shouldn't mess with those things!"
A familiar voice resonated throughout the nearby forest of Illiasville. "This is what you get for trying to capture a goddess and her companions!"
"Oh, they angered Illias…" Luka sighed.
Before anyone could react, the balloon, still uncontrollably spiraling through the air, began careening toward them with alarming speed, its trajectory aimed directly at their group.
Luka's eyes widened in horror as he saw the trio inside, frantically waving their hands, clearly realizing the danger they were in but unable to stop it.
"OH SHI—" Kazuya cursed under his breath, the balloon closing in on them fast.
"Star Platinum—The world!" Jotaro cried out, stopping time for a few seconds. He grabbed the group with his stand and threw them out of the way just in time before the end of the time stop.
The balloon, now safely bypassing them, continued its chaotic descent into the ground, crashing somewhere in the distance with a loud bang .
Luka, still in midair from being thrown out of the path, landed with a soft thud and quickly scrambled to his feet. "Jotaro, that was—"
"Don't thank me yet," Jotaro cut him off, his expression unreadable as he adjusted his cap. "That wasn't just for you."
Kazuya stood up from his roll, brushing himself off, his eyes already scanning the spot where they landed. "Right, we need to bring them in."
Hakunen, who had been thrown with less care, stood up slowly, grimacing. He caressed his backside with a wince. "Owowow… I think I landed in nettles…"
"Sorry…" Jotaro tipped his cap in an apologetic manner.
"It's fine. Now let's get these idiots."
The group approached the crashed balloon, their eyes narrowing as they reached the site. To their surprise, the balloon was completely deflated, and the area around it was eerily quiet. Team Rocket was nowhere to be found.
"Damn, they are fast", Hakunen pointed out.
"Damn, they're fast," Hakunen observed, scanning the area for any sign of movement.
Kazuya sighed, folding his arms. "It's not their first crash… They've probably been in worse situations."
Jotaro didn't respond, his gaze still fixed on the empty crash site. His eyes narrowed as he focused, and with the help of his Stand, he noticed something—footprints leading off into the distance, heading toward the west. He pointed in that direction. "They went there."
Luka's expression darkened, his face tightening in frustration. "Oh no…" He ground his teeth together. "These are the lost woods… We must catch them before an elf does!"
The group ran towards the woods. Following the footprints thanks to Star Platinum's precise vision, they soon arrived in the center of the forest. There, they heard a panicked James.
"Aaaah! Leave me alone, you bugs!" James screamed, his voice high-pitched with panic.
Luka's eyes widened in surprise as they arrived on the scene. A swarm of small, giggling fairies were flying around James, who was running in circles, desperately swatting at the air around him. The tiny creatures darted and buzzed around him, their mischievous laughter filling the air.
They turned their heads to the left and saw a Meowth being petted by a group of elves like there was no tomorrow.
"Dat hits the spot~..."
"Meowth! Come here and help us!" Jessie cried out as a dark elf mage approached her with her tentacles.
Meowth, still in the midst of being pampered, lazily looked over at Jessie's call. He raised a paw and flicked his tail, completely unbothered. "Mmmm, I'm good here," he purred, clearly not inclined to move anytime soon.
Luka's face flushed with embarrassment. "Let's help them."
Lime nodded. "Leave my new friends alone!"
The fight was short, as by now Luka had faced his share of enemies. After telling the fairies to stop bullying James and taking down the elves who had switched targets mid-fight from Jessie to him, things quickly settled.
Within moments, the trio was assembled before the group, bound tightly with ropes, looking more disgruntled than ever.
"You damn brats! I was in heaven!" Meowth growled from beneath the ropes, wriggling frantically in an attempt to free himself. "You ruined my perfect moment!"
Jessie, still breathing heavily from the confrontation, shot an exasperated look at him. "Oh, shut it, Meowth. You were too busy getting pampered to help us!"
James, still catching his breath from his wild chase through the air, muttered, "I've never been this afraid of such tiny creatures…"
Kazuya stepped up, his face weary but resolute. "Now, you stop causing trouble. Behave from now on, okay?"
"Yesss…" the trio said in unison, their voices exhausted and lacking their usual flair.
Lime, who had been watching the scene unfold with wide eyes, tried to cheer the trio up. "We can still play after!" she piped, her voice as bubbly and optimistic as ever. "I promise! It'll be fun!"
Luka brought the pocket castle out of his pocket and put it on the ground. "Let's go home now."
"Well, looks like everyone has been apprehended."
In Hades, the Reaper stood still, watching as usual Luka's actions.
The man standing beside her had been silent the whole time, ever since he arrived promptly in this space that was supposed to be unreachable by humans. Still, he was silent so it didn't bother her.
"Ta~da!" the White Rabbit appeared out of nowhere, making Reaper sigh in exasperation. "I've got news!"
"Have you found out how to end the problem you've caused?" Reaper asked. Though her face was never changing, White Rabbit could clearly hear anger in her voice.
"Nope! But I might have bad news!" the White Rabbit replied cheerfully, completely unfazed by the tension in the air.
"That's nothing to be so cheerful about," the Reaper retorted, her voice cold, though she remained impassive as ever.
The White Rabbit, ignoring her tone, bounced around with energy. "Our world is already screwed! Without even noticing, the same madness that spread over subLuka's world is already taking over ours!"
The man, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow, sensing the urgency in the Rabbit's words. He stepped closer to the two laws, now realizing the gravity of the situation. "What?" he asked, his voice low, tension creeping into his tone.
The Reaper, her usual calm slightly disturbed, nodded, acknowledging the threat. "I see. Well, when Luka comes here, I shall—"
But before she could finish, the White Rabbit hopped in front of her, her usual mischievous grin now replaced with a more serious expression. "No need! Luka isn't in danger! SubLuka is!"
The man blinked, his gaze momentarily flickering with confusion. "Luka? But how—"
"Looks like Vinum was right! That thing is targeting him specifically," the White Rabbit interrupted him, her tone now more urgent. "Some people are more affected than others but most people have a little voice that tells them to kill him now."
"So… Do you finally need my help?" the man asked, readying himself to leave.
"Not yet!" the White Rabbit grabbed him just before he opened a portal. "We will need you in the end. For now, let's see if SubLuka can get out of this."
"And if he can't?" Reaper asked.
"In the worst scenario, you just bring him back!" the White Rabbit said, with a sly grin. "But let's hope it doesn't come to that."
Luka, or subLuka, had finished his tour of the pocket castle and was now resting in a room devoid of any people.
He leaned back against the bed, staring up at the ceiling, thoughts swirling in his mind. Alma Elma's face kept flashing in his mind, reminding him of how he couldn't help her in the end. The dark magic that the puppet also used interested him, and while he thought he could maybe replicate it, he knew better than to use magic that could kill him like that.
His world was gone, and no amount of black magic in this world could bring it back.
"Well, technically the world itself isn't gone…" He muttered to himself. The people were gone, not the planet itself. Though, with the amount of radiation it was contaminated with, you could say it was unable to support human life anymore. A barren, dead world, even if the soil still remained. Even if the ruins were still there, abandoned by the very people who had lived and thrived on it.
Luka clenched his jaw, pushing away the thoughts that threatened to spiral further. He knew better than to ruminate over things he couldn't change.
That world—his world—was a graveyard now, a place unfit for human life.
He sat up slowly, running a hand through his hair. The thought of being trapped in a world that was not his own haunted him. It felt wrong, like an endless reminder of what he had lost.
But then his gaze shifted toward the window, where the sky was still a vibrant blue, where the world outside still had life. He wasn't completely without purpose here, was he? There were still battles to fight, still reasons to keep moving forward.
That's how he had resolved himself to think not long ago. Back when he was trapped in this world where despair overwhelmed him almost every day.
That day, he decided to give a big middle finger to life and do what he could to save everyone.
Luka sighed, pushing himself off the bed. "I guess Seris would scold me if she saw me like that…"
A faint smile tugged at his lips, remembering Seris' persistent optimism. She always found a way to get him out of these dark moments, her voice always encouraging him to keep moving forward. If she were here, she'd tell him to focus on the present and not dwell on what could never be.
Your dreams end when you die
Clenching his fists, he took a deep breath and straightened himself. "Alright, let's go."
He stepped toward the door, ready to face whatever came next. He couldn't undo the past, but it didn't matter.
"Let's save everyone, as usual."
He pushed the door, with renewed determination.