Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: A New Universe
Chapter 201: A Matter of Gravity
Previous Chapter Next ChapterMost of the group was traveling to Cape Canaveral on a RV owned by Ryusei. Emporio pulled a ghost computer out of Burning Down the House to examine a map of the Kennedy Space Center. "Alright, Pucci's route should be predictable. He'll have to take the shuttle route for visitors, since all other routes are off-limits to non-personnel." "Do we know whether Jotaro is there yet?," Wes asked. "I'd imagine he is," Emporio noted, "He's been able to take a more direct route there, after all."
Atroe looked outside the RV. "Hey, something's going on with the ground. And it feels like the RV's tilting a little." "Ryusei, did you get this thing checked out recently?," Ermes asked. "I made sure to take regular trips to the mechanic," Sunset pointed out, "There shouldn't be any problems with the RV. Not to mention it's relatively new. We only bought it a month before Ryusei got his prison guard job." She looked outside and saw both people and animals slipping around the ground, as if gravity was being altered.
The only exception was Rainbow, who was flying like normal in spite of all the weird events happening around her. Just then, the two-way started squawking. 'Something's going on with the traffic up ahead!,' came Giorno's voice, 'I had Rarity add crystal spikes to our tires just to keep us on the road!' "Shit...," Ryusei muttered, "Looks like Pucci is starting to awaken whatever new power he's supposed to get from the formula. Just being near Cape Canaveral is enough to supercharge him!"
'No, this isn't from the completed formula,' came Jolyne's voice, 'This is just the opening act. But it's likely meant to make sure Pucci can't be disturbed until the New Moon appears. The ground itself is becoming not unlike a cliff. Hold on, Rarity's gonna make us a new road to travel.' A large, violet spiral road made of crystals began appearing. 'Get driving and don't stop!,' came Rarity's voice, 'My Art of the Dress has a long enough range to get us there and can grow according to my will, rather than gravity! But it's not a limitless range, so any crystals out of my range will disintegrate instantly! Hurry!'
Rarity wasn't the only one making a new road. Within the space center, Jotaro, Fluttershy, and Valentine were sitting on a giant tree created by Music in the Trees. "I can't believe Pucci could gain such a power," Fluttershy said. "And it's only the tip of the iceberg," Valentine noted, "Once Pucci finds the New Moon, he'll gain another power. But that will be our chance to stop him. There's a single flaw in DIO's formula, one that couldn't be exploited in the alternate reality. But we can exploit it in this one." Jotaro looked out to the road. "I hope Jolyne is safe..."
Elsewhere in the space center, Pucci was experiencing his new power at its fullest. "Everything begins with gravity! It is the origin of all, including this Earth! It is what keeps the planet moving, both rotating, and circling the sun!" He was still inside the visitor's center entrance, with outside perspective making it look like he was standing on a wall instead of the floor, a large mess of machines and bodies surrounding him. His eyes glowed as he saw the new form as his stand, red-eyed with green skin, but still humanoid.
"Within my body and spirit exists gravity...," he said to himself, "And so too, must it also exist at the end...! DIO... I understand now! I now know the source of the power you researched! The source of Heaven, the power I seek! Its source lies in the nature of gravity! Let my new power protect me until the time is here... With this formula reaching its completion... I hereby rename my Stand... C-Moon!" The ground around him started to rumble as he came to control his power.
The crystal road created by Rarity swerved through the sky, keeping perpendicular to the ground due to the altered gravity. "This is what Pucci was waiting for," Jolyne realized, "But he couldn't use it twenty-two years ago because he didn't feel strong enough. He and Dad are around the same age, and Dad was just hitting his prime right after defeating DIO. Pucci had to wait until he could get followers, he needed to get a plan in motion. It must have taken him years to set everything up." "And it's all coming to a head right now," Giorno noted.
"Yeah, but there's something else," Jolyne said, "Pucci acted like certain things might happen. He might have been expecting less of us. He's been relying on certain people helping him, in the process of trying to hinder him, then getting rid of them when he feels they've served their purpose." "How far do you think this is spreading?," Anasui asked, "Is it just the area around the space center, or is the whole world like this?" "We won't have long to find out," Rarity said, "I've finally gotten us to the space center."
Parking the two vehicles was rather redundant, so instead Anasui fused them into the nearby ground as the group used their individual powers to start climbing, Emporio clinging to Ryusei's back. Rainbow flew up to the group and landed normally, as if gravity had not been altered. "I guess we should have figured," Ermes said, "Her Stand can alter anything else to let her fly. Why not gravity? Jolyne, Wes, can you feel where Pucci is?"
Before either could answer, Rainbow got behind Jolyne and blocked a punch from a green humanoid that almost resembled a grown version of the Green Baby. "What the hell is this thing?," Rainbow asked. The creature backed up, as if confused. "You don't get affected... Why? Why does gravity not affect you?" "What the heck is this thing?," Jolyne asked. "Call me crazy," Giorno said, "But I think we're looking at the manifestation of Pucci's new power." Rainbow sighed. "I would have thought you'd learn by now, Pucci. No matter what..." She let her wings unfurl to full span. "Nothing will stop me from flying!"