Happy Fourth of July folks! (At least for those readers living in the US like I am.) Eh, you'll know whether or not this is on the dot or a little belated. But this set of chapters builds up to a very interesting development.

Hekkeran pulled Ticket to Ride up to the station at Carne Village, giving the group a surprise. The high fence had been developed into a large solid wall, complete with a massive gate. Tolkien was the first to step out. She had made a deal with Renner to provide information on the group intending to disrupt the spread of the Spirit Tracks in exchange for her freedom. And since the expedition was soon to near Slane, where her daughter was stationed, it seemed a good time to join the team.

Once the goblins at the gate opened the doors for the group, they stepped inside, and George gasped at a familiar face chatting with Enri. "OH MY GOD!," he called out, in a manner not unlike his father Joseph, "Holly, what are you doing here!?" Sure enough, it was George's sister Holly Kujo. "Oh Georgie!," Holly said in her usual carefree manner, "Well, believe it or not I was getting a little bored around the house. What with Sadao still touring and Jotaro and Fluttershy researching marine life in the Amazon, I figured it was about time for a change in scenery. So I made a call to Morioh!"

She motioned over to Josuke Higashikata, their half-brother, who was using Crazy Diamond to arm wrestle one of the stronger goblins. Shizuka, their adopted sister, was nearby cheering Josuke on. Starlight blinked. "'Georgie'?" George sighed. "This is my older sister Holly. She was born about three years before Gyro." Hekkeran blinked. Holly really didn't look like she changed much since the 1980s. "But you guys are about sixty decades old, and yet she barely looks forty! Is she a Hamon master too!?" "No, she just hit the genetics jackpot," George clarified.

"Maybe she got it from your mom," Gyro suggested, "Even at her age she's as sassy and vibrant as when our dad's knew her." "Oh this coming from the guy whose mom can bench press an oak tree!," George pointed out. "Is he always like this?," Josuke asked, having left the goblin with a sore arm due to Crazy Diamond's strength. "He usually doesn't raise his voice so much," Holly noted, "I always thought Jotaro had more of Daddy's attitude, albeit more subdued." Josuke chuckled. "Yeah, he does have that tranquil fury thing going down."

As the group boarded the train to head for Slane, they swapped stories. The other three Joestar siblings were brought up to speed about the situation with the Spirit Tracks, and everything that had happened since the two friends arrived. Holly, in exchange, mentioned how Enri had officially been named the new village chief. "She's heading for Re-Estize later to purchase supplies and armaments," Holly said, a twinge of worry in her voice, "It seems the goblins have been training the people of the village to defend themselves."

"Some of their weapons and tools have been worn down to the point where they're breaking," Josuke noted, "Crazy Diamond has been busy." "Josuke's Stand can repair objects and heal wounds," George explained, causing Starlight to nod in realization. Zaryusu looked over to Shizuka. "So what of your power, little one?" Shizuka smirked. "Let me show you. Achtung Baby!" In an instant, Shizuka disappeared. "A teleportation Stand!?," Tolkien asked. "On a moving train?," came Shizuka's voice, and they quickly realized it came from the very spot she disappeared from. Gyro laughed. "Shizuka has the power to turn herself or those around her invisible."

"Gave me, Pinkie, and the old man a lot of trouble when she was a baby," Josuke grumbled. "You've had this power since you were a baby?," Starlight asked as Shizuka reappeared. "It's not so unusual," Holly pointed out, "My granddaughter Jolyne also awakened her Stand when she was a baby." "What about you, Holly?," Starlight asked. "Oh, my Stand isn't awake right now," Holly explained, "I do have one, which means I can see other people's Stands. But apparently my soul can't really handle using one. The last time it was forced to awaken..." Her face turned sad. "I nearly died from it."

George explained in brief the family's history with DIO, and how his use of the Stand arrow caused George, Joseph, Jotaro, Josuke, and Holly to gain Stands. Though in the case of the latter two it nearly caused their deaths, Josuke because he was too young and sheltered, and Holly because she was too gentle. Neither of them had faced any real hardships, though Josuke eventually awakened Crazy Diamond for real when his constant worry due to his mother pining for a man who likely didn't even remember either of them existing weighed down on him.

"I vowed to be the one to protect Mom since Dad obviously wasn't going to visit," Josuke explained, "I chose to live my life like the man who helped Mom in our moment of need. That's when my soul became strong enough, and Crazy Diamond began to manifest. Latter it fully awakened when I briefly got confrontational with Jotaro." "Oh yeah, that reminds me," George said, "Don't make fun of Josuke's hair. It's a surefire way to piss him off. I lost count of how many people had to learn that the hard way. So far only Jotaro has gotten away with it." Josuke started muttering, "Stupid time freezing powers..."

Shasryu leaned over to his brother. "At least that explains why my instincts are telling me his hair might be dangerous," he whispered. Zaryusu nodded. As the train neared the border of Slane, Hekkeran found himself having to brake, and for good reason. "End of the line folks. Spirit Tracks keep going but the bridge underneath them is out of commission." The group disembarked, only to be met by a young woman with hair that was silver on one side, and black on the other. Tolkien look shocked. "Zesshi. Why are you here?"

"The pontiffs of the Slane Theocracy have noticed the Spirit Tracks extending into out territory," Zesshi explained, "Despite their views on human superiority, they are willing to allow non-humans into their borders in order to trade for goods such nations can more easily produce. However, some fanatical members of our nation thought otherwise, and caused the bridge to collapse. We're trying to locate a bridge worker to repair it." Josuke smirked. "No need. Allow me. Crazy Diamond!" The familiar bright pink form of his Stand appeared and struck the ground near the bridge.

Zesshi looked surprised as the remains of the bridge rose out of the waters below, dried off, and pieced themselves back together until the bridge was as good as new. She smirked. "I'll be sure to inform our scout of this. He hasn't had any luck so far, from what I understand. But why is your Stand pink?" Josuke blinked. "How could you see my Stand? I was given to believe you don't have one." "That's not entirely accurate," Zesshi clarified, "It's just that my natural strength is such that I don't need to one to fight. But a Stand does not always need to have a offensive power."

A female figure appeared behind her. It was black on the left and white on the right, the colors split down the middle. A demon wing could be seen on the black side with an angel on the left side. "My Stand is called Black or White. Its power is a passive ability that allows those around me to see me only for my talents and what I can do, rather than what race I am. How else could a half-elf rise to such a prominent position within a human dominated government?" George sighed. "I guess I should have figured, since your mom is a Stand user." Zesshi smiled. "And on that end, my next task is to help you on your quest." The entire group got back on Ticket to Ride as it took off once more.