Ze1a7in's Comment

The first thing you choose to check off is the whispers and rumors of bad luck surrounding the place. Not only is Ponyville already accident prone enough without a suspected Stand-user or mad scientist negatively affecting probability to suit their ambiguous needs, but if it starts getting to you, it'll mess up your inventions. Too much is riding on your work right now for that to even be something you entertain the idea of. So, you place your notebook in your hat in the free space near the currently disengaged cannon mechanism, and begin your search for the trail of bad luck.

It starts from the latest sighting up: you go into the marketplace and questions ponies, jotting down notes along the way in addition to spending some spare bits on some parts you feel like you'll need later. Then, you question some ponies in the commons, including a kid with a propeller hat complaining about his low scores in some kind of electronic game. You note his experience, and also jot down "Should look into these "Video Games" - The Future of Entertainment?" before continuing on.

You also decide to ask some ponies you happen to actually know about the experience. Firstly, you find Pinkie Pie buying some ingredients back at the market, and ask her about it. "Hmm..," she ponders aloud, tapping her chin with her hoof as she thinks. Fortunately (or unfortunately, if you wanted results), she shakes her head. "Nope!" she tells you, "my luck's been pretty good, Canny! Why do you ask?"

You show her your notes and respond "Possible Stand-user, bad luck everywhere. You sure you're unaffected?"

She nods her head back. "Yep yep! Not a speck of bad luck around! Oop, did I just jinx myself? Whoopsie."

"No big deal," you tell her, re-hatting the notebook. "Jinxin's part o' the trade, I say. Well, I've never said that, it's always been kinda...implied? Anyway, thanks." You wave to her as you walk off, still pondering things. You decide to go for some others. Maybe that Time Turner chap's gone through some-

Nope. "Sorry, Canny, no bad luck here," he denies. "Sounds like a miserable time, though. I'll go find you if I spot anything."

"Well, thanks anyway," you respond, waving as you leave his place, too. Your leads are drying up. It may be time to review the facts.

BrownDog's First Comment: First Area

As you walk to a local eatery to get a hayburger and look over things, you sigh inwardly. You already know that, as good a start as it is, there's no smoking gun to go off of. Still, you sit down and order anyway, before pulling out your notes and looking over them. There's always a bit of correlation: victims always live life normally to a point, then the suspected Stand seems to drain, or borrow, or steal their good luck. Probability draws further in the Stand-user's favor than the victim's. It's too common to be a coincidence.

"Has to be a User, then," you think to yourself as your food and beverage are placed on your table. You take a bite of the juicy hayburger and think "Too much correlation, too similar in cases, a supernatural shift in probability only magic could possibly explain otherwise. It all makes sens-the hell?"

You are thrown off of your thoughts by a unicorn with an electric blue mane and sunglasses, bopping along to a beat. Not unusual, except the beat is coming from headphones. Wireless headphones. Your jaw drops before you wolf down your food in shock, clearly unsure of how to act. Eventually, though, you stand from your table and walk over, calmly asking "Oi! Miss, where'd you get those headphones?"

She clearly hears you, as she removes her headphones and looks at you, eyebrow quirked. It might've been a bit rude to interrupt her jams, but there is something pressing to do right now. "Wireless headphones were on my list of priority inventions, but you've got 'em right on your head! Somepony must've gotten to them first, so I need to know where ya got 'em, please?" She nods and begins to move her forehooves.

ESL - Equine Sign Language. Damn! She's mute.

You shake your head and sheepishly respond "Erm, ah...sorry, lass, but I don't understand that." She nods and stops as you continue with "Do you, erm, actually mind if I take a look?" She shakes her head and gives you the headphones in a blue aura of magic, which you take into your own green field. You look over it, immediately spotting either a personal logo, a cutie mark, or a company stamp: a strawberry. "A Strawberry?" you ask aloud. "...I've got competition?" you ask yourself as you pass the headphones back and thank the mare for her time. She just smiles and clicks her tongue twice.

wizard0209's Comment

You sit back down to finish your food fully, popping a few Prench Fries in and chewing them softly as you, again, get lost in thought. "A competing inventor, or a group of competing inventors, and bad luck sweeping Ponyville? Today's gettin' downright bizarre." You are briefly distracted by how good the fries are, but then think back. Once again, nothing is really coming together, and you feel as though the smoking gun is slow to arrive.

You idly look around, when you spot something just out of the corner of your eye. When you look at it closer, your eyes widen. Dark gray scales with an orange belly, standing self-assuredly between some houses, like he doesn't think he'll get spotted. He's a small tart, but it's no question about it: that's a dragon. You look away to keep him from getting suspicious as practically inhale your fries and drink, before throwing down some bits to pay for the meal.

You get up and trot towards the alley, only to find him not there. As in, he's straight up not there. No sign of a dragon in sight. Just an empty, messy little in-between that's laughing in your face. Still, it was rather good luck, finding him. Ironic that the first lead in a case of bad luck comes from some amazing luck. You pull out your notepad and jot it down so there's no question about it:

Saw a Dragon that isn't Spike - gray scales, orange accents. Possibly the one behind the bad luck. Still an oddity if not, though.

With that written down for later, you trot back out, keeping your eyes peeled for the dragon. Looking at rooftops and street corners, searching for gray and orange. But nothing turns up; like a ghost, he vanished, and appropriately, you now blame bad luck for not chasing him when you had the chance.

BrownDog's Comments

Sometime later, you keep walking, just trying to keep an eye out for the dragon. He can't be hard to miss, and yet, you're missing him, same as everypony else. You are quickly broken from your search, however, for a small, disappointed sigh. Looking forward, you see a blue Earth Pony filly and her mother. The filly is downtrodden, the mother is comforting, and there's a red kite in a tree just next to them. You sigh as well, but tip your hat and walk over. "Scuse me," you greet, the mother looking up to you. "What's the issue, luv?"

"My kite," the filly states, also looking to you with watery eyes as she points to the tree. "It got stuck and we can't get it out. Can you help, miss?"

You smile and nod. You've always had a bit of a soft spot for the kids. Walking over, you grab the kite with your magic as you sneakily summon Smooth Criminal. It glides over, and touches the kite, rendering it intangible. When you pull it out, the kite returns to normal before they can notice. "Here ya go, kiddo," you tell the filly.

Her eyes light up as she smiles widely at you. That adorable smile with shining white teeth is the highlight of your day, dragons be damned. "Thank you, miss!" she says, holding her kite close, just keeping it from being taken by the wind.

The mother walks up, patting her kid on the head and ruffling her hair. "Yes, thank you," she agrees. "I know you likely had something better to do, but you still took time out of your day for my kid and-" And she stops, and looks up. A stunned expression on her face as her eyes widen. It's here you notice that the entire town's gone quiet. "-And, um, I'll just catch you around, see ya!" she hurriedly says, before rushing off with her kid, still smiling as she hasn't noticed whatever it is.

You raise an eyebrow and are about to shout back, asking what's going on, when a voice above you cuts you off. "Heh, I had a feeling you looked interesting," says the voice, his accent straight from Trottingham, just like your own and Time Turner's. But a different tone is used, posh and sophisticated, like some of the friends you had made in your youth. You look up and immediately feel the need to check off another part of your list, because floating above you is the Diamond Dog in White.

His fur is white, and other than his wide grin and the suit, his most striking feature is his left eye, which looks to be dilated, giving the impression that it is hazel while his right eye is blue. In regards to said suit, it is white with an orange-red tie, which looks to be pressed properly. You yelp in surprise before immediately getting into a defensive position, facing him with narrowed eyes as you watch his movements. "W-Whaddya want, ya floatin' pupper?" you ask him, snarling in the realization that he is, indeed, a Stand user.

He gives a big sniff, as if smelling you out specifically, before snickering. "Charmed," he says, waving you off. "But I'm not here to fight, unless you are a reindeer in disguise?"

You cock an eyebrow at this, thinking to yourself "How can he think I'm a reindeer? That's daft." You ask aloud "A...reindeer?"

"Yes," he simply replies, crossing his arms. "Are you?"

You blink twice in exasperation at that, but then point to your horn and say "No, of course not, ya wanker!"

He shrugs. "Well, I couldn't be too sure," he says, "after all, you are just like me!" He points at the still summoned Smooth Criminal.

"Right, well," you snark, "I'm no deer, as you can plainly see. With yer eyes. Eye? Whatever." You watch as he scans the area, humming to himself in thought, when you remember something. "Wait, actually, I did see a deer earlier today. Looked mighty shifty."

His eyes snap back to you as his expression changes to one more inquisitive. "Really now?" he asks, floating a bit closer as you step back a bit in response. "Shady...how?"

"Like a thief," you simply say. "Scamperin' about with a black bag and trying his damnedest to not be noticed."

He rubs his chin in thought, obviously contemplating something. "Hmm..," he thinks aloud, "I'd heard there were deer activities lately around here, but was it a reindeer specifically that you saw?"

You shrug. "I don't know the difference between deer. Never 'ad to talk to one, so I 'aven't," you grumble. "And just what is so important about a bunch of forest dwellers, anyway?"

He doesn't seem to like this answer, his expression growing more and more stern by the passing nanosecond. His fists clenched, and he sneers, baring teeth. "Because years ago, a reindeer took my China Girl away from me, and I intend to make him pay..," he explains, his voice transforming into a growl as his Stand appears. A bejeweled, bulky suit, almost like armor. It has some kind of globular helmet, the mask or visor of which is opaque black with what looks like a lightning bolt on it.

You simply raise an eyebrow. "Dumb mutt's on a quest of vengeance for...a glass figurine? Nutter, much?" you think to yourself, even as externally, you stand your ground. "Alright, chap, no need to lose your cool," you request, moving your forehooves down to gesture lowering his aggression. "Let's just calm down and have a peaceful chat alright?"

The Diamond Dog's sneer drops, as you notice his clenched fists beginning to relax. "...Oh, right, yes," he sheepishly says. "How very rude of me. My name is Ziggy, and this is my Stand, Space Oddity." He gestures to the striking spirit by his side. It barely moves, seeming to stand vigil.

You use your magic to tip you hat politely. "I'm Canny Clockwork, and this is mine: Smooth Criminal," you greet."Now, why don't we put the bloody ghosts away? There's no need to go around scaring folks with your floating and whatnot. Especially after the Discord shenanigans yesterday."

Ziggy nods, conceding the point as he begins floating down. "I suppose that is wise," he says. "But the view from up top, it cannot be beat. Especially if you are looking for someone like that blasted reindeer."

"Yeah, but also, it's kinda creepy," you respond. You look over his fancy suit. Very fine material, properly pressed. It's more like he bought it from a pony then made it at his abode. Either that, or there's a Diamond Dog seamstress running around. "So, anyway, I'm part of a new task force designed to keep tabs on any Stand-users we find. My partner Shooting Star's around, so do you mind coming along with me to chat with him?"

He shakes his head, and truthfully responds "I'd rather not. I'd rather you tell me where this deer you saw went so that I may continue my hunt."

"Well, yeah, OK, but," you strictly implore, "how about you come talk to us, and we'll both tell you where we saw the deer? Sound groovy?"

He raises an eyebrow at this over his dilated eye, also insisting "Well, I suppose I can spare a few minutes. But just a few!"

"Well, good, sounds like a plan," you respond, turning around to lead him back to Fluttershy's. Before the two of you set off, though, you ask "Just, erm, curious, but does Space Oddity affect luck at all? Causes bad luck? At all?"

"Bad luck?" Ziggy asks, confused.

"Yeah, nevermind," you concede, pulling out your notepad and jotting down that something is still going around.

Perspective Shift: Shooting Star

"So, why is your Stand sentient anyway?" you ask Fluttershy, sipping on your tea. The two of you are sat down on a couch in her cottage, you sat perfectly in such a way to see Powerwolf mean-mugging you right by Angel Bunny, who is also mean-mugging you, though for likely different reasons.

Fluttershy sips on her own tea and shrugs. "I really don't know," she tells you, her voice still quivering, but calmer than right after Powerwolf lunged. "It's a, um, bit of a chore to deal with, but he's a good Stand. He just needs to learn between friend or foe." She turns around to look at the two, Angel Bunny looking away as Powerwolf just slowly turns to his User. "And when he does know a friend, he needs to calm down." Powerwolf huffs at that.

You are about to respond when you hear a knock on the door. Seems Canny's back. "Sorry, sounds like my friend's back," you tell Fluttershy, standing up from the couch. "Thanks for your time! I'll catch you around." You open the door to see Canny's smiling face.

And a floating Diamond Dog in a white suit floating by her, starting at his nails as though uncaring.

Your jaw drops.

What will you and Canny (and Ziggy, too, I suppose) do?
<--- To Be Continued

Author's Notes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69yguQ_gZkA

And we're back! Sorry for taking a week and a day off. Illness and some personal drama. It has not been fun. In fact, it's been hella stressful. But I'm here now.

Thanks for being patient. :D Anyway, I chose Coming for You because it does pertain to the overall arc, which I am indeed now dubbing the Chaos Theory Arc, and because Naked Silver is both very light-hearted and French. Light-hearted's no problem, but no one in the cast so far is French.

Musical Reference: Ziggy's Stand is named after the David Bowie song Space Oddity.

And for our question:

What is the best "pursuer" in fiction?

Purely because of "Coming For You", I've thought about Pursuer characters. Those who hunt people down with no fatigue, resist pain, and stop at nothing. Think of, say, The Dahaka from Prince of Persia: Warrior Within, Mr. X from Resident Evil 2 REmake, or even just The Terminator. And who knows? Maybe this fic will have a Pursuer. ;)

Anywho, next chapter will most likely go into the woods by my estimate, but still, up to you. I'm going to have to ask that you don't fight The Deer yet, but by all means, meet 'em or spy on 'em. I'm not gonna restrict creativity.

I hope you enjoyed, and I'll catch y'all next time.