Shangri-Las

### Namesake

American pop girl group The Shangri-Las, "Shangri-La" by Electric Light Orchestra.

### Stand Type

Far Range

Shangri-Las the Stand of Marsala in Fate of Zephyr.

## Appearance

Shangri-Las appears as golden sand that appears like typical fine sand. In bright sunlight, the specks of sand can glimmer. Like Rolling Stones, it is visible to ordinary humans.

## Abilities

### Leader of the Pack

By using nearby sediments, either loose sand, gravel or bound like bricks or cement, Shangri-Las can break down the material to turn itsef into piles of golden sand. When available, it can double as a defensive weapon used to handle close range attacks via sand manipulation. The strength of the sand depends on its quantity more than quality, with thicker layers of sand working stronger than thinner ones. When possible, it can create a nearly invisible layer around the user as a form of protection, which can be visible by a careful eye noticing a strange glimmer caused by the sand reflecting the sun.

Marsala often uses this ability to create her guerilla artwork, as it allows her to build structurally sound artifacts in seconds with minimal resources and destroy the artwork quickly. However, she has used it as a means of self defense, as seen when she was first snuck up and attacked by Zura Grattachecca.

### **Walking In the Sand**

As a predictor, whoever touches the sand produced by the Stand will see their future deaths, which will occur within a few days. Like the Rolling Stones, piles of sand will spot a target fated to die soon and then begins to automatically stalk it until it it touched and retouching the sand again with the intention of dying will grant them a painless ending. Those close to the sand, however, without appearing in the image are not fated to die. As a result, the sand can dissipate in order to stop it from following its victims. As sand, it can enter the ground and walls to move unnoticed.

However, breaking the sand will alter the fate of the victims, either by voiding their deaths or adding others into its implication. As an automated ability, it is controlled by fate.

## Trivia

* The sand manipulation ability is inspired by *Naruto* character Gaara, a ninja turned *Kazekage* who grew up bitter of his fate as a *jinchūriki* before meeting and befriending Naruto.
	+ Her artistic abilities and sand art used by Shangri-La, however, are inspired by Naruto character Deidara, an Akatsuki member that kidnapped Gaara and is known for his use of shaped artwork as bombs.
* The Shangri-Las is known for their song "Remember (Walking in the Sand)", which is the major reference to Shangri-Las' abilities. The song gained some popularity when it was covered by artists like Aerosmith and later used as a sample for "Streets Favorite" by Capone.
	+ Sand is often symbolized as a metaphor for the passing of time and eventual destruction that comes with it. The song itself was written when songwriter George Morton parked next to a beach on Long Island and watched the tides and seagulls go by.
	+ The name "Shangri-La" references the song of the same name by Electric Light Orchestra and various artists have named their songs after the same name.

## References

* Gaara vs Rock Lee fight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3I1zL\_mLRw
* The Shangri-Las best hits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy8\_38U3xLU&list=PLB072A90F03D59D49

"The Best of The Shangri-Las" album cover art.