Invasion of the Astro Monster: All Out Attack

Chapter 4

Business as Usual

Princess Luna sat in her study, reading a report on tall monsters sighted in the Everfree Forest. It was probably nothing, but she figured she would send Twilight to investigate just in case. Of course she would inform Celestia of the event, but she doubted it would be of any significance to her sister. She huffed, rolling up the scroll and teleporting it away in a blink.

Life had been quiet in the castle for some time now. After three months without any exciting news, life almost seemed to return to normal in Canterlot. Or at least, as normal as life with three kaiju could be. The three newest residents of the castle had grown quite accustomed to life in Equestria, but they still left a lot to be desired. Rodan still didn't understand ponies' aversion to the sight of blood or bones when he ate, Biollante made almost no attempts to interact with anypony besides Fluttershy or Applejack, and Ghidorah was just generally abrasive. Although a far cry from his old self, King Ghidorah was not exactly the most approachable figure. Luna sighed, shrugging. Perhaps that was just the way they were, and Equestria would have to deal with it.

Before Luna could go any further into introspection, she was interrupted by a knocking at her door. "Who is it?" she asked.

"It's me, Twilight. May I come in, Princess?"

Luna smiled. "Of course, Twilight. Please, come in," she said.

Twilight Sparkle entered the Princess of the Night's study, clearly quite happy about something. She entered with a bounce in her step and a saddlebag filled with scrolls and notebooks. "How are you, Twilight? You seem chipper," the princess noted.

Twilight smiled. "Oh, it's not much Princess. I just finished talking with King Ghidorah, getting some information about star formation and space in general. It was really quite enlightening!"

Princess Luna raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Did he now? What did you learn?" she asked, seeming interested.

"So much! He told me all about nebulas, supernovas, pulsars, even black holes!" Twilight said, before stopping. "Although he didn't have many nice things to say about that last one," she muttered.

Luna smiled. "You know, I've never really known anything about that kind of stuff," she said.

Twilight looked shocked. "Really? But, aren't you in charge of making the night sky?" she asked.

Luna nodded. "Yes, but I don't really make anything of my own power. I simply set some chain reactions in motion to create the result I desire. It's a pretty hooves-off approach, really," she said.

Twilight rubbed her chin. "Huh. I've never thought about it that way. Say, you wouldn't happen to have done that anytime recently, have you?" she asked.

Luna looked quizzically at her. "Recently? No, the last time I performed the spell was months ago, and it usually takes a few weeks to be noticeable. Why?"

Twilight shrugged. "A few nights ago, I noticed a star that wasn't there before. I asked King Ghidorah about it, but he said that new stars formed all the time and that it was nothing particularly interesting. I guess maybe stars can still form without your influence?" she offered.

Luna thought for a moment. "Very strange indeed," she said finally. "I suppose you may be right, although I have never considered that possibility. Whatever it is, I'm sure that there is nothing to be concerned about," she said.

The two shared an impassive shrug, discarding the topic now that it had run its course. "So, have you any plans for the Gala?" Luna asked Twilight. Twilight shook her head.

"No, I think I'll invite my friends and probably spend the evening with Princess Celestia," she said. "What about you?"

Luna pouted. "I have yet to make any plans for myself. In all likelihood, I'll probably escape the festivities and find a nice, quiet spot to just be alone," she said.

Twilight frowned. "Well, that isn't very sociable. Isn't there anypony who you might want to go to the Gala with? I find that even the most boring events can be enjoyable with a friend," she said.

Luna nodded. "Perhaps. You are the Princess of Friendship, so I will trust your judgement. However, I don't know of anypony who would be willing to accompany me. I suppose that's a problem I will simply have to solve with time. After all, the Gala is still two weeks away," she said.

Twilight looked out the window, seeing the sun begin to set. "Well, good luck with that, Princess. I'm afraid I need to get going now if I want to get the train back to Ponyville, so I'll show myself out," she said, before turning around.

Luna smiled. "Farewell, Twilight Sparkle, and good night."

*  *   *  *  *  *  *  *  *   *

Rainbow Dash was flying fast. Really fast. Fast enough that a nearby pigeon was almost de-feathered by her passing by. Fast enough that ponies below could only make out a rainbow-colored blur zooming overhead. Yet, this still was not fast enough for her.

So one can imagine her surprise when a red figure zoomed past her, leaving her in the dust.

"What? What was that?" she asked, looking around in surprise.

Before she could say anything else, the blur zipped behind her again, causing her to turn around. She furrowed her brow in frustration. "Whoever you are, this isn't funny!" she shouted.

"What are you talkin about? This is the funniest thing I've seen all week!"

Rainbow turned again, to be greeted by a hovering - and snickering - Rodan. She gasped. "Y-You're..." she stammered. Rodan grinned.

"Yeah, that's me!" he said. "Sure sounds about right, at least,"

Rainbow Dash didn't know how to react. Long ago, she had seen this kaiju whoop major flank beneath Cloudsdale. She read all about his exploits in defending Equestria. Now he was here, and talking to her! There really was only one way her body was able to process this information.

"OhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygosh!" she sputtered, repeating the phrase over and over again in the vain hopes that it would somehow make the situation seem slightly more like reality.

"Now calm down there, or else you might fall outta the sky sweet cheeks!" Rodan said.

"But - But you're - What are -?"

"I saw you flyin along, and I'll admit you're pretty fast! No way you're faster than me, but still pretty fast!"

For just a moment, Rainbow Dash forgot all about how much of a fangirl she was, her honor impuned. "Excuse you! I bet I could outspeed you any day of the week!" she said.

Rodan grinned. "Do ya? I'll race you for it!"

"Fine, you've got a deal! From here to Ponyville Town Hall and back!" she said.

'Pfft, not a problem! I hope you like eating dust!"

"You'll be eating those words in a second! Ready?"

"Ready?"

"Threetwoonego!"

In the blink of an eye, Rainbow Dash shot forwards, flying towards her goal at high speed. Rodan chuckled. "That was a cheap trick, but that doesn't matter!" he shouted, before flying after her with a single flap of his leathery wings.  Although she was far ahead by now, Rodan was quickly gaining speed. As the two became nothing but blurs to the ponies overhead, they approached each other. Rodan began to catch up to Rainbow, and seeing this the cyan pegasus began to double her efforts to stay ahead. As she tapped the tip of Town Hall with her forehoof, she began to brake so that she could turn around.

Int he time it took her to do this, Rodan had pecked the same spire, turned around, and was speeding off back to their prior position. Her eyes widened, and she flapped her wings harder than she had flapped them in a long time. Flying straight as an arrow, she shot forward in an attempt to close the distance. Rodan turned slightly, seeing her in the corner of his eye. This would not do, and he flapped his wings once to increase his speed. Even still, Rainbow Dash was catching up to the pterosaur at a rate that was far quicker that rodan would've liked.

As the pair began to approach the finish line, the race was neck and neck. The cloud that denoted their stopping point was growing larger and larger, its position getting ever closer. Each competitor struggled to win, their need for victory matched only by their desire for bragging rights. As they grew closer, Rodan was suddenly assaulted by a blast of white noise, giving him a splitting headache. Grunting in pain, he stopped, clawed hands grabbing onto his skull.

Rainbow Dash, however, was unimpeded and continued to fly forward, claiming victory by flying through the cloud. "Yeah! All right! I won!" she shouted, pumping her hooves into the air.

Just as suddenly as the white noise had appeared, it was gone, Rodan's head clear again. How odd. Shaking his head, he looked up at Rainbow Dash. "Yeah, but only cuz I let you win!"

Rainbow crossed her forehooves. "I don't think so. Looks to me like you had a cramp. Better stretch before you challenge the race champion of Ponyville, buddy!" she gloated.

Rodan chuckled, but was no longer filled with quite the mirth he had been earlier. "Yeah, yeah, that was my bad. Look, I gotta get back to the castle. It's late, and y'know, I'm a very busy reptile, alright? Stay awesome, wouldja?" he said, before zooming off towards Canterlot, leaving behind a bewildered, overwhelmed, and confused Rainbow Dash.

*  *   *  *  *  *  *  *  *   *

King Ghidorah sat alone in the Royal Dining Room, eating an egg sandwich. He had begun to experiment with different kinds of eggs, trying to find the perfect food for his tastes. The search was a long and hard one, but he certainly felt that he was experiencing the desired results. As he ate the sandwich, a cream-coated mare walked towards the table from behind, before finally plopping down into the seat nearest to him with a groan.

"Finally! All of the dishes are cleaned, put away, and ready for use again!" she said, lamenting the difficulty of her work. Ghidorah swallowed the bite he had taken.

"I take it Discord did not make your job any easier, Gourmet?" he asked.

The Royal Chef half-laughed. "Of course he didn't . What else does he do?"

Ghidorah nodded. "Indeed. Little else, it would seem," he said.

In the time since Ghidorah's arrival, few ponies had the bravery to face him directly. Although none were afraid of him, strictly speaking, most were put off by his prickly demeanor and generally rude interactions. Gourmet, however, seemed to either not care or not notice either of those factors, and Ghidorah didn't mind. Gourmet was practical, blunt, yet still an artist within her trade. She really was a fantastic chef, although Ghidorah would never tell her that.

The pair shared an honesty with each other they shared with few others. In Ghidorah's experience, Gourmet had never once lied to him and he had never had a reason to lie to her. Although he wasn't particularly talkative, small chats like these in the evening had become commonplace. She would vent about whatever problem had plagued the castle that day, would inform him of any relevant news, and would even attempt to be jovial with him. Ghidorah would listen and respond accordingly, although he rarely rewarded any of her jokes with a laugh. This was a difficult task, as Ghidorah found her deadpan, sarcastic humor to be quite witty - but he couldn't let her know that. He'd never hear the end of it if he did.

"So, how was your day?" she asked.

Ghidorah shrugged. "I spoke with Princess Twilight about the intricacies of space and celestial bodies for quite a while. I think I saw Celestia speaking to a griffon about something, but I don't know the details," he said.

Gourmet nodded. "Probably an ambassador, complaining about something or other. Nothing serious, I imagine," she said.

Ghidorah took another bite of his sandwich. "Aside from that, nothing of particular interest occurred today," he said.

"Mmhmm," Gourmet hummed in response, twiddling a spoon with her hooves.

"Say, Ghidorah?" she asked.

"Yes?"

"What plans have you made for the Grand Galloping Gala?"

Ghidorah swallowed. "None," he said quite honestly. "I don't understand it, I doubt I will, and I doubt anypony will invite me. I will most likely remain in my quarters and sleep,"

Gourmet nodded. "Don't you have a very special somepony who you'd like to take?" she said in a jeering fashion.

Ghidorah shot her a quizzical look. "Very special somepony? Do I dare ask what that is?"

Gourmet chuckled. "You know. Somepony who makes you feel like you have butterflies in your stomach or that ties your tongue," she said. "Somepony you care a whole lot about and would do anything to make them happy,"

Ghidorah blinked. "Are you referring to a mate?"

Gourmet shrugged. "More or less. A mate might be a bit committed compared to a very special somepony,"

Ghidorah shook his head. "As far as I am aware, I am the only one of my kind. The concept of a mate has never crossed my mind," he said. Gourmet only smiled.

"Is that supposed to be an excuse, King Ghidorah? Surely you've felt something around somepony. Perhaps one of the princesses?"

Had he not known Gourmet was speaking in jest, Ghidorah would've been livid at the notion. Instead, however, he merely shook his head once more. "I cannot say I have," he said simply.

Gourmet sighed. "Well, if you ever do find somepony, let me know. I wanna be there when it all ends terribly," she said, before standing up. "Now, if you'll excuse me, oh great King Ghidorah, I have to go to bed. I'll see you at breakfast!" she said cheerily, before taking off and disappearing into the hall.

Ghidorah sat alone, and continued to eat his egg sandwich.