MLP: Rebirth of the Queenby The BricklayerChapters1: Stormfront2: Arrival3: The Island4: Rebirth5: A Plan of Action6: Haywaii7: Terror on the Pass8: The Battle for ManehattenEpilogue: History shows again and again...1: Stormfront“Mothra oh Mothra If we were to call for help Over time, over sea, like a wave You'd come “Our guardian angel Mothra oh Mothra If we were to call for help Over time, over sea, like a wave “You'd come Our guardian angel Mothra oh Mothra If we were to call for help “Over time, over sea, like a wave You'd come Our guardian angel Mothra oh Mothra “Of forgotten kindness and ruined spirits We pray for the people's spirit as we sing This song of love Mothra oh Mothra “If we were to call for help Over time, over sea, like a wave You'd come Our guardian angel…” -Mothra’s Song, as translated by Ocellus in her book ‘Queen of the Kaiju’ Equestria was old, this much was certain. Thousands upon thousands of years old, and with far more secrets than anybody would have ever thought possible. Even to this date, it was still theorized that only 50% of the planet had been explored and its secrets uncovered. There were some who theorized that was simply being generous actually, given the various theories that had been postulated and thrown around over the decades. One popular, if not somewhat mocked theory was that of a hollow planet. That meaning, the entirety of the world was covered in massive caverns that connected one end of the planet to the other. Locked away in these caverns were only Celestia knew what. Perhaps it was innate pony curiosity to wonder at what was hiding in the lower depths of the world. Did that mean anyone should go looking? Perhaps not, given sometimes what we seek isn’t always what we end up finding. And sometimes what we find isn’t always in our best interest. Perhaps some theorized ponies should have just stayed within our borders and not gone off looking for trouble. Trouble, after all, had a tendency to find someone when they went looking for it was that not the truth? Now, thousands of years ago the world was ruled by the Father of All Monsters. Grogar, the Overgoat. Possibly the most dangerous creature ever to walk the face of the planet, this madman gave birth to -literally and metaphorically- some of the most frightening beasts in all of Equestria’s recorded history. Beasts so terrifying you’d go mad just by looking at them. Yes, we’re talking about you Discord. Now, nobody was entirely sure how it happened, but eventually, Grogar was defeated by a pony now known to historians as Gusty the Great. His bell, his object of power was hidden away from him for thousands of years after his defeat and Grogar’s fate became that of mystery. Was he defeated and killed? Or was he locked away in the darkest depths of the world never to see the light of day? Given Grogar’s known control over the realm of the dead, or Tambelon as it was called just about anything could be true. Nobody really bothered to pry into these legends really, given Grogar was that feared. What was known was just how many creatures he was responsible for, and how many he was theorized to have created. Were all of them evil? Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe some just acted on instinct, like wild animals. Very few beings could have ever been said to have been actually evil. So with that in mind, it was possible to question if all monsters were bad and to bring up the idea of some maybe even being on the side of the angels as it were. It was a long shot, yes that much was true. But then again if creatures like Discord could be tamed -tamed, not controlled- then maybe some could be befriended. And really, not all monsters came in the shape of giant beasts. Sometimes the truly scary characters could be found living in your own town. And I’m not talking about changelings. So, the question was, if such heroic monsters existed where could they possibly be found…? “Professor! Professor!” a mare’s voice called as its owner rushed through caverns deep beneath a mine before finally breaching as a flash of sunlight hit her square in the face. “Sir, they’ve found… something.” A griffon, dark brown in fur color turned back to look at the mare as he looked up from his watch. “So our search wasn’t in vain. There really is something here…” the griffon whispered before gesturing to some nearby ponies in golden armor. “Clear everybody out! I don’t want anyone asking questions they shouldn’t be!” he barked. One guard saluted, before gesturing to his men. “So, Princess, seems you were right,” the griffon smiled. A nametag on his lab coat read a name. Serizawa. “I’d almost thank you for proving a few theories of mine, but…” “Yeah, I’ll hold the thanks for later until after we confirm the site as safe,” Princess Twilight Sparkle muttered. “Let’s hope this place doesn’t have any nasty surprises in store for us, and all this was… well, let’s hope it was just an earthquake really…” “Doubtful,” Serizawa muttered pointing to a huge gash in the ground with a claw. “See that over there? Took out forty miners with it when it opened up. And there was only an earthquake detected after the fact. No, what we found here… well, it was probably something more.” “So, how’d this all start anyway?” a unicorn with a mulberry coat and a chipped apart horn asked, walking up in pinkish-silver armor with markings that designated her as the Captain. She bowed to Twilight, and then to the Professor. “I’d like some details, just so I know what to put in the papers and tell anypony curious or stupid enough to come inquiring about.” “You let me and Monarch handle that,” Serizawa replied. “All respect where it’s due Madam Fizzlepop, this is out of-” Fizzlepop looked frankly rather insulted, this griffon treating her like she was beneath notice. She took a few deep breaths, he probably hadn’t meant it that way. Not really anyways. The fact of the matter was, he probably just meant that this wasn’t something she should worry about. Let him and his Monarch group handle this. And even if she was wrong about that, Twilight was quick to leap to her defense giving Serizawa a stern glare. “Her jurisdiction?” Twilight asked. Fizzlepop licked her lips and suppressed a shudder. She did enjoy it when her Princess got assertive. Didn’t matter if it was with her or not. “I brought her in on this because I knew I could trust her judgment. I wouldn’t have made her Captain of the Guard if I didn’t. Trust goes both ways Professor, you should know that. I trust you, so trust her.” Serizawa considered it over for a moment before sighing. “Alright… The official story is that is was an earthquake, and we’re sticking to that. I’d rather not frighten ponies.” “And it’s obviously very much not an earthquake as I gathered,” Fizzlepop deadpanned. “You boys from Monarch wouldn’t be here if that was the case. I assume you know what happened, how… well, all of this was uncovered?” “Enlighten me,” Serizawa replied. “They picked up a radiation pocket out here last month while strip-mining the place. Apparently, a few ponies got excited thinking they’d stumbled across uranium or something. They started stacking up the heavy machinery and then… well, you’ve seen the results.” Fizzlepop sighed gesturing to the huge gash in the valley floor.” “The arrogance of our kind is thinking nature is always in our control,” Serizawa muttered. Whether he was talking about the accident, or what had been uncovered was currently unclear. “Yes, that’s what happened. But what they found is hardly uranium. Follow me.” As they did so, Fizzlepop let her mind begin to wander if only for the briefest of moments. Truth be told, she was grateful for Twilight actually bringing her into the fold. Yes, she was still used in a military capacity but honestly, Fizzlepop didn’t actually know what else she was useful for after serving so long under the Storm King as his right hand. When (Princess) Twilight found her, she was a broken mare. Years of serving as a conqueror against ponykind had hardened her heart. Meaning bringing her back into civilization would be a tricky endeavor, to say the least. Little by little, she had managed to return to what could be called a normal state of mind but at the same time, Fizzlepop knew she would probably never be too comfy working as a civilian. Twilight knew this as well. There was a reason she had brought her as captain of her personal guard. She knew aside from the fact that Fizzlepop being a great tactician, the mare knew nothing else aside from being a military mare. Perhaps it would be possible at some later point to ease her into a non-military job but right now that would hardly be possible. Fizzlepop knew she simply wasn’t comfortable around ponies right now, so it would be best to regain her trust in ponykind by working with ponies in a similar job capacity as her own. Plus, this allowed her to put her already learned skills to the best of use. Not to invade or destroy, but to defend and to help others who couldn’t help themselves. Put simply, for the sake of those who couldn’t fight to defend Equestria and its allies she would fight for them. She had a lot of sins to atone for, and this was simply one way to wipe her slate clean. Fizzlepop snapped herself back to the present and away from her musings as she listened into the professor and his explanations. She felt the distinct warmth of a spell wrap around her like a blanket and stood at attention. A protection spell, one used against harmful elements in the atmosphere. “...When they first discovered this pocket, the radiation levels were only half as strong as they are now. Now, griffons have been digging holes in the ground searching for gold and the like for as long as ponies have been preaching friendship, if not longer. So I know my way around a cavern. So I know that is not natural…” Serizawa stated as the group filed down back into the tunnels below and into a large central chamber with a truly massive hive hanging right above them. “What in Celestia’s name…?” Fizzlepop whispered eyes widened. She gestured to two guards. “Go on, have a look. And if the radiation starts spiking too high, shout and we get the Hell out of here got it?” “How long do you think we have?” Twilight asked. “Not as long as I’d like to study that,” Serizawa sighed sadly. “We didn’t expect radiation this strong, so we didn’t come properly prepared.” “What is it? Some kind of hive…?” Tempest asked. “Yes, I’d say so,” Twilight agreed. “It’s odd, it seems to be intact. Dead, but intact. I’d like to come back for another look.” she sighed wistfully. “When you say dead, you mean something once lived in there?” Fizzlepop asked swallowing nervously. “Because it looks like something came out of… there.” she trailed off upon hearing shouting and galloped down to the guards and her eyes widened as she saw another tunnel, massive in size and hardly natural at all leading away from them… “So Professor,” Twilight asked. “What do you make of this?” “I’d say we have a very big problem on our hands,” Serizawa muttered. “Call it in. I want that thing found!” he barked. “Make sure this doesn’t get to the press, understand? I’d rather not be responsible for mass panic.” “What does this mean?” Fizzlepop asked. “It means the illusion of no more monsters may be about to be blown wide open…” Serizawa replied. “As I said, the arrogance of our kind is thinking nature is always in our control, and not the other way around…” “So, if something’s coming… How do we fight it?” Twilight asked and Fizzlepop smiled at this. “Simple, you get help,” she replied and both Twilight and Serizawa stared at her... At the command post set up outside the mine, Fizzlepop had to severely resist rolling her eyes as Serizawa continued looking at her with no small amount of shock. “How… how do you know help is coming?” he whispered. “Well, I didn’t say help was coming exactly per se,” Fizzlepop clarified. “I said we go get help. Where, I’m not sure, but…” she trailed off knowing Serizawa suspected something. “I’d have to agree with Fizzlepop,” Twilight nodded. “If whatever burrowed that hole is heading up to the surface, it’s growing. And growing fast. You’d have to be blind to not notice the tunnel was getting bigger. And that hive was certainly too small to house something to burrow the tunnel as it was by the end,” she continued. “Serizawa, you said to me once Monarch was founded to hide the existence of these giants as much as possible. How long do you think it’ll be before the cat’s out of the bag?” “It all depends,” Serizawa started, his paw going to his pocket where his watch rested. “Since Gojira’s attack a few years ago, he has remained docile. And at the moment, we can track him, but not contain him. If he makes a serious move, then we’d be unable to stop it. And if a titan wakes up before we can find them, then it might be a similar story.” “Wait, wait… Gojira?” Twilight asked combing her memory for the name. “...Yeah, forgive me but he might have been before my time,” she said remembering Serizawa was ten to twenty years her elder. “Hmm, seems History classes are slipping, or Monarch is suppressing that as well,” Serizawa noted with a nod. “No matter, it’s irrelevant at the moment. My point stands, it might just be a matter of one slip up and time before the world is fully aware of the scope of these beings.” “Like say… that giant bug crawling up to the surface world?” Fizzlepop asked in a deadpan tone. “If Monarch finds it, we might be able to contain it. But yes, if we cannot locate this being in time, it will undo all of Monarch’s efforts.” “Mass panic, I’m guessing,” Fizzlepop replied. “Like pony sacrifice, dogs and cats living together… All of Equestrian civilization coming undone. That sort of thing?” she deadpanned. “It might, but there’s a chance that something new can take its place,” he offered, looking up. “A civilization built on respecting these creatures and coexistence.” “Yeah, ponies do have a tendency to do that…” Fizzlepop remarked and Twilight smiled at that, glad her Captain of the Guard was coming around. Her smile was soon to fade. “Or scream and run in terror. Nervous animals you know.” Twilight rubbed her temples and groaned. “Let me guess, you’re counting on this ‘Gojira’ to just show up out of the blue and save us all?” she asked. “No offence Professor, but I’m more proactive. I don’t rely on what-ifs and maybes.” “Quite a fair assessment really,” Serizawa agreed. “I myself am not a fan of waiting on that monster to just show up and save us if he even cares really.” “Woah woah,” Fizzlepop stated. “Back the Hell up. Can we all just get on the same page here? Titans, Gojira, can someone please read me in here?” “Titans are what you would call giant monsters,” Serizawa explained, gesturing with his hands. “Gojira is what we designated one of these beings during an attack some time ago. Monarch was formed after this attack. Gojira himself is an apex predator and a bipedal reptile who might have an ancestry tree dating back to the days of Grogar himself.” “Sounds like something out of a bad Neighponiese B-Movie if you ask me…” Fizzlepop remarked. “Then again, Tirek exists and he’s probably the definition of a titan.” “Wait wait, now I remember…” Twilight said smacking a wing to her face as she did so. “50 years ago, give or take a decade… There were these tests of a powerful magical explosive off the coasts of Equestria. The project was scrapped thanks to the range and possible horrific uses by enemy nations. Yours included Professor,” she said to the griffon before stammering out: “No… no offense intended of course.” “Well, you do read your history,” Serizawa said with an approving nod. “And none taken. All have histories we’re not proud of. But here’s the thing. They weren’t testing magical weapons. They were trying to kill him.” he said going to a nearby film projector and playing a reel. Massive spines were shown scything through the waters of an island chain before all became silent after a massive roar. Something encompassing all of nature’s rage and fury in a single tempest. “By Celestia…” Fizzlepop whispered. “Yes, none forget the first time they see and hear Gojira,” Serizawa stated, his eyes trying to bore holes through the screen. “This being is why Monarch exists. Both Celestia and the griffon king at the time decided his existence must be kept a secret, in fear of the very mass panic you predicted. He is the true dominant species of this planet. Not ponies, not griffons, he is the King.” “King of the monsters, maybe…” Fizzlepop mused. “You almost sound like you admire the beast.” “I admire all creatures, Miss Fizzlepop, he is no different,” he said firmly, turning his serious look to the mare. “By all rights, I should have you arrested for admiring a threat to Equestria’s security,” Fizzlepop sighed. “Magnificent he may be, he’s still a monster. A monster that hasn’t been seen in fifty years, but still a monster. The last thing we want is someone supporting his actions. But in any case, that’s neither here nor there. Like it or not, we need someone to keep this bug’s existence under wraps.” “So where does that leave us?” Twilight asked. “Do we just hope this bug or whatever it is decides not to take a snack on anything pony-related. I’m sorry, but I cannot ignore a threat to my subjects.” She looked at Fizzlepop sternly. “If there’s anything you know, -and believe me I can tell you’re holding something back- I’d like to know about it up front.” “Alright, I think I know of something that might be able to help us. It was a few years ago, back when I was under the employ of the Storm King…” Something unusual had happened. Lightning flashed in the sky, and storm clouds rolled. Now, normally Tempest would have chalked this up to the natural abilities of the cloudships and the spell crystals inside them. But this storm? No, it was something more. Almost natural. Almost. As the rain slammed down on the deck, Tempest groaned to herself. This voyage had started off so well. Just a quick trip to the Guoxia Province to pick up some supplies. Seems the weather didn’t actually agree with that. “Alright,” Tempest snarled to the yeti troopers manning the ship. “Which of you morons decided to take us into a hurricane huh?” “Alright, what’s going on…?” Grubber asked as he stepped onto the deck with a piece of sponge cake in his hands. Said sponge cake was quickly blown off ship by the howling winds. “Hey, that was-” “Whine about it later Grubber,” Tempest muttered. “Right now I’ve got bigger fish to… Wait, bad phrase around you. Okay, can someone around here tell me what the hell is going on?” “The storms appeared suddenly and without warning, Commander,” the yeti at the helm relayed. “Before we could adjust course, we were already in the thick of it.” “Did anyone not pay attention to any maps?” Tempest bellowed back even as the torrent began to pick up. “Seriously, where are we? Are we even over the right continent?” “All the maps and charts say we are but-” “But you idiots couldn’t read a map even if it was in paper and crayon!” Tempest barked back. “We seem to get you where you need to go well enough,” one of the yetis grumbled. “..Hold it, what’s that?” he asked as a high pitched screech filled the air, echoing over the roar of the thunder. “Grab onto something!” The yeti at the helm barked. “We’re adjusting speed and altering course to avoid collision with whatever the Tartarus that is!” Something massive flew by, darker than the clouds themselves. Buzzing like a giant wasp, with massive sickles sticking out in the gloom. Eyes flashed a blood red in the clouds before their owner vanished. Within the darkness, purple energy flew wildly, one arc narrowly avoiding the cloudship by just a hair’s breadth. “Wow Tempest, he’s almost as bad at hitting things as you are!” Grubber joked before a zap from the mare’s horn sent him tumbling backwards into a lower deck. “...Okay, you’re still a good shot! And I’m okay, thanks for asking!” he shouted. Tempest, of course, ignored him. “Okay, where are you…?” she muttered to herself trying to track the beast’s movements. “All hands to your stations. Get the cannons online!” she barked over the storm and the beast’s screeching. Yetis rushed to massive cannons sticking up out of the deck, before with a loud whirring sound and a hum they glowed a sickly green shade. Tempest meanwhile, took the helm as a yeti was knocked overboard by a purple energy arc. “Portside!” someone yelled. “Lock on, and fire!” The cannons roared to life, firing into the whirling winds and darkness. There was a sound of impact, but whatever beast this was it didn’t react at all. Fact was, it only seemed to be getting more and more pissed with the craft. “Lady Tempest,” one of the yetis called. “I strongly advise us to retreat! Like, at this instant or sooner even.” “Hang that advisement!” Tempest shouted back. “If anyone even thinks about following his orders, I’ll hang you in fact!” “Ma’am, our weapons are ineffective!” another yeti argued. “The only option we have left would be to ram the thing and that would be suicidal!” Tempest was panting hard, sweating up a storm eyes darting right and left as she tried to keep track of the beast. She heard another shriek cut through the storm clouds, and she whirled around as she saw the flash of crimson eyes. Firing off a blast of pure electricity from her horn, she watched as it connected with a lightning flash from the clouds and together the jagged forks hit the massive creature. Finally, she got a good look at it. Moth-like in structure, with praying mantis scythe blades for legs with virulent orange wings. “Fire now! While it’s weakened!” she roared. Narrowing her eyes, she whispered: “From Tartarus’ heart, I stab at thee!” None of the yetis wanted to argue that the beast looked fine, more annoyed than weakened really. Instead, they followed her orders and began to push the cannons well past the safe limits and trained all of them on the monstrosity. “It’s coming at us from the bow now!” one yeti shouted. Normally, Tempest would question why this creature was going out of its way to attack them but she was too caught up in her angered frenzy to care. This… this thing dared to attack the Storm King? “Feel my power…” Tempest snarled as the cloudship turned to face the enemy with a mighty groan. With a roar that shook the entire ship, the cannons fired. With sounds like thunder, globs of pure plasma were launched at the beast. In response, twin beams erupted from the moth monster’s eyes, easily canceling out all of the shots from the cannons. The wings glowed like fire before they scythed through the top of the cloudship. Screeching out in victory, the monster turned and headed back into the storms. “Ma’am, we’re-” “Yeah, I can see that!” Tempest shouted as she struggled to keep the ship aloft. It was now tilted downwards, plunging through the clouds towards the churning waters below. Tempest braced for the impact and her whole world went white. Back in the present day, Fizzlepop was staring at a wall, the screams echoing in her head. “That thing… tore the ship apart. To this day I still don’t know what it was.” “And… and you think it’s going to actually be our savior?” Twilight asked. “No offense Fizzlepop but… ARE YOU NUTS!?!” she bellowed making the room shake from the force of her voice. Serizawa rubbed his ears, seems the stories about the Royal Canterlot Voice were in fact true. “Maybe, maybe not. To be fair, I think we did encroach on its territory. And I… No, I know it’s intelligent. I think it could detect the evil pony I was back then. Maybe it knows I’ve… changed. Or if it doesn’t, I just have to show it,” Fizzlepop stated. “Well, it doesn’t sound entirely crazy now that I think of it…” Twilight muttered. “The Guoxia Province… There are legends there going back centuries. In fact, I recall some of them. “From erased Nazca lines to the hidden Temple of the Moth, the name ‘Mothra’ is woven throughout the most secret mythologies of our planet. The folklore and fairy tales tell of a winged creature of blinding light, an angel of the clouds whose god-like luminescence has the power to shatter the sky.” Twilight recited before remembering something she’d read in Monarch’s files. “Ancient spirit tablets discovered in the mountain jungles of the Guoxia Province portray a giant winged Alpha of the Lepidoptera order. In all of our findings, pony civilization is pictographically shown in poses that imply deification of the so-called ‘Queen of the Monsters’, suggesting that the creature was once a benign part of the natural order.” Serizawa?” she asked. “Do you think this is a member of the titan race?” “I believe so. As you can tell from your recitations, Monarch has long had an interest in this creature. Or creatures, maybe. It could be a family lineage.” he answered, stroking his lower beak with his forepaw. “Fizzlepop, are you sure you were in the Province at the time?” “Positive,” she recited. “I still dream about that creature, whatever it was.” “Well, my guess is you drifted a little too far off course,” Serizawa said and Tempest muttered something under her breath at this. Probably vindication. “You wandered right over a place we call Beginning Isle. It seems to be a veritable cradle of civilization, with creatures that defy imagination. I, in fact, theorize this is where the Titans began thousands of years ago.” “You mean where Grogar first created his children?” Twilight asked. “Wonderful. Can someone please explain to me why this is such a good idea again? We don’t even know how to navigate past those storms Fizzlepop mentioned. And Celestia only knows what awaits us on that isle.” “...I think I can solve at least one of your issues. I know a mare actually…” Serizawa grinned. “She’ll be the perfect guide. All you need is a ship.” “...Well, I think with Twilight’s royal power that can easily be acquired,” Fizzlepop smirked as Twilight let out an indignant squawk. She was not someone to be ‘volunteered’! “You just worry about finding and containing that thing. We’ll find Mothra, in case the worst comes to worst.” “Worst being Monarch’s masquerade being blown wide open?” Twilight asked as she hung her wings in resignation knowing when Fizzlepop got started on an idea there was no talking her out of it. “...Well, I suppose if we do need to fight it, best to fight fire with fire… So, who’s this mare?” “You might know her, actually. Daring Do,” Serizawa replied. “She’s long been a Monarch consultant when she’s not… you know, adventuring. Knows the jungles of the Province like the back of her hoof. Seen everything they have to offer. Now, Beginning Isle’s basic lifeforms shouldn’t be that different. Maybe a few divergent species here and there, but she’s your best bet to surviving the wilds.” “...Yeah, I’ll admit that. I really didn’t take wilderness survival training really…” Twilight sighed rubbing the back of her head with a wing sheepishly. “...Suppose it might have helped me back when I was in the wastes…” “Aww, that was like our first date!” Fizzlepop teased as Twilight blushed a bright red. “Not sure why you’d consider Klugetown romantic but… To each her own I guess…” “...Is she always like this?” Serizawa asked and Twilight could only nod her head weakly. “Trust me, you should see her when she really gets going,” Twilight whispered. “For a mare like her, she definitely has a wild sense of humor…” “And you love me for it,” Fizzlepop remarked whispering in Twilight’s ear. “Come on, admit it. You know you do…” “S-Shut up…” Twilight whispered back. “I thought we agreed not to do this in public!” “You did. Never said anything about me!” Fizzlepop teased before finally relenting. “Truth be told, I’m rather excited about meeting this ‘Mothra’ again.” “...If that’s what it even was…” Twilight muttered and Fizzlepop stared at her. “What, don’t tell me it hasn’t crossed your mind? That thing you met may not have been Mothra. It… it may simply have been a divergent species or something or that ilk. It certainly didn’t act the part of the protector Mothra’s said to be…” “Or it may have just been very pissed off that we encroached on its territory,” Fizzlepop argued. “It could have sensed my dark heart. It wanted to defend itself. If this thing really is a god or a type of guardian, I wouldn’t put it past it capability wise.” Twilight sighed. Once again this was Fizzlepop’s stubbornness cropping up. Twilight didn’t think this was Mothra, not in the slightest. Fizzlepop wanted to believe it, but maybe she was blinded by her own past and wanting to redeem herself. Personally, Twilight was of the mind they should just turn back now and spare themselves a lot of pain and misery. Maybe find a way to deal with this new threat some other way. But on the other hoof, she was curious to know what exactly her friend had encountered. Twilight took a deep breath and sighed. “Why do I have a feeling I’m going to regret this?” She didn’t know how right she was. Far away and back in Ponyville, Fluttershy was currently in the middle of feeding her animals when she felt… something. A nervous feeling washed over her. Something had gone wrong in nature, and she knew it. Like the entirety of the whole natural order had just been thrown off balance in one fell swoop. Birds flew away from the Everfree, crowing and screeching out in fear as they took to the skies in their hundreds. “You feel it too huh?” Fluttershy whispered before breaking into a gallop as she headed back to her house to see how her other animals were faring. They, like the birds in the forest, were afraid of… something. They’d hidden themselves away in far dark corners of her cottage and trembled in fear upon approach. “Hey… hey, it’s okay. It’s just me,” the Element of Kindness whispered as she picked up a hedgehog in her hoof and cuddled it close to her chest. “Come on now, tell me what’s wrong…” Of course, in the back of her mind, Fluttershy already had an inkling of what was going on. She knew something had upset the natural order of the world, even if she didn’t know exactly what it was. All of her instincts, quite a few of them being her fight or flight responses were telling her to just run. Just run and never look back. Find someplace to hide, and hope whatever this was that was coming would never find her. “Oh dear oh dear oh dear…” Fluttershy whispered to herself frantically as she saw the little hedgehog pry itself from her grasp and scamper on off under the bed in fear. The pegasus watched it for a brief moment, before considering the idea of doing exactly the same thing. That thought was dismissed as quickly as it came. No, she said to herself. No, she wouldn’t run away. If something was coming to Equestria to endanger it, she had a responsibility as an Element of Harmony to go and meet it headlong if she needed to. The trouble was, Fluttershy mused, she didn’t know exactly what was coming. And truth be told, she honestly suspected she didn’t want to find out. She felt this icy cold chill run up the back of her neck and shivered as she wrapped a blanket around herself via pure instinct. “No…” she thought to herself. “No, I’m not going to let fear control me. Not anymore. I… I have a duty to Equestria to find this threat and help deal with it.” She heard a distinct popping sound and sighed in relief. “Discord…” she thought with a smile. “Fluttershy, you do realize your cottage is awfully quiet right?” the chimera’s distinctive voice chimed in as he walked in from the kitchen a cup of tea in hand. “...Well, quieter than normal anyway. No birds singing, no animals humping in the undergrowth or anything like that.” Fluttershy gave him a distinctive look and he tugged at the collar of his sweater. “....Yeeesh. Something wrong?” he asked as he sat down next to her. “You’re very on edge, very tense. Maybe I should book you a trip to the massage parlor. I’ve heard it works won-” “DISCORD!” Fluttershy shouted and she winced as she watched the draconequus flinch. “...Sorry, it’s just… I’m on edge. Something’s wrong, can’t you feel it? In the air, in the ground…” “...Oh, so you figured it out?” Discord sighed. “Of course you of all ponies would be the first to realize something’s coming.” “What’s coming? What’s coming?” Fluttershy asked, the second time in a more hurried frantic tone of voice. “Please… I… I have to know. The animals… they’re afraid. I’m… I’m afraid.” she whispered and Discord used a claw to lift her head up to meet his eyes. “Good, you should be,” Discord responded making his friend’s eyes widened. “I say this not to scare you. At least not intentionally. I’m just warning you something’s coming. You’ve felt it, but it’s not something you or any of your fellow ponies have ever faced before. I’m just waking you up to the reality.” “...As much as I should appreciate that fact, I… somehow don’t,” Fluttershy murmured to herself. “Please Discord, any information you can offer… Any help you can giv-” “I’m sorry my dear Fluttershy,” Discord said. “But what’s coming… it’s out of my hands. This time is supposed to be one of great upheaval and change for ponykind along with the rest of the world in fact. Me interfering… It would go against the rules of the world. This I’m afraid is something you lot will have to weather for yourselves and figure out how best to handle it.” Fluttershy looked at the floor, away from her friend. “I… I see…” she whispered. “Thousands upon thousands of years older than ponykind,” Discord finally said after a few moments making Fluttershy look back at him in a mix of confusion and surprise. “What, I’m not breaking any natural orders from the gods. I’m just telling you what’s to come, that’s all!” he remarked and if Fluttershy didn’t know better she swore she could have caught a trace of a telltale smirk on his face. Discord pretended not to have noticed and continued on. “From an age when your planet was 10 times more radioactive than today. This animal and others like it consumed this radiation as a food source. As the levels on the surface naturally subsided these creatures adapted to live deeper in the oceans, further underground. Absorbing radiation from the planet's core.” “So, it’s an animal then…” Fluttershy smiled. “Good, I can handle an animal…” “Oops, did I say anything?” Discord asked. “Pretend I didn’t say a word! Now, these things were the top of primordial ecosystems. Sometimes gods for all intents and purposes. This, you must understand, comes from a time before even Celesta and Luna were mere babes in someone’s womb. While I have no doubt they might be able to handle some of these titans, I’m not sure about all of them. Especially their King.” “Their… their king?” Fluttershy whispered not sure if she wanted to know. Discord had taken notice of her discomfort and wrapped himself around her in a comforting moment. “I’m sorry Fluttershy, I didn’t mean to scar-” “...Well, congrats, you sure failed at that…” the pegasus muttered in response before sighing at herself and her attitude. Then came the apology. “I’m… I’m sorry Discord, it’s just I’m on edge given what you just told me…” “Look on the bright side, there are quite a few geniuses all around the world. And you. If anyone can solve and stop what’s coming… Well, I have faith in you dear Fluttershy…” Discord smiled and the mare stared at him. “...Hey, don’t give me that look. I said I couldn’t help. I didn’t say I could root for you!” Fluttershy could only giggle in response. In another part of Equestria, Twilight and Fizzlepop had found a certain parrot pirate captain at a port. And as all pirates were, she was right in the middle of things. “This is either madness... or brilliance…” Fizzlepop muttered as she watched Celeano fend off some other pirates who were none too happy about her stealing their fortunes. With a bored expression, she watched as one ran by her. She sighed and idly extended a foreleg making him trip and land on the tavern floor face first. “Yes, well, I do find it remarkable how often those two traits coincide…” Twilight mused as she ducked to avoid a thrown rum bottle. “...Why am I not surprised we found the good captain in a bar brawl?” “Good captain?” Fizzlepop asked with a slightly raised eyebrow. “She’s a pirate. Nothing good about it.” “And that’s what we all thought about you…” Twilight mused with a small smile. Fizzlepop almost immediately shut up at that. Celeano was currently dueling another pirate, sword to sword. “This… This is the day they’ll remember!” she shouted to nobody in particular before flooring the griffon with a punch to the beak. “This is the day you will always remember as the day you almost caught Captain Celeano!” “Suppose we should help her?” Twilight asked before letting out a yelp as another pirate was tossed her way bouncing off a conjured shield. “...Or beat her up for nearly hitting you with her barroom brawler tactics…” Fizzlepop muttered. “One or the other,” she added her horn crackling with lightning. “Now Fizzlepop, what have we talked about?” Twilight chastised. “To not go out and attack ponies at the slightest offense, even if it’s towards you?” Fizzlepop mumbled hanging her head, looking like a disobedient child being scolded by their mother. Twilight smiled before she cast a spell making all time in the room stop for a second and then wrapping Celeano’s attackers up in magical chains. Twilight groaned to herself, there was a reason why she only used this spell when defending a friend. It took so much energy out of her, it often left her wanting of a nice long nap. Starting time again before any more energy could be expended, she watched as Celaeno's attackers fell to the floor in a heap. “Thank you, Princess,” Celeano bowed. “Apologies you had to find me in the middle of something like this, really… I may or may not have ticked off some old friends. Pirate instincts, you understand. So, what brings you by?” she asked after a small nervous chuckle half expecting to be arrested for disturbing the peace or something like that. “I… I need your help,” Twilight asked. “I need a ship. Your ship. Considering it’s the only one I know, and all that…” she laughed sheepishly. “Your crew, chartered to fly me and a few others to the Guoxia Province.” Celeano cast a nervous look towards Fizzlepop in the background. Even clad in her Royal Guard armor as she was, Celeano still hadn’t forgotten what the mare had done to her and her crew. And more importantly, her previous ship. “And I presume she… she’s a part of this group?” the parrot had to ask. “Yes, she is,” Twilight asked with a dangerous protective edge in her tone. “Is there a problem with this? Because you know, I can always just free those griffons over there and let them resume their business with you…” she trailed off and Fizzlepop shuddered. Twilight could be really scary when she wanted to be. “None… None at all…” Celeano swallowed. “So, the Guoxia Province eh? Haven’t flown there in a while, it’s a little bit out of my way I must freely admit but it does sound like quite the adventure. Plus, who am I to refuse a request from one of the ponies who got me my freedom back?” she asked with a small bow. Twilight blushed in embarrassment. “It… it was nothing… I was just...” she mumbled before smiling. “So, you’re up for it? I presume you’ll want payment for this?” “Eh, you saving me from those idiots and allowing me to keep my treasure was payment enough, I think,” Celeano remarked. “Besides, knowing I helped a Princess of all ponies will definitely heighten my prestige amongst my fellow pirates I should think!” she laughed heartily. Twilight groaned. Of course. Just like a pirate to want a bit of fame and glory in all of this. It figured, didn’t it? Well, at least she didn’t have to pay anything… “As soon as we get ready, we’re going to Ponyville, there’s somepony I have to pick up…” Author's Note Well, I think a few of you probably suspected this was coming, given my... track record. Mind you, it being centered on Mothra instead of the King himself might be a surprise. And trust me, I have plenty more surprises in store. First off, huge thanks towards Thunderclap for helping me on certain aspects. He knows what. Secondly, huge thank you to the Bridge Discord group for being so supportive of this particular idea of mine. Thank you, guys. Now, am I doing right by the Queen of Monsters and her brethren so far? I'm not entirely sure, which is where you guys come in. Seriously, any feedback you may have is hugely welcomed. 2: Arrival“So it created the black Mothra. Yes, my friend. Battra was its name, and it was a very fierce beast. It destroyed everything that was endangering the life of the Earth, and then some. There was a fierce battle between Mothra and Battra. When Mothra finally won, Battra was laid to rest in the northern sea. When the climate controller was destroyed, there was massive flooding on the Earth, and most of the land was underwater. Mothra survived in the mountains, along with us; the Earth's Cosmos.” -The Cosmos on Battra to Masako Fujita, Godzilla VS Mothra (1992) “..Well, that all went swimmingly well, all things considered…” Celeano deadpanned as she found herself traipsing through the jungle floor. Clutching her chest in pain, she looked back towards the deeper wilds behind her. Rising high in the sky was a cauldron of smoke, just barely visible through the stormy gray skies. Orange lights flickered as embers rose above the jungle. “Yep, a perfect three-point landing.” “Chin up Captain,” Daring said from beside her. “We’re all alive and in one piece so that’s what counts right?” the gold pegasus remarked with a small shrug of her shoulders. Daring, truth be told had not counted on a lot of things during this expedition. She knew there was a chance of everything going all pear-shaped, as with any adventure. She was just hoping that Celaeno's ship would have lasted a bit longer. But every expedition had its hiccups. And this wasn't the first time her mode of transportation had been trashed. Still, Daring mused to herself. Still, her sympathies went out to the captain. She knew a ship was any seafarer's pride and joy. Their baby if you will. And now Celeano had been deprived of it. She had taken note of the thinly veiled glares the parrot was now sending Tem… No, Daring corrected herself. Not Tempest Shadow anymore. It was Fizzlepop Berrytwist. The pegasus sighed to herself. It seemed neither of them had gotten over their past prejudices to the former nation conqueror. And if that was the case, Daring thought to herself. Then what did it mean for the rest of the expedition and finding Mothra? “What did it mean indeed?” Daring thought to herself with no small amount of worry. After all, if they couldn’t get past their old prejudices and get along then they might as well have offered themselves up to the animals. Made them no better than them, and resigned this mission to being doomed to failure from the get-go. In any case, the group had to get moving. Celestia only knew what lurked out here after dark and quite personally, Daring didn't want to be the poor pony to find that one out. “Come on!” Daring barked with no small amount of urgency, gesturing with her hoof to the dirt paths in front of them. They’d probably been formed by whatever ancient tribes inhabited the island. “We need to get a move on here!” Looming in front of them was this massive stone step pyramid reaching high into the storm-lit skies. It was almost impossibly large and by Daring's estimate would take at least a day and a half to reach. If she had to guess, it formed the centerpiece of the island. Why this pyramid in particular one may wonder? Well, if there was any better home for the so-called ‘Queen of the Monsters’ to reside in Daring couldn't really think of one. At least for the moment anyhow. But in any case, it would make for a good difficult trek to reach it. “Fine… fine,” Celaeno muttered to herself. "Go on, I just... jus'need'a… Go on. Just give me a moment to get my bearings straight okay?” she slurred. Daring did hope she wasn't completely drunk off her flank. One more headache for her to deal with really. And she so did not need another one of those right now. Like, she so didn't need another one. “Well…” Daring trailed off. “If you want to be the one to volunteer to let the animals eat us and hopefully get them off our backs… Well, be my guest!” There was a small sound like an eep coming from somewhere behind Daring that she recognized in an instance. Fluttershy. “Well, when you put it that way…” Celeano murmured to herself. “Best we get going!” she commented tossing one last look to the remains of her beloved ship. Then yet another glare towards Fizzlepop followed. The mare just rolled her eyes in mild annoyance not particularly caring anymore. Wouldn’t have been the first time someone gave her crap over her past. Daring meanwhile turned her thoughts to her companions on this particular outing. Truth be told, Daring was actually rather worried about Fluttershy being on this expedition. She respected her, and yes her ability to communicate with animal life could undoubtedly prove to be useful on this island but that fact remained that she was far frailer than the others. And much timider. The last thing she wanted was Fluttershy’s fears holding everyone else up and causing a halt in the expedition. While yes, it was true Twilight had vouched for the mare and Rainbow considered the pegasus to be her best friend Daring was more skeptical. She supposed she should take the two at their word and respect it Daring didn’t just like to be told someone was of value. No, she had to be shown it. Being an Element of Harmony was all well and good but this stacked up to nothing if you proved yourself to be a liability with your own fears and doubts. That kind of thing had no place on an expedition. Other ponies would have balked at Daring and possibly called her cruel, but the mare considered herself a realist. Not an idealist. In that same vein, she supposed that was exactly why she didn’t trust Fizzlepop in some ways. The mare was a nation conqueror once, and although she was now under Princess Twilight’s employ as a Captain of the Guard she still made Daring exceedingly nervous. She supposed that was up to natural instincts. Ponies, after all, were extremely nervous creatures by nature. There was a reason they flocked together in herds and build cities in which they were extremely tight-knit. Even Daring, the loner that she was, did admit she felt a lot safer with others around her. Even if one of those others happened to be a former terrorist. She supposed she would just have to wait and see what Fizzlepop did. She supposed she would just have to wait and see. “Right, now how did we get into this situation again…? Daring thought. “Oh yes…” Several hours earlier, the group of five were on Celaeno's newest ship. The Grand Lorikeet, she called it. Odd name, admittedly, but Celeano was a pirate so she could choose whatever she wanted for her ship’s name. Compared to the last time Twilight was aboard a ship helmed by Celeano, she felt frankly rather comfortable. Might have had something to do with nopony pursuing her this time around or Celeano not wanting to ransom her off to the Storm King. So all was well. “Hey, aren’t you a Princess?” Mullet, one of the crewmembers had asked functioning as Celaeno's first mate. He usually kept his head wrapped in a black bandana. “Just asking here. If you’re one of the current leaders of Equestria, what the hell you doing onboard this little ship of ours?” he questioned. Daring, truth be told wondered that as well. Ever since the Royal Sisters had retired she doubted Twilight honestly had time to do anything anymore. Certainly not go on little adventures all the way to the other side of the globe really. Personally, she wondered how Twilight managed being the headmare of a school and her other job. “Yes, I’d quite like to know that myself,” Daring agreed deciding to put her own two cents in. “Not to doubt you or anything Princess, but you’re better off in your castle really protecting your nation from there. Look, I do enjoy a ruler who just doesn’t hide away in their bedroom when things get scary, but what will the populace think if their Princess just up and leaves them?” “And what would a populace think if their Princess sits down and doesn’t do anything in a time of crisis?” Twilight refuted shutting Mullet up before lowering her voice so that only Daring could hear. “Because make no mistake, that creature we found in that strip-mine is moving. Now, I have faith in Monarch and my own Royal Guard’s capabilities, but I’d actually like to explore other options as well.” Daring could respect that. She did like it when somepony actually got up to actually do something in times of crisis and turmoil. And she knew that a type of creature closely monitored by Monarch suddenly deciding to hatch and move across Equestria searching for magic to grow and change definitely counted. She could only shudder at the possibilities of what this creature could become if left unchecked. Hopefully, Monarch would catch up to it and contain it, but the mare could do with the possibility of having another Titan on their side just in case things got hairy. Now, if only she could put her faith in Twilight. She respected the mare to no end, given all she had accomplished in such a short lifetime but in this case, she had to wonder. From all the information she had been given she had to wonder if this Mothra was truly all she was chalked up to be. Admittedly, all this information was a particularly unreliable source in Tempest Shadow but the fact still remained this moth creature had attacked that airship of hers without mercy. Again, this was Daring being a realist. All the facts pointed to this creature not exactly being the saving ponies type. In fact, it looked as if he -or she- couldn’t give a damn about them. But then again, Monarch’s historical records conflicted with each other. Yes, this incident was a stand out example of Mothra’s behavior in modern times but maybe Tempest was right. Maybe it had sensed her dark heart and gone after her for that reason. Or maybe it was just angry she was encroaching on her territory. That thought gave Daring pause and then made her shudder. But in most situations in the historical record, Mothra seemed to be this benevolent goddess who actually and actively went out of her way to protect ponies and other creatures. Some records had actually compared Mothra to Celestia. Daring should suppose that maybe spoke volumes about the creature’s character, being actively compared to the White Mother herself. But there lay the fact that there had been some records of a creature resembling a moth attacking settlements when riled. It was really quite the conundrum, to say the least. Perhaps Daring nor the writers had the full story. That was a very good possibility actually. Historical records were never quite known to be completely accurate in some regards, or completely complete for that matter. Such was the nature of these things really. Thinking about it honestly gave Daring quite the headache. She’d hated incomplete records when she was in university and she hated them now. This was especially the case when it failed to warn her of some traps in some tomb or in this case a giant monster’s true nature. “...As for my School,” Twilight continued in the background to Mullet in full-on lecture mode. “I’ve had Starlight take up substitute principal role. She’s done it for me before, and I’m quite sure this won’t be the last time. As for raising and lowering the sun and moon, I left explicit instructions to the mages in Canterlot how to work the device.” “Okay, okay!” Mullet said with rapid noddings of his head and hands held up in a defensive posture. “I… I get the picture Princess! I’ll never question you again!” Daring had to suppress a chuckle when she heard Twilight mutter something to the effect of: “Damn right you’d better not…” or something along those lines. As she said, she respected Twilight when times got tough and remembered she usually had things planned out well in advance. Usually. Daring was still unsure if this whole venture was a good idea. Personally, she would have preferred it if Twilight stayed behind at her Castle to defend her Kingdom from attack by the creature that had been uncovered. The MUTO as it had been deemed. Massive unidentified terrestrial life form. Yes, Monarch was hardly imaginative in naming things but it worked. (Even if Daring would later admit to herself the term ‘big-ass bug’ worked just as well and was easier to remember.) “Alright, what’s going on down here?” Fizzlepop asked as she marched down into the room. The clanking of her armor was a very distinctive and instantly recognizable sound. Daring shuddered a bit at the tone in her voice, it sounded like a drill sergeant mixed in with a disapproving mother. A scary combination indeed. “Nothing at all Fizzlepop,” Twilight sighed and Daring got the distinct feeling this wasn’t the first time this had happened with her. “Nothing you need to worry about. You just go back up on deck, and keep an eye out for Mothra… or whatever it was you saw one year ago.” “Hard to feel welcomed up-top when the crew keeps giving you the stink-eye,” Fizzlepop said in return. “Okay, I admit I deserve some of it after what I’ve done but…” “I understand,” Twilight nodded and wrapped a wing around her friend in sympathy. “Change is hard, and acceptance even harder. Give it time. They’ll come to trust you… in time.” Mullet made an odd noise that Daring doubted was friendly. Sounded a bit like a scoff really. “I suppose…” Fizzlepop admitted. “I guess this is what you ponies call penance.” she said in a humbled tone of voice. At least Daring thought it was humbled. Honestly, she couldn’t exactly be sure with her. “In any case,” Twilight said hoping to get Fizzlepop’s mind off the subject. “Come look at this. Something you at the very least might find interesting.” she continued pointing to a book she had in her hoof. Fizzlepop gave Twilight a fond little smile and muttered: “Trust you to bring along every book you could on this…” to herself and walked over to her. She raised an eyebrow. “The… Shobijin?” “It means small ones, in Neighponiese. Well, loosely anyways,” Twilight explained. “They’ve been intimately connected with Mothra for as long as history as we know it has been recorded.” “Intimately? You mean as in…?” Fizzlepop trailed off, her face exactly as you’d expect of one trying to comprehend something having sexual relations with a giant moth. “No, not like that!” Twilight blushed red as she turned a page. Daring by this point had walked over as well, to satisfy her curiosity. On the page, she saw an illustration of a Changeling Queen in greenish hues singing to a massive winged creature. “It’s more of a symbiotic relationship than anything else. Such things are common in nature.” “...Right, I’m not sure how exactly common changelings singing to a giant moth are in nature…” Fizzlepop deadpanned voicing Daring’s thoughts exactly. “Well, I’m not sure if they are changelings actually, they may just be a divergent species that happened to develop similarly to them. As far as I can see, the appearances may look similar but I can find no records of shape-shifting.” Twilight corrected sounding much like the teacher that she was. Fizzlepop once again gave her fond smile causing Daring to raise an eyebrow. “Is it possible the two are…?” Daring thought to herself. “Would certainly explain a lot really… Hmm, I wonder if Twilight’s up for a thr-” She stopped herself right there. As nice of a flank Twilight had, she doubted Fizzlepop would even let her get anywhere near it. Plus, she had other things to worry about than… well, that! “So what exactly is the relationship between Mothra and these… Shobijin?” Daring asked running the name over in her mind. Certainly was an odd word. “As far as I can tell, it seems to be one of mutual understanding. The Shobijin? They sing to Mothra and guard him or her in some way, and Mothra protects them in turn,” Twilight explained. “It’s simple, and as I said before, it’s something that’s very common in nature. Compare and contrast to the rhino and the oxpecker bird. The oxpecker protects the rhino from pests and it protects them in turn.” “...Yes, I understood that,” Daring deadpanned. “Learned of it in grade school. I’m just trying to wrap my head around all of this really. I mean, this is just weird, even for me. I mean, adventures to uncover ancient tombs and the resting places of Kaiju are one thing, but even for a member of Monarch this is a bit out there.” “...I do admit it does sound a bit far-fetched, but then again so does Gojira and he exists… apparently.” Twilight agreed before a loud rumble of thunder cut their conversation short. Fizzlepop’s ears perked up, and she stood at attention. “Mullet!” she barked. “How far away are we from the Guoxia Province?” “Should be nearing it,” the parrot replied in turn. “Should I ask why?” Fizzlepop said nothing and walked up to the top deck and was met with quite a sight. Angry, broiling clouds thick with heavy rain, blasts of wind hitting her square in the face as the seas churned below. Lightning flashed painting the sky in jagged streaks as the sails of the ship rippled from the powerful and now nearly howling winds. Twilight was soon to follow after her friend, and her violet eyes widened in shock as she saw an island just barely peeking out from the storm. It seemed to constantly surround the island, this storm defying all known laws of magic. It was almost like the Everfree’s weather systems but sized up to a much larger scale. “Beautiful isn’t it?” Celeano commented as she walked up to the two with her cutlass resting in its sheath on her hips. Fizzlepop swallowed nervously, though if that was from the storm or the sword so dangerously close to her it was uncertain. “Always love a good squall, makes things much more interesting!” “...One way of putting it,” Twilight murmured to herself. “Personally, I was going to go with terrifying, but interesting works just as well.” “The seas may be rough, but I am the Captain! No matter how difficult I will always prevail.” Celeano barked out before she began shouting orders to her crew to prepare for the storm ahead. Twilight smiled a little, certainly a far cry from her attitude when she first met her. “That storm…” Fizzlepop whispered. “Just like the one I that was raging when I met… him. The battle moth.” “Battra?” Celeano asked her eyes widening as she turned to face Fizzlepop. “You’ve met him? ...Well, nice of you to share that information with us just now.” “They say he leaves no survivors to his rampages!” one of the crew members shouted and Celeano turned back to look at him. “No survivors? Don’t be foolish! If there were no survivors then where do the stories come from, I wonder?” she questioned before a loud ear-piercing screech cut through the air. Louder than the roar of the thunder. A dark shape darted out of the angry clouds, and another screech cut through the air. “...Yeah, I’m going to take a wild guess and say he’s not here to welcome us to Guoxia?” Daring deadpanned before looking at her whip and sighing. “...Yeah, I’m going to need a bigger rope.” Twilight charged up her horn and fired off a few warning shots towards Battra purple blasts of magical energy cutting through the sky. Hopefully, it would get the message and turn away from them. It did not. Soon, something truly massive flew over them, the sails nearly buckling from the blasts of wind its flapping wings created. Celeano shouted orders all the while as the crew went for their weapons. “Don’t bother, you fools!” she bellowed her raspberry eyes widening once more. This time, it was at the sheer size of the monster. She swallowed nervously to herself, Fizzlepop nor Twilight had told her it would be that big! Regaining her composure, she shouted: “At that size, your weapons might as well be pop guns! Get this ship out of here!” Fizzlepop spun and fired off a blast of pure magical lightning from her horn at Battra, singing his massive brilliant orange wings even as the moth went in for another pass. The horns on his head glowed with an eerie purple light and fired off erratic purple blasts of light cutting and scything through the sky, with the Grand Lorikeet just barely dodging out of the way at the last moment. Twilight threw up a shield for all the good that did, being thrown back from the sheer force of the beams. The Lorikeet groaned in protest as it went into a sharp turn, the starboard cannons aimed squarely at Battra. Thudding out with each consecutive blast, balls of pure hot plasma were fired at the giant moth who could only blast them out of the air with more beams of light. Doing a spin in mid-air, his crimson eyes flashed angrily. It was almost as if he was judging them, daring them to take him on in his home turf. Namely, the skies, and the seas. Angrily buzzing like the world’s largest wasp, Battra dived and for a moment if only a brief one the crew of the Lorikeet thought themselves safe. Then, he reappeared from up under the ship flying back up into the clouds, lightning illuminating his form. His carapace was as black as night, almost like charcoal in sheen. His wings were the shade a shade of orange so bright, that when the lightning flashed behind them they became nearly blinding. Looking like a devil straight right out of Tartarus, he probably was an entomologist's worst nightmare. Screeching angrily, his eyes narrowed as he returned to the skies from whence he came. “Oh dear oh dear oh dear…” Fluttershy whispered to herself as Battra once again faded from sight. She turned towards Twilight giving her a stern look. “You shouldn’t have agitated him!” “Pretty sure he was coming at us either way, Fluttershy,” Fizzlepop injected. The seas churned beneath them, and the faintest inklings of an idea began to form in her mind. “Captain, how badly can you wear this creature out?” “Might be able to give him the runaround, but I’m not exactly confident in any of our abilities in really going ahead and just plain facing him head on!” the parrot shouted in return as she jerked the wheel looking very much like Fizzlepop had one year before. In her mind, for just the briefest of moments, the mare saw yetis instead of parrots. “...That’s pretty much tantamount to suicide!” “You have any better ideas?” Fizzlepop shouted back over the roar of the storm the pounding rain beating into her fur. She ignored it, her eyes darting skywards as she searched the storm for any signs of Battra. “Well, there’s always run I suppose!” Celeano replied. “But I guess that isn’t exactly on your agenda is it Madam Tempest?” she nearly sneered still having not forgotten how the mare had destroyed her first ship. “How dare you-” Fizzlepop started before Twilight shut them both up with a glare. Now was not the time for infighting amongst them all. They could settle their differences later, right now they had to survive Battra’s attack. “Fizzlepop,” Twilight said in a calm tone. “I assume you have a plan?” “Yes, but I will need your help to enact it.” the mare stated even as the Lorikeet darted low below the clouds dodging lightning bolts right and left. The island was coming up fast. Fizzlepop studied the terrain in front of her with a quick glance of a telescope. Yes, this could definitely work she thought to herself. They just needed to lure it over here. Of course, that was easier said than done as Mullet was quick to point out “He’s coming around for another pass!” Mullet exclaimed as another angry screech filled the air. The ship’s rigging and mast groaned out in protest under the strain they were now being put under. Mullet had heard the stories of course, what seafarer hadn’t really? Going back long before he was even a hatchling, there had been stories. Of an angry sea god, appearing out of the clouds to wreak havoc on those who dared to threaten his kingdom. Now, he wondered if this Battra was one and the same with the creature from those legends. Yes, Twilight had told him of the tales of the divine moth being a gentle soul who looked out for her subjects but was it possible there was another of the species? One who was far more violent… and angry. If anything, it was quite clear that legend or not, Battra definitely did not like visitors. Going to the cannons on the bow of the ship, he gestured to both Daring and another member of the crew. The Lorikeet’s bow opened even as he saw what looked like pollen dust scattering about the entire area around the ship. Twin thuds, one after the other fired as Battra reappeared. Great white balls of hot plasma were fired from the forward cannons and to his horror, they simply passed through the giant moth. Shimmering, it faded away even as something struck the back of the ship. “...Illusions!” Mullet swore as he realized it had been above them the whole time. It scared him, just realizing how intelligent this creature truly was. “Of course! The damn thing can create bloody illusions!” He would be in awe of the beast if he wasn’t so terrified of him and his power. And this thing wasn’t even supposed to be one of the more powerful Kaiju out there. So one must question if Battra was a low-level creature in the grand scheme of things where did that put some of the others? The ship groaned out in protest even as it dodged another pass from Battra, Mullet now wondering how much more of this onslaught it could even take as Battra once again bombarded the stern with more energy blasts. Twilight, he could guess was only barely holding it back with shields. Powerful alicorn she might have been, but Battra was still a kaiju and had a lot more experience in fighting than she. Fizzlepop joined in fending off the monstrous moth blasting it with sharp magical bolts. Then, a crazy idea came to her. She needed to distract it. Having already relayed her plan to Twilight, Fizzlepop smirked. “Hey, remember me!?!” she challenged firing another lightning blast towards Battra chipping off one of his three horns. It screeched in rage. Evidently, it did remember her. Screeching out once again, Battra went skywards again and his powerful wings slammed down in a hammerhead maneuver that the Lorikeet only barely dodged. Only barely, as part of the ship’s stern was now nothing but a memory. “That’s it, keep your eyes on me…” the mare thought to herself as Battra’s eyes locked themselves squarely on her and her alone. “Come on now, just don’t look at what’s coming!” Fizzlepop pleaded. Thankfully, Battra didn’t. What he failed to see was Twilight raising the water on either side of him in his fury, and when it all came crashing down on top of him the great moth had barely any time to react. Soon, he found himself swamped. Gasping, Twilight fell to the deck her horn now just barely sparking from the sheer power she had to exert to lift up that much seawater and drop it down in that great deluge as she did. Cheers rose up amongst the crew, Mullet singing a great song. He sang out: “Celeano! The one they call Celeano! She came into town within a mighty storm, she went to the great moth and gave them what for. Our love for her now, is not hard to tell you. The Queen of the Seas the one they call Celeano!” Celeano flushed under the praise even as the rest of the crew took up the song. Fizzlepop meanwhile looked indignant, along with Fluttershy for that matter. “Fizzlepop had been the one to enact the plan, think it up. Not Celeano!” Fluttershy whispered in anger quite peeved off. Fizzlepop calmed her having taken a few deep breaths to reign in her own temper. “No, it’s quite alright Fluttershy,” she said. “I can understand them being slow to trust me after what I pulled. And in any case, Celeano does deserve some of the credit. Her skills at the helm were impressive at any rate.” “But you-” Fluttershy started. “Just let it go,” Fizzlepop stated calmly. “It doesn’t matter in the end anyhow…” Then, eyes widened as Battra’s wings glowed with a dark light and the water that rested upon them slowly turned to steam. And the chase resumed. The Lorikeet ventured into a canyon, the great gash in the earth rapidly growing narrower and narrower with each passing moment. Battra realized far too late what was about to happen, and he let out a shriek of pain as his wings were pulled from his body as the canyon walls slammed into him from either side. But he would not go gently. Even as he bled out, he managed to fire off one more defiant blast of energy and caught the Lorikeet once more, and this time there was nothing that could save it. “Brace for impact!” Mullet shouted as the land came upon them and their whole world turned into a sea of green... Author's Note Okay... hoo boy. Battra. Now he was a challenge to write. Yes, he's only staying around for this and the previous chapter, but let me tell you. He was not fun to write. While I wanted to do justice to his character, this chapter was the one I feared. Frankly, and you might be able to tell but this was my first battle with a giant kaiju. I've only done mecha and human scale battles before, so a battle with a giant animal was a whole new world for me. I can only hope I managed something mildly entertaining, ya know? In any case, please do leave your feedback. Comments, critique, and whatnot are always welcomed. 3: The IslandAuthor's Note Okay, huge thank you to Shadowmane PX-41 for the help on the final third of the chapter. Wanted to do this one alone, I admit, but I was at a bit of a block for a good while. Please let me know what you think in the comments section below. And also, please do keep a certain item in this chapter under spoiler tags. Your Queen would very much like that. 3: The Island “See? There it is again! That is not a transformer malfunction, that is an electromagnetic pulse! And it effects everything from miles and miles, and it is happening again! This is what caused everything to happen in the first place! Can't you see that?! And it's gonna send us back to the Stone Age! You have no idea what's coming.” -Joe Brody on the Male MUTO, Godzilla 2014 Beginning Isle: Hot, sticky, sweaty. And fairly pissed off. That was Fizzlepop’s general demeanor as she found herself traipsing through a massive bamboo forest with a scimitar in hoof slicing away through the fairly thick brush. At least the rain had let up, she mused to herself. Casting a look behind her, she gazed back at Celeano who was still giving the stink eye. “Not my fault she’s a terrible captain and not my fault Battra couldn’t stay down,” the mare thought to herself. Fizzlepop was mare enough to admit she did feel a little… bitter at none of her accomplishments in bringing down Battra being recognized but she could hold back her fury. “And in any case, it took a combination of everyone’s efforts just to just even slow Battra down.” Fluttershy studied Fizzlepop. She knew the mare was probably sad that what she had encountered all those years ago was not, in fact, the ‘Queen of the Monsters’ as she had been named. Not just sad, disappointed even. Walking up alongside her, Fluttershy gave Fizzlepop a gentle nudge. “If you want to talk, we can…” Fluttershy started but Fizzlepop gave her a cold look. “Talk about what? Everything’s already been said,” the mare stated. “I’m not just some sad poor pony who’s going to break down blubbering and crying just because someone dismissed me.” Fluttershy took a few steps backward. “O-Okay… It’s just that I… Well, you need a friend out here I think… That’s all…” she whispered looking away before sighing. If Fizzlepop didn’t want to talk to her about this, at least for the moment then that was fine. She would open up when she was ready, as always. Fluttershy knew Fizzlepop better than most. She, alongside Twilight, was one of the first ponies that the rather -at least at the time- broken mare had decided to open up to feeling rather… comforted by Fluttershy’s gentle demeanor. Fizzlepop sighed. “Look, I understand what you’re trying to do and I appreciate that. But I don’t need ponies sticking up for me, I never have. I can handle myself.” Fluttershy didn’t look convinced. After all, there was a mare who had suffered throughout her entire life and was only just now over the past year or so beginning to recover from her ordeal. So Fluttershy couldn’t be blamed for not believing Fizzlepop was in the best state of mind. On the other hoof, Fizzlepop was a strong mare in some ways. She’d put up with a lot, far more than any pony should have ever have been asked to do and still came out swinging if you will. “Yes, far more…” Fluttershy thought glancing to the very visible scar across Fizzlepop’s left eye, before tearing her eyes away from it before Fizzlepop could notice. Celestia knew the mare was not a fan of being stared at for obvious reasons. In any case, Fluttershy knew she would have to keep a firm eye on Fizzlepop throughout this whole journey. And one on Celeano as well now that she thought of it. She just couldn’t find herself relaxing for very long knowing the two were liable to come to blows in such a tense situation. She was amazed the two hadn’t already really given Celeano held a very understandable grudge towards Fizzlepop, even if she was reformed. Privately, Fluttershy wished Twilight had chosen somebody else to bring along with her for this mission. Yes, Fizzlepop held the most recent recorded sightings of Mothra’s species but she could have just drawn them up a map -or something to that effect- and stayed behind to guard Ponyville. Maybe someone like Flash Sentry could have taken her place. Would have made things just that little less tense. Everyone was like a string right now, poised to snap at the slightest provocation. It made Fluttershy very nervous to say the least. And she admitted, she was included under that definition. She was also somewhat ashamed to say she was fairly tempted to give Celeano a good talking to for her behavior. Wiping a bead of sweat away from her face with a hoof, Fluttershy continued on. No sense in losing her head in the clouds and lagging behind. Especially in this jungle. “Hold up, thought I heard something...” Mullet whispered unsheathing his sword. Celeano went for hers as well. Then, they saw one of the bamboo shoots move. A scream as they saw one of their crewmembers impaled right through his open beak before the ‘shoot’ was moved upwards with the poor parrot being brought up into the mandibles of a massive spider. Blood and gore spattered all over the survivors. A sharp scream of terror as more ‘shoots’ began to move, the spider’s beady eyes watching them. “You gotta be fucking kidding me…” Fizzlepop muttered before she went for her blade slicing through the creature’s legs. One leg went to impale her before a shot from Celaeno's pistol tore it to ribbons. Another leg went for another pirate, and this time the initial shock and terror had passed long enough for him to get moving. All the same, it didn’t save him. Muscular tendrils trailed down like snakes and brought him up into the creature’s waiting maw. Shock was replaced by another emotion. Pure rage. “Kill it! Go for the legs!” Mullet shouted. Mullet and Celeano’s swords went to work, bringing the creature down to their level before a massive bolt of electricity pierced the creature’s belly. The carcass smoked and steamed as Fizzlepop pushed it away. “T-Thank you…” Celeano whispered not meeting the pony’s eyes. Shame. Fizzlepop could see it. Shame for not reacting faster and not being able to save two of her crew. “...This island’s going to be the death of us,” Mullet muttered to himself looking at the carcasses. Nobody bothered disagreeing. “...Makes one wonder what else lives on this god-forsaken place.” Fluttershy cast a look to a nearby rock. On in, drawn in what she hoped was just simply just paint was a very unusual creature. A giant reptilian beast, with massive spikes jutting out of its back… Back in Equestria, the MUTO was being tracked. Massive airships followed it’s movement across Equestria and they’d eventually found it to a valley where it had nestled itself with a chrysalis rapidly beginning to form around the body. Nobody wanted to guess at whatever it was that was going to come out of the cocoon. But this also presented an opportunity to study and learn about the beast and plan how best to defend Equestria. And any opportunity must be seized and made use out of. So that meant in no less than a matter of a few hours, makeshift laboratories had been set up via tents and any nearby towns had already been evacuated. “So, Professor…” Serizawa was asked. “What do you make of it?” “Beautiful…” the griffon returned as he strode up to the chrysalis, rising up out of the ground like some massive thorn and stroked it with his paw. He felt it shake, and just for a brief moment, Serizawa shuddered in fear. But he regained his composure and traced a claw along the shell feeling it vibrate and hearing the creature inside hum. It was almost as if it was… talking directly to him. “Just simply beautiful…” “Don’t tell me you’re admiring the beast, Professor,” the same slightly haughty tone from before remarked. Serizawa turned back to look at its owner. A burnt orange mare with creamy white hooves and a dark red mane. “It’s still a Titan, remember that. It would love nothing more than to eat us all if it broke out. No, strike that. When it breaks out. You must keep that in mind.” “Stellar Flare,” Serizawa sighed as he flew down to her level shaking his head. The head of Monarch she may have been and that while that did mean he had to follow her every order but that didn’t mean she wasn’t any less infuriating at times. “I am well aware of what the creature is capable of, but that doesn’t mean I am any less capable of admiring it. These creatures, they represent a window to the past that we ever so rarely get a chance to see.” “...I… I…” Stellar Flare sighed as she shook her head. “Very well then. You don’t plan on telling that reporter friend of yours about this do you? Goddess knows we have enough trouble on our hooves without news of it leaking to the media.” “Do not take me for a fool, Stellar,” Serizawa replied turning his head back to look at the chrysalis before looking back at the mare. “I know when to hold my tongue. You think too little of me. Remember, I’ve been in Monarch for just as long as you have, and was appointed to this position personally by Celestia herself. She had faith in my abilities,” he stated looking Stellar dead in the eye. He kept his sentences short and sharp. He had bigger worries. “She had faith in all of our abilities. Keep that in mind Ms. Flare.” “Can it be killed?” Stellar asked. “I don’t mind admiring these creatures, it’s just I’d rather have them dealt with before they reach civilization and start eating ponies.” “Same,” Serizawa agreed going back into his tent and turning back to his research notes. “In between my research on various other subjects, I’ve been going through historical texts searching for any references to this creature. Or should we say… creatures.” “Don’t even bring the other one up,” Stellar said. “It was dead when we found it. A lost cause when it comes to research. It was handed off to the Royal Guard for destruction and disposal.” “...Was it?” Serizawa murmured not entirely believing it. “And is it? Dead I mean. These creatures as I have found can fake a hibernation state for years, long as they need until a suitable source of magical energy or natural radiation -say something like uranium- is found. That’s what this creature is doing, soaking up all the magical energy in the ground to rebuild itself a new body, grow into its adult form.” “If that’s the case…” Stellar whispered. “I’ll get on the horn to our other facility in the Appleloosan mountains, see if… Well, never you mind that. Serizawa, you continue your work here. I want to know the minute you find something. The exact minute and the exact second, you understand?” she asked before turning towards the chrysalis. How did it go? Oh yes, now she remembered. “Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions over the earth. They were told not to harm the grass or any green growth or any tree, but only those of Equuskind.” she thought looking at the massive structure. Perhaps these things were what those ancient texts spoke of. Serizawa nodded. “I understand, and rest assured when I do find something you’ll be the first to know.” Stellar’s voice softened as she drew closer to Serizawa and gave him a small kiss on the beak pressing her lips to his own. It wasn’t very professional, but she didn’t care. And if anyone talked they would have to answer to her. “You’ll do fine, I know it.” Serizawa blushed. “...T-Thank you Ma’am.” “What is it that you’ve been heard saying at times? The arrogance of our kind is thinking nature is always in our control?” Stellar asked. “Say none of our efforts in hiding this creature and stopping it before it grows to an adult amount to anything. What if Princess Twilight and Captain Fizzlepop’s little side venture becomes the only option and we must pit one Titan against another?” “Your point being…?” Serizawa asked. “Monarch was founded to protect the public from monsters like this,” Stellar continued before gesturing outside. “Hide the truth from them. What would happen if the masquerade were to be destroyed? What then?” “We handle things as we’ve always done,” Serizawa replied putting a paw on the mare’s shoulder. “Masquerade or not. Our job first and foremost is to protect the public. So that’s what we do.” Stellar smiled, looking at the eyepatched griffon. She knew he’d lost his eye in a battle with a young Titan chick’s talons while helping in containing it in Azteca. This wasn’t the first Titan he’d seen, and it would not be the last she suspected. So if anyone knew how to deal with them and reassure her on matters relating to them, it was Serizawa. “Thank you…” she whispered before taking her temporary leave. When Stellar would return, it was uncertain. Closing the tent flaps behind her as she did so, Serizawa resumed his work. A fish tank sat nearby, triggerfish swimming about in the water. Notes sat nearby on the various substances found in natural waters. It had long been a curiosity of Serizawa’s on what lurked in the waters off Equestria. Perhaps it had something to do with Gojira, making him wonder what else was out there. Casting a look back towards the chrysalis, he watched the massive structure hum and glow before whispering: “What… what is it you’re trying to tell me? Or are you even trying to communicate with us at all?” he wondered to himself stepping back inside the tent. For a moment, he did wonder if this was all folly, that trying to speak to this creature was a lost cause. After all, surely it couldn’t understand Equuish. Why should it, given it was an ancient beast since time immemorial. What would be the point in learning the various languages of what were basically like ants to it in the end. He flashed back to one of his many meetings with Twilight Sparkle on the subject of Titans. “So, Titans. That’s the name you’re giving them now is it?” Twilight asked. Outside, Celeano was loading up her crew onto the Grand Lorikeet. “Thought the original catch-all phrase was MUTOs.” “MUTOs?” Fluttershy asked looking rather nervous by the choice of name. She had been picked up in Ponyville. Outside, Daring was expressing her… displeasure about the whole stupidity of this entire endeavor. Quite loudly and quite angrily. Fluttershy flattened her ears at some of the word choices used. “What do you mean by…?” “Massive unidentified terrestrial organism,” Serizawa clarified. “Least, that was the original working name till we discovered that some of these creatures aren’t exactly… terrestrial. Like Mothra for example. So we had to find a new name.” he explained. He already had given Fluttershy the basics on the situation that was rapidly developing. Privately, he added to himself that there was a slight possibility it was starting to spiral out of their control. Sighing to himself, Serizawa looked towards a charcoal rubbing of a drawing found in a cave in the Provinces. Below the rubbing, in pen was the writing: “Titanus Mosura”. Poise and grace, that was the only way to describe the winged creature, seemingly unfurling her wings in a gentle manner. It seemed he was not the only one in awe of such a being, given the drawing seemed to have masses of equines below the creature, almost bowing to it in a way. “So, basically you’re likening them to gods is it?” Twilight noted. “I’m not entirely sure that’s the best choice really. I don’t think it’s a good idea to worship these creatures, at least not all of them.” she continued shuddering as she looked at another drawing, this one of a reptilian beast with three snake-like heads. She didn’t quite know why, but everything about that drawing seemed… wrong. Just looking at it made Twilight want to go crawl and hide under her bed. The monster from the closet, that’s what she likened it to. She noted unlike the other Titans, this one had no given name. Twilight wondered exactly why that was. “I… I agree with Twilight, although for albeit different reasons,” Fluttershy said having seen some of the same rubbings and trying not to think of them. “If what you say is true, then these creatures were and still are the top of their respective food chains. While they may seem like gods and goddesses to us, they are still animals.” She knew that was why she had been brought along, her skill and ability with animals. She suspected if all went south and Mothra was unable to be recruited than her job was to try and reason with these other Titans whatever they might have been. “Worshipping them is folly,” Fluttershy noted. “I don’t think they particularly care for worship, or Equuskind in general actually. To them, we are simply ants. Even if what these texts say are true, that this ‘Queen of the Monsters’ was once a benign part of the natural order, I’m not sure deification was the best route. It is after all, still an animal.” she continued thinking back towards the attack on Fizzlepop’s ship. “Perhaps you’re right…” Serizawa mused. “...Perhaps you’re right…” he repeated, back in the present time quite oblivious to the fact that Stellar Flare had returned. And then she let out a scream, and soon Serizawa saw why. The fish in the tank, flesh stripped from their bones. And in the tank, an open capsule... “...What, what is that?” Stellar whispered. Serizawa’s eyes were soon to follow her own. For a long time now, he had been experimenting with various chemicals in hopes of creating a weapon that would stop the more dangerous Titans simply by striking all the oxygen from their lungs and rendering them unconscious. It had only been attempted in small scale tests, Serizawa wanting to know if this device would even work. However, it seemed his plan had worked a little too well, and each time he had tried for a different result. But every time, it was the exact same. He didn’t just remove all the oxygen from a creature’s lungs, he destroyed it. It wasn’t an Oxygen Remover as he had originally planned, but an Oxygen Destroyer. “...Serizawa, did you create that?” Stellar asked nervously. Serizawa’s ashamed silence said it all. “...Why?” “I… I had hoped to create a method to harmlessly stop the Titans before they got close to larger settlements, but as it is now, I have only created a monster as nightmarish as those which we fight,” Serizawa whispered. “If my device can serve a good purpose, I would announce it to everyone in the world! But in its current form, it's just a weapon of horrible destruction. Please understand, Stellar. Please…” he pleaded. “I… I understand. I’m terrified beyond measure at what you have created, but I do understand.” Stellar whispered. “I will do everything in my power to try and keep this terrible device a secret.” “Thank you…” Serizawa whispered in return. “If the Oxygen Destroyer is used even once, politicians from around the world will see it. Of course, they'll want to use it as a weapon. What else could it possibly be used as in its current state?” he asked. “As a scientist -no, as a member of Equuskind- I can't allow that to happen! Am I right?” He looked away from Stellar, refusing to meet the mare’s eyes. Stellar understood. Serizawa was the least supportive of using magical explosives to try and kill Godzilla. They could have easily been used as new superweapons against enemy nations. Explosive against explosive, each nation destroying itself if - the White Mother forbid- a war were to ever break out and rendering the planet a wasteland. So, creating something that would rival or possibly even succeed explosives like the ones used to try and kill Godzilla was an even more nightmarish prospect for the tortured griffon. “How do you know you can’t just hide it? Your new invention I mean?” Stellar asked. “We, as a species, are weak animals. Even if I burn my notes, the secret will still be in my head. So what then, I ask you?” Serizawa asked looking Stellar dead in the eye daring her to try and come up with an answer. For the moment at least, none came. “I… I don’t know…” Stellar whispered back in reply. “I just don’t know…” “That’s what I thought…” Beginning Isle: “An uncharted island? Let me list the ways you're going to die. Rain, heat, mud, disease-carrying flies and mosquitoes. Sure, you could load up on the atabrine for the malaria but what about the other bacteria? We haven't even started on the things that want to eat you alive. But hey, what do I know? I’m just the expert who’s been going around the world for five years now...” Daring muttered to herself the group having taken shelter for the night in a cave. These were the exact same words she’d told Celeano and her crew before the whole thing started. “...And as that turns out, it’s pretty much anything and everything,” she muttered on said things that wanted to eat them. “Well, this little venture’s gone just fine, hasn’t it?” Celeano deadpanned the rain having resumed its torrent outside the cave. “Oh, go to a mysterious island venturing on the hope of finding some giant moth who can save us all. This is folly, and we all know it!” “Hey, I didn’t come up with the map that said ‘Here’s a giant moth that’s been sleeping on your planet for Celestia knows how long’, Celeano.” Fizzlepop rolled her eyes. “You’ve gotta take this stuff with a pinch of salt when it doesn’t lay everything out for you. How the hell was I supposed to know that Battra wasn’t who we were seeking?” she asked. “But you did,” Celeano stated walking over to the mare. “You told us that he, or she or whatever it is attacked your ship a year ago. You didn’t think: “Hey, maybe this thing isn’t so friendly after all?” she remarked. “No, you just thought: “Hey, let’s go and search for it again! Maybe it had calmed down.” “...And here we go…” Daring muttered having known long ago that these two would come to blows. It was only a matter of time after all. “Would you rather take a giant moth creature or a giant parasite that would make any pony run in terror at the sight of it?” Fizzlepop asked turning back to Celeano and looking her dead in the eye. “Sure, sure. I can understand what I look like. A madmare leading you all to your deaths. Before Twilight and her friends happened, I was in a very dark place. But this isn’t just something that we can do nothing about. How are we gonna manage the Titans if they end up burying all of us sixty feet under? That’s why I came here, to try and give back to ponykind. If I can save them, then maybe I can atone for the years of my life I spent conquering settlements. Give back, instead of taking…” she whispered. Twilight sighed. “Celeano, listen. I know you don’t like Fizzlepop, but for the time being, you’re going to have to put your grudge aside. This is bigger than us. We need to find Mothra if we’re going to-” Celeano whirled on Twilight. “You. You’re hardly innocent in all of this either.” “Excuse me?” Twilight asked as Fizzlepop got up off the cave floor and walked towards her friend with a nasty glare plastered on her face. Twilight sent her a look. She could take care of herself. “Princess, this whole little adventure of yours is folly and you know it as well as I do. This whole little adventure just hinges on an idea that may or may not even be true. That thing could have very well have been Mothra, and from the look of it he wasn’t exactly friendly was it?” Celeano asked. “Or did I miss the moment when it brought down my new ship?” “But the texts gathered up by Monarch said that-” Twilight started before being cut off again. “Well then, you’re a fool Twilight!” Celeano squawked loudly. “Look around you, does our current situation say anything about Mothra actually being friendly? And I thought you were loyal to the end with her. Celestia really should have taught you that excessive loyalty is bad for you…” “What does my loyalty to Celestia have to do with this? Yes, she founded Monarch along with so many others, but the whole idea was to study these creatures and mount a defense against them. And last I saw, it took me dropping part of the ocean just to even slow Battra down! I didn’t see your ship having much luck, did you? Right now, we need Mothra or something just like her to stop those creatures back on the mainland!” Twilight shouted back. “The Princess is right,” Fizzlepop agreed. “Okay, yes, maybe I was mistaken about Battra being a force for good, but that doesn’t mean Mothra can’t exist as well. Battra may just be an elder member of the species. An exception to the rule if you will.” “And do you have any proof of that, aside from these so-called ancient texts?” Celeano questioned. “Look, I’ve been around the world more times than I can count by now, and in my experience, you can’t always take things at face value. You have to actually see things for yourself before you can make a call. And everything I’ve seen so far pretty much says this whole mission is folly!” A sudden, yet distant roar swept the area, causing Celeano’s raised claw to become limp, hanging down as shivers ran up and down her body. She wasn’t the only one, though, as the trees and even the plant life around her seemed to join in on the shakes. “Do you call that folly?” Twilight asked, watching as Celeano tried to recompose herself. “...I… I think we should get moving…” Fluttershy whispered. “I’d rather not meet whatever that belongs to…” “Oh yes, I forget about that,” Celeano snapped fighting back tears. “Squabble and Boyle, you think they signed onto this mission only to end up killed by that giant spider? Huh, did they? God knows what else lurks on this island…” “Captain, this fighting’s going to get us nowhere!” Mullet barked trying to calm her down. “You’re only going to attract unwanted attention!” His pleas went unheeded. “...I… I accept that I may have made a mistake bringing us here,” Fizzlepop whispered. “But what else was I supposed to do?” “Yes, what were you supposed to do, Tempest Shadow?” Celeano asked narrowing her eyes. Daring and Fluttershy sucked in breaths, knowing exactly how much Fizzlepop hated to be called that name and reminded of her past. “Excuse me?” Fizzlepop asked with narrowed eyes in a low tone of voice. “Do you care to repeat that?” Another roar echoed throughout the jungle, this one much closer to the group, causing the entire area to rumble and shake. Though Tempest and Celeano still locked eyes with each other, completely unfazed by the noise. Call it the heat of the moment, or the deep-seated tension between the two of them that had been building, but they were not about to let their confrontation be shut down by a monster, no matter how big or small it was. “Yes, Tempest Shadow. Or whatever it is you go by now, I don’t particularly give a damn,” Celeano repeated. “Far as I see it, you’ve just changed loyalties from one ruler to another. How do I actually know you’ve changed as a pony?” “Fizzlepop has been nothing but good since she came into Twilight’s care,” Fluttershy said. “Celeano, I understand and sympathize with you for the years you suffered under the Storm King’s thumb, but that doesn’t mean you should take your anger out on-” “The Storm King’s right-hand mare?” Celeano asked. “Celeano…” Fluttershy whispered. She knew that the parrot’s grudge with Fizzlepop ran deep, but not this deep. While she understood and empathized with the captain, there was a time and a place for things. “Do you really not trust me that much?” Fizzlepop lifted a brow. “Do you really think I haven’t changed, that my rallying to her side was a fallacy?” “Way I see it,” Celeano stated. “You just switched sides to Twilight simply because you knew the Storm King was going to lose, and you simply wanted to save yourself.” “You’re an even bigger fool than I thought you were in that case,” Fizzlepop replied. “Twilight saved me. Take that as you will, but she saved me. It’s the least I can do to repay the favor and help save her country by-.” “By leading us all into a deathtrap?” Celeano asked. “Battra, that giant spider thing, and who knows what else. Mothra or not, this island is not safe. Just look around you, we barely got out of that alive! You and Twilight, you’re both fools!” “Say what you will about me, I can take it. But the moment you even speak a word against my Princess…” Fizzlepop growled out before tackling Celeano to the cavern floor. Shouts rang out, Mullet and Twilight, both trying to pry Fizzlepop and Celeano off each other as they punched and kicked each other. Fluttershy, she stood back not sure if she should help or not. Daring did nothing. She knew this was a personal matter that the two needed to settle between themselves before they could move forwards. So she did nothing. Blood was drawn as the two bit each other, rolling outside into the cavern as the fight progressed. Picking themselves up off the ground, both Celeano and Fizzlepop punched each other even as the rain poured down. Fizzlepop let out a rage-filled scream as she landed a powerful right cross before Celeano grabbed her and pulled her down with her back into the mud. “...So… So, this is what it’s come to?” Fizzlepop asked breathing hard fighting back tears. “Me having to reduce myself to this just to prove myself to you. I… I am deeply sorry for how I treated you and your crew all those years ago.” She stopped trying to fight back against Celeano, whispering: “There you go Captain, left myself wide open. Go on, take a shot at me.” Celeano let out a screech of rage, and drew back her fist before… before nothing really. The blow never connected. Instead, Celeano bit back a sob and fell to the ground sniffling. Fizzlepop wasn’t far behind, thinking back to all the terrified faces she’d seen over the years during her time spent as the Storm King’s right-hand mare. “Fizzlepop, are you…” Celeano asked. “It’s just the whiskey, okay?” Fizzlepop snapped. “Just the damn whiskey… Let me… let me save some face okay?” “Okay…” Celeano said in return. “It’s just the whiskey. That’s the story we’ll both stick by for both of our… emotional issues.” The galloping of hooves was heard and Fizzlepop looked to the left and saw Twilight and the others running down to them. “You okay?” Twilight asked. “Ye… Yeah, I’ll be fine. Though I’m not sure for how long…” Fizzlepop muttered noticing the rustling of the bushes and then two massive tigers, white in color with antlers sticking out of their head marched out of the bushes. Atop their foreheads were changelings. Well, maybe. They certainly looked the part, if not for the fact that they were much smaller than the norm. The odd thing was, despite being the size of children they looked fully grown. “Oh, we heard quite a commotion,” the twin changelings(?) asked in unison. It was sorta creepy really. “We had heard the Battle Moth had been defeated, we just couldn’t believe it till we saw it. We thank you for that.” “...Thank us?” Daring asked quite confused. “Oh yes. Our Lord was once a protector of this great land, till the power went to his head.” the twin Changelings answered. Twilight’s eyes widened in recognition. They couldn’t be… could they? “...Isn’t that always the way? Give someone power, and he thinks himself a god…” Daring muttered. “Sad as it may be, without his demise, our great Lady couldn’t be reborn. From the father passes the powers to the daughter.” the twins explained. “Wait, you aren’t the Shobijin are you?” Twilight asked digging into her saddlebags for the book on them. “Yes, we are in fact the Shobijin. However did you know?” “...I… I read,” Twilight admitted flushing red. “I like to study up on… things…” “So we have heard. Oh, we have heard of a great many things about the Princess of Friendship!” the Shobijin said making Twilight blush harder. “Come now! You do want to meet Mothra do you not?” And so they were led inside a great temple, the two tigers flanking them on either side. Twilight and Daring brought out sketchbooks, scribbling away at the intricate designs painted on the beautiful creatures. This was indeed a lost world. But the most beautiful aspect of it all was yet to come. The group wandered to a room of almost solid gold, with scriptures spread across the walls telling the tale of the titan towering over ponykind. Small pillars lined the steps up to the top of a pyramid, wherein Mothra sat quietly curled into her body, surrounded by the gigantic temple. As the group got closer and closer towards the slumbering moth, they only briefly took notice of how large it was, how small it made them, and just how high above the ground they were. One wrong step would spell the end from them, as their heights became so dizzyingly tall that the ground turned to a muddy, blurred mire. “Thank Celestia for wings, eh?” Daring joked as curiosity overtook Fluttershy and the pegasus gently strode forwards towards the massive larva in front of her. “Um… hello?” Fluttershy whispered overcome with wonder. It amazed her how creatures of this great beauty could have been created by Grogar. And yet, despite this being a child of the Father of All Monsters she couldn’t find herself to be afraid. In fact, if anything Mothra seemed to actually want to initiate contact as the giant larva just barely free from her egg leaned forwards allowing the Element of Kindness to stroke her with a hoof. “So… you’re the Queen of Monsters… You… you don’t seem like a monster to me do you?” “So… she really does exist…” Fizzlepop whispered fighting back tears. It hadn't been all for nothing after all. She looked towards Celeano who had seemed to have been overcome with a similar sense of wonder. Not that she could blame her. Not all monsters were bad, it seemed. And some were downright beautiful. “Queen of the Monsters?” the Shobijin said in unison tilting their heads in a quizzical motion. “Is that the title she has been given?” “Well, yes but um... “ Fluttershy whispered. “If you don’t like that title we can stop calling her by that. I… I mean, if you want that is.” The Shobijin could only stifle giggles. “What’s… what’s so funny?” Twilight asked. “Oh, it is nothing Princess Twilight,” the Shobijin said. “It is just it is a very fitting title indeed! It is, in fact, Mothra who has always calmed and tamed the King throughout his many rampages throughout history!” “But… but she’s just a larva,” Daring remarked. “How can she possibly have…?” The Shobijin could only share a small secretive smile. Twilight meanwhile, breathed a sigh of relief. So there was hope after all. 4: Rebirth“I admire all forms of life.” -Dr. Ishiro Serizawa on the Titans, Godzilla 2019 Beginning Isle: Mothra’s Temple “Beautiful, absolutely beautiful…” Twilight whispered to herself as she flew up to the larva and ran a hoof across her face, the creature chirping and cooing gently in response. Mothra eyed her in curiosity. The gaze of an unthinking beast this was not. Bending towards them, Mothra never moved for a time as she sat like a snake, poised to strike. Subconsciously, Twilight took a step back in case something happened. But Mothra just sat in the faint light head unmoving. The eyes looked downwards and Twilight let out a soft gasp. Twilight’s eyes widened in response to this. “...You, you can see me can’t you?” she whispered in awe and wonder as she saw Mothra watching her. Twilight turned back to Fluttershy. “Are you seeing this?” she asked with a small squee. “Are… are you seeing this? Please tell me you’re seeing this!” she repeated in a more excited tone. “I am…” Fluttershy whispered back in response with Mothra turning to look at her. “Magnificent…” she whispered as she wiped away a tear of joy from her eye. To think that Grogar of all creatures and the planet itself could somehow give birth to creatures like this was absolutely, positively astounding. For a moment, if only a brief one Fluttershy wondered what else was out there before deciding that it was best that she didn’t think on it for too long. Granted, this was going to be winding up as a moot point sooner or later but for now at least Fluttershy could take solace in the fact that Mothra was the biggest thing out there. “Yes, she is, isn’t she?” the Shobijin said in unison over Mothra’s chirps and cooes as the Queen of the Mothra shook herself clean of the amniotic fluid that had covered her. The plates on her exoskeleton fluttered and the gigantic creature rose herself up to her full height of four-sixty feet with a level of elegance no creature should have been able to possess. And yet somehow, this one did. “Truly a guardian of this earth and the giver of life is she not?” Twilight was tempted to agree, and she suspected that Fluttershy was already on her way there. “...You gotta be kidding me,” Celeano muttered under her breath. She was less keen to approach the creature. A giant wonderous animal she may have been, -and even the wondrous part was arguable at the moment- but in the end she was still just that. An animal. “We came all this way for a larva? A bloody larva? I was expecting something… more. Like, much more.” “Beggars can’t be choosers, right Captain?” Mullet remarked. “Personally, I would take what you can get. Frankly, I’m more worried about how in the White Mother’s name we’re supposed to get back home without a ship…” Celeano blinked. “...Didn’t know you worshipped Celestia. ...Learn something new everyday really I suppose…” “Well, she is very… worshippy in some manners,” Mullet replied. “Don’t look so surprised, I mean Equestria worships her for a reason.’ he deadpanned. As the two squabbled amongst themselves Daring rolled her eyes and looked back at the Shobijin. “Uh… yeah, no offense intended here,” Daring stated as she flew back down towards the two little changeling-like creatures. The two tigers that they rested themselves atop growled out warnings and Daring backed up a little before speaking once more. “...But I like to think realistically here. As interesting as Mothra is, she’s still a larva. Let’s get real here, unless the titans that got awakened were massive larva themselves -and I doubt that highly by the way I should feel free to point out- I honestly can’t see your Queenie here doing us much good.” “She hasn’t yet reached her full size and splendor,” the Shobijin said in unison. “But rest assured, she will as time goes by!” Nearby, Tem… No, Fizzlepop Daring had to correct herself seemed to be moved to tears by the giant lepidopteran’s calls. “Oh, yeah, when will that be actually?” Daring questioned. “Weeks? We’re not exactly on a gracious time limit here… Must we forget that?” she grumbled before walking off. As she did so, Mothra eyed her but Daring paid her no mind. She was much more interested in the carvings on the temple walls. Monarch member she may have been, but she was still an explorer at heart. Daring chuckled to herself, it was a real damn shame she couldn’t just put this adventure in a book really. Now Daring wasn’t quite sure what the language meant, it was far older than any she had paid witness to before but the pictures scrawled on the walls were telling enough. A soft fluttering of feathered wings from behind her. Twilight, Daring knew. They were much larger than Fluttershy’s own, and there was a gentle warmth in the air, something soft and comforting. Magic. It subtly pricked at her as all unicorn magic did. “Curious, isn’t it Princess?” Daring remarked as Twilight walked up alongside her with both of them looking upwards to see stones bleached white. They depicted a massive reptilian beast, spines of some sort jutting from the backside roaring skywards at the heavens. More of the unusual language was below it. Daring suspected given enough time she and Twilight could probably put out a rough enough translation of it, but right now she didn’t think they needed to. The depictions said far more than the inscriptions themselves. The giant reptilian beast was joined by a moth, one that resembled Battra and presumably Mothra as well when she reached adulthood herself. Sometimes they seemed to be just comrades in arms, and at other points they seemed to be in more gentle situations. It did beg the question of what exactly the relationship between these two species was. Daring wasn’t stupid, she knew what she was looking at. Queen of the Monsters? That seemed an apt enough title Daring supposed. “...So, uh… I’m going to go out on a limb here and take a wild enough guess and hypothesize that Mothra and the big guy here have some sort of thing going on.” “That’s… that’s ridiculous!” Twilight sputtered out although she didn’t exactly sound particularly convinced of it herself. “If anything, they probably have some sort of symbiotic relationship. Her and Gojira I mean. One protects the other. It’s very common in nature.” Small chingling musical laughter. The Shobijin? Possibly, Daring thought to herself. The Shobijin laughing at them over some private joke. “Agh, don’t give me that Princess,” Daring replied in turn. “I’ve been out in the wilderness long enough to see cutesy behavior when I recognize it. Surely you’ve been over to your friend’s cottage enough times to see that sorta thing as well…” “...Well, nature is a curious and wondrous thing…” Twilight murmured to herself finally relenting and again Daring let out a bark of laughter. “If you ask me, nature is just plain messed up.” the explorer muttered to herself. Twilight laughed in response perhaps in agreement with her. Then, it came. A chirping call, longer than the prior ones. Daring’s fur stood up at this one. Was Mothra calling out to another of her brethren? She broke out into a gallop as she ran back over to the Shobijin. Another call came, a high bass call that sounded like it was reverberating in the pit of Daring’s stomach. It made Daring wonder if something was calling Mothra back. And that prospect simply terrified her. “What.. what is she doing?” Daring asked the Shobjin. Beside her Celeano looked as equally keen to know as well. “Who… just who exactly is she calling? Don’t tell me she’s waking up any of the other Titans out there.” Celeano shuddered at the thought. There were more? She really should have been paid in advance she mused to herself. One of these creatures was bad enough as it was. But the sheer idea of the possibility that there were more than one of these things was truly frightening. They couldn’t stop Battra so how could they handle any others? “No miss,” the Shobijin said in kind. “Mothra does not have the capability to do that. She is calling to the ones already awake out there, warning them that their Queen has returned and asking them of their intentions. That is all!” they laughed gently as if to reassure the group. “So, she’s reasserting them of her authority, is that it?” Celeano surmised. “I can respect that.” Nearby, the giant caterpillar was walking down the steps on her many stubby legs, light glittering off the remains of the chrysalis she had left behind. She was wandering into a side tunnel as if following some ancient track laid down by those who came before her. It was an inchworm crawl taking a few minutes, but a hasty crawl nonetheless. Mothra it seemed knew exactly what she was doing and where to go. She knew something was wrong perhaps, and that she was needed. Daring for a brief moment wondered if they should follow after her but decided against it. Mothra was allowed her privacy really. It was only fair. She shouldn’t have been treated like a circus animal on display. The tunnels were lit up with a soft blue-green glow, Mothra’s almost mystical bioluminescence providing the way forwards. “...So, where is she going now? That bug seems like she has a place to be,” Celeano remarked. “She’s definitely moving with a purpose, that’s for sure. ...Wait a moment.” she commented as she suddenly realized something. “Back up just a tick. She’s telling them she has returned? What is she, something of a phoenix?” “That is an appropriate enough analogy, yes Captain Celaeno,” the Shobijin said. They knew they shouldn’t laugh at the rather tired creature in front of them. Mothra may have seemed simple to them but to everyone else she was something very unusual indeed. “She with each new rebirth gains the knowledge and experiences of her previous incarnation.” Celeano looked quite alarmed by this. “So there’s a chance of her gaining the mindset of Battra?” the parrot replied quite understandably unnerved by this prospect. “...Wonderful.” “Battra was one of the odd ones out in regards to Mothra’s reincarnations you must understand,” the Shobijin said in a gentle reply, soft and reassuring. “He grew fat on his power, ruling over this land like a tyrant and protecting his kingdom with a great pride. Godzilla was not quite sure how to take this so he could not help us. Heartbroken perhaps as for the longest time Mothra was his closest comrade. He simply did not understand.” “And the possibility of this Mothra becoming like her predecessor is…?” Celeano asked quite tired and wanting the two to get to the point. “There is that possibility, but it is unlikely,” the Shobijin said in reassurance. “More often than not, the creature you call Titanus Mosura is benevolent, a guardian of ponykind.” Titanus Mosura, so that was her scientific name. A shiver ran down Celeano’s spine at the thought of it. Was it fear, or was it wonder? She couldn’t be certain. “Yeah, I’ll believe it when I see it,” Celeano said dryly wondering where the hell her hip flask was at this point. The two tigers let out low warning growls sensing her agitation and realizing there was a possibility that the parrot could strike their masters. “No offense intended priestesses, but I’d rather not chance myself on a creature I barely know a thing about. Battra destroyed my ship, and killed a good portion of my crew in doing so. Now if you excuse me, me and what’s left of it are going to get the hell out of here. Feel free to stop me if any of you want but I’d much rather be back home hopefully replacing my ship.” “I’m not even going to try,” Twilight said as she stepped out of the way to allow Celeano to pass. “I can understand your position. I’m truly sorry for bringing you all into this.” “Save me your sympathies Princess, just pay me in full when we all get back home,” Celeano stated. “...As soon as I figure out how the hell to do that,” she realized suddenly remembering the fact that she was in absence of a ship on an island. Quite the predicament indeed she realized with a low chuckle. “...Ah, you don’t happen to have a boat anywhere do you?” Celeano asked turning back to the Shobijin who could only giggle in response. They chanted something, a language long since forgotten and the air crackled and fizzled before a glowing blue portal opened up. On the other side of it was a city in the desert wastes rising tall and proud over what surrounded it. Celeano didn’t know how the two priestesses had pulled this off but she didn’t bother to question it. Magic was a funny thing and it did as it pleased. You were better off not questioning its intricate workings more often than not. Oh yes, Celeano knew of the spell crafters and magical theorists in Equestria but she wasn’t a smart bird by any stretch of the imagination. They were a bit beyond her. Still, Celeano mused to herself as she tossed one final glance towards the egg now deprived of its mystical blue glow she didn’t exactly feel comfortable just up and leaving like this. Even if she wasn’t exactly sure why she felt such a manner. She sighed to herself, Twilight could handle herself. She was after all, the mighty Princess of Friendship and the Element of Magic. Taking a step through the portal she tossed a small wave before vanishing from sight. “You sure she’ll be alright?” Twilight asked of Mullet. The parrot sighed to himself. “Celeano’s just in a bad mood, not that you could blame her I suppose,” Mullet mused. “She needs time to mourn and to grieve. I’ll make her see sense. Storm’s coming Princess, and if anything I do want to help you weather it. Be seeing you.” he said with a small smile before following after his captain. “You coming Flutters?” Fizzlepop asked as the portal changed to that of Ponyville. Fluttershy shook her head catching everypony off guard. “No, I cannot,” Fluttershy answered softly. “I need to stay here. Mothra is too curious of a creature for me to just up and leave like this you understand. I will return when I’m good and ready. I feel there’s still work for me to do…” “You’re a mare after my own heart, you know that?” Daring chuckled. “True blue explorer and Monarch scientist. I’ll be sure to put in a good word for you.” “I’d like that,” Fluttershy smiled. “I’d like that very much. Goodbye for now Daring.” “Yeah, I’ll put in a good word for you,” Daring mused to herself with a sad sigh. “Presuming of course Monarch’s still standing after this is all over.” “There it is again,” Serizawa shouted as machines recorded the sound and the shockwave needles tapping away in succession. “Stronger than the last!” he exclaimed as his paw rapidly jotted down something on a sheet of paper. A wavelength recording. Rising and falling in succession. Outside, the massive thorn-like chrysalis glowed an eerie orange gold hue in the evening light. “What’s going on?” Stellar whispered as she stepped out of the tent. “It can’t be… can it? Please tell me that thing’s not waking up. By Writer’s Quill, please tell me that’s not the case!” she whispered in a panicked frenzy. “No… No. I don’t think that’s the case,” Serizawa murmured to himself. “It’s too early for that I think. Yes, this creature is supposed to wake up eventually, but in just a matter of a few short hours? No, I don’t think that would be the case…” “So, what’s it doing then?” Stellar asked. The Oxygen Destroyer as it had been termed. Neither of them spoke of it. They had agreed not to at least for the time being. Serizawa had took a lighter to his notes destroying any evidence that the machine had ever existed. At least… any physical evidence. Still, Stellar worried. Serizawa was in quite the state as it was. She was worried he might do something rash eventually. What exactly, she wasn’t quite sure really. And truth be told she wasn’t exactly sure if she wanted to find out. “I think… I think it might be communicating really,” Serizawa theorized. “With what I’m not exactly sure yet.” “You don’t think it’s with… that do you?” Stellar whispered in a fearful tone. “But that thing was destroyed, we made sure of it!” “I don’t think so. These communications, they don’t seem to be with how an animal would treat it’s mate. They seem almost… I wouldn’t quite label them as terrified but their urgency does seem to indicate something aside from friendliness. By Boreas, what I wouldn’t give to understand the Titan language!” Serizawa breathed. “Same..” Stellar agreed as dusk fell. The stars and Luna’s moon above them cast a beautiful almost tranquil glow over the fog covered grounds surrounding the massive chrysalis. “So who do you think it’s talking with if not it’s mate?” “Her… Titanus Mosura at my best guess.” Serizawa said motioning for another scientist to come closer. The scientist did and unrolled a massive piece of paper featuring a charcoal rubbing of the massive titan. Stretching an estimated 803 feet at full size from wingtip to wingtip, this rubbing only captured a small part of the creature’s presumed majesty. And even then this size was at a best guess from photographs taken and hidden away by Monarch over the years. The real creature could have been much larger. Without proper scale references it was hard to say really. “He’s talking to his queen. Not his mate but to his queen,” Serizawa continued as he studied the piece of rubbing. He was well aware of how that sounded but right now he had more important things to worry about. Such as studying any known information on Mothra. For however bad this Titan was there could always be something far worse. Yes, the information on Mothra usually depicted her as a benevolent protector instead of a wrathful god but there was always those other tidbits that made him worry. Such as Captain Fizzlepop’s story. It didn’t hurt to be too careful really. A bit of paranoia didn’t hurt anyone. “You don’t think she’s urging him to wake up and reclaim his lands do you?” Stellar asked worriedly. “I’d rather not have the public in mass panic when two of these things show up. Generally when two animals, solitary predators show up and meet together it’s either for one of three reasons. To fight, to feed or for something far more intimate.” “Calm yourself Stellar,” Serizawa urged. “I’m not sure that Mothra and these MUTOs are even the same species. I have several working theories, actually.” “Do tell,” Stellar asked with an eyebrow raised her curiosity suitably intrigued. She still kept a watchful eye on the chrysalis all the while but she walked over to Serizawa all the same. “I’m listening.” “Well, there are several possibilities. One this is simply a case of simple divergent evolution. It’s not unprecedented in any case,” Serizawa explained. “Notably, both the MUTO species and apparently from these text’s Mothra's species as well are symbiotic with Gojira’s. They are just different kinds of symbiosis. The MUTO species are just parasitic compared to Mothra and Gojira’s mutualism. It is hardly unknown for evolution to cause jumps from one kind of symbiosis to another is it?” he remarked with Stellar nodding her head all the while. “No, it isn’t. This could also be a case of speciation happening and specialising in different what are simply different kinds of symbiosis,” she agreed the scientist in her suitably stirred up. “Or maybe it’s mimicry. Deceptive mimicry. It’s possible that the male of the species evolved a similar appearance to Mosura. He would use this to lure unsuspecting, inexperienced members of other species to the female’s nest and then said female would pounce. I wouldn’t know, we would need to get a good look at both the male and female in action. Granted, that would involve waking them up which is the last thing we want to… do.” she trailed off as another shockwave slammed into the ground flooring both Serizawa and Stellar. Stronger than any of the others before it, this next one required a good minute or so before Serizawa and Stellar could pick themselves up off the ground and toss aside the fallen desk. “Ma’am!” one of the other scientists shouted towards Stellar. “Recommend evacuation! Or at least we move to a safer distance. I don’t know how much longer we have.” Stellar was inclined to agree and she turned to look at Serizawa again. “You know what must be done,” she told the griffon who could only hang his head in resigned defeat. “Yes… that I do. Kill it.” he whispered sadly not meeting Stellar’s eyes. Just as the order went out an alarm was raised around the facility. As this happened ponies moved away as the massive cranes that held up the Chrysalis were charged with electricity. A loud shriek of pain went up forcing everypony to cover their ears. It was the most horrible sound one could possibly imagine, a high pitched shriek that was nearly deafening in volume. Then the chrysalis lit up as beams of energy ripped through the facility around them carving up the valley around it. One crane was sent crashing towards the ground as the wires went wild. Fire and smoke rose up from around the facility and once again a massive shockwave was emitted flattening many more buildings. Some ponies were sent flying by the massive energy surge. But Monarch would not give up. Serizawa even as he looked on with a sheerly heartbroken expression at having to do this to such a beautiful creature sent more surges of electricity from the cranes. Part of the chrysalis crumbled and was sent toppling to the ground like a massive stalactite. “All readings are flatlined.” a scientist said from his console and Stellar looked at him. “Get a visual!” she ordered not confident in this creature being really dead. Upon her orders several ponies in Royal Guard armor moved up with energy surge rifles in hoof. All was quiet as the ponies moved down into the crater. Even the chrysalis itself had stopped glowing and humming. It seemed whatever was inside was dead now. The captain of the group looked up as more of the chrysalis began to crumble. Several scorch marks were now visible on its scarred exterior. “All seems quiet,” he radioed in. Commander Hardsteel was a veteran having served under two Princesses. When he had been transferred to the Monarch division he wasn’t exactly sure what he could expect. Personally, he had long thought the group was about as insane as those guys who thought aliens existed. And yet now looking up at this massive cocoon he found his own views changing. “Tango’s not reacting to anything. It’s as if we simply aren’t here.” he continued subconsciously wrapping his hoof around the surge rifle’s trigger and clutching onto it tightly. In his office, Serizawa whispered: “Why should it notice us? We are simply like ants to it in the end..” Next to him a few scientists scooted their chairs away from the griffon looking quite nervous. “Seriwaza,” Snap Shutter commented his hoof wrapping around a coffee cup as he took a swig. “Please for Celestia’s sake don’t do that. You sound almost in awe of the beast. Freaking us all out here.” “Apologies for that,” Serizawa replied looking rather embarrassed with himself. Sure enough his facial feathers were a flustered red. “I do apologize for that little… display if you will.” Back down on ground level Hardsteel walked up to the chrysalis and shone a light on it from his horn. The cocoon was now oozing some sort of unearthly gray colored goo. He groaned in disgust with a few of his troops soon to follow. “Celestia, Serizawa…” he muttered fighting back the bile in his throat as he looked upon the truly massive cocoon now laying as still as the night. Another soldier wasn’t quite so restrained. Not that Hardsteel could blame him really. “You didn’t tell me that this thing would be so disgusting in death.” A loud crack. The cocoon now was beginning to stir once more and cries of alarm rose up. Something peered out at them from the blackness. An eye slit watching them with violent emotion coursing through it. Then the entire cocoon smashed open and shouts rose up from the squadron as this massive forelimb whipped out and slammed into the ground. A trumpet like call rose up from the creature as it ripped itself free of the cocoon covered in amniotic fluid. Orange eyes shone through the night as the massive creature strode forwards letting out another angry call. As the forelimbs hit ground glowing with a red light another wave hit. This time all went black around what remained of the facility. “Power’s out!” Snap shouted. “Anti mana wave! Here it comes again, brace for impact in five… four… three… two… ONE!” Side effect of soaking up the natural radiation he guessed. He along with the others could only watch in horror as the massive creature stomped through the facility. Surge rifles were discharged and magical fire was blasted towards the creature but it had little if any effect at all. “Crikey,” Snap muttered to himself. “That thing’s a beast! And I thought Wyverns were something else!” More surge rifles were discharged as the troop tried in vain to halt the creature’s advance. Another whip of its foreleg sent soldiers flying. Another anti mana wave came almost as if on cue. “Fire everything!” Hardsteel shouted and through the flames for just the briefest of instances he and the MUTO’s eyes met. Was it understanding that passed between them or something else? It was hard to be certain. In any case the MUTO let out another trumpeting call and continued on his march forward slamming his forelimb to the ground and crushing a soldier underneath. “Get the back ups online,” Stellar ordered her team in a frightful urgented tone. She really didn’t want to see that creature leave the facility even if there was a very distinct possibility of that occurring now. With luck, they could fry it before it did so. “Get them online now!” she barked out once more beads of sweat trailing down her face. “We’re trying,” Snap said in reply looking equally frightened. The crackling of flames was heard as fire rose up around the facility. “That wave pretty much fried everything we have, it’ll take a miracle to get this place back up and running.” “Then start praying,” Stellar muttered as she flipped a few switches and then the lights came on for just the briefest of moments. Her eyes widened in horror as she whispered: “Dear Goddess in heaven…” In front of them was this massive insect creature roaring to the heavens with firey red eyes. It turned to look at them and let out another call. Then she realized. It knew who had tried to kill it. As it advanced it ripped through another of the barriers and raised a forelimb to strike out at them. Stellar braced herself before all went black… Far away on the crest of a hill Twilight and company emerged only to see flames rising up from the valley. Then lightning lit up the night as the MUTO rose up from the fire and took to the skies like the world’s largest wasp letting out another cry as it did so. Twilight’s blood ran cold as she saw the now non terrestrial creature take to the skies blocking out the moon for a moment or so. “...Dear mother of Celestia…” she whispered as she saw the creature fly south. “...I… I don’t think she had anything to do with this…” Daring whispered in an equally horror struck tone. Then she regained her wits and took to the skies expanding her mighty golden wings. She flew towards the facility letting out a shout of: “Come on, we have to get down there!” Twilight wasted no time in following while Fizzlepop broke into a gallop to follow on after her. It took but a half hour to reach what remained of the outpost. Charred and burnt remains of ponies and other things surrounded them. Daring tried a radio to warn the nearest facility of what was coming even as the rainclouds broke open drenching the facility with pouring rains. Sadly there was no such luck. She swore to herself. “...If only I was here… Then maybe… just maybe…” “Maybe what?” Fizzlepop asked. “Maybe you could have been killed like the rest of them?” “You don’t… you don’t know that…” Daring whispered a fury in her eyes before she sighed to herself. Fizzlepop was right. There was nothing they could have done even if they were here. “But there are still things we can do…” Daring thought to herself. “Stop that creature and make sure this tragedy doesn’t happen again.” Then a shout rose up from amongst the ruins and the rubble. Twilight rushed over to what looked like the remains of a command center and quickly began tossing aside metal with Fizzlepop coming over to help. Then coughing rose up from the ruins. Twilight’s eyes widened as she stumbled across a familiar figure in the midst of the ruins. Then a sigh of relief was breathed as she let out a breathe she hadn’t realized she had been holding. Fizzlepop was soon to follow her. “Seri… Serizawa?” she asked. “Is… is that you?” Author's Note And here we go... 5: A Plan of ActionIf the world lives to see another century, please remember what Mothra did for you and the planet you live on. - The Cosmos, Godzilla VS Mothra Monarch Headquarters: Manehatten “Lose?” Twilight asked. “How do you lose a shipment of magical energy surplus direct from the Crystal Empire? It’s like losing the Mare of Liberty!” she shouted wings flaring out in both anger and frustration. “Exactly like we said Princess,” Star Hunter replied flinching at her anger. “Sometime this past night a ship full of crystals had suddenly vanished from any known charts. There are a few working theories in progress right now.” The midnight blue pegasus sighed to himself. He knew exactly why this was such a big worry for Twilight. The Crystal Empire’s most famed resource could be used in any number of things, such as channeling mana and storing memories for starters. It was one of those things you just requested in spades, and thanks to the Empire constantly regrowing and regenerating its stores -little in part no thanks to the abundance of mana in the air and in the ground- it was easy enough to come by. It was one of the reasons exactly why the country had found itself easy to find its place in modern day Equestria as the crystals were quite rare and sought after. During the thousand or so years the country had been a non-entity so to speak the only source of these crystals had been in the dangerous Diamond Dog mines or in the hoards of dragons. “Yeah, well all your theories can probably be scrapped,” Twilight drawled. “I have a fairly good guess as to who exactly happened to those crystals and they probably weren’t stolen by dragons.” “You don’t think the MUTO had anything to do with it, do you?” Star Hunter asked even though he probably already knew the answer. Hell, he knew it would have been a fool not to have guessed the Titan had something to do with it. In the back of the room, Fizzlepop scoffed to herself. Everyone looked directly at her. “So, we’re really going to keep on going calling it a MUTO are we?” the mulberry mare deadpanned complete with her left eyebrow raised in fascinating fashion. “What’s your point?” Star Hunter asked. “Well, calling it a massive unidentified terrestrial life form seems a bit… say, I don’t know, redundant when the lifeform in question is not exactly terrestrial anymore is it?” Fizzlepop remarked with a small wave of her hoof. “So, I guess MUFO meaning a ‘Massive Unidentified Flying Organism’ isn't as catchy of a phrase?” This gained a few snorts from inside the main room which was currently so thick with tension you probably could have cut it with a knife. This was their worst nightmare come to life. For years, Monarch’s sole goal was to have kept the existence of creatures like Titans under wraps but here and now one and possibly more were waking up. To make matters all the worse Princess Twilight’s plan was to send out yet another of these creatures to fight the first one. Star Hunter flashed back to when the Princess first proposed this idea... “He going to be alright?” Twilight asked as she watched the professor get loaded into a medical airship. Stellar was soon to follow and looked to be in much worse condition, Twilight forced herself to look away from the bloody mess that was her leg. Choking back bile, she looked directly at Star Hunter. “Well, is he?” she asked fearfully. “Yeah, he’ll be fine. He got lucky. Him, Snap and Madam Stellar,” the pegasus agreed. A medical bag was hanging around his neck along with a pair of flight goggles. “If you had been a few minutes late, we might very well be having a very different form of conversation. So good to know Celestia trained you in some scrap of medical knowledge. ...Unless you picked that up yourself in a book?” “No, Celestia didn’t want me to go off anywhere without lacking some medical knowledge, either to perform on myself or any friends she hoped I would make,” Twilight replied. “I’m just thanking the Holy Writer I won’t have to give Sunburst a call and explain a few things.” “Don’t start saying that yet,” Star replied. “Stellar may be out of the woods, but she’s pretty banged up. And that leg of hers…” he continued sucking in a breath. “I do presume you have a plan? As of right now, you’re pretty much in charge of the whole operation until Stellar’s back on her hooves.” “I do have a plan, just not sure how you’re going to take it really…” Twilight sighed before sucking in a breath. “Ever since me, Serizawa and Fizzlepop first found the MUTO’s nest in that mine we were thinking of an alternate solution in case Monarch failed to stop it.” “Obviously, we have,” Star Hunter noted. “So out with it. Whatever this plan of yours is, it can’t be all that bad and I do have faith in you. I’m all ears here.” “Um… well…” Twilight said shuffling her hooves. “Fizzlepop had heard legends of a creature that might be able to help us and looking at ancient texts me and Serizawa agreed with her.” “...Don’t tell me, you’re going after a Titan?” Star Hunter gasped his blue eyes widening in shock. “Already had, actually. The one you refer to as Titanus Mosura, the Giver of Life in old Guoxia texts.” Twilight replied sounding rather nervous about how her old university buddy would react. Understandably nervous mind you, but still rather nervous. “...Welp, it’s official. We’ve officially crossed over into crazy Twilight Sparkle plan territory,” Star Hunter laughed. “You really are Celestia’s student aren’t you? Mind you, not saying this is a bad thing as if you were going to enlist any Titan it might as well be that one.” Could go worse Star Hunter supposed. Twilight could have gone ahead and sought out Gojira or Godzilla or whatever they called him. Should they start calling this kind of plan the Godzilla Threshold after the ancient primordial beast? Seemed fitting enough he supposed. “So you’re actually on board with this plan?” Twilight asked sound rather pleased. Or relieved. One of the two. “Yeah, I am. I just wouldn’t go spreading it around to the rest of Monarch really,” Star Hunter put in. “Goodness knows how they’d react if they knew two Titans were suddenly about to clash.” “...Chances are they’ll know soon enough anyways,” Twilight pointed out. “I mean, this isn’t exactly something you could easily keep under wraps.” “Fair point,” Star Hunter agreed. “Mind you, something does worry me so…” “And what’s that?” Twilight asked. “If you’re worried about Mothra causing damage that would sort of be an inevitability g-given her size and all.” “It’s not that…” Star Hunter muttered turning his head to a lone pony standing amongst the wreckage. He hadn’t really moved an inch since the creature had awakened. “It’s Captain Hardsteel. He was at ground zero when the creature awakened. He stared it in the eye from what I hear. Lost plenty of his men to it. And I’m worried when he stared into the eyes of the abyss and he blinked…” “...We’ll be lucky if we all don’t see tribunals by the end of the day…” Snap Shutter muttered. “So, our plan is to throw two Titans into the mixer with one another and hope, just hope they don’t decide to make itty bitty babies with one another? Forgive me if I sound unconvinced here or anything.” “You got any better ideas?” Fizzlepop asked starting to regret rescuing the stallion from the rubble. “Seriously, if anyone has any better ideas please do offer them now!” In another corner of the room, Pharynx crossed his forelegs and huffed his wings buzzing in agitation. “Mare’s got a point. I mean, we’re pretty low on options here.” “Wait wait wait,” Snap said. “Look, I’m all for studying Titans and all but not when they’re trashing cities. Several ponies, good ponies died just trying to stop that one! Celestia only knows what happens if we let two of them fight it out.” “And I agree with you there,” Pharynx said. “But from all reports, regular weapons have no effect. Like, zilch. So we can just toss these into dumpsters for all the good they’ll do.” he continued picking up a surge rifle and tossing it behind him with a loud clatter. “Oh, so we’re going to make a Titan our ally? Might as well invite him or her in for a beer,” Snap sighed. “Okay, I’ll go along with this crazy plan. You’re quite right Pharynx, this is probably our only option. Oh yeah, things must have gone a pretty pair if we’re seriously actually considering any of this really…” “So basically every other week really,” Fizzlepop noted. “I mean, it seems every couple of weeks or so something threatens Equestria -me included I do admit- and it takes time to enact an actual plan. Which always ends up meaning it’s always just six or seven ponies who do all the work!” She was astounded this country hadn’t been conquered yet with the ineptitude of those in charge at times. “Well, we can forget bureaucracy and going through the proper channels,” Daring noted. “I mean, there’s not exactly any precedents for giant monsters. Not even elder dragons, who rarely bother us as it is.” “...I’ll make a note of creating a series of precedents just for these cases then,” Twilight remarked. “Assuming we all live through this that is…” “Good thing we were formed then,” Snap remarked taking a sip of his coffee. “We’re a crack team of experts with one thing in common. We’re all part of an elite team composed of lone wolves, nerds, liantes, marginalized heretics and general all around pains in the backside of the academic bureaucracy! Basically, we’re Equestria’s last hope.” “And yet we’re completely unable to form any sort of plan without squabbling amongst ourselves,” Daring Do deadpanned. “So yay us. So, who wants to start writing their wills early eh?” “What a team…” Twilight muttered slamming her head into a table in frustration. Fizzlepop just patted her on the shoulder in sympathy. “We’re probably all going to die aren’t we?” “ENNNNNNNNNNOOOOUGGGGHHHHHH!!!!” came Stellar’s voice as the mare trotted into the room now sporting a cybernetic leg in place of her old right foreleg. Said leg had been crushed in the rubble and had to have been amputated. Firing a bolt of red energy into the air to make everyone look at her she glared around the room. Serizawa was directly by her side as ever. “Look at you, squabbling like children over the last pint of juice. This is a disgrace! We were formed to keep Equestria and the lands beyond safe from monsters, and we can’t even do that right thanks to our own egos! Now I don’t know about you, but I’m ashamed of what I’m looking at here. I didn’t lose my leg just to see my country die because nobody could pull their heads out of their asses to do something about it! And that includes you Princess Twilight!” she barked out making everyone look quite ashamed of themselves. Fizzlepop was simply amazed at the mare’s prowess. Not everyone could quiet down a room and publicly shame Twilight in the bargain. And get away with it to boot! Seems Stellar possessed that certain something. Guess that was why she was the head of Monarch by Celestia’s own choice. “Now that’s more like it,” Fizzlepop thought to herself with a small smile. “Seems this entire group was falling apart without knowledge that their commander in chief had survived or was in hospice.” “Tatopoulos!” Stellar bellowed out as she looked directly at a red-furred stallion. “Get me a video uplink of the last thing that the ship’s memory crystal recorded! On the double! March!” she barked making a few other ponies jump at the sheer volume in her voice. “On it!” the stallion said rushing off with two others in lab coats shouting: “Move it, move it, move it! The lady wants results ponies!” As he did so, Serizawa walked over to Twilight and watched the footage that was soon displayed on the screen via a very large movie projector. All seemed calm for the most part until a massive… thing landed letting out a trumpeting call. His fiery orange eyes seemed like they came from the pits of Tartarus itself. As the MUTO Male marched forwards lights went off all over the ship and he lunged towards a pile of crystals held down by ropes. And then all went black as he raised one of its forelimbs… “...Don’t suppose it was stopping off for a light snack was it?” Twilight asked nervously and Serizawa shook his head sadly. “...If only that were the case,” he murmured in a grave tone of voice. “When this thing was cocooned, I heard it… talking. At first, I thought it was with their Queen, the creature we know as Mothra but now I think differently.” “Talking, as in…” Twilight whispered before her eyes slowly widened in realization. “Oh, dear Goddess!” “That would be an apt phrase for this situation, yes,” Serizawa agreed. “Stellar Flare and I proposed that there was another one, a female. At first, we dismissed this idea claiming it was dead but what if… What if it was simply laying in wait? For the right time IE the male maturing to a proper stage?” “...And just when we thought two Titans were bad enough,” Twilight muttered. “This is not going to go over well with Monarch, you know that right? I had a hard enough time convincing them to let Mothra be, and that was when she and the Male were the only known active Titans. Now there’s two MUTOs to worry about along with any collateral damage that Mothra may cause!” Serizawa simply looked away and started praying in neighponiese. Twilight, for her part, was tempted to join him. Unbeknownst to them, both Stellar Flare had been listening in and she shut her eyes in shame. “Please forgive me, my love…” the mare whispered before turning to Captain Hardsteel. “...I think we need to start considering other options.” “How so?” the buck asked. “Regular weapons don’t work on these things! Flamethrowers maybe, but I’m not sure how many I can get as a requisition order on such a short notice.” “No, it’s not that. Serizawa had plans, he quickly destroyed them and at the time I agreed with his idea. But we are at a crossroads. Twilight has her reality, and we have the MUTOs which are the reality. I have a photographic memory, and I think we can reproduce a weapon which may be able to kill all of these things in one clean blow.” Hardsteel turned to look at her and smiled. Stellar Flare was not above admitting it sent chills down her spine looking into his coal black eyes. “Good, we’re in agreement then. It’s time to show these creatures that we are the true titans…” Hardsteel said. Guoxia Province: Beginning Isle Meanwhile far and away from the happenings of the mainland rested the island. It had remained undisturbed since Princess Twilight and her company had left. Fluttershy for her part was over the moon. Not at Twilight leaving, but getting an up close and personal chance to study the Queen of the Monsters as she had been called several times. Fluttershy didn’t exactly why Mothra was called a monster as she hardly looked the part in any way but she supposed nobody knew what else to call her. Fluttershy was now being treated to a truly wondrous sight. The Shobijin had eagerly told her it was time. Time for what exactly Fluttershy was unsure at first, and then realization had dawned upon her. The time of a rebirth was now at hand and Fluttershy was about to get a front row seat to it. Permit me to explain. Since Twilight had left a massive cocoon had been created under a huge waterfall underneath the temple. Mothra in her larva form had emerged from behind the pounding falls seemingly ignorant to their power and had created her own cocoon. The Shobijin, atop their tigers, were now singing to the creature while Fluttershy looked on in a sense of wonder ignoring the pounding rain. This was what she had waited for, a chance to see the true Giver of Life in all of her beauty and her splendor. And Fluttershy in all of her patience would be rewarded greatly. All gathered would be rewarded. “Mothra oh Mothra If we were to call for help... “Over time, over sea, like a wave You'd come Our guardian angel… “Mothra oh Mothra If we were to call for help Over time, over sea, like a wave…” Fluttershy found herself almost tranquilized by the Shobijin and their beautiful singing. She even found -to her great surprise- herself singing along with the two little fairies even as tears threatened to break from the beauty of it all. “Over time, over sea, like a wave You'd come Our guardian angel... “Mothra oh Mothra Of forgotten kindness and ruined spirits We pray for the people's spirit as we sing This song of love…” They were calling for help and for their Queen to save them, and like always Mothra was to answer that call. Soon, the cocoon cracked open and two massive wings gently unfurled with a sense of elegant grace and poise. The rest of Mothra’s body was soon to follow, the truly gigantic yet wondrous creature climbing up the steps of her pyramid temple with her crystal clear blue eyes looking at those below. Then with a single flap of her wings, she dispelled the storm clouds and let the sun reflect and shine down on her wings. Raising her head skywards she let out a chirping roar and Fluttershy felt a chill run down her spine. All would take heed now, even those who now threatened Equestria. The Queen of the Monsters had returned. Back in Manehatten quite unaware of what was currently transpiring Captain Celeano was in a bar yet again. “Why is the rum always gone? Why is the rum always bloody gone when I need it the most?” Celeano shouted having been drowning her sorrows. She held up an empty bottle and sighed. “...Oh, that’s why I suppose.” Music played from a jukebox in the corner of the bar as Celeano held the bottle over her opened beak trying to get any last drops still left in it to fall into her awaiting beak. Mullet was watching the parrot with an expression of… maybe it was pity. It was hard to tell really. “...This is just sad,” he muttered to himself. Yep, it was definitely pity. He’d been watching his Captain ever since they got back from the isle and he’d been studying her reactions to everything. What he’d seen he didn’t exactly like to say the least. Not that he could exactly blame the woman for reacting the way she was. He along with the rest of her crew had been with her through thick and thin even managing to weather through -no pun intended- the oppressive regime of the Storm King himself. He, truth be told, if he was in her place probably would have reacted not all that differently had he been the one in command of Squabble and Boyle when that giant spider creature showed up. Hell, he was fairly amazed that he’d kept himself together this long. “Um… Captain?” Mullet asked, the dark green parrot looking somewhat nervous as he approached the drunken woman. “You’re… uh, making a bit of a scene if I will be honest.” That wasn’t exactly that far from the truth really given several of the other barflies were now staring at the pirate captain with varying levels of annoyance. Mullet wondered how long it was before they both got tossed out on their arses really. He’d probably give it a degree of five minutes or so. “Sorry…” Celeano slurred slightly. “Goddess above, I’m such a wreck....” “And you criticized me for when I started worshipping Celestia…” Mullet teased her and Celeano laughed bitterly. “Yeah, well, can you blame me for suddenly getting religious on you? Considering half of the shit we’ve been dealing with over the past several days, it does make one start to reconsider certain parts of their lives…” “So, you’re saying you’ll give up being a pirate?” Mullet asked her and Celeano threw back her head and laughed. “Hell no! That’ll be the day. When Tartarus starts freezing over maybe, then I’ll stop being a bit of a pirate. Not someone you could easily tie down. Half the reason I became a pirate was because of the adventure it entailed,” Celeano explained. “The other reason being the booty of course.” “...Yes, well the treasure is a generally very tempting aspect of-” “Who said I meant that kind of booty?” Celeano asked with a knowing smirk. “Trust me, when they find out you’re a pirate… Yummy.” Mullet could only do the most sensible option open to him at that point. Namely, to facepalm. “You’re definitely something, aren’t you Captain?” Mullet muttered largely to himself. “You are definitely... something.” “The one and the only something!” Celeano chorused throwing her arms up in the air, one hand still clutching onto that one bottle. Inwardly, she sighed to herself. She knew no amount of drinking at any bar in Manehatten -and there were plenty of those she could assure you- would bring Squabble or Boyle back. But she thought fighting back a sob she had fought with them suffered with them. And now one massive spider had killed them both after they’d crash landed on an island she deeply suspected nobody was ever meant to be on. ...That was just her luck really. Free herself from the Storm King’s regime and get a new ship, only to have that ship smashed by a giant moth creature and then two of her crew members killed soon after by the bloody wildlife. Gods, she was such a poor excuse for a pirate it wasn’t even funny anymore. And yet she couldn’t even feel angry towards Fizzlepop for leading them into that hell anymore. She supposed having her little punchout in the rain and in the mud may have had something to do with that. Her feelings towards Twilight, on the other hand, well she still wasn’t exactly sure where she stood towards the mare. Argh, she supposed she’d figure it out after a few more bottles of whiskey and rum. It generally helped the matter at any rate. She remembered what her mother had told her on being an adventurer. “One word kid: curiosity. You long for freedom. You long to do what you want to do because you want it. To act on selfish impulse. You want to see what it's like. One day you won't be able to resist.” The parrot chuckled to herself again. To be perfectly honest, Celeano really did have to wonder if her mother had meant for her to wind up being a fearsome pirate. Oh well, she wasn’t exactly in a place to argue the point anymore was she? She chuckled to herself, she supposed she had realized why exactly Twilight and Fizzlepop had elected to go along on that little side venture. Curiosity was a funny thing really, it could never truly be satisfied. And as they said, not all treasure was ever really just silver, gold or a pile of rubies. “Huh, a giant moth creature wasn’t exactly what I would ever designate as treasure,” Celeano thought to herself with a small chuckle. “But for ponies like them, I suppose a new form of life would probably count. Especially if your name is Twilight Sparkle. Might as well raise a glass towards you towards satisfying your own… let’s say a unique form of curiosity. Gotta tip my hat towards you at any rate. You’ve got guts for such a small pony.” Yep, Twilight Sparkle definitely had guts or big brass ones. One of the two. Took a special kind of pony to just extend the hand of friendship towards a pony who had been hounding you for days really. Celeano doubted she would have been so kind in her position. Still, it seemed to be paying dividends on Twilight’s part. Plenty of dividends. Especially if those dividends winded up paying off to Twilight in the way Celeano suspected they were. Goodness knew Fizzlepop and her had some form of relationship that went beyond Princess and Captain. “So Captain,” Mullet asked of her. “What exactly do you intend to do now?” “Quite honestly…” Celeano asked. “I don’t know. Firstly, I’m going to drink myself stupid and then I’ll probably figure it out.” Mullet elected not to mention Celeano was probably already halfway there as it was. Even as Celeano listened to the music playing in the background, she thought of Twilight Sparkle and wondered exactly why she felt like scum for abandoning her on that island… There was a certain amount of ease in finding the stolen crystals really. It was a simple enough task once you learned that each crystal gave off a certain magical signature unique to them alone. So, with that in mind, you simply had to narrow down the location of said crystals. Of course, this came with its own risks like everything else but considering there was now a giant parasite creature on the loose that seemingly had every intent of mating with another of his kind… Well, risks like getting eaten alive were sorta were pretty low on everyone’s mind. They had to look at the bigger picture and all that. It was a little known fact but a changeling king’s -or prince’s- mandibles actually functioned like a unicorn’s horn in some regard. I say little known thanks to Chrysalis pretty much squandering the species and nearly killing them all for her own ego and lust for control. Pharynx was not pleased to learn that his Queen -well, former Queen now- had prevented him from using the full scope of his abilities. There had been quite a bit of cursing involved, along with Pharynx pretty much destroying several dummies made up to look like the former Queen. Several comments had been made on the possibilities of just how exactly sane Pharynx was before a quick glare from said changeling silenced them. At any rate, Pharynx now found himself in the jungles of Haywaii tracking down the lost crystals. “Eyes open,” Pharynx commanded to his Royal Guard accompaniment. All were armed with either flamethrowers or were capable of performing fire-based spells. “Keep them peeled. I’d really rather not be surprised here. Anything moves… Light it up!” He hated it being night. It wasn’t the natural wildlife of the jungle that bothered him. No creature was stupid enough to challenge a high ranking changeling who could probably tear them in half with their mandibles alone. It was the unnatural wildlife on the other hoof that did bother him. He’d caught a few glimpses of the MUTO Male’s coloration. His dark shading could allow it to very easily blend into the darkness and catch any one of them by surprise. A simply lovely little thought to entertain really, Pharynx mused with a dark chuckle. His mandibles glowing a dark crimson red color, Pharynx gestured with his hoof for one part of the squad to go around the trees as he looked upwards. Glimmering in the moonlight was a massive selection of both pink and aquamarine shaded crystals. “...Well, I’d say we found our guy’s food stock,” Pharynx muttered. “Lovely.” He knew that if the Male was anything like ants or the old changelings then they were in a lot of trouble. The MUTO Queen’s sole job would be to just mate with the male and provide the young laying egg after egg. Sooner or later, -probably sooner given the speed of these things in relation to their growth cycle- Equestria and the lands beyond would be overrun. Pharynx could not allow that to happen. “Okay… so where are you…?” Pharynx mused to himself. For a brief moment, he wondered exactly why the creatures had developed anti mana waves but passed it off as something for a later time. He had bigger concerns at the moment. He then heard a sound, a creaking one coming from up above and he looked upwards with slowly widening eyes. Atop the crystal pile was the Male, now flaring its wings angrily and roaring at the troops. Pharynx created a large red energy ball between his ‘horns’ and fired it at the MUTO, for all the good that did. He was just hoping to distract it long enough for his troops to get away. The Male roared again in rage and then slammed his forelimbs down creating an anti-mana pulse that sent several ponies along with Pharynx flying as the creature itself took to the skies. Pharynx's eyes widened as he saw the direction in which the creature was heading. “Honolulu…” Fluttershy meanwhile was taking a train to the airport, having been dropped off on the island by the now exhausted Shobijin. Suddenly, the lights went out all across the city and then when they came back on screams arose from the train car Fluttershy amongst them as the islanders bore witness to the Male stomping around the airport, sending a docked airship flying with one swing of its front leg. A fireball rose up when the airship landed as the Male stomped forwards and peered inside the train car seemingly sizing up the ponies inside. Fluttershy for her part was sinking down into her seat when she heard it. A very distinctive sound Fluttershy would never mistake as the Male was suddenly sent sprawling as a massive form tackled him to the ground. “CHEEEEERRRRNNTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!” The Queen had arrived. Author's Note Okay... so ... yes. Firstly, the Queen is back. Secondly, the Oxygen Destroyer. Like you know I wouldn't take usage of that one. Would have been rather pointless to introduce it and then just toss it away for any later fics I don't know if I'm going to make. As it stands now, I intend this to be a standalone piece. Although yes, I do freely admit a sequel with a version of SpaceGodzilla vs the King would be fun. Probably with SpaceGodzilla having his origins tied to the Crystal Empire. I blame the Bridge for that idea. I totally do. Yep, totally. Also, I admit it is a minor thing, but Pharynx. Bit of a relic of when the idea of the Changeling Kingdoms being involved in this story, and I thought I'd toss him in for the hell of it. Not just diversify Monarch beyond one griffon, but I also figured he'd have the personality type to fit in with Monarch's rogues and self-described general pains in the back of the academic bureaucracy. Which is totally a reference to Shin by the way. Of course it is. 6: Haywaii“History shows again and again How nature points out the folly of man…” -Godzilla, Blue Oyster Cult Fear. That was the first emotion that Fluttershy felt. Then, a sense of wonder. As she saw the two massive insects meet head-on, she felt a sense of awe as she watched the two massive creatures go at it. Mothra dug her scythes into the Muto Male’s thorax before being forced backwards by what had to be hurricane force winds. Landing on top of the airport terminal, she roared out her challenge. “CHEEEEERRRRRRRNNNNTTTTTT!!!!!” It was almost deafening. Mothra extended her massive wings, the membranes glowing in the moonlight, her crystal blue eyes narrowed at the MUTO who let out a trumpeting call in response. A series of screams erupted from the train car even as it started trundling along the track towards the terminal. Clicking her mandibles together Mothra stared the MUTO down, sizing up her opponent. She let out a series of chirps as she walked forwards on her forelimbs seemingly trying to calm down the MUTO. She would not engage in a battle unless it was her last choice, Fluttershy reasoned. She took note of the ‘eyes’ on Mothra’s wings, resembling those of much smaller moths. The Titan was very obviously using them as a sort of intimidation display. “Oh Celestia, oh Celestia, oh Celestia, oh Celestia…” Fluttershy thought to herself frantically as she slowly began to realize that on a battleground between two primordial creatures was exactly the last place she would want to be. Mothra continued to walk forwards wings bared trying to coax the MUTO Male down from attacking her, and once more the Male let out a trumpeting call as his response. “We are like ants to them, simply nothing but ants. They ruled this world once, and they could all too easily take it back.” Fluttershy realized as the MUTO strode forwards before it grabbed the engine with one of its forelimbs and tossed it at Mothra who flew forwards as the engine landed. An explosion of towering flame went up as it collided with an airship, and Mothra flew out of the flames and then fired a burst of webbing stringing the creature to a nearby mountain pass before she built up speed for what was to come. Flying high into the sky she then burst out of the clouds into a dive. Mothra rammed into the parasitic Titan like a truck going Mach 5, sending the beast flying as if it was a fly and not a 200-foot monster. The mountain itself was reduced to nothing but rubble as Mothra smashed right through it. It was swift to recover shaking its head and seemingly groaning out in pain. The Male took to the skies with Mothra following even as Pharynx’s squadron emerged from the jungle bearing witness to the two creatures trying to take chunks out of each other overhead. “...Dear Lady Luna, what is that?” one of the Guards asked as Mothra broke away clearly quite fed up with the male’s antics. The Male darted upwards with Mothra following the two breaking through the clouds overhead. Beams of light were seen overhead, creating quite a spectacle indeed as the two Titans battled for dominance of the skies. “Never mind them, just get everypony you can to safety alright?” Pharynx said muttering under his breath about how there went the masquerade. Presuming Honolulu survived this, this entire thing would be in the news by tomorrow night. The government would be demanding answers from Monarch about how they failed to keep these creatures under wraps. “How do you do it, brother?” the Changeling Prince thought to himself galloping along the forest floor. “How do you deal with those idiots in the government? Sure you don’t just change into a bugbear and scare the shit out of them, right? No, that’s more something I would do…” He’d figure it out later. Right now he had bigger concerns. Taking flight, extending his dragonfly-like wings Pharynx managed to make it down to the outskirts of the city before his eyes widened in horror as the MUTO dived down out of the skies with Mothra in hot pursuit. She let out another squeaking roar as she barreled after the male, tucking in her wings before using one of her forelimbs to grab the Male and slam it into the ground. Dragging it along the valley's jungle floor, a great chasm was carved as she did so. Finally, the MUTO had enough of his humiliation. Breaking free of the Queen’s grip for only just a brief moment he rolled onto his backside. He lashed out with one of his forelimbs striking Mothra in the chest. She squealed out in pain. The MUTO’s eyes narrowed as the other limb struck the ground. A massive pulse of mana energy sent Mothra back. She shook her head in pain before the Male clamped down hard on her thorax and amazingly sent Mothra flying with one good toss. Mothra let out a cry of pain as she was thrown into a nearby mountainside and then the shockwave came flattening trees and buildings for miles around and forcing Pharynx to the ground. The Prince groaned out in pain, small droplets of blood hitting the ground even as the Male flew overhead. He heard a small sob and then broke out into another gallop as he saw a group of young changelings and their parents trapped under the ruins of what used to be a building. Charging up his ‘horns’ he fired a ball of red energy smashing a hole through some of the rubble and sending it flying. “You alright?” he asked the youngest of the three children who could only nod weakly. The galloping of hooves was heard from behind him. Two members of the royal guard. “Take them, get them to a shelter. I personally do not want to be here any longer than we have to!” As the group broke out into a sprint Mothra had managed to recover and was now flying back towards the male quite intent on meeting him head-on. Powerful wind gusts were created from the sheer force required for a creature of Mothra’s size to even get off the ground, let alone fly. Soon, the group found themselves running for cover as ponies in the streets were swept away in the wind. Screams rose up as the two massive creatures met head-on once more. The pair were biting and clawing at one another, drawing blood at certain intervals. Mothra once more fired her silk at the Male pinning him to a massive skyscraper. Once more she began building up enough speed to ram him yet again. Glass shattered and steel buckled as the top half of the skyscraper was sent toppling to the ground creating massive choking clouds of dust. Mothra dug her claws into the Male, slamming him into the ground. The Male for his part was having none of this. He snapped and bit at Mothra, her head moving ever so slightly each time to dodge the strikes. He saw red; this creature dared to defy him? Reaching out with one of his forelimbs he slammed it into the ground unleashing another anti-mana pulse. He’d learned. Every time he did this, the pretender to the throne was forced backwards by the sheer concussive force of the pulse. Mothra stuck back with a vengeance. The MUTO’s vision was a world of white as Mothra’s wings began to glow before unleashing a sheer blinding light of unimaginable power. Searing pain reached his eyes. For those on ground level, it looked as if the day had broken for a brief moment. “Holy shit, did you see that?” “What is it?” “...By the Goddesses…” The upper hand had been gained. For a few moments, the MUTO was flailing about rubbing at his eyes blindly lashing and striking. Mothra then grabbed the MUTO with her mandibles again dragging him along the ground as if he were a child’s doll ripping up the streets below and sending great chunks flying. The Male finally broke free and flew upwards with mach speeds with the sound of a thunderclap. Mothra followed. Racing alongside the male she fired a beam of energy from her antennae. A bolt of light struck the MUTO sending him crashing towards the ground. Mothra was swift to chase after her prey. “CHEEEEERRRRRRRNNNNTTTTTT!!!!!” she squealed again before she struck. Mothra dug in her claws once more as the two tussled into buildings sending rubble flying every which way. Mothra managed to pry herself free from the Male’s grip flying upwards but the MUTO wrenched himself free from the remains of a skyscraper and then bit down on Mothra’s left wing and soundly tossed her into another building. Mothra’s eyes widened as she saw the Male coming towards her again. Launching herself upwards she performed what looked like a hammerhead maneuver. From her spot at the terminal, Fluttershy for just the briefest of moments saw another creature, far darker in shading performing this exact same maneuver. She was in a different place, a different time. She was onboard a ship flying above the stormy seas with a massive creature in pursuit. Shaking away the memories, she reminded herself this was not that creature. Mothra once again lit up her antenna and fired twin bolts at the MUTO. He dodged right out of the way and flew into the depths of the massive sprawl of a cityscape that was Honolulu. Mothra was right behind in hot pursuit. She knew what he was doing, he was toying with her and trying to wear her down. That could not be allowed. Building windows shattered in their wake as they flew past skyscrapers and office blocks. Anyone who was inside got brief glimpses of the two massive titans before they had to dive underneath their desks to avoid massive shards of glass ripping into their skins. A storm broke open above the skies of the city soundly reflecting Mothra’s mood. These ponies should never have been involved in her fight against the MUTO. Instead, the beast had forced her hand. She knew, of course, it wasn’t actively malicious nor was it actually trying to be. It was just trying to meet up with its mate to lay eggs and create offspring to further its kind like all animals. However, the trouble was if this creature was allowed to propagate its kind would soon grow and overrun the country and the ponies Mothra had sworn it upon herself to protect. She honestly doubted even with Godzilla’s help she would be able to save them all. She had asked her priestesses once, she remembered, about why they called her the Queen of the Monsters. She didn't even know what the title meant at the time, what it stood for. With giggling voices, they had happily explained. Mothra knew that those small ones actively revered her and her fellow Titans although she did not know why. They just happened to share the same planet that was all. Nothing more and nothing less. And yet they somehow found themselves in wonder of her. She knew they revered her as something amazing and powerful and revered the King of the Monsters -as they called him- even more so. She remembered once upon a time asking her priestesses why this was so. Why they had delegated these titles to both her and Godzilla. Upon learning of the reason why she figured it a fitting moniker she supposed. She was pleasantly surprised by the meaning and if they wanted to call her and Godzilla that let them do so. But that was then and this was now. Eyes narrowing as the rain pounded down on her fur and her thorax she chased after this rampant Male. She would not allow any further harm to come to those who lived below her watchful gaze. Like a mother, she would protect them. Charging after the Male she decided it was time to put an end to this nonsense whether he liked it or not. She would have liked to have her King by her side while she did so but she could handle herself well enough she supposed. She remembered this creature’s ‘parent’ for lack of a better term. The Muto Prime, was that what they called it? That thing had been a real pain to rid themselves of. She suspected she should have tried harder to see if it hadn’t laid any clutches. At the time she and Godzilla had thought it the last of its kind. Apparently, they had been mistaken. Mothra honestly feared for her king. These creatures, believe it or not, were in fact, Godzilla’s natural predator. He didn’t even fear the Golden One as much as he feared these. He hated the bastard sure, but he actively feared these creatures. They -if he was to be believed- somehow managed to kill his parents. Mothra wasn’t quite sure how this was the case but she suspected she didn’t want to find out. Calmly, she considered calling for her King. Then she decided against it. No, the threat wasn’t grave enough yet to warrant calling in the King of Monsters. This she could handle alone. Was it a form of arrogance? Perhaps. But Mothra knew she had to nip this one in the bud and stop it from ever reaching the female of its kind. Perhaps there was another reason. Mothra remembered -thanks to her kind’s… unique biology- her time as the Battle Moth, the one they called Battra. She had razed entire civilizations to the ground under her(?) lust for power. She at the time believed herself above ordinary mortals. She relished in her power. She shuddered at the memory soundly reminded of the Golden One and his demeanor. Never again, Mothra swore fighting back another shudder. Never again. This time she was to protect ponykind and all of the other races. She was the Giver of Life and this would not stand! Raising her wings as she perched herself atop another skyscraper Mothra then let the Male have it. Blasting him with her ‘God Rays’ with all the power she could muster she forced him into the ground. The blast was powerful enough to create a massive crater, with flames licking at its edge. Mothra allowed herself to relax taking heavy breaths spent from the battle. There was no way the MUTO could have survived that. He remained motionless. It seemed the battle had been won. Mothra studied the fallen Titan and mourned. They were now so few in number, the ponies having taken up the planet. She knew every creature had its age but it still did not please her to know that another of the Titans was dead. And this time it was by her own hand no less. Then the MUTO proved that thought a mistake. He struck with lightning speed and precision lashing out with one of his forelimbs. Another pulse came. Mothra barely had time to think upon the creature’s cleverness before the pulse slammed into her with the force of a freight train and knocked her off the building. The ground rushed up to meet her and she felt darkness overcome her as the Male let out a triumphant trumpeting roar. The MUTO let out a dismissive huff as he gazed upon the Queen’s unconscious form with fiery red eyes. This was the Mother of All? If that was indeed the case she should have put up more of a fight. Perhaps he was mistaken, this was just a pale imitation of Mosura. But still, he mused -even as he took flight grabbing the crystals within his jaws- he had to admit that was more of a challenge than he actually expected to face. Yes, his mate would praise him so for overcoming such odds after he presented her with these gifts. Letting out another roar he called out to his beloved mate. He was coming. After the dust had settled, Fluttershy found herself wandering through the rubble of the fallen city. Coughing as she did so, she took in the sights around her of what remained of Honolulu. Fluttershy vaguely remembered in the back of her mind that this city had been named for the Princess of the Night herself, and she wondered what Luna would think of her namesake in its current state. The sound of a crying child was heard in the background even as Fluttershy flew over one of the battle-scarred streets, the tarmac below her having been ripped open by the battle. Steam rose up from below the streets and a nearby fire hydrant had been burst open spraying water everywhere. Everywhere around her, the scenes could be described as apocalyptic. Smoldering ruins were visible in the night even as the rain slowly put out the fires that had sprung up. Gently gliding over another set of ruined streets Fluttershy flew down over to a collapsed building. There she found two members of the local regiment of the Guard in need of an assist. They were currently trying to move a collapsed timber aside so they could rescue those behind it. With a gentle hoof, Fluttershy helped her fellow pegasi pull it aside before kicking open what remained of the door. Whispering “It’ll be alright…” as she helped a young unicorn filly out of the house, she began bandaging her leg with whatever materials she could find. “How many?” Fluttershy whispered to herself. “How many dead because of… that thing?” She wasn’t sure if ‘that thing’ at the moment referred to either Mothra, the MUTO or maybe both. Looking towards the city center she saw the massive moth beginning to stir. Little by little, her eyes fluttered open and then she began to lift herself off the ground, using her legs to balance herself. She was down but not out of the fight. If the ponies in the city scorned her, Mothra did not care. Mothra didn’t care if she was feared and hated. She had learned to deal with others fearing things they did not understand. It was not her concern. Yes, it saddened her but it was not her main concern. Right now her top priority was to find a place to rest and heal before the big battle that was sure to come. The Male would now be rushing to join the female and the female would soon awake as it heard the now adult male’s cries. Mothra knew the devastation that was coming. The female would trample cities underfoot as she rushed to join her mate. She could only hope the ponies would be able to hold out until then before she arrived. Godzilla was currently not an option at the moment. She knew where she was, even as far away from him as she was, she had heard his cries. They knew where they were at all times. Currently, Godzilla was on the other side of the globe and would not be able to make it to the MUTOs in time. Her King was powerful yes but not naturally gifted in the speed department even when he was swimming. There was a reason Mothra was often the first line of defence against other rogue Titans. Taking shelter in a massive mountain cave behind a waterfall Mothra readied herself. Soon, she mused. Soon. Meanwhile, Fluttershy gathered with the other refugees at the port. Tents had been set up and even as the dawn broke Fluttershy knew she couldn’t rest. This was only the beginning. Handing out medicine to those who needed it she soon was to meet up with Pharynx. “...Well, this all went swimmingly,” the Changeling Prince deadpanned. “Mosura and the MUTO battling it out in the city center. Oh, the government's going to have our heads for this one. I’ll be lucky if my dear brother keeps me from being persona non grata in Equestria after this.” “You did what you could,” Fluttershy said kindly laying a hoof on the changeling’s shoulder. Once, she mused she probably would have been afraid of him. But now they were two of a kind, just trying to make their way in a now chaotic world. She chuckled sadly to herself, she now knew what Discord had meant. This was something they had to figure out for themselves. “That’s all anyone could ask for right?” “No offense, but I doubt pony kindness is going to fix this. We screwed up, simple as that. We were supposed to keep the existence of these giants a secret and well… just look around you,” Pharynx remarked gesturing with a hoof to the makeshift infirmaries all around them. “You can see how that went, right?” “Nobody could expect you to keep them a secret forever,” Fluttershy replied. “Sooner or later one was bound to break out, surely you had to know this right?” “Suppose you have a point there,” Pharynx admitted with a small sigh. “I still don’t have to like it really,” he muttered while shaking his head. He gestured for Fluttershy to follow. Inside a tent, he led her, to where another Monarch scientist -”Just how many of these guys were there?” Fluttershy had to ask herself- was waiting with a series of drawings and some photographs laid out on a table. “Fifteen years ago…” the scientist started. Fluttershy would later learn his name was a Dr. Hardlight or something like that. Right now she couldn’t be bothered to care. “...They found a fossil of another giant animal in the Maretin Islands due south of here. Like Gojira. But this creature? It died long ago.” Pharynx gestured to the photographs showing truly massive bones inside a deep dark cavern. Also floating around the room were small spores with a truly massive creature -insectoid in nature- resting dead nearby. The Shinomura Pharynx called it. “Killed by those parasitic spores you see, and those spores would migrate and eventually become that… thing that just flattened Honolulu. The MUTO. This was before my time you understand -I was only brought onboard recently via Thorax’s suggestion- but as I understand it this was one of the causing factors of Monarch’s formation.” “The hatchling Princess Twilight and Captain Fizzlepop found,” the scientist explained. “It burrowed right for the nearest abundant source of magical radiation. That valley. We were hoping to try and contain it, kill it if need be. But it gestated fast and hatched like a butterfly from its cocoon. And then you saw what happened when it did so. We all saw what happened.” Fluttershy took this all in. This was similar to what Twilight had explained to her when she brought her onboard Celeano’s ship. This creature, this massive entity was simply out to create more of its kind. It either didn’t factor ponies into the equation or simply plain up didn’t care. In any case, it would be almost impossible to stop it now. Almost. “Nature has an order. A power to restore balance,” Fluttershy whispered catching both the doctor and Pharynx’s attentions. “I believe she is that power.” “...Yeah, that’s pretty much what Twilight’s believing. These ancient alpha predators, they’re the key to stopping them. Because make no mistake, there’s more than one.” “M-More than one?” Fluttershy whispered. “Surely you can’t mean…?” Hardlight asked. “Oh yes I do,” Pharynx said in reply before turning to look back at Fluttershy. “There was another spore found in that mine. We thought it dead, vivisected it and ran every sort of test on it for years. Maybe it was just dormant until now, waiting for a mature male of the species.” “So where is it now…?” Fluttershy asked. “My brother has it. I already sent him a message a few days ago to expect trouble. Problem was it was by changeling. Hive Mother only knows if it reached him in time.” “And if that fails?” Hardlight asked. “If he fails to contain it properly?” Fluttershy took in a deep breath and sighed. What she was about to suggest Pharynx already knew but it bore repeating. “Let them fight.” Far and away on the other side of the globe, the King battled. He had heard her cries. Mothra’s cries. He knew a great resurgence was about to occur. In fact, it was already in the middle of happening. All across the globe Titans were awakening to reclaim their homelands. He suspected it was in part due to Mothra herself -or rather her previous self Battra- awakening. For days he had been fighting and reasserting his authority as the King of the Monsters. Godzilla let out a low growl as he was struck soundly in the face by a massive paw drawing blood. Godzilla let out a low reverberating roar of fury as he stared his opponent down. Zebricans watched as their Goddess did battle with the King of the Monsters. Sekhmet, they called her. A leonine Titan, the massive creature had been worshipped by the locals for ages. So you can imagine they were caught off guard when she awoke. Even now as they watched, Sekhmet let Godzilla have it with a blast of pure hot flame. Godzilla let out another roar and then whipped his tail around slamming the massive lioness into a mountainside. Flames licked at the savannah beneath them. Anger, loneliness. Before Mothra had reawakened it was an itch as he fought to keep rogue Titans under control. He could ignore it easily enough. He could focus on the task at hand. But now he could ignore it no longer. Keeping the awakened under control was tiresome, to say the least. They all looked to him at times, wondering how to avoid squashing the little ones under their feet. They ruled this world now, not them. The ponies, the changelings, and the griffons, they were the rulers of this planet now. Like it or not Godzilla would have to get along with them. He wondered how father did it. The Father of all Monsters, he wondered how he kept his children in line. Fear was mostly a part of that he suspected. Fear of what he would do if they did not submit. Godzilla resolved to be a better King than he. He would handle those who needed help re-learning the world. He sighed to himself, Mothra was always better at this than he. Her kindness and tranquility was something to be admired. Looking upon Sekhmet he soon confirmed she was defeated. Defeated but not dead. He would leave her to lick her wounded pride. Right now there were far more important matters at hand. Megaguirus was awakening now. He would have to deal with her before her swarms caused trouble. Taking to the seas, he swam. Mothra would just have to wait and hold off the MUTOs for as long as she could. Outside Las Pegasus there rested the wastes. And beyond the wastes rested a hive of changelings newly reborn and ready to face the world. For years that had been unknowingly suffering under Queen Chrysalis’s rule and now they had been freed. Thorax pushed those painful memories away. He couldn’t think upon them now. Not when there was something that needed to be dealt with. His horns cast a glow upon the cavern walls. He had gotten his brother’s message. One tired changeling messenger had nearly collapsed upon the hive doorstep. His brother was right to be concerned. Years ago the former Queen Chrysalis had found this cocoon in some caves off to the south of her hive. She’d paid it no mind thinking it dead. But Thorax was a smarter buck than her. He and several others had always paid it a watchful eye. Especially after Monarch had come to call. Now Thorax? He was proud of his brother, seeing him a fine fit for the organization. The Prince at times had never exactly felt at home in his own hive anymore, as Chrysalis’ reign -where he was at his best- had passed. He needed to find himself and even after his metamorphism, he had always felt out of place. Monarch served him well. “See anything, my king?” one of the drones asked as they explored the depths of the caverns. Water dripped somewhere to the left of them. “Wish I could but it’s too dark down here…” Thorax muttered in distaste. He hated the dark, reminded him far too much of his mother’s hive. He hated having to be down here for any longer than he had to be. Suddenly, something moved to the left of him. At first, he thought it was rocks falling but then an eye became visible. A creaking sound was heard as something massive moved about in the darkness. Thorax found himself thrown backward as a massive forelimb touched the ground. Then a bright light as the creature burst out of the mountainside and began striding across the desert sands. Las Pegasus remained unaware of what was to come. Inside the casinos, ponies just played and played to lose whatever bits they had left. At a roulette wheel, a white unicorn mare shouted her numbers before swearing and taking a swig of wild pegasus whiskey as more bits were lost. Then the lights went off and a collective groan rose up from all over the casino. Some screams were heard from outside but most paid them no mind. They, of course, were more concerned about their lost money than whatever weirdness was happening out on the strip. This was per usual for Las Pegasus of course. Nobody cared about very little other than the party that seemingly never ended. This was proven by what happened next. When firefighters and EMTs finally arrived at the scene they were treated to quite the sight. A massive multi-limbed creature carving her way right through the heart of Sin City and heading right in the direction of Manehatten. As for the ponies they’d found in need of medical attention? They were just grumbling about what a wild party it had been. Author's Note So, things are coming to a head. Firstly, I'd like to thank Thekaijulord and ScourgeofLightning for looking over the battle and giving me a guiding hand when needed. Mecha vs Mecha battles? Piece of cake compared to kaiju battles. Largely because of the fact that with mecha, they move like real people for the most part. Kaiju are a whole different animal. No pun intended of course. 7: Terror on the PassCanterlot: Needless to say, Honolulu getting trashed by two giant insects did not go over particularly well with the nobles of Canterlot. Serizawa wasn’t that surprised really, and neither was Twilight. She was amazed she had been able to hold them off for this long. “I’m sorry, I’m so very sorry,” Twilight said in a whispered tone as she and Serizawa walked to what used to be the hall where Celestia and Luna held their own debates with the nobility. “I only recently just got a dragon flame message from Smoulder. I am so truly terribly sorry Professor, I was hoping to keep them off your back until we managed to put a stop to this.” “It is fine,” Serizawa said in reply. “Loyalty is but a flower in the winds of fear and temptation. The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.” “...Somehow I doubt giant Titans were on the mind of whoever created that one,” Twilight muttered to herself. “You get that from a fortune cookie or something?” “No, but if I did it would have to have been a really big fortune cookie…” Serizawa said in reply and Twilight chuckled. “Listen, do not worry about me. All you should worry about is helping Mosura overcome the MUTOs and protecting your subjects. Let me deal with these idiotic nobles.” “...I… I just worry about you Serizawa, that’s all…” Twilight murmured to herself. “It’s like you’ve been on edge ever since the Male broke free. Of course, what am I saying? Of course, you’d be on edge. Equestria’s on the verge of being destroyed by one big ass bug and Monarch’s failed to keep the existence of the Titans under wraps. Oh, goddesses, I’m amazed I haven’t gone into a nervous breakdown. Do I look like I’m going into a nervous breakdown?” Serizawa was polite enough not to provide an answer to that one. Instead, he said: “Breath, Twilight. Breathe. As I said, your sole concern should be on the MUTO and the safety of your subjects. Not on anything related to me or Monarch. As an old Guoxia proverb goes: “The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor pony perfected without trials.” This is your trial. Mine is facing with the nobles of Canterlot and all the absolute detarame that comes with them.” “If you say so…” Twilight murmured to herself before kissing her old friend on the cheek. “Just be safe okay? You’re one of the best lines of defense Equestria has against these Titans.” If only he could believe that, Serizawa mused to himself. He had created something, and although he had destroyed the notes on his devilish creation he knew the knowledge was out there now. Stellar Flare had seen the notes on his creation and although she had said she would not say anything on it he didn’t trust her completely. Nor would he blame her if she went ahead and re-created it. They had two very different approaches to solving problems with the Titans. Serizawa wanted to trust in the Queen and Gojira but Stellar was more realistically minded. They were, after all, animals even if they were very intelligent ones, and left destruction in their wake like any other Titan. Serizawa shuddered to think on what would happen if Gojira ever made landfall. He was ancient beyond measure, and may not have cared for those who now populated the planet. Gojira’s sole function was to keep these creatures in check and restore the balance when necessary. He protected the planet, yes, but that did not mean he protected those who lived on it. Serizawa adjusted his tie as he stepped into the makeshift courtroom. Stellar Flare was by his side. He felt the stares of the nobles, some seemingly judging him. Duke Fancy Pants was at the head of the trial. Serizawa sighed in relief. Unlike most Nobles who just pulled stuff out of their hat, he was a reasonable enough sort and a friend. However, that didn’t mean he was completely tolerant of Monarch’s activities. Even he had his limits. “Well, glad you finally could join us,” Stellar said. “Been sweating bullets here…” “We have a… problem,” Fancy said and his horn lit up with a soft golden glow. A magical crystal in the corner of the room began displaying imagery. A massive multi-limbed creature, with ridges on its back tearing its way through the heart of Las Pegasus. “This just came in from King Thorax, he and the changelings are coordinating with rescue efforts now but that thing is moving. And I don’t think you need to hazard a guess on who it's moving towards.” “It's almost 300 hooves tall. It's much bigger than the other one,” Stellar whispered. “This one doesn't have any wings. A different sex maybe?” “...A female,” Serizawa realized. “This is who he’s been talking to. Now they're seeking magical energy... to reproduce!” he whispered his eyes widening in horror. “And the Male is bringing those crystals right towards her…” Stellar whispered. “Dear Goddess in Heaven.” Serizawa held no illusions on what would happen if the two met. They would begin to spawn and judging by the fast growth rate of the male the MUTOs would very quickly overrun the planet. They would take back what once belonged to them. And the ponies would be powerless to stop them. And it seemed the case that Mosura may have been in the same boat as well, as she just barely held back the male in Honolulu. He could see it now, massive creatures like the MUTOs flying and walking all over the planet, with ponies and other creatures just barely managing to hide and survive in the caverns below as the parasites swarmed above them. Truly it would be an age of monsters. “...I see you’ve come to the same conclusion we have,” Fancy said with a sad sigh adjusting his monocle. “We are on the edge of critical disaster and these MUTOs as you call them are only the tip of the iceberg. Observe,” he said lighting up his horn once more and the crystal displayed a series of images. One showed the King of Monsters facing down a massive leonine creature in Zebrica and the next showed him facing off with a giant serpent creature offshore, the draconic beast tangling Gojira in his coils. “Say the MUTOs are stopped by some means,” Prince Blueblood said and Stellar groaned to herself. This was not going the way she had hoped. Serizawa rested a paw on her supportively. “What’s to stop other creatures like these?” Then Serizawa made his play. He knew it was foolish perhaps, but he couldn’t just let these ponies do whatever they wanted without considering alternatives. “If I may?” “Monarch’s failed, you failed so you can take your comments and shove them up your-” Blueblood started before Fancy sent him a pointed glare. “No, let him speak,” Fancy said kindly. “If anyone knows anything about these creatures, it is him. Professor Serizawa?” “What we are witnessing here is the return of ancient and forgotten superspecies, Gojira, the MUTOs, Mosura. We or at least I believe that these Titans, and others like them, provide an essential balance to our world. And while some may pose a threat, Monarch is here to determine which of these Titans are here to threaten us, and which of these Titans are here to protect us.” “Thank you for your theories, Professor,” Blueblood said. “But we still haven’t heard one good reason why Monarch shouldn’t fall under military jurisdiction, or why these creatures shouldn’t be exterminated. Monarch was tasked with finding and destroying these ancient monsters. Needless to say, you’ve failed at that, catastrophically I might add! These creatures are the children of Grogar, so why should we believe any of them are on our side?” “I agree with Blueblood!” Jet Set shouted. “You either can’t or won’t tell us how many there are, or why they’re showing up. So, maybe it’s time for the Royal Guard to step in to put them down.” “And that will work how?” Fancy asked. “We barely even annoyed the male from all reports, and from what we can see the female is much, much larger and more heavily armored. Writer’s Quill only knows what it can do ability-wise.” “We awoke these Titans, if only by mistake. The MUTOs from strip mining and seismic surveys. Gojira and Mosura in response to their awakening. But these are not monsters, they are animals rising to reclaim a world that was once theirs,” Serizawa stated before he realized how that might have sounded. “...I apologize, I am not admiring them in any way. I am just stating the facts.” “So, you’d want to make Cozzilla our pet?” Blueblood laughed with others soon to follow before Stellar gave him a pointed glare. “It’s Godzilla, and he would not be our pet. If anything, we would be his. These creatures were here before us, and if we’re not careful they’ll be here after us. We’re going to have to adjust to new threats that we can’t imagine. We’ve entered a new era. Welcome to the Age of the Monsters,” Stellar said sadly. “Something must be done, I agree, and Monarch is working on a plan. I am working on a plan to stop them.” “Well, let’s hear it then,” Fancy said. “I hate to exterminate creatures like these, but I want what’s best for Equestria. I want to protect everyone in the country from these creatures. These are just the latest images from Honolulu…” He said this even as he showed images. Miles of destroyed cityscape and shoreline, the city now practically uninhabitable. Infirmaries filled to bursting with the wounded. It was a truly heartbreaking sight when even children were bleeding and bandaged from the aftermath of the battle. Serizawa had to force himself to look away. “...And that’s not even getting into what would happen if someone got their hands on one of these creatures. Weapons of war? Maybe. I’d hope for pharmaceuticals or food but we know that isn’t likely,” Fancy said. “There will always be those who seek to misuse powers that they do not understand.” “Do we have any idea of the direction in which the MUTOs are heading?” Twilight asked as she stepped inside the courtroom. Serizawa looked at her. She was supposed to have been evacuating citizens from Canterlot and other cities! “I’m sorry Professor, but I couldn’t leave you to face this alone. And besides, I cannot evacuate a city unless I know what city I have to send the orders to.” “A true Princess as always Madam Twilight,” Fancy appraised. “All projections have the MUTOs making landfall and meeting up in the Manehatten city center to breed. Mothra as you call her is following after them. I’d like to believe she is on our side after she came to Honolulu’s aid for lack of a better term but she still is leaving destruction in her wake.” “That is inevitable with a creature of her size and power,” Twilight admitted with a shake of her head. “But I truly believe she is on our side. An alpha predator, seeking to restore the balance that has been broken.” “You sure you haven’t been hanging out with Serizawa too much?” Blueblood sneered and he was soundly shut up with a venomous glare from Twilight. “Whether or not I have been spending time with Serizawa is irrelevant. I am just making observations based on everything I have seen and heard. I was there when Mothra hatched. She did not go out of her way to harm anyone and from all appearances when she arrived in Honolulu she simply tried to talk the MUTO Male down before going on the offensive. She has been doing that ever since she hatched. Yes, I know this sounds crazy but I soundly believe Mothra is on our side. So please, have a bit of faith…” “Well, whatever the others believe, I have faith in you Princess. But that still means we have two other monsters to deal with,” Fancy said with a nod. “Stellar, your plan?” Whispering a quick: “I’m sorry…” to Serizawa she then lit up the screen with her own magic showing the Oxygen Destroyer. “This is the Oxygen Destroyer. If detonated, it would destroy all life for two miles around. I plan to lure the MUTOs to an evacuated city of Manehatten, and then detonate it.” “This is rash, Stellar!” Serizawa shouted. “This is destruction on an unimaginable scale! You’re opening a Pandora's Box! Ask yourself, what if other nations less friendly to Equestria get their hands on this? You would have single-handedly changed the face of war!” “Then what would you have me do?” Stellar asked as more images of the devastation of Honolulu were shown. “Sit back and allow our cities to be destroyed, lives to be lost as Mothra and the MUTOs battle for dominance? No more, Serizawa! No more!” She turned to the screen where Honolulu natives were singing a prayer for Equestria and their city, hoping for a peaceful tomorrow. Hoping that they would live to see it. “Oh peace, oh light Hasten back to us May we live without destruction May we look to tomorrow with hope... “May peace and light return to us Our hearts are filled with prayer This we pray... “Hear our song And have pity on us May we live without destruction May we look to tomorrow with hope…” Serizawa couldn’t find it in himself to look at the sight. Fighting back tears, he finally replied: “Fine, do as you will. But allow me this. I must detonate it. I created this monster, and therefore I must destroy it.” “Serizawa, no!” Twilight shouted grabbing the griffon by the shoulders. She sounded close to tears herself. “Do you even know what you’re saying? What you are planning to do?” “Yes, and I must be the one to do it. I must be the one to stop and take a stand. I unleashed this power on the world, and I must be the one to close the box before it gets opened any further,” Serizawa said. “It is my duty as a citizen of Equestria, no as a member of the world to do exactly this. Do you understand me Twilight Sparkle?” Twilight nodded before she started to cry. In Manehatten, while looking at a report on the FeMUTO’s area of effect Captain Celeano found herself realizing where the creature was heading as evacuation orders came. And she knew the good ponies of Manehatten would not be able to get out in time before the Titans arrived. At least… not without help. She knew what she had to do. “Mullet!” Celeano shouted going for her hat and placing it atop her head. “Find me a ship, and ready it! I’ve got a job to do and I intend to see it through to the very end! Manehatten needs my help, and Captain Celeano must answer the call!” And so it began, with the now complete Oxygen Destroyer settled on a train bound for Manehatten, the route it would take cutting through the forests of Equestria and mountain passes hopefully out of the public eye. Goodness knows what they would have thought if they heard a weapon of mass destruction in all but name was being transported and was going to be used. A warning had been sent out, alerting Equestrian citizens to the Female MUTO’s sphere of influence. Like the male of the species it had access to anti mana pulses and more than likely knew how to use them. Add all of this on top of the Female MUTO’s truly massive size and Twilight was a very nervous Princess indeed. Not helping the matter was who she had been placed with as her Royal Guard. She would have liked it to be Fizzlepop and company but they were already hard at work trying to get everyone out of Manehatten. So instead she had been landed with Captain Hardsteel and his men, who Twilight remembered Star Hunter warning her about. He’d said he’d looked into the eyes of the abyss and when the abyss looked back at him… he blinked. “...citizens within 200 miles of the creature's current sphere of influence are being urged to please find shelter…” a pony said over the radio as Twilight found herself loading the thing onto the train. She shuddered just looking at it. Here was a weapon that could change the whole game as everyone knew it and it was going to be deployed within a populated area. May Faust have mercy on all of them, Twilight thought to herself as she looked at it once more. Luckily for them, the Female MUTO seemed to be a lot slower than the male, a disadvantage of having just legs she supposed. Time was on their side for what it was worth. “Please don’t do this…” Twilight said to Stellar one last time. “Please, don’t make us do this.” For a moment, just a brief one Stellar looked guilty before her face hardened once more. “I understand your concerns, Princess. But every moment we waste lives were sacrificed just to try and steer one of these creatures away from any major population centers. And now there are three of them. This ends tonight. All of it. Now I’m sorry, but Mothra, the MUTOs, they all have to go.” “...Do what you must, and I will do what I can…” Twilight whispered before Stellar looked at her. “Mothra, you really believe in her that much?” Stellar asked. “Because if you’re wrong, and by Celestia, I hope you’re not then…” “I'll always believe in the Queen. How is… How is he? Serizawa I mean?” Twilight asked. “As good as can be expected, I suppose,” Stellar said before taking a deep shuddering breath. “But… but does he really have to do this? Look, I was the one who created this weapon, I was the one who betrayed his trust. I used his notes to create this… thing. Ponies are far more frightening monsters, it seems, than any one MUTO…” she whispered. Then the train whistle blew. It was time to move out. Twilight rested her head near a window, her eyes watching the trees go by as the train picked up speed. Her mind briefly began to drift away to a more peaceful time; one in which the threat of a creature she once only imagined could live in a nightmarish book. Soon, the only sound she could make out was the chugging of the train as it reached its normal speed. Many a tree went by as she contemplated what would happen if, by the unholy graces of the powers that be, the Oxygen Destroyer failed them. Within the confines of her mind, Twilight saw a world devoid of life and joy; around her a wasteland of dust, dirt, and the skeletons of animals. They ranged from the smallest of puppies to the largest of lions. Was this how that Wasteland timeline she saw in her duel with Starlight came to be? And was she a part of causing it? The thought was short lived however as off in the distance, she could make out the shadow of a monstrous being—the MUTO marching off in the distance. Twilight’s eyes widened. It was here already? Then explosions came, vast squads of unicorns firing spells at the massive parasite. Twilight knew it wouldn’t be enough. “Hardsteel, get ready. It’s coming…” she whispered looking back to the stallion who gestured for his men to ready their surge rifles. Twilight’s horn glowed and she flared her wings in a threat display. “Protect the Destroyer at all costs!” The humming of rifles was heard, and then another sound cut through the forest. Creaking like a wooden door opening. The MUTO’s distinctive calls. And then they stopped just like the spellfire. All went silent. “...Did we drive it off?” one of the guards asked. “Surely it couldn’t have been that easy…” “No, it’s still there,” Hardsteel noted his blue fur standing on end clutching his flamethrower tightly. “It’s out there, lurking in the darkness.” Twilight nervously stepped forwards, her horn glowing with a soft purple light. Two soldiers were right behind her. “Check ahead!” Hardsteel ordered and Twilight whirled on him. “Excuse me?” she nearly snarled. “You want to send your men up ahead, where we know the MUTO is just on a bout of curiosity?” Hardsteel turned his head to face Twilight. Furrowing his brow, he pressed his muzzle against hers. “Listen, I don’t care what sort of rank you hold politically. We’re in my world and as such, you will abide by whatever it is I order. You understand?” “That may be so,” Twilight responded, “But I’d like it if you weren’t sending your men on a suicide mission for nothing more than the minuscule chance that they will succeed!” Hardsteel withdrew his muzzle and scoffed, his eyes rolling. “I see that you miraculously know better than I do at the concept of military tactics,” he sneered. “Alright, genius. What’s your plan? How do you propose we protect the Oxygen Destroyer and also minimize casualties? Should we invite the MUTO in for a cup of tea while we superglue the Destroyer to its ass? Or should we try to teach it the ways of friendship so everyone can go home and the world is all sunshine and butterflies with peaches and cream on their doorstep every day of the week? Bitch please, let’s get realistic here!” “Yes, but I’d also rather your men not throw their lives away. Going up against that thing? It’s suicide!” Twilight hissed. “My brother was and still is actually a Captain himself. He did teach me a few things for the record. Like, say… common sense? Going out into known dangerous territory is anything but!” The soldiers for their part were watching this exchange like a tennis match. Hardsteel stared back before taking a deep breath. His expression turned to one of near empathy, a faint smile etching itself onto his face. He glanced over at the battlefield and gave a faint sigh. “Alright, fine,” he said. “I’ll compromise, Twilight. We’ll send a scout out to observe it from a distance. When they report back, we can decide for certain as to what we should do.” “Agreed,” Twilight said in reply. “I’ll go. As the Princess of Friendship, I cannot allow anyone to take unneeded risks on my watch.” “And that includes yourself?” Hardsteel questioned. “Hell no, I’m coming along.” Twilight put a hoof on Hardsteel’s chest plating. “No.” Her voice as firm—firmer than even Hardsteel’s. Which was quite the accomplishment to say the least. “I’ll do this myself. I cannot let you do that. These are your men—you yourself just stated that. They need you as their commander. I’ll do this on my own accord.” Truth be told, Twilight didn’t want anyone else dying on her watch. On the mission to find Mothra in the first place, so many of Celeano's crew were killed either by Battra or the island’s other wildlife. To her, this was her mindset. I could've done this myself and I didn't speak up. They died because I didn't do so. She had to do this. Survivor’s guilt? Maybe. Maybe not. Could have just been taking responsibility for her own actions and failures. Seemed to have been a lot of that going around lately, she mused with a bitter chuckle. First, it was Professor Serizawa, then Stellar, and now her. “Listen… Princess,” Hardsteel said his voice taking a softer tone. “I don’t know what you did that made you like this, but I can’t let you go off alone. It’s my responsibility as your guard to protect you. Goddess knows Fizzlepop would be pissed if I got you killed, and by Celestia’s withers that is not something I’d see…” Twilight gave a soft smile. To hear Hardsteel speak with such a soft tone was something she couldn’t believe, but it made her happy in a bizarre way. “Understandable,” she chuckled. “I know all too well what Fizzlepop would do if you had to report such news to her.” Hardsteel tilted his head. “You do?” “Yes.” Twilight turned to face Hardsteel. “And let me just say: you’ve got nothing like that mare if she were scorned.” “So I’ve heard…” Hardsteel agreed with a shudder as they took a careful step out of the train and began to slowly advance onto the wooden trestle bridge beyond. They kept their eyes peeled for even the slightest hint of movement. “You two dating or something?” Twilight said nothing on the matter except a: “That is not even remotely important right now.” Hardsteel let out a fake laugh. “Oh come on,” he replied. “Surely you can try to make small talk.” “Not at a time like this,” Twilight deadpanned. “Can you just shut up for a moment and keep your eyes peeled? I’d rather not be surprised.” “A-alright.” Hardsteel took a deep breath and blinked. Confidently, he walked forward, walking no further than Twilight, but making sure to not be an inch behind her. His eyes were glued ahead of them. The world ahead was as normal as it could feasibly be. Although the signs of chaos were evident, there wasn’t a single hint of life present. Not a bush or leaf moved. The air was still—aggressively so. A pin hitting the ground would shatter the silence in such a way that it could be perceived as deafening. Twilight did a small hop on the bridge, checking its strength. She nodded at her companion before they took a few more trepidatious steps forwards. Twilight’s hair on the back of her neck stood up. She stopped dead in her tracks, Hardsteel stopping next to her. The distinct feeling of being watched washed over her like a tsunami. Anxiety coursed through her veins. She turned around, her eyes darting back and forth, but the world was as empty as it had been when they passed it; the tunnel nothing more than a void that devoured any and all light that went into it. “What’s wrong?” Hardsteel whispered. “N-nothing,” Twilight shakily replied. “Just nerves.” Needless to say, Hardsteel didn’t believe her. Not even for a second. His eyes flashed with concern. Hardsteel rested a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “You sure?” Twilight nodded and turned back around. “Yes,” she said. “Now let’s go.” Then they heard it, the sound of the train whistle blowing and they turned eyes widening in horror as they saw what was coming. The train. An unstoppable 72 foot long, 400,000-pound inferno of steel and fury. And it was coming right at them. “Watch out!” Hardsteel called as he broke into a gallop before... Whooooommmp! Twilight was thrown off her hooves and fell to the ground as a thunderous force rammed into them with the fury of a thousand tonnes of TNT. Anything that was unlucky enough to be below them was obliterated as the train exploded upon impact. Twilight and Hardsteel were thrown clear of the bridge and Twilight reacted fast enough to throw up a bubble of magic around them to slow their descent. After all, it wasn’t the fall that killed you, but the landing. And then they saw something truly horrifying. The female MUTO towered over Twilight. Her fiery orange eyes bored their way into her soul with a bizarre mix of malice and curiosity. Beneath it all however, she got this unusual sense of motherly love—something she’d never felt from a creature of her stature. Twilight blinked, only for her to see that the MUTO had lowered her head down to look directly at her. The creature’s face was now mere inches from her own. She could see her reflection in the eyes with the same clarity she’d get if they were two floating ponds on a clear summer day. Taking a step back, Twilight watched as the MUTO’s head rose a few feet. Taking another step, the MUTO’s head rose again. For each step taken, Twilight watched as the massive creature’s head rose more and more. An anti mana pulse generated from one of the creature’s forelimbs and both her and Hardsteel were thrown backward into the bushes. Spellfire lit up the night as the surviving Royal Guards fired their surge rifles at the kaiju with several flamethrowers joining in for good measure. Hardsteel sighed in relief, so they were still alive. The MUTO screeched out in rage, parts of its carapace boiling from the fire. It thrashed in the night, sending several of the guards flying. Bones crunched on impact and the MUTO’s head darted down briefly before picking up one guard and tossing him skywards before the MUTO swallowed him whole. When all the chaos was over, Hardsteel shouted for names. He needed to know if anyone was still alive. He needed to know. He took several frantic breaths, had history repeated itself? The MUTO then began moving towards the ruins of the train, as it had fallen right off the bridge and was now laying in a heap of smoking steel and metal. It went for the Destroyer, sensing the pure raw magic in it and it picked it up before marching off into the forest. Twilight then looked at Hardsteel and saw an undying hatred in his eyes. Star Hunter had been right. He had looked into the abyss, and once again he’d blinked. And then came the explosion. “You stupid bitch! If you'd just let me do as I originally wanted, those men would still be alive! Their families wouldn't be missing a loved one! Sons and daughters wouldn't be missing a father when they graduate; wives wouldn't be sleeping alone! All because you were too self-absorbed to let me do my damn job! This is on you…” he growled. “This is all on you…” he said before Twilight finally let unconsciousness take her. When she awoke, she found Fizzlepop and Daring standing over her. “You awake Princess?” Fizzlepop asked in a concerned tone an airship hovering behind them. Daring was bandaging wounds. “We’ve got a very big problem...” Author's Note So, all Hell has just broken loose. Hardsteel's finally gone off his rocker, the Oxygen Destroyer is now in play, and the MUTOs are meeting. Scared yet? Now huge thank you to Vertigo for the second half of this chapter, the real meat of it. The set-piece if you will. Now, he gave me a few massive pointers on Hardsteel and how to do him and others like him right. Here's what he had to say. Alright. But lemme give you a few serious pointers. This'll help with any crazed/deranged character. Do not immediately go all-out on the crazy. That's not true to any sociopath or psychopath. Even Jack the Ripper, for as animalistic as he was with his killings, is believed to have been—to some degree—someone who blended in with the people of Whitechapel. If you EVER have to write someone who's crazy, you need to have something that sets off their craziness. Whatever they absolutely hate; what causes the crazy. So with to display his insanity, have someone mention or praise what it is that he absolutely despises in a way that he cannot stand. Always have a tick for crazy; don't make it "just there". Comes with learning about how unstable people cope with situations. Trust me, as dark and weird as it may seem to read a lot about serial killers, there's a lot you can learn about how they treat situations like that. Hollywood and TV don't portray them accurately. Nobody snaps 1-2-3. It's a slow burn caused by many different factors. But they project their failures onto those they hate or see as responsible. Hardsteel would no doubt see Twilight as responsible for the deaths even though it was inevitable due to the MUTOs nature. His reaction is understandable, but the normal man would grieve, apologize, and move on. Hardsteel will likely never let go and grow progressively more angry. If you want to add flavor to him, have him become more aggressive when he speaks to people. But have him grow more affectionate to one or two characters. Perhaps he sees something in them that he misses in a character he died (if there was a named one who had dialogue/character). Or the fact they survived makes him see them as "better" than Twilight. Most killers see themselves as better than everyone, but they can develop peculiar bonds with people. It's very unusual. You can do a lot of creative psychological things with Hardsteel, and add a number of interesting details that develop as the story progresses. Especially if he ever fully snaps and tries to kill someone. Next time, showdown in Manehatten! 8: The Battle for ManehattenAuthor's Note So, it's all come down to this... 8: The Battle for Manehatten “Let them fight.” -Ishiro Serizawa, Godzilla 2014 All was quiet as a thick fog began to settle in over Manehatten from the east. Then, the silence was broken as the Male MUTO let out a low trumpeting call as he cried for his mate. Then came the answer as the massive female walked into view carrying the Oxygen Destroyer. The Male held the crystals in his mouth, and together the two began exchanging ‘gifts’ of a sort. The female settled herself, and little by little began plopping eggs -each with a baby MUTO of their own inside- into a trench dug underneath Central Park. The stage was set for a cataclysmic clash of Kaiju proportions and everyone knew after this nothing would ever be the same. The hall was rented, the orchestra was engaged and now the question on everyone in Monarch’s minds was could Mothra dance and could she save them. Celeano heard the calls from her side of the city, even as she began hurrying ponies onto her newly… shall we say ‘borrowed’ ship, the Warbling Loon. Wasn’t her ideal choice in weather to fly in, but she had a unicorn working on the ship meaning they’d be able to cut through the fog easily enough. The real trouble was outrunning the MUTOs, and Mothra when she presumably got here. “This city’s about to become a battleground, and I’d rather not be the one to get caught up in the middle of it…” Celeano murmured looking around her to see the crowded interior of the ship. It was jam-packed, filled to bursting and she couldn’t even load a quarter of the city’s population onto it. She was worried she wouldn’t be able to even get it off the ground. “...Goddamit, wish I wasn’t so bloody useless! ...Picked a fine time to turn hero, Celeano old girl…” she thought to herself. Playing the dashing heroine wasn’t quite as easy as playing pirate as it turned out really. She had eyed the strange cylinder the larger of the MUTOs was carrying, it looked like a weapon of some sort. Now Celeano wasn’t stupid, far from it. She knew an explosive when she saw it. She didn’t want to know if it was active or if was about to go off. Thinking on either possibility made her only hurry up loading her ship. Gesturing to Mullet to keep everyone calm, she looked out into the fog where she saw movement out in the distance. The MUTOs, she figured. But she would be mistaken. Instead, it was something soundly different. You see, while Mothra had been resting, and healing from her battle with the Male in Honolulu she had taken the time to lay an egg. This had taken a bit out of her, but the egg had hatched. And it remembered. He remembered who he was and what he was supposed to be. A guardian of the Earth. He was Battra Leo, the Battle Moth as they called him. And now he had been reborn anew. Taking to the seas in the dead of night when nobody -not even his own mother!- was watching he swam all his might gathering up enough strength from any ambient enough radiation to grow and to change. His mother would be along shortly, now he had to hold the tide back long enough for his mother to rest and to recuperate. And then she would deliver her own power to protect this planet. For now, Battra decided he would have to be enough. ...He didn’t honestly know how he felt about going up against the MUTOs really. It was not because of his young age and strength, as he knew he was strong enough to at least hold them back. He just knew. No, it was simply because why he was going up against the MUTOs in the first place. His mother liked the small ones, he was never sure why. They were near powerless against his might. Why she and the Big One protected these creatures was very strange to him. They could easily crush them underneath. He was a Guardian Moth, a nigh divine creature but he cared for the rocks, trees and the earth. Not the ponies themselves. But for the sake of his mother, he would protect them if only just this once. Plus, Battra had to admit getting into a scrap with the chief predators of the Big One was a very enticing prospect indeed. As for Twilight Sparkle, she on board a train trundling into Manehatten. As she neared the city the young Alicorn observed something moving as it crawled out onto the shoreline, a massive wave crashing into the Manehatten waterfront. Her eyes widened in shock and she turned to Fizzlepop -who was now clad in full Royal Guard armor- as the larva-like creature walked onto the streets, the being looking strikingly familiar. “...Uh, am I seeing what I think I’m seeing?” she whispered as the yellow and black spiked larva thing slowly but surely strode down Main Street, dark red eyes narrowed. Slicing through buildings with the spikes that jutted out of its form, 90 meters and 20,000 metric tons of destruction heading right for the MUTO pair. “...But I thought we… we killed him.” Fizzlepop observed the large larva make its way towards the MUTO duo and felt an oncoming sense of dread. She knew better than anypony what was coming. But at the same time, she noted -for the most part anyways- Battra Fillius as she elected to call him was avoiding the buildings. Well, avoiding them as much if a creature of his size could anyways. Fear if his mother's rage maybe? She couldn't be certain. What worried her more was what was now inside the city primed to blow at any moment. Time was no longer on their side. “Looks like the Queen of Monsters just became a mommy,” Fizzlepop noted, her dark blue and gold armor shimmering as the early signs of the afternoon sun peeked their way through the clouds. “...Just our luck isn’t it? We thought we would only have to worry about protecting the city and her citizens from three kaiju, now there’s four. Welp, there goes the Big Apple.” she said with a resigned sigh of defeat. She knew exactly what was coming. A battleground. She looked away in shame. She had failed. They all had failed to prevent this. Twilight saw the look in her friend's eyes. She had similar feelings as well. “We’ll do what we can, the best we can do is get everyone to the underground shelters while trying to turn off that Destroyer,” Twilight said with a determined look in her eyes. With her came Serizawa and an armed regiment of Royal Guards. Briefly, her thoughts turned to Hardsteel. Where was he now? After the complete and utter disaster that was the Everfree Pass, he had fallen off the radar. Could he have killed himself in shame? Twilight honestly doubted it. No, he was far too angry at the monsters and at her for that to ever be a thought in his mind. She knew he was out there somewhere. And it was more than likely he'd turn up sometime during the battle. Twilight knew she should have kept a better eye on him. “Lock and load!” she barked at the guards behind her who primed their surge rifles. From behind them, Serizawa sighed. “It’s impossible to stop the countdown now,” he said sadly. “Stellar showed me the specs. It was designed in haste, and it’s likely damaged. You couldn’t stop it now even if you wanted to.” Fizzlepop swore. “Well, isn’t that just lovely. Everything seems to be coming up roses today. Okay, new plan. We get that bomb out of the city, make sure it detonates far from anyone or anything. Twilight, protect the civilians. ...I’m going to-” “Fizzlepop… you don’t have to…” Twilight whispered. “Please, don’t do this…” Fizzlepop begged to differ. All her life she'd been nothing but a constant menace to Equestria and her surrounding territories. Now here was a chance to finally do some good and make up for all the pain she'd caused. This would be the one time in her life Tempest Shadow would ever do anything good. “No, I have to do this. I’ve caused Equestria far too much trouble, from the moment I joined the Storm King to the day I invaded Canterlot. I was born a warrior, and to be honest… I don’t know of anything else but to do but this right now It’s time for me to wipe the red from my ledger, cleanse myself.” Fizzlepop reaffirmed far too stubborn for Twilight at least, to change her mind. “Fizzlepop…” Twilight whispered looking away to hide her tears. “...I… I…” Silent words were exchanged. They didn't need to communicate what either of them already knew deep down in their hearts. “I know,” Fizzlepop smiled as the train pulled to a halt. “Thank you, Princess, for everything.” Then, a pair of fists slammed into both of them and the two crumpled to the floor unconscious. They’d wake, but not for a good several minutes. Serizawa looked to the guards. “...When they wake, say… Just say I did my part for Equestria and her wellbeing.” He was tossed a salute by the guards before he took to the skies intent on recovering the Destroyer… It wasn’t long before Battra Leo was noticed. The Male turned his sights onto him and took flight from atop the Maresler Building only for Battra to burrow underneath the streets. The MUTO looked around in confusion, where exactly had the creature gone? Then, he got his answer as Battra leaped out from behind him, slicing in the Male’s carapace with his horn. The male let out a cry of agony, collapsing to the ground below as his blood drenched the streets beneath. This would not be a quick death for him if Battra had his way. Guardian of the Earth of he may have been but Battra loved to see his enemies squirm. The female did not take her mate being cut open lightly. Amazingly, upon chowing down and soaking up so much magic had bestowed her with a new ability. Her throat and her spinal ridges glowed for a brief second before she fired off a blast of pure magical energy, sending the 20,000-ton larva flying to the other end of the city. She let out a roar of rage and marched after Battra who was struggling to pick himself up from the remains of the building, his horn crackling with a chaotic violet energy. Then, lightning lit up the skies as Battra let the Female have it, crackling beams of energy slicing and scything through the air like wildfire. He let out a roar, similar to his mother’s own but lower-pitched. Then he crawled towards the Female intent on piercing her with his horn. The Male meanwhile had managed to crawl towards the crystals and bit down on them, his wounds healing and strength returning. Battra found himself lifted up by the female and was about to be thrown once more before he let loose more energy blasts. The female screeched out in pain as Battra landed on the roads below, nearly caving them in. He picked himself up out of the crater and sliced into the female’s skin. A sea of fire was beginning to engulf Manehatten, looking as if hell itself had come. In the smoke and shadows, as lightning ripped up the street, a young mother was clutching her children close whispering: “It’s okay, we’ll be with daddy soon…” A lightning bolt came frighteningly close to them before a dark blue and golden form ran out of the shadows. Fizzlepop charged up her horn and unleashed a blast of lightning of her own splitting the oncoming bolt in two. Fizzlepop had changed her mind. No, she would be senselessly throwing her life away if she did that. She would be dishonoring Serizawa and his sacrifice. As long as there were ponies to protect she had something to live for. “Go, get to safety!” she shouted over the roars of the dueling kaiju. The mother and her children were all too happy to comply. Fizzlepop sighed. She'd seen Battra burrowing, it would be any small wonder if any of the underground shelters were still left after this. Looking upwards, she uttered: “How did it come to this? What did we do to deserve this clash of the titans?” Silently she wondered if Fluttershy's earlier statement was correct. If letting these creatures fight really was the best course of action. But then again it was only bricks and mortar. Those could be replaced, cities could always be rebuilt. She could only hope Twilight's new plan to aid the moth duo would work. Lives depended on it. Battra meanwhile found himself pushed back by another beam blast from the female, the larva now bleeding. He then noticed something the female hadn’t. He was now near one of the crystals and grabbed it in his mouth charging himself up with energy little by little. Of course, what he didn’t factor in was the male of the species. It picked up and grabbed him, quite intent on moving him out to sea and away from his nest. Battra shrieked and roared in rage feeling the new power coursing through him. With a wave of energy that sounded like a thunderclap, the Male found himself pushed backward as Battra evolved, massive wings unfurling. The sheer power in those crystals had allowed him to speed up his evolution and the two were now dueling in the rain. You see, the sheer power of Battra’s beams had charged up the clouds above to create a thunderstorm that was now pounding down on Manehatten. Battra flapped his wings glaring at the insolent young whelp who had dared to attack him. A poisonous powder was released from the flapping wings, making the MUTO cough and burned away at his eyes. He didn’t even get a chance to regain his bearings before Battra’s eyes glowed and he unleashed twin optic blasts, barreling into the MUTO Male with the force of a freight train. Now the tide had been turned however slightly. It was still far from an even fight but Battra now knew he had a better chance of making it out alive. He grabbed the Male and slammed him into a building, biting and snapping at him with his jaws. It was an eerie reversal of what the MUTO had pulled on his mother not so long ago. Then Battra felt something grab him from behind and he was thrown into the ground by the Female who looked quite intent on charging up another magical energy blast. Meanwhile down in the city streets below Serizawa flew between buildings even as the rain pounded down on his wings. He knew where his creation rested. He had to get it and move it out of the city. How he intended to do so was currently a work in progress, he’d just have to figure it out as he went along. What was important now was stopping that thing from detonating and killing everyone in the city. Serizawa allowed himself a pause as he watched the Titans do battle. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined he would ever be this close to them. Of course, Serizawa mused to himself as he watched the FeMUTO stagger backwards from an optic blast. That didn’t mean being this close was always advisable really. It would be a wonder if there was any city left at this rate he mused. The Battle Moth indeed. Battra let out another roar of rage as he seemed to eye Serizawa before taking to the skies letting the Male give chase. The female was soon to follow knowing that together they stood a better chance of taking down the battle moth. The dark divinity almost seemed to smile, everything was going exactly according to plan. He then flew around the Maresler Building before letting both MUTOs have it with beam after beam after beam, he didn’t care what he struck as long as it kept the MUTOs on the defensive. Buildings burned and Battra emerged from the flames like a bat out of Tartarus. The MUTOs, so caught off guard by their opponent’s aggressiveness didn’t even see this coming and Battra spun like a drill ramming the Male into the Maresler building. Glass shattered and steel buckled as the top of the building came crashing to the ground. The shockwave reduced buildings for a good block or so to rubble and sent others toppling like massive dominos. Battra let out a roar that sounded almost like laughter, before lighting up the skies with more optic blasts. The MUTO Male flew like hell himself was after him, as buildings ignited behind him Battra’s beams carving up the skyline. Finally, the Battle Moth had enough of the Male’s cowardice and flew right at him, forelimbs at the ready. The Male tried to get away but Battra tackled him again slamming him through another building. The Female finally recovered, and as if to say “Hands off my man!” she charged up another energy blast and Battra was sent spiraling to the ground. He struggled to pick himself up off the ground but began to feel himself slipping into unconsciousness. Meanwhile, Serizawa found himself running down into the little cavern the MUTOs had burrowed for themselves to lay their eggs. His eyes widened in sheer horror as he saw the true expanse of the clutch. Hundreds, if not thousands of eggs each with a little baby MUTO inside. And to make matters worse, the Oxygen Destroyer was in the center of it all. Presumably, the female had mistaken it for magical energy and had placed it here for her babies to feed on. “Destroyed by my own creation or the MUTOs… what a choice!” Serizawa thought with a bitter chuckle. He briefly considered the possibility of letting it blow. He would not be around to face the scorn nor would any of the MUTOs survive. Serizawa soon discarded that thought. As a citizen of Equestria, it was his duty to make sure that this city lived to see another day. “...Or what’s left of it, at least.” Serizawa thought to himself. He then groaned. He knew he wouldn’t be able to lift this thing. A magical flash was visible out of the corner of his eye. “You’re not going this alone,” a familiar voice said as she rested a hoof atop his shoulder. Serizawa turned. “I’m with you to the end here. You may have created this abomination, but I was the one who brought it into the fold.” “...Stellar, you…” Serizawa whispered as his eyes widened. “No, Monarch needs you.” “Monarch will live on in my stead. You’re not the only one with sins to atone for.” Stellar said as she looked towards the Destroyer. “Now help me lift this son of a bitch…” Grabbing hold of it with his talons, Serizawa began to slowly but steadily lift the bomb with Stellar helping with her magic. The two slowly began to move out of the crater, and it was only at this moment did Serizawa notice Stellar had a surge rifle on her back. She fiddled with it making it glow with an ominous hue before giving it a good hard toss towards the nest. Serizawa and Stellar dived for cover as an explosion lit up the night, a fireball rising high into the sky with a violent purple flame. The MUTOs swiftly took notice and letting out roars they left Battra alone and headed right for what remained of their nest. The female peeked her head in and as soon as she saw what remained of her children she began to howl both in anger and in despair. She searched the smoke and rubble for who was responsible. Eyes darting left and right, she finally spotted them. She had taken notice of Stellar, pinned under a piece of rubble. Her mechanical leg had been crushed. Serizawa was trying to help her get free but they both then saw the MUTO, who had fairly quickly figured out who exactly was responsible for the deaths of her babies. She leaned her head in and gave them what could only be described as an absolutely venomous death glare reeking of fury. Her ridges and throat were glowing once more ready to let out another beam blast and end their lives. Energy glowed and both Serizawa and Stellar braced for death. Then it came. Battra managing to muster up some of the last of his strength, he fired twin optic blasts at the Female, sending her toppling backward into a building, rubble falling all around her and pinning her underneath. The Male let out a roar but Battra reacted as he came and grabbed hold of him. Biting down hard, he drew blood and transferred a powerful poison into the Male’s bloodstream. The MUTO thrashed and roared for several odd minutes before it finally stopped. One nightmare at least was over. But another had just begun as the female had witnessed this and pulled herself out of the rubble making a beeline right for her mate’s killer. Eyes glowing with a fire of fury she raised one forelimb poised to strike. Then a massive shape dived out of the clouds unleashing a triumphant roar. Wings glowing with blue energy and eyes narrowed, the Queen of the Monsters dived in… Mothra knew by this point the MUTOs were beyond reasoning with. In hindsight, she supposed she shouldn’t have been that surprised really. They worked on basic primal animalistic instincts, even more so than any of the other kaiju Mothra knew except for perhaps the Golden One. Their thought process was food, fight, and then breed. Rinse, wash and then repeat as the small ones put it. Even as she slammed her full body weight into the female of the species, she took note of the male laying dead. She allowed herself a moment of brief relaxation, this was good news. Although she was indeed angry with her son, she was also proud of him. He had managed to take down one of the most dangerous kaiju currently active. However, she did not know if her spawn was dead or alive at the moment nor did she know if the MUTOs themselves had managed to spawn. That could be all dealt with later. Right now Mothra was certain of only one thing even as she struck as the MUTO with her raptorial-like talons. This thing needed to die. Her eyes widened in shock when she saw the female’s spines and throat glowing before it unleashed a powerful blast of pure hot blazing magical fire. Mothra only barely managed to dodge before she rolled out of the way to avoid another blast. She swore in the Titan language. Of course, she was such a fool. This thing would have soaked up so much magical energy that of course, it would have gained this ability. It needed to let off this much magic periodically otherwise it would explode. Simply put, a MUTO body was not designed to handle that much magic. Well, that couldn’t be allowed, could it? Yes, these beam blasts were a danger but Mothra was far more concerned with the little ones below. They would not be able to escape the blast. Flying skywards, she allowed the MUTO to fire off more torrents of magical fire, some cinging her wings slightly. A poor knockoff of her King’s own breath weapon but still dangerous nonetheless. Flapping her wings, she met an anti mana pulse with her own abilities, the wave being powerful enough to dispel the surrounding clouds. Another pulse came and Mothra was sent tumbling backwards into what remained of the Maresler building, quickly regaining her bearings and perching herself atop the rubble. Wings glowing with energy, she fired off a massive blast that sent the MUTO staggering backwards. Beneath the streets of Manehatten, ponies gathered and quivered from the battle that continued to rage. They wondered when this nightmare would end, and whether they'd live to see the next morning. A piece of the ceiling broke off and even as Royal Guards rushed pass, Twilight’s eyes widened as ponies screamed. She couldn’t grab it in time. But there was to be no lives lost. To everyone’s shock and surprise, the Shobijin stood humming a little tune and keeping the ceiling from caving in any further. “...By Celestia…” Twilight breathed. “Well, we could not let our Goddess come and not give support to you, could we?” the Shobijin chorused. “No no! Even as benevolent as the Giver of Life is, even she understands that destruction is sadly an inherent part of her battles. So she sends us along to help prevent as much loss of life as we can!” “...Well, to be fair to Mothra it was actually Battra who caused most of the damage…” Twilight muttered but the Shobijin overheard her and their eyes widened in shock. “Battra has returned? Battra has returned to save this city?” they asked. “The two sides of our Goddess fighting together? My my, what a glorious day this is!” “...Not exactly sure if that’s the word I’d use but… Whatever works for you I guess…” Twilight muttered even as she headed up to the surface. All around her in very specific locations, Royal Guards had stationed themselves around the FeMUTO. Twilight’s horn glowed and her voice went out. “NOW! ON 3! 1, 2, 3!” She as well had noticed how the female MUTO had sucked up excess magic and had enacted a plan to help ease the battle for Mothra. While she was not aware of what would happen if the MUTO didn’t let off her magic, if she was she would have quickened her pace. As her horn glowed, Twilight slammed a hoof into the ground. All around her, her regiment did the same as well. A massive purple pentagonal rune of magic now surrounded the MUTO, and it shrieked out in pain even as she felt her powers began to lose her. Mothra pressed her advantage and used her ‘God Rays’ once more but the MUTO was having none of it. She raised a forelimb and Twilight knew what was coming. “SHIELDS!” she shouted and although she and her regiment were protected Mothra was not and she was sent flying backward into what remained of a building. Mothra had decidedly had enough of this creature’s antics and took to the skies before flying back down towards the MUTO and grabbing it via a divebomb maneuver. With all of her strength, she managed to actually lift it up and slowly start dragging it towards the shoreline. Twilight and her regiment changed positions as necessary. The MUTO meanwhile used another mana pulse making freeing herself from Mothra’s grasp. Another beam attack came and this time Mothra changed tactics. The scales on her wings glistened and she folded them in front of her like a shield. Twilight was stunned, was Mothra giving up. Then to her surprise, Mothra actually managed to deflect the attack sending it curving upwards into the stratosphere. Another beam attack came, and Mothra met it with her ‘god rays’. The two attacks struggled for dominance before finally fizzling out in midair. Mothra’s movements were slower, it was obvious she still had yet to regain her full strength. And the MUTO clearly knew this as well by her advances toward the Queen of the Monsters. Twilight let out a small snarl. “Oh no she doesn’t!” she thought as once more the runes took light. The MUTO found herself losing more and more of her energy before her eyes widened almost comically so as she saw Mothra coming right at her talons at the ready. She was thrown back into a nearby mountainside and Mothra soon got out of firing range as another beam was tossed. Yes, this one was clearly weaker than any of the others but there was only so much punishment Mothra could take. Landing on the side of the Mare of Liberty’s head, Mothra let out another roar even as the MUTO regained her strength for what presumably was going to be another attack. But Twilight had thought ahead. Another magical spell seal went up. During all of this, Hardsteel had been lurking. He saw Twilight, and his eyes saw red. Here was the mare who was responsible for getting his men killed on the Pass, now leading another regiment. With a roar, he leaped out of the shadows pinning her to the ground with placing a ring around her horn. Her magic bound, Twilight looked at Hardsteel in shock even as she began picking herself up off the ground. “Hardsteel?” Twilight asked. “Have you lost your mind?” “No, I’m just relieving you of command ma’am,” Hardsteel said. “With all due respect, you are a danger to those around you. You lead Mothra here to this city, and you screwed up on the train. Now there’s a bomb about to blow and wipe us all out!” “And… and the more time we waste the less likely we can get it out of the city!” Twilight said. “Did you not hear about the two-mile radius? Lives will be lost! So for Celestia’s sakes, put your goddess-damned revenge aside and listen to me!” she shouted. “I’m sorry ma’am, I truly am,” Hardsteel whispered unable to meet her eyes. “But… but this is my job, my duty to my country. I have to kill both of these creatures, and I’ll be damned if I let you stand in my way. So for Celestia’s sakes please stand aside Princess. I don’t want to have to hurt you…” “What you should think about Hardsteel…” Twilight whispered as her eyes began to glow a bright white and the restraining ring shattered. “...Is how much I could hurt you. But I won’t. I’ll get you the help you need, I promise you th-AAAAAAGGGHHHHHH!!!” she suddenly screamed. Hardsteel had pulled out a whip of pure magic and lashed. “You… you don’t deserve to lead these men, these are my troops! Mine!” he bellowed. Twilight’s eyes widened. Madness had overtaken the stallion. Even as she advanced under the lashes, this temporary distraction allowed the MUTO to regain her upper hand. She fired once more, and Mothra’s eyes widened before she took flight. As for the Mare of Liberty, she lost half of her head. Mothra swooped around taking in what was going on below. Even as small as she was, she could see Twilight under attack. Swooping in towards Hardsteel, she let out a roar knocking him off his hooves. But this was a costly mistake and Mothra was sent flying into the sea by the MUTO shoulder charging her with the force of a freight train. Twilight tried to get up, to order her men to start the spell again but was knocked out via a punch to the face by Hardsteel. “FIRE!” he bellowed. His men looked confused. “FIRE FOR CELESTIA’S SAKE!” he bellowed. “Or I’ll see you all court-martialed!” And so they did, unloading their surge rifles into the MUTO. Whether it was in fear of Hardsteel’s madness or some form of loyalty to the Queen of Monsters and an urge to protect her was uncertain. In any case, the MUTO did not look pleased as she reared on them. Spellfire hit her, bombarding her with small explosions and the MUTO shrieked out in rage. But just as she was about to bite down on what remained of the platoon… Twilight reacted, and time slowed down long enough for some of them to run. Some would be safe, if not all. But what she didn't expect was what happened next. “CHEEEEERRRRRRRRRNNNNNNTTTTT!” Mothra had emerged from the waves and flew towards the MUTO unleashing a blast from her wings. All of her power had been poured into this one last blast. This time the MUTO had no time to react and was incinerated, with what little remained crashing onto the waterfront. Mothra herself was soon to follow, collapsing from the sheer exhaustion of it all. Twilight supposed she deserved the nap, it had been a very long week for the Queen of the Monsters. As for Hardsteel, Fizzlepop had arrived and had just cuffed him before knocking him out with a punch, another guard helping Twilight up. But what of the Oxygen Destroyer? Now that is another story entirely really. Amazingly throughout all this chaos both Serizawa and Stellar had managed to make their way to a boat. They were now on their way out to sea with only the ticking of the Destroyer’s countdown as a companion. Stellar laughed. “...You, you remember how we met right? You and your college courses. Sunburst, bless him, had just gone off to magic school. And you were in town going on a lecture for… Oh, I don’t suppose it really matters now does it?” “Lepidopterans. Moths,” Serizawa laughed. “Born entomologist. You know, I really have to thank you for all these years of companionship.” “No, I have to thank you really. When my husband died, you were…” Serizawa looked at the timer. Just a few seconds left. “It was the only thing I could do. For a friend.” “For what it’s worth? I’m sorry. For dragging you into all of this.” “So am I. Saraba tomoyo.” And then their whole world went white. When the dust finally cleared everyone emerged from their shelters even as the sun began to set over the ruins of Manehatten. The Shobijin’s eyes widened and one of the twins buried her muzzle into her sister’s shoulder upon seeing the fallen divine moths. Nobody was sure if they were alive or dead. Then Fizzlepop let out a sharp gasp. “...Oh by the Goddesses…” Twilight was soon to follow as she looked out into the bay and was greeted with a truly horrific sight. The bay was now full of floating dead fish, evidence of a much greater tragedy. She knew what had happened, and lowered her head in mourning. “Serizawa…” she thought as a tear dripped from her eyes. Fizzlepop let her cry into her shoulder, close to tears herself. She hadn’t known the old griffon long but he had certainly left his impression. Then she let out another gasp albeit for entirely different reasons. Sharp maple leaf style spines cut through the water and a massive form rose up out of the bay. Truly ancient and indescribable, the beast reached out towards Mothra. He sniffed her, hoping to arise a reaction. At first, it looked as if the Queen of the Monsters was well and truly gone along with her spawn. But then twin sets of eyes slowly fluttered open and a chorus of cheers rose up from the populace. A chant rose up.”Mothra! Mothra! Mothra! Mothra!” they called even as the Queen slowly climbed up onto her King’s back with Battra slowly taking to the skies. The King looked towards the growing crowd and eyed them seemingly studying them. He then turned his head skywards, -the maple-leaf spines on his back glowing- and fired a blast of pure blue energy into the sky letting the ponies know the true King of the Monsters had returned. Slowly but surely, he turned and made his way back out to sea, sinking back beneath the waves with his Queen on his back. Fizzlepop and Twilight shared a look, it could be none other. “My God…” Twilight started with Fizzlepop finishing for her. “...Zilla.” The times had definitely changed. But they knew who they stood with, and who was on their side. The Age of Monsters had come but Monarch would weather it and rebuild. They had to. For all of ponykind. Would this be the last they saw of the King and his Queen? They didn’t know. But they did know this, whatever came next they would face it together. Epilogue: History shows again and again...And it came to pass that the Age of Monsters dawned upon Equestria. Monarch was currently undergoing a reshuffling of sorts if you will, following the sacrifices of their two biggest authoritative figures. Pharynx found himself as the head of the organization now. Not that he really minded given the fact that he was now a job that fulfilled both of his wishes. To be in a position of power and to actually have a job that involved dealing with or containing dangerous threats to his hive. “You know all of that just became pretty funny when you think about it,” Fizzlepop remarked as she looked upon the news footage covering the battle between Mothra and the MUTOs. One headline proposed her as the Queen of the Monsters: Savior of Our City. “I mean, Mothra was just some old lady attempting cockblocking a couple!” “...Where… where does your mind even go to when you think that?” Daring asked as Fluttershy blushed a bright red. The group had met up over drinks to celebrate Pharynx’s new job. Thorax and Twilight would have been there, but they were currently heading up the trial on Captain Hardsteel. Fizzlepop sighed to herself sadly, the stallion could have had it all and yet like Captain Ahab he chose to throw it all away in search of his ‘white whale’. “Well, she’s got a point,” Pharynx smirked sharing a hoofbump with the now smirking mare. He then noticed her expression. “...You alright, Fizz?” “Maybe… I don’t know,” she sighed as she began taking a sip of her whiskey. “I mean, you have to ask… what now? Serizawa and Stellar are dead, Monarch's masquerade’s blown and we lost far too many good ponies in all of this. Hardsteel amongst them.” “Hardsteel was crazy,” Celeano disagreed. “If you ask me, a court-martial is too good for him. Should have just had the MUTO eat him alive… Ordering his own men to get themselves killed! That bastard! They’re lucky to be alive thanks to that spell of Twilight’s and Mothra!” she snarled. Pharynx wasn’t aware that a parrot could look quite so furious but then again Celeano was doing a very good job of proving her wrong. If looks could kill, the Changeling Prince would have imagined Hardsteel would have burst into flames at the sight of her. “I think he got it off worse in some regards,” Fizzlepop disagreed. “A soldier’s way to die, and I speak from experience here alas, is with the enemy at the gates and adrenaline pumping and coursing through their veins. Denying Hardsteel a soldier’s death is about the worst thing you could possibly do to him. Here he is, stripped of his pride and put on public display for all to see.” “To each their own,” Celeano muttered to herself. “But… but your masquerade’s been blown now am I correct? Pharynx, how do you plan to even handle something like this?” “Eh, I’ll deal. Monarch always has. The public will panic, of course they will. But it’ll be Monarch’s job from now on to contain any Titans and if it comes to it work with them to stop the more dangerous ones.” “W-What could be possibly more dangerous than those MUTOs?” Fluttershy whispered not sure she really wanted to know. “Godzilla, or Gojira or whatever you want to call him. He’s on our side for now, yes, but what if ponykind were to turn on him?” Pharynx asked as an unsettling silence came over the group. “We’d be almost powerless to stop him. And for all we know… and for all we know there could be something much more dangerous lurking in the shadows, just waiting for his -or her- time to arise…” Fluttershy had to excuse herself, though not for the reason you might have thought. No, she didn’t need to go ahead and find herself a nice couch to hide under. She had seen a pony with an eerily familiar gaze lurking just out of sight. “...You knew what was going to happen all along didn’t you?” Fluttershy asked the pony, who shapeshifted into a serpent-like being. “Didn’t you Discord?” “...Well, I may or may not have. I certainly didn’t expect the King of Monsters to show when he did, that was for sure!” Discord laughed. “Battra Leo showing up and holding off the MUTOs for as long as he did before mommy dearest arrived? Now… I certainly didn’t have a thing to do with that. All that happened there was a small change in the air that in turn was caused by a microscopic variation in the evaporation of water from a tree in the jungles of Honolulu, due to a tiny little fly flapping its wings a few seconds too early. That’s all!” Fluttershy had to stifle a laugh. “Discord…” she thought to herself. “But in any case, you ponies somehow manage to keep on going to impress me,” Discord continued. “I thought you all would have turned and ran when the first MUTO hatched and made landfall. But guess I was wrong, you rose to the challenge and helped Mothra win against her rivals. I honestly thought for a bit the dominant species of the planet would be the MUTOs sending you back to the Stone Age!” Fluttershy just shook her head. “It’s what we ponies do, we face a challenge and we meet it. We haven’t survived this long without having some sort of… something to keep us going.” “Yes, quite. Not sure what that something is yet if it’s your friendship or something else but you certainly do seem to keep on meeting every challenge the world has to throw at you. And that’s why I like you all. You, no matter what, you never give up. So dear Fluttershy… Tea at our usual time?” Fluttershy couldn't help but smile. “...I… I think I’ll take you up on that offer.” Sire’s Hollow: “Mata au made, kyūyū,” Twilight said as she placed some flowers atop a grave marked with Serizawa’s name. There was no body to be placed inside the tomb, the Destroyer had seen to that. But he would be remembered for his part in the dawn of this new age, for good or for ill. “Arigatō… Serizawa sensei.” She turned to Sunburst, who was quietly mourning the death of his mother. “You going to be alright?” she asked wrapping a wing around her friend. Sunburst blew into a handkerchief and dabbed at his eyes as he looked upon her tombstone. “Y-Yeah, I think I’ll be fine. Just… Just give me a bit of time, okay?” “There’s a place for you, you know. In Monarch, I mean. Pharynx’s offer, not mine,” Twilight said. “I can understand perfectly if you don’t want to come and join them.” “Maybe someday, but for now… I… I think I’ll need some time away from giant monsters and all of that. I have to play uncle for Flurry, and the Crystal Empire needs their mage. You understand right?” the orange unicorn asked and Twilight nodded softly. “Yes… Yeah, take all the time you need. And if you ever need anything… just give me a call okay?” Twilight asked and Sunburst smiled at her. “Y-Yeah, I think I’ll do that. So, how did it go? The trial I mean?” “Well,” Twilight began. “It was certainly something. I mean, you can definitely call it that really…” Even as she explained what had gone on in Canterlot, Twilight had begun to flashback towards that fateful trial. “So, you honestly believe what you did was for the best?” Twilight asked as the trial came to order, Raven Inkwell banging a gavel as the charges were read off. Attempted murder of a Princess, assault, endangering one’s own men… The list went on. Shining who was in the audience looked on with a mix of disgust and disappointment. “Of course I did,” Hardsteel refuted. “We do the dirty work! So our families and our countrymen don't have to be afraid! They should not even know that a thing like those even existed! Now your group, Monarch, that was your job right? Well look at how badly you botched it up!” “Sometimes, the enemy does not exist… until you decide to go out looking for one. Yes, I acknowledge Monarch screwed up, but not because of how we failed to keep the MUTOs under wraps. They would have awakened eventually,” Twilight said absentmindedly rubbing her burned and charred shoulder with a hoof. It was where Hardsteel had struck her with his whip. “And that is neither here nor there Hardsteel.” “So what, are we going to pretend those men of mine died for nothing? That they died fighting an enemy who did not exist? Do you have to go home to their families, look them in the eyes and tell them that their wife, daughter, husband, or son will not be coming home and yet you can’t explain why? Answer me that one Princess!” Hardsteel shouted back. If he wasn’t restrained by his cuffs and there weren’t two Royal Guards with spears pointed directly at him he probably would have launched himself straight at Twilight. “They’ll know the truth, each and every one of them. Now I’m sorry for your losses Captain,” Twilight said. “We all are. But what you did remains unchanged. You are nearly responsible for the deaths of your own men and you would have been had I not saved them from the MUTO. Think on that Captain.” “I have. And I’ve justified it to myself over and over that their deaths would have been a necessary evil just to stop that MUTO from making its way to another city.” “Look at yourself! Your men wouldn’t have stopped that creature, slowed it down maybe but not killed it! There’s no excuse you can ever use to justify your men dying senselessly!” Twilight nearly screamed before Shining put a hoof on his sister’s shoulder. “That’s enough Twiley,” Shining said. “That’s enough. Hardsteel, I assume you know your fate?” “Yes, and… and I deserve it. Twilight’s right,” Hardsteel said sadly refusing to meet Twilight’s eyes. “I killed my men with my decisions and I deserve everything that’s coming to me. It’s not prison I fear, but who will greet me when I die.” “Well, let us hope she will be merciful,” Shining said. “40 years, 20 if you’re good enough. Take him away!” he roared to his men who nodded and led the thoroughly defrocked Hardsteel away. “He got off lucky, if you ask me…” Sunburst whispered. “Did he?” Twilight asked remembering looking at Hardsteel’s face and the pain and the grief it showed. “Did he really?” she had to ask. Sunburst couldn’t provide an answer. “So… what now?” Sunburst asked as they walked away from the cemetery and into Sire’s Hollow proper. “Do we… do we just go on with our lives as if nothing’s happened or…?” “No, we don’t pretend that nothing’s happened,” Twilight answered. “We acknowledge it and we learn and we grow from our experiences. That is simply what we must do. How does it go? History shows us again and again…” “...How nature is willing to point out the follies of-” Sunburst began to whisper in reply before a loud explosion shook the town and knocked the two to the ground. “...What the…?” A massive purple cobra creature, with spikes jutting out of his body had erupted from a nearby mountainside. As it reared up baring its fangs, the creature hissed as Twilight smiled. “And so it seems the adventure continues… Titanus Hamadryad. Well, he’s in for a shock,” Twilight said as she took flight. “Because there are two things he doesn’t know about the new modern day Equestria. One of them’s me, yes. But the other is…” A familiar roar cut through the air as cheers rose up from all over town as a very distinctive form appeared from over the horizon flapping her wings. She body-slammed the cobra creature and Twilight smiled again as she charged up her horn ready for battle. “Mothra.” The battle ended, and Mothra returned to her home on Beginning Isle, now slowly starting to be known as Monster Island for the unusually large amount of Kaiju gathering there. A Monarch outpost had been set up, as per the norm although for some reason very ponies weren't particularly interested in taking up this particular position. Daring honestly didn’t know why. Here, she got to experience some of the most wondrous creatures nature had on offer. Ever since Godzilla had moved in it seemed some of the nastier wildlife had decided to clear off. No worries about being eaten by giant prehistoric spiders for her! Mind you, Daring mused as water shook a little in a glass of water she had near her there were other worries really. Such as being stomped flat by certain giant kaiju. But that was a risk she was willing to take Daring thought to herself. Currently, she and Snap Shudder were hiding amongst some bushes ready to fire off a few photographs at the creature that was just coming into view now. Massive in size, it put all other dragons to shame. The white beast curled and coiled up around a nest of eggs. Now Daring wasn’t quite sure how most kaiju reproduced, although there was a working theory that some did it asexually. They certainly had no visible genitalia to speak of. And at least that spared Daring the thought of how Godzilla and Mothra -who were currently on the other end of the island- did that particular deed. Daring had to wonder though, just what was their connection? Was it simply symbiotic as the Shobijin said it was or was it something more that couldn’t quite yet be understood by ponies? That scene at the Manehatten waterfront certainly pointed towards the latter really. Then came the roar. A roar of nature, a roar of rage just as Twilight had described it. SKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOONNNNGGKK! She and Serizawa were right. None ever forgot their first meeting with the King of the Monsters. Even now he stomped into view turning to eye Manda and his clutch briefly before sinking down into the grasslands for a nice long rest. He would come when he was needed but for now, he needed to sleep. Daring chuckled. She couldn’t really blame him. Fighting other titans, some much younger than he for an entire week would tire anyone out. She then decided it was best to take her leave and walked back towards her tent where a painting by the Shobijin rested in a very prominent position. Daring barked out a laugh making Snap look at her. “What’s so funny?” he asked curiously as he turned to look at her and then he saw the painting as well. Godzilla, and Mothra spending time together under the setting sun. Daring shook her head. Twilight had been right all those weeks ago. Nature was a curious and most wonderful thing really. Author's Note Okay, so yes. An epilogue chapter. Figured there were a few loose ends that needed to be tied up, such as what happened to Monarch in the wake of Manehatten and what happened to Hardsteel. Now, I really want to thank you all for this wonderful journey you embarked on with me. Been a bit of a rough ride, never sure if I could do it at times but y'all stayed supportive and kept me going with your love for this story and its characters. Huge thank you to everyone who helped me, and that does include the Bridge server for making me work up the nerve to do this story in the first place. Until the next time, ladies and gents.
1: Stormfront“Mothra oh Mothra If we were to call for help Over time, over sea, like a wave You'd come “Our guardian angel Mothra oh Mothra If we were to call for help Over time, over sea, like a wave “You'd come Our guardian angel Mothra oh Mothra If we were to call for help “Over time, over sea, like a wave You'd come Our guardian angel Mothra oh Mothra “Of forgotten kindness and ruined spirits We pray for the people's spirit as we sing This song of love Mothra oh Mothra “If we were to call for help Over time, over sea, like a wave You'd come Our guardian angel…” -Mothra’s Song, as translated by Ocellus in her book ‘Queen of the Kaiju’ Equestria was old, this much was certain. Thousands upon thousands of years old, and with far more secrets than anybody would have ever thought possible. Even to this date, it was still theorized that only 50% of the planet had been explored and its secrets uncovered. There were some who theorized that was simply being generous actually, given the various theories that had been postulated and thrown around over the decades. One popular, if not somewhat mocked theory was that of a hollow planet. That meaning, the entirety of the world was covered in massive caverns that connected one end of the planet to the other. Locked away in these caverns were only Celestia knew what. Perhaps it was innate pony curiosity to wonder at what was hiding in the lower depths of the world. Did that mean anyone should go looking? Perhaps not, given sometimes what we seek isn’t always what we end up finding. And sometimes what we find isn’t always in our best interest. Perhaps some theorized ponies should have just stayed within our borders and not gone off looking for trouble. Trouble, after all, had a tendency to find someone when they went looking for it was that not the truth? Now, thousands of years ago the world was ruled by the Father of All Monsters. Grogar, the Overgoat. Possibly the most dangerous creature ever to walk the face of the planet, this madman gave birth to -literally and metaphorically- some of the most frightening beasts in all of Equestria’s recorded history. Beasts so terrifying you’d go mad just by looking at them. Yes, we’re talking about you Discord. Now, nobody was entirely sure how it happened, but eventually, Grogar was defeated by a pony now known to historians as Gusty the Great. His bell, his object of power was hidden away from him for thousands of years after his defeat and Grogar’s fate became that of mystery. Was he defeated and killed? Or was he locked away in the darkest depths of the world never to see the light of day? Given Grogar’s known control over the realm of the dead, or Tambelon as it was called just about anything could be true. Nobody really bothered to pry into these legends really, given Grogar was that feared. What was known was just how many creatures he was responsible for, and how many he was theorized to have created. Were all of them evil? Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe some just acted on instinct, like wild animals. Very few beings could have ever been said to have been actually evil. So with that in mind, it was possible to question if all monsters were bad and to bring up the idea of some maybe even being on the side of the angels as it were. It was a long shot, yes that much was true. But then again if creatures like Discord could be tamed -tamed, not controlled- then maybe some could be befriended. And really, not all monsters came in the shape of giant beasts. Sometimes the truly scary characters could be found living in your own town. And I’m not talking about changelings. So, the question was, if such heroic monsters existed where could they possibly be found…? “Professor! Professor!” a mare’s voice called as its owner rushed through caverns deep beneath a mine before finally breaching as a flash of sunlight hit her square in the face. “Sir, they’ve found… something.” A griffon, dark brown in fur color turned back to look at the mare as he looked up from his watch. “So our search wasn’t in vain. There really is something here…” the griffon whispered before gesturing to some nearby ponies in golden armor. “Clear everybody out! I don’t want anyone asking questions they shouldn’t be!” he barked. One guard saluted, before gesturing to his men. “So, Princess, seems you were right,” the griffon smiled. A nametag on his lab coat read a name. Serizawa. “I’d almost thank you for proving a few theories of mine, but…” “Yeah, I’ll hold the thanks for later until after we confirm the site as safe,” Princess Twilight Sparkle muttered. “Let’s hope this place doesn’t have any nasty surprises in store for us, and all this was… well, let’s hope it was just an earthquake really…” “Doubtful,” Serizawa muttered pointing to a huge gash in the ground with a claw. “See that over there? Took out forty miners with it when it opened up. And there was only an earthquake detected after the fact. No, what we found here… well, it was probably something more.” “So, how’d this all start anyway?” a unicorn with a mulberry coat and a chipped apart horn asked, walking up in pinkish-silver armor with markings that designated her as the Captain. She bowed to Twilight, and then to the Professor. “I’d like some details, just so I know what to put in the papers and tell anypony curious or stupid enough to come inquiring about.” “You let me and Monarch handle that,” Serizawa replied. “All respect where it’s due Madam Fizzlepop, this is out of-” Fizzlepop looked frankly rather insulted, this griffon treating her like she was beneath notice. She took a few deep breaths, he probably hadn’t meant it that way. Not really anyways. The fact of the matter was, he probably just meant that this wasn’t something she should worry about. Let him and his Monarch group handle this. And even if she was wrong about that, Twilight was quick to leap to her defense giving Serizawa a stern glare. “Her jurisdiction?” Twilight asked. Fizzlepop licked her lips and suppressed a shudder. She did enjoy it when her Princess got assertive. Didn’t matter if it was with her or not. “I brought her in on this because I knew I could trust her judgment. I wouldn’t have made her Captain of the Guard if I didn’t. Trust goes both ways Professor, you should know that. I trust you, so trust her.” Serizawa considered it over for a moment before sighing. “Alright… The official story is that is was an earthquake, and we’re sticking to that. I’d rather not frighten ponies.” “And it’s obviously very much not an earthquake as I gathered,” Fizzlepop deadpanned. “You boys from Monarch wouldn’t be here if that was the case. I assume you know what happened, how… well, all of this was uncovered?” “Enlighten me,” Serizawa replied. “They picked up a radiation pocket out here last month while strip-mining the place. Apparently, a few ponies got excited thinking they’d stumbled across uranium or something. They started stacking up the heavy machinery and then… well, you’ve seen the results.” Fizzlepop sighed gesturing to the huge gash in the valley floor.” “The arrogance of our kind is thinking nature is always in our control,” Serizawa muttered. Whether he was talking about the accident, or what had been uncovered was currently unclear. “Yes, that’s what happened. But what they found is hardly uranium. Follow me.” As they did so, Fizzlepop let her mind begin to wander if only for the briefest of moments. Truth be told, she was grateful for Twilight actually bringing her into the fold. Yes, she was still used in a military capacity but honestly, Fizzlepop didn’t actually know what else she was useful for after serving so long under the Storm King as his right hand. When (Princess) Twilight found her, she was a broken mare. Years of serving as a conqueror against ponykind had hardened her heart. Meaning bringing her back into civilization would be a tricky endeavor, to say the least. Little by little, she had managed to return to what could be called a normal state of mind but at the same time, Fizzlepop knew she would probably never be too comfy working as a civilian. Twilight knew this as well. There was a reason she had brought her as captain of her personal guard. She knew aside from the fact that Fizzlepop being a great tactician, the mare knew nothing else aside from being a military mare. Perhaps it would be possible at some later point to ease her into a non-military job but right now that would hardly be possible. Fizzlepop knew she simply wasn’t comfortable around ponies right now, so it would be best to regain her trust in ponykind by working with ponies in a similar job capacity as her own. Plus, this allowed her to put her already learned skills to the best of use. Not to invade or destroy, but to defend and to help others who couldn’t help themselves. Put simply, for the sake of those who couldn’t fight to defend Equestria and its allies she would fight for them. She had a lot of sins to atone for, and this was simply one way to wipe her slate clean. Fizzlepop snapped herself back to the present and away from her musings as she listened into the professor and his explanations. She felt the distinct warmth of a spell wrap around her like a blanket and stood at attention. A protection spell, one used against harmful elements in the atmosphere. “...When they first discovered this pocket, the radiation levels were only half as strong as they are now. Now, griffons have been digging holes in the ground searching for gold and the like for as long as ponies have been preaching friendship, if not longer. So I know my way around a cavern. So I know that is not natural…” Serizawa stated as the group filed down back into the tunnels below and into a large central chamber with a truly massive hive hanging right above them. “What in Celestia’s name…?” Fizzlepop whispered eyes widened. She gestured to two guards. “Go on, have a look. And if the radiation starts spiking too high, shout and we get the Hell out of here got it?” “How long do you think we have?” Twilight asked. “Not as long as I’d like to study that,” Serizawa sighed sadly. “We didn’t expect radiation this strong, so we didn’t come properly prepared.” “What is it? Some kind of hive…?” Tempest asked. “Yes, I’d say so,” Twilight agreed. “It’s odd, it seems to be intact. Dead, but intact. I’d like to come back for another look.” she sighed wistfully. “When you say dead, you mean something once lived in there?” Fizzlepop asked swallowing nervously. “Because it looks like something came out of… there.” she trailed off upon hearing shouting and galloped down to the guards and her eyes widened as she saw another tunnel, massive in size and hardly natural at all leading away from them… “So Professor,” Twilight asked. “What do you make of this?” “I’d say we have a very big problem on our hands,” Serizawa muttered. “Call it in. I want that thing found!” he barked. “Make sure this doesn’t get to the press, understand? I’d rather not be responsible for mass panic.” “What does this mean?” Fizzlepop asked. “It means the illusion of no more monsters may be about to be blown wide open…” Serizawa replied. “As I said, the arrogance of our kind is thinking nature is always in our control, and not the other way around…” “So, if something’s coming… How do we fight it?” Twilight asked and Fizzlepop smiled at this. “Simple, you get help,” she replied and both Twilight and Serizawa stared at her... At the command post set up outside the mine, Fizzlepop had to severely resist rolling her eyes as Serizawa continued looking at her with no small amount of shock. “How… how do you know help is coming?” he whispered. “Well, I didn’t say help was coming exactly per se,” Fizzlepop clarified. “I said we go get help. Where, I’m not sure, but…” she trailed off knowing Serizawa suspected something. “I’d have to agree with Fizzlepop,” Twilight nodded. “If whatever burrowed that hole is heading up to the surface, it’s growing. And growing fast. You’d have to be blind to not notice the tunnel was getting bigger. And that hive was certainly too small to house something to burrow the tunnel as it was by the end,” she continued. “Serizawa, you said to me once Monarch was founded to hide the existence of these giants as much as possible. How long do you think it’ll be before the cat’s out of the bag?” “It all depends,” Serizawa started, his paw going to his pocket where his watch rested. “Since Gojira’s attack a few years ago, he has remained docile. And at the moment, we can track him, but not contain him. If he makes a serious move, then we’d be unable to stop it. And if a titan wakes up before we can find them, then it might be a similar story.” “Wait, wait… Gojira?” Twilight asked combing her memory for the name. “...Yeah, forgive me but he might have been before my time,” she said remembering Serizawa was ten to twenty years her elder. “Hmm, seems History classes are slipping, or Monarch is suppressing that as well,” Serizawa noted with a nod. “No matter, it’s irrelevant at the moment. My point stands, it might just be a matter of one slip up and time before the world is fully aware of the scope of these beings.” “Like say… that giant bug crawling up to the surface world?” Fizzlepop asked in a deadpan tone. “If Monarch finds it, we might be able to contain it. But yes, if we cannot locate this being in time, it will undo all of Monarch’s efforts.” “Mass panic, I’m guessing,” Fizzlepop replied. “Like pony sacrifice, dogs and cats living together… All of Equestrian civilization coming undone. That sort of thing?” she deadpanned. “It might, but there’s a chance that something new can take its place,” he offered, looking up. “A civilization built on respecting these creatures and coexistence.” “Yeah, ponies do have a tendency to do that…” Fizzlepop remarked and Twilight smiled at that, glad her Captain of the Guard was coming around. Her smile was soon to fade. “Or scream and run in terror. Nervous animals you know.” Twilight rubbed her temples and groaned. “Let me guess, you’re counting on this ‘Gojira’ to just show up out of the blue and save us all?” she asked. “No offence Professor, but I’m more proactive. I don’t rely on what-ifs and maybes.” “Quite a fair assessment really,” Serizawa agreed. “I myself am not a fan of waiting on that monster to just show up and save us if he even cares really.” “Woah woah,” Fizzlepop stated. “Back the Hell up. Can we all just get on the same page here? Titans, Gojira, can someone please read me in here?” “Titans are what you would call giant monsters,” Serizawa explained, gesturing with his hands. “Gojira is what we designated one of these beings during an attack some time ago. Monarch was formed after this attack. Gojira himself is an apex predator and a bipedal reptile who might have an ancestry tree dating back to the days of Grogar himself.” “Sounds like something out of a bad Neighponiese B-Movie if you ask me…” Fizzlepop remarked. “Then again, Tirek exists and he’s probably the definition of a titan.” “Wait wait, now I remember…” Twilight said smacking a wing to her face as she did so. “50 years ago, give or take a decade… There were these tests of a powerful magical explosive off the coasts of Equestria. The project was scrapped thanks to the range and possible horrific uses by enemy nations. Yours included Professor,” she said to the griffon before stammering out: “No… no offense intended of course.” “Well, you do read your history,” Serizawa said with an approving nod. “And none taken. All have histories we’re not proud of. But here’s the thing. They weren’t testing magical weapons. They were trying to kill him.” he said going to a nearby film projector and playing a reel. Massive spines were shown scything through the waters of an island chain before all became silent after a massive roar. Something encompassing all of nature’s rage and fury in a single tempest. “By Celestia…” Fizzlepop whispered. “Yes, none forget the first time they see and hear Gojira,” Serizawa stated, his eyes trying to bore holes through the screen. “This being is why Monarch exists. Both Celestia and the griffon king at the time decided his existence must be kept a secret, in fear of the very mass panic you predicted. He is the true dominant species of this planet. Not ponies, not griffons, he is the King.” “King of the monsters, maybe…” Fizzlepop mused. “You almost sound like you admire the beast.” “I admire all creatures, Miss Fizzlepop, he is no different,” he said firmly, turning his serious look to the mare. “By all rights, I should have you arrested for admiring a threat to Equestria’s security,” Fizzlepop sighed. “Magnificent he may be, he’s still a monster. A monster that hasn’t been seen in fifty years, but still a monster. The last thing we want is someone supporting his actions. But in any case, that’s neither here nor there. Like it or not, we need someone to keep this bug’s existence under wraps.” “So where does that leave us?” Twilight asked. “Do we just hope this bug or whatever it is decides not to take a snack on anything pony-related. I’m sorry, but I cannot ignore a threat to my subjects.” She looked at Fizzlepop sternly. “If there’s anything you know, -and believe me I can tell you’re holding something back- I’d like to know about it up front.” “Alright, I think I know of something that might be able to help us. It was a few years ago, back when I was under the employ of the Storm King…” Something unusual had happened. Lightning flashed in the sky, and storm clouds rolled. Now, normally Tempest would have chalked this up to the natural abilities of the cloudships and the spell crystals inside them. But this storm? No, it was something more. Almost natural. Almost. As the rain slammed down on the deck, Tempest groaned to herself. This voyage had started off so well. Just a quick trip to the Guoxia Province to pick up some supplies. Seems the weather didn’t actually agree with that. “Alright,” Tempest snarled to the yeti troopers manning the ship. “Which of you morons decided to take us into a hurricane huh?” “Alright, what’s going on…?” Grubber asked as he stepped onto the deck with a piece of sponge cake in his hands. Said sponge cake was quickly blown off ship by the howling winds. “Hey, that was-” “Whine about it later Grubber,” Tempest muttered. “Right now I’ve got bigger fish to… Wait, bad phrase around you. Okay, can someone around here tell me what the hell is going on?” “The storms appeared suddenly and without warning, Commander,” the yeti at the helm relayed. “Before we could adjust course, we were already in the thick of it.” “Did anyone not pay attention to any maps?” Tempest bellowed back even as the torrent began to pick up. “Seriously, where are we? Are we even over the right continent?” “All the maps and charts say we are but-” “But you idiots couldn’t read a map even if it was in paper and crayon!” Tempest barked back. “We seem to get you where you need to go well enough,” one of the yetis grumbled. “..Hold it, what’s that?” he asked as a high pitched screech filled the air, echoing over the roar of the thunder. “Grab onto something!” The yeti at the helm barked. “We’re adjusting speed and altering course to avoid collision with whatever the Tartarus that is!” Something massive flew by, darker than the clouds themselves. Buzzing like a giant wasp, with massive sickles sticking out in the gloom. Eyes flashed a blood red in the clouds before their owner vanished. Within the darkness, purple energy flew wildly, one arc narrowly avoiding the cloudship by just a hair’s breadth. “Wow Tempest, he’s almost as bad at hitting things as you are!” Grubber joked before a zap from the mare’s horn sent him tumbling backwards into a lower deck. “...Okay, you’re still a good shot! And I’m okay, thanks for asking!” he shouted. Tempest, of course, ignored him. “Okay, where are you…?” she muttered to herself trying to track the beast’s movements. “All hands to your stations. Get the cannons online!” she barked over the storm and the beast’s screeching. Yetis rushed to massive cannons sticking up out of the deck, before with a loud whirring sound and a hum they glowed a sickly green shade. Tempest meanwhile, took the helm as a yeti was knocked overboard by a purple energy arc. “Portside!” someone yelled. “Lock on, and fire!” The cannons roared to life, firing into the whirling winds and darkness. There was a sound of impact, but whatever beast this was it didn’t react at all. Fact was, it only seemed to be getting more and more pissed with the craft. “Lady Tempest,” one of the yetis called. “I strongly advise us to retreat! Like, at this instant or sooner even.” “Hang that advisement!” Tempest shouted back. “If anyone even thinks about following his orders, I’ll hang you in fact!” “Ma’am, our weapons are ineffective!” another yeti argued. “The only option we have left would be to ram the thing and that would be suicidal!” Tempest was panting hard, sweating up a storm eyes darting right and left as she tried to keep track of the beast. She heard another shriek cut through the storm clouds, and she whirled around as she saw the flash of crimson eyes. Firing off a blast of pure electricity from her horn, she watched as it connected with a lightning flash from the clouds and together the jagged forks hit the massive creature. Finally, she got a good look at it. Moth-like in structure, with praying mantis scythe blades for legs with virulent orange wings. “Fire now! While it’s weakened!” she roared. Narrowing her eyes, she whispered: “From Tartarus’ heart, I stab at thee!” None of the yetis wanted to argue that the beast looked fine, more annoyed than weakened really. Instead, they followed her orders and began to push the cannons well past the safe limits and trained all of them on the monstrosity. “It’s coming at us from the bow now!” one yeti shouted. Normally, Tempest would question why this creature was going out of its way to attack them but she was too caught up in her angered frenzy to care. This… this thing dared to attack the Storm King? “Feel my power…” Tempest snarled as the cloudship turned to face the enemy with a mighty groan. With a roar that shook the entire ship, the cannons fired. With sounds like thunder, globs of pure plasma were launched at the beast. In response, twin beams erupted from the moth monster’s eyes, easily canceling out all of the shots from the cannons. The wings glowed like fire before they scythed through the top of the cloudship. Screeching out in victory, the monster turned and headed back into the storms. “Ma’am, we’re-” “Yeah, I can see that!” Tempest shouted as she struggled to keep the ship aloft. It was now tilted downwards, plunging through the clouds towards the churning waters below. Tempest braced for the impact and her whole world went white. Back in the present day, Fizzlepop was staring at a wall, the screams echoing in her head. “That thing… tore the ship apart. To this day I still don’t know what it was.” “And… and you think it’s going to actually be our savior?” Twilight asked. “No offense Fizzlepop but… ARE YOU NUTS!?!” she bellowed making the room shake from the force of her voice. Serizawa rubbed his ears, seems the stories about the Royal Canterlot Voice were in fact true. “Maybe, maybe not. To be fair, I think we did encroach on its territory. And I… No, I know it’s intelligent. I think it could detect the evil pony I was back then. Maybe it knows I’ve… changed. Or if it doesn’t, I just have to show it,” Fizzlepop stated. “Well, it doesn’t sound entirely crazy now that I think of it…” Twilight muttered. “The Guoxia Province… There are legends there going back centuries. In fact, I recall some of them. “From erased Nazca lines to the hidden Temple of the Moth, the name ‘Mothra’ is woven throughout the most secret mythologies of our planet. The folklore and fairy tales tell of a winged creature of blinding light, an angel of the clouds whose god-like luminescence has the power to shatter the sky.” Twilight recited before remembering something she’d read in Monarch’s files. “Ancient spirit tablets discovered in the mountain jungles of the Guoxia Province portray a giant winged Alpha of the Lepidoptera order. In all of our findings, pony civilization is pictographically shown in poses that imply deification of the so-called ‘Queen of the Monsters’, suggesting that the creature was once a benign part of the natural order.” Serizawa?” she asked. “Do you think this is a member of the titan race?” “I believe so. As you can tell from your recitations, Monarch has long had an interest in this creature. Or creatures, maybe. It could be a family lineage.” he answered, stroking his lower beak with his forepaw. “Fizzlepop, are you sure you were in the Province at the time?” “Positive,” she recited. “I still dream about that creature, whatever it was.” “Well, my guess is you drifted a little too far off course,” Serizawa said and Tempest muttered something under her breath at this. Probably vindication. “You wandered right over a place we call Beginning Isle. It seems to be a veritable cradle of civilization, with creatures that defy imagination. I, in fact, theorize this is where the Titans began thousands of years ago.” “You mean where Grogar first created his children?” Twilight asked. “Wonderful. Can someone please explain to me why this is such a good idea again? We don’t even know how to navigate past those storms Fizzlepop mentioned. And Celestia only knows what awaits us on that isle.” “...I think I can solve at least one of your issues. I know a mare actually…” Serizawa grinned. “She’ll be the perfect guide. All you need is a ship.” “...Well, I think with Twilight’s royal power that can easily be acquired,” Fizzlepop smirked as Twilight let out an indignant squawk. She was not someone to be ‘volunteered’! “You just worry about finding and containing that thing. We’ll find Mothra, in case the worst comes to worst.” “Worst being Monarch’s masquerade being blown wide open?” Twilight asked as she hung her wings in resignation knowing when Fizzlepop got started on an idea there was no talking her out of it. “...Well, I suppose if we do need to fight it, best to fight fire with fire… So, who’s this mare?” “You might know her, actually. Daring Do,” Serizawa replied. “She’s long been a Monarch consultant when she’s not… you know, adventuring. Knows the jungles of the Province like the back of her hoof. Seen everything they have to offer. Now, Beginning Isle’s basic lifeforms shouldn’t be that different. Maybe a few divergent species here and there, but she’s your best bet to surviving the wilds.” “...Yeah, I’ll admit that. I really didn’t take wilderness survival training really…” Twilight sighed rubbing the back of her head with a wing sheepishly. “...Suppose it might have helped me back when I was in the wastes…” “Aww, that was like our first date!” Fizzlepop teased as Twilight blushed a bright red. “Not sure why you’d consider Klugetown romantic but… To each her own I guess…” “...Is she always like this?” Serizawa asked and Twilight could only nod her head weakly. “Trust me, you should see her when she really gets going,” Twilight whispered. “For a mare like her, she definitely has a wild sense of humor…” “And you love me for it,” Fizzlepop remarked whispering in Twilight’s ear. “Come on, admit it. You know you do…” “S-Shut up…” Twilight whispered back. “I thought we agreed not to do this in public!” “You did. Never said anything about me!” Fizzlepop teased before finally relenting. “Truth be told, I’m rather excited about meeting this ‘Mothra’ again.” “...If that’s what it even was…” Twilight muttered and Fizzlepop stared at her. “What, don’t tell me it hasn’t crossed your mind? That thing you met may not have been Mothra. It… it may simply have been a divergent species or something or that ilk. It certainly didn’t act the part of the protector Mothra’s said to be…” “Or it may have just been very pissed off that we encroached on its territory,” Fizzlepop argued. “It could have sensed my dark heart. It wanted to defend itself. If this thing really is a god or a type of guardian, I wouldn’t put it past it capability wise.” Twilight sighed. Once again this was Fizzlepop’s stubbornness cropping up. Twilight didn’t think this was Mothra, not in the slightest. Fizzlepop wanted to believe it, but maybe she was blinded by her own past and wanting to redeem herself. Personally, Twilight was of the mind they should just turn back now and spare themselves a lot of pain and misery. Maybe find a way to deal with this new threat some other way. But on the other hoof, she was curious to know what exactly her friend had encountered. Twilight took a deep breath and sighed. “Why do I have a feeling I’m going to regret this?” She didn’t know how right she was. Far away and back in Ponyville, Fluttershy was currently in the middle of feeding her animals when she felt… something. A nervous feeling washed over her. Something had gone wrong in nature, and she knew it. Like the entirety of the whole natural order had just been thrown off balance in one fell swoop. Birds flew away from the Everfree, crowing and screeching out in fear as they took to the skies in their hundreds. “You feel it too huh?” Fluttershy whispered before breaking into a gallop as she headed back to her house to see how her other animals were faring. They, like the birds in the forest, were afraid of… something. They’d hidden themselves away in far dark corners of her cottage and trembled in fear upon approach. “Hey… hey, it’s okay. It’s just me,” the Element of Kindness whispered as she picked up a hedgehog in her hoof and cuddled it close to her chest. “Come on now, tell me what’s wrong…” Of course, in the back of her mind, Fluttershy already had an inkling of what was going on. She knew something had upset the natural order of the world, even if she didn’t know exactly what it was. All of her instincts, quite a few of them being her fight or flight responses were telling her to just run. Just run and never look back. Find someplace to hide, and hope whatever this was that was coming would never find her. “Oh dear oh dear oh dear…” Fluttershy whispered to herself frantically as she saw the little hedgehog pry itself from her grasp and scamper on off under the bed in fear. The pegasus watched it for a brief moment, before considering the idea of doing exactly the same thing. That thought was dismissed as quickly as it came. No, she said to herself. No, she wouldn’t run away. If something was coming to Equestria to endanger it, she had a responsibility as an Element of Harmony to go and meet it headlong if she needed to. The trouble was, Fluttershy mused, she didn’t know exactly what was coming. And truth be told, she honestly suspected she didn’t want to find out. She felt this icy cold chill run up the back of her neck and shivered as she wrapped a blanket around herself via pure instinct. “No…” she thought to herself. “No, I’m not going to let fear control me. Not anymore. I… I have a duty to Equestria to find this threat and help deal with it.” She heard a distinct popping sound and sighed in relief. “Discord…” she thought with a smile. “Fluttershy, you do realize your cottage is awfully quiet right?” the chimera’s distinctive voice chimed in as he walked in from the kitchen a cup of tea in hand. “...Well, quieter than normal anyway. No birds singing, no animals humping in the undergrowth or anything like that.” Fluttershy gave him a distinctive look and he tugged at the collar of his sweater. “....Yeeesh. Something wrong?” he asked as he sat down next to her. “You’re very on edge, very tense. Maybe I should book you a trip to the massage parlor. I’ve heard it works won-” “DISCORD!” Fluttershy shouted and she winced as she watched the draconequus flinch. “...Sorry, it’s just… I’m on edge. Something’s wrong, can’t you feel it? In the air, in the ground…” “...Oh, so you figured it out?” Discord sighed. “Of course you of all ponies would be the first to realize something’s coming.” “What’s coming? What’s coming?” Fluttershy asked, the second time in a more hurried frantic tone of voice. “Please… I… I have to know. The animals… they’re afraid. I’m… I’m afraid.” she whispered and Discord used a claw to lift her head up to meet his eyes. “Good, you should be,” Discord responded making his friend’s eyes widened. “I say this not to scare you. At least not intentionally. I’m just warning you something’s coming. You’ve felt it, but it’s not something you or any of your fellow ponies have ever faced before. I’m just waking you up to the reality.” “...As much as I should appreciate that fact, I… somehow don’t,” Fluttershy murmured to herself. “Please Discord, any information you can offer… Any help you can giv-” “I’m sorry my dear Fluttershy,” Discord said. “But what’s coming… it’s out of my hands. This time is supposed to be one of great upheaval and change for ponykind along with the rest of the world in fact. Me interfering… It would go against the rules of the world. This I’m afraid is something you lot will have to weather for yourselves and figure out how best to handle it.” Fluttershy looked at the floor, away from her friend. “I… I see…” she whispered. “Thousands upon thousands of years older than ponykind,” Discord finally said after a few moments making Fluttershy look back at him in a mix of confusion and surprise. “What, I’m not breaking any natural orders from the gods. I’m just telling you what’s to come, that’s all!” he remarked and if Fluttershy didn’t know better she swore she could have caught a trace of a telltale smirk on his face. Discord pretended not to have noticed and continued on. “From an age when your planet was 10 times more radioactive than today. This animal and others like it consumed this radiation as a food source. As the levels on the surface naturally subsided these creatures adapted to live deeper in the oceans, further underground. Absorbing radiation from the planet's core.” “So, it’s an animal then…” Fluttershy smiled. “Good, I can handle an animal…” “Oops, did I say anything?” Discord asked. “Pretend I didn’t say a word! Now, these things were the top of primordial ecosystems. Sometimes gods for all intents and purposes. This, you must understand, comes from a time before even Celesta and Luna were mere babes in someone’s womb. While I have no doubt they might be able to handle some of these titans, I’m not sure about all of them. Especially their King.” “Their… their king?” Fluttershy whispered not sure if she wanted to know. Discord had taken notice of her discomfort and wrapped himself around her in a comforting moment. “I’m sorry Fluttershy, I didn’t mean to scar-” “...Well, congrats, you sure failed at that…” the pegasus muttered in response before sighing at herself and her attitude. Then came the apology. “I’m… I’m sorry Discord, it’s just I’m on edge given what you just told me…” “Look on the bright side, there are quite a few geniuses all around the world. And you. If anyone can solve and stop what’s coming… Well, I have faith in you dear Fluttershy…” Discord smiled and the mare stared at him. “...Hey, don’t give me that look. I said I couldn’t help. I didn’t say I could root for you!” Fluttershy could only giggle in response. In another part of Equestria, Twilight and Fizzlepop had found a certain parrot pirate captain at a port. And as all pirates were, she was right in the middle of things. “This is either madness... or brilliance…” Fizzlepop muttered as she watched Celeano fend off some other pirates who were none too happy about her stealing their fortunes. With a bored expression, she watched as one ran by her. She sighed and idly extended a foreleg making him trip and land on the tavern floor face first. “Yes, well, I do find it remarkable how often those two traits coincide…” Twilight mused as she ducked to avoid a thrown rum bottle. “...Why am I not surprised we found the good captain in a bar brawl?” “Good captain?” Fizzlepop asked with a slightly raised eyebrow. “She’s a pirate. Nothing good about it.” “And that’s what we all thought about you…” Twilight mused with a small smile. Fizzlepop almost immediately shut up at that. Celeano was currently dueling another pirate, sword to sword. “This… This is the day they’ll remember!” she shouted to nobody in particular before flooring the griffon with a punch to the beak. “This is the day you will always remember as the day you almost caught Captain Celeano!” “Suppose we should help her?” Twilight asked before letting out a yelp as another pirate was tossed her way bouncing off a conjured shield. “...Or beat her up for nearly hitting you with her barroom brawler tactics…” Fizzlepop muttered. “One or the other,” she added her horn crackling with lightning. “Now Fizzlepop, what have we talked about?” Twilight chastised. “To not go out and attack ponies at the slightest offense, even if it’s towards you?” Fizzlepop mumbled hanging her head, looking like a disobedient child being scolded by their mother. Twilight smiled before she cast a spell making all time in the room stop for a second and then wrapping Celeano’s attackers up in magical chains. Twilight groaned to herself, there was a reason why she only used this spell when defending a friend. It took so much energy out of her, it often left her wanting of a nice long nap. Starting time again before any more energy could be expended, she watched as Celaeno's attackers fell to the floor in a heap. “Thank you, Princess,” Celeano bowed. “Apologies you had to find me in the middle of something like this, really… I may or may not have ticked off some old friends. Pirate instincts, you understand. So, what brings you by?” she asked after a small nervous chuckle half expecting to be arrested for disturbing the peace or something like that. “I… I need your help,” Twilight asked. “I need a ship. Your ship. Considering it’s the only one I know, and all that…” she laughed sheepishly. “Your crew, chartered to fly me and a few others to the Guoxia Province.” Celeano cast a nervous look towards Fizzlepop in the background. Even clad in her Royal Guard armor as she was, Celeano still hadn’t forgotten what the mare had done to her and her crew. And more importantly, her previous ship. “And I presume she… she’s a part of this group?” the parrot had to ask. “Yes, she is,” Twilight asked with a dangerous protective edge in her tone. “Is there a problem with this? Because you know, I can always just free those griffons over there and let them resume their business with you…” she trailed off and Fizzlepop shuddered. Twilight could be really scary when she wanted to be. “None… None at all…” Celeano swallowed. “So, the Guoxia Province eh? Haven’t flown there in a while, it’s a little bit out of my way I must freely admit but it does sound like quite the adventure. Plus, who am I to refuse a request from one of the ponies who got me my freedom back?” she asked with a small bow. Twilight blushed in embarrassment. “It… it was nothing… I was just...” she mumbled before smiling. “So, you’re up for it? I presume you’ll want payment for this?” “Eh, you saving me from those idiots and allowing me to keep my treasure was payment enough, I think,” Celeano remarked. “Besides, knowing I helped a Princess of all ponies will definitely heighten my prestige amongst my fellow pirates I should think!” she laughed heartily. Twilight groaned. Of course. Just like a pirate to want a bit of fame and glory in all of this. It figured, didn’t it? Well, at least she didn’t have to pay anything… “As soon as we get ready, we’re going to Ponyville, there’s somepony I have to pick up…” Author's Note Well, I think a few of you probably suspected this was coming, given my... track record. Mind you, it being centered on Mothra instead of the King himself might be a surprise. And trust me, I have plenty more surprises in store. First off, huge thanks towards Thunderclap for helping me on certain aspects. He knows what. Secondly, huge thank you to the Bridge Discord group for being so supportive of this particular idea of mine. Thank you, guys. Now, am I doing right by the Queen of Monsters and her brethren so far? I'm not entirely sure, which is where you guys come in. Seriously, any feedback you may have is hugely welcomed.
2: Arrival“So it created the black Mothra. Yes, my friend. Battra was its name, and it was a very fierce beast. It destroyed everything that was endangering the life of the Earth, and then some. There was a fierce battle between Mothra and Battra. When Mothra finally won, Battra was laid to rest in the northern sea. When the climate controller was destroyed, there was massive flooding on the Earth, and most of the land was underwater. Mothra survived in the mountains, along with us; the Earth's Cosmos.” -The Cosmos on Battra to Masako Fujita, Godzilla VS Mothra (1992) “..Well, that all went swimmingly well, all things considered…” Celeano deadpanned as she found herself traipsing through the jungle floor. Clutching her chest in pain, she looked back towards the deeper wilds behind her. Rising high in the sky was a cauldron of smoke, just barely visible through the stormy gray skies. Orange lights flickered as embers rose above the jungle. “Yep, a perfect three-point landing.” “Chin up Captain,” Daring said from beside her. “We’re all alive and in one piece so that’s what counts right?” the gold pegasus remarked with a small shrug of her shoulders. Daring, truth be told had not counted on a lot of things during this expedition. She knew there was a chance of everything going all pear-shaped, as with any adventure. She was just hoping that Celaeno's ship would have lasted a bit longer. But every expedition had its hiccups. And this wasn't the first time her mode of transportation had been trashed. Still, Daring mused to herself. Still, her sympathies went out to the captain. She knew a ship was any seafarer's pride and joy. Their baby if you will. And now Celeano had been deprived of it. She had taken note of the thinly veiled glares the parrot was now sending Tem… No, Daring corrected herself. Not Tempest Shadow anymore. It was Fizzlepop Berrytwist. The pegasus sighed to herself. It seemed neither of them had gotten over their past prejudices to the former nation conqueror. And if that was the case, Daring thought to herself. Then what did it mean for the rest of the expedition and finding Mothra? “What did it mean indeed?” Daring thought to herself with no small amount of worry. After all, if they couldn’t get past their old prejudices and get along then they might as well have offered themselves up to the animals. Made them no better than them, and resigned this mission to being doomed to failure from the get-go. In any case, the group had to get moving. Celestia only knew what lurked out here after dark and quite personally, Daring didn't want to be the poor pony to find that one out. “Come on!” Daring barked with no small amount of urgency, gesturing with her hoof to the dirt paths in front of them. They’d probably been formed by whatever ancient tribes inhabited the island. “We need to get a move on here!” Looming in front of them was this massive stone step pyramid reaching high into the storm-lit skies. It was almost impossibly large and by Daring's estimate would take at least a day and a half to reach. If she had to guess, it formed the centerpiece of the island. Why this pyramid in particular one may wonder? Well, if there was any better home for the so-called ‘Queen of the Monsters’ to reside in Daring couldn't really think of one. At least for the moment anyhow. But in any case, it would make for a good difficult trek to reach it. “Fine… fine,” Celaeno muttered to herself. "Go on, I just... jus'need'a… Go on. Just give me a moment to get my bearings straight okay?” she slurred. Daring did hope she wasn't completely drunk off her flank. One more headache for her to deal with really. And she so did not need another one of those right now. Like, she so didn't need another one. “Well…” Daring trailed off. “If you want to be the one to volunteer to let the animals eat us and hopefully get them off our backs… Well, be my guest!” There was a small sound like an eep coming from somewhere behind Daring that she recognized in an instance. Fluttershy. “Well, when you put it that way…” Celeano murmured to herself. “Best we get going!” she commented tossing one last look to the remains of her beloved ship. Then yet another glare towards Fizzlepop followed. The mare just rolled her eyes in mild annoyance not particularly caring anymore. Wouldn’t have been the first time someone gave her crap over her past. Daring meanwhile turned her thoughts to her companions on this particular outing. Truth be told, Daring was actually rather worried about Fluttershy being on this expedition. She respected her, and yes her ability to communicate with animal life could undoubtedly prove to be useful on this island but that fact remained that she was far frailer than the others. And much timider. The last thing she wanted was Fluttershy’s fears holding everyone else up and causing a halt in the expedition. While yes, it was true Twilight had vouched for the mare and Rainbow considered the pegasus to be her best friend Daring was more skeptical. She supposed she should take the two at their word and respect it Daring didn’t just like to be told someone was of value. No, she had to be shown it. Being an Element of Harmony was all well and good but this stacked up to nothing if you proved yourself to be a liability with your own fears and doubts. That kind of thing had no place on an expedition. Other ponies would have balked at Daring and possibly called her cruel, but the mare considered herself a realist. Not an idealist. In that same vein, she supposed that was exactly why she didn’t trust Fizzlepop in some ways. The mare was a nation conqueror once, and although she was now under Princess Twilight’s employ as a Captain of the Guard she still made Daring exceedingly nervous. She supposed that was up to natural instincts. Ponies, after all, were extremely nervous creatures by nature. There was a reason they flocked together in herds and build cities in which they were extremely tight-knit. Even Daring, the loner that she was, did admit she felt a lot safer with others around her. Even if one of those others happened to be a former terrorist. She supposed she would just have to wait and see what Fizzlepop did. She supposed she would just have to wait and see. “Right, now how did we get into this situation again…? Daring thought. “Oh yes…” Several hours earlier, the group of five were on Celaeno's newest ship. The Grand Lorikeet, she called it. Odd name, admittedly, but Celeano was a pirate so she could choose whatever she wanted for her ship’s name. Compared to the last time Twilight was aboard a ship helmed by Celeano, she felt frankly rather comfortable. Might have had something to do with nopony pursuing her this time around or Celeano not wanting to ransom her off to the Storm King. So all was well. “Hey, aren’t you a Princess?” Mullet, one of the crewmembers had asked functioning as Celaeno's first mate. He usually kept his head wrapped in a black bandana. “Just asking here. If you’re one of the current leaders of Equestria, what the hell you doing onboard this little ship of ours?” he questioned. Daring, truth be told wondered that as well. Ever since the Royal Sisters had retired she doubted Twilight honestly had time to do anything anymore. Certainly not go on little adventures all the way to the other side of the globe really. Personally, she wondered how Twilight managed being the headmare of a school and her other job. “Yes, I’d quite like to know that myself,” Daring agreed deciding to put her own two cents in. “Not to doubt you or anything Princess, but you’re better off in your castle really protecting your nation from there. Look, I do enjoy a ruler who just doesn’t hide away in their bedroom when things get scary, but what will the populace think if their Princess just up and leaves them?” “And what would a populace think if their Princess sits down and doesn’t do anything in a time of crisis?” Twilight refuted shutting Mullet up before lowering her voice so that only Daring could hear. “Because make no mistake, that creature we found in that strip-mine is moving. Now, I have faith in Monarch and my own Royal Guard’s capabilities, but I’d actually like to explore other options as well.” Daring could respect that. She did like it when somepony actually got up to actually do something in times of crisis and turmoil. And she knew that a type of creature closely monitored by Monarch suddenly deciding to hatch and move across Equestria searching for magic to grow and change definitely counted. She could only shudder at the possibilities of what this creature could become if left unchecked. Hopefully, Monarch would catch up to it and contain it, but the mare could do with the possibility of having another Titan on their side just in case things got hairy. Now, if only she could put her faith in Twilight. She respected the mare to no end, given all she had accomplished in such a short lifetime but in this case, she had to wonder. From all the information she had been given she had to wonder if this Mothra was truly all she was chalked up to be. Admittedly, all this information was a particularly unreliable source in Tempest Shadow but the fact still remained this moth creature had attacked that airship of hers without mercy. Again, this was Daring being a realist. All the facts pointed to this creature not exactly being the saving ponies type. In fact, it looked as if he -or she- couldn’t give a damn about them. But then again, Monarch’s historical records conflicted with each other. Yes, this incident was a stand out example of Mothra’s behavior in modern times but maybe Tempest was right. Maybe it had sensed her dark heart and gone after her for that reason. Or maybe it was just angry she was encroaching on her territory. That thought gave Daring pause and then made her shudder. But in most situations in the historical record, Mothra seemed to be this benevolent goddess who actually and actively went out of her way to protect ponies and other creatures. Some records had actually compared Mothra to Celestia. Daring should suppose that maybe spoke volumes about the creature’s character, being actively compared to the White Mother herself. But there lay the fact that there had been some records of a creature resembling a moth attacking settlements when riled. It was really quite the conundrum, to say the least. Perhaps Daring nor the writers had the full story. That was a very good possibility actually. Historical records were never quite known to be completely accurate in some regards, or completely complete for that matter. Such was the nature of these things really. Thinking about it honestly gave Daring quite the headache. She’d hated incomplete records when she was in university and she hated them now. This was especially the case when it failed to warn her of some traps in some tomb or in this case a giant monster’s true nature. “...As for my School,” Twilight continued in the background to Mullet in full-on lecture mode. “I’ve had Starlight take up substitute principal role. She’s done it for me before, and I’m quite sure this won’t be the last time. As for raising and lowering the sun and moon, I left explicit instructions to the mages in Canterlot how to work the device.” “Okay, okay!” Mullet said with rapid noddings of his head and hands held up in a defensive posture. “I… I get the picture Princess! I’ll never question you again!” Daring had to suppress a chuckle when she heard Twilight mutter something to the effect of: “Damn right you’d better not…” or something along those lines. As she said, she respected Twilight when times got tough and remembered she usually had things planned out well in advance. Usually. Daring was still unsure if this whole venture was a good idea. Personally, she would have preferred it if Twilight stayed behind at her Castle to defend her Kingdom from attack by the creature that had been uncovered. The MUTO as it had been deemed. Massive unidentified terrestrial life form. Yes, Monarch was hardly imaginative in naming things but it worked. (Even if Daring would later admit to herself the term ‘big-ass bug’ worked just as well and was easier to remember.) “Alright, what’s going on down here?” Fizzlepop asked as she marched down into the room. The clanking of her armor was a very distinctive and instantly recognizable sound. Daring shuddered a bit at the tone in her voice, it sounded like a drill sergeant mixed in with a disapproving mother. A scary combination indeed. “Nothing at all Fizzlepop,” Twilight sighed and Daring got the distinct feeling this wasn’t the first time this had happened with her. “Nothing you need to worry about. You just go back up on deck, and keep an eye out for Mothra… or whatever it was you saw one year ago.” “Hard to feel welcomed up-top when the crew keeps giving you the stink-eye,” Fizzlepop said in return. “Okay, I admit I deserve some of it after what I’ve done but…” “I understand,” Twilight nodded and wrapped a wing around her friend in sympathy. “Change is hard, and acceptance even harder. Give it time. They’ll come to trust you… in time.” Mullet made an odd noise that Daring doubted was friendly. Sounded a bit like a scoff really. “I suppose…” Fizzlepop admitted. “I guess this is what you ponies call penance.” she said in a humbled tone of voice. At least Daring thought it was humbled. Honestly, she couldn’t exactly be sure with her. “In any case,” Twilight said hoping to get Fizzlepop’s mind off the subject. “Come look at this. Something you at the very least might find interesting.” she continued pointing to a book she had in her hoof. Fizzlepop gave Twilight a fond little smile and muttered: “Trust you to bring along every book you could on this…” to herself and walked over to her. She raised an eyebrow. “The… Shobijin?” “It means small ones, in Neighponiese. Well, loosely anyways,” Twilight explained. “They’ve been intimately connected with Mothra for as long as history as we know it has been recorded.” “Intimately? You mean as in…?” Fizzlepop trailed off, her face exactly as you’d expect of one trying to comprehend something having sexual relations with a giant moth. “No, not like that!” Twilight blushed red as she turned a page. Daring by this point had walked over as well, to satisfy her curiosity. On the page, she saw an illustration of a Changeling Queen in greenish hues singing to a massive winged creature. “It’s more of a symbiotic relationship than anything else. Such things are common in nature.” “...Right, I’m not sure how exactly common changelings singing to a giant moth are in nature…” Fizzlepop deadpanned voicing Daring’s thoughts exactly. “Well, I’m not sure if they are changelings actually, they may just be a divergent species that happened to develop similarly to them. As far as I can see, the appearances may look similar but I can find no records of shape-shifting.” Twilight corrected sounding much like the teacher that she was. Fizzlepop once again gave her fond smile causing Daring to raise an eyebrow. “Is it possible the two are…?” Daring thought to herself. “Would certainly explain a lot really… Hmm, I wonder if Twilight’s up for a thr-” She stopped herself right there. As nice of a flank Twilight had, she doubted Fizzlepop would even let her get anywhere near it. Plus, she had other things to worry about than… well, that! “So what exactly is the relationship between Mothra and these… Shobijin?” Daring asked running the name over in her mind. Certainly was an odd word. “As far as I can tell, it seems to be one of mutual understanding. The Shobijin? They sing to Mothra and guard him or her in some way, and Mothra protects them in turn,” Twilight explained. “It’s simple, and as I said before, it’s something that’s very common in nature. Compare and contrast to the rhino and the oxpecker bird. The oxpecker protects the rhino from pests and it protects them in turn.” “...Yes, I understood that,” Daring deadpanned. “Learned of it in grade school. I’m just trying to wrap my head around all of this really. I mean, this is just weird, even for me. I mean, adventures to uncover ancient tombs and the resting places of Kaiju are one thing, but even for a member of Monarch this is a bit out there.” “...I do admit it does sound a bit far-fetched, but then again so does Gojira and he exists… apparently.” Twilight agreed before a loud rumble of thunder cut their conversation short. Fizzlepop’s ears perked up, and she stood at attention. “Mullet!” she barked. “How far away are we from the Guoxia Province?” “Should be nearing it,” the parrot replied in turn. “Should I ask why?” Fizzlepop said nothing and walked up to the top deck and was met with quite a sight. Angry, broiling clouds thick with heavy rain, blasts of wind hitting her square in the face as the seas churned below. Lightning flashed painting the sky in jagged streaks as the sails of the ship rippled from the powerful and now nearly howling winds. Twilight was soon to follow after her friend, and her violet eyes widened in shock as she saw an island just barely peeking out from the storm. It seemed to constantly surround the island, this storm defying all known laws of magic. It was almost like the Everfree’s weather systems but sized up to a much larger scale. “Beautiful isn’t it?” Celeano commented as she walked up to the two with her cutlass resting in its sheath on her hips. Fizzlepop swallowed nervously, though if that was from the storm or the sword so dangerously close to her it was uncertain. “Always love a good squall, makes things much more interesting!” “...One way of putting it,” Twilight murmured to herself. “Personally, I was going to go with terrifying, but interesting works just as well.” “The seas may be rough, but I am the Captain! No matter how difficult I will always prevail.” Celeano barked out before she began shouting orders to her crew to prepare for the storm ahead. Twilight smiled a little, certainly a far cry from her attitude when she first met her. “That storm…” Fizzlepop whispered. “Just like the one I that was raging when I met… him. The battle moth.” “Battra?” Celeano asked her eyes widening as she turned to face Fizzlepop. “You’ve met him? ...Well, nice of you to share that information with us just now.” “They say he leaves no survivors to his rampages!” one of the crew members shouted and Celeano turned back to look at him. “No survivors? Don’t be foolish! If there were no survivors then where do the stories come from, I wonder?” she questioned before a loud ear-piercing screech cut through the air. Louder than the roar of the thunder. A dark shape darted out of the angry clouds, and another screech cut through the air. “...Yeah, I’m going to take a wild guess and say he’s not here to welcome us to Guoxia?” Daring deadpanned before looking at her whip and sighing. “...Yeah, I’m going to need a bigger rope.” Twilight charged up her horn and fired off a few warning shots towards Battra purple blasts of magical energy cutting through the sky. Hopefully, it would get the message and turn away from them. It did not. Soon, something truly massive flew over them, the sails nearly buckling from the blasts of wind its flapping wings created. Celeano shouted orders all the while as the crew went for their weapons. “Don’t bother, you fools!” she bellowed her raspberry eyes widening once more. This time, it was at the sheer size of the monster. She swallowed nervously to herself, Fizzlepop nor Twilight had told her it would be that big! Regaining her composure, she shouted: “At that size, your weapons might as well be pop guns! Get this ship out of here!” Fizzlepop spun and fired off a blast of pure magical lightning from her horn at Battra, singing his massive brilliant orange wings even as the moth went in for another pass. The horns on his head glowed with an eerie purple light and fired off erratic purple blasts of light cutting and scything through the sky, with the Grand Lorikeet just barely dodging out of the way at the last moment. Twilight threw up a shield for all the good that did, being thrown back from the sheer force of the beams. The Lorikeet groaned in protest as it went into a sharp turn, the starboard cannons aimed squarely at Battra. Thudding out with each consecutive blast, balls of pure hot plasma were fired at the giant moth who could only blast them out of the air with more beams of light. Doing a spin in mid-air, his crimson eyes flashed angrily. It was almost as if he was judging them, daring them to take him on in his home turf. Namely, the skies, and the seas. Angrily buzzing like the world’s largest wasp, Battra dived and for a moment if only a brief one the crew of the Lorikeet thought themselves safe. Then, he reappeared from up under the ship flying back up into the clouds, lightning illuminating his form. His carapace was as black as night, almost like charcoal in sheen. His wings were the shade a shade of orange so bright, that when the lightning flashed behind them they became nearly blinding. Looking like a devil straight right out of Tartarus, he probably was an entomologist's worst nightmare. Screeching angrily, his eyes narrowed as he returned to the skies from whence he came. “Oh dear oh dear oh dear…” Fluttershy whispered to herself as Battra once again faded from sight. She turned towards Twilight giving her a stern look. “You shouldn’t have agitated him!” “Pretty sure he was coming at us either way, Fluttershy,” Fizzlepop injected. The seas churned beneath them, and the faintest inklings of an idea began to form in her mind. “Captain, how badly can you wear this creature out?” “Might be able to give him the runaround, but I’m not exactly confident in any of our abilities in really going ahead and just plain facing him head on!” the parrot shouted in return as she jerked the wheel looking very much like Fizzlepop had one year before. In her mind, for just the briefest of moments, the mare saw yetis instead of parrots. “...That’s pretty much tantamount to suicide!” “You have any better ideas?” Fizzlepop shouted back over the roar of the storm the pounding rain beating into her fur. She ignored it, her eyes darting skywards as she searched the storm for any signs of Battra. “Well, there’s always run I suppose!” Celeano replied. “But I guess that isn’t exactly on your agenda is it Madam Tempest?” she nearly sneered still having not forgotten how the mare had destroyed her first ship. “How dare you-” Fizzlepop started before Twilight shut them both up with a glare. Now was not the time for infighting amongst them all. They could settle their differences later, right now they had to survive Battra’s attack. “Fizzlepop,” Twilight said in a calm tone. “I assume you have a plan?” “Yes, but I will need your help to enact it.” the mare stated even as the Lorikeet darted low below the clouds dodging lightning bolts right and left. The island was coming up fast. Fizzlepop studied the terrain in front of her with a quick glance of a telescope. Yes, this could definitely work she thought to herself. They just needed to lure it over here. Of course, that was easier said than done as Mullet was quick to point out “He’s coming around for another pass!” Mullet exclaimed as another angry screech filled the air. The ship’s rigging and mast groaned out in protest under the strain they were now being put under. Mullet had heard the stories of course, what seafarer hadn’t really? Going back long before he was even a hatchling, there had been stories. Of an angry sea god, appearing out of the clouds to wreak havoc on those who dared to threaten his kingdom. Now, he wondered if this Battra was one and the same with the creature from those legends. Yes, Twilight had told him of the tales of the divine moth being a gentle soul who looked out for her subjects but was it possible there was another of the species? One who was far more violent… and angry. If anything, it was quite clear that legend or not, Battra definitely did not like visitors. Going to the cannons on the bow of the ship, he gestured to both Daring and another member of the crew. The Lorikeet’s bow opened even as he saw what looked like pollen dust scattering about the entire area around the ship. Twin thuds, one after the other fired as Battra reappeared. Great white balls of hot plasma were fired from the forward cannons and to his horror, they simply passed through the giant moth. Shimmering, it faded away even as something struck the back of the ship. “...Illusions!” Mullet swore as he realized it had been above them the whole time. It scared him, just realizing how intelligent this creature truly was. “Of course! The damn thing can create bloody illusions!” He would be in awe of the beast if he wasn’t so terrified of him and his power. And this thing wasn’t even supposed to be one of the more powerful Kaiju out there. So one must question if Battra was a low-level creature in the grand scheme of things where did that put some of the others? The ship groaned out in protest even as it dodged another pass from Battra, Mullet now wondering how much more of this onslaught it could even take as Battra once again bombarded the stern with more energy blasts. Twilight, he could guess was only barely holding it back with shields. Powerful alicorn she might have been, but Battra was still a kaiju and had a lot more experience in fighting than she. Fizzlepop joined in fending off the monstrous moth blasting it with sharp magical bolts. Then, a crazy idea came to her. She needed to distract it. Having already relayed her plan to Twilight, Fizzlepop smirked. “Hey, remember me!?!” she challenged firing another lightning blast towards Battra chipping off one of his three horns. It screeched in rage. Evidently, it did remember her. Screeching out once again, Battra went skywards again and his powerful wings slammed down in a hammerhead maneuver that the Lorikeet only barely dodged. Only barely, as part of the ship’s stern was now nothing but a memory. “That’s it, keep your eyes on me…” the mare thought to herself as Battra’s eyes locked themselves squarely on her and her alone. “Come on now, just don’t look at what’s coming!” Fizzlepop pleaded. Thankfully, Battra didn’t. What he failed to see was Twilight raising the water on either side of him in his fury, and when it all came crashing down on top of him the great moth had barely any time to react. Soon, he found himself swamped. Gasping, Twilight fell to the deck her horn now just barely sparking from the sheer power she had to exert to lift up that much seawater and drop it down in that great deluge as she did. Cheers rose up amongst the crew, Mullet singing a great song. He sang out: “Celeano! The one they call Celeano! She came into town within a mighty storm, she went to the great moth and gave them what for. Our love for her now, is not hard to tell you. The Queen of the Seas the one they call Celeano!” Celeano flushed under the praise even as the rest of the crew took up the song. Fizzlepop meanwhile looked indignant, along with Fluttershy for that matter. “Fizzlepop had been the one to enact the plan, think it up. Not Celeano!” Fluttershy whispered in anger quite peeved off. Fizzlepop calmed her having taken a few deep breaths to reign in her own temper. “No, it’s quite alright Fluttershy,” she said. “I can understand them being slow to trust me after what I pulled. And in any case, Celeano does deserve some of the credit. Her skills at the helm were impressive at any rate.” “But you-” Fluttershy started. “Just let it go,” Fizzlepop stated calmly. “It doesn’t matter in the end anyhow…” Then, eyes widened as Battra’s wings glowed with a dark light and the water that rested upon them slowly turned to steam. And the chase resumed. The Lorikeet ventured into a canyon, the great gash in the earth rapidly growing narrower and narrower with each passing moment. Battra realized far too late what was about to happen, and he let out a shriek of pain as his wings were pulled from his body as the canyon walls slammed into him from either side. But he would not go gently. Even as he bled out, he managed to fire off one more defiant blast of energy and caught the Lorikeet once more, and this time there was nothing that could save it. “Brace for impact!” Mullet shouted as the land came upon them and their whole world turned into a sea of green... Author's Note Okay... hoo boy. Battra. Now he was a challenge to write. Yes, he's only staying around for this and the previous chapter, but let me tell you. He was not fun to write. While I wanted to do justice to his character, this chapter was the one I feared. Frankly, and you might be able to tell but this was my first battle with a giant kaiju. I've only done mecha and human scale battles before, so a battle with a giant animal was a whole new world for me. I can only hope I managed something mildly entertaining, ya know? In any case, please do leave your feedback. Comments, critique, and whatnot are always welcomed.
3: The IslandAuthor's Note Okay, huge thank you to Shadowmane PX-41 for the help on the final third of the chapter. Wanted to do this one alone, I admit, but I was at a bit of a block for a good while. Please let me know what you think in the comments section below. And also, please do keep a certain item in this chapter under spoiler tags. Your Queen would very much like that. 3: The Island “See? There it is again! That is not a transformer malfunction, that is an electromagnetic pulse! And it effects everything from miles and miles, and it is happening again! This is what caused everything to happen in the first place! Can't you see that?! And it's gonna send us back to the Stone Age! You have no idea what's coming.” -Joe Brody on the Male MUTO, Godzilla 2014 Beginning Isle: Hot, sticky, sweaty. And fairly pissed off. That was Fizzlepop’s general demeanor as she found herself traipsing through a massive bamboo forest with a scimitar in hoof slicing away through the fairly thick brush. At least the rain had let up, she mused to herself. Casting a look behind her, she gazed back at Celeano who was still giving the stink eye. “Not my fault she’s a terrible captain and not my fault Battra couldn’t stay down,” the mare thought to herself. Fizzlepop was mare enough to admit she did feel a little… bitter at none of her accomplishments in bringing down Battra being recognized but she could hold back her fury. “And in any case, it took a combination of everyone’s efforts just to just even slow Battra down.” Fluttershy studied Fizzlepop. She knew the mare was probably sad that what she had encountered all those years ago was not, in fact, the ‘Queen of the Monsters’ as she had been named. Not just sad, disappointed even. Walking up alongside her, Fluttershy gave Fizzlepop a gentle nudge. “If you want to talk, we can…” Fluttershy started but Fizzlepop gave her a cold look. “Talk about what? Everything’s already been said,” the mare stated. “I’m not just some sad poor pony who’s going to break down blubbering and crying just because someone dismissed me.” Fluttershy took a few steps backward. “O-Okay… It’s just that I… Well, you need a friend out here I think… That’s all…” she whispered looking away before sighing. If Fizzlepop didn’t want to talk to her about this, at least for the moment then that was fine. She would open up when she was ready, as always. Fluttershy knew Fizzlepop better than most. She, alongside Twilight, was one of the first ponies that the rather -at least at the time- broken mare had decided to open up to feeling rather… comforted by Fluttershy’s gentle demeanor. Fizzlepop sighed. “Look, I understand what you’re trying to do and I appreciate that. But I don’t need ponies sticking up for me, I never have. I can handle myself.” Fluttershy didn’t look convinced. After all, there was a mare who had suffered throughout her entire life and was only just now over the past year or so beginning to recover from her ordeal. So Fluttershy couldn’t be blamed for not believing Fizzlepop was in the best state of mind. On the other hoof, Fizzlepop was a strong mare in some ways. She’d put up with a lot, far more than any pony should have ever have been asked to do and still came out swinging if you will. “Yes, far more…” Fluttershy thought glancing to the very visible scar across Fizzlepop’s left eye, before tearing her eyes away from it before Fizzlepop could notice. Celestia knew the mare was not a fan of being stared at for obvious reasons. In any case, Fluttershy knew she would have to keep a firm eye on Fizzlepop throughout this whole journey. And one on Celeano as well now that she thought of it. She just couldn’t find herself relaxing for very long knowing the two were liable to come to blows in such a tense situation. She was amazed the two hadn’t already really given Celeano held a very understandable grudge towards Fizzlepop, even if she was reformed. Privately, Fluttershy wished Twilight had chosen somebody else to bring along with her for this mission. Yes, Fizzlepop held the most recent recorded sightings of Mothra’s species but she could have just drawn them up a map -or something to that effect- and stayed behind to guard Ponyville. Maybe someone like Flash Sentry could have taken her place. Would have made things just that little less tense. Everyone was like a string right now, poised to snap at the slightest provocation. It made Fluttershy very nervous to say the least. And she admitted, she was included under that definition. She was also somewhat ashamed to say she was fairly tempted to give Celeano a good talking to for her behavior. Wiping a bead of sweat away from her face with a hoof, Fluttershy continued on. No sense in losing her head in the clouds and lagging behind. Especially in this jungle. “Hold up, thought I heard something...” Mullet whispered unsheathing his sword. Celeano went for hers as well. Then, they saw one of the bamboo shoots move. A scream as they saw one of their crewmembers impaled right through his open beak before the ‘shoot’ was moved upwards with the poor parrot being brought up into the mandibles of a massive spider. Blood and gore spattered all over the survivors. A sharp scream of terror as more ‘shoots’ began to move, the spider’s beady eyes watching them. “You gotta be fucking kidding me…” Fizzlepop muttered before she went for her blade slicing through the creature’s legs. One leg went to impale her before a shot from Celaeno's pistol tore it to ribbons. Another leg went for another pirate, and this time the initial shock and terror had passed long enough for him to get moving. All the same, it didn’t save him. Muscular tendrils trailed down like snakes and brought him up into the creature’s waiting maw. Shock was replaced by another emotion. Pure rage. “Kill it! Go for the legs!” Mullet shouted. Mullet and Celeano’s swords went to work, bringing the creature down to their level before a massive bolt of electricity pierced the creature’s belly. The carcass smoked and steamed as Fizzlepop pushed it away. “T-Thank you…” Celeano whispered not meeting the pony’s eyes. Shame. Fizzlepop could see it. Shame for not reacting faster and not being able to save two of her crew. “...This island’s going to be the death of us,” Mullet muttered to himself looking at the carcasses. Nobody bothered disagreeing. “...Makes one wonder what else lives on this god-forsaken place.” Fluttershy cast a look to a nearby rock. On in, drawn in what she hoped was just simply just paint was a very unusual creature. A giant reptilian beast, with massive spikes jutting out of its back… Back in Equestria, the MUTO was being tracked. Massive airships followed it’s movement across Equestria and they’d eventually found it to a valley where it had nestled itself with a chrysalis rapidly beginning to form around the body. Nobody wanted to guess at whatever it was that was going to come out of the cocoon. But this also presented an opportunity to study and learn about the beast and plan how best to defend Equestria. And any opportunity must be seized and made use out of. So that meant in no less than a matter of a few hours, makeshift laboratories had been set up via tents and any nearby towns had already been evacuated. “So, Professor…” Serizawa was asked. “What do you make of it?” “Beautiful…” the griffon returned as he strode up to the chrysalis, rising up out of the ground like some massive thorn and stroked it with his paw. He felt it shake, and just for a brief moment, Serizawa shuddered in fear. But he regained his composure and traced a claw along the shell feeling it vibrate and hearing the creature inside hum. It was almost as if it was… talking directly to him. “Just simply beautiful…” “Don’t tell me you’re admiring the beast, Professor,” the same slightly haughty tone from before remarked. Serizawa turned back to look at its owner. A burnt orange mare with creamy white hooves and a dark red mane. “It’s still a Titan, remember that. It would love nothing more than to eat us all if it broke out. No, strike that. When it breaks out. You must keep that in mind.” “Stellar Flare,” Serizawa sighed as he flew down to her level shaking his head. The head of Monarch she may have been and that while that did mean he had to follow her every order but that didn’t mean she wasn’t any less infuriating at times. “I am well aware of what the creature is capable of, but that doesn’t mean I am any less capable of admiring it. These creatures, they represent a window to the past that we ever so rarely get a chance to see.” “...I… I…” Stellar Flare sighed as she shook her head. “Very well then. You don’t plan on telling that reporter friend of yours about this do you? Goddess knows we have enough trouble on our hooves without news of it leaking to the media.” “Do not take me for a fool, Stellar,” Serizawa replied turning his head back to look at the chrysalis before looking back at the mare. “I know when to hold my tongue. You think too little of me. Remember, I’ve been in Monarch for just as long as you have, and was appointed to this position personally by Celestia herself. She had faith in my abilities,” he stated looking Stellar dead in the eye. He kept his sentences short and sharp. He had bigger worries. “She had faith in all of our abilities. Keep that in mind Ms. Flare.” “Can it be killed?” Stellar asked. “I don’t mind admiring these creatures, it’s just I’d rather have them dealt with before they reach civilization and start eating ponies.” “Same,” Serizawa agreed going back into his tent and turning back to his research notes. “In between my research on various other subjects, I’ve been going through historical texts searching for any references to this creature. Or should we say… creatures.” “Don’t even bring the other one up,” Stellar said. “It was dead when we found it. A lost cause when it comes to research. It was handed off to the Royal Guard for destruction and disposal.” “...Was it?” Serizawa murmured not entirely believing it. “And is it? Dead I mean. These creatures as I have found can fake a hibernation state for years, long as they need until a suitable source of magical energy or natural radiation -say something like uranium- is found. That’s what this creature is doing, soaking up all the magical energy in the ground to rebuild itself a new body, grow into its adult form.” “If that’s the case…” Stellar whispered. “I’ll get on the horn to our other facility in the Appleloosan mountains, see if… Well, never you mind that. Serizawa, you continue your work here. I want to know the minute you find something. The exact minute and the exact second, you understand?” she asked before turning towards the chrysalis. How did it go? Oh yes, now she remembered. “Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions over the earth. They were told not to harm the grass or any green growth or any tree, but only those of Equuskind.” she thought looking at the massive structure. Perhaps these things were what those ancient texts spoke of. Serizawa nodded. “I understand, and rest assured when I do find something you’ll be the first to know.” Stellar’s voice softened as she drew closer to Serizawa and gave him a small kiss on the beak pressing her lips to his own. It wasn’t very professional, but she didn’t care. And if anyone talked they would have to answer to her. “You’ll do fine, I know it.” Serizawa blushed. “...T-Thank you Ma’am.” “What is it that you’ve been heard saying at times? The arrogance of our kind is thinking nature is always in our control?” Stellar asked. “Say none of our efforts in hiding this creature and stopping it before it grows to an adult amount to anything. What if Princess Twilight and Captain Fizzlepop’s little side venture becomes the only option and we must pit one Titan against another?” “Your point being…?” Serizawa asked. “Monarch was founded to protect the public from monsters like this,” Stellar continued before gesturing outside. “Hide the truth from them. What would happen if the masquerade were to be destroyed? What then?” “We handle things as we’ve always done,” Serizawa replied putting a paw on the mare’s shoulder. “Masquerade or not. Our job first and foremost is to protect the public. So that’s what we do.” Stellar smiled, looking at the eyepatched griffon. She knew he’d lost his eye in a battle with a young Titan chick’s talons while helping in containing it in Azteca. This wasn’t the first Titan he’d seen, and it would not be the last she suspected. So if anyone knew how to deal with them and reassure her on matters relating to them, it was Serizawa. “Thank you…” she whispered before taking her temporary leave. When Stellar would return, it was uncertain. Closing the tent flaps behind her as she did so, Serizawa resumed his work. A fish tank sat nearby, triggerfish swimming about in the water. Notes sat nearby on the various substances found in natural waters. It had long been a curiosity of Serizawa’s on what lurked in the waters off Equestria. Perhaps it had something to do with Gojira, making him wonder what else was out there. Casting a look back towards the chrysalis, he watched the massive structure hum and glow before whispering: “What… what is it you’re trying to tell me? Or are you even trying to communicate with us at all?” he wondered to himself stepping back inside the tent. For a moment, he did wonder if this was all folly, that trying to speak to this creature was a lost cause. After all, surely it couldn’t understand Equuish. Why should it, given it was an ancient beast since time immemorial. What would be the point in learning the various languages of what were basically like ants to it in the end. He flashed back to one of his many meetings with Twilight Sparkle on the subject of Titans. “So, Titans. That’s the name you’re giving them now is it?” Twilight asked. Outside, Celeano was loading up her crew onto the Grand Lorikeet. “Thought the original catch-all phrase was MUTOs.” “MUTOs?” Fluttershy asked looking rather nervous by the choice of name. She had been picked up in Ponyville. Outside, Daring was expressing her… displeasure about the whole stupidity of this entire endeavor. Quite loudly and quite angrily. Fluttershy flattened her ears at some of the word choices used. “What do you mean by…?” “Massive unidentified terrestrial organism,” Serizawa clarified. “Least, that was the original working name till we discovered that some of these creatures aren’t exactly… terrestrial. Like Mothra for example. So we had to find a new name.” he explained. He already had given Fluttershy the basics on the situation that was rapidly developing. Privately, he added to himself that there was a slight possibility it was starting to spiral out of their control. Sighing to himself, Serizawa looked towards a charcoal rubbing of a drawing found in a cave in the Provinces. Below the rubbing, in pen was the writing: “Titanus Mosura”. Poise and grace, that was the only way to describe the winged creature, seemingly unfurling her wings in a gentle manner. It seemed he was not the only one in awe of such a being, given the drawing seemed to have masses of equines below the creature, almost bowing to it in a way. “So, basically you’re likening them to gods is it?” Twilight noted. “I’m not entirely sure that’s the best choice really. I don’t think it’s a good idea to worship these creatures, at least not all of them.” she continued shuddering as she looked at another drawing, this one of a reptilian beast with three snake-like heads. She didn’t quite know why, but everything about that drawing seemed… wrong. Just looking at it made Twilight want to go crawl and hide under her bed. The monster from the closet, that’s what she likened it to. She noted unlike the other Titans, this one had no given name. Twilight wondered exactly why that was. “I… I agree with Twilight, although for albeit different reasons,” Fluttershy said having seen some of the same rubbings and trying not to think of them. “If what you say is true, then these creatures were and still are the top of their respective food chains. While they may seem like gods and goddesses to us, they are still animals.” She knew that was why she had been brought along, her skill and ability with animals. She suspected if all went south and Mothra was unable to be recruited than her job was to try and reason with these other Titans whatever they might have been. “Worshipping them is folly,” Fluttershy noted. “I don’t think they particularly care for worship, or Equuskind in general actually. To them, we are simply ants. Even if what these texts say are true, that this ‘Queen of the Monsters’ was once a benign part of the natural order, I’m not sure deification was the best route. It is after all, still an animal.” she continued thinking back towards the attack on Fizzlepop’s ship. “Perhaps you’re right…” Serizawa mused. “...Perhaps you’re right…” he repeated, back in the present time quite oblivious to the fact that Stellar Flare had returned. And then she let out a scream, and soon Serizawa saw why. The fish in the tank, flesh stripped from their bones. And in the tank, an open capsule... “...What, what is that?” Stellar whispered. Serizawa’s eyes were soon to follow her own. For a long time now, he had been experimenting with various chemicals in hopes of creating a weapon that would stop the more dangerous Titans simply by striking all the oxygen from their lungs and rendering them unconscious. It had only been attempted in small scale tests, Serizawa wanting to know if this device would even work. However, it seemed his plan had worked a little too well, and each time he had tried for a different result. But every time, it was the exact same. He didn’t just remove all the oxygen from a creature’s lungs, he destroyed it. It wasn’t an Oxygen Remover as he had originally planned, but an Oxygen Destroyer. “...Serizawa, did you create that?” Stellar asked nervously. Serizawa’s ashamed silence said it all. “...Why?” “I… I had hoped to create a method to harmlessly stop the Titans before they got close to larger settlements, but as it is now, I have only created a monster as nightmarish as those which we fight,” Serizawa whispered. “If my device can serve a good purpose, I would announce it to everyone in the world! But in its current form, it's just a weapon of horrible destruction. Please understand, Stellar. Please…” he pleaded. “I… I understand. I’m terrified beyond measure at what you have created, but I do understand.” Stellar whispered. “I will do everything in my power to try and keep this terrible device a secret.” “Thank you…” Serizawa whispered in return. “If the Oxygen Destroyer is used even once, politicians from around the world will see it. Of course, they'll want to use it as a weapon. What else could it possibly be used as in its current state?” he asked. “As a scientist -no, as a member of Equuskind- I can't allow that to happen! Am I right?” He looked away from Stellar, refusing to meet the mare’s eyes. Stellar understood. Serizawa was the least supportive of using magical explosives to try and kill Godzilla. They could have easily been used as new superweapons against enemy nations. Explosive against explosive, each nation destroying itself if - the White Mother forbid- a war were to ever break out and rendering the planet a wasteland. So, creating something that would rival or possibly even succeed explosives like the ones used to try and kill Godzilla was an even more nightmarish prospect for the tortured griffon. “How do you know you can’t just hide it? Your new invention I mean?” Stellar asked. “We, as a species, are weak animals. Even if I burn my notes, the secret will still be in my head. So what then, I ask you?” Serizawa asked looking Stellar dead in the eye daring her to try and come up with an answer. For the moment at least, none came. “I… I don’t know…” Stellar whispered back in reply. “I just don’t know…” “That’s what I thought…” Beginning Isle: “An uncharted island? Let me list the ways you're going to die. Rain, heat, mud, disease-carrying flies and mosquitoes. Sure, you could load up on the atabrine for the malaria but what about the other bacteria? We haven't even started on the things that want to eat you alive. But hey, what do I know? I’m just the expert who’s been going around the world for five years now...” Daring muttered to herself the group having taken shelter for the night in a cave. These were the exact same words she’d told Celeano and her crew before the whole thing started. “...And as that turns out, it’s pretty much anything and everything,” she muttered on said things that wanted to eat them. “Well, this little venture’s gone just fine, hasn’t it?” Celeano deadpanned the rain having resumed its torrent outside the cave. “Oh, go to a mysterious island venturing on the hope of finding some giant moth who can save us all. This is folly, and we all know it!” “Hey, I didn’t come up with the map that said ‘Here’s a giant moth that’s been sleeping on your planet for Celestia knows how long’, Celeano.” Fizzlepop rolled her eyes. “You’ve gotta take this stuff with a pinch of salt when it doesn’t lay everything out for you. How the hell was I supposed to know that Battra wasn’t who we were seeking?” she asked. “But you did,” Celeano stated walking over to the mare. “You told us that he, or she or whatever it is attacked your ship a year ago. You didn’t think: “Hey, maybe this thing isn’t so friendly after all?” she remarked. “No, you just thought: “Hey, let’s go and search for it again! Maybe it had calmed down.” “...And here we go…” Daring muttered having known long ago that these two would come to blows. It was only a matter of time after all. “Would you rather take a giant moth creature or a giant parasite that would make any pony run in terror at the sight of it?” Fizzlepop asked turning back to Celeano and looking her dead in the eye. “Sure, sure. I can understand what I look like. A madmare leading you all to your deaths. Before Twilight and her friends happened, I was in a very dark place. But this isn’t just something that we can do nothing about. How are we gonna manage the Titans if they end up burying all of us sixty feet under? That’s why I came here, to try and give back to ponykind. If I can save them, then maybe I can atone for the years of my life I spent conquering settlements. Give back, instead of taking…” she whispered. Twilight sighed. “Celeano, listen. I know you don’t like Fizzlepop, but for the time being, you’re going to have to put your grudge aside. This is bigger than us. We need to find Mothra if we’re going to-” Celeano whirled on Twilight. “You. You’re hardly innocent in all of this either.” “Excuse me?” Twilight asked as Fizzlepop got up off the cave floor and walked towards her friend with a nasty glare plastered on her face. Twilight sent her a look. She could take care of herself. “Princess, this whole little adventure of yours is folly and you know it as well as I do. This whole little adventure just hinges on an idea that may or may not even be true. That thing could have very well have been Mothra, and from the look of it he wasn’t exactly friendly was it?” Celeano asked. “Or did I miss the moment when it brought down my new ship?” “But the texts gathered up by Monarch said that-” Twilight started before being cut off again. “Well then, you’re a fool Twilight!” Celeano squawked loudly. “Look around you, does our current situation say anything about Mothra actually being friendly? And I thought you were loyal to the end with her. Celestia really should have taught you that excessive loyalty is bad for you…” “What does my loyalty to Celestia have to do with this? Yes, she founded Monarch along with so many others, but the whole idea was to study these creatures and mount a defense against them. And last I saw, it took me dropping part of the ocean just to even slow Battra down! I didn’t see your ship having much luck, did you? Right now, we need Mothra or something just like her to stop those creatures back on the mainland!” Twilight shouted back. “The Princess is right,” Fizzlepop agreed. “Okay, yes, maybe I was mistaken about Battra being a force for good, but that doesn’t mean Mothra can’t exist as well. Battra may just be an elder member of the species. An exception to the rule if you will.” “And do you have any proof of that, aside from these so-called ancient texts?” Celeano questioned. “Look, I’ve been around the world more times than I can count by now, and in my experience, you can’t always take things at face value. You have to actually see things for yourself before you can make a call. And everything I’ve seen so far pretty much says this whole mission is folly!” A sudden, yet distant roar swept the area, causing Celeano’s raised claw to become limp, hanging down as shivers ran up and down her body. She wasn’t the only one, though, as the trees and even the plant life around her seemed to join in on the shakes. “Do you call that folly?” Twilight asked, watching as Celeano tried to recompose herself. “...I… I think we should get moving…” Fluttershy whispered. “I’d rather not meet whatever that belongs to…” “Oh yes, I forget about that,” Celeano snapped fighting back tears. “Squabble and Boyle, you think they signed onto this mission only to end up killed by that giant spider? Huh, did they? God knows what else lurks on this island…” “Captain, this fighting’s going to get us nowhere!” Mullet barked trying to calm her down. “You’re only going to attract unwanted attention!” His pleas went unheeded. “...I… I accept that I may have made a mistake bringing us here,” Fizzlepop whispered. “But what else was I supposed to do?” “Yes, what were you supposed to do, Tempest Shadow?” Celeano asked narrowing her eyes. Daring and Fluttershy sucked in breaths, knowing exactly how much Fizzlepop hated to be called that name and reminded of her past. “Excuse me?” Fizzlepop asked with narrowed eyes in a low tone of voice. “Do you care to repeat that?” Another roar echoed throughout the jungle, this one much closer to the group, causing the entire area to rumble and shake. Though Tempest and Celeano still locked eyes with each other, completely unfazed by the noise. Call it the heat of the moment, or the deep-seated tension between the two of them that had been building, but they were not about to let their confrontation be shut down by a monster, no matter how big or small it was. “Yes, Tempest Shadow. Or whatever it is you go by now, I don’t particularly give a damn,” Celeano repeated. “Far as I see it, you’ve just changed loyalties from one ruler to another. How do I actually know you’ve changed as a pony?” “Fizzlepop has been nothing but good since she came into Twilight’s care,” Fluttershy said. “Celeano, I understand and sympathize with you for the years you suffered under the Storm King’s thumb, but that doesn’t mean you should take your anger out on-” “The Storm King’s right-hand mare?” Celeano asked. “Celeano…” Fluttershy whispered. She knew that the parrot’s grudge with Fizzlepop ran deep, but not this deep. While she understood and empathized with the captain, there was a time and a place for things. “Do you really not trust me that much?” Fizzlepop lifted a brow. “Do you really think I haven’t changed, that my rallying to her side was a fallacy?” “Way I see it,” Celeano stated. “You just switched sides to Twilight simply because you knew the Storm King was going to lose, and you simply wanted to save yourself.” “You’re an even bigger fool than I thought you were in that case,” Fizzlepop replied. “Twilight saved me. Take that as you will, but she saved me. It’s the least I can do to repay the favor and help save her country by-.” “By leading us all into a deathtrap?” Celeano asked. “Battra, that giant spider thing, and who knows what else. Mothra or not, this island is not safe. Just look around you, we barely got out of that alive! You and Twilight, you’re both fools!” “Say what you will about me, I can take it. But the moment you even speak a word against my Princess…” Fizzlepop growled out before tackling Celeano to the cavern floor. Shouts rang out, Mullet and Twilight, both trying to pry Fizzlepop and Celeano off each other as they punched and kicked each other. Fluttershy, she stood back not sure if she should help or not. Daring did nothing. She knew this was a personal matter that the two needed to settle between themselves before they could move forwards. So she did nothing. Blood was drawn as the two bit each other, rolling outside into the cavern as the fight progressed. Picking themselves up off the ground, both Celeano and Fizzlepop punched each other even as the rain poured down. Fizzlepop let out a rage-filled scream as she landed a powerful right cross before Celeano grabbed her and pulled her down with her back into the mud. “...So… So, this is what it’s come to?” Fizzlepop asked breathing hard fighting back tears. “Me having to reduce myself to this just to prove myself to you. I… I am deeply sorry for how I treated you and your crew all those years ago.” She stopped trying to fight back against Celeano, whispering: “There you go Captain, left myself wide open. Go on, take a shot at me.” Celeano let out a screech of rage, and drew back her fist before… before nothing really. The blow never connected. Instead, Celeano bit back a sob and fell to the ground sniffling. Fizzlepop wasn’t far behind, thinking back to all the terrified faces she’d seen over the years during her time spent as the Storm King’s right-hand mare. “Fizzlepop, are you…” Celeano asked. “It’s just the whiskey, okay?” Fizzlepop snapped. “Just the damn whiskey… Let me… let me save some face okay?” “Okay…” Celeano said in return. “It’s just the whiskey. That’s the story we’ll both stick by for both of our… emotional issues.” The galloping of hooves was heard and Fizzlepop looked to the left and saw Twilight and the others running down to them. “You okay?” Twilight asked. “Ye… Yeah, I’ll be fine. Though I’m not sure for how long…” Fizzlepop muttered noticing the rustling of the bushes and then two massive tigers, white in color with antlers sticking out of their head marched out of the bushes. Atop their foreheads were changelings. Well, maybe. They certainly looked the part, if not for the fact that they were much smaller than the norm. The odd thing was, despite being the size of children they looked fully grown. “Oh, we heard quite a commotion,” the twin changelings(?) asked in unison. It was sorta creepy really. “We had heard the Battle Moth had been defeated, we just couldn’t believe it till we saw it. We thank you for that.” “...Thank us?” Daring asked quite confused. “Oh yes. Our Lord was once a protector of this great land, till the power went to his head.” the twin Changelings answered. Twilight’s eyes widened in recognition. They couldn’t be… could they? “...Isn’t that always the way? Give someone power, and he thinks himself a god…” Daring muttered. “Sad as it may be, without his demise, our great Lady couldn’t be reborn. From the father passes the powers to the daughter.” the twins explained. “Wait, you aren’t the Shobijin are you?” Twilight asked digging into her saddlebags for the book on them. “Yes, we are in fact the Shobijin. However did you know?” “...I… I read,” Twilight admitted flushing red. “I like to study up on… things…” “So we have heard. Oh, we have heard of a great many things about the Princess of Friendship!” the Shobijin said making Twilight blush harder. “Come now! You do want to meet Mothra do you not?” And so they were led inside a great temple, the two tigers flanking them on either side. Twilight and Daring brought out sketchbooks, scribbling away at the intricate designs painted on the beautiful creatures. This was indeed a lost world. But the most beautiful aspect of it all was yet to come. The group wandered to a room of almost solid gold, with scriptures spread across the walls telling the tale of the titan towering over ponykind. Small pillars lined the steps up to the top of a pyramid, wherein Mothra sat quietly curled into her body, surrounded by the gigantic temple. As the group got closer and closer towards the slumbering moth, they only briefly took notice of how large it was, how small it made them, and just how high above the ground they were. One wrong step would spell the end from them, as their heights became so dizzyingly tall that the ground turned to a muddy, blurred mire. “Thank Celestia for wings, eh?” Daring joked as curiosity overtook Fluttershy and the pegasus gently strode forwards towards the massive larva in front of her. “Um… hello?” Fluttershy whispered overcome with wonder. It amazed her how creatures of this great beauty could have been created by Grogar. And yet, despite this being a child of the Father of All Monsters she couldn’t find herself to be afraid. In fact, if anything Mothra seemed to actually want to initiate contact as the giant larva just barely free from her egg leaned forwards allowing the Element of Kindness to stroke her with a hoof. “So… you’re the Queen of Monsters… You… you don’t seem like a monster to me do you?” “So… she really does exist…” Fizzlepop whispered fighting back tears. It hadn't been all for nothing after all. She looked towards Celeano who had seemed to have been overcome with a similar sense of wonder. Not that she could blame her. Not all monsters were bad, it seemed. And some were downright beautiful. “Queen of the Monsters?” the Shobijin said in unison tilting their heads in a quizzical motion. “Is that the title she has been given?” “Well, yes but um... “ Fluttershy whispered. “If you don’t like that title we can stop calling her by that. I… I mean, if you want that is.” The Shobijin could only stifle giggles. “What’s… what’s so funny?” Twilight asked. “Oh, it is nothing Princess Twilight,” the Shobijin said. “It is just it is a very fitting title indeed! It is, in fact, Mothra who has always calmed and tamed the King throughout his many rampages throughout history!” “But… but she’s just a larva,” Daring remarked. “How can she possibly have…?” The Shobijin could only share a small secretive smile. Twilight meanwhile, breathed a sigh of relief. So there was hope after all.
4: Rebirth“I admire all forms of life.” -Dr. Ishiro Serizawa on the Titans, Godzilla 2019 Beginning Isle: Mothra’s Temple “Beautiful, absolutely beautiful…” Twilight whispered to herself as she flew up to the larva and ran a hoof across her face, the creature chirping and cooing gently in response. Mothra eyed her in curiosity. The gaze of an unthinking beast this was not. Bending towards them, Mothra never moved for a time as she sat like a snake, poised to strike. Subconsciously, Twilight took a step back in case something happened. But Mothra just sat in the faint light head unmoving. The eyes looked downwards and Twilight let out a soft gasp. Twilight’s eyes widened in response to this. “...You, you can see me can’t you?” she whispered in awe and wonder as she saw Mothra watching her. Twilight turned back to Fluttershy. “Are you seeing this?” she asked with a small squee. “Are… are you seeing this? Please tell me you’re seeing this!” she repeated in a more excited tone. “I am…” Fluttershy whispered back in response with Mothra turning to look at her. “Magnificent…” she whispered as she wiped away a tear of joy from her eye. To think that Grogar of all creatures and the planet itself could somehow give birth to creatures like this was absolutely, positively astounding. For a moment, if only a brief one Fluttershy wondered what else was out there before deciding that it was best that she didn’t think on it for too long. Granted, this was going to be winding up as a moot point sooner or later but for now at least Fluttershy could take solace in the fact that Mothra was the biggest thing out there. “Yes, she is, isn’t she?” the Shobijin said in unison over Mothra’s chirps and cooes as the Queen of the Mothra shook herself clean of the amniotic fluid that had covered her. The plates on her exoskeleton fluttered and the gigantic creature rose herself up to her full height of four-sixty feet with a level of elegance no creature should have been able to possess. And yet somehow, this one did. “Truly a guardian of this earth and the giver of life is she not?” Twilight was tempted to agree, and she suspected that Fluttershy was already on her way there. “...You gotta be kidding me,” Celeano muttered under her breath. She was less keen to approach the creature. A giant wonderous animal she may have been, -and even the wondrous part was arguable at the moment- but in the end she was still just that. An animal. “We came all this way for a larva? A bloody larva? I was expecting something… more. Like, much more.” “Beggars can’t be choosers, right Captain?” Mullet remarked. “Personally, I would take what you can get. Frankly, I’m more worried about how in the White Mother’s name we’re supposed to get back home without a ship…” Celeano blinked. “...Didn’t know you worshipped Celestia. ...Learn something new everyday really I suppose…” “Well, she is very… worshippy in some manners,” Mullet replied. “Don’t look so surprised, I mean Equestria worships her for a reason.’ he deadpanned. As the two squabbled amongst themselves Daring rolled her eyes and looked back at the Shobijin. “Uh… yeah, no offense intended here,” Daring stated as she flew back down towards the two little changeling-like creatures. The two tigers that they rested themselves atop growled out warnings and Daring backed up a little before speaking once more. “...But I like to think realistically here. As interesting as Mothra is, she’s still a larva. Let’s get real here, unless the titans that got awakened were massive larva themselves -and I doubt that highly by the way I should feel free to point out- I honestly can’t see your Queenie here doing us much good.” “She hasn’t yet reached her full size and splendor,” the Shobijin said in unison. “But rest assured, she will as time goes by!” Nearby, Tem… No, Fizzlepop Daring had to correct herself seemed to be moved to tears by the giant lepidopteran’s calls. “Oh, yeah, when will that be actually?” Daring questioned. “Weeks? We’re not exactly on a gracious time limit here… Must we forget that?” she grumbled before walking off. As she did so, Mothra eyed her but Daring paid her no mind. She was much more interested in the carvings on the temple walls. Monarch member she may have been, but she was still an explorer at heart. Daring chuckled to herself, it was a real damn shame she couldn’t just put this adventure in a book really. Now Daring wasn’t quite sure what the language meant, it was far older than any she had paid witness to before but the pictures scrawled on the walls were telling enough. A soft fluttering of feathered wings from behind her. Twilight, Daring knew. They were much larger than Fluttershy’s own, and there was a gentle warmth in the air, something soft and comforting. Magic. It subtly pricked at her as all unicorn magic did. “Curious, isn’t it Princess?” Daring remarked as Twilight walked up alongside her with both of them looking upwards to see stones bleached white. They depicted a massive reptilian beast, spines of some sort jutting from the backside roaring skywards at the heavens. More of the unusual language was below it. Daring suspected given enough time she and Twilight could probably put out a rough enough translation of it, but right now she didn’t think they needed to. The depictions said far more than the inscriptions themselves. The giant reptilian beast was joined by a moth, one that resembled Battra and presumably Mothra as well when she reached adulthood herself. Sometimes they seemed to be just comrades in arms, and at other points they seemed to be in more gentle situations. It did beg the question of what exactly the relationship between these two species was. Daring wasn’t stupid, she knew what she was looking at. Queen of the Monsters? That seemed an apt enough title Daring supposed. “...So, uh… I’m going to go out on a limb here and take a wild enough guess and hypothesize that Mothra and the big guy here have some sort of thing going on.” “That’s… that’s ridiculous!” Twilight sputtered out although she didn’t exactly sound particularly convinced of it herself. “If anything, they probably have some sort of symbiotic relationship. Her and Gojira I mean. One protects the other. It’s very common in nature.” Small chingling musical laughter. The Shobijin? Possibly, Daring thought to herself. The Shobijin laughing at them over some private joke. “Agh, don’t give me that Princess,” Daring replied in turn. “I’ve been out in the wilderness long enough to see cutesy behavior when I recognize it. Surely you’ve been over to your friend’s cottage enough times to see that sorta thing as well…” “...Well, nature is a curious and wondrous thing…” Twilight murmured to herself finally relenting and again Daring let out a bark of laughter. “If you ask me, nature is just plain messed up.” the explorer muttered to herself. Twilight laughed in response perhaps in agreement with her. Then, it came. A chirping call, longer than the prior ones. Daring’s fur stood up at this one. Was Mothra calling out to another of her brethren? She broke out into a gallop as she ran back over to the Shobijin. Another call came, a high bass call that sounded like it was reverberating in the pit of Daring’s stomach. It made Daring wonder if something was calling Mothra back. And that prospect simply terrified her. “What.. what is she doing?” Daring asked the Shobjin. Beside her Celeano looked as equally keen to know as well. “Who… just who exactly is she calling? Don’t tell me she’s waking up any of the other Titans out there.” Celeano shuddered at the thought. There were more? She really should have been paid in advance she mused to herself. One of these creatures was bad enough as it was. But the sheer idea of the possibility that there were more than one of these things was truly frightening. They couldn’t stop Battra so how could they handle any others? “No miss,” the Shobijin said in kind. “Mothra does not have the capability to do that. She is calling to the ones already awake out there, warning them that their Queen has returned and asking them of their intentions. That is all!” they laughed gently as if to reassure the group. “So, she’s reasserting them of her authority, is that it?” Celeano surmised. “I can respect that.” Nearby, the giant caterpillar was walking down the steps on her many stubby legs, light glittering off the remains of the chrysalis she had left behind. She was wandering into a side tunnel as if following some ancient track laid down by those who came before her. It was an inchworm crawl taking a few minutes, but a hasty crawl nonetheless. Mothra it seemed knew exactly what she was doing and where to go. She knew something was wrong perhaps, and that she was needed. Daring for a brief moment wondered if they should follow after her but decided against it. Mothra was allowed her privacy really. It was only fair. She shouldn’t have been treated like a circus animal on display. The tunnels were lit up with a soft blue-green glow, Mothra’s almost mystical bioluminescence providing the way forwards. “...So, where is she going now? That bug seems like she has a place to be,” Celeano remarked. “She’s definitely moving with a purpose, that’s for sure. ...Wait a moment.” she commented as she suddenly realized something. “Back up just a tick. She’s telling them she has returned? What is she, something of a phoenix?” “That is an appropriate enough analogy, yes Captain Celaeno,” the Shobijin said. They knew they shouldn’t laugh at the rather tired creature in front of them. Mothra may have seemed simple to them but to everyone else she was something very unusual indeed. “She with each new rebirth gains the knowledge and experiences of her previous incarnation.” Celeano looked quite alarmed by this. “So there’s a chance of her gaining the mindset of Battra?” the parrot replied quite understandably unnerved by this prospect. “...Wonderful.” “Battra was one of the odd ones out in regards to Mothra’s reincarnations you must understand,” the Shobijin said in a gentle reply, soft and reassuring. “He grew fat on his power, ruling over this land like a tyrant and protecting his kingdom with a great pride. Godzilla was not quite sure how to take this so he could not help us. Heartbroken perhaps as for the longest time Mothra was his closest comrade. He simply did not understand.” “And the possibility of this Mothra becoming like her predecessor is…?” Celeano asked quite tired and wanting the two to get to the point. “There is that possibility, but it is unlikely,” the Shobijin said in reassurance. “More often than not, the creature you call Titanus Mosura is benevolent, a guardian of ponykind.” Titanus Mosura, so that was her scientific name. A shiver ran down Celeano’s spine at the thought of it. Was it fear, or was it wonder? She couldn’t be certain. “Yeah, I’ll believe it when I see it,” Celeano said dryly wondering where the hell her hip flask was at this point. The two tigers let out low warning growls sensing her agitation and realizing there was a possibility that the parrot could strike their masters. “No offense intended priestesses, but I’d rather not chance myself on a creature I barely know a thing about. Battra destroyed my ship, and killed a good portion of my crew in doing so. Now if you excuse me, me and what’s left of it are going to get the hell out of here. Feel free to stop me if any of you want but I’d much rather be back home hopefully replacing my ship.” “I’m not even going to try,” Twilight said as she stepped out of the way to allow Celeano to pass. “I can understand your position. I’m truly sorry for bringing you all into this.” “Save me your sympathies Princess, just pay me in full when we all get back home,” Celeano stated. “...As soon as I figure out how the hell to do that,” she realized suddenly remembering the fact that she was in absence of a ship on an island. Quite the predicament indeed she realized with a low chuckle. “...Ah, you don’t happen to have a boat anywhere do you?” Celeano asked turning back to the Shobijin who could only giggle in response. They chanted something, a language long since forgotten and the air crackled and fizzled before a glowing blue portal opened up. On the other side of it was a city in the desert wastes rising tall and proud over what surrounded it. Celeano didn’t know how the two priestesses had pulled this off but she didn’t bother to question it. Magic was a funny thing and it did as it pleased. You were better off not questioning its intricate workings more often than not. Oh yes, Celeano knew of the spell crafters and magical theorists in Equestria but she wasn’t a smart bird by any stretch of the imagination. They were a bit beyond her. Still, Celeano mused to herself as she tossed one final glance towards the egg now deprived of its mystical blue glow she didn’t exactly feel comfortable just up and leaving like this. Even if she wasn’t exactly sure why she felt such a manner. She sighed to herself, Twilight could handle herself. She was after all, the mighty Princess of Friendship and the Element of Magic. Taking a step through the portal she tossed a small wave before vanishing from sight. “You sure she’ll be alright?” Twilight asked of Mullet. The parrot sighed to himself. “Celeano’s just in a bad mood, not that you could blame her I suppose,” Mullet mused. “She needs time to mourn and to grieve. I’ll make her see sense. Storm’s coming Princess, and if anything I do want to help you weather it. Be seeing you.” he said with a small smile before following after his captain. “You coming Flutters?” Fizzlepop asked as the portal changed to that of Ponyville. Fluttershy shook her head catching everypony off guard. “No, I cannot,” Fluttershy answered softly. “I need to stay here. Mothra is too curious of a creature for me to just up and leave like this you understand. I will return when I’m good and ready. I feel there’s still work for me to do…” “You’re a mare after my own heart, you know that?” Daring chuckled. “True blue explorer and Monarch scientist. I’ll be sure to put in a good word for you.” “I’d like that,” Fluttershy smiled. “I’d like that very much. Goodbye for now Daring.” “Yeah, I’ll put in a good word for you,” Daring mused to herself with a sad sigh. “Presuming of course Monarch’s still standing after this is all over.” “There it is again,” Serizawa shouted as machines recorded the sound and the shockwave needles tapping away in succession. “Stronger than the last!” he exclaimed as his paw rapidly jotted down something on a sheet of paper. A wavelength recording. Rising and falling in succession. Outside, the massive thorn-like chrysalis glowed an eerie orange gold hue in the evening light. “What’s going on?” Stellar whispered as she stepped out of the tent. “It can’t be… can it? Please tell me that thing’s not waking up. By Writer’s Quill, please tell me that’s not the case!” she whispered in a panicked frenzy. “No… No. I don’t think that’s the case,” Serizawa murmured to himself. “It’s too early for that I think. Yes, this creature is supposed to wake up eventually, but in just a matter of a few short hours? No, I don’t think that would be the case…” “So, what’s it doing then?” Stellar asked. The Oxygen Destroyer as it had been termed. Neither of them spoke of it. They had agreed not to at least for the time being. Serizawa had took a lighter to his notes destroying any evidence that the machine had ever existed. At least… any physical evidence. Still, Stellar worried. Serizawa was in quite the state as it was. She was worried he might do something rash eventually. What exactly, she wasn’t quite sure really. And truth be told she wasn’t exactly sure if she wanted to find out. “I think… I think it might be communicating really,” Serizawa theorized. “With what I’m not exactly sure yet.” “You don’t think it’s with… that do you?” Stellar whispered in a fearful tone. “But that thing was destroyed, we made sure of it!” “I don’t think so. These communications, they don’t seem to be with how an animal would treat it’s mate. They seem almost… I wouldn’t quite label them as terrified but their urgency does seem to indicate something aside from friendliness. By Boreas, what I wouldn’t give to understand the Titan language!” Serizawa breathed. “Same..” Stellar agreed as dusk fell. The stars and Luna’s moon above them cast a beautiful almost tranquil glow over the fog covered grounds surrounding the massive chrysalis. “So who do you think it’s talking with if not it’s mate?” “Her… Titanus Mosura at my best guess.” Serizawa said motioning for another scientist to come closer. The scientist did and unrolled a massive piece of paper featuring a charcoal rubbing of the massive titan. Stretching an estimated 803 feet at full size from wingtip to wingtip, this rubbing only captured a small part of the creature’s presumed majesty. And even then this size was at a best guess from photographs taken and hidden away by Monarch over the years. The real creature could have been much larger. Without proper scale references it was hard to say really. “He’s talking to his queen. Not his mate but to his queen,” Serizawa continued as he studied the piece of rubbing. He was well aware of how that sounded but right now he had more important things to worry about. Such as studying any known information on Mothra. For however bad this Titan was there could always be something far worse. Yes, the information on Mothra usually depicted her as a benevolent protector instead of a wrathful god but there was always those other tidbits that made him worry. Such as Captain Fizzlepop’s story. It didn’t hurt to be too careful really. A bit of paranoia didn’t hurt anyone. “You don’t think she’s urging him to wake up and reclaim his lands do you?” Stellar asked worriedly. “I’d rather not have the public in mass panic when two of these things show up. Generally when two animals, solitary predators show up and meet together it’s either for one of three reasons. To fight, to feed or for something far more intimate.” “Calm yourself Stellar,” Serizawa urged. “I’m not sure that Mothra and these MUTOs are even the same species. I have several working theories, actually.” “Do tell,” Stellar asked with an eyebrow raised her curiosity suitably intrigued. She still kept a watchful eye on the chrysalis all the while but she walked over to Serizawa all the same. “I’m listening.” “Well, there are several possibilities. One this is simply a case of simple divergent evolution. It’s not unprecedented in any case,” Serizawa explained. “Notably, both the MUTO species and apparently from these text’s Mothra's species as well are symbiotic with Gojira’s. They are just different kinds of symbiosis. The MUTO species are just parasitic compared to Mothra and Gojira’s mutualism. It is hardly unknown for evolution to cause jumps from one kind of symbiosis to another is it?” he remarked with Stellar nodding her head all the while. “No, it isn’t. This could also be a case of speciation happening and specialising in different what are simply different kinds of symbiosis,” she agreed the scientist in her suitably stirred up. “Or maybe it’s mimicry. Deceptive mimicry. It’s possible that the male of the species evolved a similar appearance to Mosura. He would use this to lure unsuspecting, inexperienced members of other species to the female’s nest and then said female would pounce. I wouldn’t know, we would need to get a good look at both the male and female in action. Granted, that would involve waking them up which is the last thing we want to… do.” she trailed off as another shockwave slammed into the ground flooring both Serizawa and Stellar. Stronger than any of the others before it, this next one required a good minute or so before Serizawa and Stellar could pick themselves up off the ground and toss aside the fallen desk. “Ma’am!” one of the other scientists shouted towards Stellar. “Recommend evacuation! Or at least we move to a safer distance. I don’t know how much longer we have.” Stellar was inclined to agree and she turned to look at Serizawa again. “You know what must be done,” she told the griffon who could only hang his head in resigned defeat. “Yes… that I do. Kill it.” he whispered sadly not meeting Stellar’s eyes. Just as the order went out an alarm was raised around the facility. As this happened ponies moved away as the massive cranes that held up the Chrysalis were charged with electricity. A loud shriek of pain went up forcing everypony to cover their ears. It was the most horrible sound one could possibly imagine, a high pitched shriek that was nearly deafening in volume. Then the chrysalis lit up as beams of energy ripped through the facility around them carving up the valley around it. One crane was sent crashing towards the ground as the wires went wild. Fire and smoke rose up from around the facility and once again a massive shockwave was emitted flattening many more buildings. Some ponies were sent flying by the massive energy surge. But Monarch would not give up. Serizawa even as he looked on with a sheerly heartbroken expression at having to do this to such a beautiful creature sent more surges of electricity from the cranes. Part of the chrysalis crumbled and was sent toppling to the ground like a massive stalactite. “All readings are flatlined.” a scientist said from his console and Stellar looked at him. “Get a visual!” she ordered not confident in this creature being really dead. Upon her orders several ponies in Royal Guard armor moved up with energy surge rifles in hoof. All was quiet as the ponies moved down into the crater. Even the chrysalis itself had stopped glowing and humming. It seemed whatever was inside was dead now. The captain of the group looked up as more of the chrysalis began to crumble. Several scorch marks were now visible on its scarred exterior. “All seems quiet,” he radioed in. Commander Hardsteel was a veteran having served under two Princesses. When he had been transferred to the Monarch division he wasn’t exactly sure what he could expect. Personally, he had long thought the group was about as insane as those guys who thought aliens existed. And yet now looking up at this massive cocoon he found his own views changing. “Tango’s not reacting to anything. It’s as if we simply aren’t here.” he continued subconsciously wrapping his hoof around the surge rifle’s trigger and clutching onto it tightly. In his office, Serizawa whispered: “Why should it notice us? We are simply like ants to it in the end..” Next to him a few scientists scooted their chairs away from the griffon looking quite nervous. “Seriwaza,” Snap Shutter commented his hoof wrapping around a coffee cup as he took a swig. “Please for Celestia’s sake don’t do that. You sound almost in awe of the beast. Freaking us all out here.” “Apologies for that,” Serizawa replied looking rather embarrassed with himself. Sure enough his facial feathers were a flustered red. “I do apologize for that little… display if you will.” Back down on ground level Hardsteel walked up to the chrysalis and shone a light on it from his horn. The cocoon was now oozing some sort of unearthly gray colored goo. He groaned in disgust with a few of his troops soon to follow. “Celestia, Serizawa…” he muttered fighting back the bile in his throat as he looked upon the truly massive cocoon now laying as still as the night. Another soldier wasn’t quite so restrained. Not that Hardsteel could blame him really. “You didn’t tell me that this thing would be so disgusting in death.” A loud crack. The cocoon now was beginning to stir once more and cries of alarm rose up. Something peered out at them from the blackness. An eye slit watching them with violent emotion coursing through it. Then the entire cocoon smashed open and shouts rose up from the squadron as this massive forelimb whipped out and slammed into the ground. A trumpet like call rose up from the creature as it ripped itself free of the cocoon covered in amniotic fluid. Orange eyes shone through the night as the massive creature strode forwards letting out another angry call. As the forelimbs hit ground glowing with a red light another wave hit. This time all went black around what remained of the facility. “Power’s out!” Snap shouted. “Anti mana wave! Here it comes again, brace for impact in five… four… three… two… ONE!” Side effect of soaking up the natural radiation he guessed. He along with the others could only watch in horror as the massive creature stomped through the facility. Surge rifles were discharged and magical fire was blasted towards the creature but it had little if any effect at all. “Crikey,” Snap muttered to himself. “That thing’s a beast! And I thought Wyverns were something else!” More surge rifles were discharged as the troop tried in vain to halt the creature’s advance. Another whip of its foreleg sent soldiers flying. Another anti mana wave came almost as if on cue. “Fire everything!” Hardsteel shouted and through the flames for just the briefest of instances he and the MUTO’s eyes met. Was it understanding that passed between them or something else? It was hard to be certain. In any case the MUTO let out another trumpeting call and continued on his march forward slamming his forelimb to the ground and crushing a soldier underneath. “Get the back ups online,” Stellar ordered her team in a frightful urgented tone. She really didn’t want to see that creature leave the facility even if there was a very distinct possibility of that occurring now. With luck, they could fry it before it did so. “Get them online now!” she barked out once more beads of sweat trailing down her face. “We’re trying,” Snap said in reply looking equally frightened. The crackling of flames was heard as fire rose up around the facility. “That wave pretty much fried everything we have, it’ll take a miracle to get this place back up and running.” “Then start praying,” Stellar muttered as she flipped a few switches and then the lights came on for just the briefest of moments. Her eyes widened in horror as she whispered: “Dear Goddess in heaven…” In front of them was this massive insect creature roaring to the heavens with firey red eyes. It turned to look at them and let out another call. Then she realized. It knew who had tried to kill it. As it advanced it ripped through another of the barriers and raised a forelimb to strike out at them. Stellar braced herself before all went black… Far away on the crest of a hill Twilight and company emerged only to see flames rising up from the valley. Then lightning lit up the night as the MUTO rose up from the fire and took to the skies like the world’s largest wasp letting out another cry as it did so. Twilight’s blood ran cold as she saw the now non terrestrial creature take to the skies blocking out the moon for a moment or so. “...Dear mother of Celestia…” she whispered as she saw the creature fly south. “...I… I don’t think she had anything to do with this…” Daring whispered in an equally horror struck tone. Then she regained her wits and took to the skies expanding her mighty golden wings. She flew towards the facility letting out a shout of: “Come on, we have to get down there!” Twilight wasted no time in following while Fizzlepop broke into a gallop to follow on after her. It took but a half hour to reach what remained of the outpost. Charred and burnt remains of ponies and other things surrounded them. Daring tried a radio to warn the nearest facility of what was coming even as the rainclouds broke open drenching the facility with pouring rains. Sadly there was no such luck. She swore to herself. “...If only I was here… Then maybe… just maybe…” “Maybe what?” Fizzlepop asked. “Maybe you could have been killed like the rest of them?” “You don’t… you don’t know that…” Daring whispered a fury in her eyes before she sighed to herself. Fizzlepop was right. There was nothing they could have done even if they were here. “But there are still things we can do…” Daring thought to herself. “Stop that creature and make sure this tragedy doesn’t happen again.” Then a shout rose up from amongst the ruins and the rubble. Twilight rushed over to what looked like the remains of a command center and quickly began tossing aside metal with Fizzlepop coming over to help. Then coughing rose up from the ruins. Twilight’s eyes widened as she stumbled across a familiar figure in the midst of the ruins. Then a sigh of relief was breathed as she let out a breathe she hadn’t realized she had been holding. Fizzlepop was soon to follow her. “Seri… Serizawa?” she asked. “Is… is that you?” Author's Note And here we go...
5: A Plan of ActionIf the world lives to see another century, please remember what Mothra did for you and the planet you live on. - The Cosmos, Godzilla VS Mothra Monarch Headquarters: Manehatten “Lose?” Twilight asked. “How do you lose a shipment of magical energy surplus direct from the Crystal Empire? It’s like losing the Mare of Liberty!” she shouted wings flaring out in both anger and frustration. “Exactly like we said Princess,” Star Hunter replied flinching at her anger. “Sometime this past night a ship full of crystals had suddenly vanished from any known charts. There are a few working theories in progress right now.” The midnight blue pegasus sighed to himself. He knew exactly why this was such a big worry for Twilight. The Crystal Empire’s most famed resource could be used in any number of things, such as channeling mana and storing memories for starters. It was one of those things you just requested in spades, and thanks to the Empire constantly regrowing and regenerating its stores -little in part no thanks to the abundance of mana in the air and in the ground- it was easy enough to come by. It was one of the reasons exactly why the country had found itself easy to find its place in modern day Equestria as the crystals were quite rare and sought after. During the thousand or so years the country had been a non-entity so to speak the only source of these crystals had been in the dangerous Diamond Dog mines or in the hoards of dragons. “Yeah, well all your theories can probably be scrapped,” Twilight drawled. “I have a fairly good guess as to who exactly happened to those crystals and they probably weren’t stolen by dragons.” “You don’t think the MUTO had anything to do with it, do you?” Star Hunter asked even though he probably already knew the answer. Hell, he knew it would have been a fool not to have guessed the Titan had something to do with it. In the back of the room, Fizzlepop scoffed to herself. Everyone looked directly at her. “So, we’re really going to keep on going calling it a MUTO are we?” the mulberry mare deadpanned complete with her left eyebrow raised in fascinating fashion. “What’s your point?” Star Hunter asked. “Well, calling it a massive unidentified terrestrial life form seems a bit… say, I don’t know, redundant when the lifeform in question is not exactly terrestrial anymore is it?” Fizzlepop remarked with a small wave of her hoof. “So, I guess MUFO meaning a ‘Massive Unidentified Flying Organism’ isn't as catchy of a phrase?” This gained a few snorts from inside the main room which was currently so thick with tension you probably could have cut it with a knife. This was their worst nightmare come to life. For years, Monarch’s sole goal was to have kept the existence of creatures like Titans under wraps but here and now one and possibly more were waking up. To make matters all the worse Princess Twilight’s plan was to send out yet another of these creatures to fight the first one. Star Hunter flashed back to when the Princess first proposed this idea... “He going to be alright?” Twilight asked as she watched the professor get loaded into a medical airship. Stellar was soon to follow and looked to be in much worse condition, Twilight forced herself to look away from the bloody mess that was her leg. Choking back bile, she looked directly at Star Hunter. “Well, is he?” she asked fearfully. “Yeah, he’ll be fine. He got lucky. Him, Snap and Madam Stellar,” the pegasus agreed. A medical bag was hanging around his neck along with a pair of flight goggles. “If you had been a few minutes late, we might very well be having a very different form of conversation. So good to know Celestia trained you in some scrap of medical knowledge. ...Unless you picked that up yourself in a book?” “No, Celestia didn’t want me to go off anywhere without lacking some medical knowledge, either to perform on myself or any friends she hoped I would make,” Twilight replied. “I’m just thanking the Holy Writer I won’t have to give Sunburst a call and explain a few things.” “Don’t start saying that yet,” Star replied. “Stellar may be out of the woods, but she’s pretty banged up. And that leg of hers…” he continued sucking in a breath. “I do presume you have a plan? As of right now, you’re pretty much in charge of the whole operation until Stellar’s back on her hooves.” “I do have a plan, just not sure how you’re going to take it really…” Twilight sighed before sucking in a breath. “Ever since me, Serizawa and Fizzlepop first found the MUTO’s nest in that mine we were thinking of an alternate solution in case Monarch failed to stop it.” “Obviously, we have,” Star Hunter noted. “So out with it. Whatever this plan of yours is, it can’t be all that bad and I do have faith in you. I’m all ears here.” “Um… well…” Twilight said shuffling her hooves. “Fizzlepop had heard legends of a creature that might be able to help us and looking at ancient texts me and Serizawa agreed with her.” “...Don’t tell me, you’re going after a Titan?” Star Hunter gasped his blue eyes widening in shock. “Already had, actually. The one you refer to as Titanus Mosura, the Giver of Life in old Guoxia texts.” Twilight replied sounding rather nervous about how her old university buddy would react. Understandably nervous mind you, but still rather nervous. “...Welp, it’s official. We’ve officially crossed over into crazy Twilight Sparkle plan territory,” Star Hunter laughed. “You really are Celestia’s student aren’t you? Mind you, not saying this is a bad thing as if you were going to enlist any Titan it might as well be that one.” Could go worse Star Hunter supposed. Twilight could have gone ahead and sought out Gojira or Godzilla or whatever they called him. Should they start calling this kind of plan the Godzilla Threshold after the ancient primordial beast? Seemed fitting enough he supposed. “So you’re actually on board with this plan?” Twilight asked sound rather pleased. Or relieved. One of the two. “Yeah, I am. I just wouldn’t go spreading it around to the rest of Monarch really,” Star Hunter put in. “Goodness knows how they’d react if they knew two Titans were suddenly about to clash.” “...Chances are they’ll know soon enough anyways,” Twilight pointed out. “I mean, this isn’t exactly something you could easily keep under wraps.” “Fair point,” Star Hunter agreed. “Mind you, something does worry me so…” “And what’s that?” Twilight asked. “If you’re worried about Mothra causing damage that would sort of be an inevitability g-given her size and all.” “It’s not that…” Star Hunter muttered turning his head to a lone pony standing amongst the wreckage. He hadn’t really moved an inch since the creature had awakened. “It’s Captain Hardsteel. He was at ground zero when the creature awakened. He stared it in the eye from what I hear. Lost plenty of his men to it. And I’m worried when he stared into the eyes of the abyss and he blinked…” “...We’ll be lucky if we all don’t see tribunals by the end of the day…” Snap Shutter muttered. “So, our plan is to throw two Titans into the mixer with one another and hope, just hope they don’t decide to make itty bitty babies with one another? Forgive me if I sound unconvinced here or anything.” “You got any better ideas?” Fizzlepop asked starting to regret rescuing the stallion from the rubble. “Seriously, if anyone has any better ideas please do offer them now!” In another corner of the room, Pharynx crossed his forelegs and huffed his wings buzzing in agitation. “Mare’s got a point. I mean, we’re pretty low on options here.” “Wait wait wait,” Snap said. “Look, I’m all for studying Titans and all but not when they’re trashing cities. Several ponies, good ponies died just trying to stop that one! Celestia only knows what happens if we let two of them fight it out.” “And I agree with you there,” Pharynx said. “But from all reports, regular weapons have no effect. Like, zilch. So we can just toss these into dumpsters for all the good they’ll do.” he continued picking up a surge rifle and tossing it behind him with a loud clatter. “Oh, so we’re going to make a Titan our ally? Might as well invite him or her in for a beer,” Snap sighed. “Okay, I’ll go along with this crazy plan. You’re quite right Pharynx, this is probably our only option. Oh yeah, things must have gone a pretty pair if we’re seriously actually considering any of this really…” “So basically every other week really,” Fizzlepop noted. “I mean, it seems every couple of weeks or so something threatens Equestria -me included I do admit- and it takes time to enact an actual plan. Which always ends up meaning it’s always just six or seven ponies who do all the work!” She was astounded this country hadn’t been conquered yet with the ineptitude of those in charge at times. “Well, we can forget bureaucracy and going through the proper channels,” Daring noted. “I mean, there’s not exactly any precedents for giant monsters. Not even elder dragons, who rarely bother us as it is.” “...I’ll make a note of creating a series of precedents just for these cases then,” Twilight remarked. “Assuming we all live through this that is…” “Good thing we were formed then,” Snap remarked taking a sip of his coffee. “We’re a crack team of experts with one thing in common. We’re all part of an elite team composed of lone wolves, nerds, liantes, marginalized heretics and general all around pains in the backside of the academic bureaucracy! Basically, we’re Equestria’s last hope.” “And yet we’re completely unable to form any sort of plan without squabbling amongst ourselves,” Daring Do deadpanned. “So yay us. So, who wants to start writing their wills early eh?” “What a team…” Twilight muttered slamming her head into a table in frustration. Fizzlepop just patted her on the shoulder in sympathy. “We’re probably all going to die aren’t we?” “ENNNNNNNNNNOOOOUGGGGHHHHHH!!!!” came Stellar’s voice as the mare trotted into the room now sporting a cybernetic leg in place of her old right foreleg. Said leg had been crushed in the rubble and had to have been amputated. Firing a bolt of red energy into the air to make everyone look at her she glared around the room. Serizawa was directly by her side as ever. “Look at you, squabbling like children over the last pint of juice. This is a disgrace! We were formed to keep Equestria and the lands beyond safe from monsters, and we can’t even do that right thanks to our own egos! Now I don’t know about you, but I’m ashamed of what I’m looking at here. I didn’t lose my leg just to see my country die because nobody could pull their heads out of their asses to do something about it! And that includes you Princess Twilight!” she barked out making everyone look quite ashamed of themselves. Fizzlepop was simply amazed at the mare’s prowess. Not everyone could quiet down a room and publicly shame Twilight in the bargain. And get away with it to boot! Seems Stellar possessed that certain something. Guess that was why she was the head of Monarch by Celestia’s own choice. “Now that’s more like it,” Fizzlepop thought to herself with a small smile. “Seems this entire group was falling apart without knowledge that their commander in chief had survived or was in hospice.” “Tatopoulos!” Stellar bellowed out as she looked directly at a red-furred stallion. “Get me a video uplink of the last thing that the ship’s memory crystal recorded! On the double! March!” she barked making a few other ponies jump at the sheer volume in her voice. “On it!” the stallion said rushing off with two others in lab coats shouting: “Move it, move it, move it! The lady wants results ponies!” As he did so, Serizawa walked over to Twilight and watched the footage that was soon displayed on the screen via a very large movie projector. All seemed calm for the most part until a massive… thing landed letting out a trumpeting call. His fiery orange eyes seemed like they came from the pits of Tartarus itself. As the MUTO Male marched forwards lights went off all over the ship and he lunged towards a pile of crystals held down by ropes. And then all went black as he raised one of its forelimbs… “...Don’t suppose it was stopping off for a light snack was it?” Twilight asked nervously and Serizawa shook his head sadly. “...If only that were the case,” he murmured in a grave tone of voice. “When this thing was cocooned, I heard it… talking. At first, I thought it was with their Queen, the creature we know as Mothra but now I think differently.” “Talking, as in…” Twilight whispered before her eyes slowly widened in realization. “Oh, dear Goddess!” “That would be an apt phrase for this situation, yes,” Serizawa agreed. “Stellar Flare and I proposed that there was another one, a female. At first, we dismissed this idea claiming it was dead but what if… What if it was simply laying in wait? For the right time IE the male maturing to a proper stage?” “...And just when we thought two Titans were bad enough,” Twilight muttered. “This is not going to go over well with Monarch, you know that right? I had a hard enough time convincing them to let Mothra be, and that was when she and the Male were the only known active Titans. Now there’s two MUTOs to worry about along with any collateral damage that Mothra may cause!” Serizawa simply looked away and started praying in neighponiese. Twilight, for her part, was tempted to join him. Unbeknownst to them, both Stellar Flare had been listening in and she shut her eyes in shame. “Please forgive me, my love…” the mare whispered before turning to Captain Hardsteel. “...I think we need to start considering other options.” “How so?” the buck asked. “Regular weapons don’t work on these things! Flamethrowers maybe, but I’m not sure how many I can get as a requisition order on such a short notice.” “No, it’s not that. Serizawa had plans, he quickly destroyed them and at the time I agreed with his idea. But we are at a crossroads. Twilight has her reality, and we have the MUTOs which are the reality. I have a photographic memory, and I think we can reproduce a weapon which may be able to kill all of these things in one clean blow.” Hardsteel turned to look at her and smiled. Stellar Flare was not above admitting it sent chills down her spine looking into his coal black eyes. “Good, we’re in agreement then. It’s time to show these creatures that we are the true titans…” Hardsteel said. Guoxia Province: Beginning Isle Meanwhile far and away from the happenings of the mainland rested the island. It had remained undisturbed since Princess Twilight and her company had left. Fluttershy for her part was over the moon. Not at Twilight leaving, but getting an up close and personal chance to study the Queen of the Monsters as she had been called several times. Fluttershy didn’t exactly why Mothra was called a monster as she hardly looked the part in any way but she supposed nobody knew what else to call her. Fluttershy was now being treated to a truly wondrous sight. The Shobijin had eagerly told her it was time. Time for what exactly Fluttershy was unsure at first, and then realization had dawned upon her. The time of a rebirth was now at hand and Fluttershy was about to get a front row seat to it. Permit me to explain. Since Twilight had left a massive cocoon had been created under a huge waterfall underneath the temple. Mothra in her larva form had emerged from behind the pounding falls seemingly ignorant to their power and had created her own cocoon. The Shobijin, atop their tigers, were now singing to the creature while Fluttershy looked on in a sense of wonder ignoring the pounding rain. This was what she had waited for, a chance to see the true Giver of Life in all of her beauty and her splendor. And Fluttershy in all of her patience would be rewarded greatly. All gathered would be rewarded. “Mothra oh Mothra If we were to call for help... “Over time, over sea, like a wave You'd come Our guardian angel… “Mothra oh Mothra If we were to call for help Over time, over sea, like a wave…” Fluttershy found herself almost tranquilized by the Shobijin and their beautiful singing. She even found -to her great surprise- herself singing along with the two little fairies even as tears threatened to break from the beauty of it all. “Over time, over sea, like a wave You'd come Our guardian angel... “Mothra oh Mothra Of forgotten kindness and ruined spirits We pray for the people's spirit as we sing This song of love…” They were calling for help and for their Queen to save them, and like always Mothra was to answer that call. Soon, the cocoon cracked open and two massive wings gently unfurled with a sense of elegant grace and poise. The rest of Mothra’s body was soon to follow, the truly gigantic yet wondrous creature climbing up the steps of her pyramid temple with her crystal clear blue eyes looking at those below. Then with a single flap of her wings, she dispelled the storm clouds and let the sun reflect and shine down on her wings. Raising her head skywards she let out a chirping roar and Fluttershy felt a chill run down her spine. All would take heed now, even those who now threatened Equestria. The Queen of the Monsters had returned. Back in Manehatten quite unaware of what was currently transpiring Captain Celeano was in a bar yet again. “Why is the rum always gone? Why is the rum always bloody gone when I need it the most?” Celeano shouted having been drowning her sorrows. She held up an empty bottle and sighed. “...Oh, that’s why I suppose.” Music played from a jukebox in the corner of the bar as Celeano held the bottle over her opened beak trying to get any last drops still left in it to fall into her awaiting beak. Mullet was watching the parrot with an expression of… maybe it was pity. It was hard to tell really. “...This is just sad,” he muttered to himself. Yep, it was definitely pity. He’d been watching his Captain ever since they got back from the isle and he’d been studying her reactions to everything. What he’d seen he didn’t exactly like to say the least. Not that he could exactly blame the woman for reacting the way she was. He along with the rest of her crew had been with her through thick and thin even managing to weather through -no pun intended- the oppressive regime of the Storm King himself. He, truth be told, if he was in her place probably would have reacted not all that differently had he been the one in command of Squabble and Boyle when that giant spider creature showed up. Hell, he was fairly amazed that he’d kept himself together this long. “Um… Captain?” Mullet asked, the dark green parrot looking somewhat nervous as he approached the drunken woman. “You’re… uh, making a bit of a scene if I will be honest.” That wasn’t exactly that far from the truth really given several of the other barflies were now staring at the pirate captain with varying levels of annoyance. Mullet wondered how long it was before they both got tossed out on their arses really. He’d probably give it a degree of five minutes or so. “Sorry…” Celeano slurred slightly. “Goddess above, I’m such a wreck....” “And you criticized me for when I started worshipping Celestia…” Mullet teased her and Celeano laughed bitterly. “Yeah, well, can you blame me for suddenly getting religious on you? Considering half of the shit we’ve been dealing with over the past several days, it does make one start to reconsider certain parts of their lives…” “So, you’re saying you’ll give up being a pirate?” Mullet asked her and Celeano threw back her head and laughed. “Hell no! That’ll be the day. When Tartarus starts freezing over maybe, then I’ll stop being a bit of a pirate. Not someone you could easily tie down. Half the reason I became a pirate was because of the adventure it entailed,” Celeano explained. “The other reason being the booty of course.” “...Yes, well the treasure is a generally very tempting aspect of-” “Who said I meant that kind of booty?” Celeano asked with a knowing smirk. “Trust me, when they find out you’re a pirate… Yummy.” Mullet could only do the most sensible option open to him at that point. Namely, to facepalm. “You’re definitely something, aren’t you Captain?” Mullet muttered largely to himself. “You are definitely... something.” “The one and the only something!” Celeano chorused throwing her arms up in the air, one hand still clutching onto that one bottle. Inwardly, she sighed to herself. She knew no amount of drinking at any bar in Manehatten -and there were plenty of those she could assure you- would bring Squabble or Boyle back. But she thought fighting back a sob she had fought with them suffered with them. And now one massive spider had killed them both after they’d crash landed on an island she deeply suspected nobody was ever meant to be on. ...That was just her luck really. Free herself from the Storm King’s regime and get a new ship, only to have that ship smashed by a giant moth creature and then two of her crew members killed soon after by the bloody wildlife. Gods, she was such a poor excuse for a pirate it wasn’t even funny anymore. And yet she couldn’t even feel angry towards Fizzlepop for leading them into that hell anymore. She supposed having her little punchout in the rain and in the mud may have had something to do with that. Her feelings towards Twilight, on the other hand, well she still wasn’t exactly sure where she stood towards the mare. Argh, she supposed she’d figure it out after a few more bottles of whiskey and rum. It generally helped the matter at any rate. She remembered what her mother had told her on being an adventurer. “One word kid: curiosity. You long for freedom. You long to do what you want to do because you want it. To act on selfish impulse. You want to see what it's like. One day you won't be able to resist.” The parrot chuckled to herself again. To be perfectly honest, Celeano really did have to wonder if her mother had meant for her to wind up being a fearsome pirate. Oh well, she wasn’t exactly in a place to argue the point anymore was she? She chuckled to herself, she supposed she had realized why exactly Twilight and Fizzlepop had elected to go along on that little side venture. Curiosity was a funny thing really, it could never truly be satisfied. And as they said, not all treasure was ever really just silver, gold or a pile of rubies. “Huh, a giant moth creature wasn’t exactly what I would ever designate as treasure,” Celeano thought to herself with a small chuckle. “But for ponies like them, I suppose a new form of life would probably count. Especially if your name is Twilight Sparkle. Might as well raise a glass towards you towards satisfying your own… let’s say a unique form of curiosity. Gotta tip my hat towards you at any rate. You’ve got guts for such a small pony.” Yep, Twilight Sparkle definitely had guts or big brass ones. One of the two. Took a special kind of pony to just extend the hand of friendship towards a pony who had been hounding you for days really. Celeano doubted she would have been so kind in her position. Still, it seemed to be paying dividends on Twilight’s part. Plenty of dividends. Especially if those dividends winded up paying off to Twilight in the way Celeano suspected they were. Goodness knew Fizzlepop and her had some form of relationship that went beyond Princess and Captain. “So Captain,” Mullet asked of her. “What exactly do you intend to do now?” “Quite honestly…” Celeano asked. “I don’t know. Firstly, I’m going to drink myself stupid and then I’ll probably figure it out.” Mullet elected not to mention Celeano was probably already halfway there as it was. Even as Celeano listened to the music playing in the background, she thought of Twilight Sparkle and wondered exactly why she felt like scum for abandoning her on that island… There was a certain amount of ease in finding the stolen crystals really. It was a simple enough task once you learned that each crystal gave off a certain magical signature unique to them alone. So, with that in mind, you simply had to narrow down the location of said crystals. Of course, this came with its own risks like everything else but considering there was now a giant parasite creature on the loose that seemingly had every intent of mating with another of his kind… Well, risks like getting eaten alive were sorta were pretty low on everyone’s mind. They had to look at the bigger picture and all that. It was a little known fact but a changeling king’s -or prince’s- mandibles actually functioned like a unicorn’s horn in some regard. I say little known thanks to Chrysalis pretty much squandering the species and nearly killing them all for her own ego and lust for control. Pharynx was not pleased to learn that his Queen -well, former Queen now- had prevented him from using the full scope of his abilities. There had been quite a bit of cursing involved, along with Pharynx pretty much destroying several dummies made up to look like the former Queen. Several comments had been made on the possibilities of just how exactly sane Pharynx was before a quick glare from said changeling silenced them. At any rate, Pharynx now found himself in the jungles of Haywaii tracking down the lost crystals. “Eyes open,” Pharynx commanded to his Royal Guard accompaniment. All were armed with either flamethrowers or were capable of performing fire-based spells. “Keep them peeled. I’d really rather not be surprised here. Anything moves… Light it up!” He hated it being night. It wasn’t the natural wildlife of the jungle that bothered him. No creature was stupid enough to challenge a high ranking changeling who could probably tear them in half with their mandibles alone. It was the unnatural wildlife on the other hoof that did bother him. He’d caught a few glimpses of the MUTO Male’s coloration. His dark shading could allow it to very easily blend into the darkness and catch any one of them by surprise. A simply lovely little thought to entertain really, Pharynx mused with a dark chuckle. His mandibles glowing a dark crimson red color, Pharynx gestured with his hoof for one part of the squad to go around the trees as he looked upwards. Glimmering in the moonlight was a massive selection of both pink and aquamarine shaded crystals. “...Well, I’d say we found our guy’s food stock,” Pharynx muttered. “Lovely.” He knew that if the Male was anything like ants or the old changelings then they were in a lot of trouble. The MUTO Queen’s sole job would be to just mate with the male and provide the young laying egg after egg. Sooner or later, -probably sooner given the speed of these things in relation to their growth cycle- Equestria and the lands beyond would be overrun. Pharynx could not allow that to happen. “Okay… so where are you…?” Pharynx mused to himself. For a brief moment, he wondered exactly why the creatures had developed anti mana waves but passed it off as something for a later time. He had bigger concerns at the moment. He then heard a sound, a creaking one coming from up above and he looked upwards with slowly widening eyes. Atop the crystal pile was the Male, now flaring its wings angrily and roaring at the troops. Pharynx created a large red energy ball between his ‘horns’ and fired it at the MUTO, for all the good that did. He was just hoping to distract it long enough for his troops to get away. The Male roared again in rage and then slammed his forelimbs down creating an anti-mana pulse that sent several ponies along with Pharynx flying as the creature itself took to the skies. Pharynx's eyes widened as he saw the direction in which the creature was heading. “Honolulu…” Fluttershy meanwhile was taking a train to the airport, having been dropped off on the island by the now exhausted Shobijin. Suddenly, the lights went out all across the city and then when they came back on screams arose from the train car Fluttershy amongst them as the islanders bore witness to the Male stomping around the airport, sending a docked airship flying with one swing of its front leg. A fireball rose up when the airship landed as the Male stomped forwards and peered inside the train car seemingly sizing up the ponies inside. Fluttershy for her part was sinking down into her seat when she heard it. A very distinctive sound Fluttershy would never mistake as the Male was suddenly sent sprawling as a massive form tackled him to the ground. “CHEEEEERRRRNNTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!” The Queen had arrived. Author's Note Okay... so ... yes. Firstly, the Queen is back. Secondly, the Oxygen Destroyer. Like you know I wouldn't take usage of that one. Would have been rather pointless to introduce it and then just toss it away for any later fics I don't know if I'm going to make. As it stands now, I intend this to be a standalone piece. Although yes, I do freely admit a sequel with a version of SpaceGodzilla vs the King would be fun. Probably with SpaceGodzilla having his origins tied to the Crystal Empire. I blame the Bridge for that idea. I totally do. Yep, totally. Also, I admit it is a minor thing, but Pharynx. Bit of a relic of when the idea of the Changeling Kingdoms being involved in this story, and I thought I'd toss him in for the hell of it. Not just diversify Monarch beyond one griffon, but I also figured he'd have the personality type to fit in with Monarch's rogues and self-described general pains in the back of the academic bureaucracy. Which is totally a reference to Shin by the way. Of course it is.
6: Haywaii“History shows again and again How nature points out the folly of man…” -Godzilla, Blue Oyster Cult Fear. That was the first emotion that Fluttershy felt. Then, a sense of wonder. As she saw the two massive insects meet head-on, she felt a sense of awe as she watched the two massive creatures go at it. Mothra dug her scythes into the Muto Male’s thorax before being forced backwards by what had to be hurricane force winds. Landing on top of the airport terminal, she roared out her challenge. “CHEEEEERRRRRRRNNNNTTTTTT!!!!!” It was almost deafening. Mothra extended her massive wings, the membranes glowing in the moonlight, her crystal blue eyes narrowed at the MUTO who let out a trumpeting call in response. A series of screams erupted from the train car even as it started trundling along the track towards the terminal. Clicking her mandibles together Mothra stared the MUTO down, sizing up her opponent. She let out a series of chirps as she walked forwards on her forelimbs seemingly trying to calm down the MUTO. She would not engage in a battle unless it was her last choice, Fluttershy reasoned. She took note of the ‘eyes’ on Mothra’s wings, resembling those of much smaller moths. The Titan was very obviously using them as a sort of intimidation display. “Oh Celestia, oh Celestia, oh Celestia, oh Celestia…” Fluttershy thought to herself frantically as she slowly began to realize that on a battleground between two primordial creatures was exactly the last place she would want to be. Mothra continued to walk forwards wings bared trying to coax the MUTO Male down from attacking her, and once more the Male let out a trumpeting call as his response. “We are like ants to them, simply nothing but ants. They ruled this world once, and they could all too easily take it back.” Fluttershy realized as the MUTO strode forwards before it grabbed the engine with one of its forelimbs and tossed it at Mothra who flew forwards as the engine landed. An explosion of towering flame went up as it collided with an airship, and Mothra flew out of the flames and then fired a burst of webbing stringing the creature to a nearby mountain pass before she built up speed for what was to come. Flying high into the sky she then burst out of the clouds into a dive. Mothra rammed into the parasitic Titan like a truck going Mach 5, sending the beast flying as if it was a fly and not a 200-foot monster. The mountain itself was reduced to nothing but rubble as Mothra smashed right through it. It was swift to recover shaking its head and seemingly groaning out in pain. The Male took to the skies with Mothra following even as Pharynx’s squadron emerged from the jungle bearing witness to the two creatures trying to take chunks out of each other overhead. “...Dear Lady Luna, what is that?” one of the Guards asked as Mothra broke away clearly quite fed up with the male’s antics. The Male darted upwards with Mothra following the two breaking through the clouds overhead. Beams of light were seen overhead, creating quite a spectacle indeed as the two Titans battled for dominance of the skies. “Never mind them, just get everypony you can to safety alright?” Pharynx said muttering under his breath about how there went the masquerade. Presuming Honolulu survived this, this entire thing would be in the news by tomorrow night. The government would be demanding answers from Monarch about how they failed to keep these creatures under wraps. “How do you do it, brother?” the Changeling Prince thought to himself galloping along the forest floor. “How do you deal with those idiots in the government? Sure you don’t just change into a bugbear and scare the shit out of them, right? No, that’s more something I would do…” He’d figure it out later. Right now he had bigger concerns. Taking flight, extending his dragonfly-like wings Pharynx managed to make it down to the outskirts of the city before his eyes widened in horror as the MUTO dived down out of the skies with Mothra in hot pursuit. She let out another squeaking roar as she barreled after the male, tucking in her wings before using one of her forelimbs to grab the Male and slam it into the ground. Dragging it along the valley's jungle floor, a great chasm was carved as she did so. Finally, the MUTO had enough of his humiliation. Breaking free of the Queen’s grip for only just a brief moment he rolled onto his backside. He lashed out with one of his forelimbs striking Mothra in the chest. She squealed out in pain. The MUTO’s eyes narrowed as the other limb struck the ground. A massive pulse of mana energy sent Mothra back. She shook her head in pain before the Male clamped down hard on her thorax and amazingly sent Mothra flying with one good toss. Mothra let out a cry of pain as she was thrown into a nearby mountainside and then the shockwave came flattening trees and buildings for miles around and forcing Pharynx to the ground. The Prince groaned out in pain, small droplets of blood hitting the ground even as the Male flew overhead. He heard a small sob and then broke out into another gallop as he saw a group of young changelings and their parents trapped under the ruins of what used to be a building. Charging up his ‘horns’ he fired a ball of red energy smashing a hole through some of the rubble and sending it flying. “You alright?” he asked the youngest of the three children who could only nod weakly. The galloping of hooves was heard from behind him. Two members of the royal guard. “Take them, get them to a shelter. I personally do not want to be here any longer than we have to!” As the group broke out into a sprint Mothra had managed to recover and was now flying back towards the male quite intent on meeting him head-on. Powerful wind gusts were created from the sheer force required for a creature of Mothra’s size to even get off the ground, let alone fly. Soon, the group found themselves running for cover as ponies in the streets were swept away in the wind. Screams rose up as the two massive creatures met head-on once more. The pair were biting and clawing at one another, drawing blood at certain intervals. Mothra once more fired her silk at the Male pinning him to a massive skyscraper. Once more she began building up enough speed to ram him yet again. Glass shattered and steel buckled as the top half of the skyscraper was sent toppling to the ground creating massive choking clouds of dust. Mothra dug her claws into the Male, slamming him into the ground. The Male for his part was having none of this. He snapped and bit at Mothra, her head moving ever so slightly each time to dodge the strikes. He saw red; this creature dared to defy him? Reaching out with one of his forelimbs he slammed it into the ground unleashing another anti-mana pulse. He’d learned. Every time he did this, the pretender to the throne was forced backwards by the sheer concussive force of the pulse. Mothra stuck back with a vengeance. The MUTO’s vision was a world of white as Mothra’s wings began to glow before unleashing a sheer blinding light of unimaginable power. Searing pain reached his eyes. For those on ground level, it looked as if the day had broken for a brief moment. “Holy shit, did you see that?” “What is it?” “...By the Goddesses…” The upper hand had been gained. For a few moments, the MUTO was flailing about rubbing at his eyes blindly lashing and striking. Mothra then grabbed the MUTO with her mandibles again dragging him along the ground as if he were a child’s doll ripping up the streets below and sending great chunks flying. The Male finally broke free and flew upwards with mach speeds with the sound of a thunderclap. Mothra followed. Racing alongside the male she fired a beam of energy from her antennae. A bolt of light struck the MUTO sending him crashing towards the ground. Mothra was swift to chase after her prey. “CHEEEEERRRRRRRNNNNTTTTTT!!!!!” she squealed again before she struck. Mothra dug in her claws once more as the two tussled into buildings sending rubble flying every which way. Mothra managed to pry herself free from the Male’s grip flying upwards but the MUTO wrenched himself free from the remains of a skyscraper and then bit down on Mothra’s left wing and soundly tossed her into another building. Mothra’s eyes widened as she saw the Male coming towards her again. Launching herself upwards she performed what looked like a hammerhead maneuver. From her spot at the terminal, Fluttershy for just the briefest of moments saw another creature, far darker in shading performing this exact same maneuver. She was in a different place, a different time. She was onboard a ship flying above the stormy seas with a massive creature in pursuit. Shaking away the memories, she reminded herself this was not that creature. Mothra once again lit up her antenna and fired twin bolts at the MUTO. He dodged right out of the way and flew into the depths of the massive sprawl of a cityscape that was Honolulu. Mothra was right behind in hot pursuit. She knew what he was doing, he was toying with her and trying to wear her down. That could not be allowed. Building windows shattered in their wake as they flew past skyscrapers and office blocks. Anyone who was inside got brief glimpses of the two massive titans before they had to dive underneath their desks to avoid massive shards of glass ripping into their skins. A storm broke open above the skies of the city soundly reflecting Mothra’s mood. These ponies should never have been involved in her fight against the MUTO. Instead, the beast had forced her hand. She knew, of course, it wasn’t actively malicious nor was it actually trying to be. It was just trying to meet up with its mate to lay eggs and create offspring to further its kind like all animals. However, the trouble was if this creature was allowed to propagate its kind would soon grow and overrun the country and the ponies Mothra had sworn it upon herself to protect. She honestly doubted even with Godzilla’s help she would be able to save them all. She had asked her priestesses once, she remembered, about why they called her the Queen of the Monsters. She didn't even know what the title meant at the time, what it stood for. With giggling voices, they had happily explained. Mothra knew that those small ones actively revered her and her fellow Titans although she did not know why. They just happened to share the same planet that was all. Nothing more and nothing less. And yet they somehow found themselves in wonder of her. She knew they revered her as something amazing and powerful and revered the King of the Monsters -as they called him- even more so. She remembered once upon a time asking her priestesses why this was so. Why they had delegated these titles to both her and Godzilla. Upon learning of the reason why she figured it a fitting moniker she supposed. She was pleasantly surprised by the meaning and if they wanted to call her and Godzilla that let them do so. But that was then and this was now. Eyes narrowing as the rain pounded down on her fur and her thorax she chased after this rampant Male. She would not allow any further harm to come to those who lived below her watchful gaze. Like a mother, she would protect them. Charging after the Male she decided it was time to put an end to this nonsense whether he liked it or not. She would have liked to have her King by her side while she did so but she could handle herself well enough she supposed. She remembered this creature’s ‘parent’ for lack of a better term. The Muto Prime, was that what they called it? That thing had been a real pain to rid themselves of. She suspected she should have tried harder to see if it hadn’t laid any clutches. At the time she and Godzilla had thought it the last of its kind. Apparently, they had been mistaken. Mothra honestly feared for her king. These creatures, believe it or not, were in fact, Godzilla’s natural predator. He didn’t even fear the Golden One as much as he feared these. He hated the bastard sure, but he actively feared these creatures. They -if he was to be believed- somehow managed to kill his parents. Mothra wasn’t quite sure how this was the case but she suspected she didn’t want to find out. Calmly, she considered calling for her King. Then she decided against it. No, the threat wasn’t grave enough yet to warrant calling in the King of Monsters. This she could handle alone. Was it a form of arrogance? Perhaps. But Mothra knew she had to nip this one in the bud and stop it from ever reaching the female of its kind. Perhaps there was another reason. Mothra remembered -thanks to her kind’s… unique biology- her time as the Battle Moth, the one they called Battra. She had razed entire civilizations to the ground under her(?) lust for power. She at the time believed herself above ordinary mortals. She relished in her power. She shuddered at the memory soundly reminded of the Golden One and his demeanor. Never again, Mothra swore fighting back another shudder. Never again. This time she was to protect ponykind and all of the other races. She was the Giver of Life and this would not stand! Raising her wings as she perched herself atop another skyscraper Mothra then let the Male have it. Blasting him with her ‘God Rays’ with all the power she could muster she forced him into the ground. The blast was powerful enough to create a massive crater, with flames licking at its edge. Mothra allowed herself to relax taking heavy breaths spent from the battle. There was no way the MUTO could have survived that. He remained motionless. It seemed the battle had been won. Mothra studied the fallen Titan and mourned. They were now so few in number, the ponies having taken up the planet. She knew every creature had its age but it still did not please her to know that another of the Titans was dead. And this time it was by her own hand no less. Then the MUTO proved that thought a mistake. He struck with lightning speed and precision lashing out with one of his forelimbs. Another pulse came. Mothra barely had time to think upon the creature’s cleverness before the pulse slammed into her with the force of a freight train and knocked her off the building. The ground rushed up to meet her and she felt darkness overcome her as the Male let out a triumphant trumpeting roar. The MUTO let out a dismissive huff as he gazed upon the Queen’s unconscious form with fiery red eyes. This was the Mother of All? If that was indeed the case she should have put up more of a fight. Perhaps he was mistaken, this was just a pale imitation of Mosura. But still, he mused -even as he took flight grabbing the crystals within his jaws- he had to admit that was more of a challenge than he actually expected to face. Yes, his mate would praise him so for overcoming such odds after he presented her with these gifts. Letting out another roar he called out to his beloved mate. He was coming. After the dust had settled, Fluttershy found herself wandering through the rubble of the fallen city. Coughing as she did so, she took in the sights around her of what remained of Honolulu. Fluttershy vaguely remembered in the back of her mind that this city had been named for the Princess of the Night herself, and she wondered what Luna would think of her namesake in its current state. The sound of a crying child was heard in the background even as Fluttershy flew over one of the battle-scarred streets, the tarmac below her having been ripped open by the battle. Steam rose up from below the streets and a nearby fire hydrant had been burst open spraying water everywhere. Everywhere around her, the scenes could be described as apocalyptic. Smoldering ruins were visible in the night even as the rain slowly put out the fires that had sprung up. Gently gliding over another set of ruined streets Fluttershy flew down over to a collapsed building. There she found two members of the local regiment of the Guard in need of an assist. They were currently trying to move a collapsed timber aside so they could rescue those behind it. With a gentle hoof, Fluttershy helped her fellow pegasi pull it aside before kicking open what remained of the door. Whispering “It’ll be alright…” as she helped a young unicorn filly out of the house, she began bandaging her leg with whatever materials she could find. “How many?” Fluttershy whispered to herself. “How many dead because of… that thing?” She wasn’t sure if ‘that thing’ at the moment referred to either Mothra, the MUTO or maybe both. Looking towards the city center she saw the massive moth beginning to stir. Little by little, her eyes fluttered open and then she began to lift herself off the ground, using her legs to balance herself. She was down but not out of the fight. If the ponies in the city scorned her, Mothra did not care. Mothra didn’t care if she was feared and hated. She had learned to deal with others fearing things they did not understand. It was not her concern. Yes, it saddened her but it was not her main concern. Right now her top priority was to find a place to rest and heal before the big battle that was sure to come. The Male would now be rushing to join the female and the female would soon awake as it heard the now adult male’s cries. Mothra knew the devastation that was coming. The female would trample cities underfoot as she rushed to join her mate. She could only hope the ponies would be able to hold out until then before she arrived. Godzilla was currently not an option at the moment. She knew where she was, even as far away from him as she was, she had heard his cries. They knew where they were at all times. Currently, Godzilla was on the other side of the globe and would not be able to make it to the MUTOs in time. Her King was powerful yes but not naturally gifted in the speed department even when he was swimming. There was a reason Mothra was often the first line of defence against other rogue Titans. Taking shelter in a massive mountain cave behind a waterfall Mothra readied herself. Soon, she mused. Soon. Meanwhile, Fluttershy gathered with the other refugees at the port. Tents had been set up and even as the dawn broke Fluttershy knew she couldn’t rest. This was only the beginning. Handing out medicine to those who needed it she soon was to meet up with Pharynx. “...Well, this all went swimmingly,” the Changeling Prince deadpanned. “Mosura and the MUTO battling it out in the city center. Oh, the government's going to have our heads for this one. I’ll be lucky if my dear brother keeps me from being persona non grata in Equestria after this.” “You did what you could,” Fluttershy said kindly laying a hoof on the changeling’s shoulder. Once, she mused she probably would have been afraid of him. But now they were two of a kind, just trying to make their way in a now chaotic world. She chuckled sadly to herself, she now knew what Discord had meant. This was something they had to figure out for themselves. “That’s all anyone could ask for right?” “No offense, but I doubt pony kindness is going to fix this. We screwed up, simple as that. We were supposed to keep the existence of these giants a secret and well… just look around you,” Pharynx remarked gesturing with a hoof to the makeshift infirmaries all around them. “You can see how that went, right?” “Nobody could expect you to keep them a secret forever,” Fluttershy replied. “Sooner or later one was bound to break out, surely you had to know this right?” “Suppose you have a point there,” Pharynx admitted with a small sigh. “I still don’t have to like it really,” he muttered while shaking his head. He gestured for Fluttershy to follow. Inside a tent, he led her, to where another Monarch scientist -”Just how many of these guys were there?” Fluttershy had to ask herself- was waiting with a series of drawings and some photographs laid out on a table. “Fifteen years ago…” the scientist started. Fluttershy would later learn his name was a Dr. Hardlight or something like that. Right now she couldn’t be bothered to care. “...They found a fossil of another giant animal in the Maretin Islands due south of here. Like Gojira. But this creature? It died long ago.” Pharynx gestured to the photographs showing truly massive bones inside a deep dark cavern. Also floating around the room were small spores with a truly massive creature -insectoid in nature- resting dead nearby. The Shinomura Pharynx called it. “Killed by those parasitic spores you see, and those spores would migrate and eventually become that… thing that just flattened Honolulu. The MUTO. This was before my time you understand -I was only brought onboard recently via Thorax’s suggestion- but as I understand it this was one of the causing factors of Monarch’s formation.” “The hatchling Princess Twilight and Captain Fizzlepop found,” the scientist explained. “It burrowed right for the nearest abundant source of magical radiation. That valley. We were hoping to try and contain it, kill it if need be. But it gestated fast and hatched like a butterfly from its cocoon. And then you saw what happened when it did so. We all saw what happened.” Fluttershy took this all in. This was similar to what Twilight had explained to her when she brought her onboard Celeano’s ship. This creature, this massive entity was simply out to create more of its kind. It either didn’t factor ponies into the equation or simply plain up didn’t care. In any case, it would be almost impossible to stop it now. Almost. “Nature has an order. A power to restore balance,” Fluttershy whispered catching both the doctor and Pharynx’s attentions. “I believe she is that power.” “...Yeah, that’s pretty much what Twilight’s believing. These ancient alpha predators, they’re the key to stopping them. Because make no mistake, there’s more than one.” “M-More than one?” Fluttershy whispered. “Surely you can’t mean…?” Hardlight asked. “Oh yes I do,” Pharynx said in reply before turning to look back at Fluttershy. “There was another spore found in that mine. We thought it dead, vivisected it and ran every sort of test on it for years. Maybe it was just dormant until now, waiting for a mature male of the species.” “So where is it now…?” Fluttershy asked. “My brother has it. I already sent him a message a few days ago to expect trouble. Problem was it was by changeling. Hive Mother only knows if it reached him in time.” “And if that fails?” Hardlight asked. “If he fails to contain it properly?” Fluttershy took in a deep breath and sighed. What she was about to suggest Pharynx already knew but it bore repeating. “Let them fight.” Far and away on the other side of the globe, the King battled. He had heard her cries. Mothra’s cries. He knew a great resurgence was about to occur. In fact, it was already in the middle of happening. All across the globe Titans were awakening to reclaim their homelands. He suspected it was in part due to Mothra herself -or rather her previous self Battra- awakening. For days he had been fighting and reasserting his authority as the King of the Monsters. Godzilla let out a low growl as he was struck soundly in the face by a massive paw drawing blood. Godzilla let out a low reverberating roar of fury as he stared his opponent down. Zebricans watched as their Goddess did battle with the King of the Monsters. Sekhmet, they called her. A leonine Titan, the massive creature had been worshipped by the locals for ages. So you can imagine they were caught off guard when she awoke. Even now as they watched, Sekhmet let Godzilla have it with a blast of pure hot flame. Godzilla let out another roar and then whipped his tail around slamming the massive lioness into a mountainside. Flames licked at the savannah beneath them. Anger, loneliness. Before Mothra had reawakened it was an itch as he fought to keep rogue Titans under control. He could ignore it easily enough. He could focus on the task at hand. But now he could ignore it no longer. Keeping the awakened under control was tiresome, to say the least. They all looked to him at times, wondering how to avoid squashing the little ones under their feet. They ruled this world now, not them. The ponies, the changelings, and the griffons, they were the rulers of this planet now. Like it or not Godzilla would have to get along with them. He wondered how father did it. The Father of all Monsters, he wondered how he kept his children in line. Fear was mostly a part of that he suspected. Fear of what he would do if they did not submit. Godzilla resolved to be a better King than he. He would handle those who needed help re-learning the world. He sighed to himself, Mothra was always better at this than he. Her kindness and tranquility was something to be admired. Looking upon Sekhmet he soon confirmed she was defeated. Defeated but not dead. He would leave her to lick her wounded pride. Right now there were far more important matters at hand. Megaguirus was awakening now. He would have to deal with her before her swarms caused trouble. Taking to the seas, he swam. Mothra would just have to wait and hold off the MUTOs for as long as she could. Outside Las Pegasus there rested the wastes. And beyond the wastes rested a hive of changelings newly reborn and ready to face the world. For years that had been unknowingly suffering under Queen Chrysalis’s rule and now they had been freed. Thorax pushed those painful memories away. He couldn’t think upon them now. Not when there was something that needed to be dealt with. His horns cast a glow upon the cavern walls. He had gotten his brother’s message. One tired changeling messenger had nearly collapsed upon the hive doorstep. His brother was right to be concerned. Years ago the former Queen Chrysalis had found this cocoon in some caves off to the south of her hive. She’d paid it no mind thinking it dead. But Thorax was a smarter buck than her. He and several others had always paid it a watchful eye. Especially after Monarch had come to call. Now Thorax? He was proud of his brother, seeing him a fine fit for the organization. The Prince at times had never exactly felt at home in his own hive anymore, as Chrysalis’ reign -where he was at his best- had passed. He needed to find himself and even after his metamorphism, he had always felt out of place. Monarch served him well. “See anything, my king?” one of the drones asked as they explored the depths of the caverns. Water dripped somewhere to the left of them. “Wish I could but it’s too dark down here…” Thorax muttered in distaste. He hated the dark, reminded him far too much of his mother’s hive. He hated having to be down here for any longer than he had to be. Suddenly, something moved to the left of him. At first, he thought it was rocks falling but then an eye became visible. A creaking sound was heard as something massive moved about in the darkness. Thorax found himself thrown backward as a massive forelimb touched the ground. Then a bright light as the creature burst out of the mountainside and began striding across the desert sands. Las Pegasus remained unaware of what was to come. Inside the casinos, ponies just played and played to lose whatever bits they had left. At a roulette wheel, a white unicorn mare shouted her numbers before swearing and taking a swig of wild pegasus whiskey as more bits were lost. Then the lights went off and a collective groan rose up from all over the casino. Some screams were heard from outside but most paid them no mind. They, of course, were more concerned about their lost money than whatever weirdness was happening out on the strip. This was per usual for Las Pegasus of course. Nobody cared about very little other than the party that seemingly never ended. This was proven by what happened next. When firefighters and EMTs finally arrived at the scene they were treated to quite the sight. A massive multi-limbed creature carving her way right through the heart of Sin City and heading right in the direction of Manehatten. As for the ponies they’d found in need of medical attention? They were just grumbling about what a wild party it had been. Author's Note So, things are coming to a head. Firstly, I'd like to thank Thekaijulord and ScourgeofLightning for looking over the battle and giving me a guiding hand when needed. Mecha vs Mecha battles? Piece of cake compared to kaiju battles. Largely because of the fact that with mecha, they move like real people for the most part. Kaiju are a whole different animal. No pun intended of course.
7: Terror on the PassCanterlot: Needless to say, Honolulu getting trashed by two giant insects did not go over particularly well with the nobles of Canterlot. Serizawa wasn’t that surprised really, and neither was Twilight. She was amazed she had been able to hold them off for this long. “I’m sorry, I’m so very sorry,” Twilight said in a whispered tone as she and Serizawa walked to what used to be the hall where Celestia and Luna held their own debates with the nobility. “I only recently just got a dragon flame message from Smoulder. I am so truly terribly sorry Professor, I was hoping to keep them off your back until we managed to put a stop to this.” “It is fine,” Serizawa said in reply. “Loyalty is but a flower in the winds of fear and temptation. The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.” “...Somehow I doubt giant Titans were on the mind of whoever created that one,” Twilight muttered to herself. “You get that from a fortune cookie or something?” “No, but if I did it would have to have been a really big fortune cookie…” Serizawa said in reply and Twilight chuckled. “Listen, do not worry about me. All you should worry about is helping Mosura overcome the MUTOs and protecting your subjects. Let me deal with these idiotic nobles.” “...I… I just worry about you Serizawa, that’s all…” Twilight murmured to herself. “It’s like you’ve been on edge ever since the Male broke free. Of course, what am I saying? Of course, you’d be on edge. Equestria’s on the verge of being destroyed by one big ass bug and Monarch’s failed to keep the existence of the Titans under wraps. Oh, goddesses, I’m amazed I haven’t gone into a nervous breakdown. Do I look like I’m going into a nervous breakdown?” Serizawa was polite enough not to provide an answer to that one. Instead, he said: “Breath, Twilight. Breathe. As I said, your sole concern should be on the MUTO and the safety of your subjects. Not on anything related to me or Monarch. As an old Guoxia proverb goes: “The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor pony perfected without trials.” This is your trial. Mine is facing with the nobles of Canterlot and all the absolute detarame that comes with them.” “If you say so…” Twilight murmured to herself before kissing her old friend on the cheek. “Just be safe okay? You’re one of the best lines of defense Equestria has against these Titans.” If only he could believe that, Serizawa mused to himself. He had created something, and although he had destroyed the notes on his devilish creation he knew the knowledge was out there now. Stellar Flare had seen the notes on his creation and although she had said she would not say anything on it he didn’t trust her completely. Nor would he blame her if she went ahead and re-created it. They had two very different approaches to solving problems with the Titans. Serizawa wanted to trust in the Queen and Gojira but Stellar was more realistically minded. They were, after all, animals even if they were very intelligent ones, and left destruction in their wake like any other Titan. Serizawa shuddered to think on what would happen if Gojira ever made landfall. He was ancient beyond measure, and may not have cared for those who now populated the planet. Gojira’s sole function was to keep these creatures in check and restore the balance when necessary. He protected the planet, yes, but that did not mean he protected those who lived on it. Serizawa adjusted his tie as he stepped into the makeshift courtroom. Stellar Flare was by his side. He felt the stares of the nobles, some seemingly judging him. Duke Fancy Pants was at the head of the trial. Serizawa sighed in relief. Unlike most Nobles who just pulled stuff out of their hat, he was a reasonable enough sort and a friend. However, that didn’t mean he was completely tolerant of Monarch’s activities. Even he had his limits. “Well, glad you finally could join us,” Stellar said. “Been sweating bullets here…” “We have a… problem,” Fancy said and his horn lit up with a soft golden glow. A magical crystal in the corner of the room began displaying imagery. A massive multi-limbed creature, with ridges on its back tearing its way through the heart of Las Pegasus. “This just came in from King Thorax, he and the changelings are coordinating with rescue efforts now but that thing is moving. And I don’t think you need to hazard a guess on who it's moving towards.” “It's almost 300 hooves tall. It's much bigger than the other one,” Stellar whispered. “This one doesn't have any wings. A different sex maybe?” “...A female,” Serizawa realized. “This is who he’s been talking to. Now they're seeking magical energy... to reproduce!” he whispered his eyes widening in horror. “And the Male is bringing those crystals right towards her…” Stellar whispered. “Dear Goddess in Heaven.” Serizawa held no illusions on what would happen if the two met. They would begin to spawn and judging by the fast growth rate of the male the MUTOs would very quickly overrun the planet. They would take back what once belonged to them. And the ponies would be powerless to stop them. And it seemed the case that Mosura may have been in the same boat as well, as she just barely held back the male in Honolulu. He could see it now, massive creatures like the MUTOs flying and walking all over the planet, with ponies and other creatures just barely managing to hide and survive in the caverns below as the parasites swarmed above them. Truly it would be an age of monsters. “...I see you’ve come to the same conclusion we have,” Fancy said with a sad sigh adjusting his monocle. “We are on the edge of critical disaster and these MUTOs as you call them are only the tip of the iceberg. Observe,” he said lighting up his horn once more and the crystal displayed a series of images. One showed the King of Monsters facing down a massive leonine creature in Zebrica and the next showed him facing off with a giant serpent creature offshore, the draconic beast tangling Gojira in his coils. “Say the MUTOs are stopped by some means,” Prince Blueblood said and Stellar groaned to herself. This was not going the way she had hoped. Serizawa rested a paw on her supportively. “What’s to stop other creatures like these?” Then Serizawa made his play. He knew it was foolish perhaps, but he couldn’t just let these ponies do whatever they wanted without considering alternatives. “If I may?” “Monarch’s failed, you failed so you can take your comments and shove them up your-” Blueblood started before Fancy sent him a pointed glare. “No, let him speak,” Fancy said kindly. “If anyone knows anything about these creatures, it is him. Professor Serizawa?” “What we are witnessing here is the return of ancient and forgotten superspecies, Gojira, the MUTOs, Mosura. We or at least I believe that these Titans, and others like them, provide an essential balance to our world. And while some may pose a threat, Monarch is here to determine which of these Titans are here to threaten us, and which of these Titans are here to protect us.” “Thank you for your theories, Professor,” Blueblood said. “But we still haven’t heard one good reason why Monarch shouldn’t fall under military jurisdiction, or why these creatures shouldn’t be exterminated. Monarch was tasked with finding and destroying these ancient monsters. Needless to say, you’ve failed at that, catastrophically I might add! These creatures are the children of Grogar, so why should we believe any of them are on our side?” “I agree with Blueblood!” Jet Set shouted. “You either can’t or won’t tell us how many there are, or why they’re showing up. So, maybe it’s time for the Royal Guard to step in to put them down.” “And that will work how?” Fancy asked. “We barely even annoyed the male from all reports, and from what we can see the female is much, much larger and more heavily armored. Writer’s Quill only knows what it can do ability-wise.” “We awoke these Titans, if only by mistake. The MUTOs from strip mining and seismic surveys. Gojira and Mosura in response to their awakening. But these are not monsters, they are animals rising to reclaim a world that was once theirs,” Serizawa stated before he realized how that might have sounded. “...I apologize, I am not admiring them in any way. I am just stating the facts.” “So, you’d want to make Cozzilla our pet?” Blueblood laughed with others soon to follow before Stellar gave him a pointed glare. “It’s Godzilla, and he would not be our pet. If anything, we would be his. These creatures were here before us, and if we’re not careful they’ll be here after us. We’re going to have to adjust to new threats that we can’t imagine. We’ve entered a new era. Welcome to the Age of the Monsters,” Stellar said sadly. “Something must be done, I agree, and Monarch is working on a plan. I am working on a plan to stop them.” “Well, let’s hear it then,” Fancy said. “I hate to exterminate creatures like these, but I want what’s best for Equestria. I want to protect everyone in the country from these creatures. These are just the latest images from Honolulu…” He said this even as he showed images. Miles of destroyed cityscape and shoreline, the city now practically uninhabitable. Infirmaries filled to bursting with the wounded. It was a truly heartbreaking sight when even children were bleeding and bandaged from the aftermath of the battle. Serizawa had to force himself to look away. “...And that’s not even getting into what would happen if someone got their hands on one of these creatures. Weapons of war? Maybe. I’d hope for pharmaceuticals or food but we know that isn’t likely,” Fancy said. “There will always be those who seek to misuse powers that they do not understand.” “Do we have any idea of the direction in which the MUTOs are heading?” Twilight asked as she stepped inside the courtroom. Serizawa looked at her. She was supposed to have been evacuating citizens from Canterlot and other cities! “I’m sorry Professor, but I couldn’t leave you to face this alone. And besides, I cannot evacuate a city unless I know what city I have to send the orders to.” “A true Princess as always Madam Twilight,” Fancy appraised. “All projections have the MUTOs making landfall and meeting up in the Manehatten city center to breed. Mothra as you call her is following after them. I’d like to believe she is on our side after she came to Honolulu’s aid for lack of a better term but she still is leaving destruction in her wake.” “That is inevitable with a creature of her size and power,” Twilight admitted with a shake of her head. “But I truly believe she is on our side. An alpha predator, seeking to restore the balance that has been broken.” “You sure you haven’t been hanging out with Serizawa too much?” Blueblood sneered and he was soundly shut up with a venomous glare from Twilight. “Whether or not I have been spending time with Serizawa is irrelevant. I am just making observations based on everything I have seen and heard. I was there when Mothra hatched. She did not go out of her way to harm anyone and from all appearances when she arrived in Honolulu she simply tried to talk the MUTO Male down before going on the offensive. She has been doing that ever since she hatched. Yes, I know this sounds crazy but I soundly believe Mothra is on our side. So please, have a bit of faith…” “Well, whatever the others believe, I have faith in you Princess. But that still means we have two other monsters to deal with,” Fancy said with a nod. “Stellar, your plan?” Whispering a quick: “I’m sorry…” to Serizawa she then lit up the screen with her own magic showing the Oxygen Destroyer. “This is the Oxygen Destroyer. If detonated, it would destroy all life for two miles around. I plan to lure the MUTOs to an evacuated city of Manehatten, and then detonate it.” “This is rash, Stellar!” Serizawa shouted. “This is destruction on an unimaginable scale! You’re opening a Pandora's Box! Ask yourself, what if other nations less friendly to Equestria get their hands on this? You would have single-handedly changed the face of war!” “Then what would you have me do?” Stellar asked as more images of the devastation of Honolulu were shown. “Sit back and allow our cities to be destroyed, lives to be lost as Mothra and the MUTOs battle for dominance? No more, Serizawa! No more!” She turned to the screen where Honolulu natives were singing a prayer for Equestria and their city, hoping for a peaceful tomorrow. Hoping that they would live to see it. “Oh peace, oh light Hasten back to us May we live without destruction May we look to tomorrow with hope... “May peace and light return to us Our hearts are filled with prayer This we pray... “Hear our song And have pity on us May we live without destruction May we look to tomorrow with hope…” Serizawa couldn’t find it in himself to look at the sight. Fighting back tears, he finally replied: “Fine, do as you will. But allow me this. I must detonate it. I created this monster, and therefore I must destroy it.” “Serizawa, no!” Twilight shouted grabbing the griffon by the shoulders. She sounded close to tears herself. “Do you even know what you’re saying? What you are planning to do?” “Yes, and I must be the one to do it. I must be the one to stop and take a stand. I unleashed this power on the world, and I must be the one to close the box before it gets opened any further,” Serizawa said. “It is my duty as a citizen of Equestria, no as a member of the world to do exactly this. Do you understand me Twilight Sparkle?” Twilight nodded before she started to cry. In Manehatten, while looking at a report on the FeMUTO’s area of effect Captain Celeano found herself realizing where the creature was heading as evacuation orders came. And she knew the good ponies of Manehatten would not be able to get out in time before the Titans arrived. At least… not without help. She knew what she had to do. “Mullet!” Celeano shouted going for her hat and placing it atop her head. “Find me a ship, and ready it! I’ve got a job to do and I intend to see it through to the very end! Manehatten needs my help, and Captain Celeano must answer the call!” And so it began, with the now complete Oxygen Destroyer settled on a train bound for Manehatten, the route it would take cutting through the forests of Equestria and mountain passes hopefully out of the public eye. Goodness knows what they would have thought if they heard a weapon of mass destruction in all but name was being transported and was going to be used. A warning had been sent out, alerting Equestrian citizens to the Female MUTO’s sphere of influence. Like the male of the species it had access to anti mana pulses and more than likely knew how to use them. Add all of this on top of the Female MUTO’s truly massive size and Twilight was a very nervous Princess indeed. Not helping the matter was who she had been placed with as her Royal Guard. She would have liked it to be Fizzlepop and company but they were already hard at work trying to get everyone out of Manehatten. So instead she had been landed with Captain Hardsteel and his men, who Twilight remembered Star Hunter warning her about. He’d said he’d looked into the eyes of the abyss and when the abyss looked back at him… he blinked. “...citizens within 200 miles of the creature's current sphere of influence are being urged to please find shelter…” a pony said over the radio as Twilight found herself loading the thing onto the train. She shuddered just looking at it. Here was a weapon that could change the whole game as everyone knew it and it was going to be deployed within a populated area. May Faust have mercy on all of them, Twilight thought to herself as she looked at it once more. Luckily for them, the Female MUTO seemed to be a lot slower than the male, a disadvantage of having just legs she supposed. Time was on their side for what it was worth. “Please don’t do this…” Twilight said to Stellar one last time. “Please, don’t make us do this.” For a moment, just a brief one Stellar looked guilty before her face hardened once more. “I understand your concerns, Princess. But every moment we waste lives were sacrificed just to try and steer one of these creatures away from any major population centers. And now there are three of them. This ends tonight. All of it. Now I’m sorry, but Mothra, the MUTOs, they all have to go.” “...Do what you must, and I will do what I can…” Twilight whispered before Stellar looked at her. “Mothra, you really believe in her that much?” Stellar asked. “Because if you’re wrong, and by Celestia, I hope you’re not then…” “I'll always believe in the Queen. How is… How is he? Serizawa I mean?” Twilight asked. “As good as can be expected, I suppose,” Stellar said before taking a deep shuddering breath. “But… but does he really have to do this? Look, I was the one who created this weapon, I was the one who betrayed his trust. I used his notes to create this… thing. Ponies are far more frightening monsters, it seems, than any one MUTO…” she whispered. Then the train whistle blew. It was time to move out. Twilight rested her head near a window, her eyes watching the trees go by as the train picked up speed. Her mind briefly began to drift away to a more peaceful time; one in which the threat of a creature she once only imagined could live in a nightmarish book. Soon, the only sound she could make out was the chugging of the train as it reached its normal speed. Many a tree went by as she contemplated what would happen if, by the unholy graces of the powers that be, the Oxygen Destroyer failed them. Within the confines of her mind, Twilight saw a world devoid of life and joy; around her a wasteland of dust, dirt, and the skeletons of animals. They ranged from the smallest of puppies to the largest of lions. Was this how that Wasteland timeline she saw in her duel with Starlight came to be? And was she a part of causing it? The thought was short lived however as off in the distance, she could make out the shadow of a monstrous being—the MUTO marching off in the distance. Twilight’s eyes widened. It was here already? Then explosions came, vast squads of unicorns firing spells at the massive parasite. Twilight knew it wouldn’t be enough. “Hardsteel, get ready. It’s coming…” she whispered looking back to the stallion who gestured for his men to ready their surge rifles. Twilight’s horn glowed and she flared her wings in a threat display. “Protect the Destroyer at all costs!” The humming of rifles was heard, and then another sound cut through the forest. Creaking like a wooden door opening. The MUTO’s distinctive calls. And then they stopped just like the spellfire. All went silent. “...Did we drive it off?” one of the guards asked. “Surely it couldn’t have been that easy…” “No, it’s still there,” Hardsteel noted his blue fur standing on end clutching his flamethrower tightly. “It’s out there, lurking in the darkness.” Twilight nervously stepped forwards, her horn glowing with a soft purple light. Two soldiers were right behind her. “Check ahead!” Hardsteel ordered and Twilight whirled on him. “Excuse me?” she nearly snarled. “You want to send your men up ahead, where we know the MUTO is just on a bout of curiosity?” Hardsteel turned his head to face Twilight. Furrowing his brow, he pressed his muzzle against hers. “Listen, I don’t care what sort of rank you hold politically. We’re in my world and as such, you will abide by whatever it is I order. You understand?” “That may be so,” Twilight responded, “But I’d like it if you weren’t sending your men on a suicide mission for nothing more than the minuscule chance that they will succeed!” Hardsteel withdrew his muzzle and scoffed, his eyes rolling. “I see that you miraculously know better than I do at the concept of military tactics,” he sneered. “Alright, genius. What’s your plan? How do you propose we protect the Oxygen Destroyer and also minimize casualties? Should we invite the MUTO in for a cup of tea while we superglue the Destroyer to its ass? Or should we try to teach it the ways of friendship so everyone can go home and the world is all sunshine and butterflies with peaches and cream on their doorstep every day of the week? Bitch please, let’s get realistic here!” “Yes, but I’d also rather your men not throw their lives away. Going up against that thing? It’s suicide!” Twilight hissed. “My brother was and still is actually a Captain himself. He did teach me a few things for the record. Like, say… common sense? Going out into known dangerous territory is anything but!” The soldiers for their part were watching this exchange like a tennis match. Hardsteel stared back before taking a deep breath. His expression turned to one of near empathy, a faint smile etching itself onto his face. He glanced over at the battlefield and gave a faint sigh. “Alright, fine,” he said. “I’ll compromise, Twilight. We’ll send a scout out to observe it from a distance. When they report back, we can decide for certain as to what we should do.” “Agreed,” Twilight said in reply. “I’ll go. As the Princess of Friendship, I cannot allow anyone to take unneeded risks on my watch.” “And that includes yourself?” Hardsteel questioned. “Hell no, I’m coming along.” Twilight put a hoof on Hardsteel’s chest plating. “No.” Her voice as firm—firmer than even Hardsteel’s. Which was quite the accomplishment to say the least. “I’ll do this myself. I cannot let you do that. These are your men—you yourself just stated that. They need you as their commander. I’ll do this on my own accord.” Truth be told, Twilight didn’t want anyone else dying on her watch. On the mission to find Mothra in the first place, so many of Celeano's crew were killed either by Battra or the island’s other wildlife. To her, this was her mindset. I could've done this myself and I didn't speak up. They died because I didn't do so. She had to do this. Survivor’s guilt? Maybe. Maybe not. Could have just been taking responsibility for her own actions and failures. Seemed to have been a lot of that going around lately, she mused with a bitter chuckle. First, it was Professor Serizawa, then Stellar, and now her. “Listen… Princess,” Hardsteel said his voice taking a softer tone. “I don’t know what you did that made you like this, but I can’t let you go off alone. It’s my responsibility as your guard to protect you. Goddess knows Fizzlepop would be pissed if I got you killed, and by Celestia’s withers that is not something I’d see…” Twilight gave a soft smile. To hear Hardsteel speak with such a soft tone was something she couldn’t believe, but it made her happy in a bizarre way. “Understandable,” she chuckled. “I know all too well what Fizzlepop would do if you had to report such news to her.” Hardsteel tilted his head. “You do?” “Yes.” Twilight turned to face Hardsteel. “And let me just say: you’ve got nothing like that mare if she were scorned.” “So I’ve heard…” Hardsteel agreed with a shudder as they took a careful step out of the train and began to slowly advance onto the wooden trestle bridge beyond. They kept their eyes peeled for even the slightest hint of movement. “You two dating or something?” Twilight said nothing on the matter except a: “That is not even remotely important right now.” Hardsteel let out a fake laugh. “Oh come on,” he replied. “Surely you can try to make small talk.” “Not at a time like this,” Twilight deadpanned. “Can you just shut up for a moment and keep your eyes peeled? I’d rather not be surprised.” “A-alright.” Hardsteel took a deep breath and blinked. Confidently, he walked forward, walking no further than Twilight, but making sure to not be an inch behind her. His eyes were glued ahead of them. The world ahead was as normal as it could feasibly be. Although the signs of chaos were evident, there wasn’t a single hint of life present. Not a bush or leaf moved. The air was still—aggressively so. A pin hitting the ground would shatter the silence in such a way that it could be perceived as deafening. Twilight did a small hop on the bridge, checking its strength. She nodded at her companion before they took a few more trepidatious steps forwards. Twilight’s hair on the back of her neck stood up. She stopped dead in her tracks, Hardsteel stopping next to her. The distinct feeling of being watched washed over her like a tsunami. Anxiety coursed through her veins. She turned around, her eyes darting back and forth, but the world was as empty as it had been when they passed it; the tunnel nothing more than a void that devoured any and all light that went into it. “What’s wrong?” Hardsteel whispered. “N-nothing,” Twilight shakily replied. “Just nerves.” Needless to say, Hardsteel didn’t believe her. Not even for a second. His eyes flashed with concern. Hardsteel rested a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “You sure?” Twilight nodded and turned back around. “Yes,” she said. “Now let’s go.” Then they heard it, the sound of the train whistle blowing and they turned eyes widening in horror as they saw what was coming. The train. An unstoppable 72 foot long, 400,000-pound inferno of steel and fury. And it was coming right at them. “Watch out!” Hardsteel called as he broke into a gallop before... Whooooommmp! Twilight was thrown off her hooves and fell to the ground as a thunderous force rammed into them with the fury of a thousand tonnes of TNT. Anything that was unlucky enough to be below them was obliterated as the train exploded upon impact. Twilight and Hardsteel were thrown clear of the bridge and Twilight reacted fast enough to throw up a bubble of magic around them to slow their descent. After all, it wasn’t the fall that killed you, but the landing. And then they saw something truly horrifying. The female MUTO towered over Twilight. Her fiery orange eyes bored their way into her soul with a bizarre mix of malice and curiosity. Beneath it all however, she got this unusual sense of motherly love—something she’d never felt from a creature of her stature. Twilight blinked, only for her to see that the MUTO had lowered her head down to look directly at her. The creature’s face was now mere inches from her own. She could see her reflection in the eyes with the same clarity she’d get if they were two floating ponds on a clear summer day. Taking a step back, Twilight watched as the MUTO’s head rose a few feet. Taking another step, the MUTO’s head rose again. For each step taken, Twilight watched as the massive creature’s head rose more and more. An anti mana pulse generated from one of the creature’s forelimbs and both her and Hardsteel were thrown backward into the bushes. Spellfire lit up the night as the surviving Royal Guards fired their surge rifles at the kaiju with several flamethrowers joining in for good measure. Hardsteel sighed in relief, so they were still alive. The MUTO screeched out in rage, parts of its carapace boiling from the fire. It thrashed in the night, sending several of the guards flying. Bones crunched on impact and the MUTO’s head darted down briefly before picking up one guard and tossing him skywards before the MUTO swallowed him whole. When all the chaos was over, Hardsteel shouted for names. He needed to know if anyone was still alive. He needed to know. He took several frantic breaths, had history repeated itself? The MUTO then began moving towards the ruins of the train, as it had fallen right off the bridge and was now laying in a heap of smoking steel and metal. It went for the Destroyer, sensing the pure raw magic in it and it picked it up before marching off into the forest. Twilight then looked at Hardsteel and saw an undying hatred in his eyes. Star Hunter had been right. He had looked into the abyss, and once again he’d blinked. And then came the explosion. “You stupid bitch! If you'd just let me do as I originally wanted, those men would still be alive! Their families wouldn't be missing a loved one! Sons and daughters wouldn't be missing a father when they graduate; wives wouldn't be sleeping alone! All because you were too self-absorbed to let me do my damn job! This is on you…” he growled. “This is all on you…” he said before Twilight finally let unconsciousness take her. When she awoke, she found Fizzlepop and Daring standing over her. “You awake Princess?” Fizzlepop asked in a concerned tone an airship hovering behind them. Daring was bandaging wounds. “We’ve got a very big problem...” Author's Note So, all Hell has just broken loose. Hardsteel's finally gone off his rocker, the Oxygen Destroyer is now in play, and the MUTOs are meeting. Scared yet? Now huge thank you to Vertigo for the second half of this chapter, the real meat of it. The set-piece if you will. Now, he gave me a few massive pointers on Hardsteel and how to do him and others like him right. Here's what he had to say. Alright. But lemme give you a few serious pointers. This'll help with any crazed/deranged character. Do not immediately go all-out on the crazy. That's not true to any sociopath or psychopath. Even Jack the Ripper, for as animalistic as he was with his killings, is believed to have been—to some degree—someone who blended in with the people of Whitechapel. If you EVER have to write someone who's crazy, you need to have something that sets off their craziness. Whatever they absolutely hate; what causes the crazy. So with to display his insanity, have someone mention or praise what it is that he absolutely despises in a way that he cannot stand. Always have a tick for crazy; don't make it "just there". Comes with learning about how unstable people cope with situations. Trust me, as dark and weird as it may seem to read a lot about serial killers, there's a lot you can learn about how they treat situations like that. Hollywood and TV don't portray them accurately. Nobody snaps 1-2-3. It's a slow burn caused by many different factors. But they project their failures onto those they hate or see as responsible. Hardsteel would no doubt see Twilight as responsible for the deaths even though it was inevitable due to the MUTOs nature. His reaction is understandable, but the normal man would grieve, apologize, and move on. Hardsteel will likely never let go and grow progressively more angry. If you want to add flavor to him, have him become more aggressive when he speaks to people. But have him grow more affectionate to one or two characters. Perhaps he sees something in them that he misses in a character he died (if there was a named one who had dialogue/character). Or the fact they survived makes him see them as "better" than Twilight. Most killers see themselves as better than everyone, but they can develop peculiar bonds with people. It's very unusual. You can do a lot of creative psychological things with Hardsteel, and add a number of interesting details that develop as the story progresses. Especially if he ever fully snaps and tries to kill someone. Next time, showdown in Manehatten!
8: The Battle for ManehattenAuthor's Note So, it's all come down to this... 8: The Battle for Manehatten “Let them fight.” -Ishiro Serizawa, Godzilla 2014 All was quiet as a thick fog began to settle in over Manehatten from the east. Then, the silence was broken as the Male MUTO let out a low trumpeting call as he cried for his mate. Then came the answer as the massive female walked into view carrying the Oxygen Destroyer. The Male held the crystals in his mouth, and together the two began exchanging ‘gifts’ of a sort. The female settled herself, and little by little began plopping eggs -each with a baby MUTO of their own inside- into a trench dug underneath Central Park. The stage was set for a cataclysmic clash of Kaiju proportions and everyone knew after this nothing would ever be the same. The hall was rented, the orchestra was engaged and now the question on everyone in Monarch’s minds was could Mothra dance and could she save them. Celeano heard the calls from her side of the city, even as she began hurrying ponies onto her newly… shall we say ‘borrowed’ ship, the Warbling Loon. Wasn’t her ideal choice in weather to fly in, but she had a unicorn working on the ship meaning they’d be able to cut through the fog easily enough. The real trouble was outrunning the MUTOs, and Mothra when she presumably got here. “This city’s about to become a battleground, and I’d rather not be the one to get caught up in the middle of it…” Celeano murmured looking around her to see the crowded interior of the ship. It was jam-packed, filled to bursting and she couldn’t even load a quarter of the city’s population onto it. She was worried she wouldn’t be able to even get it off the ground. “...Goddamit, wish I wasn’t so bloody useless! ...Picked a fine time to turn hero, Celeano old girl…” she thought to herself. Playing the dashing heroine wasn’t quite as easy as playing pirate as it turned out really. She had eyed the strange cylinder the larger of the MUTOs was carrying, it looked like a weapon of some sort. Now Celeano wasn’t stupid, far from it. She knew an explosive when she saw it. She didn’t want to know if it was active or if was about to go off. Thinking on either possibility made her only hurry up loading her ship. Gesturing to Mullet to keep everyone calm, she looked out into the fog where she saw movement out in the distance. The MUTOs, she figured. But she would be mistaken. Instead, it was something soundly different. You see, while Mothra had been resting, and healing from her battle with the Male in Honolulu she had taken the time to lay an egg. This had taken a bit out of her, but the egg had hatched. And it remembered. He remembered who he was and what he was supposed to be. A guardian of the Earth. He was Battra Leo, the Battle Moth as they called him. And now he had been reborn anew. Taking to the seas in the dead of night when nobody -not even his own mother!- was watching he swam all his might gathering up enough strength from any ambient enough radiation to grow and to change. His mother would be along shortly, now he had to hold the tide back long enough for his mother to rest and to recuperate. And then she would deliver her own power to protect this planet. For now, Battra decided he would have to be enough. ...He didn’t honestly know how he felt about going up against the MUTOs really. It was not because of his young age and strength, as he knew he was strong enough to at least hold them back. He just knew. No, it was simply because why he was going up against the MUTOs in the first place. His mother liked the small ones, he was never sure why. They were near powerless against his might. Why she and the Big One protected these creatures was very strange to him. They could easily crush them underneath. He was a Guardian Moth, a nigh divine creature but he cared for the rocks, trees and the earth. Not the ponies themselves. But for the sake of his mother, he would protect them if only just this once. Plus, Battra had to admit getting into a scrap with the chief predators of the Big One was a very enticing prospect indeed. As for Twilight Sparkle, she on board a train trundling into Manehatten. As she neared the city the young Alicorn observed something moving as it crawled out onto the shoreline, a massive wave crashing into the Manehatten waterfront. Her eyes widened in shock and she turned to Fizzlepop -who was now clad in full Royal Guard armor- as the larva-like creature walked onto the streets, the being looking strikingly familiar. “...Uh, am I seeing what I think I’m seeing?” she whispered as the yellow and black spiked larva thing slowly but surely strode down Main Street, dark red eyes narrowed. Slicing through buildings with the spikes that jutted out of its form, 90 meters and 20,000 metric tons of destruction heading right for the MUTO pair. “...But I thought we… we killed him.” Fizzlepop observed the large larva make its way towards the MUTO duo and felt an oncoming sense of dread. She knew better than anypony what was coming. But at the same time, she noted -for the most part anyways- Battra Fillius as she elected to call him was avoiding the buildings. Well, avoiding them as much if a creature of his size could anyways. Fear if his mother's rage maybe? She couldn't be certain. What worried her more was what was now inside the city primed to blow at any moment. Time was no longer on their side. “Looks like the Queen of Monsters just became a mommy,” Fizzlepop noted, her dark blue and gold armor shimmering as the early signs of the afternoon sun peeked their way through the clouds. “...Just our luck isn’t it? We thought we would only have to worry about protecting the city and her citizens from three kaiju, now there’s four. Welp, there goes the Big Apple.” she said with a resigned sigh of defeat. She knew exactly what was coming. A battleground. She looked away in shame. She had failed. They all had failed to prevent this. Twilight saw the look in her friend's eyes. She had similar feelings as well. “We’ll do what we can, the best we can do is get everyone to the underground shelters while trying to turn off that Destroyer,” Twilight said with a determined look in her eyes. With her came Serizawa and an armed regiment of Royal Guards. Briefly, her thoughts turned to Hardsteel. Where was he now? After the complete and utter disaster that was the Everfree Pass, he had fallen off the radar. Could he have killed himself in shame? Twilight honestly doubted it. No, he was far too angry at the monsters and at her for that to ever be a thought in his mind. She knew he was out there somewhere. And it was more than likely he'd turn up sometime during the battle. Twilight knew she should have kept a better eye on him. “Lock and load!” she barked at the guards behind her who primed their surge rifles. From behind them, Serizawa sighed. “It’s impossible to stop the countdown now,” he said sadly. “Stellar showed me the specs. It was designed in haste, and it’s likely damaged. You couldn’t stop it now even if you wanted to.” Fizzlepop swore. “Well, isn’t that just lovely. Everything seems to be coming up roses today. Okay, new plan. We get that bomb out of the city, make sure it detonates far from anyone or anything. Twilight, protect the civilians. ...I’m going to-” “Fizzlepop… you don’t have to…” Twilight whispered. “Please, don’t do this…” Fizzlepop begged to differ. All her life she'd been nothing but a constant menace to Equestria and her surrounding territories. Now here was a chance to finally do some good and make up for all the pain she'd caused. This would be the one time in her life Tempest Shadow would ever do anything good. “No, I have to do this. I’ve caused Equestria far too much trouble, from the moment I joined the Storm King to the day I invaded Canterlot. I was born a warrior, and to be honest… I don’t know of anything else but to do but this right now It’s time for me to wipe the red from my ledger, cleanse myself.” Fizzlepop reaffirmed far too stubborn for Twilight at least, to change her mind. “Fizzlepop…” Twilight whispered looking away to hide her tears. “...I… I…” Silent words were exchanged. They didn't need to communicate what either of them already knew deep down in their hearts. “I know,” Fizzlepop smiled as the train pulled to a halt. “Thank you, Princess, for everything.” Then, a pair of fists slammed into both of them and the two crumpled to the floor unconscious. They’d wake, but not for a good several minutes. Serizawa looked to the guards. “...When they wake, say… Just say I did my part for Equestria and her wellbeing.” He was tossed a salute by the guards before he took to the skies intent on recovering the Destroyer… It wasn’t long before Battra Leo was noticed. The Male turned his sights onto him and took flight from atop the Maresler Building only for Battra to burrow underneath the streets. The MUTO looked around in confusion, where exactly had the creature gone? Then, he got his answer as Battra leaped out from behind him, slicing in the Male’s carapace with his horn. The male let out a cry of agony, collapsing to the ground below as his blood drenched the streets beneath. This would not be a quick death for him if Battra had his way. Guardian of the Earth of he may have been but Battra loved to see his enemies squirm. The female did not take her mate being cut open lightly. Amazingly, upon chowing down and soaking up so much magic had bestowed her with a new ability. Her throat and her spinal ridges glowed for a brief second before she fired off a blast of pure magical energy, sending the 20,000-ton larva flying to the other end of the city. She let out a roar of rage and marched after Battra who was struggling to pick himself up from the remains of the building, his horn crackling with a chaotic violet energy. Then, lightning lit up the skies as Battra let the Female have it, crackling beams of energy slicing and scything through the air like wildfire. He let out a roar, similar to his mother’s own but lower-pitched. Then he crawled towards the Female intent on piercing her with his horn. The Male meanwhile had managed to crawl towards the crystals and bit down on them, his wounds healing and strength returning. Battra found himself lifted up by the female and was about to be thrown once more before he let loose more energy blasts. The female screeched out in pain as Battra landed on the roads below, nearly caving them in. He picked himself up out of the crater and sliced into the female’s skin. A sea of fire was beginning to engulf Manehatten, looking as if hell itself had come. In the smoke and shadows, as lightning ripped up the street, a young mother was clutching her children close whispering: “It’s okay, we’ll be with daddy soon…” A lightning bolt came frighteningly close to them before a dark blue and golden form ran out of the shadows. Fizzlepop charged up her horn and unleashed a blast of lightning of her own splitting the oncoming bolt in two. Fizzlepop had changed her mind. No, she would be senselessly throwing her life away if she did that. She would be dishonoring Serizawa and his sacrifice. As long as there were ponies to protect she had something to live for. “Go, get to safety!” she shouted over the roars of the dueling kaiju. The mother and her children were all too happy to comply. Fizzlepop sighed. She'd seen Battra burrowing, it would be any small wonder if any of the underground shelters were still left after this. Looking upwards, she uttered: “How did it come to this? What did we do to deserve this clash of the titans?” Silently she wondered if Fluttershy's earlier statement was correct. If letting these creatures fight really was the best course of action. But then again it was only bricks and mortar. Those could be replaced, cities could always be rebuilt. She could only hope Twilight's new plan to aid the moth duo would work. Lives depended on it. Battra meanwhile found himself pushed back by another beam blast from the female, the larva now bleeding. He then noticed something the female hadn’t. He was now near one of the crystals and grabbed it in his mouth charging himself up with energy little by little. Of course, what he didn’t factor in was the male of the species. It picked up and grabbed him, quite intent on moving him out to sea and away from his nest. Battra shrieked and roared in rage feeling the new power coursing through him. With a wave of energy that sounded like a thunderclap, the Male found himself pushed backward as Battra evolved, massive wings unfurling. The sheer power in those crystals had allowed him to speed up his evolution and the two were now dueling in the rain. You see, the sheer power of Battra’s beams had charged up the clouds above to create a thunderstorm that was now pounding down on Manehatten. Battra flapped his wings glaring at the insolent young whelp who had dared to attack him. A poisonous powder was released from the flapping wings, making the MUTO cough and burned away at his eyes. He didn’t even get a chance to regain his bearings before Battra’s eyes glowed and he unleashed twin optic blasts, barreling into the MUTO Male with the force of a freight train. Now the tide had been turned however slightly. It was still far from an even fight but Battra now knew he had a better chance of making it out alive. He grabbed the Male and slammed him into a building, biting and snapping at him with his jaws. It was an eerie reversal of what the MUTO had pulled on his mother not so long ago. Then Battra felt something grab him from behind and he was thrown into the ground by the Female who looked quite intent on charging up another magical energy blast. Meanwhile down in the city streets below Serizawa flew between buildings even as the rain pounded down on his wings. He knew where his creation rested. He had to get it and move it out of the city. How he intended to do so was currently a work in progress, he’d just have to figure it out as he went along. What was important now was stopping that thing from detonating and killing everyone in the city. Serizawa allowed himself a pause as he watched the Titans do battle. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined he would ever be this close to them. Of course, Serizawa mused to himself as he watched the FeMUTO stagger backwards from an optic blast. That didn’t mean being this close was always advisable really. It would be a wonder if there was any city left at this rate he mused. The Battle Moth indeed. Battra let out another roar of rage as he seemed to eye Serizawa before taking to the skies letting the Male give chase. The female was soon to follow knowing that together they stood a better chance of taking down the battle moth. The dark divinity almost seemed to smile, everything was going exactly according to plan. He then flew around the Maresler Building before letting both MUTOs have it with beam after beam after beam, he didn’t care what he struck as long as it kept the MUTOs on the defensive. Buildings burned and Battra emerged from the flames like a bat out of Tartarus. The MUTOs, so caught off guard by their opponent’s aggressiveness didn’t even see this coming and Battra spun like a drill ramming the Male into the Maresler building. Glass shattered and steel buckled as the top of the building came crashing to the ground. The shockwave reduced buildings for a good block or so to rubble and sent others toppling like massive dominos. Battra let out a roar that sounded almost like laughter, before lighting up the skies with more optic blasts. The MUTO Male flew like hell himself was after him, as buildings ignited behind him Battra’s beams carving up the skyline. Finally, the Battle Moth had enough of the Male’s cowardice and flew right at him, forelimbs at the ready. The Male tried to get away but Battra tackled him again slamming him through another building. The Female finally recovered, and as if to say “Hands off my man!” she charged up another energy blast and Battra was sent spiraling to the ground. He struggled to pick himself up off the ground but began to feel himself slipping into unconsciousness. Meanwhile, Serizawa found himself running down into the little cavern the MUTOs had burrowed for themselves to lay their eggs. His eyes widened in sheer horror as he saw the true expanse of the clutch. Hundreds, if not thousands of eggs each with a little baby MUTO inside. And to make matters worse, the Oxygen Destroyer was in the center of it all. Presumably, the female had mistaken it for magical energy and had placed it here for her babies to feed on. “Destroyed by my own creation or the MUTOs… what a choice!” Serizawa thought with a bitter chuckle. He briefly considered the possibility of letting it blow. He would not be around to face the scorn nor would any of the MUTOs survive. Serizawa soon discarded that thought. As a citizen of Equestria, it was his duty to make sure that this city lived to see another day. “...Or what’s left of it, at least.” Serizawa thought to himself. He then groaned. He knew he wouldn’t be able to lift this thing. A magical flash was visible out of the corner of his eye. “You’re not going this alone,” a familiar voice said as she rested a hoof atop his shoulder. Serizawa turned. “I’m with you to the end here. You may have created this abomination, but I was the one who brought it into the fold.” “...Stellar, you…” Serizawa whispered as his eyes widened. “No, Monarch needs you.” “Monarch will live on in my stead. You’re not the only one with sins to atone for.” Stellar said as she looked towards the Destroyer. “Now help me lift this son of a bitch…” Grabbing hold of it with his talons, Serizawa began to slowly but steadily lift the bomb with Stellar helping with her magic. The two slowly began to move out of the crater, and it was only at this moment did Serizawa notice Stellar had a surge rifle on her back. She fiddled with it making it glow with an ominous hue before giving it a good hard toss towards the nest. Serizawa and Stellar dived for cover as an explosion lit up the night, a fireball rising high into the sky with a violent purple flame. The MUTOs swiftly took notice and letting out roars they left Battra alone and headed right for what remained of their nest. The female peeked her head in and as soon as she saw what remained of her children she began to howl both in anger and in despair. She searched the smoke and rubble for who was responsible. Eyes darting left and right, she finally spotted them. She had taken notice of Stellar, pinned under a piece of rubble. Her mechanical leg had been crushed. Serizawa was trying to help her get free but they both then saw the MUTO, who had fairly quickly figured out who exactly was responsible for the deaths of her babies. She leaned her head in and gave them what could only be described as an absolutely venomous death glare reeking of fury. Her ridges and throat were glowing once more ready to let out another beam blast and end their lives. Energy glowed and both Serizawa and Stellar braced for death. Then it came. Battra managing to muster up some of the last of his strength, he fired twin optic blasts at the Female, sending her toppling backward into a building, rubble falling all around her and pinning her underneath. The Male let out a roar but Battra reacted as he came and grabbed hold of him. Biting down hard, he drew blood and transferred a powerful poison into the Male’s bloodstream. The MUTO thrashed and roared for several odd minutes before it finally stopped. One nightmare at least was over. But another had just begun as the female had witnessed this and pulled herself out of the rubble making a beeline right for her mate’s killer. Eyes glowing with a fire of fury she raised one forelimb poised to strike. Then a massive shape dived out of the clouds unleashing a triumphant roar. Wings glowing with blue energy and eyes narrowed, the Queen of the Monsters dived in… Mothra knew by this point the MUTOs were beyond reasoning with. In hindsight, she supposed she shouldn’t have been that surprised really. They worked on basic primal animalistic instincts, even more so than any of the other kaiju Mothra knew except for perhaps the Golden One. Their thought process was food, fight, and then breed. Rinse, wash and then repeat as the small ones put it. Even as she slammed her full body weight into the female of the species, she took note of the male laying dead. She allowed herself a moment of brief relaxation, this was good news. Although she was indeed angry with her son, she was also proud of him. He had managed to take down one of the most dangerous kaiju currently active. However, she did not know if her spawn was dead or alive at the moment nor did she know if the MUTOs themselves had managed to spawn. That could be all dealt with later. Right now Mothra was certain of only one thing even as she struck as the MUTO with her raptorial-like talons. This thing needed to die. Her eyes widened in shock when she saw the female’s spines and throat glowing before it unleashed a powerful blast of pure hot blazing magical fire. Mothra only barely managed to dodge before she rolled out of the way to avoid another blast. She swore in the Titan language. Of course, she was such a fool. This thing would have soaked up so much magical energy that of course, it would have gained this ability. It needed to let off this much magic periodically otherwise it would explode. Simply put, a MUTO body was not designed to handle that much magic. Well, that couldn’t be allowed, could it? Yes, these beam blasts were a danger but Mothra was far more concerned with the little ones below. They would not be able to escape the blast. Flying skywards, she allowed the MUTO to fire off more torrents of magical fire, some cinging her wings slightly. A poor knockoff of her King’s own breath weapon but still dangerous nonetheless. Flapping her wings, she met an anti mana pulse with her own abilities, the wave being powerful enough to dispel the surrounding clouds. Another pulse came and Mothra was sent tumbling backwards into what remained of the Maresler building, quickly regaining her bearings and perching herself atop the rubble. Wings glowing with energy, she fired off a massive blast that sent the MUTO staggering backwards. Beneath the streets of Manehatten, ponies gathered and quivered from the battle that continued to rage. They wondered when this nightmare would end, and whether they'd live to see the next morning. A piece of the ceiling broke off and even as Royal Guards rushed pass, Twilight’s eyes widened as ponies screamed. She couldn’t grab it in time. But there was to be no lives lost. To everyone’s shock and surprise, the Shobijin stood humming a little tune and keeping the ceiling from caving in any further. “...By Celestia…” Twilight breathed. “Well, we could not let our Goddess come and not give support to you, could we?” the Shobijin chorused. “No no! Even as benevolent as the Giver of Life is, even she understands that destruction is sadly an inherent part of her battles. So she sends us along to help prevent as much loss of life as we can!” “...Well, to be fair to Mothra it was actually Battra who caused most of the damage…” Twilight muttered but the Shobijin overheard her and their eyes widened in shock. “Battra has returned? Battra has returned to save this city?” they asked. “The two sides of our Goddess fighting together? My my, what a glorious day this is!” “...Not exactly sure if that’s the word I’d use but… Whatever works for you I guess…” Twilight muttered even as she headed up to the surface. All around her in very specific locations, Royal Guards had stationed themselves around the FeMUTO. Twilight’s horn glowed and her voice went out. “NOW! ON 3! 1, 2, 3!” She as well had noticed how the female MUTO had sucked up excess magic and had enacted a plan to help ease the battle for Mothra. While she was not aware of what would happen if the MUTO didn’t let off her magic, if she was she would have quickened her pace. As her horn glowed, Twilight slammed a hoof into the ground. All around her, her regiment did the same as well. A massive purple pentagonal rune of magic now surrounded the MUTO, and it shrieked out in pain even as she felt her powers began to lose her. Mothra pressed her advantage and used her ‘God Rays’ once more but the MUTO was having none of it. She raised a forelimb and Twilight knew what was coming. “SHIELDS!” she shouted and although she and her regiment were protected Mothra was not and she was sent flying backward into what remained of a building. Mothra had decidedly had enough of this creature’s antics and took to the skies before flying back down towards the MUTO and grabbing it via a divebomb maneuver. With all of her strength, she managed to actually lift it up and slowly start dragging it towards the shoreline. Twilight and her regiment changed positions as necessary. The MUTO meanwhile used another mana pulse making freeing herself from Mothra’s grasp. Another beam attack came and this time Mothra changed tactics. The scales on her wings glistened and she folded them in front of her like a shield. Twilight was stunned, was Mothra giving up. Then to her surprise, Mothra actually managed to deflect the attack sending it curving upwards into the stratosphere. Another beam attack came, and Mothra met it with her ‘god rays’. The two attacks struggled for dominance before finally fizzling out in midair. Mothra’s movements were slower, it was obvious she still had yet to regain her full strength. And the MUTO clearly knew this as well by her advances toward the Queen of the Monsters. Twilight let out a small snarl. “Oh no she doesn’t!” she thought as once more the runes took light. The MUTO found herself losing more and more of her energy before her eyes widened almost comically so as she saw Mothra coming right at her talons at the ready. She was thrown back into a nearby mountainside and Mothra soon got out of firing range as another beam was tossed. Yes, this one was clearly weaker than any of the others but there was only so much punishment Mothra could take. Landing on the side of the Mare of Liberty’s head, Mothra let out another roar even as the MUTO regained her strength for what presumably was going to be another attack. But Twilight had thought ahead. Another magical spell seal went up. During all of this, Hardsteel had been lurking. He saw Twilight, and his eyes saw red. Here was the mare who was responsible for getting his men killed on the Pass, now leading another regiment. With a roar, he leaped out of the shadows pinning her to the ground with placing a ring around her horn. Her magic bound, Twilight looked at Hardsteel in shock even as she began picking herself up off the ground. “Hardsteel?” Twilight asked. “Have you lost your mind?” “No, I’m just relieving you of command ma’am,” Hardsteel said. “With all due respect, you are a danger to those around you. You lead Mothra here to this city, and you screwed up on the train. Now there’s a bomb about to blow and wipe us all out!” “And… and the more time we waste the less likely we can get it out of the city!” Twilight said. “Did you not hear about the two-mile radius? Lives will be lost! So for Celestia’s sakes, put your goddess-damned revenge aside and listen to me!” she shouted. “I’m sorry ma’am, I truly am,” Hardsteel whispered unable to meet her eyes. “But… but this is my job, my duty to my country. I have to kill both of these creatures, and I’ll be damned if I let you stand in my way. So for Celestia’s sakes please stand aside Princess. I don’t want to have to hurt you…” “What you should think about Hardsteel…” Twilight whispered as her eyes began to glow a bright white and the restraining ring shattered. “...Is how much I could hurt you. But I won’t. I’ll get you the help you need, I promise you th-AAAAAAGGGHHHHHH!!!” she suddenly screamed. Hardsteel had pulled out a whip of pure magic and lashed. “You… you don’t deserve to lead these men, these are my troops! Mine!” he bellowed. Twilight’s eyes widened. Madness had overtaken the stallion. Even as she advanced under the lashes, this temporary distraction allowed the MUTO to regain her upper hand. She fired once more, and Mothra’s eyes widened before she took flight. As for the Mare of Liberty, she lost half of her head. Mothra swooped around taking in what was going on below. Even as small as she was, she could see Twilight under attack. Swooping in towards Hardsteel, she let out a roar knocking him off his hooves. But this was a costly mistake and Mothra was sent flying into the sea by the MUTO shoulder charging her with the force of a freight train. Twilight tried to get up, to order her men to start the spell again but was knocked out via a punch to the face by Hardsteel. “FIRE!” he bellowed. His men looked confused. “FIRE FOR CELESTIA’S SAKE!” he bellowed. “Or I’ll see you all court-martialed!” And so they did, unloading their surge rifles into the MUTO. Whether it was in fear of Hardsteel’s madness or some form of loyalty to the Queen of Monsters and an urge to protect her was uncertain. In any case, the MUTO did not look pleased as she reared on them. Spellfire hit her, bombarding her with small explosions and the MUTO shrieked out in rage. But just as she was about to bite down on what remained of the platoon… Twilight reacted, and time slowed down long enough for some of them to run. Some would be safe, if not all. But what she didn't expect was what happened next. “CHEEEEERRRRRRRRRNNNNNNTTTTT!” Mothra had emerged from the waves and flew towards the MUTO unleashing a blast from her wings. All of her power had been poured into this one last blast. This time the MUTO had no time to react and was incinerated, with what little remained crashing onto the waterfront. Mothra herself was soon to follow, collapsing from the sheer exhaustion of it all. Twilight supposed she deserved the nap, it had been a very long week for the Queen of the Monsters. As for Hardsteel, Fizzlepop had arrived and had just cuffed him before knocking him out with a punch, another guard helping Twilight up. But what of the Oxygen Destroyer? Now that is another story entirely really. Amazingly throughout all this chaos both Serizawa and Stellar had managed to make their way to a boat. They were now on their way out to sea with only the ticking of the Destroyer’s countdown as a companion. Stellar laughed. “...You, you remember how we met right? You and your college courses. Sunburst, bless him, had just gone off to magic school. And you were in town going on a lecture for… Oh, I don’t suppose it really matters now does it?” “Lepidopterans. Moths,” Serizawa laughed. “Born entomologist. You know, I really have to thank you for all these years of companionship.” “No, I have to thank you really. When my husband died, you were…” Serizawa looked at the timer. Just a few seconds left. “It was the only thing I could do. For a friend.” “For what it’s worth? I’m sorry. For dragging you into all of this.” “So am I. Saraba tomoyo.” And then their whole world went white. When the dust finally cleared everyone emerged from their shelters even as the sun began to set over the ruins of Manehatten. The Shobijin’s eyes widened and one of the twins buried her muzzle into her sister’s shoulder upon seeing the fallen divine moths. Nobody was sure if they were alive or dead. Then Fizzlepop let out a sharp gasp. “...Oh by the Goddesses…” Twilight was soon to follow as she looked out into the bay and was greeted with a truly horrific sight. The bay was now full of floating dead fish, evidence of a much greater tragedy. She knew what had happened, and lowered her head in mourning. “Serizawa…” she thought as a tear dripped from her eyes. Fizzlepop let her cry into her shoulder, close to tears herself. She hadn’t known the old griffon long but he had certainly left his impression. Then she let out another gasp albeit for entirely different reasons. Sharp maple leaf style spines cut through the water and a massive form rose up out of the bay. Truly ancient and indescribable, the beast reached out towards Mothra. He sniffed her, hoping to arise a reaction. At first, it looked as if the Queen of the Monsters was well and truly gone along with her spawn. But then twin sets of eyes slowly fluttered open and a chorus of cheers rose up from the populace. A chant rose up.”Mothra! Mothra! Mothra! Mothra!” they called even as the Queen slowly climbed up onto her King’s back with Battra slowly taking to the skies. The King looked towards the growing crowd and eyed them seemingly studying them. He then turned his head skywards, -the maple-leaf spines on his back glowing- and fired a blast of pure blue energy into the sky letting the ponies know the true King of the Monsters had returned. Slowly but surely, he turned and made his way back out to sea, sinking back beneath the waves with his Queen on his back. Fizzlepop and Twilight shared a look, it could be none other. “My God…” Twilight started with Fizzlepop finishing for her. “...Zilla.” The times had definitely changed. But they knew who they stood with, and who was on their side. The Age of Monsters had come but Monarch would weather it and rebuild. They had to. For all of ponykind. Would this be the last they saw of the King and his Queen? They didn’t know. But they did know this, whatever came next they would face it together.
Epilogue: History shows again and again...And it came to pass that the Age of Monsters dawned upon Equestria. Monarch was currently undergoing a reshuffling of sorts if you will, following the sacrifices of their two biggest authoritative figures. Pharynx found himself as the head of the organization now. Not that he really minded given the fact that he was now a job that fulfilled both of his wishes. To be in a position of power and to actually have a job that involved dealing with or containing dangerous threats to his hive. “You know all of that just became pretty funny when you think about it,” Fizzlepop remarked as she looked upon the news footage covering the battle between Mothra and the MUTOs. One headline proposed her as the Queen of the Monsters: Savior of Our City. “I mean, Mothra was just some old lady attempting cockblocking a couple!” “...Where… where does your mind even go to when you think that?” Daring asked as Fluttershy blushed a bright red. The group had met up over drinks to celebrate Pharynx’s new job. Thorax and Twilight would have been there, but they were currently heading up the trial on Captain Hardsteel. Fizzlepop sighed to herself sadly, the stallion could have had it all and yet like Captain Ahab he chose to throw it all away in search of his ‘white whale’. “Well, she’s got a point,” Pharynx smirked sharing a hoofbump with the now smirking mare. He then noticed her expression. “...You alright, Fizz?” “Maybe… I don’t know,” she sighed as she began taking a sip of her whiskey. “I mean, you have to ask… what now? Serizawa and Stellar are dead, Monarch's masquerade’s blown and we lost far too many good ponies in all of this. Hardsteel amongst them.” “Hardsteel was crazy,” Celeano disagreed. “If you ask me, a court-martial is too good for him. Should have just had the MUTO eat him alive… Ordering his own men to get themselves killed! That bastard! They’re lucky to be alive thanks to that spell of Twilight’s and Mothra!” she snarled. Pharynx wasn’t aware that a parrot could look quite so furious but then again Celeano was doing a very good job of proving her wrong. If looks could kill, the Changeling Prince would have imagined Hardsteel would have burst into flames at the sight of her. “I think he got it off worse in some regards,” Fizzlepop disagreed. “A soldier’s way to die, and I speak from experience here alas, is with the enemy at the gates and adrenaline pumping and coursing through their veins. Denying Hardsteel a soldier’s death is about the worst thing you could possibly do to him. Here he is, stripped of his pride and put on public display for all to see.” “To each their own,” Celeano muttered to herself. “But… but your masquerade’s been blown now am I correct? Pharynx, how do you plan to even handle something like this?” “Eh, I’ll deal. Monarch always has. The public will panic, of course they will. But it’ll be Monarch’s job from now on to contain any Titans and if it comes to it work with them to stop the more dangerous ones.” “W-What could be possibly more dangerous than those MUTOs?” Fluttershy whispered not sure she really wanted to know. “Godzilla, or Gojira or whatever you want to call him. He’s on our side for now, yes, but what if ponykind were to turn on him?” Pharynx asked as an unsettling silence came over the group. “We’d be almost powerless to stop him. And for all we know… and for all we know there could be something much more dangerous lurking in the shadows, just waiting for his -or her- time to arise…” Fluttershy had to excuse herself, though not for the reason you might have thought. No, she didn’t need to go ahead and find herself a nice couch to hide under. She had seen a pony with an eerily familiar gaze lurking just out of sight. “...You knew what was going to happen all along didn’t you?” Fluttershy asked the pony, who shapeshifted into a serpent-like being. “Didn’t you Discord?” “...Well, I may or may not have. I certainly didn’t expect the King of Monsters to show when he did, that was for sure!” Discord laughed. “Battra Leo showing up and holding off the MUTOs for as long as he did before mommy dearest arrived? Now… I certainly didn’t have a thing to do with that. All that happened there was a small change in the air that in turn was caused by a microscopic variation in the evaporation of water from a tree in the jungles of Honolulu, due to a tiny little fly flapping its wings a few seconds too early. That’s all!” Fluttershy had to stifle a laugh. “Discord…” she thought to herself. “But in any case, you ponies somehow manage to keep on going to impress me,” Discord continued. “I thought you all would have turned and ran when the first MUTO hatched and made landfall. But guess I was wrong, you rose to the challenge and helped Mothra win against her rivals. I honestly thought for a bit the dominant species of the planet would be the MUTOs sending you back to the Stone Age!” Fluttershy just shook her head. “It’s what we ponies do, we face a challenge and we meet it. We haven’t survived this long without having some sort of… something to keep us going.” “Yes, quite. Not sure what that something is yet if it’s your friendship or something else but you certainly do seem to keep on meeting every challenge the world has to throw at you. And that’s why I like you all. You, no matter what, you never give up. So dear Fluttershy… Tea at our usual time?” Fluttershy couldn't help but smile. “...I… I think I’ll take you up on that offer.” Sire’s Hollow: “Mata au made, kyūyū,” Twilight said as she placed some flowers atop a grave marked with Serizawa’s name. There was no body to be placed inside the tomb, the Destroyer had seen to that. But he would be remembered for his part in the dawn of this new age, for good or for ill. “Arigatō… Serizawa sensei.” She turned to Sunburst, who was quietly mourning the death of his mother. “You going to be alright?” she asked wrapping a wing around her friend. Sunburst blew into a handkerchief and dabbed at his eyes as he looked upon her tombstone. “Y-Yeah, I think I’ll be fine. Just… Just give me a bit of time, okay?” “There’s a place for you, you know. In Monarch, I mean. Pharynx’s offer, not mine,” Twilight said. “I can understand perfectly if you don’t want to come and join them.” “Maybe someday, but for now… I… I think I’ll need some time away from giant monsters and all of that. I have to play uncle for Flurry, and the Crystal Empire needs their mage. You understand right?” the orange unicorn asked and Twilight nodded softly. “Yes… Yeah, take all the time you need. And if you ever need anything… just give me a call okay?” Twilight asked and Sunburst smiled at her. “Y-Yeah, I think I’ll do that. So, how did it go? The trial I mean?” “Well,” Twilight began. “It was certainly something. I mean, you can definitely call it that really…” Even as she explained what had gone on in Canterlot, Twilight had begun to flashback towards that fateful trial. “So, you honestly believe what you did was for the best?” Twilight asked as the trial came to order, Raven Inkwell banging a gavel as the charges were read off. Attempted murder of a Princess, assault, endangering one’s own men… The list went on. Shining who was in the audience looked on with a mix of disgust and disappointment. “Of course I did,” Hardsteel refuted. “We do the dirty work! So our families and our countrymen don't have to be afraid! They should not even know that a thing like those even existed! Now your group, Monarch, that was your job right? Well look at how badly you botched it up!” “Sometimes, the enemy does not exist… until you decide to go out looking for one. Yes, I acknowledge Monarch screwed up, but not because of how we failed to keep the MUTOs under wraps. They would have awakened eventually,” Twilight said absentmindedly rubbing her burned and charred shoulder with a hoof. It was where Hardsteel had struck her with his whip. “And that is neither here nor there Hardsteel.” “So what, are we going to pretend those men of mine died for nothing? That they died fighting an enemy who did not exist? Do you have to go home to their families, look them in the eyes and tell them that their wife, daughter, husband, or son will not be coming home and yet you can’t explain why? Answer me that one Princess!” Hardsteel shouted back. If he wasn’t restrained by his cuffs and there weren’t two Royal Guards with spears pointed directly at him he probably would have launched himself straight at Twilight. “They’ll know the truth, each and every one of them. Now I’m sorry for your losses Captain,” Twilight said. “We all are. But what you did remains unchanged. You are nearly responsible for the deaths of your own men and you would have been had I not saved them from the MUTO. Think on that Captain.” “I have. And I’ve justified it to myself over and over that their deaths would have been a necessary evil just to stop that MUTO from making its way to another city.” “Look at yourself! Your men wouldn’t have stopped that creature, slowed it down maybe but not killed it! There’s no excuse you can ever use to justify your men dying senselessly!” Twilight nearly screamed before Shining put a hoof on his sister’s shoulder. “That’s enough Twiley,” Shining said. “That’s enough. Hardsteel, I assume you know your fate?” “Yes, and… and I deserve it. Twilight’s right,” Hardsteel said sadly refusing to meet Twilight’s eyes. “I killed my men with my decisions and I deserve everything that’s coming to me. It’s not prison I fear, but who will greet me when I die.” “Well, let us hope she will be merciful,” Shining said. “40 years, 20 if you’re good enough. Take him away!” he roared to his men who nodded and led the thoroughly defrocked Hardsteel away. “He got off lucky, if you ask me…” Sunburst whispered. “Did he?” Twilight asked remembering looking at Hardsteel’s face and the pain and the grief it showed. “Did he really?” she had to ask. Sunburst couldn’t provide an answer. “So… what now?” Sunburst asked as they walked away from the cemetery and into Sire’s Hollow proper. “Do we… do we just go on with our lives as if nothing’s happened or…?” “No, we don’t pretend that nothing’s happened,” Twilight answered. “We acknowledge it and we learn and we grow from our experiences. That is simply what we must do. How does it go? History shows us again and again…” “...How nature is willing to point out the follies of-” Sunburst began to whisper in reply before a loud explosion shook the town and knocked the two to the ground. “...What the…?” A massive purple cobra creature, with spikes jutting out of his body had erupted from a nearby mountainside. As it reared up baring its fangs, the creature hissed as Twilight smiled. “And so it seems the adventure continues… Titanus Hamadryad. Well, he’s in for a shock,” Twilight said as she took flight. “Because there are two things he doesn’t know about the new modern day Equestria. One of them’s me, yes. But the other is…” A familiar roar cut through the air as cheers rose up from all over town as a very distinctive form appeared from over the horizon flapping her wings. She body-slammed the cobra creature and Twilight smiled again as she charged up her horn ready for battle. “Mothra.” The battle ended, and Mothra returned to her home on Beginning Isle, now slowly starting to be known as Monster Island for the unusually large amount of Kaiju gathering there. A Monarch outpost had been set up, as per the norm although for some reason very ponies weren't particularly interested in taking up this particular position. Daring honestly didn’t know why. Here, she got to experience some of the most wondrous creatures nature had on offer. Ever since Godzilla had moved in it seemed some of the nastier wildlife had decided to clear off. No worries about being eaten by giant prehistoric spiders for her! Mind you, Daring mused as water shook a little in a glass of water she had near her there were other worries really. Such as being stomped flat by certain giant kaiju. But that was a risk she was willing to take Daring thought to herself. Currently, she and Snap Shudder were hiding amongst some bushes ready to fire off a few photographs at the creature that was just coming into view now. Massive in size, it put all other dragons to shame. The white beast curled and coiled up around a nest of eggs. Now Daring wasn’t quite sure how most kaiju reproduced, although there was a working theory that some did it asexually. They certainly had no visible genitalia to speak of. And at least that spared Daring the thought of how Godzilla and Mothra -who were currently on the other end of the island- did that particular deed. Daring had to wonder though, just what was their connection? Was it simply symbiotic as the Shobijin said it was or was it something more that couldn’t quite yet be understood by ponies? That scene at the Manehatten waterfront certainly pointed towards the latter really. Then came the roar. A roar of nature, a roar of rage just as Twilight had described it. SKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOONNNNGGKK! She and Serizawa were right. None ever forgot their first meeting with the King of the Monsters. Even now he stomped into view turning to eye Manda and his clutch briefly before sinking down into the grasslands for a nice long rest. He would come when he was needed but for now, he needed to sleep. Daring chuckled. She couldn’t really blame him. Fighting other titans, some much younger than he for an entire week would tire anyone out. She then decided it was best to take her leave and walked back towards her tent where a painting by the Shobijin rested in a very prominent position. Daring barked out a laugh making Snap look at her. “What’s so funny?” he asked curiously as he turned to look at her and then he saw the painting as well. Godzilla, and Mothra spending time together under the setting sun. Daring shook her head. Twilight had been right all those weeks ago. Nature was a curious and most wonderful thing really. Author's Note Okay, so yes. An epilogue chapter. Figured there were a few loose ends that needed to be tied up, such as what happened to Monarch in the wake of Manehatten and what happened to Hardsteel. Now, I really want to thank you all for this wonderful journey you embarked on with me. Been a bit of a rough ride, never sure if I could do it at times but y'all stayed supportive and kept me going with your love for this story and its characters. Huge thank you to everyone who helped me, and that does include the Bridge server for making me work up the nerve to do this story in the first place. Until the next time, ladies and gents.
