The Radiance, Main Bridge

The Young Six told Twilight and the Council—and pretty much the Radiance and the Tigerhawk—everything that Harmony told them. It was a lot, for both parties.

Most of the flight was spent monitoring the two Titans in mild silence, occasional updates shared between the two fleets. So, for the majority of the journey, the bridge of the Radiance was filled with banter and storytelling. All of which was spouted from the Young Six in an almost fairytale-esque fashion. The Spirit of the Tree of Harmony coming to them as a white orb, offering to them knowledge of what they accomplished and what was to come.

All while declaring that what Twilight, the Council of Friendship, and the leading figures of the world were doing was wrong. The impression that left was immediate, Celestia and Luna especially taken aback by such a claim. It was more intrigue that was felt rather than offense.

They continued, the six, young creatures explaining everything that Harmony told them. The way to ending the war was finding the truth to Godzilla’s innocence. Which, they could all agree, they managed to accomplish. They now knew it to be Ghidorah and the Bell’s influence that was corrupting Godzilla, and with confirmation from the mysterious mare in red—with help from Applejack assuring that she was telling the truth—they could take the Young Six for their word.

Only, there was nothing they could do to Godzilla in his current state. A threat such as the King of the Monsters on a rampage, the Elements of Harmony would assuredly destroy him, just as they had before in the Crystal Empire. That was why they needed Kong. That was why they needed to target the corruption precisely, and not Godzilla as a whole.

The Young Six continued.

Harmony gave them a grave warning as well.

A Darkness was washing over the world, and everycreature would fall victim to it. The Spirit of Harmony mentioned that the power within the Young Six would unite them in their most desperate hour, and repair the bonds of friendship. They were told to bring the “Darkness into the light,” but they were still somewhat confused on that. Twilight found such a statement to be immensely curious.

Bringing the evil into the light had to mean unveiling the true evil behind Godzilla’s rampage. The one behind this madness had to be Ghidorah, and yet somehow he managed to steal the Bewitching Bell. How he managed to do it right under their noses was still uncertain, and would undoubtedly be a discussion Twilight would have with the former rulers once all was said and done.

And then… Harmony told them about the fate of the Elements.

Her words were haunting, especially to the Council of Friendship… and the current Elements of Harmony. Sandbar hesitated when he said it, when he said that she mentioned that the current generation would fade away, and the future would look to the next generation of the Elements. That foreboding message left Twilight and the Council of Friendship momentarily speechless, looks of shock and anxiety plaguing their expressions, even Pinkie’s.

Ocellus thankfully gave them some peace of mind. The only assurance they were given was that Harmony did not know when that time was to come, and that Twilight and her friends were still learning the great power that was granted to them. In a way, they were still young, much like the next generation of the Elements of Harmony.

It was a respite of ease, but it was just what the Council needed.

When all was laid on the table, out in the open for everycreature to digest personally, Twilight took that oncoming silence for what it was worth, and pondered.

She never imagined the very essence of the Tree of Harmony—and to a greater extent, the Spirit of Harmony itself—would manifest itself in such a way. In her image, of all ponies! But, she did imagine it was for a purpose, presenting itself—or, herself, as the former students described—as a familiar and friendly face to the young Element bearers.

While the Council had their own personal thoughts to share aloud, mainly questioning why Harmony never showed herself to them, Celestia and Luna took a moment to really try and understand the Young Six’s words. Harmony’s words.

The Elements of Harmony were an ancient force of power, predating Celestia and Luna’s rise to the thrones. Originally crafted by the Pillars of Equestria, and forged by the very essence of their spirits, the Elements represented the greatest and most honorable aspects of the most legendary heroes of that age. And, the sisters liked to imagine, the Elements represented the greatest feats that all living creatures strived to uphold.

Strength, to Rockhoof. Beauty, to Mistmane. Hope, to Somnambula. Bravery, to Flash Magnus. Healing, to Made Meadowbrook. And Sorcery, to Star Swirl the Bearded. Virtues to uphold. Virtues to fight for. Virtues that all living creatures of Equus had the potential to wield. These ancient powers, forged since the dawn of creation, and now living in every one of them, were manifested into physical, supernatural elements of unity and power. Elements that the Pillars themselves brought into reality.

The Elements of Harmony.

First laid as a seed, imbued by the magic of the Pillars, it would grow into what they once knew as the Tree of Harmony. Ultimately, giving the world the power of the Pillars after their disappearance. The Elements would later be discovered by the newly crowned Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, using them to seal Discord away in stone.

Wielded time and again as deterrents to the rising forces of darkness in the world, it was these artifacts that brought order to the chaos. Established peace in times of war. And brought forth a harmonic balance never before seen. It would only be after Luna’s fall and return that the Elements of Harmony would find their new bearers, changing only slightly to the new age.

Kindness, Laughter, Loyalty, Honesty, Generosity, and Magic. Six essential aspects that mirrored the power of the ancient Pillars of Equestria, and now wielded by Equestria’s newest heroes. And now, it seemed the mystery of the Elements of Harmony only continued to grow…

For now, there was a Spirit of Harmony.

Did this Spirit always exist? Was it manifested by the joint powers of the Pillars when they imbued the seed? Or, to feed their growing curiosity, was it a supernatural power beyond their world, beyond the aether, predating to the very birth of Creation itself? The power of the Elements of Harmony, the most powerful magic of all, seemed to stem from this Spirit of Harmony, as if this Spirit controlled it and personally chose the next bearers.

All of these theories would remain just that, as theories, for their journey seemed to come to an abrupt halt. Just as Kong stopped when they finally reached the Frozen North.

The directors of T.I.T.A.N. would continue to mull over these thoughts later, as would Twilight and the Council of Friendship, when their current battle was won and their enemies were dealt with. Bringing their focus to the windshield, many proceeded to gather toward it when Kong entered into new terrain.

The ape Titan had ceased in his hunt for the tyrant king, looking over his surroundings and gazing forth to the frozen wasteland before him. He prodded the snow and ice and grumbled at how cold it was to the touch. During his earliest memories on Black Skull Island, he recalled a similar cold in the frozen peaks of the island, but he stayed far from there. It was not ideal for him, nor did he care for such uncomfortable temperatures.

Only, his instincts took over when he saw those familiar spines reemerge out of the freezing ocean waters, breaking through mounds of floating ice and proceeding even further north. He remembered why he was here in the first place, who he had come to in this infernal place. It was all to put down the false king that drew first blood.

Snarling, and with a few preparatory huffs and grunts, Kong set forth into the frozen wastes and proceeded after Godzilla. The fleets followed suit after an order was given from Shining Armor and the directors respectively.

The journey proceeded as it had hours before: trailing after the two kings. Though there were some lingering thoughts that rested in their minds and hearts of the sisters, of Princess Twilight Sparkle, they nonetheless focused at the task at hoof. A task that had taken a startling and foreboding turn when they had reached some very, very familiar grounds.

Under the light of the sun, the Council of Friendship could finally see the former outpost fully, no longer concealed by any snowstorm or shrouds of darkness. Though most of it had been updated following its destruction, the Council undoubtedly could still make out Outpost Frostbite. It had been engrained in their memories for over a year.

For it was the land where they saw Godzilla for the first time. It was hard to forget that night.

And, almost as if it was a grand reunion of some sort, Godzilla emerged out of the ocean. He lifted himself once he settled his feet on the solid ocean floor, flinging his head back and spraying a helping of sea water across the air. Taking in a sharp breath of chilling air, Godzilla snorted it out almost instantly, opening his blood-red, infected eyes and spotting the source.

The land in which his instincts had brought him. The forsaken hellscape where the cry of the rival alpha had risen, and Godzilla could see it. Just beyond the circular, steel gates of the T.I.T.A.N. outpost forged into the icy mountain remnants. Beyond it, and into the depths of the earth where it was calling to him. Where it was crying out.

Where it inadvertently challenged Godzilla for right to be called alpha, and king.

The thought of another rival alpha to deal with brought Godzilla’s attention to his far, far left, where he saw the machines of war from the equine race fly toward him. Beneath the equines, the rival charged him from the land. The ape with bloodlust and rage and vengeance burning in his glare, all directed solely at him.

Godzilla returned it with just as much hatred. Just as much pent-up frustration. Just as much of a furious fire in his eyes that he wanted to unleash it all, right then and there, a deep, dark essence within him urging him to do so with fervent intensity.

Only, Godzilla knew better. Even deeper, forged in his earliest memories and instincts, he knew what was his role was, what he was born and forged to become. There were enemies that stood against the natural balance of his world, and the longer he let them pester, the more his home fell out of his control. The more ground he let fall into chaos.

Though a part of him wanted nothing more than to rip the rival to shreds, the better, stronger part that had lived, conquered, and won so many times before told him otherwise. Godzilla knew better than to stray from that, and he didn’t.

He turned around and slipped back into the ocean, retreating to his home, to the source of the alpha call, and vanished right off their radar.

Literally, as T.I.T.A.N.’s radars suddenly could no longer detect Godzilla’s presence. It was there, and then quickly began to dissipate, and then he was just… gone. Beneath them, Kong slid to a halt, his large, adrenaline-fueled eyes darting across the stilling waves. He snorted, huffed, and even roared here and there, but there was no response. No opposing force to meet him.

Godzilla was gone.

And he brought them to Outpost Frostbite.

“Well, tell me how that makes sense,” Daring Do noted aloud in the bridge of the Tigerhawk.

A small crowd was gathering around Daring at the front windshield of the bridge, many eyes—Fluttershy’s included—desperately searching the ocean for any sign of Godzilla. Only, there was none. Shining Armor grumbled, rubbing his chin in deep thought. Looking over to his wife, they seemed to share the same sentiments, and he reached over to the microphone beside the communications officer.

“I think we know what’s going on,” Shining addressed to the Radiance, “and that it probably has to do with the Hollow Earth.”

Shining’s voice filled the radio within the bridge of the Radiance, the mighty airship hanging in mid-air along with the rest of the fleet either circling or standing by the lead aircraft. Yet the Council of Friendship was captivated by something else, approaching the windshield to gaze onto and observe the refurbished and rebuilt Outpost Frostbite.

It had certainly undergone a redesign after Godzilla and Ghidorah burned it down a year ago. Massive staging grounds surrounded the walls, filled with T.I.T.A.N. weaponry and vehicles acting in defense of the outpost. Beyond them, between the two great walls filled with T.I.T.A.N. personnel, a massive facility was built around the very hole in the earth that Ghidorah first broke out of, embedded firmly on solid ground and also in the shattered mountain of ice behind it. It all held together well in the end, the best engineers T.I.T.A.N. could manage constructing the facility above Ghidorah’s old tomb...

And an entrance to the Hollow Earth.

The outpost was now a site for study and experimentation, exploration and discovery. While Twilight knew about Outpost Frostbite’s reconstruction, and being refitted as a secret Hollow Earth entrance, the rest of her friends had no idea. Even the Young Six were still speechless over what they were allowed to witness.

“The hollow what?” Rainbow Dash questioned, an incredulous look growing across her face. She turned around, hooves pressed to the windshield, and sought an answer from Celestia, Luna, or Twilight.

“Guess we can have a little refresher,” Twilight said with a smile, and turned to the directors for help in case she needed it. “Essentially, the Hollow Earth was a theory that T.I.T.A.N.—”

But she stopped. When the radio waves became static and a new voice tried to break through them. Approaching the communications officer, Twilight furrowed her brow. “Hold on… We’re receiving radio contact from Frostbite. Put them through,” she ordered.

“Yes, Your Highness,” the communications officer responded, adjusting the frequency to pick up Outpost Frostbite’s beacon.

“… you hear me? Radiance, this is Frostbite Tower 1, do you hear me? We have some startling signatures popping up on our radars.”

“We hear you, Tower 1; you’ve established contact with the Radiance. Be advised, Titanus Kong is a friendly asset; do not fire on the Titan. What seems to be the problem you’re having?” the communications officer answered.

“We request that you reach the landing pad for immediate debrief. Over.”

There was no other sound. No other note-worthy observation of Kong’s presence or further explanation on those “startling signatures,” but at least they could receive a debrief. Together, the two fleets zeroed in on the landing pads on the left mountain range, where the facility had been crafted meticulously into the terrain. There were several levels to the facility, and the landing pad jutted out somewhere in the middle.

Kong seemed to follow them, and the defensive T.I.T.A.N. forces backed away slowly as he stomped into the facility staging grounds. Per order from the outpost’s head of security.

Once settled and unloaded from the airships, the two teams finally reunited on a more personal level. Pinkie Pie bounded over and embraced Fluttershy in a spine-breaking hug, but it didn’t seem to affect Fluttershy in the slightest. She hugged almost as tight. The rest of her friends joined in on the grand reunion of the Elements with group hugs all around.

All while the Young Six shuffled somewhat aimlessly across the expansive and massive facility, eyes wide and breaths stolen to the sight of it all.

The earth shuddered around them, and before Cadance or Shining Armor could reunited with Celestia, Luna, and Twilight, all attention had diverted to the barren, frozen landscape just beyond the edge of the T.I.T.A.N.’s facility. Where Kong stumbled inside, and looked around almost as aimlessly as the Young Six appeared.

Fluttershy approached the edge, and seeing the bright yellow on her coat and the pink in her mane brought Kong’s attention to the facility, and onto her. A slight moment of comfort in the chilling winds. A warmth he found himself drifting to, and Kong cooed softly to her presence. Watching as she held up her hoof and patted his upper lip gently, rubbing him even softer. Giving him every encouraging word pouring from her heart that he was thankful to understand.

“Your Majesties! Directors!”

The head of security and commander of the forces stationed at Outpost Frostbite, Blackhoof, approached the leadership of the T.I.T.A.N. fleets. He was trailed by two heavily armored T.I.T.A.N. agents decked in black and red armor with rifles draped behind their backs. He himself was wearing an armored vest and a dark cloak, mainly to keep warm in such harsh conditions.

“Ah, Commander Blackhoof, good to see you again,” Twilight addressed, turning to face him. Shining stepped up beside her, offering his little sister a quick smile which she gratefully returned. Cadance, Celestia, and Luna all followed, coming together to face the head of Outpost Frostbite.

“This is certainly unexpected, but it looks like you came at the right time,” he addressed, holding out his hoof. The agent on his left slapped a rolled-up scroll onto his hoof, and Blackhoof in turn handed it off to the many leaders before him. Twilight accepted and unfurled it with her magic.

Looking over the seismic readings on the scroll, Twilight listened as Blackhoof explained, “We detected both Titanus Kong and Titanus Gojira on our radar before you showed up. Unlike Kong, we actually managed to lose Godzilla’s signature. He more than likely slipped into one of those Hollow Earth tunnels in the ocean we can’t access.”

“Just like we thought,” Shining noted, earning several curious glances from Rainbow Dash and the Council of Friendship. Minus Fluttershy, who was still preoccupied with Kong.

“The readings you’re looking over now are seismic disturbances coming from beneath the ground. Far beneath the ground. We theorized these to be Titan alpha calls, and those theories were probably just cemented when Godzilla popped up on our radar. He’s more than likely going after these disturbances… and whatever alpha is nesting in the Hollow Earth.”

Ghidorah… Twilight heard herself whisper in her mind, eyes glued to the strange seismic readings on the scroll. All of them so similar, in a sort of pattern, sounding off every hour or less.

“Thank you for this research, Commander Blackhoof,” Celestia addressed, stepping up and looking out to the frozen lands between them and the end of the outpost.

For at the end of Outpost Frostbite, between the two great mounds of ice and metal, a circular, steel door was embedded into the face of the mountain. The entire facility circled around and was built over Ghidorah’s old prison, and deep beneath that, discovered shortly after the reconstruction efforts began, they found something.

An entrance into the world beneath their hooves. One of many scattered around the globe.

Her mind was racing wildly, and Luna could feel her sister’s thoughts. The two of them seemed to come to a similar conclusion. The dark presence Luna had felt was right, for the old tomb of Ghidorah was where they were headed, and it would seem where they were meant to go. Godzilla sought after the Hollow Earth, following the alpha calls within it, and putting the math together meant one possibility: Ghidorah was near.

And they needed Kong to follow.

Now, the means on how to achieve that…

“Commander, if you would…” Celestia mused aloud, eyes focused on the steel gates, “… could you order the gates to be unlocked… and the entrance be opened?”

Blackhoof seemed startled by such a suggestion, and he turned his head around to see where she stared. Just as he thought. The gates and the entrance to the Hollow Earth, to the great beyond that was still so far beyond any of their understanding, despite the months of research they had poured into exploration efforts. Whatever the director’s intentions were, it more than likely involved Godzilla and now the monstrous Kong standing within his facility.

“By your word, Director Celestia,” Blackhoof commented, though with slight hesitation. He bowed his head and turned to the agent on his right, ordering him to deliver the request to the control station. The agent trotted off for the long walk back to the steel gates.

“Fluttershy!” Celestia called out, and just about earned everycreature’s attention. The Titan Whisperer slowly dropped her hoof, spinning around at the sound of her name. “While you keep Kong calm, could you also think of a way to convince him to embark into the entrance beyond those gates?”

The request was sudden and even more startling than her initial request, but the pieces of the puzzle were slowly being fitted together. The Council, Shining, Cadance, and all the rest of the T.I.T.A.N. crew were starting to understand what Celestia was aiming to achieve.

There was just the issue with Fluttershy’s apprehensive state. “I…” she muttered, turning to her friends and the pleading look Celestia and Twilight sent her way. Fluttershy was beginning to understand what they were going to do, and the greater good again weighed heavy on her shoulders. That won out in the end, no matter how much her heart believed otherwise.

“I, um… I suppose…”

“Thank you,” Celestia exclaimed, and truly meant it. “But don’t tell him yet. Please, if you could await my word.”

“Okay…” she muttered in response. A weak and somewhat pathetic response at that, and one that Fluttershy thought she had abandoned in recent years. Even still, there was that hesitation, that underlying dread and fear and anxiety of what was going to happen not only to them… but to Kong.

Fluttershy turned around, back to him, and stared somberly into his eyes.

Snow fell softly and began to paint his brown coat white. His soft grumbles were accompanied by the trembles in his throat, in his throbbing muscles. By the sheer cold finally starting to seep into him. Into his eyes she stared, staring in what looked like rings of fire. Cooled considerably while staring into her own gaze. As he then turned to look around to the land that was not his own, in the environment he couldn’t survive in.

Perhaps, Fluttershy imagined, the Hollow Earth was not such a bad idea after all.

In the meantime, Celestia addressed the remaining team. “We may have a solution to this dilemma. Commander Blackhoof, if you could take us to the restricted docking bay.”

“I understand, Director. If you’ll all follow me, please,” Blackhoof announced, leading the way for the large troop. Celestia was backed by Luna, the younger sister understanding exactly what Celestia was seeking, and knowing deep down they really had no other choice now that the Hollow Earth came into the equation.

Twilight and the Council of Friendship followed, with Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie going on and on with their rambling questions on what the Hollow Earth was supposed to be. Yet Twilight and Shining seemed to unanimously agree that they were going to get all the answers they wanted very soon. Cadance, Bon Bon, Lyra, Daring Do, and the Young Six all followed after them, along with several other armed agents, Royal Guards, and T.I.T.A.N. personnel.

Fluttershy stayed with Kong.

They approached the docking bay as Celestia requested, and the large red letters reading “RESTRICTED ACCESS” across the garage-like doors was a clear indication that it was the restricted docking bay. Blackhoof showed his credentials to the armed guards, and with a flick of a switch and a press of a button on the control panel beside the bay, the doors began to rise.

Casting away the shadows and bringing forth the sunlight, the docking bay was revealed to all, no longer restricted. Unveiling to the awestruck expressions of the Council of Friendship and the Young Six the secret experiments T.I.T.A.N. had been crafting.

Unveiling to all several Hollow Earth Aerial Vehicles.

Author's Note

Artwork by Shrekzilla