Invasion of the Astro Monster: Destroy All Ponies

Chapter 19

Dragon Dreams

Everybody arrived back at the canterlot castle tired and stressed. Celestia retired to her quarters immediately, wishing to be left alone. Nopony knew where Discord went. Luna left to 'get work done,' as she put it. Biollante approached the two kaiju. "What happened?" she asked.

Rodan told the whole story of their arrival in Manehatten, and the battle with Bagan, and the devastation that followed. "Eventually, I was able to find the kid's sister, and I left her there. But I swear, Bio, the destruction! It was just so much! I don't think I'll ever be the same again," he said.

Biollante's avatar nodded. "Now you understand how terrible death truly is?"

"Yeah, I think I do! I swear, from this day on, I will do everything in my power to not harm the ponies when we fight!"

Ghidorah stood at a window, looking out over the city of Canterlot, his back to his fellow kaiju.

"And what about him?" Biollante asked, gesturing with her head at the dragon.

Rodan scowled. "You know him. He's King Ghidorah. He's nothing more than a cause for death and despair. He'll never change," he said.

Normally, Ghidorah would have been flattered, but for whatever reason, he found himself bothered by the statement.

"Never," Rodan repeated, before leaving. Biollante sighed, before leaving herself, leaving Ghidorah alone.

Ghidorah was confused. Never before had he ever felt guilt, but he could sense that he was feeling it now. Perhaps it was simply because he knew that regaining his powers would be more difficult now. Perhaps the Parasite had won at least this small victory. Ghidorah didn't know. But Rodan's words had stung. Was that truly all he was? Was he just a monster? Something to be hated, despised for all eternity? For the first time, it dawned on him what a horrible fate that was. Was it better to die than to live with your mistakes for all eternity? Ghidorah pondered this for a moment, before deciding that he had had enough. It was time for bed.

He had no idea that the Parasite would wage its biggest assault yet the moment he lost consciousness.

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"Honey, I'm home!" he called out.

"Daddy!" his daughter shouted happily, rushing up to the three-headed dragon and embracing him. Ghidorah hugged the small girl with his necks, relieved after a long day of work. A small, red lizard with large ears and a horn in its forehead appeared, barking at him, before tackling him and licking his middle head. "Baragon! Stop that now! I'm excited to see you, too!" Ghidorah said, laughing.

He looked up to see his beautiful wife, standing in the doorway. "Long day?" she asked.

"The usual," he replied with a shrug, not getting up from the floor, pinned by his pet and daughter. His wife smiled.

"Gigan called. He said that him and the other guys were getting together for poker later today. You think you're going to go?" she asked.

Ghidorah shook his head. "Why would I go with them when I could spend the evening with my two favorite ladies in the universe?" he shot back, grinning on all three heads.

He got up, much to Baragon's annoyance, as the red reptile had already gotten comfortable. "So, what's for dinner?" he asked.

"Well, I was thinking -"

"WE INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM FOR A BREAKING NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT!"

Ghidorah's wife was cut off by the television that had been playing in the background. On the screen was a news anchor, with a grim expression on their face. An inset image of destruction downtown was also on the screen.

"A GIANT MONSTER HAS BEEN SPOTTED DOWNTOWN, AND IS CURRENTLY HEADING IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION. RESIDENTS ARE ADVISED TO STAY INDOORS WHILE YOUR LOCAL MILITARY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT DEAL WITH THE THREAT,"

Ghidorah's wife hugged her daughter protectively, before turning to Ghidorah himself. "That's this way," she said simply, the dread realization sinking in. Ghidorah stayed silent for a moment. "Get to your mother's house. Take the saucer. I'll fly myself, but first I have some business to deal with,"

"But Daddy, we can't leave you here!" his daughter protested.

Ghidorah's heart melted as he looked down at his daughter. He remembered all the time he had spent with her since she hatched, teaching her how to walk, fly, among other things. "Don't worry, sweetie, just go with your Mommy. Everything's going to be just fine," he said, trying to keep her calm.

Ghidorah's wife looked at him grimly. "I'll see you in an hour?" she asked.

Ghidorah nodded. "Of course. Now go!"

Ghidorah's wife walked out the door, her daughter in tow. His daughter carried Baragon with her, and they entered the disk-shaped flying machine. The engines whirred, and it took off.

Suddenly, a beam of bright blue light shot through the sky. It pierced through the saucer, vaporizing it entirely. A charred husk crashed to the earth, burning. Ghidorah could only watch in horror as all that he ever cared about was destroyed before his eyes. He fell to his knees, feeling tears well up in his eyes. He looked up, and saw the titanic beast that had already made it to his home. It was black, nothing but evil, with teeth like spikes and ghost-white spines sticking out of its back. It's mouth began to glow as it charged its horrific beam, and fired one last time at the ground he stood upon.

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Luna entered her private quarters, sighing. She had had a long day, and was not exactly pleased that she would soon have to take on the Dream Watch. She huffed. And Celestia wondered why she got up so late!

She had found two candidates that were suitable for the program, and had seen to it that letters were sent out to each. She would deal with them soon enough. She collapsed on her bed, and felt her body begin to give in to sleep.

But sleep would not come. Just as she had closed her eyes, a sound became evident. It wasn't too loud, but just loud enough that it would bother her. She groaned, before deciding to investigate. She got up, and left her room. To her surprise, the sound was coming from Ghidorah's bedroom. She raised an eyebrow, confused, worried, and a little scared, before opening the door to his room.

There, she saw a sight that broke her heart. A sight she never thought she would see. A sight nobody even thought was possible. There, sitting curled up in his bed, King Ghidorah, the King of Terror and Destroyer of Worlds, was sobbing.

Luna didn't know how to react. She was stunned. But eventually, she did the only thing she could do. She climbed next to the three-headed dragon, and hugged him until they both fell asleep.