Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Our worlds are more connected than we think. However, we must also try to avoid tampering in the affairs of Hollow Earth. Which is why, senators, an invasion of Hollow Earth would result in disaster. We've done well enough to stay out of Godzilla's crosshairs for the time being. I suggest we stay that way. 

-Mark Russell on discussing the aftermath of the Battle of Rio

Monarch Crew Residence

Barbados

Director Hampton took a swig of her drink in victory as Mark Russell gave the senators a piece of his mind on the course of action regarding the second Rio incident. He made it very clear to those buffoons that, if Kong hadn't been given the B.E.A.S.T. Glove, the world would've faced its second ice age at the hands of the Hypothetical (or Shimo as Dr. Andrews called her) and the Skar King, whose literally shattered remains had been collected and disposed of. 

It wasn't until her second sip that she realized she was drinking cold coffee, again. Even in celebration, she couldn't escape her least favorite drink in the world. Eh, kinda thirsty and I don't wanna spit it out.

"DIrector Hampton?" 

Hampton turned to look at Laurier.

"Yes?"

"We're picking up a bio-electric signature within Paris." 

Hampton groaned. A bio-electric signature could only mean one thing: A Titan emerging from Hollow Earth. France was not having the best of luck when it came to Titans. First last year when Godzilla feasted on a nuclear plant in Montaghac now this. 

"Have they at least issued an alert? I don't want a repeat of Rio like last year." 

"Yes, ma'am. I have received word from President Roache," Laurier confirmed. "Civilians are now in shelters but not without casualties. Military is en route." 

"What about the Titan that decided to pay the surface a visit?"

"Titans." Laurier corrected. "Three of them." 

Sure enough, on the map, Hampton saw three signatures expanding out of Paris.

"Visual on the three Titans coming up now, Director."  

WIth that, Hampton turned to the video feed of the new TItans who chose to climb all their way up to the Surface World. One thing all three Titans had in common was that they were reptilian and bore spikes similar to Godzilla. But aside from that, all three newcomers were completely different.

The first one was somewhat chubby and rather small for a Titan, roughly the size of the young Great Ape Dr. Andrews called "Suko". Its rhino-like hide was burgundy with two ridges on its back. Its head reminded her of a pug she used to own as a little girl with rather big, hungry-looking, ruby-red eyes, elephantine ears, an up-curved, somewhat crystalline, orange horn, and a mouth filled with nasty looking fangs. It was quadrupedal with its front feet sporting enormous, mole-like claws and ridges on either side of its hands. A somewhat stubby tail waved behind it.

The other Titan was much lankier, standing half the size of Kong. It had pebbled brown and gray skin with what looked like two flaps of skin running down its elbows to its thighs. A long tail whipped through the air. On its back was a row of spikes connected by a fish-like membrane. Its head reminded Hampton of an iguana but much meaner with two fins on either side of its Komodo Dragon-like head. It too had a mouth full of teeth. A pair of malevolent, yellow, cat-like eyes seemed to gaze upon the fleeing masses with hunger. 

The last one was much stockier than its colleagues. Its body was covered in crocodilian armor that reminded Hampton of knight or samurai armor. It lumbered through the streets like a rhinoceros. On its back rested a carapace absolutely covered in rows of quills resting between exposed vertebrae. A long, spiked tail ending like an organic morning star smashed buildings with each swing. Its head was roughly crocodilian with a crown of seven horns poking out behind its skull while a single horn poked out above its snout. Ferocious looking brown eyes peered forward, seemingly oblivious to the fleeing citizens as it marched through the streets, annihilating buildings as it moved forward on four, elephantine legs. 

"We got names for these three?" Hampton asked, already prepping herself for the phone calls. 

"Not at the moment, Director," Laurier replied. 

Hampton looked at the new Titans as if judging what to name them. 

"Okay," she stated, pointing at the monsters currently tearing through the City of Lights. "The dog looking one we call Baragon, the tall one's Varan, and the oversized porcupine is Anguirus."

Laurier rose an eyebrow. 

"Anguirus, Varan, and Baragon, ma'am?" she asked.

"I named them after a trio of dragons from Caribbean mythology, Angira, Baragora, and Baradagi." Hampton shrugged. 

Just then, another alert blared, catching Hampton's attention. It was another Titan heading for Paris and, from the looks of it, this one was putting the pedal to the metal. Not to mention, this one was exhibiting a very familiar bio-radioactive signature. 

Godzilla.

I was wondering when he'd show up. Hampton thought grimly. 

Laurier tracked the King of the Monsters as he was starting to reach Paris. 

"It looks like Godzilla will be making landfall in less than twenty minutes." she reported.

At this point, Hampton took a swig of her coffee and sighed. This was JUST not her day, nor was it Paris'.

Valley of the Wind 

Periphery 

"Do you feel it, Nausicaa?" King Jhil asked as he hoisted his eldest daughter on his lap. Eight-year-old Nausicaa didn't know what her father was talking about. All she could see was the night sky, complete with the stars and the moon.

"Feel what, Papa?" she asked. 

"The Wind, Nausicaa," Jhil replied with a chuckle. 

Sure enough, there was a brisk Autumn gust blowing by, tickling her face and stirring her pigtails. But this didn't feel like anything new. It felt like any other gust of wind. What was so special about it? Well, other than it was the only reason the Valley wasn't consumed by the Sea of Decay. 

"It is not just any other wind, my sweet Nausicaa," Jihl explained. "It is the wind that you shall ride one day. This is Yara's Wind, and it carries the legacy of the Wind Riders who came before you. And, when you have come of age, my daughter, you shall leave your own legacy for other Wind Riders to follow. It is also the wind you shall ride when you take my place on the throne."

Nausicaa's eyes widened at her father's words. Was her father going to die? Her lip began to quiver, her eyes starting to fill with tears, and a quiet whimper eased from her throat. Jhil chuckled before bringing his daughter close to him.

"Don't worry, my child," Jhil assured her. "The Jungle's poisons haven't gotten me yet. I might be lucky to pass long after I see you take the throne." 

Seemingly comforted, Nausicaa hugged Jhil tightly and both father and daughter turned their gaze to the Autumn sky. 

Nausicaa's eyes snapped open as she returned to the waking world. She stood up sharply, startling Teto from his own rest. Dawn was starting to break and the first rays of sunlight began to peek through the windows. She then rest her hand on her father's bed- No, her bed. It wasn't her father's bed anymore since he... 

With a saddened sigh, Nausicaa flung the covers off and started to step off the bed only to yelp when her bare feet touched cold stone. Overcoming it, Nausicaa stepped off and looked at herself in the mirror. Three years had changed her quite a bit from a fifteen-year-old Wind Rider to an eighteen-year-old queen-to-be whose only signs of change were a slightly taller stance and hair that now reached down to her back. It seemed like yesterday when the Valley of the Wind's hierarchy had changed; the crash-landing of the Tolmekian air freighter, the death of Princess Lastel, the Tolmekian incursion, crashing in the Sea of Decay, meeting Asbel, discovering the true nature of the Sea of Decay, the Ohmu stampede, her death and resurrection, and repairing the Valley as well as allowing the Pejiteians sanctuary until their kingdom could be restored. 

So much has changed. Nausicaa thought solemnly. She then walked over to her wardrobe and got to getting dressed into her Wind Rider attire. When she was done slipping up her boots, she made sure to apply her leg guards. She then stood up and clicked her tongue to Teto. The Fox Squirrel perked up from his sleep and leaped off the bed onto his master's outstretched hand. Once he was curled around her shoulder, Nausicaa exited her father's former room. 

She had just made it to the watch tower overlooking the Valley village. She looked over to the newly blooming forest but could still see the scorched earth underneath as visible as a scar. Three, almost four, years and the forest had yet to be regrown to its former glory. With a sigh, she strode up the stairs. Once she arrived, she noticed Gol still asleep. The man then let out a snore as he stirred only to snap awake when he saw his future queen stand before him.

"Princess!" he sputtered. "I didn't realize you were up. What brings you here?"

"I'm just taking the Mehve for a fly around." Nausicaa replied as she tied her goggles to her chin. "By the way, have Lord Yupa and Asbel returned yet?" 

Gol chuckled. "Princess Nausicaa, the moment Lord Yupa or Prince Asbel return from their voyages, the entire Valley would know. But, I hope it's soon since the Tolmekians are coming by next week for negotiations." 

Nausicaa sighed, somewhat disheartened. She hoped to see Asbel and Yupa since it had been months after they left to travel the world and inform any kingdom willing to listen of the Sea of Decay's true nature. How it was actually cleansing the world of its toxins and how the Ohmu were needed to protect it so it could do its job. She also realized she had forgotten the Tolmekians were coming by for another set of negotiations such as reconciling with the Valley and Pejite for their occupations of both kingdoms due to the presence of the God Warrior pupa. 

"You're not taking your mask, Princess?" Gol asked. 

"I'm just flying around the Valley," Nausicaa replied. "I need to clear my head a bit."  

Gol nodded and waited until the daughter of his late chieftain climbed aboard the bird-like glider. She slid down her Ohmu lens goggles and started up the Mehve. The sound of the Old World engine revving up rattled her bones even more so today than it did normally. She then flipped up the throttle and she shot off into the sky, Teto digging his claws into her jacket. As she soared above her kingdom, Nausicaa couldn't help but feel uneasy. As if something that would make the Tolmekians or an enraged Ohmu stampede seem trite by comparison. 

Chapter Text

"Oh, Ancient Ones,
Those who first walked the Earth
With mighty steps
That shook mountains
And reduced cities of the unrepentant
To ash and stone
We make this offering unto you,
Of obedience, and gratitude.
With our bowed bodies
We clear a path at your feet."

- Ancient Babylonian poem translated by Dr. Ishiro Serizawa

Paris, France 

Sleeping. He had been sleeping when he felt the vortex stir. He was only barely awake when he felt movement from the three upstarts emerge from the World Below. He was fully awake when he saw them venture beyond the vortex. It wasn't enough Kong had to break his vow to stay below while he reigned above, now others from beneath had to challenge his reign. The beasts of the surface seemed to have received the message when he slew the six-legged one and the serpent. Now it was time for those of their birthplace to understand where they stood in the hierarchy. He wouldn't kill them, but if they angered him just enough, he would send their bloodied carcasses back to the World Below as an example. 

"And we have landfall," Laurier announced. 

Hampton watched as Godzilla made his way through the streets of Paris, seeing him for the first time in three years after he left the Roman Coliseum. Back then, she had thought another Titan was out there causing mischief and the Big G was heading off to deal with it. However, it might have been him returning to his old lair in the Pacific. She also noticed how different he looked. For one thing, he had gained back a bit more of his bulk before his ultraviolet radiation-induced transformation. He still retained the spikes on his elbow as well as the three rowed thagomizer. His dorsal fins, while still retaining their craggier shape from 2027, had changed their color. No longer were they a fleshy, off-white pink, now they were bright white like exposed bone with a dark gray center. 

His body must be purging some of Tiamat's DNA. Hampton thought. 

All in all, he was still the same Godzilla Monarch and the human race was all too familiar with when he first revealed himself to humanity in 2014. Godzilla loosed his all-too-familiar roar into the sky, catching the attention of all three Titans. He then stamped his elephantine feet, splintering the Parisian roads, before slamming his tail on the ground. He then let out a harsher sounding roar to the upstart trio. The message Hampton was all too familiar with, "Stand down or prepare for a world of hurt". 

For a while, all four Titans stood motionless as if expecting one or the other to make their first move. Just then, that silence was shattered as Anguirus stepped forth and let out a barking honk at the King of the Monsters, followed by a whistling roar from Varan, and a growling, surprisingly elk-like roar from Baragon. The message was clear, neither of the three Hollow Earth denizens were going to back down without a fight, something Godzilla was more than happy to oblige. With his own roar, Godzilla charged forward, destroying cars, coffee shops, and apartments in his wake while the trio charged as well. 

Hampton pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. 

"Just don't make too much of a mess, big guy." Hampton muttered. They still hadn't finished cleaning up Scylla's remains in Rome. 

Godzilla first collided with Varan with the force of ten Tokyo bullet trains. Just the sheer impact made Hampton grit her teeth, even when viewing this from a camera. For a while, both Titans were locked in place until Godzilla managed to sweep Varan off his feet and throw him to the ground, leaving a giant, vaguely lizard-shaped impact crater in the Parisian sidewalk. However, doing so, Godzilla had left himself wide open, something Baragon was more than happy to take advantage of. He -or rather, she- leapt forth onto Godzilla's back, making sure to avoid getting impaled on Godzilla's dorsal fins before sinking her fangs into his shoulder, drawing blood in the process. Godzilla let out a roar of either pain or anger as he attempted to shake off the smaller, yet feisty, Titan. Eventually Godzilla had managed to shake her off just enough for him to grab the nape of her neck and fling her several miles into the air... and right into the Arc De Triomphe. 

What had taken thirty years to build by nineteenth century Parisian architects, had crumbled into dust in thirty milliseconds. 

Roache is definitely gonna have words about that. Hampton thought. 

With two of the Titans incapacitated, all that remained was Anguirus who charged at Godzilla like a rampaging bull. Godzilla whipped around, his tail wiping out several buildings in the process, but it was too late as Anguirus slammed into Godzilla, plowing him through several buildings. Godzilla raised his fists and slammed them on Anguirus' head. The impact slammed Anguirus into the street. The armored Titan stood up slightly, only to be greeted by the sight of Godzilla's tail swinging straight at him and flinging in him into a set of apartments which crumpled apart like a house of cards. However, as he did this, he had allowed Baragon to recover. 

Hampton watched as the smaller TItan got back to her feet and climbed out of what used to be Jean-François-Thérèse Chalgrin's gift to Napoleon I and started tearing into the ground with her badger-like claws. 

Okay, so we got a burrower. she thought. 

As soon as Baragon was deep underground, she seemed to rocket past Godzilla, creating a sinkhole which the King of the Monsters tripped into. As he tried to pull his foot out of the hole, Baragon erupted a few blocks away, her curved horn glowing bright orange. Hampton then noticed her throat begin to expand as if she were some demonic frog. Or about to vomit, which ever one worked. Just then, she opened her jaws, and a plume of liquid fire shot out of her throat like a flamethrower. The sticky flames clung to Godzilla's hide and, while they weren't enough to hurt him, they did get his attention. 

Hampton and Laurier watched on the monitor as Godzilla's dorsal fins began to light up like a Christmas tree, starting from his tail and going up. Instead of a fuchsia glow, the spikes gleamed blue with a violet gradient. Finally, his eyes burned the same color as his glowing spines and he loosed his Atomic Breath, now a vibrant blue with some specks of purple mixed in. The beam shot toward Baragon who leapt away and struck where she had been standing. As she ran down the street, Godzilla strafed his beam, cutting any building Baragon was cowering behind as easily as a knife through butter. Eventually, the beam nicked Baragon on her back, slightly singeing her and causing her to yelp in pain. It also allowed Godzilla time to climb out of the hole. However, during this time, Varan had recovered and charged toward Godzilla. Godzilla whipped around and grabbed Varan by the neck and shoulders and flung him high into the air.

Varan let out a roar and extended his arms and legs, stretching out the membrane and glided back down.

"Of course he flies." Hampton muttered as she took another sip of her cold coffee. 

Godzilla seemed to share the sentiment as he snorted out of frustration.

Varan then leaped into the air, using his membrane to glide toward Godzilla... and right into a stream of Atomic Breath which struck him in the chest. It wasn't enough to kill him, but it did knock him out. During this time, Anguirus climbed back to his feet. He charged once more but this time, jumped high into the air. It was at this moment, Hampton noticed something. Anguirus had flattened the spikes on his back and rolled into a ball. The Anguirus Ball hurtled toward Godzilla at tremendous speed. By the time Godzilla had turned to face it, it collided with him and knocked him on his back, the impact rippling concrete which spread outward, causing the nearby buildings to quiver like trees in a windstorm. Anguirus slammed into the concrete and rolled about before unfurling his massive body. Godzilla climbed back to his feet and loosed a stream of energy at the armored TItan. Anguirus ducked down and tucked his head under his carapace as the flames washed over him. Godzilla might as well have been spraying Anguirus with a garden hose. After Godzilla's atomic onslaught died down, Anguirus charged once again, folding down his spikes as he did as he prepared another ball attack. He leapt into the air again, curling up as he did. However, this time, Godzilla was ready for him as he whipped around and smacked Anguirus with his tail, sending him flying through the air and into several buildings. Anguirus unfurled and let out a groan.

Hampton watched as Godzilla went about walking towards each of the stunned, groaning Titans, his massive form causing buildings to fall apart like houses of cards. On the monitors, she watched as Godzilla knelt down and grabbed a barely conscious Varan before trekking over to Baragon where he grabbed her as well. He dragged the two Titans over to Anguirus and threw them to the ground next to the spiky Titan. Once all three Titans were starting to recover, Godzilla stomped on the ground as though to get their attention. Once they did, Godzilla let loose a booming roar into all of their faces. 

Even when viewing the whole thing on the monitor, Hampton could swear she could hear the audio crack. She could only imagine what this would sound like in person. Now all that remained was seeing what happened next. From the looks of things, the Hollow Earth upstarts were too weak to fight, but, she could be too sure. All three Titans seemed rather tenacious, Anguirus especially. Even in a weakened state, she wouldn't count it past either of these beasts to start fighting again. However, those fears were relieved when the trio lowered their heads to Godzilla and bowed. With that, the Titans stood back up and lumbered off as they came: together. Godzilla stood still for a moment before entering the Saint-Martin Canal and trek his way out of Paris. 

Looks like the fight's over. Hampton thought relieved. Just then, the phone rang, causing her to groan. 

And here come the complaints. 

Hampton pinched the bridge of her nose. "Just like frickin' clockwork." 

Valley of the Wind

Periphery

"Now, tell me, Asbel," Yupa spoke to the Pejiteian prince as they rode Kai and Kui down the path to the Valley of the Wind. "What did we learn?" 

Asbel groaned, "In the event of a sandstorm, make sure to keep a tight grip on Kai and a tighter grip on Kui." 

He cast an accusatory glare at the Horseclaws in question. 

"You never know when either of them are going to break loose." 

"Well," Yupa nodded, "that's true. But that's not all."

"Also, in the event of a sandstorm," Asbel continued. "There are better shelters than a rotting Ohmu carcass. Especially if it's close to its digestive tract." 

"Though," he added under his breath, "In my defense, it was better than nothing." 

They had just got done trekking through the Valley of the Sand when the pair had been caught in a sandstorm. As bad as that was, it got even worse when Kai, in all his bird-brained "wisdom" decided to bolt off toward the storm with Kui following him. It had taken both men four hours to find the wayward Horseclaws and when they did, they had to seek shelter from the storm. That shelter turned out to be the rotting corpse of a Sand Ohmu. To say the smell was unbearable would be an understatement. What's worse, is that it clung to them tightly. 

"Close enough." Yupa chuckled. "At least when we get back to the Valley, we'll be able to wash ourselves off." 

"Yeah," Asbel muttered. Truth be told, he was probably more excited to see Nausicaa for the first time in a year. 

As they reached the Valley's gates, they were spotted by Mozu and Gikkuri.

"Prince Asbel, Lord Yupa!" Mozu proclaimed. "Glad to see you have made your safe returns."

Gikkuri was about to say something when a pungent odor hit his nose. "Though, and no personal offense, it smells something crawled in your clothes and died." 

"More like we crawled inside something that died." Asbel answered. 

Both men exchanged glances but said nothing else. 

"Well, we're glad to see you safe and sound either way," Mozu told them. "We'll send word to the Valley that you've returned." 

Yupa and Asbel nodded and led the Horseclaws into the Valley. They had soon reached the castle, waving hello to the Wind villagers as well as the Pejiteians. 

"Lord Yupa, Prince Asbel," Mito called out to them as they reached the castle door. "It's good to see you've returned safe and sound. We look forward to hearing about your travels across the Periphery!" 

Asbel nodded until movement caught his eye. He turned to see a figure swimming in the castle pond. His eyes widened to see Nausicaa's head breach the water, her long, fire-orange hair arcing behind her and sending droplets into the air before smacking on her back. He also found she wasn't wearing anything but white wraps on her chest and waist. 

"Asbel, are you coming inside?" Yupa asked.

"Uh-huh." Asbel answered, his eyes not once leaving the Valley princess as she wrung her hair out. 

Yupa's eyes followed Asbel's gaze. 

"You know," the swordsmaster told the prince slyly. "If Nausicaa were any other princess, she would've had you executed for staring at her while she bathed." 

Asbel's eyes widened at his mentor's words and followed after him. 

I'll just talk to her when she's done, he thought. I waited a year to see her again, what's another, few minutes? 

Chapter Text

Valley of the Wind Castle

Asbel sighed as he waited in Nausicaa's, formerly King Jihl's, room. This room felt emptier than all the times he had visited Nausicaa whenever he needed to calm her down after PTSD-driven dreams. After all, who else could go through what she had without some kind of trauma; dealing with her kingdom being invaded by Tolmekian barbarians, losing her father, dying and coming back? 

I'm surprised she was able to handle all that. he thought. 

Just then, there was the sound of someone approaching the door. 

"Door's unlocked." he called out. "Come on in."

He heard the door open and someone enter. He turned around and his eyes widened upon the sight of Nausicaa, still dripping wet, and draped in a towel, Teto curled around her shoulders.

"Nausicaa...!" Asbel cried out. "What, umm... what brings you here?"

Nausicaa tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. "I... live here." 

"Oh, right, you live here," Asbel laughed sheepishly. "Sorry, I kinda... forgot." 

His eyes trailed toward two glaring scars on the Valley of the Wind princess; one on her left shoulder and on the interior of her ankle. Two wounds inflicted by Pejiteian bullets with the ankle wound also carrying the remnants of acid burns. His heart still sank knowing those wounds were caused by his own people. His own people shot at her. His own people tried to kill her. His own people who tried to keep her from warning her people. His own people who would sink to the same lows as the Tolmekians. His own people who...

"Asbel?" 

Nausicaa's voice snapped him out of his reverie.  He looked up to see her brown eyes narrowed in concern. 

"Are you okay?" 

"Yeah," Asbel replied bluntly.

Nausicaa gave him a caring smile. "Good to hear." 

"If you want, I could just leave." Asbel told her.

"Actually, I wanted to talk to you about a few things," the future queen said as she walked behind a changing curtain, leaving behind wet bare footprints in the castle stone. 

"You sure you don't want me to let you get dressed first?" Asbel asked.

"You're here, I'm here," Nausicaa answered as she cast aside her towel. "Might as well get it over with."

Asbel sighed but nodded. "Fair enough."

"So," Nausicaa asked, "How were your travels?" 

"Mostly uneventful," the Pejiteian prince answered. "Except on our way back from the Valley of the Sand, we had an... incident with the Horseclaws."

"They didn't get sick, did they?" Nausicaa asked, poking her head out from behind the curtain.

"Ha, sick!" Asbel chuckled humorlessly. "No, but it was a lot more annoying. Kai decided to run off with Kui in the middle of a sandstorm. We had to seek shelter in an Ohmu carcass after getting them back. Not a pleasant experience." 

"I can imagine it wouldn't." Nausicaa replied as she slid on her undershirt before moving onto her pants. "So, how did your times in the Periphery kingdoms work out? Did you tell them about the Sea of Corruption and its true nature?"

Asbel bit his lip before taking a deep breath. 

"Well," he said, drawing himself out, "A few kingdoms we visited thought we were mad, another few laughed at us, and a few didn't want to hear us out. Oh, and by the way, the emissary of the Valley of the Sand told me that if I ever set foot in their kingdom again, they'll execute me on the spot."

Nausicaa stopped just as she was putting on her boots. 

"What." 

"Yeah, that's more my fault," Asbel continued. "Though, frankly he had it coming."

"The emissary?" 

"No."

"Asbel, tell me what happened." 

Asbel shrugged. "Well, the crown prince of the Valley of the Sand told me that you were, and I quote, 'a silly, stupid, naive child who has her head in the clouds and Insects in her brain'. Afterwards, I proceeded to punch him three times in the face. Or, maybe it was five. I dunno. I lost count after the first punch." 

Nausicaa just let that all sink in before sighing and pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Asbel..." she groaned. 

"What? I was defending your honor! The guy had it coming!" Asbel defended himself.

"Yes, and while I appreciate the gesture," Nausicaa replied, applying her crown, "you and I have talked about keeping that temper of yours in check. Which I hope you do since we have some diplomats coming by." 

"A bunch of hoity-toity diplomats?" Asbel asked. "I think I can handle them. Where are they from?"

"You promise you won't get mad?" 

"Nausicaa, you have my word as prince of Pejite," Asbel replied. "I will not get angry." 

"Are you sure...?" 

"Nausicaa, I promise I won't get angry."

Nausicaa sighed. "The diplomats are from Tolmekia."

Just then, a twinge of anger shot through Asbel. 

"What...!?" he snapped.

"Asbel, you promised you wouldn't get angry!" Nausicaa scolded him. 

"I know," Asbel sputtered. "But, of all people you could be diplomatic with, why the Tolmekians!? Don't you forget what those barbarians did to my people and yours three years ago!?" 

Nausicaa sighed. "No, Asbel, I haven't forgotten. Nobody in this Valley has forgotten. This land and its people still carry scars of what they did, both physical and mental. But, they reached out to us. We just took the hand." 

"But that's just what they do, Nausicaa," Asbel hissed. "They act like they want diplomacy. They act like they want an alliance, and as soon as you have something they want, they stab you in the back. It happened with Pejite and it happened to the Valley of the WInd. Why else do you think they came after us the moment they caught wind we dug up that dormant God Warrior? Why do you think they took Lastel away as leverage? They will never change. For all we know, this might be a ploy to get on the Valley of the Wind's good side so they can wipe out whatever Pejiteian they didn't kill."

"Because, if they wanted to," Nausicaa replied finally emerging from behind the curtain garbed in her white and purple princess attire. "They would have done so the year before." 

Asbel's eyes widened when he saw Nausicaa and he realized something upon seeing her for the first time in a year: she looked beautiful. The way her hair spilled out like a waterfall of fire, the way the light caught her Tarria Riverstone earrings, her commanding yet graceful movements. She was certainly cute when he first met her in the Sea of Corruption, but now... 

Nausicaa didn't wait for Asbel to respond and she began walked towards him. "Asbel, I sympathize with you. Really, I do. I know that you're still hurting. So am I. But, the least we can do is take their word for it. We need to move on. Even if we can't convince the other kingdoms to leave the Sea of Corruption alone, we need to build a better future between kingdoms. We need to let bygones be bygones."

As soon as she got close to Asbel, a sharp, pungent stink assaulted her nostrils and caused her to almost gag. It certainly had that effect on Teto. 

"And you need to wash up." Nausicaa told him, covering her nose with her hand. "What did you do, roll around in the Ohmu carcass?" 

"It wasn't exactly pleasant for me or Yupa either." Asbel muttered. 

Nausicaa gave him a strained smile. "Well, how about you wash up and we'll continue this conversation later. The Tolmekians are going to be here tomorrow at the latest, so, please be on your best behavior."

Asbel sighed and nodded without another word as Nausicaa headed to the stairs only to stop in the door frame.

"Oh, and Asbel?" Nausicaa said.

Asbel perked up. "Yeah, Nausicaa?" 

Nausicaa gave him a small yet sweet smile. 

"I'm glad to see you back. I missed you." 

Asbel could feel heat in his cheeks before he returned the smile.

"Yeah... me too." 

Nausicaa's smile widened before she headed down the stairs, Asbel watching her leave. 

"Ah, young love." a raspy female voice perked up behind Asbel, causing the prince to nearly jump out of his skin.

He turned to see Obaba walking around the corner, a knowing smile on her wizened face.

"It's been so long since I felt it so powerful in the Valley." she sighed lovingly.

"What are you talking about, Obaba?"

Obaba chuckled. "Young man, it doesn't take one whose eyesight isn't what it used to be to see what is happening."

"Oh, really?" Asbel asked, raising his eyebrow. "And what would that be?"

"That your heart belongs to our princess." 

Asbel blushed. 

"Whoa, whoa, Obaba, slow down," Asbel stammered. "It's not like that. We're just good friends."

Obaba simply hummed. 

"Lying to a blind woman," she muttered. "What has this generation become?" 

She then turned to the Pejiteian prince with her sightless eyes. 

"I have heard the way Nausicaa talks about you." she told him. "She speaks of you as if you are the jewel of her eye. And I should know, back when I was young and in my prime. I was deemed so beautiful, I was practically the pearl of the Valley of the Wind... until age caught up to me." 

"Your point, Obaba?" Asbel rolled his eyes at the old matriarch. 

"My point, child," Obaba replied as-a-matter-of-factly, "is that you need to tell Nausicaa what she means to you before someone else snatches her away first. She might need someone by her side when she finally assumes the throne and that someone could be you. You just need to make the first move before it's too late." 

Asbel shrugged but then he realized the old woman might have a point. 

Maybe... just maybe.

No, Nausicaa would never say yes to me. Asbel thought bitterly, Or would she? 

Chapter Text

What's really goin' down in Hollow Earth? Well, fellow Truthers, I can tell ya what would be goin' down if the governments be havin' their way with it: War. War between humans and Titans. And we all know what happened in 2014. We all saw what happened in 2019, and 2024, and 2027. We go up against the Titans, we're gonna lose. And we gonna lose BADLY. Yet, these bigwig bozos think they can just play around with nature. Well, lemme tell ya somethin', fellow listeners, those same bozos are gonna get a wake-up call the moment Godzilla declares war on us and who do you think's gonna pay the price? That's right, the little guys like you and me. And this time, no Oxygen Destroyer or Mechagodzilla's gonna be standin' in his way. It'll be even worse if Kong joins his little crusade. He helped Godzilla bring down Mechagodzilla and the Skar King, what makes y'all think he won't help Godzilla take us down a notch? We were never the top dogs of Earth, we're just the house guests and one day, we're gonna have to pay the rent. And for all y'all advocating for the destruction of the Titans, well, when the Titans steamroll your hometown, y'all gonna eat your words. 

-Titan Truth Podcast #819

Hollow Earth

Suko was certain his heart was going to erupt from his chest as he dodged another burgundy tentacle twice the length of Shimo. He along with Boots, Pale Brow, and Mud Tooth had tracked down this multi-limbed beast. However, taking it down was another. For one thing, they had to stay clear of the beast's boiling ink and the whirlpools it created by spinning its beak. That and its sheer size made it challenging prey. But he they had to endure. The other Great Apes were counting on them. They had to eat something other than the mimicking long-jumpers or the fish-snakes. 

Suko let out a battle cry worthy of his adopted father as he charged forward with his spear and stabbed the tentacle, causing it to spurt copper-colored blood. However, he saw movement from the corner of his eye as another tendril sped towards him. Before he could react the tentacle slammed into him with the force of an avalanche, sending the young ape head over heels. It wasn't a mortal wound, but it did knock the air out of him. He shook his head and scrambled for his spear, dodging the tentacles lashing at him. As soon as he grabbed his spear, he turned to see a tentacle dropping down to crush him. Suko aimed the point of his spear at the tendril, hoping it would offer him some form of protection. However, the tentacle never reached him as it seemed to stop mid-fall, and a layer of ice began to form over it. 

Suko turned his gaze to a cliff above the lake the tentacled beast resided and saw two familiar figures: Kong and Shimo. Shimo was currently blasting at the beast's tentacles, freezing them in place with Kong astride her spiked back, his ancestral axe clutched in his armored fist. At the sight of his father, he along with the rest of the hunting party hooted in celebration. 

Kong stared at the beast before him. He had seen creatures like these before on Skull Island, his original home; Mire Squids the humans called them. To him, they were food that could be easily killed, even when he was younger and only slightly more equal terms with them. This beast was much larger than the ones on his doomed former home, easily four times their size. Not that it mattered to him. He needed to feed his tribe and this monster looked like it could do the job. Besides, he had faced down Godzilla and his metal twin, the Skar King, and Shimo. This beast didn't scare him. He feared nobody. He was Kong. 

Kong bucked at Shimo who temporarily let up on her icy barrage on the squid's tendrils. The frost Titan let out a huff only for Kong to point his axe at the Mire Squid below. Seemingly understanding, Shimo let out a grunt before breaking out into a charge. Kong stood up on her back. He could now see the ice surrounding the tentacles beginning to break off. He realized it was now or never. With a roar, Kong ordered Shimo to stop before he launched himself off her back. Charging his axe with energies from the glove the humans gave him to cure his frostbite, Kong lifted his weapon high above his head. As he reached the Mire Squid, he let loose a warrior's roar and swung his axe over his head and onto his prey. The world seemed to slow down as his blade inched closer to the Mire Squid's mantle. 

The explosion knocked Suko and the rest of the hunting party onto their backs. Suko shook his head as he righted himself up. There was a cloud of steam brought up by his adoptive father's axe so he couldn't make out a lot of details. The steam began to clear and the Great Apes watched as Kong climbed atop the dead body of the beast. He raised his axe high over his head and let out a booming roar while beating his chest with his free arm. Suko and the hunters let out a roar in response. 

Kong got to work slicing the tentacles off the Mire Squid with his axe and passing them out to his hunting crew as well as a large chunk to feed Shimo. Because the Mire Squid was so big compared to the ones he hunted on Skull Island, he had to make sure each chunk would fit in the vine net he made and had to make sure Shimo wasn't overworked carrying it back to Malenka. He would send out another hunting parting to retrieve the rest, provided it wasn't picked at by scavengers. He also made sure to give each hunter, Suko included, a piece of the squid to snack on while they made their trip back. 

With Kong astride Shimo, Suko and the rest of the hunting party made their way back to Malenka. Suko figured he could use a little snack on the return so he pulled out a large piece of tentacle and began nibbling on it. Not too big bites, he wanted to ensure it lasted longer than the trip would take. Just then, he felt it snap and stop him in place. At first he figured the tentacle snagged on a vine or something... until whatever it snagged on started pulling him back. 

Suko turned and scowled. He noticed a squat, scaly creature wrapping its toothy jaws on the tentacle. Suko gave it a warning cry and bared his teeth. The thief paused and looked at the young Great Ape with its toad-like eyes... before going back to trying to pull at his food. Suko let out a louder cry, but this time the lizard creature ignored him as it tried to yank away at the piece. Suko snarled and pulled back. He earned this food, there was no way he was giving it up. Unfortunately, neither was the thief. As strong as Suko was, the thief was stronger. Just then, Suko heard Kong bark. He turned his head to see Kong, the hunting party, and Shimo staring at him. Kong let out another roar, this time the message was clear.

"Give him the tentacle, we've got plenty of food. It's not something worth fighting over." 

Suko issued a disappointed grunt and let go of the tentacle, allowing the lizard to scurry off with its prize. He walked to Kong's side, pouting with the rest of the party and they began their journey to Malenka. 

Malenka

Trapper sipped his coffee as he stared out of Hollow Earth Outpost 2, a replacement outpost for the tragically destroyed Outpost 1. It was another beautiful day in the Iwi city of Malenka. Though, it wasn't exactly picture perfect when he, Ilene, Jia, and Bernie came across it three years ago. The tips of the upper and lower pyramids that hung over Malenka's "ceiling" and "floor" were chipped, a consequence of the battle between Godzilla, Kong, the Skar King, and Shimo. But, otherwise, it was a rather beautiful place, almost something out of a pulp magazine or an Edgar Rice Burroughs novel. 

Meanwhile, Ilene Andrews was currently watching the news on the Outpost's TV with Jia as well as a few other Monarch staff members, Erik Lee and Marilyn Darrow about Monarch making sure the world's governments didn't get it in their thick skulls to invade Hollow Earth, not only to preserve the Iwi living down here as well as any possible tribes unaccounted for, but also, it would be a declaration of war from any other Titan with Godzilla more than likely leading the charge. 

Just then, there was a ringing sound almost like a bell made of glass. 

"That must be Kong and the hunting party." Erik spoke up.

Sure enough, the jellyfish-like veil protecting Malenka parted, revealing Kong, Suko, Pale Brow, Boots, Mud Tooth, and Shimo striding into the city, the remains of quite possibly the largest recorded Mire Squid being dragged in a net made of vines. 

Trapper whistled at the sight. "Quite a bit of calamari right there." he commented. 

Ilene shrugged, "Kong's got an entire kingdom to feed," she replied. "He needs to make sure they're fed and happy."

Trapper nodded in agreement at his ex's words. The Great Apes had spent who knew how long in the Hollow Earth's subterranean levels under the Skar King's tyranny, Kong had to make sure they didn't need to live in fear anymore. He had to prove that he was nothing like that despot. 

Ilene's eyes fell upon Jia who watched the Great Ape divide the pieces of the Mire Squid to the other apes while also tossing a large chunk to Shimo who caught it in her teeth and began to chew on it like a dog gnawing on a bone. He even tossed a chunk to Suko who ravenously dug into it. 

"Looks like Suko had an encounter with a Doug." Trapper commented, referring to the squat, opportunistic reptiles that ate whatever meat they could get their fangs on, regardless if it was alive or carrion. Monarch referred to the creatures as "Hollow Earth reptiles" but Trapper, and by extension, Rick Stanton, gave them the name "Doug" and it just stuck. 

Just then, there was a high-pitched cry, like that of a baby seal crossed with an owl as another figure swooped in just as the membrane began to close. The creature was a Titan, a relatively small one just barely the size of Mothra, but a Titan no less. The creature's body build resembled that of a dragon covered in smooth fur almost like a horse or a lion. Under its body rested four delicate-looking, bird-like legs each tipped with obsidian-black claws. Its head was feline with leporine ears that stood up like horns. On its back were a pair of bird-like wings with feathers that looked as though they were made out of sheets of pearl or diamonds all the while, a thin, dragon-like tail ending in a spear-shaped tip trailed behind its body. 

Monarch had encountered this Titan a month after the downfall of the Skar King after establishing an outpost in Malenka. The creature seemed to go about from Hollow Earth and the surface world almost as if it- or she- were a messenger of sorts. Monarch had labeled her "Titanus Hermes" after the Greek messenger god. However, according to the Iwi, she went by another name: Phosphera. 

Kong turned his gaze to see Phosphera as she landed on a cliff not too far from him. She let out various hoots and chirps to the Great Ape. She seemed agitated. Kong let out a grunt which was answered by another hoot. 

"What's got Phosphera so riled up?" Marilyn asked. 

Jia faced Ilene and signed something to her.

"What'd she say?" he asked his ex.

Ilene turned to face him. "Apparently Phosphera found something and she wants Kong to investigate."

That seemed to be the case as Kong let out a barking roar for Shimo who had just swallowed her meal. Without question, Shimo stood up and lowered her head to allow Kong to mount her.