//------------------------------//
// Chapter 8: Welcome to Elsinore 
// Story: Shy and Aggressive: Book 2 
// by Johng117 
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Junior was sitting by himself at his new sleeping spot. He and his friends had since learned about the rest of the Main 7 no longer being in the jungle, though it would still be a hassle to find them due to them being on their way to a Sacramentonian town.

As of now, Junior was looking through the map that Prince David gave to him. He's been studying it for a while now. He looked for anyway that would possibly shorten the journey if anyone were to go, though he doubted that anyone would. Junior knew he certainly would, but he wasn't in a position to do anything.

"Um... Goji?" called a familiar voice. Junior looked up to find Fluttershy looking down at him.

"Oh. Hey, Shy," said Junior, looking back to map.

"What are you doing over here?" asked Fluttershy.

"I'm studying the map that prince gave me," answered Junior. Fluttershy knelt down onto her knees as she held out a wooden bowl full of diced meat.

"I didn't think you've eaten since I haven't seen you for breakfast," said Fluttershy, a sweet smile on her face. Junior didn't respond and just kept on scanning through the map. The rose haired teen frowned at his lack of response.

"What?" Junior suddenly turned to Fluttershy in confusion. The girl was taken aback by his response. Did he not hear her?

"I brought you lunch," said Fluttershy, holding out the bowl closer.

"Oh. Thanks. Just leave it right here," said Junior as he returned to looking through the map. The girl sighed as she pouted her lip in annoyance.

"Goji, can we talk?" asked Fluttershy.

"Mm." Junior responded, but he wasn't paying attention.

"I can't help but notice that something's bothering you. Like you've been on edge, lately," said Fluttershy.

"Hmm." Junior responded, still looking through the map.

'Jesus. 'Desolation Desert'? That would be the name of a land in an evil empire's territory,' thought Junior.

"If there's something bothering you, I'm right here," said Fluttershy. Junior didn't respond, still fixated on the map.

'I'm surprised we lucked out with being able to speak the same language' thought Junior.

"Because we're friends, I know I can talk to you about anything, just like you can talk to me about anything," said Fluttershy, looking down as she shyly spoke. Her face reddened.

"You know that don't you?" asked Fluttershy.

"Mm," responded Junior. It was here that Fluttershy began to grow more annoyed.

"You aren't listening, are you?" asked Fluttershy.

"Uh huh," Junior replied, absent minded as he took a piece of meat from the bowl and placed it into his mouth. The girl crossed her arms.

"I bet I can say anything I want and you won't notice," said Fluttershy.

"Right...." Junior responded. Fluttershy huffed.

"You know, I was thinking about how it's a lovely day out. You know what's better? Acting like a bad girl! Maybe I should start by getting a tattoo," said Fluttershy.

"Mm hm."

"Hey, Adagio's naked," said Fluttershy pointing aside.

"Uh huh."

"I'm naked," said Fluttershy. Junior still didn't respond. Not even a confused look was given to her. Fluttershy could literally say anything in the world and he wouldn't even notice. Maybe this was a good time to practice. Fluttershy felt her heart beginning to race.

"Hey, Goji... I..." Fluttershy gulped as she blushed. She felt her mouth running dry as the words were caught in her throat. Junior still didn't respond.

"I love... I love..." Fluttershy bit her lip. She took a deep breath as she tried to muster up her courage.

"Sorry, did you say some-" Junior turned to Fluttershy, his focus now on her.

"I LOVE YO- Err..." Fluttershy was in mid shout, quickly faltering as the boy's attention was now on her. Junior had recoiled with a startled expression. Fluttershy stared, wide eyed and flushed intensely.

"Y-Your hair! Yeah, that's it! I love how it's spiky!" Said Fluttershy with a forced smile.

"Um... thanks?" Junior awkwardly said. Fluttershy sighed as she buried her face into her hands.

"Man, there's a lot settlements out there. Too bad we couldn't have lucked out by getting stranded in them instead," said Junior.

"Goji, could you please put the map down for a minute?" asked Fluttershy.

"Why? I'm just trying to learn so we can find the others," said Junior. Fluttershy placed a hand down on the map and lowered it down to his lap.

"Gojira, they're fine. I want to talk with you," said Fluttershy.

"What's there to talk about?" asked Junior, shrugging. Fluttershy merely glanced at his back, finding a fading scar from the stampede some days prior. It was strange. Fluttershy has seen the boy suffer from some bad wounds before, but they never scarred before. Still, it didn’t explain why his forearm never returned to normal when it regenerated. Him being half Transmutant must have had something to do with it, according to Amber.

"How are you feeling?" asked Fluttershy.

"Fine, I guess," answered Junior.

"Are you sure? You're not feeling weak, maybe sick or tired?" asked Fluttershy.

"No. I never get sick anyway," said Junior flatly. Fluttershy bore a pondering look, thinking of reasons to keep a conversation going.

"Shy, what's this about?" asked Junior, impatiently. Fluttershy looked to Junior, her brows furrowed.

"Why are you behaving this way?" asked Fluttershy.

"What are you talking about?" asked Junior.

"You're acting like you don't want me around. Why did you just move your bed out here by yourself last night?" asked Fluttershy incredulously.

"Don't you start, too," said Junior in annoyance.

"Don't start what? Worrying about you?" asked Fluttershy.

"Goddamit," said Junior as he rubbed his brows.

"Why are you pushing me away?" asked Fluttershy.

"I'm not! I just want to have time to myself! You know me," said Junior defensively. Fluttershy slightly narrowed her eyes, while the boy looked away. Fluttershy looked to the ground.

"You know... Mosura feels bad," said Fluttershy.

"For what?" asked Junior, indifference in his tone.

"For yesterday. She didn't mean to say anything hurtful," said Fluttershy.

"I take it you don't know what she said?" asked Junior.

"Does that matter?" asked Fluttershy. Junior didn't answer. He instead took the bowl and began to eat.

"No. Besides, it's not like she was wrong. I was thinking about myself these last couple of days. I have been selfish," said Junior. Fluttershy looked at him oddly.

"Thinking about- Goji, you've been fixated on finding the others since we've been separated. How's that selfish?" asked Fluttershy.

"I don't know," said Junior.

"You have to know. You just told me that you agreed with her," said Fluttershy, pointing to the boy.

"It's just- Look, maybe I feel bad for making them think I hate them! I don't fucking know! Just forget it!" shouted Junior. Fluttershy recoiled. She began to shrink back. Junior sighed.

"I'm sorry. I don't... I don't like to talk about my feelings. They're messy and a chore to understand. All I know is that I'm pissing everyone off because I can't get over the fact that AJ thought I hated her. I mean, I'm sure she thought I'd actually physically hurt her on purpose because of what happened when I was in that other form," said Junior. He shook his head.

"I can only imagine what the rest thinks," said Junior.

"So you don't hate them?" asked Fluttershy, her expression softening.

"Of course not! I mean, sure I got pissed and said some nasty things, and I've been a passive aggressive dick, but I never hated them. It just sucks, knowing that they didn't have my back when I needed them," said Junior. He gave a heavy sigh.

"I guess I've been so focused on trying to get them back safely because I was worried that they'd die thinking I hated them. I didn't want that on my conscience. I even went as far as trying to go off on my own to find them, without even thinking about how the rest of you would feel," said Junior. Fluttershy frowned.

"Gojira..." The girl scooted close to the boy.

"Maybe you were selfish in a way. But I don't think so. I know you were really worried about them. I think your conscience was more concerned with not having the chance to make up with them," said Fluttershy. Junior shook his head.

"That's not it," said Junior.

"It is. I can tell that deep down, you want to forgive them. I saw it with Applejack," said Fluttershy. She smiled warmly at the boy.

"Yes, you've been pretty reckless. And you could stand to be less confrontational when it's not warranted. But I guess this world has us all on edge," said Fluttershy. Junior softly smiled with a chuckle.

"I guess you're right. Thanks, Fluttershy," said Junior.

"Anytime," said Fluttershy. She took the map and held it up.

"How do you plan on finding the others?" asked Fluttershy.

"Not sure. We'll figure it out soon," said Junior.







Rodan sighed as he strolled through the village in silence. While it was relieving to know that the rest of his friends were safe, there was no need for them to send search parties out into the jungle, but that left him without much to do. Searching was a way to keep Rodan occupied, so he wouldn't dwell on Eliza. Although he wasn't as depressed before after finally accepting her passing, his heart still ached for her. He needed something to do before he begins to cry again. How embarrassing that was, Rodan thought.

The sun was beaming down his back as the humidity made him feel sticky. He was tempted to just dive into the river that ran through the area but thought against it. That may have just been the drinking water. The teen certainly didn't want to piss off the natives because of a soak. He wondered what else he could do. He could work, but Angirasu seemed to have had it covered, seeing as he was helping move lumber. Rodan had already eaten, and he wasn't fond of the idea of just lazing about. That'd just lead to him thinking about Eliza. He had to press forward. It might have been what she would have wanted, after all.

Rodan heard laughter. He stopped as he found a group of teen natives to be gathered in a circle. They were tossing a ball to one another, as though it were a game of volleyball. It was strange seeing these natives play. The adults always seemed so quiet and reserved, concealing their emotions, yet their kids were livelier.

Suddenly, a teen missed the ball as it came his way. The ball bounced and rolled towards Rodan, who instinctively caught it. He felt the rough leather texture of the ball against his palms and fingers.

"Here ya go," said Rodan, tossing the ball back to the teen who had missed.

"Thank you, Noble Guardian. Would you care to join us in our game?" asked the teen with a smile. He was shushed by another boy.

"He's a guardian! He has better things to do!" whispered the boy. Rodan scratched his head with a forced chuckle.

"I don't really have anything better to do. I'd be down to join if it's cool with you," said Rodan. The Iwi teens looked at him strangely.

"Down? Cool?" The natives asked. Rodan cleared his throat.

"I mean, 'I'd like to join if it's alright with you'." Rodan rephrased himself. The natives began bore looks of understanding.

"Oh, I see! You're outsiders like the ones called Darrow and Dwan! I've heard Dwan use words incorrectly like that," said a native. The natives murmured with interest.

"Eh. No, no. It's colloquialism. You know, slang. When I say 'cool' in that context, it means that its good. Because most associate cool temperatures as being usually positive. I don't mean it literally," explained Rodan. The teens bore fascinated looks.

"So... Are we gonna play or what?" asked Rodan as he rushed to the native he tossed the ball to. He smacked it out of his hand and into the air. Rodan bounced the ball onto his head, then onto his knees. He then bounced the ball towards one of the natives, who stumbled as he caught the ball. A grin began to grow on his face. The native then began to bounce the ball towards the native beside him, who bounced it off his head.

As the teens played their game, Rodan couldn't help but have a bright smile on his face. This was something he needed. After all of the crap he and his friends had gone through lately, it was an ideal change of pace. It reminded him of his days in Junior High. Just a bunch of guys hanging out and having fun.

"Noble Guardian," called one of the teens.

"Just call me Rodan. It's kinda awkward to be called that," said Rodan as he bounced a ball off of his chest.

"Rodan, what is it like beyond the Roaring Jungle?" asked the teen.

"Roaring Jungle? You mean the one we're in right now? Well, that actually makes sense," said Rodan, thinking back to all of the creatures that he and his friends had the misfortune in running into.

"I hear that there are great lizards that roam. From the land and to the air," said a native. Rodan nodded.

"Oh yeah. Dinosaurs. Cool things. But some are pretty nasty," said Rodan, thinking back to Rex's.

"So, you guys have never left the village?" asked Rodan, curiously. One teen used his knee to bounce a ball, juggling it.

"Only to learn survival. Only the oldest ones have the privilege to venture out further from the walls," said another native. Rodan could see that these boys were in fact younger than him. They were likely around 14 or 15 years old.

"So is going out there almost like a rite of passage or something?" asked Rodan.

"It's one in a series of tests. But yes, if you can survive out there, you are one step closer to being a man," said another one of the terns.

"Awesome. Looks like I took my first step," chuckled Rodan as he passed a ball to another native.

"From where do you and your companions come from?" asked a native.

"Equestria," Rodan answered simply as the ball was bounced his way.

"Where would that be?" asked a native.

"It's kinda like in another world," said Rodan, bouncing the ball back. The natives looked to him in shock.

"You're from the heavens? You truly are like the gods as the ancients say you are," said one of the teens in awe.

"Whoa! Whoa! I ain't a god, guys. I'm just a normal guy. Wait," said Rodan, a thoughtful look on his face. Technically he wasn't normal because of his mutant status.

"But you changed into a mighty bird! No mere man can do that!" said another native in confusion.

"I thought Kong was your god," said Rodan in confusion.

"Yes, ours. But we acknowledge others like him and you are that," said another native.

"Ah." Rodan fell silent. While he wasn't comfortable with the idea of being seen as god, especially since he had his own that wasn't a fan of that, he decided not to argue as to not step on the toes of their faith. He wasn't here to convert anyone.

"Equestria isn't like this heavenly place like you're thinking. It's just a country in a normal world, much like yours. Except without all the monsters running around," chuckled Rodan. He had noticed that the ball wasn't being tossed around anymore. Instead the teens just stared, curious expressions were on their faces.

"Could you tell us about your world?" asked a teen. Rodan thought about it for a moment and shrugged.

"Sure, why not?" Rodan nonchalantly shrugged, before sitting on the ground. The boys gathered in a circle, eager to hear Rodan's tale.

"I'll tell you what I can. But what do you guys wanna know?" asked Rodan.







There was a land full of rolling green hills. A cool breeze flowed across the land, carrying the birds and dandelions through the air. The air was much drier compared to the humidity surrounding the Dogomite town Salera and the neighboring jungle.

Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie, Rainbow and Rarity remained seated in back of the wagon. Their muscles ached from spending hours in the last few days cramped in the back of the wagon they've been traveling in.

"I'm so bored!" said Rainbow in exasperation.

"Wanna play I Spy?" asked Pinkie.

"There's nothing out here!" said Rainbow, pointing out the empty land.

"Yeah, I'm not looking forward to that game again," deadpanned Twilight.

"Then let's sing a song!" said Pinkie.

"No," said the driver of the wagon, his tone stern. Leon bore an annoyed look.

"Aw Leon! You're such a party pooper!" said Pinkie.

"Pinkie, the last time we sang during the trip, you went on until evening," said Rarity. She winced as she rubbed her aching shoulder.

"Hey, how much further?" asked Rainbow impatiently.

"We're almost there, thankfully," said Leon with a sigh. The girls turned and looked to the front. While the former guard was in the way, they found glimpses of a large settlement passed the hills.

"Come on, pick up the pace! I'm sick of being cramped back here!" Said Rainbow as she tried to look passed Leon for a better view.

"Settle down, RD. We can wait a little longer," said Applejack. Rainbow groaned as the travelers passed farm land, which resided some miles outside of the town itself. They found domesticated cattle, goats, and sheep to be grazing from their enclosures.

From the fields, there were farmers that carried crops, looking on to the newcomers that were traveling passed their land. Eventually, the travelers had made their way to the town gates. The town itself was surrounded by tall walls of stone, enclosing it like a fortress. A couple of guards, dressed in light silver armor stepped to the carriage in the lead.

"Five silver to enter," said one of the guards.

"A toll? We have Sacramentonians that need to be relocated from Salera," said one of the Saleran men in the carriage.

"I'm sorry but no exceptions. Not even to refugees," said the guard.

"Fine," said the Saleran escort in annoyance as he drew out five silver pieces. He handed them to the guard, who turned the gate.

"Open the gate!" ordered the guard. The heavy wooden doors creaked as they parted. Twilight and her friends watched in awe as the heavy doors parted, revealing a path into the town.

The carriages continued on through the gates. They rode over the brick road that made up the ground. They passed citizens of this town, who looked to be dressed differently compared to the citizens of Salera. Instead of clearly wearing clothes made from the hide of animals, there were more people dressed in clothes made of cotton, silk, and other materials. These people looked to have been better off compared to Salera.

The buildings were also made up of more materials rather than just wood. Some were a combination of brick or stone for the exterior, the wood forming windows, doors, and roof tops, and straw covering the top. Children played in the streets as people worked their daily routine. Aside from the looks of the town and its citizens, it didn't seem much different from Salera. However, the atmosphere here had a lot less tension in comparison

Soon, the carriages had stopped at the town square. The girls, stepped out from the carriage and winced as they stretched. Leon drew out a scroll.

"Give this to the guards once you reach the lord's residence just down there," said Leon, pointing to a tall stone house. It was four stories and had four pillars at its base. Twilight took the scroll with a nod.

"Will you and your family be alright?" asked Twilight.

"Fortunately, we know some folks here. We should be fine. Thanks to you," said Leon with a nod.

"No problem. Ya'll take care now," said Applejack, as the girls waved farewell to the Salerans. The four begin to make their way to the tall structure.

"I hope this lord isn't as hard to figure out as Grunge," said Rainbow.

"I just hope he's just as nice," said Pinkie.

The teens began to step to the doors of the building. Twilight handed the scroll to the guard, who began to look it over. He gave a brief once over on the group and then rolled up the scroll.

"Right this way," said the guard as he opened the doors, allowing the girls to walk in. As they entered, they were immediately assaulted by the luxurious items that filled the main foyer. The marble floor gleamed as the chandelier hung high above, suspended via golden chain. Sparkling diamonds made up the chandelier, reflecting off the walls and ground as the light in the center glowed.

The remnants of the Main 7 were led through halls, lined with paintings and porcelain vases. As expected of a lord, the rooms just had to be filled with fancy decorative items. The girls were worried about accidentally knocking them down just by looking at them.

The group was led to a pair of double doors, which the guard opened. They stepped inside, finding a luxurious room. There was a lot of red, from the carpet to the cloth curtains that hung over the windows. Red chairs and sofas encircled the center of the room, where lamps hung from the ceiling, lacking any flame to give them light. The natural sun lighting pierced through the windows, bringing out the colors of the room.

"Swanky," said Rainbow as the teens were led into the room.

"I will inform Lord Salem of your arrival. Please, wait here," said the guard, before closing the door. The girls took in their surroundings, looking to the décor and furniture that filled the room. Pinkie moaned as she sat on the sofa, frowning.

"I'm starving. I can't believe that we ran out of food right before we got here," said Pinkie.

"Yes, I'm actually quite famished myself," said Rarity, taking a seat as she crossed one of her legs over the other. Rainbow admired the swords that were propped up on a stand, hanging on the wall.

"Maybe when we get settled in, we can get a bite to eat. We still have plenty of money left from Grunge," said Twilight, holding up a satchel that hung over her shoulder. The faint jingle of coins filled her hearing.

"How much do you think one of those dinosaurs cost?" asked Rainbow. Twilight glared at her.

"We're not spending our money on pets, Rainbow Dash," said Twilight.

"Hey, I'm just wondering!" said Rainbow, shrugging as she bore a defensive look.

"I imagine that one of those critters would be pricey. To purchase, and to care for," said Applejack, taking a seat on a chair. Rainbow sighed as she sat on another chair, lying on the side, with her back resting on the left arm rest and her legs dangling over the right arm rest.

"Rainbow, sit properly! This isn't your house!" said Rarity in disapproval. Rainbow groaned in exasperation.

"Dude, just let me wind down for a minute!" said Rainbow. Rarity scoffed indignantly, having been referred to as 'dude'. Suddenly, the doors opened. The teens turned and found a middle aged man to be stepping into the room, followed by a woman, who looked slightly younger. Rainbow quickly sat up properly, a blank look on her face.

"Well, you obeyed like a dog on a shock collar pretty fast," deadpanned Applejack.

"Ah. You must be the ones that Grunge sent," said the man as he approached. Twilight bowed her head in respect. She wasn't familiar with the formalities of these people, she was going to at least make a better impression than what they had made back in Salera.

"Yes, sir," answered Twilight. Applejack noticed the woman to be stepping nearby. AJ quickly got up from the chair as she cleared her throat.

"Sorry, this must be your seat," said Applejack sheepishly, allowing the woman to take a seat. She looked to Rainbow, gesturing for her to get up. Rainbow sighed in annoyance as she was about to stand.

"Please, remain seated," said the man with a smile, while Applejack sat on the sofa with Twilight, Rarity and Pinkie.

"Oh. Thanks," said Rainbow, a bit unsure on how to react though she noticed an annoyed look on the woman's face from the corner of her eye. The woman was covered in makeup that brought out the blush in her cheeks. Her hair was held up in a bun, as a necklace of diamonds hung around her neck. She wore a dark dress, and a corset that tightly hugged her waist, bringing out her hips in her overall physique. Just by looking at her face, Rainbow could see her 'resting bitch face'. She looked quite unfriendly, compared to the man that was standing before them.

"I've heard much about you from the King's letter. I am Salem, Lord of Elsinore. I am here to serve," said the man as he bowed respectfully. He then gestured to the woman that was sitting.

"And this is my lovely wife, Mary," said Salem.

"Charmed," said Mary, her tone flat. The girls felt some discomfort from her tone. They returned their attention to the Lord of this town.

"It's an honor to have heroines such as yourselves in my home," said Salem.

"Oh. We ain't heroes or anything. We just did what we thought was right," said Applejack, rubbing the back of her head.

"And that makes a hero in my book. When the king told me I would be hosting you, I had to accept," said Salem.

"Anything to please the old man," said Mary, a scowl on her face. The girls just glanced at her and found Salem to be giving a forced chuckle.

"Who wouldn't want to please the king? He's a great man," said Salem. "Speaking of which, the king has expressed interest in meeting you."

"Oh? Is he here?" asked Twilight.

"No, he's in the capital, Amina." Salem answered as he began to take a metallic object from a dresser. It looked almost like a microscope, with a stand as the base. The stand was made of iron, and the neck curved forward. At the end of the neck was an empty tube. Salem placed a white gem into the tube and began to draw out a small hooked metallic object that began to spark.

"Oh. Do we have to go over there? We kinda were hoping not to-"

"Travel will not be necessary," said Salem as he brought the hook to the base, where a small rod of copper stood. The spark was conducted to the copper, which then shot up through the tube. The gem inside began to react, glowing from within the tube. Salem then flipped over a thin piece of a glass over the top of the tube, covering it. The gem began to project rays of light into the air, causing the girls to look on in fascination. An image began to form from the rays, manifesting into the form of an older man.

The man was rugged, with a beard and hair that had grayed over. He had steely blue eyes, and hard brows and a defined strong bridge for his nose. He sported a golden crown upon his head, and a blue grey cape. He wore a dark heavy long sleeved top, slacks and dark boots. The man sat upon a grand throne, made of silver.

"I present to you the ruler of Sacramentonia, King Gareth," said Salem, pride in his tone. Twilight and Rarity both quickly shot up, and bowed.

"Y-Your majesty!" cried Twilight. Applejack, Rainbow and Pinkie looked to each other in confusion, but were met with glares from their friends. Applejack and Pinkie both stood and bowed. Rainbow sighed as she reluctantly did as well.

"The ones who stood to the tyranny of the Dogomites, step forth so I may see you," said King Gareth, his voice gruff. Applejack stepped forward, feeling unease well up inside herself. Rainbow stood next to her, a smirk on her face.

"So, you are the ones who displayed impressive feats against the Dogomites?" asked Gareth.

"Yes sir, your majesty," said Applejack, before gulping. Something about this guy was quite intimidating. His tone and stature gave away his authoritative status. The last thing she wanted was to risk enraging this king.

"I thank you for coming. I understand that you are foreign to these lands," said Gareth.

"You have no idea," scoffed Rainbow.

"You wanted to meet with us, your majesty?" asked Twilight curiously. Gareth nodded.

"Yes. I wish to ask you for your service. During this time of war, my forces and our resources have been focused on repelling our enemy, the Dogomites," said Gareth. Twilight felt a pit form in her stomach. It seemed that she was right to dread the consequences of intervening with Salera.

"Um... with all due respect, we're not interested in getting involved with the war. We're just trying to find our friends," said Twilight, biting her lip.

"What? No, I wasn't suggesting that. That's madness!" chuckled Gareth.

"Wait, really?" Asked Twilight

"Of course not! The day I send a woman out into the battlefield is the day that our people have lost our way," said Gareth. Rainbow bore a look of offense.

"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Rainbow.

"He means that he thinks its wrong to send women out into battle," deadpanned Applejack.

"But we held our own pretty well in Salera!" said Rainbow.

"Are you trying to get us drafted?!" hissed Twilight in a whisper. She cleared her throat as she turned her attention back to the king.

"So what did you want from us?" asked Twilight.

"While I am not willing to send you to fight our war, I see that your friends are capable of battle. I wish for them to take on a number of quests. I can't spare the men to handle them. There are threats that still threaten my people outside of the battlefield," said Gareth.

"Quests huh?" Rainbow scratched her chin in interest.

"They aren't the only ones with powers! We got them too!" said Pinkie with a grin.

"Pinkie..." Twilight grimaced.

"Then there should be no problem! Take on these quests, and you shall be compensated. Lord Salem has even arranged for your stay here in his residence," said Gareth, gesturing to the lord. Twilight bore a reluctant look.

"Um... We need to discuss this a bit," said Twilight.

"What's there to discuss? Run a few errands and we get rewarded. We even get to stay in this joint for awhile! That's good enough for me," said Rainbow, nonchalant. Twilight looked to her in annoyance.

"If breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, then I'm game!" said Pinkie with a grin. Twilight sent her an incredulous expression.

"It certainly bests living on the streets. Or jungles," said Rarity, admiring the room. Twilight's jaw hung, not believing what she was hearing.

"Well, if we ain't fighting a war, then this is fair. It could at least help us prepare for a way back to our friends," said Applejack.

"Guys..." Twilight's shoulders slumped. She wondered why her friends weren't taking time to consider this. She then found them looking at her expectantly. Twilight had no one on her side to at least think about this. They just seemed eager to be somewhere stable. She couldn't fault them for that considering what they've been through, but they were still in a world they knew nothing about. They had to be careful. Twilight gave a defeated sigh.

"We'll pull our weight," said Twilight in reluctance.

"Thank you. I hope to hear from you again soon," said Gareth as the projection began to disappear. Salem bowed his head to the girls as he graciously smiled.

"I pray that you will succeed," said Salem. Twilight grimaced. Once again, they got roped up into this world's affairs. But since it's not related to the war, then it may have less of a drastic effect.







"And the black roads are meant for these big metal carts. We call them cars. They don't need animals to pull them because they're built to move on their own. People ride them to get to places they want to go faster," said Rodan. He was surrounded by more Iwi teenagers, even some girls. They listened in fascination and awe of his tales, though some looked skeptical.

"What sorcery makes these carts move on their own?" asked a male teen.

"We don't use sorcery. It's all a matter of technology. I'm no engineer, but the engine, the heart of the machine, uses fuel to have the energy to move the vehicle," explained Rodan. The audience gave 'oohs' of fascination. They began to assault Rodan with a bunch more questions. While some may find this overwhelming, Rodan felt at peace. He hadn't felt this way for a while now. Just talking to people must have been the medicine necessary for him to get back up in his old spirits.

"Rodan, did you have any lovers in your past?" asked a girl, curious. Rodan's mood immediately went cloudy. Just when he thought he had gotten over the cause of his sadness, it came back to him again. There was an uncomfortable silence.

"Well... Maybe one. But, it didn't last long," said Rodan, his tone low, his eyes on the ground.

"Oh. My apologies," said the girl, bowing her head apologetically. Rodan sighed.

"No, it's OK. We had some great times together," said Rodan. He then noticed Mosura to be approaching him.

"Hey, Rodan. Can we talk?" asked Mosura.

"Sure. Do you wanna do it here or...?" Rodan looked to the natives.

"Privately, Please," said Mosura. Rodan nodded. He then began to stand.

"Be right back, guys," said Rodan as he followed Mosura away from the natives. The two stood over by a hut right over, out of ear shot from anyone around.

"What's up?" asked Rodan.

"It's about Gojira. I've... I've might have said something that he may have found hurtful," said Mosura, twiddling her fingers.

"What'd you say?" asked Rodan.

"I said, 'Why do I put up with you'. He left after that," said Mosura, her eyes downcast. "I guess he thought I saw him as a burden. I just said it. I-I didn't mean it like that. I just-"

"I get it, Mosu. Sometimes it takes patience to be around a guy like Gojira. Trust me, I've known the guy for years. He can be difficult, but he's the kind of dude you can count on when things get rough," said Rodan, patting her shoulder.

"I think he's aware too that he can get on people's nerves, so he just keeps to himself for a while," said Rodan.

"But it's not even that. I just wish he'd understand how he worries us. Especially me," said Mosura, deeply frowning. "I don't know. Maybe I've been too hard on him lately. I mean, he has to be careful. We're in a world full of dinosaurs, monsters, and evil empires..."

"Not to mention romantic rivals," said Rodan, while smirking. Mosura looked at him in annoyance.

"Just talk to the guy if it bothers you that much," said Rodan as he began to rejoin the natives. Mosura took a breath before nodding.

"Right," said Mosura.







Angirasu grunted as he sent several jabs forward. Kong swiped at him, deflecting every strike from the teen. The king countered with a punch, which Angirasu blocked, but staggered back.

"Keep your feet planted and one in the back to keep your balance," said Kong as he rushed forward and sent several jabs. Angirasu dodged each strike and began to keep his distance. Kong sent another set of strikes, which Angirasu dodged and blocked.

"You can't stay on the defensive! Go for the offense!" said Kong as he swung his fist. Angirasu dodged it and then countered with a jab against Kong's side. He grunted as he staggered to the side, smirking. Angirasu raised his fists as he narrowed his eyes. The boy rushed forward and began to send several punches, forcing Kong on the defensive himself.

Kong noticed the boy was just going forward with the same strikes. Left, right, left right. This made it easy to block and it was an amateur mistake. It would only work against a weakling to overwhelm his defenses and Kong was not weak. This was actually detrimental to the boy, since he was burning stamina on a fruitless attack.

Kong caught Angirasu's next right hook. He then threw him over his shoulder and onto the ground with ease. Angirasu lied on his back, in shock. He attempted to stand but Kong forced his hand onto his head, holding him down.

"Never needlessly expend your stamina in a fight. Conserve it as much as possible. If you can't break an opponent's block, then strike them where they aren't defending," said Kong, standing up. Angirasu panted as he stood up shakily.

"Brute force alone won't always win the battle. You must utilize your mind as well. Analyze and strategize in the heat of battle," said Kong, pointing to Angirasu's forehead.

"Understood. Thank you," said Angirasu with a nod.

"Take a break for now. We'll finish off with transformation shortly," said Kong. Angirasu nodded. He began to walk off, headed back to the village. Once there, he took the opportunity to drink water from the river. He didn't bother boiling it, since he's seen Kong drink straight from it himself before. The water was flowing and not stagnant, so it might have been fine.

After drinking from the river, Angirasu began to look around at the village. He felt at peace here. Living among these natives and their old ways, out in sun in the tropical humidity and finally experiencing thrill of fighting. It all just felt so right, like it was in the blood that ran in his veins.

Angirasu sighed as he stood, stretching himself until his joints popped. He heard some laughs, prompting him to find Rodan to be sitting with the teenager natives. They were laughing as Rodan spoke to them. Curious, Angirasu made his way over.

"So, I was like, 'Dad, that's not a puppy! That's a damn rat!' And he immediately freaks out! He stumbled and fell over, making a mess in the garage!" said Rodan. The teens laughed in amusement as they visualized the story they were told.

"Man, thank God the tools or anything sharp weren't out. That would've been a nasty accident," said Rodan with a chuckle.

"And don't get me started on the time he tried to impress me by riding a skateboard down a steep hill on the street. He ended up with nasty scrapes on his body. He had me record it too," said Rodan, shaking his head. "I'd show you guys but  he had me delete it because he was so damn embarrassed."

"You have amusing stories, Rodan," said a boy. He then gasped as he noticed Angirasu approaching. Rodan turned behind himself in confusion, but smiled as he spotted his friend.

"Aang! What's up?" greeted Rodan.

"Hey, Rodan. I see you're getting along with the natives," said Angirasu. Some of the teens whispered among themselves.

"Another one of the guardians. And it's the one called Angirasu!" whispered a teen in awe.

"Yeah, I was just telling them some stories from back home," said Rodan. Angirasu forced a smile.

"You're not embellishing, I hope," said Angirasu. Rodan looked at him in offense.

"Give me a little credit, man. I'm giving it to them straight. I even told them the time we went into that old castle. They got a kick out of me almost killing you with the ballista," said Rodan. Angirasu bore a confused look but then gasped as his memory flooded back to him.

"Wait a minute, that was your fault?!" exclaimed Angirasu. Rodan cupped a hand over his mouth, forgetting that he had played dumb for doing that.

"Ugh. Whatever. It's good that you're adjusting. You seem to be popular," said Angirasu.

"Yeah, it's great. I always wanted to be the cool kid," said Rodan, humorously. "So what are you up to?"

"I was just sparring with Kong. I'm on a break right now, but we're supposed to be practicing my transformation soon," said Angirasu. An idea suddenly came to mind.

"Why don't you join us?" asked Angirasu.

"Me? Really?" asked Rodan. Reluctance was in his tone. He recalled that one of the last few times he transformed ended badly. Memories of Eliza came back to him. Rodan looked to the ground.

"It'd be a good idea. We should have a better grasp and understanding of our other forms. We have plenty of time these days, not to mention plenty of space," said Angirasu.

"I-I don't know," said Rodan. Angirasu could detect the discomfort and hesitation of his friend.

"Well, let me know if you change your mind," said Angirasu as he began to walk off. Rodan said nothing as his friend left.

"Rodan, why did you refuse Angirasu's offer?" questioned a girl in confusion. Rodan felt his anxiety growing.

"Yes, would it not be in a guardian's best interest to hone his abilities?" asked a boy.

"It's not so simple, guys. I've had bad experiences from changing. It's something I rather not get into. It's caused nothing but trouble," said Rodan.

"Even so, that's all the more reason to learn from our king," said another native.

"You wouldn't say that if you saw the things that happened from my perspective," said Rodan, frowning.

"I've heard of your actions when our tribe first encountered you. They say that you helped fended off the demons that threatened us for generations," said a girl. Rodan couldn't argue with that. While he vaguely remembered that battle with the t-rex pack, he recalled his focus being on defending his friends.

"You owe it to your companions and yourself to become stronger. You are a Guardian!" said the same girl. The other teens gave verbal agreements. Rodan felt a sudden warmth beginning to well up inside. He remembered when he, Junior and Angirasu were initiated as Guardians by the Transmutants led by Gojira Senior. Rodan never took that seriously, seeing it as some weird kind of induction into their group just to earn their trust, while humiliating them in the process.

But as Rodan thought of it, and the natives continuous reference to the title, he couldn't help but dwell on its meaning. A guardian was a protector, but he turned into a beast that destroyed. It caused fear, havoc, and took away the one he loved. What kind of guardian does that?

Yet the natives thought of him as one. Despite that they never actually witnessed him, they saw him as someone of great renown, even going as far as to encourage him to learn. Could he really be a guardian despite what he's done? Either way, it seemed only right to get a hold of his other form. Anything to prevent what happened to Eliza from happening to his friends.

Meanwhile, Angirasu continued to make his way through the village. While he wanted to press further to convince Rodan to join him to train with Kong, he decided against it.

Angirasu had come across the end of the village. He found where Junior had been since the previous night. He found him with Fluttershy and Mosura. Angirasu stopped walking, curious. Mosura seemed to be fidgeting as she twiddled her fingers, her stance timid. Angirasu couldn't make out what they were saying given the distance between them. So, he began to walk closer.

"What I'm trying to say is... I'm sorry," said Mosura, bowing her head, apologetically. Junior sighed as he scratched his head.

"No, you were right. I've been way out of line lately," said Junior.

"B-But I shouldn't have been so hard on you! I..." Mosura looked to the ground with a grimace.

"Look, don't sweat it. Honestly, I think you've kept me out of trouble since we've gotten here," said Junior, with a shrug. Mosura raised her head.

"You think so?" asked Mosura.

"Yeah. By all means, call me out when I'm wrong. It's the only way I'll learn," said Junior.

"So we're good?" asked Mosura, a hopeful smile on her face.

"Yeah," said Junior, nodding to her. Mosura felt some relief as she heard this. Junior cleared his throat as he drew out a map.

"David gave me this map before he left. I was thinking that maybe eventually we could try and meet the girls," said Junior as he pointed to the settlement called, Elsinore.

"Well, that looks like it would be quite the journey. But I think we could figure something out," said Mosura, giving Junior a warm smile.

"Ahem." Junior, Mosura and Fluttershy turned their attention behind them. They found Angirasu standing by.

"Angirasu? What are you doing here?" asked Fluttershy.

"Just wanted to see how you guys were doing before I went back to training," said Angirasu, nonchalant.

"Oh right. Forgot you were doing that," said Junior. He wasn't sure how or why Angirasu became Kong's 'apprentice'. But he's noticed that a number of the Iwi have been taking a shine to him. It made sense. Angirasu was always more laid back compared to himself and Rodan. He was just much more approachable.

"Say, I was thinking..." Angirasu turned his focus on Mosura and Junior exclusively. "What if you two joined me to train with Kong?"

"In fighting?" asked Mosura in confusion. "That's not really my thing."

"No, we already took care of that. What I meant was to train in controlling our other forms. He's been teaching me a lot on how to control it. I... I think I might understand it now," said Angirasu.

"Understand what? Changing?" asked Junior, raising a brow. Angirasu cleared his throat, smiling to himself due to his friend having been mistaken.

"Sure. So are you in?" asked Angirasu. Junior looked to Mosura, who looked uncertain. Junior himself wasn't comfortable, having only transformed involuntarily and it was usually during stressful situations. The one time transformed on his own free will was when Fluttershy was there, while his father and the Guardians stood by in case he went berserk. But, if he wanted to succeed in his journey to bring back the others, he would have to put aside his concerns. He needed to be ready. Still, he wondered if Kong would accept teaching him. The two weren't exactly on friendly terms. They actually butted heads quite a bit. Junior sighed, frustrated at himself for trying to weasel out with just excuses.

"Alright," said Junior. Mosura looked to Junior and Angirasu. The two just always seemed to face up against anything, no matter the risk. It was admirable. Something she aspired to do. With Junior standing up, the one who seemed to always have the most dread in changing, Mosura felt herself grow motivated. She didn't make progress with the Guardians because of her own fears of the pain and the consequences of losing control. However, she wanted to change. Mosura wanted to be worthy of being relied on, especially by Junior.

"I'm in," said Mosura.

"Me too!" said Rodan. The teens found the red haired teen to be walking over, a smile on his face. Angirasu couldn't help but smile as he joined them. The two made a fist bump.

"Good to see you've changed your mind," said Angirasu.

"Oh come on. I wasn't gonna let my homies leave me behind," said Rodan. Junior chuckled as he brought him close and began to give him a noogie. Rodan thrashed as he yelped.

"Good to see you back into better spirits, buddy!" said Junior, while Rodan tried to escape. Mosura chuckled in amusement while Fluttershy softly smiled. Something felt different right now. It was as though a whole new spark was ignited. It warmed her heart, just seeing these four misfits determined to grow.








Elsinore, Sacramentonia...


Twilight hummed to herself as she stared through a window. Inside, she saw tomes displayed, covered in hieroglyphics and decorative symbols. She looked to her side and found the rest of her friends, standing around as they scanned the busy shopping district.

Salem mentioned that they could find all sorts of things here. Including items that may prove useful for them in their quests. As of now, they were given the details of their first quest. Apparently, there had been trouble from bandits in the outskirts of Elsinore. People were getting robbed and sometimes killed. It seemed that the lord believed that they'd be the ones suited to handle these villains while any able bodied man was spared for guarding the city or sent off for the war.

So as of now, it was a good idea to start spending some more of that money that Grunge had been generous to give them. Twilight turned to her friends.

"OK, let's meet back out here after we do some window shopping. Look for any supplies that we could use for our quests. Armor, medical supplies, anything. We'll meet back and discuss prices and choose the most inexpensive or necessary thing," said Twilight. Rarity moaned a she picked at her skirt.

"Could we find any clothes? We've worn these for days and rarely bathed," said Rarity.

"As long as we're frugal, Rarity. Nothing fancy," said Twilight. Rarity whimpered as she looked to a window, finding a mannequin standing with a long violet silky flowing dress.

"Rarity..." Twilight narrowed her eyes as her tone became stern.

"Oh foo!" pouted Rarity.

"Come on, you don't need anything fancy like that. Why, I'm sure the cheaper stuff will be just as pretty," said Applejack in reassurance. Though in reality, she didn't care. The last thing she wanted was to be forced to try on fancy outfits while it'd be easier to just wear something comfortable and functional.

"OK, let's meet back soon," said Twilight. The girls began to disperse, making their way into whatever store that may carry something of use to them. Twilight turned back to the shop she stood before. She entered, hearing a bell jingle above her.

"I'll be right there in a moment!" called a male voice.

The store was filled with all sorts of strange items. Of course, many tomes lied, organized in shelves. There were also rolled up scrolls to be set up, resting on top of each other on separate shelves. Jars full of liquid and some small amphibian or reptile-like creatures to be preserved inside. Twilight grimaced at the sight, but also found a section in the store, where there seemed to be bowls and containers filled with powders, dried animal bits, and pastes. A sign that read, 'ingredients' hung above the shelf.

Twilight turned, finding an old man to be wandering inside. He sported a pair of thick glasses and had a long grey beard. He wore a robe over himself.

"Pardon me. I am Mirlon, and welcome to my shop. Find anything you need?" asked the shop keeper. Twilight looked at him strangely, finding that his name seemed almost too close to 'Merlin'. She brushed it off, realizing that she was silent for too long.

"N-No. It's actually my first time here," said Twilight, looking around. The man hummed curiously as he adjusted his glasses.

"You don't look to be from around here. And I've met plenty of people in Elsinore," said the shop keeper.

"My friends and I are new here. Right now we're looking through the shops for supplies. We have some quests that Lord Salem wants us to handle," explained Twilight.

"Salem, you say? What is it exactly you're looking for? Are you a mage?" questioned Mirlon as he stepped over to his counter.

"It's... Complicated. I can wield magic, but I don't exactly understand it or my abilities. I was hoping that maybe something here could help me out," said Twilight.

"Hm. That normally shouldn't be possible. You must have an understanding of the arts in order to wield it. And not everyone can learn it. It's a skill one must work hard to even master the basics," said Mirlon.

"Well, there was this... being. She taught me a bit, but I feel like I can do better. Unfortunately, it's impossible for me to meet her at the moment," said Twilight. Mirlon bore a look of interest.

"I see. Well, step over here and hold out your hand," said Mirlon. As told, Twilight stepped forward, but kept her hand back.

"What are you gonna do?" asked Twilight. She couldn't be too careful. Who knows what the people here are capable of.

"I wish to examine your magic. It requires direct contact," said Mirlon. Twilight sighed as she held up her hand. She held it forward, allowing Mirlon to place it on his left hand. With his right hand, he rested it on top of Twilight's, humming to himself as he closed his eyes. Twilight stood by silently, as the man's frail wrinkly hand caressed her own. She began to grow a bit uncomfortable if she had to be honest. Mirlon's eyes shot wide open, causing Twilight to flinch.

"This is..." Mirlon stepped back, in shock.

"Is something wrong?" asked Twilight, concerned.

"It's not possible. The magic flowing through your body is nothing like I've felt before! It's... It's pure!" said Mirlon in shock.

"Pure?" asked Twilight.

"By Providence. Or rather... Could it be?" Mirlon muttered to himself.

"What?" Twilight tilted her head. Mirlon cleared his throat.

"Never mind that, my dear. Perhaps there's something that I can help you with," said Mirlon as he stepped over to a shelf and began to draw out a book.

"I sense a highly advanced learning spell over you. Or perhaps spell isn't the right term," said Mirlon, muttering the last sentence to himself. Twilight still looked confused. She wondered what it was that had upset him. The shop keeper brought over a tome and placed it on the counter, opening it. He turned to a page, showing the girl an illustration of a human sitting.

"This is a mediation technique. It's meant to help the magic user adjust to their growing power. In your case, it should also help you sort out the vast knowledge in your head. It's amazing. Usually something like that would have driven the host mad," said Mirlon. Twilight's eyes widened in alarm.

'What the hell, Amber?!' thought Twilight, gritting her teeth.

"There's also some spells in here that you can study. Most of them match what I sensed you had knowledge of, but it will help you have a better reference on how to perform them, as well as helpful tips," said Mirlon.

"Well, since she's not here to teach me, this could be useful. My head just can't seem to fully picture the spells she put in my head," said Twilight, rubbing her temple. "How much for this?"

"This contains both basic and advanced spells. But since it's not rare and is commonly published through the land, it's worth 20 silver," said Mirlon. Twilight hummed in thought. She nodded.

"Alright, but I may have to come back later. We're on a budget. Would you mind holding onto that for me?" asked Twilight.

"Of course. Just don't forget about it," said Mirlon. Twilight smiled.

"See you, soon!" said Twilight as she left the store. Mirlon waved to her, before his face turned serious.

"Very interesting," said Mirlon as he scratched his beard.

Meanwhile, Twilight had stepped out of the store, finding that Pinkie had arrived outside of a store. She waved to the petite girl as she joined her side.

"I found some cheap but tasty snacks that were sold for people on the go!" said Pinkie. Twilight sent her a deadpanned look.

"What is it with you and food lately?" asked Twilght. Pinkie sent her a deadpanned look.

"Twilight, we still haven't eaten since we've got here," said Pinkie. Twilight shook her head.

"Don't worry. Salem said that dinner will be prepared for us when we get back," said Twilight, looking to the afternoon sky. She couldn't believe that it was already starting to get late. Time seemed to have passed by rather quickly. She had lost track of how long they've been in this new world. It was around a week that had passed, but it felt longer.








Roaring Jungle...


Kong stood against a tree in silence. He watched as the sky was beginning to turn to a yellowish tinge. Nightfall would be coming soon. He found that Angirasu had arrived, along with the other three Transmutants. Kong stood up as he approached the teenagers.

"I hope you don't mind. I brought my friends over to learn. I thought it was important for them to learn about this lesson too," said Angirasu. Kong looked over the teens. Mosura couldn't help but look away from his intense stare, while Rodan awkwardly stood. Kong then focused on Junior, who stood with a stoic look. The two stared silently at each other, neither saying a word. Angirasu felt tension from their stare down, as though one was waiting for the other to blink.

"Very well," said Kong as he stepped away. Mosura and Rodan looked to each other and shrugged, while Junior kept silent. Now wasn't the time to start butting heads with Kong, no matter how much he pissed him off.

"Angirasu, have you thought about what I've told you?" asked Kong. The teens had their eyes on the one in question.

"Yeah. I thought about it. I think I know what you meant," said Angirasu with a nod. Kong hummed.

"There is a key reason as to why you can’t control yourself. The fact that you have no prior experience is a minor factor. It's because you're rejecting your other self," said Kong. Junior raised a brow.

"What do you mean by that?" asked Mosura.

"From what I came to learn, Angirasu rejects his other half. The Titan within him. Because of that, the beast is untamed and runs rampant," said Kong. Junior shook his head.

"I thought you were supposed to be teaching us to control ourselves," said Junior.

"I am," said Kong.

"It sounds more like we're in counseling. What does 'rejecting our other self' have to do with anything? You make it sound like our other forms are like completely different entities," said Junior.

"Because in a way, they are," said Kong. Junior gave him a confused look.

"Huh?" Rodan cocked his head.

"You and the Titan are one. But, your rejection of it manifests in your soul, creating an inner turmoil that affects you when you change form," said Kong. Junior frowned.

'Man. I was hoping for a practical teaching, not spiritual mumbo jumbo'.

"So it's kind of like a split personality?" asked Mosura.

"In a way. The humanity is pushed aside in favor of the primal nature. You need to understand both to maintain order within. It's what separates us from the animals," explained Kong.

"So, you're saying that the reason we can't control ourselves or even remember much in our other form is because we're not accepting ourselves?" asked Rodan. Junior scoffed.

"That can't be it," said Junior. Kong narrowed his eyes.

"Am I wrong? Have you never been ashamed of what you are? Dread the change? Feel isolated?" asked Kong. Junior merely crossed his arms and looked away, a scowl on his face.

"No," said Junior. Kong merely narrowed his eyes, not convinced one bit.

"I have..." said Mosura, drawing Kong's attention.

"I always wanted to fit in. I kept my psychic abilities and mutantism a secret because I knew that people wouldn't accept me for who I was. It wasn't until recently when the people I thought were my friends rejected me," said Mosura, staring at the ground.

"And you?" asked Kong, looking to Rodan.

"Well... Sure. I never really thought much about it until I made it to high school. These days... It's sometimes something I wish I could change," said Rodan.

"Accepting these things is the first step to understanding your power. Accept your feelings, and what you are. Only then can you grow from there," said Kong. He found Junior to be seemingly ignoring him. Kong chose not to address it.

"Angirasu, transform one more time," ordered Kong. The teens all stepped back, while Angirasu stood alone. He nodded with a sigh. He took a breath, settling his nerves. Now was the time. He had to push through if he wanted to protect.

Angirasu focused, clenching his hands. He opened his eyes, finding himself alone in a familiar dark forest. He was alone, as the wind howled. A low growl filled the air, as a familiar shadowy beast approached. Angirasu fought any instinct he had that screamed at him to run and to get far away. Even as the creature snarled, he stood his ground.

"A Transmutant that can't control itself is killed or locked away in the Vault," a familiar voice echoed in the air. The beast roared as it pawed at the ground, flaring its nostrils.

"All my life I've been afraid of you. For nights, I'd cry, afraid to go back to sleep," said Angirasu. He stepped forward, as the creature snarled.

"But you just wanted to be acknowledged. To be free to be yourself. And I didn't let you, because I was afraid of what you were," said Angirasu. The beast growled, anger in its eyes. Angirasu raised a hand, a firm expression on his face.

"But now I know what you are. I'm not afraid anymore," said Angirasu as he placed a hand on the head of the creature. Its hostile growls ceased and its eyes closed.

"We are protectors," said Angirasu. Suddenly, darkness was driven away from the forest. A morning sun began to rise, enveloping Angirasu in warmth. Before him, the shadowy creature was fully revealed. This was Angirasu's other self. Its eyes locked with Angirasu's.

Angirasu opened his eyes, which were reptilian. He grunted as his body began to morph and grow. He dropped to all fours, giving out pained cries as he sprouted his spikes over his armored body. He had fully transformed. Angirasu shook off the torn clothing that clung to his back. The rest of the teens kept their distance, tense. Kong merely approached the transformed mutant.

"Angirasu! Step forth!" shouted Kong. Angirasu turned to Kong, flaring his nostrils. He stepped over to Kong, prompting the other teens to step further away. Angirasu stopped a few feet away, breathing heavily.

"Speak!" said Kong. Angirasu raised his head and gave a loud wail, which echoed out into the jungle. Kong smiled proudly.

"You've done it, my student," said Kong. Angirasu gave a soft growl as he bowed his head. The teens cautiously stepped forward, in shock.

"He did it?" asked Rodan, as Angirasu focused his attention on his friends.

"Yes. I've discussed this with him the previous day. He may have finally come to accept his other self. Now, the beast within has order, allowing his humanity to dominate the mind," said Kong. He turned to the rest of the teens.

"This is the first step to be a Titan," said Kong.







It was early evening. The sun was setting, enveloping the land in the cool dark night. The city, Elsinore, bore lights from the windows of buildings.

Applejack was sitting near a window, dressed in a white night gown. Her hair was down as she solemnly looked to the city, and the land beyond. Her heart yearned to be back home on the farm, where her family was. How she missed them so. Applejack also worried about the rest of her friends that she has long since been separated from. She hoped they were well and that they haven't forgotten about her group.

"AJ, come here for a second," called Twilight. Applejack sighed as she got up from her bed and made her way to a table, where Twilight, Pinkie, Rainbow and Rarity stood. The rest were also dressed in night gowns, provided by the house of Lord Salem. Twilight had a map laid out on the table.

"Alright. Salem mentioned that the bandits have ambushed anyone that crosses around this path. Just outside the city," said Twilight pointing to a section on the local map.

"They use the hills for cover and jump out to catch anyone off guard," said Twilight.

"It doesn't look like they'd make it easy to be found," said Rainbow, scratching her head.

"We won't have to look. They'll expose themselves," said Twilight.

"How?" asked Applejack.

"Simple. We'll just have to use bait to entice them. I've asked Salem if we could borrow some supplies to help," said Twilight as she made her way to a closet. She opened it, revealing a frilly dress to be worn by a mannequin. Rarity gasped as she gazed upon the dress.

"If a high class young lady were to be traveling through the bandit's territory, riding an expensive chariot with a trunk full of goods, the bandits would be hard pressed to resist," said Twilight. Rainbow scowled.

"So who's gonna play damsel in distress? Cause I'm not. Besides, no way I'm wearing that," said Rainbow..

"Rarity could! She's a great actor!" said Pinkie. Rarity shook her head with a flattered look.

"Oh, but I couldn't! But then again... this is for the good of the city. And the king asked us to help. Oh but it might be way too dangerous! But we did make a promise," said Rarity. Her tone was that of false modesty and drama, as she eyed the dress. Applejack bore a deadpanned look as she saw through this façade. She glanced at Twilight, who sighed.

"You're the bait," said Twilight.

"Darling, I'd prefer to be called, 'the attraction'. Bait just sounds so... Like I'm being fed predators," said Rarity.

"I mean, these are bandits with a history of killing people. I wouldn't put it passed them," said Rainbow.

"Doesn't matter. When they come out, that's when we strike," said Twilight.







The evening air was filled with the cries of nocturnal beasts. Junior was back at the spot where he, Rodan and Angirasu had been resting prior. Although this time, Angirasu wasn't present. After all, the natives built him his own hut to live in. Rodan had been complaining about it earlier, finding that it was unfair that they offered to do so for him. Junior didn't fuss, considering that he was held in high regard by their 'King'. Every now and then, Junior would take his attention off of the map that he was looking over. The sounds were just to distracting for him to ignore.

Junior went back to looking at his map. Instead of just searching for shorter routes to Elsinore, he instead looked to the other settlements depicted. Each had a different name, located either near or many miles from each other. The capital was the furthest, residing by the nearest ocean. There were even some settlements of the Dogomites, represented by a spider-like emblem above the name of the settlement. There were other symbols that were depicted under other settlements. Junior could only guess that these represented other nations or even smaller states that resided within this world. It was similar to how Equestria had many different flags for the individual states that made up the entire Union, though there was no way for Junior to know for sure right now. It was incredible to say the least that a whole other Earth-like world like this existed with humans, prehistoric, and bizarre creatures alike living here. That was all the more reason to find the rest of the Main 7.

"It's getting late, Goji," said Sunset, passing by as she was followed by Mosura, Fluttershy and Dwan.

"Hm? Oh, yeah. I'll turn in soon," said Junior as he tore his eyes from the map.

"Good night boys!" said Mosura as she waved to Junior and Rodan.

"Good night," said Rodan and Junior in unison. As the girls entered their own shared hut, Junior returned to reading the map. Rodan sighed.

"Still sucks that the Iwi made Aang his own hut," said Rodan.

"Well, what're you gonna do? They like him because Kong likes him," said Junior.

"Yeah. Still though, it's gotta be nice to be liked by that many people," said Rodan. Junior said nothing in response.

"So... What did you think about Kong's 'training'?" asked Rodan.

"More like a lecture. The only one who got to do anything was Aang. The rest of us had to take a hike. Literally," said Junior.

"Heh. Yeah, just like in school," said Rodan.

"At least our PE teacher wasn't acting like a therapist," said Junior with a scoff.

"I don't know man. I've thought about what he told us. I kind of always felt like I've never accepted my mutantism. I pretended it wasn't there. I pretended that people didn't like me because I was annoying, not because I was a freak," said Rodan.

"No, people didn't like you because you were annoying as well," said Junior with a smirk.

"Hey..." Rodan glared at Junior.

"Look, regardless of that, it can't be the reason why we don't have luck controlling our other forms," said Junior.

"What other reason is there?" asked Rodan.

"I don't know. I think it's because we've never actually done it in lives before. Personally, I think it's because my mother's a normal human. You know, I used to have complications with my health as a baby," said Junior. He then looked to Rodan.

"If I recall, only your mother's a Transmutant. Aang's Dad was one too. You notice a pattern?" asked Junior.

"I notice that our families may have had issues with extended family members because of human and mutant love," said Rodan.

"Did your family have issues?" asked Junior, raising a brow.

"Funny thing is, my grandparents on my dad's side had more of a problem with him falling for a woman of Mexicoltan descent," said Rodan.

"So, the Transmutant thing wasn't the issue? Really?" asked Junior in surprise.

"No, they just wanted her to be Neighponese," chuckled Rodan.

"Ah." Junior nodded in understanding.

"But still, we can't say us having only one Transmutant parent would have an effect on us like that. Transmutants haven't been allowed to be without limitations like inhibitors for decades. It's not statistically proven," said Rodan.

"I guess. Plus, I heard that before technology like that existed, Transmutants kept to 'tribes'. Basically made up of those that were like them. They rarely even had families with normal humans. My dad once told me about that," said Junior.

"Right. Plus, there's Mosura. We don't exactly know about her family aside from her brother. Just that apparently they have psychic abilities," said Rodan.

"Still, Kong's explanation can't be it," said Junior.

"Are you saying that because you believe that or is there another reason?" asked Rodan. Junior fell silent. He began to roll up the map.

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Junior.

"Come on dude, I know you had to have had feelings like that at least once," said Rodan. Junior scoffed.

"Of course not. You know I don't care what people think of me," said Junior dismissively. Rodan scratched his head.

"Gojira, it's not like it's wrong to feel bad about not fitting in because of what we are. You're talking to a guy that's not only a mutant, but also ethnically mixed. I know what it's like to not fit in because of identity," said Rodan.

"I said I'm not like that!" said Junior with a glare. Rodan's expression softened.

"Fine. Forget I brought it up," said Rodan as he lied down in his sleeping bag. Junior shook his head as he lied down as well, turning on his side.







It was early morning. The sky was beginning to light up as the morning sun was beginning to rise.

A lone carriage began to travel passed the gates of Elsinore. The horses pulled the chariot across the bridge and to the open land. It passed the farms, and made its way near the green rolling hills outside of the city.

The carriage was pure white, with a frame made up of solid gold. The interior bore expensive silk for curtains, and the seats were made up of a comfortable fabric. In the carriage, a young maiden sat near the window. She was clad in a violet gown. Glimmering gems were decorated on her person, from rings on her fingers, earrings, to a necklace of diamonds. The lady's face was obscured by the hood over her head that shielded her fair skin from the morning cold.

"We have company," said a man that held the reigns to the carriage. In the path, a group of men stood. These men were gruff and unkempt. They wore thick clothes, some sporting pieces of armor along their arms, legs and chest.

The carriage stopped. The white horses that pulled it along began to shift, a wave of nervousness over them.

"Don't think about fleeing! We have you surrounded!" said one of the men, as a few archers appeared from on top of the hills. They focused their sights on the carriage.

The bandits approached the carriage, with swords, knives and clubs in hand. The driver was pulled out of seat and was forced to his knees. The young woman was also yanked out of the carriage.

"Lookie here, a pretty young thing isn't she?" asked a bandit as he looked over the maiden, lust in his eyes.

"That's a lot of jewelry you have there," said another bandit as he yanked the necklace off, prompting the girl to gasp.

"It's dangerous to come down this path. There might be villains hiding out here," chuckled a bandit as he caressed the girl's chin, who recoiled with a grunt.

"Perhaps we can guarantee you safe passage if you were willing to part with a few things," said a bandit as he took the girl's hand, admiring the couple of gem rings on her fingers.

"You can take whatever you please. Just let us through unharmed," said the driver.

"Hmm. Maybe, we'll let you leave with one horse for your journey. That is, if the lady is willing to part with something more..." the bandit began to reach for the maiden's top. The girl immediately gasped.

"You pig!" cried the girl as she suddenly slapped the bandit. The other men chuckled and smirked, while the girl had frozen in place. The bandit she struck turned with a grin.

"I do like them feisty," said the bandit. The girl backed away with a whimper.

"Anytime now!" cried the girl.

"What?" The bandit looked at her in confusion. There was a sudden whoosh of wind. The men began to find that the archers were getting swept up by a blur of rainbows.

"What in the hell?!" exclaimed a bandit as they began to stumble over each other. Suddenly, the driver of the carriage drew out a blade from his sleeve. He slashed as the arm of a bandit that held him down. Once the foe released him, the driver then shot up, snatching his short sword from his side.

The young maiden suddenly raised her arms, where a curved wall of diamonds appeared. The wall shot forward, pushing the bandits away. As she did, her hood fell from her head, revealing her to be none other than Rarity.

The behind the carriage, Applejack shot out, sporting a brown leather jacket, tight boots and brown leggings. She grabbed a bandit that had stumbled in her path and threw him to the ground like a rag doll.

Twilight suddenly teleported in a flash of light, appearing near another bandit. She sported a blue cloak, a lavender tunic and leggings. Chainmail armor was tucked under her tunic. She raised her arm and pulled out a magic tendril from her palm. Twilight swung the tendril, whipping the bandit before her, who collapsed in pain.

"Thanks for helping, Leon!" called Twilight, as the driver clashed blades with another bandit.

"I owe you for saving my family!" said Leon as he disarmed the bandit, then holding him at blade point.

"What is this?!" The remaining bandits regrouped, finding that their comrades were quickly being taken down. Suddenly, the rainbow blurred appeared, stopping in front of them. Rainbow stood, arms crossed over her chest as she sparked. Her hair flowed in the wind as she wore a cyan tunic, with dark pant-like leggings and boots. Her arms bore light leather armor braces as her hands bore finger-less gloves.

"The heroes have arrived!" Said Rainbow as her eyes flashed briefly from the energy that coursed through her.

In a panic, the few remaining bandits began to flee. However, they all suddenly fell into a pit. They groaned as they lied piled on each other. They found Pinkie appearing from above. The girl sported a hot pink tunic herself. She turned to Rainbow and did a fist bump.

"Piece of cake," said Rainbow.