Maximilian sighed as he burst through the doors of Malicia's throne room. The Purists were bounded in cuffs as they were forced inside. In the room were unfamiliar men. Not guards, nor mere citizens. They wore robes, as though they held some form of authority.
"Milady, your newest helpers have been quite naughty!" giggled Max, as the guards threw the Purists before the throne, where Malicia sat in a new gown.
"Oh dear. What happened, Maximillian?" sighed Malicia, propping her head up on her throne's arm rest.
"You won't believe it! These hooligans shirked their duty and attacked the Iwi tribe without permission! We had to delay the release just to bail them out when they were captured!" said Max.
"Is this true?" asked Malicia.
"Yes, it is. Although, it was Stinger's idea," said Scar, glaring at the man beside him. Stinger bore a neutral look. Scar felt compelled to throw him under the bus in particular. After all, it was his idea and it did cost the lives of innocent bystanders. Scar himself has been guilty of this very thing in the past, but wanted to make sure this one suffered as much as he did. After all, both were deserving of severe punishment.
"I did in fact give the idea of attacking the tribe," said Stinger. The rest of the Purists bore confused and surprised looks. The way he responded was so calm and casual. They at least expected some protest out of him from being put on the spot like this.
"But I would like to mention that while it was my idea, my colleagues should have talked me out of it. Therefore, they're as much in the wrong as I," said Stinger.
"Wha- It was your idea!" said Adrian with a glare.
"It was merely a suggestion. You and the others were just too stupid to follow through with it. I never forced any of you. You easily could've let me go on my own if not talk me out of it. You joined in instead," said Stinger with a smirk.
"Are you serious?" asked Alexandra in shock. Meanwhile a few men that stood in the throne room began to speak up. They were dressed in long robes.
"They should be executed at once! They not only defied her Majesty, they've also provoked an attack on a neutral faction that may ally themselves with the enemy in light of this!" shouted a court member.
"Agreed!" shouted another man. The court was full of angry cries as they called for the heads of the Purists. Scar bowed his head, as the other Purists glared at Stinger.
"Hang them! Flog them! Stone them! Bludgeon them!" the court members began to shout out punishments for the Purists.
"Settle down. Settle down," said Malicia, raising a hand, silencing the court.
"The Purists' error deserves a more permanent discipline. Something that they can't be easily relieved of. More harsh than torture, and less merciful than death," said Malicia. She then turned to Sigyn.
"Prepare the Purists," said Malicia with a dark smile. Sigyn giggled maliciously as she began to make her way to the Purists.
"Get moving, boy toys! And ladies," said Sigyn, though her tone was more disinterested once referring to the women. She began to escort the Purists out of the room.
"Not you uh... Stinger, was it? You stay right here," said Malicia.
"You heard her," said Sigyn, shoving the man out of the line.
"Hey! Why doesn't he-" Alexandra was interrupted as Sigyn ushered her out of the room.
"That'll be all. You're dismissed," said Malicia, waving to the members of the court. They all began to leave, though some a bit dissatisfied since they may not be able to witness any punishment. As they left, Malicia looked to Stinger, who had his arms pressed close over his chest.
"You seem to be holding yourself tightly. Are you cold?" asked Malicia, walking by the man.
"It's just a nasty flesh wound from the attack," said Stinger. Malicia nodded in understanding.
"I see. Perhaps I should take a look. You wouldn't want it to get infected," said Malicia as she stepped close to Stinger. Before the man could protest, Malicia grabbed what cloth she could and yanked it off. Stinger suddenly screamed in agony as the shirt was torn off, exposing a bit of the slashes over his mostly covered chest. But, his form began to shift and change. It seemed to grow slimmer.
"Hmph. I thought that your scent was off," said Malicia.
Stinger stood as his hair had turned to a dark violet with golden highlights. His body became more of an hourglass shape, and appeared a bit shorter than he originally appeared. Red eyes narrowed at the Empress. This man was in fact a woman. This woman's hair was short, but she appeared feminine, unlike the more masculine look she had moments before. She held arms over her now exposed breasts, as her skin bled.
"What a twist!" exclaimed Maximilian in shock.
"Impressive. An enchanted cloth that can change your identity. It looks like you bind your breast. I assume this enchantment has its limits," said Malicia, looking over the torn cloth she held. She found the woman glaring at her.
"Is Stinger really your name?" asked Malicia.
"No. It's Megaguirus," said the woman, her tone harsh.
"Hmm. With the enchantment gone... It was hiding more of your true nature. You're a Demi-Titan. Why would you work for the Purists, who seek your destruction?" asked Malicia in confusion.
"Heh. That's where you're mistaken. The Transmutant Revolutionaries run the Purists." Megaguirus smirked. Maximilian suddenly began to giggle. Megaguirus looked at him in confusion.
"What's so funny?" asked Megaguirus.
"Oh, you're about to find out," giggled Max.
The Iwi village was still recovering from the chaos from earlier. Some progress was made, but work was still needed to be done. As most of the teens helped around with whatever they could, the adults were mainly together, recapping on what was next.
"So you don't know the identities of the ones who attacked?" asked David.
"All I know is that the Dogomites swooped in and carried them off," said Kong with a sigh.
"I know who they are," interjected Aiko. This drew the attention of the two men.
"They were from our world. They call themselves, Purists," said Aiko.
"Hmm. I believe Angirasu mentioned them once. Then they must be in league with the Dogomites," said Kong.
"If that's the case, then we may need to discuss-" David was interrupted as the shrieks of birds came from above. Everyone shot their heads up and ground a great flock of great birds. On their backs were more Sacramentonian soldiers, making up a platoon. They landed, allowing the soldiers to hop off.
"What is the meaning of this?!" demanded Kong. However, he noticed the confused look on David's face.
"I-I don't know. Hold on," said David, as he began to make his way to one of the soldiers. He was older than most of the men in the platoon, and wore a blue plume over his helmet.
"Captain, what is the meaning of this?" demanded David, as the Sacramentonians began to spread out.
"We received word that an enemy force has been sighted in the area. The Zeta," said the Captain.
"The Zeta? You mean the rumored faction allied with the Dogomites?" asked David.
"The very same. And there they are," said the Captain, as the Sacramentonian soldiers approached the MONARCH soldiers, weapons drawn.
"Hey!" barked Aiko. Meanwhile, the teenagers bore looks of alarm at what they were witnessing.
"No one move! In the name of the Crown, you are under arrest!" said a Sacramentonian.
"Under what charges?!" asked Koizumi incredulously.
"You are accused as being in league with a faction that has preyed on small villages within Sacramentonian territory. The Zetas," said the soldier, as some soldiers stood, with their hands glowing. The rest held spears or swords.
"The Zetas? Why would-" Sunset was interrupted as Mosura gasped in alarm.
"Battra!" cried Mosura. She watched as a few Sacramentonians forced Battra, Inoue and a few other low ranking soldiers to the rest of the platoon.
"Wait! Your highness, they can't be the Zetas!" said Sunset, calling to Prince David.
"They match the description. Your highness, the King has requested your return for the trial," said the Captain.
"Trial?!" exclaimed the teens. David sighed.
"Very well," said David as he followed the captain.
"Wait, Prince David!" called Mosura, frantic. Angirasu watched as his mother was herded along with the rest of the platoon of MONARCH soldiers. She looked back at him, a pained look on her face. Angirasu felt a knot in his stomach as their eyes met. In just moments, the soldiers were restrained in cuffs, made entirely of magic. The Sacrementonians began to board the birds, which shrieked as they took off, carrying what remained of the platoon.
"Ah fuck!" cried Baragon, as the Guardians, Iwi, teens and mothers watched as the soldiers were carried off. Some cried out as they were carried by the large birds, away from the village.
"Damn. This rescue mission just got a lot more complicated." Miwa lamented.
Lur, Malicia's Citadel...
Sigyn's heals echoed through the halls of the the citadel. Along the way, she felt a growing annoyance at the whining of the prisoners that she was escorting.
"Where are you taking us, you pointy eared whore?" demanded Alexandra. Sigyn sighed.
"Just shut the hell up. We're almost there," said Sigyn as a guard opened up a pair of heavy doors. She led them inside, their chains clanked and echoed through the large dark room. There were no windows present, nor any cells.
"This isn't the dungeon," said Scar in confusion. Sigyn smirked at him.
"Who said anything about you going to the dungeon?" asked Sigyn.
"Wha..." Scar still appeared confused. Sigyn giggled wickedly.
"Malicia has other plans for you," said Sigyn as she walked out of the room. She closed the heavy doors behind herself, leaving the Purists alone in the dark room.
"Wh-What did she mean by that?" asked Alexandra. There was a sudden hum in the air. The Purists turned to find a trail of lights to appear in the darkness in an arch motion. A bright light suddenly lit up a bit of the room. The Purists squinted through the sudden brightness, having been disoriented. But as their sights adjusted, they saw a large familiar archway that stood at the end of the room. It was like the one they escaped through from MONARCH. Only this one was a bit smaller in scale, only able to fit into this room. It was a lot cleaner and sleeker in appearance compared to the other, which bore many conduits and steel frames that were visible to the eye. However, this archway looked to have been made completely of a clean metal, without a single internal piece in sight.
"What the hell?" Dreadnought cocked his head. Adrian suddenly rushed to the doors and began to bang her fists against it.
"Let us out of here! What's something like this doing here?!" demanded Adrian. The rest of the Purists followed in suit, banging on the doors. They demanded for release. No doubt anyone would hear them at this rate. Unbeknownst to the Purists, male figures dressed in dark suits emerged from the portal of the archway. They stalked towards the panicking Purists, who were none the wiser to their presence. The men swung and struck metallic prods against the Purists, sending violet volts into their bodies. The Purists suddenly collapsed to the ground, their cries silenced.
Junior found himself sitting silently in a room alone. The room was quite large compared to the rooms from the Inns he visited. The bed chambers bore tile floor, with dark colored rugs to be on the ground, made up of a rough fabric. The bed was also quite large, like it was meant for more than one. This was nothing like his bed back home. It was held up by an obsidian frame, sculpted with curves. There was also curtains that hung around the bed, currently pulled back to reveal the whole bed. There were dressers and chests that were in the corners of this lavish bed room.
Junior took the time to walk over to a set of windows, which were wide open and allowed some light into the room. As he stepped out to the balcony, he beheld a depressing sight. At a great height, the boy saw the courtyard down below, which was walled from the rest of the city. In the courtyard was a green garden, which bore some healthy flowers and other plants.
Beyond the courtyard was another story. The city was vast and extended quite the distance. The buildings were dull and grey in appearance. There was evidence of color, but they all looked to have withered away. The grey sky and the high noon shining down gave the land a depressing atmosphere. Junior could detect a faint foul odor that seemed to be radiating from a certain direction of the city. This place almost reminded the boy of a modern day city.
The more medieval and bricked buildings were present, but they were dwarfed by larger and taller buildings that were more rectangular and squared in appearance. It was like looking at boxes with windows.
"Ugh..." Junior grimaced. He then took notice of a startling sight. He felt his heart jumped as he took notice. While it was faint, Junior's sight and vantage point allowed him to see a bit of the land outside of the city's walls. The land was nothing but a grey dead plain. Not a single patch of greenery could be seen. This city was in the middle of a literal wasteland. It was horrifying to say the least.
"What the hell happened here?" asked Junior, breathless.
"It's a long story," said a familiar voice. Junior tensed. He turned to find Malicia to be standing in the room, behind him.
"I didn't hear you come in," said Junior. Malicia smiled in amusement as she walked over, standing at the stone railing of the balcony.
"Miserable, isn't it?" asked Malicia, gazing out to the land.
"The scenery? Not at all! In fact, it's uh..." Junior awkwardly tried to think of a compliment.
"You know, I don't like dishonesty," said Malicia casually.
"And I like to keep my head where it belongs," muttered Junior. No way was he going to badmouth this woman's kingdom when he's pretty much at her mercy.
"It's alright. Even I hate looking at it," said Malicia, her eyes still on the city. Junior glanced at her.
"The air is stagnant and foul. There's too many people gathered together in one place. There's no color. No beauty. Just gray," said Malicia, a light frown on her face. Junior turned to look at the depressing city. This place's atmosphere was starting to affect his mood.
"It wasn't always like this, you know. I remember when the air was clean. When there was room for people to walk the streets. When there was color…when there was life," said Malicia.
"So what happened?" asked Junior.
"No one knows for sure. Some believe that it’s the gods' way of punishing us. Some think the land died because of our mining for resources," said Malicia.
"Well, what do you believe?" asked Junior. Though right now, he started to realize that he was having a more calm, yet depressing, conversation with the 'Evil Empress'.
"I? I think this land was always dead. It only lived because of the Goddess, Arachna," said Malicia.
"Who's that?" asked Junior. Malicia smiled in amusement.
"You haven't noticed? Our culture honors her. From the beautiful architecture that fills this citadel, to some of the remains of the city before the dark times," said Malicia as she drew out a necklace, which bore a small medallion of a silver spider carved into it.
"She is the Goddess of Prosperity. It was said that her fine silk brought wealth to our people. Along with the ability to find rare and valuable minerals and resources," said Malicia. Junior squinted as he looked at the necklace.
"So she's a spider? That explains the arachnid themes I've seen around here," said Junior, looking to the bed frame, which bore a sculpted image of a spider with long legs.
"Indeed. Though whatever reason, she abandoned us. With her gone, the land died again," said Malicia, her tone solemn. Junior awkwardly scratched his head, a weird thought coming to his mind.
"Can I ask you something?" asked Junior.
"Hmm?" Malicia tilted her head.
"Why'd you call me, your son?" asked Junior. Malicia giggled in amusement. It was an unusually cute sound to come from a woman that he witnessed tear out a man's throat.
"I don't know. You just seem like the kind of son I'd want. Strong and handsome," said Malicia. Junior scratched his head awkwardly with a light blush.
"That's... flattering. But also kinda weird. I'm pretty sure you're not much older than me," said Junior. Malicia giggled again.
"Actually, I am. I'm 50," said Malicia. Junior looked at the woman oddly. But then, he recalled that she was like him. A mutant.
"Oh. Well, you're looking great," said Junior awkwardly.
"I must say, your unsophisticated mannerisms are quite charming," said Malicia.
"Thanks..." said Junior, mildly annoyed.
"Oh no. Don't take it the wrong way. The people I've had to associate myself with through my life are full of themselves. Pompous and out of touch," said Malicia.
"That's strange, coming from an Empress," said Junior.
"Believe it or not, I can be quite the people person. The strength of the Empire relies on the strength of its people," said Malicia.
"Or the fear it can inflict," said Junior, his eyes slightly narrowed. Malicia merely smiled.
"That too. It's not a tool I proudly use. But, it keeps order. Without it, there'd be chaos," said Malicia.
"Order, huh?" Junior crossed his arms. This woman was something else. He almost forgot who he was talking to.
"I should go. I still have business to attend to. But I'd like to speak with you again soon. Perhaps at dinner?" asked Malicia, sending an alluring glance at Junior. The boy sighed.
"Sure," said Junior. For now, he'll go along with this woman. Hopefully he can get whatever he can that she promised. If not, he can always just leave. But, he kept thinking back to the others he left behind. Was it right to delay his return for this?
Capital of Sacramentonia...
The MONARCH soldiers found themselves escorted by a team of Sacramentonian guards. They were led into a dungeon, where they were forced into cells.
"Hey! We didn't do anything!" protested Inoue. She was followed with other protests from the soldiers.
"Silence, you wretches! Your judgement will be at hand! I pray that we can find the rest of you so called Zetas before more have to suffer," spat a soldier before leaving. The dungeon door was slammed close.
"How the hell did we get in this mess?" asked Aiko.
"Oi. They said you were the Zetas?" called a man from a cell.
"I think they did! Those same heathens that's been posing as gods to fool the weak!" said another prisoner. A few more prisoners began to stir and had their attention drawn on the imprisoned soldiers.
"I had family in Eloi, you scum! What did you do to them?!" demanded another prisoner, reaching through the cell bars.
"Fuck off, Frodo!" spat a soldier with a glare.
"Come here so I can reach ya! I'll strangle ya nice and good!" said another prisoner. As the prisoners shouted threats, a number of the soldiers felt a growing fear, mostly the younger ones. The older and more hardened ones were stoic and kept a hold on their emotions. But deep down, they knew that they were vulnerable and helpless. All they could do was wait for a trial for a crime they did not commit.
The air was cold. It brought goosebumps. Scar's vision was blurred as it struggled to adjust. The low lighting did not help. He looked to the side and found Adrian strapped down to a table next to him. He looked down at himself and found his own arms and legs restrained on a similar table. He grunted as he struggled.
"Whoa, what the fuck?!" Alexandra exclaimed, shooting awake. The Purists had all soon awoken, finding themselves strapped to these tables. The room was cold and sterilized. They began to struggle.
"Hey! Where are we?!" called Adrian.
There was a sudden chuckle from the shadows. The sound echoed around them, making it unclear of the source. But, they saw a pair of glowing red eyes, piercing through the darkness.
"At last. We finally get to meet face to face," said the dark figure said, moving into the light. It was here that the Purists recognized him as Onyx.
"You. That's impossible," said Scar, eyes wide.
"Ugh. The guy who sided with the muties isn't dead," said Adrian, mildly disappointed. Onyx chuckled.
"Ah. You just reminded me of Ghidorah. He always gets upset when he finds that I manage to survive," said Onyx as he walked over to the Purists.
"What do you want?" demanded Scar. It was here that the Purist noticed something off about Onyx. His ears were unnatural. They were pointed. His mannerisms also seemed different. Almost malicious.
"You're going to become the first of many," said Onyx.
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Dreadnought.
"You will become Transmutants," answered Onyx. Alexandra suddenly began to laugh hysterically.
"Ha! Ah, that's funny. You're killing me," chuckled Alexandra, relaxing. But, she noticed that no one else was laughing. She saw that Onyx was completely stoic. This made the woman feel a growing discomfort.
"Y-You're serious?" asked Alexandra.
"Of course I am," said Onyx.
"Hey, is this some kind of sick joke?!" demanded Dreadnought.
"You're insane! You can't just-" Scar began to shout.
"I rather die than to become one of those freaks!" yelled Adrian.
"Is that even possible to do?" asked Alexandra.
"I assure you. When this is over, you'll be gods among men. More powerful than any pitiful 'Earthbound'," said Scar, leaning close to Adrian. The Purist spat in his face in response. Onyx recoiled in disgust.
"Ugh! Well, that was rude. My previous subjects had more manners than you," said Onyx, taking a cloth from his coat pocket and began to wipe his face.
"Go to hell!" said Adrian.
"I think we're finished here. Implants are in, correct? Prepare for the mutation process," said Onyx, turning to a figure beside him.
The room suddenly lit up. The room looked more modern compared to the dreary Citadel that they were in before. The Purists noticed bags containing an orange liquid hanging over them from a pole. Men in scrubs began to approach. They began to stick needles into their arms, which allowed the fluid from the bags to flow into their veins.
"W-Wait! Why are you doing this?!" cried Alexandra in panic.
"Hey, I'll pay you to let me go!" said Dreadnought desperately. The Purists began to panic and plead for their freedom and their lives. What were once a ruthless band of terrorists were now reduced to being fearful prey. Onyx bore an amused look at their pleading.
"Why deny it? You all gave up your humanity a long time ago," said Onyx. As the bags of fluid began to empty, the Purists felt a sudden wave of dizziness. The world spun, and their bodies grew hot and soar. The Purists began to scream and cry in agony, as their veins were exposed from beneath their flesh. Their bodies began to shift and change. Onyx began to cackle as he watched as the Purists' bodies began to shift in shape. Their faces almost becoming skull-like.
Iwi Village, Roaring Jungle...
The village was quiet. No more were the MONARCH soldiers, who once filled the morning with routine training exercises to stay in shape in the new merciless environment. The only evidence of their previous presence were the vehicles, weapons, equipment and tents that they left behind.
As of now, the Main 7, Dazzlings, Guardians, Mothers, and 3 of the Mutant 4 were present together with Kong, Ann and Dwan. The Iwi were still in the process of rebuilding the damage done to the wall. Most of the wounded have been treated. Meanwhile, the dead were buried beneath the earth, away from the village itself.
"Riku was the one in possession of the controller to return us home. Abandoning them is not an option," said Senior.
"I understand. But I will not be able to help you. The Sacramentonians and Iwi are enemies. And I do not wish to involve them anymore than we already have. I also must remain to defend the village while the wall is damaged," said Kong.
"But we have family among them!" cried Mosura.
"Kong, please reconsider," pleaded Ann. Kong sighed, shaking his head.
"I've made up my mind. I can't help you," said Kong, as he stood and made his way to the wall, where the Iwi were. Angirasu watched as his mentor left. He saw that the rest were visibly upset at his decision.
"Nice Aang, are you OK?" asked Dwan, concern in her tone. Angirasu merely looked her way, stoic.
"Yeah, why?" asked Angirasu. Dwan was surprised by his response.
"I-It's just that... I know you hate MONARCH. But your mother was with them. And Kong..." Dwan frowned.
"Kong's just doing what he has to for the tribe. I don't blame him for that," said Angirasu.
"Look, who cares what he thinks? It's about your mom," said Rodan. Angirasu said nothing.
"Dude, come on. I know you don't have the best relationship with her, but she's still your mother. She came from our world to Equescidar to get you," said Rodan.
"I know. It wouldn't be right to abandon her now. It's the least I can do," said Angirasu, his tone almost detached.
'That's not exactly the response I was hoping to hear,' thought Sunset, frowning. The indifference that Angirasu showed was disappointing.
"So what do we do? They think they're the Zetas. No way they'd just let them go if we get there and tell them they're wrong," said Mosura.
"They mentioned that they were going to be on trial, right? I think I have an idea," said Adagio. The teens looked at her in surprise.
"You do?" asked Fluttershy. Adagio appeared mildly annoyed.
"Hey, why's everyone looking at me like that? Whatever. I'll be back!" said Adagio as she began to rush over to the edge of the village, where two wagons lied, along with a horse and a domesticated triceratops. She had forgotten that these animals were still around. No chance at returning them now.
Adagio began to dig through the back of one of the wagons, as the group followed her. The Dazzling drew out a handgun, which startled some of the teens and adults.
"Whoa! Be careful with that!" exclaimed Miwa.
"It's fine. The thing's not even loaded," said Adagio, as she held up a clip.
"What are you even doing with that?!" asked Twilight. She hoped that Adagio wasn't thinking of doing something reckless with that weapon.
"It was a gift from a village we saved. From the real Zetas," said Adagio, smirking.
"The real- Wait. Adagio, you're a genius!" grinned Sunset. Adagio chuckled as she held up the gun, with a hand on her hip as though she was mimicking the pose of a gun totting female protagonist.
"Thanks for noticing," said Adagio.
"Alright, I'm lost. Is your idea to go down there and shoot anyone in your way for a rescue? Because that's a terrible idea," deadpanned Baragon.
"No, don't you see? We have evidence of the Zetas. If we can use it to prove that the soldiers aren't affiliated, they'll be set free! Then we can get back to looking for Gojira!" said Sunset.
"That was your idea?" asked Dwan in disbelief. Adagio gave an offended look.
"Hey, I'm smarter than I look!" said Adagio.
"Are a couple of weapons really enough to convince the Sacramentonians?" asked Angirasu.
"Maybe not on their own. But a few eye witness testimonies might increase the odds in our favor. You guys said you saved a village, right?" asked Twilight.
"Yeah. We know some of the villagers and where everything went down," answered Rodan.
"OK. Then we have a case to work with. Any chance that you can get a villager to testify?" asked Twilight.
"We could, but no way we can get the village and to the capital on time. In fact, Rainbow Dash is the only capable of reaching the city before the end of the day on foot," said Sunset. She began to feel a growing doubt, realizing how fetched that this plan was turning out to be.
"We don't need to go on foot. We have wings!" said Pinkie, pulling Mosura and Rodan close.
"What?!" exclaimed Mosura and Rodan in unison.
"Rodan, you've done it before, remember? You're the reason how we were able to rescue Goji from the aliens," said Fluttershy, an encouraging smile on her face.
"B-But... I still don't have that much control over it," said Rodan, worriedly. Mosura appeared pale.
"I can't even manage a transformation at will," said Mosura.
"You both can do it," Senior suddenly spoke up, drawing the teens' attention. He looked at them firmly.
"If you both can survive out here on your own, then you can manage a transformation. The strength of all Transmutants comes from their endurance. That is one aspect of your humanity that helps retain your awareness. It all derives from the heart and soul," said Senior. Angirasu smiled.
"Kong said that a transformation can only work if you aren't blinded with fear. Don't be afraid of what you are. Just embrace it," said Angirasu.
"How do you embrace something like-" Rodan quickly fell silent. He hated himself for hesitating. There were lives on the line. Rodan never really hated nor liked MONARCH. He acknowledged that they were just a reality in the world. Something that could be avoided if you didn't step out of line. While most would say that was akin to slavery or oppression, Rodan thought that true freedom came from a state of mind. To be disciplined enough to not lash out and to bring about an expected retaliation.
Even if MONARCH was not his ally as an institution, he knew that there were people that were just doing a job. Whether they hated him or not wasn't important to him. Their lives were on the line, along with Junior's. He couldn't limit his strength just because of the trauma he experienced.
"No... You're right," said Rodan. Angirasu smiled. The boys looked to Mosura, who was biting her lip.
"Mosu, you know what helps gets a transformation down? Having a motivation in your mind," said Angirasu.
"Like what?" muttered Mosura.
"Your brother needs you. Gojira needs you. Don't you want to help them in any way you can?" asked Angirasu.
"Of course," gulped Mosura.
"Then take a chance," said Angirasu. Mosura felt a slight tremble in her body. She recalled all of the times she was fearful of changing, especially when she actually changed in her old apartment. She recalled the pain of her body changing shape, her bones becoming external and hardening into a brown carapace. But, she recalled the security and calm she felt with Junior and her brother. The love she had for them nagged her. How could she be true to her heart if she was too much of a coward to go through pain, physical and emotional, for them?
"OK. OK, I'll do it," said Mosura, her tone shaky.
Later, the two mutants stood just outside of the village. The rest of the group watched from behind the partially repaired wall. Meanwhile, Angirasu, Kong, Senior, and Fluttershy stood outside with them.
"Remember, throw the powder as soon as they get aggressive," said Kong. Angirasu nodded to him in response. Senior looked down at Fluttershy, who stood silently.
"Stand close, and do not make any sudden movements," said Senior. Fluttershy nodded in response. The mutant was surprised at this girl. While she came off as timid and at times fearful, she was actually much braver than he thought. After all, she herself was there to test her 'Eden Tongue' while Junior was training at transformation. Even when she was threatened, the girl remained courageous and managed to tame the boy while he was in a beastly state. He only hoped that carried on for this situation.
Rodan and Mosura both focused. With their minds and hearts set on their goal, their bodies began to morph and change. Rodan was already half way through transformation, with his arms elongating into wings as his flesh was covered by jagged scales. Mosura whimpered as she remained on her hands and knees, her body in great pain. Her sides felt like they were being torn, and her skull felt like it was being squeezed. But even the pain was nothing compared to the memories that flooded her.
"You can do it! Just keep pushing!" said Angirasu. Mosura let out a scream as extra insect appendages tore through her clothes and sides, as her arms elongated into mantis-like limbs. She began to breathe hard, as she reminisced the times she was with Junior. Good and bad. She yearned to see him again, to be in the protective and caring embrace of his strong arms. Then, there was her brother, who was the only family that she had left. They couldn't part now. These things gave her the strength to push on.
In just moments, the two mutants had finished transforming. They stood, growling in relief. Everyone kept their distance, as the mutants turned. Their eyes falling upon them. Fluttershy calmly raised a hand.
"Mosura? Rodan?" called Fluttershy. Mosura's insect mouth clicked as she tilted her head, a soft and whimsical chitter escaping her. Rodan groaned as he rested his wings on the ground, shaking his body. Fluttershy grinned.
"They did it! I think they're self-aware!" said Fluttershy.
"That will have to do," said Kong.
"OK. Not everyone can come. Either Rodan or Mosura should bring an Eloi witness, while the other heads to the capital," said Sunset.
"I can always jog over. So I'm good," said Rainbow.
"Adagio and I will take Mosu to get our witness, then," said Sunset.
"Uh..." Adagio looked to Mosura, who's blue insectoid eyes seemed to be glaring at her. Even though they were structured in the shape of a wasp's, Adagio couldn't help but think otherwise.
"How about you take Fluttershy? You need someone to communicate," said Adagio uneasily.
"OK!" said Fluttershy, a bit too eagerly. Just the idea of riding a giant moth-like insect sounded like an exciting time. She just hoped it'd be a better experience than with Rodan.
"Then I'll take Rodan to the capital. Dash, you lead the way," said Twilight. The tomboy nodded.
"I'll come too. Maybe a 'Guardian' close to one of you will help," said Angirasu.
"M-Me too!" stuttered Dwan. Angirasu raised a brow at this.
"Let me tag along," said Aria.
"Why?" Asked Twilight in confusion.
"Because I'm tried of standing around in one place," said Aria flatly. Twilight shrugged.
Later, Rodan and Mosura found themselves wearing saddles, which had been made by the Iwi. Rodan attempted to gnaw at his own, but felt Twilight smacking at his head, prompting an annoyed grunt. The teens began to mount the transformed mutants, securing themselves on their backs.
"You kids be careful!" called Posey.
"Yes, ma'am," said Fluttershy.
"Why am I still coming along?" asked Adagio as she sat behind Fluttershy.
Rodan shrieked as he stood on his two legs. He began to walk forward, as he flapped his wings. Dwan gasped as she instinctively held Angirasu by his waist more tightly. Aria did the same with Twilight, though she looked to be a bit more excited.
"Alright, here we go!" cried Twilight. Rodan suddenly took to the air, followed by Mosura. They ascended above the jungle, with the teens crying out in fear or exhilaration. Rainbow chuckled as she ran after them.
"Oh my God! Oh my God! We're gonna die!!" cried Dwan. Aria laughed with a hoot.
Meanwhile, Sunset held the saddle of Mosura tightly, as Fluttershy held her waist and buried her face into her back. Adagio held on as well, clenching her eyes shut.
"Oh boy! OK, I think we're doing great so far!" said Sunset as she nervously looked over to drop into the jungle below. She then turned to the rest of the group.
"We're gonna split off from here! Good luck!" said Sunset. Mosura chirped as she turned and began to soar away.
Meanwhile, Angirasu looked back at Dwan, who still clung to him tightly.
"Dwan, are you OK?" asked Angirasu in concern.
"Me? I'm great! Just getting a little clingy with you!" said Dwan, forcing a flirtatious look. But, Angirasu could see through the girl's facade.
"I'm not buying it," said Angirasu.
"So I'm afraid of heights! Big whoop! I never even liked flying in planes!" cried Dwan, tightening her hold around Angirasu.
"It's fine! You gotta get a load of this view! It's amazing!" called Angirasu, grinning at the land below. This was a whole other experience to see the vast green land. Flight certainly had its perks compared to ground travel.
"Never!" yelled Dwan. She cried out as Rodan began to descend down, closer to the ground. The teens screamed at the sudden dip. The flying mutant caught sight of Rainbow Dash running along the land, waving to them. He descended a bit closer, flying just high enough to not crash into the earth, but close enough to be near the tomboy.
"Hey! You seem to be going a bit too slow! From what I saw, he can fly much faster than this!" called Rainbow. Twilight looked to the back of Rodan's head, which seemed to be dipped down a bit. His wings kept a slow flap, with the wind carrying him like a lazy river. He gave small groans as he flew in what seemed to be a slow pace. It was almost like he was depressed or something.
"I think you're right!" called Twilight.
"Hey Ro! Pick up the pace!" called Rainbow.
"Cut him some slack! He's recovering from shock or something!" said Aria. The teens looked to her in surprise and confusion.
"Hey, since when did you get a soft spot for him?" asked Rainbow.
"I'm not! I just thought I'd be nice for a change!" answered Aria. Twilight smiled at her.
"Alright, take your time, Rodan!" said Twilight, rubbing the back of the mutant's neck.
Malicia's Citadel...
The sound of snarls filled the air. A group of Skull Crawlers lied on the ground, held down by heavy chains enchanted by magic. Every time the beasts moved, the chains would spark and grow heavy, weighing them back down to the ground. There were four Skull Crawlers. They were able to stand around 10 to 14 feet in height. They snarled as they were concealed in a large room, made up of heavy stone and iron.
"This is... Unexpected," said Malicia, staring wide eyed, clearly surprised. Onyx sighed as he rubbed his brows, standing next to her.
"It would seem that the new inhibitor chips were implanted in them caused some genetic deformity. Or we just hadn't synthesized the mutagen correctly. They were supposed to come out as Walkers. I apologize," said Onyx.
"No, not at all. There's nothing to apologize about," said Malicia as she stepped up to one of the Skull Crawlers. She bore a sinister smile as she looked into the eyes of one of the creatures. This one bearing hideous scars over the side of its bony face.
"They actually turned out better than I can imagine," said Malicia. Onyx stood upright, filled with some relief.
"Well, I think you should know that we designed something special. But before we discuss that, let me demonstrate the functions of the chips implanted," said Onyx. He gestured for Malicia to follow him. The two began to leave the room, as the massive heavy doors were shut closed, locking the beasts inside. Onyx drew out a tablet-like device and handed it to Malicia, which depicted live footage of the Skull Walkers. The restraints of the beasts dispersed, allowing them to raise up and move freely. They shrieked as they rammed against the walls, which caused the very floor to shake. Some could even feel it from other parts of the Citadel.
"Watch as I give them a command," said Onyx as he drew out a controller. He began to press a few keys. Malicia payed attention to the tablet she had. The creatures suddenly thrashed in pain, before lunging to attack each other. They scratched and bit one another, causing more tremors through out the lower under belly of the Citadel.
"Now watch this. My favorite function. Pausing the entire blood stream," said Scar as he pressed a few more keys, along with one that depicted a heart over a flat line. In moments later, the Skull Crawlers all collapsed to the ground, convulsing before falling limp. The sound of a flatline could be heard from the tablet that Malicia held, as heart rate graphs in the corner of the screen went flat. Onyx then pressed another key. The Skull Crawlers briefly convulsed. The heart monitors suddenly started back up, slowly returning to normal.
"I'd recommend being careful with that one. Wouldn't want to cause permanent damage," chuckled Onyx as he pressed another key. The Skull Crawlers suddenly began to transform. Their bodies morphed and changed, as they shrieked in agony, which became human cries. On the ground lied Dreadnought, Scar, Adrian and Alexandra, naked and in agony. Onyx and Malicia returned back into the room, followed by several guards.
"As a contingency, they aren't allowed to change form without the command given to them.
"Impressive," said Malicia in approval. Onyx handed her the control.
"Be sure to hold onto this and keep it safe. It's your best safe guard against them. I'll even send you additional instructions," said Onyx.
"Your services are much appreciated," said Malicia. Meanwhile, the Purists were hauled away from the room, bounded in heavy chains. They were than escorted to the dark and dreary dungeon they found themselves in before. They were tossed inside, where only old ragged dirty clothes were there for them. They were still in a daze, not yet able to regain their bearings. The Purists then heard the sound of a loud maniacal laugh. They turned to find Maximilian Oni to be standing outside of their cell.
"What are you laughing at, you old creep?!" demanded Adrian, her head throbbing.
"I just find it funny that The Purists have spent most of their lives trying to kill muties, only to become one themselves!" cackled Max. "It's one of the best jokes I've heard in years! Ha ha ha ha!!"
"Stop! Stop treating our lives like a joke!" snarled Scar, standing up and grabbing the bars in a fit of rage. He was sick of this man. He just seemed the most inhuman of all. He was worse than the mutants.
Max suddenly grabbed Scar by the throat and slammed close against the bars.
"Life itself is a joke. Because no matter what accomplishments in life people have, or how they're at the top of the hierarchy, they will always fall flat on their faces. Every. Single. Time," said Max, his voice low, his eyes staring deeply into Scar's. The Purist was unable to read his tone. He didn't know if this lunatic was speaking out of anger, joy, or some kind of uncomfortable mixture in between.
"I think I'll play with little Adrian for a bit. She's been quite mouthy since she's gotten here," said Max as he forced Scar back, causing him to fall to the ground. He was unable to stand in his weakened state.
"Not on your life!" said Adrian with a pant. She suddenly felt a jolt in her body. With a brief yelp, the girl collapsed to the ground, stiff.
"Adrian!" cried Alexandra in alarm, attempting to sit up. Max giggled as he waved a controller as he opened the dungeon cell. Everyone felt a growing sense of horror.
"Onyxy Wonyxy was so kind as to give us each a copy of the remote to control you at any time," said Max as he knelt down. He grabbed Adrian by her ankles and began to drag her along the cold hard ground. He cackled as the rest of the Purists demanded the woman's release. Max merely closed the door shut and locked it, before dragging the paralyzed Adrian away, his manic laughs echoing out through the hall.
Scar slammed his fist to the ground, breaking down into tears. He felt helpless, and violated. This was the worse punishment that he could imagine. This was their Hell.
Capital City of Sacramentonia...
It was the late afternoon. A few Sacramentonian guards were pacing about along the city's protective walls. They would constantly gaze out to the vast land that lied beyond.
Some of the men were still on edge, considering that the city was almost trampled by enormous sauropods. Right now, they couldn't be too careful. They had to remain alert. Suddenly, a rainbow light shot through the land, making its way to the city wall.
"What's that?!" exclaimed a guard. The light suddenly began to race in a circle in front of the wall, creating a brief whirlwind of color and dust. The light suddenly stopped, and Rainbow Dash emerged from the clouds. She coughed as she waved away the cloud of dust
"Gotta work on my stops!" wheezed Rainbow.
"Who goes there?!" demanded a guard from on top of the wall. Rainbow waved to him.
"Hey! You heard of me, right?! Rainbow Dash!" called Rainbow. A few of the guards looked at her in confusion.
"Rainbow Dash?" asked a guard.
"I believe that's the hero that's been rumored to have been around," said one of the guards.
"I need to get in along with some friends! We need to talk to the King!" said Rainbow.
"What friends?" asked the guard. He then noticed a soaring winged figure to be nearing by. His eyes widened.
"Is that a dragon?!" exclaimed the guard.
"No, I think it's-" another guard spoke up. The winged figure descended down next to Rainbow Dash, allowing a few more teens to become visible to their line of sight.
"I think I'm gonna yak!" Dwan fell to her hands and knees, heaving over the grass. Angirasu knelt beside her and began to rub her back. Twilight came rushing next to Rainbow.
"What's going on? I thought you'd have the gate down already?" asked Twilight.
"I'm waiting on these guys! Hey! Tell the King that Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash are here!" called Rainbow. The guards looked to each other briefly.
"Let them through, men," a familiar voice called. The guards turned to find Prince David to be arriving.
"But your highness-" A guard was about to protest.
"It's fine. They're friends," said David in reassurance.
Moments later, the gates were lowered. The teens were allowed to cross. Rodan followed behind, his palms planting onto the ground with every step, like a wyvern. David rushed to meet them.
"Prince David! We need to talk to you about the soldiers that you took prisoner!" said Twilight.
"I'm afraid that they're about to be put on trial shortly. My father and the court is already convinced that they're the rumored Zetas," said David, regret in his tone.
"What if we provided evidence that proved their innocence?" asked Angirasu.
"Well, you would have to provide good evidence to sway the court," said David. Aria smirked.
"I think we've got that covered," said Aria.
"Your highness! Another approaches!" cried a guard from the wall. Rodan turned his head and squawked. The rest of the teens stepped out to find Mosura to be approaching, with Adagio, Sunset, Fluttershy and Selena on her back. Twilight grinned.
"I'd say the odds are in our favor," said Twilight.
Later, the teens found themselves entering a large room. In here, there were many men that were seated around, as a throne sat at the end of the room, where King Gareth sat. There were several guards posted around. The teens were escorted over to a set of seats, where a few MONARCH soldiers from the platoon were seated, bounded in cuffs. Among them were Koizumi and Aiko Riku.
"Holy shit, look who came," said Koizumi, looking back. Aiko's eyes widened as she found the teens.
"Wh-What are you kids doing here?" asked Aiko incredulously.
"We're here to get you out of here," answered Angirasu.
"The trial will begin!" announced a voice. The court fell silent. A tension filled the air.
"As representatives for you and your soldiers, you stand accused as being of the faction known as the 'Zetas'. How do ye plead?" asked a member of the court.
"Not guilty," said Aiko.
"Not guilty." Koizumi repeated. The rest of the higher ranking soldiers repeated in suite.
"If I may, I'd like to put forth the evidence of the accused," said a court member.
"Proceed," said Gareth.
"We have clear descriptions of the Zetas. They were claimed to be men clad in armor as dark as night, wielding peculiar weapons that fired projectiles that could pierce through flesh. They have been seen as of late to be dwelling in the outer territories, deceiving those far from Sacramentonia's center," said the court member. A large map was displayed, with three red circles that were over towns that were at the edges of Sacramentonia.
When we investigated these settlements, they claimed that the Zetas were some divine beings that demanded a sacrifice of members of their populace," said the court member.
"We've never been around those places!" said Koizumi.
"Order in the court!" shouted Gareth, his tone harsh. This startled the teens. Twilight thought this was a more fitting tone for this often stern looking man.
"Recently, we've learned of a plateau near the village of the Eloi having collapsed in on itself. When it was investigated, there were some items belonging to the Zetas that we discovered," said the court member, as a couple of soldiers set down some items upon a table in the court room. The items comprised of damaged and dirty black helmets, with cracked glass visors. There was a damaged walkie talkie, and a torn patch.
"This is what we managed to recover. And as for what we found from the accused, they bear a striking resemblance," said the court member, as a more intact dark helmet was placed down, along with an intact walkie talkie. There was also a intact patch as well.
"While the helmets differ, they are in fact of similar design and material," said the court member, showing off the two helmets. The court was filled with murmurs as the items were compared. The MONARCH soldiers and the teens felt a growing sense of dread. It seems that this was stacking the odds against them. Everyone seemed ready to jump on punishing them.
"But these patches should prove beyond a doubt that they are one in the same. The patch we found is the one thing that was must intact for the insignia of their faction. And when you compare it to the one who took from one of the prisoners..." The court member held up both patches. The teens gasped in shock, while some of the court members gave cries of indignation. The patches shared a symbol. That symbol was MONARCH's infinity insignia.
"What in the hell?" Angirasu's eyes widened. He looked to his mother, who looked just as shock as he was. In fact, the other soldiers that were seated all looked to be in shock as well.
"As you can see, undeniable proof that these are in fact the Zeta menace! For their crimes of deception and the kidnapping of Sacramentonian citizens, this court demands their execution!" said the court member. The court suddenly erupted in cries of agreement. The shouted curses and demands for the heads of the alleged Zetas. The MONARCH soldiers felt themselves pushed more against the wall. The situation seemed inescapable. They didn't know the meaning of those patches matching, let alone some of that equipment. But they knew because of this 'evidence', they were doomed.
"Angirasu," called Aiko. Angirasu looked to his mother, who was glancing at him. She looked to be pale. It was a rare sight for him to behold for his usually angry or stoic mother.
"I hid the controller to open up a portal home in one of the Humvees. Use it to get everyone else home," said Aiko. Angirasu felt his blood run cold when he heard this.
"Mrs. Riku, we can get you out of this! We just need to..." Twilight was interrupted as the King rose from his seat.
"I believe we've heard enough," said Gareth. The teens gasped.
"Wait! We haven't even offered countered evidence!" cried Twilight. Gareth ignored her.
"Oh my God. This can't be happening," said Sunset in dread, as the court continued to demand the deaths of the 'Zetas'. Their situation seemed even more hopeless.
Adagio felt a sudden tap on her shoulder. She flinched, turning to find a mysterious woman to be looking down at her, with steely grey eyes. Her hair was long, and silver.
"You're the defense, are you not? Surely you have counter evidence that could bring doubt to the court," said the woman. Adagio gasped as she quickly reached for a bag at her side. She grunted as she stood up abruptly.
"I'd like a moment to have the floor to offer counter evidence!" said Adagio. She didn't know if these people would allow her to, but she had to do something. For Angirasu's sake.
"What evidence can you offer, child?" laughed a court member.
"Don't listen to her! We have the fiends red handed!" said another court member. Gareth furrowed his brows.
"Your majesty, please! Shouldn't a king be just?" asked Twilight. Gareth noticed David standing beside him, nodding.
"Very well. Present your counter evidence," said Gareth. Adagio took a breath as she lugged over the heavy bag and took to the front of the court. She set down the bag.
"H-Hello. Um..." Adagio felt a growing sense of panic over her, as all eyes of scorn were on her. She wasn't used this kind of attention. But she steeled herself. After all, a friend may suffer if things continue as they are.
"I can't explain as to why the patches match. In fact, I don't even know much about the Zetas themselves. But I can prove that the people here were not involved with them," said Adagio.
"Oh boy, not off to a good start," said Aiko to herself.
Adagio began to open up the bag and drew out a few guns. The MONARCH soldiers' eyes widened while the court looked on curiously.
"I've been in one of the villages that were tricked by the Zetas. We have a couple of their weapons. If I'm not mistaken it’s this one, and this one," said Adagio as she presented a pistol and rifle. She allowed the court and the King to have a good long look. She then set the guns down.
"These weapons are from the soldiers that you see before you. This. And this," said Adagio as she presented the weapons. There was a clear surface difference, but not enough to persuade the people.
"While looking at the weapons alone wouldn't prove disconnect, I can at least show you how the odds of them being the same are unlikely," said Adagio as she pointed to the guns.
"You see, the Zetas wield guns that uses magic for ammunition. While these soldiers use guns that fire lead shells that we call, 'bullets'." said Adagio, her tone almost becoming a lecturing one.
"Oh wow. She's actually breaking it down pretty well," said Twilight in surprise.
"But is it enough to convince them?" asked Aria.
"Can you demonstrate?" asked Gareth. Adagio froze.
"D-Demonstrate?" asked Adagio. She found all eyes looking at her expectantly. She then looked to the guns warily.
"Uh... S-Sure. I can try," said Adagio, muttering the last sentence to herself. She cleared her throat as she took a pistol, looking it over.
"Be careful with that!" said Koizumi. Adagio quickly held the gun away, stiffening. She found the same expectant looks still on everyone's faces. She began to make her way to the table where the soldiers were.
"Uh... Hey, you mind helping me? How do you..." Adagio pointed to the gun. Aiko sent her a deadpanned look.
"Is the safety off?" asked Aiko.
"Uh...." Adagio searched the gun for the 'safety'.
"It's probably mine if it's not. I've left mine off the whole time we've been out here. It's that switch on the side," said Aiko, pointing.
"Ah. Yeah, I see it. So I just-" Adagio aimed the gun at the ground.
"Hey, wait!" Aiko cried. Adagio pulled the trigger, which resulted in a loud ear piercing bang. Everyone cried out in alarm and pain as they cupped their ears.
"Shit! OK! So that's how that works!" cried Adagio placing the smoking gun down on the table. Her ears were ringing.
"A-As you can see, it shoots a lead projectile that... I think it actually ricocheted into the..." Adagio found a hole in the wall. She sheepishly smiled.
"Sorry about that," said Adagio, as she took the other gun. She looked it over and found the safety on. She flipped it.
"OK. So this is the Zeta's gun. If I pull the trigger, it should-" Adagio aimed at the ground again and pulled the trigger. A high pitched sound filled the air as a violet projectile shot into the ground. Unlike the bullet, it didn't ricochet. It instead scorched a small patch of the ground.
"Huh. Wasn't as loud as I thought it would be," said Adagio to herself. She then cleared her throat as she pointed to the ground.
"As you can see, these guns function differently. These soldiers don't use magic for their weapons, unlike the Zetas. The reason? Because they're not from this world! Because of that, MONARCH has never made weapons that function the way the Zeta weapons do!" said Adagio. Aiko face palmed, as a few conflicted murmurs filled the court room.
"That's not exactly the appropriate thing to bring up," said Dwan in annoyance.
"Maybe it is," said Twilight, as she quickly made her way to the front, standing next to Adagio.
"King Gareth, you're familiar with the idea of people being from other worlds, right? These soldiers came from our world. They couldn't possibly be the Zetas. MONARCH is a military branch from our world. They use their weapons for defensive purposes, not offensive," said Twilight. Gareth was stoic, as more court members murmured.
"Eh." Angirasu rolled his eyes.
"So you say. But that does not explain the matching emblems," said Gareth. Twilight bit her lip.
"We'd like to call a witness!" interjected Sunset. Selena flinched. She gulped as she stood up. She began to make her way to the front of the court. She timidly stood.
"I-I am Selena. I come from Eloi," said Selena, her tone a bit shaky. Some surprised and shocked murmurs came from the court.
"My village was deceived by the Zetas, believing them to be gods. They enslaved two tribes of lizard folk and used them to have us believe that we were in constant threat of them. We were promised safety and food if we were to send off the men of our village into the wilderness to serve them. As time went on, they demanded more. Even going far to demand that when boys come of age, they have to go as well. If not for my friends here, we'd all be taken by them," said Selena, gesturing to the teens sitting at the bench.
"If anyone knows the pain the Zetas bring, we in Eloi know. But I don't believe these people are them. Even if they share an emblem, that does not automatically mean they share goals," said Selena. "After all, there's been bad apples in every group, hasn't there? Whether it's creeds, nations... It doesn't mean we're all bad."
Gareth was silent. Adagio cleared her throat.
"As you can see, Selena's village was under the Zeta's control for about a decade. But what you don't know is that these soldiers have only been here in Equescidar since yesterday. Therefore, they can't be involved with the Zetas and their crimes," said Adagio. There were still murmurs from the court. The teens felt a growing tension. Gareth scratched his beard, an intense and thoughtful look was on his face.
"Hmm. I believe now's the time to allow the court to deliberate on this matter," said Gareth.
A few minutes went by. The teens sat in their seats, silent and anxious. It felt like an eternity that they've waited. But moments later, the members of the court returned, along with Gareth. The King sat on his throne, as the court members took a seat.
"What is the court's verdict?" asked Gareth.
"Your majesty. After considering the evidence from both parties... We declare that the defendants are innocent," said a court member.
"FUCK YEAH!!" Koizumi suddenly shot up, startling those around him.
"But, we have one condition," said the court member.
"Agh." Koizumi sat down in dismay.
"We request that Lady Twilight Sparkle, Lady Rainbow Dash, and the other heroines of Salera keep a close eye on them," said the court member. Twilight slightly stiffened in surprise.
"Very well. Court adjured," said Gareth, slamming a gavel. The teens cheered, as did a few of the soldiers. Aiko sighed in relief. Soon, everyone in the court room began to leave. The soldiers were released from their bonds. As Adagio stood proudly, Aiko sighed as she stood up, rubbing her wrists. She began to approach the Dazzling, greeting the girl with a smile. Adagio softly chuckled.
"Thaaaank yo- Give me back my gun, Harlot!" said Aiko, causing Adagio to recoil.
"You're welcome," scoffed Adagio, handing the woman back the gun.
Meanwhile, David stood beside Twilight with an approving nod.
"Well done, Lady Twilight. You've proven to beat the odds stacked against you," said David. Twilight smiled bashfully.
"Aw thanks," said Twilight.
"I will make sure that the rest of the soldiers are released. I'll even arrange transport back to the Roaring Jungle," said David.
"Actually, could you do us a favor too?" asked Twilight.
"Yes?" asked David.
"We lost our friend. Gojira Takeshi. I'm sure you've met him," said Twilight.
"Ah yes. The tall boy with the stern expression," said David. Twilight suppressed a giggle.
"Yeah, that’s him. Well, he's missing. We were separated when some guy attacked us. He was so strong that he could take on all of us. Even Gojira," said Twilight.
"What did he look like?" asked David.
"He was tall and had a lot of tattoos on his body. He kept saying something about going after 'big game'. He even referred to Gojira as-" Twilight fell silent as David was wide eyed.
"What? What's wrong?" asked Twilight in worry.
"I'm afraid that your friend may be in bigger danger than you think," said David. Twilight felt a knot in her stomach.
"The man you may be describing is Endurous. He's a legend in Equescidar, famous for hunting down the most dangerous beasts to ever live. Demi-Titans like your friend are among them," said David.
"W-Why would anyone hire him to go after Gojira? He didn't even bother with Mosura, Rodan or even Angirasu," said Twilight, growing more worried. David furrowed his brows.
"Well, he's been known to sell the creatures he catches to many different buyers. A popular buyer would be the Gladiatorial Games in Lur. The capital of Dogomoto," said David. Twilight's expression turned to dread.
"I'm afraid that I will not be able to help you with anything more, Lady Twilight," said David, apologetically. Twilight's eyes were downcast.
"I understand..." Twilight softly spoke. David began to leave the girl. He heavily sighed to himself.
The prince was making his way through the halls of the court. He sighed to himself. As he recalled the news that Twilight shared, he felt sad. No doubt that the girl was hell-bent on reuniting with her friends. It was like a cruel joke that again, there would be separation.
Whatever the boy's fate was, David doubt it would be in Junior's favor. After all, Endurous didn't get his name from nothing. He was not only nearly invincible, he had a will that no ordinary man would have. His relentless nature made him a force to be reckoned with. Even the powerful Demi-Titans weren't safe. If he was specifically going after Junior, then no doubt he would have captured him by now. The real question was where he was taken and for what. All he did was offer Twilight a suggestion of where he could be. But, he didn't know for sure. However, he promised himself to get word out to be on the lookout for the boy. That shouldn't be too hard. After all, he had a reptilian arm, which was a trait that would stand out the most.
As David walked, he stopped as a mysterious woman stood before him. She greeted him with a warm smile.
"It's been a long time, dear David," said the woman, sweetly. David felt his heart skip a beat, as he was stunned.
"Delphyne," said David, his tone soft. The two approached each other. David matched the woman's height, as her long silver hair flowed.
"Wha... What are you doing here? I wasn't expecting to see you again so soon when you staved off that stampede," said David. Delphyne smiled as she caressed his cheek.
"I came to make sure that the Sacramentonians didn't make another mistake that could cost them," said Delphyne. David held her hand and pulled the woman close. The two shared a tender kiss, which escalated into the locking of lips.
"Your highness," called a voice. David and Delphyne broke the kiss. The Prince turned to find a knight to be arriving.
"Your presence is needed," said the knight. David sighed. He turned to Delphyne, a sad smile on his face.
"I must go. But, I hope to cross paths again, soon," said David.
"As do I," said Delphyne, before turning to walk away.