//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1: Call of the Titan 
// Story: The Bridge: Call of Titans 
// by AJoltOfDapper 
//------------------------------//


-Terra, Hong Kong-


The sky was on fire, clouds blazing with the setting sun as dark clouds began to roll across Hong Kong, a distant rumble of thunder audible...
The towering behemoth chuffed, nostrils flaring and smoke tinted by blue rising from the corners of his maw as he fell to all fours. A deep, rumbling growl shook his diaphragm and sent tremors through his esophagus as the Titan's gaze lifted. Rubble shifted underneath his claws as Titanus Gojira pushed himself upwards, tens of thousands of tons of irradiated muscle shifting as he looked around him, realizing the destruction that had been wrought upon the land...
Years ago, four of Earth's most powerful defenders had been lost to the humans, leaving Gojira and a number of his cohorts forced to maintain what little balance there still was following the destruction of Solgell Island in the Summer of 2013. With the absence of Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, and Anguirus, also came the absence of many others. Gigan, Monster X, SpaceGodzilla, Destroyah... The list went on. Even Grand King Ghidorah, the unstoppable juggernaut that he was, mysteriously vanished. With these disappearances, however, came a plethora of problems for Terra. The remainders of the Earth Defenders faction rallied behind Gojira and Gamera as other threats arose. The Breach, a fissure located on the ocean floor, began to spit out a number of kaiju, which never seemed to stop making landfall and attempting to decimate human populations. Xillians had raided Earth again, turning a number of kaiju against Gojira and Gamera, a bastard offshoot of Grand King Ghidorah, dubbed Titanus Ghidorah, had been awoken by eco-terrorist Alan Jonah, and to top things off, an organization called APEX Industries began using kaiju parts to create their own weapons.
Terra was on fire, everything that surrounded Gojira was burning, and standing before him was a creature so vile, so monstrous...
The Alpha uttered a guttural growl and stood upright, his claws splayed and fangs bared as the mechanical version of himself let loose a mechanical stuttering laugh, pulsing red eyes locked to its opponent. APEX had created this monster. It was their pièce de résistance, the one thing above all else that was meant to kill Gojira. This Titan found bemusement in that irony. The only thing that could kill him was an upgraded mech of himself... And unlike Kiryu, created by the Godzilla Defense Force, this... thing was created only with the intent of killing. APEX didn't create something to defend, they created something to kill.
Gojira uttered a tremendous roar and lurched forward, his eyes and jagged dorsal spines pulsing as arcs of blue energy danced across his back. The earth beneath shook with each thunderous step as Gojira reached forward and slammed into his mechanical doppelganger with the full weight of more than 90 thousand tons, his claws clutching and grasping at the metal rib plates that lined the mechagodzilla's side. Gojira's radioactive heart pounded with rage as the behemoth continued pushing forward with blazing eyes. This battle had been raging for more than an hour, and the Alpha Predator had had enough.
With a bestial roar, Gojira stopped pushing against his rival and instead ripped away, still clutching a side plate. The strength of his anger overwhelmed all else as his arm went taut and the panel was ripped away with violent sparks and a spurt of blackened oil. Mechagodzilla shrieked and stumbled forward before its jaw was introduced to the Titanium of its own rib panel, sparks flying off of its face as the mech's head was thrown sideways.
Before his rival could gain any ground in recovering from such a blow, the battered titan roared and gripped at the mechanical monster's left shoulder panel, discarding the rib panel and bracing his other clawed hand against the mechakaiju's face. Gojira roared in fury as the burning blue glow that enveloped his body slowly shifted into a brilliant, bright orange. Smoke visibly poured off of his body as storm clouds rolled across the city and a clash of thunder roared above, a bolt of lightning sparking down and striking the batteries of dorsal plates running down his spine.
Mechagodzilla could do nothing against Titanus Gojira as he ripped the shoulder panel away, clutching it in his claws before beginning to use it like a makeshift weapon, bashing the thick metal panel against its face whilst oil began to leak from the corners of its eyes and down the weaponized jaws.
Stepping back, Gojira ushered an enraged scream at his foe, throwing aside the shoulder panel.
In his first encounter with this monster, the odds were stacked against him, he'd just finished off King Kong and went right into a fight with the being that was trying to imitate him, possessed by Titanus Ghidorah's consciousness. Now though, The Ancient had prior experience with the mech under his belt and wasn't giving any leeway for it to launch retaliation attacks, especially now.
Gojira growled as he dropped to all fours, taking on a quadrupedal form as a powerful glow began to shift outward from his core, sparks of blue crackling across the burning orange hues of his form before an emission of raw, concentrated power exploded outwards, the resulting shockwave striking Mechagodzilla and knocking it back into a miraculously still standing skyscraper. As the rubble collapsed downward on top of the mech, Gojira lunged towards the rubble, the earth quaking as he seized hold of Mechagodzilla's tail, slamming a broad foot down at the base of rubble approximate to where the base of said tail would be. The Ancient gave a rough pull and pulled the tail, a spurt of oil visible from the first segment that would give way to the force of the tug.
Now wielding the disembodied tail like a flail, Gojira swung it downwards into the rubble several times, each impact sending scrapes of metal and concrete flinging out whilst the tail became coated in the oil that was Mechagodzilla's blood. The usual red lights that the mechanical Titan emitted began to flicker as it was beaten down, just as the rain began to pour down upon them.
To call this a duel at this point would be far too generous... It was a beatdown now...
Before long, the lights of the mechakaiju had flickered out, the hellish red of the eyes fading to dark as Gojira stood, heaving for breath. The detached tail was now completely coated with black, and as Gojira looked up, he dropped it with a corresponding tremor to the earth at his feet. Rain sizzled off of his burning hide as the fiery orange began to fade slowly. Smoke trailed from his nostrils as he turned, looking over at the unconscious form of Gamera not too far away, alongside the mutilated husks of dozens of weaponized Gyaos and Skull Crawlers, used by APEX in an attempt to take down the last of the Earth Defenders...
Gojira ushered a guttural sound, less of a growl and more of a pained whimper for a Titan of his stature. Stepping away from the husk of Mechagodzilla, he approached Gamera and knelt down slightly, nudging the guardian turtle's beaked snout.
Gamera sturred after a moment, emerald eyes shifting open as the Guardian of the Universe grimaced and growled. No words were said verbally, but the two were adept in telepathy, so no words needed to be said.
After a few minutes, Gamera stood, breaths ragged as the titanic turtle chuffed, looking over at the far larger kaiju that was one of the last Earth Defenders. The two kaiju shared a brief moment of silence before Gamera steeled himself and pushed up to his full height, grunting through the pain that he'd endured. The battle was won, but the war still raged, and now he just wanted to lick his wounds. Without another sound, the turtle behemoth turned and tucked his legs into his shell, a blast of fire erupting from the seemingly empty holes where his legs used to be and propelling him skyward.
Gojira simply watched onward, his nostrils flaring slightly before he turned, his body beginning to ache something fierce...


-S.S Leviathan, Somewhere in the Pacific-


Ren Serizawa gritted his teeth, narrowing his eyes as the camera feed displayed on the screen revealed that APEX's greatest weapon had been beaten down and destroyed by the very monster that killed his father. He was fuming, full of hatred and anger towards something that showed no compassion, and only knew how to destroy. This had been about stopping Gojira, but now it was a revenge mission. Walter Simmons' perfect weapon had failed, and now all they had left was a stolen prototype of their rival's technology.
A missile that would unleash the power of a black hole could be launched with the push of a button...
The GDP had come up with many ideas over the years, some more successful than others. The Psionic Transmitter, and the ORCA, to name a couple. The one that they had shelved years ago was a direct upgrade to the Dimension Tide space station that wiped many kaiju from Solgell Island. The Xillians had since rendered that station unusable, but during the chaos that had reigned in 2013, APEX operatives had managed to get their hands on the discarded blueprints of the Dimension Tide's smaller, but deadlier Rift Tide Warhead.
In his frenzy of anger right now, Ren was inches from slamming a fist down that would launch the warhead at Gojira and wipe the Alpha off the planet right then and there. If not for his cohort, who grabbed his wrist just in time, what was left of Hong Kong would be further reduced to nothing more than a crater, and all their work would be lost. There was no salvaging what was on a different plane of existence...
Looking down at his ally, Ren leered at her and wrenched his hand away before he stepped back. His nose scrunched up before he stamped his foot multiple times and shouted several words of profanity, cursing Gojira and balling his hands into fists.
"Sir," Sam chided. "This won't be the last chance you get."
"I... don't CARE!!" he roared abruptly, slamming his palm down on the red button without warning. On cue, there came a silent flash of black and white that blinded them through the tempered glass of the bridge before all camera feed cut out on the monitors. What came next was a buffeting explosion as a circle of black could be seen enveloping the shoreline out in the distance...


-Equestria, Canterlot-


Godzilla walked alongside his friend Princess Luna, and apprentice, Chibi Moon, a relaxed air about him as he took in a slow, deliberate breath of air, a smile tugging at the corners of his maw as his armored hooves clopped against the tile floor. Grand King Ghidorah finally dealt with, the King of the Monsters now found that he could finally take some time to himself and his friends, let his guard down, and have a bit of fun. He and the duo he was currently with were about to meet up with Rodan and Anguirus just to catch up and see how things were for the kaiju. Mothra wouldn't be there, but she had business with Twilight Sparkle at the Crystal Castle...
After a moment of silence between them, Godzilla Junior's musings were interrupted as Luna broke the silence. "This is nice," the tall alicorn smiled, looking over at the equally tall unicorn stallion that stood on the other side of Chibi Moon. "After all of this time here in Equestria, I'm sure you've been needing a break from the chaos of being Canterlot's protector," Luna mused.
Godzilla chuckled and shook his head. "Words of nonsense, Lulu. It's been an honor to maintain some level of duty after Terra. I think it's been worth it, but sometimes, yes, a break is needed," the behemoth stallion continued, rather eager to see his friends. Lea, of course, had been worried sick after Junior and Xenilla's fiasco with Ghidorah, and it took entirely too long to convince her that he was fine. Now though, was a moment of respite. Godzilla hadn't seen Rodan and Anguirus in some time, and he wanted to know what kind of trouble they'd been getting themselves wound up in...


-Zap Apple Orchards-


Anguirus grunted as he kicked at the base of a sturdy old apple tree, watching as the apples tumbled down into the baskets he'd placed methodically around the tree. A satisfied smile crossed his muzzle as he uttered a deep exhale. He was glad to return to some sense of normalcy, now that the gumiho had been killed and Ki Seong was safe. Those events, though, were still fresh in his mind, as it had only been a couple of weeks since that point. With said events, the stallion figured that he'd finally be able to take a moment of respite and go back to the gratifying work of harvesting apples...
Unfortunately, however, this respite would not last, as a holler rolled over the hills from the direction of the Apple family's barn, that of which sounded very much either startled or fearful.
Furrowing his brows at the sound, Anguirus tilted his head and flicked an ear, turning away from the baskets of apples. He was sure that had been the sound of Applejack, but he couldn't be too sure. The Daiei is that about? the large stallion mused, electing it to be better to go make sure that everything was alright rather than return to his work. After all, in a world like this, with kaiju free in Equestria, one could never be too sure.
The Guardian Beast of Fire had been trotting towards the barn for about five minutes when he was met with quite a peculiar sight. Both Applejack and Big Mac were currently tugging on a pair of lassos with all their might, pulling against each other with gritted teeth. Between them was no longhorn, as Anguirus would have expected with a shout like that, but an absolute behemoth of a stallion with his bearded jaws tied shut by Applejack's rope and the base of a long, draconic tail entwined by the second one by Big Mac.
Anguirus was quick to note his size, alongside the fact that his dark, forest-green fur was lined with numerous scars and a few, rather fresh gashes that still bled slightly.
"Uh, AJ, who is this?" the earth pony inquired with a puzzled expression that mixed with awe clad upon his muzzle, his violet eyes never straying from the unruly being. This stallion was taller than Godzilla and easily at eye level with Destroyah! Anguirus also noted how little the stallion was struggling against his bonds, no doubt due to his size and presumed strength.
"We're not-- rrgh-- sure! Fella dropped through the ceiling and snapped one of th' rafters 'fore he went nuts!" Applejack grunted through her gritted teeth, just as the giant stallion uttered a bestial snarl and threw his head, knotted muscle lining his scaled neck bulging as Applejack was torn off her hooves. "Whoa!!" the earth mare yelped as she was effortlessly tossed aside, much to Big Mac's surprise.
The rope he held fell from his teeth just as the ensnared behemoth lifted a strange-looking hoof and clawed Applejack's rope from his snout. Fangs now bared, the titan curled back his lips and uttered a piercing roar, lashing his long tail and tossing aside Big Mac's rope.
Instantly, Anguirus moved into a defensive position, not having time to process what was happening. In the back of his mind, he sensed some familiarity with this stallion, but given the current predicament they were in, he could only act on the aggression this intruder now let out and ignored the details. He'd soak in this stallion later, but now, he needed to do his job and protect the farm...
Uttering a roar of his own, Anguirus charged toward the stallion, only now realizing just how big he really was. Godzilla was big as far as equines went, but this behemoth would easily have to crane his head down to look upon the King of the Monsters. Regardless of this fact, the Guardian Beast of Fire acted, moving into a bounding run before kicking off the ground and rolling into a wheel of fire and sparks, launching towards this aggressor with a warcry.
The monster stallion couldn't react in time and was struck in the chest by the ball of spines, which ground against his dull, dusty brown chest scales in a flurry of sparks. He let loose a roar and was forced to step backward, rearing back onto hind limbs before bringing a clawed hoof down. This proved only partially effective in stopping the assault, as Anguirus was cut off from his ability, while still slicing at the bottom of his hoof and stabbing inwards passed the hard outer ring of bone. With a shriek, the stallion stumbled backward and snarled, the pain of stopping the Thunderball leaving him in a spot where he was unable to pin Anguirus.
Despite this, the abrupt halt to his attack dazed the earth pony as he stumbled to his hooves from a sprawled position, shaking his head and looking up at his rival.
The stallion, whoever he was, was glaring daggers at Anguirus. After a moment, he spoke, his voice a deep, rumbling growl. It wasn't shouted but still commanded respect due to the way he spoke. "I do not know who you are, nor where I am, but know this; this little assault of yours has infuriated me greatly," he growled, the tones and patterns of his voice not unlike when Princess Luna used the Royal Canterlot Voice, minus the flare and Shakespearean use of language.
That voice!!
Before Anguirus could respond to his words, an electrical-sounding hum rose above any other noises, just in time for him to notice that the tip of the stallion's tail had begun to glow blue. His eyes widened as the lights trailed up his mane, which ran all the way down the length of the spine before his eyes had become enveloped in bright white and blue lights, of which flickered aggressively. "Wait, wait, hold on!!" Anguirus blurted as he finally pieced together who this was but to no avail. The stallion's jaws had already opened to reveal burning blue in the back of his throat. Oh Tanaka, this is gonna hurt, he thought with a grimace, taking a few steps back. This blast wouldn't kill him, he knew, but he would end up with severe burns...
Before his vision was blinded and he felt the heat though, Applejack had seemingly come to his aid after recovering from the toss, swinging around as she charged the stallion and bucking him square in the jaw.
The stallion's head was thrown sideways as his jaws slammed shut. "Big Mac, now!" Applejack shouted, just in time for her older brother to run up and throw his lasso around the stallion's jaws once more, giving a firm yank while he was still staggered.
On cue, the behemoth was yanked off his hooves, collapsing with a small tremor to the earth below as his amber and gold eyes went wide and ears flat against his head. Before the stallion could begin to regain his footing, Anguirus shook off his shock and sprung into action, rushing forward to pin the beast down. "AJ! His legs and tail!" Anguirus exclaimed, pressing a hoof against the stallion's temple whilst the other was laid across his neck, pinning him down. In this position, it would be far more difficult, not to mention awkward, to shake them off.
On cue, a blur of orange worked to tie the stallion's limbs and tail together. "Yeeeee-haw!" Applejack exclaimed as she stood back, a wide grin crossing her muzzle as the beast was rendered immobile, his jaws tied shut, and now limbs tied together.
The trio of earth ponies stepped back to eye their handiwork, Anguirus ushering a relieved sigh as he looked down. He could see the stallion's muscles going tout, tensing against the ropes as his eyes darted around. The Guardian Beast of Fire furrowed a brow and looked down at his cutie-mark, which was a familiar symbol surrounded by blue flames. This behemoth was beginning to look awfully similar, despite being a bearded, weathered-looking equine...
Seeing his puzzled expression, Big Mac broke the silence with a frown. "Ya know this big feller, Mister Anguirus?"
"I think so," he responded with an unsure expression clad upon his ivory-spotted muzzle.
It was here that the monster of a stallion uttered a deep growl, wisps of blue smoke rising from his nostrils as his eyes narrowed, studying the three before they snapped wide. Here, his efforts to escape doubled, and his nostrils began to flare, ears pinned back as his tail tensed against the ropes. He was in a weakened state from crashing through the ceiling, and his chest began to ache from the Thunderball having ripped across his hide, but that would not stop him. His breaths turned to growls of desperation as he snarled, blue lights slowly trailing up his tail and then mane once again.
Anguirus was quick to notice this, eyes wide. "You two need to go, go get help!" he commanded, stepping back as the lights burned in the stallion's eyes, the sound of something dangerous building up to a loud, uncomfortable hum.
"What 'bout you?!" Applejack exclaimed, not turning tail just yet. Not until her friend was guaranteed safe.
"I'll hold him off! But you two need to get outta here!"
Before anypony could do anything more, the ropes around the aggressor's snout burst into flame and his jaws went wide, a beam of blue fire erupting from the jaws of the monster like a flamethrower. The sound of ropes snapping was quick to follow as the stallion kicked his legs free and slowly stood up, his eyes still pulsating with luminescence as he slowly turned his gaze to Anguirus, smoke trailing from the corners of his maw and out of his nostrils. "You know not what power you contend with, Child," he started. "So let me make myself very clear..." He stomped towards Anguirus, snarling as Applejack and Big Mac began to back away.
Anguirus, on the other hand, had since come to the realization of who this individual was, and made a point not to show fear, as terrified (or not), as he may have been. His expression was stoic, unwavering, as this behemoth loomed over him.
"I am the one the King calls upon when his armies are torn apart, after giving that very king his title, do you understand me? I am The Ancient, The Alpha Predator, the God of Destruction." His fangs were bared as he stood over Anguirus. "I am... Death." Without warning, he lunged forward, body-slamming Anguirus and shoving him back before standing up briefly on his hind legs and slamming down again.
The earth pony below just barely managed to stagger away as the stallion thundered down where Anguirus' spine would have been, his eyes wide as he came to the grim conclusion that, while he recognized this beast, the beast did not share such recollection of him, and was far too infuriated at this moment to be reasoned with. He was clearly outmatched, in size and strength, and it would take more than just him to bring down the stallion that was a transformed Gojira.
Lea! I don't have time to explain, my head's about to get caved in, but Gojira is here and he is out for blood! I need help! he shouted telepathically to the only cohort he could think of that he knew was closest to the orchard, just as he slid down a hill on his hooves in his frantic attempt to avoid a beam of burning blue brilliance. Normally, Anguirus would never back down from a fight, but this was a whole new ballpark of messed up...