//------------------------------// // Chapter 15 – What Was Lost // Story: A King to a God // by JDPrime22 //------------------------------// Canterlot, Equestria T.I.T.A.N. HQ There was a slight rumble in the ground in the vast capital city of Equestria. A moment many felt earlier that day, and now with the setting sun on the horizon, feeling a second tremor was not as easily a thought pushed aside. Two quakes in one day and somepony was bound to start asking questions. To add to the tremors, the sounds of a distant cry filled the skies. A roar that sounded eerily similar. Confusion had spread, surely, with many questions gone without answers. Arising and flaring fears with hardly anything to cool the temperatures. Minor panic began to grow within the crowds of ponies surrounding the castles and the mansions of the elites in Canterlot, but even they had no response to the disturbances. Under the guise of a faceless chaos, Mechagodzilla was flown in. Canterlot Mountain opened, what once seemed to be a natural, rocky face splitting apart to unveil the world of metal within. The first to enter were the medical airships, followed no less than ten minutes later by the mountain of shredded steel. The fallen Mecha was cautiously hauled into the hold of the mountain, the dozens and dozens of airships gently lowering the machine down to the bottom of the T.I.T.A.N. Headquarters. If Canterlot was in somewhat of a panic, the T.I.T.A.N. HQ was practically a madhouse. Repair crews instantly flooded the ground floor, small teams of firefighters putting out the small flames still lingering within and outside of Mechagodzilla’s carcass. Most of the machine was deactivated and powered down, but some remnants of energy still flowed. Scientists and engineers took extreme precaution when dealing with the central processor. An engine of insurmountable power, heavily damaged, that had the potential of exploding at any moment. But only if they weren’t careful. Just as the medical personnel took extreme precaution when dealing with the wounded. They were rolled out on stretchers. The ramp of the medical airship hit the solid landing pad, with the stretchers following no more than two seconds later. Lead doctors and staff surrounded the wounded, noting their uniforms, their flags. The pilots recovered from the Mecha, just as they were warned. All five were hauled away, speedily across the catwalk and rushing past countless onlookers with worry and fear drenching their expressions. Especially from the likes of Twilight, Celestia, and Luna. The princess and the directors practically burst through the elevator doors, if only to see a scene of near-madness plague the greatest minds and arms T.I.T.A.N. could supply. They were but a few of many eyes to see the stretchers haul off the bravest and fiercest pilots in all the global organization. All five of them together, accounted for, but in critical condition. Shatter Heart, Cross Heart, Rotor Wrench, Moonshadow, and Peaky Blossom. All five of them with white sheets draped over their bodies, but thankfully not over their faces. Ensuring some semblance of hope. Ensuring there was a chance for them to recover. All three leaders watched them be taken away, Task Force Risen Suns having paid the price for the battles they all thought they could fight. Off to the medical wing, to rest. To recover. To return, hopefully, soon. She stared for as long as she could manage, before the burn in her eyes became too painful to ignore and Twilight had to blink it away. Having known the cold expression grip her facial features more times than she cared to count, Twilight nonetheless felt it shudder across her once more. This time, encompassing her entire body. Her innermost being. A shadow in the spirit that hissed of doubt, regret, grief, and the inevitable pain that always followed. In that shadow, she stood alone, and never felt more alone carrying that weight. A weight that was just as easily lifted by the soft touch of a hoof to her shoulder. And turning to the touch, she gazed upon the calming, motherly eyes of the former ruler and her former teacher. Celestia hardly fared any better, the dread in her gaze and the sullen expression equaling that of Twilight’s own grief. She was not alone in the shadows, not alone to bear the weight of her decisions. Because Celestia held them just as well, and this was not the first failure she had experienced. Neither her nor Luna’s. It was hardly any less painful to face either way, no matter how many failures. The younger sister came forward and laid her hoof upon Twilight’s opposite shoulder, all three of them united together in that sorrow. In that loss. All of them walking forward to the end of the catwalk to gaze down onto the metal world below. Airships and hovercraft, alongside countless Pegasi were already in a cluster, moving high and low, back and forth, all to mitigate the damages Mechagodzilla sustained and restore all they could at the moment. Practically every observation and work station were filled with engineers trying to maintain structure of their present situation. It was maddening. That didn’t even count for how many emergency beacons were activated across the radio waves. The broadcast stations across the HQ were filled with sounds of chaotic energy, and the directors came to understand why soon enough. A single T.I.T.A.N. agent flew down to them from one of the higher broadcast stations, landing beside Celestia and saluting properly. “Director Celestia, Director Luna, Your Highness,” the Pegasus mare declared, breathless. Seeing the nods sent her way, she lowered her hoof and gulped. “News from the global broadcasts. Emergency beacons have been activated across several key outposts and cities within a 600-mile radius of the initial alpha call, and another 900 miles from the second. Titans within that radius are starting to become anxious; some were even trying to follow it, others acting… distressed.” Celestia furrowed her brow, turning fully to face the Pegasus. “How do you mean?” “I’m just passing on information, ma’am. What I’ve heard,” the T.I.T.A.N. agent rapidly explained, recollecting her thoughts. A stream of sweat slowly built and fell down the side of her head. “The ones that tried to follow the call were successfully drawn away from any settlements or cities thanks to our ORCA tech.” Twilight managed to lift her head at the mention of that name. It brought a sense of a relief to the dread trying to claim her soul, a much-needed edge and victory for T.I.T.A.N. after the devastation at Fillydelphia. All she needed was to hear the technology’s name to feel the uplift in her heart. The organization had recently developed and utilized a short-wave frequency technology that they dubbed as the “ORCA”. Named after the whales of the same name, it was meant to mimic an alpha frequency, thus drawing the monsters away from civilization and drastically minimalizing the threat of Titan-related attacks on various established settlements. For the most part, it worked. And if today was meant to prove anything, the same tech was utilized on a grander scale, for events and emergencies such as the one they faced: a rival alpha call. Essentially, the ORCA technology would be equipped in various airships as they proceeded to track down and capture the interests of the agitated Titans. After what they heard, it seemed they successfully managed to drive them away from Fillydelphia and other cities, the Frozen North where the second call originated, and whatever alpha Titan made it. “That’s a relief,” Twilight finally uttered. “Yes, Your Highness,” the agent agreed with a small smile. “The second we heard it, we mobilized and shipped out, bringing the Titans back to their natural habitats before they could venture too far off. We just didn’t expect to hear the second call come shortly after.” “None of us expected it,” Luna replied, not even turning her way. The agent nodded regardless. “Well, we were prepared and acted appropriately either way.” “Which we are grateful for,” Celestia interjected, feeling the desire to offer her thanks, her gratitude, when neither Luna nor Twilight could find themselves to do so. Not because they weren’t thankful, but there was so much else on their minds at the moment. “Excellent work, agent… and just as well to every hard-working pony within this mountain. It is not so simple a task…” She gazed out, down to the rapid reconstruction and recovery efforts made for the Mecha. It was already in the processes of being raised up, locked in a standing position so repairs could be properly made to every portion of the machine. From the very top of its melted skull to the very bottom of its shattered and torn feet, sparks began flying and broken steel began falling to make way for the fresh batch. The mare’s smile tightened, before it just as quickly dissipated. “There were also some reports from our scouts that… other Titans appeared frightened. And… if I can speak for myself, ma’am… that call sounded anything other than natural.” It was then that Celestia’s expression fell to the cold darkness once more. “It… almost sounded like—” “Thank you, agent. You’re dismissed,” Celestia interrupted. Having the words crushed before they could even leave her lungs, the Pegasus nonetheless offered a salute and a short bow of her head to each respectful leader. She was gone, flying back up to the broadcast station to relay their leaders’ response. Leaving them to their loss, the agent paid no heed to the deeper implications of which her warning spelled, or how gravely it affected the likes of Princess Twilight, or the directors for that matter. They did not dismiss her out of disrespect, nor believing her thoughts to be mere superstition. Mainly, Celestia dismissed the agent so as not to openly clarify rumors or fear of what may or may not have been. They had enough panic as it was, but the agent’s words of worry were still sound. They were not ignored. There was a similarity to the alpha call, and it reminded them, terrifyingly so, of Ghidorah. A puzzle was laid before them. Pieces scattered about in a mysterious formation, and they were still missing some key pieces. Without the pilots conscious, they couldn’t factually identify what type of creature they fought, so that would remain hidden for now. The missing Bewitching Bell, as well as the missing guards stationed around the Archives, were marked as high priorities, and a full investigation was already underway. What they could go off of at the moment was the alpha call itself. It did not call to the Titans of the earth for a specific purpose. It gave them no instruction. Just a voice in the void proclaiming, “Here I am! Face me now!” perhaps. Or maybe a victorious roar, an intimidation act initiated after Mechagodzilla’s defeat. That would explain the first call, but the second? They could hypothesize a challenge call to any other Titan in the world, specifically the alphas. It seemed to be what Ghidorah would have done. And there she was going again, Twilight imagining the worst-case scenario when nothing was confirmed. She grimaced nonetheless, closing her eyes with a shuddering exhale. It wasn’t soft or quiet enough for Celestia and Luna to not notice. Twilight’s mind was running wild. The prospects of Ghidorah’s supposed return the center of it all, with other outliers that still made no sense, no matter how hard she tried to connect them. One thing she knew was connected was Grogar’s Bell, but how, and for what purpose—other than assured destruction—she still didn’t truly understand. Thankfully for them, the call didn’t reach worldwide. It was growing though, a bigger radius with each cry. Who knew if it would offer another challenge? When and where would it strike and call next? They didn’t know. They just needed to be prepared. All they did know were three oddly-specific facts: Whatever it was, it destroyed Fillydelphia, utilized Grogar’s Bell, and now they could confirm it as a rival alpha. Pausing on that, Princess Twilight opened her eyes. She lifted her face in a slow but sudden realization of one aspect to all this madness that didn’t seem to factor in… when it most definitely should have. So, she pondered aloud and asked, “Celestia… Luna…?” The Directors of T.I.T.A.N. turned accordingly to face her, one sister on each side. Knowing the longer they stared, the more they let their demeanor fall and allow the inward feelings to flush forth. The care, the worry, the love they held for their princess and their friend only heightening when they saw a foreboding uncertainty grip her expression, and only worsen by the second. And they finally understood why, when Twilight turned first to Celestia, then to Luna, and said, “Have our scouts been tracking Godzilla recently?”