Due to school and my research project over in the lab my time has been very divided and the story has suffered. One factor is that, unlike a majority of stories on FiMFiction that have chapters about 1,500 words long, I try to make sure mine are 3,000-4,000 words. There is no shame in writing shorter chapters, none at all, it's just a habit of mine to do otherwise. So recently I've been thinking on changing that and dividing up my chapters for more frequent releases. What do you all think? Should I stay my course and keep up the larger chapters, or trim things down for more frequent releases?
In the meantime, I've put together somethings for you. One of you [ ;) ] said they'd love this tale if it was a TV show...well... TV shows need openings. It's a rough draft but here ya'll go~
There is now another, much smaller video in the 1st chapter for you all to view if you wish to understand just what Xenilla and Godzilla were saying before they attacked. I've also updated the Q/A as I've recently gotten alot of outside questions through my email and a few from here on FiM by several who choose to remain anonymous
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Q: Why are the kaiju ponified? Couldn't they just stay normal or maybe be shrunk down?
A: Bluntly put, they won't always be (spoiler, they DO change back while still in Equestria later on), but it is more than any else it deals with interaction. Having them still in kaiju form, even shrunk down; they'd be far too prone to the same old growls, roars, and chirps for vocalizations. One can make conversations around that, even animalistic 'primative' conversions. But the language barrier would be so great that any interaction conversation wise between they and the pony characters could only consevably be understood by Fluttershy, neglecting the other main MLP characters. Ponifying them gives chance for more character interaction and forcing the kaiju out of their comfort zone.
If it was just kaiju in Equestria, or even incredibly Kaiju-escue Ponies, I'd feel it be too much like Copy-Paste Godzilla from Tokyo to Canterlot. In that case we all know that song and dance, and it's been done before by other authors; I wanted to try something different. Also, changing them gives a more even ground for the MLP caste. I don't want this to be a 'X character gets to Y universe in crossover Z and is sole focus of the story', as I personally look down upon unbalanced crossovers. A equal billing crossover that makes one side look significantly less capable or less important is a bad deal in my book. And while I won't lie and say the Kaiju character aren't a major focus, I defintely will not give the MLP cast the shaft. If I wanted the Kaiju cast to be the 'gods' they were with little opposition I wouldn't have changed them.
Q: Why is Destroyah/Desotroyah/Destroyer a mare and why do you call it female?
A: This debate has been beaten back and forth across the G-fandom for decades now. As of yet, Toho has only confirmed the gender for a small handful of kaiju (Mothra, one or two incarnations of Godzilla, Biollante, etc.) and Des is not one of them.
YES, it was a Precambrian life form that in theory had no gender [possible artistic licensing, evolution wise gender evolved several times, in animals, fungi, even some plants; the notion an early life form would have one is not out of the box], but the move explicitly stated that since 1954 it had been evolving on a path we see is similar to arthropods. In other words, if Destroyah didn't have a gender at the start, which is debatable; as it advanced and became a higher life form; it likely did by the end. So what is it? Well if we define female and male according to who reproduces (not all animals use the same XY-XX system humans use, ESPECIALLY not arthropods), Destroyah exhibits clear signs of asexual reproduction via a method in zoology called 'Parthenogenesis' .
Parthenogenesis is the action of a animal reproducing viable offspring without a mate. It's even seen in some higher vertebrates like some lizards, snakes, and birds; but Arthropods, which Destroyah resembles; are the aces. Along the movie we do see Destroyah multiplying asexually. Since all Destroyah look identical [no sexual or individual dimorphism] and can form together, which would require identical genetic make up, this lines up perfectly with parthenogenesis, as many species that can do it can only create genetic clones of the original. If a female Komodo Dragon who undergoes the process has a clutch of daughters, they are all genetic duplicates of the mother. The fact Destroyah's body has different characteristics per body part (its horn had traits couldn't be duplicated on its hand for example, as the case would be in a hive body) and distinct bodyparts like blood, it clearly has evolved to a state it is no longer a micro-organism anymore and is much more like a standard multicellular animal. Knowing that, it seems these micro-organisms are now presumably taking the role cells do in our own bodies, can function like this means which they must all be genetically identical. Thus if one Destroyah 'cell' has a gender, all of them would. The swarm grew and grew in asexual procreation due to a method similar to parthenogenesis. And the only gender that can do that reproductive process, or any for that fact, are females.
So even if Destroyah had no gender to begin with, it likely developed one based on how it was multiplying and combining. Even if different microscoptic pieces had different genders, for them to all merge seamlessly they'd had to have been genetically identical.
That along with it's body resembling a female crustacean, is enough for me to say that at the very least, Destroyah is anatomically female and thus this anatomy transferred over to the Ponyverse and made her look like a mare. I still might make it so it has no gender and just looks female, I may not. This is all theory, but until Toho says otherwise, I'm using my zoological study and the kaiju's anatomy to make my best guess. And that study and review has made me conclude a female kaiju is a far, far more likely outcome than a male and a more plausible outcome than no gender at all.
via Kaiju and Pony Fan
Q: Is there going to be any emotional material involving Godzilla Junior's backstory like him trying to come to terms with his father's death?
A: I cannot give away much, but Junior coming to grips with his family history as well as being the successor to the throne are going to be a large part of his psyche. The opening to this story takes place roughly 4 years after his father's demise, and some wounds of pain and doubt are yet to be sealed. As is the cost of sentience
via Dartagen
Q: If and when they become normal, are they going to duke it out, like they normally would, or work together to find someway home? Also, Godzilla is based of a Japanese Sea dragon, so shouldn't he be a dragon, like Spike?
A: I really can't give away much when they all change back, but there WILL be a classic styled Kaiju brawl. And while you could certainly make the case Godzilla is a dragon, I wanted to keep the core group about on the same level and on similar circumstances. Destroyah is a micro-organism turned crustacean-like monster that feeds via vaporizing food and she still turned into a pony (*laughs*).
If we are going to get technical, Godzilla may have some resemblances to the mythological Sea Drake Ryujin, but the real origin for his dinosaur-like appearance is a 1953 American monster film called 'The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms', which had a saurian monster. When it came out in Japan, Toho's creators were underway with the first Godzilla film (Gojira, 1954) but had no name or final design for the creature. Some ideas shifted from a cephalopod, to an ape, to a fish. Then the creators saw the American film and decided a dinosaur-like design was best. So while the local mythology, especially considering the country of origin, and what the in-movie natives of Odo Island thought Godzilla was (a sea dragon); it's generally accepted his major inspiration was real world nuclear weapons and prehistoric life. Hope that cleared up some stuff without rambling too much, if I missed anything please do tell me!
via Twilight Mercer
Q: Can the 'kaiju ponies' hop back and forth between there normal forms and pony forms (or changeling in Mothra's case)
A: Yes, and the first change is coming. However to enact the change a certain requirement needs be met which otherwise bars them from doing it at will with no outside influence. There was something in the action of transferring them from their world to Equestria that stripped them of their size, form, and a majority of their power; putting up a 'block' that is alone unbreakable. Something will come into play that allows holes in the block to be opened, but exactly what I won't say for now.
via Torvosaurus428 on email
Q: Who will be the first of the kaiju to revert to their full form?
A: I'll drop a spoiler here and say that we'll have 2 fully formed kaiju in the next chapter, one of which will be Anguirus and the other will be withheld for now :P
via Lennalemurr31 on email
Q: What sort of fights are planned? Are Godzilla and Xenilla gonna throw down? Also will there be any sort of conflicts in pony form?
A: Can't give full details yet, but yes those two are going to fight. As for equine formed conflicts, let's just say one of the kaiju ponies is going to lock horns with a certain king
via Vampychick84 on League of Legends (HOW THE HECK DID YOU TRACK ME THERE?!?!)
Q: What sort of Equestrian villains can we expect to share the spotlight with the kaiju villains?
A: Won't say too much but I can definitely say that Chrysalis will be making an appearance, along with a certain bad dream for the royal family
via RickyRoll5921 on email
Q: Will Spacegodzilla/Xenilla be the main villain?
A: Bluntly put, he's certainly not going to have noble intentions, but Space-a-saurus is not the biggest thing to worry about
via Alpharaptor on skype
Q: Are there going to be any use of fanon material in this story?
A: Not noticeably. Other than some OCs belonging to FiMFiction members appearing in cameos, I'm sticking as much as I can to canon material. There is one headcanon I will be using, but its not hugely significant and I can't give it away without big spoilers as of yet, so that will have to wait. As for anyone worrying I'll go OOC on canon characters to insert fanon ideas, don't worry. One thing I try to keep on target is staying true to the source material. Yes some characterization can and does happen in circumstances like these, but they won't be big at all
via Nima67 on email
Q: Will there be any sort of shout outs to kaiju films?
A: Plenty and from all across the genre. They won't be overly spammed and most of my stuff will be entirely original, but I will be nodding to works or scenes I thought were very effective, both from kaiju films and some other movies or books.
via Anonymous
Q: What other kaiju might be showing up in this fic?
A: While the core cast kaiju wise will likely stick to the six I have selected, Gamera, Godzilla, and other kaiju film monsters will be making appearances
via Twilight Mercer
Q: Why did you make Godzilla unable to use magic?
A: It's not a matter of unable as unknowing. Godzilla just found himself suddenly in a new body with new rules. His old powers are there so he's making use of them. He might be able to learn how to use magic, but without the knowledge to know do to cast spells he has no idea how to use, he can't do spells unless taught. Remember that magic was a very rare occurrence in his world and he was not one who wielded it, the same goes for Xenilla. Someone like Mothra on the other hand could probably cast spells similar to her original abilities just fine. The only one of the 'horned' kaiju ponies who has no magic is Destroyah, as she's technically a pegasus (since her final form is a mutated version of her flying form) but retained her horn from her original body
via TheShaggyPitbull on Minecraft [Ok seriously HOW are you guys following me these places?]
Q: Once the kaiju transform, will they go back to their old ways? And is the transformation permanent, because if it is wouldn't that go against that character development thing you talked about earlier?
A: While personality wise the converted kaiju will be still themselves, even in pony form, certain 'restrictions' will be in place once they go big. And for a very good reason, the change is only temporary and they revert back to their pony form within a few hours and the change itself can only occur under one very specific condition which will be a key plot point
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Well, that's all for now, be sure to drop any more questions you got ladies and gents. Next chapter is almost done, see you soon~