Chapter Text
INFANT ISLAND - JULY 18TH, 2026
The third shockwave tore through the island and engulfed the numerous ships off the coast of the island. A gleaming light blinded everyone in close vicinity, covering their eyes hastily. The crew in the osprey quickly dropped to the ground for protection, brightness crashing in all over.
On the Marauder, the Directors all watched silently. Neither of them dared to utter a word, anxious of what the other may say. A good few seconds passed. Most of them, waiting to see if either Titan would rise from the aftermath.
“If I’m not mistaken,” Gondo was the first to pipe up. “Our outer cameras caught two ospreys from the Skull Island voyage going down over the island.”
Guillermin retrieved a small tablet from his pocket, going over the reports from the security system. “That would be correct. Now that the main targets seem to have settled down, it would be ideal to send over a team to investigate.”
Mark was already on his way, calling out to a trio of officers on deck. “You three! Get a boat on the water ASAP! And wait for me until you cast off!”
“Do we have any idea what we just witnessed?” Goro murmured, the sight still taking its toll on him. “Apart from the rivalry on display.”
“My best guess is that’s it something we won’t be able to understand for a long time,” Guillermin responded. He slowly looked back at his tablet as another alert popped up on the display. One of their outposts was giving off unnatural readings, blaring abnormally. He opted to get a glimpse through a security camera system. Alas, he was met with the flickering sight of rushing water and debris crashing into the lens, a somber and mournful sight. “It... It appears Skull Island has succumbed to the storm.”
Russell and Gondo exchanged subtly alarmed gazes. They hunched over to take a look at the footage, watching in disbelief as the prehistoric land started to break apart and take its place in extinction.
Mark barely took a second as the soldiers confirmed the boat was ready to takeoff, hastily rushing over as his two fellow Directors grimaced in bewilderment and horror. Their moment of shock was interrupted by Doctor Stanton jogging over, heaving heavily as he ran.
“D-D-Directors...” He gasped. “Y-Y-You need t-to see this...” And handed over a high range Geiger counter.
Guillermin took it, reading the rather mundane roentgen reading on the LCD screen. “What am I meant to be looking at here Doctor?”
Rick leaned over and set the counter back by a few hours. The reading was gargantuan, a sound case of death after exposure for at least an hour.
“It’s the radiation reading from the island,” he explained. “During the fight, at least. But now it’s... it’s...”
“So what are you suggesting?” Gondo asked. “That this new Titanus Mosura was able to negate its effects?”
“Not just on the island sir,” Stanton sighed wearily. “But... on everyone in the nearest vicinity.”
The three men all paused a low, but a thunderous cry came echoing out from Infant Island. It was sharp and mournful, reminiscent of both Mothra and Battra’s signature screeches. They all stepped closer, eyes glued to the landmass as they waited patiently for anything to follow it up.
“Everyone okay?!” Barnes yelled over the booming sound.
He was met with shaky assurances. Lyla rubbed the back of her neck drearily, shaken from the incessant ringing in her ears. She turned to the Twins.
"Woah, hey. You guys okay? Anything we need to worry about?"
She was met with firm, if dizzy and weak, nods. Ilene's pixie cut was ruffled and unkempt, her tattoos blinking with a subtle sapphire glow as she started to come to. The same went for Ling, who was clutching her temple and breathing in and out softly. Though it felt as if her head was on fire, she could feel a resting, calming reassurance from her sister. She smiled. Grayson beamed wearily, admittedly relieved that none of them had become worse for wear.
“Okay. So do either of you know anything about what the hell just happened?” She asked ponderously. "That was... like Boston all over again. Except we aren't melted bone and scrap right now. And it was more of a beam than a mushroom cloud or pulse."
“A God Ray,” Ilene answered. “S-Something Mosura and Gojira have in common... But I never knew she could focus it on a single target...”
“First time for everything I guess,” Lyla mumbled.
“Hey, can I grab you for a sec?” Barnes asked Grayson, nodding over to a large plate of metal that was covering a potential exit from the wreckage.
Lyla walked over in reply, grabbing one end of the sheet as he grabbed the other. It took a while with both of them in a frazzled state, but they succeeded in pushing it aside to reveal the lush jungle and forest. It was breathtaking, the sight of the once malnourished foliage now filled with life. The Colonel’s face suddenly dropped as he heard a few scattered footsteps outside.
He swiftly turned to Grayson. “What the hell happened with Rammfeld?”
“Nope.” She sighed. “He’s dead. I watched him get ground into literal roadkill right in front of me.”
“Then who-.” Barnes was cut off as two soldiers rushed into the downed aircraft. They were clad in grey outfits, their rifles already pointed high. The duo collapsed back, their hands held up as the Twins gasped in shock.
“Monarch Defense Unit! Identify yourself this in-.” The one leading began before quickly dropping off, lifting his visor up. “Oh shit. Hey Colonel.”
Jackson gawked in confusion. “Wha-? Andrews? Damn, I can’t believe I’m saying this but-.”
“It’s good to see you?” A figure pushed past the two operatives, grinning softly. Mark Russell lent his hand out for the Colonel to take, another soldier turning to help Lyla up.
“D-Director.” The Colonel muttered uneasily. “It’s, uh, good to see you, sir.”
“Please, don’t call me sir. It makes me feel even older.” Russell chuckled as he turned to Grayson. “Dr. Lyla Grayson, you worked at the Temple of the Moth, right? One of the best living experts on it?”
“Yes, si-I mean, um, Director... Russell... I-It’s an honor.” She said nervously.
Mark nodded appreciatively as he turned to see Ilene and Ling. His jaw promptly hung open, shocked at the glowing patterns that remained engraved into their bodies.
“Uh, Ch-Chen...” He mumbled.
“Hey, Mark,” Ilene replied, while Ling simply stared up at him assuredly. “I suppose I have some explaining to do.”
“You could say that.” He gazed at her.
“It’s... something our mother used to tell us,” Ling said slowly. “She said that we would fulfill the role she had once. As a worshipper, an ambassador and priestess of Mosura...”
“She called the myth...” Ilene finished. “The Legend of Shobijin.”
Russell was quiet for a few seconds. A part of him didn’t want to believe it. That the scientist he had come to know over the last seven years was directly linked to a Titan.
“Mark...” Ilene murmured uneasily.
He sighed. “S-Sorry... it’s a lot... But I mean, it’s a pretty cool look. I’ll give you that.
She chuckled dryly, her and her sister rising to their feet as they, along with the rest of the group, started to file out of the ruined osprey. They walked through the luscious and alien-like environment, gawking in awe as they all walked through down to the shoreline.
The first thing Mothra felt was shakiness. She let out a low cry that echoed through the valley as she shakily pulled herself up. The dust and rubble fell from her body, collapsing away to reveal the patterns and bright spots on her wings.
Beneath her, bright red specks flew about flamboyantly. The way they danced in the air made it clear to her that it was all that remained of Battra now. And despite that, she could still feel him resting. Waiting. Watching. Simply biding his time until he could rise once more. She would be ready for that when the moment would arrive.
In the meantime, she clicked uneasily under her breath as he brought one of her front pincers up. She impaled the side of the mountain to carry herself, slowly crawling up alongside the hill. Slowly but securely, she was soon approaching the peak of the mountain.
The visage of her body leaning against the rock was unmistakable from afar. It was as if something had crashed down from heaven itself, pulsating and shining with a bright light as she struggled to keep herself stable at the top of the mountain that overlooked the island. The crew on the Marauder saw it. The team in the boat on their way back was watching in shock and silence.
She looked back at all of them. Her eyes filled with acknowledgment and warmth as she stared at the small humans who looked up at her. When they once thought of her as a god, then a test subject. Something to monitor and experiment with rather than a living, breathing creature. Now, she felt a sense of resolution. In some way, she knew that they would keep their distance. Merely watched as she strived to care and nurture for the planet.
And even further, maybe she would see her King once more. Maybe they could rest from the brutality instead of barrelling into another tremendous brawl.
For now, she did her best to raise her wings high. The patterns engraved within glowed with her angelic bioluminescence, sending a series of rays flying around. She flapped them prominently, a call to any other Titans who were listening.
The Shobijin Twins, Lyla, Barnes, Mark, Guillermin, Gondo, Stanton. They gazed on in wonder as Mothra called tenderly but also celebration. The follow-up call of victory was merely a confirmation of what everyone had already known.
That the Queen of the Monsters had risen yet again.