Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

drapetomania:an overwhelming urge to run away

Long ago, at the Hawaiian coast

The underwater tribal city of Kanaloa was being razed by a terrible current. A beautiful woman was making a quick swim for the shore, a young boy in tow. Her name was Galene, cousin to King Orm Marius of Atlantis and wife to Chief Kāmohoaliʻi of Kanaloa, and the boy was her son, Kalani.

Galene took one last look back at the once prosperous city. Her husband was likely struggling against what caused this disaster, trying to hold it back until the backup from Atlantis arrived. Her injuries were slowly wearing her down but she knew the shore was near, she couldn't stop. Finally, she reached land and placed her son on the white sand. "Remember, Kalani, I love you. I love you, my darling." she sad as she kissed his forehead.

"Don't leave me, Mother!" cried the young boy.

"Forgive me." said Galene, then slipped back under the waves. As life left her, she prayed to both Poseidon and Nā-maka-o-Kahaʻi that they would keep her son safe.

Kalani was left crying on the seashore for several long hours. Under his shirt, a faint glowing could be seen, vaguely in the shape of a nine-tailed fox.

Now

Kalani, now known as Mordred Russell, was on a class trip to Metropolis. Already he missed his Uncle Mark, his Aunt Emma, his best friend and de facto cousin Maddie, and Andrew, rest his soul. His attention was on a nearby news screen, detailing a disaster that had occurred some time ago.

Then suddenly, everyone turned their eyes upward. The calm sunny sky turned into a stormy sky. Mordred looked overhead, then saw thunderclouds. What's going on? he thought, as his homeroom teacher, Ms. Rected, grabbed him by the arm. "Mordred, look out!" Just as she said this, there was a giant sound, like a roar and the last thing everyone saw was a bright flash of light. When Mordred opened his eyes, Ms. Rected was gone and his classmates were running amok. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a guy looking like a news reporter running towards a nearby phone booth. He sat up, dusted himself off, and tried to stand. For some STRANGE reason, one of his legs were crushed by rubble but it was just sore, the bone wasn't broken.

"Ms. Rected?" asked Mordred, then that was when realization struck. "Oh, no, Ms. Rected!" cried the boy. "Somebody help! Help, please!" he yelled out.

That was his first mistake. The rain puddles around him started to vibrate. He then heard some of the concrete that was still standing fall down. A giant shadow then loomed over him, blocking the light from the flashes of lightning. Turning slowly around, Mordred though he was seeing a true monster for the first time.

He didn't know how right he was.

A gigantic, three-headed, two-tailed golden dragon with massive wings was looming over him. The wings flapped, creating great gusts of wind that made Mordred difficult to stand up, and he made an attempt to run, but then the dragon fired three streams of lightning from its three mouths. Mordred closed his eyes, ready to embrace the impending doom but then...

...something strange happened. He was alive, red spirals and curves painting his body. The fox-shaped birthmark covering his back was glowing as well. His fingernails were now sharp claws, and his teeth were fangs. And somehow, he felt complete. All his life, he felt something was missing, even in his underwater home, even with the Russells. But now, the empty feeling was gone and in its place was a bright, all-encompassing light. Then one of the dragon's two tails slammed onto him, and he heard three voices talking as one, causing his eyes to widen in fear.

"Hatchling? Is that you? You can't hide from us, dear hatchling...why side with these worms? They don't deserve you. We saw you even as we were in our deep slumber feeling your mark, you have been blessed, hatchling, and only we are able to make you into the God you are to be!"

With all his strength, Mordred bit down onto the tail holding him down. The golden dragon screeched in pain, and lifted his tail. Mordred spotted the caped figure emerging out of nowhere and into his line of vision, and began running towards it as fast as he could, the dragon hot on his tail.

Clark Kent, as his heroic alter ego Superman, helped a citizen to his feet then flew him to the cops. "Superman!" a cop called to him, "That's everyone in this area! The rest of the city had already been evacuated by the American Government."

"Got it!" Clark said, then flew at full speed at the menace before firing his heat-vision at the middle head. He dodged, darted and weaved effortlessly between the lightning bolts aimed at him, some he deflected with heat-vision, and cleared the sky with his super-breath before slicing two of the three heads off with heat-vision. That was when a tiny, helpless figure fell into his sight, running towards him. He flew at the kid and made a grab for him but the remaining middle head took advantage of the situation then knocked him down to the ground with a blast of lightning, then scooped the poor kid up in its mouth.

Clark got up and tried to punch the head that snatched the kid away, but the beast had already left, and to Clark's dread, taking the kid with it. The Kryptonian took off, determined to save that kid.

LATER...

How long had he been flying? He had been hot on the golden dragon's tail until nightfall, but he couldn't find the dragon nor the kid. Now he was sitting on a regular-sized reef in the middle of the sea, sighing. The kid's screams still echoed in his head, screams for help that he could not give.

The waves rose around him in a familiar shape, and from them emerged Arthur. "You OK, pal?" asked the Atlantean King.

"I'm fine." said the Kryptonian. "I just...I couldn't save that kid. For that, I feel guilty."

"If that's the case, we could gather the League for that." Arthur declared. "If the kid's done away with, then we sure as hell gonna get back at that...thing, that took him. We Atlanteans are familiar with it."

Later, at the Hall Of Justice where everyone was present, Clark asked Arthur "Tell me more..."

"Long before the age of man, there was this ancient super species named Titans. My friend the Karathen belongs to a subspecies of Titan known as Taniwhas." said Arthur.

"I know some of them." Diana added. "The Amazons' new home, Skull Island, is ruled over by a Titan named Kong, the Protector. His archenemies are the Skull Crawlers, Titans that live underground. Recently, my most esteemed mother took in an orphaned Thunderbird named Nubia, and she became my sister as well as a honorary Amazon."

It was again Arthur's turn to speak. "The Titans have aided us in multiple wars. The King and Queen, Godzilla and Mothra, were good friends of King Atlan. Godzilla even helped us in the battle against Darkseid, during the Golden Age Of Heroes."

"That's so cooooool!" Barry spoke up. Victor only hummed.

Bruce revealed a set of holographics. "A scientist known as Dr. Emma Russell combined bioacoustics of different Titans to create the signal from a device called the Orca."

Clark nodded as he swiped through the holographics, not only showing the blueprints for the Orca but many different Titans as well.

Titanus Volca-Rodan

Titanus Muto-Mayabarb

Titanus Behemoth-Manny

Titanus Scylla-Skyra

Titanus Methuselah-Archie

Titanus Thunderbird-Nubia

Titanus Northern Serpent-Manda

Titanus Taniwha-Karathen

Titanus Skulong-Kong and Rani

Titanus Gariki-Mothra

Titanus Gojira-Godzilla

"Who came up with these names?" Victor asked in amazement while Barry gawked.

"A man known as Dr. Ishiro Serizawa. Recently he came to me, asking me about my connection to the Karathen. From what she told me, they are all able to communicate with a sort of baseline frequency." said Arthur.

"So this frequency can attract them, repel them and even calm them down?" asked Clark.

"You'll get to know in due time." said a female voice.

"Excuse me?" asked Clark. The other five just gave knowing smiles.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm Dr. Vivienne Graham. I'm part of Monarch and I know, Mr. Kent, that you are upset but we have thought that the boy you failed to save might be alive."

"Ma'am, with all due respect, please don't give him any hope to crash down, he has a big heart, y'know. He cares for that boy just like he cares for every single person on this planet." said Bruce.

Dr. Graham glared at the bat, "I'm not lying. We believe he just got kidnapped by Monster Zero, or Ghidorah as King Curry might know him. The reason is that he didn't eat him and he may want him for something. We don't know yet but we are asking the Justice League for help for this."

Clark spoke up before anyone could say another word. "Dr. Graham, if there is a way for that boy to be alive, please let me help."

Bruce could only sigh as he saw the familiar fire in his love's eyes. There was no stopping him now.

The wind blew through his face as he was carried in the sky. Mordred didn't know how long, maybe a few long hours, since he was carried off by the three-headed dragon. His eyes were screwed shut by the hard force of the wind. He may not be able to see but he could feel the blood dripping down his left leg. Tears were also dripping down his face as he not only cried at the pain of fangs in his leg but the death of Ms. Rected and the fact that Superman couldn't save him.

With a thump, he felt the dragon land then opened his eyes, to see that they were on an island, that was mostly a mountain. In front of them was a giant opening, big enough for the dragon to go in.

The cave was dark and damp, and the inside was hardly big enough for the dragon to fit all the way in, as he lowered his head to make sure he didn't bump into the stalactites that grew from the ceiling. At first Mordred thought they were at a dead end, but he soon saw a smaller entrance when the head that was carrying him lower him to the ground. He screamed in pain as more blood fell down his leg. The bite mark throbbing in pain as he clutched it. He cast a glance at the dragon, as his two missing heads that Superman sliced off grew back. Then, much to the boy's surprise, the beast began shrinking.

No, he wasn't just getting smaller but was in fact turning human.

In the three-headed dragon's place was now a human. He wore a set of armor that seemed to be made up of his scales with the shoulder pads looking like his dragon heads. His hair was the same golden color as his eyes were the same red. The two tails were still out. Mordred picked up a nearby rock and flung it at the man, only to have it deflected by that damn tail.

He then smirked, "Yes, that's the familiar fire I see in my beloved prince. What a wonderful hatchling." With that he walked towards Mordred, who tried to crawl away but with the pain of his injured leg, he couldn't even make it but a few scoots.

He picked him up, carrying him bridal style, and walked into the smaller entrance. Inside, it was lit up by torches. The walls were marked by scratches and burns, indicating that there was many fights in this cavern. But everything stopped when Mordred noticed someone else was in this room.

Covered in chains, by the neck, wrists, and ankles was a man. He had short black hair that was tinged blue. His teeth, which was surrounded by a frown, were many sharp fangs. His eyes glowed a vibrant orange as he glared at the person who was carrying Mordred. He had many scars, some were in fact still bleeding. But what told the boy that this wasn't human as much as the beast that was carrying him was the tail. Which was flickering back and forth in anger was covered by grayish black scales. The spikes on the tail seemed to glow an electric blue before fading. He, too, wore armor but was made of greyish scales that made him almost look like a king.

A fallen King.

The man's eyes widened when he noticed Mordred. Before they narrowed on the man that was carrying her. To the young Atlantean's surprise, black smoke came pooling out of his mouth.

"Ghidorah, what in the name of Gaia have you done?"

Chapter Text

opia:the ambiguous intensity of looking someone in the eye

One Year Ago

"You called me, Mom?" asked Arthur, as he floated over to where his mother was. Another woman was present; she had many tentacles in place of legs and long not-quite-hair that seemed to float about with the waves.

"I'm glad you came." said Atlanna, with a warm smile. "Karathen and I have been wanting to tell you a secret. Can you keep it?"

"Of course I can, and wait, that's Karathen?" said Arthur, sending a puzzled look at the other two.

The tentacled woman curtsied, and said "Yes, my king. I thought you would be surprised, considering this is the first time you've seen my other form." She then snagged a passing fish with one of her tentacles and gobbled it up.

"Well, this is...new." Arthur said.

Karathen smiled. "If that's new, there's more. I'm not the only one out there that can shape-shift. In fact, all of us can."

"Whaddaya mean by, all of us?" Arthur asked, even more puzzled.

"I'm a Titan." exclaimed the creature-turned-woman. "To be more precise, I am a Titanus Taniwha, one of the weaker subspecies. Karathen is only what I am known to the Atlanteans, I have two more names, as all Titans do. I am known as Kanase to those close to me, and Waterwrath to other Titans."

Atlanna took Arthur's hands, then directed him towards some walls. "My son, the time has come for you to know."

Arthur looked at the pictures on the walls, and his eyes went wide in awe.

"So that's all you know, right?" Barry asked.

"Yes. Mom and Karathen told me everything. Ages ago, Ghidorah fell from the stars. At first everyone thought he was just trying to find a new home but no, he wanted to destroy ours...Godzilla was in his way though. The two fought, and Ghidorah got his ass handed to him. But instead of being humiliated, he felt...fascinated by all that raw power. Soon enough, that turned into a lustful obsession."

"Great, so he's a yandere AND an invasive species..." Barry grumbled.

"We had to imprison him in Gaia's Frozen Heart after he destroyed Godzilla's eggs." said a new voice, making everyone turn their heads.

Bruce introduced several people who Vivienne brought. "Everyone, meet Dr. Ilene Chen, Dr. Mark Russell, Dr. Rick Stanton, and Helios, Titanus Goliger. I assume you already know Firestorm?"

"Hola, Superman." said the heroine Firestorm, a Hispanic woman, extending a hand to Clark. "Nice to meet you. Call me Zakita, by the way."

"I'm Clark." said the Kryptonian as he and Zakita shook hands.

"Listen, Clark, I'm just as guilty about this whole mess as you are. Ghidorah can mind-control Titans with a special Song, and...and my brother, mi hermano, fell victim to it. I couldn't save him." Zakita spoke.

"Your brother?" Clark asked.

"I am a Titanus Volca." said Zakita. "This is only my human form, all Titans are capable of shapeshifting. Helios here is mi amor, my courting mate, the Titan equivalent to a boyfriend."

"Wow!" said Barry.

"Calm down." Victor shushed him.

"Thanks for the efforts." said Mark as he came over. "You see, the boy you failed to save was my honorary nephew. He's practically a son to me. I know you tried, but..."

"I'm sorry." said Clark.

"Don't worry, we'll find him, no matter what." Diana promised.

"Ghidorah wants Godzilla for his power as the Chosen of Mother Gaia...that meant as long as Godzilla was strong enough, he could block Ghidorah's Song from others who were loyal to him." Helios told everyone.

"Wait. Mother Gaia...Chosen...you mean that crap Emma was talking about was true?" yelled Mark.

"What do you mean by that?" asked Helios.

"Emma was saying that when we took Mordred in, there was this weird birthmark on his back...a fox with nine tails surrounding a crown was a sign that Mordred is supposed to take over..." Mark stops as Helios went white.

"Where is he?" Helios growled.

"Ghidorah took him." said Arthur.

"Show me the Muto!" Helios demanded, turning to Rick.

Rick nodded, pulling up the video feed of Maya. Helios wanted to throw up as he watches Maya follow Ghidorah, "Dear Mother Gaia..."

"No matter how much Ghidorah wants, he can't have the power that Godzilla has...unlike him if Godzilla calls, those who are loyal to him will answer his call...even those who are albino or have a mutation, we will listen. That is why Ghidorah wants Godzilla, but Godzilla has a protection around his mind but as long as he has enough Gaia's Gift in him...you already weaken him enough to allow those without mutations to fall into Ghidorah's Song...but if Ghidorah could get Godzilla weak enough to get into his mind...he can use Godzilla to take over those with mutations...we never thought that he would escape Gaia's Frozen Heart." Zakita growled, quaking with anger.

"But what does that have to do with Mordred?" asked Mark.

"Everything!" Helios growled, turning to them, "This Mordred is the next King! The one who will take over Godzilla after he either dies or retires! He is planning on doing a Forced Rite Of Rebirth!" he grips his hair tightly, "A Rite Of Rebirth is how we Titans adopt orphaned Titans and human..it turns the child into the same species as their new parent and gives humans a Core to absorb Gaia's Gift but a Forced Rite is bad especially if it's a human! The human won't have time to get use of Gaia's Gift and the process will rapidly force a Core in them but their body will fight the change as well which in turn will drain the parent who is going to lay the egg! That will give Ghidorah the chance to get into the King's head while also getting the next King to follow in his footsteps!"

"Don't worry." said Mark. "Even if it happens, I'm sure that he'll be fine."

"How are you sure?" Zakita asked.

"You know, when we first met Mordred in Hawaii, he was washed up on a beach. He told me he was from below the sea, so he's special." Mark explained.

"He's Atlantean..." Arthur muttered.

"Hope you don't mind me asking this..but are you from Infant Island?" Helios asked Dr. Chen.

Dr. Chen nodded her head, "Yes. I'm a third generation of Monarch. it runs in the family."

"Do you have a twin sister?"

Mark eyed him, wary a bit as Chen nodded before Helios laughs loudly, "Then you, miss, are going to be very important."

"Why?" asked Dr. Chen.

"Because once Mothra hatches, you will probably be the only person here who will be able to calm her down because she is going to be pissed."

Orange eyes slowly blinks open...taking deep breaths, Godzilla tries his hardest to get as much air as he could in him, "Damn those humans...what did they hit me with…" his whole body trembles as he shakily sits up. To his horror he doesn't recognize the place he was in, a cavern. He looks around and his eyes widen at the sight of his pup..his heiress sleeping in another pile of pillows, blankets and Heat Stones surrounded by metal posts.

He goes to sit up but he then growls in anger. Not only was he in human form but he had Dorien Chains on him. They were black with a heavy purple aura, clinging to his wrists and legs..these chains were to not only drain a Titan from using Gaia's Gift but to keep them in their human forms. He then blinked to see that damned parasite petting a young human, right in front of him.

"Well, my dear Broken Prince, I like you to meet our new hatchling." he heard Ichi say.

"I thought you hated humans. Thought they were beneath you and now you want to adopt one?" asked the Gojira.

Ghidorah simply chuckled. "Well, my dear, this human is far more superior than those worms. Just watch, my dear Prince." With that, he brought the hand that was petting the child, and lightning came upon it. He brought it towards his arm. For a second, Godzilla thought he was harming the child but instead of getting electrocuted, the child simply absorbed all the lightning.

"See, my Broken Prince? This child is special. He has the gift of absorbing Gaia's Gift into his body. It's just like last time!" Ghidorah laughed maniacally.

Godzilla could hear Kevin giggle lustfully. "I must say...you even look more beautiful after all these years..and there's even more of you to hold now," all three personalities huffed lustfully grabbing Godzilla's side tightly, holding the round flesh in his golden talons, "So much flesh to bite into, more blood to drink...I miss your blood all these years in Gaia's Frozen Heart..I could hear it singing to me for so long..it was making me go crazy," Ghidorah's three tongues licked Godzilla's face, making him shudder in disgust.

"But, alas, as much as we'd love to do it with you, we can't have you pregnant before the Rite, now, can we?"

Godzilla's eyes widened at that...and looked to the pup. "No..for Gaia's and Hadnatos's sake no! That is..." he wanted to gag, no, throw up. "A forced Rite?! Are you mad! That is one of the most forbidden things you can do! Especially to the child! He will die from something like that!"

Ghidorah laughs, "Oh, he won't die and it won't be forced! I mean we are making his wish come true..we are giving him the family he lost! You'll be his new mother..." He then turned to the child, then began to speak. "You see, hatchling, when we do the Rite, me and the Broken Prince will fill you with Gaia's Gift or radiation as the worms call it, which afterwards you will be put into a Muto's Sac and then mama here," he pinched Godzilla's cheek, "Will swallow it, putting you into his egg chamber. The sac will turn into an egg and you will become our hatchling...a rebirth for you into your new life as a God! Now, my Broken Prince, I have to get supplies to make sure our son has a more comfortable settling in. You two try to get along~" he finally said as he exited the cave.

"You OK? Sorry about this...you shouldn't have to deal with Ghidorah's crap." said Godzilla as he looked to the child.

"It's not your fault." said the young one.

"But it is! If just destroyed that bastard instead of putting him on ice, then this would have never happened!" He stood up, the chains clinking and clanking as he moved.

"I'm Mordred. Mordred Russell. Who are you?" asked the young one, innocence in his big round eyes.

"I am known as Goji to those close to me, and Blazeheart to other Titans. But I believe you humans call me Godzilla."

Black boots skidded on the snow as blue eyes stared at the giant snake who was now hissing at him. "Dammit, Manda! What has gotten into you?! Is it because I ate the last chocolate? I promise you, I'll get you some more when I go to the market."

He stared into his pink eyes...wait, pink? Manda's eyes were supposed to be yellow!

His eyes widened when the Northern Sea Serpent was about to strike when the beating of wings was heard. A giant moth with colorful wings landed, pinning the snake down to the ground then a blue essence flowed from him into Manda, clearing the fog in his head. "Are you OK, Naoki?" he asked.

"Dad...thank god." sighed the boy, now identified as Naoki.

"Oh Mother Gaia, Naoki, I'm so sorry!" said the Sea Serpent as he transformed into his human form to embrace his metahuman brother. Manda's human form wore a light blue tunic lined with icy blue jewels.

A burst of light, and the Gariki, whose name was Kazari, turned human as well. He wore a blue-tinged white yukata, with colorful patterns on the sleeves, reminiscent of his wings. "A parasite that should have never awakened has taken control." he spoke. "Somehow he has beaten my brother-in-law as King...and is now playing his hypnotic Song to control the rest of the Titans."

Naoki growled, his eyes flashing a bright white. "Now, now, calm down." said Kazari as he soothed him. "You know Argus is going to call you and Manda anytime soon. Just promise me you'll be safe."

"I promise, dad." Naoki nodded.

Faora Hu-Ul was going out for a walk, ever since she forced her way out of the Phantom Zone three weeks ago at the cost of the lives of everyone who went in with her, she now had to deal with living on Earth as well as getting used to her powers. She turned her eyes to Mt. Darkfire, which was still spewing out blue lava. She remembered the two creatures that had appeared some time ago, the one with big red scales breaking the volcano apart to attack what look like a younger one with black scales and feathers made of shadows. What was different was that the younger one had two heads and had cried out in what sounded like confusion, hurt and betrayal as the older one ripped into his wing, before it disappeared into the shadows. Faora couldn't help but hope the younger one was fine, she might be a hardened warrior but she had a soft spot for children.

She took off and jetted off towards the volcano at full speed, eyeing a trail of purple blood on the ground. What she didn't expect to find when she followed the trail was to see a young, dark-skinned girl in what looked like tribal clothes and armor, crying tears of lava as she held up her right wing which had a large slash in it. Coming from her stomach was a shadow-like bird's head which was crying shadowy tears.

"Why did Mama attack us? Does Mama hate us now?"

"Lirio, no, Mama doesn't hate us. remember what Tia Zakita said? It's the parasite...he took Mama...made him attack us..."

"But I want Mama, Airisu...I want Mama.." cried the shadow.

"I know...so do I...we just got to hope that this mad banquet of darkness soon fades away," said the girl, then noticed someone's presence. Frightened, the shadow quickly vanished.

"It's fine, I'm not going to hurt you." said Faora. "People around this place know me as Yuno, but my real name is Faora. What's yours?"

"Airisu." said the girl. "That shadow you saw was my sister and other half Lirio. She hides in my body when I'm out in the open or when she's scared. Most people know me as Iris West, and they don't know who I really am."

"Alright then, Airisu, let's take you to the hospital, shall I?" asked Faora.

"No." Airisu said. "We'll be fine. We'll heal on our own..." She winced in pain.

Faora sighed. This was going to be harder than she thought.

Chapter Text

solivagant:wandering alone

Mordred's eyes widened when he heard a rumbling sound. Looking at the entrance, he saw that the boulder that was blocking it was being moved. The boy trembled in fear of what Ghidorah, would do but then he noticed arms—arms—wrapping themselves around him, holding him fast, and then—

Looking up, he saw Godzilla, eyeing the entrance, a deep rumble erupting from his chest. Trying to move a little, Mordred winced as his left leg screamed in pain as he did that. Looking down, he saw that it was encrusted with dry blood. Before he could do anything else, Ghidorah had fully moved the boulder and walked in the cavern.

He smiled at them, it was a gentle smile but to both Mordred and Godzilla, it wasn't comforting. It also didn't help that he had blood on his face. He was carrying a bunch of white clothes and another pair of chains in his arms.

"AWWWW! Look at this! My two favorite people in this whole universe, are getting along. I am so glad for that. I was kind of worried you wouldn't take well with our new son, my Broken Prince." The way he spoke put a shiver down her spine. It sounded like three people were talking at once. Putting the stuff down in a corner of the cavern, he walked towards them. Godzilla stood up, making a wall between Mordred and Ghidorah...

The dragon man chuckled, finding it funny that his mate was already being an overprotective parent to the hatchling. But it didn't surprise him. Remembering in the past how Godzilla would watch over young ones so their parents could go for a hunt.

"Well I know you probably want to be with the hatchling more, but I think it's time for the dear to have a bath. We need to get those worms' scent off of her. Can't have any child of ours smelling like that," With that, he went to get Mordred, who was curled up in a ball, next to the wall. Godzilla leaped at Ghidorah, his claws out, hoping to get the boy at least enough time to get out. But Ghidorah was faster and had more energy. Before Godzilla knew it, he was on the floor clutching his stomach, where Ghidorah had punched it. He then was on his face with Ghidorah's foot on his head. He tried to get up but Ghidorah put more pressure, and Godzilla's face got squished against the ground.

"Nice try, my Broken Prince, but even after only three days, you are still weak from when those worms hit you with that device that destroyed the oxygen in the water. Now it's time for our baby's bath, you just rest there, my love," With that, Ghidorah headed towards Mordred.

Mordred tried to run, but with his left leg being the way it was he wasn't fast enough, and in no time at all, he was draped over the beast's shoulder. He tried to break free, flailing wildly, screaming "Let me go!" but to no avail.

"Oh, we will, hatchling, but only for a little while." And with that, the poor boy was dropped onto the ground.

The caves were soon lit up with a golden glow as Ghidorah turned back into back into his three-headed form.

"Oh, for the love of Pete, I hate turning into that weak form. It's so crowded!" The right head complained as he shook back and forth.

The middle head rolled his eyes, "Yes, Ni, I quite agree but it's best this way. To make sure our Broken Prince won't escape, we have to keep him in those Dorien Chains so he won't turn into his true form and escape."

The left head nodded at that, giggling. "And once we control this world, we'll be able to have him and the little hatchling to ourselves."

The golden dragon looked down to see their hatchling but noticed that he wasn't even there. The middle head looked up to see him hobbling out towards the entrance to the caves. They couldn't help but snort out, "How perfect! He and our Broken Prince have so much in common,"

Mordred leaned against the wall for support, limping on his good foot. Unfortunately Ghidorah easily picked him up. He silently thanked the gods of his birth parents and some other higher powers that might be out there, that it wasn't any of his body parts but the back of his shirt. He didn't move at all, hanging limp as the dragon went father into the cave.

Soon they had walked into another cavern, bigger than the one that held him and Godzilla. It had a big pool of water. To the side of it was a pile of fruit that confused the boy. He then found herself back on the ground but the dragon's head did not let go of his shirt. Instead he was trying to pull on it. "Hey, s-stop that b-before you…" RIIIIIIP! "...rip it." The left head threw away the tattered mess of his shirt as the right head went towards his pants. "Stop this!" he yelled at him but to no avail, his pants met the same fate as his shirt.

Mordred quickly covered his crotch with his hands, his face flushed with embarrassment. Then he heard them growl. Looking up sharply, he saw them glare at the burn marks that were on his body. The left head bent down, rubbing his head over the naked body, cooing at him. Mordred wanted to cry.

"If I find the worm who did this to you, my hatchling...I'll make sure they die a painful death!" With that, the left head started pushing him. Mordred then realized he was pushing him towards the water. Before he could latch onto the ground, he fell into the water with a splash.

The water was cold and it made the young Atlantean want to scream, and on top of that, he saw no bottom. This was nothing like the loving embrace of the Pacific, or the warm baths he'd take at the Russell household. This was a nightmare. As he began to panic, a long thin tail went underneath him, pushing him forward to the surface.

Mordred sent the dragon a death-glare, but Ghidorah only chuckled as he bent his heads down at the little hatchling. "We got to work on that glare of yours. It looks too cute for the future King Of Monsters. But we got plenty of time for that, hatchling," Before he could say anything else, Mordred tried to punch him.

He bit back a scream as blood came off his knuckles. Before he could say anything, the tail that was holding him up went away, making him fall back into the water. He could only sink as the unforgiving cold enveloped him once again, then he was wrenched back to the surface, underneath Ghidorah's tail. "I suggest you don't do that again, little hatchling. Or your punishment will be worse." The left head then went towards the pile of fruit that was on the side. He grabbed a mouthful of it and started chewing but didn't swallow. The boy tightened his grip on the dragon's tail, he wasn't going through that again, even if it meant clinging to a hated one.

Soon a tongue that felt like sandpaper was licking him. It belonged to the left head, using the juices from the eaten fruit from head to feet. Mordred tried to put one of his hands up to stop him while using he other to cling to his tail, but he ignored that hand by licking it too. The juice, acting like some sort of soap, smelled like those green apple jolly ranchers.

The tongue was about to go to his chest when the boy screamed, "Not there, you overgrown lizard!" and slapped him across the snout. The three heads glared at her and Izuku clung harder to the tail when she felt it trying to pull away from her. He glared at him, almost growling, when he chuckled, the left head, (I think they called him Kevin?) then went back to giving him a tongue bath.

By the time Ghidorah was finished, Mordred was shivering and his teeth were chattering. The water was really cold, more than others of his kind could withstand. All three heads gave him a look over, nodded them and then curled their tail around him, getting a good hold onto him. Then they put him under water again.

It was a quick dip because as soon as he was put under, he was brought back up. Shaking his head, Ghidorah pulled him out of the water, the air that now surrounded Mordred's legs gave him goosebumps. The boy's teeth were chattering harder as Ghidorah walked towards the smaller cavern.

Mordred was settled on the ground as Ghidorah lit up again, turning back into his human form. He was then picked up bridal style, and then brought back into the room. The torches inside brought some warmth to him, making him sigh in relief. Godzilla was back in his nest, but when he noticed the two, he glared at Ghidorah. Ghidorah meanwhile ignored Godzilla as he went over towards the pile of clothes and chains that he left behind. Putting Mordred down, he picked up a towel from the pile of clothes.

The boy hated it but he couldn't help but lean in. The towel was warm and soft. It reminded him of home. Opening his eyes, (when did he close them?) he saw Ghidorah put the towel down and grab another piece of cloth. It was a gown, golden silk that seemed to glow. Ghidorah took Mordred by the wrist, making him stand up. The gown was then put over the boy's head, and it was a perfect fit.

The gown went to his knees and had no sleeves. Showing the scars that marred their child's perfect skin. It made him angry that those worms even dare put a finger of harm on this gift. A human being able to absorb Gaia's Gift is a miracle. Usually humans would be burned to death, or get really sick by being even near it. But this child had been given a gift and the worms didn't even bother to notice.

Well, the child is mine now, along with my Broken Prince, Ghidorah thought. "This looks good on you, my dear. A proper God that will rule this pathetic dirt ball in my place when my time comes," he chuckled at the thought before grabbing some chains. Mordred tried to struggle but soon found his neck, wrist and ankles in chains which were then hung on the wall. "There, now you won't try to run away now. I honestly don't feel like moving that boulder again whenever I want to come in or come out," he then turned towards Godzilla, who looked like he would jump and attack any minute.

Mordred blinked and saw Godzilla on his back, his spikes keeping him in place. The boy backed into the corner, shivering in disgust as he saw Ghidorah move his hands up and down Godzilla's body. Touching him but not really touching him. "You've been losing muscle mass, my dear. I need to finish this soon so you and our son can go out." Ghidorah noticed fear in the corner of Mordred's eyes and chuckled. "Don't worry, little Destroyah, I won't touch your mother or you. No one will ever hurt you too again. No one would touch you, at least not yet. Not until this unworthy world that scorned you burns for their heresy." To Izuku's shock, Ghidorah then bit into Godzilla's neck, making him scream. Red lines appeared over his body, draining him.

Mordred looked towards the ground, feeling weak, but then he noticed a slab of rock. It looked rough, with sharp edges. With determination in his eyes, he picked it up and ran towards Ghidorah.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!" Ghidorah screamed in pain, the slab stuck in his side. Godzilla was left panting, before falling asleep from the lack of energy.

Mordred then found himself on the ground, his right hand covering his eye where Ghidorah had scratched it in pain from being stabbed. Blood dripped from the wound as he tried to keep it from leaking down his face. His hand was then pulled away as Ghidorah looked over it.

"It will scar, my dear, the same as your leg, but they will both heal. And scars will prove to many others that you are a fighter. But my dear…for this you need a time out." The teen shivered at that but he didn't let go of his wrist, instead he brought it up to his mouth. Biting it down, energy went through the boy's body, red lines appearing all over him. He tried to move away, to no avail. Then he groaned at the now full feeling that he felt, when all was said and done.

With that Ghidorah stood up. He got the chains off the wall and started dragging Mordred out of the cavern.

"No, wait! I'm sorry! Please! You were hurting him! I…" Mordred was then pushed into a small hole in the ground. It was small, he couldn't sit in it but he couldn't get out of it either. Ghidorah looked down on him as she tried to climb out, holding a small boulder.

"Maybe a night in this will teach you to better behave, son. Have a nice night."

Then darkness.

Ghidorah looked over this world. Feeling gleeful, soon he will be King of the Monsters with Godzilla as his mate and a little hatchling. Of course once he breaks them, then they will be the perfect family. But first he needed to see someone.

It didn’t take long to find this certain Titan. Unlike her male counterparts, she had no wings. With grayish-black skin with red eyes that glowed. With scythe like limbs, it easily destroyed the city it was near during its hibernation. 

The Muto noticed the False King and bowed. She was smart enough to not to fight against this any alpha, knowing doing so would mean death. 

“My King.”

“Muto, I will need your assistance in two days time. During that wait you shall find any Gaia’s Gift and consumed it. I shall be waiting by the sea for you after,” 

“My King?” 

Red eyes started at the female. “I shall need you ready for an Egg.”

Chapter Text

rubatosis:the unsettling awareness of your heartbeat

Opening his eyes, he closed them again from the bright light. His neck hurt from where Ghidorah had bitten into it, but he didn't feel drained as much as usual. Feeling arms around his waist and a puff of air breathing down his neck, he resisted the urge to shudder. He was the King! He always finds a way out, he always does.

It was getting harder everyday to tell himself that. To tell himself that this wasn't going to last long. That he will find someway to escape and this time kill the three-headed bastard. But in the last three days he's been in Ghidorah's lair, he still hasn't found a way out. Ghidorah was being extra careful with the Dorien Chains that keep him from going into his true form and draining him of his Gaia's Gift. He was truly trapped.

Don't think that! Mothra is out there. In her cocoon! Once she is out, she'll be able to get me and the kid…WAIT! THE KID!

Standing up, which made Ghidorah awaken in surprise, Godzilla looked around the cavern. There was no sight of the little boy that Ghidorah had crazily said was their son and heir. Without even thinking, he grabbed Ghidorah by the throat.

"Where is he?"

Ghidorah blinked before getting a cocky smirk on his face. "Who are you talking about, my dear Broken Prince?"

Slamming the bastard against the wall, if it wasn't for the chains, Ghidorah was sure that Godzilla would have blasted him right there with how angry he looked.

"YOU KNOW WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT, YOU DAMN SNAKE! Now WHERE IS THE KID?!"

"Oh, you mean Destroyah! Don't worry, my Prince, the little hatchling is fine! You see, when I was feeding, the little one decided to stop me by stabbing me with a rock." he said this while pointing at a piece of where the armor didn't protect him. There was a blood stain on the bandages that wrapped the wound. "So after I fed the hatchling, I put him in time out,"

"Get him," Ghidorah blinked at the comment. "I said go get him. I want to know if your telling the truth."

With a sigh, Ghidorah took Godzilla's hand and took it off of his neck. "Very well darling," And with that, he left the cavern.

Godzilla's tail flicked back and forth. "Dammit, kid. Please be ok. If Ghidorah hurt you too bad…Please, Mothra, hurry up."

Mordred Russell didn't know how long he'd been in here but he'd certainly been inside long enough for his legs to start hurting. The hole was tall enough that he couldn't reach the top but small enough that he couldn't sit down. His hands were rubbed raw with his fingernails bleeding from trying to dig hisway out.

Oh, Poseidon, what if he decides to just leave me here! How long have I've been down here...Minutes, hours…What if it has been days! Its getting smaller in here… "Please let me out!" he began sobbing. "I'll be good! Please let me out! Please! I'm sorry!"

Then suddenly, Mordred's head went up when he heard the boulder being moved. Not caring that his hands were bleeding, he tried climbing out. Of course, his hands just made the dirt and rocks fall in the ground, but a clawed hand grabbed him by the wrist, pulling him out of the hole with ease. Before he could stop himself, knowing who this person was, he clung hard to his waist, just sobbing.

He felt the hand run through his hair as the monster cooed at him. "There, there, my little hatchling. It's alright, your time out is over," he said as a deep rumble erupted from his chest. To his non-surprise, it didn't make him feel better as much as Godzilla's did. It just made him feel sick to his stomach, that he was even trying to get comfort from him.

He grabbed the chains and started leading him back to the cavern. Mordred followed without hesitation, sniffling a few tears. Before he knew it, he was pulled in a hug. The rumble from this one was soothing. Godzilla brought his face up, wiping the tears from it and then glared at the three claw marks that were going down hos right eye.

"I thought you said he was OK!" he turned to Ghidorah.

Ghidorah put his head down. "It was a reflex. Anyway, I'll leave you two be…I got some plans to finalize," With that, he put the boy's chains on the wall and left.

"Dear Gaia, kid. I'm sorry," Mordred was pulled into the nest. It was made of soft blankets and pillows.

"It's not your fault he put me in a hole. This is probably what I get for trying to be a hero."

Godzilla looked at him with wide eyes before grabbing him by the shoulders. "Kid, you do not deserve this at all! Let me tell you, Ghidorah is a creep. If I had dealt with him instead of just leaving him frozen in that ice, we wouldn't be in this situation."

"How did he get frozen? With how fast he moves, I think he wouldn't be able to stay still long enough,"

"It was a group effort." Mordred blinked. The fallen King's attention shifted to the boy's wounds. The new scars across his right eye were fresh and still had smudges of blood. The giant bite mark across his leg was fully healed. Must be from Gaia's Gift that she is healing so fast, he thought, and asked "So, kid? What's this thing I heard about you acting like a hero?"

"So, kid? What this thing I heard about you acting like a hero?"

"Some people just wanna go out and be evil, like that parasite. We call them rogues. They aren't running rampant because of the good people keeping them in check, the heroes."

"Oh, so these heroes you speak of, they're like the Knights, right?"

Mordred blinked again. "Knights?"

And then Godzilla told Mordred all about the Knights, a special group of Titans that were trained to help him keep the balance, led by his brother Quartz. They answered to him, his true mate Mothra, and their right-hand man Rodan.

"Amazing..." said the boy. "Among the human world's heroes, I wanna be most like Superman. I wanna be that bright light that gives people hope, even if I don't have the same powers as him."

"And I bet you will." replied Godzilla. "I don't know that much about this Superman fellow, but seeing as how you absorbed the Gaia's Gift that powered Ghidorah's attack, I'm sure you could very well surpass him."

Mordred tilted his head to the side, not noticing the blush on Godzilla's face when he did that, "Gaia's Gift? What's that?"

Running a hand down his face, he sighed, "Gaia's Gift is our food source. It's what powers us. It used to be all over the world but with time it started fading from the surface. Probably Mother Gaia telling us we need to hide from humans, since, you know, they like trying to blow us up,"

Giggling at the deadpan look on his face, he realized what Gaia's Gift is. "So you're talking about radiation! Well, that explains how I'm able to absorb it and probably why I was always hungry."

"Look me in the eye now, kid, let me tell you a story." said Godzilla, and Mordred looked up into those orange eyes. He saw concern and warmth. "Now listen carefully, I may only known you for a little bit but I see a spark. A spark that shows you want to protect people."

Many years ago, when Atlantis still resided on the surface, long before Darkseid came, twin Princes were born.

Glaring in rage, the Uncle sneered at the gasping infants, as their lungs filled with air for the first time and they unleashed wails, announcing their arrival to all. Their birth heralded the end of the Uncle's chances of becoming king. The Queen fell back, exhausted from her labor.

"They must have names before sunrise, my Queen."

The nervous physician reminded. To not have names to greet the sun is a heresy you must remember.

"Ja-Ho…Ko-Di…"

She managed to breath out, before her eyes slide closed and she fell asleep. The King held his children and while his beloved wife slept he took them to greet the sun. The sky was cloudless. A good omen indeed. But if he had turned to the west behind him…he would have seen the building storm of his own Brother's murderous jealousy.

Years went by and the Twins grew up. Trained by the finest of all teachers in all things a king should know. Neither worried about who shall ascend to the throne for Atlanteans believed twins to be two halves of a whole person, and thus both are needed to rule properly. But above all else, they were protected by Death himself. The King had a premonition that his sons would be in danger, and thus approached the gods themselves to protect them. None save Death would do it. The shadowy god would watch over the growing boys everyday without ceasing. And then the fateful day of the Twin Princes' fourteenth birthday, the Brother's jealousy boiled over. He claimed the Twins had not had names to greet the sun, and were cursed. And many fools believed him. They stormed the castle, intent of ending the Princes' lives. But the King's deal held true, and Death stole away the Princes before they could be killed.

Unfortunately, to deny his own nature like that wounded Death. He could no longer provide the protection he promised. So he left the Princes with a friend. And begged the Guardian to show the boys how to defend themselves and protect others. The Guardian agreed. The Princes were saddened by the departure of their old friend. But Death whispered a promise to them.

"I shall always walk with you."

Thus Ja-Ho was trained in the way of the Sword. Ko-Di, the Bow. Together they were a mighty team. And they have heard the whispers of the ruin brought to their home by their Uncle. So they took their leave of the Guardian. Only for the Guardian to take up their mantle once more and follow the boys. The Princes boldly kicked in the doors of the palace and challenged their Uncle, only to lose. But the Guardian whisked them away.

"What did we do wrong?!"

Ja-Ho sobbed, clutching the Guardian.

"I-I-I thought we were ready…."

Ko-Di whispered in disbelief.

The Guardian gave a quiet chuckle.

"You are. But your Uncle is old. And powerful. And cunning."

"So we are outmatched…"

"No. You are not."

"How?"

"What are you fighting for? Revenge? Or the Revolution that will save your Kingdom?"

The Princes looked up in shock.

"But it's not ours! It's Father's!"

"So you are well with the suffering of the People? Because it's not yours?"

"NO! WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP!"

"Then I dare say this Kingdom is more yours then your Uncle's. He slain your Father. So this is not his either. Take it from him."

"It's…It's…It's ours…Our people are suffering. Our people are dying. We have to stop it."

The Guardian smiled.

"Then you know what to do."

And the Princes did. Town by town, acre by acre, they freed their people. Until at last they stood before the palace once more. Older, wiser, the Twins called their Uncle out. Begging him to consider them family. He refused. And so the life blood of a nation tore the palace down. Led by the Princes. They stormed the Throne Room and took their Uncle's crown…and broke it. They beheld their people and raised the broken crown when a horrified gasp came from the people. Behind the Princes the Uncle held a fearsome sword. Then Death touched Ja-Ho's Sword and Ko-Di's Bow and blue fire danced on the weapons. Together, they fought their Uncle. Together, they brought him low. And Together, they chose to give his fate to the People. Alone they couldn't succeed. But Together, you can topple mountains. Never forget that. Anyone that cannot stand silent in the face of injustice is a hero. Anyone that throws so much as a pebble against evil is a hero. And sometimes, a hero is just one who survives against evil.

"Thank you." Mordred smiled. "But before that, I think I gotta do some training."

"That's a great idea!" the fallen King agreed. "And I have to say, I'm not pretty bad at fighting in my human form. It also gives us something to do instead of sleeping all day."

"Sir, yes, sir!" Mordred exclaimed, before standing up. The story gave him hope, not for just being a hero...

...but hope of becoming free again.

Chapter Text

metempsychosis:the supposed transmigration of the soul of a human being or animal into a new body of the same or a different species

"Come on kid, you can do better than this!"

"Well I would if you let me at least catch you!"

Day 3 of captivity. The golden parasite still gave Mordred those weird tongue baths, saying he is making sure that the worms' scent got off him. He also still put him in time out or, as Mordred liked to call it, the Hole.

Still he shuddered at the thought of that cramped dark place, which he was put in for at least ten times. For some STRANGE reason, Ghidorah would find any reason to put him in the Hole, sometimes employing insane troll logic. His fingernails were only still there because every damn time Ghidorah feeds him he would grow claws, making his nails regrow. But his hands were raw from trying to dig out.

Also after a good day, he would force the two to lay with him in the nest, with Mordred being sandwiched between them with Ghidorah running his clawed hands through her hair, while whispering to them how he was burning the world for them. It made the boy sick but he tried to listen more to Godzilla's rumbles.

But today, for some reason, Ghidorah was hardly there. The two weren't going to look at a gift horse in the mouth and they decided to waste time by training. Which technically meant that they were playing a game of tag and tussling around the cavern.

Right now Mordred was trying to push Godzilla down, to the ground until he decided to lean against the boy. "Oh no! Gravity is increasing on me!"

"No, it's not!" Mordred screamed as Godzilla started falling on him.

"It is, too, kid. The same thing happened yesterday," The young Atlantean was barely holding onto the fallen King as he bent over like he was a bridge over him.

Goji? Goji, honey, can you hear me?

"Mr. Godzilla?" asked Mordred, noticing his friend's eyes widen.

"It's her..." Godzilla exclaimed, holding back the tremble of relief, as he heard Mothra, his Queen, the love his life as the bond between them opened up.

Mosu...thank Gaia he hasn't found you... he could hear her chuckles running through his mind and it gave him hope...

As if that parasite could ever find me..I'm sorry it took so long for me to contact you. Wherever he has place you has block my calls to you..but I'm slowly transforming into my Imago Form and my mind is much stronger than his blocks.

I know love..I know..I can't fight him..the humans hit me with some air-taker and I know it melted my insides..and he has my heir...

Your...heir? Dear Gaia...is he alright?

He's recovering. We are also training to get out of this prison.

That parasite...I can see why you aren't fighting back...he is threatening him, isn't he?

A little bit, not to kill him or anything but to give her a shock or something..I don't want him hurt more than she already is...

He...doesn't threaten to kill the child?

He's..he's planning on forcing us to do a Rite... he held back the grimace as he heardd Mothra's screech of anger.

That...that hideous beast! Oh all the things he could do! I'm going to work faster on getting into my other form...but I'm not like Battra, my Paragon..and from what I can see Maya is almost done..maybe...by tomorrow...I won't be done in time…

Godzilla closed his eyes at that, he knew that Mothra was in her cocoon and had hoped that she would be done before Maya was finished collecting the radiation she needed to do the Rite. But now hearing that no, his Queen would be too late, he took a deep breath.

Don't rush yourself, my Queen...and don't blame yourself...I already feel a bond between myself and the child...hopefully it will be enough that any side effects won't be lasting through the Rite, because he knew damn it...he knew there will be side effects...the last time a Forced Rite happen..

I hate this, Goji, I hate this...please be careful ,my love.

I will...I promise, my Queen.

With that, he closed the connection and pulled Mordred close, slowly brushing his hair, trying not to cry as he sent a prayer to the Allmother.

Mother Gaia...please...please keep my son safe..don't let me lose him...

"Well, well, well! It's a big day. A big day indeed!" Ghidorah said cheerfully as he walked into the cavern, popping their little protective bubble. Unlatching the chains from the wall, he pulled them, dragging the two out of the cavern.

Instead of going to the Water Cavern or the Hole, they went further into the caves. Godzilla wrapped his tail around Mordred's wrist. "Stay near me, kid, OK?" Mordred nodded before Godzilla turned towards Ghidorah. "What are you planning, Ghidorah? What's this big day?"

"Oh my dear Broken Prince. You will be finding out soon," he said with a smile that did not help with the stomach flips that Mordred was secretly having. That smile seemed to be aimed more at him than Godzilla.

They soon came to an entrance that was blocked with vines, making some kind of door. Being pulled through the two found themselves in a larger cavern. It was lit up by many torches but Mordred turned toward Godzilla, when he felt his tail tighten on his wrist. His eyes were wide, as he looked at the huge nest, instead of being made of blankets and pillows, was made of a pile of sand and was bordered by rocks. Mordred then felt himself being pulled behind Godzilla, he was growling as he glared at Ghidorah and the now two other monsters that he just noticed were in the cavern.

"Ghidorah! If you're doing what I think you're planning…you really are crazier than I thought! He might not survive!"

Ghidorah chuckled before pulling on Mordred's chains, making the boy come out from behind Godzilla's back. He landed on his knees and hands, looking up at Ghidorah's red-eyed stare. "Oh, but he most certainly will, my dear…this is a child of Gaia! He doesn't deserve to be hindered by being in the form of a worm." With that Ghidorah turned into his true form, Kevin wrapping his head around Mordred.

"You, over there!" the dragon barked at the fire bird, "Get ready, I'm about to take Godzilla's chains off,"

The bird twitched his head towards Godzilla and Ghidorah in a nervous matter. "My…King…are you sure about this?"

"Do not worry, General Rodan, Godzilla is weaker than usual since I've been draining him! Just do as you are told. With that the middle head went towards Godzilla, biting through the chains that wrapped around his neck, ankles and wrists.

Godzilla stared at Mordred, right into his eyes, before saying one word.

"Run,"

Blue lights lit up the room as harsh winds blew through the room. Mordred had to hold onto the spines on Kevin's head to make sure he wasn't blown away, putting his head down. When it grew silent, he slowly looked up.

Covered in dark gray, almost black scales, with the height of 335 feet, he stared at them with glowing orange eyes. Scars littered his body, the fresher ones coming from his neck oozed blood. His body swayed back and forth but the beast shook his head before standing his ground. His dorsal fins started lighting up blue, as smoke escaped from his mouth. Mordred stared in awe, this was the true King Of The Monsters.

"SKROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORNK!"

Godzilla jumped at Ghidorah but someone intercepted him. The two mighty beasts made the ground rumble as they fought. Godzilla was gaining the upper hand as he grabbed Rodan by the head, crashing him into the ground. Ghidorah growled in anger at this, "He had one job to do!" Ghidorah stood up where he was laying to help, when Mordred took this chance and ran through the vines.

"HATCHLING!"

The boy ignored the yelling, running faster when the ground stopped rumbling. Seeing a light up ahead, he ran faster. Thank Gaia that my leg is healed or I wouldn't be able to do this! he thought.

But his happy thoughts ran out when he ran out of the caves, having to stop before falling into the sea below. Panting and out of breath, he looked around to see if there was anywhere he could hide.

"Is this whole place just a big mountain with caves!" he said out loud, exasperated. When the hair on the back of his neck rose, he knew he wouldn't have time to hide. Sliding to the side, making sure he wouldn't fall into the water below, Mordred held his breath when the parasite walked out of the caves. Putting one hand over his mouth to ease his breathing, he tried to stay quiet as Ghidorah looked below trying to find him. Knowing sooner or later that he'll look to the sides, he tried sliding to the side more. Unfortunately, when doing so, he lost a little bit of his footing, making a rock crumble from the edge and falling into the sea. Freezing in place, he slowly looked to the side to see that Ghidorah was staring at him with the same cocky look on his face.

"Now my dear, did you really think you could escape?" he said as Mordred tried to slowly keep moving but his tail hit the wall. Making the ledge on that side crumble into the sea. Whimpering, he looked to the sea below thinking of maybe trying to jump and swim to safety, but before he could, teeth grabbed onto the gown, lifting him up.

"Let me go!" Mordred tried to struggle but the right head began to speak. "My dear, you are mine. I'm never letting you go. This is your home now, I am your father and my Broken Prince…Well, he shall become your mother."

Before he could say anything, they were back in the cavern through the vines. She stared in horror as Godzilla laid on the ground, Rodan on top of him, keeping him in place. More blood oozed from his neck from a new bite wound.

"My King…I'm all ready." Mordred stared at the other Titan, recognizing it as the same species as the two Titans from San Francisco. What worried him was the red glow he could see coming from underneath the Muto.

"Good," was all Ghidorah said as he put Mordred down. Before he could even escape, the left and right head latched onto his arms. He screamed in pain as her body was forced to take more energy than he probably could take at the time. Energy of fire that felt brought him safety and warmth, and the energy of lightning that made his red lines that would appear when absorbing Gaia's Gift into his body. The poor boy felt like he was going to explode, and no matter how much he screamed at Ghidorah to stop, he only bit down harder, pushing more energy into him.

Finally he stopped, letting him fall on the ground. The red lines pulsed and the birthmark on his back glowed brighter than ever as he groaned in agony. He felt like throwing up but at the same she couldn't even do that. Then he felt Ghidorah picking her up, his body being numb to the extent he couldn't even move a finger.

"Now, my hatchling, my Destroyah. It's time for your life as a worm to end. Your life as a god begins once you awaken from this slumber. You'll be the most powerful being in this universe. I promise you my dear...we will be a family," With that Kevin rubbed his head against him before the middle head dropped him.

Into the mouth of the Muto.

Mordred screamed, adrenaline rushing through him when he was in the mouth, making him able to move again. Try as hard as he might, he couldn't get out. The long slimy forked tongue curled around his body, coating him in slime as it forced him down towards the throat. She tried to claw his way out, but being squeezed by the oozing walls around him, left him no room to move. He soon fell into a pool of reddish orange slime. Closing his eyes for pain, thinking he was going to be digested. He was pleasantly surprised when all he felt was a soothing feeling and the fact she could breath in it just like in the waters of home.

Floating around, he realized he was in fact not in the Muto's stomach but in the glowing sack that was underneath the Muto that he saw. Before he could do anything else, he screamed as the walls around him started to close in around him. Using the claws that she gained during the absorbing, he tried to get out, but they just slid through the slime coating them. Soon he was curled into a ball, not able to move.

"What is happening to me?!"

Godzilla struggled, trying to escape from Rodan's grasp as he watched the Muto detach the egg sack from her stomach. Relief swept through the giant when he saw that inside the small glowing sac was a figure. "Thank Gaia, he's still alive…" Fear gripped him again when Ghidorah picked the sack into his mouth before turning towards him.

"General, open his mouth, if you please." Struggling harder, Godzilla tried to throw Rodan off his back but to no use, claws gripped at his neck making him lift his head as another set of claws went to his lower jaws.

His mouth was pried open and before he knew it, was snapped shut with the sac in his mouth. Kevin's mouth then surrounded his mouth, making sure he could not open it again, the right head rubbed at his neck.

"That's it, that's it, my dear Broken Prince. It will be all over soon. All you have to do is swallow," Ghidorah whispered in his ear lobe, and to Godzilla's anger, he was forced to swallow. When Kevin let go, Godzilla opened his mouth, trying his hardest to gag. Hoping to throw up the sac, but to his horror, he felt it go down, all the way to where his own egg sac laid. His stomach glowed a deep red, indicating that the sac was fully in, before fading.

"Hahaha...HAHAHAHAHAHAH!" Ghidorah laughed in glee at this, Kevin pushing his head towards Godzilla's stomach, rubbing against it and purring. "You two can leave now. You've done what you were told." He said this to Rodan and the Muto, and much to Godzilla's anger, the two bowed to Ghidorah before leaving. He hated the way Rodan's eyes were a glowing pool of pink, yellow and red instead of the molten gold they were suppose to be.

Godzilla then groaned, before shuddering at the weird feeling that was going through his head. He shook his head trying to get the fog that was being pushed in his mind, trying his hardest to focus more on the bond with Mothra.

"Come on, my dear, why won't you just submit to it? You are mine now. You belong to me, the bond between us that is now forming because of the little one is proof enough." Ghidorah lay beside Godzilla, covering him with one of his wings. The right head was now laying on top of his head while the middle head laid beside it, muttering to him. "My dear Broken Prince, you're hurting, are you? The bond between that insect and you is clashing with our bond. If you just say that you're mine, it will go away. Your instincts are telling you that, aren't they? Just submit, my dear, and the pain will go away. Just submit and tell me you belong to me,"

It was hard to think, his pupils enlarged as he panted. The feeling of Ghidorah curled around him, cuddling with him and making sure the egg that was now forming in his stomach felt so wrong...but at the same time felt so right. This was not his mate, this was his enemy! He should not enjoy this but...his was the father of his egg, he should say he belongs to him, right? That's the way it goes.

"I...I...be-belong…" Before he could finish, a screech went through his mind as the fog was swept away. Godzilla was left panting on the ground, tired and worn out from fighting. Ghidorah growled in anger before he smiled.

"Don't worry, my dear. Once the egg is laid, we will deal with that bug. We will make sure she is gone. In five hours she will be dead, we will even make sure she won't be reborn, that way that bond won't hurt you. Right now just rest, ok. Our hatchling needs her mother to be strong. Just sleep, I'll be right here if you need anything," With that Ghidorah licked his muzzle before laying down to sleep.

Godzilla laid there, curled around Ghidorah, worry seeping through his veins. He has to get out of here…no! He needs to stay in the nest with his mate. Had to make sure the egg was safe, the egg was safe! It was safe as long as he stayed with his mate. But Ghidorah isn't his mate, Mothra is. But Ghidorah is the father!

Tears went down Godzilla's face as he put his hands onto his stomach.

"Please… Gaia…Mothra…Anyone… help us,"

Chapter Text

manumit:an act of saving or being saved from danger, difficulty or confinement

Clark Kent stood outside in the rain, worry in his sunken eyes. Three days it has been since that boy was taken away. Three days it has been since working with Monarch to look for him. Three days of nothing.

Dr. Serizawa had said that only three days before the boy's kidnapping, the dragon known as Monster Zero, or Ghidorah had escaped from his frozen prison by a college of theirs named Emma Russell, who had betrayed them. She had joined a group of eco-terrorists led by Alan Johan. They had hoped to use a device called the ORCA to control the Titans to save the world.

Ghidorah, unfortunately, was immune to the ORCA, for the single reason that he was an alpha. Monarch's only hope was the only other alpha in the world.

Godzilla.

The American Government, unfortunately, to try and stop Ghidorah let loose an Oxygen Destroyer on him while he was fighting Godzilla. And it turns out that while it worked on Godzilla, Ghidorah on the other hand turned out to be not of Earth, very much like Clark himself, so he doesn't follow the natural laws of Earth.

So it had no effect on him.

The only good news was that, Godzilla might be alive. The bad news is, that like the missing boy, Mordred, Godzilla was taken by Ghidorah. And now Monarch has been trying to find him because Dr. Serizawa theorized that Ghidorah has hidden them in the same place.

Clark jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder, looking behind to see Dr. Mark Russell, who like him was looking for someone important. With his ex-wife Emma was his daughter Madison, who he hoped to save before anything could go wrong.

Also during the three days, Monarch had found out about his civilian identity. Luckily they have promised not to tell anyone, because it could very well endanger his family and loved ones.

"Hey, sorry about that, Big Blue. Listen, they want us inside. They may have found something,"

Before Mark could finish, Clark had already dashed in, not caring at all that he would leave wet footsteps all over the floor, hope filling him at the thought of finally saving the one life he missed. He walks in to see Bruce arguing once again with Dr. Graham. Ever since they first met those two have been arguing over the simplest things. Clark knew that Bruce was just looking at the facts, that his one failed mission couldn't be alive but…Something in him said that he was. And Monarch believed so too.

"Bruce, calm down." Clark told his boyfriend, then turned to Dr. Serizawa. "Any news?"

"I have news." said Dr. Chen. "My sister, Ling just called us that Mothra has hatched her cocoon and is right now airborne."

Zakita smiled upon hearing this, then turned to Arthur. "King Curry, has your mother told you about the bond between Gojiras and Garikis?"

"Of course she has." said Arthur. "This bond is what will help us in finding Godzilla and Mordred."

"The reason, how you ask," Rick Stanton the Crypto-sonographer said as he typed away on the computer, "is because of the bond between these two, Mothra is for sure on her way to find Godzilla. So if we track her, we can find Godzilla and if we find Godzilla..."

"We find Mordred Russell!" Barry exclaimed in excitement.

"And Ghidorah. The other Titans are still out and about destroying the world. But for some reason, Ghidorah hasn't shown up at all today," Sam Coleman said looking at the screens.

Just then, Dr. Chen ran out, closely followed by Diana, Zakita and Helios, to everyone's surprise. "What the juice?" Barry asked, surprised.

"I don't know." said Victor. "She just ran out on us."

Then everyone looked up as a bright yellow light began to shine out of the clouds. Helios addressed the remaining Leaguers and Monarch personnel, and said "Stand back. We mustn't interrupt them."

"Interrupt who?"

"Mosura ya Mosura," Chen begins to sing, "Dongan kasakuyan indo muu Rusuto uiraandoa, hanba hanhamuyan, randa banunradan. Tounjukukanraa Kasaku yaanmu!"

They watched as the clouds were blown away and Mothra in her full glory appeaed. Chen smiled and raised her arms as she proudly sang along her sister who was riding on Mothra's head.

"Mosura ya Mosura Dongan kasakuyan indo muu Rusuto uiraandoa, hanba hanhamuyan, randa banunradan. Tounjukukanraa Kasaku yaanmu!"

Dr. Ling slipped off Mothra's head and raced to her sister. Once the two joined hands, they lifted their other hand at the same time. They felt something inside of them click in place as if something that they were missing their whole lives was finally found.

And then they closed their eyes, as the light coming from their mistress shone even brighter, almost blinding them. When it faded. there was now a woman standing on the deck. She had long white hair with a silver band crown around her head making the blue pupiless eyes pop out more. She was wearing an orange dress that hung on one shoulder while wearing a white cloak made of fur. She had four arms that were now crossed over her body, her legs, which were still the same insectoid as in her true form. On each arm was a golden band with a blue jewel in the center, the League could recognize it as the same blue as Godzilla's own fire. Clark noticed that she was holding a necklace tightly in her hands, it was a locket that was made with an Agate gem.

Helios bowed low, pressing his head to the floor. Barry, Victor and Arthur could see that the Goliger was shivering in fear. But then Mothra gave him a kind smile and walked over to him, "Rise up, old friend, you do not have to bow to me."

"After what I did, my Queen." he whispers but Mothra gently lifed him up. He looks up but instead of seeing anger and hatred..he saw understanding.

"My Queen, the parasite has poisoned my brother." Zakita exclaimed. "We must act fast."

"Indeed we must." Mothra agreed. "We also need to find my husband. I can feel his strength fading. Ghidorah has made him do the Rite. if we do not find him fast, then it could very well bring upon the end of the world as we know it."

"Pardon me, Your Majesty, but he just needs more Gaia's Gift, if I'm being precise." said Diana, before kneeling quickly.

"Rise, Godkiller, you need not kneel before me." said Mothra as she helped the Amazonian Princess up. "But yes...if we can give my mate enough Gaia's Gift to fight back the drain..."

Mark nodded his head and turned to Chen.

"How many nukes do you have?"

She knew this was dangerous, she knew this could kill her but she needed to fix her mistakes, she now knows that her mother lied to her. Andrew wouldn't want this.

Luckily the suit was unguarded, it being a prototype. It bore a strong appearance to Godzilla with its short metal plates resembling his dorsal plates. At least the ones he had before the Muto Prime broke them off. They ran down the back of the suit's neck and the way to the tip of its tail. The arms were bulkier than Godzilla's with five zygodactyl claws on the hands.

Maddie gulped as she stares at the mask, the lifeless sockets staring back. It was a prototype, she had heard rumors that they were planning on making one bigger.

The only reason why they don't use it was because they would get stuck with the suit on for the rest of their lives. Maddie remembered how hard it was for her mother to get out..the wires that connected the suit had almost burned into Emma's spine before Jonah's men were able to drag her out. But with her metahuman abilities that she hid from her family, the power to manipulate metal, she could stand a better chance against it.

She knew this was dangerous, but she had to get the Orca, she had to stop the Titans, because this isn't what Andrew would have wanted. Walking over, she got settled into the suit, wincing as the wires connected to her spine. She could feel her leg burning along with her spine as the suit began to power up, the sockets turning yellow, the same color as her eyes.

"De..De..De...SKREEEEEOOONNNKKK!" Maddie roared out as the soldiers charges in, her yellow eyes glowing with hatred at them, and she charged, running on all fours and leaping at them. Somehow she didn't know and right now didn't care, she knew how to use the suit.

What Maddie didn't know was that the suit was connected to her more than she knew...that this suit had was made out of a bone of the Gojira skeleton that was found in the Philippines, the same Gojira whose bone was now in her leg, her mother having use it as a replacement for the damaged bone she gotten during the San Francisco Attack.

Right now the spirit of Dagon, father of Godzilla was angry, and he was fine with working with the human child who felt betrayed. Who felt like another of his children. He will happily guide her into her new life, after they take this Orca to stop Ghidorah, and save his youngest.

After easily defeating the soldiers, she broke the cages holding the packs of emergency water and food, stuffing them into a bag. She waited patiently as Jonah and the others ran away, hearing the alarms blare madly in the base. She disconnected the Orca and stuffed it into the bag.

"The girl has the Orca and the suit!" Upon hearing this, she turned her head and roared, her mechanical tail slapping the ground hard. Before she turned and was about to run.

"Madison! Stop this right now! You are acting childish!" Emma stormed up, anger in her eyes.

"Shut up!" Maddie roared back, anger in her very being, "You said this was for Andrew..but do you really think he would want this?!"

"Shut up about Andrew! I never cared for him anyway," Maddie took a step back in shock as Emma glared at her, "You, Madison, on the other hand, are much more important..you have so much potential..but you will be wasting it if you don't stop now."

"What about Mo? Do you hate him too?"

"Of course I don't! Mordred is to become the new God of this world! He will rebuild it from scratch and will be worshipped, adored!"

"My child...you need to get away..now...go!"

Maddie didn't know where the voice came from, but she knew she had to listen to it. Staring at Emma with cold eyes, she declared "You're a monster," then ran away on all fours, ignoring the calls and the soldiers trying to shoot her.

Chapter Text

"Are you alright, Mark Russell?" asked Mothra as she stared at Mark with worry.

Mark looked at the woven bracelet on his wrist. "Yes, I'm worried about Mo. He gave me this on my birthday. Emma and I found him on the coasts of Hawaii, he cried about losing his home to a disaster so we took him in."

"So you're the Little Goji's other parent..." the Queen hummed.

Mark blinked. "Little Goji?"

"Well, Goji is Godzilla's name, he just went by the name the humans gave him because it was more intimidating than being called King Goji." said Mothra, causing Mark to snort. "And since I know my mate, he'd adopt Mo on sight, even without the Rite, so he'll be my child as well, my Little Goji."

"That's good to hear!" Mark smiled.

Mothra was about to say something in return, but then something caused her to snap her head up. "His Song...it's paused..."

"Looks like the others stopped too!" Arthur exclaimed, looking into a screen. Then Mothra stood up, and shifted into her True Form. "Follow her!" exclaimed the Atlantean King, "She'll know where Godzilla is now!"

Hang on, kid, we're coming! Clark thought.

Godzilla blinked open his eyes as he felt something pushing against his stomach. Looking down, he saw the faint energy of Gaia's Gift glowing softly on his stomach, before fainting. Smiling slightly, he rubbed his stomach, tail wagging at the thought of having a child. He hoped the new baby would be the same species as he was, being one of the last of his kind, it has been lonely. Turning around he curled in more towards his mate, whose three heads shuffled before settling back down.

That was when his tail stopped wagging at the thought. What am I thinking! Ghidorah isn't my mate…isn't he? He is the father of my egg…But he forced the Rite Of Rebirth on me and the child! But he's now the baby's father, that means he's my mate right? Keep it together, Goji! Your mate is Mothra, your Champion! And right now you need to get out of here! With that thought he tried to stand up, when a searing pain lashed in his head.

STAY WITH YOUR MATE! STAY IN NEST! STAY SAFE FOR EGG!

Godzilla grabbed ahold of his head, his body trembling at the loud voices that rang through it. His body stiffened when the three heads of his mate (not mate) went up. They smirked at him as the middle head started licking his forehead.

"Ah my dear Broken Prince, are you alright? I thought you'll be asleep more but look at you. Already awake!" That's when Ghidorah noticed his glowing stomach which made him smile.

"The little hatchling must be powerful if he is making your stomach glow, my dear. That means he'll be laid soon,"

"Oh, oh, oh, I am so excited! I wonder if he'll look more like us or you, Broken Prince," Kevin said as he rubbed against Godzilla's stomach. Godzilla didn't like the way that Kevin smiled before his head went lower than his stomach.

With a roar of surprise, he tried to scratch Ghidorah when Kevin had licked his sheath where his nether regions hid. But Ghidorah's right head bit where the shoulder met the neck. When he felt energy being drain, his body went still, not wanting to lose energy, for it might hurt the egg inside.

The right head let go after making sure that he wouldn't move, before starting to lick his neck. Godzilla tried to resist the feeling but it had been over 305 years since him and Mothra (my mate, NOT MATE!) had done any mating. His legs curled up when Kevin's tongue went inside his sheath, feeling the slimy appendage touch his member.

"Oh my dear Prince, if only you can look at yourself. Panting for want…Oh, how I can't wait to…"

"GHIDORAH! GET YOUR MATE STEALING ASS OUT HERE, THIS SECOND!" a voice interrupted him before some stray projectiles fell down.

Ghidorah stood up, growling, "That damn bug just had to interrupt now! No matter, we'll kill her and then make sure there won't be an egg for her to be reborn in!" He looked down at his mate, seeing him trying to curl up more. "Oh, worry not, my beautiful mate! Everything will be fine and when I come back, we'll finish what we started,"

With that Ghidorah left the Nesting Cavern, Godzilla uncurled himself before growling at himself. Damn it! I can't believe I almost let him…It doesn't matter, I have to... He grabbed his head, he wanted to get out but his instincts were telling him he had to stay in the nest because it was safe.

His thoughts were interrupted when a boulder almost hit him on the head.

NOT SAFE! PLACE UNDER ATTACK. MATE WILL FIND YOU LATER! LEAVE!

"Finally we agree on something, instincts!"

Standing up from the nest, he placed his clawed hand on the side of the walls. Four days of having his energy drained was not good, especially when you were carrying. With determination he slowly walked out of the cavern, following the scent of fresh air.

Walking outside, he saw that the entrance was at the ledge and below was his domain the sea. About to just drop into the ocean, he heard a roar of anger. "Get back into the nest!"

Looking up, he saw Ghidorah coming at him with his claws raised at him. Godzilla almost backtracked into the cave when a bomb of silk hit him, sticking Ghidorah to the side of the mountain.

"Godzilla! Oh, sweetheart, what has he done with you…" Godzilla, with tears stinging the corner of his eyes, stared at his beautiful mate, even through the pain in his head told him she wasn't, he knew in his heart that Mothra was his true love.

"Mosu, I'm sorry, I…" "Goji, it's never your fault, you hear me? It's that abomination's and…Goji, are you…carrying an egg?!"

Godzilla looked down, shame washed over him. He was the King of Monsters and he let this happen to him and the pup. "Ghidorah found a human that is able to absorb Gaia's Gift and he forced us to do the Rite of Rebirth…" Before he could go any further, Mothra screeched angrily.

"That's a sacred rite between Titans! It doesn't matter, love, you need to go! Go home, lay the egg. Keep both of yourselves safe, OK?" she said this while putting her forehead against his. Godzilla couldn't help but lean in to take her scent in.

"So, you're not mad? Even though I'm carrying that bastard's egg?" he couldn't help but as. Even though the road that led to this was rocky, the kid was his own son now. He won't let anyone or anything hurt her. Even Mothra.

"Oh, Goji, I don't care. This will be your baby and it's not like the child and you asked for this. Now go…"

"He's not going anywhere!" Ghidorah ripped the webbing off, throwing himself at Mothra. Biting down into her neck, Mothra gave a screech of pain before stabbing him where the wing connected to the body.

"Don't you dare give him any ideas, vermin. He is carrying my egg! He and the hatchling are mine now and they shall always be mine!"

Ripping herself away from Ghidorah, blood oozing from the neck, Mothra buzzed angrily, "That's where you're wrong, you vile snake! They don't belong to anyone! They are their own beings, and the fact that you forced the Rite Of Rebirth just shows how low you can sink. Also if your excuse is that he is carrying your egg, if I have to remind you, Goji carried ours and laid them until you killed them all save one, before they could hatch!"

Ghidorah smirked, "That was just to show you that only I am good enough to sire his offspring."

Mothra then stabbed him with her legs, making them tumble in the air, "As the humans say…FUCK OFF!"

Mothra then turns towards Godzilla, "Goji, GO NOW!" Without any thought, Godzilla jumped off the ledge, curling into a ball, as he jumped into the sea. Feeling the salt water stinging his wounds, felt like a good relief to him. He dived down deeper, fully encasing himself in the water right before feeling Ghidorah's claws barely catch his tail.

Without any pain, the only though in his head was to get home. To rest and to lay the egg.

I gotta get home!

Monarch watched as Godzilla escaped. Mark couldn't help but stare at the screen in blank horror. For only three days Godzilla has been missing, and he took in all the damage on the poor guy that was definitely not from the Oxygen Destroyer. Scars littered his body, blood oozing from fresh made wounds. And the fear that was shown when he tried to go back into the cave when Ghidorah was about to attack him…Mark couldn't help but put his head down.

"Oh, for Pete's sake, what did he go through! I mean…I know I wanted him dead because of what happened to Andrew but I…didn't want him to go through this! Dammit… now I feel bad for him. Me and my love for animals…."

Mark's head went up when he heard Rick yell in triumph. "I got his signal! His radiation is weak and low but his heartbeat is going strong."

"What's wrong?" Graham asked when Rick stuttered out.

"I don't know how but…I'm getting another heartbeat with the big guy. I think he has the kid with him."

And that was a punch to the stomach for Mark. All for the last five years, he had blamed Godzilla for Andrew's death. That Godzilla was a monster but here was proof that the big guy wasn't. He saved his foster child, he could have just left on his own but he decided to get the kid away too.

"But how, from what the reading says, he's going really deep, how's the boy even alive?" Victor asked. Mark couldn't help but glare at the young man.

It was only thanks to Graham that he shut up about it.

"He must be carrying him in his mouth. He will be fine. But now we have to make a new plan," Serizawa said, which made everybody nod. Mark looked outside, looking as Mothra flew away from Ghidorah, while Monster Zero screeched in anger.

"Dr. S, can we follow him?" asked Arthur.

"I thought you'd never ask." replied the aged doctor.