Day Four: A Friend in Need

Monster Island-8:30 AM

For the first time in over 20 years, Monster Island was quiet. With every monster off with there own business to attend to, the island seemed completely deserted, the GDF, having more pressing matters, had stopped observing the island since the barrier had fallen. Though as it turned out, there was one monster who hadn't been to eager to leave the island.

Varan, the lizard-like monster who menaced Tokyo back in 1958. While few monsters were on the island of their own accord, Varan was one of the few who hardly even tried to find a way to leave. He enjoyed the mountain ranges of the island and was all to content to be left to his own devices, and with the other monsters gone he seemed to be enjoying his solitude. As he slumbered by the mountainside of the island, he couldn't help but notice a strange sound in the distance. At first he payed no mind, but the sound persisted eventually awakening him prematurely. With a groggy yawn, Varan crawled up the mountain side to get a look at just what it was making that strange sound. As he gazed over the mountain, Varan couldn't help but notice a strange crystal near the bay. It had a sinister black shine to it, and looked as though there was some sort of cloud surrounding it. Leaping from the mountain, Varan glided down towards the crystal getting a closer look. Though he stood about a yard from hit, Varan could feel the power of the crystal radiating from it. As he took a step forward the something burst from the ground right under his foot causing Varan to fall backwards. As he rolled over back onto his feet, he saw who had knocked him over: It was the dinosaur known as Baragon, glowing with the same dark aura as the crystal. Varan stood up, grunting in annoyance. Baragon never picked a fight, in fact, he was one of the few monster Varan actually considered a friend, such an unprovoked action seemed so out of place for a monster such as Baragon. Voicing his annoyance with a low-pich hiss, Varan was taken aback as Baragon snarled at him. Varan attempted to back up, when Baragon suddenly leaped into the air, tackling Varan to the ground, attempting to slash at his throat. Varan roared in shock as he kicked the smaller monster off before he could tear into him. Something definitely wasn't right. Not only had Baragon attacked without being provoked, but he had went straight for the kill, something not even Godzilla would do. Varan stepped carefully, as Baragon seemed to mimic his movements, he seemed ready to strike at any moment. Though Varan couldn't help but notice that Baragon appeared to be defending the crystal. It didn't take long for Varan to put two and two together: the crystals must have been effecting his mind, so the solution, destroy the crystal. Varan let out a roar in an attempt to intimidate Baragon who only roared back in defiance.

Just outside Earth's Atmosphere

20 years ago, an alien race, known as the Vortaak came to Earth with the intent of conquering it. Allying themselves with the infamous Spacegodzilla, and brainwashing most of Earth's monsters, the GDF were nearly powerless to combat them. And yet against all odds, Godzilla fought off the alien invaders, banishing his vile space-clone to another dimension and sending them fleeing from the planet. Even with this crushing defeat, their queen, Vorticia had been plotting her triumphant return for years. Amassing an army beyond what the GDF could comprehend and gathering some of the solar systems deadliest beasts, the Vortaak seemed ready to take the world by storm...had their mothership not been damaged by an asteroid. Yet, even with her mothership crippled, Vorticia continued to monitor the Earth, watching as these strange crystal seemed to be tearing the plant apart from within...and empowered the monsters of Earth.

"My Queen!" Vorticia activated her communicator.

"What is it?"

"The Seatopians have agreed to aid in our invasion. They've summoned Megalon to serve our cause."

"Excellent, tell the Seatopians we have an assignment for their guardian..." she summoned a holographic projection of Earth. "Send him to these coordinates."

Back on Earth

Baragon rushed foward teeth bared, Varan leapt straight over him, taking to the skies as he did so. Almost immediately, Baragon opened his mouth as a stream of fire escaped his jaws. Varan circled in the air, doing his best to avoid the flames, he screeched in pain as the flames brushed his leg, causing him to crash into the ground. Baragon then leapt onto Varan, clamping on his arm as he attempted to defend himself. Varan roared, clawing furiously at Baragons head though it did nothing to loosen the small monster's grip. In desperation Varan let out a high pitch sonic screech which did wonders on Baragons' sensitive ears. Eventually he found the horrible sound unbearable and released his grip on Varan's arm. Varan hobbled on to his feet, gripping his arm in pain, had Baragon not let go when he did, he would have surely bit into the bone. Seizing the opportunity while Baragon was still recovering from the sonic attack, Varan took his chance, rushing forward he curled into a ball, smashing right through the crystal. He turned to Baragon, who still glowed with the foul aura meaning there must have been more crystals like that one. Varan leapt into the air as he began gliding, surveying the area to find any other crystals, sure enough there was one near the GDF base and another near the volcano. No sooner had Varan landed near the GDF base, Baragon once again burst from the ground, this time landing directly on Varan's back. Varan rolled, kicking Baragon in the side, and tossing him to the side. Baragon quickly rolled back onto is feet, snarling at Varan with the ferocity of a rabid animal. Varan roared, reaching for a nearby boulder and chucking it at Baragon, who merely dived underground to avoid it. Not wishing to simply wait for Baragon to leap out again, Varan began to rush towards the base, spotting the second energy crystal in the center of the base. No sooner had he found it though, Baragon emerged, this time impaling Varan in the stomach with the horn on his head as he leapt up. Varan screeched in pain as he hobbled backwards, clutching his stomach area. Baragon charged forward, his teeth bared. Varan barely managed to sidestep, though that didn't stop Baragon, who swiftly turned and charged once again. But this was just what Varan wanted, sidestepping again, Baragon had no time to react as this time he went crashing straight through the second crystal, shattering it instantly. Baragon snarled as he frantically started brushing the shards from his eyes. This time Varan began to flee, though the pain he felt was immense, he know if he was to survive, he must destroy the last crystal. No sooner had he arrived at the volcano area, a powerful blast of electrical energy struck him in the chest sending Varan flying back.

His vision blurred, Varan staggered back to his feet as he got a look at his attacker. Standing between him and the last of the crystals was the massive beetle god himself, Megalon. Varan roared angrily, trying to mask his pain to this mysterious attacker, but Megalon wasn't phased. Varan ran forward, prompting Megalon to fire one of his napalm bombs at him, Varan leapt over the bomb, kicking Megalon in the chest as he landed. Megalon stumbled back with a low growl, Varan coughed, still reeling from his injuries. Megalon saw his chance and kicked Varan hard in his chest. Varan fell to the ground as Megalon stomped on his injured arm, causing him to screech in pain. Megalon growled almost as if he was laughing at his injured foe, as he continued to beat the Earth monster within every inch of his life. Varan was barely still conscious once Megalon decided to turn his attention to the crystal. As he approached it though, there was aloud growl before, something heavy slammed right into Megalon's back. It was Baragon, not the least bit pleased at the subterranean invader trying to steal his power. He clawed furiously at the back of Megalon's head before searing him with his fire breath. Megalon screeched in pain as the flames burned his exoskeleton. Planting his drill arms into the ground, Megalon managed to force the smaller monster off of his back with a quick pulse of electric energy. No sooner had the beetle god risen to his feet, Baragon had leapt of his back and continued to bathe Megalon in flames. Megalon roared as he tried firing back with his horn laser, but to the beetle god's surprise, Baragon's black aura completely blocked it. Baragon then lunged at Megalon, striking him in the chest with his horn sending him stumbling back. While the two fought, Varan stumbled to get back on his feet, his arm was bleeding badly and his stomach area felt like it was on fire, but he managed to fight through the pain. He looked over to see Baragon and Megalon had completely left the crystal unattended while they clashed and took his chance. With his one good arm, he grabbed a nearby boulder and tossed it with all his might at the crystal. Unfortunately, while it did crack, the crystal still stood. Though at that point, Baragon's fire breath clashed with Megalon's horn laser causing small explosion that forced Megalon flying backwards, smashing the crystal and knocking the foul beetle unconscious. At that moment, Varan gave in to his injuries, falling over as the dark aura on Baragon vanished.

Several Hours later...

Varan awoke, still slightly dizzy. He shook his head and looked around, he noticed he appeared to be in some sort of den with various interconnecting tunnels. It didn't take long for him to notice Baragon standing guard near the den entrance. As Varan crawled forward, he noticed his the bleeding on his arm had ceased but his stomach area still ached. Baragon noticed his friend crawling forward and approached with a soft growl. Varan sighed as it appeared Baragon had come back to his senses and returned to his peaceful self. He looked out towards the den entrance, curiously there was no sign of Megalon. It appeared the beetle god fled while Varan was out having failed to retrieve whatever he had come to the island for. Baragon crawled up next to Varan, giving him a look that screamed "I'm sorry", apparently he was somewhat aware of what he had done under the crystals influence. Varan growled as if to assure his friend that he knew that he wasn't himself. One thing was clear though, it seemed something was happening to their planet, and if they didn't do something, there won't be an island for Varan to call home. Baragon grunted, it seems his friend needed to be filled in on the situation...

The Vortaak Mothership

"M-My queen." A soldier nervously stepped up to Vorticia.

"What have you to report?" She said impatiently.

"I-I'm sorry your highness, but Megalon was unable to retrieve the power of the crystals. O-Our mission has failed."

"Failed?" The queen scoffed. "Hardly." She brought up surveillance of the fight on Monster Island. "We've now seen first hand what these crystals are capable of." She observed the savagery in Baragon's fighting style under the crystal's influence. "Such power..." She said longingly then turned to her soldier. "Inform our armies we have a new objective. If Earth is to be ours, we must gain the power of these crystals for our own monsters."

"Y-Yes my queen." And with that the soldier hurried off.

Vorticia turned to the containment field of the three headed dragon, King Ghidorah.

"Soon my pet, I will make you the strongest monster in the entire galaxy, and all will know the awesome power of the Vortaak..."