Monsters and Magic

By: DJ Rodriguez

(Author's Notes: Hey everyone! Glad to see that a lot of people like my fanfic. Granted, I only get one review per chapter. But… it's alright. I kinda resigned myself to the fact that although I get a lot of visitors and viewers, not too many reviewers. Oh well… it's cool. I hope you all are ready for this chapter!

In this chapter, Melody and Dianne learn more about their new friends/heroes and a bit about their background while leading them to the central square. The children of the village are soon led to a most exciting time of their lives… unfortunately, they will be followed by some unwanted guests. In addition, some other natural party crashers are going to join in the fray! And finally, King Triton gathers a council on what to do about the monster he fought earlier. Plus, Maleficent forces are finally out on the open sea! Let us see on what they do.

As for the names I have been coming up for the past chapters, like the last names of most of the Disney couples in this story, and the OC characters, I have been finding them out at an Internet site called 2000-Names, and have looked for names in French, English, German, African and Arabic from it. Both for female and male names, and what they mean. Please go to this site to find out what the names my of OC characters, and the last names of the Disney couples, stand for. I believe you will be surprised on why I picked them out, especially for some of the Disney male characters like Beast and Charming. Also for the two OC characters that are going to be paired with Melody and Dianne, I pictured them as younger versions of the Disney characters.

Oliver is similar to Naveen from The Princess and the Frog, but his skin is darker and his hair cut a little shorter. And his fighting style, like with the stick, I got from the African chief that trained Samurai Jack in the cartoon of the same name. Hadrian is similar to how Aladdin used to be as a child, but he has a little more muscle then him. Still lean and such, but more muscle mass then the famous street rat of Agrabah. Also, while they do have English names, their real names are in African and Arabic respectively. I really want to make sure I do not offend any or all races, so I tread carefully in situations like this.

I do not own Godzilla, any of the Toho monsters, or any of the Disney characters. I do own the OC's and the songs I make myself. Now, on with the fanfic!)


Chapter 11

It was around 11:25 a.m., and if someone were to come into the village at Sennin, they would have been surprised at the people gathered at the center square. Though the village was small, it was adequately populated and about this time about more than half of the citizens were at the center area. It consisted mostly of children, with their parents in tow. And the attention of the people were focused on four individuals that were standing at the base of a large bronze statue. It was Edgard, Mainard, Kathrin, and Tracy, the royal children and friends of Melody. It seemed that the four kids had done their part of Melody's plan, gathering the people together at the town central square so they can listen to the announcement their princess was going to make. Only one little problem… Melody was not with them, and also Dianne was not with the company neither. Mainard paced about around the base of the statue while the others were looking among the crowd for their companions. Edgard was a little worried, hoping that his sister was okay.

Mainard grumbled, "Where are they? They should have been here by now…".The son of Belle was getting a little impatient for waiting for his two friends to arrive, and also he was seeing the crowd getting a little tense as well from the waiting. Before the others could say anything, they saw the crowd turning to their right and the kids did the same. Coming towards them was Ariel and their mothers, the elder but beautiful ladies coming back from their little tour of the village. All of them had smiles on their faces, and small bags in their hands. It seemed that the women folk had done a little shopping, and the four royal children were wondering on what their mothers had acquired on their little tour.

Ariel waved to them, but her smile turned into a little frown when she did not see her daughter with them. Aurora soon followed her friend's facial features, seeing that her daughter was not with her brother or the others. The mothers went to their children, the crowd parting to let the royal party pass with no difficulty. Ariel went to the kids and inquired, "Where's Melody? Why isn't she here with you? And where is Dianne?". Tracy answered as best she could that they did not know, that ever since they separated to cover more ground, they had not been seen by them. Ariel and Aurora were getting worried, and were prepared to go out and look for the two girls themselves when they heard a familiar voice calling out to them. The entire lot, plus the crowd, turned their heads to their lefts to see Melody and Dianne coming towards them! The mothers and the royal kids breathed out a sigh of relief… until they saw that the girls were not alone. It seemed that the two had escorts, two handsome boys that had some of the girls blushing.

Melody was being escorted by her new friend, Oliver Oxen. Though, she now knew that was his English name. His real, African name was Olujimi.


Shortly after being rescued by him, Melody and Oliver/Olujimi went to go see his parents so the princess can tell them about the announcement. When she got there, she saw that her saviors parents were hard at work in the blacksmith shop that was here in the village. The father was strong and large, not round but tall and thick like a healthy tree. He had hair that was slightly longer then Oliver's, his skin black like the night, his features showing that he had such strength within him. His eyes were black as well, showing pride, strength and honor. He was working in the shop, repairing a sword that one of the royal soldiers brought to his humble abode to repair. His wife came in from the home, which was connected to said shop. She was a real beauty; skin a touch shade lighter then her husband, a figure that most women would actually kill to have, light brown eyes and a simple dress that made her seem that more beautiful. Melody could see though that despite her outer beauty, she had strength and intelligence that would make more people underestimate her abilities. When they saw Melody, the two were surprised and were about to bow to her slightly when she told them not to. The princess was humble, not wanting for anyone to bow to her unless it was necessary like for social events and such. And even then, it made her feel a little awkward about receiving bows when she felt she had not earned such a right. Oliver introduced them, his mother Chloe and his father Karl.

When Karl asked on why she was here, it was then Melody and Oliver re-told their little tale on how she was saved from some noble bullies that she knew about. Both parents were a little surprised by the bullies bold moves, but proud of their son's actions and accomplishment. When Melody asked if they could come to the center square at 11:30 with their son to hear the announcement she was going to make, the parents politely declined. The strong Karl stated that he still had to repair a number of swords from the soldiers in the royal military, and the beautiful Chloe said that she had to make some dresses for both the townsfolk and the nobles that would arriving at Melody's party tomorrow. At first, said princess was sad because she assumed that Oliver would have some duties to perform with his father. However, the blacksmith stated that Oliver was old enough, and smart enough to make the choice on his own. The two kids were surprised, in a pleasant way, that the parents would have that much trust in his child. Chloe agreed with her powerful life-partner, and just told Oliver to be careful and go with their blessings.

Oliver jumped for joy and thanked his parents, while Melody did a little bow to them and thanked them for giving their son the choice. Oliver decided to go and hear the announcement, and the two waved good-bye to the adults before heading out. It was along the way that Melody found out a little but more about her savior as he talked to her about his family. Apparently, his mother and father were born and raised for a while in the lands of Africa. Chloe's real name was in African, and it was Chidimma. Karl's real African name was Kamau. His grandparents on both sides were part of a strong warrior clan in the mysterious and exotic lands of the continent, his grandfather's making weapons such as spears and shields while his grandmothers took care of not just the household (or in this case hut-hold) but of the plants and animals that thrived in their clan's territory. The families lived for many years on their land… until the white folk from Europe came to Africa in search of gold, adventure, excitement… and sadly, slaves. The invaders that came to their home were from the upper areas of the England country, and they decided that his ancestor's land was rich enough in resources to lay claim and conquer. His grandparents and the village fought back the best they could, but were no match for the white invaders weapons like the sword and other strange weapons.

Oliver's parents were told by their parents to flee, to get away from the small war as fast as possible. Of course, the two refused and Oliver's father, as a teen back then, wanted to stay and fight. However, it was his mother, also a teenager, stated that it was foolish to go and fight in a war that seemed hopeless. Her parents, and her fiancée's parents, sided with her. Even they knew that it would only be a matter of time until the invaders won. Until then, they would fight until the very end! They told them that they lived their lives to the fullest, and were prepared to stay in the lands. However, they wanted their children to have a good future, that they had yet to experience everything life had to offer them. So with heavy hearts but steel resolve, the teenage couple fled away from their home as their parents resumed the fight! Neither one looked back, for the sound of war was behind them and they dare not look to see something they did NOT want to see. The two had fled from their homeland, making sure to stay out of sight from their natural tribe enemies and from any white invaders.

Chidimma and Kamau managed to flee to Spain, crossing a narrow span that was called by some the Strait of Gibraltar. From there, they crossed country and managed to come to a town that was situated by the sea. They soon snuck aboard a vessel that would be sailing towards England, the very country that attacked their home. With a lot of skill in sneaking about, and a little luck, the two manage to stay safe and hidden from the passengers and crew of the ship. When they arrived at the destination, which was Sennin, they disembarked from the ship and saw a land that was very unlike the territory they saw in Spain and in Africa. And surprisingly enough, they saw people of many different races and culture that were making a home here. While it was true the number of African people was low, the people of the strong nation seemed to be doing well in their surroundings. Also, the white and brown-skinned folks seem to be polite and decent to the ebony beings, a major difference between them and the white invaders. The two teenagers decided to give this land a try to settle in, to see if this is the future their parents told them about.

The two learned all they could about their new home; about the people living here, the social order of things, the royalty that governed the land, and so on. As it turned out, the land they settled into was called Sennin and was considered different and small to the upper regions of the country many called England. Oliver's parents worked hard and tirelessly to make a good start in their new home. With help from the locals, they managed to secure jobs and build a home. Kamau became a blacksmith, learning the trade and the skill itself, actually expanding on the creation of items and weapons just like his parents did back in Africa. Chidimma learned about fabrics, sewing, and caretaking of plants and animals. In other words, she expanded her knowledge on what she had learned from her parents. Also, the two were coaxed into acquiring English names, and thus Karl and Chloe were born. The two struggled with both accepting some of the ways of their new home, blending in certain styles of their native homeland with the new styles, and also keeping the ways of their ancestral ancestors so their proud and strong heritage would not be forgotten by the next generation.

Chloe and Karl were soon married, and produced a son, which was Oliver. They gave him the name Oliver, but also the African name of Olujimi so he could always remember his ancestral roots. While growing up, Oliver/Olujimi was taught various skills and ways by his parents. Under his father Karl, he learned of tool-crafting, taking pride in what he did, and also learning humility and strength. His father instructed his son to take pride in what he did and accomplished, but to never let that pride take him over. He learned from the white people of this land that a little humility was a way to show the person that they had much to learn, and by being humble, one would strength the spirit and mind. He also taught Oliver the ways of African fighting, on how to not waste movement and to be calm and steady as the tall grasslands of Africa.

From his mother Chloe, Oliver learned about the subtle differences of knowledge, wisdom, and smartness. His mother drilled into him that it was always wise to pick one's battles carefully, to show a gentle hand more often then a rough one, and to choose the path of the straight and narrow rather then the wide and destructive. She told him that even though the path of the straight and narrow was full of challenges, to both flesh and spirit, it was actually the best way for he would grow strong, wise and patient. Both also taught him on how to behave, especially to womenfolk. Though, Oliver did develop one thing on his own. His sense of humor. He saw the good things in life, and loved to have a cheerful heart rather then be dragged down by anything negative. His parents very much approved of his positive outlook, and encourage it greatly. Though, his father did tell him not to get TOO cocky in situations that did not need such confidence and levity. Karl also gave his heirloom of his homeland to Oliver, the wooden lion that he told his son symbolized strength and power. The young lad swore to keep it safe, and the rest as they say… was history.

Melody was very much impressed on hearing about her new friend's life, especially of his parents and grandparents. From what Melody could see and put together, Oliver was a good mix of two different cultures. A being that was raised by two different worlds, and becoming a fine young man in the process. She blushed a little at her little train of thought, but she saw that it was true. After he finished his tale, she said to him softly, "Thank you for telling me all of this. I really appreciate it.". The young lad said that it was nothing, and that he felt he really trusted her. That comment made both of them blush a little, and look at the scenery as they walked towards the center of town. They did not notice at first, but the two held hands and the tiny display of trust and affection caught the attention of many passbyers, who gasped at seeing the princess of their land holding hands with a blacksmith apprentice. And an African one, no less! Let's just say that in the future, some people were going to give the two headaches about it. But, that is for another time, another day in the FAR future.

At the same time, in the opposite direction they were coming in, Dianne was being escorted by Hadrian.


The daughter of Aurora had done what Melody did earlier, meet up with the parents of her hero. Along the way, Hadrian had told her some bits of himself. He told her that although his name was Hadrian, he had another name that was linked to his ancestry and culture. His Arabic name was Hazael. He also loved to play around, to enjoy life and to be free from any kind of negativity and/or somber events if it was within his ability. He displayed it by doing some simple but fun aerial tricks for the lovely lady, Dianne smiling wide and clapping at his display of agile acrobatics. Soon, they reached their destination, which was a medium-sized two-story home. Hadrian/Hazael explained that the first floor of the home was strictly for business, while the second floor was their actual home. Upon arriving, Hadrian first let Dianne into his home and then called for his parents. The princess could see many kind of trinkets and items that belonged to the Middle East, a place she heard from others which was exotic and incredible, as well as dangerous and deadly. Coming first into view was a slightly portly elderly man from another room.

The elderly man was of Arabic descent, wearing clothes that were really from his homeland. Though he was dressed as a simple merchant, his quality of clothing was anything but simple. He had some fine threads on his person, not exactly like what nobles wore but close to it. He had a small black goatee, that showed signs of gray hairs here and there, but not too noticeable. He looked to be around his early 40's, medium-tan skin tone, black hair that was well cut, and his eyes were as black as ink. He had a small smile on his face when he saw his son, and his smile grew a fraction when he saw Dianne. The princess smiled back, a little nervous but still okay. The elderly man inquired, "My dear son, who is it that you bring into our store today?". When Hadrian answered that his guest was a princess, and Dianne stating her name and her parents, the adult's eyes widened and he bowed a little to the princess.

"Oh, good afternoon Princess Dianne! So nice of you to grace my humble store!" he stated eloquently, making the little lady blush a little at the welcome. He then looked upstairs and exclaimed for his beloved to come down, and when someone did come down from the upper-level. Coming down was a lady of beauty, an exotic kind that could not be found anywhere else but in the Middle East! Slim of frame, curves full and right in the proper places, skin tone the color of rich brown earth, eyes a light color of black and a beautiful face that looked to belong to royalty itself. She carried herself with dignity and strength, tempered with kindness and compassion that seemed to stem from enduring some serious past events. Her clothing was simple and clean, like the garbs most women wore in the Middle East but without the veil or covering that usually would hide the mouth and nose. When she descended down, she asked politely on what was going on.

"Mother, this is Princess Dianne. She is daughter to one of the royal couples that came here to this land earlier to celebrate Melody's birthday." Hadrian/Hazael answered. The beautiful lady gasped and bowed a little to the princess, saying that it was an honor to meet her. They introduced themselves to her; the father was called Nasser which was Arabic and the mother's name was Nura which was also Arabic. Dianne did a little curtsey to them, saying that it was a pleasure to meet them as well. When Nasser inquired on why such a guest was present with them and their son, both children retold the tale on their encounter with the four noble bullies earlier. The adults were a bit stunned to hear about their son going into a situation such as that, and a little bit more so when they heard of Dianne actually putting herself in harm's way like that. The two parents were proud of their son doing such a true noble deed, which made the kid blush a little from their praise. The princess then told the adults about the announcement that her friend Melody was going to make in the central area of the village, and asked if they along with Hadrian would like to come. Sadly, the two had to decline. Nasser was expecting a shipment of goods from one of his suppliers soon, and Nura needed to be there for him to do the calculations. Unlike most women back in her native land, and some women here in Europe, Nura was excellent when it came to numbers.

The two children were very disappointed, but Nasser said that after hearing about his son's deeds, that Hadrian/Hazael was smart enough to make his own choices now. The young lad was very pleased to hear this news, and stated that he would go to the central square to listen to Princess Melody's announcement. This, in turn, made Dianne happy now that her new friend would be going. The two parents smiled at their little life and gave him their blessings to go, also warning him to be careful and not to get into TOO much mischief. That only got some smiles from the kids, and the adults could tell that these children were natural-born pranksters so they could only hope that they could keep their little tricks to a low number. After waving goodbye to his folks, Dianne and Hadrian left to go to the central area of the village. Along the way, Dianne was treated to her friend telling her a little bit about his parents and heritage.

Nasser and Nura were born and raised in the Middle East, in towns that were built along a major business route called by many the Silk Road. Nasser's family were business people, had been for generations, always dabbling in any kind of service that would put money in their pockets, food on the table and clothing for their bodies. However, Nasser's family were settled deep in doing business with a strong moral value. Unlike most business families in those days, they believed in doing good business with honor and moral principles. If there was a job or service that looked shady or not good at all, no matter what kind of money was offered to them, they refused to do business with them. Nura's family were more of the scholar sort, her family and those that came before her, were more interested in astrology, reading the stars and also learning from the books that were saved by certain members of her family when the famous Ancient Library of Alexandria was burned down a long time ago.

One day, Nura's family went to the village where Nasser resided, learning that some ancient tomes and books were on their way to the town. They were apparently discovered by some merchants there by accident, and were worth both a great deal of money and knowledge. They wished to purchase the texts, hoping to expand their knowledge. When they arrived, they found out the caravan was delayed a little due to a sandstorm that appeared quickly in the desert. Nura had some time to kill, and decided to go someplace quiet and outside of the city's limits and eyes. You see, women in their culture were forbidden to read and learn of anything beyond the household. But for Nura's family, they believed that all of their members, be they male or female, should have a sharp mind in order to not only survive but thrive. The young lady, back then, found a single tower construct made of rocks that was high enough and was outside the village's limits and prying eyes. She went up there to study one of her books that she brought along with her on the trip. At the same time, Nasser was given the task to be on the lookout for both the caravan and for any sand bandits that were possibly lurking about.

When he climbed to the tower to be the lookout, he found Nura reading the book and his sudden appearance startled her. They both looked at each other, and something connected between them! Nasser knew about his culture's laws, and was told to report any kind of unusual activity to his leaders. But seeing such a beauty, and also finding out that she could read and learn, tugged at his heart. And Nura, she saw that this man was different. He did not shout out or demand on why she was reading a complex text, and he seemed to be good of heart. And women, of any nation, race or culture, were quite perceptive when it came to matters of the heart. The two soon started to talk to one another, and the rest, as most people say, is history.

Shortly after the caravan arrived, Nura's family managed to obtain the tomes and texts they desired. They prepared to go back home, but Nura had managed to convince them to stay for a few more weeks. She insisted that they stay, under the guise that there could be more tomes or texts on the way from the Silk Road. However, the parents saw through that little ruse, and their eyes were on Nasser. Though they were scholars, the two adults were also experts at the heart and saw what really drove Nura to stay in the village for a few more weeks. Sharing a secret smile with one another, her father said that they would stay. If only for a few more weeks. Nura was very glad at this, as was Nasser when he heard the news. So for the next three weeks or so, Nura and Nasser got to know one another quite well. And even though they had their minor differences and quirks, like Nura wanting to stay up late at night to either read or look at the stars, and Nasser's little habit of trying to show off to his new friend only for his little actions to get into some sort of trouble. Like trying to do a flip for her, only to stumble on the landing and crash into some barrels of fruit. Or looking for any kind of jewels in the desert lands, only to run away from some scorpions he upset at their nesting site. Despite their little differences, they actually built on that as well as their similarities, and a romance bloomed.

However, this kind of romance took a tragic turn.

The day came when Nura's family was about to leave, and the two were heartbroken that they would be separated. That is when terror struck! Before their small caravan could leave, desert bandits struck the village! These evil men were different the normal desert thieves, for they attacked in broad daylight and were high in both numbers and weapons. The villagers prepared to fight, as did Nasser and his family. The two forces clashed together, and it was an ugly site to see. The bandits were too big in number, and although the villagers fought back fiercely and took many of them with them, the village was about to fall to these desert rats! Nura's family and Nasser's family were together, hiding amidst the smoke and sand that were being whipped up by the wind. The adults knew that their time was coming, so they did the only thing a good parent would do in a situation like this. They told their children to flee, to ride out under the cover of the smoke and sand. Naturally, the children did not want to and pleaded with their parents to come with them. Sadly, the four adults knew that they would not make it out together. And the mothers/wives refused to leave the life partners, saying that it was no life if they could not be together. Nura and Nasser were the oldest, so they would have to be in charge. Nasser and Nura were extremely sad that it had come to this, but the parents just smiled at them and said that no matter what… they would be with them, if not in body then in spirit.

After a tearful farewell, and a blessing from the parents, the teenagers and children started to run from their parents and to some horses that were luckily nearby. Nura and Nasser helped their siblings onto some horses, telling them what they needed to do in order to stay on and to ride on it. Just as the teenagers were getting on their own horses, the leader of the bandits spotted them. He ran through the smoke and whipping sands to see the little ones try to escape, and he would have shouted for some assistance in stopping them, but their fathers leaped from their hiding places and struggled with the strong leader. The two teenagers turned their horses around to see the brave action/sacrifice, and were tempted to gallop back to their parents to help. But the fathers made eye contact with them for a brief moment, smiling at their treasures and shaking their heads before resuming the fight against the bandit leader. The teenagers had shed tears for their brave parents, and turned around to help their siblings escape. That was the last time any of them saw their parents.

Shortly after escaping, the children and teenagers were back in Nura's village. Nasser knew of family members that were situated here in Nura's town, and Nura had aunts and uncles in the area as well. Nasser escorted his two siblings, a younger brother and sister, to his aunts home that was in the center of the town. Nura escorted her three siblings; a younger brother and two little twin sisters, to her uncle's place that was on the outskirts of the village. The two had decided together to try their luck in this world elsewhere, to see what they can do together and hopefully help their family in the process. They stayed with their siblings and relations for about two weeks or so they could get settled in, and on the final day, they said goodbye to one another. The farewell was tearful for the younger ones, who did not want to see their older siblings go. The adults tried to persuade them to stay, but Nura and Nasser shook their heads and said their mind was made up. They wanted to see the world, what they could learn, and what they could do in order to help the family more. So, receiving their blessings from the families, the teenage couple left the village and headed out into the wide, unknown world with only a few heirlooms and trinkets with them.

The couple traveled for awhile, soon coming to the Mediterranean Sea. They managed to acquire some funds by selling some of their few heirlooms so they could cross the sea, taking a boat that would land in Italy. The young adults traveled the European countryside and towns, learning any and all things they needed to in order to survive. After two years in Europe, they felt something tugging at them. It was like their spirits were urging them to travel more, to settle down somewhere else rather then in their current location, which was in Italy. Nura and Nasser could not explain it, but they knew they would not find any kind of rest for their souls and spirits if they did not heed this mysterious calling. Packing up once more, the couple left Italy and followed the tugging sensation. They traveled to the country of France, they a boat that arrived at Sennin, England. It was there that the tugging sensation ceased, and a kind of peace overtook them. The young adults saw that this place was different then the other European cities and villages they had seen, and felt that their spirits and hearts were at peace. It was here that they decided to settle down at, and it's been like that ever since! Nasser used his tricks of the trade in the selling of merchandise to open a shop, and the trade of various goods helped him and his wife immensely. Nura saw that here in this part of the world, women were encouraged to learn and read, which was a big relief to her.

The two not only survived, but thrived more so then before. Nasser and Nura were able to send some of their money and goods to their siblings, who were doing well with their relations. They also made some good friends in the village, which was surprising for them due to some hostility between their races and the Europeans in Italy. Later on in the future, the two would come to have a son. They decided to give him an English name, but also an Arabic name so he could come to terms of his heritage later on. That is when Hadrian/Hazael came to be! They taught him all that he knew; from his father, he learned the secrets of trading, how to enjoy life, and also in doing what was right. Nura taught him mathematics, the positions of stars, and also on how to be nimble. While it was no secret that her husband was not as gifted in the agile arts, it was surprising that she showed grace and agility that were simply astounding to see! Of course, she made sure only her husband watched, for she kept this a secret from others. The two taught their son all they knew, and that, as most say, was that.

Dianne was pretty impressed after hearing about her friend's parents story, and had some new respect for said adults. She turned to Hadrian and said, "Wow… you're parents had a pretty intense life! And you seem to be on your way as well! Like the way you took on those larger bullies, that took a lot of courage and strength to do!".

Hadrian blushed from his new friend's compliments and replied, "Thank you! But, it was you who showed more courage and strength then I. It took some of that and more to face those cowardly jackals! I bet your parents would be proud of you right now.". Dianne blushed, and realized that while it would be true that her parents would be proud of her, they would have been worried as well. Very much so. She thanked her new companion for the compliment, and by forces they could not understand at this time, they took one another's hand. Like Melody and Oliver, this did not go unnoticed by some of the townsfolk as they saw this display of trust and affection. Oh, the rumors that would spread for quite some time… but that was in the far future, and not for the present. At least, for the moment. When the two finally made it to the central area of the village, they saw Melody and her new friend straight ahead.


"Melody! Hi there!", Dianne exclaimed and waved to her, the princess returning the gesture. Both were a little surprised to see one another with an escort, but they did not say much on the matter. They turned to see the crowd, and their friends plus their mothers waiting at the base of the statue. They saw the worried looks on their mothers faces, and when the two saw the adults preparing to leave, perhaps to search for them, Melody yelled loudly so her voice could reach her.

"MOTHER! EVERYONE! WE'RE OVER HERE!" she exclaimed, and everyone in the crowd turned to see them come towards the group. Everyone was whispering and talking when they saw Melody and Dianne entering with Oliver and Hadrian beside them, apparently holding hands. When the four made it to the base of the statue, the girls saw their friends and mothers looking at them with frowns on their faces, and that made the princesses a little nervous.

Tracy exclaimed, "Where were you two?! You cut it pretty close by arriving just one minute close to the deadline!". Dianne and Melody winced at the volume of their friend's voice, apparently when Tracy was very upset or angry, she let you know. They were about to start explaining what happened when Kathrin asked on who their new friends where, and pointing at their hands. When the girls looked down and realized that they were still holding the hands of their heroes, the four quickly let go and blushes bloomed on all of their faces. Edgard and Mainard were tempted to tease them about this situation, but one look from their respective mothers told them not to even start. Melody and Dianne first introduced their new companions to the others, and in turn each of them told the adults and the royal kids on why they were a bit delayed. After hearing their explanation, the women and the royal children felt that later on, they would look for these noble children and have a LONG talk with them. Or in Edgard's case, talking with fists since NO ONE harms his sister!

"Oh, hold on for a moment. I still need to make the announcement." Melody stated as she saw that all eyes were on them, and some of the people started to demand on what it was that they were here for. The daughter of Ariel climbed up on the base of the bronze statue and looked at everyone, who was now looking at her.

She took a deep breath and announced, "Okay, here is what I want to announce! We have a little surprise waiting for us at a select beach near the castle, a special surprise that we want to show the children only, before we show it to everyone when my birthday starts tomorrow. That is why I am asking for the adults to leave their children in our care as we take them there. The ones we want to come with us are kids ages five through twelve years old.". The populace before them were a little stunned by the news, that the parents would leave their children with the royals while they had to stay behind. One of them asked if there would be guards or other adults at the area Melody spoke of. It was Ariel that answered that, as she stood beside her daughter, tall and proud like a true princess.

She answered, "Ma'am, there will be guardians over there that will take care of the little ones. I can assure you that they will protect your children from anything that threatens them.". Ariel would normally have doubts about this plan, especially after seeing the monsters. However, something in her heart and soul told them that indeed, the monsters would protect the little ones from any kind of threat. And they themselves would make sure not to hurt the children. The former mermaid was prone to listen to her heart rather then her head, and this was no exception. Though the adults started to murmur and discuss this little news to themselves, the children were anxious and wanting to see what kind of surprise awaited them in the place their princess spoke of. They started to look to their mothers and fathers, begging and pleading with them to let them go to this special surprise. Most even brought out the deadliest weapon known to adult kind… the dreaded and feared Puppy Eyes and Quivering Lip combo! The parents lasted for about three minutes, which to some here was a record, before they broke down and gave the little ones their permission/blessings to go. The sounds of screaming, happy children echoed throughout the village, startling some adults and children that did not wish to attend the announcement.

Melody was smiling brilliantly now, as were the other royal kids, mothers, and the newly acquainted heroes. After allowing the children of various ages to settle down, to let the excitement out of their systems a little bit, Cinderella clapped her hands together and ushered the youngest ones into the carriages they came in. The mothers decided to walk on foot with the older children, and their royal offspring would do the same. As they loaded up the youngest on the carriages, Oliver gained Melody's attention and asked, "Your Highness Melody, just… what is it exactly you have awaiting us at this special place of yours?".

The princess smiled mysteriously and replied, "One, just call me Melody. The Highness thing I let the formal and stuffy guests say. And two… you'll just have to see for yourself. Think of it this way. Remember when you said your parents entered a whole, strange new world when they left their hometown. Well, this is kind of the same way, but on a whole different level then even we can imagine.". She then walked away, leaving the African pre-teen to wonder on what it was that the princess had in store for them all?


~Back at Sanctuary~

Godzilla and the monsters were resting on the beach, enjoying some peace and quiet. Back at their home universe, they would be hounded by the humans with their weapons and explosives. Or on rare occasion, fight with some of the most deadly of monsters that the humans created, either by accident or by choice. Anguirus was lying on his belly, letting the sun warm his shell and back parts. Rodan was folded up, resting near the rock formation that acted the barrier that separated them from the humans on the other side. Mothra was relaxing on the beach now instead of in the forest, the Twin Fairies on her head as they let the sun warm them and connect more with this planet and her natural and mystical energies. The worm and her retainers felt that they needed to bond more with this new world, so they started to meditate and let their spirits listen to the songs of nature. To the voice of this new Earth, and see if she could lend them her power. So far, Mothra and the mystical twins were communicating well with the planet.

Godzilla however… he was still on his haunches, like in a meditative state himself as his eyes were not closed but now open fully either. He was looking out to the sea, wondering if there were more powerful foes like the one he met earlier. He also let his sixth sense take over, similar to how Mothra and her tiny retainers was doing. But instead of communicating with the planet, Godzilla instead focused his sixth sense to look for any signs of powerful adversaries or creatures. Though his sixth sense had limited range, about 100 miles or so, it was still rather impressive that he could do such a thing. The saurian felt the one who used the strange lighting magic, not too far out but not close enough to be considered a serious threat. He sensed some humans coming their way, but he felt the ones he was bonded to. He sensed Ariel, Tracy and Melody, and he relaxed a little. But then… he felt a presence… a life force he thought was long gone. It was there for the moment, then it was gone. It was very far away though, so he could not be sure if it was truly what he thought it was. For now, he would have to wait.

The monsters were enjoying the little R&R when from the brush came forth a familiar face. It was Kathrin and Edgard, the children who were bonded to Mothra and Rodan respectively. Their sudden appearance brought the Twin Fairies and Mothra out of their communication with the planet, and the twins asked as one, "Hello there, little ones. Why did you rush in here like that? Is there a problem?".

Kathrin answered, "No, there is no problem. Just that… we want to get you all prepared.". The mystic beings and the worm were a little confused on what their bonded stated, and Edgard added in that they were bringing some kids for them to see and to play with. The twins eyes widened, and even Mothra squeaked out in surprise. Her unintentional noise woke up Rodan and Anguirus, but Godzilla stayed where he was. Lora and Moll went down to the ground, sliding off of Mothra and upon landing, went to the children. The kids bent down to listen to them better.

Lora exclaimed, "Are you sure it is a good idea to bring many people here?! The monsters might get a little agitated when they see so many humans, even if they are little ones!". Moll agreed with her sister, but Kathrin had on a small smile, one that confused the mystical fairies a little.

Kathrin stated, "It will be alright. We want to prove that Godzilla and the others are not a threat, that they can be trusted and looked upon with respect and dignity. We REALLY want to show to everyone that there is more to you all then meets the eye.".

Edgard added in, "Yeah! That all of you are more then just monsters or beasts, like the ones back home claimed you were! That you're much more then that! Just give the kids a chance, and let them see you in a different light.". The Twin Fairies and Mothra were surprised by the level of confidence and trust that these humans put into them, for they had shown them much more then the humans that were back in their original universe. The tiny women were a little hesitant, but assured the youngsters that they would have the monsters prepared for the little ones arriving. The two smiled and thanked the two magical beings before going back into the forest, where the kids and the others would be emerging from soon.

The fairies hopped back on Mothra, and the worm scuttled over to her monster breathern. The twins spoke to them, and Mothra translated for them as they told the monsters that many human children were coming to see them. It was enough news to stun the monsters, and even Godzilla broke from his sixth sense scanning to turn his attention to the Queen of the Monsters and her retainers. The fairies pleaded with them not to get aggravated or tense, to show the children that they were more then they looked. That they were not just mindless monsters. When it was told that the bonded were coming, along with their adult mothers, the monsters growled in hesitation. They did not like being shown like attractions and such, but they had to put some trust into their bonded's intentions. Anguirus nodded his head, growling that he would go with it. Rodan was the first to follow, and last was Godzilla. The King of the Monsters made no promises whatsoever, but he would try to reign in some tendencies of his. Now, all that was left was to hope for the best.

The two children managed to hurry back to the group, which was numbered to about 40 or so. Although small in number compared to some of the major towns and cities in the upper areas of England, this was still quite a number of children. Leading the group was Melody and Oliver, the others staying behind in various spots around the group to form a crude but otherwise effective makeshift protective circle around the kids. When they arrived at the edge of the forest well outside the village limits, the adults and royal kids managed to scoot the youngest of the children out of the carriages and told them they had to go the rest of the way on foot. So in another's eyes, this was like a field trip. When Melody saw the Edgard and Kathrin return, she asked if the 'special guests' were ready. Kathrin whispered to her, "The fairies are helping them to get prepared for what's about to come their way. Best we can do.". The daughter of Ariel nodded, seeing that THIS was going to be biggest, most crucial part of the plan. Now, it was all up to Fate and a little bit of faith.

When Kathrin and Edgard went back to their spots with the little ones, Oliver went to Melody and asked, "Please tell me, Melody. Who is it waiting for us at the beach? What are these 'special guests' you whispered to your friends?". The black-haired little lady could not be swayed, simply smiling and answering that he would know soon enough. Now, the African hero did like a mystery or two. But now even he was a little anxious to see Melody's guests. In about ten minutes, the entire group was at the beach. The kids filed onto the sandy shore, and started to look around. There was nothing here on the beach, at least what they could see. They saw an odd spiked-shaped rock to their right, a long slanted rock to their left that seemed to be leaning against the cliff, an unusual segmented log of some kind near the forest, and that was about it. The kids were looking around confused, wondering where the surprise was, and the guardians the adults spoke about.

A little girl, of about seven years of age, went to Melody, tugging on her blouse. When the princess gave the child her attention, she asked, "Your Highness, where special surprise you said about?".

Melody grinned and answered, "You're about to see it right about… now.". It was then that something incredible happened that would be burned in the minds of every single child there, ages five through twelve! The odd spiked-shaped rock started to move and stir, and the kids gasped when they saw that it was not a rock at all… but a dinosaur! One they had never seen before, not even in the picture books! The spiked creature uncurled himself from his shell, like a hedgehog would or some similar animal. It was very strange and amazing to the children, who all gasped in awe at seeing such a beast! They heard some rocks crumbling to their left, and they turned to see the slanted rock move! It was not a slanted rock, but a tall flying dinosaur unfurling its wide leathery wings! The little boys and girls gasped when they saw the creature leap up and take to the skies, flying high above them and at amazing speed! They soon heard some small voices behind them.

"Welcome little ones to our sanctuary! It is a pleasure to have you all here." two melodious voices blended together as one sounded out. The kids turned a little more to their left to see the segmented log move! It crawled out from the forest, and the kids were surprised to see that it was a brown, giant worm! On top of said worm's head were two tiny adult ladies, wearing clothing they had never seen before and having an appearance that really set off an exotic look. The kids were a little stunned by the appearance of said creatures, and slowly started to back away towards the ocean. However, it was then that they received the biggest surprise of them all! One child, a boy ten years of age, heard a strange sound coming from the sea. He turned, and saw a frothing, bubbling foam churning from some distance in the water. He yelled out, "Everyone, look! The ocean's bubbling!". The kids turned around, and saw that it was indeed true. The oceans churned and bubbled up… and rising from said spot was a creature of great size and shape. The kids were rooted to the spot as they saw a giant, dark green dinosaur appear! With unusual dorsal spines on his back, a long tail behind him, and walking strong and proud.

When the creature got to the edge of the beach, it stopped right there and looked at the children. The kids were now surrounded, and many of them started to panic! However, Melody and the royal children decided that now was the time to ease their fears. The mothers decided to do the same, going with their respective children. Oliver, Hadrian, and the others all looked in confusion and horror when they saw the royal one's going to each monster. Melody, Tracy, Ariel and Cinderella went to the dark emerald-skinned dinosaur, Kathrin and Snow White went to the worm and tiny ladies on its head, Edgard and Dianne plus Aurora went towards the flying dinosaur when it landed, and Mainard and Belle went to the spiked-shelled dinosaur. They were all wondering on what they were doing, and why they were not the least bit afraid! To their surprise, when they saw the creature lower its head to look at Tracy and Melody, they thought it was going to eat them. But… the two girls took a side of its head, and hugged it! Ariel started to stroke the underside of the creature's chin, and Godzilla found out that he liked it when she did that!

The redheaded queen turned to the kids, smiling warmly and stated "These are the surprises we wanted to show you, special friends from another world entirely. They've bonded with us, and we've come to see that there is more to them then meets the eye.". All of the kids looked around to see the other royal kids and their mothers petting the other monsters! Rodan lowered his head down so Edgard and Dianne could stroke each side of his head, and Aurora found a certain spot on his chest that when she scratched it light, it gave the mutated pternadon some pleasure he didn't even know he could experience. Belle and Mainard petted the sides of Anguirus's head, and Belle lightly scratched the base on one of his head spikes, and the beast growled softly in pleasure. Snow White and Kathrin gently stroked Mothra's side, and when the Twin Fairies touched a certain area on her head, the worm squeaked in pleasure. The children were simply amazed at this, but they stayed rooted to the spot. Even Oliver and Hadrian did not move from the positions. The others saw this and frowned, wondering on what to do next.

The first one to take action was a little girl, five years old and of Spanish descent. She had light tan skin, black hair, blue eyes and wearing a simple white summer dress. She was looking at Godzilla with huge, awe-filled eyes. With some steps, she left the group and walked on the sandy beach towards the gigantic behemoth. The other kids saw this, and called out to her to return. But, their words fell on deaf ears. She was too focused on the large saurian to listen to her friends. Melody and Tracy parted from Godzilla, the King of the Monsters taking a few steps towards the child. Each step sounded like a resounding boom to the tiny lass, and the ground shook with each step. All the humans held their breath, including the Twin Fairies, when Godzilla stopped in front of the small human child. The beast picked up the lass by her collar dress with his right claw, bringing the human to his head level. All gasped and were now terrified that they were going to eat her.

The girl looked at Godzilla straight into his eyes, and she did not scream or cry or anything like that. After a little staring contest, the girl smiled brightly and squealed in delight! She reached out to touch Godzilla's snout, and the King of the Monsters leaned in slowly so she could. Once on contact, the brave lass hugged tightly to his snout and actually cuddled into it a bit. All, even the monsters, were a little stunned by this action. Godzilla let the child hug his snout for a while before setting her down gently to the ground. The girl squealed in delight at the descent, and as soon as she touched down, she latched onto Godzilla's left leg.

Melody's heart and spirit were soaring high, seeing such a sight really sending her belief that the monsters would be accepted by the others skyrocketing. She turned to the children and exclaimed, "Everyone, meet our new friends from beyond the stars! This is Godzilla, the King of the Monsters! The pternadon is Rodan, the ruler of the skies! The spiked-shelled ankylosaurs is Anguirus, Godzilla's loyal and best friend! And the large worm is called Mothra, guardian of the Earth and the tiny women are the Twin Fairies, who are the retainers of her!". One by one, the kids scattered and spread out to see the monsters up close, and although the beasts were a little hesitant due to so many humans around, they got used to them thanks in part to their bonded humans. It seems things were looking up! However… it seemed that some unsavory characters had arrived, party crashers that Melody, Oliver, Dianne, and Hadrian knew all too well.

In the forest at a reasonable distance, seven teenage boys were hiding behind some trees. They were William and his fellow bullies! The ones that Dianne and Hadrian encountered were part of William's little gang, and the noble brats had managed to eavesdrop on the announcement that Melody made in the town central square some time ago. The four who engaged and lost to Hadrian had managed to get some spare clothes, and none too soon. The spoiled teenagers had decided to follow the group of brats and the royal ones, making sure to keep a distance so they would not get caught. William was wondering on what the big surprise was, and more to the point, if they could capitalize on it while in the process spoiling the fun of the one who foiled their bullying fun. Upon coming to the edge of the forest, they were a little bit disappointed when they did not see anything special. William was wondering what kind of game Melody was playing at… but everything in their small brains froze when one by one, the monsters appeared from their hiding places! All of them were a little freaked out by the beasts… but the clincher was when Godzilla rose from the sea, the teenage bullies just shocked on seeing a strange, ten-foot dinosaur that was not like anything they had seen in the books back at their large homes!

Hector whispered in awe, "Incredible… beasts of legend… monsters of unworldly shape and size! And look… that little princess brat and her friends managed to TAME them!". When the simple thugs saw that indeed, it looked like Melody and her friends plus their mothers had tamed the titans, the seven were just wondering how this was possible. While most of them were in awe and shock, William was calculating in his head. The scheming foe was thinking on how to use this to his advantage, such as declaring the royal children and mothers witches or sorcerers, claiming that they had summoned monsters from another world to destroy them all. Or that the royal ones had brought the beings here to be food for the children as sacrifices for some sick, pagan ritual. The teenage boy delve deep into his sick, twisted mind to come up with some plausible way to put a really bad light onto the royals, and have him and his friends gain some kind of rewards. In his view, it was his family and the nobles that should be at the top of the social food chain. However… now was not the best time to be so deep in your mind, you fail to sense the real world around you.

Right behind him and the dumb noble brutes were some animals, creatures native to the region here. And the goons failed to realize that these particular creatures did not take kindly to ANYTHING that crossed into their territory…


~In Atlantica~

King Triton was in brand new room, one that he had set up some time ago shortly after the birth of his granddaughter Melody. This was the Council's Room, and this particular dwelling was situated near the Throne Room. The ruler of the underwater city had set this room up so that in times of emergency, himself and some higher-ups in the social and military chain would come together and discuss on what to do to remedy said emergency. He had learned of this type of leadership from his son-in-law Eric, after both had discussed on the differences between merpeople and human government. Right now, the top people from the military and economic classes were in attendance. All had serious looks on their faces, as earlier they had seen their ruler entering the kingdom injured and sore. The soldiers that went with them were in pretty bad shape as well. They would live… but they would have some scars that would stay with them for the rest of their lives. King Triton was alone in his Throne Room for about an hour or so, the trident using its potent magic to speed up the recovery process. Now, he was back on his fins and looking at the merpeople before him.

He stood up straight and sure and said, "Everyone, I believe that Atlantica may face a crisis the likes we have never encountered before! I fear that some serious action is to needed to fight this menace that is in our ocean!". He then told his tale of his battle with the green behemoth, and needless to say, the merfolk were very much shocked. They had NEVER known of any one or thing to recover quickly from a great blast of the trident, or on how this creature spewed strange blue flames underwater that reacted very violently with the magical power of the trident. The telling that it was a dinosaur alone was surprise enough, but this left them a bit reeling. After his explanation, he asked the merfolk on what their next course of action should be.

One of the merpeople rose up, a general by the name of Draconius. Triton had trusted this merman with his armies because he was a brilliant tactician, and drilled his mermen soldiers to be very loyal and dutiful to the royal family. The merman also was on the same wavelength of the king when it concerned Atlantica; to protect and defend her from humans and other threats. The elderly merman spoke, "Your Highness, I suggest that we send out a platoon of twenty strong soldiers to find and destroy this green-skinned invader! If it is as powerful as you described it, it would be best to eliminate it completely!". If only certain Japanese generals and other military officers back in Godzilla's own universe could hear this old battle-hardened merman now…

A top-level trader that was in the business of shipping goods from Atlantica to the other sea dwellings and kingdoms also supported this, saying that letting such a beast go on free in the ocean would more likely disrupt trade and such between the other kingdoms. Most of the merfolk seemed to agree that the creature must be destroyed. All except for one merfolk… and that was Sonia. She was a mermaid of about 100 years of age, and although old in human terms and looks, she looked to be like an elderly gentle mermaid to the others. All of her life has been to preserve and protect species of sea life at any cost, and now discovering a creature like the one that tangled with the king, she felt that just destroying the beast was simply wrong. She felt that this creature should be studied and researched on, to see if they could make a connection with it and have become an ally of the merfolk instead of an enemy. However strong her opinion was, she knew it would be brushed off by the leaders and also King Triton most likely. While she was set into protecting Atlantica like the others, her goal also to protect the creatures of the sea. Seeing that the little debate was about to be done with, she quietly excused herself from the room and left silently through the door. When she got out, she sighed, wondering if there would ever be another creature just like Triton and the soldiers described.

She whispered to herself, "That poor creature… about to be killed just because of its abilities and such. Why destroy such a find? Why eliminate something that had a right to live too?". She sighed again, thinking that the situation was hopeless. However, Fate again seemed to be on the side of the monsters and the princesses. She turned to her right to see Flounder, the friend of Ariel. The yellow fish had come to see what was going on, and possibly to eavesdrop. Upon seeing Sonia, and hearing her whispering her thoughts out loud, a light bulb of sort came on over his head. He swam to the white-haired mermaid, who was a bit puzzled upon seeing the famous fish who was friends with the princess who now lived on land.

She asked, "Hello? Is there something I can do for you?".

Flounder smiled a little and replied with hope in his voice, "Perhaps there is, Miss. Perhaps there is…". Hopefully, Flounder would add an Atlantica citizen to the side of his friends on the surface!


~At the Bay of Biscay~

It was exactly 12:00 p.m., and the beaches that were located at the Bay of Biscay were active and filled with people. The locals and some nobility often came to this area to relax, to enjoy the water and sand. Right now, it was bristling with children playing on the beaches with their parents/guardians looking after them. Nobles were with their own parties, decked in wear that showed the fine separation between those of high class and those in middle to low class. However, the lines separating them would unravel as they heard a loud screech/roar of sort that was so otherworldly, it froze everyone on the beach. Playtime was frozen between contenders, as they heard the sound that sent chills up their spines. Then a rustle came from the forest that was near the area, and a woman screamed when she saw emerging from the forest was a tentacle! A large, green tentacle! The thing had a maw that screeched out in a sound similar to the one who made the other call, and the people started to flee back in terror! Right now, commoners and nobility were as one as they fled the beach. A child, being carried by his mother, pointed to something that caught his eye. He was pointing… at the thing the tentacle was attached to!

Maleficent was on the makeshift craft her minions built, and it was being carried by Biolantte. She smiled wickedly and chuckled softly at seeing the humans down below on the beach flee for their lives. She remarked to one of her subordinates, " Look on how they run from us, Captain. I daresay, we break the boundary between classes. When we come in, all are turned to running, screaming victims. Hahahaha!". The humanoid pig soldiers that was beside her chuckled as well, the being finding a sick fascination of seeing the humans flee for their lives. Unfortunately, in his view at least, this beast did not feed on meat and such like the other three monsters. All this monster needed was water, light and earth to flourish. He thought that it was too bad, for he really wanted to see the beast munch on one of humans, especially a noble down below that looked like he had eaten a bit too much and was as round as a ball.

The sorcereress became calm as Biolantte crawled from the forest and entered the water, her troops yelling in terror at the blue liquid below them. The witch stated, "Now, here comes the real test of this vessel. Biolantte, set the craft into the water. Time to test its mettle.". The monster roared and gently set the craft into the bay, the troops all clamoring up to the upper decks. The craft did sway a little and splash, but it seemed that it was dry down below! No leaks! The demonic horde cheered now, glad that the nasty, pure water was now separated from them. Maleficent watched on amused at the squealings of her troops, then sighed and went to the bow of the craft. She told her minions to be silent for a moment, as she looked out into the ocean.

"We need to wait for the other monsters to come, then we will set sail. Given where our enemy is, I believe we shall arrive at the destination in two days' time, arriving at nightfall. Until then, prepare yourselves for the battle that is to come." she stated softly but firmly, in a tone that demanded the attention it needed. The demonic minions saluted, then headed back down below. Now that it was positive that the craft would keep the water at bay, they would take advantage of the vessel. Maleficent continued to look on, wondering what her enemies were doing… and what they WOULD be doing when they got there. Many sick images came to her head on what she would do to Queen Aurora, King Philip, and their offspring's Dianne and Edgard. The witch laughed softly to herself, a black-green aura of flames dancing around her. Diablo, who was restored from his stony imprisonment some time ago, perched on her shoulder.

Forces were coming to play now, from all sides! Godzilla and the others needed to be prepared on what was to come in the future!


(Author's Notes: Sorry again for the delay! I hope this makes up for it. How did you like this one? I hope it meets your expectations! I just hope any and all of you understand the little background I gave for the OC characters Oliver/Olujimi and Hadrian/Hazael. I believed they needed some information on how they and their family came to be living in Ariel and Eric's kingdom. I also hope I didn't offend anyone as well..

In the next chapter, Godzilla and his allies/rivals show their stuff when some local but powerful/formidable animals come onto the scene, thanks to the bullies who led them there unknowingly! Expect to see some surprises too from the kids! Also, the fathers learn that doing decorations and planning is more challenging then it looks. And finally, expect Melody and the others to receive yet another good ally… this time, one in Atlantica form! Hope it's enough!

Just a question here before I go. Here it is: if you were one of the little ones, what age would you be? Also, would you go out and see the monsters or stay in the circle of gathered humans? And if you did go out to the beasts, which one would you go to first?

R&R, no flames, enjoy and leave long reviews!)