Chapter 10: Living Again
The pillars of light had blossomed into large towers of near solid form light splayed open at the top like giant palms; Mothra, Trixie, Spud, and others fought desperately against Rose's Huntsmen and Huntswomen. To Trixie and Spuds surprise and relief the crossbows shot not arrows or bolts that could kill but rods that when they hit a target hit it with a nasty surge of electricity. It was proving useful in putting down the hunters who they could get clear lines of fire on. Mothra was busy facing Rose, the two clashing over the village in a near aerobatic display of martial art prowess and skill. Rose had seeming skill over the winged women, however Mothra was a skilled caster and a stronger user in the elemental combat form of wind. Their battle was one that if anyone who saw it lived; it would be recorded like the great battles of ancient times.
Spud grunted in frustration as several of the hunters used huts to avoid giving him a clear line of fire. "Damn it! They keep ducking behind the houses I can't get a clear shot!" Trixie sighed as she was busy dealing with her own group of hunters who likewise were being very smart about how they came closer to the two. "At this rate we will be over run." Trixie said with a huff, reloading the crossbow quickly.
So busy were the combatants that Kim Possible and Derrick Haurldon easily snuck past them and into the temple. Once inside, Kim began to take video of the inside, making sure to cover everything. Derrick placed their scanning gear down to do its job, before moving to the main course. "Come on Kay-P these babies aren't going to move on their own." He said as he walked over to seven statues, each about the size of a chihuahua, and each held a small gemstone amulet in its grasp. Quickly, as the battle outside raged and thundered; Kim and Derrick began removing the statues one by one and placing them in padded compartments inside their backpacks. Soon only one statue was left to move to the padded safety of Kim's backpack. The statue stood out differently from the others. First of all it made Kim and Derrick nervous to even try and touch, as if something would lash out at them. Secondly the statue resembled the ones the two of them had been shown were in the Hand of the King shrines out front. "Well Kim...do you want me to take it?" Derrick asked nervously as he eyed the statue up.
With a deep breath Kim smiled looking to him. "Nah I got it." She reached out to remove the statue from its pedestal.
=x=
Outside Rose was in a desperate battle against the magical being that called herself Mothra. "Damn you!" Rose snarled as she hurled a dozen throwing stars at the moth-winged women. Mothra flew up dodging them only to gasp in surprise as they turned and flew after her. "Hah you won't escape them!" Rose declared as she began to fire at Mothra with her enchanted Halberd. Mothra silently cursed herself for underestimating the child; as well as overestimating her weakened self. 'Guess I really should have accepted Battra's offer.' She thought with a small smile. A image of her much loved companion flashing in her minds eye. The sun began to peak over the village, bathing it in the first warm glow of a new day. Suddenly the pillars of light exploded raining down small little droplets of pure light, much of it falling it to earth and pooling on the ground in small puddles of glowing radiance. "What happened?" Rose thought out-loud as she and many others turned to look at the two small shrines.
Spud who had been pinned to a wall by a hunter, used this moment of distraction to pull out one of his spring knives and stabbed the man in the shoulder before kicking with all his might into the man's knee, the resounding 'CRACK' told him he had broken something. He ran to find Trixie as he took a glance at the shrines, their doors still closed.
Trixie was backed against a small tree on a grassy hill a hunter standing over her like a predator as she looked up in fear until the pillars of light exploded. Now she saw as the man turned and looked away in shock at the event, she arched her self backwards as if to back-flip away, then kicked out with all her might slamming both boots into the man's head, he feel backwards down the hill into a hut with a nasty bruise covering his whole face. With him dealt with Trixie went to look for Spud while taking a side glance to the shrines.
The people stood and watched as the doors slowly opened and two forms slowly walked out into the coming light of the new day. Jake and Ron looked exhausted, Ron clenched at his right shoulder, steam flowing around his arm as he leaned on his left shoulder against the door frame of the shrine. Jake held his shivering left arm and shoulder as he slowly stepped onto the first steps of the shrine. Steam billowed from around his arm, he slowly looked up to find himself looking at a war-zone.
Most of the village huts and buildings were engulfed in flames, huntsmen and women fought small battles with village priest and monks.
Ron stumbled to the steps of the shrine and looked to Jake who looked about ready to fall over. "Hey Jake you were right...that really sucked." He half smirked, earning a weak chuckle from the asian teen. Slowly they walked down the steps; Mothra seeing them quickly flew down to them. "Are you two alright?" she asked genuinely concerned. Before either could answer, a bolt of violet colored lightning streaked towards them. Mothra quickly moved to protect them; and spread her wings. The bolt struck her cleanly in the center of her back. Her strangled cry echoing out; Jake and Ron both stared in horror as her form pushed them out of the way of the bolt. The two boys landed on the sand near the steps they had just walked down, while Mothra's still form landed at their feet. "You were lucky again Jake." Rose spoke each word with such malice it felt as if the words were acid. Jake looked at the still form of the young women; he had thought he had no more tears to shed, not after what he went through with his dark side. Beside him Ron also looked at the still body in sicken disbelief. Suddenly there were two screams; everyone turned to see the two young priestesses rush to Mothra's side weeping and sobbing uncontrollably.
"m-osura ya m-osura" the two tried to sing, their sobs broke the words before they could be uttered. Rose just sneered at them in contempt and raised her weapon again. "Don't worry you'll be joining her." Just as Rose moved to fire, the entire island began to shudder. "W-hat the hell?" She snarled looking around as the shaking became more and more violent. Soon everyone on the island fell to the ground and was forced to crawl slowly as the shaking continued.
Jake and Ron both tried to move but found all they could do was lie there. Suddenly they felt a sting in their left and right arm respectively. Looking the two gasped in shock. Each now bore a strange rune and markings around their wrist on the affected arm. A strange symbol rested on both the palm and back of the hand on the affected arm. Mothra suddenly looked up and gently grasped their hands. "Hand's of the King...you now are the Hands of G-Godzilla...the ones chosen t-to st-tand at the side of the one...who will become the King." Mothra said weakly soft green blood dripping past her lips and her back. Mothra turned to her priestesses and smiled warmly. They nodded to her as if they had just heard her speak and both turned to the boys. "Hurry, something horrible is happening inside the temple! Someone has taken the Seals of Gaia! You must return them or else the guardians who slumber will awaken! It could mean great trouble for humanity!" They said as one. Ron and Jake shared a glance; tears still running down their cheeks at what they had seen. Each nodded to the other before they grunted and painfully got to their knees and looked down to the side of the women. They moved to help her be moved but the priestess grasped their shoulders and sadly shook their heads. "Her time is near its end. Let her preform her last duty to help you. She will protect your friends and see us all to safety. Please go to temple and return the seals." Jake looked nervously to Ron before taking a glance back to the stone pyramid. "What if we are not able to recover them?" He asked gently rubbing at the mark on his left arm and hand. "Then pray, pray for gaia to give us a miracle." They said. Jake and Ron both nodded before they started to head for the temple.
"YOU WILL NOT ESCAPE JUSTICE MURDER!" Rose shouted as she took aim at Jake as he took his first step, the asian turning to look at her. She saw his tears, the sadness. She wanted him to suffer more! "DIE!" she screamed only to cough and gasp as the ground began to splinter and crack, a piece of the earth rising up to toss her away from the small group. "Rose..."Jake muttered with a pained look on his face before he turn and smiled at Ron. "Well lets go, our first mission huh?"
Ron blinked before he chuckled weakly, moving to support Jake, lifting the boy's right arm to rest on his shoulder. "Our second, our first was just to come here to find out what was going on remember?" Ron asked as he helped Jake start up the stares. The asian laughed softly "Hahaha your right...hey thanks." Jake said with a small smile. Ron looked to him and nodded giving him the friendly smile that Jake had come to enjoy seeing when his friend was happy. "Hey you lean on me, I lean on you. We can do this together." Ron said as they started to move towards the temple. Jake nodded as they hurried as fast as they could in their tired, exhausted, and still slightly pained state.
Spud and Trixie arrived with Lishte and Robert in toe only to see Jake and Ron; leaning on each other slowly reach the top steps to the temple entrance. They then saw the state Mothra was in. "Mothra!" Spud knelt next to the wounded women and looked at her trying to figure something to do. Trixie knew what to do; she quickly pulled out their medical pack and began to try and dress the wound, to at least stop or slow the bleeding. "Y-you waste your time child. My time is near its end here." Mothra said weakly looking to the people around her; all of them with sad, tear stained faces. She smiled weakly and lovingly at them. "Oh children...do not cry for me. I go to my eternal peace soon...there will be another Mothra in time. He or She will...will be happy to know you were here with me." Suddenly Mothra bloomed into a brilliant shower of small brightly colored white furred moths and these little creatures soared into the skies. The little creatures swarmed then began to merge into a massive form of bright light in the rays of the morning sun. Flying above them all now was the massive true form of Mothra, on of the great guardians of gaia. The great creature was covered in soft white fur, her huge wings beat slowly holding her great bulk aloft as if by magic. Each wing had an eye-spot and stripes of black, gold, and red. Her giant compound eyes glowed a soft aqua blue. She uttered a single sharp cry as she hovered above the island.
Spud and Trixie looked on along with everyone else except the natives, who wept and sobbed praying to the great moth. Wishing with all their might that it was not going to be leaving them, not passing on into the realm of death. Suddenly the volcano on the island began to rumble before it erupted with a massive explosion. The shock wave sent everyone to the ground again and caused Mothra to falter for a moment before she flew towards the north side of the forest, near the temple. "Quickly we must go, Mothra will carry us to a safe place!" The two women said, garbing the hands of Spud, Trixie, Leshte and Robert they ran leading the four of them towards the north part of the burning village.
Inside the temple; Kim and Derrick had been tossed to the floor with the first earthquake and had crawled to huddle near a archway that looked to be the strongest part of the area they were in. When it stopped the looked to each other and breathed a sigh of relief. "Well one could almost call that strange. In any case lets get out of here." Kim smiled offering Derrick a hand up. He nodded taking it and getting to his feet. They turned to leave, heading through the complex of tunnels and rooms only to stop at the main gallery that lead to the entrance. There they found their path barred by two young teenagers; each was exhausted looking and pale. The two boys stared at Derrick and Kim as they came to a halt a yard in-front of them. "Ron? What are you doing here?" She asked before she sighed at her own question. "I thought you said you weren't going to help me." She said, noting how the asian teen looked ready try and leap at her.
"I did say that. I'm hear to try and stop you now. I now know what your hear for, why the natives refused to help you. I am not your lap-dog side-kick anymore Kimberly. Now, please put the statue seals back." She and Derrick both looked at him like he had grown a second head and a tail with hoofed feet. The two burst out laughing almost falling over with their laughter. "Y-you can't be serious!" Derrick said as he tried to continue his laughter at the insane joke. "These statues are worth alot to the scientific community. Even more because they could hold the key to lost human history and knowledge!" Kim said excitedly.
Ron sighed, but blinked when Jake moved to stand on his own. "Look girl, I don't think you understand just how big a mistake your making is. Those statues HAVE to stay here." Kim looked to Jake with a frown and sighed, rolling her eyes at him. "Or some great disaster will befall the world right? Oh please that's just non-senses." She said. Suddenly all four of them were tossed to the floor as the entire pyramid shuddered with the shock-wave that struck it. Slowly they began to pick themselves up when the heard a sound they all did not want to hear. The sound of rocks and stone cracking. A loud bang erupted as a chuck of the wall in another part of the temple broke off and feel to the floor.
Kim moved to run for the exit, until Ron grunting with aches and pain flipped up to his hands and kicked off the floor with them landing on his feet infront of her. "Kimberly please don't do this!" He pleaded. "Put them back before-" THUNK! "Sorry Ron, don't have time. Gotta jet!" Kim said after she bashed Ron in the head with one of her bags the heavy objects inside striking Ron and causing him to double over onto the floor. "Come on Derrick lets jet!" she said as she raced to the door. Jake watched them run for it and snarled moving to give chase when the floor began to crack. Instantly he turned to look to where Ron lay on the floor unconscious. The floor was cracking around him; the floor was giving way! "RON!" Jake cried out as he raced towards his friend and just as the floor began to fall grabbed his friends hand.
Jake cried out in pain as he felt like his shoulder had been ripped from its socket. Ron hung there a dead weight for a few moments. Suddenly Jake spotted something pink moving. It was Rufus! "Rufus! Please wake him up somehow!" Jake begged crying as his grip was slipping both on Ron and on his purchase on the floor near the gaping hole. The naked mole rat nodded and with grim determination crawled up to Ron's face and with a growl of power slapped Ron on the nose several times before he came to. "W-where...OH GOD!" Ron in panic arched his other hand up and grabbed onto Jake's hand. The asian screamed in pain looking down to the paniced face of his friend. "DON'T LET GO!" Ron pleaded. Rufus now seeing how bad things were crawled up their arms and ran to Jake's feet and began to valiantly pull at one of Jake's pant legs. "RON!" Jake cried out in pain, Ron looking up to him in fear. "D-Don't look down buddy...I'll think of something AAGGHH!" Jake cringed as the ground began to rumbled agian, dust and chunks of stone falling around them. The shaking making the strain on his arm even worse.
Suddenly there was a snap and Jake slid forward, the sudden movement slammed Ron into the wall of the gaping hole, and broke his grip. Jake gasped as he saw Ron's panicked face, his brown eyes beginning to fall away from him. No, no, no, NO! "RON!" Jake screamed. "DRAGON UP!" in a flash of flames, Jake shifted into his red dragon self, and with his tail quickly coiling around Rufus dove down into the gaping chasm. Ron stared up in amazement as the red winged creature flew down and gracefully took him into its arms. Cradled bridle style, the dragon made a sharp u-turn and began to fly out of the pit as more debris and dust fell around them. The temple was collapsing.
The three flew out of the temple's open entrance and found why the temple was crumbling, all around it were the signs that a pyroclastic flow had hit the structure, if not for its thick stone structure they would have died instead of simple been tossed around. Ron looked up to the creature and quietly hugged its neck as he rested in its arms. He didn't know what to think anymore. He suddenly felt something soft land on him and gasped in joy "Rufus!" he hugged his little friend close. Jake could only smile weakly, as he willed himself to ignore the numbing pain from shoulder.
Jake flew on until he spotted something that for reasons beyond his ability or will to think about at the time; filled him with joy and hope. Mothra, was flying a short distance from the island as the volcano continued to belch flame and ash into the sky. Jake saw a strange basket like structure being dangled near the water, long strands of vine rope held in the giant insects claws. Suddenly the two heard a voice in their head. "Young ones! You are safe, oh thank gaia! Were you able to return the seals?" It was mothra, and both Ron and Jake lowered their heads in shame. "Oh...oh on..." They felt even worse as they flew up along side the giant. "Do not blame yourselves young ones." Mothra said and both of them looked up to her. "There is still hope." Suddenly the giant faulted for a second. "H-hurry, follow us. My strength is starting to leave me." The two silently nodded as Jake steered to follow the giant, below a seaplane began to taxi and soon took off following in their wake.
It was a short time later, that they arrived at another island, Infant Island. The basket she had been carrying was full of the entire population of natives from the other island. Among them were Trixie, spud, and Leshte and Robert. Ron and Jake now stood; Jake still having not returned to his human form, quietly near where the two priestess wept over the now human form of Mothra, her wings looked colorless now. She slowly lifted her head and smiled weakly, lovingly to all those around her. "Do not weep, do not be sad. For soon children I go to our mother, the mother of us all. It is the way of life, that there must be death." She said weakly. Her words brought on fresh tears to some. Slowly Mothra turned her gaze to Jake; who cradled his dislocated arm. His dragon powers had allowed him to ignore the pain of using it to cradle Ron. That pain had returned when they had landed. Ron stood next to him and helped support his taller frame, giving the dragon something to lean on in his tired state.
"Come here child." Mothra gestured gently, Slowly Jake moved to her side. His strength so sapped that he almost fell; except Ron would not allow it. The blond quickly moved to help keep Jake up and as one they moved to Mothra's side. "Yes Mothra...what is it?" Jake asked tears streaming down his red scaled snort. Gentle a hand brushed them away, before reaching over to his shoulder and gentle resting on it. A warmth graced his shoulder and he sighed as he felt it. "Ron...will you help me?" Mothra asked weakly. The young teen looked to her and nodded quickly and gently placed his right hand over Mothra's on Jake's shoulder. "Focus with me young one, let us heal this wound. Let us together heal your friend." Ron closed his eyes and focused, taking deep measured, calming breaths. As he exhaled he felt a sudden warmth, one he had not felt in a long time, one he had started to forget. It radiated from Jake, a warmth Ron desperately wished would remain even though he feared it would vanish; like magic.
Jake felt like he was being made whole; like some piece he had been missing was being put back. Slowly he opened his relaxed eyes, only to see Ron radiating the warmth of healing magic and chi. As the light began to fade, Jake reached his free hand up and gently grasped the hand Ron had over his shoulder. Ron blinked as he felt his hand being held in a warm claw. He opened his eyes to find himself looking into Jake's. "Let your wounds my dear friends, physical or otherwise be healed...in the warmth...of love." Slowly mothra's hand started to slip and began to fall. Jake and Ron as one caught it and gently laid it over the now eternally still breast of Mothra, the two rested their hands as one on top of her's and quietly moved to her sides and gently lifted her up. The priestess joined them, and together slowly started walking. Jake and Ron did not fully know where they were going, yet something deep inside them; like a distance voice ushered them on.
Slowly the mass of humanity followed, soon arriving at a village at the mouth of a huge cave complex, inside was a large temple similar to the one that was destroyed on the other island. The people of the village did nothing to impede the human's or dragon's path. In fact many joined the procession and others began to shower the still form and the four who carried her. In time they arrived at the top of the temple and found a small bed like structure made of wood and dried palm leaves waited for them. Without a word the Hands of the King, and the priestesses placed Mothra to rest on the wood pile. The four stood to the side as a procession of people slowly marched bye in mourning, and remembrance. Flowers of all colors, shapes, and sizes were laid over her, slowly covering her in a blanket of color and sweet aromas. Slowly a elderly man, with a towering crown of white feathers walked towards Mothra's form and quietly bowed to his knees before her. He then turned to Jake and Ron.
"We have never met...but I know you. Gaia sent me a vision of you two. You are the Kings Hands...the ones who will stand beside the Godzilla who will become king." The crowed of new comers from the village erupted in gasp and whispers. Ron looked at them nervously only to blink when he felt Jake gently grasp his hand in his claw. The gesture was one of reassurance and comfort. Just what Ron needed, and he gently squeezed the strong claw in his own fair hand. "You two, humbly carried the body of Mothra here, you mourned for her. You loved her. You two are unlike any who have come before you. For your kindness, your friendship, and most of all for truly loving Mothra for who she was. I thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Please Left Hand of the King, will you bid her our final farewell. Will you young dragon usher her mortal shell into the loving embrace of Gaia?" Quietly Jake nodded and reluctantly let Ron's hand go, only for Ron to keep it in his hand and walk beside the dragon. The two as one walked to Mothra and both humbly bowed.
"I am Jake Long, the American Dragon, and now Left Hand of the King." Jake said respectfully.
"I am Ron Stoppable, Freelance Agent, and now Right Hand of the King." Ron said respectfully.
As one they said. "We thank you Mothra, for your kindness, your guidance, and most of all...showing us that we can love again, that we can live again." Together they knelt before Mothra. "From our very hearts we thank you. Mothra may the earth welcome you with open arms."
As one they stood, their eyes focused, and full of compassion, full of life. Tears flowed down their cheeks, as they gentle held hands; Jake took a deep breath, and fired a jet of dragon flame onto Mothra's form and watched as the platform and the mortal shell resting on it became engulfed in fire.
As the fire burned, at first it looked like an illusion but then more began to appear. Slowly emerging from the fire small moths began to flutter away as they did they released sparkling scales and embers into the air and soon the fire became a glowing beacon of warmth and golden light as moths fluttered around the temple top.
Suddenly the priestess walked to stand beside Jake and Ron. Slowly the two women began to sing.
Mothra O Mothra
If we were to call for help
Over time
Over sea
Like a wave you'd come
Our guardian angel
Mothra O Mothra
Of forgotten kindness
And ruined spirits
We pray for the people's
Spirit as we sing
This song of love.
As the song ended Jake and Ron bowed and smiled warmly to the two women, before they turned and headed to join Trixie and Spud as they waited for them with Leshte and Robert.
"So Jake...something you want to tell me?" Ron asked with a small smile.