"...are you done laughing yet?"

"I...I'm sorry Shantae. But you gotta admit, that's hilarious!"

"...if you say so..."

"Come on...you can't tell me you wouldn't be laughing this hard if it wasn't you it happened to!"

"...maybe..."

"Right, sorry...so what next? Did he just follow you home?"

"...not...exactly..."

So, Shantae demanded once she'd managed - at the turtle's suggestion - to move the discussion out into the bay where there wasn't anything - or anyone - to accidentally step on, any chance of an explanation now that things aren't so urgent?

But of course, the turtle allowed, nodding his head. Introductions first, perhaps. I am Gamera, Guardian of Atlantis, Protector of Earth, and Friend to Children. He indicated the saurian. This, as I understand, is Gojira, King of All Monsters. Gojira preened proudly at the mention of his title. And you are?

Shantae, Shantae replied readily. Half-Genie Guardian of Scuttle Town...and much of Sequin Land, I guess...

Half-Genie, Gamera mused thoughtfully. That explains how you can handle the mana of a kaiju so easily. Gamera seemed to mutter for a time. This is not any of our worlds, he continued finally. Someone took action in Atlantis in each of our worlds while we were in range of it, and the energy reactions interacted with each other across dimensions. This world was in a central point relative to our worlds, and so we were each drawn here as the energy reaction grounded out. Since it was not meant to result in travel, this was...most unpleasant to experience.

You noticed, Shantae observed dryly, snorting a bit as she pawed at the ground beneath the waves irritably. Is that why you and Gojira were fighting?

No, Gamera allowed apologetically. It is why he was rampaging. I fought him to try and protect those his rampage would have hurt.

Shantae stared at Gamera for a time. Are you saying he was trying to level this place because he got dimension sick? she demanded crossly, causing Gojira to wince slightly and whimper.

Be not too hard on him, Gamera pleaded gently. Though physically he is mature for his kind, he is the only one of his kind at this time, and is the strongest being of his world. He is...unsocialized, and the only one who can keep him in check - until now - recently entered a deep, rejuvenating sleep from which she will not awaken for some time.

So he's basically an overgrown manchild with the power of a primordial sea god, Shantae concluded dryly. Oh joy...wait, what do you mean 'until now'?

Gamera nodded, indicating Gojira and the way he was looking at Shantae. Is it not obvious? He heeds your will. You can keep him in check-

Are you kidding? Shantae demanded with an angry roar. Do you have any idea how hard it is to keep myself under control like this? Right now it's taking a lot of willpower to keep from smashing something-

You need not be in this form to keep him under control, Gamera pointed out gently. Taking this form made you the center of his attention, and allowed him to identify you as a being like himself. However, it is the strength and purity of your mana that has him responding to you as he is. Now that he knows your mana in this way, even in your natural form will he heed you.

Shantae flexed her claws a bit in frustration. Well, that's helpful...but how am I going to explain bringing him back to Scuttle Town? And how am I going to manage that, anyway?

Now that we are no longer engaged in combat, we need merely focus our mana on home, Gamera explained calmly. Our mana is still attuned to our home worlds, and we each have sufficient to return along the path that brought us here. ...however...

Shantae growled irritably. What?

Gojira metabolized the energy of his transfer, and adapted to it, Gamera explained worriedly. Not only could he easily return to his home dimension...but he could just as easily rip open his own rifts to any other dimension.

Shantae hung her head, sighing out violet energy that dispersed in the air. Meaning I'm the only thing keeping him from rampaging his way across the multiverse causing untold death and destruction looking for a friend, right? she asked ruefully.

...I was not going to put it that way... Gamera allowed apologetically. ...but...yes.

Sighing, Shantae released her transformation, shifting so that she landed on Gojira's snout as the change finished. He stood perfectly still, save for his eyes that were locked on her...and his tail wagging like a happy puppy. "Alright, I'll take him with," she allowed ruefully. "But you owe me one for this!"

Call on me whenever you desire to collect, Gamera replied, one of his scales flipping off his face and glittering in the light as it flipped over to Shantae, taking the form of a coin as it landed in her hand. With that, he turned and walked away, space warping around him as he began to vanish.

"Right..." Shantae allowed ruefully, glancing away. Focusing her magic, she felt the way to Scuttle Town. "Take me home, Gojira," she groaned irritably. "I need to sleep this off like the coming of age party Rotty and Sky threw me..."

Letting out what was far too loud and echoy to be a purr but couldn't possibly have been anything else, Gojira walked forward, space rippling around the pair as the coast of Scuttle Town became visible, Gojira lowering himself until only his head was above water as he swan to shore.

"Wow, that's something else. So how'd everyone take it?"

"...they'd have probably taken it better if things had been peaceful on arrival...and if Gojira hadn't decided to be helpful and wound up making the WORST first impression ever..."