Epilogue
The Institute.
Eiji smiles as he gathers the children in the Atrium. Mr. Noguchi joins them, accompanied by the Prime Minister and a delegation from the Council. "Children, please welcome our honored guests."
"Irrashaimasse!" They echoed together.
The Colonel was right, the PM thought. It sure was cute when they did that! "Domo arigato, children," the PM spoke. "We all know what really happened now. How General Munabe turned renegade, and your teacher Yukio Saegusa worked to save us all. The Cabal too has been exposed, thanks to you all, but we have come here today not only to thank you, but to decide what happens next." He looked at the students approvingly, and smiled. "We would like you to help us make those decisions."
The children bowed in agreement, and joining hands, they gathered around the tree. Little James approached Eiji, and held his tiny hand forth. Eiji grasped it, and began to listen with his mind. The Officials observed, unsure what to make of it. Noguchi just smiled, he could guess what they were up to.
The link was complete, and trance-like, Eiji began to speak; "A lesson has been put before us, one that began the day Godzilla first appeared. For too long we have refused to see, seeking to destroy what we do not understand. That was Munabe's mission, only he was prepared to destroy the rest of us as well.
"It is our own madness that remains the true monster here. Godzilla could only warn us, remind us of that danger, show us the horrible consequences of the self destructive nature that ultimately overcame the spirit of Munabe. Godzilla came to prevent us from destroying the entire planet, as we continued to seek to destroy ourselves."
Eiji gasped, blinking open his eyes. He looked at the children, and they all sat down upon the floor. Noguchi and the delegates joined them as Eiji closed his eyes and resumed.
"Ahab's death must be conclusive. With him must die the self destructive instincts which have plagued us for so long. Only then can we achieve our goals, only then will we be free from Godzilla and the rest of his kind. I cannot provide the answers you seek, but I can leave you my own reminder." Again Eiji broke the connection, catching his breath.
"Just a little more, Colonel. You can do it," said James.
Eiji nodded to go on. "I promise you all, for as long as a single blossom blooms upon this tree, the monsters will plague you no more. It will be up to you now, to all of us, to strike at the abusers of power, the enemies of nature, the deniers of compassion. Only you can heal the wounded spirit of humanity. Godzilla will not be there to do our dirty work anymore.
"If you should fail, and the madness continues, then the tree will refuse to bloom, and Godzilla will return to finish what we ourselves have begun. Choose wisely your destiny, and tend your planet and your future well. I wish you luck."
Eiji drew a slow breath, and opened his eyes. The Delegates stared back in awe. His mother's words had not been wasted, he could see it in their eyes. They were beginning to understand.
"She is in the tree," said Noguchi. "Her spirit dwells there now."
"As does her link to the monster," Eiji observed. "That is how her promise will be kept."
The Prime Minister stood, attempting to collect himself. They had all learned more than any of them could have bargained for this day. "It is indeed a great lesson we have all been shown. A basis for a new, long range agenda. I vow we shall work together, to heal the scarred heart of humanity. To set an example of brotherhood the whole world will come to embrace. I suggest we begin right now."
Little James began to sing, the song of the Cherry blossom tree. Eiji joined him, then Noguchi. The other children followed, then the officials caught on, completing the chorus. The blossoms seemed to brighten at the sound, and they knew that within the subtle glow of the countless tiny flowers, Yukio Saegusa was singing too.
Perhaps there was still some hope left for humanity after all.
Perhaps this would be the last Godzilla story.
THE END
The Institute.
Eiji smiles as he gathers the children in the Atrium. Mr. Noguchi joins them, accompanied by the Prime Minister and a delegation from the Council. "Children, please welcome our honored guests."
"Irrashaimasse!" They echoed together.
The Colonel was right, the PM thought. It sure was cute when they did that! "Domo arigato, children," the PM spoke. "We all know what really happened now. How General Munabe turned renegade, and your teacher Yukio Saegusa worked to save us all. The Cabal too has been exposed, thanks to you all, but we have come here today not only to thank you, but to decide what happens next." He looked at the students approvingly, and smiled. "We would like you to help us make those decisions."
The children bowed in agreement, and joining hands, they gathered around the tree. Little James approached Eiji, and held his tiny hand forth. Eiji grasped it, and began to listen with his mind. The Officials observed, unsure what to make of it. Noguchi just smiled, he could guess what they were up to.
The link was complete, and trance-like, Eiji began to speak; "A lesson has been put before us, one that began the day Godzilla first appeared. For too long we have refused to see, seeking to destroy what we do not understand. That was Munabe's mission, only he was prepared to destroy the rest of us as well.
"It is our own madness that remains the true monster here. Godzilla could only warn us, remind us of that danger, show us the horrible consequences of the self destructive nature that ultimately overcame the spirit of Munabe. Godzilla came to prevent us from destroying the entire planet, as we continued to seek to destroy ourselves."
Eiji gasped, blinking open his eyes. He looked at the children, and they all sat down upon the floor. Noguchi and the delegates joined them as Eiji closed his eyes and resumed.
"Ahab's death must be conclusive. With him must die the self destructive instincts which have plagued us for so long. Only then can we achieve our goals, only then will we be free from Godzilla and the rest of his kind. I cannot provide the answers you seek, but I can leave you my own reminder." Again Eiji broke the connection, catching his breath.
"Just a little more, Colonel. You can do it," said James.
Eiji nodded to go on. "I promise you all, for as long as a single blossom blooms upon this tree, the monsters will plague you no more. It will be up to you now, to all of us, to strike at the abusers of power, the enemies of nature, the deniers of compassion. Only you can heal the wounded spirit of humanity. Godzilla will not be there to do our dirty work anymore.
"If you should fail, and the madness continues, then the tree will refuse to bloom, and Godzilla will return to finish what we ourselves have begun. Choose wisely your destiny, and tend your planet and your future well. I wish you luck."
Eiji drew a slow breath, and opened his eyes. The Delegates stared back in awe. His mother's words had not been wasted, he could see it in their eyes. They were beginning to understand.
"She is in the tree," said Noguchi. "Her spirit dwells there now."
"As does her link to the monster," Eiji observed. "That is how her promise will be kept."
The Prime Minister stood, attempting to collect himself. They had all learned more than any of them could have bargained for this day. "It is indeed a great lesson we have all been shown. A basis for a new, long range agenda. I vow we shall work together, to heal the scarred heart of humanity. To set an example of brotherhood the whole world will come to embrace. I suggest we begin right now."
Little James began to sing, the song of the Cherry blossom tree. Eiji joined him, then Noguchi. The other children followed, then the officials caught on, completing the chorus. The blossoms seemed to brighten at the sound, and they knew that within the subtle glow of the countless tiny flowers, Yukio Saegusa was singing too.
Perhaps there was still some hope left for humanity after all.
Perhaps this would be the last Godzilla story.
THE END