Howleen Pov:
"Growing up in the Hollow Earth was never a picnic for a werewolf like me, especially when her brother is working for a vengeful ape that wants revenge for the death of her father. Not realizing that it was one of his advisors responsible for his demise, which Ghost had attempted to explain but failed due to Skar's interference. The reason why I know this was because during the chaos about the great ape's arrival to the Hollow Earth, most of the apes that believed Ghost over Skar sided with him while the rest remained with him and the princess. He was unable to take Clawd due to him being guarded by Skar's apes, and we haven't been able to get him away from him nor the skull kingdom they'd managed to build during their time here. But it's not all gloom and doom here, I was raised by Ghost and the other apes in learning how to defend myself and use my wolf instincts to survive. What I hope with the arrival of my sister and her friends, they could help in telling Clawd and Queen Kali about what truly happened on that day."
Ghost Kong's Village
With the hours that had passed during their arrival at the ape camp, the ghouls had managed to recuperate and decided to explore Kong's home to get to know about its inhabitants and the land they'd been living in. Frankie who was accompanied by Robecca and Jet Jaguar was looking at what seemed to be a blacksmith hut where the apes forged weapons and armor to protect themselves whenever they left the village.
"The way they harnessed these crystals in ways to protect themselves in offense and defense skill. Especially with them harnessing energy, including electricity is incredible."
Robecca spoke out in excitement as she looked at one of the small crystals the Kongs had in their possession to survive the harsh environment of Hollow Earth. Having the chance to examine one, she showed it to Frankie so they'd get a look at the crystal as the reanimated ghoul saw the electricity flowing through it. Taking a chance to hold it, Frankie felt a surge of energy flowing into them and being shown in their left hand. The apes around the hut watched the ghoul's manipulation of electricity before channeling it back into their crystal.
"Is the ghoul a god?"
One of the apes asked the metal ghoul about Frankie if they were able to harness the energy from the crystal. Frankie blushed at the comment since they hadn't been called that before but responded that they were made by science rather than created born my normal methods. While the scientific ghouls continued to learn from the blacksmith apes about how they used crystals, the rest were studying Jet Jaguar as they were fascinated with his body structure.
"While I'm grateful for your fascination with my robotic look. I'd advise you all to be careful, the upgrades that I have will react under the slightest touch if it's aggressive."
Jet warned the apes about how close they were toward him, one of the apes touched the side of his shoulder causing the robot to lose his head as they looked upwards to see it in the air before landing in their hands. Moving back from Jet's headless body, the apes saw it moving randomly doing poses, and throwing numerous punches to show how dangerous it was.
"The body dances!"
One of them shouted in amusement as the apes participated in Jet's headless body moving randomly as Jet himself saw how it was adapting to the other's movements and not deciding to fight them. Robecca and Frankie noticed the dancing happening and decided to assist in putting Jet's head back onto his body. Meanwhile in the village was Draculaura who was accompanied by Skelita and Ghost Kong as the elder was being informed about the essence of Pandora still roaming the Kaiju realm, but within the structure of Monster High that she'd devoted to making with the residents who she lived with.
"After all these years, despite having given her life way to preserve a home that wasn't hers. Pandora's spirit is still alive at your school, but what astounds me is that she and Gojira had a son."
Ghost responded to the news about Pandora passing and her forming a relationship with the former king of Kaiju to have their son, Godzilla Junior. Draculaura herself who had grown used to the unusual things that occurred at Monster High, especially about her idol's spirit living within the stones and walls of the school Pandora built when she fled the human world.
"She was a remarkable witch. More reason that I decided to learn about witchcraft, was to continue her work in helping monster kind and kaiju to help find peace. As well as to help vampires see that it can be used to help our kind than to harm it."
Draculaura responds to Ghost about the witch's inspiration made the daughter of Dracula want to walk in her shoes and to use witchcraft in continuing her dream for harmony amongst monster kind. The ape could see the determination in her eyes when she said it but was curious about the skeleton ghoul who had the same type of magic that was flowing through the vampire.
"Oh, me? My familia knew about witchcraft long before I learned about Pandora. I decided to practice in my career of being a clothes designer. Is it possible I can use it with your permission?"
Skelita requested his permission to display her witchcraft to change some of the clothing that the apes were wearing at the moment. Unsure of what the outcome would be, Ghost nodded to the skeleton ghoul in changing one of the ape's clothing to something different than their usual attire. Taking a chance to clear her thoughts and distractions around her, Skelita looked over at a passing ape and used a spell to turn their leaf garments into comfortable clothing.
"Is that what the surface world wears?"
The elder responded toward the new set of clothes that Skelita made for the fellow ape. The three continued their conversation while on the other side was Clawdeen and Howleen spending time together since there was much catching up about their father as well as what had happened to each other.
"You're dating three people at the same time?
Howleen questioned Clawdeen about the relationship she was in with Frankie, Draculaura, and Gojira's son at the same time due to the importance of her relationship with the trio. The hybrid werewolf nodded with a smile about her sister's curiosity since it sounded like a challenge to be with them, but she found it exciting to spend time whenever she was with one of them or together at the same time.
"It's more like we're all dating each other at the same time. Along with that we've been through a lot of physical and mental issues that made us grow closer together. Especially when it came to saving Draculaura from a witch coven, that's when we became official."
Explaining that it wasn't an easy thing for them to decide they wanted to have a polyamorous relationship, each of them went through a personal moment in their lives that they had to face together. Howleen looked over at Draculaura and Frankie to see what made her sister interested in them, from the vampire's assertive and calm emotion to the reanimated ghoul's electrically charged personality and curiosity about their surroundings.
"And how is Junior when you spend time around him? I mean I've heard the stories about Gojira being a grouch and keeping to himself, is he like that?"
Howleen asked about Junior which left Clawdeen to shrug her shoulders since he was complicated to understand with the upbringing he had to endure by himself when he was hatched from his egg. The sisters continued to look at the village and the peace that they'd spent hiding from Skar and the rest of his apes since he would have come up with a lie for Kali to think they betrayed her father during King Kong's death.
"If he's the opposite and wants to help Kali know that she's being used by Skar. Then we have to act, I know that she's getting herself ready for the arena. I've seen what she does to the predators that attack her apes, it's not pretty."
She warned Clawdeen about what was happening to Junior since the last thing that Junior would ever want to be placed in was an arena where he would have to fight. With that being said and decided to get back to the reason why they came to Hollow Earth, walking over to Ghost Kong who had been given a new look with the help of Skelita's witchcraft. She focused back on what was important and needed his assistance in getting into the Skull Kingdom.
"First off, love the new look. Second, we need to get into the Skull Kingdom before Kali takes Junior's life. Despite getting revenge for her dad, it will also mean the title of ruling the Kaiju will go to me and the others since we're. His ghoulfriends."
The werewolf expressed the urgency of rescuing Gojira's son along with bringing up the responsibility that she as well as Frankie and Draculaura had since the three were dating Junior. Ghost's face fell at the mention of them courting the new king of Kaiju, along the the lines of looking after a realm filled with monsters like Junior if anything happened to him. Taking a moment to look at the apes who noticed their elder face becoming serious, Ghost had the tribe as well as the newcomers follow him to a fireplace where he was about to make a speech for everyone to hear.
"My fellow Kongs! While most of you had been born in the Hollow Earth, our true home once was above this treacherous land. Where I as well as our former king met outsiders, such as these children. Who has the scent of witchcraft around them."
He pointed at the ghouls about Pandora's magic that was around them, it left half of the tribe to snarl at them since they hadn't forgiven the witch for sending them to the Hollow Earth after their king's death. Reframing from letting their anger take over from the scent of witchcraft, they focused on Ghost's speech since there were more important things that had to be shared than bringing up the past.
"Despite that, Pandora and the reptile who battled King Kong were responsible for his demise. It was Skar who sent us to this hell! All in the hopes he could take over our tribe, and now is using our former king's daughter to abuse that authority!"
Ghost shouted about the real enemy who caused them to live here in the first place and currently molding their former princess into a vengeful queen that he'll send after them when he helps Kali kill Junior. Hearing that response and taking a moment to think about it and realize that was the truth, he was the one that forced them to adapt to the Hollow Earth. The ghouls looked around them seeing the Kongs were getting angry as they saw them hitting the ground with their hands, which meant they were preparing for a fight.
"For too long we've hidden ourselves from our people, too long we've allowed ourselves to let this injustice happen. But now? That time is over! Today, we reunite with our fellow apes. Today, we bring the truth to the light for Kali and the others to hear. Today, we march at the Skull Kingdom!"
He roared at the village which made the apes roar with him as it was the call to prepare against Skar and rescue Junior as well as prevent their queen from taking a life. Just as he finished his speech, the ghouls watched everyone grabbing armor and crystal-tipped spears to prepare for breaching the kingdom and fighting whatever Skar would have to prevent them from getting close to Kali. Ghost looked over at the newcomers and Howleen since they would have another objective than joining him in storming the kingdom.
"Will provide the distraction, you rescue your brother and lizard. Suko!"
Shouting out the young ape's name as he ran over to Ghost at the mention of him since he needed to show the ghouls a way to find Junior and Clawd without getting noticed. Walking outside of the tribe to a small river, the gang saw several winged creatures drinking from the water and screeching amongst one another before noticing the group walking towards them.
"These beasts are called Vertacine, the only friendly creatures we've managed to tame during our stay here. We keep them fed and they take our crystal in the air to generate electricity."
Suko introduced the winged creatures to the ghouls, they took a moment to greet the Vertacines as they took a moment to sniff them to tell if they were friendly. The only two that they weren't taking a chance at were Robecca and Jet Jaguar due to their metallic appearance. Continuing to be friendly toward the Vertacines, Suko brought out a set of saddles for them which made the ghouls realize they were going to fly on them.
"We're going fly on them. Can't we just go with the others?"
Skelita asked in a nervous tone since this wasn't like on an airplane but on a living creature. Deciding to go in pairs, Suko would accompany the skeleton ghoul while Howleen would go with her sister since she'd had experience riding them. While Draculaura would want to help with flying the Vertacine, Frankie seemed confident in flying it.
"I don't mind flying. My parents were lucky to find me new hands that can let me ride any animal; there's a horseback riding program happening at Monster High that the Headmistress wanted to do. I wanted to get ready early."
Frankie told her about being capable of riding the Vertacine as they helped the vampire up to ride with them. Ghost walked over to Howleen and Clawdeen to show them a bone that had come from the Skull Kingdom.
"Let him sniff this and the rest will follow you there. Find your brother and stop another catastrophe from happening."
He asked the reunited wolf sisters to prevent the great apes from causing another disaster that'll lead them further down from what they were in the past. Howleen nodded to the elder as well as Clawdeen that they'd stop Kali and tell her the truth about her father. Taking the bone and letting the Vertacine sniff it, the winged beast lets out a shriek before taking off in the air with the other two Vertacines following after them. Just as Ghost watched them ascend into the sky, he looked over to Jet Jaguar and Robecca as he wasn't sure how he could help them get on the other Vertacines.
"We've got our means of catching up with them. Stay safe."
Robecca responded to Ghost about following her friends as she activated her boots that began to shoot out steam from the heels. Going off at high speed to follow after them, Jet would proceed to follow them with his flight mode which left Ghost to see the couple following after the three Vertacines. With them heading off to persuade the new ruler of the great apes about the truth, Ghost and the rest would give them enough time before Skar realizes it and will have to use his secret weapon on them.
Later-Skull Arena
Back at the kingdom were the great apes coming over to watch the execution of Godzilla Junior, which would be held in the one place that had proven Kali to be the one to carry out this order. The Skull Arena, built by the order of Skar King to help strengthen their strongest apes to help collect food from the harsh jungles of Hollow Earth. It was also a chance for prisoners to fight for their freedom if they had harmed one of the apes during their explorations. Right now in the holding cells was Junior who was with Buzz waiting to be sent outside so the Kongs could see him killed.
"How is it whenever I'm somewhere there has to be an arena I have to fight in?"
Junior asked himself about the places that he usually ends up in would have a fighting place for him to enter and having to fight someone in front of everyone. Buzz scuffed at the question since it wasn't like the son of a powerful Kaiju like Gojira to not want to fight in an arena.
"Not to get killed early but this type of thing should be easy for you, I mean it ends tragically since if you kill Kali then you might cause a war between the Kongs and yourself. And if she kills you, then that means your people will fight one another to be the new king."
Buzzard told him about the possibility that he would end up taking Kali out or vice versa. The boy said nothing since the last thing he'd want to do was repeat something that his father had done centuries ago that resulted in the apes coming here. The two looked outside of their bars to see the seats filled with apes roaring at the field for the fight to start, mentally preparing for him to go out there and give them their performance. The hellhawk tapped his shoulder to settle his nerves since there was more to it than him fighting out there.
"But I wouldn't think about it just so quickly. Because, unlike most fights where prisoners have to fight the king's best warriors, they're fighting the king themselves."
He pointed out a difference that took Junior by surprise as he looked over at what looked like a podium stood Skar and his guards who got the crowd's attention. They cheered for him since he'd help build the kingdom with Kali as well as maintain order across the Kongs, he settled the crowd so he could speak amongst them.
"Fellow Kongs! For centuries now we have turned our banishment into a thriving empire. What we built was out of anger and frustration for what Gojira and the accursed witch had done, yet out of the rocks and bones we've faced. Our former princess has become the ruler we need to lead us within the Hollow Earth. For she will now avenge us and her father, with the death of Godzilla Junior!"
He announces for everyone to hear as the apes roar in excitement to see their new king get revenge for taking away their former leader. Looking over at the left side of the stadium, there stood Clawd with several apes that had instruments to help with getting the crowd pumped before they saw the fight. Starting with hitting the drums and playing guitars, Junior could tell by the band's look that they were aggressive and would make sure their voices were heard across the arena. Junior watched in curiosity about how the gates weren't connected with his and Buzz's, coming out of the entrances was
"You're not alone. Look at my shadow, I'm behind you like a ghost. Mission "Die a legend" is a go. The way I flow, taking all the shots, landing free throws, beast mode. Double snake eyes, turn 'em all to stone."
Clawd starts singing to the apes as he singles toward one of the ape guards that are near the prison gates which shows a set of serpents crawling out. During his time in the cell with Buzz, he was told that most of the prisoners that were imprisoned were called Skull Crawlers. Fast, lethal, and responsible for taking out half of the original apes during their arrival to the Hollow Earth. Attempting to get out of the arena, the apes struck them with their crystal spears to keep them at bay while Clawd continued with his musical performance.
"And you're a student of war, when I pay you back. I'll leave you begging for more, you'll feel it deep in your bones. The moment you open that door, there's no more game. The other answer is none, its a sight you've never seen before."
The werewolf told everyone before letting out a howl that made the apes go silent as they knew it was time for the main performer. Looking at the podium where Skar and the guards stood, they looked behind them to see Kali walking slowly while holding the axe that had Gojira's fin embedded within it. Just as she stood with her advisor and the guards, the crowd cheered for her as they wanted to see her handle the Skull Crawlers before going after Junior.
"Try me, I dare you to try me. Took me long but I'm here, coming down like lightning. Taking back what's mine, it was a matter of time."
Kali sang to everyone as she handed Skar her axe before leaping from the podium smack dab in the middle of the arena. The Skull Crawlers moved back and hissed at her with ferocity since they could smell the blood that were on her paws of the creatures she'd fought in the past. The only sound that was made within the arena was her hands cracking which caused the crawlers to attack Kali on the spot. It caused the rest to attack on command as they attempted to overwhelm her.
"If you wanna come play! You gotta start with me and the monsters in my head! In my head!"
Shouting toward the first Skull Crawler before punching it with her fist and killing the serpent in one blow. Junior was caught off guard with that move except for Buzzard as he's seen the Kong in action, it was never a sight for prisoners to see Kali letting out her anger on them for attacking her people.
"I've got blood on my hands and you're my revenge. And you push me to the edge! The edge! Do you wanna come play?"
She asked one of the crawlers leaving Kali to jump over one and crush its back with her feet. It excited the apes to see their king in action as she used her acrobatics and combat skills to entertain them, further display her fighting techniques so they knew why she was their ruler.
"You acted like you didn't believe in me. I arrived with the crew, ready to mess things up. Watch out, I've got a short fuse, and I might blow up."
Looking at the apes of thinking they didn't believe in her after they lost King Kong and her taking his place as leader. Taking the chance with one of the dead crawlers, she grabbed its tail and swung it across the others as she swats them left to right. Junior watched at her anger being displayed for everyone to see and remembering feeling the same when he was growing when he fought kaiju's to stay alive.
"Let's see if I light this fire and burn all your goods. Better to ask for forgiveness than permission as I go with the flow. And to all these beasts, I'll slam them down. If they want to measure strength, I've got a warning. Bad luck with the girl who shouts and is accurate."
Smiling at the last remark before roaring at the remaining Skull Crawlers as they attempt to flee from her by retreating back to their cells. The guards opened the door to allow them to return, only for them to meet the sounds of something else coming out to face Kali Kong. The crowd as well as Kali heard the crawlers shrieking in fear as they were tossed back out where they slid toward the Kong.
"Try me, I dare you to try me. Took me long but I'm here, coming down like lightning. Taking back what's mine, it was a matter of time."
She called out to the one who was responsible for killing the Skull Crawlers as the ape girl looked at the entrance to see a set of tentacles making their way out. It was an aquatic monster that was twice as large as the crawlers, it was a mashup of several aquatic animals with the claws of a crab and the face of a squid. Kali beats her chest to attempt to aggravate the aquatic beast as she charges toward it at full force.
"If you wanna come play! You gotta start with me and the monsters in my head! In my head!"
Continuing her song despite facing a beast that was bigger than her as Junior watched her movement in the arena as she avoided being crushed by its tentacles. Just as she on its back trying to rip off its tentacles, several of them wrapped around her and started to electrocute Kali as the creature tosses her against the ground. Despite being shocked, Kali held on and kept the tentacles on her despite the electricity that was surging threw her body.
"I've got blood on my hands and you're my revenge. And you push me to the edge! The edge! Do you wanna come play?!"
She asked the creature before ripping the tentacles off its body that made the crowd cheer in triumph for seeing their king escape the beast's clutches. Taking a moment to breath and look at the threat, Kali looks upward to Skar as she raises her hand so she'd could use her bone axe. Looking at the axe and at the king, he tosses Kali the axe as the ape girl looked at the sea creature before charging at it.
"If you wanna come play! You gotta start with me and the monsters in my head! In my head! I've got blood on my hands and you're my revenge. And you push me to the edge! The edge! Do you wanna come play?"
Kali asked the aquatic creature as she hacks and slashed into the creature to make sure it was taken out completely. With her final swing, she took out the creature's head and allowed it to collapse on the ground with Kali riding its back. The sight caused the apes to yell at excitement for her swiftness and brutality in ending the fight, all in the while was Kali pointing her axe at the imprisoned Junior as she was waiting for him in the arena. The kaiju had no question that he'd actually have to take this fight seriously if he planned on surviving her wrath and finding a way to escape.
The song used for the chapter was 'Come Play' by Young Miko and the Stray Kids. All rights belong to her and the people who help make it. Up next, the children of Godzilla and King Kong fight!