Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The king stands up in the midst of the destruction he causes. He knew it was his duty as a protector, but most of the time he didn't enjoy the destruction he caused when battling unruly titans who don't know or care for the consequences of their actions. ‘too dangerous. Too many. Need to die’ was the mantra the king repeated in his mind as he recalled the mated pair he had to give an end to. The pair laid many eggs, too many for them to be able to survive, not without taking the world with them. But the pair didn't budge. blinded by their instinct to protect their brood, they didn't listen to reason, to their king, so they face death as punishment.

He tried to feel the energy of the eggs. He knew Ningen were smart, smart enough to be able to grow and survive on the planet without titans to protect them. But they were also dumb, dumb enough to provoke already enraged titans by destroying their nest. secretly he was glad, killing non-hatch was one of his most hated duties. Still, he needed to make sure no egg was left. He was impressed by the lack of energy, Ningen have become powerful, enough to try and face titans. They become Ruthless, Ruthless enough to end a nest full of eggs without questions. ‘Titan soul’ his mind thinks impresses, a familiar yet foreign thought. He put it aside, he can think more while he rest his wounds.

Slowly and carefully the King moves, he plans to move straight to sea, he could still feel the fear of the ningen left in the battleground, better to leave and not cause more fear. 

But he felt the energy, a small life in the destruction, he turned towards the energy and saw movement. at the top of one of the construction the ningen have built, one of the survivors starts moving. The king stared for a while, far enough so the ningen couldn't feel the king's eyes; they were too focused on moving the debris. The king could barely feel the emotions, fear, anger, worry, and surprisingly love. They were looking for a loved one in the buried ground. The king thought he could feel a few sources of life where the worry ningen was looking, they would find their loved ones eventually.

He should leave.

Let the other ningen help.

He starts moving again.

Then one of the signals starts to fade.

Like it was using all their force to stay but they were tired. That life was gonna end soon. The king could feel the Kenbutsunin coming, they helped.

‘Too late. Gone’ the king thought.

‘King can help,’ said a voice in his head that sounded like his queen. Without thinking anymore the king moved. Slowly and paying attention to any other life he could feel until he saw the ningen stop their frantic search, they stare at the king with big fearful eyes. The king stared back, lowering their head slowly until they were face to face. They stare at each other for what felt like hours, eventually the king moves his eyes towards the falling construction, he stares at it for a few moments before returning their eyes to the frozen ningen, silently stating his intention and hoping the ningen would understand.

And they did.

Against all odds, they understood, with trembling steps and obvious fear the smaller one moved towards the fallen structure, and pointed towards it while looking at the king. They spoke a tongue the kind didn't understand completely, but he recognized what was being asked of him.

“Help… bellow…help” they spoke out loud, hoping to get the meaning across.

The king moved, slowly but determined, he took the structure with one of his hands and raised it slowly. He was gonna move it completely but the smaller one cried and stopped him.

“Stop!” They cried loudly, stopping with fear of retaliation for speaking to the large one. When the king stopped and nothing else happened, they spoke again “... fall… stay… i.. down… wait… ” they waited for the king's reaction or movement. When there was none they moved fast and determined, they crawled under the small space the king opened. 

It felt longer than it probably was but the king would have stayed like that until the end of time. He still felt the life energy of the creatures below. After a few more moments the ningen crawled off again, followed by two others, one way smaller than the already tiny creatures, both were tired, the other big one more than the little, but they were alive. The two others start screaming when they see the biggest creature and recoil in fear, the first one tries to calm them both.

‘A pup’ the king thought, while staring at the smallest in the group and waited for a sign of the ningen that it was safe to put the structure down.

“... good! Everyone… safe!... down!” The first creature spoke Loudly after calming the other two. The king put the structure down. To the shock of the newly free ningen. 

He should have left after that. But he could still feel more life, some brighter than others but they were there. And he was here, he could help to heal the damage done, even if just by a fraction of it.

He started to move slowly to the nearest fading life, getting those close to the edge first was important for their survival. He got close to a different structure and turned towards the newly free ningens. The first one returned the stare and held it trying to figure out what's happening, they nodded after a moment, speaking toward the rescue ones, before leaving the fearful ones and moving towards the king once again.

“You move… I… bellow… save…” they spoke loud, with fear and determination.

‘Titan soul’ the king's mind repeats again, he puts the thought aside and starts working on saving as many lives as possible. The pattern repeats many times, lifting structures, crawling, freeing, fear, understanding, repeat. A few ningen join the efforts to save lives, others stay back or leave in fear, it doesn't matter, the king keeps helping.

Until the Kenbutsunin and the Sentōki arrive. Both easily recognizable for the king, the ones who observe him but stay out of the way, and the ones who tried to fight the mated pair before he did. Both groups Alfas were speaking loudly, he didn't understood almost anything but he could get by just by their feelings and what he knew about their packs. The Sentōki wanted to attack and the kenbutsuni wanted to watch. They keep screaming at each other until the first ningen the king recue got close to them and spoke Loudly.

“... save us!” They start while pointing at the king “... Don't… die. Let… go free” they plead, the ningen was tired, still full of fear, still determined to help.

‘Titan soul’ the king thought once more. There was silence while the alfas talked once more, no longer screaming. Kenbutsunin alfa bare their dull fangs towards the tired ningen, the king fear he'll have to battle when the Other alfa start screaming. But his howls only cause his group to move and give a free pass to the king towards the sea.

The ningen bare their fangs towards the king “...leave … good now… tired… rest” they said and moved to the side to give the king space to move freely.

The king starts to move, slowly so as not to worry the ningens. Once he was deep enough in the water he turned back towards the land. The ningens were Still watching, he did the same gesture he saw and guessed it meant something good, the king bare his fangs before moving towards a safe place to rest.

‘Titan soul’ keeps spinning in the king's mind.

Chapter Text

She hears his roar before anyone else. Once the king was awake and in battle she could feel him. Her king was once again roaming the land, and he soon would need his queen by his side. After many centuries, the queen was ready to start the cycle once more.

It might have been a long or short time, hard to tell from inside her egg. But she feels a familiar energy start to move around her, making noise yet still never getting too close. Too careful to be an animal, yet too small to be a titan, Rénlèi had found her. It's been a while since she felt their tiny yet mighty energy. The queen can't wait to see how much they have changed.

The queen felt something touching her shell, surprise turned into pure glee, the connection was small, almost non-existent, but it was there, one of her Háizi was here. She tried to strengthen the connection with her Háizi, but it's been so long, the link must have felt forceful and not the love that she wanted. Her Háizi move quickly, they start speaking, but not the tongue of the Mò sī lā rén she expected.

“I feel something” a soft voice say, a Nǚ'ér was the queen guess.

“Was it…?” Another voice says with worry. The meaning was lost to her.

“Maybe” her Nǚ'ér say “I have to… to make sure. But I don't believe im…” she finished.

“Maybe you should take a break” the other voice says. Her Nǚ'ér agrees and move away. The queen focused on her energy until she couldn't feel it anymore. She was sad but hopeful, if one her Nǚ'ér is around then returning to the land would be easier. She can't wait for her to come back.

(She never did. Not for a long while)

Everything became worse for the queen. She wasn't like her king, who enjoyed keeping to himself and only appeared when needed and little more than that. The queen enjoys knowing other creatures, their life's, their experiences whether short or long, complicated or simple, it didn't matter to her, she wanted to know. So it hurt a lot that almost no Rénlèi got close to her after her Nǚ'ér departure, never mind those who did, they talk of things she didn't understand or just view her with a very cold and distant mind. The queen was getting lonely. 

And then the Yòuchóng appear.

She felt her energy getting closer, not from the usual place the other Rénlèi stood. Her skills were weakened by her state and not using them for a long while. But she could feel it briefly, we're most Rénlèi have a somewhat fearful or distant aura in them, this Yòuchóng had nothing but pure wonder in hers. They stay far and in silence, but the lack of fear makes the queen confused, she got use to Rénlèi fear, a Rénlèi Yòuchóng laking it was confusing, if very much appreciated for the queen.

The Yòuchóng, Maddie, went and came every so often. Each time getting closer and talking to the queen, even when she didn't believe the queen could hear her. Still the queen listened, and tried to learn more about the new Rénlèi, their language, what they do, what they want, she wanted to know.

So far Yòuchóng talks about her scripture. Fairytale she calls them, it really entertains the queen, hearing the new tales the Rénlèi are passing down. Maddie even brings one of the Fēi é rén tales, she couldn't speak it well, but the queen made sure to send the message that she appreciated the effort and company.

This time, Yòuchóng was not happy. She was distressed, her cries breaking the queen's heart, she wished she could hide her under her wings and protect her from whatever was making her weep. Eventually she starts speaking.

“it's been four years mothra” she states between sobs “we both miss him. But she acts like I'm not here. If I don't talk about her research she barely listen” the Yòuchóng cries in distress.

The queen tries to comfort her, but there is little she can do from inside her shell. She know who the Yòuchóng is talking about, and it makes her boiled in rage, no Yòuchóng should feel abandoned by their Jiāzhǎng. No they are not Jiāzhǎng, this is a Gūdú Yòuchóng, and the queen would not let this go by.

She tried to form a connection with this child, ‘my Nǚ'ér’ though the queen. It's been long since she tried to form a bond with someone outside the Fēi é rén, but she have to tried, this child who share stories of wonder and hope, this child who lost her Yòuchóng bànlǚ, who's pain of the lost broke her pack, who look for comfort of someone she didn't know was listening, this child who- a hand touches her shell.

‘titan soul’ was the final thought of the queen once she felt Maddie hand on her.

Chapter Text

They were born in stars far away. They used to move as one, with little to no difference between each head, they were one, attacker, defender, survival, three parts of a whole.

Centuries have pass since they hatch, they were born in a land full of dust, alone. They didn't know what to do but to move, find food, and rest. Survival took the lead, it was the most important part of their life. Thriving alone was easier than most would think, the land where he roamed was empty yet full of life he could easily feast off with little effort. After many rotations later they would come to learn that it was probably by design, it wasn't just pure luck and instinct that let them survive. But at the time it didn't matter the How's or why's, he just follow his instincts, and they never fail him.

The land eventually became too little for them, the life of which to feast was almost out, he could feel it deep in his body, the warning sign that they must leave or else they perish with the land. With that though in mind, survival took the lead, stronger than before, and make them flap their wings, higher than ever before, following their instinct once more and trusting them even when attacker and defender screaming in their heads to stop.

They flew High, until the clouds fade bellow them, and they join the great darkness above, watching the sparkling dots they could only see when darkness surround their land, they were at aw of what they were seen. They might have stood there for a long time, just feeling their new space. After a while, the need to move crawled under their scales in a uncomfortable matter, like a warning that they must move, survival took the lead once more and follow their instinct, not knowing why or where, he just trust.

They flew for a while, time didn't matter to fighter and defender, they enjoy the view while trusting survival and their instinct.

And then they saw it. A land as big has the one he left behind, they flew over the surface, instinct telling them to wait and see. When their instinct didn't scream at them to leave, he dived down, the speed made his scales feel hot, they eventually landed, burning a big part of the land with their arrival. They were surrounded by a familiar sight, this land was similar to the one they hatch. Fill with more life than they could ever imagine to be possible, the plants that they landing didn't burn were of hues similar to the balls of fire he pass in his travel, a beautiful sight.

Their instinct were quiet, so he was calm, they start moving looking for food and shelter, has usual, survival take the lead.

Then they hear it.

Movement, small, almost unnoticeable. Defender and survival took the lead, fighter was in the back but ready has the other two. 

Something jump out of the smallest plant.

They roar in warning has soon has they saw it. It had no wings, or claws. It was just a head and really long neck, it hiss at them back in warning.

They stare at each other, none taking the first chance but not lowering their guard. Defender was on edge and ready.

Then something bites their tail.

They roar in pain has they feel something crawled painful under their scales. Attacker turns and bite the head off the second creature that bite him. 

But that was all it took for battle to break. many more of such creatures start going out of the plants, that and the pain flowing inside them make it hard to battle, they could kill a few of them but soon he was overwhelmed.

Fighter couldn't muster enough strength.

Defender got weeker every second.

Survival accepted defeat.

They could feel their vision get darker and their mind drift Far away.

A thunderous roar was the last thing they could hear.

It has been a while since what they thought would be their final day. He survived thanks to another of their kind. He was lucky. The older one who save him make sure they understood, while he bring food and care for them while they recover from their attackers, he explain everything he must know so he could survive.

They're kind, the three head beast, are drifters, born to move world from world, look for a place to thrive taking all life they could to keep surviving until they found a permanent place. Moving on if the land could not satisfy them. Take all the life they need for the travel and eave the land to recover until it eventually would start giving them more life centuries later.

His savior explain he was more than that though, he was an alfa, a posible king to a world, and that would make him one of the strongest creatures in existence, attacker was thrilled by such possibility. But until he grew to his full potential, he was a threat to any other king he find, and without been strong enough, they would not hesitate to finish his life. Defender and survival shutter in fear, the reality of what almost happen hit them with the force of a mountain.

The older one said he would teach him all of what he could do at the time in his young state, and what he could do once he was a fully mature alfa.

Thus came many cycles of fighter and defender thriving under their caretaker, Learning all they could do. Survival had little to learn, the older one explain has long has he listen to their instinct, they would survive anything they might face. Thus he was taught how to be more aware of their instinct and what they might say to him.

(They didn't know it, but it was the happiest they would for centuries)

Had they know what fate had in store, they would have never even dare to land in this world.

But after maturing and been left on their own by their caretaker, survival had little to offer. Fighter and defender would take the lead and leave little for survival to do besides guide them to shelter.

So, even if survival could have predicted what happen, he would have been ignore.

They did has usual, dive into the world, burn their scales and some of the land. Take a look and admire how beautiful (or awful) the new world was. And then look for food, or in some cases, a fight.

They hear roar. Like many times before, his arrival was meet with a challenge to his life.

The new creature show itself straight on. Almost has big has him, scales of different hue, a single head featuring cold and angered eyes. 

It's been a while since they saw another alfa. Different for once, not a king.

‘not yet’ survival scream in their mind. Has usual, they tried to communicate, defender always tried to avoid a fight if not need, it sometimes work, mostly it didn't.

Surprisingly, it didn't attack, it didn't understand them, they could feel it's confusion, but it didn't attack, just stay glaring at them.

Survival felt something in their back.

‘NEVER AGAIN’ roars fighter in their mind while he move their head towards the threat. It fly away quickly and shot something sticky in all three of his heads blinding him. They roar in anger to nowhere. 

‘Calm yourself. Or you died’ a gentle voice sound in their heads. Making them go stiff.

Their caretaker warn them. They could make links to other creatures mind but very few could make links to theirs. Those who could are dangerous. And even when he couldn't see, they could feel the alfa presence making the link, double danger. Fighter wanted to rage but survival and defender calm him. 

‘Why are you here?’ Was the question in their heads.

‘Need food and shelter’ answered survival.

‘Why?’ The voice ask once more.

‘Why?’ They question back.

‘Why here?’ They ask again. Still gentle.

‘Safe. Could thrive’ answered survival once more.

There was silence in their minds. But he could hear the first creature roar, defender was ready for an attack. It never came. He was meet with gentle claws and the sound of flaping wings. The sticky substance was taken away and he was meet with the face of the weirdest flying creature he has ever met. 

‘You're not nice’ Sound in his mind.

‘Sorry’ survival Said.

The creature chirped in what he felt was amusement. They flew their colorful wings until they landed at the back of the scale one head. They were still glaring at him. Fighter glare back.

‘Move, Queen must know’ they say again in his head. He hears a scoff from a second link. The scale one for sure, the new creatures move and he follows behind. Defender on the lead and fighter behind. Survival was just quietly admiring the land, his instincts were calm.

The queen was gentle. Despite her tough scales and cold breath, she was gentle, he was allow to stay has long has he didn't cause problems and disturb the world too much, was her decision. To the anger of the scale one and the amusement of the flying one.

‘Godzilla and mothra’ survival remind him. To the anger of fighter.

It's been a while since they arrive. They were resting near a water spot, by the side of a fire mountain in the fire beast territory. This world was full of life, fill with more creatures than he ever encountered in one single place. Their instinct were not calm though, they weren't telling them to leave but they were pointing at something they couldn't understand yet.

The shadow of something flying above them get their attention. One of the fire beast was in front of them. He knew this one was one of the most curious one. He drinking water but his eyes stay focus on him, they stare at each other for a moment.

Then he threw water at him.

They hiss at the The flying one but he just makes a sound of amusement before flying back again. He start doing different movements in the air, he was at home in it as much has they are. He stop and scream at them. An invitation to fly together was his guest.

Defender was wary, attacker was mad.

Survival started to understand what that feeling was.

This land was home. Better say it could be home, if attacker wasn't so mad and defender was so worry. Survival finds this land perfect to thrive, but the other parts of him find the land dangerous because of most other beasts in it. 

‘Titans’ survival says, ‘and they are not all hostile. Mothra is nice, so is Rodan’ survival said happy. They been doing that for a while, fighting with themselves, each part of him is conflicted for some reason.

‘Queen is nice too. She make sure the others don't tried to kill us’ defender said neutrally.

‘Queen doesn't trust us’ fighter scoff ‘neither does the scale one. They want us gone’ he finished in anger. Fighter has been angry for a long time.

They stay quiet for a while. Each part of him conflicted. Survival wants to stay, fighter wants to leave.

Finally defender spoke up ‘could challenge the queen’ they say finally. ‘she is ancient, no longer a proper queen. We win, we become king. King doesn't leave and we could thrive in this land’ they finish.

Fighter was thrilled. Battling the queen and taking her place, proving he is the strongest. He like that idea.

Survival, his instincts were all over their heads. Screaming to follow that thought to make this land theirs to thrive. But other part was screaming at him that this was a bad idea. That they must not challenge the queen.

survival was ignored. Drown by defender and attacker once more.

The battle didn't go well. It was extended far longer and far bigger than it ever was supposed to be. 

‘IS HIS FAULT’ fighter roar in their mind. He wasn't fully wrong. Godzilla was an alfa, the favorite by the queen to turn the next ruler of the world. Because of that his challenge was meet with rage by him, the queen accepted the challenge. And once they were close to win, he jump in and blast him with his light fire.

It all devolved from there, those who thought he was the winner, those who thought the queen was still the ruler, and those who thought godzilla must be the new king. 

They were enraged. Each part of him go mad. Fighter wanted all their enemies gone, defender couldn't be calm knowing they would be attacked any moment, survival was in a frenzy with their instinct overwhelming any rational thought.

And thus they rage through the world. 

Destroying the land.

Taking lives.

The queen was weekend by their battle, and no other beast could fight them on equal ground.

They should have win.

But then the little ones join in.

Insignificant life. Small, not able to do any damage, only able to witness the destruction expecting the end of it. They never got too close to any of them, the titans make sure for some reason. All they knew it's that they were week.

Turns out. They were smart.

He remembered the little ones making him focus his rage on them. He followed them to frozen mountains, ending many on the way but wanting to finish all.

And once more he was ambushed. Like on his first landing, too focused on one enemy he was attacked from the back by the scales one and his mate, the battle was gruesome. He managed to finish mothra, and when he was close to finishing godzilla.

The queen attack.

Hiding in the ice she sent her cold breath towards him.

Trapping them in the frozen land.

Time passed slowly, or maybe fast. It was hard to know in the cold with three different thoughts running in their minds at all times. It went from annoying to painful a long time ago.

‘How did I let them fool me’ thinks defender. He was saddened by the failure the most, it was his idea to battle from the start.

‘Once we're out, it's over! We destroy everything and everyone on this pathetic land!’ Screams fighter. He has been full of shame and rage ever since they got frozen by such a cowardly move from the alfas.

Survival hasn't had a single thing to add to the other parts of him. His instincts were gone and so was his purpose, no need to survive when they were practically dead now.

Their thoughts were stop by someone flying inside the frozen cave. Mothra has returned. 

‘Look who's blessing with her presence’ said fighter in disdain.

‘You have no one but yourself to blame’ she answered in their minds. A mixture of anger and sadness could be felt.

‘Why are you here?’ spoke defender in a neutral tone.

The flier stays silent, thinking carefully about her next words ‘just… Why?’ she finally ask.

silent fill their heads for the first time since their defeat.

‘Why would you challenge the queen?’ mothra continues ‘Why would you rampage the land? Why kill senselessly?’ She keeps going, thoughts getting more frantic ‘everything was fine, so why?’ She finishes tiredly.

‘Everything was fine?’ they ask mockingly in unison ‘Why?!’ he continue with rage filling his mind ‘have you ever been look with fear?! Have you ever seen the land get empty by your presence?!, have you ever been hunted has pray just for existing!? Would that be fine with you?!’ they scream in anger, making the other recoil in fear ‘I didn't have a choice! It would be a matter of time before something happened that would make you all turn on me!’ he screams again ‘this frozen cave proves enough!’ He finished with anger. 

Mothra just stayed silent for a moment, then she flaps her wings and start leaving the cave.

‘You three left us no choice’ she finished before leaving the cave.

Time went by, their cold capture left them immobile, with nothing to do their minds were left to drift and move. Soon without nothing in common to focus, each part of him became its own.

With time, it became impossible to call them one being. No longer three parts of a whole, they were now three creatures trapped in one body, forced to listen and witness each other's nonsense that would pop in each other's heads from time to time. They were never one again, they will probably never be one again.

That felt like a fate worse than death.

The frozen cave was moving, either melting or collapsing, none of them could tell.

‘Either or, it means freedom from this place’ said defender after feeling the cave vibrations ‘one way or another’ he finished neutrally, he was good at being that, even in the worst of times.

‘Who ever it is. They have the guts to try and end us in such a cowardly way,’ said fighter with a grunt. No longer raging after so many years trapped, yet still bitter about the ambush.

Survival keeps silent.

A small hole in one of the cave walls was finally open. from there came an odd creature, moving through the frozen cave in a way that felt unnatural to the three of them. The creature moves close to them before finally stopping. 

‘it's even more little than mothra’ defender said curiously, while fighter and survival just stare at the creature.

The creature moves again and when they saw something move out of it, they finally realize this was not a living being. Rather a device that could transport living beings through the frozen land with ease.

The little ones have found them.

All three of them were surprised, to their knowledge the little ones were close to being all gone forever. Their rage destroyed so much of the land and they personally attacked the little ones when they join the battle. They must have been gone by now.

‘they are… odd creatures’ spoke defender, while he keeps watching the little ones go all over the cave ‘why are they exploring? There is nothing here?’ he questioned.

‘They are looking for damage walls’ finally spoke survival, a small sign of amusement could be felt by the other two. Survival has been the one who was affected by their defeat the most. It making him silent and sad, barely even talking to the other two through the time.

‘How do you know that?’ Ask fighter, surprisingly calm for once in their life.

Survival keep quiet, thinking about his answered ‘you don't remember hu’ he finally said. ‘Guess we really are not one anymore’ he said, sadness and amusement mix together in their minds ‘we- I use yo do that. Anytime we looked for shelter, I need to make sure it wouldn't fall on us while we rest’ he answered, returning to look at the little ones while they keep moving around the cave ‘they really manage to thrive after what happen’ he finished.

The other two didn't add anything more, just silently staring at the little ones move.

Their imprisonment have really hurt them more than they thought. They realize it while they fight in each other's mind, but they really miss having something else to focus their attention. Thinking and rethinking had been what move them to very odd thoughts through the time. Now with the little ones claiming the cave has theirs, It was non-stop entertainment to just focus on the many, many things they do.

‘I'm gonna make a link,’ said defender one time while looking at the group that kept in front of his head and hadn't moved for a while.

‘Would that even work. Their tiny, you could break their week little minds’ said fighter with glee. Still bitter with the little ones, yet not really looking to destroy them he was weird when he didn't get to fight.

‘Mothra could’ said survival ‘I know she could. And if she can, then so should we’.

‘That settles it. Let see what they are thinking’ said defender.

All three of them tried to make a link with the closest creature they could see. It was harder than they thought, not use to such little minds made it hard to find where to make the link, after a few trials and needing to focus completely, the make the link.

Their minds were hit with so many different thoughts at the same time, some they could understand, some been gone so quick they couldn't even process what they were, they tried using more force.

“ARGH!!!" The one they chose howls in pain. They could feel it their minds and through the frozen wall while they see it hold its hands to their head. The other tiny ones move quickly to see what's wrong. That was their sign to stop the link.

‘That didn't go well’ said survival, Still overwhelmed by the amount of thoughts they could feel all at once.

‘You think?’ Ask fighter in mockery.

After letting their minds rest, they start going through what they could understand from the little one head.

‘She is a female’ defender starts the conversation ‘she is also a pack alfa. Or whatever the little ones call it’ he states.

‘Her pack are just looking. They have no plan to hurt us or free us,’ said fighter ‘and Trying to make a link it's apparently harmful for them’ he finished his thought.

‘I think we could with enough practice’ survival said ‘mothra could and our abilities are similar. Still meanwhile we could tried a half-link’ he suggested.

‘That wouldn't work. Half-links only lets us listen, not talk or understand’ defender objects.

‘We could try and learn their tongue’ fighter adds ‘wouldn't be hard with three of us doing the work’ he states proudly.

Defender and survival just stay silent in disbelief.

‘What?’ Fighter questions the other two.

‘Nothing’ survival said.

‘Just thinking how you never before wanted to learn any other creatures tongue’ defender said amuse ‘are you really that bore that you would rather learn than keep imagining godzillas downfall’ he finished with a laugh.

Fighter grunts at him ‘we aren't going to be free any time soon and if we are we can kill the scale one easily. Might has well do something else so my mind doesn't drift to the odd thoughts again’ he finished. Still unwilling to call the other alfa by his name.

The other two laughed at him. It didn't bother him has much has he wish it did.

It took time, reflection and most of all cooperation, but they managed to make a system that would work. Listening to the little ones without making a full link was inconvenient, but it give each of them something to do. It became the start of a routine, each of them would make half-links with different creatures at different times, study their behavior, body language and their patterns, then discuss what they have learned with each other. Then, when the first creature they use would stop in front of them, they would make a full link, with less force to not distraught the little one again, but still able to understand what they learn in their own tongue.

It was kind of fun for them. Be able to talk and cooperate for a common goal. Their time in the frozen cave turned a one being into three, and this was the first time they were fine with it. Before the little ones arrive, they would mostly fight, and only cooperate when one of their minds would drift to the odd thoughts and forcefully pull them back again.

But in the moments where they could discuss what they learn, joke with each other and have fun. They were finally ok with them being three and not just one being.

‘They know’ states survival without a doubt.

‘They do not’ fighter contradicts.

‘They might’ defender adds.

‘There is no way they could know we are listening’ fighter states again ‘if they do they would have flee already’ he finish.

‘They know’ survival retort ‘they been keeping their distance more and more. They are less curious and more afraid. If they don't know then they at least suspect it’ he finished confidently.

‘Speaking of curious’ defender cut the others discussion ‘the little alfa has company’ he points out.

The other two tried to focus on the alfa that just walked in. Accompanying her was another little one, a male if their observation is right. The pair is the only little ones close so it's not an observation day, there is no weir machine either, just the two small creatures.

‘Should we make a link? A half-link?’ Ask defender.

‘No’ survival answered ‘let's try to just listen through the wall. See how much we can actually understand’ he states.

All three of them focus their attention in the little ones.

“See, they are just been… everything is ok” the alfa states, the other little one didn't look convince.

“We gotten so many… about headaches” the male states, they could feel a hint of worry in his voice “and a lot of… say you always get the worst… at the exact same time” he finished with worry.

“Yeah. Well like I say…” the alfa states again. “serizawa I'm fine” she tried to sound reassuring but the male didn't budge.

“Why are you so… Graham?” He ask.

“only cause you are being…” she said with a mix of tiredness and anger.

They continued discussing something that they couldn't understand fully.

‘They are weird’ fighter states.

‘All little ones are weird’ defender adds.

‘Not little one weird’ fighter grunts ‘their emotions and what they say don't match. He is worry for alfa. But alfa said not to worry, but her emotions, they feel like she appreciates the worry from the male one’ he states.

‘Are they mates?’ Defender questions.

‘I don't think so’ survival joins ‘they act like they are gonna fight for territory. I think the male is an alfa too’ survival pause before adding more ‘maybe a king. She seems to respect him more than any other human’ he states.

‘any what?’ defender ask.

‘human. That's what the little ones call themselves. Humans’ survival explains ‘also, I think they use two names for each individual’ he adds.

‘Why do you think so?’ Ask fighter curiously.

‘They repeat Graham and Serizawa to each other a lot. But now they start calling each other something else’ he explains once more. Causing fighter and defender to focus on the humans again.

“Vivienne. I'm just looking after you” he said with worry.

She visible sight before answering “if I promise to start… the cause, would you stop worrying?” She ask.

“I rather you stop for a few days” he states “but I take it. You promise?” He ask.

“I, Vivienne Graham, promise to… the cause of the headaches. And take care of myself” she smiles towards the male “happy now ishiro?” She smile amusingly. Then she starts walking towards the exit.

“Very much Vivienne,” he smiles back. He turned towards the frozen wall, stare at defenders head, then spoke once more “i'll… if you stop hurting my…” he finished while looking straight to defender eyes. He hold his stare for a long time before finally leaving.

‘Shut up’ fighter said annoyed.

‘I haven't said anything’ survival said, but the amusement was obvious.

‘I can literally hear your thoughts. Stop it’ he Said in anger.

‘No’ survival answered while he laughed.

The alfa, Vivienne, had follow what she promised. She order the other humans to stay away from them and just interact with the bare minimum of contact. She stop staying in front of them for long time and she space her visits in different days. The day she stays she actually tried to talk to them, but they feel reluctant to answer. They miss her, and the other humans, but mostly they miss making the links with them all, they can't manage to not be able to have someone else but themselves again.

‘Can't we just talk to her?’ Defender ask.

‘When we tried it her mind almost break, do you really want to do that?’ Survival asks.

Cause that was also a factor in their choice. they like Vivienne Graham. They can't explain the How's or why's but between their links they grow fond of the alfa, her curiosity was endearing, her pride and confidence that shine every time she had to direct her pack. The way she was love, fear and respected. She was something, even if they don't know what.

‘We can't hurt her’ fighter agrees ‘but she is smart. Maybe we can get her attention somehow. So she can know we are listening. Even if we can't answered’ he finished.

It took them time discussing all they knew about Vivienne, but they eventually got an idea on how to get her attention. Vivienne is a creature of habits. She has her little routine that she follows to the best of her ability, things to do in a specific order. Any time her routine was interrupted or changed by even a small detail, she would notice and react with frustration. The best way to get her attention was to do the same, create a routine for her, a pattern, so she can feel it change and get her attention.

'We are halfway there’ defender explains. 'She is used to getting a headache every time she stands in front of us. We just need to change that a little so she notice’ he finished with confidence.

‘Make a link one day. Don't make it the next. And hope she gets the hint’ survival States.

With that say, they plan started.

It didn't take long for the plan to work. Vivienne notice, and while she tried to put every other reason to the odd patter she could think. The only real option was the frozen beast in front of her right now.

“This is stupid” she said to herself “but I have to at least try. For my peace of mind” she pause to grab courage before looking straight to the face in front of her, the middle one she name Ichi “if you can understand. Give me a sign” she ask.

A pause. Then she could feel the strong headache for a minute or two before it stop. She tried to steel her nerves again and focus on the task and not the panic she feels right now.

“Ok. Good. I'm talking to ghidorah. I can do this” she took a few deep breaths before continuing “one long headache, yes. one small headache, no. No headache, unsure. Do you understand?” She ask. She got the answer faster than she wished.

“This is gonna be a nightmare” she said before continuing her question list she got the wisdom to prepare before hand.

He was so happy. More than they thought he'll be. It was the happiest experience he had in a long time. Being able to have a conversation, even if just simple yes or no questions, was the best feeling they could ever know. Vivienne has done an incredible job at getting their message, just like he knew she would.

She was smart, clever, brave, strong, she was.

‘Like a beast’ his mind finally clicked on what it was that make him so fond of her ‘she has the soul of a beast’