Colossus By Choice: Book 1 Verse 8

3001 P.G.E. (Post-Godzilla Era)

[Universal Date: Day 118]
[Planet: Pyrestar]
[Capital: Silver Sun City]
[Location: City wall limits – honey farm]

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Within the residence of the honey farmer and family friend to Taum Thunder-clan Pyrestar known as Pianoto, most of the escapees from the Iwi-ki encampment continue to rest up after their escape and long trek through the forests within the city limits. Meanwhile, the Gameran homeowner has just finished telling Taum, Skrill, and Yun-Tao one of his old childhood stories in preparation for when his own children hatch.


(Pianoto): So, what did you think?

(Skrill): Seemed a bit preachy, could use a bit of—


The forge wife gives a stern elbow into the elderly smuggler’s gut, easily knocking the wind out of him due to her immense size and strength in comparison to his own; the gracious honey farmer can’t help but let out a loud laugh at Yun-Tao shutting down Skrill’s criticisms. Pianoto takes a deep sip of his home brewed honey cider, choking on his drink a bit; he pounds on his chest plastrons a bit and lets out a small bellow of flames from his mouth.


(Pianoto): Whew, excuse me. It’s fine if you didn’t like it, smuggler. This is a story meant to be told to young Gamerans. We are mentally and biologically acclimated to telling and hearing it.

(Skrill):  Well, I did like the part about how it all began with the vanquishing of the skull king. Reminds me of our current predicament.

(Pianoto): I wouldn’t be so quick to judge, and not just because I’m naturally slow. These… “Iwi-ki”? From what I’ve heard about them, they have a clear goal in mind beyond spreading chaos. They want something specific from Silver Sun City, I can feel it.

(Taum): I haven’t been in the city in awhile, but I do remember how there are ancient Human ruins beneath the city’s foundations. If they hail from Humanity’s home planet, they could be after those.

(Pianoto): That definitely crossed my mind. Why don’t you bring up that possibility when you’re debriefed?


There are several knocks at the front door, getting the attention of everyone.


(Pianoto): And speak of the skull king himself.


All 4 of them stand up from the kitchen table. Taum and Pianoto then walk around the house and help the rest of the group up to their feet. Meanwhile, Yun-Tao goes to her fellow surviving blacksmiths and starts conversing with them; Taum tries to listen in on them while he helps the others up, but he can’t quite make out the gist of what they’re discussing. Soon enough, everyone is up and ready to be picked up by the Defence Watch; everyone gathers in the hallway leading to Pianoto’s front door.

The massive Gameran honey farmer opens his door and is met by several heavily armoured adult Draconi knights from the Defence Watch. Their commanding officer, a Defence Watch knight wearing ornate custom Rathian armour with a red sash emblazoned with an icon of the city’s representative Monster, the infamous Silver Rathalos, steps up in front of the homeowner. He’s an immensely large individual, easily standing at almost eye level to the 11-foot tall Pianoto compared to the rest of his knight detachment being a head taller than the 6-foot tall youngling Taum.


(Cpt. Gairi): I am Knight Captain Gairi Fire-clan Pyrestar of Silver Sun City’s Defence Watch. This is the household that fired off the warning flares for imminent invasion?


The junior apprentice to the City Scouts pushes his way past the other escapees from the Iwi-ki encampment; he nearly trips on Pianoto’s tail as he makes his way to the front door. Once he reaches the door next to his family’s friend, he stands at attention and salutes.


(Taum): Junior apprentice Taum Thunder-clan Pyrestar of the City Scouts, reporting! You’re correct sir! We fired off those flares after escaping imprisonment by the enemy!


The older Draconi captain leans down to get a good look at the youngling before him. He sniffs him a little before then righting himself up again; hee gives a short chuckle afterwards.


(Cpt. Gairi): I like your spirit, youngling! Alright, we’ll take you all back to the eastern command centre nearby. Please follow us to the passenger carts we’ve brought with us.


The Defence Watch officer turns around and steps down from the porch. As he struts off past the trees in Pianoto’s front yard, his similarly ornately armoured personal squad follows him to the Aptonoth-drawn carts. These Defence Watch knights converse with the cart drivers a bit before then taking flight back towards the main city; the other knights that stayed behind file out from the honey farmer’s front porch and direct the group members to the carriages. As everyone begins walking out of Pianoto’s house and onto the front yard to board the passenger carts, the slightly aged Gameran lightly grabs Taum’s shoulder to stop him.


(Pianoto): Taum, a word?


Taum looks at Skrill, Yun-Tao, and the Defence Watch guards, who look back at him in confusion.


(Taum): Just a quick word, alright?

(Defence Watch Knight): Very well. Come on, keep moving everyone.


The guards move Skrill, Yun-Tao, and the others along to the carts; Pianoto takes his hand off of Taum’s shoulder, allowing him to turn around to look up at his family’s old friend.


(Taum): What is it, Pianoto?

(Pianoto): I noticed that you didn’t have your City Scouts backpack with you when you all came to my house. While I was getting the flare launcher out for you, I went through the trouble of also getting your old bag from before you left with your sister.


The kindly follower of Gamera grabs a worn down but still intact tan survival bag next the window by the door; the pack fits entirely within the honey farmer’s gigantic hand. Pianoto extends his hand out to Taum with a big smile filled with pride. After the youngling Draconi takes his old bag and slides it onto his back, he turns around and walks down the pathway leading to the Aptonoth-drawn carts.

He briefly turns back to look at his old family friend one last time and wave his goodbyes.


(Taum): I don’t know where this journey’s gonna take me, but I wish the best for you and your family!

(Pianoto): And the same to you, little one! Make Sara proud, okay? I know you don’t tear up easily, so you put that talent to good use in finding the man responsible!

(Taum): I will! See ya around!


The junior apprentice to the City Scouts turns around and quickly runs towards the Aptonoth carriages across the cool, green grass blowing in the spring winds. He passes by Shira the tamed Arzuros on his way to the passenger vessels while she is currently reaching for some apples in a tree; he gives a quick wave to her as he runs by, to which she responds with a friendly grunt before then returning to her dinner. He continues onward and jumps into the back of the wooden framed passenger cart next to Yun-Tao and Skrill.


(Cart Driver): All in? Okay, we’re off!


The cart driver, a young Radent wearing a sombrero and poncho who looks far too small to be handling 2 large male Aptonoth whips their reins, sending them running down the dirt road at a quick pace; the other 2 carriages follow suit once there’s room. Now that everyone is on their way to the debriefing at the eastern command centre, Taum finally starts to relax a little; he looks up at the trees alongside the road that the carriage passes by, then at the clouds in the blue sky above.

The Draconi youngling is tapped on his right shoulder, prompting him to turn to look at Yun-Tao.


(Yun-Tao): Taum?

(Taum): Yeah, Yun-Tao?

(Yun-Tao): I was discussing it with the rest of my horde. We all agreed that I should accompany you from here on out.


This declaration gets a look of bewilderment from Taum.


(Taum): What? Why?

(Yun-Tao): You’re going after that man, Primatus Joa. He took away someone dear to both of us. It’s only proper that you and I work together to find him and bring him down.

(Taum): Even though you’ll be away from your surviving horde members? I thought Oxbuls always stick together.

(Yun-Tao): We do. But vengeance is a sacred tradition. We don’t forgive easily, and the pursuit of revenge is something that’s to be encouraged. So I’m tagging along, like it or not.

(Taum): Fine with me, then.

(Skrill): Yeah, good luck with that. Me? I think I’ll get back into the business once this debriefing’s over. Wake me when we get there.


The elderly smuggler pulls down his hood, slumps down in his seat, and dozes off almost immediately; this gets Taum to shake his head and roll his eyes.

The main city isn’t far now. The Aptonoth carts have now entered the main road leading up to the eastern gate. Even from such a long distance away, Silver Sun City is as clear as day; the rising skyscrapers of stone and metal, the ramshackle wooden and steel shanties built into the very mountain at the heart of it all, and the constant flutter of Draconi and tamed flying Monsters all around the tallest buildings. The city of the Silver Rathalos is now within reach. But the question that remains is this:

Will it stand up to even the greatest adversity? Or will it fall, just as the skull king did to the god of all gods, Godzilla?