Description: The place: METRO CITY, 1:60 scale. The time: One til awesome o'clock! In one corner, GODZILLA, who just wants to make it to a rockin' party in Metro Square! In another corner, THE STATUE OF LIBERTY, who wants to sell criminally defective pairs of shoes at profit! Buckle up, kaiju fans, there's gon' be a throwdown!
The arena is abuzz with activity.
Located in the outskirts of Southtown, the Honda Expo Arena Complex is abuzz with Halloween excitement. Ghosts, ghouls, and goblins of all ages are exploring the many booths located within the complex, checking out the newest in spooky toylines, to promotions for haunted delights. There is something for everyone tonight, across the vast grounds.
But the most popular was the promotional event from Toho Studios.
The seats were filled hours ago. Men, women, and children eagerly wait from the stands. Surrounding the subarena within the arena, the Toho Studios had set up a painstaking replica of the American city, Metro City. It was as if it was from one of their very own movies, ranging in careful details from the Il Paradiso in Metro Square, to the Statue of Liberty itself. Everything was down to scale model of course, easily allowing a man or woman to walk the city as a titan. It did not take much imagination, though, to know exactly what this set was going to be used for.
The lights die down.
A backdrop screen lights up behind the cityscape, as a projectile whirrs to life. The screens lights up, showing the daytime life of Metro City in a series of cuts. With each cut, an spotlight overhear lights up, focusing on a different part of the city. When it shines over the bridge, for example, it shows the bridge on the screen. To the Statue of Liberty? The statue is shown on the screen, over looking the city.
Finally, the spotlight focuses downtown.
The scene on the screen changes as well, cutting to the grounds, an alleyway between a pawn shop, and an electronics store. A dark-skinned boy, is walking alone alongside the street, a crowd of bystanders bustling around him. When all of a sudden, a stranger jumps out. He is a scraggly homeless man, wearing a T-shirt with its logo blurred out, and old camo pants. He has a box in his hands, and he gestures it to the boy, a twinkle in his eye.
"Hey, kid, would you like a cigarello?"
The boy looks shocked. At first, he doesn't say anything, and tries to walk past the creepy man. But the homeless man jumps around with the agility of a bobcat, cutting the boy off. Finally, the boy speaks up in a coying cuteness that might rival Gary Coleman. "My mamma says I can't talk to strangers!" The hobo, with a strangeness that might rival Gary Oldman, begins to cackle. "Nah, kid, I'm no stranger! I'm just your regular friend, who wants to give out free, high-quality cigarellos to kids!" The kid looks towards the camera, staring. "But giving tobacco products to kids is wrong, mister!" He says flatly, before pointing a finger to the homeless man.
"Don't you know god will punish you for your sins?"
The scene fades out, as the spotlight changes focus. It is now out to sea, off the coast of Metro City, where several model boats are sitting upon it. The sound of a foghorn is played, as the atmospheric noises of the splashing ocean fills the air. The screen fades in to a scene of fishermen on a commercial boat. They are pulling in a net, plucking fish from it. They are silent, just doing their duty, plucking the fish from the nets. Suddenly, there is a rumbling sound. The fishermen stop picking at their fish. They pause, turning around behind them, jaws slack.
They drop the nets.
A massive shadowed form comes slowly into focus on the screen behind the fishermen, mist rolling off the waves as the rumbling intensifies. The slit of one reptilian eye is all that can be made out at first, but as water drips off the form, it becomes clear this is no normal occurrence.
The boat is caught in the swell of a massive wall of water, the wake caused by the enormous 150-foot behemoth emerging. Salt water glistens upon its scales as the creature emerges.
Some might call it a dinosaur.
The fisherman know the terror's true name, pointing up at the form even as the boat is swept away, barely able to hold on as their boat is caught in the tumultuous waves: "AHH! GODZILLAA"!
As the screen fills with the title of the creature, the spotlight has focused on the form emerging from the real-life scale analog of Metro City. Like in the feature, fog rolls off in waves -- dry ice, of course. The lumbering reptilian form emerges from a hidden stairway below stage, dripping with dry styrofoam beads of white and light blue that only -look- like water. Because you just can't go getting a premium costume like this wet, after all -- it's pretty convincing, and perhaps the only thing differing from the (really well-done) CG animation is the complete glassiness in the creature's eyes. No, as the balsa-wood docks are smashed to splinters from the slow, methodical lurch of the creature as it lurches ashore... you could almost think this was a pro!
She is, by the way, a professional. And this means special effects. As the creature stomps into the Industrial District, and model cars drive around to avoid her, the creature stops to sniff the air. Takes one good long look at Lady Liberty.
And then splays both arms out to either side, roaring its thunderous anger to the sky.
That part's a recording provided by Toho, of course. But the lumbering is all real! Fake real. Whatever.
The creature pauses for one more look at the only -possible- figure that could pose any threat to its mission, and bristles. The spikes on its back twitch with every passing breath. And, seeing the lack of answer to its arrival... the kaiju stomps into town, taking special care to avoid the bike lanes, even though it's finding a need to shove the buildings apart a bit to make way for its massive shoulders and tail. Buildings, they'll be fine, you don't want people getting uppity over their bike lanes.
Did we mention the screaming? Panicked people? That's all added by Toho too. "AAAAAAAAH! AIYEEEE!! IT'S COMING!!!!"
COMBATSYS: Honoka has started a fight here.
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Honoka 0/-------/-======|
The crowd goes -wild-
The audience is cheering as Godzilla is thundering towards the city. As she takes a pause, watching the statue of liberty, there is a moment of hushed silence. On the screen, the stock footage of panicked people cuts to a familiar face. A bystander says what is on everyone's mind, as they see the man standing there.
"Dan Aykroyd?!
The man nods, giving a thumbs up. "Yes! It is me!" The woman falls down at his feet. Looking up, pleadingly, she grabs his pants leg. "It is... Godzilla! He is destroying Metro City!" "She" Dan Aykroyd corrects the woman. She pauses a moment. "IS there anything you can do to stop her?!" Dan Aykroyd looks up at the camera, with a wink and a smile. "Dan Aykroyd might not have what it takes to save Metro City..."
"But the Ghostbusters might!"
The theme to Ghostbusters begins to play, as the scene montages. Ray Parker Jr. dances on the streets of Metro City, singing the song. Occasionally, it cuts to Dan Aykoyd driving through Metro City in the Ecto-1. He pulls up to Bill Murray's house, and then Ernie Hudson. Finally, they reach the house of Harold Ramis. Dan rings the doorbell once. Then twice. No answer. Finally, he knocks on the door. Ray Parker Jr. begins to stop dancing in the background. The song stops.
And then Harold comes out of the house.
"Don't worry guys, the timeline was reset!"
The four of them drive off in the Ecto-1, driving through the city as the Ghostbuster theme picks up again. The scene cuts to them parking on Liberty Island, where the statue of liberty is. The spotlight is now over the Statue of Liberty on the set, as Honoka comes thundering towards them. ON the screen, the ghostbusters are climbing up into the crown of the statue of liberty. "Hey, aren't we supposed to slime her on the inside?" Bill Murray asks. As a response, Egon pulls out a Nintendo Wii U controller. "No need. With this new remote controller, we can control the Statue of Liberty without needing to write in pink empathetic slime." "Wow!" Exclaims Bill Murray. "That sure makes writing things a lot clearer!" Egon turns on the Nintendo Wii U, on screen. And there is a rumbling sound.
And the Statue of Liberty opens her eyes.
"YEEEEEEE HAAAAAAW!" Lightning Spangles cries out, dressed as the Statue of Liberty. Holding the torch of freedom high, and clutching the tabula ansata close to her chest, she smiling brightly, looking across at the Godzilla across to her. "Well boy howdy! Aren't you the biggest dang lizard I seen! And what are you doin' messing up my city! That is ruder than a Kentucky Fried Wedding Vow!" Taking a step forward from the island, she somehow walks across the water as she approaches the kaiju.
"And I won't stand for it, you hear me!?"
COMBATSYS: Jezebel has joined the fight here.
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Honoka 0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0 Jezebel
Honoka would slap her forehead -- if she could reach it through all the foam rubber and simulated scales. As it is... no. The Twilight Star performer is a consummate professional, and that means staying in character, not ripping into Jezebel for her twangy drawl interpretation of Lady Liberty. As Peter Venkman might say, 'She's French. You know that.'
Nope. Not gonna do it. But as long as Jezebel's going to be grandstanding, the gigantic kaiju has a goal in mind -- and whatever it is, it isn't on the path between Godzilla and Lady Liberty.
No... Honokazilla has her eyes set on Metro Square. She pauses for effect, as the spotlight scans forward, the screen picking up with a really cool super-accelerated zoom effect that Sam Raimi would be proud of.
You see, in Times Square, there's a ROCKIN' Halloween party going on. This scene's live, folks, and it's taking place in Metro City RIGHT NOW (okay it's actually in a soundstage in Southtown because it's like nine o clock in the morning folks, you seriously thoght it was live? really?!)
Honokazilla turns back towards Jezebeliberty. Points dramatically at Metro Square. The video screen cuts to her cold, glassy eyes. The eyeglint is a pretty kickass lensflare.
And then Gojira ROARS, her voice amplified yet again -- and then Honoka cuts a sharp spin, her rubbery tail slashing a gouge right through the foundation of a building. The kaiju lumbers forward. Grips the building with both of its stubby clawed hands. And with another whirl... Honokazilla pitches the towering building facsimile at Jezebel with another mighty roar.
Metro City parties don't stop for anyone, Jezebel.
COMBATSYS: Jezebel blocks Honoka's Huge Thrown Object.
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Honoka 1/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Jezebel
"Nice try, Godzilla!"
Using the power of the tablet, the American Hero pulls it up, using it as a shield against the building. The tablet shatters on impact, the debris hammering the woman's body. The main impact was stopped. Body bruised from the scattered pieces of the set work, she drops the remains of the rule of law. She points the torch at Honoka.
And a song begins to play.
High and High, by Howard Huntsberry. The inspirational music fills the Statue of Liberty's heart. Raising the torch high, she grins widely at her partner. "Do you think you can wreck my city? Metro City has stayed strong in the face of all kinds of troubles! What makes you think that a overweight lizard is going be any worse? Besides, I have just the thing to stop you!"
And she lifts up her dress.
Upon her feet was horror.
It was a combination of some kind of bad rubber clogs, mixed with lambskin-leather and fur. It was a boot, and a clog at the same time. Children in the audience beginsto cry. But Lightning Spangles does not stop her pitch. "With my new footwear, I can have the comfort of a crocs for day to day chores, with the fashion and warmth of the lambskin Chuggs! Cruggs! Now available right here in the Honda Expo Arena Complex."
She gives a wink.
And immediately, she pivots. Holding on to the torch of liberty tight, she advances on Honoka. Leading with a straight kick, she aims that crugg right at Godzilla's chest. Another straight kick comes from the same leg, snapping straight for the chest again, before coming around with a roundhouse kick with the other leg. Switching hands with the torch, she finishes the assault with ANOTHER roundhouse kick, bringing the combo to a close.
And bringing those cruggs closer.
COMBATSYS: Honoka blocks Jezebel's Quick and the Dead.
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Honoka 1/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Jezebel
Now, it should be known that Honoka has already been in negotiations with the crew here. Which is to say, she's stacked the deck. The crew was running behind with the setup for their confetti cannons -- the safe alternative to explosives. Honoka just happened to convince them that her alternative was perfectly safe as well. And she didn't lie, really -- explosives are perfectly safe!
... as long as you aren't in the blast radius. Honoka conveniently forgot to mention that.
It doesn't seem that building was marked, but there's no telling which of the buildings -were-, unless you just happen to have been the one setting the charges.
Honokazilla has other things on her mind, though -- namely, the four-kick combination attack aimed at her torso. Her kaiju arms aren't good for much, but they are long enough to throw in front of her chest, presenting Jezebel's abominable footwear with a hard surface to impact that =won't= cause breathing problems for the costumed performer. Taking careful aim to stay in character, Honoka triggers another kaiju roar.
The screen, helpfully enough, shows kids exactly where to get the roar sound effect, as it's part of a kit available at the nearest Takashimaya department store!
But the advertisement cuts away just as Honokazilla staggers back, slammed into a building from the force of Jezebel's kicks. Two of her back spikes are embedded in the soft foam building -- causing a rather audible grunt from the kaiju.
The monster's eyes glint again, and its arms spread out once more -- though instead of a purely audible roar -- this one takes the form of a pink and purple technicolor FLAME, bursting forth from the mighty maw of the kaiju and rippling out to engulf Lady Liberty whole. *WHOOSH!*
It's not real flame, of course, but neither is it a special effect. The energy blast might be strong enough to slam Jezebel into one of the buildings, though, which /might/ be just enough to be considered payback. Maybe!
COMBATSYS: Honoka successfully hits Jezebel with Ishirishina.
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Honoka 1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\1 Jezebel
Were those real explosions?
Not that Lightning Spangles hasn't worked around real explosions. She did acting work in China, where safety standards were loose, and she was an expendable cheesecake resource. How else was she to instinctively learn how to tuck and roll when the burning comes. As the blast comes, Jezebel tries to roll with the blastwave... that does not come. Instead, it is like a laser, cutting into her. Ripping into her skin, she is seared by the chi blast that knocks away the torch of liberty. The audience hollers as lady liberty collapses into some buildings, crushing them under her body. Groggily, her head rolls side to side. But with new spirit, she surges straight up.
"That's right kids, the Takashimaya department store!"
New energy pours into her as Honoka fails to make the most important point of all. Lightning Spangles had a brand to uphold. And that brand was that nobody, bar nobody, could out shill anything she was shilling. The fact that this so called Godzilla was just passively marketing the roars? That was too subtle! It doesn't matter if her clothing was not heat resistent, and her robe was burning away to tatters. It didn't matter that Lighting Spangle's legs were beginning to become exposed. What DID matter was that the Cruggs were undamaged.
And that she was vouching a chain of stores.
"At the Takashimaya Department Store, you can expect the finest craftsmanship with all kinds of high-quality products! For example, only Takashimaya Department Stores have the hottest new release, ready for the holiday season!" She reaches into her liberty robe, and from it, pulls out a small, red muppet in a white gi and headband. "The Battle Me Elmo Doll! The hottest new toy that only the coolest kids get! Inspired by real fighter Ryu Ansatsuken, it has all the fighters greatest moves! It has Hadakkens! It has Sharookens! It even has that spinning kick! Ask your parents today to come down to the Takashimaya Department Store to get you the Battle Me Elmo Doll!"
Lady Liberty gives a thumbs up to the audience.
Elmo falls into his defensive stance upon Lightning Spangle's palm.
COMBATSYS: Jezebel burns with the AMERICAN SPIRIT!
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Honoka 1/-----==/=======|=======\====---\1 Jezebel
The folks operating the live footage -really- don't have a lot to work with when it comes to selling Honoka's complete deadpan reaction to all the shilling going on here. Honoka has =never= had to stop her performance to pander to sponsors.
That's the ringmaster's job, and he does a damn fine job of it.
So when it comes time to show what Honoka's thinking, there's an overly tight shot of Godzilla's head... staring blankly ahead.
That's when Honoka remembers she can make grunty Godzilla noises too.
Honoka has no products to shill though... which is why they cut to the noisemakers in the first place. She could certainly sell explosives, though. You know, if these were even remotely legal to sell in Japan to anyone without a pyrotechnician's license. Truth be told, Honoka's actually pretty surprised Jezebel's even standing after her psych-- ATOMIC FIRE BLAST. But... eh.
The party waits for no one. Honokazilla-points off towards Metro Square once more.
Cameras show the party once again. Costumes galore. Hey, THOSE are things you can buy at Takashimaya Department Store. If it weren't closed. For Halloween. ... Yeah. But hey, these costumes will be on HALF PRICE TOMORROW. YEAH!
And Honoka starts trudging on towards Metro City. She's got promises to keep! And miles to go before she sweeps!
No, wait. She's only a few feet away from Jezebel. And her tail is, hey, it's a few feet long. Just long enough to allow the massive tail to lash Jez in the shoulder as she turns sharply, resuming her plodding course towards the facsimile of Metro Square. *THWACK!*
COMBATSYS: Jezebel fails to interrupt Medium Strike from Honoka with High Noon EX.
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Honoka 1/----===/=======|=======\==-----\1 Jezebel
Frankly, the audience supports it because her legs were showing.
Obviously, this Lady Liberty wasn't French. As she stands there, pitching the product, she barely has time to notice that Godzilla was looming. As Godzilla points to the party, Lady Liberty stomps a Chugg'd foot. How dare she not pour her heart into pitching the young party goers. There were BOTTOM LINES at stack here! Turning around to face the kaiju, she holds up the Battle Me Elmo doll, eyes glinting. The doll shudders to life. And like that, he takes to the air, pouring an attack straight into Honoka.
"Elmo goes Shooorooooken!"
The little toy hops up, as Lightning Spangles attempts to slam a foot straight into Honoka's Godzilla face. But the tail was hard to predict. It slams into her shoulder, just as the Elmo fires up to hit Godzilla in the tail. Lightning Spangles falls into the business district, legs flying in the air, while Elmo goes tumbling do-
Wait no.
Elmo is now doing a flying hurricane kick, straight towards Godzilla.
Honoka is =totally= selling the party goers! It's not -her- fault the audience doesn't understand her. She's been screaming at the top of her lungs, "*angry godzilla noises!*"
Well, they take the opportunity to get a good plug for Kirin Beer out of that. It's totally legal to shill that in Japan. Really.
Of course, she'd =love= to go over and join them, but... this... tiny little Elmo is hurricane kicking at her. Seriously. It's freaking ADORABLE. The camera has to swing in tight for a close-up of this dang thing.... if only because Honoka's not actively pitching much =anything= from the party. She's just marching along, trying to get joined up with the group -- knocking over buildings when and if she has to! And considering her big kaiju butt is wider than the streets... this means -lots- of buildings get knocked over. The poor set craftsmen...
OH, SNAP. That's when the screen shows footage of the set builders putting their CRAFTSMAN TOOLS to work. Booyah!
Japanese television is so gaudy...
But let's not forget all the little people. Like Battle Me Elmo. Who socks Honoka right in the monstrous head, which snaps sharply to the side.
The kaiju stops dead in its tracks, from the power of one fuzzy muppet's blow. Pausing. Considering. Turning... DRAMATICALLY... to glare at Jezebel over its scaled shoulder.
And that's when Honoka spins sharply, her kaiju's tail shearing off two more buildings from their foundations... and she CHARGES at Jezebel. LEAPING into the air -- and hoping to -crush- Lady Liberty under her super foam rubber feet. "*kaiju noises!*"
COMBATSYS: Jezebel dodges Honoka's Strong Kick.
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Honoka 1/---====/=======|=======\===----\1 Jezebel
Japanese TV might be gaudy, but compared to Lightning Spangles, it was downright modest.
As Lady Liberty recovers from her assault, Godzilla was thundering in. As the giant lizard takes to the air, she looks up, utterly helpless. Suddenly, a little boy is brought to the sidelines, a winner of the doorway raffle. The shy little Japanese kid blushes, before calling out feebly. "Whahaha." He mutters. The handler pokes him in the ribs, and the kid calls out louder.
"Watch out, Lightning Spangles!"
Lightning Spangle's eyes go wide, and with a heave, she rolls out of the way in the last minute. The kaiju thunders down, leaving a crater right where Jezebel once laid. Rising up, she strikes a pose with her hands. "Nice try, Godzilla! But thanks to my friend, Tenchi, I escaped just in time!" Lightning Spangles salutes the boy, who is pulled away after a Lightning Spangles badge is pinned to his chest. Lightning Spangles lowers herself down into a crouch, as she continues to speak. "Fortunately, my friends at the circus got in touch with him just in time. A circus that might be well and familiar to you, you overgrown lizard! And who better to help me talk about the best circus in all of America than my good friends. . ."
"Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope!"
The sounds of the Dark Carnival fills the air as a spotlight focuses in the Juggalo district of Metro City. Upon the screen, the two lead songsmen of the famous rap group, Insane Clown Posse, are standing in the middle of one of their many tasteful parties. Sharing a bottle of Faygo between them, they notice that the camera is on them. "Heeeey what's up-" Shaggy says something, but no sound comes out. It seems to begin with B or P, though. He stares across the way. "Huh? What the- Do you mean this is for- kids?" He blinks. "Man, I don't want to do any- for some- kids!" A bag of something is tossed towards Shaggy. He holds up the bag, inspecting it.
"Oh Sh-"
The pair put on their fakest smiles. "Yeah! We are the Insane Clown Posse. And we sure like clowns!" Begins Violent J. Shaggy nods. "Sure do, J. That's why we fully endorse the Twilight Sparkle Circus! It costs clowns. It gots acrobats. Wait, is this one of those Cirque Ole' things? Seriously?" He looks away from the camera, cursing under his breath, as Violet J steps in. "Yeah! Twilight Sparkle Circus! Come and see, uh, Honka on the trapeze? Honko? Man, I might want to honka her! Heh heh heh. But yeah." Shaggy gives a thumbs up with one hand, as Violet J hands him the Faygo.
"Come to Twilight Sparkle's Circus!"
"It got clowns and sh-"
The screen cuts to black.
Lightning Spangles smiles broadly at the screen, as her body erupts into a flash of red, white, and blue. "Thanks, Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope!" She says, before rocketing through the air. Leaping like a cougar, she rockets through the air, spiraling forward as she is enveloped in a massive aura of all-american flames. Surging forward, she attempts to bowl right over Godzilla, exploding in a firework show if, and only if, she makes contact with the kaiju.
In red, white, and blue, of course.
COMBATSYS: Honoka interrupts Pale Rider from Jezebel with Quick Throw.
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Honoka 1/=======/=======|=====--\-------\0 Jezebel
The kaiju isn't exactly staying motionless through all this -- apparently Honoka's suit wears more than she had planned, and the 'crater' actually did leave a crater in the plywood of the set. And her costume's feet actually got stuck, necessitating her to pry her feet loose. She'll get that kid... one day.
But... then the Twilight STAR performer catches the sound of someone else shilling for a circus. A competing circus... or just a really bad attempt to draw -bad- publicity to her circus' name! Either one is pretty dang unexcusable!
So while Jezebel's little commercial schpiel is rolling, the extricated Godzilla takes a moment to chew on the scenery. Literally chew. Because that's what it looks like the head is at when Honoka is =hammering= a chunk out of nearest building in frustration. INSANE CLOWN POSSE? Twilight SPARKLE? This is =nuts!= But with Honoka basically playing the heel, she feels she has to sell -something-.
But there's no time right then to refute Lightning Spangles' insanity right now -- not with the righteous red, white, and blue charging straight for her. Honokazilla lowers into a sumo stance, clapping her monstrous paws together, and then spreading her arms wide, waiting for the incoming strike.
The two epic figures collide in a shower of fireworks, the two figures completely enveloped in smoke! It's pretty difficult to tell what's going on... until the two figures are blasted -out- of the smoke cloud, and by the rocket's red glare, Godzilla's been bodily slammed against the building!
The same one Honoka was weakening in her anger, as luck would have it -- so that the building crumbles under the duress.
The giant kaiju did manage to secure a tight grip on Lady Liberty's shoulders throughout this, though-- and =with= that grip, Honokazilla twists sharply to the side and =slams= the Statue of Liberty into one of her trapped buildings. CUE THE EXPLOSIONS!
Yet again, the two are engulfed in a gout of smoke and pyrotechnics. When Godzilla staggers out, though... Honoka's costume is quite a mess. The front of it has been practically melted away from the sheer power of Lightning Spangles' attack; the melted breastplate falls off with a loud -thud- onto the half-ruined Metro City set, revealing that Honoka's face was actually under the nuclear monster's chin. She takes the opportunity to point dramatically at the nearest camera and give a somewhat melodramatic look to the camera: "As you can see... I, Honoka Kawamoto, of the Twilight Star Circus, do =not= approve of that message! But I do approve of =this= one!"
And that's when one of the prepackaged, 15-second promotionals for her own TWILIGHT STAR CIRCUS begin to play on the screen. No phoney bribed guest stars here! You can even see Honoka twirling diabolos at 6 seconds in. Honokazilla steps back away from Lightning Spangles, brushing off the flakes of charred foam rubber from her costume front with her half-melted-paws. And Honoka flashes a confident smirk back at her opponent. Back to staying in character for this one, clearly!
EXPLOSION!!!
As Lightning Spangles makes contact, the explosions are triggered. But where she had hoped to make a direct hit, instead, she makes only a passing hit. She is sent flying, hurled away by a timely interrupt by Honoka. Smashing through several skyscrapers in the business district, she rolls through them, perking back up... just in time for the OTHER advertisement to show up. After Lightning Spangles just did HER ad!?
"Don't listen to her! She's breaking character!"
Standing right in front of Honoka, she body blocks both the ad on the screen, and Honoka. Pointing a finger in the air, her face tenses up from under that grey makeup. "A proper Godzilla does not talk! And besides, I already had MY friends show off the Twilight Star Circus! We don't need any cheap home-studio advertising associated with my name brand!" She announces. Waving her arms, the 15-second promotionals STOP, and in its place? A Hoedown Dillo, clad in a cowboy hat, playing a fiddle. It was the holding pattern, because the fight flow is interrupted. Lightning Spangles turns back to Honoka, and points an angry finger straight at her. "Don't you know who I am? I am Lightning Spangles! And today, I am the Statue of Liberty, being powered by the Ghostbusters! And you, Godzilla, are ruining my scene!"
"I won't stand for that anymore!"
"FOR AMERICA!"
And there, Lightning Spangles steps right towards Honoka, a fresh wave of energy overtaking her. Flipping her robe high up, she brings her crugg-clad foot straight up, nearly vertical, as she readies an axe kick straight for the exposed head of Honoka. Brow furrowed, she grits her teeth, before twisting her body hard.
And sending down the chugg straight for her forehead!
COMBATSYS: Honoka blocks Jezebel's Heel Kick.
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Honoka 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=====--\-------\0 Jezebel
One of the camera's is likely to catch sight of Honoka's right eyebrow twitching at being called out in the midst of her own promotional video. She'd told Taka she didn't mind dressing up -- heck, she -loves- dressing up -- but when she's performing, she doesn't want to talk! Ever! Easier to focus on actually doing things that way...
And now on the one point where she -had- felt it appropriate -- since her face was revealed anyway! -- ... well, she's getting called on it?! There's only one thing =to= say: "[angry_godzilla_roar.wav]!"
At least Lightning Spangles corrected the name of her circus. Her name brand, indeed... the only reason Honoka was =here= was to promote her circus, and that crazy promotional spot got it wrong!
Needless to say, Godzilla -- Honoka -- was ticked! Especially to have those cheesy shoes come rocketing towards her. Godzilla paws fly into the path of the axe kick, pushing upwards in direct opposition to the leg as the costume's feet rub backwards sharply.
Of course, those feet -- which the camera takes note of, are ALSO that Cruggs brand name plugged earlier -- are taking a bit too much damage from all that's been going on. And one bad thing about them? They =split= under the pressures to which Honoka is subjecting them to, as evidenced by the kaiju stumbling just a bit more than expected.
Honoka kicks her DEFECTIVE boot off, now showing one bare human foot alongside her already-beleaguered and likely-to-fail... Crugg foot.
Already mad at this, she's now mad at having possibly jammed her ankle from this silly fight, which she now wants no more part of. Triggering another angry godzilla roar, she drags both of her paws through the air, Her index claws etch pink lines into the air, scarring a circle and inscribing a star within. Honoka's brow furrows as she takes a brief hop backwards, lining up Godzilla's open jaws with the source of the purple-pink spectral energy -- so =that's= how the beast was breathing fire before? The blast which erupts from the kaiju's jaws diameter seems to be quite a bit larger as it rockets out towards Lady Liberty this time, though! "[angry_breath_weapon.wav]!"
COMBATSYS: Honoka successfully hits Jezebel with Nochiu-o Kando.
* Attack Of Opportunity! *
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Honoka 1/-------/<<<<<<<|=======\=======\1 Jezebel
Honoka was ANGRY!?
Lightning Spangles was outraged! As Honoka has the nerve of resisting the actress's heel drop, she keeps gritting her teeth. But her eyes goes wide, as Honoka begins to line the mouth with energy. Stumbling backwards, she tries to throw up her arms, to block the atomic fire. But the blast comes, blowing her away. The robe is in tatters, as Jezebel is sent smashing into the remains of downtown. She begins to rise up…. Before collapsing. A cry breaks out from the audience.
"Oh no! The Statue of Liberty has fallen!"
There is silence from the audience. And then, gasping. A child begins to cry. It seems that, for now and forever, Lightning Spangles was gone. And yet, a woman steps forward from the side of the stage. One of Lightning Spangle's handlers, it seemed. And placing a hand on her heart, she begins to sing aloud.
"... My country tis, a thee..."
"Sweet land of Liberty!"
"Of thee I sing!"
The rest of the audience stands up, as in the background, on the screen, a picture of the Twin Towers is projected. The audience holds a hand on their heart, despite the fact that this scene is in Japan. They continue to sing the song, joining in with Lightning Spangle's handler.
"Land where my fathers died!"
"Land of the Pilgrim's pride!"
"Frooooom every mountain side..."
COMBATSYS: Jezebel gives y'all a free turn!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /// ]
Honoka 1/-------/<<<<<<<|=======\=======\1 Jezebel
COMBATSYS: Jezebel has reached second wind!
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Honoka 1/-------/<<<<<<<|=======\=======\1 Jezebel
".... LET FREEDOM RING!"
Lightning Spangles sings loudly with the song lifting her head up. And suddenly, she bursts straight back up, the Statue of Liberty rising where it has once fallen. Standing tall, she raising up both arms. Turning her body a bit, she thrusts a finger straight at Honoka, at Godzilla herself. "Hey! Godzilla!" She calls out, as the screen behind her begins to show an American flag fluttering in the wind, as an eagle cries a single tear in front of it.
"These colors don't run!"
Godzilla facepalms.
No, not a mistake. Honoka didn't slap herself. She slapped the kaiju head. Even though she broke the fourth wall once, she's still got -some- pride.
And when Lightning Spangles stands back up and pretty much the whole -city- lights up in honor of her miraculous recovery, the camera honed on Honoka happens to notice her stick out her tongue.
You see, Metro Square itself is mostly intact -- Godzilla doesn't fry innocents after all -- but the rest of downtown is pretty much a mess. But the other peculiar characteristic about Metro City is that the city plan is pretty uniformly laid out. And while the area surrounding Honoka-zilla is cleared out, if she steps about half a block to the right, there's a nearly uninterrupted chain of buildings following the diagonal blast path leading towards downtown.
And it's at the start of that chain of buildings that Godzilla charges with a massive shoulder ram -- amplified by another riotous [godzilla_roar.wav]. Not taking the easy route, no -- taking the -hard- route, sending cheap cardboard-and-plywood buildings tumbling over in her path in a domino effect! She'll continue charging forward, shoulder-first, with every intent to send the set crashing down onto her...
And if you can hear it over the splintering wood panels cracking against one another, each step follows the same odd cadence: Crogg, footstep, Crogg, footstep.
COMBATSYS: Honoka successfully hits Jezebel with Huge Thrown Object.
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Honoka 1/---====/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Jezebel
Lightning Spangle does not notice the tongue stick out.
And yet, as the spirit of America flows through her, Lady Liberty has risen again. As the buildings come dominoing right towards her, she strikes another pose. "No way!" She cries out. As the audience cheers, she runs towards the tumbling buildings. "I won't lose! America's Is Number One!" And with that, she takes a long, moonsaulting vault through the air, attempting to leap over the buildings in a single bound.
She fails.
Smashing into the buildings, she collapses again into a heap. "OOF!" She groans, collapsing down. The audience gasps again, as she falls under the heap of plywood. Feebly, she struggles, trying to stand. Bracing her cruggs on the ground, she manages to come up.
And she begins to glow with an inner light.
"Is that all you got?!" She demands, as struggles to keep up. "America will be harder to defeat than that, Godzilla!" She exclaims, as she pivots. Swinging her leg through the air, she unleashes a kick. Firing from her leg is a small red ball of energy. Flickering, it attempts to land into Godzilla... or if not Godzilla, near her. Strangely, it won't explode. Neither will the blue one she then kicks out, nor the white one she finally kicks out. But as the last one comes, she falls to one knee.
"... No..."
COMBATSYS: Jezebel can no longer fight.
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Honoka 1/---====/=======|
Where-ever the chi blasts land, they suddenly explode into great firework explosions. The red, the white, and the blue intermingle to form a statue of liberty, consuming the whole of the set in the blast. But Lightning Spangles.... the real statue of liberty, falls as the blast wave approaches. As the audience begins to cry, as the audience begins to scream....
Lightning Spangles falls on the field of battle.
America sheds a tear.
COMBATSYS: Honoka blocks Jezebel's Unforgiven.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Honoka 1/---====/=======|
Honoka-zilla looks over to see a red ball of energy. She steps sideways, positioning a building between her and it. She sees a blue ball of energy.... and she's figured out the schtick by this point. Accordingly she burrows down, letting her foam-rubber-enhanced backside take the brunt of the blast, covering her head with her kaiju arms.
The resultant blast is... pretty outrageously American, if nothing else! The left side of Honoka's costume is brought down to the skeletal substructure, worn away by the sheer intensity of the star-spangled blast. Some of the spinal protrusions remain, but the foam rubber's been hollowed out -- only the vaguest of thin inner linings is left on the left back side. But... there's still enough of the costume for one to continue calling it such, and as Honoka stands back up, she's forced to cough.
A moment later she remembers to lurch so that Godzilla can have a cough too. Sharing!
And... by the way? Metro City is a freaking mess! Not one, but -two- swaths of destruction have been carved into the cityscape, leading two completely adequate paths to Metro Square -in addition to- the paths the two super-sized titans could have walked if they'd only obeyed the city planner's wishes. Such... senseless violence! All of this mayhem could have been avoided if not for Insane Clown Posse. Think on that the next time you buy one of their CDs, folks.
Whenever the world needs to be saved from a menace that threatens to consume the world and its resources, leave it to the creature who was uplifted from a weapon of mass destruction to... save the world that damned it to a thankless existence, right? Godzilla didn't even want to fight. Godzilla just wanted to go to the damn party. Throughout all the madness, the cardboard cutout pretend-people party on in Metro Square are still partying on, gaily animated by the miracles of servo motors and monofilament wire -- even if the television screen shows whatever the heck Lighting Spangles -wanted- it to show. She may control the horizontal and the vertical, but Honoka's in charge of the narrative right now.
Honoka was going to join the rocksome paper people party, by gum. She trudges on towards Metro Square, costume barely holding its integrity as she plods forth, Crugg, foot, Crugg, foot. And when she stops at Lady Liberty... she stares.
"[Godzilla_questioning_sound.wav]?!" Godzilla reaches down to grab Lady Liberty by the shoulders, and with luck, haul her to her feet. If she has to -drag- the beleaguered symbol of America to Metro Square, so be it. She deserved the party as much as anyone else!
COMBATSYS: Honoka takes no action.
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Honoka 1/---====/=======|
As Godzilla pulls the statue of liberty of way, a little girl looks up to her mother.
"... Mommy, did Godzilla kill America?"
"No dear, America is just sleeping."
Log created on 21:42:58 10/31/2014 by Honoka, and last modified on 10:46:48 11/03/2014.