17. Epilogue

"Home invasion isn't your style."

"Oh, hush, Belvera, we aren't harming anything."

"Suuuuure, Moll."

"Besides, you're the one who wanted to see what he looks like now."

"Ugh, Lora, I swear..."

A tiny dragon, followed by a miniature moth, drifted through the open front window. They flew into the living room and landed on the coffee table. Three women-one dressed in red, the other in blue and a third in black-climbed off their noble steeds.

The once-blank walls of the home were now alive with photographs. Above the TV hung a grand wedding photo in a gold frame-Miki in a sleek, strapless ivory A-line gown with a short veil and Josh wearing a dapper black tuxedo as they kissed beneath a white gazebo by the water. Hideo stood off to the side, holding a baby in his arms, and he had tears on his face. Tucked down into the corner of the wedding photo was a picture of Miki clad in a pale blue tube dress, proudly displaying her round, pregnant belly.

On another wall, an image of a newborn baby girl lying on the chest of a very tired-looking Miki, who rested comfortably in a hospital bed. Beside it, Josh grinned like a fool as he held the tiny infant close to his heart. She had Miki's Japanese features and Josh's long eyelashes. Photos showing her growing into a toddler revealed she also inherited her father's playful smile.

The baby's birth certificate was framed and hung on the wall by the kitchen. Her first name was Megumi.

Two Grammy awards sat on either side of the plasma TV set. The wall above the sliding glass back door was decorated with plaques indicating gold, silver and platinum records.

Moll startled at a crash behind her. Belvera had tripped over a paper clip and landed on the remote. Lora looked up as the TV flicked on.

"And now, for his first public appearance in decades...G!"

A red curtain rose to reveal Josh in a charcoal gray suit that enhanced his tall, lean form. Cheers and clapping filled the speakers.

"Look at all of you beautiful people out there!" Josh exclaimed. "Are you ready to make some music?"

The audience erupted again. For a moment, the camera focused on Miki, who sat in the front with Megumi in her lap.

As Josh began to sing You Are Loved, the camera panned over the crowd. They were all children from the Make A Wish foundation.

"Okay, so he's handsome." Belvera muttered, sitting down on the edge of the remote. She couldn't help but tap her foot in time to the song's upbeat tempo.

"Yes, now that he's learned his lesson," said Moll. She adjusted the skirt of her red gown. "It's a shame you missed their wedding, Belvera. Mothra flew over and dusted the beach with white rose petals. Nobody knew it was her except for them."

"I was checking out the Harajuku district," growled the fairy in black. "I had to make Garu-Garu look stylish, you know."

"You and steam punk," Moll said, smiling at her sister.

"Shut up!" Belvera snapped.

Lora knelt to examine the Elle magazine left open next to the remote. The glossy page displayed Miki on the runway, modeling a cute yellow sunflower print sundress and carrying a parasol shaped like a sunflower. Right there, in the front row, Josh looked on with a smile.

~Lora, the others aren't listening.~ Mothra's voice gently touched her mind. ~You should inform them that the concert is tape delayed, and the happy couple is headed home.~

I will, thank you, Mothra. Lora raised her head. "Moll, Belvera! Mothra says this program is a tape delay." She hopped away from the magazine when Belvera pushed it shut. "They're on their way home. We have to go."

"Aww, just when it was getting good," Belvera groaned. She climbed onto Garu-Garu, giving him a good kick with her heels to get him flying. The little dragon squawked.

Moll and Lora climbed onto Fairy. The miniature moth chirped as it rose into the air. All three sisters slipped out the front window in the same moment Miki opened the door. Lora glanced over her shoulder and concentrated. The TV shut off. She smiled slightly before Fairy took off to join Belvera and Mothra in the sky.

"Meg is one sleepy girl." Josh whispered.

"Riding in the car always does it." Miki smiled and added, "I'll take her upstairs."

He kissed the toddler's cheek and then kissed Miki's. "Sure thing."

The sun was going down when Josh stepped outside to stroll along the beach. He still wore the suit from the concert. The wind ruffled his dark hair while he moved the toes of his shoes around in the sand.

He had a wife and daughter now. It made him smile to think about them-and how they wouldn't be here if he hadn't been Godzilla. He spent so long paying for his ego and hating others because he hated what he'd become. So much time wasted...and with Miki's help was slowly catching up.

How could he be so selfish? So arrogant? So ugly?

~Enjoying your new eyesight?~

Josh looked up when a shadow crossed his face.

"Yeah. Thanks, Mothra..." He whispered.

~You're welcome, little man.~ Mothra chirped, a smile in her telepathic voice. ~Stay out of trouble, all right?~

"Yes, ma'am."

Mothra's antennae twitched and she crossed all six of her legs like arms. Her beautiful blue eyes shimmered in amusement. ~Hmph.~ She flapped her wings. ~Please don't call me that. It makes me feel old.~

Josh laughed, watching the glowing, multicolored goddess transform into millions of tiny moths that rushed off towards the western horizon. Miki joined him a mere moment after the last sparkle disappeared. Megumi toddled out on the heels of her mother.

"Look, it's the little one." Josh widened his stance so he could walk like he did as Godzilla. "Rawwwwr! I'm gonna eat you!"

Squealing happily, Megumi ran for the safety of Miki's legs. Miki smacked Josh's shoulder. The family laughed.

Mothra saw Josh hug Miki from behind, and they both gazed into the sunset while Megumi played in the sand near their feet. The moth goddess nodded in approval and continued on her way. The three human forms vanished behind a cloud, which shrank into one of many, and then the whole blue Earth glistened beside the diamond-white sun.

Her work here was done.