Galaxy of Monsters (Godzilla/Steven Universe crossover)

Bonus Chapter 1: A Rose on Lagos Island

Buddy Buddwick gazed upon the tropical shoreline from the safety of a Dutch trading ship, one that he had bribed while in Taiwan, and his heart was moments away from leaping out of his chest in excitement. The journey was an arduous one, made all the more dangerous by bad weather and disease.

The world of the unknown called to him despite the risks. He longed to see what had gone unseen for centuries, artifacts of strange origin with inexplicable properties. Buddwick had already stepped foot in lands no other man would dare enter, and this expedition showed promise. 

The ship sailed out of the trading port at Dejima weeks prior, stopping briefly on Odo Island, and was now anchored in the eastern Bonin Islands. There, right before his eyes, was the forgotten Lagos Island. Buddwick heard stories of an angry sea god that lived near the little speck of earth, and he wanted to know if those myths had any truth to them. 

"Buddwick! Put down the telescope, we are readying the boat!" 

Not one to be excessively aloof, Buddwick stepped into the wooden dinghy with three other men, bringing an equal number of muskets for their own protection. They were unwelcome visitors in most of the places they went, at least near Japan. 

"Just three men?" Buddwick said to the captain's interpreter. "We had fifteen at Odo! Have you no faith in our quest for knowledge?"

The Dutch captain cracked a smile as this was translated to him. "This island is uninhabited. Three men is all you need to chase a sea-devil." 

It wasn't the first time he was mocked for his adventurous spirit. Like any great man, he had doubts as to whether the task before him served any purpose at all. Some expeditions ended in complete failure. 

Others, however, ended in success beyond his wildest dreams. Buddwick recalled the massive palanquin he discovered in Korea, and he felt strongly that there was more odd things waiting to be found. 

The boat was lowered from the ship's davits into the warm waters of the Pacific. The salty breeze rushed through the leaves of distant palm trees and eventually reached the faces of the gruff-looking sailors. Exploration put both mind and body to the test, and Buddwick shared most of their experiences ever since he sailed the Atlantic with William Dewey. 

He somewhat longed to return home, to tell his old friend a thousand stories, each one more bizarre than the last. It would have to wait. 

The bow of the dinghy dug into the white sand of the beach. The armed men stepped onto land for the first time in what felt like an eternity, and they privately cherished the moment. 

"Alright, let us proceed into that yonder jungle!" said Buddwick. 

"Keep an eye out for fresh water or food," added the second mate. A little foraging and hunting was customary on these departures. 

This command, however, was lost on the passionate explorer, as he did not speak Dutch with much proficiency. He marched on into the jungle, oblivious to his sole protectors staying behind to collect supplies or samples. 

He climbed a reddish hill made of volcanic rock, ascending the fairly steep incline with nothing but his hands. The altitude mattered not. There was only the goal in his mind, and he had to be thorough. He'd turn over every stone on the island if time permitted it. 

At last, Buddwick conquered the summit of the hill. He sat on the ledge and let his legs dangle over it to catch his breath, only to stare at the endless ocean that he had arrived from. His soul felt at peace. He opened his journal and began his latest entry with his trusty quill pen.

"Oh, a visitor?" 

Buddwick nearly dropped his journal and pen over the cliff in fright. This island was supposed to be uninhabited! The explorer looked over his shoulder to see a familiar face, one that belonged to the giant woman he met in the Sahara long ago.