Earth Legend 2; Like Nothing On Earth

A great deal of time had passed since the Earth God, the Tsuchigami, Titane, had been awoken in the Depthsroot to defend the Depthsroot Residents. Whilst the Grand Golem oversaw them for Titane, he himself had been nearly completely absent after guiding some of them to Pandemia through the secret Underground Passage via the Terrarium. No one had seen or heard from him since.

Now, while it was common knowledge among the Tensei that Titane, the Monkey King, was also Grand Panda in his strongest form, it wasn't quite common knowledge for anyone beyond the family. Whatever he did as the Grand Panda was kept completely secret from the rest of the Veritas, and even then, his appearances to the people typically were in his lesser form as the Monkey King.

Even so, he wasn't around, not even as the Monkey King. So it was a bit of a surprise that one day, out of nowhere, after all of the previous events, would he suddenly appear in the Earth Sanctuary again in his Monkey King form. He didn't say anything at all, but he walked into the Capricorn's Keep, which was something like a grotto deep in a forested region. He was clearly looking for someone... Or something. His viny locks dangled before his focused, wondrous eyes, and his thorny tail flicked about with anticipation. The gemstone in his chest was aglow with a warm color; soft, but flickering intensely.

The hidden grotto was very lush, just as it was the first time that Titane ever came here. He hadn't been back since that time, but there was someone waiting for him there, just as silently and patiently as can be. This stoic maiden that ruled over the Capricorn's Keep was the actual Zodiac being known as Capricorn. However, its form was that of a womanly figure, something of a beautiful satyr -- she had hair that was adorned with foliage and floral arrangements, as did her body. She was a celestial bluish hue, though her skin was light and somewhat pale. Her face was emotionless, but her eyes showed all of the feelings she refused to allow on her face. It was Khnum, sitting on her perch, watching over the wildlife that frequented her land.

As pleased as she was to see Titane again after so long, her face did not show it at all. But her eyes were affixed to him, and sparkling like the cosmos. Though she herself was still just as mysterious as ever, certain things were obvious -- such as the prolonged interest she had in the one she bonded with long ago. Khnum spoke not a word to him, as usual, but her eyes would tell him enough.

As soon as he saw her, the gem in his chest flashed brightly and intensely, as if he was shocked or something, but not in a fearful way -- more of an aroused way. He was genuinely surprised to see her, since she was technically not native to the Veritas, and therefore didn't have any real reason to be there. What would have made her be there on the day that he came searching for her arbitrarily, unless...?

The flickering in his chest resonated and fluttered, but eventually fluctuated into a steady flow, as if reaching out like the tides of the sea -- searching. He approached cautiously, but surely decisively, trying to put it all together in his head. He wasn't the smartest of the Seven Elemental Spirit Gods... In fact, he was surely the dumbest of them; the absolute most oblivious. Even Taomin was smarter than he was... But it never deterred him. As the Grand Panda, when he was complete, he was the one who managed many businesses operated by the Veritas, and also watched over many peoples. Plus, he owned his own secret organization, which he also ran underground beyond most people's knowing.

As he thought about things both relevant and irrelevant to his current spur-of-the-moment scenario, the crystal in his head started to glow, as well. His facial expression shifted in accordance with the vibrations coming from the crystal and the gem embedded in his forehead and chest respectively. Titane continued approaching the Capricorn where she was, still piecing things together...

Naturally, Khnum noticed Titane enter long before he noticed her sitting there, so she was already prepared for him to appear before her. This was the place designated for her, after all. If she was correct, every Zodiac had a proper place in the Veritas, and the other two Earth Signs were here in the Earth Sanctuary beyond the land designated for the Capricorn.

As this domain was designated to her, she had rulership here, and was usually able to feel all of the life within her territory. Titane's energy was much stronger and different than even the abnormal creatures that roamed around here regularly. While yes, she did not always come here, and no other Zodiac was bound to the Veritas, but could come and go about their Dwellings as they so chose, and she had no obligation to ever come here or return afterward, she seemed to simply enjoy being here.

With Titane's vibrations intensifying, she felt him quickly, but could also easily tell he was confused and somewhat disoriented. He wasn't prepared to see her, though she wasn't prepared to see him, either. It was just as shocking to her that he'd returned, especially after having been gone for so very long, but the reason why he returned was enough for her. So Khnum rose from her seated position and off of the edge of the small cliff, over Titane's head. Her hooves touched the ground somewhere before him, yet with a bit of distance between them, and her celestial azure hair sparkled as it picked up on Titane's energy again. It rippled like the sea, and the waves would collide between their wavelengths... However, it would take time for them to adjust, just the same as with the sea.

Khnum had to test the waters. Things felt good and right, but there were things that she knew would not immediately synchronize, and required them to actively take part in synchronization with each other. So she was going to show him her land, as he hadn't been given a thorough tour of it before when there was crisis at hand. With things more calm and stable, it was a great time for things like this.

The Capricorn lightly hopped away, hair undulating about as if carrying her on the waves of the atmosphere. Where a wave ended, she would land, then bounce back up again to ride the current of the next wave closer to the designated location. But, as her presence drifted away, so too would it become more faint to Titane.

As the Capricorn Zodiac pranced away in a single bound on a drifting wave, an influx came upon Titane as her presence went out, filling the emptiness of her essence in him with his superior mind functioning as a conscious superego for him -- the Grand Panda. It whispered into Titane, the vessel, and as the golem which he was, he would obey the Command Input from his superior, especially if it was himself. Titane was symbolic of blind ignorance, but was not unintelligent in his ignorance. The Grand Panda was the brains behind the operation, but only gave insight to Titane sparingly, and also restrained his power. The vessel, Titane, was only just that, but it was serviceable for interaction and expression that was best suitable for others without overexposure. The Crystal Star and the Heart Gem that powered it and fed it strength straight from the Grand Panda to be able to become the Monkey King, and then further to embody the full strength of the Grand Panda as a Spirit in the Flesh, were able to regulate exposure to weaker vibrations, but this made experiences dull and repetitive sometimes. So the majority of the consciousness of the Earth God -- or, Tsuchigami -- was within the Grand Panda, which did as he pleased beyond the earthly Vessel created for Earthly matters. Even if people did figure out that Titane was the Tsuchigami, he didn't look nor act the part, even if he still had the power.

But the Grand Panda...? The Grand Panda was the Puppet Master.

So when the Grand Panda spoke to his vessel Titane, who felt in his light of his mind and the depth of his heart that Khnum was his true love made specifically for him like he was made specifically for whatever his purpose to the Grand Panda and the Veritas were, he would bless him with a command input that would have him pursue the love of his life relentlessly until he had both a change of mind and heart together for an extended period of time, and neither one would override the other.

In Titane's mind, a monkey visualized before his mind's eye, and he saw it with its hands over its eyes, but them remove them, and he could see.

The revelation caused his Crystal Starseed in his head to stimulate the Heart Gem, which was a fragment of the Crystal Heart, just as the Crystal Starseed was a fragment of the Crystal Star, who was the consort of the Crystal Heart. The two of them were the very symbol of love itself in the Veritas, and anytime or anywhere they were united, even if just briefly, was deemed sacred and beloved, and often had blessings or other such properties from simply their passing, let alone their actual residence anywhere. But Titane was special because there was a piece of them both encrusted into him in the exact places that mirrored the larger entity that Titane was the physical representation of.

Whereas the others of the Seven Elemental Spirits of the Veritas strictly dealt with other planes of existence, and also inhabited different places on the Kundalini of the greater being they comprised, Titane was associated to the physical being of the Third Restriction, making him lower on the list than the others. He dealt with mostly earthly affairs and physical matters, whereas the others dealt with more ethereal things all of the time. He wasn't unhappy with the way he lived, but he did recognize that this made a significant... Difference.

The Grand Panda fed more to Titane, little by little, and instructing him to follow closely behind the Capricorn. If he was not already in motion after her, he surely was by now. He continued to listen to the Grand Panda that gave him knowledge and wisdom and understanding, and seemed to reflexively drone about everything else, swinging through trees and running or flipping. He was not paying attention to anything he was doing physically -- he was just reacting reflexively based on intuitive instinct and seeing what happened. Just like a silly monkey after discovering anything new.

But to the Grand Panda, this was not as knew as it was to Titane. But he'd realize slowly and surely just what was going on... Until he and the Grand Panda were once again on the same accord.

In her own domain, Khnum easily felt the great shift in power, even if it was only an influx from the power vacuum of her own leaving. Titane was different than before, and she was exceedingly curious to go see what that actually meant. But she knew that it would be best to see if he would still show interest, even if ever so slight or completely faint. She would be able to feel and receive it, and she would be able to tell, and then she would act further. Until then, the Capricorn simply landed softly upon the top of the waters of the spring in the midst of her little dwelling. She paused only briefly, in order to recalibrate, and get a good feeling of the atmosphere.

What was supposed to be a very cutesy and peaceful , perhaps even romantic experience would, by hand of Friday herself, become another affliction of her signature Malfortuna unto she who would be considered a Friday. The Capricorn was not truly married to the Veritas nor the Earth God, Titane, as the other elemental deities. She was technically an outsider, just as all the Zodiac Beings except the Pisces and Dog, which were native because the Creator himself fell under those star signs. The other 22 signs were foreigners, so until Khnum, the Capricorn, made things official between herself and the Tsuchigami, Titane, then she and he would suffer the curse of Black Friday.

A black streak slipping in a split-second slit shot straight into the center of the pool of the Capricorn's Keep, contaminating it with the Malfortuna. All throughout, the reflections distorted, until Black Friday herself, Meiun, stood in the reflection of Khnum rather than herself. "Yo. You've Been Chosen," she said ominously, smirking smugly and mischievously the entire time. "... But Uh, That Means You've Still Got To Pass The 'Friday' Test. Heh." The pitch dark eye sockets of Black Friday peered to the oncoming Titane, who would follow this girl unto the ends of the earth, obviously. But what she had to prove... Was that she was fit for his love and could reciprocate. "Clock's Ticking," Black Friday doted, "... Because, Well. Someone Else Is After His Heart, And She's Already Got Quite The Grip On It."

Friday knew very well how to test, punish, and reward herself, just the same as Tymon did. She learned from him, of course, but now it was finally time to put her skills to the test and be the righteous Goddess Of Destruction she was meant to be. Black Friday snickered sinisterly, fading away and returning the pool to normal. However, to test the Capricorn, she possessed a random woman, who wandered into the Capricorn's Keep and instantly saw Titane. She was mesmerized by him and overwhelmed by his wavelengths, and she was enamored with him. She ran to intercept him before he would reach where Khnum sought to lead him, and then lead him away from her with the quickness.

She was pale, had big tits, was slender, smart and tricky, but loving and loyal. She was also respectful, but also cunning and playful. She wasted no time flirting with him, because she'd been mistreated by mortals, and she could tell he was not like them.

Grand Panda noticed immediately that Black Friday was occurring. He also knew that the Capricorn Spirit would not understand, because this was a Friday Test, and she was not a Friday. But Friday was seeing if she could or would be. That meant that Grand Panda couldn't interfere with it unless it was no longer within the grounds of a Friday Test.

In that regard, Titane was indeed infatuated with this woman that appeared, which Black Friday embodied. He very much loved her presence and company, and she was very pretty and flirty and assertive about herself, upfront and forward about her feelings, as he liked, and reciprocated.

But there was something about her... It reminded him of... Someone else. Someone that he couldn't stop thinking about. Whatever happened that made him start thinking of this person that Black Friday was impersonating, the unification of his Mind and Spirit symbolized by the Star on his forehead and Heart on his chest reverted his thoughts to the one that spoke to both of them.

The one he was chasing before.

'... No... I Only Think Of Her Still...' Titane thought. '... Why...? Did I...? Am I...?' He didn't quite get the feelings he had, nor his will to continue to blindly chase after this entity, and to be reminded of her in others. He knew at that moment internally, instinctively, if he could not stop seeing her in others, they would not ever be greater than her to him. So no matter who got in his way... He was still going to be going after her. No matter what he had to do in between, it would always be there. He would know for the rest of his days.

With that knowing impulse, he took off toward her, like he just wasn't able to keep himself from doing so -- like there was no other path he could see. The monkey leapt upon and into and through and in and out of trees all over, finding every which way to make his travel to that destination faster. Sooner or later, he'd have to come upon her... Right?

The somewhat confused Capricorn Zodiac Spirit watched in forlorn silence as all transpires around her, all to her stoic shiftlessness. She turned slowly to completely observe what went on, and witnessed that even after being confronted by the strange dark spirit, the one who sought her did not falter to her temptations, despite how pleasant she was being toward him. For whatever reason, he was driven toward her, against all odds. It made no logical sense to her, but as he approached her again, she felt a great shift that overwhelmed her.

The powerful pressure almost incited her to flee again, except out of actual fear, and not out of playfulness. There was something about how obsessive he was about her now, despite knowing nothing about her. They'd indeed understood each other in the past, but their time together was in such brevity, it couldn't have seriously had such a lasting impact. It was logically impossible. So, obviously, that meant there had to be something that wasn't quite right with him, perhaps. Especially if that strange dark spirit had come to him, and also spoken to her. What did it mean...?

She was chosen...?

Is that why he was following her...?

Is that why he liked her...?

Was this all because she was chosen, and not because he actually liked her?

Plentiful strange confusions came about her overthinking mind, stunning her as she contemplated the vast plethora of possibilities that existed which could be the reasonable solution. So, for a moment, he did have the opportunity to approach her one more time before she regained her composure and tried to escape whatever that dark fairy was talking about. Because it was very seriously strange, even for a radiant universal cosmic Zodiac Spirit. It seemed unnatural, and the Zodiac Spirits were experts in natural elements, the Capricorn's being Earth, with a hint of water.

Khnum, the Capricorn Spirit, did indeed feel the great resonance between them, even in their unspoken words and short time. The brevity did have gravity, but it really just logically couldn't be that impactful for real. She convinced herself of it, and she took by it, in all her earthy stoicism. This wasn't a situation which could be taken with levity -- not if she was going to take it seriously, as she hoped that this being, if he was so truly interested, would take this situation, as well as her feelings, and definitely his own.

An influx of overwhelming understanding flooded Titane, which would, whilst he accelerated, generate a growth that would transcend him further into the Grand Panda, with the synchronized resonance of the Crystal Heart and the Crystal Star that were on his body. In that harmony, the Grand Panda would come to be before the Zodiac Spirit, bearing the essence of a parallel Zodiac Spirit -- the Wood Dog, which was the Chinese Zodiac of Tymon -- and, approaching the Capricorn, would fully assess her with a grounded rationale that would slow him to a halt right before the timid one, smiling warmly, lovingly to her. There and then, the Grand Panda would further transcend into his true form, as Kairo Kaizoku Tymon, who would gaze with forlorn, but contented eyes, shimmering like water. "... Such A Chibi-chan..." He pat her head and ruffled her hair affectionately, then embraced her, shedding a crystal tear. "... Sayonara." This was just too much for her. It did make sense now, after all this time.

So, Tymon would let her go, and hold her hand, then kiss it slowly, genuinely, and passionately. Then he dropped it, walking toward the exit of the Capricorn's Keep. "... Do Whatever You Like. I'll Be Around If You Ever Want To Talk Again. Friday." Despite how she didn't say a word, they'd spoken quite a bit... And not just now. But every single time. But this time would be the last time. This time... Tymon was prepared for it.

This was the end.

So, he would slowly drift away, growing less and less delightful as he distanced himself from her, knowing his heart was growing more cold. When he did reach the exit of the Capricorn's Keep, he stopped, taking one last look back. He would, there and then, construct a golem of himself in the image of the Grand Panda. The Grand Panda would then be set to protect the Earth Sanctuary, which this realm belonging to the Capricorn was part of. But he would make sure his golem would not ever go into the Capricorn's Keep... Not until Tymon said so.

Snagging Black Friday, he would take off and leave the Grand Panda to guard the Earth Sanctuary, and also serve his duty as Earth God.