Tales from Earthend

Patarakka Tan and the Other Patagod, Pt. I

Once upon a time in Patapolis, there was an enormous party. The Mighty One known as "Ajam" had brought back an enormous feast for his loyal Patapons, who welcomed home his army with open arms. Among the partygoers was one patron known as Patarakka Tan, a very social and vain warrior. He wielded his sword with vigor, held his shield with fierce determination, and raised Hell on High with his mighty swing. No enemy ever survived two swipes from him, and he was widely famed for defeating Garuru with one mighty sideswipe to the neck, severing its upper head entirely. However, instead of treating his fame as a warrior would, with quiet dignity, he indulged on it, partying every chance he got. He slowly became less and less powerful, but everyone continued to praise him, and his dance continued for many moons. On this particular night of the full moon, a festival was held. This festival, The Night of the Patagod's Eye, was held on every night the moon held full and bright. Patapons would hunt for the entire week before, gathering many vegetables, meats, and fruits, and then party all night long, celebrating their musical god. The star of this festival became Tan, who obsessed over it. Meden would enviously hand over the Moon staff to him every month, allowing him to lead the celebration. However, on this particular night, things would change forever.

After commencing the celebration, Tan slipped down from the event rock, letting the two sparring twins duke it out in their special Moon armor. He immediately went over to the drinks bar, getting a large cup of intoxicating juice before going over to his special chair, where all the girls of the tribe waited giddily. After a few good drinks, and chatting it up with every girl in Patapolis, the moon was almost overhead. This particular night, though, Tan over-drank, passing out then away because of the amount of intoxication in his system. Of course, no one freaked out over the leader of the festival dying mid-celebration. It was a regular occurrence in Patapolis, since everyone could simply reincarnate at Mater, the Tree of Life. His cap was quickly carried over to the tree, and buried.

But no one came out.

After an hour of waiting, Meden shifted anxiously, assuring everypon that everything was alright, and that Tan would be back shortly, and to continue enjoying the festival. She knew the lie wouldn't keep everyone calm for too long, so she quickly ordered the Gravepons to dig up his cap and try again. When they dug into the ground, his cap was gone. Mater had taken it, but nothing came out. He had to have been reborn, then... but where was he?

Tan woke up, groggy and pained. It felt like he just fell face first into the ground. After opening his eye, he saw the flat, black ground. That's exactly what had happened. He had over-drank, and, as a result, was quickly shot out of Mater, falling face first. He slowly got up, expected to be greeted by laughing fangirls and an irked, eye-rolling Meden. But... no one was there. Fixing his ancient helmet, he looked around. The trees were dead, the event stone was cracked and mossed over, the altar was destroyed, and the obelisk... the obelisk was broken in half, the Eye stone cracked. It looked as if he had awoken years and years into the future. As his eye gained focused, he was appalled at the next sight to greet him: caps. Caps, everywhere, slew about like dead bodies. Holding back gasps of horror, he saw a cape and hat that looked very festive. The cape was orange, and the hat had five colorful stones, like a crown of some sort. It was like Meden's, except that her cape was a yellowish-green. Tan couldn't register what was going on. He couldn't tell if he had woken up centuries later, or in some ancient Patapolis ground, or what... then, he looked behind him, at a Mater tree. The sight he saw made him want to cry. The once beautiful, glowing tree was dimmed. Its branches were dry, cracked, or broken, and the Rejuvenation Heart was missing bulbs, and of no color. It had gone out of commission years ago, and could no longer work. This couldn't be the same Patapolis he was just in. Looking around for a sign of time of night or day, he was greeted with grim darkness, and a completely storm-clouded sky. It was like some kind of twisted, morbid dream, and he wanted to wake up. It couldn't be true, couldn't be real. He fell to his knees, beginning to cry. He looked to his sides, seeing his Heavenly shield and ancient sword, picking them up as he did when he was a great warrior. As he sobbed, he looked up to the sky, seeing a yellow glow in the clouds. This was not sunlight, no, but the Mighty One. It had to be the Mighty One. Slowly losing his strength from lack of drums and music, he reached up to the skies, calling out to his god.

"Ajam! Ajam, I am here! Please, hear my prayer, and save me from this nightmare...!"

However, his god did not respond. Defeated, he collapsed to the ground. Where is he, he thought? Why was he here? Could he have really been in Mater for hundreds of years? No, it's impossible... isn't it? As he spiraled out of consciousness, his last sight was the golden glow brightening slightly, slowly hovering through the clouds towards him...

Tan slowly awoke, stretching as he looked around, hoping he was awake, but he was instead greeted by the same sights again. This was no dream. He sighed, looking up sadly, then going wide-eyed. The golden glow of the Mighty One was directly above him, sparkles of light gently fluttering around him. He got up slowly; being achy and tired; and once again, called out.

"Ajam, please... what is going on? I am afraid."

Only one thing came to him. Not an answer, or a statement, but a name. "Juri". It took him some minutes to think through this response before it hit him. This was not Ajam. This is not his Mighty One, but it is... the Mighty One...? He looked up to the skies again at the golden clouds, confused.

"Oh Mighty One... what do you mean? Are you not Ajam, the Mighty Patapon?"

After a few moments, a true response bellowed softly from the clouds above to him and him only.

"Yes, and No. I am Juri, the Mighty Patapon. There were many Mighty Patapons in the day of the Patapon's First Light, but now, there are few. I have not moved for millennia, for my Patapons died out many, many moons and suns ago. They grew tired and alone out here by themselves, cut off from all other Patapons after the Patapon's Shift. Many Mighty Ones left, and with them, their Patapons were separated, and died out, not from famine or fighting, but pure helplessness. Without the drums and the music, Patapons cannot live, and so, they all passed away, their tribal homes turning to sand, dust, and dirt, never to be seen again. My Patapons were very happy Patapons among their brethren... but when they all left, my Patapons gave up the fight. It was not worth it to them to fight for a cause that was only their own. I even lost my precious Erden... she was so near and dear to me. We Mighty Patapons are immortal in your eyes, but we are not infinitely powerful and steeled. We have our feelings and limitations, too, and nothing hurts worse than losing they who are closest to you. After my Patapons gave up, she was alone. Her final wish hurt more than all else: she wished to die, for she could not exist alone like she had. With a sorrow filled heart, I fulfilled her wish painlessly, ending her life quickly. From that moment on, I have stopped acting, and allowed my Patapolis to fall to ruins as you see before you. Even Mater, the Tree of Life, had given up. Then, you came. Mater gave its final life force to you, allowing you to exist here with its final act. You are the only reason that I am here now."

As the message ended, Tan sniffled, wiping his tear-filled eye over and over, moved by the story of this Mighty One. He understood now what had conspired here, and why Juri had not responded immediately. Tan raised his sword and shield, replying to this Mighty Patagod.

"Oh... *sniffle* Oh Great Juri, I offer my sword and shield to you. I have no drums to give you, but I offer you myself in their stead. What may I do to help you? I will give my all to save your Patapons, and your Erden, for I have lost my people, too. I know not where they are, nor which way they are, but I miss them, and my Mighty One, Ajam. Will you help me get home?"

After more silence, and golden light shining down on Tan, Juri responded.

"With your sword and shield, we will find a way back to your Mighty One, Ajam. It will not be an easy journey, and we will face many hardships and enemies on the way. In exchange for bringing you back to your people, I ask but one thing, of you."

Immediately, Tan responded,

"Anything to see my family again."

After two seconds, something dropped from the Heavens through the clouds. Tan caught it with his shield, studying the strange, green, Patapon-shaped gem.

"Place this in the Eye stone of your Obelisk, so that a connection may be made between your village, and this one. Bring a Mater, Tree of Life sprout, and give life to my people once more. They need you, such as you need me, to not only live again, but be prosperous and happy. I cannot bring myself to cease my Erden again."

Nodding slowly, Tan readied himself, following the glow in the clouds above. He would have no drums to lead him, nor allies. This would truly be his hardest journey yet.