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For the past few days, Mk had been waking up bright and early to go to training. Pigsy was showing the boy a bit of leeway, deeming he was only doing it so Mk could take a rest from deliveries. But the great monkie kid knew it was because Pigsy was worried.
It was another peaceful morning, Mk already sweating bullets in the scorching sun’s rays as he swung his staff every which way, and utilized his magical abilities. A few flips, jumps, and rolls later, he was splayed on the floor practically wallowing in a pool of his own salty sweat. Wukong jumped from his nimbus with the usual proud smile on his face, peeking over Mk’s exhausted form.
“That was great, bud!” Wukong said in a chipper tone. “I gotta say, you’re picking up things fast. It's amazing how quickly you’re learning your abilities so far!”
Mk held up a weak and shaky thumbs up, saying, “Thanks, Monkey king...Is training over?”
The stone monkey nodded. “Yep! Just do some stretches and you’re free to go!”
Mk smiled as he pulled himself up with a soft groan, feeling his aching muscles and heavy bones. He was always thankful of how quickly his body healed, though. When it would feel sore and stiff like this, all Mk had to do was take a nap, and he woke up feeling brand new and ready to start the day again. Part of him was surprised he was able to keep going this long, knowing any other common folk would have quit by now. In the corner of his vision, Wukong was digging in his pockets for something. At first, the monkey had a slightly surprised look on his face as he searched. Then, confusion. Which then quickly descended into a face of pure panic as he flailed around himself faster to find what he was looking for. Every possible pocket Mk had never even guessed Wukong had, was now sloppily pulled out. Mk cocked an eyebrow, hesitantly asking, “Everything okay, Monkey king?”
“Not again! It can’t be!” Wukong screamed, running a hand down his face. “Nezha is gonna kill me!”
“Huh? Why?” Mk asked.
Wukong nervously scratched the back of his head, his guilt-written gaze falling to the stone floor. “Well, I forgot a really important item I was supposed to give back to him! If I remember, I believe I left it in...the demon realm.”
“The what!?”
“It’s no big deal!” Wukong argued meekly. “I’ll just swing by, grab it, and be out of there in a jiff! You won't even know I’m gone! But, in the meantime, I need you to distract Nezha when he gets here so I can have enough time.”
Mk stared at his mentor dumbfounded. Distract Nezha? The celestial with focus so keen and sharp, it would cut down the toughest warriors if it were a blade. Mk was good at distracting almost everyone else, even Macaque! But managing this task would be difficult for sure. However, Mk did want to help Monkey king and save the simian from getting screamed at and save Nezha the trouble. He nervously gulped, fidgeting with his jacket’s zipper, “Well, what time is he coming?”
Wukong opened his mouth to confidently speak, but his sentence was already cut short upon hearing the faint sound of a gong in the far distance. The monkey cringed. “Crap, he’s almost here now!” Quickly, Wukong jumped into action. The monkey began to draw a seal on a patch of soil in the ground with symbols and runes Mk couldn't even begin to understand. Once finished, wukong stood in the middle of the circle of runes, the emblem beginning to glow a faint red. “Alright kid, I’ll be back as soon as I can! Take care, don't break anything, and most definitely do not tell Nezha where I am!”
“B-But what do I say if he asks about you!?” Mk quickly blurted out with panic.
“Just tell him I’m out running errands or something!”
In a flash, the seal flickered out bright red and orange hues, before fading. Wukong had vanished in an instant, and the magical circle quickly disappeared into the soil leaving not a single trace of it ever being there. Mk stiffened the moment Wukong had left, already feeling his hope of this plan working beginning to vanish. Just tell him that monkey king was running errands? Like Nezha would believe such a thing! However, to his dismay, Mk didn't have the time or courage to try and conjure up a better idea. So, he stood there, stiff as stone, waiting for Nezha to arrive.
When he did, Mk wore his best benevolent and carefree smile as he stood at the entrance of the mountain. Nezha descended, his keen eyes already tracing around the forest. The prince’s frown deepened before his eyes fell on Mk. “Where is Sun Wukong?” he asked.
Already, Mk felt his heart rate begin to accelerate as he blurted out, “H-hey Nezha! What brings you here?”
Nezha’s gaze softened ever so slightly. “Hi, Mk. Apologies for my inappropriate entrance without a greeting. I’m in a bit of a hurry, you see. Sun Wukong has something of mine that I need back for a very important matter, do you know where he is?”
“Yeah!” Mk said. “He has whatever it is you're looking for. But unfortunately, Monkey king is running late on some errands. So, he asks that you stay for a bit so he can give the item to you when he returns!”
Nezha raised a brow. “And when will that be?”
“I...have no idea,” Mk admitted, slightly deflating. “But he said it’ll be soon!”
After a small beat of silence, the prince sighed and replied, “ Fine. I’ll wait here until then. I have nothing else better to do at the moment.”
Instantly, Mk exclaimed, “Great! How about I show you around the island!”
Nezha thoughts for a moment, before putting away his spear and making the wheels underneath his feet disappear. “I haven't been to this place in centuries. I suppose a tour would be...nice.”
Mk beamed. Maybe he would be able to do this after all! The boy happily became the prince’s island guide, showing him every sight the island had to offer. As they traveled about, a few of the Monkey king’s subjects stared curiously at the two boys. More notably, they were observing the lotus prince. As they passed by each cluster of bushes or foliage of trees, beady black curious eyes were staring down upon the two from below or above.
With a few twigs cracking from behind, Mk peered behind himself and saw a single monkey that was frozen, its eyes wide before it scurried and jumped into a nearby bush. He chuckled to himself, however, Nezha did not seem to notice the many congregating small simians watching them. Though, Nezha could also just not care at the moment. The prince seemed distracted by something else, after all. All through Mk’s rambling, the monkie kid could still sense that something was clouding Nezha’s head.
It made him begin to wonder what important item Wukong needed to give him. Was it something to do with the celestial realm? Will Nezha get in trouble if he didn't receive the item in time? Soon, Mk began to ponder on the many questions forming inside his head. But, as nosey as he was, he knew when to put his curiosity on the back burner. He had a main goal at hand, which he couldn't afford to get distracted from.
Soon, the two stopped at a nearby waterfall, and the thick smell of salt and moist air hit them both like a gentle wave. The breeze carried on the smell. It was then, the two stood in a brief moment of silence, taking in the scenery.
It was spring, which meant this was a perfect time for Nezha to have visited. The island's flora was painted in hues or verdant greens, sunset oranges and yellows, and cool purples. Around them, sprouts of tropical flowers bloomed, standing attentively in the sun’s lush rays. Pollen tickled Mk’s nose, and the soft chirp of monkeys and birds filled his ears.
Nezha started into the distance almost seamlessly, as if he weren't consciously here. “This island is beautiful,” he admitted quietly. Mk wondered if Nezha was saying that more to himself. “He might be irresponsible and careless...but I can never deny that Sun Wukong upkeeps this island with perfection.”
Mk silently agreed at that. Honestly, it was nice and very rare to hear Nezha talk about Monkey king without berating or pointing out his bad traits. Monkey king did always keep this place in pristine condition, with the help of his cute little monkey subjects of course!
In speaking of monkeys, there was suddenly one right behind the two, quietly chirping up at them. Nezha stiffened as it approached closer, shifting its gaze to Mk. The boy laughed and crouched down, and the monkey curiously sniffed him. Deeming Mk an alley, the monkey moved on the Nezha, the lotus prince looking oddly defensive. With a few sniffs, the monkey happily chirped again, before scurrying off back into the rustling bushes ahead.
“Thank goodness,” Nezha sighed with relief. “Last time I came here, his subjects were...not a fan of me.”
Mk laughed as the small monkey returned, holding two small flowers in its hands. It passed one to Mk, the boy thanking the simian. Then, the monkey handed a flower to Nezha. The prince took it with gratitude, a gracious smile forming on his face.
“Thank you,” he said to the animal solemnly. It was rare to hear Nezha’s voice sound so tranquil and undisturbed. Usually, it was commanding and stern, even if his voice was naturally so soothing and soft. The monkey pipped up with glee, before once again scurrying off into the bushes and returning to his troop.
Mk said, “It's good they like you now! Honestly, being disliked by these little guys is way too much trouble.”
“Indeed,” Nezha agreed, looking up to the sky once again as if longing for something. Mk, this time, let his curiosity and concern weigh over his self-control.
“Are you okay?” He asked, eyeing the way the prince’s eyes seemed lost more of their usual smark and flicker.
It was obvious Nezha was trying his best to keep his composure and hide away whatever was bothering him. But, the prince’s veil was easy to see through. Even someone who barely knew him could tell there was a darkness in his heart that gnawed away at his soul mercilessly. Had he done something wrong? Angered the Jade emperor perhaps?
The lotus sighed, his grip tightening around the flower’s stem so tautly, it looked seconds away from snapping in two. “How is training with Sun Wukong? Is he teaching you well?”
The questions threw Mk off entirely. Nezha had never expressed the slightest interest in his training with Monkey king! Was there something more to the question, or what Mk overthinking this entire ordeal? Maybe it would be best to let it go and enjoy the evening with the prince. However, Mk curiosity would not relent to make itself known.
“It's been going well!” He truthfully admitted. “Monkey king is teaching me a lot of new skills and stuff! Like how to manage my powers better to where I don’t get so tired! It’s been hard keeping up with everything, but fun at the same time!”
Nezha smiled warmly at the teen’s burst of enthusiasm. “That’s good, I’m glad and relieved to hear Wukong is at least doing well in his teachings. I never imagined him to be the type to share wisdom.”
After a short pause, Mk let his nerves begin to melt and finally let him weigh in on his burning question. His eyes trailed around the scenery for a moment, taking time to gather his thoughts before saying, “So...What did you need from Monkey king? If you don’t mind me asking.”
Nezha thought for a short second, contemplating if he should answer or not. Finally, he said, “Wukong had an item I desperately need to perform duties in the celestial realm. Hopefully, he has it,” Nezha sighed. “I pray that he does.”
Mk pursed his lips in thought, anxiety nipping at him. Wukong had warned the boy not to say or do anything to remind Nezha of his mentor’s absence and missing item the prince needed. Suddenly, an idea popped into his head, bringing a mischievous smile that mirrored Macaque’s to his face. He exclaimed, “Hey, Nezha! I have a big favor to ask while you’re here!”
Nezha raised a brow, taking away his attention from the sky. “Yes?”
“Well, I was thinking...is it possible I can get a tour of the celestial realm?” He asked with hopeful glee. Nezha’s eyes widened. As expected, though. Mk was sure the prince had never heard such a bizarre request before.
He cautiously replied, “I...don’t think it’s a good idea. I have strict rules to follow as a celestial, one that cannot be overcome for trivial things.”
Mk frowned sadly, his eyes beginning to shine with silent pleas. He clasped his hands together, collapsing on his wobbly knees and gazing up at a nervous and bewildered Nezha. “Please? It’ll be a short trip, I promise! I just wanna see a few things!”
“Like...?” Nezha slowly asked. Mk internally smiled, watching the plan hatched in his brain slowly unfurl and bloom like a rose’s petals.
“The immortal peach garden!” He blurted out. “And the laboratory and the immortal hot springs!”
Nezha thought for a moment, his gaze flicking back to the sky as if he were waiting for a celestial to descend and give him the appropriate answer. Impatience and anxiety gnawed at Mk’s insides, leaving him a shaky and hollow mess with tangled nerves. The grass around them rustled from the gentle breeze’s kiss, leaving trails of petals from Nezha’s ever-burning internal flame.
Finally, the lotus prince said, “Well...I suppose a five-minute trip would not hurt. I know exactly where all those places are...”
Mk jumped up. “Thank you, Nezha!” the boy went in for a warm-hearted hug, but was quickly stopped but Nezha’s finger inches from Mk’s twitching nose. The keen and stern gaze of the Lotus prince had returned, as soul-piercing and intimidating as ever.
He warned, “When we go, do not make a scene or touch anything or talk to anyone, understand?”
Quickly, Mk nodded eagerly with a giant grin on his beaming face that seemed to burn brighter in the sun’s radiant rays. Nezha released a tired sigh, the corners of his mouth daring to twitch into a smile at the young boy’s personality. The wheels under his feet reemerged, bursting into a bright pink with golden hues from the sun. Nezha floated above Mk, reaching down.
“Grab my hands and hold tightly,” he instructed. Mk nodded, stretching up and firmly clasping his hands around Nezha’s wrists, feeling the prince’s grip just as tight on his wrists. Once interlocked, Mk felt the earth beneath his feet slowly descend until his toes were dangling just above the ground. Though it was steady and careful action, Mk couldn't help but tense his body and grip when he felt the comfort of the stable ground beneath him begin to vanish in thin air. How was one able to do this!? To fly with no stability under your feet. Even Monkey king had to stand on his nimbus to fly.
Nezha suddenly said, “Don’t look down, understand? Just keep looking up.”
Mk nodded, all the words and excitement stuck in his throat as the foliage of the island’s trees, and the island itself had completely disappeared from his peripheral. Nothing was left but the cobalt blue sky and its white fluffy clouds painted in a heavenly creme-colored yellow from the sun. Maybe it was stupid curiosity, but something in the back of Mk’s mind urged him to look down. After all, he had never been too high in the air without Monkey king’s nimbus, maybe it wasnt as bad as it seemed.
He let his gaze begin to slowly slip until Nezha’s voice cut in and said, “Don’t.”
Instantly, Mk looked up at Nezha’s slightly annoyed expression, and the boy gave a wide and nervous grin. Soon enough, Nezha stopped, and a portal opened up in front of them. When he shot forward into it, Mk was surrounded by hues of bright pink, white, and gold hues, until the sight of the celestial realm greeted him. Just from seeing everything at once, laid out before him like a playground, Mk cooed in amazement, marveling at the realm’s beauty like he always did.
“This is so cool! It’s nice not having to sneak through the realm again!” Mk joked to himself.
Nezha gave him a suspicious look with furrowed brows. “You what?”
Mk meekly replied, “Oh! Uh, nothing! A-anyway, onward!”
Luckily for him, Nezha decided to brush the odd comment off, making his way to their first destination: The immortal peach garden. When they landed, Mk was more than happy and excited to once again feel solid stable ground bless his feet. Nezha landed next to him, looking around in satisfaction and quietly declaring, “We arrived at a perfect time. The immortal peach garden is quiet today. Many of the peach maidens and guards aren’t here today.” As the prince began moving forward Mk hurriedly followed to keep up. As soon as he landed, Mk felt a wild rush of sweet peaches invading his nose, prompting his mouth to water.
Mk marveled at the sight, seeing the fresh fat peaches danging from their stems, surrounded by beautiful white and red blossoms that looked like tiny pale fireworks in the sky. Celestial magic flowed through the garden, trailing up the trees and their roots, flooding into the peaches that pulsed with sweetened cores. Monkey king would be ecstatic if Mk had gifted him an immortal peach, straight from the celestial realm. But, he knew that if he asked, Nezha would say no very quickly. Soon, the more he gazed at the inviting fruit, the more his stomach began to rumble in hunger. Oh, how he wanted to badly to bite into that stone fruit, knowing he’d get full off of just one peach. But immortality wasn’t one of the things he wanted at the moment, or ever. Perhaps there was other food he could try in the celestial realm, ones that wouldn’t give him life-altering blessings.
Once he finished exploring the entire garden, he looked at Nezha, who would had been trailing behind and practically standing guard like a hawk the entire time. “This place is awesome!” He said.
“It’s beautiful,” Nezha agreed, his fingers gently grazing against one of the peach blossoms. “I like to come here sometimes to clear my mind. It is one of the most peaceful places in the realm where I get to escape my royal duties.”
Mk perked up. Oh right, he had always forgotten that even as a celestial, Nezha had many duties and responsibilities to attend to. He wondered when was it the last time Nezha had ever hanged out with anyone or had fun? Scratch keeping his distracted for monkey king at the moment. Since Mk was already completing that task wonderfully, he had another one to complete: Have fun with Nezha!
“So,” Mk began with a newfound radiant happiness. “Where to next?”
Nezha thought for a moment. “Did you know we have an immortal celestial garden here?”
Mk gasped. “No, I didn’t! Take me there, please!”
A faint smile stretched on Nezha’s face, and the celestial carried Mk across the amber-hued sky that sported long thin streaks of purple clouds. The gusts of wind hit Mk in the face, drawing more than a few tears from his eyes. However, the cool air felt crisp against his skin. As they flew above and Mk saw a few villages and courtyards with celestials walking around, a giant foliage of trees was seen stretching onward for miles. Mk’s eyes glinted in a newfound delight. Even from so high above, he saw the large garden stretch on for miles. Surely if they weren't careful, one would get lost in its verdant beauty. When they landed, Mk’s nose was hit with a moist scent of flora. The sweet and suffocating smell of flowers overwhelmed his senses, but it was a wonder to behold. So many flowers and plants, of all shapes, sizes, and colors, spread far and wide for all to see.
As he took in just a small portion of the area around him, delicate little orbs of light drifted from each plant, their vibrant petals perfectly catching the golden amber rays of the setting sun, reflecting an array of sun-touched colors upon the soil as if the petals were made from glass. Not a single member of this garden showed any signs of wilt or decay. All of them so full of life, brimming with color.
“This is amazing!” Mk said, finally breaking from his trance.
Nezha chuckled at the young boy’s enthusiasm. “It’s a wonder to behold. This celestial garden holds many powerful plants and seeds that can be grown and nurtured only here. Many celestials come here for elixirs and scientific research. To protect it, the garden is a bit more on the isolated side of the realm to ensure that if any enemy wants to steal something from here, they would have to travel quite the distance while battling enforcers,” he crouched near a beautiful lush purple orchid, smiling as he took its soft petal in his hand. An orb of light drifted toward him, settling onto the petal. He continued, “And if an enemy does manage to make it to this garden, it's protected by a powerful celestial oracle named Yanwei.”
Mk replied, “Can I meet the oracle?”
“I’m afraid they’re much too busy at the moment. The Jade emperor himself requested an audience with them today. I was only able to enter the garden with you because its energy trusts us and senses no ill will. Perhaps next time you can pay a visit and say hello to the oracle.”
Warm giddiness washed over Mk. Next time! That meant Nezha would perhaps take him on another celestial trip to spend time together again. What a wonderful event that would be, to be able to once again hang out with the Lotus prince.
After a few more hours spent frolicking in the garden, the sun had completely fallen into the horizon and plunged the real into a cool night. Stars twinkled in the sky like small beads of salt, and the cool white hue of the moon beamed brightly in the sky.
They soared across the sky once again. After he internally conquered the fear, Mk was able to peer from below and see the gleaming lights from downs and villages blur across his vision. It was peaceful and serene. The relaxing space between the two had honestly begun to make Mk feel drowsy. Only the wind howling in his ears coupled with the crackling flames on Nezha’s wheels fill his ears, like a strange lullaby. His thoughts began to drift, wondering if Monkey king was back yet. If he was, Mk was sure the monkey was wondering where the pair was all this time.
Just then, something caught his eye. A large structure stood, with giant pink lotus decor on the roofs and dazzling gold accents around the white building. In the middle of the lotuses stood balls of pink and yellow flames burning brightly in the night sky. “Hey Nezha,” Mk pipped up, pointing his foot at the building before they passed it. “What’s that?”
The prince’s gaze fell on the chamber below, and his eyes briefly narrowed. It was as if a shadow had cast over his face, plunging his heart into something Mk couldn't place. Nezha trailed off weakly saying, “That’s...”
A few seconds of silence went by, with Mk patiently awaiting the answer. Suddenly, he began to feel guilty. Had he brought up a painful memory for the prince? Nezha’s firm grip on Mk’s wrists began to slacken slightly and sweat beaded Mk’s brow. He flashed a nervous smile as the prince, whose attention was now only locked on the chamber they slowly passed by.
“Whoops,” Mk said nervously. “Kinda slipped there.”
Nezha however, didn't listen. Slowly, his grip began to become weaker and weaker, causing Mk to partially slip from Nezha’s grip. “N-Nezha!” Mk cried out, fear beginning to grip him, already picturing himself plunging to the ground in a grotesque display. “Nezha!”
Nezha’s grip tightened once again around his wrists, the prince looked down at the boy with shiny eyes filled with panic and regret. “M-My apologies..!” he exclaimed. Then, he turned his gaze away, his eyes lowering. “I’m sorry...”
Deciding it was best to take a brief break, Nezha landed near the entrance of the Lotus palace. Mk stood awkwardly, looking at the long climb of stairs that led up to two large pink doors with a golden crest plastered on both, perfectly aligned with one another. Nezha sat on the edge of the palace’s entrance, his face cast in a shadow of sadness and shame. Mk wondered why the prince looked so distraught and dreaded seeing this place.
He took a seat next to Nezha, and the two once again enjoyed the silence for a moment. From the moment they landed, Nezha looked tired and defeated. A total contrast to his usual aflame personality full of passion and determination. Mk studied him for a few more moments, before asking softly, “Do you not like this place?”
Nezha shook his head. “I love this place. This is my home, after all. However...it was also the home of the map to the Samadhi fire, the place Wukong took it from.”
Realization hit him, and carefully, Mk asked, “Do you wanna talk about it? I-I’m here to listen if you want.”
The prince hesitated for a moment, like he was selecting his words carefully. Then, “Ever since Wukong defeated me and was successful in stealing the map...my already fragile status here began to crumble more. I’m being watched by the court more carefully. As punishment, the Emperor made it known to everyone about my failure. Many were so disappointed with me, my master and brothers were no exception. I let everyone down. I allowed Wukong to ignore the Samadhi fire once more and almost destroy the world. I can never hear the end of it, even now, nor can I forget about it. When a celestial fails...they make sure you don’t forget. “
“But it isn’t your fault!” Mk argued. “You tried everything you could. You’re just one guy, after all.”
Nezha faintly smiled. “I wish my brothers thought such a thing. Perhaps then, I’d be forgiven. I haven’t been assigned an extremely important task since that day, for they no longer trust me. Now, I must work twice as hard to regain my dignity and honor. Only then...will everyone believe in me again...”
Mk had no idea what more to say at that moment, he had never seen Nezha like this. So, he did the best thing he could think of. Mk threw his arms around Nezha, holding the deity close and burying his face in the crook of Nezha’s neck. He really did smell like fresh roses!
“Well...I believe in you.”
That one soft-spoken sentence arose a sob from Nezha. And the prince returned the gesture tenfold, never letting go. Before they called it a night and left the celestial realm, Mk and Nezha sat there for a few minutes more in a sob-filled and comforting embrace.
-----
Wukong was there by the time they returned with the item in hand. It was a strange and large gold ring with a red tassel around it. One identical to Nezha’s. The monkey stood there with a swishing tail and grin that reached ear-to-ear. “See? Told you I have it!” he tossed it to the Lotus prince, who caught the item mid-air with a scowl on the stone simian.
Nezha hesitantly said, “Yes, I suppose you did. Still, I will never understand how you came into possession of my universal ring…”
“What? No ‘thank you’?” Wukong said teasingly, getting uncomfortably close to Nezha and elbowing him. In a matter of seconds, Nezha was yelling at the laughing monkey.
When he managed to calm himself, Nezha cleared his throat and said, “Yes well, I best be on my way. I have much to do, unlike you, Wukong.”
“Hey!” Wukong argued. “I’ll have you know I have plenty to do as well!”
Mk smiled at the two. Even if their relationship was rocky their interactions never failed to give the boy a good laugh. Nezha rolled his eyes at the simian, before turning his soft gaze at Mk.
“I’ll see you later, Nezha! It was really fun hanging out!” Mk said with a bright smile.
Nezha smiled so brightly, it took everything in Mk not to cheer. Even Wukong noticed the uncharacteristically happy expression on the usually tense prince. “I’ll see you around as well. And thank you, Mk.”
In a flash, Nezha had left in a trail of pink flame, disappearing into the sky. Mk and Wukong watched the bright pink flash slowly fade. “So, how was hanging out with him?”
Mk laughed, simply saying to his mentor, “More fun than I could’ve imagined.”