Work Text:
The Prince of The Moon 🌙
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Quiet, peaceful stars hung overhead, aiding the moon in lighting up the world with a silver glow, glittering on the ocean, every drop of dew, on every leaf and blade of grass.
Macaque was a lot of things: a celestial monkey, a trickster, a shadow, a performer, a warrior, and a friend. What many didn't know was his birth was quite different compared to Wukong's.
Centuries ago, the moon cracked ever so slightly, and a tiny chunk of it fell to the earth. From it sprouted a monkey of white fur, with six bioluminescent ears.
A child of the moon, thus a prince of the moon.
The moon gave him power. Every night, when the shadows lept from behind trees, assisted by the light of the moon, Macaque got a wave of strength, feeling his power replenish and rejuvenate. No wonder he was a night person.
And once a year, he had a job to do. Which made it quite inconvenient when MK asked if he would go with them to the Lunar Festival this year.
" Please! It'll be fun! And you never really like going out during the day!" MK begged at his door, Mei was next to him, giving Macaque an equally pathetic pleading expression. Macaque rubbed his eyes, unsure of how to explain that the fact it was the Lunar Festival was the exact reason he couldn't come with them.
"I would if I could kiddos, but I'm really busy tonight," he tried again, but their faces didn't change, only getting more desperate.
They always attempted to drag him with them whenever the gang had any plans, which admittedly, was nice minus Wukong.
They drained his social battery pretty quickly, but it was usually a fun time. Macaque thought it over. Maybe he could hang out for at least a little bit before he had to go.
"Ugh, fine, but I have to leave before midnight, alright?" He agreed. The kids lit up for a second, before MK frowned again. "But that means you'll miss out on the best part! The moon glows super bright at midnight! It's what makes the Lunar Festival- well- the Lunar Festival!" He complained.
Macaque rolled his eyes. It glows bright like that because tonight was the night Macaque was born, where the moon glowed brightly as it imbued the celestial primate with life.
"That's my deal kid, take it or leave it," Macaque raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. Finally, MK sagged. "Fineee," he nodded. "Meet us at Pigsy's at 8! We're all going into the festival together!" He called as he raced off with Mei to bother someone else.
Macaque sighed, turning inside and closing his door. By "we're all going" that meant Wukong as well. He really hoped the Great Sage wouldn't make it awkward.
This was a special night, and Macaque refused to let that idiot ruin it; hopefully Wukong would know better.
It was 2pm, Macaque had already slept a good proportion of the day away, and that's how he planned to spend the rest. He packed his bag for tonight.
His wallet, some snacks, a small wooden board with a few candles, a lighter, and he wrapped up a silver headpiece. It was made of pure silver and had a crescent moon dangling from the middle on a delicate silver chain. It was the only thing he was born with. Placing it gently in his bag, he heaved himself back into bed and put an alarm on his phone.
—------------------------------------------------------------
At 7:55, Macaque awoke instantly to the sound of his alarm's soft ring. Rolling out of bed, he dressed in his usual clothes with a purple hoodie overtop, his red scarf without the cape, and headphones, before grabbing his bag and summoning a portal underneath him.
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"He promised he'd come! I thought he-"
Macaque appeared again right outside the noodle shop, startling Red Son and Tang. "Present," Macaque smirked. He was never late.
Everyone was there. MK, Mei, Red Son, Pigsy, Tang, Sandy, Mo, and Wukong. "Can't you just walk like a normal person?" Tang wheezed out, leaning on Pigsy who rolled his eyes. Macaque just chuckled.
"Sweet! Everyone's accounted for!" Sandy smiled cheerfully, before they all started walking towards the festival, Pigsy wheeling a small food cart to hand out hot noodles.
Macaque snuck a glance at Wukong, who was staring back. Both monkeys instantly looked away, Macaque's ears turning warm. For heaven's sake. Ever since they'd been hanging out again with MK's group, things were weird between them. Well, weirder.
They hadn't exactly gotten used to being around each other in a "friendly" manner again yet, but they'd tried to avoid bickering. Now more than anything, they were just awkward, and Macaque didn't know if that was better or worse.
He caught MK looking between them, and the boy had the nerve to shoot him a smirk. Like he knew anything! Macaque glared back, before turning away to watch the buildings they walked by as they got closer to the main festival area.
Everywhere he looked, lanterns were glowing brightly and streamers were hung up going through all the phases of the moon. Kids ran around with silver crescent balloons, and on the screens they passed Macaque could spot Chang'e giving her Lunar Festival speech. He needed to visit her sometime.
It felt strange, seeing everyone celebrating the day of his birth without knowing it. Part of him liked to look at all the balloons, streamers, lanterns, and other decorations, and think that's for me.
At the same time, that thought alone made his heart speed up and his stomach churn, so he quickly tried to distract himself with something else.
But everywhere he looked, there were stands selling moon jewellery, baking with silver decorations, games about trying to press a button fast enough to make a plastic moon glow the brightest. It all made him feel a little nauseous.
"You okay Macaque?" Pigsy asked, rolling up next to him with his food cart, handing a couple a box as they set some money on a tray. They were in the festival now, and everything was in full swing.
Anxiously, Macaque checked his phone for the time. 8:27. "Fine, just didn't think there'd be so many people," Macaque answered half honestly.
Pigsy gave him a sympathetic smile, nodding before turning back in front of him. "Everyone loves the Lunar Festival, I remember my parents bringing me to it when I was only 3, I nearly put them in debt for the amount I spent at all the food stands!" He laughed, coaching a small laugh from Macaque as well.
"I do wonder why it glows like it does, but really it's just a nice night to celebrate," he looked up at the moon, Macaque followed his gaze.
The moon gazed back at him, and Macaque let the energy well in his chest, calming his nerves. "Yeah," he replied simply, smiling quietly.
Mei and MK found all the festival game stands and dragged Red Son with them. Tang and Pigsy handed out noodles together, and Sandy looked over cat toys at a stall with Mo, leaving Macaque and Wukong to wander around.
Neither spoke, walking aimlessly, once they even went in a circle. Macaque hated the awkward tension, but had nothing to break it with. Eventually, Wukong came almost shoulder to shoulder to Macaque, then leaned in a little closer.
"Happy birthday, by the way,'' whispered.
Macaque paused, glancing at him in surprise. Wukong was looking at his feet, almost glaring at the ground. Macaque felt his chest warm, like he just had a hot drink.
He thought Wukong was going to mention it, but not in a nice way, more of a "why can't it be my birthday" sort of way. "Thanks, I think," he whispered back. Wukong looked back up, blinking, then smiled hesitantly.
They started walking again, this time managing some small conversations. "It must be so weird, right?" Wukong asked. Macaque nodded. "You're not gonna tell the others, are you?" He eyed Wukong suspiciously, but the other primate merely rolled his eyes.
"As much as I want to, that's up to you," he sighed. "How mature of you," Macaque joked, earning a gentle shove. He shoved back, and both monkeys laughed.
It almost felt natural, like it used to.
On one of their laps, they found a smoothie stall. "Want one?" Wukong asked. Macaque swung his bag around but Wukong shook his head.
"On me, consider it a birthday treat," he winked, going over to the stand, leaving Macaque red in the face in shock.
He returned a minute later and handed Macaque a mango smoothie, sipping his own peach smoothie. "Thanks…" Macaque took a sip. Wukong shrugged dismissively, but his face said something different. "Don't worry 'bout it."
Macaque decided to take his advice and ignored the trains of thoughts bashing his skull.
Eventually they met back up with the others in the centre. Again, he checked his phone. 10:34.
"There you guys are!" MK bounced over to them, leaning on Wukong, giving them both a huge smile. Macaque narrowed his yellow eyes.
Did MK leave them alone on purpose? Gods that kid needed to quit while he was ahead before Macaque grabbed him by the scruff and shook some sense into him.
"See anything cool?" MK asked. "Nah, just got smoothies," Wukong held up his smoothie for emphasis. Mei tried to snatch it, but Wukong grabbed her hand by his tail. "Don't even try it."
Then they decided to walk together along the stands. They all browsed the items, Macaque tagging along near the back, content to sip casually on his smoothie.
Dumping it in a bin when he finished, he caught up with the others who had moved ahead towards a stand with some pillows along the front. People gathered around, and curiously, the gang moved closer.
"Come come! Everyone! Don't you want to hear the legend of tonight's spectacular festival?" A woman calls from the stand. Macaque raises an eyebrow.
The stall looked like a small theatre, decorated with silver moons. The woman herself had streaks of grey in her long hair and faint wrinkles, but bright green eyes. A few kids were sitting intently on the pillows, a few more coming to join.
"A long time ago… far far in the past, the moon did something extraordinary!" She starts, splaying her hands. "Extraordinary? It glows super bright, but that's it isn't it?" Someone in the crowd asked. Macaque rolled his eyes at the comment.
"That's what many believe, but don't you wonder why? Why does it glows so bright? And why is it tonight?" A couple people nod curiously.
"On this night, long ago, the moon made a prince!" Macaque freezes, staring at the woman. Nerves burst in his stomach, and he couldn't help but glance at Wukong.
Very few people knew the actual story, passed down from one or two families over the centuries.
The Great Sage gave him an unsettled look. Macaque checks his phone. 11:20.
"Legend has it, a stone chipped away from the moon and fell to our mortal world, and from it, a being lept! The moon glowed bright as it gave the prince life!" Everyone ooed and awed, but Macaque just felt stiff and tense, frozen in place.
"Now, every year on this night, the Prince of the Moon shares some of his power to the moon in exchange for life, making the moon glow beautifully at midnight. Without the Prince, the moon wouldn't have the power to control our tides and light up our sky at night," she raises his hands ceremonially to the moon high above, nearly in the middle of the sky.
"To the Moon Prince!" The woman praises. Everyone clapped and cheered, and with his sensitive hearing, Macaque heard some kids saying "happy birthday, Moon Prince."
Overwhelmed, Macaque took a shaky step backwards, breathing heavily. He checked his phone again. 11:29.
"That's an awesome story!" Mei commented, the others nodding along with her. "I wonder if it's true?" MK wondered distantly.
" Macaque ." His ears caught Wukong's barely audible whisper. " Deep breaths, " he instructed softly.
Trying to collect himself, he took a few deep breaths. He looked at his phone. 11:30. He felt exposed.
"Macaque?" It was Sandy this time who spotted Macaque's nervous state. "Fine." Macaque responded. But he snapped it too quickly.
The others turned to look at him too. "Mac, are you okay?" MK asked, eyes turning worried. Wukong came to stand next to him, their shoulders brushing. Embarrassingly enough, it helped a little.
"I'm okay, really," Macaque crossed his arms, trying to comfort himself. "Just a lot of people," he sighed, taking another deep breath. He glanced at his phone. 11:32.
"We can move to a quieter spot," Tang quickly suggested. Almost instantly they all began walking, Macaque basically dragged away with them.
Soon they got to a quieter area next to a wall, the lanterns overhead offering a warm light against the night chill. "I'm all good guys, I need to go soon anyway," Macaque offered a small smile to his concerned friends.
"You're still not gonna watch the moon with us at midnight?" Mei pouted. "I told you, I have something to do," Macaque chuckled, feeling a little better.
He caught Wukong looking at him, his eyes questioning. Macaque frowned back. The guy wanted Macaque to spill. No. Nice try. No way.
"Why do I get the feeling you two know something we don't?" Red Son observed, giving the monkeys a suspicious frown. The others all gave them a questioning look, Macaque and Wukong averted their gazes.
"I'd tell you if I could," Wukong mumbled plenty loud enough for the others to hear. "Wukong!" Macaque growled. The other instantly raised his hands innocently.
"I'm just being honest! You should thank me," he huffed. "Oh come on! No secrets!" MK whined, begging eyes directed at Macaque.
"It's my business, kid," Macaque defended. He checked his phone. 11:43. He had to leave really soon.
"It wouldn't have anything to do with tonight's moon… would it?" Tang asked, a small smile on his face. Macaque faltered, knowing it was too late now. Of course Tang would piece it together.
"Gods dang it Wukong," Macaque hissed, closing his eyes in annoyance. "What?! Not my fault," Wukong bickered, but he was still considerably close to the other monkey, and Macaque didn't move away either.
MK, after a second, brightened like the moon was soon to do. " Wait. You're telling me you're the Moon Prince in that lady's story?!" He gasped. The others gaped at Macaque too.
"I haven't told you anything!" Macaque snapped, but he knew he was caught. With a grumble, he sighed dramatically in defeat.
"Fine, fine. Yes, I was born from the moon, everything in that woman's story was surprisingly true." He muttered, making the mistake of turning away from the others' wonder struck faces to Wukong's own admiring gaze.
His eyes glittered beautifully in the light of the lanterns. Macaque blinked at him for a second, before they both snapped their heads away, side stepping away from each other. Gods be damned .
"That's incredible! " Pigsy smiled. "You're a prince! " Mei exclaimed excitedly. Macaque felt fidgety under the attention, pulling his scarf a little closer to himself.
"Wait! Wait wait wait ! That means it's your birthday! " MK gasped even louder, the others eyes going even wider. MK leapt forward, hugging Macaque.
Macaque went stiff in surprise for a moment. The other joined, resulting in a giant group hug no being could possibly escape. "Happy birthday man," MK smiled. Macaque blinked rapidly to stop the tears in his eyes.
"Get off, you saps," he couldn't help but laugh. Finally , they all pulled away, still beaming at him. A jolt hit Macaque when he spotted the moon in the sky, and lighting quickly checked his phone.
"Oh shit ," he hissed. 11:54. "I gotta go," he explained, about to open a portal underneath him.
"Wait! Can we come with you?" Wukong grabbed his shoulder. "Please? That would be so awesome!" Mei agreed. "Don't pressure him guys," Pigsy noted firmly.
Macaque glanced at Wukong, then at the rest of them, and sighed. "Okay. You can come. But you have to be completely silent," he ordered. Then a portal appeared beneath them all.
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They appeared again on a grassy cliff side facing the ocean, the moon right above them.
Trying his best to ignore their presence, Macaque walked closer to the edge and knelt down. He grabbed his bag and brought out the small board, candles and lighter, setting them up together gently on the grass before lighting the candles.
Checking his phone for the last time, it read 11:59. He was never late.
Carefully pulling the small silver crown from his bag, he tried to ignore the people behind him. Their bated breaths, the sound of the grass crunching beneath them whenever they moved.
He'd only ever shared this moment with Wukong before.
Pushing the bag away, he put on the silver headpiece, wrapped his tail around himself, and went still.
12:00.
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It had been so long since Wukong saw Macaque do this. He knew he did it every year, and while the spot where it happened was on Flower Fruit Mountain itself, a part of Wukong could never bring himself to spy on the event, only watch the moon glow from his own spot high on the mountain peak.
It felt wrong to intrude without Macaque bringing him to the spot himself. Taboo even.
Now for the first time in centuries, Wukong watched as moonlight began to pour onto Macaque, painting his fur its original white colour. His ears also became six, pink, blue and purple.
Surprisingly, none of the others gasped, too awe struck by the scene in front of them to make a sound.
Wukong risked a glance up, not wanting to take his eyes off Macaque for more than half a second. The moon was so bright you could barely see the outline of it, too blurred by the white-silver haze.
After only a minute, the light faded softly, but the ocean and cliff side were still basked in beautiful silver light. After another second, Macaque moved.
On unsteady feet, he got up and shook out his cream white tail before turning to them. His ears were still in six. Wukong also realised with a start that his scar and blind eye were visible too. But he was glad he couldn't glamour himself again until the sun rose, it had been too long since Wukong had seen him like this.
Macaque smiled hesitantly, and Wukong swore he was brighter than the moon.
MK and Mei could barely contain themselves, they were almost trembling with excitement. Macaque quickly blew out the candles and collected his things, taking his silver crown off and packing it back in his bag, then he made his way over to his audience.
"I give you permission to speak," he chuckled. "Honestly I don't have the words," Tang mumbled. MK and Mei however jumped forward. "That was AWE-SOME!" Mei practically screeched.
"Quiet guys, his ears are more sensitive when they're like this," Wukong warned. Macaque just laughed, flattening his ears against his head, his face glowing purple pink and blue.
"You're glowing ," MK gawked. Macaque's eyes widened, and he quickly covered his face with his hands. "Damn bioluminescence," he huffed in annoyance.
Wukong missed the way Macaque shone in the dark, lighting up the night like the moon did. His white fur and colourful, delicate ears, made him look so graceful and royal.
Many people looked to Wukong as the sun, a guiding light of warmth and justice. But, oh, those people had clearly never appreciated the soft, cool glow of the full moon. Never stayed up all night just to gaze at it.
Never loved it like he had.
The sun was in your face, it could burn you, could blind you. Wukong had been blind, and he'd caused blindness. The moon never did such things. It only seeked to provide a gentle glow on a chill night.
Wukong knew he was staring like an idiot, but he couldn't stop himself.
"Stop being love sick for five seconds Monkey King, you look like you're going to faint," Pigsy whispered to him, a light tease in his voice.
Wukong only just realised Macaque was staring back, and quickly averted his strong gaze. He could hear Mei and MK snicker.
"Thank you very much for showing us, Macaque," Sandy beamed. Macaque just nodded, looking tired but surprisingly happy. At least Wukong hoped so, from the small but genuine looking smile on his face.
"Would you like me to portal you all back to the festival?" He asked. No. Wukong wanted to stay here forever. "Sure! Are you coming with?" Mei bounced.
"Nah, I think I'll stay up here for a while-" "I'll stay too! Uh- cos you know, I'm already here and all- and I live here- saves me the flight home, yup," Wukong flailed for the right words, but just earned some eye rolls and chuckles from the others he acknowledged with an embarrassed huff.
The others wished them goodnight, MK coming up to give Macaque another quick hug. The white furred monkey still didn't seem to know exactly what to do when hugged, and settled to pat the boy awkwardly on the back.
"Can't wait to properly celebrate your birthday next year," MK grinned like he was already plotting a huge birthday party. Wukong could get behind that plan. Macaque scoffed at the boy and pushed him away playfully. "Thanks kiddo, see you guys later," he waved before opening a portal beneath the group.
Then they were gone. And they were alone. Together. On Wukong's mountain.
He hadn't thought this far ahead when he had blurted out he was going to stay here with Macaque. Speaking of the moonlight incarnate, Macaque sat down on the cliff edge, letting out a quiet sigh.
Oh, Wukong was in over his head, but he had to take a chance. Trying to rid the tension in his body, Wukong walked over to sit next to him. Then they just sat in silence.
Well, any normal being would classify the moment as silent, however it was never silent for Macaque, Wukong could only imagine how loud his heartbeat was to the six eared prince.
As for Wukong, his never ending trail of thoughts were as loud as a speakerphone. He wanted to speak, he wanted to talk so badly, to take this chance, but nothing would come out. He'd open his mouth and shut it again, open and shut open and shut. Pathetic really.
Internally swearing at himself, Wukong picked up what small amount of courage he had. "I've missed this," he whispered. Macaque spared him a glance. "Missed what, exactly?" He asked, a little suspiciously.
Wukong laughed softly, very aware of how close their tails were to touching. "You… celebrating your birthday, watching your ritual, seeing you without your glamours," Wukong listed, somehow feeling more relaxed, looking up at the moon.
"You never watched after-?" "I lost that privilege a long time ago," Wukong acknowledged, lowering his head before turning to look at Macaque.
His body stiffened when a dull yellow eye met his own eyes, watching him thoughtfully, multi coloured ears flicking. "Well, I might let you watch again next year," Macaque grinned, bumping Wukong's shoulder. It was such a brief moment of contact, but it made Wukong feel giddy, like they were kids again.
A moment passed.
"You look lovely, by the way." Wukong couldn't stop himself from blurting. Then silence, and Wukong mentally cringed. Heavens help him.
"That didn't sound awkward at all," Macaque teased, definitely seeing Wukong's red face, and definitely hearing the stampede in his chest. However, Wukong missed the way Macaque's own face flushed.
"I'm trying to be nice!" Wukong defended quickly, crossing his legs. Macaque just hummed. Peaceful silence reached them again, and a weight pressed against Wukong's side. No doubt Mac was tired from his ritual, that's the excuse Wukong used.
"I'm not carrying you if you fall asleep," he noted. A snort came from the annoying bundle of fur next to him. "Sureee you won't."
—------------------------------------------------------------
Wukong carried the sleeping Six Eared Macaque back to his hut.
The pretty bastard had actually fallen asleep on him. The audacity. Wukong carefully pushed his door open. His house was lit only by a few dim lanterns.
Pulling the sleeping monkey closer to his chest, he tiptoed over to his couch and very very gently set Macaque down, laying his head on a pillow. Macaque groaned quietly in his sleep, but barely stirred.
Quickly going to his own room, Wukong came back with a fluffy pink blanket. He threw it over Macaque and tucked him in slightly, pulling back to admire his work. Or, more accurately, admire Macaque.
Despite being asleep, Macaque's ears continued to flick, his body rising and falling under the blankets peacefully. Forcing himself out of his trance, Wukong sighed, pretty tired as well.
"Goodnight Mac," he whispered. He'd be better. He wanted to get to know Macaque again. Wanted to be a better friend. And he would, but for tonight, he was content and happy. As he climbed into bed, he glanced through his window, up to the moon.
"Thank you," he barely whispered. It wasn't an adequate praise for the happiness the moon had gifted him, but he hoped the moon could see just how much Macaque meant to him by his face, or his soul; he didn't quite know if or how the moon saw things.
"I'll protect him," he promised, before sinking into his blankets, listening to the soft snores in his living room.