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“We have to save him!” Demanded the six eared Macaque to the high ranking Monkeys above him, General Ba and Peng as well as Marshal Ma and Lui.
He was beneath them. Not only literally but also in a figurative way. The great King ordered that in his absence, the four of them took care of the monkey court, meaning they where responsible for every decision that had to be made, where responsible for the safety of the Sun family clan, all because of a favour, or rather an act of service they provided for the King a long time ago. The six eared Macaque was not a low ranking person in the court, far from it even. The strongest warrior in the clan, second to only the King himself, leading force of the army as well as one of the most respected and most loyal to the King. But despite his efforts, despite his capabilities, he was forced to listen to those four Monkey elders, that were now looking down on him.
“Liù'ěr-,“ spoke General Peng calm, his eyes looking down on him. „He would not have waited so long to save any of us! He would have turned heaven upside down , to save even just one of us !-“ pleaded the six eared one, but his plea was cut short „And see where this has gotten him!“. It had been Ma , one hand pinching the bridge of their nose „ You Posess eyes but you clearly can not see the gravity of this situation. Our great King was impulsive, he never realised that his actions had consequences, he never paused and thought his plans through. He got captured by Heaven for his actions and has been imprisoned by them ever since,“ now Lui took the word „ His recklessness of trying to overthrow heaven got him in this position, acting even more reckless and attempting to save him, would only be the work of a fool!“
They where fed up, they all were. The Loyal Warrior had been arguing for the Kings rescue ever since he went missing, ever since it was known he was hold captive somewhere. Proposing plan after plan, pleading day after day, only for the court to shut him down each time. They where not heartless, they all missed their King dearly, but they also had to face the sad reality of things. Their King was gone, and was not going to return any time soon. They where now responsible for keeping the other Monkey‘s save, helping them survive each winter, and being prepared for every possible attack, they could not risk putting them in danger for foolish matters of the heart.
But the Warrior did not want to except the truth, he was not able to. His dear King, his friend was in danger, the Sun to all their lives has been ripped out of the sky and was sealed away by those ruling the Heavens. He was the Moon and his King, his Sun, where bound by fate and having to be at each others side. It was his duty.
He had to get his Sun back.
But Talking to the court was like talking to a wall, not moving, always set. Tethered together by each brick, so close even that they are able to complete each others sentences.
“That’s why i have a plan, we just-“ but again he got interrupted. Long ago, they actually listened to his plan first, before picking it apart, like a bird picking out the grain from the ground. Merciless and cruel, crushing every spark of hope in the dark furred Monkeys heart. But the more courage he found, and the more he presented his plans, each more flawless then the last in his eyes, the quicker they became on shutting him down.
Sometimes he didn’t even know what had been worse.
“Enough! “ beamed the voice of General Peng, the Warrior becoming quite immediately after. “You have tested our patience, time and time again, spewing about your foolish ideas. Ideas you do not realise can put us all in danger. The great Sage equal to Heaven might be Seven times immortal, but we are not. Pain and suffering will overcome us even in the afterlife and a thousands reincarnations after. You were truly the closest with the King, for your hubris is just as big as his has been”
Anger shoot through his vains, mixed with impatience and annoyance. The Warrior remained silent. His ears were hurting from all the shouting, but he still held his head high, not even wincing from the pain. “Leave.” Spat the General finally “you are no longer worth our time”.
He wanted to argue against it, demanding his plan to be at least to be heard, wanting to reason with them again, although he knew that it would not change a thing. He was defeated. His pleads bouncing off the said wall those four elder Monkeys formed.
He stormed out, leaving the room in which the four elders resided in. Slamming the doors shut after leaving. While some smaller Monkeys that saw the Warrior felt sorry for him, for they knew how hard he tried to bring their King back to them, most were afraid. For you see he had the same look in his eyes like their King had while deciding to go to war with heaven, scared that history will repeat and that fate again will pull away one of the most beloved members in their court. Just like their King before him.
But neither of the groups dared stand in the way of the dark furred warrior, to afraid of facing his current rath.
He stormed out of the Watercurtain Cave alone, to a secret place not many knew of.
A place of comfort , a place of peace, the one place the Warrior could go to wash his anger away , with no one bothering him with hollow words of comfort.
It took him a bit to get there, the setting sun, that still had been up when he stormed out, was already almost down when he reached the place,
A small pond, located in a secluded part of the island. Flowers bloomed near by , as well two very special trees. Special in the sense that they grew unlike any other tree on Flower fruit Mountain. The were intertwined with each other, growing into one another as if stuck in an internal hug. Their crowns were bearring two different kinds of fruit. One side beared Peaches, while the other beared Plums.
Next to the trees was a small cave. Vines and Bushes hid its entrance, but the warrior still knew it was there. It always had been.
He went inside of it, carefully pushing a few of the vines to the side , not wanting to damage even one, before letting them fall into place again.
It was not just any cave, it was their cave. This was the place when they hid away together, playing games, drawing on walls or even just talking. Back when it all was good. Back when they were young. He carefully brushed his hands against the cold stone, memory’s flooding back to him.
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“And you seriously think that this will be a good Idea? “ spoke the black furred Monkey, turning his view to the one next to him. The feast with the brotherhood had been long over, Azure lion, Yellow Tusk, Peng and Demon Bull King all fast asleep. The only people that were still up, where his King and himself. Quietly they had stolen themselves away, into their little quiet place far away from the Watercurtain cave. It had been their special place, for only the two of them. When duty got to heavy to burden, or the Univers got to loud, they both went here and this time they came to talk with no ears besides their own listening.
“Of course! Azure and the rest are fast asleep , so sneaking here-“ “no, I do not mean that” confused the King looked at his Warrior, until realisation struck.
“You mean the whole ‘ taking over heaven’ thing?” He waved it away “Old monkey here got it all covered, don’t you worry your pretty head”. And although his King waved all worry away, the Six eared one was not so easily swayed. Sure was the King an extraordinary fighter, and after he went away for training, his skill had only improved, but this was the heavenly realm they were talking about. Warriors and strategist with millennia worth of experience where now their enemy.
What if it all went wrong? What if they all were killed ? What torture must they endure for their punishment? If they succeed what would await them after?
He still wore concern on his face. He still was not sure about it all, and his other half knew, just like the sun knew all about the moon.
Placing his hands on the others shoulder, the King shared a reassuring smile.
“Just imagine, basking in the sun, eating fruit… this could be us always and forever, wouldn’t that be great?”
It sounded nice, the thought was truly something he gave his King that, but worry rooted still deep in his heart, all the ‘ what if’s ’ still bubbling deep inside.
The moon light hit them from a small crack in the cave walls above, lighting their faces in a soft glow.
“Liù'ěr … I’ll be honest with you, I truly, truly think that this will be our future, all I want is this to come true, but if you do not trust the plan, if you do not trust me, than we will not go fourth” his King lastly spoke. No grin on his face, no confident twinkle in his eyes. He truly was honest while speaking.
But the black furred Monkey did not speak. all kind of thoughts now twisting in his mind.
A long pause fell between the two, one waiting for a response , the other trying to think.
The King, crushed by the silents of his most trusted Warrior, moved away, his gaze turned to the floor and his hands falling from the others shoulder.
However, before the brown furred Monkey could move to far, one of his hands where grabbed in protest. Quickly his eyes shot towards his hand, seeing the one grabbing it was Macaque.
“I do not trust this plan.. “ he suddenly began to speak, the Kings eyes now looking into his “but i trust you, when you say it all ends well, then I will follow just like I always do”
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To this day the loyal warrior remembered the reaction of the other hearing his words. To this day he could see the big smile that fell on the others face. To this day he saw those golden eyes that shone with joy, as if fireflies were trapped behind.
Moments that once filled his heart with Joy, brought now grieve and regret.
If only he had not said those things, if he had stopped him, if he only had trusted his gut more and pulled his partner away from this reckless plan, they would still stand strong together…
Now one is punished by the gods, and the other can not help him. Can not convince anyone to help him fight. Can not bring his Sun back.
If only…
Anger boiled within him, mixing with grieve, mixing with regret.
His eyes wondered to a drawing, one they did when they where young. Him and his friend, fighting all and standing strong. “If they won’t even hear me speak “ he growled, talking to himself. His Hand balled into a fist “than I won’t listen”
A dark shadow appeared under his feet, growing and growing until he fell in.
They can not stop him, they can not stop the Moon from chasing the Sun.
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When night fell upon them, he gathered his most loyal fighters, the only ones that shared his insensitive and did dare to do whatever it takes.
He gathers them around, far away from the monkey court, far away from the Watercurtain cave where all the others slept, and proposed a new plan.
It was simple one, one that hardly qualified as a plan even, but it was the only one he could pull off without Marshals and Generals support.
They had to gather information, in which ever shape or form they could. They had to spy on mountain spirits, they had to sneak around humans just to get somehow a lead on their kings whereabouts.
It was a tedious thing to do, and a difficult thing to ask. Fighting someone was one thing, keeping taps on one was another, and yet? All his trusted soldiers agreed .
For days, his operation went on, seemingly following the Courts rules, while in secret disobeying them all. Playing them like figures in a game.
These days turned into weeks, these weeks into months before finally gathering something of use: A mountain spirit complained to another the demon trapped under a mountain in the east, was making so much noise that the humans where to frightened to offer the spirits anything, in fear of encountering that wretched demon.
Now this could have been any demon, but the most damming point of evidence was that the demon appeared said something along the lines, that "And this fiend dared call themselves the sage equal to heaven"
When one of his soldiers tolled him that, Liù'ěr could almost not contain his laughs. His friend was here! Well not really home but he was not trapped in the heavens and he was not banished in the underworld, but he was still on earth with them.
But now where the first step was done, the second one only started. For they still had to bring their King home.
From his loyal soldiers only three accompanied him in his search, the others where still to tired from the spying work to come with.
Although this was far from good, the black furred Monkey still held his head up, and his hopes high, they already got a clue where to find him, how hard could it be to look ?
Oh dear old Warrior, how wrong could one be.
He listend carefully, trusting his ears. Trying to hear his friend once again.
After searching under one mountain after the other, his search still was fruitless, and with no King in sight, his optimism started to wayn slowly. But he did not give up.
Until suddenly they found a mountain, or rather a place where mountain should have been. There was a full mountain range, tall as the sky, but between two of them, was a big gap, as if a mountain was missing. But they did not finde one, only chunks of rubble in its place.
‘Was this the mountain their king was trapped under?’ The six eared warrior asked in his mind ‘but if it were why was he not here? Why was it broken’
Confused his three soldiers looked at him, probably the same questions plaguing their mind, but he did not give up.
He looked at them, then looked in the distance “if he is not here” he finally said, “we have to look somewhere else.”
Determined the other monkeys agreed. If he was free, he would come back to them. But little did they know that this was when the seed of doubt was planted in the hearts of the three loyal soldiers. A seedling that soon took root.
many moons later they heard of a rumor, of a Monk with a monkey demon as companion, and again they started to look. But it seamed whenever they arrived at a place, the said two where already gone.
Soon another rumor was brought to their attention, that this Monk, was now not only being accompanied by a Monkey demon, but a Pig demon as well. But again it did not seem that luck was on their side, always missing them.
Later two rumours caught their interest again, one of a blue sand demon joining the Monk, and one saying that a horse, which was secretly a dragon, was now tagging along as well. The little seeds of doubt did now blossom in to a whole flower, ready to bloom.
“Alright my soldiers, it seems like we are getting close I can feel it!” Liù'ěr spoke in his usual tone, encouraging his soldiers to follow his lead. But what once brought out the determination in their eyes, now fell on death ears. “So the lead said something about the going north west, if we follow that then-“
“No” snapped one of the three. “No? What do you mean no?! Can’t you see that we are close ?“ “You say that all the time “ another spoke now up. “But our search never brings results” finished the third. The Warrior did not speak, clenching his fist. How dare they say that? After all they have accomplished?
“If the King wanted to be found…” the soldiers stood strong, although their legs were shaking like leaves in the wind. Yet still they procedet “he would not travel with this Monk. if he truly did care about us, the same we do for him, he would have come home”
The six eared one snapped. They dare questioned not only him but their King?
“You wretched Monkeys, you have pupils but still you can not see, blinded by the want to find a quick way out. You do not care for the king, you care for the reward, but if it takes too long you whine like infants!”
“Only one blind is this loyal to someone that does not earn it” spat the first monkey that spoke up, further enraging the warrior.
“HOW DARE YOU-! “
“He is right, we should return” said the second, the third one only nodded strongly.
“Oh, you want home you say? “ an unsettling calm set over the black furred Monkey. “Then go you lazy cockroaches! Go home, i do not need you anyway”
The three soldiers wanted to speak up , but he only stopped them from doing that: “ I said GO, have i not been clear enough?!” His eyes shining with rage “have fun with the monkey court punishing you for disobeying their orders.”
He turned away, no longer facing those three, that were traitors in his eyes. But before they walked away, one mumbled something under his breath “all though the punishment of the monkey elders will be harsh, they are at least more sane than you will ever be”. The Six eared Macaque only scoffed at this, vanishing into his own shadow, no longer facing those three ever again.
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After that his mission continued, his unwavering faith not dying, following his every move. It did not shake, even when days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months, not even once did he falter, not even once did he retreat. Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, all passed by in his search, the endless Wheel of time kept spinning, yet he still staid on his path. All this time listening to the great stories the locals told, of a Monk and his fierce disciples saving the day and defeating Demon after Demon. Sometimes he sweared he could even hear his friend speak, and some other times he could hear him scream in pain, begging someone for mercy, but it all was far off in the distance.
He has lost count on how many days it had been, since he sat out on this journey, he had almost forgotten how his homeland looked like, how the faces of those looked that turned their back on him and the King. This was until he stumbled a cross a forest.
It was rich with green, with trees that started to bear some small fruits. Flowers were blooming, birds were singing, spring really had come, and its bearings were beautiful.
The more he traversed that land, the more memories kept flooding back, the more he walked the more he went into reminiscing…
Back on flower fruit Mountain, way back when all was well, he could not have even dreamed of leaving that land. He would find no reason to do so, because all he desired was there: safety, warmth, family and friends. If he thought of the word home, this was what it was to him, and no place other than this could even come close to it. But after that day, after Wukong was taken from him and his people, that place changed. It was no longer the pleasant place to be at, instead it has turned into a strange place, as if becoming a shadow of its own self. A place he no longer saw as his home, but a prison that kept him away from the one he shared such a close bond with.
But seeing this place, seeing its beauty, it reminded him of home. Of a place that was long gone.
A place he will restore to its old glory, once his mission was over.
Chirping monkey swung above his head, just like they had way back when, and for a moment, he was content.
But that moment was fleeting, when he heard a voice, not to far:
"My, my" said a gentle sounding voice. "I have been traveling with you a long while Wukong, but I have never seen you this happy, you are even humming like a bird."
Did he hear correct? Did he really say that name? Was it really ….
"Oh, I'm sorry Master. I didn't realise I was doing this." Then he heard his voice, a voice that was stuck in his head, a voice he held dear to his heart, a voice he would recognise even with all of his ears chopped of.
He quickly hushed around, quietly getting closer to the two voices talking. And as he did, their conversation continued.
"No need to be sorry" the gentle voice paused " It's just that i have never seen you in such a great mood, that's all. Is there a reason for that?"
"Well you see Master, before I became your disciple, and before I caused havoc in heaven, I lived at a place called Flowerfruit mountain. The weather was always nice, beautiful flowers bloom there and all year long fruit trees are baring the most delicious fruit. A wonderfull place, really.
Even more beautiful than this. When I heard the small monkeys chirp , I got reminded of my old home and that made me happy."
The louder the voices got, the more his heart ached for the other. The closer he got, the more it felt like he was close to a part of himself. He pushed through the bushes and moving around the trees. Until he finally saw what he has been searching for. He finally found him.
In that moment it felt like only days had past since he saw him last. Only moments had gone by since they last shared some fruit in the sun. Like he never left.
But sadly his King was not alone. There were three others surrounding him, deeply focused in a conversation.
"Your home sounds wonderful" responded the gentle voice, which he now saw, belonged to the Monk. His face looked as genltle as his voice sounded. His robes, although looking worn and tattered because of the long journey they had been on, looked still fancily sown. He was sitting on a white horse that did not look like an ordenary one.
"Wait older brother, the great home of yours has fruits all around the year?" Entered another voice the conversation. It belonged to a pig looking demon.
Who was that person? And why dare he call his Wukong their brother?
"Yes. We got sweet Peaches, golden Mangos, tasty coconuts , ripe plums, the most delicious fruits you can imagine!"
"This place sounds amazing . I can only imagine their sweet taste in my mouth" responded the disrespectful fool.
"Oldest brother" Spoke a Blue demon. He too was daring to call Wukong his brother, but his tone was more gentle more reserved. The complete opposite of the pig. "why is it that we only hear now from your great home?"
"But I have talked about it, I always say where I'm from."
"Yes indeed you have. Always saying that you're 'the greate sage equal to heaven, king of the Watercurtain cave on Flowerfruit mountain' " recited the Monk as if he heard it more then enough times. "but you never really spoke of your homeland"
"I only follow your teachings Master 'those of us who have left a home shall not keep resting their mind on what they had but rather open it for the world im front of them'"
Master? Was he under that Monks control?
He decided he had heard enough. He moved away, back behind the bushes, already planning how to rescue his friend, no longer wanting to further pay attention to their conversation, but that was until he heard his King speak again.
“I do not have many tales of my home, because I left it in the persiute of power and knowledge. I rarely visited it since. But I do have family and friends there.
My two Marshals Ma and Liu , my two Generals Ba and Bang , my little monkey subjects and... "
A pause went over the others lips. A pause that sounded the most painful to the six eared one that listend in.
“And my Warrior" he spoke those words more quiet. Less bubbly than he was before.
A strong tug went through his heart. Hearing his friend not only talk about him, but hearing his sadness along with that. It was something he never really wished to hear.
Shaking off his feelings, he focused on the task at hand, the one that would hopefully take away the feelings of sadness for the both of them.
He continued to follow them, shadowing their moves. Far away to not be noticed but close enough, until the night came.
The Sun left the sky, letting the Moon rise above. It now slowly chasing the Suns path, always right behind.
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When he heard them set up camp that was when he teleported closer. Making sure to hide in the shadows of the Trees. He moved closer and closer, only the sound of his portals opening and closing to be heared, until he was finally close enough to catch another glimpse at the group.
They gathered around a fire, one of the Monk Followers had prepared. The Pig munched on some fruits he had found somewhere in these Woods, his loud chewing noises filling the air. The blue demon tended to the Monk, Bringing him some water, as the other just sat their, waiting to be served. But as he panned his eyes, he noticed one was missing. He noticed the most important one was not sitting with them. He noticed that The King was gone.
‘Where did he go?’ He whispered in surprise, quickly porteling away, to search around the camp. He could not be far, he should not be far. He was so close only moments ago, he could not lose him, not again.
Fear bubbled up in his head, growing stronger the more he searched. Where did his friend go? Why hadn’t he noticed? Why-
But his searching was cut short, thankfully his search had finally come to an end.
"Liù'ěr !" A voice called in the distance, a voice fillled with happiness and Joy, a voice that he had missed so dearly.
For a moment he thought he had imagined it, did think his mind played tricks on him again, but when he dared to turn around he finally saw him.
His King, His Friend, his other half, his sun. His joy was impossible to contain, so where his small tears of happiness that slowly ran down his face.
Both where now running toward each other, running into each others arms and meeting in a strong embrace. No words needed to be spoken, no greeting needed to be exchanged. The Sun and The Moon were now together again, and that was all that did matter. All that was important right now.
None of them dared to let go at first, as if fearing that letting go would make the other disappear. And the Univers stood still, even if it was only for a moment.
Taking in the moment, he took in everything, as if he tried to save it all in his head. He took in the softness of the others fur, his scent that still smelled like sweet peaches even after all those years away, listened to the others heartbeat. Liù'ěr breathed a sigh of relief, this was real, he really held his friend in his arms, he really found him.
“I missed you” he finally admitted, breaking the comfortable silence they had found themself in. Without missing a beat the orange furred monkey replied the same. “After all these years,” Liù'ěr spoke again “I found you, finally found you” Slowly they let go of each other. He looked up to meet his kings eyes. Golden and shining bright, a beauty that could even be admired in darkness.
“After heaven took you, way back when, we did not know where you were, many feared that you were dead. But i knew they could not kill old Monkey, so i began crafting plans to find you…. “ He began to explain, but he felt like not all needed to be said, he left out that the monkey court did not believe him, he left out that most of them held him for a fool to do so, as much hatred he had against them, he could not bring himself to say anything that might ruin the moment. He had all the time in the world now with his friend, he could tell him one other time.
“We lived in fear all those years, worried about our King, but when we finally heard a rumour that you might have been trapped under a mountain for all this time, my soldiers and I set out to find you,” Tears began to form in his eyes, but this time they where not from joy, nor from relief. This time they where tears of sadness, tears of grieve that he had bottled up over the years
“But you weren’t there, you where gone and we missed you, we missed you over and over again. We followed the rumours of a Tang Monk and his Monkey disciple. I knew it was you! I knew it in my heart! Many gave up, even telling me to do so too, but i never did, i never could, i- “ he felt a Hand cupping his cheek, wiping away the tears with its thumb.
“Thank you for not giving up on me Liù'ěr míhóu. Thank you for finding me” The Golden Monkeys voice was soft, warm like a sunny day.
“Heh.." Liù'ěr laught softly "I would never have even dreamed of giving you up"
“Oh I have so much to tell you, so many tales have I witnessed, I can’t wait to tell you them all” The Pilgrim beamed in excitement. A happiness contagious enough for even the six eared one to smile again. His eyes resting on the big smile he had missed for so long, before gliding over the rest of the others frame. He was much taller than he remembered, his eyes much brighter than he thought. But he then saw something he did not remember at all, a golden circlet, resting tight on the others head. His smile faded for a moment. What was that thing? He wondered. Now come to think of it, he saw the others wear one of those things as well, the kind blue giant wore one, and so did that pig over his hat. But theirs did not look as tight as his.
“What’s wrong?” Asked the Taller Monkey.
“What is that?” He pointed to the tight ring, almost touching it with his fingers. But before that could happen, the other evaded his touch. Or rather evaded the golden hoop on his head to be touched.
A long pause came and went, before the King chalked that question up with a simple answer. "That old thing? I got it when I started this journey, a... gift of the heavens, of sort"
Macaque could only raise an eyebrow in disbelief. He heard his King tell truths, he heard how his voice was light and bright. Chipper with nothing to hide when he spoke. But this time, this wasn’t the case. This time his behaviour was different. His tone, his face, it all was odd. Did he lie to him?
“It looks so tight on your head" Liù'ěr again spoke. Trying to find the truth in the others words. His hand reached out again, but hesitated, fearing that his touch might hurt his King. "can you even take it off?"
"Of course!" He laughed "why shouldn't I?" Again that tone of voice, it again felt off.
"Then prove it" said the six eared Warrior in disbelief.
"Why? It is a symbol of my connections with the gods. Taking it off would only damage our bond "
The dark furred Monkey didn't believe his King. Taking it off for one moment wouldn't hurt a soul. What if he wanted to go to sleep, or do other things?
It wouldbe cruel if he had to wear it all the time, just to prove something. Like a dog having to wear a collar to prove that he was not a stray.
He tried to push further, wanting to know the real reason. But as he tried to speak, he got cut off.
"Why bother with this old thing on my head" Wukong pointed at the circlet " We need the time to catch up, we haven't seen each other in so long"
Now this felt right again. Now he sounded truthful again. As much as he wanted to know why his king had lied. He also knows that their would always be a later. A time where they can share it all.
And with that they began to talk. And They Talked, and Talked. The Great Sage spinning one tale after the other, while the other just listened, and the same the other way around. They did not notice the stars slowly leaving the sky, nor did they notice the sun rising above. All they did care where the words of the other.
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“So you really managed to seal away the powers of Demon Bull Kings son?” Asked the Six eared Macaque in disbelief. “Well, not all of it, only the samadi Fire. We split it into three rings, each of us is keeping them safe now.”
“And where is yours? “ “Uhm, i kinda sorta… chucked it somewhere on the ground” “You what?” “I can explain, I-“ but he got cut short, his words getting shushed by the other. “Wait.” He whispered, his ears twitching slightly, “I can hear something…. It is coming closer.”
As if in Instinkt, The King moved in front of the Warrior, even though both were equal in strength. But before he could say anything to the protective one, he instead began to talk. A Smile wide on his face.
"I know who is making the sound!" He exclaimed cheerful.
Earning a look that not only questioned him from his old friend, but also expressed his slight confusion. Wasn’t he the one with extraordinary hearing?
“It is day, my master must be awake by now and my brothers too. We set camp only a few meters away from here, it must be them" He laughed slightly.
"Are you sure?" Liù'ěr hesitated, his King nodding his head in response.
"Quick, hide!"
"Why?"
"Just yesterday I told Master about you, I wanna surprise him with your presence!" He smiled. Liù'ěr was still unsure. Listening closer to the sounds made by those approaching. Those did not sound happy. He heard stomps and muffled complaints. Nothing too kind.
However, when looking back with an unsure expression in his face, the smile of his friend did not waver. A smile he always wanted to trust. And so he did.
He slipped into his shadow and waited.
Not long after, three figures came forth, leading a white horse behind them.
They looked tired, as if they had not slept, with sleep in their eyes and small dark circles under them.
All of them looked angry, all of them did not seem to be that pleased to see their fellow Pilgrim. But Instead of noticing their foul moods, instead of stepping back and going in with caution, his friend began to greet them, cheerfully as he always did. Optimistic like he always was.
"Good morning you three" His Sun Chimed. "Master I hoped you slept well, I have great news r-" He began to explain, but the yesterday so kind seeming Monk, cut him off.
"Slept well?! You wretched Ape!" He cursed. There was no trace of him beeing kind. No glimps of it left. As if the nice sounding Monk from the day before was just a facade.
"First you do not respond when I bring a strange sound to your attention, then you vanish without a trace."
Wukongs happy smile turned into a sheepish one, did he think in those words was a trace of kindness? "Master all is fine, I'm fine, nothing to worry-"
Again he was cut off.
"ha! You think we where worried about you?! our strongest defence was gone! Wujing and Bajie can hardly hold something at bay, that even scared you off!"
He scolded, his voice getting louder, loud enough to ring even in the six eared warriors ears, and he was standing in his shadows , multiple Meters away.
But his friend was dense. Not understanding that those where no words you should argue against. Those were the words you should ask for forgiveness.
"Me? Scared off you say? Ha" Monkey laughed "I would never be scared of something. I, the powerful Great sage equal to heaven, am stronger then any demon!"
"And yet you left us without saying a word! That's it! I had it with you! Only thinking about yourself all the time! " how wrong could one be? The King never thought of himself. He always thought of others, trying to find a way to protect all he cared about. Yes his methods were sometimes questionable at best and head scratching at worst. But his actions were genuine examples that he cared.
"But Master, I-" said his friend in a tone he would never think to hear. A tone filled with fright. A voice filled with fear. "no, you have to learn, and I will make you learn to never leave again!"
The Kings eyes grew wide.
"No! Please don't Master I'm sorry ! I did it because-" but his pleading was cut short.
The Monk recited some words, a spell of some sort, and when he did, his dear friend fell to his knees.
He screamed in agony holding his head while the golden circlet of his began to glow. The screams hurt to listen, gut wrenching with every moment they went on.
Liù'ěr míhóu had heard his friend scream not many times in his life. One was when he got hurt when they where young, and once he cried out in pain when heaven had defeated him. Both had been brief, both had hurt his soul. But this one was far more painful, far more cruel.
Moments ago he had happily smiled, moments ago he was cheerful and bright, but in a moment, it all went away. In its place a gut wrenching scream, filled with pain and suffering. Pleads could be heard that begged the Monk to stop, that begged the pain to end. „Master-“ he managed to say. „Please- argh stop“. But his pleading was being ignored. At least by the person that dared to inflict such pain.
„Liù'ěr …“ breathed the tortured monkey in a short moment, as if he had to save the rest of the air in his lungs to scream. So silent only the one called could hear.
His Body moved quicker than his mind did. He Jumped out of the shadow, summoning his shadow staff, charging toward that Demon that called himself a Monk. If he dared to make his friend suffer he shall meet the same fait.
Rage boiled within him, blinding his senses. When he was ready to strike, the Monk stopped his spell in fear, and the Blue demon stepped between him and that monster, unjustly earning the hit that was reserved for that foul Monk.
The blue giant staggered to the side, holding his head.
Unwavering he charged for his second blow, and now that the blue Demon was out of command there was nothing that could stop him, no one that could. How dared they to hurt his Ma -.
“Liù'ěr, pleas stop!” Quivered a voice, far too quiet to be heard, far too fragile to be coming from the usual so proud king. But Macaque heard. He listened.
He halted his attack. Rushing to his friend who was still lying on the ground.
“Wukong, are you okay? “ he asked concerned.
Monkey King just laid there, covering his head still feeling the phantom pain of the circlet tightening around his head.
“I am… fine Liù'ěr “ His voice sounded out of breath, his throat sounded raw.
And again his friend lied.
Even though his proud king tried to hide it, the Six eared one saw drops of blood flowing from the others temples, right under where the Circlet was placed.
Slowly he tried to stand, his Warrior trying to help him up but right when the King reached out for the others hand, the dark furred Monkey saw in the corner of his vision the Pig looking demon charging towards him with a nine pronged rake. Ready to deflect the blow he summend his trusted shadow staff only for the attacker to be stopped by a shaky standing Sun Wukong. “Younger Brother, don’t!” He pleaded almost with the Pig Demon. He however scoffed offended in response. “Step aside Brother.” Demanded the Demon, but Monkey King did not move. "Older brother, how dare you protect a demon that tried to hurt Master? Now to the side, I won’t ask a again." He still did not move "He tried to protect me!"
"It doesn't matter what intention he had, he tried to hurt Master and managed to hurt Wujing!"
“I will not”
Firm in his tone, Monkey king stood, his will unshaken, but his legs unbalanced on the ground. Macaque admired what his friend did for him, he truly did, but right now, if that Pig wanted to fight, who was he to say no?
“No need to step away,” he responded to the Pig. He did not bother to learn his name, he did not care for manners. All he cared for was to fight those who wronged his friend. Who stood by and watched, those who caused the pain. They can all burn in the underworld in his eyes, even if he had to send them there himself. “I can just come closer and beet you up that way”
And thus the battle began, nine pronged Rake versus Shadow Staff.
It was not a difficult fight. At least it was not for the shadow Monkey Demon. Every strike he Parried, every turn he managed to hit one blow after the next. The only thing frustrating in this fight was his opponents stubbornness.
He was able to still stand, blow after blow, bruise after bruise. Standing not strong, but still standing up.
While the fight went on, he heard his friend disappear with his somersault cloud. He heard him fly above into the sky.
And after a couple rounds, he heard him scream again. This time Far off in the distance, far longer than he had before.
Right when the stubborn pig fell to the ground, right when he was about to hit him one final time, his attack got blocked. But not by the nine pronged Rake, not by an unknown weapon from another foe. No. It was the golden hooped staff that blocked him. The staff only his friend was strong enough to carry.
“What are you doing Wukong? I am Trying to save you!” He argued confused . In disbelief that his friend would betray him like that. But one look at his friends face told him enough. There was more blood dripping down his sides, his eyes were dull and empty, no longer glowing like the stars. This was not the look of someone that did this out of his free will. No. This was the Look of someone forced to fight. Forced to act as a Weapon.
“I know…” Replied the King in a pained tone. “and i am Thankful for your loyalty… But i can not let you do this…”
“They hurt you ! They mistreat you! Wukong, can’t you see? Can’t you break out of this cage that they have put you in?”
The other did not answer.
He did not meet the others eyes.
He looked down, readying his stance for a fight.
“I am sorry my moon… But-“ he choked on his words, yet he still continued. “Every threat to Master….” He saw that the other did not want to finish this sentence. He could almost hear the struggle his friend had within himself, until he finally finished “Has to be.. killed”
His heart dropped into his stomach. Did the celestials above really force him to fight in this state? Did they really want him killed this badly ?
He did not want to fight the one he so desperately tried to protect… But if he succeeded … his friend will be free…
Neither of the Monkeys backed down. Neither of them could.
And so The Sun and the moon where now stuck in the most saddest dance, clashing their weapons, Golden hooped staff meeting shadow staff.
Just like when they had trained. Just like when they were play fighting back on Flowerfruite Mountain.
Back then the two laughed together, imagining themselves to be hero’s in their own tales.
Sometimes other Monkeys joined in, pretending to be soldiers fighting for a better tomorrow.
Way back when.
When it all was well.
As if destiny played a cruel joke on them, as if all was for this moment to come.
He knew his friend held back, he knew he hoped for his shadow friend to retreat. Both did not want to fight, neither wants the other to be hurt.
silent apologies where said under his tung, silent pleas only for the other to hear where said.
The fight continued until the inevitable happens.
When a winner had to come out.
And in this battle with only losers, Monkey King was the one to be victorious.
Tears welled up in his eyes. He did not want to do this. Again he pleaded to the other to just run away, to use his shadow powers and teleport, to make it look like he died. To just fake his death. But both knew that this could not happen. That Heaven would find out as soon as the Ten Kings of the Underworld would report The soul of the Six eared Macaque missing.
Tears streamed down the Kings face, landing on the ground below. Right next to his dear friend.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! KILL HIM ALREADY!" Screamed an impatient voice in the distance.
All where standing far away, no one seeing the emotional pain both of them where going through.
Wukong did not listen, only looking down beneath.
Laying on the ground, with wounds bleeding through his clothes, was the Six eared Warrior.
“Hey… look at me” He said in the most soothing voice he could manage “Please don’t cry…” he begged.
He did not want to see his friend sad in his last moments, even if he was the one killing him.
"How can you still be worried about me, while you are litterly about to die from my hands?"
His tears only flowed faster as he began to sob.
“I know I should care about my own fate right now, but…..seeing you like this, hurt with a broken heart, it hurts even worse then death."
His Sun knelt down next to him.
"I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry " His Sun said in-between his sobs.
Slowly the black furred Monkey raised his hand, placing it on the others cheek. Although he was the one about to die, his worries were only for his other half.
"Don't be..."
Propping himself up, he looked in to the others eyes , one final time.
Saving their golden light, never wanting to forget it.
"I know it's not you who kills me, it's them forcing you to do it. So don't be sorry and please only promise me one thing .."
Monkey King expression already fortelling his answer., yet he still spoke "Anything, I would do anything for you my moon"
A small smile went over his face when hearing his nickname.
"Please don't let them hurt you again."
He breathed in a painful breath.
"I beg you, please. Don't let them use that dreaded thing on your head ever again! Please Peaches, promise me."
The six eared warrior spoke as loud as he could.
"I promise Plum..." going for a final embrace. The Sun saying goodbye to its Moon.
Bittersweet was their tender embrace, for it was the last the two ever shared.
————————————————————————————-
And not long after, the Sun was alone on earth. His Moon no longer Present. His Body fading into dust. As it did, his soul looked down upon his dear Sun, his mind now as free as it never was, as clear as it will never be.
It was then when he realised that his King, his Sun, his friend, the one he cherished deep within his now no longer beating heart and still held dear within his now free soul, the one who had once prided themself with their self given title, calling himself an equal to heaven, had been a fool. A fool that believed he was an equal to those that ruled above. A fool that believed a lie. For he was no equal, but a pawn of Heaven, unable to defy their will…
He swore then and their that he would make them pay, he swore that as long as he could still we’ve a coherent thought, he will free his friend, from the clutches of those who did believe themselves above it all. He will free his friend from the cruel punishment that the high once above dared to call mercy.