Chapter Text
"It's your fault!"
Macaque gasps awake breathing heavily holding his chest tightly, eyes wide and his hands trembling. Another nightmare of him and another sleepless night once again. He sighed, regaining control of his breathing and laid back down on his comfortable bed nuzzling into the softness of his pillow, his hands still trembling. He was silent hearing the soft sound of the wilderness outside his small home thanks to his high sense of hearing with his six ears but even that couldn't help him fall back to sleep. He groans rubbing his face annoyed at not being able to go back to sleep but knows it always happens when he gets nightmares of him . He rose from his bed heading to the kitchen to make tea to help ease himself so he can at least relax till the morning came which won't be long.
"He's gone...he can't harm me anymore." He whispers looking at the tea kettle warming up his tail waving around while he waits. "He's been gone for 500 years..." He whispers his ears pinning down looking at his window thinking about heading out to get some fruits that aren't too far from his home and maybe pay a visit to Princess Iron Fan, because she hasn't spoken to him for weeks which is concerning for him.
The reason why he was concerned was because Princess Iron Fan was more than just a friend but more like a sister to him. The reason was because she helped him when he was at his lowest back then and for that he's forever grateful to her. His past wasn't something he took joy in looking back on but somehow he managed to survive throughout those times. He met amazing creatures, demons and people back then seeing how each being was different and some were interesting to meet. He jumped when his tea kettle was whistling and he also took notice of the sun finally rising from behind the mountain making him sigh, pouring a cup of Lavender tea loving the smell.
"Today, feel off...maybe something will happen." Macaque said smiling into his cup sipping his tea allowing the warmth to calm his body and mind. "Hopefully it's nothing stressful."
~
"MK GET UP!!" Mk gasps awake looking at his door seeing his best friend there, grinning happily bouncing up and down with excitement. "Mei, it's too early! What's wrong with you!" Mk whined covering his head but yelping when his blanket was yanked away. Then she threw Mk's regular clothes at his face causing the other to yell and dodge his shoes that were thrown at him too.
"Oh stop whining! We're going to explore this mountain that I heard holds a mysterious demon!" Mei said hype to go exploring a place with her best friend. "Do I even have a choice here?" Mk asked getting off his bed heading to the bathroom to change and heard Mei loud nope. "Of course. Anyway, why are we looking for this demon? It was weeks ago that we fought DBK and his family after he was released."
"Cause we need a sense of adventure!! Come on! Today is your day off and you're not training with Monkey King so it's perfect!" She said looking at the door waiting for her bestie to come out. He came out dressed up smiling at his friend shaking his head but glad to have her around. She grabbed his arm and ran down the stairs waving bye to Pigsy, who yelled at the kids to be careful.
They jumped on Mei's bike and off they went to the mountain that Mei heard of while Mk was just holding on tight to his friend. The drive was far but he didn't mind because he got to spend time with his closest friend enjoying their talks together. They finally made it to the mountain and were amazed at how similar it resembles Flower Fruit Mountain but not a lot. This mountain wasn't tall like the original and it was a decent size for a regular town to live near, making it a nice vacation place for people that wanted to relax.
"Whoa. This place is something but you are sure about a demon living here. This place is too, I don't know, calm." Mk said looking at his friend, seeing her nodding. "You bet! Come on!" She grins driving into the town and parking her motorcycle. They got off looking around the town seeing the town folks friendly and kind.
"You wanna ask someone about this demon you heard about?" Mk asked, looking at the people minding their own business since it was morning. "Naa! Let's head to the mountain and see if we can find them! Anyway I have my phone with me so we can't get lost!" She grins, grabbing Mk heading to the trail that leads to the mountain. Mk was a bit nervous to go in without knowing what exactly they were looking for but for Mei it was an adventure.
They walked inside, looking around the sight, amazed at everything around like many fruits but mostly mangos having the two pick them off planning to eat these later. The mountain was peaceful with animals watching them and running away including some monkeys that watched Mk the most. "Hey Mei? Where did you exactly hear this rumor about a demon living here?" He asked looking at her look up. "Oh, by Red Son! He was talking to his mother clearly on his phone about heading to this mountain to see a certain demon. Seems important because his mother was also telling him to make sure to get the demon's favorite food as well." She said looking at Mk whose eyes were wide. "Mei why didn't you tell me sooner?" He was confused by this thinking this demon might help the DBK family with their revenge on him and his friends.
"Yeah, you were with Monkey King training when it happened so yeah." She chuckles, continuing on. Mk frowned but sighed knowing she had a point there. Ever since he became Monkey King successor he rarely had time to hang out with his best friend and he didn't want their friendship falling apart because of that. He chased after her, smiling at Mei, who grinned back happily.
They continue on following the path looking at Mei's phone seeing if they were following the right direction through these woods. They would get distracted at seeing the animals that lived here in these woods, noticing how calm they were around humans and how some of them even went up to them to allow themselves to be touched. Mei made sure to take pictures making sure her flash was off while Mk was feeling so relaxed here. He was starting to wonder why an ally of the DBK family would live here in these mountains that kinda resemble Flower Fruit Mountain. "Hey, look! A Raccoon dog!" Mei said happily seeing the fluffy animal walking by. Mk squealed, looking at the creature stop and stare at them Mei cooing at the creature too. "Oh my god! It's so cute." She cooed, raising her phone to take a picture but yelped when her phone was taken away by another raccoon dog. "Hey give that back!" She shouted at the Raccoon. It looked at her and snickered running off making the two gasp at the stunt the creature just pulled.
They ran after the two animals that went off the path running noticing the two behind them. "No! My phone!" She screamed Mk running along with her. "Get back here thieves!" He shouted. The raccoons snicker again hearing the kids running inside some bushes, with Mei grinning and jumping over it but becoming pale, noticing that on the other side was a cliff side edge. "Oh no...MK!!" She screamed, making him gasp seeing his friend fall. "No!"
He ran jumping off the cliff as well and driving down to his friend who was stretching her hand out for Mk to grab. He grabbed her hand fast, hauling out his staff and making it stretch, having it land to the ground allowing them to slide down his staff like a pole. They landed on the ground sighing in relief looking at each other and started laughing glad they were both okay.
"Oh my god! That was close!" She laughed, hugging Mk who chuckles and hugged his best friend back. "But we lost your phone and I think we're now lost..." Mk said looking up at the tall cliff his staff shifting down into regular size. "Yeeeeahhh...come on! I'm sure we'll find a way out of here." She smiled trying to lighten the mood.
The raccoon dogs looked at the two teens walking away heading towards another direction making them snicker at them. Mk looked around seeing these parts of the woods on this mountain the same as they started making him groan at this. He was praying that they won't get lost in in this mountain woods because if they did Pigsy will murder them for even getting lost in the first place. He looked at his best friend and saw her humming with her hands in her jacket looking around the woods seeing the tree blowing lightly at the soft wind and how the sun shrine through the leaves.
"You gotta admit. This place is really peaceful." She said feeling herself alleviated in these areas. "Yeah...makes it hard to believe that a demon lives here." He replies back getting a nod from her.
They continue on through looking for a path and sadly they couldn't find one path at all. They even tried using his phone but there was no signal here making it difficult for them to even call for help. Mei was getting worried that they might be lost now and Mk was terrified at the thought of Pigsy getting them in trouble for even coming here unprepared. They were about to give up until they heard water which means that they were near a stream.
"A stream! If there's a stream it might help us find someone!" Mei said smiling, Mk nodding. They ran to the sound of the water hoping that a villager or at least a path was near it. They got to some bushes that were covering the stream making them sigh in delight at now knowing they were near their location. They peek through the bushes and Mk was the one to gasp at what was there at the stream kneeling washing fruits.
"Monkey King! Mei look it's Monkey King!" Mk said smiling brightly while she sighed in relief seeing the monkey there. "Will at least we're not lost anymore." She sighed looking at the monkey.
Yet if you look closer at the being you can easily tell this was not Monkey King but another monkey with his fur black with six ears on his head, washing his fruits and minding his own business. Mei frowns looking closer, noticing the different features of the being.
"Umm Mk." She said while her friend was smiling in relief but they froze when they felt a movement behind them and paled when a hand was placed on their shoulder. "You kids aren't very good at hiding..."
"AHHHHHH!!"
Mei and Mk screamed, hugging each other making Macaque gasp in pain, his ears pinning down because the scream made his ears ring. He covered his ears, his shadow clone that was washing his fruits poof away when he lost focus because of the screams. He whimpers, closing his eyes tight trying to get rid of the pain making Mei and Mk notice the other was in pain from their screaming. They shut up fast and looked concerned for the monkey that sighed in relief when they stopped, allowing him to rub his ears to get rid of the ringing. Once it was gone it took him a minute to relax and looked at the kids, his face displeased on how these two reacted but yet again he did sneak on them so it was far.
"We're sorry! We didn't mean to hurt your hearing with us screaming." Mk said quickly looking at him while he sighed, waving them off walking back to his basket. "It's alright. It was my fault that I sneaked up on you guys." He said, jumping over the stream and grabbing his basket, his tail swaying around slowly.
"Umm we kinda need help. We got lost and we can't find our way out of here." Mk said, making Macaque glance at the kids with his brow raised. "Alright, come on." He waved while walking away from the stream, Mei and Mk sighing in relief at finding someone to help them.
"Anyways, why were you kids watching me from the bushes?" Macaque asked, watching them smile in embarrassment at being caught. "We're sorry. We actually thought you were Monkey King." Mk said, placing his hand on Mei's shoulder who whispered an apology as well.
Macaque eyes widen hearing that name again. That certain name and knowing that these kids were looking for Monkey King. Here?! It scared him, making him think that he was here on his mountain, making him shutter at the thought of the other finding him but he pushed those thoughts away.
"Monkey King?! Isn't he gone?" He asked, making the kids look at him confused by this. "Umm actually he was at first but he came back!" Mei said happily, wrapping her arm around Mk, who chuckled softly. Macaque on the other hand wasn't happy to hear this but took a breath to remain calm about this news now. "Oh okay..." He whispers and notices his home coming into view. It was a decent traditional chinese house with dark wood and a red roof with some small mango trees in front of his home.
The kids were amazed, making Macaque chuckle and slide his door open. He walked inside after taking his shoes off the kids following behind feeling at ease when the home smelt aromatic with a serene touch. The dark monkey placed his basket in the kitchen and went back, noticing the kids sitting down on the floor pillows so he sat down as well.
"So care to tell me how exactly you two got lost?" He asked the kids, laughing. "Well, we came here in search of something and we got lost cause some raccoon dogs took my friend's phone that had the map and their no signal here so yeah." Mk explained rubbing his head while Mei groaned, her head down on the coffee table.
Macaque covered his mouth to hold back a chuckle and swallowed it down to ask how exactly the raccoons took her phone but froze when he noticed the staff. A certain red and golden staff behind the kids. 'W-Wukong staff!? W-Why does he have it!??!' He thought his hands were shaking but he took a breath.
"What were your kids' names again?" He asked, looking at Mk blink. "Oh right! I'm Mk and this is my best friend Mei." He said happily, Macaque nodding. "Okay and Mk. I have a question for you. Why do you have Monkey King's staff?"
Mk and Mei blink looking at the staff behind his back and Mei gasps loudly. "Ohhhh!! Mk here is Monkey King's new successor!" She said proudly leaning on her best friend's shoulder having him laugh blushing at how proud his best friend said it. Macaque on the other hand became pale and his mind thinking of so many things, now knowing that Wukong has taken in a successor made him nervous. "O-Oh really." He whispers his tail waving around unease now.
"Oh you should hear his story on how he became Monkey King's successor!" Mei said happily while Mk laughed nervously. "I mean he doesn't have to know." He said while Macaque ears twitch actually curious. "Oh come on Mk! Tell him."
Mk sighed but nodded telling the monkey everything about what happened on that certain day. Macaque was listening to everything taking in how Princess Iron Fan had finally freed her husband making him happy for her, then hearing Red Son trying to kill him worried the monkey, to Mk and his friends going to Flower Fruit Mountain to get Monkey King help which made his breath hitch when he heard that mountain name again. 'I wonder how the monkeys are doing?' He thought sadly, squeezing his hands together, missing the part of Princess Iron Fan almost killing Mk and escaping with Wukong safe. He did hear the part where Mk did find Monkey King making him freeze. Instead his face became pale and horrified hearing what Wukong did next.
'WHAT!? H-He lets Mk handle DBK and the others by himself! He should be grateful they even let him live!' He thought hearing Mk finishing up by saying that’s how he became Monkey Kid. "T-That is s-something..." Macaque said smiling but his eyes were twitching. "Oh, don't forget the part where you almost die!" Mei added.
Macaque looked away from the two, processing everything that he was told, making him unnerved about how Wukong hasn't changed at all, and worried for the kid not listening to Mei. 'W-Wukong, what the hell are you doing?' He thought his face frowned knowing the monkey was okay letting this teen handle his problem for him.
"What about you mister? Do you know Monkey King?" Mei asked, raising her brow catching Mk's attention as well and glancing at the dark monkey. "Monkey King?" Macaque whispered, snapping out of his thoughts and looking at the kids' surprise that they even asked him that question but didn't want to draw too much attention if he said yes.
"He is just a legend but to answer your question. No..I do not know him." He said looking at his nails, his ears raising hearing Mei confused sounds including Mk. "Really? Bummer. It's because you look like him." She said crossing her arms making Macaque chuckle softly hearing that. He forgot how people or demons tend to mistake him for Wukong and it always made the two laugh at that. "I get that a lot..." He whispers but froze when he notices he said that out loud.
"I-I mean cause I am a monkey! N-Not like I know him!!" He quickly said, rubbing his head looking down, nervous if he accidentally exposed himself on knowing Wukong and letting his successor figure out who he was if Wukong told him about him. "You sure because you were surprised when I said Monkey King was back. Like you knew he was gone in the first place." Mk said looking confused at this and Mei nodding. " You also look a bit scared!"
Macaque froze at hearing the two talk. His eyes were wide and he felt his memories quaver at the thought of remembering his past. The incident on that certain day that took away his sight on his left eye leaving him with a scar. He felt his shadow form whimpering in fear, having him close his eyes and not wanting to remember that horrendous memory. He stood up forcing a smile placing his quivering hand on his chest.
"S-Sorry..I truly do not know much about the Monkey King..I just know he is a powerful being with immortality." He said hearing the kids move a bit through his ears. He opened his eyes to look at them expecting a disappointed look of him not knowing Monkey King but instead he was met with a concerned look. "We are sorry! We didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." Mk said, placing his hand over his chest making Macaque gasp.
There, on Mk's right he saw something or someone he thought he couldn't remember from that time. A certain someone that made his heart flutter in delight was his Sun Wukong before the incident. He was there looking apologetic as well, his hand over his chest apologizing for something as well, hearing his beloved friend's gentle voice and kind eyes. He did hear what the others said about promising not telling Monkey King that they meet and also figure a way out of here making him smile with a sigh.
"It's okay!" He said gently. "I’ll happily help. I can have one of my clones to help you out of this mountain." He wink with a grin showing and behind him was his shadow clone that was smiling as well. Mk and Mei's eyes teared up in joy knowing the other was gonna help them out of this place. "Really!"
Minutes later Macaque had a map for the kids showing them where they should follow his clone behind him watching. They were grateful for this, listening to what the other was saying and nodding their heads. They went outside with Macaque watching his arms cross the two putting their shoes on with his clone waiting for them. "You kids be careful okay." He said smiling at them but jumped when he heard Mk scream out wait. "We don't know your name, Mister." He said smiling at him making him look confused at the two.
"Wait, I didn't tell you?" He asks them to reply with a no. "Sorry, the name is Macaque. Six-Eared Macaque." He smiled, waving bye to the kids, who waved back with a pleased smile. He watches their form disappearing away, making him relax at finally being alone now.
He turned around, closing his door, walking through his living room heading to the kitchen where he was planning to make something to eat but he completely stopped. His body was not listening to his brain but then he felt tears falling making him raise his quivering hands to his mouth hiding a sob that almost escaped. His eyes were wide with dread, ears pin down and his entire body started to quiver along with his hands.
"H-He's back...W-Wukong. Y-You're actually back." He whimpers not liking the thought of now knowing he was back from wherever he disappeared too and this terrified him the most because he thought he finally handled his trauma of the incident between him and Wukong. Just to be proven wrong just knows that the monkey has taken in a successor to follow in his footsteps and that scared him as well.
What if he tells the kids everything that has happened to them. What would happen if he were to know about his past. He choked on another sob and covered his face, his body trembling and he also heard his shadow form whimpering along with him not liking the thought of seeing Wukong as well but he also felt another tiny part. A small section inside him wanted to see the Monkey King. To see how he changed, to see what he was doing and most of all. To see if he moved on and was with someone better that could provide him what he wanted even if that would hurt him he would be okay knowing he got what he wanted since he was at fault for holding him back from achieving his goal.