#elder monkey

The stone monkey laughs as he clutches the golden glowing staff, he turned to the six eared monkey, who was in awe at his own staff. Though he paused as a dark shadow portal appeared behind the six eared monkey.

Though he tried to act fast as he raised his hand as he saw the monkey disappearing into the shadow. He felt the staff pull him out of the water, though he was worried about his friend, he felt so giddy as he grinned.

"Whoooaa! You are incredible!"

The monkey planted his feet on the ground, clutching the staff. 

Though he looks around almost expecting the six eared monkey, his chest started to feel heavy until he heard a voice.

"Peaches, down here!"

The stone monkey immediately raised his staff, looking around as he paused. Nobody was there. Though his shadow stretched, his eyes widen as he sees the same shadow portal appear as the six eared monkey's head popped out, smiling.

"Wah! How- that's so cool! No fair!"

The six eared monkey clumsily lifted himself up as the shadow portal disappears. 

"I'm still getting use to it! Though I thought I wouldn't get out, I missed you, peaches. Despite the short time we have been separated."

The stone monkey felt the six eared monkey wrapped around his arms around his neck. His posture relaxing as his eyes soften and hugs back the other monkey.

"Of course, you would miss me!" The stone monkey nuzzled his head into the others monkey's neck, he felt the other monkey's ears softly flicker against him.

"...I was worried about you when you disappeared.. Mihou. I was .. not sure if I would see you again, and I would be alone."

The six eared monkey pauses as he pulled away, "of course not, remember our promise? We're going to stay together forever and get fat on fruits. You're my best friend, peaches." 

The stone monkey looked away as he clutched his staff tightly, he felt a bitter taste in his mouth. As he hesitantly nodded.

"Yeah. Forever."

The stone monkey pulled away as he rolled his shoulders as he turned to the waterfall, the six eared monkey didn't notice his friend's hesitation or his tight grip on his staff.

Though the peace didn't last long, the elder monkey was walking with a few baby monkeys from before, one of them gasped.

"The outsider's back with Liuer Mihou."

Another spoke, "he didn't die." And then another.

"He got a weapon, so does Liuer Mihou!"

The elder monkey waved his hand dismissively, "he got a stick. And Liuer Mihou, how long are you going to keep pretending he isn't anything but a fool!" He crossed his arms as he looked to the six eared monkey.

The stone monkey glanced at Liuer Mihou, before gulping as he turns back to the waterfall.

"We can do this, right?" The stone monkey glanced at the staff, who he learned had a name, 'Stick', who murmured.

The stone monkey glanced to the six eared monkey, whose ears flickered before he turned. 

"Praise me."

"What." 

The six eared monkey raised an eyebrow in disbelief. Though the monkey looked serious. 

"Come on! I need some motivation!"

The six eared monkey groaned as he rolled his eyes as he rubbed his face.

"Okay, fine," the six-eared monkey sighed, making it sound like the greatest burden in the world. He squinted at the Stone Monkey. "You're... loud. And... you got that big stick. And you... uh... didn't drown?" He finished with a shrug, utterly unenthusiastic.

The Stone Monkey's triumphant grin immediately deflated into a dramatic frown. "What?! That's it?! That's all you got, Mihou?! I just got chosen by a glowing stick! We just stole it from a tacky palace from the sea! Where's the flair? The excitement? I need motivation! How am I supposed to conquer anything if my best friend sounds like he's narrating a nap?!" 

He threw his free arm up in exasperation, his tail twitching angrily.

The six-eared monkey watched him, the pout, the tantrum, the exaggerated flailing. A genuine, soft smile, so unlike his usual cynical smirk, slowly touched his lips. He let out a quiet, fond chuff, and his six ears subtly lowered, a sign of true, unguarded warmth.

"You want praise? You're the loudest, wildest, most utterly impossible monkey I've ever met. You chase after what you want with a fire that burns brighter than any sun. You never back down. You make the impossible look... well, you make it look like a very clumsy, loud, but somehow brilliant accident. And," he added, his eyes softening further, meeting the Stone Monkey's gaze, "you always find your way back. Even from the bottom of the ocean."

The Stone Monkey froze. His pout vanished, replaced by a stunned silence. His cheeks, usually so brazen, felt strangely warm. He opened his mouth, then closed it, the words caught in his throat. 

He could feel his ears subtly flickering, a reaction he didn't want to acknowledge. He quickly turned his head, looking back at his staff, tightening his grip on Stick as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world. He forced a wide, arrogant grin onto his face, clearing his throat loudly.

"Hah! See, Stick?" he boasted, puffing out his chest and ignoring the six-eared monkey completely. "I told you I was amazing! Even he knows it!"

――――――――――――――――

The Stone Monkey's staff, Stick, went limp in his grip, thumping uselessly against the cavern floor. He stared for a frozen moment as the tiger demon's massive fist swung towards him, then squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for the impact.

Nothing.

Was he dead?

His eyes snapped open. Liuer Mihou was there, a dark, protective silhouette. His staff, radiating a faint purple glow, was braced against the demon's claw.

The demon roared, backing away a step, its growl rumbling through the cave.

The six-eared monkey glared, his staff buzzing with a low, menacing hum. A shadow portal erupted beneath him, swallowing him whole as he laughed, the sound blending with the deepening gloom. 

The demon looked around wildly, the monkey's cackling echo bouncing off the cave walls, before a sudden, unseen force smacked it hard. The demon slammed into the ground, a guttural grunt escaping its lips. The six-eared monkey materialized, lowering his weapon as he breathed heavily, his chest heaving.

"You okay, Peaches?" Macaque asked, his voice strained.

The Stone Monkey stared, unable to respond for a moment. It was hard to tell in the dim light, but he could clearly see bits of the six-eared monkey's pristine white fur now streaked with unsettling patches of black.

――――――――――――――――

The six eared monkey watched as his best friend gets dragged by his staff in the air, doing flips and turns as the stone monkey held on for dear life as the demon tried to claw at him.

He kept the kidnapped baby monkey close, who shrieked at the action. His ears flickering as he flinched at each loud noise that the metal was making.

"Stop playing around, you fool!" The six eared monkey yelled, his voice cutting through the din. 

"Fight properly!"

"I am!" the stone monkey shrieked back, his voice strained from clinging on. Just then, Stick, seemingly on its own accord, twisted and blocked a ferocious swipe from the tiger demon, knocking its massive paw aside.

"You're just letting the stick do all the work!" The six eared monkey retorted, irritation lacing his tone.

"It's helping! That counts!" the stone monkey bellowed, being whipped around again. "Why don't you help instead of just yelling, Mihou!"

"I'm busy, you imbecile! I have a baby!" Macaque shouted back, hugging the terrified infant closer.

"Well, so do I!" the stone monkey cried, pointing haphazardly at Stick, before yelping as the staff suddenly spun him around, narrowly dodging another attack.

――――――――――――――――

The monkeys chant over and over, as the stone monkey sat on a stone throne, clutching the staff closely to him, oh how the stone monkey bathed in the chants and attention.

"Monkey King!"

"Monkey King!"

"'Monkey King'! Yes!" The monkey grinned with pride, he raised his arms. 

"I like it! Has a nice ring to it!"

The stone monkey kept his eyes on the staff, "the ultimate weapon for the ultimate hero!"

The six eared monkey's stared as he stood by the elder monkey, who whispered, "selfish, just like how I been telling you."

The six eared monkey just looked down, the sound of the chants and claps were starting to ring and blur as he stared at his best friend. 

The elder monkey didn't wait for an answer as he pushed aside a few monkeys as he walked over to the stone monkey.

"Absurd!" The elder monkey stated.

"You're a tiny pebble, remember?" The elder pointed to his palm.

The stone monkey stared unimpressed, before the elder monkey turns to the crowd of monkeys, who stopped cheering.

"He doesn't love you. He just wants you to love him!"

The elder monkey looking directly at the six eared monkey when he specifically said 'you'.

Then the elder monkey turned to the stone monkey with narrowed eyes, "you'll never be one of us."

"You're a selfish, rebellious fool, who will end up all alone."

The stone monkey stared, his expression was much more vulnerable. His eyes glance at his friend, he wasn't alone. Before pausing as he looks to his staff, who murmurs as it glows.

"I'm not alone. I have my stick!" The monkey scoffed as he gestured to his staff. Not even noticing a certain six eared monkey gasp and stare in disbelief.

"That weapon should be wielded by one of the Immortal Ones." The elder gestured to the hole up on the mountain ceiling as it shined a golden hue.

"So wait. You're saying I should be an Immortal One?" The stone monkey grinned as he questioned.

"What? No!" The elder monkey shook his head at the mere suggestion.

"Ah, that's interesting." The stone monkey gestured as he scratched his chin, "they do whatever they want up there, right? That's me."

The monkeys nod in sync as the stone monkey as he gestures and grins wider at their agreement. 

"No rules. Me again."

The monkeys murmur as they nod. The elder monkey stares at the monkey in disbelief, "best weapons? Uh-huh. Very much us." The stone monkey grins to Stick, who murmurs.

"You're right. I don't belong here."

The monkeys shake their heads, as the stone monkey gestures to the sky.

"I belong with them!"

The monkeys cheers as they began to chant, 'Monkey King!' once again. The elder monkey waves his hand back, "they're never accept the likes of you!" 

The monkeys stopped cheering, as the stone monkey grinned with arrogant pride.

"I conquered a demon!"

"You'd have to defeat a hundred demons to even get their attention!" The elder monkey interjected.

The stone monkey sits at the edge of his throne as he looks down, seemingly dejected.

"Oh yeah."

The elder monkey crosses his arms as he scoffs.

"I suppose you're right.."

"Of course I'm right." The elder monkey scoffs.

Though Stick made a deep vibrated hum against the stone monkey's palm, making a purple glow. Before grinning as he hops off his throne.

"One hundred demons coming up!" He raised his staff as he grinned.

The elder monkey stared in disbelief before walking away as he gestured to the other monkeys, motioning them out, he glanced at the six eared monkey. He looked conflicted, hurt, and confused. He only shook his head.

Now the cave was silent. No cheers. No elder monkey's degradation. Silence.

The stone monkey tilted his head, "Mihou? What's wrong? Aren't you happy for me? I can finally prove―"

"Prove what? Because all you shown is that you can't keep promises."

The six eared monkey glared as he walked closer to the stone monkey, who backed away a bit startled. 

"Come on.. Mihou.. you can't expect me to stay here with you when I can become something special!"

"Just stop! What has gotten into you, Peaches?!" Liuer Mihou clutched his own dark purple staff, which began to hum and glow faintly in sync with Stick, their two lights, one cyan-gold and one dark purple, pulsing rhythmically as if communicating. 

His voice shook, pain overriding his anger. 

"Who cares about the Immortal Ones? What about ourpromise? We're supposed to stick together, forever! This stick," he gestured wildly at the stone monkey's weapon, "it's turning you into something ugly! Power hungry and selfish!"

"Shut up!" The stone monkey's voice cracked. He clutched Stick tighter, his eyes narrowing, the playful glint replaced by a hard, cold fury. Stick pulsed more violently, its hum deepening to a growl. 

"Shut up, shut up, shut up!" His eyes, fueled by the staff's growing influence and his own rising anger, began to glow a furious, demonic red. He raised Stick, aiming its glowing tip directly at Liuer Mihou's face, the sharp point just inches from his eye. 

"You're just holding me back! You always were, with your warnings and your nagging! You mean nothing to me!"

Just as Stick was about to pierce Liuer Mihou's eye, the staff itself went rigid. It vibrated intensely, forcing the stone monkey's hand to freeze, physically stopping him from going through with the strike. 

The stone monkey blinked, the red light in his eyes flickering, then fading back to normal, leaving him looking shocked and deeply conflicted.

Liuer Mihou gasped, backing away quickly, his entire body trembling. The stone monkey watched him back away, then scoffed, pulling his gaze away from his friend's form. 

He clutched Stick to his side, the staff humming a frantic, worried note, as did Liuer Mihou's staff in the distance, their two lights flaring and fading in desperate, unheeded communication, off balance.

"You mean nothing to me," the stone monkey repeated. He turned his back, gripping Stick so hard his knuckles were white, and walked out of the silent cave.

Liuer Mihou watched him go, his eyes blurring with tears, the betrayal a physical blow. He slowly raised his hands, covering his ears, as if to muffle the sound, but it was a curse, for he heard every terrible detail with crystalline clarity: the soft hums of his own staff trying to reach Stick in vain, the thunder of his best friend's retreating footsteps, and the agonizing truth that his other half had just abandoned him, had almost pierced his eye, and was now walking away, leaving him utterly, utterly alone.

――――――――――――――――

The Six-Eared Monkey stumbled through the jungle, his limbs heavy, until the salty tang of the ocean filled his nose. He collapsed on the sandy shore, great, racking sobs tearing from his chest. His six ears were pressed flat against his head, as if trying to muffle the echo of the Stone Monkey's words. His staff, now glowing a softer, comforting purple, humming a gentle, sympathetic tune. 

He stared down at his fur, his eyes widening at the sight. Streaks of inky black were beginning to weave through his pristine white coat, like spreading stains.

Suddenly, the sea before him churned, and a colossal form rose from the depths. 

The Dragon King, his scales gleaming, emerged from the waves, his eyes fixed on the solitary monkey. The Six-Eared Monkey scrambled backward, pushing himself to his feet, tears still drying on his cheeks, and raised his staff defensively.

The Dragon King merely smirked, his voice smooth and dripping with mock concern. 

"Why are you alone, little shadow? Where's the other... monkey?" He spoke the word "monkey" with undisguised disgust, his gaze sweeping over the horizon as if searching for the departed Stone Monkey. 

Then, his attention snapped back to the Six-Eared Monkey, his smirk turning into something sweetly predatory.

"He... he had to go," the Six-Eared Monkey stammered, trying to conjure an excuse, but the words withered on his tongue.

The Dragon King beckoned, a single, elegant finger curling in a silent command. Powerless to resist, the Six-Eared Monkey found himself stepping closer. The Dragon King's gaze fell to his six ears, his eyes burning with intense interest. "Such a unique gift," he purred, his voice like silk. 

"So exquisite, so special. It's truly unfortunate how some, utterly devoid of foresight, fail to appreciate such unparalleled beauty."

The Six-Eared Monkey, vulnerable and utterly broken, felt his carefully constructed walls crumble. He nodded, tears spilling anew, his voice cracking. 

"He... he left me! He abandoned me! He almost... almost killed me, just now! He said... he said I meant nothing to him!" 

The raw pain twisted into a new, burning resentment, a furious anger that surged through him. He clutched his staff tighter, and as his fury mounted, more black streaks snaked through his fur, consuming the white.

The Dragon King's hand moved, his fingers gently, almost reverently, ghosting against the Six-Eared Monkey's sensitive ears. "Such profound pain," he crooned. 

"But pain can be... transmuted. Redirected. All that power, all that exquisite suffering... wasted, unless it finds a purpose. If you are obedient, little shadow, if you pledge your loyalty to me and become mine, I can help you. I can give that pain direction. I can help you with your revenge."

The words were a balm to the Six-Eared Monkey's shattered spirit, offering a clear path for his newfound rage. His eyes, still glistening with tears, hardened with resolve.

"Yes, my loyalty is yours." The monkey whispered.

As the agreement left his lips, a final surge of shadow consumed his coat. His fur, once white, turned entirely black, a stark, profound transformation. Beside him, the dark purple staff resonated, its glow deepening a darker purple.

"One weapon coming right up."

"Wait― hold on! Let me prepare myself! Peaches! Wait―"

The stone monkey only grinned as he held tighter on the monkey as the six eared monkey screamed as they jumped while the stone monkey only cackled.

Both monkeys swim to the palace of the Dragon King. Two staffs stood together as magic swirled around them.

"Coming to the stage, let's give it up for.." the first voice began as another finished, "the reptile of style!"

"The overboard overlord." A stubby blue fish said as a tall pink fish stood with him.

"With the sweetest vocal cords!" The pink fish leaned close.

"The Dragon King!" They both exclaimed.

They motioned as a blue scaley fish dragon laid, "my loyal subjects.."

The Dragon King swam from his couch as he addressed the crowd of sea life, "these grand columns has stood here since the dawn of time." 

The Dragon King motioned to the staffs that stood beside each other, one glowed a bright gold while the other glowed a dark purple.

"It has waited patiently for the mightiest, fiercest rebel and let's not forget its most observant, cleverest shadow."

The Dragon leaned close to the two staffs, not noticing the two monkeys swimming behind.

"With the best style, of course, to free its monumental potential."

The Dragon King then leaned close to the staff that glowed golden, his hands rubbing its sides. Then swimming away as he exclaimed with pride, "that rebel is me!"

The crowd bursts into cheers as the Drgaon King motioned to the staff, "my gorgeous machine will unleash the column's power to create the greatest storm the world has ever seen."

"And of course, I won't be alone in my storm," the Dragon King then places his palm on the staff that glowed a dark purple. 

"For this column, the counterpart to my own glorious power, will choose its wielder. And whoever can grasp its shadow-kissed might, whoever can command its subtle strength, shall be my chosen consort, my muse, my very own personal shadow!"

――――――――――――――――

Nobody still didn't notice the two monkeys swimming towards the two staffs, the stone monkey widened his eyes.

"Wow.."

The stone monkey turned to the six eared monkey beaming. Before he turned back as the staff hummed deeply and instead of having a golden hue, it was a cyan glow.

The six eared monkey watched as the stone monkey talk to the staff with excitement. Until he heard a soft hum, he turned to the darker staff that glowed a dark purple.

"You. At last."

The six eared monkey swam closer, tilting their head, how can a staff talk?

"I have waited for you, Six-Eared One. For five thousand years I have waited for the one who truly hears. For the one who perceives the unseen currents of the world, not just its thunder. My companion," the staff's voice resonated, a brief flicker of the golden-cyan staff and the stone monkey's beaming face appearing in the six eared monkey's mind's eye, "chose the loudest roar, the mightiest, fiercest force. A boundless energy seeking its equal in overt power. But I... I have patiently sought not the most dominant, nor the most rebellious, but the most perceptive gaze, the most enduring silence, the one whose strength lies not in chaotic might, but in the perfect understanding of the subtle truths."

"Do not mistake subtlety for weakness," the voice continued, firm and ancient.

 "For what is a storm without the deep currents that feed it? What is boundless light without the profound darkness that defines it? My companion seeks to unleash, to create a grand spectacle of power. But I seek to command, to shape the unseen, to understand the balance. We are two halves, forever needing the other. Without its boundless might, I have no force to temper. Without my perfect stillness, it has no direction, no true understanding of its own monumental potential. We are meaningless apart, but together, we are the absolute balance. And you, Six-Eared One, are my chosen balance."

――――――――――――――――

"Let our conquest begin!" The Dragon King exclaimed before waving his finger around to a squid expectingly. "But first, a song. And five, six, seven, eight!"

Though both staffs glowed as they began to become smaller, the Dragon King paused as he turned confused.

"Huh?"

Both staffs shot a mix between gold and purple shockwave as the Dragon King covered his eyes.

"Whoa!"

"Is this part of the show?" The tall lanky pink fish, Benbo, questioned as he turned to the stubby blue fish, Babbo.

The Dragon King widened his eyes, his most prized possessions – the grand columns that had stood since the dawn of time – were just... suddenly gone! He looked down at his empty pedestal in disbelief.

"What is happening!" he shrieked, his voice rising in outrage.

"Look out!" One of the Dragon King's henchmen shrieked.

"Someone's stealing the grand column!" The Dragon King cried out, his voice a mix of fury and disbelief.

Before he paused as he squinted his eyes, "is that two monkey― I can't believe it.."

He squinted his eyes, His vision served him well, for among the blur of golden fur, he clearly saw the distinctive figure of the six-eared monkey, clutching the dark purple staff. 

A legend. A myth. The Six-Eared Macaque, knowledgeable of past and future, comprehensible of all things.

A slow, terrifying smile spread across the Dragon King's face, replacing his initial fury with a chilling, predatory gleam.

"Come. Gather 'round, young ones." 

The stone monkey turned around as he walked to the edge as he saw the elder monkey motion to the younger monkeys.

"Aw."

"So, this is where you were, peaches." A voice spoke behind.

The stone monkey turned his head as he lit up, his tail wagging. As he patted the spot next to him. 

"You're here, finally. Come on sit!"

The voice sighed dramatically as he sat next to the monkey. He hated how impatient the other monkey was. The stone monkey kept glancing at the six eared monkey not so subtly until he leaned close.

"Your fur."

"What about it."

"It's .. getting fluffier.. you wouldn't mind righttt?"

"What are you talking about― ow!"

The stone monkey raised a hand and roughly combed his fingers into the six eared monkey's fur, who flicked his tail in annoyance. 

He was about to push the monkey away until he felt the stone monkey rub his face against his chest and neck.

"You're ridiculous, peaches."

The stone monkey only grinned and laughed, "what? Can't I appreciate my best friend?" 

The stone monkey kept his head planted, he sighed softly as he heard the elders words and motioning hand.

"Feel the safety."

The six eared monkey's ears flickered as he glanced over to the monkey. Before glancing down at the elder monkey, he saw how differently he acted with him and the stone monkey. 

"You know.. I'm here, right? You don't need their approval."

The stone monkey lifted his head as he leaned away slightly, as he scoffed.

"Are you kidding? I couldn't care less! Come on, Mihou!"

"Still, you can still talk to me, peaches―" 

Though it was in vain as the stone monkey interrupted the concern, which made the six eared monkey just stare in disbelief. This always happened whenever the monkey's feelings were involved.

"Come on! Come on! It's here!"

The stone monkey gasped as he tugged the six eared monkey. 

Until their ears flickered, hearing a clink and growling. The stone monkey grabbed a few coconuts which the six eared monkey didn't question, he has spent awhile to know the monkey has been training and now it can used.

"Feel your insignificance." The elder monkey instructed.

The elder monkey was huddled up with a few young monkeys, "breathe―"

He was interrupted as the stone monkey then landed in the middle. The six eared monkey stepping down from his back as elder monkey turned back in forth.

"Nap time's over!"

"Is this where you have been with all this time, liuer mihou!"

The six eared monkey's ears flatten as the stone monkey scrunches his nose as he stepped in front of the other. 

The elder monkey glared more fiercely at the stone monkey before at the six eared monkey, "you again? liuer mihou, haven't I told you that monkey is trouble!"

"You're in danger! Follow me and―" The stone monkey warned, as he held the coconuts tightly. He hated how controlling and how wrong the elder monkey was about him and liuer mihou. 

Until he gasped as the demon tiger's red eyes shown visible in the vines. The demon pushes aside the vines as he stands over a baby monkey, who whimpered in fear.

"Ha ha!"

Though luckily, the stone monkey stood in front of the demon, who stared. The demon tiger was a bit caught off guard since the monkey was carrying.. coconuts?

"Huh?"

Cue the monkey throwing the coconuts with practiced precision though it didn't seem to stall or deter the demon tiger as it used its golden bracelets to block the coconuts. The demon tiger growled.

"I, uh, thought that would play out differently.." the monkey turned to the baby monkey, who stood behind him. His confidence lowering at his failed attempt.

The six eared monkey watched as the demon tiger just got thrown aside as he yelled. The six eared monkey ran as he was about to reach and grab the baby monkey until he felt a hand to his throat, he choked as he kicked.

Though was let go, he blinked confused. He looked up to see the demon tiger just staring at his ears, almost in disbelief before slowly jumping away.

Then he went deadpan as he watched the stone monkey run past him and throw a coconut at the demon, who by now wasn't even in reach. He got up as he dusted himself off, as he walked over to the stone monkey.

"Come on! It's getting away!" The stone monkey pointed to the waterfall.

The elder monkey glared at the monkey, a few baby monkeys trailing behind him.

"You fool! You think you're some kind of hero? And you, you're even more foolish for indulging in his futile delusions!"

The elder monkey then motioned to the six eared monkey, who looked back in forth as he frowned. He was about to open his mouth until the stone monkey pulled the six eared monkey beside him. 

"But we can beat that thing."

"And save the baby?" One of the baby monkeys questioned.

"Sure. If there's time." The stone monkey shrugged, though paused as he felt a pinch.

"Ow- what was that for!"

The six eared pinched his side, who frowned before he turned to the baby monkey.

"Of course we are, right."

It wasn't a question, a demand. 

The stone monkey looked away as he pouted before leaning his head back as he groaned and nodded as he kicked his feet against the ground. 

The elder monkey waved his arms around, "you both can't be serious. With what? Coconuts?"

The elder monkey motioned to the palm trees before continuing as he turned to look at the stone monkey specifically since he was the one, who threw and used them against the demon.

"Coconuts are no threat to the Demon of Havoc." 

One of the baby monkeys interjected, "they could get a weapon."

The elder monkey rolled his eyes, "ha. From where?"

Then another baby monkey spoke as they raised their hand, "oh, oh, I know! From the Dragon King!" The monkey pointed to the ocean.

"Yeah, the Dragon King." The stone monkey looked at the six eared monkey, who beamed, as he turned to the rest of the monkeys and the elder.

"At the bottom of sea?" The elder monkey scoffed. "If you go out there, you will die." The elder said firmly.

Though that didn't seem to worry the stone monkey who scoffed and waved his hand dismissively.

"Says you."

The six eared monkey felt themselves being pulled by the stone monkey, who grinned.

"Crazy fool! Liuer Mihou, stop this nonsense! Come back here!"

"I can't hear you elder!"

"Liuer Mihou!"

"Can't hear you! We will be back!"

The elder widened his eyes as he sputtered out as he watched the six eared monkey point at his ears, he grumbled as he knew the six eared monkey heard them.

"A wise monkey never stretches beyond his grasp." The wise elder monkey lectured to the monkey children. Though one, sat beside the elder boredly.

Their six ears flickering as they rolled their eyes, he didn't understand why he had to stay for this. It seemed the six eared monkey wasn't alone in his boredom as one scratched his... behind, one picked a bug from another monkey's fur, and another just yawning.

Though the elder grunted as he felt small hands wrapped around him, the six eared monkey turned as they blink. The elder grabbed the stone monkey that so rudely hugged him without any invitation and literally tossed him away, crossing his arms.

"Will you let go?"

Though that didn't seem to deter the stone monkey as he laughed before wrapping his arms around the first monkey he saw and squeezed. 

"Ow.." 

The monkey that was hugged let out as they dropped to the floor, the other monkeys staring. The stone monkey turned around to the monkeys behind him and raised his arms about to hug them.

"Ah, huh?"

Though they backed away and let out squeaks in disagreement to getting hugged, not wanting to turn out like the other monkey that was just hugged.

Then the stone monkey's eyes landed on the six eared monkey that was beside the elder monkey, and raised his hands to touch the other monkeys ears but was stopped by the elder, who pushed him aside and even bonking his head.

"Liuer Mihou, don't get close to it." The elder monkey started as he nudged the six eared monkey to the others.

"As I was saying, if the coconut is meant for us, it will be within reach.

The elder monkey walked over to a palm tree and began to climb, he leaned over as he tried to grasp the coconuts with a single finger that almost reached but in vain, he couldn't.

"Mm. not today."

The group of monkey stared, the stone monkey's eyes glance to the monkey with six ears. It looked so different to the others, it seemed more fluffier. Of course, with their six ears, and their fur. It was white, pure white.

Before the stone monkey looked away as he grinned, as he got an idea. 

"Oh!"

The monkeys gasp, the six eared monkey covered their ears as they squeaked. But kept their eye on the stone monkey, curious on what it was trying to do.

The elder monkey pointed as he held on the tree with balance, "out of the light!" Though it didn't seem like the stone monkey was listening as it ran from the shade, and then jumped high and kicked the palm tree with coconuts as it bent over and smacked the elder monkey, who fell with a groan.

Though the elder monkey didn't just fall down but had the very coconuts fall on top of him, one by one. The monkeys initially jumped back before laughing in amusement, the six eared monkey stared in awe and disbelief. Nobody ever tried to go in the light, the stone monkey's eyes glance held a coconut. 

He held it up to the elder monkey, who was getting up from the fall until it landed on the six eared monkey as it turned its attention on the other. Though it was pushed away by the elder, who growled and pushed the six eared away further and behind him.

"No, no, no, no!" The elder monkey tugged the stone monkey back into the shade.

The elder monkey held the stone monkey's wrist as he scolded, "we live in a world of rules and order."

The stone monkey let out a confused, "oh?" As they tilted their head and raised an eyebrow.

Then the elder monkey held out his hand, "observe." The stone monkey lifted his head slightly to look at the elder's palm, "think of my palm as our universe." 

"Compared with this greatness," the other monkeys began to listen in, "one little monkey is an insignificant pebble." Then the elder monkey held out a small pebble with his other hand.

He set the pebble down on the middle of his palm as the stone monkey's eyes shuffled.

"Only the Immortal Ones in heaven are free to live without rules." The elder monkey motioned to the sky as the stone monkey looked where the elder gestured as did the other monkeys.

The stone monkey made a few squeaks as it pointed at himself and pointed to the sky. Though the elder monkey kept his face stern, "know your place, young one."

Which made the stone monkey glare and pout, not happy with the elder's response as it flicked the pebble out of the elder's palm which flung it into the eye of a monkey.

"Oh!"

The monkey that got smacked with the pebble, accidentally stepped on another monkey that was behind him, and as the monkey raised a hand to his eyes which got hit with a pebble got pushed, who bumped into another monkey, who pushed him away with a screech.

The young monkeys began to hit, bite, and tackle each other. The stone monkey clapped his hands together, clearly finding this entertaining. Though his eyes glance back to the six eared monkey, who covered their ears at the loud screeches. It made the stone monkey pause.

The elder monkey noticed as he bent down, before widening his eyes as the young monkeys that were fighting have made a ball and rolled into the light and stopped at the edge. 

"Come back here right this minute!" The elder monkey demanded.

"Out of the light!"

The young monkeys then covered their heads as they embrace for the inevitable but nothing happened as they began to enjoy the sunlight they never got to experience.

Though the elder monkey was not having it as he demanded one again, "come back!"

The stone monkey then leaves the shade as he pauses right in front of the group of young monkeys.

"Huh?" 

The sound of growling continues as the young monkey's look to the waterfall, where the growls were heard. 

A silhouette with red eyes shadowed the water, it roars loudly as the group of adult monkeys gasp and look up.

The elder monkey now shouted, he kept a firm grip on the six eared monkey's ears, covering them.

"Run! The demon is here!"

The stone monkey froze in his spot as he watched a tiger demon launch itself out from the waterfall as the young monkeys run past the stone monkey, trying to get into the shade. 

The sound of gasps and shrieks can be heard as unfortunately the tiger demon, the Demon of Havoc, grabbed onto a young monkey and launched itself back into the waterfall.

The young monkey screeched as they ran to their parents, the elder monkey held the six eared monkey closely, unlike the other young monkeys, he came out of nowhere and the elder monkey took him under his wing despite his... appearance.

The older monkeys lined up as they held out their arms to scoop up their own child but a female monkey held her arms, expectingly but nobody jumped into her embrace. She whimpered as the elder monkey gave a sympathetic look, the monkey mother cried.

The stone monkey was the last to follow, the elder monkey then pointed to the stone monkey with resentment.

"Your recklessness drew the Demon of Havoc upon us."

The six eared monkey made a squeak as he hugged the monkey mother, who had become use to the young monkey's appearance and gently patted his head.

"You don't belong here, outsider!"

The elder monkey pointed as the stone monkey whimpered, he didn't mean for anyone to get hurt or captured. 

"Coconut him." The elder monkey said simply.

The adult monkeys and their children grabbed coconuts as they aimed at the young stone monkey. Though the six eared macaque looked back in forth, as their ears go down.

The stone monkey tried to run from the coconuts that was hitting him until the elder monkey threw a coconut which the monkey caught with one hand as he growls. His eyes turning red, the rest of the monkeys gasp.

The stone monkey just grabs the coconuts that was thrown at him and walks away. 

"Hm."

――――――――――――――――

The stone monkey clutched the coconut in his hand, arm cocked back, eyes narrowed with concentration on his makeshift replica dummy of the Demon of Havoc. 

He was about to unleash his throw when a flicker in his periphery caught his attention. 

He squinted, his gaze snagging on a pair of eyes peeking from behind the tree at the edge of the hilltop. Then, he noticed them, a curious pair of six ears, twitching slightly, this was the monkey that the elder pushed him away from.

The stone monkey's arm dropped, the coconut forgotten. Curiosity sparked in his chest, a strange, unfamiliar warmth. He took a tentative step towards the six-eared figure, then another, a soft, inquisitive chirp leaving his lips. The six-eared monkey, however, was clearly startled. 

With a swift, fluid movement, he melted back into the shadows, his unique ears flattening slightly against his head, vanishing from sight.

A whine of disappointment escaped the stone monkey. He tried to peer and try to see the monkey, he let out a frustrated growl. 

The figure was gone. 

With a huff, he returned to his dummy, picking up another coconut.

"Ha!"

He squawked, windmilling his arm, only for the coconut to sail wildly over the dummy's head and smack him squarely in the back of his own head. He tumbled with an indignant squeak, rubbing the sore spot.

From his hidden vantage, the six-eared monkey watched. He saw the stone monkey miss again. And again. He saw him throw a coconut that landed ten feet behind him. He saw him wind up with such force that he spun himself into a dizzy heap, only to be bonked by his own misguided projectile.

This happened every day. The ridiculous, clumsy, noisy stone monkey would train, and the six-eared monkey would just... watch.

Slowly, imperceptibly at first, the six-eared monkey's comfort grew. The stone monkey's intense focus on his self-appointed task, his complete unawareness of his own comedic ineptitude, was strangely disarming. 

He always noticed the six-eared observer, though never tried to chase him again. 

And as the days turned into weeks, the stone monkey began to make it a game. 

He'd catch a fleeting glimpse of those unusual ears, or a pair of dark eyes, and a silly grin would stretch across his face. His throws, though still terrible, would become more exaggerated, his grunts louder, his misses more flamboyant. He wasn't just practicing anymore; he was putting on a show, trying to impress the six eared monkey behind the tree with his utterly terrible throwing skills.

After the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in fiery hues, the two would sometimes sit on the hill, side by side, though never quite touching. 

The stone monkey would point a stubby finger at the first stars pricking through the dark night. 

The six-eared monkey would hum quietly, his six ears slowly swiveling, just listening to the distant chirps of crickets. He'd hear the way the wind rustled through the grass, the faint, distant calls of night birds, the quiet thrum of the earth itself. 

And sometimes, he'd hear a little 'plink' from the stone monkey, as he tried to throw a pebble at a particularly bright star, only for it to fall uselessly short.

When night truly settled, and the air grew cool, the two would instinctively huddle together for warmth. The stone monkey, always radiating a strange heat, would become a living furnace against the six-eared monkey's smaller frame.

Their tails would intertwine without thought, a silent tether in the vast darkness. 

They'd drift off to sleep, curled into each other.

One afternoon, the six-eared monkey appeared from the treeline, moving with a rare, deliberate slowness. In his hand, clutched carefully, was a single, ripe peach. Its skin was bruised in one spot, but it glowed with a soft, inviting blush.

He laid it silently before the stone monkey, who had just managed to bonk himself with a coconut for the third time that hour. 

The stone monkey blinked, then looked at the peach, then at the six-eared monkey's unreadable face. His eyes widened, and a sound of pure delight, an excited squeak burst from him. 

He clutched the peach like it was the most precious gem, his face beaming with an untainted joy that seemed to light up the entire hilltop. He took a huge bite, juice running down his chin, his eyes sparkling.

The six-eared monkey just stared. He watched the stone monkey's beaming face, his wild, unbridled happiness over something so simple.