#lmk archivist

"It wasn't on purpose. His best friend kept dragging him out after training, so he sent a Clone with her... and it spiraled from there." Wukong explained while trying to pretend he doesn't see the look his subject was giving him.

Before they could continue a little shadow pops up out from under Wukongs skirt.

"Hey Savage. What's wrong?" Wukong asks.

"Baba, there's news of an intruder! A blue lion with a yellow mane and armor!" Savage chirps out while still kind of hiding.

Archivist and Wukong look at eachother, both filled with confusion.

"Considering that the few Celestials I'm on good terms with haven't told me any news about Azure being freed of his punishment. And if he's definitely been out longer than the scroll's been here." Wukong says while laying out the details and pacing, "Not that I wouldn't want to catch up with him, but why is he coming here? Most of my past fallouts stay away knowing I will go hostile on them for messing with my Island and Subjects. Especially to avoid getting put into another imprisonment, or sent below the old fashioned way..."

He trailed off but Archivist agreed before shifting into a thinking pose, "Well there's the possibility whoever released him, sent the scroll here without releasing the other two. As a weird motivator, and held off telling him where he sent the scroll?" They pause and look at the scroll, "But I worry what Azure might do once he has this cursed thing in his possession."

Wukong frowns but agrees, "I will leave you to securing the scroll. Make sure only me or Nezha should be able to move it." He instructs then pauses as he feels a ripple in his protections on the cave entrance, "I need to check on the others."

He pulls out his rarely used phone to message Nezha about Azure, but knows it will take a while before the Lotus Prince can reply.

Archivist nods, and sets to work and he leaves the treasure room, activating the doors security spells along the way.

*POV switch*

Macaque flairs his ears, and backs up a bit and spreads his cape to try hiding Xiaotian and Mei more. This made the two uneasy, because who would make the Shadow Monkey nervous.

They peek around Macaque in time to see, a very tall Blue-Yellow Lion Yaoguai?

Xiaotian was confused by the color, well colors of this Lion's magic, it seemed weirdly tainted by something. Because from his experience and to his knowledge, most Yaoguai magic is one color with lighter or darker hues to emphasize detail, not whatever was happening. (Though magic does get tinged with elemental magic when used, it's weird and confusing.)

The Lion stops a bit away seemingly shocked at the sight of them, "Oh, Macaque. I didn't expect you to be here. Rumor told of your death centuries ago."

Macaque lets out a growl, "I could say the same Azure. Last I heard your Prison sentence was indefinite. As for my death? Just rumors, nothing more."

The now identified Azure leaned a bit while ignoring the jab, probably trying to see the two behind Macaque.

"Who's that behind you? They seem a bit tall to be some of the Little Ones." Azure asks.

Macaque still on guard, doesn't move unless it's to make the two less visible to the Lion, "They're the kids of some friends of Wukongs. They're just visiting to learn about history."

Azure seemed to be trying to stay friendly, not that Xiaotian and Mei could really tell. The guy was giving them some odd vibes.

"So my subjects were telling the truth." Came the voice of Wukong as he walked out of the Palace Tunnels, "I didn't doubt them, but it was definitely a you have to see to believe story."

Azure perked up seeing the Golden Monkey, "Wukong! I was wondering where you were." He starts to walk around Macaque to get closer to Wukong, but the Monkey King holds up his hand making Azure stop.

"While it is interesting to see you. I do not appreciate you breaking through my barriers." Wukong says with a frown, "Also I would've appreciated a heads up for company. I was just setting up some new security when you ripped through that barrier. It could've caused some major magical backlash against you. Maybe even could've killed you."

The tension in the air made everyone feel uncomfortable. Azure definitely had a nervous smile hearing this, wondering how truthful Wukong was being.

"Well... I don't have an excuse for my actions." Azure says still nervous, "I should've known I wasn't welcome here anymore, but hoped you'd forgive me for past actions?"

Wukong crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow, "We shall see how things go. Hey Kids you have time to stay for a meal?" He asks Xiaotian and Mei. They nod while slowly coming out from behind Macaque, but not fully leaving him as they head back into the Palace Tunnels.

Azure looks at the two again, "Who are these 2, Wukong? Macaque wouldn't answer me other than they're children of friends." He asks the Golden Monkey, following even if he wasn't invited.

Before anyone could say anything more there was a slam against the doorway to the hall, they turn to find Archivist breathing heavily and holding their stomach area that was obviously bleeding.

Wukong raises and eyebrow, "The girl is Xiaojiao, a descendant of a dragon friend. The Monkey is MK, he was stolen from his troop, and adopted by a couple of acquaintances in the city. Why is it important for you to ask." He replied. It was odd to hear those names from him.

For Mei it's because she almost never uses her Official Name, not even her parents call her that unless she's in major trouble. And Xiaotian forgot that Wukong would know that nickname from the Delivery App.

Azure nods, not catching the shared look from the group, just seeming to contemplate something while focusing on Wukong.

"I ask because of the resemblance between you and MK. I remember some of what was said about how traits are inherited from parent to child for Monkey Yaoguai on this island." Azure replies. This gets more odd looks.

Xiaotian turns to Macaque, "I thought I more resembled you compared to Monkey King? Or that's our theory for what happened?"

Macaque snorts, "You have traits that make you resemble both of us Kid. Like your fur has golden highlights, your mask is a similar color to mine, plus the ears. Though with no clue where you came from we can only guess it's just a very odd coincidence." He explains, "Especially since neither Wukong or I have had biological children."

Xiaotian spots a slight shift in Azure after Macaque says this. Not suspicious what so ever, though a bit odd given the history between the older Monkeys and Lion. Maybe there was something going on between them that wasn't obvious to the Monkeys.

As they follow Wukong through a doorway a small pulse of magic catches Xiaotian and Mei's attention, and gets the notice of the olde Monkeys. When they look at eachother they see that Azure is gone.

"Where did he go?" Wukong asks with some panic. They go back into the hall the just left, but no sight of the blue lion. They move quickly through the halls, not going up some halls because the security spells are still intact.

After searching many halls they arrived at a room that was planned to be a banquet hall if Wukong ever got around to renovating the Palace. It was close to a kitchen, and had a table and chairs set up.

They also find Azure Lion in the room, looking at the table fondly almost nostalgically.

"Azure where did you go? You were with us, and then you vanished." Wukong asks trying to say casual, and not give away that he and all of them were a bit freaked out by what happened.

Azure looks up, "Oh sorry. Something caught my attention, and I ended up here after wandering a bit." He says then runs a hand over the tables surface, "It's amazing that you were able to keep this table after over a millenia of time. And it's still in the same condition as I last remember seeing it."

Wukong tilts his head, "It isn't that hard to keep furniture if you know how to do it. But seriously you are still technically an intruder in my home, you can't just wander off. This place is a bit of Maze with so many collapsed halls, you need to be careful." He says, trying to not let more negative emotions show.

It was clear to Xiaotian that the Monkey King wasn't sure what to think, or how to act with Azure Lion trampling over boundaries, and tact, but he also didn't want to cause any trouble.

Azure looks at Wukong with that same fond look, almost like how Pigsy and Tang gaze at eachother, or more recently how the Shadow and Stone Monkeys have been looking at eachother.

"Wukong! Azure has the scroll!" They shout in panic.

But before anyone could move Azure pulled out the scroll and held it above Wukong, "This is for your own good!" And then the Monkey King was pulled into the scroll.

Macaque grabs the kids and Archivist, pulling them into the shadows and away from the Blue Lion.

He takes them to his apartment above his theater. Taking care to put the bleeding Monkey on the couch, and tearing away their clothes in the area.

"Xiaotian there's a medical kit under the sink in the bathroom, and some towels. Mei get some hot water, use your fire if you have to." Macaque instructs. They nod and go to get the stuff, "Hey how're you holding up?"

Archivist takes a breath with a hiss, "Well I definitely would be dead without those layers of Immortality." They joke, then turns serious, "Though that sword Azure has... I could practically feel it strip away one of my layers. A sword that can kill an immortal. Where could he even get something like that?"