#macaquereader

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"Promise we'd always stay together, peaches?"

A black furred monkey, Macaque rolled his eyes, a low rumble of disdain in his chest. 

A "wanted" poster, was crudely tacked to a crumbling stone wall, flapped in the wind. The drawing was an absolute joke―a childish scribble of a long, golden staff. 

The "monkey" in question was nowhere to be seen. Macaque crumbled the paper and threw it over his shoulder, where it fluttered to the ground, a victim of his irritation.

Lin, walking beside him, followed his lead as they made their way toward a village they'd heard the "Monkey King" was headed to next. 

The sun was beginning its slow descent, painting the sky in fiery hues of orange and pink.

As dusk settled, Macaque unclipped a battered old lantern from his belt. It was dented and scarred from years of use, but as he flicked a finger at it, it pulsed with a soft, purple glow. He grinned, his fingers twisting and shaping the light into a dancing shadow animal that twitched its nose as it transformed into different animals.

Lin's eyes lit up, a small smile gracing her lips as she watched.

"We have to stop soon," Macaque said, looking around the vast, open land. He put the lantern down, its soft glow casting long shadows around them. He motioned for Lin to sit, and she did, huddling close to him. He could feel her shivering despite her attempts to hide it. His staff, leaning against a nearby tree, glowed a little brighter and hummed a warm, comforting tune. 

Lin shot a grateful look at the staff.

"I'm fine," she insisted, pulling her arms closer to her body as a cold breeze swept through the field.

Macaque only grinned, having seen through her stubbornness. He leaned down to her height, unhooked his crimson scarf from around his neck, and wrapped it gently around her. She tried to refuse again, but with another shiver and a sigh, she let him, a hint of embarrassment on her face. 

"Thank you," she whispered, pulling the soft fabric tighter.

Macaque looked out at the fading light, the vast, empty land stretching out before them. As the last of the sun disappeared, he pulled off his cloak and wrapped it around Lin, a protective gesture that was as natural as breathing to him now. 

She leaned her head against his shoulder, her movements heavy with exhaustion. He felt her eyes begin to droop, her breathing evening out.

"Go to sleep, little one," he whispered, his voice softer than she'd ever heard it. "I'll watch. You'll need your rest."

Lin didn't protest. 

She simply burrowed deeper into his side, the hum of his staff and the gentle rhythm of his breathing a lullaby she couldn't resist. 

Her eyes, heavy with trust, finally drifted shut.

――――――――――――――――

"Ninety-nine demons down. One to go."

Monkey, or well Monkey King, is what he went by nowadays. He looked around what looked to be about an abandoned town.

"Hey, hero here."

He spoke out loud, almost not caring if this 'demon' heard him. The sound of snakes rattling, and unknown to him, a pair of eyes and six ears already here with him.

"Once-in-a-lifetime hero meetup."

Monkey King had his staff, 'Stick', propped over his shoulders as he looked around and went to the first building his eyes landed on. He knocked on the door as he now held Stick in his grip, who made a deep rumble, sensing an energy he recognized from long ago.

"What is it, Stick?"

Monkey turned to his companion with a raised eyebrow but didn't really press on it, though he paused when Stick hummed about a certain six eared monkey and his staff, feeling their energy. Stick made a soft glow and a few more deep hums almost as if to call for the other staff.

He stared for a moment, his eyes softening before shaking his head with a grunt. Not noticing a girl peeking her head out, another behind her, though wearing a cloak. 

"Where is everyone?"

Monkey was slowly getting impatient as he looked around before staring at said girl, who gasped at being caught and felt the collar of her attire, getting pulled back behind the wall. 

Monkey leaned a bit, trying to get a better look.

"Huh?"

Before shrugging as he kicks open the door as he exclaims, "anyone need a hero?" before disappearing inside.

――――――――――――――――

"You're an idiot, you know that?" he hissed, his voice a low, dangerous whisper. "I told you to stay down. What if he'd seen you?"

Lin's shoulders slumped. 

"He almost did."

Macaque scoffed, his six ears twitching in disgust. 

"That's exactly my point! He saw you, and what did he do? 'Huh?'" 

Macaque mimicked the Monkey King's grunt with a perfect, biting impression. "Just... 'Huh?' And then he kicks down a perfectly good door. Barbaric!"

Lin just nodded, her eyes wide. She'd never seen Macaque so agitated over something so small.

"I mean, honestly," Macaque continued, a rant building in his voice. "If you're going to make a dramatic entrance, you don't just... kick down a door. You drop from the rafters. You melt out of a wall. You appear in a mirror and speak in a low, echoing voice! You build suspense! But no, not him. Just loud, loud, loud, and stupid."

Lin's nod became more rhythmic. 

Macaque's words, so full of scorn, were starting to sound more like a heartbroken lover complaining about a bad breakup than a strategic rival.

"He thinks he's so clever with that staff. 'What is it, Stick?'" Macaque sneered, imitating Wukong's voice again. "He acts like it's his best friend. But he's just a fool, clinging to a weapon that's too big for him." His tone suddenly turned more bitter than angry. 

"He's always been like that, needing to be the center of attention. Needing to be 'The Hero'."

Macaque rolled his eyes with a sigh that was more tired than annoyed, pulling his cloak tighter around his shoulders. 

"Honestly. He's a mess. I would have made a better entrance."

He felt a subtle hum. His staff, leaning against the wall, was glowing a soft purple, vibrating in a familiar rhythm. It was trying to communicate with Stick, a call. A call, that both staffs use to constantly before becoming separated.

He raised an eyebrow, a flicker of something in his eyes, Macaque gently clutches the staff. He knew the hums of his staff, he wish it was that easy but he had a wall he'd built with the Dragon King's help and his staff, also, who is connected to him. It was a wall to keep out companions, a wall built from a painful lesson that he was better off alone.

He glanced at Lin, who was distracted by a passing moth, her eyes following its frantic flight. 

No, not all companions. 

He was slowly letting his guard down with Lin. Macaque pushed his bitterness aside, lifting the hood of her cloak to better obscure her face and gently nudging her forward. 

She nodded, walking towards the building entrance.

――――――――――――――――

"I don't think you're getting how great I am―"

Monkey sat on the counter, Stick placed beside him. The mayor was motioning to the door with fake politeness, obviously wanting him gone.

Before the doors slam open as Lin spoke with confidence, "he's the real deal, folks. A living legend!" She grinned as she walked over to him, a cloaked figure following after her, quietly. 

"I am? I mean, of course I am." Monkey paused before nodding along, puffing out his chest. Stick let out a deep hum, a vibration he'd grown accustomed to. It was a familiar feeling, one that signified a certain presence, but he brushed it aside. Until the humming intensified as the cloaked figure began to walk closer.

No. It can't be... right?

He had left that six-eared monkey behind at the mountain. 

The fool was probably still there, sulking. 

But the hum in Stick was undeniable, and it wasn't just sensing another weapon. 

It was sensing its counterpart, its other half. 

And that could only mean one thing. 

A knot of dread and a flicker of something he couldn't name tightened in his chest. A single word, unspoken but heavy with meaning, echoed in his mind.

Mihou.

"If you're got a demon situation, this is your guy!" Lin leaned against the counter as she winked.

"Huh?" Monkey turned, snapping out of his thoughts.

"Where did you even come from, kid?" Monkey whispered to this random girl. Before he turned to the cloaked figure, "what about you?"

The cloaked figure turned its head, and Monkey squinted, noticing the familiar glint of gold eyes. 

He recognized them instantly. 

The figure pulled down their hood, revealing the striking black fur and a pair of six ears that he had once called his own. Monkey's eyes widened, his mouth agape. 

Stick let out a frantic buzz in his hand, a desperate, overjoyed vibration. At the same time, Macaque's dark purple staff, which was now in his grasp, made a soft hum, both staffs glowing as they finally made contact after being separated.

Monkey's awe quickly turned into a cold glare. 

"You."

Macaque rolled his eyes, a familiar smirk on his face. He walked over to stand beside Lin, his posture casual.

 "Me."

Lin looked back and forth between the two monkeys, confused by the palpable tension. 

She noticed that despite the harsh words and intense glares.

Monkey King's tail was wagging. 

She raised an eyebrow.

――――――――――――――――

Monkey King, Lin, and Macaque watched as the trio of villagers whispering and huddling up. 

Macaque tilted his head, as his ears flickered as he heard every word. 

"Not a bad plan."

Monkey King, mid-chew on a mouthful of rice, paused. "What is it?" he demanded, but Macaque ignored him completely, his gold eyes fixed on the villagers. Monkey King's glare deepened, chewing his rice with a renewed ferocity. 

Why did Macaque just ignore him? Him? THE monkey king?? HIM??

Lin cleared her throat, turning to Macaque and sensing the tension.

"What's their plan, Mac?"

This time, Macaque actually turned, grinning at her. 

"They're planning to just have the demon eat that imbecile."

Monkey King felt his tail twitch with a mix of fury and confusion. Macaque had ignored him, but answered to this random girl?

Were they close? 

A wave of jealousy, sharp and unwelcome, tightened in his chest. He didn't understand it. He and Macaque had been separated for so long, and now Macaque was just... bonding with this random girl? 

Monkey King's gaze fell to Lin, then to Macaque, his mind replaying a painful, familiar memory.

This random girl was probably the one, who was touching Macaque's ears, his soft, fluffy fur, and was probably listening to his stupid shadow stories. Monkey King remembered his own whining, "Hurry up, Mac! Get to the fighting part!" or "Just spoil it already, I want to know what happens!" 

He had always been so impatient, so eager for the end. 

He hadn't appreciated the moments. 

The sight of it, the simple trust between them, was a bitter pill to swallow.

And then, Macaque's words finally sank in, and the jealousy was swiftly replaced by a surge of pure outrage. He had been so caught up in his own thoughts that he'd missed the most important part. 

The villagers' plan. 

A vein throbbed in his temple as he slammed his rice bowl down on the table.

"They're trying to sacrifice me?! I'm the one who's supposed to save them! I'm the hero!" He gestured wildly at himself with a thumb. "Do you hear that, Stick?! Me!?"

He puffed out his chest, completely forgetting about the jealousy and focusing on the far more important injustice: someone dared to think he was a sacrificial idiot.

――――――――――――――――

"Ooh, that will impress 'em."

"You know what would impress them more?"

Monkey turned to the voice, Macaque. He narrowed his eyes before grinning arrogantly, "Like what―"

"Pants."

"Do you think the Immortal Ones wear pants?" he scoffed.

He then turned to Stick, who was watching with a deep grumble, and asked in a whisper, "The Immortal Ones don't wear pants, right?"

He scoffed at Stick's reply as he tried to ignore the deep, unsettling hum of Stick, which was, in fact, telling him that Macaque was right.

Monkey then turned to the villagers, "what's in it for my trusty companion?"

The villagers people glanced at the girl then monkey.

"Them?"

"No! My wondrous stick! Duh!" He motioned to Stick.

"What's in it for him?"

――――――――――――――――

Lin and Macaque watch as Monkey fought with the demon, Red Girl, they were both fighting up in the air.

Macaque rolled his eyes, a familiar, exasperated sigh escaping him.

Lin leaned in, her eyes still on the fight. 

"When do you think the Dragon King will get here?"

"Patience, little one," Macaque said with a shrug. "He's probably close. He never misses a grand entrance."

Suddenly, a searing column of fire, meant for the Monkey King, shot past him and plummeted toward Lin. Before she could even gasp, Macaque's hand shot out, grabbing her by the scruff of her collar. He yanked her out of the way just as the flame scorched the ground where she'd been standing.

She dangled in his hold, a surprised "hey!" escaping her lips.

"Careful," Macaque said with a smirk, dangling her slightly. "Wouldn't want you to get killed. You're part of the plan, remember?" he added, his smirk widening as he set her down.

――――――――――――――――

"Please. My name is Lin." 

"I am but a lowly peasant girl from a tiny village, who hopes to make a difference someday!"

Macaque watched, his gaze softened. He remembered when they first met. He turned to Monkey, who stared with blinking eyes.

"I offer my skills as your humble assistant and weapon-bearer." She held her hands together as she bowed. 

"Wow. My own assistant?" Monkey held his staff as he stared at Lin as he put a hand on his chest with a grin.

Was he really considering it? 

"Hard pass."

Macaque turned to him. He narrowed his eyes, of course. 

"This monkey heroes alone."

Monkey scoffed, gesturing to himself with his thumb. "Besides, why would I have a mere mortal helping me? If I were to have an assistant, it would have to be someone... equal to my power." 

He subtly glanced at Macaque, a hint of a challenge in his eyes, as if daring him to offer himself. 

Hah, imagine that! he thought, before turning away, his grin widening.

Macaque noticed the glance, his eyes narrowing in annoyance. He watched as Lin's face fell, a soft "oh" escaping her lips.

He walked over to her, his tail uncurling and gently wrapping around her leg. She looked down at him, her spirits lifting a little.

"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.

This follows the tragic tale of a legendary warrior and how those who bring light into this world inevitably bring darkness to those who they hold dear.

Like light, heroes bring warmth, hope, and friendship. But they also bring life to the darkness.

The hero and the warrior were like the Sun and the Moon. Their light, a protective glow, shining upon the world. Together, there was nothing that could stop the two of them. 

Either in the Celestial Realms or on Earth. As time went on, the hero attained power beyond comprehension. As the hero's light grew, so too did his shadow. 

And soon, the warrior was cast in that shadow. 

In the darkness, the warrior was forgotten by the hero.

      The Six Eared Macaque 

             Liuer Mihou

"Take it from me, as an expert on what happens when you get too close to the King. Look out for number one, because if you don't, no one will."

•Macaque's six ears are incredibly sensitive. He kept them mostly hidden for centuries, instinctively tucking them away, until Lin, with her genuine curiosity, called them "beautiful" and touched them with such delicate awe. It was the first time in a very long time someone had reacted with anything but fear or disgust.

•Despite his quiet demeanor, Macaque absolutely revels in being dramatic. He loves grand entrances from the shadows, striking poses, and delivering cutting remarks with a theatrical flourish. He considers monkey king's constant antics to be terribly crude and lacking in true style.

•He occasionally performs these little shadow plays for Lin, especially when they're trying to pass time. He used to do them for monkey king in the past, who, would either whine a "Hurry up, Mac! Get to the fighting part!" or loudly trying to predict the ending, or just spoiling the whole thing.

•Macaque is meticulous about his appearance, especially his fur and, of course, his sensitive ears. He spends a surprising amount of time grooming, ensuring every strand is in place. He uses specific, subtle oils to keep his fur sleek. He'd never admit it, but he judges monkey king's perpetually messy mane.