Book 3: Heart Strings

Chapter 18: The Great King of the Monkeys

Turning Tides

Chapter 18

The Great King of the Monkeys

Jade was nervous that was for sure. Having stepped off Sandy's boat she wished she had someone with her that she knew well. She looked back and forth between the trees, each one seemed to have monkeys in them watching her as she walked along the shore into the jungle.

As she neared the village she realized one thing, the monkeys seemed to be worse for wear. Some had burn marks, others had wounds bandaged. She watched as one limped past clutching a baby to her, being helped by a male who stopped to nuzzle her.

"What happened?" She mused to herself as she realized she had been steered by the monkeys into what looked like a throne area. She looked at the throne covered in tiger skins. She didn't too much like that actually, the killing of animals just for their skin was brutal and totally barbaric.

She looked at the occupant fully expecting Wukong, but she realized that it was a young boy.

"Am I to assume you are Prince MK, the one who will accompany me on my journey?" She asked, looking at a female monkey not too far off with the same markings as Wukong. Yet she seemed fairly young.

"Wrong! You are beholding the new King of the monkeys! This is King MK, he who will protect the monkeys!" Yomi said allowed and watched as the other monkeys cheered.

"I see, so does that mean Master Wukong is..."

"Dead?" There was a laugh from above. Jade looked up at Wukong who sat on a branch eating peaches.

"Oh, thank goodness. I'd hate to leave on this journey under a sour note." She felt something jump on her shoulder. She turned to look up at Tao.

"Someone killing Yeye? No way." He chittered as he laughed jumping onto his dads shoulder. "He's immortal right dad?" Tao asked, picking up a small stick and scratching his back with it.

"Please, the thought itself is laughable." Macaque winked at Wukong who jumped down.

"Where is he!" Jade was pushed aside by a male demon with red hair. He was panting and looked in a sheer panic. "MK! Are you alright? Did you fight him? You won! How did it go? Oh mothers coming..."

"I'm alright Red, it was a mutual hand off, no fighting was done. Also...why?" Princess Iron Fan never came into the island without permission. At least he had never seen her do so.

"King MK...the name suits you." The molten satin voice of Princess Iron Fan overtook the crowd's murmurs.

"Good afternoon, Princess Iron Fan. I hope I find you well." MK sat down on the throne and watched as Red Son stood beside him. Much like he saw Princess Iron Fan with Demon Bull King in the past.

"As well as to be expected, Especially now that your training has ended, you two can finally be wed. I will begin preparations and you both can marry by the end of the week." she didn't wait for an affirmation, an answer, or even a hey wait a second.

Red Son's face had turned red and he turned to look at MK.

"I guess we'll be busy huh?"

"Red theirs a problem..." Red Son's face turned blood red and smoke began to come out of his nose. MK kissed his forehead trying to defuse him.

"This is Tripitaka." He motioned to Jade who was still standing patiently. "She's going to be taking the newly remastered scrolls west. She needs my help as her father needed Wukong." Red remembered the fabled journey to the west and closed his eyes. The scares that littered his body were obtained during his foolish childhood temper tantrums during.

"Yes, I understand, so you must go as well?" He looked at MK. MK nodded and sighed.

"Will you wait for me?"

"Oh hell no! You will leave within a week's time, after our wedding and we'll just have our honeymoon during." Red Son said looking at the woman who just giggled into her hand.

"I understand, Prince Master Bull."

"King Master Bull, in a week." MK whispered to Red Son as the people began to disburse. Yup, there would be no sleep tonight.