Stitching A Broken Heart

Chapter 39

"Hold still MK, I'm almost done" Tang said combing the teens spikey hair down to make it look neat for todays special event "I'm sorry, I can't help it, I'm just so excited that the Mayor is going to thank me for saving the city!" MK said bouncing up and down from his seat "and, done!" Tang said placing the comb down proud of his work "good now C'mon, Sandy, Mei, and Macaque are waiting for us" Pigsy said and the three headed out the house and towards the festival

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At the festival Macaque ears twitched as he tries to listen for his son under his disguise "anything?" Mei asked the tanned simian "they're almost here" Macaque said looking back at the dragon girl, then the crowd began to cheer making Macaque wince at the loud noise around him. The crowd went quiet, as the Mayor cleared his throat over the microphone "Thank you for this amazing turnout!~ It's an honor to give the city's very own protector, Monkie Kid, such a high honor! Can our fine city's hero, please come up to receive his award?" The Mayor said with a big smile, the crowd roared once again, as MK walked up onto the stage, and Macaque chuckled and waved at his son who waved back with a smile. Though...something was off about that Mayor, his whole demeanor and mannerisms creeped Macaque out, the way he never seemed to blink....or breathe for that matter! Perhaps it was just the noise that was affecting his hearing but.... the tanned monkey still couldn't help be be nervous about the strange man on stage

Once MK got up next to the man's side, the older male pull out a key that made the tanned simian eyes widened 'no it can't be, it's not possible...how in the world?' Macaque thought looking at the key "as Mayor, I hereby give Monkie Kid the key to our fair city!" The Mayor said handing the Skelton Key to the teen his eyes flashing blue for a second, the Mayor then whispered something into the teens ear and Macaque tried to hear what the Mayor was saying but suddenly felt a pang of pain from his head making him wince in pain 'something's not right?' Macaque thought as the Mayor continued his speech

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"Congratulations kid, I'm proud of ya' " Pigsy said ruffling MK's neatly done hair, messing it back up to its usual style "Yeah MK! You totally deserve that key! You the Monkey Man!" Mei said slinging an arm around her friend's shoulders, taking a few pictures with him "oh my baby's growing up so fast!" Tang said hugging his son "way to go little buddy!" Sandy cheered happily "Aw, thanks guys," MK rubbed the back of his head bashfully "You did great cub, though I am wondering what did the Mayor whispered to you?" Macaque said fixing the teens messy hair "well, the Mayor said that this was a magical key that it has the power to open any door in the city and that I can do whatever I like today" MK said looking at the key in his hands "that's not the slightest bit sketchy" Pigsy said sarcastically but Macaque hummed and placed a hand under his chin "C'mon MK, let's celebrate more at the festival!" The dragon girl said and drags MK further into the festival with the others following behind. The rest of the day, the group had wandered around the festival grounds, sampling snacks, and playing games at the booths

While the others were enjoying the festival MK notice a familiar red hair perked up in a ponytail behind one of the booths 'Red Son' MK thought seeing his friend/cousin and while everyone wasn't looking he sneaks away from the group and towards the fire demon "Red Son!" MK said tackling the fire demon into a hug "Xiaotian" Red Son said hugging the teen back "what are you doing here?" MK asked smiling at his friend "I-I was actually looking for you, and hoping that we could spend the day together" Red Son said looking away while scratching the back of his head, MK gasped and smiled brightly "of course I would love to hang out with you, I even know a great ice cream shop nearby" MK said smiling at his friend, Red Son blushed a little but quickly shook it away "well, let's get going, we don't have all day" Red Son said taking the teens hand and lead the teen away from the festival

As the two teens entered the ice cream shop the fire demon stared at the many different flavors in awe "so what flavor are you picking, I'm choosing cookies and cream" MK said looking at the menu board. The fire demon stared at the board then back to his friend "I believe I will have the same as well" Red Son said looking back at the board, soon the two walked out with two triple scooped cookies and cream ice cream "so how have you been doing?" MK asked licking his I've cream "I'm doing well, how about you?" Red Son said taking a bite of his ice cream since it was starting to melt "that's great, how about Āyí, how is she doing?" MK asked knowing that he hasn't seen his Aunt in forever. Red Son's eyes widened at the mention of his mother "well...mother is doing fine, she and father are still planning to destroy you" Red Son said taking another bite of the ice cream

MK looked at his friend in surprise "you didn't tell them about that I'm actually Xiaotian" MK said raising an eyebrow "well I've tried, but they're so focuse on destroying you and father has been acting...strange, hearing things, and becoming more demanding and angry it's....terrifying" Red Son said clutching his fist so MK wouldn't see his hand shaking. MK looked at his friend in shock then down at his ice cream in sadness "I'm sorry...that I've been a bother to your parents" MK said looking at his ice cream in sadness, Red Son looked at his friend in worry, quickly eats his ice cream, wincing from the brain freeze, and hugged the teen " it's not your fault, if anything if I haven't known who you really are I would be chasing you around the city with an army of bull clones, and you along with your friends would be defeating me" Red Son said hugging MK, the teen couldn't help but laugh "Yeah, we would still be enemies...instead of friends" MK said hugging back being careful not to spill his ice cream the moment would've lasted longer until

"MK!!!!" Mei's shout echoed in the air startling the two teens "I better go" MK said looking at the direction the shout was coming from "Yes...farewell Xiaotian, I hope we could hang out again sometime" Red Son said smiling "Yeah me too, bye" MK said and left. The fire demon watch as the teen leaves before frowning as he stares at the Skelton Key in his hand that he took from his friends pocket from the hug, Red Son let out a sigh and clenched the key tightly in his hand 'Xiaotian...forgive me' Red Son thought before he fire teleports out of there

"Hey guys!" MK called out as he makes it to the group "there you are, where have you been?" Mei asked as the teen made it to the group "I was at the new ice cream shop" MK said smiling as he ate the cone of his finished ice cream "without us, my own best friend, that i knew from first grade, went and got ice cream, I feel so betrayed!" The dragon girl said dramatically, MK chuckled "did Ma taught you that" the teen said looking at his ma "maybe, maybe not" Macaque said looking away while smirking, MK chuckled and placed his hands in his pocket, but his smile went away when he felt something different in his pockets "huh?" MK said checking his pockets again "is everything alright?" Tang asked seeing his sons worried face "the key....it's not in my pockets" MK said checking his pants pockets "What?!" The group said and Macaque eyes widened "but I swear I put it in my pocket, I couldn't have lost it already!" MK said starting to panic, but Macaque quickly calmed him down "it's okay cub, we'll help you find it" Macaque said, MK nodded and the group began to look for the key 'I don't get it, I put the key in my pocket how could..' MK paused for a moment and looked at the sky 'Red Son?' MK thought in disbelief