Molten Iresis (FurnaceRedAU)

5- Old Friends Come Around

Macaque gasped as he clawed his way out of death's reach, gagging as ice-cold air was replaced by smog.

He heaved, stumbling to his feet. His legs shook, not accustomed to being alive and moving after such a long time of immobility.

He should really thank the woman who brought him back...

Macaque looked down at the skeleton key and immediately decided that was a terrible idea. She wasn't to be trusted, which meant he needed to hide this somewhere. She was sealed away for a reason, after all.

The shadow user huffed, dropping it into his shadows so it would end up somewhere random. Somewhere even he couldn't guess.

The warrior had died in the battle against The Demon Bull King.

He was battling bull soldiers in the village, and despite his power, they overwhelmed him. Then the tremors began, shaking and bending homes and buildings. In a last effort to destroy what remained of the Bull King's remaining army, he had portaled everyone including himself in a crumbling building, and realized too late that he had exerted his magic.

Then it was dark.

Macaque looked around, annoyed by the bright lights and people.

How long was he gone for? Weeks? Months?

No, his mind disagreed instantly, centuries...

The shadow user shook his head, willing himself to focus. He needed to find Wukong, he was alone! And... and Macaque needed his friend by his side. Just like old times.

He closed his eyes as he portaled to the top of a building, concentrating.

He grinned as he felt a familiar golden magic in the city, immediately teleporting throughout the large area toward his king.

--

MK hummed, sweeping but was rudely disturbed as the door was thrown open.

The boy stopped, looking up with wide eyes as a ragged monkey who resembled his mentor stumbled in. The demon glared up at him feverishly, "...You aren't Wukong." MK slowly shook his head, "Uh, no? Monkey King's my mentor--"

The demon straightened his back, wincing slightly, "Liar. Why do you have his magic?"

MK sighed loudly, "I'm telling you the truth! Look!" He summoned his staff, showing it to the stunned demon, "Wait. Who even are you? How do you know Monkey King? Is he your enemy?" The now dumbfounded demon slowly shook his head, "No, he's my friend."

Pigsy huffed loudly nearby, "Solve this later, he looks like he's about to meet death." MK pouted, gesturing for the demon to come in. The monkey hesitated before sighing, limping toward a stool, "I want answers, child."

MK puffed out his chest, "So do I! First off, who are you?"

"Macaque. The, uh, Six Eared Macaque." The shadow user yelped when a bowl was placed in front of him. Pigsy snorted, "It's food. Eat up, you're skin and bones." Macaque winced, "I don't have money--"

MK sighed, "I'll pay for you. Seriously, you look like you're about to pass out on us."

Macaque blushed in embarrassment, "Well, I kinda... died? So." Tang suddenly made his presence known, leaning back to eye the warrior, "...Did you happen to have been Monkey King's companion in the battle against Demon Bull King and in Journey to the West? Because that seems to be the only times I can recall a monkey demon named Macaque--"

"Yes, that's me." The warrior rolled his eyes, sniffing the food carefully. It didn't seem poisoned, and the kid's heart had held steady the entire time he'd introduced himself as Wukong's successor.