Shadows and Vines: A Macaque and Reader Story.

The beginning of the end. Or is it?

⚠️This chapter has mentions of blood and possibly fatal injuries. I'll mark the beginning of the section with the warning sign. Skip that section or the chapter completely if you feel uncomfortable with these themes.⚠️

I had sprawled out many maps and plans to defeat Lady Bitch Demon. Macaque was sorta helping, muttering little things like, 'She would see that coming', and, 'No way. That wouldn't work.' Like I said. Very helpful. Wukong was more of a help but kept getting distracted by peach desserts he made. Peach addict monkey...

"Okay, can you two actually be more helpful?" I muttered and gave a stern look at the two. "You're both giving me bullshit things and it's pissing me off."

"Whoa there peaches." Wukong mumbled through a mouthful of... peach.... "You need to relax. The Lady Bone Demon is pretty easy to defeat. All we need to do is pack a few punches together and BAM!" 

Macaque snorted I saw that he had retreated into the shadows again. I scoffed and rolled my eyes.  "You two are insufferable."

"Aww but you love us." Wukong snickered.

I groaned and buried my head in my hands. 

"If you want my input.." Macaque suddenly said from next to me. "The Lady's power fluctuates."

"Meaning... what? No I know what fluctuates means." I roll my eyes when Macaque opens his mouth to explain. "But how does that help us?"

"Oh that's easy." Wukong mumbled as he finished his peach. "We need to strike when her power is at her weakest point." 

Macaque nodded. "Exactly. Her power is weakest when she uses a lot of it."

I tilt my head. "You speak from experience?"

Wukong coughed and looked away and Macaque rolled his eyes. "Yes, actually."

"Put your enemies to lovers quarrel aside and focus, please?" I looked at the map like it could make the other two simians have better brain function.

"Okay, fine. Sorry." Wukong and Macaque muttered. 

I sighed and smiled. "It's fine. Now, how do we get the Bitch Demon to use all her power? Or... a lot of it." I corrected myself.

Wukong smirked. "I think you and I can handle that one, Ryu. We just need to annoy her enough that she uses a lot of power."

"You are good at being annoying." Macaque smiled.

I groan as the two begin to bicker. "Just, how do we be annoying?" I mutter.

"Well Wukong just needs to be himself. But you," Macaque grins and turns to me, the tip of his tail flicking. "You just need to copy what Wukong does for a few days."

"Wukong doesn't seem that annoying to me.." I murmur as the ginger simian chirps and smiles as he eats another peach. "Just very.. peach addicted."

Macaque disappeared into a shadow and then appeared with a plum. He took a bite before he started to talk again. "The Lady still has control over me." He admitted "It's not a lot but if she gets in range of me.. I can quite literally become her puppet. Unless she frees me, with I doubt she will, I'm still under her control." He looked at the half-eaten plum like it held all the answers to his problems.

He turned the purple fruit in his hand. I looked at him and gave him a hug.Macaque let out a little squeak and dropped the plum. Wukong looked over at the two of us and he narrowed his eyes. I buried my face in Macaques chest and the dark furred simian went ridged.

"I'm sorry." I whispered.

"Uh, what for?" Macaque asked hesitantly.

"I'm sorry that you have to be under her control. I'm sorry I called you her whore. I'm really sorry."