Secrets of the Golden Sea

Shadow play

"I'm so excited! I haven't been to the movies in ages!" Mk happily exclaimed.

"Uh kid, this ain't a cinema." Pigsy said in confusion.

"It's a shadow play, with puppets?" Tang finished, staring at Mk with a raised brow.

"What puppets? No, I thought we were seeing kung fu Monkey Cops the movie!" Mk took out a poster that he apparently had.

"Did you check the back?" Mei asked. Looking at the back of the poster he saw the shadow play.

"Aww! Oh Mei isn't that the guy who gave us the weird key?" Mei looked at who Mk was talking about.

"You mean that weird key that could open anything?" Jingshen decided to join in, also looking at the dude.

"He looks raggedy."

"I'm also pretty sure that he's not the Mayer!" Not the Mayer waved at them, saying hello.

"Well that's not creepy at all." Tang said, raising his brow once more.

"Point is, whatever we're watching, you've earn a break, kid!"

"Yeah, you have been training super hard! I can't remember the last time we've all hung out together!" She sighed patting Mk on the shoulder. "I've missed this."

"What're you talking about? We hang out all the time!" Mk recalled, questioning Mei. Jingshen sat cross legged next to Mei.

"Nuh uh girlfriend! It's always Monkey King this or creepy skeleton thing that, with you recently!" Mei frowned, narrowing her eyes.

"Yeah, and just yesterday you blew off checkers night cause you had to study! Study what might I ask?" Jingshen rolled his eyes as Tang chucked the checkers he had for some reason, at Mk's face.

"And it's always just Mei who goes to the arcade now."

"Okay, okay, I get it...it's just Monkey Kjng said—" He trailed off. Remembering the Lady Bone Demon. And her words. "I just...I need to be ready."

"Ready for what." Pigsy asked, staring at Mk. What did he need to be ready for? The lights darkened as Tang told everybody to quiet down. The play was about to begin. Whispering, the sound of whispers as shadows fluttered across the room could be heard. That's odd, he thought. That's not how shadows worked. A puppet fell down on the stage, turning its head towards them.

"Welcome viewers, to a shadow play the likes of have never been seen." The puppeteer said, revealing himself. "Defies a magic tale of a legendary warrior! And how those who bring light into the world inevitably bring darkness to those they hold dear." Jingshen tilted his head. He could have sworn he heard that voice before...he didn't even notice when Mk left to go get snacks. "Like light, hero's bring warmth, hope, and friendship. But they also give life to darkness!" The lantern the strange man was holding became unbearably bright. He covered his eyes.

"I thought this was a shadow—" They vanished, all of them going into the lantern as it stole their shadows.

•••

"Umm, just a fizz whizz, jelly babies, a large sweet popcorn, milk drops, and an extra large soda gulp!" Mk exuberantly said to the snack lady. She rolled her eyes, apparently annoyed at him and went off to go get his snacks. He heard something, the sound that Monkey King always makes when he appears. Sounds like bells dinging. He runs outside, searching the area.
"Monkey King! Monkey King you're—" Nobody was there. "Not here."

•••

"Sorry, sorry, sorry! Where's that seat?" He looked for his friends, falling into his seat as he did so. "Haha! Got back just in time!" He handed Mei her drink. "And here's that drink you asked for Mei!" It fell to the ground, spilling. "Uh Mei? Guys? Where'd they—did you get bored or?" They were gone. "Wow so sparkly!" He said, gazing upon the shining lantern.