The Two Kings

Monkie Kid : A Hero Is Born (pt.2)

It was dark, and it was warm. Those two things don't usually go together, but they did this time. Parker tried to open his eyes and almost did, until he caught sight of MK's thick hair obscuring his view. Wait, MK! 

Parker shot upright and looked at his lap, where MK lay unconscious on top of him. Parker shivered the boy awake and began to make sense of what was happening. They were lying on a beach at the base of a huge mountain. A giant forest enveloped the mountain and small little monkeys were huddled together observing the two boys.

"Hello." Parker waved at the monkeys, they started to screech and chatter amongst themselves because the next thing he knew was that they all quickly jumped on top of him with big smiles and dopey grins on their faces. "Woah! Hello to you as well!"

"Woah! Flower Fruit Mountain!" MK suddenly exclaimed, scaring Parker and the poor monkey babies. 

"MK, hold on. We don't know where we're going!" He protested as two baby monkeys started digging through his hair whilst a third climbed onto his back. 

"Yeah we do! In Journey to the West, it said Monkey King lived behind a waterfall on Flower Fruit Mountain! So we're going to find a waterfall!" MK exclaimed, taking Parker's hand in his. "You coming?"

Even though it was merely a simple hand hold, Parker couldn't help the blush that formed on his cheeks. "Yeah, yeah. I'm coming. Lead the way." 

 ╚══ ❀•°❀°•❀ ══╝

"Stupid MK. Stupid Princess Iron Fan. Stupid tall mountain. What'd I do to deserve this?!" Parker complained, practically dragging himself up the mountain. MK, on the other hand, was much more cheery and relaxed about climbing up a thousand feet. 

Meanwhile, MK was practically skipping up the mountain, a stark contrast to Parker's misery. It was like he was on some leisurely hike, enjoying the scenery, without a care in the world, "C'mon, Parker. We're close, I know it!" he called back, flashing a grin and a thumbs-up with the optimism of someone on a Sunday stroll rather than a grueling mountain climb.

Parker rolled his eyes. "You said that half an hour ago, MK! Half an hour! And do you even have a clue where this magical waterfall is supposed to be? I mean, a real clue?"

MK paused, scratching his head with a laugh that was more nerves than amusement. "Well, it's kinda...um..." He gestured vaguely in every direction like he was trying to conjure the waterfall's location out of thin air. "Somewhere around...that way, I think?"

"Oh, fantastic! We're lost! Completely and utterly lost! I knew we should've listened to those monkeys back there and taken a left turn." Parker's voice was tinged with exasperation and a hint of 'I told you so.'

"I don't even speak monkey! How do you even know what they're saying?!" 

"Don't ask me! Ask the monkeys!"

"What does that even mean?!" 

Parker threw his hands up in the air. "All I know is, I'm about ready to bet my last, imaginary, dime that this waterfall is just a figment of your overly optimistic imagination—Oh, hold up... there it is." His rant cut off abruptly as his gaze followed past MK to something spectacular in the distance.

MK spun around, and there it was: a breathtaking waterfall cascading into a crystal-clear pond, the sunlight catching the spray and creating rainbows. It was a scene straight out of a dream.

"Ha! See?! I told you it was close by! We made it!" MK couldn't help but gloat, a wide smile spreading across his face.

Parker just shook his head, a small smirk tugging at his lips despite his earlier frustration. "You're saying that like I wasn't the one who actually spotted it," he pointed out, unable to let MK take all the credit.