At the top of the Mountain of Flowers and Fruits, the afternoon sun positioned itself at the peak like a king, while the passing clouds dared not to pass in front of that huge exuberant fire star. At the summit of that place, there was a peculiar scene: among the rocks, there was a small cracked rock. To an ordinary person, that might seem just part of the natural scenery, but those who knew the history of that world knew... There was the birthplace of Sun Wukong, and also of a boy named MK.
In that same place, the said boy was standing, staring at the rock that bore him, with a tired expression on his face. The truth was that MK had a troubled relationship with his own birth, not even knowing who he was completely, even though not long ago he dreamed of being who he is today. The young man let out a sad sigh, enough to catch the attention of sensitive ears. Before MK could blink, a somewhat purple shadow appeared in front of him.
💬 _— Any problem, Kid?_
The hoarse voice echoed through the space, making MK take a brief leap back, before noticing that it was his non-mentor, Macaque, who, as always, loved to lurk in other people's shadows.
💬 _— Y-You have to stop appearing like that!!!_
The young boy waved his hands in a failed attempt to show his frustration at being startled.
💬 _— Haha! Maybe, But hey buddy, what's wrong, you seem... Sad? _
The black-furred monkey says, changing his nonchalant expression to something slightly concerned. Obviously, as is typical of him, he did not display his emotions openly.
💬 _— It's nothing...I was just thinking. _
Sun Wukong's apprentice faces the rock again, with a subtle look, trying not to think so much.
💬 _— Is this serious? Pass the page friend, I thought I had already overcome this. _
The monkey narrows its golden eyes, looking at MK's face. After so many adventures, was the boy still insecure about himself?
💬 _— You wouldn't understand! It's not like you came out of nowhere with a purpose that you had to follow to the letter, you can create your own destiny. _
Monkie Kid stated rudely. Mental fatigue often made him act rudely towards those he was close to. However, upon seeing Macaque's saddened expression, he soon calmed down and whispered "I'm sorry" in embarrassment.
💬 _- Maybe yes..._
Macaque sighed, looking back to where the specific rock was. He turned completely and walked to it with slow and delicate steps, stretching his body before kneeling to observe the rock up close.
💬 _- Maybe not._
He smiled in a simple way, as if he had made a masterful move, as if he had revealed the greatest secret of all.
💬 _- I am just like you...and like that smelly one._
MK wondered, already realizing the meaning of Macaque's words. How could Macaque be just like him? Or just like Wukong? Even though MK had never questioned the origin of Macaque, discovering that he appeared in the world in the same way as master and apprentice was a shock to a mind as slow as his. Everything around became dark and purple shadows appeared in the place. MK had seen this before, in Macaque's shadow theater, and just by remembering that moment, he shivered completely. Bad times. Where the sacred rock had been, now there was a shadow of it, while Macaque began to talk about everything that had happened in the theater. Then the rock broke, and a six-eared monkey appeared. MK was amazed by all of this and began to ask Macaque a lot of questions as the shadow theater dissipated.
💬 _- Wow...WOW!!!SO THAT'S WHY YOU AND WUKONG ARE ALIKE! Wait, are you older or younger than him...are you older than me? Haha, obviously yes right? Wait wait, so were you also created by Nuwa? wow, that blew my mind, how about this, let's have a big celebrating all of this!_
Macaque laughs with the other's excitement, escorting MK away from there, just giving one last glance to the rock.
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The sky was almost entirely tinged with shades of orange mixed with pink, its colors reflected in the water surrounding the great Mountain of Flowers and Fruits. Everything was calm and peaceful. The small monkeys kept themselves in groups, busy with their daily activities, such as the meticulous search for lice on each other. Suddenly, a loud noise echoed throughout the forest, scaring the small primates who fled in all directions, confused about what was happening.
Inside the mountain dwelled an unusual creature: a monkey that walked and talked almost like a human being. He was surrounded by mini-monkeys that seemed to alert him to the imminent danger of the noise. This larger creature called himself the King, known to the other monkeys as Monkey King or, as he preferred, Sun Wukong - which literally meant "Awakened Monkey of Nothing", anticipating his origins.
💬 _— Noise? What are you gu-_
Before he could complete his sentence, Sun Wukong heard the terrifying noise again. Slightly scared, he looked to the top of the mountain, confused by the sudden glow that disappeared quickly. The Monkey King jumped out of the cave where he lived and leaped through the trees, determined to investigate the source of that strange commotion.
As he approached, Sun Wukong hid in the treetops to observe the cause of the noise. Below him, he saw another monkey, similar to him, but with some noticeable differences, such as black fur instead of red and, surprisingly, three ears. This seemed very strange.
Sun Wukong narrowed his eyes, suspicious but very curious. The black monkey seemed to be as confused as he was. The unknown primate struggled to get up from the arid ground, his eyes enchanted with everything around him, as if it were the first time he had seen that world. At that moment, Wukong remembered how he felt when he appeared in that place, similar to how that monkey was now, with the small difference that he fell from the mountain by accident. But that was not relevant now.
The Monkey King pondered for a moment before leaping down from the trees, stopping in front of the black primate, who was quite startled and jumped back, clearly suspicious.
💬 _— HELLO GREAT PRIMATE COLLEAGUE! I am...THE MONKEY KING!!!THE GREAT SAGE!THE MAGNIFICENT AND BRILLIANT, Sun Wukong._
Wukong tried to be "gentle," but all he received in return were aggressive growls, demonstrating the fear of the unknown.
💬 _— You’re not very sociable, huh._
Sun Wukong frowned, indignant. Who did that monkey think he was to be so rude? But then, who exactly was he?
💬 _— What is your name?_
💬 _— urrú! urru-rá!_
💬 _— You don't understand what I'm saying, do you? Well, never mind, it's more than obvious that you are just like me, and being like me, it's only fair that I give you a name, right?_
The black-furred animal made strange sounds, but somehow Sun Wukong could understand perfectly.
💬 _— Well...you are a monkey, a six-eared monkey....BINGO! Six-Eared Monkey, that's your name from now on._
Thinking himself a master of names, Wukong extended his hands with a smile to his new friend, who for reasons unknown even to himself, hesitantly took the Monkey King's hand. Shortly thereafter, he was pulled by Wukong to follow a trail that would lead them to the lower part of the island.
💬 _— Come six-eared monkey, I will take care of you, after all, we're friends now!_
