The Jade Warrior

Two Teachers

Y/n moved through the city with a purpose, his gleaming armor catching the fading sunlight as he spun the glaive effortlessly in his hand. His strides were measured, precise, his mind calculating the quickest route to locate MK’s clones and eliminate the threat before it escalated.

He wasn’t concerned about MK’s physical well-being- after all, the boy had the Monkey King’s protection, if not his own. But the potential chaos caused by unchecked clones spreading through the city... that was something Y/n couldn’t afford to ignore. Efficiency dictated that the problem be neutralized before Wukong’s unpredictable nature complicated matters.

*Meanwhile, back at the temple*

Wukong was lounging, tossing the peach Y/n had given him up and down lazily, the pit of another half-eaten peach still on the floor. He watched the door where Y/n had just exited and grinned to himself.

"Y/n’s always so serious," he mused aloud. "Bet MK’s gonna be fine." He took a bite of the peach, his tail flicking lazily. "But... I probably should check in. If nothing else, to see Y/n get all worked up about MK’s clones."

With a quick flip, Wukong stood up, the peach pit discarded as he stretched lazily. He glanced toward the distant city where MK and his clones had been sent off to. "Besides, it’s been a while since I had some real fun."

Wukong’s form shimmered, and with a burst of cloud and energy, he was gone, racing toward the city with a grin on his face, ready to throw himself into whatever chaos awaited.

*Timeskip*

MK was running, or at least his clones were. The city seemed much larger with multiple versions of himself running around, trying to keep up with all the tasks he’d assigned them. Yet, despite the extra help, everything felt... heavier. Every time a clone completed a task, MK felt a strange weight settle over him, like a piece of his energy was being siphoned away with every action they took.

He stumbled into an alley, breathing heavily. "Okay... this... is harder than I thought," he panted, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Why didn’t anyone warn me that being everywhere at once is this exhausting?"

Just then, a shadow loomed over him, and MK looked up to see Y/n standing silently, his glaive at the ready, the glowing eyes of his helmet fixed on MK.

"Uh... Y/n? Wh-what are you doing here?" MK stammered, trying to gather his energy.

Y/n’s voice was cold and measured as always. "You are overextending. It is time to correct the imbalance." He raised his glaive, and for a brief moment, MK thought Y/n might actually be aiming for him.

Suddenly, with a swift motion, Y/n slashed through the air. MK flinched, only to realize that Y/n hadn’t hit him but rather one of his clones, who had just rounded the corner. The clone evaporated in a puff of golden light.

"Your clones are weakening you," Y/n stated bluntly. "If left unchecked, you will collapse entirely."

MK scrambled to his feet, still panting. "But... but I need them! I can’t keep up with everything on my own."

Y/n turned to face him fully, lowering his glaive slightly. "Learn to manage your limitations. You are not the Monkey King. Your knowledge is finite."

Before MK could argue, another blur shot down from the sky, landing between them with a dramatic flourish. Wukong popped up, grinning widely. "Whoa, whoa! What’s with the serious faces, huh?" he said, looking between MK and Y/n. "Y/n, you’re not gonna break my kid, are you?"

Y/n straightened, his expression unreadable beneath the helmet. "Correction is necessary."

MK stared between them, catching his breath. "I... I just wanted to help my friends."

Wukong ruffled MK’s hair playfully. "Yeah, kid, but even heroes need a break sometimes. You can’t be everywhere all at once, not even with clones. Trust me, I learned that the hard way a loooong time ago."

Y/n remained silent, watching the two of them before finally turning. "I have eliminated the excess clones. You will feel better soon."

MK blinked, feeling a strange lightness returning to him as Y/n’s words sank in. "Wait... you destroyed them all already? YOU DIDN'T EVEN MOVE!?"

"Efficiency," Y/n said simply as he began walking away. "Do not strain yourself further."

Wukong laughed, slapping MK on the back. "See? He’s got your back too, kid. Let’s head back to Pigsy’s and get some noodles. After that, no more clones for a while, okay?"

MK nodded, smiling weakly. "Yeah... I guess I’ve learned my lesson."

As they made their way back, MK glanced at Y/n’s retreating figure. "You know, for a guy who talks about efficiency all the time... I think Y/n cares more than he lets on."

Wukong chuckled. "Yeah...."

"Are you coming or not, you must be repaired and fixed so a incident like this won't happen again" Y/n said as the three of them head to Pigsy’s Noodles. A smile going over the two's face.

"I could really go for some peaches" Wukong said before hopping onto Y/n's shoulder, a grunt exiting the warrior as he continues forward.

"You didn't stay put, therfore you do not get any peaches" Y/n clarifys as he marches forward, MK now hopping onto Y/n's other shoulder.

Y/n sighed, his steps steady despite the added weight of both Wukong and MK perched on his shoulders. He could feel Wukong’s tail swishing behind him and MK’s feet dangling as they relaxed, their earlier exhaustion now replaced by a sense of ease.

"You two are like children," Y/n muttered under his breath, but neither Wukong nor MK seemed to care.

"Hey, it’s a privilege to sit on the shoulders of a great warrior," Wukong teased, his mischievous grin evident in his tone.

MK laughed, finally catching his breath. "Yeah, Y/n, it’s not every day we get to see you in action. That clone thing... how did you destroy them so fast?"

"Discipline," Y/n replied simply. "And focus. Two things you lack."

"Harsh!" MK said, though he couldn’t argue. He slumped a little, feeling the lightness from his clones’ disappearance settle in fully. It was like his energy had returned in full, but he still felt the weight of what Wukong and Y/n were trying to teach him.

Y/n, ever the serious one, didn’t slow his pace as they neared Pigsy’s Noodles. "Remember what I said about your limits, MK. You’re strong, but strength without control is nothing more than recklessness."

MK nodded, a little more serious now. "I know... I just want to do my best."

"And you will," Wukong added, giving him a thumbs-up. "Just, you know, one step at a time. No need to rush into the big hero stuff all at once."

As they reached the familiar entrance of Pigsy’s, Y/n shifted his shoulders, signaling for the two to get down. "I don’t intend to carry you all the way inside."

MK and Wukong hopped off, both laughing as they landed lightly on their feet. The door to Pigsy’s swung open, and the warm, savory scent of noodles filled the air.

"Ah, there’s nothing better than Pigsy’s noodles after a long day," MK said, his stomach growling.

Y/n, however, remained at the door, his gaze shifting slightly as if already calculating his next move. "I’ll ensure the area is secure."

Wukong rolled his eyes and grabbed Y/n’s arm, pulling him inside. "Not yet, you’re not. First, you’re going to eat with us. Otherwise your probably going to make MK drive all the way to our home again"

Y/n hesitated but allowed himself to be pulled inside. For a moment, just a brief one, he let his guard down, knowing that at least for now, the chaos had been contained. But in the back of his mind, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this was wrong.

As they sat down to eat, MK leaned over to Y/n, a grin spreading across his face. "You know, for someone who was against the monkey king, I have to say it's nice that your..... nice."

Y/n didn’t respond. He picked up his chopsticks and dug into the bowl of noodles, knowing that soon enough, there would be another battle, another threat to manage. A sigh exiting the warrior as he looks around at the group.

"Our home?"