The Two Kings

This is the End!

The Monkey Kids had ventured miles west of Megapolis, into the arid expanse of the desert. Their makeshift training grounds sprawled beneath the glaring sun, with the Dronecopter hovering above like an eager spectator.

Pigsy was busy at the grill, the scent of sizzling food wafting through the air, while Sandy tried (and failed) to coach Tang through some basic weightlifting. Tang groaned dramatically as the five-pound weight rolled off his foot and onto the steel floor.

Mei, however, was at the edge of the Dronecopter, her excitement boundless. Waving a red-and-orange flag, she cheered so loudly it could probably be heard in the city. "Let's go! Kick his butt, MK! Parker, don't go easy on him! Whoo!!"

Below her, the desert sands were alive with flashes of elemental power. A crack of lightning split the air, followed by a burst of fire that rippled across the dunes. MK and Parker were locked in an intense yet playful sparring match, their figures glowing with their respective colors—MK's golden hue contrasting Parker's ruby-red aura.

Hovering high above the ground, Parker grinned mischievously, his ruby eyes shimmering with energy. With a dramatic flair, he raised his hand skyward, summoning a jagged streak of lightning from the clear blue sky. The bolt crackled in his palm before he hurled it toward MK like a thunderous javelin.

MK yelped, shrinking down to the size of a bug just in time to dodge the attack. The lightning struck the sand, leaving a glassy crater in its wake. MK popped back up a few feet away, tumbling and rolling until he disappeared behind a sand dune.  

"Ha! Missed me!" MK called, his voice echoing from somewhere behind the dune.  

Parker rolled his eyes, already moving toward MK's hiding spot. "You're gonna have to do better than that, noodle boy!"  

MK peeked cautiously over the top of the dune, his head barely visible. From his vantage point, he could just make out Parker's silhouette against the swirling heat waves of the desert. Smirking, he turned to sneak away—only to come face-to-face with Parker standing right there.  

MK screamed, whirling back toward the figure in the distance, then snapping his gaze back to the Parker in front of him. "H-HOW?!"

Parker's grin widened as he rubbed his hands together, tiny sparks crackling between his fingers. "I've been practicing."  

Before MK could react, Parker flicked a spark onto the sand beside him. The spark grew into a swirl of fire and wind, coalescing into a clone of Parker made entirely of ruby-red flames. The fiery clone mirrored Parker's exact outline and posture, its swirling red glow accentuated by deep black shadows and burning ember-like eyes.  

"Cloning!" Parker announced proudly, motioning toward his creation. "Fire clones, to be specific. They're kinda like your hair clones, except mine come with a little... kick." The clone raised its fist, flames licking its knuckles as if to emphasize the point.  

MK's eyes widened, his jaw dropping slightly. "Okay, not fair! When did that become a thing?"  

Parker shrugged nonchalantly, a smug smirk on his face. "It's called multitasking. Now, are we gonna keep training, or are you giving up?"  

"Giving up? Ha! As if!" MK stomped his foot, summoning his staff into his hands. With a determined grin, he shrank down again, dodging around the clone as it lunged for him.  

Parker laughed, hurling a gust of wind to scatter the sand around MK, forcing him to grow back to normal size. "Nice try, but I've got your tricks figured out!"