Chapter Text
“No! No, please! I’m sorry, I’m so, so sorry, I didn’t mean to!”
A child’s voice echoed throughout the palace as a group of guards marched down the ornate hall.
They approached a set of large doors, two guards slowly pushing them open to reveal the throne room of the Jade Emperor.
The man himself sat upon the throne, a stern look set into his features. He wore long green robes and his aura was intense as the guards dragged in their prisoner.
A tightly bound, small, young monkey in tattered clothing was flung to the floor in front of the emperor, quickly scrambling to his knees to continue pleading.
“Please, mister emperor sir, I was just trying to have some fun, I-”
“Fun?” the ruler spoke, silencing the youth. “You acted recklessly, destroyed property, injured many, and nearly killed half the kingdom! This tirade has gone on long enough.”
The child shook his head, tears falling down his cheeks. “Please, it wasn’t my fault-,”
“I do not permit demons to spout excuses in my presence! You will face punishment and retribution for your misdeeds!”
“Wait!” The monkey went to stand but the guards surrounding him immediately pushed him to the ground, “I-I can do better. I can, I can learn! M-my magic is, is a lot sometimes! Please just give me a chance, I didn’t want to hurt anyone I swear!”
The emperor went to speak again then paused, raising his chin as he studied the monkey’s face, pondering his words. “You want to learn you say?” he finally spoke, gears turning in his head.
“Y-yes?”
Humming thoughtfully, the Jade Emperor turned to one of the guards. “Bring me Advisor Tang San Zang,” he commanded.
The monkey watched the guard run off then looked hopefully back at the emperor. “You’re giving me a chance?”
“Of sorts,” he replied as the guard returned with another man. He was a young man with a shaven head, dressed in gold robes, and had an calm demeanor about him. He bowed to the emperor, “You called my lord?”
“Yes. Do we still have the fillet spell?”
San Zang blinked, taking a moment to glance towards the monkey before he nodded his head. “Of course. The band as well.”
“Perfect.” The emperor nodded once again to some guards and turned to address the prisoner at his feet as they left.
“Sun Wukong. You have committed grievous acts of rebellion that has brought harm to both this kingdom and its people. Your power is wild. You are irresponsible, immature, and unable to properly channel your abilities in a constructive manner. Therefore, as your punishment, you are to stay in the palace under the watch of me and my advisory court. Specifically, under the direction of head advisor Tang San Zang, you will learn to control your abilities for the good of the empire. Until I deem fit, you are not to leave the palace grounds and you are to serve this kingdom as a royal would.”
Wukong shrunk back at his words. “I…I can’t leave?”
The Jade Emperor’s eyes narrowed. “No. You may not,” he stated firmly, the guards returning. “To ensure we have no further complications, we will, unfortunately, be taking…extreme measures.”
“W-what?” is all Wukong managed to get out before two guards grabbed him. Another approached, holding a golden circlet that gleamed innocently.
“What is that? W-why is it extreme? Wait!” Wukong scrabbled against the floor with his feet, fighting as hands lifted him and the guard holding the item stepped forward.
The band was lifted and the guards holding Wukong grabbed his head to stop his thrashing. Carefully, almost gently, it was placed snugly on his head.
Once done, the guards released the monkey who fell to the floor. He strained for a moment, glowing a bright gold before bursting out of the bonds holding him and immediately using his freed hands to grab at the crown.
However, no amount of pulling or pushing would have the object removed. He gave up after a few moments, panting as he knelt, feeling fresh tears welling in his eyes and dripping down his cheeks. The emperor slowly walked forward until he stood in front of the young simian.
“Do not mistake this as an act of forgiveness. The crown owns you and you are to follow orders from your superiors. You will right your wrongs. From now on, you are to serve this kingdom as Prince Sun Wukong.”
–
Twenty years passed after the incident that wrecked half the city of Megapolis. The Celestial Empire is a beacon to the world and recovered quickly. Now, few even remember the destructive event that occured all those years ago.
Instead, the empire is known for its beautiful cities, flavorful cuisine, and impressive artillery, specifically, in recent years, its prince, Sun Wukong. No one is sure where the prince came from, as it was quite obvious from his appearance that there was no relation to the emperor himself. But he quickly became a well-known figure. His powerful abilities allowed him to defeat whole armies and strike down any demon that threatens the people. As an added bonus, his very image strikes fear in the hearts of any kingdom looking to sink their teeth into Celestial.
Despite his fame, outside of the battlefield, the prince is nowhere to be seen, mysteriously stowed away within the walls of the Jade Palace in the empire’s capital city of Megapolis. Theories about the prince often passed as gossip between citizens after the defeat of an army or demon. Some say he is weakened in battle and must return home to recharge. Others think that he despises being in public, attention unwanted as the line of curious eyes wishing to see the prince stretches around the sun and back and royal niceties are renowned for being strenuous. Another popular theory is that the emperor himself is ashamed of the prince and his demonic appearance. A large consensus is that he simply doesn’t wish to socialize with the people, preferring to stay pampered and comfortable in the palace.
Regardless of the gossip, the fact remained that people who knew what Prince Sun Wukong even looked like up close were few and far between. Those that have describe him as a light-haired monkey with golden eyes that seem to pierce through the soul as many say he is able to deduce when someone has even the smallest of negative intent.
In reality, the prince despises the reputation he’s managed to build for himself, and longs for the freedom beyond the palace walls.
A longing unknown to the free spirit with a reputation of their own and who begins this story..
–
The streets of the lower city in Megapolis were quiet in the dead of night. The sky was clear and the moon shone brightly on the streets, casting long shadows that seemed to flicker and wave if one stared too long.
One shadow flickered more than the rest and suddenly a shape pulled away from the darkened wall. A hooded figure stood out from the murky contours, bag slung over their shoulder as they moved quickly.
Hopping onto a wall, they sprung to the rooftops, hood pulling back slightly to reveal three ears on the side of their head. The ears moved with a mind of their own, swiveling constantly before suddenly perking up.
The figure moved faster, hopping from rooftop to rooftop as far in the distance shouts of palace guards could be heard.
The guards went from alley to alley, street to street, searching for the thief but their efforts were in vain. They stood no chance of catching the culprit, his expert movements demonstrating his skill and knowledge of the terrain.
Eventually, the noise of the sentries faded completely and the figure stopped on one roof, standing straight as the moonlight brushed over his face. He threw back his hood, revealing a monkey demon with dark fur and a tan face, a deep red face marking with sharp edges curling upwards around his eyes. A scar went over his right eye and six ears, three on each side of his head, twitched and ruffled in the night air. Macaque grinned back in the direction of where he’d left the guards in the dust.
“Always nice to see them try at least,” he shook his head, adjusting the bag over his shoulder as he walked to the edge of the roof and swung into an open window. Landing silently, he set his bag down and turned to shut the window of his bedroom.
It was a small space above a building that’d been abandoned for years. Most of the houses and buildings in the surrounding area were also abandoned, left unsold for years at the hands of careless sellers. Few held occupants and the ones that did were either the unsavory types taking advantage of the overlooked area or the desolate seeking any form of shelter. Macaque being the latter.
He kicked off his shoes and threw his bag on the bed, flopping onto the mattress with a contented sigh. “Another successful haul,” he mumbled into the blankets, flicking his tail.
A shadowed copy of himself emerged from the bed’s shadow and grabbed the bag, rifling through it. Macaque lifted himself up and leaned back against the pillows, hands behind his head.
“What do we got?” He smirked at the duplicate. It rummaged a bit more before pulling out a bejeweled necklace with a large ruby in its base.
Macaque grabbed it with his tail and held it up to his face for inspection. Satisfied, he set it to the side and gestured with his tail. The duplicate handed him a golden goblet. He tsked and tossed it into the corner of the room where it clunked against a large pile of junk treasure and rolled to the ground. “Trash,” he declared and the two of them continued, going through each stolen item until the bag was empty.
By the end, there was a sizable pile next to Macaque of pricey items that were sure to sell for large amounts. The rest were thrown in the corner, either to reuse or rust since the shadow monkey was typically too lazy to throw any of it out.
He waved a hand and the duplicate he conjured melted away as he leaned back again, holding a diamond-encrusted knife above his head.
It glittered as he tilted and twisted it in the moonlight. He was well aware that the blade would be entirely useless in combat, merely acting as a sparkly toy for the rich to flaunt to their peers in a show of wealth and pretend skill. However, there was no pretending that its monetary value was certainly worth the steal. Though nowadays, Macaque didn’t just steal for money.
Over the years, his skills as a thief, pickpocket, and scoundrel had spread throughout all that lived in Megapolis. He was famous for his use of shadow magic which allowed him to evade capture and being seen by, well anyone. Many even referred to him as The Shadow, a boring moniker but no less fitting. His real identity was still unknown and he intended to keep it that way, anonymity only aiding in his cause as he pillaged and stole from the wealthy upper class.
He did have a few contacts and it was through these that he received the occasional commission or job request. Some were from the worst of the worst, looking to settle a score. Some were from the desperate, looking for a way out of a sticky situation, and willing to pay anything. Macaque accepted most of them, not minding slitting a few throats or causing a few “accidents” for the right price.
The life of a thief was one of action, drama, and prestige and Macaque absolutely thrived in it. Slowly cultivating his reputation over the years until it became his pride and joy, the mere mention of the name The Shadow now left many people looking around in fear as though he were to pop out at any moment.
Bored of observing the knife, he carefully flipped it to grasp at its blade before throwing it at the wall opposite his bed.
It thunked into the wall and the handle wobbled from the force. Macaque sat up and scooped the chosen pile of valuables into the empty bag, setting it down on the nightstand.
Suddenly a chill went through the room and he shivered, immediately looking to the window. It was open a few inches and he frowned, sure it had been closed.
He walked over and slammed it shut before freezing as a whisper breathed down his neck.
“Macaque…”
Slowly, he turned and saw the room beginning to fill with some sort of blue mist, drifting along the walls and floor. More whispers floated through the room and Macaque’s six ears flicked wildly in different directions as he crouched on full alert.
“Who’s there?” he hissed, reaching into the folds of his clothing for his sharpest dagger. He pulled the weapon out and held it ready. Likely, it was some demon sent to kill him on someone else’s orders. He’d had a few of those and while they were fun every now and then, he was not in the mood this late at night.
The clear voice of a man drifted behind his ears again, “Now, now, no need for violence…”
A wind wooshed through the room and spiraled in the middle before dispersing the mist to reveal a man. His eyes had no pupils and his smile was unnaturally wide and unwavering. He wore crisp hanfu robes with dark colors and had a very unsettling air about him.
Macaque dashed towards the intruder, slicing at nothing as the man sidestepped his attack. “Who the fuck are you and what do you think you are doing here?!” Macaque growled.
“Please, calm yourself. I simply wish to talk.” The man continued smiling at him, talking in such a sickly sweet tone that Macaque could practically smell the condescension. “My lady is very interested in your services.”
“Go through my usual channels and get the hell out of my house,” he snapped back, fur bristling with agitation.
“Please,” The man tilted his head and a blue portal swirled to life behind him, “This is an offer to simply die for ah hah, HAHA!” Hysterical laughter followed as the man fell backwards, disappearing through the open portal.
The silence in the room felt deafening as Macaque straightened and stepped closer to the portal. He glared at it, swiping through the thing to try to make it disappear. Why would the guy just leave? Suddenly a wave of suspicion fell over him and he whirled around to see an empty nightstand.
He growled again, furious now, and snatched another of his daggers before jumping through the portal.
It closed behind him with a hiss as soon as he was through. He straightened and looked around the dark space, left ears flicking as the room slowly lit up with blue light. Torches burned with blue fire on the walls to reveal a dark cavern. The decor on the walls looked to have a skeletal theme with accented blue and black colors. At the end of the room, two figures stood waiting for him. The man from his room, still smiling, cheekily held up Macaque’s bag of quality stolen goods. Next to him stood a woman that gave off such an oppressive magical aura that the thief had to take a step back.
She had long black hair pulled half up into a bun and wore a blue and white dress. Her skin was so extremely pale, it was almost white. She opened her eyes and smiled at Macaque and he felt a shudder go through him.
“Liu’er Mihou. The Six Eared Macaque. The Shadow. Welcome to my domain. It is an honor to meet the most renowned outlaw in the city,” Her soft voice flitted around the room, indistinct whispers echoing every word.
“Well you have me at a disadvantage,” Macaque retorted, “I don’t know who the fuck either of you are. What do you want from me?”
The woman held her hands out in apology. “Please, forgive me. I’m sure one such as yourself can relate to having a flair for the dramatic.” She smiled and folded her hands behind her back. “I am the one who is going to bring perfection to this kingdom and eventually the world. Many refer to me as the Lady Bone Demon, but my Lady will suffice for now. I find myself in need of your particular skill set.”
“Why would I do anything for you after you’ve broken into my home and stolen my things?”
“Ah, of course.” She tilted her head in the direction of the man next to her and he tossed the bag in Macaque’s direction. It hit the floor a couple feet in front of him and items splayed out, glittering in the torchlight as the demon spoke again, “Though, that is merely a grain in the sand compared to what I can offer you.”
The shadow monkey paused as he was reaching for the bag. “Oh really?” he scoffed, folding his arms. With a flourish, the Lady pulled a slip of paper out from the folds of her clothes. She blew on the note and a wind carried it across the room into Macaque’s hand.
“Though I don’t believe in the true value of money,” she continued, “In return for your services, I wish to offer you a place in my new world. But I believe that the addition of this initial payment will suffice enough to get your attention.”
Skeptical, Macaque looked down and read the paper before letting out a noise of shock as his eyes widened. With this kind of money, he would never have to steal again. He could buy the entire district he was living in and then some. And this was her initial payment?
“Okay. You’ve caught my interest. What is it, my Lady ?” he asks, his sarcasm evident at her desired moniker.
Unfazed, the Lady began, “As I’m sure you’re aware, despite the wealth and splendor of this empire, there is still so much to be improved upon. Every crack and crevice, every shadowed corner and darkened alley there exists suffering. Imperfection stains the very membrane of our beloved state. I wish to rectify this and create a world that is truly perfect. You could even say I consider this my…destiny.” Her eyes became dreamy as she gazed wistfully at the nearest torch.
“But,” she went on, “In order to follow the path set out for me, I require the power to do so. That is where you come in.”
“You…want my power?” Macaque asked, disgust lacing his tone.
“No. I need you to acquire a power source. In fact, it may very well be the most powerful source of magic in the known world.”
Macaque raised an eyebrow and tilted his head.
“You are aware of the prince of Jade Palace, Sun Wukong?”
The shadow monkey shrugged and nodded. “Yeah sure, everyone knows about him.”
“Do you know of his power?”
At this, he hesitated. “Well, they say he can take out whole armies. Though no one really knows how. You want me to steal his weapon?”
“No my dear,” The Lady smiled.
“He IS the weapon.”