Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

When a legend is born, their story is carried out by others, why? Because maybe they’re too busy being the hero! The myth! The inspiration to everyone who admired them! 

Legends who are unable to carry out their journey may not be a legend at all- but a coward to their own story. 

A story is only told in the way it is meant to be told- but if you could expand the barrier of your own story imagine what you could achieve!!

And that is exactly what he did! 

The Almighty himself! King of the waters! The best pirate in the world! The Monkey King! Great Sage of the sea! 

Once rumored to sail among the Journey herself! That ship had carried him and his crew to many of many victories before them! 

His legends claim his boots still crease the floorboards today, the rope swirls around his sunset bleached tail- and his blistering scarlet coat hangs over his body like drapes over a window that had seen everything that crossed paths with it. 

The infamous matching red hat that binds his head with it, the large peach colored feather with a coarse salmon color clashed the hat curving upon his widow's peak. Sitting neatly upon his fuzzy orange hair, that swoops down his back and near his chin. 

His stories grow in areas that are unbelievable to others who’ve heard it. Some say he bathed in lava upon the mantle core in the center of the earth for 200 years just because someone stole his favorite doo hickey on his belt. 

Others say he shot ten men down in a matter of seconds just because they rested their sweat seamed palm onto his shoulder hoping for a fight. 

And others say he sliced those ten men to ribbons instead. 

But these stories are just rumors spread about the #1 most wanted pirate in the world. The kingdom of heaven is dying to get their hands on him. They don’t even know if he’s still alive to this day, for no one will, ever again.

“Tang— isn’t he immortal?” MK huffed out.

“Well- yes but! He vanished long ago, No one knows his whereabouts and I highly doubt anyone will ever know.” Tang replied hurriedly, closing the large book encased in his grip. 

The two pondered in the small dainty shop, Pigsy’s noodles n’ grub! Fine establishment that MK happened across for hire long ago, and had now been working inside of the shop and lives in the back. It's small but it’s homely, There and near it sat by the fishing docks where all of the cargo ships and boats hauling precious necessities or needs sail off to their awaited destination. 

It all fascinated MK so fast, since childhood, the scrawny little boy messed around the docking area and made friends with the crew mates upon said cargo ships.

If the boy was lucky enough he’d get fish scraps offered by their kindness, not much food or money had gone around in those days, now—

 with Pirate hunting turned legal after the #1 pirate vanished- The kingdom of heaven put a hefty price on his head and thus nearly everyone in their right mind set off on whatever dinky ship they had in their care, would search the grand sea. 

Since he up and left he’s been a myth, and told as stories to children in need of an adventurous tale before bed, one of those kids happened to be MK; once and is wishing to grow up to become just as good of a pirate as that Monkey king! He aspired to be him! And these stories only fueled his drive to that aspiration! 

Tang laughed as he set his book down. 

“It’s funny really- my book of myths is said to entertain children but I really do believe it’s all real just like you MK.” 

Tang couldn’t keep his gaze off of his hands, coursing over the encrusted cover of the book in his lap, he so wished to see any of these myths become reality, desperation caught up to him, and now he tells these stories to MK in pigsy’s shop. 

MK loved the stories he told, not just because he believes them too- in fact MK and Tang are true believers in some eyes, but because he entertained the fact that there could be more to this world with these myths and legends linked in writing. 

MK wanted to believe it. He wanted to know. 

“Alright that’s enough,” Pigsy huffed out as he placed down a bowl of hot noodles in front of the two. 

“I ought to have enough of these fairytales you're teaching the boy Tang!”

Pigsy exclaimed, wiping his hands upon a dirty cloth, nearly smearing grease on his white apron now stained tan, brown spots made their way onto his apron- the thing had seen the kitchen and knew it well.

 Pigsy was not a true believer like them but he did believe in decency and order. There may not be many things he agrees with on part with the kingdom and the fictional pirating, but he keeps order and cleanliness in the world.

 His small little shop is known for it. For its quantity and homely feeling. 

He had his morals and his dilemmas, but his delicious homemade cooking made up for it. He took pride in his art form. Treated his cooking like an heirloom, passed down generations of eye candy to hundreds of hungry sailors or passengers aboard seas, he felt at home near the docks, just like his ancestors- maybe that’s why he took interest in MK. 

Tang shrugged his shoulders in a ridiculous manner, laughing off Pigsy’s words as he slid the bowl near him. 

“Relax Pigsy, to him it’s just a story right MK?” Tang said picking up chopsticks- winking in secrecy. 

MK smiled and nodded, Pigsy slapped the chopsticks out of Tang's hands, and grabbed the bowl himself. 

“I mean it, you can’t be teasing around with this, I don’t want either of you getting hurt because you run around making a mess and believing this stuff, it's dangerous.” 

MK shifted in his seat, it's not like he cared about the cost of his life, he wanted to see things, to see action, but he also did not want to see Pigsy worry about him, his guilt would consume him.

He sighed and shook his head, “yeah yeah, we know Pigsy, but can’t we daydream for today?”

Pigsy stared longingly, holding the bowl carefully this time, and closed his eyes with a grunt. 

“Alright, I apologize, I didn’t mean to ruin your interests with reality, but you’re getting older MK- and you won’t be able to face reality with these silly folk tales taking over your thoughts.”

MK looked down, displaying shame on his face, he did not feel shame, but he made sure Pigsy felt regret in his words for hurting him. 

Pigsy set down the bowl- “please deliver this to the third boating dock, then your shift is over alright kid?”

Pigsy didn’t give MK a time to respond, turning his back to leave mid sentence. 

MK nodded to himself, waving Tang away as he grabbed the bowl and out the door he went. 

He was almost down the street until something startled him from above, a small broken turtle egg shell fell on the ground in front of him. He knew who it was when the sparkling mint green eggshell tilted back and forth on the concrete. 

MK looked up to the presence of his best friend- Mei who coddled a small sea turtle in her hands, as she sat upon a neighboring rooftop. 

She grinned as he glanced around at her. 

“Look who it is!” she exclaimed in a near shout. 

“Hi Mei!” MK replied happily relieved, Mei jumped carefully from her spot, and landed on top of his shoulders, the extra weight shifted his whole body as he had to hurry and balance the delicate noodle cargo before it spilled and ruined his last shift of the day, he did not want to go back to an already frustrated Pigsy, he gulped his worries away when it became perfectly balanced in his care. He let out a sigh of relief before Mei plopped the sea turtle into the soupy noodles. 

MK was struck with horror- “MEI WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” 

Mei laughed, “He was thirsty!” 

She replied with a shrug, he dropped his shoulders and stumbled onto the docks with mei still enjoying her free ride on his shoulders, she stood up and placed her hand upon her forehead to scout, it was her favorite thing to do when propped up on MK’s shoulders. 

MK placed the bowl on the docking pole with a rope tying a ship to the dock, MK took out the sea turtle who was joyfully swimming around in the delicious soup- walking over and gently placing it in the ocean as it swam away using all its strength for it was just a little baby. 

“When are you going to start leaving baby turtles alone to crawl to the ocean themselves?” MK asked Mei who was still in her little scouting world. 

“When pigs fly.” she mocked- “well when Pigsy hears about this i'm sure you’ll stop.” Mei laughed at that remark-

Mei looked over at the boat that the noodles were delivered to- she looked up in awe. 

“MK- you sure this is a cargo boat?” she breathed in, MK nodded as he continued to watch the sea turtle in the water. 

“Yes, why wouldn’t it be?” he asked. 

“Doesn’t look like one- it looks like one from one of your books-” that caught his attention. 

Mk looked over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of a boat he hadn’t paid attention to until now, leaving his mouth agape. 

What was in front of them was a wooden ship, with carvings of delicate beauty, the ships color was almost acute to the bright yet bitter color of an almond, the ship was smooth with little to no chips or slivers sticking out of the boards holding the ship in almost a curved hug, almost as if it was sanded to perfection. 

There were square windows in a straight line across the sides of the vessel, and a round deep black pipe protruded out of it, with a curved top, they looked neatly rested and had seen action, MK had never seen such pristine canons out in the open like these, he’s seen cannons on ships yes, but not with such care, most of the folks owning cannons left their weapons to rust from the salty sea air, these had seenthat air- tasted it even, but to the naked eye, it looked like they had never seen daylight. 

The flag was rolled up to MK’s disappointment but the ship was candy enough to him, he wanted a look all around this ship, from the outside to the in, however before he could go to the front of the vessel Mei pulled him back, 

“Eh it’s probably some new guys ship, the newbies always have to break her in before they can truly taste the pirate life right? Isn’t that what you always say?” 

She had asked him, but he was mesmerized, the ship seemed so familiar as he watched it bounce neatly in the shallow water alongside the docks. 

He could not figure it out, so he left it alone, only for it to drift in his mind, but as he turned his back and continued away, the soup he left had vanished. 

MK finished drinking the bitter cider Mei fetched for him, she told him about a secret spot she made for herself on the rooftops, it had a clear view of the ocean, and the docks in the distance, when asked of his opinion his face lit up.

“Its a stunning view Mei!” his grin widened as she set down two chairs, 

“Enjoy it for me! I’ll be back in a bit!” 

Where are you headed? He asked, Mei stood up and scratched her head, “running a few errands, Red Son asked me to train with him.” 

MK’s eyebrows jumped in surprise, “sword fighting huh? Have fun!” 

MK gestured with a pretend sword in his hands, waving them around playfully making Mei laugh. 

He settled down in his seat with his cider spilling onto his hand. 

“Don’t be too long!” he finished as she waved him off herself, then left. 

MK watched the sun begin to move down, he took another sip as he watched the sun glaze across the water, the reflection glistened and forced his eyes to wince at it. 

He favored the beauty of the ocean itself, a vast part of the world hardly explored, only bearing water for miles on end. 

He wanted to see it all, in his mind he had been on land for far too long, he wanted to see the rest of the world, like those cannons on that ship.

 The ship crossed his mind again, it was a beauty, something to be admired. He knew he was going to dream about it when he went to bed that night, he got jittery, not only from the sharp winds that crossed his path, but from excitement. He had wondered who the ship really belonged to? He hadn’t even explored the rest of the ship, he felt disappointed for only seeing the right side and the rear, a wave of embarrassment hit him. He groaned and slumped down into his seat as he mumbled to himself. 

“It’s not like I’d get a tour after the soup, they probably hate turtle soup!” 

he mocked himself with ridiculous grief. 

MK accepted the sun as his blanket, he decided to drown away his regretful actions and embarrassments through a nap– at least until Mei gets back- it’s always better to enjoy the sunset with a friend right? 

He began to close his eyes and accept the drowsy weight lifting off of him as he drifted to sleep.

Tick

Tick

Tick

Tick

Tick

Tick

MK felt disrupted in his sweet slumber, he kept hearing a ticking sound over and over it annoyed his mind out of sleep, he scanned his areas to look for that sound– but when the sound got closer and louder it didn’t sound like ticking at all, it sounded like– 

“Bells?” 

MK was interrupted when something fell into his lap from the air, he jerked up into a sitting position as he lifted something into his palms. They looked like bells, sounded like them too- the only difference is that they were not shaped like your average golden crested bells you ring in the winter time for remorse or hell- even joy. 

They were in the shape of an almost cartoony animal, big pink ears and pink painted fur with a goofy smirk plastered across the front, with a painted salmon tail wrapping itself around the bell, the bell ringed slightly in his hand as he titled it. 

There were three in his hand that looked exactly the same, the eyes that were painted were shut but curved up in a delighted manner. The paint looked rusty yet stayed in shape. 

MK’s confusion turned into fascination as he studied these instruments. 

“They look almost like– monkey bells??” he muttered to himself. 

MK read about these– something attached to the beloved staff of the fabled great sage of the sea.

Wrapped around the top of the staff, painted and rung for good luck, they worked wonders, and would be considered a good luck charm to him, but a bad omen to others. 

And they were in MK’s lap. 

MK began to question– if they were real, or something someone painted out of enjoyment of their favorite fable, MK did not want to take any risk, he threw them away from his chair as they rang harmoniously while hitting the ground in unison.

MK swallowed his breath. 

He held his shirt in fear, the kid had a tendency to hold onto his white button up, or fidgeting with the red sash across his belt, holding his favorite delicacies. 

He looked around for something to come to get the bells, but silence was all that occurred, which allowed him a sigh of relief, he let go of his shirt. 

MK settled down, he looked down at the small orange stone encased in metal that draped itself on his neck, the metal chain held him close. The sun had touched the sunset orange stone multiple times, it would mesmerize MK for hours on end, sitting upon the roof of Pigsy’s shop as the sun kissed the stone, the bright golden yellow danced with the orange. His stone matched his bandana plastered across his forehead, holding up his dark brown hair, slivers of his hair bleached a blonde thanks to the sunlight. 

His orange headband and stone stood out on him, they gave him hope for a future on the seas, he wanted to venture so badly, it showed with what he would wear in inspiration every day. 

He curled up his legs inward in his body on his chair. As he clutched the stone in his hand. 

It allowed him to wonder, to think and explore the curiosities he had, colors clashed together in that stone like the ocean splashing against the shore, playing together and seeping between the cracks in the rocks. 

He furrowed his brow in defeat, he wanted a life of complications, not of simple leisure. 

He wanted to be free.

Before he could get another chance to think– something large crashed into him, as he hit the ground, he felt something secure itself around his waist. 

He hit the ground and everything blurred between the lines, he groaned in pain as he sat up, rubbing his head tenderly, his vision was slowly returning, a figure loomed next to him. 

“Mei if you're gonna do that again, warn me next time.” 

he huffed out, he heard another groan but it wasn’t Mei–

He got a look of bright red dressing, and bleak orange. His head shook in disbelief, he rubbed his eyes multiple times.

 “Who–” 

“Yeah yeah kid, thanks for holding my bells.” 

He saw the figure grab a long red hat from the ground as it rose from the ground. He felt a long furry thing caress his arm, and a long red staff laid out on the ground next to him.

He felt his heart stop for just a moment- that was when his vision returned. 

There he was- right in front of MK, the myths–

Were true. 

There stood a large orange monkey, straightening his bright red hat upon his head, tongue curled in focus, as the feather maneuvered with the hat. 

MK couldn't believe his eyes, the great sage of the sea, the pirate of fire, the sun warrior the- 

Monkey king. 

He stared longingly at him. That is until he stared back. 

-

“You alright–” the words that came out were addressed with determination, until that faltered when the Monkey looked down at his own torso. 

MK caught his own attention after those words pierced through his trance- he was in shock, his mind filled with a million questions, yet he felt scared and excited, the monkey king was right in front of him- an actual pirate those say the greatest pirate and he knew it. However fear settled in slightly when MK remembered the Monkey can snap his neck with the tail attached to his back. 

He strained himself to speak but his voice died down when he realized what the Monkey was looking at. 

Something looking similar to a chain was attached to both of their waists which tied them together. 

MK could not believe that he was in the presence of someone he admired; what he also could not believe was that he was also forcefully attached to the most dangerous creature alive. 

Uh oh. 

Chapter Text

MK couldn’t let his eyes leave the monkey's fur, the tangy orange knew the sunlight well, and it bathed in the light like it was any other day, the waters were kind to this monkey and he could tell. 

He swallowed his fear and sat up, allowing his attention towards the chains that bound them gently. 

“What is this?” He asked 

The monkey pondered as he trained his eyes around the maneuvering of the shared contraption. 

He knew firsthand, however he switched his attention back to the kid he abruptly ran into. 

“Does it look like anything to you?” He asked, keeping his eyes on the kid. 

“Hm- something to lock two people together.” MK said bluntly, but holding up his hands interlocking as a gesture towards the bonds around their waists. 

He looked up at the monkey hoping his answer was clear enough for him-

Who looked back with a firm expression, settling into a gawking laugh. 

“I knew what it was and what it did! I just wanted to see if you figured it out!” 

MK was dumbfounded, he stared with a blank slate face at the laughing creature; who’s tail began wagging as he slumped over in tears. 

“What do you mean?” He said annoyed as he grabbed the chain.

“Were you-“ 

Stars formed in his eyes

“Are you in trouble? Are there bad guys after you? Are you going on another adventure?” 

The monkeys covered his eyes with the rim of his crimson hat, standing tall on his head. 

His smirk lit up the new nightfall.

The monkey puffed out his chest and leaped forward, grabbing MK and holding him close, MK confused as to what was going on held onto the monkey tight.

“Let’s find out.”

The Monkey dared to do so- and he did, he leaped off of the roof soaring in mid air, MK in one arm and his hat held gently by his other free hand. 

MK nearly wanted to scream, not because of the rush, but because they leaped off of the roof upside down, the stars began to appear in front of him, that’s all he could see, the dark blue fathering the faint purple and black that caressed the sky gently, allowing the people sheltering under the dark to illuminate their homes, keeping sweet company with the stars.

The Monkey flipped and landed on his feet, MK now sideways but still in the comfort of the great sage's arms, checked to make sure he was still alive and breathing, he was but was also rethinking his whole situation.

 How did he get here? 

The Monkey did not give MK time to think properly as he darted off into a direction deep into the village, where MK wouldn’t recognize as much as the docks, leaving him curious.

“Hey! Isn’t your ship behind us?” He shouted out, still tucked under the Monkey's arm. 

The Monkey kept his gaze forward, squinting his eyes in the darkness, from a small glimpse it’s as if MK could see a golden glint in the Monkey's eye. 

He knew what that was, his special technique to catch blind spots on his enemy and how to counterattack.

 The golden eyes attest to his needs. And to the enemies weaknesses.

 It fascinated MK too often he would be blabbering about it to Pigsy on his days off. 

MK didn't get an answer back, whilst waiting he noticed the tail flicking back and forth next to him, what the tail was holding caught his gaze.

The formidable staff! The one and only rubbery red staff that was so slippery no one could hold something with

the same consistency as a bar of soap soaking in water. 

But he could.

 He had the ability to hold it steady and battle with it, the staff’s ends were tipped with golden hinges on the ends, they never rusted, and the sun was kind to the golden hinges. MK read that the hinges would click clack into each other creating a loopity loop! 

As the Monkey king called it… 

It would allow him to capture enemies in the blink of an eye. MK kept his eyes glued to the weapon- until he heard a familiar sound, the bells that rang in his ears were tied to the ends, shaking around as his tail flicked around playfully. 

The playfulness was hiding under all of those smirks those monkey bells brought upon. The snickers and sneers of the toothy grins displayed on the ringing bells. 

MK found them entertaining, he laughed with them, the bells were responsible for his gleeful attitude, and he cheered with them. 

His fun had run out when the Monkey spoke.

“Listen kid, I apologize for you getting tangled into my plan- but! If we cooperate you can go back to your soup kitchen and I can set out back on the seas, deal?” 

His offer echoed through MK, his mind had been blown to smithereens upon finding out that not only his idol was real but the possibilities of the myths that roam the seas. He who had been fascinated and enticed by all of these things that the ocean had to offer and the deal could throw it all away, so MK furrowed his brow, rubbed his temple and thought for a second. 

Which confused the Monkey king- seeing a kid he’s attached to sit on his arse and start brainstorming to himself. 

“Well?” 

The monkey asked with a hasty sigh, MK thought about it and a smile came to fruition- he stood with his answer ready.

That is- before he could speak the ground shook below them, they both attempted to hold steady after what felt like a shock wave moved the houses they were on.

 The monkey looked up to see figures in the distance, he gritted his teeth. 

MK looked ‘round the monkey's side, the figures grew closer and closer, they sure were fast and he swallowed his pride, he did not want that type of company. 

MK felt he was losing his balance, he grabbed onto the waist of the monkey before collapsing on the rooftop, nearly catching himself as he felt himself slipping on the slanted roof. 

“You alright?” The monkey muttered to him under his breath. 

MK replied out loud with a rising panicked tone. 

“No! Yes? I’m not, I don't know! Who are those guys? Are they after you? What’s gonna happen to me?” 

“You are very indecisive.” The monkey said in a teasing manner. 

MK clinged onto the monkey tightly. “Well I’m sorry I’ve never been in a life or death situation before!” He said between his teeth.

“Would you like to?” 

MK had never realized until now, that the great sage had never looked directly at him, they caught each other’s eyes, as MK stopped panicking- he felt a sense of calm and tranquility that he had never seemed to have read in the stories of the great sage. 

That’s when he didn’t have to read words on a page to know that he could trust him. 

So he nodded. 

The great sage slid his foot across the roof as he twisted his torso to the side, keeping MK behind him. He kept his feet apart, and his eyes at the on coming soldiers, as his shoulders looked directly at them.

He pulled his hat down covering his eyes and temple, MK couldn’t see it right away but the great sage held a grin so wide ‘n toothy it nearly looked cartoon. 

His tail swayed side to side before wrapping itself around MK.

MK heard his belt shake, the clinging between metal and leather, before he could react to the soldiers closing in on them.

He began to hear bells sing. 

At the flick of a wrist and the swipe of his forearm, The great sage had four bells appear in front of every soldier. 

The bells shook midair and glowed in front of the men as they vanished with the men. 

Each bell teleporting the soldiers off of the roofs miles away, dropping their weapons in place, MK looked in awe as the monkey smiled whilst his bells came back to him, snatching them and hiding them away again. 

“That’s what they can do?” MK shouted with joy ringing in his voice. 

“That’s not all.” 

The monkey laughed out as he tossed one in the air from his pocket, and caught it. 

MK noticed they were now somewhere else, on a different rooftop, furthermore towards the docks from where they were before. 

MK laughed, this was something extraordinary to him, he felt a happiness he hadn’t explored yet he felt quite dizzy, the monkey could notice his unbalanced nature.

“The Monkey bell can have a toll on you the first few times, something to expect!” 

The great sage basked in the glowing light the next monkey bell provided as they jumped from roof to roof thanks to the bells ringing. 

MK felt on the verge of passing out, but he forgot to not let his guard down when he grabbed the chain attaching the two to shield himself from an oncoming spear a soldier is throwing at him with all their strength. 

“Nice reflexes.” The monkey complimented as he unarmed the soldier with his sword in the blink of an eye. 

The sword itself looked like it glowed in MK’s eyes. To him it was a mastery piece of weaponry. To Tang it was an elegant sword, one of the world's most beautiful pieces of swordsmanship, he didn’t lie about that, the handle was red with gold crested around it, swirling around into the end of the handle where a teal blue feather hung from a pearl tied with a net string used to catch fish to the bottom of the sword. 

The sword itself was a masterpiece, the silver glowed almost golden under the sunlight but under the night sky it glowed a light blue complimenting the full moon. 

The shape was something to behold as well, but it held out perfectly, as he threatened the soldier with no words, the sword spoke for itself allowing the man to surrender. 

The monkey flipped the sword with ease and rammed the back end against the soldier's head, knocking him out. 

“Let’s go.” The monkey finalized as he slid the brand back into its holster, MK nodded with no words worthy of slipping out of his mouth. 

The monkey threw a bell in the air and leaped through grabbing MK in the process. 

They appeared somewhere unrecognizable to MK, but to the great sage it felt very familiar. 

“Oh boy.” 

“What’s oh boy?” MK asked.

“We’re surrounded.” 

The monkey did not lie, they were surrounded by soldiers from the kingdom of heaven that housed the village below it, the small village bowed itself to the castle centerpiece of the kingdom. Monkey stepped back when multiple spears aimed at them in the blink of an eye. 

MK gulped, his fears showed blatantly, he felt every eye on him like a weight on his chest. 

“What do we do?” He attempted to whisper to the monkey. 

“Quiet.” He snapped back gently. 

The captain of the guard appeared before them, and to MK’s knowledge, they seemed to know each other, he verified that when the monkey groaned at the sight of him. 

“Hello Erlang.” He said gritting his teeth with a toothy grin. 

Erlang brushed his shoulders and showed his sword, stepping closer to the monkey. 

“What is it going to take to bring you in?” Erlang said with a curved brow, the monkey laughed at him.

“You think you can? I thought you gave up when you started wearing corsets.” 

He asked a genuine question which frustrated the captain, the soldiers pressed in but he stopped them. 

“You're funny, but why bother with your jokes?” 

He said waving his sword around gently as a gesture. 

“That wasn’t a joke, corsets are supposed to look good then you started putting them on.” 

Erlang but his tongue and pressed forward himself. 

“I’m serious you ruined them for me, I haven’t worn mine since.” The monkey said backing up with MK behind him. 

The soldiers began to snicker until they were silenced by a single glance from their captain. 

“Enough! You’ve been running from me your whole life, and now look at you.” Erlang glanced at the monkey but the figure behind him caught his eye. 

“I see you have an accomplice- or if I’m correct, a bystander you captured.” 

MK held his breath. 

“Says you, when one of your lackeys attempted to catch me they involved him themselves, maybe discipline them instead.” The monkey snapped back in defense of himself and MK. 

“I’d stop now, you're surrounded and there is nothing for you to do, this kid will go back to where he came from and you're coming back with us.” 

“I’d rather not, I don’t prefer the high and mighty god life.” He said sarcastically, taking stabs at Erlang and himself.  

“Jail! You are going to prison!”

 Erlang shouted back. 

He revealed his sword in front of the monkey as he allowed his soldier to press in on the monkey and the kid.

“You know, we’ve been at each other’s throats for centuries and it’s cute but I do have something to say to you one last time.” The monkey pleaded with a guilty smile. 

“Fine, speak.” Erlang threatened with a tight grip on his sword. 

“I’m flattered- but I’m too good-looking for you.” 

Before any of the soldiers or Erlang could react a bell was already in the air, and Erlang caught a glimpse of a wink and a smirk the great sage saved for him as he vanished. 

Erlang leaped forward but dust was all that was left for him, he gritted his teeth in livid anger as he clutched his sword tightly. 

“Find them! Now!” He barked out to his men- they all split up and ran in different directions. 

MK found they appeared in the middle of the docks as he felt he was being dragged into a run, he was running behind the great sage, whose tail was still wrapped around him, nearly carrying him behind, the only thing he can hear is the monkey's boots hit the wooden boards in the docks, he could tell he was in a near panic. 

“Time to go kid, we’ll figure out how to get this off later, for now you're coming with me whether you like it or not.” 

He said leaping into the nearby ship with MK over his shoulder, MK nearly got the wind knocked out of him and began to gasp for air as he was gently put down on the ship. 

MK watched as the monkey began to hurriedly create clones out of his hair, they all ran around to different stations as if they knew exactly what to do to get the ship out of the docks. 

MK looked around and only now noticed that this was the ship he admired earlier with Mei, but now he realized that this is the ship he read about, the ship that the great sage and his early crew had been aboard. 

The Journey. 

His eyes glowed at the sight and the feeling of being inside of the ship- it looked pretty inside the wood was carved delicately, the patterns he saw on the outside were nearly identical within, he smiled brightly as he rushed to look at the front, nearly dragging the monkey with him but as much as he pulled the monkey was an anchor and he would not budge. 

“Woah slow down kid!” He exclaimed as MK stopped in his tracks. 

“It’s the Journey herself! I have to see it!” MK said in shock pointing towards the tip of the ship.

“See what?” The monkey replied. 

“The front! I have to see the front! It’s the most beautiful part of the ship!” 

The monkey raised his eyes in surprise, that this kid would know what part of the ship to partake at, he felt complimented, as the words warmed his heart, he stepped forward- letting MK trip forward as he sprinted to the front. 

MK got his gaze at the front, the front of the ship held a staff with rings starched that sat upon the front leading the ship forward. 

He was right- the golden cicada's staff has led the ship to glory far better than this, he had read it in pages but he couldn’t have imagined being there himself, it felt unreal that the myths he had read and dreamt about were reality. 

“You like the view from there?” The great sage asked as his identical crew set the ship sailing, MK nodded back as he looked up from the steer to the view ahead of him. 

The night sky blanketed the ocean with light from the moon, he felt eased, at home, despite leaving his home he felt peace and excitement ahead. 

He sat down as the weight of guilt dreaded him down, he was actually leaving- not just leaving his home but his family, his job, his friends. 

Pigsy, Tang, Mei, Sandy, everyone will worry about him. 

MK looked down at his expression, almost scared. 

They will be fine without me but— what are they going to think when I’m gone? 

The monkey noticed his uneasy facial expression and went to sit down next to him, they barely escaped the soldiers that ran out onto the docks- but the clones set the ship out, the waters were the only thing behind them now. 

“You alright kid?” The great sage asked giving him his attention. 

“I thought I would be but— my home, my friends what are they going to do?” 

The monkey sighed. “don’t worry, as soon as these are off I’ll bring you right back okay? But! You have to do something for me- okay?“ 

MK wiped his nose and looked up and the now standing monkey. 

“Okay, what is it?” 

The monkey beamed with excitement as his smile lit up the night. 

“Have fun! You're on pirate time now! Which means until we get this off and I can bring you back home, we party into our early graves!”

 The pirate monkey said, flipping into the air. 

MK gave himself a smile of reassurance, he was with his idol who he just now realized was not a myth, Pigsy was wrong, and he has this whole adventure ahead to show Pigsy how wrong he could be. 

And how he could finally achieve what he had longed to be— 

He can finally be a pirate! 

“Yahoo!” The monkey shouted with glee as he looked at the seas ahead. 

MK stood as well, by the side of the great sage, he could teach him the ways of being a pirate, not just a good pirate, the best pirate in the entire world. 

“Yeah, let's party.” 

Chapter Text

Hello everyone! Author here! So sorry for not uploading in (looks at calendar) we’re just gonna skip how long it’s been,

anyways yes I am aware of this fic still and I want to continue it, truth is motivation for this fic slipped me and I couldn’t find a way to continue it, but now that the story is all planned out I want to continue it! I want to tell a story that’s worth telling! And I will!

The next chapter of this story will be uploaded tomorrow, I want to stick to a strict publishing schedule (because then I’ll just forgot about the story again) so I want to motivate myself because I genuinely love this story and where it’s going to go.

I hope you’ll all be here for the ride as well! 

also to clear things up no I have not watched one piece, I might start it but idk so if you say this is similar to one piece idk what your talking about and please don’t comment that I ripped something off from one piece because I’ve only seen the first episode so shut your little mouths okay? thank you 🥰 

anyways, the journey will continue tomorrow! Stay tuned! 

-Airsaurus