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Macaque walked amongst his grove, heading to his mediation spot, the trees opened up to a clearing and in the middle of the said clearing, a single flat stone sat. When he made it to that spot, he sat down his hands falling to his knees as he took a deep breath. He locked on to the two of the three beings made solely made of his magic on the mountain. They were both near Chao-Xing, her laughter echoed in his six ears as she watched MK and WuKong train.
A gentle call made them perk to attention, a second call had them chirping a goodbye at the princess before they fell into shadow and towards Macaque. The shadow opened his eye just as two clones appeared in front of him. He stared with wide eyes to see that WuKong was right, the two looked less clone-like now compared to the last time he saw them.
Two sets of glowing purple eyes stared at him as purple and black shadows seemed to dance and fall off them like liquid. Two masks like his own but, peach in color stood out against the swirling darkness. He opened his arms to them and the two monkey-like swirling masses fell into them. At the touch feelings of contentment, relief, and fading fear filled his mind.
"I missed you two as well." He whispered to them and chirps that sounded like cries filled his ears.
They stayed like that for a long while, in Macaque's arms the shadows seemed to calm and finally began to finally give small features. Rumble has broader shoulders than Savage, who seemed to be thinner, but longer hair hung past the clone's shoulder blades.
Macaque hugged them closer "There you two are, have you two been well?"
They both backed up from the hug but, kept their hand connected with his own. They both nodded their heads at the question. Macaque smiled before speaking "thank you for watching over Chao-Xing when I couldn't."
Pride came from the two as he moved his hands to rub the tops of their heads, he ripped them away in surprise when a flash of something danced across his vision. Chirps of concern came from Rumble and Savage as Macaque stared at them. "What was that?" Savage looked at Rumble before gently taking his hand again and placing it on their head.
Macaque closed his eyes giving in to the flashes that filled his vision. Darkness was all he saw before a screech of surprise seemed to wake him, his eyes opened to see WuKong's room. Said monkey king was currently sprawled out on the floor in a heap of blankets, Macaque found he couldn't move, it felt like he was just a viewer, but he could still feel, hear, and see everything.
A questing chirp came beside him and the shadow recognized Rumble in his peripheral, "I'm fine Rumble, thank you though." The trapped monkey said softly Macaque moved forward and out of the shadow he was in. A second chirp came from him? two arms reached out and moved the covers to help untangle WuKong.
That's when Macaque realized what was going on, he was looking at memories and this was Savage's perspective. One memory he remembered WuKong telling him about, because when memory Savage turned their head Chao-Xing's rock was resting comfortably in the nest of blankets.
Macaque stared in shock at the rock, swirls of gold and purple pulsed around it, exactly like a heartbeat. Just as WuKong said. The russet-furred monkey finally freed himself, made his way back to the bed, and with gentle hands cradled the small rock. Savage tilted their head to the side, a coo making WuKong look at them. "I-I don't know either, I think this might be a child." Savage gently reached forward caressing the rock, contentment and safety filled them as they picked up the emotions from the little one inside.
Savage's other hand rested on WuKong's arm transferring the emotions to him, tears gathered but, didn't fall. "I don't deserve this, not after everything I've done." His voice cracked as he held it closer to his chest. Rumble came forward and hugged the king, their soft coo reassuring.
The memory began to swirl and change, as Macaque now saw himself outside though still looking through Savage's perspective. It was the shadow's meditation spot, the leaves of the Grove swaying softly as a gentle wind danced through it. WuKong was seated next to the rock Macaque was currently sitting on, Chao-Xing's rock placed on it. Cracks decorated it as more purple and gold energy seeped through, and every now and then it shivered or moved.
He watched in fascination as WuKong stood stock still watching the rock, his hands, and forearms were covered in a radiating gold glow and Macaque sensed the strong magic being prepared. Savage and Rumble were not even in the clearing, they lay cloaked in a tree very far away but still close enough to see.
A sound of pain came from the two clones as suddenly a bright light blinded them, when the glow finally dimmed a little Macauqe watched as WukKong fought to keep whatever magic that the rock produced contained. The glow finally snuffed out after a moment of watching WuKong struggle, and a stillness permeated through the grove.
Savage crept closer, Rumble followed but, called with a questioning chirp. An angry squeal answered as WuKong spoke "ok, you guys can come closer."
The two clones stepped out of the shadow and WuKong turned to them with a smile so bright Macaque felt his breath hitch and his cheeks warm. Savage moved closer as they looked from WuKong to the bundle of angry fur in his arms, the squeal that came from the baby monkey seemed to despise being born.
The shadow laughed as Savage got close enough to see Chao-Xing fully, one of her tiny fists was rubbing her face like she just woken up while the other held a death grip on WuKong's shirt. A disgruntled chirp came from the small monkey as she slowly opened her eyes, gold eyes were cloudy before clearing and looking at WuKong then Rumble and Savage. "I'll bring her down to meet Mummy in a little bit, but guys, meet Chao-Xing." The king said
Savage and Rumble cooed in greeting one the smaller one replied with. A huge yawn overtook her as she settled more into her Bama, her eyes falling close as she was pulled into slumber.
The memory faded again shifting to what Macaque could guess was Rumble's view now. Both Rumble and 5-year old looking Chao-Xing were curled around each other hiding comfortably in a tree, WuKong was walking on the ground, his head turned left and right with Savage trailing behind him.
Macaque stared at his small daughter as both Rumble and Chao-Xing held back giggles "now where are those two troublemakers" WuKong called out making them both giggle harder if WuKong heard them he gave them no indication. "I guess that leaves me no choice then."
The two stopped their giggles as they looked at the king, as he shrugged looking at Savage "looks like that Mango pie we made will just for the two of us, right Savage?"
The clone chirped in agreement just as two screeches of shock came from the two hiding in the tree. WuKong looked in their direction as he laughed "you wanted to hide so no dessert for you two." Not even a second later the world took on a grey hue before brightening again when Rumble appeared out of the Sun's shadow.
Macaque could feel the glare the two were giving WuKong as he just smiled "alright alright, you can have dessert."
With happy chirps, they walked inside WuKong's house as the memory shifted and changed again. Macaque still guessed he was with Rumble, a familiar cave opened up in front of him. The cave had purple flames that cast the walls in a comforting glow, as a familiar large sentry was laying, its bottom half hidden in darkness and the top half -which was wrapped in shadowy bandages was in the light, it propped up on its arms. Mummy's eye seemed soft as it gazed at one of its upturned hand.
The little russet-furred monkey lay in one of its open palm as she babbled on about her day, a half eaten mango in her hand as she wildly moved her arms about as she talked. Rumble let out a calling chirp and Chao-Xing sat up, "can dinner wait 5 minutes? I'm almost done telling Mummy my story."
Rumble cooed disapprovingly as they crossed their arms, Chao-Xing just sighed heavily "ok, I'm coming." She stood before turning to the shadow sentry "I'll see you later Mummy, sleep well." She hugged its face, well as much as she could hug. A rumbling purr shook the cave in answer before adjusting its hand so Chao-Xing could step off.
Chao-Xing raced out of the cave and with a nod to the bigger shadow entity, Rumble turned and blended into her shadow. The memory began to distort and Macaque was ripped to one memory quickly by a scared scream. A soft coo came from Macaque's perspective seeing it was Savage again. Chao-Xing's scared eyes turned to Savage and she immediately reached for them.
The clone didn't even hesitate as they took the Monkey princess into their arms. That's when Macaque noticed the placement they were currently in, which was Chao-Xing's room. She must have had a nightmare Macaque thought as Savage turned to see WuKong race in, "is she ok?!" He looked disheveled and half asleep.
At the sound of the King's voice, Chao-Xing reached out for him chirps of distress came from her, she buried herself into his chest as he cooed softly to calm her. Savage's hand was currently trapped between WuKong and Chao-Xing since the little monkey hadn't let go of them yet.
Chao-Xing's cries soon quieted to sniffles as WuKong hummed a rune softly as she rocked her, "I'm s-sorry for w-waking you Bama..." her voice was soft as she clung to the other and Savage.
"Oh shush, Bug." The king said with as he ran gently began to groom the tangles Chao-Xing got as she had slept. "I'll always come to protect you, and if you want to tell me about the nightmare. I'm all ears, if not we can stay here for a little while longer." They sat there as Chao-Xing melted into a purring mess as WuKong continued to groom her, he chuckled before turning to Savage "thank you." The clone chirped happily.
Chao-Xing after a bit spoke up, her voice small "I-I don't know what it was. I was looking around the mountain and I couldn't find anyone...Rumble, Savage, Mummy, you. I couldn't even sense you. Then, everything got cold as a blue sheen fell across the world, a-and ice was everywhere." A whimper came from her as Macaque froze, that couldn't be... "I-I-I saw you then, y-you just standing there in weird armor and you weren't moving. I tried talking to you but, you d-didn't even look at me! Your eyes w-were open and just pulsing this l-light blue color! You were so c-cold!" Chao-Xing's voice was shaking in fear again.
The little monkey completely missed how frozen her Bama was, realization and fear flashed in the King's eyes before he immediately pulled Chao-Xing closer "shhh, I got you Bug. As long as I'm here, that will never happen, not willingly."
"B-but, what if you never come back! I know your immortal, b-but I heard the stories Bama!" Chao-Xing said as she clung to WuKong tighter as she tried to control her frantic breaths "you can get trapped somewhere and I won't know where you are!"
"Hey Bug, Bug you need to breathe, here follow my breaths ok." The bigger of the two russet-furred monkeys gave an exaggerated breath as Savage cooed in comfort, leaning forward to nuzzle the smaller one. Chao-Xing took a bit but, finally evened out her breathing, her ear smushed into his chest to hear and feel his heartbeat.
When Chao-Xing calmed down enough WuKong spoke softly "Besides, you do have something that can reach me for if I'm ever away from you." Chao-Xing looked at him and his eyes of truth stared back, the girl smiled as she responded with her own. "See no matter how far I go, I will always be here."
He leaned forward and nuzzled the side of her cheek with an exaggerated purr, Chao-Xing let out a squeal, finally freeing Savage from her tight grip. She used both her hands to try and shove her Bama away, the clone backed off a bit but, didn't fully leave.
"Well, I'll need your help Bug." His tone shifted to a very "serious" one making Chao-Xing playfully sit up straight. "My room is filled with a scary shadow demon and I'll need a big strong girl to scare it off, wanna help and maybe your reward is you'll sleep with me tonight." Chao-Xing nodded eagerly as WuKong stood and walked towards the door. Macaque could guess from what Savage sensed, that Rumble was hiding under the bad prepared to be "scared" off by the smaller monkey.
The memory shifted again to an open flower field, Macaque remembered this one. It was one of the many places that the shadow and king would sneak off to when they needed a break. WuKong was currently in the shade on a blanket, it looked like they had just finished eating. Savage was nowhere to be seen so Macaque guessed he was with Rumble now. Chao-Xing was currently in the middle of the field trying to make a flower crown.
Rumble shifted closer to the girl and Macaque smiled when he saw her concentrated face, her furrowed brow, scrunched eyes, and the tip of her tongue poking out of the side of her mouth. The flower crown wasn't perfect, Macaque could see the frustration growing and with a huff she throw her hand to the ground with the flower crown in hand. A surge of energy hit the ground and seemed to pool a bit in the shadows, drawing Macaque's attention but, Rumble and Chao-Xing remained oblivious too.
Rumble reached forward and tapped her forehead, giving an encouraging coo that made Chao-Xing huff again. Though a rustle beside them made the two jump and look at the sound, and not even a second later an exact copy of Chao-Xing stared back. Albeit, a vivid shade of purple surrounded the clone offsetting her normal colors a bit and the eyes were a soft gold glow. A shriek of surprise came from Rumble as they tripped over their tail and landed on their back, making Macaque cackle with laughter.
Rumble grumbled before he righted himself to see the princess staring at aw before turning and yelling excitedly "Bama! Look! I made a clone!" WuKong immediately sat up a happy shout answered her own as she stood and practically ran to her. Thought he calmed down as the barely concealed twitch of pain from Chao-Xing from the volume.
WuKong lifted her in the air above his head a huge smile across his face. "See! I told you, you can do it!" He whispered excitedly. "How did you do it?"
"I just smacked my hand on the ground, 'cause I was frustrated with my flower crown," Chao-Xing explained realizing she dropped said crown, which the clown was holding it gingerly.
"So we were right that you have Baba's shadow clones." His voice trailed off before he turned to the clone and then back at his daughter, "and that crown looks amazing for a first try. May I?" He grabbed the crown that the Chao-Xing clone offered him and place it on his head. "How do I look, Bug?" WuKong said as he put Chao-Xing down and was sticking some poses. (Basically, I imagined how Kiriko modeled her fox mask to the little girl in her overwatch cinematic to give you an idea of how he posed XD)
A giggle came from Chao-Xing as Macaque noticed the smallest bit of black flecks beginning to appear in his daughters fur. It was then the memory began to fade again and the next one had a fully grown Chao-Xing voice touch his ears, one he recognized as her now. He couldn't tell what view he took since both Rumble and Savage were mixed in a shadow too small for both of them.
Chao-Xing looked exactly the same from what he knows now minus the white speckles and big streak in her hair from LBD's possession. A bowl of mangos, some incense and its holder was in her hand as she made her way to what looked to be a headstone. After a bit, Macaque noticed it said his name on it.
"Hey Baba, sorry I haven't visited in a while. I've been traveling around a lot outside of Flower Fruit Mountain, but you should already know that since I told you before I left." Chao-Xing said as she set the bowl of mangos down, followed by the holder and with a snap of her finger a golden flame appeared on her finger and lit the incense.
"Oh! I'm going to see a weapons master next, he's gonna help me make my own!" Chao-Xing said excitedly "I'm gonna imbue it with my magic!" She chattered on a bit Macaque sat there listening to every word, but soon her smile turned into a frown. "I heard the rumors and Bama's not the best at hiding it."
"I know you're not here Baba, not physically anyway." Chao-Xing said softly "I haven't heard anything about a shadow monkey where my journey has taken me, but whispers travel and I know it's not Rumble or Savage since they can't even leave the mountain."
"I'm just worried about what your gonna do to Bama, as much as I know I want you here with us again. Your pain and anger can't easily go away, not after all these years and Bama made me promise on my magic that I can't go after you." The russet-furred monkey sighed as she rested her head on her open palm. "Is it bad that I wish you'll come across me? I know I can't look for you, but maybe you can hear the rumors and find me? I highly doubt that though."
Macaque watched his eye wide, now that he thought about it, he did hear about a russet-furred monkey with black whisps traveling around. He never thought to even look thinking that was just stories since there were only two monkeys in the world, him and Sun WuKong.
Her sigh drew him back "maybe one day I'll get to meet you, but I don't think now is right. So I'll just talk here, but for now, I gotta head back to the house. Bye, Baba." Chao-Xing stood before resting her hand on the stone before turning and leaving.
Macaque pulled back to the real world with a chirp and a sharp mental tug, probably from the two clones, his eyes snapped open with a gasp. Rumble cooed in a questioning manner. "I'm fine, just need a minute." Thanks to his ears he was used to listening to the past, but to see it from someone else's perspective threw Macaque for a loop.
When Macaque finally got a hold of himself, he looked at the two. Savage and Rumble sat quietly as they looked back at him. The six-eared monkey tried to remove his hands from the clone's cheeks only to find them sorta stuck? He cocked his head to the side as he studied them, Savage returned the gesture making the shadow's hand sink more into their head. No pained sound came from them and when Macaque moved his hand more into the swirling shadows of Rumble, they too didn't react.
"Ok," Macaque mumbled before very slowly reaching into the two clones' shadows. He felt his magic pulse and before he could do anything the swirling mass slowly began to crawl up his arms and return to their maker. His hands kept pushing more into the masses until he felt warmth and soft fur under both hands. "What?!" Shock danced across his eye just as two sets of tiny hands grabbed his wrists.
The shadowed silhouettes of the clones that had remained of the two of them started to fall away, drip and peel away faster. He gave an experimental coo as the masses became smaller and smaller, the warmth and tiny hands remained still. Two answer coos replied, ones that sounded so much younger than how old those clones truly were.
Macaque just watched not wanting to break whatever was happening now. After a while, finally the last of the shadows returned to the six-eared monkey, two identical demon monkeys stared back. They looked to be about 5 in demon years, just barely out of the baby stage and learning to talk. They could almost be carbon copies of Macaque. Almost.
They each had one ear and with a quick check for glamors, they still only had one. They each had a peach mask that was identical to WuKong's own, maybe a little bit darker and they each sported a gold and purple eye. The only difference was that their Heterochromia was switched and one had longer hair then the other. "Rumble?" Macaque asked making the one holding his right wrist chirp in response. They had a right purple eye, a left gold eye and short hair. "And Savage." A smile grew at the one holding his left wrist purred, their right eye was gold, the left was purple and long hair running to their shoudler blades.
"Of course, you two are identical in everything but, where the colors are located in your eyes." Macaque just laughed as he smiled softly, he quickly snapped his fingers and the shadows made temporary clothes for the two before he continued "here hop on, we gotta show the others."
The two let out happy chirps before they climbed up his arms, each hanging off his shoulders and Macaque wound his tail around them both to just be safe. The walk back was uneventful, Macaque reached out with his ears and heard WuKong, MK, and Chao-Xing talking. It was probably a break or they finished sparing. When he reach the area Rumble and Savage ducked down making Macaque chuckle.
The shadow crossed his arms and leaned on a tree close by, watching the three talk on a log they claimed as a bench, "Hey WuKong."
"Hmm?" The Monkey King turned to look at him causing MK and Chao-Xing to do the same.
"Word of advice, Peaches," Macaque said as he righted himself from his lean, still keeping the two former clones hidden behind him as he stepped out from under the shade. "Please never name any of my clones ever again."
He just smirked watching WuKong's face blush at the name before, flipped to confusion about the statement. "What why?" MK asked for him.
Macaque looked over his shoulders and spoke "would you two like to show yourself?" Savage was the first to poke their head over his shoulder, tail wagging lazily and Rumble soon followed letting out a chirp. The three stared in shock as Macaque continued as he pointed to each clone while he said their names "guys, you should already know Rumble and Savage.
Chao-Xing gasped happily as she immediately stood up, but when she turned around to get to the two, the russet-furred monkey misplaced her step and tripped. She landed face-first into the mud with a yelp and the twins immediately booked it to her, concerned chirps coming from them. Chao-Xing right herself and immediately pulled them into a hug "Oh my! Look at you! You're so small! Hi!" She practically gushed over them. "I'm a sister! I'll take care of you like you guys took care of me!"
MK moved towards the new monkeys as WuKong walked over to Macaque "that's really?" His voice trailed off as he watched the scene. Savage had latched onto Chao-Xing demanding grooming and Rumble had currently claimed MK's shoulder as he searched his hair.
"Don't ask me how Peaches I'm just confused as you," Macaque said as he shrugged his shoulders. "I'm guessing they look like those shadowy masses and less like clones because they were waiting on me to take them out? That's the jist I got from it. How long were they like that?"
"After Chao-Xing left Flower Fruit Mountain which was a while ago," WuKong answered as he stood to watch the scene unfold, his smile growing at the sight.
"I missed everything..." Macaque said softly making the Monkey King turn to look at him, shock in his eyes. "Rumble and Savage showed me their memories, they allowed me to watch her grow up and I still feel like I missed so much."
The shadow could almost hear the gears turning in the other's head, their eyes still watching the scene before them. Macaque didn't even flinch when he felt WuKong's warm hand intertwine with his own, the other leaned on the dark-furred monkey as his head rested on his shoulder. "It doesn't matter anymore as you told me. There was a lot of should and shouldn't, what's done is done. You're here now and that's all that matters."
Macaque sighed softly before tilting his head enough to rest it onto WuKong's, a warm feeling in his chest grew as he watched Chao-Xing and MK interacting with the two newest members of their small troop. st it onto WuKong's, a warm feeling in his chest grew as he watched Chao-Xing and MK interacting with the two newest members of their small troop.