The sun rose, rosy and pale on the horizon. The greenery that covered the land in this late spring season rippled in a light breeze showering the land with a blanket of glittering pollen and life. The wind continued through the valley, rushing up to the base of a lone mountain, it's five close peaks resembling the hand of a great god, or perhaps a great demon.

Sun Wukong, QuiTian DaSheng the Immortal and All Powerful Demon, sneezed.

"I HATE SPRING!" His holler of frustrated fury carried no further than the tiny opening that allowed fresh air, and pollen, to reach him. The seal dangling a mere foot from his face prevented the sound from carrying beyond that small space. What sound did escape scared away any who may have heard. San Wukong often wondered at what they heard coming from beneath the mountain. In the early century of his confinement, he had yelled at passersby for amusement, but, as San Wukong once again assessed his situation, he grudgingly admitted that the shouts in the four hundred years since then were mingled with desperation.

All he wanted was someone to itch his poor nose.

Snorting to clear away some of the dirt, Wukong scrunched up his nose and rubbed it furiously against the dirty stone where he usually rested his head for sleep. Fortunately, it eased the worst of the itch. Unfortunately, it made him sneeze again, and his face was now filthy. Well, filthier. He sighed, resigning himself once again to countless hours of tortured boredom. He wasn't tired. Who would be tired after five hundred years of nothing to do but sleep? He wanted to run again, and fly, and burn something, and be able to shapeshift, and, and, and.

He stopped himself. That line of thinking would only make him sulk again. He adjusted his head to prop his chin in a convenient divot that he himself had worn into the unyielding stone. All this rock, and he had only managed to wear one divot which, conveniently, was where he rested his chin when he was contemplating life and exactly how boring it was. He stared out at the freedom that was so flaming close to him, but so blasted far away at the same time. He really wanted to bend, to burn something, maybe even break something. By heaven, he'd settle for just being able to scratch his back right now!

The sun rose higher and began to shine right in his eyes. Wait. The sun never did that. He had been stuck in the same place for 500 years. He should know. Wukong began to get excited. If he were standing, he might even bounce from excitement. But he couldn't. He squinted into the brightening light, trying to see who was coming to visit him. He really hoped it wasn't one of the Avatars. He didn't exactly have a good rep with them at the moment. The light coalesced into the form of a young woman with flowing white robes, long shimmering locks of pale hair, and a smile that lit up Wukong's day. Literally.

"Yue! I am so glad to see you! Can you pleeeeeease come itch my nose? I can't get rid of it!"

The Goddess of Mercy tilted her head slightly to the side and smiled at him. "I see that 500 years of isolation has done nothing to calm your...temperament." She flicked a finger and Wukong's sneeze, the one that had been building at that exact moment, dissipated. But the itch was still there.

"Thank you, but...my nose?" Wukong asked hopefully.

Yue laughed, the sound bouncing around the small space. "I think that an itchy nose may do you more good than your confinement has." Wukong grumbled, muttering into the dirt. Yue raised an eyebrow daintily, but didn't say anything on his comment. "I do however, bring you an offer."

Wukong lifted his head slightly, eyeing her through his bushy eyebrows. "What could you possibly offer me, hmm? You've already refused to itch my nose." He grinned as he saw the Goddess of Mercy actually roll her eyes at him. Score!

"I was going to offer you a chance at freedom, but if you insist on being uncooperative…" she trailed off, turning as if to leave.

Wukong jerked his head after her, wishing he could reach out to the Goddess. "Waitwaitwait! I'm sorry! I won't do it again! Pleeease don't go!"

Yue stopped and turned back, giving Wukong a look that reminded him why he disliked heavenly beings so much. She was so...haughty. And all-knowing. It was infuriating. He forced a smile and batted his eyes at her innocently. Her smile deepened. "There is a young monk who has been summoned by the Avatar. If you wish to regain your freedom, you will accompany him on his journey and protect him."

San Wukong frowned. The Avatar might be a problem, but he didn't let her see that. "That is all?"

Yue smiled at him again. What is with this goddess and smiling all the time? "Mercy is never unconditional, San Wukong." She stood a little taller, if that were possible, and pointed at him, regality shining from her. "It will not be easy, for even one such as you. Promise, by your true name, that you will do your best not to allow harm to come to the traveler, nor abandon this task before it is seen to completion."

"Ok, fine, whatever," She narrowed her eyes and he started again hastily, "I! Sun Wukong! Swear to protect this monk and guide him safely to his destination. There, happy now?"

Yue tilted her head, sighing with stretched patience. "I said, your true name, Wukong."

Wukong blinked in surprise. His true name… why did she want that? That was the highest oath a being could offer! This must actually be pretty serious if those were involved. Wukong dropped his head to the floor, touching his forehead to the rock. "I, Sun Wukong, QiTian DaSheng. swear to protect the monk and guide him safely to his destination."

Yue nodded. "That is much better."

Wukong sighed in relief. "Great! Where do I find this monk? And...when do I get this mountain off my back?"

"I believe he can tell you himself. As for the mountain… I will let him remove that obstacle as well. It will be good for both of you, I think." She began to drift away again, the light fading again.

San Wukong jerked his head around in protest. "Wait! That isn't what you said! You said you would let me out of here! Yue!"

He heard her laugh from the light. "You should listen better, Monkey King. I said I would offer you your freedom, not grant it." The light faded away with the remnants of her voice. San Wukong dropped his head to the rock again. Blasted Goddess and her precise wording! A breeze drifted into his small enclosure, colored yellow from pollen. San Wukong, the Immortal Monkey King, pulled his head away in vain before sneezing violently for several long minutes.

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