Time passed quickly in the following weeks. I went back to Flower-Fruit Mountain and told them about everything that happened. I took supplies and monkeys back and forth until a small cabin was built around Wukong. I established a few groves of trees on the mountain so I’d have an easy source of food nearby.

  Unfortunately, after that time passed slowly. Seasons changed, and I visited Flower-Fruit Mountain every few weeks, but it seemed like everything was running smoothly there.

  The research division continued to innovate, the agriculture division continued to grow, and the crafting division honed their skills.

  Heaven didn’t make any more moves, so we cut the standing army, freeing up more monkeys to whatever pursuits they wished.

  Flower-Fruit Mountain entered a period of peaceful prosperity as it continued to grow. All I had to do was approve of any new initiatives proposed by the generals.

  For example, a standardized language, codified laws, and a new currency known as a chi coin. They all seemed like good ideas to me, so I approved them. The monkeys changed rapidly, resembling my old world more and more.

  I spent most of my time on Five Elements Mountain with Wukong. To help pass the time, I picked up a few tricks from humans.

  I traded them the fruits I grew on the mountain, and they gave me lessons and objects to help pass the time.

  How to sew, cook, carve, calligraphy, singing, dancing. While their attitudes towards monkeys could use work, I learned that most humans aren’t that bad. They were just trying to survive, like everything else in this world. They were still gross though.

  Time continued to pass. Humans came and went. I finally mastered sewing and could now make myself new clothes. I passed these techniques on to Flower-Fruit Mountain resulting in a boom of clothed monkeys. Finally. It only took about three hundred and fifty years to get them to stop being naked.

  I learned to read and write in the language the humans used, and taught what I could to Wukong. But he kept mixing everything up, and he got frustrated easily. He could read basic sentences, but anything more complicated and he couldn’t parse it.

  I spent a lot of time talking to Wukong. About anything. Everything. We laughed and joked. I fed him fruits I gathered, meals I cooked, and used him as a guinea pig for new recipes I wanted to try. I sat with his head in my lap, petting him for hours, comforting him.

  I learned to sing. I sang while I did chores around the cabin, while I cooked, sewed, or anything else I could sing while doing. I was rough at first, but my voice improved with time. Wukong said he loved it when I sang, even when I was off-key and my voice was pitchy when I started.

  Wukong taught me more about the world and Taoism, telling me about the master he learned under once I took an oath of secrecy. And how he was kicked out for showing off to the other students.

  Life went on. Seasons passed. I took up sword dancing again, something my father originally taught me. I remembered each step like they were engraved into my muscles. This world had sword-dancing too, and I took some time to learn about it, although the dance my father taught me was always my favorite.

  Me and Wukong celebrated our anniversary and the holidays of Flower-Fruit Mountain the best we could. I made sweets, something called moon cakes to celebrate the new year, and shared them with Wukong and our neighbors.

  Our life wasn’t perfect. I wanted Wukong to hold me. I wanted us to both go home and live happily. But I refused to take the talisman off the top of the mountain. The memory of Buddha’s power stuck in my mind. I wouldn’t risk losing everything again.

  Not when what we had was good enough for now. And the promise of better in the future.

  It was a brisk spring day, and I was coming back from harvesting mushrooms and bamboo sprouts from the mountain. I was planning on using them to make a nice dish for dinner.

  I almost dropped the basket when I saw a woman immortal standing outside our door.

  I activated my chi vision, and saw that while she still had active chi, it was much smaller than even a normal person’s. Similar to Buddha’s.

  I set down my basket and bowed to her. “I am Sun Yue, the Monkey Queen. What brings an honorable person like yourself to our humble cabin?” My heart hammered in my chest. Was Wukong finally going to be freed?

  She nodded to me. “It’s nice to meet you Sun Yue. I am Boddisattva Guanyin, and this is my disciple Muzha. I have a task to give your husband. May we come in?”

  I hadn’t even noticed the familiar young man behind her. I nodded furiously, and opened the door for them. “Of course. Please, come in, come in. Would you like something to eat or drink?”

  Muzha eyed the place suspiciously, but Guanyin simply smiled and shook her head. “No, I am afraid we’ve been given an urgent task from the Buddha and cannot stay for long. Is that Sun Wukong?”

  Wukong’s eyes were wide and he practically vibrated as he watched Guanyin with anticipation. “I am Sun Wukong. Were you sent by the Buddha?”

  “I am Boddisattva Guanyin, and I was. I have been sent by the Buddha to find a mortal pilgrim to go west and receive the Tripitaka from Buddha, then bring it back east and teach the people of this land Buddhism. However, this journey shall be perilous and filled with many dangers, so I have been seeking out disciples to help the pilgrim on his way. Are you willing to take him as your master and accompany him on the journey to the west?”

  He nodded eagerly. “I am! I so am! Just pop that talisman off the mountain and I’ll get that monk west faster than you can blink!”

  Guanyin rolled her eyes and sighed. “Something tells me you won’t find it that easy. But I’ll tell him about you and send him your way. He’ll take the talisman off the mountain for you. Be patient and wait for him until then.”

  “Um, Boddisattva Guanyin? Will I be allowed to accompany my husband on his journey?” Nerves that I wouldn’t flitted in my stomach.

  But they turned to relief when she nodded. “The Buddha said that if you wish to go along, you may. You won’t be a disciple, just Wukong’s wife. Will you be okay with that?”

  Stolen story; please report.

  I nodded. “Yes! That’s perfectly fine!” As long as I could go and help keep Wukong on the straight and narrow.

  She smiled. “Then we should be on our way. The sooner we find this pilgrim and start his journey, the sooner you will be freed.”

  I opened the door and let them out, and I watched them from the doorframe as they flew off. Once they were gone, I shut the door behind me.

  And squealed in delight. I jumped up and down, unable to contain my glee. “Wukong! Did you hear that?! You’re going to be freed!”

  He was practically vibrating from where he was in the rock. “I am! And with one trip west on Nimbus, we can head home! I can’t wait to get out so I can hold you again! And see everyone on the mountain! And run and jump and fly and-“ He continued listing everything he wanted to do, but the last one was naughty and made me flush.

  “Wukong!” I berated him and he laughed.

  “Well, it’s true! It’s one of the things I’ve missed the most being trapped under here! Watching you be incredible and beautiful every day but being unable to touch you is one of the most torturous things about this!”

  “You’re terrible.” I laughed. “Oh! I collected some mushrooms and bamboo sprouts today. I left them outside. I’ll make something special for dinner to celebrate. Wait here.”

  “Ha, ha, ha. That joke never gets old.” Wukong called out as I rushed out the door.

  This was it. Soon Wukong would be free and we could just be together again.

  The worst was behind us.

  I waited patiently for the next few weeks for the pilgrim. I started to prepare for Wukong’s freedom, informing Flower-Fruit Mountain, sewing some new clothes for him from a tiger that tried to make its home on Five Elements Mountain, and packing up the cabin.

  A part of me was going to miss the cabin. It was our home for so long. But the memories would stay with us, and we could always make more.

  A few weeks went by in a flash. Everything was prepared. Now we just had to wait for the pilgrim’s arrival.

  Finally, there was a knock at the door. I had been adding some flourishes to Wukong’s outfit when I heard it, and immediately set it down and bounded over.

  I took a deep breath. And opened the door.

  Oh. It was just the hunter who lived a few li away with his wife.

  “Um, Boquin? What are you doing all the way out here? Do you or your wife need help?” Our cabin was a little closer than the city, and I knew some basic chi healing.

  He shook his head. “No, I’m here to help out a monk who said he needed to come here. He helped me and my wife out of a tough spot, so it’s the least I can do for him.”

  My heart hammered as a young man in a cassock peeked out behind him. He had a shaved bald head and had a fancy golden staff he clung to. His eyes darted here and there.

  That was a Buddhist monk all right. I smiled. “We’ve been expecting him. Thank you for bringing him here. I hope it wasn’t any trouble.”

  Boquin shrugged. “Well, I had to scare off a few demons. This kid is a magnet for trouble, so be warned. I even had to rescue him from being eaten when I first saw him. Just keep a close eye on him and make sure he doesn’t wander off and he’ll be fine.”

  “Will do. Oh! I’m going to being moving soon, so you can take this cabin.”

  His eyes widened. “Really? I’m sad to see you go. It was nice to know you were out here if we ever needed any help. But I’ll keep your cabin in good repair and use it on my hunting trips. If you ever want it back, just say the word.”

  “Thanks, but I’m hoping that won’t be necessary if this monk is who I think he is. Take care Boquin. Say goodbye to your wife for me!”

  He nodded and turned to leave. “I will, you take care too Yue.” He trodded off, leaving the young monk behind with me.

  I smiled at him. “Please, come in! Would you like something to eat or drink? I don’t have much, but I have some tea and oranges.”

  “Y-Yes. That sounds nice.” The young monk tenderly stepped in and looked around. His eyes were immediately drawn to Wukong, who was practically vibrating.

  “You’re here to free me right!?” Wukong excitedly shouted, and the monk leapt three feet into the air.

  “AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH! DEMON!” The monk ran back out the door and down the mountain. Shit.

  I summoned my sword and flew after him. “Wait! We’re not demons!”

  “THAT’S SOMETHING A DEMON WOULD SAY!” The monk was not that fast. I got around him on my sword and hopped off.

  “Whoa there! Let’s just calm down. Didn’t Guanyin tell you about us?”

  “No! She just told me to head to this mountain! And go west! But I’ve been almost eaten two times now. My guards were eaten, my horse was eaten and now you two are demons who must have tricked the huntsman somehow! I don’t want to die!”

  I sighed. “We’re not demons, we’re just monkeys. And Wukong is harmless! He’s just excited to get out.”

  “He has glowing red eyes!”

  “Yeah, but that doesn’t make him a demon does it? He can look a little scary, but I promise you he’s quite friendly. Oh! Maybe you’ll feel a bit calmer if we introduce ourselves.” I bowed to the monk. “I am Sun Yue, wife of Sun Wukong, who you saw inside. Bodhisattva Guanyin instructed us to wait for you to free Wukong so you can take him as a disciple and we’ll help you get west.”

  He paused in his panicking and bowed back. His politeness was stronger than his survival instincts.

  “I am the Buddhist Monk Sangzang, but I have taken the name Tripitaka for this journey. It is nice to meet you.” He peeked up. “You’re not going to eat me right?”

  I breathed a sigh of relief. “No, just the opposite. We’ll keep you from being eaten.”

  He chewed on his lip. “Okay. I apologize for my rudeness. My journey hasn’t been easy and my nerves are on edge.”

  “It’s no problem. I’m sure someone who’s been on the road for a long time would be nervous meeting strangers.”

  “I started out two days ago.”

  “Oh.” Two days? A demon tried to eat him for each day he’s been on the road? “Uh, please, come in. Let me get that tea for you. I’m sure it will help calm your nerves.”

  I led him back inside the way one might lead a timid horse who might bolt at any second. I shot Wukong a look to keep quiet and started warming a pot of water using a talisman.

  I fixed him a cup, poured one for myself, and set a bowl full of oranges on the table between us. I offered him a friendly smile.

  “Now, Tripitaka right?”

  He took a long sip of tea and sighed. “Yes, at least for the time being.”

  I nodded. “Of course. Of course. Now my husband has been trapped under this mountain by the Buddha as a punishment for causing trouble in heaven. Guanyin said you would free my husband by removing the talisman at the top, and in exchange he’d become your disciple and help you get west. Evidently, she didn’t tell you about our arrangement, but would you still be willing to go through with it?”

  “I, um, I suppose so. It’s clear you were expecting me, so the Boddisattva must have visited you.” Tripitaka took an orange from the bowl and began peeling it.

  Good. Now that we cleared up that misunderstanding, we could move on to business. “Great! Once you’re done, I’ll fly you to the top on my sword, and you can take it off, then Wukong can fly you to pick up the scriptures and bring them back to the eastern lands.”

  Trip looked up at me. “I can’t fly.”

  “Huh? Well, I mean, I figured, most people can’t, but we can so we can just take you with us.”

  He shook his head. “No. Guanyin said that was the one rule Buddha had for the journey. No one can fly me there, or take me to the western heaven by magical means. I have to use mundane means to get there. No flying, no magical travel, just by feet, horse, or boat.”

  Fuck. This was going to take a lot longer than I thought. My mind whirled and I shared a look with Wukong who looked equally incredulous. Why the hell would the Buddha make this so much more difficult?

  “O-Okay. I guess I’ll just take you up the mountain by foot then. It might take a few days though. I’ll, uh, I’ll get packed.”

  Shit. I might have to make a trip to Flower-Fruit Mountain to get supplies. I only had the barest necessities in the cabin because I thought we’d be leaving soon.

  I grouped together what I did have. I think it was enough to get us there. I might have to make a quick trip to get enough to get us down though.

  Once I packed a bag, Trip seemed done eating. He stood up.

  “Um. If we run into any demons, you’re strong enough to protect us right?”

  “We won’t run into any. Everyone around here knows this mountain belongs to me and my husband. We don’t take kindly to trespassers.”

  Okay, I had all the necessary supplies in my necklace, and I packed a bag full of food for the trip. Just one last thing.

  I knelt down in front of Wukong. “I’ll see you soon Wukong. Your clothes are right there on the chair. Once we free you, come to the top of the mountain. We’ll wait for you there.”

  He gave a slight purr as he rubbed my nose with his. “I love you Yue. Stay safe and hurry.”

  I reluctantly backed away and shifted the bag of food onto my back.

  “Okay. Are you ready to go Tripitaka?”

  He had been watching me and Wukong with a curious expression, but he snapped out of it and nodded. “Yes. I am ready to continue my journey.”

  We set off.