Chapter Text
"Smoke in the air, take cover!"
The warning came just as the first cannon blast ripped through the air like thunder, splashing the sea with fire and smoke. Wukong, standing at the helm of his ship, had been the one to shout the warning. He watched the aggressors with a grin, his golden eyes alight with mischief.
"Looks like the royal navy finally grew a spine!" He unsheathed his golden cutlass and pointed it at the clear blue sky. "Brotherhood! We’ve got uninvited guests. Shall we give them a proper welcome?"
Azure Lion was already at work, barking out orders with the bravado of someone who had seen a hundred battles. He took his role as quartermaster seriously.
"Demon Bull, return fire, man the cannons! Peng, keep an eye out for other ships! Yellowtusk, be prepared to throw off anyone who dares board our vessel!"
"Hard to starboard, Azure!" Wukong requested, leaping across the deck.
The large blue feline roared orders as he marched toward the stern of the ship, situating himself at the helm as Wukong jumped off. His long claws flexed as he grabbed the wheel, turning it and steering the ship to face the invading fleet starboard.
"Let’s see if they can swim!" Demon Bull, grinning like it was the best part of his day, hauled a cannon into position.
He rammed a ball down the barrel, filled the breach with gunpowder, and ignited the powder with a match. The shot fired, slamming into the side of a naval ship. As the smoke cleared, he caught sight of a striking figure on deck. A beautiful maiden stood amidst the soldiers, looking far too pretty to be there. Her eyes locked onto him, not with fear but with anger and utter agitation. Ah, so this must have been the new spymaster he had been hearing all about.
Above, someone leaped from the crow's nest. Peng took to the skies with a cackle, dodging musket fire.
"Is that the admiral I see? I reckon he’s fuming!" They looped around once more, purposely taking their sweet time. "And his son is also here? The captain's gonna love this. Hmm, they're maneuvering through our cannon fire, perhaps I should report back."
"You lot are always make such a mess." Yellowtusk moved calmly, even as the enemy's lead ship suddenly rushed up on their port side, navigating around their defenses.
Wukong, laughing, grabbed a rope and swung onto an enemy ship, landing right in front of the admiral's son. He could still hear the cheers and chirps of his little suns cheering him on, a group of monkeys that were trained to raid ships and gather loot as their leaders fought battles above deck.
"Fancy meeting you here, Nezah. Did ya miss me?"
"That's Commodore Nezha to you, Pirate King." Nezha stepped in front of the woman, shielding her. "Spymaster Iron Fan, take my blunderbuss to defend yourself."
He passed her an elegant pink and gold weapon. She rolled her eyes and pulled out her own blunderbuss that hidden within the ruffles of her dress, now dual wielding. She got to work, shooting at the pesky demon bird that kept circling their sails.
Nezha ignored the comment, gripping his long steel spear, a unique choice for a naval Commodore, that's for sure. Wukong swung his golden cutlass, the blade flashing in the sunlight as their weapons clashed. Wukong could end the fight with a single swing if he wanted to, but he wanted to have some fun first, so he deflected the spear with the flat of his blade.
"That cutlass, I recognize it." Nezha gritted his teeth, pressing forward and forcing Wukong back a step. "It belongs to one of the Dragon Kings under the Emperor’s rule, does it not?"
Wukong scoffed, easily twisting out of the way and parrying the next strike.
"Finders keepers, Commodore! Besides," He spun the cutlass once before pointing it at Nezha with a smirk, "I've been using it for ages, it's as good as mine!"
There was a reason Wukong was so feared. He had never even called himself the Pirate King. Others had done that for him. His leadership and battle skills were unmatched, even against the finest warriors the emperor threw at him. Their ship was outnumbered five to one, yet Wukong remained unfazed. Even as he fought, his mind was already spinning through a dozen different escape plans.
Nezha struck fast, his spear a blur as he aimed for Wukong’s chest. Wukong lept backward and deflected the next strike with his cutlass. The blade gleamed unnaturally, slicing through the air with a power beyond mere steel. It was a treasure that had been fused with magic.
Magic was a rarity in this world, possessed only in small traces by higher beings aucjs as humans and demons, or dragons. However, demons and dragons had more and were more capable of actually wielding magic, but with effort, so could humans.
Wukong had gathered some of the strongest around him. He himself was no exception and may be one of the strongest of all. Super strength, unmatched reflexes, and a cunning wit, he knew exactly how to use every advantage he had. As long as he was on a ship, he was unstoppable.
Nezha lunged again, but Wukong caught the shaft of his spear with one hand. With a single brutal twist, he wrenched it from Nezha’s grasp and brought his cutlass down. The magic-infused blade cleaved through the steel like it was glass, breaking the weapon clean in half. His enchanted blade was able to slice through just about anything, the perfect weapon for a man such as him, and Nezah's spear was no exception.
"Bad luck, Commodore." Wukong tossed the broken spear aside. "Looks like you're fresh out of options."
"Not all of them." Nezha said defiantly, stepping aside.
His father, Admiral Li Jing, was poised behind his son with a raised musket, his finger tightening on the trigger, yet Wukong paid him no heed.
"Ahoy there, Admiral! Lovely day, ain't it?" The monkey chirped with a goofy grin.
"Surrender now, and your execution will be swift and painless." Li Jing demanded coldly, taking aim.
"Alas, very tempting, but I think I'll pass."
The moment he moved to leap back onto his ship, Li Jing fired. Wukong ducked out of the way, dodging the bullets before vaulting back onto his own vessel.
He had a plan, one that would get them all out of this mess. Once back onboard, he realized that they were fully surrounded. Wukong feigned surrender, raising his hands as if in defeat.
"Alright! You win, Admiral. I’ll play nice!" Wukong peeked out over a bundle of barrels
"Wise choice." The admiral kept his musket aimed at the pirate's heart. He turned to some of his soldiers before commanding. "Prepare to seize them."
His hands were in the air, but his tail flicked behind him. To anyone else, it could've been nervous swimming, but to his crew, they were silent orders.
Peng, having retreated back in the crow’s nest after being fired at, used the sails as cover, gliding down to, soaring through the enemy's main ship through an open window in the lower deck. Some time later, the massive ship shuddered, and chaos rippled through the enemy ranks.
"Now!" Wukong shouted, using the distraction to duck behind the barrels right before the Admiral fired. Bullets zipped overhead, forcing the monkey to stay low.
At his command, Azure appeared from below, taking his place back at the helm. The quartermaster’s eyes locked on the enemy's main ship as he steered their vessel, but this time, hard to port. Azure gave a satisfied grunt as the wind pushed them forward.
"It’s time to end this!" Wukong stood up as the admiral ran out of ammo. "FIRE!"
Yellowtusk and Demon Bull were already on the cannons, firing at the surrounding ships. The deafening sound of the blasts echoed over the water, causing enemy sailors to duck and scramble for cover. Each shot found its mark, tearing into the naval fleet, preventing them from firing back in unison. Demon Bull laughed wildly, relishing the chaos.
Wukong, grinning ear to ear, joined in, running from one cannon to the next. He lit fuse after fuse, forcing ships attempting to encircle them again to back off, lest they be sunk. He tightened his bandanna on his head before leaping back into action.
"Come on! Who’s next?"
Up above, his monkeys were grouped together. They scrambled up the mast, calling out with chirps and chatters, doing their best to adjust the sails for maximum efficiency. Peng was back in the air, swooping between the ships, scouting for weak points in the enemy formations.
With their combined efforts, the ship surged forward, its bow slicing through the rough ocean waves. The cannons and constant gunfire ceased as the crew readied themselves for the oncoming strike.
"Get ready, lads!" Wukong shouted as the distance between the ships closed with terrifying speed. "This is gonna be a wild ride, brace for impact!"
Azure’s grip tightened on the helm, guiding their ship as he grounded his feet. Below deck, Yellowtusk calmly prepared for the aftermath, knowing the immediate danger was over but ready to tend to any wounded. Demon Bull was grinning like a madman, eager to see what damage they've done.
The gap between the two ships closed in seconds. The enemy crew scrambled, their attempts to redirect the ship futile, and it had been secretly sabotaged by Peng.
"Retreat!" Li Jing commanded his crew, guiding them away from the oncoming collision.
"Here it comes!" Peng squawked proudly, watching from far above, admiring their work.
"Retreat! Retreat, you fools!" Li Jing shouted orders, his voice filled with frustration and disbelief.
With a bone-jarring crash, the Brotherhood's ship slammed into the side, throwing soldiers off their feet. The deafening slam sent shockwaves through the water. Wood splintered, and planks flew in all directions as the two ships collided. Then, with a loud creak, the Admiral’s ship began to tip. Water rushed into the gaping wounds in its side, tearing it asunder piece by piece.
"AHAHAH! Look at them scramble!" Demon Bull cackled, tossing an arm around Yellowtusk, who was watching the large ships sink.
"That’ll teach them not to corner us." Azure, still at the helm, let out a short, satisfied grunt. "I doubt we'll be seeing them anytime soon."
"They’re too busy saving their comrades to notice we’re slipping away!" Peng cawed, ruffling their feathers. "Fuckin' dummies, what were they thinking going after us?"
Indeed, the naval soldiers had abandoned all thought of pursuit, scrambling to pull everyone from the wreckage before it fully belonged to the ocean. The Brotherhood’s ship remained afloat, the only damage being their bowsprit that had snapped in half.
Wukong, crouched on the railing and enjoying the show, cupped his hands around his mouth and hollered across the waves.
"Admiral! I sure hope you don't get demoted, I'm gonna miss ya! Hope they don’t strip you of your fancy rank, I’d hate to see you mopping floors instead!"
"Nice formation, by the way!" Demon Bull joined in the mockery. "Next time, maybe have marksmen that don't miss!"
"I bet they’re fuming." Peng yawned. "This’ll be all over the empire by morning."
Even the little sailor monkeys could help but celebrate, running around the deck with newfound energy, screeching happily and roughhousing with each other
The celebration was still going strong when Yellowtusk, still observing the fleet fading in the distance, finally spoke.
"This doesn’t sit right, I'm not the only one that feels that way, am I?"
Azure, mid-conversation with Demon Bull, turned his head. Wukong, who had been shining his cutlass, turned to listen.
"Six times." Yellowtusk recalled. "We’ve been ambushed six times now by the royal navy within the last few weeks. My theory is that the emperor’s been preparing something. The rumors I've been hearing must be true, he’s amassing a stricter fleet. A real armada, not just a handful of warships."
That got Wukong’s attention.
"Are you saying the emperor actually thinks he can rule the seas?"
"I’m saying he’s getting close." The elephant rumbled back.
The words unsettled the crew. The little monkeys, still clambering over the mast, hesitated, sensing the sudden silence from their leaders.
"Now that you mention it…" Azure growled, flicking his whiskers. "We haven’t seen many merchant ships lately, have we? Hell, I haven't seen other pirates, either."
"Come to think of it, it’s been a while since we raided anything decent." Demon Bull frowned. "There's nothing worth stealing from the navy, it's getting boring out here!"
"I agree, merchant ships aren’t straying near these waters anymore." Azure sighed, yapping his claws against the railing. "Remember how there are new trade routes? Ones we can’t touch, not unless we go straight through the royal navy. The emperor’s making his move. He’s cutting us off."
"The emperor’s not just chasing us for sport anymore, he’s building a navy strong enough to own these waters." Yellowtusk said, his voice lowering. "And when he does, piracy won’t just be dangerous, It’ll be impossible."
"Sounds like we got ourselves a serious problem." Wukong was still smiling. "I say we do something about it. How about we make our mark in history, eh?"
"Hmm?" Peng hummed. "What are you proposing we do?"
"Sounds like we just need to overthrow the emperor." The king snarled and grinned at the same time, flashing his teeth.
"Now that’s an idea!" Demon Bull boomed a laugh, nearly shaking Peng off their perch. "We should put his head on a spike and parade around town!"
"I'd love to storm into his fancy palace and sit on his throne." Peng squawked, still fluttering to regain their balance. "We should burn all his warships while we're at it!"
"Captain." Azure sighted, pitching the bridge of his nose. "You can’t just overthrow an empire."
"This isn’t some petty battle with some admirals talking about the emperor himself." Yellowtusk gave a slow nod. "His land army is unmatched. Even if we got close, we’d never walk out alive."
"C’mon, guys! Where's your sense of adventure?" Their captain grinned, baring his sharp teeth. "Think about it. We’ve outmaneuvered his army for centuries. The seas are ours, wouldn't you agree?"
"He has resources we don’t." The blue lion crossed his arms, scrunching his muzzle. "Like Yellowtusk said, their army would be too much for us to handle."
"Oh yeah?" Wukong lifted his chin. "And what good’s all his fancy fleets if he isn't alive to control it?"
That earned a pause. The crew wasn’t opposed to the idea, it was just flat-out insane, even for them. So, of course, Wukong kept talking.
"The emperor’s playing his game, trying to choke us out. But here’s the thing, he’s just a single man with a tad bit of magic to remain alive. He hides behind his titles, his castles, and his armies. He fights us from afar. But us?" Wukong gestured around the deck. "We fight with our own hands. We fight without rules. And, I dunno about you, but I don’t feel like letting some pompous royal asshat decide how the seas work."
"The captain's right." Demon Bull nodded eagerly. "He is just a man, a squishy little noble who probably hasn’t even seen a real fight. I'd love to squash him under my foot. Life-extending magic would be useless against that!"
"Ah, yes, I'd just adore to be in the history books." Peng cackled. "It’d be legendary!"
"Even if we went through with this madness, we don’t have the numbers." Azure exhaled sharply, running his claws through his pale mane.
"We don’t need numbers. We need to be in the right place at the right time." Wukong’s eyes gleamed as his tail swayed side-to-side. "The empire runs on fear. The people stay in line because they're scared. The kings under his control are the exact same. But, pray tell, what happens when the most feared pirate crew in the world walks right into his throne room and reminds him who really owns the seas?"
"You really are insane, Captain." Azure laughed.
"Aye." Wukong winked.
Night falls several hours later. They talked about strategies throughout the rest of the day, and they very well might actually go through with their play of overthrowing the emperor.
Night had settled over the sea, the full moon casting silver light across the rolling waves. The Brotherhood’s ship cut through the rough water as the deck was alive with celebration. The scent of roasted meat and spiced rum clung to the air.
"Fellas!" Peng, slumped in the crow’s nest, hiccupped. Their wings flapped lazily as they squinted into the darkness. "Have you ever seen that before?"
"Seen what?" Azure glanced up, frowning. Both he and Yellowtusk stayed sober to remain as the voice of reason if any of the others decided to get unruly.
"Mmm. That." Peng pointed, wobbling slightly as they gestured toward the horizon. "What am I supposed to say? Uhhhhh… Oh! Land hoooooooo…"
A large landmass loomed ahead, shrouded in mist. The island rose from the sea, its silhouette stark against the moonlit sky. There were no lights, and no signs of life besides a dense jungle.
And then, they all heard a sound. It was a voice, rich and ethereal, drifting across the waves, a song unlike any they had ever heard. It was mournful and impossibly beautiful, it washed over them like the tide itself, demanding their full attention. Wukong, seated on a barrel, froze before he took another sip of rum. His golden eyes narrowed.
"What in the name of the high seas is that?"
Azure stiffened, his grip tightened around the hilt of his sword, but he didn’t draw it. He couldn’t. Something was wrong. Even Demon Bull, usually the loudest among them, fell silent to listen. Even the little monkeys, once chattering and restless, were attentive.
"We need to turn this ship around." Yellowtusk was the first to speak up, shaking his head. The elephant's voice was muddled, like he was shaking off a dream.
But none of them moved. The ship drifted closer. The song grew stronger. Something, perhaps someone, was calling them in. Wukong barked out a laugh, shaking off Yellowtusk’s warning with a joke.
"Oh, come on, Yellowtusk, a little song’s got you spooked?" Wukong slurred, lazily draping his arms on the railing. "If anything, maybe we should go find whoever’s singing, maybe we'll get front row seats to the show! Aye, I bet the lass with a voice like this has a face just as lovely!"
Before any of them could agree or argue, the sea turned against them. The first gust of wind hit the sails with fury. The once-calm waters churned, lapping at the hull. A wall of wind slammed into the ship, nearly knocking some of the crew overboard. The haunting melody vanished, drowned by the deafening roar of the storm. If they didn't get out of there, they too would drown next.
"What the-" Demon Bull shielded his face as a spray of salt lashed across the deck.
"We’re getting pulled in!" Azure’s ears flattened against his head. He grabbed the wheel, claws digging into the wood.
"I told you this was a bad idea!" Yellowtusk swore under his breath, scolding his befuddled captain, who was occupied as he threw up over the railing.
The ship lurched forward, the current dragging them toward the shore at an alarming speed. The waves crashed and foamed, rising hungirly, eager to drag them under.
"Why does this always happen when we’re having fun?" Peng flapped wildly, trying to steady themself. They started to quickly descend from the crow's nest with some of the monkeys that had joined them.
"Quit complaining and start helping!" Azure snapped, fighting the wheel as the ship tilted dangerously on one side. "Get those sails under control before we capsize!"
"Alright!" Wukong, still dazed, blinked rapidly as if shaking off the lasting effects of the song, alcohol, and the remaining bile on his tounge. "Now I’m awake!"
But the shore was rushing toward them fast. If they didn’t act now, they’d be smashed against the land before long.
"We need to slow this thing down, NOW!" Azure gritted his teeth, wrestling with the wheel as the ship hurtled toward the shore.
"On it!" Peng, still half-drunk, climbed up to reach the rigging with the bravest monkeys. They cut a rope with a swift slice of their talons, letting a portion of the sails collapse and catch the wild winds at a better angle.
"Demon Bull, move those barrels and cannons to the other side!" Yellowtusk took a hand in commands, still being one of two sober demons still capable of forming straight thoughts.
Demon Bull, with brute force alone, shoved a stack of cargo toward the ship’s starboard side. The sudden shift in weight tilted the vessel just enough to ride the waves instead of being thrown off-balance.
"Brace for a sharp turn!" Wukong, shaking off his daze, leapt into action. He grabbed a loose rope, swinging toward the mast. "Do it, Azure!"
Azure didn’t need to be told twice. He yanked the wheel hard to port. The ship barely missed the shallows, skimming dangerously close as the hull scraped against hidden rocks, or perhaps a coral reef. The ship lurched away from the island. The storm now raged behind them. They were battered, but safe.
"Aaahhhaaa…" Wukong let out a breathless laugh, stumbling across the deck. "Now that was a close one."
And then the ship hit a rough wave, jerking suddenly, just enough for Wukong to lose his footing.
"WOAH!" He stumbled across the slick deck with flailing arms before toppling overboard, falling over the rails.
Azure managed to snag his captain by the scruff before tossing him back on board. Wukong flopped onto the deck like a fish, coughing and sputtering from the salty water that stung his nose.
"The great Pirate King, brought so low!" The lion roared with laughter. "Ruler of the seven seas, terror of the empire, and he can’t even swim, how ironic is that?"
"Ah, hush yer trap, overgrown kitten." Wukong lifted himself upright. "I'll rip ye fuckin' muzzle off, ya damn scallywag!"
"Y’know, Captain, it’s pretty ironic." Demon Bull boomed as he moved cargo back into place. "You're called the Pirate King, yet one false step and you’re fish chum!"
"Imagine that!" Peng wiped a tear from their eye. "The great Sun Wukong, lost to the sea, not because of some grand battle, but because he tripped like a buffoon!"
Even Yellowtusk and the monkeys couldn't help but laugh.
"Mhmm, Really funny." Wukong wringed water out of his elegant clothing and tightens the bandanna on his head, scowling. "Laugh it up while I'm too drunk to care."
"Don’t worry, Captain. We wouldn’t have let you drown." Azure nudged him, nearly knocking the monkey overboard again.
"Uh-huh, just get us out of here." Wukong rolled his eyes but couldn’t help the smirk tugging at his lips.
The crew took an early night to sleep off the Alcohol. The next morning, they were back to sailing. The next stop would take a week to reach their next destination, but it would be worth it.
Next week, they'll overthrow the emperor.
