Jackanapes n. 1: monkey, ape, 2a: an impudent or conceited fellow b: a saucy or mischievous child


"Soraka?"

Annie's voice was high and shaky. Soraka almost didn't recognize her, the child's voice so changed from her usual rambunctious glee.

Soraka closed her book. The Dark Child stood slumped before her, clutching that horrid bear to her chest. Soraka found herself most shocked by how much like an ordinary child Annie looked, and felt torn between being happy such a thing was possible and being very, very worried.

She moved her staff from the bench beside her, laying it on the ground and gesturing Annie to sit. "What is the matter, child?"

Annie hopped up on the bench, still not looking at Soraka. She rocked side to side in her seat. "I…Tibbers misses home."

Soraka's heart melted. After so many years of trying to get Annie to open up to her she finally felt comfortable enough to do so. Smiling softly, she asked, "What about home does Tibbers miss?"

"It's too cold here. At home he feels like he's burning from the outside and the inside." She swung the bear out in front of her, leaving the air wavering with heat in its wake. "And it's too green here. It hurts my eyes sometimes."

Soraka listened happily, asking little probing questions to help the girl remember the good things about her home. She had started to sound more like her old unhinged self when Soraka heard a rustle behind her.

Soraka turned.

Wukong crouched behind the bench, Soraka's staff clasped in one hairy monkey hand. They locked eyes for a long moment. Then he disappeared with a cackle and a poof of smoke, the staff clattering back down to the cobblestones.

"No!" Annie shouted, jumping up and stomping her foot. "That's not how it's supposed to go, monkey! I distracted her! All you needed to do was take the staff! Then we could use it for unlimited roasted bananas!"

"What?" Soraka asked, eyebrows raised. "Annie, I know my attacks are vaguely banana colored and shaped, but it doesn't-"

But by the time she'd turned back the girl was long gone.

Soraka sighed and turned back to her book. Maybe in another couple years.