A little information before we get back to the story. I forgot to mention in this section of the first chapter, that this is heavily based on Season 1, where Mr. No Hands is still the leader of First Squad. No Twin Masters, no Harmonic Energy, none of that.
To Insanity21, I hope you enjoy, but remember your promise! :)
"Monkey Kingdom?" Lin Chung asked. "If it wasn't for the houses, I would swear that this is a Panther village."
"It's magnificent!" Mr. No Hands exclaimed.
"Pretty, pretty!" Jumpy laughed happily.
"Yeah, yeah, it's nice," Mighty Ray grumbled then looked around. "Hey, if this is Commander ApeTrully's memories, where is he?"
At that very moment the red Monkey walked right through the man, but he looked much younger. He was so little compared to them, except for Woo. He placed his hands on the balcony and sighed, tears slipping down his face. There was a noise and Hardwin popped up, though he, too was smaller, but not as small as Blayze. He was smiling, but it faded when he saw the tears.
"Blayze? You okay?"
"I'm fine, Hardwin," the red child replied, but his voice quavered badly.
"Did he hit you again?" Hardwin asked quietly.
"No. It was mother this time."
"What did she say? Or did she hit you again?"
"No hitting. She just reminded me of what a failure I am. She caught me conversing with a Human again yesterday."
"The same one that you won't let me meet?"
"Yeah. Him."
"Why can't I meet him?" Hardwin whined.
"Because you don't speak Human, and you won't sit for lessons!" Blayze growled. "He doesn't understand Monkey. He's just as smart as I am, but he doesn't get languages, just like you don't! He can only say a few things at this point, and I know you, Hardwin. You will make fun of him, and I love him too much to let you do that."
"I will try not to. Just let me meet him!"
"Oh…Fine. My father will be displeased with me anyway. Come. Quickly now."
They leaped down, and suddenly the audience was dragged over the edge. First Squad, save Lin Chung, screamed, and Mr. No Hands started flying from instinct alone. The Monkeys dashed along the vines that were growing on and around the walls. Lin Chung snorted as Hardwin and Woo laughed heartily.
"We will not hit the ground. This is Blayze's memory. Nothing can harm us in here. Right, Hardwin?"
"Completely correct," Hardwin said. "It is extremely disconcerting at first, but you will grow accustomed to it."
The Monkeys were dashing through the forest that surrounded Monkey Kingdom. A thought occurred to Lin Chung.
"Hardwin? Woo?"
"Yes?" they asked.
"You two were conversing in Monkey-speak, yes?" he asked the blue Monkey.
"Yes. We were."
"Then why can we understand you?"
"Hey! That's a good point!" Mighty Ray exclaimed.
"Because, as you said, Lin Chung, this is Blayze's memory," Woo said with a nod. "It is completely from his point of view. He can understand Monkey-speak, so you can, too. You will be able to understand each and every language that is spoken throughout these memories because Latimer has already taught Blayze the ten bases for every known Animal language there is. His studies have granted him the ability to speak everything nearly perfectly, even at the tender age of seven. So that is why you can understand him, Lin Chung."
First Squad nodded and they burst from the trees into a clearing where a single house stood. Four large boys were playing some kind of ball game, laughing and pushing each other. They paused when they saw the Monkeys.
"You're back again?" one asked distastefully.
"Yes, Gang, I am," Blayze said in Human-speak, and immediately First Squad noticed the difference in speech. They weren't sure how they could tell, but it was definitely different from how Blayze had been talking to Hardwin. "Now where is he?"
"Inside reading, of course. All the little bookworm ever does," Gang grumbled. "Now go away. We're actually doing something worthwhile."
"Strength is not everything," Blayze said disdainfully. "Skill and brains are what really matter. Brute force will only get you so far."
"Shut up, Monkey boy," the skinniest boy said.
Blayze snorted and gestured for Hardwin to follow him into the house.
"What were they saying?" Hardwin asked in the only language he knew.
"They were being incredibly stupid," Blayze said blandly.
They reached a door, passing by a man and a woman who didn't even grant him a second glance. They went down a hallway to the last door, and Blayze knocked.
"What did you do that for?" Hardwin asked.
"It is a Human gesture that is asking for permission to enter a room," Blayze explained just as the door opened.
"Blayze!" said the small boy who stood there.
"No!" Mystique Sonia gasped.
"It's…It can't be!" Mighty Ray exclaimed.
"Me," the current Woo said with a nod and a smile.
"Who else did you think I was talking about?" Blayze's voice asked, echoing around them.
"Who spoke?" Jumpy asked.
"Me, of course," Blayze said. "As Hardwin said, Woo and I are quite good at communicating even while lost in memory sleep. Now, I shall start the memory again. Be quiet and listen."
The past figures had been frozen, but came back to life.
"It is good to see you, my dear friend," Blayze said.
"You brought somebody with you. Is the is infamous Hardwin?"
"It is, Woo. It is. Invite us in?"
"Of course," Woo said, stepping aside and gesturing them in.
They went in to a very small room. Blayze went and sat on the bed while Hardwin looked around.
"Why is it so small?" Hardwin asked.
"The smallest room for the smallest person. But don't mention it. He's extremely sensitive about his size. Especially compared to his brothers."
"What are you talking about?" Woo asked, crawling up on his bed again after moving a scroll.
"Nothing," Blayze said.
Woo frowned. "He asked about my room didn't he?"
"Um, yes…I'm sorry."
"Eh. I'd expect him to be curious. I'm probably the first Human he's ever seen up close. I'm just sorry I'm such a poor specimen."
"Woo! You are not a poor specimen! You are just fine the way you are. I would choose you over those brutes any day. Brains are always better than muscle."
"Brawn," Woo said.
"What?"
"The phrase is 'brains over brawn.'"
"Oh…I will never get you Humans. You have such strange phrases."
"So do you. You use 'bananas' as an expletive."
"Ex…what's that?"
"A curse word. I've started using it to get around my parents' rules about bad language. It really confuses them. It is amusing."
"Ha! It is not really a Monkey tradition…amongst adults. Children use it for the same reason you do. Though I know some pretty bad ones. You know, real ones. My father and mother use them a lot. Especially when they're beating me."
Woo nodded then looked sharply at him. "What do you mean, when they're beating you?"
Blayze covered his mouth and looked away. Hardwin looked frustrated.
"What are you two talking about?"
"Father and Mother," Blayze whispered before shrugging at Woo. "It is silly. A little nothing."
"Every time you say that, Blayze, you're hurting badly. Explain. Now," Woo ordered, crossing his arms.
"It's nothing, Woo, really, I…You're not going to let it drop, are you?" Blayze said resignedly as Woo shook his head.
"Don't you trust me?" the Human asked gently.
"Of course. I trust you as much as I trust Hardwin. It's just…you shouldn't have to worry about my problems."
"That's what friends do, Blayze. Now, talk."
"I…there's not much more to tell, actually."
"Why do they beat you?"
"Because they love me."
Every member of First Squad gasped as their jaws dropped. That answer was terrible, and young Woo looked just as shocked.
"What?!" he yelped. "What gives you that idea?"
"Because that's what they told me."
Woo stared in horror at his friend. "No, Blayze, no. That's not how it works."
"Pause," Lin Chung said. The memory did so.
"Why did you pause it?" Woo asked.
"Just to say that that is not as farfetched as you might think."
"What makes you say that?" Blayze's voice asked, though it sounded like he knew the answer already.
"Because my father said the exact same thing to me each time he beat me. 'I'm only doing this because I love you!" he would say then hit me."
Silence. Hardwin swallowed. "I knew that, but it still shocks me every time I hear it."
"You…knew?" Lin Chung asked tightly.
"I did as well," Woo said gently. "But do not be angry at Blayze. With all of the hurt and shame he carries, not just from himself, but all of Big Green, you cannot expect him to keep it to himself. We know all of your stories."
First Squad shifted and they all blushed hotly. "Who else did you tell?" Mr. No Hands asked quietly.
Blayze's voice echoed around them again. "Nobody. Woo and Hardwin are my closest, most trusted friends. I would trust nobody else with all I know. They are the only two who know, and I have sworn them to silence. Just as I must swear you all to silence."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Mystique Sonia asked.
There was a deep sigh. "I consider the start of relationships extremely important. That is a turning point for every major player in Big Green. I helped each of them in different ways, and most of them have horrific and/or shameful backgrounds before they joined Big Green."
"Really?" Mighty Ray asked. "What about Second Squad? I mean, we know about Golden Eye, but what about Kowloon? Alpha Girl? The Lees?"
There was reproach in their commander's voice. "If you do not swear, on pain of death, that you will not talk of this to anybody besides the people here, and even then only in the strictest of privacy, and that also includes the people you see, then I will not show you anything but your own stories. I want to trust you, but I know of your tumultuous relationship with Second Squad. The Airforce and Kwan and Rattle Diva and the others I'm not particularly worried about, but Second Squad…"
"So?" Mr. No Hands asked after a lengthy pause.
"There are two things that could happen when you get the information. You could make fun of them over their shame, which is what I fear would happen."
"Or?" Lin Chung asked, crossing his arms.
"Or you will feel compassion for them and understand them better."
First Squad looked at each other then nodded.
"Alright. We'll stay silent. You've got us curious now," Mighty Ray said.
"Swear it."
"Okay."
"No. Swear it by the sun, the moon, the stars, and the very earth you walk on. Swear by your parents, living and dead. Swear it by the Monkey Guardians, who will break your bones if you disobey."
"What if they tell us willingly?" Lin Chung said loudly before the others could answer.
"Then you are exempt. But drunkenness does not count. Extreme emergencies do count, though. Now swear it."
There was hesitation then Lin Chung repeated what his commander had said. Jumpy went next, then Mr. No Hands then Mystique Sonia. Mighty Ray crossed his arms then did the same thing.
"But," he added, "don't expect me to feel sorry for them. They deserve everything they've been through."
Hardwin and Woo shook their heads. "No, Mighty Ray," Woo said softly. "They do not. So do not say another word about it until you see and hear what they've been through. That is an order, and I'm using my authority as second-in-command."
Mighty Ray's jaw dropped as the rest of First Squad stared at him strangely.
"You never use that authority," Lin Chung said slowly. "How serious is this?"
"Very," Blayze replied. "Now, hush and watch. This is an important conversation. Play."
First Squad went silent as the past figures unfroze.
"Because they love me," Blayze said softly, staring at the ground.
"What?!" Woo yelped. "What gives you that idea?"
"Because that's what they told me."
The Human stared in horror at his friend. "No, Blayze, no. That's not how it works."
"It isn't?"
"No. They don't love you. Not if they beat you. My parents spank me, but that's different. They really do it out of love…I think."
"You think?"
"Yes. They love me. But only a little."
"Why? You're very lovable."
"I'm not big and strong like my brothers. I can't fight."
"As I told your brothers, and you, brains are better than…brawn?"
"That's the right word. And, though I agree with you, most Humans won't."
"Someday you will prove that you are brilliant and they will be proud of you."
Hardwin shrieked. "What in the hell are you saying?"
Blayze filled him in then sat there. "Woo?"
"Yes?"
"I don't want to be like my father."
"I can understand that."
"How?"
"What's your father like?"
Blayze squeezed his eyes shut and whimpered. Hardwin twined their tails together, pressing his face into his lap.
"All he does is fight. He fights Mother, who desires to love him. He fights the servants, who strive to please him. He fights our subjects, who want him to be happy. He tries to fight me, but I am tired of fighting."
"Sounds like you want to be a pacifist."
"Pacifist? What's that?" the Monkey asked curiously.
"It is somebody who doesn't like fighting. There are differing levels. Some don't like it but do it anyway. Some don't like it, but do it when its necessary. Some are total pacifists and refuse to fight altogether."
Blayze nodded thoughtfully. "There are some battles worth fighting, Woo. I believe I am the second one." He then filled Hardwin in. They sat there for a while before Blayze sat up as a thought occurred to him.
"All three of us will have a conversation," Blayze said, first in Human then in Monkey.
"How?" Hardwin and Woo both asked.
"It is a language lesson. Say hello, Woo."
"Hello?"
"No. In Monkey."
He haltingly did so and Blayze clapped. "Your turn Hardwin. Say hello in Human."
The lesson commenced, and soon they were repeating each other's phrases. They watched for a while then the memory faded. They were left in darkness, but they were lit up.
"Why was that important?" Lin Chung asked.
Blayze spoke softly, but there was power in his voice. "That was the first time I realize what I was. Being a pacifist is important to me."
"But you lead an army," Mystique Sonia said in confusion.
"As I told Woo, there are some battles worth fighting. And the one against High Roller is definitely worth it."
