It was one of those rare, not so bad foster homes that Trinity lived in. She had decent foster parents who cared enough past the government check to ask how school was and even take her clothes shopping once in a while. So when she returned after her adventure with Kim bruised and sore, they freaked. In fact, they made her swear not to go with Kim anymore, they were worried about her.
And to some extent…she couldn't blame them. She really didn't know how to fight, not past a few kicks and punches. She knew how to run but even then that had its limitations. So between the monkey ninjas and her own stupidity, Trinity arrived home with six bruises, two cuts, and too many sore muscles to count.
It was well past three AM when she finished soaking in a tub of hot water, slowly getting out, and was in bed. One of the six bruises had been on her spine which made every angle painful. How did Kim do this? Oh, right, she didn't get hit.
Trinity meant to grab her great times three grandfather's journal and read more about the necklace that Monkey Fist was so fascinated with, but as soon as she hit the pillow she was out. The next two weeks after that were insane with midterms, projects, volunteer events, and SAT boot camps. It was a blur of school and preparation of college, what with it being just a year away. Outside of meals with Kim, Ron, and Rufus – after all, they had to eat no matter how busy they were, so why not make a break of it? – Trinity constantly had her nose in a book or screen.
Throughout the entire two weeks, she kept her family necklace in its box under her bed. The journal sat on her nightstand under all her textbooks and assignments, forgotten for that while. In those two weeks, all her battle wounds had gone away.
When Trinity met all her deadlines, she took the night off. It was full of movies, popcorn, candy, and tea. The next day, a Saturday, she was up early. She had taken two weeks off from her workout schedule and it was finally kicking her ass. Trinity got up at six and did her three mile jog, along with weights at the end. She felt like her old self.
By noon that day, she met up with Kim and Ron, listening to all the jokes and whining that Ron had to offer with a wide grin. Oh yes, she had missed Ron most of all. "Oh hey, your black eye went away!"
Swallowing the poor excuse of tea that Bueno Nacho had to offer, she nodded with a smile. "Yes, thank god. It took long enough. No offense Kim, but I think I might stay out of the missions for the rest of forever."
"What happened anyway?" Ron beat Kim to talk, leaning forward with interest.
Trinity shook her head and explained the entire thing, having been so busy the past while that she forgot to update Ron. "I don't know how you do it with just your pants falling down, but no thanks." She finished her story with a laugh.
"It is actually a bit weird," Kim spoke up, "that Monkey Fist hasn't shown back up so far."
Trinity smirked and commented, "Perhaps he really is just a Monkey Fake."
"Where'd that necklace of yours go, speaking of monkey?" Kim chimed again, ignoring Ron's shudder.
"Oh I have it still. I meant to research it but…well, now I have time." Trinity stretched when she got up, shivering before looking around. She had had the feeling before, like she was being watched during her jog. "On that note, I'll see you two tomorrow. Bye guys!"


It was the Prince who everyone said was spoiled. He was, I can say this because I served him since he was born. While he grew though, I taught him all the lessons I could about honor. When he came of age, I was proven right that my lessons got through to him. He was a man of honor and justice, providing peace amongst his people while his father insisted on being at war.
I knew it was too good to be true though. Prince Alade was accustomed to having everyone bow at his feet; women, money, clothes, food, everything. Somehow though, he favored a few. There was one woman in particular he adored, he enjoyed roasted lamb the most, cotton was most comfortable on his body, and I was his best servant. There was one favored companion that he had and that was Jayeen, a pet monkey that his father gave him when he was young. It was the only gift that showed he cared any, said the servants.
How was I to be surprised that when Jayeen the monkey died, the Prince lost it? His father died in war that same year, the pet monkey died shortly after…how could he stand to lose the last connection to his father? A kingdom meant nothing as a tie, I know, because it was just stone at the end of the day.
But how could he go to the extreme to which he did?
He brought in the dark magic of his land. He brought in a way to keep the monkey alive…a part of, in a sense. He took a part of Jayeen's tail and wrapped it into a spiral, a sign of a long path extended slowly, and had his dark magicians place it in crystal. The crystal is what makes it special, it infused Jayeen's…being in it. That youthful excited monkey would live on in a sense in that crystal.
The Prince wore it daily as a way to keep some part of his pet and his father alive. It kept the monkey alive and…I firmly believe it kept Prince Alade on the edge of sanity. It also…did something else. At first I could not pinpoint it, but it was as though Prince Alade took over his favored pet's personality, his agility, his strength the long he wore the necklace.
It made for a fantastic weapon in war when Prince Alade picked up where his father left off. Many lands were conquered after that. I was so proud of the Prince, as if he were my own son. That was why when he died in battle…I nearly died with him.
It made no sense. How could he be killed? I saw it with my own eyes, having been on the field to help other soldiers. He was stabbed through the ribs…but how? I had seen him move with such astonishing reflexes, I saw him dodge that type of move so many times in the past that…it made no sense.
Only when I examined his fallen body did I realize why he had been killed by such a simple move: the necklace. The necklace that had given him such flexibility, vitality, and strength...it wasn't touching his flesh. It did not work because it had been on his clothing, not on him.
I hid it. I didn't know if it could be used for evil, but I did not want to risk it. I never wore it, but kept it close to me all the same. It held as much of him as it did his monkey. In my will, I placed it in the care of my son and…
Trinity stopped reading. So many pages of handwritten notes from her grandfather, Jacob. It was just after midnight and although her mind was buzzing with the story, her body was exhausted. She closed the journal and placed it back on her nightstand, thinking about the necklace that was under her bed.
So Jacob was a servant to some Indian prince, raised him, and gotten a magic monkey-ability-transforming necklace from it. How interesting. Was that why Monkey Fist wanted it so many weeks ago?
Well…no matter. She was done with that, done adventuring with Kim. She would never see him again.