King Louie

The jungle was ablaze in a romping party.

The man-cub had been officially returned almost a year ago. Even though he had missed his chance to make the boy his, to make him one of the monkeys, he at least was able to find another set of ruins nearby. As it turns out, these ruins went far deeper than he expected, interconnected through an underground tunnel that he only discovered when Mowgli had caused the temple to come crashing down.

There was no throne, but he made one of his own from bamboo and branches. Granted it was more of a hammock, but still a throne nonetheless.

"Say king, is there anything that you want?"

His loyal servant spoke to him with a bright, goofy grin, fanning him with a great leaf. Pleased with this demeanor, King Louie grabbed a banana from nearby, squeezing it as he plopped it into his mouth.

"Not yet. But please, turn up the music~ Let's make this place officially party central!"

Grinning, he swung in his hammock, and could hear the monkeys hollering and having a party, beating the drums and other various instruments that they had made from anything they could find. The horns swooned, the drums beat their pulse, and everything was perfect.

It was a shame that the man-cub couldn't have stayed. He would have loved this! Heck, he would have been willing to forgive him for accidentally crashing his previous palace into the ground if he could have just danced. Maybe he should consider going to the man-village and taking him away; surely he would know how to create the red flower. He would probably appreciate some time away from the working man as well!

Throughout the day, King Louie would ponder, walking around the ruins as he thought about what places to decorate and make his own, and what spots to designate as eating spots. All the while, he looked forward to the day where, perhaps, he and the man-cub could look at each other as friends instead of adversaries.

While ascending the tower, getting up it with surprising ease, he was stopped by one monkey. They leapt into his reach, voice frantic as their lips blubbered.

"Out with it!" he cried out, hanging upside down as he crossed his arms.

"S-Shere Khan is here!"

Nonsense. Shere Khan wouldn't dare to come back after that man-cub scared him off. Yet when he went through the ruins, wondering if it was true or not, when he approached the entrance he felt shocked. Betrayed at his own instincts.

There the tiger was, seated at the top of the stairs, claws out while he moved them like a wave before his face. Bored as he waited for the king to arrive.

Clapping his hands, King Louie put on a façade. He stretched his arms out while beaming towards the great Khan. "Why if it isn't you again! And here I thought that you were scared away by nothing but a naked child!"

Rolling his eyes, the tiger groaned. "Enough with the charades. I only came here to inquire." He got back onto all fours, and circled King Louie, who looked at him apprehensively. "So I heard that you, of all the animals in the jungle, have been interested in getting the man-cub and bringing him here."

"Yeah?" He leapt up, grasping the arch of the entrance, hanging there as he swung back and forth. "Perhaps I did. What's it to you?"

"Oh, well." Grinning maliciously, he walked past King Louie, blocking his way back into the palace. Turning around, he sat again, confidence permeating his aura. "I was considering perhaps we could arrange a deal. If you bring my prey to me, I can give you anything you want." He tapped his paws against the floor, observing with a careful eye.

"Anything huh?" Dropping to the floor, King Louie approached Shere Khan, getting in his face. "How about… You leave the man-cub with me? I bring him here, you can have him for a moment, and then I can have him! Fair trade, right?"

Chortling, Shere Khan shook his head. "I don't think you understand how this works. You do something for me, and I do something for you."

"Sorry, can't betray a cousin." Shrugging, King Louie raised his hands, motioning away from the palace. "Now why don't you be a good pussy cat and go play with some vine? Or whatever it is you cats do."

Grimacing, the tiger rose back up. "I don't believe I heard you right. You refuse?"

"Yeah." Crossing his arms, he stuck out his tongue at Shere Khan. "You're in no position to argue with me. I'm the king, baby. The king of swing! The life of the party!" Confident, he poked Shere Khan on the nose. "Now I'll give you a proposition! If you can leave, and leave the man-cub to me, then we're square. Alright?"

Sucking in a sharp breath, his anger growing, Shere Khan didn't speak. He simply sat there, staring with deathly intent as King Louie stood in front of him. There wouldn't be any way that he would even consider attacking. Not in the middle of his palace with his cohorts all around.

Which is why King Louie was caught off guard when Shere Khan went directly for the throat.

He didn't stand a chance.

By nightfall, the ruins were abandoned.

The king was dead.