At the End of the World, at Castle of Dragons…

Meetings between the three folks must be held on sacred grounds to prevent surprise attacks or anything dishonorable.

It is here at the End of the World where magic is siphoned away and those who enter are confined to their human shells. It would make sense why the Merfolk would want to do this; they knew that their magic was no match for them… They proved that during the war… they proved that they were now the apex predator. The houses gathered together as their king, the great and powerful Sun Wukong flew in on his Flying Nimbus in theatrical style. He whipped around with his staff, showing off in great fashion then the houses stood at attention.

"House Michishio, Hanabira!" He called while the house leader stood at attention.

"Sir!" Hanabira confirmed while saluting.

"At ease, Hana. No need to be so stiff. Losen up around me." The Monkey King advised before slapping her back.

"Y-yes sir."

Sun Wukong chuckled.

"So, this is the plan? Pretty good I say. Teaching those fish to stay in line by making their Princy boy or Lordy or whatever our slave will be quite humorous. Your nephew is pretty clever." He complimented her.

"Thank you for your kind words."

"Well, you know me. I wouldn't say anything that sweet unless it was true, I am not a feely type monkey." The Monkey King smiled then the Beast Folk began to walk inside, "Since this is your nephew's idea, once we collected the Merfolk involved, he'll need to be the one to do the deed then."

"I understand this, Master. Nagasumi may deem it cruel, but it is needed to be done." She sighed while she knew things would have to be this way.

"Good, well time to pick up the prisoners so we can head home and do the ritual and have the party."

"Sounds good."

They entered inside and they saw the Merfolk Leaders and the Bird Folk Monks waiting for them to begin the meeting. The merfolk looked nervous and melancholy as the beasts made it to the circular table with a small skylight illuminating the room in hues of rainbows. It was truly a room worthy of the dragons as it was decadent and tastefully designed in a manner fitting the First Folk. This was the centerfold of their descendants which the business of the world can be discussed.

"This meeting has been called to an order!" The Bird Folk Monk declared while ringing the gong.

The song vibrated into the room as the room's light grew more brightly until everything was seen once again.

"So… about that Lord of yours and his accomplices?" The Monkey King began as he got down to business.

"They're right here. We'll hand them over to you, their lives for the rest of ours." The empress presented the souls in the cage.

"PLEASE, PLEASE! DON'T GIVE ME TO THEM! THEY'LL RIP ME APART! I'LL DO ANYTHING!"" The catfish pleaded with his sister.

"Smart choice. Cowardly, but smart." Hanabira commented as she snapped her fingers, and her members of the house pushed the cage while the former lord was pleading for his life.

"Good to see that there are some things that change and disappointed that some things have not." Sun Wukong scoffed, "And if you ever try something like this again on my children, at any time, no matter the circumstance, I will bring forth a wrath that not even your little God can protect you."

The empress gulped and nodded.

She knows what the Beast Folk can do, what Monkey King can do. It was best to take this threat seriously.

"Good, then this meeting his concluded. We'll take your bribe. Let's go." He happily declared then they were about to leave.

"W-wait. What will you do with them?" The Empress wondered.

"The less you know, dear little guppy., the better."

Then they were gone.

Within the Mountains of the Monkey King …

The ritual room was ready, and the ooze of the Broken Crown of Command was within the ceremonial dish, Akeno kneeled with no chains or shackles unlike the others while she waited for her fate.

For her, this was not an undeserved punishment but a penance that needed to be paid. This is the only way for her to make up for the betrayal of Nagasumi, by being his servant for eternity. He would save her life despite everything she'd done to him.

Hanabira then appeared from the darkness.

"Welcome to the Ritual Room, the Room where it all began for us, where we understood the value of freedom, life, and nature itself. Here, the Monkey King himself was subjugated by the very people he once called his friends. They abused and tormented him then turned to his children next, to keep them under their thumbs. They didn't know that by enforcing their way upon us, they became the very monsters they swore to defend against."

She then showed the broken crown.

"It wouldn't be long before they did the same thing to everyone else. Sun Wukong would not allow the death of freedom and did the impossible. He broke the crown that confided him and used its power to lock them away, purging the darkness in their own hearts. Ashamed of what they had done and what they had become, they withdrew back into the clouds and fell into a deep, deep sleep. Monkey King was trusted with the crown since he knew the true value of freedom and who can truly bask in it and who can have it taken away."

Soon more Beast Folk appeared.

"This is our history and the reason I tell you this is so you understand what is going to happen next. Freedom is a right, but it is also a given. You all abused your freedom and your power to others and so this will be your punishment. As the wise Monkey King once said, those who abuse the power, lose the power and their freedom too."

Nagasumi then appeared with sorrow and guilt as to what would happen next.

The bowl with the purple ooze from the Crown of Command was presented.