Flying Monkey

Once upon a time…

At the foot of a sacred mountain that pierced through the heavens and the clouds, there was a kingdom of monkeys.
Amidst the serene and beautiful changing of the four seasons, the monkeys lived in abundance and peace.

The rule of the Monkey King was magnificent; the blessings of nature were distributed equally across the kingdom, without exploitation by anyone.
The disputes and conflicts that once plagued the land had completely vanished.

When the king was young, the kingdom was divided into several small nations, and daily conflicts of various scales occurred here and there.
The king was exceptionally strong and agile, but what set him apart was his unparalleled intelligence. He seemed uninterested in desire, never craving much of anything.

At first, the monkeys feared and obeyed such a king.

As time passed, and the visible signs of conflict diminished, the monkeys began to revere and respect the king.

And when the kingdom was fully unified, with peace enduring, the monkeys forgot about the king’s presence.
No one in the kingdom felt as though they were being ruled by anyone.

The king’s duty as a ruler had been completely fulfilled…

But why was it that the Monkey King lacked desire to such an extent?
It was because, in truth, he had an extraordinary dream, a grand desire he hoped to fulfill someday.

One day, the king stood on a rocky ledge halfway up the sacred mountain, gazing at the vast blue sky.

A monkey attendant approached him from behind.
“Your Majesty… Why do you gaze at the sky every day?”
“Look there… See that?”
The king pointed to the distant heights of the azure sky.
“That’s a condor… It’s soaring gracefully at an incredible height today.”
“Indeed, it is… What a magnificent sight. I wonder what it feels like... Have you ever dreamed of flying through the vast sky like that?”
“Flying? No, I’ve never thought of such a thing… Besides, such heights… they’re terrifying. Your Majesty, do you wish to fly in the sky?”
“Since I was young, no, even as a child, I’ve wanted to fly just once. I’ve never desired anything else. My one and only wish has always been to fly in the sky… Just that.”

The attendant pondered over the king’s words for a while, then spoke.
“Your Majesty, you have achieved so much. You’ve ended conflict, eradicated hunger, and brought peace, happiness, and hope to us. You’ve asked for nothing in return―no feasts, no palaces, no beautiful consorts. Your Majesty, as someone who has accomplished so much, surely your greatest wish can be fulfilled.”
“Do you truly think so…?”
“Yes, as it happens, tomorrow is the new moon―a night when the goddess descends. Please visit the shrine’s altar. For all you’ve done for us, the goddess surely won’t ignore your heartfelt plea.”
“The goddess, you say… Perhaps she might grant my wish…”

On the new moon night, the king went alone to the altar at the shrine and prayed fervently.

Before long, a beam of light descended upon the shrine’s entrance, and the goddess appeared.
“Monkey King, do you have a wish to ask of me?”
The goddess spoke in a calm, clear voice that resonated directly within the king’s heart.
“O goddess, I have but one wish I dearly hope you will grant.”
“Monkey King, you have sought nothing for yourself and have worked tirelessly for the happiness of your kingdom. I am well aware of this. If you have a wish, and if it is within my power, do not hesitate to ask.”

The king’s eyes lit up at her words.
“Thank you, goddess. My one and only wish… Please grant me the ability to fly in the sky.”

The goddess showed a moment of surprise but soon regained her composure and began to speak.
“Oh Monkey King, you are the greatest of all monkeys, destined to grasp the greatest happiness a monkey can achieve. But such happiness must align with your fate as a monkey. To live as a monkey is your destiny. I cannot grant you a wish that exceeds this fate. Monkeys cannot fly. Abandon this outrageous dream and accept the happiness of living as a monkey.”
“Goddess, I have already attained such happiness long ago. My one and only wish is to fly in the sky!”
“Oh Monkey King, that is impossible. Please, awaken from this dream…”
Disheartened, the king lowered his head deeply at the goddess’s words.

Seeing his sorrow, the goddess spoke again.
“Monkey King, though you cannot fly, I shall grant you the ability to understand the language of birds. At least, you will be able to hear from them what it feels like to fly.”

With these words, the goddess gently touched the king’s forehead and slowly vanished into the light.

The next morning, when the king woke up, he noticed the murmuring of the birds.
“There’s grain ripening on the eastern slope of the hill… Better go while the west wind is blowing…”
“Hurry to the river! The eggs in the backwater seem to have hatched…”
“Honestly… I couldn’t catch a single mouse last night. I think I’ll head back to the nest and rest…”
“The red berries across the river are starting to ripen. If we don’t hurry, other flocks will get them first…”
The birds flitted busily from branch to branch, eagerly exchanging news about food in their surroundings.

The king spoke to the birds.
“Birds, can you teach me something?”

A thrush fluttered down to a low branch right in front of him.
“You’re the king of monkeys, aren’t you? What do you want to ask us?”
“Tell me, what does it feel like to fly through the sky?”
“Flying? Hmm... Nothing special, really. It’s just part of our life. If anything, it’s tiring! I usually just want to find a branch to rest on!”
“But surely, sometimes you soar gracefully through the open sky, don’t you?”
“Not really. We birds don’t fly like that. If you’re looking for graceful flying, ah, see that owl over there? He’s your bird! Hey, Owl, Owl!”

With that, the thrush flitted off busily.
A large, calm owl gently landed on the same branch.

“Did someone call for me?”
“I’d like to hear what it feels like to soar gracefully through the sky.”
“The sky, hmm... Well, I mostly fly at night, gliding quietly just above the fields and forests, searching for mice. As for soaring high in the daytime, that would be the condor’s specialty.”
“I see... Then I must speak with the condor!”
“Very well. I’m on good terms with the condor, being fellow meat-eaters. I’ll let him know to come by.”

The king eagerly awaited the condor’s visit. Two days later, at midday, the majestic bird arrived.

“Ah, here I am…”
The condor landed gently before the king, folding his great wings with a lazy grace. His face was calm, but his sharp eyes scrutinized the king intently.

“So, you’re the monkey king who wants to ask me something, huh?”
“Yes, O Condor. There’s something I must know.”
“Hmm, and what would a bird like me, not exactly popular, have to offer a king like you?”
“You soar high and free through the sky. I want to know what it feels like.”
“Why would a monkey like you want to know that?”
“My dream is to fly like you. But I am only a monkey; it’s an impossible wish. So please, at least tell me what it feels like to soar through the sky.”

The condor seemed to ponder this, then a knowing smile spread across his beak.
“Monkey King, you really want to fly that badly? Then why don’t you try it yourself? I can tell you how to make it happen.”
“Really? Is there a way for me to fly?”
“There’s just one way. It’s not easy, but are you willing to try?”
“Of course! I’ll do anything to fly. Please, tell me!”

The condor stretched out one wing, pointing to the towering sacred mountain in the distance.
“Up there, at the very top of that mountain, there’s a place called the Peak of Wings. Climb to the very summit. Can you do that? If you can, your dream will come true. Just take a leap from the peak with all your heart and faith.”

The king made up his mind. He told his followers and kingdom of monkeys about his journey and set off toward the sacred mountain.

“I’ll wait for you at the top,” the condor said, flying off toward the summit.

The journey was long and grueling.

After days of struggle, the king finally reached the top, a sheer cliff known as the Peak of Wings.
The sun was rising, bathing the peak in golden light.

“Well done, King. You’ve made it. Now, pray deeply and leap with all your heart,” the condor urged.
“I will! Thank you, Condor, for guiding me here. I will fulfill my dream!”

The king stood at the edge of the peak, gazing at his vast kingdom below. He closed his eyes, spread his arms wide, and leaped into the open air.

The king’s body plummeted, crashing against the cliffside, tumbling and bouncing down its jagged face.
He heard the crack of his bones, the tearing of his flesh, and then everything faded to black.

At the mountain’s base lay the lifeless body of the monkey king, battered and broken.

The condor landed beside him, calmly devouring the remains until nothing was left.
Satisfied, the condor spread his wings and soared high into the sky.

Thus, the monkey king’s dream came true. In the condor’s belly, he soared gracefully through the skies forever.

The End.