Hūi Fēng POV
That's good Hūi, widen your stance, no not that wide you'll throw yourself off balance!" I readjusted my grip on my new bo staff, a weapon that I had grown quite comfortable with in the weeks since MK and I had started our training with Macaque, as the surface became slick with the sweat on my palms. MK was off training with Monkey King today so it was just me and Macaque. I brought my staff down in a downward thrust against my unofficial mentor, only to have him bring his own shadow staff up to block. I let out the quietest growl and pressed down further, forcing him onto one knee. Your first strike should be your last. I thought as I narrowed my eyes at him. Unfortunately just when I thought I'd gotten the upper hand there he melted into the floor in the form of a shadow and reappeared behind me as the momentum of my strike brought me downwards onto the floor, my staff clattering against my head as I landed.
"That was a good attempt but you have to remember who you're fighting, if you underestimate your opponent it's going to get you killed." Macaque said but I didn't bother responding as I laid on my back, staring up at the ceiling. Why do I even bother? I thought feeling tears pricking at the corners of my eyes as a dull ache began just above my left eye where my staff hit me. Macaque seemed to be concerned about my silence because he walked towards me calling out, "You okay there kid?" I just closed my eyes, letting a few tears leak out onto the floor and murmured, "What's even the point? I don't have any powers, I'm never going to be as strong as MK or the others... I can't even beat you in training... how am I ever going to manage to help against DBK? I'm... I'm useless...." I let out a long, drawn out sigh and dried the tears that had escaped my eyes. There was a sigh from next to me and I felt a warm paw on my shoulder.
"You know I don't usually like to admit this, but Wukong was always stronger than me." Macaque said in a subdued tone. I levered myself up onto my elbows to look at him.
"Really?" I asked frowning, having trouble imagining even Monkey King being stronger than him after all the time we'd spent training.
"Yeah kiddo, he had it easy: a million times immortal and lots of training in all kinds of martial arts. Not to mention that staff of his, that thing made him pretty OP. But all that made me work harder, I had to fight and scrape to get onto his level, and when I finally did the two of us became unstoppable together." Macaque explained staring wistfully into the middle distance. A small smile began to play on my lips before a thought occurred to me, one that stopped me dead.
"Wait.... If you were unstoppable together why.... Why aren't you still a team?" I asked, fighting the instincts telling me that I didn't want to know the answer. Macaque sighed and I noticed his paw ghost over his left eye slightly.
"We had a difficult relationship, I was strong enough to be on par with him but I couldn't manage to claw my way out of his shadow," he paused, a bitter grin on his face. "It's pretty ironic, huh? Someone always living in another person's shadow who's only magic is shadow based? I mean shadow clones, shadow travel, hell I've even got a shadow staff for Buddha's sake!" Macaque said with a bitter laugh and I frowned. You know you understand how he feels, you've spent your whole life in the shadows. Be they the shadows of those who were born with everything or the shadows of your so called family. Those so called 'chosen ones', always leaving you at the wayside, maybe it's time to prove to them that you are the strong one: the one willing to strive for true strength. Whispered that old familiar, venomous voice that seemed to haunt me. However unlike the usual situation this time I didn't simply brush it off. Maybe.... it's right.... I can't protect my family if I can't prove to them that I've gotten stronger! I'll work harder just like Macaque and I'll prove to everyone that MK and I are equals, and then we'll be unstoppable together just like Macaque and Sun Wukong! I thought triumphantly. I looked over at my mentor and shot him a hesitant grin.
"Well if it helps, maybe you could help me out of MK's shadow, help me prove that I'm his equal or even his better! If your student can outclass Wukong's doesn't that mean that you'll get the acknowledgment you deserve by being a better mentor?" I asked pushing aside the niggling fear of being rejected and focusing on my goal. My fear however grew as Macaque stared at me in silence for a moment that stretched out into eternity before he clapped a paw on my head and began to ruffle my hair affectionately, laughing uproariously. When his laughter finally died down he patted my back.
"You've got it cub," Mac said a grin still painting his face and my eyes brightened at his acceptance but I felt my happiness diminish as he added, "But no more training today." I looked up at him in slight confusion and disappointment.
"Why not?" I asked trying to less vulnerable than I had been up to now. Mac chuckled and poked a finger against my forehead, causing me to recoil and hiss in pain a hand flying to the spot where he had pressed. I'd honestly forgotten about the spot where my staff hit me but now that he'd reminded me that dull ache was back with a vengeance.
"Because that, cub, is starting to bruise." He said rising to his feet. I cupped the spot, scared to actually touch it in case the pain intensified at all.

After treating my head we discussed training regiments that I could follow along with lighter topics like hobbies. I admittedly felt tears prick at my eyes when Mac mentioned enjoying putting on shadow plays. Just like bàba.... I thought with a sad smile. After a while MK came to pick me up, grumbling about Monkey King again, and I said goodbye to my new mentor. Unfortunately I missed the bittersweet notes in his smile as he waved us off. Once we got a little distance between us and the Kwoon I nudged MK with my shoulder.
"Hey, guess what." I said a smile filling my features. MK paused in his rant about Sun Wukong holding him back to look at me with a raised eyebrow at my barely contained joy.
"What's up Mei Mei?" He asked his tone somewhere between curious and concerned. I opened my mouth to tell my brother about Macaque officially becoming my mentor but a voice at the back of my mind said that it would be more fun to tease him for a little while first so instead I just shot him a smug grin and said, "You know what? I'll tell you later."