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The Fated Five Chapter 5 (The Neverending Wheel of Karma) Written by Trickster_D and Leo_Todrius For Wolfboyx9 _"Samsara. Our existences, and the universe in its entirety, are like an infinite ocean, an interminable flux of energies flowing both forward and in circle at the same time. In other words, everything in this world follows the never ending wheel of karma.

Any creature, any person, any entity belonging to any of the six realms of existence cannot escape the gentle and yet irresistible movement. Despite their best efforts, they are all pushed forward and around, in a motion that is both intrinsically natural and arcane and mysterious. Because nothing, in this world, never changes. Everything transforms, is born, dies and is reborn anew; that is the law of karma, as simple as it is immutable and absolute.

The wheel spins, without slowing down or speeding up. Even though all kinds of spirits and corporeal beings had tried, in the past, to change its movements to favor their faction or their egotistical desires or simply out of a selfless - albeit misguided - wish, karma cannot be subjugated that easily. And, most of all, karma has its own guardians."_ -Wei Yuvan, 1955

The hum of the tires rolling against the road had a monotonous, almost hypnotic tone that filled the old Volkswagen bus. The instruments faintly glowed, giving just enough illumination to show the passage of time and the depletion of fuel, but the entire band of young men had fled Westward, leaving their campus behind.

"You guys should be thankful, really," Jay was joking with a shit-eating grin on his draconic muzzle as he took a turn right at an intersection. His scaly skin shimmered under the light of the lampposts like ocean water inside an underground cavern. "This was my grandpa's, you know? Pretty cool, if I can say it myself. And I totally am."

"Well, we all have to honor our heritage, no matter what form it takes." Satoshi said, looking at the sun faded carpeting next to his seat. Wade, however, was wide eyed.

"Imagine all the fun someone could have with this thing." he murmured, stroking his goatee almost suggestively. Jay raised a clawed finger in front of his face.

"Don't you dare, goatboy. This is vintage leather, cleaning cum from it is a major pain in the ass," the water dragon said. His eyes darted towards the back of the van, where Sven was snoring peacefully, his furry ears twitching from time to time. Next to him, however, Song was sitting with his legs crossed, his feet bare, a worried look on his face. "Everything okay, Song?" he asked, focusing back on the street.

The Wukong shook his head. "It's just that, well... It was all so sudden. Malik told us we had to flee the campus and to go to my house, but... I still don't know why. I'd feel much better if he were here too." Or my grandpa, he added in his mind.

"Well... How much does your mother know about all this?" Satoshi asked, "Will she be able to shed light, or... do we have to poke around?" he asked gently, trying not to be too forceful or direct with what might be a very sensitive issue. Song sighed.

"Heh, beats me. My mother is kind of a mystery. I doubt she knows much, but she might be able to provide some clues, at least." The monkey boy scratched his hair. "I think we'll find something useful in my grandpa's documents, though."

"We're going to need gas soon-" Satoshi commented.

"And food!" Wade added. Satoshi's eyes narrowed a little at the interruption.

"But... if we keep a good pace, we should get there by early afternoon." he mused.

"Yeah, and no eating while driving, Wade," Jay retorted.

"Good luck with that, we had to get used to crumbs in the bed." Satoshi smirked, leaning back. He slid an arm around Song's shoulder, "You should take a nap, it's been a long night." Song nuzzled the Oni's neck.

"Yeah, but... I'm not that tired, actually. And I'm too nervous to sleep anyway." His amber eyes moved towards Sven's sleeping silhouette. "Wish I could be as calm and collected as he is. It feels like nothing can shake him."

"Well, it takes all kinds... The calm, the collected, the wide eyed, the curious, the adventurous... Together we can tackle anything." Satoshi said, nuzzling Song.

"You know another thing we can do together? Pay for the gas," Jay said from the driver's seat. "This baby guzzles down gasoline like there's no tomorrow." The dragon yawned, showing his pearlescent fangs. "I also need some coffee. There's a station half a mile down the road."

"Maybe they'll have sushi!" Wade grinned. Satoshi's jaw dropped.

"Gas Station sushi? Do you have a death wish?!" he groaned, "I'm going to just have to chalk that up to you being tired... Jay, excellent idea. I'll help you cover the gas." He then murmured.

"You can bet your sweet demon ass you'll help me," the dragon grinned, pulling to the right. "Song, wake the big good wolf up. It's junk food time." he commented as they caught sight of the gas station illuminated by the sun rising behind them as they drove.

****

The old bug bus rolled slowly into one of the five empty parking spaces at the motel tucked back beside the gas station. The dark brown paint was caked with dust from the road, but limited upkeep usually meant good prices. After Jay had yawned yet again after his coffee, Satoshi had convinced the group of the necessity of resting, even with the urgency of their mission. Whatever was coming, they would need to face it with everything they had to offer.

With the car settled, it was Wade who hopped out first and sauntered over to pay for the room, trying not to draw too much attention to how many young men would be using it. It seemed the manager was unaccustomed to guests dropping by at such an early hour anyhow, and was eager to return to bed himself. Wade moved back toward the bus, waggling the key to their room in his fingers.

"Well, that was easy." Satoshi yawned, stretching a bit. Wade shrugged.

"I guess it pays to be in the right place at the right time?" Wade smiled.

"That's what they call karma, yes?" Sven added, scratching his head. "Or maybe it was fate? Not sure."

A blue tail tip darted in the cool morning air and snatched the key from the satyr's fingers. "Come on, guys, stop wasting time," Jay mumbled impatiently as he slid the key into its rightful hole. "If we need to save the world or whatever this whole thing is about, we need to be well-rested." The water dragon opened the door and his short muzzle scrunched. "Ewww, disgusting. Smells like someone has died in here and they still have to take the corpse away."

"Ugh, this reminds me of the first roommate I had..." Wade murmured as he moved in, looking around. He shuddered, his fur standing up on end. He closed his eyes and focused before he held out his hands. There was a brief wave of light that swept out across the room, the scent gradually changing from the smell of death to the smell of a forest with hints of fall leaves and earthy soil.

"What did you just do?" Satoshi murmured. Wade opened his eyes and hesitated.

"I just... was wishing it smelled better?" Wade asked softly.

"Cool," Jay interjected. "At least you are useful as an air freshener, satyr boy," he added, sticking out his forked tongue playfully. Despite the joke, it was clear he was impressed.

"First time anyone's ever accused me of smelling good. Usually they're all, 'don't get fresh with me!'" Wade grinned. Song ruffled the satyr's hair with his leathery palm, a big smile on his face.

"Great job, Wade. I knew I could count on you. I mean, not to brag, but you're my first creation, after all!"

"And I'll never forget that magical first kiss, the kiss that swept me into an entirely different world." Wade said, sticking out his tongue before he moved over and flopped on the bed. After a moment of laying there, though, he slowly started to sink lower. He grimaced a bit at that, but at least the bad smell was gone.

"All that matters is that we can get some rest before the next leg of our journey." Satoshi said. Wade groaned.

"But I'm too worked up to go right to sleep. You know me, usually I have a little fun before bed." Wade said, looking at the boys.

Jay shrugged. "Heh. Can't say I wouldn't mind. I mean, we all basically became what we are because Song got the hots for Wade here, right? I mean, no offense..."

Song grinned. "None taken."

"So, yeah..." the dragon went on. "Maybe sex can actually help us focus. Share our inner energy, mix the elements... I dunno. Does it make sense?"

"Um... I'd like that, but..." Sven looked guilty as he tried to make himself as small as possible, with no actual results to speak of. "I don't think that bed can support my weight, yes?"

"We can leave a tip... It's not like that bed is worth anything anyway, they were going to have to replace it." Satoshi replied, ever the pragmatist, "And I love your weight." he said, moving over to stroke Sven's shoulder fondly. The massive wolfman grabbed the Oni in his arms and raised him gently, brushing their forehead together with a delighted expression on his muzzle.

"Thank you, Satoshi. And I love your warmth," he replied in earnest. Satoshi chuckled and cuddled into the big wolf. Wade reached out and took Song's hand.

"Coming, lover?" he asked.

"Definitely," the Wukong replied, climbing on the bed next to the satyr, hugging him and nuzzling his neck.

****

The Wei household had been built in the nineteen fifties as a normal Ranch Style home, though over the years a loft had been added and modified. The general floor plan matched the other homes in the neighborhood, but the Wei family had painted the house in a bold red and black pattern with hints of gold here and there. A studio extended above the garage, adding a second floor to the house. Bamboo lined the property and lilypads floated on a water feature in the front yard.

Stepping stones were seated in the soft green grass, leading an indirect path to the side of the yard where a tan and red trim lean to structure stood, resembling an outdoor tea house with rectangular slatted lanterns on either side. Despite the borderline stereotypical color scheme, it was a prestigious home and had been dutifully maintained despite Bohai's passing. The garden frequently attracted individuals to pause in their walks, taking in the sight. From a distance the occupants of the VW bug could see it as they rolled up the street, pulling over and coming to a stop along the sidewalk in front. Song cleared his throat before turning to face his four companions.

"Okay, so... my mother's restaurant is closed today, so she should be home. I don't know if that's a stroke of luck or not, since I have no idea about what she knows on the matter, but please try and keep your best behaviour and don't do anything suspicious or weird. I'm especially talking to you two," he added, pointing at Wade and Jay.

"Me?" the water dragon replied, feigning surprise. "Come on, monkey boy, you know I'm the perfect guest. Your mom will love me."

"What I lack in decorum, I make up for in charm." Wade smiled, "I promise, no monkey business." he added before grinning. Satoshi groaned and reached across the seat to slap him in the shoulder for his pun.

"And none of that at the table until we know how much she knows." Satoshi said.

"Yeah, no monkey puns. Or any kind of pun," Song admonished. "And no magic tricks like cleaning the air or sharpening decorative swords or lighting candles with your mind or something. And yeah, Satoshi, that goes for you too. Even if you are the more mature of the bunch, I know how much you love playing with fire." Sven raised a big furry paw.

"I promise. No weird stuff."

"Is there anything we should know before we go in?" Satoshi asked. Song's brow furrowed.

"Um... Well, I'm sure I don't have to tell you specifically, but remember to take off your shoes once inside." Song grabbed the ornate, heavy staff he had inherited from his grandpa. It was warm, and - even though that could've just been a trick of his mind - it felt as if it was gently vibrating, as if some magic was swirling into the wood. "And... well, just be normal. And if he offers you some tea, don't turn her down, for the love of everything you hold dear in your life."

The Wukong climbed down the van and started walking down the walkway. Those few feet, for a moment, felt more like an insurmountable amount of miles. He tightened his grip on the staff, in order to stop his hands from shaking.

"O-okay, follow me. I'll do the introductions," he said, before moving his hand to ring the doorbell. When his index finger was mere inches from the button, however, the front door was swung open.

"Song! What is wrong? Did something happen?" The voice was swift but had a subtle softness to it. The woman standing in the doorway had black hair pulled back into a simple bun, her skin decorated with just a hint of makeup to enhance the already present glow. Honey brown eyes surveyed the boys that surrounded her son before an eyebrow arched, "Oh..." she murmured, suddenly softening more as she processed something that perhaps only she could see. "You boys should come inside and have some tea while Song explains to his only mother why he has not informed her that he has awakened." she said, sounding serious though Satoshi could feel the edge of humor in it.

"Hi, mo... wait, what?!" Song's eyes went as wide as quarters as he mechanically stepped inside the house, right after his mother. His four companions followed suit, in a mix of stunned silence and amusement.

"I mean, I am only trying to do right by my family, to provide for my son... who cannot even be bothered to call and tell me he has inherited the legacy of our family carried through the generations." She said, moving to prepare the tea, "My only solace is that he has found some other spirits to confide in... even a nice Oni boy." she smiled, looking at Satoshi with a pleasant look. Wade lingered behind, having a harder time than the others getting his shoes off in the doorway before he stumbled in and looked at the couch, hoping it was for sitting on more than just decoration before he slowly lowered himself onto the cushions, watching the show going on.

"I... like... I mean... Did you know about this?!" Song was finding it very difficult to articulate a proper sentence. "About grandpa? And... and this?" he added, shaking his staff towards her as if he was trying to defend himself from the assault of a ferocious predator. His mother poured the tea and set the pot down, bringing the tray over to the coffee table. Slowly Satoshi and the others sank onto the couch, not wanting to intrude. Song's mother moved over and reached up, running an artfully painted fingernail through the fluff that made up his monkey sideburns.

"Song... I know everything." She said, holding the straight face for as long as she could before she cracked a smile, betraying some of her father's playfulness, "Or at least enough." She amended before moving to sit down across from the boys, lifting her own tea cup to sip. She looked at them curiously, about how they were sitting shoulder to shoulder with no signs of discomfort at being in such close proximity. Once more her eyebrow started to arch.

"So you can also see us? Like, what we have become?" the young Wukong said.

"Of course I can... A wukong, an oni, a wolf, a satyr... and a dragon." She said, "But... I need you to tell me the other part." she said, setting her cup down, looking at him earnestly. Song gulped. Damn, his mother had always been way too perceptive.

"You mean the reason why we are here? That's what you are talking about?" he asked in a small voice. He was still feeling stunned: not only his mother knew about the whole Wukong business, but she could also see behind the veil of glamour magic. How much more was she hiding? Xian considered for a long moment how much to push her son, but she could see that he was strained from the surprise. She decided not to press her true question.

"Yes, why you've come? It must be important." she said, lifting the cup again, sipping her tea while it was still hot.

"Yeah, well... We don't exactly know much about that ourselves. Malik... Do you know Malik, by the way? He was one of grandpa's... assistants, I guess? He is just like..." Song pointed out at himself and the other four guys in the living room. "Like us." Xian smirked.

"He babysat you once or twice when you were very young... I've known Malik a long time. He arranged your grandfather's travel plans." She replied. Wade accidentally slurped his tea and blushed before trying to consume the beverage in a more respectful manner. Song nodded.

"So, basically he showed up at our campus and long story short, he told us that we were in danger and that we had to leave and come here to find a..." the monkey boy scratched his hair. "He called it 'a way to protect karma'. Apparently, an agent of Order is trying to destabilize karma, whatever that exactly means. And as the Wukong, my duty is to preserve the balance... right?" Xian tightened somewhat.

"Your grandfather kept so many... relics. I've done my best to curate them, but I mostly know their real world heritage." She said, deep in thought, "He did say that if a time of crisis came... that we would have to look to our heritage, to a time in history when art was open to foreign forms, to innovation, to new techniques and designs. But... I do not know what that means in regards to everything here." She said sheepishly. Xian had spent so much of her life projecting an eir of perfection, of achievement. To not know something was hard for her.

From the big comfy chair he was sitting in, Sven timidly raised a paw. "Maybe we can look at mister grandfather's stuff, yes? I mean, if it's okay for you, madam. Maybe it's something that we can only see together." Xian smirked slightly, amused.

"I am Xian... And you may examine Bohai's possessions after Song introduces you all." She said with a stoic and calm voice. Song gave her mother a sheepish grin.

"Right, sorry, I forgot. So, let's go in order... The satyr is Wade Frost." Song introduced. Wade smiled and bowed his head, glad to get his out of the way at least. "He was the first one I found. Or, well, the first one I changed, to be exact. Then there's Satoshi Kato," Song gestured at the Oni." Satoshi respectfully bowed his head, finding Song's home life to be oddly comfortable and familiar. "The wolf is Sven Gustavsson, he's an exchange student from Sweden." Sven gave Xian a big, goofy smile, showing his entire set of fangs. "And the last one is Jay Morris."

The water dragon stood up from the chair he was sitting in, and before anybody could react or say anything, he had grabbed Xian's hand and placed a kiss on the skin of its back. "Delighted to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Wei. I can definitely see where your son got his strikingly good looks," he said with what he definitely thought would be a charming grin. Song facepalmed, his cheeks scarlet for the embarrassment. Once more Xian's eyebrow arched but it slowly returned to normal.

"An eclectic group of friends. I look forward to learning more, but if Malik says that there is danger, you should get to work at once. I'll prepare something to eat after your long journey, but in the meantime you should probably start upstairs in Bohei's room." Xian said. The boys politely finished their tea before filtering through the house, following after Song.

Their journey took them into the garage and then up a narrow staircase up to the second level, emerging in the open studio. Bohei's room, which had also doubled as its office, was the textbook definition of "creative chaos": piles of documents were precariously balanced over old-looking vases, a collection of ancient bronze spear tips was scattered around a big picture stand holding four photos of Bohei, Xian and Song during different stages of their life, starting from when the young man was but an infant, an even the carpeted floor was covered in books and random pottery... and yet, Song knew that his grandfather - if he had still been there - would have been able to point out the exact place of any of the objects in the room.

"So... that's where we should start. I have no idea what exactly we need to search for, though," the young wukong admitted, staring at his four companions to see if they had any idea on the matter. Wade was wandering around, looking through the papers. Satoshi stood in the center of the room, his arms crossed.

"Your grandfather knew this was coming, he... prepared for it, more or less, right?" Satoshi asked. Song scratched his neck, pensively.

"I mean... I guess? At this point I don't think I can make any reliable assumptions about my grandfather." Sven, in the meantime, was looking with interest at the bronze spear tips, his massive tail wagging gently behind his thick frame, while Jay was looking at the ceiling, as if he was trying to find if there was some secret hatch hidden up there. "Although... everything here seems familiar, or at least something my grandpa would possess. Unless..."

"Unless what?" Wade asked, looking up from where he'd grabbed a hold of some of the pottery that had been strewn about. Song's eyes darted around the room, as one of his thumbs caressed the beard on his chin.

"My mother said that in time of crisis, we should look at our heritage, which means the thing we are searching for must be a relic of the past... specifically our past, meaning Chinese history. That seems pretty obvious to me, but what about the rest? The thing about... art being open to foreign forms and innovation? That doesn't really ring a bell to me." Sven turned around, weighing two spear tips in his huge hands.

"Maybe some of these objects were inspired by another population, yes? There's a lot of books here, perhaps we can find our answer in them..."

"I'll do my best, but I'm not the best at doing homework." Wade warned as he started to move around. Satoshi, however, slowly circled the room, looking at the various artifacts. His eyes studied tapestries, carvings, paintings... and then a particular piece of ceramic in the corner behind a few smaller ones. It was a vase, a rather ornate one... and something about it struck Satoshi but he couldn't figure out why.

"Song, your mom runs the restaurant, right? Was that always a family business?" Satoshi asked curiously. Song turned towards his boyfriend, an eyebrow cocked.

"Actually, no... my grandpa was an art merchant, although I'm pretty sure that was just a cover-up for his activities as the Wukong. He mostly dealt in..." Song followed Satoshi's gaze, and his eyes widened every so slightly. "...pottery and ceramics..." The monkey boy walked towards the vase and lifted it up, staring at it with a quizzical look. "This is all wrong. This shouldn't be here."

"Did your mom clean or something?" Wade asked, "Maybe it didn't get put back right?" he offered, though he felt a bit out of place.

"It's not that, it's just... this is obviously a fake, and a pretty blatant one to boot," Song explained. "It clearly draws inspiration from the creations of the Ming dynasty, but it has been made probably twenty years ago at best." The monkey spirit turned the vase around, looking at its smooth, curved surface. "And those five symbols... I'm sure you recognize them pretty well too, Satoshi," he added, handing the vase to the Oni.

"Those are the kanji for the elements." Satoshi said, looking at them carefully, "Wood, Earth, Fire, Water and Metal..." The words were measured, but Wade was beside himself with excitement.

"That sounds like what we're dealing with. That has to be the clue, right Song?" he asked hopefully. Jay crouched slightly to look at the vase from above, and his blue eyes glinted in amusement.

"I'm sure that the fact that on the bottom it says 'This is what you will need. Love, B.' is also purely coincidental," the water dragon snarked.

"What?!" Satoshi and Wade asked in unison before Wade crouched down, looking under the vase. He grinned wider before looking back at Jay, "Look at you, getting that evidence!" Song carefully lowered the vase on his grandfather's desk and looked at his four partners.

"I think it's pretty obvious what we should do, right? There's five symbols and five of us..." The Wukong grinned, showing his pointy teeth. "I guess my grandpa was really banking on the fact that I was going to create four guardians pretty much immediately."

"From what we've learned, it's pretty clear he had faith in you... and in the plan." Satoshi said, reaching to rub Song's shoulder.

"We still need to know what we do with this though. It's a vase, it's got us on it, but how's that going to stop someone that's had ages to be a god?" Wade asked. Sven ruffled the satyr's unruly hair, a toothy grin on his muzzle.

"Well, Song said it is clear, yes? Which means... this is a key. Right?" The Fenrir stared at his creator, who nodded.

"Yes. At least that's what I think. If we provide it the right kind of power, it should... show us the way."

"The power is us, isn't it? The elements?" Satoshi asked, "It has to be why we were brought together like this. We're the key too."

"That's right, Oni boy," Jay replied, gently nudging him. "Now, what's my symbol?" Song pointed a finger at the one that vaguely looked like an asterisk.

"This one." Jay nodded as his palm hovered a few inches from the vase.

"Well, here it goes!" the water dragon exclaimed before focusing on his inner energy. It only took a couple of seconds before the kanji started glowing in pure, enticing azure. "Oh!" Jay blurted out. "It was way easier than I would have thought." Emboldened by the ease at which Jay had accomplished his own feat, Satoshi reached out to touch the symbol on the vase representing fire. He closed his eyes and the symbol almost erupted with red light. The papers around the room were starting to wobble and flap as the air began to circulate. Sven did the same, placing his big paw against the corresponding kanji, which shone in a cold, steely light.

"Now it's your turn, Wade!" he exclaimed merrily, looking at the satyr and nuzzling against his cheek.

"This would be romantic if it wasn't so high stakes." Wade said, his hair ruffling as the air picked up. He reached out to touch his symbol, the enamel extruding out from the vase as if stones were unearthing themselves. Sven grinned.

"Well, I like the idea of being romantic with you, yes?" The big wolf hugged the satyr from behind, pulling him into a kiss as soon as he had activated his symbol. Song looked at the two with a huge grin on his face, before placing the palm against the stylized tree representing Wood, his own element.

"Let's see what happens..." he murmured, as the kanji began glowing in brilliant green. The energy was bright, working on the surface of the vase like some sort of electric lightshow, but soon the colors began to spread, working their way around the vase. They traced the symbols, following the contours, expanding and growing until the entire vase was glowing.

The five young men stood around the vase, each touching it, looking at each other with uncertainty. The light continued to grow brighter and brighter until, in one sweeping arc, it engulfed them all. The papers in the room scattered, swirling around before drifting to the floor. As they settled, one last flash of light returned the vase to the corner, tucked away behind the other pieces of pottery, appearing undisturbed in the midst of the chaos of the now empty room.

****

The resounding rumble echoed through the cave, clicking by steadily and undeterred. The cave was filled with nature, made out of stone and covered with moss and vines. Veins of light pulsed through the rock like the veins of the planet itself, but there was far more in the cave than just earth and plants. Giant stone gears turned, the teeth fitting together like some ancient jigsaw puzzle, all of them working in concert to rotate the massive red stone wheel.

The mechanism had worked for some time to protect itself, to keep the ceiling of the cave closed, but little by little it had been forced open as sunlight streamed down into the cavernous space below. The first few rays of light had managed to make it all the way down to the wheel, showcasing the intricate detail that looked as if it had always been a part of the rock instead of carved. Mythological beings from the world over were depicted on the wheel, going about their lives, doing their great work.

Song's dark eyes snapped open, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling above his head; he stretched his nimble limbs, trying to remember what had happened before he lost consciousness: he was in his grandpa's office, and light had started pouring out of the mysterious vase... and after that, there was nothing.

"What is this place?" he asked, sitting up. His four companions were lying around, each of them still out cold, but - Song realized with relief - breathing slowly and regularly, as if they were all immersed into a deep sleep. "And why am I..." The young man looked down at his own body: he was naked, and he was the Wukong. And not just the way he usually was on Earth, with his human and spirit form somehow superimposed to one another, no... he was just the Monkey King, pure and simple. His body was muscled and wiry, as if pure steel shifted under his skin; the pelt of honey-colored fur on his chest, limbs and head had never looked that luscious; behind him, his slender tail waved in the air with the flexibility and the elegance of a giant cobra, and his penis... well, it was completely erect, and leaking precum like a faucet.

"Oh, damn..." Song murmured, flexing his fingers. "What's with... all this energy?" He felt like he was brimming with power, to the point he feared he was going to explode if he didn't do something about it. Maybe it was the ritual he performed with the others, maybe it was that mysterious place, or that giant wheel whirring and buzzing... "Ungh..." he panted, as one of his prehensile feet wrapped around his erection and began pumping up and down.

A warm breeze passed over Song, perhaps a bit too warm. The source became obvious as the Wukong diverted his eyes to where Satoshi was curled up against the wall of the cave. His bone structure was still the same, giving his face the same contours, but it was so different to see him in his natural Oni state. His skin was as black as pure carbon, his hair bright and vibrant with orange at the roots, graduating outward to red at the tips.

Satoshi was a stark contrast to everything around him. He was hot, dark, and his sharp ribbed horns and shoulder spikes contrasted with the soft, fluid curves of the stones around him. The glowing veins in the rock wall behind him almost seemed to brighten from his heat, channeling the energy out and around the chamber. The Oni's pointed ear twitched a bit before his eyes opened, dark at first before warming up to a golden hue.

"What happened?" he asked softly, looking up at Song. The monkey boy looked at him with hungry eyes, without pausing his lewd performance.

"Satoshi, please... come help me with this..." he murmured, panting. Satoshi grinned a bit, looking Song over.

"Monkey's got a hard on, huh?" he asked, pushing himself up, taking stock of those around them. Satoshi took a few steps before he shuddered, throwing his head back, gasping as his cock sprung to full attention, flinging hot pre through the air. He moaned as the heavy nipple rings he had grew even heavier, tugging his nipples down lower. A gleaming, glowing heat radiated from his ears as thicker piercings formed, tugging on the pointed ears. Satoshi hissed for a moment, "I feel so strong here!" he moaned, looking at Song urgently, wrapping a hand around his own throbbing erection as rings appeared around each of his fingers, glowing bright with the heat.

From nearby, a soft murmur escaped Wade's lips. His satyr tail twitched before he started to wake. It was different to see the skater with his horns real and manifest, no hint of a glamour. They curled around his ears in coils like a true ram. He yawned a bit, his eight inch goatee slipping down to brush against his furry chest as he did so. He blinked a bit before looking around, brows furrowing in confusion.

"Is this a dream?" he asked, reaching over to poke at Jay. The water dragon opened his eyes, and the turquoise irises sparkled more than the usual, his pupils now reduced to thin vertical slits that gave him a more dangerous and yet more fascinating appearance.

"W-what..." he murmured, his frilled ears vibrating. He panted, exposing curved, deadly fangs, as one of his hands went down to massage the slit that had apparently replaced his dick. "W-what's happening?!" he repeated, alarmed, before the tip of a green, pointed, slick reptilian penis started emerging from the folds of skin.

Wade looked down, gazing at the green shaft as if it was the most wonderful and sublime form that he had ever seen. A drop of drool escaped the corner of his lips before he lunged down, plunging his wet, hot, slick satyr mouth around it. He took in inches of shaft in one go, nuzzling and nudging his way down until his lips met with Jay's slit, sucking and slurping and suckling, trying to draw out whatever remained inside. The satyr started to bob his head up and down, faster and harder, his own mythical erection surging well beyond previous measure.

The satyr's hand slipped down, trying to squeeze around his own cock, stroking it fast and urgently as he suckled from the dragon's member. Satoshi grinned despite himself, realizing that they were all experiencing the effect. He moved over to Song, reaching down, his warm hand joining Song's foot paw around his swollen member.

"I know there are important things to be doing, but... I can't hold myself back. You look amazing, you look perfect." Satoshi whispered, reaching up with his free hand to brush the monkey's lush sideburn. Song grinned at his boyfriend, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.

"You too, my fire prince," he said, not caring at all about sounding corny. "Want to ride my monkey staff?" Across the cavern, Sven had opened his brilliant, glowing azure eyes. He was feeling huge, bloated and powerful; he moved on all fours, the perfect synthesis of human and wolf, and his nostrils flared in the air as he nuzzled Wade's hindquarters, his tongue licking the satyr's pucker and his cock - at least one foot of pure canine meat - leaked an endless stream of precum, dribbling to the floor.

"I want you, Wade. I want you to be mine," he growled happily, looking at the satyr, his gunmetal tail wagging behind him and creating a small breeze. Wade moaned happily, his tail wagging as his pucker pulsed and undulated, releasing a musky scent that was potent, powerful, and incredibly alluring.

"Give me all you got, big guy!" Wade panted before he took Jay into his mouth and then, with care, his throat, taking every inch the dragon had to give. Satoshi could smell the satyr's musk, but he grabbed onto Song and gave him a hot kiss, bringing their bodies together, rubbing and grinding their ample groins. Jay looked at the satyr and the Fenrir with unfocused eyes, but managed to grin.

"Maybe... we can share? Each other, I mean... I think I like both of you, to be honest. I like you both a lot..." he confessed, one of his hands caressing the head of the satyr giving him head and the other the powerful leg of the wolfman standing next to him. "Maybe you two would like to have a dragon boyfriend, what do you think?"

Wade extended a furry, hooved leg, looping it around the wolf's in an effort to pull him in closer and get him to take part. He was raring, ready and eager to go. He wiggled his fuzzy satyr butt toward the wolf, trying to appeal to his animal instincts, his mind awash with lust and need and power, fueling the heat that flowed through their veins. Sven's dark lips showed a set of deadly fangs, which would have been considered dangerous weapons in the hands - or, more precisely, the mouth - of someone less good-natured and gentle than he was. He positioned himself right behind the satyr, pressing the point of his tapered cock against the waiting tailhole.

"I like the idea," he said to Jay. "It feels nice, yes? I like you both, and I don't want to choose between the two." He pushed the first couple inches of his dick inside Wade, patting him on his fuzzy leg. "What do you think, my cute boy?" Wade said nothing, his throat full of cock, but actions often spoke louder than words. He drove his hips back, impaling himself on several inches of dog meat as he started to bounce back and forth between his two partners.

"Song... Can you hear it?" Satoshi asked, panting, moving his lips across the Wukong's cheek, his throat, his shoulder. He placed tender kisses on flesh and fur alike, "The spark you ignited, the change, the pleasure, the bond we have." The Wukong smiled back, pulling his erection at an angle so that its point rubbed against the Oni's warm hole.

"I can, it's all around us, and it's so beautiful. Now I want to bond with you much, much deeper, my love..." he whispered lewdly in one of Satoshi's pointed ears. Satoshi moved before swinging a powerful leg up around the Wukong's waist, making sure the way was clear before he settled down, taking the monkey king's staff deep into him. The benefit to being so warm was that the body moved in flexible and fluid ways, letting Satoshi go to town, bouncing on his mate.

The even, steady growl of the gears turning through the cave were present, but they were punctuated by the lewd, hot, organic sounds of the love making taking place. The five beings had joined their power together and emerged at that holy place full of the essence of creation and life itself. Every thrust, every grind, every kiss spilled over with excess. Wade could taste the steady flow of pre pouring from the dragon's shaft, and he could feel the wolf's cock move with such ease and sublime purpose inside him.

With every thrust, every grind, every movement of their lovemaking, the energy spread and swirled around them. The moss grew greener on the beams spanning the cave above the gears. Wild flowers blossomed beneath Wade. Life itself responded to their presence and cooperation. Satoshi sucked on Song's bottom lip before grabbing him by both of his big ears, holding him for a fiery kiss, taking his boyfriend's dick deep. He clenched and unclenched around the shaft, trying to provide every bit of pleasure he could.

The trio of mythical beasts having passionate, wild sex right next to Satoshi and Song, however, were completely oblivious to the natural miracle happening all around them; only the three of them existed, and the uneven and yet perfectly balanced energies they radiated. As Wade was lovingly skewered on both sides, he could feel Sven's dick and its hardness, like tempered steel, stimulating every cell of his pleasure center lodged deep into his tailhole; and, at the same time, copious precum was running down Jay's colorful reptile pecker, nourishing the satyr's thirsty throat like oasis water. And both of them, the dragon and the Fenrir, could feel the energy of Earth itself being channeled through the fuzzy, horned body of their lithe skater friend, enveloping them in a wam, all-encompassing embrace.

Wade had never felt this way before... Sex had been amazing, of course. He adored his new friends, but this was some next level. It felt like liquid destiny coursing through his body. The wolf behind him, the dragon in the front, and he was the conduit connecting them together. He could smell the freshly grown moss, he could smell fresh oxygen, he could almost paint the currents of air working through the cave in his mind. The stone was part of him, the rock, the soil, the contours. He was a part of everything... and he wanted that power to grow.

The satyr's body glistened with sweat as he moved, stimulating his lovers, basking in Satoshi's heat. His lips slurped and smacked, his ass held onto Sven's huge canine cock, trying not to let it escape. The pressure and friction only added onto their dance. Wade kept going, worshipping every inch of Jay's draconic dick, feeling the contours play across his tongue as he went. He never wanted this moment to end. He felt like his mind had grown and changed just like his body had, and that anything was possible.

Song, on the other hand, was attuned with the maelstrom of energies swirling all around him and all around that mystical cave: he was, after all, the lynchpin that had brought the five of them together, the one who had been changed first by the powerful destiny he had been instructed upon and therefore the central piece. The power of water, earth and metal invigorated him more and more, making his monkey staff grow bigger and adding more girth to it as it was still lodged deeply into Song's flaming hot asshole.

"Guess I'm having another growth spurt, huh?" he teased his boyfriend jokingly as he winked, his wide tongue poking through his lips. Satoshi tried to come up with a witty response, but all he could manage was to lock in on Song's tongue and try to kiss him more. Satoshi had been stoic, he'd been stark, but now... he felt like a new kind of man. The Wukong's manhood, his beasthood, was taking up more and more room inside of him. Even Satoshi felt himself in flux. He hissed and moaned, muscles bulging, new spikes protruding from his shoulders, a patch of orange hair dipping down from his chin.

"Grow for me, my kind..." Satoshi panted, "I'm so full, I need you... we need you!" Satoshi moaned, clenching and unclenching his ass. Despite his weight and girth, Song seemed to have no issue holding him, fucking him, supporting him. Despite the Oni's heat, it seemed to only make the Wukong's fur softer and more supple where they touched. They were contrasting elements that covered the natural world, and yet they worked in tandem. They were all connected and for the first time they could feel it on a truly conscious level.

Song melted into the kiss, feeling the gentle flames of the Oni caressing his very soul. He knew he wasn't going to last much longer - nor they could afford to lose too much time, despite the sacredness of their act. They were all there for a reason, after all - but his power, and Satoshi's, and Sven's, and Wade's, and Jay's... they were all merging together into one, something that was both a pillar and a spiral or pure energy, flowing both forward and in a circle at the same time. For a moment, the Wukong seemed unable to keep the grasp on his own physical form: he felt like his body was going to transcend and become part of that pure, irresistible flow... but the weight of his boyfriend riding his cock snapped him back to reality and made him realize how close he was to the climax.

"I'm... going to cum, Satoshi..." he murmured, sweat matting the fur on his forehead.

"Do it... I'm so close. Song, I need you! We need you!" He moaned. Wade writhed between the two cocks, his fingers clawing at the bedrock beneath them. Their connection was operating on so many levels, and it was coming to a head. Song grabbed the Oni's sides and thrusted roughly, burying his dick to the hilt deep inside of him as a primal scream erupted from his mouth; spurt after spurt of dense monkey spunk was pumped into the fire elemental's body, the climax seemingly endless. Song, still crying, blanked out, white stars dancing in front of his eyes as his entire body twitched in torturous pleasure.

What had been an ember sparked to a flame. What had been a glimmer became a roaring wave of light. All five felt their bodies convalesce in a moment, surpassing their physical limitations, allowing their souls to touch. The light washed outward, but their bodies reached their own zenith as they all came - not one by one, but in an instant. Wade felt Sven pouring into him, he tasted Jay, he could even sense the others as well.

In the midst of a radiating light that filled the cavern, Satoshi howled out, his oni cock pumping hot loads straight up into the air that came splattering back down, sizzling on the rock but landing on Song without harm. Satoshi shuddered, feeling his sphincter milk the Wukong for every ounce of seed his body was willing to give.

"Oh... yes! Yes! YES!" Sven roared as his pointed dick forced Wade's tailhole open: a massive knot bulged, and his Fenrir cum - stringy, thick, copious - flooded the satyr's rectum; his arms, thick and solid like pure iron, wrapped themselves around Wade as he climaxed, but the touch was like a gentle caress on the satyr's body. Wade slowly pulled off of Jay and kissed his cock before nuzzling it with his cheek, thankful for the life shaking experience they had shared.

It was a moment both infinite and finite, at the edge of Song's awareness that they were operating outside of time itself. The dust falling from the ceiling seemed to hang, suspended, barely moving while the lovers were coupled and connected. Their orgasms lasted for what seemed like an eternity until, at long last, the light began to recede and their senses returned to them. The afterglow of the exchange was quite real, tangible, clinging to their flesh and fur and scales like an aura for a moment before the last of it soaked into them. They had arrived in this strange place as strangers, but it had welcomed them, waking them up to their fullest potential. It was as if an ancient knowledge had been gifted to them, operating on an instinctive level. This realm was made of belief, ideas, of hope and dreams, of life and death. It stretched out from the start of time beyond the end of it, and it connected all things.

The love they shared had turned into a creative energy to fuel the great wheel of karma, to ensure life continued on as it should, to make sure the balance was kept... but there were forces working against that goal. Dust fell from the roof of the cave, pebbles tumbling after it as the ceiling was forced open little by little, the unearthly light forcing its way inwards. Their enemy was relentless. Song gently set Satoshi down and rose back on his prehensile feet, his fur luscious, his eyes focused, his slender tail waving through the air as if it was tasting the energy flux around them.

"We need to go, now," he declared, and his tone carried an authority that hadn't been there before. "Rise, my companions." The tenor of the cave had changed. They knew what was at stake. Their respite had given them strength, but they had to wield it now. Satoshi looked up, trying to figure out a way to climb out, but Wade couldn't stop thinking about that moment when he'd felt one with the rock, with the earth. He reached out and rested a hand on the stone wall, his eyes narrowing a bit.

"There's another way out, an opening carved through the rock by the runoff..." Wade said softly, not entirely certain how he knew what he knew. Jay wrapped his scaly hand around Wade's fingers and nuzzled against the side of his face with his blue muzzle.

"You are right. I can feel the water. It's like I'm flowing alongside it," he murmured. Satoshi looked at Song, reaching to rest a hand on his fuzzy shoulder. Satoshi reached out to rest a hand on his boyfriend's shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze, signifying that he would follow him in anything direction he felt was best. Song nodded, his expression now serious and determined; he grabbed his staff from the ground and pointed it forward, in the direction indicated by the satyr.

"We have a mission to accomplish, and we can't afford to fail," he said, before a joking smile appeared on his lips. "Let's get ready to kick some spirit ass, you guys."

****

A sweet wind hung in the air, captured in the moment between moments. Cherry blossoms hung suspended, frozen in place. The great branches of the willow tree had stopped mid-dance, and even the ripples across the great pond had ceased. Despite the unnatural seizure of time, the supernatural quality of the pasture continued undaunted. Koi still circled the pond, small creatures still raced across the rolling hills and one figure stood in the waters, icy teal eyes focused on the task ahead.

The violet sky had started to brighten, silver light creeping up from every horizon. The three moons were slowly moving to eclipse one another, and yet the brightest light still came from Alaunus. The spirit's pearlescent skin seemed almost translucent, his gleaming white antlers tall and proud, rising above hair that for once wasn't quite perfect, falling across his face. rising out of his long, sublime silver hair.

Light poured from Alaunus' hands, striking a crevice between the trees, working at the widening gap. The fact that such an important mechanism of the universe had been hidden beneath this particular spot did not escape him. It was yet another glamor, a camouflage meant to keep spirits from interfering. It was an insult, an error, a problem that needed to be rectified. Alaunus focused more intently, summoning every bit of power he could. The grass around the edge of the pond started to darken, turning black and withering away into dust that scattered across the water's surface.

Inch by inch, the gap opened wider, releasing the scent of the cave beneath. It smelled of earth and wood, of fire and water, of metal and... of wukong. Alaunus' lip twitched. Surely it couldn't have been... Not after everything he had done, the precautions he had taken.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," a voice came from behind Alaunus' shoulders. It was young, even by human standards, and had a light and somewhat mocking tone... and yet, it carried within itself a hint of wisdom, the inheritance coming from a past long gone, and yet never forgotten. "That place is not yours to mess up with."

"You... are as insolent as your grandfather." Alaunus murmured, lowering his hands slowly. The light faded as he turned to regard the interloper, then to take in those he had gathered with him. Alaunus' antlers glistened in the day, his body still radiating luminance that contrasted the now dimmer, darker surroundings. The blossoms began to fall again, no longer suspended in a moment trapped in time. Alaunus' lips curled even more into a wicked smile, "You believe that anything I do... could be considered a mess?"

Song stood firm, his arms crossed on his chest, his naked body - save for a pure white loincloth hiding his groin area - covered in thick, luscious monkey fur, his eyes full of quiet power; his four companions stood alongside him, ready to protect him and fight for him if needs be. "Maybe not," the monkey king replied, cocking his head a bit. "Maybe it will be the absolute lack of mess. Which is, in a way, as terrible as mess itself."

"I can see why you might feel that way, a creature of chaos and disorder... I have been trying to clear up the mess that the humans have been making for centuries. I have had to deal with your ancestors even longer." Alaunus murmured, his eyes narrowing as he looked over the Wukong's companions, "And look at the mess you've made here. These spirits were not meant to be woken, not by you, not now... It isn't TIME for them to be incarnated." Song, however, chuckled at those threats as if Alaunus had just told a funny joke.

"Chaos? You must be mistaken, dear sir," the Wukong replied with a big grin plastered on his face. "We are not - never have been - agents of disorder... we just are... like fire," Song looked at his boyfriend, his Oni form burning red and proud. "Or water," Jay's tail swished through the air as his azure eyes glowed. "Or earth," Wade hit one of his hooves against the ground. "Or iron," Sven's gaze was calm - seraphic, even - but his lethal Fenrir claws glistened like swords. "Or wood," Song completed, pointing at himself. "We represent the entirety of creation as it is, the neverending wheel of Karma."

"It may not end, but if it could stop for just a moment... We could have been allies, Wukong. I wanted to clear the garden of weeds before replanting. A fresh, clean start." Alaunus shook his head, "But I suppose once you are out of the way, I can find your successors. I can still make this work. I just have to bring you to an orderly end." Alaunus said before he raised his hands. The flower blossoms began shifting direction before concentrated, pure light began blasting out at Song and his friends.

A thin, sharp slab of polished metal emerged from the ground like the fang of an ancestral monster; it caught the entirety of the light flung at the quintet of spirits, repelling it, pushing it away. "I don't think you should do something like that, yes?" Sven said, showing his fangs in a good-natured smile. "I just want you to know that I am a pacifist, but not everyone here necessarily shares my ideas on the matter."

"I, for one, do not." Alaunus said, gritting his teeth before jutting his arms outward. The light erupted, angled not at the group, but instead the water of the lake. It bounced off the surface, engulfing the group as the water began to heat and boil, sizzling along the lakeshore. Satoshi grunted in rage, barely able to see, feeling the heat climbing all around them. He slammed his feet into the ground, sending out waves of fire. The heat rippled, disrupting the light, diffusing and scattering it.

Alaunus moved one hand up slowly, attacking with another burst of light while keeping the other refracting off of the lake. It seemed his intention was clearly to burn everything to the ground and start over, to try and keep control over the system, to keep it orderly. It was reductive and destructive, destroying life's individuality in favor of having an easier time doing what he was meant to do.

Wade winced, his skin reddening, the ground getting crispy beneath their feet. He took a few steps back before charging, using that momentum against the ground beneath his feet. Slabs of rock shot out from beneath him, forcing Alaunus to bow his head, using his antlers to break them, weakening his focus. All around them the falling cherry blossoms began to glow and burn into embers, falling like fireflies in their last glory.

Jay smirked, waving his hands in the air. "You tried to use water, huh? Leave it to a real pro, then!" A column of pure liquid raised from the nearby lake, before lunging towards Alaunus like a giant translucent snake. "Waterbending, bitch!" he exclaimed. The sudden impact of the hot water made Alaunus stumble back, his light flickering at that. He panted and growled, steam rising off of him. He heaved in and out, looking back at them all.

The color drained away from the spirit as he tried to coalesce his power, to make it tangible. He took a step towards Song, then another, glowing brighter and brighter until he broke into a sprint. Light erupted from the spirit until he was a moving blob of light, gleaming and blinding all at once, limbs outstretching toward his perceived enemy. Nothing would stand in his way, and as far as Alaunus was concerned, nothing could.

As the spirit set foot on the shore, the ground beneath him sizzled and crackled, melting and hardening behind him. He closed the gap, moving straight toward the monkey king. The Wukong, however, didn't move, he didn't even budge from his spot: his arms proudly crossed, he faced his enemy, a calm smile on his lips.

"Come to me, agent of the order," he said, his voice soft and powerful at the same time. "Let's see who between the two of us is in the right." Around his feet, colorful flowers started blooming from the soil, a kaleidoscope of brilliant colors creating an ever-growing spiral. Alaunus impacted Song, the two erupting in a flurry of light and color, of heat and life, of flowers and fire and energy.

"SONG!" Satoshi shouted, a pillar of light climbing upward, fanning out from where the two had hit. The light shot up into the sky, disrupting the silver clouds, breaking through to the blue sky beyond. As the energy faded, the light dimmed, there was only one figure left standing... Song, the Monkey King, standing on the richest, thickest, most vibrant looking foliage any of them had ever seen.

The last few threads of light fanned outward like ribbons caught in the wind. One struck the tree, the bark regaining its luster as new cherry blossoms began to bloom across its branches. Other streams of light struck the grassy prairies, returning color and vitality to it. The lake shimmered as light wriggled and passed beneath the water until fish began to reappear.

The damage done from the attack was reversed and the clearing began to flourish once more, nursed back to health by the creative energy Wukong had fostered... with a little bit of help from the life giving strength of light. The others stood in stunned silence, but it was Wade that made the first move. He stepped up to Song, reaching out, resting his hand on his lover's shoulder.

"Song, are... are you okay?" he whispered softly. The Wukong simply patted his fur with a nonchalant gesture, as tiny sparkles of silver rose from his fur and dissipated into the clear air.

"I mean... yes. Yes, I am," he replied, his voice a bit stunned. "Guess his hubris got the best of him, huh? I wasn't expecting it to be so easy, but... I knew I was in the right, here." Satoshi looked around them all, at the blossoming clearing and then back at Song.

"Photosynthesis? He just wanted to destroy, but you converted his energy into creation... The real power of the Earth." Satoshi murmured.

"Maybe that's what we were meant to do?" Wade asked hopefully, "Why Song was able to wake us up?" Sven nodded at that.

"I mean, it makes sense, yes? Each of us represents an element. And together, we are..."

"Balance," Jay completed the sentence for him. "Neither order nor chaos, but something above them." His demeanor changed as a goofy smile appeared on his draconic muzzle. "Guess we saved the world, right, guys?"

"We saved it for now, at least." Satoshi said, "And we'll save it again if we have to." Song leaned his head against the Oni's shoulder, nuzzling the side of his face.

"And most of all, we'll save it together," he proclaimed. His eyes then shifted to Sven: the Fenrir looked a bit pensive, as if he had just remembered something important. "What's wrong, big boy?" Sven scratched his furry chin with a claw.

"Well... the light has to go somewhere, yes? Just like we are the embodiment of our elements... someone new has to take his place, right?" Satoshi looked at the others, then Song, hoping they'd be ready for whatever came next.

****

Storm clouds had rolled in over the city, catching and reflecting the rainbow of lights from below. It glowed with an ominous, unearthly red hue that only the insomniacs and night owls knew to be normal. A steady, gentle, saturating rain fell across the city, soaking the bricks and lining the gutters. There was a certain magic about the late hour, of operating outside the bounds of a normal rhythm of civilization. There were things to see that no one else saw, and there was a feeling that the world itself had secrets for those few that were still awake. Somehow it made the big city feel more cozy, more comfortable, and just a little bit more personal, at least for Beck.

The twenty six year old stood in the middle of the rooftop greenhouse, tending to the university's crop of exotic species of plants. His brownish-blond hair was pulled back into a short ponytail and round glasses rested on his nose, his sand colored shirt showing a few stray specks of dirt and pollen. Beck made sure that the blue ghost maple had just enough water before he paused in his duties and turned, just appreciating the view.

There were some luxuries to being on the night shift. He'd retracted all the shades from the windows so he could see the skyline and the red clouds in all their glory. It was like standing at the edge of a great concrete mountain rage as the monsoons came rolling in. A soft smile played on Beck's lips as he looked out at it all before he turned back, moving onto the orchids. He loved his job, and he loved that he was good at it. Everything had its place and its time and if he kept everything in balance, all of the plants thrived.

Beck made his way around the greenhouse, giving the bromeliad a little bit of fertilizer to help nurture it and bring out the rich colors. He was making good time, but something felt off, something wasn't right. Beck lifted his head, taking a moment to realize that he was being distracted by a glint of light glancing off of one of the wheels that maneuvered the shades into place. The glare itself wasn't bad, but the fact that it was there at all only confounded Beck's otherwise orderly world.

He turned, eyes scanning the darkened skyscrapers that surrounded the greenhouse, then the tumultuous crimson sky before he found the one break in the clouds at the horizon, the one narrow ray of early dawn light that cut through everything and lanced right into the greenhouse. As he gazed out at the light, it seemed to grow larger, wider, and fuller. The clouds slowly pulled apart and the light grew until it engulfed the entire greenhouse, and Beck along with it.

The transition from a canopy of clouds bathed in light pollution to the unrelenting light of a new day would have been hard for any night owl, but for Beck it felt oddly exhilarating. The light swept over him in a wave, sending a tingling through his body. His arms spread out from his sides, his head tipped back and he embraced the light. It wasn't just flowing over him, it was flowing into him, through him. Even his bones felt warm and bright.

All around him the plants seemed to respond, soaking in the light as well. They stretched taller, the blossoms opening wider, the leaves growing lusher. Beck could smell the plants, he could smell his greenhouse, he could smell the dawn itself... His hair slowly started to bleach out, taking on lighter and lighter shades. Even his sand colored shirt began to brighten to a lighter white, rippling gently against his skin.

Beck moaned softly, unable to stop himself. He had no aches and pains, his body felt the healthiest it had ever been. His toes wriggled in his shoes, his lungs filled with the freshest air he'd ever felt. Even his long, brighter blond hair came unfurled, falling in loose waves across his shoulders. From the midst of his hair, his ears began to poke out as they reshaped, taking on fine points. A faint wisp of color played about the edge of his eyelids, but none of that was as profound as the swelling lumps on the young man's forehead.

It was almost a test of strength to remain standing as the light swept over and through his body, but Beck stood there, taking it on. He shuddered as the heat warmed his skin, his bones radiating the energy that was building up and climbing through him, pushing past his legs, his arms, his shoulders and neck. His skull throbbed, the pressure grew, and with a slight gasp from his lips, nubs broke through the skin of his forehead.

What had started with a small breach became more as the nubs kept pushing out inch after inch. It wasn't long before they proved to be more than even horns, taking on different angles and directions, branching out as they emerged from his skull. They weren't horns at all, but antlers. Beck grabbed onto the counter the plants rested on for support, even as his fingernails took on a silver sheen that matched the faint coloration of his antlers. He moaned louder, his new rack rising higher and higher above his head.

Beck's pointed ears twitched a little as his antlers finally slowed and settled, coming to a stop. The skin around the base healed and the irritation faded. His hair shifted in an unseen, unfelt wind. As quickly as it had come, the clouds slowly billowed back together, cutting off the column of light that had engulfed the greenhouse. The darkness pushed back at the glass walls, only the red clouds above to cast their refracted light... but inside the greenhouse, one unexpected source of light remained. Even without the column of light, even without any direct source at all, Beck was still glowing.

The young man slowly opened his eyes, looking down. His hands were glowing and it was more than an after image. The light spilling from his skin was rich, pearlescent, and the plants at his fingertips seemed to love it. Beck's eyes widened in shock as he turned around, realizing that such prolonged bright light could have harmed the plants, but everywhere he looked, they seemed to have responded to it well. Beck looked at the plants, then the windows, then his reflection, freezing in place. One hand slipped up slowly, silver fingernails brushing his right antler slowly.

Beck opened his mouth to speak, but then hesitated. What was he going to say, and to whom? He had survived a supernatural experience. He had been changed, altered, even transformed. There was also the fact that he had become his own light source. Any one of those would have made it difficult to relate to someone, let alone all of them together... There were no words, at least not yet. Beck's heart was thumping in his chest, uncertainty growing. It was almost at the breaking point when he heard a knock at the stairwell door. Beck froze.

"Beck? Beck Dyer? My name is Malik, I'm from the university... I think we have a lot to talk about." The voice came from the other side before pausing, "I'm like you." he added and after a moment there was a glow through the milky glass on the door, though the glow was wilder and hotter than Beck's had been. What had been a moment of panic blossomed into an infectious curiosity and somehow, in some strange way, it felt as if everything had fallen into just the right order. Beck's fear shrank more as he stepped towards the door, ready to open himself up to what the future had to offer.

****

Despite thousands of photos taken across several decades, with every inch of the campus being publicised and immortalized, there were a few corners that had been seen by only a few. The roof of the dorms, for instance, had no easy access by anyone other than facilities... and those few that were trusted by them. A light, gentle groan came from the roof hatch as it was opened, the metal barrier swinging up and out, landing on the thin cement layer that coated the roof.

Song was the first one to emerge, wearing a stylish, puffy jacket the same color of autumn leaves; he took a deep smell, savoring the countless smells floating through the hair. Light glinted on the small golden hoops now adorning his earlobes, and his monkey tail - only visible to a select few - ruffled behind his back in pure pleasure.

"Nobody's around," he said, glancing behind him. "The coast is clear. Well, the roof." With Song's assurance, the others ascended. As they emerged, a view unfolded before them quite unlike any they had ever seen. It was a bird's eye view of the campus, standing taller than any window or any vantage point. The buildings seemed smaller, the ground so much further away. They could see the tops of trees, the quad, the creek. They could see everything, and in a strange way it put it in perspective. The trees rustled beneath a gentle wind, carrying a sweet smell.

"Even if there were people up here, I think I'd be content just to see the view." Wade said with a soft smile, stretching as he cleared the hatch and moved over to the edge.

"I'm just content because I'm with you guys," Sven - wrapped in a studded leather jacket that could probably also double as a small tent - wrapped his meaty arm around the satyr's shoulder. "The view is also good, though." Satoshi followed Sven up, joining the others on the roof before moving over, not wearing much since he always ran warm. Satoshi moved up to Song and put an arm around his waist.

"We got a lot done... Fulfilled a bit of destiny..." Satoshi said softly, smiling as he looked at his boyfriend.

"Had a lot of sex, which wasn't bad either!" Jay exclaimed, wrapping one arm around the Oni's shoulder and the other around Sven's massive back. His water-colored eyes darted towards Song. "So... what's next? Where do we go from here?" Wade and Satoshi looked over as well. Song had been their guiding light, he'd directed them through so much, although at the moment he seemed a bit distracted.

"Huh?" The Wukong's eyes were wandering on the patch of trees directly in front of the building. For a moment, he thought he had seen someone down there, partially hidden among the foliage... a muscular older monkey guy with a familiar face and the smile of a trickster on his lips. Thanks, grandpa. Goodbye, he thought, as a vague smile appeared on his face. "Well... I guess we'll go wherever the neverending wheel of karma will lead us, huh? But for now... how about a cup of hot cocoa?" The suggestion was met with approval from the others, though they stood on the roof top a few moments longer, wind blowing through their hair and across their bodies, a flurry of cherry blossoms kicked up by the breeze as it swept around them all.