Girl Giant and the Monkey King

by Van Hoang

  She landed on the nearest cloud, which housed a white building several stories tall. She ran up the steps and through the door, slamming it shut behind her. She was inside a huge lobby, and everything was made of white marble. Above her, a glass ceiling opened into the heavens, casting the building in bright daylight that reflected off the stone and made everything shine.

  A girl stared at her, wide-eyed.

  “Help,” Thom gasped, out of breath.

  “What’s wrong?” The girl wore white robes with an embroidered collar, too fancy to be a servant.

  “Someone’s chasing me,” Thom said. For once, she was grateful for her small size, which made her look weak and helpless, a magnet for people who wanted to be heroes.

  The girl took one look at her and pulled Thom quickly from the door. “I know where you can hide.”

  “Thank you.” Thom didn’t look back as they ran.

  “Who’s chasing you?” the girl asked as they moved through the labyrinthine halls. “And why?”

  Beneath the white marble surface of the walls, something shimmered, reflecting light from the glass ceiling.

  “This dragon. I don’t know why. He just—”

  “Here.” The girl opened a closet door and pushed Thom inside. “Let me see if I can get rid of him.”

  Thom didn’t know what to think, but the girl was gone, and she was alone in the small space. It was a storage room for a bunch of wooden fighting staffs, cluttered in the corner. Something moved in her pocket. Was it her phone? Had Ma woken up to discover that Thom was missing?

  Her screen was blank. She had no signal.

  Thom put the phone away, then almost yelped as her hand brushed against something … furry. And that furry thing wrapped its arms—claws? tentacles? legs?—around her finger. She yanked her hand out, then slapped the other one over her mouth.

  A tiny, tiny Monkey King was swinging from her pinky finger and grinning. He couldn’t be much taller than her thumb.

  “Hello, Thom-Thom!” he squeaked. He sounded like someone who had inhaled air from a helium balloon. He tried to fly but could only manage a tall leap before landing on his butt, groaning. “My powers are diminished,” he wailed.

  Thom was so relieved that he was there she leaned against the door. But it didn’t make sense. “I thought you were banished from the heavens?”

  “I am. However, I knew that a single hair could pass through the Veil. I just wasn’t sure I would be able to manifest in my true form once we made it to the other side.”

  She lowered her voice. “I still don’t get it.”

  “I can duplicate myself with my hair, remember? Each golden hair is a piece of me.”

  She’d forgotten about that. The skin on the back of Thom’s hands itched, and she scratched it absentmindedly, wondering what to do next.

  “Where are we?” he asked.

  “I don’t know. I was running from Kha.”

  “That gangly snake-noodle is here?” The tiny Monkey King punched and kicked the air. “Take him down, Thom-Thom. If he tells the gods you’re here, they will send you to the hells!”

  “The hells? What—why?”

  “That’s the punishment for breaking into the heavens.”

  For a second, she couldn’t speak. Why hadn’t he told her that before she’d agreed to the plan? She wanted to throttle the Monkey King, but he was so tiny right now it wouldn’t be a fair fight. “You didn’t tell me that!”

  “I didn’t know the snake would follow you!”

  There was a knock at the door.

  “Who’s that?” the Monkey King squeaked.

  “This girl,” Thom whispered. “She helped me hide. I have to go.”

  “Put me behind your ear,” he suggested.

  She lifted him to her face. His hands tickled as he climbed over the ridge of her ear and tucked himself snugly against her head. “Can you hear me?” he shouted.

  “Ouch, yes. Maybe a little quieter.”

  “Okay,” he whispered. He tugged her hair around himself like a curtain.

  “Better.” She took a breath, still reeling from what he’d told her. If she took too much time, she’d be stuck here forever and never see Ma again. But if someone caught her, she would have even bigger problems. She didn’t want to get sent to the hells. She needed to find that cudgel, and quickly.

  She opened the door, but she must have pulled too hard, because the entire thing broke off, leaving gaping holes in the frame where the hinges had been.

  “Thom,” the Monkey King breathed in her ear, adding to her horror. If he was shocked, then she’d really messed up.

  “No, oh no.” Thom tried to put the door back, but it stayed upright for only a few seconds before it leaned over and fell with a slam that shook the whole building, the whole cloud maybe.

  Thom winced, then looked up and found herself face-to-face with the girl. She must have been close to Thom’s age, maybe twelve or thirteen. Her jet-black hair contrasted and framed her pale face; her eyes were round.

  “How did you do that?” the girl asked.

  “I’m sorry,” Thom blurted. “I didn’t mean to. I can’t control it.”

  “Control what?”

  Thom bit her lip. “I’m strong—really strong. And I … I’m so sorry.” How had she done that? She’d barely touched the door.

  “You must be stronger in the heavens,” the Monkey King whispered. “My powers are diminished here, but your power has increased.”

  But what did that mean? She wished she could ask him, but the girl was looking at her.

  “It’s fine,” the girl said. “The dragon chasing you is gone. I told him you left the Academy.”

  Did that mean this was the Lotus Academy, the one the Monkey King had talked about?

  “He’s dealing with the Jade Soldiers now, too,” the girl said. “They’re mad that he caused needless trouble when they’re already so busy.”

  Thom exhaled, suppressing the guilt she felt that she’d gotten Kha in trouble. “Thank you.”

  “How do you know Kha?” the girl asked Thom.

  “You know Kha?”

  “He’s my archnemesis,” she said matter-of-factly.

  “Oh.” Thom wondered what Kha could have done to earn an archnemesis. And did that mean the girl would help her? “I’m Thom,” she said. “Who are you?”

  “I’m Jae.” She held out a hand, a surprisingly grown-up thing to do. As Thom focused on not gripping too hard and hurting the girl, she noticed a green stone glinting off Jae’s finger.

  “How is Kha your archnemesis?” Thom asked.

  “He’s the bane of my existence, the most annoying person I’ve ever met. He’s obnoxious and relentless.”

  “Wow.” Thom didn’t think Kha was that bad, despite the fact that she’d punched him earlier. That was out of self-defense. He was actually starting to grow on her, even though he kept getting in her way. She knew he meant well. He just didn’t understand what she was going through.

  “Why was he chasing you?” Jae asked.

  Thom couldn’t think of a lie fast enough, so she told the truth. “He wanted to take me to his father.”

  “The general?”

  Wait—Kha’s father was a general? Thom was starting to get a headache there were so many things she didn’t know. Had his father sent him to the mortal world on some sort of military mission? He’d said that he’d been sent there to stop the Monkey King. And that meant she needed to keep as far from the general as possible.

  “Why?” Jae asked. “Is it because of your strength? Is Kha trying to recruit you for the general’s division?”

  Something tickled Thom’s ear. The Monkey King. Thom bit back a laugh. “I am strong,” she blurted out as the Monkey King crawled down her neck.

  “Her ring,” he whispered. But she couldn’t ask what he meant.

  “How strong are you?” Jae asked.

  “Like, really strong. I can lift up an eighteen-wheeler.” At the girl’s look of conf
usion, Thom added, “It’s a really heavy, um, vehicle. It weighs tons.”

  Jae’s expression cleared. “Are you as strong as the Boy Giant?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t think so. He’s a god, right? I’m just … I was,” Thom said, “just a mortal.”

  “The Boy Giant was, too, before he became one of the Four. Have you talked to him? He could tell you more about yourself.”

  “Talk to him?”

  “Come on, I can show you to his office.”

  “Oh. That’s very nice of you, but you’re probably busy…” She needed to get to the Jade Palace and to the armory. She didn’t have time to talk to the Boy Giant, no matter how much she wanted to learn more about herself. There was no point—not unless he could take her power away. And even if Thom learned to control it, Kathy knew now and would tell everyone. Thom didn’t have any choice but to steal the cudgel so the Monkey King could get rid of her strength.

  But the girl insisted. “I was on my way to see him anyway. Besides, we need to tell someone about that.” Jae nodded at the broken door.

  Thom scratched the back of her hands, then stuffed them in her pockets, but she didn’t see any way out of it.

  “Yes, yes,” the Monkey whispered from her hair. “Follow her. We need that ring.”

  “Okay,” Thom said weakly. “Where is it?”

  “It’s here in the Lotus Academy,” Jae said. “The Boy Giant hasn’t been here too long. Just a decade or so.”

  Jae didn’t think a decade was long? How old was this girl? Thom looked around, at the high ceilings, the white marble floors and walls. The place was plain and yet somehow opulent. Its minimal decor said more about how important it was than any glittering chandeliers or heavy furniture could. This was where the Lotus Students trained to become Jade Soldiers.

  “After the Boy Giant came back from the mortal realm, he secluded himself for years and we all thought we’d never see him again, like the rest of the Four,” Jae said as they walked. “But then the Lotus Master convinced him to use his experience to train the Jade Army.”

  Thom ogled everything they passed. Inside open doors, students gathered in white robes, some sparring and fighting, some meditating, some studying from heavy books. No one paid attention to Thom or Jae, too focused on their own activities.

  They reached a suite of rooms. Jae knocked gently on the closed door at the back of the suite, as if she didn’t want to startle whoever was inside. “Master? Are you in there?”

  “Yes,” a nervous-sounding voice answered through the door. “Who is it? We don’t have an appointment. Do we?”

  “It’s Jae. Father asked me to give you something, and there’s someone here who needs to talk to you.”

  A moment of silence before the door opened, and Thom came face-to-face with the Boy Giant.

  25

  HE WAS ABOUT MA’S AGE. But he was much taller than her, his bald head smooth and unadorned. And he was dressed in elaborate purple-and-gold robes. As he moved, his skin was illuminated by the light, a golden color that seemed to glow. Thom thought she was imagining it, but when he opened the door, his skin brightened even more. He really was a god.

  “Jae, hi! And Jae’s friend, hi.” His second “hi” was not as excited. Thom sympathized—she hated to be surprised by new people, too. But as his gaze fell on Thom, something odd happened to his face: a freezing motion, an unhinging of his jaw before he snapped his mouth closed. “Hi,” he said again, his voice softer when he spoke to her this time.

  “I’m Thom.”

  “Yes, I … Hello,” he sputtered. “Come in, come in.” He opened the door wider and ushered them inside. The room was bare, though colorful mats were spread across the floor. “Excuse the mess,” the Boy Giant said, leading them toward the back of the room through another door. “We had a meditation class earlier, and then I had the strongest craving for moon cake. I was preparing some tea—and cookies, of course. Would you like to join me?”

  His gaze flickered to Thom, but when she smiled back, he looked away, busying himself by ushering them to a table.

  “Sit, please, I’ll … um…” He dashed off.

  His nervous energy made Thom want to help, and it was weird to sit down while the Boy Giant—a god—served her. But Jae gestured for Thom to sit with such authority that Thom sat. She focused on her surroundings. The Boy Giant’s office was filled with ancient books, scrolls, and throw pillows. Brightly colored cushions cluttered the floor, the couch, even the chairs where they sat. A scent filled the air, a delicious savory smell, followed by something sweet and comforting.

  The Boy Giant returned with a plate of cookies still hot from the oven. Then he said, “Pork buns? Or spring rolls? Or maybe wontons?” He didn’t wait for them to answer. “Never mind. I’ll bring them all out.”

  “Oh, you don’t have to,” Thom said, unable to relax when she had been trained from birth to help in such a situation. “We’re not that hungry, and we don’t want to take too much of your time.”

  She regretted saying that when she saw the Boy Giant’s crestfallen expression. Jae nudged her with an elbow.

  The Monkey King giggled in her ear. “Just eat the cookies, Thom-Thom.”

  Thom inhaled deeply. “Actually, I was wrong,” she said. “It smells delicious, and I’m starving.”

  The Boy Giant smiled and nodded vigorously, placing a plate in front of her and piling pork buns and wontons onto it. “Eat, eat, eat. You are so small. I had no idea…” His voice grew quieter, and she thought he mumbled, “I should send them more peaches,” but she couldn’t be sure, because why would he say that?

  He added the last wonton to Thom’s plate, not noticing that Jae had been reaching for it. Thom slipped it to Jae when the Boy Giant wasn’t watching, and the girl smiled and winked a bit too hard, like she had never actually done it before but had always wanted to.

  The Boy Giant sat down. He looked at Thom, and she looked back. He seemed so nervous, which made her even more nervous, but there was also a familiarity about him, like they’d met before but she couldn’t remember when. She was sure she wouldn’t have forgotten an encounter with one of the Four Immortals, though.

  No one spoke. Jae had her mouth full, Thom wasn’t sure what to say, and the Boy Giant took up his teacup.

  “Oh, sugar!” he said. “I forgot the sugar. Would you like some, Thom? How do you take your tea? Creamer? Milk? Condensed milk is my favorite.” He must have realized he was babbling, and he pressed his lips together as if to force himself to stop.

  “Sure, I’ll have whatever you have,” Thom said politely.

  “But what do you like?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t really drink tea. I mean, I’ve never had it like this.” She gestured at the elaborate table.

  He set his cup down. “You don’t drink tea? But … your mom must … Doesn’t she?”

  “I’m sure she does, but I don’t. I mean, I like boba. Does that count?”

  “Boba?” He seemed unsure, then got up abruptly and returned with even more ceramic cups, full of milk and sugar. “Try the condensed milk.” He fixed a cup with a frown on his face. “It’s quite difficult to believe you’ve never had tea like this. Your mother loves tea,” he said. “Doesn’t she?” he added quickly.

  “I think so,” Thom said.

  “But she must!”

  Thom gave him a weird look. How would he know what Ma liked?

  He cleared his throat. “It’s just … tea is so important! Here, try this.”

  She grasped the cup as carefully as she could manage and took a sip. Her eyes widened. “Okay, I know why Ma wouldn’t want me to drink this. It’s delicious.” Deliciously sweet. Ma was okay with microwaved meals but not with too much sugar, though probably because she didn’t want Thom jumping off the walls.

  “Yes, condensed milk is the best.” He made an okay sign with his thumb and index finger. “And how is your mother?” he asked, his eyes innocently wide. “Are the two of you close?”r />
  “Yeah, we are.” Thom and Ma had always only had each other.

  “And does she still like—I mean, does she like … cookies?”

  “Yeah, but she doesn’t let me eat too much.”

  “Mm-hmm, mm-hmm,” he murmured. “What about peaches?”

  “We never have peaches at home.” Why was the Boy Giant asking her all this? Thom hid her face behind her teacup.

  “Ah,” he muttered to himself, nodding.

  They fell quiet as they drank their tea and wolfed down the food, setting into a comfortable silence. Eventually, the Boy Giant spoke again. “Now … what was it you wanted to ask me?”

  “Oh.” She glanced at Jae, who gave a reassuring nod. “I have this ability, a superstrength,” Thom said. “And … it’s kind of a nightmare living with it. I’m always breaking things. I hurt my soccer teammates all the time—by accident. I broke a door earlier, here, at the Academy. And … so … I want to get rid of it. My strength.”

  The Boy Giant’s face went very still. He didn’t say anything for a second, making Thom afraid she’d said the wrong thing. What if she’d offended him? He had a superpower, too, and he didn’t want to get rid of it.

  But then he nodded, and she let out a breath.

  “Why not try to control it instead?” he asked. “Rather than get rid of it? You might be able to do good with your power.”

  “See, I told you,” the Monkey King whispered.

  She ignored him. “I’ve tried,” she told the Boy Giant. With the Monkey King’s help, Thom had won a soccer match. But that hadn’t helped. She’d almost killed Kathy when she knocked over the lamppost, and now everyone would know and her life was doomed.

  “Why do you think I’m like this?” Thom asked. “One day, I noticed I was stronger than before, but ever since then, it’s gotten worse and worse. Was it like that for you?”

  “It was a long time ago,” he said, “but when my family was in danger and no one else had the strength to save them, it was almost as if my power had been in hiding and then emerged because we simply didn’t have any other choice.”