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<DIV align="center">Monkey and the Crystal Pear<br>
By: Lord Riken Morganis
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<DIV align="left">In the palace of the Jade Emperor, there resides a magical pear tree. It is said that anyone who eats from the tree will receive blessings from the divines and will become immortal. Monkey was not the mightiest of the creatures, but he was clever, and he dreamed of eating from the Emperor’s magical pear tree.
<br>“When I taste the sweet fruit,” Monkey said to himself as he scaled the wall surrounding the palace, “I will be the greatest of all the beasts, I will be a King! Hoo hoo!!!” he whooped with joy as he leapt from the wall, to a tree, and then swung up to the palace balcony. He crept cautiously through the halls of the palace, careful to not be seen by the guards as they made their rounds. It was easy work for one such as he, and it took his whole being to not hoot with pride at being so clever. At last, Monkey made his way into the sleeping room of the Jade Emperor. Near the window stood a beautiful glass case that shimmered like none he had ever seen before. Within the delicate glass case stood a small pear tree with four tiny fruits glistening where they clung on its branches. Monkey licked his lips in anticipation as his nimble finger flipped open the silver latch on the case and slowly reached toward one of the coveted fruits within.
<br>“It is strange to be in the sleeping room of the Jade Emperor if it is not time for sleeping, and you are not the Jade Emperor,” a deep and gentle voice mused wisely, breaking the silence.
<br>Monkey’s breath caught in his throat with a squeak as he realized he’d been caught. His hand went stiff and slowly, he withdrew his grasp from the pear tree, and turned around to find the eldest and wisest of all the Immortals smiling at him peacefully. The Jade Emperor was seated at a small table, pouring a cup of honey brown tea from an ornate teapot. He motioned for Monkey to join him at his table and though he was afraid he was going to be punished for breaking into the palace, Monkey did as he was asked.
<br>“Tell me Monkey,” the Jade Emperor asked, studying him with clear slivery green eyes, “What were you doing just now?”
<br>Monkey bit his lip nervously, “I hoo uh…” Monkey was very nervous and kicked his feet restlessly, “I was going to eat one of your magical pears, Highness, and become an Immortal so I could be King among beasts,” the foolish Monkey admitted, knowing that if he lied, he would probably be found out. He waited for the Emperor to scold him, but instead, the wise old man only nodded thoughtfully.
<br>“And why do you believe eating one of these common fruits would make you Immortal?”
<br>Monkey scratched his head and glanced back at the little pear tree, “because everyone knows they are magic pears. They have the power to make an ordinary creature divine.”
<br>The Jade Emperor stroked his beard, “Ah, dear Monkey,” he said gently, “I’m afraid you are mistaken. These pears have no such power, they are but simple fruits. Although,” the Emperor added, “in a place far from here, there is a valley, and within that valley is a magical relic called the Crystal Pear. This fruit does have the power you desire, all you have to do is venture forth and claim it.”
<br>With this, Monkey eyed the Jade Emperor carefully; not believing the denial of the magical properties of the fruit glistening just there, but knowing he could not deny the integrity of the Emperor himself. Fidgeting and feeling mightily distressed, Monkey cautiously began, “I hoo uh… am not the strongest of the beasts and a valley far away…” his voiced trailed off into an almost audible whine. The Jade Emperor quietly began to sip his tea leaving Monkey in a position of having to continue his ill-thought sentence.
<br>Monkey had at least hoped for a small enough reprieve to re-gather his shaken composure, but seeing the Emperor sipping tea propelled him onward. Scrounging up slight control of his nervousness he cleared his throat and began again.
<br>“Highness, I want to know more of the Crystal Pear and of its valley…” Monkey’s voice trailed away once more as visions of horrible creatures much larger than himself crept into view. As Monkey pushed the creatures from his mind, he noticed the hushed silence; the Jade Emperor still sat sipping his honey brown tea with the look of lifetimes worth of wisdom resting lightly upon his face.
<br>Monkey, whilst being a clever creature was not always a quick thinker; his perceived cleverness was earned by pondering situations, mulling them over in his mind and finding himself in this awkward position posed great distress which resulted in stammering and fidgeting. “This will not do” thought Monkey and he began once more.
<br>“Everyone knows you have the magical pears, why do you tell…” at which point the Jade Emperor interrupted Monkey’s question by leaning forward to replenish his cup of tea. It was a very deliberate movement on the Emperor’s part and Monkey knew this. Feeling frustration bubble into his chest and flash to anger Monkey wanted to scream aloud what he was thinking, “just tell me how to become immortal, a king!” Alas, Monkey knew this would not do, his silly questions quite effectively rendered mute by the Emperor.
<br>With his replenished cup, the Emperor leaned back quietly gazing into the steaming brown liquid, Monkey now felt the seed of desperation, and now believed he knew the error of his ways. The cleverness was blooming and forming intelligent questions. “ Hoo hoo!!! “ thought Monkey, “I am so very clever!”
<br>“Highness, I would want to know more of this far away valley which is home to the magical relic known as the Crystal Pear. I should like to know how one would find the path to this valley.” With these words singing into the air, the Jade Emperor slowly looked up and cast his thoughtful gaze upon Monkey. With a twinkle in his green eyes the Emperor rejoined, “The way is long and shrouded in darkness for …” Suddenly the calm of the Emperor’s words were broken by a high pitched squeal from Monkey and thinking he was clever he jumped up and blurted out “The path begins in the forest!” The Jade Emperor’s demeanor stayed its course, but his gaze slowly drifted back to the cup of tea he nestled between his hands. Monkey felt his grave error with a biting sting; quickly taking his seat he bowed his head in acknowledgment.
<br>The Emperor quietly began speaking while still gazing into his cup, “the monkey who does not learn is dark, like one walking in the night.” The Emperor’s eyes flashed a brilliant green flare as his sight found Monkey’s animated face and dancing eyes. Monkey made motion to speak and then sat upon his hands to stay his relentless fidgeting, “Emperor, would this path be of two kinds?”
<br>“Put not the parts in disarray, it will arrive in due time,” the Emperor continued on “the Crystal Pear is easily found, what you seek is the way.” Monkey studied the Emperor’s face as a child watches a fluttering butterfly; wide-eyed and awe filled. “There are many dangers along the path, tell me Monkey how danger appears to you.” The Emperor again turned his attention to his rapidly cooling tea; Monkey took advantage of this to gather some thoughts.
<br>“Danger is the path watched by demonic creatures; the path to the valley of the Crystal Pear.” Monkey slowly said, surprised at the calm tone of his own voice. He sat quietly for a moment trying to decide if he should continue when the Emperor spoke again, “clear conscience never fears midnight knocking.” The words floated through Monkey like a soft warming breeze; he still felt fidgety, but yet it was now easily restrained.
<br>“I want to be immortal, I want to be a king” said Monkey in a faraway voice; trailing off to thoughts of grandeur. Monkey knew what he wanted and he was beginning to understand the Jade Emperor wanted something as well, but therein was the problem. What was the something? Monkey knew he felt differently, but how and what did it mean to his current situation? Monkey’s concentration was broken by the Emperor speaking anew; a bit of agitation resonating in his voice.
<br>“Such high ideals for a lowly creature, you understand not the essentials.” The Emperor words had barely left his lips when Monkey losing all control, again leapt from his chair and blurted out “I will be above all the creatures they will all come to me for…..” The Emperors patience with Monkey beginning to wear thin showed itself in his forceful rejoinder.
<br>“For what? Easily gained information is not knowledge. Donkey’s lips do not fit onto a horse’s mouth.”
<br>Monkey’s mouth opened to fling a reply and suddenly realizing he was no match, nor even a contender in a battle of wits with the Jade Emperor, slowly took his place, head bowed, waiting for the discipline which would arrive the next moment. Still, Monkey could not help thinking about the Crystal Pears’ magicka, “Hoo Hoo” he thought, “if I was immortal then I could win!”
<br>The Jade Emperor was well aware Monkey’s cleverness was naught but antics; smiling gently at his own harshness and Monkey’s obviously increasing discomfort, his soft gentle voice began anew, “ah, dear Monkey, the Crystal Pear is a relic said to possess magical properties. Do you not know a relic?”
<br>“A relic is a gift from Divines, Highness.”
<br>The Emperor seeing calmness return to Monkey bent his head every so slightly at Monkey and continued; “the way is long and shrouded for some; others are bathed in sunshine. Should one expect a divine gift to be gilt in gold and near to hand?”
<br>When the words of the question posed rearranged themselves in Monkey’s mind, he let out a small nervous squeak with the reminder of the tiny pear tree behind him dancing reflected sunlight like diamonds. “No Highness, but perhaps one cleverer than me.” Monkey assured himself he knew the answer by crossing his trembling arms across his chest.
<br>“Your eyes are still closed, you do not see. The Crystal Pear is an easy find, but the paths are many, as many who seek it Monkey. If you seek the relic you will walk your path alone, the Crystal Pear’s valley provides tranquility for those who meditate.”
<br>Monkey at first confused by the words he heard sat motionless for what seemed an eternity, at length he quietly repeated the last words he heard, “the Crystal Pear’s valley provides tranquility for those who meditate.”
<br>“Be not afraid of going slowly; be only afraid of standing still.” Setting aside his tea cup the Jade Emperor closed their meeting, Monkey knowing this rose from his chair without speaking.
<br>“Better to do a good deed near at home Monkey, than go far away to burn incense.”
<br>Monkey silently and reverently stepped back from the Jade Emperor and took one last look at the beautiful glass case that shimmered like none he had ever seen before, barely noting as he had upon entering, the small pear tree with four tiny glistening fruits housed within. He was mesmerized by what he saw; his reflection in the delicate case staring back at him, framed by a pear.
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