Ukie

A competition! That was the most interesting piece of news Monkey had received in a long time. Emperor Yu seemed to be putting out a call for assistants, and they had to prove themselves worthy in the earthly realm below with one twist—as humans. Already close in appearance to the soft-skinned two-legged creatures, Monkey was thrilled to be able to get up close and personal with her cousins. A known trickster among her fellow celestial creatures, Monkey was full of acrobatic stunts and ill-advised ideas; there was no telling what she would do while free of rules and regulations in the land of Man. Settling herself into the outskirts of a small suburban community near the mountains, Monkey chanced upon the sounds of crisp cymbals and plucked strings. There, atop a constructed platform, were a half-dozen extravagantly-dressed humans wielding gilded sticks, pointed spears, and colorful flags of all sorts engaging in some sort of ritual. With long, drawn out wails and shouts, they began circling each other, dishing out taunts and insults in flamboyant language. Immediately, Monkey was captivated: was this her chance to prove that legends do indeed exist? Despite having only just attuned to her new human form, Monkey grabbed the nearest weapon-like object and leapt into the fray. This was it. This was her chance to carve her divine deeds into the earthly realm—for she was a celestial among the commoners! With a bright voice, she brandished the tonfas and declared, "The Great Sage Ukie has arrived from on high!"