Mission #8 Apes of a Feather

[The Shimmering Banana]

You ever hear the saying “you can't teach an old dog new tricks”? Well that won't apply to this, for Otto was neither an old dog or incapable of learning a new trick. In fact that was the very reason why he was taking this trip. His whole life he trained to learn the fighting styles of his master but always wanted to learn more. From kung-lung to okama kenpo Otto wanted to know them all. And there was a rumor that deep in the jungles of Karate Island there was a master of Saru Style. An ancient martial art said to be taught to the disciples of the Monkey King himself. Now as the self proclaimed Monkey King Otto felt that it was his duty.. no his destiny to master this style and prove that he was the one true Monkey King. He knew it wouldn't be easy but nothing worth having ever was. Even the journey to the temple would be difficult.

The day was hot and humid the kind of weather that made the sweat run down your back. Otto trekked through the jungle each step draining him of energy as the sun beamed down on him. Even with the shade of the treetop canopy the heat ragged on pounding upon the afro headed boy. “I shoulda braided my hair before coming, the fro always makes me soo much hotter” he thinks as he stares up into the canopy wiping the sweat off his brow. He continued to walk keeping his head held high; soon it'll be lunch time and the jungle trees were a great source of food especially BANANAS. Otto’s mouth watering to the thought of finding a nice ripe bushel of bananas. “Hmmm the perfect hue of yellow the tip of their stem showing that hint of green. Peak of freshness yeah that would be great” he says to himself the hot day seeming a lot less unbearable with the mere thought of his tasty treat. “ or maybe a few bushels of the baby green ones. They're like little goblin finger candies on halloween. Yeah that would hit the spot.” he continued as he came to a stop.

A noise louder than the light ruffles he had previously been hearing in the jungle caught his ears. In this place it could be anything an armadillo, a leopard, monitor lizard or some kind of jungle tribesmen. No matter what it was Otto would be ready for it; he glances left to right with nothing in sight. He shrugs off the noise continuing his journey through the jungle “guess it was nothing” he thinks. After a few more steps he hears the noise again stopping and looking around once more with nothing in sight. Otto once again shrugs it off it was a jungle after all and one was bound to hear tons of strange noises. It was best if he didn't waste his time and energy worrying about each one of them. Otto reaches over his shoulder retrieving his brown cantine from his bag twisting off its red top. He then tips it back taking what he thought would be a large gulp of water. Instead he was left with a sprinkles “Oh no… I hope I find this place soon” he says aloud as he realizes he is now out of food and water.

[Nomics]

It's so beautiful here, and so hot!!

Sweating profusely, the young Addisu wiped at her forehead and breathed out heavily. This trek that she was on was proving to be more taxing than she had originally thought. Damn that old man! He had better not sent me up here for nothing.

The Day Before.....

A small human figure fluttered through the air effortlessly, enciting ooohs and ahhs from the crowd that had to come to spectate the impressive acrobatic show. Landing with little noise, the elaborately dressed performer transitioned into a spin and somersault, kicking their legs out for added effect. More adulation came from those who were enjoying the show, and in response, the red and white faced opportunist flipped a hat to it's underside and gestured towards it, as if to say "donations please".

Only continuing the show for a few moments longer, the crowd soon dissipated and the folks went on their respective ways, except for one. An elderly, kind faced man stood there, still as a statue, fixated on the performer. That's different, wonder what this guy wants? thought the disguised Addisu, as she began to wipe away her facepaint, which was in the motif of a monkey. "Sorry oldtimer, but the show is over."

"Oh, is it? That's unfortunate. I thoroughly enjoyed it."

"I'm flattered to hear you say that, thank you."

"Mhmm, too bad your technique is poor and undisciplined."

"'Scuse me?"

"You heard me young one. Monkey style right? No waist power, and your hands, all wrong. You still have much to learn."

"Yea, well are you some kinda master or somethin' you're actin high and mighty. Why don't you show me, or are you all talk?"

"I'll surely show you, not here however. I have a school, it's in the jungle. Make it there tomorrow morning and I'll surely 'show you somethin'." With those vague directions he spun around, walking away slowly as he chuckled to himself. I'll show that old geezer. "Monkey style poor huh?" I'm a kick his ass.

The Present

I don't even wanna anymore. I just wanna take a bath. But the teen continued on, at least she had to try to find her way out of the sweltering jungle. *Crunch* Quickly, the girl's eyes tried to track the sound, but she could not find it in the dense foliage. Becoming immediately weary, she slowed her walk and began to survey the area. *Crunch* This time, she knew what to do. There was something or someone else in the jungle and she could not find the source, but she wasn't going to be ambushed. Using her agility to climb the closest tree, Addisu took to the canopy and began to move quickly, whatever was there wasn't going to catch her.

[The Shimmering Banana]

Feeling faint Otto takes a quick stop under an enormous jungle tree. They type of tree you'd see on Tarzan, covered with slimy green algae and vines connecting it to other trees. “Man I could get used to this place if it wasn't so humid.” he thinks as he reaches down to a broken piece of vine and taps it a few times with his index finger and waits for a few minutes. He was in luck it wasn't poisonous as far as he knew. There was no swelling or irritation where he had touched the vine so it was safe. He then takes the piece of vine and ties back his large afro a bit. The vine being tied tightly just before his cranium as to not make a full pony tail, leaving his fro pushed back. “Thats a lot better” he thought as the hair kept falling in his face from the amount of sweat it had collected. Even now the ends of his fro slightly dropped sweat as if it were jerry curl juice. The young monkey man then leans back against the trees and closes his eyes resting in the shade.

*Swooosh!*
As Otto enjoyed his siesta in the shade, the same loud rustle caught his attention. “hmm” the Zoan user opening his right eye looking back up to the tree tops. “So whatever this thing is its relentless” he thought popping open his other eye and staring up hoping to catch a glimpse of his mysterious companion. With no resolve it was time to take this to the source. Already in his hybrid form Otto uses his apeish hands and feet to scale the large tree within seconds. The view from the canopy level was incredible giving light to a whole new world of life. From here Otto could see it all;more fruit bearing trees, a freshwater lake, birds flying over an old temple in the distance. “Waite birds flying over an old temple… Yes I'm close!” says the Saru King as he sees the temple.

Otto leaps from the branch grabbing a vine screaming out “Ahahahaha!” who wouldn't while swinging from a vine. The wind blows on his face cooling him down as he continued to travel through the jungle almost completely forgetting about whatever was following him. Continuing his swinging Otto leaps from vine to vine sometimes leaping onto a branch to make it to the next vine. He would be there in mere moments at this speed. “Uff!”

Suddenly his trip was cut short as something broke through the treetops at wind like speeds crashing into his side sending jim hurtling to the ground. His body cratered into the grass making a human sized patch in it as he skid across the ground. “What was that” he calls out the base of a tree halting his death roll. The hunter rolls over then sets up on his knees as he rubs his side. “I can't believe they caught me off guard like that” thinks Otto as he slowly rises to his feet. “ So you want a fight?!” he calls out raising his head up high slowly turning a full 360 degrees. “Show yourself!” he demanded the treetops begin to rustle like never before.

*Gulp*
Otto's took his stance eager to see what it was the could hit him with such stealth. With the same speed in which he was attacked something oddly small reached the jungle floor. Standing no more than three feet tall a familiar sight for Otto. Covered in hair from the top of its head to the tip of its tail. A creature more agile than strong yet not to be taken lightly. It was a Spider Monkey. The very animal that Otto had been “cursed” with by eating his devil fruit. Except this one was wearing an orange head band around its little head and its tail was wrapped in bandages. “Who was this little monkey?” thought Otto as it stared him down. “To bad if it's a fight he wants it's a fight he'll get” continued the Saruman as he transformed into his full Spider Monkey form. His height and physical appearance looking identical to the enemy standing before him.

[Nomics]

Whatever, or now, what had become more clear as whoever, was in the forest with Addisu wasn't being sneaky about it at all. She could hear many crashes and falls as whoever it was made their way through the jungle, curious, the young girl followed in the direction of the sound. Perhaps it was that cocky old man. Using the most grace she could muster she traversed from tree to tree, doing her best to be silent. In her mind the teen treated it as training, it had been a while since she had done anything that really ignited within her a desire to use her "true" skills. 

Airborne pirouettes, spins, and graceful swings abound, a flash of movement broke the young girl's movement as she came upon the source of all the commotion she had heard while moving through the jungle. Hugging the trunk of the tree she was perched upon, the young girl squinted at the sight she beheld. Two monkeys seemed as if they were squaring up in a small clearing. Both seemed to have articles of human origin on them, but that did little to explain their behavior, if anything it only confounded the teen more.

Suddenly, it wasn't so hot, and the temple with the rude old man were the last things on her mind. Her interest had been piqued, so she made sure she wouldn't disrupt whatever it was that was about to go down. Crouching down on the branch she had chosen to spectate from, she placed her chin in the palm of her hand and looked on with intense crimson eyes.

[The Shimmering Banana]

His tiny hands dug into the ground uprooting grass and flinging dirt into the air. His tail stiffly curved bouncing up and down as he ran towards his furry foe. Wait a minute was this Otto or the monkey? It was hard to tell who was who their only distinctive markings bing the actual monkeys attire. Ironic considering as far as Otto knew this had to be an actual monkey. Each devil fruit being extremely rare in the sense that for Zone types there was only one of each animal. Since Otto had eaten the Saru Saru No Mi: Model Spider Monkey it was impossible for there to be another half spider monkey half man walking around. Even if their was what were the chances hed be on this island of all places fighting another half spider monkey man. ‘I am here to learn Saru style’ thinks Otto as he continues to rush towards the spider monkey who stood patiently on two feet.

It was clear that this ape was more than a mere beast. The young bounty hunter lunges at it his small claws latching onto its arms. The pair fell to the ground screeching and snarling at each other. Their actions, mostly Otto’s, making it even harder to tell who was the actual human in this match up. Otto reached his little neck over towards the monkey as they rolled around the dense grass every few tumbles the saru man snapping his mousey snout. Teeth chattered through the jungle as they continued their beastly bout. It was then that the “real” spider monkey made his move.

The furry fighter rocked it weight towards its shoulders as it was knocked back around by Otto. The monkey tucking in its legs preparing to kick the devil fruit eater square in the chest. ‘Wait a minute’ thought Otto ‘I know this move’ noticing that this monkey was setting up for a move Otto used himself. ‘The Saru Saru Fling; using your opponent's weight and force inflicted upon you, the user rolls with the tackle the kicks their opponent as their body is directly above you. The kick causing them to be hurled into the air. Unfortunately for the half human combatant it was too late. Looking down upon the spider monkey Otto felt a huge pressure building in his chest. The small ape no letting go of Otto’s arms until its legs were fully extended sending the afro headed young man hurtling into the air.

“Ahhhhh” screamed out the lad as he tightly held his pex while twirling through the sky. Slight glimpses of the monkey on the ground below him as he plummeted back down below. Otto focuses on his foe focusing his center of gravity straightening out his tumble as he fell. His tail grabbing hold of a branch causing him to spin around it like a gymnast. He would finish this now with a powerful counter attack Saru Saru Cannon; the monkey man began to ball his tiny body as he spun around the branch. His every rotation around it building his speed. Otto then let loose the grip that his tail had on the branch sending his cannon shaped body right at the enemy monkey. The impact dented the earth as the poor animal laid unconscious. ‘Tough little guy’ thought Otto as he wobbles back and forth attempting to gain his footing. The hunter always getting dizzy after performing his Saru Saru Cannon.

[Nomics]

Where the hell is the popcorn when you need it?!

The young teen girl's eyes were wide with awe as she looked on at the two primates going at it. They were ferocious, fighting each other with a feral kind of rage that was unknown to Addisu. She was accustomed to moving like a monkey in combat, but if this scuffle was any indication, she had been going about it all wrong. That said, she much preferred her own way of doing things, this was far too brutal, too savage for her liking.

Still, she couldn't look away. Then something even more weird than two spider monkeys scrapping in a clearing in a jungle while wearing articles of clothing happened; one of them yelled in what can only be considered a human voice.

"Waahh?!" Confusion washed over the young girl. So surprised was she that she took a tumble off her perch, landing awkwardly in the brush. "Itai-tai!" Raising up quickly, sure to not miss a second, the girl was now much close than she had intended to be. So close was she, that the monkey with the cloth wrapped around it's tail was only standing about a meter in front of her. But her attention was elsewhere, specifically, it was on the ape that was gathering centrifugal force in the canopy.

Within seconds it was launched at breakneck speeds, completely dispatching the other, and kicking all sorts of dirt into the young girl's face. "Hey!" she exclaimed as she began shaking her head and spitting out whatever had made it into her mouth.

"What's the big idea you?" Pointing a shaking finger at the wobbly monkey. For the moment she had completely forgotten that this was the ape who could speak

[The Shimmering Banana]

“Oh great another one” Otto said aloud as he saw the young woman scorning him. Her odd attire leaving him to believe that she too could be a monkey person like the little one he just fought. Firmly planting his left leg on the ground Otto shakes his head straightening out his vision. His small form having to sightly glance up at the average sized age woman. ‘Hmm this one is a bit bigger’ he thinks as a smirk begins to form on his monkey mouth. ‘I think I’ll stay like this for a while longer.’ he continued before leaping back from the woman's finger waving in his face. His tiny feet digging into the ground as he lands taking his position.

With his buy in the aor and his small hands in the dirt Otto kicked up grass and dirt as he threatened to charge the mystery woman. Looking more like a bull then an ape Otto took off at full speed heading straight towards Addisu. His eyes glowing as he quickly appeared directly in front of the girl screaming out “Saru Saru Paa…” his war cry suddenly cut off by the interference of a much larger ape. This one much more familiar to Otto being that he personally knew three of them. It was a blue gorilla pouncing on Otti with the quickness of a cheetah but the finesse of a gazelle. Pinning down the much smaller ape but not harming it. A steady clap being heard from a distant corner of the woods.

“Good job.” it called out as the clapping halted. “You two are our newest students” the voice continued as out came an old stump of a man. “Your speed is good and your energy is high but just as I told the girl, your technique is rough.” spoke the man as the gorilla slowly rose off of Otto and stood beside his teacher. Otto rising to his feet first looking at the ape girl scanning her up and down then peering back at the old man. “And I’m guessing your the guy that's going to smoothen it out” replies Otto as he changes into his hybrid form. The man old man simple replying “Yes I am. Saix isn't it? Otto Saix the eater of the Saru Saru no Mi. But just because you can change into an ale doesn't meant you can fight like one. So yes I will be the one smoothening the both of you out.” he replies in a calm tone. “ So if you will. Follow us” he continued waiving the pair of new students towards the Dojo that was just beyond a grouping of trees and shrubbery.

[Nomics]

Things had become a whirlwind. One minute she was chastising the small, talking ape for performing his technique much too close for her liking, the next, he was backing up and rearing to charge, and before she could even blink or begin to defend herself, a huge ape, what she could readily identify as a gorilla came crashing through the trees and pouncing on her assailant. Only, crashing was an inoperant word. He more glided than crashed, his hulking figure, soaring gracefully in the air, before coming down with a more than imposing authority. To make matters even weirder, he finally showed himself, the quirky old man that had basically challenged her earlier approached the group of apes, (because, frankly, what else could they be described as?), clapping along as if he was watching a performance, the same way he had done earlier. Only now, the girl was far too intimidated, to do anything really. She just stood still and let the events unfold in front of her, oh and what events they were!

Never, in her wildest dreams had she even thought that the one monkey who happened to be talking could possibly be a Devil Fruit eater. Yet, there he stood, changing form before her very eyes, from a small, slippery monkey, to something that can only be considered in between both man and ape, perhaps the missing link that bound the two species together. She was dumbfounded, she was now seeing much more than she bargained for, but instead of horror, or a sense of foreboding, the young girl was full of interest. There were so many questions that filler her head, questions that she would need answered, but she knew then and now was not the time to field said questions.

She did, however, have questions for the old man. Just what did he mean they were to be his students? In fact, “Hey old man what do you mean students? I didn’t sign up for that! I came out here, cause you challenged me.” She was following behind the man and his pet gorilla, egregiously pounding through the jungle after them. “As a matter o---- wow!” Before her eyes, the thick vegetation of the moist forest gave way to a clearing that housed a tower like structure in the middle of it, that reached high up into the canopy, adding, quite unobtrusively to the beauty of the jungle. For lack of a better word it was a pagoda, the various levels of the tower marked by angled outcroppings that beautiful vines and flowers hung from. The building itself was crafted from a reddish clay that had begun to crack and showed obvious signs of wear all over the structure, a telling sign of its age. Despite that, it still looked sturdy, as if it could stay here, nestled in the bosom of the forest, forever.

“My dear girl, please close your mouth before a fly makes a home in it.” With a satisfied chortle, the old master made his way up the four steps onto the ground floor, his stocky pupil, taking a much more scenic route, swinging its large frame from the lowest outcropping into an adjacent window. His arrival on the second level was met with hoots and hollers of excitement, obviously other students of the master were there to greet him. Continuing his stroll into the dojo proper, he slipped off his shoes and met the shiny wood floor with his bare feet. The ground floor of the training tower, was open on all four sides, creating a great cross breeze, as well as an awesome view of the forest surrounding the small outcropping within which it resided. Still quite taken aback at the sheer beauty of the place, the cry of a nearby simian snapped Addisu out of her stupor, one question still in her mind.

“So, you are the master of this dojo?”


“I would think that obvious, yes.”



“And all these monkeys are your students, right?”


“Also, obvious, also yes.”


“Then how come no one thought to take care of the little fellow that THIS guy knocked out earlier?”



“Oh, you mean Bumi? He’ll be fine. In fact, he should be on his way now, but I wouldn’t worry about him, the two of you have a much more immediate problem on your hands, and feet.”

As if on cue, a rumbling could be heard coming from the level above, a hole that persisted from the ground floor all the way to the roof of the pagoda suddenly became cluttered with the descending bodies of primates of every kind, all roaring battle cries as they converged on the two newest students to the school. Jumping back for space, quickly the girl began to twist and turn as she unwrapped the rope that she always had on her body, because with the ferocity these apes were charging, she was definitely going to need it.

Off to the side, the master’s star pupil, the agile gorilla, stood next to the comically smaller shape of the man. Leaning in, the old man held up two fingers and addressed his charge. “Two banana clusters say the girl goes down first.” Taking the bet, the gorilla gave a deep grunt as he looked on at the action with arms crossed over his burly chest.

[The Shimmering Banana]

Almost mockingly Otto’s expression on his face copied the girls as they gazed upon a marvel of architectural ingenuity. The tower reaching into the trees above making it the perfect training ground for the mysterious martial arts style. As the master made his way up the porch steps the monkey man followed as the large ape leapt over head latching onto one of many low hanging vines. ‘Show off’ thought Otto as he could see that this must be his star pupil. Then untying his boots Otto placed them gentle on the ground next to the masters. He was well accustomed in doing so from his training back on Pikt. He was after all the master of his own Dojo even if it wasnt world renown.

Stepping onto the ground floor Otto gazed un in awe as he saw clear up the middle of the tower a large square area being cut through each level. ‘This is incredible’ the thought comparing the building to his old one floor Dojo. “We are seriously due for an upgrade” he muttered as the rumbling started out over head. “Problem what problem?” he questioned before realizing that the rumbling was obviously their “problem”. As a dumbfounded look came upon his face tons of apes came swinging down from every direction. Chimp, gorilla, orangutans and spider monkeys just to name a few. The mixed level fighters each having a different color belt wrapped around their furry waist to signify their level.

As the master and pupil made their bets the first group of students made their move a combination of two spider monkeys and a chimp sporting a light green belt swooped in the spider monkeys splitting up and landing on the face of the new students. Otto shaking his head in a frenzy attempting to get the small monkey off his head. “No fair.. no fair.. get off of me” he screams out at the apes sneak attack reaching for its body. He then yanks the beast off and tosses him off into the corner the chimp making his move inwards letting loose an onslaught of punches into the distracted monkey man's gut. “Uff” coughs out Otto losing his breath for a moment as he lept back in a defensive position. Peering over to the other new student to see how she was holding up against the spider monkeys surprise attack. The other ape students hooting and hollering as the first wave of students took their turn. The master signaling to the first monkey that he was out of this competition.

[Nomics]

It's Monkey Madness!

Never had Addisu been in a situation that was so hectic. It didn't take long for the young girl to get rid of the monkey on her face, gripping the thing by the tail and using it as a shield for a swinging nunchaku that came from the hands of an orange belt wearing Bonobo.

To put it bluntly, there were Simians everywhere of varying degrees of skill, signified by the color of belt that was wrapped around their waist. At the present moment, the teenage girl was fending off a surprisingly swift Orangutan and a young Gorilla, who, unlike many of the other primates present, were unarmed. Both seemed fairly skilled as they were donning particularly soiled green cloths. The younger, midnight furred ape swept at her legs using it's large hands as a post and swinging it's short powerful legs in an effort to get her on the ground. To counter, the agile girl went airborne, somersaulting while rotating the thick rope she held in her hands, tangling the opportunistic Orangutan, who had assaulted her in the air. With a deep yelp, he tumbled to the ground on his back and rolled out of the main conflict, beaten.

The momentary victory could not be celebrated however, as the young Gorilla kept up the pressure on the young girl, he charged the chocolate skinned warrior with a roar, this time going airborne, trying to ensnare her in a grapple. He was backed up by two staff wielding Gibbons who slid on the smooth dojo floor. Reacting more on instinct than anything, the Monkey Girl saw her opening and struck. Leaving the majority of her rope slack, she raised her arm slightly, then flicked her wrist vigorously, creating a wave in the length that ended with a resounding ~shwapp~. Squealing in pain as the sudden snap of the rope made contact with his nether regions, the pubescent ape tumbled to the ground, taking the two Gibbons, who had been advancing as well, with him. Sidestepping as the mess of apes slid across the ground, Addisu afforded herself a smile, despite her labored breathing.

"Good!" Yelled the old master in response to the young girl's decision making and ingenuity. Quickly, however, the old master averted his eyes and feigned a stern look as he caught the side-eyed glance from his biggest, most imposing pupil, frustration clear on his face. His fur began to stand on end, the large silver patch of hair that dominated his back, glistening with the sweat of anticipation. Three shallow roars came bellowing out of the prideful martial artist, seeking to galvanize his fellow pupils in their fight against the two humans.

Addisu had stopped smiling at the sound of the star pupil's disapprovement, and was quickly reminded of where she was as her cheek became hot and her head snapped from the impact of something very light on her shoulder. Looking back to her assailant, it was none other than a small Capuchin monkey, who kept his hand in the air, to make sure she knew he'd smacked her, and as she went to grab for him, evaded her by taking her stark white Q braid for a ride.