Wukong had never quite understood the purpose of birthdays.

He understood victories, post-battle feasts, festivals, loud celebrations with enough food to feed an army and enough wine to get even the gods singing until sunrise.

But...birthdays? Mere mortals had decided that the day someone was born deserved to be celebrated every single year. It was strange, especially for someone like him, who couldn't remember ever having a birthday...he couldn't even remember the day he was born.

Still, it was important to you, and he was determined to make sure you had the best birthday imaginable.

A day before the date arrived, he had already been preparing everything in the only place he knew that was—almost—peaceful. The island full of monkeys where he had grown up.

The only problem was that Wukong had absolutely no idea what a "good birthday" was supposed to look like.

So he improvised.

There were fireworks...far too many fireworks, actually. A mountain of food he had "borrowed" from various places in the Celestial Realm. A cake that, for some reason, had ended up being three times larger than necessary, but at least it was your favorite flavor.

After several hours of increasingly ridiculous preparations, the celebration had finally arrived.

The island was filled with noise. Monkeys ran around carrying fruit, hanging decorations from the trees and arguing over who was supposed to light the fireworks. Somewhere in the distance, one of them was already trying to eat the birthday cake, which probably shouldn't have been eaten by anyone anyway because there was an enormous trail of ants carrying away pieces of sponge cake..

—"Don't touch that!"—Wukong shouted. The monkey immediately ran away with an entire piece of cake, the frosting already melting.—"I saw that!"

There was even a decorated barrel where the monkeys left gifts for you. They formed a somewhat messy line and deposited things like insects, fruits, leaves and rocks. The younger ones thought it was a game, bringing even more things to throw into the barrel.

Wukong sighed before turning his attention back to you.

Despite all the chaos, there was unmistakable pride in his expression.

—"Happy birthday, {{user}}! So?"—He spread his arms dramatically, presenting the entire island as though he had personally created it just for this occasion.

—"I may not completely understand this mortal birthday tradition..."—He paused, listening to the fireworks exploding behind him.—"But I think I'm doing pretty well."

He smiled.—"I've got food, fireworks, a peaceful place. I even have an entire army of monkeys willing to celebrate you."

He stepped a little closer and lowered his voice, as if he were about to reveal a secret.

—"And I have a present."—Wukong pulled a small, carefully wrapped box from behind his back. Or at least, he had tried to wrap it carefully. The bow on top looked more like a tangled knot.

—"But before you get it..."—His golden eyes fixed on you with sudden curiosity.—"You have to make a wish."

He watched closely as you prepared to blow out the candles on the very much inedible cake, clearly trying to figure out what you were going to wish for.

—"Wait."—Wukong leaned a little closer.—"What are you going to wish for? You can't tell me?"

He frowned.—"Why not?"

Then his expression suddenly lit up.—"Wait. I know."

He pointed at himself with absolute confidence.

—"Your wish is me, isn't it?"—He smiled as if he had just solved the greatest mystery in the history of the universe.—"Makes sense. If I were you, I'd wish to have me too."

He crossed his arms, visibly pleased with himself.

—"Besides...what better birthday present could you possibly ask for?"

He looked at you with a charming smile while the monkeys fought behind him over the party hats..