Chapter 3

Lady Meifeng and Sun Wukong led Jackie up through the upper terraces of Mount Meru towards the peak of the Mountain. Jackie was nervous as shit, he ain't never been in the presence of a God that ain't either related to him by blood or serving as one of his tutors. Now he was gonna be shoved into a whole hall of 'em, all crowded around the head of a Pantheon to boot. What if he said or did some shit caused some divine bigshot to take offense? He was pretty sure that sorta thing ain't something he'd survive.

"Quit worrying so much. I'm not gonna have you look like you're about to piss yourself in front of the Lord of Heaven, it reflects badly on me." Intoned Sun Wukong.

"I ain't the fanciest of folks, Sifu. What happens if I accidentally insult some bigshot? Erlang Shen or Guandi or someone like that by not being the best at manners?" Questioned Jackie.

"Well, then I'll light a stick of incense for you after you die." Snorted Sun Wukong.

"Wukong! Do not rile up my Descendant. He is nervous enough as it is without your help." Hissed Lady Meifeng.

"Sorry, Sorry. Just trying to break the tension." Grinned Sun Wukong, holding his hands up in mock surrender.

"Right. More importantly, Descendant, you should be paying attention and listening more than you should be talking. This meeting is not one where you should be offering any words not asked of you. If you are consulted on some matter or other, speak concisely and to the point. Neutral speech will be your friend, as we did not have time to go over the etiquette of the Jade Emperor's Court. Above all, avoid saying anything that might be considered a forceful statement of opinion rather than fact. There is always some God who will take such as a breach of face." Advised Lady Meifeng.

"The Kid's not gonna be a Courtier Lady Thunder. Stop trying to turn him into one. A warrior needs more boldness in him. If I was in your shoes, I'd offer whatever forceful opinions I damn well pleased." Scoffed Sun Wukong.

"You would do that regardless, Sun Wukong. Your nature has always been Irrepressible. My Descendant is not in a position to act as you do." Bit out Lady Meifeng.

"I think I get it. Speak when spoken to, and if I do get spoken to, try and thread the needle of fact and courtesy without looking like some kinda coward." Mused Jackie.

"I'm sure you'll be fine." Assured Sun Wukong. Lady Meifeng simply rolled her eyes at that.

"Watch Princess Diana. She is in a similar position to yours, being a mortal with Divine Power in her, though in her case it does not come from her bloodline. When she bows, bow with her, understand?" Queried Lady Meifeng.

"Understood." Agreed Jackie.

"Look sharp, Kid. We're coming up on the gates of the Jade Palace." Cautioned Sun Wukong. Jackie turned and saw they were coming up to a wall guarded by some of the imposing, armored, forms of the Jade Emperor's Immortal Guards.

Jackie'd heard it said that the ten thousand Immortal Guards who guarded the Jade Emperor's Palace at the Peak of Mount Meru'd all been powerful Cultivators who'd traded the reincarnation process they'd normally go through for a couple thousand years of service to the Jade Emperor as Guards in the hope of reincarnation in a better spot in the next life.

Normally you wouldn't think shit like that'd be a concern for Cultivators, but given how you could apparently come back in a worse spot in your next life if you were some kinda asshole, Jackie figured there'd be enough souls to fill the roster, 'specially in the bad old days when folks went round sacking cities all willy-nilly. If Jackie'd been staring down the barrel of a soul-cleansing period in one of the Thousand Hells followed by a shit next life as a beggar or some shit like that, he'd probably sign on too.

As they made it to the gates, the glowing white eyes of the Immortal Guards ran over the three of them and Jackie ain't never felt more nervous in his life. He swallowed his nerves down, though, and soon the gates were opening up to reveal a long staircase leading up to the peak of the mountain, where a buncha fancy towers and halls sat poking up above the clouds. As they began to climb up the stairs, past carefully terraced gardens carved into the peak of Mount Meru full of Celestial Peach Trees, shrubs, and other shit, Jackie got the feeling he was being watched. That instinct'd been honed over dozens of fights and he ain't about to ignore it now.

With his head on a swivel, Jackie finally spotted the watchers just before the three of them reached the top of the stairs and the Jade Emperor's Palace Complex. Celestial Lion Dogs, the sort that the first of the Earthly Tibetan Snow Lions that'd been bred into all sortsa Shisa, Shishi, Komainu, and whatnot had descended from. These looked more like Dragon Lions than the stuff Jackie'd seen pictures of, with their scaly, green skin and flowing red manes. Their red eyes watched the three of 'em approach the peak carefully.

"Don't be scared of the Ruishi, Kid. They're only here to hurt folks who're trying to steal from the Jade Emperor and that ain't why we're here." Piped up Sun Wukong as they crested the top of the stairs into the Palace Complex.

"That's not why you're here today, Monkey. I know you too well for that." Came a calm, confident, voice from off to the right.

Jackie turned to look and saw a God in golden armor, with a black war hound following in his footsteps. The most interesting bit was the God had a third eye in the center of his forehead, just sorta situated sideways compared to normal eyes. Sun Wukong snorted at the God's Arrival, though, and shot back a retort.

"You looking to break our tie, Erlang Shen? I dunno if this exchange of pointers is gonna go in your favor." Asked Sun Wukong.

"It could go either way, as ever when we duel." Nodded Erlang Shen.

For a few moments, it seemed like the two gods were caught in some kinda rival's staredown and that a fight could break out at any moment. Jackie planned to get the hell outta dodge and let the two Gods wail on each other for a bit before trying to help his Tutor out. No sense in jumping in and getting squashed before Sun Wukong could soften his opponent up a bit, after all.

In any event, Jackie shouldn't've worried. The tension broke with Sun Wukong letting out a big laugh and going over to the other God to wrap him up in a hug. Jackie looked over at Lady Meifeng, only to see his ancestor roll her eyes at the two gods in exasperation. Apparently, the beef the pair had from back in the Journey to the West Days'd been squashed, cause they were acting like old friends after the initial staredown, and Jackie's Ancestor was acting like that was normal.

"It's been too long, Wukong. When was the last time you stopped by Mount Meru? A Century ago?" Questioned Erlang Shen.

"Ah, you know me. I go where the action is." Grinned Sun Wukong.

"Still picking fights, I see." Chuckled Erlang Shen.

"Hey, fights pick me, I don't pick them!" Protested Sun Wukong.

"Of course not, and I'm sure you were trapped under Wuxing Mountain because you were minding your own business." Snorted Erlang Shen.

"Hey, that was a long time ago. I'm a changed Monkey." Defended Sun Wukong.

"Nominally, at least." Smirked Erlang Shen.

"Gentlemen, perhaps we might reminisce later? Surely the Jade Emperor's War Council is more important?" Cut in Lady Meifeng.

"Of course. Unfortunately, duty calls." Sighed Erlang Shen before turning to give Jackie a good once-over.

"Is this the Descendant who will be accompanying us?" Queried Erlang Shen.

"It is. Sun Wukong has been teaching him, along with Zhu Baije and Sha Wujing. Yuen Jackie is his name, Grandmaster Cultivator and Master Alchemist, Enchanter, and Elementalist. He is of my Blood and thus, the Blood of Leigong, and thus entitled to take part in the Jade Emperor's War Effort." Introduced Lady Meifeng.

"It's an honor to meet you." Nodded Jackie, trying his damndest not to let his less-than-upper-class dialect slip into his voice or nothing. He ain't too sure if it worked, cause Erlang Shen fixed him with a stare.

"He'll need a sponsor to speak at the War Council. One that has no blood relation to him that can be called into question by the Court." Frowned Erlang Shen.

"I'll sponsor him. He's my student, I oughta take some responsibility." Offered Sun Wukong.

"You, responsible? Perish the thought." Snarked Erlang Shen.

"Hey, I said some responsibility. If he pisses off Guandi or something, he's on his own." Retorted Sun Wukong.

"There's the Wukong we all know. Come on, you're not the last to arrive, but you're cutting it close." Insisted Erlang Shen.

He led the three of 'em past the courtyard and into the Palace Complex. Corridors lined with pillars decorated in all kindsa jade and gold art led onto galleries overlooking more courtyards some of which had gardens of their own with all kindsa mystical plants. He passed by various courtiers in their big old robes and odd-looking hats before being led into a massive hall decorated in jade, gold, marble, and lacquered wood. On a raised platform in the center of the hall, guarded by more of the Jade Emperor's Immortal Guards, was a throne of jade and gold, with gilded jade armrests worked into the shapes of dragons and embroidered silk cushions.

The hall was packed with Gods and more of those Courtiers. Jackie'd spotted the bearded, armored, form of Guandi, the God of War had his Guandao out and ready for action even here. He also spotted the serene-looking form of Guanyin, Goddess of Mercy with her extra arms fading in and outta reality at will. The Black Clad, Human, form of Zhurong, Dragon God of Fire sat nearby, wisps of smoke coming off him, while Brother Piggsy and Brother Sandy played a game of Mahjong against him as they sat at the same table. Nearby, the Moon Goddess Chang'e and her Lunar Rabbit kept well away from the Sun Goddess Xihe, with her Three-Legged Crow standing on the other side of the hall, while Caishen, the God of Wealth and Heaven's Treasurer sat discussing economics with Wenchang Wang, God of Literature and Heaven's Librarian.

Jackie, Sun Wukong, and Lady Meifeng took up spots in the Hall, waiting for the Jade Emperor to show up, along with whoever the Olympians were gonna send to this meeting. They didn't have to wait long, as the Jade Emperor showed up not fifteen minutes after they did, talking with the Red-Robed, Houtu, Goddess of the Earth and Minister over all local gods, and his Consort, Xiwangmu the Empress of Heaven, in her White Rober and Crown. Jackie made sure to bow when Lady Meifeng told him to as the Jade Emperor passed by.

Not five minutes after that, the Olympians showed up with a Guard of Brown-Armored, Lockstep, Myrmidons clearing the way for 'em into the Jade Emperor's Throne Room. Princess Diana was there with the Olympian Delegation, as Jackie'd figured she would be, but there were also a couple other Gods. At the head of the Olympian Delegation, Coral woven into his hair and still slick with seafoam was Poseidon, God of the Sea. Behind him came the blue-haired, windswept, form of Aeolus, God of the Winds. Princess Diana brought up the rear of the Olympian Procession.

Apparently, those two'd been cut off from Olympus in the fighting. Posiedon, Jackie could get. The Guy lived in the Sea so that ain't hard to cut him off from Olympus. Aeolus could fly, though, at least Jackie was pretty sure he could. He had no idea what the Wind God's excuse was for not pitching in to help fight off Circe and Ares' Coup.

"I'm calling this session of the War Council to order. Now that we're all here, perhaps we can finally get on with the planning of our counterattack." Intoned the Jade Emperor.

And the planning session began in earnest. . .

XXXX

AN: More of a bridging chapter this turn. Mostly this is me fleshing out things in Mount Meru a bit and also taking a moment to indulge in a bit of character interaction here and there. There's going to be one more chapter of this sort of setup before we get back into the action.

Hopefully, you guys didn't think this was too bad of a chapter. I realized I needed a bit more about Mount Meru, the Jade Emperor, and so on, since this isn't going to be the last time we see either the Mountain or the Jade Emperor's Palace. If you guys think this was too much of a scene-setting chapter, let me know and I'll tone that down a bit going forward.

At any rate, the next chapter will be the meat of the planning along with a bit of courtly politics in the Jade Emperor's Court, then we'll finally be into the action in the chapter after that.

Stay tuned. . .