Fish Belly White dawned at the horizon.
The cool wind could not disperse the shivering, fishy rain; black clouds were stained with blood.
Cursing the imperial palace for being too huge and wasting time with aimless wandering, they simply followed the scent to the Imperial Kitchen in the predawn hours. The cooks had all fled, while a group of rebel soldiers had occupied the kitchen, stoking fires and cooking up a feast in preparation for a wild binge. They had not expected two strange figures to arrive, walk straight into the kitchen, and tell everyone to get the hell out.
The bloodthirsty rebels did not tolerate such nonsense. They drew their blades to chop them dead first and ask their identities later.
"Monkey Brother, they stole your food."
"Eek! Take a staff from me!"
From outside, the lit Imperial Kitchen shook amid clanging chaos. Doors and windows shattered, and swarms of disorderly soldiers flew out into the courtyard, dead or alive unknown. Not a single ingredient was harmed; the staff technique was nothing short of divine.
The rebel soldiers' cooking was atrocious—they only knew how to boil everything in huge pots. They could not find the imperial chefs, who had likely been hacked to death in some ditch long ago.
A certain white dragon removed her straw hat and seriously began cooking. The monkey squatted beside her, fanning the flames, anxiously awaiting the moment the delicious food came out of the pot. Neither had the awareness one ought to possess at a time of dynastic change. After all, for creatures of the monkey kind, the most important thing from birth was filling their bellies; all who stole food were mortal enemies.
Before dawn, the table was covered with all manner of delicacies. The two of them smacked their lips and