This is the edited version of Trust. It has greatly expanded. Enjoy!

"Everyone knows you wear a costume, ApeTrully!" HighRoller laughed, eyes full of twisted mirth as he shouted the words to the whole army. "For a long time, I've wondered what you are. What do your friends think you are? Besides a traitor, of course, because you don't even trust them!"

The battle was over now. It had been hours since HighRoller had gleefully taunted the Commander of Big Green. Yet the words repeated inside the Monkey's head, again and again, tearing the hole in his heart wider each time. He stared at himself in the mirror, a mirror he normally used to adjust his costume in the morning. But now it was proof of his daily betrayal of his friends' trust. What was he to do? He felt so alone, so very alone, and his best Monkey friend Hardwin was miles away, hidden in their secret city.

Who could he turn to? The answer seemed to be nobody. Parrot King was back in his kingdom, celebrating a traditional Parrot holiday. And since Latimer was the only one in Big Green who knew who he was, what he was, that left him alone, wallowing in his misery and uncertainty.

A knock on his bedroom door startled him, and he instinctively cringed away from it. Whoever was on the other side would be angry with him, of that he was sure. For a minute, the Monkey said nothing, cowering away from the door as he waited for it to be broken down. It didn't happen. Instead, the person knocked again. Swallowing, he cleared his throat, speaking in a light, unbothered tone even as his body tensed to run away.

"Who is it?"

A shy, hesitant voice came through the door. "Commander? It's me, Woo. Are you alright?"

The Monkey shivered at the compassion in Woo's voice. He wanted to run over and throw open his door. He wanted to fall into the diminutive man's arms. He wanted to be held as he sobbed and screamed about the unfairness of the world.

But he didn't dare. He looked back into the mirror, his gaze roving over his true form. No. He couldn't. Gritting his teeth, he looked away from his distressed face and spoke in the same, even tone.

"I am fine," he lied, tears blooming in his eyes again. "I had a trying day. I will talk to you tomorrow."

There was a pause before Woo spoke again, soft and low. "Commander, if this is about what HighRoller said…"

The taunt beat a tattoo through his mind. He clenched his fists, forcing his eyes closed. "I said I will talk to you tomorrow!" he snapped, his bottom lip trembling.

For a few moments, silence fell. The Monkey could feel the pain and confusion radiating from his best Human friend, the one he pushed away whenever he got too close to the truth. He hoped the man would ignore him, force his door open and demand to know the truth. But after a minute, Woo replied with a wounded tone. "Alright then. I…I guess…Goodnight."

The Monkey King refused to let his sob escape him. Pressing his fists into his eyes, he forced the tears back. This was what he needed to do. Woo wouldn't be able to handle the truth. Monkeys were hated and feared by all Animals and Humans. The violence of his kind was well-known by the entirety of Hidden Kingdom. They wouldn't know what to think of a peaceful king. Not with the reputation of his father, and his grandfather, and all of the other Kings of his lineage going back nearly five hundred years. He knew that so much hatred and fear could not be overcome by one Monkey. Especially somebody like him.

When the tears were locked tight inside of him, he blew out the candles and crawled into bed, feeling more physically and emotionally drained than he had in his ten-year ruse, he prayed for sleep to find him quickly. But his mind wouldn't turn off. HighRoller's words echoed in his ears, and no matter how tightly he clutched his head, the truth of what his enemy had said would not leave him alone. He needed somebody to tell him that he was a good person, somebody worth looking up to. But was he a person? Was he an Animal?

The Monkey had spent his entire adult life fighting his instincts, his Animalistic tendencies, everything that defined him as an Animal. He never would be Human, he knew that now, but could he ever be content with being a Monkey?

"Latimer, Latimer, I need you," he groaned, curling his tail around himself to simulate another Monkey's tail. The movement gave him no comfort. "Hardwin, please come here," he whispered. "Come and make me laugh. I need my friend."

Squeezing his eyes shut, gritting his teeth, he didn't know what to do. But as if Hardwin was beside him, speaking low in his ear, speaking a truth that hurt. "You have a friend. You just need to trust him."

"How?" the Monkey moaned. "How can I tell him what I am?"

Hardwin's matter-of-fact tone replied. "Show him, of course."

Wondering if he was brave enough, his thoughts swirled into images as he fell into a distressing doze. Images of darkness and blood and pain.

His father was angry! He was nothing but a disappointment. And that was how he always felt. HighRoller confirmed with his words. A real man would tell his friends the truth, not lie to protect himself. But was he a man or a Monkey? His father wouldn't say. All the Monkey could see were those black eyes, deep as pools and sparkling with malice and revulsion. He fell into them and saw Hardwin, his usually jovial smile gone.

"Wake up, Blayze. Go show him."

Unable to speak, Blayze reached for his best friend, trying to call out that he needed his warmth and love. As he touched Hardwin's soft blue fur, it blackened, all the color leaching out of it. Blayze looked up to see his father's fist raised, ready to strike him down because he was nothing but a failure…

Gasping, Blayze sat up, his eyes trying to see where his father had gone. He was nowhere. Or was he? He could jump out of a shadow, spewing pain and curses. The Monkey moaned. He knew that something was wrong. He felt as if his skin was on fire, and his fur was matted with sweat. All he could think of was needing his friend, any friend. Woo. That was the only one left. Would he help him against his father?

Overcome with a sudden desire to see Woo, the Monkey King scrambled out of bed, looking around as he tried to put together what he had to do. He was so desperate that he was going to do it. He would show his best Human friend his true form. Laughing almost hysterically, the red Monkey walked toward the door. He paused as his eyes fell on his brush. He must have forgotten to put it away. Giggling, he picked it up and began to groom himself like a Human would. If he were home, he would be groomed by a servant's hands.

Almost delirious with fear and desperation for a friendly ear, he threw the brush aside after realizing that it wasn't working before grabbing his costume. He struggled into the boxy, uncomfortable disguise, his hands trembling as he placed his headpiece on. His gaze fell on the mirror, and he gauged how well his lie looked. Just the same as usual. Moaning, he ran as fast as he could from his room, closing the door behind him. He nearly tripped as he rounded a corner. The only thought in his head was that he had to get to Woo's workshop.

It was very late, which meant most of the base was asleep. But the Monkey knew there was a good chance that Woo was up working on an invention. The wise man tended to do that when he was upset. And the Monkey knew he had upset him with his harsh words. Glancing at a sleeping peacock, he realized that he must have tossed and turned in bed for a few hours. He had been so miserable that time had slipped through his grasp like sand through an hourglass.

The red Monkey met nobody. Nothing stirred in the base. Not even Lin Chung was awake. The silence made him tense, made him afraid. It reminded him of dark nights hiding from his angry father. If he was caught, he would be beaten badly. He would be thrown into a wall. A flash of fear filled him, and he nearly screamed. He couldn't be caught! He couldn't! What would his father do this time?

Without even knocking, ApeTrully bolted into the workroom, slamming the door behind him. Exhausted, half-delirious, his heart pounding and his head light, he saw Woo sitting on his bench, a part of something in his hand, gaping at his commander. Leaping up, Woo hurried over and opened his mouth.

"Shh," ApeTrully hissed. "Father will be angry if he catches me. We must be quiet."

Woo stood frozen in front of the disguised Monkey, looking him up and down. "Your…father? Commander, are you alright?"

ApeTrully stared at Woo with wide eyes then began to laugh. He could hear the Animalistic shriek as it began to build inside of him. He gripped his head and laughed, wondering if this was a bad dream. All he could think of was his father. HighRoller reminded him of his father, violent and rude. And now it was his father's voice that shouted HighRoller's taunt.

"Alright? Alright?" he choked through his laughter. "That's funny! I haven't been alright in years! Years, Woo! Make it stop! Don't let Father hurt me anymore! He doesn't like me dressing like a Hu-man! I'm just curious! P-please!"

ApeTrully was screaming now, tears streaming out of his eyes. He was so hot, so confused. He didn't know if he was here or there. Was he Commander of Big Green or the Monkey Prince? Was he staring at Woo or Hardwin? Was it HighRoller laughing at him or his drunken father? He sobbed, wrapping his arms around himself.

Woo looked frightened but determined. "Come here, Commander."

The Human took his hand, guiding him forward to a bed behind a curtain. When the disguised Monkey sat down, Woo clambered up some stairs and sat beside him.

ApeTrully stared at the small Human, unable to catch his breath. Why was it so unbearably hot?

"Commander, I need to take your temperature."

Woo waited patiently as ApeTrully blinked. "What?"

"I need to take your temperature."

"O-okay. If Father doesn't mind. I don't want him angry again."

"I have his permission," Woo said calmly.

"Okay."

"I need you to take off your costume."

"Costume?" ApeTrully murmured then looked down. He yipped in fear. "Oh, Woo! You can't tell Father I was visiting the Hu-mans again! He hit me so hard last time that I still have a headache!"

Woo's face pinched in pain. "I need you to take it off. It's okay, Commander. Just take it off."

Standing shakily, ApeTrully struggled out of his costume. The cool air against his matted, sweaty fur felt so good that he forgot what he was doing. He stood there shivering until Woo called him to sit down again.

Sinking down on the soft, cool sheets, the Monkey moaned. "I don't feel so well, Woo."

"I know, Commander. Stay still."

Woo pressed a gentle hand to his forehead. He pursed his lips and shook his head then looked into his eyes. Clicking his tongue, he sat on his heels.

"You've got a fever, Commander."

"Fever?" the Monkey asked. "No, no fever. Mother got over her fever last Autumn. Don't you remember, Woo?"

"Of course, Commander. Wait here."

"No!" the red Monkey gasped. "Don't leave me alone, Woo! Father will come back! P-please don't leave me alone! Please!"

"I'm not going far. Just count to ten."

ApeTrully stared up at the ceiling and tried to count. He tried three times, but he couldn't get past four. He sobbed.

"Father always said I was stupid," he lamented.

"You're not stupid," Woo said as he climbed back onto the bed.

"But I can't even count to ten!" the Monkey sobbed. "I'm stupid!"

"Shh," Woo whispered, smoothing his hairless hand over the matted red fur on his Commander's forehead. "Now, I need you to drink this. It will help you sleep, okay?"

"If you won't leave me," the Monkey whispered. "I don't want to be alone."

"I promise," Woo said. He lifted the furry head up and smiled. "Drink up, Commander."

The medicine tasted of fruit, and the Monkey downed it in three great swallows. He lay back, a little dizzy from the movement. He stared at the ceiling, curling his tail around Woo's waist when the man sat beside him. Within minutes, he began to nod off, cooing in his native tongue. His last hazy thought was of his kind Human friend.