Journey to the West Chapter 9 The Peach Garden Wukong plucked a peach from a branch and bit into it.
This peach tastes wonderful, he said.
He ate another peach, and then he ate another one.
Each morning after that, Wukong secretly ate more and more peaches.
After eating, he climbed into a tree and took a nap.
Time went by, and Wukong enjoyed his life in heaven.
Meanwhile, the queen of heaven was busy.
It was almost time for the annual peach festival.
She called for her maidens, Redgown and Bluegown.
How may we help you? asked Redgown.
The peach festival is tomorrow, said the queen.
All the important gods and spirits in heaven will be here.
I also invited the Bodhisattva, Guan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy.
Go to the peach garden now and pick plenty of ripe peaches.
Redgown and Bluegown went to the garden.
As soon as they went through the gate, both maidens gasped.
Where are all the peaches? cried Redgown.
They're gone! cried Bluegown.
This is terrible! said Redgown.
The queen will be angry!
Wukong had been sleeping up on a branch.
When he heard the maidens, he woke up.
Who's making all this noise? he asked, jumping down to the ground.
I'm trying to sleep.
The maidens were startled.
We're sorry to wake you, sir, said Redgown.
We came to pick peaches for the peach festival.
Do you know what happened to... The peach festival? said Wukong.
His eyes lit up.
I didn't hear about that.
Oh, it's a wonderful festival, said Bluegown.
All the important gods and spirits will be there.
That sounds like fun, said Wukong.
I'm sure I'm invited, right?
Redgown bit her lip.
Um, I don't think so.
Wukong was furious.
The queen did not invite me?
I'm just as important as any other spirit or god.
The maidens looked nervous.
Sir, said Bluegown, where are the peaches?
I ate them, said Wukong.
I ate every single one, and they were delicious.
Oh, no, cried Redgown.
We must tell the queen.
No, you're not going to tell the queen, said Wukong.
He quickly set a spell.
Instantly, Redgown and Bluegown fell asleep.
Wukong looked at all the empty peach trees.
He shook his head.
I'm in big trouble.
When Redgown and Bluegown woke up, they ran back to the Cloud Palace.
Your Majesty! cried Redgown.
Something terrible has happened!
Sun Wukong ate all the peaches!
He got very angry and cast a spell on us, added Bluegown.
When we woke up, he was gone.
The queen's eyes flashed with anger.
She went to the royal court and told the Jade Emperor.
That horrible monkey, cried the Emperor.
He turned to his captain.
Gather 100,000 soldiers.
I want Wukong arrested.
The captain nodded and then left the palace.
Meanwhile, the Bodhisattva Guan Yin left her home on Mount Podolatka in the South Sea.
She soon arrived at the Cloud Palace.
I'm sorry to tell you this, said the queen.
But there won't be a peach festival.
Why not? asked Guan Yin.
A monkey named Sun Wukong ate all the peaches, said the emperor.
I sent 100,000 soldiers to arrest him.
They'll bring him back to heaven soon.
Just then, a messenger ran into the court.
We need more soldiers, your majesty.
What? cried the Emperor.
Wukong defeated the entire army, said the messenger.
The Jade Emperor put his head in his hands.
We don't have any more soldiers.
