#i...forgot if macaque could fly

[ringlorn]

Where were they, exactly?

Nezha had lost track a while ago, too preoccupied with stabbing, spearing, and burning all sorts of flying pests to keep an eye on the map. Not that borders mattered much in the air—his natural domain, and where he fought best.

One of his three heads did catch something colorful on a roof beneath him though, and the god made a graceful dive down head-first, skewering a Latcher to the concrete floor before the flames from his fire-tip spear burnt the corpse to ashes.

"You getting bored yet?" he asked his partner-in-arms with an arch of his brow.

"I don't think the waves of these things are stopping anytime soon."

@sageshadowed

[panpanghost]

Part 9 of this au (I think 'Corrupted king' is nice, I've thought about other names but I like this one most.)

Macaque fallowed Wukong, keeping a few steps between them, looking around and studying this palace, searching for the exit. They went up the stairs then to the end of the hall.

Maybe I can try something in the shower- DUMMASS!!! That's Macaque you're thinking about! He'd punsh me if he didn't want to but that's him with powers, so if he didn't want it now, he'll just take with a smile because he thinks I'll kill him then he will never forgive me. So staying neutral is the best thing to do in his condition... Until he falls in love with me again.

Wukong opened the doors, and Macaque could see a swimming pool with hot water falling in it from a hole on the side walls shaped like a lion's face. With a huge glass wall in front to show the beautiful scenery outside.

This place is really nice. My only problem is the king. It's good that it's big, I can keep a distance between us. But... it's like I've been here before.

Macaque was looking around the place, but then he looked back at the king to find him already undressed and staring at him.

Shitshitshitshitshit! I almost forgot about him! That took me completely off guard.

_"Are you ok?" the king asked,

_"I'm fine, go ahead first, I'll undress and go after." Macaque smiled. He won't ask me to serve him, right?

_"It's ok, I'll wait for you... Do you need a hand?"

_"NOPE- I got this." Is he going to watch me all the time?!

Macaque took off the rest of his clothes feeling his heart beating faster and faster, his cheeks burning as the king never took his eyes off him.

Does he need to watch so closely? It's not like I'm going anywhere.

As Macaque finished he glanced at the king, who was looking at him puzzled, like he was trying to read Macaque and the more he read him the more puzzled he got.

This is embarrassing, can he please stop staring.

Then it looked like a light bulb lit in the king's head, he gave Macaque a smile then ran to the water and jumped high yelling, "Cannonball!"

He made a splash as he hit the water.

The Macaque froze for a second then smiled, almost wanted to laugh, what a silly guy.

It worked! He doesn't look so stressed now. I knew it! Acting like myself is the best choice.

_"Try and beat that!" Wukong challenged,

Macaque was shocked for a second, then smiled, he ain't backing off a challenge. Even without powers, he ran to the edge of the pool, jumped high, did a few turns like a professional diver then hit the water gracefully.

Macaque got his head out the water and gave Wukong a smug look,

_"Mine had more splash in it so we'll call it even."

_"Yeh. Sure." Macaque said, still smug. He knows he won. Then it hit him again-

Why did I do that?! He could've felt offended! Damn it! I really need to be more careful. My head could go flying any second now.

Wukong turned and swam to the edge of the pool, then sat on one of the big stairs underwater so only his head was out, he put it back on the edge and relaxed.

Macaque swam to the same edge but kept a distance between them. Sure the king didn't seem mad but it doesn't mean he can relax just yet.

Macaque sat there for a second thinking, then he got colser to the king, almost close enough for Wukong to reach him.

Wukong glanced at him but didn't move, he knows Macaque is more like a cat, he needs to let him get closer on his own or else he'll scratch and bite.

Macaque started grooming his hands.

What the- Not a single entanglement, my furr isn't as silky and thick and I guess that's because I'm sick, but it's clearly well taken care of, my furr's been groomed, maybe yesterday, but I was out for a couple days...

Macaque glanced at the king who looked like he was having a hard time with his own furr.

Was it him? Was he taking care of me while I was out? But he's a king, he could've told someone else to do it, still... I haven't seen another person since I woke up. I can hear others outside but no one in the palace.

_"Doesn't seem like this'll take long." Macaque broke the silence, hinting at the question in his head,

_"Well I've washed you two days ago when you were out, but didn't do it after because I was afraid you'd get a cold. B- But, you know- I'm not saying you're weak, I'm- It's just in this condition it's better not to tempt fate. But don't worry I know how much you love your furr so I groomed all of it and made sure it's good as new." Wukong answered without looking at his moon, still struggling with his own furr.

_"That's.. a lot of work for a king..." that didn't come out as rude, right?

_"We can't help it. You can't use your glamour for now, so I ordered everyone to stay outside. I know how much you hate others seeing your ears. Don't know why though, I think they're cute. But, you know, I respect your decision."

_"Thanks..." Macaque said, glancing back at the king.

Damn it... Every time he opens his mouth, I feel butterflies in my stomach. Stop that! ... So no one's been taking care of him because of me... He must've been having a hard time...

"Come here. I think it's my turn." Macaque said, turning to face the king.

What am I doing?

_"O-oh!" Wukong understood, "Well, it's been your turn for the past two times, but I'll take what I can get." he joked moving closer to his moon.

YES YES YES!

Fluffy...

Macaque started his work and the king relaxed to the touch, his tail swishing happily next to him.

_"Your- Wukong."

_"Yes peaches?"

_"Umm, my eye, is it yours?"

_"Nope, it's yours now."

_"I meant did you give it to me?"

_"Yeh, but don't worry about it. I can regenerate."

_"That's not- Just because you regenerate doesn't mean it doesn't hurt, so thank you, don't know many kings who'd do that."

It's him, it's still him, that's my moon, but...

_"Weeeelll. If you insist on thanking me. Can you stop that?"

_"I'm sorry, stop what exactly?"

_"THAT!" Wukong turned, "Exactly that."

_"What?" Macaque was confused and a little scared,

_"Being so- so.. so, respectful!"

_"You are upset because I'm being respectful?"

_"Yes! It's like you're walking on eggshells around me and it's driving me nuts!"

_"I'm.. sorry?"

_"Noooooo, ugh! See what I'm talking about?! You wouldn't apologise, you'd say 'deal with it, sweetheart' or-or 'Wukong you smell like shit, get your ass in the water' or 'Wake up, I'm hungry' then you'd kick me out of bed to get you something to eat."

_"I said that?" past me I'm gonna kill you!

_"Yes. You did. You'd even say worse but that's not the point."

_"I- I.. Ummm.. I'm sorry, I don't, I-"

_"AAAAGH!" Wukong let out then dived under water, yelling and swearing but all it came was bubbles on the surface.

What is happening right now? Is he telling the truth? He might be. But there's this feeling like he's hiding something. I want to leave but I'm scared. I can't survive on my own, I need his protection, but am I safe with him? I feel trapped. I want to get out! I want my powers back! I want my memories back! GET THIS FUCKING CROWN OFF OF ME!

"aaah... Sorry about that- Macaque?" Wukong got out of the water only to see his moon pulling the crown forcefully, he was pulling hard with all he got,

"Macaque stop, you'll hurt yourself." Wukong said anxiously,

_"Get this thing off of me!" Macaque yelled as he kept pulling, and before he knew it, his tears started falling, his vision blurry and his heart pounding faster, "Get it off of me! Get it off!" Macaque was pulling too hard his claws started ripping his skin, blood falling on his face and dripping into the water,

_"Macaque stop!" Wukong grabbed his hands and forcefully pulled them away, he put them down and hugged him,

_"Let go of me! let go!" Macaque tried to pull away, scratching the other, his claws did little to nothing but that didn't stop him.

Just how weak is he?

_"It's ok. You're ok. I've got you." Wukong whispered into Macaque's ears while stroking his head.

It took a few minutes before Macaque finally calmed down.

I didn't know it'll get to this, I should break the curse and remove the crown. But he'll leave forever. No, no, he wouldn't. He will, he did it before and he'll do it again. It doesn't matter, he's hurting himself. And he'll get himself killed out on his own. You'll find his corpse abodened in the middle of nowhere. He'll die before asking for your help. Is that what you want? To wait all alone until you hear he died because you took off the crown? Because you didn't want to take care of him anymore? Because you got bored of him? No! nononononononononono, what was I thinking?! I can't take off the crown, I have to protect him! Yes. He'll only be safe here, with me. I'll protect you my love, my king.

_"Are you feeling better?" Wukong asked, still hugging/tieing his moon,

_"I don't know..." Macaque muttered, his voice hoarse from all the crying and screaming.

_"Can I clean you up so we could get out of here?"

_"I don't know..."

_"I'm gonna let go now, ok?"

_"mm.."

Wukong let go slowly, looking down at his moon's face, it was painted red with his blood, the sight made his heart beat shards of broken glass into his chest, it was too painful for him.

He looks exhausted...

Wukong started to carefully clean the other's face, he'd already healed him when he was hugging him, but he couldn't help but be gentle.

_"There you are." Wukong said softly as he finished cleaning, holding his love's face in his hands.

Macaque didn't answer, his face blank. Wukong has never seen him like this.

Why? Why does he look so.. broken... I can't see him like this, I have to do something. Think Wukong, think! What would make him happy?

... shit.

"Let's get out of here. I don't know about you, but personally, I'm starving." Wukong spoke cheerfully as he held Macaque up in his arms.

Macaque didn't react, the same blank look on his face, it's like he gave up.

Wukong tried to stay optimistic, he dried himself and Macaque then brushed his love's furr, it was a bummer he didn't get to use all the creams he bought him, but he can do that another time.

He then held Macaque up all the way back to the bedroom. He gave him new clothes, a black hoodie with red marks and cat ears on it and some black sweatpants, Macaque put them on and it messed his hair, still he kept quiet.

Adorable! No! He's depressed, I should cheer him up not think he's cute! Well he's always cute- Damn it! Focus Wukong! Calm down you stupid heart! I'll carry him to the kitchen, he likes being carried around, I don't even think he wants to move. The little ones should be done with our breakfast, so the kitchen should be empty by now.

_"Alright, up you go." Wukong smiled as he held Macaque up once again in his arms,

Macaque didn't react, he just wants this to be over already.

Wukong took him to the kitchen and sat him at the table. The monkeys did finish their job and leave. Good job guys.

The king filled a plate with pancakes and honey and a few grapes, the way Macaque likes it, then he took a few plums, bananas and mangoes and placed them in another plate and put it closer to Macaque.

_"Is there anything else you want?" Wukong asked sitting next to him, it looked like he was about to feed him himself,

_"No, I-" Whatever, I'm dead anyway. "I want to leave."

_"I'm sorry moon, but it's dangerous for you to go out now." When the king finished his sentence, his moon looked even more depressed.

No no no no! I hate this!

"Buuuuuuuut," Wukong said with a big grin, "It's not dangerous for someone to drop by." Macaque looked at him confused,

"How about I call Princess Iron Fan and invite her over? Would that make you happy?" I'll kill her if she tries to take him away.

Macaque finally lit up.

I can see my sister? I last saw her a few weeks ago before I went on with my travels. She can help me!

_"She's coming?!" he missed her, and the fact that the king knows about her means Macaque told him himself, which means he wasn't lying!

_"Maybe, I mean I'm not sure if she has time with her kingdom, and son and husband-"

_"SHE HAS A SON?! AND SHE'S MARRIED?!"

_"Yeh! Her son is Redson, and her husband is Demon Bull King, you've met them before, don't worry. I'm sure she'll come when she knows you're.. umm... cursed."

_"Wow. What else don't I remember?" Macaque sat straight with his head high,

_"Start eating and I'll try my best to tell you. Also a little side note, your sister hates me."

_"She hates all my suitors."

_"WHAT?!" What suitors?! Who dares!!? I'll kill them!

Shit- I guess I never told him about that.

Macaque started eating, shoving pieces of pancakes in his mouth,

_"You know when you hear suitors with an S you'd think there are many, but it's not actually." That's a lie. I could've built an army with them. If I had a golden coin for every proposal, oof!

_"How many? Who are they?" They are dead to even think about taking my Macaque!

_"Awwwyou know, it's not like they proposed because they loved me, most of them just wanted me for my powers and all." This should calm him down, right?

_"Most? What about the rest?"

Damn it!

_"Well, not to brag but I am good looking, at least I used to be."

_"YOU ARE FUCKING GORGEOUS AND SMOKING HOT! Also I want names." I WILL SKIN THEM ALIVE!! HOW DARE THEY?!!

_"Wha- e- hehe- shit," Macaque covered his mouth and couldn't help but blush holding his growing smile, he took a deep breath to calm down then talked again: "They are most likely dead by now. Forget about them."

_"I need to make sure." I'll teach them what happens when they try to take what's mine!

As he heard it Macaque laughed. What kind of mate did I choose?

_"It's ok, I don't think about them, actually I don't even remember their names." Macaque looked at the king, who clearly wasn't satisfied with the answer, then smiled softly, "I'm just glad I made the right choice in the end."

Macaque meant these words, he found someone who'd do anything for him, he gave up his eye, his house, his subjects, maybe more and asked nothing in return, he just wants to see Macaque happy, and that's all he ever wanted, someone to be happy with.

_"Oh.." Wukong felt his face burning red, he couldn't stop it, how could he? His love chose him and him alone of who knows how many others. It healed something in him. He loves me.

"I'm lucky you did." Wukong felt his body relax, like he's flying yet somehow tied up to his heart, he could never explain how he felt being with Macaque. He'd give everything he has just to hear his moon say I love you again, just once, just to know, to know what he's doing isn't wrong, that it's worth it, that he's forgiven.

There was a moment of silence where they just looked into each other's eyes, simply happy to be there.

What was that???!!! CALM THE FUCK DOWN!! At this rate I'm the one who's gonna do something to him.

_"Ehem- At this rate we'll never be done with our breakfast." Macaque joked, turning back to his plate, his face still a little red.

_"Oh right!" Wukong snapped back to reality and grabbed a plum to eat, "We better finish this if we wanna- WAIT-"

_"What?! What is it?!" Macaque asked surprised,

_"You don't know what musicals are!" Wukong was basically about to blow from excitement,

_"By the name I guess it contains music?"

_"OOOOHOHOHOOO! This is gonna be great!!"

_"... o-ok?" Macaque smiled nervously. What did I get myself into?

part 10

(Many of you will hate me after the ending, I just know it.

I'm not a 100% sure that's the ending I want though... We'll see what happens.)

[quitealotofsodapop]

Grandpa Sun has accidentally walked into traffic before while gazing lovingly at their Nainai Mac.

Is this common the whole time of Shadowpeach? Or is it because Mac was wearing/doing something? Are all Wukongs like this? The funny thing is that I can see both DBK and Red Son do something.

It is *very* common for Shadowpeach. Normally it's cus Mac was smiling/laughing at something and Wukong's brain shut off for a moment in bliss.

Worst time in the AU was the first time Wukong saw Macaque in modern day clothing.

The newly-formed gang were doing a day out to do errands and Tang was helping Macaque pick out clothes so he could shed his old armor/robes. Wukong and Pigsy were across the street doing groceries. Macaque steps out, and being of a fashionable mind set, is wearing a completely normal black turtleneck and red skirt (to match his scarf). Wukong's brain has an internal-crash-error at the sight and he literally walks into traffic cus he forgot to wait for the crossing light. No car accidents, but he did get hit by a low flying drone. Macaque was confused but laughed at Wukong's distraction. This was also how Wukong learned that he could feel mortal pain again.

A similar incident occurred the first time Macaque dressed up for a night at the theatre. This monkey goes from zero to a hundred fashion wise. Either he's dressed like Velma from Scooby Doo, or he's wearing full opulent finery like the drama king he is. Cue full jaw drop from Wukong. Macaque knows what he's doing.

DBK def did something similar the first time he met PIF. Like... during a break-in at the Palace he caught a single glimpse of her and walked straight into a pillar. PIF proceded to see him, have a brief second of anger at the intruder, and then have her own mental stutter when she went over to yell at him.

Red Son and MK already have a canonical meet cute of MK falling right on top of Red and taking the Staff. Red wasn't sure how to feel about it and continued to fail at playing it cool for the rest of the series. MK has discovered that simply running his hand/tail under Red's chin causes the fire demon to almost combust. MK isn't immune either. Red calls him a single pet name and MK is all over him like Gomez hearing Morticia speaking french.

For the rest of the SWKs in the Wukongverse? Definitely. Smash!SWK literally crashes mid-parkour stream into a 7/11 cus he saw a cute monkey demon inside. Both HeroisBack!SWK and Reborn!SWK would both get distracted mid-battle at watching their Macaques fight, prompting getting them an arrow to the knee/bonk on the head. Netflix!SWK would be flying around on Stick and hit a whole ass mountain cus he was busy watching his passenger. NewGods!SWK claims he doesn't have such a problem with his mate, but is proven a liar when his Macaque walks past wearing only his pyjamas and NewGods!SWK mis-pours a pitcher of orange juice onto his suit.

Their brains can only hold so much attention your honor.

[digitaldoeslmk]

multiple questions. Is Lady Bone Demon alive or did she die in the same in JTTW.

Is macaque alive and is he literal metaphor of Wukong like his a “clone” of Wukong or is he a complete separate being from from Wukong and just represents what evil Wukong can do.

Are yellow camel gang (forget their group name) still supplementing the demon warlords not like they do anything special all you have the DBK, speak of him is the jade face fox still around.

What is Mei doing to do the Samadi fire isn’t split up so what she got to do (the writers really fumble the ball with her well that happen when you are given 10 MINUTES PER EP LIKE WHAT HELL LEGO)? Speaking of the gang are they the same guys or are they still recantations?

What is this demon-human truce I keep hearing about how did it happen? After Wukong sealed DBK?

Is flower fruit mountain still in same place like in the show? Because I can see Wukong using his 10000 ft tall from to pick up all of FFM and pick up a big chunk of the fire ring mountains (I forgot the name of that place too) then place it in the middle of the ocean to be life alone. yes I know volcanoes don’t work like that but come on this world is all really violating the natural norms of our world so what’s one more violation.

OHO MANY QUESTIONS!! :DD

1. LBD makes an appearance but she's just a small fry yaojing like in JTTW, and more of a lackey then the big bad. she did get killed by Wukong but she escapes the Diyu with some help

2. Macaque also an escapee from the Diyu and takes role of bbg on S3. he's his own person, but he feels himself equal to Wukong in power and merit, and he resents him for being given the chance at Enlightenment. not that the option is never denied to him, he can do it on his own accord, but not if he can't gain fame and renown from it like Wukong did.

3. the Camel Ridge Trio aren't part of the Brotherhood, they're their own thing but they got deleted by Wukong in the journey and that's that lol his Brotherhood tho is still around in their own way, and they do resent him for ditching them for Heaven. they arent big bads in S4 but they get roped into a vengence plot by Macaque.

4. Jade Faced Fox as well as the Immortal Compliant are still around but they're on PIF's side while DBK got sealed away. They got only minor roles though villains of the week demons for MK, like Yin and Jin.

5. IM TAKING MEI AND GIVING HER A FIX UP MAKEOVER!!!!! She's overall still like her S1 self, but her arc is more tied to her dragon ancestry than stealing Red Son's thunder. the Samadhi Fire isn't a McGuffin hot potato in S3, her arc is about learning to master her water and weather manipulation powers, and learning how to fly on her own. Chinese dragons need a "protusion" in their head to fly which im just reworking as its an age thing, so best she can do half the time is hop around on clouds, and since Megapolis in is a desert and has weather control.... not much chance to stretch herself. Also she has a full proper dragon form, not just a floating hologram form.

6. the gang is not reincarnations of the pilgrims, the lads are all in their celestial posts post-JTTW and they make some appearances here and there, mostly in a support role. Tang is one of Tripitaka's disciples who also got given a few reincarnations as a mortal to build merit and cultivation. Wukong saw that and went "hey yknow what would be really funny?" and so pilgrim group electric boogaloo happens xD

7. after the journey, Wukong became a boddhisattva, and helped over the years to build trust between humans and demons, proving that they can not only coexist but support each other. Megapolis was the first mixed city to be built as proof-of-concept that a demon-human truce could work, and after a few decades, the truce was codified into law both in the mortal and celestial realm. basically demons will be treated as equals among humans if they don't eat or kill humans, and they can be redeemed if they choose to drop a warlord's lifestyle after community service and reparations are given. to maintain the peace, quite a few immortals keep an eye on the mortal realm for any breaches on that truce, so it can be investigated and punished accordingly.

8. JSBDHSHDJHD TRUE THAT!! But FFM is not sealed away so zealously, everyone knows Wukong didn't vanish, he just went to the celestial realm to work as an intermediate between mortals and immortals and yknow, boddishattva duties. FFM got plucked closer to the shore, and after Megapolis was properly established, it even got a few tourist traps along the shores. there are still monkey yaoguai living there quite happily, those villages we see arent deserted, and sometimes scholars and pilgrims are allowed to climb the mountain for an escorted visit. its pretty lively there!

[menaceoffandoms]

Okee okee okee SO

Initial thoughts, since I've literally just finished watching:

The animation change is jarring but it looks a lot better in motion, I still really miss flying bark tho

The story seems a bit rushed and it falls a little short because of it I feel. This is the first time we've not had a special and it definitely would have made the pacing better, but it's still really good dispite that!

Now to the SPOILER stuff yippeeee

Episode one is perfect. It's great seeing how MK is still effected by all the trauma he experienced and how his attempts to not think about things that scare him aren't working anymore. I love seeing how far he's come in his training with Wukong, I love that Macaque is around and trying to help, I love that Pigsy is there to take care of MK at the end. It's all a wonderful start and having all our Monkies sent to Diyu at the end is a great way to set up the next part of the plot.

I think episode two is a lot weaker, I don't think the 10 Kings have any reason to blame Wukong, Macaque or MK for what happend with Azure, but I'm blaming all that on Snake guy. Also, I'm gonna keep calling him snake guy cause I don't remember his name. I'm sorry.

Anyway, I think snake guy could have been built up here more and Nezha's dad isn't a great antagonist, there's just not a lot there, but Wukong getting leashed and the jail break scene are very fun I do enjoy. Having Macaque sacrifice himself here is also great, but I wish he got more screen time.

The whole stuff with Nuwa is cool and we're used to different legends being thrown at us in one way or another, but it all felt a little fast? Plus with the amount of stones it really makes it feel rushed. You can tell things are going fast when the characters have to explain to each other what's happen when the viewer already kinda knows, and that's exactly what happens in the next episode.

Ngl kinda forgot about episode three for a min there... Wukong telling MK to find his own way ties in great with the theme of the season, reinforces what Macaque taught him, and overall is pretty fun. Having us see the ending of the season in episode three is interesting, I kinda wish MK had been the only one to see it tho, Wukong knowing doesn't do much.

I love having a Sandy and MK episode, the kid needs so much therapy, but I also would have rather MK figure his shit out with Sandy's and then get the next stone, rather than being forced to by the stones guardian. Fuck it, imagine if the meditation made him lose control of his monkie form and attack Sandy? Have the two fight whilst MK dose a battle of the mind. But anyway, what we did get was good, I do like the conversation he has with himself a lot. Poor Sandy tho.

The dragon fruit episode! It's cute and I always love seeing Red Son, he also needs more screen time, but I don't really get what he's doing? Or why... I am happy they addressed the fire tho! I kinda assumed after the Master said she had "once welded" the fire that it ment they'd sealed it in the rings again between seasons, but apparently not? Red is trying to remake the fire cause he doesn't understand where it went, meanwhile Mei's learned to fully control the fire to the point she can't even tell its there anymore... feels a bit cheap if I'm honest.

I do love Mei's insecurity here, seeing all her friends get this crazy power where in the start she was by far the strongest is quite a lot. Never getting a star from the Master obviously effected her a lot, but I'm pretty sure she would have gotten one if he saw her contribution to MKs plan. I thought that was the whole point of that scene tbh.

I relise Tang and Pigsy are also up to stuff, Pigsy being worried about MK is sweet and Tang supporting him is cute but it doesn't add much really? Both groups figure out where to go next so it's kinda redundant, especially when we don't see what Wukong is up to at all.

Also, Mei still having the fire makes all her insecurities a bit redundant cause now it's like... she's had the fire a full season and didn't relise she was using it. She could end the world at any moment and she's just okay with that now and never struggles... I'm sorry but girly needs more development right this second.

I know a good bit of JTTW but nothing about Nuwa or her myths, or the stones and that. I saw one theory video about them after the trailer was leaked so take some of this with a grain of salt. I don't know why the tiger and dragon guardians are together, their might be a mythology reason but I don't know it, and it makes their stones feel anticlimactic and rushed. Especially when most of the episode is spent in a market being chased by guards. I mean, I'm happy they didn't drop that plot point but again, its all very rushed.

I also don't know a lot about Li jing (I think that's Nezha's dad's name idk ahh) other than he had a pagoda. Keeping the Jade emporers power inside your demon prison is either really smart or really really dumb. What's dumber is MK and the gang letting themselves be sucked into it. Like, just make it so they can't escape and have MK stop trying first.

The pagoda is kinda weak, I almost wish they all started separated and then got caught by the 100 eyed demon trying to get to the top, make one of the inmates say that theirs an exist up there that no one's ever managed to reach idk. Anyway, I love Macaque saving Wukong and I've MK being forced through his memories buttttt he's getting two battles of the mind in one season and its just the same thing being hammered home again and again.

MK also gets a lot of powers this season, stuff even Wukong seems surprised about, and it feels very unearned. Maybe it's just the rushedness of it but idk, but he effortlessly breaks through the seal holding the Jade emporers power and it just dosnt sit right. With MKs whole doing things himself arc I'd have love it if Wukong and Macaque stepped up to help him.

Also, the Jade emporers power is just gone now? He was like, a guardian of the last stone and that's where his power came from I think, and the world needs all its guardians or it'll fall apart, but no one can replace a guardian so... is his power just the stone or did MK take it, cause that's what it looked like for a hot second. I don't think that's what they were going for tho.

Li jing's turn around is way too quick, honestly he did so little he's really forgettable, and Snake guys introduction is lackluster. Again, he should have been built up more somehow. His explanation of what was going on was weak and didn't really mean much, that story he told is one I've heard before and whilst it's a great metaphor it's also very confusing. I'd have rather he just say he was a being of chaos like MK from outside the world.

I love how he woke MK up earlier so he could live and make bonds and have a choice, it's something he was never ment to have and it's exactly why snake guy wanted him to have it. No matter what MK choose he'd win, getting to return to chaos either way, but even still MK feels like he has no choice.

MK would do anything for his friends, he would never let them die, so that's why he has no choice. Not because Nuwa planed his destiny, but because he wouldn't even dream of letting those he love die.

Macaque powers flaring up and his interactions with snake guy are another reason they both needed more screen time and build up. Something is going on with Macaque and I wanna know what, I bet its going to be important next seasons, but I guess we just have to wait huh.

I love how Macaque refuses to let MK sacrifice himself. The moment he relises his shadows can over power the chaos he dose everything he can to break the others free and save the kid. He's really come a long way and even if he won't admit it, he cares about everyone.

You know what he should admit tho? THAT HE WAS RIGHT ABOUT MK AND WUKONG THIS WHOLE TIME! They are far too similar to eachother. They both tried to sacrifice themselves to save the people they care about and honestly, I wouldn't have been that mad if Wukong successed. Really glad he didn't tho.

Instead, MK uses the circlet on Wukong and it is heartbreaking. He Sacrifices himself whilst everyone else yells at snake guy, and honestly it's not even his fault. He's giving MK more freedom than Nuwa intended, he's just a bit of a prick. He better come back tho, Matthew Mercer did amazing as his voice. My god.

Anyway, I like MKs conversation with Nuwa, his defiance against her attitude and how he takes the stones back. I'm not sure if I saw it right but did the purple stone blow up as he fell? I thought it did but I kinda lost count with everything else happening.

Moving on, everyone gathers round to enjoy the end of the world and snake guy had to butt in, but it makes MK relise that the power of friendship still exists. The stones are shattered and split between every creature on the planet. The stones are too powerful for one person to hold but every single perons in existence? Not that hard anymore.

We send snake guy back to chaos, head back home to see how everyone is magic now, cry about how MK almost fucking killed himself and celebrate another avoided apocalypse YIPPEE! Oh and then we see the chaos in the staff and now Macaque has it too... not foreboding at all nope.

Overall it just seems very rushed and underdeveloped, but the humers still great and the characters care about eachother so much! Please don't hate me but I think it's pretty mid, give it a 40 min special for the last 2 episodes and lengthen some of the other plot points and it'd be perfect, but I guess things are just weird cause their transitioning.

With pressure from Lego and the writting team leanring to work with a new animation studio, not to mention that studio having to learn the LMK art style and live up to the standards of the previous seasons, its not an easy thing to balance.

I almost wish this season was another calm before the storm, you know? Focus it on MK leanring his monkie form instead, have everything fall apart in the last episode and him relise they have to collect the stones. End it on that and save the rest for season 6.

I've got a very narrative focused brain which is why I've got all these ideas of what I would have done, but I'm not a writer and what I think doesn't really mean much. Giving how amazing the past seasons have been tho I wanna say this one was just a blip on the radar.

That's not to say its not good! This is a kids cartoon and we're already getting a lot more than I expected when I first started watching the show, which was literally last month I won't lie, but it's definitely not as good as season 4 to me. Nothing beats Pitiful creatures or the Emperor rath. But still I'm super excited to see where they go from here!

I've got some theories. Chaos is obviously leaking into the world somehow, or maybe Snake guy did something when he sent MK back? Either way somethings up with the staff and somethings up with Macaque.

Giving how little we know about why Wukong killed Macaque, and the little we did see from that flash back, I think most people have guessed Macaque wasn't in control of himself. With snake guy asking where Macaque got his powers from and how confused that makes him, there's probably more going on than mets the eye.

Snake guy also mentions "he" is winning. Mayhaps theirs a God of chaos or something, an opposite to Nuwa that we don't know about yet, that is now on its way to cause problems. Maybe it's a forth mystic monkie, given that there's supposed to he 4 of them as mentioned in JTTW, but we only ever met two of them in that story I think. I feel like a fourth has to show up at somepoint, but I don't really care if they do or not. My bets on a God or something.

Whatever that something is, I think Macaque is tied to it, just like MK was tied to Nuwa. It would make sense with the weird stuff happening with his powers. But honestly, if that's the case then it begs the question where the fuck did Wukong come from? He almost ended the cycle thousands of years early by fighting the Jade emperor, he too is a harbinger of chaos...

Wukong made himself that, tho. He started with a lot of power sure but he went out of his way to learn a lot of it too... If MK was made for a purpose by Nuwa and I'm right about Macaque being linked to this mystery chaos entity, then what's up with Wukong?

My best bet for season 6 is were gonna find out what happend between Macaque and Wukong finally, and that Macaque will be our main villan. Or, at the very least a puppet for whoever snake guy was talking about. Wukong and MK and everyone will have to find a way to save Macaque from this new power, and they'll succeed but not before "he" returns.

I also feel like this new season is perfect for a sorta soft reset. Magic is now a lot more common in the world, now being accessible to any mortal, and I'd like to see that explored more. I don't think we'll be going back to the episodic structure we've had before, and I don't mind that, but a new balance needs to be made. Either way I'm excited for more Macaque cause he's probably my favourite character tehe

Uhhhh ending this is weird so I'ma pass out, thank you for reading and if you have anything to add uhhh add it I wanna talk more about this season with people now I'm actually using tumblr

I found lmk s5 on yt and I'm scareddddd everyones been freaking out over it ahhh

[battle-of-mid]

iwould like to hear your rant about lmk wukong's character assassination. In detail. if possible. please

(takes long drag of cigarette) it really did all start with the show itself coming out. see, after ROTTMNT came out, i don't think we could really expect flying bark to be "faithful" to its IPs and while whether that was a good thing for the TMNT franchise is absolutely something that can be discussed by people that aren't me, it's a whole lot more sensitive when you're handling a show based on a cultural treasure -

LEGO's line of toys dedicated to a sort of journey of the west spinoff is, in my opinion, an objectively good idea. other than boosting sales it feels kind of inevitable considering just how much LNY stuff they'd put out already, you know? to put it simply i don't have any problems with the lego monkie kid IP in concept, just with the way FB decided to run with its execution -- which ended up landing it squarely in "hot mess" territory.

basically - and i promise that this is relevant to wukong specifically, bear with me - i think that the first red flags were the fixation on their rendition of the six-eared macaque: a character that they've changed from being a single-use "evil twin" character that served the original Journey to the West's allegory for enlightenment (ie. that he was a manifestation of SWK's worst impulses) and then immediately fucking died when the situation called for it. he didn't show up for more than one storyline. they retcon a looooot of SWK's actual backstory as detailed by the book itself in order to make room for sadboy LEMH content so the writers could get their shipfix for him and SWK (which is annoying on more than one point, if you remember what I said about the evil twin thing. if you catch my drift. average flying bark moment)

but to put it simply i genuinely think they just made him... way too much of a lazy fucking self absorbed asshole? the beginning of the show has this which feels like a one-off gag but they double down on it later which makes they didn't write sun wukong -- this is after he's supposed to have ascended to victorious-in-strife buddha, mind you, and it ends up feeling less like sun wukong at any point in the storyline and more like... well, goku. from dragon ball super. which is its own, mostly unrelated can of worms in and of itself.

the thing is this is a character that's been used historically as an allegory, as representative of the people, objectively a cultural icon no matter where in china-influenced asia you find yourself (fantastic analysis of the problem with the way LMK pays homage to that allegory here), and also used in reference to, like, diaspora kids. this is a character that baaasically any chinese person with any kind of connection to the culture is going to see themselves in - especially in his reckless identity and subsequent ascension, you know?

and the main problem here is essentially that when you do this with a character that exsits as part of a media franchise... it's fine? it's whatever. people can just skip that. but when you are doing this as an attempt to adapt a piece of historically and culturally important literature - one that is made for children, one that is infinitely more accessible to diaspora children of that culture than any other adaptation that would be directed towards their age demographic, it feels like a punch in the gut. it's a level of disrespect that just really really hurts, all because the people in charge of it feel like they have to flanderize their characters for their fandom or they'll, like, die.

this isn't exactly organized nor is it every thought i have on the matter but basically tldr they forgot they were writing sun wukong and not their oc

[lunar-wandering]

Eventide

bet yall thought i forgot about the Sunset Wukong AU didnt you

jokes on you, i didn’t.

welcome to Macaque’s intro, aka me kinda just rewriting episode 9-

Word Count: 1.5k

Read on Ao3

-

"You know, when I found out that I was going to be trained by Monkey King, the 'Great Sage, Equal to Heaven', I had no idea.... that I'd be stuck here, hammering walls 12 hours a day!" MK yelled, throwing the hammer off to the side, ignoring the loud crash it made as it hit the ground, turning to glare at Wukong. "Why am I doing this again?"

"First of all, it's only been 2 hours, not 12." Wukong said, casually leaning against a nearby pillar. "Secondly, it's so that I can make a neat little breakfast nook."

"But I'm meant to be the Monkie Kid, not Construction Boy, and besides, this barely counts as practice!" MK said, crossing his arms with an annoyed huff. "How am I meant to defeat demons if I don't know any of the fighting...stuff."

"Oh, so you want to learn the 'fighting stuff', huh?" Wukong said, pushing off the pillar and picking up the staff from where MK had left it laying on the ground. "You mean like....this?"

MK barely managed to duck down and dodge as the staff proceeded to go sailing over his head, hitting the wall hard enough to break it and leave a sizeable hole in it.

"Yes! Exactly like that-" MK paused mid-excited ramble as he registered the wince on Wukong's face, as well as how the Monkey King had placed one hand behind his back. MK sighed, the excited energy leaving almost as fast as it had came. "Monkey King, I've told you multiple times that we could move training to nighttime, after sunset."

"It's fine, it's fine, you need your rest." Wukong said, waving away MK's concern, at the same time revealing exactly what MK's had suspected, that the tips of Wukong's fingers had turned to stone. "Besides, you're not ready for that kind of stuff yet anyways."

"But I am ready! What's smacking a wall going to teach me anyways?"

"Look, I'm never going to teach you something you don't need to know, okay?" Wukong said, sighing. "Anyways, this wall isn't going to destroy itself. Remember, step into the strike-"

MK's phone rang.

-

MK climbed over the edge of the building, a whole rant already building in his mind.

"Monkey King, I swear, I know it's sunset, but we have told you so many times not to use your powers during the day-" MK cut himself off once he got a good look at the monkey standing before him. "...Oh. This is awkward. You're not... Monkey King."

"Heh, I get that a lot." The monkey said, giving a nervous laugh. "The names Macaque, Six Eared Macaque, although that's more of a nickname really.... nevermind that, you're the Monkie Kid, MK, right?"

"...How'd you know?" MK asked, suspicious. Macaque gave an airy chuckle.

"Not exactly everyone can wield that staff, kid." He said, turning and starting to walk away. "Anyways, I should go-"

"Can you teach me that cool move you did?!" MK blurted out, almost as shocked as Macaque himself was at the sudden question. He wasn't sure what had prompted him to ask, but as it was he wasn't getting any stronger right now, and this powerful monkey didn't have a curse that turned him to stone in the daylight, so... "Please?"

Macaque eyed the horizon for a moment before responding.

"Isn't Wukong teaching you?" He said, and when MK looked nervous, followed it up with, "But I suppose you can never have too many teachers, right? I'm sure Monkey King wouldn't mind...."

And so, Macaque wormed his way into MK's weekly schedule.

Oddly enough, Macaque, like Wukong, insisted on never training MK during the night, but MK was fine with that, as Macaque was actually teaching him, unlike Wukong, who continued to simply make MK slam a hammer against a wall, day after day. Going back and forth between both training sessions, and his job of delivering noodles was no easy task, but MK figured he was managing it pretty well.

...Okay, so maybe he felt a bit more tired, a bit more irritable than usual, but he could overcome that! He could get better at balancing his schedule.

He could do this.

...His rising anger over how Wukong continued to have him do nothing but smack a wall, repeatedly, over and over, every single day, wasn't doing him any favors though.

-

He is the weapon.

That sentence repeats like a mantra over and over in his head as he stares down the glowing eye of the smoke monster. Maybe he says it out loud- he can't be sure. All he's focused on is the sparks of energy flying around him, the resistance he feels keeping him from landing a hit as he pushes harder, summons as much energy as he can-

The air shifts, and MK barely has time to blink as the smoke monster smirks (and he hadn't even known that it could do that), shifting, twirling in on itself-

He thinks of looking back at Macaque for help.

But then the smoke clears away, and despite his confusion, he instantly knows the help would never come.

He finds himself face to face with Macaque, remnants of smoke and shadows slipping off of the other's form as he looks up and meets MK's gaze, revealing a scar over one eye, and really, MK should've seen this coming.

But it's not really Macaque's betrayal that surprises him.

No, that honor goes to the stone slowly creeping it's way up the side of Macaque's face.

And then Macaque's fist hits MK's chest, and MK gets the wind knocked out of him. He drops, hitting the ground, hard. Groaning, he starts trying to pull himself up.

He feels....weaker, somehow.

Like something isn't quite right.

"Y'know, you really are a good kid." MK barely registers Macaque's hand ruffling his hair, but he leans back as the other enters the shadows on the ground. "Super nice."

MK watches as the shadow clone (because that's what it must've been right? Heavens he was stupid, falling for a plot as simple as this) merges with it's creator- noting that the stone isn't just on Macaque's face, both the monkey's right leg, his left arm, and slowly spreading onto his chest.

It took a few moments more than it should've for MK to notice the gleaming ball of magic in Macaque's hand, but by the time he'd noticed it, Macaque was already closing his fist around it.

MK watched in fascination and mild horror as sparks of magic appeared all over Macaque's body, and the stone-

The stone faded away.

MK didn't get much of a chance to think about that, as the next second, the magical recoil sent MK flying, his back colliding with the face of the mountain behind him, the staff following after and landing sideways, like a bar pinning him to the rock. Tried as he might to move it, he couldn't.

He was trapped.

-

Monkey King, of course, came to save him, as always. MK could only thank his lucky stars that the whole situation had taken place in the night, instead of the day. He had no idea what they would do if Wukong turned fully to stone during an attack. (And based on some of the things Pigsy had told him, this had actually come close to happening, far more often than MK would like. They all knew that Wukong would still revert back to normal at sunset, even if he'd been turned all the way to stone. But they also knew that it hurt. And MK never, wanted anybody to be in that level of pain just because he couldn't handle things on his own.)

Still though, they'd really been cutting it close, with there having only been mere moments before sunrise. MK could still vividly see the expression on his mentors face as he looked back, eyeing the horizon, before locking eyes with MK.

Wukong hadn't strictly asked for help, instead saying that it was time for the "hero stuff", as MK had previously put it. But MK recognized worry when he saw it.

Part of him relifting the staff was fueled entirely by his determination to be the one to help his mentor for once. But he wasn't about to tell the Monkey King that. (He was fairly certain that Wukong might get offended over it, if his reluctance to let others help with his whole 'turning to stone' problem said anything).

MK sighed, feeling tired as he watched the sunrise. It belatedly occurred to him that he had stayed up all night.

It wouldn't be the first all-nighter he'd ever pulled, but after what he'd just been through? He just wanted to collapse into a mountain of pillows right this instant.

"...I should probably head home." MK lightly pulled himself out from under Wukong's arm, standing up. "I feel bone tired."

"I'm sure you do." Wukong also stood up, brushing dirt and debris off of his clothes, before looking down the cliff they'd been sitting on. "Just uh, could I ask you for a favor first?"

"Uh, I guess?" MK yawned, leaning against the staff for support as he slouched.

Wukong eyed the horizon. The sun had already risen.

"...You and Pigsy would probably yell at me if I summoned my cloud and turned my toes to stone so.....mind giving me a ride back?"

[skellebonez]

I don't know if you're ok with it, but I was wandering if you could write Shadowpeach from the Dad Swap au with 54 and/or 66 please?

I am totally ok with it! I love these two in this AU, having another fill for them is fantastic. I couldn’t find a way to write 66 in a way I thought felt right, so I went with the first prompt. For angst.

EDIT: I FORGOT TO ADD THIS @kitkat1003 AND @winterpower98 MADE THE DADSWAP SU CONTENT I AM BASING THIS ON

Yeah well dying generally puts a damper on things.

Macaque was always in a mood of some kind, constant ribbing and stealing of his merchandise tends to do this after all, so Wukong wasn’t in the least bit surprised he wasn’t entirely up for a pleasant conversation the second he walked through the door to his coffee shop.

What he didn't expect was for Macaque to completely miss that Wukong had arrived and startle when he said hello.

"Mac?" Wukong asked softly as he took in the other's appearance, his smile falling into a concerned frown. "Are you ok?"

"Yes," Macaque snapped quickly, not looking up to meet Wukong’s gaze.

This was a lie and they both knew it.

Macaque looked awful, at least by his own standards for how he was supposed to look while at work. His hair almost looked OK, if one didn't look enough to see how certain parts had been disheveled from his own running fingers. There were clearly dark circles under his eyes, just prominent enough to grab attention. His shirt was wrinkled, and Wukong had the sneaking suspicion it was the same one he had worn the day before. And Macaque was slouched over in a way he normally wasn’t.

The frown on Wukong’s face deepened, remembering how Macaque was also unusually snarky and easy to anger the day before as well.

“Have you been getting... any sleep these last few days?” He asked, voice even softer than before and clearly betraying his concern, taking a seat in front of the other monkey. Normally he would have snarked something, playfully attempted to make off with some of the drink he didn’t actually enjoy, flirt and let it fly over Macaque’s head.

That just didn’t feel right today.

“I thought you weren’t being a therapist right now,” Macaque muttered, and that was when Wukong noticed the coffee he was holding in his hand. Probably not the first cup he had had for the day.

“I’m not asking because of my profession, I’m asking because I care about you.” And that seemed to give the shop owner pause, just enough to make him scowl lightly and then finally meet Wukong’s gaze with a frown. “You look exhausted.”

“You’re the first person to say something today,” Macaque noted, sidestepping Wukong’s observation and questions.

“I know you enough to notice when something is wrong,” Wukong said, reaching over the counter to put a hand on Macaque’s shoulder. When the other man jumped a bit before he even touched him he stopped, looking at him with deeper concern.

“Just... give me a minute,” Macaque said with a sigh, putting down his cup and rubbing his face with his hands. “I.... no, I haven’t been sleeping. Not on purpose, I just. Nightmares and all that. Let me just wash up.”

“You know you can tell me anything you want,” Wukong offered softly, holding both of his hands out as Macaque moved from behind the counter to presumably do what he wanted to do alone for the moment. “As a friend. Or you could tell me nothing and we can just talk for a bit. You look like you need company more than anything else right now. You’re... jumpy.”

Macaque nodded his head slightly, a half a “Yeah” barely leaving him before he rounded the corner. Wukong could have sworn his heard a continued barely muttered sentence after that word, but couldn’t quite make it out despite his strong hearing.

Macaque mulled over the fact that his first response to being called jumpy was “well dying generally puts a damper on things”.

He decided not to dwell on it for now, as he splashed cold water on his face.

He just wanted to take Wukong up on his offer to talk about nothing at all.

[winterpower98]

And are we forgetting that beside being an over power little creature with unimaginable power, he also has the fastes transportation via the cloud and this little thing if he wanted to could just be gone before you can blink.

Not even all the og jttw cast, tlt, the monkeys, macaque or all of pigsy kid combine could stop this little monkey from just wandering off.

Like I can imagine little wukong trying to follow something that caught his attention idk a fly or something. Everyone is extra tired around him but they think he might be settle for now. Then boom the little monkey takes out the cloud and before anyone can do anything he is out of the country.

Ad Of course panic and try to call the other children to see if the can see anything.

oh yeah

I forgot about the cloud somersault

[skellebonez]

May I ask for number 7 from the general prompt list with Shadowpeach (or Freenoodleshipping if you feel like it). Thank you!

The temptation to write FreeNoodles again was so strong I wrote both. You get two separate fills for the price of one. Obvious warning for blood and mild descriptions of injuries but nothing super detailed.

“Is that blood?” “Yes but that doesn’t matter right now, what does matter is-” “You are literally bleeding.”

“MACAQUE? ARE YOU DEAD?” Wukong yelled from across the mountain range. The angry but weak yell of annoyance that responded told him that, at least, the other ancient monkey was not dead. “OK, I’M COMING TO GET YOU!”

Jumping from the cliff onto his cloud, Wukong rushed over to where the other had been drop kicked into a craggy opening (or did he make the opening?) by the now dead demon and jumped down. Macaque was in one piece at least, though he looked a bit worse for wear. He wasn’t immortal, of even invulnerable, in the same way that Wukong was so he definitely was the worse off of the pair after that nasty fight.

“Wow, you look like shit,” He said lightly, reaching down to pull the other into a standing position and wincing at the bit back pained yelp he let out. “Sorry.”

“Gee, thanks,” Macaque snapped as he leaned into Wukong’s side. He must have been feeling as bad as he looked if he was welcoming help. “You should see the other guy.”

“I did see the other guy, you kinda obliterated him with that last attack after you went flying.”

Macaque started to snicker in victory, winching and leaning more into Wukong to the point he laid his head on his shoulder... oh that was... not a good thing, actually, that was probably bad. “Hell yeah, still got it even after getting blown up by the kid.” His voice was starting to waver a bit too.

“Uh, are y-” Wukong froze when he moved his hand to grab Macaque’s side and it came into contact with something wet. They weren’t anywhere near water. “Is that blood?” 

“Yes but that doesn’t matter right now, what does matter is-” 

“You are literally bleeding,” Wukong said in dawning realization. “Fuck, I forgot you could get hurt like- shit, ok. Just. Try to stay standing.” He leaned Macaque against the mountain wall and removed his cape, pressing it into Macaque’s side as he ripped the green tie from his sash to tie it around him more sturdily.

“... I didn’t know you cared like that...” The genuine surprise shouldn’t have made Wukong’s ears pull back the way they did.

“Of course I do.”

----------FILL 2----------

“Tang...” Pigsy focused his gaze on the other man’s arm, hidden from the elbow down behind his back. “ I heard a yell. Is there something you should tell me?”

“Nope!” The reply came too quick to not be planned in advance. Tang stepped to the side, careful to keep himself facing the shorter man at all times. This only made himself look even more suspicious. “Nope, nothing, I’m just going to go to the bathroom no need to-” He winced as be brushed against the wall stepping away quickly.

Pigsy’s eyes widened. “Is that blood?” 

Tang froze, slowly turning around and seeing the small smear of red on the wall behind him. Well. May as well run with it. “Yes but that doesn’t matter right now, what does matter is-” 

“You are literally bleeding.”

“Only a bit!”

Pigsy stomped forward, grabbing Tang’s elbow with a surprising amount of gentleness for his movements and pulled his arm from behind his back. He sighed, looking at the the blood covered cloth he had gripped in his hand to stop the bleeding from his palm. “OK. What did you do?”

“... I was trying to cut some vegetables for dinner and... The knife got away from me...”

Only a sigh came from the pig demon, relieved and not angry in the slightest, as he opened Tang’s hand and pulled up the cloth to take a closer look, cut fresh enough that there was no danger of hurting him further. “OK. Doesn’t look that bad, I think I can treat this. C’mon, let’s get you fixed up.”

[skellebonez]

So...how did MK break the news to everyone (including Red) that he and Red were gonna be parents?

OK so. I’ve been skirting around this in my prompt fills because... I kinda don’t completely know yet? I have a basic IDEA of what happens in what I have been calling the “Rainy Talks AU” (because I know this is going to be canon divergent once season 2 comes out and it started with that fic I am still writing) but I’ve been writing by the seat of my pants.

I’ll put this under a read more since it is pretty long, but here’s the basic outline for “MK and Red Son Decide To Have A Child”.

So this doesn’t exactly go the traditional way of “everyone we’re having a baby in 8 months”, this is more a “we’re making plans to have a baby and we’re telling specific people at specific times because we have issues to work around here”.

For Red Son, he and MK talk out most of their joint decisions well in advance in this AU. When they have something big, like getting married, they talk out exactly what they both want and come to an agreement on who they trust more to make the final decision (usually it’s both of them). They decided very early after being engaged that they both absolutely want at least one child. It’s the when and how they get caught up on, because of Red Son. As excited and willing as he is, he’s also incredibly nervous because unlike MK at this point he doesn’t really have a lot of a support structure behind him in his family life and he keeps forgetting that MK’s friends are family are HIS too now. Ultimately, he puts his trust in MK and asks that he just remind him to stop overthinking the family stuff until he starts being more comfortable.

Wukong learns after MK hears Red call Wukong “Dad” by accident (in this AU, Wukong has legally adopted MK as his son because “MK’s parents are assholes”). MK tells Wukong “so we’re thinking of having a kid” and Dadkong mode kicks in. He had already wanted to renovate the Shame Temple so he could try to spend time with everyone again at this point, now he makes it his mission so MK doesn’t have to fly over molten lava WITH A BABY. He is so excited and while his parenting advice isn’t the best since he’s used to helping raise baby monkeys and not... well, babies, he’s going to be the biggest support the two have until Mystic Monkey Business calls him away. The man cries when MK sends him pictures of Xiaodan and he is incredibly upset that he has to wait to meet her because he is so happy to be a grandpa.

Bringing this back to Red, he learns once the renovations to the temple are completely done. Mac had to leave a few days before it was finished and MK and Wukong finished the last room which just so happened to be a nursery and he puts 2 and 2 together that MK is ready whenever he is and it does not take long after that.

Pigsy, Tang, Sandy, and Mei all learn when the two gather them together at Pigsy’s restaurant after it is 100% confirmed they WILL be having a kid. Everyone is ecstatic and Pigsy and Tang are just as proud to be grandpas as Wukong and Mei is honorary Auntie. Sandy is designated “fun uncle” and he absolutely knits them cat themes baby stuffs.

Poor Macaque though... they meant to tell him, honest they did. He was supposed to learn when he and Wukong built the nursey with MK. MK even wrote him a draft message to send him while on that Mystic Monkey Business. He just... kinda forgot to finish it. So he learns when he comes back and “WHY DOES MY MATE HAVE A BABY” happens. He’s happy for them once the shock leaves his system.

But then we have the problematic part. DBK and PIF. Their relationship with Red in this AU is strained, to say the least. They’re not exactly happy that Red decided to gallivant off with peasants, let alone with the Monkey King’s successor. They were decidedly not happy when he actually started fighting them, even if he made it a point to try reasoning with them first. But they could never bring themselves to physically harm him, he is their son, and even as emotionally abusive as they are in show that’s too far for them (at least that’s the logic they are using, I also see them as stand out assholes even for demons because of their dialogue and actions in the racing episode). Then they start to realize just how much they fucked up their relationship with their son when they received not a formal invitation to their wedding but a personalized letter from Red Son begging them to just stay away and not to attack because Red Son does not beg like that and he is actually scared of them. At first they’re angry. Then they’re just... sad.

They don’t come to the wedding... but they don’t attack either. No one says anything if they saw the large form of a bull demon watching from the top of a building in the distance or if they noticed the wind was oddly calm for this time of year.

Their attacks start to wind down too. No one says anything but they notice.

Red sends them letters every time something major happens, because he wants to at least not keep them in the dark about his life. He never gets a reply back. But those days are calmer than usual, strangely.

He tells them he has a daughter now. He had a request in the letter but he scratched it out on both sides so they couldn’t read it. There are water stains on the page.

They send him a package. They have Monkey King open it, to be safe. It’s a protective charm. It’s written in his mother’s hand. They don’t attack anymore.

Their relationship is strained but ironically it’s the best it has been in centuries. And Red Son doesn’t know how to feel about that.

[skellebonez]

Smoke, Flasks, and Unfinished Tasks: Chapter 8

AO3 Link!

Chapter 1 Link!, Chapter 2 Link!, Chapter 3 Link!, Chapter 4 Link!, Chapter 5 Link! Chapter 6 Link! Chapter 7 Link!

Summary: What makes them tick, what gets under their skin, our villain wants to find out. Let’s see.

Warnings: These characters are going through it, the warnings on AO3 for Blood and Injury, Childhood Trauma, and Emotional/Psychological Abuse start here.

Author’s note: it has been almost 72 hours since Revenge of the Spider Queen aired in English and now I can finally post this. MINOR SPOILERS INSIDE (and in future chapters).

Chapter 8: Endurance Test

Red Son took a half step back, trying to take stock of his surroundings and keep his breathing steady at the same time. MK and Mei had to be somewhere nearby, he didn't know precisely how the Calabash worked but he could make a pretty decent assumption based on their experiences so far and what Jin had told them. This was all perception, a trick of the virtual reality simulation peaking into his brain and showing him an approximate visage of what he had experienced before. He was not truly back in one of the worst day's of his life...

And it was painfully obvious with the less than conspicuous absence of his mother. He remembered this day well, far too well perhaps, and his mother should still be standing behind him on his left. Not even the fairest hint of her wind was there to suggest she had ever left or been there in the first place. Was she there before? He had been too distracted by hearing his father repeat those possessed words again to know.

"And what do you think you're doing?" That same voice growled out lowly, sending a shudder up Red Son's spine that only intensified as DBK's blue glowing eyes settled on him. "Sneaking away?"

"No!" Red Son answered quickly, standing straighter and shaking his head with a forced smile. It came so easy, too easy, too fast, like he was slipping into an old habit. It was an old habit. "No, father, I-"

"Don't lie to me," DBK growled. "I don't trust anything you say. Why would I trust you? You have brought me nothing but failure time and time again, nothing but disappointment!"

He'd heard the words before, he thought he had moved past them, but as he heard his father speak down to him again he found himself repeating the past. Standing tense and clenching his fist and feeling his sharp teeth clench against his lip, threatening to break the skin with the taste of copper and there was ice flowing down his neck-

"Traitor-yes! Perhaps..." And then he remembered what was to come next, eyes widening in fear as his father turned more fully toward him and his mother wasn't there. "You thought you could deceive me? Stand against me!?"

Red Son felt himself scream at his body to move to run to shield himself to do anything but he just watched in terror as his father's not his father no he wouldn't do this fist slammed right into his face and-

He was pulling his own fist back from his face, about to send one more punch into it before he stopped himself with a gasp and a shudder. He looked around frantically, breathing heavy and panicked, no longer in the throne room of his parents but...

"Uh, what's he doing Wukong?"

He stood up straight, head reeling around and instantly recognizing the scene before him.

He was young. He was small. He was powerful, more powerful than he had been in centuries, flames burning bright under his skin in a way that felt so fake but so familiar. And he was facing Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie.

There was the soft whisper of a woman's chuckle and words he couldn't quite hear on the wind and-

"What in the world are you doing?"

He turned again, his face burning in pain before it faded as if he had never been touched. His father was standing before him again, smaller and scowling in a chef's frock.

"This was your idea, finish getting ready before the festival starts."

----------

"Uh, Kid?" Macaque repeated, his fake so fake he could see that now half smile faltering into something more genuine frustratedly confused. "Come on, talk to me. We're not going to get anywhere if you don't comu-"

"Shutup..."

"Huh?" Macaque's eyebrows raised in surprise. "What did you just say to me?"

"Shut up!" MK screamed, teeth clenched as he extended the staff into the fake monkey. Calabash or not he refused to face the man who had messed with his head so badly without getting at least one cheap shot in for revenge.

He felt a sense of satisfaction as Macaque's face twisted in pain and surprise and anger and-

Suddenly he was in the sky looking down at that nearly identical face, plus one milky white eye and scar, smirking up at him in cruel victory before a fist slammed into his stomach and pain radiated through his entire body.

It was so much like when it really happened that he almost forgot this was fake, just like everything Macaque had done before this very moment every smile and ruffle of his hair and compliment on his technique. When this happened for real his whole body burned like fire had lit through his veins in a single second and then rushed to escape immediately after and out through that spot on his back.

The Calabash didn't know how to replicate that properly. That's the only reason MK found himself able to tense and curl a fist and turn to smash the face of the shadow clone that had lead him here and-

"OW, what the hell, Bud!?" Wukong yelped as MK's fist landed in his face. "I know I'm invincible but that still smarts!" He rubbed his nose, looking up at his student with a look of genuine emotional hurt and confusion. "If you didn't wanna watch the fireworks you could have just left..."

MK ripped his hand back in shock and fear, staring at the Monkey King in confusion. He had just punched Monkey King, a fake Monkey King but still his mentor, right in the face. And to the Calabash clone it was out of nowhere and for no reason.

"I..." MK started, breathing growing heavy and fast and there was a wheeze under it as he heard a chuckle and some kind of mumble distantly.

----------

"Oh no!" Mei yelled, spinning around as she stood and glowered up at the fake visage of her ancestors. "No, I have done this already! I've proven myself long ago and I refuse to let some computer program play with my brain and use my family to make me prove myself again!"

Mei was angry. Mei was strong. And Mei lifted her blade above her head and slammed it into the wall behind her and smashed it, debris flying around her and making the fake visage around her blow away like smoke through the wind.

She smiled in victory, wide and triumphant and there was a chuckle, loud as if it was right behind her ear as she felt something not unlike hands pushing her forward and-

MK looked up at her in confusion, holding his chest as it slowly stained red from the fresh slash across his body. "Mei? What... what did I...? Why?"

There was a wall there, Mei knew there was a wall there not even a second ago. But now her best friend was falling to the ground and her sword was stained with red and her parents stood behind MK looking at her in anger and disgust. She stared in confusion and horror and she knew this wasn't real it couldn't be real and-

The food she was holding slipped from her hands as she gasped and looked around wildly, breathing heavy in confusion as Pigsy's angered expression changed to match the worried one that Tang was sending her way.

"Uh, you ok Mei?" Pigsy asked, eyebrow raising.

"You're going to require more work than the others, I see." The voice that matched the chuckle she had heard before whispered in her ear.

----------

"And you are becoming annoying," that same voice, Princess Jade Face's voice, rang through the tiny room Jin had been breaking his hands in as he attempted to escape. He couldn't hear whatever had come before that and, but he could only assume it was directed at one of the trio. "It's actually kind of depressing, watching you hurt yourself like this."

"Oh come off it," Jin hissed, rubbing his knuckles and scowling as he sat back down. "You're enjoying this."

"Hmmmmn, not really," Jade said, humming again as she typed something on the console. "You know, if you had just cooperated you could be sitting in the actual room with your brother." He voice grew cold, annoyance and frustration lining under it. "All you had to do was follow the rules."

"And what are you going to do 'bout that?" Jin asked, tapping his fingers against the floor. Ring, pinky, ring, middle, pointer. Repeat. Repeat.

"Oh, I've already done plenty," Jade continued, voice back to her neutral happy tone. "All you have to do is sit tight and maybe I will release you both to the Spider Queen aware enough for you to explain to her exactly why I had to keep you to myself. Or not. It depends on whether or not you continue to break back into your code."

Jin cursed under his breathe, scowling down at his hand as a lightning jolt of pain coursed through it and immediately eased. A warning. She'd noticed his little pattern.

"It's not really that big of a deal to me, though," she continued with a chuckle. "Everything is going exactly how I want it to. Even if you break out of there you won't be able to find your little fail safe. So don't bother trying."

She went quiet after that, and Jin listened for the tell tale sound of outside noise filtering into the Calabash through the opening she had opened to allow her voice to speak through (he was glad they never remembered to add wireless voice to this thing). And there was none. He waited a moment, sitting still.

No voice.

No lightning jolt of pain.

The door opened and Jin smirked.

Good.

She hadn't noticed the pattern he'd been drawing with the tail he had finally figured out how to control.