For the Love of Chaos

It had been going on for a while.

MK would tuck Caihong in, wish her goodnight, and collapse on their pillow. Only to be shocked awake by the sound of muffled screaming and sobs. Then MK would go over and comfort the poor girl.

Even though it had cost them hours of sleep, MK could never find it within their heart to feel any annoyance or anger. Combing through the white streaked black hair, MK hummed a simple melody. The child had been through too much. She was forced to house a dangerous entity for over a year. Forced to live with the knowledge that her face had been used to carry out horrific crimes.

The Lady Bone Demon was long dead, but her actions had consequences. Despite her innocence, plenty of people saw nothing wrong with turning a nine-year-old into a pariah.

And if that wasn’t bad enough, all that time did a real number on her memories. Caihong could still read, write, and complete basic math but any personal information was a blur at best. She truly had nothing.

Fortunately, Pigsy and Tang were happy to take her in and just like that MK got a little sister.

However, while she was making some progress with Sandy, the nights remained a time for nightmares. Frustrated in their inability to help, MK scanned the shared room, hoping to find something that could be used as a distraction. It was then their eyes landed on their most prized possession.

A precious gift. A handcrafted sign from their father that they would always have of place within the enigma of a family. They could still remember that wonderful day.

They were four years old and still coming to grips about their situation.

They remembered nothing. Nothing about how they ended up on the side of the road. Not about how they were covered with mud and pebbles, where they grew up. Not even their name.

Pigsy, Tang, and Xingye came together and chose to raise the strange child, even when dropping them off at an orphanage would have been much easier.

It was a slow day at the restaurant and the only dining customer had paid, leaving the four in their silence.

Tang tried to play it cool, but the massive smile really didn’t help. Xingye was trying to be all clever circling the scholar’s behavior yet always pulling away before revealing anything. Eventually Pigsy had enough of their nonsense and told Tang to just do it already. Not needing anymore provocation, Tang pressed a strange box into their face. It was colorful and tied with a shiny ribbon.

Blinking, they stared at it confused. Xingye mimed pulling the ribbon and not knowing what else to do MK copied him. With the box released, MK saw that the lid could be lifted straight off. Once the lid was safely on the ground, they saw what was inside and their eyes were filled with stars.

It was a monkey plushie.

The handcrafted stuffed animal was roughly a foot long, bordering two with the long tail. It reminded them of all the different Monkey King themed items they saw in stores but this one was a closer match to Xingye. Black cloth acted as the fur and the patch of exposed stomach was a nice tan. The unique touches were the feathered red mask on the head and the six colorful lotus petal like ears attached to both sides.

Picking it up, MK cooed at the sensation. He was so soft.

Wushi was a precious gift.

Looking at him, MK could easily see the little monkey had been through a lot but was still as perfect as the day they got him. Making a choice, MK broke contact with Caihong to carefully pick up the token of love. Caihong, wiping the tears from her eyes, looked at their new sibling confused.

Taking a deep breath, MK offered Wushi to Caihong. “When I didn’t know who I was, Wushi was always there for me. I believe he can help you.”

Waking up, Wukong found himself on Mount Huaguo surrounded by his subjects, both normal monkeys and monkey demons. Huts were being repaired and food was being gathered in preparation for an oncoming celebration. It was more life than the King had witnessed on his mountain in centuries.

Then Liu’er showed up.

Not Macaque, Liu’er Mihou. The one lost treasure that constantly mocked him by being so close yet a universe away.

This monkey’s fur was as freshly fallen snow, a shade he never dared to take since his resurrection. Six colorful lotus petals nestled on the sides of his head as strands of fur were caught in between, just begging him to brush them away. To wrap his fingers in those strands of silky moonlight. The brother he fought, trained, and bled with. Liu’er playfully teased him for his tendency to nap anywhere, instead of scornful mocking.

Eventually, the entire Brotherhood showed up, but they were different from how he remembered.

DBK was gone, or rather Niú Mówáng approached with an easy smile. The countless scars and hair loss from his long imprisonment that had just started to heal had vanished; it was as though they were never there. The entire Demon Bull family was there, yet none of them glared at the monkey as though he was the source of all their suffering.

Azure wore a fond expression, erasing the disappointment and betrayal that once stained his features. He greeted his jailer with a warm embrace and a gentle purr as a sign of trust.

Peng was still an arrogant ass, who enjoyed tearing down the self-esteem of others who weren’t Azure or Yellowtusk. The feathered fool was careful to always dance along the line of inappropriate. Sharp words were occasionally dulled to begrudgingly give half-hearted compliments.

The other pilgrims were swift to arrive but they to were vastly different from how they should be.

Tang Sanzeng no longer criticized him when he used force to protect him. Zhu Bajie focused more on creating delicious meals than chasing after women. Sha Wujing’s tea-making skills now surpassed the gods and he was often accompanied by a blue and orange kitten. Ao Lie proudly announced he had a darling granddaughter, who could not be still even in her sleep.

Then he found a tiny blessing. A monkey cub born from stone with stars in their eyes. A little bundle of joy that looked at him with nothing but love.

In the beginning, he would try to escape. To find a flaw in the curse or a weak spot in the scroll’s design. In retaliation, the scroll would remind him of what awaited him.

Macaque, fur blackened by the soot of a burned paradise carrying the chill of the underworld. Blood poured from the mess that was once his left eye.

The Demon Bull family united in their wrath of the one that dared to separate them. Tears threatened to fall from each pair of eyes. From a father who was robbed of the chance to watch their precious son grow without him and the knowledge, his goddess was forced to remain strong beyond all reason. A former celestial who abandoned everything she knew for a love that was stolen from her. A son learning his family had been robbed of everything by one dispirited monkey.

Those he once fought beside stained by an ancient curse, until the world around them became nothing but an empty black void. All that remained was a sense of bitter commitment and rage.

The tiny cub would glitch into his successor, gripped in the throes of utter agony as his body was overwhelmed by a power he was not ready to control. Cries left his mouth, but all Wukong could see was the plea ‘why?!’ straining from his gaze.

OKAY…He was not ready to deal with all that so soon. He’d wait just a little while longer. Regain his strength then bust outta here with a smile. Save the day and return to his cub student with not a hair out of place.

He just needed a little more time.

That’s all he needed.

Mk always knew they were lucky.

They were lucky to be found by such a kind person. They were lucky to be taught by a passionate scholar. They were lucky to find one person who accepted them enough to be their friend.

Naturally it was only a matter of time before the scales balanced themselves. Staring at the legendary Great Sage Equal to Heaven, hearing that they had been chosen to be his successor, MK was second guessing if that fall had killed them.

An au where instead of being trans, MK identifies as being nonbinary.

MK didn’t know what to think.

He felt horrible. 

Princess Iron Fan let them into their home despite their history. Red Son refrained from unleashing his latest weapons cache on them. Demon Bull King answered questions they didn’t even know they had. And how did they repay them?

At the moment it felt like the only option, but who knows. Maybe if they had waited until breakfast, the family would have been willing to discuss other methods with cooler heads. But they were on borrowed time and Monkey King was still out of it…

The more he stared at the ring, the more guilt weighed on his conscious.

In a veiled attempt to pass the time, MK took out his sketch pad and continued refining the outline of the Dragon Palace of the East Sea. He needed something to do with his hands, anything to keep him busy while allowing him to process his betrayal of a demon he had grown to appreciate.

Words didn’t need to be exchanged to know everyone was suffering from the same dilemma.

Mei barely made a sound, just scrolling through the pictures she took of the bull family’s territory and fortress. Looking over the images of architecture, food, and people, she tried to reason if they didn’t hurry all that would be gone. Yet as she came across a picture of Red Son looking at their families’ shared dinner with the smallest smile, she couldn’t help but wonder.

She knew what they were doing was wrong, yet she held her tongue. The truth was…she was scared. Those visions, memories, whatever they were, they scared her. Were they a warning, a sign of what would happen if they continued or stopped? She didn’t know and everyone was already so tense, she couldn’t add her problems, not until she figured out what they meant.

They were obviously connected to the Samadhi Fire, but why was she seeing them? Why was she the only one having them? Or were the others having their own visions and were just as scared about sharing them? 

She didn’t know.

She didn’t know.

Pigsy tried to focus on making sure everyone was well-fed and healthy. He absolutely knew their actions were going to have major consequences. To assume otherwise was the height of stupidity and to be honest, they demolished that milestone ages ago. Still, he held his tongue and waited for the so-called Great Sage to wake up so he could beat some actual answers out of him.

He had to endure over a decade of listening to his exploits and he did so because he loved seeing his kid smile. Yet now, when they needed the king, when he had the chance to prove himself worthy of all the fame and hype, he chooses to be practically worthless at every turn. All Pigsy knew was that if the monkey didn’t wake up soon, he couldn’t be held accountable for his actions.

Sandy drove on with little complaint, yet it was obvious he was in just as much emotional agony as the rest. He kept his eyes on the road and did his best to maintain a smooth ride, but as the hours came and went the number of therapy cats accompanying him grew and grew. His little soldiers kneaded his muscles and nuzzled whatever part of him they could reach. Soothing purrs echoed in his bones taking him to a place of contentment, however, this was only temporary.

Tang focused on the holy ring to distract himself, jotting down everything he learned from both his observations and from the history lesson the royal family was so kind to share. Yet even his lust for knowledge could not erase the sense they had committed an unbearable sin. 

Sure, he tried to dress up the feelings of guilt and his compromised ability to focus.

Heh, heh, it wouldn’t do to try and fully analyze such an ancient artifact in one go. There’s no telling what he’d miss with that attitude.

…And without access to his normal tools and resources, there was only so much information he could gather.

So, to keep himself busy and his mind fresh (along with serving as a fresh distraction), Tang took up the task of brushing Monkey King’s fur. While they did wash him at the Demon Bull King’s palace, they didn’t really give too much thought as to actually taking care of him. Yes, at the time they had other things to think about and needed to get as much sleep as possible, but now he could give him all the attention he needed. 

Tang did his best to be as gentle as possible, sticking to the fur on his head and trailing down his neck as going any further felt inappropriate with consent. Fortunately, or not depending on how you looked, there were hardly any tangles and those Tang found were relatively easy to smooth out without getting too violent. With every pass of the comb, golden sparks settled unseen against the immortal’s skin seeping into his pores to rejuvenate the ancient king.

Deep inside the recesses of the immortal’s mind, he sensed something familiar mingling with the trickles of power flowing into him, something he had to protect. 

For what felt like a small eternity, the stone monkey had his limbs bound by an ever-tightening web of responsibilities and failures. Iron-like spikes had been driven through his hands and feet coupled with the sensation of everlasting disappointment. Yet the worst part was the sense that he was alone. That be had no one left. That he had been forgotten.

It was enough to drive a being who had known endless torture to tears. Until his face was touched by a glorious warmth. 

The stress and responsibility that kept him tied down for what felt like millennia faded away as memories of a journey with family nuzzled against his consciousness. His pain melted away with his restraints, leaving only the feeling of acceptance and love. Wukong smiled as he held the images of his loved ones close, wishing never to part with them.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§ 

Watching the sun begin the dip behind the mountains as the moon became brighter in the growing darkness, Pigsy knew things had to change.

“Enough! Sandy, pull over.” He ordered in a tone that was not to be disobeyed.

Sandy was quick to comply without hesitation, both out of loyalty and a sense of relief. “Is something wrong?”

“Did they catch up to us?” Tang frantically searched the skies for any sign of ominous lights that warned of the Shackled.

“No, but we need a break. We’ve been driving since sunrise, and I think we could all use some fresh air and a chance to stretch our legs.” Besides, there was a lot of tension they needed to deal with and that wouldn’t get done sitting in a van.

“Good point.” Sandy happily pulled into a little clearing surrounded by a large cliff face on one side and a massive grass field on the other, with a miniature forest dotting throughout the center. An ideal camping site. “With everything going on, I haven’t been able to do my daily yoga.”

“My tai chi schedule has slipped with all the fuss,” Tang admitted, putting away his books.

“Then it’s settled, we’ll set up camp here. With all the rocks and vegetation, we’re safe from the desert heat and should have plenty of advanced warning from any approaching forces.” Pigsy stepped out savoring the cool fresh air. The subtle sound of running water told him there was a stream nearby.

Already he felt better. This environment toppled both the dry desert and the burning landscape of the Demon Bull family’s fortress.

“Mei, you up for a continuation of our sparring session?” MK asked, referring to their little match before everything went to hell. Picking up a fallen tree branch roughly the size of the golden cudgel, he faced a fanged grin that would fill the nightmares of most sane men. 

“Only if you’re prepared to lose,” Mei smirked with her own stick at the ready.

Laughing the two went off into the field to prevent any of the others from getting hit by accident.

“Try not to go too crazy you two,” Tang pleaded.

“No promises,” MK shouted back with the first authentic laughter the group had heard since they started this journey.

The adults shared a smile, happy their boy hadn’t lost all his joy.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§ 

“Any chance your super strength’s back yet?” Mei asked, giving her sparring weapon a few practice whacks.

“Nope, just enhanced durability.”

Oh, that was new. “When did you get that?”

“How do you think I survived DBK’s wrath?” MK rhetorically asked.

“Do I-”

“No. No, you do not.” MK cut her off with a haunted stare and a disturbing smile.

“So…training?” Mei asked, feeling a touch uncomfortable.

“Yes!” The boy screamed, getting into a defensive stance.

Out of consideration of MK’s condition, their spar was mainly one of form. A makeshift sword and staff clashed against one another as their wielders strove to be the first to land a hit. Sweeps and dodges were employed as while the two loved each other deeply, in a completely platonic way, they were not above playing dirty.

While the trading of blows could be brutal to the point where they needed to seek out replacement weapons multiple times, neither held any malicious intent. No, this was a friendly spar, nothing more. Laughter filled the air as the two allowed themselves to sink into the rhythm of combat. Compliments were freely shared as were congratulations when one claimed a round.

In many ways it reminded them why they were fighting, so they could spend the rest of their lives experiencing more moments like this knowing the people they loved were safe and waiting for them.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§ 

In the light of the moon, the team gathered around a bonfire after a relaxing day and a delicious meal. It wasn’t as extravagant as the spread they had created for the Demon Bull family, but no one could complain. The looming danger of being in the residence of a powerful family that was just begging you to put a toe out of line, so they had free reign to butcher your loved ones does take the fun out of the process.

MK was especially happy in regaining his enhanced speed. Turns out that constantly being attacked by a terrifying dragon was a good motivator to get the fuck out of dodge. The others congratulated him on his progress and praised Mei for her improvement in wielding a weapon; even if it wasn’t the actual blade, it was impossible to ignore how she now held herself with more confidence as an armed combatant.

With the stars shining and the full moon illuminating the night, one could almost pretend it was a normal camping trip.

Naturally, that was the universe’s cue to remind the crew they were never safe.

Mo started hissing at a gathering of rocks a brief sprint away.

Having grown wise to the slightest hint of danger, everyone jumped to their feet, waiting for the latest threat to show itself.

Where the forest met the mountains, there was a small plain of rocks where the ground had cracked open revealing an eerie green glow. Strange sounds slowly built upon one another, the snapping of hard armor against stone, the hissing of a disturbed beast, the skittering of a thousand insects on hard ground.

Something was coming up.

The ground was shifting as massive chunks of the earth broke apart by an unseen force.

Brandishing her sword, Mei took point and shattered a thrown boulder before it could destroy their campsite. Her efforts protected the group but left her wide open for an unseen attack. Something pierced her left side and suddenly she couldn’t hold her sword, she couldn’t move, she couldn’t stand. All she could do was collapse as the pain took hold.

“Mei!” With his newfound speed, MK grabbed Mei and the Dragon blade, whisking them to safety in the T.E.A. where the others had holed up.

For a brief moment, MK felt the urge to ask her if she was hurt. Thankfully, he was able to hold his tongue. Obviously, she wasn’t okay! 

No one hunched over, gripping their side with their face scrunched up in agony would say they were okay as anything more than flagrant assurance. He knew that much. But he could check to see if she could still understand him. “How bad is it?” Again, stupid question, but he was panicking!

Fortunately, Mei was able to respond, but it was weak and wobbly. “Hurts. Really hurts.” Her voice was soft as the lightest whisper as if she couldn’t dream of a higher decibel.

Her body felt both numb and tense, like she had been struck with lightning and her body was caught between seizing with pain and blacking out. Sweat gathered on her face as her body became wracked with tremors.

Tang gently removed her hands that were clenched around the wound, seeing a few beads of a pale lilac liquid oozing out of a needle-sized puncture.

“Venomous demons, such headaches,” Pigsy growled, both out of annoyance for the ability and concern for the young dragon. There was no telling what kind of venom the demon had, it could simply induce pain, be temporary, or Mei could be dead in less than an hour.

MK didn’t know what to do. With most of his powers still out of reach, there was only so much he could do. Mei was much stronger than him and she was taken out in a second. He didn’t even see what hit her. Against that kind of speed and a poison capable of dropping a dragon, even one in human form, what chance did he have?

The T.E.A. rocked as something heavy rammed into it.

The left side nearly caved into itself as a massive dent nearly ripped the beds from the wall.

A loud roar showed that whatever was out there wasn’t done with them yet. It struck again and again; each strike targeted a different side. It was testing their defenses and it was only a matter of time before something gave.

Sandy was still recovering from the ambush with that unknown demon from his past. He was in no position to fight anyone. And while Pigsy and Tang would eagerly defend him with their lives, neither was likely to survive.

The only one who could actually protect them was dead to the world! With no way of them being able to reach him!

“What are you doing?!” Tang’s voice dragged MK out of his head. Blinking to make sure he hadn’t gone insane with worry, the raising of his eyelids proved he hadn’t gone over the edge, yet.

Pigsy had stomped over to the meditating sage, taking his collar into a trembling fist.

“It’s dangerous to disrupt a transcendental meditation!” Tang pleaded. There was no telling what could happen if Monkey King was pulled out before he was ready.

“Not as dangerous as whatever’s out there.” Pigsy started shaking the monkey using every ounce of pent-up frustration he had from this trip. The only change was the slight tilt of his head.

The father growled but whatever he planned to do next was forgotten as the vehicle shook. Pigsy dropped the celestial simian as he scrambled to hold onto anything when the TEA nearly capsized.

Alright, they couldn’t play it safe anymore.

“Alright, I have an idea.” Slipping on an oven mitt, Pigsy dug into his front pocket to pull out something odd. “Avert your gaze from the legendary Dusk Ghost Pepper!”

A wrinkled light grey pepper the size of a ghost pepper with markings a darker shade of grey that resembled a human skull. An ominous light was emitted from the dangerous ingredient, a warning most would take as plenty of reasons to steer clear of this agonizing force, clearly, it failed this time.

“This infamous spice is capable of bestowing third-degree burns from mere eye contact.”

“Ooh- OW!” MK could be heard tripping over his own feet as he desperately shielded his eyes from the agonizing heat coursing through his retinas.

“I said don’t look at it!” Pigsy barked in his trademark tone of worried and angry.

Meanwhile, Tang was still debating if this was necessary, and the status of his friend’s sanity. “And you felt it was wise to carry that with you, in your pocket?”

“Not important! What is important is making sure everyone lives to see tomorrow.” Pigsy stared down the annoying glowing pain in his ass that trapped them in this nonsense. It would be quite a lie to say he wasn’t going to enjoy what he was about to do. “Aright your majesty, time to pull your own weight!” Lunging forward he forced the monkey to swallow the crushed pepper whole.

Oils were released as wrinkled flesh met sharp fangs, releasing a literal explosion in the simian’s mouth. Golden eyes snapped open as the consciousness within was roused from a wonderful dream. His beloved family smiled at him as their faces faded away in golden light.

Wukong threw his head back as a burst of raw divine power lifted the king from his meditation pose and into awareness. The others were thrown back by the sheer might of the king’s inner strength.

For an instant, their fear of the Lady Bone Demon grew. If the Monkey King with all his power required a mystical weapon such as the Samadhi Fire to best her, just how dangerous was she?

Sensing the immense power, the unknown demon fled. They knew anything with that kind of aura was one they would do best to avoid. They would have to be patient and wait until the time was right.

Cracking his neck, the awakened sage’s fangs flashed in the dimmed light. “No need to panic Master. The Great Sage Equal to Heaven is here.”

With a mighty kick, the reinforced doors capable of withstanding a constant assault were ripped from their hinges and sent flying.

Wukong jumped into the clearing, eyes trained for any sign of his latest opponent. Yet not even the Golden Eyes of Truth revealed the source of the skittering and hissing he detected mere seconds ago. No doubt it would return, they always did.

“Hmm, looks like I scared it off.”

But for now, his family was safe. “Master, little brothers, it’s safe to come out now. The idiot, too.”

“Master?” Tang repeated in disbelief.

“Brothers?” MK and Sandy exchanged a confused look. This was…new.

“Idiot!” Pigsy growled. He saw that insufferable monkey stare him dead in the eye, he knew that remark was for him.

“Ugh…” Wukong groaned, adjusting his head so he could properly stare down the demon he assumed to be the infamous glutton. “Fine, Zhu Bajie, better?” His tail twitched in annoyance.

Okay, this was fucked up in so many ways, but Pigsy refused to fall for this arrogant ass’s tricks when a child was suffering. “If you’re done showing off, perhaps you could brother to help her!” He shouted, pointing at Mei’s trembling form.

Following the gesture, Wukong leaped back into the strange metal structure. His eyes immediately locked onto the child-like form his master was cradling that was emanating familiar draconic energy. “Huh? Sheesh. Ao Lie, what happened to you?”

Once more the group blinked in confusion.

“The demon you chased off hit her with something. All we know was that there was poison involved.” Tang explained as he gently rubbed Mei’s head, not certain his actions were having any effect but too scared to stop.

“One sec, Master.” Wukong enjoyed a brief laugh. Even after so many battles, his Master remained so emotional when it came to their safety. It was comforting in a way, to know someone would always care, regardless of how strong you were. “Always so worried.” 

Looking over the female body with the Golden Eyes of Truth, Wukong almost scoffed at what he saw. It wasn’t even lethal, merely to cause minor pain. Gathering celestial power into his fingertips, Wukong tapped the young dragon’s forehead. The results were instant.

Mei’s eyes snapped open with a faint golden glow. Twisting she faced the ground as her body was wracked with coughs. With each painful wheeze, the poison was forced from her body as tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. For a full minute, her entire world was centered on expelling the dangerous liquid along with other bodily fluids until none of the foreign substance was left. MK and Tang grabbed her as she went still, stopping her from collapsing into the upheaved toxic mixture.

Sandy offered Mei some water, which she gratefully inhaled.

Wukong watched it all with a carefree smile. “There we go, good as new. Such dramatics over such a weak poison.” Who’d know the stuck-up prince was such an actor? He’d have to recruit his littlest brother for Macaque’s latest production. 

“Uh…Great Sage, who exactly do you think we are?” Tang asked as MK guided Mei outside, not sure he’d like the answer.

“What kind of question is that, Master?” Wukong was almost unnaturally cheerful as he picked up a therapy cat who had gotten curious. “Unless…” His expression suddenly became shadowed with worry as a dangerous thought appeared. It was so distracting he didn’t realize he had carelessly dropped the cat.

“You lost your memories. You can’t forget who you are!” He shouted, furiously yet mindfully shaking the scholar as though with enough force his wishes would be granted. By some miracle Tang’s glasses remained on his head, if lopsided.

In the back, Pigsy snickered at the whole thing.

Tang steadied himself against the immortal King, putting on his best smile as he mentally prayed for his words to have some effect. “I-I am fine, but don’t you think you are forgetting something? Something important?”

Golden eyes locked with dark brown.

The wind gently blew through the clearing, sending swirls of leaves through the air. The smell of a dying fire mingled with the area’s natural scents. Yet the sky was clear under the light of a waxing moon as millions of stars twinkled above.

In that one moment, Tang felt a connection was made, somehow his words did reach him.

“Hey, where’s my staff?” It was as if a switch had been flipped.

Wukong released the scholar as he started searching through the tall grasses for the Ruyi Jingu Bang.

The team shared another look, this one much more exhausted than the last.

“What’s the last thing you remember?” Sandy asked.

“We had just sealed away the Kings of Cold, Heat, and Dust Protection on Master’s orders so they may reflect upon their actions in the hopes they could one day be released as better people.”  While he was all for second chances, Wukong still believed in there being limitations. Not everyone wanted to change for the better, not everyone could seek redemption. At least, not in this life. “Now we’re here.”

“I’m afraid it was stolen by our current enemy,” Sandy said. He wasn’t sure why he didn’t just tell Monkey King the truth, but something told him the truth would not be as well received as a half-lie.

“Ugh…” Wukong groaned. “It’s the One-Horned Rhino King all over again.” That guy was such a pain, in so many ways.

“I guess this will have to suffice,” he said plucking a single hair and transforming it into a flawless replica of his trademark weapon. It wouldn’t be nearly as good as the real thing, but for protecting his family it would suffice until he reclaimed his staff. He started going through basic exercises to reintroduce himself to the shift in weight.

“When Tang said it was dangerous to wake him up, I don’t think this is what he had in mind,” MK whispered.

“No kidding. This is a whole new level of weird.” Mei couldn’t help but agree, although she wished someone was recording this mess.

Still a bit dizzy from the rough treatment, Tang figured this would be the best opportunity to get a straight answer from the normally distant and cryptic monkey. “Are you back to full strength?”

Wukong halted in his staff twirling, face lowered as he considered the question.

“I am not, Master.” While it pained him to say, and he was still more than capable of demolishing thousands of enemies in a single strike, hiding this knowledge was pointless when one wrong move could rob him of his family forever.

“What! But you were meditating for days! How much pain were you hiding from us?” Tang rushed to take the simian’s head in both hands to inspect him for anything he could have missed.

This was his fault. He was the one who treated the king. He was the one who allowed him to fight too soon. He thought the injuries weren’t dire, but clearly, they were. He should have known the king would have downplayed his pain, he was like MK. Neither liked to interpret themselves as a burden.

Nuzzling the golden fur, Tang could only mentally berate himself for failing his patient. For putting his family at risk.

Wukong, however, was gleefully soaking in the gentle touches. Perhaps he should have clarified that his injuries were more centered around being spiritually drained than physically compromised…Meh. Wrapping his tail around his Master’s waist, the immortal king savored the sensations he couldn’t help but feel he had been deprived of for far too long.

Unfortunately, duty calls.

While he treasured the times his Master was willing to indulge in bold physical acts of kindness, Wukong removed himself from the embrace. There was still much to do.

“So, what’s this thing?” Wukong asked, prodding the strange metal structure they all had been confined to. Their scents were deeply infused into the structure, meaning they had been inside it for quite some time, but that didn’t answer his question. There were no chains or suppression seals, so it probably wasn’t a prison but knowing his enemies he wouldn’t rule it out just yet.

“That’s the T.E.A., it’s basically a modified van and mobile headquarters,” Sandy explained, quite proud that his mechanical marvel was still standing despite the beating it took from that unknown demon. While he should have been proud that it was still standing after taking such a beating, his soul wept at all the repairs he’d have to make to keep it from collapsing from under them.

“Eh?” Okay, Wukong was sure he knew what most of those words meant but the context was throwing him off.

“Oh, that’s right I never really explained how it functions. Here,” Sandy picked up Wukong by his scruff and placed him on his shoulder, giving the monkey a perfect view and a chance to tower over the pig demon, much to his delight. “let me give you the grand tour.”

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§ 

“I warned you.” Tang marched up to his old friend, both terrified and curious. “This is why you don’t wake someone prematurely from transcendental meditation. We broke the Monkey King!”

Pigsy and Mei couldn’t help but laugh at the finishing statement. It was just too golden. Not even Mk could resist smiling.

Tang glared at the reactions while taking the time to adjust his glasses. “This is serious.” Taking Mk’s book, he flipped to a page where the five pilgrims were beautifully rendered as what was imagined to be their peak. “He thinks he’s still traveling with his master and younger brothers.” A belief that was further solidified by the Tang dynasty-inspired clothing they were sporting. “If we don’t figure out a way to get our monkey back, we’re going to be stuck with this one.”

At the sound of something breaking, Pigsy gathered himself. He wasn’t entirely sure how this worked, but they had to start somewhere. “So, amnesia rules, right? We just hit him on the head or something?”

“I’ll do it,” Mei offered. She may not be able to stand, but she’ll never pass up a free shot on her best friend’s so-called “mentor”.

“That could just make things worse.” Tang was quick to put an end to a humorous but ill-fated plan.

“Then what can we do?” MK asked, feeling pretty much useless and kinda scared. If Monkey King saw everyone else as his old family, then who was he?

At that, Tang took off his glasses to press the heels of his palms into his eyes until some of the pain relented. “I’ve never read anything like this outside fiction. I fear we’re in new territory. All we can do is wait for the memories to return on their own, that is the safest route.”

“But it could take weeks.” And last he checked the Lady Bone Demon wasn’t going to wait for them to sort this out.

Sighing, Mei drew their attention back to herself. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I could go for a nap.” Not only was her body one massive bruise and felt as if someone had replaced her blood with lead but she could hardly move and was growing more and more impatient with their ‘Great Sage’.

She just wanted the night to be over.

Was it too much to ask for one day when things don’t go horribly wrong?!

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§ 

The tour was strange.

Wukong had never heard a good chunk of the words his little brother was using, but that didn’t mean he didn’t pay attention. While he doubted he would be able to replicate such a vehicle without detailed instructions, it didn’t take away what he was learning. He always knew Sha Wujing was powerful and intelligent, but this was a sign of just how much skill and potential the Celestial Realm was eager to abandon. More than cast out, by the former general’s description, they were all too eager to torture him.

All over one meager vase.

Another sign his rampage was well deserved. But he’d do well never to let Master hear that. Just because he was learning greater restraint and respect for lives outside his court and family, didn’t mean he regretted showing those pompous fools the true meaning of fear. Just because he was trapped in that furnace didn’t mean he didn’t hear them bragging about Erlang burning his home in a thinly veiled act of spite.

They underestimated the rage he learned to choke down in those five hundred years. All he needed was an outlet, but that was for another time. Now his attention was on his incredible family.

Although he still had many questions.

“What’s with all the cats?” If there was one thing Wukong saw during the Sha Wujing’s tour it was a ridiculous number of cats. Not counting the one who he was pretty sure was infused with his little brother’s chi, he found no less than twelve cats lounging around this ‘T.E.A.’ 

“They’re my little soldiers, trained warriors to help remind me of what’s important in life and provide invaluable company.” Sandy declared, before remembering who he was with. Rubbing the back of his head as embarrassment grew, he turned his gaze away. “I guess you may find it silly-”

“Why would I?” Wukong was quick to cut him with a friendly smile. “You forget, little brother, I take care of thousands of monkeys in my kingdom. Their presence has always made my time at home more fulfilling. Whether they’re watching me spar with Macaque, playing around, grooming sessions, or curling up to have one big nap pile, the world feels so much brighter when we’re together.”

Placing a hand on the buff shoulder that provided an excellent perch, the king looked at all his little brother built for himself and their family with pride. “The fact you have so many so devoted to you proves Master was right, ‘the beauty of your heart can never be overstated’.” 

Sniffling, Sandy cradled the Monkey King, his heart too full of emotions to even speak, much less express how much such earnest comradery and sympathy meant to him. It didn’t matter if the Great Sage thought he was talking about someone else, after the recent reminder of his sins, he needed this.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§ 

A light tap and the T.E.A. looked better than new.

But the team was not in the mood to conduct a proper inspection. With the Monkey King awake, but in a questionable mindset, they decided to turn in early and facing the problem with fresh eyes was the best choice.

This approach was quick to prove itself when the Monkey King drew a circle around the custom vehicle and glared at Pigsy to not even think about leaving.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§ 

Sun Wukong wasn’t sure what was going on, but he knew he could handle it. Of course, it didn’t hurt to double-check. Activating his golden vision, he took a closer look at his sleeping companion’s souls, wanting to see if there were any traces of the curse or spell that robbed them of their memory.

Zhu Bajie still radiated power, but it was far more restrained and untampered than last he checked. The power felt coarse and without direction, almost as if it was waiting to find the proper outlet. No, that wasn’t quite right. More like he was only part-way trained but stopped just as he was starting to make real progress, which didn’t make much sense either. If he didn’t train his mind and body to use it, the power would overtake him whenever he dared acknowledge it.

Sha Wujing’s essence was as mighty as ever, but it was scarred. Gnarled and twisted veins flowed throughout his being. However, Wukong released a breath seeing that while the ill markings were there they were not interfering with the nature of his being, at least not in a physical sense. The damage was mental in nature and given how it melded into the natural energy, it had been part of him for years and had even begun to heal. Sure, his little brother suffered greatly in his punishment bestowed by the heavenly court, but this… this was something else.

Ao Lie’s spirit was much brighter and looser than the last time he checked, making the prince feel younger and…well, freer in a sense. There was barely a sign of the honor bond bore he remembered (and yes that was due to centuries of feeling pressured by his family’s high standards), but there was no denying its true form was that of a noble dragon. The fact he was in the form of a young girl meant nothing, as his brother had transformed into a beautiful woman in the past to aid them (usually as a last resort).

Finally, his master…

Six golden iridescent wings fluttered gently against his back. A soothing arura surrounded him filling the space around him with a comforting presence. Although there was his fair share of strange, it almost looked like his own chi was strangling itself. Yes, it always looked like that, but it was never this bad. He would have to fix it at first dawn. And since when did he need spectacles?

These definitely were his companions and there was no obvious sign of spiritual or mental tampering, so why didn’t they remember who they are? Why were they so devoted to acting so differently? Why did their spirits look so damaged yet whole? What was he missing?

The second biggest mystery had to be where the kid fit into all this.

When he looked at him it was like looking at a mirror, if slightly distorted and watered down, but he didn’t recall making any clones recently and the boy didn’t feel like a clone. He didn’t feel like a stranger, and he carried the protective scents of the others and his own, but for the life of him, Wukong couldn’t remember the child’s name. Was he an orphan his Master took in with the hope of guiding him down the path of enlightenment? 

Meh, he’d get his answers tomorrow.

Nuzzling his master’s neck, pushing past the traces of parchment and ink to the core of sandalwood, Sun Wukong allowed himself to breathe. So long as they were together anything was possible.

Hopefully, this latest disaster would be over soon. He really missed his kingdom. He couldn’t wait to introduce his family to his subjects. He knew they would be in awe of Mount Huaguo. And he just knew they’d bond with his generals.

It wouldn’t matter if Ma tore into him for leaving them alone for so many centuries. Or if he had to pull multiple shifts to make it up to Ba and Beng so they could finally resume their ‘not dating’ schedule. He’d even assist in Liu’s elaborate tributes to the Seven Kings. Man, he was going to get roasted in the next meeting, he just knew it.

But none of that mattered, so long as he was able to see Liu’er again. 

He needed to see his old friend alive and well. To groom that silky ivory fur, feel the hairs against his fingers as contented purrs filled the air. To see those molted orbs glow alight with passion as he gushed over his latest play. For those gorgeous ears to flutter as his cheeks were dusted pink. To watch him care for the infants so the new mothers could have a moment’s peace, thinking one day it could lead to something more.

Yes, everything would be okay.

They just had to stick together.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§ 

When the sun rose, a silent arrangement had been concocted.

Tang would lead Monkey King to the stream Pigsy heard yesterday so he could get a proper bath, while the others figured out what their next move would be as they made breakfast. Thankfully since Monkey King believed Tang to be the Great Monk, he had no problem following the scholar’s wishes. To be honest, the monkey had practically glued himself to Tang’s side when he learned it would be just the two of them.

No doubt a side effect of the Great Monk’s many, many kidnappings.

“So, what’s the plan?” Mei asked, polishing her sword. Mercifully, when she woke up she felt almost good as new. Sure, there were a few cramps, but nothing like last night. She agreed to take it easy for the day in exchange for not being tied to her bunk. (Not that it would have held her for long anyway. Hehe.)

“We can’t leave with him like this,” Pigsy said as he chopped vegetables for breakfast. “So, we give it another day.”

“What?!” The adrenaline junkies shouted after pressing their faces into Sandy’s hands to muffle the sound, just because they were shocked didn’t mean they wanted Monkey King to barge in.

“We can’t continue on with him suck in the past. We need to ease him back to his old self.” Even if he doubted Tang’s plan, he could see the issues if they did it and nothing changed. “We have time and no one’s ambushed us for a while, the demon from last night doesn’t count since they're too scared of Monkey King to make a move. Plus, with him thinking Tang is his old master odds are he’ll start acting like an actual member of the team.” The pig explained.

“Besides even if Monkey King restored the TEA physically, I need at least two hours to make sure all of the internals have been properly restored.” Just because Monkey King fixed it, did not automatically mean the retired warrior was going to shove his family into it. Not without an extensive check. “Unless you’ve regained your powers of creation?” Sandy faced MK, who wilted under the hopeful stare.

“No.”

“But what if things haven’t changed by tomorrow?” Mei pressed.

Pigsy tried not to let it show how the same thoughts had buzzed around his skull till they invaded his dreams. “We’ll think of something but going off on some half-formed idea won’t help.”

“So just play along?” MK asked, not sure how they’d be able to pull it off.

“Pretty much. Also, we have no idea where the next ring could be. So~ we’re pretty much stuck here until we come up with a lead.” Sandy added even though he shared similar doubts.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§ 

Breakfast turned out expectedly chaotic.

“You have your own seat,” Pigsy said when the spot he vacated less than a minute ago to start serving everyone now had an unwanted occupant.

“I know.” Was his only response, accompanied by a cheeky grin.

Refrained from bearing his fangs, Pigsy mentally counted to ten. It wouldn’t help to start off the day fighting. “Would you please return to your spot?”

“I’m already in it.” Sun Wukong proceeded to stretch as his spine let out a series of satisfying pops. “Is there a problem?”

Taking a deep breath Pigsy went back to making sure everyone was satisfied with their portion. Task completed; the chef turned towards the king with darkened eyes.

Removing his outer robe, Pigsy’s dark eyes locked with mischievous gold. A fresh breeze wafted into the clearing and one by one tore the petals from a humble flower. In less than three seconds, only one remained until it fell like all the others as it met the unforgiving ground. Almost like a starter’s pistol went off, the two dashed in a random direction. The demonic chef chasing after the Immortal Monkey King, who was howling with laughter.

The others watched in worry, but not sensing any true malice, chose to let Pigsy get it out of his system. Besides he’d be even more insulted if they let his carefully prepared food go to waste.

“You’re way too stressed, idiot,” Wukong called out from his perch in the trees.

“And you are a menace to society!” Pigsy shot back.

“Heh, heh.” The monkey just laughed at the truth, far too proud of his accomplishments to ever deny it.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§ 

“He’s so different,” MK said in a daze.

He had spent the last fifteen minutes listening to Wukong and Mei debate on the ideal revenge technique. They had agreed not to say LBD’s name, but evidently, Mei was not opposed to leaking snippets of her crimes. The sheer glee radiating off the king was staggering as he described torture methods that would cause all, but the most sadistic demons to run in terror. 

MK wasn’t sure whether he should be happy his best friend and mentor were bonding or terrified at the raw mayhem the two of them could conjure should they feel the urge.

“Not really. Still, the same idiot far as I’m concerned.” Pigsy stated not impressed with the monkey acting even more like a child. 

“No, I mean he’s so much happier. Everything about him now feels lighter.” Just watching him laugh so freely as he scampered around, eager to take part in everything, MK realized something truly heartbreaking. “He was miserable.”

His time without his family had ruined him. The loneliness and mourning had robbed him of his zeal for life, but now he was able to relive those glory days. To truly immerse himself in a time when the world was simple, and he was surrounded by love.

Yet the world would not wait for them to grant the Monkey King his dearest wish. “Do we have the right to steal someone’s happiest from them?”

At that even Pigsy paused. Happiness, true happiness, was hard to come by. There was always something getting in the way. If things weren’t so close to the edge of the apocalypse, then maybe he wouldn’t mind the Monkey King’s antics, but that wasn’t the reality they lived in. “That is a difficult question, kid. I admit, the idea doesn’t make me wanna sing, but the world can’t afford for us to let him live out this fantasy.”

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§ 

Every now and then Wukong would jump to his feet, eyes narrowed, and staff at the ready. Sometimes he would dash into the small forest or up the cliff, but he was quick to return with a smile explaining it was a false alarm. Yet his eyes always carried the sense he was just waiting for something to go horribly wrong.

The others were glad they still had time before the next attack, but they were growing increasingly uneasy having to tiptoe around the obvious.

“I gotta be honest, Tang, I thought you’d be taking advantage of Monkey King’s…new outlook,” Mk said, careful with his words even if Monkey King was currently emersed in learning about modern engineering from a patient Sandy, who pretty much had spent the past hour happily explaining the purpose of every moving part that went into the T.E.A. But the teen assumed the scholar would try to get as many answers as possible from a reliable source.

Buddha knew how eager he was to learn from Princess Iron Fan.

“MK, I fully admit being a massive fanboy, but that also means I am all too aware of how he responds to being taken advantage of.” Tang’s eyes grew hollow as passages of unholy wrath and pictures detailing spilled blood of every shade flitted through his mind. “Close to you or not, I’m not taking any chances.” Besides he had been feeling a bit odd since he woke up.

Not bad per say, but different.

MK could only nod in agreement, especially considering his mentor now viewed him as a potential threat. They came up with a story of how he was a survivor of a demon attack they choose to take with them to aid in his Buddhist training so that one day he’d be able to protect others. Wukong seemed to believe it, but that didn’t mean he trusted him.

MK could still remember the fear that took hold when he woke up halfway through the night. He didn’t know why he was dragged from sleep as he didn’t sense the usual reasons, but immediately he was forced wide awake. On the other side of the T.E.A., where Tang had claimed his bunk, a pair of glowing bloody red eyes surrounded in molten gold narrowed in warning.

Honestly, MK was not certain how he managed to get any more sleep that night. Or ever again.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§ 

The sun was setting, and everyone was feeling conflicted.

There had been no progress in restoring the King’s memories and according to social media and emergency broadcast networks, the crystal LBD had summoned to entomb Megapolis was spreading. Already ten more cities had become trapped in the growing ice and extensive evacuation attempts by local authorities and Demon Kings were underway.

Joint efforts were arranged to see if the ice could be halted or shielded against but had proven unsuccessful. Any forms of prevention were practically ignored, and the ice simply grew over the barriers put in place. The Celestial Realm continued to remain silent in the face of this overwhelming force, and hope was fading fast.

They needed to get going.

But they had no idea where they should go next!

“Why don’t we just show him the map? Maybe he’ll remember the sealing ritual, or at least where he hid his ring.” Pigsy brought forth.

“It’s worth a shot,” MK mumbled.

“Yeah, the worst that could happen is he doesn’t have a clue what it is, right?” Sandy pitched in, choosing to ignore all the ways this plan could go horribly wrong.

Clutching the map, Tang walked over to where Wukong had chosen to stand guard. He was worried. So far, they had managed to keep up the illusion (or Wukong’s memories were so scrambled he wasn’t willing to point out their mistakes), but he didn’t know how long it would last or how Wukong would react once he laid eyes on something so important. It could be the key to unlocking his memories, or it could be the thing that convinces the Monkey King they were enemies that were impersonating his family.

A twitch of the ear told Tang that his steps had been noticed, or that the Great Sage had chosen to let him know. Friendly golden eyes shifted to look at him while still keeping a careful vigil over their surroundings. “Hmm? Something wrong Master?”

Taking a deep breath, the scholar held out the map with both hands. “There is something we want you to look at. We believe it could be the key to your memories.”

The monkey’s head tilted slightly to the side. Tang restrained himself from gushing over the sheer cuteness, aided with the terror of the unknown as Wukong took the map and unraveled it.

The scroll held a map or was trying to imitate one as it hardly resembled any of the maps he’d seen during his numerous travels.

Wukong wasn’t certain what he was looking at, but he knew it was important.

No, he knew what this was. This was the map Master created as the final seal for the True Fire of Samadhi. He was there when the fire split. He was there when it lashed out, when it-

 M̴̲̱̻͇̓ơ̶̼̼̬̆̇͗̎͑̒n̵̡̨̪̙̮̰͓̭̹̰̄̉͌̀̓̔̔͂k̶̪̲̬͔̻̩̞̝̊͠ę̶̢̛̹̪̤͎͎̄͗̍̇̅y̷̡̢̞̬͎̐̓̀̆̾͜ͅ!̶͍̭̟͑

̴̖̩̣̜̼̣̈̾͘ ̸̡͓̭̣͇́́̅̏͑̾͋̇̂͌̑͋W̷̢͎͎͑ų̸̤̱͚̗̥̦̻̹́̔͐͝k̶̢̖͕̗̲̟͈̯̻̿͠͝ǫ̴̨͍̩̩͕̰̘̦͉͚̼͑͗̊̎͑̒͘n̵̖͙̮̪̿̌̀̎̎̒̀͊͒̃͒̈́g̴̢̜͍͔̼̪͕͈͎͚̮̓̄͐͌̃͠͠!̷̡͙̱̬̠̤̭̺̗̘̥̾͆̆̆̈͐͜

̵͕͔̪͛̓̈̾͋̀͘͘̚͘͝ ̵̨̡̢͇̮̯͉̯͍̓̑̉̔̉̾̋̊̉̕̕͜͝ͅI̴̪̹͖̅̒̾̈̏̔̀̐͊̌͐̇m̷͓̹̻͎̤̙̃̓̍͆͋̽̆̓̿̅̐̚͜͜ḃ̸̡͔̯̥͍̰͙̥̞̖͕̞̂ĕ̸̛̺̲̺̭͔͆̊͒̐͗͂͝c̶̡̭̘̣̻̹͎̰̜̀̔̀͘i̴͈̳̝͔̞͊̀͌̎̒͊̆̀l̸͓̫͚̈́̕e̷̛̼͕̬̋̂͛̈́̅͂̆͒̉̕!̶͉̮̃̃̍̐̈́͊̽ ̴͔̮̳̞͍̻̳̤͍̩̭͗̅͜

 “Master, why are we seeking out the holy rings?” The king’s voice sent a chill through the team.

“You said they were the only way to defeat our enemy,” Pigsy stated, seeing as Tang was nearly paralyzed with justifiable fear.

As the words touched the air, the world grew silent.

“I said that? I said that my incredible powers weren’t enough to protect you all. To protect Master!” Wukong growled at the despicable insult. Turning his head to meet the pig demon’s gaze, the chef almost backed away from the sight. Golden eyes had shifted into a vicious scarlet. “You expect me to believe that nonsense, Idiot!”

Refusing to back down, no matter who this moron thought he was. Pigsy clenched his fists and allowed his tusks to show. “I expect you to believe your own half-assed plan! It’s the only reason we’re out in the middle of nowhere!”

The two strode towards each other until they were less than a foot apart.

They could practically see the trade of lightning between the two.

“Okay, okay I think it’s best if we cool down before things go too far,” Tang said, hoping to prevent fists from flying.

From the corner of his eye, Sandy was slowly making his way over. No doubt to provide backup and hold back at least one of them. They really underestimated just how useful his strength was.

“No! We are settling this now!” Pigsy was sick of being this child’s favorite target for pranks and mockery, whatever was wrong with his head they needed to take care of it.

“You honestly think this time will be any different, darling.” The last word came out in an insultingly flirty hiss as scarlet slowly bled into his sclera. As though the original meaning was tied to something truly embarrassing for Zhu Bajie, and if Tang’s blush was any indication, it was a touch more than a simple deception.

Even so, it served its purpose to raise Pigsy’s blood pressure to dangerous levels.

The wind picked up speed and just before the yelling could descend into a brawl the air gained a purple tint. The tainted element swirled around the scholar, isolating him from the others while a powerful aura radiated demonic intent.

“Master!” “Tang!”

Wukong lunged forward, desperate to reach his Master, to keep him safe, but the king wasn’t fast enough. His claws only touched the dying winds.

He was gone…

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§ 

There were times Tang truly pondered what sins he had committed in his past life.

Despite being abducted from his family in a sudden display of power, he was untouched. More than that, his robes had been exchanged for a regal set in a flawless shade of ivory and purple outlined in gold. They were more comfortable than anything he had ever known, but the symbol on the front prevented him from fully enjoying the experience.

Apparently, he was the honored guest of the honored Scorpion Queen.

She was indeed a vision of beauty, yet there was an undercurrent to her every move. A danger that could not be ignored no matter how bewitching her appearance. Apparently, she had taken notice of his interactions with the kids and declared that a meeting had to be arranged.

Taking note that his throat was suddenly bone dry, Tang debated exactly when he entered an ancient Chinese novel.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Pigsy, on the other hand, was learning that there were problems not even a cat’s affection could solve. “What does this have to do with getting Tang back?”

The Monkey King was harnessing all his immense focus on this, the most delicate of tasks. Scanning the ground, he took note of the state of the soil and the recent disturbances. The monarch crouched low to scan the thick grass as he traversed the unknown terrain.

“Is this the same sort of garbage you tell MK, instead of being straight with him?” The long-time father figure pressed, folding his arms to keep them occupied.

Reaching down, Monkey King ripped out two large clumps of grass. “MK? Who’s that?” He asked, despite being introduced to his successor earlier that very day.

“Course you don’t remember the kid.” Growling, Pigsy couldn’t hold it in any longer. “One day you are going grow up to be a terrible mentor!”

Everything about this so-called King was driving him insane. Even with his “precious master" missing, he still treated the world as a big joke. The chef refused to believe this was the being his kid idolized, the one who they entrusted to teach MK how to be the world’s next great hero.

“Ha! A mentor? Good one, Zhu Bajie. Seriously, could you even imagine me teaching someone?” Monkey King carelessly twirled his staff in a flagrant display of cockiness. “Where do you come up with this stuff?” 

Sure, he passed down the self-defense lessons and war tactics he learned on his travels to his subjects, but mentorship? To become someone’s teacher? That required a level of trust and connection he couldn’t imagine sharing with anyone. Besides with all the responsibilities waiting for him back home, where would he even find the time?

In the back of the group, MK was choosing to ignore that.

He chose to ignore the fear.

He chose to ignore the bitterness.

He chose to ignore the loneliness.

He chose to ignore the hurt.

Soon this would all be over with, and they could go home. A watery film slowly settled over his eyes until he wiped it away. They could go home and pretend none of this ever happened.

Right.

Right?

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§ 

Oh, Wukong. Why must you always hurt those who grow to love you?

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§ 

“You know as well as I do that in order to find out what type of demon we're dealing with, we need to talk to the local Tudi.” Wukong happily explained as he scanned the horizon using his weapon as a perch.

“The local what now?” Pigsy asked, half convinced the monkey had just made up the word.

“Any idea what a ‘Tudi’ is?” MK asked. 

“Not a one.” Mei shrugged.

“Nope.” Sandy followed suit, equally lost.

“Merow.” Even Mo chimed in from Sandy’s shoulder.

Come to think of it, normally Tang would have a lecture ready and with their scholar kidnapped, they were sorta clueless. Huh? Never thought about that. Come to think of it, things did feel a bit more still than they were used to.

Were things really that noticeable when one of them was missing?

“Tudi!” The group was shocked out of their thoughts by the Monkey King. 

Never mind.

“Tudi!” He had called out to the local god, but seeing that more extreme methods were needed, proceeded to put a bit more energy into the summons.

“Tudi!”

“Tudi!” Picking up Pigsy and twirling him around.

“Tudi!”

“Tudi!” He danced in place, swinging his arms about as though he removed his bones. 

“Tudi!”

“Tudi!” Rolled on the ground while in perfect lotus position.

“Tudi!”

“Tudi!” He even squished his face against…something?

“Please tell me you are recording this,” MK begged, unable to take his eyes off the shameless display before him. In a way, the Monkey King’s younger self felt like looking in a mirror during his more feral moments.

“Before he even opened his mouth.” Mei squealed, never more thankful for how her blackmail senses have developed over the years.

The two muffled their snickering behind their hands to avoid corrupting the only modern recording of the King looking utterly ridiculous while being utterly adorable. Pigsy’s deadpan expression in the background only made it even more hilarious.

A brief rumbling was their only warning before Pigsy went flying.

Sandy was quick to catch his old friend as Wukong took a stance in front of the growing pile.

The pile was absorbed into the ground, leaving a small hole where a formally dressed man popped out of. His magnificent beard and wooden staff gave the impression of great wisdom.

Wukong’s expression shifted into one of joy as he took in the two-foot-high deity. “Ah, there you are.”

“He lives in a hole?” Pigsy asked, picking the least annoying question.

Planting his staff in the ground, Wukong lowered himself into a respectful bow. “Oh wise Tudi, a dangerous demon has captured our master and we fear for his safety. Do you know of any being residing within your domain who could be the source of our woes?”

The Tudi smiled under his snow-white beard and nodded. Yet when he opened his mouth all that followed was a stream of nonsensical noises accompanied by exaggerated expressions. 

Sun Wukong, however, seemed to be able to understand him just fine. “Hmm, interesting. Please, continue.”

Happily, the local god continued sharing, with Wukong nodding every few seconds. “Yes, yes, right.”

Hours passed and in time the starlit sky gave way to the pale pinks and yellows of a new day.

Finally, the Tudi had stopped and Wukong stood tall looking “You don’t say. Thank you for your knowledge.”

The change in tone snapped the others out of their varying stages of sleep.

“What exactly did he say?” Mei asked as she whipped her eyes, hoping for some good news.

“Our master is a prisoner of the Scorpion Queen.” Wukong declared.

“Scorpion Queen?” MK cautiously repeated.

The local mountain god nodded. “To enter her domicile, we must enter the Pipa Cave on Venom Mountain.”

“And where is this mountain?” Sandy politely asked.

“Over there.” Almost as if the old king commanded it, the dense fog that shrouded the land to the east parted, revealing a gorgeous castle decorated in varying shades of purple and gold. Even in the pale sunlight it gleamed and beckoned as though it were carved from pure crystal while holding a sense of dignity.

Compared to the fortress of the Demon Bull family, which eagerly took in modern advancements, this one appeared as an ideal representation of a palace of old.

“Finding that out took all night?!” Pigsy was practically spitting fire due to the effort of restraining himself from removing the simian’s spine.

Wukong just laughed. “Of course not. This guy’s just awesome. So many great stories”

“That doesn’t look like a cave or mountain to me.” Sandy pointed out, although he was grateful, they had a proper destination.

“Erosions done a number on this place, along with her occasional outbursts. The Scorpion Queen is supposedly a terrifying opponent not just for her strength, but her speed and deadly sting.” The local god had been very precise in his warning. He had witnessed many warriors fall by her unique skill set.

At the mention of the word ‘sting’, Mei gained a terrifying grin at the memory of lying helplessly on the ground writhing in agony. Revenge was a glorious thing.

“Anyway, she won’t be a problem for much longer.” Cracking his neck, Wukong summoned his nimbus cloud and was off before the others could get a word in. “Le~go.”

“Scorpions are classified as arachnids, are you gonna be okay?” Sandy asked their Monkey Kid who had grown silent at the demon’s title.

“Yeah, yeah totally. I mean, just because they’re in the same family doesn’t mean they are the same. I’ve seen pictures online and they haven’t filled me with the intense desire to either hide in the deepest hole I can find or arm myself with the closest flame thrower, so I should be okay. Heh heh…” MK said as his eyes darted from side to side and his words started merging together.

“Right…” Mei decided it would probably be best if she went ahead of MK on this mission.

The Tudi simply waved goodbye to the travelers, looking forward to their next meeting.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§ 

In a lavish dining hall, two unlikely occupants were exchanging tales of the past.

“And then they just took it all and thought they could get away with it! I mean, really do they think things are that great for me that I wouldn’t notice?” The Scorpion Queen growled as she remembered the last group of thieves who dare barge into her domain.

“Things have been hard for everyone, but that’s just distasteful.” Tang agrees as he touched up the queen’s manicure.

While he had been biding time, hoping for a swift rescue, he could not deny that he was having a wonderful time. 

The Scorpion Queen was a kind woman, who only desired companionship. She hadn’t touched him since he arrived and took pleasure in intelligent conversation.

Then there was the food.

A delectable spread of fine cuisine. The mouthwatering aromas painted a landscape of heaven, whilst being so sinful one's soul would be condemned to the deepest of hells. 

He had to get Pigsy the recipes.

The numerous attendants lining the walls silently released a breath, grateful that the mortal was able to entertain their Queen.

This peaceful scene was interrupted by the sound of a powerful crash.

Rolling her eyes, the Scorpion Queen descended from her throne. 

“Ah, yes, your companions. They do have the decency to use the front door, right?” She inquired.

“Some of them…” Tang offered as he braced himself for the fallout. While Pigsy and Sandy were unlikely to purposefully commit property damage, the same could not be said for the others.

Growling the Queen took a stance against those who would dare rob her of her newfound happiness. With a flick of the wrist, her gold arm bands transformed into masterfully forged tridents.

Suddenly the eastern wall was kicked in, revealing the Monkey King and four companions.

Barely a breath passed before, the scorpion Queen and Monkey King launched themselves at one another. Their speed could barely be tracked by the naked eye. Each blow sent shockwaves rippling throughout the palace. 

Alarms sounded as the once orderly domain was thrown into chaos.

Seeing his old friend, Pigsy took advantage of the fight to get a closer look. “Tang, are you alright?” The swine gave the scholar a quick pat down to feel for any broken bones or bruises. Turning his face, it appeared he was not suffering from any obvious trauma and he didn’t feel any bumps.

“I’m fine, Pigsy. She was a wonderful hostess.” Tang said. “Although I am wondering how your day was?” It may have just been him, but the chef’s face looked a shade redder than usual.

“Other than reaching new levels of frustration I didn’t know existed, just dandy,” Pigsy said, not wishing to repeat all the methods of torture he wished to inflict on that overpowered toddler.

The two ducked as a new crater formed.

“I know you swore off fighting, but do you think you could hold her down? Ya’ know, so we can talk this out.” MK asked.

“Of course,” Sandy said, ecstatic his friend was thinking of more creative means to end the conflict.

Eyes narrowed, Sandy watched the two demons trade blows. He took notice of their stances, their reactions, how they twisted around unseen blows. When he noticed a pattern, he launched himself to intercept the Queen.

But she was not so easily defied.

“Sandy!” The team shouted as they watched the gentle giant be launched through a wall from an invisible strike. Looking closely, one could make out the veins of his left arm being flooded with a dull purple.

Green lighting danced across a jade blade at the confirmation of the demoness’s identity. Mei wanted to join the fight and pay the demon back for every ounce of agony she suffered. She wanted to, but she was not an idiot.

Sandy was far stronger than her and had decades of combat experience. If the Queen could do that to him, Mei would have to be patient for just a little longer. She’d wait for an opening and make her move.

The false staff and tridents clashed, both combatants channeled their demonic power through their chosen weapons, pushing them long passed the point of breaking. 

“In consideration of your allies, I’d suggest you surrender. I doubt you’d be so confident if they turned up dead before you could blink.” Scorpion Queen offered, bloodlust filling her gaze.

“How bold,” Wukong said with a smirk. “In my experience, the only ones willing to make such statements are the ones with the most to hide.”

“Contrary to those weaklings, my strength requires no embellishments.” With a mighty shove, she sent the Great Sage flying, only for him to land on his feet with a whisper.

“Then why all the illusions!” With a snap, Wukong unleashed a wave of gold energy and a loud crack echoed throughout the palace.

At first, nothing happened, but the Scorpion Queen made the mistake of looking down. Golden cracks started to form on her skin. Slowly they spread until her entire body was consumed in a blinding flash.

The beautiful woman had vanished, in her place stood a figure of nightmares.

Porcelain skin changed in hue until it became a pale green. Delicate lips were twisted to make room for large mandibles. Sweet pink eyes were unveiled to be wreathed in dark emotions as her very whites were drowned out. Her arms and weapons were in truth purple pinchers large enough to snap a man in two. While the pointed buns remained, her impressive braid was revealed to be a massive tail and an obsidian sharp stinger.

Yet the greatest change was the removal of her legs in favor of a body that belonged to a scorpion. Thick exoskeleton encased a large abdomen as six massive legs ending in lethal points supporting the body. She was even bigger than Spider Queen at ten feet tall and to make things worse her lower half was unmistakably organic in comparison to the other’s more mechanized spider body.

At the sight of her true form, or rather the reactions of those who saw her in her truest sense, for a brief moment the Queen was terrified. However, it didn’t take long for fear to morph into wrath.

“How dare you!” The queen roared; her pincers snapped viciously as drops of venom dripping from her massive stinger.

“Now what was that saying about true beauty?” Wukong taunted.

Hissing, she snapped her pinchers twice more before vanishing from sight.

Wukong gave his own savage grin as he too disappeared, only to reappear blocking the queen’s crazed, yet controlled assault.

The others stood back as it became clear the battle had entered a new level of intensity.

“MK?” Mei asked, not seeing her friend in sight.

Looking around, she came to find him hiding behind an overturned table curled into the fetal position with his eyes far too wide to see.

“I was wrong,” MK whispered as he trembled in sheer terror. “So very, very wrong.”

Climbing over, Mei leaned in close, not jumping back when he launched himself into her chest so he could wrap every limb around her seeking any and every form of safety. Mei smiled as she rubbed circles on her friend’s back, happy she could provide at least this for him.

The battle continued to rage.

And the surroundings paid the price. Walls were destroyed, pillars were smashed to pieces, and dozens of servants ran for their lives as the two monarchs traded blows. Neither was willing to concede, but it was obvious who would walk away as the victor.

While this may have started as a kidnapping, Tang was never in any danger. He got to know the Queen, her attendants, and how much she meant to her subjects. He couldn’t let Monkey King hurt her, nor could he allow this to continue.

He knew what he had to do.

This could very well be his last act. Taking in the sun’s light, Tang took a deep breath and prayed.

“Wait!”

The remaining members of Team Monkie Kid could not believe what they just witnessed. Not only did Tang purposely put himself in between two powerful forces in the blink of an eye, but a golden barrier appeared. It was odd, but the wave seemed to drain them of their desire to fight. The tension and adrenaline that had fueled them vanished leaving desires bare to the world.

Trembling, Tang was almost afraid to open his eyes. He feared the instant he did, all he would see was the darkness of the underworld. But this had to be said. “I-I get that you’re alone, but lying about who you are, forcing people to be your companions, it’s not the answer.”

The Scorpion Queen lowered her pinchers at the painful truth. It was one she knew quite well, but in a way always hoped it could be overlooked. “I’ve been alone for so long. I saw you caring for the children, being kind to the others, and I wanted to know what that felt like. To be cherished and appreciated for who I was, not for my power and status.”

It was always so painful. Trying to find happiness just for some idiots to take advantage of her heart. She had been hurt so many times by countless demons. Was it really so wrong to crave happiness?

Apparently, it was. 

When you looked the way she did.

“You can’t force bonds. It’s something that’s earned through communication and trust.” Even as Tang shared his wisdom, he knew the Queen was honest about her pain. She had suffered and would continue to suffer, but there was a solution.

“He’s right.” Wukong piped up, nearly scaring the scholar half to death. The king had been so quiet the others had nearly forgotten he was still there. “We are together because we choose to be.”

Sensing the demon had no desire to continue the fight, the king lowered his guard a touch, choosing to hug the scholar and pig with a large grin. “Can you imagine what I would be like on my own? I’d probably turn into a really manipulative jerk or something. Ha ha ha.”

Yeah, they weren’t touching that mess.

“There is a way we can end this peacefully with everyone walking away with what they want.” Tang calmly said, gently placing his hands on one of the pinchers. “Do you have a phone?” He asked, ignoring Wukong’s inquisitive stare.

“Of course.” She stated, curious as to where this was going.

“Here we are, a list of various demons I’ve befriended over the years. All are wonderful people looking to connect with others. I believe you will find long-lasting companions with at least one of them.” Tang offered a list of numbers accompanied by the names and titles of various demons he grew to call friends, including his own. “While I cannot stay here, in part to the danger the Lady Bone Demon poses to the mortal realm, I would not object to seeing you again. Is that acceptable?”

The Scorpion Queen was taken aback. She did not expect to be treated with such kindness, least of all when she looked like a monster. Yet here the sweet mortal stood, looking at her no different than when they had been exchanging stories.

“I will miss you, Tang. Good luck on your journey. Oh, one more thing.” She clapped twice to summon a servant, this one carrying a small vial filled with a teal-colored liquid. “The antidote for your friend. Since I used one of my weaker poisons once he takes this all he’ll need is food and rest to make a full recovery.”

Tang took the gift with a bow. “Thank you for your kindness. You have a beautiful heart.” Taking the initiative, he made a small jump and wrapped his arms around her elegant shoulders in a warm embrace.

Slowly, as though fearing this was but a cruel dream, the Scorpion Queen raised her arms to return the kind gesture. All too soon the warmth left her as the group departed, with the Monkey King repairing her home after a stern look.

The queen watched as the group left, her heart mired in bittersweet emotions. While she would have loved to have someone by her side as her equal for the rest of eternity, she would not deny the preservation of the mortal realm came first. She would have to be blind, deaf, and completely oblivious to ignore the danger the skeleton demon represents. She could only hope they would meet again soon.

But at the very least she came out somewhat richer than when she first laid eyes on the strange group.

Looking at the list, Scorpion Queen was surprised to recognize a few of the names. To be honest, she assumed quite a few of them had died centuries ago, yet here they were.

“Nine-Tailed Vixen, hmm?” Wasn’t she the honorable mother to a couple of mischief makers?

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§ 

“You really weren’t scared?” MK asked as he didn’t see a single sign of fear from only pure human in their group. One would think he’d be scared for his life, yet he was completely calm.

“Not as much as I should have been,” Tang said, happy to be grabbed in his usual clothes. “This isn’t my first kidnapping with the intent of marriage.” That is not something one should be so familiar with, yet that was his life.

MK blinked at the sheer nonchalance. In all the time he’d known the scholar he never mentioned being kidnapped, let alone being coveted as a potential husband in the demon community. Then there was the golden barrier, he didn’t act like that was a new thing. Does that mean he always had it? 

Come to think of it, he knew Pigsy’s life story, and he was slowly piecing together Sandy’s past, but he barely knew anything about Tang. The scholar talked, a lot, but never about himself. He was always eager to shift the discussion to anything else. “I really know nothing about you.”

“That’s a good thing,” Tang assured. He’d much rather focus on his present and future than stay mired in the past.

“So, how many times has this happened before?” Mei pressed.

“27, and I guess this makes 28. For now.” Pigsy said with a sadistic chuckle.

“Pigsy!” Tang shouted completely flustered at the truth of his many, many near shotgun weddings.

“Wow, Mr. Tang. I had no idea you were such a ladies’ man,” Mei cackled.

“What makes you think it was just women?” Tang walked away with his own sly look. Leaving the teens both confused and eager to know more.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§ Wukong gently lowered Sandy into his cot, where his little soldiers wasted no time curling around him and doing everything they could to ease his pain.

Mk was quick to administer the antidote Scorpion Queen gifted them as Mei soaked a towel in the ice-cold water of Guanyin’s vase. With the last drop flowing down his throat and a cool towel accompanied by a purring symphony easing his troubled thoughts, the two teens breathed easier as their friend’s breathing evened out.

Outside Tang and Pigsy were watching the Monkey King digging through a random patch of grass.

“I think he’s getting worse,” Tang whispered.

“Oh, here’s my staff.” The Monkey King proclaimed as he raised an old stick from the field, grass and leaves sticking out of his fur. His golden eyes glazed over.

Pigsy, on the other hand, was just smiling.“Eh, I’m starting to like this version.”

Glaring at his old friend, Tang noticed a boulder precariously balanced on the edge of a ridge.

“Amnesia rules?” Maybe it was the strange fluttering echoing in his mind, but Tang had a crazy idea. “Stay here!”

Pigsy tried to catch the scholar before he could do something chaotic, but it was too late. “Tang! Don’t just, ugh.” Hopefully, he wouldn’t get kidnapped, again.

Then there was the book he dropped. Picking it up, Pigsy saw it was full of MK’s creations.

There was no question the kid had tallent, and as Pigsy flipped through the pages he stopped on the very image Tang had shown them two days ago. The image of the five pilgrims.

His opinion of the Monkey King’s ability to irritate him remained unchallenged, but he was starting to see where he was coming from.

MK 

Mei 

Tang 

Sandy 

Mo

They were his family and if anything happened to them, he wouldn’t know how he’d carry on.

Did similar thoughts once run through the Great Sage’s mind? Is that why he closed himself off for five-hundred years?

To have everything, all the power in the world, and still lose what really mattered. The very idea was heartbreaking. Maybe he’d never see the Monkey King the way Tang and MK do, but maybe he could grow to see him as he truly was, an old soldier who needed support to recover from old wounds. 

He was so caught up in his thoughts he didn’t hear a curious monkey walk up to him and lean over to see what was so interesting. When the King saw a beautiful portrait of himself, his eyes became stars. “You know, they got your face just right. Super on model.”

Taking the book, Wukong started examining the exquisite detail and shading.

“Yeah. So, ah, listen. I guess I just wanted to say before you turn back to, eh…” Taking a deep breath, Pigsy took a long look at the powerful immortal and tried to take what he learned to forge a connection. “Maybe, you ain’t so bad for the kid after all.” It was hard to admit, but perhaps the two of them were good for each other, just not in the ways he first thought. “Just do me a favor, eh? Keep him safe, alright?”

Why was he saying this? There was no guarantee he would remember this once he was back to normal. But he needed to say this. To show that he could trust Monkey King with one of his most beloved treasures. “I mean, when we get the three Rings of Samadhi-”

“Four rings.” Wukong corrected as he continued admiring the beautiful work. Silently he pondered if the artist did murals.

Whatever, Pigsy was going to say next was derailed by the casual reveal of such critical misinformation. “Four?! You never mentioned four-” 

Pigsy cut himself off in horror as a massive bolder crashed down where the Monkey King had been standing. He had witnessed some truly horrifying deaths in his life, but never anything this sudden.

“Did it work?” A voice rang out.

It was Tang, standing at the edge of a small outreach, hands on his hips.

From the back door of the T.E.A., MK and Mei stared with their mouths wide open at the sight (although Mei’s was more of a sadistic grin). Never in a million years would they have thought Tang was not only strong enough to move a boulder three times his size, but willing to drop it on the Monkey King himself.

“What the hell, Tang!” Pigsy roared before staring at the crater. His worry was split over concern of the crazy simian and the knowledge he was about to share.

“What? You were the one who suggested hitting him over the head.” Tang said, sliding down to meet them. And if they were honest, he looked a bit too pleased with his work.

“Yeah, not kill him.”

“You honestly think he could be killed by such measly force,” Tang questioned with a raised eyebrow. One would think MK’s invincible moments would leave a lasting impression. 

The rock shattered in a familiar pulse of golden light.

Flipping out of the crater, the Monkey King took a stance as he scanned the area for enemies. An angry glare shifted into one of confusion then pain as a torrent of flame burst from the simian’s mouth for a full second. Panting, the King wiped his brow as he tried to process what just happened.

“Ugh. Why is my mouth so hot?” The king stared into open space in confusion, only to jump as he was embraced on both sides by a sobbing MK and Tang. “And why are you hugging me?”

“Welcome back.” The scholar said, happy that their hero had returned.

Mk just nuzzled into golden fur, happy that his mentor no longer looked at him like he was a stranger.

It was just another day on Mount Huaguo.

The sun was shining. Fruit hung plentifully from countless trees. The waters ran clear.

And not a hunter in sight. Truly it was a day that made one happy to be alive.

Liu’er had finished a mango and was planning on washing up before the daily race started. As he reached the crystal-clear waters, he looked around to see the monkeys that had taught him the world could be a wonderful place.

Beng was stretching by the rocks telling Ba how this was going to be the day he beat Stone Monkey to the waterfall. She entertained his fantasies, but he knew her expressions well enough to know she had absolutely no faith anything would change. Still, Beng continued his pointless quest as it provided him the motivation to grow ever stronger.

Ma was tending to the younger troupe members, already showing incredible instincts as a protector and caretaker. The elders had long complimented her on her rational thinking and being able to restrain her more destructive impulses. There were already discussions of training her as a future advisor and no one seemed to be able to find any fault in the logic.

It warmed his heart to see them safe and happy.

Yet one was missing.

The leader of their little group and the constant winner of the troupe’s daily race.

Turns out he didn’t have to wait long before a pair of golden eyes dropped down from a tree, intentionally startling the white-furred monkey. Liu’er smacked the shoulder of the brightly colored Stone Monkey who simply laughed at the gesture.

A call went out, stopping Liu’er from making a remark on the other’s poor sense of humor. The sun's position read as midday, so it was time to join the others.

Liu’er and Stone Monkey joined Beng at the front of the group where more troupe members were gathering. It appeared both Ma and Ba were choosing to sit this one out. A choice he could empathize with.

At first glance, the race was just that, a race, but in reality, it was a very different sport.

Yes, it was a race to see who could reach the waterfall first, however, running was actually only half of the process. Due to the fact the river acted as their set path, there were multiple obstacles to overcome. There was mountain climbing, leaping from treetops, avoiding predators, and avoiding other competitors. Then there always were the few who tried to spend most of the race swimming. Hardly the most efficient way to cover ground, but definitely the most peaceful.

The race averaged out to roughly four hours long, then one had to backtrack to return to the rest of the troupe. Then there were the poor souls who weren’t as fast and had been recorded taking at least seven hours to finish.

Liu’er never had to worry about time, not really, as while he was one of the faster members, he did tend to attract the most trouble. Apparently having white fur that literally gave off a subtle glow was bad for stealth.

Real shocker, he knows.

That being said, he never dreamed of winning. The reigning champion had been undisputed long before he was welcomed to the mountain.

As he reached the source of the tribe’s fresh water, the familiar sight of Stone Monkey pointing and laughing at a panting Beng told him that truth remained uncontested. Shrugging, Liu’er reveled in the burn in his muscles as he looked to the sky. Seems he managed to shave off another twenty minutes from last week’s record. With only a handful of monkies having arrived before him and nothing really planned for the rest of the day, Liu’er settled by the others to simply bask in the presence of his family.

“Hey. You ever wonder if there’s something behind the waterfall?” A young monkey asked.

“Maybe we should jump in and check.” Another tribemate jokingly prodded.

“You’ll be more likely to break your neck than find anything interesting,” Liu’er stated as someone had to supply the missing common sense for these idiots.

Yes, he knew they were messing around. The mystery of the waterfall was a regular one, both young and old, indulged in for generations before he arrived. But recently it seemed like it had been brought up more and more. As monkeys, they were naturally curious and were prone to poke and prod anything that would catch their eye.

Liu’er was no different. The compulsion to jump into adventure was always whispering in the back of his mind, but through his experiences, he learned to control it. The monkeys who lived in the relative safety of Mount Huaguo had no such education. And even whenever danger made itself known, it was always easily dealt with leaving minimal scarring.

So, it fell to him to remind the young ones of the danger when the elders weren’t present. Or Ma was elsewhere.

Besides with the sheer force of the rushing waters, any who weren’t killed by jumping headfirst into a cliff would probably drown as they were shoved under for miles. The entire mission screamed ill-thought-out and risky. “Honestly, who’s that stupidly impulsive enough to do that?”

Unfortunately, Liu’er forgot that a certain troublemaker was within earshot.

Stone Monkey turned from his conversation with Beng, a dangerous glint in his golden eyes. Liu’er didn’t know it but Stone Monkey viewed six ears’ skepticism as a challenge.

No one could tell you what happened next, not perfectly.

It was so fast. In a mere blink, everything had changed.

In a monkey troop, word travels fast as they were incredibly social creatures and horrible gossips.

Meaning in mere hours, word reached Ma’s ears leaving her with conflicting emotions. Fear for what her friend had done. Anger that he, yet again, would attempt something so dangerous. Relief that he was okay. Curiosity over what drove such a monkey to literally leap into life-threatening peril. And shock over what exactly happened while she had her back turned for five minutes.

Logically she stuck to the one that most likely would not result in her strangling her idiot. Yet.

“He did WHAT?!!!!” She shrieked at the top of her lugs, sending a flock of birds into the sky.

Meanwhile, Ba was just staring at the river, wondering how one could just come up with the idea to jump into the waterfall and why someone would feel the need to do it.  She needed new friends.

Within the monstrous cavern once hidden from knowledge by the waterfall maniacal laughter echoed.

Nearly a month had passed since Lady Bone Demon’s defeat and much had been done to undo the damage her actions had caused.

For the citizens of Megapolis, the ones who had been hit the hardest, they generally went about their days trying to forget the near end of the world and their encasement in bone crystal ever happened. They tried to return to their normal lives, pretending she never existed. Which was their typical response to any large-scale attack or takeover or just any disruption to their daily routine.

Some, however, used it as motivation to make better choices, to learn about what nearly brought about their destruction.

This led to Tang seeking out the Six-Eared Macaque to learn more about the spiritual simian. He wished to understand the past of this dangerous shadow wielder and how he was forced into her service.

The dark-furred monkey originally wanted nothing to do with recalling his past, but eventually, the scholar’s persistence and his unspoken need for companionship wore him down. They started with the basics, slowly working their way through his incredibly long life.

Macaque grew to regret his decisions almost immediately, but he knew backing out would only make Tang more curious.

The more Macaque spoke the more he realized how much he allowed himself to forget. He could no longer remember the elderly couple that took him in and acted as his first family. The name they gifted him was little more than ash. The troupe of performers were bare silhouettes against a bright background. The face of his demonic teacher in the art of medicine was a blur, all that remained was the scent of her blood staining the ground.

Every life remembered felt like an old wound being torn open, a ravaged bone that had never been properly mended.

So many lives, so many friends, so many families, all laid forgotten at his feet gathering dust in the face of one king. As if he placed a veil between Macaque’s life before they had met and everything after.

In the darkness, Macaque wondered what his life would have been like if he and Wukong had never crossed paths. If his heart was never stolen by the impulsive king, would he have had a chance to know true happiness? Would his heart not be weighed down with an eternity of hate, regret, and bitterness?

He didn’t know. He’d never know.

It didn't take long for Tang to recognize the expression on Macaque's face.

It was inadequacy.

After everything the monkey had accomplished, even with all his skill, he still felt inferior. Given who he looked like and was regularly compared to, one couldn't blame him.

“You don’t have to be Sun Wukong’s dark reflection. There is so much you could offer the world, so much you could do to show yourself as more.”

Those words should have been as empty as they were useful, yet Macaque couldn’t help but listen. He couldn’t help but feel them resonate with his very being.

He was willing to try a new approach.

Make no mistake, he wasn’t interested in becoming a “good guy”.

It wasn’t that he was interested in getting redeemed, merely he had finally accepted that there were other projects more deserving of his time and energy. After all, there were other things he could be doing instead of trying to kill an immortal, who long since proved he couldn’t be killed. Trying to find a shred of remorse from a being born from stone.

But he'd dedicated so much of his life to Wukong, either as his shadow or his enemy.

So, he continued meeting up with Tang, seeking to rediscover who he once was.

The scholar often invited him to join the others at the noodle shop, but Macaque declined every time. His friend group was alright and entertaining, but he wasn’t in the mood to risk crossing paths with Wukong; he couldn’t risk relapsing into his old mindset and jeopardizing his progress.

Besides, most of the time they were too loud.

He could tolerate them, but any thought of them often trailed off into how many escape routes he would need. He did not expect his past deeds, even though he was chained and forced to act against his wishes at risk of a fate worse than death, to be forgiven. Just because they fought together to save the world, didn’t automatically make them allies. Although he did watch them from the shadows every now and then, just to see if the poor girl who spent so long attached to the omnicidal bitch wasn’t suffering any long-term consequences.

So, he kept to the one he learned to find peace with, the one who was familiar with the shadows.

And they talked.

They talked about his past, his interests, historical figures he’d met and fought with. Slowly both sides opened up more and more. Their meetings became less about research and felt more like two friends learning to enjoy each other’s company.

Book genres, music styles, and even plays were discussed at length. Occasionally items were exchanged, turns out Macaque was quite the collector and his copies of ancient texts were not only entirely legible but with a useful spell had completely resisted the passage of time. Tang nearly reached glass-shattering volumes after realizing how the demon could revolutionize his work as a scholar and historian.

It seemed no matter what Macaque had to offer or what dark secrets he revealed, Tang was willing to listen to it all with nothing less than utter compassion. There were plenty of snarky comments and sass, but none of that got in the way of Macaque enjoying himself.

And that is how he found himself with his arms wrapped around the scholar’s body as the mortal gently ran his fingers through his fur. They had long since ended their discussion, but neither was interested in leaving. Time held no meaning as all they could focus on was the steady beat of their partner’s heart.

“Nezha’s acting weird,” MK said as he barged into Tang’s apartment, unknowingly interrupting what had been a tender moment.

The two parted from the other’s embrace as to erase the sense anything had happened. They weren’t quite ready with whatever they had become going public. They were still figuring things out and while Tang loved his family, they did tend to be a little over-enthusiastic.

“What do you mean? He’s still here?” Tang asked, straightening his scarf and glasses.

“Yeah, he never left,” MK said, wondering why Macaque was with Tang and if this was why Monkey King kept returning to Pigsy’s restaurant saying something felt off. A simple glance revealed the shadow-wielding monkey was wearing a purple hanfu decorated with silver clouds, a far cry from his usual robes.

“What has he been doing exactly?” Macaque asked, more than a little ticked off his peace was shattered so carelessly.

“He’s been helping out all over the city, with the repairs and supplies,” MK said fully aware this was not the best way to make a case.

“That hardly seems like a reason to be worried,” Tang said, covertly laying a hand on a clenched fist. In fact, it would do worlds of good to keep up the citizens' faith that the Celestial Realm, or at least Nezha, cared about them.

“Well, like I said he hasn’t returned to the Celestial Realm even though there’s nothing keeping him here. And as more tasks are completed, he’s becoming more and more frazzled as he finds himself with more spare time.” MK said as he recalled how the eternal twelve-year-old, now a young adult, seemed to grow more and more obsessed with perfection as he ran out of tasks each day.

“He’s embarrassed.” The scholar and student turned to face the ebony-furred monkey.

“For what?” Tang asked, utterly lost on what such a powerful and accomplished being like the Third Lotus Prince could feel shame for.

“His colossal failure,” Macaque said, grabbing one of the nearby books on astronomy before further elaborating. “He was charged with protecting the map and ensuring the True Fire of Samadhi was never reforged. Two monumental tasks he utterly failed at. And when the time came for him to stand against the Lady Bone Demon, a chance to redeem himself, he was one-shotted out of the battle by a possessed Wukong until the very end, where he scrambled to make himself useful.”

The two humans winced at the crass yet undeniably accurate reasoning.

“When you say it like that, I’m surprised he isn’t hiding under a rock.” MK rubbed the back of his head wondering how he could help his latest ally.

“In a way he is, recall the mortal realm is far from the top priority for many Celestials.” Tang was not ashamed to admit the painful truth. In many ways, the gods and various deities that ran this world were often far too willing to turn a blind eye or willing to allow thousands to die before taking action. That wasn’t to say there weren’t Celestial beings and gods who did their part to protect and improve the world, but that didn’t mean their interference always made things better. It was what made Lady Bone Demon’s actions so empathetic even if he didn’t agree with her choices. But this wasn’t about her. “But this can’t last forever.”

Tang’s eyes wandered until they settled on a stack of boxes he had prepared by the door. A confident smirk worked its way onto his lips as the plan came together. “You said Nezha is looking to help, tell him to come here tomorrow at 10.”

“What are you-Oh.” MK’s eyes sparkled as he saw the date circled on a hanging calendar.

With a hopeful grin, MK dashed out as quickly as he arrived.

“What are you up to?” The demon knew that grin, he had seen it many times before a spectacular explosion rocked the landscape.

“Follow me and find out,” Tang challenged.

“I think I will,” Macaque said, using his tail to return the scholar to his lap.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

A knock resounded through the door precisely at the allotted time.

There stood Nezha dressed in civilian garb to avoid too much attention and for practicality’s sake as he was not in combat. “Greetings, scholar. MK informed me you needed some help.”

“Yes. I have a very important series of jobs today and I know they would greatly benefit from your presence.” Tang said, quite confident in his plan.

“Excellent. Where do we begin?” The Third Lotus Prince asked, eager to get started.

“First, we must take these boxes to a special building on the outskirts of the city.” Tang pointed to a collection of six large moving boxes that had been taped closed.

Nezha gleefully looked at the small mountain.

The young god dragged his feet in loading the boxes into his custom vehicle, the fire wheel. His strength could have allowed him to easily transport all of them in one trip, instead, he took them one at a time.

When the last box was loaded, the two set off. Tang’s instructions weren’t really needed as flight eliminated the need for street names. Truly there were few things as sweet as flying over gridlocked traffic, knowing you were able to bypass it all.

So, the scholar simply pointed in a direction and told the young god he’d tell him when to stop, assuming he didn’t do it first. Nezha flew through the air with the expert level of control one would not expect from one who had spent the last millennia stationed guarding a single treasure.

He could immediately sense the presence of nearly three dozen children of various ages with no direct family bonds. Getting closer he could make out a fairly large building that was showing its age. Closing the distance, it became clear the structure was well taken care of but had to be repaired regularly over the years. To the side, a home garden was being tended and to the back was a sprawling orchard without any sense of unity yet so pure.

“An orphanage?” He knew there were other answers, but it felt proper to ask first.

“There are so many turf wars and battles in the streets, authorities do what they can, but every day people die leaving children without families and for those without other relatives they have no choice but to stay here,” Tang explained, yet he couldn’t help but wish things were different. Even in a modern city, old grudges, traditions, and instincts were difficult to overcome leading to constant conflict and death. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t do our part to make things better.”

In the entryway, Nezha saw murals and offerings dedicated to being of great power and kindness, the compassionate Boddhisattva Guanyin, the dedicated Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, and the healer Bhaisajyaguru Buddha. Yet in the center of the shrine was a figure of a young boy with a vibrant ribbon twisted around his arms, fiery golden wheels attached o his feet, and spear in hand.

These people had been praying to him.

A wave of shame crashed over him yet he forced it down to follow the scholar deeper into the building, where several monks were waiting to receive them.

It was then Nezha got a proper look at the children. All of them were relatively healthy but carried a deep sadness. The youngest appeared no older than six while the oldest looked nearly thirteen years. At first glance, none of them seemed to suffer any visible disabilities, but far too many bore scars of claws and fangs.

The boxes contained quite an assortment of items, from books to games to clothes, everything was something the children could use.

But the main surprise was in the top two boxes which contained dozens of dried fruits and vegetables along with fresh produce flour and rice.

“You up for serving these kids a home-cooked meal?” Tang asked, unpacking all the ingredients for dumplings.

Confidently Nezha tossed up his own blade to make it spin, catching it deftly with a smile. “Try n’ stop me.”

The two began a contest of sorts, seeing who could fold the most dumpling first, although the spirit of competition quickly waned when a few of the more curious children asked what they were doing. Both Tang and Nezha found themselves teaching a few children the art of dumpling crimping, guiding them through the process while assuring them their folds were perfect.

It was messy and took up much more time, but the laughter and happiness could not be understated.

In time, the rest of the team arrived with their own contributions. Even Macaque showed up disguised in his human form holding the mystery girl’s hand as a small cat was perched on her head.

Pigsy was quick to join them in the kitchen, taking note of how far behind they were due to their impromptu classes. Instead of getting angry, the chef simply smiled and got to work on the next dish. His gift of new clothes was already handed off to the caretakers, knowing the kids would need them soon enough.

Mei and MK went on to share the new toys and games they brought, playing with the younger kids with a timeless sense of wonder. The yard was soon filled with laughter as they chased each other around or tried to outwit the others.

Sandy was sure to bring all of his cats, who were quick to claim the territory as their own. Once they were situated, the little soldiers located the children who had taken to hiding themselves away in the presence of strangers. Sandy went on to start brewing multiple pots of tea as he showed the children the proper way to hold a cat and show off his strength by giving piggyback rides.

Macaque entertained the children with his shadow puppets, turning a wall into an elaborate theater. When a few of them wanted to join in the fun, he even offered to do their hair and makeup so they could better “resonate” with their character.

Nezha watched it all with a bitter smile.

This…this is what he had been craving for so long, this is what he had been striving to protect. Yet for generations, he distanced himself from those who needed him.

The afternoon meal was a sight of pure joy.

Time after was spent between playing with the children, aiding the monks in making the necessary repairs, and bandaging minor wounds from enthusiastic playing.

When the demon chef asked if the deity wished to aid in preparing for the evening meal he couldn’t agree fast enough.

He never wanted this day to end.

Yet his element was fire, not time.

The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon dyeing the sky in lovely shades of orange and purple. The children had been gathered to join the monks in Sandy’s yoga class as the others cleaned. Leaving Nezha alone with his thoughts on the porch staring into the open sky.

But he wasn’t alone for long.

“Mind if I join you?” Nezha didn’t bother facing the scholar but nodded all the same.

Tang settled down placing a tray between them, two cups steaming. “How do you feel?”

The question was both simple and complicated and as such the Third Lotus Prince could only provide a matching answer. “…Lighter.”

“We used to come here all the time. But with all the chaos and work, it has been difficult to find an opening in all our schedules.” Tang said. “Now that things have quieted down, it was only right for us to see what we could do to help.”

“And the orchard?” Because it felt like this crazy bunch had something to do with it

“We actually started it years ago when we took in MK. Pigsy and I noticed him after observing him stare at families near the restaurant. Whenever we tried to approach him, he would always back away. Eventually, we earned enough trust for him to admit he was an orphan. Yet even with so little, he would try his best to keep on smiling, and we just couldn’t continue without knowing he was going to be safe.” While their relationship was platonic in nature, it didn’t hurt to show multiple individuals would be watching over the little sky. “To celebrate our family, we all had a peach on these steps, but before we left MK wanted to leave something to keep up the spirits of the other children. With permission, we planted the pits and every time we stopped by, we’d plant another seed.”

The scholar started to laugh as he remembered something. “The kids came up with this game where the winner gets to choose which type of tree we plant. It’s adorable.”

Nezha couldn’t bring himself to laugh but he could smile. It explained why there was no proper design to the orchard despite it emanating pure joy. The trees were planted for love and happiness, going on to provide for those who adored them.

“I’ve missed this. I wasted generations guarding that wretched map. It was a major responsibility, but it got in the way of my other duties. I sensed so many of my followers praying to me for a sign that I had not abandoned them, a sign I could still hear them, but I couldn’t risk doing anything that would reveal my location. I always knew when I was needed or when something terrible was happening. But all I could manage was delegating a few tasks to my close servants through telepathic communication and even that held risks.”Nezha said, finally opening up to the agony that had haunted him for centuries.

He hated feeling this way. He hated knowing how little he contributed to the final battle. He hated dedicating so much time and effort to improving his power only to be repeatedly put down with minimal effort. “I’m a god, I’m supposed to handle this kind of pressure, so why do I keep failing when it matters the most?”

“You can’t change the past, but you can always strive to create a better future,” Tang said, more than a little flustered that he was being trusted with the pain of a god. But that didn't mean Nezha deserved anything less than his full attention.

"Doesn’t stop the pain." The young deity took the offered cup, staring into the liquid where he could just make out the appearance of the young child he once was.

Although they tacked on one more errand once they stepped outside the T.E.A.

Yeah, turns out they desperately needed a shower. Mercifully the local hot springs were open and not too expensive. Everyone agreed an hour was more than enough, both to relax and take advantage of their private baths. Feeling refreshed, they were ready to carry out their assigned roles. However, now that they could focus on something other than their formerly sweat-drenched skin, they made a startling discovery.

The town was…weird.

But not in an overly obvious way. Sure, it looked like a mix of an advanced civilization with strong ties to the Tang and Song Dynasties, but there were plenty of places like that. No, the strangeness was from how the people were acting.

Yes, the civilians were a mix of humans and demons, much higher concentration of demons by far (nothing too odd), and there was no outer sign of strife. They seemed to go about regular lives yet there was this tension in the air, a sense they were waiting for something to go wrong. Outside strict greetings and interactions, no one seemed to talk freely. Small groups would cluster together but not so much as a whisper was heard. Not even the children spoke out of turn.

That wasn’t the end of it.

The streets were too clean. Everything was too clean.

Even in Megapolis, there was some clutter or graffiti, but here…nothing. The sidewalks looked like they were power washed daily. The guardian statues shined in the sunlight like they were better than new. There was not a hint of mold or rust to be found on a single building or sign. Everyone was impeccably dressed with simplistic yet elegant hairstyles and coordinated make-up. Everything was just too perfect.

The more the group saw, the more uncomfortable they became.

It was enough for Pigsy to remind them several times about not drawing attention to themselves. Grab the goods and go.

No distractions. Naturally, that didn’t happen.

Eh, best-laid plans and all that nonsense.

Mei was struggling to pick out clothes for everyone. She recognized none of the brands sold in any of the stores. When she asked the cashiers, they told her they were local distributors approved by the royal family. Not wanting to delve into that madness, Mei returned to her shopping, besides she did enjoy supporting local businesses.

The clothing available was definitely more traditional than what she was used to, but this wasn’t the time for that. Having everyone’s measurements memorized, it was pretty easy to pick out outfits that would fit, even though the clothes themselves would make them look like they took a step back in time. Some of the styles reminded her of when she had to dress up for political galas. Honestly, the only one who wouldn’t have a problem was Tang, but beggars can’t be choosers and it was a minor detail all things concerned.

Although, she may have caused a scene at the register.

I’m sorry but there was no way twenty outfits (with shoes and jackets!) totaled less than 2000 yuan without a massive sale. But the cashier said that was the case and before she knew it a lot of people were staring at her, a few even had their phones out. Giving an uneasy laugh, Mei paid for the clothes and ran.

So, shopping done and some free time on her hands, Mei took the opportunity to go a bit selfie crazy. Hey, she had to rush through multiple prime scenes without being able to take a single pic, she’s earned this!

Although as she was browsing her latest pics, Mei noticed a symbol pop up in the background more and more. It was vaguely familiar, bringing up a strange cocktail of emotions. The shape itself wasn’t too crazy, pretty basic all things considered. It looked like a sword bridging together two horns, every tip sharpened to a deadly point.

It was everywhere. On doors, in murals, painted on lanterns, engraved into the city gates, some people even had it embroidered on their clothing (none were on the garments she bought, meaning it was specially requested or personally stitched).

Looking up, Mei couldn’t help but notice it everywhere around her. Swallowing, she decided it was best to meet up with the others to get a second opinion. Thankfully she didn’t have to walk too far before she found someone who could help her.

It was Tang, walking out of a building with what appeared to be half the city’s medical supplies.

Pulling him to the side as he gave a little yelp at the treatment, Mei shoved her phone in his face. “Tang, does this symbol look familiar to you?”

Pushing aside his annoyance, the scholar adjusted his glasses that had been knocked askew. “Hmm? It’s definitely from a recent memory.” This was quite embarrassing actually. He knew he had seen it before, quite frequently, yet the origin escaped him. He could chalk it up to spending months absorbed in hundreds of scrolls and his research into the Samadhi Fire, along with all the nonsense of the journey, but no this was inexcusable.

He knew what this symbol was, if only he had a bit more content.

Before he could say anything else, both pilgrims froze at a hauntingly familiar sound.

A walking gait that sounded a touch too precise with a strange metallic after tone.

Glancing around the corner, tall figures were patrolling the city in groups of six. Their gaze was unflinching as they took in every citizen and building. The natives were quick to bow in reverence only rising when the guards had fully passed them.

Bull clones

“We’re in the Demon Bull King’s territory,” Tang whispered; eyes wide as the symbol found its place on Princess Iron Fan’s dress, Red Son’s necklace, and DBK’s armor.

“We gotta get outta here,” Mei said, fully aware of how screwed her friends would be if they were ambushed. Again.

“Carefully,” Tang cautioned. “As far as we know, we haven’t broken any laws or warranted any reason to be hunted down.”

“You mean besides regularly thwarting their plans for global conquest,” Mei stated wrapping her hands around the Dragon Blade’s hilt.

Tang stopped her from drawing it as he constantly scanned the area for any sign of other approaching bull clones. “Currently, we are under a tentative truce thanks to MK’s efforts, so we while we need to leave, we must do so without giving them any reason to target us.”

While it was painful, Mei refused the call for violence. “I’ll grab MK, you get Pigsy, and we’ll meet up with Sandy and the TEA.”

“Make it five minutes.”

“You’re on.” Shaking on it, the two ran in different directions hoping they weren’t too late.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

On one of the taller buildings, electronic eyes identified the faces of the fleeing pilgrims. A notification was silently sent to its creator as it and its comrades awaited further instructions.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

“Still alive, I see.” Crimson eyes glowed as flames danced within his corneas and flicked out as sharp edges. Laughing to himself, he swiftly input a set of commands.

All around him forges glowed ever brighter as their master’s mood brightened. It appeared things were going to get quite interesting in the future.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Thankfully, the team was able to leave the city without any altercations.

They even had time to change into their new clothes, which predictably fit like a glove. But their positive mood had shot itself in the head.

“We literally drove up to our enemy’s doorstep. This has to be a new low.” Pigsy groaned as he nursed a growing headache.

“Was Monkey King out of it the entire time?” MK asked, looking at his meditating master who now had several cats curled around and on him. It was truly an adorable scene, proven by Mei taking at least ten pictures.

“Hasn’t moved an inch,” Sandy affirmed from the driver’s seat.

“Wonderful.” MK’s gaze lowered at the report. He was really hoping his mentor was ready to take a break or something. He still had so many questions but looks like he’s back to waiting.

“As much as I enjoy poking fun at our stone monkey, we seem to be forgetting something important. Where do we go now?” Mei asked, as they truly didn’t have a final destination in mind.

The three adults exchanged an uneasy look.

“I’m afraid our choices are limited. With the map not providing any identifiable landmarks and the Monkey King…unable to give us any more information on the locations of the rings, there’s not much we can do.” Tang solemnly said.

“Well, we do have one option,” MK said staring out the window at the divide between the vegetation shielded by rocks and the unyielding desert.

“Like?” Sandy kindly asked. He truly would appreciate a sense of direction, plus he didn’t want to waste gas even if it was the cheapest tank he’s bought in fifteen years (although what he bought was less gasoline and more pure energy structured to power machinery).

“We know the Samadhi Fire is the pinnacle of fire mastery, who do we know specializes in fire manipulation?” MK asked as he braced himself against a bunk.

“What?!” The collective shout nearly threw the pour boy across the T.E.A.

“You can’t be serious,” Tang stated as visions of watching his child nearly being killed flashed before him.

“We are not going to waltz into the home of demons who tried to enslave our city and came this close to killing us mere months ago!” Pigsy shouted. But in the end, it didn’t matter how much time passed, he would never forgive the family that nearly robbed him of his greatest treasures over and over again.

Forced to watch as that so-called “princess” sent his boy hurling into the horizon with a mere flick of the wrist. Leaving them all believing he was dead or worse. That one scene played over and over in his head for weeks as nightmares forced him awake in a cold sweat. Still does, to be honest.

“There’s also the question of why they would hear us out. I mean they gain nothing by helping us. And I’m pretty sure the traditions of hospitality do not include sworn enemies, regardless of Mei’s evidence of Red Son’s potential redemption arc.” Tang stated, looking in the direction of one smug heiress.

“Oh, like you didn’t acknowledge it,” said dragon remarked with a cat-like smirk.

“Plus, what are we gonna do with Monkey King? We can’t just leave him in the van, but if we tell them they might take the opportunity to try and mutilate him.” Sandy chimed in, bringing up a good point.

Even if Wukong could not be killed, it did not mean that he was incapable of feeling pain or having his energy further drained. There was also the possibility that, like their time in the Eastern Sea Palace, his presence would make their time more difficult than it needed to be.

“I have an idea, but I need to speak with Princess Iron Fan.” MK frantically started waving his arms at the disbelieving stares. “Just hear me out. Lady Bone Demon was probably the strange energy that made DBK lose it last year, ya’know when they took over the city.”

“We remember.” MK actually took a step back from the sheer deadpan response, remembering they had to endure the effects of his rule for two days while he was training with the Monkey King, who had been trying to make up for his distant behavior.

“So, they would carry a grudge over such a violation of his free will.”

“Makes sense.” Pigsy was fully aware of how grudges could take over a demon’s life, beyond that, the concept of revenge was a recognized part of their culture.

“So, by helping us acquire a weapon to defeat her, they would be directly responsible for her death.” He wasn’t sure why the concept of her death had become so easy to discuss, all he knew was that he couldn’t wait for it to pass so he could get back to his life.

However, a certain father figure wasn’t entirely sold on the idea. “Kid, you could spout hypotheticals all you want, even if they are reasonable, it doesn’t mean anything if they refuse to listen. They have no reason to give you the time of day.” Truce or not, he was still the proud successor of the Sun Wukong.

“They will if I invoke court protocol.” If there was one thing Macaque was clear on, it was the importance of tradition with older royalty. As it so happens, DBK and Princess Iron Fan were some of the oldest demon royals in the world.

“And where did you learn that?” Sandy asked, giving Mo a good scritch under the chin. The others were eager to hear the response as it didn’t sound like a lesson the Monkey King would give.

Eyes darting to the side, MK gave the only answer he felt was appropriate. “From a kind, cruel warrior.”

“Fine,” Pigsy sighed in defeat, only because he knew the kid would never give up and it was better they all go than risk the two vanishing in the night.  Oh, they would be talking about this ‘Warrior’ later. “but the fact remains even if we are in their territory, we have no idea where their palace is.”

“You mean that ominous building built into the side of an active volcano with horns,” Sandy pointed out.

Everyone crammed into the front and was stunned at what they saw.

Before them lie a massive palace that towered over every peak in the surrounding mountain range underneath a swirling vortex of dark clouds. The structure appeared much like the city, a combination of the old and new. Towers and separate buildings sounded the main structure, all composed of dark stone with steel reinforcements. Certain buildings held more technologically advanced components that gave off purple and blue lights.

Lava flowed freely from the earth’s crust through canals basking each residence in a warm glow, while the waves of heat gave the sense each building contained something terrifying. Each building wore at least one set of steel pillars fashioned into a strong set of bull horns. The highest tower proudly carried the golden symbol of the Demon Bull Family.

“How did we not see that?” Mei asked as she took a quick picture.

“Okay, no point delaying this any further.” MK was about to step out when a hand threw him back onto the beds.

“Not like that you’re not. Mei, secure him.” Tang instructed. “I’ll prepare the hot water.”

Green lightning crackled as the young dragon rose from behind the Monkie Kid. “On it.”

MK was not afraid to charge blindly into an army of rage-fueled demons, but when it came to being the target of an enthusiastic Mei, he was itching to crawl under the nearest rock. Alas, he wasn’t fast enough.

The Monkie Kid shrieked as the scholar worked to make him presentable before the temperamental royal family. He wasn’t entirely sure of everything that happened, but he knew it had skyrocketed to the third most harrowing experience of his young life.

When the pain stopped, MK looked almost unrecognizable.

He was dressed in the nicest robes he’d ever worn, a hanfu of yellow, red, and gold. His hair was brushed down to gently frame his face as the lightest touch of eyeliner and eye shadow were used to accentuate the windows to the innocent soul within. Any imperfection had been meticulously removed or hidden without leaving a hint of dullness, leaving his skin shining like a porcelain doll.

He truly resembled one who could say they were the successor to a powerful king.

Mei, being the ultimate bestie, was wearing the extravagant dress she got from the Dragon Palace of the East Sea with lip gloss and light eye shadow. She didn’t need much and MK was meant to be the main focus.

“Given our current resources, this was all I could do. Any more and I fear it would come off as more tacky than refined.” Tang said, disappointed that he couldn’t do more with his current resources.

With that sorted, they approached the gates, stepping out at the last portion to approach on foot. Sandy gently held a meditating Monkey King in full view, it was decided honesty was going to be the best defense as MK was still regaining his powers.

The gate themselves were equally impressive, easily 10 meters high and 5 meters wide, carved of what appeared to be a strange hybrid of steel and iron.

‘Ok MK, this is where all those etiquette lessons are going to pay off.’ Taking a deep breath, MK released a pulse of what little divine power he managed to retrieve thinking of the untouchable queen.

For a moment, nothing changed, until the winds of all corners swiftly gathered into a single tornado. The winds parted revealing a figure most would call beautiful and all would consider deadly, Princess Iron Fan.

She looked as flawless and in control as she did in their last battle. Staring down at the group, she looked both bored out of her mind and endlessly radiant. MK instinctively knew if he didn’t speak up, she would leave them with nothing but regrets.

Joining his sleeves together, MK lowered himself into a modest bow. “Well met Princess Iron Fan, High Queen of the Iron Bull Court. We seek refuge within your domain to regain our strength in our quest to conquer a shared enemy. Will you hear our humble plea?”

One of the immortal princess’ sleek eyebrows actually rose at the request.

Being so long-lived, little could surprise her, but she never imagined Sun Wukong would teach the little thief proper court etiquette. She could easily ignore their plea as was her right as a long-standing enemy; however, curiosity was a powerful thing and revenge made it all the sweeter. “One condition…he cooks dinner and breakfast.” She pointed to the artist who wove dreams into flavor.

“We are honored by your kindness, my queen.”

A pair of Bull Clones were ordered to guide them and with that, the princess vanished as suddenly as she arrived.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

The T.E.A. was moved to the garage, a wonderous mechanical playground filled with all sorts of custom-designed marvels. Red Son had been ready to receive them with a rather knowing glint in his eye and a cruel smirk upon his face.

He proceeded to guide them to the kitchen and dining area, proudly showing off his family’s unquestionable wealth and security system. Sure, he never pushed any of them into a trap, but he didn’t warn any of them either.

Like outside, lava freely flowed within the palace along the walls. The burning glow eliminated the need for torches or lightbulbs, but it had a side effect the team was quick to experience. Every room ran hot. It was a slow, dry heat and without the ability to regulate one’s own body temperature or feed off the heat around themselves the group was quickly gaining back a new layer of sweat.

Which was why the first thing they did upon entering the kitchen was down any water they could get their hands on. Red Son merely watched with a satisfied grin. After enduring the peasants taking far too many liberties with his mercy during New Years, it was glorious to see them suffer.

Of course, he still had projects to finish.

So, he told the Monkey King’s latest toys dinner was expected in two hours and they would settle for nothing but perfection. In a burst of flame, intentionally adding to the room’s uncomfortable temperature, he returned to his workshop ignoring the soreness of his fangs and the slight craving for fresh blood.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

A true feast was laid upon the Dining Room’s main table.

Fresh bao released delicate trails of steam. Plates were piled high with chop suey, including the addition of quail eggs and lightly braised duck. Broccoli with oyster sauce shone delicately to the side as Sichuan green beans offered a welcoming burn. Xinjiang pulled noodle soup was a must due to Princess Iron Fan’s reaction from Food Wars.

Overall, it was a magnificent spread everyone pulled together to complete, and judging by the royal family’s pleased expressions they’d have to do it again.

Just as a good meal could nurture the soul, so too could it bring people together. Pretty soon the silence that once dominated the room was a thing of the past as conversations arouse over the most unlikely of topics.

“You watch Cooking with Chang’e?” Pigsy asked in utter disbelief.

“Regardless of the passage of time, food will always be a vital part of life,” DBK said. “It is…comforting to see an old face adapt so well to this current era. The show’s premise suits her.” And he enjoyed discovering new dishes to try with his wife. Time had treated the culinary world well.

“Wait…You knew her personally?” The demon chef could hardly bear what he was hearing.

“Not well, but we crossed paths enough for me to learn about her and her burdens.”

“Heh. Usually, Tang’s the one geeking out at meeting historical figures.” Mei said, thrilled at seeing the normally gruff pig acting like a hyper fanboy.

“Oh, he’s got that covered.” Sandy laughed pointing to the scholar who was enraptured by a tale crafted by the family’s matriarch.

“I can’t believe no one knew it was him,” Tang said, completely start stuck by the sheer amount of first-hand information. “You’d think it would be pretty obvious.”

“One would assume, yet when it comes to that idiotic simian one learns simplicity is not in his vocabulary when it comes to mischief.” Princess Iron Fan said, allowing herself to lean just a fraction more into the plush cushions.

“Too true. Another cup, my lady?” Tang offered to pour his host another cup of tea, which she allowed with a slight nod.

With everything going on no one noticed how a certain fire demon had gone silent, analyzing the scene before him with a steady heart. It was so different from a political dinner or a family meal. There was such free warmth and joy, unlike anything he’d ever experienced.

Turns out he wasn’t the only one enjoying the sights.

“This is nice,” MK whispered not wanting to disturb the tranquility that surrounded him.

“Speak up, noodle boy,” Red Son demanded, masking his similar emotions with a familiar annoyance. Didn’t help that the noodle boy and dragon/horse girl had forsaken proper attire for a much less impressive ensemble. He quite enjoyed seeing his enemies looking like respectable members of demon society, among other things.

MK just gave an easy smile. “It’s just with all the attacks and the looming end of the world, it’s nice to be able to talk and relax with familiar faces.”

“Even if you did try to kill us, multiple times,” Mei said with a cheeky grin.

“In my defense, people we aim to kill normally don’t survive the first attempt.” Red Son plainly stated.

“Yeah… You’re new to the whole ‘apologizing’ thing, aren’t you?” Mei teased.

Removing his glasses so he may properly rub his eyes, Red Son glared at the two teenagers who were the source of many headaches. To think he was almost worried about them when news of the attack on Megapolis reached their palace. “You might as well explain what you noodle-brained peasants are doing all the way out in our territory.”

“Looking for the Samadhi Fire,” Mei answered.

The young fire demon had made the mistake of taking a drink at the time. With the sheer ridiculousness of what he heard, water sprayed out with greater force than a hose from a fire station. Somehow, he managed to angle himself so the water landed in the flowing lava of the room and not on the generous spread.

“The Samadhi what?!” Red Son chocked out.

As he debated how these idiots could have come across the existence of such a glorious power, his actions reminded another of an important detail.

“Ahem.” All attention was drawn to Princess Iron Fan who once more resembled a deadly if irritated enemy. While this little offering was entertaining, it did not erase previous battles.

“I trust you realize our little truce is at best a fragile thing. So, tell me, why precisely have you intruded upon our territory claiming to share a common foe?” Princess Iron Fan didn’t so much as ask as demand answers, taking a refreshing drink.

Her husband followed suit certain the answer would at the very least provide a half-decent laugh.

“They claim to be looking for the Samadhi Fire.” Red Son elaborated, although still very lost.

At their son’s words, both Princess Iron Fan and the Demon Bull King did a terrific impression of their son’s spit take.

“WHAT!!!!” DBK bellowed, nearly knocking MK out of his seat from the sheer force of his shout.

Suddenly, all the joy was sucked from the room.

“We take it you’ve heard of it?” MK asked, more than a little shaken.

DBK’s hand slammed onto the table, miraculously not shattering it into a million fragments, as he stared down the group with utter fury.

“I can only assume the Great Sage sent you on this moronic quest.” His eyes glowed with unholy power as he spat the title like the curse it was for his family. Although the true target of his rage was choosing to hide from the consequences of his actions, so he had to restrain himself.

Princess Iron fan gripped the armrests of his throne. “That flame is one of the most dangerous weapons in existence, what reason could Sun Wukong-”

“The Lady Bone Demon.” Princess Iron Fan grew still at the name. Despite being so rudely interrupted by the noodle boy, she couldn’t help but grow silent as her sworn brother reported the very same identity mere days before Megapolis went dark.

“We believe she was the energy-”

“I know what she is,” DBK growled.

“Then you know we need its power to end her.” MK stood, meeting the ancient evil’s eyes without compromise.

The two monarchs exchanged an uneasy look. Things had grown far more complicated far too quickly.

“What exactly do you know of the Samadhi Fire?” Princess Iron Fan asked.

MK blinked at eh question. “Uh? Well, we know it’s ridiculously powerful.”

“It was sealed away in three holy rings.” Mei followed up.

“And if mishandled, it could destroy all of existence.” Sandy finished with a touch of flair.

There was a tense silence.

Everyone turned in unison to the scholar who was polishing his bowl.

Blinking at being the center of attention, Tang sighed. “That pretty much covers the basics.”

Pigsy snickered, knowing how much his old friend no doubt wanted to go into a full-on lecture but restrained himself given their company.

“But you know nothing of its origin?” She pressed.

The group was forced to concede as even with what little the Monkey King had offered and Tang’s research revealing the bare minimum (besides discovering the documented users of the True Fire of Samadhi had mysteriously started dying out roughly two thousand years ago), they admitted to being clearly left in the dark.

“Typical Sun Wukong, revealing only the information he chooses.” The Demon Bull King glared at the upper right corner where the simian meditated, completely ignorant to the world. He always suspected the fool was a pitiful mentor, this merely provided further evidence he had no place to teach, much less guide the next generation. “Assuming he knows what’s best without a second thought, that dumb monkey hasn’t changed.”

“Well, you all seem well informed, why not cure us of our ignorance? What are we missing?” MK asked.

“That the Samadhi Fire you seek was forged…by our own son.” Princess Iron Fan’s words were without pride or satisfaction, merely empty acceptance.

“What?!?!” Now it was their turn to have the world turned on its head and be left in utter confusion and rage, except for Sandy. “Please explain further.”

Said demon stared at his beloved mother trying to make sense of the insane revelation. “Heh heh, mother?”

Princess Iron fan gazed at the young prince, at the young face as he begged for the truth. Knowing the damage that could arise, she turned away as the memories flooded in. “When Red Son was born, he appeared the same as any demonic child, a promising addition to the Demon Bull Family. Too promising…”

“As he grew so did his powers, but they became more and more unstable until they spiraled out of control.” It was far too clear, the memory of the day when they realized exactly what power their infant child possessed.

For months, the fire wards they placed around their child’s room had been failing faster and faster. They were uncertain of how to proceed. Yes, they desired a powerful heir, but until they had some means of control, all that be left would be mindless destruction. They stepped into their son’s nursery to see the caregiver long dead, little more than a charred skeleton. But it barely caught their eye compared to what their child was doing to himself.

Their precious calf was punching himself in the face. Once. Twice. The scent of blood tainted the air. And then, there was a shift. The flames grew to heights beyond sight. Iron Fan called the four winds to her aid as the Bull King focused his chi to project a barrier around Red Son.

Neither attempt held. It was as if the flames were able to burn through both pure magic and the very elements with ease. They were forced back as their child laughed and toddled after them, no doubt thinking it was a new game. Their palace was reduced to ruins in an instant as their child’s flames no longer burned red but a haunting blue.

“Even with our combined might, we could not control him. Reluctantly-”

“We were given no option, but to remove this power.” The Demon Bull King solemnly stated, cutting off his wife, knowing all too well how painful it was for her to remember. “I pleaded with the Great Monk for aid and he granted us hope. Sun Wukong, Prince Nezha, and myself were gathered; our bodies deemed the most likely to survive separating the fire from the child.”

Standing upon the mountain peak, knowing the entire mountain had been converted into a specialized seal for this singular purpose, the Demon Bull King never felt so weak. To his left, a powerful celestial warrior, to his right, his former brother in arms and current annoyance, and standing opposite himself was the Great Monk calmly reciting the spell. He never dreamed to be in such a situation, but if it would allow him to hold his son, he would gladly risk his life a thousand times over.

Gazing up, he saw his son surrounded by a sphere of unquenchable fire still laughing without a care. Seeing his father looking at him, the young Red Son waved with childish glee inadvertently releasing another stream of deadly flame.

The sealing ritual was brutal, taking everything last drop of magical and physical strength he possessed to endure the interdimensional weapon’s wrath. He could feel it resisting them every step. With each ember sealed, it lashed out with greater force. Yet he refused to yield, he would hold his son again! “It took our combined forces to split the flames into three pieces, sealing their power.”

In a flash of golden light, a true demonstration of divine power, it was over. All that was left was the three rings and his tired boy. Dropping the trinket, the Demon Bull King rushed to catch his son as he fell. Cradling the weakened child, he smiled as the infant softly cooed at him before curling up to take a nap. “Together we swore to keep the rings hidden for all eternity.”

The king rid himself of such memories to glare at their ‘guests’ but stilled his fury at the sight of his child trembling under the weight of such knowledge.

If he had been stronger, if he had been better perhaps his son wouldn’t have needed to be stripped of power that was rightfully his. To be so weak, when all of Heaven had witnessed his true potential. “So, you can see that it would be impossible for little thieves such as yourselves to control that power if even the spawn of two immortals could not.”

“B-but I thought the fire had to be claimed through rigorous, specialized training,” Tang said as their story flew in the face of everything he had read about the ultimate flame.

“Normally, but in our case, Red Son was born with such a strong affinity it couldn’t help but ignite within him at such a tender age. Had he been able to wield the power just a century later, he would have enough awareness and control, we could enlist a teacher so he could truly claim the power as his own. But it wasn’t meant to be…” That laughter…she could still hear the twisted laughter echoing as the flames roared ever hotter.

“The True Samadhi Fire, in the hands of a master is able to burn what they desire alone, leaving everything else unharmed. Were I still connected to it, I could ignite the very essence of a single flower in a crowded field and only that flower to where not even the soil would be scorched.” Red Son mechanically said, his eyes glazed over as he tried to process everything he just heard. He stared at his hands as his dreams of blazing blue fire overlapped reality. For so long, he sought greater power to aid his family, to learn he already had it, but became a danger to his honorable parents, to the entire court…

How pathetic was he!

“So, it is possible to kill the Lady Bone Demon without hurting her host?” MK asked, eyes shining at the knowledge there was a chance to save her.

“Of course, it is.” DBK release a breath of steam as he refrained from marching over to the ignorant simian and throttling him for his incompetence. “It, like all things, requires patience and discipline. However, given my history with the Great Sage and your expressions, I can tell he didn’t feel the need to explain such things.”

“No shit,” Mei said, uncaring of her location or company.

“Language!” Tang reflexively shouted. Hand rubbing his forehead he turned to the demon royalty with an exhausted expression desperate they wouldn’t take offense. “You try to raise them well and suddenly they’re swearing left and right.”

“I feel your pain.” Mercifully they were feeling generous. “It can be so difficult raising well-mannered children in the presence of a poor influence.” Wrathful gazes pined the Great Sage through the heart.

“I think that’s enough story time for one day.” Princess Iron fan said, her appetite thoroughly depleted. “Come, my love, I believe that little baking show you enjoy will be starting soon.” As though she didn’t love curling up with her husband watching the little mortals scurry about as they created delectable treats which would influence next week’s menu.

“Yes, dear.” Rising from his throne, the king knew he best take his leave before his rage took control.

As the mountainous demon moved, Mei couldn’t help but be transfixed by the glint of his nose ring. She could almost swear she could see something reflected in the light.

“Well now that you lot managed to ruin an ideal family dinner, it’s time for this day to be over.” Red Son said, sliding closer to the annoyances (who only he had the right to slaughter).

Seeing the dragon/horse girl was still staring in the direction his father was headed, he reached for her shoulder rolling his eyes.

Gasping the two were overcome with powerful visions. Three rings of orange, green, and blue floating above the silhouette of a young girl. Red Son laughing as an infant. Blue fire destroying countless soldiers as wicked laughter was carried over a field of eternal ash.

Master

Destruction

Home

Death to the Weak

Revenge

Close

Burning

Three more Chains

So Close

Endless Fury

Blood Sizzling on Steel

Almost Free

Alone no Longer

U̵͉͈͚̤̜͝n̴̛͕̩̮̲͆̔̈l̷͖̤̥̜̽͛́̕e̶̪̗̔̅̋͗̂ͅạ̶̰͙͊s̵̢̤̳͎̲͊̌h̵͈͙͕͚̻̋͂͝ ̴̝͚̀̔̈̿͠Ū̵͎̓̕ş̵̫͚̞̋́͜

Jumping back, Red Son stared at the young dragon with the slightest hint of, dare I say, fear. He didn’t know why but something felt off about her as if the mere sight of her reminded him of something important. Was she glowing?

“Ah, Red Son?” MK asked, this close to putting a hand over his shoulder.

“Nothing.” Tearing his eyes away from his racing rival, Red Son spun on his heel sending his overcoat billowing with an artful flair. “Follow me, however, if you wish to be crippled and mutilated by the defense system, I won’t stop you.”

Red Son sped through the maze-like corridors only slightly aware of the idiots trailing after him. Swiftly he stopped at a set of doors that looked no different than the dozens of others lining the hallway. Flinging them open, the team was shoved into an area that put even the most expensive and elaborate penthouse suite to shame.

“Breakfast is conducted at precisely 7 am.” And in a burst of fire, the demon prince vanished.

“Well, that was more dramatic than usual,” Sandy commented earning a laugh from the two teens.

So, the group marked where they were and proceeded to take full advantage of the fact they once more had access to running water. This also included placing Monkey King under the shower head, hastily drying him off, and sticking him in the corner covered in a towel so his glow wouldn’t keep them up all night.

MK offered to go last. Devoting his time to the lotus position as he tried to unlock more of his abilities. His mind was filled with the story he overheard, what would happen if he failed, and what would happen to his family. The enemies they’d have to face just to survive. The knowledge the Celestial army wouldn’t hesitate to slaughter them if they were deemed a threat. The tears that would be shed at each loss until there was nothing to mourn.

He could feel it. Little by little the golden energy was building. He could almost touch it. Little more. And got it!

A puff of gold smoke-shrouded MK, parting to reveal the Monkie Kid was now… an inch tall.

“Shrinking. Come on!” MK complained, his voice coming out in an adorable squeak.

“What’s wrong? You rediscovered another ability.” Pigsy pointed out as Mei ruffled her friend’s hair with her fingertip.

“I was trying to unlock the 72 transformations.” He pouted, but he was enjoying the treatment.

“That power’s pretty new for you. Maybe you’ll have to wait in accordance to how you first unlocked them.” Tang said, combing out Sandy’s hair.

“But I barely learned how to shrink myself before I picked up transformation.” And that day was filled with being chased by the Spider Queen and mentally assaulted by an ancient evil hijacking the body of a nine-year-old.

“You shrunk your staff almost since the beginning,” Mei said.

“Point.” Ever since he defeated DBK he regularly kept the staff in his ear, both in reference to the Monkey King and because it felt like a smart place where he could always have it in easy reach without the risk of losing it.

“So, any idea where DBK could have hidden his ring. If we think about it, it could be anywhere.” Tang said, pondering where they should start. They honestly had no idea how vast the Iron Bull Court’s territory was, but even if it was limited to the city and palace that is a lot of ground to cover without attracting attention and they were on a very short deadline.

“It’s DBK’s nose ring,” Mei stated.

Heads turned.

“Seriously?” Pigsy questioned.

“Just a feeling…” Mei said, not certain how to answer because she truly didn’t know why she knew, just that she knew.

“It would allow him to always know where it is.” Sandy reasoned.

“Alright, say it is the ring. How do you plan to remove it without sending the big guy into a killing frenzy?” Pigsy asked, hoping they could come up with some sort of plan that could keep them all alive. That should not be too much to ask, yet here they were.

As they talked none of them noticed the map giving off a faint glow or how Mei’s eye looked a touch brighter.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

In his workshop, Red Son stared at his blueprints without truly seeing them.

His mind was lost in a sea of confusion. Snarling, he flipped his entire workbench, spilling everything from pens to tea cups to months of work onto the floor.

Flames danced in his hair and twirled around his fingers. Smoke and steam-filled his vision, but none of it mattered. He felt wrong.

As though something was scratching the back of his skull. Whispers trickled into his ears and bounced in his brain; he could barely make out the words yet he knew it was about the Fire. His skin felt too tight as a foreign need echoed in his bones. An unknown hunger had settled into his stomach and spread throughout his veins.

The shadows on the walls grew unnaturally long but there was no sign of his uncle’s magic. The ground bucked and curved under his feet as he swayed. He became increasingly aware of the lack of blood in the air. His breaths came out in pants as the furnaces grew brighter, the flames inside dancing to a song he could barely sense. The oranges and reds were intertwined in a hypnotic dance, glitching to white and blue.

He didn’t understand why this was happening. Why now?

Screaming a torrent of fire into one of the dozens of furnaces, hair erupting, Red Son gasped as he felt the sensations lessen. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he knew this couldn’t go on. He felt like was losing his mind.

So, he went for the one person who could answer his questions.

“Mother, why didn’t you ever tell me I had such power? Surely with it, I could have been able to free Father much faster.” Red Son inquired, desperate for answers. He didn’t care he interrupted his parent’s time together. He didn’t care that he so rudely teleported his mother from his father’s side to the hallway. He didn’t care if those heroes eavesdropped, he needed to know!

Yet before his eyes, he witnessed what he’d long thought impossible. Red Son watched in horror as his mother lowered her gaze in utter defeat.

“What was attempted had never been done before.” She explained with a heavy heart. “The True Fire of Samadhi was unlike any other. Even with the flame split, there was still the fear the seal could break prematurely and unleash waves of destruction as they sought to become whole. There was the chance if you knew too early any mental barricades would be dissolved and as the fire sought you out, you, in turn, would be drawn to it.”

That was the danger. Power that was sealed could easily be released with the right tools and motivation. “You would seek it out and in the small chance you would obtain the rings, you could become lost to it again. The Heavenly Bureaucracy would sooner have you dead than risk the fate of all existence, so silence was determined the wisest course. I couldn’t lose you as well.” Her voice wavered as she spoke the final sentence as if she was on the verge of crying.

She was an immortal demon. A being of such immense power, she had been revered as a goddess. Her knowledge was vast and her skills ever-expanding, yet the thought of losing her family again after just getting them back, after they had just started to heal, it was too much.

Red Son just stared, long past when his mother returned to the royal chambers. It was not in their history to be overly affectionate, yet he felt like he could use a soft embrace.

In the vents above, MK stared at the young demon who looked so lost, nothing like the terrifying enemy that threatened to reduce the city to a graveyard using a weather tower. He heard everything. He heard the heartbreak, the desperation, the emotions that proved these demons were more than destructive forces from ancient tales.

He wanted to comfort the poor demon, really.

But he had to follow Princess Iron Fan to find DBK. Plus, if he showed himself Red Son would know he had been listening and that was a whole other thing.

Even as every fiber of his being cried out to offer support, MK knew he had to stick to the mission. With the Monkey King still locked in meditation, he was the only one who could pull this off. And he would.

Somehow.

It took another ten minutes of tracking Princess Iron fan through the vents with golden vision before he found the grate that would drop him into the center of the family’s main bedroom. Mapping out the route in his journal MK was all set to head back for some sleep before jumping into a plan with a high chance of getting himself killed.

“Today I’m going to show you how to make the best dan dan noodles you’ve ever tasted.” A friendly voice chirped from a flatscreen nearly half the size of a jumbotron.

Huh? He really does watch her show.

Wasn’t that last week’s episode? Must be a rerun.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Groaning Pigsy awoke to the sense something wasn’t right. Leaning forward, he saw his favorite nerd frantically writing with a manic look in his eye. “Tang? What are you doing up?”

“Something just doesn’t feel right.” The scholar muttered, flipping back a few pages to check the time stamps only to cross out what he just wrote. “It just doesn’t add up.”

“I know.” Walking over, Pigsy leaned close to offer comfort without disturbing the others. Taking notice that MK was happily snoring into his pillow, meaning they still had time before he made his move. “We’re spending the night in the mansion of demons who once tried to kill and enslave us, but you got to get some rest. I’m pretty sure after breakfast if we don’t run, we’ll be sent flying by a fiery tornado.” Assuming they don’t have to book it the second MK touched the ring.

“I’ll try.” Tang smiled, but even as he closed his eyes his mind refused to still. While being in the fortress of the Iron Bull clan was terrifying and amazing, it wasn’t what unnerved him. Something wasn’t adding up and he wouldn’t be able to rest properly until he figured it out.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

It was nearly five in the morning and Pigsy was already hard at work preparing breakfast, with minor assistance.

Nearly everyone was dead on their feet, barely able to pass ingredients as Pigsy didn’t trust any of them with a knife or near fire. Sandy was currently downing entire kettles of tea to wake himself up. Mei was blissfully snoring away in a cat pile. Tang was staring at his book looking like he’d barely gotten an hour of sleep. Monkey King remained in his meditation, practically begging Pigsy to beat him over the head with a wok.

And MK had disappeared into the vents almost thirty minutes ago.

He already had the menu planned out the night before so most of the prep work was already done. A simple filling selection that wouldn’t take too much time to prepare. Steamed eggs, jian bing, and stuffed sticky rice rolls, dishes with plenty of protein and carbohydrates to get them ready to run for their lives.

The food was almost completely cooked and would be ready for plating shortly. The aroma was starting to ease the others into the realm of semi-consciousness.

A rumble started deep within the palace resonating with the entire foundation as the walls shook in tandem with the unspeakable rage. A primal roar threatened to shatter their eardrums. Everyone was thrown into full awareness and scrambled to get their jobs done.

Their meals were packed up in Tupperware and foil, while a sizeable portion was left out for the family. Just because they were going to be thieves didn’t mean they had to be rude. Bodies raced into the T.E.A. as MK dropped from the ceiling. He was holding a golden ring with three extensions inside it that almost looked like the three comets on Red Son’s coat.

And they were gone!

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Red Son appeared in the guest room in a flash of fire claws extended, yet there was no one to receive his fury.

The room was void of all life.

The only trace of their indent was the stuffed animal that had been by one of the pillows, a chubby green dragon plushy with a little pink tongue sticking out.

He wouldn’t let this go.

Taking the plush toy, Red Son growled at the open door.

Joining his family at the open gate, where only a pinprick of a vehicle could be spotted on the horizon, he swore he would track them down.

Even now he could still hear the whispers. Feel them tugging him forward. Crimson eyes glowed brightly in the morning sun, the shine masking the tiniest glimmer of blue.

Yes, he would see this through.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Yuan is the main form of currency in China with a rough conversion rate of 1 to .15 US dollars. Meaning that Mei’s purchase (20 outfits, including jackets, shoes, and gloves) was less than $300 without any discount or sale. When’s the last time you got a deal that good?

He assumed the others knew this truth and feared the repercussions with strength equal to his own. Yet as that monkey smiled at him, clutching the key to the ceremony in his greedy palm, Nezha feared just how wrong he was.

“Wukong, you fool. You’ll doom us all!” Clutching his throbbing side, Nezha glared at the Great Sage’s nimbus cloud fading into the distance.

Everything was starting to fade. Darkness was encroaching from the edges of his vision as he struggled to keep himself standing. Not even leaning on the rubble that was once his temple could stop the slow decline to the ground littered with signs of his failure.

He couldn’t pass out. He needed to track down that fool before he could start the end of the world.

No.

He’s stronger than this!

He won’t be stopped by mere pain!

He’s suffered far greater injuries than this!

No.

No.

“No!” Lunging forward, Nezha cringed as his ribs protested the sudden movement. But the pain was soon forgotten as he took in his surroundings.

He had been moved from the pitiful remains of his destroyed temple. Now he was on a soft mattress in a sparsely decorated room. Candles and incense burned around him, filling to room with a soothing scent.

By the door, his armor, astras, and weapon rested, freshly polished and repaired.

Looking down, the Third Prince saw his wounds had been tended to. Someone had dedicated a great deal of time to see him restored to full health. Someone was trying to help him make up for his unforgivable failure.

But who?

“It is comforting to see you awake, Nezha.” A deep voice said from the now open door, one that was rather familiar.

Nezha looked up to see a dear friend and teacher. Slick black hair pinned in the traditional style showing a visage free from wrinkle or scars. Dressed in his usual white and lilac robes, he had traded in his armor and weapons for instruments of healing, however, he was far from appearing weak. A powerful three-eyed warrior god joined by a sable furred magnificent canine with golden markings. The beast was a fine example of breeding, pure muscle and speed, yet somehow quite fluffy.

Erlang Shen

“Where am I?” Nezha asked. He was quite surprised to see one of the, if not the, most powerful warriors of the Celestial Realm tending to his wounds.

“After the seal was broken, I traveled to your temple to see you safely retrieved. You were badly wounded and spiritually drained but have been making steady progress towards a full recovery.” Erlang said, checking the bandages, pleased the bleeding had long ceased.

The snarling hound jumped onto the bed to settle against the young god’s side.

“I was alone?” As an extra precaution, Nezha never employed servants at his temple. Yes, this act forced him to perform extra tasks to maintain his massive residence, but he felt it was worth it if it meant fewer beings knew about the map’s existence and location.

But that also meant…

“You were the only living thing within fifteen li,” Erlang clarified.

“So, the Great Sage was successful in stealing the map…” For a brief moment, he prayed it had been a nightmare. Losing the map to the simian, who should be more than aware of just how dangerous those flames were, after a thousand generations of flawless vigilance was truly a travesty. But that was what the Great Sage did.

He ruined everything for his own benefit.

“Do not be so hard on yourself. All the Celestial Realm knows better than to underestimate that monkey when he’s determined. The fact you were able to hold him off for so long is worthy of praise.” He, even with all his might, still bore the scars from his first battle with the Great Sage.

“It’s less than worthless unless I am able to retrieve the map before the Samadhi Fire is unleashed. The entire world is at stake, I cannot allow myself to be weak.” Nezha pulled at the covers so he may track down that worthless ape.

Only for a gentle yet firm hand to halt his progress.

“There is a time for action and a time for rest. Your body still has a long road to recovery. Soldiers, scouts, and those devoted to our temples are keeping watch over the Monkey King and those he accompanies. Recently he has left the palace of the Eastern Dragon King and is entering the Great Desert of Endless Hardships.” Erlang explained, attempting to gently ease the young deity back into the bliss of sleep.

His words were designed to inspire comfort, yet they only served to kindle the panic and rage inside the young prince. The Great Desert of Endless Hardships was part of the Demon Bull King’s territory. Sun Wukong was heading directly for the first of the three rings, Nehza was truly too far behind.

Seeing the effect his words had, Erlang went for a more tactical approach. “I know it is hard, but you must know if you were to leave now, he would simply best you again with greater ease. You must be patient.”

To further emphasize his point, the divine hound shifted its head so that it now rested on the youth’s chest. Deep eyes stared intently at the god who was once the young boy who endlessly played with him. Meaning that if he had any inclination of leaving, he would have to disrupt the slumber of a creature he personally knew and adored since his reincarnation.

Gritting his teeth, the young god battled with his eternal rage and fury. Knowing his old teacher was correct, he bowed to his wisdom and allowed himself to sink into the fluffy pillows and blankets.

“I respect your wisdom and…am grateful for your actions.”

Nodding, Erlang closed the door behind him, leaving his beloved companion to rest at the young prince’s side.

He was conflicted.

On one hand, he was proud to witness the once wild youth grow into such a mature and respectable warrior. On the other, it was clear the millennia of near total isolation and dedicating himself to this sole duty had taken its toll on his self-worth.

A whisper of fresh flowers and spring water told him another had reached a similar conclusion.

Regardless of the past, they were there now. Their prince would no longer have to bear this burden alone.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Inside the TEA, tensions were running hot as the temperature continued to rise.

Desert travel was rarely fun, even when you were inside an air-conditioned van because somehow the heat was able to sneak past the cooling mechanisms to force the travelers to each lose a liter of water with each passing hour.

Didn’t help that the map was not proving a helpful navigation tool.

Ever since his phone dried out, Tang had been trying to compare the ancient map with every digitized map of China he could find from the past three thousand years, yet nothing even resembled a single landmark. Currently, the only reason they were still moving was to get out of the desert and maintain the distance between them and the growing hellscape of crystal and ice that was once their home.

“Good news, everyone. GPS shows we’re just eight hours away from the nearest city.” Sandy announced, happy to have some good news.

“Awesome. We really need to stock up on…everything.” Pigsy said, using his overshirt to wipe away another layer of sweat.

“There’s no telling when the Shackled will be upon us again, so we need to grab what we can and leave as quickly as possible,” Tang advised from the passenger’s seat, clinging to the map as though if he looked closely enough something would start to make sense.

“‘Shackled’?” Mei questioned the phrase from her spot on the floor.

“We needed to call them something, as a bonus, it serves to remind us they are not doing this of their own free will.” Tang defended. While they were chasing them and nearly caused their deaths multiple times, Tang firmly believed they should not be held accountable for these acts. After all, if his family was being threatened by a seemingly unstoppable force, even he would bend to see them live.

The youngest members shrugged in acceptance, not having the energy to argue or come up with something better.

“Back to the matter at hand. While we have nothing else, we’d better write a list of what we need to avoid wasting any time.” Pigsy offered because putting as much distance between themselves and an army sounds pretty good.

“On it,” MK said, tearing out a fresh page from his art book that miraculously survived.

“Our main priorities are food, water, medical supplies, toiletries, and fresh clothing,” Sandy stated from the front. In times of survival, it was important to have a clear view of what you needed.

It pained them but the four moved around the living area to check on what they had at their disposal.

“Looks like we have enough emergency rations for two more meals, but that might be pushing it,” Pigsy said, never happier at the knowledge his buddy was once a soldier. “Didn’t help nearly everything I brought was lost when we hit the waves.”

It wasn’t like they planned to suddenly be whisked into this ancient mess. The fact he packed all that food in the beginning was because he knew those two would burn three times their daily calories with all the training. Even though they had already eaten most of it during their travels, he could have squeezed another two meals out of it.

“We still have four gallons of water stored up.” Mei counted from the back. Although she was considering making it three with the sheer amount of sweat she had been drowning in.

“Not great but it should last us until we get to the city,” Tang muttered. “As for medical supplies, we are nearly out of gauze, medical tape, pain relievers, and antibiotics. Honestly, given the start of our journey and everything we may encounter, we should just double stock everything.”

“Yeah.” MK wrote everything down, along with a few extra items. “Okay all that plus, basic necessities, cat food, and fuel. That should be it, aside from the issue of payment.”

“Everyone got your credit cards.” At the pig’s words, everyone whipped out at least one plastic card. “We’re good.” This meant everyone could handle payment when they split up.

“Here’s the plan: Tang you handle medical supplies, if you think you have enough grab three more. There’s no telling if the next city we encounter has been thrown into chaos from Lady Bone Demon’s attack or not.” Pigsy pointed to the man as he retook his original seat.

The scholar’s glasses glinted as he wore a strangely content smile.

“Mei, you know our styles and sizes, grab four standard outfits, a jacket, gloves, boots, and snow gear. I want us to be prepared for anything and everything.”

The pro-gamer gave a thumbs up, already devising a new wardrobe in her mind. The anime dream team uniforms were once more within reach.

“MK, you’ll grab at least three large bags of whatever brand of cat food Sandy uses and ten water dispenser jugs. Sandy, while we’re shopping double-check everything so we don’t end up stranded on the side of the road and fuel up.”

The two nodded as Sandy directed MK to the food cabinet so he could write down the name as a precaution.

“I’ll handle the food, including where we can store enough to feed six people for multiple days.” Pigsy finished with a mutter.

“Well, that killed twenty minutes. Anything else we can use as a distraction?” Sandy asked, glad that the atmosphere had taken a brighter turn.

A loud clap brought everyone’s attention to their very own Monkie Kid. “So, we all agree I need to find some way to get my powers back.”

“Ah, technically yes, but-” Tang began, only to get cut off.

“You didn’t actually give any reasons or make an argument,” Pigsy said, more than a little concerned. Even when they had spare time in their prison cell MK was adamant about not talking about his fight with Lady Bone Demon or when they were attacked on the dronecopter.

“I thought it was pretty obvious given how close we were to being killed at the Eastern Dragon Palace,” MK stated, before turning to face his best friend. “No offense to your great, great thousand times great uncle, Mei.”

“Meh. I doubt he cares.” The young dragon said with confidence.

“Both during the attack and when he was threatening us, I couldn’t do anything. I was worthless.” MK admitted, feeling the words carve a scar in his heart for what could have happened to his family. “Monkey King said that the powers came from me, not the staff, so I should be able to tap into them again.”

“How? It took centuries of training and practice for him to obtain all of his abilities. You haven’t even had them for a year.” Tang pointed out, not feeling particularly keen on diving in blind to such dangerous territory. It wasn’t that he was trying to be cruel, but he still fought the urge to heave at the slightest thought of the dog head and mop hands.

“I have no idea. I was honestly hoping you guys would have some plan based on how I unlocked abilities in the past.” Cause to be honest compared to the Monkey King’s arsenal he barely scratched the surface.

“Shouldn’t your ‘master’ be part of this meeting?” Pigsy asked. Ever since their escape, the pig demon had been growing even more skeptical of the so-called ‘Great Sage’ especially when he never fully answered any of their questions.

“He’s occupied with regaining his own strength,” MK said, pointing to where his master was in the depths of meditation. A soothing golden glow emanating from every inch of skin bathed the back half of the T.E.A. in divine light.

“How did we miss that?” Mei questioned, snapping a quick pic of the glowing monkey.

“Then why don’t you do the same?” The chef asked.

“Well, I can’t-” MK started but stalled as memories of past lessons flooded in. A different teacher, different lessons, but they allowed him to discover many truths about his powers and himself. One of those lessons was the importance of deep mediation to interact with abilities that were truly his.

Trails of power.

A golden statue.

A world built on the memories he held dear.

“Huh? Maybe I will.” Grabbing a fluffy pillow from one of the bunks, MK went into lotus position and closed his eyes. He really had been slacking on meditation in the last few months and the lack of incense didn’t help. Why didn’t he ask the dark monkey what brand he used at the theater, he’ll never know?

Okay yes, it was because he was internalizing a lot of stuff, including the safety of his friends, the return of one of his mentors, and the fact something terrifying was on its way! He’s allowed to be dramatic, damn it!

Getting off track here. Focus on his breathing. Let the rhythm of his heart take him deeper and deeper. Block out all distractions.

Slowly, slowly…

Ding!

Opening his eyes MK looked around and saw he was no longer in the T.E.A.

“Step one in the books. Now for step two.”

The others watched as MK’s breathing evened out until it felt like he had froze.

“I guess this little think tank was worth something after all,” Mei commented, not sure how to handle this situation. Things were really going into new weird territory. And for their group that was saying something.

“So, we have two monkeys out of commission,” Tang observed, trying to keep the worry out of his voice.

“We’ll have to be careful until they wake up,” Pigsy stated. He wasn’t that worried, so long as they kept moving things should be alright. Besides, it wasn’t like they were completely defenseless without the two.

“Ah, guys? Our ETA might be a little off schedule.” Sandy said, trying not to reveal how nervous he was.

“But you said this vehicle can handle almost any terrain?” Pigsy asked, remembering how proud the yoga enthusiast was.

“It can but I underestimated how much coolant we’d go through.” At his words, the van completely stopped. The main screen showed a cup of boiling tea at the top of a thermometer. “The engine’s completely overheated.”

“So, we’re stuck here?” Mei asked already feeling a new layer of sweat soaking into her jacket.

“Just for a few hours,” Sandy assured, even though he was dreading the blistering heat like everyone else. “We need the engine to cool down or we’re not moving.” The water demon unbuckled his seat and went to throw open the hood, releasing a burst of steam that nearly hit him and Mo in the face.

Nursing a growing headache, Pigsy knew they had to make preparations. “Everybody out. Staying inside ain’t gonna help anyone.”

“Mei, grab MK. I’ll get Monkey King. Tang, I saw a spare blanket and metal rods in the back, we can use them to create some shade.” The others nodded, as a plus it would help distract them, somewhat.

Mei tenderly grabbed her best friend and the pillow he was using, while Pigsy had no qualms about throwing the spiritual primate over his shoulder. Seeing such drastically different attitudes, Tang wanted to say something but knew it wouldn’t change anything.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Deep inside MK’s mind, the boy was struggling to make sense of how different everything was.

The first time he entered this world everything felt so bright and vibrant. Now…

Now it felt so empty.

The colors were muted to mere memories of what they once were. Scenes he once walked past showcasing pieces of his family’s pastimes were crumbling under an unseen weight. He had walked for what felt like miles not one phantom to be seen. Jagged pieces of ice had grown out of the flaming mountains, encasing the buildings that were once randomly dotted about.

If he didn’t know any better, MK would assume the changes were symbolizing his mental trauma and sense of helplessness.

“What’s happening?” He muttered, scared of what was wrong with him.

Furiously shaking his head, MK proceeded to smack himself. This wasn’t a time to get lost in thought. He needed to reestablish his connection with his powers so he could protect everyone.

With that in mind, he continued his trek down the path and up the mountain to where the statue dwelled. But not even his heroic nature could distract him from the crushing silence.

The first time he came here nothing was quiet. Even if sounds felt muted compared to Macaque’s instructions, there was still so much he absorbed.

The force of the roaring fires. The crashing of the waves. The sound effects echoed from the arcades and clubs. Knives grating against cutting boards. The slight buzz of a text being sent. Pages being turned. Kettles whistling.

Monkeys chirped from the trees and cats purred as they were being petted.

Everything, everything little sound brought this place to life and made it feel real.

Now…

MK tried not to think about it.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Digging in the supply closet, Tang feared for the future if things continued this way. Ever since MK became the Monkie Kid, Pigsy had grown more and more irritated with the king. Whenever MK wasn’t around Pigsy never held back on his opinions of their child’s mentor. He felt the King wasn’t prepared to handle the responsibilities and emotional requirements to truly be a teacher, much less a good one. And given everything Tang had witnessed, from their situation to MK’s self-esteem, it was growing harder to defend him.

The scholar was pulled from his musings when he felt something very familiar brush against his hand. Cautiously, he pulled out a vase, one with striking floral designs and not a single blemish on its surface.

“Huh? Guanyin’s vase?” Tracing the deigns, Tang felt the same nurturing/terrifying aura that drew him to it the first time. Grabbing the supplies, he was tasked with retrieving, Tang went to get some answers. “Pigsy, did you pack this?”

The chef stared at the vase for barely a minute before images of a flaming city-sized delicacy hurling down from the atmosphere linked together. “That thing? Didn’t you and MK take it from Monkey King’s horde to deal with that giant dumpling a few months ago?” That was one weird adventure and one long cleaning session.

“Yes, but he took it back, right?” Sure, Tang didn’t see him do it, but after the vase was restored surely MK took it with him on his many trips to Mount Huaguo.

“Apparently not,” Mei muttered, stabbing the rods into the sand as deep as she could.

Tang, however, felt as if there was more to this. Rushing back into the T.E.A., he grabbed six glasses and returned to their group. Taking a single cup, Tang tipped the vase over, eyes widening as crystal clear water started to pour out.

“It’s cold.” The glass felt as if he just used a fridge’s water dispenser. From the first aid kit, he was thrilled to find pH strips. Dipping a fresh strip in, he waited and soon the strip indicated a solid scale of 7.

“Well, the pH is stable…we have an ocean of fresh water at our disposal.” But whether it was safe to drink was another question he wasn’t prepared to answer. They should boil it first to be safe though-

“Gimme!” Mei snatched the glass, proceeding to chug it down in one fell swoop. Immediately one could see improvements, the young water dragon once on the verge of collapsing now appeared well-rested and eager to take on the next challenge. “So good.”

Despite the inevitable headaches and potential dangers, Pigsy took what wins he could get. “Alright, one thing’s going right today.” He went on to pour himself and the kid a glass. Even if he was in a deep meditation didn’t mean they had to risk heatstroke.

“But how?” Tang asked, still fixating on how such a priceless and useful artifact just appeared in their possession.

“Let’s not question it now. It's too hot for that nonsense.” The chef stated, taking a test sip. Finding the refreshing drink everything he needed in that one moment he proceeded to slowly pour half of the second glass down MK’s throat. He couldn’t be sure, but he got the sense the kid was relieved if for a moment.

Sandy was quick to join in on the action, grabbing himself a glass and refilling the bowls for all his little soldiers, who eagerly lapped up the refreshing liquid.

“Ah, guys? Is it just me or are there suddenly a lot more clouds in the sky?” Mei asked, feeling the heat start to lessen as the winds shifted.

“Hm?” Sandy looked up at the odd question. However, the reason immediately became clear.

What was once a clear blue sky free of a trace of white, was slowly growing dark as grey clouds floated closer to their campsite. The winds were starting to pick up speed, bringing a sense of welcomed coolness but also a sense of danger.

The sky was growing darker as the clouds gathered above them. A metallic scent slowly poisoned the air sending the therapy cats rushing back into the T.E.A., with the exception of Mo who was determined to remain by his partner’s side. Lightning crackled between the gray masses as the winds began to howl with even more vigor, but none of that was important.

At least not compared to the figure that suddenly appeared mere feet before the group.

They weren’t very tall and their billowing clothes did not give the impression they were cut, but something about them truly held their attention. They held an aura, a charisma that drew them in; it would have been comforting if it wasn’t saturated with bloodlust and long-tempered fury.

Then they spoke. “I have waited ten years for this moment. Spirit of the Red Sand.” Their voice did not feel as though it originated from a living creature, but a force of nature. It echoed and distorted as whispers trailed behind, at least of their number flinched due to that familiarity alone.

Pigsy was the first to glare at the newcomer. “Sandy, who is this punk?”

Mei drew her sword, placing herself directly between MK and their new foe.

The former soldier, however, could only say this. “Pigsy. Tang. Get the kids in the T.E.A.”

The figure tilled their head as though they had finally taken notice of the entire group. “Companions. I always thought you didn’t need backup.” They spoke with such condescendence, as though viewing their presence was a sign of an inexcusable weakness.

“I’m not that man anymore. I’ve moved past it, but I can see you didn’t.” Sandy stated, both with pride and remorse. He seemed to recognize the individual, not necessarily who they were but why they were here.

And that was all it took. One little phrase and all that control, all that calm was torn to shreds. “A little hard, when you lose your entire family to one monster.”

Sandy looked down at the statement, not having anything to defend his past actions. He knew he committed horrible acts. He butchered hundreds without caring about their history or if they had families waiting for them. He didn’t care, didn’t want to care.

Why should he?

No one could touch him and he thought he had all he needed in a found family who respected his choices.

The enemy unsheathed a blade with one hand and his claws with the other. A stance was taken and all thoughts of conversation were abandoned. The winds were whipped into a frenzy as streams of sand circled the group like hungry predators.

Oh, what he wouldn’t give to turn back the clock.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

MK grunted as he reached for a new finger hold.

He didn’t know why it was taking so much longer to find the source of his powers this time, but he knew he was getting closer.

Originally, he tried retracing his steps to Monkey King’s house, but nothing was to be found.

The golden statue was nowhere to be found, leaving him to scream his frustrations to an uncaring mental sky. Nails dug into his scalp as he viciously pulled at his hair. His vision turned watery as he forced the tears back.

Growling MK, returned to his feet and stared down the daunting mountain face before him. It was the only area he hadn’t checked yet and he refused to come back empty-handed. And that led to him climbing up an unstable mountain freestyle.

He honestly didn’t know if dying here would truly kill him, but he wasn’t eager to test that theory.

The only thing he had going for him was the faintest sense things had gotten a lot hotter since he entered his meditation. He could only pray the van hadn’t brook down or an ambush forced them into a sinkhole.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

In the physical world, things were not going great.

Their opponent was proving to be one of their more annoying foes

“Illusions! He’s combining illusions with the sand storm.” Tang deduced. And for someone who spent so long blending in with the crowd, it made sense. From the back of the group, he saw moments when duplicates would just fade in and out of existence. Blows would be stuck but have no backlash. Real attacks were thrown into the mix, but the question of what was real and what wasn’t kept everyone on edge.

The shifting sands and raging winds were already throwing them off, throwing in projections would serve to further disorient. Against a powerhouse like Sandy, it was an ideal strategy. As any direct assault was doomed to failure.

Mei was having a new problem. She had never had more power at her disposal. Her speed was unquestionable. And no one could say she would hesitate in a fight. But this wasn’t a normal fight.

What good was power if she couldn’t land a hit on a target? What good was speed if she couldn’t see where she was going? How could she swing her blade knowing she could accidentally hit one of the others?

This was a new sense of helplessness, having all this power yet being unable to use it.

Sandy was clearly the main target, but even with his vow of pacifism, he had decades of experience to allow him to dodge or redirect deadly attacks. Of course, that came with the risk of the others getting hit in his place.

“Then how do we fight this?” Pigsy growled, pressing his back against Tang to avoid being separated again.

“Since none of us are skilled in dispelling magic like this, we’ll need the golden eyes of truth. It’s the only way I can think of us ending this without causalities.” Unfortunately, the only ones with access to such power were currently beyond their reach.

“Come on kid. If you’re planning to do a big hero moment, now’s the time.” Pigsy pleaded hoping his voice would reach the little boy he raised. The boy who became weighed down with far too many responsibilities and trauma much too soon.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Finally.

Finally, he reached the summit! Or whatever the tops of mountains were called. He was too mentally exhausted to care about accuracy.

Now it was time to receive his prize.

Nothing.

Nothing!

He climbed for what had to be hours while his family was waiting for him. He stumbled his way through the wreckage of his thoughts when they could have been attacked at any time!

Was this a sign?

A sign he wasn’t meant to be the Monkie Kid anymore?

Did he truly have nothing left?

Was he now and forever meant to be helpless while those he loved gave up everything?

Starring at the endless sky, MK stood firm. “This is not the end.”

“Do you hear me! This is not the end! I refuse to give up.” He shouted, not caring who heard him. In the end, all that mattered was that he said it.

“I messed up. I let the Lady Bone Demon steal every ounce of power I had. I let her manipulate me too many times. I let the world down. I let Monkey King down. I failed my family.” He almost broke down at the last one. It hurt admitting his failures. But they were the cold, hard truth. He couldn’t ignore them, but he could conquer them.

Here and now, he would.

“But that doesn’t mean I’m just going to sit back and do nothing. I will fix my mistakes, with or without powers.” Taking a deep breath, MK knew it was time to return to the outside. He had nothing left here, but so much out there.

A strange sensation drew his attention. Turning around he saw a glorious golden light.

“Huh?”

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

MK opened his eyes to the ongoing battle, feeling lighter. “Guys!” He cried out seeing them all struggling to stay unharmed.

“MK?” Mei returned as she darted around the sand twisters.

“What’s going on?” Because this didn’t feel like an attack by the shackled. There was no sense of the life being drained from him as all warmth fled from the universe.

“No time, Kid. We need golden vision if you have it.” Pigsy stated, dragging tang out of the latest barrage.

Not entirely sure what was going on, but knowing enough to comply MK reached deep inside. He stretched towards that tiny dot of warmth and willed it to flow into his eyes. Gritting his teeth, MK focused everything on his sight. TO focus on the world around him as it shifted and turned. Slowly a golden film slipped over his eyes as the duplicates of the unknown enemy faded away, leaving the original hopelessly exposed.

“He’s over there.” MK alerted, pointing to a small patch of sky above Sandy.

“On it.” Mei had been itching for this for far too long. In a flash, a green dragon charged forward and before the opponent could hide again, they were knocked from the sky, hurtling towards the ground. Mei returned to them with a satisfied grin, yet the sparks of energy revealed she was far from done.

“Stay down,” MK instructed. “We don’t want to fight you. The world is at the brink of destruction, none of us have time for this.” He may not know how this started, but if he could end it, he would.

“We know you are upset, but killing Sandy won’t solve anything,” Tang said, trying to reason with the demon weighed down with loneliness and heartache. “It won’t resurrect your family or lessen your pain. You know this. All you are doing is hurting yourself.”

Pigsy was occupied holding back an enraged dragon from tearing apart the landscape as while he’d love nothing more than to teach this ass a lesson, they needed to focus on what was important. And killing a defeated opponent in front of their friend who was still clearly struggling with his PTSD wasn’t going to help anyone.

“Why would I listen to such empty words? You are right about one thing, his death won’t make a difference, not in any way that will matter. The demon spoke, subtly pulling a knife from his boot. “However, it will achieve one thing.”

The demon lunged forward at the pig demon and the group’s only full human.

Then just as quickly as it began it was over.

Sandy stood protectively over the two, dagger shattered against his fist, but the attacker was quite the distance away. In a mere fraction of a second, Sandy intercepted a lethal attack with a crimpling blow of his own. He defended his friends, his family, but at the cost of his vow.

Once more shattered bodies lay before him as those around him looked on in fear. His past was becoming his present and his present was becoming his nightmare.

“Is he?” Mei asked, almost afraid to finish.

Swallowing MK walked over to the prone figure, placing two fingers on the demon’s neck as he was taught long ago. Subtly, he felt something. Fragile and weak, fluttering against overwhelming fear, yet stubbornly clinging to this world.

“No.” Barely.

The group let out a sigh of relief. Just because they weren’t fond of being attacked didn’t mean they wanted him dead.

“Looks like all that wind cooled down the engine,” Tang said, seeing the monitors return to normal and the engine no longer releasing steam. Perhaps it wasn’t the most tactful line, but they needed to focus on something else, some more than others.

“In that case, let’s go! I’ll drive.” Mei rushed to the wheel eager to leave this miserable place.

Pigsy was ready to follow her example but something held him back. Turning around he felt his protective instincts scream at how defeated his friend looked. “Sandy?”

“I tried.” The blue giant sounded like he was on the verge of tears. “I tried so hard to leave that part of my life in the past. But I failed, again. I almost lost control.” Not even the presence of his precious little soldiers could soothe this miserable sensation.

Just like with that spider demon, he nearly went too far. Just one fraction of a second without control and he would tack on another number to his body count. He just-just didn’t understand why this kept happening. He’d been making so much progress, had a good support system, and quality people in his life.

So why was it so easy to lose it all?

“But you didn’t. Don’t think for a second you are a failure. You gave that punk every opportunity to walk away. It’s not your fault.” Pigsy laid a comforting hand on his old friend. While he may not have understood why the big fella felt such a drastic change was necessary, he could respect it. He could see how much effort was put into making himself a better person.

“Besides how could anyone be upset with what you did? You only acted to protect us. That kind of selflessness is something to be treasured.” Tang added. While the two had never been that close before recently, it didn’t change that he cared about the water demon and wanted him to find joy in this life.

Wiping residual grains of sand from his eyes, Sandy looked down to his old friends, seeing nothing but kindness and support. “You guys are the best. I don’t know what I did in a previous life, but I know it wasn’t enough to deserve this.” It still hurt, but not as much.

“You deserve all this and more, big guy. Never forget that.” Pigsy smiled as he felt muscular arms wrap around him. While this setback would leave a mark on his friend, at least he knew he wasn’t alone.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Night fell.

With the cool darkness and civilization mere hours away, the group decided it was best to get as much rest as possible before they hit the ground running. Besides after everything that happened, their hearts just weren’t into completing their tasks anymore.

So, one light meal and a generous amount of mystically sourced water later and they were all out.

With everyone asleep there was no one to disturb the meditation of the Great Sage nor was there anyone to see his struggles.

At first glance, the Monkey King didn’t look any different than he did during the rest of the day. He was still meditating as his body gave off a heavenly glow. But if one cared to look at his face, you could make out signs of distress. Pinched brow and clenched teeth were merely the start. Underneath closed eyelids, his eyes were darting from side to side as his hands twitched uncontrollably.

In his mind, he was trapped in a nightmare forged from his past.

Fire

Roaring flames everywhere he turned.

The ropes that bound him had long since disintegrated, but there was nowhere to go. Ash filled the confined space choking his lungs. The smoke was leaking into his eyes and trying to rub only spread the pain.

What made it worse was the flames were fueled by his own body. The soot and ash was fur and flesh weakened by war and ravaged by fire. Even if he regenerated what he had lost any flaw in his defense was merely tinder for elemental hunger.

The pain never ended. The agony never stopped. No matter how long he screamed he would not blackout, he was not meant to know the escape of sleep. Beyond his screams, he could hear the cheers of the Celestial Court as they celebrated their victory.

This-This was all their fault!

All he wanted was respect. All he desired was to protect his people. And they decided to make a joke out of him! When he was free, he’d personally carve his wrath into every resident of this forsaken realm!

They’d learn their lesson even if he had to paint the entire realm red!

Gasping Wukong was forced from his trance and fell to all fours on the provided pillow.

Hastily taking shallow rapid breaths, Sun Wukong did everything he could to separate himself from that memory. The air was cool, there was no fire. He could leave whenever he wanted. He was back in the Mortal Realm, not the Celestial.

‘Get it together.’ He thought, not daring to wake the others by saying it out loud.

He could not afford to be any more of a burden than he already was. Worry and fear killed armies just as easily as superior tactics and overwhelming strength. He needed to remain in control at all times. If they knew just how close he was to breaking, it would be all over.

The soft chirps and rustles from nature drew Wukong to the outside, where the world continued to breathe despite the encroaching danger. All this beauty, all this life, if he failed none of it would remain.

High above, the moon shone so brightly invoking memories of silky fur that made even Chang’e’s domain appear dull. When a hand lay outstretched to meet his even during their darkest days. A kind voice cooed at him as the two of them lay intertwined beneath the stars so certain their future would be happy.

When this was over, Sun Wukong vowed to find his other half. To make things right. To finally end this emptiness eating away at his sanity!

But until then…

Days with Pure Vanilla and White Lilly would spend days locked away in their lab only for Hollyberry to drag them both out so they remembered to eat. When Golden Cheese Cookie would soar the skies leaving trails of glittering cheese powder for them to follow. When they sparred with such vigor the very ground shook beneath their feet. When his son would try to teach Royal Berry as a fellow prince only to be met with frustration when his friend’s child proved to have no aptitude for combat.

What he wouldn’t sacrifice to return to those simpler times?

Now here he was, surrounded by a fraction of his closest friends, one of which he long believed dead, yet the unity he craved had not returned.

An impressively sized spell circle manifested in the center of the Dark Cacao Warriors’ tents.

At the unusual sight, every warrior and wolf circled the strange magic weapons and fangs at the ready.

From the light, a single cookie emerged. Tall, with lightly baked dough that whispered of vanillian ancestry yet tainted by dark magic. Dual-colored hair spit neatly down the middle, black on the right and white on the left, nearly reaching her feet with a small bun near the top of her head tied with a crescent moon-shaped ornament. Dressed in robes of black, white, and purple, the style screamed of the Dark Cacao Kingdom, specifically of the Watchers directly trained by Caramel Arrow Cookie during her early years. Twin curved blades rested neatly across her back with slightly extended handles. But her eyes gave no doubt as to her identity.

The left eye was flooded a clear blue while a deep purple filled the right, yet both reflected a deadly stillness.

This cookie…Dark Cacao Cookie knew her, was proud to welcome her into the ranks of his Watchers many years ago. He watched her march with his son on that final journey. When the assault finished and they couldn’t find her body, only pools of jam, they believed they lost another Watcher that day, but some held faith she still lived. Missing for ten years only to appear as though nothing had changed.

Half Moon Cookie

The Lost Watcher

“How can this be?” Crunchy Chip Cookie muttered, his wolves and gauntlet at the ready.

“Teleportation is a difficult spell across continents, but through hard work, anything can be accomplished.” Half Moon Cookie replied, eyes fixated on the warrior king.

“For what reason should I believe your identity?” After the attack on the Dark Citadel, Dark Cacao Cookie was reminded of the dangers of illusions and deceit. He may have only seen that despicable cookie for a brief battle, but her actions proved Pomegranate Cookie would use anything and everything at her disposal to see her master succeed.  

He could not trust his eyes in this matter nor his heart.

Nodding the strange cookie reached into her belt and pulled out a small round talisman carved with the symbol of the Dark Cacao Kingdom.

A talisman, blessed by the shamans and priests of the Dark Cacao Kingdom to help watch over the valiant soldiers willing to sacrifice everything for their kingdom and when the time comes to help guide their souls to the Altar of the Fallen. Every warrior is given one upon their indoctrination into the ranks, only one, to lose it is viewed as an immense disgrace that can only be rectified by recovering it. To an outsider, it would simply be another medallion, but to one who earned its worth…it meant everything.

Taking a deep breath, Dark Cacao Cookie savored the warmth of knowing one of his soldiers still remained among the living. “It was long believed that you perished when Dark Choco Cookie attacked.”

The statement was met with a lethal glare. “My prince was under the influence of a dangerous artifact, one you were familiar with, and while I was injured, I was far from dead.”

The king took note of the particular wording but chose to stick to his original question. “Why have you chosen to appear now?” Ten years was too long to remain in hiding, especially when they needed every able-body warrior ready to face their current threat.

Returning the talisman to its original place within her robes, Half Moon Cookie stood at attention. “King Dark Cacao Cookie, I have come to warn you and the other Ancients of a dire threat.”

“I will hear what you have to say. In private.” Nodding, she followed her king and Crunchy Chip Cookie into the King’s personal tent as the other warriors returned to their patrols to ensure there would be no other surprise guests.

Half Moon Cookie stopped six feet away from where Dark Cacao stood and sat with her knees folded beneath her. “I fear the Crème Republic and Dark Enchantress Cookie share the same objective.”

“That is a bold accusation. I trust you have substantial evidence.” The dark king stated. His face and tone returned to their normal neutral, if bitter, position to eliminate any sign of his personal stance.

“I do.” The former Watcher commented, eager to share what she had learned. “While the Crème Republic did send Clotted Cream Cookie as their representative for the war council, they have other motives.”

“Motives other than protecting their cookies?” Dark Cacao questioned as he could never imagine any other manner of living. Everything he did, even during his darkest moments, was driven by his desire to protect. It was the core belief that brought the Ancient Heroes together; it was critical in the beginning when their different stances on how one should live threatened to tear them apart more than once.

“Indeed. The Crème Republic may generally act in the best interests of their cookies, but the fact remains the ruling class is composed of multiple factions, each vying for their own agendas. But they all share one goal. They desire the Soul Jam, but how they plan to use it is shrouded in mystery.”

Crunchy Chip Cookie snarled at the final statement.

Purple eyes narrowed at the answer. “Explain.”

“The Soul Jam is concentrated power, gifting those it bonds with abilities beyond understanding. That alone is more than enough to entice countless individuals to seek them out, but I believe their motivation may stem from a darker mindset.” Half Moon Cookie carefully reported. Her outer appearance gave no trace of emotion, even when her heart wept at the familiar scents and sights. She swore one day she would return and this would act as a prelude to her homecoming. To see her family again cleansed of her sins. “The Council of the Nine Houses is prideful, with their egos capable of filling the sky, but recently their pride was damaged and their egos bruised.”

“Somehow a fragment of the precious Light appeared in the Republic and without anyone to properly guide it, the entire Republic was nearly wiped from existence.” She had only been living in the Republic for a little over a year when the catastrophe nearly slaughtered them all. Even in her little secluded corner, she saw the gradual build of power. The raw destructive potential was overwhelming to her senses as a magic-user, she could still hear the cries of the children as they passed out one by one as their parents pleaded for help.

Yet through it all, the source that nearly invoked thousands of deaths was built upon the Light they worshipped soaked with love. “It was only due to mere luck that their reigning heroes were able to stop it in time. They have never known such fear since the Dark Flour War. Naturally, they seek to prevent this from ever happening again. They would sleep easier if the Soul Jam was in trusted hands, their hands, with all the powers that come with them.”

Dark Cacao was silent as he pondered these words. He could not deny such ambition and greed existed, even if it was forged from a familiar fear. Long before Dark Enchantress’ forces marched across his domain, he had been challenged multiple times for the power intertwined with his very essence. When the Soul Jams were shattered, they knew their powers were scattered across all of Earthbread, but this was the first he learned of any disaster born from their weakness.

Why did Clotted Cream not lead with that? Surely admitting the danger the fragments presented would be construed as a compelling argument. Or did his pride not wish to admit how close they came to utter oblivion?

“Know this Clotted Cream Cookie is never to taken at his word.” Half Moon Cookie warned. “His smile only serves to mask a web of lies and deceit. I have witnessed that cookie bring dozens of opponents to ruin and sow chaos between long-established alliances with that very smile; the smile he aimed at all of you. He may act in accordance to preserve life, but do not mistake that as believing he shares your own goals.” Her eyes locked with Dark Cacao’s to ensure there was no misunderstanding. “Even if he may prove trustworthy, it would not be wise to turn one’s back upon the elders of the Noble Nine.”

“You seem quite knowledgeable of the ruling houses.” Dark Cacao Cookie wasn’t about to give up his Soul Jam for a pleasant request, however, could he be certain her words were truthful? For all he knew, she could be saying what he wanted to hear in hopes of manipulating his tenuous trust in the foreigner.

He needed more information.

“All that training didn’t go to waste, your majesty, I made sure of it.” She stated with bitter pride familiar to all warriors of the frozen kingdom. “Besides you’ve never had the displeasure of meeting these cookies. Snobbish. Stuck up. Acts like the world owes them just for existing. They make the most arrogant pricks of the Hollyberrian nobility look like saints. I’m just a foreigner who acts as a researcher/teacher, I’m beneath their notice. Beneath them.” The final phrase was spoken in a growl traditionally born from the cream wolves.

Crunchy Chip Cookie’s partner’s ear lifted at the sound. Looking around for any sign of a wolf, the beast lowered his head in disappointment when he saw nothing new.

“What else can you tell us about Clotted Cream Cookie? Why was he chosen to speak to us instead of an actual council member?” Crunchy Chip Cookie never liked that cookie from the start, something about him and his bodyguard just caused his hackles to rise.

Besides the other Kingdom’s sent members of exceedingly high rank, the High Kings and Queens of three prominent Kingdoms and the champion hero of the youngest nation who led the charge against the wicked forces had all gathered. Who was he to say he had the right to stand before such glory as an equal?

“I don’t know. The discission was made immediately after word got out about your council meeting.” It took all her skills to hear the two had been sent at all. Apparently, the council was taking every precaution to keep the excursion on a need-to-know basis.

Which begged the question, how did these elders learn of their council? Have their kingdoms been under surveillance? If so, for how long? Why have they waited until now to make an appearance? Would they have introduced themselves otherwise? Or would they have been content to see their lands torn apart by Dark Enchantress Cookie’s forces while they readied their own?

Dark Cacao had answers to none of these questions, which only fueled his suspicions.

Every piece of information only seemed to paint this Republic in a darker light.

“Did House Custard suffer any losses recently?” Crunchy Chip Cookie bluntly asked. Admittedly, all cookies outside the Dark Cacao Kingdom smelled too sweet for his tastes, but something was missing from Clotted Cream Cookies scent.

The time the young adventurers spent in the Dark Cacao Kingdom offered a new variety of fragrances for their trackers to learn, especially that child with the paper crown. The child’s dough possessed a healthy amount of custard, yet this stranger possessed none despite claiming to come from House Custard.

Half Moon Cookie nodded. “These are merely rumors, but too much adds up for it to simply be empty milk. Supposedly the heir to House Custard vanished some time ago. It was said he was rather skilled at healing magic. The nobles believed the House to be blessed by the Divine for their heir to be gifted with the signature power of their original king.”

Even though the Crème Republic prided itself on advancing far beyond their humble origins, they still held Pure Vanilla Cookie in high regard. Especially when news arrived he had sacrificed himself to contain what could have been a world-shattering explosion.

“One day he was just another young politician trying to work his way through the ranks then suddenly he was adopted by House Custard, given a new look, and suddenly everyone is rushing to see who can praise him the loudest. Admittedly, his achievements are his own, but it feels cookies are far too eager to trust him, even in the most sensitive of topics.” Her experiences had made her exceptionally cautious around situations that seemed too good to be true and from what she’s witnessed her instincts were once again right. Yes, both sides typically came out of their time with him in better strides, but he always seemed to come out on top regardless of the source of the argument.

Always.

Such consistency with such volatile company made her want to start sharpening her blades in preparation.

“When a promising heir vanishes, instead of commanding a search, they seek out someone who can work to maintain their image. How pitiful.” Dark Cacao would be the first to admit he and his son were not…the closest of family, but he did care. Even after the first assault, he never dreamed to replace the cookie baked from his own dough.

Currently, he was allowing his son much-needed space. After everything that happened, everything said…it seemed best to allow some time before their next meeting. So long as he kept from the Cookies of Darkness and the sword remained sealed beneath the citadel, he had faith he could craft a better relationship with his son. Someday…

“That is politics in the Crème Republic, your majesty.” Something she thankfully never had to be the focus of. But even from a distance, the arrogance and pride of the nine elders was truly nauseating.

“I will take your words into consideration. What exactly have you been doing low these many years? I could not imagine you abandoned your post out of fear.” Dark Cacao said.

Staring into the purple flame of a nearby brazier, Half Moon Cookie allowed her mind to drift to dark areas. “It was shame.”

She could see the humble huts slowly being buried by snow. The villagers begging them to find their family members. Interviews detailing the stuff of nightmares invading each night with them awakening to find one less.

“I was part of the prince’s hunting party to investigate a village near our northern border. As you recall there were multiple reports of disappearances of both cookies and wildlife along with supposed claims of unholy shrieking.”

They found tracks belonging to one unlike any beast native to the frozen tundra. For nearly one hour they followed them, pausing to take notice of the shifting depths, as though something caused it to struggle. The winds were picking up whipping up a fresh snowfall.

Up ahead they saw a cave in the mountain.

“I was there to provide support, I was there when my prince discovered the chamber, I was there when the prince took up the sword. Not once did I sense its true nature, only when it was too late did I discover what this all was…a trap for an ideal host.”

It felt like they were pulled deeper into the cavern which quickly transformed into a labyrinth. Red jewels were spaced like torches along the walls, releasing a useful if ominous glow. The longer they traveled, the less she could feel her limbs as her mind felt lighter and lighter. Looking back, it was obvious they were being led somewhere as they never doubled back or paused at a fork in the road.

“I should have sensed the blade’s malice, its twisted power. I could have done something to save him. Instead, my senses were possessed and numbed as with everyone else. I failed in my sacred duty. I failed my prince. I failed my king. I failed my nation.”

Much of their return trip was a blur, but the stains of fresh jam against snow burned in the back of her mind. The cries of betrayal and agony echoing throughout the citadel as her beloved prince was used as little more than a puppet for a twisted purpose.

“From that night, I swore I would undo my sins even if it meant my death. I sought out any knowledge on magic and curses I could, from neighboring kingdoms to the domain of Dark Enchantress Cookie herself. She was still trapped and all that resided within were a few loyalists and cake monsters, but her library was a thing of beauty.” An awkward chuckle filled the stunned silence at her admittance. “To be honest, I stole half of it, and my understanding of dark magic has increased ten times over.”

“But it wasn’t enough. So I traveled and my journey led me to the Crème Republic, where I have made even greater strides in growing my power and wisdom.” Although these days her focus was more on precision than opening new doors, which admittedly felt like the wiser approach.

“You claimed to be a researcher, but I doubt they just gave you funds for such a dangerous goal.”

“It all began with some of those obnoxious paladins. Every day their marching chants echoed throughout the city so I decided to see just how skilled these ‘blessed warriors’ were. One thing led to another and I was given a choice, research how magic can further be used to increase their military might or spend the next two decades in prison for humiliating their prized knights.”

“You have given me much to think about. Return to your station at once, I will summon you when I have more questions. Also…I wish to apologize. You had to take this merciless task all on your own for too long. I will see you rewarded accordingly, my devoted Watcher.” King Dark Cacao offered a rare, treasured smile towards his soldier who risked so much. He swore to inform her family she was alive and well.

“All I crave is to see my prince smile with the same joy that was once the beacon of the Dark Cacao Kingdom.”

“When we find him, I swear on my blade to begin the steps to mend the rift between us and aid in your mission.” An armored hand rested on the diamond-shaped soul jam that pulsed with pure light.

For the first time since her return to her native continent, she offered a fragile smile, small and trembling, but filled with a hope long thought pointless. “Thank you, my King.”

With their meeting having reached the conclusion, she vanished as she arrived, leaving nary a trace she was ever there.

Crunchy Chip Cookie approached his king, wolves and fellow warriors standing behind him. “What is our next move, your majesty?”

“Trend cautiously. I will inform Hollyberry Cookie and Pure Vanilla Cookie of what we have learned. Until more is revealed we will continue to work with the Republic, but we cannot lower our guard for an instant. Dark Enchantress Cookie takes priority, but once she is slain, we must be prepared for any outcome. Even treachery.”

‘I knew his words were too sweet. From our first meeting something felt off about him, but this may prove more dire than I first thought. I will give him a chance to prove his worth, but the Soul Jam can never be misused. We cannot risk the lives of everyone on the blind faith of a cookie we just met and a nation we’ve never heard of. We cannot afford to lose anyone else.’

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

As you have guessed, Half Moon Cookie is my personal OC. She is based on the Half Moon cookie also known as the Black and White Cookie. I have been looking for a way to incorporate her into the story and the Council of Heroes update gave me the perfect opening.

“What just attacked us?” Tang asked nursing his latest collection of bruises.

What had once been a humble gathering in discussing saving the world had transformed into a barely contained battleground. Everyone was gathering themselves after fighting off waves of demons and struggling to protect the dronecopter’s engines.

Mei was panting heavily as she leaned on her sword. It had taken everything she had, but she managed to protect the upper left side’s engine without killing her opponents and while protecting MK.

Their beloved Monkie Kid was struggling to come to grips with losing his powers and the staff. He could not longer tank crippling blows with minimal effort. He couldn’t fight on the front lines anymore. He was no longer an asset, but a liability.

Tang and Pigsy both worked to protect the engine of the lower left side. Tang, surprisngly, performed advanced martial arts while Pigsy showed off his skills with a wok and frying pan. The two of them managed to work in nearly perfect sync through years of bickering, but still suffered their share of hits.

Monkie King was responsible for safeguarding the entire right side. Normally this would be a simple task, but with his injuries and the fact he was fighting civilians he found it far more challenging than he’d admit.

All the while Sandy struggled to keep them in the air.

For nearly a full hour they were forced to fend off wave after wave of assaults or risk being ripped from the skies. Yet with each attack, none of the pilgrims got the sense their attackers were happy be doing any of this.

“Desperate souls seeking the keys to their chains.” Sun Wukong stated recalling the dried tear tracks on the faces of more than half the attack force.

“Translation.” Pigsy grumbled as he fussed over MK’s injuries and mental state.

“Megalopolis is a city unique in how it openly inhabits both human and demons with minimal discrimination. In many ways it is the epidemy of my master’s beliefs, but that creates a tempting target.” Wukong explained, voice turning slightly wistful at the mention of the Great Monk. His master always believed, regardless of one’s origin or ability, everyone was capable of doing good and deserved to be treated with basic decency.

He shook off his nostalgia to focus on the current dilemma. “Lady Bone Demon spent centuries honing her skills in crafting soul chains. Magical constructs designed to siphon off all aspects of the victim’s strength, tying down their very essence so that not even death can grant them freedom. A binding technique that can only be broken by a power greater than and more absolute than the caster’s will.”

With each word the group’s horror grew and grew. The King was not helping their fears.

“With MK’s power and my staff boosting her own, I’d say she was able to collar every demon in the city and sent them to hunt us down.” He finished, looking away from their terrified faces. With every word he was adding to his failure, none of them should know this fear, none should know this terror, yet due to his mistakes all he could do was watch.

“Our friends…Our neighbors…” Sandy whispered, thinking of his fellow demons who called the docks their home. The demons he greeted every time he sought out new tea blends. His fellow yoga enthusiasts. The other members of his monthly anger management group sessions. The volunteers at the city’s pet shelter. The people he grew to know and care about over decades of life.

Shackled against their will, forced to obey a true monster.

“Is it possible keep those chains off of us?” Pigsy asked, needing to know if their days as free individuals were truly limited.

“Of course. Until the bond is crafted, they’re simply chains and can be escaped just as easily. But if you are looking for magical protection, I have no idea.” A shaky laugh did nothing to dispel the growing dread and terrified/enraged looks. “I mean I do know of a spell, but I hardly have the power nor the experience to cast such a high level of divine protection.” He was always more of an appreciator of the direct approach. Didn’t need a shield if you could tear through your opponents before they could let out an attack.

His master was always the one obsessed with keeping the others safe. He could really use his master right now. With his comforting presence, soothing arura, and desire to tend to every life even if would put his life on the line. Someone to help him figure this mess out. To tell him things were going to be okay.

“I think round two’s starting up.” Tang announced as more lights appeared in the distance.

Nodding, Sandy pressed a few buttons and gripped the wheel. “Everyone, hold on to something. This is gonna get rough.”

“I’m fine.” MK assured Pigsy even as his heart crumbled under the weight of his uselessness.

Knowing the kid was lying, but unable to give him the proper attention with the approaching danger, Pigsy was forced to return to his position.

The latest assault was the worst one yet.

Whether it was due to the Monkey King’s words or the exhaustion catching up with them, their blows were not as effective. They couldn’t keep this up forever, but they didn’t have any other option.

Mei was the first to falter. Trying to protect both the engine and her friend was taxing but something felt off. With each pass of her blade, it felt like less demons were going after the engine and more were interested in going after her depowered friend.

Weakened and left with little more than a crowbar to defend himself, MK was trapped in a horrible situation. Mei knew if she moved, she’d be leaving the engine wide open, but if she didn’t MK would be killed.

The choice was obvious.

In a blaze of green lightning, Mei scattered the opposing force with powerful strikes. Scores of demons were sent hurtling overboard. MK stared at his old friend both grateful and with immense guilt.

The entire vessel lurched as smoke started pouring out of the damaged engine.

“We’re hit.” The water demon announced as he struggled to keep the massive vehicle level. An attempt that was soon rendered pointless as the second engine on the left side was damaged, this time by their own Monkie Kid trying to protect those who raised him from a group of demons aiming to take advantage of the distraction.

Sensing the craft was compromised, the invading force decided to flee for their safety. Leaving the pilgrims’ full attention on their imminent crash and how only one of them knew how to actually fly.

“Everyone inside! Now!” Pigsy shouted, furious and terrified for their lives.

Monkey King immediately grabbed his student and dashed into the main body.

“I’m sorry,” Mei said to the stubborn chef, not so much as for her actions as for the consequences. “But I just couldn’t-”

“Hey, I’d do the same.” Pigsy faced Mei with a kind smile. He saw everything. Even if he couldn’t go anything to help, he was still proud she chose to protect what was important.

A hand landed on her shoulder, revealed to be Tang who couldn’t be prouder. “We all would.”

“Alright inside all of you.” Pigsy yelled throwing them into the main compartment and closing the hatch behind him.

Being inside the cockpit unfortunately gave them an unobstructed view of how close they were to crashing into a mountain every time Sandy steered them away from crashing into a another one.

An abnormally loud clap burst from the back of the sealed room followed by a golden glow slowly spreading across the entire dronecopter.

“A barrier?” Tang observed, adjusting his glasses to make sure this wasn’t a trick of the light.

“I thought you said shields weren’t your thing.” Pigsy asked the struggling monkie.

“Just because I’m not an expert, doesn’t mean I don’t know how to cast them. My first master was adamant I learn at least the basics no matter how fast or strong I was.” Sun Wukong said, pouring more and more energy into keeping the ship in one piece.

“Sounds like a nice guy.” Sandy grunted from the wheel as he tried to keep them in the air as long as possible.

Sun Wukong was silent at that, but even at his worst the Monkey could not deny all the hard work and effort his immortal master put into preparing him to truly become more than a king.

Something was up ahead. Water. Were they that close to the ocean? Doesn’t matter. They won’t be airborne for much longer. There was only one thing he could do.

“Brace for impact!”

The dronecopter plunged beneath the waves with enough force to launch a geyser of water several stories high. The dark depths hungrily devoured the vessel as it did to a thousand others.

 Like a dying light, the golden barrier flickered, barley clinging to life. Until not even divine magic could remain alit.

The five passengers and small army of cats were alive, but their ship had sustained heavy damage and was taking on water fast. Not even two minutes in and water was up to their hips.

The windows were cracking under the intense ocean pressure, letting in even more water by the gallon.

“Well, ain’t this something. We survive a demon army and now we all get to drown!” Pigsy yelled as he tried climbing the walls to buy himself as much time as he could.

“Hey Sandy. This would be a good time for a cool water adventure vehicle, right?” Mei asked, batting away a fish one of the cracked windows dropped on her face. She was really hoping not to be the reason why her closest friends died.

From the pilot’s seat, Sandy was completely helpless as critical failure after critical failure popped up on the main screen. “I would but-This is a sky drone, its not water adventure friendly.” He was literally beating his own skull as his cats tried to comfort him, and use him as a small island.

“Monkey King! You’ve got to use your powers to get us out of here!” MK pleaded with his master.

“Huh?” Said monkey however had a much different reaction to their circumstance. He was lounging on his side, using handfuls of water to pat down his air whipped fur. “Calm down, a little water won’t hurt- Right, you lot are mortal.” For a brief moment, it was as if he forgot why he never wanted them on this journey in the first place. 

Was it an accident? Or did he truly wish to forget just how easily being close to him could get them all killed?

Suddenly the former airship took on a new rattle as a sound unlike anything that could be produced on dray land echoed through the darkness.

“What’s that?” Mei asked panicking at the deep, rattling moan.

“Something big!” MK squeaked, wondering what else the universe wanted to throw at them.

A statement which proved to be a massive understatement if the approaching shadow was any indication.

Sun Wukong looked at the large figure with a confident grin. “Everyone relax. It’s my old friend. Looks like he’s here to help us out.”

The rushing waters calmed, revealing the face of a massive dragon like beast the size of a palace with glowing purple eyes and metal shell resembling a turtle. It’s golden claws the size of houses were fully elongated and a green glow was building at the back of its throat.

Getting the sense this was not a warm welcome, Wukong felt it was best to clarify a few things. “Hmm, actually friend might~ be stretching it.”

With a single blow, the sinking vessel was launched deeper into the ocean. Until they struck land, within a massive bubble housing an entire city. Somehow they had been perfectly removed from the dying vehicle to stand before what could only be called a palace.

It was breathtaking.

Not unlike the Celestial Realm, everything felt like it belonged to another world. The flawless white walls had no trace of paint yet they seemed to emanate a slow glow. The roof tiles were the perfect shade of teal as they curved in the traditional shape accented with pure gold. Towers forged from the seafloor climbed stories in random intervals, decorated with colorful coral and glowing algae.

In the center of it all was a massive palace that bore a strong resemblance to Mei’s home. The primary difference was the massive gate artistically carved from gold at the front. Whose courtyard they were currently standing in.

“The Dragon Palace of the East Sea. We’re in the Dragon Palace of the East Sea!” Mei cheered, holding an equally ecstatic MK as they took in the majesty of the underwater city. The two young adults cheered at their good fortune.

Both at finding a potential ally and being alive.

“Yeah, this is my kinda-sorta ol’ buddy’s mansion.” Monkey King slid close, while still technically being the closest to the main doors.

“Isn’t this where you got your staff?” Tang asked, doing everything he could not to freak out about how he was in yet another legendary domain of a major mythological figure.

“Yep. Ah, good times. Good times.” Monkey King wistfully said, a spark of gold shining in his eyes.

Pigsy, however, recalled the story a bit differently. “‘Got’ or…”

“Took.” MK finished, seeing a massive flaw in their plan. “You took it. Oh boy…”

“Wait.” Sandy said. “If this is the house of Mei’s extended family, shouldn’t we have brought a gift?” He didn’t want to be rude. Plus, you never know when a little act of kindness could smooth things over. After all, they are trespassing. Technically.

“That is a good point, but it’s not like we planned to end up here.” Pigsy admitted while smiling at his old friend’s heart. If they had time, normally he would whip up one of his grandmother’s famous recipes. There was something about good food and pleasant conversation that allowed strong bonds to form even in the most unlikely circumstances. Or at least be able to tolerate one another.

Monkey King continued to wave off their worries. “Don’t worry about it. Just follow my lead and let me do the talking.” His ears twitched at the sound of doors opening “Oh, here they come.”

The gate rose revealing a humanoid figure who filled their entire courtyard with the sense of power and authority. He was joined by two guards, each wielding a golden spear, and a female demon with blue hair and fin-like ears. Stepping into the light was none other than the Dragon King of the East Sea, Ao Guang.

His human form was tall and quite muscular, sporting emerald eyes with reptilian slits. His impressive mane and beard was a lovely shade of purple, a small bun was held by two golden pieces carved to resemble horns. He was donned in a white robe decorated with elegant teal and gold designs. Wickedly sharp pieces of golden shoulder armor rested on each side, leading to an even greater intimidating presence.

“Smiles, everyone, smiles.” Wukong demonstrated taking center stage.

“Hey Ao Guang!” The simian happily greeted, turning up the cuteness factor. “Haven’t seen you-”

“Dirty Monkey!” The question was cut off by an enraged shout and the release of a draconic arura. “You dare return to my domain after humiliating me before my own court and that of my family. Taking one of the iron pillars of my treasury and turning it into a weapon.”

“Wha? But that was thousands of years ago.” Sputtering briefly, Wukong was quick to try and turn things around while keeping a happy face. “I thought we grew quite close during my journey.”

“And now I learn the Ruyi Jingu Bang hath been stolen. You have given the Lady Bone Demon exactly what she needs to destroy us all.” The ancient king stated as his true form an ivory dragon curled behind him. “Everyone’s lives are hanging by a thread due to your incompetence.”

Wukong could not say anything to counter the hurtful attacks. They were all true. Everyone was in danger because of him. This was his fault. He should have acted the moment he sensed her presence, yet he didn’t. He’d grown complacent in this peaceful era.

But that doesn’t mean he can’t work to make things right. If only he’s given the opportunity.

“I should execute you here and now!” Ao Guang threatened knowing the majority of the Celestial Realm would proudly support his decision.

“We both know that would accomplish nothing but blowing up your own house,” Wukong said, feeling pity for his fellow king. Heaven’s numerous attempts to kill him were common knowledge, along with their equal number of failures. And to immediately manifest his draconic arura? Sheesh, poor guy must have been under incredible stress to slip up this badly.

Slit pupils continued to emanate a pale green glow, yet one could say despite its divine light it grew all the more wicked. “Perhaps, but I doubt the same could be said for your companions.”

At his words, several soldiers circled the group, each one aiming their spears at their necks without hesitation. Even at little Mo.

Okay, he retracted his pity.

For one member, this was not how she envisioned her first visit to the Dragon Palace of the East Sea would go. Admittedly she thought she would be accompanied by her parents, but at the very least she never thought she’d be threated by what should be allies. The whole world was at danger and they were more interested in punishing the ones trying to stop it. With this anger, Mei drew the Dragon Blade forcing the solider in front of her to step back or risk decapitation.

But it had a secondary effect.

“Where did you get that sword?” The ancient king questioned his arura dissipating. He had seen that blade many times before, always in the claws of a relative. Yes, pale imitations have been forged in the past but none possessed the original’s purity and strength. None until this one.

Eyes darting to sides as the guards halted their progression, Mei carefully swallowed knowing her answer could change everything. “My family.” It was shaky and weak, but it was the truth and she’s had a long day. Seeing the unimpressed looks around her she followed with, “It was my ancestors.” Because it was the truth.

She was part of this family. She earned the right to wield this blade. And no one could say otherwise. And even if this dragon was her thousand times great granduncle, he would not stop her from using it to defend those she loved. It was this righteous fury that gave her the strength to bare her teeth, now fully transformed into proper fangs, at the Dragon King far stronger than herself going against every instinct she had.

Seeing a spark of true power, Ao Guang gauged the girl’s spirit with finer precision. “Who are you?”

“Long Mei.” She stated, growing more impatient and less respectful the longer she had to tolerate strangers shoving spears in her and her best friend’s face.

“I suppose it cannot be expected to recognize all your nieces.” Tang cleared his throat, stealing the guards’ attention from their cherished son and daughter towards himself. “I believe you’d be more familiar with Lady Lóng Xiǎo Jiāo.”

The levy was broken by a single name.

“Mr. Tang, a word.” The heiress growled at the use of her formal name, the name she spent so long loathing, green lightning whipped her hair around as a massive dragon curled around her.

The guards gasped at the display, a few of them dropped into a respectful bow at the sight. The signature radiating from the construct was unmistakably that of the four royal clans.

For Ao Guang, that was all the proof he needed. Only a descendent of the Four Dragon Kings could conquer such a potent display of draconic aura with such ease. Along with being able to wield the true Dragon Blade, without a doubt this was a member of his family.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

“You know when we agreed to go on this journey, this was not what I envisioned.” MK complained as he took in their prison cell.

It was dark and musky with plant life sprouting from the cracks in the walls and the ceiling. Every inch of stone was damp, despite the rest of the palace being perfectly dry, making the air feel colder than it actually was. The skeletal remains of the last occupant gave an ominous message, especially since it was still cuffed to the wall. What meager light they had came from the few dim torches placed between every three cells and the window facing the dark depths of the eastern sea.

In total, it was not a scene that inspired hope.

“Meh. You can’t always predict what life’s gonna throw your way. Besides this is a way better start than my first journey.” Monkie King said, choosing to focus on the positives. He wasn’t even stretching the truth. Compared with being tramped under a mountain and having to fight his allies before they joined their group, this was a lazy morning stroll.

Restraining himself from falling into a complete mental breakdown, MK tried to see what could be done to aid in their escape. Because while he adored Pigsy, the idea of breaking out of an ancient prison with spoons was…laughable, to be kind.

“Tang, you work with the Longs, can’t you call them and ask them to explain everything?” MK pleaded. The couple had literally called him mere hours ago.

“I would if I could. But as we all know almost drowning in salt water has consequences.” Tang said holding out a thoroughly soaked phone. His device along with all his precious contacts were all but dead until he could dry it out. Even if he could talk to the Eastern King again, without proof, anything he said would be dismissed. He simply didn’t have the pedigree or status to back up his claims.

As a further kick in the teeth, it seemed being associated with the Monkey King was igniting centuries old grudges.

“What are our chances Pigsy can dig us out while MK is still young?” Monkie King asked, fascinated by the struggling chef and his growing pile of broken utensils.

“I heard that!” Pigsy shot back, breaking another spoon. Snarling, he turned to the lounging monkey. “Last I checked you are fully capable of crumbling mountains with a pinkie, so why don’t you make yourself useful and just make an exit?”

“Can’t, doctor’s orders.” He calmly stated, showing off his still bandaged tail and head. “No strenuous activity for a minimum of 48 hours and it’s only been 37. Plus, I’ve already had to push myself with the whole army nonsense.” Not that he’d ever voice that fighting off all those demons had started to pull on his wounds and he may have possibly reopened one. It was best they didn’t know. They had other things to focus on.

“Using my instructions against me. Wow.” Tang observed in a dry tone.

“Besides, this isn’t so bad. We may be imprisoned, but it’s not like we’re being tortured.” They were essentially being left to their own devices, which easily made his top five imprisonments. “Plus, they wouldn’t harm a hair on Mei’s head.” Ao Guang would never dare risk insulting the other dragon clans with such a disrespectful act as threatening the heir to his brother’s legacy. “She’ll be treated like a princess of the highest order.” And a prime hostage they couldn’t afford to endanger.

“Which she’ll hate after an hour of pampering,” MK stated, knowing full well how much Mei hated being part of such a high-class family when it came to strict rules and traditions. It was why she insisted they use her nickname over her birth name.

Well, one of the reasons anyway.

“Have faith. She’s a Lóng.” Sun Wukong said shifting into a more comfortable position. “They have always been a reliable family. Until then, we best conserve our energy. When she comes to spring us, we cannot hesitate.”

 §~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Turns out running blindly in a dress you just got while holding a sword in a building you’ve never visited was harder than Mei thought.

She had to find the map, free her friends, and get the fuck out before the enslaved citizens caught up with them and turned the city into a graveyard.

Panicking, much like failure, was not an option.

She couldn’t let herself be caught. Her friends were in jail. Sandy was only free due to his cats, and his offer to clean the wreckage of their ship. And she essentially just took advantage of her thousand times great uncle’s hospitality. And locked his assistant in a closet.

She only had one shot at this.

She needed to be smart. Think like her family and choose wisely. The map had to be put somewhere safe. A place where Ao Guang would know no one would touch it, in a place he could ensure it was the real thing.

That door…

Stopping at a door that looked identical to dozens she passed, Mei couldn’t help but feel this one was different. Something was calling to her…

A deeper examination revealed the dragon’s carver around the knockers were more intricate than the others she’s seen. Then there was the two dragon statues on either side. A subtle hint to a room containing great value. Gently opening one door, she slipped inside and eased it closed.

Taking a proper look, she allowed herself a short dance of victory. All around her were ancient weapons and artifacts, either mounted on the walls or on pedestals much like her home.

Oh, that blade almost looked like the Dragon Sword, only blue. Was that the East’s version? Did each royal clan possess one?

Questions for another time.

Ha! There it is.

The map was unfolded on a pillar near the back of the room. Perfectly presented and just waiting for someone to grab it. There was even a little spotlight to give it a contrasting glow to the rest of the room.

She could already hear the word ‘cliché’ being shouted from every direction, but she had to take the risk. But before she could close the distance, she felt the roar of a dragon.

White, purple, and teal lightning struck down between her and the map, transforming into Ao Guang with his arura fully released. “It is never wise to wonder uninvited into the lair of a dragon.”

Putting on a long practiced smile Mei wondered just how she was gonna get out of this.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

“So long as we’re here, maybe we should go over your plan.” MK prodded. “You never actually explained what happens after we gather the three rings.”

Suddenly Tang shot up completely panicked. “Sweet, merciful Buddha! Ma!”

“Eh? What?” Pigsy paused in his escape attempts at the bizarre phrase.

“Ma and the other generals.” Tang started pacing as his worry grew over the new friends he made, who were surely on Lady Bone Demon’s hit list. “I’ve been so preoccupied with everything else, I completely forgot about checking in with them.”

“You’re right.” Eyes blowing wide, MK joined the scholar in his concerned frenzy. “I completely blanked on them. Do you think we’re too late?”

Wukong, however, remained stretched out on the comfortable patch of floor he found. “They’re fine. So long as we don’t take too long obtaining the fire, not a single spec of frost will touch my kingdom.”

“And how can you be so certain?” Pigsy inquired as he continued to chip away at the wall, not willing to take the King’s words at face value given where they ended up.

“As an apology for over using the fillet in the first half of our journey, my master personally crafted a massive shield array to completely surround Mount Huagou.” He could still remember his master’s embarrassment over his past behavior and his desire to ‘make amends for his foolishness’. “The more power an enemy pours into attacking my kingdom, the more powerful the shield becomes. It may not be able to stop weak demons from entering, but a being of Lady Bone Demon’s strength? Pfft. She’d never be able to pass through. Not without having to sacrifice at least half of her full power.”

And while the demoness was truly crazy, he doubted even she was insane enough to pull something like that just to slight him.

“So, they’ll all be safe?” MK pushed, eager to know the Stalwart Generals and all the little monkeys would be safe.

“Yep. So long as they stay on the mountain, they will have nothing to worry about.” Wukong happily explained, turning to his cell mates with a cocky grin. “Did you really think I’d leave my home undefended after everything they’ve endured over the millennia?

As one they answered with nothing but the truth. “Yes.”

“Okay, ouch.”

 §~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Mei had to admit the Dragon King of the East was powerful, but he had gone centuries with a real challenge. Whilst she was still developing her powers, it was through years of street racing that gave her the edge in speed. There was the benfit of him not wishing to hurt her, instead he was trying to use her love for her family to make her stand down.

Which first of all was a cheap tactic.

Secondly, she did love her family. She loved them more than she could put into words, but she loved her friends too. She had so many good memories with each of them. And they were counting on her to free them so they could enjoy even more time together.

No matter what, she refused to let anyone down!

With some tight maneuvers, she was able to reclaim the map, but now she had to pull off the impossible again to reach the exit.

Ao Guang thought he could talk sense into his blood relative, yet she was determined to follow that incorrigible monkey into an early grave. With that map they would only hasten their demise. Why couldn’t she understand that?

“Every word out of his mouth is a lie!” He learned long ago, while Sun Wukong was impossibly strong and had moments of kindness, he was a manipulator and a ruthless combatant at his core. Any deal was merely a new opportunity for him to screw over a new party.

“Then what is your plan?! How do you intend to kill Lady Bone Demon? Are you just going to hide down here, hoping she never looks in your direction? Are you that blind! You cannot imagine she will be satisfied with only his death!” Mei screamed. She demanded to know what was going on. If the fire was too dangerous then how did they plan to fix this mess!

Stubbornly, Ao Guang refused to answer knowing the truth would only be more heartbreaking. “Actions will be taken, but not the kind that will doom the rest of the world.”

“Like what? I barely escaped her first assault. I barely saw a fraction of what she is capable of and willing to do. And you expect me to be calm when apparently the Celestial Realm and Major Kings knew about her release for months, but don’t have an actual plan?!” Mei trembled with barely contained rage. Green lightning danced around her with more fury and wrath than ever before.

That was the source. Knowing beings far older and more powerful than her and her friends knew about this danger yet only the Monkey king bothered to do anything to stop it. Were their lives, was this world worth so little to them that they were willing to let that monster roam free?

Was there any plan, or were they expecting a couples of teenagers to hold the front line until the Monkey King pulled a victory out of thin air?

Walls became scorched and priceless antiques were shattered as the green dragon manifested. It roared against its pale counterpart with raw fury fueled by betrayal and desperation. The ivory dragon remained steadfast in its silence even as the youngling continued to challenge it.

Ao Guang had nothing to say. It was clear no words would calm his relative’s fears. He knew that from personal experience, but he could keep her safe as long as he could. However, for that to be a reality he needed to seal away that wretched map.

Reaching out to take the scroll, he was hardly surprised when Mei raised her arm to block him. Ao Guang grasped her arm, much to his regret. Both dragon aruras vanished leaving behind a vacuum of power that gave the unsettling knowledge something was very wrong.

The map pulsed in the young dragon’s grip.

Two pairs of eyes were consumed by an eerie green glow as the sound of vengeful laughter echoed in the back of their skulls.

Roaring flames

Hunger

Power beyond measure confined

Crushed and starved

Stolen from master

Reunion

Imminent

Revenge

Destruction

Death

Soon

Soon

Soon

Releasing his grip, Ao Guang stepped back in horror. “This cannot be…” Those visions, those emotions…What sort of evil was being unleashed-No! What burden had his family been cursed with?

Confused and scared and so very, very angry, Mei did the only thing she could. Clutching her fist around the map, she ran. She ran past servants and nobles, kicking up dust clouds and over turning rocks, desperate to find the others, to find something to block out those horrible thoughts.

She ran and ran and ran and ran and ran and ran.

She ran down every hall she came across, hoping it would bring her closer to the ones who helped fill her life with laughter. It made no sense how one building could be this big. From the outside, the main structure of the palace was barely two thirds the size of her family’s mansion. Yet as she struggled to find any sign of her friends it almost felt like the building was doubling in size with every turn.

“Why is the Dragon Palace bigger than my house?!” She cried in frustration.

Oh, turn right here.

Ah ha, she’d know those bulging muscles and mohawk anywhere. “Sandy.”

Rushing over to where her tea loving buddy was standing, and a bunch of guards were relentlessly pampering Mo and the other therapy cats (turns out demon guards of an undersea palace can’t resist such cuteness either), Mei was all set to preform a flying hug on the big guy when something caught her eye.

He was standing before a strangely awesome vehicle, complete with a mechanized version of Mo on the roof. It was twice the size of the dronecopter’s original main body with adjustable wheels, retractable tank-like trends, and a stylish paintjob. “What is that?!”

“Our new mobile base.” Sandy announced.

But first things first.

They couldn’t leave their fuzzy buddies behind. Which meant breaking a few bones.

“So, you made this from the smashed-up drone?” Mei questioned as the two of them entered their new base with all the little soldiers. Mei took it all in, especially all the little cat walks and beds built into the walls.

The two of them happily ignored the moans of pain from the guards, who truly weren’t that good at their job.

“Yeah, I mean I tried to rebuild our original customizations, but without your notes it wasn’t gonna happen.” Sandy bashfully admitted, even though Mei was mentally and vocally praising his mechanical skills and speed. “On the plus side, I was able to remove a lot of unnecessary weight and add a few new tricks to our arsenal.”

“Mercy,” a guard pleaded from the windshield. Huh, she really wasn’t thinking about where’d they’d end up while she was thrashing them.

Wincing, Mei activated the wipers to remove the poor guy from his spot of humiliation. After a few tries he was able to rest on the floor.

“Okay, let’s go!” Sandy shifted into high gear and with that they were on their way to find the dungeons. There was something satisfying about driving what was essentially a battle tank/safe house through a pristine palace.

 §~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

“Alright.” After far too many spoons one would ever suspect Pigsy being able to carry on his person and what felt like an eternity a thimble size dent in the wall was starting to form. “Everyone hold tight. I’m getting us out of here in just five or six more-”

“Years?” Tang cut in having no faith in this plan working what so ever. On the plus side, his deadpan snarking did sneak a laugh out of MK. So, he counted that as a win.

Monkey King was just enjoying the show.

Pigsy turned to the unbeliever with a tired glare. “Hey. Ever hear the tale of Yu Gong moving mountains?”

Tag raised an unimpressed eyebrow at the question.

Thankfully before things could escalate everyone was alerted to a rather odd sound. It almost sounded like an engine but way more intense and getter closer.

Suddenly the wall Pigsy had been chipping away at was met with an overwhelming force. The explosion pushed every back as rubble scattered around the cell. No one was crushed by the chunks of stone, but not a single resident of the little cell could claim to be unharmed by the well-intentioned act.

At most MK could barely lift his head to meet the eyes of his rescuers.

“Mei! Sandy! You escaped! You jail breaked us! You broke the jail! Freedom!” MK excitedly shouted before falling limp back onto the ground with a wide grin.

Pigsy made a mental note to have them all checked for concussions before the day’s end.

“And I got the map, too.” Mei leaned out the window showing off her prize to the destruction before her.

Not knowing how much time they had until the guards rushed in, Sun Wukong immediately picked himself up and shoved everyone into the vehicle in a single blink.

“Mei, that outfit is fierce!” Tang claimed as he took in her new dress. One look was enough to tell him it was made of the finest materials.

“You know it. Oh, and I picked up something for you,” Mei said passing MK what she saw in the tailor.

It was a jacket, just his size. But while his old one helped remind him of the simpler times, this one had an arura of maturity and confidence.

“Sweet! I’ve been meaning to try a new look.” MK said, putting on the jacket with a flourish.

“Ready when you are, big guy.” Wukong said eager to leave his latest confinement and get back to saving the world. He didn’t want to lose this momentum.

“We’re missing someone.” Tang said sounding mentally exhausted.

“Huh?” But that couldn’t be right. He was certain he grabbed everyone. Wait. Where’s the pig?

Apparently while MK was trying out his gift, Pigsy returned to the cell to retrieve something very ‘important’. “It’s okay spoony. They couldn’t have knocked down that wall without your contribution.”

“Piggy, no time.” Mei said growing all too aware of how much time had passed since she ran from her relative.

Strapping the chef into the passenger seat and they were on their way.

“Okay, we’re escaping an underwater city…in a van…” Pigsy stated, now in a rational state of mind, before shouting, “Am I the only one seeing the problem here?”

Sandy could only laugh at his passionate friend’s reaction. “Oh, my sweet and sour Pigsy, allow me to introduce you to the Total Environment Automobile or T.E.A.”

“You just wanted it to spell tea, didn’t you?”

Sandy just smiled at his old friend. “Maybe…” He probably could have gotten away with it if his cats didn’t look like they were all smirking. “With this beauty, we will be able to handle practically any terrain.”

With the press of a touch screen, the vehicle was set for submersible travel. Outside pieces shifted as it took on a more water friendly dynamic and became airtight.

And with the palace gates wide open things were finally going their way. Or so they thought.

A single figure landed directly in front of them with tremendous force, fury pouring off them in waves. A tangible presence of barely tempered rage boiled the air around them as their targets inched ever closer.

Ao Guang lifted his head to glare at the approaching vehicle.

Fearful, Sandy hastily twisted the wheel to avoid the humanoid dragon, turning the van a full 180 degrees.

Throwing open the back doors, taking care to not rip them off their hinges no matter how satisfying it would be, the king locked eyes with the troublesome monkey. “I will not allow you to leave with that map!”

Said monkey was swiftly losing whatever patience he had left. “Are you really choosing to be this dense? The Samadhi Fire is the only option of killing the Lady Bone demon. Is your hatred towards me really worth sacrificing our one chance?”

“The Samadhi Fire has proven to be beyond control.” Even now he could remember its power, how even thousands of miles away he could sense the ravenous hunger of the flames and the knowledge nothing he could do would protect his people if it ever drew near. “Especially by one who has not even mastered mortal fire.”

Besides, the simian had much to answer for. He suspected the monkie knew the cause behind those terrible visions and why they were tied to his brother’s family.

MK rushed to his knees. “Dragon King, please! If you know of another way, tell us and we will listen.”

Mei joined in, trying to end this nonsense. “This is our only hope. You must see how desperate the situation has become.”

Suddenly the Monkey King was forced to kneel as he felt a stabbing pain behind his eyes. Visions of vile chains and crying children flooded into his mind, an army of slaves forced underwater. “They’ve found us,” Wukong said gripping his forehead.

Unknowingly, Ao Guang experienced the same images, yet not as clear. Almost as if he was caught in the vapor trail of the original message, but that did not make the meaning behind it any less real.

At his cryptic statement, everyone’s attention was draw upwards into the dark recesses of the sea. Or it once was dark. Now it was filled with hundreds of demons bound by ghostly blue chains that appeared to drain the life out of the waters around them.

“Our neighbors…” Sandy whispered in utter horror. Visions of past battles started to flash before his eyes as he took in all demons, both the old and the young, preparing to strike. The wheel creaked as his grip slowly increased and his breaths became more unstable.

Tang looked to the sonar, which revealed hundreds of unknown entities encircling the palace and were moving closer with every passing second. “If we hope to make it without entering a fight we cannot win, we need to leave. Now.” It was their only hope to avoid a second drowning attempt.

“Ao Guang, now you see a glimpse into what she intends for the world.” Wukong solemnly stated. His tail unconsciously wrapping around MK’s arm. “What will you do?” The question was but a whisper but its weight transcended reality.

The ancient king surveyed the small army of demons. A mere glance was all he needed to determine none of them were close to a threat, but that was not all he noticed. Frightened expressions, frustration burning through glowing eyes, tears blending with the surrounding water. None of the gathered demons wished to be here. They were simply civilians forced to play a part they never wanted.

Taking a deep breath, the Eastern Dragon King took in the motley collection of heroes before him. They risked much with such a dangerous weapon, but in the face of such a threat, even he could admit it was necessary. “If the Lady Bone Demon is able to shackle you in such a state, all hope will truly be lost.”

Jumping down from the T.E.A., Ao Guang stalked towards the palace gates. “I will buy you as much time as I can. Do not disappoint me, Sun Wukong.”

Before the king could go too far a young hand reached out to meet his.

Mei looked her distant relative in the eye and tried to pass on how truly grateful she was, for everything. “Thank you, great, great, thousand times great uncle!”

Even though they never met before nor did they hold the same beliefs, Mei could not deny how much he truly valued family. A mere flash of power and he was willing to take her in, keep her safe. Even now, when he did not have to do anything, he was willing to give them a chance.

For a moment, Ao Guang’s expression soften as he laid a gentle hand across his relative’s. Regardless of the passage of time or blood, she truly held her ancestor’s spirit of loyalty and protection. No matter what happened, he prayed for her safety. For her success. For their victory.

Mei returned to the vehicle and Sandy wasted no more time to get them as far away as possible from the battle doomed to end in needless blood.

As he watched the young heroes flee, Ao Guang focused on the task before him. He aimed to keep his word, which meant he could not falter.

“Out of respect for your predicament, I will forgive such a disrespectful display, but I cannot let such insolence go unpunished.” Sliding into a familiar stance, a dragon of pure ancient power tempered by eons of experience wound around the entire palace in a majestic display. “Brace yourselves.”

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

In the depts of a palace carved from the heart of a mountain, a war council had been called to order. Demons, born or former human alike, gathered to discuss a catastrophe that had been plaguing the land. As one they sat with the hope of finding a solution to preserve their way of life.

This was the Mosaic Court, a collection of the most unlikely of allies brought together to make something extraordinary.

“All new reports, trade, and traffic from Megalopolis has been frozen (No, that was not a pun, Xiulan) and shut down for three days. Scouts and surveillance confirm the presence of a dangerous demon taking residence. Life has been detected but its weak and growing weaker.” Jian, a sable demon, reported. He had just spent the last two days scouting the once thriving city and keeping watch over the ever-expanding wall of ice.

“We can’t risk our scouts moving any closer. Skeleton demons have been spotted along with demons shackled by ominous blue chains.” In his written report, he did not forget to mention how what few demons who managed to escape the first wave of chains were being hunted down by more chains to join the others. Why they were being captured? He didn’t know.

If his King’s suspicions were accurate, then the victims didn’t need to be alive to feed the chain’s conjurer. This was pure sadism at best.

“Has there been any movement detected from the Celestial Realm or the Four Dragon Kings?” Guotin, a white snake demon, asked.

“Nothing atypical, as usual.” The weasel like demon responded.

“Buddha forbid they actually help of their own free will.” Siyu bitterly muttered. The lion-tailed macaque’s nose wrinkled, distorting his green marking, as he tried to keep it together.

“However, surveillance shows that the Monkie Kid, his family, and Sun Wukong were able to escape. They were last seen over China’s Eastern Ocean.” And with that, Jian’s depressing report had concluded.

“Your highness, what should we do?” Renshu, a leopard demon and the council’s resident armourer, pleaded.

The full Mosaic Court turned to the head of the table where their King sat unresponsive.

“Sir?” Guotin prodded.

Yet Macaque remained as he was. Cross-legged in lotus position as all six ears were proudly displayed, in their multi-colored glory.  

“Bàba?” Xiulan innocently asked green eyes stark against their blue butterfly-like mark.

And just like that, a pair of golden eyes snapped open.

“Don’t call me that,” Macaque said on reflex.

The rest of the table smirked at the immediate response, some of the tension dispersing from the room. The adopted Monkie siblings exchanged fist bumps underneath the table.

Groaning at the implications and for falling into such an obvious trap, Macaque rolled onto his hands as he unfolded his legs. Bouncing off his palms and landing perfectly on his throne, the council awaited his decision.

Stretching his muscles, the king looked to those who put their trust in him with utter confidence. “And as for the royal pain and my latest student, don’t worry. I doubt they’ll die so easily, but more than anything Wukong has something planned. We only need to be prepared to pick up the pieces when it falls apart.”

“Is there nothing else we can do?” Huan asked, refilling her pipe. Five fluffy tails rearranged themselves behind her to show her displeasure.

“Not yet. Until the time comes, maintain surveillance at a safe distance. Keep in contact with the courts of the surrounding areas. If the corruption spreads too close to our allies or the surrounding cities, we may have to call in a few favors for emergency teleportation circles.” Macaque listed, thinking about what else they could do to minimize casualties.

“With all due respect, can we not organize an attack now,” Ehuang said with more than a touch of bloodlust. The edges of her lavender mask grew all the more jagged, matching her bared fangs. “The longer the Lady Bone demon is allowed to spread her influence, the more energy she can gather. If we don’t cut her off, eventually only the Buddha will be able to strike her down.”

Macaque stared at one of his precocious students and children. He understood her frustration and worries all too well. Her concerns were valid, however, her ideas were doomed to failure. Macaque’s eyes roved over the council table’s only empty seat with regret.

Others followed his gaze and any further complaints were silenced.

“A full-out assault would only lead to more death. The truth is even if my natural power eclipses her own it is worthless if she is able to steal it from me. We need something that can rob her of her greatest weapon and defense.” Something Wukong was on his way to obtaining, but if his predictions were accurate, it would end in tears and rage.

That he would soothe with shadow.

“Until the time is right, we must be patient.”

Being her servant was like being drowned in the coldest, deepest patch of space in existence. The icy chains wrapping around one’s limbs until they threatened to break reinforced bone. The ghostly whispers slowly draining one of their strength and spirit to feed their mistress. The torturous agony of feeling all life and passion escaping your grasp with every breath.

Macaque was forced to live with that as he hunted down the kid and his idiot master, but he’d take that over being infused with her power every time.

That power…there was something terribly wrong with it. The instant it made contact with his spirit his entire body was wracked with pain. As every millimeter crawled across his body, he could feel his soul being dragged to an unknown location. It wasn’t death, that much he was certain about. He was quite familiar with the sensation of death.

No, this-this was far worse.

The Samadhi Fire was his only hope to purge his body of her chains, physical, mental, and spiritual. The knowledge his presence pushed the new pilgrims into speeding up their timetable to release the ancient power was the only thing that got him moving. The more power he used to reach his targets, including the energy needed to collapse the impressive distance, increased the rate the bone and ice-encased his form.

A sign of Lady Bone Demon’s impatience and desperation.

He hated how easy it was to pin down the royal pain and former celestial wild child. He could have fought them on his own, but this power… There was no honor to it. No pride is to be gained through this victory.

When he snapped the fake rings, Nezha’s face said it all. Once more the mischievous Monkey King was up to his old tricks. Keeping everyone in the dark unless it served his goals.

And Wukong wondered why he didn’t trust in his little plan. Not that there ever was one to begin with.

Like the others, he never imagined there was a fourth holy ring, much less than it was inside the girl. The looks of fear and betrayal etched onto their faces were all too relatable. They learned why the king wasn’t to be trusted in one of the worst ways.

But it was all worth it.

The release of the eternal flames washed over him like a wave. The glorious snap of dozens of chains once hooked into his bones as links faded into nothing. Freeing him from the frozen abyss to leave him gasping in a burning whirlwind fueled by a child’s sacrifice. For a brief moment, the flash of heat eclipsed that of the icy curse. The temperature shock paralyzed him for far too long, but he couldn’t bring himself to care about his moment of weakness.

He was free. Fully and truly free.

And he intended to keep it that way.

Two days.

Two glorious days since he had been freed from the bone bitch’s chains.

Just the mere thought of it brought a smile to the ancient shadow demon’s face. But Macaque wasn’t a fool. He knew Lady Bone Demon sensed the instant he had been freed. He knew she wouldn’t take his failure, much less his desire to rid himself of her so-called destiny, with the grace she liked to project.

So, his best option was to run. Hightail it out of China until the heat died down. With any luck, Wukong’s little band of misfits would pull off the impossible or the Celestial Realm would finally get off their asses and do something. Alas, he didn’t hold much faith in either one.

Which left him to continue expanding the distance between him and Megapolis. Once more alone with his thoughts, you’d think he’d get used to it. Everyone left you eventually, so there was no point in getting close after they fulfilled their purpose.

He made that mistake once and paid for it with his life.

It didn’t matter if the kid was too kind for his own good, Wukong meant too much to him for there ever to be a conflict of interest. The girl was entertaining, a true beacon of sass, but with the fire now raging inside her it was doubtful she would live long even with proper training. And Tang…

Oh Tang, that silver-tongued devil. In a moment of weakness, he could almost believe the human wanted him around. Didn’t hurt that he wasn’t too bad looking, for a human. Or that he stopped Wukong from nearly taking his other eye in a fit of rage.

In the end was just another human, one with an abnormally large amount of holy power, but a human fated to die all the same.

“Macaque!” A voice pierced the silence with a strange mixture of relief and exhaustion.

That voice…It couldn’t be.

Ears flicking, Macaque turned to the side where a single human trigged up the walkway. Behind thick lenses, dark eyes widen with unmistakable joy as his lips formed a smile. “There you are. Are you alright? Have you been able to eat?” Tang asked all these questions, absentmindedly putting down a pack he had brought as he further closed the distance between the two.

Before Tang’s fingers could so much as graze the monkie’s clothes, Macaque stepped away, more than a little cautious. “Okay, last I checked you lot were pissed I threatened your little dragon for you to unleash the Samadhi Fire, so what’s with all the concern?” Underneath his constant glamor, his infamous ears were fully splayed to detect the slightest hint of this being a trap.

Tang closed his eyes and nodded in understanding. “I was angry. We were angry. Okay, Pigsy is still pretty angry, but with everything happening we don’t have time for blind rage. Besides I’m sure most of the blame fell to Monkey King after the truth came out.” He couldn’t deny it hurt. They placed so much faith in the King’s plan, to learn there never was one, that they were essentially flying blind…He doubted any of them would look at the legendary figure the same way.

For Macaque, this just confirmed what he suspected. And he loved being right. “Really? Now I almost wish I stuck around. But none of that explains why you’re wasting time with me.”

“Macaque, you are many things. Manipulative. Arrogant. Dangerous.” Tang listed.

“Flatterer,” Macaque mockingly batted his eyes.

Rolling his eyes, Tang ignored the obvious baiting. “But despite everything I’ve experienced, everything MK told us about you, when there is a serious threat, when it comes to being honest, we can trust you more than Sun Wukong.”

Till the end of existence Macaque would deny would that simple sentence made his heart beat a touch faster and his tail wag with joy. “Nice speech, but pardon me if I don’t jump on the redemption bandwagon.”

“Heh. Don’t worry the kids are currently focused on Red Son.” Tang stated, quite proud of his children’s hero work. Turns out it had the added benefit of helping Mei focus on anything but how she ended up in this predicament.

That earned a raised eyebrow. Macaque suspected the kids were drawn to Red Son due to shared experience on the battlefield and relatively similar mental ages, but this? He almost pitied his nephew.

“Right…Anyway, just because you’ve actually decided to listen to my hard-earned experience dealing with that peach obsessed idiot, doesn’t mean I’m throwing everything into a plan that could just as easily leave me in an even worse situation.” He just found his freedom; he wasn’t about to toss it to the winds for some kind words and a pretty face.

Tang took a deep breath in preparation for what he was about to offer. Even if he knew it was the best, if not the only option, it didn’t stop the fear. “Then use me…”

“Huh?” Six ears and still Macaque wasn’t sure he heard that right. No one would be so crazy as to place their life in his hands. No one was that trusting. Or maybe it wasn’t trust. Maybe it was simply…

“If you can’t bring yourself to trust us, use me.” Tang stated clearly and without stutter. If one was truthful, it resembled a surgeon telling his patient he had to remove a major organ if they were to live. “You said it yourself, I don’t have much to contribute to the group, but I have their trust and MK’s ear. If you know something, I can relay that information word for word while you remain out of sight. You can ensure the plan will work while staying one step ahead of the one who chained you down. And if Sun Wukong discovers you, you can simply threaten my life in exchange for your safety.”

…Desperation.

“Hmm, tempting. Very tempting.” Macaque had to smile at the little mortal, once again he proved far more courageous than his appearance would ever let on. The plan itself wasn’t too shabby either, needed some fine tuning obviously, but it did offer him a prime situation to cover his ass while watching her’s go up in unquenchable flames.

“But let me ask you this,” Vanishing into the shadows, Macaque suddenly appeared mere inches from Tang’s face. “are you truly willing to put your life on the line for the likes of me?” Eyes glowing solid purple as his unglamored fangs were in full view, so close to weak flesh. Claws unsheathed, just grazing cloth, barely touching skin yet one wrong twitch could sever bone.

It would be a lie to say Tang wasn’t scared. He could feel his heartbeat blocking out everything but the sight of those razor-sharp teeth and his spiraling thoughts of what this demon could do to him with no one ever being the wiser. But he couldn’t afford to be scared. Everyone was doing their part to ensure a better tomorrow and he refused to be the weak link any longer.

Gathering all his mental strength, Tang looked past the terrifying visage to the hurt demon who was in far more pain than he could ever imagine. “Everyone deserves the chance to better themselves, to live free, to be happy. Sun Wukong deserves it. Sandy deserves it.” Placing gentle hands over tan cheeks, less than an inch from deadly fangs, Tang brought their foreheads together. “And so do you.”

Just like that, the stuff of nightmares was replaced by an expression of pure disbelief. As though no one had ever told him such a thing, no one believed he deserved such a thing.

“Take your time. I will be waiting for your answer.” Bowing, Tang took his leave and began his walk to rejoin the others.

Macaque watched until the human disappeared. Focusing, he could hear the sounds of the scholar being addressed by the chef about his whereabouts only to wave it off at the sound of several cats demanding attention and a burst of flame accompanied by authoritative shouting.

This was concerning. Based on the reverberation, they were little more than an hour’s hike away. He should have heard their approach. Either way it was time to start heading to the next mountain range.

Looking down, the demon noticed the pack Tang brought. Curious, Macaque loosened the drawstring to it filled with gauze, a canteen, and mangos. Giving the fruit a tentative sniff, the monkie was surprised, they were almost ripe and had no trace of being tampered with. Macaque could help but smirk at the human’s attempts.

He was trying to coax Macaque into working with them by manipulating his desire to control others along with his need for revenge. He was trying to manipulate a manipulator with an added touch of kindness. Naturally, Tang was far from the first to attempt such a play, but the demon had to admit his pitch was by far the most compelling. Offering his life as collateral was a nice touch.

Picking up the pack, he froze at a strange sound. Almost like the crinkling of paper. Opening the pack, Macaque saw something new. At the bottom, nestled among fruit and cloth was a small piece of paper with a series of numbers written across it with a message.

If you ever wish to talk

Macaque smiled at the horizon.

“Stubborn human.”

Carefully folding the small piece of paper, Macaque returned it to the pack and continued his journey.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

In a secluded corner of their campsite, Tang contemplated everything that had happened.

The combined efforts of Nehza and MK were enough to restrain the Monkey King (didn’t hurt that he really held back with MK present) long enough for the ancient trickster to face the grim truth and allow himself to return. The rest of them had managed to find Mei, strangely in the presence of Red Son.

Apparently, he sensed something was wrong when they stayed at the Bull King’s fortress. It made sense as the flames were apparently born from him that he could sense when they were near and what could happen if they were allowed to roam free. The knowledge he was willing to aid them in their quest did help, if nothing else it raised MK and Mei’s spirits.

Although Nedhza always looked at the young demon with suspicion, probably debating on if letting the Samadhi fire’s true master stay within close proximity was the wisest course. But even he caved to the wisdom that Red Son was their best option in getting Mei to the point where the slightest burst of emotion wouldn’t turn her and anything close to her to a smoldering pile of ash.

Looking at those he had grown close to, those he had nearly died with, Tang truly wished things were different.

They can’t face this threat on their own. Even with aid of ancient warriors and powerful demons, it was doubtful Mei could truly master the Samadhi Fire before the Lady Bone Demon showed herself. Even if she learned to guide it, she’d constantly be plagued by thoughts of accidentally killing them, thoughts the Lady would be all too happy to abuse.

They needed more power if they were to survive.

And since the Celestial Realm had been silent, aside from the presence of Nehdza (who did have a history of doing things his own way), they had to make do with what they had. Which meant seeking help anywhere they could.

Tang knew his actions would have mixed reactions.

He wasn’t lying when he said the others were enraged by the dark monkie’s actions, even if they sympathized with his plight. One can’t simply forget how he ruthlessly hunted them down across seas and deserts.

But the more Tang thought about it, the more it became clear Macaque was always rooting for them.

When they first met, he could have simply hid on the airship and stole MK when they went to sleep. His assault on the Eastern Sea Palace was so grand and bold it forced the Dragon King to allow them to leave. Mei’s rendition of their time split between two trucks proved Macaque could have kidnapped both Monkey King and MK and neither of them would be the wiser until it was far too late. Monkey King was suck in his meditation, MK had only unlocked the eyes of truth, hell he was sleeping. Instead, he prodded MK, threatened Sandy and Mei until he regained the powers necessary to fight back. The ancient simian could have killed them at any time, yet he purposely chose to play with them so the kid would be motivated to regain what he had lost.

It was these actions paired with their talk that proved to Tang this vital truth, Macaque was their ally.

It was obvious he held no love for his jailer. He too wished to see her fall. But he had to work smart and unlike Sun Wukong his actions made sense. Everything he did forced them to put more effort into finding the rings and completing the ceremony. His actions reminded them of what was at stake because his life was on the line too.

He hoped the monkie would take his offer. He hoped they could work together. He hoped Macaque would voluntarily join their group. No one deserved to face the world alone.

He prayed to be able to gaze at the skyline without constantly being reminded of their failure.

With that strange mech she managed to steal so much of his power, the power he struggled to understand and control, and it was gone just like that. Looking back, it was obvious. How he felt weaker each time he destroyed her machine. Watching that spell circle slowly complete itself with each revival. The nagging sensation of celestial power starting to fill the target’s limbs.

In the end, all he could do was helplessly watch as that bitch rambled about destiny.

Why didn’t Monkey king just tell him? Why all the secrets?

Sure, he may have been a bit annoyed at being left behind, but anything beats what actually happened. Being left alone, thinking he hadn’t been good enough. Struggling with his feelings of inadequacy. Being mentally scarred by a heartless demon traipsing around in the body of a little girl.

Things seemed so hopeless even with Monkey King’s map and the possibility of a super-powerful mystic weapon that could solve all their problems.

Ya’know the more he thought about it, the more certain events just didn’t add up.

That virus that put the entire town to sleep. He could vaguely recall that tech spider was holding a strange cube when he left. And the way he talked screamed he did everything to act as a mere distraction. But for what? What was the Cloud hiding?

Fighting Huntsman in Monkey King’s treasure room, never thought he’d say that. The Generals were not happy seeing him trespass on their home. Although in the back of his mind he was sort of glad he chose to run. MK was certain what the Stalwart Generals planned would give him nightmares to last his next ten cycles.

Then there was Sandy’s quest for the crimson jimson weed, but everything turned out okay. Although if he really thought back to the big guy’s return, he did seem a bit off. He never really talked about his trip, just said it was eventful and left it at that. He was so happy to be freed from those cursed hiccups, it never came up again.

Meeting the Lady Bone Demon when she tricked him into adding the staff’s power to the Trigram Furnace, which was apparently stolen. Why was she in Spider Queen’s lair? Why did she help Spider Queen take over the city? Was it all so she could claim the furnace? But how did she know they would grab it?

This made MK debate just how many signs he had been ignoring.

In the end, he could only be grateful he still had his family by his side, safe and sound. If even a single one was lost to the blast that engulfed his home, he wouldn’t know what to do with himself.

Mr. Tang was probably going to start writing as soon as he was done patching up Monkey King, so he better get started on his part. Digging into his bag, he pulled out his journal. It would be a while before they made it to the nearest city, so he had plenty of time to record today’s catastrophe. If this truly was to be his story then he couldn’t skip anything, even if they were moments he’d rather forget. A glint of light caught his eye.

It was the medallion Macaque gave him.

He didn’t remember packing it, but he was glad he had it. No doubt his mentor escaped long before Lady Bone Demon played her hand. Who knows maybe they’d see each other on the journey? He could properly introduce him to his family.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, the undeniably handsome Monkey King was feeling conflicted.

On one hand, he could not deny the thrill that accompanied adventuring into the unknown recesses of the world. The joy that came with traveling with others as they conquered challenge after challenge. If he closed his eyes and focused on the aruras of his new companions, he could almost trick himself he was among his old family. Yet at his core, he knew he had nothing to celebrate. Failure dominated his soul.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way.

He was supposed to uncover the truth, find the weapon, and deal with that stubborn bone bitch before she had a chance to cause any real damage. He was the hero. He was supposed to save the day and protect his family. He did it so many times.

So why did he fail this time?

He screwed up. Everything had gone wrong, and he was reminded of that fact every time he tried to move. He knew there would be consequences for his actions, but never dreamed they would be this painful. Thankfully he had developed a strong pain tolerance over the centuries. A little explosion of raw power capable of shattering the galaxy was nothing compared to being forced to eat molten copper and iron pellets for five hundred years.

He barely made it in time when he first sensed the swell of unnatural power. He almost didn’t make it. He was just seconds away from watching his student be drained of all power and robbed of his life. Or worse.

This was his mistake, but they were so insistent that they join in.

He shouldn’t have caved. If he was at full strength, he would go right back there and just keep pounding that bitch’s skull until it was powder. Unfortunately, he was weakened. Most of his powers felt numb and he sensed it would take precious time before his true strength was restored. Honestly, he hadn’t felt this weak since his first centuries of life.

The Monkey King was still a proud immortal, it would take far more than one defeat to put him down. His body would heal and he’d have his revenge, but he’d been lying to say his spirit came out of this affair unscathed. It had been so long since he experienced this fear, the fear of losing something precious.

He refused to feel this way again.

But first, he had to begin the recovery process. Which in this case meant having the scholar, who apparently was a trained medic, look over his wounds.

At first, he was uncomfortable being alone with the scholar after his little outburst on Lunar New Year. But apparently, he took his position as the team’s medical officer very seriously. Honestly, he acted like an entirely different person, it was almost disturbing.

The light in his eyes dimmed as he took on a calm persona. Explaining what he intended to do, what the Monkie could expect to feel, and if there was anything he could do to make things more comfortable, all in a professional tone.

“Didn’t expect you to be a healer,” The King joked as his eyes never left the door.

“When I first met MK and started my role as a father figure, I took on a year’s worth of medical courses. I gained further experience through the demon attacks I regularly found myself involved with.” The man explained laying out an assortment of creams, pain killers, and bandage wraps. Tang felt the Monkey King would be more inclined to trust him if could establish a connection, he could admit he didn’t make the best first impression. “Now I’m hardly a licensed professional, but I’m fairly confident in my capabilities when it comes to treating basic wounds and illnesses.”

Although part of what he said was a lie, it was a well-rehearsed lie. Tang knew Pigsy was MK’s true father figure but the more people who thought the role was divided the less pressure was placed on his old friend. Besides fewer people were likely to be judgmental when they saw multiple individuals raising a child.

Now he used it as a distraction, as Spider Queen had proven, more demons became fixated on hurting the father of the Monkey King’s successor than some random demon or human. If either one of them had to die for the other to live, Tang would happily throw himself into the fire, but he was smart enough to never say as much in Pigsy’s presence.

With the Monkey King in on the lie, hopefully, it would further work as a shield for his loved ones.

Monkey King, however, was fixated on another detail. “What happened for MK to need a father figure?” Sure, he never saw anyone who could pass for the kid’s biological relatives, and he never mentioned anyone outside his friend circle, but just because he was the kid’s mentor didn’t mean MK would automatically tell him every detail of his life.

The only options he could think of was 1) MK was an orphan, 2) was disowned by his family, 3) disowned his biological family, or 4) wasn’t close with his birth family.

“Ah...that’s not my story to tell. I’m sorry, your highness.” There it was. The embarrassed admiration combined with the terror of their situation. But Sun Wukong couldn’t help but smile at such obvious loyalty and love.

“No worries. It’s sweet you want to protect the kid.”

“I can say that he has been through a lot, and I wanted to do my part to make his life something worth living.” The man solemnly stated, followed by a smug smirk. “Besides, you would not believe the number of times I had to relocate a shoulder or patch up the same pair of adrenaline junkies whenever they tried a new trick on their wheels.”

“I regret nothing!” MK shouted from behind the door, apparently still retaining his enhanced hearing.

The two shared a smile at their child’s reaction. With nothing else to say, the scholar turned healer got to work.

The first act was to remove the Monkey King’s shredded clothing and armor. The famous King was embarrassed to say he had winced far more than he would have liked to admit as they tenderly pried blood-stained silk off barely healed scabs. Tang grimaced as he put aside the ruined fabric, judging from the unmarred spots the quality was truly worthy of the divine. It pained him, but he doubted he could salvage any of it. The sheer number of tears and bloodstains left barely enough for him to stitch together a handkerchief. A fresh change of clothes was definitely going to be one of their top priorities.

Tang washed out the peach-colored fur with special medicated water (provided by Sandy), helping the King shed weeks of dirt and old blood. He was careful to be as gentle as possible in cleaning the monkie’s wounds, applying various creams, and wrapping them as to not agitate his tender flesh any more than it already had. When he was done, he gave Wukong a kind smile that stung more than any injury.

“You realize none of this is going to get you out of having to talk to MK.”

The demon huffed, scratching the back of his head as he savored the creams and pills that turned the burning pain into a gentle numbness. “Figured.”

“You may be used to handling things on your own, but it isn’t like that now. You have a successor who cares about you and a group of miscreants who can’t keep out of deadly situations if the universe depended on it.” Tang happily said with a laugh.

Wukong couldn’t help but return the earnest laughter with his own smile. “I really am stuck with you lot, huh?”

“Till the end.” Smirking Tang booped the monkie on the nose. “Silly monkey,” He happily stated brushing the last few knots out of the exposed fur, with all the blood gone he could detect the faintest whiff of peaches. He wondered if it was due to his diet or a side effect of the Heavenly Peaches of Immortality.

Unannounced to him, Wukong had turned stiff at the comment.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

“Silly monkey.” A golden voice cradled him as soft hands gently combed his fur, mindful of any scars.

The crackle of fire filled the silence as the two savored each other’s company. It was one of the few lulls in their journey when they didn’t have to fear the possibility of a night ambush, instead, they could truly relax and allow their spirits to heal. The immortal king happily buried his face deeper into his master’s robes trying to wring out as much musical laughter as possible.

It was these precious moments that made all the bullshit they endured on this insane journey worth it. These were the times he wished could last for an eternity. For the king who was trapped for five hundred years, to be loved and cared for until the end of days was truly paradise.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Breathing deep to steady his trembling heart, Wukong blankly starred ahead. “Don’t call me that.” His words were steady, but his tone gave the impression he was one wrong move from lashing out.

Like that Tang’s good mood was crushed by harsh reality.

His skin become both too red and too pale as his actions caught up to him. He was playing around, joking with a being known for destroying mountain ranges to alleviate his boredom, who could break him one thousand ways without putting his life in danger. This was a demon who was forced to endure a month of hardships and frustration only to be met with constant failure. Yet here he was messing around with an immortal being with a perspective more alien than the sun and moon.

“I-I’m sorry, your highness. I shouldn’t have been so casual. I’ll leave you to rest up.” Tang quickly provided Wukong with a pillow and clean blankets before racing out the door leaving the Monkey King with his thoughts.

Perhaps he was a bit harsh with the scholar, but he really wasn’t ready to deal with everything. Wukong didn’t want to get close to anyone after his master and brothers died, MK was proving to be an exception. Honestly the first time he truly noticed the kid, he was surprised at how closely MK’s family resembled his own.

The scholar, Tang if he wasn’t mistaken, was the one he was the most uncomfortable around. He couldn’t help it. Even though the obvious fanboying had been replaced with a strong admiration tempered by cultivated sass, he just couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

It was his face. The man just resembled his master far too closely. Seriously, if he ever shaved his head it would be like staring at his master reborn. He could have tried to trick himself into believing he was one of Tripitaka’s descendants, but that would mean forgetting Tang was celibate till the day he died. And the chances that another human would just happen to have the same everything were too small to consider.

There was one explanation that could have answered all his questions and soothed his concerns. There was one sure-fire way to check its accuracy and it was laughably simple. All he had to do was take a look.

Yep. One gaze with his Golden Eyes of Truth and he’d know.

He’d know.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Crossing to the other side of the dronecopter, Tang clung to the wall as he came to grips with what he did and what led to his current circumstances. They were facing a true end of the world level threat. And their best hope was to rely on one of the world’s greatest heroes who couldn’t be open with them unless he had any other option.

“Woah, Tang. Is everything alright?” The scholar looked up to see his dear friend looking more than a little concerned. Which was natural given everything they just endured.

Scrambling to look more put together than he actually was, Tang slapped on a mediocre smile. “Wha? Oh! Yes, yes everything’s fine.”

Raising an eyebrow at the obvious lie, Pigsy had a strong suspicion on the identity of the guilty party. “Uh-huh… How’s the royal pain?”

“He’ll-he’s-” Coughing to gather himself, Tang turned to properly address the question. “Overall, he should make a full recovery. I patched up what I could. Thankfully his injuries were primarily skin deep, and from my inspection no organs were damaged. The main issue is the obvious signs of extreme exhaustion, I doubt he slept more than an hour over the past four weeks. I’m truly amazed he didn’t collapse after he made his grand declaration. Of course, I could have missed something important, but without proper equipment, I can’t say.”

Which was a problem. How did one test an ancient immortal monkie? Second question, how did one convince an overly stubborn immortal monkie to admit to any pain?!

Pigsy cut him off before he was forced to watch his friend descend into a spiral of self-degradation. “Say you did everything that needed to be done. How long will he need to recover?”

“If he still retains his healing factor I’d say less than a day, but given how beat up he was and how a large portion of his powers was siphoned off...let’s go with two to three days until he’s back to full health. Five to be certain.” That was the problem, wasn’t it. Even if they had a week, would Monkey King trust them enough to be honest with them?

“Did you tell him?” Pigsy questioned with a raised eyebrow.

The scholar turned away, unwilling to face his oldest friend.

Pigsy spun Tang around and forced him to look him in the eye. “Tang, he does know?”

“Do you think it would matter if I did tell him?” The scholar slapped away the kind touch with poorly concealed panic. “He’s the Monkey King, he’s defied beings far wiser and more powerful than me. Why would he care about the opinion of a mortal he barely knows?”

“Yeah, yeah. He defies the Jade Emperor and flips off Buddha for kicks, but this is about his health. Even he must see the value of taking it slow to not remain a liability when his successor’s life is on the line.” Poor sweet Pigsy, still thinking common sense played a factor in their lives.

“Have you ever known MK to take his health into consideration when there are important matters to attend to?” Tang shot back.

“Point,” Pigsy growled at self-sacrificing idiots.

“Exactly. Whenever he has a cold, we have to literally chain him to his bed. I have to drug his meals to have a prayer of him sleeping. You have to bolt his door to prove you don’t expect him to work. Mei is practically stuck on guard duty on the off chance he tries to make a run for it. How could we possibly command any authority over a five times immortal king?”

Dragging a hand down his face, Pigsy groaned. He hated to admit it, but Tang was right. It took a cursed torture device to get the Monkey King to comply last time and it wasn’t like they had one of those lying around. “I don’t know, but we have to do something or he’s only going to make things worse.”

A gentle knock drew the pair’s attention to the river demon standing by the door frame. “Uh, guys?”

“Do you need any help, Sandy?” Tang asked, eager to escape this conversation.

“We may have to make a small detour,” Sandy said, while he did feel bad about this request, he couldn’t just blow it off. “After the whole new year’s fiasco, I sort of asked for Mei’s help in setting up an emergency defense protocol for my houseboat. It’s currently thirty miles offshore with all my therapy cats and I need to make sure they’re okay.”

“Yes. Yes! This is perfect.” Tang was so excited he launched himself at the former soldier with a dazzling grin, fears cast aside. “Sandy you glorious creature! We may not be able to restrain the Monkey King, but we can delay the voyage long enough for him to get proper rest.”

Automatically catching Tang’s trial, Pigsy smiled. “This will force the kid to take care of himself too. Great thinking Sandy. We owe yah.”

“For what? What did I miss?” The gentle giant was clearly missing something.

Detaching himself from the tea enthusiast, Tang joined Pigsy in heading for the control room. “Don’t worry about it. Set course for your boat. We’ll explain on the way.”

Unbeknownst to any of them, their conversation was not as private as they thought.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Good news!

The emergency escape system worked like a dream and the cats were safe and sound. They were quick to show their appreciation by nearly smothering their beloved owner in a unified leap of fur. The others were content to receive a pleased purr or a full body rub against their leg. But they were wise to change course when they did.

They still weren’t completely sure what Lady Bone Demon unleashed upon the world, but its effects were spreading. Given enough time and not a single inch of land, sea, or sky would be untouched.

So Sandy and Mei got to work, combining the dronecopter and the houseboat into one massive all-terrain vehicle. They were still working out the name, but this granted them greater food and medical storage along with heightened defenses. In addition, to nearly taking up the rest of the day, forcing their resident monkie to either sleep or essentially do nothing.

Of course, there was the incredible benefit of having an army of highly trained therapy cats at the ready to provide moral support and an adorable source of comfort. Which the second generation of pilgrims silently agreed MK needed right now and would regularly need throughout the rest of their trip.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

A recording of a gong echoed between the mountain peaks, interrupting the Monkey King’s tale of his fierce battle against the Third Lotus Prince Nezha.

With an awkward chuckle, Tang apologized and answered his phone, which amazingly still had service in the middle of nowhere. “Hello?” At the caller’s voice, his expression relaxed. “Yes. That’s wonderful. She’ll be so relieved. Yes, right beside me. Not a scratch. Okay, I’ll let her know. Yes. Yes. Perfectly. Take care. I’ll be sure to pass it on. Thank you. Bye.” Ending the call, Tang faced Mei with a pleased look.

“Okay good news. Mei, thankfully your parents were at the edge of town when the attack started and were able to escape. They managed to find shelter with some extended family, and they want you to know all of us are welcome to seek shelter at the Western Palace any time.” So if all else fails they had a fallback shelter.

Mei, however, was confused. “I didn’t even know they’d returned to the city. I thought they were still in Northern China for trade negotiations.” As far as she knew they were nowhere near the city or the raging witch that nearly killed her best friend.

Fortunately, they saw fit to inform Tang of how they were made aware of this latest predicament to threaten the world. “Apparently, they had arrived two days ago but wouldn’t be staying long. So, they chose to keep their return on the down-low so you wouldn’t feel stressed. They are aware of how scared you are of disappointing them even after claiming the sword.” If there was one benefit of being a renowned researcher of ancient history, it allowed him to keep an eye on Mei in her home life and get to better understand her parents and the love they had for their daughter, even if they didn’t make it obvious at times.

“Either way, that’s two people we know are safe.” Pigsy said, happy to get some good news.

“Ahem. While looking after family is important, can we please get back to the meeting?” Wukong asked, now dressed in fresh causal attire, although no one was sure where he got them from. There was some suspicion he just transformed some of his own hair, but he wasn’t saying a thing. Pigsy made a note to buy a few extra outfits for him when they landed.

“Of course,” Sandy said, handing out fresh tea. Normally he would have been flying, but since there was nothing to worry about at this altitude, he felt safe with the autopilot on and three of his soldiers keeping watch.

“Hold up. You keep talking about a weapon, but you never explained what this weapon was. What precisely are we looking for?” MK asked, wanting to know the name of the tool they were aiming to use. Perhaps he heard of it in Tang’s stories.

Locking eyes with his disciple, the Monkey King sported a confident grin. “The True Fire of Samadhi.”

“As in one of the few things that can harm or even potentially kill you?” Tang asked, both excited and terrified.

“Yes.” Although he wasn’t happy thinking about one of the few times he nearly experienced a fate worse than death.

“Do we really need something of that power? Has she truly become that powerful?” Tang pressed. To seek out a power of such overwhelming might was no small task. No doubt celestial forces were already mobilizing to ensure those flames never burned again.

The Monkey King groaned at questions. There were no words to describe his furry for letting her grow into this much of a nuisance. “Unfortunately. If we truly aim to remove her threat from this and all worlds, we can’t let a single thread of her essence survive.”

“Uh, I think I skipped that chapter. What makes this fire so special?” Mei asked, still not getting what was so impressive about this fire. Last she saw that demon had no trouble flinging fire around.

MK nodded beside her.

The Monkie opened his mouth, but a slight noise brought his attention to the professional teacher who looked to be about one second from tackling him. “You wanna take this?”

Tang squeed at the opportunity, launching into “Teacher Mode.”

“The True Fire of Samadhi is unique in how it is birthed through a true unity of the five elements. It cannot be extinguished by water, wind, or earth. Only by completely incinerating its target will it disappear. According to ancient texts, only by an act of true divine intervention can the flames be prematurely halted. As you can imagine, such flames are incredibly difficult to master much less generate. Supposedly, thousands of the most skilled prokinetics have attempted to add this power to their arsenal, even if failure would only lead to their death. Thankfully less than a handful have ever been recorded as successful. Did I miss anything?”

Wukong blinked at the scholar’s extensive knowledge of such an abstract topic. “Nope, you’re right.” Smirking at the human, he silently approved his student’s connections. “These flames are the pinnacle of fire mastery. A single ember tops anything Red Son could throw at you.”

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

In a highly fortified palace, far beyond the reach of mortals, the Demon Bull Family was enjoying themselves.

Red Son, who had been absentmindedly working on his latest invention, humming his favorite jazz composition, suddenly stopped. Dropping his tools, he clenched his hands and snarled, licks of flame escaping his eyes. He didn’t know why, but he was suddenly filled with a deep rage.

“What’s wrong?” Bull King asked, noting his son’s distant if murderous look.

The fiery-haired youth (by demon standards) glared at some unseen irritant. “I have the sudden urge to burn someone alive. Slowly.”

The King smiled at his boy. “That’s normal.” It was only natural his heir would have a large pool of enemies cursing his name.

Shrugging, the demon prince returned to welding. It didn’t really matter who was the source, in time they’d all burn.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

“But what’s truly impressive is that against the true mastery of the flames not even the spirit can escape.” The Great Sage elaborated, a twinkle in his eye.

“Meaning she can’t simply leave her host body. She’ll be slaughtered no matter what she does.” Electricity sparked around her, as Mei bared a vicious fanged smile. Anyone who messed with her family was going to suffer a thousand deaths.

However, all this talk of aiming an unstoppable fire at Lady Bone demon made MK sick to his stomach. “Wait! We can’t do that.”

“Ah, yeah, we can.” Monkey King said, quick to reassure his student. “I mean sure, none of us are trained fire users, but there is a way around that little hangup. That’s what the journeys for bud.”

Glaring at the monkie’s attitude, MK “I mean we can’t just unleash the fire upon the Lady Bone Demon, we would be killing the little girl she’s using as a vessel.”

Suddenly the hopeful mood was replaced with horror.

“She’s what?!” Pigsy screamed in outrage as the others were trapped in matching expressions.

A certain was less than moved. “Your point?” He asked more interested in balancing a teacup on his nose.

“Seriously?! You knew, didn’t you?” MK shouted his question, feeling his heart gain another crack.

Cursing as the bandages and injuries were interfering with achieving true balance, monkey King set the cup down with a huff. “Duh. It’s her basic M.O. Besides, it’s not like you can help the poor girl anyway.”

Letting out a fake cough, Tang adjusted his glasses. “Your highness, we did talk about open communication.”

Rolling his eyes, Wukong massaged his aching head. “Ugh…Look, I know the thought of attacking a little girl makes you want to wretch, I get it, but you need to put it out of your mind. The fact is she’s most likely been dead for weeks. Whenever that skeleton bitch possesses someone, they are killed almost immediately. Right now, she’s piloting a corpse to prey upon your kind heart. If you really want to help that girl, free her body and soul from that monster.”

“Why would she kill a little girl just for a temporary body?” Sandy asked as Mo nuzzled his face with a comforting purr.

“No interference from the host, to ensure we still lose even if we find a way to force her out, for the lulz. Take your pick.” The Monkey King said with disinterest. In his experience, there was no shortage of beings out there perfectly capable and willing to engage in every despicable act imaginable.

“You’ve thought this over,” Pigsy noted.

Crack

The sound of bones breaking muffled whatever screaming the victims had to give.

Squelch

The bitter scent of fresh blood grew as the strikes continued, not losing any of their strength or ferocity.

Crack

“You talk too much.” A voice he recognized even as he desperately tried to distance himself from the nightmarish scene.

Dark Eyes snapped open as teeth bit into the owner’s lip to prevent the release of the slightest sound. On reflex his hand shot out to his nightstand where a pair of glasses rested exactly where he left them. The world came into focus as Tang slid them back into place. A quick look validated the owner’s location was still in his sparsely decorated apartment.

Taking a moment to make sure he wasn’t surrounded by bodies were moments from being reduced to corpses, Tang glanced at his clock and refrained from swearing that would no doubt wake his neighbors. Groaning, Tang threw himself back onto his pillow before choosing to make himself some tea. It was almost three am and it wasn’t like he was going to get much more sleep after this, assuming he could even manage to soothe his mind enough to close his eyes for more than ten minutes.

Mindlessly he walked to his small kitchen and got to work preparing the kettle. The second wisps of steam appeared, Tang poured the water into his frustration cup (a traveler’s mug he purchased during his first trip to the Hawaiian islands designed to hold 48oz). The scent of hibiscus and passion fruit wafted from the ruby liquid. Tang breathed deep in hopes the floral and fruity scents could distract him from the phantoms scents of copper that continued to haunt him.

Tang had not endured a nightmare of such brutality in years. He feared it was a prelude to something far worse, specifically what he could not say, but he knew things were changing. Too many signs were making themselves known in all the wrong ways, leaving only the possibility of destruction in their near future.

The longer MK struggled, the more Tang feared the Monkey King’s so-called ‘vacation’ was a ruse for something far more sinister. Monkey King did care about MK, but it was obvious the simian had issues letting people get close. You didn’t go into self-imposed exile for five hundred years and abandon your signature weapon out of just mourning. Odds were after the deaths of his brothers and master, the Monkey King closed himself off in the hopes he would never suffer like that agony again. Not the best coping mechanism but he was hardly one to judge. There was a high probability that Monkey King choose to leave and handle some up incoming threat without telling MK in the hopes of not worrying his successor. Sadly, without proof all he was doing was revving himself up based on nothing but his own fears.

And that was nothing compared to the frenzy Mei described MK falling into over a video game in his quest to obtain new powers based on some loose theory. The boy was going to burn himself out at this rate. His desperation to discover more power was taking a toll on the kid’s social life. Before MK was dedicated to training, but he always tried to make time for his friends. Now their little group had faded into the background as he constantly tried to best an unnamed foe.

Something needed to change.

Sighing, Tang began sorting through the mail he tossed aside earlier in the week. He normally tried to ignore it until he needed a distraction, looks like the time has come. Flipping through bills, vaguely veiled attempts to scam him, and a magazine hand out he stopped at a curious sight.

A flyer neatly folded for the local theater.

On one side, it depicted an ad for the movie Kung Fu Monkey Cop 3, but on the other, it was advertising for a play. The art style was simple yet bold, depicting two figures in martial arts poses, both seemed to be cloaked in mystic power. The short description on the side stated that a traveling artist was performing at the local theater for a limited time.

Igniting the Sky

According to the small description at the bottom, it would only be showing for two more days.

Smiling Tang booted up his laptop to order tickets. This was the perfect way for everyone to spend time together and just unwind. Ma insisted on MK taking a break after all the nonsense with the video game. Mei had completed all her coursework for the week, leaving her free. Pigsy did promise he’d take a day off every two weeks to prevent burnout. Unfortunately, Sandy would be out making deliveries for the next few days to make up for spending almost three days at Mount Huagou, but with any luck, they would be able to attend a different play when he returned.

Or at least take up Ma’s offer for lunch.

He wasn’t sure if MK noticed during their mission, but the monkies definitely looked like they needed some fresh experiences. A few fresh faces might be able to help with them finally being able to heal after so much loss. If Ma’s reaction was honest, the wounds had barely begun to heal.

Happily, the scholar clicked on the theater’s website unaware of the dark figure smirking across the street.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

The lights dimmed, leaving only small bulbs along the stairs for lit for safety purposes, signaling the performance had begun.

The curtains pulled back, revealing a solitary figure wearing an exquisite black cloak with red clouds. Fog slowly rolled in filling the stage and flowing off into the stands.

“Welcome viewers to a shadow play the likes of which have never been seen.” From his wide sleeves, the puppeteer manifested a beautifully crafted lantern.

The wall behind him became illuminated by a purple light with no visible source. Shadows twisted until they formed the Warrior from the poster, standing proud against a mountain backdrop.

It follows the tale of a legendary warrior and how those who bring light into this world inevitably bring darkness to those they hold dear.

Suddenly the Warrior was attacked by shadowy tendrils that stripped him of his strength as they burned his soul. The audience could have sworn they heard screaming echoing in the back of their minds. The attack continued until the wall went dark and the screams turned silent.

In the beginning, all that existed was a lone soul surrounded by darkness and noise.

Suddenly two small eyes flickered open, followed by a tiny body. What was strange was the six ears the little one possessed.

The little soul sought answers to their existence. Their travels taught them much.

The little soul formed a raft and hit the seas. On their handmade creation, the little soul scampered around with innocent joy that could only exist in childhood.

They learned of the warmth of a family’s love. They experienced the cruelty of man. In time their pain devoured their happiness until naught, but regrets remained. Yet despite all odds, the little soul fought on until he became a Warrior.

The little soul could be seen playing with two humans. Then he was battling a group of bandits, surrounded by bodies, whether they were ally or enemy no one could say. With each scene, the little soul grew until he reached maturity, both physically and mentally. Enemy after enemy, family after family, the soul walked away from each scene covered in blood until no trace of the innocence remained.

The Warrior continued his travels as his heart became as ice, that is until he met a young hero in the making. Despite the Warrior’s efforts, the Hero was determined to win his heart.

The scene changed to feature a temple courtyard where the Warrior was training with a staff. The Warrior swung down the staff in steady repetitions until a new figure appeared, one that looked almost exactly like him. The Hero happily black flipped towards the Warrior, ignoring the other’s annoyance. The Warrior pushed the Hero aside and headed indoors.

Pushes became nudges. Attacks became spars. Eventually, the Warrior was forced to concede to a force far more stubborn than he could ever dream. With the prize well in hand, so began a period of ultimate bliss.

Days passed, yet every time the Warrior trained the Hero was quick to join him. Any attempts to push the Hero away only served to encourage the other, while attacks were taken as a training exercise. Again and again, they clashed until the Warrior gave in. The two of them became a team unlike any other.

The Hero and the Warrior were like the Sun and the Moon. Their glow a protective light shining upon the world. Together, there was nothing that could stop the two of them either in the Celestial realms or on Earth.

Leaving the temple, the two set off on a series of adventures. They faced demonic hunters, human armies, dragon warriors, and divine generals. Not one could ever hope to defeat their united front.

As time went on the Hero attained power beyond comprehension. Until not even the greatest masters could deny his might. A trap was set, one that preyed upon the Hero’s vanity. Despite the Warrior’s warnings, the Hero charged forward without hesitation. A price far greater than any could predict rocked the warrior to his core.

The two made their home on a mountain paradise. Those like them made this land their home and under their leadership, turned it into a true haven. From the heavens, a shining throne appeared. A light shone down upon the Hero and just like that their partnership was over. Without looking back, the Hero abandoned the Warrior no matter how he pled.

The Warrior was proven correct as war erupted around those they had sworn to protect. Staring out into the abyss of his former home, the warrior became stained by the thousands of deaths he failed to prevent. The Warrior was forced to face the truth.

Yet when the King approached the throne, he was shackled and the mountain paradise where they lived was engulfed in flames. Despite all the pain, the Warrior survived yet he felt no accomplishment for such a feat. Staring out onto the empty wasteland where once life flourished all the Warrior could feel was emptiness.

As the Hero’s light grew so too did his shadow. And so, the Warrior was cast in that shadow. In the darkness, the Warrior was forgotten by the hero.

The Warrior who once thought he stood equal to the Hero, learned he was a but a flicker to the King’s roaring sun. The hero’s massive figure utterly eclipsed the Warrior until only the darkness would take him.

Adrift in the void, the Warrior sought out the means to end his suffering. Neither combat nor knowledge held the key to the Warrior’s peace. For far too long, it seemed that nothing would ever change. That the moon would never again bathe the world in its tranquil glow.

The Warrior walked on, all around him the world turned and grew, wars were waged for every reason imaginable, but none of it touched him. He continued walking until his ears twitched upwards at a familiar yet foreign cry. Walking with greater purpose, the Warrior came across a little soul crying out for comfort.

It was the darkness that held his salvation in the form of a young star. A tiny being familiar with the agony of life, the Warrior could not bring himself to turn away.

Mindful of his claws, the Warrior pulled the little one close and wrapped it in his cloak until the cries had stopped. Large eyes stared at the Warrior as though he was the young one’s entire world, just as he once did to another. Unable to simply abandon the little one to the unforgiving world, the Warrior nuzzled the furry head and walked on more confidently than he had in decades. And this was but the first of many he would save.

One by one the moon gathered stars and comets until the dark sky became a patchwork of light. The Sun’s abandonment echoed throughout space, but the Moon persevered as even though the night was long and cold, he no longer had to walk it alone.

The shadow of the Warrior was slowly joined by the images of different creatures, some demon others resembling humans, however, they all stood as one. With each new addition, their collective glow grew brighter and brighter. Until every shadow was scattered before their unity in a burst of violet light.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

When the light died down and the dark spots stopped dancing behind their eyelids, The audience saw the puppeteer had vanished. The overhead lights slowly turned back on, signifying that the play had been completed.

Audience members started to walk out, excitedly chatting about what the play was based on and their favorite parts. Everyone was so excited and wrapped in their own worlds none of them noticed the Monkie Kid frantically looking for his friends. There was nothing to prove they had ever been seated, except for strange scorch marks on the bench. It was like they had simply vanished.

He was so wrapped up in the story, he completely tuned out the world.

Did they leave already?

Did they even wait for the play to finish?

Did they leave him?

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

The Hero and the Warrior were like the Sun and the Moon. Their glow a protective light shining upon the world.

Shaking his head MK paced outside the theater, phone pressed to his ear as he hoped his call to Mei would go through this time.

You reached ya girl Mei. Leave it Boi!

Groaning MK hung up. Something told him if she hadn’t responded to his last three voicemails, this one wasn’t going to make a difference.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

As the Hero’s light grew so too did his shadow. And so, the Warrior was cast in that shadow.

Hoping Pigsy just rushed over for an emergency order, MK headed to the restaurant. But when he arrived it was still closed. There was no sign anyone had been there, either to open its doors or create a glorious meal.

Hand inches away from the handle, MK looked at the untouched lock. Breathing out, he stuffed his empty hand into his coat pocket and walk off.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

In the darkness, the Warrior was forgotten by the hero.

The city library was completely silent, not a turning page or heartbeat could be found in the entire building. Even Tang’s personal alcove was undisturbed, just like his university office.

When he talked to a few of his students, they commented that he sent out an email early in the morning stating that he would not be able to take any calls or hold office hours today. They had no idea where he could be.

No one knew where any of them went.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Depressed, MK returned to the theater and proceeded to eat his feelings with overpriced popcorn. Not the best idea? Yes. Did it help fill the void? A little bit. And that’s what mattered right now.

Thus, leaving him in an empty theater as he shoveled fistful after fistful of popcorn and other salty snacks into his waiting mouth. He wasn’t sure how long he spent sitting there. Mired in his own depression as he wondered where he went wrong.

“Ah, it’s you again.” Startled, MK hastily swallowed before facing the speaker. It was the puppeteer. MK couldn’t make out the top half of his face due to the hood, probably a drama thing, but from what he could see the man had an immaculately trimmed beard and a mischievous smile. “You must be my biggest fan. You do know the play is over, right?”

Releasing a breath, MK quickly debated over being honest with the stranger and himself. “So what happened with the Hero? Did he and the Warrior ever patch things up?”

The puppeteer gave a low chuckle at the question. “What would you like to hear?” He turned to face the stage as though he could imagine the scene playing out only for the entire set to get struck by lightning, catch on fire, and turn to ash. “The Hero suddenly remembered his beloved friend, The Warrior? That they lived ''happily ever after?’’” The phrase that was designed to bring joy turned to poison as it left his lips.

The puppeteer suddenly shifted his stance, even through the hood’s shadows MK could feel the man’s eyes burning through his own. Scrambling to find an answer, MK panicked. “No! No, no, no, no- Well yeah, maybe. Okay, I don’t know why I’m telling a complete stranger this but, I guess…I kinda feel like the Warrior in the story. A little. Is that dumb?”

“I take that as a compliment, young man. The telltale sign of a good story you resonate so personally,” The puppeteer passionately explained with wisdom that came from a lifetime of honing one’s craft. “But I think maybe you missed the poin-”

Whatever he was going to say was cut off as MK couldn’t hold it in any longer. “It’s like I want to be strong and I’m trying to be, but it’s like Monkey King isn’t giving me a chance!” He just wanted to protect his family and prove to his idol that he was worthy of such immense power. But he couldn’t do it if no one told him how to. He already learned that trying to find strength just anywhere wasn’t going to work. The whole point of being a student was that you had someone wiser there to help you learn the ropes until you could stand on your own. But how could that mentorship flourish without open trust?

And just like that all the confidence and outrage was exhausted leaving a series of painful questions he feared answered. “What if he knows he made a mistake? Chose wrong, chose the wrong successor?” There he said it! It may have started as a cruel taunt, but MK couldn’t help but feel there was a cold truth he overlooked.

“And?” The voice was echoing as though its origin was from the bottom of a well, but that wasn’t what earned MK’s attention. No, it was the voice itself. Turning so fast the youth could feel his neck protesting, but that didn’t matter.

The puppeteer had vanished.

But there, sitting on the other end of the bench, was the Monkey King, appearing in a flash of light. “What if he did?” The monarch asked, looking as though the child had proposed a pathetically stupid question.

Startled MK nearly fell to the floor but caught himself in time. "Augh. This again? Look I know you're not really here. I’ve been following your advice. Believing in myself, blah blah blah. But I’m not ready for this.” Any remaining confidence crumpled away in the face of true self-loathing and fear. “I can’t face Lady Bone Demon alone. I just feel so…"

“Ha ha ha,” The Monkey King chuckled at the youth’s dilemma. It was low and uncaring, so unlike the King’s traditional laugh in how it raised the hairs on the back of one’s neck.

Blinking back tears, MK raised a trembling fist. “Urgh! If you're not going to help, then just LEAVE ME ALONE!” Launching forward with every bit of strength he possessed, MK was stunned when instead of phasing through his hallucination his fist was effortlessly caught by real flesh.

“Woah, bud. You been working out? You pack a bigger punch than I remember.” The fake king playfully commented, acting as though the assault was less than nothing.

Meanwhile, MK was truly freaking out. “Who are you?” Not only was this stranger able to handle his raw strength, but there was something about him in Monkey King’s form that just felt so wrong.

“Aw. Come on, bud. Can’t you tell?” The Fake King continued to smile but his golden eyes glittered with world-shattering cruelty. “Why so glum? One would think you’d feel better after a little venting.”

MK winced as the Fake King started twisting his arm and it was taking everything he had to stay standing. “What are you doing here?” But suddenly he realized he made a massive mistake. “No. I just-”

“Unloaded all your insecurities on me.” Another spine-tingling laugh echoed throughout the room. “I know! But hey. No shame in that man, sometimes you just got to talk it out. Ya know. Suddenly the Fake King’s expression turned slightly insecure, a face he never imagined his idol wearing. “I don’t really do it. Maybe I should, but we’d be here all day.” Like that he regained his trademark confidence and MK would be lying if he said he wasn’t relieved to see that defeated expression vanish.

“Would you just get to the point!” MK screamed, launching his free hand at the imposter’s face.

“Settle down kiddo. This is the thanks I get for checking up on the infamous Monkie Kid and putting on a show.” A tail wrapped around MK’s ankle, before he could even look down to see what touched him, he found himself being whipped into another set of benches. “Oh MK. Did you really not suspect something happened to your beloved family? Did you never think they could be captured? You truly are dense.”

Conjuring the same lantern he used for the performance, the room was cast in a mystical purple light. MK squinted at the sudden light but when he was able to see he saw a new show had started.

It was a silhouette of himself. He was just standing there, and from the edges of the light MK saw massive hands coming closer. “You saw a story about a hero who got handed everything, who didn’t have to work for anything, and you thought you were the other guy.” A massive rendition of Monkey King appeared holding the replica of the young hero, bestowing powers beyond measure.

“The second the hero got real power he couldn’t care less about his friends. That’s you, bud.” The scene shifted to the tale of the Hero and the Warrior, where the Warrior was pleading with the Hero not to leave, only for the Hero to turn his back and fly away.

“Me?” Sure, he could be selfish at times, but he would never just abandon his family like that. “I-I’m nothing like that.”

“Hmm, these three would beg to differ.” The heartbreaking scene faded away, leaving three outstretched shadows bearing striking resemblance to very important people.

“Guys!” MK looked on in horror as the shadows emerged from the floor and walls, no longer bound by two-dimensional limitations. The shadows greatly resembled their origins, perfectly detailed except for their faces. They lacked any form of facial features apart from their eyes which were solid purple circles that expressed nothing, not even blind obedience.

“Oh, did you just realize they were missing? Classic hero maneuver.” The Fake king sneered as the youth stared in horror at the twisted forms of his loved ones. “Maybe it’s just me but these guys don’t look too happy about being left in the shadow of the Great Monkie Kid.”

Then the story entered the climax.

The shadow servants struck. They coordinated their assault as a single, powerful unit. MK was kicked across the room, thrown into benches, and hurled until the room wouldn’t stop spinning. The rotating light from the lantern regularly saturated the room in equal parts dangerous light and vaguely protective darkness.

He was in tremendous physical pain, but he didn’t dare raise a hand. He didn’t know how this magic worked. Striking the shadows could free them, but it could just as easily kill the poor victims trapped inside. MK was mentally beating the crap out of himself for being so blind. He let his guard down and his family paid the price.

The beating continued until MK was pinned under the strength of his three family members. In the back of his mind, he replayed what the darkness showed him, Tang’s face being twisted in regret and pain. Did they know what was happening? Could they see their bodies being used as puppets? Were they trying to fight the control?

What was worse was the bastard laughing on the stage, not bothering to lift a finger. He thought he was going to walk away from this scottfree.

“Enough.” The lantern was the key. Either way, he would free his family. Gritting his teeth, The three shadows were sent flying as Mk charged towards the Fake King, prepared to unleash all his rage towards the artifact of their imprisonment.

It was time to end this.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.” Once again, his attack was stopped by the barest of movements. Tendrils of shadows rose from the ground, holding his body at an awkward angle.

“I had such high hopes for our reunion. You were utterly helpless.” MK’s struggles ceased as the shadow master’s voice became deeper, a tone he would recognize until his final days. “No clones. No transformations. You didn’t even draw the staff.” A quick flash of purple and the Fake King transformed into another familiar face. “Clearly, we have much to discuss.”

The young adult was gently returned to the ground at the elder’s command.

“Macaque…” MK breathed as his stared at his mentor struggling with a strange mixture of emotions. Given the situation, he went the easy route and chose to start things off with rage. “Seriously?! I haven’t seen you in months and this is how you choose to come back?!”

“What can I say? I love making a memorable entrance.” Macaque proudly stated. Shadows behind him morphing in an army kneeling in reference.

“And you chose to do so by kidnapping my friends and traumatizing me??! Clearly, you have issues.” And he was not projecting this time!

“Ha. I’m a three-thousand-year-old immortal, of course, I have problems, but that’s not important. Do you feel better, cub?”

“Huh?” MK blinked at the question. He honestly wasn’t expecting a monkie to genuinely want to talk to him outside of Monkey King’s influence. Hell, unless he gave the go-ahead, odds were he’d never meet the Stalwart Generals.

Just like that, Macaque was in front of him holding his cheeks in a tender embrace. “Being able to strike Wukong? Letting your frustrations out?”

“A little…I just- I get your lesson. Don’t become so consumed with the desire for power that I abandon those closest to me.” It was weird, just before the play started everyone had been telling him that he had been ignoring them and their feelings. How strange that he was only able to truly listen once he got a taste of being left with nothing. To be reminded of that pain.

“That is of course unless you want to become a copy of the Galant Sun Wukong.” Macaque posed as his shadow turned into a perfect duplicate of the Monkey King being raised onto a pedestal.

MK couldn’t help smiling at the display. “Ha. For so long I wondered how you and Monkey King knew each other. There were too many hints that gave the impression you were close, but neither of you hinted what that connection could be. Now I know. Monkey King was always meant to be a famous Hero while you were doomed to be the forgotten Warrior.” It was pretty sad if one thought about it.

“Maybe you’re not as dense as you look,” Macaque said earning an annoyed glare from his student as he led the young one to the bleachers that managed not to be destroyed.

Mentally and physically exhausted MK collapsed on the wooden surface. “I see what you were aiming for, I just wish you tried another approach.”

“One thing you need to learn, cub: I’m a sadistic bastard. Never denied it, but I choose to use my quirks to help others discover their own flaws.” With a flourish, the Lunar King took a seat. “You needed to open your eyes. These people are important to you, they care about you, never allow yourself to forget that unless you want to spend the rest of your life mired in what could have been.” The three shadows appeared but this time they were acting out more pleasant scenes. Offering advice as a nutritious meal was prepared. Dancing upside down at the Anti-Gravity Club. Walking through the city’s flower gardens.

All memories he cherished with his family.

“You’re familiar with Wukong’s tale, yes?” MK starred at the dark-furred monkie in confusion. He nodded curious as to where this was going.

“Then you are purposely blinding yourself. The truth is he didn’t become King simply by jumping into a waterfall. No, he earned the right to call himself king through blood. He slaughtered any who dare oppose him. Destroyed all that would pose a threat. Before the Journey, before his rampage through Heaven, before he barged into Ao Guang’s palace, his hands were soaked with blood. Demon, human, god, immortal, he butchered thousands of them without a hint of regret or remorse. The truth is he is not a good person. He only cares for himself and his next source of entertainment, and no journey was ever going to change that.” Macaque no longer resembled a powerful warrior, all that remained was someone who was tired of waiting, tired of hoping, tired of feeling so empty.

“T-that can’t be true. I mean, yeah he was basically a chaotic force of nature, but he’s mellowed out.”

“He’s gained some minor control of his impulses, yes, but can you tell me he truly cares? About the world? About your feelings?” Macaque pressed until tears were threatening to fall from eyes that once held such hope. “Judging by your outburst earlier, things haven’t been that great.”

“I-I…just don’t know what to do.” Falling to his knees, MK allowed everything to consume him. The fear, the doubt, the pain. He let it all out, uncaring of who he was with or when two arms carefully wrapped around him and pulled him close. Or when the sounds of tender cooing and delicate claws started to glide through his hair.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Smiling Macaque inspected his treasured lantern and its mesmerizing glow.

Today was a good day. One that came with many pleasant surprises. His student was coming along nicely. At his current pace, he was in no danger of becoming the second coming of Wukong, but he still needed a few reminders to keep on track.

Then there was the matter of the scholar.

To think, his lantern had been able to effortlessly force ancient warriors and deities to submit, yet one human was able to maintain a sense of awareness. The heir to the Western Sea Clan and a stubborn demon remained completely ensnared, so how did the only true human of their little group manage to peer beyond the veil? There was also the nature of his soul, such a pure yellow one could mistake it for gold.

He'd have to check in another day.

As in a sign of good faith he released his captives and with a little magic ensured that there would be no trace of their imprisonment. Sure, they may question why they were leaving the theater so late or why it felt like their memories of the play were from someone else’s perspective. But hey! That’s the cost of a relatively simple life.

Sadly, he was reminded of another task by the sound of enthusiastic clapping.

In one of the few intact stands, the one who was not the Mayor smiled at the performer with a smile that was a touch too wide. “Bravo! Bravo! Drama, danger, love, and tragedy. Top-notch my friend.”

“Thanks. Shows over I’m afraid.” Smiling, Macaque started to walk away hoping this could end peacefully.

Without warning, he was lifted off his feet by his throat. “Lady Bone Demon would like a word.” The servant looked down at the latest piece of the puzzle. “Oh and she’ll be needing that”

Strangely Macaque did not appear distressed. “Tell her to make an appointment.”

Before the servant could ponder the source of the simian’s confidence, his head was forced through the floorboards. When the not Mayor was lifted, now in the exact state he once forced upon another he saw something he should have anticipated.

Two perfect copies of the Six Eared Macaque smirked at him.

The servant’s smile froze on his face as though the concept he may be bested never occurred to him before. The poor thing was used to effortlessly overwhelming his foes, much like a certain monkie he used to know, but unlike his old ally, this creature was far more simple minded.

“Oh, little fragment. How many souls have you feasted upon to gain this level of power? No matter. I’m fully aware of your mistress’ plans, regardless of what she tries she’ll find herself wanting.” Unknowingly Macaque’s signature six ears bloomed out of their glamor, the top ears glittering blue wiggled in glee.

“Until then you can give her a message. Enjoy your victories while you can.” Macaque started to tighten his grip, he could feel the bones beginning to crumble beneath his strength. The temptation to rend this worthless amalgamation of magic and souls caressed his heart, yet he restrained himself. There was still much to do. “Think you can do that for me? I thought so.”

“You could always tell me yourself.” A sickly-sweet voice emerged from the stands.

“Ah, so the little tactician chooses to reveal herself.” Rolling his eyes, the king waved his lantern back into his shadow as he faced the demon responsible for his latest headache. “Cute host. I’m certain she has granted you plenty of sympathies.”

“This one has proven useful in more ways than one.” In a flash, the young girl’s face took on an expression of pure fear and panic, if one didn’t know any better, you’d be excused from believing the host had regained control in this one moment. Yet not even thousands of years of acting and manipulation could erase the sense something was horribly wrong. Just like that the all too human expression smoothed into one of cool control and confidence. “But we are not here to discuss my choice in vessels.”

“No. I don’t believe we are.” With that, Macaque thoughtlessly threw the servant at the bleachers mere feet away from the child’s body. The servant would survive but with his neck and limbs were twisted at such angles the same could not be said if it truly was human.

“From what I heard, you had quite the morning stretch.” It makes one wonder just how long she had her claws in the Iron Bull Family. Red Son’s logs actually showed signs of tampering, as though someone had purposely erased sections of recorded energy until the Demon Bull King had sensed them. And just why would the young calf be searching for a mystical key before there was any hint of needing one?

“I am afraid you have me at a loss. Do we not crave the same outcome? To see the Monkey King brought low by those he thoughtlessly crushed.” A sliver, a mere drop of the hatred she carried for so long was allowed to surface in that single word. That simple act demonstrated just how much this ancient force ached to taste the king’s blood after he had fallen into complete and utter despair.

Macaque couldn’t help but smile as his own rage stirred. “What I want and what you envision are two separate things.” Memories bubbled to the surface, igniting bursts of cold fury. However, Macaque wouldn’t have lasted this long if he was a mere slave to his bloodlust.

“We both desire to see the Monkey King writhing in agony, yet you reject my aid.” The Lady stated, both politely and giving the slightest hint she may have been insulted by his refusal.

“Hahaha. You flatter yourself. All you see me as is a pawn in your little game. When I get my revenge, it will be carried out as I wish in accordance with my desires and no one else’s.” The lunar monkie’s shadow gained a vicious smile as it climbed higher along the walls. “Besides, if I give you my lantern, we both know I’ll never see it again.”

“It appears you will not hear what I have to say.” The fiendish spirit commented, almost appearing disappointed in the outcome. But the slowly decreasing temperature told a different tale.

“It seems you will not let me leave peacefully.” A playful black tail flick was matched by a mischievous fanged smile. Looks like it was time to take a page out of Wukong’s playbook.

Golden eyes were consumed by purple energy as the shadows lashed out in every direction. Walls, floor, ceiling, nothing was safe and nothing survived. Taking advantage of the entire building being torn asunder, Macaque merged with the shadows and took his leave. Savoring the look of surprise on the child’s stolen face, clearly, she hadn’t expected him to mimic the one they both loathed.

How soon she forgot he would do anything to survive. A haunting laugh could be heard echoing from every shadow in Megapolis.

An icy aurora filled the former room, revealing a barrier where a certain body snatcher didn’t have so much as a speck of dust on her. For the tactician, this was quite a surprise. She had anticipated the lunar monkie fleeing or attempting a sneak attack. Wonton destruction wasn’t his usual approach, much more suited to another.

On top of one of the city's many skyrises, Macaque listened as the skeleton demon took her servant and retreated to the sewers.

He felt bad about destroying the theater. He did have fun and the other actors were quite accommodating. But keeping the bone bitch off his tail took priority. An anonymous donation would have to be sent to help with the repairs.

If nothing else this encounter did provide valuable information and confirm more than one theory.

Even in this weakened state, she was dangerous. ‘No wonder she was able to control brother Bull so easily in his current condition. This will require a few changes to my preparations. I’ll have to warn sister Iron Fan.’ The only reason she would be revealing herself is if her plans are that much closer to completion. Or she was that confident she could not lose.

He could hear the screams, the cries, the flames as the city falls under her power. Even without the lantern, it wouldn’t be impossible to find a suitable replacement, especially not in this city. He only prays the kid takes his advice to heart. As he is, he can’t win, but that doesn’t mean victory will always remain out of reach.

If the kid had followed his instructions, he may lose most of his powers, but they will remain his and those he manages to keep will be all the greater for it.

Although Macaque couldn’t help but mourn over the loss of an ally. Before Wukong was freed, he found solace in his fellow manipulator. Her drive for power reminded him of the one he missed, and her cunning mind pushed him in ways the residents of Mount Huaguo couldn’t match. In the past, he may have supported the Lady in his betrayal fueled desperation to see the indomitable Sun Wukong brought down to size, but she made one critical error. She fucked with his nephew, his family, thought he could be played like a cheap kazoo, and he would never forgive her for that.

Picked the wrong successor.

Whoever or whatever that thing was with Spider Queen was the source of her near success during the new year’s festival. She was the reason Monkey King was captured. She was the reason they had to barge into the Celestial Realm to rob the place. She was the reason he saw those spider bots in his nightmares.

The lessons Monkey King had been sending over weren’t cutting it. He pushed himself to the grinder and yet with each new skill he mastered all he could see was how hopelessly vast the difference in power between himself and that demon. He had to do something. He needed more power. An edge. Something to finally put the ghosts in his head to rest. He couldn’t fail, he couldn’t lose them.

Which began his day off heading to the docks with Mount Huagou as his destination.

Mei had been talking to Sandy about a new project when they saw MK approaching and waved him over. He explained how he was going to visit Mount Huagou to see if Monkey King hid any extra lessons. The two agreed it made sense as the monkie was a well-documented trickster and hiding lectures in plain sight would be a lesson itself in the importance of observation. They agreed to join him and used Sandy’s boat to make the journey.

This time General Beng was the monkie to greet them upon their arrival.

MK was quick to explain why he had arrived. The general was doubtful MK would find anything of value, but he knew that look. Knowing nothing he would say could persuade the youth he allowed the young prince to make his way to the King’s residence while he observed his companions.

The girl of dragon origins was occupying herself by taking photos of the flora and the curious monkeys who called the mountain home. The water demon happily took in the sights with his treasured cat. Beng watched as the massive demon used the utmost care in peeling stubborn fruit and passing it to the younger monkeys. The general was curious as to how a being of such strength could interact with such delicacy, not even his king could compete with.

Resulting in Beng guiding Sandy to the kitchen, apparently, the dark-furred general was the mountains’ resident baker. While MK sorted through every inch of Monkey King’s house Beng regaled Sandy and a bored Mei about the delicacies he spent weeks perfecting for the light of his life. As MK inspected a weird cube-shaped thing that vaguely resembled a fruit, Beng offered a freshly baked fluffy cherry cake to go with Sandy’s excellent tea.

While she enjoyed the cake, Mei couldn’t deny she was bored watching the two exchange recipes and romance stories. Seeing nothing else for her to do, she deposited her plate into the sink and joined MK in the main room. It was a wreck.

Every chest and drawer had been opened with its contents scattered about. Scrolls had been opened and tossed aside. The window was lined with curious faces, proving that even the infants knew MK was acting weird. The only testaments that order once held true were the untouched tv and coach, where Mei found something more her speed.

It looked like an old VR headset and game controller. Noticing the console plugged into the tv, Mei strapped herself in knowing anything was better than nothing. Turning it on she was immediately immersed in a virtual world that spoke heavily of ancient China. Slowly she learned how the controller and headset were linked to the tv, but something caught her attention.

It was the old, saved files.

It was reasonable to assume these were the Monkey King’s as this was his house. What was unreasonable was the fact over 10,000 hours had been recorded under a single name. She was familiar with perfectionists in the gaming community, people who wouldn’t stop until they had uncovered every secret in the game’s code, but even this was a step too far.

From what she could see, the game itself was a combination of street fighter, exploring, and platforming based on the Journey to the West. Mentioning it to MK was both a good and bad thing as he stopped searching for something that didn’t exist but began to hyperfocus on a game in hopes it would provide him the wisdom he craved.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Mk’s rush to skip the tutorial would definitely come to bite him in the ass, but as he bought the game's most powerful attack he couldn’t be bothered to care. Although the exhausted expression on Master Tripitaka’s face looked a touch too familiar to be comfortable. One had to wonder how many times the monk wore that expression during the journey.

Anyway, on to the first level.

It almost looked like a replica of Mount Huagou, but in all the wrong ways. The pants looked as though they had been drained of all vibrancy, they were limp and graying. The water was murky and flowed more like sludge than a river. The monkey he passed didn’t playfully frolic or try to trick him out of his food. If anything, the inhabitants mirrored the mountain itself, as if someone had robbed them of all happiness and hope.

A primal roar shook the mountain. The few monkies that had been desperately scavenging scattered in fear. Smirking MK directed his avatar towards the clear sign of danger. And lo and behold at the Water Curtain Cave was a towering ogre-like demon. He was wearing light armor but his design encouraged the player to focus on the massive dao that acted as his primary weapon.

This mountain is now my territory! All who attempt rob me of my servants shall pay the ultimate price!

Looks like Hunshi Mowang decided to move in while I was gone. You’ll have to defeat him to free this land from his control.

The Tutorial King advised while looking more than a little infuriated.

“Hold on. Isn’t this the Demon King of Confusion that moved into Mount Huagou when Monkey King was training?” Mei asked.

“I think he is. What a perfect way to start training.” MK grinned. Launching his freshly purchased attack, the so-called ‘demon king’ went down in one move. Followed by a short animation of the avatar using the demon’s own weapon to decapitate him after cutting him in half from the bottom up.

MK laughed at his easy victory. “Oh, this is gonna be fun.”

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

MK traveled until he came across a village in ruins. The NPCs were in various states of disarray and panic. By approaching the grieving inhabitants, he is able to slowly piece together a grim story. It all began mere weeks ago, everything was normal until a terrible demon emerged from the mountains. He tore apart every building and storehouse they had until nothing remained but destruction. With a mighty haul, it returned to the mountains as they struggled to rebuild.

Many had tried to escape, tried to find help. But none have returned. The villagers had given up and many were waiting for death. One detail stood out, however, the demon in question could change forms but usually appeared as a bear.

It appears a demon by the name Heifengguai has been attacking this village and robbing them of all their food and their finest cloth. You’ll have to deal with him in order to clear the way.

The Tutorial King explained once MK talked to all the villagers and killed a few stray lesser demons that looked like bear cubs mixed with imps.

MK was directed towards the mountains, more specifically a cave where the demon resided in between attacks. The demon had the features of a black bear dressed in fabulous black and green silks. His spear was decorated with a single black tassel.

No matter your strength, hero, your tale ends here!

The battle was almost an entirely physical one. Heifengguai would send out burst of wind to knock MK off balance while he spun his spear around to unleash a barrage of attacks. Occasionally a crate would fall into the arena and from hours of gaming MK knew it contained something important. The crates contained the stolen cloth and by throwing them around Heifengguai would panic and rush to put them neatly back into the crate.

MK took this time to attack and one combo later resulted in a satisfying victory.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

As MK was walking through a mountain range his path was suddenly blocked by a wall of wind. Descending from the sky was a demon dressed in dazzling yellow robes, wielding an edged trident. The demon himself looked to be a massive marten and was clearly itching to pick a fight.

Those who oppose me shall face the wrath of the wind!

Looks like Huangfeng Dawang won’t let you pass unless you beat him. Watch out for his long-range attacks and get in close to deal some real damage.

Tutorial King claimed as he fixed his headpiece that was knocked askew.

Following the advice, MK stayed ahead of the tornadoes and whirlwinds the marten demon sent out. He would also have to watch the battlefield as the growing shadows were the only warning he’d get from the massive boulders the wind knocked in his direction. It took a while to get the timing right between each attack, including to watch out for the trident when he got within striking range. The worst part about the fight had to be the phrases the demon would spout in between launching his attacks. They were all about his mastery of the Divine Samadhi Wind and how any attempts to defeat him were pointless.

Merciful Buddha! It felt good watching him being impaled on his own weapon.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Then came the match with Zhu Ganglie and MK had to admit Mei was onto something.

The character was obviously bigger than his beloved Dadsy and had a rougher voice but there was a connection. And why did Sandy seem so eager to cut Mei off before she could finish her comment? It was almost as weird as listening to Tripitaka in the temple calmly speaking to him with, and just let his finish, Tang’s voice. That wasn’t just him, right?

You heard the similarities too, right?!

Anyway, this boss level had to be the easiest so far. Zhu Ganglie just charged forward with his rake raised, there weren’t any tactics or hidden abilities. One hit from Wukong’s Fist of Fury left the oversized pig demon collapsed and his rake snapped in two.

There was an extra animation of the Tutorial King coming down and mocking the demon for his pitiful state. MK guessed this character’s design was based on Monkey King’s past grievances with his younger brother.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

MK struggled a bit against the demon brothers Jinjiao Dawang and Yinjiao Dawang as their level was more like a series of five different puzzle games instead of a straight-up brawl. There were memory games, accuracy tests, and even a trivia portion. For some reason, there was a dance party option. Naturally, he had to do it.

Instead of a traditional battle, the brothers would use one of five mystic artifacts to trap him in a strange pocket dimension that would only release him if he won the challenge. When he was released, the item would no longer be able to be used and once he completed all five the brothers would run off swearing revenge. In all honesty, it was a weird change, but he guessed that was to showcase the chaotic nature of the brothers.

Although, if MK was honest their design and voices did bring another set of brothers to mind.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

The battle against Sha Wujing was definitely a challenge.

It was a shame. MK could tell Monkey King put a lot of effort into this level. The reflections in the water and how it flowed looked so lifelike. Sha Wujing himself was masterfully created. The towering demon seemed to exude power and confidence. His movements were fluid and controlled. It was pretty obvious who was his favorite sibling.

Sha Wujing took full advantage of the river to launch waves that flooded different parts of the screen. Sometimes the sand would come alive and try to grab him. MK had to jump to different boulders to keep above water and avoid attacks from beneath. The demon was as strong as he was clever, soon the riverbank was dotted with massive craters from failed attacks.

Only when he managed to squeeze enough hits in did MK notice Sandy was unusually quiet during this boss. Normally he could hear the gentle giant flipping pages of a book or sharing commentary with Mei, but this time it was eerily silent.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Night had fallen.

The darkness was illuminated by the light of thousands of stars and a flawless full moon. A gentle breeze tickled the trees and lifted the flowers blossoming in all shades. The most captivating sight was the tranquil lake in the center of the grove. Even in the darkness, its crystal-clear waters allowed one to peer into the bottom revealing a hidden world of life and beauty.

Of all the landscapes MK had the chance to witness, clearly this is the one Monkey king put the most time into. Even the music track was designed to put one at ease instead of gearing them up for a fight.

A white monkie dressed in colorful silks appeared before MK, but this one was very strange. Proudly on display were six colorful pointed ears nestled together like lotus petals. Much like Master Tripitaka, he seemed to be surrounded by a heavenly glow. Although for this monkie, his golden eyes appeared to literally sparkle in the moonlight.

Well now. Not too shabby traveler.

I’m surprised to see you.

Like magic, the Tutorial King appeared on the other side of the screen, although it didn’t look like he was going to warn him about this demon’s fighting style.

Likewise.

Was MK imagining things or were they leaning very close together?

Ain’t ya going to introduce us?

This is Liu’ Er Mihou, also known as the Six-Eared Macaque.

Was Tutorial King’s tail curling into a heart?

Please call me Macaque.

“Macaque?” Mk repeated almost in a daze. The boy stared at the new character in confusion. This couldn’t be his mentor. He had black fur and only one pair of ears. Of course, he could have dyed it or used a glamor but…

“Six Eared Macaque? I don’t remember anything like him in the story.” Mei commented. Due to being MK’s friend and a frequent customer of Pigsy’s Noodles, she enjoyed her share of Tang’s stories and MK’s fanboying.

It didn’t make any sense. Up to Macaque, they had been able to identify every character as a demon from the Journey to the West. So why did the Monkey King choose to change things now?

“Well, he’s in here,” Sandy said not seeing a problem, flipping through the latest book he found in the Monkey King’s pitiful excuse for a library. Or maybe he hides the impressive documents as a precaution from any deranged lunatics? “Maybe he was one of Monkey King’s old friends that the story didn’t mention. I mean the guy has lived for thousands of years. Oh, found him.”

“Where?” The two nearly shouted.

“The game manual. In the character section.” Sandy showed them the book he had been skimming. Right where Sandy said was a picture of the six-eared monkey, with a slightly flirty expression, next to a short description.

The Six Eared Macaque

A long-time ally and friend to the Monkey King. The Macaque King is highly skilled in redirecting attacks and copying the powers of others. His specialty is shadow magic. If he is approached wisely, this monkie can be a source of great wisdom. But without caution, only destruction and regret will remain.

“Well, that’s not creepy at all,” Mei stated with an exhausted frown. This character was definitely something else.

For MK, this was a sign. The two of them knew each other, but for some reason, their friendship fell apart. If the description was any indication, Monkey King still viewed Macaque as a friend but what could have caused Macaque to see things differently? If their bond was still strong surely Macaque would have joined him in visiting Mount Huagou to catch up or at least criticize his training techniques.

Narrowing his eyes, he pulled the visor back into position. “Okay, Macaque, what do you got for me?”

I’ve been watching your progress traveler and you’ve piqued my curiosity. Let’s see just how much you’ve truly learned.

“Looks like you’ve been invited to a little sparring session. I’ll just wait over here.”

Tuturial King said, a bag of peach chips in hand.

Macaque’s fight proved to be a the hardest one yet.

Sure, MK could launch Wukong’s Flaming Fist of Fury, but none of that mattered if Macaque kept diving into his shadow to dodge. The monkie would then follow up by striking from MK’s own shadow. This cycle repeated until MK learned the timing between Macaque’s dodges and retaliations, another thing to watch out for was his tendency to literally divide in two to avoid attacks. The exploding spears he conquered from his shadow were cool, but the range was a real pain.

The key was to watch the thickness of the shadows to see where he was going to end up and when to charge up his attack. Unlike the other bosses, Macaque required four hits with the powerful move before his health bar reached zero.

MK smiled as he watched the pale monkie collapse on screen, his blood pumping loudly in his ears as he gasped for air.

Macque reappeared onscreen, no worse for wear.

Not bad traveler, not bad at all. Tell me, why are you on this journey?

“Looks like it’s multichoice.” MK unintentionally muttered.

Three choices appeared on screen.

{Seeking to better myself}

{Seeking power}

{Seeking enlightenment}

Well, if the key was to be honest. “I’m gonna say p-”

“Wait!” Mei warned from the coach.

“What? What is it?” MK asked as his head darted around to see what was wrong.

“The description said that ,if he’s approached wisely he can be a great source of wisdom’. Maybe if you don’t pick the right response there will be a penalty.” Mei deduced as thousands of hours of gaming flooded her mind.

“But if you make the right one, it could unlock a new super move,” Sandy finished with a happy grin. Admittedly he didn’t have much experience with games outside those he played on his phone, but this chapter really broke up the monotony.

Scratching the back of his head, MK conceded that they did make good points and a bonus super move was tempting. “Okay, then which is the right one?”

“Since this is based on the journey to the West, either the first or third answer could work, but I’d have to go with the last one.” Mei theorized.

“That sounds about right.” Sandy nodded although he secretly was confused. Both answers could carry the same meanings but could also be used in vastly different contexts. It was tricky, but he’d have to go with the professional gamer.

“Okay, here we go.” With nothing else to lose, MK selected the path to enlightenment.

Seeking enlightenment, eh? A noble cause if I could believe you. Your past demonstrates exactly what you crave.

The screen turned black.

“Wait, what happened?” MK panicked as he randomly pushed buttons, but to his dismay nothing happened. The screen remained unchanging.

“Is it over?” Sandy asked.

“Is there a glitch in the game?” Mei enquired. This wasn’t normal. If they chose the wrong answer normally the game would just say it, but this was disturbing. “Is this why we’ve never seen it before?” Plenty of games were delayed due to errors that needed to be fixed before they could be safely released to the public. If this bug was never fixed then it made sense as to why Monkey King had the only copy, but not as to why no one decided to fix the problem.

Suddenly two glowing purple eyes snapped open on the tv framed by six rainbow-colored ears followed by a fanged grin.

HAHAHAHAHAHA!

A monkey-like screech filled the cabin. Forcing the three to cover their ears in a desperate attempt to filter the noise.

“What...the fuck...what that?” MK struggled to ask as he repeatedly smacked his ears in a vain hope to clear out the ringing.

Well, you royally fucked up.

The Tutorial King’s voice echoed from the speakers. From what MK could make out the digital version of his master was not happy.

“Tutorial king?” MK asked in a daze, earing ringing.

What made you think that was a good idea? Seriously? Macaque was not amused to have been lied to. In exchange he took one of your techniques, you can get it back at the main temple, but it will cost you. Maybe you should rethink your approach.

“That seems a little harsh,” MK muttered, but it wasn’t like he couldn’t bounce back from this. “No worries. After tanking all those bosses, I have coin to burn.”

“So, what did you lose?” Sandy asked, having lost track of MK’s skill set after eight hours.

“Wukong’s Flaming Fist of Fury! NO!” MK let out a breathless cry at the loss of what was the key to his every victory.

“Makes sense. It’s the only super move you bothered to learn.” Mei commented, not at all surprised.

Taking a deep breath, the student steadied himself somewhat successfully. “No problem. I can just buy it again.” And with that he made a beeline for the main temple, happy to see it right where he first bought it. But with one little difference. “What! It’s twice as expensive!”

“Does that mean you can’t buy it again?” Sandy asked.

All the while Mei was secretly praying the answer was yes.

“No, no I can.”

“Maybe this is a sign you should choose something else,” Mei said, hoping MK would choose a different tactic other than relying on brute strength. If MK wanted to grow stronger then he should look for ways to make himself less predictable.

“No way. I’ve beaten every boss with this move.” One click of a button later and all the gold he had collected vanished from his storage. “And I’m broke again.”

Couldn’t focus on that. Just one more level to go.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

And so the young traveler continued on his journey until he was forced to seek out the wisdom of Master Tripitaka in the art of passivity. Finally, after learning a counter move MK was able to claim victory over the Rhino King and learn the unplanned lesson.

Patching up Monkey King’s house was easier with Sandy and Mei lending a hand. The three of them talked about whatever popped into their heads as they repaired the wall. With everything fixed the trio decided to head back to the city after spending almost three days on Mount Huagou, but MK still had so many questions.

Thankfully he knew the man who was most likely to have the answers.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Taking a deep breath, MK passed the threshold into Pigsy’s Noodles. As expected, a familiar face was happily sitting at the counter reading while a hot bowl of noodles rested just to the side. From the sounds coming from the kitchen, Pigsy was in the zone preparing for the next batch of customers.

Clearing his throat, the Monkie Kid closed the distance. “Ah, Mr. Tang?” MK asked.

“Yes, MK.” The scholar looked up from his book to face the young man only to raise an eyebrow at the youth’s appearance. “Yeesh. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you look like you’ve spent the last five days running around with no sleep. We’ve talked about this; you need to have time for yourself. We are not having another Clone Incident.”

“Sorry, sorry, but it isn’t like that.” MK was quick to dissuade the notion he had gotten clone happy again. That Porty Clone still gave him the creeps. “So I heard about this demon, one that the Monkey King knew very well, but you never mentioned him in any of your stories.”

“There are countless demons roaming the earth, of which only a fraction humanity has managed to document. I can’t be expected to know every last one. But there is a chance I’ve heard of them. Just who is this demon?” He asked turning to his noodles, feeling he would need the support of his good friend’s masterful work.

“The Six-Eared Macaque.”

*splurk* Tang choked on his noodles at the name. Cutting his bite short, he repeatedly beat on his chest and coughed to clear his airways. Wiping the sweat off his face, he turned to face a shocked MK with an anxious look.

“That is a name I haven’t heard in a long time.”

“So you do know who he is?” MK was almost scared to learn what kind of legacy the monkie had left behind to warrant such a response.

“Not exactly.” Pushing aside his bowl, Tang turned to full-face his most precious unofficial student. “As you know, while my main focus is on the Monkey King and the Journey to the West, I spent just as much time devoted to learning about the world their actions were influenced by and in turn how their actions influenced the world. Sun Wukong truly is one of a kind, a being that does not fall into any other category of creation. But what few do not know is that there are three others who fall under that description as well.”

“So there are four stone monkies?” MK asked getting comfortable.

“No,” Tang said, cutting a boy’s dreams of a stone monkie army short. “Supposedly the Buddha claimed that the Monkey King was one of four celestial simians, each with immense strength and impossible abilities born to each of the fundamental aspects of existence. There was the Long-armed gibbon, the red-faced baboon, and the Six-Eared Macaque. Each of these simians had the potential to match the Monkey King in combat, but while there is practically nothing on the former two the same cannot be said for the latter. Supposedly, he was the Monkey King’s perfect match, the yin to his yang if you would. Born from the four winds, it was said that he could listen to the past, present, and future granting him near omnipotence.”

“Hidden within old rumors and spiritual warnings, there are whispers of a Macaque King that gathered the outliers of society, both human and demon, and spirited them away on the new moon.” Tang looked down into his own reflection as though contemplating an old “Certain disasters were supposedly caused by the Six-Eared Macaque after someone had insulted his Court or those he took pity on. Some historians have reported that during his early years, the Monkey King was accompanied by another monkie, but there is no conclusive evidence to support this.” Tang muttered the last bit quite bitterly.

Letting out a quick cough into his hand to cover up his little slip up he faced his captivated audience, who was looking more than a little disappointed. “I’m sorry but that’s essentially all I know. MK, I would never keep something from you if I thought it would help you.”

“I know Tang. It’s just why don’t we know more about these monkies?”

“Not every demon can be the Monkey King, leading to several books dedicated to their life which inspire hundreds of adaptations in every conceivable form of entertainment.” Tang shrugged as he really didn’t have an answer for that. “Maybe they saw how much trouble he was getting into with powerful forces and choose to keep a low profile. Maybe they weren’t interested in causing untold chaos. Maybe any actions they accomplished were simply overshadowed by the Monkey King. Maybe their stories weren’t passed down through the ages letting them be forgotten. Any one of those could be the reason, but unless you actually find them all we can do is guess.”

“Yeah...guess.” MK knew it would be a long shot to assume Tang would know about a demon who clearly valued his privacy and knew how to keep a low profile. Either way he was glad he asked, he got to walk away with knowledge he never expected. “Thanks for hearing me out.”

“Any time. But you should seriously see about taking a shower.” Tang playfully said to the youth who rolled his eyes at the remark.

Ordering his own bowl to go, MK climbed the stairs to his apartment. Taking a quick shower, he sent a clone to pick up his meal leaving him to think about everything.

That game really had a lot of details. One day he’d have to take Mei’s advice and take time to properly absorb all the detail that went into each level. Who knows what else he overlooked? What other powers he could have unlocked?

That wasn’t even getting into the weirdness he felt about how Monkey King chose to recreate certain individuals. He chose to recreate his brothers as enemies to reflect how he first encountered them through combat. Fine, he could get that. But why were those two bathed in a radiant light?

Did Monkey King have a crush on his master or did he view the monk as a divine being of compassion and kindness? Was he in love with Macaque? How close were they?

Whenever Macaque talked about the King, he always used his first name ‘Wukong’, meaning they had to have been close. Or were they close but keeping things casual? Were they an item before his imprisonment and never regained the old spark? Did things turn south after Monkey King returned? Was Macaque forced away due to court politics?

So many questions. Nowhere near enough answers.

Just another day.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

In the Silken Web Cave, things weren’t so relaxed.

“The shadow lantern? The symbol of power for the Macaque King. The personal creation of one of the celestial monkies. An artifact capable of transforming an enemy force into an army of slaves. That Shadow Lantern?” The Spider Queen repeatedly asked, wondering if her little aide had finally lost it.

“Yes.” The Lady stated calmly as ever. Once again, she was carefully studying the intricate runes and spellcraft of the box. It would not do for her to come so close only to fail due to overlooking the foundation of one of the greatest constructs ever imagined. “It is one of the artifacts we need.”

“And how exactly are we gonna get it? Hmm?” The Spider Queen enquired. “The Mosaic Court is protective as fuck of their ruler and he’s no slouch when it comes to power.” Anyone who could go toe to toe against that furry pain in her ass in a straight fight deserved the proper level of caution. “We can’t just waltz in, take it from their palace, and skip out without a care in the world.”

The biggest difference between Mount Huagou and Shattered Eclipse Mountain was the nature of its population. The Monkey King was essentially surrounded by normal monkeys, apart from the Stalwart Generals. In contrast, Shattered Eclipse Mountain possessed a wide range of demons and human warriors that could and would defend their home with every trick imaginable.

With her clan reduced to a precious few, Spider Queen would be committing her people to a merciless slaughter if she even thought of setting foot in that territory.

“It is needed to fulfill your destiny.” The Lady pressed, growing impatient with the Queen’s resistance.

“Well then, I suppose destiny better come up with a substitute, cause I ain’t risking what little I have on a siege doomed to fail.” The monarch hissed.

She refused to back down, not on this. Not on what she had clawed and struggled to protect and nurture ever since she lost everything. She craved revenge more than she craved food, but not when it would force her to relive that nightmare.

The small child’s neutral expression was threatening to become visibly slightly annoyed. Until she sensed the arrival of her trusted servant.

Bowing before his mistress, the disguised creation presented a poster he had acquired from its glass container.

The Lady only needed a single glance to determine the artist responsible for creating such a simple yet elegant piece. A smile appeared as destiny once again proved to be her faithful ally. “It appears a siege is not needed after all.”

Leaning down to see what made Little Miss Mystery so happy, the Spider Queen raised an eyebrow. “A play?”