#nlom

Tripitaka: I think you’re cocky, arrogant, bossy, and pushy. You also have a god complex and don’t think of anybody but yourself.

Davari: But--

A New Legends of Monkey fanfic inspired by @fandom-which-one. I don't know you, but I hate you as much as I love you. The feels... T_T

English is not my language so please excuse my grammar.

Darkness.

He never stopped to wonder how death was, but darkness was an unsurprising answer. The consciousness was a bit overwhelming for him, though. He had heard sages talk about the peacefulness of death but being stuck with his thoughts was at best annoying.

He wondered if he would be remembered for another 500 years. Well, he was the monkey king, so of course, he would be remembered, but he wondered how. After all, in an extremely selfless act, he threw himself into the sun. So he had to be even more legendary than he was before. Especially if Tripitaka was the one to tell his story.

Tripitaka… he would have spoken her name, if he could, just to feel its sonority against his lips. Monkey was proud and egocentric on the surface, but he knew better than to lie to himself. His last act was far from selfless. He knew that it was either shadow-Monkey, and therefore him, or Tripitaka. And if Tripitaka had died, he wouldn’t have been able to live another second.

Now, she was under the protection of Sandy and Pigsy, the only ones he trusted nearly as much like himself with her. He missed them, already. Pigsy and his wholesome shape and meals. Sandy and her quirks. Tripitaka and her… everything. He knew they missed him too and this brought a bit of comfort.

He had only one regret: not telling Tripitaka the extent of his affection. Monkey was definitely not the best at dealing with the matter of the heart, but he had realized his fondness for her when she fell from the tower. His monk was incredibly smart, she had to know he loved her. He jumped after her without even a doubt. He followed her when the white Tripitaka dude needed him. He gave his life for her. He had done everything in his power to keep her safe and sound and certain of her worth.

Damn, he wanted to see her. He cursed at himself for not being as straightforward as he could have been. He cursed at Tripitaka for not running into his arms at any occasion. He cursed at the demons for preventing them from having a peaceful day. He cursed at Shadow Monkey for menacing her.

In his frustration, he punched into the nothingness and found a wall covered with slime. He realized he was pretty cramped too. He pushed the walls surrounding him and broke free. He started at the sun, high in the sky, farther than when he died. He looked around and saw the mountain beneath his… Egg.

His eyebrows rose with incredulity, but he had no time to waste. He had no idea how or why he was alive, but he was not going to let his chance pass. He called for his cloud, but the damn thing didn't come. He feared for a second that the cloud vanished into the sun, but he still could feel their connection. It was just being stubborn again.

Well, no matter, he would run all the way to her. He climbed down the mountain in a hurry and arrived near a village. It was only then that he realized he was naked. In a hurry, he picked some clothes laid out to dry. He considered leaving without saying anything, but she would not like this. So he drew a monkey on the dirt with a stick and ran again. He would come back later to pay his due.

Miraculously, his egg was not so far from the beach he left them. He stopped before he could see the sand. He didn't want to make his big declaration dressed as the day he was born. He slipped into the clothes he just borrowed. They were feminine and way too tight to be comfortable, but it would have to do. His godly figure would look good in anything anyway.

Monkey walked on the beach, his chin raised up a bit, his hair floating in the wind. Pigsy, Sandy and White Tripitaka had their back turned. His Tripitaka was nowhere to be seen but he assumed she was hidden by them. After all, she was an adorable tiny human. He cleared his throat.

”Missed me?”

The smug smile he had disappeared as soon as he saw Pigsy face. His beard was drenched with tears and his mouth wobbled. Sandy was no better and even White Tripitaka looked more depressed than usual.

”Guys, it's okay now! The great Monkey is back! Where is Tripitaka? I have something to tell her.”

Sandy and Pigsy parted to let him see the reason for their sorrow.

Tripitaka was there, lying peacefully on the dark sand. Her cheeks and eye corners were wet but her expression serene, as if she had just fallen asleep.

Monkey dropped to his knees. His hands gripped at the sand as he struggled to breathe. He nearly crawled to her, all strength gone from his limbs. He didn't dare to touch her so he just stared, mouth opened, air deprived as the grief clad his throat. He finally inhaled and it was the most painful experience he ever had. His lungs were made of stone, his mouth was dry and his hands shook too much for him to do anything. He exhaled in a cry, his voice echoing on the cliff. Finally, he took her.

He put one hand under her head and the other on her back and hugged her small frame. She was so light in his arms, so frail. So far away. He rocked her slowly against his chest, his hand stroking her short hair. He kissed her forehead, hoping she would wake up to shoo him away.

She couldn't be gone. Not like this. He had so much to tell her. So much to show her. She would wake up at any moment and they would continue their quest as if nothing had happened. He just had to be patient. Monkey sat in a lotus position and brought Tripitaka on his lap, holding her head against his shoulder. If he had to cry a river for her to come back, he was on the righ path.

”She brought you back, ” Sandy whispered in a cracked voice. ”She gave her life for yours.”

Monkey frowned. The scrolls were scattered around her and he understood.

”Why did you do that?” he asked the lifeless Tripitaka in his arms. ”You had no right to take your life like this. I am the one who saves you, not the other way.”

If only he had been strong enough to defeat Shadow Monkey, he would not have to destroy the scroll. He would not have died, she wouldn't have to save him. He sobbed, holding her as close as he could.

“I can’t go on without you, you know that? There’s no Monkey without Tripitaka.” He looked at her, her traits blurred yet delicate, her pink lips that were condemned. He would have given his beating heart just to see the fire burning in her eyes again.

I'm about five years too late to this show, but here's some HQ pics of Jarred Blakiston as the "Font Demon" from New Legends of Monkey

Angela, tears in her eyes: I love you guys so much. I'm going to treat you to ice cream. My place.

Nlom and co, tears in their eyes now: holy shit yes.

The Return of the King