#second cycle au

Intro Post

Art:

LBD Encounter - MK Design - Red Son Design -

Writings:

1 - 2 -

Other Art:

PMV

Other AUs:

Here's a full color for Red Son's design in my Second Cycle AU.

And here's his adult look for epilogue stuff. This is well into his training under Guanyin since it takes place 100 years after the Journey to the West.

Sorry for the poor quality. These are just from my sketchbook.

Anyway, this is a little comic of the Lady Bone Demon encounter in my Second Cycle AU. And, no, MK does not have a cool staff of his own. He just picked up a staff-sized stick to practice with.

Qi Xiaotian

The Gold and Silver Demons are definitely involved in all of this, so the likelihood of this being another calabash situation just rose significantly. I didn’t account for their surprising power up and glow up. I mean, how can the two lamest, most annoying Demons in Megapolis just get new buff and scary upgrades out of nowhere? That’s not fair!

As far as I know, I’m still in the weird calabash illusion, so it could just be that they made the calabash versions of themselves look more intimidating or something—kind of cringe, honestly. That makes a lot more sense than them getting power boosted within the last week since our last encounter. Maybe I just have to beat them to escape the calabash this time! A true test for the Monkie Kid! A lesson on not relying on the magic staff! I can do this!

I wiggle around in the ropes tying me, but all I manage to do is make myself swing in the air. It’s good that I’m not afraid of heights or else hanging from the ceiling like this would be terrifying. Too bad I can’t move my arms to pluck out some hairs to summon a clone of myself to untie me.

Ugh. Pigsy is going to be so mad at me for skipping work! It’s not my fault though! He’ll understand if I tell him I got sucked up into another calabash, right? Oh, wait. He doesn’t know about the first time. I’d have to explain that whole story too…

Loud footsteps announce the return of one of my captors, accompanied by a protesting voice that sounds familiar. Buff-Yin enters the rocky cave chamber, and he’s got that Pig Demon dressed like Zhu Bajie with him. The captured Demon is the one making so much noise.

Buff-Yin ties him up next to me and leaves without a word, ignoring the empty threats of my fellow captive entirely. This is great. Now I have to come up with a way to free both him and myself. What would Monkie King do? Probably turn into something cool, but I haven’t learned any of the 72 Transformations yet…I’m a pretty poor excuse for a successor, aren’t I?

“Hey! You’re that weird kid we ran into the other day! You got caught by these Demons? No wonder we never came across you again! Master got all worried about you, you know!” the Pig Demon suddenly declares. “Elder Brother Monkey thought you must not be Human, but he’s always saying stuff like that. Super paranoid, he is.”

“You got caught too…really solidifies that you’re not the real Zhu Bajie at all,” I mutter to myself.

“Huh? I am the real Zhu Bajie! There’s only one, and that’s me! No one could ever replicate my magnificence!”

If there’s any possibility that he’s telling the truth, then what if I’ve actually somehow gone back in time? That can happen, right? With all the powers and magical artifacts that exist, time travel isn’t impossible.

“Okay, so if you are the real Zhu Bajie, how come you got caught by some lame Demons like Jin and Yin—even if they are bigger and buffer?” I ask him.

“Those two played dirty! They jumped me from behind with a gang of cohorts! Despicable!” he responds irritably.

Playing dirty and using tricks is definitely Jin and Yin’s style. His story is completely plausible. Additionally, I could be far enough back that this might be early on in the Journey. If I’m in the past, he might not be as powerful as he would be towards the end. This is making my head hurt.

After an awkward hour of silence, I try again to wiggle in the ropes, but all this amounts to is making myself sore. Fantastic. I could be in the presence of one of the original Pilgrims, and I can’t even free myself from some regular old ropes!

Even more agonizingly long hours pass where my brain runs through all the worst possible outcomes of this situation, most of which end with me being eaten. I didn’t think Jin and Yin were man-eating Demons, but I overheard them talking when I was first caught, and my entire perspective of them has been drastically altered. Trying to convince myself that these aren’t the real Jin and Yin hasn’t really worked out yet.

Finally, Buff-Yin returns again, this time with the rest of the maybe-Pilgrims minus Monkey. He also ties them to the ceiling as well before leaving. Maybe these big, muscled versions of the Gold and Silver Demons are actually stronger than I gave them credit for. If this is the past, and these are the real Pilgrims, then even early, less powerful Sha Wujing and Ao Lie together should’ve been able to deal with the versions I know.

“Master, isn’t that the young boy we met before hanging on the other side of Third Brother Zhu?” the possibly real Sha Wujing asks after a moment of silence.

“Yep…it’s me. I got captured…” I speak up with a sigh. “I should probably apologize for how I acted before, seeing as we’re going to be eaten and all. A lot of really weird stuff has been going on around me lately, and I guess I jumped to the wrong conclusions in my panic of waking up very far from home. So, I am really sorry for what I said and how I acted…”

“You are forgiven, young man. It saddens me that one as young as yourself has been through such trials. But worry not, my other disciple, Monkey, is very capable. I am sure he will come to our rescue before these Demons devour any of us,” the monk assures me quite calmly.

“Uh, Master, did you forget that three mountains were dropped on Elder Brother? It might take him a while to free himself if he can,” the River Spirit says.

“That…does lessen our chances…”

“Three mountains!?” I exclaim. Monkey equals past Monkie King, so that’s a problem! Being trapped under mountains isn’t exactly great for him. This is the worst! I can’t think of anything! I have to do something or we’re going to get eaten, and that would seriously mess with the entire timeline! A paradox would be created so catastrophic it could rip the fabric of the world apart! Or something horrible like that!

Once again, heavy footsteps shake the cave as one of our captors enters this part of the cave-system lair. This time, it’s Buff-Jin, and he stops in front of us. He looks each of us up and down. “Hmm. I could go for a snack while we wait for Mother to get here.”

Mother!? These two have a mother!?

To my horror, he unties me from the ceiling and holds me up. “I suppose this little runt will do for now.”

“Stop! Leave that boy alone!” the possible Great Monk cries out. “You should repent of your wicked ways! Eating Humans will only bring you suffering and punishment!”

“You think I care about the ramblings of a Buddhist monk? You’ll be next once Mother is here to share such a delicious feast, and your righteous flesh will grant us immortality.”

Oh my Buddha, I’m actually going to be eaten!? This can’t be real! If this is another calabash illusion, they are really going too far with it! This is way beyond the lame schemes of those two Demon brothers!

Buff-Jin carries me out of the cave into a larger section of their cavernous lair. Buff-Yin is off to one side, stoking the fire under a pot of water which is starting to bubble. Am I really going to die like this?! I don’t want to die!

I wiggle fiercely in the Gold Demon’s grip. It’s not nearly as tight as those ropes. With all my strength, I manage to free myself and quickly put distance between them and me. Think, MK! Think!

“Hey! Don’t let him run around like that, Jin!” Buff-Yin scolds his brother. “The runt’ll hardly sate you over til mother arrives if you have to work up a bigger appetite chasing him around.”

“He’s not even one of the Pilgrims. Can’t I just make it look like I ate him? I don’t know why we bothered capturing him in the first place,” Buff-Jin replies.

“What kind of evil Demons would we be if we’re not also terrorizing the locals? Just catch him already and at least make it look like you really ate him.”

“You’re…not going to really eat me?” I question, confused by all that I’ve just heard.

“Great, now you’ve done it, Jin. He’ll spill the whole plan to the Pilgrims if you don’t hurry and shut him up now,” the Silver Demon gripes.

His brother grumbles under his breath before lunging at me. I jump out of the way. Luckily, there’s a display of weapons nearby. Even better, there’s a spear. Spears are just like staffs with one really sharp, deadly end, right? Shouldn’t be too hard.

I grab the spear and point the sharp end at the encroaching Gold Demon. “If you don’t want to eat us, just let us go!”

“No can do! You’re not part of the plan, but those Pilgrims are! Now that you know too much, you must be silenced!” he responds.

Before either of us can make a move, there’s a knock on the door. We all freeze and stare at the two great stone doors. A woman’s voice from outside calls, “Jin! Yin! You better open up right now! I did not come all this way to be so disrespected as to not be properly greeted by my sons upon my arrival!” “Mother is here! Grab him!” Buff-Yin hisses as he leaves the fire to hurry to the doors.

Buff-Jin acts faster than me this time and grabs me. With a frantic look on his face, he opens a chest and shoves me into the folds of what feels like clothing. He shuts the lid and places something heavy on top with a loud thud. Well, I might now be eaten, but I will suffocate! Oh! Wait! I still have the spear! I can make a hole to let air in!

~~

Got another chapter written out for you all. I'm definitely altering the order of events, so things won't happen in the same order as they did in the original Journey to the West. At least in the beginning.

Qi Xiaotian

On the list of top five weirdest things to happen to me recently, waking up in the middle of the woods with no city in sight probably wouldn’t quite make it on there, but it’s still pretty weird. Now, if I combine it with the fact that I’m definitely not in my own body—given that this body is the right biological sex for my gender identity—and the old-timey clothing and long hair, this all might replace that calabash incident in the number three spot. Worst of all, I’m completely alone as far as I can tell. Solitude in the wilderness is not really my jam.

After a lot of aimless wandering, yelling for my friends in case they got caught up in whatever Demon shenaniganry this is, and getting used to actually being in a male body, I stumble across an overgrown dirt road. Normally, this would be fantastic, but now I have to decide which direction to head in. Hmm, what would Monkie King do? Oh! I know! West! A journey to the west! That sounds like a good idea!

“Right…which way is west again?” I ask myself out loud. Back to square one, I still don’t know which way to go. I plop on the ground with a huff. “Great job, MK. You don’t even know how to tell west from east. Some Monkie Kid you are.”

That’s when I hear the sound of voices approaching. Looking around, I spot several figures coming along the road towards me. Oh thank merciful Buddha! Other people! This is perfect! Maybe they can point me in the right direction to get home!

Impatient, I hurry towards them, waving and calling, “hey! Hi! Hello!”

The group stops talking as they notice me. As I get closer, I notice that they consist of a man dressed in traditional Buddhist monk robes riding a strange-looking white horse, a River Spirit not unlike Sandy, and a Pig Demon like Pigsy. Huh. I thought there was one more with them.

All of a sudden, I’m lifted into the air by the back of my round-neck robe. A voice that is both familiar yet somehow different says, “where did this Human kid come from?”

I twist my head to look at the face of my mentor, but even his face isn’t quite the same. His eyes are red, and his fur is darker. Any relief I might’ve felt is replaced with a renewed unease. This is not Monkie King. My bad.

“Uh, could you put me down please, Mr Monkey, sir,” I ask, wiggling in his grip.

The rest of that group has caught up by now, and the monk man inquires, “young man, what are you doing out here?”

A monk, a white horse, a River Spirit, a Pig Demon, and a monkey just like the Pilgrims from the Journey to the West. They could be travelling performers, maybe. Lots of people have put on theatrical performances of the Journey before.

“Kind of suspicious to come across a kid in the middle of nowhere, but I don’t think he’s a Demon in disguise this time,” the Monkey holding me tells his companions.

“Are you lost, young man?” the monk asks me.

“I think I am very lost, sir. This is not where I last remember being, and these are not the clothes I was wearing, and my hair hasn’t been this long in years. I know my boss is going to be upset when I don’t show up for work today, but I can’t tell directions out in the wilderness like this!” I ramble out.

“Yeesh, this kid could talk the ears off an elephant,” the Pig Demon states, crossing his arms.

“If this kid is telling the truth, which I have my doubts he is, there could be a Demon at work in this area, but I don’t know why it would bother with such a scrawny little brat,” the Monkey concludes. Rude but fair.

“Where are you headed, Little Guy? We could help you know which way to go,” the River Spirit offers to me kindly. He really does remind me of Sandy, except with darker reddish brown hair.

“Well, I’m from the city of Megapolis,” I respond.

All of them stare at me as if I just spoke gibberish or something.

“Could you repeat that, please?” the only Human of their group requests.

“I’m from Megapolis.”

“Meh-gah-po-less? I have never heard of such a place. It doesn’t sound like a city in China.”

The River Spirit and Pig Demon voice their agreement. None of them know Megapolis. How is that even possible?

“Megapolis is a big city along the coast. We’re a major trade hub and everything. How could none of you have heard of it?” I question, dumbfounded.

The monk produces a map from one of the saddlebags. He is really dedicated to his act, impressive. Looking over the scroll, he frowns and shakes his head. “I’m sorry, young man, but there is no Meh-gah-po-less on here. Are you sure it’s in China?”

What is going on? This has to be some kind of Demon trick! How can I know that they aren’t in on it? Just because they’re dressed up like the Pilgrims doesn’t mean they’re not evil Demons in disguise!

With a lot of effort, I manage to wiggle free of the monkey’s grasp. I take a few hurried steps away from them. Reaching for the staff I always keep in my ear, I find that it’s not there, nor is it in my other ear. It’s gone!? Was it stolen!? Oh no! Wait, maybe this is another calabash? But, this is so different from the last one!

“Young man, you don’t look so well. Why don’t you take a deep breath. Sometimes being tired or sick can leave us confused,” the monk tells me, sliding off of the horse’s back with an expression of concern.

“No, no, this is all so wrong. This is not my city, you all look like the Great Pilgrims, I am not in my own body, and I have no idea how to tell if you aren’t evil Demons trying to trick me!” I blow up, anxiety reaching its tipping point. “This is all so messed up, and someone stole my staff! And you all are trying to convince me that the city I’ve lived in my entire life doesn’t exist!?”

“Well now, this just got interesting,” the monkey says with a dark grin. “This kid clearly knows a lot more than he’s letting on, but I don’t take too kindly to the accusation that we’re evil Demons trying to trick him.”

I cross my arms. “Well, if you’re not evil Demons trying to trick me, than this might be another calabash, but that wouldn’t make sense because this is an even worse illusion than the last one. I mean, I thought the whole point is to get me to want to stay trapped in the false world.”

“I think this kid might be insane,” the Pig Demon comments.

No longer desiring to spend another minute here with these guys, I turn on my heel and storm off down the road. Good riddance! I don’t need some fakes confusing me! I just have to find my staff and break out of here like before, no problem.

Up ahead, there’s a looming mountain. I bet I could see a lot more of this place if I got higher up. Then, I could pinpoint the best locations for my staff to possibly be hiding.

~~~

Sun WuKong

So much for that short-lived entertainment. What a pity. Things were just starting to get interesting with that kid. I haven’t had a good fight in a while, and he was able to free himself from my hold. He clearly wasn’t an ordinary Human.

“That poor boy, out on his own at such a young age…it’s no wonder his mind is so confused,” Master sighs. “I pray Buddha watches over him and grants his mind peace.”

I roll my eyes. “Don’t waste your prayers on that brat, Master. He wasn’t an ordinary Human, if he was Human at all.”

“What are you saying? You already said he wasn’t a Demon in disguise, Elder Brother,” Zhu Bajie questions mockingly. “Sure he said some strange things, but that doesn’t make him not Human. And even if he is something else, he’s not evil. He didn’t attack us or anything.”

By the Heavenly Courts, I want to hit him so hard he goes flying. What an absolutely obnoxious swine he is, I grumble to myself. Less than two months of travelling together, yet every chance he gets to test my nerves, he takes it with enthusiasm. It makes me want to beat him up so bad he’ll never talk again through that gaping hole he calls a mouth.

Eventually, as we journey onwards, my mind returns to that kid again. We haven’t seen him along the road ahead of us yet, even though we’re probably travelling faster than he could on his skinny Human legs with no horse. If he stayed on the road, we should’ve caught up to him by now. What kind of idiot would he be to wander off into the woods, though? Then again, he probably is an idiot with the amount of brain damage he displayed in those crazed rants. Good riddance if he goes to get himself eaten by a Demon. One less idiot in the world to be a nuisance.

All the same, something in the back of my brain keeps tickling me about him. The way he felt, there was almost something vaguely familiar about it. It’s going to keep bothering me until I know what it is. Curses! Stupid kid!

~~

Here is the first chapter of my Second Cycle AU fic! I hope you all enjoy!

I've updated MK's official design for Second Cycle. I hope this is a little bit more time period accurate. I did some research into Tang Dynasty clothing.

This is his adult design. More for the epilogue stuff.