WarmPeppermint

Long story short, life got far more busy than anticipated and, simultaneously, I managed to burn myself out and sadly two negatives do not make a positive as I've learned. :[ But don't you worry, I will finish LLR and if it's the last thing I do! It just may take me a while because I've decided to not pressure myself from now on in terms of updates and just post/draw when I can and feel like it :D Additionally, I wanna post more stuff from other fandoms as well! Don't know what yet but I have some rough ideas! My original idea for this blog was always that it would be a variety blog consisting of all my hyperfixations! :]

So my mind wandered as it does and I came up with a thought of “what if the jade emperor used macaque to humble Wukong in this au?” And “what if the jade emperor took away macaque’s identity as a warrior that Wukong and he were so proud of”

So basically Wukong was knocked out in the battle before getting thrown into the furnace and then locked under the mountain. He thought all his friends left him and ran. Ne Zha went with some other guards to make some final examinations on the seals before leaving him to his time out, and Wukong was complaining about his no good friends and ex for leaving him high and dry. He’s breaking up with macaque as soon as he sees him for leaving.

The others ignored him, but ne zha was the one to tell Wukong macaque rushed to Wukong after portaling the others to safety. But he got captured too. Ne zha had such a sad look when he left Wukong with that knowledge to fester. Wukong didn’t know what ne zha ment until macaque showed up with a jade mask instead of red, and jade eyes and the hugest customer service smile.

macaque is made the emperor’s secretary. Of corse he has to dress the part and groom himself accordingly. Some people found his sharp teeth not all that welcoming when he has his customer service smile on so they were either shave down or ripped out. He’s also forbidden from violence. Even if someone were to break into heaven, he has to run and hide and let the guards take care of it, effectively killing his warrior title.

While Wukong was trapped under 5 phases mountain, macaque was the one who cared for him, but never got too personal and was always professional about it. Never calling Wukong by his name, only his title. Which kills Wukong cause all he wants is to hear his love laugh his name while brushing his hair, instead of only speaking to him to inform him on the newest decrees the jade emperor declared.

By the end of his imprisonment, hearing ppl call him the great sage feels more like a mockery to him.

Like others I’ve read of this au, Wukong still is a good noodle on the journey cause he wants his moon back. The jade emperor does congratulate the group and offer a reward. Wukong jumps at the opportunity to ask for macaque back. The emperor says anything but that. Even the other pilgrims try to give up their reward and ask for macaque back but emperor still still says no.

So with tears in his eyes the only thing Wukong’s can ask for is that no one can touch or harm macaque. The jade emperor at least grants that

Macaque continues to be the secretary, gathering info, material and informing others on behalf of the jade emperor. In fact, before sending in Wukong, the emperor sent macaque first to try to de-escalate the situation. It does the opposite when they see what the heavens did to macaque. Thus Wukong was sent in

From then on macaque was the one to deliver macaque any orders from the jade emperor. Every time Wukong does as he’s told, he’s offered a reward. Ever time he asks for his moon back. Every time he’s denied and told to pick something else

So he settles on asking for macaque to groom him so he can close his eyes and pretend everything didn’t suck. At first macaque brought up how that counteracts his first reward but Wukong’s said it’d different cause macaque touching him not the other way around

When MK becomes wukongs successor, macaque was sent down to appraise mk and see if he’s a danger to the heaven realm. MK is super polite to well dressed monkey (cause pigsey taught him right) but when Wukong sees the 2 talking, Wukong thinks the jade emperor is planing on taking another person dear to him, so he acts aggressive and tells macaque to gtfo. MK assumed they just have bad blood and doesn’t find out what really happened till the memory scroll

Azure kills the emperor and gets control of Mac but doesn’t free him saying it would be cruel to make Mac get in the middle of this so it’s best to keep him under control and out of the way. Plus it will take time to unravel the spell safely. Best to keep Mac this way till it’s over. This kinda plants the seed for yellow tusk to defect and go to wukongs team cause not only is azure not acting any different that the jade emperor but the universe is cracking too

Eventually azure comes to his senses and give Wukong the authority and spell to free Mac before he evaporates.

It takes a while but eventually Mac is free. And also in coma