Chapter Text
In a faraway land, long ago, lived a king and his fair queen.
They ruled a land filled with magic and demons of every variety.
For many years they longed for a child and finally, their wish was granted.
A son was born and they called him Sun Wukong.
Yes, they named him after the dawn for he filled their lives with sunshine.
Then a great holiday was proclaimed throughout the kingdom so that all of the high or low estates might pay homage to the infant prince.
And our story begins upon that most joyful day…
On this day, the kingdom of Flower Fruit Mountain celebrated the long-awaited royal birth. Good King Tripitaka and Merciful Queen Guanyin welcomed their lifelong friend. The ruler of the neighboring kingdom of Diyu, The Macaque King.
The trumpets blared, announcing the arrival of a tall, dark-furred monkey demon followed quickly by a much smaller dark-furred monkey. The tinier demon had the unique feature of having six ears, three on each side of his head. For this, he’d earned the name, Prince Liu’Er Mihou. Fondly had these monarchs dreamed of one day uniting their kingdoms. On that day it was going to be announced to the two kingdoms that Prince Liu’Er would be betrothed to Prince Sun Wukong. With them both being monkey demons the issue of heirs between the two wouldn’t be a problem.
Queen Guanyin guided the four-year-old Liu’Er to the bassinet that held the sleeping newborn. As he looked down, unknowingly at his future bride, his tiny hand reached in to poke at the soft cheek. A quiet little chirp came from the baby monkey. He stirred slightly, eyes opening to reveal the brightest gold the young prince had ever seen.
The trumpets blew again, with three more magical demons entering the room. A red-haired bull demon, a black-haired dragon demon with green bangs on either side of her face, and a black-haired half-monkey demon.
These three were known as ‘The Three Good Fairies’ despite none of them being actual fairies. It was more their good deeds defending the people of each kingdom that earned them their title.
They were the genius Red Son, the hot-tempered Mei, and the endearingly clumsy but positive MK.
The three were allowed to approach the prince’s cradle.
“Awwww he’s sooo cuuute!” Mei squealed. As she and MK cooed over the baby, Red Son addressed the royal couple.
“Your majesties, the three of us are allowed to gift your son one gift each, no more, no less.” They nodded warmly at him as he bowed before turning to the cradle. He held out his hands above the little one, soft flames licking at his fingertips, “Little prince, my gift shall be the gift of beauty. Not just on the outside, but inside too. The beauty of seeing the best in all you meet, the beauty of compassion, and the beauty of self-worth.” The red flames leaped off his fingers, transforming into tiny, harmless sparks raining down upon the infant prince. He stood over him long enough to ensure his gift would be accepted by the baby’s developing magic before signaling for the next of the trio.
Mei approached with stars in her eyes. She too held out her hands with green flames appearing in her palms.
“Tiny, adorable, baby, so cuuute prince. My gift shall be the gift of strength. Physically and mentally. The strength to stand by your kingdom in trying times, the strength to protect your people, and the strength to know when a fight is not the answer.” Like the red flames before the green ones turned into sparks that floated down safely on the golden prince. She grabbed the last of their trio’s arms to pull him in front of the bassinet.
“Uh, sweet prince, my gift will be..” As MK raised his arms to conjure his magic for his gift, he was suddenly interrupted by the doors to the great hall bursting open. A cold, biting wind blew through. Several tapestries fell due to the force of the gale. An ominous blue fog emanated from the ground. It built and built until it resembled the figure of a woman. As sudden as the fog came, it fell like a curtain, and standing there was a demoness with an ice-cold smile and pure white hair. Perched on her shoulder was a black crow with glowing blue eyes. Nobody announced her arrival, no one needed to. Everyone knew who this woman was.
The Lady Bone Demon.
“What does she want here?” Mei stepped forward almost like she was going to fight, but Red Son pulled her back. The three stood protectively between the ice demoness and the newborn prince.
“Well, quite a glittering assemblage, King Tripitaka.” Lady Bone Demon’s voice was as sharp and merciless as an iceberg, “Royalty…” A pointed look at The Macaque King and Prince Liu’Er, “..the nobility, the gentry, and…oh how quaint even the rabble.” This last comment she shot towards the ‘three good fairies.’ This time it took both Red Son and MK to hold Mei back, “I really felt quite distressed at not receiving an invitation.”
“You weren’t wanted!” MK snapped before he could stop himself.
“Not want…” An expression of fake surprise crossed her pale feature, “Oh dear, what an awkward situation…I had hoped it was merely due to some…oversight. Well, in that event, I’d best be on my way…” She began to turn to walk away.
“And...you’re not offended, your excellency?” Queen Guanyin asked.
“Why, no your majesty!” The ice demoness stopped in her tracks and turned back around. She drew closer to the bassinet, “And to show I bear no ill will, I, too shall bestow a gift on the child.” A strange, glowing blue sigil hovered over the infant prince as she raised her arms in the air, “Listen well, all of you. The prince shall indeed grow in grace and beauty, beloved by all who know him. But before the sun sets on his sixteenth birthday, he shall prick his finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die!” With a mighty cackle the gift - no the curse - took hold, sealing the newborn’s fate. The queen futily drew her son to her chest like it might protect him. Lady Bone Demon’s laughter echoed even as the fog drew back in, hiding her from view. She was still laughing, long after her image faded away with the mist.
Once joyous and wondrous, the atmosphere had turned in an instant to fear and dread. Queen Guanyin looked up at her husband, both of their eyes shining with unshed tears for their son.
“Don’t despair, your majesties.” Red Son stepped up once more with a determined gleam in his eyes, “MK still has his gift to give.”
“Then, he can undo this fearful curse?” King Tripitaka asked hopefully.
“Oh, no sir! The Lady Bone Demon’s powers are far too great!” The half-monkey demon shook his head, “But..but I can help. I can save his life, at least…” The queen knelt in front of him with a nod. He sucked in a breath, placed his hands hovering over the prince, and summoned golden flames to his hands, “Sweet prince if through this wicked witch’s curse, you prick your finger on a spindle, a ray of hope I give in my gift to you. Death will not touch you, you will only sleep, unaffected by time or age. From this slumber, you shall wake when the one to whom your heart belongs kisses your lips.” As the golden sparks fell onto the infant, his eyes opened once more. His baby hands gently grasped onto one of MK’s fingers like he was holding his hand.
The half-monkey demon just about melted on the spot, and not from using his magic to alter a powerful curse.