Birth of a King

by Fandom54100

Summary:

This is actually an AU where Wukong and MK switch roles :3 (I love swap AUs-)

Enjoy reading ^^

Notes:

Note: Lady Bone Demon's name is Baiguijing in tjis AU

Chapter 1: A King İs Born Part 1

Baiguijing: “The thing you need to understand about the old legends is that the story is never finished. There may be no pages left to turn, but there is always more to the journey."

In a village, everyone lived peaceful lives, as if no one noticed the coming danger.

Baiguijing: “Rising from the Netherworld, the Li Jing attacked. "

The sky turned a greenish-blue as the Pagoda-Bearing General appeared, holding his pagoda, clad in sea-green and white, with long black hair and beard.

Baiguijing: “No one could stop him, no one could resist. No one except... the legendary Monkie Kid."

In the sky appeared a brown-haired monkey with a red bandana. Monkie Kid had a dark black tail, visible ears, and a faint orange marking above his eyes. His golden eyes shone brightly. He wore white armor adorned with red, gold, and turquoise, along with gray shoulder guards.

Lady Bone Demon: “The Monkie Kid used his magical staff to pick up a nearby mountain. He trapped the Li Jing underneath it. The Monkie Kid sealed the mountain with the staff that no other being could wield, trapping the Li Jing forever. With the battle won, the Monkie Kid vanished, never to be seen again. Legend says the staff still lies on top of that mountain, the one thing keeping our world from certain destruction. And with the Li Jing gone, civilization was able to advance into the amazing city we now live in. A world of elegant cultures, gentle loving people, a city brimming with five-star cuisine, and all because of the Monkie Kid."

The black-haired woman with streaks of white in her hair proudly smiled as she retold the story to the young monkey.

The woman wore a white blouse, its buttons shaped like bones in an icy blue hue. Her eyes were blue.

Sun Wukong leapt up excitedly.

Sun Wukong was an anthropomorphic monkey the size of an average human. His body and tail were covered in orange fur, while his chest, face, ears, knees, hands, and feet were peach-colored skin. The fur on his head was either slicked back or spiked upwards, depending on his look. On his face was a pink heart-shaped marking, golden eyes with striped wings, and thick black brows. He wore a yellow robe with black trim and sleeves, a turquoise scarf, red trousers, black shoes, and a white belt.

Wukong: “Oh, that's so good! Monkie Kid's so cool! He's so strong and handsome-"

Baiguijing chuckled at the delivery monkey.

Lady Bone Demon: “Oh, Wukong. And you thought you knew all the Monkie Kid stories."

Wukong: “Oh, but I do. I got his whole life documented extensively in this unauthorized autobiography of Monkie Kid. Written and illustrated by yours truly. Like I knew he was born from a stone, and live behind a waterfall with his sweet little baby monkey friends! And- and- and oh!"

The mystic monkey’s energy made Baiguijing laugh.

Baiguijing: “It's nice to know someone's taking in all these stories. Pearls of wisdom, dripping from my lips."

She then cleared her throat.

Lady Bone Demon: “Well, you know the deal: one story, one free Mooncakes. Hmm?”

Wukong straightened his book, then looked at her as if he’d just remembered something. Nodding, he reached for the plate of Mooncakes on the table.

Wukong: “Huh? Oh, right, free cakes! Yep, on it. How heavy do you think a mountain is? Compare to like- "

Wukong tried to grab the plate, but someone threw a spoon at him.

??????: “Free cake?”

The one who threw the spoon took the cake.

The woman had bangs and long, fluffy black hair. Her lashes were pronounced, golden eyeshadow glistened, and blue lipstick shone on her smile as she looked at Mei. Atop her head rested a blue and gold crescent-shaped headdress. She wore a cropped white shirt and skirt trimmed in gold, with a blue undershirt and blue tights. A golden crown, long white flying boots, and golden shoulder pads completed her outfit. On her blouse was an orange circle with a blue crescent in its center. A white rabbit-shaped clasp fastened her belt. She smiled sweetly.

(Yes, I didn’t change her outfit because it suits her perfectly.)

Chang’e: “At the Mooncake Shop we can’t just hand out sweets for free, Baigujing. You know that.”

Lady Bone Demon stared at her friend with calm composure.

Lady Bone Demon: “Ah, but Chang’e, I was paying with wisdom.”

She smiled at herself with confidence, while Chang’e sighed in exasperation.

Chang’e: “Yeah? Well, wisdom doesn’t pay the rent, you silly goose.”

Still smiling, Chang’e patted her friend’s hair, then turned toward the mystic monkey.

Chang’e: “And you, Wukong. I think you’ve had enough of a break this morning. I’ve got a dozen orders waiting to be delivered, so stop lazing around and get moving.”

Still smiling, Chang’e watched as Wukong rubbed the back of his neck.

Wukong: “Yeah. I was about to take my break. So..."

Chang’e looked at him in surprise.

Chang’e: “A break? But Wukong, you haven’t worked all morning, and you know I need to expand the shop’s delivery zone.”

While Chang’e and a cook exchanged deathly glares, Wukong stepped in.

Wukong: “Uh, do you mean across the street?”

Chang’e: “I stand by my word, sweetheart. Now hurry along.”

Still smiling, Chang’e shoved the boy along. Then, seeing her friend still snacking, she sighed and returned to the kitchen with a smile.

---

Wukong was passing through Megapolis with his cloud to deliver cakes until he stopped at a construction site. He was listening to music when he entered, but froze in shock at the sight before him.

A woman and a young boy stood near a mountain, surrounded by bots that looked like Celestial Guards.

The woman wore a white hanfu adorned with red flowers. Her dark brown hair was tied up in a bun, decorated with lotus blossoms.

The boy beside her had black hair falling just past his shoulders, the upper half tied into twin buns with red ribbons. He had red huadian makeup above his brows. He wore a dark pink and reddish-gold trimmed armor with sharp shoulders, a red undershirt, and turquoise pants. Around his waist was a dark pink-reddish skirt tied with a turquoise lotus-shaped belt. He wore golden bracelets and dark brown boots, each fitted with a golden base that held the Fire Wheels. Flowing red ribbons drifted around his arms and body.

Lady Yin: “It feels like I've waited an eternity for this moment. Is everything in order?"

Ne Zha: “Just making the final adjustments, mother.”

Wukong quickly ducked behind some rocks.

Lady Yin: “Finally, after all this time, we have the means to lift Monkie Kid's egendary staff."

Wukong’s eyes sparkled as he looked at the staff.

Wukong: “Whoa. The Monkie Kid’s staff.”

Grinning slyly, he climbed up onto some pipes to watch from above. He smiled warmly at the bird beside him, and the two turned their eyes downward again.

Lady Yin: “My love will finally be returned, once we remove the staff."

She and Ne Zha noticed something.

Lady Yin: “Hm?”

A Celestial Bot climbed to the top of the mountain and tried to pull the Golden Staff free. But it couldn’t — its arms tore off. Screaming, it fell to the ground, staring in horror at its missing limbs. Ne Zha smirked wickedly at it.

Ne Zha: “You fool. You think we didn't try that already? It's going to take more than a few robots to lift the Monkie Kid's staff. Only those deemed worthy can wield it."

He summoned the Power Gauntlet and smirked proudly.

Ne Zha: “But I, Ne Zha, Third Lotus Prince, have designed this gauntlet to bend it to my will."

Ne Zha climbed the mountain peak and grasped the staff with the Gauntlet. Struggling, he wrestled with it until finally freeing it.

Ne Zha: “Yes! I did it!”

The one-armed bot looked on sadly while the other Celestial Bots applauded. But nothing happened.

Ne Zha: “What?! Why isn't anything happening?! Mother, are you sure this is the right mountain?"

Lady Yin sighed and rubbed her forehead in frustration.

Lady Yin: “No, maybe it was that other mountain with a magical staff sealing away my husband!

Both turned just in time to see Li Jing breaking free from the mountain.

Ne Zha: “Yes, father! Rise! Rise!”

Ne Zha laughed as Li Jing finally escaped.

Li Jing: “Flesh. Bone. I have returned to the realm of the living.”

Meanwhile, Wukong wrestled with the bird above.

Wukong: “No! Shoo! Go away!”

The conversation below continued.

Lady Yin: “Oh, Li Jing! How I’ve missed you.”

Li Jing: “Lady Yin! The years have been kind. How did you free me?"

Before she could speak, her son cut her off.

Ne Zha: “Actually, it was I, Father. I moved the staff. I learned how to harness it, to make its power mi-"

He realized his father was approaching him.

Ne Zha: “O-Our power.”

Li Jing grinned psychotically.

Li Jing: “Excellent.”

Ne Zha: “Now, we, the Li Family, will plunge the world into eternal darkness!"

The bird pecked Wukong, making him stumble and fall onto Ne Zha. Rising to his feet, he found himself face to face with the Lotus Family and their Celestial Bots. Nervously, he held up the cake box.

Wukong: "Someone ordered somencakes?”

Ne Zha: “Get off me, you idiot!”

Pink flames burst around him, throwing Wukong off.

Ne Zha: “Do you know what you just did?! You ruined my moment!”

Li Jing drew his pagoda, glaring menacingly at the mystic monkey.

Li Jing: “A little eavesdropper has fallen into our midst. It seems a waste to crush something so insignificant as my first act as ruler of this new world, but so be it."

He was about to strike when his son stopped him.

Ne Zha: “Wait, father.”

Li Jing: “What is it?”

Ne Zha: “Ahem. Waste not your energy on this peasant. Please, allow me to show you how powerful I have become in your absence!"

Li Jing smirked, lowering the pagoda.

Li Jing: “As you wish.”

Wukong muttered to himself while trying to sneak away.

Wukong: “Maybe I can use this chance to get away…”

Ne Zha: “In some ways, you’re very fortunate, Cake Monkey. Not many insects are lucky enough to be stamped out by the Li Family."

Wukong heard a whisper behind him.

Whisper: “The Monkie Kid’s staff…”

Noticing Wukong wasn’t paying attention, Ne Zha summoned his spear.

Ne Zha: “Are you even listening to me?! I, Ne Zha, Third Lotus Prince, will not be disrespected! You’re history!”

He lunged with his spear — but Wukong raised the Golden Staff to block it.

Ne Zha: “No way! How could you possibly lift the Monkie Kid’s staff?!”

Wukong stared at the staff in his hands with wide-eyed amazement.

Lady Yin: “This is impossible.”

Ne Zha: “I don’t know what’s going here, but I’m about to end it. That staff is mine!”

Wukong: “I'm supposed to be on my break!”

He swung the staff, blasting Ne Zha and the Celestial Bots away.

Li Jing: “This can't be...”

Wukong: “Whoa, that was way more explosive than I expected.”

Lady Yin stabbed her spear into the ground.

Wukong: “Stay back! I don't know how I'm doing this stuff!"

Lady Yin: “That staff isn’t yours, monkey. Hand it over.”

Wukong looked at the staff, thinking.

Wukong: “Hmm… no?”

The staff planted itself into the ground.

Wukong: “Okay, I didn’t even move it that t-"

The staff launched Wukong into the air.

Lady Yin: “He can’t escape with that staff!”

Li Jing growled angrily.

Li Jing: “Centuries trapped in oblivion, plotting my revenge and all of it thwarted by a little monkey?! I will tear the flesh from his bones!"

Ne Zha: “Father, allow me. I won’t fail you again.”

Li Jing glared at his son, his eyes glowing deadly turquoise.

Li Jing: “See that you don't. My patience is past its end."

Ne Zha bowed before him.

Ne Zha: “Of course, Father.”

He ignited his wheels and pursued Sun Wukong.

Wukong landed and quickly summoned his cloud to flee. Ne Zha burst out of the construction site after him.

Ne Zha: “Alright, Cake Monkey, hand it over!”

Wukong searched his pockets desperately for something to stop him, spotting the cakes.

Wukong: “I'm sorry, valued customer. You won't be getting your cakes."

He flung them into Ne Zha’s face.

Wukong: “Dang it.”

Ne Zha wiped the cake off his face with his hand.

Ne Zha: “Fine! Have it your way!”

Wukong: “Ah! You’re really scary, you know that, right?!"

Ne Zha crashed into the cloud from behind, triggering the staff again and launching Wukong high into the sky. He crashed down onto a building, bouncing from rooftop to rooftop. Ne Zha remained airborne.

Ne Zha: “Would you get down here so I can kill you?!"

Wukong: “Never!”

He crashed onto another building.

Wukong: “Ah, sorry!”

He scrambled off the rooftop, leaving Ne Zha behind. Then he laughed proudly.

Wukong: “I think I lost him!”

The cloud vanished beneath him, and he panicked.

Wukong: “Oh, Come on! Come on! Come on, old girl! You got this! Oh, don't do this to me! Oh man, I’m dead…”

Behind him, he heard Ne Zha’s laughter.

Wukong: “Ah!”

He ran until he spotted someone on a Cloud Board.

Wukong: “So sorry! I really need to borrow this! Bye!"

He snatched it.

SK: “Woah, hey, get back here—”

Ne Zha nearly slammed into him before veering to the side of the street.

Ne Zha: “I’m coming to get you, Cake Monkey!”

As he laughed, Wukong used the Cloud Board to dart through a truck. Wukong steered it toward an unfinished road, still chased by Ne Zha.

Wukong: “Come on, how are you keeping up?!”

Ne Zha: “What? You think I can’t smell that stench of yours from a mile away, no matter how complicated the path is?"

Ne Zha activated the boosters on his wheels to speed up. Wukong barely survived and leapt onto Ne Zha, clinging to him. Ne Zha tried to throw the monkey off, but Wukong spotted the end of the road and gasped in horror.

Wukong: “Ahhh!”

Both plummeted — until someone on a Shadow Bike rescued him.

Ne Zha: “You’ve got to be kidding me!”

Wukong and his rescuer sped away just before Ne Zha crashed into a building.

Everyone stared at the young prince in fear as he erupted in pink flames of rage.

Ne Zha: “Cake Monkey! When I find you, I'm gonna bust you into little bits!"

Chapter 2: A King is Born Part 2

Wukong and his friend stepped outside of Chang’e’s Cakes. A dark-furred monkey got off a motorcycle and removed his helmet.

The monkey looked a lot like Wukong. His body and tail were covered in dark fur, while his torso, face, ears, and hands had lighter-colored fur. Above his golden eyes was a furry red mark, a distinct wing, and thick black eyebrows. His clothes were made of yellow and black ru, with a black sash tied around his waist. A brown and gold chest plate crossed diagonally over his torso, along with an armored skirt. He wore black and gold boots, a flowing tattered red scarf draped like a cape, and a suit of armor.

???????: “I made it.”

Wukong: “Mac!”

Macaque took the monkey’s hands and hugged him.

Macaque: “Hmm. I saw you were in trouble over there and thought I’d help out. But you look like you were having plenty of fun.”

Wukong: “Actually, I almost died back there.”

Macaque: “But you didn't. So let's celebrate with a round of Monkey Mech!"

He pointed at the arcade machine.

Macaque: “You can even invite your new edgy friend.”

Macaque smirked teasingly while Wukong pouted.

Wukong: “Yeah, he was trying to kill me.”

Macaque: “Well, in that case—”

He turned toward his friend with a dark look, pulling out his phone.

Macaque: “Where does he live?”

Suddenly Chang’e appeared, curiosity on her face.

Chang’e: “Wukong? Where have you been? Can you explain to me why someone left a one-star review on Chang’e’s Cakes?”

Wukong: “Ah! Oh right. So, about that…”

Macaque smiled innocently.

Macaque: “Wow, one star! Congratulations! Better than nothing, right?”

Chang’e, smiling sweetly at the monkey demon:

Chang’e: “That’s not how it works, darling. Now, Wukong. I—”

She turned to him, but Wukong was gone.

Chang’e: “Where did he go?”

Wukong was running to the bakery.

Wukong: “Lady Baigujing!”

Chang’e: “Don’t run away while I’m asking you a question, Wukong! Get back—”

The door covering fell, blocking her path.

======================

Five friends were on the rooftop, two of them playing a board game. One moved a piece, and the other lost.

Man: “Aw, man! Not again!”

The camera panned toward the Flaming Foundry, where celestial bots and their armor were forged. Li Jing sat on a throne wearing new armor crafted by Ne Zha.

Ne Zha: “And… that should about do it!”

Li Jing tried to stand, but the armor was too heavy.

Li Jing: “This… is heavy.”

Ne Zha: “That's because it isn't powered up, yet. The suit absorbs energy to create energy. And what better source than the magic staff that kept you underground?"

Li Jing: “You mean the staff that you lost?”

Ne Zha: “Uh, yeah- it was that accursed monkey! I—”

Lady Yin floated past them, laughing.

Lady Yin: “Oh, don't toy with him, my love. We will get it back. I have Celestial Bots scouring the city. It's only a matter of time."

Ne Zha: “And while we wait, the furnace can convert other things into energy."

He tossed a faceplate into the flaming furnace, and Li Jing cried out in pain.

Ne Zha: “The more rare the item, the more powerful Father will become. And once we have that staff, he will be unstoppable!"

Once Li Jing calmed down, he sat again and began browsing through shops.

Li Jing: “Now to find something rare and expensive. Something to give me the power I deserve."

====================

Baiguijing was sitting in her shop, eating cake, when she was interrupted by a golden monkey, who caused her to spit crumbs everywhere.

Wukong: “Lady Baigujing!”

Baiguijing wiped her mouth.

Baiguijing: “Hmm?”

Wukong frantically searched across the counter.

Wukong: “Remember the story you told me this morning? About Li Jing? Argh, where is it? Where is it? Where is it?”

He spotted his book beneath a stack of bowls, slid it out, and caused the pile to crash down.

Wukong: “Ah, there is it. Li Jing, see?”

When Chang’e and Macaque entered the shop, they carried the scattered dishes away. Chang’e fainted, and Macaque caught her.

Baiguijing: “Yeah?”

She kept her indifferent tone as she ate her cake.

Lady Bone Demon: “What about him?”

Wukong leapt toward her.

Wukong: “Li Jing is back! The legend is real! The Monkie Kid's staff is removed! We have to find him! It's the only way to save everyone before the world is destr-"

Lady Bone Demon pushed him back with a spoon.

Lady Bone Demon: “Monkey, relax. You're getting spitle on my food. Besides, you're delusional. It's just a story."

Wukong: “Delusional, huh? Would you call this delusional?”

He revealed the staff, and everyone stared at it in disbelief.

Macaque: “Wow Wukong. You found a stick."

Wukong: “No, it's Monkie Kid’s staff!”

The other three burst out laughing.

Wukong: “You aren't listening! Li Jing is out there. We have to get the staff back to the Monkie Kid! It's the real deal. I'll prove it."

Chang’e, with a motherly tone:

Chang’e: “Oh really? How?”

Wukong: “Uh…”

The staff extended, smashing the table between Macaque and Lady Bone Demon. Lady Bone Demon looked at it in shock.

Lady Bone Demon: “Monkie Kid’s staff! I knew it all along! The legendary weapon that only he could wield to seal away evil! Wait a minute. Why do you have it?"

Chang’e: “Alright, I believe you. If the staff is here, then where is Li Jing now?”

Macaque held up his phone.

Macaque: “He's at the shoe store.”

Team: “What?!”

Chang’e: “This isn’t one of those duckling videos, is it, Macaque?”

Macaque giggled while scrolling through his phone.

Macaque: “There’s always time for duckling videos, but no. Look what just started trending. Hashtag Li Jing!”

========================

A shoe store was shown, and Ne Zha walked toward the clerk.

Ne Zha: “Ahem, we’re here for the new Yeelzebub shoes.”

SSA: “Yep, you and everyone else. Head to the back of the line."

Ne Zha frowned at the long queue.

Citizen: “Ye-yeah!”

Ne Zha: “Do you know who he is? That's the Li Jing you're talking to."

Li Jing grabbed his son and placed him behind him.

SSA: “Oh yeah, that's cool. Why don't you tell that to the people at the back of the line?"

Li Jing: “I am Li Jing! The Scourge of the West! And I will be taking those shoes!”

Clerk: “Uh, you still have to wait in line, I'm sorry."

Li Jing: “You will be.”

With his armor, he absorbed most of the shoes in the store, growing in size. He took one shoe in his hand.

Li Jing: “You know what’s better than a limited edition? A oneof a kind.”

He struck a dramatic pose with his son, laughing manically.

======================

The next day, the Li Jing continued to absorb more items, as Ne Zha land on one of the buildings.

Ne Zha: "Yes. With every item absorbed, my family comes one step closer to total domination! Once we get the Monkie Kid's staff, we will be unstoppable!"

================

Wukong and the team were riding in their repaired Tuktuk.

Wukong: “Very tight!”

Baiguijing: “Chang’e, watch where you’re going! You’re gonna kill us!”

Wukong: “Yeah, we gotta get to Flower Fruit Mountain without getting smushed in a car crash. All we need to do is drive through an entire ocean. Simple."

Macaque: “Guys! Li Jing has moved onto downtown. He's destroying the cheese tea stalls!"

Wukong: “All the more reason to get this staff back to Monkie Kid. Flower Fruit Mountain. It's the only place he could be. Right, Lady Baigujing?”

Lady Bone Demon: “Indeed. However, Flower Fruit Mountain is hidden away, deep in dangerous and unknown territory. So, I guess we better turn back."

Wukong & Macaque: “What?!”

Chang’e: “Oh come on, don’t be such a coward, you big baby. I know a guy that can take us there. The most dangerous, deadly, raged-filled warrior I've ever known."

Wukong, Macaque & Lady Bone Demon: “Ahh!”

Chang’e stopped the Tuktuk at a meditation site.

Chang’e: “Azure.”

Chapter 3: A King is Born Part 3

At a meditation center, the team trembled with fear at the sight of the lion holding a knife.

The lion had sky-blue skin, spiky orange hair at shoulder length with two front locks tied by purple bands. He had pink eyes, thick orange eyebrows, and an orange beard. His sharp teeth, broad chest, and feline-like knees made him even more imposing. He wore upward-curving pauldrons and a short golden chest plate that revealed his belly. His cape was golden with a purple back decorated with ornate patterns at the edges. His skirt was purple with golden lining, along with a golden sash and belt.

Azure: “That's a lot to take in. You know what I do to people who disrupt the peace?"

He smiled as he gestured toward a tea set.

Azure: “Serve them tea! You guys want some? You?What about the lady over there? Huh? Huh?”

Lady Bone Demon raised her hand.

Lady Bone Demon: “Ah, yes! Don't mind if I do."

While petting one of the cats, Macaque turned to a confused Chang’e.

Macaque: “Oh, you’re right, Chang’e. This guy is dangerous. He’ll kill us with cuteness!”

He placed one of Azure’s cats on top of Chang’e’s head.

Azure: “It's my own blend of anti-stress fruits. It really brings the heart rate down."

Chang’e turned to her old friend with confusion.

Chang’e: “Azure? What happened to you? Where's the angry, glass-chewing, fist-throwing buddy I used to know?"

Azure chuckled softly and rubbed the back of his neck.

Azure: “Oh, well, my therapist said I really needed to calm down. That's why I started drinking tea. Doing yoga. Investing in therapy cats. Really helps. Oh, don't you, Bluey?"

Azure smiled at his blue and yellow cat.

Macaque: “Oh, Mr. Azure, sir.”

He dropped to his knees.

Macaque: “We could really use your help. We've gotta get to Flower Fruit Mountain!"

Wukong also knelt.

Wukong: “Please, the fate of the world is at state."

Both of them pulled adorable kitten faces, making Azure smile.

Azure: “Ok!”

Wukong: “Really?”

Azure: “Anything for Chang’e. I can get you there, but it ain't a pleasant trip."

The two burst into a victory dance.

Wukong & Macaque: “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!”

Azure: “Alright, let's get moving. But I'm telling you, old friend. If things get hairy, I've changed. I don't go around picking fights no more."

Chang’e sighed, then smiled at her friend.

Azure: “Bluey, initiate launch sequence!”

Macaque: "Launch sequence?"

Bluey leapt from his master’s shoulder. Starting the boat, the team sailed off into the distance.

Wukong: “Whoooo! Yeah!”

The view shifted to binoculars watching the boat at sea.

=============

They lowered, revealing General Celestialclad. He walked toward Ne Zha, standing at the edge of a building, and knelt. This infuriated the Lotus Prince.

Ne Zha:“What?! You let them get away!?”

Suddenly, Lady Yin appeared from the air and pulled her son close.

Lady Yin: “Aww, so, your plan didn't go according to plan, huh? Oh, don't worry, my sweet, useless boy."

She held his cheeks.

Lady Yin: “Mother will get the staff. I'm not about to let anyone stop us. Not this time."

She vanished in a gust of wind.

=====================

On Azure’s boat, Wukong was training with the staff.

Wukong: “Halt, evil monster! I must thwart thee, for I am the Monkey Ki— Ahhh!"

The staff extended, breaking part of the vessel and nearly hitting Macaque.

Macaque glanced at the damage, then side-eyed Wukong before laughing and standing up.

Macaque: “Wooo! That was awesome!"

Wukong: “Sorry, Mac.”

Noticing something outside, Wukong saw a glowing light, signaling they had reached Flower Fruit Mountain.

Wukong: “We’re here! Flower Fruit Mountain! Ahhh!”

Chang’e & Lady Bone Demon: “Ahhh!”

A geyser struck Azure’s boat, knocking a chest into the sea.

Wukong: “Huh?”

They turned to see the Flaming Mountains.

Azure: “Welcome to the Flaming Mountains, gang! A volcanic ring surrounds the mountain making it virtually impassable. This path is the only safe way through. That's as close as the boat can get. Just... be careful."

Macaque, Wukong, and Chang’e began exploring the island to find Monkie Kid.

Chang’e: “Why Azure and Baigujing are cozying up on their boat instead of helping us, I’ll never underst—”

Her thoughts were interrupted by a geyser erupting nearby.

Macaque: “Watch out, Chang’e! Eeeeek! Eeeee! You gotta wonder why Monkie Kid decided to live here of all places."

While Macaque and Chang’e gasped in fear and pointed behind Wukong, he kept talking.

Wukong: “You know when Monkie Kid had to get through the Flaming Mountains he actually used Lady Yin's sword to—"

Lady Yin appeared, laughing.

Lady Yin: “Well, well, well. Aren’t you a little Monkie Kid fanboy?”

She thrust her magical staff into the geysers, absorbing the fire and launching it at them. But everyone managed to escape unharmed.

Chang’e: “Kids! Everyone okay?”

The team confirmed, but Lady Yin laughed.

Lady Yin: “I’ll be taking that staff now.”

Wukong: “This belongs to Monkie Kid. There’s no way I'm letting you take it.”

Lady Yin: “Oh, you're just a little monkey playing at being a hero. Sorry to disappoint. Playtime is over."

Wukong attacked her with the staff.

Chang’e: “Kid, no!”

Lady Yin used the Power Glove to grab the staff.

Wukong: “What?”

Lady Yin hurled Wukong away. Macaque, eyes brimming with tears, rushed toward his friend.

Macaque: “No! Wukong! Ahh!”

Chang’e: “Macaque! We gotta go!”

She grabbed Macaque’s arm and pulled him toward Azure’s boat. Before leaving, she cast a sorrowful look at where Wukong had been thrown.

Chang’e: “I’m sorry, som.”

As they departed, Lady Yin laughed.

Lady Yin: “At last the full power of my beloved will be unleashed."

She vanished in a whirlwind.

====================

Back on Azure’s boat, Chang’e was staring at the side of the vessel.

Chang’e: “He can’t be gone. He can’t.”

Azure: “I’m sorry, Chang’e.”

Baiguijing: “There was nothing we could do.”

Chang’e snapped, wiping her tears as she turned angrily to her friend.

Chang’e: “Nothing? Nothing?! I could have done something. I could have... I should have protected Wukong.”

In rare anger, she grabbed her friend by the collar.

Chang’e: “It’s over.”

Baiguijing: “It's not over. We can't help Wukong. But we can make sure no more lives are lost. Make sure his sacrifice wasn't in vain."

Suddenly, Macaque spoke up, drawing everyone’s attention.

Macaque: “Someone has to fight.”

Chang’e and Azure turned to the shadow monkey.

Chang’e: “Macaque?”

Macaque wiped away his tears.

Macaque: “That Celestial Bitch is going to…”

As a Smoke Monster appeared in purple light, Macaque smirked.

Macaque: “Pay~"

Azure wrapped his arms around the others, pulling them into a group hug.

Azure: “Than what are we waiting for? Let's go stop some bad guys!"

Chang’e and Macaque bumped fists. Then they set off toward Megapolis.

===============

Lady Yin, clutching the Power Glove, returned to her family and showed it to her husband. Li Jing grinned as the staff floated toward the hole in his armor. The armor absorbed it, growing stronger and making Li Jing even larger.

Chapter 4: A King is Born Part 4

When Wukong woke up, he saw little monkeys around him, and as they started attacking, he tried to break free.

Wukong: “Ah! No! Wait! Don't! Ahhh!"

Sun Wukong finally flung them off, and the monkeys ran away.

The mystic monkey held his head as he remembered what happened, then looked toward the Flower Fruit Mountain.

Wukong: “Whoa… Flower Fruit Mountain…”

Sun Wukong began climbing the mountain. He came across a waterfall, walked toward it, reached out, and unlocked its seal. Then he entered the Shuilian Cave.

Wukong: “Hey? Hello? Hello?”

When he looked up, he saw a mural depicting Monkie Kid’s various friends. Wukong noticed Monkie Kid’s image.

Wukong: “Hey! That’s the Monkie Kid!”

Then his eyes turned golden. Sun Wukong began seeing everything in gold, confused.

Wukong: “What? Uhh... what's happening? What's... uhhh... what's wrong with my eyes!?"

He saw the mural come to life, and his fear turned to excitement.

Wukong: “Woah! That's Monkie Kid when he was born from a stone. And when he got his staff! Woah! Ahh! Huh?"

He looked up and saw a golden MK.

Wukong: “Monkie Kid? Hey! Wait! Monkie Kid!”

He reached out to touch him.

Wukong: “It's really…”

But Monkie Kid turned into dust, and the golden vision faded.

Wukong: “Monkie Kid?”

Then, angrily, he kicked a rock and sat down.

Wukong: “Ugh! What was I thinking? For a moment there I thought. Hhhh! Lady Baigujing was right. I really am delusional.”

Wukong noticed a butterfly landing on his arm. As he stared at it in confusion, the butterfly suddenly spoke.

Butterfly: "'Sup?”

Wukong screamed in fright. But the butterfly kept trying to introduce itself.

Butterfly: “Yes yes! It is I, the Monkie Ki—”

Wukong crushed the butterfly with his foot.

Wukong: “Is it dead? Ohhh.”

The butterfly suddenly transformed back into his birthstone, then into a few animals, and finally into his original form: Monkie Kid.

MK truly looked like the legends described: brown fur, black-and-golden eyes, and a red bandana. But instead of armor, he wore a white tangzhuang with golden cloud patterns, a turquoise belt, red pants, and black shoes.

Wukong: “M-M-Monkie Kid?!”

MK grinned proudly.

MK: “Yep, that’s me. So, where’s my staff?”

As MK noticed the monkey on the verge of tears, his expression turned puzzled.

Wukong: “I'm so sorry! I tried to bring it to you, but Lady Yin came and took it! She's got this glove and—"

MK smiled to calm him down and crouched next to him.

MK: “I know, I know. Look, I'm gonna come clean. Um... I've been kinda watching you."

Wukong: “What?”

Wukong recounted the events involving him and the animal, realizing it had been Monkie Kid all along.

Wukong: “Wait, what? That was you?”

MK laughed, sitting on top of a stick, and pointed it at the monkey.

MK: “The look on your face. Perfect!”

Wukong tilted his head in confusion.

Wukong: “Perfect for what?”

MK crossed his arms with seriousness.

MK: “To be… my successor!”

Wukong gave the mystic monkey a weird look and checked if he was okay.

Wukong: “Uhhh... are you sure you're the Monkie Kid? You've been cooped up in here way too long! I think your brain went mushed up."

MK dropped the monkey to the ground with his tail, then went to a chest and started rummaging.

MK: “Listen, kid. You fought demons, and you didn't die, and you made it here. Not just anyone can lift my staff. But you did.”

Wukong: “What about Li Jing?”

Wukong smirked confidently, picking up a bowl of noodles and hopping onto his cloud.

MK: “Pfft! What about Li Jing? You can handle it. Consider it a trial."

Wukong: “But I…”

MK sighed, rolling his eyes at the monkey’s lack of confidence, then grabbed his shoulders to reassure him.

MK: “Look if you can lift the staff you can use it. Just believe in yourself. Even a smidge makes all the difference. The staff was taken from you. Take it back.”

Finally, Wukong smiled with confidence.

Wukong: “Alright!”

After bidding farewell to Monkie Kid, Wukong headed back toward the exit. But then he panicked.

Wukong: “How am I supposed to get back?"

The monkeys gave him a side-eye glance until he remembered he could make a cloud.

Wukong: “Alright!"

He created a cloud and flew off.

Wukong: “WOOOHOOOO! AHAHAHAH!”

================

Li Jing was rampaging through the city. During his takeover, he encountered Tuk Tuk Heavenly Bots.

Baiguijing, Macaque, Chang’e, Azure, and Bluey: “Ahhh!”

As he targeted a Heavenly Delivery vehicle, he laughed.

Baiguijing: “Oh no. Their secret weapons: barrels!”

The food truck was destroyed, and they all jumped out, causing the Heavenly Bot to flee. As the team struck a cool pose, pink flames burst forth, revealing Ne Zha.

Ne Zha: “So, you wanna be heroes, huh? Let me show you what happens to heroes!"

As Ne Zha smirked and flames ignited, Chang’e tried to keep her calm while Lady Bone Demon rubbed her arms angrily.

Baiguijing: “These punks are starting to get on my nerves!”

Just as Baiguijing and Chang’e were about to attack, a shadowy monkey hand stopped them.

Macaque: “I’ll handle this one.”

His eyes glowed purple as he summoned a giant Smoke Monster, but it was cut off when Wukong arrived on his cloud.

Wukong: “Ahhh!”

Macaque: “Wukong?!”

Wukong grinned and punched the Lotus Prince off his cloud. Ne Zha fainted, and Wukong landed.

Chang’e: “Kid!”

Azure sighed in relief, while Macaque hugged his closest friend and burst into tears.

Macaque: “Wukong! Oh, my goodness! We saw you blast into the fire. I thought you were all like "Phew, ahhh!" but you're not."

As Baiguijing poked Ne Zha with a stick, Wukong chuckled. Then Macaque smiled, suddenly pulling away as something came to mind.

Macaque: “Wait! Monkie Kid! Did you find him?”

Wukong’s eyes lit up as he looked at his friend.

Wukong: “Yeah, I did!”

Chang’e smiled as she approached, though confused.

Chang’e: “So where is he?”

Wukong: “He said it up to me, to us."

Macaque: “Well, that’s unexpected.”

He said it sarcastically, then they all turned to Li Jing.

Baiguijing: “And how are we meant to fight that?”

Wukong: “We believe in ourselves. You clean the streets. I'll stop the Ki Jing. Somehow."

Wukong looked nervously at the massive Celestial, but Macaque patted his back reassuringly.

Macaque: “Go get'em, buddy."

Wukong smiled at his friend’s encouragement, nodded, and soared off on his cloud.

The city was still in chaos as Li Jing rampaged with his pagoda and armor. When he noticed Wukong, he grinned wickedly.

Li Jing: “The little monkey thief returns.”

He tried to blast Wukong, but the monkey dodged. Then, the golden vision returned as he spotted something ahead.

Wukong: “What? Why is everything gold again?”

He saw where the staff was and brightened.

Wukong: “The staff!”

Wukong darted into the hole in Li Jing’s armor.

Wukong: “Ahh!”

Azure rushed forward to shield the others from the blast as Li Jing laughed, thinking he had finished the tiny hero.

Li Jing: “Now this world truly is truly mine!”

But then he staggered, his power fading.

Li Jing: “What is this?”

From the hole, a stone burst out, shattering to reveal Sun Wukong holding the staff.

At first, the Celestial General mistook him for Monkie Kid.

Li Jing: “Monkie Kid?..”

But then a golden circlet formed on Wukong’s head as he punched Li Jing.

Li Jing tried to blast him again, but Wukong skillfully deflected with the staff.

Wukong: “Missed me! Nope! Over here!"

He struck Li Jing down with his staff, then used it to catch the top half of a building.

Wukong: “Okay, here we go!”

Li Jing: “No!”

Wukong hurled the building at him.

Li Jing: “Not again! Enough!”

He blasted Wukong, slamming him into another building.

Li Jing: “You thought you could stand against me. I am Li Jing. I will not let a little monkey take victory from my grasp!"

As Wukong lifted his head, he saw the Monkey Mech arcade machine.

MK (flashback): “Just believe in yourself. Even a smidge makes all the difference."

Wukong landed as the Celestial General kept laughing.

Li Jing: “You might have that fool's staff, but you are not the Monkie Kid.”

Wukong: “You’re right…”

He lifted his head with determination, grinning.

Wukong: “I’m the Monkey King!”

Sun Wukong slammed the staff into the ground, summoning the Monkey Mech.

Wukong: “It's time for you and your family to be brought to justice. Here comes Monkey King!”

Wukong defeated Li Jing with the staff and the mech. A small explosion lit the sky as Li Jing shrank back, trembling at the robot.

Li Jing: “This is impossible.”

Wukong: “Nothing is impossible if you just believe in yourself. Make no mistake, you were just beaten by the Monkey King!”

Striking a flashy anime pose with the Monkey Mech, Wukong looked down as Ne Zha crawled from the rubble, battered.

Ne Zha: “You think this is over? It isn't over, bozo. Why don't you just get out of that dorky mech and fight me, you damn monkey!?*

The Lotus Prince rolled on the ground, landing beside his father. Wukong tried to reach for him, but a massive windstorm stopped him.

Lady Yin: “We know when we've been bested. But this won't be the last you see of us, Little Monkey.”

She laughed and vanished with her family.

Wukong: “What? No! No fair! Come on, you can't just run away when I'm right about to win!"

Wukong whined, as Macaque appeared below.

Macaque: “Wukong! You totally kicked Li Jing’s butt. Without us, the city'd been toast!”

Wukong climbed out of the mech, laughing awkwardly.

Wukong: “Yeah. But you know, I couldn't have done it on my own."

Azure hugged the two monkeys tightly.

Azure: “You did, little man.”

Macaque: “You’re basically the new Monkie Kid now!”

As the team struck a pose like the old Monkie Kid crew, Baiguijing cut in.

Baiguijing: “Haha! Monkey King, didn’t you say?”

Then Chang’e turned to the monkey, stroking his hair affectionately.

Chang’e: “You did good, kid. You did real good."

Azure: “But, er… what now?”

Macaque: “Isn’t it obvious?”

Wukong: “Yeah! Bust up more bad guys!"

Lady Bone Demon: “Or we could go eat some cakes.”

Wukong & Macaque: “Yeah! Cake, cake, cake!”

Atop the Monkey Mech, MK watched proudly with a smile, then bowed and flew away.

Chapter 5: Bad Weather

News Reporter: "And in breaking news, it's been confirmed that last week's devastation was caused by the legendary Li Jing. Questions still remains about the small overpowered young monkey who saved us all. Authorities warn citizens on...

The team was in Azure’s meditation hall. Baiguijing was eating Moon Cakes while watching TV, and Wukong was telling his friend about his adventure.

Wukong: "And I was like, "Stop there, Li Jing." And Li Jing's all like, "You can't stop me! I'm cwazy!" And then I grabbed my staff, and whoosh! I created this giant mech!

When Wukong stabbed his staff into the floor, it left a small hole in the hall.

Macaque: "Uh oh, looks like you sprung a leak, Wukong."

Wukong started to panic.

Wukong: "Oh, jeez!"

Suddenly, Chang’e entered the hall. She looked exhausted.

Chang’e: "I just pulled a quadruple shift at the shop. And none of you even bothered to come help me…"

Baiguijing looked at her friend indifferently while eating.

Baiguijing: "Oh, Chang’e. You really need to take a break. A little rest never hurt anyone."

Wukong agreed with an innocent face.

Wukong: "Yeah! A little rest never hurt anyone."

Suddenly Azure shouted in panic.

Azure: "Look out!"

One of the lamps fell toward the monkey, and the team grew worried.

Chang’e: "Kid!"

Wukong: "I—"

He blasted the lamp away with a puff of golden smoke.

Wukong: "Am invincible!"

Macaque: "Yeah!"

Macaque cheered with joy while Chang’e sighed.

Chang’e: "Look, Wukong, just 'cause you got the Monkie Kid's powers and all, It don't mean-"

The three of them gasped in fear when they saw what Macaque had created.

Macaque: "Wukong! How about this?"

He fired a shadow bazooka missile at Wukong, but the monkey was unharmed.

Wukong: "I’m invincible!"

Chang’e sighed with frustration.

Chang’e: "Look, kiddo, you're a superhero now. You're going to need-"

Excited, Macaque cut her off.

Macaque: "A cape! Maybe a logo, or a headquarters! Some vehicles, you know, all the stuff to help you beat bad guys!"

Chang’e: "No, what I meant—"

Macaque: "To the Battle Chest… base!"

He opened an elevator, and the team followed him in amazement. Chang’e sighed again.

Macaque: "Welcome to our new team base!"

Everyone admired the base.

Wukong: "Mac, when did you do this?"

Chang’e: "How did you do this?"

Baiguijing whispered into Azure’s ear.

Baiguijing: "Tell me, Azure, weren't you building a secret base for Wukong, too?"

Azure remembered the base he had made out of cushions and turned his gaze away.

Azure:
"Ummmm… no."

 

---

At the Celestial Forge, Li Jing was venting his anger by smashing parts of it to pieces.

Li Jing: "An eon trapped under a mountain and now this? I had the staff in my grasp. I should have crushed the thief when I had the chance!"

His wife and son tried to calm him.

Lady Yin: "Oh, my love. Don't be so dramatic. We've nothing but time. You will bring the world to its knees."

Ne Zha: "And sooner than you think, Father. Allow me to secure the power you desire."

Li Jing: "Get it done, then."

Ne Zha: "I won’t fail you again."

Then Ne Zha left.

 

---

Intercom: "Welcome to the Weather Station, where you'll notice it's another beautiful day. Here at the Weather Station, we control the city's weather to bring you a perfect day every day."

Ne Zha walked up to the man at the control panel and cleared his throat.

Worker: "Uh yeah, hey man, I'd like to help you and your friends, but I'm pretty busy."

Ne Zha smirked as he conjured a pink flame in his hand.

Ne Zha: "Not for much longer."

Celestial Bots began attacking the Weather Station. Ne Zha broadcasted his message to the city.

Ne Zha: "Citizens. It is I, Ne Zha. I have taken control of the Weather Station and will harness the very power of nature to return my father to his former glory. This message is more of a courtesy really."

He pulled a lever, summoning a storm that flooded the Great Wall of China.

Ne Zha: "When I'm finished, my father will once more dominate the world! And then- Oh look! A lightning button."

When the broadcast ended, Wukong and Macaque were thrilled, while Lady Bone Demon kept eating her cake.

Wukong & Macaque: "Oh yeah!"

Chang’e panicked, looking at the duo.

Chang’e: "What do you mean 'Oh yeah'? This ain't an 'oh yeah' moment!"

Macaque threw something dangerous toward his best friend, but the monkey remained unharmed.

Wukong: "Relax, Chang’e. I’m invincible, remember? If the champ wants to brawl, then bring it on!"

Macaque: "Yeah! Because he’s a superhero, yo! Lotus Baby, will knock off by Sun Wukong!"

Chang’e: "Uh, you got a lot to learn, kid. Don't just dive head first in the danger-"

She realized Wukong was already gone.

Chang’e: "Wait, what did I just say?!"

Wukong was already laughing and heading off with his staff.

Wukong: "Totally invincible!"

 

---

At the Weather Station, Ne Zha was sitting with his feet up on the table, sipping a milkshake, when the team arrived.

Wukong: "Not so fast, Ne Zha!"

Ne Zha turned his chair around to see Sun Wukong and the team.

Ne Zha: "Little Monkey! I thought I smelt some garbage! Turns out I was right!"

As Ne Zha laughed, Wukong grew annoyed.

Wukong: "You're laughing now, but…I'm invincible! So yeah, you're basically toast. Prepare to get Wukong Knockout!"

His staff grew, and he tried to strike Ne Zha—but he couldn’t control it. At first, Macaque tried to cheer him on but then noticed.

Macaque: "Come on, Wuko—umm… Wukong… your staff—"

The Golden Staff hit him on the head, knocking him out. Chang’e screamed in fear and turned to the monkey.

Chang’e: "Oh my gosh! Watch what you’re doing!"

Wukong: "Sorry, Mac!"

His staff nearly hit Lady Bone Demon and Chang’e, but they barely escaped. Instead, it smacked Azure.

Azure: "Ah, my chakra!"

Azure collapsed unconscious.

Baiguijing: "Oh no! You've killed him!"

Macaque: "Eh, he’s a big guy. He’ll be fine."

Shadow Monkey collapsed on the lion.

Ne Zha: "You idiots done beating each other up yet?"

Wukong: "Yes, and you’re next on my list!"

He threw the staff at Ne Zha, but it landed behind him, swung around, and launched him out of the Weather Station.

As the others remained, they were suddenly surrounded by Celestial Bots.

Ne Zha: "I guess the garbage takes itself out now!"

He laughed victoriously.

 

---

Wukong had made a crater in the ground. Then he heard a familiar voice behind him.

MK: "How’s it going, buddy?"

Hearing his mentor’s voice, Wukong perked up and stood.

Wukong: "Monkie Kid! Great! Great! Now that you're here, we can go fly up there and smash that-"

He smacked his fist into his palm, but MK just chuckled.

MK: "No, no, no, no, no. In case you forgot, I'm retired. You're supposed to be taking care of the bad guys. Besides, you're invincible! Right?"

MK pointed his back scratcher at his successor with a smile. Wukong seemed disappointed.

Wukong: "Well, yeah I mean, I am invincible, but, you know. Every time I try to do anything I just gunk everything up. Something's wrong."

MK tilted his head, then hopped on his protégé’s shoulder to search for the issue.

Wukong: "Hey, what are you doing?"

MK: "Ah yes, you’re right. Oh, this is bad. Something’s really wrong."

Wukong panicked and started running around, which was funny to watch.

Wukong: "What is it?! What’s wrong?!"

MK: "It’s you, buddy."

He patted Wukong’s hair with a smile.

Wukong: "What?"

MK stepped back, looking serious.

MK: "In order to have full control of your powers, you need self-confidence."

Wukong confidently posed next to his mentor.

Wukong: "I already have self-confidence!"

But MK gave him a side-eye and sighed, keeping his calm, serious look.

MK: "No, you’re just loud. The only way to get self-confidence is-"

Wukong: "Fake it till I make it?"

MK couldn’t take it anymore and burst out.

MK: "No! Practice! You think I took shortcuts? No. It took me centuries of training and fighting and just beating up demons. Just, so many demons. A-anyway, nothing worth anything comes for free."

MK glanced away and coughed.

Wukong: "But what about my friends, the city? They’re all counting on me."

Wukong gave him puppy eyes. MK resisted at first, but then sighed softly.

MK: "Fine. If it'll stop your whining. I know a way to limit your powers so you can learn to control them. But..."

Wukong: "But what?"

MK: "You won’t be invincible anymore."

Wukong thought for a moment, then sighed.

Wukong: "Alright, let’s do it."

MK nodded and smiled.

MK: "All righy. No turning back."

As everything glowed golden, MK clasped his hands and pushed them toward Wukong, sealing and limiting his powers. Wukong collapsed to his knees.

MK: "Feel better, buddy?"

Wukong grinned at his mentor.

Wukong: "Yeah!"

Convinced he was fine, MK nodded and took him back to the station.

 

---

The team was tied up while Ne Zha chuckled to himself.

Ne Zha: "Fools."

Macaque was biting his ropes when a familiar voice came.

Wukong: "Oh, Ne Zha!"

He was gently dropped to the ground by a bird.

Wukong: "Let's settle this for real. I won't let you get away with this."

Ne Zha laughed at him.

Ne Zha: "You're back to beat yourself up some more?"

Wukong: "Hey. I'll have you know I can control my powers now. Only downside is I'm not invincible anymore, so I could die."

Everyone gasped at the monkey.

Chang’e: "What?!"

Macaque: "Wukong, you can’t be serious!"

Wukong: "Forgot I said that I got this. Here comes the Monkey King!"

He charged with his staff, but Mei stormed in with a squad of Celestial Bots. Wukong screamed as he tried to dodge them.

Wukong: "I totally don't got this!"

The Bots rained down on him from above. Ne Zha then attacked, and the two clashed for a while before Ne Zha threw the monkey into the control section.

As Wukong lifted his head after crashing, he saw a swarm of Celestial Bots charging at him.

Wukong: "How am I supposed to fight all of them?!"

Then his Golden Vision activated on its own.

Wukong: "Oh! It's that weird Gold Vision thingy."

He looked up at the light, and an idea struck.

Wukong: "That’s it! Ahh!"

He was buried under a pile of Bots. Ne Zha stood on top of the heap.

Ne Zha: "Not so tough without all of your Monkie Kid’s powers, are you? Huh?"

The pile shifted. The staff extended, scattering all the Bots and leaving Ne Zha dangling in the air on top of it.

Wukong: "Oh, look! A lightning button."

He pressed a button on the control panel. A bolt of lightning struck Ne Zha and the Celestial Bots, electrocuting them. When it ended, Wukong hid behind the console.

Ne Zha fell to the ground, staggering from the shock.

Ne Zha: "You may have won this round, but… you’re still a useless monkey!"

He used a pink firestorm to retreat.

Wukong: "Let's get this place back to normal."

He pressed buttons on the control panel, restoring the weather to sunny.

Wukong: "And that should do it."

Macaque: "Wukong!"

Macaque lunged at his best friend, and Wukong collapsed unconscious. Azure came over to them as well.

Macaque: "Wow, you really did limit your power."

Wukong: "Yeah. Just till I learn to control them better."

Chang’e: "And… how are you going to do that?"

Wukong: "Practice, practice, practice."

He bonked himself on the head with his staff, making the team laugh.

 

---

Back at the Celestial Forge, Li Jing pounded his fists into the ground in fury, blasting several Celestial Bots into the air.

Li Jing: "The little thief has stolen from me again! I will not be undone by an insect!"

As he raged, he noticed something.

In his tantrum, he had accidentally opened a cage a little.

The cage glowed orange and crimson, and a male voice whispered from within.

Whisper: "Do as I say. Power is here. Release me."

Li Jing grinned as he looked at the tomb.

Li Jing: "Now that’s what I call power…"

Whisper: "Power…"

Chapter 6: Duplicatnation

Chang’e was holding a bag of cakes as she rang a bell

Chang’e: “Order up! Time to deliver!”

Wukong: “On it!”

Wukong then put on his headphones and began flying around on his cloud.

Wukong: “Chang’e’s Cakes! Chang’e’s Cakes! Chang’e’s Cakes! Chang’e’s Cakes!”

On his way back, he ran into Azure outside the meditation center, who was covered in paint.

Azure: “Wukong! Well boy, did you arrive at the right time."

He held out a paintbrush.

Azure: “Scoop up the brush! We're giving the old girl a fresh coat of paint!"

Wukong conjured a brush and bucket from his hair.

Wukong: “Yes! Painting is my middle name!”

Azure and Wukong painted the wall, showing off a fresh blue coat. At the end, they fist-bumped.

================

The day ended and Wukong was getting ready to sleep.

Wukong: “Now for eight to twelve hours of uninterrupted— Macaque?!”

Wukong was shocked to see his friend rummaging through his drawers for clothes.

Macaque: “Get up, get up, get up! We are going out! ”

The two spent the night at the arcade.

Macaque: “Woohoo! Anti-Gravity Arcade, yo!"

Wukong: “Yeah, yeah, yeah!”

================

Chang’e rang the bell again.

Chang’e: “Order up!”

Wukong: “Okay, Chang’e.”

The monkey yawned as he took the order.

Wukong: “Chang’e’s Cakes. Chang’e’s Cakes.”

Then he went back to painting with Azure.

Azure: “How about a nice sunset orange?”

The monkey helped his lion friend paint again.

At night, while Macaque was cheering, Wukong was briefly seen snoring at the arcade.

This cycle continued, with the monkey helping his friends 24/7 with any task they needed.

Chang’e: “Order’s up! Order’s up! Order’s up!”

Azure: “What if we try blue again?”

Wukong: “Chang’e’s Cakes. Chang’e’s Cakes.”

Macaque: “Wukong!”

Azure: “Wukong!”

Chang’e: “Wukong!”

================

One day, Wukong collapsed from exhaustion on the counter. Lady Bone Demon looked a little concerned.

Baiguijing: “Wow, Wukong. You look like hot garbage. Tired?"

Wukong: “What, me? No, I just need to close my eyes for a couple of seconds..."

He slumped into a plate of cakes. Lady Bone Demon grew even more worried, lifting his head slightly with a spoon.

Baiguijing: “You're pushing yourself too hard, Sun Wukong. Working all day, partying all night, painting boats? It's not good for a growing mystic monkey. You need to have time to relax."

Wukong: “I just— I don't want to let my friends down, you know. It's like I want to help out in store, do arts and crafts with Azure, and party with"

He mimicked a party pose.

Wukong: “Mac! But it’s so hard. I’m just one monkey.”

Baiguijing: “Too bad you can't make duplicates of yourself, like Monkie Kid.”

Wukong looked at her, confused.

Wukong: “Huh?”

Baiguijing picked up his book and flipped to a section.

Lady Bone Demon: “You know one of Monkie Kid's 72 transformations. Pluck out some hair. Blow on it."

Wukong thought about it, then nodded.

Wukong: “Okay.”

He plucked a tuft of hair and tossed it to the ground, but nothing happened.

Baiguijing: “And some monkeys pop out.”

The hair took a stone shape, then formed into an exact clone of Wukong.

Baiguijing: “Yep, a perfect clone of you pops out. Exactly what I said would happen."

While she went back to eating, Wukong and the clone stared at each other in amazement.

Wukong & Clone: “Whoa! Holy moly! I look exactly like me!"

Wukong: “Oh ho! This solves everything! Now I can be in all the places at all the times!"

Wukong & Clone: “Thanks, Lady Baigujing! Couldn't have done it without you!"

As Wukong and his clone left, Baiguijing looked worried at first but then brushed it off.

Baiguijing: “Hmm. If I wasn't so relaxed and cool, I'd probably be really worried about the consequences of this."

---

The next day, Wukong had all his clones do his jobs.

Chang’e rang the bell again.

Chang’e: “Order up!”

Delivery Clone Wukong: "On it, boss!”

The Party Clone was hanging out with Macaque.

Party Clone Wukong: “Yeah, yeah, yeah!”

Baiguijing, carrying books, came up to Wukong while he was playing arcade games.

Lady Bone Demon: “Would you please help me?”

As new tasks kept coming, Wukong created more clones. Old tasks piled up.

Azure: “Wukong!”

Macaque: “Wukong!”

Chang’e: “Wukong!”

Wukong just kept using his clones.

Chang’e: “I don't know what's gotten into you, Wukong, but I like the hustle!"

The Artist Clone painted Azure’s house, while the Party Clone partied with Macaque, wearing a fur coat and yellow sunglasses.

Macaque: “Yeah!”

Party Clone Wukong: “Party people, make some noise!”

=================

One morning, Chang’e was baking cakes in the kitchen, cheerful as ever.

Chang’e: “Order up!”

Her phone rang, and she picked it up.

Chang’e: “Hello, thanks for calling Chang’e’s! Home of the world’s most delicious ca—”

When the customer said the cake hadn’t arrived, Chang’e looked confused.

Chang’e: “It didn't arrive? Hold on, I've got another call. He didn't deliver it? What do you mean he didn't deliver it?"

Suddenly, Wukong appeared behind her.

Delivery Clone Wukong: “Any more orders?”

Chang’e: “Wukong, can you explain—”

She screamed in horror when she saw his overweight clone.

Delivery Clone Wukong: “Uh, everything okay, boss?"

The clone burped while Chang’e still looked horrified.

============

At the Training Hall, the Artist Clone was painting obsessively.

Artist Clone Wukong: “It needs to be better. It needs to be better!”

He had painted a mural of Wukong clones.

Azure: “I think it's pretty good, Wukong.”

But the clone wasn’t satisfied.

Artist Clone Wukong: “Pretty good? Pretty good?! That's not good enough! You asked me to help paint your hall and that's what I'm going to do. I won't stop until it's perfect!"

=================

At the arcade, everyone—including Macaque—was exhausted.

Party Clone Wukong: “Yeah, yo! Everybody move your feet!”

Macaque finally managed to get close to his friend.

Macaque: “Hey! Um, I'm getting pretty sleepy. Want to hit it?"

He yawned, but the Party Clone mocked him.

Party Clone Wukong: “What are you talking about, Mac? No one leaving this party!”

Wukong cranked up the music as Macaque frowned.

Macaque: “Yeah, but this party's been going on for 15 hours!"

The clone mocked him in a silly voice.

Party Clone Wukong: "It's been 15 hours, I'm so sleepy!" That's what you sound like."

He yelled at the guards.

Wukong: “I said, "Ain't. No one. Leaving. This party."

==================

Back in the kitchen, Chang’e tried to take a bowl from a giant, overweight Wukong clone, who kept eating. Lady Bone Demon just ate her cake and watched.

Chang’e: “Wukong, stop eating! All this food will ruin your body! Stop! Cake!”

Then another Wukong walked in, wearing headphones. Baiguijing and Chang’e were both shocked.

Chang’e: “Wukong?”

She looked at the two monkeys, then gave the original Wukong a suspicious glare.

Chang’e: “Let me guess: This is some sort of Mystic Monkey business."

Wukong: “Uh yeah, that about sums it up.”

Wukong laughed nervously. Chang’e climbed off the giant clone and sighed.

Chang’e: “Wukong…”

She screamed when the huge clone started to topple over, and she was crushed under it.

Baiguijing turned to Wukong with her cake.

Baiguijing: “So you gonna clean this mess up?”

Wukong tried poking the clone with his staff, but nothing worked. He cried in frustration.

Wukong: “That was never gonna work! Lady Baigujing, how'd Monkie Kid ever get rid of his clones?

Baiguijing: “Hmm…”

She pretended to think.

Baiguijing: “I don’t know.”

Wukong groaned in despair.

Baiguijing: “Try some pressure points or some wavy kung fu."

Wukong: “Alright, one wavy kung fu coming up.”

The mystical monkey struck, but nothing happened.

Wukong: “Well…”

Suddenly, the clone exploded into golden smoke, leaving only hair behind.

Baiguijing: “Well, looks like everything's back to normal."

Wukong saw Chang’e lying unconscious and cried out in worry.

Wukong: “Chang’e!”

At that moment, her phone rang—it was a call from Azure. Wukong remembered the Artist Clone he had left behind.

Wukong: “Uh, gotta go!”

He zipped away.

=========

At the Training Hall, the clone laughed manically, painting himself all over, face included. Azure was tied up.

Artist Clone Wukong: “Yes, yes, the art is seeping into my pores! Filling my very soul."

Azure coughed, and the clone turned toward him.

Artist Clone Wukong: “Just… needs... one… more… coat…”

Just as he was about to paint the lion, a voice stopped him.

Wukong: “Missed a spot!”

The clone panicked.

Artist Clone Wukong: “What?! Where?!”

Wukong touched him, and the clone exploded into golden smoke.

Azure: “Hey Wukong. Mystic Monkey business?”

Wukong: “Yep.”

He tried smiling innocently.

Azure: “So, how many of those things did you make?"

Wukong: “Um…”

He thought back to when he created them.

Wukong: “I think… that was the last one.”

Then he suddenly remembered the Party Clone and Macaque.

Wukong: “Oh, wait!”

He dashed off, leaving Azure behind.

=============

Wukong finally arrived at the arcade.

Wukong: “Alright, Party Clone! Where are you?”

The Party Clone was at the DJ booth, spinning records.

Party Clone Wukong: “Oh ho ho! OG Wukong in the house, yoo!"

Wukong: “I don’t even know what that means! Where’s Macaque?”

The Party Clone opened the glass of a giant arcade machine—inside, the shadow demon was trapped in its claw.

Macaque: “Hey Wukong! Mystical Monkey business? You're really bad at making clones by the way.”

Wukong glared at his clone and pulled out his staff.

Wukong: “Hand him over, you! Me! Us?”

Party Clone Wukong: “Cool your jets, OG. You want to get to me? You gotta go through my boys!"

He pressed a button, summoning the other Wukong clones.

Macaque: “Why did you make so many Wukongs, Wukong?!”

He shouted angrily.

Party Clone Wukong: “Oops, my finger slipped.”

He pressed another button, opening a furnace beneath Macaque. The shadow demon screamed in fear.

Wukong: “Mac!”

The Party Clone laughed menacingly.

Party Clone Wukong: “Get 'im, boys!”

The other clones swarmed Wukong while the Party Clone kept spinning music and partying. Meanwhile, Macaque was slowly falling.

Macaque: “Wukong!”

Wukong: “I’m coming, Mac! Hang on!”

Wukong threw his staff like a spear, shattering the arcade glass, saving Macaque by pinning the rope to the wall.

Clone Wukongs: “Here comes Monkey King!”

The Party Clone laughed as all the clones crowded the arcade, trying to crush them.

But then golden smoke burst everywhere as they all exploded. The two monkeys escaped the arcade machine and landed near the last clone.

Macaque: “One to go!”

Party Clone Wukong: “No, no, no, wait! Macaque, how do you know I'm not the real Wukong? There's two of us at this party!"

The two gave him side-eye, then the clone looked at his outfit and realized the obvious.

Party Clone Wukong: “Ah shoot, I played myself.”

Wukong: “Here comes Monkey King!”

Wukong touched him. Before exploding, the clone shed a final tear.

Party Clone Wukong: “Never forget... da music.”

Then he popped, leaving only hair and smoke. Macaque shot him a stern look, but deep down, he was relieved.

Macaque: “Good job, Wukong. But don’t ever do this again. Just be honest, alright?”

Wukong rubbed the back of his neck guiltily.

Wukong: “Ah man, what was I thinking?”

Macaque: “Honestly, I’m wondering the same thing. But hey, we handled it.”

He put a hand on his friend’s shoulder, and the two smiled.

=============

That evening at home, Wukong collapsed into bed while Macaque read a book.

Macaque: “Got the night off, huh?”

Wukong: “Yeah, Chang'e cut me some slack. After I cleaned up all that fur. And paid her back for all the food."

Macaque: “So, did you learn your lesson?”

Wukong: “You know it!”

Wukong sat up and turned on the TV.

Wukong: “Aww Monkie Kid marathon! Turn it up!”

He created another clone to turn the TV up.

Wukong: “Aw, thanks.”

Then both Wukong and the clone noticed Macaque glaring at them with glowing purple eyes.

Wukong & Clone: “What?!”

Macaque lunged at them.

Macaque: “WUKOONG!”

Chapter 7: Coming Home

Notes:

Note: Macaque’s family is completely made up.

Wukong and Macaque were playing the Monkey Mech arcade game outside the shop, while Azure cheered for the golden monkey.

Macaque was playing very calmly, but Wukong was practically smashing the buttons.

Macaque: “Button mash all you want, Wukong. You'll never beat my Ancient Galloping Fury Power.”

Azure: “Up smash, up smash!”

Wukong: “I’m trying, Azure, okay? I’m trying, I’m trying.”

Macaque laughed victoriously, the grin never leaving his face.

Macaque: “No one can defeat me!”

But then his grin faded as he noticed a shift in his shadow.

Macaque: “Oh no…”

He walked away to talk to his shadow. Azure couldn’t hear exactly what the shadow was saying, but he could hear the worry and disappointment in his friend’s voice.

Macaque: “Hello, mother. Yes. Of course. Yes, mother.”

Seeing the stress in the shadow monkey’s face, Azure grew worried and went to him.

Azure: “Hey, you okay there, Macaque?”

Startled by the lion’s voice, Macaque flinched, rubbed his neck, and stood up.

Macaque: “Yeah. Just—”

Meanwhile, Wukong was laughing as he beat his friend’s video game avatar.

Macaque: “My parents -- they want me to housesit."

Azure: “And that's a bad thing?”

Macaque: “No. Me and my parents, we --"

Before he could finish, Wukong had won the game. Just as he was about to celebrate, he heard Macaque mention something about home. That excited the monkey and he rushed over.

Wukong: “Uh, did Macaque say sleepover at his house?"

Macaque instantly panicked.

Macaque: “What? No. My parents would want—”

Wukong: “Sleepover!”

Then Wukong turned away from everyone, rubbing his hands together mischievously.

Wukong: “I’ve always wanted to see the inside of Macaque’s secret Dark House, full of mysterious shadow stuff.”

Then he clung to Macaque, making puppy eyes and begging.

Wukong: “C’mon? Please, please, please, pleeeease?”

Macaque sighed.
He was definitely going to regret this.

Macaque: “Sleepover.”

Wukong grinned triumphantly.

Wukong: “Ah yeah. This sleepover is going to be amazing. You know what? I'll bring my Monkie Kid DVDs so we can have a marathon."

As the trio headed to the house, none of them noticed the General Celestial Bot watching.

Wukong: “The Dark House, full of secret shadow stuff.”

 

---

Lady Yin smirked as she watched everything through the bot, then opened a hologram of Macaque’s house, her gaze settling on a magical shadow lantern.

Lady Yin: “The Legendary Shadow Lantern. One of the most powerful relics in history. I do love powerful things. Go. Bring it to me."

After her command, the bot followed them.

 

---

The trio finally arrived at the house.

The house was mostly purple and black. The garden was gloomier compared to the outside.

Behind the garden was a graveyard, where the plants were almost decayed, and the walls were covered in blackish-purple stone. On the sides of the yard were statues related to shadow users and the dead.

This made Azure and Wukong a little uneasy. But Wukong forced a smile, trying to make his friend feel better.

Wukong: “It's even better than I thought. Growing up here must have been great."

He laughed nervously while Macaque didn’t look cheerful at all.

Macaque: “Yeah, I guess. But -- I don't know. When I was growing up, I just wanted to be rough and tumble. Break stuff. Feel the sun. Look at bugs. You know, have fun just like normal, like normal kids or monkeys. But when your house is practically a museum and you come from a long line of ancient noble shadows, that's kind of frowned on. Anyway. Onwards to the definitely-not-going-to-be-terrible sleepover."

But Azure and Wukong weren’t listening—they had already wandered off.

Macaque sighed in disappointment, then followed them.

Wukong & Azure: “Whoa.”

They stood before the front door. The house’s security scanned them, detected them as enemies, and aimed weapons at them. Luckily, Macaque rushed over, entered the codes, and deactivated it.

Macaque: “Yeah, my parents are a bit serious about the old security thing."

The door opened and the security system’s voice echoed.

Security VO: “Welcome home, Liu'er Mihou.”

Macaque: “Yeah.”

The trio entered. The house was full of antiques, weapons, and valuable items. On the walls glowed purple shadows, snakes, yang symbols, and dark sigils.

Wukong: “This is amazing!”

Azure: “Whoa. What is all this stuff?"

Macaque: “Ah, you know. Gifts, artifacts, offerings. Just stuff that's been in my family for --"

He froze when he saw his friends already rummaging through the artifacts. Panic spread over his face.

Macaque: “Guys, wait!”

He tried to stop them but it was useless.

Wukong: “If I had all this stuff, I don't even know what I would do. Sell it, probably."

Azure: “Yeah, this stuff looks really great. Looks like a few good years, maybe. Centuries."

Finally, Macaque yelled to stop them, his eyes glowing purple.

Macaque: “Guys, stop! Hands in pockets now!”

Startled, they obeyed immediately, shoving their hands into their pockets.

Macaque sighed, his eyes fading back to gold.

Macaque: “Follow me. You guys are such menaces, you know that? "

Then he began showing them around.

Macaque: “This is the garage filled with all the awesome things I am not allowed to drive. This is one of our many long hallways. We also have the Garden of Cold Death, the Chamber of Thirty Centuries of Antiquities, the Pool of a Thousand Bloody Tears, the tea-and-snacks room, and my bedroom. And this is the Shadow Chamber.”

Just as they passed it, Wukong noticed a purple-and-black lantern next to a statue.

Wukong: “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold up.”

The team walked over, staring at it in awe.

Wukong: “Whoa. Now this thing is cool. So what's the dealio with this dealy, yo?"

While Wukong inspected the lantern, Macaque turned toward a painting of a crimson snake.

Macaque: “That belonged to my great-great-great-times-a-thousand ancestor, Python Demon. Legend says she imbued it with unimaginable power so our clan would always have the shadow’s protection. Its true power will only show itself to those deemed worthy. A true member of our clan who's proven themselves strong enough to protect our family from the forces of evil."

Azure and Wukong’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

Wukong: “Whoa.”

Macaque: “But I'm not allowed to touch it. Hey, anyone want to see the game room?"

It was as if the two instantly forgot the lantern.

Wukong: “Yeah."

Azure: “All right.”

They left, while Macaque glanced sadly at the portraits of his shadow ancestors, then followed.

 

---

The trio reached the game room. Wukong’s eyes lit up when he saw a pinball machine. He rushed over, hugging it and starting a game.

Wukong: “A pinball machine? I've always wanted to try one of these."

Macaque: “Yeah, now this place is home. All right. You two boot up the old TV. I will go get some snacks. Okay, don't break anything while I'm gone."

As he left, Wukong mocked him under his breath.

Wukong: “Ha. "Don't break anything while I'm gone." Yeah, right."

But when he pulled the pinball lever, it snapped.

Wukong: “Nooooo!”

Panic spread as the two tried desperately to fix it.

 

---

Meanwhile, Macaque was carrying snacks down the hallway.

Macaque: “Party, board games, snacks, Celestial Bot—”

He stopped dead when he saw General Celestial stealing the Shadow Lantern. The two locked eyes.

When the bot realized it had been caught, the lantern still in its grip, it kicked a purple table into Macaque’s face and bolted.

Macaque: “Hey! Get back here!”

Summoning his Shadow Motorcycle, Macaque gave chase as the bot wrecked parts of his house with stolen tech.

 

---

Back in the game room, Wukong was trying to tape the pinball machine together with duct tape.

Azure: “Careful, careful…”

But it only broke worse.

Wukong: “What?!”

Azure: “We're going to need more tape."

 

---

Macaque chased General Celestial, but his bike kept taking hits, and parts of the house crumbled. Finally, he rammed the bot, sending them both flying. Macaque slammed into a wall, and the lantern fell right into his lap.

Macaque: “The Shadow Lantern?”

Lifting his head, he saw the spirits of his ancestors surrounding him, whispering.

And they weren’t kind.

Shadow 1: “The weakest of them all.”

Shadow 2: “Such a disappointment.”

Shadow 3: “Do you really call yourself a warrior?”

At first, Macaque fought hard not to cry. But then memories of Wukong and the others came to him. He sighed, gripping the lantern’s handle, determination burning in his face.

Macaque: “You know what? I am part of this family. I am Six-Eared Macaque, descendant of Python Demon of the Shadows. This is mine, and this is my house.”

Calling on the lantern’s power, a smoke beast rose. His voice boomed, dark and terrifying.

Macaque: “Get out of my house!”

A beam of shadow energy blasted the Celestial Bot, sucking it into the lantern. When it was over, Macaque returned to normal.

 

---

In the game room, the pinball machine was barely being held together with duct tape.

Azure: “Maybe a little more tape?”

The word “tape” made Wukong’s eye twitch. He sighed, then struck a dramatic hero pose.

Wukong: “No, no. I broke it. Part of being a hero is owning up to your mistakes. Wish me luck."

Dramatically, he left. Azure wished him good luck.

 

---

Wukong finally found Macaque. Nervous, but knowing he had to do it, he sighed and walked up to him.

Wukong: “So, umm, Macaque, you know that really cool --"

But when he saw the wrecked room, he froze and rushed to him.

Wukong: “Macaque?! What happened?!”

Macaque: “Wukong! Someone tried to steal the Shadow Lantern. I stopped them with this, the Shadow Lanten.”

He proudly showed the lantern.

Wukong: “Whoa, the Shadow Lantern. That’s…”

He sighed, ready to confess.

Wukong: “Mac, I'm really glad you stopped them, but I have a confession to make. I accidentally --"

Macaque tilted his head, smiling innocently.

Macaque: “Accidentally what?”

Seeing his friend so happy, Wukong didn’t want to ruin it or make him angry, so he lied.

Wukong: “Accidentally... didn't know what was going on. Wow, that thing's amazing."

They both admired the lantern until a cough echoed.

Macaque’s parents appeared in shadow form. Normally their bodies and faces were black with glowing purple eyes, but since they were heading out, they had taken human form.

His mother, Yang Ling, had taken the form of an executed Jade Goddess, but dressed in modern clothes. Her long black hair and soulless purple eyes were piercing.

His father, Zhu Yan, had taken the form of a Celestial God slain in battle. Like his wife, his eyes glowed purple, and he had black hair with a faint beard. He wore a formal black outfit.

Seeing their serious gazes, Macaque panicked.

Macaque: “Mother, father. You’re back.”

Yang Ling: “We were on our way when we realized somebody forgot our luggage."

Wukong whispered to Azure.

Wukong: “Azure, did you expect Macaque’s mom and dad to be literal dark, terrifying shadows?”

Azure averted his gaze.

Azure: “Uhh, no.”

Macaque still held the lantern as he tried to explain.

Macaque: “ I can explain. Someone tried to steal the lantern. I didn't let them. And I used this."

He knelt, offering it back.

Macaque: “I’m sorry.”

Zhu Yan: “We saw everything.”

Macaque: “But I couldn't just—”

Then, to his shock, his father smiled.

Zhu Yan: “And we are so proud of you.”

Macaque: “What?”

Zhu Yan: “The Shadow Lantern is the pride of our family heritage. Its power only shows itself to those that embrace their history. Their family."

Yang Ling knelt beside her son.

Yang Ling: “We may not always see eye-to-eye, and your friends are more unique than we expected..."

She shot a disapproving glance at Wukong, who was currently losing to Azure’s cat. Then she smiled warmly at her son.

Yang Ling: “But you are part of this family. And it is part of you. We love you.”

Macaque: “I love you too, mom. Dad.”

He hugged them. Wukong joined in, though the parents didn’t really notice him.

Macaque: “Sorry about the house, though.”

Yang Ling: “What's important is that you are okay. Objects can be replaced."

Zhu Yan: “Everything except my prized pinball machine. That is irreplaceable."

Wukong’s face tightened nervously, silently cursing inside.