#I know Wukong and Macaque aren't part of the gang

[hyperfixation-tangentopia]

Lego Monkie Kid Pride Headcanons!! Part 1, because there's probably more.

DISCLAIMER: I'm aware many of these will probably contradict, but so do mine and the rules are meaningless to me so! Live with the contradictions! I may also add multiple like, separate headcanons, in which I will indicate with a little |. Also if I'm typing super formal I'm on my laptop and I'm usually on mobile, so being on my laptop makes me type extra formal sometimes for. Reasons.

MK - Transgender woman, non-binary, guy, unlabeled gay bisexual, she/he/it. The type of guy to answer 'okay but what gender are you' with 'cookie'.

Mei - Genderqueer transgender woman, lesbian bisexual/unlabeled, she/they/her.

Sandy - Genderflux cis male genderqueer, aromantic demisexual, he/him.

Tang - Cis male, aromantic gay, he/him. Platonically married to Pigsy.

Pigsy - Cis male, biromantic heterosexual, he/him. Platonically married to Tang.

Wukong - Pangender genderfluid demiromantic pansexual, any pronouns (neos included), but most people just assume he/him and he really doesn't care. Used to be in a weird not-platonic not-qpr not-romantic thing with Macaque.

Macaque - Transgender man, demiromantic biromantic asexual, he/him. Used to be in a weird not-platonic not-qpr not-romantic thing with Wukong.

Yeah, I told you the rules were being thrown all the way out the window here. While I'm here, I may as well say that if you're aromantic, asexual, multigender, use contradictory labels, use neopronouns, aromantic allosexual and vice versa, or anything else along those lines my bad memory isn't letting me think of right now, you're awesome, you're great, you're loved (by me if no one else), and you're welcome here!

Rambling under the cut

(Too many tags so I'm basically just transferring them so that's why this might be formatted weirdly.)

I think MK's probably had about 20 gender crisis' by now that Pigsy and Sandy have just kinda made him tea/noodles through.

Mei just keeps trying stuff, and when she sees something works if she still thinks something's missing she goes HERE WE GO AGAIN! And nobody is surprised when she walks in going "I'm trying cat/cats" and everyone just kinda goes "cool" and adheres to that until halfway through the conversation she goes "nope, not feeling that one" and they all switch back.

Pigsy and Tang don't really understand the gender stuff but take the mentality of "I don't understand this and that's okay, y'know as long as you're happy", even though they trip up sometimes. They don't completely get it but they still love the way MK's face lights up when they call say "Hey, what's she doing?" or "Is it watching TV again?". Also my brain isn't working properly so I might change what Pigsy's label is because I messed it up twice.

I think Wukong didn't really know what gender was until MK asked and helped Wukong start looking through labels, and when Wukong was like "can I just have all of the genders?" MK went "yeah!" and now Wukong just kinda walks around with the label even though he doesn't really mention it.

I think Macaque just woke up when he was young(?) one day, went "fuck this", turned himself into a boy, walked outside, and never addressed it again, and Wukong is the only one that knows and also never addressed it.

Okay I'll stop rambling now sorry bye!

[quitealotofsodapop]

The fact that some of Macaque's "clones" are so weirdly affectionate of Wukong and MK only serves to confuse them more. Like, it gets to the point that every time Macaque appears in S1-S3, the two little shadows can and will tackle either Wukong or MK for cuddles. In the scene where Macaque attacks them while in Sandy's airship and is focusing entirely on MK because he now knows Wukong is pregnant, the cubs have the job of keeping Wukong occupied and they do so by, what else, pinning himnto the ground like Baba-Macaque wants and full on nuzzling and purring as they don't get to see 'Wukong-Mama" a lot because Baba is so mad/sad whenever Wukong comes into conversation altho it doesn't stop him and them from spying on Wukong-Mama from a the shadows. MK and Mei are fighting for their lives in the episode where they get separated, and Rumble and Savage are hanging around Pigsy, Tang, and Wukong and enjoying seeing him acting so silly with Amnesia. It's only during the Lantern City Talent Show that Wukogn realizes they aren't just weirdly affectionate clones.

Prev post.

these clones do seem to pin/tackle Wukong a lot.

I imagine in the SlowBoiled au - the tackling is a little more gentle given what Macaque knows by then. Wukong def notices that the two clones are still very affectionate to him and MK - and has his suspicions all the way back during S1.

In S3 when the gang gets separated; Macaque instructs the "clones" (even he's figured out that not true) to stay with Wukong while he chases MK. The Twins are delighted! Papa is giving them time to spend with Wukong-Mama! Clearly, their plans to repair the troop is working.

Pigsy, Tang, and Mo quickly notice the two stowaways and at first react with fear/anger at their presence - only for the two Macaque-shaped shadows to cock their heads with confusion, chirping like baby monkeys as they shrink to the size of cats. Wukong had already been in astral meditation at this point, so he's not able to recognise the twins' presence, even as they curl on his crossed legs and pick through his fur. The twins hoot sadly, thinking that their new "Mama" is ignoring them.

As Pigsy and Tang try to wrap their heads around the situation, the twins accidentally wake Wukong from his meditation, trying to get his attention. Tang is ofc kidnapped by Scorpion Queen in the confusion. Wukong awakens, memory fractured, and sees what he thinks is part of his Pilgrim troop, and a pair of unfamiliar baby monkeys.

Amnesiac!Wukong: "Oh! When did you two get here? You smell awfully familiar." (*sniff sniff*) "Macaque! You smell like him! Did he send you ahead to make peace?" Rumble & Savage: (*delighted chattering!*) Amnesiac!Wukong, with a wistful/worried tone: "Oh plums... do you... have a mama? Or another parent?" Rumble & Savage: (*look between each other, confused. Both shake their heads and leap into Wukong's arms, chattering a short explanation*) Amnesiac!Wukong, shocked: "Ehh?! He brought you into this world himself?! Then he managed what I've been trying to do! No wonder he sent you to find me! Oh I'm so happy!" Rumble & Savage: (*chirp a cautious question*) Amnesiac!Wukong, smiling: "Of course! I'd be delighted to be your Mama! I can't wait for Macaque to arrive so we can all be together as a family! The Stalwarts will be so glad!" (*Wukong cuddles the twins tight, all three monkeys purring*) Pigsy: "Err... Monkey? "Master" is still missing." Wukong, sighs: "Okay... c'mon cubs, I need to save Master Tripitaka. He's like the head of our troop. I can introduce you to everyone properly once we get him back." Rumble & Savage: (*cling to Wukong's front and back, chirping with excitement!*)

The rest of the Amnesia Rules episode becomes more focused on Wukong's interactions with the Pilgrims, and how he's at his core a gentle, motherly monkey. Pigsy sees a side of Wukong he never knew existed.

Once Wukong's memory returns, he is very confused by the baby shadow monkeys clinging to him, calling him "Mama". He sniffs and looks them over in Gold-Vision (the twins giggling the whole time), and with a shocked expression declares;

Wukong: "Macaque brought these two back from Diyu!" Tang: "What?! Is that even possible?!" Wukong, thinking hard: "It shouldn't be. Unless... they were hanging around the Underworld, unable to reincarnate because..." (*suddenly gets really sad/guilty look on his face*) Pigsy: "Because how?" Wukong: "If they weren't registered in the Book of the Dead... or if someone accidentally erased their names as he was going through the list of monkey demons..." Tang: (*covers gasp as he realises*) Rumble & Savage: (*confused chirps?*) Wukong: "I'm so sorry babies. I don't know why Macaque brought you back with him, but I'm glad he did. He's always had a soft spot for cubs. I hope in a... weird way, that this is a sign that he wants to repair things." Rumble & Savage: (*delighted chirping & hugging Wukong as they chatter about their "Papa"*) Wukong, chuckling smugly: "Oh really? He's been saying that about me? I just knew he couldn't get me out of his head." Rumble & Savage, both mimicking Mac's voice: "Peaches!" Wukong, slight blush forming: "He still calls me that?" Pigsy, Tang, & Mo: (*shared looks of confusion*)

Once the gang reunites after catching up with the Demon Bull family, MK sees the twins and splutters out;

MK: "Monkey King! They're-!" Wukong, twins clinging to him: "It's ok MK. They're just little demon monkeys. Macaque picked himself up some strays while he was in the Underworld. And super cute ones, might I add!" (*blows raspberries on the twins' faces*) Rumble & Savage: (*delighted giggling/shrieking*) MK, Mei, & Sandy: (*look to the others for an explanation*) Pigsy, shrugs: "He's good with kids."

Pigsy ofc starts to recognise some similarities to how the twin monkeys act, and how MK was when he was little. But that can of worms can be opened later. Now they've got Rings to gather and a bone demon to defeat.

Lantern City doesn't go as smooth as planned for Macaque. LBD has figured out that his two "persistent clones" aren't actual clones, and threatens them as collateral to get Macaque to comply.

The twin baby monkeys shriek when they glimpse at the Samadhi Fire. Almost as if they've seen it before...

[digitaldoeslmk]

By The Book AU Timeline

[this will be edited as things progress and the au gets more fleshed out]

less of a timeline and more the a brainstorm chart for the plotbeats i have so far

Prince > Little Sage > Pilgrim > Immortal

ACT 1, PRINCE: 2 years, S1 plus some of S2

ep0 special, MK becomes Monkie Kid

Fated Feast (tm) and dealing with it

MK learning how to use his powers

pretty much all the episodes of S1

Beijing Opera sideplot

first New Years is a Lion Dancing competition special

Macaque introduces himself

Spider Queens get exorcised, LBD reveal

Nezha and Muzha introduction

some more filler episodes of Monkie gang dealing with small easy stuff

MK gets invited to meet Guanyin

MK learning the Dao and Dharma, starts cultivation

Macaque causes trouble (basically Shadow Play ep but not), Wukong finds out

spicynoodles start becoming a thing late in the arc

S1 finale special, except it's LBD and some henchmen

Celestial Realm sightseeing moment, introduction to several immortals and gods

ACT 2, LITTLE SAGE: about half a year, part of S2 and a lot of changes

Red Son's investigation gets serious, Nezha is helping

Wukong gets more present to teach MK

most of what's left of S2, with some changes

Yingge and Longnü intro

Tang starts helping MK and Mei with magic

Mei starts training her dragon powers in FFM

Guanyin meets the Monkien gang, reveal of Tang's past reincarnations

MK gets deeper on training with his monkey form and powers

"recollections of red and blue" is set in this arc

DBK and PIF start making amends with Red Son

qpr chimera fully established, Red Son and MK get serious enough to tell their parents about it

more LBD shenanigans

S2 season finale, except not

LBD tries to trap him in a pagoda, everyone joins the fray, MK escapes because Macaque underestimates him, Wukong gets kebabed, Megapolis is lost and the gang flees for their lives

ACT 3, PILGRIM: about half a year, S3 in spirit but almost every plot gets scrapped cus its just filler anyway

they aren't on a ""journey to the west"", they are gathering allies and tools to use against LBD and Macaque

plan is, burn the motherfuckers with the Samadhi fire with the help of the four dragon king's armies to spread the fire with rain, and use some artifacts to then control the fire and put it out

drastic measure but it do be drastic times

LBD used the skeleton key to open the gates of the Diyu, so the world is slowly getting overrun by runaway spirits, as well as channeling the waters from it to freeze the land

apparently Macaque wants to consume every living thing he's trapped to fuel something, and nobody is sure what

anyway it's crisis politics time, nobody is having fun, everything sucks

time to check in with the past pilgrims for advice and some tricks they know, Monkie gang power up time

the dragon king of the north and his family are missing, time to find them

Shen Gongbao intro, he's involved but they figure it out

it's also time to draft some immortals, we love owing favors to people in this house amiright??

Mayor starts to think the henchman career isn't for him, time to dip

he fucks a plan cus he uses a pill of immortality to heal himself but oops the gang needed that

Mayor spills the beans on Macaque's plan, MK gets impulsive and runs off to face LBD

S3 special time except not

MK exchanges himself for the girl LBD got possessed, which builds the group time to wrap up lose ends

final battle time, hoards of the underworld versus whatever immortals got convinced to help despite going against the Jade Emperor's decree

MK sends a clone with his staff before he loses control back to the gang

Mei in dragon form fighting possessed MK, so that Red Son and Nezha can take a shot at MK to exorcise LBD out of him, Erlang and Muzha helping to hold Macaque back

MK gets shot with the Samadhi Fire, to explosive results

MK vs Macaque kaiju monkey battle time

Macaque gets nuked, LBD gets carbonized, Mayor dies saving people from the city before the fires get to them

everything is put back where it belongs, but there's a lot of loose ends to wrap up, ends in a bittersweet note

ACT 4, IMMORTAL: two years, S4 solely in name, basically a full overhaul lmao

oh man oh man shits gonna hit the fan lmao

the city is saved and the bad guys are gone; time for Consequences

Jade Emperor isnt very happy with the amount of unauthorized actions taken just now

MK goes to fucking trial for the crime of saving the world, it goes as well as one would think

luckily Guanyin comes in clutch and gets his sentence lightened to "community service"

there is an absurd amount of undead still walking around, which means MK has to get on that

also yknow. the devastating amount of damage in the mortal AND celestial realm

MK is given an assignment in the heavenly bureocracy, to help keep him in check and accountable to stuff. is great innit.

another part of his job is, dealing with Wukong's past sworn brotherhood cus they've been uppity since Macaque's attack and threatening to break the human-demon truce

Qi "two dads nuclear family" Xiaotian learns to deal with distant extended family relations with very specific social cues. again, goes as well as expected

under all that, Red Son still hasn't been able to get the missing memories situation fixed

also turns out even Wukong doesn't remember who MK was but he used to know. he doesn't anymore. and he doesn't know what happened. Red Son did not like learning that.

the celebration of Ulhambana in the Celestial Realm is approaching, and Red Son thinks he can get himself and MK invited to it so they can yknow, ask Buddha wtf is going on

so yknow, time to earn the trust of the Celestial Realm again, in a year. that's doable right? ahahah

and because he doesn't have enough on his plate, MK traded off a lot of his merits in exchange for LBD and Mayor speedrunning their time in hell so they can be reborn under his care

MK becomes An Uncle, what could possibly go wrong!

oh, jumpscare, Macaque is still around but Different

[icy-watch]

Woah would you look at that. The way Tripitaka has LBD all chained up? Doesn't that look familiar. Almost like what she did to a certain monkey. And then a certain monkey doing it to a certain noodle boy. While also projecting other issues. Something something "breaking the cycle." ANYWAYS. Here's the break down for the individual episodes that make up the special! You'd have been spoiled otherwise ;D S4 special titles aren't particularly spoilerly at all, but these ones pretty much gave away Wukong's possession and the gang adopting Macaque's trademark. - This Imperfect World - The Corrupted King - Time to be Warriors - Destiny Fulfilled

Hooray for Icy's suspicions against normal animals and keeping an eye on the sky ;D That has to be the funniest and most shocked reaction towards Macaque creeping up in the plot I've ever seen you do lol. This implies two things: hello wow. I want to know what Macky was thinking seeing Wukong make the exact same expression and fist winding up for a punch towards MK that he flashbacked to in Shadow Play and was all "no way MK you're nothing like me" and then seeing MK go through the same Get Walloped By Wukong Special. Maybe you're more similar than you think. *gets dragged off stage before I speak further.* And also. The fact he just knew were Mei was, did he go find her for MK??? Esp after that whole "not abandoning friends" speech. I don't know if anyone shared it yet, but MK's duo names with Wukong and Macky respectively are Starburst and Soysauce. yeah we're silly with food names.

It looked super familiar!

The special was broken up into parts? Honestly, that explains a few cuts.

Awe! Those are cute nicknames!

[quitealotofsodapop]

So one thing about Stone Monkeys, especially stone Monkey pairings. They're monogamous, meaning they mate for life and rarely take another mate or divorce. It's a major part of why Wukong and Macaque had never absolved their courtship because they were mates in the past, and something as small as death does not just remove that bond from them. When the act of bringing life into he world usually leaves the other a widow and single parent, you tend to cherish your mate more than anything. Which is why, when it comes to someone threatening a Stone Monkey's mate, especially a pregnant one, it's usually going to go one of two ways.

The first way, and most common way, is that the Monkey will immediately surrender. This is risky, however, since they usually only comply long enough to ensure their mate's survival and safety and will constantlh look for ways to escape/fight back. This is actually how the Jade Emperor had gotten Wukong to surrender, although he didn't know Macaque was his mate at the time and had been simply threatening the Brotherhood as a whole.

The second option, more common when the mate is pregnant, is that it will send the Monkey into an instinctual and protective rage where they rampage until their mate is safe. This is usually followed by insistently forcing their mate into the nest for their safety whilst checking over them every few minutes to ensure they aren't harmed and using their own body to hide their mate from view, guarding them and growling at everyone and everything that approaches whether they be Troop or not. It is not uncommon for unwanted visitors to be bitten or scratched during this time. This is how Macaque reacted when Wukong was freed from possession of their way back home after the defeat of LBD.

Those few days of travel with an overprotective Macaque were a very eye-opening experience for MK and the crew on the social norms and behaviors of stone monkeys, especially when it comes to their bonded mates They also had to stop and get everyone new blankets and bedding because Macaque stole all of theirs to make an impromptu nest. Oddly enough, the only one allowed to approach was MK, who nearly got dragged into the nest as well when he did. MK doesn't want to think about what that might mean if Macaque's instinct driven monkey brain was telling him to push him into the nest like an unruly cub even as Mei laughed and made jokes about MK collecting father figures like Pokémon cards.

+Bonus! Asks I finally answered on; Stone Monkey social structure + Wukong's instincts on sicko mode.

ohohoho, that feel when super instinctual monogamy leaves you vulnerable to your instincts >:3

Wukong defaults to the "Please dont hurt my family, take me instead." instinct, given that he's extremely self-sacrificing even in canon.

Jade Emperor: "I will literally try and find a way to kill you in spite of your immortalities." Wukong: "Whatever." Jade Emperor: "Or I could just kill your mate." Wukong: "ok you win." *lets Erlang catch him + gets tossed into the Furnace by the JE and Lao Tzu* The Brotherhood, unaware of why SWK surrendered: "Wow, what a traitor." Macaque: *has to be restrained from biting the JE's head off even though he's not sure why*

Macaque in contrast defaults to the "If I destroy the threat to my mate, then there will be no more threat left"-instinct. His brain was going haywire when he had to distract the LBD-Possessed!Wukong since he was mentally flipping between "Protect Mate" and "Destroy Threat [LBD]". The second LBD's spirit left Wukong (and got ate by the Egg), Macaque goes full-on protective mate-mode.

The shadow monkey quickly makes a temporary nest inside the TEA van and carries Wukong into it like he weighs nothing. And the Monkey King is too drained from his experience to protest. The gang just have to deal with the fact that they lost the couch area for the ride back. Only two (barely) pairs of eyes are whats visible from the shadowy fort of stolen blankets and pillows - they swear Macaque is using his shadow powers to hide them in extra darkness.

Sandy is the only one allowed to get close enough so that he can man the controls.

Macaque has gone full-feral and is communicating with Wukong solely in the monkey language of chirps, chittering, and yips. Both are curled into eachother like a pair of cats, rarely leaving the nest otherthan to eat food (Mac silently takes food from the others and brings it to the nest so he can feed Wukong himself) or to use the bathroom. If someone tries to reach inside or move Wukong, Mac immediately pops up infront of them, growling like a furious dog. Even Nezha has to back down.

And ofc the second MK yawns near the two parent monkeys, Macaque's instincts act up again. The shadow monkey chatters in an annoyed tone at MK and pulls/nudges him towards the blanket fort-like nest for sleep time. MK is mega confused and has to sleep there at night for the remainder of the trip, less both monkeys chirp disapprovingly at him. Sandy laughs under his breath of how it reminds him of a mother cat dragging a kitten back to bed by their scruff. The others laugh openly cus of course the two expectant parent monkeys see MK as a cub! He *is* the youngest in the "troop" after all! XD

And if Bai He is in the van? Oh you better *believe* thats a straying cub thats getting their dragged back to the nest and getting her hair groomed! Cub needs warmth!

And since the ending of S3 seems to take place closer to Megapolis, the gang has a long road trip ahead of them before the monkeys calm down and start acting human again. Lots of Stone Monkey observation is documented by a curious Tang (who Macaque barely tolerates within biting distance).

At least until Yuebei decides she wants to be born right there and now, sending the whole squad into a frenzy until Guanyin shows up.

[digitaldoeslmk]

multiple questions. Is Lady Bone Demon alive or did she die in the same in JTTW.

Is macaque alive and is he literal metaphor of Wukong like his a “clone” of Wukong or is he a complete separate being from from Wukong and just represents what evil Wukong can do.

Are yellow camel gang (forget their group name) still supplementing the demon warlords not like they do anything special all you have the DBK, speak of him is the jade face fox still around.

What is Mei doing to do the Samadi fire isn’t split up so what she got to do (the writers really fumble the ball with her well that happen when you are given 10 MINUTES PER EP LIKE WHAT HELL LEGO)? Speaking of the gang are they the same guys or are they still recantations?

What is this demon-human truce I keep hearing about how did it happen? After Wukong sealed DBK?

Is flower fruit mountain still in same place like in the show? Because I can see Wukong using his 10000 ft tall from to pick up all of FFM and pick up a big chunk of the fire ring mountains (I forgot the name of that place too) then place it in the middle of the ocean to be life alone. yes I know volcanoes don’t work like that but come on this world is all really violating the natural norms of our world so what’s one more violation.

OHO MANY QUESTIONS!! :DD

1. LBD makes an appearance but she's just a small fry yaojing like in JTTW, and more of a lackey then the big bad. she did get killed by Wukong but she escapes the Diyu with some help

2. Macaque also an escapee from the Diyu and takes role of bbg on S3. he's his own person, but he feels himself equal to Wukong in power and merit, and he resents him for being given the chance at Enlightenment. not that the option is never denied to him, he can do it on his own accord, but not if he can't gain fame and renown from it like Wukong did.

3. the Camel Ridge Trio aren't part of the Brotherhood, they're their own thing but they got deleted by Wukong in the journey and that's that lol his Brotherhood tho is still around in their own way, and they do resent him for ditching them for Heaven. they arent big bads in S4 but they get roped into a vengence plot by Macaque.

4. Jade Faced Fox as well as the Immortal Compliant are still around but they're on PIF's side while DBK got sealed away. They got only minor roles though villains of the week demons for MK, like Yin and Jin.

5. IM TAKING MEI AND GIVING HER A FIX UP MAKEOVER!!!!! She's overall still like her S1 self, but her arc is more tied to her dragon ancestry than stealing Red Son's thunder. the Samadhi Fire isn't a McGuffin hot potato in S3, her arc is about learning to master her water and weather manipulation powers, and learning how to fly on her own. Chinese dragons need a "protusion" in their head to fly which im just reworking as its an age thing, so best she can do half the time is hop around on clouds, and since Megapolis in is a desert and has weather control.... not much chance to stretch herself. Also she has a full proper dragon form, not just a floating hologram form.

6. the gang is not reincarnations of the pilgrims, the lads are all in their celestial posts post-JTTW and they make some appearances here and there, mostly in a support role. Tang is one of Tripitaka's disciples who also got given a few reincarnations as a mortal to build merit and cultivation. Wukong saw that and went "hey yknow what would be really funny?" and so pilgrim group electric boogaloo happens xD

7. after the journey, Wukong became a boddhisattva, and helped over the years to build trust between humans and demons, proving that they can not only coexist but support each other. Megapolis was the first mixed city to be built as proof-of-concept that a demon-human truce could work, and after a few decades, the truce was codified into law both in the mortal and celestial realm. basically demons will be treated as equals among humans if they don't eat or kill humans, and they can be redeemed if they choose to drop a warlord's lifestyle after community service and reparations are given. to maintain the peace, quite a few immortals keep an eye on the mortal realm for any breaches on that truce, so it can be investigated and punished accordingly.

8. JSBDHSHDJHD TRUE THAT!! But FFM is not sealed away so zealously, everyone knows Wukong didn't vanish, he just went to the celestial realm to work as an intermediate between mortals and immortals and yknow, boddishattva duties. FFM got plucked closer to the shore, and after Megapolis was properly established, it even got a few tourist traps along the shores. there are still monkey yaoguai living there quite happily, those villages we see arent deserted, and sometimes scholars and pilgrims are allowed to climb the mountain for an escorted visit. its pretty lively there!