#first time drawing dragons AND the samadhi fire

[stellawolfearts]

-rappidly knocks on your door before bursting on threw if and landing face first on the floor.-

SO REMEMBER THAT ONE HTTD X LMK?

Great Hear me out I just recalled something.

Remember how hiccup discovered that dragons loose there shit over eels??

Mk excitedly bringing one too Mei cause he's thinks "oh it's something new it'll be a nice treat for her!"

And is utterly confused as she just goes totally apeshit, screeching and hissing from a tree mane and tail fluffed to the extreme. Refusing to come down or pets until mk gets ride of the eel and the smell of his hands.

Wukong and nezha's dragons having less spastic reactions to eels, simply stretching there bodies away from the offending sea creature. Just physically "nope"ing away from it.

He sure learned quickly not to bring eels around mei XD

Smokey (Macaque's dragon), Ao Lie and Ao Bing just crawl away from the eel while staring it down.

Mei threatens to take all of reality down with her-

she's no really, she's just tryna burn the eel to ash as fast as possible

[choco-bean405]

Heyoo!! I've been hard at work and I have a couple drawings of my Monkie Kid Au's characters'll look like! I won't give spoilers yet cause I need to figure out the overall story for the comic(cause some bits are still a work in progress), so yeh! I'll give a short explination for each drawing tho if it helps.(also, Sorry if this is super long 😅)

Anyways, to start off with, we have MK!

To start off with, since I'm making him the son of Macaque and Sun Wukong, he's gotta have a monkey form! Soo I gave him the tail but for the ears, since Sun has 2 and Macaque has 6, I thought I'd just meet in the middle with 4. Soo you bet he'll have sensitive hearing now with this, next is the outfit, I kinda kept it simple,changing a few bits but I tried combining the S1 and S3 jackets together, buut I thought 'why not add some purple to him?'. Oh and the bandana! I wanted it to be Sorta reminiscent of Macaque's scarf, and yeh, that's basically it for now.

Now Onto Mei.

I wanted to give her a type of bomber jacket just the middle part being shorter than the previous jacket she wore. Annddd the dress shirt she has underneath, I wanted to keep it her style soo I watched the last 4 episodes of season 3 again and came up with making a green flame design on it. Though i thought adding some pastel purple and pastel pink details would work with her as well, plus some red as a reference to the samadhi fire. Also, Can't go wrong with a choker that has a flame charm on it can you?

Next up, our resident fire demon, Red Son!

I wanted to add some Demon Bull king elements to him as a start, sooo, the tail came in and I added a set of horns that'll be growing in. I kept most of his old outfit just adding extra details to the shoes andd adding a dog tag that has the Chinese symbol for "Family" on it. Ohhh but the jacket was the most fun to draw, I wanted to keep it both fancy but pretty exaggerated. Sooo I used the Yu-Gi-Oh Character Seto Kaiba as a reference. Now this is only one version of the jacket since he'll have a separate one with his original logo on the back. Buuut this sleeveless version has the symbol of the Ox from the Chinese zodiac on the back of it, though I wonder, where did he get it from? 🤔

And lastly, We have Sun Wukong and Macaque themselves!

Now, I thought about keeping a sort of Sun and Moon motif to them whilst looking at their previous outfits for ideas.

For Macaque, the first thing I did, was to make sure I kept Macaque's blind eye(which he may hide from time), I switched up his scarf colour since he got rid of his old one and gave it to someone else. The rest sort of fell into place after that.

For Sun Wukong on the other hand, I used refs of his outfits and armour from the show, but also looked at the Monkey king:Reborn 2021 movie's version of Sun anndd the 2015 Monkey king:The Hero is Back movie's version of him for help with keeping his outfit traditional but adding my own ideas to it. For the pauldrons on his shoulders, I came up with the idea that he may have been given a couple scales from his friend the White Horse Dragon before he passed away, used those to make his armour. Oh and I tried making it so each colour represents a past friend of his, So Tang Sanzeng, Zhu Bājiè, White Horse Dragon, Nezha and a bit of Macaque too.

But, the MAIN part I wanted to keep, was the Golden Fillet he wore during his journey to the west with his master and allies. Granted he got rid of it but a headcanon of mine is that he kept it, after he was able to take it off, as a memory of his master, Tang Sanzeng. So I stretched it out a bit wider and made it a sort of crown(Idk what that type of crown is called).

So yeah! That's it for now and I'm so sorry if anything sounds like I blabbered on or didn't explain some parts enough, I'm not the best with explaining things, I just draw to have fun tbh. Anyways! I hope you like them! And please, go ahead and suggest below who you think I should redesign next and whatever ideas you have for them.

Also thank you so much @djmurphy and my friends on twitter for helping me with my Au, I may not have a name for it yet but again, thanks so much for helping me with it! I couldn't have done it without you guys 🥰

[starsfic]

Prompt for LMK

Mei looses control of her dragon form and fully transforms when MK was hurt.

Nobody can get close to her without the threat of mortality coming to get them

…Except for Monkey King.

(Dad-Wukong calming down his overprotective daughter)

Anon: Mei turning into a full on dragon for the first time

When she had first met Qi Xiaotian, Long Xiaojiao’s first thought was, “I need to protect you.”

They had met at a business party where the staff showed all the kids to their private party room. While the adults chatted about business, the kids got all the good snacks and danced. At least, that was what was supposed to happen. Xiaojiao, the second eldest out of everyone, had been bored out of her skull and chilling in a corner, counting down the seconds until she could go home.

Then there had been a small body next to hers and a quiet “I saved you a slice of cake.”

When Xiaojiao looked up, there had been the smallest child she had ever seen, looking almost like the fancy life-sized Tang dynasty child doll she had given once, holding out a slice of cake. The thought had popped into her head. Before she could say anything, the kid had plopped down next to her. Then they started talking.

Their name was super long, but they went by Qi Xiaotian.

That had been the day Long Xiaojiao met her best friend.

And Xiaojiao kept to that first thought.

She was the first one Xiaotian came out to. She was the one who picked him up when he called her in tears about his parents kicking him out. She was the one to give him a place to stay until he left, not wanting to be a burden. She was the one to scope out Pigsy and Tang to make sure Xiaotian was safe. She was the one who went after Xiaotian’s bad exes and stalkers.

And then Xiaotian had gotten the staff and then could protect himself.

And Xiaojiao didn’t feel bad about that. She didn’t! She was more… awestruck over his ability than anything else. Then she got the sword and…they were on the same level! Right?

Right.

But now…

Xiaotian was bleeding. The staff was gone. His powers were gone. He was bleeding. “Xiaojiao?” he gasped out.

Protect him.

The Samadhi fire roared around her body. If she were more herself at the moment, Xiaojiao would’ve been amazed at her new dragon form. Right now, she glared at the flames coming too close to comfort.

Don’t you touch him.

The flames retreated enough that Xiaotian would be safe.

Just like he should be. Who cared if they had seen each other in weeks if the flames around them were the reason why Xiaojiao left? It was her greatest desire to see him safe.

“Xiaojiao,” Xiaotian managed, sitting up. “I’m okay.” He wasn’t. “You’re okay.” She was. “Okay? How about you-”

“No.” she rumbled out, her tail pushing him closer. “Not safe. Hurt.” Xiaojiao could smell the blood on him. “Need to keep you close.”

“Yeah, I know. I feel the same.” Did he? That was sweet. “But, Xiaojiao, I don’t know if you notice-” The tail came close and gently pushed him down.

“Hush,” she ordered, wrapping her tail around and bringing Xiaotian closer. “Safe. Not hurt.” Not with her. Never with her. Xiaojiao was determined.

“But-”

She silenced him again, not caring about the flames drawing close again. As long as Xiaojiao had Xiaotian and nobody else-

“XIAOJIAO!”

Like him.

Sun Wukong stood at the edge of the flames, staring up at her. “Xiaojiao,” he said, taking a step forward. “I need you to-”

“NO!” Xiaojiao screeched, her voice echoing and flames rising even higher. Xiaotian shrieked and Wukong gasped, scrambling a few steps back. She ignored it to instead let out her own shriek. “NO! GO AWAY!” He wasn’t safe, never been safe!

“Xiaojiao, listen to me!” Wukong continued, at least not stepping forward. “You aren’t thinking clearly right now. The dragon and the Samadhi fire should have never been combined like this! You need to-”

“YOU DON’T TELL ME WHAT I NEED!” Stupid monkey, stupid king, stupid successor business! “YOU LEFT XIAOTIAN BEHIND! YOU PUT HIM IN DANGER!” Fury was bubbling her blood. “YOU HURT HIM!”

“I NEVER MEANT TO!”

She paused at the yell. Wukong had never raised his voice like this before. The flames died down a bit, allowing Xiaojiao a good look at his face. He looked determined…and oddly open. “What do you mean?” Her voice wasn’t coming out as a roar anymore.

Wukong took a deep breath and sat down. “I thought I would have forever to train Xiaotian,” he admitted. Xiaojiao could barely hear him but her voice was steady. “Xiaotian isn’t perfect and that’s okay. It took me years to learn all my powers. I expected him to take years too.” The flames died down even further. “I didn’t expect…her.” Her head ached with the memory of blue. “She’s not his responsibility. Xiaotian was powerful but he’s not ready for her. I should’ve told him that.”

Silence.

“Why didn’t you?” Xiaojiao and Wukong both looked down. Xiaotian, still gripped tight by her tail, stared at him.

The silence dragged on, only broken by the snap and crackle of the embers. Wukong stared at Xiaotian. Finally, he opened his mouth. “I need therapy, kid. I know that. I’ve known that for years. But instead of getting help, I thought it would be better to bottle everything up so it couldn’t hurt anyone. So it couldn’t hurt you.”

He looked up, right into Xiaojiao’s eyes.

“Or you.”

The flames had completely died out.

A odd noise broke the silence.

Oh. She was crying.

Wukong stood. He took a careful step forward. Then another. Then another. “Kid,” he said, “I am so proud of both of you.” He held out his hands. “And I know Ao Lie would be proud of you too, Xiaojiao. But, right now, I need you to come back down.”

Her head hurt.

Wukong’s arms were warm around her.

[bookofjin]

Commentary on the Water Classic: India (cont.)

[We finish the section on Tianzhu = India, and the Heng = Ganges River. The commentary's crisscross of the landscape rather than going strictly downriver reflects the actual path taken by Faxian during his journey. Again there is a heavy focus on sites associated with the life of the Buddha and Buddhism.]

The He River河水 sets out from their north-eastern corner, bending to follow its south-eastern flow to enter into the Bo Sea渤海.

[6]...

Kang Tai's Account of Funan says: Formerly, in the time of Fan Zhan [King of Funan, fl. 243 AD], there was a person from the state of Tanyang嘾楊國, Jiaxiangli, who once came from his home state to Tianzhu天竺. He tossed and turned as a drifting merchant until he arrived in Funan扶南, and discussed with Zhan the lands and customs of Tianzhu天竺. The principles of the Way flowed throughout, gold and treasure piled up in heaps, the mountains and streams were productive and fertile, indulging one's wishes. Left and right were great states, the Generationally Venerated One esteemed them. Zhan asked about it, stating: “Now, what is the distance and time in one could arrive, how many years would a round-trip take?” Li told him: “The distance from Tianzhu天竺 could be more than thirty thousand li. To go and come back could exceed three years. When travelling, four years and just then go back is considered to be the middle of Heaven and Earth.”

The Heng River恒水 again goes east to pass Lanmo pagoda藍莫塔[Rama]. By the pagoda's side there is a pool, within the pool there is a dragon who defends and protects it. King Ashoka wished to destroy the pagoda, and build eighty-four thousand pagodas. He realized that what had been provided by the dragon king was known not to exist in his era, and thereupon ceased. Within here was empty and wasted without people. A crowd of elephants used their to take water and sprinkle the earth. Similarly to Cangwu蒼梧 and Kuaji 會稽, the elephants ploughed and the birds weeded.

The Heng River恒水 again goes east to arrive at Wuhekou五河口 [Lit. “Five River Mouths”], perhaps where five rivers meet – there are no details. Ananda went from the state of Mojie 摩竭國[Magadha] towards Pisheli毗舍利[Vaisali], wishing for parinirvana. The various devas informed King Ajatasatru. The king pursued until he arrived upon the He河. The Licchavis [the rulers of Vaisali] heard that Ananda was coming, and likewise also came to welcome him, all arrived upon the He河. Ananda thought about it. If he went forward, King Ajatasatru would become resentful. If he retreated, the Licchavis then would be angry. Exactly when he was in the middle of the He, there entered him a fire shining samadhi, he burned completely in two, [achieving] parinirvana. The body was in two parts, with a part on each of the banks. The two kings each grasped a half as a relic, and returned home to erect two pagodas.

Crossing the He and going down south for one yojana, you come to the state of Mojieti's摩竭提國 Balianfu Town巴連弗邑[Pataliputtra]. The town is precisely the city where King Ashoka ruled from. The palace halls within the city on all their standing walls and watchtowers had engraved patterns and carved inlays. They piled up rocks to make a mountains, and beneath the mountain they made a rock chamber, three zhang long, two zhang wide, and more than a zhang tall. There was a Brahmana master of the Great Vehicle, named Radha-sami and also named Manjushri, he resided inside of this city. He had a vivid perception and much wisdom, in affairs there was nothing he did not comprehend, and so clear and pure he lived by himself. The king of the state honoured and respected him as his teacher in affairs. Relying on this one man, they expansively circulated the dharma of the Buddha, outsiders were unable to encroach. Altogether among the various states, only this city is great. The population is wealthy and flourishing, and contend to act with humanity and righteousness.

When King Ashoka destroyed the seven pagodas, he built eighty-four thousand pagodas. At the very beginning he built the great pagoda, it is two li or so south of the city. In front of this pagoda are the Buddha's footprints, where they have erected a place of pure activity. The north door is towards the pagoda. South of the pagoda there is a stone pillar. Its greatness is four or five in circumference, and it is more than three zhang tall. On it there is an inscription, the heading states: “King Ashoka used the Jambudvipa to dispense as alms to the four regions. The sangha returned it and used the ransom money for the pagoda. Three hundred paces north of the pagoda, King Ashoka there built Nili City泥犂城. Within the city there is a stone pillar which is also more than three zhang tall. On it there is a lion pillar, and there is an inscription recording the principle and subsidiary causes for building Nili City泥犂城, and the year and the number of days and months.

The Heng River恒水 again goes south-east passing a little solitary rock mountain. On the mountain's head there is a stone chamber, and the stone chamber faces south. The Buddha formerly sat within it, the Heavenly Emperor, Sakra, used the forty-two affairs to question the Buddha. The Buddha one by one with his finger drew them up on the rock. Traces of the drawing formerly were there.

The Heng River恒水 again goes west passing Wangshe New City王舍新城 [New Rajagriha], the one constructed by King Ajatasatru. Setting out from the city and going south four li one enters a valley and arrive inside of five mountains. The circuit made by the five mountains in shape is lake a city's outer walls. This is precisely King Bimbisara's old city. East to west it is five or six li, and south to north seven or eight li. The place were King Ajatasatru first wished to murder the Buddha. Its city is empty and deserted, and again no person passes by.

On entering the valley and holding on to the mountain, going up south-east for fifteen li one comes to Qidujue Mountain耆闍崛山[Gidhra-kuta]. Three li before the peak there is a stone cavern facing south. The Buddha sat in meditation at this place. Forty paces south-east there again is another stone cavern, Ananda sat in meditation at this place. The Mara Pisuna transformed to act as a vulture to frighten Ananda. The Buddha used his divine strength to separate the rock, spread his hand, and rub Ananda's shoulders. His terror then immediately ceased. The bird's footprints and the hand's opening fully exist, for that reason it is called the Vulture Cavern雕鷲窟. Its mountain peak is graceful, straight, and stern, it is the tallest of the five mountains.

Mr. Shi's Records of the Western Regions states: Qidujue Mountain耆闍崛山[Gidhra-kuta] is north-east of Anavatapta [and?] Wangshe City王舍城, looking westward at its mountain. There are a pair of peaks standing up, the distance between them to or three li. In the middle road there are vultures, they commonly reside at its peaks. People of the land call it Qidujue Mountain耆闍崛山, in foreign speech “gidhra” is “vulture”.

Also Zhu Fawei states: The state of Luoyuezhi羅閱祗國 has the Lingjiu Mountain靈鷲山 [“Sacred Vulture Mountain”], in foreign speech they say Qidujue Mountain耆闍崛山. The mountain has blue-green rock. The rock's head resemble a vulture. King Ashoka sent people to cut the rock. They made use of the settled [?] pair of wings and a pair of feet, and cut to arrange its body which is now seen to exist. Looking from far-away, it resembles the shape of a vulture. For that reason they call it Lingjiu Mountain靈鷲山.

The several explanations are not similar, and the distant and near are also different. Now, Faxian personally stayed at its mountain, and recited the Surangama with fragrant flowers to provide and furnish, the reverence of hearing and seeing.

Again west passing thirty li south of Jiana City迦那城[Gaya], you come to the place where the Buddha during six years of exacting practices sat at the tree, and there is a forest. Travelling west for three li you come to the place where when the Buddha entered the water to wash and bath, a heavenly king pressed a tree branch so he managed to pull himself up and get out of the pool.

Again travelling north for two li, you get to the place were the Mijia彌家 girls offered the Buddha milk gruel. Travelling north two li from this place, is the place where the Buddha beneath a big tree and upon a rock, sat turned east and ate the gruel. The tree and rock fully exist. It is six chi long and wide, and about two chi tall. Within their state, cold and heat are equally attuned. Trees sometimes are several thousand years [old], even ten thousand years.

Travelling north twenty li from there, you come to a single rock cave. The bodhisattva entered within it, and turning west sat down cross-legged, thinking in his heart: “If I have perfected the Way, there will be a divine proof.” Upon the rock wall there immediately was seen an image of the Buddha, three chi in length, presently it is still clear and bright. At the time Heaven and Earth greatly moved, and the various Heavenly beings in the hollow talked: “This is not a place where bygone and coming Buddhas perfected the Way. Depart here and go south-west for less than half a yojana, below the patra tree, this is the place where bygone and coming Buddhas perfect the Way.” The various Heavenly beings guided and pulled the bodhisattva to rise up and go. When he was thirty paces from the tree, a Heavenly being conferred kusa grass. The bodhisattva accepted, and again went fifteen paces. Five hundred blue-green sparrows came flying, they circled around the bodhisattva thrice and left westward. The bodhisattva went forward and came beneath the patra tree. He spread out the kusa grass, turned east, and sat down. At the time King Mara dispatched three jade girls who came from the north to test the bodhisattva. King Mara himself came from the south. The bodhisattva pressed firmly on the ground with his feet and fingers. The Mara troops stepped back and scattered, the three girls changed to become old crones who did not apply themselves.

Where Buddha beneath the nyagrodha tree upon the square rock sat turned east, the place where Brahmadeva came to the Buddha, and the place where the Four Heavenly Kings holding up their alms bowls, at all of them were raised up pagodas.

The Affairs of the Outer States says: Pipoli 毗婆梨 [Vaibhali?], the Buddha at this place was beneath a single tree for six years. A woman of grown age used a golden alms bowl filled with milk gruel to send up to the Buddha. The Buddha got the milk gruel, and halted his feet at the Nilianchan He尼連禪河[Nairanjana] to bathe. He bathed fully. At the edge of the He河, he ate the gruel fully, and threw the alms bowl into the water. After going against the current for a hundred paces, the alms bowl sank into the He河. The dragon king of Jialijao迦梨郊 received and took it at the palace to provide furnishings. The previous three Buddhas' alms bowls are also seen. The Buddha near by the He河 sat at the mahabodhi tree. The distance from the mahabodhi tree to the patra tree is two li. He was beneath this tree for seven days, thinking only of perfecting the Way. The Mara troops tested the Buddha.

Mr. Shi's Records of the Western Regions says: The Nilian River尼連水 to the south pour into the Heng River恒水. West of the river is the Buddha's tree. The Buddha at this place [underwent] exacting practices, daily eating gruel for six years. The distance west to the city is five li. East of the tree upon the He河 is precisely the place where the Buddha entered the river to bathe. Eastward upon the bank is the nyagrodha tree beneath where he sat and devoted himself. The residing girl[s] sent up gruel at this place. West of here across across the river, south of the six year tree, is the patra tree he sat beneath, brought down the Mara, and obtained Buddhahood.

Fotutiao says: The inside of the Buddha tree was dried out, at the time of his coming, it changed to bear branches and leaves.

Zhu Fawei says: The distance from the six year tree to the Buddha tree is five li. The texts on it differ.

Faxian from there travelled south-east, and returned to Balianfu Town巴連弗邑[Pataliputtra] following Heng River恒水 went down west. He got to one place of pure activited named Kuangye曠野 [“Empty Wilderness], a place where the Buddha had dwelt. Then he again followed Heng River恒水 and went down west, and came to the state of Jiashi's 迦尸國 [Kasi] Boluonai City波羅柰城 [Varanasi].

Zhu Fawei says: The state of Boluonai波羅柰國 is one thousand, two hundred li south of the state of Jiaweiluowei City迦維羅衛城[Kapilavastu]. In between them is the Heng River恒水 which flows south-east. The place where the Buddha turned the wheel of the dharma is twenty li north of the state. The tree is named Chunfu春浮, the place were was Weimo維摩 [Vimalakirti?].

Faxian says: Ten li north-east of the city is precisely Deer Wilderness Park鹿野苑. Originally a pratyeka-buddha resided here. He often had wild deer staying overnight, and for that reason used it as the name for it. Faxian turned back from there, and dwelt at Balianfu Town巴連弗邑. He again followed the Heng River恒水 and travelled east. On its southern bank is the great state of Zhanbo瞻婆大國 [Champa].

Mr. Shi's Records of the Western Regions says: Next east of Hengqu恒曲 is the state and city of Zhanbo瞻婆國城. To the south is Buqulan Pool卜佉蘭. Heng River恒水 is to the north. The place where the Buddha sent down his explanations and cautions. Heng River again passes the state of Boli波麗國, which is precisely the state of Fowaizu佛外祖國.

Faxian says: Heng River恒水 again goes east to come to the state of Duomolijian多摩梨靬[Tamralipti], which precisely is at the ocean's mouth.

Mr. Shi's Records of the Western Regions says: Daqin大秦 is also named Lijian梨靬.

Kang Tai's Account of Funan says: South-west from Jianadiao Island迦那調洲 you enter a great bay, perhaps seven or eight hundred li [wide], and then come to the mouth of the Zhihuli Great Jiang枝扈黎大江. Crossing the Jiang江 and to pass travelling west, is Jidaqin極大秦.

He also states: Issuing out from the mouth of Gouli利口, and enter within the great bay, entering straight north-west, could be one year or so, you get to Tianzhu's 天竺 Jiang Mouth江口, which is named the Heng River恒水. The Jiang Mouth江口 has a state titled Danzhi擔袟 which belongs to Tianzhu天竺. Dispatched Yellow Gates Zixing [?] to be King of Danzhi擔袟.

Mr. Shi's Records of the Western Regions says: Heng River恒水 flows east to enter the Eastern Sea. Perhaps where two rivers pour into, and where the pair of seas take in, themselves become the Eastern and Western.