#i don't know where i got the Hunch that he was /also/ a celestial being who turned himself into a human

[avian-hearts]

I'M SUCH A SUCKER FOR THIS TROPE AND THIS MADE ME CRY 3 DIFFERENT TIMES

[elianaroselight]

This will be a long post, as a heads up.

@winterpower98 Since you said you were interested in hearing this. 😁 Also, a fair bit of this is geared towards the Cursed AU and the Flower Fruit Kings/Shadowpeach Family in particular.

This train of thought got started with a song called 'Bridge of Light'. The original is by Pink and was in the movie 'Happy Feet Two', but the version I was listening to was a vocal rendition by a theater group. The song is about even when you lose everything, as long as you have love, you have light which will be your bridge in tough times. Beautiful song. Highly recommend listening to it.

Also, I think about the symbolism surrounding the Sun and the Moon a lot due to a story I am creating and as such, my brain asked the question: "What is a Bridge of Light? Can it be connected to symbolism surrounding the cosmos?" And the answer hit me over the back of my head. Then I decided to see if this Bridge of Light could be applied to Monkey Kid.

Let's go through the family to see, shall we?

Macaque - He is the Moon. Once again, simple and understandable.

Sun Wukong - He is the Sun. Pretty simple and with no need to explain.

MK - Okay, hear me out on this one. When it comes to being the Monkie Kid, the Monkey King's successor, he is a Star. But! When it comes to being MK, the son of Wukong and Macaque, he isn't a star. He is the Sunset. Guardian of the Sun. Why? Well..

Mei - She is the Sunrise. Defender of the Moon. When it comes to the Sunset and Sunrise, I like to think of a sword and shield.

The Sun comes out to rule over the day and reaches the peak of power around midday before it begins to dwindle in it's power. At the end of the day, it has weakened significantly and needs time to regenerate its energy, but it also at risk of being overpowered by the Moon.

So why is MK the Sunset and Mei the Sunrise? Well, outside of the colors they tend to wear, they each have a close bond to one particular monkie dad a bit more than with the other. Mei was Macaque's daughter before becoming Wukong's and MK was Wukong's son before becoming Macaque's. They are the protectors of that Celestial body in a metaphorical sense.

The sun and moon balance each other in the cosmos, the Yin and Yang. They aren't allowed to overpower the other. As such, a guard/champion is each placed at the times of day where it is possible for one to be overpowered.

The Sunset protects the weakened Sun and makes way for the Moon, who is at full strength to come rule the night. The Sunrise does the same but opposite - protecting the weakened Moon and making way for the rise of the rejuvenated Sun.

So. Moving on to:

Cherry - Ri Shi. The Solar Eclipse. When the Moon covers the light of the Sun and all we can see in the sky is a ring of flames. She is quiet, but fiesty and dramatic (theatrical?) much like a Solar Eclipse. We know it is happening when it happens. It is hard to miss. And like how the Sun is covered up by the Moon, she hides her weaknesses and fear behind her anger and distrust/paranoia.

Apple - Yue Shi. The Lunar Eclipse. When the Earth blocks the Sun from the Moon. He is the one who usually speaks. Where Cherry only speaks every so often/rarely (like a Solar Eclipse), Apple will speak up often and with confidence in the same way the Moon is a constant. He is okay being in the background and less obvious akin to the Lunar Eclipse.

Nezha - He is a rainbow. Just as he has been adopted by only Wukong, a true natural born in the wild rainbow only shows during the day. While I don't know much about him from the show yet, (as I haven't seen S3 yet), I have a hunch he will be dramatic/eccentric and a somewhat colorful person and if that doesn't sound like a rainbow, I don't what does.

Yin and Jin - Here we have finally come to the Stars of the family. They have only been taken in by Macaque, just as the Stars are only really seen at night. Afar, they are but twinkling and dancing lights. Up close, they are completely different. The Chaos Twins are the same way-powerful in their own right, but prefer to be himbos himbros. Plus, the stars (for me at least) with twinkle between a golden color to a more blueish silver color.

And finally:

Zan - She is the one who answers the question I posed above. The Bridge of Light. The Aurora Borealis. Strategically chaotic, bright and beautiful to see in the night sky. The Bridge between the Sun and Moon. Zan has quite literally done this on many levels when it comes to Macaque and Wukong.

She was there when Wukong and Macaque finally talked and began officially courting due to Mac 'kidnapping' her to lure Wukong out since the king is impossible to kidnap as is common in the Demon Courting Customs. (If I remember correctly at least). She was the Bridge for them to be able to reach each other and become a couple.

Zan has also helped the Eclipse Twins integrate into the family. Inviting them to come do stuff or hang out, getting them used to being around other monkeys and around the dads. She likely was involved with the twins being able to befriend Bai He. She gave them love and comfort at times and in ways that others couldn't reach. She was the bridge to unite them with the family.

Zan is also the bridge in another BIG way. And it is due to being the reincarnation of the beloved Marshal Ma. Ma in the past brought the group together which lead to Ba and Beng getting married, Macaque finding a home, a family and eventually a mate. The one who advised Wukong in his duties as a king and did all she could to love and support her found family.

In recent times? Because of the situation surrounding her birth and being orphaned, she was brought into Wukong and Macaque's lives. She becomes close with Macaque in particular and has worked to help him in all she can. Zan being close allows the two ancient monkies to learn of her connection to Ma. This leads to the reunion of the original group, the Flower Fruit Monkies with Ma there in spirit. A family torn apart and reunited. This also leads to a reunion for the BlueHollys family.

Zan is the past and the present coming together in unison which will spear head the future. The uniting of the Old Flower Fruit group and the New Flower Fruit group. She is friends with all of them, (as I suspect she will worm her way into Nehza's heart as well).

Without her, Wukong and Macaque wouldn't have gone to see the generals. Ba and Beng would have likely never been reunited with their daughter while Bai He would have no sense of where she belongs. The Eclipse Twins would have had a EXTREMELY harder time connecting with their new family.

Zan is a bridge made with orderly chaos, love and light.

She is the Aurora Borealis.

[mageicalwishes]

Day 1, Found Family - New Traditions

The Gang start a new Festive tradition filled with love, laughter, music, food & fun.

Day 2, Distance - Say I Love You When You’re Not Listening

Baz reflects on the events of Wayward Son, and the hopelessness he feels. "A trip to try and save him - To save us. A last ditch effort to put some of the sunshine back in to his soul. Rammed together in economy, the press of his knee firm against mine, but his mind miles away. His eyes ever averted. Touching yet so far apart. I just wish I knew where I went wrong."

Day 3, Retellings - Changing History

The Mage's publicized documents reveal a myriad of painful truths about the loss of Natasha Grimm-Pitch and the origins of Simon Snow.

Day 4, Side Characters - Thawing Of A Heart

Malcolm & Daphne. “I’d always known that I would remarry eventually. It was my duty for the good of the family. Basil needed a mother. And I needed … someone. It was a simple, logical decision - To find a woman of good breeding, and give her the Grimm name. To carry on. But, through all my planning and preparation, I had never anticipated that I would fall in love. Never anticipated her."

Day 5, Sleepless - Tonight He Is Mine

"I can’t sleep. I can never sleep these days, not how I want to anyway - It's always either that I’m knocked out for 15 hours, waking up disoriented and heavy, or that I can barely catch a moment's rest. But today is different. My body is tired, and my mind is too. If I let myself, I’d be gone. But I won’t. I can’t. Tonight is my last night with Baz, and I don’t want to miss a minute of it."

Day 6, WLW - To Her, I Taste Of Nothing At All

Fiona & Ebb. "But then, before I even knew what was happening, she was kissing me back. And Crowley, I swear I melted. She tasted of cigarette smoke and spiced rum - Like fire personified."

Day 7, Animal(s) - Family Dog

My interpretation of ‘I was a 15-year-old closet case whose parents pretended they didn’t notice when the family dog disappeared’. “A shallow grave. So much less than she deserves. But … I can’t breathe. I can’t even think. I’m running on autopilot and adrenaline alone. Everything is just - I don't know what I'm doing. I don't know how I got here. I'm losing control. I can't - I can't even look at her. She's still wrapped in my sheets. I can see her bleeding. I still want it. I still want more."

Day 8, Rain - From Across The Courtyard

"When I first met him, it was hammering it down. I was rushing to the main door in a desperate attempt to rescue my suede shoes, umbrella snagging against the wind, when I heard it - An impolite 'Oi! Are you new?'"

Day 9, Kids/Childhood - At The Top Of A Tower

Simon reflects on the few happy memories he made with Baz at Watford.

Day 10, Crossover - I’ll Give You The Stars

A loose crossover between Carry On and parts of I'll Give You The Sun. “He’s haloed under the streetlights, and I’m trying not to stare. But, it’s hard. His face is celestial - The sunshine of his soul peeking through his features. I want to say more, just so that he doesn’t leave. Our houses are right there but, I feel so ... multicoloured."

Day 11, Fluff - Keeping Warm

Simon & Baz spend a tentative first night together after the events of the forest fire. “He’s sighing against me, and sliding a hand up towards to my neck to hold me closer against him, and - Fuck. He’s freezing. I jolt backwards without meaning to. Staring down at him in awe - His pupils blown wide, and a faint (But definitely present) blush spread across his cheeks."

Day 12, Wings - The Guests Can Wait

"Weddings are even more exhausting than I had imagined. What with the panicked last minute search for Simon’s vows (Which ended up being in the mini-fridge of all places), and having to parade ourselves around all of our well-wishing friends and family. All I want to do was get him alone. To tell him, without the presence of a hundred witnesses, how much he means to me - How much the fact that we’re here, together, after everything, means to me."

Day 13, Below the Surface - Below The Surface

"Las Vegas is a sham of a city. Outside it’s all bright lights and glitzy shows - Normal magicians and celebrity chefs. But, beneath its shiny exterior, it’s nothing more than a grim desert, filled with counterfeit culture, and people burning through money they don’t really have. The Katherine is no exception."

Day 14, Constellation(s) - Mirror, Mirror

Simon struggles with his body image Post-Carry On. “Sometimes I just … get so mad at them (At myself, really). I wish that they’d just grow up and tell me like it is. Tell me how much I’ve disappointed them. Tell me that they no longer want me."

Day 15, Hurt/Comfort - First Aid

Simon cares for Baz's Buckshot wounds. Less angsty re-write of the scene in Wayward Son. “I glare at him - At his blackened under eyes, and matted hair. The slight hunch of his back. It does hurt. I know it does. Liar. I move my face closer to his, and breathe in his air. I want to hug him. To kiss him. To cheer him up, somehow. Make him better. But I can’t. I don’t know how. So, instead I step away. My hands dropping limply, to my sides."

Day 16, Meme/Crack - Baby, You Can Pick Me Up Any Day

Oovoo Javer? Oovoo Javer. AKA: Baz is Simon's slightly dickhead-ish Uber driver. “I kept trying to talk to him - Asking about his night, and whether he always listens to Classical music, or if it was just for show - but he ignored me. Staring unamusedly at me in the mirror, eyebrow raised and lips tilted downwards. He got 2 stars for that trip."

Day 17, Blanket Fort - Torch The Night-Filled Fort

Baz surprises Simon with a living room blanket fort transformation. “I turn to him, beaming. ‘Baz, what? What is this?’ He hums against me. ‘Blanket fort. You’re terribly inobservant, Snow.’ ‘Yeah, but … I mean, why?’ ‘Well, it’s been a year now since we left for America, and we’ve come a long way since then. Thought it was worth celebrating,’ he confesses, smiling shyly down at the floor.”

Day 18, Side Ships - You Got A Boyfriend?

Shepard & Penny. Shepard asks Penny a very important question (Well, in his mind, anyway).

Day 19, Misunderstanding - Wrong Bottle, Moron

Simon makes a VERY stupid mistake while showering. Cue, Baz coming to his rescue.

Day 20, Technology - Screenless

Baz and Simon have been chatting online for a year. It's finally time to meet IRL and take their relationship into HD reality.

Day 21, Warmth - Out In The Cold

Fangirl era. Simon and Baz get stuck in a snowstorm, and have to find a way to stay warm.

Day 22, Unlikely Friends - You’re My Bro

Shepard comes over to hang out with his bro ... Baz?

Day 23, Cooking/Baking - What’s Cookin’ Good Lookin’?

Simon is making dinner. Baz is soft.

Day 24, Song - He Made It Easy, Darlin’

Simon & Baz struggle with trying to take the next step in their relationship. Inspired by Easy by Troye Sivan

Day 25, Parallel Universe - Parallelt Univers

Simon and Baz spend the day recovering in bed, after their first kiss. Inspired by the 'Parallel Universes' talk from Skam.

Day 26, Break - I Think We Should Break Up

Simon is trying to do what's right for Baz. Baz disagrees.

Day 27, Snowstorm - Searching In The Snow

Simon has lost his cat. So the only obvious choice is to hammer on his neighbour's door at 2AM ... And Baz is not impressed.

Day 28, Party - Festivities, Food, and Family. Chapter 1

"I’m over the bloody moon. After everything that happened after we left Watford, I wasn’t sure that I’d ever get to see this Snow - a truly joyful Snow - again. And it broke my heart. Yet, here we are, spending our fifth anniversary together, surrounded by friends and family in our own little London flat."

Day 29, Secret Santa/Gift Giving - Festivities, Food, and Family. Chapter 2

Day 30, Any Way the Wind Blows - Worst Road Trip ... Ever!

Shepard is NOT enjoying his trip back to England with the Gang. "I feel like a kid again, sat in the back of my mothers pick-up, hyped up on sugar, but belted down to the seat. Unable to run. Constantly being shushed."

Also huge thanks and praise goes to everyone involved in running the @carryon-countdown Countdown this year!!! I really enjoyed taking part :)