#lmk tmkati au story events

[quitealotofsodapop]

Do macaque and wukong ever forget theyre not dating

Frequently

Both are very aware that they're attractive pair of demons in their own right. But it feels Wrong to them to persue any other romantic leads, even before the pilgrimage and the mountain.

It leads to a lot of funny moments.

Customer at the resturant: "Hey cutie, you free later?" Wukong: "Sorry, but I'm taken. Thanks though!" *later in the kitchen* Wukong: "Hold up. I could've just played coy and wrung a bigger tip out of them. Why didnt I do that??" Pigsy, cooking: "Cus you're loyal to your fake-bf?" Wukong: "...gods dammit you're right."

Meanwhile at the University that Tang and Macaque are working:

Macaque: "Ughhhh. I'm so tired. I just wanna go home and hug my mate." Tang: "I thought you two weren't dating? If you need some spare chi you could probably leech it off those sports majors over there." Macaque, tsundere mode: "...it's not the same."

And since Macaque's six ears can tell him truth from lies, he frequently gets blindsided by geniune romantic sentiments & affection. Wukong in turn is stupidfied to recieve affection in turn.

"Haha what if we kissed, but no really" feedback loop.

[quitealotofsodapop]

In any kind of Shadowpeach au: I like the idea of them finally tying/retying the knot after S3 with an official wedding, figuring that one too many near-death experiences warranted an actual ceremony. Heavily inspo'd by Ruby and Sapphire's wedding in Steven Universe.

The kids, the noodle gang, Demon Bull fam, Chang'e (via Zoom), Nezha, the villains and celestials they've befriended, and the monkeys of Flower Fruit Mountain all attend. It's both a big gaudy affair, but with only close friends allowed to attend.

Cue the very end of the wedding getting interrupted by the S4 return of Azure Lion and the rest of the Brotherhood. Like 90% of the guests immediately whip out their weapons.

And ofc the sight of imminent Shadowpeach marriage (+kids) causes some uh... problems with Azure Lion's attempts to come off as reformed. Things quickly go awry.

Wukong, in an elaborate peach-inspired imperial wedding dress: "This dress costs way too much money not to fight in it!" Macaque, in a Billy Porter-equse tux gown: "Peaches please. We paid so much for the open bar." MK (ring bearer), watching the carnage unfold: "I just wanted there to be a normal wedding..." :') Red Son, a bridesmaid: "Actually, compared to the demon weddings I've been to, getting crashed by a jealous past suitor is pretty normal.

As a side effect, lots of fights with the characters in fancy clothes.

[quitealotofsodapop]

Hmm...if Mac absorbs the egg - does that mean he would have a rock in his gut? How would that even work? Would the egg be draining Mac's magic as a form of sustenance to replace the umbilical cord? Imagine the panic those monkeys would have - "Didn't your rock blow up when you were born?!" "Calm down, I doubt it's gonna go all chestburster on you! I hope." "Chest-what?!" "Oh, right, you haven't seen the movies..." "WUKONG!" - or does the *baby* go to Mac and leaves an empty rock for SWK to use?

OK Im calling a Long Post warning; cus its a long answer, and gives a pretty good idea Why the plot happens.

Basically the stone "Egg" MK comes from was a comet containing Something. The Jade Emperor and a bunch of other Celestials noticed it coming right for earth and started panicing. To anyone not in the know, it just looked like an unseasonable meteor shower over Megapolis.

SWK is summoned cus the Jade Emperor had Visions of what was in the "Egg"; an infant Stone Monkey that could transform into an Eldritch Abomination. Jade Emperor gives the order of scrambled stone egg.

SWK and a bunch of other characters are Not Down For It; so they teleport to SWK's Shame Temple (seen in "Imposssible Delivery") to hopefully catch the Egg before it lands.

Coincidentally; The Shame Temple happens to be where Macaque was put to rest hundreds of years ago, and he's just Woken Up (more details on Why later) to his ex-best-friend/possible soulmate standing there.

Moskha and Nezha have to keep the monkeys apart long enough to form a plan.

The comet that contains the Egg finally crashes down, and begins leaking a horrific chaotic energy thats ripping apart the reality around it. It takes the power of SWK, Nezha, Mohska, and Guanyin herself to perform a ritual to contain the energy within a confined space.

Problem was that when The Egg hit the earth, it had cracked open. But unlike SWK and Mac, it had not developed a body for its soul to survive in just yet.

Wukong has a rare lightbulb moment.

Wukong: "Hey, if *our* eggs held us - then could we use our old shells to patch it up and let it finish cooking?"

Macaque: "Thats the stupidiest idea you've ever had. Lets do it."

Guanyin gives the thumbs up, and Macaque takes SWK's place in the ritual, summoning all his shadow powers to keep the Soul within the temple. SWK causes some chaos zipping around to Flower Fruit Mountain and the Moon for the remains of his and Mac's stone eggs.

SWK patches the broken Cosmic Egg with the remaining shells, successfully trapping the energy.

Then Macaque's control on the shadows faulter, causing the Cosmic Egg to zoom towards him (Samadhi Fire flashbacks anyone?) and hit just before Wukong can jump in for a save; the Soul contained within the Egg absorbing into Macaque's body and leaving behind a seemingly normal egg-shaped rock in Wukong's hands.

Everyone starts panicking.

Guanyin explains: since the Soul existed outside of the natural order, it couldnt just simply jump into the nearest body like a reincarnation. It needed similarly un-natural progenitors.

In essense; the undercooked MK soul was like: "Where am I?! What am I!? Why am i so cold!? Where's my parents!?" *sees SWK and Macaque fixing his egg* "Oh, there they are, my bad."

Which means that Shadowpeach just metaphorically and *literally* concieved a future mystic Monkey.

Macaque is NOT HAPPY and immediately jumps to beat the crap out of SWK.

Moksha has to stop herself from laughing cus; "Bro you just magically knocked up your ex.", while Nezha looks horrified cus he thinks he just saw what Stone Monkey baby-making looks like.

Guanyin advises the two monkeys that if they keep things civil, the Soul will likely incarnate into a physical body and get born as an infant Monkey demon do. But there's a catch:

On a gross physical scale; its not an issue. Mystic Monkeys exist outside the natural category of creatures, and are shapeshifters to boot, meaning that Macaque already had built-in "equipment" to carry a kid. Its just him and SWK never "tried" making more of themselves - a war and a bad break-up put a damper on any family planning they had.

On a magical + spirtual scale though? : Its Dangerous.

The mystical pregnancy takes so much energy from Macaque that he needs to in-turn "steal" energy from other life sources in order to keep both of them healthy/alive. SWK thankfully cannot die and can replenish his energy on his own via food and rest, but the HP donation in turn drains his powers.

Basically by deciding to spare the Egg, Sun Wukong and Macaque have become functionally Mortal until MK is able to provide for himself.

As for the leftover shell; SWK presents it to the Jade Emperor as evidence that he "scrambled" whatever was inside. The celestials present can tell that whatever was in there, isnt anymore, so they accept that SWK did as he was told.

Except for Erlang Shen who's like; "SWK would never do what he's told! This is sus. Imma keep my eye on you if anything new enters the celestial realm."

SWK: "Fine by me, imma go back to being retired and having my main antagonists sealed away."

Once its confirmed that the Celestial Realm considers the Egg destroyed; SWK and Macaque agree to hide in plain sight among the mortal world for the time being. There's a *few* hiccups along the way ofc, but by the time MK is born, they're settled into the apartment above Pigsy's, and faking being a "Completely Normal (Demon) Couple With Baby", and are getting forcibly adopted by the reincarnations of the old JTTW gang.

Cue the rest of the story, and Shadowpeach forgetting where the Fake Relationship ends and where the "Whoops, you're still my soulmate!" begins.

And the three Realms collectively crapping themselves when MK picks up the staff.

And yes; Wukong would worry about the possibly of MK being born chestburter-style. Macaque would then yell at him and banish him to his cloud for the night.

I'm close to finishing the first chapter, so please continue sending asks for more details you'd like to know, and I'll answer without giving away too many spoilers.

Tldr: No rock in Macaque's gut, just baby. Leftover cosmic eggshell used to juke the god. MK is the result of a Covalent Bond. Guanyin is an amazing Fairy Godmother

[quitealotofsodapop]

Macaque in the latest chapter: I'm so done with all these wackjobs once this is over.

MK: NO.

The Harbinger's Soul/"The Egg": "I'm cold, I'm naked, I don't have a body, I'm under-cooked. This being alive thing sucks!!!" Macaque: "What the heck are you?" The Harbinger's Soul: "Oh no wonder! I havent been born yet! My mistake!" *absorbs dna material from shadowpeach's egg shells and slams self into Macaque's stomach* Macaque: *faints from low HP* Sun Wukong: *accidentally seals the soul in there in panic* "The Egg", now happily settled: "Much better!" :3 Macaque, waking up and realizing what just happned: "...Wukong you are SO DEAD." Wukong: *so many conflicting emotions rn* Longnu & Nezha: *thousand yard stares as they wonder if they just saw Stone Monkey baby-making* Guanyin: *wondering if her fertility powers had something to do with this* Lao Tzu, watching with his telescope: *laughing hysterically* Erlang, waking up surrounded by beer cans wine bottles: "The heck did I do last night???"

[quitealotofsodapop]

So... just how bad did Tang freak out when he realized goofy Mr. Wu was actually the Monkey King himself?

Tang fainted.

Hard.

And when he woke up the first time (Pigsy dousing him in cold water) he realised that the person he'd been spilling tea and talking theatre to (ie. "Mac/Mihou") was the Six Eared Macaque and that Mac and Wukong were (sorta) together!?

And he was gonna be a godparent to their kid!?!?!

Tang fainted again.

Next time he woke up, little Red Son was smacking him awake in the backseat of a car and telling him that he needs a monk to "help free his baba".

Tang just accepts his new life by that point. ヽ(゜ ～゜)ノ

[quitealotofsodapop]

Answering all three of these asks by @latvian-spider in one post cus they reference the same one.

Referencing: MK's birth & later the Twins

Answer 1:

MK's birth worsens a pre-existing weather event. Macaque has minor wind powers (a ref to another Macaque character in JttW) in addition to his shadows. So when Macaque goes into labor, his latent powers of wind + shadow activate, creating a burst of magic to "protect" him that worsens the regular rain and wind outside. Think regular autumn rain turning into something like Florida. Luckily its more "annoying" than "deadly", but the force of the winds surge during contractions. The Megapolis weather station is confused af trying to control it.

Answer 2:

Connected to the answer above; SWK is heavily associated with earth and stone. Some theories even suggest that his stone egg was one of the stones used by Nuwa (creator of humanity) to patch the hole in the sky, and/or was spawned by the earth goddess Hou tu (considered an entity equal or even higher than the Jade Emperor). So when both SWK and Mac are having the twins, SWK's earth powers start acting up and creating similarly annoying earth tremors. Not fun.

Answer 3:

I absolutely adore this idea for Guanyin, especially since there is a chapter in JttW where she's not "looking her best" and it is hilarous. I feel like she flew into Megapolis via her own cloud, thinking it was just a normal earth storm like predicted - only to get tossed about by the magic high winds, and look royally messed up once she actually makes it inside the shop. Pigsy just staring as she slams the door behind her.

Guanyin: *panting, soaked with rain, hair tossed everywhere, makeup ruined, gifts she brought have been jumbled* Pigsy: "Uh... you ok there?" Guanyin, out of breath: "Where... baby... and parents?" Pigsy: "Through the kitchen, go up the two flights of stairs and through the door on your left." Guanyin, shuffling across the room: "Thank you, Chef Zhu." *walks up stairs* Tang, just recovered from fainting: "...that was Lady Guanyin." Pigsy: "Yup." Nezha, chilling downstairs with them: "She's here to bless the baby." Tang: "You think she'll stay for dinner or...?" Guanyin, calmly walks back down stairs sans gifts: "Baby and parents perfectly healthy. Nezha, your brothers say hello. Namo Amitabha." *braces herself and walks back out into the storm, gets carried off on her cloud like a plastic bag* Pigsy: "I ain't sayin' nothing..." Tang: "If we did, nobody would believe us." Nezha: "She has attended more..." *thinking of his own* "...interesting births." Sandy, from the stairs: "Hey guys! A nice lady just dropped off a bunch of gifts for the baby! You didn't let her go out in that storm did you?"

The gifts Guanyin brought included the traditional sheaths of rice (food blessing) and a vase of pure water (medicine and pain relief for parents and baby). She also smuggled in a bunch of gifts from other immortals who knew about "The Egg" - Lao Tzu sent welding googles in case the little guy had lazer eyes like his dad.

[quitealotofsodapop]

OOOHOOO!!! Cómo va a reaccionar Azure a que no solo el sucesor del amor de su vida no solo es su sucesor si no que es su hijo. Y como van a reaccionar el Camel Rigde que ahora el "eslabón débil" es capas de hacerlos tapetes con la mirada y que se quedó con su traidor líder, y no solo eso sí no que tienen tres adorable hijitos que es capaz de partir montañas, usuario del caos y una medio demonio gato que posiblemente puede hacer una era del hielo

Translated via google:

"OOOHOOO!!! How is Azure going to react to the fact that not only is the successor of the love of her life not only her successor but also her son. And how are Camel Rigde going to react that now the "weak link" is capable of making them look at each other and that he stayed with his traitor leader, and not only that but that they have three adorable little children who are capable of breaking mountains, chaos user and a cat half-demon who can possibly make an ice age"

I can imagine Azure is a little... shocked.

The release of the Scroll of Memory happens at the same time as Shadowpeach's wedding reception on Flower Fruit Mountain, meaning that most of the guests are dragged into it. Azure showed up "just at the right time" to stop the Curse from spreading.

His plans are a lot more calculated this time round, gaining support and endearing himself more to the gang before dropping the bombshell that he intends on keeping SWK and Mac in the scroll until the Brotherhood's plans are completed.

Azure: "It's surprising to me that Sun Wukong has appointed a successor after all this time. He wasn't exactly a mentor type in our Brotherhood days. Then again he was always parental towards his fellow monkey yao." MK: "Probably helps that I'm his kid too so..." Azure: "Kid??" Bai He (cat demon) & Chenxiang (human?): "Us too!" Azure: "Excuse me???" Mei (dragon) & Nezha (diguised demon): "He's kinda our dad too." Azure, finally noticing the destroyed wedding reception: "...Was there a wedding going on?"

It takes Azure Lion a while to ask about the kids' other parent, he just assumes SWK slept around during the last 1000 years. Eventually he pokes around Flower Fruit Mountain enough to find some baby photos of all the kids together (you know Wukong is the type to hoard his kids drawings and photos) with SWK + a monkey yao he isn't sure if he recognises.

Azure, astral projecting during the kids' mission through the scroll: "I would like to ask a personal question; has Sun Wukong ever... settled down before? With a life partner, I mean." MK: "Yeah! With our mom!" Azure, disappointed: "Oh. Are they a monkey yao like you? Or are they something else?" Bai He, proudly: "Our mom is The Six Eared Macaque! That wedding we were at was theres!" Azure, astral form glitching: "WHAT?" *so shocked he stops projecting* Chenxiang, the most paranoid of the situation: "...guys I think he had a crush on dad." MK, in denial: "Nah! He said they were just bros back in the day! He was probably just caught off guard by mom and dad being together after so long!" Mei: "MK, he def had the hots for Monkey King." Chenxiang: "And he did not seem happy about who mom is..." MK, desperately: "No... thats so gross..." Nezha: "I agree with Mei and Chen. Although the Azure Lion has been on good behavior for the bodhisattvas since the Camel Ridge incident, he has turned his back on the Celestial Realm before. His appearance at the wedding was no mere concidence. I would keep our wits about us until we find and release the others."

*Later, after Azure releases them and the reincarnation gang, but refuses to release SWK and Mac*

Chenxiang: "...Told you he had the hots for dad." MK: "Leave me alone, I'm still grossed out about it." Nezha: "That's what you're upset about?! There's a group of former rebels running around, trying to restart their cause, and forming a whole coup, Mr Tang is gravelly injured, and that's what you're upset about!?" MK: "Mom and dad just got married ok! I didn't want today to go wrong for them!" Bai He: "But now mom and dad are stuck in that magic scroll Uncle Lion has." :'( Mei: "Oh man... Momcaque is gonna kill that fake-uncle Lion when we get him out!" Chenxiang, shuffling nervously and muttering: "I mean... whats so wrong about getting back at the Celestial Realm? I've done it before."

The Brotherhood's coup certainly doesn't go as planned... but not failed per say...

Especially since the kids find out that someone important on the Celestial side has been holding a candle for Azure for all these years, in the same way Azure has been for Sun Wukong.

And love fixes everything right?

[quitealotofsodapop]

Me imagino la propuesta de matrimonio: acaban de derrotar a LBD recuperar a su hija Bai He, Sun Wukong piensa en pedirme matrimonio a Liu'er Mihou , solo que lo dice en voz alta (Creo que planeaba pedirle su mano hace mucho tiempo, pero nunca hubo oportunidad), seria un cambio de aire con todo lo ocurrido <3

Translated via google:

"I can imagine the marriage proposal: they just defeated LBD to get their daughter Bai He back, Sun Wukong thinks about proposing to Liu'er Mihou, only he says it out loud (I think he planned to ask for her hand a long time ago, but there was never an opportunity), it would be a change of scenery with everything that happened <3"

Its a really emotional proposal. After a pretty big intense battle like against LBD, everbody just winds down at the noodle shop for a bit.

Meanwhile; Sun Wukong and Macaque are lying on top of the apartment's roof, just relaxing and staring at the stars. Just so gotdang happy to have one another back for good.

Wukong, thinking outloud: "By buddha, I want you to marry me." Macaque, smiling, ears twitching: "Then do it coward." Wukong: *realises what he just said* "Ok I will! Will you, Liu'er Mihou, the love my immortal life, marry me?" Macaque, taken by surprise: "I...! I should have said this hundreds of years ago... Yes, I will!" Wukong and Macaque both: *loud, happy monkey hooting that echo throughout the street* MK, Mei, and Bai He: *sneakily watching from the fire escape* :D! :O! :3!

Princess Iron Fan is the next person to find out, and she Insists on planning the wedding, having been unable to do her own wedding justice back during the Celestial War. Lots of crying and hugging from sworn siblings.

Nezha: "Wait... I thought they were already married???" Tang: "It's too complicated to explain. Just smile and congratulate them."

Ceremony is held on Flower Fruit Mountain obvs.

[quitealotofsodapop]

The kids: *look at Erlang Shen & Azure Lion* Yeah, those two need to get it on.

Wukong & Macaque: *horrified monkey screeching*

I can imagine it now

Season 4: The Brotherhood and Plum Hill Sages are in a standoff. Heroic battle speeches have degraded to petty personal bickering. The arguing between the two leaders reminds the kids of another pair of emotionally constipated immortals...

Mei: *looks between Azure and Erlang's centuries of unresolved romantic tension* Nezha, knows what she's doing: "Don't." Mei: *finishes an energy drink.* Nezha, moves to block her path: "Mei please, thats my uncle." Chenxiang, stops him: "Mine too, but it needs to be said." Red Son: "Buddha be with you Dragon Horse Girl." Mei: *walks between the frontlines* Azure Lion & Erlang Shen: "???" "???" Mei: "You guys need to bone." *utter silence*

THEN the chaos starts

[quitealotofsodapop]

Hmm...when was the first kick felt? Cuz it would be cute if the fam were present.

Maybe even the baby having a kick pattern when hearing a fam member speak?

But that joy will go away when the baby starts using Macs innards for his tap dancing routine at random and a lot XP

OOOOF

First time "The Egg"/MK starts kicking is after a... stressful situation half-way through development. Well, more like after a Quest to sever a debt to an undead entity (hint hint).

The kicking reinforces the idea in both monkeys minds that "Its an actual baby! Not a celestial parasite!" Lots of delighted monkey trills and cuddling follows.

I'm sorta mixing irl macaque biology with human a bit here since both Wukong and Macaque are legit outside the natural order according to JttW. The whole thing takes 8+ months.

But yeah, the Egg has a specifc kick pattern/strength depending on what voices/hands it detects.

Macaque: "hi Mom! all good in here!" :D Wukong: "DAD!!! DAD!! HI DAD!!!" :D!! Pigsy: "hello!" :D! Sandy: "hi! your hand is very big and warm!" :3! Tang: "oh. its you" -_- Mei, barely a few months old, resting against Mac's stomach: "OH? Fellow baby!? Sibling!? Hi!" :O! Nezha: *playfully throws a punch*

Meanwhile poor Mac is just like; "Guys please. He's using my organs as instruments. I'm pretty sure he's kicked my liver twice now."

sorry its all very sappy and domestic (*´∀`*)

[quitealotofsodapop]

How do the boys end up taking care of Mei? She has parents, AND they're rich enough to afford a dedicated nanny rather than leave her with a bunch of randos at a noodle shop. No shade to them, but I just don't think a restaurant is the first place I'd go for child care.

The situation with Mei is... complicated.

Macaque and Wukong run into the Long/Dragon parents on accident early on. Mrs Long was heavily pregnant at the time, and started chatting with Macaque as they waited in the same (supernatural) doctor's office. Wukong takes one look at the couple and ID's one of them as being related to Ao Lie. Wukong is sentimental and *may* have blown his cover a little to the Long couple whilst talking about his old stable buddy.

The Long couple are both delighted to meet someone that knew their predecessor, but also nervous cus; Wait, is that The Monkey King? And he's having a baby too!?

Tense teatimes are had.

Then the Long baby is born.

And neither monkey understand why the Long couple are disappointed. ("Whats wrong with a little girl? She's perfect.")

Little Xiaojiao is born perfectly healthy. A light dusting of green scales develop over her skin. Tiny nubs of what will become antlers poke through her scalp.

And the fingerprint of a primordial fire raging within her.

Wukong *knows* the second he sees her, that little Mei (he called her a little plum due to her scrunched up newborn face) is carrying the Samadhi fire. And he vows to protect her at all costs. The Long couple offer that he and Macaque become Mei's godparents - being the strongest individuals they know. They accept.

Macaque and Wukong frequently babysit little Mei at the Long's household. She's given the same luxuries as a little princess, but all she wants is to be held by them. The monkey couple notice a significant... lack of interest on the Long couple's part in their own daughter. And the Monkey King is known for hoarding treasures he deems unappriciated...

Far later on; something terrible happens to the Long family. Something caused by an individual who sensed the Samadhi fire sleeping in her crib, and wanted to steal her and all the treasures within the museum of a home. By the end of the night, Little Mei ends up living with her godparents.

It takes Pigsy a few days to realise that the little green-clad baby girl has been staying over multiple nights in a row. He tries to protest, but he ends up wrapped around Mei's tiny dragon-hooved finger.

Tang freaks out a little, cus while he knows that decendants of dragons exist; he's never seen a baby dragon before. Mei quickly wins him over too when she tries affectionately biting him with her gummy maw.

Sandy is completely taken by surprise when he meets her. He thought he had at least a few more months before he became an uncle! Luckily it takes very little for the sleepy baby dragon to make him absolutely adore her.

Mei develops an understanding that while she isn't with her birth family anymore, that she's very much loved where she is. And when her adoptive siblings needs company, she's always there. She does wonder why big brother Nezha and Baba cry sometimes when they hold her though.

I hope that explains enough without spoiling too much.

[quitealotofsodapop]

Seria irónico que Wukong seria el que nombrara al bebe ''Xiaotian''. El se enamoraría de Mk en el momento en que lo vio (Aunque en el canon diga de el robot conejo mini es la cosa mas adorable que haya visto, aquí nada supera a MK recién nacido); Macaque tardaría un poco en cariñarse (porque es terco), pero no se resistiría a su dulce encanto.

translated via Google:

"It would be ironic if Wukong would be the one to name the baby ''Xiaotian''. He would fall in love with Mk the moment he saw him (Although in the canon he says the mini rabbit robot is the most adorable thing he's ever seen, here nothing beats newborn MK); Macaque would take a while to warm up (because he's stubborn), but he wouldn't resist her sweet charm."

Oh definitely. Macaque probably wanted to wait a while before naming MK/"The Egg" anything just in case something happened to him. Also in Chinese culture you traditionally reveal the baby's name at their 100th day of life.

Wukong immediately takes one look at baby MK and announces that he's so precious that he deserves a befitting title. More specifically he gives baby MK a very long rambling title, but Macaque stops him at "Little Heaven/Xiaotian". It's why MK makes jokes throughout canon that his birth name is extremely long.

Macaque: "Little Heaven? Really?" Wukong: "What? It's perfect!" Macaque, eyebrow raised: "Little Heaven - child of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven? That's what you want to call them?" Wukong: "Well it's either that or Egg like you've been calling them." Macaque: *sighs* "I'm too tired to think of any other names right now. Lets go with Xiaotian for the moment." Baby MK: *happy baby monkey noises*

Pigsy, Tang, and Sandy are ofc godparents. They all cry in joy.

[quitealotofsodapop]

(Hope you're feeling better! Sending positive vibes to you!)

I've been thinking about Sandy...

We all love the big blue river man, but...I feel like he shouldn't already be the loveable giant we know and love when Shadowpeach get to Pigsy's just after the 'conception'.

Dunno, I think it would be, like, a disservice? Is that the word I want, something like that, to Sandy and his path of becoming a better person, right?

Like, Pigsy didn't know about the change when AHIB was going on, so it had to happen after they last saw each other.

Maybe it just happened sooner in TMKATI, but what if!

What if, Sandy comes to the noodle shop and wants to talk, and maybe the subject of the 'young couple with a baby on the way' comes up and he gets the tea on the situation from what Freenoodles understand - both from observation and the vague description, giving them the vibe of 'hiding from bad people (that might be family)' (or something).

As he learned, he meets the 'youngsters' and gets to know them.

But maybe one day, he was already at an 89 and something pushes him to a 90 and hello, temper.

But before something bad can happen, Sandy looks and sees 'Wu' standing in front of 'Mihou' in a defensive stance, eyes vary.

Maybe that's the moment? That he realizes he needs to - and importantly wants to - be better. To be a support system for these two 'kids' that do need help.

Also, interesting thought: somebody said that it looked like Macaque and Sandy are opposites, that Macaque started out as a more quiet voice of reason and is now, well, very much not. While Sandy started out violent and became a peaceful voice of reason.

That is interesting and I do love me some moon/ocean symbolism, so a friendship would be cool.

They could also be yoga buddies (because yoga does help with flexibility during a pregnancy, if I believe the internet), so common activity!

Y'know?

OOOoof. Yes.

Sandy at the start of the TMKATI au is not exactly the soft himbo we know and love from the main series just yet.

Pigsy and him had a falling out some time ago, but Pigsy decides to call Sandy up for "protection" after Macaque gets freaked out by a Bad Encounter during New Years. Said encounter was a certain bone-demon thrall delivering a threat, but to those on the outside looked like some kind of trouble, legal or otherwise. Best to have your strongest guy around if something pops off, you know?

So now Sandy is in the loop with the noodle shop gang about "the kids with a kid on the way". They all assume that Shadowpeach are in a situation of hiding from Underworld authorities, angry family members, or something more sinister. Sandy is like "Hell yeah brother. I'll punch a few demons if they come near the shop!"

Which would be fine except; 1: Wukong 100% recognises Sandy from somewhere. 2: Sandy is trying his best to ignore any recognition from his past. 3: Macaque also recognises Sandy + likes to rile him up.

Which nearly leads to a fishman vs monkey fight one night. A punch is thrown, a far-too-familar human catches his fist.

Sandy leaves the restaurant in a hurry, apologizing tearfully under his breath. He returns some days later, admits that he wants to work on his temper and that he needs external help for his emotional issues.

He asks if any of the gang are willing to forgive him; they all do, though Macaque takes some extra time to reconsider. Mac does eventually come around when he witnesses Sandy managing to calm himself down mid-conversation. A friendship blooms from there.

I love the thought of Sandy convincing Mac to be his yoga buddy once the monkey starts complaining about aches and pains later on in the Egg's development. Its all very awkward at first, but it ends up becoming their weekly "thing" they do together. Both (including Wukong sometimes) are new to modern mental wellness stuff, and it's a lot easier to get into healthier habits with a buddy at your side. Mac probably accidentally calls Sandy his older brother a few times.

Even when Macaque briefly abandons the noodle shop to hide/flee from a certain threat/his and Wukong's relationship issues, Sandy is the only one Mac trusts with his location. Sandy similarly is a tough nut to crack when Wukong is zipping around for answers ("He seemed really hurt. I ain't telling you until you both have cooled off.").

Needless to say, Sandy is the least-shocked to learn that Wukong is willing to do something Very Stupid to get back into his dear Mihou's good books.

Macaque, answers phone at PIF's place: "Hey." Sandy: "Wu's going into the Underworld." Macaque, delayed reaction: "Oh good... WHAT?!" Sandy: "Yeah, he told me to tell you; He's sorry, and that he's gonna make it up to you in the ways he only knows how. Whatever that means." Macaque, stunned: "...Did he say exactly what he was going to do?" Sandy: "He told me to not tell you or else you'd try and stop him." Macaque, getting worked-up: "Damn straight I will!" Sandy: "Hey, hey, remember what we've been practising in breathwork. Pause and forget the situation for a moment, and just breath in deep. Deep breaths." Macaque, a little calmer: "...Ok, I'm feeling a little better. But I'm still really concerned what the hell Wu is planning on doing. If you know where he is, make sure he doesn't try doing anything stupid." Sandy: "Will do! Tell your sister I said hi!" Macaque: "Thanks Sandy." (*call ends*) Sandy, turns to Pigsy and Tang: "Yeah he's ok. Best we follow Wu and make sure he isn't serious about that Bone Demon stuff." Pigsy: "I swear on Guanyin, those monkeys are going to make me age ten years by the end of this."

Sandy earns his title of "Best Uncle" in the au for a reason.

[quitealotofsodapop]

Where did the idea that Macaque and PIF are swirn siblings come from? I've seen it in a few other fics and while I'm not in any way against it I am curious. Is it just fannon or is there evidence for it in either the show or the original text? And how did the two of them meet in your au?

I believe it's a popular fanon idea. I think it spawned from the fact that Wukong and DBK are canonically sworn brothers, and thus Macaque and PIF would have interacted back in the day through the Brotherhood - both were/are not looked upon the best by the leaders of the Brotherhood, so they may have found friendship in one another. They are also both cool af characters that sadly never interacted in the show proper.

Macaque ( -_-)/\(-_- ) PIF: Being bad b*tches with wind powers and impulsive spouses who got trapped under a mountain for 400+ years.

In "The Monkey King and the Infant" au they're sworn/adoptive siblings due to mutual past history, even before The Brotherhood. They met as young children (an incident where little Princess Tieshan stole her big sister's bag of wind and got stranded on the moon), and later became eachother's confidants when they reunited as teens (Macaque becoming PIF's attendant). When the Brotherhood started up, Macaque accidentally introduced PIF and DBK while sneaking out for a meeting. When PIF was disowned by her family for falling in love with a demon; Macaque was one of very few from her old life that stayed by her side. They supported eachother emotionally through thick and thin - SWK being imprisioned + his and Macaque's breakup, PIF's banishment and troubles having a child etc...

Then Macaque "died".

And so PIF lost the closest to a little brother she ever had.

DBK finding out about Macaque's death (or whatever version someone spun about it), combined with Red Son being taken away by Guanyin after the Samadhi Fire ritual, is partially what drove him into a rage + his own imprisonment under a mountain. And so Princess Iron Fan was left (almost) completely alone for roughly 400+ years. It's no wonder why she fcking hates SWK's guts.

By the time of the fic start, she straight up decides "fck this I'm taking my kid back and finding a way to remove the staff. I ain't waiting around on earth alone anymore."

Then a month or so later she recieves a knock on her door;

Macaque: "Hey, jiejie [big sis]. I uh... kinda got revived???" PIF: "...how and why?!" Macaque: "No idea [lie]. Ok, long story short; Wukong knocked me up-" PIF: "THAT SON OF A BIT-" Macaque: "Yeah I was mad too. We're kinda *still* on a break right now so can I crash here until... I dunno either he apologizes, I stop being mad at him, or you know... forever?" PIF, (trying to hide tears of joy): "Forever sounds like just long enough."

The emotional reunion is interuppted by toddler Red Son charging head-first (bull calf style) into Macaque out of excitement.

After realising that his sworn uncle is very upset with the Monkey King; Red Son declares war on Sun Wukong and later secretly begins devising a plan to kidnap him and force him to lift the staff. PIF thinks its adorable how protective Red Son is over them, while Macaque is reading the kid's revenge corkboard like "Oh dang, he's really going for it. I'm so proud of him. Wait... is this what having a kid feels like??"

When SWK shows up looking for Macaque, PIF pretty much wind-fan kicks his ass straight out of the mountain. Cue Wukong thinking he has to do something; Big, Dumb, Dangerous, and Extremely Hearfelt in order to get back into both Macaque's and PIF's good graces...

Small spoilers:

Macaque, extremely touched but confused af: "Peaches, I would have accepted an apology and some flowers!" PIF, non-stop cuddling DBK since he got back: "Not me. This barely gets Wukong off my hit list."

Its a huge thing. The citizens of Diyu are shooken. By the end of it, the fam is extremely confused but happy to be reunited. Red Son declares it his first ever evil victory.

[quitealotofsodapop]

So will DBK and PIF be their canonical selves or be good parents like how fanon does them?

I mean I get they're demons with a different culture view but Red seemed hurt by them. I know S3 shows them getting along but I'm still doubting it...

An idea popped that it would be Wukong of all people who lectures them about their treatment towards Red.

ohohoho this is a loaded question and I love it! >:3

PIF and DBK are... still getting used to the whole "actually being parents"-thing.

Both have been cast from their respective families (hc the Celestial Realm for PIF, the Underworld for DBK) for persuing true love. Then they spend so long trying to have a child of their own, almost as if to prove that they were right, that they kinda only realise afterwards "Oh wait. We have no idea how to do this." Cue a baby with no dicipline running around like a living lit match.

PIF is the youngest of many daughters. She's used to being ignored and not thanked. She adores and dotes on her baby boy, but she forgets that he's growing up. She doesn't want him to hate her - but in her bid to keep him safe and close, she may just cause history to repeat itself.

Red Son: *freshly picked up from Guanyin* PIF: "Aww, I can't wait to see my precious baby grow into a man." &lt;;3 Red Son: *starts growing into an adult with their own goals and differing opinions on royal matters* PIF: "No wait stop that."

DBK is an eldest son. He's had an entire demonic kingdom resting on his shoulders since day one. He can't risk himself - and by extension his heir - being seen as "weak" to others. But he forgets that his child is strong in ways other than brute force. He does try to correct himself - when he's not preoccupied with increasing his kingdom's territory/influence.

Since they have a "second chance" so to say in the au; they have room for a lot more input from the other parents. Instead of canon Red Son being raised practically in isolation by their overbearing mother and held to an unreasonabley high standards (this boy literally lifted the Monkey King's staff to free his dad and wasn't even thanked), they have a chance to Be A Kid.

Wukong is def the one to be brutally upfront with the couple regarding their parenting style.

DBK: *calls Red weak/ignores his achievements* PIF: *pulls a diet-Mother Gothel on Red by influencing him into thinking that the world outside the palace is not worth their time* Wukong: "...ok wow. I'm just gonna say this. I've been an honorary uncle/grandpa for countless baby monkeys, and this is not how you parent healthily. You need to let your kid... be a kid, or they're gonna grow up to hate you. I've seen this exact scenario happen before." DBK & PIF: "Yeah, right." "Last time we let him do whatever he wanted, he nearly burnt the universe." Red Son: *starts preferring the company/parenting of his adoptive sworn family. Is questioning his own severed connections to his potientially-dangerous extended birth family* DBK & PIF: "...whoops." Wukong, smugly: "Well, what do you know."

BUt yeah. it's complicated

[quitealotofsodapop]

[The twins do drain their parents to a degree, but not as bad as MK did - their souls are a little different from their Cosmic Harbringer Big Brother.]

I guess the that answers the biggest question...

Actually, no, the biggest question is...

...what freaky things Shadowpeach were doing to get both knocked up at the same time...

/JK

It's actually: who else knows that MK is an Eldritch creature?

Answer:

The gang were travelling through the Underworld together (plot related) and Shadowpeach found a pair of baby monkey souls that could not reincarnate. Wukong had accidentally wiped their original names from the Book/Ledgers of the Dead so many thousands of years ago. They were essentially stuck at the airport of the Underworld with no passports.

The twins, just sorta hanging around Naihe Bridge: *chirp?* Macaque, picking one up and soothing them: "They... they must have perished in the Burning. They're all charred black..." Wukong, picks up the other: "Awwww nooooo... it's ok buddies." :( Macaque: "...Do you wanna bring them home?" Wukong: "YES! I wanna take them home! MK will be such a good big brother!" Macaque, softly laughing: "Ok. Looks like we're bringing home a pair of souvenirs then. Bai He mentioned wanting to be a big sister." The twins: :D! :D! *happy chirping!*

Cue them smuggling Rumble and Savage's souls out of Diyu like they're illegal fireworks. They thought maybe the twins would pop into life as little shadow monkeys the second they entered the world of the living, maybe even as ghosts? Then the twins sorta... absorbed into them. Kinda like how MK's soul did to Macaque when he was made...

Macaque, realizing what just happened: "Again?" Wukong: "...Ok I can't take full blame for this time. Also I think one of them got me, so we're even." The rest of the gang that went with them to the Underworld: "This time?!" Macaque: "Wukong got me (I guess himself) pregnant trying to relocate a rogue soul. Thats how MK happened." Pigsy: "WHAT? We left you guys alone on the bridge for 5 minutes!" Tang: "You guys just smuggle babies out of Diyu like puppies from a pound?!" Wukong: "They were very cute ok!" Sandy, excited: "Oh my! We can get them matching outfits! And we have to throw a baby shower when all this bone demon business is done!" &lt;;3 Newly-Resurrected Spider Gang: "We have no idea what just happened, but congrats???"

The gang present agree to keep Rumble and Savage a secret until Shadowpeach decide to tell the kids. In the meantime a lot of Bone Demon fighting takes place. Then Wukong and Macaque decide to finally get married after almost two decades of "will they or won't they?". Tang makes a "shotgun wedding" joke that gets him no free noodles for a week.

As for the question "Who else knows that MK is an Eldritch creature?":

Other than his parents, MK's friends started to suspect that something was *different* about him around Season 2 but are choosing to support him no matter what. LBD knew before MK was even born that he was a special case. Not to mention... every high-power Celestial who looks at MK for more than a minute gets a horrifed look on their face like they're looking at a walking supernova. He just gives off vibes that he's something amazing but untameable. It's like seeing a baby nuclear warhead. Ofc a lot of them just chalk it up to MK being Sun Wukong's kid/successor.