Monkie Kid: The Monkey Prince

The Start of Something New

"So let me get this straight," Pigsy pinched the bridge of his nose, "you came here from the future?"

"Yes." Tao nodded.

"And there is someone from your time trying to destroy the world?" Pigsy raised an eyebrow.

"Yes." Tao nodded

"And you also think the storm somehow teleported you here?" Pigsy crossed his arms.

"I think?" Tao rubbed his neck. "That's a little blurry. I don't remember much of last night."

Pigsy let out a tired and frustrated sigh as he pinched his nose's bridge again.

"I still can't believe time travel exists." Mei was petting Mo.

"This info changes everything," Tang's eyes shined, "Monkey King has a son in the future, I can't believe it."

"Neither can he." MK gestured to Monkey King.

Wukong sat in a chair, shocked into silence as he stared into nothing. Sandy was gently shaking him, to snap him out of it.

"He'll be fine," Tao waved him off, "give him 10 more minutes."

"Are you really from the future!?" Mei's eyes sparkled. "What are we like in the future!? Does MK become this amazing hero!?"

"Sorry." Tao chuckled with a shrug, "I don't want to spoil the surprise."

Tao got up from the couch, drinking the tea Sandy had given him earlier. "But I can tell you that if we don't stop the demon that's trying to destroy us, none of us will have a future."

"Who is it?" MK turned to him.

"He goes by Dice Demon; he runs the most successful casino in the future," Tao leaned against the wall, "and he's never played fair. I played his game, I cheated, and I got this."

Tao pulled out a broken half of a small ball of black jade that fit the palm of his hand. "This is only half of it, but it's an orb that can see the past, present, and future. It's the last piece he needs, if he gets this, then he can open a portal and release a beast that can and will destroy the mortal world and Celestial Realm."

"We have to do something!" Tang panicked, "if Dice Demon has the other half, then he'll come after you! he'll come after us! He'll--"

"Relax Tang," Tao rolled his eyes, "he doesn't have the other half either. The other half is with--"

Tao dropped the half. He began to remember what happened during the storm. Memories came flashing back, there were pieces still missing but he remembers he was fighting one of Dice Demon's henchmen, and he wasn't alone. His friend was with him in the storm, the two of them got separated, and his friend has the other half of the orb.

"I HAVE TO GO!" Tao shouted out. 

He grabbed his duffle bag that was on the floor and ran out the door. Tao only made it off the boat, before Wukong jumped in front of him to block him from running any further.

"Woah," Wukong said, "what's going on?"

"My friend! She's in trouble! I have to find her! I have to--" Tao hissed as he doubled over in pain, falling to his knees.

He was still injured from the night before. Tao was in no condition to go anywhere. Wukong helped him to his feet, placing one of Tao's arms around his shoulder, and walked him back to Sandy. Tao was placed on the couch as everyone stood around him concerned.

"What happened?" MK was the first to approach him. "Did you remember something?"

"My friend, she was there with me," Tao was still holding his side in pain, "we must have gotten separated, but she has the other half of the orb. I need to find her."

"We'll help you." MK gave him a reassuring smile.

"You can't," Tao looked towards the ground, "this is my problem. And I need to be the one to--"

"You're from the future, right? You're Monkey King's son, right? So that means in the future we're your friends." MK cut him off, "I will do anything to help out a friend, current or future."

Tao just let out a small chuckle before conceding, "Alright you win. After all, saving the world is kind of your thing."

Tao and MK shook hands in agreement.

"Alright guys," MK turned to his friends, "are you ready?"

"Not quite," Tao stood up, "we need a ship, the T.E.A won't get us far, and besides I know you're listening."

A shadow portal appeared from behind Pigsy and Tang. "I thought as much."

Tang jumped into Pigsy's arms, as Macaque emerged from the portal in the wall.

"What are you doing here!?" Wukong scoffed.

"I couldn't help but over here your little conversation," Macaque smirked, "I may need to be caught up on the whole "future" thing, but I heard you're saving the world. I want in."

"You're gonna help us!?" MK's eyes sparkled with joy.

"Yep." Macaque crossed his arms with a nod, "and we all happen to know just the guy who can get us a ship."

Red Son pinched the bridge of his nose trying to gather his thoughts, "You've come seeking my help because of some demon trying to open a portal to a beast that can destroy worlds. Is that what I'm understanding?"

"Yep." MK nodded with a smile.

MK and the rest stood in a group in front of Red Son as he let out a frustrated and exhausted sigh, "Lucky for you, I found some things...inadequate about your previous ship. So, in my free time, I've been working on this."

Red Son hit a button on a remote, to open a garage door. Behind the door was a bigger, better, and bolder version of the ship that was rebuilt into the T.E.A. The group oohed and aahed in amazement as Macaque leaned against the wall. 

"This should get us where we need to go." Red Son proclaimed probably.

"You're coming with us Red Boy?" Mei raised an eyebrow.

"Of course," he scoffed, "I'm not going to give one of my greatest inventions to you. I wouldn't be getting it back in one piece. The ship comes with a cargo bay, so bring that clown car of yours in."

The group began gathering supplies and loading the ship up to head out. Tao finally appeared, dressed in a pale gold hoodie under a brighter gold jacket with an amber-orange monkey embroidered on the back, black pants with rips in the knees, and a black backward cap. His necklace was proudly out, with his duffle bag thrown over his shoulder. A confident smile on his face and a look of determination in his eyes. 

"You ready?" MK smiled.

"As I'll ever be." Tao walked up onto the ship.

The new drone copter began to rise off the ground, once it was high enough in the air, it flew in the direction of their newest journey.