Monkie Kid: Mommy Dearest

Tao's Feelings

Tao was sitting on a wooden platform he built high in a tree, decorated with pillows, stuffed animals from his earlier childhood, hanging lights, a hammock, and a tent hanging higher in the tree to prevent the weather from ruining the platform, was his secret place on Flower Fruit Mountain. It had a view overlooking the mountain and ocean, this was where he went when he wanted to be alone. Tao sat with his feet hanging off the platform when Daiyu climbed up onto the platform. 

"I knew I'd find you up here." Daiyu sat down next to him. 

"What's up?" Tao asked.

"I'm here to get you," Daiyu stated, "lunch is almost ready."

"Oh...okay." Tao looked down at his feet.

"What's wrong?" Daiyu asked.

"It's nothing," Tao muttered.

"Is it your dad?" Daiyu guessed. 

"Yes," Tao sighed, "I love my dad, but I hate that he's the Monkey King. Everyone has these expectations for me, so I can't be myself or everyone will be mad at me."

"Have you told your dad this?" Daiyu tilted her head.

"You know my dad is sensitive," Tao looked at her, "if I tell him this, he'll think he's a bad parent."

"So, what do you want to do?" Daiyu asked.

"I don't know." Tao shrugged.

Daiyu sat next to her best friend in silence, she noticed the ragdoll of Wukong that MK made for Tao when he was a baby. 

"Tao," Daiyu spoke in a soft voice, "I think you should talk to your dad. It might help."

"Fine," Tao stood up, "but I'm telling you it won't end well."

"I'm sure you're overreacting." Daiyu brushed him off.

Wukong had his face planted into one of his clouds, sobbing loudly, and uncontrollably, he was inconsolable at this point. 

"I DID ALL THAT I COULD, AND MY SON HATES ME," Wukong cried to himself, "I FAILED AS A FATHER!"

Everyone watched him in awkward silence, while Wukong was having his meltdown. Tao, however, looked unamused expecting this reaction from him.

"Told you," Tao muttered to Daiyu before walking up to a Wukong. "Dad, can you calm down."

"You still wanna call me that!?" Wukong looked up. "I thought you hated me!"

"I don't hate you," Tao explained, "I hate that you're the Monkey King."

"I heard you the first time," Wukong sniffled as he held himself, "it doesn't hurt any less the second time."

At this point, Wukong started crying again, forgetting about the others who were becoming uncomfortable.

"I think we should go," Tang whispered.

"I think that's a good idea." Macaque nodded.

The others walked away to leave the mountain, leaving the father-son duo alone. 

"Dad," Tao let out a frustrated sigh, "you're being dramatic."

"I'm sorry!" Wukong exclaimed sarcastically, "I didn't realize me being a disappointment would cause you to be frustrated."

"You're not being a disappointment!" Tao stomped his foot. "I AM!"

Wukong looked surprised as Tao now had tears in his eyes.

"You being the Monkey King is awful," Tao's voice was quivering, "everyone is excepting me to be a legendary hero like you, but I'm not! If you weren't the Monkey King, then maybe I'd be able to be myself. Instead, I'm---!"

Tao let out a frustrated yell, before wiping his eyes. "Forget it, I knew talking about this was a bad idea!"

Tao ran past Wukong, wanting to get away from the situation.

"Tao," Wukong jumped off his cloud, "wait!"

It was too late, Tao was already gone, leaving Wukong with the monkeys. Wukong let out a sigh as he sat down on the ground.

"I guess I wasn't the only one who got hurt," Wukong turned to the monkeys.

The sun was setting, and Tao was in his tree hangout, sitting on the edge of the platform, hugging his knees. Tao had been up there for the past few hours; he was stewing in his emotions wanting to be alone until he was ready. 

"I knew this is where you'd be hiding." Tao was surprised to see Wukong standing behind him.

"How did you--?" Tao looked at him in disbelief.

"Nothing gets past me on the mountain Bud," Wukong squatted down next to him, "do you wanna talk about this afternoon?"

"Not really," Tao muttered into his knees.

"Buddy, you're not a disappointment," Wukong said, "if anything I'm disappointed in myself for not telling you I don't want you to be like me."

"You don't?" Tao looked up at him.

"No, Buddy," Wukong ruffled his hair, "I know I can't give you a normal childhood, but I knew I can give you the freedom to do whatever you wanted."

"So, you wouldn't be mad if I didn't want to be a hero like you and MK?" Tao unhugged his knees and let them hang off the edge. 

"Of course not," Wukong wrapped his arm around him.

"But the training," Tao argued, "isn't that--"

"I wanted it to be a way for you to bond with me and MK." Wukong smiled. "I didn't want to leave you out either, you're my boy, and I'll--"

Wukong was taken aback but Tao hugged him.

"I love you," Tao mumbled into Wukong's side.

Wukong smiled before hugging him back. "I love you more, Buddy."

A figure in a greyish-green cloak covering their face watched the heart-warming scene from a small compact mirror.

"It seems the child is being taken good care of," the cloaked figure spoke up. "What shall I do."

The cloaked figure turned to a black throne on a platform, leaving the person on the throne almost surrounded in darkness, leaving them a mystery.

"Keep me updated for now," a low female voice, came from the one sitting on the throne, "when the time comes, I'll let you know. Get some rest."

"As you wish." The cloaked figure bowed, before taking their leave.

"Before you go," the one on the throne spoke up, "what is your name."

"My true name will reveal too much," the cloaked figure spoke, "but if you must call me something, I will happily go by Messenger., My Lady."

"Well then Messenger, you are excused." The throned one gestured them to leave.

Messenger left the throne room, closing the large doors behind them.

"Sun Wukong," the woman quietly spoke to herself. "It seems you've managed to raise a strong child; it doesn't matter once I have him, he'll be the weapon I'll use to cause your demise."