The Silent King (Au)

Taking Back From The Abyss

MK looked around, ready to grab his mentor and go.

The team had managed to repair the scroll with duct tape, and Macaque and him were now inside.

The Jade Emperor had been defeated, too, and the world was now tearing. They needed Wukong.

At least MK had stopped glitching.

He couldn't control his monkey form very well, but maybe Wukong could help. If they could find him.

MK pointed at a memory, grinning, "Woah, is this when he hatched?"

Monkey King was on all fours, covered by a leaf skirt and hooting with excitement.

The memory suddenly replayed, as if it were a broken stereo.

Macaque nodded, "Yes, except this was after the laser eyes, I think." The warrior looked around, spotting a waterfall split with golden cracks.

The shadow user cringed, "Oh, Wukong... He's made a mess of this place." MK stared blankly, absorbing the cracks and shattered memories, "...He's looking for me."

Macaque gestured for him to follow, "We need to go through the waterfall. Come on." MK jogged after him, "Wait, why do we need to go through the waterfall..?"

"It's how he became king, bud. You should really read the book."

---

Memories came and went.

Most were good, filled with a joyful Wukong playing around with a past Macaque.

MK sighed, "He was powerful. Why did he go after more?" Macaque hummed, "He was terrified of death. And... He never wanted to feel helpless. Ever. Wukong had the need to protect."

Past Wukong was crying, rocking back and forth.

"But he forgot why he was doing all of this."

A mountain. Wukong was trapped under a mountain.

Macaque appeared, offering him a peach. But there was a fight. MK sat and watched.

"I DID THIS FOR US!"

Macaque winced as his past self snarled, turning around, "No. You did it for yourself!"

Insults were exchanged.

And Macaque left.

Past Wukong hung his head, sighing bitterly, "...I really wanted that peach..."

MK pursed his lips, "And then what happened?"

Macaque closed his eyes as the memory fast-forwarded. "Then he was 'freed' by the monk."

---

The circlet appeared around the ginger's head, causing him to grimace, "What is this?! What did you--"

Tripitaka frowned, "Monkey, it is a form of punishment. You are not to enact violence, understand?"

Wukong didn't answer for a while.

"I'm nothing but a beast to you, aren't I?" He failed to see the monk's surprised expression. Failed to see how his comment was made purely by himself to himself.

---

Wukong watched the fights of his past play before him.

He listened to the arguments, to the tears. His ears didn't bother trying to shut out the pain he'd caused.

"...Wukong?"

The monkey sat up, startled. He turned, looking the kid and the warrior up and down with tired eyes.

Wukong gave a soft smile, shoulders sagging. He didn't utter a word, he couldn't. The king turned back around, continuing to watch his mistakes play again and again.

MK stepped forward, watching silently with Wukong for a few minutes.

"Tang duct-taped your scroll. That's how we got in." Wukong looked up, confused. The brunette shrugged, "He says it's magic, but it's just so Nezha wouldn't judge him too harshly." Macaque appeared, smiling softly, "Nezha still judged, of course. Immortal baby."

Wukong huffed with amusement, before looking up at them.

"Wukong, you made a ton of mistakes. But you mended a bunch, too! Like, now we're friends with DBK and his family, you and Mac are back together, you have friends who will never seriously judge you-- You have all the time in the world to get better and better!"

MK grinned at his mentor, taking his hands, "You can help us fix this mess, too! I know you can!" Macaque laughed, placing a hand on the ginger's shoulder, "You heard the kid! C'mon, get up. It's time to stop Mr.Lion from whatever the hell his plan is."

Wukong blinked owlishly, registering their words before hazily nodding, "...Okay."

MK and Macaque beamed, "Okay."

---

Wukong rubbed his hands together, showing off his drawings, "Okay, so here is, uh, the plan." His words were hesitant and slightly slurred, but clear. The group gave the king approving noises and grins as he continued.

"Uh, Yellow Tusk is good, deep down. We c-convince him that this is a bad idea and he'll defin-at-ly back down!" He circled the drawing, pointing at three specific members of the group, "Pigsy, T-Tang, an' Nezha."

Nezha huffed as Pigsy and Tang nodded nervously in confirmation.

Wukong continued, pointing at Peng next, "They are a very good ad-ver-sary. Tough foe, but wou-d also do any-th-ing to save thems-el-ves. Mei and Mac can hold them off, once they rea-li-ze the b-brotherhood is losing they will run away."

MK raised his hand, "What about Azure?" Nezha huffed from where he sat, fiddling with his bandages, "As long as he has the scroll, you can't get close." The young hero hummed, "And if we take it?" Nezha smiled sarcastically, "Yeah, if we can do that impossible thing... Yeah. Sure."

Wukong gave the lotus prince a look, suddenly holding a toaster in his hand. Nezha's eyes widened, "Oh, please don't throw that." The king narrowed his eyes, "Play nice, Nezzz-a. MK has a good idea, he can dis-trac-t Azure and I will use clones to collect the scroll pieces."

Macaque smirked teasingly, "But what if Big Blue picks up a whiff of your stinky scent?" The warrior barely managed to dodge the toaster, "HEY!" Wukong batted his eyes innocently, "Ready to f-fight?"

__________________________________________

Giggles. 

Guess who's back--