Chapter Text
MK would have found this whole thing amusing, really, if he didn’t have the pressure of saving the world hanging on his shoulders. First he finds out an evil plot to enslave and doom the world, then he finds out he can wield the one weapon who can potentially save the world and then immediately lost it, and now he's going to have to ask his Lady's murderer for help so that his other loved ones DON'T get murderized as well.
It's a really really sick joke from the universe.
He felt guilty enough as is, staring out into the ocean as the boat they’d managed to acquiesce continued to sail towards the destination he would have really preferred to avoid for at least a hundred more life times, passively listening to his family and friend hum with conversation in the back about their next plan of action.
He should be there right beside them, adding his two cents, making sure they don’t get too optimistic just for this messed up world to crush their dreams as it always did. Though to be honest, for once he wasn't quite sure how to plan for this either. He'd ask Mayor for help but he knew it would be much more unwise to bring him on a field trip to get the chance of a lifetime to be killed by the “Greeaaat Monkey King”, with a big emphasis on the quotes.
In fact, they wouldn’t even have to be on this suicide mission that was endangering everyone he’s ever cared for if he was just strong enough to beat that monster right out of the gate. He should be delivering noodles, going arcading with Mei, or listening to a story from Tang right now. Instead, they're forced to come along because of his mistake, HIS screw up. If they got hurt, or… worse, he'd never forgive himself.
The end of the world is for his Lady to decide, not some washed up old time bull and his deranged lunatic clown show he calls family to saunter around and act like they own the place.
MK’s face soured at the thought as he clenched his hand into a fist, then opened it, remembering the way it felt in his hands. He supposed he just didn’t know if he’d ever get to hold it again, and decided to let himself reminisce, if just for a moment. Maybe it really was the only chance they had of defeating him, and he blew it.
Maybe he already failed them, with no hope for tomorrow, and no chance of a savior to come and rescue them from this nightmare.
Aside from… eugh.
He sighs and turns back to his companions, looking so carefree, even joking around despite the circumstances. Nothing like him, restlessly looking for any way to salvage this mess he’d created, too caught up in overthinking every small detail. Maybe in another life he’d just join them without another thought, even be the biggest airhead and optimist in their ragtag team of unlikely heroes.
He supposed, maybe if he never met…
But with that came a ringing in his ears and a throb in his head. It was bad to entertain such thoughts, so he pushed it away as quickly as he could, trying to refocus on the matter at hand.
“Want some?”
He flinches at the sudden intrusion as his head swivels quickly, turning to see… Pigsy’s friend, Sandy, towering over him with a cup of tea in his hands still smoking hot. His shoulders relax as he sighs, now turning fully to be face to face with the giant.
“For someone so big, you’re really quiet, you know that?” The teen notes, accepting the tea gratefully, taking small sips and feeling the warmth spread across his body.
It felt nice against the cold sea breeze.
“Heh, I guess! Maybe it’s from the yoga, got me light as a feather. It's MK, right?”
He only gets a nod in response, eyes flitting from the man's head down to his toes then back up again. He looked like he'd seen a ton of fights back in his day, probably picked a lot of them too. The teen wonders how such a calm and gentle guy could have ever gotten into those sort of scuffles.
“Anywho… well, just wanted to check in on ya’. The others are worried, plus even though I don't know you all that well yet, I am too. Are you feeling okay?” Sandy asks, putting a huge hand on the boy’s back, concern written all over his face.
A surge of disgust shoots through him, the flashes of sands, water turning red and impure. The whispers bare their teeth, Sha Wujing, they say with fury in their voices. It’s enough for him to slap the hand off, glaring at the blue demon with a fiery gaze, and pulling away out of reach. He inhales sharply, the stabbing migraine that often accompanies the voices returning with a vengeance, his face twisting in pain as he walks away and doesn’t turn back, the distant calling of his name falling on deaf ears.
What a deplorable gaggle of idiots that you’ve found yourself surrounded with, child. They don't even know the real danger they are in. Perhaps you do truly belong here, thick headed, dull, drinking tea at a time like this?
Her voice hisses, the first time she’s spoken to him since he ruined everything.
He doesn’t reply. He knows better than to.
You will listen to me this time, that way things don’t go awry for our plans. That’s the reason you failed and why you keep failing.
I’m sorry.
Silence.
His brain blanks.
Words are meaningless when the one speaking doesn't believe it himself. You used to be such an obedient child, if only you strayed from these influences. You stay away from that river demon. You don’t need any more… useless tethers to this earthly realm.
He closes his eyes, and lets out a heavy sigh, turning his back to the group as chill steams out his mouth and disappears into the breeze.
Of course, my lady.
Mei watches MK walk away, as a despondent Sandy shuffles back to the group sadly. She knew how he'd react to everyone else here, which is why she was kinda hoping maybe throwing an unknown into the mix would help his mood. Though it just seemed to make it worse, not that she blamed the guy or anything.
“Kid’s still not talkin’?” Pigsy asks, brows furrowed and clear worry in his voice.
“I got one sentence, at least?” Sandy replied, unsure.
“Aw, lucky, I just got two words!” Mei popped into the conversation, trying to lighten the mood. It works a little, garnering a chuckle from Sandy and a small consolatory smile from Tang, though Pigsy keeps his frown.
They’d met Sandy only a few hours ago, though his warm demeanor had immediately endeared the dragon girl to him, and they were quickly on their way to becoming fast friends. The fact he owned a cat definitely helped. MK, however, had kept to himself, mumbling and glancing every so often in their direction, as if deep in thought. Odd, she thought, considering he felt like the type both of them would befriend, rather than a solo Mei thing.
“Is he normally that cold?” The big guy asks, as Mo comes up and rubs along his legs. He picks him up and starts gently scratching the back of his ears. “Well, nothing wrong with being cautious around strangers! He just… didn't strike me as the type, I guess?”
“Weeelllll… usually only when he fails at something. His inner critic likes to come out when that happens.” Tang mumbles from above the book he's reading, wholly distracted. She takes a peek and sees that it’s the usual; Journey to the West.
Mei didn't know if he was reading to actually help their adventure or if he just wanted a way to pass the time with his favourite story.
“It likes to snap at everyone in the vicinity as well. A really bitchy inner critic, that one.” She adds dryly. It was only a few hours ago that he’d chewed her out for rushing in without a plan and making him lose the staff with a hateful glint in his eye, of which he then proceeded to act as if it never happened minutes later. She admits it was one of the less savory qualities of her friend, though she knew he had to deal with enough of her eccentricities that she really didn’t have the right to criticize him.
She notices as Sandy sighs, downcast and dejected. Quick to jump forwards as always, she grabs the other's arm and pats it reassuringly.
“Don't take it personally, big guy! He just has some really weird out of nowhere anger for the Monkey King for some reason. It's making him all mad and stuff that we gotta ask him for help. Once all this monkey business is over you'll get to meet our fun loving happy go lucky MK!” Eh, well, sorta.
To be honest, he's never treated anyone aside from her, Pigsy and Tang with much enthusiasm, and had been completely distrustful of anyone she introduced him to, always finding some excuse to avoid them at all costs.
It was hard to say how MK would actually treat Sandy without the stress of saving the world, but she wasn't gonna be the one to burst the big guy's bubble. Plus, again, he has cats! MK goes gaga over those widdol guys, so he probably had a better chance than most.
“I appreciate that Mei, but don’t worry I ain’t so soft as to get discouraged by a little pushback.” He chuckles warmly.
“And hey, would you look at that. We're already here!” He announces to the crew, as he goes back to his post and steers onto the shore, throwing the anchor overboard as the boat gently ebbed on the surface. A great contrast to the volcanic bursts of lava that decided to greet them with a great big geyser of orange. Plural.
“Welcome to the Flaming Mountains, gang!”
…
MK was quite sure of his decision. He'd been contemplating it all the way here, trying not to listen to them talking about him like he wasn’t obviously in earshot — the boat wasn’t that big. He knew how dangerous this was going to be from the start, and he wasn't sure if he could make it all the way through unscathed, but that's better than having liabilities the people he care about getting needlessly hurt following behind him.
“I'm going alone.” He states simply and assuredly.
As if on cue, he was immediately met with a cacophony of disagreement.
“What? No way MK, how are you gonna get through that without the knowhow from this book!” Tang stood up, his voice a shriek above the rest as he tapped the novel in his hands with urgency, crinkled deeply by the amount of times the man had read through it. “Bring me along at least!”
“Tang.” The teen sighs, crossing his arms.
“What? You can't possibly go alone-”
“Your legs are shaking.”
His teacher looks down. With the way he shook, he could have passed as a scared chihuahua. It gets worse when another plume of lava shoots out from the ground and sends shock waves across their ship, and he squeals, covering his head in a panic.
Then he probably realized how he must've looked, and quickly straightened up, trying to smooth his hair as if that was his plan all along.
He clears his throat, and fixes his glasses that had slipped onto the tip of his nose.
“W-w-well. You're my son and my responsibility.” He insisted through fear, despite his failed attempts to hide his shaky voice.
“Listen. I know you get spooked easily by these sorts of things. It's fine, you won't be any less of a man for not endangering yourself for my sake.” MK takes off their jacket as they talk. No use wasting a perfectly good article of clothing if he can help it, though it had already looked worse for wear with all the rolling around and getting thrown into walls. Nothing a good washing and stitch job couldn't fix, he hoped.
“It's not about that! I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you while I sat back and let you put yourself through danger for us. Pigsy, back me up here!”
“Well if he's going, I don't see why I gotta.” Pigsy chuckles, already halfway inside the captain's room when Tang screeches, grabbing his arm, pulling insistently.
“Hey!! You're supposed to back me up and say you're coming with us!”
“Why should I! You already said you're going ain't ya’? You always hide when it comes to these types of adventures then push me to risk my life! It's my turn to sit back and relax while you run around like a headless chicken!”
“That's not-"
“-true?” He cuts him off. “What about that time there was a cockroach in the shop. I turned to you for help and you were gone!”
“That was one time!”
“And the time we were at the zoo and you grabbed MK and left me to fend for myself when a tiger had gotten out? I could've killed ya’ numbskull!!”
“Just my fatherly instincts kicking in, how could you blame me for that?” He ‘hmph’ed, crossing his arms, as Pigsy continued to list times where Tang had bailed out on him and took the cowards's way out.
MK looked at them, a small smile tugging on his lips. These two never change. He walks away as they continue to rant at each other, taking advantage of the distraction to slip away. He thinks he gets just a bit more than a few yards away when he hears quick footsteps trailing after it.
Much to his disappointment, though not surprise, Mei practically jumped on his back to follow him.
“Didn't I say alone, Mei?”
“Well I was gonna disagree earlier, but those guys beat me to it. And also I knew there wouldn't be a point since you'd just pull another stupid excuse out of your ass, and I would refute it but you’d still say no anyways, so I'll just follow you around til’ you get sick of me.” She grins and hugs his arm.
His smile widens a bit more.
“Fine, whatever. I’m not your dad.”
“Psh, you wish you were a super cool dragon.”
”…yeah, you’re right.” He acquiesced without much fight. “Alright then. Let's save the world Mei!”
She matches his grin, and points towards the green mountain over yonder. “Let's save the world, MK!”
The two walk together, the arguing behind them becoming more and more quiet by the step.
“How long do you think they'll realize you're gone?”
“I'd give it 5 minutes.”
Not a second after he replies, he hears the familiar shouts getting closer and closer.
“WAIT FOR ME!!!”
“That's gotta be a new record for realizing we've vanished.” She playfully hums to herself.
Tang screams as he runs over, barely avoiding a lava spurt that singed his hair, leaving a flame burning on the top of his head.
“HOT HOT HOT!!!” He panics as he stumbles forwards, stopping short of slamming into the pair, as he tries to catch his breath, hunched over with his hands gripping his knees trying to support himself..
MK reaches over and extinguishes the fire with a pinch, unamused.
“Are you seriously coming? Come on Tang, let's get you back on the ship. I'll-“
“We.” Mei corrects beside him.
“-we'll be fine.”
“No, MK. Please.”
“... Fine.” He doesn’t think he can change his mind anyways. “Do you wanna hold my hand, at least?”
“Yes please.”
He chose to ignore Mei’s teasing pokes as he grabs his adoptive father’s hand, looking as if he was a child again having to hold his dad’s hand just to cross the street, though this time the roles were reversed.
”Come on, we’re wasting time.”
The walk remains uneventful for the most part. As uneventful as crossing an outer circle of volcanoes would be; with close calls and (mostly Tang’s) screaming echoing amidst the growls of the volcano’s rumbling.
“You know, Monkey King used Princess Iron Fans's fan to clear the smoke.” Tang added, trying to be helpful, even as he was being princess carried by the teen he insisted on protecting, seeing as at the moment he felt more like a dead weight they had to make sure didn’t vanish into thin air.
”Fun. So where are we supposed to get one of those? A prop shop?” MK retorts sarcastically, starting to get annoyed at the mention of the monkey again.
When a huge gust of wind suddenly enters the scene and clears the smoke, MK actually expects to see her in all her black and red glory, as if summoned by the utterance of her title alone.
Instead, he's greeted with a familiar irritating crow-like voice.
“Hello, Nyoodle Boy.”
The red brat had arrived on the scene, a mechanical arm attached that has turned into a glorified leaf blower that cleared the smoke for a dramatic entrance.
“Oh my dear lady, not you again.” He grumbles under his breath as he puts Tang down to the side, before facing the red thorn in his side. “What, did your parents send you to finish the job or something? Let me guess, to kill me right? You already got the staff, what more do you all even want?”
Red Son laughs.
"SENT here? No, no no. You see, nyoodle boy. I wasn't sent here! I came here of my own volition, to simply finish what I started!!" His fists flash with flames that licked up to his chin.
“… that’s literally what he just said, do you have a memory problem or something?” Mei commented on the side.
“Pretty sure he’s just monologuing at this point.” Tang pretended to nod wisely.
”SHUT UP!!! DON’T BUTT INTO THIS DRAGON GIRL!!” He stomps and points at Mei who just shrugged.
“AND SOME FOUR-EYED HUMAN!!” And at Tang.
”Hey, that’s offensive to glasses users!”
”WHATEVER!!!” Red Son looks like he’s about to blow a vein from all the screaming. He takes a deep breath in, clicking his tongue, before clearing his throat.
”As I was saying before these two ruffians decided to cut me off, I’m simply here to do some revenge taking! Of course, with the staff gone and empowering Father, there's no hope of stopping us now, and you don’t have a means of escape either!"
MK’s eye twitched, feeling his anger rising to a fever pitch at the incessant gloating, already rearing to spike through him with the bones. He wouldn’t feel bad one bit, he’s sure, skewering this stupid guy. He has to remind himself not to.
My lady, this… restriction. Is it really necessary? I don't think I can win this without your power.
Yes. Especially now, so close to enemy territory. That detestable monkey will never help if he knew I had raised you.
My friends-
-don't matter. If he finds out this early our destiny derails completely. This is not something you can wiggle your way out of MK.
Her icy grip digs into his shoulder to the point of hurting, and he realizes the seriousness of her command.
I understand. I'm sorry, I won't question it.
“Alright then.” He cuts Red Son’s rambling off with clenched fists as Mei starts to drag Tang away from hitting range. “Show me what you got, bull boy~”
Round 2, he guessed. Fight.
Red Son, once again the aggressor starts charging towards him, going full throttle from the start; flames begin bursting out around the entire area, and surrounding him in a vortex. MK knew this time he wouldn’t be able to catch the demon by surprise.
“You’re not getting away this time!” He yells as he throws a fiery punch that MK side steps, throwing his head back as his torso followed suit, dodging the surging fire that tended to follow the other’s moves.
MK is on the defensive, his self defense training from his mentor coming in handy at this very moment. It's all he can do really, no weapon to fight back with, and no staff to take the blow. His fists feel like it came into contact with boiling grease every time it comes into contact with his skin, as if he was fighting a really angry frying pan.
“I'm taking back my honor from being unable to kill you! It should have been simple, you’re just a stupid delivery boy!”
“Exactly, you asshole! Did you forget that you're the one who ordered from me? All I did was do my job when you and your shitty asshole family decided that was enough to put me on your hit list.” He snaps, dodging another hit and getting a punch in. “Take responsibility, damn it!”
He can vaguely hear Mei’s voice cheering him on. “Yeah! You tell him, MK!!”
He glances at the glove, remembering how it seemed to do all sorts of transformations.
“Besides, isn’t it really your fault that there's a random delivery person who knows all about your plans?” A more sinister grin appears on his face, eyes narrowed. “Really, is the reason you’re so upset because mommy and daddy could never love you unless you can prove you’re even worth giving a damn about?”
The red demon falters, seemingly shocked at the sudden shift into a mental attack.
He takes advantage of the momentary freeze, balling his hands into fists and staring him down, eyes glinting a soft blue.”But really you already know how this ends right?”
He moves fast — so fast he looks like he practically teleported — behind him, leaning forwards until he is right beside his ear, planting seeds of doubt.
“They’ll never be proud of a failure like you.”
It's when Red Son swings wildly in anger, all his flames centered on where MK was, that he knows he's gained the upper hand. This time appearing behind him, he jumps onto the other’s back, one arm squeezing against his neck and the other pressing random buttons on his mechanical glove to see which one would inevitably eject it off and leave him weaponless.
“Get off!” He chokes out, flames spurting out in wild bursts all around them as his arm turns into a canon and starts shooting random bombs around. He doesn't reply continuously, putting pressure on his trachea and causing as much chaos as possible.
The bombs explode all around them, and he sees Mei and Tang running around screaming as they avoid the artillery along with the lava spurts that had increased with the amount of explosions shaking the earth below.
MK forces Red Son to turn away from them, like trying to wrangle an angry bull that was trying its hardest to kick him off, the projectiles shooting every way he could make them that wasn’t human shaped.
Eventually, he can feel the other start to waver, his grip loosening and his footing getting clumsier.
He falls limp, unable to take in any more air, as his glove makes a hissing noise, unbuckling from his hand.
But MK doesn’t let go. He moves to grab his neck with his fingers, squeezing tighter instead, rage thrumming in his heart and through his veins — this fucker almost killed him, and that he can forgive, but he almost killed his family—, his grip digging deeper and deeper, and he can see the peachy red skin start to shift into a blue hue, his body involuntarily convulsing, and he doesn’t care-
“MK!!!”
Tang’s voice cuts through the murderous fog, snapping him back to reality. As he looks towards them, his face still contorted in sheer anger. That’s when he sees it.
His teacher, father, looking down at him from afar. His face looked fearful. Scared of me. He’s scared of me.
His grip loosens, and Red Son gasps for air.
Both of them are running over now, Tang ahead of Mei for once with his gaze focused squarely on MK. Shame creeps up his face, he’s struggling to focus on what they’re trying to say, staring back wide-eyed at Tang. ‘I messed up’, ringing in his head over and over again.
Mei and Tang keep screaming something at him.
“-ook-”
“-out!!!”
“You’re wrong about them-“ The boy beside him croaks out, still gasping for air in between words. “You’re WRONG, and I will prove it…”
He was too distracted to even notice the ground rumbling below them, the lava spewing violently at Red Son’s command.
“MK, LOOK OUT!!!”
“…by dealing with you permanently.”
The wind gets knocked out of him as a barrage of lava hits him from the side raw, burning his skin and throwing him into a rock formation, and pain shoots from his side.
His watery eyes take a peek at the situation, mind struggling to focus from the pain and the confusion.
It was impossible.
Red Son's pyrokinesis and the practically unlimited amount of volcanoes he had in his disposal made it impossible to defend or attack from any angle. He didn’t even need that stupid glove anymore, forgotten on the way side. Clearly what MK had said had done its damage, hurting him worse than the actual choking, despite the bruising that had already started to form on his neck.
His eyes widen as the ground shakes, and a huge lake of lava shoots out, and bends, racing towards him.
He won't survive.
Block it, block it, block It, MK you idiot-!
A barrier puts itself up in front of him. For a brief second he opens his eyes expecting the bones to be there, shielding him, protecting him as they always did.
Instead, it's a golden sheened translucent barrier that's surrounded him like a blanket, the lava pooling around it in waves. It's warm and soft and a familiar heat glows in his chest. The hit still sends him flying out, but he can't feel the pain of the familiar burn of the 700º lava melting his damn skin off, and the probably additional multiple broken bones that he seriously didn’t need right now, not that he was really focused on that more so focused on the pain that squeezed every time he moved even the slightest bit.
He feels like he needs a damn long nap, as his eyes closed, just for a little bit.
Another pillar swallows him whole, and he can barely hear Tang and Mei screaming as he slips from consciousness and disappears from view.