Chapter Text
It started with, what MK thought was, a sore throat. But a weird sort of sore throat. One that only popped up when he was on Flower Fruit Mountain. Not only making his throat feel itchy, but had a sort of pressure to it. As if something was trying to crawl its way out. At first believing that maybe he suddenly developed an allergy, either from the plants growing from the mountains or from the animals that lived there. After all, the mentioned items couldn’t be found anywhere in the city he called home. Until he narrowed down further when the itchy, strained feeling occurred.
The first time he really noticed this strange situation was when he and Monkey King were getting ready to train. Before trading blows, Wukong insisted that they stretch.
“We don’t get that option when we’re in a fight.” MK pointed out the first time he’d been instructed to do so.
“True. But taking the option now can prevent getting hurt while training. Meaning you’re in better shape when you need to fight.” Was the simple reply.
As the time passed, the small, white furred monkeys had started to outline the training grounds that had been selected for that day. Watching on curiously as their king and his chosen successor trained, preparing the younger for future problems. At least, the older members did. Any monkey counted as an adult would stay while the children would be called away from one of their parents when blows were about to be exchanged. To make sure the smaller monkeys were safe and away from the training, just in case it became too intense. The adults sound out chirps to gain their child’s attention to call them away.
It was something that MK had first ignored. Merely asking Monkey King what all that meant before leaving it be. Until the teen realized that, at some point, he had to hold himself back from making a noise. To reply back to the calls that weren't even directed at him. It was strange, really bizarre, to the point where he brought it up to his mentor. In a strange, not very helpful roundabout way.
“So, hey, Monkey King, random question.” MK tried to make his voice sound as casual as possible. Blocking an attack before returning his own.
“Sure bud, what’s up?”
“Remember when I asked what the monkey’s were doing when we finished our warmups?”
“The chirps, yeah, what about it?”
“Have you heard of anyone, like, say a human, try and reply to them?”
“To the chirps? From a human? Uh, no, not that I’m aware of. Why do you ask?”
“Ah, no reason! Just curious.”
Wukong frowned, seeing through the lie easily. Knowing what that strained smile on MK’s face meant. But he didn’t push the topic. “Alright, if you say so.”
While the conversation fell away, that didn’t mean Wukong let the matter fully settle. Curious as to what the issue possibly was, the golden monkey started to pay closer to his successor. Namely during the time that MK had originally brought up this question. Trying to appear as casual as possible, Wukong kept his eyes on the teen. Nothing seemed out of place when they started out. MK not even caring or paying attention to the white furred monkeys that were surrounding them.
Then the familiar chirps sounded and Wukong saw an immediate change in his successor. MK suddenly went straight, eye dilating as they scanned the crowd, mouth opening slightly. Only for the teen to pull back quickly. Eagerness turned to confusion as a hand reached up to rub his neck. Mouth closing quickly and eyes now darted down to stare at the ground.
“Kid, you okay?” Wukong called out. Worried about the sudden change in emotions and actions.
MK looked up at that, hand dropping. “Oh, yeah! Sorry, I think I’m coming down with something, throat hurts a little.”
Wukong frowned, walking over to place a hand on MK’s forehead. Who stilled, feeling the foreign hand. “Mmm…you’re not warm, so you don’t have a fever.”
“Uh, yeah, I’m sure it’s just a small cold.”
“Have you been feeling back for awhile?”
“No…I actually only feel ‘bad’ when I’m up here. I kind of thought it was allergies, but I don’t feel that bad, and…”
“And?” Wukong raised his brows, waiting for MK to continue.
“...I only feel it when we’re stretching. When the chirps sound.”
“Wait, what?”
“I know, it’s weird! But something just feels off when I hear the sound. Like…”
“It’s okay bud, you can tell me.”
“Like I want to reply back. B-But I know that’s strange! I mean, you even said it yourself, humans can’t respond back. So I just figured I was sick…or something.” MK finished weakly, looking away and griping the staff closer.
Wukong, on his part, was curious. “Have you tried?”
“To do what?”
“To respond back. I just watched you now. You seemed like you were going to, but pulled back, why?”
“...Because I figured it would be weird.”
“Kid, look around. You’re being trained by the Monkey King, while wielding a magical staff after saving the world so many times and fighting so many demons. I think you’re past feeling ‘weird’ about any of this.”
“But humans don’t do this-”
“They don’t fight demons either! MK, you can’t compare yourself to everyone else. It’s not fair to you and it’s not fair to everyone to do so. Besides, you might feel better if you try it.”
“...I guess.”
“Wanna give it a go then?”
MK faltered slightly at that. “What?”
“As your mentor, I’m allowed to fill the role as…” Wukong quickly cleared his throat, suddenly looking nervous, “Look at it this way, chirps are loud and unique. If you’re able to respond, then we’ll have a good way to locate each other. A ‘just in case’ kind of thing. So, let’s try it out.”
“...Okay.” MK gave a sharp nod, looking determined.
Wukong smirked before clearing his throat. The sound that escaped him was sharp and loud, echoing over the mountain range. MK actually jumped at the volume. Too shocked to reply. The two shared a small laugh, allowing the teen to relax and nod that he was ready again.
Another loud, sharp chirp sounded, once more echoing over the mountain. Prepared this time for the sound, MK replied. Startling both himself and Wukong with the rather weak noise. Sounding more choked than the sharp sound that the golden monkey had offered. MK even coughed after attempting, rubbing his throat.
“T-That felt so weird!”
Wukong couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, for your first try that wasn’t too bad.”
“I almost choked!”
“Ah, you’ll be fine. You’re just not used to doing it. Come on, one more time.” Wukong gave his call, loud and strong. MK replied, this time not as painful, but still not as strong.
It continued this way for a while. Each time MK’s cry becomes stronger and stronger with each attempt. Soon it all turned into a competition to see who could be louder. While Wukong clearly kept winning, that didn’t mean MK gave up that easily. Even going as far as, in an attempt to throw his mentor off, to try and tackle Wukong down. Not prepared for this but having good reflexes to grab MK’s wrists, both falling back.
The training turned to one more of ‘play’. The staff resting to the side, both parties trying to successfully pin the other to the ground. No words were said, instead only small noises and chirps were exchanged. Both giving smirks to the other. No attacks were given. Merely a movement of pounces and attempts to grab, soon moving away from the training grounds and into the surrounding trees. The white furred monkeys followed close to keep an eye on the other two.
It all ended when the two reached a small clearing. MK pouncing forward, grabbing around Wukong’s middle, the two rolling to a stop. Unfortunately with the golden monkey on top, pinning the teen’s wrists down and smirking down in triumph.
“Nice try kid.”
“Oh come on! I was close though, wasn’t I?”
“Ah, sure, we’ll go with that.”
“Monkey King!”
The golden monkey’s laughter echoed through the mountain this time.
____________________
A wide yawn allowed MK to catch something strange one morning. In the mirror, the teen raised his upper lip, mouth open, showing his enlarged canines on the top row. Brows furrowed, wondering when this would have happened. He was pretty sure they were ‘normal’ size the night before. But now, they've grown at least a quarter inch and super sharp. Enough so that when MK ran a finger over it, he pulled back quickly feeling a familiar sting. Watching for a second as blood pooled up.
MK let out a hiss of pain, running the finger under water while his other hand searched for his first aids. Wrapping the finger up quickly before focusing back on his teeth. The gums for these teeth were inflamed and sore, looking red in the mirror. His lower gums, namely where the newly enlarged canines touched, held indents where the teeth touched.
“Weird…” MK softly commented. But he wasn’t able to think long of it before the alarm went off. “Oh no, I’m gonna be late!”
The day at work was difficult. There were the normal issues of so many orders, angry customers, and Pigsy shouting at him. But the thing that bothered MK the most was the pain from his mouth. It was a consistent pulse, one that would sometimes grow, sometimes turning to a sharp stab. Either from the inflamed gums or from when the canines would bite down into his lower gums.
By the end of it all, MK was in pain and close to either crying or snapping.
“Kid, what’s up with you today?” Pigsy asked as he watched MK rub his upper gums.
“My teeth… They grew over night or something, they just hurt. It’s been bothering me all day.” MK replied.
“Here, let me see.” The chef leaned over the counter, eyes narrowing on the discussed problem. “Geez, that looks painful.”
“It is! I don’t know what to do…”
“Why not go to talk to Monkey King.” Tang’s voice suddenly sounded, pulling attention to him.
“Um…why?” MK asked.
“Because you’re experiencing something that younger animals do. You’re getting your ‘adult teeth’, one that resembles closely to that of monkeys now that I’m looking at it. Now, I can’t speak on Pigsy’s part, I don’t teething items. If this is something Monkey King experiences a lot, as you said he has a lot of younger monkeys up on the mountain, he might have something to help you.”
“...It’s weird to say this, but Tang has a point.” Pigsy commented, ignoring Tang’s cry of ‘Hey!’ in reply. “First this ‘chirps’, now monkey teeth? Something weird is going on and, if it’s monkey related, it all points back to Monkey King. Go talk to him.”
So, MK headed out, back to Flower Fruit Mountain. Keeping a hand on his cheeks in an attempt to create some sort of comfort from the pain that continued. It was not Wukong that greeted MK first, but a few of the white furred monkeys. Ones that MK recognized as the adults from the large group.
“Oh, hello, what are you all doing out here?” MK asked softly, uncaring as they climbed into his shoulders. He wasn’t really happy, however, when smaller fingers pulled his upper lip up, showing his gum. “Ow, hey, what-”
MK wasn’t able to finish before those on his shoulders made small noises. All directed to those still in the trees, who turned and rushed up to where Wukong was living. The teen was overly confused by this all, but didn’t comment. Instead, he merely continued his way up. His hands used to ease the pain were replaced with two monkeys nuzzling against his cheeks.
“MK!” The teen looked up hearing his name being shouted. Wukong was clearly not ready for MK to visit. The golden monkey’s normal outfit was replaced with sweats, mainly yellow with blue and red lines going along the sides of the arm and legs. In his arms were a number of ice packs. Ones that MK had seen before, using them after getting a nasty bruise during training.
“Hi Monkey King.” The teen barely had time to reply before a tail was tucked under his chin, forcing his face from side to side as Wukong looked him over.
“They said you were hurt, what happened? Did a demon get the best of you? I’m not seeing anything, but they made it sound urgent-” All stilled when one of the shoulder monkeys interrupted, making a few noises that caused Wukong to relax slightly. The tail dropped, only for MK to wince as, once more, his upper lip was pulled up, this time by the golden monkey. “Oh, we need the other kind of ice bags… Come on in, kid. Let’s get you settled.”
MK didn’t argue as he was led further into the cave and into the small hut Wukong called home. Instantly pushed down onto the comfortable couch as the golden monkey headed towards the kitchen. The teen heard movement, the freeze door being opened and closed, items being collected, before Wukong appeared once more. Holding more than just ice bags this time. A glass of ice, a packet of something that had the words ‘teething biscuit’ written on the side, pain medication, and a towel.
The teen said nothing as he watched Wukong set everything down, eventually settling down next to MK on the couch before turning on the tv. Mindless shows appeared on the screen, MK not even sure what they were watching. But didn’t focus too much on that when Wukong held out the ice pack. It was softer than others the teen had used before. Larger and shaped more of a pillow than normal packs, but it seemed to stretch and never break.
“Bite down on it kid, it’ll help.” Wukong said.
He did. MK winced as he bit down, the soft cold material reached the inflamed gums. The shock wore away as the teen finally felt relief as the pain was slowly numbed. Shoulder sagging as he leaned back into the couch, eyes closing as he bit down harder. Only opening them again when, after a few minutes had passed, Wukong shook the teen’s shoulder. Holding out the glass of ice, which had melted partially, and some medicine.
“When did you get your chompers?” Wukong asked, trying to sound casual as he watched MK down the medicine.
“This morning. I was fine last night and this morning was the first time I really looked at them. They’ve been bothering me all day, Tang saying I should come see you when I told him and Pigsy about this.”
“Good call made on his part. It honestly looks like you’re past the worst of it. Now it’s just time for your mouth to get used to them.” Wukong passed back over the ice pack, MK taking it to bite down happily. The golden monkey didn’t argue when the teen leaned against him. “Take it easy kid, you’re okay… You’re gonna be okay.”
____________________
MK felt like he was going insane. His skin itched and burned, the lightest touch making his shiver. The front of his hands and bottom of his feet were constantly sweating, seeming inflamed, as if MK was having some kind of allergic reaction to something. Walking became painful with MK not wanting to carry or touch anything. It had even become difficult to sit down due to a constant pain coming from his tailbone.
Exhaustion grew with each night he was unable to sleep. Training had to stop while the golden monkey attempted to help. But Wukong, just like the rest of MK’s family, had no idea what the issue was. Relief only seemed to come when Macaque allowed the teen to rest within the shadow realm the black furred monkey controlled. But MK couldn’t stay in for too long without gaining some negative repercussions nor could Macaque keep the portal just opened for a long period of time as well.
As it stood, everyone was at a loss as to what MK needed. Which MK could only respond with a shrug and pained noises. Just as confused as they were.
It was one evening, as the day of working at the shop fell away and the sky was an inky dark, MK collapsed on his bed. Not bothering to change into his sleepwear. The most he was able to do was kick off his shoes, shifting himself properly onto the bed so nothing was hanging off, and curling onto his side. Whether it was because he wasn’t in as much pain this evening or the fact that the numerous sleepless nights were finally catching up to him, MK felt himself drifting off. He didn’t fight back as he allowed himself to sink into the darkness.
When he woke the next morning, MK was happy to feel well rested. For the first time in so many weeks. Yawning widely, he sat up and stretched, rubbing his eyes as he padded his way over to this bathroom. Noting that the only pain he felt still came from his tailbone. But even now, it wasn’t that bad as it had been.
Flicking on the light, MK looked towards the mirror…and let out a shriek of fear. Something loud and inhuman that escaped the teen. Wide eyes staring back at him as his heart hammered furiously in his chest. It slowly dawned on him that the creature staring back at him through the mirror was himself .
Overnight, everything about MK's appearance had changed. Large ears poked out from the messy hair. Cheeks and chin seemed to round out, nose changing to more of a ‘monkey’ appearance. Eyes became rounder, a bit wider as well, with yellow markings creating a mask around his eyes. Fur poked out from beneath his shirk causing MK to look down to find a majority of himself covered in black fur, with his chest with shorter, tan color fuzz. Back of his hand held some black fur, with the biggest change being small claws and pads on his palms and fingertips. Removing his socks showed the same outcome his hands had achieved.
“What…is happening?” MK whispered weakly, eyes darting up from the mirror and back down to his hands and feet. Mind racing with confusion and fear. Not wanting to deal with this alone, MK left the bathroom and raced downstairs. Thankfully, the restaurant wasn’t open yet. Meaning it was just Pigsy and Tang to greet him when he entered.
Both panicked upon seeing the changed teen. Tang out of his stool before Pigsy could even think, hands carefully placed on MK’s shoulders. There were few words exchanged, all of it amounting to no one having the slightest idea what had happened. MK was brought over to the stool, happily taking the offered bowl of noodles and began eating. Partially listening as the adults talked.
“Do we take him to a doctor?” Tang asked worriedly.
“What are they going to do? Say the same thing we’ve said, that it’s just a strange thing?”
“Maybe another form of puberty?”
“More of a strange form of puberty, if that’s even the case…”
“You’re angry. What’s on your mind Pigsy?”
“It’s all monkey related. The chirps, the teeth, and now all of this? If anyone’s going to have an idea what’s happening, it’s gonna be Monkey King. We need him here to talk to us.”
“What, do you think he did this deliberately?”
“I doubt it. But this is just too weird that he couldn’t be involved. We need to talk to him.”
“I could go to him,” MK offered, sounding tired, “I’m not sure if he’d like to come to the city.”
“I don’t really care what the Great Sage would or wouldn’t like to do,” Pigsy rolled his eyes, “I’m more worried about the fact you look dead on your feet still. That and how you now look like a monkey demon right now, which might draw some bad attention.”
MK didn’t argue as Pigsy pulled out his phone and dialed a familiar number, instead going back to his bowl. Watching as the chef walked around to the front of the store and flicking the outside light off and flipping the sign on the door to ‘CLOSED’. The chef didn’t give a verbal reply at MK’s confused look, merely ruffling the kid’s hair before saying, “You’d better be up Monkey King, we have a bit of an issue.”
MK winced, suddenly hearing Wukong’s reply from the other side as if he had the phone pressed to his ear, “What? If it’s a demon, I think the kid-”
“It’s about the kid.”
“What’s wrong with MK? Is he hurt?”
“More of he’s drastically changed, physically. Woke up looking a lot more like a monkey than when he went to bed.”
“...Am I supposed to know what that means?”
“I need you to get your furry butt down here to the shop and look the kid over. I need someone to explain to me what’s happening to him.”
“Okay, I’ll-” Wukong cut himself off, another voice sounding muffled was heard, “We’ll be over soon.”
“Make it quick.” Pigsy jumped when a loud ripping was sounded followed by a ‘thump’. Looking over to an embarrassed MK. “Quicker, because MK just dropped a tail.”
“...WHAT!?”
Tang let out a yelp as the nearby shadows suddenly shifted, two forms emerging before becoming solid. Wukong and Macaque were now standing in the middle of the closed shop. Golden eyes quickly found MK and the Monkey King crossed the room just as fast. Macaque seemed content to stay away, instead turning to Pigsy.
“So, what questions are you wanting to shout at us?” The Shadow Warrior asked.
“I want an explanation for MK!” Pigsy shouted, “Look at him, this isn’t normal!”
“Nothing that has happened since he grabbed that staff has been ‘normal’.”
“But this?”
Macaque shrugged his shoulders before Wukong took over. “It…could be a side effect. With sharing my powers with MK. But I really don’t have a way to confirm this. First human getting them and all that.”
“Is there a way to fix this then?” Pigsy asked.
MK looked up feeling Wukong tense, eyes widening in worry seeing how upset the golden monkey suddenly was. “Fix this? This isn’t an illness-”
“You can’t be serious, the kid looks ridiculous! How are we supposed to deal with this?”
“MK’s training will just entail how to ‘deal with this’. It’ll be fine.”
“And are you going to ask MK what he wants to do? You’re putting a lot of words in his mouth, this sounds like something you want. Not him.”
“Pigsy-” MK attempted to speak, but a hand on his shoulder cut him off.
“What does that mean?” Wukong said with a dangerous undertone.
Pigsy huffed and crossed his arms. “It just seems like you’re putting the kid into a situation he didn’t agree to, again .”
That caused the Monkey King to falter, looking back to MK before facing forward again. “I didn’t plan this. This…This wasn’t intentional, this wasn’t like some ‘plan’ of mine. I didn’t mean to make this happen!”
MK stood at that, standing between the two, looking frantic. “Wait, just wait. Pigsy, I don’t blame Monkey King for this.”
“Kid-”
“Just listen! I don’t blame Monkey King, I don’t blame anyone for this. I…I think this was supposed to happen.”
“What?” The remainder of the party called out with different levels of confusion.
“I didn’t tell anyone, but when I got my powers the first time, before LBD, my canines started growing. Nothing like this and I thought I was going crazy, because it wasn’t that dramatic of a shift. When Lady Bone Demon attacked the first time and my powers were blocked…my teeth shrank. So, I think this was supposed to happen.”
“...Doesn’t make it any less worrisome.” Pigsy commented.
“Well, we need to push past that,” Macaque commented, “What needs to happen now is training. A different kind of training. You can’t gain control over a tail overnight.”
As if to prove the point further, MK let out a yelp when, as he took a step back towards his stool, toppled to the ground. His newly acquired tail wrapped around one of his legs. Wukong let out a low sigh before nodding.
“This is going to be interesting.”