Chapter Text
Ao Lie opened his eyes and he looked around. A splitting headache all of a sudden started ringing in the back of his head. He reached to touch the spot to try and sooth it but he was stopped by something. He looked at his wrist and he felt his heart drop. There were chains that were tightly wrapped around him. He tried to burn them off but it wouldn't work. He tried chewing on the metal with his sharp teeth but it didn't work. He did whatever he could think of. Clawing at it, trying to pick the lock with a rock, try and thin the metal, look for where the chains started and end. Nothing worked. He looked around to see if Tripitaka was close to him. Maybe he was freaking out for no reason and they were just captured again and his brothers were going to save them as always. But he was with him. Tripitaka was no where in sight. He started remembering when the Jade Emperor had tortured him. He was locked in a room but at least it was well kept. This room made him like his was in a stable. Maybe that was it. Yeah, maybe he was in a stable and he just turned back into a dragon. But then the stables he was in would be broken and he would be surrounding the shattered wood. And he would have already had woken up and seen the others staring at him. But his brothers weren't there. Neither was his master. He looked around again. He tried to think of a reasonable explanation as to why this would be happening. And then, he finally understood what had happened to him. He was kidnapped. Not because he was carrying the reincarnation of golden cicada. Not because he brothers with Sun Wukong. But because he was a prince. Not just any dragon prince of a small tribe. But he was the son of the Dragon of the West. He might not be the next heir but he was still a prince. He wanted help. He needed help from his brothers.
"Sandy?!" He asked quietly. His voice was still stuck in his throat. He was terrified that his thought was correct.
"Pigsy?!" He said more panicked when his thought was starting to become confirmed.
"Master!!" He yelled more louder as he thought the chains around him were getting pulled.
"WUKONG!!" He screamed as the chains all over a sudden pulled him away.
Wukong watched Bai Long as he walked around the field the pilgrims were camping next to. By now, Bai Long would have turned into his human form and sat next to one of his older brothers. The others even noticed this and Sandy decided to go over to check on his younger brother. Bai Long continued to feed on the pastor. Sandy stepped over and talked to the dragon prince. But after a few minutes of trying to talk to the dragon, Sandy's face dropped. Wukong was the first one up and rushed over as the others did so too.
"Brothers, what's wrong?" Wukong asked as Sandy slowly covered his mouth. Tears started to whelm up in his eyes.
"This isn't Bai Long." The fish demon said and the other pilgrims looked at him confused. The demon then gently led the horse's face to look at the others.
"This isn't Ao Lie." Wukong was the first to notice it. Then the pig and monk followed. The horse had normal pupils. Bai Long had slit pupils. That was the only way to tell something was different from the prince of the western sea. It had been a problem filled two months so how long did that mean their youngest member was missing?
Wukong blast off to Quan Yin's island. He shook the ground as he arrived and the disciples of Quan Yin had awaken as Wukong rushed into the goddess's sacred area. He rushed to find the goddess. She was rubbing her eyes and trying to see who had shook the island and awoke her and her disciples. She saw Wukong's face. He had tears streaming down his face. He rushed into her arms and she was confused but she knew he needed comfort.
"Wukong, what happened?" She asked as she tried to calm him down enough so he could tell her what happened.
"He's gone. He's been kidnapped and we don't know how long he's been gone." He said through his sobs. Quan Yin was confused as to he meant.
"The monk?" She asked and watched as he shook his head.
"Bai Long Ma. Ao Lie. He was kidnapped and we don't know where he is. We just noticed he's missing." He said and Quan Yin was wide awake now. The third dragon prince was missing. She needed to tell the Dragon of the West of his sons disappearance. She stood up and then helped Wukong up. She pulled her hair back as neatly as she could and then told Wukong to step out for a second. He did and Red Son and Moska were confused as to why the great sage had just flown out of the middle of nowhere and was crying. The two talked quietly as they were trying to think of what had happened. Soon, Quan Yin came out of her sacred area and she was wearing a simple robe. She then told Red Son and Moska to follow her as she went to Wukong's side to help comfort him still. She summoned her cloud and pulled Wukong close to help calm him down.
Quan Yin then went to the Dragon of the West's home and asked the guards to retrieve the king of the western seas. He soon arrived and seemed confused.
"Quan Yin, what is the reason for this important meeting in the middle of the night?" He asked and his eyes scanned the small island as to where the group stood. Red Son and Moska felt a little embarrassed because they didn't know they were going to have a meeting with The Dragon of the West. The two were still wearing their pajamas so this felt awkward. The dragon soon saw his son swimming over to him to see what was happening. The dragon king's eyes then went back to the group. He then noticed the Great Sage as he cried into Quan Yin.
"Great Sage, what's wrong? Did something happen to one of traveling companions get hurt?" He asked to which all he could get from the monkey was a glance.
"What of my son?" He asked. Wukong's eyes just widened and he cried more into the goddess's side. The king then understood. He felt tears rushing from his face to the ocean. His oldest looked at his father, confused and scared as to what his father understood. The father then turned to his son and pulled him confused.
"Your younger brother was kidnapped and he's missing." He explained and Ao Mo'ang was silent. His father pulled him close as the young dragon now understood the matter of the situation. He started to cry as he started thinking of when his younger brother and him would play. When they would have competition over the smallest things and when he would let Ao Lie win no matter what. When they would have debates over the dumbest things. He couldn't wait for his brother to get back from the journey so then he could tell him about all the adventures he had gone on. But now, his younger brother coming back wasn't even promised. He started crying more heavy.
The problem was then given to the Jade Emperor and he knew this was serious. He had never seen "The Great Sage Equal to Heaven" cry before. But this also meant that there was a demon capturing the dragon prince of the west. The matter was more serious than some kid getting kidnapped. This meant that this demon, or human were strong enough to keep a dragon in containment. If this was a normal kidnapping, then Ao Lie would have broken free already. He would be with the group. He wouldn't have been replaced by a normal horse and he wouldn't have been missing for so long. This was serious. Dragons were told to go home to wherever they were from or to be in large colony of other dragons. The heavenly court started to look deeper into the other kidnappings of other dragons. Some were young and some were in their late twenties. The oldest to go missing recorded was a male dragon in his early thirties. The pilgrims were devastated to think of their youngest brother was missing. So, instead of the pilgrims finishing the journey in fourteen years, the had to spend twenty years getting the scriptures. They went back and checked every river, lake, pond, and even on the coast of where they had travelled in the few two years before them figuring out the dragon prince had been missing. But soon, Quan Yin promised that heaven, she, and other dragons had the whole situation under control. So, they finished the journey. Wukong though, after the disappearance of his younger brother made him more distant. He didn't have his mind in the battle anymore. He would start running in the nearest river or lake. In desperation, to find Ao Lie.
Mei was hopping on fallen debris that had surrounded the fallen temple that her, Qi Xiǎotian, her best friend and the Monkie Kid. Following them were their mentors, Sun Wukong, the monkey king and the Great Sage Equal to Heaven and Liu'Er Mihou, the Six-Earred Macaque. The two young adults were jumping to the closest piece of debris that they could jump to. Trying to get to temple quicker than the other one. Mei was quicker to jump to each rock since she was used to jumping place to place. Also being the granddaughter of a gravity dragon would help. She giggled as she landed on another broken pillar as Qi Xiǎotian tried jumping to another pillar that was a little farther away but failed and landed in front of the two monkey dads. Wukong scooped him up and helped him get on top of the tall pillar. Qi Xiǎotian climbed onto the pillar and continued to jump up higher and higher to get to Mei.
"You have to be cheating, Mei. How can you jump from pillar to pillar so quickly without falling?" Qi Xiǎotian asked and Mei chuckled as she just floated over to the next pillar without jumping. Qi Xiǎotian gasped as she revealed her secret. "So you are cheating! I can't believe you're cheating me out of a win!" Qi Xiǎotian said as he had to launch himself to the pillar.
"MK, you can literally turn into a bird." Wukong called and as MK turned to climb onto the pillar. "Oh yeah." He said and then let go of the pillar and turned into a bird. Mei laughed as she now just had to jump off the side of the pillars to race the Monkie Kid.
"You think we should join in, Peaches?" Liu'Er asked his mate as Wukong smiled.
"Yeah. I mean, we are taking care of them and they are in protection. You want a head start, Mango?" The golden furred monkey said as he looked at his lover. "If you gave me a head start, you would never be able to catch up." Liu'Er said as he jumped off the ground and started landing on the pillars. "Heh, we'll see about that." Wukong said as he started jumping on the pillars as well.
Mei and Qi Xiǎotian were the first to make it into the temple entrance and they cheered happily. Liu'Er and Wukong were quick to catch up to the young adults. The two chuckled as Mei and Qi Xiǎotian happily forgot that this was a race between the two and not with their mentors.
"You two be careful, the pillars are old and nothing is holding them back for falling apart." Liu'Er said as he heard the sound of small pieces falling out from the pillar.
"Relax, Dad. We're fine." Mei said. Then the pillar shattered and the two started falling down the hole that was supposed to have a staircase to get down to the bottom. The two hugged each other they fell into the dark hole. Qi Xiǎotian summoned his cloud and Mei used her ability to slow gravity down so then the cloud could slow them down more. They were able to stop half way from the bottom of the staircase. Or at least where it used to be.
"That was a close one, right Mei?" He said as he turned to look at Mei. She was staring into the bottom of the staircase. She saw something move. She watched the ground more carefully. She saw a tail move away from the light.
"There's something down here." She whispered to Qi Xiǎotian and jumped off the cloud.
"Mei!? What are you doing?!" He asked her in a whispered yell. He followed her on his cloud and it disappeared as they landed. Mei held her hand out and lit a small blackish purple flame. She held it out in front of her. She knew something was down her. The place was eerie. There were chains hanging all over the place and it seemed like a stable. But it didn't make any sense. No horse was this size. If anything, these stables would have to be made for... It hit Mei. This is where dragons were held. The illegal breeding system. That's why the heavenly court couldn't find all the missing dragons. They were right under their noses. Under their temples. That's how the system was hidden. The deities wouldn't look under their temples, they wouldn't have need to look the place they were being worshipped. Mei pulled out her sword out and Qi Xiǎotian got the idea and pulled out his staff. Mei stepped forward and Qi Xiǎotian stood close behind her.
"This is where they had the illegal dragon breeding system." Mei said and MK looked at her shocked.
"The same one your great grandma was held?" He asked and Mei nodded. "Maybe we should get out of here. In case the demons are still here." He said as he started to backup away from the place.
"MK, no one can contain this dragon. Plus, I have the Samadhi Fire, I would incinerate ay demon that tries to cross me. You know I have no mercy." She said as she walked over and grabbed MK to pull him deeper into the temple. They went a little farther in before they noticed a statue. It seemed to be of a dragon but if the dragon was unkept. The hair was grown out. The horns were long and curved. The talons were shaper and longer than they should be. Mei stared at the statue.
"Why would someone make a statue of a dragon like that?" She said as she stepped closer. She turned to look at MK. He was backing away from the statue.
"Mei, that isn't a statue." Mk said and Mei turned to look at the statue. It's head was turned o Mei. The eyes glowed a bright sickly green. The color of the glow in a dragon's eyes could always show how healthy a dragon is. The fact that the eyes were faded and were so out of it, told her the dragon was very sick. She noticed how he tried to attack, they waited. She had her sword by her side and was ready to pull it out but she knew that the sword would end the dragon with one hit if they attacked. Mei sensed a familiarity when she looked at the dragon. She felt a connection with them. She put her sword back in the handle and tried to step closer.
"Hey, my name is Long Xiaojiao. But I go by Mei. I'm a dragon, too." She said as she revealed her horns and tail. The dragon stopped. Dragons can usually sense another of their own species right away but this dragon's spiritually connection was so thin, Mei couldn't sense him.
"You have to get out of here." The dragon finally spoke. It was now clear that the dragon was male. His voice was raspy and faded. "It's not safe here, you have to leave. The demons are still here. They plan on selling younger dragons for money. You have to leave, go!" Mei could tell the panic and fear in his voice. She wasn't going to leave this dragon in the demons' hands. Not while she was around.
"I'm not leaving anyone here. I have some friends up there that can help you. We're going to help you." Mei said as she tried to get closer. The dragon backed up.
"No, its too dangerous! You have to go." The dragon said. He had stepped into the light. She saw how his eyes were. There were signs of drug use on him. She remembered what her great grandma had said she saw most of the males.
Their eyes were mostly glossed over with a light blue shade. He had the same shade covering his eyes. Heaven had done a research behind the drug and they said that the drug could be input to the bloodstream and it would cause hallucinations. The drug could last a while depending on where you injected it. It was a very powerful substance. If you injected the substance in the back of the head, it can last for awhile. No one really knows how long it could last but the researchers said it could be between 10 to 20 years. Maybe the substance was injected recently or maybe it was a long time ago. But, it was known that the drug gave the same feeling of when it was injected. It could be pain, happiness, or even drunk. The drug wasn't allowed for any use unless given permission by the Jade Emperor. So, someone got this from someone who had permission, or it was stolen. That, or the Jade Emperor was behind some stuff. He had always done questionable thing but maybe he was behind this. It wouldn't matter now that he was dead and that Azure was the Emperor. Things had changed for the better now that someone who actually cared was in charge.
"I can help you." She said as she reached closer. "Please, just let me help you." She touched the collar around his neck and it started melt with her controlled heat. The collar then fell off as it had melted. He moved away from her and moved his talons to where the collar was. He felt his neck and looked down at where the collar laid. He smiled at the collar. He had regained some of his freedom. Then his smile faded as he looked at Mei.
"You still need to get out of here, it's still way to dangerous." He said and Mei growled. She turned into her dragon form and was now at eye level with the dragon.
"I AIN'T LEAVING YOU!" She yelled at his face and he backed down. "So, shut up and let us help you." She then turned to MK as he came closer. "Go get the monkeys. I'll stay here and try and get the chains off." She said and Qi Xiǎotian nodded. He summoned his cloud and flew up to top of the staircase. There was Liu'Er and Wukong sitting on a patch of grass.
"MK! There you are! Where's Mei?" Liu'Er said as he stood up with Wukong.
"She's fine. We found a dragon down at the bottom of the stairs. This was one of the places where they held the illegal dragon breeding system. Mei is freeing him right now." MK said as he floated back down. Liu'Er looked at Wukong as the golden monkey stared down at the fallen staircase. Wukong turned his head to his lover.
"You don't it's him, do you?" The black and white monkey asked his partner as he had turned his head back to the hole. Wukong summoned his cloud as Liu'Er joined him on the cloud. MK was helping Mei as she was biting at the chains. As Wukong and Liu'Er landed, the black and white monkey rushed over to the dragon as he tried to calm him down. Liu'Er was always good with calming down people.
"Wukong, help MK and Mei-" He had turned to see the golden monkey had tears in his eyes. "Wukong?" He asked and the dragon lifted his head to look at the other monkey that had arrived. The two stared at each other. The dragon stepped closer to Wukong.
"Wukong?" The dragon asked as he walked closer to the monkey without the restrictions on the chains still attached to him. The golden furred monkey had tears streaming from his face.
"Ao Lie?"