Chapter Text
Macaque hadn’t been expecting anything good at being dragged to the Lady Bone Demon by her thrall, but he also hadn’t expected to be thrown into a cell either. They’d stolen his lanturn and just left him here. Well that was their mistake if they thought it was going to keep him contained for long! It would’ve been easier if his shadows would listen to him though, and the initial panic he had at not being able to reach his powers had faded at this point. Of course if his only problem was going to boredom until he figured another way to escape then so be it. It was still better than being in the Diyu at least. He wasn’t held down by chains or freezing, at least no more than usual, a fun side effect of being resurrected that he’d gotten used to long ago.
Of course he had to jinx himself even just by thinking anything positive about the situation, because he heard footsteps and whistling? Great he was going to have that wonderful thrall’s company again. He’d done that stupid whistling when he threw him in this cell earlier.
Crossing his arms as the other demon came into view with a glare on his face. “What do you want?” Macaque growled out even as the other merely grinned in response.
“Seems our lady wants to make sure you know the price for ignoring your destined duty.” He replied grin not lowering, and Macaque didn’t like the sound of that.
“Yeah well tell her that ‘Destiny’ of hers go screw off.” He snarked with a tiny smirk.
“Have it your way.” The thrall spoke, snapping his fingers, and smiling as chains appeared and wrapped around the dark-furred monkey’s wrists and ankles. Lifting the prisoner up so he wasn’t touching the floor anymore.
It strained his wrists something fierce, but he’d dealt with worse. “That all you got?” Macaque growled and sometimes he really should remember to keep his mouth shut sometimes, and here he was calling Wukong stupid and rash. Goading the person who currently had him immobilized was reaching the same level of stupidity his pride be damned.
All he felt after that was pain. The chains tightening on command tight enough that it was a miracle his wrists didn’t break in the process. Of course that couldn’t be it even as he felt the stab in his side from the blade that the thrall had in his hand. When had he gotten that? Somehow that wasn’t the most concerning part, it was glowing blue and the chill that speed under his skin was burning him. It felt like his insides were getting frostbite which didn’t seem possible, but of course with these two demons nothing should surprise him. At some point he passed out and he didn’t bother to fight it.
********
Macaque lost track of how long the routine continued; it was impossible to tell, and he’d made the disturbing discovery that his wounds weren’t healing, and they should’ve been. The amount of bleeding cuts was starting to soak his fur, sure they weren’t fatal, but the number of times he’d received the cuts and stab wounds was a bit concerning. It was because of whatever sealing spells they were using he was sure of that. Apparently it was suppressing more than his shadow magic… He was starting to get weaker and dizzy which wasn’t helping his possibilities of escape. It took more effort to stay awake no matter how hard he tried to fight it. The sudden disappearance of the chains holding him was only noticed when he fell to the ground not even having the awareness to catch himself.
“Oops…”
Macaque looked up and glared, if a look could kill the thrall would be burning to ashes. Though the other was clearly amused at his anger and not the least bit intimidated by the shadow user which was infuriating. If he had access to his powers he’d show him a thing or two about being afraid of him. The only reason he got caught was because he’d been taken by surprise, and he wasn't going to be careless and allow it to happen again.
“Our lady requires your presence.”
Macaque barely bit the sarcastic reply off about her not being ‘his lady’. Taking a deep breath as he stood up if only for what remained of his dignity and pride to not be dragged there. Focusing subtly on his magic, which was coming back slightly if not slowly. Okay that was a good sign he could wait for an opening and escape. He didn’t think it was enough yet for a stable shadow portal, but hopefully it would take long enough to get out of this dungeon to get more energy back.
Sometimes he wondered how much bad karma he had accumulated in this life and his former when as soon as the thought left his head he was dropped through a portal that wasn’t one of his own making. Letting out a surprised yelp as he fell through it and landed on his knees on the top of what he assumed was the Bone Mech that they had stolen his lanturn for. Now he knew why Wukong would get so annoyed when he would suddenly drop him through his portals when they were still living on Flower Fruit Mountain, before the Brotherhood and the mess with the Jade Emperor.
It had been to tease Wukong back then though, and this wasn’t to tease him he knew that. It was merely to toy and humiliate him, make him feel as powerless and weak as possible. Well the joke was on them he might be weakened right now, but he wasn’t helpless. Even as he stood up and brushed the dirt from his pants, catching sight of his surroundings. Megaopolis was covered in ice and bone. Clearly the Lady Bone Demon had been busy even as he felt the chill of her presence creeping down his neck turning around keeping his expression as neutral as possible.
“You’ve been busy…don’t know what you need to see me for, it looks like you already won.” Macaque stated even as he watched the floating demon glare down at him.
His magic wasn’t back enough for his portals and he needed an exit now he knew she was about to do something. He had to think, transforming didn’t take as much magic or power he could probably manage that.
“I need you to bring me the Monkey King and his successor.” The Lady Bone Demon stated ignoring the fact that the dark-furred simian had even spoke.
“Yeah no thanks. Even with your lovely hospitality these last few days, think I’m going to have to pass on that.” Macaque said with a tiny nervous smirk a far cry from the confident one he had wanted to present even as he felt sweat form on his brow. It was now or never.
“You are under the illusion I am giving you a choice..”
Before the other could react Macaque shifted into his bird form and launched into the air. It was just his luck that he couldn't completely avoid the spike of ice that shot out at him, getting him on the shoulder above his wing piercing through him. Thanking the little luck he had that hadn’t gotten pinned and managed to rip himself off the spike with his claws pushing away. Though it hurt he kept flying as far and fast as he could. The blood leaking from the wound was concerning and the movement was making it go faster, but he couldn’t stop moving not until he was somewhere far away and safe.
********
Macaque didn’t know how long he’d been flying, but his blood kept dripping and his wing was starting to turn a shade of red to match the leaking liquid. The dizziness was starting setting in too. He needed somewhere safe to land… The shadow user was starting to lose focus even as his hidden ears subconsciously picked up voices, and not fully aware that was the way he was going…
*********
“So where exactly do we start looking for these rings anyway?” MK asked, tilting the map the Monkey King had brought upside down in confusion. He couldn’t understand it even as Tang snatched it out of his hands after he was done narrating his diary entry, Though he didn’t exactly like the reminder of losing his staff to the Lady Bone Demon.
“Well…um…” Monkey King started as he winced as Mei tightened the bandage around the simian’s head. “I think this is a good general direction.” He stated waving his hand in a circle to three pairs of skeptical looks and an eye roll from Pigsy.
“Come on Tang, maybe Sandy will have an idea how to read this thing.” He muttered, dragging the human behind him.
“I’m going to help them.” Mei stated excusing herself from the somewhat smiling, she figured if anybody was going to get anything out of the Monkey King it was MK.
MK looked at Monkey King again and Wukong just gave him his best smile even as he started feeling a touch nervous. “Don’t worry kid, it will all work out!” He stated attempting his best at reassurance even if things didn’t exactly look the best at the moment.
He was always more the improvising type, and this wasn’t really a situation that they could do that. He had a vague plan, but it wasn’t a fully set out one. That had always been more Macaque’s thing, planning things step by step.
Wukong mentally cursed himself wondering why he was thinking of his former friend now of all times? Maybe it could be chalked up to something like comedic timing or irony as soon as the thought left his head a loud crash between the two of them. Well it would be just like Macaque to have a dramatic entrance. Though that wasn’t a purposeful landing since the groan from the dark-furred monkey conveyed it had been at least somewhat painful.
“Macaque?” MK asked both confused and worried.
“What are you doing here?” Wukong asked in a suspicious voice as he folded his arms ready to be on the defensive if the other decided to attack.
“Oh you know, I just decided to visit my favorite student.” Macaque muttered though his voice sounded weaker than normal.
It was then Wukong took the time to actually observe the other smelling the blood before locating the others bleeding shoulder and his eyes widened. That wasn’t the only wound either various stabs and cuts. Somebody had beaten the warrior up and MK was running forward before the gold-furred monkey could warn him to be cautious this was still Macaque after all injuries or not.
“What happened to you!?” MK frantically asked the caring kind-hearted kid that he was which Wukong loved, but at the same time could lead to getting himself in danger.
“Nothing too bad…Really I’m fine….” Macaque started to say promptly falling forward passing out ruining his attempt at trying to minimize his injuries as the human caught him,
Wukong wasn’t worried, he wasn't, he only worried about how this would make things more complicated. Nope he wasn’t worried about his former friend at all. Maybe if he repeated it enough times to himself it wouldn’t sound like a blatant lie.