Chapter Text
Wukong was winning. Like the stubborn, idiotic, stupid, idiot– he said that already, right?– he was. Macaque knew he could. He always seemed to win, and Macaque would know.
But Macaque wasn't there for Wukong.
No, he was keeping an eye on the equally stubborn successor of the Monkey King's. Who just couldn't seem to stay away. More similarities Macque couldn't help but notice between them. Mk was proving to be more like the warrior than he thought, and that annoyed him to no end. The kid was as smart as he was stupid. Stubborn as much as he simply refused to give up. Well, it's the same thing, but still. Macaque couldn't stand it.
And despite all the hatred in his heart, or the way he wanted to just leave forever and be done with all of it, he still found his way back. He always did, just like the kid.
Macaque had found himself lurking close by when that dragon girl had controlled the fire, watching as the kid had grabbed his friend and refused to let her go. And then found himself watching as she left, and then Wukong– when had he ever stayed?–
And now, he found himself watching as a hawk, flying close by to the battlefield. He watched as Wukong's fist slammed into the mayor guy– deserved. Macaque found himself smiling a little at that one. He watched Mk help that guy anyway, which made him roll his eyes. And watched as they continued to watch the fight nervously.
Then everything was quiet. Mk was asking an equally nervous, yet more composed Nezha what was happening.
Macaque saw a flash of blue light. Wukong was screaming, already on his cloud. Nezha had summoned lotus petals, but they weren't fast enough.
Nothing was. Macaque couldn't even summon a portal.
That flash got closer, and Macaque felt everything move so slow it was like everything was in slow-motion.
He de-transformed.
The flash was almost there, so close, yet Macaque could see it clearly. A sharp, almost sword-like spear of ice, going straight towards Mk, aiming for his chest. Right on his heart.
He wouldn't survive that. Mk's powers weren't enough to block it, nor did he have all the immortality like his mentor did. He wouldn't survive. Wukong would surely lose his mind. Macaque knew enough that even if Macaque had barely meant anything to the moron, this kid did. This kid meant everything. He'd go crazy, tear apart the world. He'd go more mad than he'd ever gone.
The kid wouldn't get to know that his friend, the dragon girl, was alright. Or that she was carefully being trained by Redson. Macaque had found himself checking on that as well, unable to convince himself that it wasn't his problem. This wasn't his problem, but... the image of the kid, laying on the ground, impaled through the heart, eyes empty, and dead before Wukong would even try to reach him. The image made him feel like throwing up now. It always did. Macaque never wanted to care, to keep a close eye on someone he swore he hated. But yet he found himself pushing the kid just hard enough, in the only way he could to unlock his powers more. He couldn't help but check to make sure he was breathing with his ears before forcing the release of the Samadhi fire.
So, he wasn't all too surprised when he couldn't stop himself from moving faster than he ever had before.
And, like he always did, he got in the way.
That blue flash slammed into him, going straight through his chest, just barely dodging his heart. It didn't matter, though. He knew what he'd just done.
He hated that he didn't care.
"Macaque!"
Macaque snapped out of his daze, suddenly gasping for air that refused to enter his lungs. He didn't need to breathe, but he found himself trying anyway. He stumbled on his feet before slamming into the ground, coughing blood.
Everything was so blurry, so quickly. And so painful. He had landed on his back, the edge of the spear of ice digging into the ground and pinning him there. His eyes felt glazed over. And he was now fully aware that his glamors to cover the fact that he only had one eye had fallen. His body already lost the energy to keep it up.
So many voices... so loud. His six ears were pinned to his skull from all the noise. But he tried to pick out the voices anyway.
Wukong was screaming. Mk was, too. He didn't know where Nezha was. Or the Lady Bone Demon. He couldn't feel her presence anymore anyway. She'd likely already left like the coward, she refused to admit she was. That's why she chose him. Cowards knew other cowards. Knew how to use that fact against them.
His thoughts slowed, too tired to think properly.
Plus, there were hands pulling the ice out of his chest. He screamed. The pain was unlike anything, not even like his first death. At least Wukong had made it quick. But this, this was unbearable. He could feel the small amount of immortality trying to stich his wounds together, but her magic stopped it.
His screams were partly gargled, and he grabbed onto someone's arm, the one pulling the ice out of his body.
"I know, I know– Macaque, keep your eyes open!" Wukong. It was Wukong doing all that pulling. Jerk. You know that won't help, why bother?
"Macaque, dammit, open your eyes!" Be quiet. You're so loud, asshole. Stupidly, he did open his eyes. Or, lone eye, but it opened just enough to see them. Mk was there too, of course he would be. The kid was too kind, even to someone like him. I hurt you so much, just go. Don't waste your care on me.
He was crying, too.
Too?
Wukong was crying. He looked pissed, scowling at the wound in Macaques chest as if that would make it heal. Macaque shifted his eye to Mk again, moving his other hand to grab Mk's hand that was hovering around. He looked scared and terrified and was crying so hard. Macaques heart burst. He let out a loud sob when Macaques hand grabbed his, shaking so hard he might as well cause an earthquake. Mk shook his head violently.
"No, no, no! Macaque, why are you here!? Why did you–" Mk moved to grab Macaques hand with his other one, clasping his hand in his hands, letting out heartbreaking cries. Macaque felt his own face become wet around his eyes, then down his temples.
"Kid..."
"No! No– you can't, you–" Mk gripped Macaques hand so tight he would've winced. But he didn't even have the energy for that. Each breath caused him to cough blood.
Wukong was trying to do something. A spell, he thinks. But it wasn't working, so Macaque looked at him again, moving the hand that was grabbing Wukongs sleeve to grab his wrist.
"Stop..." Macaque wheezed, and Wukong looked like he'd been punched. Wukong shook his head this time. Macaque growled, though it came out weak and grabbed Wukongs scarf.
"Stop... you– know it won't work... stop."
Wukong pulled Macaques hand off and gripped it hard between his own, resting his forehead against Macaques knuckles.
"No– you're not dying! Monkey King, you have to do something! Pleasepleasepleaseplease–" Mk cried. Macaque felt himself cry more.
"Kid... it's okay–" Macaques voice came out so weak, he could barely hear himself. Wukong let out a sob.
"NO! It's not okay! How is this okay!? I was– I was going to find you! Convince you to help us! Then we were gonna hang out and- and eat noodles! And– I'll make you come to hangouts! No! No, no, nononono!" Mk let go of Macaques hand and dropped his head against Macaques uninjured stomach, letting out screaming cries, weakly hitting his clenched fists against his stomach, screaming in fury now.
"Get up! Macaque! Macaque, get up!"
Macaque felt Wukongs thumbs rubbing along his fingers. Huh. Macaque didn't want to think about what Wukongs tears did to him. Or how they made him cry more. Instead, he focused on making sure Mk knew something.
His hand went to Mks hair, "I would've... done that. You'd convince me... sorry... I'm sorry–"
"Apologize later! MONKEY KING HELP ME–!" Mk screamed. He lifted his head, hands pressing against the hole in Macaques chest. Macaque's hand moved to Mk's face, knuckles shaking, wiping his face from the tears that kept falling anyway. He looked so sad. It broke Macaques' heart. He hated how soft he was for this kid. Not now, though. He had things he needed to say.
"M-Macaque, please..." Mk whispered. Macaque tried to give a smile, but it was wonky from the feel of his face not working with him.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry..." he wheezed. Mk hiccuped, tears flowing like a river. "I wanted... I wanted to stop. I didn't want to fight you– none of you. Scared... I couldn't stop being afraid. And angry... I'm so angry... I don't know how to be anything else anymore." He spared another look for Wukong.
Wukong shook his head slowly, meeting his eye, face melted by tears. "I hate you... don't do this... why would you do this?"
Macaque felt his smile soften, "I'm faster than you..." he wheezed again, feeling the last bits of his energy fail faster. "Sorry... Meant to kick your ass... just a little." Wukong let out a choked cry, resting his head against their combined hands again.
"Dammit... I'm sorry... I hate you! Fuck!" He rubbed his forehead against Macaques hand. Macaque let out a strangled laugh. He looked at Mk.
He had just a moment. He could feel it already.
"I would've done anything... to be worth your forgiveness. You're a good kid. So good." His free hand grabbed Mk's hand as hard as it could. "Don't you dare, let her make you think otherwise. You punch Wukong a little for me... for pulling this stunt, and then you kick her ass for me, too."
Mk's tears kept coming, but Macaque kept that small smile anyway. "Do that yourself... you're immortal, too... you gotta get up‐ you have to get up. Please–"
"I'm not immortal enough, kiddo. But I'll be alright. This was worth it... Wukong picked the right kid. You'll be okay..." Macaque coughed, blood pooling from his mouth. The hole in his chest had already created a bigger pool under them. He'd hope they wouldn't get too much blood on their clothes. They had a fight to win. Macaque hates that he won't get to see it.
Macaque fought for the last words, gripping Mk's hand, as well as Wukongs, both of their attention on him now. "Get that staff... you take it back, and you both make her regret all this shit." He felt heavy, more heavy than just seconds ago.
"Then... then... I can finally not be angry anymore... I trust you, kiddo. You can do this..."
His eye started to close. He felt Wukong pull one hand away and rested it over Macaques heart, "Don't worry... you don't have to be angry anymore." He said, whispering, but Macaque could hear his sobs. Mk's, too. Mk was crying so loud, and he could feel Mk's head fall to his shoulder.
"We'll handle everything. I'll make sure everyone else knows you made sure to save Mk. That you did this. They'll know."
Macaque smiled again, letting out a soft, wheezing chuckle, "Yeah... yeah, okay..." he felt his hands go lax, his breathing become labored until it slowed.
This was a good death. He wasn't angry anymore. All of it was gone now. All that was left was relief. Mk was going to be alright. Wukong would keep a better eye on him now. He was absolutely sure of that. And the Lady Bone Demon would get what was left of that anger he had. She'd know it all. And that was enough for him.
He forced his hand that Wukong held to squeeze one more time. "Don't leave him alone... he needs you."
"I won't. It's okay, I got him, Mac. You stupid, selfish idiot." Macaque felt that hand on his heart, and he let out a deep sigh. Comforted, stupidly comforted by those words. Like he always had been before all of this. Before their fight so long ago. Before the Lady Bone Demon. And before this.
He could go.
And so he let go. And he felt his body go still before his consciousness left. And when that went, he fell into it, knowing hopefully Wukong and the stubborn brat would handle everything else.
_____
It was so bright. Even with his eye closed, it was bright enough that everything was almost white.
"Six-earred Macaque."
Who? He didn't recognize this voice. But it was soft, almost motherly. Gentle enough that Macaque eased instantly. He couldn't open his eye to see, couldn't move. His body was still so heavy.
"I am sorry. This might be confusing when you awaken, but with time, I hope you will understand why they need you."
Need me? No one needs me.
"This is one final chance. If you truly want redemption, then you must fight."
I've been fighting my whole life. I don't understand.
And redemption? He already threw all that away? Why give him another chance? What was happening?
His ears were ringing.
"I have hope for you. So I will send you where you need to be. They need you. And perhaps... you will find what you need as well."
His ears felt like they were going to explode, but his body didn't react. He could barely feel it other than the simple observation. There was no real pain from it.
A hand touched his forehead, and he gasped.
_____
Macaque instinctively grabbed his chest. His lone eye flew open. It was dark, the sky a deep blue color, covered in clouds.
His hand pat around his chest. There was a hole in his clothes, but not in his chest. There was no blood, either. Macaque glanced down, seeing that it was true. There was nothing there. But he could still feel the pain from it. It hit him all at once, and he gasped, coughing only dry air. He rolled to his side to catch his breath. He groaned, pressing his face into the dirt, panting.
"Fuck..." he grunted, pushing his hips up, moving his knees until he pushed himself up to sit on his knees. He coughed a few more times, blinking slowly to give his eye more time to adapt and not be weighted anymore.
Macaque slowly moved his hands to trace his features. He still had both arms, both legs, the scar over his right eye, and that same eye was still gone. He tugged a piece of hair in front of his good eye, seeing that the white streaks were still there from when the Lady Bone Demons power had corrupted him.
His scarf had a hole in it, something he'd have to patch at some point.
He huffed, pushing off his knees to stand on his feet. He stumbled a little, catching himself with a nearby tree. His body felt so heavy still. Well, he did just die. Again.
He shook his head, lightly shoving off the tree and turning around to see his surroundings. He was close to a mountain range and could see it a bit in the distance.
Macaque paused. The feeling of her aura filling his body with dread. Seriously? Again?
Maybe it was a habit to somehow always run towards something stupid, but he did anyway. He tried to reason to himself that this way, he'd figure out what happened to him. He didn't have an incredibly sad, painful death, just to die again because those idiots couldn't defeat the Lady Bone Demon.
Had she somehow brought him back again?
No... that voice... it wasn't her. She never sounded so gentle, so kind.
He summoned a portal, falling into it easily. He wouldn't run into whatever was going on. But he'd watch for information.
He drifted up the mountain range until he reached just close enough to listen in. He could hear her, her voice sending shivers down his spine. But he didn't falter. He refused to this time.
"Apologies. But I do need these powers you've both were so gracious to gift me. It was unfortunate that I had to force you to hand them over, but no matter. Destiny can not be denied for long." She said, in that sickly sweet way she always said things. Like she was righteous in what she did. Macaque clenched his teeth so hard his fang cracked then repaired moments later.
He slipped further into his shadows, drifting to a patch of shade near the clearing that blue aura she was emitting. He could see her now. She was the same, using that random little girl as a vessel, floating in the air, her ice encasing almost everything.
His eye moved to who she was speaking to, and he felt the air leave his lungs.
It was Wukong. And Mk. But also not. Wukongs hair was a darker color, almost brown. But most importantly, his eyes were a deep shade of red with gold pupils. He was a bit taller. Macaque was always taller than Wukong, but now Wukong looked almost– if not as tall as him. He wore something a bit different than his armor, his scarf more of a cape like Macaques. And Mk, Mk looked nearly the same, but his eyes were more gold. Maybe being Wukongs successor rubbed off more on him now. His headband was still that same red color but instead had the circlet embroidered, stitched into the fabric.
Macaque didn't want to remember that much, so he looked back at Wukong, seeing yet another detail. Wukong was hunched over, his left hand gripping over his side, like he'd just been hit. She must've stolen his powers.
Macaque blinked a few times. His foggy mind finally cleared just enough to realize.
This wasn't his world.
This wasn't his Wukong, nor was this the Mk he knew.
Macaque's shadows flaltered. He collected himself just before he accidently gave himself away. Now he knew what that voice meant by "send you where you need to go." She sent him to another world! A completely other universe–
"Now, child, I need yours as well. Don't fight. You will not win." The Lady Bone Demon broke him out of his inward spiral. He inwardly growled, moving closer, ignoring the ear flick from this Wukong who seemed to be much more sharp than... Macaque huffed, getting closer.
Macaque glanced around more, spotting the stolen staff behind the witch.
Many, many years ago, he had been worthy to wield the very weapon Wukong had used to kill him. But he hadn't tried to lift it again when he returned. He had done too many things. Hurt so many people. Mk, that dragon girl, Tang, Sandy, Wukong...
He had no idea and very high doubt that this worlds staff would answer to him. But then again, this world doesn't seem to know him. And if it does, it doesn't know of all of his mistakes.
He pushed his shadows towards the staff. Even the staff was different. It was more gold than red, engraved with markings along the length of it. He bit the inside of his cheek. If it didn't work, then he'd do something else. But he had to try. She was distracted now. He would notice him sooner or later. He'd prefer the latter.
"Now..." she said softly, lifting her hand, aiming it towards the kid. This kid– Macaque pushed forward until his bunch of shadow magic was in front of the staff.
He could hear the whispers of her powers, the sharp little voices infecting everything around her. Macaque had to do it now. This was all so fast. He'd barely been alive for just a few minutes, and already, he was acting like the kid. And Wukong.
Wukong was such a bad influence.
He slowly rose out of the shadows, back turned to the unknowing witch. He could feel the gaze of the particularly... intimidating Wukong staring at the back of his head. He ignored it, reaching out until his fingers wrapped out one of the golden ends of the staff. Something pulsated beneath his skin. He clenched his eyes closed as the Lady Bone Demon turned to him.
"What–"
Please. I will not be cruel. She will destroy everything. Just this once, I'll protect this stupid kid. I'll help him.
Please!
The staff shook beneath his hand, his power starting to shoot off in Shockwaves. He pulled, moving his other hand to it, too.
He didn't even know what happened until he was met face to face with her. The staff was just barely blocked by a spell, some sort of force field. The force of the impact had sent nearby boulders flying, the ground to crack, and the two behind them had been pushed back by the blast.
Macaque sent a deep growl, eyes glaring into hers. Before she could speak, he twisted, trying again and just barely missing as she teleported further away. He swung and smashed the ice sent his way. No way was he dying to those things again. It hurt, dammit.
He had to figure out a way for the three of them to get out of there. Macaque could hold her off, but for how long? Would this Mk figure out how to defeat her before time ran out? Would this Wukong be able to protect him? Macaque couldn't wait around for an answer, so he listened.
He was sure, no matter the world, Mk would still have those friends of his. Did this dragon girl also have the Samadhi fire? Or did this Wukong not fuck up and did the ritual right? He didn't know. He caught one of the spears of ice– painfully similar to the one she had used, that pierced him through the chest– he crushed it in his hand. He was finally cut free from her contract. She had dulled many of his powers when she had resurrected him the first time. He was finally getting back to his true strength.
This was all so impossibly ridiculous that he couldn't help but laugh, a loud, angry laugh. He was so pissed, but this time, he'd do what he'd been wanting to do from the start.
He sent the staff flying towards the ground, hitting the ground in front of the kid. He glanced back at him, ignoring the spears of ice sent his way again. She was speaking, but he didn't have time for her just yet.
"Lose that again, and I'm taking it from both of you." His voice echoed across the mountains. This Mk nodded quickly, looking shocked and terrified at the same time. He wrapped his arms around the staff, cradling it tightly to his chest. Macaque caught another spear, crushing that one too.
He held up his own spell, the force field blocking her attacks before they could even get remotely close to him. His body wasn't used to his full power anymore. But he was second to no one, but the Wukong he had known. He was powerful enough that the only reason he had lost that day was due to the fact he had hesitated. His body hesitated, like it always had with Wukong. He wouldn't have won either way, Wukong was too immortal, and Macaque wasn't.
But this Wukong had his powers stolen. If something happened, if this one saw him as a threat, he could leave. He wouldn't try to hurt him. The kid was watching. And frankly, he was really tired of taking things out on the poor kid. Even if this wasn't the Mk he had come to stubbornly care about despite his best effort to kick him into another mountain.
"You're friends. Where?" He spoke, using his arm to block her attacks. She was yelling now.
Mk jumped at the attention put back on him, giving a glance towards Wukong, like he was making sure it was alright to trust him. Wukong looked at Mk, then Macaque, and nodded slowly.
Mk gasped, talking quickly, "Behind us! Far away, they–"
Macaque's– un-glamored, he realized now. He'd have to fix that in a second– ears flickered, searching for the sound of the group he'd also come to find amusing.
It didn't take long to pick them out, ever the loud bunch they were. They were further away a few miles back, talking worriedly amongst themselves about whether or not to join Wukong and Mk.
Macaque looked back at the two below, "Don't freak out."
"Huh–?" Mk was cut off by a sharp, surprised gasp when tendrils of shadow wrapped around him, pulling him into a portal. He did the same to Wukong before the red-eyed Sage could do anything about it.
When they were gone, he took down his defense against the Lady Bone Demons attacks and shot off to the ground, sending her a grin before dropping into his own. He appeared on the other side, ignoring the small stumble in his step. He'd done too much. He had just come back alive. It made sense that his body would be pissed at him for doing so many things at once. The energy in his body was screaming.
The group was there. All of them did, in fact, look the same. Except for small details that differed. The big blue guy's hair was a darker orange, having gills on the sides of his head and small fins. The pig demon looked a bit taller, just enough to be close to this Mk's height, but still much shorter than the man beside him. Tang still had those big glasses, yet he wore a lighter color of his outfit that Macaque remembers. There was a cat, though. He didn't remember any cat...
Oh! Yes! He had a brief moment before copying the van. He'd spotted the cat then.
And the dragon girl was here too. Her hair was a bit longer. There were small, a bit long green-ish white dragon horns coming from her head, and she had a tail, too. They were all so similar, yet completely different.
And they were all staring at him.
He scoffed, "You're welcome." He said before collapsing, the energy he had used finally hitting him all at once.
He decided that he'd deal with this whole... thing later. For now, he was going to take a well-deserved nap.