"This is pretty close to what you usually wore," MK mumbled to himself, shuffling around clothes for the king. Wukong had been in his pajamas for two nights and a day, which according to Macaque made him stink terribly. Which, fair, so the brunette was trying to find clothes that would match Wukong in his current state.

Because he wasn't Monkey King. Not the one they lost, anyway, which made MK hate the idea of simply handing Wukong the same clothes he used to wear. So he was digging through other clothing items, trying to pick something decent.

"Oh, this could work," MK hummed hopefully. He held up a teal scarf, a pale yellow top, and then threw down a pair of black pants. He stared at them for a moment longer before grimacing, "It's missing something." Wukong didn't respond, never did, simply staring blankly at MK as the brunette glared at the neat stacks of clothing. Yanking out a white sash to tie around the loose parts of the top, MK grinned.

"Put this stuff on, yeah?" As soon as MK gave the command, the king moved, pulling off his pajamas without a single thought.

"Oh, we should make sure everything's picked up, too. DBK and his family are coming over," MK nodded to himself, eyeing the clutter inside the room. The rest of the hut wasn't as badly disorganized, he and the others had cleaned up some. But some more tidiness wouldn't hurt. "Are you ready, Monkey King?" MK smiled hopefully despite knowing his question wouldn't be answered.

---

The king stared openly at the Demon Bull King, analyzing him the same way Wukong analyzed everyone. The bull spoke with a deep voice, he and his family were openly welcomed, he was well-known by the others, and something within Wukong recognised him before burying itself away. He concluded the Demon Bull King family were allies.

And they were tempted to analyze him themselves.

"You need to listen to what they need you to do, okay, Monkey King?" MK smiled at his mentor, the expression strained by worry. The king simply stared back at the boy, analyzing him the same way Wukong did with everyone. MK then stepped away, and the king's analysis fizzled away as a new person walked in front of him. A new analysis began.

Wukong was made to observe, to provide information effortlessly. That is what Wukong tended to do best, and it had been how he'd recognized MK's powers as familiar while labeling the boy as kind. As well as how he'd known MK wanted the cold within him gone even without saying anything. However, the brunette still stumped the Monkey King's information gathering. The Demon Bull King, however, was an open book to him.

The Demon Bull King was a powerful ally of the Monkie Kid. He is powerful and temperamental with a strong sense of familiarity. And he was once a vessel for the Lady Bone Demon, a puppet less developed in comparison to Wukong.

"Seems you have gotten yourself in quite the predicament, Simian," Demon Bull King murmured, voice stern yet curious. Wukong simply continued to stare, unresponsive as the bull king had him sit down on the ground. His wife and son moved around Wukong, eyes sharp as he stared ahead, picking up small bits of information whenever they came into view.

Princess Iron Fan was strong, loyal, and could hold quite the temper. But she was also intelligent and fair, doing whatever was possible in order to benefit those she cared for. She used a fan that could create powerful, devastating winds. Her son was not too different from her, ignoring the fact his intelligence was used differently and how his temper raged more fervently than his mother's. He used flames only he could produce, and was the creator of the Samadhi Fire.

"Give me your hands," Red Son suddenly commanded, and Wukong did so without hesitation, shoving his hands into the redhead's. The Bull Prince scrunched his nose in distaste, turning over the frostbitten fingers to observe them carefully. "...Well, unfortunately, the monkey isn't the perfect picture of health." The scowling demon pulled away from Wukong's hands, and the king let them drop onto the floor.

"And you said he followed your commands first?" Princess Iron Fan asked pointedly at MK. The young hero winced, "...Yeah. He only really listens to me unless I tell him to listen to other people." The woman mumbled something beneath her breath, eyes narrowing as she stared at Wukong in the eyes. "And you had to change the name he believed was his as well?" It was silent for a moment, and this time Tang made a noise of confirmation.

"His identity is lost, then," Princess Iron Fan declared, although not unkindly. "At least, it is for now. This is not the Monkey King from before, but someone else." MK made a pained sound, skidding to the floor in front of his sitting mentor. The boy's eyes were glossy, and his lip was wobbling, not at all formed into a smile. Wukong stared back, still unable to complete an analysis of MK.

"So what do we do?" Mei asked out loud, moving to plop down beside her best friend.

Mei Dragon was loud, a descendant of the Dragon of The West. She was energetic, loyal, fierce, temperamental, and powerful. She used a blade to fight, one passed down from generation to generation. Current holder of the Samadhi Fire.

Conversations were held as Wukong registered Mei's analysis for the day, his mind consuming the information for whenever his Commander needed it. Then he once again tried to complete MK's profile, but information refused to make sense, refused to fit together. 'Human with the powers of a Celestial Primate' did not register correctly. Unfortunately, his lack of thoughts meant Wukong had to simply accept the gaps of information and continue his attempts another time.

"Simian, you must take care of yourself," Demon Bull King patted Wukong on the head, and the monkey did not move. "Soon you will regain pieces of yourself, but you must never force what is not there." Registering the command, the king watched blankly as the family left, swearing they would drop by again soon.

A familiar hand grabbed onto one of Wukong's. "How about we go take a walk, Monkey King? Maybe we'll run into Sandy and Bai He." MK smiled at his mentor, pulling him along since his words were a suggestion. Wukong walked practically robotically, letting the boy lead him through the foliage decorating Flower Fruit Mountain.

"Y'know...Macaque left this morning to find some information," MK began, "and then the Demon Bull Family came since they could figure some stuff out. Isn't that nice? Not being enemies anymore, I mean." Wukong carefully shuffled over a branch, not caring if another twig snagged his sleeve. "They said you...wouldn't be yourself anymore. You'll be different even when we figure out how to help you! I-I don't want that."

Emotions were radiating from MK, strong and heavy.

Monkeys leapt onto Wukong, carefully moving along his shoulders. MK smiled softly at the monkeys, reaching up to pet them gently. "They miss you, too. Why can't you just come back?" Wukong tilted his head minutely as a monkey climbed on top of his head. The king analyzed the small subjects, his information the same as the day before when he'd first seen them.

"Hey, guys!" MK beamed, waving a hand out as Sandy and Bai He greeted them back. Wukong stared at the pair, the sun shining on his face as he stood out of the trees' shadows. It warmed his cooling skin, and the king was reminded of his goal of purging the cold within his veins. Wukong did not bother to listen as the trio in front of him talked, instead tilting his head upwards to capture more sunlight.

Closing his eyes to protect against the sun's harsh light, the king recategorized his analysis of himself.

He was powerful, a king of monkeys from what everyone called him. He was loyal to MK, the hero who held his actions within his hands. Thoughts and emotions were absent, and his body was the perfect weapon. It was within his purpose to remove the freezing magic that had created the puppet. He did not use his throat to speak, but instead his ability to complete commands without question.

"Come on, Monkey King, we're heading back now," MK called out, and Wukong opened his eyes once more.

Seeing the world was...strange, for lack of a better word. Wukong lacked the ability to feel, to think. And yet he found himself turning away from the scenery with difficulty, as if something inside him yearned for the grass beneath shoeless feet. Wanting the sky above his head, wishing for the breeze blowing around his body.

He moved like lead, stiff and slow as Wukong walked along the root and branch-covered ground. A monkey lounged on Wukong's head, tiny hands brushing through the king's curls. Wukong continued to walk despite his body wanting to freeze on the spot, instincts curving with the small subject's grooming.

---

Macaque stared at the king, his gaze settling heavily against Wukong's too-blue eyes. "Same thing the Demon Bull King Family told you, bud. The Wukong we knew is apparently gone." His tone was spiteful, disbelieving. MK turned towards his mentor with a crushed expression, hurt flashing across his face like a whip.

Wukong felt his hands wanting to twitch, waiting for a command to correct his analysis on his Commander's feelings. Macaque clenched his teeth, canines peeking out from stretched lips, "Tell him to go back. Tell him to be himself again!" MK glanced sharply over at the warrior, hesitation in his eyes as his bottom lip quivered.

"Go back, Monkey King. Go back to being yourself!"

Wukong twitched, shuddering once before going stock-still. He stared blankly at MK and at Macaque, the warrior's eyes widening with a dawning sort of grief. "He isn't Sun Wukong," he whispered hoarsely. Tears leaked down MK's face as he shakingly hesitated, "Nod if you are Sun Wukong. Shake your head if you are Monkey King."

He nodded once, the motion robotic and stern.

MK fell to his knees, shoulders shaking silently, "No, you aren't Champion. Your name is Monkey King! There's more to your name than Sun Wukong." Wukong shuddered again, his previously gifted name resurfacing in his deleted memories before stumbling back as 'Monkey King' imbedded itself. Macaque remained silent, his eyes betraying nothing as he turned and left.

The king watched silently, feeling the sunlight that managed to get inside through the windows as they warmed the right upper side of his body. It helped keep the cold back, forcing warmth to run along his skin. He allowed his eyes to fall shut, not needing them to remain open at the moment. MK continued to cry, the noise blending into the depths of the sage's dormant mind.

---

"Are you okay?" Sandy prodded carefully, glancing down at MK.

The boatman had gotten up in the night for a quick drink and had instead found MK sitting alone on one of the counters. The young man flinched, bottom lip trembling as he shook his head. Sandy carefully crept closer, slowly bringing the young hero into a warm embrace. They stayed like that for a few minutes before Sandy spoke up.

"Is it about Monkey King?" He tilted his head, observing MK as he nodded stiffly. The brunette inhaled shakily, "He's not coming back. Not who we knew before, anyway." He grabbed the hem of his pajama shirt, twisting it harshly. "He could regain his memories, and still never come back again. He'll be someone else. Someone different." Sandy nodded, humming thoughtfully for a moment.

"Did you know people like to renew their vows every decade or so?" He abruptly asked, and MK frowned. "What? What's that gotta do with anything?" Sandy smiled in amusement, "They renew their vows, because over the years the person they married changed. They renew their vows, because who they married is a different person versus their past selves." MK blinked owlishly, looking away sheepishly, "...Oh."

"Everyone changes, MK. It's just more noticeable when you haven't been around each other for a long while, if they lose their memories, or...well, what Monkey King's got going on. It isn't a slow change, so it feels...heavier. Right?" Sandy asked gently, and MK nodded with glossy eyes. "I would've liked to have his...old self around for a while longer. Before he changed into someone new."

"That is understandable, MK," Sandy nodded, gesturing slightly, "but he's still Monkey King. He's been turned into a thing, not a person. And it's up to us to help him find himself, even if they're someone we don't know yet."

MK smiled softly, wiping his eyes, "And if it still hurts?" Sandy exhaled gently, "Then you mourn, MK. Even if the person is alive, it doesn't mean you can't still lose someone. It doesn't mean someone didn't die off. You can absolutely mourn someone you miss, even if they are technically still breathing." MK hummed thoughtfully, gazing down at his hands for a few moments before hopping off of the counter.

"Thanks, Sandy. You're a good friend." He smiled gratefully, and Sandy chuckled. "I try my best, MK. Go rest now, I bet you're pretty tired." The brunette gave his friend a thumbs-up before leaving for the living room. Sandy watched him go, exhaling softly as he got his drink for the night.