MK pointed, yelling out in excitement, "There it is! The last ring!"

A giant lantern rested in the middle of the city, glowing brilliantly. Sandy put down the flyer, standing behind MK and the others as they looked out into the city. Wukong grimaced, however, as everyone laughed loudly with their loud toys and entertainment.

Why the hell did they think he threw a gift at them?

Macaque hummed, rubbing his ears in annoyance, "It's loud as hell here. First, we had to take some stupid train, then everyone's screaming over a festival, and now we have to compete?" The shadow user rolled his eyes, "Nope. Scholar, you and I will snatch the ring while the others keep the crowd distracted."

Wukong paled, shaking his head. MK blinked owlishly, "...You don't like his plan? But it makes sense." Macaque smirked, "He's got stage fright, bud."

MK shrugged, "I can work with that." Wukong stared at his successor in disbelief, hissing as the young hero dragged him away.

--

Slight TW: Anxiety-induced vomit

MK painted Wukong's face carefully, moving his chin to slather on the white paint.

Red Son smirked, "Sorry, Monkey King, but I'm backstage! I am in charge of... Moving the spotlights." Wukong shuddered, praying to the heavens above Red Son wouldn't shine the lights down on him the whole time as payback.

MK clicked his tongue, straightening Wukong's costume straps, "Quit squirming! You'll smudge your face paint." The boy stepped back, grinning, "You look great! Mei, doesn't he look great?" The dragon girl turned around, looking the monkey up and down before beaming, "Aww, he's adorable!" She took out her phone, snapping numerous pictures as Wukong internally died of embarrassment.

MK sighed, "Monkey King, loosen up a bit! All you have to do is hit the gong when we're done!"

Wukong swallowed audibly, shakily picking up the instrument. What if he messed up and played too early? Or too late? What if he was so nervous he dropped it in front of everyone watching? Wukong suddenly felt anxiety bubble up violently in the pit of his stomach--

Everyone screamed in alarm as Wukong turned around, snatched a random hat, and barfed into it.

Well, at least it wasn't on stage.

--

Macaque smirked, pointing at the ring, "Alrighty! Here it is, now grab it--"

A chill rang out at the same time Pigsy's note swept out, rendering Macaque to his knees. He growled, trying to concentrate solely on the magic accumulating within the giant lantern while covering his ears. As soon as a weak gong rang out, he abruptly stood up, forming a shadow, "Tang, scram! Get out of here with the others, she's coming. GO!"

Tang jumped in without hesitation, and the shadow user quickly closed the portal as ice began to form inside the lantern's interior.

Small blue orbs of light floated around him as an icy mist swept along his feet. If he closed his eyes, he knew the blue hues of light would still shine through and imprint itself into his brain. Cold, glowing chains snagged at him, grabbing a hold of the monkey.

Macaque cried out in alarm, squirming.

"So... You were going to simply betray me. Again." A figure drifted above him, narrowing her eyes. Macaque growled, "I was trying to get the ring and lost--" The demoness held up her hand, "You were on their side the whole time. Clearly, you lack basic obedience."

The translucent chains around him suddenly began to glow vibrantly as she inched forward, holding up a blue orb of intoxicating light, "I will lend you my powers, My Champion so that you will obey."

Macaque screamed as ice pierced his skin, growing painfully out of his body as his mind grew numb.

--

Wukong pointed at the window, gesturing at a mountain peak.

Tang nodded, "That's where we release the fire, correct?" The king nodded in confirmation. Mei breathed in deeply, "Okay. Okay, this is it." Red Son sighed, trying to encourage her, "Oh, calm down, Dragon Horse Girl. You better not shame my training!" MK nodded, hugging his best friend, "Yeah! You've worked super hard! We believe in you, Mei!"

The train suddenly jolted, and Wukong glared up at the ceiling.

Without warning, he suddenly punched the ceiling, ripping open a hole and causing a figure in pink to fall in roughly.

Nezha stood up swiftly, glaring at the sage, "Wukong! Hand over the rings!" Wukong snarled, arching his back and snatching strands of his hair, holding it up threateningly. The deity paled, "Do not. Do that. AGAIN."

Tang stared in awe, "The Third Lotus Prince Nezha! Uhm, look, this is the only way we're going to defeat her..." Nezha scoffed, "No! That fire is much too dangerous! It will only doom the world!" MK glared at him, straightening his back, "Hey! Mei is a great candidate! She's going to be amazing!"

Before Nezha could answer the young hero, a stool smacked into him, sending him crashing out of a train window.

Wukong gave MK a look before jumping out, and MK huffed, "He's distracting Nezha. We need to get up there and get the ritual going!"

--

Nezha grabbed Wukong with his ribbon-like scarf, swinging him around.

He let go, sending the monkey crashing through multiple mountains. Wukong sat up, creating a sword and blatantly throwing it at the deity. Nezha barely dodged, receiving a scratch on his arm, "Sun Wukong! Hand over the rings!" He flew toward the monkey, hands reaching out--

Ice encased them, trapping them against the mountain wall.

Wukong looked around in confusion, dazed. A figure suddenly landed, and piercing blue eyes glared at them. Nezha gasped lightly, "Is that..?" Wukong's eyes widened as he chirped in distress as Macaque marched towards them.

Jagged ice grew from his arm and right chest, covering his blinded eye. His facial markings were a vibrant blue and his eyes matched the frozen shards attached to his body. His usually tanned complexion had paled, and he looked sickly.

The dark-furred monkey bent down, snatching the ring from out of Wukong's clothes, nearly tearing his poor hoodie.

The possessed shadow user held them up, examining them carefully. Nezha blinked, shaking himself from his startled state, "What did she do to you!" Macaque paid him no mind, instead, he snapped the rings. Nezha cried out in alarm as they shattered before staring in disbelief as the metal turned into orange hair.

"They were fake..?" Wukong gave him a deadpan glare before turning toward his partner, chirping.

Macaque didn't chirp back, didn't turn to face him, didn't even react.

He simply turned around and left as a beam of golden light shone. The ritual... Wukong struggled, cracking the ice desperately, screaming in distress. Nezha yelped, "Stop! Hold still, I'll get us out!" Pink petals stabbed the ice, exploding and freeing the deities.

Wukong summoned his cloud, ignoring Nezha's cries as he desperately flew toward the mountain peak.

--

Mei inhaled slowly, holding up the rings.

They floated around her, spinning gently as she felt power tug from within her, begging to be released. Flames bursted around her, swirling--

"LOOK OUT!!"

Ice shards grew from the ground, blocking off any exits. Shadows chased the group closer and closer to Mei and the Samadhi Fire, threatening to burn them. MK swallowed roughly, "Macaque? Macaque, what are you-?"

Macaque gracefully dove out of his frozen shadows, grabbing MK roughly and lifting him. Mei gasped, "She... She found out." Her distress caused the fire on her to flare as it danced near her friends. Sparks flew out, licking the shards on Macaque's frozen skin.

The shadow user flinched at the heat, but the way the ice melted did not go unnoticed.

Red Son sneered, hands glowing with heat as he reached out to touch the monkey, "What? Can't take the heat?" Macaque flinched again, wordlessly trying to move away. MK suddenly went limp, causing the possessed monkey to stumble, and the boy ducked down, kicking Macaque closer to Mei.

Macaque wordlessly shied away, beginning to dip into his shadows before Sandy grabbed him, lifting him up and defiantly placing him in front of Mei.

Macaque stood back, raising a hand to throw an attack in the form of ice--

Wukong flew into Macaque, sending them crashing at Mei's feet. Macaque finally yowled, squirming as nearly invisible blue chains snapped and the ice on his skin melted. Wukong hissed as well, silently mourning as bits of his hoodie burned. Mei grinned, patting away the freezing magic on her friend's body.

Macaque blinked wearily, lying on the ground in exhaustion. Wukong sat up slowly, hissing in pain from the small burns he'd received, his skin felt raw. He painfully walked over, standing over his partner, chirping in a strained voice.

Macaque stood up abruptly, gently cradling Wukong's injured, "Oh, your hoodie. You love that hoodie..." MK slammed into the shadow user, crying out in relief, "You're not possessed anymore!" Macaque smiled fondly, still cradling Wukong's hands, "You're right, bud. I guess that witch can't take a little bit of heat."

Mei whooped, throwing her fists up proudly, "I did it, Mac!" The dragon girl suddenly paused, taking note of everyone's ruined clothes and Wukong's burns. She looked down at her hands, feeling the violent power in her veins. A sudden thought echoed in her mind.

...Gods, she was dangerous.

She knew that, yeah, but... She hurt them. Her friends. She had even ruined the injured king's beloved clothes. And after the way she treated him... She was deadly. She...

She needed to get away.

"Mei? Hey, what-?" Mei sighed, sniffling as she looked up at MK, barely noticing how her own clothes were ruined as well, "I'm too dangerous. I... I'm not ready. I need more time, I-I'm sorry--"

Wukong held up his hands, motioning for her to calm down. He clumsily signed, wincing as he assured her 'It's okay'.

Mei let out a relieved cry, rubbing her face. Nezha frowned, "She requires more time, but we don't have that. The Lady Bone Demon will be here anytime soon!" Macaque stood up straight, "Wukong and I could steer her away momentarily, buy you some time." Nezha frowned, "Let me go with you, I can minimize damage she may cause to surrounding towns. Wukong's successor can aid me if he wishes to."

Wukong paled, shaking his head.

But MK stood firm, frowning, "I want to help. Let me help, please? I won't be in the fight, just around. Promise." Wukong squeezed his eyes shut, wishing he could argue like a normal person, to let the right words escape his lips. To warn the child to stay away.

Macaque stepped up, shaking his head, "No, you need to stay. Train with Mei and the others, this is too dangerous." Wukong sent a grateful glance at the warrior as MK frowned, "...I don't want to be useless. I want to help."

Macaque snorted, "That's the whole reason you can't come, Bud! You are super important, you're our hope. That's why you need to stay and prepare for a big battle, okay?" The young hero nodded slowly, accepting his reasoning, "Okay. Just... Just stay safe, okay..?"

Wukong held his thumbs up, smiling gently. Macaque grinned, patting the brunette's hair, "We'll be just fine, Bud."