The ink grinned, "Monkey King! Sup?"

MK turned, beaming as his mentor landed in front of him, "Back off." The fake MK stared silently, his smile sharpening, "...You know. You know, don't you?" The brunette tapped his mentor's back nervously, "Know what?" Wukong turned, giving MK his most apologetic expression.

The same one he used whenever he expressed his inability to speak of his curse.

Wukong suddenly snarled at the ink, fur raising, "He is a hero. A powerful being who brings hope and light." The ink morphed into familiar foes, listing them off, "Oh, but he is more than that. Why is it he's always the center of these tales? Of these adventures? Demon Bull King, Spider Queen, Lady Bone Demon-!"

The king barely managed to block the ink's tendrils as it laughed, "He is a HARBINGER OF CHAOS!" MK grit his teeth, swinging his staff as he darted beneath his mentor's arms, sending the ink back.

"GO AWAY!"

---

The team looked around, trying to find where the echoing voice was coming from.

Tang frowned, raising his staff, and golden beams of magic enveloped everyone. They moved through memories, searching for a way towards their missing friends.

---

MK panted, sweat sliding down his face. Wukong wasn't as run-down, but his clothes and fur were tousled and stained by the ink of their foe. The king turned slightly towards the boy, suddenly smiling, "Say, who says chaos is a bad thing? Mei is chaotic, but that only makes her fun and brave and strong! So what if you're the Harbinger of Chaos? Use it!"

The brunette beamed, feeling a flash of warmth from his mentor's pride as he suddenly morphed into many animals, his moves becoming strange and unexpected.

The ink, despite taking his form, couldn't guess the boy's next move. Wukong cheered, adding to the chaos with his own tricks, laughing as the curse was left in a daze. Amidst the confusion, Tang had managed to arrive with everyone else.

Mei immediately jumped into the fight, her brash slashes cutting away the last of the ink's defenses. MK whooped, feeling alive as his body morphed, revealing his true features to the rest of the world.

With everyone's cheers ringing in his ears, MK leaped down, staff pointed down against his fake--

"Prove us wrong if you truly are not doomed, young hero."

---

The world became bright, calm.

Only Wukong felt a twisting sense of dread. He watched his family congratulate each other, thrilled by their new weapons and discoveries. Then a beam of light shined down, revealing someone the king had been expecting.

"...Azure Lion." He turned, gazing up with tired eyes at the lion, "I see you have come to finish what you've started." MK eyed them, brows furrowed, "So you do know him..?" Tang stiffened, mumbling beneath his breath.

"He's lying, he's not our friend."

Mei bared her teeth, "We made a deal! Don't forget we--" The lion gazed at Wukong, and the king stared back. Azure raised a large paw, snapping his fingers, "Until we meet again, old friend."

MK screamed, reaching out for Wukong as Mei fought against the magic, trying to run to him. Wukong gave them a sweet smile, whispering one last reassurance.

"I'll be fine."

---

MK looked around, dazed. Azure Lion was reuniting with two new people, but he didn't care. Someone was missing.

"Where is Wukong." His tone bit into the atmosphere, interrupting the happy greetings. Mei stepped forward, snarling at the silent stares, "He asked a question, damn it." At that, the lion grimaced.

"He would put a stop to our plans. That cannot be permitted, therefore, he will remain in the scroll until our goal is complete." He held up the bamboo, Sun Wukong written in golden markings. MK felt pure rage.

He moved faster than he'd ever believed possible, kicking at the lion and clinging to his arm, "GIVE HIM BACK!" He continued to struggle, even as the eagle grabbed onto his arm. MK reared back, biting at them as his clawed hands managed to graze the tile.

Mei moved mercilessly, slashing at the eagle. Pigsy and Sandy moved as well, pushing back against the elephant. But it was all in vain.

They'd never trained, not like Mei and MK. Yellow Tusk outmatched Pigsy, Tang, and Sandy, sending them back and taking their weapons. Mei gasped, turning, trying to figure out how to help her friends. Peng took advantage of her shock, sending her back with their wings. And Azure finally shook himself free of the boy, sending him back.

"MK, I--" He suddenly staggered. The lion could feel his heart thrum in agitation, and something crawled beneath his skin. Oh, he realized. I didn't follow through with our deal. I didn't get all of his friends out.

The lion looked up, eyes widening as he witnessed the heroes flee with the scholar's golden light. It seemed he didn't need his newly-found weapon to travel.

"Brother, are you alright?" Yellow Tusk placed a firm hold on the other's arm, and the lion smiled softly, "I... I had made a deal with the boy. To bring all of his friends from the scroll, I did not realize he viewed his mentor as a friend as well." He should've known.

Peng clicked their tongue in agitation, "We ought to make sure the little chimp isn't free. That was more power than expected for a cub his age." Azure shook his head, "No, he is a victim to Sun Wukong's visions as well."

But those tired eyes...

"Unfulfilled deal or not, we must finish what we've begun. Come, brothers, for I have a plan."

---

MK looked around, recognizing the temple, "...Subodhi's here! He can help!" The boy held up his mentor's scroll, smiling desperately as his friends registered his words. Mei frowned, "But what about Mac? He doesn't know what's happening! We should find him first."

An old man suddenly walked forward, "Then MK should retrieve the shadow. You must all train, for your upcoming battle will be strenuous." The brunette stumbled forward, holding up the tile, "Wukong! What about Wukong-?"

"The scholar can free him. But he needs proper training, first, I'm afraid." The man turned towards Tang, who sputtered, "M-Me? I..." He gazed at MK, at the scroll. His mind wandered to the rare moments Wukong would laugh, and then how MK claimed to have seen the monkey in horrible memories as visions while they were in the scroll.

"I'll free him. I will free him." His determination was infectious, and everyone turned to the old master, "We'll train as long as we can." MK passed the tile carefully over to Tang, smiling gently, "I'll find Macaque. We'll come here, promise!"

Pigsy patted the hero's back, smiling sweetly, "Be safe, son."

MK smiled back, nodding gently, "Will do." He then stepped back, leaping off of the cliff and transforming into a bird in the sky, letting the wind guide him.

---

Macaque looked around the empty home, frowning deeply. The noodle shop had been empty as well, and so he'd some home assuming everyone was there. But there were only the mountain's subjects.

Someone suddenly landed nearby, running towards him. Macaque turned, eyes wide as a familiar hero rushed up to him. MK was no longer human, but a monkey with chocolate fur, a light orange mask, and glowing golden eyes that dimmed back to his usual amber-brown, "Macaque!"

The younger of the two slammed into the warrior, embracing him tightly. Macaque frowned with newfound worry, taking the boy by his shoulders, "What happened? What's wrong? Where's everyone?" MK gazed up at him, lip wobbling and his eyes scrunching as tears threatened to spill over.

"Well, there was this scroll. But it wasn't just any scroll..."

---

Mei groaned loudly, glaring at Subodhi, "I can do a ton of damage! I'm not-- Being brash helped when we fought the scroll's curse!" The old man nodded, "Yes, but it can still bring harm to your friends if you make one wrong move."

Everyone had gotten a private lecture from the old master, Mei knew that. But she still felt targeted, as if Subodhi knew something she didn't. It made her seethe.

"Then how do I not make a wrong move?! You tell me what I do wrong, but not how to get better! I don't-- I don't know a solution. Just tell me, please." Her voice cracked, her shoulders falling, "Wukong and MK don't deserve this nonsense, y'know? They fight and do their best, I... I want to be there, and play as their main support."

The old man's face softened, "I understand, and that is a wonderful trait to hold. As for the solution, I'm afraid there is no definitive answer, it really does depend on who you want to be on that battlefield."

The dragon girl huffed out a laugh, "Fair enough." She suddenly straightened up, determination shining through her feral grin, "Then I guess I'll just have to find out!"

---

"Demon Bull King! Brother! It has been far too long." Azure walked up to the other, smiling as if his companions weren't currently holding the bull's wife and child hostage.

Demon Bull King glared at the lion, "You dare storm into my home and hold my family prisoner?!" Azure smiled, shaking his head, "It is only a precaution, really. See, we are taking over Heaven. Sun Wukong is out of the way, meaning there will be no one to stop us--"

The bull's eyes widened, glaring menacingly, "Out of the way? What have you done?!" His body grew as his rage built up. Azure frowned, "Don't tell me you are still allied with him-!" He leaped out of the way as a beam nearly took his head.

"THAT IS MY BROTHER YOU ARE SPEAKING OF."

The lion frowned, "I see. He still has his hold over you." The bull growled, and soon, his wife and son freed themselves with swirling winds and flames, joining the king.

They were no match for the scrolls that trapped them within ink.

---

The shadows transported them easily, opening before the team as they were having lunch.

Macaque moved out first, holding MK close as the void closed once more, "Wukong, show me Wukong!" Sandy placed his bowl down, rummaging in a small bag and taking out the tile, handing it over. The warrior snatched it immediately, examining the writing.

They all watched silently as he held it against his ears, "...He's in there. He's alive." MK breathed out a shaky breath of relief, wiping away stray tears as everyone else joined in with their own relieved words.

Tang frowned, "I'm almost ready. But it isn't completely perfect just yet, I'm missing a few more lessons. But he'll be freed, Mac. That's a promise." Macaque nodded stiffly, his fur swirling out as puffs of scarlet flames lashed out.

The Samadhi Fire rejoiced in his fury, and the warrior handed the scroll piece back, "I need to go blow off some steam." He turned away, moving gracefully towards the training grounds.

Pigsy grimaced, "Let's hope Subodhi doesn't mind fire damage too much."

---

Wukong was drifting. Not literally, no, physically he was walking along his memories.

No, he was drifting by the way his thoughts went blank and his tears seemed to never come and go. He couldn't tell how long he'd been inside his prison for. And the monkey was worried.

Azure had attacked the Bull King family, taking them hostage in their own ink prisons. They were later freed after the battle, and Wukong could only imagine how their mistakes continued to taunt and laugh at them.

"Don't be so sad, the ending will prevail. They will be freed. As will you!"

Wukong turned away from the lights, but like fireflies, they persisted on being everywhere around him. The king sighed, squeezing his eyes shut, "I've made countless mistakes. Is it not enough that I have to go through them again? Trying to prevent them without you all screwing me over?"

He was tired. Exhausted, even. Sleep was a luxury that wanted nothing to do with him most nights, and even in his sleep, it was reported he didn't even stay alive. Maybe it was because he was stuck talking to these nagging voices.

"Oh, don't be like that! You have improved your relationships, and their lives! Is that not good enough?"

No. No, it would never be enough. Not unless he was reborn altogether and truly attempted to fix all of his mistakes. But even he knew that was too much, after all, he'd lived for many, many years. To restart it all would slowly destroy him faster than it was damaging him now.

Wukong curled into a ball, ignoring the angry shouts towards his past self.

---

Red Son stood beside Nezha, fighting as much as he could.

His flames danced wildly, trying to smother out his enemies. But as Red Son leapt into the air, a large paw grabbed ahold of his face. Azure Lion sent a scroll forward, ignoring the pain of fire heating his skin.

The fire wielder stared in silent shame as ink crawled up his body, the same way it did to his parents. He locked eyes with the lion, "You will be stopped." His now ebony body morphed, swirling like a river into a scroll that now had his name written in gold.

Azure stared at the scroll for a moment, grunting as a spike of pain stabbed into him roughly, his incomplete deal making itself known. Yellow Tusk was at his side, giving his companion a worried look, "Are you alright, brother?"

The lion forced himself to stand with pride, "I am. Let us continue."

Countless men fell to the absurd number of scrolls, and soon, even Nezha was knocked down. And although the prince most certainly wanted to stay and continue the battle, he seemed to realize something. Azure watched with narrowed eyes as the deity left in a swirl of petals, but decided to let him go.

After all, they were right in front of the golden gates of the Jade Emperor's palace.

---

Lotus petals swirled around the air, revealing a roughened up Nezha. The deity nearly crumbled, grunting as he held his ribs, "Heaven has been attacked!"

Macaque snarled, tail lashing, "Damn it. Nezha, is the emperor safe? His power--"

"-Has been weakening." The prince finished with a tight tone, eyes downcast. "I should have stayed and fought, but I knew it would have made no difference. Their strength has grown since their imprisonment."

MK's eyes widened, "Like... how she escaped stronger than before." Everyone fell silent, staring blankly towards the brunette. MK clenched his fists, "She was right. Fighting for what we think is right just leads to pain."

Macaque pulled the boy into a side-hug, "Yeah. Sucks, I know."

Something then happened, something big. Something that sent the blues in the sky to turn golden. Something that developed tiny tears made of swirling stars across the land and sky. Something that sent sharp jolts down Nezha, Macaque, and MK's spines.

The Lotus Prince gasped, his hands shaking as his eyes searched the golden atmosphere, "The emperor...has fallen."

---

Something was wrong.

Wukong knew by the way his powers surged, screaming that something from his celestial heritage had gone terribly wrong. The king knew what it meant now that he'd already experienced this sudden event.

The Jade Emperor was dead. Azure Lion was the one ruling over all the realms now.

The monkey shivered, curling into a ball. He hoped they would find him soon. He hoped they would forgive him for messing up so badly. He hoped they even wanted him back at all.

His hope, unlike his confidence, refused to waver.