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onwriting-hrarby · 1 year

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Only a lifetime - IV. The dream

Part I || Part 2 || Part 3 || completed on ao3

[Jean falls in love with Eren and Mikasa during his days as a soldier. What he can’t imagine, is that they hold a soft spot for him, too.]

IV. The dream

Yet he is. It happens fast, and he has to forget about him to fight against the Titans, to protect his people. And, suddenly, there are Titans coming out from the Walls and Jean thinks —this thing so big, so incredible, so powerful. It must be Eren.

Jean tries to locate Mikasa in the middle of the battle, but she’s long gone with Armin against the Cart Titan. He needs her grey eyes, to see if she believes this is Eren too, if she condones him or if she can forget him, because if she does, Jean will. And he also wants to know that she’s not dead, although Jean doubts it. It’s not so much that he trusts Mikasa as the others trust her —her abilities, her body. He trusts her like something godly, something much better than this world deserves. and for that very reason, Jean thinks the world will spare her.

It all comes to a halt, then.

His head hurts and he opens his eyes to a foreign land with sand on the floor and stars in the sky. After the confusion, his voice, as grave and as threatening as when he came back from Liberio and Jean was left heartbroken, because he just loved him so much and he had changed just so. But hadn’t they all? Hadn’t they all moved on without Eren, at some point, only to realize that as they were moving on, Eren was moving forward? Towards the unknown for them, but his goal, apparently. And wasn’t this what Jean had always loved the most about him —his determination?

But not like this, he thinks to himself. Not killing thousands. Hello, subjects of Ymir. Not leaving them behind, without telling them a thing. My name is Eren Jaeger. Not hurting Mikasa above all of them, breaking her heart. How could he? I’m using the power of the Founding Titan to address all of Ymir’s subjects. Not asserting what people had been saying about Paradis all along, that they were demons. My objective is to protect the people of Paradis. Why? Not really even affirming what they had told him in court so many years back —that he was a devil. Not like this, I don’t want it like it. I reject that wish. I want you to come back, and I want us to be friends, and I will always, always admire you, and how does that make me feel, like a hypocrite, like a bad person because even if you’re a murderer I still owe you part of my happiness, how can I live with that, why have you chosen for me to live this way, why.

_____________

In the night, Jean has a choice. The choice is a uniform and a gun in his hand, the dream he has always dreamt about —the very object of the dream trying to sleep in the bed next to his, but he can see her shoulders slumping, her sniffles.

In his dream, Jean drinks after having given the baby a bath. He stands on the balcony and people are alive, and the streets are bustling and there are children laughing. The sky is clear, blue like kites, and inside his house, the baby is giggling to the mother, and the mother is her. Has always been her.

Mikasa.

That Mikasa is laughing, long hair like she once wore because it’s the hair that would have meant that they are not at war anymore. She looks at their baby and kisses the forehead. They bump noses. She loves the baby, she loves Jean.

If he had dreamt it before that night, there’d be a ring in the door, and Jean would go to open it and Eren would appear, the boyish grin and the teal eyes, with his own son. Eren would hug Jean, and the son would take care of the baby. And there would be the love in there, never-ending, and always nostalgic as they would have made other decisions, been with other people maybe.

But he doesn’t dream it now, because Eren is not there —his head might be, attached to a spine so big Jean can almost see it glowing in the dark. But this is not his Eren, not even Mikasa’s Eren, so the dream of Eren can’t exist. Yet, Jean lets himself indulge in the fantasy of betraying the promise to Marco and finally accepting that he could just be a hypocrite and a selfish man, that he would just need to go to Floch and say, yes, let’s kill them. He would need to align with Eren, in fact, and be loyal to his thinking and his plans that he doesn’t even know. It would be so painfully relieving, to make the easy decision.

But he lets his hands fall from the ears. He hears his name like a chant, over and over. His legs move on his own accord. He puts on his jacket and as he turns around, he realizes that Mikasa’s bed is empty. How long has it been since he’s been dreaming?

As he goes out of the building, in the middle of the night and in the middle of silence, Jean finds her. She’s standing over with Hange, and they look at each other, and in that look, there’s all the pain and all the remembering: he remembers the day he fell in love with Mikasa, and Mikasa remembers the day that Eren told her to cut her hair; he remembers the day Mikasa inspired him on the roof, and she remembers the day she thought Eren had died; Jean remembers her being crushed by a Titan, and Mikasa remembers the confession to Eren; Jean reminisces about her pretty smiles during the time of peace, she reminisces that they were all about Eren; Jean remembers her wide eyes when Eren kissed him, and Mikasa remembers Eren kissing her right after; Jean can still hear her sobs, she can still hear her heart breaking when Eren went away. Jean remembers her body in the night, the way it moaned; Mikasa remembers the promise to Jean, and thinks, not yet.

In the not yet, there’s the truth Jean didn’t want to admit, but it was always there, plain to see, and he knew it when he first saw them: that, in all the worlds, Mikasa would always choose Eren.

So, Jean forgets about his dream —the balcony crumbles, the people disappear, the baby stops giggling, and the Mikasa that wouldn’t be happy with him looks distorted and sad.

“Jean”, she says. “Let’s go.”

Despite the hurt, Jean follows.

_____________

There are many moments in between the battle of sky and earth that he looks for her, and she looks for him. The touches are scarce, but Mikasa still finds him. They graze their hands, they always stay side to side. Jean has been rejected, and he has been denied access to a new life, but he bears just a little pride to know that Mikasa still trusts him with her life. Armin is the commander —and he proves worthy to be—, but Jean has always guided them in more ways than others.

And there’s a moment where his heart is completely broken —the moment he realizes that they can’t make Eren go back. Even after Mikasa has told Eren that she wants to share the burden with him —he doesn’t relent. The sand hurts at his feet and the stars are too clear. If Eren has rejected Mikasa, then there’s no use. Eren has long given up on them, and Jean sees no point, now, in not giving him up, too.

There’s only one way to end this, he thinks. His heart is not breaking —because it has been broken too much, too often, these last months, and this last day. Just a day before, Sasha was dying in his arms. Now, the tombstone lays forgotten, and her memory, etched in their mind because they love her, but she was just another soldier from the thousand that are now dead; just another girl from the ones that are now stepped on by Eren’s titans.

He crumbles when he says: “Mikasa.” Mikasa turns to him. Falco speeds through the air. Her short hair dances around her face. He watches the eyebrows furrow. Jean says: “We need to kill Eren.”

And it’s in his eyes, that Mikasa understands death and understands grief, and hate and love and all that Jean’s feeling at the same time —the turmoil, the losing faith, the rejected dreams.

Her face falls. Jean doesn’t find any strength to console her anymore.

_____________

His arm sneaks around Connie.

Connie arms sneak around him. “I guess this is the end.”

“I guess so”, Jean says.

If it’s the end, it has not all been tragedy. There have been beautiful moments —mostly with Sasha and Connie, laying on the grass, the first time they tasted seawater, the nights watching the stars, all of them hugging, all of them crying, all of them laughing. His siblings, the family he chose. If it’s the end, he’s glad to have been honest with himself, to have loved so much, even when he wasn’t loved back. To prove himself that he was still so alive, his heart in flames every time they saw them. If it’s the end, Jean is proud of himself.

Let it come.

So, it does —death as a fog, steam that fills up his lungs.

He loses consciousness.

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s-creations · 2 years

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The Lost Child - Chapter 3

Once, when the land was young and new, the Gods, the demons, and the mortals lived together. The world shaped by the battles between the Gods and the demons. Mortals attempting to thrive with what they could, living on the lands created by beings stronger than them. Eventually creating a connection with the Gods through shrines and offerings, in turn the Gods granted their protection.

When the number of demons grew, the amount of power diminished. Those deemed too weak were cast away. A tentative agreement was reached between those outcasted and the mortals. Demons allowed to live in the structures mortals had built. It was a slow process, but a calm living was eventually reached.

All seemed well. Until the Gods and powerful demon suddenly disappeared one morning. No reason, no explanation. Those left behind having to wonder what could have happened. It was all…strange. Worrisome. It was a clear sign something was wrong. Now it was just a question of when it was all going to fall apart.

Fandom: LEGO Monkie Kid Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Relationships: Shadowpeach, Freenoodles, MK&SunWukong&Macaque, MK&Pigsy&Tang, Mei&MK&Redson Warnings/Additional Tags: Lots of Characters, Everyone’s here, A lot is going to be changed, Rated Teen for just in case, Found family, Returning to Parents, There’s gonna be fluff and fighting, There’s plot - trust me.

MK let out a grumble as the alarm went off. Slamming his hand down on the digital clock to turn off the annoying sound. Rolling onto his back to yawn and stretch. Letting out a grunt as his back gave a satisfying pop. Sliding off the bed, MK slowly made his way to his bathroom. Going through the morning routine as usual. Which was interrupted when the final parts of sleep were rubbed from his eyes.

MK was used to the different aspects of himself. A part human/monkey/demon kind of creature. Tail, fur which was longer on top of his head, claws, padded hands and feet, and fangs. Four ears, two on either side of his head, wiggled as they shifted off the long fur. But something new had now appeared. Matching the golden color located at the tip of his fur and tail, markings that curved smoothly around both eyes, going over his nose and between his brows.

“Oooh, it’s like a little mask.” MK whispered in awe. Carefully tracing over the design with a finger. “Wonder why this showed up… Wait.”

Multi-colored eyes shined with glee. It was his birthday. 16 years had passed and he was finally becoming an adult! Well, kind of. He at least has more responsibility. Like being able to drive that sweet, sweet cart for deliveries. No more kiddie bikes for him.

“This is gonna be the best day ever!” MK beamed. Dressing quickly, signature Monkey King jacket with red headband keeping the long fur out of his face, and he was down the stairs in a flash. “Good morning!”

Pigsy and Tang were already awake and working away. But paused hearing their child run down the stairs. The human at the base with a smile and arms open.

“Good morning, birthday boy!” Tang beamed as his arms were filled with an excited teen.

“Happy birthday kid.” Pigsy replied with a smile. Reaching around Tang to ruffle the teen’s hair.

MK leaned away with a smile. Pausing when Tang let out a small coo, thumbs running over the teen’s cheeks. “Oh, look at your eye markings!”

“Daaad…” The teen whined softly, but didn’t pull away.

“Aww, my baby’s truly growing up.” Tang fake cried as he pressed his cheek against MK.

Pigsy snorted. “Yeah, and soon enough, we’ll be two old men with MK just towering over us.”

“Don’t even with that.”

MK laughed softly. He let out a chirp, nuzzling under Tang’s chin, before heading to the front of the shop. A warm bowl of noodles already waiting for him on the counter. “Thanks Dadsy.”

“Eat up kid. We already have orders coming in.”

The teen sighed dramatically. “Don’t they know it’s my birthday? How dare you make me work on my day!”

“Mmm…welcome to the working life. But, I might have something that will make this a bit better.” Pigsy replied casually. Reaching under the counter to pull out a familiar set of keys. The chef smirked seeing MK’s eyes light up.

“Really? Right away?”

“Finish eating first, then you can go deliver food and drive like a crazy person.”

“Don’t encourage him.” Tang frowned as MK started to scarf down his breakfast.

“You know he will no matter what I say.”

Tang merely rolled his eyes. Hands reaching out to stop MK before the teen could just rush out. “Ah, now hold on-”

“Dad, come on.”

“Don’t! I always panicked when you were delivering on your bike. I know how those idiot drivers treat bikes. Now you’re gonna be in that run down cart that I swear is one back accident from becoming a true disaster. Let me be a dad.”

“...Fine.”

“Don’t go too fast, look both ways before you take off. I know you like going fast, but don’t you dare speed.”

“You already said-”

“Make sure you use your signals when you’re making a turn and even then use your shoulder check to make sure you’re safe to turn. Take your time with delivering. Wear your seat belt, don’t care if you say it’s uncomfortable. Don’t take up any street race challenges or I swear-”

“Tang, the kid will be fine,” Pigsy rolled his eyes, “He knows what to do.”

MK quickly kept the peace by saying, “I’ll be careful dad, promise.”

“Alright, just…yeah. Just be careful. When you’re done for the day, we’ll have cake and presents!” Tang gave a gentle kiss to MK’s forehead before letting the teen run out. Take out bags in hand.

The teen paused in the doorway to shiver weakly. “Ooh, weird chill. Okay, I’ll be back soon!”

And he was gone. Now alone, Pigsy went back to his cooking while Tang rummaged through his bag. Looking for something.

“You’re babying him,” said Pigsy, “He’s growing up whether we want it or not.”

“I know.”

The chef looked over hearing the melancholy tone. Finding Tang looking through an old sketchbook that belonged to MK. Pigsy let out a small sigh before placing a hand over Tang’s gently. “I miss him being that young too. But, he’s becoming an adult-”

“A young man.”

“Tang, I swear. The point I’m trying to make is that we need to let him have that room to grow. He knows he can come to us for anything and he will if he needs to.”

“I guess… You know that cart is a death trap, right?”

“It runs just fine, it has age and character!”

Completely ignorant to his parent’s conversation, MK filled the carrying crate on the cart before taking a step back. Hand squeezing the keys in his hands as he beamed. MK was absolutely thrilled that he was finally allowed to drive this cart. Remembering the stories that Pigsy told him about the numerous, more interesting deliveries. How Pigsy brought MK back to the restaurant when the chef found the monkey as a baby. MK had been excited about the idea of driving this bad boy on his own when he was first allowed to even sit in the cart.

It was practically falling apart, but MK didn’t care. His tail going as crazy as an excited dog, the teen climbed in. Did the vehicle shutter and sputter when turned on? Yep. Did the radio work? Hadn’t in years. Was there even working AC? Nope. But he was finally able to drive it and nothing could ruin this moment.

Phone held up on the narrow dashboard, typed in the first address for delivery, popped his headphones on to blare music, and MK was off.

The day was absolutely beautiful, as if the universe knew it was time to celebrate. The sun was beaming but it wasn’t overly warm as a gentle breeze washed over. Peach trees that held numerous blooms allowed a few to drift off, making the world look like it was snowing. Snowing in Spring, what a concept. MK traveled along easily, the cart reacting to his movements easily. Humming to his tunes while doing his deliveries.

It was nearing the afternoon, the normal big rush for each day, when MK realized there was actually a lull in the orders.

“Only two?” MK raised a brow. Having returned to the shop to pick up more deliveries.

“We’re closing early so we can celebrate properly for the rest of the day,” Pigsy replied, “Dad’s already getting everything set up. Get those deliveries done.”

“You’re…closing up early?”

The chef paused, hearing the quiet tone. Turning back to see MK looking back with awestruck. Letting out a gentle laugh, Pigsy turned to place his hands on MK’s shoulders. “Your birthday has always been an important day, kid. I wish past years could have been celebrated with just focusing on you.”

“I know why we couldn’t, I’m okay with it.”

“Because you’re a sweet kid like that. Putting others before you, making sure others are cared for. But this day is important. If I could give you a full day, I would. If I could hand deliver the sun and the moon to you, I would. Wrap it up in your favorite colors and give them to you on a silver platter. I truly hope you’re happy and I wish I could give you so much more.”

MK laughed weakly, rubbing his eyes quickly. “You’ve done more than enough Dadsy… Really, you and dad have. I don’t want anything else.”

“Heh, I’ll take your word for it kid.” The chef tugged gently on Mk’s shoulders, the teen stepping forward. Beaming, feeling a kiss placed on his forehead. “Alright, go on, finish those orders and get back here as soon as you can. We have a celebration to attend!”

MK laughed. “Right! I’ll be back in no time.”

“Just drive carefully.”

“Heard that loud and clear, Dadsy!”

Heading one for the final time that day, MK was unaware of the shadowy, spider like figure that followed him. The last two deliveries went smoothly. MK pulled up directions once more, this time heading back home, humming softly.

“That’s a long way around… I could probably cut down on time if I got through the alleyways. A bit of a tight squeeze, but I can do it!” Phone back on the dashboard and MK was off. Navigating easily through the back ends of the city. Beaming with excitement as he grew closer to the restaurant.

Only to be pulled to a stop. A very hard and very sudden stop. Causing MK to slam his face into the glass windshield. Thankfully, when he reached up, he didn’t feel any blood or feel that it was broken in any way. But boy did it hurt.

“Ow… What the heck, did I hit something?”

Still rubbing his nose and forehead, MK exited the cart slowly. Looking at the front, nothing could be seen. So, he didn’t run into anything…maybe something was stuck in the back. MK let out a confused noise as he moved to look at the back. Brows rising when he found the back right was covered in something sticky. The wheel was completely covered in it.

“What the heck, what is this?”

“Hello there, little prince.”

MK felt his insides turn to ice, twisting in fear at the hiss that sounded in his ear. Slowly turning to find acid green eyes staring down at him. Sick with fear upon realizing that a large spider demon was standing right behind him, with purple exoskin and heavy metal limbs. MK’s mind was screaming at him to run, to fight back, to grab his phone, to do something. But he couldn’t.

“What’s the matter? Cat…or spider, got your tongue?” The demon laughed. Reaching out to casually flick the fur hanging over MK’s eyes. That brought a reaction out from the teen. Who merely stumbled back. Running backwards right into the immobile cart. “Ah ah! It’ll be in your best interest to not argue or fight back. You really did me a favor transporting us here. If you had proper training, you might have actually become a threat. Too bad for you, you had the wrong parents.”

Questions exploded in MK’s mind. But was unable to say anything. Instead, his body finally kicked in. When the demon moved forward, MK rushed around the cart. Reaching in to grab his phone before running off. Dialing Pigsy’s number as he ran. Heart hammering as he heard the metal legs following close behind.

“MK? You okay kid?”

Said teen stumbled to a stop when the demon dropped down in front of him. MK could only move back to not be crushed. Panicking when his mouth was covered with webs, unable to respond to Pigsy, only able to get out muffled screams. Fear rose further when the phone was knocked out of his hands. Becoming stuck to the pavement. Before MK could reach out for it, it was broken by a metal limb.

“Ah ah,” the spider demon wagged his finger, “We don’t want to be interrupted.”

One final attempt for freedom, MK turned back towards the alleyway entrance. Moving as fast as he could, all MK could think about was getting away. Trying to pull off the webs desperately. He let out another muffled scream when a foot was caught in webs as well. Collapsing to the ground. Wince as his already damaged head was slammed into the pavement. The teen was dazed, unable to move as he heard muffled footsteps draw closer.

“A brave but stupid move. Honestly wouldn’t have to rough you up if you just came quietly. But it was nice, getting a lot of pent up frustration after so many years of being trapped here.”

MK didn’t move, couldn’t move, as he was suddenly picked up by the scruff of his neck. A low groan sounded as he was flung over the demon’s shoulder.

“Now you and I are going to have a conversation. Let’s see if-”

MK winced when a bright light suddenly flooded the alleyway. A wash of cold air hitting the teen hard. Stomach turned further as he was suddenly dropped back onto the ground. Brilliant emerald green breaking through the white. As a semblance of balance slowly returned, MK realized that there were suddenly more noises. More voices. More people.

MK blinked to clear his vision, looking up from where he was lying.

The spider demon was on the ground. Hand over his arms which seemed to be smoking. Glaring at the sudden two new arrivals who were standing between the demon and MK.

One figure was dressed in garments of pure white, with an emerald green dragon coiling around it. Majority of jet black hair was tied back into a tight bun, with only the bangs dyed a bright teal, framing the owner’s face. Lips were parted into a snarl, showing off large fangs. Cat’s eyes pupils with emerald green irises eyes narrowed. In their hand was an emerald blade which also had a depiction of a dragon on it. The dragon teen hunched over, a clear indication of how upset they were.

The other, a bit taller than the dragon teen, was mainly dressed in dark purples and black. With a deep red trench coat swaying dramatically in the very minimal breeze. While the being was not hunched over, apparently trying to look more casual and at ease, it was clear this teen was just as tense as well. Pure black eyes were narrowed down. Vivid red hair was tied into a high placed ponytail, showing off the long curved black horns and thin red bull ears.

“Well…look who’s here.” The spider demon hissed, both in pain and trying to be intimidating. Slowly getting back onto his feet. “Little Mei Mei and Redboy. My, how you two have grown. You were just ideas the last I saw you. Where are your parents? I’m surprised they’d let you out of the house.”

“Shut up.” The dragon teen said with a warning growl.

“It would be in your best interest to flee while you can,” the bull teen spoke, “I doubt you could beat a 2 versus 1 fight with the state you’re in.”

The demon hissed again. “Cheeky children. It’s shameful that your parents had to send you two to do their job. How pathetic.”

“Leave.” MK tensed when the bull teen’s voice suddenly became deeper. Swearing the ground actually shook with how strong it was. The spider demon looked furious, but seemed to agree with the teen’s statement. Darting away with one final hiss of anger. “...You should have just let me go after him.”

“We have bigger things to worry about. Need I remind you who’s supposedly right behind us?” The dragon teen replied. MK winced when the attention was put on him. Inching away when said teen walked over. Not seeming to mind that MK was shaking slightly as she peeled off the webs. “Hey, you’re okay. We’re on your side.”

“W-What? What are you talking about?” MK slurred weakly.

“My name’s Mei,” she continued, “Mister Pouts-a-Lot back there is Redson.”

The bull teen huffed, no doubt annoyed by the nickname but said nothing.

“MK’s my name...What-”

“We don’t have time to chat,” Redson frowned, “Stront won’t be too far behind.”

“Oh, now you’re worried. How much time do you think?”

“Not enough!”

“Alright! Just, go get the portal ready.”

MK’s reply was cut off once more when he was suddenly picked up. Thankfully cradled this time instead of being flung over a shoulder. But it was slowly dawning in the teen’s sluggish brain that he was still being kidnapped.

“Wait…w-wait, what’s happening? W-Where are we going?” MK mumbled weakly, attempting to sit up. Or at least push Mei away. But all he got done was to flop his hand around until it landed on his own chest.

“We’re going home Prince Xiaotian- or, MK, you’re gonna see your parents again!” The dragon teen replied.

“Wait, what?” Was all MK could squeak out.

There was another flash of light. MK trying to turn away from it. The building wall now holds a glowing portal-like opening. Redson, who’d apparently made said portal, moved back to allow Mei to enter. Which she took.

“W-Wait, listen to me, I-I live here! My house is only a few blocks away!” MK said.

“Don’t freak out, it’ll be okay. We’re just- Would you stop wiggling!”

“Stop fighting you two,” Redson called out, “You’re disrupting the portal's stability. I don’t want to be spat out somewhere randomly!”

“Put me down!”

“Stop- We’re just trying to help!”

“By kidnapping me?”

“Mei, I’m serious, just put the prince down or something!”

“Shut it Redboy, I’m trying to-”

MK shivered feeling something cold burst in his chest. Suddenly the air was sucked out of his lungs and it felt like he was falling. But the wind wasn’t whipping by and there was no sound. MK wasn’t sure how long he was in this state. It was for a while as the teen was reaching a point of peace before the sound came rushing back.

He fell into something hard, pain blossoming in his back. His ears were suddenly barraged with noises, causing him to reach up to try and block everything out. Going through too much, MK’s eyes became unfocused before he passed out.

________________________

Tang worried his lip as he watched Pigsy pace back and forth at the front of the store. The pig’s cell phone pressed into his ear while his eyes were staring straight ahead. Having dialed MK’s number once more. Only to pull it away with a huff receiving the message that the number was no longer in service.

“That’s it, I’m going out to look for him.” The chef said shortly.

“Do you even know where to go?” asked Tang.

“General idea, yeah.”

“Let me come with.”

“No, you need to stay here. MK could show up, I need you to call me when he does.”

“Pigsy-” Attention was snapped to the front entrance hearing a heavy knock.

“We’re closed! Come back tomorrow!” The chef shouted before turning back to Tang, “Please stay. I need to know you’re here and safe.”

They were interrupted once again by further knocking. The building seemed to shake with how heavy it was. Pigsy was close to losing it. He marched to the front and parted the curtains, ready to tell the person off, only to swallow his words hard.

It was not a customer. Instead, towering over Pigsy, was an imposing bull demon. Yellow eyes staring down at the chef before he started to push his way in. Long black horns traveling sideways, as to not get caught in the doorway. Tang, who had started to check why Pigsy froze, scrambles back as the demon fully enters the restaurant. Clearly too large to truly be in that building.

Pigsy made sure to keep Tang behind him as best he could. Wooden spoon held out as a poor excuse for a weapon. Pressing back further as the demon leaned closer.

“Where is the prince.” The bull demon growled out.

“W-What?” Pigsy asked weakly.

“Prince Xiaotian, where is the prince.”

#lego monkie kid #lmk mk #mk pigsy #mk tang #mk mei #mk red son #lmk #s-creations #fanfiction #also on ao3

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ridethepunkhorse · 11 months

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Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons (Kenji Misumi, Japan, 1973)

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scourgeheines · 2 years

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Trip to the mall

Zachary grabbed the shopping cart, pulling it apart from the others.

He pushed it through the automatic doors, jumping back when Bone launched himself into the large basket.

"Really?"

Bone leaned back, relaxed. "You gotta practice for the kiddy."

Zach turned when he heard a chuckle behind him. Maxie held a hand over her mouth, trying to keep her laughter contained.

Zach sighed and pushed the demon around the mall. Glaring at anyone who looked at him too long.

Maxie went to the baby store and began to throw bottles, clothes, and other things they would need into the cart, on top of Bone.

The albino caught a pack of diapers in his hands and held it to Zachary's face.

"These for the babe or the dad?"

Zachary smacked his friend in the face. The sound echoed in the quiet store.

Maxie laughed and rubbed her round belly.

"Maybe they're for you?" Maxie teased back.

"Shit! You'll need a bigger size. Zachary can change me!"

"I'd rather shoot myself than go anywhere near your ass."

Maxie and Bone laughed.

"I swear to God, you're going down the stairs." The king threatened.

"Oh yeah! That's where the adult diapers are!"

Zachary flipped his hands, wrists up on the cart.

People looked up, screamed, and scattered when an albino man was suddenly thrown over the railing to land on one of the vendor's stalls.

His laughter still didn't stop, even with a shard of glass through his chest.

They could hear the scolding their king was getting from his wife for throwing his best friend to another level of the mall.

"Hey! I landed on the Hotdog stand! Nice!"

"See? He's fine. He has his wieners."

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poppawolf24 · 2 years

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Before Kill Bill, there was Ogami Itto...aka Tomisaburo Wakayama....he can really wield that katana....some of his strokes are so fast, it's m o wonder everyone dies...watching Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the land of Demons on HBO MAX....there are 5 movies made from 1972 to 1974..kataba action from start to finish.... (at Makaha Surfside) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfTFPbPO9rD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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curatorofthisdigitalmorass · 2 years

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Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons - Art by Tony Stella

#art #illustration #movie poster #lone wolf and cub #baby cart in the land of demons #samurai #tony stella

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ozu-teapot · 6 years

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Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons | Kenji Misumi | 1973

Akihiro Tomikawa, Tomisaburô Wakayama

#Akihiro Tomikawa #Tomisaburô Wakayama #Kenji Misumi #Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons #Lone Wolf and Cub #Baby Cart in the Land of Demons #1973

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ferretfyre · 3 years

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#lone wolf and cub #lone wolf and cub: baby cart in the land of demons #baby cart in the land of demons #film #review #criterion channel #criterion collection #kenji misumi #tomisaburo wakayama

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skeletonfumes · 1 year

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Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons (1973) Kenji Misumi

#lone wolf and cub #kenji misumi #mygifs #gifset #tomisaburo wakayama #wave cutter #chanbara

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bens-things · 3 years

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Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons (1973) dir. Kenji Misumi

#lone wolf and cub: baby cart in the land of demons #kenji misumi #movie night #Lone Wolf and Cub #Baby Cart in the Land of Demons

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cultfaction · 3 years

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Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons (1973)

Director Kenji Misumi returns for the fifth instalment of the Lone Wolf and Cub series – Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons, Ittō Ogami (once again played by Tomisaburo Wakayama) and his son Daigoro (played once more by Akihiro Tomikawa) are back and this time they are on the “Demon Path in Hell” where they are met by a series of five assassin messengers who represent a clan…

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#Akihiro Tomikawa #Baby Cart in the Land of Demons #Kenji Misumi #Kozure Ōkami: Meifumado #Lone Wolf and Cub #Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons #Minoru Ohki #Shogun Assassin 4: Five Fistfuls of Gold #Tomisaburo Wakayama #子連れ狼冥府魔道

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mad-prophet-of-the-airwaves · 4 years

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Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons (1973, Kenji Misumi, Japan)

#lone wolf and cub: baby cart in the land of demons #kenji misumi

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watching-pictures-move · 5 years

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Viddying the Nasties #24 | Shogun Assassin and the Lone Wolf and Cub series

I’d first seen Shogun Assassin years ago in bits and pieces, when I first became aware of what exploitation movies were. At the time its mixture of splatter and swordplay seemed too awesome for words, but I had no real concept of its source material and cultural standing other than the fact that this was a movie that had been a hit on the grindhouse circuit. Fast forward a couple of years and I would revisit the movie again, this time having gotten somewhat into hip hop and having listened to GZA’s Liquid Swords. This time what struck me was not just the action but the atmosphere of sadism - this is a movie packed with some truly ice cold shit - and how that lent itself to the aesthetic of that record. But this was also when I learned that there was more to the story, and that Shogun Assassin was not just something that materialized out of the ultraviolent ether but was indeed recut from preexisting movies in the Lone Wolf and Cub series from the early ‘70s, based on the manga by Kazuo Koike. Sadly at the time Shogun Assassin was much more available in North America (in a sharp looking DVD and Blu-ray release from AnimeEigo) than the originals (the box sets were long out of print) so I was unable to dig further at the time. Fast forward a few more years and the good people at Janus Films decide to give the entire Lone Wolf and Cub film series plus Shogun Assassin some handsome restorations and release them as part of the Criterion Collection. Coming off of the Stray Cat Rock series and still in the mood for some Japanese action movies, I decided to finally get through this series and, at the very least, see how they compared with the version I’d been familiar with all these years. Thankfully, they happened to be pretty damn good.

The overarching plot is as follows: our hero Ogami Itto, the shogun’s executioner, has his wife murdered and is falsely accused of wanting the shogun dead by a rival clan, and so is forced to flee with his infant son Daigoro and take up life as an assassin while seeking revenge, living on “the demon way in hell.” Now, if I’m being perfectly honest, having rushed through the six movies in a few days, I have to admit they blend together a bit, so I’m not necessarily going to delve into plot details of the individual movies in depth. This isn’t necessarily a criticism, as I suspect it’s a bit by design. That overarching plot I described is introduced in the first film and returned to periodically over the course of the subsequent movies, but a large portion of the series is spent on the assassinations our hero is hired to perform, side quests to the main revenge quest. The films were all scripted by Koike, the author of the original manga, and I assume they are faithful to the source material, so perhaps those who have read the manga might find the plots easier to distinguish. The sixth and final film was made before the manga was completed, which leaves the series feeling a touch inconclusive as it doesn’t tie up the overall plot.

The first film, Sword of Vengeance, sets up not just the plot but also the pitiless world the films reside in. This is a movie that opens with Itto executing a baby(!) on the orders of a paranoid shogun, making it clear that traditional ideas of justice don’t apply in this universe and that Itto’s “heroism” will definitely be of the anti-heroic stripe. But the movie also eased me into the rhythms of the overall series, which are a lot more meditative and a lot less frantic than I’d expected, while still dishing out generous helpings of blood and steel. The action here is not distinguished purely through choreography but also the structure, the blood sprays serving as gory exclamation marks. There’s also a fair bit of handheld work reminiscent of early Chang Cheh - I understand filmmakers in Hong Kong at the time were influenced by Japanese samurai pictures, and perhaps the influence was going ways.

The second film, Baby Cart at the River Styx, pushes even further in this regard, conceiving its action as a series of gory non-sequiturs, images of blood pouring through walls or through desert sands and characters being chopped into stumps or having their heads split open having been etched into my memory when I first saw them edited into Shogun Assassin all those years ago. This is probably the best of the movies, packing in the most incident but also finding some unexpected tenderness in their harsh worldview. Itto encounters a female ninja sent to kill him, but she ends up reassessing her own capacity for violence after being moved by his relationship with Daigoro, and in the end elicits a rare moment of mercy from Itto. It’s a character arc that could have been corny but feels well earned in the otherwise unrelenting cruelty of the series. However, the scene were Itto forcefully has them warm each other up to survive is still hilariously uncomfortable no matter which cut you see. There’s also the underrated delight of seeing Daigoro react to different animals.

The next few movies continue this dynamic, with Baby Cart to Hades and Baby Cart in Peril pitting Itto and Daigoro, respectively, against a disgraced samurai and a tattooed female assassin with a tragic backstory, both of whom reassert a sense of honour in their confrontations with our heroes. They also have Daigoro becoming a more active participant in their survival, with his carriage being revealed to have additional deadly capabilities, best demonstrated when they machine gun hordes of men while taking on an entire army in the climax of the third movie. The moral complexity of the series peaks with the fifth movie, Baby Cart in the Land of the Demons, which has Itto being hired to assassinate an infant princess and hesitating before killing another target. That movie also has Daigoro falsely accused of being in cahoots with a pickpocket and the baffling sight of the police trying to beat a confession out of a toddler. This specific strain of ridiculousness is absent in the final film, White Heaven in Hell, but otherwise that movie goes out with a bang, trading the jazzy sounds of the earlier movies with a score that suggests James Bond meets Shaft, sending reanimated assassins after our heroes, and pitting them against an entire army in a climax whose virtuosity is matched by its body count. The wintry setting of that action sequence and the soundtrack suggest that the filmmakers wanted to outdo On Her Majesty’s Secret Service of all movies, and the carnage concludes with the bodies of Itto’s foes scattered over a snowy hillside, like black pepper on white rice. Yet at the end, even with the story not really being over, the movie reasserts Itto’s bond with Daigoro, ending on a tender note that brings nuance to the butchery that preceded it.

Which brings us back to Shogun Assassin, which combines sections of the first movie with the bulk of the second, trades the original score for a cheapo synth one and a well done English dub, and greatly simplifies the story, excising the specific clan conflicts and adopting a more generic story of our heroes facing off against the shogun. What’s lost in the translation are the complexities in the series’ worldview, with this new version less eager to challenge us to contemplate the violence and the characters’ relationships and preferring to serve it up for our giddy enjoyment. But what does come through or is perhaps even enhanced is the outrageousness of the violence and the non-sequitur-style delivery, coming across as even more frenetic in this faster-paced version. On the level of pure enjoyment, this ranks with the best of the series even if it lacks the richness of the originals, and there’s a reason its blend of ultraviolent samurai imagery has proven so iconic. Whatever entry or version you happen to watch, there’s no denying the mix of artistry and entertainment value that defines the series.

#film #movie review #lone wolf and cub #shogun assassin #lone wolf and cub: sword of vengeance #lone wolf and cub: baby cart at the river styx #lone wolf and cub: baby cart in peril #lone wolf and cub: baby cart to hades #lone wolf and cub: baby cart in the land of the demons #lone wolf and cub: white heaven in hell #kenji misumi #buichi saito #yoshiyuki kuroda #robert houston #viddying the nasties

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