#The dream would be for Sandy to share what he learned with MK. | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

imminent-danger-came · 10 months

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Anon chilling on the precipice of madness again, and I’m so glad you liked that last ask! Truly, there is much joy to be found in discussing how much we enjoy (*cough* are dealt immense emotional damage on a daily basis by *cough*) the monkey show. Also, since I apparently can’t stop bugging you, for clarity’s sake I’m going to call myself Unhinged Anon if I submit any future asks lol.

As always you make excellent points, and I am very normal about you bringing up the ‘MK smiling at his reflection’ thing because the motif of reflections in this show (see also: S2E5, S3E4, some others I’m probably missing, and especially S4E1) doesn’t make me even the tiniest bit insane. Nope! Not at all. But this time, it’s actually something you said in the tags that launched my marbles into the stratosphere for me to never find, because now I can’t stop thinking about how badly I want, like… a Sandy spinoff series or something.

And I don’t mean a lore-heavy, epic adventure rich in heavy themes and conflicts like we have in the main series, just with Sandy at the center instead of MK. I want Sandy's series to be almost exclusively season one-style laid back episodes. But the good kind of laid back episodes, you know? Stuff like S1E6&7, that a lot of people dismiss, especially on a first watch, as nothing more than filler but actually serve as a subtle expansion/exploration of characters (“I also summoned monster trees with my stress, so. Should I see a doctor? We’ll worry about that later” still haunts me) and dynamics hidden under the guise of a silly little adventure with funny jokes, great animation, and fairly low stakes.

I want to see what an appointment with Sandy’s therapist looks like, or even just the shenanigans he gets up to during those episodes where he’s mysteriously absent and only Tang seems to notice.

I want to see Sandy teach Tang how to make tea, and maybe nerd out about those theories Sandy mentioned having about the gang's whole deal with the OG Companions.

I want to see Sandy’s endless teddy bear energy clash with Red-wants to seem intimidating but will also grab his new friends warm milk if they ask-Son.

I want to see Wukong forced to have an extended conversation with Sandy, or really anyone from the team that isn’t MK or actively yelling at him, and getting to really see how they work off of each other.

I want to see the secret ‘how do we help our clearly not okay friend?’ talks Mei and Sandy have behind MK’s back whenever he starts acting weird, and all the gossip that goes on during the yoga sessions they start doing together after Mei gets the Samadhi fire.

I want to see Sandy talking with the little girl that LBD possessed, especially since something kind of similar happened to him during season 4, and accidentally becoming her new (and favorite) giant blue uncle.

I want an episode of MK and Sandy hanging out. Just chilling on the boat, playing with Mo, going for a little walk around town until BOOM! Sandy brings MK to his unsuspecting therapist, who’s about to get the most interesting case of their career. And maybe, if we’re allowed a little angst, a discussion about how scary it is to be born with a lot of power that not only can, but will, hurt a lot of people if it isn't carefully controlled. About how they’ve tried, and failed, to avoid causing pain. About wanting to never cause pain, and how the futility of that sentiment almost outweighs the importance of trying anyways.

And above all, I DEMAND a Pigsy-Sandy origin story!

Anyways, this is basically just me edging ever closer to the brink of madness after you accidently inflicted No Thoughts, Only Sandy syndrome upon me with your last response. But, it's also an invitation to gush about Sandy some more, if you want, and also share anything you would want to see in a hypothetical Sandy show!

Unhinged Anon I got you, here's a motif post where I have every MK reflection in the whole show.

AND “I also summoned monster trees with my stress, so. Should I see a doctor? We’ll worry about that later” HAUNTS ME TOO. There's something about the way those shots are set up, cracking from blue to gold:

MK also becoming a "master of focus" in this ep, with focus becoming important later in episodes like 1x09 and 3x11/12 with Mei.

BUT ANON.

Imma use this ask as a spring board for one of my fav personal theories, which is this: OG Sandy, from the original jttw pilgrimage, is also our current day Sandy!

I'll probably throw this into an official theory post later, but for now I'll go into this theory underneath the cut:

First, let's start with 2x08 To Catch a Leaf, during which Sandy has several PTSD flashbacks:

So, the first one is some sort of battlefield, and the second one...

Is of Zhu Bajie?

Now, we know Pigsy has never worn an outfit like this based off of this comment in 4x05:

Pigsy: "Blue ain't really my color, but it beats looking like that monster, Zhu Ganglie."

The Pig Demon in that flashback from 2x08 HAS to be Zhu Bajie of the original jttw pilgrimage. But why would Sandy have a memory like that?

Next is the fact that while everyone else in 4x09 Roast of the Monkie Kids is compared to their past life, Sandy notably isn't.

Tang knows friendship, but unlike Tang Sanzang isn't studious.

Mei is bold and brave, but lacks Ao Lie's caution.

Pigsy like Zhu Bajie is stubborn, but he has the heart his predecessor originally lacked.

Yet this is all Subodhi has to say to Sandy:

Subdohi: "You have nothing more to learn my hilariously blue student! Another star for you!" Sandy: "Dooww thank you wise master!" Subodhi: "But! You're far too nice for your own good." Sandy: "Uh huh, you noticed!"

(4x09 Roast of the Monkie Kids)

It's exceedingly strange that in an episode where Subodhi breaks down everyone's character arcs, Sandy is told he's all good. He has nothing more to learn, and no more character development to go through.

Unless of course...Subodhi quite simply couldn't compare Sandy to his past life because there was no past life to compare him to.

Another detail in s4 that's always intrigued me is how Sandy is brought back to himself from Sha Wujing in 4x06.

Pigsy's heartfelt speech on the legacy of their past lives not defining their current one, or how they're not monsters, doesn't work. It's instead Mo offering Sandy wholehearted love that brings Sandy back:

Which, of course Sandy has a close bond with Mo, but Pigsy's speech wasn't anything to scoff at either:

Pigsy: "No. No! Just cause we look a certain way, cause our monster ancestors were, well, monsters, none of that matters! I won't let his legacy define mine, and neither should you! Your the strongest, the biggest, the bluest guy I know! But all you've ever used those muscles for is to help people in need—your friends. That don't sound like a monster to me." (4x06 Show Me the Monster)

As far as we know, that should have been the exact thing Sandy needed to be freed from his past life, and yet it wasn't.

That would be because, at least under the confines of this theory, the guy Pigsy is saying Sandy wasn't like was indeed who Sandy used to be. Yes, Sandy has far outgrown the person who fought to establish his own place in the world, learning that "hurting others isn't a measure of one's strength". But here's the thing, who you used to be matters. Unlike Pigsy's relationship with Zhu Bajie, Sandy's relationship with who he was in the past can't as easily be written off. It's still a part of him.

There are also certain other details. like the fact that Sandy knows his way to Flower Fruit Mountain in "A Hero is Born", or how he's so knowledgeable on ancient powerful remedies like the crimson jimson weed. Of course these details could be chalked up to plot convenience—which is by no means a flaw or complaint—but I've always wondered if there was anything more to it.

But, Sandy's more laid back reaction to most things has always intrigued me, and it would re-contextualize certain scenes like this one from 2x10 in a fun way:

Pigsy: "No! What could have been so important that you'd leave MK alone to face that- that thing! You're supposed to be his mentor-"

Sandy: "ENOUGH!" "I think we should give Mr. Monkey King, a chance to explain."

(2x10 This is the End!)

Of course with this theory comes a few questions, like why Sandy didn't meet the same fate as the other pilgrims, or why he wouldn't let Sun Wukong know he was alive, or why he would bother to pretend he wasn't the OG Sha Wujing at all. And honestly? I don't have an answer to these questions!

But what I do know is that Sandy's friends are greatly important to him-

Sandy: "Hurting others isn't a measure of one's strength—took me a really long time to realize that. As long as I'm doing something to help out a friend, I don't mind what it is! I just want to be there for 'em when they need me. Cause at the end of the day, helping my friends is more important than anything else in the world!" (2x08 To Catch a Leaf)

-and losing them would affect him greatly.

Whatever happened to the og jttw crew, that could very easily be the reason Sandy was "the most dangerous, deadly, rage filled warrior [Pigsy] ever [knew]". Based off of that 2x08 Zhu Bajie flashback, Sandy could very well have watched his friend die.

But, now that Sandy has his friends back in his life? Of course he's going to do whatever he can for them!

Which would include anything from making tea to breaking his vow to never fight again.

And please for the love of god give us a Pigsy - Sandy origin story. I'm begging. WHAT IS THEIR HISTORY MAN. WHY DID PIGSY KNOW HOW TO COMMIT A JAILBREAK.

#that slice of life sandy show sounds so comfy #I would love to learn about the sanctity of quiet moments and daily life with my favorite blue thing!#Also MK get's therapy pog #anyways *plays Sandy's ''anything for pigsy'' in my mind over and over again*#So if the stars aligned and BOTH og Sandy is current Sandy and eamk were true #Which is unlikely. BUT PRETENDING FOR A MOMENT IT COULD HAPPEN #The dream would be for Sandy to share what he learned with MK.#Like. How he got from ''I am a monster! That's what the world wants me to be—so that's what I'm gonna give 'em!'' to #''Hurting others isn't a measure of one's strength'' and just wanting to have some tea with his friends #Either way clearly Sandy has some expertise on the subject of being a chaotic destructive force. HE CAN HELP MK OKAY #HE HAS GUIDANCE AND WISDOM TO SHARE #SANDY MK TRAINING ARC WHEN #I need Sandy to meditate with MK at least once alright #Which may never happen and that's okay. But I can dream!#asks #lmk theory #lmk #lego monkie kid #monkie kid #lmk sandy #Still chasing the high of 2x03 where Sandy and MK made tea together #unhinged anon

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fancycat-thesilvertux · 2 years

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Alright, okay. This won’t leave me alone, so I’m gonna make it everyone else’s problem.

A Lego Monkie Kid x Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu AU where MK and Lloyd are half-brothers.

How, you’re gonna wonder? A younger Garmadon had a fling with MK’s mother while she was visiting Ninjago for vacation. She didn’t realize she was pregnant until she was back in China, and unfortunately, she couldn’t get into contact with Garmadon since they didn’t exchange information.

MK’s mother died giving birth to him, and while he was taken in by her family, they didn’t like MK because one, he was born out of wedlock, and two, they blamed him for the death of his mother. Pigsy and Tang (freenoodleshipping4life!) adopted MK when they found a little waif rummaging around the garbage cans behind the restaurant. MK’s bio fam was charged with child neglect, endangerment, and abuse and taken away.

MK always had weird dreams, MK’s dreams including weapons made of gold, a man swathed in darkness, colorful and sparkly tornados, snake people, and skeleton warriors. Pigsy and Tang chalked it up to him just being very imaginative, although they worried because some of what MK drew from his dreams was frightening. They got MK to talk to Sandy about them, and MK stopped having dreams - what they thought. He just kept it a secret he was still having those dreams, hiding his drawings.

When MK and Lloyd started dreaming about one another, they found that they were actually sharing dreams, which baffled them as they didn’t understand how? Nonetheless, the two made good with the situation and talked, Lloyd finding a friend and older brother figure in MK whereas MK found a friend and little brother figure in Lloyd.

When MK learned about Lloyd’s situation at Darkley’s, he said as upset. He knew what it was like to be somewhere with people that made you feel unwanted and unloved, fearful of your safety, and he didn’t want Lloyd to continue being in such a situation. MK had confided in Mei about his dreams and Lloyd, and Mei believed him as she didn’t have a reason not to believe MK, he never lied to her about something so serious-sounding before, after all!

They devised a plan to go to Ninjago to get Lloyd. Mei told her parents that she wanted to go to Ninjago to check out the history there since the place had a lot of interesting history, and she wanted to bring MK along since she thought he’d get a kick out of it. They reluctantly agreed since Mei was showing an interest in the history of something and with MK, she was less likely to get into any trouble. Pigsy and Tang got convinced since they thought a change of scenery would be good for MK, who seemed agitated as of late.

MK told Lloyd about the plan, and Lloyd told MK that the best place they’d be able to meet is Ninjago City, since Darkley’s was taking a field trip there. The boys have some kind of guardian watching out for them to have that kind of luck. (It later gets learned that it was the FSM whispering in some ears. He wanted to change his grandsons’ destinies.)

The only issue that happened in getting Lloyd away was that the principal tried stopping them until Mei threatened him. Never underestimate a descendant of dragons!

The three return to China where it got explained to Pigsy and Tang that while on the trip, they found Lloyd who was running away from his school and that he didn’t have anyone else wanting him. While initially hesitant, the two decided to adopt Lloyd as well since the kid needed stability in his life, but also because Lloyd had the same lost and vulnerable look on his face they remembered MK having before they took him in.

And for a while, everything went well until Lord Garmadon came a-knockin, trying to find where his son had gone.

#lego monkie kid #ninjago: masters of spinjitzu #lmk au #n:mos au #crossover au #lmk x n:mos crossover au #MK and Lloyd are half-brothers #garmadad #I’ve watched too much of both shows and my mind wants to give Lloyd a loving yet chaotic upbringing #all the while giving MK a gremlin of a little brother and a protective banished tyrant father #because chaos #and shenanigans #lmk xiaotian #lmk mk #ninjago lloyd #lloyd garmadon

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chaozsilhouette · 3 years

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A Father’s Love

Another piece for @winterpower98's Swap Au.

I don’t really have a time frame for this scene, but with all the horror MK has had to endure in this AU I couldn’t help myself. I just needed a bit of fluff to break up my writing. Plus, I am all for Tang showing just how much he loves MK and being a protective father figure.

The poor boy needs a break, but we all know it won’t last.

_____________________________

“Well now, aren’t you a stubborn human.” Sun Wukong mused as he took in the one who dared to separate him from his creation.

The ground was split in a dozen directions. Craters dotted the landscape. The scent of volatile magic soaked the air. Yet, in the center of all this was a small circle of undisturbed land where his boy and the human stood unharmed.

The human didn’t look particularly impressive. If he had to guess, somewhere in his early to late thirties. He was obviously healthy but still suffered from the weaknesses all humans share. No, what truly caught his attention was the strangest sensation he knew this human. Almost as if the golden fillet was readying itself by his mere presence.

The human’s talent in magic was nothing to scoff at. Admittedly, it was nothing he couldn’t brush off, but seeing a human wielding so much raw power was supposed to be nearly impossible in this modern age. However, defying the odds here one stood before him trying to keep him from one of his treasures.

He was not alone in his curiosity. The Monkey King watched as MK stared at the bespeckled man in utter surprise.

“Since when could you do that?!” The newly revealed monkie demon all but screeched.

“Not too long.” The scholar cryptically stated.

His annoyance at the lack of an answer freed Mk of his fear. Just enough to swallow his need to be supported during this horrible moment and say what needed to be said. “You’ve got to run! Forget about me and get the others to safety!”

“I’d listen to my son if I were you, human.” The tyrant stated with a cocky smirk. “Since he’s started to learn his lesson about where he belongs I can be generous. You can take all your friends back home to rest up and we can continue another day.”

With a trembling hand, MK desperately gripped Tang’s pant leg. Praying that his love would be translated behind his pathetic display. “Please. I can’t see you get hurt because of me.” They were the kindest people he ever had the pleasure of knowing. He couldn’t bear knowing they got hurt trying to save him. The only reason they were in this crisis was because of him. If he hadn’t been so weak...

If he didn’t allow himself to be used, Wukong would still be trapped.

“Mk, you know I can’t leave anyone behind to suffer this tyrant’s hospitality.” The word was hissed out with more venom than a viper pit. “Especially not after learning of Macaque’s past.” Tang adjusted his stance so his side now supported the youth. His fingers twitched randomly, his eyes remained locked onto the armored demon. “Besides, we both know Mei would gut the two of us if we even think of considering it.”

It made no sense. They were in the presence of a being that filled the nightmares of all, from the lowliest human to celestial kings, yet young simian couldn’t help but smile. “Good point.” Compared to the Monkey Tyrant the young dragon was an insect, but she had earned the fear that accompanied her ire.

“Such a touching display. But do you really think you will be able to give him what he needs? That others will accept who he really is? You can say you love him until the sun blows up, but it will never change the fact he is me.” The Monkey King’s smile showed nothing but cruel amusement, but his tail betrayed his fraying patience.

“Do you take me for a fool? It doesn’t matter what he looks like, where he came from, or how he started out. He is my Son! And I refuse to let anyone abuse his kind heart ever again!”

Two hands slammed into the ground with unnatural force. Mystic runes and circles filled the air as the battlefield was bathed in a gentle yellow light. Golden ropes wrapped around the Tyrant as the earth formed a five-sided fortress around him. Symbols were burned into each side, somehow not concealing the burning rage from Sun Wukong’s enraged expression.

With that done, Tang grabbed MK’s hand and ran knowing full well both their lives depended on it. “Come on! That won’t distract him for long.”

Or at all. They hadn’t cleared five meters before they started to rocks crumble and mystic bindings viciously snap.

Somehow the two of them were able to reunite with Macaque and Mei in order to get some much-needed distance without any major obstacles. It was silently agreed that the Moneky Tyrant had let them leave. Why? They didn’t want to think about it. All they could do was patch themselves up and think of a new plan.

_____________________________

Pigsy treated them all to a delicious meal, after yelling at the four of them for tangling with the Monkey King. About how they could have gotten killed and berating them for thinking about leaving them behind. Tang was certain Pigsy’s volume was the only reason Macaque looked uncomfortable.

That night they all stayed with Sandy. It was agreed that they should stick together until the heat dies down. Mei stepped out to call her parents to warn them about ... everything. While Macaque had essentially taken over as her father figure it didn’t mean her birth parents were no longer a target. Macaque aided Sandy in setting up the spare rooms. Piggy was just cleaning up dinner and preparing a few things for breakfast.

Leaving Tang to begin creating wards to hang around the boat and MK to uncomfortably sit as he stared at the scholar.

“Why did you do that?”

Tang pushed up his glasses, looking more grave than the teen ever recalled seeing.

“I was preparing that spell the moment I opened my mouth. I figured after that outburst it was only a matter of time before he got bored playing nice and when for the kill. Despite what movies would make you believe, talking is not a free action.” His precious disciples learned that lesson the hard way.

“No. I mean...when you said all that stuff, did you really mean it? You view me as a son?” MK could barely get the last word out. It felt like all of this was just a wonderful dream and when he awoke he’d be back on Flower Fruit Mountain.

Tang set down his brush to fully face the demon. “Of course, I mean it. I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t.” He poured his entire soul into that truth, a fact he was proud to scream to the heavens.

“Even when I look like this?” Sharing the same face of the demon who caused so much pain and suffering. He could barely stand it, but the thought of continuing to live in his human form just felt even more unbearable. He was tired of lies. Tired of being used.

“So you look like a demon monkey, big deal." Tang waved off the concern, regaining his trademark confident sass. "Last I checked, we are close with several demons one of which is a rather famous monkey. At your core, you are still the same MK we grew to know and care about. You may have started out as Wukong’s clone, but you have come a long way since then.”

Seeing that the boy was still unconvinced, Tang wrapped his arms around the child’s shoulders and brought him in for a hug. “You will always have a place with me, with any of us. You are loved and appreciated, Xiǎotiān. Never forget that.” Circles were slowly traced on his back as shaky breathing gradually evened out.

Xiǎotiān nuzzled his father’s neck. Taking in the scent of aged paper, ink, and tea. “Can I sleep with you tonight?”

“Of course.” Gentle fingers slowly combed through his hair.

The world was falling into the depths of madness, but in this moment Xiǎotiān could deceive himself into believing everything would work out.

#lego monkie kid #lmk #tang #sun wukong #qi xiaotian #monkie kid #past abuse #winterpower98 #monkie kid swap au #dad tang #Tang is Tripitaka #monkey tyrant

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inkweaver22-blr · 3 years

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Wow! Two chapters in two days? I'm as surprised as you are. Now this chapter technically takes place before chapter 1, so keep that in mind. Let's see what Tang does in one of the earliest cycles.

AO3 Link

Scattered Cicadas - Chapter Two: Hope and Despair, Life and Death

Content Warning: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Major Character Death

Tang tests the limits and rules of his new life. He gets mixed results.

----------

He was in a dimly lit cave. Nothing else around except for the stone floor and walls. Several voices suddenly shout out to him, calling his name. Before he can react he is consumed by a bright, all-encompassing golden-yellow light.

----------

With a gasp Tang awoke from the dream and looked around. He was back in his room. Again.

He quickly scrambled for his phone. That had been the third time he had that strange dream and, judging by the date he read on the screen, the third time he had jumped back in time.

Tang clutched the phone and stared at it in disbelief. This couldn’t really be happening right? Time loops were just cheesy narrative devices used in bad sci-fi and fix-it fanfictions. (Not that he had ever written a fix-it fic. Nope. Not him.)

With a shaky breath the scholar got out of bed and began to prepare for the day. Sitting around panicking wasn’t going to solve this. What he needed was a clear head and a sympathetic ear.

His stomach growled.

Perhaps a meal wouldn’t go wrong either.

Tang left his apartment and headed straight to the one place he knew where he could satisfy all three needs.

----------

“Wow Mr. Tang. That all sounds a bit… Unbelievable to be honest.” MK had been pretty excited at first when Tang had started his tale. But once the scholar further explained the coming events his enthusiasm waned. Tang assumed he didn’t enjoy hearing that he would eventually lose a fight against the Lady Bone Demon and have his brand new powers taken from him.

“You sure it wasn’t just a bad dream,” Pigsy asked in concern. While he had been skeptical of Tang’s story, the pig demon hadn’t dismissed him out of hand.

“Yes, I am positive.” Tang took a breath and tried to keep his tone even. He knew what he was saying sounded far fetched, but getting upset that they didn’t believe him wouldn’t be productive. “This is the third time I’ve had that dream and the third time I’ve woken up in my room back in time after starting the second Journey to the West. Something strange is going on.”

Pigsy shared a glance with MK who shrugged and turned back to Tang.

“Well if you say something weird is happening, then I believe you.” The sincerity and trust in MK’s statement made something in Tang’s chest unclench.

“Thank you MK,” he said with a sigh of relief.

“Hey,” the delivery boy suddenly exclaimed, his earlier excitement returning. “Maybe the Monkey King might know what’s going on! I’ll be sure to ask him later when we meet up for training.”

“Great idea, kid,” Pigsy said. “And aren’t you always going on about how such a great scholar you are? Surely you could find something in those dusty books you’re always praising.”

The pressure in his chest quickly turned into a comforting warmth. Tang wasn’t sure how he had managed to get such supportive friends but he was glad for it.

“You’re right! I’ll head over to the library right now.” He smiled brightly at the two before heading for the door. “We’ll meet back up this evening to discuss what we’ve found.” He ducked out of the shop, calling out a ‘Thank you!’ as he left.

Tang’s good mood carried him all the way to the bus stop and for the whole ride to the library. He was certain that with the help of his friends they’d be able to find a quick solution to his problem.

----------

Tang gave a sigh as he sat down in his usual stool. His research at the library had been going much slower than he would have liked. He had a few potential leads he could follow up on but nothing solid had shown up yet.

“Something eating you,” Pigsy asked as he placed the scholar’s usual order in front of him. Tang thanked him, inhaling the delicious aroma of noodles cooked to perfection before quickly digging in.

“The research at the library isn’t going quite as quickly as I had hoped,” Tang replied around a mouthful of food. “I’m sure I’ll find something soon though.”

“Ooooh! What’cha researching,” an inquisitive voice piped up behind him. Tang turned to find both MK and Mei in a nearby booth. Mei was messing with something on her phone while MK seemed interested at the mention of his research.

“I told you and Pigsy about it this morning,” Tang said with a frown. “You know? The time loop I seem to be stuck in?”

“You’re stuck in a time loop?!” Both MK and Mei practically teleported from their seats and were now leaning excitedly into his personal space.

“You told the kid and I about this earlier?” Pigsy frowned at the scholar, his brow furrowed in confusion.

Tang’s heart began to beat a little faster.

“I- Yes. MK, you were supposed to ask the Monkey King if he knew anything,” Tang nervously explained.

“I was? Hmm...” The Monkey King’s successor scratched his head. “I don’t remember you asking me that.”

“Aw, who cares,” Mei shouted excitedly. “This is so cool! Tell us what’s going to happen!”

Tang took a steadying breath. Perhaps both Pigsy and MK had busy and stressful days today and simply forgot. Yes, that had to be it. With nothing better to do, he launched into a second retelling of what he remembered.

Again, MK had seemed subdued at the thought of being beaten. Again, Pigsy was somewhat skeptical but didn’t outright call him a liar. Mei being excited and boldly stating that none of the bad stuff would happen this time around was a welcome distraction from his fears. MK promised once again to ask the Monkey King questions and Pigsy once again encouraged him to go looking for answers. Mei even offered to let him into her family’s personal library.

Tang once more felt the anxiety bleeding away and the warmth for his friends replacing it. He picked up his bowl and resumed eating his now lukewarm noodles. There was a comfortable lull in conversation for a few minutes.

“Hey, you never did tell us what you were researching Mr. Tang,” MK said curiously. “Anything interesting?”

Tang dropped his bowl onto the counter.

“Oi! Watch it!”

Tang ignored Pigsy’s indignant shout as he whirled to face the younger man. He was sitting at the booth with Mei once more, his expression completely earnest. Mei seemed disinterested as she played on her phone.

The scholar’s heart began to race.

“But I just told you!” His panicked tone earned concerned looks from his friends. “I’m stuck in a time loop and you all just offered to help me find a way out!”

“You’re stuck in a time loop?!” Both MK and Mei practically teleported from their seats and were now leaning excitedly into his personal space.

“We offered to help you out just now?” Pigsy frowned at the scholar, his brow furrowed in confusion as he wiped up the broth spilled from Tang’s dropped bowl.

Tang felt sick.

----------

Tang lay in his bed, the anxiety and fear of the last few days clutching at his heart and preventing him from sleeping.

Every time he told his friends about his predicament, not even five minutes later they would act like the conversation had never happened. He had Mei record a video of it once, but the file instantly became corrupted upon completion. Not even the Monkey King, who he forced MK to take him to, was able to keep his memories of anything Tang said.

Whatever was happening, whatever magical effect he was under, it was forcing people to forget everything he told them about it.

Tang had never felt more alone.

----------

Tang glared from his position at the counter as the fake mayor presented MK with the Skeleton Key. He had learned during the second loop the real identity of this man: a servant of Lady Bone Demon.

The scholar angrily slurped at his noodles as he thought about the past few weeks.

He had been hiding in his apartment for a few days, refusing to speak to anyone before his friends took matters into their own hands. They stormed his home, kidnapped him, and plonked him down in Sandy’s therapy cat room until he broke down and explained his actions.

He couldn’t tell them what was actually happening, but his feelings of loneliness and despair were something Tang felt he could share.

Warmth bloomed in his chest at how his friends had been more than supportive. Sandy made him a special blend of teas that would help with anxiety. MK and Mei did their best to involve him in more activities, inviting him to the zero gravity arcade and other fun events. Pigsy’s actions had been the most surprising, practically forcing Tang to move into his apartment.

“Nobody should be alone if they don’t have to,” was all the chef had to say on the subject.

“Because I’M the mayor!”

Tang was snapped out of his fond recollections by the obnoxious voice of the Lady Bone Demon’s servant and subsequent explosion of smoke as he teleported away.

Oh right. The Skeleton Key.

The scholar scowled down into his bowl as he half listened to MK and Mei gush over all the cool things they could unlock. This being his third loop and fourth time experiencing these events overall, he was fairly positive this was the catalyst that led to Lady Bone Demon appearing. It was a shame he couldn’t just take the key and prevent that from happening.

Wait.

Tang sat up straight in his stool, his thoughts racing.

Why couldn’t he? What was it Mei had said the first time he told her about the future? That this time none of the bad stuff would happen. Just because he was the only one who knew about what was to come didn’t mean he couldn’t do anything about it!

Tang dashed out after MK and Mei as they left the store, quickly inviting himself along. Throughout the day his heart raced as he tried to come up with a way to get the key away from them.

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In the end it was relatively easy. One made up story about an unopenable letter box belonging to his grandmother and a promise to bring the key with him to the shop the following morning was all it took.

Tang stood alone in his room in his and Pigsy’s shared apartment. In his hands was the Skeleton Key.

His heart pounded as he stared down at the artifact. This was it. He could prevent Lady Bone Demon’s rise to power.

With trembling fingers, Tang took the key in both hands.

Then he snapped it in half.

Tang was launched back against the wall as a wave of force exploded from broken artifact. He slid to the ground as the energy dissipated, only to gag as a hand gripped his throat and pushed him back up against the wall.

“What have you done?!”

Tang gasped as stared down into the very pissed off face of the fake mayor. The scholar clawed at the hand holding him up and cutting off his air, desperate to get it to release him.

“You have ruined our plans,” the mayor hissed. “You’ve snapped them in two. Now I’ll do the same to you!”

Tang had never thought about how it might feel to have one’s neck snapped. Unfortunately, the mayor decided to help him experience the sensation first hand.

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Alone in a cave. Voices shouting his name. A bright golden-yellow light.

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Tang came awake half screaming and half sobbing. He gasped and choked as the phantom sensation of not being able to breath refused to leave. The sound of his own neck being broken seemed to be drowning out other sounds and made his stomach rebel. He quickly leaned over the side of his bed and vomited.

Fuck.

He had just died.

Murdered in a horrifically violent fashion.

Tang vomited again.

“Tang?!” A gruff and startled voice cut through Tang’s panic. He looked up to see the blurry form of Pigsy standing in the doorway. Without his glasses he couldn’t tell what the chef’s expression was, but by the sound of his voice he seemed a bit freaked out.

Unable to really articulate at the moment, Tang simply sobbed and reached out a hand towards the pig demon. Pigsy didn’t hesitate and rushed over, pulling the scholar into a hug and began whispering comforts into his ear.

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Tang had been a complete mess for the remainder of that cycle. He practically lived in Sandy’s therapy room (which strangely had ferrets instead of cats) and rarely spoke.

His friends were deeply concerned over his changed behavior and it warmed him at the ways they all tried to accommodate him. But what could he tell them? They wouldn’t remember anything he told them anyway.

So he told them nothing. He let them dote on him and he did his best to heal.

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It took him five more cycles before Tang tried changing anything major for the better again.

It went about as well as the first time.

Dying violently hadn’t gotten easier to deal with the second time around.

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After his disastrous second attempt Tang tried changing smaller things.

An anonymous tip to the weather station about a potential attack resulted in the city being destroyed in a massive storm.

Telling MK that the prize for the race wasn’t a real Peach of Immortality ended with Mei paralyzed from the waist down.

Casually bringing up stories of Macaque from the original Journey led to MK being kidnapped and turned into a horrific combination of weapon and surrogate son to the black furred demon.

Tang wasn’t stupid. He was a scholar and academic. He could see a pattern when it presented itself.

The message was clear.

Don’t attempt changing any significant events.

So he didn’t.

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Tang almost passed out in relief when he first figured out that while major events were off limits, the quieter moments of his life were still under his own control.

Small things like choosing where to take Pigsy on a date or comforting MK through his insecurities and not having something terrible happen nearly made him weep in happiness.

Slowly his confidence was restored. He vowed that if he couldn’t really change what happened, he’d be there for his friends and to help pick up the pieces after things went wrong. It was the least he could do after the kindnesses they showed him.

And there had to be a way to break this cycle. He refused to believe that this would be his life for the rest of eternity. The knowledge Tang needed was out there somewhere. He just needed to keep going until he found it.

Life continued, and Tang chose to continue living.

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Bet you all thought this was just going to be a fluffy romp through the timelines huh? WELL YOU WERE WRONG! Told you I would change those content warnings when I needed to. Get your tissues ready because this is just the first wave of angst our little scholar boy will have to weather. Events from now on won't be in explicit chronological order but I'll make sure to make it clear which events came first when needed. See ya'll in the next chapter!

EDIT

Shout out to PeachBased for pointing out the reference in this chapter I forgot to credit!

That line about MK becoming Macaque's messed up weapon/son is a reference to Repeated Consequences by Gremlin_In_Blue. Fair warning though:

PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO ALL THE TAGS AS THIS FIC IS PRETTY GRAPHIC!!!

#Ink Writes #LEGO Monkie Kid #Monkie Kid #Scattered Cicadas #Tang #Tang Monkie Kid #Pigsy #MK #Mei #Sandy #The Mayor #angst #hurt/comfort #Repeated Consequences #Gremlin_In_Blue

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