Oh imagine Iron Fan meeting the triplets-
She didn't really believe her husband or her son when they told her that Wukong had three babies because she really can't believe Wukong wouldn't figure out that donating dao= actual babies.
Then the family is released from the scroll of memory by a very concerned Xiaotian and Xiaojiao, Wukong, and three small babies. Thunder, the shyest one, reaches out first to meet his aunt.
Iron Fan hadn't been around during New Years to meet the triplets like her boys had. When her husband rushed home (son in tow) and told her that Sun Wukong had three very young cubs, PIF was intrigued.
Her first question was obvious: Whom was responsible?
DBK, trying not to laugh: "You would not believe me if I told you."
PIF, smirking as she sips tea: "I am rarely surprised."
DBK: "The Macaque."
PIF, teacup rattles slightly: "...I will admit, that is surprising. But I thought Macaque had long since past?"
DBK: "It appears that our late brother left behind three pieces of his soul on Flower Fruit Mountain to guard his effects. After his passing, Brother Wukong could not bear parting with the shadows of his mate - and began pouring his own life energy into them."
PIF, understanding: "Ah. Supplying the Yang to the Yin. No wonder. I would have done the same if you had left shadows of your own."
DBK, chuckling: "He certainly hadn't known that when they formed!"
PIF, suppressing a laugh: "Pardon?!"
Red Son supplies photographic proof (shared by Mei) of the shadowy monkey cubs playing with Noodle Boy on the airship, and reuniting with their "Mother" Sun Wukong once freed. Little dark fluffy things with red markings on their faces, and gleaming red-orange eyes.
PIF: "That one in his arms... they are smaller than their siblings."
DBK: "Wukong explained that he had not known of the third shadow until the elder two had fully formed. It was still too underdeveloped to separate from him when he had been captured."
PIF, sympathetic: "Oh, poor dear... I hope you scolded him for putting himself and his baby in danger!"
DBK: "You know I did. Although I had been distracted at the time - the littlest one had chosen that moment to finally break away from his parent and exist in this plane!"
PIF, adoring: "Aww."
Having birthed a child with special needs herself, Iron Fan feels a kinship with the smallest of Wukong' children.
She doesn't manage to meet them until her release from the Scroll in S4. The Macaque had apparently been revived, and even under threat of his new master, had ensured his cubs and mate were kept safely together.
(*the Demon Bull Family are released from their Scrolls*)
DBK, shuddering: "I did not care for those 500 years under that mountain. But at least I relived falling in love with you all over again."
PIF, light blush: "My hopeless romantic."
MK, sighs with relief: "Whew! Glad we didn't have to drag you guys out of a memory or anything."
Mei, hugging Red Son: "Well except for ol' Red Boy here. He was so cute as a baby!"
Red Son, embarrassed: "I was running around naked, setting the countryside ablaze!"
DBK & PIF: (*"Aww" as they remember*)
Mei: "Case in point; totes adorbs."
Red Son: (*grumbling*)
Wukong, holding a cub: "I'm just glad all of you are okay. Azure did not make it easy for us."
Macaque, carrying the other two cubs: "Especially since the cubs tried to join in the fight." (*baby-talking to the cubs*) "Yes you did! You tried biting Peng's tail feathers off. Yes you did! You wanted to be like your Baba and fight the mean birdie!"
Rumble & Savage: (*happily babbling chirps!*)
PIF & DBK: (*looks at the scene with a mixture of adoring and sadness*)
Thunder: (*silently hops out of Wukong's arms and toddles towards the Princess*)
Thunder, holding up arms: "AH!"
PIF, stunned: "...pardon?"
Wukong, knowing smile: "He means Up. Thunder has been exercising getting farther away from me. He wants you to pick him up so he can properly say Hi."
PIF: (*looking down at the cub, she silently lifts him into her arms. The tiny hands reaching up to inspect her horned hairstyle ala Maleficent 2014*)
Thunder, amazed: "Ah!"
PIF, smile slowly forming: "Hello little one. I've heard much about you."
Thunder: (*sniffing her face and nuzzling against her cheek, making happy chirping sounds*)
PIF: (*silent tears forming. She would fight Heaven for this baby*)
She about to ask Bull to try for another baby, cus gotdamn Wukong and Macaque's brood make her want at least three more.
