#stone monkeys

[quitealotofsodapop]

So, I personally headcanon Wukong as a Golden Lion Tamarin and Liu'er (obviously) being a six-eared Rhesus Macaque. Everyone wonders how the Hell is their relationship stable.

Me and @soniclozdplove have actually discussed ideas on alternate SWK & LEM forms!

Since the Celestial Primates are said to only resemble the species they're named for, they can theoretically be almost any primate in form! It's why lots of people headcanon the "Red Buttocked Horse Monkey" as being a Baboon or Mandrill, as "Horse Monkey" is vague in meaning either "has a horse-like face" or "monkeys kept with horses". Long-Armed Gibbon is pretty solid decriptor, though we don't know the type; chinese art depicts Red-Cheeked Gibbons a lot due to their chromosome-based monochromatic fur colours resembling Yin & Yang.

A Golden-Lion Wukong is especially adorable, since they are infamously orange, adorable, and great parents. The only issue being that they aren't native to Asia, only Brazil. Then again, it would make sense for a monkey no one knows the true species of to be one they're unlikely to ever have seen. Also tamarins are very sassy towards humans! XD

And ofc the "Six Eared Macaque" is a Rhesus Macaque - the "Mihou" in "Liu'er Mihou" means "macaque/rhesus monkey".

In Chapter 1 of JTTW; Subodhi/Puti describes Wukong as "resembling pine-eating macaques".

Also in a later segment (Kingdom of Wuji) Wukong is described as having cheek pouches - a trait typical of macaques, but also of many monkey species.

A few people suggest that Wukong, being derived from the Hindu deity Hanuman, is also likely based on a Bonnet Macaque - which have handsome opera-like red markings. While recent depiction take inspiration from Pigtailed Macaques - who look like they serving looks with that natural eyeliner. They also frequently interbreed with Rhesus's macaques (oh my!). A few designs also take inspo from Golden-Snub Nosed Monkeys.

One artist @digitalagepulao has their Wukong design based on Francois & Grey Langurs: Which are species macaques will often avoid/ignore in the wild. Also cheeto-puff looking babies.

And us regular fans aren't the only ones to speculate on the Monkey King's species! Dasheng/SWK's design in "Monkey King; Hero is Back" is partially inspired by long-limbed gibbons! Even older films and cartoons use spider monkeys as references for Wukong's swinging movements.

In terms of Old World monkeys; one adorable idea came to mind.

Behold! The smallest Old World Monkey; the Talapoin aka "little monk"!

The adults are a little smaller than a cat. And although they are a mid-African species, they likely had a much larger range prior to humans.

Imagine meeting the dreaded "Handsome Wise Monkey King; Great Sage Equal to Heaven" and the lil mf is the length of a banana! Still just as deadly as in canon though!

Tripitaka sees his future bodyguard and honestly doesn't recognise him for who he is. He thinks the cat-sized monkey is some poor trapped animal.

Tripitaka: "Oh Buddha's grace! What poor thing! How did you become trapped here!? Wukong, tamarin/talapoin-sized & in disbelief: "Has the Havoc I wrought in Heaven been lost to history already?" Tripitaka, shocked/confused: "The... havoc in heaven? But, that was infamously done by the Monkey King, was it not?" Wukong, relieved smile: "Yes it was! Tripitaka, growing horror on his face: "But that would make you- oh Buddha's grace."

Wukong gets increasingly frustrated as demons and celestials underestimate and misidentify him based on his size alone. Even those who fought him directly in battle seem to second0guess themselves!

Wukong: (*standing proud in his armour*) Zhu Bajie, aghast: "THAT'S what defeated all of Heaven!?" Sha Wujing: "He seemed bigger from a distance." Ao Lie, remembers Wukong from when he was a pup: "Did he shrink in the Furnace, perhaps?" Nezha: "Holy... I thought you were just transformed that whole time. I used to hold you like a toy!" DBK: "Haha! Still my mighty Xiandi!" [worthy little brother] Macaque: "Told ya I'd be taller."

There are some benefits though. It's a lot easier to sneak the dreaded demon king into a city or temple if he just looks like the Tang Monk's dear pet. After the pair get more comfortable around each other - Tripitaka frequently forgets himself and pets/grooms Wukong's fur like he would a cat. Wukong doesn't mind in the slightest, he likes being groomed.

In the case of Shadowpeach - that feel when your bf/gf is twice your size but bows to you like the King you are. <3

I especially love the idea of Stone Monkeys being smol in the context of LMK; since MK would have come to Pigsy almost Thumbelina size.

Pigsy, holding baby MK in one hand: "Oh sweet Guanyin!!! The smallest piece of heaven!"

[quitealotofsodapop]

Hc for the island is alive au

Wukong will lay in the dirt and hum the song he hears from the mountain for his non-stone monkey subjects to hear. It’s especially calming for the babies so occasionally his subjects (demon monkey or regular monkey) just use him as a babysitter.

Mk shows up to see Wukong covered in sleeping children and just lays next to him. Training cancelled, his mentor is trapped

Earth song ref.

According to a few astronomy videos; Earth "sings" in whistles, hums, and chirps - almost like a songbird, a whale song, or in this case a chirpy monkey!

Wukong isn't even aware of when he "sings back" to the Earth Song - its just something he's done since his hatching, like a cub calling to the rest of the troop. When he's in a musical mood, he accidentally attracts a bunch of baby monkeys! XD

MK might not be able to fully hear or interpret the Earth Song yet; but he can admit to the calming influence he has just lying on the soft ground. He likens it to being cuddled by a purring cat... but it's Everywhere.

There's probs some babies who prefer the "Wind Song" tho - and those are the ones who mob Macaque whenever he visits. He has a habit of humming/whistling the tunes he hears from the Wind - though he would never admit it if asked. His songs are more like the sound of bells rumbling or rustling leaves.

[quitealotofsodapop]

Can't believe we created two brand new monkies and fleshed out the stone matriarch au even more

YEP

You know how in previous posts about Nuwa and how she ties into the idea of Stone Monkeys having an established peoples and lore prior to the Fifth Pillar breaking the first time?

Well, Nuwa and Fuxi had to start somewhere.

Meet;

Jiéshí/Jieshi - the First Stone/Mountain Primate, and Flower Fruit Mountain.

Yes you read that right. He IS Flower Fruit Mountain.

When he was created; Nuwa and Fuxi had used a LOT of earthen clay to create him, hoping to circumvent the issues the other clay-born creatures were having. As a result, he grew BIG.

Jieshi would become the ancestor of almost all Stone Monkeys that came after him, save for his almost-equally huge clay-born siblings - called the "Mountain Primates" for their size and unique end-of-life ritual. Most of them intermarrying with regular non-clay born monkeys.

(Plus the "pebble eggs" Fuxi had given the previous generations of clay monkeys managed to hatch into little monkeys from sheer belief, albeit much, much smaller than their mountain-sized kin.)

One day, Nuwa began to run out of fertile clay, and became worried that she would no longer be able to create anymore creatures. What's more, the mainland was getting more and more dangerous for her creations as humans reestablished themselves at the top of the food chain.

Jieshi decided that his body would become an island in the storm for his descendants - sacrificing his massive stony body to become the very base of Flower Fruit Mountain. A volcano erupting as his final breath.

His fellow Mountain Primates followed his footsteps, his siblings becoming the other islands in the archipelago of Alolai. The last of the Mountain Primates would shape the mainland itself - becoming the ridges traversed by pilgrims to come. The Buddha was forced to imprison Sun Wukong in a mountain made from his own han, as placing him under any regular mountain held the risk of the Stone Monkey being discovered by the spirits of his ancestral kin.

Ty for reminding me of the Boiling Isles in our dms;

Jieshi may not be "alive" in a typical sense, but he is certainly not silent.

His voice is unheard by those not able to hear his "Earth Song" - the sound carried by micro tremors and the heat of the earth below rather than the wind (which makes it unheard to Six Ears meant for hearing sound carried by wind). His voice is a lullaby and guidance all in one - him seeing all the monkeys stone-or-not on his body as his grandchildren. He also doesn't wish to awaken any of the slumbering eggs left behind by those who chose to give themselves back to the earth as he did.

The tragedy of Shihua the Last Stone Matriarch still occurs, the Great Flood decimating her people and all those who lived in Alolai. The Queen had been guided by Jieshi's Earth Song to the very peak of FFM, assured by spirit of the island that her child would be safe long after she relinquished her physical form to the Earth to create her Stone Egg.

Nuwa in turn, hoping for the continued survival of her most adored creations; asked Shihua to carry the soul of her and Fuxi's child in her Egg. A certain great soul that would rock the Heavens in many millennia's time.

It is said that the islands wept lava and rain for many months after the floodwaters receded, each of the mountain spirits sub-consciously mourning their lost descendants and culture.

One day, Jieshi's spirit was jostled awake by a little stone monkey breaking open from it's mother-stone. A tiny sunbeam-yellow newborn with eyes filled with wonder of the universe... and laser beams. XD

Jieshi continues to sing his Earth Song to his smallest "grandchild" long after tiny Shihou had grown into the self-made Monkey King Sun Wukong. But he can never stop seeing his smallest descendant as the cub that rolled around on his head all those eons ago. <3

So imagine the old mountain's sheer JOY at hearing the excited, playful chirps of a new clay-born cub on his head? One who's soul sang with the same power he was once blessed with by his Earth Mother Nuwa? :3

It takes MK a long time to be able to hear the "Earth Song" Monkey King refers to, but once he begins to understand, he can't ignore how much of it is unfettered praise for him and his mentor. <3

-

So how did the Lotus Eared Macaques and the other celestial primates happen?

Well, Nuwa was very proud of her creations, and every so often a god would ask for a "stone-born monkey" of their own!

Such as in the case of Taiyin Xingjun/Old Yin (Supreme Goddess of the Moon in Taoist belief):

Nuwa, holding a bunch of clay: "Do you have any animals in particular you like?" Taiyin Xingjun: "Well, my favourites are rabbits... but I would like to see how one your little stone monkeys would look like when the clay is set with moon dust." Nuwa, excited: "Oh! You're right! I hadn't thought of using binding agents from beyond earth! I have to use the river clay as the base like my newer creations, so they can make little monkeys of their own - but different binders should be fine!" (*Nuwa helps Xingjun mould the clay in her hands with the collected moon dust into an egg shape. As the older goddess holds the clay egg as delicately as she would a newborn, the egg suddenly pops open - revealing a newborn silver-furred monkey with strange ears*) Nuwa: "Oh! Thats new!" Taiyin Xingjun, overwhelmed: "Oh my! Oh, I'm so sorry little one! I must have had rabbits on my mind when I rolled the clay - oh your poor ears." Baby Monkey: (*confused by all the noise - ears are elongated like a rabbit's and seem to fan out closer to the base. Tail is stumpy and fluffy.*) Nuwa: "Aww, it like flower petals! She'll have no trouble hearing the music of the stars!" Taiyin Xingjun, humming a lullaby: "She really is like a precious lotus flower..."

That baby monkey was Liánhuā/Lianhua - the first born of the Lotus Eared Macaques. Forever small in stature, her later kin would balloon in size to fit the open lunar deserts. Their large glowing not-so-rabbit-like-anymore ears acting as bioluminescent signals to reach one another across the void of space. They still retained the "stone egg" feature of their core species - Nuwa was unsure how to patch it out just yet. XD

Lianhua had been treated as the youngest daughter of the Old Yin, equal to a princess in the old Moon Goddess's eye. When the elder moon gods became quieter with age, Lianhua and her children had been there; tending to their bodies and lands. The rabbit-eared princess learned much in the way of the dao, and the secrets of the universe from her adoptive mother

Lianhua was far more aloof than Jieshi, especially when it comes to their descendants. She too, lost many of her kin when the Fifth Pillar broke; but instead of remaining still she began travelling the universe - her flight aided by solar and cosmic winds. Her body more a moving mass of galactic light and wind than the mountain Jieshi became.

The Past, Present, and Future the Lotus Ears hear are in fact Lianhua's voice - speaking to her children with her collected knowledge of the universe.

Macaque always did wonder why the Wind sometimes sounded like a strict, disappointed grandmother. XD

[quitealotofsodapop]

I just had tbe sudden mental image of Wukong freaking out about the Egg like "Hiw is this possible!? Could it be!? No. No no no. Magical succession doesnt work like that, EVERYTHING ive read about it says it doesn't! The process had to have been a biological one, except... I'M the only one who should be capable of doing that... aren't I?"

All the while MK, who jsut told his mentor hes pregnant, is supremely confused

prev post.

Wukong had an inkling that MK was some sort of demon, whether hidden in his genetics or behind a glamour.

But he never considered that MK might be a *Stone Monkey demon* like him!

MK likely discovered his own condition on accident. Messing around with Gold Vision, seeing something weird in the mirror, and going to get it checked out.

He was planning to see a doctor, but figured he'd run it by the "had a whole Doctor arc in the book" Monkey King first. Mostly in case he needs to take some time off from training.

Tbh Wukong likely assumed at first that MK was just careless with a partner and hadn't realised it yet. But then the mass became distinctly "Egg-shaped" like he'd seen once before...

Wukong, feeling MK's pulse: "Ok you're blood pressure and pulse are up a little bit. You said you saw a mass?" MK: "Yeah. I messing around with what I could see with Gold Vison, and I looked at myself in the mirror. I was glowing like normal. but there was this super dense mass in my body. Its not like a magic or soul core thing is it?" Wukong, Gold Vision-lit eyes scrunching suspiciously: "Any other symptoms?" MK, thinking: "Uh... I've had mega stomach acid the last few days, but nothing much else. Wukong, disappointed sigh: "Well good news, it isn't a tumour or anything. Bad news, we can't continue training the way we've had the last few weeks." MK: "EH!? Why not!?" Wukong: "It's not a wise idea to spar while pregnant, bud." MK: (*shocked silent*) Wukong: "I understand this is a BIG thing to grapple with emotionally. I'm here no matter what you decide to do, but I sincerely hope you do what's best for your own health. Honestly I'm a little disappointed you weren't being more careful-" MK: "I wasn't." Wukong: "Obviously." MK: "NO! I mean, I wasn't doing anything careless! The only way I could be pregnant is like if something like that River chapter happened to me!" Wukong, pauses to think: "You're sure about that, bud?" MK: "YES!" Wukong, growing worried: "Uh oh." MK: "Why uh-oh?!" Wukong, breathes in deep: "Have you've... been buried in dirt and/or isolated underground for a period of time?" MK, confused: "Why?" Wukong: "Just answer the question, please." MK, thinks and trails off: "Weeellll...."

(*flashback to a few weeks before. MK and Red Son are having an unofficial Rival Fight on one of the island chain's volcanic masses. It's very chaotic with a lot of showy powers and mech equipment. Red Son tosses MK into the hot viscous mud just as he and the Staff get knocked away Team Rocket-style. MK is stuck in the cooled mud for some time, a few hours at most, before it cracks open; revealing him annoyed but unhurt. He spits out a bunch of rocks as the Staff finally returns to him.*)

MK: "So yeah..." Wukong, strained fake smile: "...wait here just a moment, 'kay?" MK: "Uh-" Wukong: (*shoves face into a portal and SCREAMS!*)

Wukong wonders if passing the torch magically altered MK's DNA, like some blood adoption rituals he's heard rumours about. But that shouldn't have happened with the method he used to share his power.

No matter how it happened, Wukong is officially Freaking Out.

[quitealotofsodapop]

Just read through the MKEgged tag, and where's Redson? I want to see the roller-coaster he goes on of "A baby!? Wait, who's the father If it can't be me? Oh, okay, no other parent. I'll step in and help, what do you mean the pregnancy has a high mortality rate!?"

Just this guy trying to figure out what he's feeling and how to handle things with this baby, because yay baby, but also No you're not allowed to die!"

Prev.

haha yes! XD

Red Son's bull-brain tells him "Whomst is the father!?" immediately, even if him and MK aren't in a fully romantic relationship yet. His infatuation tells him that only *he* can father Noodle Boy's progeny!

The fact that the pregnancy was magical in nature calms him down only a little bit... until he learns that MK's true species have a high maternal mortality rate due to this unique form of reproduction.

Red Son, busting on into MK's prenatal appointment: "Noodle Boy!! Who said that you're allowed to die!? I strictly forbid it!"

Red Son goes out of his way to investigate what knowledge is available on Stone Monkeys so he can devise a way to help MK survive and recover. He knocks on the door of every soul he can think of who would hold some idea of what to do; Lao Tzu, The Gold Star of Venus, and even Guanyin herself.

The alchemist and planet god both only had second-hand accounts of how Stone Monkeys lived, but provided copies of their literature all the same.

Approaching her old master was a little awkward, but the Bodhisattva Guanyin is a patron god of safe childbirth, and Red Son wanted to have their input on the matter. To her surprise, Guanyin was equally concerned for MK's well-being - and had already offered to attend the birth to ensure that they could monitor MK and the baby. Red Son learns from Guanyin that Sun Wukong himself had such questions many centuries ago, but curiously dropped the matter sometime after the Journey. Former master and disciple share a warm goodbye, finally reunited by their worry over a noodle monkey-boy.

Xiwangmu was still mourning the loss of her husband, so Red Son thought it improper to bother her on such a matter - but clearly Lao Tzu or Gold Star blabbed. The very next time Red Son stepped into the Celestial Realm, he found himself swept into a suffocating hug by the Queen Mother of the West.

Xiwangmu, weeping: "Oh, my little fire opal. You are so proactive! Scouring the Heavens and Earth to find a way to save your mate and child!" Red Son, confused: "EHH!?!?"

Turns out, the Queen Mother had a gut-reaction to hearing that her grandson's beloved ("WHO TOLD!?" shrieks Red) Monkey Prince was pregnant. And that reaction was; "GREAT-GRANDCUBS?!?!"

Red Son barely has a second to object. The Queen Mother weeps how the Jade Emperor is to miss the birth of his first great-grandchild, but that the pregnancy is a light in a very dark time for her and the court. She orders her court secretary to give Red Son unlimited access to the celestial library so that he can continue his research.

After the whirlwind of discovering that apparently even Heaven itself blames him for MK's Egg, Red Son turns to only two known members of the Noodle Boy's species.

Sun Wukong and the Six Eared Macaque.

The Macaque was the most difficult to get information out of since he kept slipping into the shadows whenever Red brought up questions on his species. Luckily one attempt/battle (it got out of hand) lead to the appearance of Sun Wukong on the scene.

Wukong: "What's the issue, firecracker?" Red Son, holding thick notepad: "I need to understand your species so I can devise a way to prevent MK's stone egg from killing him!" Macaque, turns off powers: "Oh! Why didn't you say so? I thought you were trying to dissect me or something!" XD Wukong: "We know almost everything there is on our species, so fire away kiddo." Red Son: "Yes! Finally! Question 1; in the case of self-spawned eggs, is the child a genetic clone of the parent?" Wukong & Macaque: (*both shake their heads*) Wukong: "Oh no. Its not a clone. You see, the Egg absorbs Dao from it's surroundings - not just it's parent. So it steals bits of DNA from whatever troop happens to be around. You know like friends, family-" Macaque, slyly: "Former mates." Wukong: "Former ma- hey!" (*glares*) Red Son, thinking: "So an additional source of life energy could supplement MK's own depleted supply?" Wukong: "Yeah... but the healthiest option is usually a dear friend or life partner. Someone who can cling to them and supply the most juice. Also helpful if the pregnant person wants their kid to look like their fave person." Macaque, knowing smile: "Or... whoever they have a big crush on." Red Son: (*hair-flames briefly flicker pink in blush as he imagines a red-furred baby monkey with calf hooves*) Red Son: "Wait. How come you both know so much about this topic? I know Sun Wukong has access to the celestial library, but Macaque has been barred from the palace grounds since the rebellion! Why do you share the same knowledge?" Wukong & Macaque: (*both start spluttering and choking on air*) Wukong, trying to find words: "You see-! We uh...!" Macaque: (*fades into background at 50% opacity, hiding face in scarf*) Red Son, realising: "Ah. I see. Thank you for your input, gentlemen." Wukong: "Where are you going now?" Red Son: "I'm going over to Noodle Boy's place. I have been invited for company." (*Red Son leaves. Macaque phases back in*) Wukong: "Well. The Egg might not be her doing. But she certainly wishes it was." Macaque: "I'm just glad they didn't try getting more out of us." Wukong, cheeky grin: "Like what? How we both know so much about Stone Eggs because once upon a time we wanted some of our own?" Macaque: (*hides face in scarf again*) "Shut up, peaches."

As for the Demon Bull parents? Well..

PIF, calmly writing letters: "Even if the child was not made the traditional fashion, we will both adore them all the same. I expect any grandchildren of mine to be as beloved as a prince or princess ought to be." DBK, arms full of baby shower gifts: "Make sure to note the exact hour, day, month, and year of the child's birth! It's very important for divining the calf's fortune!" Red Son, flames twitching: "Are you two-!? ARE YOU PLANNING A ROYAL BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT!?" PIF: "Do not shout dear. My mother visited shortly after you left. Seems that a certain child of mine has been asking around about celestial monkeys and safe magical birthing practices, and it's stirred the court's rumour mill. Me and the simians are planning a formal announcement once the child arrives." Red Son, blushing pink: "I would have gone through the same effort if I only considered them a mere ally." PIF: "I know you would. But a mere ally, does not donate so much life energy to the parent in hopes that the child becomes theirs." Red Son: (*blush grows even bigger, flames spit embers onto the surrounding furniture*) PIF, brushes embers off of desk: "Hopefully, Xiaotian doesn't experience the terrible heartburn I did whilst carrying you." Red Son: "Mother!" DBK, wincing with sympathy: "Only exacerbated by your cravings, my love! You had a great desire for charcoal and spiced meat on the bone."

MK texts Red Son a few hours later asking if he'd like to go out for some barbecue; "Just started craving it for some reason. Oh! And we should make sure to get cheese tea too! Acid reflux acting up rn and I need something to quench the flame."

Red is so down bad.

It's not all sunshine and baby monkeys though - there is genuine worry across the families about MK's condition. None more so than the men who raised him.

(*Red is leaving MK's place after a hang out session, when a certain pig-man in the kitchen speaks up*) Pigsy: "Hey... thanks for being there for him." Red Son, surprised: "Huh? Oh! No problem..." Pigsy: "I know you like him. Like, like-like him. I don't exactly approve but.... you've been going out of your way to find ways to help me. Make sure he..." Pigsy: (*trails off, eyes puffy*) Red Son: (*quietly approaches, awkwardly places a hand on Pigsy's shoulder*) Pigsy: "Promise me something." Red Son: "Ok." Pigsy: "If the worst happens... I want you to still be there. For them. Not just because you like him. But because you really care about him and his kid." Red Son, certain: "I do. I truly care for Xiaotian. And I wish to be there for him through it all. And if the unthinkable were to occur, I would still be there for them." Pigsy, wipes tears with sleeve: "Thanks, punk." Red Son: "Again, no problem." Pigsy, changing tone: "Now! What's with this letter I got saying MK and his baby are gonna be presented to the Heavenly and Infernal Court?" Red Son, remembers previous encounters: "oops."

Once he fully explains the misunderstanding in heaven, Pigsy whacks Red with a spatula.

[quitealotofsodapop]

Chang You

accidentally found a new Weird Monkey in "A Classic of Mountains and Seas"

Found on a wiki for Chinese mythos;

《Classic of Mountains and Seas》 "Four hundred and fifty miles to the southeast lies Mount Chang You, with no grass or trees, but abundant water. There is a beast there, resembling a monkey with four ears, named Chang You. Its cry is like a chant, and its appearance heralds great floods in the counties and districts."

Weird little multi-eared monkey that lived around the time of the Great Flood in the mythos. No size reference. Probably one of Nuwa's prototypes. Related to the "Wuzhiqi" mer-monkeys.

[quitealotofsodapop]

Spicynoodles with egged MK content.

The angst, the fluff, the hurt/comfort, all of it.

That's all I got right now.

That feel when the boy you have a crush/rivalry with is having a (literal) single-parent crisis, and he's just learned he's a primordial stone monkey that may die due to the unique process.

Red Son is confused af - when did *this* happen?! He was in a Scroll for a lot of the process, so he's a little out of the loop!

Not to mention, everyone's gut reaction is to look at them!! As if they had something to do with it!

Red Son and his family have been in more frequent contact with Sun Wukong and his protégé ever since the events surrounding the release of the Brotherhood. DBK forms an unexpected friendship with Pigsy over their shared journeys of cooking and fatherhood. The same occurs on a smaller scale with Tang and PIF getting together to gossip about immortal drama over cocktails.

The fact that Red's parents see MK's future cub as a surrogate grand-calf could be part of that. Red still blushes whenever she remembers her father's first assumptions on the matter.

MK becomes a bit of a recluse in the days after S4. Not only because of what he's learned about himself and his Egg, but because his energy is severely sapped.

At Mei's insistence, Red Son agrees to come over and spend some time with their fave monkey-boy. MK appreciates the company. The Egg absorbs so much life energy that he can barely get out of bed some days.

After a few weeks MK breaks down into hormonal tears. Sobbing into his former-enemy's jacket.

MK: "Everything I do leads to pain.... I'm sorry. You're the last person I should cry to." Red Son, rubbing MK's back: "It's ok. This is all... very new for all of us. You being the only other known celestial monkey besides Sun Wukong and Macaque has been a shock to everyone." MK, sniffling: "No. Not just that... this... I don't think I'll be able to be there for them." Red Son, stiffens: "What do you mean?" MK: "I'm..." (*gets quiet*) Red Son, thinks for a bit: "My mother does share the stories you know. How she almost died bringing me to life. To make that risk... It's admirable." MK: (*quietly leans head on Red Son's shoulder*) Red Son: "You've stated your intentions many times before to continue the pregnancy despite the risks. All I can offer is that I'm allowed to be there to see you through it." MK, looking up with surprise: "You will?" Red Son: "Yes." MK, regaining cheeky smile: "Not just because your parents are convinced it's yours?" Red Son, coughs awkwardly: "WELL uh!" *cough* "Uncle did mention that proximity to a preferred... partner, could help alleviate the worst of the symptoms caused by lack of life energy. But that the child could become peppered with the Dao of the partner and therefore their DNA..." MK, happy laughing: "I don't mind having a baby with red hair or horns, if thats what you're worried about!" Red Son: (*blushing furiously*)

So Red Son unofficially deems herself "the sire" of the Egg so she can donate her life energy to the depleted MK.

Then Season 5 happens...

MK actually manages to fight back against the restraints of the Ten Kings - his body providing a beacon of Life that they have no power over. Li Jing still handles the pregnant creature roughly, father or not - he sees MK as a beast that needs to be tamed. Nezha growls at his father's actions, and quickly comes to MK's aid - declaring his duty as a Protector of Children (although stretching the definition considering said child could be MK himself or the unborn cub) to preside over Li Jing's orders.

Somehow, knowing about his Egg, makes MK even more self-sacrificial. Because in his mind; if his Stone Egg is going to kill him anyway - why not sacrifice himself to repair the Heavenly Pillar?

Everyone reacts even worse than in canon.

The Nine-Headed Demon certainly didn't expect the Harbinger to "sprout off" so soon! They tease and prod MK - pointing out that he's accomplishing something not even the Monkey King has done; have a child of his own.

Wukong and Macaque snarl and bite at the snake for that comment...

Xiangliu is kept busy from trying to stop multiple heroes and anti-villains from tearing him apart.

Wukong can't even bring himself to fight MK's sacrifice, only able to hang onto his successor in a desperate hold. Begging him to please think of himself. His family and friends! His Egg even!

But MK still makes that leap.

Upon entering Nüwa's sanctuary within the Pillar and learning that his sacrifice was to only upkeep a destructive cycle, MK... has the expected reaction.

MK: "You expect me to sacrifice myself to when my kid won't even live to see the world?!" Nüwa, surprised: "I... I will admit. I had not known you would be able to do that."

After hearing her Harbinger's tearful plea, the goddess can only smile and sigh.

Although the safest option is to continue the cycle, she knows any child of her blood or clay would not dare leave the world or people they love so dearly. Heavens weep when a mother/father sets their mind to something. Something she struggled with many eons ago...

She gives her Little Heaven the Five Stones and the instructions for how to split their powers evenly across the cosmos. Humanity has certainly increased in number since her time!

She also gives blessings to her future grand-creation! The little stone monkey will be the first born naturally since Sun Wukong after all. She can spare a blessing or two to ensure their safe arrival!

MK leaves the Pillar, seeing his friends and family clasped together - all believing that the world was truly coming to an end.

Red Son, emboldened by the coming apocalypse, suddenly declares something that's been on his mind for a while now.

Red Son: "I like-like you, noodle boy! I did not lie when I said I want to be by your side through it all! If the world is to end now, I do not wish for it to end without saying I wish we could have been courting!" MK, touched: "Aww!!! Thats really sweet, Red Son! But I actually have a plan to save the world!" Red Son, stuttering: "Oh um. Ok?" MK: "I totally reciprocate the feelings though!" Red Son, excited: "You do!?" Macaque, interrupting: "Excuse me, lovebirds. End of the world?" MK, fumbling the five stones: "OH YEAH! RIGHT!"

The stones are still destroyed, and the Queen Mother of Heaven watches as the power her husband harboured for so long spreads across the universe like petals on the wind.

It takes some time for MK's egg to be fully ready, so him and Red Son have some time to do some courting before the little guy arrives!

PIF and DBK totally called it.

Also it turns out harbouring the Five Heavenly Stones while pregnant has some... unexpected effects on the Stone Egg within...

The Whole Family: "..." Baby: (*eyes glowing with a rainbow shimmer*) Baby: *chirp*! Pigsy: "Why does my grandson look like a Lisa Frank drawing?" MK: (*tired shrug*) Mei, taking photos: "He's so pretty!!"

The baby is named "Haoyu - the "Vast Universe/浩宇" to MK's "Little Heaven/小天". Depending on the characters it can also mean "cloudburst/豪雨" aka an unexpected rain.

[quitealotofsodapop]

Hice los colgantes de nacimiento de los hijos de Wukong!! Basandome en la idea de @soniclozdplove estos mismos y cada uno representa las gemas de nacimiento de su huevo de piedra y de su procedencia mas cercana (Hablamos en DM con Ash sobre las piedras de los padres y si era mejor poner a los padres y abuelos como linaje mas cercano porque al final solo seria un cumulo de piedras y no se notarian la piedra que representa al individuo).

Como por ejemplo las piedras de linaje serian asi: -Macaque: Amatista

-Anciano: Cornalina (Es la figura paterna de Wukong por lo que tambien contaria para ponerla en su colgante)

-Wukong: Jaspe

-Ye Lin: Citrino

-Shihua: Jade

Por lo que buscamos cada una piedra que representaria a los niños:

-MK: Citrino (Heredo la piedra de nacimiento de su abuelo Ye Lin)

-Eclipse Cubs: Rubi (Rumble, Savage y Thunder son trillizas identicas por lo que tendrian la misma piedra de nacimiento).

-Yuebei Xing: Aquamarina

-Jidu: Tanzanita Amarilla

-Luohou: Tanzanita Morada (Al ser mellizos tendrian variantes distintas de la misma piedra preciosa, como los mellizos compartiendo utero pero no placenta).

-Luzhen Jade Amarillo Limon

-Paramita: Diamante Blanco

Las de Luzhen y Paramita me gusta pensar que ambas serian polos opuestos porque mientras que la de Luzhen la heredo de su madre Shihua (Vida pasada de Guanyin) siendo el Jade una piedra sagrada y valiosa en China, la de Paramita representaria lo que es ''Perfección'' siendo la mas valiosa en el mundo.

translaton via google

"I made the birthstone pendants for Wukong's children! Based on @soniclozdplove's idea, these are the same ones, and each one represents the birthstones from their egg and their closest relatives. (We talked in DM with Ash about the parents' birthstones and whether it was better to include the parents and grandparents as the closest relatives because in the end, it would just be a cluster of stones, and the stone representing the individual wouldn't be noticeable.) For example, the ancestry stones would be as follows: -Macaque: Amethyst -Elder: Carnelian (He's Wukong's father figure, so it would also count toward his pendant) -Wukong: Jasper -Ye Lin: Citrine -Shihua: Jade So we looked for each stone that would represent the children: -MK: Citrine (He inherited his grandfather Ye Lin's birthstone) -Eclipse Cubs: Ruby (Rumble, Savage, and Thunder are identical triplets, so they would have the same birthstone). -Yuebei Xing: Aquamarine -Jidu: Yellow Tanzanite -Luohou: Purple Tanzanite (Being twins, they would have different variants of the same gemstone, like twins sharing a uterus but not a placenta). -Luzhen Lemon Yellow Jade -Paramita: White Diamond I like to think of Luzhen and Paramita as polar opposites. While Luzhen inherited Jade from her mother, Shihua (Guanyin's past life), Jade is a sacred and valuable stone in China, Paramita represents "Perfection," being the most valuable stone in the world."

Brilliant!

I do remember us sharing DMs about this! Each baby Stone Monkey hatches with gemstones embedded inside their egg - and those gems are kept safe and made into the pendants for when they come of age. Literal "birthstones". :3

The type of stone that develops in the Egg is sort of random, but it's often tied to the Monkey's personality/soul.

Wukong and Macaque both have stones that very much fit their colour schemes but also theor personalities. Jasper (Wukong) is a very strong orange stone that can be used in many different ways; in delicate decorations or as drill bits. While the purple Amethyst (Macaque) was said to keep a person sober and quick-thinking - but is also the gemstone used to represent patron gods/saints of love.

Wukong's mother Shihua was born with green Jade - the most precious stone in Chinese culture. She was the first Stone Monkey to have divine Jade as her birthstone - her soul remembering her first life as the daughter of the Jade Emperor. Shihua wore a lot of jade jewelery to show off her one-in-a-kind birthstone. Wukong's father Ye Lin is a Citrine - a rare yellow stone often mistaken for more common topaz.

I adore MK having the same birthstone as Ye Lin; Wukong's father. It further convinces the royal couple that MK is their grandson, if not by blood then by spirit. Citrine is also very rare, and only very recently discovered compared to many other gems. Most in-real-life Citrines are created artificially - like a certain Harbinger. ;D

Paramita, of course, being Wukong's perfect (by the King's opinion) first born; hatched among flawless diamonds. He was a little disappointed as a cub that his white-clear birthstone seemed "boring" compared to the rest of his family. But his attitude changed when he fell in love with a certain snow-white monkey demon (RinRin) - his pendant making him blush as the colour kept reminding him of her. They exchanged pendants during their courtship; so Paramita likely wears a pendant made of Rose Quartz or similar that RinRin made for him, and vice-versa. Their twin cubs are too young for pendants just yet, but they were both born with brilliantly coloured diamonds just like their Baba. <3

Yuebei is Aquamarine because she has natural ice powers, and it can be a very delicate stone to work with. In folklore the gem protected travellers at sea, and fighters in battle. Very fitting for a fierce warrior princess!

The Eclipse Cubs are all fittingly blood-red Rubies. Even if the triplets look different, their birthstones will always be the same gem.

The twin boys Jidu & Luohou are fraternal twins; a complimentary pair. Tanzanite can be purple or yellow depending the temperature it's been treated at; making the twins' birthstones technically the same, but not quite. Just like themselves!

Luzhen inherited Shihua's Jade birthstone; but also a small bit of Ye Lin's yellow gem colour. Lemon-Jade is natural form of nephrite Jade making it although not as prized as deep-green Jade, still prized in Chinese culture. So while the younger Sun brother (and his birthstone) look a little different; he's still very very precious!

I love your art, and all the lore we discuss with this Stone Monkey family <3