▪ "𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐲 𝐦𝐞." ▪

You grunted, sitting up to avoid the water from reaching higher up your clothes and making them more soggy than they already were. You had opened your eyes, only to find the floor of the ship had been engulfed in water and was still rising. You noticed the rest panicking, trying not to let the water from the broken windows go up any further. You looked over to your side to see Wukong laying on the floor. You stared at him, which he noticed and winked at you. You rolled your eyes. "Monkey King, you've gotta do something!" You glanced at the panicked MK, who had yelled at Wukong. Monkey King just held out his hand, letting some water from the broken window fall onto his open palm. He then splashed himself with the water. "Huh? Why? A little water never hurt no- Oh! Right, mortality." 

A loud alarm sounded off, and a soft red glow illuminated throughout the room. "What was that?" "Something big!" "Everyone, relax. Pretty sure this is just an old friend of mine come to help out." You looked at Wukong with a raised eyebrow. "You had friends?" Wukong pouted at you, before averting his attention to the shaking of the ship. Large purple eyes looked through the window, before chomping its teeth onto the side of the ship, taking it to who knows where with it. "Actually, friend might be stretching it." "I thought so." The ship was then tossed in front of a large temple. You huffed, dusting yourself off before looking up at the huge temple. 

You paled at the sight of the building towering over you and the others. Oh hell no. A bead of sweat rolled down your face, swallowing your saliva nervously. You know full well that the Dragon of the East could never tolerate Wukong. You've only heard stories on how bad his wrath was when angry, and even that got you nervous. You had only met him once, but that was only for apologizing for Wukong who had been messing around with his servants and guards. Wukong had convinced you to come along with him to do another one of his pranks. You had eventually caved after he had reassured you that he was going to keep you safe, and that you two wouldn't get caught. He sent them all in the state of alert and panic after making large shadows throughout the hallways of the palace. It took a lot of apologies to get the Dragon of the East to forgive Wukong, but he eventually caved after you said you would do him any favor. He made you clean all the rooms and hallways in the palace, with no breaks. After he had finished, he was somewhat pleased to let Wukong go with punishment of being guilty that you had to take the fall for his mistake. He warned Wukong to not bother him again, unless it was urgent. Did Wukong listen to his warning? Nope. He didn't do it as much, but he still continued to bother the Dragon of the East. You just stopped coming along with him to that underwater palace. He never forced you or tried to convince you to go back anyways. You had looked so embarrassed and humiliated when you finished paying for something he'd done. You never wanted to come back, but here you were. 

You closed your eyes and took deep breaths. You could do this. Just be cool. The rest of the team (except Monkey King) were gushing with awe and excitement while looking around. "The Dragon Palace of the East Sea. We're in the Dragon Palace of the East Sea!" Mei hugged you out of joy, as you awkwardly chuckled and patted her head. That only made her nuzzle her face closer to your figure. "Yeah, this is my kind of my sorta old buddy's house, where I got the staff." Wukong placed his hands on his hips, before Pigsy chimed in. "Got? Or.." "Took, right? You took it? Oh, boy." MK sighed, as you glared at Wukong. He sweat dropped, his smile weakening as he felt your dangerous aura from behind him. The door to the temple then opened, revealing the man you feared standing right behind the doors. You tensed, which Mei noticed and let go of you to stand in front of you, her hand hovering over to where her sword was. 

"Oh, here they come!" Monkey King slid in front of the group, pointing at his large grin. "Smiles, everyone, smiles!" He turned to the temple, as you averted your eyes away from the scene and sighed. "Heyyy, Ao Guang! Long time no-" "Sun Wukong!" You flinched harshly at his yell, as your tails fell in fear. MK glanced over at you. It worried him to see your frightened face. He stepped closer to you, now at your side. "You dare return to my domain? After humiliating me, tricking me?" You stared at the large translucent dragon behind him, your breathing quickening. "What-wha? The staff? But th-that's a total misunderstanding-" Wukong was trying to argue out of his situation, but unfortunately it wasn't working. "And now I have learned that it has been lost?! You have given the evil Lady Bone Demon exactly what she needs to destroy us all! I should execute you where you stand!" 

"I thought you said he was your friend." Mei whispered, MK and Tang soon joining. "He knows about the Lady Bone Demon?" "What are we going to do?!" "I am not taking the fall for this Wukong!" "Relax, I got this." Monkey King smiled brightly, before posing heroically with one finger pointed at Ao Guang. "Hmm, maybe you forgot. I am the Great Sun Wu-" Wukong was then headbutted in the stomach by the large dragon, sending him back. "Do not try to fool me a second time, trickster! I can sense your weakness. Your power is all but consumed." The dragon stared at him with its large glowing eyes. You unconsciously clung onto MK's sleeve, tightly gripping onto it. 

You felt like you were going to faint. First Macaque, now this. It was too much for just one day. MK looked back at you and had seen your drowsy eyes, and your face devoid of color. You looked awfully sick. He pulled you closer to him, as the palace guards surrounded the group, spears in the air as they prepared to swing them down. Mei then brought out her dragon blade and held it high into the air. Your vision started to blur, as you leaned almost all your weight onto MK. Next thing you knew, you were being forced to stumble forward with the group, the guards leading you somewhere. MK had put one of his arms under your armpits, and his other snaked around your waist. You heard someone call out your name, making you focus on that voice. You concluded it was Mei, since you noticed that she was being taken into the palace. You sent her the best smile you could manage, which you guessed wasn't reassuring her since her face was contorted into one of concern and worry. You and the other were brought somewhere on the side of the palace, where a door was. The guards opened the door and shoved you all in, closing it behind them. Multiple layers of protection shielded the door, making it practically impossible to escape. 

Your vision had cleared up slightly, giving you a better view of your surroundings. It looked like a regular jail cell, with a small window blocked by bars, and prison shelves hanging from chains attached to the wall. "My mother was right! Associate with the wrong people and see where you end up!" Tang exclaimed. You grunted, your legs growing weak and you were barely able to stand. MK took notice of the way you were being weighted down, and walked you over to the nearest wall, and sat you down carefully. He awkwardly sat next to you, patting your back as you closed your eyes, breathing in and out to try and calm yourself. It actually worked, though you still felt a little dizzy. You mutter a small sorry to MK, who only shook his head, and pulled you closer to his side. You did feel somewhat uncomfortable with the closeness, but he was only trying to help. There was nothing sinister about it. 

Your attention drifted to Pigsy as he spoke. "I ain't gonna sit around and wait. I'm breaking us out of here. Using... this!" He pulled out a spoon from his pocket and sat in front of the wall, scratching the utensil against it. "A spoon?" MK asked, as Pigsy continued to attempt to scratch a whole in the wall. "Oh, there's nothing a spoon can't fix. Oh, this baby will have us out of here in no time!" He stabbed the spoon at the wall, breaking it. He then pulled another spoon out and proceeded with his prison break. You lightly giggled, before glancing at Wukong. He was staring down at the floor, a blank expression on his face. Once he noticed your gaze, he chuckled, and walked over to sit himself to your other side, letting his head rest on your shoulder with a smile. You looked over to MK, who to your surprise wasn't next to you. You heard someone clear their throat and glance in front of you to see a flustered MK with his book in his hand and a pencil in another. Tang was next to him, holding his book out with a pen. "So, about Monkey King-" You chuckled, cutting MK off, and sighed. "Alright, I'll tell you what I know."

∘ - ✩彡 - ∘

MK let out exited hums and nods of approval while scribbling on his book, while Tang silently wrote in his. "And then, Wukong grabbed the sword, and plunged it in the ground. It caused a huge earthquake, but it moved the boulders and let water fall into the river and filled it up again." You put your hands behind your head. "Though, the shaking had done damage to a village nearby, and he was forced to help rebuild whatever was destroyed." MK let a small 'mhm!' and continued scribbling for a moment, before looking over at his work with a smile. Tang pushed up his glasses and hummed. "Wow! You know Monkey King really well!" He exclaimed, looking at you with stars in his eyes. You snickered, watching as MK beamed at you. "Well, he was my former friend after all." MK tilted his head with a curious look. "Former partner?" Your smile dropped and bent into a frown while trying to avert your eyes away from his. "Y-Yea." "Why former?" Luckily, Pigsy spoke just as MK finished, making all attention turn onto him. You internally sighed of relief. You didn't want to explain, especially with Wukong close by. 

You looked over to see that Pigsy had made a small hole in the wall with his spoon and was still digging. "Alright. Everyone hold tight. I'm getting us out of here!" He said between breaths. "Just five or six more-" "Years?" Tang's remark made you and MK chuckle. Pigsy glared at Tang. "Hey! It ain't like the hole's gonna just suddenly make itself!" The room started to shake violently, before a huge truck crashed into the wall with Mei and Sandy behind the wheel. The impact of the crash destroyed most of the prison. MK had fallen with his legs in a weird position, making you wince at the sight. That did not look comfortable. "Mei! Sandy! You jailbreaked us! Y-You broke the jail! We're free!" "That's right! I got the map, too!" The group immediately all crowded in the front, while you went to the back area, and used your tails to lift yourself and sit. 

You closed your eyes, relaxed. "Whoa, cool!" You heard MK yell. You zoned out for a bit, only for MK's loud yell. "A new bag!? This changes my whole look! It's like a whole new me! Dreams really do come true!" You opened one eye and looked at him, seeing that he was posing and checking out his new jacket. "You look cool." You stated making him turn to you. You smiled sweetly, swearing you could see a hint of red blush exploding on his cheeks. After collecting the moping Pigsy, the truck burst though the entrance of the palace. You actually felt a bit bad about destroying the front of the palace, but what's done is done. 

"Okay, we're in an underwater city, in a van. Does anyone else see the problem here?!" You silently raised your hand. "Yeah, I agree. I don't think that's how it works." Sandy only laughed, patting Pigsy's head. "Oh, my sweet friends. I've got us covered." "Welcome to the Total Environment Automobile! Or T.E.A. for short!" The tablet in the front spoke.  "T.E.A., let's call it T.E.A, you guys!" He sighed happily. "I think this is what true love feels like. Oh, and one more thing." Sandy pressed a button, creating a mini rotor on the back of the truck. "It's water adventure friendly!" The Dragon of the East then appeared in the path with the translucent dragon, and the dragon submarine, that took you there in the first place, behind the palace. Sandy jerked the vehicle away, racing it away from the Dragon of the East. 

The powerful dragon only opened the back door, his glaring eyes staring at all of you. "I will not allow you to leave with that map!" You cowered in fear at the sight of him, but Wukong put an arm around yours. "What are you not getting? Using the Samadhi Fire's the only way we're going to stop the Lady Bone Demon!" "The Samadhi Fire cannot be contained!" MK sat on his knees. "Your Dragoness, please!" "We don't have any other choice!" Mei followed. Both sides were about to continue their arguing, until yours, Monkey King's and the Dragon of the East's eyes glowed. Something was coming. Something was here. Macaque. "He's coming." Both you and Monkey King growled. "Macaque? He's here?!" Tang gestured to the truck's radar, that showed an object coming that way. "Um, we should leave. Now!" "If he captures us, the map..." Wukong glanced over to you, seeing your troubled face stare back at him. "Hmm... all hope truly will be lost." The Dragon of the East sighed, and left the truck. "I'll hold him off. Go." You nodded, turning away and catching a glimpse of Mei thanking him. 

The truck then sped off through a gate and away from the palace. You looked back, only to see a flash of purple and green about to collide, before a loud explosion. You frowned, staring at the multiple booms and bangs that sounded throughout the entire ocean. You flinched when a hand was brought down on your shoulder, and you glanced over to see MK with a worried look. You just sighed, walking past him and hoping into the bottom bunk of one of the bunk beds. MK stared at you with a frown, he hated seeing you stressed. Though, he decided he was going to leave you alone for a bit. You'll feel better later.