As Tiger and Kitten argued back and forth about parenting habits, Jade glanced worriedly in the direction the Monkey King had fled in. "So...should we be worried about your other half?" she asked Sun Wukong.
"Not terribly," he responded easily. "Unlike mortals, when an immortal or divine is split by the Tiger Talisman, their power is halved. It will take him at least a couple of hours to adjust to the lower power as he tries to function at his normal level. If he doesn't notice, he'll hit burnout in an hour and have to rest and recuperate...and he doesn't do patient well."
"So...your plan is to let him wear himself out and then pick him up when he's weak?" Hsi Wu asked curiously as he grabbed a bit of popcorn.
"Well, that will give me a good chance to figure out how to reverse your brother's curse on me so he can be put back in the shadows where he belongs," Sun observed calmly as he munched a kernel. "Ooh, McKettle's got a new recipe."
"Wait a minute!" Tiger interrupted, turning away from Kitten for a moment. "You plan to just lock him away?"
"Well, yes," Sun Wukong allowed in confusion. "A monster like that really shouldn't-"
"And here we go again," Kitten groaned ruefully as he sat down in front of Sun. "Don't you realize that attitude's what created this situation in the first place?"
Sun blinked in confusion. "Weren't you just having a...rather entertaining argument about parenting habits?"
"Oh, we've had that debate off and on since we first split," Tiger explained as he sat down. "We know all the arguments, and know we both have valid points. That's why it's Jackie that makes those decisions, not either of us."
"But the debate's still fun, and it's a good way to get settled into physicality when we're split," Kitten allowed.
"Besides, it entertains the ladies," Tiger teased, giving the feline Viper an affectionate swat on the rump, causing her to let out a pleased yowl followed by a purr as she rubbed against him.
"Okay, I draw the line with that sort of thing in front of the kids!" Kitten and the apron-clad Viper snapped immediately. They glanced at each other in surprise, then smiled.
"I...feel like I'm missing something," Sun observed calmly. "Since when has the power of the Noble Tiger brought such...harmony?"
"Since it let Uncle Jackie confront how he'd been burying all his anger and 'negative' feelings deep inside him since he feared it would make him a 'bad person', only to come to accept that he needed both sides of his being to be complete and accomplish the goals he was trying to stay 'good' for," Sweetie Belle explained calmly.
"Namely, being a good parental role model," Scootaloo added. "He even got a special magical sword out of it." She gestured to where Balance Breaker had apparently relocated itself specifically to make a viable visual aid.
"And the point they were trying to make before they got distracted again is that you're making the same mistake with your other self," Jade pointed out. "Which means we're about to have a discussion as we try to convince you that you need the Monkey King to be whole, and it's probably not going to be pleasant as you'll likely fight us every step of the way-"
Sun's chuckle interrupted Jade. "Young One, I've been around for a very long time, only a short portion of that trapped inside my other self. I know impulsive decisions are not the path to wisdom, and I know I can be wrong. My choice not to at the first major moment is what made me who I am...and this world what it is. Had I given into impulsive hatred and a thirst for vengeance all those years ago, this world would be very different." He gently stroked his staff, and for a brief moment a blade unlike any other was visible within. "I am willing to hear your argument out. It will either be startlingly right or amusingly wrong, and either way I'm trying to buy time until my other self wears himself out...at which point either forceful capture or reasonable discourse will be more viable, so it costs me nothing to hear you all out."
As everyone blinked, Apple Bloom sighed. "Well, here's hopin' yer other side got some o' dat wisdom, too. Either way, this'll be the easy talk."
The Monkey King glanced around in confusion as people ran in panic, screaming in terror. The various monstrosities he had crafted had been hilarious ideas, and the rampage they were unleashing were in battle with various magical law enforcement in a spectacle that would have made Loki's Mask greener with envy. And yet he found no humor. He knew all of this should be funny...but he found nothing to laugh at. Even tying up Hsi Wu hadn't been all that entertaining. He'd laughed more because it was expected, not because he'd found humor.
"But I don't understand!" he complained as he gripped his head. "It was one of my classic gags! Why was it so...dull? Even the nut shot got a laugh from the others even if I didn't! What's wrong with me?" He mussed his hair for a time as he scratched away at his scalp as though he could dig the answer out, his fingertips becoming shovel blades to make it happen easier. "Rrrr! No, it's not me that's wrong! Something's off with the world! There's too much magic, too much craziness...I'm coming off as blase! I need to be...bigger! Brighter! More of a spectacle!" He grinned eagerly as his eyes lit up so brightly the bulbs popped. "I need to be...fantastic!"
He began spinning his staff eagerly. "This is going to need something...unbelievable, undeniable, and unexpected." He began to laugh...but it wasn't amused laughter. It was maniacal laughter, and even as part of himself told him it felt wrong, he couldn't stop. "This world better get ready for a big...surprise!" His laughter echoed as storm clouds gathered, the world itself flinching away from the working he was attempting.
Welp, it's time to retreat to your megaspell grade bomb shelters everyone.
I know she isn’t in this but...I wonder what would happen if Nanoha ever met the Monkey King?
Oh dear. The Monkey King's gone coo coo bananas.
Nice reference.
Anger is, after all, an important emotion. To quote The Green Scorpion, "In times of adversity, sadness can give you the perspective to acknowledge it. Happiness can give you the foundation to bear it. And anger can give you the strength to oppose it! So rise, my friends! And be! ANGRY!!!"
9354914
Are those a thing? I usually tank those cases and let the power ring take my soul to a new clonned body...
Okay one, glad you're finally back.
Two, so the Mask is a thing. Wonder if we'll ever get to see it.
And three... I'm a little scared about what the monkey is planning.
1. I see that you are getting you're mojo back
2. Why do i see that are going to be harmony with the monkey
Heh. So Sun Wukong and Monkey King will need to find balance and become a being who is greater than the sum of their parts.
Maybe this means we will see Sun with a monkey tail.
*STOPS DEAD IN HIS TRACKS*
Sun Wukong is going to become Son Goku! And possibly the TFS version to boot!
I can just picture his next meeting with Sonata.
If he thought he could make The Mask green with envy then he hasn't dealt with The Stanley Parable. And here some would think this is Milo point with making such ruff puns. It also seems that the Monkey King lost his Humerus attitude.
Gotta admit, I like the re-explanation of how the shoulder people work for Sun's sake. Takes us (very) momentarily out of the idea that they're only comic relief and remind us that they have real reasons for being there. Well, they're better at being comic relief, but still.
9355087
This. I want to see this.
Chapter One Hundred Ninety-Seven
"Bad Day"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 48
"I'm not his/your Mistress!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 12
9355144
Sans, those r ur worst puns yet, so i only have one thing to say...hakai...
Whelp this just went from Bad to Worse
9355254
unless he just burns out from lack of magic to finish what he was trying to do
Chapter One Hundred Ninety Seven
"Aiyah!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 50
"One More Thing!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 86
9355442
Possible, but then again he could create a Permanent Effect, like a Summons, and then be too weak to control and/or reverse it. Everything so far could be more easily reversed. More harmful mischief than true maliciousness.
I bet the reason why Evil Monkey King can't laugh properly, is due to it being assigned to the Good Monkey King
This is going to backfire hilariously, isn't it?
It looks like solitary confinement has broken the monkey boy's mind. That might be a problem.
9354931
Dude. It is Nanoha! She would "befriend" him until he was black and blue. It is kind of her thing.
Somehow I imagined the last scene and how Pinkie appeared from nothing and give the monkey king a lesson of laughter...
9354960
I noticed that as well. Good ref, Tats!
ALos it is great to have you back for however long we'll have you for. I've missed your updates! I was just thinking of this story the other day too!
1. UPDATE!
2. See #1
3. monkey man ain't gonna come out on top with this
The Monkey King side of this guy is basically Discord in Jackie Chan's world
9355738
Oh sorry for the misunderstanding. No, I meant the Monkey Kings reaction.
Oh dear sounds like Monkey King is planning something ominous indeed.
Hopefully, he doesn't have the power to pull off whatever he's planning & it will exhaust him.
HA! You should live so long.
9356876
What, you mean to interplanetary/interdimensional travel, and magic as science?
9357525
Nah,his reaction to her Blaster 3 Divine Buster being charged and aimed at him, or him looking up only to see a fully charged very massive Starlight Breaker while hes bound in place.
9357590
Did you miss the part where his brain has been turned into tapioca pudding due to prolonged solitary confinement? 🙈
Thinking of Uncle's reaction should my prediction about Sun WuKong becoming Son Goku prove to be correct.
9358260
While funny, Sun Wukong isn't the Immortal that defeated Shendu.
Is he going to make a draconequis?
9358260
Goku: These ponies are too small to eat. I know! I’ll introduce them to Big Mac and cheese (finger slipped but it was too funny to me) who knows how to make anything grow! Worked for Gohan!
Gohan: Dad, you’re thinking of aging.
Apple Bloom: Big Mac? Who is he and why do Ah feel sad?
Big Mac: Can I call her, now?
King Kai: I AM NOT YOUR DANG TELEPHONE! FIND SOME OTHER WAY TO CALL THEM!
Big Mac: ...
9403795
That is a great pun
9412440
Actually I found out later in the story.
9366571
HAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHA
9422888
You think?
Read 101 chapters through one day.
Time to read the rest.
Read through everything, now waiting for updates.
Good stuff.