*At Megapolis City.*
"For as long as time itself, I've had this recurring dream. At first, its meaning was unclear. Now, I know it was a premonition. The very moment I finally achieved my ambition: to perfect this imperfect world. The Samadhi Fire is the final piece of the game: A tool destiny has gifted me to complete my work." Lady Bone Demon spoke.
"Then allow me to retrieve it for you, my Lady." said the Mayor.
"No need. Fate will deliver it in time." said Lady Bone Demon as Wukong lands in front of them. "Ah, your timing couldn't be more perfect, Sun Wukong. It appears your quest to use the power of the Samadhi Fire to destroy me hasn't gone quite according to plan. Why else would you show up unarmed with no friends or daughter for backup?"
"I didn't need the Samadhi Fire to put you away last time. Figured I could make do without it." said Wukong.
"Oh, my power has far surpassed what it was when we last met in battle. And now I sense you do not have what it takes to defeat me." said Lady Bone Demon with a calm smile.
"Hmph. That won't stop me from trying." said Lady Bone Demon.
"A hero to the end. How delightful." said the Mayor smiling creepily.
Lady Bone Demon chuckles. "No backup and no weapon. So your plan is to... fistfight a child?"
"We both know that's not what you are." Wukong summons his powers and charges at her.
Miwa arrived just as she saw Wukong was already fighting Lady Bone Demon.
"Dad..." Miwa summoned her spear and charged in to help, but the Mayor appeared in front of her.
"Hello dear Princess.~" The Mayor had a big grin on his face as he struck a forced punch right at her.
Miwa acted quickly by blocking the punch with her spear, but the sheer force still knocked her back. "Aah!"
The sound of her voice caught Wukong's attention, turning his head. "Freckles!"
Lady Bone Demon charged right at Wukong as he got distracted, but he was still fast enough to dodge it. "Looks like your daughter decided to join in, it will be fun to see how long she will last this time."
Miwa narrowed her eyes and began to focus her cosmic energy to her spear. "I only got one shot at this, if I can just land a direct hit on her. I might be able to weaken her enough."
She glanced over at the Mayor knowing he would be the bigger problem.
"Now what are you planning little girl?" The Mayor appeared right behind Miwa, catching her by surprise as he strucked her in the back, knocking her into a wall.
"Aah!" Miwa coughed when slowly getting up, ignoring the pain as she summoned her spear once more. "I'm getting really tired of this." She wiped some dirt off her cheek.
Seeing that she wasn't getting anywhere with this guy around, she summoned a few clones to take him on. Then took to the sky and charged up her spear with cosmic energy.
"Hey Boney! You seem a little spaced out!" Miwa swung down her spear, a huge energy of cosmic cutting right towards destroying everything in its path.
Wukong and Lady Bone Demon turned their attention towards the coming crescent moon shape of cosmic energy coming right at them.
After that attack Miwa felt herself falling to the ground, still not having fully mastered this move as it took a lot of energy out of her.
"Well now, aren't you full of tricks like your parents?" Lady Bone Demon appeared next to her, catching Miwa off guard.
"Freckles!" Wukong quickly rushed to Miwa and pulled her out of the danger in the last second as spikes of ice cut a few pieces of Wukong's clothes.
"You silly little monkey, what were you thinking!" Wukong exclaimed when placing her behind some debrie.
"I wanted to help, you might be all-powerful, but you can't do this alone!" shouted Miwa frustrated at him.
Wukong rubbed the bridge of his nose trying to calm down. "I get that you wanna help, and I'm proud of you for that. But you'll only be in the way."
"W-what?" Miwa froze in place at his words. "H-how can I be in the w-way?"
"Because you're my daughter, it means you'll be a huge target for them." Wukong placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "And you aren't ready for a fight against the Lady Bone Demon."
"Might I have this dance, Your Majesty?" The Mayor suddenly showed up and attacked them.
Wukong shoved Miwa out of the way and took the Mayor head-on into the sky.
Miwa however had her eyes wide in shock, tears running down her face with her body fading in and out, causing painful shock to course through her body.
Wukong didn't know it, but his words really got to her. In the worst way since that was the last hope she clinched to for what she were wished for.
Miwa screamed and crying out in pain, her body glowing red as she looked up towards the sky where she could see the wishing stars clearly.
"Oh, stars as old as time, in the ancient sky of night. Grant me this wish as I, oh so, desire. Let my wish reach you, oh so far away and yet so close. Oh Wishing Stars, grant my desired wish." Tears ran down Miwa's face as she spoke the wishing words through the pain. "Please, erase me from this world."
The four stars in the sky seemed to glow a little brighter, yet nothing else seemed to have happened.
Miwa stared in disbelief, seeing that nothing was happening let alone a sign. She were made to believe her wish had been ignored. Making her feel worse as no one seems to want her. She couldn't even kill herself if she wanted to, since that immortal peach.
She fell to the ground screaming and crying from the pain and despair she felt.
*MK and Ne Zha arrive a safe distance away from the battle scene.*
"So, this is the power of the Lady Bone Demon. I'd heard tales, but I've never experienced it first hand. Even from here, I can feel her wretched aura." said Ne Zha when observing the fight.
"Yeah." said MK.
"I fear Monkey King was right. The Samadhi Fire's the best chance we have at stopping her. The fool never should've taken off on his own. Let's make this quick. Get in, get Monkey King, and regroup with the others." Ne Zha suggested.
"Wait! What if... what if Monkey King is better off without us? What if we just get in his way? And what about Miwa?" MK asked.
"I've known Sun Wukong a long time. He is not the loner he pretends to be. He seems important to you, so I can only assume you're equally as important to him. If there's anyone who he needs right now, it's you." said Ne Zha then took a glance at their surroundings. "As for his daughter, I'm not sure. But I sense an unstable energy near by."
"Get in, get Monkey King, get out." MK took a look around. "I just hope Miwa is alright."
"That's right." said Ne Zha giving a nod.
They proceed forward, but it wasn't long until they heard the sound of screaming.
"Miwa!" MK rushed towards the sound of her voice until he found her curled up on the ground screaming in pain.
"What is going on with her?" Ne Zha asked being right behind him.
"I don't really know, this all started happening after Macaque stabbed her with some kind of dagger. We haven't been able to find a way to fix it." MK explained when walking over and placing a hand on Miwa's arm.
Miwa slapped MK's hand away, wanting to be alone in her suffering.
"Well, then we should probably hurry up and get Monkey King, before things get worse." said Ne Zha.
MK looked back and forth from the two, then back at Miwa. "Hang in there Lulu, everything is gonna be alright."
Miwa slowly opened one of her eyes, glancing at who was speaking her vision blurry from her tears until it slowly became more clear. "M-MK?"
MK smiled and pulled her into a tight hug. "Oh thank the Buddha, you had be really worried there, Lulu."
The painful shocks had slowly stopped, but she still felt very shaken up. Not to mention how messy her hair had become. "W-why are you guys here?"
"No time to explain, now can we get back to the plan? We are wasting time here, which we have very little of." said Ne Zha.
MK helped her get back on her feet, a gentle smile on his face as he tried to cheer her up a little. "Get in, get Monkey King, get out."
*Meanwhile, the fight continues and eventually, the Mayor manages to wrap his arms around Wukong.*
"Your attempts are futile, Sun Wukong. I have seen what the future has for you, your daughter and your protégé. Destiny cannot—" Lady Bone Demon explained but were then cut off.
"Be undone. So you keep saying! But what about this guy? Is he in your future?!" Wukong breaks free of the Mayor's hold and punches him to the ground.
"As a matter of fact, no." said Lady Bone Demon in a cold yet calm demeanor.
"Huh?" MK sees the Mayor. "Hey, that's the guy who's definitely probably not actually a real mayor."
"Yeah, he is a real peach." said Miwa in a disgusted tone.
"Okaaay, clearly not in a good mood when you are calling him a peach." said MK.
"Get down!" shouted Ne Zha, the three dodge a blow.
"Was that Monkey King?!" MK asked.
"Yes..." said Miwa, slightly clinging to him.
"Yes, ye— He has the Lady Bone Demon on the defensive." said Ne Zha as he were observing the fight.
"Huh? Wait, you can actually see what's going on?" MK asked, unable to catch up to how fast they were going in their fight.
Miwa's eyes tried following the two, but they were going far too fast even for her to catch up. "I really was in the way..."
"Yes. Well, pieces of it. That... speed. Sun Wukong really was pulling his punches with me." said Ne Zha while watching.
"It's Wukong, not that surprising." said Miwa.
"Yeah, yeah, that's great. But is he winning? Maybe we don't need to stop him after all." MK started to doubt too if he should have come or not.
"It would appear so. But..." Ne Zha slowly spoke, but didn't finish his sentence.
*They watch the battle continue. with Wukong being able to deliver a physical blow on her.*
"This body — It's too weak! I can't stop him." Lady Bone Demon gasps and throws up a bone protection around her. Wukong punches through it and kicks through her spiritual barrier. His foot comes in contact with Lady Bone Demon, causing her to crash down onto her mech. He follows and clutches her by the throat. "Stop! Have you forgotten? Destroy me and you destroy the host. Have you become so desperate to end me that you would sacrifice this blameless, innocent child?"
"You've given me no choice. All the time you spent locked away, you haven't changed a bit! I'm going to finish you, like I should have done a long time ago. I told you, you should've stayed buried!" said Wukong in a cold tone.
"I've come too far to let you ruin everything again!" shouted Lady Bone Demon.
MK, Miwa and Ne Zha watch as Lady Bone Demon pulls power from the Mayor. Wukong is about to deliver the final blow but sees her use her powers. He turns to look but is possessed by her.
"Oh, no." said MK, shocked.
"No... Dad." Miwa's eyes were wide in horror at this sight.
Lady Bone Demon laughs as the Wukong's eyes glow blue, the possession takes full control over him.
"Admittedly, this is an unforeseen adjustment, but a fortunate moment of spontaneity nonetheless. Fate has delivered me the perfect champion." said Lady Bone Demon, clearly pleased by this outcome.
"But he was winning. He was beating you." said MK.
"Oh, sweet child. Perhaps now you finally understand how pointless your efforts to stop me truly are. The Samadhi Fire will be mine, and I will use its power to reforge this world." Lady Bone Demon turns to Wukong. "Go."
"Kids, get back!" Ne Zha pushed the two quickly away.
Miwa were still in shock at what happened to Wukong, and unsure what to do.
Wukong attacks Ne Zha on the ground. MK trips over and the Mayor laughs maniacally. Before MK reacts, Wukong launches himself and tries to throw a punch at MK and Miwa.
"Wait." said MK.
"Dad, wait!" shouted Miwa in a panic.
*A shadow portal opens beneath the two and transports them to a jungle. They both scream and falls down into a pile of mud.*
"What? Where are we?" MK questioned.
Miwa took a glance at the shadow they came out of. "Macaque?"
A frog then lands on MK's head. Mei's dragon roars in the distance.
"Mei? Mei!" MK and Miwa tries to walk towards Mei's roars while getting covered in the mud.
*At the temple.*
"Not bad, Dragon Girl. It's been nearly five minutes since your last explosion. Keep this up, and you'll be ready to wield the fire in no time. Huh?" said Redson until he noticed someone coming out of the jungle.
MK and Miwa, covered in mud, appears.
"For the love of—I thought you were—" Redson exclaimed in annoyance before getting cut off.
"A mud monsters!" shouted Mei.
"What, no, you imbecile. It's just—" Redson trying explaining but his words went on deaf ears.
Mei shoots fire at MK and Miwa, solidifying the mud. The mud cast cracks open, revealing Miwa and MK, who hugs her.
"Mei? Mei! You're okay. You're not on fire. What happened?" said MK, relieved to see her.
"Yeah, how are you not on fire?" Miwa asked.
"Yep, yep, I'm okay. I'm okay, really. Actually, it's all thanks to Red Boy." said Mei as she got out of the hug.
"Wha...?" said MK, surprised.
"Huh, well isn't that something Pepper." said Miwa with a smug grin.
Redson rolled his eyes. "Don't push it, Ruby."
"Oh, yeah, he's been teaching me how to control my powers real good, and he's been super relaxed and chill about it this whole time. If it wasn't him, I'd probably would have burned up the whole world with Samadhi Fire by now." Mei explained.
"Wait, that's right. The Lady Bone Demon, she's after the Samadhi Fire." said MK, quickly starting to panic.
"What? And you came here?!" shouted Redson.
"It wasn't our choice to go here. We just suddenly ended up here." said Miwa.
Wukong suddenly arrives.
"Oh, no." said Miwa taking a step back.
"Monkey King?" Mei asked.
"No. Not anymore." said MK, getting in front of Mei.
"It's her. The Lady Bone Demon. She's possessed Wukong, just like she did with my father when we used that magic key to release her from her prison. Haha. Oh, boy." said Redson growing nervous as his guard was raised.
"Yeah, thanks, Redson." said MK.
"We get it." said Miwa summoning her spear.
"So, we meet again, son of the Demon Bull King. You're right. I never quite thanked you for freeing me from my prison. Your father was the most fitting host for my power in the time we had. Wukong, on the other hand, well, he's something else." Lady Bone Demon spoke through Wukong.
"I'm guessing we can't beat him." said Redson looking at MK and Miwa.
"No, but if the Lady Bone Demon gets the fire—" said MK but was cut off.
"That is one other thing I must thank you for. Creating the Samadhi Fire. Why, without you, I would never have been able to fulfill my destiny." said Lady Bone Demon.
"We have to get out of here. Now!" Redson exclaims with urgency.
"But that is where your usefulness ends." said Lady Bone Demon.
"Uh oh." Wukong punches Redson in the stomach, hitting him against the wall.
"There is nowhere left to run. No place you might go that I cannot find you. Why drag this on longer than is necessary? I have waited long enough. Bring her to me now." said Lady Boone Demon, growing impatient.
"Monkey King, stop!" shouted MK.
"Dad, stop please!" shouted Miwa.
Wukong suddenly stops with his fist raised.
"You're stronger than her! Force her out!" shouted MK.
"You can do it, Dad! You beat her once, you can do it again!" shouted Miwa.
Lady Bone Demon chuckles. "It's no use."
Wukong throws MK aside.
Miwa gulped but raised her spear and got in front of Mei. "I don't wanna fight you, but I will if I have to."
Wukong rushed at Miwa, a fist raised but were quickly blocked by a star-shaped shield. Though it were already cracking.
Miwa quickly summoned as many shadow clones as possible and had them attack Wukong, trying to hold him back. "Mei, you need to get out of here!"
"What?! No way, I'm not gonna sit back and let you guys face him alone!" shouted Mei, running in to help but got pushed back by one of Miwa's tails.
"This isn't the time for it!" Miwa quickly blocked a punch with her spear, but with the sheer force it broke.
Miwa's eyes widened in shock as Wukong followed up with another punch, knocking her away.
"The girl." spoke Lady Bone Demon.
"MK? Miwa?" Mei summons the Samadhi Fire.
"So this is the power of the Samadhi Fire." said Lady Bone Demon amazed.
"Stay back. Or we're going to find out what burning monkey hair smells like!" said Mei taking a stand.
"You think whatever happens to Wukong is of concern to me? He is a vessel. Nothing more. You would really destroy your own friend to save yourself?" Lady Bone Demon questioned her.
"Harmonize the wild energies and emotions burning in us, and focus them." Redson's voice echoed through Mei's head of his teaching.
"Wukong knew the risks. It's what he would do if he had to. That's the hard part of being a hero. Breathe. Calm. Focus." said Mei as she repeated Redson's teachings.
She fires a blast of fire that Wukong walks through.
"Hero. Please. You're not heroes. You're mere agents of chaos. The very thing I aspire to eradicate in this new world. No more destruction. No more disorder. I will have perfection." said Lady Bone Demon as Wukong grabbed Mei.
"Mei, no!" shouted MK.
"No!" shouted Miwa quickly charging over to stop them.
Mei smiles. She is frozen in crystal. She and Wukong disappear.
"Dragon Girl! We have to go after them!" shouted Redson looking at MK and Miwa.
"No. What we need is a plan. If we go after them now, there's no way we win." said MK, this time using his head. Knowing rushing it without a plan wouldn't work.
"But our only chance to beat the Lady Bone Demon just teleported away. The Dragon Girl was our last hope!" Redson exclaimed.
"As long as we're still standing, there's always hope. Mei is more stubborn than anyone I know, well besides Miwa. Between that and your training, she's not going to give up the Samadhi Fire without a fight." MK reassured him.
"I do not know if I should be offended by that comment, MK." said Miwa raising an eyebrow.
"It's a compliment." MK quickly answered.
"I can't tell if you're being heroic or moronic. But all right. Let's make a plan." Redson sighs and shakes his head.
"All right. Leggo!" MK cheered.
"Wait, what are you—" MK transforms into a bird, grabbing Redson and flies them away.
Miwa followed right after them by gliding through the air. "Dad, Mei. Please hold on a little longer."
*At Tang Sanzang's secret library.*
"I'm not going to lie, kid. I mean, if the Lady Bone Demon has Monkey King, Mei, and the Samadhi Fire, I don't know. I'm not really feeling much confidence here." said Pigsy crossing his arms.
"Yeah. That's why we're going to formulate a plan. I'm open to suggestions. What do we got?" MK looked at the gang, up to hearing any of their ideas.
"Uh, die with dignity?" Tang suggested.
Miwa facepalmed at this suggestion. "Worst plan."
"What kind of plan is that?" Pigsy asked.
"I don't know. It's just- aren't we back where we were when Mei and Monkey King flew off into the sky? Minus Miwa who is now with us." said Tang.
"What? No. It's nothing like that. Cause now we've got a Redson. We didn't have a Redson before." MK pointed out.
"Oh yeah, he's a real game changer." said Pigsy sarcastically.
"Hey!" shouted Redson.
Miwa gave a light giggle, earning a glare from Redson that went ignored.
"We're just doing the same thing over and over again. I'm losing my mind over here!" shouted Pigsy.
"Lulu, do you have any suggestions?" MK asked.
"Uh..." Miwa ran a few ideas through her head, but wasn't sure any of it would work. "Nope."
*A shadow appears from Redson's feet and extends to the wall.*
"I hope I'm not interrupting. But if you're making a plan to defeat the Lady Bone Demon, I know a guy who might be able to help." The disheveled Mayor falls through Macaque's portal.
"Macaque?!" shouted everyone, before the gang jumped him and tied both him and the Mayor up.
Miwa stayed out of it, avoiding eye contact. Already feeling the struggles of getting close to another painful shock.