My precious bae pushed me into this fandom, and the logical next step was to write fanfics, ofc
Warnings: Light spoiler
The Price to Pay
The universe, to maintain its balance, is governed by very simple rules that apply to every being that inhabits its expansion, from mere mortals walking on earth to divinities in their infinite realm of abundance. One of these rules is that for every action that creates an impact in the universe, it will return it in equal or greater measure as consequences. Many years after its creation, some Western scientist would call this law "Action and Reaction" and apply it simply to aspects of physics rather than life in general, but that is a story for another time.
The universal laws were well-known to every being, instilled in their limited minds and sometimes monopolized to indoctrinate certain groups in a simplified way: your actions have consequences. It may take years, even centuries, for them to manifest, but they will come to take their toll on the behavior of each individual.
And that is one of the rules of life that the Great Master taught Sun Wukong the moment he set foot in his temple, before becoming practically an enemy of the entire Celestial Realm, before his pride got to his head and guided his actions for personal gratification, even before he was called the great Monkey King, protector of the Flower Fruit Mountain. Not only his master, but every celestial being he encountered and faced repeated the same thing like a sermon that fell on deaf ears; even the Monk Tang Sanzang had tried to make him understand this precept to no avail.
Thus, their voices, repeating over and over again the words "your actions have consequences, Wukong," resonate in his head as his mind tries to process the scene before his eyes. The voices abruptly fall silent when a final breath leaves the bloodied body at his feet and the wind seems to stop blowing around him.
"Macaque?" His voice sounds broken and small to his own ears, but that matters little to him at that moment. "Macaque this is not... please, this can't be..."
He falls to his knees next to the body, raising his hands without daring to actually touch it.
''No, no, no, no'' he whispers when he finally lowers his hands to his face, gently rocking it as if he could wake him up from a very bad dream ''Please no, not you, Macaque, stop playing.''
His hands slide through his fur, once immaculately white, now stained with blood that is starting to dry and stick to the skin beneath it, and they move down his chest, desperate to feel it rise again. He jolts as he feels the open wounds beneath his fingers, as if they were on his own body. A sob shakes him forcefully as he wraps his arms around the lifeless body of the other monkey, pressing it against his chest, ignoring the sticky and cold sensation of the blood.
''Please, not you'' he pleads through sobs, tightly holding the other monkey's inert body ''Liu Er, you can't do this to me, please.''
He can't understand it. Macaque had fought by his side against the gods themselves, he was a relentless warrior and even shared his power. And yet... yet he was... by his own hand.
''Please!'' he screams, looking up at the sky, clenching his hands a little tighter ''Bring him back, please! I'll give you anything, anything to have him back! My... my loyalty? You'll have it!''
His eyes glide over the motionless clouds in the sky, concealing the palace of the Jade Emperor. In the past, he made empty promises to get out of his shenanigans unscathed, but he had never desired so strongly to fulfill one; he would do anything to go back in time, a few minutes to prevent Macaque's death, a few hours to avoid the confrontation, a few days, a few years. Whatever it takes to get Liu Er back.
''My total obedience? I won't disobey any order, none! I won't say a word, I'll stay in the garden, in the stables!'' his voice breaks as he tries to control his crying to keep his voice as clear as possible.
''I beg you, I'll give you anything you want, as long as... as long as...''
''Anything, Sun Wukong?'' a voice responds, or maybe several voices, he's not entirely sure, a multiple whisper in his ear that reverberates inside his head.
''Who...? ''Wukong gasps, looking around while lifting his body slightly to protect the corpse in his arms, planting his staff in front of them.
''What are you truly willing to pay, little Monkey King, to amend the damage you've caused?''
''I... You... you heard me, mysterious voice, I will do whatever it takes.''
A small chuckle echoes around him before a chilly breeze slides down his neck, causing his fur to bristle as if icy fingers were gliding along his neck. With a warning grimace, he wraps his tail around Macaque's waist, keeping his guard up. Even though he's willing to strike a deal with... whatever it is that is speaking to him, it would be futile if he ended up dead as well. Although, if his life were the price...
''I won't ask for your life, Sun Wukong, it's not payment enough and you know it'' the voice returns, fragmenting into a chilling laughter at the end ''No, there is a much more rewarding price, if you're truly willing to accept it.''
''And with that, Macaque will come back to life?''
''As if nothing ever happened'' promises the voice, or voices, in a soft whisper that seems to attempt to soothe him ''Of course, there isn't much to be done about his physical wounds, but his soul will return unharmed.''
Wukong lowers his gaze to Macaque's blood-stained and wounded face. He grimaces slightly, gently caressing the edge of his right eye, considering asking if he can regain his sight. However, he stops when the words about his physical wounds repeat in his mind. He swallows hard, pressing his forehead against Macaque's, rubbing their noses together softly before placing a small kiss there.
''Name your price, mysterious voice, and I, Sun Wukong, Monkey King and Great Sage Heaven's Equal, will give it to you without hesitation.''
As soon as the words leave his lips, a strong gust of wind envelops him, and the laughter of the mysterious voice grows increasingly sinister. The wind becomes stronger, slipping through his arms, encasing Macaque's body until Wukong is forced to release him, screaming in protest as the body rises above his head, wrapped in the breeze and a bluish glow.
''So be it, Sun Wukong, Monkey King and Great Sage Heaven's Equal'' the voices whisper.
''You haven't named your price yet!'' he shouts, trying to stand up, gripping his staff.
''My price has been collected.''
He finally manages to rise and tries to approach Macaque's body, to somehow retrieve him, but the breeze seems to swallow him, stopping abruptly and vanishing with him as if nothing had ever happened.
After what happened, Sun Wukong joined the group to complete their mission, but he wasn't the same monkey who had been with them during the first part of the journey. He made reckless comments and laughed at the least appropriate moments, but his fellow travelers could sense that something had changed. As for Wukong, he didn't know what had happened to Macaque or what exactly the price was that he had paid to bring him back, and he had no idea if he would ever find out.
Of course, it wasn't until years, centuries, millennia later that he discovered it.
Long after he had imprisoned the Demon Bull King beneath the mountain, after his retirement and a young man had found his staff, becoming his successor. After the young man encountered a mysterious figure moving in the shadows, a monkey with a physique like his own but with fur as black as the night instead of white, and who shared his powers.
Much later, when this same figure tried to steal his student and later betrayed him, attempting to steal his powers, when he finally confronted him and found nothing but indifference in a painfully familiar face.
''So, this is the famous Sun Wukong'' were his words, filled with disinterest and mockery, as he looked him up and down ''I expected someone who more closely resembled the legend.''
It was in that moment, during their second encounter, that Sun Wukong discovered the price, and it was far more painful than he had ever imagined, knowing it and yet incredibly powerful.
His memories.
End Notes: this is a translation of my original work, ''El precio a pagar'' in spanish, if you see any mistake please let me know