Notes:

Sorry for the delay! I posted the last chapter as I was moving across the country, and it's been a bit crazy since.

The next chapter is ready. It might be a little shorter, but it's a doozy.

A schedule was drawn up, agreed upon, and put into action.

Mei offered to "keep the porty going" and take the overnight shift. Tang would take the morning, Wukong the afternoon, and Pigsy the evening. Sandy offered to take a shift as well, but the group insisted he was doing enough just covering MK's deliveries. The blue man looked disappointed, but didn't argue the point. Delivering noodles in this city was exhausting. He did promise to bring some caffeinated tea with him in the morning, though.

It was late by the time everyone called it quits. MK trudged up to his apartment, Mei close behind. She closed the door as MK plopped onto the couch.

"I know I said I didn't want to sleep, but I'm kinda regretting that already."

Mei leapt over the back of the couch and bounced onto the cushion next to her friend. "Yeah, but it's the best way to keep that thing away from you."

Dark eyes rolled, "come on, Mei! It didn't bother me after you came in last night!"

"Yeah, most likely because I've got the Samhadi Fire. Red and Monkey King both said it was because she's weak, and probably didn't want to risk it. But if she gets desperate, she might. And if we're asleep-"

MK groaned. "I know! And I can't sleep with you watching me because we don't know if she can go all invisible or... look, it just sucks, ok?"

Brown eyes looked up into green when his friend slipped her arm around his shoulders. A soft tug was all it took for MK to lean against her steady frame. "We promised we'd figure this out, and we will. Until then, we just need to keep you up. So, what do you want to do?"

Morning, end of Mei's shift

DrgnGrl: made it thru the night. I don't know how long he can do this, guys. It's been like 24 hours since he really slept, and he's already grouchy and twitchy. GL Tang

Early Afternoon, end of Tang's shift

GoldenCicada: yeah, definite mood swings. I brought some research from the library, and he called me a nerd for a half hour straight, then cried, then yelled at me. It's like puberty all over again! :'( Monkey King just picked him up. I'm really getting worried about MK.

OGMK: I'll try meditation. Might help.

Two Hours Later...

OGMK: DID NOT HELP! Did the kid hit his head on anything, or this just what happens when mortals don't sleep?

That night, after Pigsy's shift

Pigsy: caught MK banging his head off the counter. Poor kid is tryin his best to stay awake. I gave him the spicy stuff for dinner- with the peppers I use in Red's noodles. Kid didn't even notice. Just stared into space the whole time. It's like he's there one minute and checked out the next

The following day went much the same. Not including his short nap at the DBK fortress, MK had now officially been awake around thirty-six hours. The effects were becoming devastating.

DrgnGrl: guys, MK can't keep this up much longer

DrgnGrl: where are we on the research, Red Boi?

Nickname changed to RedBoi

Nickname changed to RedSON

RedSON: Unfortunately, Mother has exhausted her resources. It may be time to consult my uncle in the Celestial Realm.

Pigsy: guys...

GoldenCicada: Celestial Realm?! Can I come? For MK, of course

MKOG: I think I might have something

Pigsy: ...

Sandy: I think we're outta time! All hands NOW

"Sandy, I could use a little help here!"

Sandy pocketed his phone without waiting for a response, then promptly tackled MK. He had walked into the noodle shop after a delivery to find MK, hysterical and staff in hand, corning a terrified Pigsy.

The young man struggled in his grasp, and the river demon tightened his hold as much as he dared. MK was exhausted, but his strength was in full swing at the moment, his entire body tight and ready for battle.

"No! Let go of me! I have to help Pigsy! She's possessed him!"

The pig approached the pair cautiously, worry shining in his dark eyes. "MK, it's me, Pigsy. I'm ok, see?"

Bloodshot eyes widened, and it was obvious that MK was suddenly somewhere else entirely.

While the kid babbled incoherently to himself, Sandy and Pigsy exchanged worried looks.

"What happened, friend? I was only gone for ten minutes!"

Pigsy sighed. "He was eating something, and then the wind blew through the door. I guess it spooked him. He said something about that Lady Bone Demon, then just... lost it. Pulled his staff out and starting swinging."

One rough, calloused hand brushed a look of hair out of the boy's face, the action completely unnoticed by MK. "He can't do this anymore, Sandy," Pigsy added quietly. "He's gonna hurt himself, or someone else."

"Looks like he already got you pretty good. That's gonna be a nice shiner there." Giant shoulders sagged, but the strong grip remained. "I messaged the group. They should be here soon. And, um... I'm sorry, Pigsy, but I think I rebroke his arm when I grabbed him."

"It's okay, Sandy. Ya did what you had to. At least he doesn't seem to feel it right now."

The door burst aside as Mei and Tang ran in, both shocked at the scene before them.

"MK!"

"Pigsy! Your eye!"

The pair began to flutter around in a state of near panic. Mei was yelling about MK' obviously rebroke arm, and Tang was trying to get ice on Pigsy's rapidly swelling eye.

"Will you two settle down? I'm all right, Tang. It was an accident." He grabbed the ice to appease his partner, who did take a step back afterward to plop onto a nearby stool.

Mei took a breath, then forced herself to sit next to Tang. "Ok, what happened?"

Pigsy related the story again. MK, lulled by the steady tone, seemed to finally settle and sagged in Sandy's arms.

"I'm sorry, Pigsy. I-"

"Hey kid," the swine smiled gently and brushed the disobedient lock out of MK's eyes again, "don't worry about it. It was an accident. How are you feeling?"

Brown eyes blinked sluggishly and out of sequence as he answered, "Tired."

Sandy gently set MK down, and the young man immediately collapsed into a sitting position.

"Oops!" he giggled, "jelly legs!"

The others immediately huddled together.

"Ok," Pigsy started, "I'm callin' it. This is doing almost as much harm to the kid as the ghost thing. He needs sleep."

Mei nodded, "it did get spooked by me twice. He's been awake so long, the thing has to be weak now, right? Maybe if we stay close, it'll stay away?"

MK sat on the floor. He could hear his friends, but they sounded so far away, like they were underwater. Or maybe he was underwater? He did feel rather weightless. And everything around him felt far away and muted.

He waved his arms to try and swim to the surface, but it didn't seem to help. At least he wasn't sinking. And he could breath. Maybe that was a new power?

MK took in a lungful of air and choked. No! It wasn't a new power- he couldn't breath underwater after all!

He flapped his arms again, but he still wasn't moving. Panic began to set in. His lungs had to be filling with water now. He could feel it, sloshing around. Weighing him down. He was drowning!

Now in a full panic, he switched over to the Eyes of Truth. There had to be a way to the surface... there! He saw light! That had to be it! He began to crawl frantically toward the light (he must have been at the bottom already!), but it seemed so far, and his lungs were burning so bad. Everything was burning... but he was the Monkey Kid! He could do this!

Tang had been relating that he'd found nothing new in the college library when Mei poked her head out of the huddle. "Oh no! MK!"

Everyone turned to where they had left him, only to find the shop empty. The door swung ominously. With one shared look, the four rushed outside.

There, in the middle of the street, hovered MK.

And he was glowing.

His eyes burned gold, as did the rest of his body as he floated several feet above the ground.

The Monkey King's successor was pouring power at an alarming rate, and his friends found themselves pushed up against the side of the building with the force of it. Even if they wanted to, they couldn't get close enough to help him.

The glow intensified, and MK screamed.

Notes:

Please let me know what you think in the comments! It'll help motivate me to finish!