Wu shoots up, gasping in a wild frenzy as he sits and grasps at his chest where he was stabbed mere moment ago. "GAH!" He pants in a panic and looks around. "I-I died! I DIED!" He yells out.
A group of other anima rush up to Wu. "Hey. caaaaalm down. That's right. You died. How are you feeling?" One asks, patting Wu on the back. Wu looks around seeing finely marbled walls and pillars, yet he's lying on a bed of similar design to the ones he's used to.
Wu takes a minute to calm down. "I'm… fine. What is this place…? Wait… if I died… then this is-!?"
"That is right. Welcome to Heaven. Land of the gods."
Wu holds onto his head. "I…" He looks around. "How long was I sleeping here?"
The shaman chuckles. "It's only been about ten years since you died,"
Wu shoots up. "HUH!?" he grabs the doctor by the shoulders.
"Calm down my child. It simply takes a while for some souls to arrive in Heaven. You certainly took your time though, sir. But do not worry about your body. It is at its physical peak and will remain so forever! You have nothing to fear," He explains and Wu stares into his eyes with a rather fiery worry.
"I-I NEED to see my family! Down on Earth! Is there… some way?! According to the Chief the dead could 'look down upon us from the heavens'! Is that true!?"
The shaman looks shocked to see this boy so lively so soon. "Y-yeah… we can show you if you'd like? But do you not want to relax and gain some bearings?" He asks but Wu shakes his head.
Wu is led down a hallway, stunned by the immensely intricate architecture around him. "What is this? There is nothing like this down on Earth is there?"
The shaman shakes his head. "The gods' craftsmanship is much more advanced than anything The Anima have produced down on Earth. I imagine it would remain so for quite a while. Here we are," he gestures to a viewing room, labeled 'ancestors' watchful eye'.
"Thank you."
"Not a problem. Be sure to return when you've confirmed what you want to see."
Wu enters and sees a bunch of small bird-bath fountains filled with a white cloud-like smoke. He walks up to one that currently isn't in use and places his hand on a black sphere and the clouds part slightly, showing a bird's eye view of Earth. It zooms down incredibly fast, much to his shock. "Woah!" He sees the familiar forest where is village is and the view pans to the clearing where his house is. His eyes slowly but surely wells with tears as he sees her. Bai. She's grown a lot in the last ten years. She's so beautiful… However not a moment later and his heart swells with joy as three little kids come running up to her, all around 10 years old. He smiles gently as Bai picks up one of them, who seems to be angry about something and starts talking, Wu hearing something faint coming from a pair of stone 'headphones' next to the fountain and he puts them on.
"Mommy mommy! Luohou won't stop hitting me!" The little monkey-girl cries out with an adorable pout and Bai laughs, looking at her little lizard-boy.
"Now Luohou. Don't go hitting Yuebei. Grandpa Kong will be very angry with you if he sees it. And Jidu. I told you if Luohou steps out of line, then you should step in. You're the oldest, aren't you?" She says the final child, a monkey-boy crosses his arms.
"Only by a few minutes, mommy! A-and Luohou is already stronger than me! It's not fair!"
Bai and Wu laughs as she sits down putting Yuebei on her knee. "Alright you rascals. Shall we go see if grandpa wants to join us for dinner today?" The kids all spring up and rush to the Chief's house.
"Grandpaaaaaa!" The Chief exits his house, rather stoically.
"Who DARE summon the Chief!?" He yells angrily before the three kids jump on him and he comically falls to the ground. "BUWAAAA! Such overwhelming forces! How could I be defeated so easily!?" He yells in faux shock.
The kids all laugh. "Grandpaaaaa? You're just pretending," Jidu comments and the Chief chuckles.
Wu watches on for HOURS up there. Apparently some time after his death, they made peace with the reptilian thanks to Wu's sacrifice and Bai being a reptilian. The Chiefs of both tribes meet once in a while to discuss pressing issues and most importantly… Bai, The Chief, Zhu, who is now 'uncle Zhu', and all the villagers he knew are all happy. So happy. Wu sits at the panel, silently sobbing with joy. They're doing great.
When the day ends, after Wu has sat and watched Bai tell their kids a story about him from when he was alive, they fall asleep and he gets up to leave. He wipes the tears and lets out a sigh of relief. "THEY'RE OKAY!" He yells out laughing with excitement. He sprints out of the room, after being shushed by the other visitors. "WOOOOOHOOOOO!"
Wu spends a few days getting checked and ensured he's adapting well to his new body, but he is, as it's the body he was in when he died. Spending his day in the ancestor's chamber, watching over his family with slightly damp eyes, and a proud heart. They're so beautiful.
One night, some years after his awakening in Heaven Wu is walking down one of the many streets in Heaven, hearing idle chatter from his fellow mammals. He sighs, hearing one of them whisper. "I heard that those damn scaly tribes are ganging together. Do you think they'll overthrow us?"
"Nah. No way. We're WAY stronger than some cold-blooded lizards,"
Wu rolls his eyes a bit before moving on. He suddenly sees something approaching. He knows that chime! The chime of divinity. He steps aside, as does everyone when a large ornate gold and red throne is carried down the street upon the back of a massive silver wyvern. Upon the throne sits Yu Huang. "Make way!" He calls out. He comes to visit them once in a while to give out orders and guidelines. It is quite impressive. The head of the gods' council, personally coming to visit his subjects! Wu follows the large dragon to a plaza. Yu Huang looks out on the crowd, seeing the various districts each one for a different animal group. Insects, reptiles, mammals, birds. "Spiteful curr," He mutters under his breath. He stands from his throne stepping down across the neck of his dragon. "LISTEN UP, ANIMA! I've little left to say to you. You must begin to get along with one another. Or there WILL be consequences!" He calls out as the spectators suspiciously eye each other.
"Trust? Them?" "Those guys are violent by nature." "So are you!" "Defending ourselves is violent!?" They start to argue and Yu Huang claps loudly making everyone fall silent instantly.
Wu nods. "Yeah! We'll talk it out, lord Yu Huang!" He calls out and Yu Huang's eyes widen, looking over at the monkey-boy before slightly smirking.
"That you should, monkey," With that he takes his leave. Such simple words. Only a single sentence, but it seems Yu Huang gets it as well. They can get along. All of them. Perhaps Wu can change Heaven as well!
He exits the plaza heading back to the ancestor's chamber, stretching a bit. "I can't wait to tell them about… oh yeah. Heh," He enters the chamber and finds his usual spot, looking down. However his ears are instantly hit with the sounds of screams and his eyes widen in a panic. What is happening!? As the view zooms down he sees his village being overrun! It's an avian tribe!? His eyes dart around as the view finds his family, hiding inside their hut, Bai sitting in the corner, holding all their kids' heads close to her chest.
"H-hush now. D-don't talk. Grandpa will… g-grandpa will save us. Don't worry you three," Wu's entire body tenses up seeing what's happening. They just attacked all of a sudden!?
He looks outside the house, seeing The Chief fighting like a wild animal, with his giant axe, swinging it with expert precision and strength. "You DARE attack our tribe!? We've done you NO HARM! We WISH you no harm!" He declares as the leader of the avian tribe comes diving down from a tree, a falcon-man is appears, moving at blinding speeds.
"So what!? Can't a predator-bird fight for fun!? Kyahaha!" He strikes the chief over and over.
"C-come on, Chief. COME ON! You got him!" The Chief blocks another strike from the avian, the two struggling a bit before the Chief is sliced across the back by another invader. Gritting his teeth he swipes behind him, knocking the bird-man out cold, but as he turns back he's met with a swift scratch across the eyes from the bird-chief's talons, blinding him.
"Gah! You bastard!" The Chief stumbles a bit and swings his axe, fighting through the pain.
"Lookie here everyone? The last warrior of the village. Sooooo helpless," They begin to gang up on him, pushing him around, slicing at him with their weapons as he falls to his knees. Wu's eyes well up seeing his village in ruins. They destroyed everything… how dare they!? They never did anything wrong!
"Chief! Lookie what I found!" Another avian declares pushing Bai out of the house with the three kids. No! No no no! Don't!
"Grandpa!" Yuebei calls out, Bai holding her close. Wu grits his teeth seeing them all lined up on their knees, his children… his beautiful children all stammering and crying! There's NOTHING he can do for them. Nothing at all… If only he hadn't died!
"Don't you DARE harm them you MONSTER!" The Chief yells out.
Wu's kids all yell over each other and Bai softly smiles at them. "D-don't worry, you three. We'll…" Her eyes fill with tears. "We'll get to go see daddy." Wu's eyes suddenly flicker with hope, joy, grief, all at once. As the weapons swipe he jerks his hand back causing the console to turn off. He pants and pats himself down. He's sweating. He has chills. It was… painless… right? Painless. Yeah… painless.
He jumps up and sprints out, back to the hospital section where he himself woke up. "HEY!" He yells and stomps over to one of the shamans. A wolf of some sort. "You. How long does it take for a soul to arrive!"
"Well we don't usually know exactly how long. It depends on the state of mind when they died sometimes,"
"If they were… killed. RIGHT NOW! If they were JUST killed! How long!? How long will it take!?"
The shaman looks shocked. "Oh. You witnessed it? The death of a loved one back on Earth? It's okay. They will be here. Why don't you tell me who they were and who you are? Then we will let you know when their bodies materialize. Then they should arrive shortly after that? Understand?" He explains and Wu is panting as the shaman pats him down with a cloth. "Deep breaths, boy. It's okay. They will be fine."
Wu takes a few deep breaths. "Yeah. Yeah… they'll be okay when they arrive. Good. Good…"
Wu's wait was long. Excruciatingly long. Every day he worried, thinking about what he would say. For nine long years. He prepared the best words. He bought flowers, even found a bigger place he could live with them all. Then the letter finally arrived. 'Your family's bodies have all materialized'. When he came in he saw five beds all lined up. "H-hi everyone… I'll be seeing you soon," He says with a smile sitting in front of the beds, waiting for someone to wake up. The first to awaken is Bai, sitting up rather slowly.
"W-what… happened?" She whispers looking around, not recognizing where she is, but the moment she lays eyes on Wu, who's sitting at Yuebei's bed gently holding her hand she gasps. "WU!?" She calls out and Wu's eyes shoot up as he looks over only to see Bai leaping at him and knocking him out of the chair onto the floor, kissing him all over his face. "Wuuuuuu! My beloved! H-how!? What!? What's going on!? Nevermind I don't care! I'm so happy to see you!" Wu happily kisses her back as they roll around on the floor a little before they hear a familiar voice.
"Wow, Wu? She really missed you huh?" They both look up seeing Zhu, sitting on one of the beds, looking a little lost.
Bai notices everyone else staring at them and she slowly sits up, with a huge blush on her face, her scales all turning bright pink with embarrassment. "Ahem…"
Wu is stunned, looking at her, touching her again. "I… I was ready with so many good words, but… I forgot them all," he says with a smile. "This is… Heaven. We'll live forever here… together,"
Bai sees their kids' bodies all resting soundly, passively sleeping, awaiting their souls while Wu explains the situation to her and Zhu.
They also see the Chief, who is starting to wake up. Wu runs over. "CHIEF!" He declares before the Chief instinctively LAUNCHES his fist straight into Wu's chest, sending him flying across the room rather comedically. "Man… Maybe the kids will wake up without beating the hell out of me. First Bai and now you too, Chief?" He says with a smile as the Chief looks at his fist, then down at himself.
"W-wha…?!" He looks a lot younger than he's used to. Stronger too. "WU!? Is that you!?" He springs to life almost instantly and picks the young boy up, hugging him tightly.
"Chiiiief! CHIEF! B-breathe… can't…" He pants before he's set back down. He pants a bit and the Chief is also caught up to speed, letting out a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness… Wu… I am… sorry. I should have protected your family. I failed, both as a father and as a warrior."
Wu smiles and hits the Chief on the arm. "You definitely didn't. I was watching you know? My kids have an AWESOME grandpa," He smiles brightly and the Chief, stoic as he might be, scratches his cheek and blushes a bit.
"Thanks."
The three sit around and catch up until suddenly they hear loud gasps and the young kids shoot up from their beds, crying loudly. "Mommmmyyyyyy! I don't wanna diiiiie!" Jidu cries. Wu looks almost shocked as Bai kneels down.
"Jidu. Yuebei. Luohou. Open your eyes kids. It's alright now. We made it to Heaven," She says and the kids slowly open their eyes, looking around curiously, sniffling a bit before they see Bai, Zhu and the Chief. All of them sitting around the beds comforting each of them. Wu meanwhile stands back, not sure what to do with himself. Bai smiles. "Kids? There's someone I want you to meet," She says and everyone moves back a little as she gestures to Wu who stands there, his heart pounding out of his chest.
"W-who is that, mommy?" Yuebei asks before Jidu's eyes widen and he walks up to Wu who kneels down a bit.
"... …"
"... Do you… know who I am?" Wu asks softly and Jidu tilts his little head.
"Daddy?" He asks and Wu completely melts as he nods, his eyes once more full of tears.
"T-that's right. That's it. Daddy," He hugs Jidu tightly and Yuebei and Luohou swiftly spring out of their beds.
"It's daddy!"
"Daddy's here! Hi Daddy! I'm Luohou!" They excitedly introduce himself and Wu doesn't even care to tell them he already knows. Every word they speak is sweet as sugar in his ears. Finally. Finally they're all together. Bai and the Chief join in the little familial hug as well, the Chief picking them all up with his absurd strength causing everyone to flail and gasp.
"Grandpaaaaa! Put us doooown!" Jidu cries out and Wu just laughs.
"I love you all… I love you so much…" for the first time in many many years… Wu was truly happy. He had been overjoyed to see his kids from the ancestor's watchful eye. He was happy to hear Bai's stories about him. He was happy to see them happy. But now he held his children in his arms for the first time. There was no feeling that could quite compare. None at all. "I have something we gotta do everyone," The chief sets them down as Wu holds Jidu and Yuebei in an arm each. He might not have trained for a while but his physical peak was still quite strong. He brings them on a short tour of the Anima section of Heaven. It is a relatively short tour, as there isn't much. Just their little corner of Heaven. "Now this here. This is REALLY cool. It um… I don't know what is it," He points over at a booth sitting in a corner. It looks much more divine and out of place than the rest of the tribal architecture around. "Basically if you go in, some lights will flash like a mini sun and when you come out you get to see yourself, like a mirror! Whatever!" They all squeeze themselves into the small box. "Look at that there and smile everyone!" He says and they all look woefully confused when the lights suddenly flash, the Chief about to hit the flashing light with his giant fist, but Wu laughs, stopping him. When they exit Wu shows them the pictures the box prints out. The kids eat them up, looking stunned and shocked at them and lightly tussling to get a hold of one of them. Bai and Wu hold hands and smile softly at the little ones.
"We missed you down there, Wu. I'm so happy to have you back," She gives him a kiss on the cheek and the kids flail the pictures in Wu's face.
"Daddy daddy daddy!" "We wanna take some more! We know how it works now! It's so cool!"
Wu laughs. "Alright. But just one more okay?" They get back in and capture some more photos, Wu trying to remain civil but he just can't help himself from kissing Bai on the cheek making the kids all cringe and The Chief rolling his eyes, yet smirking, capturing a beautiful moment of a family. Together at last. They settle in nicely. They talk. They laugh. They smile. Everything is perfect. And it will be perfect forever.
…
…
…
"The voting has passed. With not a single vote to keep them around, The Anima shall hereby be ANNIHILATED!" Yu Huang declares, sitting at the head of the god council. He raises the gavel and SLAMS it down.
"WAAAAAAIT!" Yu Huang pauses just before the gavel strikes the sound block, The Anima begin to POUR into the council through the provided entrance. It had been merely a week since his family arrived in Heaven when they heard that the gods might be planning to destroy all The Anima.
Yu Huang squints a little. "What… is the meaning of this?" He asks and Wu steps forward.
"Lord Yu Huang. I beg of you. Please. Why do you want to DESTROY our species!? It doesn't make any sense!"
"You DARE question the omnipotent gods?! What is your name?" Yu Huang yells standing and stomping his foot to uproaring applause from the gods.
Wu grits his teeth. "My name is Wu Kong! A-and come on now. Surely you must have a reason to want this! We can talk it out."
Yu Huang grunts. "You insignificant worm. Do you truly believe that you can stand here and TALK to us, so frivolously? But, fine. Allow me to enlighten you to your species shortcomings," He snaps his fingers and several spheres appear around the council, each one detailing a brutal battle between species. "You Anima. You could not, cannot, look past the insignificance of your species. You are openly hostile towards anything that differs from yourselves. Your constant bloodshed is inhibiting your growth. Truly you are failures. Utter. Failures," He looks down at Wu with cold eyes, practically staring straight through him and everyone behind Wu.
Wu gulps as he gestures for Bai to step forward. They merge their hands and hold them forward. "You're wrong, Yu Huang! We are not all like that! Some of us. My entire village for one. We accept others. Look," He gestures back to The Chief who is standing protectively guarding the kids. "My wife and me. We have three beautiful children. No anger. No hate. Just love," He says looking at the three who smile and look quite frightened at Yu Huang as he sits back down.
"..." He appears to think for a little.
"You see!? S-so you can't just wipe us out! We have so much room to grow and evolve still!"
"..." he looks up and with a single word, silences the cheering Anima. "... So?" He says raising his hand gently. "You think you can change our minds? So what if you have a lovely family? What does it matter when your species has failed, and will continue to do so? But I will humor you. Gods! Goddesses! We shall hold a revote!" He holds up his X. And Wu's eyes fade with hope when the gods… not even one, has changed their mind.
"W-what… But I…" Wu looks to his kids and rushes over. "I-I… I just got to see you." He says panicking. "I don't want you to disappear. I don't want to die."
Jidu cries. "D-daddy. P-please save us from the evil man!"
Yuebei hugs him tightly. "Daddy I'm scared!"
Luohou is trembling. "I-I don't want to leave mommy and daddy again. I want to stay!"
"I know… I-I know. I-it'll be alright. I promise."
Yu Huang suddenly gets a devious, eerie grin on his face. "You. Monkey. You dared to talk back to me. If you are so proud of being what you are. Then I have an idea. GODS! GODDESSES. Shall we let him alone live? Let us see how he fares without his precious species!" They all laugh at the suggestion and cheer in agreement. "Seems the voting has passed," Yu Huang takes out a large book, opening it up. "Wu Kong, you say? I hereby delete your name from the Book of Death. Armageddon will no longer be able to touch you. This is no blessing. It is a curse!"
Wu's eyes go wide as Yu Huang raises his gavel again, and upon striking it down, he suddenly feels something strange. Right there in his arms, his kids start to slowly fade to dust. "W-wha… n-no! NO! Don't!" He looks back at the gods seeing their self-satisfied grins while they look on the screens of Earth, seeing giant feet plunging down from the skies with huge Xs on the bottom, crushing every Anima on Earth. "Don't go. Please!" He suddenly falls forward as the cries of his children fade into mere echoes and he looks back seeing Bai stumble towards him, feeling weak. "Bai! Bai I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I-I couldn't…" He tries when she gives him a kiss on the lips.
"It's okay… you… tried. I will see you again… wherever we end up. Okay? Promise."
"N-no! I'll get them t-to reverse it. I will!" Wu yells as he kisses her hand just as it fades. He stands there defeated as the people disappear around him. "Why…?"
"WUUUUUUU KOOOOOOONG!" He suddenly hears a booming sound and spins around seeing the chief behind him. Wu tries stepping towards him but falls, as the Chief begins to fade to dust as well. "Raise your head, Wu. You will carry on our legacy. And I couldn't have picked a better man to do so. I… am so SO proud of you, my son," He says patting Wu on the head.
Wu raises his head only to be met with nothing, The Chief has faded. The last person he sees is Zhu, silently standing behind him. He smiles. And waves. Not a word spoken between them before he's gone. Wu falls to his knees, slamming his fist into the ground. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Give them back! GIVE THEM BACK TO MEEEEE! Don't leave me! DON'T LEAVE ME HERE ALONE!" He screams out in anguish, crying from already dried up eyes, slamming his fists into the marbled floor until they bleed. Then… he hears them. The gods. Laughing. Chuckling and cackling. He feels their eyes on him. Then he feels it. Rage. Utter, unbridled wrath. He slowly stands as Yu Huang smirks.
"So tell me, Wu Kong. Where is that potential for growth of which you spoke now?" He laughs loudly and suddenly the entirety of Heaven feels Wu's eyes on them, glancing them over.
He shivers and heaves. "Mark… my… words. I'll make you all regret this," He says through gritted teeth.
"Yes yes. Now tell me... for curiosity's sake. What was your name again?"
"My name… is Wu. Wu Kong. Don't… ever… forget it,"
"Wukong huh?" Yu Huang stands and slowly walks towards Wukong, giving him a light shove onto the floor. "Leave, Wukong. We have more important matters to discuss among us gods," He snaps his fingers and the guards arrive and pull Wukong out of there while he kicks and screams.
"YOU WILL REGRET THIS! You're ALL FUCKING DEEEEEAD! I SWEAR!"
Yu Huang notices something stuck to the bottom of his shoe. He picks it up. A picture. Of Wukong and his family. He smirks. "Heh. A good memento," he says, pocketing it. "Well anyway. With this taken care of! How shall we proceed with Earth?" He asks as the destruction of Earth has already finished, killing and eliminating every soul on Earth.