"Guys!!!! Guys, guys, guys!!!"

MK rushes into the room, scaring Mei and Red Son doing so, near out of breath, holding a poster with an image of himself on it.

"Look!!!"

Mei and Red Son rush over, wondering if a demon has put up wanted posters or a bounty on MK's head. But, to their relief, it's a festival. The Monkey King festival. Though, this time there seems to be more hype about it. Mainly because of the whole Demon Bull King situation, but also because some believe Sun Wukong is back and he's the one behind the defeat of DBK or it's Sun Wukong's kid. Either way, people are celebrating MK.

"Isn't this awesome?!?! I usually go to this to celebrate the Monkey King, eat food, play games, dance a bit, watch the fireworks, but now?! Now it's about me! Isn't this great!?"

Red Son watches as MK practically does backflips while jumping due to his excitement.

"Thankfully I already got Pigsy to agree to go because opening a noodle stand is basically free money during festivals! Meaning the shop is closed! Meaning I have the night off! Well, mostly. I still have to help with customers and setting up the stall, but oh man is this gonna be so good!"

MK is, of course, overjoyed at this whole festival thing coming up. Red Son, though, is hesitant. What with his parents still being a threat to them.

"So, you guys down to go or what?!"

MK's smiling face practically beams, making it nearly impossible to look at.

"May I remind you that not only are my parents looking for me but the majority of this city hates me as well."

"Well, it says on the poster that you can wear masks! You know, like of the Monkey King, dragons, demons, and other stuff! So, we just need to get you a good mask! Also, you kind of have to go, Pigsy needs your help setting up the noodle stall."

Red Son sighs, knowing there really is no other option than to enjoy the festival. He won't admit it, but this will get on his nerves. He's still getting used to being on the same side as the Monkey King after hating him for so long. Though, the positive association may help in the long run.

"Of course he does. I guess I have no choice but to go then."

Mei and MK look at each other, jumping up.

"All right!"

---------------------------------------

After getting the Pigsy's noodle stand set up and business already starting to drum up, MK and Red Son walk towards the race that Mei's now part of. They see the long line of racers, each with their own flare that sets them apart from some others. It doesn't take long for them to spot Mei. Well, really for Mei to spot them.

"I am so about to win this thing!"

"We'll be cheering you on! Go, Mei!"

"MK, you say that like she isn't the only viable racer here. Mei, do me a favor and at least keep it interesting. It'll be so insanely boring if you win by a landslide and the entire race is just you ahead of everyone for five minutes."

Mei gives Red Son a thumbs up, ready to go. The fans seem to be far more restless than MK and Red Son, already screaming and cheering for their favorites. Of course, it doesn't take long for the actual race to start.

"Racers! Start your engines!"

Everyone revs up, but none of them seem to be expecting Mei. The first buzz sounds, then the second, and finally a loud horn sounds and Mei has already taken her signature Green Dragon form, speeding past everyone else.

"This course is supposed to take five minutes, but how much do you wanna bet she finishes in less than three?"

"MK, she's going to finish in less than three. It's not a question... also, I already placed down my bets. One hundred and fifty on Mei, the Green Dragon. I'll have over a thousand by the end of this pointless event."

"What?!"

"What? She's gonna win, so there's no risk in betting."

"Well... okay, fair. But why so much!?"

"Because there's no risk. If I know I'll profit then I know I should go all-in on it. There's no reason not to."

"Huh... so, what I'm hearing is, you're about to take me around the festival possibly to play slightly rigged games?"

"Only the ones with decent prizes."

"Ladies, Gentlemen, and lovely viewers, can you believe that Mei, the Green Dragon, has a solid lead?! Oh, but what's this?! Someone's closing in!"

MK and Red Son stare, Red Son now worried that his bet was somehow misplaced.

"It's Lou, the Obsidian Rocket! This man has a great set up, but can he fly faster than a Dragon!? Let's find out folks! Oh, they're practically neck and neck!"

Red Son and MK are at the edge of their seats, wondering how this will end. Red Son is a bit terrified. Not at the idea of losing money, but rather getting chewed out by MK as he goes on about how he's right and how stupid it was to bet that much on something. Being proved wrong has never been something that Red Son has taken kindly to, so this might be bad. Well, at least for him. MK would have the time of his life. They watch as the two battle out.

"Folks, it looks like the Green Dragon might have some trouble! Wait- what's this sudden burst of speed!? Mei is taking it back! Was she just taunting him?! Look! She's practically a burst of green light! Oh, she's done it! She crossed the finish line! Mei has won! I don't know what was going on there, but I can't say it wasn't enjoyable. Folks, if you placed your bets on Mei, go over to the stands and claim your cash prize. As for everyone else, well, we can't all win."

Red Son gets up, taking his ticket to the stand, and quickly getting his cash. MK follows behind him. Mei quickly catches up to the two.

"That was interesting, right?"

"So you were just following my request, okay, good, because my money was on you and I would have been furious if you had lost."

"You bet money on me?"

"It's a race and I knew you'd win. And, of course, you failed to disappoint me."

"That's a weird way to say that you're happy for me, Red Son, but I appreciate it!"

Mei gives Red Son a thumbs up, but he brushes it off, trying to keep his persona. Then, Mei wraps her arm around MK's head, pulling him towards her in a friendly manner. For some reason, Red Son can't help but be slightly ticked off by this display. They're practically siblings, but he knows that he's bound to be jealous of how close they are.

"So, which games are we gonna play first, MK?!"

Mei smiles before something hits her in the back of the head. An empty cup of soda that anyone can buy at a stand.

"Hey! You cheated, didn't you?! I want a rematch!"

Mei lets go of MK, much to the delight of Red Son, but he quickly sees that this isn't a time for small, trivial celebrations of false wins. Mei was enraged, though keeping calm.

"Oh, rocket dude, sorry about that... but I think you'll find I went easy on you to keep it interesting for the fans. I didn't want a boring show, you know? Though, if you want, I can beat you by a far margin."

Red Son and MK back away slowly, feeling the rage radiate off of Mei in a way that they haven't felt before. The tension in the area is something that could suffocate anyone and everyone.

"Oh, you are about to get lost in my dust cloud, Green lizard."

The two wince at how dead this man is about to be.

"Holy court of Heaven, that man is about to have a funeral."

"Has she ever been this mad?"

"No. This beats the MonkeyKartDeluxe incident by a landslide... and I think we should get out of the blast radius."

"Yeah, let's go before we're included in this whole debacle."

The two quickly and stealthily make their way to the many games present. Ring toss, pop a balloon, throw a ball, and land someone in the water, claw machines, and a few arcade games. MK quickly runs around, wondering what games to play first and which ones have the best prizes. Meanwhile, Red Son takes in the scenery. He's never been in a place like this. The lanterns that are used as both a light source and decor, depicting some of the adventures of Sun Wukong, the vibrance of the place fills anyone who sees it with a welcoming warmth that even Red Son can't help but smile about, everyone seems to be either to be in traditional wears or something they're more comfortable in, yet no one seems to be bothered by the differences. It's wonderful.

"So, Red, where do you wanna go first? I looked around and I can't really decide."

"Any games that require strength to win?"

"Yeah, there's the high striker. Hit it as hard as you can with a hammer to win. Higher the score, better the prize."

"Looks like that's the first game we'll be playing."

"What!? I know I can lift Monkie king's staff and all but... no one's touched the top in a decade. It's so rigged!"

"MK. that staff weighs 17,550 pounds, which is also known as 7,960 kilograms. In other words, this should be a breeze for you, even if it's rigged... and, to give you some encouragement, I'll go at it first. You can go after if I somehow don't manage to win."

Red Son walks over to the crowd, seeing a small child slam the hammer down and jump with joy as it hits a low mark, getting a plush of the Monkey King.

"See, ladies and gents? Even a low score can make you a winner! Hit the top and win a cruise and tropical vacation with a friend which can be redeemed anytime! So, who wants to win big?! Just ten dollars a try, folks!"

Red Son steps up, giving the man ten dollars. He grabs the hammer, soon igniting with flames as he lets his anger consume him. People quickly back up as he raises the hammer, his flames engulfing him, and with a quick strike and all his energy put into it the ding of the bell is heard. MK's jaw drops as Red Son smirks, looking over to the owner of the booth.

"I'll be taking those trip tickets now."

"A-alright, here you go, please don't light my booth on fire."

Red Son grabs the pamphlet holding the tickets, handing them to MK.

"They're flammable, so I think it's best you hold them."

"Dude. Did you need to make a show of it?!"

"You said it was rigged."

"Yeah, a little!"

"Well, I won. And before you say that was unfair, you're supposed to use all your strength to win and I did so technically I played by the rules."

"I... alright, but I still feel bad about it."

"Don't. If that guy can afford that to anyone who can ding that bell then chances are there are a lot more bozos who either are too weak or too dumb to get it... or it's heavily rigged."

"...huh. I guess we did a good thing then!"

"Yes, yes. And now we have a great vacation to look forward to! Where does it even say we're going to?"

"Oh, um... 'tropical island getaway', 'all expenses paid', 'a true luxury', 'with servants following your every whim', that isn't what we're looking for, oh! Here! The Dragon Palace Resort! Wait- excuse me!? The waiting list is, like, literally years! And it's only for, like, the richest people! Mei went there with her family once because they managed to get lucky with dates and wanted to go big for Mei's graduation and recent race win and we just got two free tickets to it!?"

They continue reading the pamphlet, in awe at the luxury they're about to receive.

"So, we know what we're doing this summer. It makes sense that I got it for us, doesn't it?"

"Red, I need you to know how much I love and care for you. Like, really. This is the best gift I've ever received, beating the knowledge that as long as you apply for scholarships you have a consistent income that no one can touch."

Red Son blushes a bit, enjoying hearing the phrase "I need you to know how much I love and care for you". It will be his personal joy. He snaps out of it in favor of not making things awkward.

"Oh. Well, we should get to winning other prizes. What other games are there?"

"Let's try the balloon one next!"

-----------------------------------------------

After three hours of winning prizes and having nonstop fun, the duo settles down and starts to eat some Zongzi. Luckily for the two, MK won a big bag for all their stuffed toys. Then, the two get startled by the loud noise of a radio speaker turning on.

"The fireworks are to start in thirty minutes."

The two look at each other, smiling.

"Well, I can't think of a better way to end tonight. Ready to enjoy the show, Red?"

Red Son smirks, getting his confident and cocky attitude on.

"If you want a light show, you only need to ask~."

Red Son lights his hand on fire, already forming small animals with his flames.

"You've never actually seen fireworks, have you?"

"It's just dancers dancing with fire, right?"

"No, no it's not. Well, looks like you're gonna have a lot of fun at your first show! Wow, are you in for a surprise!"

MK pulls Red Son towards the show, the two practically running. It doesn't take long for Red Son to realize that they're holding hand, and he can practically swear that upon realizing that his heart skipped a beat. As they arrive, MK looks around for a spot for the two to sit, but all Red Son is focused on his the fact that MK's hand has not left his own. One person shouldn't make him feel this way, but here he is. Months ago, he would have said this feeling was a weakness that should be stamped out at all costs, but now? He still thinks it's a weakness, but now he just wants it to consume him. It's love, right? Red Son is pulled again, though he and MK soon sit down, other people a suitable distance away from the two as they sit high on a hill. Red Son notes that their hands are still together, he also notes that it has gotten more and more difficult to control these flames of his. Then, the wind picks up. For some reason, the wind itself removes the feeling, but it replaces it with dread. He knows this feeling. It's the feeling that his mother is near.

"Wow, the wind has really picked up, huh?"

"That's not normal wind. MK, tell me you have your staff."

"I never go anywhere without it- oh this is your mom's wind, isn't it."

"Get ready for a fight."

"Just when I think I can relax."

With a quick gust of wind, she appears out of nowhere.

"There you are. You know, you really shouldn't be wasting my time like this."

Ah, the warmth of a mother is unparalleled to any other relationship... besides that of a parasite.

"Two options here, my boy: Come with me or-"

"I am not letting you take Red! And there's no way Red would willingly come with you! So, I'll give you two options!"

MK takes out his staff, posing in a dramatic fashion.

"Leave peacefully or get really to be MK-O'd!"

Red Son and Princess Iron Fan stare at him for a moment.

"You left home for this?"

"Are you talking about the confidence, overenthusiasm, or the fact that he's willing and ready to defend me and thus showing me more care than you ever did? Though, you didn't particularly set the bar high, did you? Suppose that's just the usual, right?"

Red Son busts out his fire, claiming a fighting stance and ready for battle.

"Well then, this should be interesting."

Iron Fan quickly engages the two, and they quickly realize how outmatched they are as she manages to easily separate the two. Though, that doesn't stop MK from charging in. Red Son takes half a second to follow suit, watching as MK blocks attack after attack. He swings his staff, managing to knock Iron Fan back, which allows for MK to take a breath and for Red Son to tap in. He charges, full flames, though she easily blows out his flames with her wind. She sends a punch, though to her surprise it doesn't connect. Red Son crouched down at the perfect time, dodging it. He manages to summon his flames back, quickly throwing a punch of his own at her gut, sending her flying upon impact, making her stop a few minutes to recover. MK catches up to Red Son, the two ready to beat her as one. Then, MK gets an idea.

"Hey, light my staff on fire."

"What?"

"Trust me, it's gonna be good!"

"I... okay?"

Red Son does as requested, soon seeing his mother flying towards them at rapid speed. Then, MK readies himself in a batter's stance, growing the staff which is now aflame. He takes a swing, and for a moment all Red Son can hear is his mother's scream, right before her wind takes hold of the surrounding area and, like that, she was gone. MK puts his staff away after snuffing out the flames, looking at Red Son a bit worried.

"I hope I didn't hurt her too much. You think she's okay?"

"She's... probably fine? She dealt with my flames my entire life, she should be fine."

Their thoughts are interrupted by the crowd, cheering the two on. It doesn't take long for people to swarm the two. So, MK grabs Red Son and the two promptly get away from the crowd. Then, Red Son spots something.

"Over there!"

MK goes towards it, seeing an empty spot with a clear view.

"I don't think- Oh! You were pointing to a better place to view the fireworks! Red!"

MK turns to look at him, only to see him crouched over, holding something.

"Well, looks like part of her headpiece broke. One of the horns chipped off."

"How did you spot that from way up there!?"

"I'm a demon, MK, we have good eyesight... also I saw it falling down and was wondering what it was."

"That makes more sense. Anyway, come on! The fireworks should start soon!"

The two sit down, waiting a few moments before a streak of light goes into the sky and then explodes into color, blooming almost like that of a flower. Red Son watches as these flowers of light come into being with loud bangs and then die shortly thereafter.

"These are... fireworks?"

"Yep! Cool, right?"

"Y-yeah... it's beautiful..."

As Red Son looks at the sky, MK can't help but stare at Red Son. His eyes are filled with amazement and the way the colors reflect in his eyes... it's better than any fireworks show he's ever seen. MK takes a breath, gathering confidence. He reaches for Red Son's hand, causing the two to flinch, but as each second goes by and the fireworks sound off, the two slowly but surely start to hold hands.

"H-hey, MK?"

"Y-yeah, Red?"

"Th-thanks for... tonight... It was... very enjoyable..."

"Yeah, no problem."

The two hold hands, inching closer to one another. Upon having their shoulders touch, the two slowly lean on each other, watching the show while smiling.

"You think Mei's doing okay?"

"It's Mei, MK. She's probably just fine... most likely getting charged for murder, but fine."

The two laugh at that, enjoying the silence and occasional loud booms of the night, silently hoping this night never ends.