Okay, giving this a shot; first MK fic, so hope it works out. This will pretty much only follow the canon from Armageddon (I think? There's so many damn titles _) on (but starts after the ending of 9). Even then, if there are any continuity errors, forgive me.
Also, I spell it Raiden, not Rayden. I'm fairly sure that's the correct way, but again, if I'm not, be lenient.
"You have failed us."
The words boomed throughout space, echoing against the almost non-existent planes that bound the location together. There were no walls in this place that existed on the fringes of time, dimensions and consciousness.
He remained motionless, partially out of respect and partially forced by the will of his superiors who now addressed him. He knew his two companions, with whom he had teleported out of Earthrealm along with himself, were standing somewhere nearby, bewildered; but then again, this was not the place at which he had intended to transport them. They had been redirected somehow. And now he knew why.
"You permitted Shao Kahn to proceed with the merging of the realms and allowed Quan Chi to obtain the souls of the fallen," an Elder god bellowed accusingly.
"Raiden?" a tall, fierce-looking blonde called out from behind him, startled and irritated. "What is this?" Unfortunately, he could not address her at this time.
"You recklessly endangered the lives of all those who inhabit the realms," another Elder stated.
Raiden still could not give an answer; yes, their allegations were true, but couldn't they see that he had done it to protect the realms, most importantly his own? Couldn't they have seen that when they assisted him in bringing down Shao Kahn? Until he was specifically addressed in the form of a question, however, he could not reply to their charges.
"Do you understand the implications of your actions, Thunder God?"
He struggled to find the right response.
"…Yes," he admitted, shakingly. "But I only did it to…"
"Raiden?" He was cut off by a man in sunglasses with a large tattoo across his chest. "What the hell is going on here?"
He closed his eyes in frustration and tried again, but evidently the Elders felt his friend had spoken for him.
"We cannot afford to have so close a call again, Raiden," the first Elder said, silencing the accused's end of the argument. "This is the second time matters have gone out of your control."
But he had not failed the first time! He had fixed the course of events to prevent it from ever happening! Of course, the toll in lives had been high, but the ends justified the means, didn't they? He could fix everything, if he just had time and the opportunity…
"We hereby deem you unfit for your position as Defender of Earthrealm."
No.
"The well-being of the realm will be seen to by another from now on."
No.
"Do you understand, Thunder God?"
No.
"Raiden?" Sonya called again, frustrated with the lack of answers she and Johnny were getting.
No.
"A new protector has already been chosen."
Still mentally protesting, he could vaguely register the deity that had appeared to his far left, a figure with long, slicked-back grey hair and eyes similar to his own.
"You are freed from your obligations as Defender, Thunder God."
Gods weren't supposed to demonstrate emotions outwardly, if they had any at all. But he was now visibly wracked by nerves at the prospect of being torn away from what had been his purpose since he came into existence.
"Raiden?" Johnny yelled again, trying in vain to grab Raiden's attention before something happened.
"Do not worry, Thunder God," the deity with silver hair assured him. "I will not fail you."
It is too late, Raiden thought. I have already failed you.
At that moment he could feel the threads of reality unwinding; the space fell apart into the thresholds of existence, teleporting him and his friends to a new location unknown.
He thought of how he had let down Earthrealm.
How he had let down Outworld.
All of the realms.
He thought of Liu Kang.
And then everything went dark.