Hey guys, I've finally decided to get it together and write something. I've just been so busy lately with family and preparations for college.
For those of you who are wondering why I decided to start over again it's because I didn't really feel like I did such a good job on it. I felt I could do much better if I actually put an effort into it so I decided to give it another try and start all over again. This prologue took me two and a half weeks to think it, write it, and edit it so hopefully it was worth it for both you and me. Hopefully readers who liked my story the way it previously was will like it even more now. And I promise I won't change it anymore.
Okay, I'm done with talking. On to the story!
One more thing: I don't own Mortal Kombat.
There were many rules of the academy.
All students had to abide by these rules. By living in the academy, it was their obligation to uphold them at all times. No exceptions for anyone. And if said rules were ignored, consequences would follow the offender. Consequences that master Bo Rai Cho would determine depending on the severity of the offense.
Rules were still broken from time to time. It is no surprise considering the oldest of students ranged from six to twenty years of age—young and daring with lack of wisdom. It was normal, and somewhat expected, for one or two to be broken occasionally. But none were ever drastic. They varied from disobeying the master, skipping classes, unnecessary fights outside of class, etc. If anything, the severity of the rules broken was minimal. None were ever too difficult to uphold. Thus, trouble makers were rare.
But there was one rule no one attempted to challenge. One rule that even the most rebellious of students were hesitant to consider because of the potential danger it held. Breaking this rule would mean committing the highest offense in the academy because the masters tell them over and over again:
Don't wander into the forest at night.
It was obvious why such a thing was forbidden. The dangers ranged from wild animals, rouged bandits, scouts from rival clans looking to overrun occupied fortresses to expand their territory, or worse case scenario, someone from a rival realm lurks, looking to destroy the competition. The academy was, after all, one of the many training grounds across China that prepared future defenders of Earthrealm. One could never be too careful with the forces of darkness prowling about.
Unfortunately, not everyone thinks that. Especially not the top pupils of the academy: Liu Kang and Kung Lao.
The two young warriors were the first few to train under Bo Rai Cho. They learned quickly and excelled where most lagged behind. And unlike the other students they both possessed a natural talent for martial arts. But it was no surprise, considering they were both descendants of the Great Kung Lao. Master Bo Rai Cho took much pride in his two students and promised them that they would someday have a place in the elusive White Lotus Society. He assigned them the most difficult tasks, and placed the utmost trust in them. They could never do wrong in his eyes.
Or so he thought.
Liu Kang and Kung Lao were seventeen and audacious. They knew they were the best the academy had to offer and they boasted off of it. But because no one else was at their level, they would turn on each other and challenged one another for superiority. The challenges varied from the strongest to which was the better martial artist. But that changed when Kung Lao, during an argument concerning courage, dared Liu Kang to sneak out of the academy with him at night and venture into the forest alone, where he would remain for two hours. Liu Kang accepted, taking pleasure in the challenge ahead, and warned Kung Lao not to back down. Kung Lao agreed to the terms and both shook hands on it.
And so, when the sun came down and everyone slept, the two dare devils snuck out of the academy where they met the forest and, after a few exchange of words, Liu Kang sauntered off into the unknown alone. Kung Lao remained behind, with him an hour glass to time Liu Kang.
Kung Lao waited patiently for his friend to return. He was convinced Liu Kang wouldn't last thirty minutes alone in the forest. To him, it was only a matter of time before the other came running back for one reason or another. Kung Lao could hardly wait to for Liu Kang to return and prove him right.
But, to his surprise, two hours pass. Kung Lao couldn't believe it. Liu Kang managed two hours in the so-called dangerous forest. He admitted that he underestimated his friend and could almost say he admired his bravery. But that was Liu Kang: never backing down on a challenge given to him. He would wait for Liu Kang to return and congratulate him personally…then say he could do better.
But when two hours became three, Kung Lao grew anxious. Not only for Liu Kang, but the fear of being discovered plagued his conscious. That, however, held no value when three hours changed to four. By that time Kung Lao was genuinely worried about Liu Kang. He could not even sense the others chi, indicating Liu Kang was still far off—very, very far off.
'How could I have put him up to this?' he thought. 'This was a stupid idea. We never should've gone through with this…Liu Kang where are you?'
Forboding possibilities came to mind. Liu Kang could be lost somewhere in deep in the forest. He was injured and couldn't move to save his life and was hoping Kung Lao would save him. Or an animal, possibly a carnivorous beast, attacked him and killed him. He shuddered at the last thought.
Kung Lao knew he could wait no longer. Something obviously happened to Liu Kang and he was possibly hurt and needed help. His mind was made up; he had to find his friend. Kung Lao refused to let him die out there by himself. He would find his friend or die trying.
"Hang in there, Liu," he beseeched, "I'm coming." He prayed to the Elder Gods that he wasn't too late.
Kung Lao searched the forest. He bustled through the forest searching high and low for Liu Kang. He would climb the highest tree he could find and call out his friends' name, but he got no response. After thirty minutes of scrambling through the forest fruitless, Kung Lao resorted to stand still and focus, attempting to home in on Liu Kang's chi. Although it would be a long shot finding it if he was still far off from Kung Lao.
On the fifth try, he found him. Liu Kang was alive, much to Kung Lao's relief. He wasted no time tracking him down.
When he finally found Liu Kang, he expected Liu Kang to be injured or in a fierce battle for his life. But Kung Lao never expected what was to come.
It was dark within the forest. Kung Lao had exceptional eyesight, but they were no cats' eyes. He could make out Liu Kang's silhouette, and he appeared to be kneeling. At first, Kung Lao assumed he was injured and hurried to his side. He called out his name, alerting Liu Kang. To his surprise, and confusion, Liu Kang responded by shushing him harshly.
"Liu," Kung Lao addressed, softer this time. "Are you alright?"
"Not so loud!" Liu Kang snapped "you'll wake her."
Kung Lao stared perplexed. As he came closer (slowly to not aggravate his friend anymore), he noticed Liu Kang hugging something to his chest. This increased his confusion. That is, until he was beside his friend and he could fully see what exactly he held.
A small girl, no older than five, was nestled in Liu Kang's arms. Her head, covered with messy brown locks, lay on his shoulder. She wore a shirt too big for her, which could explain Liu Kang's bare chest. And aside from the cuts and bruises on every visible part of her body, she appeared fine. But the question in Kung Lao's mind was why did Liu Kang have this child and where did she come from?
"Liu…" Kung Lao whispered. "Where did you…Why is…Did you find this child here all by herself?" Liu Kang nodded. "How did you stumble upon her?"
"I didn't stumble upon her," Liu Kang responded softly, mindful of the girl. "She stumbled upon me."
Liu Kang paused, gazing down at the girl. He adjusted her in a more comfortable position against him. She nuzzled into him in response and sighed contently. Satisfied, Liu Kang continued.
"At first I thought it was you trying to make a fool of me. But when I hid to wait for you, I see her instead."
"Is she okay?" Kung Lao asked, observing the girl. It amazed him that a child so young could be alone in this part of the forest. How she avoided wild animals was beyond him. All he knew was that it was good Liu Kang got to her first. Who knows what might have happened to her if he hadn't.
"Yes," Liu Kang answered, "She just exhausted herself from struggling to hard-"
"She struggled against you?" Kung Lao interrupted "Why?"
"I don't think realized I was trying to help," Liu Kang explained. "As soon as she saw me she ran. Fortunately I caught her, but it took quite a while to calm her down
Liu Kang replayed the event in his mind. As he grabbed hold of her she screamed to the high heavens. He had to hold her at arm's length because she was swinging her fist and kicking her legs as high as she could. She clawed and bit at his wrist, leaving red marks and even drawing blood. She dug her nails in his skin before beating at his arms with her tiny fist. But Liu Kang, although impressed with her strength and tenacity, kept a firm hold on her.
It came to a point where he realized how hard she pushed herself. Her kicking and clawing ceased, and she was no longer wailing. She could barely make a sound aside from a whimper. Her breathing was heavy and her movement was minimal. Her last resort was trying to weakly pry Liu Kang's hands off her, but they wouldn't budge. At that point Liu Kang knew that she knew she was defeated. So she did the only thing left: she began to cry. Liu Kang, compassionate by nature, consoled her. He slipped his shirt on her naked form and gave her much needed water for her abused throat. After a while of letting her cry as she lay against him while stroking her hair she fell asleep, much to his fortune. Had she struggled any longer she could've possibly hurt herself. That was the last thing Liu Kang needed.
"So this is what you've been doing for four hours?" King Lao inquired.
"Four hours?" Liu Kang echoed "has it been that long?"
"Yes, it has. When you didn't come back after two hours I grew worried and came to look for you. I thought something happened to you and you were hurt or possibly dead. I searched for you until…"
Kung Lao stopped his banter, noticing the child was now awake and staring tiredly at him through half lidded eyes. They were so blue! They were the bluest eyes he ever saw. But passed their beauty he saw the fatigue and exhaustion, and he immediately pitied her. He could tell that she went through quite an ordeal. No one so young deserved to go through such a trial.
"Liu," Kung Lao whispered "she's awake."
Liu Kang began to pat her back soothingly. The action made her yawn loudly and her head retreated back onto his shoulder.
"It's alright," Liu Kang cooed. "You're safe now. Go back to sleep." As if his words were magic, the girl let her eyes close. In a matter of minutes she was sound asleep again.
Kung Lao let his hand run through her messy locks. He could feel hardened scabs adorning her fragile head.
"Her cuts aren't fresh," Kung Lao informed. "Most of them are scabbed over."
"I know," Liu Kang said grimly. That was all that needed to be said. Both monks knew the girl had wandered the forest for more than one day. That itself was a bitter revelation.
"Has she said anything?" Kung Lao asked, changing the subject.
"Not a word."
"Then what do we do?" he questioned, "We know nothing about her. How are we supposed to return her to wherever she came from?"
"I'm not sure," Liu Kang replied. "But I know we cannot stay here. We need to return to the academy and inform Master Bo Rai Cho. He'll know what to do."
"We can't!" Kung Lao interjected. Liu Kang shushed him, indicating to the sleeping child.
"We can't," Kung Lao said in a controlled tone. "We'll get into trouble if master discovers we were here."
"Well we can't hide this from him either," Liu Kang stated firmly. "Besides, he'll know what the best course of action to take."
But something inside of him wanted to hold him back. For some reason, Liu Kang felt a deep connection with her. In the two hours that Liu Kang cared for the child, she had managed to get under his skin and settled herself in. It had been so long since he had such a connection with anyone. Ever since his brother died he felt hollow and devoid of human interaction. Caring for this little girl, however, made those feelings leave. Perhaps nurturing had been the cure for his bitter emotions, and he wanted nothing more than to keep her with him to keep those unpleasant feelings at bay.
But he also knew he had to do the right thing. The girl had a life somewhere with a family of her own that probably loved her very much and was, at the moment, worried sick about her. It would be cruel to take it from her. It would go against everything he believed in and he would never forgive himself. Besides, it seemed selfish of him to use the girl as a chance for his own happiness.
"We should go now," Liu Kang informed standing. Kung Lao grumbled in reply, mirroring his action. And the two set off to the academy with the child still sleeping in Liu Kang's arms.
But unknown to Liu Kang, fate had other plans for him and the child.
Okay that was the prologue of the chapter. I hope you all liked it. I will get to work on the first chapter right away. I don't know how soon I can get it done and post it though, considering I'm gonna start college and what not. But just be patient with me. I will work on it for as long as it takes.
Review and constructive criticism is always welcomed. Thanks for reading.
Peace out! ;D