Authors note:
Authors note:
The Mortal Kombat game, dragonhead and characters are the exclusive property of Midway Entertainment. I don't own them, I just borrowed them for a little while so please don't sue.
Comes a Storm
By
jediryu©
Chapter 1
Raiden, God of Thunder and Protector of Earth Realm sat in his personal dojo inside his celestial palace meditating and remembering.
Formerly known by the name "Ronin", he had been a mortal man, a simple man, no more, no less. When he had been approached by the previous holder of the Office of God of Thunder and Protector of Earth Realm, he had been at a crossroads of sorts.
His life, though satisfying was still lacking something. An ethereal thing that he had been unable to quantify or explain until the day he had been, for all intents and purposes, attacked in the dojo he considered a second home. In and of itself, an event like this meant little but for the fact that "Ronin" had been alone in the building that day, the door locked, and his would be assailant had been a man wearing geta sandals, hakama pants and a half-tunic across his chest with an exquisite katana sword on his hip who when asked to identify himself simply said, "If you defeat me Ronin, I'll tell you."
The fight had been brief but exhilarating, and he had conceded defeat to the white haired and lightning-eyed man once he realized there would be no defeating him. By showing wisdom and strength, the stranger told him of the Office of Raiden, and all it entailed.
Told him of a tournament, the Tournament. Known only as "Mortal Kombat" and its master, the demon sorcerer Shang Tsung. Told him of his role, if he chose to accept the Office. How he would help select the Earth Realm warriors as needs might dictate. Told him what he would lose, and some of what he would gain.
For 10 years now, had "Ronin" held the Office and tried to hold it in an honorable way. Yes, he had lost much; he had lost what few friends he had in the Earth Realm. Lost what family he had, though none were of his loins. After all, one could hardly slide down a lightning bolt like a fireman's pole and say, "Hey there. Wanna hang out for awhile?"
But in return, he had gained more than enough to offset the feeling of loss. A home, a household staff, a woman whom he could love and who loved him in return, the opportunity to learn more fighting systems and styles than a man could hope to learn in a hundred lifetimes, and last but not least, the immortality to do so. The power and absolute control over electricity that came with the Office was icing on the proverbial cake, and had enabled him to enhance his fighting ability a thousand fold or more. But power, by itself, was no siren song to him, merely a tool to pick up or set down as needed.
His meditation complete, Raiden the man once known only as "Ronin", began his warm ups and kata for the morning. He had to be warmed up and ready to go because the master teacher Bo Rai Cho was due to arrive anytime now and it would be fun to at least get a draw in their match instead of defeat as had been the case so many, many times before.
Now, if the master would remember the only technique that was prohibited while in the dojo everything would be fine. The housekeeper Mariko was a truly formidable woman when angered and the Puking Puddle was more than enough to set her off.