~The Edenian Tigress and the Shaolin Dragon~ [Chapter 2]


As the sun continued to sink into the horizon; vibrant hues of gleaming gold, scorching red and dusky violet generously splashing on a blank canvas that was the sky, Kung Lao decided to set some time aside before suppertime to visit the Academy's library. So, as he made his way down a long hallway and made a left turn, when he set foot inside a paradise for people that preferred the company of books and scrolls to that of actual people, the scent of the scented wicker candles warmed him from the outside, making the surrounding atmosphere feel homely and safe; providing a haven for weary souls to seek respite after a long day of training.

"Hmm...now where is it?" the shaolin warrior muttered quietly to himself as he scoured through a vast, never-ending sea of reading material for a particular scroll, and as he searched row after row and shelf after shelf for a good ten minutes, just as he was about to give up on his search, when a weathered scroll that was lodged between two books caught his attention, a small smile tugged upon his lips as he exclaimed "Aha. I've finally found you, you little trickster."

As he made sure to handle the scroll with care when he removed it from its place on the shelf above his head, he brought it with him to the only chair in the entire library that faced a enclosed, yet, cozy and inviting fire, and as he carefully unraveled the worn-down, weathered parchment that was dated five hundred years ago in his hand, he retained the information that was written within that detailed the heroic endeavors of his ancestor, The Great Kung Lao, and how he had valiantly defended Earthrealm from invasion before he lost his life to the prince of the Shokan people, Goro, in the first Mortal Kombat tournament at a leisurely, almost lethargic pace.

And when he felt his eyes straining from all of the extensive reading and he could no longer continue, as he rose from the familiar cushioning of the chair that felt like a mother's long lost touch, as he rolled up the scroll and carefully placed it back on the bookshelf where he had found it, Kung Lao muttered to himself "I just do not understand how Liu could have taken on such a daunting responsibility. Yes, Earthrealm's safety will always come first. But, at what cost? To not age a single day until he will outlive most of his friends and loved ones?"

As the shaolin dragon left the library's warm and inviting interior behind, as he was making his way to the dining hall, he replied in sorrow "I suppose that is why I never accepted the offer to become Champion and instead turned to living in peace. I could never live that kind of life."


"Mmm...the sunlight feels so good," Jade lowly moaned as she rested on the railing of her balcony; her mesmerizing emerald eyes lethargically hiding behind dark, thick eyelashes as sunlight gently warmed her dusky caramel skin. "I almost don't want to leave this place."

After a few more minutes of lazily bathing in the sun like a cat, when hooded caramel blankets opened, as the verdant eyed seductress leaped off of her balcony railing in a bout of fearlessness; the muscles in her slender legs acting as lightly coiled springs as they cushioned her fall, when she landed, she stretched with the grace of a majestic feline before she walked across the drawbridge that lead into the Palace's courtyard, cordially greeting her recently promoted second-in-command, who returned the greeting in kind before she returned to closely monitoring a training regimen that involved hitting dummies with practice swords.

"Ah, Jade. Good afternoon," the Queen of Edenia, Sindel, gently greeted as sunlight warmed healthy, glowing skin; her radiant beauty a spectacle to behold. "How are you on this fine day?"

"Your Majesty. Good afternoon," the "Shadow Lioness" quietly greeted as she curtly bowed in respect to her Queen; the light barking from her second-in-command as she ordered the Knights to put more force behind their strikes reaching her sensitive ears. "I am fine. Thank you for asking."

Queen Sindel was a woman of beauty unmatched. She often held herself in a elegant and graceful manner, and although she preferred to avoid it if she could, she knew how to defend herself when combat presented itself before her.

Long hair, as white as a soft snowfall on a cold winter's day with a streak of onyx in it, fell to the small of her back; a crown that shone like the sun was placed on her head to gently remind her subjects that she was their Queen.

Hooded porcelain blankets that were colored in a dark shade of violet eye shadow gently covered eyes that were once a rich chocolate like her daughter's own, but were permanently dyed a pale silver, which told of her death, and up until a few years ago, her revival, as they remained focused on the woman who stood before her.

Charcoal colored earrings in the shape of a diamond dangled daintily from her ears and her full lips were painted with lipstick the same color as her eye shadow. A voluptuous figure, dressed in a casual ink-colored dress that stopped just above her knees and short-heeled onyx shoes, showed off long, shapely legs that traveled for miles; the subject of envy of many Edenian women when she was younger, which only became more desirable after she became a mother.

"So, satiate your Queen's curiosity for a bit? What are your plans for the day?" Queen Sindel asked curiously.

"Well, if she agrees to accompany me on this trip," the emerald eyed vixen began; soft, full carnation painted lips pursed in thought for a moment. "I was going to ask Princess Kitana if she would like to take a soothing ride by horseback to the city."

"That sounds like a splendid idea," the mother of one gently agreed as a soft smile quietly tugged on her lips. "It will help to clear her head of any troubling thoughts that might be plaguing her. Elder Gods bless that girl's soul."

As Jade made to politely excuse herself, her Queen warmly praised "You know. I am so very grateful that my daughter has such a wonderful friend like you, whom she considers to be a sister, to take care of and protect her when I am not able to. You truly are a blessing sent from above, Jade."

"Your kind words truly flatter me, my Queen," the verdant eyed warrior replied truthfully as she rubbed the back of her neck in embarrassment; dark cheeks flushing in a fierce scarlet. "But, I feel that I am not deserving of them."

"Nonsense," Queen Sindel replied; a light, infectious laugh bubbling up from deep within her throat. "You are deserving. And don't you dare think otherwise."


"Princess? Are you awake?" Jade asked softly as she cautiously entered her friend's private bedchamber; thick, billowing drapes blanketing the room in darkness as her gentle footfalls were silenced against plush carpeting.

Suddenly, as the distressing sound of quiet sobbing reached the "Shadow Lioness's" ears, when the sight of her best friend met her calculating emerald gaze; a woman who normally seemed so poised, so unshakable, had became nothing more than an conduit of unstable emotion behind closed doors; her long legs were pulled up to her ample chest and her flowing onyx hair became wild and disheveled as her simple nightgown was wrinkled in several places, as a soft cry of alarm passed through full lips, as she raced over to her side and sat down on the tousled bed-sheets, she gently wrapped her arms around her shoulders in a fierce and protective hug.

"Jade? Is that you?" Kitana mumbled softly.

"Yes, Princess. It is I," the verdant eyed warrior answered quietly.

As Kitana slowly unwound herself from her position in a tight ball, as she lied on her friend's lap, she immediately felt comforted by her presence as she rubbed soothing, gentle circles on her back; her once carefully applied mascara now running in ruined duvets down her lightly freckled cheeks and her warm brown eyes shyly hid behind a thin veil of swollen puffiness.

"Will you not tell me what troubles you?" the emerald eyed woman asked sincerely as her friend's erratic, shaky breathing began to calm down.

When she received no response, she answered "If you do not want to talk, then that is perfectly fine as well."

"He has crossed my mind again," Kitana quietly replied; her voice barely above a breath's whisper.

"The Champion of Mortal Kombat?" Jade questioned.

"Yes," the Princess of Edenia replied wearily.

As a dusky caramel hand held its porcelain twin in quiet comfort, she asked "I know that defending Earthrealm was his first priority. But, was it selfish of me to ask that he abandon his duties so that we could be together, to rule beside me as the next King?"

"I am certain that he would have if he could, Kitana," the verdant eyed seductress answered softly. "But, you must not let his death weigh down too heavily upon your heart."

"Yes, I know. That does not, however, make the pain of losing him any less tolerable," Kitana replied with a little more strength, a little more conviction in her voice. "Elder Gods curse Shang Tsung. I, for one, am glad to know that...that monstrosity is answering for his heinous crimes as he rots in the Netherrealm for all of eternity."

"I wholeheartedly agree with you on that sentiment, Princess," the emerald eyed seductress replied gently.

And then, as full lips lightly pursed together, Jade asked "Oh, yes. I had nearly forgotten why I had come to you in the first place. I originally wanted to ask if you wanted to accompany me to the city on horseback. But, seeing as that you are in a emotionally overwhelmed state, I think that it would be best if I traveled alone."

"Yes, I think that it would be for the best as well," Kitana replied weakly as she lifted herself from off of her friend's lap; the hand that gently clasped around her own lightly loosening its rock-like grip as she meekly crawled back underneath her thick quilts.

As Jade rose from the bed; the feather-like feel of the mattress already missing her added weight as it lightly creaked, as she made her way to the door, Kitana hoarsely asked after her "Will I see you first thing when you return?"

"You needn't even ask," the emerald eyed warrior replied gently; a soft smile quietly gracing soft, full lips before she closed the door behind her. "Of course you will. Now, please, Your Highness. Use this time to recover your lost strength, and I will see you soon."


As Jade made her way the stables behind the Palace, a soft whinny sounded in her ears, and when she noticed that it was her favorite mare that emitted the noise; her quiet brown eyes lighting up with recognition when she approached, a warm smile gently graced her full lips.

"Good afternoon, Arabella. Goodness, it has been quite some time since I have seen you last, hasn't it, girl?" Jade asked as soft caramel fingers affectionately stroked the large diamond shaped onyx marking that rested in the middle of her elegant muzzle.

With a coat of soft russet that gleamed radiantly in the sunlight and a mane and tail that shone in a deep shade of onyx that modestly covered a sleek and graceful frame, Arabella was a mare of regally impressive beauty.

And she was virtually unmatched when it came to feats of speed and agility.

No other horse could even hope to best her.

Besides, how could you hope to find victory against a proud and majestic beast who has been said to "outrace the wind" by her master on several occasions?

"Cam down, girl. I know that you are excited to stretch those long legs of yours," Jade laughed softly as she unlocked the gate of Arabella's stable and gently held her reins gently as she led the intelligent mare out into the warm sunlight. "But, can I familiarize myself with easing my way into your saddle first before you perform such antics?"

As slender legs helped propel her into the weathered saddle; her weight feeling comfortable on the majestic beast's powerful back, she gently hugged her thick neck as she apologized "My apologies for not visiting you sooner. It is not that I have forgotten about you. It is just that I have been so busy lately, that I have barely had any time to get away. You understand, yes?"

When Arabella gently bobbed her head in acknowledgment to her master's inquiry, full lips quietly smiled into a thick mane of onyx as Jade softly replied "So, to rectify my mistake, when we arrive in the city, I will purchase some of your favorite apples when I head out to the marketplace. Is it a deal?"

As the beautiful mare whinnied in excitement, another soft laugh bubbled up from deep within the verdant eyed warrior's throat before she lightly squeezed her ribs, and once the "beast who could outrace the wind" took off; her coal colored hooves striking the earth in a enchanting, soothing rhythm, wind gently raced through flowing chocolate hair that fell to the small of her back as she set off on another adventure.


TMoSD: *listening to "The Dirty Side of the Street" by Caravan Palace on her smartphone*

Kung Lao: *eyes flashing wildly with terror as he runs into the room and slams the door behind him; his clothes are ripped in several places and lipstick marks are all over his face*

TMoSD: *pauses her music and places her headphones around her neck as she raises her eyebrow at the ridiculous sight* You know, I would ask what happened to you like a good friend should. But, I don't feel like putting forth the effort.

Kung Lao: *growls* You. Traitorous. She-Demon!

TMoSD: Don't growl at me. You're not a animal, damn it.

Kung Lao: That is not the point! You sent those psychotic fangirls after me, didn't you?!

TMoSD: Me? Why, no. Why-ever would I do such a thing? *grins like the Chesire Cat as she crosses her fingers behind her back*

*the front door is suddenly broken down by two fangirls using one of their own like a battering ram as the rest literally flood into the authoress's home trying to get to the bewildered shaolin monk*

TMoSD: *red anime tickmark appears angrily on her temple as she sings* I'm about to whip somebody's ass!

Kung Lao: Help me! *his cry for help is completely silenced as he drowns in the sea of rabid she-wolves*

TMoSD: Actually, on second thought. This should pay for itself in no time. Have fun with your new friends, Methusala! *laughs maniacally as the ocean of fangirls slither like a snake out the front door with their target in tow*


Sub-Zero: Please review.

Reptile: Do it or I'll hunt each and every one of you down and perform my Acid Yak fatality on you!

TMoSD: *whacks him over the head with a newspaper* Hey! Don't go threatening the readers! They'll never review if you scare them off!

Reptile: *growls under his breath*