A/N: Before I begin, I wanted to mention this. Yes, I'm aware of what happened with Juli in T-Hawk's Super Street Fighter 4 ending (sad stuff…). However, I had outlined Juli's story in this fic long before that ending was known, and I much prefer to continue with what I planned to begin with. Plus, her story here is more based on the Udon comics since we didn't really know too much about her in the actual games at the time.
Just thought I'd clear that up.
Chapter Seven
Pasadena, California, USA
"Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to Amy! Happy Birthday to you!"
With family and friends gathered around, Amy Guile thought deeply over what she wanted to wish for her 8th birthday. However, it didn't take her very long before she came up with what she wanted. With that, she took a deep breath and blew out the candles on her birthday cake.
Everyone in the room clapped for her once she was done. Her mother Jane took out a cutting knife. "All right, time to cut the cake."
"I want the one with the flower," Amy mentioned.
Her father, Colonel William Guile, patted his daughter's head. "It's all yours, sweetie."
As Jane began cutting the cake, Amy felt a small nudge on her arm. She gazed up to see her surrogate brother, Scott K. Wagner, smiling at her. "So kiddo, what did you wish for?"
"I can't tell you!" Amy replied, placing her hands on her hips. "Or else it won't come true!"
Wagner scratched his head while giving her a faux sheepish look. "Whoops, I almost forgot."
Nearby, three of Amy's relatives watched as Jane continued serving the cake. "It's nice to be down in LA," said Ken Masters. He gazed at his wife, Eliza, who was Jane's little sister. "Especially seeing your family again… even if Guile and I don't always see eye to eye."
Eliza couldn't help but chuckle a little. "Well, it could be much worse, I suppose."
"I'm not sure how, besides a possible brawl, but I guess you're right."
"Dad!" Ken heard. He looked down to see his three-year-old son, Mel, staring up at him. His little arms were raised up, signaling that he wanted to be picked up.
"Hey there, buddy," Ken said as he picked up his son.
"Cake?"
"I almost forget how cute he can be," a voice next to Ken said. Ken turned his head to see a friend of his. Standing next to him was Julia Chang, who came to visit the Masters from Arizona.
"He has his moments," Ken replied. "But don't turn your back on him. He's just as much of a trouble maker as I was when I was his age."
Julia couldn't help but giggle at that. "I bet."
Ken always liked to keep in contact with people he met, Julia being one of them. The two met during The Blood Tournament in Outworld seven months ago. Currently, the university Julia attended was on winter break for a few weeks. Having nothing much to do during that time, Ken had invited her to come visit him at his San Francisco home to meet his family. Julia had declined at first, but after some persuading, she was convinced to visit the Golden State.
A week ago, the Masters received a phone call from the Guiles to come on down for a few days to celebrate Amy's birthday. Eliza herself invited Julia to come along, especially since she would be reunited with Guile and Wagner, who she also met at the tournament.
Ken and Julia had only spoke once about Ryu since her arrival. She only asked him how he was since they returned to Earth. However, Ken had not heard from his friend since then. He could only imagine him traveling throughout Asia just as he always did in the past.
Aside from Julia, the Masters, and the Guiles, there was also Wagner, who Guile brought in to their home when he was just a troubled teenager. Then there was Wagner's biological sister, Lisa, who he finally reunited with six months ago from a former Shadaloo member's clutches.
Finally, there was one other girl by the name of Juli. Julia wasn't sure of her full story, but she apparently had some connections with Shadaloo some years ago. Only a few months ago, she began working on the Air Force base as a secretary.
And from the looks of things, in Julia's point of view, it seemed as though Wagner and Juli had become quite close…
Soon, Jane served everyone a piece of cake, which was devoured quite quickly. It was then followed by some of Amy's favorite party games. Eventually, 9pm hit, and Amy was starting to doze off. By that time, Mel had fallen asleep on the floor.
Once the two kids were tucked in, the adults chatted for a while about whatever subject came up. Mostly, it was about the latest world news.
At one point, Wagner decided to step out to get some fresh air. He leaned himself back against the bench on the front porch. A bottle of coke rested on his lap as he held it in his hand. For a few minutes, nothing came to mind, and all was quiet. Then, the front door opened, catching his attention. He turned his head and saw his sister Lisa stepping out.
"What's up?" he asked her.
Lisa tucked in some of her blonde hair behind her ear. "Not much, I just wanted to get some fresh air before bed." A small shiver from the air went up her spine. "Aren't you cold?"
"Nope," Wagner replied. "And that's one of the best things about California. Despite the daily smog, heavy rush hour, and… other issues, it does offer good weather. Not too many places offers fifty degree temperatures in the winter."
"Speaking of places," Lisa began. "I think we should try to visit Brockport soon. I haven't been there since…"
Wagner frowned a little once his sister trailed off her sentence. It was times like this that he knew that Lisa was still trying to get over what had happened to her over a decade ago. Brockport had been their childhood home, right before Shadaloo destroyed their lives…
He had been only eleven at the time with Lisa being fourteen. Their parents were killed by Bison due to his Dad's failed assignment, something he never found the full story to. Wagner had thought Lisa had died as well, but she had been resurrected in order to serve Bison as one of his Dolls. Only last year did he find this out.
And six months ago, thanks to the psychic Rose, Lisa was freed from the mind control. However, ten years of her life was lost. Her mind was that of a fourteen year old trapped in a twenty-five year old's body.
For now, Lisa was working on her GED so that she could at least catch up on her education. Afterwards, Lisa wasn't sure what to do. For now, she was working on the Air Force base as an assistant for one of the Generals and living in her own loft in Los Angeles. Wagner would be there for her whenever he could, whether it was to help with groceries, or her wanting to talk about her feelings.
Lisa was doing okay for the most part, but she still had a long road ahead of her…
Wagner slowly took a sip of his coke before speaking. "Only when you're ready," he suggested.
A yawn escaped Lisa's mouth and she stretched her arms a little. "I think I'm going to go to sleep. I'll see you in the morning."
"Just remember," Wagner began. "If you get any dreams, write them down."
Lisa nodded. "I always do. Good night."
"Good night."
With that Lisa, opened the front door, going back in the house before shutting it closed.
Wagner sighed as he looked up at the stars, barely noticeable due to light pollution. Indeed the past six months had been very long. It wasn't just because he was helping Lisa with getting her life back together.
For a while since he returned to Earth, Wagner was worried about a possible invasion from Outworld after what he had seen. He was surprised that Guile felt the same as well. The older man was usually very reserved about his feelings, so it was the first time the young man heard him express one of his worries.
For those who found themselves back in San Francisco, where the boats left to take them to Outworld, Guile made a plan. He knew of an army fort, no longer in use, where the group could meet just in case the invasion does happen. This way, they could receive the time needed to plan an attack against their enemies.
Wagner wasn't sure how much it would help, but at least it would get everyone to get together, at least for those living in the United States.
For a month after the meeting, Guile and Wagner got the fort in the Rocky Mountains prepared. They stocked them with all the necessary supplies that was enough for three hundred people to last on for a year.
"We just have to come back in two years to restock some of the food," he remembered Guile saying.
"I still don't understand why bottled water have expiration dates," the younger man had replied.
"Federal law requires it since it's consumable," the older man said. "Plus, the water tastes different after a while due to the plastic."
"I see."
Wagner chuckled a little at the memory. "I should've known," he said to himself.
As he continued looking up at the sky, Wagner found himself thinking about someone he hadn't thought of in a while. Another sigh escaped his lips as Sonya Blade came to his mind.
The two became good friends during their stay in Outworld. Since most of their comrades were all playing matchmaker with each other, Wagner and Sonya mostly stuck together since neither one of them were really interested in a relationship. He was still getting over a past relationship, and she was focused on her career. Wagner knew that they would never be in love or anything, but they did highly enjoy one another's company very much.
Then again, there was that one evening at the beach. A mix of frustration and lust got the best of them, and they momentarily let themselves go. It wasn't Wagner's first time making love, but Sonya did give him quite a challenge.
But then, a few days later, Sonya was dead. Wagner had arrived too late, and he had not realized that she was dying until the moment her eyes closed. She had been in a fight with their enemy, Kira. Needless to say, Kira managed to defeat her. Wagner wasn't sure what happened to her, but he knew that she was on top of the FBI list.
He swore that Sonya would one day get her justice…
As Wagner's mind wandered, he didn't notice the front door opening again. It was only when a pair of arms wrapped around him that he was brought back to reality.
"What are you thinking about?" a young woman's voice said next to his ear.
Wagner turned his head to gaze at Juli, her brown eyes staring at him with curiosity. "Nothing, really," he replied.
Juli smiled a little. "You always say that."
Wagner smiled sheepishly. "Do I?"
"Yeah," Juli answered. By then, she had placed her head on his shoulder, and Wagner used a free arm to wrap them around her.
"I've just been thinking about the last six months," he said.
Juli knew most of his story, and was aware of how much the invasion rumor was bothering him. She squeezed him a little. "All we can do is hope for the best."
Wagner turned his head to gently leave a kiss on her forehead. "I'm trying."
Briefly, he thought of how he met Juli…
It was four months ago when Guile brought her in, fully aware of her story as a former Shadaloo doll. She had retained some of her memories from before her kidnapping. She had come to Mexico from Germany to help her father, a doctor, with assisting those without hospitals. She knew her father had been murdered by Shadaloo, which was the last thing she remembered before everything went black.
Only two years ago was Juli freed. He wasn't sure how it happened, but she had stayed in a hospital in California and had stayed here since, being mostly cared for by the government until she got back on her feet. Guile offered her a job as a secretary once she was ready.
That's where Wagner met her, and he found that he couldn't take his eyes off of her whenever she was around. For a while, she was mostly quiet and distant from others. It was understandable, considering what she had been through. However, being a guy who liked making people smile, Wagner was determined to add humor into Juli's life.
After a while, he didn't just succeed in at least seeing a small smile on her face. He found himself caring about her to the point where he wanted to protect her from any harm.
To his surprise, Juli had seen something in him. Despite the way her life played out, she accepted him into her life. The two had been taking things slow, more for her sake than anything.
For a while, as they continued sitting on the porch, they stayed in silence, taking in the view around them. The sound of crickets were heard somewhere in the distance, the only noise around them.
Eventually, Juli lifted her head up and pulled her arms away. "Hmm, I'm about ready to go to bed."
As she said this, Wagner found himself yawning before looking at his watch. "Heh, it's only 1am. I haven't been up this late in a while."
"That's what happens when you're an Air Force Sergeant," Juli mentioned.
The two stood up from the bench with Wagner still having his arm around her. "Guess so."
He looked down at her with his midnight blue eyes, feeling a tug in his heart as she gazed up at him. He leaned down towards her before gently pressing his lips against hers. Juli returned the kiss, and the two went into a slow motion for just a few seconds before Juli pulled back.
"Let's head to bed," Juli suggested. "At least we both have the day off tomorrow."
The couple began heading back into the house. "Yeah, but Guile's still going to wake me up at 6am to go jogging," Wagner mentioned as he opened the door. "I should learn to jog in my sleep."
Juli chuckled at that as they walked inside the Guile home.
Los Angeles, California, USA
Looks like another sleepless night…
In the darkness of her apartment's bedroom, Alex Walker looked up at the ceiling from her bed, sighing to herself a little. Just a split second ago, she had looked over at her digital clock, which had read 1:31am.
Well, the bright side was, she didn't have to report to the Special Forces base until 10pm later. However, she would have liked to have some wink of sleep before sunrise.
Perhaps it had been due to events earlier in the day. Today, Special Forces had placed a memorial plaque in front of the main building, a memorial that was in memory of one of their own; Captain Sonya Blade.
Alex sighed a little as she thought about her comrade, who had died during their mission in Outworld six months ago. Alex herself ended up in Outworld accidentally, but Sonya, along with their free agent, Kenshi, had been assigned to infiltrate a tournament she had been invited to in order to get a better idea of the truth behind it. It had been based on past events with Outworld and their near-take over years ago.
Just as they were beginning to find out the truth about the tournament, Sonya was killed at the hands of Kira, a criminal wanted by the FBI for some time. What happened to Kira is unknown, though it's believed that she may have remained in Outworld to avoid punishment on Earth. Some day, though, she will be captured. To kill someone like Sonya would definitely earn the wrath of the members of Special Forces.
Alex shook the thought out her head before turning to look at the clock again. 1:32am.
Definitely going to be a long night… she thought.
Alex reached for the remote on her nightstand, turning the television on. As the TV grew brighter and the pictures began to show, Alex listened in on the newswoman reporting on the latest news;
"I'm here near downtown Los Angeles where a ruthless gang's attempt at robbing a bank was thwarted by the mysterious vigilante who has been seemingly protecting the city from crime for the past few months. According to police, by the time the authorities arrived at the scene, one gang member was dead from stab wounds, while the others were knocked unconscious. They were taken to the hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries. With the exception of one of the windows being broken, there was no other damages, and everything inside the bank remained as it was.
"But once again, we ask ourselves… who is this vigilante? Why is he or she protecting our city? These are questions that authorities and the media have been asking, but for now, they remain a mystery. As of now, no one has come forward with information regarding the vigilante, and even those who have been arrested have not answered any questions about this person. Most likely, it is out of fear for their own lives…"
By this point in the news report, Alex stopped listening, her eyes suddenly feeling heavy. Perhaps now, she could finally get some of that sleep…
… It felt like minutes, but it was actually three hours later when Alex woke up to movement behind her. Alex didn't have to turn to see who it was, and she welcomed the arm that slowly wrapped around her waist. In reply, she leaned herself back into him before reaching her hand to rest it over the back of his head. His wet hair indicated that he had showered before coming to bed.
The two were like this for a moment before Alex spoke. "So… does the vigilante have any injuries I could attend to?"
She felt him shake his head from side to side. "Just a couple of bruises from a fall, but it's nothing," he said.
Alex slowly turned on to her back so that she could face the vigilante the whole city had been talking about; the blind swordsman, the former Special Forces free agent Kenshi.
How Kenshi became a vigilante… well, he kept that to himself. But to know it's was for a noble cause, to eliminate the crime of Los Angeles, that was enough for her. In a way, Alex wished he was doing something else, like go back to working with Special Forces, but the truth was, fighting was the only way of life he knew. It made sense, especially now since his long-time mission; to kill the sorcerer Shang Tsung and free the souls of his ancestors he had captured so many years ago, was over.
As he laid on his side, Kenshi barely felt the soft touch of Alex's hand on his face, which contained a stubble. His mind was somewhere else. He would have been back in the apartment earlier, but a vision… his first time 'seeing' since he went blind, greatly disturbed him.
When they were in Outworld six months ago, he remembered hearing the story of the shaman Nightwolf's vision. It had been of chaos and destruction and the sky above had turned a blood red. Corpses laid around and the smell of death was prominent. Nightwolf believed that it had something to do with the tournament. And when chaos and destruction, the blood sky, and the death of countless fighters did happen, it had seemed as though the shaman's visions came true.
But now Kenshi was seeing the vision as well. Why now? Was it a warning of something worse to come? Or perhaps something similar will occur again.
There had been talks about an incoming invasion, and even a camp was set up in the Rocky Mountains in case such an event does occur. Kenshi hardly thought about it in the past few months… at least until now.
The most disturbing of this was that, after the vision ended and he saw nothing but darkness again, the sword that once belonged to his ancestors actually spoke to him;
Something is coming… it had said.
Kenshi had been confused. "What is coming?" he asked.
The sword had remained silent. Kenshi had asked the question again, but only received the same answer; nothing.
Kenshi had spent some time meditating on a rooftop, trying to debate what was going on and what could possibly be coming. After a while without an answer, he decided to head back to the apartment that belonged to Alex. Perhaps he'll dream of it again… that is if his insomnia permitted it.
He already decided long before his return that he was not going to mention his vision to Alex. She had her own worries over at the Special Forces base anyway.
Kenshi's thoughts were then cut off as he felt Alex's lips pressing against his own. Kenshi returned the kiss with a little more fervor and they stayed like this for a moment before Alex pulled away. He then felt her nuzzle her head into the curve between his neck and shoulder and her hand resting on his bare chest.
The swordsman slowly turned on his back, leaving one arm around her as she drifted off to sleep. As for him, he would most likely spend the rest of the night thinking, just as he does on most other nights.
Special Forces Base, Early Morning, Los Angeles, California, USA
"For now, all seems quiet," General White of Special Forces said. He stood in front of a small group who listened to him as he spoke. "At least here on Earth. Rumor has it about the other realms being in peril. Whatever the cause of it, we are not sure, but whatever the case, we must be prepared."
In the group, Major Jackson 'Jax' Briggs stood up, catching the General's attention. "There's one thing that has to remembered," he began. "Word came around once those who participated in The Blood Tournament in Outworld returned. And we also have to remember that Outworld once attempted to take over the universe." He stared at the General. "Indeed, we must prepared. I also believe that we must band other units, such as the Air Force and Interpol, to assist us."
White nodded to him. "The Air Force, at least the branch here in California, are willing to help us out. Colonel Guile is working on trying to get the other units together on this. Unfortunately, Interpol have not responded to our messages. The idea that this whole thing is a rumor most likely turned them off.
"As for The Blood Tournament… it could be a coincidence for all we know…"
"How so?" the cyborg Cyrax asked. He stood up next to Jax. "Clearly, the rumor began when the participants of the tournament returned. And I don't see why the rest of the units would not help in at least preparing for the invasion."
White took a deep breath. "Even with how strong the rumors are, the units are not willing to spend the money to prepare until they know it's fact." He then turned his attention to another individual in the group. "Hsu Hao… perhaps you can get into contact with the Chinese Secret Military. Maybe they can offer some assistance."
Agent Hsu Hao scanned the room, keeping himself silent for a moment before replying. "It's not going to be very easy, but... I will pass the word."
"Excellent," White nodded.
The meeting went on for another half hour before the group dispersed. Jax and Cyrax walked together, heading towards their respective office rooms.
"Some meeting," Cyrax said. "I don't think we're really accomplishing anything."
"Neither do I," Jax agreed. "But we can only do what we can and hope for the best."
"I bet if Sonya was here, she would have really got things moving."
Jax had to laugh a little. "Yeah… she was definitely better at that than any of us…"
Cyrax nodded, staying silent for a moment before proceeding. "I don't care what anyone is saying, I believe Outworld is definitely behind it. And I also believe that Shao Kahn is still alive. I swear, if the universe exploded right now, the only survivors would be cockroaches and Shao Kahn…. and maybe Chuck Norris."
Jax rolled his eyes. "Please don't bring up the Chuck Norris jokes. They're so old…"
"Better than me going on with Johnny Cage jokes," Cyrax said. "Years later and I'm stillpissed about losing my eight bucks after seeing, 'Ninja Mime.'"
Jax chuckled at the cyborg's predicament. "Why did you go see it in the first place?"
"Ebert gave it two thumbs up. Let's just say I never listened to his reviews again."
Jax decided to change the subject. "Say, I'm going to be going over heavy paper work later this evening. Do me a favor… relay the information about our meeting to Agent Walker when she comes in."
"Will do," Cyrax nodded.
Jax then found himself looking around for a moment before turning back to the cyborg. "I wonder where Hsu Hao went. I wanted to ask him about his mission from two nights ago. I've been really behind the past week."
"I'm not sure," Cyrax answered. "I know he's been with us for a while, but after all this time, I still have a weird feeling about that guy. I can't really pinpoint what it is."
"You always say that every time you're around him," Jax mentioned. "Anyway, let's forget about it. I'll speak with him later tonight."
"Whatever you say," Cyrax said.
Meanwhile, Agent Hsu Hao arrived at his apartment, which was part of the housing community on the Special Forces base. His shift was over for the day, and he was not needed again until eight o'clock tonight. He had fourteen hours to relax.
As he closed the door behind him, he noted a scroll that sat on the nightstand in the living room. He knew that he received a message from his superiors.
Immediately, he walked over to the stand, picking up the scroll in his hand. He unrolled it before reading the message on the paper;
Hsu Hao-
Everything is going according to plan. The invasion of Earth will begin within the next couple of days. Once I receive more information, you will be notified of further instructions.
I've already sent a message to your superior, Mavado, so there is no need to contact him.
-Quan Chi
Some Time in the Last Six Months…
He had expected himself to be returned to the Netherrealm… it was a repeat from some time ago when the sorcerer tried to escape from his grasps. It was no matter… he would continue his revenge there…
But instead of seeing the infamous inferno, he saw nothing but darkness. For a long while, he wondered what this was about. Had hesent him into some sort of vortex where there was no escape?
However, he soon realized that wasn't the case when three beings appeared before him. The light around them got brighter as the three approached, causing him to squint.
He was suspicious of them, and he wasn't sure what they had in store for him. Nevertheless, he was prepared to fight them.
"Scorpion," one of them spoke. "It was only a matter of time before we finally had you arrive here."
The suspicion in his pale eyes never left the ninja spectre. "What are you talking about? And where is Quan Chi?!"
"Do not concern yourself with the sorcerer," the figure continued. "We have another offer for you, one that we believe will be more satisfying than revenge."
Scorpion had wanted to fight the being then and there. How dare he denied him to continue his revenge! But the floating sensation that the spectre was feeling seemed to make him somewhat paralyzed. Perhaps these people knew what he was capable of…
Another one of the figures spoke. "Most of what we're about to say may be unbelievable to you, but you must trust us. We know that trust doesn't come easy to you, but it's all you must do."
The figure took a deep breath before continuing. "You are currently in a vortex that leads to the Heavens. You're impure soul cannot enter the realm unless we cleanse it ourselves. As for us," he pointed at himself and the other three. "My name is Daichi. These are Hinote and Mizu. We are four out of a handful of the Elder Gods…" he pointed a finger at him. "And you, Scorpion, are our Champion."
Scorpion only stared at the three in reply. At this point, Daichi was right about one thing… thiswas unbelievable.
And yet, the ninja was curious. "Champion? Since my death, I've only thirsted for revenge, and my only concern is to destroy Quan-Chi. Why, of all beings, am Ithe Champion?"
"Indeed it's not easy to comprehend," Hinote answered. "But you had been destined to become our Champion even before you were a member of the Shirai Ryu as a mortal. Your premature death prevented us from telling you any of this. It was hard to catch you in the Nexus, the vortex that resides in between realms, until now…"
Mizu proceeded. "Normally, as a Champion, you would have taken on tasks that we cannot accomplish ourselves due to other matters that requires our attention. We had even planned for you to stop the Dragon King if he was ever awaken. However, the situation was, thankfully, taken care of, so there is no need anymore."
"When why call upon me now?" Scorpion asked, feeling a bit impatient.
Daichi replied. "Because there is one particular task that must be done. Outworld is once again invading the realms. We cannot interfere ourselves, and we must keep everything in check where we are. This task is an unusual one, as it involves one of our own."
Silence lingered for a moment before Hinote spoke. "In exchange for this task, we will reunite you with your family here in the Heavens… your wife… your son… your clan…"
Now they got Scorpion's full attention. "And what of Quan Chi?"
"Do not concern yourself with him," Daichi spoke. "If you want to be with your family again, you must do as we ask. It's not going to be easy, but it must be done."
Scorpion found himself staring at the three for a moment. He wanted nothing more than continuing torturing the sorcerer for killing his family and clan all those years ago… but now, he had the chance to reunite with them, if he could only complete this one mission for the Elder Gods.
Scorpion's narrowed his eyes. "What is this mission?"
Mizu sighed. "It's an assassination assignment. The person is currently located on Earth. He was once a great man… but he has since changed for the worst. Unfortunately, his days of helping us are over. He's not what he used to be, and despite his intentions, he poses a great threat."
Scorpion nodded. "And who is this person?"
A sigh also escaped from Daichi. "The Thunder God, Raiden…"
Present Day - Unknown Area - Earthrealm
It had been some time since Scorpion met with the Elder Gods. They had given him the interesting task of eliminating the former protector of Earthrealm, Raiden.
They told him the rest of the story. In Outworld, when Raiden killed the Fighting God Ogre, he unleashed an inner, dark power that consumed him. His essence returned him back to Earth afterwards.
Since then, everything that Raiden believed in suddenly changed. His patience for mortals had worn thin. When a mortal even slightly threatens the realm, he would kill them. The Elder Gods tried to reason with him, but it was to no avail.
The last straw for the Elder Gods came when they learned that Raiden had killed one mortal in particular. The mortal, simply known as Shujinko, had been a tool of the Dragon King. Using an essence he called 'Damashi,' the demon attempted to trick him into collecting relics known as 'Kamidogus,' bringing them together so that he would return. Shujinko believed himself to be the Elder Gods' Champion, something that Dark Raiden had noted.
Protecting Earth at any cost, Dark Raiden was able to discover the truth upon seeing Shujinko collecting a kamidogu in Edenia prior to it's invasion. Dark Raiden managed to separate the Kamidogus that were already collected. He then traveled to a shine in Outworld. There, he killed the worshippers and destroyed the large egg, killing the embryo inside that was prepared. Had the kamidogus united, the demon would have awakened, the egg cracking and taking it's nearest host.
With the egg shattered and embryo dead, it destroyed any chances of the Dragon King's return.
Then, Raiden killed Shujinko. He may have nearly assisted in Earth's destruction, but the poor old man had believed that he was working for a greater good. Either way, it didn't matter to Dark Raiden.
From that moment, the Elder Gods knew that his reign as God of Thunder and Protector of Earthrealm was over…
That was when they called upon Scorpion to help them.
Recently, Scorpion was sent to this place. Standing on a high mountain, he gazed upon a temple so tall, it reached the clouds. On the very top, he was able to spot his target… Dark Raiden.
Raiden still wore his rice harvester on his head, his black tattered cape flapped behind him by the strong wind. His eyes now glowing red rather than it's usual white, he trained immensely where he stood, most likely preparing himself to protect Earth.
Scorpion had wondered, at one point, whether or not the Thunder God was aware of the bigger threat from Outworld that was soon to come. It was as though he was more focused on the mortals who lived here rather than Shao Kahn himself.
As the sun set for the evening, Scorpion made a decision. He knew that Dark Raiden was going to be a challenge, and he had a feeling that he may already be aware of the spectre's presence.
With that, Scorpion decided to abide his time…
Another Unknown Part of Earthrealm
Sitting in a lotus position within the forest, the God of Wind Fujin managed to clear his mind from any thoughts. The sun was close to setting for the evening, and the sound of crickets were beginning to stir.
His clear mind did not last for long before Fujin opened his eyes, revealing their white color. I fear that the time is almost here, he found himself thinking. It will only be a matter of time before Shao Kahn arrives.
Some time ago, Fujin traveled to Earth, having remained here ever since. This was because a certain situation in the Heavens came up that didn't sit well with him.
After The Blood Tournament in Outworld, Fujin's closest friend, Raiden, somehow changed, and became someone he was not. Raiden had taken his title as Protector of Earth to the extreme, killing those who threatened the realm in any way, even if it was minor.
Eventually, it got to the point where the Elder Gods called upon their Champion. It was to eliminate Raiden for his crimes.
Fujin was the only Elder God who did not agree with this decision. He highly believed that there had to be some other means to dealing with Raiden. The Wind God knew that Raiden wasn't himself, and if there was any way to make him snap out of it, he would.
But death seemed to be the only answer to the other Gods.
As Fujin argued with them, a frustrated Hinote finally said, "Are you with us, or against us?"
Fujin suddenly found himself indecisive at that moment. His silence gave the others the answer. He wouldn't be agreeable, but they were still going on with it anyway.
Therefore, Fujin relinquished his Elder God status.
He knew where Raiden mostly stayed. Whenever he came to Earth, his home was the Sky Temple in Asia, where he meditated and trained himself. Fujin was only a day's trip away, but he kept his distance, not wanting Raiden to detect him right away.
Fujin also knew that Scorpion was nearby. He figured that the spectre knew of Raiden's location. However, for whatever reason, Scorpion was not attacking him just yet.
He would try to find a way to help Raiden. At the same time, he hoped to somehow keep Scorpion out of the way.
Then, there was also the new threat to Earth. Rather than preventing it, the other Elder Gods chose to 'keep an eye on things.' To them, as long as the realms existed, it didn't matter how many people died.
For the first time since he became Elder God, Fujin felt disgusted with the others…
It was going to be a hard job, dealing with both the invasion and the situation with Raiden. But it was something that he was willing to take on.
I'm not giving up on you Raiden, Fujin thought to himself. The others may have, but I haven't. And I hope you realized that we have a much bigger threat than just the mortals here…
