There were too many.
But that never stopped any of them from trying.
With a flash of green, Johnny Cage kicked one of the hundreds of thousands of Kronika's monsters into his friends.
He glanced to the side and saw his younger self fighting along side a younger Sonya Blade. Made him miss her more. "Head in the game, Dad!" He blinked and watched as his daughter Cassie Cage blast another that was almost on top of him with her side arms.
"Thanks, Kid," Johnny said, throwing a combo at a few more. If he survived this, he knew he'd have even more gray hairs. "What's our stats?"
"If Liu Kang is going to do something, he better do it now." Cassie grunted, scissor kicking an enemy.
"We're still alive, Obviously young you and mom are holding their own for now," Cassie explained, "I lost contact with Uncle Jax his younger him, and Jacqui, I'm afraid for the worst. No contact from Scorpion and Subzero, but I'm seeing a lot of ice and fire flying around so safe bet they're still swinging. Kitana and Kung Lao went with Liu Kang to take on the last line of defense. Everyone else, it's just crazy…"
"Liu will pull through," Johnny replied, throwing a green fireball at a monster's face. "We just gotta hang in… CASSIE!" Johnny cried out, seeing a blade cut through his daughter's shoulder and hearing her scream sent him into a rage.
A shadow kick removed her attacker's head from his shoulder.
"Dad…" Cassie groaned as he caught her and eased her to the ground.
There were too many.
"I've got you, kiddo," Johnny moved to cover her body with his own. "I've got you…" he said seeing the monsters closing in.
There were just too many.
"I've got you." Johnny blinked when he felt the temperature change. He looked up to find himself, Cassie still in his arms, sitting on the top of a Hollywood skyscraper.
"What the hell?" he heard his younger voice speak and looked to see him and the younger Sonya standing nearby.
"You ok, Cass?" Johnny looked down at his daughter.
"It's… but a flesh wound…" She gritted her teeth.
"Sorry to pull you out like that, but I wished to speak to you before it all takes effect," Liu Kang said, as he appeared in a flash of lightening and fire.
"Good news or bad news, Fire God Dude?" Young Johnny asked as he and Sonya approached.
"The answer to that question is yes," the fledgling Fire God and Earthrealm guardian glanced toward the setting sun. "I have defeated Kronika, But…" Liu Kang sighed.
"But what?" Johnny asked, holding his daughter close.
"The damage she has done to this world… to this timeline… is irreversible." Liu said, glancing to the former actor.
"So, what's going to happen?" Sonya asked softly.
"I'm… Kitana and I are going to go back to the beginning… the beginning of everything. And restart it all," Liu explained, "We will take the souls of the world and start it all again and do what we can to prevent this from happening again."
"So… the world is going to end for real this time…" older Johnny sighed, and he felt his daughter grab his hand and squeeze it.
"Unfortunately… it is… but briefly…" Liu said, walking up, and going to one knee beside his old friend. "This isn't the end. This is just a new beginning. It is not goodbye. It's 'see you soon'." He said, touching the side of Johnny's head and he felt a spark.
"How long …"Johnny asked nervously.
"moments… I'll leave you to be together," Liu said, "take heart. I have no doubt you will find each other again. You and Sonya. Your souls have been through to much not to be drawn together yet again."
"Thanks buddy…" Johnny said softly, and the Fire God nodded before disappearing in a flash of lighting and flame.
Johnny closed his eyes, his thoughts going to his late wife, when suddenly he heard a fearful voice, "Daddy…"
Johnny simply tightened his hold on Cassie, "It's gonna be ok, Pumpkin," Johnny said, holding her close. "It's just like Liu said. It's just a reboot. Like my Ninja Mime movies…"
"Hopefully," Cassie sniffled, "It'll be better than those shitty movies…"
He glanced up to see his younger self and Sonya standing away from them watching the sunset.
"So… guess we won't get that date, eh?" Young Johnny sighed to himself but blinked when Sonya took his hand in her own.
"At least we get to see the sunset together…" Sonya smiled softly at him.
"Sonya… I'll find you…" he said seriously.
"Did… you just quote the Walking Dead?" Sonya blinked, seeing the world around them turning to white. Knowing this was her final moments, she used everything she had in her to throw herself to Johnny Cage and press her lips to his in a first and final kiss. There was joy between young love and a father and daughter for a moment. Then nothingness.
Mortal Kombat: Rebirth
"Earthrealm. The home of humanity. Also, the home of the source of magical power and the focal point of all creation. Outworld, New Edenia, and the Netherrealm all seek to control it. With aid of the Elder Gods, I began, once again, the Mortal Kombat Tournament to give the Earthrealmers a chance to fight for our home. Should Earthrealm lose ten Mortal Kombat Tournaments, then the winner of the tenth will take control of the realm. Earthrealm has lost nine in a row. But now, the time I've been waiting for has come. It has come time to reunite with my old friends. But … will they become my friends again?"
Chapter 1: Once More, With Feeling
With a flash of fire and lightning Fire God Liu Kang appeared before the hallowed grounds in the center of the Island. It was remarkably similar to how he remembered it, but not as much Outworld overwhelming influence. The Island now was a much more neutral place. Several monks were there cleaning and preparing the island for the fighters to gather to fight for the control of Earthrealm. The stakes were as high as they ever were. But this time, he had to depend on the heart and skill of others. He could not interfere. He could not fight.
"How did Raiden do it…" Liu Kang sighed to himself, placing his hand over his glowing eyes.
"Faith, Liu Kang," a familiar voice spoke behind him. "I had faith."
He glanced back to see a familiar face but instead of godly armor, he was dressed in old white and blue robes, with a tattered wooden hat, mortal form but with memories of the past timeline. "Lord Raiden!"
"I'm no Lord any longer," Raiden responded smiling at the Demi-god. "Simply a caretaker."
"Simply?" Liu Kang raised an eyebrow.
"Indeed, simply," Raiden bowed slightly, "a simple caretaker humbled with the assignment of mastering this island."
"From what it appears," Liu Kang said, glancing around at the beautiful architecture, with artwork based on or complimenting the dragon seal of Mortal Kombat, "You're doing a far better job than the caretaker of the island we recall."
"Shang Tsung's caretaking had a very low bar for you to compare my work, my Lord," Raiden snorted.
"Is it wrong of me to hope some his dust lands on this island to see how much better you care for his old home?" Liu Kang asked, "But I do not believe you allow a speck of dust to even land on the ground here."
"I do take my role seriously, my Lord," Raiden replied. "Empress Kitana came to inspect the tournament grounds two days ago…"
"She knew I'd be here today…" Liu Kang replied.
"I believe that was the purpose of her inspection being two days earlier…" Raiden replied, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder. "The three of us are the only ones who recall the previous timeline. She… needed to talk to someone who would understand her frustrations."
"She could have spoke to me…" Liu looked toward the setting sun.
"She perhaps should have, but I can understand the awkwardness in that," Raiden said, crossing his arms and leaning against his broom as a prop. "Speaking of frustration with the source of it is a difficult thing. As you have been with me in the past timeline as well if I recall."
"Anyway," Raiden changed the subject. "The New Edenia Champions and Outworld and NetherRealm champions are all ready, how is the preparation for Earth Realm?"
"We have three special forces, Sonya, Jax and one other, they're following Kano who's rushing in for promise of power and money," Liu Kang stated, "Kung Lao is my Shao Lin champion. I just need to go recruit one last trump card."
"The Movie Star?" Raiden blinked, "Liu Kang, while a skilled fighter in his own right, he was almost a liability until he unlocked his hidden power… are you sure it's wise to include him during this timeline?"
Liu Kang smiled, and slapped Raiden's arm, "Trust me." He smiled and disappeared in a flash of lightning and fire before he could respond.
"So …" Raiden said to no one in particular, "That's what that's like…"
-MK-
Johnny Cage found himself in a strange chamber, having just defeated a demon. He heard someone groaning and turned to find a beautiful blond trying to pick herself up from the ground.
He quickly rushed to her side and went to one knee, offering his support to her. "Johnny…" She groaned looking up at him with tired blue eyes. "Did we…" She forced out through tired breaths.
"Yeah, we got em…" Johnny said, and she gave an exhausted smile, before relaxing and falling asleep against his chest.
"The war is not over…" another warrior appeared; his eyes covered in a blindfold. "Quan Chi has escaped… why are you smiling?"
He looked up at the ninja and smiled happily. "She called me Johnny…"
Next, he knew he was back in his massive bed with an alarm clock blaring.
He slapped the alarm clock and laid there for a moment.
"Drink too much last night, Johnny?" A voice spoke, placing a steaming cup of coffee on the night table.
"Morning, Steve," Johnny grunted through his pillow, "And the answer is still no. I will not return to Power Rangers. It's not happening."
"You were a Power Ranger?"
Johnny sat up in bed and looked at Liu Kang who was standing at the foot of his bed. "You're not Steve."
"I am Lui Kang God of Fire and Lightning and Guardian of Earth Realm," Liu Kang introduced.
"I am Johnny Cage, Ninja Mime, Red Gamma Force Power Ranger, Doom Slayer, Captain James T. Kirk of the Star Ship Enterprise, and Ken Masters of Street Fighter, as well as a few drama and chick flick and Hallmark channel roles." Johnny replied, "how the hell did you get in my house?"
"I need you to fight in a tournament," Liu Kang pressed forward.
"Will I get to punch Jean-Claude Van Damme in the face?" Johnny asked.
"No…" Liu Kang rolled his glowing eyes.
"Then not interested," Johnny rolled over in his bed.
"Johnny the fate of all life on Earth hangs in the balance," Liu pleaded.
"Will I be able to kick Jason David Frank?" Johnny asked, with his back to Liu Kang who had moved to the side of the bed.
"That's it," Liu Kang narrowed his eyes.
Before Johnny could respond, Liu Kang reached out and grabbed his face.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU?!" He screamed but cut off when a whole other life flashed before his eyes.
"I had hoped to not use this, as you had built yourself a new life, but you leave me no choice, Johnny," Liu Kang said held him there twitching for several moments.
"Sonya…" Johnny breathed, as Liu Kang released him, "CASSIE!" He said straight up in bed. "Liu? What the crap, man?"
"Welcome back, brother," Liu Kang smiled. "Sonya's fine. You have not met her yet. So, obviously, Cassie hadn't been born yet."
Johnny blinked, before looking up at the mirror ceiling, "Holy shit, I'm pretty again," He said, "So… it worked?"
"It worked, reality has reset, but evil came back as well as the good," Liu sat down on the bed. "Mortal Kombat has come again."
"So just point me to who's ass you want me to shadow kick," Johnny stretched, "Oh man, it feels good not to have back pain…"
"Are you sure you're comprehending the situation?" Liu asked his friend.
"Just trying to figure out why I remember the old world," Johnny stated.
"Before the world ended, I locked your memories into your soul," Liu Kang explained, "I felt should the need of Mortal Kombat arise again, the tactical knowledge and leadership you gained in your age would be an asset."
"Makes sense," Johnny nodded, "So… back up Sonya's save file, too? She remember me?"
"She died … while I was still not in the best frame of mind… Her soul had already passed on to the realm of peace. There was no way to "back up" her, I'm sorry Johnny, there was no way for me to save her memories of you and your family."
"Oh…" Johnny said, glancing down at his lap.
"I'm sorry, Johnny," Liu Kang sighed, "It was my fault she died… but she is alive. She's going to fight in the tournament for Earth Realm as well."
Johnny nodded, clinching his fist before his face as he spoke. "Alright then, I go in and kick Shang Tsung's ass, neuter Goro again, save the day, sweep Sonya off her feet, nine months later hold my baby girl again, not let her go again, happily ever after. Roll credits!"
"First, I wiped Tsung out of existence, so don't worry about him. Second, has it ever been that simple, especially with Sonya?" Liu Kang asked.
Johnny kicked his feet over the side of the bed, and grabbed his sunglasses off the night table, "Right…" He placed them on and glanced to the Fire God, "We're gonna need a sequel."
"So, old leaky boat, midnight, same pier, etc etc?" Johnny asked.
"You know the drill, but this isn't like Raiden having future memories and trying and failing to save the world… this is a different world. We all have lived different lives to this point. It will do well to remember that." Liu explained, "Kung Lao and the others will do well with your leadership, as long as you don't slip back into your … old ways…"
"It's cool, we got this, Liu… Liu?" He glanced around to see himself alone. "Fine, see you soon, buddy."
Johnny looked in the mirror and noticed different tattoos than in the old life. The 'Johnny' tattoo on his chest was still there but slightly different font. And now he had a dragon tattoo going down his arm. Somehow, he remembered both sets. He glanced down at his fist, and wondered what else had changed…
To Be Kontinued…
Notes:
After watching the new Mortal Kombat movie, which was freaking awesome!, and replaying Mortal Kombat 11, had this idea and wanted to run with it. It's the same but different, some good are now bad, some bad are now good, and a lot more is at stake. Liu Kang is guardian of the Earthrealm, Kitana has become goddess and leader of New Edenia, and Johnny Cage is one of the few now that remembers the old world. But what else has changed? more to come!