How do we do this?
Taven was knelt before the alter of his ego, his father Argus. Locked away in the shrines to his father's name, it was the only place he was able to find peace and solitude when a city pulsed unnerved before the tides of war wash them all away.
I've held on as Raiden asked, and travelled the realms to learn about the power I hold, and to bring back others of equal or greater power.
I've held on because I don't want to kill my brothers.
Head bowed, hands on his knees, he let his eyes slit and the dim candle vigil to his father's memory gently flickered on before the broken statue of him.
Much like Raiden and Fujin was for EarthRealm, the mundane universe that it was, Argus was one of the protectors of Edenia. A father he never knew save for the sacred texts often misleading and often void of the original context.
He could see and speak to his father if the entity took his form, but the words would be that of a snake and not truly that of Argus.
Still, he prayed to the old gods of Edenia. The new had forsaken Kitana, and his own family seemed to have forsaken him. His biggest fear was as he was expected to lead these people to war with Raiden, he'd lose and Daegon would win due to a moment of weakness, because he simply couldn't do it.
You cast me into an eternal sleep, used me like a pig to slaughter, as if you were my Dumbledore, but yet I stand here with worlds on my shoulders and all the sweat in the world itching my back. You dare me not to shrug, but the weight is crushing me.
As Raiden had formed alliances and moved the plot along for the travelers from each of the realms, Taven worked in the shadows as ordered by him and his father. He knew his place was to be the sacrificial lamb to Blaze. Rain and Daegon could not win.
Daegon's original intention, as Taven was explained by Kitana and Liu Kang was to embolden the powers of all the champions of the realms that fought at the pyramid. The torn fabric of the realm, not just from the repeated breaking of timelines, but the increased stress of all the magic exuded from these selfish and violent individuals, would shatter and reality itself distort into something akin to the Chaos Realm.
If Rain won, well, he wasn't so sure what his brother had in mind. He believed deep down that Rain wanted to do good by Edenia, but he too grew up without a father and a mother, and was raised by corrupt oligarchs and dictators. He believed Rain could only think of himself when expected to fight for the realms.
Taven wasn't so sure what he would do either, should he land the final blow to Blaze.
Beneath the shrine, he was in a small hollow room with a broken statue and some scattered candles. He dared not identify his location, for Raiden would forbid it.
Where he hid, only one other being could hear him.
The fire Elemental, Blaze.
Buried deep within the earth, the pyramid of Argus was miles below the surface of Edenia. Far beneath the point, almost another mile was the entrance often overlooked. Like the great pyramids of Egypt, this was the tomb of Argus. Like the great pyramids of Egypt, it had been raided beyond repair, but he spirit that still haunted it was bound to it until the pyramid could be freed.
In a near humanoid form, Blaze was nothing more than fire and a voice. A warmth that radiated from the corner of the room and watched on as Taven prayed. He'd have done the same for Rain or Daegon, but not for each together.
I cannot fathom to slay my friend, your most trusted follower. Yet if I don't, there is too great a chance this all goes belly-up.
I'm afraid of my true self.
"As am I." Blaze's voice echoed in the chamber from the heart of the flames.
Taven leaned up to acknowledge the elemental.
"This is why we were created." Blaze explained, "to find our true selves and decide if we are able to accept who we must become."
"What if I fail?" Taven asked, eyes on the broken statue.
"No matter how many times history repeats itself, whether it is Kronika, Raiden, or Liu Kang, fate cannot be stopped." He added, "it is your fate, Taven, to either die a hero, or die trying." He moved closer to the mortal, his heat dulled before Taven's flesh. "Just as my fate is to die above this pyramid, no matter the outcome."
He let that sink in and lowered his head in prayer to his father.
In the end, I can only become them, or lead them. After all, none of us really qualify as human. Our paths are hard worn and as hollow as the 'O' in God. Is this true, Father?
Or am I only believing in my own version of events?
He rest his head, hands on his knees and the elemental slowly backed into its corner to wait.
For all the time he spent to ensure time would be had for Raiden and his forces, and his own need to come to grips with this path in life, lives had been lost on both sides.
It was time to act, time to confront Daegon, and time to activate the elemental's true purpose.
As unsure of his path forward as he was, Taven realized he'd either have to go there himself and face the truth, or he'd eventually be pushed to there against his and everyone else's will.
Whether it came to him deep in thought thanks to his father, or the scattered words of wisdom Blaze would impart to push him forward, Taven realized this was it. No matter how ready you were, or how it all ended, it was time to face Armageddon.