When I woke up the next morning, Captain Holly was gone. I still took Holly's words to heart. The sun was about to rise. I had to hurry back to the living chamber, to prepare for the first day of training. As I was heading back, I spotted Liu Kang meditating. He was even controlling the flame from his hand, while remaining focus. As I attempt to be silent as a mouse, I continued to tip-toe quickly, but the fire moved. He spotted my presence.
"I know you have gone through, so much." he spoke.
I stopped and turned to face him. "How do you know?"
"The stories I've heard."
"From Cole? Sonya?" I questioned.
"No. But from the mural that shows your victory against Shao Kahn and this... 'Woundwart'."
"General Woundwart of Efrafa." I politely corrected him.
"I see." he stated. "And the amulet. Do you think it was destroyed?"
"At the time, I saw Raiden-"
"Lord Raiden hasn't taken part of that battle." he immediately said.
I took a deep breath, as Captain Holly, Hazel, and Fiver would have me be. "From your eyes and his eyes, but I disagree. Because of this haven't happened, my parents and the rest of my siblings would still be alive!"
"An action that you're at fault."
"No! It wasn't. It was Shang Tsung's doing and Farid-" I than noticed the flame went out from Liu Kang's hand. At first I thought, I disturbed him, until I started to feel a cold breeze. "Sub-Zero's here."
"And he's not alone." he spoke, as we turned to see a the ice ninja standing where the murals were at. "Quick, summon the champions! Quickly!"
I nodded and hurried over to the living quarters and told them that we're being raided. Everyone, well almost everyone, quickly got out of bed and followed me. While Kano took his time, until he caught up with us. When we found Liu Kang, another warrior was standing beside him. From what I saw with the hat, the other warrior was wearing... that's Kung Lao! It may seem that we're not the only ones.
We than saw the two monks backing away from Sub-Zero, but really, Shang Tsung and I couldn't believe what another warrior beside him... Mileena. That's impossible! She couldn't survive the battle! However, I never battled her, so it was a mystery. Also for the fact that she's a lot different than the one I encountered. Katie remembered her fondly out of fear. She hid behind me.
"The time has come... to end this." Shang Tsung announced, continues to walk and his eyes changed to nearly mere black. The devilish blackest eyes.
"Katie, when I say go. Go hide, if you can." I whispered to Katie. She nodded back.
"Take whatever trophies you desire... but their souls are mine." Shang Tsung spoke again and stopped his movement.
SILENCE!
Crackling lightening came down and Raiden appears in front of Liu Kang and Kung Lao, and the rest of us Earthrealm fighters.
Shang Tsung expected his appearance. "I've come to claim your world. You're too late, Raiden."
"It is forbidden to claim victory until the tournament begins." Raiden protests.
"You are correct, Thunder God." Shang Tsung admits. "However, the conflict outside of Mortal Kombat is not forbidden..."
"So it is a war." I said to myself, as I heard munching sounds. It was Kano eating a snack, while watching the encounter.
"... Besides the other gods are too lazy to stop me." Shang Tsung added insult to injury. "I have come for your souls."
"You will leave this place at once, sorcerer!" Raiden demanded.
The Outworld Sorcerer looks at the Earthrealm warriors. He didn't seem to be impressed nor that he cares out of pity on the numbers. "These are your champions?"
Sonya looked down a bit, because she doesn't have a marking. Cole was ready on guard. Kano... is just doing what he does best. Katie continues to hid behind me. Which even at one point spotted her.
"This child... she's a champion?" Shang Tsung mocked. She continues to hid behind me, without showing herself. He than turns to me. "And I certainly do believe we have met... Thomas?" I remained silent. "Thomas is your name, yes?"
I remained silent for short time, until I answered. "My name is no importance." I turned back from him.
It sparked fuel on the sorcerer. "How dare you turn your back from me, Earthrealmer!" he angrily exclaimed. "I demand you to answer my question! Your name is Thomas?! Is it not?!"
I turned around and walked where he could see me plainly. I than faced him. "My name is Thomas. Former U.S. Army Private First Class. Now, formally Sergeant of Watership Down Owsla. Loyal to the Chief Rabbit Hazel-rah of Watership Down, and to the Captains of the Owsla: Bigwig and Holly. Family member to a murdered human family. Adopted son to a murdered adoptive father and mother." It send shivers to Shang Tsung, despite of my survival. "And I will have my vengeance and free their souls from their captor. Either with your defeat or both of us gone from this world."
Angered from my words, the sorcerer was ready to take me on, as his warriors were ready also... "Kill them."
The Outworld Warriors were ready to strike, while us Earthrealm warriors were ready to defend ourselves. In a quick act, before the fight even started, Raiden used his staff to summon a magic shield. It blocked The Outworld Warriors from breaching in. Mileena and Sub-Zero knew Raiden's powers were too great that they wouldn't even dare enter through.
Shang Tsung didn't see it as a surprise. "You think these tricks will protect you forever? Only a matter of time." Without attempting to destroying it, he began to depart. The sorcerer turned back towards me and Katie. "And you two... I'll see you really soon." Mileena began to follow the sorcerer. Only one warrior looked back at Raiden and even got a glimpse of Cole. The two stared at each for a brief time, before the Lin Kuei ninja departed and followed the sorcerer back to Outworld.
Raiden began to head his way back to his chamber, leaving the rest of us with the Shaolin Monks. Katie came out from behind me and gave me a hug. I could only do was to comfort her and assure her that nothing will happen to her.
"Alright, this is totally make up my superpowers." Kano mumbled on and on. "Think I get it now. It's kind of like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."
"You didn't not just quoted Forrest Gump?!" I shook my head.
"What?! I'm making mine point." Kano exclaimed. "Back to what I was saying... Is it gonna be fireballs? Is it gonna be lightening, huh?" It was than Kung Lao looked back at him. "Could be shit. Could be, uh... Could be a frisbee hat. No offense, whoever you are."
"The name... is Kung Lao." the second monk spoke and introduced himself. "Descendent of The Great Kung Lao. The Grand Champion of the Order of Light."
I have gotten the idea, who he was, from the Kung Lao that I knew back at the downs. He was known as the one of the greatest Mortal Kombat champions from Earthrealm... until he was defeated and killed by Goro.
"Never heard of him." Kano replied back.
"Listen carefully. Your training has begun. Come." Liu Kang told us that today is that we began our training for our arcana and preparation of the tournament. I told Katie to retrieve the tonic that she had with her. She hurried back to her chamber to grab Nightwolf's tonic.
As she went to grab it, I began to follow the others to the training arena. I was willing to put everything to the test: everything from what Bigwig taught me in the Owsla, extra combat training from Holly before his death, and more importantly from the Army. We followed Liu Kang and Kung Lao to the arena, where I was the previous night.
"Your inner power comes from your arcana, a gift from the marking of the Dragon." Liu Kang told us.
"So what is the point about finding our arcana through our training?" I asked.
"To answer your question. The point of your training is for you to unlock that power. Without it, defeating Outworld is impossible." he answered my questioned, before continuing on, as we arrived at the training arena. "Kung Lao and I have discovered our arcana. In the fight pit, where you'll discover yours."
I was already in my training uniform: an "Go Army" shirt, with camo cargo pants, combat boots. And finally, I have my scarf that is tarnished with Holly's blood, around my neck.
"You may enter." Liu Kang allowed us to enter the training pit. Before I went down the steps, I turned to look out for my sister.
Kano chuckled, as he descended down the steps with Cole. "Let's do the damn thing." Kano was too eager to obtain the same power as Liu Kang's.
"There's no guarantee-"
"So, Liu, instead of fireballs, what else is gonna shoot out of my hands? Like, knives or guns-"
Sonya just had enough of Kano's babbling. "Hey, do you ever shut up?" She exclaimed as she was walking down, until she was blocked by Kung Lao.
"You're welcome to stay with us, Miss Blade. But the training area is for the chosen ones only."
Kano scoffed while laughing. "Big fucking whoops!"
"Well, hang on! We wouldn't be here without her!" Cole protested. "She's one of us!"
"I agree too! She and Jax were the ones researching to find this temple." I stand in support with my cousin.
"A fighter without a marking can never achieve their arcana." Liu Kang stands by with Kung Lao's decision, as he makes a gesture with his hands. "And a fighter, without an arcana, is a liability to the others."
"Yeah, liability." Kano pointed out Sonya.
"You got be kidding me?!" I continued to protest. "You can't just forbid her from training with us, because she doesn't have the marking. That's discrimination!"
Kung Lao made an intimating approach towards me. "Are you daring to question the traditions we uphold?"
"Does that matter?!" I questioned him. "You cannot exclude her from combat training, because she doesn't have the marking! As a follow soldier, she's has the right to uphold any training when comes to defending our country and our realm!"
"Thomas!" Katie came just in time.
"Where have you been? Your training is about to begin." Liu Kang questioned her.
"I'm not going to train. She is." she turned towards Sonya.
"Me?" Sonya surprised, as Katie was taking the tonic out and poured it into a cup.
"Nightwolf gave us this tonic, so we could transfer the marking to someone else, who doesn't." Katie explained.
"No! This is forbidden!" Liu Kang attempted to stop her, but I blocked his path.
"If you're not going to accommodate this, I won't be in part of your training." I put my foot down with a ultimatum.
"Than you'll be a liability to us." Kung Lao said.
"Please, sir. It won't take long and everyone will meet the needs of what we want." Katie stated. "She will have the marking and she'll train. And for my brother, you'll need him."
"That's fair." Cole supported his cousin.
"It may not work." Liu Kang refused to believe.
"It doesn't mean we won't try." I told him.
Katie took a drink from the cup. She passed it to Sonya. She drank the cup also. The final step was the two would place each others hand on the shoulder opposite from each other. When Sonya's hand was on Katie's, and Katie's hand was on Sonya's, the marking on Katie started to glow. It glowed for a few minutes, before it disappeared from her. The monks shook their heads, at the same time shocked to see what was happening. In a few short seconds, the same marking that was on Katie... started to appear on Sonya's shoulder, where Katie's hand was on.
Cole smiled to see Sonya finally have the marking. I was more relieved that it was taken care of, so Katie won't have to be targeted for blood. The Shaolin monks examined the marking on Sonya's shoulder. Even had a poke on it, with a small needle... and it bleed. The two nodded their heads. It worked and it was legit.
"Now you're welcome to join us." Kung Lao allowed Sonya to join us in the pit.
"Wait, wait, wait!" Kano attempts to protest. "How could ya be sure it's real?! It could be a fake!"
"There's no more need to approve, Kano!" I exclaimed. "They found it legit, now everyone is happy."
"Not me! Even those 'shaolin monkeys' would agree also."
I decided to drop it, since it's already done. Katie than excused herself to check on Jax for Sonya. Cole, Sonya, and I starred at Kano, until he gave up and move on for the fighting. "All right, guys. Little less of this, little more of this. Come on."
"Be still and listen." Kung Lao spoke to him.
"Fuckin' hell." Kano mumbled.
