Now that the marking is removed from Katie, she wouldn't have to go through this upcoming tournament. Liu Kang and Kung Lao basically run us through lightly of what the whole combat training would do for us. The hopes of developing our inner powers, our arcana. They decided to have us test our might. The first start of a training run is Cole versus Kung Lao.
The two face each other, politely hand bowed to each other, before going to their fighting stance. Seconds after, the two engaged into combat. During the first few seconds of the fight, it appears to be evenly matched, despite of Kung Lao continuing to throw fast punches and kicks on Cole. After the continuous blocking, Cole was able to counter one of Kung Lao's and pulled him to the ground. It gave light surprised to Liu Kang. Sonya and I were impressed, while Kano, who was sitting alone scoffed from the fight.
The two fighters went back to their starting positions for another round. I watched as Kung Lao performed a small stance and he than readied his hat. I knew it would be a probably, due to experience of seeing Kung Lao's attacks with his hat. Especially, how he easily defeated Captain Holly. It was a feeling that Kung Lao would over power Cole big time, with that advantage.
Sonya noticed my worry. "What is it?"
"I know this trick." I whispered to her, as we watched. "Cole won't be able to best of this, despite of a good start."
The match resumed, as Kung Lao began swinging his hat at Cole. He than attempt to perform kicks, but the Shaolin monk blocked the attacks with his hat. After countering with a kick, Kung Lao tossed his hat at Cole, flying him to the ground. The hat came back towards the standing fighter and retrieved it, while Cole gets up from the ground.
"In Mortal Kombat, talent will only get you so far." Kung Lao advised Cole.
I gave Cole a hand shake with a good effort, as well did Sonya. Kano clapped mockingly with his hands. "No, that was great. Really. Good stuff. You know, maybe your arcana is getting your ass kicked by a hat." He chuckled from Cole's unsuccessful training result.
"Perhaps you should be next." Kung Lao suggested.
And he was right. Kano stepped forward to take the next training match. This time, it'll be Liu Kang, who'll be combating the training Kano. He removed his shirt, walked into the arena where he faced Kano. He breathed and exhaled with his eyes close, as he folds his hands together. Kano snaps his own neck side to side, as he faces Liu Kang.
"Fight!" Kung Lao shouted.
The three of us begin to watch the two combat each other. However, Liu Kang was patient that he went into his stance and waited for his opponent to strike first. Kano proceeds to go for the first move. "No Harry Potter shit, all right?"
Quickly, the Shaolin monk sweep kicked Kano to the ground. Kano brushed himself off, as he got up from the ground. He dared Liu Kang to attempt it again. Once again, the move was repeated. Sonya couldn't help, but giggle from the inside, as Kano was getting swiped from the ground.
"Is that the only move you know, mate?" Kano questioned Liu Kang. This time... Liu Kang faked it, causing Kano to jump. When he landed, he knew he was up for another swipe. "Oh fuck." And he was swiped to the ground again. By far, he hardly made any successful attacks or defense. Liu Kang offered a hand to lift Kano up from the ground, but the terrorist rejected. "Yeah, yeah. Put a fucking shirt on, Magic Mike."
"Whose next?" Kung Lao turned to me and Sonya.
Sonya volunteered to go. She stepped down to the arena, as Kano returns to the seats. Liu Kang decided to go again. The three of us men watched, as the two were preparing.
"Hey, kid!" Kano tapped me annoyingly. "Why didn't ya go?"
"She volunteered." I answered while watching.
"Perhaps you too afraid to go aggressive, just like you did to me."
Sonya and Liu Kang engaged into combat. It was better start, than Kano's. She was gaining the momentum on the fight, until she was bested from Liu Kang's fire powers that knocked her off her feet. Kano laughed, but I socked him on the shoulder.
"You shouldn't be laughing, for the fact that she did better than you!" I stood up to him.
Kano shrugged. "I was just warming up."
As Sonya and Liu Kang proceeded to the seats, Kung Lao turned his eyes on me. "You're up, Thomas."
I took some deep breaths. Stood up and walked down to the arena. Kung Lao did his pose, as I kissed my scarf and wrapped it around my neck. Following with a small head bow, Liu Kang shouted... "Fight!"
Kung Lao started the basics, just like how he did with Cole. However, I was able to maneuver his attacks with quick dashes. After his attacks, I was able to grab his together. My opponent knew what he was about to do, after blocking his kicks and holding his feet down. He was about to headbutt me, but I was able to do a hop kick, as I still held his arms. He flew a bit back and I landed on the ground.
It seemed that most of them were impressed from that kick. In my thoughts, I couldn't help but thank Bigwig for teaching me that trick.
My opponent was than ready for his hat, as I expected it. He than started swish his hat, as I dodged his assaults, while I attempt to gain distance from him. He than tossed his hat towards me. I leaned back and dodged the hat, as it than got stuck on the wall. Without his hat, he may be vulnerable. All the sudden, I felt something inside of me was taking control of me. It was the wolf instinct. I attempt to fight it off, but it took over me. I began to charge for my opponent. He than disappeared in front of me. I heard the hat was coming back behind, causing me to turn. Only to show it was Kung Lao teleported in time, for his hat to be on his top head. He than kicked me off my feet and landed on my back.
It was equivalent to Cole's start, but my wolf instincts took the best of me. I got up from the ground and shook my head in disappointment.
"Well... it seems as though we have our work cut out for us." Kung Lao spoke.
"It's a start at least." I stated, as I looked at my hand to see a minor cut from Kung Lao's hat.
"Are you wanting me to look into your wound?" Liu Kang came to me.
"I'm alright, but I think Cole and Sonya need theirs checked." I looked to see Cole has more injury than myself. Sonya had a few burns that she was able to take care of herself, as she insisted.
Liu Kang and Cole, Sonya and myself went to the hospital chamber. Sonya checked to see Jax, however Katie told her that nothing has happened yet, except his prosthetic arms were placed on him. I was able to clean my wound and than wrap it around to cover the spot.
"How's training?" Katie asked.
"It's a start, except my wolf instincts took over me." I answered.
She came to give me a hug. I hugged her back. It helped me, so I don't stay too angry with the wolf instinct growing.
A gasped came from nearby. It was Jax! He woke up! Sonya rushed to his side and had him calm down. When he was more aware of his surroundings, he sees Sonya... and than his right prosthetic arm. He breathed rapidly from seeing his real arms are gone.
"It's okay. It's okay. It's okay." Sonya repeated to him. "You just lay down."
"What happened?" Jax asked her.
Sonya felt like she couldn't bear it to tell him. I stepped in. "You stayed behind to fight Sub-Zero, while we reached for Sonya. You were unconscious when Liu Kang found you." I than looked at his arms. "...And lost your arms because of Sub-Zero." It grieved Jax. "I'm sorry, sir."
I left the three alone, as I entered another part of the chamber to see Liu Kang is attempting to heal Cole's wound. The two looked at me for a moment.
"Everything alright, Thomas?" Cole asked me.
"Jax is awake and bit in shock too." I answered. "He's being attended too."
Liu Kang nodded, as he continues to heal my cousin. "Liu... How do I find my arcana?" Cole asked.
"It must come from your soul." Liu Kang answered. "Whatever it is that drives you."
"So how did you find your arcana?" Cole asked him.
Liu Kang told his story about his arcana, while healing Cole. "Unlike Kung Lao, I was just a worthless stray."
"You were an orphan?" I asked.
He nodded his head. I attempt to give him my sympathy, but it was in the past. "For reasons beyond my ken, Master Bo' Rai Cho found me half dead in the gutter. And brought me to the Wu Shi Academy."
"Where the other Shaolin Monks learn." I remembered from Liu Kang and Kung Lao lightly telling me and the rabbits their stories at the academy.
He nodded and continued. "From there, I was given a purpose... a brother, Kung Lao. And I met Lord Raiden. Kung Lao and I have served together."
I smiled and nodded. "I could see it the same way too. Having a purpose."
"A purpose of defeating Shang Tsung?" he questioned me.
"No. I met having someone, who stood by my side. During our capture, war, and now more and ever in spirit."
"This 'Captain Holly'?" Cole guessed.
"Yes." I took off my scarf. Liu Kang attempts to use his abilities to feel the "chi". He gasped. "Something inside. You two are connected."
"When he died, his blood stained on the scarf. When he left, he gave it back to me." I clang tightly to scarf, until I realized we were off topic from Liu Kang's story. "Sorry, Liu Kang. I didn't mean to cut off from your story."
He accepted my apology and wraps up his story. "Upon graduation, I was given a name of a man. He was a purveyor of rare of things. Children." He finished stitching Cole's wound and started to use his fire abilities to close it up. "Orphans like me."
"Who was he?" I asked.
"I cannot recall his name, but he had a marking. So I chose to take it from him. And in that moment, my arcana came forth."
"And that's where you got it from. You challenged someone into a fight and killed him?" I asked him.
He nodded his head, before he left me and Cole alone. "Do you think you'll find yours?" Cole asked me.
I looked down. "Even if I have it, I would mistakenly be over powered of something that I'm not."
"If you did, find one and you approve, how would you use it?"
"I wished I could have turn the time back to save my family, my new adoptive family... and perhaps my squad mates in the Army." I answered. "However, it's not possible."
The day was becoming late, I decided to take a journey outside to journey the night sky. As I turned for the hall, I noticed Liu Kang and Kung Lao bowed to Raiden. Without revealing my presence, I hid at the corner of the wall to watch and listen to their discussion.
"Lord Raiden." Liu Kang greeted.
"Despite our efforts, there is no sign of progress." Kung Lao spoke in criticism about the training that occurred today.
"They are physically-skilled, but mentally, they are weak."
"We worry they will not find their arcanas in time." Kung Lao added.
"Liu Kang... Kung Lao..." Raiden spoke. "You must be more creative and eliminate all distractions. Find their weakness and turn it into their strength."
"We won't give up, Lord Raiden." Kung Lao spoke.
"However, we do need to discuss some unnatural powers that was taken place here." Liu Kang said.
"What is it?" Raiden asked.
"The marking that was originally on Thomas' sister, it's gone." Kung Lao told him.
"Gone?"
"The marking was transferred to Miss Blade. We even tested to see the marking wasn't fake."
"And?"
"It's the Marking of The Dragon. No foul or trickery." Liu Kang answered.
"But however, I feel we should send both Katie and Miss Blade home. As if it was an sorcery act, resulted by Thomas." At that point, I right fist clinched, but I was able to maintain without my inner wolf animality taking over.
"No." Raiden rejects. "Sonya Blade has a role to play in this. She will remain with us."
"And the young child?" Liu Kang questioned.
"There's no other way to send her away. She's already targeted from the warriors that invaded the rabbits' warren. It's best that she remains here for her brother's sake and our protection."
"As you wish, Lord Raiden." The two Shaolin Monks bowed to their protector and the three departed from their meeting.
With relief, I continued to head for my way to be outside. I was able to go through a tunnel to a opening of the night sky. I sat by and watched the night skies. The sky was clear, with hardly any moonlight. The stars shine brightly. Even the wind blows the nightly cool air.
You done well for your first day of training, son.
"Captain Holly." I recognized his voice and he came to my side. We both gazed at the night sky.
"Your fighting skills came a long way, especially from your army and the Owsla." he complimented me.
"Will... not the best enough it seems." I spoke.
"Why's that?"
"My wolf animality nearly kicked in again, except it resulted being kicked to the ground." I admit. "It's more harder now, with everyone gone."
"Don't give up, Thomas. I know there's hope inside yourself as a rabbit." he encouraged me to be optimistic. "As Bluebell would say, 'what would you call a happy rabbit? A hoptimist.'"
I chuckled. It would be a Bluebell ideal joke. "It's actually, Blackberry who came up with it."
"By Frith, really?" he was surprised.
I nodded my head. "Yes, even Bluebell brought it up about it too."
"Hmm... perhaps Blackberry would had something that Bluebell always gave him." He than noticed the necklace that Cole's wife gave me. "What's that?"
"A rabbit necklace." I showed it to him. "I was given to by my cousin's wife. Do these symbols mean anything to you?"
Captain Holly gazed at the rabbit and than the symbol. "I'm afraid not, but the rabbit may even resembled to El-Ahrairah."
"I recognized somewhat of the symbol. It's a Celtic symbol." I told him.
"What's a Celtic?" he asked.
"A group of people from Europe, especially around the UK and Ireland. From what I know. It even traces centuries back too." I answered.
"I see. Another human term and group of humans."
I nodded. "Basically. Although, I started to have moments that I fell under it. As if I know of something like this before."
"When?"
"I don't know." I shrugged my shoulders. "That'll be a mystery to solve if I ever know."
"Just remember... I'm here for you and keep training hard. No matter how hard it gets." Captain Holly told me. "Especially..."
"Who Dares Wins." I quoted the Owsla motto, and consequently it's also the motto for Special Air Services in the UK Military.
He smiled and tapped my shoulder with his paw. "Make sure you get some rest tonight, too son."
"I will Dad." I smiled at him and saluted. "Sir."
He saluted back, before he disappeared. I looked back up at the night sky, before I was becoming tired that I had to return back to the temple to get some rest.
