Chapter I
The Old Ways
A breath of air, and a gust of wind. Yes, all it was still as it bestowed upon the Realm of Earth. How could anyone here ever think of darkness within one's self? Of course there had to be some logical answer to this. It was never there in the first place. As for the people of the many realms, they don't have a clue of what was going to happen soon. Soon, with a limited amount of time left. You could say that they all knew that it was impossible to ignore the facts. The emperor once said that there was going to be hell on Earth, and maybe he was right. Just maybe, nobody here could have thought of anything but this. When they day arrives, the setting sun will be intense with brightness.
Generations and generations have passed, and nobody could have ever been proud. Everyone's heart was full of the same sorrow and laughter like everyone else. At night, clouds of thunder appeared without a breath of relief. The Shaloian Temple itself was crowded with visitors from around the world. Hiding beneath its hard stone walls and pots. Dust tornadoes of all sizes and rain smashed down on the Earth. As blood from the animals bursted and flooded the temple with the presence of the gods. One was very special indeed though. The monks were always prepared. Bringing candles and spiritual charms with them wherever they went, this assured their safety.
Today however, no one was ready for what was about to happen. As Takeli laid on his bed, he churned at the sound of the high winds rushing by everyone. "Lao!" Takeli awaked with a faint gleam in his eyes. Outside the glassless window stood the great winds and rain of the world. He heard a knock on his door. Takeli grabbed some matches and lighted them. Lighting the soft candles around him, he approached the door with his waxy hands. The knocks have stopped abruptly. "Lao!" He heard another cry outside. What could this mean? Is something going on?
Takeli began to open his door. BANG! A scrimpy old man with a white turban choked. "Will you ever get out of that room of yours on time?!" He held up another umbrella for Takeli. "Come on! You have to get started to your morning duties." Takeli sighed, it was raining hard and he still had to clean up after the others. The old man led him to a wooden room with bowls and cups of water spilled all over the ground. "Since you missed the morning meal, you'll have to wait until the setting meal. Help us by cleaning up this mess the wind made." Takeli nodded silently. The old man left to another room, gathering all of his things.
Takeli started to pick up the left over food, when a young boy came in and cried. "What are you doing? Aren't you supposed to be worshiping to the gods right now?" he asked. Takeli sighed. This life was pretty hard, especially on those really wet days. Today wasn't your average wake up and do your stuff day, but more like a religious one. As thunder elapsed outside the windows, the rain from above showered down like glass. Takeli knew this was strange, as the gods did not really pay much attention to them until now, as so he believes.
A dream, he felt it. Lately he's been having a reoccurring nightmare about how a black ninja was killing off everyone in the temple. Using his deadly blade, he stole everyone's soul and captured them into soul chambers. He couldn't help but think maybe this was a fluke. It could have been just the weather having a drastic affect on him. Takeli was begging to think he wasn't really as normal as he thought everyone else was. Always waking up late, doing all of the chores quickly but steadily and even making time to amuse the boys who were still practicing to become monks.
Takeli chuckled a little. He knew that one-day he would be able to leave the temple to pursue his dream of becoming a famous martial artist. Not like in the movies that he saw featuring Johnny Cage killing off four guys with only his bare hands. That was just an act, wasn't it? He wanted to travel around the world, get some new experiences, and maybe meet somebody, which could be called a worthy opponent. Yea right! What was he to think? "I'm no good at martial arts. How can I be good at this if I don't even know the basic moves?" "Are you talking to me?" The little boy murmured. "No, go away!" The little boy frowned and walked away silently.
Takeli continued to sweep up the remaining scraps of food. As he was doing so, he began to wander back to what his dad told him a long time ago. When he was just two years old. He said, 'that the flower would never blossom if it doesn't have the courage to do so. And when it did, it was the most beautiful of all, and you can always look into it to see what your future holds.' Did that mean anything? Takeli began to think about it more closely. He couldn't really concentrate on it. Lightning was still clashing outside of the window. He overheard a loud sonic boom just then. Beginning to quiver a little, he went back to what his father said. As he stared out of his window, he couldn't help but make a figure out of the cold winds. "A girl?" The figure was blurred. He can't really make it out, and then, it disappeared.
That story seemed so familiar to him. Even when he was just 2 years old, he said that he would be able to remember the story by heart. 'Now, how did it go again?' he thought. Memories began to rush around his head. Alright, he got it! Through his head, he pictured a soft valley, with his brothers and sisters. They were all standing in line, and the oldest one would always swing us around in a circle until we got so dizzy, that we had to forget about eating lunch or dinner. His name, the name. He just had it. The oldest one was like 17 years old during that time. 'I think his name was like, hmm, can't make it out.'
Takeli closed his eyes for a moment. "Lao, are you done yet?" Grandfather asked. "Almost!" Takeli swept out the dirt and rice. "Well hurry up, the rain's getting bigger and stronger so you have to stay in your room." Takeli nodded silently to himself as he watched Grandfather walk away. Takeli threw the broom into the cabinet and headed back for his room, hungry and tired. "Great, I have to wait for the evening meal. Then I can eat." He didn't have anything inside his room. As he opened the door, he noticed a towel that Grandfather had given him. A note said, 'For the window, to cover it so you won't get wet. Go to bed, you have nothing more to do.' Takeli picked up the towel and walked in. "Well, what can I do now?"
Cramped up inside a small room with a bare window opened, Takeli leaped into his bed. "That would have been so cool! I wished Grandfather would teach me some styles of martial arts." Takeli had always asked if he could learn some from him, but it was always the same response over and over again. "You're too young. Wait a year or two, then I might teach you some basic moves." Takeli wondered if that might is ever going to happen. He started to bounce his rubber ball back towards him from the stone wall. He took out his photograph of him, his mom, and his dad. "We looked so happy when I was young." It must have been years since his father died, but that didn't stop him from remembering him.
The wind outside began to get harsher. Takeli started to stare out of his window, looking at how the thunder striked down on the ground, creating sparks every time. Up in the sky he could see dark clouds looming towards the Shaloian Temple. He saw some of the elders climbing up the stairs and into their own rooms, where they would practice their prayers against a warm fire. Takeli didn't really understand why they really do this though. He always wanted to try it out and to see how it felt, but it never really pleased him to see him do that.
Being very bored, he started to fall asleep into his own bed. It was only 1:00 and he's already falling asleep like it was night. Takeli began to close his eyes on the soft quilted bed. Maybe it was because of the boredom, that he suddenly couldn't really think about the world around him. Everything around him began to swim around in his mind. Like it was a strange glitch in his body. Stopping the blood flow through him, and making his eyes very dreary. He felt nothing though. All he could really do was watch the window as the rain continued to get worse.
"What?" Takeli opened his eyes and found himself standing inside a strange arena. It was a bright morning in a sandy beach. People with swords and knives were chanting around him, as they bowed down to see a man walking towards him. He'd seen him before somewhere. He can't really point out from where though. "Ready?" Takeli shook his head. The black ninja shot forward a ghastly form of energy at him. Takeli gasped, as he felt his energy slowly draining away from him. He gasped for air. Bending down and grasping his throat, the ninja round housed him towards the side of the arena. "Time!" Takeli panted heavily in response. The ninja grabbed his throat and opened his eyes. His mask came off, and showed... "Huh?"
Panting and breathing hard, Takeli woke up in a puff of breath. Sweat was pouring out of his head, and behind his neck. He stared out at his clock, 3:12. The towel that was holding back the rain came off, and the rain was continuing to pour in. "Wonder why it's still raining so hard." Takeli mumbled to himself as he looked into his small mirror. "Hmm, what's this?" He touched his neck, and found s bladed scratch on it. Takeli gasped. "How did I get this?" The scratch was bloody red, and blood was still pouring out from it.
"That dream I had." Takeli thought back. In an arena, black ninja, death. He remembered that black ninja from somewhere before. He didn't know why, but he reminded him of his mom and dad somehow. He began to get a headache somehow from all of this thinking he had done. He missed his parents terribly. Takeli decided to get some food, since he was starving after all. He wasn't sure if his grandfather would let him do so though. He decided to take a chance, and opened the door.
"Ahh!" A gust of wind blew into his room. His blanket flapped over and got sucked through the window. Takeli tried to close the door, but the wind's power was like a tornado. The rain began to get heavier, and Takeli could see a strong figure in the wind. "Who are you?" He asked. Takeli did not recognize the figure. Thunder and lightning began to clash down around the person. "Watch out!' Takeli dived through and pushed him out of the way. They rolled into a stone covering, which was free from the rain.
"Are you ok?" Takeli asked. The old man opened his eyes and began to chuckle. Takeli stepped back from him. "I've never seen you around here. Who are you?" The old man pulled his hat over him. "The real question, is who are you?" Takeli was stunned. "Well, I'm Lao Takeli. What's that a concern to you?" The old man chuckled at him. "Poor boy, you still have a lot to learn don't you?" The man looked up to him with glimmering eyes. Takeli couldn't help but stare.
"You know you do look quite familiar to me. Have we met?" The man shook his head. "I know a lot about you Takeli. You're a poor boy who wants to learn martial arts. Devastated at the death of your family, you want to take revenge for whoever killed them. You always ask your grandfather to teach you, but you were always told that you were much too young. That may actually be true." "How do you know so much about me? Are you a spy?" The old man began to smile. "A spy? No, why would I be one? I'm just a creator." "A creator? A creator of what?" "A creator, of wind."
"What are you saying?" The man pointed his fingers toward a ram shackled building. A gust of wind appeared right next to it and lifted the house towards Takeli. Setting it down, the man looked at him again. "How did you do that!?" "Why ask so many questions? When all you need are answers?" "Is that so?" Takeli would have guessed he was some kind of magician, but no magician would have been able to carry an old house across a courtyard without hesitation. "So, basically, are you a human at all?" The old man kicked a small stone away from his foot. "What do you think?"
"Well, I'm not sure right now. Aren't you cold wearing that kind of clothing?" "I'm never cold, or hot." "Can you at least tell me who you are?" The wind and rain stopped abruptly. "If you must know, I suggest you look in your heart." "Look into my heart?" "Words cannot express the way I am." Takeli stopped and thought about this. "Is this supposed to be a joke?" "Do you think it is?" "Fine." Takeli sat down on the ground and closed his eyes. 'Look into my heart? Look into my heart?' he thought. Strangely, something began to appear.
He could feel the man's palms touching his back. A strange sensation began to come over him. He could see rain and wind coming together forming a powerful force. He could see the old man controlling all of the wind that was appearing over the city. Staring at him, he looked at him and showed his eyes. "Do you know now?" Takeli opened his eyes and stared out into the open sky. The sun was starting to come out, but he could still see drops of rain falling and a little quiver of wind. "Are you someone that I could never see or feel?"
The old man smiled. "You are beginning to learn, but I'm afraid that I cannot verbally tell you who I am until you find out yourself." "How will you find out if I know?" "I can look into your soul, and see the goodness in it. That way, I could always tell that you really want to know." This stunned Takeli. "You can look into souls?" The man nodded, and he pulled his hat over his head. "Soon enough, you will find out who I am. Until know I can give you one advice, if you like to learn martial arts, I suggest that you prove yourself first." "How do I do that?"
The man made a blossom appear in his hand. He threw it towards Takeli and he caught it. "What do I do with this?" "Each day, eat one of the 3 petals from this flower. If you manage to eat the entire flower without spitting out any of it, not one speck, then you are worthy of getting trained." "How can a measly little blossom prove anything?" "This is not just any flower, it is the Kenishian Blossom, very rare. No one has ever managed to eat the whole thing without coughing up the flower as well as blood. If you manage to do this, then you are seriously remarkable."
"I don't really understand. I mean, if I do eat the flower, it will mean I'm better than the others that have tried?" "Basically yes, unless you think it's too hard for you. Remember, you must eat only one petal a day. If you eat more than that, the flower will be destroyed, and blood will start to come out of your mouth." Takeli nodded, saying that he understands. "Well, I must be off. It was very nice to actually talk to you in person. I will meet you later. Talk to your grandfather." The man jumped up into the roof in great speed. 'He jumps so high, I wonder.'
After he left, the sun began to blaze brightly in the sky. All of the monks began to come out of their cottages and started to sweep out the mess. Takeli went back into his room and took a petal out of the blossom. The petal was very pink when it was on the flower, but now it's starting to turn kind of yellowish. He'd figure he better eat it now. He placed the petal on the tip of his tongue and closed his mouth. "Ugh!" Takeli opened his mouth. He looked at the mirror and saw the petal burning in his tongue with a foul taste. "God, I have to get rid of this!"
Then he remembered what the man told him. "If you could eat the petals without spitting out any of it, then you are worthy of getting trained." Takeli closed his mouth, filling his nose with the disgusting odor. 'I have to do this.' he thought. He bit into the petal softly, filling his teeth with the smell of decay. He began to churn the petal through his mouth. A little bit was bursting out of his lips. He pushed it back in and felt the burning sensation once more. He began to swallow some of it. Finally swallowing the whole thing, he sighed in disgust.
He walked out the door and ran to the water buckets. Carrying the other two petals with him, he dunked his face into the buckets. The other monks stared at him with disgust. Takeli couldn't help it. After eating that kind of food, who wouldn't? Hs grandfather came over and laughed at him. "Lao, what are you doing now?" Takeli ignored him while he was still drinking up the water, refreshing his mouth from the taste. His grandfather shook his head. "Takeli, if you really needed water, just go to the kitchen. It looks like you couldn't wait to get some." The other monks chuckled, but Takeli just kept on drinking.
After Takeli drank almost half of the bucket, his grandfather stared at him. "Lao, why did you drink all of that water? Supper is almost ready." "It's nothing grandfather. There was just a bug in my mouth." "A bug? That was very amusing to see." His father began to turn away when he saw the flower Takeli was holding. "Lao, where did you get that flower?" All of the monks stopped doing their jobs and stared at Takeli. "I received it from a man. He told me if I ate it all, I would be worth of getting trained in the arts of martial arts."
"It can't be. You?" Takeli shrugged as he saw everyone staring at him. "What's the big deal?" "The big deal is that you managed to eat the first petal. That's pretty amazing for a boy at your age. Although I still think you are too young to get trained by a master martial artist." "Grandfather, it's been years that you've kept saying that. I think I can handle it now." His grandfather felt a breeze near him. "Well, I suppose so. I'll think about it, now come on, supper is ready."
The next day, his grandfather told him to meet him at the edge of the steps at night. Takeli followed the instructions, and saw him sitting in the hard stone steps. "You wanted to talk to me?" he asked. The night stars were already over their heads, and the moon was shining brightly. "I guess I may have been treating you like a little boy these past years." Takeli sat down with him. "It's not your fault I mean. You have been a really good father to me." "It seems that you really are fascinated at martial arts. You have managed to eat two of the petals from that flower." "Yeah, the second one was much worse than the first. It took me about half an hour to eat it." "No one has ever gone that far without choking out blood."
Takeli wrapped a blanket around his grandfather. His grandfather smiled. "I suppose it is time to let someone teach you a thing or two on martial arts. Tomorrow, I want you to pack your things, and head westward. If you keep going, you should be able to meet a young man that can teach you remarkable things. I'll send him a note later when you are sleeping. From there, you will be trained to be like him. And when you are ready, you can come back here and please us all." Takeli was stunned by the idea. "But grandfather, I have to stay here and help you. I can't just leave my only family behind." "See, now you are declining the idea. You want me to teach you, but I am far too weak to teach anybody anything anymore."
Takeli went back to his room and started to pack some things into his pack. His grandfather was over reacting. He didn't even eat his last petal yet, so how can he be so sure that he will be able to receive the training he needs? He packed his blanket and food he had given him. Along with that he decided to take his scarf that his grandfather knitted for him just for remembrance. Was he ready for this? Takeli jumped onto his bed and wondered if this was such a good idea. He would have to leave for another place with no family. Could he trust his new master into training him?
The next day, Takeli bowed and said goodbye to his grandfather, as well as the people of the temple. His grandfather bowed lightly to him. "Takeli, when you travel west, you will find a man named Kung Lao. I have already sent a note to him saying that you will be trained. Did you finish the flower yet?" Takeli nodded silently. "Then you are ready grandson." The two hugged for unbearable moments, until he was sure he could go. He gave the remaining center of the blossom to his grandfather so he could remember him. "Good luck Lao. I hope we will meet again someday." Takeli smiled and turned towards the stone steps.
Suddenly, a dark cloud loomed over their heads. Thunder clashed again, and the monks could feel a sickening energy coming out of it. Takeli looked up and saw thugs falling out of the clouds. "Oh no, it's them!" his grandfather cried. "Takeli, run now!" The thugs ran up the stairs and took out their weapons. Everyone started to run into their cottages, but the thugs were way too fast. "Takeli, you're the only one that matters now. Run!" "No, I have to help!" "Takeli, you have proved yourself worthy. You have to be trained!"
All of a sudden, a black ninja appeared and laughed. Takeli gasped. It was the same one in his dreams. "Now Takeli!" Takeli closed his eyes and urged his legs to run. He ran past the thugs and onto the dirt road near the bank of the river. Takeli heard a moaning kind of scream behind him. He looked back, and saw the black ninja taking out his grandfather's soul. Takeli screamed. "No!" The ninja shot his heart and destroyed it. At the same time, he stuck a black needle through his chest, making blood come out of his body. He coughed out blood until he collapsed.
His people were getting killed and all he could do was run away from them. His grandfather did urge him to go though, and that's just what he did. Takeli swam over the cold river when thunder started to hit the ground. Just before he got out of the river, thunder eclipsed the river, killing everything in it. The terror didn't stop there. Turning back, he saw the black demon chasing after him. Takeli turned towards the forest. "No, that's east!" He turned back and saw the deadly ninja approaching him. Takeli jumped into a pit hole and tried to stay low.
The black ninja didn't see him jump in and just walked over it. This wasn't a good start to his journey. Takeli jumped out and the ninja noticed him. He started to run in all sorts of direction, not wanting to look back. "Why is he after me?" The black ninja caught up and grabbed Takeli's legs. "No!" The ninja grabbed his throat and started to choke him. "You are the one. You must die!" Takeli tried to grab his hand away from his throat, but it was no good. Suddenly, a windy cyclone caught the ninja, sending him and the thugs' back into the sky.
Takeli looked back and saw the old man looking at him again. "I'm so sorry. I should have been there." "What happened to my people?" The man shook his head. "Nothing good happened. They are all dead. The only thing you can do now is to keep going forward, never looking back." Tears came out of Takeli's eyes, as he banged his fist into the cold ground. "What's the point of going if I don't have a purpose now?" The man leered at him. "That is not true and it will never be true. I will guide you to Kung Lao for your training to begin." The man healed Takeli of his wounds, and gave him a new pole. "Take this, it will help you out."
"I guess so, but how can this be happening to me? Who was that black demon?" The old man shook his head. "I'm not sure, but I think he was one of Shinnok's minions." 'Shinnok? Who is he?" The old man once again shook his head. "I'm afraid I cannot tell you right now, but you will find out soon. Your training will take you to your destination. Fighting alongside many of Earth's warriors, how honorable you will be." "Fighting alongside? What's going to happen to me?" "Go on now, I've told you enough. You will learn as your training continues. Just remember to follow your heart." The old man snapped his fingers, causing a dist storm to appear. After it cleared away, he was gone.
"What?" Takeli looked into the sky. He heard a soft voice. "You have a journey ahead of you."
A breath of air, and a gust of wind. Yes, all it was still as it bestowed upon the Realm of Earth. How could anyone here ever think of darkness within one's self? Of course there had to be some logical answer to this. It was never there in the first place. As for the people of the many realms, they don't have a clue of what was going to happen soon. Soon, with a limited amount of time left. You could say that they all knew that it was impossible to ignore the facts. The emperor once said that there was going to be hell on Earth, and maybe he was right. Just maybe, nobody here could have thought of anything but this. When they day arrives, the setting sun will be intense with brightness.
Generations and generations have passed, and nobody could have ever been proud. Everyone's heart was full of the same sorrow and laughter like everyone else. At night, clouds of thunder appeared without a breath of relief. The Shaloian Temple itself was crowded with visitors from around the world. Hiding beneath its hard stone walls and pots. Dust tornadoes of all sizes and rain smashed down on the Earth. As blood from the animals bursted and flooded the temple with the presence of the gods. One was very special indeed though. The monks were always prepared. Bringing candles and spiritual charms with them wherever they went, this assured their safety.
Today however, no one was ready for what was about to happen. As Takeli laid on his bed, he churned at the sound of the high winds rushing by everyone. "Lao!" Takeli awaked with a faint gleam in his eyes. Outside the glassless window stood the great winds and rain of the world. He heard a knock on his door. Takeli grabbed some matches and lighted them. Lighting the soft candles around him, he approached the door with his waxy hands. The knocks have stopped abruptly. "Lao!" He heard another cry outside. What could this mean? Is something going on?
Takeli began to open his door. BANG! A scrimpy old man with a white turban choked. "Will you ever get out of that room of yours on time?!" He held up another umbrella for Takeli. "Come on! You have to get started to your morning duties." Takeli sighed, it was raining hard and he still had to clean up after the others. The old man led him to a wooden room with bowls and cups of water spilled all over the ground. "Since you missed the morning meal, you'll have to wait until the setting meal. Help us by cleaning up this mess the wind made." Takeli nodded silently. The old man left to another room, gathering all of his things.
Takeli started to pick up the left over food, when a young boy came in and cried. "What are you doing? Aren't you supposed to be worshiping to the gods right now?" he asked. Takeli sighed. This life was pretty hard, especially on those really wet days. Today wasn't your average wake up and do your stuff day, but more like a religious one. As thunder elapsed outside the windows, the rain from above showered down like glass. Takeli knew this was strange, as the gods did not really pay much attention to them until now, as so he believes.
A dream, he felt it. Lately he's been having a reoccurring nightmare about how a black ninja was killing off everyone in the temple. Using his deadly blade, he stole everyone's soul and captured them into soul chambers. He couldn't help but think maybe this was a fluke. It could have been just the weather having a drastic affect on him. Takeli was begging to think he wasn't really as normal as he thought everyone else was. Always waking up late, doing all of the chores quickly but steadily and even making time to amuse the boys who were still practicing to become monks.
Takeli chuckled a little. He knew that one-day he would be able to leave the temple to pursue his dream of becoming a famous martial artist. Not like in the movies that he saw featuring Johnny Cage killing off four guys with only his bare hands. That was just an act, wasn't it? He wanted to travel around the world, get some new experiences, and maybe meet somebody, which could be called a worthy opponent. Yea right! What was he to think? "I'm no good at martial arts. How can I be good at this if I don't even know the basic moves?" "Are you talking to me?" The little boy murmured. "No, go away!" The little boy frowned and walked away silently.
Takeli continued to sweep up the remaining scraps of food. As he was doing so, he began to wander back to what his dad told him a long time ago. When he was just two years old. He said, 'that the flower would never blossom if it doesn't have the courage to do so. And when it did, it was the most beautiful of all, and you can always look into it to see what your future holds.' Did that mean anything? Takeli began to think about it more closely. He couldn't really concentrate on it. Lightning was still clashing outside of the window. He overheard a loud sonic boom just then. Beginning to quiver a little, he went back to what his father said. As he stared out of his window, he couldn't help but make a figure out of the cold winds. "A girl?" The figure was blurred. He can't really make it out, and then, it disappeared.
That story seemed so familiar to him. Even when he was just 2 years old, he said that he would be able to remember the story by heart. 'Now, how did it go again?' he thought. Memories began to rush around his head. Alright, he got it! Through his head, he pictured a soft valley, with his brothers and sisters. They were all standing in line, and the oldest one would always swing us around in a circle until we got so dizzy, that we had to forget about eating lunch or dinner. His name, the name. He just had it. The oldest one was like 17 years old during that time. 'I think his name was like, hmm, can't make it out.'
Takeli closed his eyes for a moment. "Lao, are you done yet?" Grandfather asked. "Almost!" Takeli swept out the dirt and rice. "Well hurry up, the rain's getting bigger and stronger so you have to stay in your room." Takeli nodded silently to himself as he watched Grandfather walk away. Takeli threw the broom into the cabinet and headed back for his room, hungry and tired. "Great, I have to wait for the evening meal. Then I can eat." He didn't have anything inside his room. As he opened the door, he noticed a towel that Grandfather had given him. A note said, 'For the window, to cover it so you won't get wet. Go to bed, you have nothing more to do.' Takeli picked up the towel and walked in. "Well, what can I do now?"
Cramped up inside a small room with a bare window opened, Takeli leaped into his bed. "That would have been so cool! I wished Grandfather would teach me some styles of martial arts." Takeli had always asked if he could learn some from him, but it was always the same response over and over again. "You're too young. Wait a year or two, then I might teach you some basic moves." Takeli wondered if that might is ever going to happen. He started to bounce his rubber ball back towards him from the stone wall. He took out his photograph of him, his mom, and his dad. "We looked so happy when I was young." It must have been years since his father died, but that didn't stop him from remembering him.
The wind outside began to get harsher. Takeli started to stare out of his window, looking at how the thunder striked down on the ground, creating sparks every time. Up in the sky he could see dark clouds looming towards the Shaloian Temple. He saw some of the elders climbing up the stairs and into their own rooms, where they would practice their prayers against a warm fire. Takeli didn't really understand why they really do this though. He always wanted to try it out and to see how it felt, but it never really pleased him to see him do that.
Being very bored, he started to fall asleep into his own bed. It was only 1:00 and he's already falling asleep like it was night. Takeli began to close his eyes on the soft quilted bed. Maybe it was because of the boredom, that he suddenly couldn't really think about the world around him. Everything around him began to swim around in his mind. Like it was a strange glitch in his body. Stopping the blood flow through him, and making his eyes very dreary. He felt nothing though. All he could really do was watch the window as the rain continued to get worse.
"What?" Takeli opened his eyes and found himself standing inside a strange arena. It was a bright morning in a sandy beach. People with swords and knives were chanting around him, as they bowed down to see a man walking towards him. He'd seen him before somewhere. He can't really point out from where though. "Ready?" Takeli shook his head. The black ninja shot forward a ghastly form of energy at him. Takeli gasped, as he felt his energy slowly draining away from him. He gasped for air. Bending down and grasping his throat, the ninja round housed him towards the side of the arena. "Time!" Takeli panted heavily in response. The ninja grabbed his throat and opened his eyes. His mask came off, and showed... "Huh?"
Panting and breathing hard, Takeli woke up in a puff of breath. Sweat was pouring out of his head, and behind his neck. He stared out at his clock, 3:12. The towel that was holding back the rain came off, and the rain was continuing to pour in. "Wonder why it's still raining so hard." Takeli mumbled to himself as he looked into his small mirror. "Hmm, what's this?" He touched his neck, and found s bladed scratch on it. Takeli gasped. "How did I get this?" The scratch was bloody red, and blood was still pouring out from it.
"That dream I had." Takeli thought back. In an arena, black ninja, death. He remembered that black ninja from somewhere before. He didn't know why, but he reminded him of his mom and dad somehow. He began to get a headache somehow from all of this thinking he had done. He missed his parents terribly. Takeli decided to get some food, since he was starving after all. He wasn't sure if his grandfather would let him do so though. He decided to take a chance, and opened the door.
"Ahh!" A gust of wind blew into his room. His blanket flapped over and got sucked through the window. Takeli tried to close the door, but the wind's power was like a tornado. The rain began to get heavier, and Takeli could see a strong figure in the wind. "Who are you?" He asked. Takeli did not recognize the figure. Thunder and lightning began to clash down around the person. "Watch out!' Takeli dived through and pushed him out of the way. They rolled into a stone covering, which was free from the rain.
"Are you ok?" Takeli asked. The old man opened his eyes and began to chuckle. Takeli stepped back from him. "I've never seen you around here. Who are you?" The old man pulled his hat over him. "The real question, is who are you?" Takeli was stunned. "Well, I'm Lao Takeli. What's that a concern to you?" The old man chuckled at him. "Poor boy, you still have a lot to learn don't you?" The man looked up to him with glimmering eyes. Takeli couldn't help but stare.
"You know you do look quite familiar to me. Have we met?" The man shook his head. "I know a lot about you Takeli. You're a poor boy who wants to learn martial arts. Devastated at the death of your family, you want to take revenge for whoever killed them. You always ask your grandfather to teach you, but you were always told that you were much too young. That may actually be true." "How do you know so much about me? Are you a spy?" The old man began to smile. "A spy? No, why would I be one? I'm just a creator." "A creator? A creator of what?" "A creator, of wind."
"What are you saying?" The man pointed his fingers toward a ram shackled building. A gust of wind appeared right next to it and lifted the house towards Takeli. Setting it down, the man looked at him again. "How did you do that!?" "Why ask so many questions? When all you need are answers?" "Is that so?" Takeli would have guessed he was some kind of magician, but no magician would have been able to carry an old house across a courtyard without hesitation. "So, basically, are you a human at all?" The old man kicked a small stone away from his foot. "What do you think?"
"Well, I'm not sure right now. Aren't you cold wearing that kind of clothing?" "I'm never cold, or hot." "Can you at least tell me who you are?" The wind and rain stopped abruptly. "If you must know, I suggest you look in your heart." "Look into my heart?" "Words cannot express the way I am." Takeli stopped and thought about this. "Is this supposed to be a joke?" "Do you think it is?" "Fine." Takeli sat down on the ground and closed his eyes. 'Look into my heart? Look into my heart?' he thought. Strangely, something began to appear.
He could feel the man's palms touching his back. A strange sensation began to come over him. He could see rain and wind coming together forming a powerful force. He could see the old man controlling all of the wind that was appearing over the city. Staring at him, he looked at him and showed his eyes. "Do you know now?" Takeli opened his eyes and stared out into the open sky. The sun was starting to come out, but he could still see drops of rain falling and a little quiver of wind. "Are you someone that I could never see or feel?"
The old man smiled. "You are beginning to learn, but I'm afraid that I cannot verbally tell you who I am until you find out yourself." "How will you find out if I know?" "I can look into your soul, and see the goodness in it. That way, I could always tell that you really want to know." This stunned Takeli. "You can look into souls?" The man nodded, and he pulled his hat over his head. "Soon enough, you will find out who I am. Until know I can give you one advice, if you like to learn martial arts, I suggest that you prove yourself first." "How do I do that?"
The man made a blossom appear in his hand. He threw it towards Takeli and he caught it. "What do I do with this?" "Each day, eat one of the 3 petals from this flower. If you manage to eat the entire flower without spitting out any of it, not one speck, then you are worthy of getting trained." "How can a measly little blossom prove anything?" "This is not just any flower, it is the Kenishian Blossom, very rare. No one has ever managed to eat the whole thing without coughing up the flower as well as blood. If you manage to do this, then you are seriously remarkable."
"I don't really understand. I mean, if I do eat the flower, it will mean I'm better than the others that have tried?" "Basically yes, unless you think it's too hard for you. Remember, you must eat only one petal a day. If you eat more than that, the flower will be destroyed, and blood will start to come out of your mouth." Takeli nodded, saying that he understands. "Well, I must be off. It was very nice to actually talk to you in person. I will meet you later. Talk to your grandfather." The man jumped up into the roof in great speed. 'He jumps so high, I wonder.'
After he left, the sun began to blaze brightly in the sky. All of the monks began to come out of their cottages and started to sweep out the mess. Takeli went back into his room and took a petal out of the blossom. The petal was very pink when it was on the flower, but now it's starting to turn kind of yellowish. He'd figure he better eat it now. He placed the petal on the tip of his tongue and closed his mouth. "Ugh!" Takeli opened his mouth. He looked at the mirror and saw the petal burning in his tongue with a foul taste. "God, I have to get rid of this!"
Then he remembered what the man told him. "If you could eat the petals without spitting out any of it, then you are worthy of getting trained." Takeli closed his mouth, filling his nose with the disgusting odor. 'I have to do this.' he thought. He bit into the petal softly, filling his teeth with the smell of decay. He began to churn the petal through his mouth. A little bit was bursting out of his lips. He pushed it back in and felt the burning sensation once more. He began to swallow some of it. Finally swallowing the whole thing, he sighed in disgust.
He walked out the door and ran to the water buckets. Carrying the other two petals with him, he dunked his face into the buckets. The other monks stared at him with disgust. Takeli couldn't help it. After eating that kind of food, who wouldn't? Hs grandfather came over and laughed at him. "Lao, what are you doing now?" Takeli ignored him while he was still drinking up the water, refreshing his mouth from the taste. His grandfather shook his head. "Takeli, if you really needed water, just go to the kitchen. It looks like you couldn't wait to get some." The other monks chuckled, but Takeli just kept on drinking.
After Takeli drank almost half of the bucket, his grandfather stared at him. "Lao, why did you drink all of that water? Supper is almost ready." "It's nothing grandfather. There was just a bug in my mouth." "A bug? That was very amusing to see." His father began to turn away when he saw the flower Takeli was holding. "Lao, where did you get that flower?" All of the monks stopped doing their jobs and stared at Takeli. "I received it from a man. He told me if I ate it all, I would be worth of getting trained in the arts of martial arts."
"It can't be. You?" Takeli shrugged as he saw everyone staring at him. "What's the big deal?" "The big deal is that you managed to eat the first petal. That's pretty amazing for a boy at your age. Although I still think you are too young to get trained by a master martial artist." "Grandfather, it's been years that you've kept saying that. I think I can handle it now." His grandfather felt a breeze near him. "Well, I suppose so. I'll think about it, now come on, supper is ready."
The next day, his grandfather told him to meet him at the edge of the steps at night. Takeli followed the instructions, and saw him sitting in the hard stone steps. "You wanted to talk to me?" he asked. The night stars were already over their heads, and the moon was shining brightly. "I guess I may have been treating you like a little boy these past years." Takeli sat down with him. "It's not your fault I mean. You have been a really good father to me." "It seems that you really are fascinated at martial arts. You have managed to eat two of the petals from that flower." "Yeah, the second one was much worse than the first. It took me about half an hour to eat it." "No one has ever gone that far without choking out blood."
Takeli wrapped a blanket around his grandfather. His grandfather smiled. "I suppose it is time to let someone teach you a thing or two on martial arts. Tomorrow, I want you to pack your things, and head westward. If you keep going, you should be able to meet a young man that can teach you remarkable things. I'll send him a note later when you are sleeping. From there, you will be trained to be like him. And when you are ready, you can come back here and please us all." Takeli was stunned by the idea. "But grandfather, I have to stay here and help you. I can't just leave my only family behind." "See, now you are declining the idea. You want me to teach you, but I am far too weak to teach anybody anything anymore."
Takeli went back to his room and started to pack some things into his pack. His grandfather was over reacting. He didn't even eat his last petal yet, so how can he be so sure that he will be able to receive the training he needs? He packed his blanket and food he had given him. Along with that he decided to take his scarf that his grandfather knitted for him just for remembrance. Was he ready for this? Takeli jumped onto his bed and wondered if this was such a good idea. He would have to leave for another place with no family. Could he trust his new master into training him?
The next day, Takeli bowed and said goodbye to his grandfather, as well as the people of the temple. His grandfather bowed lightly to him. "Takeli, when you travel west, you will find a man named Kung Lao. I have already sent a note to him saying that you will be trained. Did you finish the flower yet?" Takeli nodded silently. "Then you are ready grandson." The two hugged for unbearable moments, until he was sure he could go. He gave the remaining center of the blossom to his grandfather so he could remember him. "Good luck Lao. I hope we will meet again someday." Takeli smiled and turned towards the stone steps.
Suddenly, a dark cloud loomed over their heads. Thunder clashed again, and the monks could feel a sickening energy coming out of it. Takeli looked up and saw thugs falling out of the clouds. "Oh no, it's them!" his grandfather cried. "Takeli, run now!" The thugs ran up the stairs and took out their weapons. Everyone started to run into their cottages, but the thugs were way too fast. "Takeli, you're the only one that matters now. Run!" "No, I have to help!" "Takeli, you have proved yourself worthy. You have to be trained!"
All of a sudden, a black ninja appeared and laughed. Takeli gasped. It was the same one in his dreams. "Now Takeli!" Takeli closed his eyes and urged his legs to run. He ran past the thugs and onto the dirt road near the bank of the river. Takeli heard a moaning kind of scream behind him. He looked back, and saw the black ninja taking out his grandfather's soul. Takeli screamed. "No!" The ninja shot his heart and destroyed it. At the same time, he stuck a black needle through his chest, making blood come out of his body. He coughed out blood until he collapsed.
His people were getting killed and all he could do was run away from them. His grandfather did urge him to go though, and that's just what he did. Takeli swam over the cold river when thunder started to hit the ground. Just before he got out of the river, thunder eclipsed the river, killing everything in it. The terror didn't stop there. Turning back, he saw the black demon chasing after him. Takeli turned towards the forest. "No, that's east!" He turned back and saw the deadly ninja approaching him. Takeli jumped into a pit hole and tried to stay low.
The black ninja didn't see him jump in and just walked over it. This wasn't a good start to his journey. Takeli jumped out and the ninja noticed him. He started to run in all sorts of direction, not wanting to look back. "Why is he after me?" The black ninja caught up and grabbed Takeli's legs. "No!" The ninja grabbed his throat and started to choke him. "You are the one. You must die!" Takeli tried to grab his hand away from his throat, but it was no good. Suddenly, a windy cyclone caught the ninja, sending him and the thugs' back into the sky.
Takeli looked back and saw the old man looking at him again. "I'm so sorry. I should have been there." "What happened to my people?" The man shook his head. "Nothing good happened. They are all dead. The only thing you can do now is to keep going forward, never looking back." Tears came out of Takeli's eyes, as he banged his fist into the cold ground. "What's the point of going if I don't have a purpose now?" The man leered at him. "That is not true and it will never be true. I will guide you to Kung Lao for your training to begin." The man healed Takeli of his wounds, and gave him a new pole. "Take this, it will help you out."
"I guess so, but how can this be happening to me? Who was that black demon?" The old man shook his head. "I'm not sure, but I think he was one of Shinnok's minions." 'Shinnok? Who is he?" The old man once again shook his head. "I'm afraid I cannot tell you right now, but you will find out soon. Your training will take you to your destination. Fighting alongside many of Earth's warriors, how honorable you will be." "Fighting alongside? What's going to happen to me?" "Go on now, I've told you enough. You will learn as your training continues. Just remember to follow your heart." The old man snapped his fingers, causing a dist storm to appear. After it cleared away, he was gone.
"What?" Takeli looked into the sky. He heard a soft voice. "You have a journey ahead of you."