Authors note:

The Mortal Kombat game, dragonhead and characters are the exclusive property of Midway Entertainment. I don't own them, I just borrowed them for a little while so please don't sue.

Rider of the Storm

By

jediryu ©

Chapter 1

Raiden, God of Thunder and Protector of the Realm of Earth, sat in the study of his cosmic palace and pondered. "How long have I been here? How long since I accepted this office?" he said to himself. He looked up from the desk in his study and murmured, "Fujin, I would speak with you."

At first nothing happened but then, a whisper of air movement sounded in the room. The whisper became a low howl like a strong wind against a building as a whirlwind appeared in the center of the room and expanded into the shape of a man.

The man stood six feet tall by mortal measurement. His hair was long. Just past shoulder length and mother-of-pearl white which stood out against the khaki tunic with matching pants and boots he wore. With arms folded over a broad and muscular chest, he asked in a deep voice: "I am here Lord Raiden, how may I assist you"?

Raiden turned in his chair and faced the God of Wind and Storm and said: "Greetings my friend. Thank you for answering my summons so quickly. I had a question for you that I hoped you might be able to answer." Fujin sat on the couch nearest him at Raiden's gesture and said: "What might that be my Lord?"

Raiden leaned back and rubbed his eyes as he said: "How long have I held this office?" Fujin said: "Office? My Lord, you are eternal as am I, what do you mean?" Raiden heaved an exasperated sigh and said: "Fujin, for pity's sake, drop the pretense of ignorance and answer my question please."

Fujin smiled at his friend and said: "As the mortal plane measures it, several millennia. Why do you ask?" Raiden answered: "Because I'm tired that's why. Like me, you too were mortal once until the previous holder of your office asked you to ascend and take his place so that he could live out a mortal life and finally die in the fullness of time. Immortality such as ours takes a toll on our souls."

Fujin thought a moment and said: "You have held your office long before I came into mine, but I beg of you old friend, do not do this. Your knowledge is vast, your experience varied. Why, even the Elder Gods value your opinion. Why ever would you want to step down?"

Raiden made a fist for a second and then opened it as a small electric arc appeared, expanded into a small orb of ball lightning to see the face of his majordomo, Spark, and said: "Spark please bring some tea to my study and placements for two." Spark nodded and said: "At once my Lord." His face and the ball lightning disappeared in a small flash. Momentarily, Spark came in with the tea and cups, poured for his master and his master's guest and left.

Raiden continued: "As I said before, I'm tired. The Deadly Alliance is broken; the cosmos is about as near to balance as it ever gets and I believe now is the right time to step down. Will you assist me in finding a replacement?" Fujin sipped his tea as Raiden sipped his and finally said: "Very well my friend, I will help you, though I believe it to be a bad idea. Are you sure you want to give up all the perks?" This said with a knowing grin on his face. Fujin, while still considered young for his office was well known for his exercise of the "perks" as he put it, of a cosmic office, there were still some realms he was banned from on pain of mortal death.

It was a little known fact that while in physical form, gods like Raiden and Fujin could lose their mortal bodies to violent death though their souls were safe from harm from the likes of the demon sorcerer Shang Tsung and others of his ilk. This was also why the forms of mortal existence were still followed such as tea and food for self and guests.

Raiden smiled and said: "Quite sure Lord Fujin, quite sure." With the return of formal titles, Fujin knew the conference was ended. He finished his tea and stood saying: "As you will it Lord Raiden, so shall it be done." Vanishing in a mini-cyclone just as he had appeared, Fujin was gone.