Chapter 14
Kitana concluded her narrative of events in a sitting room, with both Ronin and Kung Lao in attendance. Kung Lao said: "That is an amazing tale, your Highness. Would that Liu Kang and I both could have been fighting by your side." Kitana smiled ruefully and said: "Please Kung, when we are like this, you can just call me Kitana. I have wished the same thing on many an occasion. It was during that time and the start of the rebuilding which you see still going on around you that Liu was murdered. I blame myself for taking Raiden away from the Earth Realm to help me." Kung Lao looked into Kitana's eyes and said: "You shouldn't blame yourself. Everyone must choose thier own path. Liu knew that and I would think he would say the same thing if he could. It's not your fault."
The two allies sat silently a moment when Kitana took a deep breath and changing the subject said: "What brings you to visit?" Ronin spoke as Kung Lao took out the invitation and handed it to Kitana. "We thought that you might like to attend and seeing as that messenger services from Earth Realm don't get out here, I thought it would be a good time to meet you and inform you at the same time." Kitana read the invitation and said: "I would love to go. They have both been stalwart allies and it's the least I can do."
Ronin stood then and said: Very good then. I look forward to seeing you in three months for their wedding. I will leave you both to catch up so I will bid you farewell then until next month." Ronin started to walk out as Kung Lao said: "How will I get back to Earth Realm?" Kitana said: "I can make a portal too Kung. I was hoping to talk with you a while longer. Please stay." Kung looked back to see the silent pleading in Kitana's eyes and turned back to face her as Ronin left the room.
As soon as he got outside the doors he and Kung Lao had used to enter the palaceoriginally, Ronin opened a portal that dropped him back at his own palace's front door. He walked in to be greeted with a bow by Spark and a pleasant kiss from Amperica. Asking for dinner to be prepared a little earlier than usual and a bath to be drawn after that, Ronin went to his room to change clothes and relax in his study for a time. He had been reading the military classics in his library, starting with Hagakure and then moving to The Book of Five Rings, and finally, the Art of War. Excellent texts all of them, Ronin was determined that Shang Tsung would never accrue as much power as he had in the past and needed the reading to prepare for what would likely be centuries of war between the powers of light and darkness. Dinner served and a long hot soak in the tub with Amperica, lightened his mood considerably as he pondered his next move.
Ronin awoke the next morning and knew what he had to do. Gently extracting himself from Amperica's embrace, he got up, dressed and went downstairs. Spark was up with the dawn as usual. Ronin asked: "Two things Spark. First, will you please track down my predecessor on the mortal plane? I think he would want to be at Johnny and Sonya's wedding. Second, how do I request an audience with the Elder Gods?"
Spark seemed shocked by the second request. He said: "The first request will not pose a problem Lord. Your second one though, I don't know for sure. I think you can just go to their temple and speak with them but if I may be so bold sir, why in the realms would you want to speak to them?" Ronin said: "I have a request to make of them that's all. Please inform me the moment you find my predecessor so that I can speak with him."
Returning to his room, Ronin saw that Amperica was just getting out of the shower as she came back into the room wrapped in only a towel. Ronin said: "I'm sorry Amperica, I didn't mean to wake you." She smiled and said: "It was your absence that awakened me." Ronin said: "I apologize for that but I suddenly needed to take care of some things." She nodded in understanding and got dressed as he took a shower. After breakfast, Ronin dressed more properly for a meeting with the Elder Gods and teleported to their temple.