1495, in what would be become Hong Kong, currently under the rule of Imperial China, before colonization from Britain and eventual reconnection to China. This little business port is home to one of the few portals, or hellmouths in Earthrealm. Another is tucked away in what will become the new land, more specifically New York City.
These portals are the only means in historical times where a mystical convergence could arise to transport beings from one realm to another, whether they know it or not. There are only three in Earthrealm and every sorcerer or deity must find it on their own.
Ko'atal, Myself, and Shang Tsung are the only individuals known to have found these hellmouths.
Lord Liu Kang has yet to.
We descend into the height of the Ming Dynasty in this hub of travel and commerce, Lord Liu Kang, the Great Kung Lao and myself would all meet on of the ports, not like that of contemporary era, as this is the medieval period. Ships are not like Charon's and ports not quite like that of the Americas. What big ships there are will most likely be traveled by pirates, of which began in Japan, or mystical beings, such as the immortal Charon. His ship will take us to Outworld where Kitana and Prince Goro shall welcome us to challenge them in Mortal Kombat.
Around us rickshaws and horses, top knots and peasants all wandered and paved roads with their feet and primitive wheels as trade and life continued for them as it will until the 1800's. We waded through the crowds, denied rice and cloth, fabrics of silk and jewels of gold, artifacts and various items that could be sold for a nominal fee until we reached, what in China could be referred to as an Inn, or Tavern in England. It was easy to find vacancies in the presence of the Fire God, well known to very few loyal believers that have seen the ships of Charon before.
As I waited, my eyes locked into the ancient orbs of the innkeep's eyes, I watched Lord Liu Kang with Kung Lao as they made small talk. Kung Lao seemed different this time around. When first this scenario took place, I was the God of Thunder and Protector of Earthrealm. The Great Kung Lao was ready to serve his realm and fight for the freedom of its people. Now, however, it seemed that that resolve was yet to manifest in what would have been known as the Earthrealm's greatest champion, until the coming of Liu Kang.
"You must prepare, the battle ahead will not be easy." Lord Liu Kang imparted upon Kung Lao.
"I know what is to come. I know what I will do." Kung Lao returned, like a rebellious teenager that has heard it all before.
"Not what you will do, what you must do, Raiden, can you tell him?" This was odd. Liu Kang turned to me, a mere mortal to empower the Champion of Mortal Kombat? In my time, this would have been my task as God to ensure my fighters wills were strong, but it is not my task to do.
"You must understand this yourself, Lord Liu Kang, do you not?" To play the father to a God? Unheard of. "Remember your past."
"Yes, Kung Lao, as Raiden had said. Remember the tournament before this. The Realms at your finger tips and one misstep and they would be sucked into oblivion." He missed the point.
"There are no depths to fall into this time around, Lord Liu Kang. I fight at the amusement of the Elder Gods now." Kung Lao also missed the point.
As we were welcomed by a lady of service, she brought us to our rooms. One single room, the bamboo floor would be our bed, save for a stone to rest our heads on. Liu Kang would most likely meditate the night, whilst he kept guard over us, but now that very thought began to worry me.
Who were you just now?
It had been a long time, but I knew Kung Lao like a son, just as I knew Liu Kang. There was turmoil and sorrow behind those eyes. As a mortal, I could finally feel what it was like to empathize with him, and to feel human anger for Lord Liu Kang not realizing. Perhaps the power of being a deity is what stripped us of our baser human emotions?
"What plagues you, Kung Lao?" I spoke up, because Liu Kang wouldn't the boy that saved the world still trapped in his mortal recoil.
"I miss her, Raiden."
"Your wife?"
"Her, my child, my life before all of this." He added as he laid his back down onto the bamboo mat and let out a deep breath that seemed to have been held their since the start of our travel. "I am proud to have served Earthrealm. I am proud to have saved our people from the clutch of Shang Tsung, and the cruelty of Shao Kahn."
A quick glance, and Liu Kang had slid the door open to walk into the garden. He could still hear us, but I was disappointed he did not stay to understand that this was for him to be doing, not me.
"The tournament of life, Mortal Kombat, is also a burden. The greatest burden that anyone could be asked to place on their shoulders." I explained, "though it does not strip you of your human needs, and emotions, it strips you of what tethered you to them. Champions have loved and lost too, countless other champions before you. The duty to Earthrealm is greater than our mortal desires, but that does not diminish those desires."
"How do you live when life itself has been stripped away from you?"
"You chose to fight in the tournament and it was your heart that got you through to the end. Only you can decide your fate, Kung Lao. You have the freedom to meet your destiny, or let it sail." His eyes opened like portals to my wisdom, but how he would act on it is up to him. It did feel good to console him, but again, as mortal, this was not my job to do. "In the past a God would be here for you, to guide you and lead you down the path you choose and support you every step of the way. The Gods cannot save you, Kung Lao, but they would be there to lift you up should you fall. I will be here for you, as best I can, and Lord Liu–"
He stopped me there, "Lord Liu Kang is not here, Raiden. He drinks down the hall."
I could hear Liu's laughter and that of the resident Geisha and disappointment filled me again. My eyes closed, head downcast, but then raised with strength and certainty. Liu Kang had chosen only two fighters to represent Earthrealm in Mortal Kombat. I had previously chosen five, only Kung Lao made it.
Is he so certain that history won't repeat itself, or does he have other plans in mind?
"Even the Gods cannot take this seriously." Kung Lao laid back again and covered his eyes as though he were drunk. "I am going to sleep, Raiden."
"We will talk in the morning, Kung Lao."
It was time for a one on one with the chosen one.
Outside the inn you could see the port, the rocks and sands of the sea and the lights of villagers and merchants that speckled the landscape until mountains rose in the distance where the rice fields would dance down the sides of those elegant structures. Liu Kang took the sight in just as I had many years ago. Sake to warm his Godly heart, and fire to burn with strength within him, but reason tossed from the rickshaw.
"Lord Liu Kang." I bowed as it was customer for a deity.
He did not like that.
"Please, Raiden, you do not have to bow before me."
"You are a God, Liu Kang. I am a mortal, it is what we do in the presence of a higher power. Have you forgotten yourself?"
"We are like family, old friend. You bow to no one."
As a deity, I'd've shown my power, even the slight twitch of electricity in the whites of my eyes to reveal that, no, Liu Kang, we are not family.
A point had to be made. "This very day in the original timeline, I had ten champions with me. Seven men, and three woman that journeyed with me to compete in Mortal Kombat. You bring two."
As his maw gaped to speak, a large insect flew at him. The Fire God swatted it with ease, but then more came. Two, three, suddenly a swarm of black and yellow insects that nipped at us and buzzed with hatred.
They launched off of us into a formation that seemed humanoid in form. The serene garden of the inn now a horror scene as D'Vorah made her presence known. She was black, yellow, hard like rock and vile like the evil she spewed from her carnivorous maw.
"This one will make sure neither of you reach Outworld!" She threatened and then lunged into the air toward Liu Kang.
Four long, wiry legs branched out from her back and retracted as she leapt, then crunch inward to trap Liu Kang, but he vanished into a whirl of flame. Her eyes met mine and I prepared to battle.
"This one will make short work of you."
As she lunged forth, her legs sprawled out, ready to impale my sides and curl me into her to spin and web, a gust danced beneath her and the sakura trees themselves lend aid through their fallen petals that now swung like blades and held her in its grasp, like a giant's hand that tossed her to back and forth within the tornado.
A boot beat toward the carapace of her right breast and the familiar form of Fujin, God of Wind, Protector of Earthrealm began to dance in combat with D'Vorah. Another, however, formed beside me. A familiar face indeed, but it took me a moment to remember.
Shujinko.
He was young, almost as young as Liu Kang when I first met him, of whom had now joined the fight and encapsulated D'Vorah into a whirlwind of fire. The Gods danced as the demon insect screamed. She made a final effort as I could see the fire lick at her thorax and one last swipe of her legs to Fujin so that her wings could carry her above the tornado.
She succeeded and the swarm quickly parted from her body and fled into the darkness of the night.
As quickly as she had come, she was gone. Kung Lao ran to the scene, barely dressed in just his duduo.
"Lord Liu Kang, what is going on out here?" He was baffled.
"A reason to fight." I took it upon myself to reply for Liu Kang lowered himself to Earth with Fujin at his side.
Fujin greeted me as an old friend, little did he know just how old of friends we were. It was good to see him, and good to see Liu Kang take action, but it was clear to me now that I had begun to get in the way of my young student. He needed to lead. He needed to stand on his own. Fujin may help with this now that he is here.
However, so is Shujinko.
"Master Fujin, was that the Kytinn?" He asked the God of Wind.
"Raiden, let us have some tea." Fujin replied.
An hour had progressed and in the room of the village's finest entertainment, a singer from the deeper in the country. To the untrained ear, this young girl sounded more like a cat that howled for its food than a beautiful song of China's great history. To the untrained ear.
At last as the final notes peaked and the song of our Dynasty ended, she bowed low and began to pour our drinks. She recognized Fujin and Lord Liu Kang. They were frequenters here, it seemed. She knew them as Gods.
"It is good to see you again, Lord Liu Kang." He nodded.
"And you, Lord Fujin. What brings you Hong Kong?" Liu Kang still used that name, unable to let go of the past for the current history. It would not yet be Hong Kong, but the young girl followed along when she referenced the village.
"Mortal Kombat is upon us. I have found a Earth Realmer willing and ready to fight for the safety of the realm."
"What is your name?" Liu Kang knew full well who this was.
"I am called Shujinko, Lord Liu Kang." He bowed.
Oblivious to history, Kung Lao introduced himself, but Liu Kang and I shared a glance, not unnoticed by Fujin.
"Is there something wrong?"
"Only that we were attacked by a Kytinn and in the nick of time saved by you, Fujin." Liu Kang deflected our glance to his.
"Luck. However, it is still concerning. This did not happen before." I had spoken out turn. Fujin had no part in this, but I had hinted of knowing something I should not have. To save, I had added, "fifty years ago, when I took members of the White Lotus Society that wished to fight in the tournament, the Kytinn seemed extinct."
"They show resilience." Fujin explained.
"But never work alone." I had added. "What do you believe, Shujinko?"
"I cannot say, Raiden. I am merely here to assist in the tournament at Fujin's behest." After these words spoken by Shujinko, I leaned a grim glance over to Liu Kang, and then a blanker expression to Fujin.
He looked out to the sea tucked between the open door and took in the scent of the wind.
"I have sensed something sinister in the wind, Raiden. I do not think D'Vorah is the only one who will try to interfere with Earthrealm's involvement."
Liu Kang absorbed all of this. Normally he would have understood his place. He would fight for Earthrealm, and likely win, but now he was in a position where he could not fight at all once we reached Outworld. Still, no response was worse, I feared.
No response is what we got.
Who will save Earthrealm now?