Rafiki had to admit, his home didn't feel the same without Makini's presence. Though he was glad Makini had found her place in the Circle of Life, he was left without an apprentice. He knew his time was not forever, he wasn't a god, and the Pride Lands needed a Mjuzi. But he didn't fret, for fate had brought him Makini, and although it wasn't her destiny to succeed him, his role was to train her for when her true calling came. He knew an apprentice would be delivered to him in time.
Such changes had come. Kion had stepped down as leader of the Lion Guard, and in his place Vitani rose. Kiara and Kovu were set to succeed Simba and Nala. Overall, life was good. Well it had been for the most part. A while back, he had sensed a great disturbance in the world. It was almost as if the souls of many were being ripped from their bodies. He didn't quite understand those matters fully, but he knew they had affected the world as a whole. And then it ended. Yet, as Rafiki communed with the spirits on what had happened, he had felt something that chilled his heart. The best way he could have described it was a series of flames flickering out. They had burned so brightly before, but the suddenness of their snuffing out had alarmed Rafiki.
All those thoughts remained with him until he saw the bolt of lightning come crashing down. When the flash cleared, there in place stood Raiden.
"Lord Raiden!" Rafiki called, "It's been too long my friend!"
Raiden managed a small grin and bowed, "It has Rafiki. How do you fare?"
"Oh fine. Much has changed here I don't know where to begin." Rafiki responded.
Raiden's grin faded, one that Rafiki could easily see, "Yes. Much has changed."
"I sense sadness within you my lord. Tell me, what is the matter?" The old mandrill asked.
Raiden's face remained firm, "Where to begin?"
And so Raiden divulged a tale. He had detailed much, revealing what had transpired within the world of man. Rafiki listened to it well, and when it was all said and done, he had this to say: "A message from your future self? Most peculiar." Rafiki said in surprise.
"Yes," Raiden responded, "Through the visions, I was able to prevent Armageddon from occurring. But the losses were great."
Rafiki shook his head. "Yes, the loss of your chosen one. Most sad."
The thunder god let out a weary sigh, "Liu Kang, Kung Lao, they were like sons to me." And not just them, Kitana, Nightwolf, Jade, Stryker, Kabal, Sub Zero, Smoke, Jaxson Briggs, so many souls lost to Netherrealm's evil. To see them as twisted slaves of the sorcerer Quan Chi, it was too much to bear. His decisions had brought them there.
"But you did what you could." Rafiki said, hoping to quell the god's regrets.
"I could have done more." Raiden responded.
"We have all had doubts about our decisions, but you mustn't blame yourself. If not for you, all life would have been extinguished." Rafiki replied.
"Perhaps. But if only I had discovered what the message had meant sooner." Raiden remarked. He must win, a phrase so vague that it could be interpreted in a number of ways. How would he have known it meant Shao Kahn?
Rafiki placed a hand upon the god's shoulder, "My advice to you is to worry not. What transpired transpired. There is nothing we can do to change it."
Raiden removed the medallion from his chest. Staring at it, he saw no cracks upon it. Indeed the future had been changed. He had succeeded, but still, it could not erase the pain of loss. "Yes...you are right," The thunder god looked at the mandrill, "Thank you my friend."
"Anytime Lord Raiden." Rafiki said.
"So where may I ask is your apprentice?" Raiden asked.
"Ah Makini has finally found her calling. She is now serving King Kion and Queen Rani of the Tree of Life." Rafiki responded.
Raiden's face took on a curious tone, "Kion? Was he not your chosen one of sorts?"
"Yes! Quite surprising no? Why it seemed just yesterday Kion was first chosen to protect the Pride Lands.. Yet fate indeed has a surprising turn for us all."
Raiden looked on head, noticing the coming storm clouds, "Yes, indeed it does."
Though fate had dealt his champions a harsh hand, he knew that the new future held endless possibilities. Armageddon had been halted, so with that there was still hope.
And so Raiden, God of Thunder and Lightning departed with an easier heart. The warriors that remained still needed guidance of the gods.
A/N: And so another odd crossover from me. This is of course set in the reboot timeline. I don't know how things went in the old timeline, what with Liu Kang and the other heroes being alive, but here you go.