Chapter 6: Konquest Part II

Dawn...the next morning

"UP!!!!!"

The single word caused Kobra to shoot out of his cot like a bullet. He stared around the semi darkness of the room, and groaned when he saw the figure of Kung Lao silhouetted against the shadows and creeping light of dawn. Kobra crashed back onto his sheets and pulled the covers over his head, praying that he would just fall back to sleep and be left alone.

No such luck...

"Up I said! Today is the beginning of your training, and the rest of your life!" Kung Lao barked enthusiastically, ripping the covers from Kobra's body.

"Alright...Jeez..." Kobra reached for his Shorin Ryu gi top on the stand beside the bed, but winced in pain as Kung Lao quickly chopped his hand away. "What the hell was that for!?"

"This is not Karate school, this is not Kung Fu school, this is not Taekwon Do school, this is not..."

Kobra cut him off. "I get it. Relax."

"You will wear this." Kung Lao tossed a bundle of clothes at Kobra. "It is the garment of all monks here." Kobra climbed out of bed, still trying to shake the last vestiges of fatigue out of him. Muttering darkly, he changed into the crisp white pants and top, sneering at how loose the clothing felt. Kung Lao placed a golden and flame colored sash diagonally across Kobra's torso and stood back.

"Perfect! You will be a monk yet. Follow me!" With the energy no man should possess this early in the morning, Kung Lao sprinted from the room.

Here we go...

Kobra followed after the Shaolin monk, bursting into the cool, early morning air. The sky was still covered in a blanket of velvet night, but the sun burned a deep red on the horizon. Way too fucking early.

Kobra pumped his legs faster trying to catch up to Kung Lao. His heart beat began to rise, and he wondered if he would tire himself out before the actual training even began. Kung Lao finally came to rest at the same courtyard where the two had met yesterday. Even as Kobra stopped as he reached Kung Lao, the monk continued to jog in place.

"NOW THIS IS LIFE!!" Kung Lao shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice echoing into the Chinese wilderness.

Kung Lao's stationary jogging came to a halt as he looked Kobra in his eyes. "Your training begins now, but first...I want you to close your eyes."

Kobra did as he was told, closing his eyes and hoping that he would just pass out on his feet. "Now, I want you to listen...listen to the birds, listen to the wind, listen to the trees...just listen."

With his eyes closed, Kobra realized that he was more in tuned with his hearing. The birds melodic song drifted through the air, along with a light gust of wind that carried the crackling of the canopy of trees.

"Good. Now take a nice, deep breath." Kobra inhaled slowly, noticing the distant aroma of herbs drifting in the morning air.

"Excellent. Now, I want you to breath out." Kobra did as he was told once more, exhaling the air from his lungs.

"Is this what my day of training is going to consist of, breathing exercises?" Kobra asked, his patience starting to wear thin.

"Breathing exercises!? No, no, no my friend...that was just a symbolic way of emptying your cup..."

Kobra snapped his eyes open. "Ah, not that cup stuff again!"

"How can I fill you up if your mind is not where it is supposed to be? Now...watch closely and pay attention."

Kung Lao thrust his arm forward in a powerful punch. "This...is a punch!"" He exclaimed victoriously, as if he had just shown Kobra the secret art of war.

You have got to be kidding me... he thought miserably.

The Shaolin monk then followed with a lightning fast snap kick, his baggy pants puncturing the air with sound. "This...is a kick!" He followed up with rapid knee and elbow strikes, exuding the same amount of useless enthusiasm as before.

"C'mon man! I know how to throw punches and kicks!" Kobra shook his head, not sure if he was being condescended in the worst possible way or if Kung Lao was just insane. The Shaolin monk ignored Kobra however, continuing his 'teaching'.

"Next, you can link together attacks to make your opponent perish in a flurry of fist and feet, like so." With a powerful cry, Kung Lao unleashed strike after strike to the air, his arms and legs creating a whirlwind of flowery, yet deadly motions.

"Eight Palms! Eagle Talons!" Kung Lao bent his fingers, creating rapid clawing motions.

"Sixteen Palms! Pouncing Tiger!" His attacks became more rigid, his movements mimicking the actions of an aggressive tiger.

"Thirty two Palms! Praying Mantis!" Next Kung Lao swung his arms in hooked motions, his body making the illusion of a nimble mantis.

"Sixty Four Palms! Diving Sparrow!" Kung Lao dove into the air, his body as streamlined as a bullet racing towards its target. He landed with a resounding thud on the courtyards ground, his hat never falling out of place.

"Dude..." Kobra uttered, his mind still reeling from Kung Lao's beautiful exhibition. "So...so, what are you going to teach me? That bullet kick thing?"

Kung Lao laughed. "Whatever you want to learn, you will learn. But first, we must get those arms and legs moving! I want to see form, power, technique, and most importantly, heart...show me what you've got!"

Kobra jumped into his basic Shorin Ryu Karate stance, right arm held straight and slightly downward, left arm tucked inwards and below his armpit, his weight positioned onto the ball of his lead foot...

"No, no, no, no, no!! What did I tell you? This is not Karate school! In Mortal Kombat, fighters from many realms will all converge onto one place, and you cannot afford to be caught up in a robotic, rigid, fighting stance. You have to...free your mind. Let your body flow with the silent music."

Kung Lao began to pace in a rhythmic footwork, his hands held high almost as if in a boxing stance. Kobra copied his movements, noting the freedom of movement, the possibility of delivering attacks from all angles.

"Good, good. Now, I want you to hit me."

Kobra flicked a jab at the Shaolin monks face, which was easily deflected. "Yes! That is what I like to see! Show me attitude! Show me heart!!"

Kobra followed up with a left right combination, inwardly swearing as both punches were dodged "Come on little cup, stop trying to hit me and hit me!"

The two continued to dance around each other, their feet scuffing the dragon insignia of the courtyard. Kobra let his gaze fall towards Kung Lao's shifting feet, and was rewarded with a stinging slap to the face.

"You cannot block what you cannot see. Never let your eyes wander to just one area of the body."

Kobra kept his eyes locked on Kung Lao's midsection, making sure he could be ready for any attack from his limbs...

...but was not prepared for the sudden rush from Kung Lao, his leg sweeping behind Kobra and connecting with his heel. Kobra felt himself falling, his body suspended in mid air before painfully crashing back down to the surface

"OOOOFFFF!!!"

Kobra stared at the brightening sky, the pain ebbing from his back. Kung Lao blocked his view of the gallant dawn, a smile plastered on his face. "Shall we go again?"

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Authors Note: I don't like Naruto, I just thought it sounded cool.