Once again a big thanks to everyone that his checked out the story so far, and especially a big thanks to Mr. Havik for everything you have done so far. I hope you all are liking the new mythology, some is cannon to the actual mythology, some isn't. I'm expecting this piece to be pretty long because we're going to visit the Shaolin Monk again and we also have to have dinner!
As always I don't own any of the characters that I will use, although that would be pretty cool if I did.
Two Brothers
The Shaolin Monk's students once again gather around the holy fire overly eager to hear today's lesson, it is a lesson that they have been anticipating for some time, they have gone through every Dragon Year of the new Universe from the dawn of the Dragon God to the creation of Earthrealm and its first protector, Kratos, now they have reached the year of the Dragon two hundred, a celebrated year in the Shaolin Temple, celebrated and feared, and this is why the children want to hear the teaching, they want to know why the year two hundred is so sacred to the Shaolin Monks.
The Shaolin Monk approaches them and smiles, "I know you are all very eager today, today is a teaching of great importance, but I want to implore you not to find these teachings as 'interesting' or 'exciting' because they are more than that, the year two hundred is the basis of everything our realm stands for and for what we reject and that basis lies within the birth of two brothers."
Once again the monk gathers a flame from the holy fire and tosses it into the sky creating a vision for the children to see.
"It is the Year of the Dragon 200 or about 2000 B.C. in Earthrealm. In this year Shinnok the Elder God of the Shadow Realm and Murcia a princess God who resided in Edenia made love, Murcia was so charmed by Shinnok's power that she granted him the ability to give her a child."
"Wait a minute? Shinnok, THEE Shinnok was an Elder God?" A boy called out interrupting the vision, "But Shinnok is evil, why would the Dragon God grant him passage to Edenia?"
The Shaolin Monk nods, "You are wise to ask this question, but you misunderstood what gives a God passage to Edenia, it is not whether the God is good or evil, because good and evil are imperceptible measurements of a God, just because we on Earth believe that Shinnok is evil, others think that he is a visionary that was punished because of a disagreement with other Elder Gods. Some realms believe that Kratos is evil, that Earthrealm is evil, because they disagree with how we conduct ourselves in our realm, good and evil don't truly exist, it's really a matter of those who agree and disagree. The only form of measurement an Elder God has to evaluate a God is their mortals that they serve, and Shinnok for all his perceived "evil" he brought to our realm treated his mortals in the shadow realm very well."
"But my father says the shadow realm does not have any light, it has no food, no life."
"It doesn't have human life, or natural human life," the Shaolin Monk interrupts. "One could argue that the mortals that live in the shadow realm are more advanced than humans, because their mortals don't require food, water, shelter, or love for that matter, they are non-physical beings, living shadows, who live for more than a hundred Dragon years, up to a thousand years in our realm, we do not believe in the philosophy of Shinnok, therefore we disagree with him, therefor it is easy to dismiss him as evil, but you must always respect Shinnok."
The monk pauses, "We will discuss more about Shinnok in the future, we will save that teaching for a later time, let's continue our teaching today."
Another flame rises from the holy fire to form another vision.
"Soon after, Murcia gives birth to fraternal twins, two brothers, princes Raiden and Shao Kahn."
The rumblings and whispers from the children as the words Raiden and Shao Kahn come from the Shaolin Monk's mouth, even though the children are learning about the Universe, all the children have heard about the stories of Raiden and Kahn but to hear the actual story now causes goose bumps to form on their tiny bodies.
"The two twins were unfortunately destined to become enemies because they both sought inspiration from the opposite sides of the Universe debate. Raiden became his mother's favorite and she taught her son the greatness of the new Universe and how the new ways will bring peace to all the realms. Surprisingly Raiden sought power from his father, he became fascinated with the power of lighting and thunder and eventually though his studies he became a being of pure energy, much like Shinnok's mortals are an essence of pure darkness, Raiden became an essence of pure light.
Shao Kahn formed the opposite patterns of his brother, he took the teachings of his father, who believed in the old Universe, where the mortals serve the Gods with their lives, he learns through his mother the art of politics and deal making, he takes his power in brute strength, the creation of ingenious armory and weapons, and using his mind to manipulate and intimidate to get his way.
Once the boys were fully grown they both had a choice to make, to stay on Edenia and live as Princes much like their mother lives as a Princess, or leave Edenia forever and join the tutelage of a Protector to earn a trip back to Edenia with higher status. Most Princes and Princesses choose to stay on Edenia and not get involved in the Universe, but both Raiden and Shao Kahn chose to make their own destiny, for Raiden it was to show Edenia that his mother was more worthy than just being considered someone's child her entire life and to give importance to her legacy he needed to make one of his own. Kahn left Edenia to prove to the Elder Gods that his father's beliefs about the New Universe were correct and that the new ways will only lead to the mortals' destruction of all the realms.
Raiden chose to serve his tutelage under Kratos the winner and Protector of Earthrealm, Kratos believed in the new ways and Earthrealm was quickly becoming a flagship for how the new ways can lead to prosperity. Kahn chose to serve his tutelage under Onaga the winner and Protector of Outworld. Outworld followed the old ways and created and its realm solely for the creation and production of warriors.
Raiden continues to develop his fascination with nature and how lightning can also create life due to its chemistry, he trains at the Shaolin Temple and forms a close friendship with Earth's Pure at the time, Kung Lao."
"Raiden trained at the temple?" A boy rings out.
The monk chuckles, "Yes, in this very room actually, this holy fire was created by one of Raiden's lightning strikes."
Oohs and ahs ring out as they all stare at the holy fire, "This is why the holy fire brings us visions, only Raiden and the Shaolin Monks can actually use its power, again the creation of the fire will be held for another teaching at another time. Let us continue, and this time without the monk's command another fire bursts into the sky as if Raiden himself commands it.
"Kahn further learns the art of deception and manipulation from Onaga, Onaga also teaches him how to command an army, he learns that for mortals to serve they must fear your retribution."
A realm's temple is supposed to symbolize the embodiment and essence of their realm. Earthrealm makes their temples out of limestone, because limestone is a mineral that only develops on Earth. Most of the other realms build their temples out of minerals that can only be found in their realm, this provides each temple its individual beauty and importance to the universe. One temple above all else uses their building material not to show the beauty and rarity of their realm but to intimidate the rest of the realms, Outworld choses to build their realms using the remains of Unworthies, these are mortals that were not considered strong enough to be warriors so instead they were executed and their remains were mixed with the dusty soil that comes from Outworld to form a strange version of concrete. The appalling structure is always an eyesore but the message is clearly sent: Only the strong survive, we have no weaknesses.
Inside the Protector's chambers sits Shao Kahn, his armor which looks as if, much like the temple, is made from the bones of those he defeated, is actually made from a non-existent material that he devised while in study, hangs on the wall beside him. Shang Tsung the winner of the eleventh tournament that he won decisively by being the first Pure in the new Universe to harness the ability to reap souls, this practice will surely land him in Netherrealm upon his defeat. Soul reaping is one of the most powerful weapons in the Universe, if executed correctly in combat it will result an instant defeat and the knowledge of the soul will be preserved in the body of the reaper. The ability is so powerful that after Tsung's easy conquest, the Elder Gods stated that soul reaping is a banned practice for the Gathering Tournament; however it still can be used in Mortal Kombat.
Kahn rises from his resting place and smiles at his protégé, "Is the Pure ready?"
Tsung nods, "Of course, my Protector."
"You should be less foolish and realize that you are a Protector yourself, for a long time actually."
Tsung shakes his head, "My realm means nothing to me, I only want to be a Protector of one realm and one realm only."
Kahn looks into Tsung's eyes, "Being a Protector is like being one's bitch, a talented soul like yourself should yearn for greater things." There is a pause as the two men smile once more, "Come, for tonight is the most important night on this realm because tonight we show that our power has no limitations."
On the second night of The Gathering is the Showcase Feast. This feast is hosted inside the Golden Temple of the Elder Gods. Here the Gods and Protectors that wish to place their Pures in the Tournament will showcase their Pure's to the other Pure's who feel that they are not powerful enough to stand a chance in the tournament. This process called Championing is completed when a pure bows to another Pure after their showcase, a Pure can bow to any Pure at any time before the Tournament begins, but they can only bow once, once a Pure bows, the "bow" is binding. If the realm chooses to side with another Pure as their champion than the result of the champion will determine the fate of their realm. If their champion is victorious in the tournament that realm's Pure will be allowed to keep its power and continue its studies, and that realm will hold a binding "favor" to the winning realm that cannot be overturned by the Elder Gods. If the champion is defeated the Pure will lose their power but will be allowed to remain alive as a mortal and they will also be granted safe passage back to their realm. This seems like a safer alternative for realms with weaker Pures, however out of shame many Pures choose to end their own lives so that they suffer the same fate as the champion that died, as they feel that they can die with honor rather than live in guilt.
As the feast begins different Pures use their time to showcase their abilities to their audience that is seated over them in a large pantheon arena hoping to impress other realms into using that Pure as their champion. However the earlier Pures don't get many "bows" if any because the more powerful realms will showcase their Pures closer to the end. Eventually Earthrealm is called and to many people surprise, Liu Kang enters the showcase arena. Murmurs throughout the arena can be heard.
"What is Raiden doing? He should be finding a champion to battle Outworld." Is the summary of most of the surprised audience.
Liu Kang begins his showcase and almost immediately the audience falls in awe of Liu Kang's abilities, his moves have very little complexity in them but they are almost invisible due to his immense speed of their execution. Occasionally the power of Liu Kang slowly reveals itself as small bursts of flame emerge from his ferocious pace of kicks and punches. When the presentation is finished, around a third of the Pures in room choose to bow to Liu Kang, championing him. The rest wait for Outworld, for their realm is the largest and most powerful realm besides Edenia.
Suddenly the doors burst open and Shao Kahn appears dressed in his full armor, Shang Tsung follows closely behind him. Raiden seeing the presence of his twin brother begins to spark with anger. Kahn laughs at his brother, "Your little monk is quite impressive but we all know that it's a charade, we all know that he will bow tonight."
Suddenly a Saurian dressed in black armor emerges from hiding, he then turns toward Liu Kang and spits a liquid out of his mouth, Liu Kang easily ducks the attack and the liquid splatters over the stone walls of the showcase circle, almost instantly the walls corrode into nothing.
Kahn laughs, "But whomever you bow to, their chances of victory are futile." A vast emergence of Pures have no choice but to bow to the Saurian, Liu Kang however does not.
"Bow monk!" Kahn shouts but Liu Kang does not bow.
"Earthrealm bows to no one," Raiden intervenes from his place in the arena, "Liu Kang will compete in the tournament and those of you who championed Liu Kang your champion will compete in the tournament."
A strong deep voice laughs on the tier above Raiden, he looks up to see Onaga God of Earth and Outworld laughing at his Protector, "You fool!"
An Elder God sitting on the highest tier of the arena stands up and looks down upon Raiden, "Protector Raiden, by having Liu Kang compete in the tournament you now give Lord Onaga two chances to destroy your realm, it is unwise for Liu Kang to compete in the tournament. Ego or not Liu Kang should bow to someone besides the Saurian."
Raiden looks up at the Elder God, "I understand your concern my Lord, but Earthrealm's decision is binding, Liu Kang will compete in the tournament and he will represent the Pures that championed him."
Raiden looks over to the right of the Elder God, there he sees Kratos former God of Earth, sitting stoically showing little to no emotion over Raiden's decision.
Once again more rules were discussed in this chapter, if you have any questions or need clarification please write a review and I'll answer your question. Please leave a review anyway they are always greatly appreciated.
Also please do not think that I got the idea of Kahn and Raiden being brother from "Annihalation" that movie destroyed much of the momentum MK was bringing to the mainstream and I will never honor any cannon from that story. I just always thought that Kahn and Raiden act more like they have a really messed up sibling rivalry rather than just being mortal enemies, and making Shinnok their father gives them much more power and respect than just making their father a nobody heard of God.