DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to Mortal Kombat or RWBY, both series belong to their respective companies. Mortal Kombat and RWBY belong to Warner Bros, Netherrealm Studios and RoosterTeeth.
Opening Song: Immortal by Adema
Chapter 1: A New Beginning
"Since the dawn of time… the forces of light, and dark, have waged an endless war. Drawn to the conflict were the Elder Gods, sacred entities bound by sacred laws to preserve order and balance. It held that any great power, unchecked, threatened the very fabric of the universe. One such threat was the Outworld Warlord, Shao Kahn. He has long since dreamed of conquest, to unite all the realms under his banner.
The Elder Gods however, prevented him from taking a realm by force. They initiated the Mortal Kombat tournament, to give realms a fighting chance. Edenia was the first to fall, Netherrealm allied itself with Outworld to help Shao Kahn's victory over the other realms. Order and Chaos realms remained untouched, but Earthrealm lost 9 tournaments against Outworld. Shao Kahn was close to victory, but Earthrealm managed to win the 10th tournament and destroyed Outworld's winning streak.
Shao Kahn was furious, he tried to undo Shang Tsung's failure with a new tournament. But even that failed… he even tried to invade Earthrealm, but was thwarted to no end. He was furious, but when word came to his ears that Shinnok tried to destroy the realms, only to fail in the end. He was pleased with the results, but was still furious that all he had planned failed. Enough, was enough. He set out for a full scale assault on Earthrealm, but he needed one obstacle out of the way. The champion of Mortal Kombat himself, Liu Kang.
Shang Tsung was sent to Earthrealm to deal with him personally, Shao Kahn even sent Quan Chi with him to make sure thing went according to plan. When Shang Tsung confronted him in Earthrealm, Liu Kang was aware of his attempt on his life. But failed to sense Quan Chi's presence as he struck from behind, and with the Netherrealm sorcerer's assistance, Shang Tsung achieved his goal. Liu Kang, was dead.
Word of Liu Kang's death reached Raidens ear, and soon reached that of Kitana's. She was devastated by the news, and the only thing on her mind… was revenge. Raiden also sought revenge for the death of his champion, but when Onaga reemerged, he used his power in an attempt to destroy him. But his sacrifice was in vain, for the blast had little effect on the Dragon King. But the alliance he had with Shang Tsung and Quan Chi inspired others to fight against Onaga. Once defeated, the alliance they shared was broken, and it was back to business.
Shao Kahn plotted the final attack in Edenia, where the forces of good and evil would settle this conflict. Just as the battle was one sided, the pyramid of Argus appeared. With the firespawn Blaze waiting at the top, all the kombatants rushed to the top of the pyramid in an attempt to fight him. But all perished by each other's hand, or turned on one another as the field was surrounded by their corpses, even amongst the pyramid as they laid dead amongst the steps. Blaze had been defeated, not by Dark Raiden, who sought revenge for his champion, but by Shao Kahn.
(Edenia - Pyramid of Argus)
Raiden yelled as he was knocked down to the ground, badly wounded as his face was swollen and red from the relentless beating of the overpowered emperor. He approached Raiden with a sadistic grin, eyes glowing red with much evil. "All these centuries Raiden, and you haven't changed a bit." He told him as he grabbed him by his collar and lifted him up as the dark thunder god's white hair became loose from his hood and fell in front of his face. "You denied me my rightful claim, but no longer." He started beating Raiden relentlessly to make him suffer in his current state, soon tossing him as Raiden flew across the pyramid and landed on the edge.
He groaned painfully as he rolled onto his back, only to feel Shao Kahn slam his foot against his chest as he let out a painful grunt. "Your words are venom Shao Kahn, even if you swore to leave Earthrealm alone… you would conquer it all the same." He told him.
"And your Elder Gods would do nothing to stop me… because they fear me now. They masquerade as dragons, but are mere toothless worms." Shao Kahn told him as he summoned his war hammer. "They can feel it… the power I possess, they know now that this is the end of all things. Armageddon has finally come!" He declared.
"No, stop! You can't do this!" Raiden pleaded, but his pleas fell on deaf ears.
"It is already done." Shao Kahn replied as he lifted Raiden from the ground. "Your time has already passed." He told him as he tossed him away, seeing him crash against the ground. "Ages wasted in foolish resistance, but now… I have won." He declared as he stepped in front of the fallen god.
Raiden staggered to push himself off the ground, spitting out blood from his mouth as he pants harshly. He reached to his chest and grabbed an amulet and pulled it out in front of him as he looked upon it as it was cracked. He knew this was the end… but did it have to be? He wondered as he narrowed his eyes and grasped the fractured amulet. "Not if I change that." He argued as he began chanting an incantation as he gripped the amulet tightly, further cracking it.
But Shao Kahn was chuckling in amusement as he watched Raiden casting his spell, unaware of what it was. "Yes… pray Raiden, pray to the worms. As your world ends." He declared as he raised his war hammer above his head.
Raiden continued the chant as the amulet began to glow, and his eyes glowed blue as he looked towards Shao Kahn. "You will never win." He told him as he shattered the amulet in his hand, causing a powerful explosion that consumed both him and Shao Kahn as the emperor screamed as the blast consumed him. The blast spread across the pyramid and onto the battlefield as all who laid upon it were consumed by the light.
(Remnant - Menagerie)
A gasp was heard as a boy jolted upwards from his sleep, he was a faunus, about 18 years of age. Long black hair, horns that grew from his head and a tail that was reptilian in appearance with a row of small spikes on it. He was in fact a Dragon Faunus, he was none other than Liu Kang himself. He panted from what he had seen and sighed as he rubbed his face from the dream, or nightmare. "Raiden… why…?" He asked as he pulled himself out of bed and rubbed the back of his head.
He suddenly heard a knock under his floorboards as he gasped from the hard knocks. "Liu! Are you awake? Breakfast is almost ready!" Said an elderly voice from below him.
"Y-Yes, grandfather, I'll be down in a minute!" Liu called to him as he got out of bed and started getting dressed. He got his pants on along with his shirt and buttoned it up, he grabbed a hair tie and took his hair and tied it around his hair and put it in a ponytail as he got his shoes on and proceeded downstairs. "Sorry, sorry, I overslept." He explained as he made his way to the table and kneeled down.
"Sorry doesn't keep the food warm." His grandfather replied as he looked upon his grandson, showing he is also a dragon faunus, but his horns were broken due to past battles, a scar running across his cheek while his tail was cut at the tip. He walked over to the table as he sat at the table and looked upon Liu Kang with a serious look. "Any reason as to why you slept in this time?" He asked him.
Liu Kang panicked as he looked away from his legal guardian knowing he wouldn't believe him. "I… I was having a dream… more like a nightmare." He explained as he started eating, his grandfather raised a brow at him and took his chopsticks to try and stop him from eating. Liu Kang blocked it with his chopsticks as he deflected his attacks, but his grandfather was relentless in his attacks as he tried to stop him from eating.
His grandson however was determined as he blocked and deflected his attacks and used his own attacks to knock his chopsticks away and smacked his grandfather's hand and knocked his chopsticks out of his hands as they flew towards a wall and pierced into it. The elder dragon faunus was amazed as he looked at his grandson, feeling proud of how he's perfected his technique. "You've gotten better." He complimented his skill.
"Please grandfather, if anyone is the master, it's you." Liu Kang told him.
"Being a master doesn't always require skill, it is what is in your heart that counts." His grandfather told him as he ate some rice. "Liu Kang… about this dream of yours. What do you see…?" He asked him.
Trying to remember the dream as he thought of his grandfather's words, he could recall the events of all that happened in his previous life. "A field of corpses… a pyramid… and two beings fighting one another. One overpowering the other, and then… an explosion of light. That's all I can remember." He told him, but was secretly keeping his previous life hidden from his grandfather.
He knew it was wrong, but he couldn't tell him that he became an undead revenant that sought revenge after being killed. His grandfather nodded his head and looked at Liu Kang. "It could be a dream, or a memory from your previous life. I am one to believe in reincarnation, it's possible you're reliving memories from that life." He told him.
Liu Kang let out a sigh as he leaned against the table. "Don't know if I should take that as a good thing, or a bad thing." He said as he felt his grandfather's hand on his shoulder as he looked at him.
"What your life was like before, doesn't define who you are now." He told him as he smiled at Liu Kang, who smiled back from his grandfather's wise words. "Now, eat your breakfast, you still have work to do around the island." He reminded him.
"Right." Liu Kang turned around to eat his breakfast, eating as fast as he could so he could rush to the market. Once he finished, he cleaned his mouth and got up as he rushed out the door. "See you in a few hours!" He yelled as he ran off to the market as his grandfather smiled, but Liu Kang was hiding his worried expression as he ran. "I can't tell him about who I was then, I've spent 18 years on this island. I can't ruin it by reliving who I really am." He thought to himself as he stopped and looked out to the ocean in thought. "I wonder if the others are here as well…? Living new lives… or reliving the old…?" He wondered.
(Atlas - Black Dragon Nightclub)
Meanwhile in Atlas, heavy music was heard in an underground Black Dragon Nightclub as a team of soldiers rushed in. Leading the charge was a 16 year old girl, blonde hair and wearing an Atlas uniform as she aimed her gun out. This was Sonya Blade, reincarnated as a soldier of Atlas. "Let's go!" She yelled out as she led the team into the nightclub. "60 seconds to target, Jax, is the perimeter secure?" She asked her partner.
A large 19 year old African American with a shaved cut as he followed the young lieutenant. This was Jackson Briggs, Sonya's C.O., and closest friend. "Locked down the target." He replied to her.
"It better be, because I want Kano." She told him.
"Trust me Sonya." Jax told her.
"I trust only one person on this planet Jax, I'm talking to him." She reminded him as she walked towards a crowd of people who were having a party of a lifetime. She shoved past them to get through to find her old enemy, Kano.
Meanwhile, Kano was watching everyone in the nightclub having fun as he heard his scroll going off. He pulled it out and answered as he was informed that Sonya was in the building, he let out a chuckle as he held the scroll to his ear. "Good boy… I'll see to it you get paid by the end of the night." He told the caller as he hung up on him and put the scroll away. "She's here… right on time." He informed his partner as he turned around, revealing his new highly advanced bionic eye. "I always loved punctuality in a woman… don't you, Miss Cinder Fall…?" He asked her, the young pale skinned brunette looked up to him with a smirk as Kano walked towards her. "You sure she'll follow me?" He asked.
"Tell me, just how many partners of hers did you kill? If anything, she'll follow you to Hell. Just make sure she's at Beacon, there is something there that I must obtain." Cinder told him as she checked her nails. "Roman Torchwick will meet you at the warehouse when you arrive, just make sure the merchandise isn't damaged." She advised him.
While Kano let out a chuckle as he lifted up a panel and tossed it aside as he looked at her. "Maybe when you get to Beacon, we should share a room. Have a little one on one with each other." He offered.
Much to Cinder's unamused expression, she didn't like the idea of being alone with him. "If you even tried, Kano…" She formed a dagger out of glass that made him nervous. "You're going to need a seeing eye dog." She told him as Kano's left eye twitched. Meanwhile Sonya was shoving past more of the partiers in the Black Dragon hideout as she made her way towards the spectators booth but saw one of the guards rushing out with an automatic rifle. Sonya quickly aimed her shotgun and shot at him as he was sent flying through the glass behind him.
Sonya heard a scream inside the booth as she rushed and climbed up to the booth and saw Cinder, acting shocked as she screamed and shielded herself. Sonya saw the panel nearby as she found the exit where Kano went through, she then looked at the guard seeing he had bullet proof armor but was still coughing up blood as she grabbed him and lifted him up. "Where's Kano…?!" She demanded as the guard coughed harshly, but Sonya wasn't going to tolerate him keeping silent as he pulled him closer. "Where is he?!" She yelled.
Jax rushed up and pulled her away to get him off of her. "Whoa, Sonya, cool it!" He told her.
"No, that scumbag got away one too many times, and I am not going to waste this opportunity to find him!" Sonya argued.
"Lieutenant Blade, stand down!" Called out a strong authoritative voice as Sonya tensed up and slowly turned around seeing her high ranking officer, Winter Schnee. She scolded Sonya with a glare that felt like icicles being shot at Sonya as she approached. "What in the world do you think you're doing?" She demanded an answer.
"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm interrogating a prisoner on where to find Kano." Sonya replied as she dropped the thug.
"He can barely breathe lieutenant, that is not how we handle things!" Winter yelled at her as Sonya turned around to face her.
"Get off your high horse, Schnee! I've been trying to find Kano long before I even considered joining your troops!" Sonya told her as she was defiant to no end.
Winter sighed as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "I get where you're coming from, but disobeying direct orders and storming a Black Dragon Nightclub is crossing the line. This incident will be reported to Ironwood, and he will decide what to do with you." She told her as she walked away from her.
A scoff came from Sonya as she crossed her arms. "What's the matter, too afraid to suspend me yourself? I expected more, even from a Schnee." She mocked her family name, which totally got under Winter's skin as she stopped dead in her tracks.
Jax's eyes widened upon seeing it as he slowly looked towards Sonya showing his worried expression. "Girl, you shouldn't have said that." He told her as Winter turned towards her and yelled angrily as she tackled Sonya over the table and hit the floor as she wrestled her.
Cinder saw it and took this opportunity to get out of the room as she rushed away from the room while Sonya and Winter were trying to tear each other apart as Winter was punching Sonya in the face, Sonya reached up and pulled her by her hair as she let out a scream. "You little!" she reached down and pulled hers in response.
Sonya screamed in pain from it as she glared with a growl and punched her in the face as the two were rolling across the floor and tumbling down the stairs as they reached the dance floor. The Atlas soldiers watched as they tried to rip each other apart. One of the soldiers looked at Jax as he was watching Sonya fight with Winter. "Aren't you gonna do something?" She asked him.
"Hey, I've known Sonya a lot longer than you guys have, and I know better than to get in the way." He replied.
Sonya punched Winter in the face as Winter returned the punch and hit her in her nose as Sonya cried out as her nose bled, she avoided another punch from her as she wrapped her arm around her neck putting her in a headlock as she tried to choke her out. But before she could make her black out, a gunshot was heard as both she and Winter looked towards the source and saw James Ironwood standing before them. "That's enough! Break it up, both of you!" He ordered as Sonya released Winter and got up alongside her as he approached them. "What is going on here?" He asked them.
"Sir, Lieutenant Blade has disregarded direct orders, and took it upon herself to begin the operation." Winter explained.
"By the time you would have arrived, Kano would have gotten away." Sonya interjected.
"And how could that have happened?" Winter asked with a scowl.
"More than likely he was tipped off by someone on the inside of your military." Sonya answered.
Winter immediately scoffed at the idea as she poked at her chest. "That is ridiculous, who in our ranks would ever owe loyalty to that thug Kano?" She asked her.
Sonya glared at her but glanced at one of the soldiers and saw he was trying to sneak off, she held up her right arm and aimed a blaster and shot him in the leg as he yelled out and hit the ground. "There's your answer." She replied as the soldiers held him up.
James walked over to the soldier with a stern look. "Why did you do it…?" He asked him.
Panting harshly from the shot he received to his leg, he scowled at him as he held his leg. "The Black Dragon will live on… and there is nothing you can do about it, Ironwood." He told him with a smirk as he chuckled.
But James saw no humor in this as he turned away from him. "Take him away." He told them as the soldiers escorted the spy out of the room, he then turned his attention to Sonya who was smirking at Winter who scowled in response. "As for you Lieutenant, I'm afraid your reckless actions would have gotten everyone killed. It cannot go unpunished." He told her.
"What? Sir, we're this close to finding out where Kano is, and you want to kick me off the team?" She asked him.
"I'm sorry Lieutenant Blade, but your actions gave me good reason to do what must be done. You are hereby suspended from Atlas and its military, and will be transferred to Beacon." He told her.
Sonya was disgusted with this decision as she stepped up to him. "You can't do this to me! That animal took away two of my partners, and I am not going to lose a third to you!" She yelled.
"I'm sorry lieutenant, but that is final. You will gather your things, and leave for Beacon first thing in the morning." James told her as he turned away from her. "That is an order." He said as he walked away with Winter following behind him, Sonya watched them go as she felt devastated as she looked down in disgrace.
Jax walked up to her and touched her shoulder. "I'm sorry Sonya… if Liu or the others were here, we would have had a better team." He told her.
"If they were here, they probably wouldn't even recognize us, Jax." She told him as she walked off, Jax watched her go as she let out a sigh and looked down.
(Anima - Mistral)
Meanwhile in Mistral, a pair of doors opened revealing a lone teen, 17 years of age, wearing a suit and a pair of sunglasses as he started walking into the building. Four fully grown men watched him approach as he stood before them, they pulled out different individual weapons. One held a nightstick, the second whipped out a pair of nunchucks, while the third extended a bo staff and the fourth extended a shock stick.
The teen saw their weapons as he reached up and took off his sunglasses and put them away, revealing himself as none other than Johnny Cage, the actor from Earthrealm before Armageddon. He looked through the men before him, knowing that they had no chance against him. "Let's dance." He told them as the men began to circle around him, he prepared for whoever would attack first as he looked around, keeping his guard up.
The man with the bo staff attacked first as Johnny quickly stopped his attack from coming down as he landed a hard kick to his stomach, only to hear a yell behind him as the man with the shock stick charged at him. He narrowly avoided the electrified weapon and grabbed the man's wrist as he forced him to stun the man with the bo staff, forcing him to collapse from the sudden shock he got as Johnny took the other man's wrist and bent it back, breaking it as he kicked him in the face and flipped him over as he slammed against the ground.
The man with the nunchucks went to strike from behind, but Johnny blocked and wrapped his arm behind him and punched his face three times and threw him down to the ground. The Man who got stunned earlier managed to get back up after shrugging off the electric shock as he went to strike Johnny with the bo staff, only to see Johnny duck under it and slide kick him as he got knocked down.
He soon felt one of the guards grabbing him from behind as he shook loose and grabbed him by his wrist and threw him over as the man with the nunchucks went for another strike, only to miss as Johnny backed away from the strike and punched him three more times and threw a roundhouse kick. He hit him hard as the man was still standing, much to Johnny's dismay as he lowered his hands and stood up with an annoyed look on his face. "This is where you fall down." He told him as the guy quickly realized how badly he forgot and let out a fake grunt and fell to the floor. Johnny shook his head and turned around to the crew behind him. "Where do you get these guys?!" He asked as a bell rang and he walked towards the people of the set. "And the press says I don't know how to do this stuff?" He asked one of the makeup artists.
"CUT!" Called out the director as he was lowered down. "Alright people, reset, we're back in fifteen minutes." He informed them.
"No, I'm not doing it again." Johnny told him as he was walking by.
This surprised the director as he was watching him. "What do you mean you're not doing it again?" He asked him.
"I mean I'm not doing it again!" Johnny replied in an angered tone as this was reminding him of his time back in Earthrealm.
"Johnny, it's the last shot of the picture, where are you going?" The director asked as he nervously chuckled.
"I'm going to my trailer, I'm gonna get a gun, and I'm gonna shoot myself for being in your movie!" Johnny lashed out at him as he stormed off.
"Johnny if you do this, maybe perhaps kill me, or I'll be back directing traffic! Johnny! Don't leave me hanging up here!" The director held up an airhorn to get louder. "You're killing me Johnny! I love you, I need you, don't leave me here!" He pleaded as Johnny ignored him and walked away.
It was then one of the set crew approached the young teen actor to give him some information. "Johnny, uhhh, excuse me Johnny, there's uh, someone over there who wants to speak to you?" He informed him.
"Who is it?" Johnny asked as he walked with him.
"I don't really know." He replied.
This surprised Johnny as he turned towards him. "You let somebody on the set, and you don't know who it is?" He asked him.
"No, of course not." The set crew replied to him.
Johnny was sure this might've been a reporter from Atlas trying to get under his skin as he pointed at the crew member. "It better not be a reporter." He said to him as he walked away.
The crew member chuckled a bit as he walked off. "God, no, I… you want me to find out?" He asked him.
Meanwhile at Johnny's place of rest, a lone man was in his chair as he read the newspaper that had Johnny Cage on the first page. Johnny found him as he groaned in annoyance and walked over. "Oh great…" He mumbled as he approached. "Hey, mister, you're in my chair." He told him.
The man lowered the papers as he looked at him, revealing himself as Master Boyd. "Hi Johnny." He greeted him as he extended his hand.
Johnny at this point, was surprised as he took Boyd's hand and shook it. "Master Boyd, I…" He chuckled nervously of the situation.
"I see the uhh… press is still giving you a hard time." Boyd pointed out due to the newspaper clipping he read.
Johnny let out a sigh knowing he's once again never going to live that down. "Yeah and they think I'm a fake." He told him.
"Johnny… you are one of the best Martial Artists in all of Remnant, and I can help you prove it." Boyd said to him, which immediately caught Johnny's attention as he looked at him.
"Prove it, how?" He asked him.
"A tournament, the tournament… it is being hosted in the Amity Colosseum in Vale, close to Beacon Academy. The best fighters as well as Huntsmen and Huntresses are invited. You win the tournament, you win their respect. They'll tell the entire world that you're the real goods." He told him.
"If it's being held in Vale, how do I uhh…?" Johnny was slow to ask.
"There's a ship, leaves pier 40 here in Mistral tomorrow, be on it." Boyd told him as he got up and patted his shoulder. "Looking forward to seeing you perform." He told him as he walked off, Johnny watched him go as he looked down as this seemed all too familiar.
Meanwhile as Boyd was walking off set, he was soon revealed to be an illusion as Emerald Sustrai revealed herself through the illusion. While her partner, Mercury Black was leaning against the wall as he smirked and looked at her. "Think he bought it?" He asked her.
"Oh I'm sure he did, Cinder is taking a big gamble bringing this guy into the plan." Emerald replied to him.
"Whatever the reason, it's for her to know. Now come on, we need to meet up with her and hope she and Kano did their part." Mercury told him as he walked off with her.
(Menagerie - Kuo Kuana)
Back in Menagerie, Liu Kang was traveling by fishing canoe as he traveled across the harbor of Kuo Kuana, delivering fish to the local villagers as he grabbed his latest catch and held it up to one of the villagers seeing her take it from him. "Thank you Liu!" She called out as she waved. Liu Kang waved back as he smiled and looked ahead as he moved down the harbor, he made his way towards the docks and stopped his boat. He got out of his boat as he walked along the docks with a couple of big fish and headed towards the Belladonna residence, it had been a while since he had seen Blake since she went off with Adam and his little war rant.
As he made his way towards the mansion, he felt his stomach growling from the lack of food since breakfast. He walked towards the carts to get something to eat, but something caught his attention. Or rather… someone. It was a woman who wore a common dress and kept a hood over her head to hide most of her appearance. She had beautiful brown eyes and light colored skin, and beautiful dark hair which immediately enchanted Liu Kang. "Wow…" He quietly said as he saw just how beautiful she was, and she felt almost familiar.
She was walking by the fruit cart as she searched through the apples, she soon spotted an orphan faunus as he stared at the apples. "Aww, you must be hungry. Here you go." She took an apple and gave it to him, unaware that the fruit merchant was still behind the cart. "Now go on, get going." She told him as the child took the apple and ran off.
Liu Kang couldn't help but smile at her kindness, but his little daydream was interrupted when the fruit merchant stepped out. "You better be able to pay for that." He told her as the woman looked towards him surprised.
"Um, pay…?" Before she could ask, the manager grabbed her by her wrist and pulled her over, revealing himself as a big masculine gorilla type faunus.
"No one steals from my cart!" He yelled at her.
"The boy was starving, you can't expect me to ignore it! I would pay if I could, but I don't have any money." She told him.
"Thief!" He pulled her around as she struggled.
"Unhand me you big baboon!" She yelled as Liu Kang saw that she was in serious trouble.
"First of all, I'm a gorilla! Second, do you know the penalty is for stealing?!" He asked her as he pulled out a blade and raised it into the air, preparing to chop off her hand. Liu Kang was about to step in to defend her, but to his surprise, the woman managed to slip her hand out of his tight grip and jab her fingers against his throat causing him to choke as he coughed and gagged from it. She then pulled back as she yelled and thrust a hard kick up towards his jaw and slammed her foot against it as she flipped backwards and landed a hard kick against his stomach as he fell back and crashed against his fruit cart.
Liu Kang was immediately stunned by her action as he couldn't believe what he witnessed "W-Wow… that was…" Before he could say anything, the merchant growled angrily as he got back up and glared at the girl.
He was fuming with anger as he gripped the sword. "You… INSECT!" He yelled as he went to crush her, but Liu Kang immediately got between them as he quickly broke up the fight.
"Whoa! Easy… thank you kind sir, I'm so glad you found her." He said as he turned to the girl pretending to be angry. "I've been looking all over for you." He told her.
"What are you doing?" She asked through whispering.
"Just play along." Liu Kang whispered as he felt the manager's hand on his shoulder.
"You, uh, know this girl?" He asked him.
Liu Kang let out a fake depressed sigh as he put an arm around the huge faunus. "Sadly yes, she is my cousin… my aunt is letting her stay with me and my grandfather for a few days till she gets better. She can be a little crazy sometimes." He explained as the girl had a disgusted look on her face.
"She stole an apple from my cart!" The gorilla faunus yelled as he held Liu Kang by his shirt.
He immediately let out a chuckle as he slipped out of his grip. "I forgot to give her money, that's why she couldn't pay." He replied as he put some coins in his hand. "There, I'm sure that will cover it, and the damages. No harm done." He told him as he backed away. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get my cousin to the doctor to get checked." He told him as he walked to the girl and grabbed her.
The merchant grumbled as he shook the coins in his hand. "It will do… but if i catch her stealing from my cart again, she will lose both her hands!" He yelled.
"Yes, yes, point taken sir. I'll make sure she gets the best treatment." Liu Kang replied as he grabbed the girl. "Now come along cousin, time to go see the doctor." He told her as he escorted her away.
Deciding to play along, she saw a Menagerie Scaleback, which was a giant cat with bumpy scales and a large fin on its back, and walked towards it. "Oh hello doctor, how are you?" She asked, acting like a loonie.
To which Liu Kang quickly replied. "No, no, no, not that one cousin." He told her as he walked off while the merchant grumbled and turned away to count the coins.
The woman looked back seeing he wasn't watching, she then shot an annoyed look at Liu Kang as she elbowed him in the stomach for the "crazy" comment from earlier as Liu Kang let out a painful grunt. "That's for calling me crazy." She whispered to him.
"Hey, I had to do something to get him off you." He replied as he rubbed his stomach from the blow he received. "Good strike by the way." He complimented her technique.
"Thanks… I learned from my… father." She reluctantly said as she looked away, crossing her arms as she looked down.
"I see… but this is clearly your first time in Menagerie, why don't you come with me? I can give you a place to rest." He offered.
"I can take care of myself, thank you." She replied.
"I noticed, your technique is good, but you don't have a place to stay, and the Faunus will discover that you're a human." Liu Kang reminded her as she gasped and rushed towards him and grabbed him as she pulled him into a hidden area and covered his mouth.
"Are you trying to get me killed? You can't just blurt that out into the open." She told him.
"Well you should know that Menagerie isn't a place for humans, look, you have a better chance with me than anyone else on this island." He told her, she knew he was right. But how could she trust a Faunus, a dragon type no less? Liu Kang saw her expression, but he smiled and lends out a hand. "Hey, I'm heading to the Belladonna Residence. If anyone can help you feel welcomed, it's them." He told her.
She looked at him surprised as she saw his reassuring smile, she stared at him curiously as she felt a sense of peace coming from him. She even felt her heart skip a couple beats as she stared at him, getting a strange feeling she knew him from somewhere. She smiled and reached out taking his hand, Liu Kang smiled upon seeing it as he led her to the Belladonna residence to handle his delivery. Once they arrived at the house, the girl's eyes widened from how big it was. "Wow, this place is amazing." She complimented the architecture.
"The Belladonna's are highly respected people, Ghira Belladonna is the chieftain, he used to be the High Leader of the White Fang, till things got out of hand. His wife Kali is a gentle soul, but fierce when she needs to be… and Blake, their daughter… lets just say she hasn't been seen in a while." He told her.
"Why not?" The woman asked him.
"Blake joined the White Fang, believing they were doing the right thing. But since I heard she left that corrupt organization, she disappeared for a while. Not sure as to where." Liu Kang explained as he approached the door. "She and I have been best friends since we were little… wherever she is, I hope she's chosen a better life for herself." He said as the woman stared at him, sensing the purity in his heart as she held a hand to her chest. Liu Kang exhaled as he knocked on the door a few times only to see the doors swing inward into the mansion, revealing Ghira as he grabbed him and pulled him into a tight hug.
"Liu Kang!" He yelled as he chuckled while giving him a bear hug, the name of the boy caught the woman's attention as she looked at him shocked. But Ghira paid no attention as he was too happy to see him. "It's so good to see you my boy, how's your grandfather?" He asked him.
Wheezing from the crushing bear hug, Liu Kang tried to speak. "He's… doing fine… but please, I need to breathe… and I'm very certain… I need my spine." He told him as he felt his bones being crushed.
"Ghira, let the boy go." Kali told him as she approached. "You're breaking him like a child's toy." She pointed out.
Ghira's eyes widened upon realizing it. "Oh." He let go of Liu Kang as he fell to the ground. "Sorry, Liu." He apologized.
Groaning from the pain he was feeling, Liu Kang slowly realigned his spine as Kali helped him stand up as he fixed his spine completely. "It's okay, knowing you, you don't know your own strength." He told him.
"I am truly sorry for my husband, he can never forget the grandson of Wan Kang, the boy who befriended our little Blake." Kali told him with a smile as she soon noticed the woman behind Liu Kang. "Oh, and who might this be…?" She asked.
The woman was silent for a moment as she looked at Liu Kang, tears began running down her cheek as she stared. "Liu…?" She asked him as he looked at her surprised. "Is it really you…?" She asked him.
This ultimately confused Liu Kang as he looked at her. "Why do you ask…?" He asked her.
The woman reached up to her hood and pulled it off as she revealed her appearance to the Belladonna's and looked at him. "It's me… Kitana." She told him.
Liu Kang's eyes widened in surprise upon seeing her, he couldn't believe his eyes till Ghira got between them as he growled. "A human?!" He snarled.
But Kali smacked him in the head. "Ghira, where are your manners?!" She asked him as he immediately backed down as she looked at Kitana. "My dear, you know Liu Kang…?" She asked her.
"Yes, from a long time ago, but we lived different lives then." Kitana explained as she looked at Liu Kang and approached him, she examined him as she noticed familiar features along with the different features. It really was him, but in a new form. "There's no mistaking it… it really is you, Liu Kang, the protector of Earthrealm, and Champion of-"
"Um, let's not bring that up, Kitana… I'm not what I used to be back then." Liu Kang told her.
Kitana smirked knowing he was fibbing, so she chose to test that theory as she pulled out her steel fan and opened it and sliced at him. Liu Kang immediately ducked under it as a few tips of his hair got sliced off, she struck at him again as Liu Kang narrowly avoided her attacks as he saw her fold the fan up and go to bring it down on him like an axe. He quickly used both his hands to catch the fan as it was only a few inches away from his face, she smirked at him as she pulled the fan away and twirled it. "Not what you used to be, huh?" She asked.
Ghira chuckled seeing it as he looked at Liu Kang. "She's got you there." He said to him with an amused smirk.
"Not helping." Liu Kang scowled at him.
"Liu, what haven't you been telling us?" Kali asked him as she approached. "We have a right to know." She told him.
Seeing both Ghira and Kali looking at him sternly, Liu Kang looked around to see if they were alone, for he knew someone was watching him somewhere. "Inside, everyone." He pushed her and Ghira inside as Kitana followed and closed the doors. Once settled into the house, Liu Kang knew that the truth about him and Kitana needed to be kept between them. "What we're about to tell you is going to be hard to believe, but we were never part of the world of Remnant." He told them.
(An Hour Later)
Once everything was explained, both Ghira and Kali were shocked upon hearing the whole tale of their journey. They could hardly believe what had happened, Liu Kang being murdered, resurrected by Dark Raiden as a vengeful zombie, and Kitana being the Queen of Edenia? It was all so much for them to take in. "This is insane… I knew of reincarnation, but never thought it would actually be possible." Kali admitted.
"What was this Raiden thinking?" Ghira asked.
"He clearly wasn't… revenge was clouding his judgment, and that drove him mad." Kitana told them.
"But in the end, he risked his life to send us to this realm, and give us new lives. To be better." Liu Kang explained.
Kali was both shocked, but touched, believing that there may have been some good left in Raiden as he gave up his own life to save theirs. She sighed as she let out an exhale and looked at the young teens. "Whatever his reasons, it was wise of him to send you here." She told them.
"Indeed, sure humans and faunus have their differences, but when I see you and Kitana together. It proves that humans and faunus can be together." Ghira told them.
Both Liu Kang and Kitana looked at each other as their faces immediately turned red as they looked away, Liu Kang was rubbing the back of his head while Kitana was fiddling with her hair as she smiled a bit. Kali smiled at seeing it, seeing that they had a deep connection between each other. "Well, that aside, it's good to see that you two found each other." She told them.
"You're also lucky you weren't reported to the White Fang, they've changed since I left the mantle to Sienna Khan. She's okay as leader, it's Adam Taurus I'm worried about." Ghira mentioned as Liu Kang looked away, remembering him as he was the one who recruited his brother. "Which reminds me, how's your brother Chan…? I mean I heard he was recruited, but have you heard from him?" He asked.
"I haven't heard from him since he joined the White Fang years ago, he hasn't even written to me or grandfather Wan. It has me worried." He told him and Kali.
Ghira hummed to himself in thought, until his train of thought was interrupted by a knock on the door as he turned towards it. "Now who could that be…?" He wondered as he walked to it, even Liu Kang and Kitana were curious about who it was and followed him. Ghira opened the door and found a member of the White Fang standing at the doorstep. "Can I help you…?" He asked him.
"Is Liu Kang here?" He asked as Liu Kang stepped into the view as the White Fang soldier. "Liu Kang, this letter was sent by Sienna Khan." He handed the letter to him as Liu Kang took it and examined it. "She offers her condolences." He told him and walked away.
Liu Kang's eyes widened as he looked at the letter and opened it up and looked into the letter. "Liu Kang, it pains me to bring you this news. But your brother Chan was killed in action against the human forces, no one knows who killed him. But I assure you, his death will not go unpunished. The Leader of the White Fang, Sienna Khan." It read, and Liu Kang was devastated.
His hands shook as he dropped the letter, Kitana caught it as she looked at it. She covered her mouth in shock by the letter as she looked at Liu Kang, seeing how devastated he was as she touched his shoulder. "Liu, I'm so sorry." She told him.
"We all are… we all know Chan was a well mannered boy, we'll prepare a ceremony for him." Ghira told him.
"But this doesn't make any sense… Chan wasn't a fighter, sure he took some self defense classes with grandfather. But he never desired to fight on the frontlines, something isn't right." Liu Kang stated as he looked out, knowing something was off about the letter. "I need answers." He said as he stormed off, this had Kitana worried as she looked at Ghira and Kali who were equally worried.
(White Fang Headquarters)
Within the throne room of the White Fang HQ, Sienna Khan was sitting on the throne with her hand over her face of what Adam Taurus has been doing as of late. Her ears perked when she heard the doors slam open, she looked up and saw Liu Kang walking in. "Well, well… isn't this a surprise." She said as she crossed one leg over the other.
"Spare me your pleasantries, my brother was recruited into the White Fang, by Adam Taurus himself. And you dare send me a letter, offering your condolences without even coming to tell me yourself?" He told her.
But this revelation surprised Sienna as she looked at him, she stood up and looked at him with a firm look. "What are you talking about…? I didn't recruit your brother, nor did I send you a letter." She protested.
It was then Liu Kang pulled out the letter that she seemingly sent. "Then how do you explain this?" He asked as he tossed it towards her as it was hard as a blade and pierced into the throne.
Sienna saw it and pulled it out of the throne and read it, her face turned to shock as she looked at the letter. The handwriting, the signature, all of it. It looked exactly like hers, she couldn't believe it as she dropped it. "This… this can't be right." She said and looked at Liu Kang. "Liu, I swear, I knew nothing about this." She told him with full honesty, Liu Kang saw it in her eyes and he saw that she was telling the truth.
"But why would someone from the White Fang send this to me?" He asked her.
"I don't know, describe him." Sienna said to him wanting to know his identity.
Liu Kang thought back to the Faunus who delivered the message, and he remembered him clearly. "White wolf tail, wearing custom bracers, and wore a mask that had three scratches on it." He described him.
Sienna knew exactly who it was, she panicked as she looked at Liu Kang. "Liu, he is of Adam's group, he has been known for deception and luring his opposition away so that he can achieve his target, he'll target those closest to you." She told him.
He thought about it for a moment, Kitana is with Ghira and Kali, the assassin wouldn't risk targeting her. But it was then he realized, he quickly turned around and darted out of the room and out of the building. "He's not targeting Kitana, or Ghira, he's targeting my grandfather to get to me!" He thought to himself as he ran for his grandfather's house.
(Wan's House)
As Liu Kang ran towards the house, he arrived only to find it on fire as several members of the White Fang were surrounding the house as the leader was lighting it a blaze with his grandfather still inside. "GRANDFATHER!" He yelled out as the White Fang looked towards him.
The leader turned towards him and narrowed his eyes. "Take him down, but dont kill him. Master Taurus wants him alive." He told them as three members charged towards him and quickly surrounded Liu Kang. He stared at the blazing inferno as he grandfather was lying helplessly inside, it immediately made his old memories rush back to him as they overwhelmed him. One of the White Fang soldiers went to strike at him with a blade, only to see Liu Kang glance sharply towards him as he quickly knocked the blade out of his hand with his arm as he threw a roundhouse kick, slamming it against his face as the mask shattered to pieces.
The other members were shocked when they saw it and looked at him as Liu Kang reached behind him and pulled out a red headband and tied it around his forehead, his eyes snapped open as he glared menacingly at them and striked a fighting pose in front of them. The leader glared as he looked at the others. "Don't just stand there, get him!" He ordered as the other two members of the White Fang went to grab hold of Liu Kang to take him down.
The former monk narrowed his eyes as he saw one of them go for an overhead strike, he narrowly avoided it as he deflected his strike and landed several hard blows against his chest and neck as he elbowed him hard in the face, completely destroying his left cheek bone as the other White Fang member flipped over to kick him. Liu Kang saw it as he used his whole arm to block the kick as he grabbed hold of his leg and flipped him over as he spun around and kicked him hard in his spine, breaking it out of place as he saw him fly through the air and hit the ground as he screamed in pain from his spine.
The one White Fang member that got the damaged cheek got back up as he glared at Liu Kang as he grabbed his sword and pulled it out. "Screw capturing him, he needs to be put down!" He yelled as he charged at him, Liu Kang watched as he quickly approached but avoided his attack as the White Fang furiously slashed at him. But his strikes left him wide open as Liu Kang used his tail to reach over and grab him by his ankle and swing him as he slammed him against a tree, knocking him out as he released him as he dropped to the ground.
The leader saw it as he looked towards Liu Kang, who turned towards him as he glared at him. "You dare come after the only family I have left, and think you could capture me without facing the consequences…? Then Adam must be a bigger fool than I thought, more or less a coward to not face me himself." He commented.
"The only coward here is you, you refuse to fight the human oppressors who treat us like animals. Once I take you to Adam, he will beat it into you." He told him, unaware that Ghira and Kitana arrived along with Kali to see what was happening.
Both faunus glared at each other as the White Fang yelled as he charged at him and went to strike him, Liu Kang avoided one punch after the other as he ducked under a high kick from him and threw a kick and landed it against his side causing him to grunt as Liu Kang punched him two times and flipped forward as he smacked him across the head with his tail. Kitana watched as she saw the skill of the man she loved back then, but was given a new technique due to his tail. "Liu seems to have this covered, we need to find Wan, fast." Ghira told his wife and the former Edenian princess as he rushed towards the burning house.
Ghira pushed a few fallen beams aside as the house slowly burned down, Kali shielded herself from the flames as she rushed in with Kitana and tried to search for Liu Kang's grandfather. "Wan? Wan! Where are you?!" She called out for him.
"Over here…!" Wan called out as he sounded weak, Ghira looked to where it came from and rushed towards the flames and found Wan under burning debris. He quickly rushed to get the debris off of him and pulled him out as he was coughing harshly. "L-Liu… where's Liu…?!" He asked.
"He's outside, fighting the one responsible for this. Come on, we have to go!" Ghira told him as he carried him out, Kitana saw him approaching but saw the support beams about to give out. She quickly pulled out her steel fans and unfolded them as she sent a strong gust of wind to blast the beam away to save Ghira and Wan as they came rushing towards them.
Kali grabbed Wan and helped him get out as Ghira and Kitana rushed out behind them, Wan was coughing harshly as he was set on the ground. "It's okay Wan, you're going to be alright." She told him as she grabbed a bucket of water and set it beside him as she took some water and got him to drink it.
He slowly drank the water and exhaled, taking the chance to breathe. The sound of fighting soon caught his attention as he opened his eyes and looked towards the source, he saw Liu Kang and the White Fang Assassin fighting each other. "Liu… what is he…?" He struggled to get up.
But Kitana stopped him from moving. "It's okay… it's not the first time he's been in a fight like this." She told him as she looked to the fight. "He's still the warrior I remember." She mentioned as she watched Liu Kang block the assassin's attacks with his arms and saw him let his claws out and go for a strike to his head. He ducked from the claws and got behind the assassin and punched him in his back as he yelled in pain from it and went to backhand the dragon faunus. Liu Kang caught his arm and smacked him against the face and kicked him in his hamstrings and punched him hard in the face as he took his arm and flipped him over seeing him slam against the ground.
The assassin groaned from it but got back up as he growled angrily, he snarled as he went to rip him apart as he flipped into the air and brought down a kick. Liu Kang avoided it as he raised his leg and slammed his foot against his face, shattering the mask as he fell down. The assassin shook his head as Liu Kang went to hit him, but he avoided it as he attacked and roundhouse kicked him as he flipped, landing two kicks and uppercuts him.
The dragon faunus fell back but broke his fall and landed safely as he slid back, he exhaled as dragon fire came out of his mouth. The assassin pulled out his swords and striked a pose and charged towards him, Liu Kang stood up as his eyes snapped open as he narrowly avoided one of his blades as the assassin swung the other blade at him. This caused Liu Kang to narrowly avoid the blade as he grabbed him by his wrist as he slammed a hard hit to his jugular and chest as he knocked the blade out of his hand. The assassin went to use his other sword against him, only to see Liu Kang grab his arm and wrap it behind and pin his arm to his back. "Talk… what happened to my brother…?!" He demanded to know what happened to him.
Struggling to get free, the assassin shot a glare at him. "Your brother was too soft… he was ordered to kill a soldier, but he refused to do it because he didn't have the spine to take a life. So… Adam did what was necessary for his mission… he snuffed your brother out, and left his body to rot in that battlefield." He told him as Liu Kang's eyes widened in anger as his grip on the assassin's arm tightened, making him groan in pain from it. "The White Fang will not tolerate weakness… and you… will be part of his mission." He told him as he dropped his sword into his other hand and got free as he sliced at him.
Liu Kang quickly jumped back, but the blade managed to graze across his shirt and scratch his chest as he slightly bled from it, the assassin grinned as he went to cut him some more to weaken him. But Liu Kang glared as he let out a vicious snarl and avoided his attack and grabbed his arm, slamming his forearm against his elbow, snapping it as the assassin screamed from it. The former monk surrounded fire around his fists as he relentlessly beat down the assassin with unrelenting fury, he then unleashed a barrage of kicks against him as he flipped backwards and slammed a kick against his jaw as he landed on his feet and yells out, slamming a fiery punch against the assassins face. He knocked the assassin's head right off of his shoulders as he stepped back as he yelled out and kicked the head towards the body as it caught fire and slammed against the torso, causing it to explode as parts of the assassin flew across the area.
Ghira shielded his wife and Kitana from it as he looked around the area seeing what was left of him, Kali saw it as she was stunned by what she witnessed as she looked towards Liu Kang. He was calm about what he had done, but his hands were shaking as the memories of his old life came rushing back even more. Kitana saw it and walked over to him as she gently grasped his hands, getting him to look at her as she held his hands while showing a gentle smile. "It's alright Liu, I know you wanted a better life, away from what we went through." She told him as her smile faded. "But you and I both know we can't hide forever." She told him, Liu Kang knew this clearly. He had to accept that he was still the Champion of Mortal Kombat, even after his death at the hands of Shang Tsung… who he feared might be out there in Remnant.
(A moment later)
In the town square of Menagerie, everyone was gathering together as they saw one of the members of the White Fang, dead, and the other two were captured. Some of the faunus were shocked, while others were downright pissed. They were yelling angrily, knowing that it was Liu Kang who did it. But he ignored the accusations as Wan stepped forward to make his statement. "The White Fang have disgraced themselves for the attempt on my life! My grandson was only defending me and did what was necessary." He told the people.
"Lies! He attacked his own people, turning his back on his heritage! Why do you now choose to speak for him when he could speak for himself?" Asked one of the faunus in the crowd.
Liu Kang narrowed his eyes and stepped forward to give him his answer. "You want to know why…?" He asked him as he looked at the rest of the faunus in the crowd. "Do any of you wish to know?" He asked them as they fell silent, he paused for a moment as he looked through the crowd to give them his answer. "It is because Adam Taurus murdered my brother!" He yelled as everyone gasped in shock. "You may have seen him as a hero, but heroes don't send assassins to destroy a member of your family, which is why I will be heading to Vale to represent Menagerie at the tournament." He told them.
Ghira knew he was angry, but even knew that anger would get him killed. "And what reason will they accept you?" He asked him.
"Because Adam will be there… and I need to stop him from starting a war." Liu Kang explained.
"Even if you go, and confront him, it will not bring Chan back." Kali told him.
The former Shaolin Monk knew that she was right, but once he looked towards Kitana, she looked at him and gave him an approving nod. He nodded at her and looked at the Faunus standing before him. "For eighteen years I have lived on this island with all of you, to escape my past. To start a new life… but my past has caught up with me to this day. I do not want a war with the humans, nor do any of you. We've suffered enough…" He told them as the Faunus looked down, seeing how he felt about it. "Fate did not bring us here to our peaceful island, nor will it prevent a fight with one of our own. But Adam Taurus has made it clear… he doesn't want peace with the humans, and he will sacrifice anything, and anyone to get what he wants! And if war comes, then he will have it." He told them with fury in his eyes.
Kitana approached as she removed her cloak, showing her human appearance as everyone gasped in shock and surprise. "I for one… have seen just how beautiful your home is. That beauty should be shared across the world, not contained in one place." She told them as she clenched her fists. "Adam will not rest until everything burns to the ground, your people, and that of the humans, have suffered enough. That suffering will only end when Adam is brought to justice, because I know in my heart that all of you are good people, and you don't deserve to be treated as animals." She told them.
It was at that moment that Sienna Khan approached them with a few of her followers as Liu Kang looked towards her, Ghira looked at her as he glanced towards his wife who looked at him with a worried expression. Sienna walked over to Liu Kang as she looked him in the eye, seeing the determination in his eyes as she too felt determined to stop Adam from starting a war with the humans. "In all my years leading the White Fang, never had I seen such devotion from a faunus such as you. You will have my support, and permission to stop Adam." She told him.
"And if I fail…?" He asked her.
Sienna reached to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Then I promise, I will do what I can to make sure he faces justice for what he did to your brother." She swore to him as she pulled her hand away and walked off with her followers.
Wan smiled as he looked towards his grandson and approached him as he pulled out something from behind his back. "Liu…" He gained his attention as Liu Kang looked down, seeing a pair of bracers and a uniform that once belonged to him. "You will need these if you are to go to Vale." He told him as he smiled proudly.
Liu Kang observed the uniform and the bracers which held fire dust crystals within them, he smiled as he looked to his grandfather and took them. "I won't fail you grandfather." He told them as he and Wan bowed to each other respectfully.
(Later that evening)
Kitana waited by a ship as she waited for Liu Kang to arrive, her attention soon turned as she saw Liu Kang approaching in his uniform. It was red with a gold dragon going around him, a black sash wrapped around his hips with a set of waist guards as he wore red wrappings around his shins. Kitana smiled at him as she walked towards him. "There's the champion I remember." She told him.
"I am far from being the champion I used to be, but… it is good to be in something I'm comfortable with." He told her as he smiled at her.
She smiled back at him as she turned around and saw Ghira and Kali approaching them. "We do not approve of this choice you made, Liu… but this is a mission you've chosen, and we can't change your mind." He told him.
"Your brother meant a lot to you… if anything happened to our daughter Blake, we would be in the same situation as you." Kali said to him.
"Blake is a smart girl, she'll know what to do when things go south." Liu Kang assured them as he walked to them. "I promise, if I see her… I won't let anything happen to her." He told them.
Kali smiled at hearing that and pulled him into a hug. "Tell her that her parents said hello." She told him as Liu Kang smiled as he held her and pulled away and walked towards the ship with Kitana, knowing that they would be in for quite a journey.
(Vale - Beacon Academy)
A few days later, everyone from Beacon Academy welcomed those who would attend the tournament. Even team RWBY who participated in the welcoming committee. Ruby was beyond ecstatic, for she saw numerous people and their weapons alongside them. "Oh my gosh, look at them…! I can't believe that so many people came to participate in the tournament." She squealed.
"Some of them look like easy competition." Yang stated as she looked through them only to see a familiar face. "Wait a minute, isn't that…?" She spotted Johnny Cage in the distance and gasped surprised. "No… way… is that Johnny Cage?!" She asked in surprise.
"Johnny Cage…? The fake martial artist?" Weiss asked her.
Yang immediately scoffed as she looked towards the Schnee heiress. "He's not a fake, all his stunts are legit real." She told her. "Also, I didn't think you watched his movies." She pointed out with a smirk.
"I don't… I read the tabloids." Weiss replied as she held up a newspaper with Johnny Cage's image on the front page.
The actor quickly noticed it as he was annoyed immediately. "Oh give me a break." He walked over and snatched it from her as she gasped seeing it, he looked at the paper seeing they're still trying to tarnish his reputation as a fighter. "You gotta be kidding me! Of all the places, Beacon gets these stupid tabloids?!" He asked furiously.
It was then that Yang touched his shoulder to comfort him. "Come on, don't let them get to you." She told him.
"Yeah, sure…" Johnny replied but looked at her, quickly recognizing her from a video he saw of her. "Hey, you're Yang Xiao Long aren't you?" He asked her as she nodded. "Girl, I saw your fight with Junior, you were great." He complimented her fighting skill.
"Thanks, I saw a couple of your films. And listen, you can't fake those moves." She told him.
"Yeah, well, tell that to the press." Johnny told her as he noticed Liu Kang and Kitana getting off their ship and walking past them. "Hey, pal, when the transport gets here, can you put them in the trunk?" He asked him as he gestured to his luggage.
Hearing this as he stopped, Liu Kang immediately recognized the arrogant tone as he sighed and turned towards him. "I see one thing hasn't changed with you, Cage. You're still an arrogant jackass." He told him.
Blake's eyes widened upon seeing him as she quickly panicked and hid behind Yang, while Johnny was stunned to hear it as his eyes widened upon seeing his old friend and barely recognized him. "Liu?!" He asked him as the faunus nodded his head, causing Johnny to chuckle as he grabbed him by his shoulders. "Liu! Oh my god!' He yelled as he examined him. "I almost didn't recognize you with the horns and the tail." He admitted.
"Well it wasn't hard to recognize your smug personality, still making movies where the stuntmen take your hits?" Liu Kang asked him.
"Yeah, but it's different from how my life was then. These stuntmen are tougher than the ones from-" Before Johnny could continue, Kitana quickly covered his mouth.
"Shut your mouth you idiot!" She whispered.
"Kitana?" Johnny asked as his voice was muffled.
Weiss walked up to them and separated him from her hand. "Excuse me, but you three know each other?" She asked them.
"We met before… but I never thought we'd meet again." Liu Kang told them.
"Yeah, and I'm surprised you're not a zo-" Johnny was about to mention his zombified state, only to feel Kitana stomp on his foot to shut him up as he tried to hold the pain in. "I… mean… I'm surprised you haven't written about your whereabouts." He told him.
"Life on Menagerie was tough, but it kept me busy." Liu Kang replied.
"I'm actually surprised you lived on an island filled with animals." Johnny commented, ignoring the fact Liu is one himself.
But his comment didn't go unnoticed as Blake stepped out of hiding with an angry scowl on her face, she walked towards him and shoved between him and Liu Kang. "I'll have you know mister, we faunus may look like animals, but we're not animals. You people assume that we're nothing more than savages that need to be killed, when all we wanted was to live peacefully in Remnant!" She yelled at him.
Seeing her with a surprised look on his face, Liu Kang sighed knowing she's still the same little kitten who joined all the rallies that fought for Faunus rights. "I appreciate the defense Blake, but I could handle it." He told her.
Yang and Ruby were surprised when they heard him call her by name and approached her. "Blake, how does he know you?" Yang asked.
Blake let out a sigh as she gestured to Liu Kang. "Ruby, Weiss, Yang, this is Liu Kang. He's a friend of mine from Menagerie. Him, his brother Chan, and his grandfather Wan were close friends to me and my family." She introduced them as he looked at Liu Kang. "It's actually really good to see you again Liu." She told him.
"I wish I could say the same, Blake… I see you're not with the White Fang anymore." He reminded her.
Blake looked away as she rubbed her arm knowing he's disappointed in her. "Things changed… and… I'm really sorry about your brother." She told him.
"It's alright, Blake… also, what's with the bow?" Liu Kang pointed to it as she reached up and touched it feeling embarrassed.
"W-What's wrong with it?" She asked him as her face turned red.
"It's cute, but it's not you." Liu Kang pointed out.
Kitana chuckled from hearing it as Blake's cheeks puffed from his answer as she crossed her arms. "Come on Liu, I'm not a kitten anymore." She told him.
"I know, but I am happy to see you again Blake." Liu Kang told her with a smile, she smiled back but noticed Kitana as she looked back to Liu and cleared her throat as she gestured to her. "Oh, yes. Blake, this is Kitana." He introduced her.
Blake turned towards Kitana as she observed her appearance, seeing just how beautiful she was as she formed a goofy grin on her face and looked towards Liu Kang. "I remember you telling me about her, but you never said anything about how beautiful she was." She reminded him as Liu Kang's face immediately turned red as he looked away while Kitana giggled at his own embarrassment.
Ruby formed a smile over her face as she nudged Weiss a bit. "Your sister could learn a lot from him." She told her.
"Ruby!" Weiss yelled at her.
"Well she could…!" She told her.
Yang quickly got between them to keep them from tearing each other apart. "Well hey, since we're all friends here, why don't we help you guys get settled?" She offered.
Johnny grabbed some of his bags as he looked towards her. "That actually would be nice, cause these bags weigh a ton." He told her, but that didn't matter to Yang as she walked over and lifted some of the bags with ease and carried them away, surprising the actor as he watched her. "Wow… she's got some muscle." He complimented.
Everyone chuckled as they walked together to the dorms, as for Ruby? She couldn't help but feel a little curious about Liu Kang. "Hey, Liu? Not to point out the obvious, but you're literally the first dragon faunus I've ever seen. Are there a lot of you? How many of you are there? Do they come with different looks? Are those dragon bracers? Are they custom? Is that dust?" She was asking so many that it was hard for him to keep up.
Yang leaned over to him. "Yeah, she not only likes making friends, but she really likes new weapons." She told him as Liu Kang nodded his head in understanding as they headed to the dorms.
"Boy, I've seen some Chatty-Charlie's, but she sets a new recor-'' Before Johnny could finish his sentence, a girl bumped into him as they nearly fell down, but Johnny caught himself from falling as he exhaled and narrowed his eyes. "Alright tough guy, you wanna get-'' He turned only to feel a gun under his chin from the girl before him. "Tough…?" He asked.
The girl who held the gun was none other than Sonya herself, and once she heard his question, it immediately brought back the time she met him for the first time as she looked at him stunned. "Johnny…?" She asked him.
He looked at her curiously, but his curiosity turned to surprise as he looked at her. "Sonya…?" He asked her.
She looked at him but narrowed her eyes angrily. "Johnny…!" She pulled the gun away from him.
Johnny felt relieved as he smiled at her. "Sonya…!" He held his arms out, only to get a hard kick to his face as he yelped in pain as team RWBY winced in pain from it. While Sonya walked away as Jax let out a chuckle as he approached him.
"Nice to see you haven't changed Cage." He told him as he crossed his bionic arms together. "Seriously, you may be a great actor and all, but you really need to stop playing the fool." He told him.
Johnny groaned as he rubbed his chin. "Nice to see you too, Jax." He replied.
It was at that moment, Ruby began to gossip over his bionic arms as she grabbed his arm. "Oh my… are these strength and durability enhancing bionic arms?" She asked, being the fangirl that she is.
Jax let out a chuckle as he held her up to answer her question. "If it took what you had little lady, they quadruple the muscle capacity." He told her as hearts formed in her eyes as she was literally gossiping over his arms.
Weiss rolled her eyes as she grabbed Ruby by her hood and pulled her away like a puppy that was clinging to him as Yang chuckled and approached him. "They look strong, but can they hold up to what you say?" She asked him.
"Name the challenge, and I'll beat ya at your own game." Jax told her with a confident smirk.
"At the tournament, you and I, no holding back." Yang stated as she crossed her arms.
"Alright, see you there Goldielocks." Jax said to her as he shook her hand and walked away to catch up with Sonya.
Blake saw it and looked towards Liu Kang and Kitana curiously. "Liu, you and Mister Cage knew those two?" She asked him.
"We all knew each other at one point… but our lives took sudden turn, and we started lives of our own." He explained.
It was at that point when Ruby snuck up behind him. "Oooh, a mysterious past. Tell us about it." She said to him as she was legit excited.
Kitana chuckled as she pulled Liu Kang away from her. "That is a story for another time, we had a long voyage together. We'll tell you when we've rested for the evening." She said as she and Liu Kang walked away with Johnny.
Liu Kang glanced towards Johnny as he walked with him. "Care to explain why Sonya kicked you in the face?" He asked her.
Johnny chuckled nervously as he rubbed the back of his head. "Let's just say, during the battle of Armageddon, I… may have shoved her off the steps of the pyramid." He admitted to him.
A scoff came from Kitana as she crossed her arms. "That explains so much, no wonder all the women in your life left you." She stated.
"Hey!" Johnny yelled in disapproval.
"Calm down, both of you. It's been a long trip, and we all deserve some rest. We should also take this time to catch up on what we've missed." He told them.
The actor let out a chuckle as he wrapped his arms around his friends, much to Kitana's discomfort. "This is gonna be like old times!" He told them, but Kitana grabbed his arm and pulled it off as she twisted it as his face cringed from the pain he was feeling. "Ow, ow, ow! Okay, nice to know you're still the tough princess we helped before." He told her.
"Touch me again, you'll find your teeth on the floor." She said as she walked ahead, while Liu Kang smirked and looked towards Johnny who was whimpering in pain, causing the former monk to chuckle as he walked with him.
Once they reached the dormitory, the trio were chuckling as they made their way to their room. "Oh, and remember that time when Kung Lao actually tried to ask Jade out the first time?" Kitana asked them.
"How can I forget? He returned to the Wu Shi Academy with a black eye." Liu Kang remembered as he chuckled. "He never gave up though." He told her.
"Jade didn't want to admit it, but she always liked Kung Lao. Not for his arrogant attitude, but for his passion to defend his family and friends." Kitana reminded him.
Johnny chuckled as he pulled out the key to their room."You kidding? The guy was a total blowhard." He told them as he stuck the key into the lock and opened up the door. "But he was okay for the most part-" Before he could finish his sentence, he saw Sonya and Jax in the room.
They were surprised when they saw each other, but Sonya was livid as she got up. "Oh hell no! You gotta be kidding me! We got this room first!" She yelled.
"Oh yeah? Did you happen to get a key from the desk?" Johnny asked her as he showed the key.
"She insisted on picking the lock." Jax answered as he took off his bionics and set them along the wall. "You know she's always been a force your way in, type of girl." He reminded him.
Sonya shot a scowl towards him. "Shut it, Jax." She told him as she looked at Johnny. "I refuse to share a room with you Cage, not after what you did. Liu and Kitana I can tolerate though." She stated.
"Sonya, we appreciate that you saw us as friends, but Johnny has always been our friend and ally since the Mortal Kombat tournament. I know what he did to you during Armageddon was wrong, but that was the old him." Liu Kang reminded him.
"Easy for you to say, you were a freaking zombie when we saw you." Sonya reminded him.
"Yeah, but you gotta admit, the dragon features are a nice touch." Jax pointed out.
Sonya shrugged in response as Kitana pulled out her steel fans and set them on the desk. "Look, we've all had a long trip, and there's no changing rooms at this time. Let's just get some rest until the tournament begins." She told them.
"No argument from me princess, I'm exhausted from our flight on a freak Atlas Ship." Jax said as he stretched his limbs.
"Fine… but Johnny, you're sleeping on the floor." She told him as she walked to the bunk beds and got in the top bunk and covered herself up.
Johnny rubbed his head as he still felt guilty for what he did to her. "Sheesh, can't she just let it go?" He asked.
"Fat chance of that… because when we meet in the arena? Your ass is grass." She warned him as she covered herself up completely and fell asleep. Liu Kang smirked as he walked to his bed and got in the lower bunk while Jax got in the lower bunk beneath Sonya as Kitana got on the top bunk above Liu. While Johnny was left without a bed and sighed as he pulled out a sleeping bag and set it up to get a good night's sleep, assuming Sonya doesn't try to kill him in his sleep first.
(Vale - Pier 30)
On the docks of Pier 30, Kano walked into a warehouse as he was expecting to see Roman Torchwick. But the news of his capture spread viral, and he walked to the weapons cache and opened it seeing the weapons he got. "Ahh, Roman… you always knew to buy the best toys. A shame you got your ass captured." He said as he pulled out a rifle and looked it over.
"And you should know better than to disrespect our supplier." Said a voice as Kano jolted and turned around seeing a somewhat familiar face. It was Shang Tsung, looking really young as he looked at Kano who was surprised to see him. "Afterall, we've come so far in our journey, we haven't lost sight of our goal." He reminded him.
Kano let out an exhale as he looked at him. "And Cinder…? Can she be trusted? The girl scares me." He told him.
"Leave Cinder to me… I've seen what she's capable of, and it could be of use to me." Shang Tsung informed him as he sensed Cinder approaching the warehouse. "Ahh, speaking of which." He snaps his fingers as Cinder is immediately teleported into the room, much to her shock and surprise as she stumbled and saw Shang. "So glad you could join us." He told her.
She let out an exhale and dusted her dress off and scowled. "You really need to stop doing that." She told him.
"My apologies… it won't happen again, I promise." Shang Tsung swore to her, but she was far from convinced. "Now then, are your forces in place?" He asked her.
"Yes, and we have control over the tournament roster and the entire system in Beacon. We will turn their defenses against them when the time presents itself." She explained to them.
"Good." Shang Tsung chuckled as he walked past her. "Shao Kahn may have failed, and with Raiden no longer with his champions, we will take over this realm ourselves. Even if it must be burnt to the ground." He stated with a cold dead tone as he chuckled with a sinister grin and glowing green eyes.
(Author Notes: Hey guys, here is the other story I had in mind. To see which story you guys might like more. Whether you guys like the MK meets Marvel Universe, or this one, I'll respect your decision. But I hope you guys like this story, because I had to take a lot of time and effort to work on this. It takes place around Volume 3, and I may do a few times skips, and change a bit of the history. This story was also inspired by Justice League x RWBY. Maybe I might have rushed it, but let me know what you think.)