Goro

He gazed upon the state of Outworld from his palace.

In one hand he held a chalice made from the skull of a conquered warrior. The owner of it had once called himself a champion, but he wasn't worthy of such a title. To prove it, the Prince turned his skull into his favorite drinking glass. Something more worthy of this supposed champions status. Beside it, on the other side of his body his other arm rested itself on his hip.

And beneath those two, the other set of arms were crossed.

His vision ahead, he saw what was happening in Outworld, or rather what was happening to it.

"Prince Goro." Kintaro called behind him. The prince grumbled, his concentration broken on what had befallen before him and turned around to see the lowly striped Tigrar class Shokan looking to him. But as he and all the others looked to Goro, he looked ahead, but his thoughts were always bolstered by that of his past.

The barriers between the realms were broken. No one knows by who or how, only whispers of far-off warriors and ancient threats were the culprits as they usually were. But the effects were true enough, whatever the cause. The realms were open allowing all to pass, to go wherever they please and do whatever they wanted. Those who wish to conquer went out to conquer. Those who wish for peace went out to end the bloodshed. Yet both sides would only bring kombat all their own. And that pleased him. To show his strength against such warriors from across the realms. No tournament to bound him this time, just kombat. That was his true calling, his true purpose.

Yet, for all his victories, he remembered as well. The sting of defeat. His loss at the hands of Liu Kang.

He knew if there was an event such as this, that the warrior monk would be out there in the thick of it. Facing the strongest that the realms had to offer. Naturally Goro had to be a part of that, for he was among the strongest of the realms. To avenge his loss to him should they cross paths. But it was not just Liu Kang out there now. Goro had heard of other champions out there, current and former ones. Yet, he had heard the stories of warriors traveling and fighting in groups of two.

He would only be dragged down by such antics. No, he would go alone. To prove himself once again as he had done in nine tournaments in a row.

"What do you intend to do?" Kintaro asked. The question from the lowly Tigrar lead to only a grumble from the prince. As if it was not obvious what the former champion would do.

"What I have always done." Goro declared proudly and truthfully before he crushed the chalice in his grip shattering it to pieces. The fragments of it scatted across the room and whatever drink was still in it dripped from his closed hand. The other arm raised up to reach around to grab his cape and flung it from his shoulders to discard it behind him and drape his throne. Beneath those two arms his lower two uncrossed themselves.

He didn't say anymore. He only needed to act.

He stepped forward walking past Kintaro and leaving his throne behind. Perhaps he would get a new drinking glass when this was all done.

Kombatants, World Warriors. Whatever they called themselves, he would show them true strength.

Sagat

He sat at the base of the temple, silently contemplating all that was going on in the world. Beyond the tall statues he could see it brimming from afar, but never venturing any closer to his own doorstep. But the call was there all the same. The call of kombat and battle. Only the strongest responded to its call. And who was he to let it go unanswered?

A bellow below was let out by his side and without looking Sagat reached a hand out to pet the large tiger beside him. The bellowing gave way to purring and the tiger was put to ease.

Sagat, however, was not.

As one hand ran down the back of Willa Maiu, Sagat brought his free hand up. It reached his chest and touched the tip of what was there. A stripe to match that of his tigers. The scar given to him by Ryu all those years ago.

His hand ran down it, tracing the grooves and etches without even looking until he reached the base of it at the bottom of his torso. Once he did, his hand went still and his thoughts stopped, as if he was unsure of what to do next. It was the power of the Satsui no hado that gave this to him. The power he both felt and glimpsed. Whatever ease his hand gave to Willa Maiu it didn't give any to himself.

"Master Sagat." a small voice squeaked. Now life came back to Sagat even if it was in the smallest of ways; his hand finally dropping off from the bottom of the scar to place itself across his lap.

His lone eye turned, and he saw a little girl standing beside him, dwarfed by his massive leg. She was not frightened of him, but curious as she gazed at him. In her hands was a small tray of food that she held out for him.

"For you Master Sagat." Namupun said stretching her arms out more, as if it would help him see it more.

Sagat arched his back more to sit up straight. "Thank you Namupun." he said thankfully though his voice was deep and dismal. With approval now, she scurried to his free side opposite the tiger and placed the meal there. Once it was placed by his side, she turned over to the Emperor of Muay Thai. He was still looking ahead, as he had been since she first saw him. In fact, he had been doing it for some time now.

She turned around to look herself, yet all she saw was the path that led to the temple. And him sitting there waiting at the end of it. Her head turned from him to the distance a few more times. Until she finally settled back onto him and the longing stare in his otherwise static face. She then turned one final time to the horizon staring with him and the tiger.

"Are you expecting some one Master Sagat?" she asked innocently.

He stirred in his sitting position, keeping his eyes ahead but his mouth closed and thoughts to himself. He knew of the battles raging on outside of his home. Between far off deadly warriors and familiar foes. But what did that bode for him? Would they come for him, the champion that he was?

"Perhaps." he finally answered simply.

"What do you think is happening out there, Master Sagat?" she asked.

That question was in fact, one of the many thoughts that had occupied him the most recently. That question brought him to another; what kind of man was he? Did the ongoing struggle out there give him an opportunity to find an answer to that question? Was this opportunity, this challenge worthy of a "King"?

He never took his eye off of what was ahead of him, but he answered her.

"The strongest assortment of warriors the world has ever seen." he answered keeping his gaze ahead.

"Oh." she let out as she plopped back onto the bench to sit at his side. Nestling herself there and propping herself up further with her arms, her legs swung on the ledge as they did not reach the ground. Opposite her on the other side of Sagat, Willa Maiu flicked his tail. In between them Sagat might as well have been a statue for he did not move at all.

Just as Sagat contemplated many questions about himself and what was to come, Namupun had several as well. Though she was more vocal in them.

"Then why aren't you there yet?" she asked, turning up to him.

He had no answer initially. He just kept staring off into the horizon. He could not see battle, but he knew it was happening. He could feel it out there. All those warriors clashing. Each for their own purpose and motivations. If he was out there what would his be?

Without warning his hands moved to his sides to put his knuckles to the slab they sat on. Pushing off of his knuckles, he rose to his full intimidating height. The shadow of which cast itself down the road. The path that led to him. And to the battles ahead.

"Master Sagat?" Namupun let out beneath him. Both she and Willa Maiu stared up at him.

"Ryu is out there now. Fighting" he stated. Battling to better himself. To conquer his own demons. "And so should I."

He raised one leg and took a mighty step forward. The first step of his journey. His other followed before behind overtaken by his other leg again. With every step he got closer to answering his own questions. With every step he came closer to proving he was a true King.

As he took off down the road Namupun and Willa Maiu got to their feet.

"Good luck!" she cheered after him. Her voice mixing in with the empowering roar of Willa Maiu.

Fight Your Rival! Warrior Shrine

Sagat continued on his path. Indeed, there were many powerful warriors about. They travelled together, but he travelled alone. It was questions of himself that he had. He would bear no others and would have no one else bear him. But he could tell his journey was not over yet. When would he find the answer he sought? And the challenge that came with it.

He strolled with his head high and saw that he was not alone. A figure stood beside him, but it was completely still, so he passed it by. Another stood next to it striking a pose all its own. Sagat took notice of it, but it did not give him pause. For lining the path, he passed were stone statues of Kombatants, of great champions and kings in their own right. Mortal Kombtants; Johnny Cage, Kano, Sonya, Raiden, Liu Kang. And at the end was a great champion flexing his four great arms for all to see. Impressive as it was that was where the new faces ended. For lining the other end and coming to meet it were champions he knew all too well. World Warriors; Zangief, Akuma, Chun-Li, Dhalsim, Ryu. And ending it all standing next to Goro was none other than Sagat himself. Two former champions cut down from their highest place and their statues side by side.

Sagat turned his eye away from it not wanting to see what he was. For he was beyond that now. His thoughts were cut short when a voice called out.

"No, no, no, this cannot be." a deep low voice spoke aloud dismissively. Though Sagat saw no one before him, he knew the voice was speaking to him. He stopped in place. He did not turn to look at the one who approached him, though he heard him well enough. His footsteps were as loud as his words and overtook them in the silence.

He crushed the ground he walked on as he came behind Sagat who still did not turn towards him, keeping his sight ahead. But his sight of the road was taken from him when he instead saw a wide pale green chest overtake his view. Now Sagat dared to look, turning his head up to see the scornful glare of yellow eyes. He returned with his own hard glare, matching it with even one eye.

Looking at him, it was as if the statue had come alive and was bearing down on him now. Though Sagat knew it was no statue.

The half man-half dragon Shokan Prince Goro starred down at the Tiger King Sagat.

The two were deadlocked in a stare as they were lined up opposite their own statues that stood triumphantly side by side as they had a standoff with each other. "This cannot be the champion I heard so much of." Goro said looking down at him pitifully. As if he was disappointed in having finally met him. "One who still insists he call himself a King." he continued on contemptuously. It seems Sagat's reputation proceeds him. Yet for all this Shokan warrior knew of him, Sagat knew just as much. The one who like him, alone set out to single handedly take on the realm's greatest warriors.

"A King does not listen to the words of a Prince." Sagat told as if warning him.

"But he better heed the words of a champion." Goro boasted stepping up further to him, pressing his chest against his, yet Sagat did not budge from him "A true champion." he added. Still Sagat did not move from his place, even as Goro pressed himself and his words. There was silence in the wake of his boast as they continued their standoff with neither one backing down. It gave Goro more time to look Sagat over. "Seeing you now," he let out introspectively "I can see why you tasted defeat." he said disdainfully.

Yes, Goro had heard of him and his defeat all those years ago by Ryu's hand. But just as Sagat was the former Champion of the World Warriors tournament. So was Goro that of Mortal Kombat.

"Have you not had defeats of your own?" Sagat shot back at him. Goro's face churned with anger that he hardly managed to suppress. Sagat did not flinch or startle beneath him "But that does not matter." Sagat said as if attempting to sooth the raging beast before him. He knew what Goro felt, for he was just like him. Once "A true fighter is not one who always wins, but one who stands after defeat."

"But only a victor stands triumphant in the end." Goro said.

"Victory is the purpose of any true fighter."

"Then let the true champion stand among us!" Goro declared, the anger that was in him rising to a roar.

"Very well." Sagat agreed, his bandaged hands clenched "No mercy."

"The only way to fight." Goro grinned.

Suddenly Sagat felt his arms caught in a vice grip, and unable to move. He fidgeted but could not get them to move as they pressed against his sides. His whole body felt compressed. His struggling only caused Goro to laugh at his attempts to do so. Sagat moved more, but his efforts proved futile as he then felt his feet coming off of the ground. He struggled to keep them on the ground, but it only brought him higher and made Goro's smile wider as he rose above him.

He stopped struggling when another fist came from beneath Goro's right arm to slug him across the face. Sagat's face was hit to the side. Then as soon as it was knocked over another fist from beneath Goro's left arm came shooting up to punch it back to the other fist. Knowing he could not stay there and take another blow, Sagat acted.

"HA!" Sagat let out as he hurled his head forward hitting it into Goro's. The Shokan warriors head was flung back, and his grip on Sagat was lost as he let go, but Sagat did not stop there. From the air he lunged forward with a knee drilling it into Goro's chest. The force of it was so great that Goro was flung back away from Sagat who returned to the ground. And once his feet were back on the ground, he was content to watch Goro stumble back past the many statues of world warriors as he readied himself for another fight.

Finally, and suddenly Goro braced himself, stopping a stumble mid step all the way back by the massive Zangief. His eyes were drawn down to his chest that was struck, but then they turned up to see Sagat taking his fighting stance and looking defiantly at him.

Goro's face curled up in anger. He let out a roar and then flung his four arms forward and out from them shot a fireball that headed straight for Sagat. Sagat braced himself for the attack but would not be defenseless.

"Tiger Canon!" Sagat roared and shot out an orange burst of energy that flew directly towards Goro's fireball. Rushing over the ground the two blasts collided at the center of the path between the statues of the two of them, erupting into a small explosion.

The light from the blast flashed back, overtaking both warriors who shielded themselves from the light. When it dimmed, they looked back to it, to see a black smoldering mess where they had collided. And farther back on the other side of it was the owner of each move. Goro's stare hardened onto Sagat, but he spoke.

"Hm." Goro grumbled "Perhaps you may be a true challenge after all." he admitted. Sagat did not reply in words. He only readied himself for the fight to come.

The Tiger King and the Dragon Prince, former champions of their tournaments would do battle here and now. They had both been at the same crossroads at one point in their lives and had taken different paths. Now their paths converged again. The statues of themselves and their many opponents would be their crowd.

Sub-Boss Necalli Hour of Battle! Goro

The statues remained still, yet the sound of an approaching menace did not go unnoticed.

He started off as if a pool of water on the ground. Yet when an arm sprouted up from the ground, it dragged a body to the surface of the ground and caught his attention.

"Another supposed champion to replace another?" he mused to himself.

When the fighter emerged completely, as if it had just been birthed into this world it sets its eyes unnaturally on him. Goro did not shirk from it but steadied himself against it. For the very likeness of this warrior offended him.

"What is this mockery!" he boasted raising the two arms on his left side up towards this new opponent only to wave them away "A mad Osh tekk warrior!" he mocked though rage was building in him again.

The warrior before him, hunched over slunk low to the ground. Yet his hair was wild as if it were countless snakes or tentacles writhing around and lashing out. One who had been preying on every fighter out there. Yet while they travelled together, Goro like Sagat did so alone. And seeing Goro here alone likely made him think him weak, but he would prove him wrong. For it only showed how strong the Shokan prince he truly was.

"The soulsss" he gargled and dragged the word "The souls of the warriors is what I seeeekkk." Necalli beckoned.

"Then Shang Tsung shall have enough for you. But I have none." Goro shook a fist.

"The souls of all warriors are mine." Necalli declared.

"This soul you shall not claim!" Goro bellowed. Necalli let out a harrowing war cry, his hair shooting out all around him before he charged Goro.

Sub-Boss Necalli Hour of Battle! Sagat

In the aftermath of the contest of champions Sagat looked down to his bandaged hands. He wiggled his fingers taking notice of them whether they were idle or tightened into a fist. These were the hands that held the power of a king. He had proven that so far as he traversed alone against countless warriors new and old. Some perhaps could be kings in their own right. But had he proven that status to himself yet?

He was about to have another contender and another answer now.

A guttural slurping sound was heard accompanied by the sound of something being dragged along the ground. Turning is head up his gaze set itself on what was coming down the path at him. The semblance of a man masquerading like an animal, he crawled along the ground. His dark red skin and long shroud of hair did not prevent the two bright eyes that starred endlessly at him.

This one perhaps wished to take his place among the statues of the champions around him.

"Legendary fighteerrr." Necalli growled "Legendary soul." he snarled as he came to a stop and stood up "Strong enough on his own." he spoke confirming in Sagat his right to go on this quest alone "I will devour you." Necalli finally finished. Sagat replied, but only in defiance.

"Devour me?" Sagat questioned "You don't have the strength for that or the stomach to contain me." he finished putting his hands up.

He felt he was drawing closer to his question. That of his status as a King. If this was another contender to defeat to prove it, so be it.

Goro Ending

Goro had come far and fought many, those familiar to him and those different. Those that were a challenge and those that were not.

Here before him now was yet another trifle.

A pale white muscular figure stood before him. Its arms bladed before it's body. Its body was bland and its eyes sharing that characteristic starred at him with indifference, yet Goro saw the strength of resolve in it all the same.

"What is this?" he called "You dare challenge me?" he put his left two hands to his chest "Do you not know who stands before you?"

The pale white creature said nothing to him. Hardly even stirring to his declarations.

"Do you say nothing creature?" Goro said "Have you nothing to offer me?

Eleven did not reply to him, at least not in words. Instead, its round, muscular body began to rupture. One shoulder grew larger as the other shrunk. Its head lurched down as its back raised high and then melted in on itself. Goro had seen many kombatants torn limb from limb or burned to death, many by his own hands, yet even now he felt himself unsure of what was happening. Was this warrior finishing itself so as not to fight him? Hara-kiri.

Color came into Eleven now and the shapelessness of its body began to take shape again. Not into its original form but something else, something intended.

A human's pink skin, a white garb, black pants, a bald head save for a red bandanna wrapped around it. Once this form had been taken on completely, it rose back up and looked directly to Goro. A look he had not seen for many years. But it looked exactly as Goro had remembered it.

Even he could admit despite knowing shapeshifters nearly all his long life this act surprised him. He took in a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"Finally," he let out a sigh of relief as if coming to peace with himself "a true champion to face." he said opening them. And standing before him, just like it was all those centuries ago was none other than The Great Kung Lao. Feeling in his prime and a tournament at stake Goro beat his chest with his fours arms before spreading them out. For despite the fact, he was pleased to face a true champion on this journey, he enraged him too "Well!" he roared "You dare take this form! This that you have not earned!" he roared at eleven who braced himself as Kung Lao "You are unworthy of his talent!" he shouted pointing the two arms on his right side to Elevens new body "But I have beaten him before. And I shall beat you now!" Goro roared as he charged him.

And like all those years ago The Gret Kung Lao would battle the Shokan Prince. To decide the true champion of Mortal Kombat once and for all.

Sagat Ending

His journey ended where it began. Home.

He trudged down the path he had walked down to leave it, only getting closer to returning now. Looking to the sky, he saw it was as it would always be. The journey back was the opposite of when he left, filled with less and less warriors for him until they dwindled out completely. As if they had never been there at all.

'Ryu' he thought as he turned his head back down to the road 'You did it.' he concluded. He knew that whatever brought this on and whatever defeated it, it was through him.

He found Namupun and Willa Maiu waiting for him, sitting beneath the temple where he left them.

"Master?!" she exclaimed as he sat himself between her and the tiger "Did you find what you wanted?" she peered up to him.

"Yes," he nodded "I think-"

"Sagat." a muffled voice suddenly called out. Sagat stiffened, on alert. He put his legs out forward and stood up, standing ready for whatever came. Willa Maiu growled as Namupun looked uncertain around her. But no matter where they looked there was no sign of a body to match the voice that called out.

Then something ignited on the ground before the three. A flicker of a flame was before them, but then it turned into a full-blown fire, yet it was contained concentrating only on the ground before him. The fire continued to grow up and not around, curiously not taking off to spread on any of the grass or trees around them. Sagat stood undeterred by it, but his eye remained locked onto the flame. Behind him Namupun ducked behind him, as Willa Maiu got up and roared at it. The light shined off of it and the shadows deepened over the three, for Sagat it deepened the scar and muscles along his body.

The flame dwindled down taking the form of a man. As it took that shape, a figure of yellow emerged from the flames, on his knees at first, but then he rose to his full height. He was shorter than Sagat, but he could tell looking at him that he was strong. Possibly even worthy of the title king. But of what?

Only his eyes were visible from the mask that concealed his face.

"Master..." the little girl peaked around him "Is this the visitor you were expecting?"

Sagat's stare focused in on his yellow garbed guest, unsure of what to make of him. But knowing after all he'd seen and been through recently it could not be good.

"Demon." Sagat spat.

A flash of cold reflection came over the eyes as they looked to him.

"I was." he admitted before pulling down on his mask to reveal only a bearded face of a man "I am Hanzo Hasashi."

"So, you are? But you were not always so." he said sensing it in him "But why are you here?"

Hanzo looked to his fist "To keep what I have gained. And to guide others to as well." he looked up to Sagat whose hard stance had not changed since he arrived "You seek to know redemption. To know true strength."

"There is no one who can defeat me." Sagat told "I have proven that myself." he crossed his arms reflecting on the journey he just took.

"I fought the same thing in a way. And won it." Hanzo said bearing his human form for the first time in years "Show me you are worthy of what you seek."

Behind Sagat the little girl and tiger peered around his massive frame to see Hanzo standing along the path Sagat once took to leave and return here. Sagat's watchful eye never left Hanzo, but he stirred at his offer. It was not a threat or boast, but a challenge all the same. One that he would answer.

"Very well." Sagat said as he prepared for another bout. Opposite him Hanzo did the same. A chain rattled as a kunai slipped from his grip to fall past his waist. From the sidelines his tiger and little pupil cheered him on.