MK1 has been out for a month and it definitely kept me busy from updating this story. Other things have happened, but to save you some time, I have a more detailed author's note at the end of the chapter. Hope y'all have been doing well! As Serenity's birthday is October 17th at the time this is published (and MK Onslaught launch... and Cage Match release date), I wanted to get this out in time.

Please enjoy this chapter!

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Future Shaolin

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The tranquil mountains rose majestically against the canvas of the early morning sky, their peaks cloaked in a silvery mist. The dawn's first light smoothed over Raiden's Sky Temple, ancient yet untouched by updated architecture, perched on the edge of a precipice. White lotus petals bloomed in profusion around the temple, dancing with the spring's gentle wind. The air was crisp and cool, with the scent of pine and earth. The only sounds are the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant call of a bird.

As the sun ascends, its golden rays gradually illuminate the temple's intricate architecture, revealing intricate carvings and faded frescoes that tell stories of devotion and enlightenment. The temple itself seems to come alive, awakening from its night's slumber to embrace the warmth of the new day.

The sound reverberated through the stillness, a call to meditation and reflection. The monk closed his eyes and inhaled deeply as if drawing the energy of the sunrise into his very soul. At this moment, he felt the profound connection between the natural world and the spiritual realm. Once he was done with his early morning chores, he followed his next assignment and headed towards the temple to wake up Serenity as requested by Raiden.

The sun continued its ascent, bathing the temple and the mountainside in a warm, golden light. Shadows receded, and the world awakened.

From high above, Serenity got dressed as her day had been completely scheduled. Today, she's to head to the Wu Shi Academy, a famed institution in Asia where potential fighters hone and test their skills with hopes of becoming a Shaolin warrior, or greater. Instead of just idling by and hanging around the Sky Temple, she hoped to hone her fighting skills to compliment her magic. She has the perk of being more durable as a Seidan, but there is much she needs to learn for any impending dangers, however, that may come.

"Lady Serenity," the monk called out.

"I'm awake, Bolin," Serenity responded. "Thank you for checking in." She grabbed her hooded cape and put it on. Ready, she followed Bolin as he guided her to meet with Raiden. For the few minutes she had before meeting with him, Serenity reminisced about the time she spent at the Sky Temple.

It had only been three months, but she had never felt more safe and secure. As Raiden was busy with his duties as protector of Earthrealm, the monks kept Serenity company and filled her with knowledge of the realm. The thought that Earthrealm consisted of diverse cultures, languages, and countries bewildered her. She only knew a few from what her mother told her. During her free time, she hoped to do more research on the many tournaments from the realm's perspective, as Orderrealm had a good record of wins according to the last time she studied in Seido.

Once Bolin made his way to Raiden, waiting outside of the temple, he bowed to him and then to Serenity, leaving to do his daily chores. Serenity gave a small smile to the Thunder God. Raiden kept his stern expression, but his eyes acknowledged her silent greeting. Once Serenity was at arm's length, Raiden placed his hand on her shoulder gently and raised his other, summoning lightning. In an instant, the two arrived at the academy.

As the rays of the morning sun painted the sky with hues of pink and gold, Serenity walked alongside Raiden with a heart of curiosity to see students train their way to become Shaolin warriors. Guided by Raiden, he once again placed a hand on her shoulder to signal for her to stand still. He did so as well, and the two began to see a group of men being followed by young boys with an age range of 10 to 18-year-olds.

The pink plum blossom petals that were attached to the trees graced the air. The arena itself, a place where both celebration and competition would soon unfold, stood in stark contrast to the gentle beauty of the morning sky. Its stone walls were imposing and ancient, weathered by the ages, and yet they provided a stoic backdrop for the delicate blossoms that graced its surroundings. The contrast between the tranquil morning sky and the strength of the arena's structure created a sense of harmony, a reminder that even in the most formidable places, the beauty of nature could find its way to flourish.

Serenity looked upon the scene in front of her, consisting of groups of two younglings and a mediator, unraveling as the arena was soon filled with multiple matches happening all at once. This wasn't too far off from what she witnessed back in Seido, though a big difference was that most of the boys did not have any supernatural abilities. The potential was there though, as their skill and agility showed in the many matches she was witnessing.

Within the grounds of the martial arts academy, two teenage boys stood poised for a practice match. They were both diligent students and their sparring session, while casual, showcased the talent they flourished for who knows how long. The air was charged with anticipation as they faced off, bows of respect exchanged. They exchanged banter before they were to start their practice match. When Serenity saw one young boy release fire from his fists and the other spinning at a fast speed to fan out the flame, her mind flashed back to the night she was at the temple before she fell unconscious. She let out a silent gasp. Ever since she resided at the temple, Serenity longed to see the two who were there when she passed out.

"Raiden, those two boys. They're the ones that found me at the entrance of your temple."

"Liu Kang and Kung Lao," Raiden spoke up. "I see that their noble hearts further prove that they will become great warriors."

"I want to thank them whenever possible."

"Very well. After their training, I will let you introduce yourself."

In the heart of the Wu Shi Academy training grounds, Kung Lao and Liu Kang prepared for a practice match, their dedication to honing their martial arts skills unwavering. The sun cast long shadows across the ancient courtyard, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the surrounding trees. Kung Lao exuded a calm confidence with a matching grin. Liu Kang, whose eyes burned with determination, was the epitome of focus. With a mutual nod, they assumed their fighting stances, their movements as fluid as a mountain stream.

The first exchange was a flurry of strikes and counters, a mesmerizing dance of power and grace. Kung Lao's fists moved fast and looked unpredictable, but Liu Kang anticipated his attack, dodging it with a graceful leap. With lightning-fast kicks and punches, Liu Kang unleashed a torrent of fire, forcing Kung Lao to employ his acrobatics to evade the searing flames. The match continued, each warrior pushing the other to the limits of their abilities. They were not merely sparring partners; they were brothers, their bond forged through however many matches they may have had before, and their mutual respect evident in every move.

Serenity looked calm on the outside, but her heart was racing seeing how agile and evenly matched they were. The two were blessed with the gift of martial arts. Though not superhuman, the two were near the point of being exhausted. Their practice match eventually ended in a draw, both trainees acknowledging that they had much to learn from one another on their lifelong journey of self-improvement and mastery. The practice match was a dance of skill and strategy, each move a calculated step in the ongoing battle. Raiden watched with a stern but approving presence, as these two young martial artists demonstrated their growth and commitment to the art.

In the end, with mutual respect and a sense of camaraderie, they concluded their practice match. Liu Kang, slightly out of breath but smiling, knew that Kung Lao's quick moves had exposed areas where he could improve. Kung Lao, appreciating Liu Kang's strength, was equally eager to refine his grappling skills. Their practice was not just a competition but a shared journey towards mastery, strengthening the bonds of friendship in the martial arts academy.

"You may go to them, Serenity," Raiden said. With his permission, she nodded and walked towards them. Serenity took her steps until she was near the young boys accompanied by an elder, who without a doubt had the wisdom of a Shaolin warrior.

"Liu Kang? Kung Lao?" The two teens turned around as soon as their names were called, and they weren't expecting a grown woman to greet them.

"I am honored to meet you two. My name is Serenity." With a warm smile and both her hands on top of their heads, she ruffled their hair playfully. "It's all thanks to you two that I'm here today." Done with her endearing interaction, Serenity placed her arms at her side. Kung Lao stuttered and blushed from embarrassment at the affection he received, but Liu Kang nodded and smiled back.

"We're glad that you made it out okay, ma'am," Liu Kang responded. "We were warned not to approach you, but Kung Lao and I couldn't leave you there." Serenity's gray eyes got a good look at his dark brown eyes, filled with humility and sincerity. Kung Lao was still looking away, but he nodded in agreement to Liu Kang's statement.

"It was your kind hearts that motivated you," Serenity replied. "You two did very well in your match. I hope our paths can cross again."

The two boys went back to their teacher, who smiled back at her. She reciprocated, and then her eyes wandered around the many fights that were still continuing. With the time she had here, she hoped to study their movements.

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The Wu Shi Academy stood up to its name for the extensive training. Aside from their lunch break, the hours were grueling. Serenity's heart ached thinking how humans could endure that long as they were not as durable as her kind. With a sigh, Serenity curled her hand into a fist and she formed a light orb, shining akin to an opal stone. Her eyes stared at her creation. Inherited from her mother, Serenity possessed the incredible gift of light manipulation. Her powers were not just an extension of her being; they were a reflection of her inner spirit.

Despite her circumstances, she was fortunate to have many years of harnessing her light powers with her mother and grandmother's help. The latter especially made her way through one Mortal Kombat tournament eons ago through her powers. Though not the champion of that tournament, she was honored along with other Seidan representatives. Serenity admired her grandmother for her bravery, and she hoped to become a strong fighter like her. That's why, with however much time she had at the Sky Temple, Serenity hoped to learn many styles of martial arts.

Finding herself at the lounge on the first floor of the Sky Temple, Serenity skimmed through a book on the philosopher Confucious. This man hooked Serenity regarding his life, his teachings, and the impact he made around the world. The quote, "Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men," stood out. In Seido, her home, valued wisdom and courage, but not compassion. Law and order were the qualities that mattered the most.

To see a fresh perspective from Confucious's teachings and how Raiden and the monks treated her with humility made her feel validated. Of course, not every Earthrealmer would turn out to be good at heart, but compared to Orderrealm, this was heaven-sent. If only she could thank her mother for this opportunity, even with the separation. Maybe one day, they can travel the world and experience different cultures plus learn about the history of how Earthrealm came to be.

Footsteps began to tread towards Serenity's direction, but she kept her focus on the book. Eventually, she heard more than two footsteps, which made her curious. It definitely wasn't Raiden as was traveling to meet with an Outworld friend, named Bo' Rai Cho. Those footsteps weren't the monks' either as they would never run inside the temple unless something thwarted was happening. To her annoyance, Serenity sighed and closed the book to locate the sound of the footsteps.

"Lady Serenity!" a familiar voice echoed through the room. As soon as she turned around, she witnessed Liu Kang and Kung Lao. To say she was surprised would be an understatement.

So much for investigating, Serenity thought. "You two? Is it okay for you to be away from the academy?"

"Master Wen said it was okay to visit you before we had to go back to our dorms," Liu Kang said. The man called Wen made his way into the lounge, bowing to Serenity. She bowed back.

"That's really sweet of you two. So… what is it that you boys need?"

"Lady Serenity, are you from a different realm?" Liu Kang asked.

"Do you have any cool abilities, Lady Serenity?" Kung Lao followed.

"What do you think of Lord Raiden?" Liu Kang asked once more. Serenity laughed. It felt really nice for others to be interested in her, but the rapid-fire questions were getting a bit out of hand. At the very least they should get comfortable.

"Slow down, you two! Also, no need to address me as 'Lady.' Just Serenity is fine." She sat down back in her seat and the two boys followed.

"It's not every day we see a stranger making their way through the temple and passing out," Wen said. Serenity chuckled in response. "I'll be right back, so you two stay out of trouble."

"Yes, Master Wen!" the two teenage boys answered in unison. The elder man headed outside.

"Since you two are so interested in me and how in the world I got here, why not? Tell you what, I'll tell you my story, and if there are any questions, you can ask when I get to a stopping point, alright?" The two teenagers nodded. "Just let me know when you two are ready," Serenity voiced. The Shaolin warriors-in-training got comfortable and waited patiently for Serenity. With the sun setting painting the perfect backdrop, she began to speak.

"As you two were aware, I'm not originally from here in Earthrealm. However, I was actually born here. According to my mother, my birthday is on October 17th. Despite my appearance, I am chronologically about 100 years old. My mother herself has been living for about 10,000 years. If you were to look at both of us, you would think we were sisters." Kung Lao's mouth gaped. Serenity smirked at his reaction.

"So what does that make your father?" Liu Kang asked, beaming with curiosity.

"My father was human, just like you two. How my mother and father met was of coincidence. Mother was assigned a mission to study the history of Earthrealm to understand their laws. In the fated country called England, my father was almost burglarized, but Mother defeated the two thieves. Eventually, they grew to be friends, then lovers. Despite knowing of their relationship by my mother's words, I only remember him barely. Two items help keep him in my memory." Serenity went to grab a folded, yet crumpled piece of paper from inside her gauntlet. She unwrapped it and began to explain what it read.

"The first is a letter my father gave my mother before she and I departed to Seido, while he fought in the Great War." Serenity cleared her throat and began to read it. "'My dearest Krynn, it pains me to part from you due to me being needed in the draft for the war and heading for Europe. For you, it certainly hurts knowing that you will have to go back to where you called home. If only I could escape this world and be by your side, even if it's a short lifespan compared to yours. Despite that, you still risked going back and forth to be with me and Serenity when you had the chance.

"'If only you could see the way Serenity slept soundly in my arms. Every waking moment I have with her will always be the memories I shall cherish. And though she will outlive me for many centuries just like you, it warms my heart that our legacy has been passed down to her. I will miss seeing those eyes she inherited from me. I just hope our little girl can be as tough as you once you two set foot back to Seido. I know she will have a good role model in you and protect her from whatever threatens her.

"'No matter what the future holds, you and Serenity will always be the love of my life. You are my sun, and Serenity is my moon. By any chance, if my sister's kids end up having kids of their own, here's to hoping that Great Uncle Michael can introduce you two properly. If Heaven exists, I hope that one day we will meet there if this is the last time I am to ever be with you two here on Earth.'"

Serenity's breath shook when she finished reading the letter. Kung Lao went up to her and patted her shoulder. With a smile radiating with gratitude, she felt relieved. With one quick exhale, she continued.

"The next one is the locket my mother gifted me." Undoing her necklace, Serenity took it off and placed her fingers against the locket. Once she opened it, a picture of her father was revealed. The sepia color showcased the time the photo was taken, which Liu Kang and Kung Lao took note of.

"He does have your eyes, Serenity," Kung Lao said. "Aside from the Great War, why did you and your mother go back to Seido?"

"My mother thought it would be best for us to reside in Orderrealm so I could learn what she learned. She's also part of the Seidan council, so if she became missing in action with no update, then if found, she would be held on trial for treason. "It may sound strict, but Orderrealm has been consistent in being completely neutral to other realms. We had no wars, no economic issues, or any shortage of food, water, and supplies. Everything was structured. I'm sure you think that Seido is the quintessential utopia. given how I just described it, right?" Kung Lao nodded, but Liu Kang said,

"It doesn't have true freedom." Serenity nodded. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.

"Liu Kang is right. Everyone, regardless of our rank, was to obey every law to the fullest. One simple mistake and you could be charged for life imprisonment. The caste system existed to keep our statuses in check. If it weren't for my mother being in a position of influence, I may well have ended up at the bottom where those people are treated cruelly."

"Why?" Kung Lao asked.

"Because of my human heritage." Serenity frowned, trying her best not to relive some traumatic memories from her discrimination. "Seido desires perfection on top of being obedient and loyal. Not even my mother could be there for me when I was bullied for being half-Seidan. Even though I ranked well in studies, colleagues treated me like I was a Tarkatan from Outworld."

"That's unforgivable," Liu Kang muttered. "You never did anything wrong!" To help him calm down, Serenity patted him on the head.

"Even though those memories still haunt me, it's all in the past, Liu Kang. My hope is for you, Kung Lao, and the other Shaolin students can learn that everyone, regardless of race or identity is equal. Through peace, I want to return the favor for the kindness everyone here has given me." Liu Kang composed himself and nodded to Serenity with a serious nod.

"Okay you two, it is time for us to head back," Wen said a few feet away. Serenity went to him. With her previous thoughts and inspiration from seeing the matches, she asked him,

"Master Wen, I would like to train with you when you're available."

"I'll do my utmost to find a schedule that can work for us both," Wen assured, smiling at Serenity.

Wen waited for Liu Kang and Kung Lao to head in the elder's direction and the three headed back to the Wu Shi Academy. Serenity heard a flash of lightning behind her, implying that Raiden teleported them to the Wu Shi Academy. Another crackle of lightning came, and Raiden walked toward the half-Seidan.

"So you've heard everything?" Serenity asked the Thunder God.

"It is… rather rare that an Earthrealmer and Seidan would end up together." Serenity looked at Raiden with furrowed brows with worry. She hummed lowly in agreement. Raiden assured her, "Don't mistake that for me denouncing you. You seem to be an endearing figure to them. The students and monks can also learn from your perseverance despite your past."

"Raiden, may I ask you something?" He turned his head to Serenity. His mouth didn't open to speak, but he nodded, giving her the cue. "Perhaps whenever there is a time and place, is it possible that I can track down my father's whereabouts, or at least of what was?"

"If that is what your heart desires." She bowed in respect, thanking him silently. There seemed to be a lot to unravel during her time in Earthrealm. However, Serenity remained determined to see it through. The hope she has in her heart burned brightly.

"I'll fulfill the duty you have brought upon me first and foremost," Serenity assured. "Given my age, I'm aware my father may have since long passed, but if there is a way of knowing more about him, I will do anything to give myself that closure."

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With the introduction of the two Shaolin warriors, there's much to await for Serenity's relationship with them and of course Raiden. Thanks to MK1, there is a bit of world-building that I'm confident in adding, so I hope you can look forward to that! Hope this wasn't too exposition-y.

Also, judging by the last time this story was updated, it has been a while. I had a lot going on with work, family, and just trying to get through life as a whole. Also had a bit of writer's block because I was worried the way I wanted to take this story wouldn't be perceived well. I'm sure anyone who has written fanfiction can relate to this as well. So what I decided to do is that I'm going to take it day by day with how I'm planning this story to make it as good as I can.

Some of you may also have seen that I am working on another MK story. The MK1 men are really hot, like what the hell NRS? It's doing wonders in AO3 and I'm really proud of that. I'm still going to upload here as first priority so I'm not leaving FanFiction.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter regardless! Don't be afraid to review if there is something you liked, didn't like, or hope to see in this story.