AN: Special thanks goes to Story's Shadow.
-USM Dimension, Unknown location, the next day-
Underground laid a mix of traditional medieval architecture and modern technological innovations. Dozens of people in a variety of clothing walked around. Some carried weapons as they sparred and trained in quarters off areas. Others laughed as they shared stories. But guards stood posted around the area, in modernized knight armor.
Then a purple mist appeared and twisted upwards, like a swift snake.
The guards jumped into action, unsheathing swords and arming crossbows with bolts. Those young men and a few women training and sparring ran to the crowd once ordered by the guards.
"Get the king!" One guard ordered.
A few of the young squires ran into a hall with the crowd.
From the mist emerged Doctor Strange and Raiden.
They looked around them. The guards with crossbows and them trained on the thunder god and the sorcerer. Those with blades, stood their ground.
"We mean you no harm. We seek an audience," Raiden explained.
"Who are you?!" One guard demanded.
"My name is Raiden," the thunder god answered.
The guards looked at one another, unsure and confused.
"Is that a demon name?" One knight asked another.
"Not one that I've heard before," they replied.
"I am no demon, but do not be so quick to judge them either," Raiden said.
"Are you insane?!" One scoffed.
"Why did you say that?" Doctor Strange whispered.
"I have met some in Japan that were benevolent," Raiden replied.
"Oh...right," Doctor Strange agreed after a few moments.
"I say we run the demon lover through. The other, I don't know yet," one guard said.
"But without the king's command?" Another asked.
"Hold!" A voice called out.
All eyes turned to a figure flaked by knights exiting the hall, a middle aged man with storm blue eyes and a muscular build in regal armor and robes with red crosses on white fields marched towards them.
"There will be no violence here unless necessary," he ordered.
The guards bowed.
"Yes, my king," they all said.
The man turned to the sorcerer and the thunder god. He looked between the two of them.
"We know of you...sorcerer...you were who one of my knights found trying to understand the magic that has invaded our world," the king said.
"Yes," Strange replied.
"How did you find us?" The king asked.
"Some magic and some help," the sorcerer answered.
The king didn't reply.
"And you?" The king asked Raiden.
"Raiden," the god answered.
The king's brow furrowed. He rubbed his chin.
"I've heard that name somewhere," the man mumbled.
"I have been given many names...another perhaps more well known one is Raijin," the thunder god explained.
The king contemplated on this. His eyes narrowed but he sighed.
"Ah...I've heard...a tale or two from Japanese legend...a...'thunder god'," he struggled to say.
"Pagan?" One guard gasped.
"Heathen god," another spat under their breath.
The king raised his hand to silence them.
"As we have told your men: we haven't come to harm anyone...we have come to warn you...and ask for your help," Raiden replied.
The man looked over the two of them, thinking. He sighed.
"Stand down," the king ordered.
Some of the guards were hesitant, but obeyed him.
"Walk with me," the king said.
He turned and Raiden & Strange followed. As they followed him, Strange saw the young man he'd encountered with a young woman. He nodded to him. And the young knight slowly nodded back.
Soon Raiden and Strange found themselves in the great hall. Tapestries and painted windows pictured knights battling demons.
"You're the Knights Templar," Strange said.
"Yes," the king simply answered.
"And you're their king? Doesn't England already have a monarch?" Strange responded.
"They really refer to me as 'king'...I'm a direct descendant of King Richard...my name is Thomas," he explained.
"Your majesty, we aren't here to speak ill of you or your followers. As I said: we've come to warn you of a threat to this realm," Raiden said.
They stopped walking.
"What kind of threat?" Thomas asked.
Raiden went through his explanation. Thomas was silent for several minutes, pondering this.
"So this tournament...this Shao Kahn has offered our world to choose people to fight his warriors for our freedom?" Thomas asked.
Raiden nodded.
Thomas shook his head, scoffing.
"And he has a realm full of demons that will fight for him?" Thomas asked.
"Their alliance is...questionable, but it is still dangerous," Raiden answered.
"Have any from this world been picked?" Thomas asked.
"Not yet," Raiden answered.
"I strongly consider at least one of my knights...or me," Thomas suggested, resting one hand on the pommel of his blade.
"But still, your forces should be prepared for war...if he were to win this tournament, he would invade my world first then come for yours," Raiden replied.
Thomas slowly nodded.
Strange was quiet.
"And what of you, sorcerer?" Thomas asked.
"I am still the way of preparing spells to defend against this threat. I have faced several otherworldly foes...I will not be ill prepared for this one," Strange answered.
The man nodded.
"There will be people from S.H.I.E.L.D. that will contact you to coordinate our efforts," Strange added.
"Be warned though, they warriors Shao Kahn will send are very dangerous...and I also know he will seek villains from your world as well," Raiden explained.
"Who would sell out their world?" Thomas scoffed.
"You don't know what men will do if offered everything they've ever dreamed of," Raiden warned, ominously.
Thomas slowly nodded.
Raiden nodded back. Suddenly he and Strange were struck by lightning somehow and once the light faded, they were gone. Thomas slowly did the sign of the cross on his body, his eyes a little wide.
To Be Continued...