"Ugh… I think I'm going to lose all that fire I ate…"
Link pointed out that there were several vomit bags, and thus, succumbing to something like motion sickness shouldn't make that big of a mess-
"Hurgh!"
… Dang it.
"Really Natsu? You're lucky you didn't make that mess over my strawberry cakes." Erza mentioned.
"So, anyone want to get Ace's ashes in the regen machine, or are we waiting to get back to the hotel?"
"Don't be a jerk, Red. Just because it took us a few days to get all of your ashes, doesn't mean that we didn't at least try." Sonic pointed out.
"Yeah, well… I wasn't planning on having to clean up any messes today." Red mumbled a bit before turning to Natsu, "And would you stop trying to eat Charizard's tail flame?"
"Sorry. I need something to help keep me grounded." Natsu waved off in a lazy manner.
"You do know that if it goes out, he dies. Right?" Red growled more than asked.
Yeesh, sorry."
"Hmm."
"Hanzo, don't you dare try to kill him when he gets here." Ryu said sternly.
"I'm not planning to."
"I don't want to have to clean up blood like the time when…" Ryu paused for a moment, "Okay, when did you two become friends?"
"A while ago. When I found out that it was Quan Chi that killed my family and clan, and not the Lin Kuei." Hanzo sighed, "I do hope that it is Kuai Liang. We have a truce of sorts going on, and I wish to better flesh it out when he gets here."
"What if it turns out to be Bi Han?" Ryu asked carefully.
"Then I'll have to prepare my weapons."
"To be fair," Ratchet said from behind a different computer that he was fixing, "They used scenes that were clearly Kuai Liang. I'd say that you don't have to worry about Noob Saibot trying to tear you in half."
Hanzo chuckled a bit, "I wouldn't say that. The Lin Kuei and the Shirai Ryu have many differences that caused the split in the first place."
"How exactly did the split happen in the first place, anyways?" Clank asked, genuinely curious.
"That is a long story, small one. But, I suppose I'll tell it." Hanzo said.
"Come along now, we can have the story told in the garden."
"Our story begins, as many stories do. At the beginning." Hanzo started.
"Wait a moment, don't all stories start at the beginning?" Rainbow Dash questioned, "I've read some good books, and they don't open like that."
"Well, when you're the one telling the story, you can tell it the way you want." Hanzo countered.
"Where was I? Ah right. The beginning…"
Long ago, in the distant lands of what would eventually be called China, a fearsome clan was made. This clan was known and feared throughout the land as the Lin Kuei. They left no survivors in their wake, and were feared by many.
But one man, named Takeda-
Dash: Wait, like your apprentice Takeda?
Clank: I must say that that is confusing.
Hanzo: No. Not like my apprentice. He has a warrior's name, and he deserves it.
A man named Takeda learned all that he could from the clan, and left for his homeland of Japan.
The Lin Kuei did not take kindly to that. For leaving the clan meant treason, and treason meant death.
Astro: Seriously? They wanted to kill your adopted son?
Hanzo: Again, Takeda Takahashi was only my apprentice. As much as I'd appreciate having a family again, he is not my son.
Pinkie: It's weird talking like this, and not being in the author's notes, but maybe you should keep an open mind when Jax gets here.
Hanzo: I still have no idea what you're talking about. Now can we get back to the story?
Takeda managed to elude death for a long time. He offered his skills to the lords and generals, who eventually adapted it into the ninjitsu of today.
He eventually founded a new clan, one that he named the Shirai Ryu. They mocked the Lin Kuei for their cowardice by wearing yellow-
Astro: Wait a moment, isn't yellow a color of courage in Japan?
Hanzo: I assumed that it was basically saying "We have courage and you do not."
Ryu: Makes enough sense to me.
They wore yellow to show that they had courage. And they were the only clan to not fear the Lin Kuei.
The war between the clans lasted for generations, and Takeda eventually passed when his tea was poisoned.
Pinkie: Wait, I just realized something.
Hanzo: Now what?
Pinkie: If they're ninjas, as in the masters of silence and stealth, why would they wear bright yellow as their uniform?
Hanzo: Well miss Pie, it goes to show you just how well-trained they were by doing that.
Eventually a bastard sorcerer named Quan Chi struck a deal with both clans in a bid to get Shinnok's amulet, and-
"I think we both know where this one goes, Hanzo." Ryu cut off, "It's best not to reopen old wounds like that.
"We all saw the preview, Hasashi." Clank responded, "We know about what happened."
"Well, it was nice being able to tell a story again. It reminded me of Jubei, and the bedtime stories I used to read to him when he was…" Hanzo trailed off
"As I said, old friend. No need to make yourself uncomfortable with such memories like that." Ryu reminded the former spectre.
"Right. Thanks old friend. Now, I believe we had a delivery of tea and other spices coming soon. Perhaps I'll make something for everyone."
Pinkie: Hanzo's a nice guy. It's a shame about his family though.
Wade: Yeah. That part of his story is depressing. And considering he's from a game where the primary goal is to kill each other-
X: They don't always kill each other Wade.
Wade: Right. They beat each other to near-death, and then kill each other.
X: Whatever. It was nice, y'know. Not doing anything that had to relate to that crap arc-
Pinkie: We made a contract. You can't talk about it here anymore.
X: I meant the one I wrote. Damn, I wouldn't have had to do most of that stuff if people weren't so sensitive about fictional fathers.
Wade: Like how you're sensitive about some random blonde chick?
X: … Alexis, back me up here.
Alexis: Tweet tweet.
X: Thanks Alexis. You're a real help.
Wade: For those of you unaware, X here was being sarcastic.
X: Typical disclaimer shit. I'm taking a break. Wake me up when Sub-Zero's preview is on youtube.
