Rain assaulted the streets and alleyways of Hong Kong as a man in a tuxedo and a woman in a black dress holding a crying baby ran down the alley. Passing buildings abandoned under the light of the moon until they came to a fence. The man turned back pulling out a knife as their pursuer stepped into the light, a horrific monster in traditional clothing with bones almost overtaking one of his arms. The monster roared with its mouth closer to that of an Angler Fish than a human before charging the man with horrific blades made of its bones growing from its wrists. It used these blades to cut off the man's hand holding the knife and stab him through the shoulder before biting into his neck; he would have no doubt done more if his nose didn't catch a whiff of a better prize. The monster looked up to the woman, its eyes locked on the baby.
"No! No!" the woman said more on instinct than intention before reaching up to attempt to climb over the fence. The monster was faster than she was and it charged her, stabbing her in the shoulder and pulling her to the ground before tearing the baby from her arms and opening its mouth to consume the child whole. At that moment the power of the storm above grew rain pelted down harder and the lighting and thunder came closer till between the monster and the woman came a singular strike of lighting which brought with it a new man. This man wore white robes which left his left arm and chest exposed, he wore a blue sash, had an amulet over his heart, and a straw hat on his head which would have hidden his eyes if they weren't glowing blue. The man grabbed the monster by the mouth, taking the baby into his hand before shocking the monster with electricity till it was a charred corpse. The man then turned to the woman bleeding out on the ground kneeling down to her. The woman put her hand on the baby's face.
"My son. Little Liu Kang. Tell him…tell him he was loved," were her last words as she went limp. The man stood up and looked around before raising his hand and both he and the baby vanished in a flash of lighting.
-21 Years Later-
Liu Kang ran a wet hand over his face letting the cold liquid bring him back to the present. That dream was so strange.
"You ready?" an all too familiar braggadocious voice said from behind him. Liu Kang turned to
seeing his brother Kung Lao. Looking upon his brother expelled the dream from his mind he knew his family and the people in that dream weren't his family.
"Yes. You?"
"When am I not?"
"As confident as ever,"
"Why not I was born for this,"
"Then let's go." The brothers walked out to the crowds of monks sitting in a massive circle around a platform held up by four massive statues and a bridge over a river. At this bridge stood Lord Raiden, now holding a wooden staff with a blue gemstone at the top, his sister deity Lady Fujin, Madam Bo their teacher, and another monk carrying a box. The brothers walked up to the three figures of authority.
"I take it you are both ready?" Lord Raiden asked.
"We are," Liu Kang said.
"Remember you have both done well to make it this far you should be proud," Lady Fujin said.
"You hear that Liu Kang is proud of this," Kung Lao whispered to his brother.
"You two are truly my greatest students. I am nothing but proud," Madam Bo said. The brothers bowed to their mentor before walking down the bridge to the center where they assumed a similar kneeling position to the other monks, once they had done this Lord Raiden spoke.
"You have all done well this academy has truly made some of the greatest warriors I have ever seen. Before you two have proven themselves the greatest of your number Liu Kang and Kung Lao. However, only one of you may be chosen as my champion for Mortal Kombat." Raiden thunder struck around them as Raiden called out, "FIGHT!" Liu Kang and Kung Lao rose to their feet and began circling each other sizing up their brother. Liu Kang was wearing a white shirt held closed by a red sash belt with black and red pants, simple shoes, and simple hand guards. Kung Lao wore much nicer black robes with blue pants, nicer boots, arms guards as well as a red sash belt and a blue sash with his name in Mandarin written on it and his straw hat atop his head.
"Don't get too sad when I win," Kung Lao said, assuming the Tiger Stance.
"There must be humility in both victory and loss. Let us hope you live that," Liu Kang said, assuming the Dragon stance. The brothers charged each other and Kung Lao immediately took the offensive, going for a punch attack which Liu Kang dodged, kicking him in the chest. Kung Lao recovered and resumed his offensive which Liu Kang defended against bicycle kicking Kung Lao back before going on the offensive himself. Kung Lao blocked the chop, elbowed Liu Kang back and kicked him twice, throwing Liu Kang to the ground ending the match.
"Don't feel bad you're facing a direct descendant of the Great Kung Lao," Kung Lao said as he walked back to the other side of the arena. Liu Kang jumped back up and this time took the offensive running into a jump punch against Kung Lao. Kung Lao pushed Liu Kang's attack to the side, kicking him in the back with both feet pushing himself back to a standing position mid jump. Liu Kang recovered as Kung Lao charged, beginning a combo of kicks Liu Kang dodged all but the last which he blocked, pushing back he then followed with a punch to Kung Lao's chest sending him sliding back. Before Kung Lao could react Liu Kang launched himself forward to kick Kung Lao. Kung Lao, more on instinct than anything else, threw his hat toward Liu Kang. The hat hit Liu Kang across the chest but had little effect and Liu Kang kicked in the face, knocking him to the ground.
"You forget I too am a direct descendant of the Great Kung Lao," Liu Kang said returning to his side of the ring as Kung Lao got up. The third round began and both men charged each other. In this round more than any other they were truly equal, each throwing and parrying attacks in a vicious dance until Liu Kang managed to push Kung Lao back. Liu Kang used this opportunity to do a flip kick followed with an uppercut knocking Kung Lao down.
"Enough! Liu Kang wins!" Lord Raiden said, walking down to the arena as Kung Lao got up. Liu Kang bowed to the God of Thunder. Lord Raiden used his hand to order a monk carrying a box to come forward. Lady Fujin walked down to join the three.
"Well done," she said. The Monk carried the box to Lord Raiden's side. Lord Raiden reached
inside grabbed an amulet and handed it to Liu Kang.
"Wear this," he said. Liu Kang did so by putting the amulet on his sash.
"That amulet was forged by the titans; it shall give you control over the element of fire, test it," Raiden said. Liu Kang threw a punch to the sky and that punch lit a flame. Liu Kang looked at his fist.
"I thank you," Liu Kang said bowing to the two.
"You earned it now, rest we leave for the island tomorrow," Lord Raiden said. Liu Kang left the arena being congratulated by the other monks. Kung Lao walked over and picked up his hat, running his hand along the edge before putting it back on his head.
"You did well," Lady Fujin said from behind him.
"Not well enough evidently," Kung Lao said walking away.
"So our Shaolin champion is chosen," Fujin said as Raiden walked close to her.
"Indeed I will collect the Lin Kuei champion. Do you still wish to have those others to accompany?" Raiden said.
"Yes they are heroes brother they just don't know it yet,"
"I pray for all our sakes that you are right," with these few words the two deities vanished in a tornado and strike of lighting.
Liu Kang stood at a balcony that looked out over the mountains that the temple was built among. Ever since he and Kung Lao had been sent here this is the only home he's known and now he was leaving it was a strange feeling.
"Alright?" the calming voice of Madam Bo asked, knocking Liu Kang out of his trance. Liu Kang looked to see his mentor offering a cup of tea.
"Yeah, just lost in thought," Liu Kang said while taking the tea and taking a sip.
"About what?"
"Just it feels weird that tomorrow I'll be leaving this place for the first time in sixteen years,"
"Ah that is a big change isn't it?"
"Yes,"
"Do you wish not to go?"
"Earthrealm is in danger. I can't just sit by," Liu Kang said though it was clear this was the answer he had been telling himself and a piece of him wished wasn't true. Madam Bo stayed quiet for a long moment before speaking again.
"What is Earthrealm?" she said.
"What?" Liu Kang said.
"You heard me. What is Earthrealm?"
"It's earth. It's everything we know,"
"No, what is Earthrealm to you?"
"Earthrealm to me?"
"Yes, just think about Earthrealm, what comes to mind?" Madam Bo said. Liu Kang did as he was told and began thinking. Earthrealm was the mountains before them, the fish in the waters, the skies which Lord Raiden and Lady Fujin ruled, the smiles of his family.
"You get it don't you?" Madam Bo said, bringing him back to the present.
"Whatever you think of, remember that keep it close to your heart and you will never be far from home," Madam Bo said before walking away lighting a cigarette as she did. Liu Kang watched her leave and balled his fists no matter what he would fight for Earthrealm. He would fight for his home.