Ashen grounds surrounded the graceful figure of Sepira. Her feet floated over the ground, refusing to stain her own prestige with the blood and dirt puddling the vast expanse of time itself.
"Kawahira," her voice echoed across the plane, commanding her counterpart's attention. "You have taken your darkness too far, my friend."
The elder god in question merely tilted his head in brief acknowledgment. "Too far? But Sepira, my dear, I have yet to go far enough," he responded vaguely. He kneeled down into the filth, running his hands through the blood as the anguish filled his veins. "These Earthrealmers have known safety far too long. They must know kombat."
Sepira frowned briefly as she moved her hand forward. Light slashed through the air, tumbling toward Kawahira quickly.
The elder god deflected it at the last minute as his helmet fell loose from his head. His white hair draped along his shoulders as he scoffed at the woman across from him. "You act so much higher than I when you are the same," he spat out venomously. "How dare you prevent the natural course of sin."
Kawahira's glowering had no effect on Sepira's stance. She sent another shining flash straight for Kawahira uncaringly. "You say they must have kombat, yet your greed shines through," she responded calmly. "My virtue sees through your sin as it always has."
"Have you no confidence in your beloved Earthrealmers?" Kawahira questioned in challenge. He wanted to get a rise out of his counterpart. He wanted to see her fury. "Afraid that those from Outworld and the Netherrealm will conquer?"
The tips Sepira's blue-green hair grew white as she narrowed her eyes. "I am of virtue. I have no fear for your sin-filled creatures," she retorted, her form shifting from beauty to horror to beauty again with each second of her anger. "If you insist, then I will allow kombat. In the fashion of tournaments, you shall see their might."
Kawahira bowed his head mockingly as his bloody armor changed to his black and white robes. "I shall prepare mine," he said, his voice conveying his success.
"And I shall prepare mine."
Sepira disappeared from the bloodied terrain in favor of the Heavens. Perhaps her anger was evident considering Talbot, her creator of all people, approached her.
"My dear light?" the titan called out, holding onto his cane as he remained hunched over.
The elder goddess gracefully swept her leg behind herself in order to bow. "Talbot, Titan of Time and Invention," she greeted with her arms outstretched. Her slim fingers slowly returned to her pale complexion and away from her blackened anger. "Ignore my anger over a small dispute. My other half ignorantly commenced kombat."
She was aware of her own half-truths. She was also ashamed of her unvirtuous behavior.
The titan's hardened expression hadn't moved. It never did. "I see. I modeled you and your counterpart after humans," he explained with a sigh. "Understand your anger and learn from it, my dear light," he lectured, walking past the elder god.
Sepira stayed bowed, looking up only to settle her cold expression into something softer. She continued on her way as she summoned her own little helper: Luce.
"Lower Goddess of Harmony," Sepira greeted.
Luce bowed her head, smiling sweetly as she was made to do. "Elder Goddess of Light and Virtue," the Goddess greeted back. She was a carbon copy of Sepira in ways that mattered most. A serene smile and short green-blue hair. The only difference was the eyes. Something even Sepira was unable to control. Instead of a glowing white, Luce held glowing blue eyes.
"The tournaments of Mortal Kombat shall begin. Earthrealmers shall join, so have the protectors choose their best and brightest," Sepira ordered, waving off the Lower Goddess with an uncaring hand.
Her rage simmered still. It was unsightly, and she refused to have her own creation watch her undoing.
Luce disappeared with the sound of twinkling light, and Sepira finally took a breath before shattering the vase nearest to her.
It was ugly and stood out against the simplicity that was the Heavens.
She took a breath and stared at the turquoise shards in disdain. She was sure that Kawahira had brought it to the Heavens, knowing it would upset Sepira. With a wave of her hand, she summoned two lowly Gods: Skull and Verde.
Putting on a smile, Sepira turned to them with outstretched arms of warmth and light. "Lower God of Death, Skull," she began with a sickeningly sweet voice. "I have called you and your brethren among Kawahira's creation here for a purpose," she reassured, taking notice of the Lower God of Death's fidgeting.
Apart from the fidgeting, Skull seemed skittish enough in his shifting expression which was surprising for one of Kawahira's creations. Usually they were brutish and arrogant much like Fon and Colonnello. Skull only seemed to fit the part of outlandish appearances which Kawahira seemed to adore strangely enough.
Verde looked on with vague disinterest as he took the time to respond instead, "Elder Goddess of Light and Virtue," he greeted back in the other God's place. "Is there a reason for my being here?"
Sepira's smile strained briefly before relaxing into something forgiving. How could she get mad at her own creation, after all? She was a combination of perfection and virtue combined. "Of course, Lower God of Lightning. I have called upon you as well in hopes that you will assist Earthrealm in the upcoming Kombat," she explained, watching as Skull stiffened in surprise.
His face stitched together in a strange way without any grace whatsoever. "Kombat? It's been six hundred years since the last one, so why now?" he asked, his deathly pale hands fiddling together.
Sepira sighed softly, looking away as she responded. She was only slightly ashamed to fall for Kawahira's mockery. "It seems Kawahira, your maker, would like to overtake Earthrealm. I simply ask that you and your Netherrealmers assist in training the best and brightest of Earthrealm," she said tiredly, pleading in a way that made her want to tear off her own face. It wouldn't have been the first time if she gave in to the urge.
Skull frowned as his face morphed further. His piercings an unsightly thing on his face, and she couldn't tell if it was the influence of some of those neanderthals on Earthrealm or if it was simply a custom of the Netherrealm. "Going against Kawahira's will is a bit-"
"-He may be our maker, but we are not required to listen to every word he commands," Verde hissed out. He seemed just as disgusted by Skull but for different reasons. "Imbecile," he spat out venomously. "Must you make it so difficult? This is an opportunity even if your stupidity blinds you from it."
Sepira had to withhold the frown threatening to mar her face. "What is it you want this time, Lower God of Lightning?" she asked after a moment of collecting herself. "More experiments?" she prodded further, distaste coloring her voice.
Verde grinned mischievously before nodding in satisfaction. "I've heard stories of the Tarkatans' resilience, Elder Goddess," he responded, not caring for Skull's skittish reaction at the heavily implied request.
Before Sepira could say anything, Skull spoke as well in a hushed concerned tone. "That…That would upset Fon and Colonnello," he pointed out, shaking at the mention of the two names. He seemed absolutely petrified by the thought which would not surprise Sepira at all. Fon and Colonnello were barbarically ruthless when angered.
She'd seen it firsthand one time only. There had been a merchant festival, and Fon's anger brought him to slaughter each one there. There were organs spilling and-
She stopped herself before she could think anymore of that distinctly horrid memory.
Verde shrugged off Skull's concerns, not worrying too much about them as he seemingly focused on the idea of more test subjects. "It matters not what they think. How could they go against an Elder Goddess such as our maker's counterpart?" he reasoned, the slight being obvious in his tone.
Skull nodded slowly in agreement, glancing around as if he would be ambushed. "If I also help, will safety for my Netherrealmers be guaranteed?" he asked slowly, nervously staring at Verde accusingly. "We are often the victims of…experimentation."
The Lower God of Lightning seemingly scoffed at the implication provided, but Sepira didn't care much for what Verde thought. What she really needed was Skull's tutelage and Netherrealmers. She was sure she could survive with or without Verde. It was nice to have a safety precaution and all, but if need be, she would withdraw the offer from him.
She felt the satisfaction bubble in her chest as she nodded in agreement to both of their requests. "Of course," she began. "Such things and more will be granted in exchange for your help in this matter."
Verde and Skull both bowed their heads; one was more mocking than the other, but it was an agreement to her statement nonetheless.
Sepira bowed her head slightly as well, watching as the two left. Verde's lightning, thankfully, did not leave a char on the ground while Skull's eerie smoke of death washed over the ground briefly before dissipating with its master.
It was truly incredibly virtuous of her to accept such requests. Verde's keen interest in experimentation had been cute at first, but it quickly grew disgusting as he began to commit atrocities in the name of invention.
She never interfered because it seemed to amuse Talbot greatly, and that was worth much more than any sin she would turn a blind eye to.
On the other hand, Skull had an…interesting taste in decoration and appearance. He enjoyed macabre just as much as any of Kawahira's creations. He simply disliked the act of violence which was fortunate.
Pulling her pristinely white hood over her head, Sepira glanced down the hall vaguely when she felt a disgustingly familiar presence accompanied by a presence that she deemed utterly awe-inspiring.
Isn't she just too wonderful for not minding her counterpart's disgusting presence?
"Sepira, I trust that your preparations are well underway," Kawahira hummed as he walked down the hall with Talbot by his side.
The Titan's look of an old man was endearing to Sepira, but even she felt envious at his obvious favoritism at the moment. She would simply have to do something to gain back the favor she deserved.
"Of course, Kawahira," she responded, glancing at Talbot for some sort of praise. "My Earthrealmers shall most certainly win against the realms."
Talbot nodded, a small smile gracing his face. "Just as I was finished talking to you, I ran into Kawahira but a moment later," he commented, his voice grunting through the sentence roughly.. "Shall we all go together to the cosmos?"
Sepira smiled to herself rather than smiling at the other two in the white halls. "But of course. It would be my honor," she agreed, bowing gracefully. Too bad she would be stuck with Kawahira as well.
Talbot made a small clicking sound in satisfaction, his cane hitting the ground which successfully opened up the entry to the cosmos.
Sepira let her feet touch the pristine grass, watching as it grew beneath her feet due to the energy of her powers. It was the complete opposite of the way the grass beneath Kawahira died and blackened vilely.
How disturbingly disgusting for a being like Kawahira to ruin the cosmos of all places. It was a land of paradise created for Demigods to reside if they choose to.
At that thought, Sepira vaguely registered the two voices that greeted the three higher beings.
"We greet the Titan of Time and Invention, the Elder Goddess of Light and Virtue, and the Elder God of Darkness and Sin," the voices echoed.
Two Demigods resembling Sepira were bowed before the three beings.
Sepira smiled gently, "Raise your heads, children. The child and grandchild of my creation Luce are expectedly polite and beautiful," she praised, staring at the younger one, Yuni, specifically. "You especially take after my creation lineage with your refined grace."
The younger Demigod blushed brightly at the praise. "Thank you, My Lady," she responded, attempting to uphold the grace she was complimented on.
The older one, Aria as Sepira recalled, stared down at her daughter proudly before looking back at Sepira. "It was thanks to your benevolence that my daughter has been granted the equal blood to become a full Demigod, My Lady," she pointed out gratefully. "How else could she be up to the standards set for my mother?"
Sepira had to appreciate Aria's beauty and grace even if it wasn't as refined nor elegant as Luce's. It was different yet still so very wonderful. It was regal in a more warrior-like way which fit her wonderfully.
The Elder Goddess nodded her head toward Aria. "You both may continue with your day. I have simply come with my counterpart and maker for a visit," she reassured, guiding the way for Talbot to the spring of magic essence on the floating island. It was a sparkling blue that seemed as if it was reflecting the stars above. Its magical properties reflected the true form of the Titan between the two Elder Gods and their own reflections.
Talbot slowly submerged his body beneath the water-like substance, relaxing into it as his energy and power surrounded him in a gentle hum.
Sepira was unsure as to what his Life Essence type was. He'd never told anyone for some peculiar reason. There wasn't much anyone in existence could do with that information, but she accepted his secrecy on the matter nonetheless.
The Titan glanced up at his two creations, "Tell me, has any progress been made yet?" he asked the two, clearly expecting something despite the commencement having happened less than a day ago.
Then again, life must look exceedingly to being who made all of the realms after just three days of life.
Kawahira smiled grimly as he stared down at the Titan. "I have yet to do anything, but I plan to make Wonomichi visit Outworld soon," he replied. "Regardless, the Outworlders have been waiting for this day, so surely they will be prepared."
His counterpart smugly looked over at him, "Is that so? I have already had Luce set out to gather those who shall be Earthworld's kombatants," she huffed, obviously bragging about her achievements. "I have also recruited the assistance of Lower Gods Skull and Verde in training and providing more kombatants from the Netherrealm."
The urchin next to Sepira tensed as he glared at her. "You recruited two of my creations? How impudent can you be, Sepira?" he spat out venomously, turning toward her as his glowing eyes shifted from black to pure indigo.
Sepira smiled slyly at him, turning slowly to face him as well. "How dare I?" she hummed in amusement. "What is it you once said? All is fair in mortal kombat?"
There was an animalistic growl before Kawahira angrily threw his fist toward her only for it to go through a silver portal instead.
Talbot stood from the spring, the substance falling off of him while he remained dry. "You dare fight without properly challenging her while in my presence?" he hissed in surprise, his voice booming through the air. "Are you that dim, Elder God of Darkness and Sin?"
The Elder God withdrew his fist from the portal, his nose scrunching up in shame and fury. "...My apologies, Great Titan of Time and Invention," he reluctantly said before giving Sepira a cursory glance of determination. "Then I challenge the Elder Goddess of Light and Virtue to kombat," he finalized.
Sepira smiled at the challenge, nodding her head toward Talbot confidently. "Do find peace within when you inevitably lose," she taunted serenely, making her kind appearance all the more holy, as Earthrealmers would call it.
Talbot nodded as he settled back into the spring. "Fight," he ordered, watching as fists flew.
Kawahira threw the first punch, watching in his anger as she dodged gracefully. Her foot hit him in the face in the next split second.
She flew back, switching her stance as they both launched toward one another yet again. His fist landed somewhere in her ribs, and she could hear the bones snapping and crunching under the force of his fist. She only gritted her teeth as she summoned her staff, hitting him in the face and then in the chest repeatedly.
He barely had the time to retaliate when Sepira used spears made of light to stab through his arms, kicking him back forcefully.
He fell to the ground, losing the first round as she knew he would.
She flew further back and waited against a throne of spears of light. "Oh, go ahead and take your time getting up," she taunted peacefully, confidence exuding from her posture.
He stood back up, gritting his teeth in a disgustingly human-like way.
He threw several more punches, most of which she dodged. He used her cockiness to grab her by the throat, crushing her esophagus while summoning a black, shadowy sword to stab through her stomach.
She fell to her knees where he then used his knee to crush her skull in.
She bounced back to her feet after swaying for a moment. Their fists exchanged for a few moments longer before she spun in the air, kicking him in the head with enough force to smash his skull in.
There was a sickening crack audible through the air as she took her spears and gutted him, his organs spilling out around bright gold blood.
He fell to the ground, making Sepira the winner.
Sepira stood victoriously over him, offering her hand in a mocking way as Kawahira sat up.
The Elder God, instead of shoving the hand away, stubbornly accepted it. He glowered as his hand gripped Sepira's upper arm tightly, standing proudly despite his defeat.
Talbot applauded as he got out of the spring. "Goodness, my dear Sepira. That was quite impressive," he admitted as he grabbed his cane before briefly looking back at his other creation.
"Be a good sport," the Titan offered with a dull tone, nodding toward Sepira. "Won't you walk with me, my dear?"
The Elder Goddess smiled serenely at her maker, nodding back toward him. "Of course. Are we done here?" she asked him, receiving a simple nod before the two left side by side.
Sepira made sure to nod toward her creation's daughter and granddaughter in parting before taking her leave. She proudly walked back through the pristine halls with the Titan by her side, feeling the nauseating shift in time as they walked into his personal hide-away.
She paused curiously when he placed his cane against the door reaching for his blind fold.
Sepira's glowing eyes widened by a fraction as rough, wrinkled hands shot up to grab her face. She was suddenly faced with Talbot's eyes, echoing the ages of time and effectively freezing her in place. The feeling of warmth was overwhelming as her eyes turned into a glowing orange instead of the cool white she was used to feeling.
The orange flower beneath her right eye burned as she started to tremble, crystallized tears of light collecting in her eyes. "What…" she trailed off breathlessly as images of rotting Earthrealm corpses collected over rotted and gutted land flashed quickly through her head. "What is this…" she managed, shrieking and collapsing when he let go.
Talbot looked taller than usual, his eyes firm as his lips were set in a thin line. "The future, my dear Sepira," he told her grimly. "That is what lies ahead for Earthrealm in the case that they fail."
Sepira was in shock as she touched the crystals on the ground. She had never cried before. What a horrible feeling, she thought briefly to herself. "I cannot let that pass," she muttered before reaching to shakily clutch at his robes. "Oh, great timekeeper, how am I to prevent such atrocities?"
His hand touched the top of her gently in comfort. He looped his blindfold back around his eyes as he hushed her gently like a father would, "My dear Sepira," he began. "The answer is in the form of an Earthrealmer by the name of Tsunayoshi Sawada. He must join the tournament," he urged.
The Elder Goddess nodded in understanding as she stood with his help. "I will ensure that he is recruited," she muttered, gaining strength in her voice. "Please. Show me what he looks like," she implored.
Talbot hesitated before placing his hands back on her face.
Sepira inhaled sharply as she saw him as clear as day. He was fresh and beautiful in his own human way, standing tall and proud among his fellow Earthrealm champions. His flaming fists full of life essence led the way through the darkness that consumed Outworld.
She'd never seen such pure essence before even in her own creations. She'd especially never seen such a pure Sky Essence in an Earthrealmer. Theirs are much dimmer and murkier and unused.
Sepira gasped as the hands released her face, yet the image would stay clear in her head. That person truly was the savior they needed.
Taking time to recompose herself, she bowed briefly to Talbot, "Your will shall be done," she swore before forcing her body to leave in strong, confident strides.
Kawahira was outside of the swirling gray portal which led to Talbot's hide away. "What did he want with you?" he asked, snarling. There was suspicion in his face which made Sepira a tad bit smug.
The Elder Goddess merely smiled. "So eager for another fight?" she hummed mockingly, hiding her previous weakness and vulnerability in the face of Talbot's visions.
Anger flashed across Kawahira's face before he settled. "Do keep in mind that you started all of this. From beginning to end, you were always the one to initiate," he hissed out.
Sepira's eyes fell briefly before she coldly glared at Kawahira. "None of which would have been necessary had you kept a closer eye on your creations," she retorted before teleporting away from her counterpart.
Light and warmth surrounded her as she moved to her room, as she likes to call it. It was a large place that was white from floor to ceiling except for the strokes of pale orange every once in a while.
Her eyes trailed to the floor when she felt something drip down her hand. It was cold and had a sweet floral smell to it, strangely enough. She attempted to think back in her long life when she recognized the blood trailing down her arm and onto the floor. When was the last time she bled?
Thinking about it was too much. She was far too old, but she vaguely recalled a fight with Kawahira when she was younger. He had won that one, mocking and taunting her while she was down.
That was all in the past. She instead pushed her focus into her newer injury which she must've received earlier during her fight with Kawahira. The one she had won.
She was in no mood to fix her wound. She simply undressed, her white robes pooling on the ground. Her arm was completely torn up and slightly singed around the torn edges of skin. It was almost as if a claw with poison lacing the fingers had dug into it, strangely enough.
Her white glowing eyes warmed to a gentle orange as she felt her life essence pulse into her, healing all aches and sins Kawahira had innflicted.
As she rearranged her newly cleaned robes back onto her body, she wondered briefly on whether Talbot ever considered resetting time, changing and shaping it into a better world.
Her arm throbbed painfully, confusing her before she remembered the injury. How horrid. An Elder Goddess who could scar.
The cleansing of her body soothed her shaken soul from her conversation with her creator. Should that savior not be found and convinced to join…
She turned her head stubbornly, refusing to imagine such a possibility. Luce would succeed as well as Earthrealm. There was no other choice nor option. Without much deliberation, Sepira opened a mind link to Luce, sending her a message.
'Report to me as soon as you are finished, and make sure a man named Tsunayoshi Sawada is recruited.'