Chapter 7: Imperfection of Peace
Mortal Kombat World
The Shirai Ryu region has never seen better days than this. It has never been more peaceful than ever. The clan has been more protective of their fellow people now that their enemies have been defeated.
And now, it has been months for them as well as they have not had any threats. They like this feeling, but often at times, it bothers them that their enemies can be quiet. And this isn't the first time they had this feeling. But with all of that done, everyone is back to the things they do best around here. Training, protecting, providing.
The Shirai Ryu masters as well as the monks and chujins are getting ready for a visitor. They sit and have breakfast while they wait.
"So ready to see what is the new thing we're supposed to learn." Satoshi said as he ate his food.
"I know what you're talking about. The ability to draw power with negative emotions and turn it into strength added from positive memories. I've read about it during my advanced teachings when I was a chujin myself. That the Matoka Tribe discovered it." Takeda replied. Now this peaks Jacqui's interests as she looks at her husband with a smile from across the table.
"Oh, I want a piece of that. Hopefully it'll be as good as the jinsei power that we once had when we took down Dogron all those years ago. If not better." Jacqui smirked with interest.
"But do you really need to use such powers? We may have defeated the titans, but I do not see the use of them if Mileena is no threat." Kung Gen expressed her opinion.
"Regardless of her less leadership skills, one must never underestimate the enemy. And remember, we fight by any means necessary. It may become useful. But at the same time, power must not be abused, or else it will only lead to greed and hunger for more, which leads to arrogance. Or worse: insanity." Kung Lao reminds his great niece.
"And that goes for everyone. Not just us. I mean, take Daegon, Triborg and Shao Kahn for example. They all had similar goals and look where that has gotten them." Kung Jin.
"Because they're a bunch of dumbasses that don't ever learn." Vera joked. Jacqui smacks her on the shoulder with her backhand, reminding her to watch her language in front of guests. "Sorry. But still. Daegon got greedy, and apparently if I remember, Shao Kahn cursed him, knowing what would happen. But those titans. Not gonna lie, they scared the hell out of me."
"On that, we agree." Kung Lao replied. "Our guests should be arriving shortly. Let us prepare for their arrival."
The four masters leave the table and walk outside to wait for their next guest. Gen stays behind with Vera and Satoshi.
"So. How is your love life together holding up? How stable is it?" Kung Gen asked.
"It's been going well. We grew stronger during our time in the Birthrealm. The past few weeks were worth it. I'm actually glad we got together during the whole thing with the Red Dragon and fighting near the end of the world." Satoshi smiled.
"Oh, I wouldn't want to waste a single minute with you, love. Not one minute." Vera caressed his face.
Outside, the seven warriors stand in front of the Shirai Ryu temple and they see Fujin approaching them. He approaches the masters.
"My friends. Masters. How pleasing it is to see you all have survived your trip across the multiverse. Liu Kang has told me everything." Fujin bows to them.
"Good to see you too, Fujin." Kung Lao nodded. "And you as well, Nightwolf."
"So. I have heard that you wanted to show us something. Something that only the Matoka can learn on their own?" Kung Jin asked.
"So. More superpowers. So how will this whole thing work?" Vera asked.
"I shall give you a demonstration. Let us start with your parents. May I?" Nightwolf asked.
Takeda and Jacqui step forward. "So how does this thing work? Does it work the same way as it did for Kitana and Alex?" Jacqui asked.
"Indeed. Now follow my instructions. Close your eyes and breathe." Nightwolf instructed and they did so. He places his hands on their shoulders. "Now think of all of the negative memories you have endured. Feel the energy from Earthrealm run through you. Now endure all the positive memories and turn then into your greatest strength."
Takeda and Jacqui each had painful memories, but not as much as Cassie or even Alex. They both remember losing their mothers when Vera originally died in a car accident and when Sochen was killed by the Red Dragon. And of course, the day they got married was considered their happiest memory. Followed by all the times they had with their best friends, Kung Jin and being among the Shirai Ryu. The energy around them glows brighter than usual. Takeda and Jacqui open their eyes and are astounded by their appearance. This gains their attention.
"Hmm. Strange. This has not happened before. Not with the Cage family, nor in Outworld." Nightwolf said with some confusion. But he senses something familiar. "I know this feeling. This feels like Earthrealm's jinsei. How is this possible? Grandmaster and Mistress, may I ask? How did you even acquire this energy in the first place?"
"A Red Dragon leader named Dogron. Daegon's son. He stole the Shirai Tablet years ago after I married Jacqui. It holds sacred jinsei power that only worthy Shirai Ryu members can earn after marriage." Takeda explained.
"He corrupted its power and tried to use it against us, but the first Ancestor was living inside it and cleansed it, and gave us the jinsei powers from within it. With that kind of thing, Takeda and I both killed him. But after that, we haven't been able to summon it ever since. According to Hanzo Hasashi, it only comes up when our lives are in danger and in desperate hours." Jacqui explained.
"I see." Ni'Tako nodded. "Well, I have a feeling it will come again soon. In fact." Ni'Tako turns to Vera and Satoshi. He examines them closely and looks in their eyes and their love for each other. "You have the same thing. It appears that your powers are yet to fully awaken. It is only a matter of time until you two share the same adventure as your masters."
"So you're saying once we marry, the same thing will happen to us?" Vera asked. Satoshi nearly turns bright red just thinking about it. Him married to Vera in the future. Jacqui quietly snickers upon noticing.
"In theory, yes. Nightwolf can sense it too. So can I and Liu Kang." Fujin said.
"Now. It is your turn." Nightwolf steps closer to Vera and Satoshi. But then, a couple of monks and ninjas come running towards the group in a hurry.
"Master Takahashi! Grandmaster Kung Lao! We've been infiltrated! By the Red Dragon!" A monk reported.
"What? Why would they come here? What is their reason now?" Kung Lao asked.
"They've invaded the mausoleum. Where all our warriors are laid to rest. They're stealing bodies." A ninja answered.
"What?! That's completely out of line!" Satoshi shouted in disgust.
"We can't stand here thinking about it." Takeda tells them. "Dare mo tachisaranai yō ni suru!"
The warriors understand and run off to gather as many fighters as possible.
"Jin. Go with them. Gather what we have and surround the entire area. Make sure no one tries to escape. If they do, put them down." Kung Lao ordered. Jin nods and runs off to gather all they can as they had to the mausoleum. Whoever is doing this, it is perhaps the strangest thing they have ever done.
The civilians of the Shirai Ryu and monk region run and hide so they wouldn't be captured or killed, screaming for their lives. The mausoleum has been built for decades to honor those who have fallen in battle over the past decades since the New Era.
When the group gets there, they see the building, inside and outside, decimated. Many graves have been dug up, covens carried away through green portals. The Red Dragon has never done anything like this before. But this is just as cold as they get. Among them are Nitara, Mavado, Seamus Lee and Darrius.
"Red Dragon!" Fujin called out to them. They all stop what they were doing and turn to see the heroes from above the hill above the mausoleum. "Return the bodies back to where you have dishonored their peace. And surrender to us. If you cooperate, we may show you mercy. This is your only warning."
The Red Dragon, as predicted, instead yell and brings out their weapons and magical abilities and charges at the heroes backed up by their clans. Vera uses her escrima sticks and knocks down any Red Dragon fighter that approaches her while using her telepath to persuade two members to kill each other. She electrocutes them one by one before forming them into a staff and knocking them down, breaking one's collarbone, stabbing one through the head, tripping them with her staff and thrusting her staff through the heart. Takeda swings his spear whips and they rip the limbs off of many fighters and thrusts one through three of their heads in a straight line before yanking their heads off, spewing blood from their shoulders. One swordfighter attempts to leap onto the grandmaster and kill him, but Takeda, without looking, draws his sword and stabs the man through the neck, killing him instantly.
Satoshi swings his kusarigama weapon at anyone who tries to approach him. He swings the sickle part to knock anyone down and swings the blade part at several spots on their body, head included, cutting out their inside, slicing out their eyes, cutting its way through their heads.
Jacqui shoots many that try to fire arrows at her or use magic and they fall to their deaths from buildings or hills. When two try to stab her with spears, her dual blades come out of her gauntlets and block the blows. She kicks one in the face and another in the chest, sending both of them away from her. She runs towards one, jumps on the warrior's shoulders, stabs him in the forehead with both blades before jumping off him to face the other. The Red Dragon fighter throws the spear at Jacqui, but she catches it, spins and stabs the fighter in his left leg, forcing him to a knee before slitting his throat open. The fighter falls to the ground and bleeds to death.
"So nice to see some young flesh and blood." Nitara floats down and glares at her and Satoshi.
"What the hell? A vampire? In broad daylight?" Jacqui mocks her.
"I am Nitara from the realm of Vaeternus. My kind may have been vulnerable to the sunlight, but with Mavado's magic, I can walk and fly free. Now I can feast on blood to thrive and help my people survive."
"Sorry to disappoint, but you're going hungry today" Satoshi said.
"We shall see about that. I am going to enjoy this." Nitara said. She floats down, ready to fight them two on one.
Nitara flies and launches herself at Jacqui, but the mistress easily kicks her off and behind her before getting back up. The vampire comes in and swings her claws at Jacqui. The mistress and student dodge them and try to get close to her. Jacqui fires some bullets, but Nitara flies up and dodges every bullet before she does a dive kick. Jacqui avoids it but is hit in the face with two aerial kicks. Satoshi jumps over Nitara and wraps his blade around her, stabbing her in the left forearm in the process. The young student pulls her to him and kicks her across the jaw before kneeing her in the chest twice. He grabs her shoulders, jumps behind her and kicks her in the right shin. Nitara grunts in pain before she flies in, grabs the boy by his shoulder, kicks him upwards, sending him into the air and he hits the ground hard.
Jacqui jumps forward, lands on her hands and delivers two kicks to Tessa's forehead before giving her a haymaker to the throat and five rapid kicks to the stomach. Before she could go for another attack, Tessa stops her ankle with her powers and throws her into a tree. Satoshi throws his blade at her, only for her to stop it with her magic and send it back to him, stabbing his right shoulder in the process.
Nitara snarls then flies in front of Satoshi and her hands glow red. She throws a palm strike to his forehead, burning it before sending another to his chest two times, leaving big burn marks through his robes. Jacqui comes in and throws a few swings from her built-in daggers but Nitara avoids them and elbows her in the chest, knees her in the jaw followed by a high kick, sending her down. Jacqui gets to a knee, but wasn't prepared when Nitara flies in and swings her right hand.
Satoshi suddenly appeared before his master and gets slashed in the right eye by the vampire's claws, making him scream in a lot of pain before Nitara grabs him and flies in the air, hoping to crush him to death while preparing to bite his neck. But Jacqui interferes when she throws a dagger at Nitara's right shoulder and wing, leaving a good cut. This causes her to drop Satoshi to the ground and turn to Jacqui.
Jacqui was now pissed now that her potential future son-in-law has been hurt very badly. Jacqui charges at her, and fires two microbombs at the ground, creating smoke and jumping in the air and kicking her in the head, causing her to stumble. Before Jacqui could do an elbow strike, Tessa grabs Jacqui by the throat and fires a magical blast at her chest, cracking it greatly and sending her back. Jacqui was able to get up and starts firing bullets from her gauntlets. Nitara jumps in the air, but she was not prepared when the student throws the other end across the face, cracking the right side of her skull. She lets go, allowing Jacqui to run up to her and stab her shoulders with her daggers, making her scream before Jacqui thrusts one blade through her other shoulder before doing a reverse kick to the right side of her head, knocking her out cold.
"Enjoy burning in hell." Jacqui said in anger. She rushes over to the injured Satoshi, hoping he's not too hurt. "Satoshi? Are you alright?" She gives him sad eyes, seeing burns and cuts on parts of his body.
"Y-yeah. I'm fine. I…. can't see out of my eye." Satoshi slowly looks at her. His vision is blurry and now partly blind. He tries to get up, but falls to his hands and knees. Jacqui helps him up.
"Don't move or talk. We'll get you fixed up. I promise." Jacqui turns to two ninjas. "Satoshi o shinryōsho ni tsurete iki, nekasemasu. Kare o sara senaide kudasai."
The two ninjas take Satoshi away to help him get healed while Jacqui runs off to join the others. She can't help but imagine Vera's reaction when she hears what happened to her boyfriend.
Kung Jin slides down the hills while shooting arrows in any direction to keep anyone from approaching him. He jumps and swings his bowstaff in the air, knocking away magical projectiles and defeating several Red Dragon members on his own. He runs and slides to his knees and aims his bowstaff up as a warrior attempts to jump him. He shoots three arrows at the fighter's head, killing her instantly. He shoots some stalkers dead without even turning to look at them before doing the same to the chemists, who were dropping small explosives in hopes of burning the clans to death.
Nightwolf takes on several of the bad guys by himself. He wields a green spear and swings and spins it, knocking a couple of them away. He uppercuts one with the spear, before tripping him to the ground and stabbing his heart out literally. One tries to chop him in the face, but he blocks the strike with his spear before kneeing him in the stomach, punching him across the face, stabbing his shoulder with his spear and then throwing him down with it. He then turns to face Darrius with Kung Jin.
"Darrius. Red Dragon Commando. Lying scumbag, evil schemer. Not surprised to see you back again after all of this with the titans." Kung Jin said to him.
"And about time too. Those are perhaps the nicest words anyone has ever said to me. I've been waiting to kill a monk. I always considered them to be the weakest out of all the shared enemies we have." Darrius said.
"You do not make fun of the White Lotus. We'll see who's weak." Kung Jin begins to fight Darrius with his new ally.
Kung Jin blocks all of Darrius' attacks before punching his stomach and swinging his bow staff across the jaw and head before leaping forward with it and delivers a good kick to the chest, sending him back. Darrius comes back in, jumps to do a front flip kick, but misses and hits the ground before doing two backflip kicks to the chest and jaw, and Jin is sent flying. Nightwolf parries a punch and does several pulse strikes to his arm and chest, causing his arm plenty of pain. Darrius jumps up, delivers a dive kick to the Matoka's chest, cracking part of his ribs and sending him down with an energy blast. Nightwolf wipes the blood off of his mouth and rolls backwards before he could take a possible severe wound. Darrius draws his blade gauntlets, ready to finish them both.
Kung Jin and Nightwolf are ready after they nod to each other. He picks up his own weapon and they swing at each other. Despite the blades being sharp, the staff is able to take the swings without any sort of scratch to either the staff or spear. They briefly lock weapons before both heroes' strength overpowers their enemy before slamming the endpoint into his gut, stabbing it and swinging his bow staff across his chest, cracking and nearly breaking it, swings it across his head before throwing it down on top of him, cracking part of his skull. Darrius, with one hand on his bleeding stomach, stands on one foot and tries to do multiple spin kicks while moving into Jin. Jin hops back a couple of times before doing a backflip and while in the air, he fires two arrows at his left foot, stabbing it and causing Darrius to scream in pain. Nightwolf approaches Darrius, who tries to throw a punch at him, only for the apprentice to kick him in the left shin, breaking it entirely before swinging his staff at his left shoulder and finally uppercutting him with his weapon. Darrius flies through the air before landing on the ground, defeated and bleeding.
"Huh. And I thought the Black Dragon was the weakest. I guess I was wrong." Kung Jin jokingly shrugged.
"Their mere motives disgust me. The Great Spirit does not approve." Nightwolf said. He and Jin move on to join there friends.
Kung Lao fights throw many hand to hand fighters, beating them down. Any archers that try to kill him only end up killed instead when he throws his giant shuriken, slicing their guts open and blood spewing everywhere. And as some commandos and stalkers get close to him, he grabs his hat and it spins horizontally around him as he walks slowly, decapitating them and taking some limbs off. Kung Gen deflects some arrows with her katana sword as she avoids several blows from others using swords, staffs and spears, easily overpowering them one by one. She elbows one in the throat before slicing his leg before stabbing his neck, killing him instantly before jumping behind another stalker and knocking him out with the hilt of her sword. She and her great uncle approach Seamus Lee.
"You. The grandmaster bastard of the monks. I was hoping to see you again. Don't think I have forgotten about what happened during the battle of the pyramid." Seamus Lee said.
"Don't expect me to care about what you think. How dare you dishonor the fallen White Lotus warriors?" Kung Lao said.
"Hahahaha. I could care less about your monks. I killed many during my lifetime. Soon it'll be your turn to suffer." Seamus Lee challenges him.
"You will not dishonor our family name. Those who do will know the consequences. Consequences that you cannot escape from." Kung Gen points her sword at him.
"Ah, young girl. Naive as predicted. How sad that you had to witness a bloodbath at a young age and how your life will end on short notice. No matter. You will be with your ancestors soon though in the Netherrealm." Seamus Lee prepares to fight them two on one.
Seamus Lee starts by throwing an explosive chemical in the air and shoots a fire arrow at it, causing it to explode. Kung Lao and Gen are forced to cover their eyes to prevent their eyes from being burned. This allows Seamus Lee to come in and send Kung Gen flying backwards with a kick to the head. He throws an elbow strike at Kung Lao, who blocks it, but was unable to block a back kick to his power back, causing the grandmaster of the monks to stumble forward. This allows Seamus Lee to do a triple kick to his back before drawing a sword to counter Kung Lao's shuriken. They fight swiftly until Lee draws another sword and is able to disarm Kung Lao before hitting his forehead with the hilt of one of his swords, punch his chest and kneeing him in the face before doing a backflip kick to the forehead. Seamus Lee lost to him last time without even hurting him. This time, he was prepared. He throws one of his swords at Lao's head, but Kung Gen comes in and swings it away with her own katana sword.
Seamus Lee scoffs and chuckles. A young child challenges him to a sword fight. Regardless, he walks towards her and swings his sword at a fast speed. But Kung Gen is able to counter it. He throws more offensive professional swings, but to his surprise, Gen is able to block all of them before it becomes her turn to go on the offense. She swings her own sword at a faster pace, nearly throwing the Red Dragon commander off guard. Once she found an opening, she swings her sword at his left thigh before chopping his throat, palm striking his forehead before standing on one foot. She jumps forward and spins like a tornado and delivers three good kicks to the chest, cracking it a little.
The commander was not done yet. He sees Gen go for a flying kick, but he grabs her ankle and spins once before throwing her next to her great uncle. He draws a bow and arrow and continuously fires arrows at them. Kung Gen is able to swing and deflect most of them until Seamus Lee throws a smoke bomb down and vanishes. Gen looks around to see where he went But no matter which direction she looked, he was about to thrust one of his swords onto her head, until he felt something sharp cut his chest diagonally. He falls to one knee as he covers part of his bleeding chest. He looks up and grunts when he sees that Kung Lao threw his hat at him to save his great niece. He stands back up. Kung Gen runs at him, and Seamus Lee throws a horizontal swing at her neck, but she ducks and slides onto her knees before kicking him in his right rib cage. Before she could make another move, Lee fires two arrows at the back of her left shoulder, stabbing it. Kung Lao throws a straight kick to his chest before eventually unleashing a serious combo. He throws a roundhouse kick at Lee's head followed by an eagle kick, gives his right shin a low kick and throwing two fast punches at both his ribs, breaking his right rib cage in the process before ending the fight with a palm strike to his jaw, cracking it, sending Seamus Lee down, out cold and part of his chest covered in blood.
"You will learn to respect your enemies. Now be thankful that I will let you live this time." Kung Lao tells him before turning to his niece, worried for her safety. "Young one. Are you alright?" He asked as he removes the two arrows from her shoulders, making her yelp.
"I'm fine, great uncle Lao. I have survived painful beatings before." Kung Gen claimed.
"You have improved, but your senses need more improvising. But right now, let us move on and get everyone healed up." Kung Lao reassures her and places a hand on her injured shoulder. He helps her up while the latter covers her injured shoulder.
Elsewhere, Fujin uses his wind powers to knock back anyone that tries to attack him. A bunch of stalkers all circle him in, ready to kill. They all run in at the same time, but he brings out his light crossbow and fires multiple short arrows, stabbing them in their heads, eyes or throat, killing them all instantly. One archer tends to fire her arrow, but Fujin uses his wind abilities to send it back toward her, stabbing her heart and she falls off the tower, killing her. A stalker yells as he jumps off of trees and buildings to grab him, but Fujin draws his sword and slices both of his arms off, making him scream as he falls to the ground before the wind god thrusts it down into his back.
"Well, well. I was hoping to see you again, Fujin." Mavado gains his attention. "It has been a year since we have crossed paths. Once at your temple then at the pyramid."
"It has been unfortunate for me. Your leadership after Daegon's passing will not surpass his. This attack is foolish and you are on the verge of defeat. Last chance to surrender." Fujin threatened.
"For someone who has lived for eons, you never learn, do you? We have plans. And you will not stand in our way this time." Mavado said before they begin to fight.
Mavado's hands glow purple, steadying his dark magic. Fujin was prepared this time. The new Red Dragon leader throws magic blasts, which Fujin uses his sword to split in half or throw in another direction with his wind. He jumps over one more blast before he chop strikes the top of Mavado's head followed by a strong kick, sending him far before he summons a small tornado from the ground and pulls him in closer to him before doing five spinning kicks to the chest, sending him flying again before using the wind to throw him down right onto his back. Mavado gets back up and gives Fujin a series of six kicks, which Fujin easily blocks before throwing his sword down. Mavado, using his magic, stops it like he did before when they fought the first time.
Fujin, however, anticipated this, and starting pulling the win from Mavado's mouth and nose, causing him to slowly suffocate before Fujin uses the gathered wind and thrusts his arms forward, making contact with his chest, cracking and nearly breaking it and sending Mavado into a nearby lake. Mavado sits up while coughing up blood in defeat.
"I have learned from my mistakes, Mavado. And there is one that I have yet to correct." Fujin once draws his sword and walks closer to give him an ultimatum. "Last chance. Surrender and explain yourself, or join your former masters in the Netherrealm for eternity."
"You've….. You've won this fight. But the war was never over. Even with the loss of Daegon and Shao Kahn. I never died. Neither have Mileena or Havik. But there are things more frightening than death. We've got what we came for." Mavado smirked. He gets back on his feet and suddenly flips over Fujin and into a portal that opened up behind him and disappeared.
With the Red Dragon gone, the heroes gather up, with the kids holding their respective wounds. But Vera is looking around for Satoshi.
"Hey. Where's Satoshi? Mom, where'd he go?" Vera asked her.
"It's okay, honey. He's in the infirmary getting healed." Jacqui replied. "But the good news is that Tessa is gone again. This time for good. No resurrections this time."
Vera sighed and places a hand over her heart. She would hate to have anything happen to her family and friends. But most importantly, her boyfriend.
Takeda and Kung Lao look at the masueloems of the Shirai Ryu and White Lotus. Neither of them are happy about this. It disgusts the masters that someone like the Red Dragon would stoop so low in stealing bodies and disgracing their peace.
"I can't believe this. Look at what the Red Dragon did. They stole almost every single body from our home. This is disgusting. I'd never thought they would stoop so low." Takeda said.
"The Red Dragon are never like this. They stole jinsei from us, which is known for being the life source for Earthrealm. But stealing the bodies of our ancestors and fallen warriors? This is a strange move, even for the Red Dragon." Kung Lao replied.
"Indeed, Kung Lao." Fujin said as he approached with Jin, Gen and Ni'Tako. "The Red Dragon have done many unforgivable crimes, but this is one of their worst. One that they will regret."
"I sense something drastic will happen very soon. This feeling. They cannot be stealing these bodies for hunger. Nobody is ever that desperate. Not even Mileena. While there are questions to such motives, there are always answers. Even this one must have an answer for us." Nightwolf said.
The others look at each other and realize that Nightwolf may be right. If they're not stealing bodies to feed off of, then what is it? What are their motives? And why? The warriors think of reasons as to why. And then.
"Oh! Wait. I think I might know something!" Kung Gen shouted, gaining everyone's attention.
Note: Back in the MK world, the villains are carrying out their next master plan. Minions for Adrelita to control with her necromancy powers. Speaking of which, the Conan trailer was better than I thought. I was expecting his animality to be a lion. Until next time.