Mortal Kombat Ages: The Fires of Youth

[Gothicruby]

Failure.

The word chimed like a gong through Liu Kang’s very being.

All this power, all this potential…wasted. Crumpled to a heap.

Kronika, Titan of Time, loomed victorious.

“And so falls Raiden’s chosen one.” Her voice cut smooth, like shears across silk.

Liu Kang hardly heard her.

With a poise so refined that it almost seemed delicate, Kronika glided to stand over the newly appointed god.

Newly appointed, yet just as quickly defeated, the titan observed with utmost satisfaction. As was expected.

For what hope did his determination ever have against her eons of experience? Compared to Kronika, Liu Kang was little more than an spoiled child who had forgotten his place.

And unruly children, experience had told her, needed to be disciplined.

Gently, she laid a hand atop Liu Kang’s head. He wouldn’t meet her eye. She wouldn’t afford him such a mercy.

As Kronika’s palm pushed upwards against his bowed head, Liu Kang’s heart plummeted in his chest.


Failure. As she forced his gaze to meet her’s, it was all Liu could do to try to comprehend the word.

Had he ever failed before? He wasn’t sure…no? Wait…yes.

Yes, there was one moment. His death—or rather, the birth of his revenant’s self. But even then, he hadn’t thought of that as failure—that had been Raiden’s fault—!

No. No, not now. Not after all Raiden had done for him…after all Raiden had sacrificed to save him…

Liu Kang’s throat tightened at the thought. What would Raiden think of him now? Brought to his knees after all that effort. Would he be ashamed of him? Angry? Would he have regretted choosing him in the first place?

As a blade formed in Kronika’s wrist, Liu’s lip threatened to quiver.

Kronika’s crooked lips began to curl even deeper.

“Tears, Liu Kang?” She held the blade higher “How fitting.”

So this was how he was to meet his end; not with a yell, but a whimper.

[Babygabrial]

No. He cannot meet an end of this manner. Mistakes where made, and many cannot live to learn from them. However, an Elder God is not like many others. Acts as a watcher of the events unfolding. Kronika's madness has been left unchecked for far too long.

As for Liu Kang, one the god of thunder holds dearly. It is he who failed him. Across two timeliness has he allowed Liu Kang to fall victim. Once to the deadly alliance, and once more to his own incompetence. He will not allow a third time to commence.

"By power of the elder gods. Turn back the hands of time. Let it be spoken into the world. Raiden, father of Liu Kang!" The voice echos across time and the space. Kronika looks around panicked. "No! No! Not now! Damn you Raiden! DAMN YOU TO THE NETHER R-" With the half hearted cursed unfinished, time begins to reverse. Before Kronika, before the return of Shao Khan, before Sindel's resurrection, before the outworld tournament, and before even the last Mortal Kombat tournament.

"The tales of ages shall ring anew. Many paths will change and diverge once more." Raiden speak while viewing the fourth dimension. New variables form. Scorpion gaining his life back. Millenia gaining a family. Sub-Zero baring a son. "There is a chance a new. This time though, I will leave nothing to chance." He enters this new timeliness.

[Gothicruby]

"'Father'...?"

Liu Kang's voice was barely above a choked whisper, but he hardly had time to dwell on the matter.

The ground swirled beneath them, and yet Liu was not thrown about or sucked into an unending void. He remained perfectly still as sand began to rise.

Through stinging eyes he saw it all. He saw Kronika try to lunge, only for her to be swept back like a fly against the breeze. He saw the battle at the fortress' play out in reverse, soldiers and monks steaming backwards from the explosions at the front lines. He saw himself...his revenant...

For the first time, Liu Kang could see face to face just how far he had fallen...but as the storm under his knees began to pick up, so did the ghastly image begin to break apart.

"Ah...*Agh*..!!" The sand whipped at Liu Kang's skin like glass. He tried to stand, but the higher he rose, the worse the sting.

It was only by chance that he caught a glimpse of the markings--the one's that he'd gained with Raiden's gift of godhood--beginning to peel and lift away from his chest and forearms. The silver strands of hair flying about one way, only to return to their youthful black on the other.

"Lord Raiden...??" Liu Kang called out as the storm about him seemed to worsen. He could barely make out the shapes forming beyond the maelstrom, even as he tried once more to rise to his knees...but the sands of time only tightened their grip over his being, threatening to crush him.

"Raiden...!!"

As the scream tore from his throat, Liu Kang felt himself tossed back to his knees...only to meet a jarring *stillness.*

There was no pain, no chaos, no mayhem...just the solid ground of the Sky Temple, Raiden's home and sanctuary.

"Wh-wha...?" he swallowed a dry lump, staring now at his youthful, unmarked biceps.

As he knelt, Liu Kang was god of thunder and fire no more...but restored to his twenty-four year old form.

"What...happened...?"

[Babygabrial]

"That is quite the question, is it not?" The booming voice of Raiden spoke from behind. However, the delivery of his words were as gentle as delivering a single daisy. Raiden knelt before an alter. He had just finished explaining his actions to the elder gods. Though not seen, one can assume that it was quite the debate. One can also assume, by the slight smirk on his face, that Raiden had not relented.

"Liu Kang, come, join me. There is much to discuss. Particularly in regards to our past, present, and potential future." Raiden speaks with a unique tone. One of authority, yet one of compassion. The god of thunder has had to ponder many things. There are things he questions, but there are also things he is certain of.

[Gothicruby]

Suffice to say, Liu looked no more informed--or even assured--by Raiden's words than when he'd asked the question.

Damnit, his head was still spinning...it took him a moment before he was able to will the strength back to his legs, and one more still before he could *use* it...

But somehow, Liu always managed. Was it willpower? Or perhaps just a need to seek his mentor's approval, even after all this...

"I...I don't understand, Lord Raiden...?" The young fighter began as he wandered over on slightly shaky legs "I thought...I-I thought you'd died when you gave me your power...? How are you even...?"

But the thought trailed off as one hand came to clutch through his dark locks of hair.

"How are we not dead?" Liu finally asked as he sank back down beside Raiden.

"I...Kronika had me at her mercy." He admitted with a wince "I...I failed...?"

[Babygabrial]

"We all failed Liu Kang. However, when I gave you my power, I gave you a bit of myself. Within you, I bore witness to events neither of us could forsee. Kronika, a being that bends all laws of creation was nothing we could have prepared for. We lacked information, that we now have. So, I used a portion of my power to send us back. Back with time, and back with knowledge. We may do things correctly." The thunder god states before reaching a hand out. "However, we must use that knowledge together."

He takes Liu Kang's hand and gently brings the monk down to his level. "You speak of your failures, but I have failed many times over. I failed to intervene when I should have, and when I did it took the wrong lives." He puts an arm around Liu Kang and pulls him in closely. "The name Raiden Elder God Of Thunder is nothing more than a joke. As it deserves to be. I have failed the both of us. However, in this new world I may correct those mistakes, and guide you, my chosen one where true destiny lies."

[Gothicruby]

While Liu Kang looked on at Raiden quizzically, he didn't fight when the Elder God moved to slip an arm around him. Since childhood, Liu had quietly relished those little moments of contact; a hand on his shoulder, a pat on the head...but there were rules and boundaries, the monks at the monasteries had said. Raiden was to be treated with the utmost reverence and respect...

So he'd never raced up to him with his arms held out for a hug. Only ever to show the Thunder God what new form he'd learned, or technique he'd perfected.

But how could he possibly fight this, now?

He sank like a stone against Raiden's shoulder, unable to help himself as he buried his face into his robes. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been held like this...if ever?

But the moment, it seemed, was not to last.

"Ch...Chosen one...?" Liu repeated through dry lips. The word sounded cold to his ears. He pulled his head back from Raiden's robes, gaze downcast.

"How can you still call me that?" The youth felt himself bristling slightly as he spoke "Why would you? After...after everything you just said?"

He shifted again beneath Raiden's grip.

"You said it yourself, Kronika's master over all creation..." His voice began to harden as he spoke "...And I got my ass handed to me by her! She beat me, Lord Raiden, had me on my knees...!"

Liu Kang rose sharply from his spot on the floor, pacing off a few steps with both hands clutching at his hair.

"I failed! It doesn't matter how much we know or don't know--you gave me all that power and I still couldn't beat her hand to hand! What good is any of this...??"

[Babygabrial]

"Liu Kang, settle down!" He spoke with more authority in his voice. He sat in silence, waiting for Liu Kang to calm down. After a moment. Raiden pats his lap. Inviting Liu Kang to rest his head. Once he does so, Raiden still takes a moment to help Liu Kang relax. The thunder god brushes his shoulder while running his fingers through his hair.

Soon, Raiden spoke once again while keeping Liu Kang settled. "Kronika is not creation, she does not rule over creation, she defies it. We have time now, with our knowledge we must plan, and prepare. I need you with me for this my child. Let us take this time to get our barings together. Move forward differently. Stand up together." Raiden says. "Much of our work has been undone, but it can be redone. Shao Khan lives. The Shirai Ryu still laid to rest, Quan Chi still rules the Nether Relm, and Earth may still fall from the Mortal Kombat tournament. However, instead of being reactive, we may be proactive in what matters must change, and what matters must stay the same. We have time before the 10th Mortal Kombat Tournament held by Shang Tsung. Let us settle, and Spiritually heal first."

[Gothicruby]

Really, Liu Kang shouldn't have been drawn so easily back to Raiden's side.

He should have had his moment to rage, to yell...to snarl at the unfairness of the situation. But it seemed that the Thunder God had more of a hold over him than he'd realised...but just when he came to bristle about it, he realised that he was too damned tired to put up a fight.

So here he lay in Raiden's lap, face buried completely into the other's robes so that he wouldn't have to meet his gaze. He couldn't just now, he just...he couldn't. He didn't even have the patience to truly hear what the Elder God was trying to impress.

Shao Kahn, the tournament, Quan Chi...he'd done all that...and look where it got them! His head shook irritably, but he didn't try to move himself from under Raiden's gentle hold.

"How?" The young monk mumbled disparagingly to his mentor's mention of 'healing.'

"Knowing what we know...how pointless it all is..." He tucked his legs up to his chest as he spoke "Wh-what can possibly 'heal' any of that? I..."

Liu felt his voice catching slightly in his throat.

"I-I can't, Raiden. Y-you made a mistake, I'm...I'm not the chosen one. I-I wouldn't have lost if I were..."

[Babygabrial]

Raiden could increase the authority in his voice once more. Settle the boy through sheer willpower, but he did not. Instead he spoke with the power of a gentle spring breeze. "Shhhh hush now little one." His hands firm, but his touch delicate. He attempted to ease Liu Kang, but he knew that this was just placing a lid on a pot ready to boil over. These never ending events across space and time have done tremendous harm to them both, and likely many others. However, Raiden was firm in his standing. "We will work through this together little one." His hand gently coming down his bare back away he spoke.

Liu Kang had asked him how. It was a good question. Raiden did not need to provide Liu Kang an answer to everything, but an answer to something. A bit of proof to show possibility. So, Raiden displays images. These were not simple displays. This is a view of a different world. One where the pieces fell more in line, and Kronika's cowardice did not cause ruin. Liu Kang standing over Kronika and Shang Tsun, and going off to name his beloved cousin as a champion. Raiden displays this world to Liu Kang, and allows him to interpret it how he pleases.