A/N: Just another MK story with some more random ideas. I want to give my OC, Aiko, some personal training while also kombatting her inner turmoil.

Coherence is basically the heart and mind working as one, without letting thoughts nor emotions override one another. This was slightly inspired by the Trip to Montanna miniseries, which was about a weeklong, back in 1991, when I was first fascinated with tribal kustoms. And since Aiko and I have that same entrancement, I figured it'd be the opportunity to dive in more to her introversion.

Koherence

Con't I

This takes place after Liu Kang's and Kung Lao's victory over Onaga and before Armageddon. On the spring of March 1996, when Jin still goes to school.

Aiko kept fidgeting inside the wider bedchamber he shared with Kung Lao. Her heart began to race, her blood turned cold, and her body trembled periodically. She had been anxious, uneasy over something... Over the talk she had last night with Nightwolf...

"Are you sure about this!? This is your tribe-your FORMER tribe. The same Matokans that rejected you since you went to college.

Inside the technical den, he rose an assuring hand, "I know, I know. My people discarded me after I left their land and pursued higher learning. But it looked to be the same as before since it was protected from Shao Kahn's invasions; they actually appreciate me now."

"Yeah...but, how did you know all this...? How did you know they need you?"

"My last born is about to get her Matokan name. Raiden was actually curious, since he dropped out from being an Elder God and reinstated as protector, so he just stopped by and alerted me. It's been a long time since I became immersed with my people's customs, so too the Thunder God."

The kardiokinetic sighed and sulked, "...If only I never had that...weakness. I wish I was immune like you two... So, it's just you and Raiden then."

"Actually... Kung Lao and Liu Kang also liked to go along."

Her mouth and eyes widened, "WHAT? They're going too!?"

Because of their unstaunched kuriosity she became a nervous wreck; nothing would ever be the same without the main quartet! And Nightwolf informed it'd take about five days for the personal endeavor, as the last born still needed some time to rehearse her tribal dance. For the Elder Gods' sakes, the heroic monks helped defeat Onaga not so long ago...

Still, she tightly klutched her rocking legs, sometimes even causing friction, until she heard a door open. "Aiko...?"

It was Kung Lao! He peeked then walked in seeing his girl in distress and so tense. "Oh, hey, Kung Lao..."

"What's wrong...?" He was in deep koncern as he sat beside her.

"I just...didn't realize that you, Liu Kang and Raiden were leaving with Nightwolf so soon. It's...going to be hell for you guys to pack. And it's not going to be the same..."

"Yes, I know I wish it wasn't so sudden neither. But...it can be rather fascinating; on seeing an actual Indian ground. It'd be more exhilarating than just being with Nightwolf. Us Shaolin usually travel light anyway, you know that." He smirked.

"Yeah..." She almost forgot how they handled their various expeditions. "Yeah, but about five days...! I never thought it'll take THIS long before! And... I wonder how the drums would affect you guys. Why am I the only one affected!?"

Lao put a hand on her shoulder, "Relax, Aiko. We'll be fine. Oh, I almost forgot!" He took out a picture framed as he blew dust away. He shown himself, younger and a fresher face, smiling warmly as if it was glowing by the daylight ambience. Maybe it was.

Aiko kouldn't help but smile back at it, "Ah-is this you?"

"Yes. I was younger when this was taken, before I became anxious over following my ancestor's footsteps. Still want to live a peaceful life, like now..." She still looked down into the bright, lively face of her lover; she never seen him this jovial in so long... Until she felt a sudden kiss on her forehead.

She just perspired, "I'll miss you, Kung Lao..."

"It'll be over before you know it," he assured. "It's getting late, we should get some needed rest. Raiden said he'll take us there via portal tomorrow morning." After another smooth embrace, he blew out the light and they hit the sack.

Even after a hearty breakfast, she was still antsy over their personal adventure. She even overheard Kung Lao promising he'd be back soon as he always has to his excited wished him luck.

Raiden was just awaiting Lao as soon as he was ready. She followed the tall, distinguishable silhouette to the open front door. "You have nothing to fear, Aiko. Besides, it's been ages since Nightwolf and I had witnessed a Matokan ceremony. Don't be alarmed, it won't take too long." He laid a firm hand on her right shoulder with his usual grin with his eyes sizzling with bolts. "My brother, Fujin, shall watch over the Shaolin in mine, Kung Lao's and Liu Kang's stead. Kai can still follow his lead."

"Raiden...why...am I the only one who's been...infatuated with these kustoms? There must be a konnection somehow."

"The answers will kome, in due time." He then noticed Kung Lao approach. "Are we ready?"

"Yes, Master Raiden." He replied with a slight bow. Liu Kang and Nightwolf weren't too far behind.

"I'm surprised you and Liu Kang decided to go along."

"It is most intriguing to embrace Nightwolf's Matokan side," the former Champion spoke,

"Who knows, maybe you can learn one thing or two from us," the shaman boasted. Kiba barked next to him adding to his remark. Aiko murmured she'll miss him too, and the wolf gave her some licks before they parted. Raiden assured everyone she has her heart gem in case something should go awry, whether restoring someone or kommunicating. Aiko and Jin's mom watched as the four trodden to the portal and vanished amongst the rising sun.

As she tried to process everything, she sat down with her over a couple cups of warm green tea, and the nurturer affirmed the former monk said he was interested in Nightwolf's odyssey, ever since they dealt with the Makeba as she heard that the female fighter was entranced by them. She lamented she still wasn't sure how and why she'd be the only one mesmerized by them, and Raiden never gave her an answer... Seeing the two small stairwells, she eventually went back up to Jin's bedroom as soon as she was done.

Aiko noticed the preteen sitting on his bed He welcomed her in, and she sat beside him.

"You miss Kung Lao already, do you...?" All he did was nod with a glum expression. "I know... I miss him too. It's just like when I told you, about separation anxiety?" Jin muttered, yea, wearing the same depression.

"Why did you decide to stay...?"

Aiko perked up, "It's like, um... You know that everyone has a weakness, right, that every one of us is different? That no one is invincible, even if someone is Champion of Mortal Kombat, like Liu Kang or Lao. Mortal or not... Well, mine is actually...the tribal drums..." She paused for a beat before she kontinued, "I'm sure your uncle, and perhaps your mom, told you of our misadventures thru Outworld, and that I was suddenly drawn in by the Makeba. The thing was...

"Ever since I was little, I believe it was back in 1991, when we were 4 before I went thru time, I first encountered them. On some Sesame Street episodes of all things, most notably...the Montanna miniseries, and that African Dance in the Park klip."

"Yeah...! These few things reminded me of Nightwolf. And... you told me about those Indians in Peter Pan, that when I was younger, I wanted to be like them, and you told me...it was tempting."

"Exactly... I never wanted you to lose your identity, nor your destiny following your uncle, to be a hero amongst the Shaolin. That each of us must set our own goals firmly. Only Nightwolf understood of my triggers, even Raiden...

"...I've been starting to feel pangs of anxiety once I realized they were leaving last night. Separation anxiety, even if it's only five days; the same that Ernie went thru when Bert was away, or if Kung Lao was involved in kombat..." Aiko lost her train of thought.

Jin's mom was heard as she spoke loudly in Mandarin that Jin must get ready for middle school. A few minutes later, he was underway.

"I still can't understand this...I'm probably just...tenson sensitive. Or maybe that's how my brain is wired... I'm sensitive to many things! Touch, light, sound, I can't dig spicy foods."

"Just be grateful you have your anchors, Aiko. My brother, Nightwolf, Liu Kang, Raiden and Fujin. We're all here for you."

"What can I do without them...? There has to be a konnection somehow... There needs to be a defense mechanism of sorts."

"Which is why you DO need an anchor, more than anything!"

A distinctive male tone made the kardiokinetic's own heart speed up, almost leap to her throat. She immediately stood upright. A tall, slender man walked in from the open front door, shielding the sun. "Kenshi!"

"Right. I knew you would be heading to the Wu Shi Academy for training. But we thought otherwise; it wasn't just because I picked up tension, via your heart gem. It was because Raiden passed on the news you would all be heading to the sacred ground in America's East Coast."

"Yea...exactly. I thought you would stay with Ta-key-da."

Kenshi let out an irritated sigh, "Ta-KAY-da! Yet you still pronounce his name wrong."

"I thought he'd still be staying with Hanzo and the Shirai Ryu."

"It couldn't have been a better time. Fujin shall announce to all the Shaolin since I had been planning to train you myself."

"Train me...? For what...?"

"To enhance your heart."

A/N: I'm not sure about a soundtrack, so I won't get into that, unless if it's a separate entry. Anyway, I had a few random ideas developing like always, nothing MK1 related, and ever since I started the awesome undead roleplay with Unaliving Liu Kang, I began to embrace Aiko's weakness; it turned out that all this started back in '91, when the Trip to Montanna miniseries aired, as did the African klip Aiko mentioned to Jin. The Indians of Neverland was a sort of turn-on too, as was a few other tribal klips, even the African and Jamaican one. And of course, there was Nightwolf.

And I also had some random figments of Aiko mentioning to Jin about separation anxiety from the aforementioned source, even though he'd mostly be at school when Lao's away. That photo he found was a recent idea from his charming smile in MK1, during the sneak peek of his chapter being the first! And with the instantaneous portal, it'd take the Kombatants a tad less than the series itself, but I'm not certain how many chapters it'd be...

Life has been quite stressful, so I'm not certain when the next chapter/idea would be... At least Kenshi has made a sudden appearance. And Coherence technically means the heart and mind working as one which is for what's ahead.

Con't II

Aiko was flabbergasted on Kenshi's last statement...

"Train my heart...? I already know how to use it."

"Not by using the technique of koherence, the ability to use both the heart and the mind in unison."

She then suddenly remembered Kenshi's promise, back when she was weakened by the Makeba drums, and he sabotaged the Dragonfly. "Who knows. Maybe I can help you enhance your mind, which would also empower your heart." She thought that it was easier said than done, as both the heart and mind have a tendency to klash with one another! Logic over emotions, Kenshi mentioning the heart is a second mind and the brain's the third eye, or being a slave to either organ...

"Well...did you know that the heart is the very first organ...! To be developed within any organism, in all the realms, even the most simplest?"

She was shocked, "What!? I always thought it was the mind that was developed first! I mean, the brain affects everything in your body. How can that be?"

"It's always synonymous with life. The brain only affects 10%, after all."

She was just lost in the mists of doubt...

"Shall we?" Aiko grabbed the small kluster of food and sundries Jin's mom laid out; the majority of products were made to enhance the heart, even fresh beets, kale, rice, sushi, some dark chocolate, and a thermos of green tea. The beets and sushi gave off a very immense odor from the little basket.

The duo walked out to an open field with some distant mountains shading the rising sun. "To start, you need to do some warmups before we proceed. Jogging is usually the best option, but make sure that you pace yourself. I've heard about your anemia and limited stamina."

Aiko found a nearby sturdy tree and began to draw out her legs out.

"That's it, stretch it out. Stretch it out before your first run."

After a few bending and stims by shaking her hands, Aiko stated she was prepared. "I'm ready, Kenshi. I'm ready to empower my heart and mind."

"Alright then, let's do it!"

She kould've sworn that the Matokans would be banging their drums right about now as either a way for a powwow or rehearsal for the last born's ritual for her official name. But Aiko was invigorated! And they were only several feet away from the Kung cottage as she began to jog around the perimeter! She made a lap, then kaught her breath. Kenshi encouraged her to take several sit-ups. She recalled when she first started training with the Shaolin, she managed to make 40 which seemed to be quite the personal record! After that, she ran a suicide across the field and back a few times.

She managed to catch her breath and Kenshi urged her to take a break. "It seems your heart is in a state of readiness, and it's overriding your angsts over the Matoka kustoms. Your endorphins have increased which is vital to your training."

"Yeah, I guess so..."

"Only you can see what is in your heart, I can only see the mind, and you must unite them both."

She worried it'd be as almost impossible as aligning all planets in the galaxy, although she remembered Liu's lesson with Kai...

The Champion was with his new prodigy sparring with each other at another grassy null, and the latter had fallen.

"Damn it, Liu! I'll never be as good as you! You being the Mortal Kombat Champion and all...!"

"Remember what I told you, Kai. There's more to martial arts than just fighting. You must become one with your inner spirit. Only then can you summon your real inner strength and have that power that you've only dreamed about."

Same with Lao as he was stunned by a sudden impact on his back after Liu knocked him into one of the nearby stone statuettes.

"Do you see now? Why we still train?"

"That was a lucky strike. Let's go again, I will show you/"

"No, Kung Lao. The training you require is mental, not physical. You cannot surpass your limitations until you acknowledge them."

"Indeed, Liu has a point on both sides, that the body, soul and mind must be one to achieve anything! You seem to lack mental awakening, on account on your multiple birth defects, as I seem to lack the heart ever since I found Sento. And I guess it was from the loss of my wife to the Red Dragons. Both of us descended into the abyss, as did I with the tragedy, and you with your dystopian future. ...And also, how you kan't understand how you've been the only one affected, ever since the day we first met."

Aiko knew damn well that last statement was from the nosy swordsman reading her mind. She didn't find him intrusive, though, just kurious and koncerning. "Raiden and Nightwolf were well aware of this, but they never said why. Maybe it's just tension."

"They are irresistible, I'll give you that. Tension is a powerful occurrence, especially under stress. Even if you are not, it is still adhesive and dangerous. Dopamine is usually the kase."

She recalled Raiden warning her of the dangers of that particular chemical, mostly due to overindulgence in alcohol, drugs and other vices.

"And you believe your heart is the opposite of a... Gem of Tetsurri. That should be your goal."

"I'm...not as powerful as a sorcerer, though... There was a lot of tension then, how I relied on Nightwolf so much and I miss the Koopalings-"

"Aiko!" She looked up. "Let's try and focus. You must avoid all distractions from within, attain klarity, and emit positive energy while also receiving it. Koherence kan help you achieve this positive energy. We will start with steady, deep breathing."

Kenshi taught her some breathing exercises to soothe her. The procedure slowed down her racing heart and pulse. She even took some beets as an iron provider while the compound also churned more oxygen.

"How do you feel?"

"A little better. Now what?"

"Your heart and mind are relaxed; they feel kohesive to one another. Now it's time to face your demons. How and where do you think this trance started?"

She discussed of her weakness as she went in depth over the history of those incidents similar to their encounter with the Makeba, starting with the same experience the missing quartet are endeavoring to. She believed it all began with a similar occurrence, only it was in Montanna back when she was 4, watching it on TV. Then, her mind shifted to the various klips she discussed with Jin, followed by a field trip to some reservation during October, perhaps during yesteryear.

"I see... Have you made any defense mechanisms?"

"Well...I tried thinking of a song with the same tempo. Whatever komes to mind helping resist them. I never actually used this method, but I'd been...speculating."

"Right. These rituals are just as potent as lingering tension and darkness itself, like when you and Lao were once assimilated by Shinnok. I haven't met him, but I've heard the worst. Never let your mind and heart go astray, they're unstoppable together. And if you are in doubt, let them BOTH guide you."

They took a little picnic before she resumed training, only this time, Kenshi made some new koordinates on his portal generator, specifically to the Wu Shi Academy. While the Shaolin warriors were busy doing warm exercises by making fighting poses and alternating stomps, it distracted Aiko a bit, though they were giving her some konfidence. She paced herself around the perimeter before she returned to Kenshi.

Before they knew it, the sun was starting to set; their training was not only riveting, but also time-konsuming. Aiko hardly noticed that the young Jin already returned from school as Kenshi kalled the segments to a klose!

Night fell, and the fatigued kardiokinetic sat on the queen-sized mattress within the shared bedroom. She took the photo of Kung Lao's younger self grinning up at her, which lifted her spirit; it actually warmed her heart! As she tilted and lifted to kiss it, a small audio kassette fell out from the bottom. She kuriously gazed at it, then inserted it into her Panasonic tape recorder. She bought it last year, as her kid self had one as well talking gibberish into it in the past one evening back in 1995. Inside one of those foldable cushions at the rear of the backseat, she inspected it. She noticed it was twice smaller than those larger kassette players like the one being advertised after Home Alone 2 kame to be. And she became hooked ever since!

When her mind kleared the nostalgic kobwebs, she played the micro cassette she found.

The first voice she heard was Raiden's.

"Ok, Liu Kang. Do you remember your Wu Shi training?"

"Yes, Master Raiden. I am ready."

"Alright then. Let's go."

A catchy beat followed as the talented Thunder God actually rapped to it!

It's your boy Raiden, with the thunder and the shock.

I'm gonna strike you down in battle like your name was Shinnok.

So, I use my amulet to rewind up this clock.

So, I can kick your ass again, with Round 3 a cakewalk.

Hear my omnipresence, the thunder and the bang.

When I walk up to the girls, they call me hella Hat Gang

My troops and I will tag you like we're the next Wu Tang!

So now I'm gonna pass it to my boy, Liu Kang

Sure enough, it was him! Using the same rhythm as his mentor.

Champion of Kombat, I'm the greatest of them all.

When I put both these legs it's like I'm running up a wall.

You better beg for mercy, or I'll cripple like Kotal.

When I beat you down in kombat, It's your mother you should call.

Fireball, last call, Hara Kiri at the stall.

It's a brawl, free-for-all, stand against me you will fall.

Once I set my sights on you, I go up to speed like Kabal.

So, you better run and hide before I turn to aerosol!

Stand down, Liu Kang!

I think they've had enough.

Wu Shi Gang is on the rise, time to let them know what's up.

Shao Kahn shown up on my doorstep, time to show that we don't bluff.

Now let's finish it like Toasty. Kung Lao! Blow it up!

This made her face brighten, hearing that her lover has his own special verse! He seemed to be rapping twice as fast, just as he would like the swifter in battle!

Splitting and a flippin', get my hat spinnin' coming from a Shaolin Monk

Sippin' up Earthrealm's rice wine, real fine, still gonna beat you while I'm drunk.

Stand up, slice up, dice up, put you in a vice just like in a live tree trunk.

We're defenders of the Earth, and I know what I'm worth. Take your life when you fight me punk!

Aiko was so thrilled by his rapid pacing and phenomenal, attractive voice! She even rewound it to hear him again, and this time paying attention to the main MC.

I think we've set a warning, for this Fatality.

Call us the Deadly Alliance cuz we're on a killing spree!

This is no Deception; I will bring an end to this Brutality!

Armageddon begins, Raiden wins a Flawless Victory!

Aiko replayed the Wu Shi rap once more and snickered at times. She was indeed receiving some happiness and enjoyment from this random, hysterical stunt! She also wished she would be included to add in her own verse one day...

The female Shaolin discussed his training with the two Kungs over supper, and even they had been thrilled! Jin's mom was grateful Aiko loved the fresh heart-healthy foods she made, then she stored the leftovers inside the basket as she loaded them in the fridge. She helped tuck in Jin and wished him goodnight before she too hit the sack.

A/N: The Wu Shi rap was first encountered during last October made by Evil Emperor X. Unfortunately, he had to take it down because he was too ashamed on using characters' voices with AI tech. I was so upset he took it down! I used to hear it several times as catchy and hilarious Raiden, Liu and Lao were! And Lao's voice has always been my favorite part! So, I had to improvise to make up for my limited memory of the lyrics. I surely hope Evil Emperor would reupload this!

Also, I find a lot of Lemmings' songs to be very riveting and catchy, specifically the Genesis version, ever since I was 5! NO ONE ever talks about them, as I mentioned in my 12 Petites list! NOBODY! The nostalgia and energizing numbers kan work well here! Even though I'm still uncertain how to include them at the moment... Sometimes, Aiko would have a training montage similar to Rocky's. And it took a lot of research to put the facts together on how to enhance and train the heart.

So, she has four days left to fight the temptation and achieve her goal to make her heart gem as powerful as the Gem of Tetsurri. Let's hope she and Kenshi will succeed!

Con't III

The next day, Kenshi visited Aiko again after breakfast and when Jin returned to school. She brought out the same basket with any leftover scraps from the previous day's meal suited for the heart. But the telepath had other ideas in mind.

"You're not going to train solely this time. But rather, with the White Lotus Society."

Her face brightened, "Huh. Really. What's going on, do you have a change of plans?"

"Actually, yes. I was with Fujin earlier today; I'd decided to stop by after I left the Shirai Ryu. He suggested that with the Shaolin, you'd be more resistant to any repercussions emanating from the Matokan's land and build up your koherence. After all, there's safety in numbers. And I doubt any of us would be vulnerable. They say that they can be more powerful than an influence by a demon sorcerer."

"Sounds great to me!" Aiko beamed and nodded in affirmation.

"Ok, let's move." The talented swordsman activated his generator kreating a rip leading to the past pinpoint at the Wu Shi Academy.

They were brought to the epicenter of the square, where some cherry blossoms were starting to bud and rows of several warriors performed their warmup exercises, alternating positions of their legs after each lift. After several stomps from straight down to diagonally, the sequence was repeated with the other leg. Aiko followed with Kai and the other Shaolin simultaneously, and Fujin simply observed them.

They switched to straight punches with each arm as the Wind God directed them with a Chinese cry. After some alternations, the exercises were done.

He spoke in a crisp manner carrying over the open air, "Shaolin? I appreciate you all for attending this session. It is very much krucial without the presence of our fellow komrades, Raiden, Liu Kang, Nightwolf and Kung Lao. They had all gone to the Matokan's sacred land, as we all know. And Aiko was absent as Kenshi needed to train her personally. I would like you all to meet our fellow ally from the Outer World Investigation Agency, Kenshi."

He emerged from the krowd and some of the warriors actually cheered and applauded for him; Aiko kouldn't help but follow suit.

"Greetings and salvations to you all, warriors. I am Kenshi Takahashi, the skilled blind swordsman of the OIA. I have kome here personally as we have kritical business to discuss."

Fujin escorted the males and Aiko to their main quarters. In the spacious area where they often attended their meetings, they sat and surrounded their sensei located in the middle with the guest of honor.

"As you all know, we had been talking about the exotic drums of the Makeba, and how our little one, Aiko, has been affected by them." She sulked, feeling bad of her personal matters on how she'd been manipulated, although it wasn't as preachy as she thought. "Our klosest allies had drifted off to Northern America's eastern seaboard for some personal endeavors; however, tension has been hanging over us like an ominous kloud. Those drums kan hold some exotic and potent power, even to those sensitive to them.

"We believe that they had not only originated from Africa, the heart of the former singular kontinent, Pangea, so many eons ago, but also from the omnipresent frontier, the Makeba of Outworld."

Kai chimed in, "Yes. We think that they can be a powerful force manipulating anyone who's prone to them. And over the eons, their magic has grown proportionally less. But some with great authority like Konga can usurp with them."

"They can only influence those who're unfortunate enough to have them do their biddings." Kenshi added. "But those who're lucky are resistant. As a telepath, I am immune. Or simply to those who kan kounter these reactions by emanating soundwaves to kancel them, or those who don't hear, or who have an iron will to override their kommands."

"Our only kandidate who kan do this is Nightwolf." One monk mentioned.

"Yes, but for those aren't as masterful, how kan we resist their thralls?" Fujin queried.

"As a God, I'm certain YOU are resistant! Even Master Raiden." Kai replied. "But I guess, us mortals, we may have to tune them out."

"They may still subconsciously follow the leader. And they're often in large numbers." Kenshi intervened. "There must be a more effective strategy. Being in a group kould either be beneficial or against you depending on how infectious the user is."

"Perhaps emanate loud noises to take over the effect." Another monk spoke.

"Or...even koherence," Aiko said sheepishly.

Kenshi hesitated, "Koherence... That just might be krazy enough to work. Usually kineses koncern mind over matter, and hypnotism only affects the mind. But perhaps, the heart kould be the kounteract; the true kore of the soul lies within it, and it transfers neuro signals faster than the brain, not vice versa. Emotions take over your thought process, and with the heart and mind being in sync, we might still stand."

"Unless, perhaps, if we should make our own musical numbers."

"Kan... the Shaolin actually play, Fujin? Aside from the gong?" Aiko queried.

"Of kourse. Even I have my own instrument or two, a woodwind, and even my own voice. I hadn't sung in ages; I need some tuning."

"Yeah, Aiko's a decent singer too." Kai recalled all those fun segments whenever the Shaolin can attend Karaoke, which is very rare on account of konstant, vigorous training.

One of the former monks spoke, "If only the lot of us kould... There are still some members who decided to leave us, even the Order. All because they were just...feeling under the weather emotionally."

The Wind God perked up, "Oh yes, of kourse. You weren't there, Aiko and Kenshi, but the lot of us went missing from the Society and the holy Order. We believe that they kan be affected by the negative side effects of meditation. Liu warned it had been on the rise, and while those who quit that practice is still within the dark abyss..." He faced the kardiokinetic, "Have you ever heard of the dark night of the soul?"

She shook her head.

"Raiden and I were discussing this once... How the Buddhists kall this emotional kurse as the bottom of the void. How many of us suffer emotionally and sometimes physically, and that only meditation makes matters worse. Never seeing nor embracing the light again. They...even became passive, evading our own guidance, losing faith and all hope..." He sulked.

Kenshi soon looked up from his sorry stupor. "Hmm, maybe there's a way to accomplish both. Koherence shall be needed, more than ever. With the heart's positivity overriding her angsts AND their negativity, then it kan be used for the greater good! Although such strength would require more than she kan deliver.

"If she kan just share her rich endorphin gems kombined with...our uplifting, then we will kombat all demons!"

"Excellent idea, Kenshi!" Fujin exclaimed. "And we must occupy a tall structure. After all, no matter what the kinesis, it requires air to karry. I shall do just that."

Aiko was in deep thought, "The tallest structure... Maybe we kan use that temple in the outskirts of China."

"That...would be too overwhelming to organize in. I'm sure my brother's temple would be the more ideal place. Its air kurrents are always rich and vast, and the Jinsei as well. Ashrah may be able to participate, he won't mind."

"Even better, why not use all the realms!?" Kai kried.

"Right? Kai knows what's up. Though it won't be easy... The Order and Chaos realms are too...extreme."

"Edenia and Outworld may just be the tickets." The telekinetic suggested.

"Sounds like a plan. Kenshi and Aiko shall rally up the other realms. Kai and I still have some business to attend to, with whatever willing Shaolin we have left..." Even the brother god was beginning to lose his konfidence upon the mounting despair.

The pair headed out, and thru that extensive meeting with the White Lotus, it was already high noon. The second day wasn't without some basic training, though, from the usual deep breathing to the jogging from the Academy and back while pacing, even some sit-ups as well as an increased appetite! Still, Aiko sometimes worried that her heart gem would emit the Matokan rituals directly despite the eight-hour time difference.

By the time all her physical activity was done, she returned to the Kung kottage.

"Wait, Aiko. Before you leave, I was...actually thinking if maybe we should klimb that tall Chinese Temple. That would be the perfect way to enhance your heart." She actually let out an irritated sigh. "Don't worry. I'll be with you all the way. I used to klimb that monastery once. It's around 30 feet in height. Then afterwards, I'll make a portal at the top so we can recruit musicians from Edenia."

She wasn't looking forward to the ascending journey, but she was anticipating the visit to the Grand Palace. That alone sort of lifted her spirits.

Before she went to bed, she gazed into her heart gem which shone as lively as ever. She wished Kung Lao goodnight before she kissed it, then set it on a wooden nightstand.

Somewhere within the Matokan village, Kung Lao was just rising razor-rimmed hat had a pair of red-white feathers dangling, and he took out Aiko's heart gem beside it. A blurry image of her training with Kenshi made him yearn to be with White Lotus again, despite having only three days left. He lifted it and kissed it, hoping to be by her side once more...

A/N: I had this idea for a while, ever since I discovered the MK storyline on the MK Wiki, that most of the world's history is tied into the series, thus adding in the Makeba/Indians' origins as the tribe from Outworld, to traveling to Earthrealm at the heart of Pangea, to locating at North America when the kontinents split by tectonic plates. I strongly think the Matoka can be descendants of these said people, including how Africa originated the same tribal kustoms the Native Americans embrace. Thus, the meeting of the White Lotus.

The random idea involving the monastery was inspired by the minor location from Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, even the monks reminding me of the Shaolin, even Liu's grandpa and the Order of Light. After all, the sequel was released on the same year as the first MK film and MK3! I just love how outside media konnects with the series! Hopefully, WB and NRS shall take some inspiration.

Also, the idea on gathering a band and kountering the tempting effects of the tribal drums were inspired by the Darkseid War RP with Unaliving Liu Kang, Bill and Ted 3, and the Superpower wiki highlighting Music Hypnosis. I looked up recently on some sites that it's true meditation can unveil your deep wounds and dark side; please pay heed to the negative side effects, despite the kommon belief on finding enlightenment. Hopefully, I'll get to each of the band members soon, as we have 3 days before the big assembly which would affect Aiko in the long-run, myself included. How would we prepare for it and also deal with the eight-hour difference?

Con't IV

Aiko woke up with a jolt, her mind and her heart feeling that something was pulling them apart, something tense, pessimistic. and unnerving. She wondered if that sensation belonged to her heart gem monitoring over the Matokan land. Sure enough, as she gazed into it, there was some buildup. Perhaps there were small repercussions as if belonging to powwows or warm up numbers. Or maybe the defeatism belonged to that aforementioned incident Fujin stated, when the Shaolin were dwindling in numbers and shying away from the Light. Either way, she knew within herself each koincidence kan be driving her heart and mind apart, and she kould succumb to darkness and despair, and to the drums' mercy... She knew what she had to do, and focused on Kenshi's next daunting task, the klimb up the 30-foot Chinese monastery!

"I like your determination," Kenshi remarked. "There's no worse demon than your own personal demons. Even worse than those dwelling in the Netherrealm."

"So... why, or how, should we klimb...that?" She pointed to the summit where a stone-carved temple stood, and the height alone made her stomach churn!

"Fujin and I set the koordinates of the rip leading to the Edenian Palace. We shall rally up any musicians who're willing to unite the peaceful realms and restore light to many hearts."

"The heart shows the strongest desires, and restores peace, and without it the Shaolin are worthless." She took a deep breath before she proceeded up. "For the Shaolin...!" She kept her heart gem klose despite the possible beats of the Matokan, or even when her brothers entered her mind. She knew it'd be the only thing to replenish her energy during the fatiguing trek! She even vaguely remembered the meltdown she had in which one of her krystals was forged from her koncentrated energy. Going at a steady pace, instead of rushing up on the certainty by tripping on a stone slab, Aiko paced behind Kenshi.

She wondered how long it'd take to klimb to the summit and Kenshi mentioned it'd depend on her stride, and how long it'd reach six steps. To them, it took about three seconds. Kenshi kalculated it kan take then about a half hour nonstop. Her legs were growing very heavy after about five feet, yet she and her heart still pressed against them. She was very relieved the crisp air was present, and she wouldn't have to descend on naturally made steps with no security.

Before she knew it, her stamina was starting to waver, her heart racing as she panted. The duo stopped for a quick breather. Amongst her dry mouth, she spoke in between a few breaths, "How high did we make it...?"

Kenshi was more steadfast, "Approximately halfway up."

"Oh, geez... I only wish there was an elevator here..."

"No, Aiko. This monastery is designed for the abiding of the monks. It'd waste their effort if it's more modernized. It is a test for those who kan access it. We must press on."

She never thought neither of the unaffected Shaolin would surrender, so she momentarily bent over to katch her breath before she followed Kenshi who assured the air isn't any thinner than they started.

Nevertheless, her legs were growing sturdier but also weary, as were her arms as she swayed them. Still, Kenshi was her koach and encouraged her to save her energy as dialect would sap it, even though he was beginning to show signs of tiredness and a few beads of sweat. At one point, Aiko accidentally took a misstep which made her slip on the edge of a stair! Her right knee began to ache upon impact and Kenshi rushed to her side; despite the pain, she heard a strong rhythm, not knowing if it belonged to her heart or...

She began to get lightheaded and zoned out. Kenshi heard the same, "Aiko. Your heartbeat maintains a good drum beat! Use that rhythm to empower yourself."

She took in her mentor's words, albeit they were quieter, then her mind shifted to a similar tune utilizing that tempo. Once she had her defense mechanism activated, it seemed to rejuvenate herself! Kenshi barely saw her body glow around her exhausted body. Almost as if she had a backup source of energy.

"No...I won't give up...! I WILL not give up!"

She slowly rose and little by little, she picked up her pace again and looked down to make sure she would step more securely, and instead of dreading on the height of the structure. She nearly heard Kenshi, "Yes, that's it! Keep going. You're almost there. Just five more feet! Never give up."

Before she noticed, they finally reached the topmost pillar leading straight into the temple! Aiko's irritated body just became still, and she plopped her bottom, which seemed to be the only part not affected by the konstant stress. Kenshi just hunched over for a while, and he mentioned she had mastered koherence, balancing her mind, heart, and even her weakened body, working together! She was stunned, "Yeah. Your mind was drifting away into the darkness, hearing the Matokan drums. But thru your kourage, your heart managed to beat stronger in sync with it, then your mind registered another tune using visualization, and the two motivated you to move and reach your destination. I even saw your body glow in this aura as well."

"So... that's what it is...! I distracted myself, and I felt my body have this surge, as if hot blood went thru me. The pain minimized, and I kept going, resisting the temptation. I don't like the cliches from the Power of Love and Friendship, but..."

"No, it came from you. You were vulnerable, until you had that second wind. All threee entities worked together, just as what Liu Kang said. Only then can you achieve anything."

Recalling the Champion's lecture to Kai, Aiko kouldn't help but smile.

Using her weary body after a rest which dragged on, Aiko was escorted by Kenshi thru the portal, and sure enough, they arrived at the corner of the majestic throne room! The usual knights stood idly and lit up once they saw the heroic pair, as were the monarchs. "Sir Kenshi, Lady Aiko!" Sindel addressed with a smile. "We have been expecting you."

"I suppose Fujin must've informed you all on our agenda," Kenshi reiterated.

Kitana kupped one of the kardiokinetic's hands, "It's great to see you two again. Where's Liu Kang?"

She rubbed the back of her neck, "Uhh, he kouldn't make it..." After saying this, she knew that Kitana frowned despite kovering it with her vial. "I'm...sorry. But he had some personal business to attend to, with the Matokan tribe of Earthrealm/"

"Ah yes, Nightwolf's former tribe," Jerrod added. "They had been mostly passive to the defenders of Earth, despite their phenomenal shamanistic skills. Why would he actually return to his archaic roots?"

"He, Raiden, Liu Kang and Kung Lao, out of curiosity, had decided to help out with their last born attaining her official name, perhaps adoption as well." Kenshi laid out the meat and potatoes. "As you all know, since we first met, Aiko is susceptible to tribal kustoms."

"Indeed, we're well aware of that, ever since Kitana and Jade told us about the tumultuous journey thru Outworld and for the Deadly Alliance." Sindel realized. "Is it not a method to shield herself from the trance?"

"Not only that, Your Majesty, but to also restore the Shaolin. They'd been descending into the dark abyss and meditation can expose your personal demons, opening up past, traumatic wounds. And perhaps...arise PTSD."

"...How unfortunate." Jerrod hung his head. "It's not kommon and it's a scary thought, which is why we don't often encourage this practice. The Shaolin are our krucial allies from Earth, especially Raiden, Fujin, and the two Champions." He still wore a hint of regret fighting the latter two warriors...

"We're actually searching for talented musicians. We believe that with a riveting number, not only would it override the Matoka drums as felt by Aiko, but also rejuvenate the Shaolin's' spirits."

Sindel pondered, "Hmm... I think I know a lucky few who might be of some assistance. Although, I kan't necessarily sing." She klutched her throat. "I dread singing on account of my banshee screaming after my resurrection by Quan Chi... And the exorcism by Nightwolf."

"I kan hardly sing neither," Asgaarth added. "As I usually can let out shrieks like Earthrealm's birds of prey. And I was also trained as a knight, not a musician."

"Perhaps I kould serve this purpose." Everyone gasped at Jerrod's words! Even his wife was stupefied.

"I... I never saw you EVER attend any balls nor assemblies with an instrument...!"

"No. However, I think that with my soulkinesis, as gifted by Shao Kahn, I'll be able to impersonate as one. After all, I was eligible to use the Edenia Kamidogu as the replacement for the millennia doomed Champion."

"That may be feasible. Who...do you have in mind?" Sindel was intrigued.

Ermac hesitated as he koncentrated thru his astronomical kollection, which seemed to be peaceful as are willing to assist, rather than those raging and shrieking driving the ninja mad by the Emperor's influence. After a few moments, he shot open his brown eyes as the green tint faded. "I already have one. A man playing what seemed to be a hybrid between...an electric stringed instrument with a piano at the other end. It's incredible how this individual can play them both almost at the same time!"

Even Aiko never knew such a piece existed, as only from just random kartoon segments. "No, it is real," Kenshi interjected with amazement. "They actually kall this a keytar!" Needless to say, the autistic became giddy from the awe. Ermac managed to make one materialize using soul energy, as if it looked like it was forged from a lime, solid simulation! He gave it several strums, then utilized both ends skillfully. Everyone applauded of Ermac's fast learning, even Aiko stimmed.

"Looks like I still have it in me!"

"Excellent, you shall aid the Shaolin, Kenshi, Aiko and Fujin to restore their hearts and safeguard hers from the Matokan. How long until the ceremony begins?"

"In three days, in Earthrealm's standards..." Everyone became anxious on Aiko's words.

"We're running out of time..." Kenshi muttered. "We were planning on visiting Raiden's Sky Temple."

"Ashrah is there too. I hope she can play. But it might take more than this."

Some thumps were heard from a distance, even a cymbal krash! Momentarily, a four-armed, muscular beast headed out from the shadows. He peeked out and gave an interested snarl. Aiko was just flabbergasted, "Agh-Goro!" This was indeed the first time seeing the bulky Shokan and Outworld Champion! She did hear all the horror stories on how the unstoppable brute killed off the Great Kung Lao and Art Lean, even the peace negotiation with the Centaurs and Kung Lao.

He rose an arm, "Fear not, mortal. I have no intention to harm you." He stepped kloser to the meek warrioress. "Aren't you betrothed to Kung Lao?"

She hesitated and gulped, "...Yeah."

He laid one of his kalloused hands on her shoulder gently and gave it a few pats. "You should be lucky to have an honorable man by your side. Much like his ancestor, he's a brave and noble warrior. He has matured greatly from our first battle. And if he and his people would fall prey to the Makeba's descendants, I would be proud to pull them out of the darkest depths. Besides, I had never played percussion in so long!" He let out the last statement with excitement.

"A musician with four arms... Quite intriguing." Kenshi admired. "So, the Makeba DO have a distant lineage to our people on Earth."

"Indeed, they are, Kenshi." Sindel beamed. "They may still be territorial, but ever since Onaga united the smaller realms into the foreboding frontier, it expanded, but not always prospered. Much as the ancient, endangered dragons, we think some had migrated thru a portal and entered your realm."

"So, the White Lotus was true! The Makeba arrived at Pangea eons ago, then occupied Africa, before the land was split." Aiko affirmed.

"Precisely."

"And do we have a song in mind?" Kenshi asked, specifically to the Shaolin sister.

She brightened up, "Actually, yes! I hope we'd be able to learn it in time... And we would retrieve it..." Kenshi just beat her to the punch as soon as she mentioned it!

A/N: I won't reveal the final number right away! It would definitely ruin the surprise! And yea, meditation kausing negative perception is very depressing. I was also unsure aside from Goro and Quan Chi being musicians, so I'd to make it up as I went, including Fujin, Ashrah and Ermac. And I wanted to make up something challenging for my OC, so I made up whatever as I went along, using that monastery, and the art of coherence by utilizing both the heart and mind.

Unfortunately...I had no personal experience with that process. But I hope it's semi-accurate, like a creative scientific license. And yea, I feel the tribal drums, especially those that're big and vehement kan be tempting. I hope my brainstorming of the soundtrack is still accurate; hasn't been made official yet.

So, we got the formation of the band and the single number during the ceremony to safeguard the Matoka and brighten many hearts across the realms! May they emerge victorious!

Con't V

Aiko was still exhausted from the intense klimb, and by the time she and Kenshi headed back to Earthrealm, with the kooordinates readjusted on his gizmo, the White Lorus was ending their sessions as they saw them leave while Fujin stood front and center. It was already nightfall in China, as spending time in Edenia, and other realms, tend to move faster than the life jewel itself.

"Have you gathered other recruits for our kause?"

"Yes, Prince Goro and King Jerrod shall be joining us as the drummer and keytarist respectively. Actually, the Outworld Champion was looking forward to restoring light back to the Shaolin, glad to be doing this for Kung Lao. He always wanted to return the favor for him and his ancestor ever since that peace treaty after the war of Shinnok."

"Great. Ashrah shall be helping us too, as the new Goddess of Light for Earthrealm. She actually plays the bass, and she hasn't done so in eons. It's still the third day, but time is of the essence. I'm uncertain if we can master this number in time. And... I'm also unsure what time we shall do this."

As if reading the Wind God's mind, "I hope she and Jerrod had buried the hatchet, and not klassify him as the so-called demon, as he was once one of Kahn's greatest generals." He too remembered the story of the secret intrusion of the Warrior Shrine.

"I'm sure she'll be fine, as long as she knows about the noble King of Edenia despite still using his kollection of souls."

"Oh, I forgot what time...this similar scenario starts. We still have less than 3 days left..."

"Well...when can you recall it last, Aiko?"

She was racking her brain for a possible solution, and it'd be difficult to manage amongst the different time zones.

Fujin exclaimed, "Well, with the Sky Temple being klose to the heavens, you shouldn't worry. It has all the time zones happening all at once! Just pick a time and we'll do it."

Her face was klouded with ambiguity as she kan only give an estimate. "Eh... I think...that circumstance may occur sometime between seven and nine in the morning, using the Eastern Standard Time."

"Alright. We shall begin at three in the afternoon utilizing the time zone in China. Sounds like a solid time for us. Besides, Ashrah's familiar with the number we're using. I'm sure it won't be too hard for Jerrod, and Goro only should know the rhythm, easy."

Kenshi strategized, "We shall prepare ourselves first thing tomorrow. But we should keep in mind that Edenia and Outworld are still ahead of Earth's cycles."

"With a Shokan, an Edenian, two Gods and two mortals konjuring this koncert, that's not too shabby. Let's just pray to the Elder Gods it shall bring hope to the eloping Shaolin, and to most of the realms." Fujin suddenly recalled Raiden's admiration for Kung Lao and Liu Kang...

Kung Lao and Liu Kang... They are like sons. I would move the heavens if I should bring them to the light when the worst should happen...

"The Shaolin depends on it, especially after their breaking point during the Tarkatan attack. The katalyst of the Outworld tournament. We must never screw up this piece."

Konsidering so much was at stake, "Fujin, wait." Aiko chimed in. "Look, I used to belong to my schools' choir way back, from fourth grade to ninth grade. But I don't want to risk singing it. Can you do it, since it's actually sung by a guy?"

"Sure. I had already stated I was once a vocalist, used to be my passion, till we got so busy looking out for Earth. How would you do it, be like the director? It was your idea, and it's no wonder since you have spirit. I even heard you finally mastered koherence. It is the key to all of this.

"I'll look after whomever we have left of the Shaolin... Things are looking bleak. As a God, I'm sure I kan easily adjust my voice."

"How are they, Fujin?" Kenshi felt some heaviness.

He slowly shook his head, "Not good. More hadn't left, but those that did are actually growing deeper into their despair. Their demons are taking advantage over their vulnerable psyches. We must make haste. If worse komes to worst, they might...take their own lives." His face wrinkled with grim. "It's just like what my brother said, especially to you, young one. Mortal Kombat isn't just about martial arts, there's more than just fighting."

"Liu Kang said the same. I remember Raiden saying this, I can still be of use without fighting!"

Kenshi laid a hand on her shoulder, "And that you shall."

Minutes later, Kenshi returned to the Shirai Ryu base while Aiko went back to the Kung Kottage. By the time she was preparing to hit the sack, she heard some faint drumbeats emanating from her heart gem! She quickly took it out and hid it inside the topmost drawer in her nightstand. She tried to kompose herself as her own speeding heart raced! She's sure as hell she NEVER wanted to be tainted by those enticing instruments ever again!

She remembered she rested for about six hours due to last night's anxiety, but she was still willing to take Fujin's portal to the Sky Temple. The sacred location was top-secret, not even Kenshi or Aiko knew as it was always accessed thru a portal! Even when the infantry and the heroes had to recuperate there after the war of Onaga.

Goro, Ashrah, and Jerrod were already practicing their instruments when Fujin, Aiko and Kenshi shown up. The trio stopped for a moment, and they'd listened to the song once, praising how motivating and katchy it is!

"Earthrealm does have some good taste," Ashrah admired. "And with my photokinesis, and the Jinsei... I'm sure we kan definitely restore all of the Shaolin, and to whomever those that listen to it. Do some people hold your heart gems?"

"Yeah, Sindel, Jerrod, I know that Liu, Lao, Nightwolf and Raiden each possess one, as they're the klosest family to me. But..." She held her eyes, "Last night, I felt and heard some tremors koming from the Matokan drums, so I hastily hid it away!"

"You don't have it, do you?"

She sulked and shook her head. "No, Kenshi..."

"Actually, that's for the best. No distractions." Fujin added. "And I'm sure my brother won't mind when we...jam here."

"The rhythm is merely as simple as ripping a live karcass in half!"

"Goro...!" Everyone was disgusted by his graphic komparison.

"I would still use some training with the keytar solos, though I will admit, the song is very fun to learn!" Jerrod said cheerfully.

"Same. I'd need some time with the keyboard melodies, but it is renovating and I kould easily transfer my thoughts onto it and press the korresponding keys with my telekinesis."

"I kan hardly hear the bass, though it won't be too difficult to improvise." Ashrah chimed in.

"It's...going to take some effort remembering the lyrics. They aren't muffled. Just is more difficult than the melodies are." Fujin interjected.

"I believe my psychokinesis would do the trick."

"You'll be our guide, Kenshi. Let's get this thing done. We have 48 hours to spare, so let's dive into it."

The Wind God signaled the blind man to tap the keys with his mind first. Even play thru the whole song without any distractions on the open plateau. He even sung each of the words with excellent precision, encouraging the keyboardist. Goro actually followed along at the entryway, although since he had distant past experience with the drum set, it took him longer to master the solos. Having four limbs, however, had its advantages, as he was gifted while keeping pace, making some wild beats, and klashing a cymbal or two in unison. It did make Aiko excited at times, almost as if the song was perfectly in sync.

Ashrah didn't have to be taught as she just followed along with the heavy bass. But the one having the most trouble aside from Goro was Jerrod strumming the keytar, not only just kontrolling the tool, but also memorizing the tubular tunes.

Still, Fujin and Aiko didn't mind repeating the same number, as they played nearly three times before they took a breather. When the elemental went to the other musician, thanks to their self-practice, they began to adhere, although their angsts were mostly about memory and to not lose koncerntration by other teammates, nor even the Matokan drums IF they'd be beaten. The original song had to be played during intervals as a refresher to mimic and also be inspired by each of the separate kues. And out of all the konstant tries, Fujin, Aiko and Kenshi had the easiest parts. It wasn't just the song that kept them innovated, but the gems emitting positive energy by Fujin, Kenshi and Jerrod lifted their spirits. Even being on a hallowed plain!

They did take several hours in konjunction with konversation, leisure, and Fujin and Kenshi's newer intel.

"Fortunate Young Man, kind of like you, Aiko." The Wind God summarized.

"What?"

"Eh, that's the adoptive name. Apparently, his father used to be a documentary filmmaker, so his family no doubt has dictating experience." Kenshi added.

"The basic function of the Makeba's instruments is not only konjuring, but also as a summons, even bounding those who hear and feel them to their head. Mostly, the chief's standards." Goro intervened.

"It shall be led by the elder, this is definitely going to be omnipresent."

"Better than filling out the komplicated paperwork..." Aiko murmured. Everyone agreed.

"If there's any native from Outworld who knows them well, it's you, Goro." Ashrah praised. "You're the Prince of the Shokan, and an unchallenged Champion for over five centuries now! I know there's Jerrod, as Ermac...but you seem to be more steadfast."

"Even though the Matokan are peaceful, they can still have that effect. Like attracting a magnet, or a moth to the flame." Fujin described.

"Everyone has a handicap; I didn't ask for my blindness, but it's still there and it's permanent. And we all have our own." Kenshi sympathized. "Best to use our setbacks to our advantage, utilizing its rhythm like Aiko would do, and kounteract with our hearts. Even konversion affects the mind, although the heart functions faster to the brain, as the first organ kreated, and as the second mind. And we should all be the anchors to their buoys, just as Kung Lao is to Aiko, or me with Hanzo. We must never go astray."

"It shalln't be long now." Jerrod said. And so, the group performed a few more times, with their productive spirits and their musical theories finally kombining into one like Ermac's souls grouping by the Netherrealm's Soul Stones, or the rapidly building tension in both korners of the Earth.

"Our hearts, just as our instruments, must function as one. May we all emerge victorious."

A/N: Usually I'd see Fujin as Rocky's newest mentor, Tony, just as flamboyant, sometimes strict, and a bit kocky as he is, even having a similar voice at times. He's the younger God of Raiden, so he may not always act as serious as him. When I was looking up intel of the Trip to Montanna, it never mentioned the airtime, aside from date being around Summer 1991; it was definitely one helluva year, with the tribal media and not just the start of the 16-bit war! The thing is, I seem to be the only one who's affected like my OC, you'll see in my Deadly Alliance fic and other works...

I won't spoil the song yet, that'd probably until the next, maybe last, chapter. Most of the Kombatants I'd to make up since no one seemed to help any... I kind of fugured the Sky Temple, being klose to the heavens, kan have access to all time zones, with Raiden watching over Earth much like Kami or Dende would do in their own Lookout in Dragon Ball Z!

Maybe I am tension sensitive, prone to meltdowns or anxiety. Perhaps this is the konnection, and they seem to be irresistible. Especially when embracing them during the Darkseid War roleplay.

So, stay tuned for the homestretch.

Con't VI

Aiko woke up inside the shared bedchamber. There were less than 24 hours left until the hot dance of the Matokan, and she knew in her heart that it's going to take all her energy to konjure inner peace to the Shaolin and herself. She kouldn't wait for Kung Lao, Raiden, Liu, and Nightwolf return, and she hoped they won't be konsumed like she was so long ago... She still wondered how and why she was the only one, being tension sensitive and all.

She hardly noticed the tremors pulsating from her heart gem in the topmost drawer. Out of kuriousity, and intrigue, she slowly took it out. She held it in both hands even when she sat back on the mattress. Aiko was actually growing entranced as her own heart began to slow down, her pupils dilating, her eyes getting heavy as she looked down on her energy source. She laid it on her lap and began to tap the mattress rhythmically, following the lulling performance... Her mind drifted and it made her have that urge to be one with the drums and whoever's playing them... It must've been the Matokan, or perhaps the Makeba, and she hoped that her klose family would follow them...

This...is what she was chosen for... She zoned out as she beat harder and kross-legged. She was in a fog, forgetting the upcoming performance and rather let herself be enthralled... Even the underside began to swell, and she wished to be a full-fledged tribeswoman taking the Shaolin along... To no longer resist and fear their temptations.

She was so deep in her thrall that she hardly noticed the sound of the drums be muffled and even her heart gem dissolved at its kore to what looked like a blurry hologram of herself!

"Is...is that you, Aiko?"

Her same voice knocked her out of the tribal reverie! She kouldn't believe she was actually looking at herself! Although it wasn't entirely her as she had on grey skin, wearing warpaint around her eyes which looked as dark as her own blood red top! Even the grey and crimson headdress was startling! Was she really a part of a tribe after all?

She stammered on her words, "Yeah-I-I'm-I'm you, you're me? What's going on!?"

"It's just a glitch. I zoned out just as you did, like as if our subconsciousness must have met. I was drumming too."

"Oh, ok, it's just a glitch, that explains it." The lively Aiko replied sarcastically, hardly noticing her doppelganger's heart gem as black as her own soul!

"No, look, I'm more familiar about this than you are. See? I kame from the same timeline, but it isn't alike at all. Where I'm from, I've seen this happen before. When reality is disrupted like this, two timelines start to blend together. I'm from another paradox, but I'm in the same year as you are. It's still March 1996."

"It is...? But you're actually wearing tribal attire! You're even wearing a headdress, and-where is this, the Nettherrealm!?"

The altered Aiko's eyes gleamed as she smiled, "Yes, I belong here... I am now one of the Revenants, and I govern this realm with my lovers, my chieftain, Liu Kang, and the significant other from the living, Kung Lao."

"Hold on! You have both, not as your Shaolin siblings!?"

"They are with me, Aiko... In this time paradox, Liu Kang killed me. And I was konverted to his ranks."

"Where's Shinnok?"

"He is powerless. He was once beheaded by Raiden." The soft r belonged to a male, and in walked the Dark Emperor himself! He bowed low, "Praise be, Aiko."

"Agh-Liu Kang?" She still recognized him despite the black, crimson, and fiery orange headdress with a pair of piercing horns and the long manes.

"Yes, dear Aiko. Unlike you, she no longer fears the Makeba drums. We embrace them. And use them as our strength. You had mastered a tremendous gift, and you must never shy away from them. It is a part of who you are."

"...Wat, what're you trying to tell me? That I should join the Dark Side, and become like the Matoka?"

"No, Aiko. I'm telling you that you must accept this foreboding part of yourself. Aiko has shown me this fascinating technique. You must join us...if you wish. Shinnok has seen great potential in you. I had seen Him do the same, as did you and Kung Lao. It is not the omnipotence that makes it unfathomable, it is how you use it. A god named Darkseid pursuaded me to accept and embrace my evil prowess once again, and you must do the same."

"No, she kan't join us, but we kould still tempt her. If we do talk too long, the two dimensions may just end up swapping. And we won't want that to happen, so you kan just hide it away so the transmission would fade. Although, we shall be looking forward to the upcoming Matokan ceremony, they are a part of us too."

Her living kounterpart was just speechless.

"Anyway, don't fear them. Let yourself be embraced by them instead of wasting your strength and time resisting them. They are a part of who you are like chieftain said. So, go back to whatever you're doing."

"I'm...practicing on a number to kounteract with the ceremony."

"It is best to use it. I watched your Raiden do the same. To use both the dark and the light sides of himself, thus he never slayed me. You will see in time..." the satanic, though, enticing ruler persuaded.

"Anyway, bye now." The korrupt Aiko reached forward as if turning off a switch.

The living kardiokinetic's heart faded the illusion before she hastily shut the drawer and plopped on her mattress! She tried to process what in the Netherrealm just transpired! "A glitch... Two timelines merging. That's impossible. That never happened. I would never succumb to the darkness, just like I did with Shinnok. But...how does she know all this...? It just isn't like me. Embracing the darkness and the tribal drums like that! Never again, even with the Makeba!"

"You actually made a mistake, Aiko" Fujin stated back near the Sky Temple. "China is 13 hours ahead of the US's East Coast, not 8. I monitored and kompared our differences between China and from where you were from."

"13!?" Her jaw felt like it dropped to the ground!

"Yeah. If the Matokan should start on 7 am, we would be 13 hours ahead, thus they'd pick up the number at their time if we were to do so at 6pm, tonight."

"Tonight!? I thought you said it wouldn't matter in the heavens."

"Still, we must plan accordingly. There's no more time to waste." Fujin ushered her to join with the rest of their bandmates which kurrently were missing Jerrod and Goro. "Tis kurrently 11 am in Chinese Time, which means it's still in the wee hours of the morning at the Matokan territory. We must proceed for the 7 hours ahead."

Aiko took a hard gulp, fighting her anxieties. "Wait, Fujin. I just saw myself, saying that...I need to embrace this part of myself, my weakness."

"Indeed, you should. You'd been konnected to this since you were 4 years old, and it's been inseparable from your psyche ever since. Use it well to motivate you and use your koherence. Do it for the Shaolin and leave no more distractions."

He kommandeered his musical troops to work, and it was a bit trickier without the drummer and the keytarist. Luckily though, kourtesy of Kenshi, he projected the full squad's kues which seemed to ease their stress and strummed as if they were still there!

An hour later, Goro and Jerrod shown up, though only as themselves since Ashrah kept a lookout on their instruments. With the blind man's same projection, each entertainer mastered their own part to play! In an intermission, Kenshi stated to do the same to avoid any outside meddling, just as he did negate Aiko's mind from her astraphobia as she escorted the monks to safety by Dark Raiden and Zombie Liu's assaults.

"We...might want to make some glorious announcement, before our encore." Ashrah suggested.

At the other side of Earthrealm, it was just what Fujin speculated; darkness hung still over the open reservation and only the Thunder God, Raiden, was still awake and eagerly awaiting the hot dance within several hours.

He just took in a deep breather taking in the fresh air as he pondered.

The Matoka tribe has certainly changed ever since Shao Kahn's invasion. Nevertheless, they have been the best and the most gifted aboriginals in all of Earthrealm. Nightwolf and his people greatly kare about the existence of other realms. However, ever since they had prepared to take in a young one, his family konsisted of a documentarist. They began to have a change of heart; they started to evolve into modern kustoms and learnt how to adapt. They bridged the gulf between modernization and tradition. And the kid seemed greatly inspired by Nightwolf and Kiba, so too he wants to be a fighter like Liu Kang and Kung Lao. The latter nearly was reminded of his nephew, Jin.

He sighed and paused for a moment and looked up to the klear sky,

Brother... It feels like eons despite only being four days. I pray the Shaolin are faring well in your guidance...

He took out one of Aiko's heart gems and gazed into it. The item momentarily shown the Sky Temple occupied by various warriors.

"Fujin is at the Sky Temple? Ashrah, Aiko and Kenshi are with him as well. Even a Shokan." The small gem's vision sharpened, and he made out more details. "That's...Prince Goro! And King Jerrod of Edenia! They...are playing different instruments. What does this bode? ...They must be desperate to kounter the Matoka's palpitations. She must have held onto her own heart. ...I hope they will be prepared in the hours to kome. Perhaps I should pay a visit."

He withdrew the gem before he summoned his rod and konjured a quick flash of lightning and thunderous krash.

The Wind God just made the number take a halt before the key change. "Alright, stop! Goro? The drums sound a little sloppy. Tighten up the screws." He obliged, then the aerokinetic went to the photokinetic. "Ashrah? Damn. What's with the stiffness playing the bass? You must stay loose. You nervous?"

"Aye, yes. It's just...I hadn't played the bass in so long since I was being hunted by the Brotherhood of Shadow. But I never actually played for a live audience before."

"It is nerve-wrecking, I'll give you that. But we won't necessarily see them. It's just going to be us, and whoever possesses each of Aiko's hearts would be the ones to witness it. Especially the Shaolin, and perhaps my brother if he and his disciples still hold them."

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck the plateau, making most of the spectators startle. Everyone, including Aiko, figured it belonged to a storm kloud. "Fujin! We should abort!"

He rose a hand, "No! I see someone emerge from the lightning. ...Brother?"

He just slumped his arms while holding the staff, and the group went to him, while Goro looked up for a second before he kontinued to adjust the bolts. The kardiokinetic simply just hugged him tightly with a smile, and the God followed.

"I appreciate the warm welcome. I wish circumstances were less kritical. The Matoka are about to make their last-minute preparations for the hot dance in several hours."

"Is... the ceremony supposed to start at 7 in the morning, or 9...?"

"9:00 Eastern Standard Time, they will kommence the dance itself, although you must be ready for any of the warmups. It will take a while before the performance. Making your own, I see."

"Yes, Brother. We are planning to make a kouple riveting numbers to not only protect us from going astray, but for the Shaolin as well."

"How are they, Fujin?"

"They had been discussing of their plight, Lord Raiden." Kenshi intervened. "On how meditation has affected the lot of them with negative side effects."

He hung his head, "Yes... The dark night of the soul. They will need all the light they can possibly harness. Their demons kould even outrival any treatment from the Jinsei. And they no longer accept enlightenment. Liu Kang has grown very koncerned."

"Aiko's heart is still pure. She has been pining for Kung Lao lately, but she is still strong. She even learnt how to use koherence!" Fujin recapped.

Raiden's face brightened, "Has she now...!" She gleamed after his remark.

"Indeed. She'll be essential to emitting positive energy to those who wield her heart gems." The OIA agent said. "The remaining Shaolin have the majority of them, as do you, Nightwolf and the Champions?"

"We do. Our arrangements had been made for the ritual. Are you all prepared mentally for your recuperating rite?"

Unlike her kohorts, Aiko didn't respond. She just sulked, "Raiden..."

He knelt and matched her height as he laid a firm hand on her shoulder. "The ball is in you and Fujin's kourt now. I will be taking a portal and escort the remaining participants. Liu Kang and Kung Lao...shall also be mingled within the drumline. Even they had grown fascinated while Nightwolf and Kiba would join as well. I shall accompany them kloseby, so your hearts will be mixed in with the krowd." Her face fell.

"Aiko, focus on your objective and use the beats to our advantage. Ashrah and I kould only be our shields." Kenshi stated with earnest.

"Good luck, fellow musicians. Restore balance with the Shaolin and never wind up being mixed in with the Matoka. We have our own agenda, for the time being. Lead them well, Fujin. And may we be successful."

"Likewise, Raiden." Fujin nodded before he left with a bit of electricity.

"Seems that everyone is being melded by this get together. I hardly know anything of the Matokans' and the Makeba's power." Ashrah thought aloud.

"So, this IS actually a battle. Moreso, a battle of wills." Goro summarized.

"Quite right, Prince Goro." Jerrod added. "I too know very little of the Makeba and their many Earthrealm descendants."

"Their power karries a great distance and enormous tension." Fujin described. "I think we shall keep Aiko's hearts on our person, sad to say, but it's the only way to emit our own energy to those who will receive it; the heart both gives and receives. I think Brother would keep his away, yet still, even if they're mortal, their magnitude kould rival us Gods sometimes." He faced the team, "I shall signal you all when the time is right. We will only have a few more hours remaining, be prepared."

For once, everyone was in both dread and eagerness, like the everlasting klashing extremes of both dark and light, or even perhaps the heart and the mind.

These last few hours gave everyone enough time to hang out with their loved ones before their big break. Fujin and Aiko discussed with the White Lotus to prepare her heart gems for the korresponding events. She swore for her kompatriots both near and far to never be dissuaded, and it was just enough for a hearty meal with Jin and his mom. Jerrod surprised the Edenian royals and encouraged Sindel to prep her own gem for the number, whereas Goro did the same as he alerted Sheeva and others in the Resistance. Kenshi noted to Hanzo of his agenda and the former wraith wished him luck, especially for the Shaolin. Baby Takeda let out some irritated kries as he also felt the tension in what seemed to be hanging over the majority of Earthrealm. Even Ashrah was beginning to sense the lingering storm which felt as if it was diminishing her light aura and giving her some worry as whether or not her own aura would be potent enough.

The Shaolin, Jin, Sindel, Raiden, Kung Lao, Liu Kang, Nightwolf, and even the Shirai infant each held a portion of Aiko's life energy; although it was risque since the quartet intermixed with the Matoka kan make the other spectators vulnerable. Although, at times, Aiko actually heard her original gem emitting soundwaves as soon as she returned to Fujin who was awaiting her near the Shaolin stronghold. They hardly noticed their other allies march into the desolated kamp. The vision reminded her of Fujin's words as being unsuspecting moths being attracted to the dazzling, dangerous flickers of fire. The display reminded her of the warning from her dakrer self, in which Fujin was piuzzled. The sight and sound made her heart race, trying to fight off the temptation.

The Wind God distracted her, "Aiko, it is time."

Jerrod opened a neon green portal to escort Goro thru and onto the Sky Palace. Fujin just touched down with his signature F0 funnel gently descending his own posse. Everyone was accounted for, and each advent musician felt the same angsts.

"Alright, gang, we must focus on the task at hand. The Shaolin, as well as other watchers, depend on our topnotch performance. Let's give them the greatest otherworldly koncert they'd ever seen! And use our hearts to guide and empower us. Let's get rocking!" The group cheered.

"For the Shaolin!" Kenshi declared, then they all made a hand pile before breaking.

"It has begun. I hear the Matokan drums inviting everyone." Ashrah noted.

"This is only the summons, Ashrah. They're just warming up." Raiden's kid brother explained. "Still, our hearts must be our anchors to our minds' buoys. Take up assembly positions. Aiko, stay with me! And we must stay the kourse."

From place by place, everyone kept a keen eye and ear for the oncoming performance at the Sky Temple they'd seen, although they also heard murmurs from the drums of the East. The latter seemed to give them the most attention, even the numerous members of the Shaolin, who were awed and distracted by the involvement of their klosest komrades. The sextet also noticed the sonokinesis and their allies koming to them which made the band a bit unnerved on how to deal with them. Raiden, Liu Kang, and Kung Lao wandered the slowest, as if they were the last three. Nightwolf and Kiba were already present inside the largest teepee where the chief and the last born were applying paint on the latter's face.

Fujin stood upright like Sonya ready for kombat. The distant gems were about a foot away to avoid any strays being kaught in the assembly as they prepped. It wasn't audible but they kould still overhear the steady beats. Aiko prayed that her mortal friends shalln't succumb to the entrancement like she always did...

"K'mon, Fortunate One." The Wind God whispered, anxious for his emergence. By what seemed to be a minute or two...

He raised an arm and sharply dropped it! The drums' pace began to pick up like a sudden gale and the Matokan began to chant, while Kung Lao played a nearby massive bongo as if he was born to do it...The shaman seemed to have led the ceremony with the elder as Raiden and Liu stood at the sidelines.

"Let's do it!" The Wind God declared.

As if there was an interference on a TV antenna, the hearts belonging to the faraway audience activated and brightened. Aiko and Fujin were the first to announce!

"Ladies and gentlemen. We've been thru the darkness; we've been thru the light. We've went across all realms. And you know? ...Fujin?"

"The best place to be? Is here. The best thing to use, is with both ends! And the best time to be, is now. And all's we kan say is..."

There was an extended silence that stretched on before they shouted in unison with ascended fists...

"Let's rock!"

They kould've sworn they heard a roaring audience, as if they actually belonged on their own rock stage!

"1, 2! 1! 2! 3! 4!"

Kenshi started off their song in C major and his melody was smooth. Fujin motioned to Ermac who strummed and hit the keys on his instrument. Goro followed along with a rapid drum roll, then Ashrah kicked in with the bass in sync with the keyboardist and guitarist!

When it was time for his kue, Fujin took the front as Aiko danced!

Sudden darkness kreeps into your soul

Envy moves the light of self kontrol

The kage that holds you kaptive has the door.

Burnin' with determination to evens up the score.

Hearts on fire

Strong desire

Rages deep within

Hearts on fire

Fever's risin', hiiiiiigh

The moment of truth draws near.

The rhythm picked up as did the snares and bass drums before Fujin chanted the second verse!

Time will not allow you to stay still, no

Silence breaks the heart and bends the will.

Defense is guilty passions out of kontrol

Rules and regulations have no meaning anymore.

Hearts on fire

Strong desire

Rages deep within

Hearts on fire

Fever's risin', hiiiiiigh

The moment of truth is here.

The bass silenced some, as did the other instruments, but Kenshi and Ermac still led the bridge. Fujin's voice wasn't the least bit strained.

Oh!

Is here.

Oh yeah!

Then it seemed the keyboard went quieter as the keytarist headed the number with a lot of its tubular kues since the previous rehearsals. It was one hell of an instrumental break. Goro kontinued to bang the snares, cymbals and bass keeping in time. When the second part fortowed, Kenshi hit the keys as if encouraging the soul shifter more! After those krazy solos, he died down as the blind swordsman sliced thru the air. Then, Fujin sang the second khorus as the key changed to D major.

Hearts on fire

Strong desire

Rages deep within

Fever's risin', energizin'

Right up till the end

The middle of the intense number reminded everyone of the fights they'd worked thru and won, even the Champions' own victories, as if triumphing their greatest adversaries.

Hearts on fire

Ashrah actually functioned as the backup with Hearts on fire with the Wind God.

Strong desire

Rages deep within

The former demon followed with Oh in different tones in the last line.

Aiko was konducting and signaling the performance in the instrumental break building up in decibels, as if it was a volcano ready to erupt! They were for sure breaching the legendary klimax at the end! She KNEW this was the perfect melody on not only about koherence, but also as a way to unite most of the benevolent realms, disregarding the Netherrealm and the worlds of Chaos and Order.

"BREAKTHROUGH!"

The key changed to around E minor, and the drums, keyboard, keytar and bass went incredibly wild! As if the air was bursting with incredible sound like a series of fireworks! Aiko then outstretched her arms, "GO FOR IT!"

The number quieted a bit and went more smoother as if going up a slope not as steep. Then, the keyboard picked up again as if it was only klimbing up! Next, Ermac and Goro were joining in almost muting Ashrah's barely noticeable bass.

The volume went as high as the stratosphere the sacred temple was beneath!

Trumpets were blowing the Rocky theme, even though it belonged to Kenshi. Aiko turned and spread out her arms as if signaling the last note, and the legendary samurai kontinued to rapidly use the buttons several times repeating the quick-paced solo before the song finally faded...

Aiko stimmed as she kried with ecstasy, as did the Shaolin down below cheering for the energizing performance! Even those who seemed to have any discomfort or upset extinguished! Even the Kombatants, along with Goro raising his arms and roaring, followed suit.

"We did it! We did it, Fujin!"

"No, wait! Stop!"

The Kombatants silenced, and the Wind God told them the assembly's going on longer than anticipated. Aiko just whispered in his ear for the backup number. He nodded then signaled Ashrah to lead the secondary song. She strummed her bass, and Kenshi hit the keys in the same note, G major, in a slow rhythm. After four beats, Fujin blown on his woodwind instrument, a more attractive melody, and the heroes knew what it belonged to restoring their dwindling konfidence.

The song picked up as the trio played, even with the changing notes. As the performance fortowed again, Goro tapped on his klaves four times, then Ermac strummed his electric keytar with the melody in C! After an iconic tune, the song quieted, and Fujin kept it going. The number repeated the second verse, but Kenshi was the one leading it. Goro just karried on tapping the rhythm with his four sticks. The number picked up again at the same intervals as the first verse although there was something different as Aiko and Fujin sang in C...

We are the Champions, my friend.

And we'll keep on fighting to the end.

The kardiokinetic signaled for everyone to sing along!

We are the Champions; WE are the Champions!

No time for losers, kuz we are the Champions!

...Of the realms!

The instrumental repeated the khorus, and Aiko and Fujin chimed in.

We are the Champions; WE are the Champions!

No time for losers, kuz we are the Champions!

...Of the realms

Ashrah added, Of the realms, with Goro, Kenshi and Jerrod, then everyone sang,

Of the realms!

And finally, Kenshi and Ermac made the finale before Goro klosed with a drum solo!

They hardly heard the Shaolin and the rest of the audience cheer louder than they ever did before! Sometimes the uproar was so kontagious that the group let out their own! They even noticed the heart gems just ignite as if storing loads of positive energy from the watchers and others who gave and received it! It even made the quartet at the Matoka snap out of their own trances when they observed Aiko's gems sparkling in konjunction with whistles and kries!

Kung Lao received loads of endorphins as his shined! Followed by Liu's, Nightwolf's and Raiden's.

"Unh, what's...happening?" Liu's and Lao's eyes shrunk from dilation.

"The Shaolin. Aiko and the others. They saved them!"

"I've never seen her heart so ignited!" Nightwolf was amazed, and his people were still so deep into their own number.

"Alright, the last born's adopted. We should go."

Raiden stuck up a finger, "Not...until we say farewell, Kung Lao." Aiko's lover kouldn't help but give a warm smile knowing he would see her very shortly and was eager to exchange tales.

Like a broken fever, they felt relieved. And kourtesy on being surrounded by the rich endorphins and strength, as if they bathed in the Jinsei, they were no longer vulnerable to the tribal influence ever again.

It was now almost midnight, and Aiko stayed up later than usual. She was still inside the shared bedchamber sitting on the deserted mattress and looking down at Lao's cheerful picture of his younger self. The kardiokinetic kouldn't help but grin back, still feeling the kool air and stress relief thru out her body as if it was tingling.

"I wish you were there, Kung Lao... Raiden, Nightwolf and Liu Kang too..." She whispered. She lifted his face and kissed it, and was hoping someone would answer her in the extensive silence; she felt slightly disheartened, disbelieving if they would ever return, and be forever bound... She just shut her eyes as if holding back tears or trying to omit bad pangs from her mind.

"Our work is finished, Aiko."

Her eyes shot open, registering that familiar, arcane voice. She looked behind and was astonished to whom she saw! "Agh-Raiden...!" Her eyes widened as did her smile.

He actually grinned, "You have done well, young one. You have finally achieved the art of koherence and restored inner peace and balance to the hearts of others. The Shaolin and I are proud on what you've done."

She was just tongue-tied, flattered by his praise. He was always the truthful and wise one, never doubting him on the days she had known him. She even made a low bow.

"And I forgot to tell him how and why I was always succumbed to them."

Months later, after Armageddon...Aiko still wondered in that same room with Jin and Lao why she still had that weakness.

"Well...to be fair, I was entranced by them at the Matoka ceremony too, I'm pretty sure so was Liu and Nightwolf. I know Raiden wouldn't let us go astray, but still... I understand now how powerful over someone they kan be. It wasn't until I... we, saw our hearts light up."

"I want to be educated by Nightwolf and his people someday. I'd been interested in them ever since she shown me when I was young. I also want to be an archer, and they kan teach me!"

"They are...intriguing. But we must not underestimate their prowess, Jin. I guess the White Lotus was right after all, the Makeba are our realm's ancestors. Just like us with the Great Kung Lao, or us humans with primates, or dogs with wolves."

"This...this doesn't make much sense... I'm sure you, Kung Lao, must've shared my weakness since those heart melds, even though I don't remember you being affected by the Makeba, and the Matokans might've been more direct...but... I just don't understand. I feel it's more than just hyperfixation..." Jin just sulked as Lao laid an assuring hand on her shoulder.

"I believe I kan answer that, young one. It IS more than just your sensitivities." From the open window, an Oriental tone was karried by the krisp air.

Everyone went agog, "Liu Kang..." Kung Lao made a kowtow.

He just stuck up a finger as he hovered thru, "Enough, Chosen One. ...The Shaolin are more intrigued than ever from those stunning performances. Nightwolf and the Matoka tribe had settled their differences and are now klose allies with the Shaolin. Bur, I only desire to show you something; you were konnected to the irresistible tribal kustoms. Kome with me, and I kan take you there."

Somehow, this made the Kungs fascinated, "Show us, Liu Kang."

A/N: The numbers represented here were actually Hearts on Fire, the extended version, the iconic song from Rocky IV and We Are the Champions that was rearranged by the Royal Philharmonic; the latter being the finale of my epic based on Deception, The Return of the Dragon King.

I too forgotten exactly what time the Sesame Street episodes began; they always kept changing it ever since I finally grew out of it by the 2000s and late 90s. Sometimes they'd air it more than once each day, maybe twice aside from other PBS programs. At least that's how I remembered it, but I kouldn't find much intel, so I'd to make up the airtime somewhere between 7 and 9 am, along with the error involving the Chinese Time Zone.

Also, the AVGN episode, the Berenstain Bears, gave me the most inspiration, on the possibilities on the Mandala Effect kreating a time paradox or how it's spelt are prrof of altered dimensions. Ironically, I never kared about the material that much, so I kan't say how it's spelt, but who it was pronounced it's Steen not Stain. Maybe it is possible, although I'm not a fanatic, though it has happened multiple times in the MK multiverse ie with DC and all that. So, it kind of makes the most sense, as is MK1 they keep saying it's in parallel universe with Liu's New Era.

And I also took inspiration from Unaliving Liu Kang's RP, the Darkseid War, whereas he and I embrace the tribal drums and use them as weapons to empower those waging war onto the Elder Gods. The chieftain and chieftess, along with Liu and Lao as Aiko's soulmates, were from this! And he was the only one who accepted and made them as a guilty pleasure just as I did. I am so glad for all that!!

And I had to kut this chapter short since it was dragging on, so stay tuned for the final installment.

Apex

Being Aiko's usual anchor, Kung Lao decided to go along with her and the Fire God as he teleported them straight to the Yin Yang Island. Jin was left in China as he was still a teenager thus it kan be too overwhelming to handle the predicament personally along with the unpredictable repercussions from puberty. After all, with his own son, Cheung, Liu offered Kitana and Caro to look after him as he escorted his best kohorts to the majestic Hourglass!

The astonishing artifact was a first for Kung Lao, though a second sight for Aiko. They were still very fascinated that Liu and Caro became its new guardians.

"The Keeper of Time... Does that make you as a titan?"

"No, Kung Lao. I'd decided to sustain my abilities in the levels of a God. But in dire emergencies I shall surpass it."

"So... you're holding back. Just to protect Earthrealm," Aiko hypothesized.

"And to keep the peace, Aiko. Sometimes it is best to restrain your prowess."

"But you still kontrolled time. This should make you beyond a God." His Shaolin partner added.

"Only for a minute. After all, I never would've brought Aiko to the past and have her escape her destroyed future. As she was little, and when she was exploring her fascination of the natives." Liu grew just as intrigued as he grinned. "They are quite the interesting lot, as is Nightwolf. And it is indeed korrect that they're the descendants of the Makeba." He put on the sacred Krown then swayed his hands, kausing the center to glow and it soon forged a portal revealing them and their devolution! "The Native Americans are descendants to the Africans. The ancient kontinent of Earthrealm, Pangea, had separated due to tectonic activity, and they all started within its core and occupy Africa. Some relocated as the land was breaking. But it all started within Outworld.

"Generations passed. And while their abilities had lessened, they still harness unique magic, even the drums themselves were replicas of the otherworldly tribe."

"So, the White Lotus was true, and Sindel konfirmed this," the kardiokinetic chimed.

"They still are minute, much as those on Earth. Yet, they're territorial and hypnotize those susceptible to them."

"They STILL do this!? Even now?"

"To them and the other Outworlders, as an act of protection. But they kan be korrupt, infecting their once peaceful souls. It will not be so simple standing up to them. They truly demonstrate evil with the dark arts."

"Wait! I saw myself as a Revenant, with you governing the Netherrealm! We were...chieftains, and Darkseid once manipulated you. Yet, we still embraced our darkness, even...those enticing drums..." She trailed off.

"I now understand their prowess," Kung Lao added onto her pleasantness.

"There's more than this. They're tempting, as I too used it onto Kitana and Cheung who were amazed; I learnt a thing or two by them. And I too saw my darker self from an altered dimension. These interdimensional anomalies seem to happen konstantly, sometimes krossing over. And at some point, between your childhood and now, Aiko, the universe fluxed into the darker future, rather than Armageddon."

He waved his hands again, altering the center of the Hourglass.

"It all began in 1992, during the first tournament. But in the year prior during your kid hood, you became astonished and submissive to the intense rituals. The Crow assembly in Montanna, the African dance, the early grammar field trip in 95. These three happened in real time, then other media had followed, and lastly you met us and Nightwolf."

Each vision unraveled as Liu described each one, even hearing the distant bangs. The trio were fixated, though the Fire God let up.

"They tend to emit tremendous power to those using them and their receptors. But...when you were 4 years old, Aiko, they were thrust upon you. I had this inclination as I rewound time. There must be a biological konnection to you not just your hyper sensitivities. You were raised in the East as was Nightwolf...as you both have a Matokan lineage!"

Kung Lao and Aiko were shocked as much as Raiden's electrocution! She kouldn't believe she was born with the Matokan or any tribe! "But...I thought the Shaolin said I had a Japanese heritage...!"

"Not even klose, Aiko." He drew nearer to her. "And this was no koincidence... You were for certain a mixed breed, a hybrid of European DNA. Your immune system was excellent in battling disease, thus why you hardly become sick. But as they settled for the kolonies, you do not have to be ashamed of them mutilating the Aboriginals; none of this was your doing. It was done out of passion koncerning your ancestry, and ever since then, you had just a very tiny strand of the Matokan left within you. It's not just your dependence and trust on Nightwolf, but it was that sliver. It's in your blood, Aiko. And those past experiences made you who you are. You must never deny that arcane part of yourself.

"Never forget, that the universe doesn't answer your kall, but it receives the vibration you offer. And this is it."

She just sat on the grassy null, trying to accept and process everything... Kung Lao followed and tended to her. "I... don't believe this..."

"You must, Kung Lao. Thru your melds, you had received a similar tick within you. Even me, alas I wasn't able to resist as we'd been surrounded. As unacceptable as it is, it's still the truth as I traced back her ancestry. You must never fear it. Besides..." He smirked, "I, Kitana and Cheung seem to enjoy it the same, they do enhance the spirit. And if you like, Nightwolf and I kan teach you how to wield it."

"What...have we got to lose." The new protector responded with optimism, and Aiko took his hand.

"From you...teaching me. I would be honored, Chieftain Liu Kang." Aiko actually wasn't nervous any longer as she bowed low, and the trio seemed fascinated with how the title rolled off the tongue.

"Who knows, maybe we'd be more in tune with OUR ancestors, and the Great Kung Lao as well," the elemental smiled as did the duo. "Once you master and harness their omnipotence, you'd be more powerful than ever, as much as Nightwolf's standards. It will no longer be used against you. He and I shall show you the way."

Being trained by the Fire God and the legendary shaman was for once a dream kome true, and they shall look forward to whatever sessions they have in store for them!

A/N: And so, this ends the short MK fic. Aiko's rhythm has kome full circle, as she had a distant tribal lineage! Believe it or not, I have one too! I once asked my old man what my ancestry was, and he told me that I was indeed a mutt, with Polish, German, Hungarian and Italian DNA! I was very intrigued I had Native American DNA, as strange as it is. I'm not sure if my fascination's linked to it or not, but I'd love to think so. I shouldn't fear it, and it does actually make me mesmerized and sometimes uplifting for reals. I thought it actually was hyperfocus/fixation, but this sounded better, and I was into those other elements after all. I don't believe that ancestry . com is entirely accurate.

After rewatching the Trip to Montanna's final part, the Count drumming along does remind me of Kung Lao doing the same. He did have a chance to embrace it with Nightwolf, Liu and Raiden, and he no longer dreads it, neither does Aiko as they're proud to explore her new roots! It would be awesome if Mortal Kombat was explored like this, even having Lao utilize his ancestor's spirit like he kind of did in MK11; hopefully MK1 kan konnect them together, or perhaps have Nightwolf aid him, my two golden boys working adhesively finally! Even if it should be Lao and Fujin!

So...I'm not sure what shall happen, after MK1. And I hope I'll get to explore this territory without fear and guilt like Aiko would.