Marek shakes his head, sighing softly. "If only this truly would be the end of Outworld's opposition of Earthrealm."

"I yield" the wicked sorcerer proclaimed as he is kneeling defeated.

"It is over, for now.." Looking at the new Mortal Kombat champion celebrate with his friends Serenity looked over.
If only he knew that this was only the beginning..

"So now we wait until Shao Kahn's next move.."

"Wait if you wish Serenity, I will not. I cannot sit idly by as Shao Kahn prepares his trap for Raiden's champions in Outworld. They will need all the help they can get."

"That was a hell of kick,the sorcerer didn't see that coming,to be fair i didn't either. Why don't we just go to the afterparty at the temple,it will be nice to take a break from violence,and we can figure out what we will do from there."

"Marek, i agree with Ekibyogami. There is a time and place for everything. Trust me i know. Now is not the time, let us rest and plan our next move."
Looking at Ekibyogami she can't help but giggle
"Yes so where is this party? haha"

"At the Wu Shi Academy. We all know exactly what's going to to happen there, I assume."

Hearing Marek's answer Serenity couldn't help herself feel disappointed. He is changing, taking this too seriously.. Yes it is a very serious matter but he's dare i say obsessing over this.

The goddess sighed, "Yes we know Marek"

After saying this Serenity walks off leaving Marek alone.

"Know what?"

Ekibyogami follows Serenity confused. He would think that they would be happy,Earthrealm won. Shao Kahn was banned from Earthrealm,so whatever events lead to this Armageddon were Kahn killed Raiden had surely been avoided.

Marek stands alone, lost in thought. "The future must be changed. It must."
Sighing heavily, Marek walks off after Serenity. "I suppose I might as well introduce myself to Raiden's champions."

"Do as you wish Marek, you are your own man are you not?"
She begins to walk outside and stands in the rain.

"Mortals..."

"I'd go easy on the mortals if I were you,we gods are just as fallible as them,we just live longer and have access to knowledge they do not,Shinnok fell trying to gain power, Raiden locked me in a rock,and the god of music secretly can't sing. We have the same emotions and make mistakes like them,the only difference is we hold ourselves higher and do more damage when we screw up. That is why Raiden and I are so protective of mortals,because they are just like us."

Serenity stands speechless. He was right. But Marek gained knowledge not meant for mortals.

"Yes, you are right Ekibyogami. I have no experience with mortals."

She turns to Ekibyogami and looked into his eyes

"What do you mean Raiden locked you in a rock?"

Marek walks up next to Serenity, letting the rain wash down on him. "I'm sorry, Serenity. I....I am just afraid of what the future will bring. I have done many horrible things in Shao Kahn's name....I believed for one moment that these visions-These terrifying flashes of the horror yet to come-Were my one chance for redemption." Marek turns his face away from Serenity. "I'm afraid of being powerless to do anything. More than that, I fear dying. Both out of the natural fear of dying, and of the fear that I will be damned to the Netherrealm for all of eternity for what I have done. I have never been more terrified in my entire existence."

" I thought I told you,that's why I am constantly insulting Raiden. We used to be close friends. But being a god of plagues i had a job to do,just like everyone else. As I stated we both loved the mortals,and they were ravaged by those plagues. It was a necessary part of the cycle of life. There are forces that sustain life and forces that encourage death,it is a balance. Unfortunately I am one of the forces of death, my plagues being my tool. This is the reason i try to avoid violence when not on the job,because I deal with enough death already,and I need a break. Raiden dealt with my job for a time,because i made up for the death by helping the surviving humans advance as a species. But unfortunately the Elder Gods commissioned a plague so great I was reluctant to do it. They assured me it would make the mortals stronger to survive it,and I believed them. Only now do I wonder if they had alterer motives,which is the reason I no longer completely trust them. I was stricken with grief at the pain caused,and when I went to Raiden to be cheered up he trapped me in a rock which drained my magical ability for centuries. I was only freed by Raiden as a way to avoid Armageddon,which I agreed to in order to protect the mortals. Needless to say it is complicated."

Marek takes in Ekibyogami's story. "I'm sorry for the horrible fate that befell you, my lord."

"Ehh, could have been worse,I could have been strapped to a tarkatan the whole time,those things smell"

"Ekibyogami, i had no idea. Im sorry."

Looking at Marek she sighed "I understand Marek. I assure you you need not worry about your fate. Trust me." she gives him a small reassuring smile.

"But you should not obsess over this. It is not your responsibility, it is ours as gods"

Ekibyogami shakes his head,she was learning(she had learned to spare feelings) but she still didn't completely understand. If the human's can't stand on their own,the gods would not be enough to hold back a invasion from another realm. Sure they may be able to battle someone like Kahn,but they could not deal with the armies also. Even at the tournament he had seen a human with the potential to have enough power to challenge a god in Liu Kang.

But still he thought,giving a smile as he did,for a Goddess who had came to ensure the Armageddon that would destroy all the mortals,the fact she now cared about them was a good sign.
"Let us go,or we will fall behind"

"I trust you with my life...And all my heart, Serenity." Marek gives Serenity a smile of sadness. "The only thing I fear more than my own death is to watch you perish. Promise me you will keep yourself safe if I cannot be there with you."

"Marek do not worry about me im a goddess remember?"

Looking at Ekibyogami
"Where should we go?"

Marek laughs heartily. "Did you forget what I told you during our first meeting, Serenity? Even Gods aren't perfect."

Serenity smiles, "Yes i remembered but i thought you didn't. Come lets get out of the rain"

Marek covers Serenity in his spare robes once again. "Yes, to the Wu Shi Academy we shall go."

"How do we intend to get there?"

Marek laughs once again. "Let me take care of that, my beloved." Marek wraps himself, Serenity, and Ekibyogami within his robes and they teleport.