A Foreigner’s Tale, Book 1
A Mortal Kombat Fan Fiction
Rated T for violence, language, suggestive themes and potentially disturbing imagery
Chapter 4: The Island’s Secrets

I ended up running into an open place with a resemblance to the one before the dining hall – a few stone statues, a path distinct from its surroundings… but torches lined another entrance on the other side.

Sonya had arrived there first, and I was the last to catch up to the troop of chosen kombatants, falling in directly behind Cecilia.

Immediately, the lieutenant glared at all of us. “How many times do I have to tell you? I don’t need your help. I can take care of myself.”

“Oh, come on, Sonya,” I urged, facing her front and center. “You heard what Raiden said. We can do much more together. Besides, did you really think anyone would let you come here by yourself?”

Wait… I questioned the last part of my response. That… That wasn’t the best thing to say to Sonya, was it? I knew it wasn’t when the intensity of her gaze focused on me.

“Or maybe you just don’t know when to leave others alone,” she retorted. Oh, if only she knew how alone I was in my old life, I thought. But either way… it looks like Sonya and I started on the wrong foot with this little stumble. …Well, dang.

“Hey, don’t fight, okay?” Johnny pleaded to us. “And even if Gancena weren’t here, I know I would have followed you. Can’t help it. It’s a guy thing.”

I looked at Cecilia, who didn’t seem very pleased…

“I’m okay,” I whispered to her.

Sonya sighed a bit as Liu Kang marched past her. She looked to him. “Hey, where are you going?”

“I’m following him,” Liu answered, glancing over his shoulder.

Sonya followed, quickly. “I work alone!” she groaned.

“No, Shang Tsung is mine!” Liu exclaimed.

I filed in immediately, and I didn’t even have to glance to be sure that Cecilia and Johnny were following me. “You guys! Raiden said--!” I stumbled over a slightly raised stone. “Liu! Raiden said you’re not ready! Don’t just…!” Neither kombatant seemed to respond. “Liu Kang! Sonya! Oh, dear…”

We soon came upon a dark and enormous cavern, with many bridges at different heights and positions.

Johnny quickly advanced ahead of Cecilia and me, carrying a torch – likely taken from the earlier path.

“Look, why don’t we just forget about Shang Tsung?” he suggested.

The entire troop stopped, but my eyes widened and I responded almost instantly.

“Excuse me!? Forget about him!?” I shouted. “Look, there are a lot of things about that guy that I don’t like! Yes, I’m still opposed to going after him right now, but forget!? No way!”

“Look, I mean--! I mean, forget for now! Just go back and rest for the night!” he clarified.

I flushed. “O-Oh. Um… sorry. I misunderstood.”

He waved his hand. “It’s all right. It’s okay.”

“Well, there are a lot of things I don’t like about him, either,” Sonya concurred. “So I want to get to the bottom of this.”

“Are you out of your mind?” Johnny questioned. Above us, a flock of bats chattered and flapped away.

“Gancena! What is that!?” Cecilia suddenly shouted.

I looked to my astonished friend, staring at something on the other side of the cave. I whipped back around… oh, by the Elder Gods.

There was a huge shadow on the wall – tall, muscular… and its source was growling. Then, there was a roar – a strange but intimidating roar – and the silhouette revealed four giant arms before proceeding in the opposite direction of where it came from.

All five of us were stunned silent by the odd sight, but it was soon broken.

“Sonya,” Johnny whispered. “You go ahead. Find out what that was. We’ll wait right here.”

“What?” she hissed.

“Oh, my God, Cage,” I grumbled, worming my way to the front of the group. “If you’re so curious, then we all might as well follow through with this… investigation. …As impulsive as it is!” I began to walk forward, crossing the earthy bridge when I heard Cecilia catch up to me and question:

“Gancena, are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

“To a fair extent,” I answered, “but frankly, do any of us?”

Specifically, I knew who we would see and the gist of what would happen like the back of my hand – as with many events here thus far… but I wasn’t quite sure how to get there. However, following the direction of the creature’s shadow was the first thing anyone would have done if they did decide to investigate.

And, much to my relief, the path was found rather quickly, straightforwardly, and soon we could discard the torch Johnny carried, for we had found a lit tunnel.

And voices coming from within.

We resolved to make a quiet approach, and we could soon see another room – like a miniaturized version of the dining room we were in. But it was clearly built for more private meetings – before we settled, I could actually see a man gnawing carelessly on a giant leg of… what was that? Chicken? Turkey? …Turducken? Whatever. That was a small detail. He seemed to be alone… but then he started speaking:

“See, me – I believe in a fair fight. Y’know, one-on-one, man-to-man, hand-to-hand. Just like my daddy taught me.” He had a rugged voice, and a distinct Australian accent. And the moment we peeked above a rocky ledge to see the scene below, the man’s face plate and glaring red eye were distinct.

Sonya tensed as if she were a predator ready to pounce. “That’s Kano,” she declared, rising. Johnny’s hand gripped her shoulder and nudged her back down to the hiding spot.

“Forget about Kano… who’s he talking to?” he questioned.

“But from what I hear, this tournament’s got some killin’ involved.” Kano paused to chew a bit more on his morsel. “So I gotta say, I’m looking forward to this. Maybe rip a few hearts out.”

“Hmph. Disgusting,” another, deeper voice grunted – a voice akin to the roar we heard.

Kano took another loud bite of meat. “What I wanna know is…” Kano continued, chewing between words, “If this Shang Tsung guy’s so great, how come he’s got such a crummy-lookin’ boat? Hm?” The man didn’t even bother to wait for an answer. “Yeah. Anyway, the guy gives me the creeps.”

Hm. Something we can agree on, I pondered aimlessly.

“‘Treasure these moments!’” Kano mocked. Immediately, the crime lord leaned towards a large goblet… and spat out a hard-looking chunk of his food.

“Ew!” I winced quietly. I regretted the sound instantly, and clamped a snowy hand over my mouth. I looked over at the others apologetically, but I’d only caught Cecilia’s attention, and she looked back at the same time I did.

“That was his intention!” the other voice snarled. Kano looked ready to take another bite, but he stopped, staring at, evidently, his company. “Shang Tsung is a great sorcerer. The wise cultivate his favor.” We started to hear rather heavy steps. “Those who oppose his power become his slaves.”

But not us! We will defeat the sorcerer!

“Yeah? Well, I haven’t seen any of them around,” Kano commented.

“You fool,” the other growled, stepping into our sight. The shadow did not lie – it was a tall, muscular, four-armed creature, with a dark red sash around his waist and a small ponytail of black hair. “You know nothing. He enslaves souls!” Kano slowly ripped off another morsel. “He learned the black arts from the Emperor himself.”

The Black Dragon leader shook his drumstick a bit, as if pointing. “You’re some kind of royalty, too,” he asked, tossing his meat aside, causing a startled rat to squeal, “right?”

“I am Goro!” the monster declared. “General of the Armies of Outworld and Prince of Kuatan, the subterranean realm of the Shokan race.”

“‘Subterranean?’ What’s that…? Something like underground?” Kano questioned.

Goro began circling the large table. “Yes… something like that.”

“Yeah, well… I’m kind of an underworld boss myself,” the other man bragged, pointing to himself.

“Mmm,” Goro rumbled, looking at him.

“Well—I mean, back home,” Kano stuttered.

“How lucky for them,” Goro yelled, shoving Kano’s goblet to the ground, spilling wine, “back home!” He loomed over Kano, and the crime lord leaned back in his chair, nervous. He even seemed to be panting a little… just like Sub-Zero…

“It’s true,” said a new voice. Shang Tsung!

Goro looked to the sorcerer, slowly descending a flight of stairs near the back of the room below. Kano turned in his chair to see the scene.

“Prince Goro,” Shang Tsung addressed, “why else would I have chosen such a disreputable-looking cretin? Look at him! No dignity, no manners… Yet in Earthrealm, men like him can amass great wealth and almost god-like power.” The sorcerer was now standing by Kano’s chair, and the evil mercenary looked to him, then to Goro and back.

“Yeah… and I’d like to get back to my amassing as soon as possible, if you don’t mind. Now when do I get paid?”

“After you’ve fought the girl, but remember – she is not to be killed, only humiliated. I have plans for my beautiful Sonya,” answered Shang Tsung.

I gagged. I swore, the man was sick… I glanced to my right to catch Johnny looking at Sonya, seeming concerned. The lieutenant herself only continued to glare at her enemy.

“To what do we owe the honor of your visit, Shang Tsung?” Goro prompted.

“I’ve come to warn you that one of the Great Kung Lao’s descendants is competing in the tournament. You must handle him carefully.”

“I saw this… Liu Kang in the hall. He will pose no problem.”

“This is no time for foolish pride! We have never been so close to absolute victory, which is why I’ve come to warn you of another danger: the two foreigners.”

My ears shot up and strained forward. My eyes widened. …He was talking about us? About Cecilia and I? I looked to my friend, and she glanced at me, just as startled. No, this was nothing like the game or the movie…

“The tigress and her violet companion?” Goro asked. “Why should I worry about them?”

“They are denizens of neither Earthrealm nor Outworld, and yet Raiden has chosen them to fight,” the sorcerer explained, “and I have seen why. They each possess more power than even they are aware of. I suspect their very presences amongst the kombatants could decide the outcome of the coming battles! They also know too much about the Emperor and his intentions – especially the tigress, whether she realizes it or not!”

I was completely frozen. He had probed into my soul, yes, and possibly Cecilia’s as well, and this was what he found. He learned of my knowledge, but only to a slight extent, and yet that extent was more than enough for him to deem me dangerous, a threat to his plans and those of his Emperor’s.

He would want me finished right away.

And even then, Cecilia still knew what the other three chosen knew, and what I had managed to tell her before her journey to Symphonia – it could still be more than enough to place her in more danger.

I felt a nudge on my right arm, and Johnny whispered, “Do you know what he’s talking about?”

I shook my head quickly. “I-I don’t know! This is news to me!” I lied. I didn’t like the idea of lying, especially considering that these kombatants could easily end up my friends, which seemed to be beginning to happen, but… it was for their sake. I did know too much for anyone’s own good. I knew who everyone was, what would happen to them, where to move… my knowledge would prove helpful, definitely, but it was also my burden. If tragedy was looming, I could do nothing to prevent it. If defeat was eminent, I had to accept it. My knowledge made me both powerful and powerless.

I didn’t know what to think of it.

“The Emperor will not tolerate failure…” Shang Tsung warned Goro, “and neither will I.”

Goro raised his four arms determinedly. “I do not fail!”

I couldn’t remember what happened after that line. I was growing nervous, frightened. I was already scared by what Shang Tsung knew of me, and I was also scared that if I got too excited, he would be able to sense me more easily.

“Guys,” I whispered, “can we please just get out of here?”

Much to my surprise, all four of the others began moving out the way we came in. I thought for sure that Sonya or Liu Kang would stay behind, or at least want to, and hunt their respective enemies. But, no. Everyone was coming, much to my relief.

There was a bit of a gap between Cecilia and I by the time I finally started shuffling out. Every step away from the mercenary and the Shokan and the sorcerer made me feel calmer and more elated.

Then I felt the toe of my sneaker shove against a stone, and heard the subsequent tumble. I flinched, completely frozen with fear.

Why and how were little rocks that loud!?

From afar, Goro made a curious sound.

“What? What is it?” Kano asked.

“…We are not alone…” Shang Tsung hissed.

I drew in a half-choked breath and looked over my shoulder once, then again – a swift and scared double-take.

I knew I had to move, but I was so frightened that I didn’t know what to do.

Move, stupid, move! I scolded myself. Move like you did when the house was on fire!

The mere thought of the flames melted my icy fears, and I began to scramble over to the others, even though Cecilia and Liu had already returned to my side to urge me forward.

The moment we were out of that room, all five of us started running, but I was certain that I was the most frightened.

I felt that something was chasing us, chasing me more than the others, as we continued, as though the sorcerer had seen me and tagged me with some odd spell, but each bounding step shook the feeling more and more.

I couldn’t believe myself. I was growing afraid of the sorcerer!

However, as we continued – down the path we definitely came in with – everything grew… less and less familiar.

When we entered one very small, unfurnished, circular room, Johnny stopped us. “Wait a second. I don’t remember this.”

All we could see before us was a very dim hall – it was definitely new to us.

But my memory continued to serve me well. We were supposed to go down that hall.

“Wait…” I began, approaching the entrance. “…I feel like I’ve seen this before. …Like… déjà vu, y’know?”

“You’re sure?” Liu Kang asked.

I nodded, still staring ahead. “Yeah. That, and it’s the only way out that I can see.”

I took very small and slow steps towards the hallway, and I heard Johnny and Liu having a whispered argument.

I shook my head. If we were going to get moving, it was clear that I had to prompt this step. Without another thought, I rushed inside.

“Gancena!” Cecilia called. I heard her stepping after me.

“Gancena! Gancena!” Johnny shouted.

Cecilia and I emerged in one of the oddest rooms I’d ever seen. It was a bit harder to see, but the place was structured by some sort of thick bone-like material, connected in almost puzzle-like ways.

“Now which way, Gancena?” Cecilia whispered.

I tried to remember the movie… there would be an encounter here, but I wasn’t so sure… then the next hall looked like…

“Cobwebs…” I murmured, turning away. “The passage was almost clogged with cobwebs…”

“Cobwebs?” Cecilia verified.

A slithery sound came from our lefts. We didn’t see anything there, but… Cecilia and I both could sense it. We definitely weren’t alone…

I looked to my friend, and I stepped closer… slowly… slowly… until I was no more than a yard away from the wall.

…Then I thought I could smell something, too… the plain and common smell of flesh…

Suddenly, a man materialized before my eyes, dressed much like Scorpion and Sub-Zero, but in green.

“Holy shi--!” I shouted, but was cut off by a swift punch to my cheek. I stumbled backwards and saw the new kombatant charging towards me. I stood and, frightfully, I leaped away from another punch, but I sprang forward again and, curling my left hand into a fist, I swiftly struck a blow to his face. He lunged for me again, but I gripped his next fist by the wrist and quickly brought my right hand down in a chopping strike, letting out a shout.

“Gancena!” Liu Kang called.

My opponent looked towards the direction where the voice came from and turned invisible again, his arm still in my hand. I felt him yank it out, and I could barely hear him running away…

…Was that who I thought it was?

Cecilia was at my side in an instant. “Are you okay?”

My cheek throbbed and my heart was still racing. I licked the afflicted wall of my mouth. There was a faint taste of blood… “I… I should be.”

It was that moment that Liu, Johnny and Sonya arrived at the scene.

“Gancena. Cecilia. Are you all right?” Liu asked. “We heard fighting.”

“It was just me and a stranger,” I answered. “He hit me once. But for some reason, he ran off when you guys started coming, so I’ll be okay. Thanks.”

“Which way did he go?” Sonya inquired.

I pointed. “That way. Should we try it?”

“It doesn’t seem like there’s another way out of here,” Cecilia pointed out. “We should.”

We followed my attacker’s tracks, but I kept my eyes open for the webbed path. And when we did see it, it was an alternative route to the one we were taking.

“Guys, hold on,” I prompted. “…I think we need to go this way.”

“This way?” Sonya questioned. “It doesn’t look like anyone’s come through here in years.”

“That could be because Mortal Kombat is held once a generation,” I argued. “Maybe there’s no reason to come through here during the off season… since it’s likely nobody’s around then.”

Despite the unresolved argument, Johnny began scouting, pulling apart the thick dust in the way. We all moved after him, even Sonya.

But she only continued to question me, “How can you possibly be sure that this is the way?”

“You know that bout of déjà vu I was having?” I began.

“Uh-huh.”

I paused, turned to look Sonya in the eye, and pointed. “It continues.”

We emerged in a room that resembled the one we’d just spied on. Tables were completely covered in fruit. Lit candles stood everywhere. There was a staircase to our left, another throne across from us and another path in front of us, which seemed to be the way to go…

“Well, I’m having a déjà vu,” Sonya declared.

“Really? Of what?” I prompted.

“Your bullshit,” she answered, glancing frustratedly at me.

I was about to ask what the last piece of “bullshit” I shat out was, but I already had a few fair ideas. I had opposed the pursuit of Shang Tsung, but ended up going anyway, I was the only one who couldn’t move when the sorcerer found that we were there – in fact, I had caused the noise – and now it appeared to her that I was just leading us deeper into our predicament.

But with all hope, things would occur the way I was expecting them to, and we would be out of here and back to the safety of our quarters.

I quickly whispered to Cecilia, “I’m sure she’ll come around eventually.”

We began to disperse throughout the room, checking, investigating, dusting thick cobwebs off our clothes… until…

“We’ve got company,” Johnny announced.

I looked towards the actor, standing at the base of the stairs, looking up, and three goons, lightly armored and armed much like those beneath the Nethership, descended about halfway before holding the weapons challengingly, letting out battle shouts.

I turned back, and four more rushed in, weaponless, all of them ready to fight.

Oh, holy crap, I thought, clenching my fists. I looked them over quickly – they were tight, yes. The thumbs… positioned at the underside of my fingers, not inside the fist or out in front of the index finger, yes…

The battle began!

One targeted me immediately, and, with difficulty, I leaped to the right of his first attack. He dashed several steps before attempting a flying kick, which I ducked under. I whipped back around, but before he could, I ran to kick him in the back. The blow had him stumble, and I knew I had to act again before he could get up.

Even if I thought I was on the verge of collapsing in a pile of fearful nerves.

Within a split second, I checked – and corrected – my fists and struck his head as hard as I could. He fell to the ground, and I made sure he was down with a low kick. He did not move again.

For a heartbeat, I perked up in surprise. I knocked him out! I… I actually knocked a guy out without getting hit! Maybe I did stand a chance in this world!

Yet in my home… I’m certain I would have been too scared – so much so that my blows wouldn’t have had half their strength.

How did I do that? …Did I even really do that!?

“Gancena!” Cecilia called. “Turn around!”

I whipped around again, and I caught glimpses of Liu Kang kicking another minion in the head, Cecilia shoving another down, and Johnny with one of the goons’ weapons in his hand.

Then came the glaring shade of my rushing opponent’s head cloth. His right fist was raised high, as if to strike.

I wanted to try and grab it, but I chickened out at the last second and leaned away instead, drawing my own hand back to land a good, firm punch on his face. He, too, stumbled, dazed, and I saw him move to punch again when I decided to land another. He fell backwards and didn’t even try to get back up.

…I’d just done it again! Hadn’t I!?

I immediately looked around the room, just in time to watch Johnny hurl the last standing man right into Sonya’s extended arm. I was amazed that she didn’t even flinch.

With that move… we’d won.

…Oh, my God, we won!

“Just the way I like ‘em,” Sonya commented, striding towards a fallen opponent on a table, “dumb and ugly.”

“Piece of cake,” Johnny bragged, leaning on the pole he’d grabbed off his enemy.

“Piece of cake, huh?” Liu questioned.

“Yeah, considering how much I was probably shaking,” I challenged.

“You kidding?” Cecilia added. “What a rush! But not even in a good way…”

“Well, it was easy for me,” the actor noted, shrugging.

“Oh, get over yourself,” Sonya groaned.

“Oh, what is it with you guys?” Johnny asked, glancing over all of us. “We’re standing. They’re not. What more do you want?”

Before anyone else could make a comment, we heard a slow clapping from a single person. We looked to the source on the stairs… and there was Raiden, applauding us, smiling.

He stopped. “Brilliant,” he praised. “Absolutely brilliant.”

I smiled, but only a little. I knew the praise was supposed to be for all of us, and so I was still insecure. What would Raiden say about my performance if I asked…?

“So why don’t you show me what you plan to do about…” he paused, turning his head towards where the second set of grunts had come out, “…them?”

I wiggled my ears uncomfortably, and dared to follow the Thunder God’s gaze… I made an odd, quiet startled sound.

There must have been at least twenty of them, most of them armed. Don’t even think about saying that’s nothing!

I could tell that we all seemed overwhelmed, but I took a stance anyway… I looked towards Cecilia, who I was most worried about… but she held her hands at her sides and… there was a pale blue sort of light coming out of both. What was she doing?

Three of the goons stalked forward like savage predators, growling and hissing…

“Uh-uh,” Raiden called, holding out his hand, index finger extended. The minions looked to him, surprised. So did I.

A spark flickered from the immortal’s fingertip. “I don’t think so.” The spark vanished, but static bolts flashed around his white-blue eyes. They continued as he stood and began descending the steps, but they vanished when he finally reached us. Meanwhile, the minions lowered their weapons, softened their stances, and cleared a path.

It was then I realized they feared the Thunder God just as… others… might fear Shang Tsung.

I didn’t even know if I was still in a stance or not. I simply couldn’t take my eyes off of Raiden. I became aware, once more, of the ribbon around my neck.

“I think you’ll find that this is the way out,” he instructed, walking through the parted crowd. I was the first one to follow him. He glanced over his shoulder, at me. I blinked. “Gancena was leading you on the right track.”

Behind me, I could hear Johnny saying: “You guys are lucky he stopped us.”

I wanted to facepalm a little right then and there. No! Johnny, you idiot. Don’t say that…

As we moved, I kept my eyes fixed on Raiden. Here he was, right in front of me, guiding us back to where we needed to be… I wanted to say so many things to him, but I didn’t even know what they were.

I felt that I should have thanked him for helping us, at least.

I opened my mouth to speak, but I was startled by a huge thunderclap the moment we came outside, to the open corridor. At last!

“So now you’ve seen what you’ll be facing at the tournament,” Raiden remarked.

“You mean Goro,” Sonya concluded.

“And Shang Tsung,” added the Thunder God.

“Will Shang Tsung fight in the tournament?” questioned Liu Kang.

“If he chooses to. As a former champion, he has the right to do so,” Raiden answered. Then he stopped and turned to look at us. “And he’s far more dangerous than Goro. His power comes from the souls of vanquished warriors. To fight Shang Tsung is to face not one, but a legion of adversaries.” He pointed right at Liu Kang. “Remember that.”

The statement was backed by a series of thunder crashes. When they settled, we continued walking.

“Tomorrow, the tournament begins,” he reminded. “Be prepared.”

My stomach clenched. Be prepared, he said. To what extent would I have to do so? I knew little of kombat, and that made me insecure. I knew if I was nervous, I would simply be lessening my own chances, but I still knew that I lacked experience!

It was a vicious cycle, and I needed to put it to rest.

I stepped forward a little faster, so that I was pacing right next to Raiden. “Raiden…”

“Yes?”

“…I have very little experience in kombat. It was a miracle I was able to knock out those two guys back there. I… don’t know what to do. …Raiden, how will I fare in the tournament? How far will I make it?”

He looked me in the eye, and I was once again soothed. “Gancena, you will do as well as you believe you will. You are capable of surviving the tournament. I promise you are.”

It was a slightly cryptic answer, but I understood. I just needed… to stay calm, focus, and fight. It was really all I could do.

I nodded to myself. I had the rest of the night to steady myself…

Raiden was still looking at me.

“…What is it?” I asked, carefully.

I thought his smile grew a bit. “That ribbon looks nice on you.”

My ears pricked. …Did he really just say that? I mean, he was the god of thunder, and I… I didn’t even know what color the thing was yet, and… “Th-thank you,” I stammered. “I… don’t quite remember where I got it, though…”

He looked ahead, and his smile widened even more. “I’m sure it’ll come to you at some point.”

-----

Much to my delight, I was paired with Cecilia.

The room was simple enough – two beds, each with a little nightstand, against the left wall, a window directly across from the door, a dresser and vanity to the right and still plenty of room to walk.

“I call…” I began, yanking Lunavalora and its sheath off my belt and placing it leaning on the wall. “…this one!” I exclaimed, leaping. With a thu-wump, I bounced on my stomach atop the mattress  once or twice before settling. I giggled.

I heard Cecilia close the door behind us and stride gracefully towards the window. She shoved the shutters open. “Hm. Pretty cool view.”

I scrambled eagerly towards her and the window. “Let me see! Let me see!”

The angel moved a bit to the side, and I leaned out. From here, we could see several levels of the island. We were still near its very summit. Below were other rocky tiers, then several lush planes of forest, and then, oh so far away was the beach. I looked ahead and stared for a moment at the dark horizon. The line between the sky and the Lost Sea was difficult to distinguish.

Then I looked up… and there were the stars, shining as always. The night sky remained cloudless.

It reminded me, rather sorely, of my character’s powers. She was what I’d dubbed a Spiritually Aware. Her very spirit held great amounts of excess energy – the very essence of souls and the Heavens – which she could use to detect divine beings or channel into projectiles, shields and even healing energy.

…I knew that I would be pretty much molding another far-too-perfect -- known in my birth world as a Mary-Sue -- character with those powers, but my intention was to give her an ability that she could build upon, a power she could use to help protect her friends and home… something that would grow within and alongside her.

Then, with a jolt, I wondered if I would have those powers, too, considering that I had essentially become her.

If I did, then… I was at an advantage. I could learn to use the Spirit Force in kombat!

I then wondered if that was fair, or if it would arouse suspicion. I thought I shouldn’t care, and I didn’t – not overly much, anyway. I just wanted to make it through this challenge alive.

So if the forces would help me – given that I had them – then so be it! They would augment my chances!

On that note, I thrusted my right hand out the window… and tried to focus.

“Gancena?” Cecilia asked.

“I’m trying something…” I murmured.

Okay, how to go about this… Right! I shut my eyes for a moment… almost immediately, I could feel the forces. I let them move with my breath, my heartbeat… I swear, I could sense the Spirit Force as a whole separate entity from my very soul!

Then I focused on moving the forces to my hand…

“Gancena! You’re… You still have your Spirit Force!” my friend exclaimed.

I opened my eyes, and there, in front of my hand, was a small ball of white light.

I did it. I used some form of my power.

I drew my hand back in… slowly. The ball’s outermost forces dissipated as I held them. This was mine.

This ball was mine. I made it.

“I… I do,” I breathed. “… But it’s much smaller than Gamecube’s first Spirit Ball. It’s a safe bet that I don’t have that much extra energy yet. If I’m going to use this, I need to be careful or I’ll pass out. You know… from actually putting a piece of my spirit into it.”

I didn’t want to risk passing out then, so I squeezed the ball in my hand, taking its forces back. I felt them spread out through my body. My Spirit Force seemed to flow as naturally as my blood.

“I see,” Cecilia said, nodding. “Hey! What about my mana!? Will I be able to use it?”

I looked at her. “…You were about to back there, with all the minions. I saw it.”

“Oh, real—Oh, yeah!” she exclaimed, rubbing the back of her head. We shared a brief laugh.

“Okay, so… I have my mana, you have your Spirit Force… and I’ve actually got a couple questions for you,” Cecilia recapped.

“Fire away.”

“First off, who was the guy you fought before we faced all the minions?”

“That was Reptile,” I explained. “He’s more of an observer in this tournament, serving directly under Shang Tsung. I bet he sent Reptile to finish me off.”

“Reptile? You never mentioned a Reptile,” she pointed out.

I moved away from the window, to my bed. “In the game,” I whispered, “he was a hidden, unplayable character. All sorts of certain conditions in order to fight him. I wasn’t sure if he was even going to reveal himself to us. That, and when asked for the roster, I just shoot it out like it does in the famous song.”

“Uh huh. And how about Goro? I don’t remember you mentioning him, either.”

“I was more concerned about the sorcerer. Even Raiden said that he was more dangerous than Goro. …Did I really not mention him?”

“Uh… If you did, I probably forgot. Sorry,” Cecilia apologized, sitting on her bed.

“No, you’re okay! I can’t remember how many times you talked about the Cardinals in Symphonia before I finally got it,” I reminded. “And now that you’ve seen Goro, I’m sure you’ll never forget him.”

“No. …Especially considering the fact that he looks a bit like Origin.”

My ears shot up. “Really!?” I had never seen Origin myself, so this… this was news to me.

“Yeah. Origin has four arms.”

“…Wow,” I muttered. Then I looked over to the vanity, and was curious. I hadn’t seen myself since I came here… even though I knew what to expect from this body, I still wanted to know.

“Hang on… I’m just gonna look…” I told my friend.

I faced the mirror front and center. My face was no different than I’d thought it would be – round, dark blue eyes, a striped face… It was the white ribbon that was new. I reached behind my neck to tug at the ribbon’s knot and examine it in my own hands…

It was simple, but pretty. I liked it. I stroked it once with my thumbs and wondered, once again, where it could have come from… who put this on me, and why?

I looked back up and was fairly surprised. On my neck, where the ribbon had been tied, there was a long and thin strip where no fur grew. The line cut through an ebony stripe. I traced the scar, mesmerized… but not in a good way.

I turned immediately to Cecilia. “Look!”

Her violet eyes widened, and she was in front of me instantly. “…Gancena… what happened here? Do you know?”

I shook my head, slowly.

The angel furrowed her brow before standing at full height. “…Gamecube might have received the wound,” she concluded. She hooked her index finger into the red ribbon around her neck and tugged it down lightly. There was an eerily similar strip of scarred flesh. “Kvar gave this one to the other Cecilia when she died – right when I was hit by a car and I died. That was the moment we switched places. I’ll bet that’s what happened to you and Gamecube, considering the house fire.”

“…You were hit by a car, RF?” I asked, frightened. Her conclusion made sense, yes, but it was the word of RoyalFanatic’s death – my dear friend’s undoing – that had a chokehold on my attention.

“Yeah,” she admitted. “It was really fast. I barely knew what happened.”

“…Well, at least it wasn’t prolonged. That… That was hell,” I commented. I could almost feel the heat of the flames creeping up my back. I wandered back to the bed, laid down, and tucked my ribbon underneath the provided pillow. I’d grab it again in the morning.

“…I’m sorry,” Cecilia whispered.

“I’m sorry, too,” I apologized.

Cecilia sat on the edge of her bed, staring sadly at me. I returned the look. I thought quickly over the things we’d gone through together since our arrivals…

Then I remembered Sub-Zero.

“Cecilia, I forgot to tell you…!” I exclaimed, holding myself up on one arm.

The angel blinked and looked attentively to me. “What?”

“On the Nethership… I saw something. I didn’t want to say anything in front of the others because… you know…”

“You didn’t want to risk changing anything.”

“Yes. My point: When I was ‘exploring,’ I was really looking for Scorpion and Sub-Zero,” I admitted.

“Really?”

“Yeah. Scorpion… he was supposed to face Sub-Zero, grab him by the throat, and tell him that he’d pay for Scorpion’s murder with his life. Remember that Sub-Zero killed Scorpion years ago.”

“Did you see that!?”

“No… just the aftermath. …I saw Sub-Zero there, grabbing his throat, looking all frightened… it was… emotionally provoking, for some kind of start.”

“Wow… that sounds intense,” Cecilia commented.

It appeared that while Cecilia did understand how I was feeling, she didn’t feel it herself – which was understandable. For days in a row, I would ponder how every kombatant felt and thought during every event… it was an enlightening experience, and it would fuel my interest in the series.

Cecilia hadn’t gotten that deep into the story yet. I was her teacher. I was her guide. I would help her understand everything.

Because who else would?

“…It was,” I finally sighed, closing my eyes.

“Are you going to sleep now?”

“…We probably both should,” I answered.

“Okay. Good night, Gancena.”

“Good night, Cece.”