Chapter Text
Drip.
The crunch of footsteps on dead leaves.
Drip.
A splash of water from a lone puddle.
Drip.
The sound of a soft breeze rustling the dull brown branches of a large oak tree.
Drip.
An animalistic roar, shattering the window of silence and sending crows into flight. Their shrieks could be heard on top of the snow-capped mountain peaks.
Drip.
The sound of a single drop of rain, sliding off of a dew-covered leaf and hitting a blade of grass below.
Drip.
Drip.
Plink!
“GET OVER HERE!!!”
The wraith’s kunai dug deep into his foe’s heart, ripping it out of his chest. The organ beat furiously as it fell to the ground, smearing the green grass with red blood. He wrenched his weapon back, a small growl escaping his masked lips. His opponent's heart slipped off of the kunai’s point, making a small squelch upon landing.
Shinnok laughed weakly, pressing a withered palm over the gaping hole in his chest. “Oh, Scorpion,” he sighed, his words coming out raspy. “It is pathetic to think that you believed ripping out my heart would kill me.”
Normally, when one hears the voice of the fallen Elder God Shinnok, one runs. One feels a shiver of pure, untouched fear run down their spine. His voice could make anyone fall to their knees in despair. His words could make anyone lose any shred of hope they still clung to.
The vengeful spirit, rightfully called Scorpion, was far from anyone.
Shinnok had barely a second to react to the faint, but not unnoticeable, swish of a katana being unsheathed before Scorpion was upon him again, swinging his blade furiously. His wide eyes were a solid white color, but he did not need irises nor pupils to show the rage they contained. The once corpse-like skin around his eyes was now blackened and charred, and he was snarling behind his yellow mask. His black and gold outfit was stained red with blood, most of it his own. The wraith known as Scorpion had one intention that night, and it was to kill.
Shinnok almost laughed.
He dodged Scorpion’s attacks with ease, amusement growing at seeing his increased anger. He blocked a swing at his head with his wrist gauntlet and delivered a series of punishing blows to Scorpion’s abdomen and chest. The spirit fell backward onto the grass, and a small unmph tumbled from his lips upon impact. He straightened his mask before leaping to his feet. His small wince of pain as he did was not unnoticed.
“You are persistent, I’ll give you that,” Shinnok taunted. He shifted his foot back, raising his arms to shield his face. It’s time to end this pitiful charade.
”Shut up,” Scorpion growled, and with a roar of rage, he readied his weapon and lunged.
The two locked blades again. Scorpion vanished in a burst of hellfire, only to reappear behind him. Shinnok whirled around to block him but was startled by a jumping hook kick to the head. He heard a familiar battle cry, and a kunai was suddenly in his shoulder. A jolt of pain rushed through his body as Scorpion pulled him towards him and hit him hard in the stomach.
Admittedly, when he was angry, Scorpion was a formidable foe. Shinnok found it had become harder to block his attacks. A stray punch found its mark, and the Elder God let out a grunt of pain as Scorpion’s gloved fist connected with his cheek. He tumbled to the ground, the grass cushioning his fall.
“You murdered my clan,” Scorpion hissed. He grabbed Shinnok by his armor and punched him in the face again. “My wife.” Another hit. “My son!” The anger in his voice transcended anything Shinnok had ever heard from the man. “YOU WILL DIE FOR YOUR CRIMES AGAINST THE SHIRAI RYU!” He raised his fist again, his kunai appearing in it.
”ENOUGH!!”
Scorpion's guard fell as Shinnok’s hands began to glow a bright green. He uttered a small “wait" before he exploded off of him.
~.~
All he felt was pain.
He felt the cold wind against his clothed skin as he flew through the air. His arms, his legs, his torso… it all felt completely, utterly broken. He could barely move. His vision was unfocused, and his jaw seemed to be dislocated. His chest burned like it was on fire, and he naturally assumed there was a hole through it.
He thought back to how this had started. He had had a dream of his older self telling him that Bi-Han was not the enemy. That same day, Raiden had come to him in the Netherrealm. He had told him the truth about what had happened to his family and clan.
The fury Scorpion had felt in that moment was unrivaled by any being in time.
He had used that fury to find Shinnok and attack him. The god seemed surprised but not shocked by the sudden change of allegiance.
Where am I…? The wraith, in his rage, had barely realized he and Shinnok had left the Netherrealm.
There was no orchestral symphony as he made his descent back to Earth. There was no sad song as he crashed through the trees, dealing more damage to his already beaten form. There was no saving grace for him as he hit the ground with a sickening crunch.
He laid there for a second, feeling a cool material against his skin. It felt nice. It was refreshing. Subconsciously, he wondered what would happen if he stayed here, on this nice, cold ground, forever.
I can’t.
Bloody, broken, and bruised, he struggled to his feet. He could barely see three feet in front of him. His legs trembled, threatening to give way. He would go out as a warrior. He would make his ancestors proud.
It hurt to move. However, Scorpion was familiar with pain. Even this much could not keep him down for long. He was not out of the fight yet.
Shinnok landed before him. His hands were still burning green, and his eyes were narrowed. “Why do you still attempt to defeat me?” he asked, voice like a wily serpent’s.
Scorpion could have given up already. His mind, however, drifted back to Harumi and Satoshi. To the memories of them. He recalled the sheer joy he felt when Harumi told him she was pregnant. He remembered swooping her into a tight hug. "We're going to have a baby," he had sobbed into her shoulder. He thought back to when Satoshi was born. To the sense of pride he felt when the boy looked up and called him “Papa” for the first time. This is my son, he had thought, and I will do everything in my power to protect him.
He remembered teaching Satoshi to play catch. The smile on the boy’s face. The way his eyes lit up whenever he gripped the rubber ball to his chest like it was the only object that mattered.
He remembered his first date with Harumi and how beautiful she looked. He had told her so multiple times, but he still thought he hadn’t said it enough to this day.
He remembered how happy Satoshi was when Scorpion agreed to teach him martial arts. The boy was a quick learner, and by the third week, he was able to kick over his head.
He remembered the overwhelming grief he had felt when they were taken away from him.
“Because,” he began, anger dulling the immense pain he felt, “you took them away from me.”
For the first time in his life, Shinnok looked scared.
Scorpion let out a scream of rage and charged at him.
~.~
“Grandmaster!”
Loud footsteps echoing out of the halls stirred him from his meditation. He rose to his feet, mildly annoyed at the disturbance. “Yes?”
”Trespassers, Grandmaster.” Two blue armor-clad warriors entered his throne room, bowing.
The Grandmaster sighed. “Take care of them, then.”
”No, Grandmaster…you need to see this.”
~.~
This was pitiful.
Shinnok batted away another of Scorpion’s attacks like a man swatting a gnat. The wraith crashed into a tree, and the Elder God heard another bone snap. Still, he persisted, woozily making it onto his feet. His mask had a large tear, and his clothes were shreds. He looked like he was going to pass out.
He moved towards Shinnok again, limping a little, raising his fist to strike.
Shinnok grabbed his head and smashed it into his knee, feeling a satisfying crunch as his nose broke. He gripped Scorpion by the neck, hoisted him into the air, and heaved his beaten body into the ground. The spirit let out a cry of pain, trying to brace his fall.
He laid in the snow, unmoving.
For a moment, there was no sound except the howling of the winter wind. The god paused to watch Scorpion, his powers dying down. Snow lightly fell around them, settling on Shinnok’s horned helmet and shoulder plates.
Even though they were bitter foes, Shinnok could still appreciate how formidable the wraith was. He was powerful, strong enough to take down Shinnok’s champion. He was so confident with his abilities that he foolishly challenged the god himself. However, this choice would prove fatal. Scorpion was immortal, but he was not invincible like he believed himself to be. This would be his downfall.
Shinnok let out a triumphant smile. “You fought well, my old friend. But the time of the great warrior, Scorpion, is drawing to a close.” He picked him up again, his body hanging limply in the fallen Elder God’s hands. “Goodbye, Hanzo Hasashi.”
“Drop him.”
Shinnok’s eyes widened, and he tilted his head. Scorpion was blocking his view.
He suddenly realized where they had ended up.
The Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei, Kuai Liang, stood in front of his temple. Several of his students were at his side. His rich blue headband billowed in the frosty wind, and he wore the finest of Lin Kuei garments. He seemed…cross.
Shinnok released the wraith, letting him crumple to the ground. “Grandmaster Sub-Zero. I apologize for trespassing in your territory.”
Sub-Zero made a small gesture with his right hand. Two of his pupils came forward, grabbing Scorpion’s arms. They dragged him to the steps of the Lin Kuei temple, depositing his body there.
“If you would allow me to have Scorpion, I will leave,” Shinnok continued, a little frustrated. “Our fight will be finished elsewhere.”
”No,” Kuai Liang responded quickly. “Scorpion is now under the protection of the Lin Kuei.”
”What’s stopping me from killing you all and taking him right now?” the god sneered. His hands began to glow again.
“I would like to make a deal.” Kuai Liang stepped forward, extending a hand. “Scorpion cannot leave the Lin Kuei temple or the grounds around it. If he does, you may continue with your battle.”
It is…fair. Shinnok considered it for a moment. “…I accept your terms. Know that as soon as he leaves, I will kill him.” He turned on his heel. “Have a nice day, Grandmaster.”
He could feel Kuai Liang staring at him as he walked away. The man’s gaze was protective. Even though Shinnok had not harmed the man, he knew that he was ready to fight to save Scorpion if necessary. Shinnok, admittedly, was weakened by his fight with the vengeful spirit. If Kuai Liang chose to challenge him in combat, he was unsure that he would survive the encounter.
He knew not why. Sub-Zero and Scorpion had been enemies for years. Perhaps the older version of Hanzo Hasashi had made peace with the man.
However, Kuai Liang would soon learn that Scorpion was only like his elder in appearance.
As he conjured a portal to the Netherrealm, he looked back at the Lin Kuei temple. He saw Scorpion drowsily look up at Sub-Zero, and he watched the older man pick him up, as a husband would with his partner. He smiled to himself. He knew Scorpion would not be there long.
He would be back. And when he returned, Scorpion’s life would be his to take.