Mortal Kombat FF

Twas a hot day in Earthrealm. Unbearably so too. The sun beat down upon the wearied citizens of the realm. In the realm, there were many clusters of villages, but the temple kept all the villages save one united. Only the White Lotus chose to be isolated. None of the villagers knew the mystery behind the White Lotus, and many preferred to keep it that way. The Lin Kuei, a clan of ruthless warriors who lived in the north, had begun to venture into the villages, snatching and kidnapping men and women from their beds to further their own needs.

A loud monotonous snoring hummed from a dojo, just outside the village. A respected man, Bo ‘Rai Cho was indulging in a nap on the warm day. He was an aging man, originally from Outworld, but was now content to spend his days teaching Kombat to willing young students, boys of the realm, and occasionally challenging the passing through warriors to a round of Kombat. As he slept, however, his nose began to twitch, as if he detected some sweet tantalizing scent.

As he pulled himself back into reality from the arms of Morpheus, his eyes opened and he glanced around in confusion, wondering what had caused him to wake. His eyes widened as he caught the scent of something totally intoxicating. What was it? He thought sleepily. Honestly, he thought he was dreaming. He pulled himself to his feet, deciding to investigate. Opening the door to the dojo, he set out, his stride purposeful and determined. He followed his nose down main street, past the Millers house, heading towards the biggest village of the clusters. As he passed the villages called greetings, and salutations upon the fine day, but he was too concentrated to notice.

His mind concentrated, bringing him closer and closer to the one goal, but out of the shadows near the closest hut came Bo ‘Rai Cho’s mortal enemy; Kung Lao. Although Kung Lao was a member of the Shaolin Brotherhood, he was still Bo ‘Rai Cho’s rival. Ever since they’d be boys together, growing up in Outworld, the two had harbored a mutual, but respectful rivalry. Even now as adults, it was there, but that rivalry had matured into a full-blown hatred for the other.

“Wow. You look… shall we say … fat?” Kung Lao mocked. “You don’t look any skinnier than when I last saw you. And that was years ago. Betcha don’t even Kombat anymore.”
“Whoa.. you still have the same old Raiden hat from years ago. Don’t you ever go clothes shopping? Or are we too poor? I thought participating in all those missions for the Brotherhood not pay you enough? At least I on the other hand, make a living teaching the kids Kombat.” He returned.
“Oh, I see your comebacks haven’t gotten any better. Lets see if your Kombat has.”
“Prepare for Kombat Raidens’ Wannabe!”
“Mortaaaaaaaaaaal Kombaaaaaaaaaaaat!” both men roared simultaneously. Both were used to roaring that before Kombat matches in the days were Kombat battles went on day after day, week after week. The days when all the realms had been riddled with chaos.

Both settled into the stances befitting their arts; Bo ‘Rai Cho into the stance of Mi Zong and Kung Lao into the stance of the Mantis. Their muscles hummed with chi, and their mind held a deadly intent. Their eyes met the others, filled with anger, hatred, and for Bo’ Rai Cho; a purpose. He needed to reach his destination. He needed to discover whatever that ambrosias was.

Kung Lao body suddenly streaked towards him. Bo’ Rai Cho reacted instantly throwing all his body weight into a flying tackle, and managed to flip Kung Lao over his shoulder, flinging him across the road into the bushes surrounding them. It was a somewhat risqué move considering he hadn’t done that in about ten years, but still. Kung Lao came back, roaring with fury over having being tossed into the bushes like a student, like Noob! His fists landed blows, hard and fierce. He kept up the offense, landing blows from his Mantis, Shaolin Fist, and Chinese Kempo styles. Bo’ Rai Cho kept him busy with his Drunken Master fighting style however, as he’d had years to perfect his one true style.  Both warriors traded punch for punch, kick for kick. Blows landed hard, unmercifully, but neither was willing to give up.

“You’re as bad as that pussy Liu Kang, you bastard!” roared Kung Lao. “It’s high time I finished your fat ass off. Once and for all. Earthrealm would be better off without you!”
“I’m as bad as Liu Kang?!” bellowed Bo’ Rai Cho. “That pussy couldn’t even beat that sad ass tard Noob, or Goro. What the hell kinda shit is this?!?”
“You do have a point there fatty. I’ll grant you that.”
“You damn well better. Or I’ll wipe your ass with Lizard, next time I see him.”
“Ouch. Honestly that hurts.”
Laughing, Bo’ Rai Cho remembered his mission.
“Well, I’m a bit too busy for Kombat today… that insufferably delightful scent has caught my roving eye, and I’m curious as to what it is.” He said gruffly.
“What the hell is that smell?! I smelt it all the way from goddamn Chaos Realm. It had the demons in an uproar like there ain’t no tomorrow. It was most disturbing.”
“Elder Gods protect us. That must have been interesting.”
“It wasn’t interesting you tard! I almost had my face skinned off by Baraka, who was down there for the demons Kombat tournament. I rather like my face the way it is Thank-you.”
“Join me this once you little git, and help me discover what the hell that god awful, but wonderfully delightful whatever it is, is.”
“Fine, just this once old man. Never again. And this gets mentioned to no one. Got it?”
“Loud and clear.”

Both men set out, neither looking at the other, both wearing smug, victorious looks on their faces. Neither would admit it, but the other felt strangely relieved at having finally put aside this somewhat unusual hatred for the other at long last.

The smell kept them going, a few more kilometers, until finally, it stopped. Right in the middle of the biggest village. Both men were bewildered, and wondering where in the Elder Gods name it was coming from. They searched high and low, trying to feel for a chi that wasn’t there. Where was it? What was it? Their searches proved true however when they ended up in front of a small food vendor. The sign above the vendor carried some damn strange characters too. Golden Arches. What language was this? They walked cautiously towards the vendor curious as to what the food was.
“Hi! Welcome To MakuDonarudo. What can I get for you today?” sang the vendor. She appeared to be pleased to finally have a customer, or something like that.
“Uh.. hi?” ventured Bo’ Rai Cho. “Uhm.. what do you have..?”
“Well, we have ‘Burgers’, ‘Potato Sticks’, and a type of beverage that is better than the Ricewine from this realm!”
“Really?” challenged Bo’ Rai Cho, “I drink that stuff almost every day of the year. Prove to me that your drink bests Rice Wine. It surely cannot” he scoffed.
“Alrighty, I’ll give you two burgers, two fries, and two beverages on the house, this time because you are my first customer”
“Hai! You have my thanks.”

As Bo’ Rai Cho dug into his meal, he couldn’t help but think, Elder Gods, this is good. He had never had anything like this before. What special nectars were in this to make it so wonderful? His burger was divine, his fries godlike, and his “Cora” was even better than the best of the Rice wine he’d ever had. What the hell was this?

When Kung Lao saw the mess of the burger, fries and ‘Cora’ his stomach turned. The first thought that popped into his head compared this slop to the Tarkatan field camp over in Outworld. Elder Gods keep him, it was disgusting. How the hell could Bo’ Rai Cho stand to eat the shit?

After finishing off both Kung Lao’s and his own meals, Bo’ Rai Cho was ready at last to call it a day and head back to the dojo. The afternoon was almost at an end, and most knew the Lin Kuei preyed more at night then during the day. He would have to keep an eye out all the way home if he stayed out any later.

“Well, this was almost nice” drawled Kung Lao
“Exactly my opinion” mimicked Bo’ Rai Cho
“See ya round sometime maybe fatty. Maybe if you ever drag your sorry ass back to Outworld, I can teach you some new Kombat skills. Whadda ya say?”
“Maybe later sometime.”
“Whatever. Later”

With that Kung Lao was gone. Quick as a shadow, silent as a mouse, and as cunning as a fox, Kung Lao would make a formidable ally, Bo’ Rai Cho decided. Maybe he would take him up on that offer to train in Kombat someday. Just maybe.