"Faith"
I died that night...on the floor of Shang Tsung's Palace. But as bizarre as it may sound...that is not the end of my story.
Although it pains me to say it, shortly after my death, Kung Lao would also meet death at Shang Tsung's hands. Meanwhile outside the Palace, Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage, and Jax would each succumb to the Tarkatan hordes. I believe Quan Chi and Shang Tsung even sent some of the Dragon King's army out as well. With the five of us dead, Raiden alone was forced challenge the Deadly Alliance to Mortal Kombat.
As Raiden fought the Deadly Alliance inside the Palace...something unexpected happened. The legendary Dragon King himself had miraculously returned and he revived each of us. But unfortunately, that is not all he did. While resurrecting us, each of our minds were twisted into being his loyal servants. We then assisted him in invading Edenia. I...I specifically was used to capture and imprison my mother.
I do not pretend to know the future. I do not know what will happen now because of these events. I pray the Dragon King merely ensnared me with his magic...and not by exploiting whatever evil may be in my soul. I pray somehow he will be destroyed or I will be freed before I do something...I may regret.
Even if I am fortunate enough to escape the Dragon King's power before I do any irreparable harm...I must deal with whatever battles and evils still remain in the aftermath. In the face of such endless battle and chaos, I find myself wondering how much more I can take. How much more must I put myself through before I can finally live in peace? How much more must I lose and sacrifice?
In these dark times, I find myself thinking about the words of Shao Kahn, Tanya, and Mileena. Am I clinging to a lost cause? Perhaps I will never know true peace. Maybe I am doomed to a life of endless battle and loss.
"And they lived happily ever after."
That's how fairy tales usually end. The happy endings in my life are few and far in between. And the few I do experience rarely last long.
But I guess...through it all, I have to hold on to the faint hope that someday things will work out. That someday I will truly find the redemption I seek and be able to live peacefully in Edenia with my friends and family. I've already come a long way. Too far to give in now. The few brief moments of peace I have experienced have been the happiest I have ever been. To have that peace everlasting...that is something worth fighting for.
And I made a promise. I vowed I would never stop until Edenia was restored. I would never give up, until I undid all the evil I committed for Shao Kahn.
I don't know if I will ever accomplish this. I don't know if I will ever find the peace I seek. But I have to try. It is what keeps me going. And perhaps someday I will get my happy ending. Maybe someday I will get to live happily ever after.
Someday...
But until then...I'll keep fighting.
The End