+++ Mortal Kombat: Conquest by LadyRaiden aka Raydiva +++

Note: I don’t own anything in connection with Mortal Kombat. This is all in fun and I do not make a profit from it. If you wish to borrow any of the characters I did create, feel free to contact me, but be aware that I will not reveal anything about the character until it appears in the story.

        Chapter Six: Nightly Talks

        Slowly she awoke, not really sure if she was still in a dream or finally returning to reality. Althea opened her eyes and the first thing she saw was Rayden leaning back in a chair as if asleep, his hands holding one of hers in his lap. Part of her felt the energy of the element of lighting recharging her chi, as such she once used before she lost the ability to acquire the needed energy. Another part felt a strange lightness as if a great weight had been removed from her soul.
        She tried to sit up and her movements caused Rayden to open his eyes. He let go of her hand and gently pushed her back down onto the bed. “Don’t be in such a hurry, “he said, “You’re barely recovered enough chi to get out of danger, but you are still weak.”
        Althea sighed and said, “Well, I can’t just lie here all day. I need to get up and move around some. By the way, how long have I been out?”
        “You will stay in bed all day and at least for another, “replied the thunder god sternly, “And it’s been almost three days since the fight.”
        As the fog in Althea’s mind continued to clear she remembered, “Zuravan!” she yelled as she tried to get up again.
        Rayden frowned as he pushed her back again and said, “Gone, he’s gone. He ran shortly after you hit him with your chi flame.” Rayden then grinned, “It seemed that it didn’t agree with him.”
        Suddenly, Althea notice how little she was actually wearing. Only one of her shirts and it was tied loosely. She blushed and was now more than happy to stay in bed, covered, while the thunder god was in the room.
        Rayden saw her blush and her haste to cover herself up. He didn’t smile but thought it was a good thing that she didn’t know who undressed her, especially after what she was able to do to Kuravan.

****
        Downstairs Siro was once again making tea in the hopes of it keeping him awake. He sighed; he was definitely starting to dislike tea. It was a good thing that the carpenters would be in today to finish the repairs on the door and gate. The wall was almost finished except for some plaster.
        “Thank-you,” said Rayden as he took Siro’s mug of tea. He took a sip and remarked, “Not bad,” as he sat down at the table.
        “Your welcome, “said Siro as he fixed himself another mug. “In case you are wondering, “Rayden began, “Althea’s out of danger, but still needs some rest. Give her at least another day or two and she should be able to finish recovering on her own.”
        “That’s good to hear, “said Siro as he sat opposite the diety, “By the way, nice brother you have.”
        One of Rayden’s eyebrows rose for a moment as he drank. “Ahhh, I see you’ve met Fujin. Let me guess, he’s been paying Taja some.....attention.”
        Siro nodded and took a sip of tea. He then asked, “What’s up with him anyway?” Rayden replied, “Let’s just say, he doesn’t get out much.”

*****
        In the sky hung a full moon, and in the distance a howling was heard. A solid black wolf with a crescent shaped scar on its shoulder ran through the woods. Eventually others of its kind followed. The pack ran through the woods as if for the mere joy of running with their brothers and sisters. They stopped in a clearing and the rest of the pack surrounded the scarred black. The all just sat, with occasionally nodding head as if in some sort of silent communication. The black then nodded once and ran off into the woods. The others began to howl a sad lament as the wind began to blow.

****
        In a darkened overhang found across the street from the trading posted an outline of a winged figure could be seen. It could have easily been mistaken for a gargoyle, except there was no such statue in that spot during the day. It watched and seemed to listen as Rayden and Siro talked, motionless.

****
        A few days later Kung Lao woke to the smell of cooking food. Making his way downstairs he saw that breakfast was on the stove staying warm and Althea was already eating at the table. “Shouldn’t you still be in bed?” Kung Lao asked as he got himself a generous helping of oatmeal.
        Althea shrugged and said, “I’m okay, no sparks, but I am able to get around now. Unless I’m mistaken, a little bit of exercise would do me some good right now.”
        “So long as it is a ‘little’ exercise, “said Rayden as he tried to take Kung Lao’s bowl. Kung Lao quickly moved his bowl out of Rayden’s reach and said, “Care to join us for breakfast, Rayden. Help yourself to whats on the stove, “and proceed to grind some cinnamon into his bowl. Rayden gave the monk a dirty look as Althea got up to prepare a bowl for the thunder god. With a slight laugh she placed on the table in front of him, “Here you go. There’s plenty since I could never make oatmeal without fixing enough for a small army.”
        “Yes!” exclaimed Taja as she entered the kitchen, “I wasn’t dreaming,” and she made a beeline to the stove.
        Althea gave a half-smile and then returned to eating her own bowl of oatmeal. After taking a few bites she said, “Taja, Siro said he was going to town to get a few supplies for the trip and would be back this afternoon.”
        “Trip?” asked Kung Lao. Taja sighed and then said, “The repairs to the place cost more than expected. So with what money we have left, me and Siro decided to go catch the caravan in the next town. We hope to sell a few items and perhaps pick up a few things that can not be found locally to sell to make a larger profit. Otherwise...”
        Althea said, “Sorry about that. I knew me and Kuravan didn’t get along, but I didn’t think he would.....”
        “Don’t worry; it was the creep’s fault not yours, “said Taja, “Talking about the attack, I’ve been meaning to ask you something, Rayden. How was it you were able to interfere at that time and not others?”
        Althea somehow sensed that Rayden was uncomfortable with the question and was thinking about leaving so she answered the question for him. “Kuravan is a god from my realm. Since he is an immortal, his attack was not just a mortal affair. Unless I’m mistaken, since Kung Lao was hit during the first attack, he was also in violation of the rules of Mortal Kombat. Therefore, Rayden was not only allowed, but almost required to help us.”
        Rayden was surprised that Althea was able to answer the question. She was correct, but it wasn’t everyday that a mortal knew so much about the rules set down by the Elder Gods. Then again, considering her position in her realm’s recent war and her heritage, she would have needed specific information in regards to the rules governing the interaction between mortals and immortals.
        “Taja, why is Siro going with you?” asked Kung Lao. “He kinda insisted, “replied Taja, “He kept saying something about, and I quote ‘keeping that pony-tailed bastard’s hands off’ of me or something.”
        Rayden nearly choked on the oatmeal he was eating. Althea gently slapped his back to help him breathe again, not sure what set that off. Kung Lao sighed and said, “I was planning on heading on to the temple tomorrow, but if both of you are leaving...”
        “Please, “said Althea in an exasperated voice, “I’m no longer invalid and the gate and door are fixed. So long as I’m not expected to run the store while you guys are gone, I’ll be able to watch the place. In fact, it’ll give me a chance to take care of a few things myself without being interrupted.” Also, it will give me and Rayden a chance to have that needed talk without the chance of any of the others hearing, she thought but ‘loudly’ in her mind in the hopes that Rayden would pick it up. Apparently, he did since he looked at her and gave her a slow wink.

****

        Kuravan paced in a library while attempting to read. He gave up and threw the book onto a couch in a rage. How dare she! The memory of how Althea temporarily removed his godhood and how close he came to dieing at Rayden’s hands still infuriated him. It should have been impossible for her to call upon that much of her chi so soon after using it on the Insane One. This only proved his fear that she was much stronger than anyone realized. On top of that, she was not beholden to anyone but that mortal Earthrealm monk.
        There must be a way to place her under my control. She is of my blood...damn my stupidity of renouncing her father and thus freeing any of his descendents from my claim of blood. If only he hadn’t been dumb enough to get his fool head blown off by that rouge wizard.
        “Master, I have word,” came a voice from the shadows. “What is it, Lilith?” he demanded.
        A woman with bat-like wings walked into the lamp light. “The girl was near death from using too much of her chi against you, but was saved by the one know as Rayden. Even now she is expected to make a full recovery and is already moving around on her own strength” “So, the lighting god used his own element to help restore her chi...clever.” Kuravan thought out loud, not caring if his slave heard, “I can use that....You may go.”
        Lilith bowed and walked back into the shadows, her wings flexing somewhat behind her.

****
        The next night, the trading post was quieter than usual, and Althea actually enjoyed it as she prepared her bath. It feels like ages since I’ve had a real bath, she thought. I just hope that Rayden doesn’t show up until after I’m done.
        Normally, it wouldn’t have bothered her that the thunder god saw her in the nude. After all during the God War it was sometimes necessary to fight stark naked when the camp was attacked by surprised. Then there was ‘Uncle’ Vatas, always showing up, like Rayden, at unexpected and sometimes unwanted moments. But for some reason it was different with Rayden, he could make her blush as if she was still the innocent thing living with Granny in the Twilight Woods.
        She sighed as she slipped into the steaming water. After she poured a generous amount of bath oil in the water, she laid back to soak and relax. Unseen there was a flash of light and then a second one. Althea cracked open one eye, thinking she sensed something but nothing was there. She shrugged and went back to relaxing.

****
        Rayden appeared in the kitchen with a heated look on his face. He quickly poured himself a generous amount of wine from the cast Althea left out for later and drank in down in one swallow. The thunder god then sat down at the table with his face in his hands.
        He didn’t know who to thank for Althea not seeing him. Rayden sensed that Althea was thinking about him and thought it was her invitation to have that conversation in regards to her power. So he appeared next to her, only to find her in a bath and saw enough to know that she was a true blonde before getting the hell out of there. True he had undressed her when she was ‘injured’ but at the time concern and haste prevented him from fully noticing, but now.....”Why did she have to be a blonde?” he groaned into his hands.

****
        At the temple, Kung Lao slept but the sounds of wolves howling affected his dreams.....

        He was running through the woods, with nothing but his pants on when he came across Jen sitting on a log. Between the two of them he saw a bright string connecting the two of them. He approached her. The howling changed and so did his surroundings. Kung Lao was now back at the trading post and saw Rayden sitting at the table with his face in his hands. He seemed to have mumbled something, but Kung Lao was unable to hear. There was also a string connecting Rayden to someone outside of the room, it was flickering as if not quite sure if it should be there yet. Kung Lao followed the string and found Althea in her bath. He only saw the side of the tub with her head on one side and a dripping arm being scrubbed with the other hand. The string he was following lead to her. Once again the howling and the scene changed. He was now in an unfamiliar place with more books and scrolls than he had ever seen before. There Kuravan was talking to a winged woman and Kung Lao heard, “I can use that....”

Kung Lao woke as if a spell had been removed. He looked around to verify that he was in the temple, and then wondered what the dream meant.

****
        Althea entered the kitchen and was surprised to see Rayden already there. Perhaps that was what she sensed earlier, Rayden showing up in the kitchen helping himself to a drink. Why did it seem that Rayden was more and more like her ‘Uncle?’ Could it be the job of being a sworn protector of a realm? Althea just shrugged, at least I’m dressed.
        Rayden looked up at the sound of her entering the room. He made extra sure that his thoughts and emotions were shielded and unfortunately that prevented him from sensing hers as well, but he did not want the chance of her sensing his feelings at that time. And with the some of his energy still in her system, it was possible. Although that could make things interesting if....DON’T THING ABOUT THAT, STUPID, NOT NOW! He only smiled in greeting and remained seated behind the table as Althea got herself a glass and poured some wine in it. Althea gave him a strange look as if wondering if something was wrong. She sat down and took a sip before talking. “What’s a godslayer, exactly?” asked Althea.
        Rayden sighed even he wasn’t sure if it was in relief or what. He then said, “The title godslayer is actual not an accurate term. A godslayer, is someone with the ability to temporarily cancel out a god’s immorality and abilities. The power you have does not actually kill a god, only allows the possibility.” Rayden took another drink, before continuing. “The ‘gift’ is extremely rare and is believed, but not confirmed, to be bestowed by the Elder Gods to certain mortals in times when it is needed. From what I’ve heard of this ‘Insane One,’ you were definitively needed. It’s even rarer for such a person to use it more than once and survive.”
        “Damn, “said Althea, “So that’s why Zuravan is so interested in me. He’s afraid I’ll pay him back for some of the crap he put me and Freyon through, especially since I threw that offer of godhood back in their faces.”
        Rayden tried not to laugh while he was drinking. He still couldn’t believe she did that and thought this was a good a time as any to ask, “Why did you refuse the position? Unless I’m mistaken your realm has lost at least three gods now.”
        Althea snort and answered, “There’s a few reasons..One, I was borderline insane and knew it. The last thing my world needed was another insane god. Two, I can’t help but interfere. Gods can not unless there are special circumstances. Three, it was the only way to save Freyon. He would have done the same for me and he’ll make a better god then I ever could.” She thought for a few moments and then added, ”Also the fourth reason is, there was no way I was going to spend eternity working along side Zuravan. Eventually we would have started another god war between ourselves.”
        Rayden laughed out loud at that fourth reason. He could image Althea kicking Zuravan’s butt as a goddess. Suddenly, he stopped talking. He could image Althea as a goddess, period. Unfortunately, the wine seemed to have let some of his concentration wane and he shields went down. Althea was able to sense some of what he felt and blushed.
        Trying to ignore the sudden change in mood Althea started to ask, “What do we...ummmm I...”
        Rayden sense what she was going through and reached out to take her hand. They both stared into each others eyes for a few moments. Rayden stood up some and leaned forward....*!CRASH!*
        Both jumped, and the sounds of a fight going on outside got their full attention. Althea ran outside to see what was going on. To her amazement she saw Lilith on the ground fighting off a bunch of dogs (?) no wolves. Two have grabbed each of her wings and a third was on top of her, she has holding him back from her throat. Seeing Althea, Lilith growled and then spat a red substance into the face of the wolf. It yelped and rolled off of her, taking one of the two holding her wings with it. She was then able to roll and claw the other one and then make her escape in the air. The two uninjured wolves then led the red splatter third away into the darkness. All of this happened before Althea was able to say, “What the....”

The End

Next time on Mortal Kombat: Conquest...

“Who were those guys?” ask Siro [as two men in black leather and stylized red dragons painted on their backs walked away.]

Standing before two coffin-like shapes, Quan Chi chuckled and said, “Superb, my ‘children’ are almost ready to wake up.”