Mortal Kombat: The Three Titans

Chapter One: Big Bang

-Kuai's POV- I don't know how long it's been. How many years have gone by since Kana...left this plane of existence after Kronika was defeated. Raiden said things would get easier. He has lost many friends over the centuries that he has been alive. But right now, it hasn't gotten any easier. Not yet, at least.

I still grieve, Bi-Han and Hanzo can tell when they take turns crafting the Sands of Time. They have tried to show me brighter futures and ideas to create. To start anew. But similar to Hanzo's wife and son, Kana is not in any of these new timelines. No matter what choice is made, Kana dies.

That makes sense, in a twisted way. Kronika was Kana's creator. When she died, he ceased to exist as well. All three of us decided to keep the Hourglass at the Dawn of Time while we figure out a timeline to craft.

Tundra and I still keep in touch. Since he is my other half, he was also granted the gift of immortality. Tundra himself decided to stay at the Lin Kuei temple and discuss plans with Raiden about what to do next.
Even if we decided to erase everything, Tundra and Raiden would still exist. Raiden is a God of Thunder while Tundra also shares the title of Titan as I do.

It's not like we can just bring Kana back from the dead. Kronika was the only Titan who could control time, meaning there was only one version of her. With her gone, I could try to create Kana, to play God. But that wouldn't be the same. He wouldn't be the same boy I raised.

I hold my hand out to a near star, the natural heat warming my cold skin. I look into the faint light of the dying star, watching it flicker before it would eventually implode on itself. I hardly hear Bi-Han walk over and sit next to me.

"Hey,"
"Brother," I say, lifting the star up so it floats back up in the infinite space.
"Still grieving?"
"How can I not?" I murmur, not looking at him.
"Things will get better."
"Will they?" I still refuse to look him in the eyes.
"Yes, it will," His voice is stern, but not angry.
"I hate to see you like this, brother." Now he sounds sad. I finally look at him.

He's crying. I rarely see Bi-Han cry. He used to tell me crying was a weakness. But that was years ago, back when we were children.
"Brother..." He grabs my hand. "Just tell me you will try and move on. We may be immortal now, but I do not want this eating away at you."

"I.." I sigh, squeezing his hand. "I will try, Bi-Han. How is Hanzo doing?"
"He is okay. Would you like to see what he has created?"
"Sure." Bi-Han stands up, then pulls me up gently.

Hanzo himself is also dressed in white, gold, and black. The colors suit him well.
"How are you feeling?" Hanzo asks softly, turning to look over his shoulder at me.

"I'm okay." I admit. Hanzo smiles sadly. "Come look at what I've made. Perhaps it will make you feel better." Curious, I walk closer.
The image before us in the Hourglass shows Bi-Han and my childhood, much to my surprise.

Smiling, Hanzo distorts the space around us so we can see the bigger picture. All of the stars are snuffed out as the area shifts back to the Lin Kuei temple. Similar to a hologram, none of us can physically interact with the reality any of us will create, simply watch and edit it later on.

Both Bi-Han and I are younger, looking to be about ten and five respectively. I get slight chills seeing father again, a stern man I hadn't seen in years.
"Bi-Han helped me craft this memory, said this particular moment would cheer you up." Hanzo explains. I nod slowly, staring at the hologram of father.

"Both if you will begin training tomorrow." I wince slightly at hearing father's voice again. "Go rest. You both look tired. Bi-Han will train with me first."
"Yes, father," the younger version of Bi-Han said.

The scene shifts again and takes us to Bi-Han and my room. We had shared a room before Bi-Han had to leave for the Mortal Kombat Tournament...and never came back.
"Is father mad at us?" The young me asks in a timid voice. I frown, wanting to go back in time and hug my younger self.
"No, that is just how he is." Bi-Han sighed, getting in bed.

I listen to the younger version of me quietly sob in bed. "Hey. What's wrong?" The young Bi-Han sits up.
"I don't wanna be here. It's cold and dark and scary. I j-just wanna see mom...Why can't we see mom?"
"Mom..." Bi-Han's expression changed, looking sad. I remember never seeing his actual reaction, since I was crying into my pillow.

"I'm....sure we'll see mom soon enough. Here." I remember Bi-Han tossing me my favorite polar bear fur blanket that I still use.
The scene melts away and shifts to a new memory. We're older now, with Bi-Han being fifteen and I'm ten.

I nearly snort when I see ten-year-old me get hit in the face with a snowball. "Hey, no fair! Your aim is too good!" I had argued.
"You need to learn how to dodge attacks, Kuai." It's strange hearing Bi-Han speak normally again, not in that raspy voice he has now.

"Will you give up, or will you find the perfect moment to strike?" Bi-Han asked. I see Hanzo tilt his head at this, shifting his gaze to Bi-Han, and then to my brother's younger self, but says nothing.

"I'll beat you one day, I can promise that." Both me and my young self say in sync, making me smile.
With that, the memory melts away and is replaced back with the stars and galaxies.

"Thank you for that," I say, looking between the both of them. "I had forgotten a majority of my childhood ever since...the injury. But thank you for helping in any way you can. Both of you keep crafting the Sands of Time. I will be nearby."

I walk back to my usual spot, sitting down and leaning against a large black rock. With a sigh, I look back up at the stars, ignoring their hushed and worried whispers. Yes, I will eventually move on from Kana. But right now, the wound is still fresh.

Kana may be gone, but I will always grieve. But later on, I will learn to hide it well enough. I hope.