Mortal Kombat: The Three Titans

Chapter Nine: Fall From Grace

(KLOUD - Humans)
-Kuai's POV- I sit back and silently watch the scene unfold. This is one of the dark timelines I want them to see. The battlefield laid out before us is ashy and clogged with smoke from fires, blocking out the light from the stars and moon.
Bodies are scattered about, but Bi-Han, Hanzo, and I continue our fight.

The evil version of me looks more rugged, dressed in black, and has blood flowing from a wound to my side. Bi-Han is dressed in blue, with a cape that is in tatters. Hanzo himself looks just as exhausted, his hood down and yellow outfit splattered with blood.
"Why did it have to come down to this?" Bi-Han demands, looking at my evil counterpart.
"Why did you turn evil, Kuai?"

"You know the reason why," He answers, clutching his side. "Everyone viewed us as Gods! We were glorious, respected! But the both of you saw me unfit to be worshiped, even after everything I did. I wanted to soothe my people in darkness, protect them! But you saw that as an act of evil, and struck me down." The evil version of me grimaces, more blood leaking out. "You both took my Cryomancer powers away! I can never forgive either of you for such treason!"

"We did so because I saw corruption in your heart, Kuai Liang." Hanzo murmurs, looking tired and sad.
"You did so because you thought I would take away your precious light and glory! Both of you!" He yells back, black hair a tangled mess.

"The prophecy foretold of this occurring," Bi-Han takes a step back. "We all saw the murals. We knew this would happen."
"That blasted cave painting was rather vague in detail. It did not say who would fall to darkness." Evil Kuai snaps.

"From three Titans, one will fall," Hanzo recalls the first sentence.
"Eat away at his heart, kindness and all," Bi-Han murmurs the next line.
"From that day forth, he will descend, fear and anger hardening him from within..." Hanzo weeps.
"Until corruption and greed become his mortal sin." Kuai finishes. "Yes, yes, I know the prophecy. I was there when you discovered it."

"Brother, please," Bi-Han begs. "No more violence. No more war. Let us work together to build a brighter future, all three of us."
I see my evil twin shake his head, sadness flashing briefly in his purple eyes. "You know that future has long since vanished. We will continue to fight endlessly for eons."

"Look around you! Does this look like a victory?" Hanzo is crying now. "Many of our citizens have perished because of us! You have turned into the very monster you sought to destroy."
"I only became this was because both of you corrupted me with your fear and judgment." My twin explains in a low tone. "I did not want it to be this way."

The fires surrounding them bounce off of their eyes as they fill with tears. My twin's curled fists loosen and fall to his sides limply. "My dearest brother," Bi-Han begins, throwing his ice axe down. "Listen to yourself," He takes a cautionary step forward. "I know there is still some goodness in your heart. You hate this conflict as much as we do."

Another step. My twin doesn't move, simply staring at Bi-Han with wide eyes. Once he is close enough, Bi-Han pulls him into a hug. Evil Kuai gasps, stiffening up. Wind whips up, blowing their black and blue capes in the wind, swirling with the embers from the fires.

"We need not to fight." Bi-Han whispers as Hanzo slowly walks over. "We are immortal. If we do not stop, the conflict will never end. We both understand that you are corrupted, but I feel that small sliver of light around your darkened heart. It will always be there, flickering weakly. But I know we can change this."

"Trust in us again, Kuai." Hanzo murmurs.
"Please," Bi-Han weeps.
"I..." My twin trails off, closing his eyes tightly. "I cannot."
"Kuai...." Bi-Han begins, but is cut off as his younger brother lets go and steps away. "I cannot stay. Not anymore. Darkness surrounds my heart, Bi-Han. I do not think I can ever forgive either of you for stealing away my power. But I will stop the fighting. You will never see me again."

"No...No! Kuai, you can't just leave! The citizens need us! We are their Gods!" Hanzo gasps.
"They already have two Gods they pray to. They do not need a third." He murmurs, stepping away further and opening up a black hole to vanish into.
"Baby brother, don't leave!" Bi-Han drops to his knees, holding his hand out.

We all see my twin's eyes flicker back to blue for a few moments. "I may love the both of you, but please leave me be. My darkened heart will always ache, but we cannot stay together. That will only drag on the war. Goodbye..."
With tears flowing down, my twin vanished into the black hole and the dark matter vanishes into the night.

"Kuai!" Bi-Han wails, letting out a pained scream.
Hanzo looks away, shoulders shaking as he cries softly to himself.
"This is tough to watch," I say. "But now you guys know of a darker timeline." I make the image vanish, Bi-Han's wail echoing out against the stars as they appear again.

I yelp when my actual brother hugs me tightly. "Please...tell me you will not become corrupted..."
I blink in shock, hugging him back. "I...I promise. My heart is not coated in darkness, Bi-Han...I will stay in the side of the light. But this reality with us being worshiped will come true, eons from now. For now," I breathe in Bi-Han's calming scent. "Let us keep working as a trio."