Guardian: Fujin and Child Reader (Mortal Kombat)

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Fight For The Crown

(Lyrics used: Odin's Ride to Hel - Einar Selvik.)

By morning, everyone is dressed up again to continue where they left off. After eating breakfast, everyone is ready.
"You take that back, you worthless heir!" Hanzo/Rhaelor snaps, picking up after Kuai's insult.
"Enough!" Raiden/Corthan snaps, silencing the three princes. "Each of you get to bed now. We will discuss this in the morning."

"But—" Liu/Armax stammers. "Please," Raiden's voice softens, standing up. "I am getting more ill with each passing of the sun. Let us rest, and deal with this at dawn."
"Yes, father," Liu/Armax bows.
"If that pleases you, my lord father," Hanzo/Rhaelor nods.
"Very well, father," Kuai/Jaemond sighs, shoulders slumped in defeat.

You and Fujin watch the three princes go to their 'room', it being the walk-in costume closet and closing the door.
"And now I have to play dead," Raiden almost laughs, glancing at the both of you as he lays down on the floor and closes his eyes.

'Three, two, one...' he mouths, then the door opens when morning arrives. The scream of horror that Liu makes almost sounds animalistic, even catching you off guard. "Father!" Hanzo cries out, rushing over, with Liu and Kuai close behind.
They all gather around him, looking like frightened children.

"No, no, no...." Kuai whispers, checking for a pulse. "It's too late," he chokes out. "Father has..."
"Don't say it!" Hanzo snaps, tears in his eyes.
"W-we need to give him a proper burial," Liu stammers.
"But what killed him? Poison? An assassination? We need to find out," Kuai instructs.
"But only he knows how he died," Hanzo explains weakly.

Kuai looks defeated. "Father....Fine. We bury him, and we do it properly, then we grieve..."
"Interesting," Fujin whispers.
As Hanzo and Liu exit the stage to prepare for the next scene, Kuai and Raiden are left alone.
"Remember that song you used to sing to us, father? That Old Norse song? Let me sing it to you, one last time..."
He clears his throat and starts while Hanzo and Liu watch from the sidelines.

"Senn váru Æsir
(Once were the gods,)
Allir á þingi
(Together met,)
Ok Ásynjur
(And the goddesses came,)
Allar á máli
(And council held,)
Ok um þat réðu
(And the far-framed ones,)
Ríkir tívar
(The truth would find,)
Hví væri Baldri
(Why baleful dreams,)
Ballir draumar.
(To Bardr had come.)

Upp reis Óðinn
(Then Odin rose,)
Alda Gautr
(The enchanter old,)
Ok hann á Sleipni
(And the saddle he laid)
Söðul of lagði.
(On Sleipnir's back;)
Reið hann niðr þaðan
(Thence rode he down,)
Niflheljar til
(To Nifhel deep,)
Mætti hann hvelpi
(And the hound he met,)
Þeim er ór Helju kom.
(That came from Hell.)

Sá var blóðugr
(Bloody he was,)
Um brjóst framan
(On his breast before,)
Ok galdrs föður
(At the father of magic,)
Gól of lengi
(He howled from afar;)
Fram reið Óðinn
(Forward rode Odin,)
Foldvegr dunði
(The Earth resounded.)
Hann kom at hávu
('Till the house so high,)
Heljar ranni
(Of Hell he reached.)"

Kuai watches as Hanzo and Liu carry Raiden to his 'grave', being the walk-in closet, then exit without him and close the door.
He continues with the next verse.
"Þá reið Óðinn
(Then Odin rode,)
Fyrir austan dyrr
(To the eastern door,)
Þar er hann vissi
(There he knew,)
Völu leiði
(Of a Seeress' burial mount.)
Nam hann vittugri
(Magic he spoke,)
Valgaldr kveða
(And mighty charms,)
Unz nauðig reis
(Until unwillingly, she rose,)
Nás orð of kvað:
(Still dead, she recited these words:)"

Raiden/Corthan exits his tomb, mascara smeared under his eyes and cheekbones to give him that dead, sunken in appearance, his silver white hair messy.
Looking angry and tired, he sings the next verse in a raspy voice:
"Hvat er manna þat
(What man is that,)
Mér ókunnra
(Unknown to me,)
Er mér hefir aukit
Erfitt sinni?
(That has brought back my burdensome life?)
Var ek snivin snævi
(I have been covered in snow,)
Ok slegin regni
(And stained with rain,)
Ok drifin döggu
(And drenched in dew,)
Dauð var ek lengi
(Long was I dead.)" He groans, limping forward to his sons, who look terrified.

Kuai sings the next verse, putting on a brave face.
"Vegtamr ek heiti
(My name is Way-Tamer,)
Sonr em ek Valtams
(I am the son of the Corpse-Tamer.)
Segðu mér ór helju
(Tell me the words of Hel,)
Ek mun ór heimi
(And I will tell you words of the home-world.)
Hveim eru bekkir
(Whom are the benches,)
Baugum sánir
(Strewn with rings,)
Flet fagrlig
(The floor fully)
Flóuð gulli?
(Flowered with gold?)" He demands, pleading with his purple eyes.

With raspy breathing, Raiden/Corthan replies:
"Hér stendr Baldri
(Here stands for Baldr,)
Of brugginn mjöðr
(The brewed mead,)
Skírar veigar
(Of the fresh brew,)
Liggr skjöldr yfir
(A shield lies over,)
En ásmegir
(But the might of the Æsir,)
Í ofvæni
(Is suspense,)
Nauðug sagðak
(Forcefully, I have spoke,)
Nú mun ek þegja.
(Now I will be quiet.)" He sighs, eyes looking more sunken in, like he is still decaying.

"Who killed you, father?" Hanzo/Rhaelor asks shakily.
"I was poisoned," he moans sadly, swaying a little on his feet, clothing scuffed. "By who?" Liu/Armax asks.
"I do not know. All I recall is choking on poisoned wine and dying on the floor, alone."
"I'm so sorry," Kuai apologizes.
"We will find whoever did this, father," Liu/Armax promises.
"It is not your fault, my sons."
"Then who will be king?" Hanzo asks.
Raiden sighs, blue eyes watery and pale.

"By law, it would be Jaemond, since he is the eldest. But in the end, it is up to you three. You three could even rule together, if you want. But whatever choice you make, know I will be proud of you three, always." He smiles sadly.
"Now let me rest. I will see you all one day."
With Raiden's finishing line, the play ends.

You're startled to see Fujin look close to crying. In fear of you upsetting him, you hug him tightly, apologizing.
"You did well, all of you. Thank you, truly." He looks down at you. "I'm not upset, (Y/n). You all did really well on the play."
You all look relieved.

"Dumb question, but can there be a sequel?" Kuai asks, giddy, the exact opposite of his character.
"Yeah!" You shout.
"Oh boy," Hanzo sighs, laughing.
"More memorizing lines, yay." Liu laughs.
"Did you learn Old Norse just to sing that song?" Fujin asks Kuai and Raiden.

"(Y/n) insisted on there being a song. Something dramatic, since (s)he says you're into all of that," Kuai explains with a smile.
"That scream Liu did though," Hanzo pats Liu on the back.
"I'm surprised I didn't lose my voice," he looks embarrassed.
"Never thought I'd see Raiden with mascara on," Kuai admits.

"Zip it, Jaemond, or I'll haunt your dreams tonight," Raiden jokes.
"Noted, my dear father," Kuai snorts, going back into his prince persona with a cross of his arms.
As they all joke around, you start brainstorming the next script, happy to see them all cheered up.