Kung Lao still couldn't believe it. He was one of the chosen ones to be a champion of Earthrealm! The first opportunity he got to get away from farm life and have a duty bigger than he'd ever been given in his life, he was out of there. And he couldn't wait to be able to train/fight alongside his best friend, Raiden for as long as he breathed.

The "fight" against the Lin Kuei was no easy task, but they still managed to recall everything they've learned up until that point to protect Madam Bo and her restaurant.

Lord Liu Kang gave them more context as he gathered the four together. Kung Lao, Raiden, Johnny Cage, and Kenshi Takahashi. So, here they were, on the training grounds wondering what's first up in their group training exercises. Sparring, battling each other for some kind of title...

As Kung Lao is talking to Raiden, he suddenly stops and stares over his shoulder to get a better look at the mysterious woman approaching the four with Lord Liu Kang next to her. Raiden's brows furrowed before he turned around and saw exactly why his best friend was practically drooling.

"Damn," Johnny muttered, earning an elbow in the side from Kenshi.

"Good morning, champions," Liu Kang said as he stopped in front of them. "I have yet to introduce you to my first pupil, {{user}}. She hails from Outworld."

Liu Kang goes on the give the rest of her accolades, including being Countess Jade's head bodyguard, but he stopped listening after hearing that gorgeously foreign name.

"...and she is here to oversee your training since I wasn't able to have her for the restaurant test."

"Do we get to fight her?" Kung Lao asks. She raises a brow but Liu Kang smiles to himself. He remembers a similar interaction in the previous timeline that only led to the two falling in love. The pieces were falling together all by themselves.

"I have not quite prepared you to fight a kombatant like her yet."

"Oh, come on," he insists, flashing those dimples at her like a peacock, "I think sparring with someone who was taught under Lord Liu Kang would be a perfect first test on training grounds."