Sta.sh
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Infanticide has been commonplace in China since before recorded history. Male children were preferred as they carried on the family name, while female infants were often left to die by exposure to the elements or as prey for the tigers that roamed the forests.
One female infant, however, was left to die because of her unnaturally occurring blue eyes. Fortunately for this one, an elderly peasant couple happened upon the infant and took her in as their own. They saw her as a gift from the Gods, as they were never able to have children of their own. They did not believe that this infant was evil, as demons always had red eyes. They named their new daughter Shan Fa, meaning Mountain Flower, for she was left to die at the base of the mountains surrounded by wildflowers.
They doted on her and gave her the love that was denied to her by her birth parents. As they were peasant farmers, neighbors were few and far between. That did not stop them from hiding Shan Fa when anyone did stop by, fearing that their daughter would be taken away and killed.
Shan Fa knew that she was different, but never questioned her parents. She appeared to have a wisdom that went beyond her young age. She was content to play with the small forest creatures, none of which seemed to fear or threaten her. In fact it even seemed that Shan Fa could actually communicate with the animals.
Her father recalled a legend that he had heard as a young man. A legend of one born with the gift of kinship of all animals. One destined to be the Chosen One to represent the Earth Realm in the Mortal Kombat tournament.
He did not share this recollection with his now frail wife, for she would protest the very idea and worry herself to illness. He silently prayed that Shan Fa was not the one that the legend spoke of. While he wanted his daughter to marry into a family of means, he knew that cannot be.
"Shan Fa," her father called out from the doorway of their house.
Shan Fa appeared from behind the house where she had been playing with her forest friends "Father?" she replied, noting the sadness in her father's voice.
"Shan Fa... Your mother has gone on to be with her ancestors." He saw the look of disbelief in her eyes. "Do not grieve, child. She is looking down and watching over us."
A lump formed in Shan Fa's throat, preventing her from replying. Her blue eyes glistened with the tears that began to form.
"One day soon I too shall join our ancestors," her father continued. "But before I do, I must make sure that you will be taken cared of. I have asked that the Shaolin Monks take you in as one of their own."
"Father, I don't want to leave you."
"I am getting feeble with age and will not be able to continue farming even with your help. Your Mother and I had made these plans well before she passed. My whole life has been on this farm, Shan Fa. Allow me to also pass on here."
The tears streamed freely as Shan Fa pushed past her father to enter the house.
"Shan Fa!" her father exclaimed, but before he could move, the sound of electricity filled the air in front of the house.
"Allow her to grieve, Xi Wang."
"Lord Rayden!" the old man replied, quickly bowing in supplication.
The Thunder God walked over to the front of house, his shoulder length white hair flowed in the breeze, matching the softness of his white robes. "Mortals need to mourn and honor those that have passed on. Do not deny her that right."
"I...I'm sorry, my Lord," Xi Wang stammered. "I merely thought to shield Shan Fa from seeing her mother dead. Bao Yu was my beloved wife. I did not wish to share my pain with my daughter."
"Your intentions are sincere, but if Shan Fa is going to to be the Earth realm's next Chosen One, she'll need to face death...and life." Rayden nodded toward the doorway. "She knows more about the cycle of life and death than you give her credit for."
"W-what do you mean, my Lord?"
"The forest creatures. They are her friends. They also have shorter life spans. "You may not know it, but Shan Fa has already witnessed death and life through them. She has seen her small friends killed as prey by the larger creatures of the forests. It hurts her to see any loss of life but she has never attempted to interfere with the circle of life."
Xi Wang looked at the ground as he nodded his understanding. "It's hard, my Lord," he replied. "As a parent it's only natural to protect your child. Even though Shan Fa is not my biological child I provided for her as though she were."
The Thunder God nodded before teleporting away, allowing Xi Wang to join Shan Fa in mourning inside.
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Shan Fa, Xi Wang, Bau Yu © Tygerlander
Rayden, Mortal Kombat © Midway, Netherealm Studios, Warner Brothers
