History Recap / MortalKombat11TowerEndings

''"Once I gained the Hourglass, my first thought was to re-write history and redeem the Lin Kuei's honor. But then I thought of Bi-Han, his life consumed by evil. '''''Before I could redeem my clan, I had to redeem my brother.''''' With the Hourglass, I wound back time to our childhood. I studied every second of Bi-Han's life to understand why...why he embraced Sektor's corruption, why he reveled in the vile power given to him by Quan Chi. '''''Armed with that knowledge, I re-sculpted the Sands of Time. I changed Bi-Han's life and unfroze his heart. Now we are comrades, not rivals. Together, as joint Grandmasters, we lead the Lin Kuei in defense of Earthrealm.'''''"''

''"I'd snuffed out every devil in Hell... until Netherrealm invaders showed up to piss me off. It would've cost a lot of power fighting them alone. But they were being hunted by my new friends. Call them Fire and Ice. They argue ''constantly.'' Which is why I usually like to roll solo. But when it comes to killing demonic assholes, '''''these guys don't flinch. I can get along with that.''''' The Grandmasters tipped me off to Kronika. Said she was resurrecting some Netherrealm god named Shinnok. But that's not happening on my watch. Kronika's just as much a devil as Malebolgia; both make promises, both tell lies... both underestimate me. '''''That's why I'll make a new hell for them, where they can burn together...for eternity.''''' The Netherrealm's locked down, but there's still eight Hells left to purge. It's time to bring up the reserves. I've made choices in my life that sealed my fate. I'm beyond redemption. [[BadPowersGoodPeople But even the damned are capable of doing some good.]]''''' So all you Devils out there, making false promises and spewing lies? We're coming, and you don't have a chance in Hell.'''''"''

''"Of all his daughters, Shao Kahn made me deadliest. [[RecruitedFromTheGutter He pulled me from the gutter]], bound me to the Blood Code, made me fight for recognition. Perhaps he will commend me... '''''when I bind the Blood Code to the Sands of Time.''''' Now a blood god, I demand more than Shao Kahn's recognition. I demand worship. I'll have temples, ministers, acolytes, prayers... '''''and sacrifices! Rivers of blood, shed in my name, purging heretics who dare to reject me!''''' How proud Shao Kahn is now. How proud...'''''and how obedient. The only thing better than my master's recognition is to make him beg for mine. All will worship me... or there will be blood.'''''"''

''"Of all his daughters, Shao Kahn made me deadliest. [[RecruitedFromTheGutter He pulled me from the gutter]], bound me to the Blood Code, made me fight for recognition. Perhaps he will commend me...'''''when I bind the Blood Code to the Sands of Time.''''' Now a blood god, I demand more than Shao Kahn's recognition. I demand worship. I'll have temples, ministers, acolytes, prayers... '''''and sacrifices! Rivers of blood, shed in my name, purging heretics who dare to reject me!''''' How proud Shao Kahn is now. How proud...'''''and how obedient. The only thing better than my master's recognition is to make him beg for mine. All will worship me... or there will be blood.'''''"''

''"I held the power to shape time and destiny, but I was lost. Which Kahn should be restored; '''''my lover, Kotal, or my loyal friend, Kitana?''''' I heard Kotal's voice call out to me. "Follow your heart, Jade." So I let my heart lead, and it took me to an unexpected place...a faint memory of home and... my mother. I restored my parents and Edenia, building a new era without Shao Kahn. What a happy childhood I enjoyed... but as I matured, I sensed that I was no ordinary child. '''''Kronika's power dwelled within me... calling me to a higher purpose.''''' When I came of age, I ascended to godhood as the Protector of Edenia. Armed with the knowledge of past timelines, '''''I challenged Shinnok and Cetrion. Without Kronika's children pitting the realms against each other, all could be at peace. And remain so under my watchful eyes.'''''"''

''"I held the power to shape time and destiny, but I was lost. Which Kahn should be restored; '''''my lover, Kotal, or my loyal friend, Kitana?''''' I heard Kotal's voice call out to me. "Follow your heart, Jade." So I let my heart lead, and it took me to an unexpected place...a faint memory of home and... my mother. I restored my parents and Edenia, building a new era without Shao Kahn. What a happy childhood I enjoyed... but as I matured, I sensed that I was no ordinary child. '''''Kronika's power dwelled within me...calling me to a higher purpose.''''' When I came of age, I ascended to godhood as the Protector of Edenia. Armed with the knowledge of past timelines, '''''I challenged Shinnok and Cetrion. Without Kronika's children pitting the realms against each other, all could be at peace. And remain so under my watchful eyes.'''''"''

''"Kronika's power was mine, mine to share with the tribe. In the new timeline I built, '''''Tarkatans would be slaves no more.''''' We would rule. We easily took Edenia, then Outworld, and the Netherrealm. Last, we challenged Earthrealm in Mortal Kombat. Within a thousand years, all realms fell to Tarkatan blades...'''''and we have not run out of meat since!'''''"''

''"For the ''second'' time in my life, [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu I kicked the living shit out of an immortal.]] My prize? The Hourglass. Now I can change history. [[StoryBreakerPower Talk about ridonkulous cosmic power.]] But despite what you may think about Beverly Hills girls, that is ''so'' not my style. TheChosenOne thing is for the Liu Kangs and Kitanas of the world. '''''[[HumbleHero In the next timeline, all I want is to be a model soldier. To command the next generation of Special Forces.]] We were born to defend Earthrealm. Just like the heroes that inspired me; my parents.''''' Okay, so there's one more thing I want; '''''my mom back.''''' Not just for me, but for Dad. He and my mom deserve a happily-ever-after retirement. We'll never know how different things were the last time around. '''''But we'll be together...a family...and that's all that matters.'''''"''

''"Though I first denied their truth, eventually I realized the wisdom of Liu Kang's words. '''''There is virtue greater than my mother's desired balance. Good must be allowed to flourish.''''' But no matter how I reshaped time, '''''rooting out evil proved impossible. Though freed from want, mortals still killed each other. Divided by realm and race, they easily justified their hate.''''' Hubris, greed, envy. To appreciate my gifts, mortal sins must be cleansed. '''''Which is why I baptize the realms with fire. For eons, mortals will battle evil, eventually achieving victory. And when they emerge from the darkness, they will be humbled...eager to embrace the light.'''''"''

''"Vermin." That is the humanoid word for the Kytinn and our fellow insectoids. But with the Hourglass, This One can review history and give lie to that myth. '''''[[HumansKillWantonly Humanoids live to kill.]] [[HumansAreDivided Without a common enemy to fight, they divide. Destroy each other.]] Insectoids live to survive. No conflicts divide us. We build upon each other. [[ApeShallNeverKillApe Kin does not kill kin.]]''''' So tell This One...'''''[[WhosLaughingNow who are the vermin?]]''''' Time for This One to write a more just history. One in which pesky humanoids finally take the places they deserve...'''''[[HumansAreInsects scrambling beneath our feet!]]'''''"''

''"Truth be told, it surprised me, putting down Kronika. Not bad for a scrawny kid from Wickett. Now that's it's done, now what? I don't cotton to being Lord of Time, stuck on some island at the edge of nowhere. '''''[[ChallengeSeeker No, Erron Black likes being in the thick of it.]] Seems to me, time oughta stay all mashed up.''''' It's been a hell of a ride. Gotta keep these thrills coming. '''''Which means makin' sure no one gets a chance to screw this up.''''' [[NoMacGuffinNoWinner Once the Hourglass gets dumped in the Sea of Blood, ain't no one ever shaping history again.]] What happens next? Hell if I know...'''''and that's just the way I like it.'''''"''

''"[[TimeAbyss Kronika's endless cycle of rewinding and restarting timelines]] [[WhoWantsToLiveForever had destroyed my spirit. But she refused to grant me either freedom or death.]] So I took her power to do what she could not. I would create one final, perfect timeline. Then, I would rest. '''''But the task was more difficult than I imagined.''''' Mortals refused to follow the paths I set for them. Timeline after timeline, my frustration grew. I began to understand why Kronika had been driven to madness. '''''Perhaps mortals do not need a Lord of Time.''''' I will sacrifice my body and my mantle to re-sculpt the Sands so that the Hourglass runs itself. '''''And for the first time in all eternity, I can rest...in peace.'''''"''

''"I held the power to shape time and destiny, but I was lost. Which Kahn should be restored; '''''my lover, Kotal, or my loyal friend, Kitana?''''' I heard Kotal's voice call out to me. "Follow your heart, Jade." So I let my heart lead, and it took me to an unexpected place...a faint memory of home and...my mother. I restored my parents and Edenia, building a new era without Shao Kahn. What a happy childhood I enjoyed...but as I matured, I sensed that I was no ordinary child. '''''Kronika's power dwelled within me...calling me to a higher purpose.''''' When I came of age, I ascended to godhood as the Protector of Edenia. Armed with the knowledge of past timelines, '''''I challenged Shinnok and Cetrion. Without Kronika's children pitting the realms against each other, all could be at peace. And remain so under my watchful eyes.'''''"''

''"This was my dream vacation! I saw mayhem, mutilation; it was all a gas...for a while. But these nincompoops? They didn't really ''get'' me. Not even that pretty boy, Ninja Mime. Good night, sweet prince. I'd finished just about everyone worth finishing in Earthrealm and Outworld. Even lovable old Netherrealm. I was a lonely heart in search of new friends. But as luck would have it, I had just the gizmo to find them! And oh, the Hourglass spoiled me! [[VillainousFriendship Havik and I are going to be bosom buddies!]] '''''And what's that? My new pal knows an entire realm devoted to law and order? And he exists solely to disrupt it? Well, I say, he and I need to get busy!''''' '''''Meet the League of Misunderstood Maniacs! We're giving Orderrealm an enema!''''' And when we're done, who knows where we'll crash next? Maybe we'll come to your house and slip live grenades under your pillow! Maybe we'll gut your favorite pet! Or maybe we'll just...'''''[[TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou BREAK YOUR TV RIGHT NOW!!!]]'''''"''

''"I'd cut a lotta deals, but none spiffier than this. I spared Kronika...and she gave up the Hourglass. The power to shape time and history to my liking? Oh, fuck yeah. I set it up so that everything came up aces. Every desire, every wish, every whim I ever had? Done and done. [[NoChallengeEqualsNoSatisfaction But I realized pretty quick I'd sucked the fun out of things.]] '''''Without a fight, [[VictoryisBoring winning was worthless]].''''' Nah, the fun wasn't in the having. '''''It was in the getting.''''' So, I changed things up one more time. Now what I want is always just outta reach. I gotta earn it. I score lotsa wins, but not always. And when I do win...'''''it's something to savor.'''''"''

''"As I gazed upon the Hourglass, I knew what I must do; restore my homeland, Edenia, to existence. Experiencing Edenia's verdant lands for the first time...I've never felt such joy. But that joy was short-lived. Edenia's traditions, its languages, its culture. All were completely foreign, having been forbidden to me by Shao Kahn. I fit in with my people no better than a Tarkatan. The truth was hard. Though Edenian by blood, '''''I am not an Edenian. I am an Outworlder.''''' Not only that, '''''I am Outworld's Kahn.''''' I will use ancient Edenian teachings to make myself a better sovereign. With them, I will fulfill my life's mission to better ''all'' of Outworld's people, '''''including Edenia.'''''"''

''"Kronika made big promises. Not big enough, though, for what my people suffered. Our hands built the Koliseum, the Palace...'''''we were slaves. We served or we died.''''' Every coin I took from Shao Kahn's tribute, Outworld owed my people. Not that my Naknadan brothers and sisters joined arms to help me. No, every great treasure I have won, I have won myself. I do not wait for handouts. I take what I desire. '''''That is why I am now Kahn.''''' Netherrealm, Earthrealm, Orderrealm, Chaosrealm. I want them all. And I will take them by right...'''''of Mortal Kombat'''''."''

''"What does it mean to wield the Sands of Time? To be TheChosenOne? '''''It means making choices that break your heart.''''' For the protection of all, I shared Kronika's power with the people I trust and love most. Together, we replaced the Elder Gods that Cetrion had betrayed, and became eternal guardians of the realms. Still...my heart longs for a simpler life. The kind one cannot have being TheChosenOne, let alone an Elder God. '''''What Kitana and I would not give for those simple pleasures. Perhaps, in another timeline, they could be ours.'''''"''

''"With the Hourglass won, my thoughts turned toward my sister. I was born from her flesh. We shared the same blood. [[IJustWantToBeLoved I wanted us to be family]]...but she wanted me dead. I was not her twin; I was a monstrosity! '''''How horrified she would be to know that I've used Kronika's power to [[PunctuatedForEmphasis take. Her. Place.]]''''' Under my parents' adoring gaze, I rule the realms as Kahnum of Time. My sister's friends, her lover? '''''They cherish me. Kitana is forgotten, her name buried in the sands of history.''''' Yet even I can't reign forever. Like all queens, I need an heir; someone to carry on in my name, and see my will done across the eons. Unlike my sister, my daughter regards me with awe and wonder. '''''To her, I am no abomination. I am perfection.'''''"''

''"Before I was Nightwolf, I was a fool named Grey Cloud. Born into poverty, I resented my ancestors for giving up our future to colonizers. Kano offered a way out, promising riches if I stole my tribe's most sacred relics. I was sorely tempted, but then I realized that by saving myself, I'd be surrendering the last of my people's dignity. For the first time, I defended the Matoka's pride. Kano was unimpressed. But as I lay dying, the Great Spirit came to me. By rejecting Kano, I had proven worthy of an ancient honor...the mantle of Nightwolf, legendary defender of the Matoka. '''''Now, as I inherit Kronika's mantle, the way before me is split. The Keeper of Time cannot also be my tribe's defender. Which path do I choose?''''' Even here, at time's beginning, the Great Spirit's wisdom guides me. She calls me to restore history. '''''The Matoka I must leave to another...to the next Nightwolf.''''' Like all our sacred relics, the Nightwolf mantle belongs to the tribe. Any Matokan can prove worthy of its power. '''''I enjoy imagining who will defend us next.'''''"''

''"Kronika's power overwhelmed me, such that I would have been driven mad...'''''had I not spent centuries mastering the dark powers beyond the grasp of ordinary mortals. Now I am the master of time and fate.''''' But Kronika's fall proves that even Titans can be defeated. Though my new power lets me roam infinite timelines and feast upon the souls of billions, I am vulnerable. To survive, I must return to the shadows, avoid confrontation, and [[TheManBehindTheMan work my will through the hands of others...]]'''''more specifically, through the hands of my fellow Titans.''''' [[DidYouJustScamCthulhu These monstrous beings are plied easily by appealing to their greed, vanity, and fear.]] Through them, every soul in eternity bends to my influence. In my New Era, morality will be exposed as the illusion it is. The cunning will prosper while the "good" suffer. This is the word of Shang Tsung. '''''Have a nice day.'''''"''

''"In the beginning, Shao Kahn invaded Edenia, murdered my husband Jerrod, [[AndNowYouMustMarryMe and forced me to be his bride.]] That's the story, '''''but that's a lie. One I told, lest I lose the faith of my subjects, or of my daughter Kitana. The truth? Jerrod was weak, destined to fail.''''' By betraying him, I gained a better lover, and the ultimate weapon; a conqueror to unite all realms, and put them at my beck and call. Then Kronika upended history, and I found myself confronting a future in which I'd been dead for centuries. My so-called family had failed me in every way. Kitana broke my heart worst. Instead of uniting the realms, she sought to liberate them. [[FantasticRacism As if the Wastelands's savages could ever be more than serfs!]] [[SarcasmMode Ever the caring mother,]] I had to discipline my little princess. And after that, I had to discipline a Titan. Now I have defeated Kronika, outgrown Shao Kahn and Kitana. I have no more family, no more rivals, '''''no more gods. I sit above them all, on a throne that unites all realms...and all realities. Whoever you are, wherever you are, when you are before me, kneel. For I am Sindel, Empress of Time, and you exist only to serve me.'''''"''

''"Of all his daughters, Shao Kahn made me deadliest. [[RecruitedFromTheGutter He pulled me from the gutter]], bound me to the Blood Code, made me fight for recognition. Perhaps he will commend me...'''''when I bind the Blood Code to the Sands of Time.''''' Now a blood god, I demand more than Shao Kahn's recognition. I demand worship. I'll have temples, ministers, acolytes, prayers...'''''and sacrifices! Rivers of blood, shed in my name, purging heretics who dare to reject me!''''' How proud Shao Kahn is now. How proud...'''''and how obedient. The only thing better than my master's recognition is to make him beg for mine. All will worship me...or there will be blood.'''''"''

''"I'd snuffed out every devil in Hell...until Netherrealm invaders showed up to piss me off. It would've cost a lot of power fighting them alone. But they were being hunted by my new friends. Call them Fire and Ice. They argue ''constantly.'' Which is why I usually like to roll solo. But when it comes to killing demonic assholes, '''''these guys don't flinch. I can get along with that.''''' The Grandmasters tipped me off to Kronika. Said she was resurrecting some Netherrealm god named Shinnok. But that's not happening on my watch. Kronika's just as much a devil as Malebolgia; both make promises, both tell lies...both underestimate me. '''''That's why I'll make a new hell for them, where they can burn together...for eternity.''''' The Netherrealm's locked down, but there's still eight Hells left to purge. It's time to bring up the reserves. I've made choices in my life that sealed my fate. I'm beyond redemption. [[BadPowersGoodPeople But even the damned are capable of doing some good.]]''''' So all you Devils out there, making false promises and spewing lies? We're coming, and you don't have a chance in Hell.'''''"''

''"As the new Keeper of Time, I was overwhelmed by my responsibilities. Who was I to design the destinies of mortals? As their protector, I had spent eons safeguarding them. But while I had grown to appreciate mortals deeply, I understood precious little about their daily existence. '''''So I used the Hourglass to live hundreds of thousands of lifetimes. They spanned the possibility of realm, race, gender, and faith. Most importantly, I learned the simple joy of ending each day in the warm embrace of family.''''' Humbled by my new wisdom, I bend the arc of history, not to ''my'' will, '''''but to the service of those who must live it. While it is beyond my power to guarantee outcomes, I will give mortals the chance to have better, more peaceful lives.'''''"''

''"I'd cut a lotta deals, but none spiffier than this. I spared Kronika...and she gave up the Hourglass. The power to shape time and history to my liking? Oh, fuck yeah. I set it up so that everything came up aces. Every desire, every wish, every whim I ever had? Done and done. [[NoChallengeEqualsNoSatisfaction But I realized pretty quick I'd sucked the fun out of things.]] '''''Without a fight, winning was worthless.''''' Nah, the fun wasn't in the having. '''''It was in the getting.''''' So, I changed things up one more time. Now what I want is always just outta reach. I gotta earn it. I score lotsa wins, but not always. And when I do win...'''''it's something to savor.'''''"''

''"This whole adventure? Capital "I" insane! [[OfficialCouple I marry Sonya?]] [[BabiesEverAfter I have a kid who actually likes me?]] Enquiring minds want to know how the hell that happens! So I get the Hourglass to show how kicking Shinnok's ass, which I did beautifully, turned me from Hollywood mega-star into global icon. So far, so good. '''''Until I let that fame screw me up. [[FamilyVersusCareer Didn't hit rock bottom until I saw just how badly I'd let down my little girl.]] I finally got what Old Man Me was saying about needing humility and maturity, but I also knew I couldn't get there without living the same life he did.''''' So I restored the timeline, just as it was. With one tiny, little difference; '''''[[SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong Sonya's story won't end underneath the rubble of some busted-up Netherrealm castle.]] Because Johnny Cage flicks always have happy endings.'''''"''

''"A lifetime of battle prepared me to conquer Kronika. But as the Keeper of Time, '''''I must be a creator, not a conqueror.''''' I thought of the many sons and daughters I've lost in battle through the years; imagined a better destiny for my kin. A history where the Shokan build rather than destroy. The results were ''catastrophic.'' [[WeHaveBecomeComplacent Comfort and ease extinguished the dragon's fire that once lit the heart of every Shokan.]] They became weak, corrupted fools. The timeline had to start again. '''''[[ProudWarriorRaceGuy War, for all its tragedies, is the forge of Shokan will.]]''''' My people will fight. Many will die. But I will lead us to victory. '''''And in the aftermath, the dragon's fire will blaze in Shokan hearts for eternity.'''''"''

''"Vermin." That is the humanoid word for the Kytinn and our fellow insectoids. But with the Hourglass, This One can review history and give lie to that myth. '''''[[HumansKillWantonly Humanoids live to kill. Without a common enemy to fight, they divide. Destroy each other.]] Insectoids live to survive. No conflicts divide us. We build upon each other. [[ApeShallNeverKillApe Kin does not kill kin.]]''''' So tell This One...'''''[[WhosLaughingNow who are the vermin?]]''''' Time for This One to write a more just history. One in which pesky humanoids finally take the places they deserve...'''''[[HumansAreInsects scrambling beneath our feet!]]'''''"''

''"Kronika was dead, the Hourglass taken, and Edenia's future mine to command. I had obtained all I had wanted...all except that which I had wanted most; '''''to know the true story of my parentage.''''' That I was a bastard, I knew. '''''Born of an illicit affair between the Edenian god Argus, and a mortal woman, Amara.''''' But what I didn't know, until the Hourglass showed me, was that I and my mother were ''both'' victims. She hadn't abandoned me. Thanks to my father's lies, she had thought me stillborn. I was stolen away and left to rot among peasants, while my mother died from grief. Argus hid his scandal and his shame by killing the one person who ever loved me. '''''For that, he will die. As will his sons, Taven and Daegon. His beloved wife, Delia? She, I will let live. Let her heart break, as my mother's did, as she weeps over her children's corpses!'''''"''

''"All I wanted was to fix my life. Now I have the power to fix history. Raiden warns me I can't fix everything. Change too much, and I could lose Vera. Lose Jacqui. But this power's bigger than us. If I think only about helping myself, '''''what kind of officer am I? What kind of man?''''' I've been lucky. My family and I have lived [[UsefulNotes/TheAmericanDream the American Dream]]. But most people who look like me haven't had that chance. I owe it to them to put things right. And I'm not waitin' centuries for people to get woke when I've got the power to speed things up. I don't get it right the first time. Or the second. Or even the third. But eventually, '''''I knock it out of the damn park. My family's back. The world's a better place for everyone.''''' Turns out, you ''can'' have everything. '''''Anyone who says you can't needs to dream bigger.'''''"''

''"I'd cut a lotta deals, but none spiffier than this. I spared Kronika...and she gave up the Hourglass. The power to shape time and history to my liking? Oh, fuck yeah. I set it up so that everything came up aces. Every desire, every wish, every whim I ever had? Done and done. But I realized pretty quick I'd sucked the fun out of things. '''''Without a fight, winning was worthless.''''' Nah, the fun wasn't in the having. '''''It was in the getting.''''' So, I changed things up one more time. Now what I want is always just outta reach. I gotta earn it. I score lotsa wins, but not always. And when I do win...'''''it's something to savor.'''''"''