#Fate VS Destiny

[justaz]

arthur (prince of camelot) still has to study under a tutor bc yknow uther wants him to be very intelligent before becoming king or something bc its super important idk idc anyways merlin is doing chores in his chambers while arthur is squinting at a book and merlin eventually caves and asks him what he’s reading and arthur gruffly explains that its a collection of stories from greece that make absolutely no sense so merlin asks him to read them outloud to him. arthur of course teases him and calls him an idiot and asks how he could possibly help but does as he’s asked and reads the stories to merlin as he does his chores. merlin (being crushed under the weight of destiny and tormented by the prophecies that kilgharrah spews) understands the stories almost immediately and gets all excited and starts rambling about them with arthur. arthur is glad to have someone who understands so he can give something that reflects a hint of understanding to his tutor who accepts it and moves onto the next unit of education.

the thing is, arthur finds more stories in camelot’s library and brings them up to his room to read them aloud to merlin under the guise of completing his studies but really he just wants to watch as merlin’s eyes gleam when he understands whats happening and listen to him ramble on and on about them bc he’s gay. the stories stick with merlin though and he realizes that they’re cautionary tales, that the heroes who were told too much of their future doomed themself to fulfill them - that them fighting the prophecies led to their completion. merlin takes it to heart and gives a big “fuck you” to kilgharrah before forging his own fate and helping morgana with her magic and handing out an olive branch to mordred and now everyone can live happily and peacefully in an albion teeming with magic.

[suntails]

7.3

[dragonalthor]

always makes me laugh that book three is titled

🔥The Dragon Reborn🔥

… and he’s not even there

[glitcheslikeslego]

MK was destined to create chaos and he can't change that

MK is destined to create chaos and he can’t change that

Destiny shmestiny, we’re all tired of it, MK isn’t following his destiny… but he actually is.

See, I have a very normal amount of love for the idea surrounding destinies and fates and stuff similar to it, which I believe that I can explain as to why I believe MK is following his exact destiny, even though he’d most likely hate it if he ever found out. 

For starters, here’s a difference between fate and destiny that I want to explain. Fate and destiny, while similar, are not the same thing. Let me explain;

Fate is the end that’s decided for everything, it’s decided by whatever higher being there is, and is the end. Whether the end that is reached is regardless of the choices you made in life, or is determined due to the choices because you were fated to have those choices is another thing. 

Destiny on the other hand, while having a similar idea of being an end, isn’t completely the same. Destiny is the end of a life that depends on the choices that life makes, it takes account of the things you’ve done and the choices you make and moulds your destiny until the very end.

So to make a long explanation short, fate doesn’t give a shit what choices you make, it’ll be the predetermined end no matter what, while destiny is predetermined based on the choices you have made in life. Does that make sense?

Let’s use LBD as an example, since she’s the one preaching about destiny and such. Depending on how you look at it, she either met her fate or reached her destiny in the season 3 specials. She was either fated to die at the hands of MK and his team, regardless of how she went about to try and reach her goals, or she was destined to reach that end because of the choices she’s made. 

I like to think she was fated to, cause I think it’s funny, but you all can make your own opinions on this.

I believe I rambled enough about the differences between fate and destiny, we should get into the actual reason for this analysis.

MK is destined to create chaos

MK is a free spirit, he loves his friends and family, and tries to stay cheerful despite the horrors he’s faced. He is determined to be a good student to Wukong and to be the best successor he can by following Wukong’s every move,but much like the monkey, he hates being tied down, both literally and figuratively.

Literally because Macaque tied him up once, rendering him useless, which is obvious he hates, but we’ll get to that in a possible future MK character analysis.

But also figuratively, because he believes destiny goes against his idea of freedom. Of being able to do what you want, regardless of the choices you make and what the gods say. He treats destiny like it’s fate when it isn't.

This is why he defies against characters like LBD and Nuwa so hard, cause not only did LBD try and destroy the world and hurt her friends and not only did Nuwa try and convince MK it would be best to start a new cycle, they both challenged his belief in letting others decide how they want to live their lives.

MK wants to fight for the world, for humans to be able to make their own choices in safety, without being threatened by demons or celestial beings, however in doing so, he is following his destiny of being the Harbinger of Chaos, created to do exactly that, make chaos. And what better way to make chaos than defying the gods themselves, hm?

So, in trying to avoid destiny, MK is actually following his destiny.

TLDR; MK doesn’t like it when people try and tell him to follow his destiny, so he defies them and it causes chaos, and as the Harbinger of Chaos, he’s just following his destiny.

[raayllum]

the sea of lava splitting spell being "part before me and reveal the path to our destiny" is extra rude after everything huh

[grif-hawaiian-rolls]

RVB OC WEEK : DAY 4 AI/Robots/Aliens/Otherworldly Creatures

"What curious little things you are!"

Man, it would sure be awkward to accidentally summon a so called god in one of those weird alien temples Neko likes to poke around. Like...really, really awkward. ... Hey do you hear that weird humming?

Enter Stage Left: APOVOS.

One of the canonical cosmic powers that little to nothing elaborated on so I, naturally, latched onto her and ran. Not technically an oc but also, at this point, i think she counts.

More about Apovos (or, my version of her at least) below the cut !!

Apovos, or Archival-Perception-of-Visions-on-Stars to use her Forerunner inspired name, fills the role of record keeping slash memory storage slash historian for the Cosmic Powers. It's her job to keep track of everything that has happened, ever. It keeps her busy but to stay on top of it she often has to keep tabs on literally everything going on currently so she knows when something she needs to record happens, so she tends to be quite in the loop on rumors and gossip.

With the claim to "godhood" the Cosmic Powers claim, her role has given her the title of 'God(ess) of Memory and Memorium'- patron of storytellers, historians and the dead. The people who remember, and those who need to be remembered. She's fond of Chorus Cats, and thinks the fact that they match the four eyes she often presents with in her projections is absolutely adorable, and will settle her code in the temples on Chorus to simply watch the little critters run around as a way of unwinding after a busy time. Her projection is inspired by Forerunners, although she can alter it accordingly. I just like drawing the weird alien AI as weird aliens.

[imminent-danger-came]

If I think about this end credit art too hard I explode

[this-vs-that]

This question was sent to our inbox. If you’d like for us to post a This or That poll for you, send the 2 things you want to see against each other to our inbox and we’ll let the people decide which one they prefer. Everything will be anonymous.

[photosyntheticspace]

Fate as in there was never another way this could have ended. Fate but you made this choice and there was never another one, not for you. Fate because humans are predictable if you know them. Fate but only for you, specifically, because you chose this and would make the same choice over and over and over again. Fate but it was always going to end here. Because it's you

[regulationhottie7905]

there were a lot of things I disliked about the goldfinch movie but im still so fucked up over the Theo/Larry parallels.

[oifaaa]

To be fair, the Shark lady only saw someone with a straw hat destroying fishman island

And the bad guy from the arc, the creep one, has a straw hat too

That wasn't a straw hat it was a fedora I'm actually pretty sure there is only 2 straw hats in the whole series which are Luffys and that big one we see that's how luffy got the copyright to be the strawhat pirates

[cienie-isengardu]

Hello, may I bother you for a bit?

This is something regarding Lord Liu Kang. At the beginning of the story mode, he's narrating that he gave everyone free will but later in the story mode, Geras says that Liu Kang forged everyone's destinies and that Shang Tsung and Quan Chi were defying theirs.

Which means that Shang Tsung was destined to live in poverty, Quan Chi was destined to grueling work in the mines and Shao was born sickly child if it weren't for his father's program that shaped him into the warrior he is now.

Which leads me to believe he is deliberately punishing them for things they did not do, all because of the memories of his mortal life.

In one of the intros between Shang Tsung and Geras, it is implied that Shang Tsung also had a horrible childhood.

What do you think?

Hello there and you do not bother me at all!

The destiny vs free will is one of the universal questions that humanity has tried to solve for ages and the answer for sure will vary from one person to another, always colored by religion (or lack of therefor) and culture each of us is part of. However, within Liu Kang’s timeline, I strongly believe destiny and free will aren’t mutually exclusive, because both terms refer to different aspects of a mortal's life.

When Liu Kang says he crafted for each person's destiny, it does not mean there is one and only one script to how things and people’s reaction will play out while he is gonna pretend to be surprised by the turn of events and having fun in the middle of a crisis invented out of boredom eons ago. 

What Liu Kang decided for each character is the setting that no one has choice over and designed role to play - Raiden is destined to be current Earthrealm Champion; Bi-Han, Kuai Liang and Tomas are destined to be Lin Kuei; Mileena is destined to rule Edenia; Shao is destined to serve loyalty to Queen Sindel; Shang Tsung is destined to not have any power whatsoever. None of them must like the circumstances they were born into nor the role bestowed upon them or faced adversity on the way, however how they will use the given time and live their life is greatly up to them. 

Raiden accepted Liu Kang’s training and worked hard to earn the right to represent Earthrealm in the Tournament - if he didn’t dedicate himself to the task, Kung Lao, Johnny or Kenshi would take his place. Bi-Han was trained from childhood to protect Earthrealm but he ultimately rejected the traditional role of Lin Kuei and chose to be loyal only to his clan instead to Fire Lord and the realm. In contrast, Kuai Liang decided to honor father’s teaching and aided Liu Kang, even if that meant going against his own brother - as Geras said, the brothers weren’t destined to be enemies yet both make their own choices that from now on will define their relationship. Tomas was forced by circumstances (Keeper of Time’s choice) into Lin Kuei and raised alongside Sub-Zero and Scorpion by their father, however as his BIO states, “Smoke chose to make the Lin Kuei’s mission his own. But as he lacked his brothers' innate supernatural abilities, he set out to master practical magic. Having done so, he now joins them in Earthrealm's defense” and this implies he wasn’t forced to master smoke powers by his adoptive family and that he was not necessarily considered as a material for Lin Kuei warrior but he made a conscious choice to learn magic so he could join his brothers in their duties. 

Shao and Shang Tsung jumped on occasion to rise in power for their own gain but no one physically forced them to betray the Royal Family or to inflict cruelty on others. According to Liu Kang’s design, they weren’t meant to have the opportunity to take over Edenia and still they could refuse to aid Damashi’s plot when the offer was made to them or at any given time after that. Shang Tsung managed to create a serum that does not heal Tarkatan sickness yet allows to control the unwanted symptoms, thus giving a sick person a chance for more or less normal life. He could share that with sick people or work with other imperial mages to find cure - and go into edenian history as a great hero and savior - but he chose not to, because his own plans were more important to him, than the well-being of other people. 

As a first-born, Mileena inherited the throne after mother’s death yet she still has an option to abdicate if she doesn’t like the burden bestowed on her by fate. 

What Liu Kang chose for each character is not set in stone and can be altered by people’s personal choices, for good or bad. Of course, that does not mean he has never interfere with mortal’s life to steer said person on the path he planed, as it is the best seen with Kung Lao and Raiden unknowingly prepared by Madam Bo for their role of Earthrealm Champions and Shang Tsung’s destiny to have as mediocre life as possible. So yes, Liu Kang is not above his personal favoritism and bias and I suspect it is the result of him being mortal turned into god, not the other way around. He definitely threw some serious obstacles on characters’ path, like sickness for child Shao (though did he plan to keep Shao unfit to be warrior and the outcome was changed by Shao’s father refusing to accept son’s sickness/disability or did Shao was born as sick child so the father could teach him discipline and raise him with an iron fist to become a loyal soldier is up to debate) or death of family for Tomas. However some of the hardship characters faced may as well come from their ancestors' choices alone, be it the dark history of Kenshi’s family that joined the Bakuto, a predecessor of the Yakuza for protection or Nitara’s people slowly starving because of their foolish choices (“The Vaeternians thrived, building a great society. But as their comfort grew, so did their shortsightedness. They overfed on Vaeternus’ creatures, disrupting the natural order. They now starve as it collapses.”, Nitara’s BIO)

In all fairness, the line between Liu Kang’s chosen destiny for characters and choices of mortals affecting the outcome may be pretty thin and in result, not so clear to us. Shang Tsung is the best example of this, because story mode alone gives the impression the man was born into poverty and neglect - he is on his own, using deception to survive in harsh outworld wilderness. Him being so miserable and angry makes sense to jump on the first occasion for anything better than what he has; to cling to the one person offering him not only power but also kindness, a praise for any progress made, be it the progress in the realization of plan or Shang Tsung’s own skills and knowledge.

Yet his official BIO

Shang Tsung grew up in Outworld’s backwaters. Too lazy for hard labor and too shifty for honest work, he eked out a living selling quack cures and fake magic. Though his wares were useless, Shang Tsung’s easy charm always closed the deal. Shang Tsung was resigned to this hardscrabble life. But then one day a mysterious stranger came, promising to make Shang Tsung a powerful sorcerer. Though suspicious of the offer, it was one he couldn’t refuse.

 and intro dialogues 

Shang Tsung: We're both small-town boys at heart. Raiden: Then why is yours so infected with evil? 

or

Shang Tsung: The squalor I endured as a child- Geras: Do not lie. I know the truth.

contradict the idea he was destined to live in poverty or even born in an abusive environment solely because of Liu Kang’s spite. The Bio alone put a blame on Shang Tsung’s own laziness and reluctance to do honest work, Geras calls his claim of bad childhood a lie and for all we know, there were plenty of opportunities for Shang Tsung to take and live his life in peace he turned down for whatever petty reason. The source material is so weirdly contradicting that I still don’t have an idea who we should trust on that one and how much it is Liu Kang’s fault and how much Shang Tsung’s own. 

(I’m gonna hold my judgment for the Quan Chi’s backstory until NRS will release further official material. Working in mines was always a hard job, however it is not clear to me if he was there by force - as enslavement or penalty? - or was he just born in a rural town where everyone worked as miners and he did what his family and/or all townsfolk did for generations.)

Geras saying Shang Tsung and Quan Chi defy their destinies may simply mean they got hold of power they should not have according to Liu Kang’s original plan. At the same time, Liu Kang specifically said to Sindel that Shang Tsung, Quan Chi and General Shao were groomed to be evil again by powers outside his control, so again, the chosen destinies for those three weren’t set in stone, as Liu Kang’s design could be - and was - altered.

For now, until proven otherwise, I will trust Liu Kang’s words that all characters indeed have free will and their choices matters, as supported by intro dialogues

Sindel: Until your revelation, I felt in control of my destiny. Liu Kang: You still are, Your Highness. 

or

Ashrah: I must know, Geras. Is my future set? Geras: There is no fate but what you make. 

or

Geras: Any advice for when I control the Hourglass? Liu Kang: Let all people be masters of their fate. 

but also for the fact alone that Liu Kang did not use his Titan powers to rewind time and alter the last events for his liking, as in making sure bored Titan Shang Tsung did not corrupt his alternative self and the rest of bunch, like Kronika did countless time before.

We will see how future tie-in material will challenge my outlook at this issue, but for now I'm gonna think that Liu Kang's planed destiny and characters' free will to what do with given time co-exist.

[mangobubletea]

you ever finish a game and you're like. i am fundamentally changed as a human being

[fairer-tales]

‘I can’t remember the last time when it felt like I had a handle on my own life,’

‘But you are the handle,’

‘Am I?’

IM SICK.

[fullpenguincupcake]

Untethered Destiny

Overview:

In a world where every individual is born with a visible red thread connecting them to their soulmate, society has built itself around these bonds. However, a rare few are born without threads, known as "Untethered," and are often ostracized.

Our protagonist, an Untethered, has lived a life on the fringes, concealing their lack of a thread to avoid societal backlash. They work as a "Thread Cutter," someone who severs threads for those seeking freedom from predestined love.

One day, they meet someone desperate to cut their thread, claiming their soulmate is dangerous. As they delve deeper, the protagonist uncovers a clandestine society that believes in forging one's own destiny, challenging the very fabric of their world.

Chapter 1: Untethered Destiny

“I don’t care how much it costs,” the woman hissed, her voice trembling, her hands clutching the edge of the worn wooden table. “Just cut it. Now.”

The dim light of the underground workshop flickered against her face, casting shadows that danced across her high cheekbones and the faint red thread that glowed faintly around her wrist. It was a thread that pulsed with a life of its own, delicate yet unyielding, connecting her to a destiny she clearly wanted no part of.

The protagonist, known only as Cutter, leaned back in their chair, their face obscured by the hood of their cloak. They didn’t speak immediately, letting the silence stretch between them like the threads they severed for a living. Their own wrists were bare, a fact they took great care to conceal beneath layers of fabric. Untethered. The word hung unspoken in the air, a secret they carried like a weight.

“You understand what you’re asking, don’t you?” Cutter finally said, their voice low and measured. “Once it’s gone, it’s gone. There’s no tying it back together.”

The woman’s eyes widened, a flicker of doubt crossing her face before it was replaced with something harder, more resolute. “I don’t want it. He’s... he’s dangerous. I can’t explain it, but I know.”

Cutter studied her for a moment longer, then gave a curt nod. They reached into the folds of their cloak and pulled out a small, glittering blade. It was no ordinary knife—it was forged from a rare metal, one that could sever the threads of fate without leaving a trace. The blade caught the light, its edge gleaming like a shard of ice.

“Hold out your wrist,” Cutter instructed, their voice steady despite the storm of questions swirling in their mind.

---

It had been a year since Cutter had started this life, shrouded in secrecy and shadows. They’d learned to navigate the world of the Tethered, to hide their true nature, to blend in. But it wasn’t always this way. Once, they’d been a child, staring at their own bare wrist with a mix of confusion and shame. The other children had pointed, whispered, laughed. Untethered. The word had followed them like a curse.

As they grew older, they learned to adapt. They became a Thread Cutter, a profession born of necessity. There were always those who wanted to escape their fate, who saw the threads as chains rather than promises. And Cutter had discovered they had a knack for it. They could sever the threads cleanly, without pain, without regret. Or so they told themselves.

But this woman... there was something different about her. Something in the way she spoke, in the way her thread pulsed faintly, as if it were fighting to stay intact. Cutter couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t just another job. This was something more.

---

The woman hesitated for a moment, then extended her wrist. The thread glowed brighter, as if sensing the impending severance. Cutter placed the blade against the thread, their hand steady despite the unease prickling at the edges of their consciousness.

“Are you sure?” they asked one last time, their voice barely above a whisper.

The woman’s eyes met theirs, and for a moment, Cutter saw something raw and unguarded in her gaze. Fear, yes, but also something else. Defiance. Determination. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”

Cutter nodded and with a swift, practiced motion, brought the blade down.

---

The thread parted with a sound like a distant sigh, the severed ends glowing briefly before dissolving into thin air. The woman gasped, her hand flying to her chest as if she’d just lost something vital. And maybe she had.

“It’s done,” Cutter said, their voice flat, though their heart was racing. They’d done this countless times, but something about this one felt different. Wrong.

The woman stared at her wrist, now bare, and then looked up at Cutter. “Thank you,” she said, her voice softer now, almost vulnerable. “I... I don’t know how to repay you.”

Cutter shook their head. “You’ve paid. That’s all that matters.”

But as the woman turned to leave, Cutter couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

---

Later that night, Cutter sat alone in their workshop, the blade resting on the table in front of them. They stared at it, their mind racing. Who was that woman? And what had she been running from?

As if in answer, a soft knock echoed through the room. Cutter stiffened, their hand instinctively reaching for the blade. “Who’s there?” they called, their voice sharp.

The door creaked open, and a figure stepped inside. It was the woman, her face pale, her eyes wide with terror. “You have to help me,” she whispered. “He’s found me.”

Before Cutter could respond, the door burst open, and a man stepped inside. His face was obscured by shadows, but the red thread coiled around his wrist glowed like a warning. He looked at Cutter, then at the woman, and smiled.

“Did you really think you could run from me?” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “We’re soulmates.”

Cutter’s grip tightened on the blade. “Get behind me,” they said to the woman, their voice steady despite the fear coiling in their chest.

The man laughed, a sound that sent a chill down Cutter’s spine. “You think you can protect her? You’re just an Untethered.”

The word hit like a blow, but Cutter didn’t flinch. They stepped forward, the blade glinting in the dim light. “She’s not yours anymore,” they said, their voice cold. “You’ll have to go through me first.”

The man’s smile faded, replaced by a snarl. “Fine. Let’s see what happens when an Untethered tries to play hero.”

The tension in the room was palpable, the air thick with unspoken threats and the promise of violence. Cutter met the man’s gaze, their heart pounding in their chest. They’d spent their life hiding, trying to stay invisible. But now... now there was no choice.

The man lunged, and Cutter raised the blade, ready to fight. “Let’s see,” they muttered, “what happens when someone tries to forge their own destiny.”

For the updated chapter, head here.

[astrovedawisdom]

Free Will vs Destiny: A Guide to Science, Philosophy & Ancient Wisdom

Introduction For millennia, humanity has wrestled with a fundamental question: Do we genuinely have free will, or are our lives governed by destiny? Are we the authors of our own stories, or merely actors following a pre-written script? This debate cuts across philosophy, science, and spirituality, influencing how we view ethics, responsibility, and the meaning of life. Let’s embark on a…