What is your headcanons on shangblade?
Sorry for the late reply, but OML, my first question & it's about my 2nd fav MK crackship! These'll cover 5 of my general HCs, then ones I think of in the different eras of MK!
My ShangBlade Headcanons
General:
Shang Tsung first spotted Sonya during one of her missions in Earthrealm. He was simply doing his shady sorcerer business for Shao Kahn before he spotted her fighting an enemy. He was not only attracted to her beauty, but her strength and will.
Sonya wouldn't be attracted to Shang's looks - not because she thinks he's ugly! But she would be attracted to his stubbornness, wit, and resilience (kinda like how I imagine she'd be attracted to Johnny). She'd also really like how knowledgable he is about battle & war tactics.
They'd have a lot in common than either of them realize (similarities will depend on the timeline). Whether it's the fact that they both serve their realms with pride, they're both constantly underestimated by friends & foes alike, or that they're craftier than they appear, they'll both be surprised at how similar they actually are.
Shang Tsung is possessive of Sonya. That's been shown well-enough in the '95 film. If they were to be together, he'd be a lot more yandere-like. He'd treat her like the world, but if anyone so much as look her a certain way (in his eyes), they'll be a part of his experiments without hesitation.
The two wouldn't have a very long relationship with one another...not without one changing their allegiance. Therefore, if Sonya turns into a villain due to Shang Tsung's influence, they would be a happy villain couple. On the flip side, if Shang Tsung becomes a good guy due to Sonya's influence, they would be a happy heroic couple!
1995 Movie
Sonya didn't let Shang Tsung kidnap her, as the film showed. Instead, I like to think that he tried to catch her by surprise when she was trying to reach Johnny during his fight against Goro. But, because she's an experienced soldier, she managed to surprise him instead & put up a good fight.
Speaking of said fight, it's very one-sided, with Shang Tsung at the defense while Sonya kept throwing punches & kicks. Though she was good, he was better (unfortunately).
Then he gives her an ultimatum while he's got her in a hold (nothing spicy, I swear). If she admits defeat & lets him take her to Outworld, he won't call the tournament & have Shao Kahn invade Earthrealm. If she doesn't, then he'll have to defeat her & take her "strong, sweet, beautiful" soul into his collection (and also win the tournament & let Shao Kahn invade).
As confident as this Special Forces soldier was about her kombat, she's not stupid. She knew that unfortunately, she's been outmatched by this conniving sorcerer. Thinking about her friends & their kombat though...she agrees.
And that's how she was kidnapped near the end of the film.
Also, I'd like to think that despite Shang Tsung saying that Sonya was going to be offered to Shao as a bride...
The First Timeline (MK1 - Armageddon)
Shang Tsung was smitten with Sonya when he saw her beat up his guards. When he forced her to participate in the tournament, he fully intended to kidnap her & keep her for himself (after ridding of Shao Kahn before he could touch her), no matter if she won or lost the tournament.
Sonya was treated with surprising grace from the sorcerer at first, as opposed to Kano. They've even had talks (see my third general HC), but even with his revitalized appearance & good manners, she never fell for his charms. That's why she's seen chained up in Shao Kahn's kolosseum, though Shang never wanted to put her in that position.
After she escaped, it was on sight whenever she saw him ever since. But instead of feeling bad, he always appreciates seeing & fighting her every time they've met. He's still in love with her as he was before, not matter how she felt about him.
The Second Timeline (MK9 - MK11)
Like the first timeline, Shang fell for Sonya when she & Jax came to his island battling his guards. BUT, he's a lot more subtle about his attraction towards her, because like her, he was focused on his job.
Even so, this attraction did play a role on how lenient he is when it came to her during the first tournament. "You allowed them to escape," Raiden said. 🤭
But, of course, after Liu Kang's win & the invasion afterwards, Shang Tsung kidnaps Sonya anyway and tries to make her see the dark side. He saw how relentless she was as a fighter, so-
She has no time for his bullshit...and that just makes him more attracted to her.
He still tries to hang out with her, despite her being a prisoner, and she hates it every time. Though with their talks, she did come to secretly appreciate his cunning and intelligence...as a foe!
After Sonya's freed, she now has knowledge she could use to help her friends gain an advantage over Shang Tsung...as well as a few other kombatants.
Even after the events of MK9, the sorcerer still lingers in the soldier's mind. Not particularly in a romantic way, but in a way to never underestimate her enemies and what they're capable of when interested in her.
After killing Fire God Liu Kang in his ending, Shang Tsung would create his own timeline & have Sonya be his strong, loyal wife (akin to retcon-Sindel). She was his muscle with weapons enchanted by his magic, he was her sorcery in case her strength & weapons weren't enough.
Now, I COULD also bring forth my new era HCs concerning ShangBlade, but I'll withhold them...until the time is right!