"I envy you for dying before your expiration date."
"And I pity you for outliving your own."
Kitana, Princess of Edenia looks upon the woman in front of her.
The Empress of Wei.
Or what should have been, had fate not dropped her deck of cards on the table.
"I died with my beauty and dignity. I bear no regret."
"Maybe just one."
As if Kitana would see right through Zhenji.
"A child of distinguished birth, only to become a slave to lust. After all that, you never became royalty." she added,"a favorite bedtime story of mine. The tragedy of you."
For it was a tragedy, really. At a young age, Zhenji was married to Yuan Xi, son of Yuan Shao. A man descended from his own taste of royalty.
"I thought my life was over."
"When in reality, it was only beginning." Kitana finished for her.
A new start. But first, a tiny stint in madness.
The Wei troops came into the castle. The last line of defense for Zhen.
"Like a true lady, you went kicking and screaming."
"I was no dog. In case you haven't realize, women pack a punch twice as hard."
And within moments, found herself swept off her feet by Cao Pi, the Prince of Wei.
"As if I could ever win."
The room was quiet. Only moments before, Zhenji was playing her flute.
A sorrowful tune, and it drew Kitana to her.
"Why am I so interesting to you, Princess? I'm only a dead, wandering soul."
Kitana looked at her. For a dead woman, she looked great.
A nice, curvy body. Round ass, perky breasts, skin white as snow. Thick brown hair, and brown eyes to sink into.
She surely lived up to her reputation-a woman with the beauty to shatter a kingdom.
"Then it's only a wonder why he wanted you dead."
"To the victor goes the spoils. I was far too good for him."
Zhenji didn't have to reply, but at least she could tell her side of the story.
"Nothing short of a brat. And I was a fool."
Then Zhenji looked at her.
"Have you a lover?"
"Once..."
The two women's eyes met.
"So the princess lost her man, and my prince has lost his lady.."
Kitana could have laughed at the bitter irony. "Tragic indeed, Lady Zhen."
"And yet, I wonder why I shed no tears."
"Because you cherish your dignity."
"Because I can't stand to let my eyeliner run."
A bitter response, from the frozen ice queen. Perhaps she would have been a good match for Sub-Zero.
If only his heart was as cold as his shell.
A common element. Yet, it wasn't good enough.
"Then it's no wonder you ended up with Prince Zihuan."
"The ice only falls so far from the tree."
"Then it melts."
"Just like me-"
"You."
Zhenji looked at Kitana one last time, before turning around.
She walked down the empty hallway, and played her sorrowful tune again.
And that's when Kitana didn't see her reflection in the mirror anymore.