Beauty in the Beast
Chapter 1: Starting Anew
Shao Kahn was dead. Defeated by the woman he claimed as his daughter. By Kitana's hand, the reign of most evil tyrant to have ever existed had come to a crashing halt. With his death, Outworld was beginning to revert back to its original state; that of Kitana's home realm, Edenia. The corruption wrought by the evil that seeped from Shao Kahn's soul was fading into the void.
The emperor's influence was also fading from those he came into contact with. Enter Mileena. A genetic amalgamation of Kitana's essence mixed with Tarkatan blood created by Shao Kahn as a replacement for the adopted daughter who detested him so, Mileena found herself without purpose after his death. As she wandered aimlessly through the recovering lands, she began to notice something. She felt something about herself changing. Mileena, long known and feared for her ultraviolent tendencies, began to feel something that was very unfamiliar to her. It took her quite some time to put a finger on it, but after much searching deep within herself, Mileena understood. She felt… calm. She felt at ease.
The rage and need to lash out and any and everything around her were slowly waning. With Shao Kahn's death, the vile corruption that spilled forth from his being that had permeated into the realm and twisted Mileena's mind from her very birth no long held sway over her. Though she did not know what to do with her newfound freedom, she liked it.
In the months that followed, Edenia was indeed returning to its former glory. The last of Shao Kahn's influence had finally burned away, and the realm was now free of all remnants of what had made it Outworld for so long. Mileena was also completely free. She had contemplated many times attempting to integrate herself into Edenia's society, but fear that its citizenry would not accept her because of her past deeds held her at bay. Before long, she began to feel a longing. These pangs were caused by the ever-present loneliness of her self-invoked exile. This longing brought her to a decision… Seek out the only family she had.
Mileena had no idea what to expect when she came face to face with her sister. She knew that there would indeed be an enmity that would be very difficult for Kitana to look past. But in her heart, she wanted so badly to have some kind of connection with the only person alive with whom she shared anything.
After a long journey, Mileena's travels brought her back to the Idlewyld Manse, once Shao Kahn's primary base of operations and now the seat of Kitana's rule. Heavily disguised to avoid arousing suspicion, Mileena approached the gates of the Manse.
"Speak, traveler," announced the watch on duty. "State your business."
Bowing her head and speaking in a soft tone, Mileena replied, "I seek the princess, Kitana, that I might have words with her."
The guards looked at each for a moment, then back to Mileena. The smaller of the two gripped his scutum harder and spoke up. "Mind yourself, traveler, for you speak of Edenia's empress. Who would seek an audience with our ruler and not know properly of her title?" He regarded Mileena with a discerning and suspicious eye. "What manner of traveler dresses so heavily wrapped during these hot summer days, anyhow?"
The larger guard grasped the grip of his gladius, unsheathing it quickly as his partner spoke. He pointed the tip of his blade at Mileena's forehead and said, "I'll not have one with your look near the grace of the Empress. You've an air of danger around you."
With her head still bowed and a sword threatening to pierce the skin on her head, Mileena slowly reached behind her back. Without making any sudden movements, she retrieved her sais and held them out at her sides. "I assure you both, I mean your Empress no harm." Again, sure not to make any sudden moves, she presented her weapons to the guards and kneeled in a sign of surrender. "Please… I wish only to have her listen to what I want to say."
The smaller guard sheathed his sword then stepped forward and commandeered her weapons. As he turned to step back to his post, he noticed the captain of the guard come out. The captain, who had come out to see what was going on, took in the sight of an unarmed woman with a sword at her face. "While I certainly can not say I like the sight of a defenseless traveler on bended knee at the mercy of my guard, I also can not help but think there is reason this is so." He approached his guard and Mileena. "Arise, traveler, and inform me of your purpose here."
Standing, but avoiding eye contact, Mileena spoke with her head still pointed to the ground. "I am not here to create trouble. I merely wish that I be granted a moment of the Empress' time."
The guard captain was not as weary of Mileena's presence as his guards were. "As you have so readily surrendered yourself to the authority of my guard, I will pass along your request." Mileena felt a bit of the stress of her situation lift. The captain continued. "However, I do harbor enough paranoia that I will not allow one with a cloaked face near her Highness."
Suddenly, Mileena was taken by a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. After a moment of hesitation, one the captain and both guards picked up on, she said, "Of course… I would not attempt to impose upon you or your guard the thoughts of danger." Mileena reached to pull the cloak and cowl from her shoulders and head.
In the time that passed since Shao Kahn's demise and her mind was freed of his dark influence, Mileena began to dress much more modestly. By the standards of some, what she wore would have still been considered risqué, but compared to the skin tight and revealing body suit she used to wear, her newer look was a lot more acceptable to the eye of general populous. She wore long black pants that hugged close to her skin, a sleeveless pink top that showed a lot less cleavage than she used to, leather bracers dyed the same color as the top, and of course, her omnipresent mask to obscure her Tarkatan heritage.
The guards took in the sight of the traveling woman and were instantly put at ease. While Mileena was personally foreign to them, her clothes, while different in type, were of the same style as those worn by Jade, Empress Kitana's closest friend and personal guardian. It also worked in her favor that aside from her visage, she was a highly attractive woman.
Bowing her head again in the hope that they would not recognize her face, Mileena addressed the captain of the guard. "You have my weapons. As you can see, I am of no harm to anyone. Of this, I swear you my word."
The guard captain very much appreciated how polite Mileena was in their interaction. He stepped toward the smaller of the two guards. "Allow her entry and see her to the waiting chamber. I will take her weapons and inform the Empress of her guest." His guard handed over Mileena's sais and saluted his captain.
The captain returned the salute and turned toward the gate of the Manse. As he disappeared in one direction, no doubt headed for his own post, the guard motioned for Mileena to go with him.