It has been two hundred years since the death of Mileena. Shao Kahn was unsuccessful in the tournament, which ensured that he would not be permitted to take Earthrealm, or at least not for another five hundred years. The Elder Gods granted Earthrealm five hundred years of peace and each Earthrealm champion a longer life span. This gave them time to defend Earthrealm for many tournaments to come.
These long years have passed with Shang Tsung being under penalty for failing the emperor. He was sentenced by the emperor to be under constant torture and to be drained of his energy soul by soul until the next Mortal Kombat tournament; another three hundred years from now. However, the sorcerer has another plan up his sleeve.
IN KAHN'S FORTRESS
"No! Please, AH!" the sorcerer pleads for his tormentors to stop.
His arms and legs are bound by chains, keeping him mounted on a wall in the very bottom of the fortress, which was once an elegant Edenian palace. The torture room is not part of the original design of the captured palace, but was added on part of Shao Kahn's orders. It lies behind a door within the prison, secured by only one lock. Sounds of Shang Tsung's screams leak through the door to the other prisoner's ears.
The prisoners all turn their attention to Shao Kahn who advances to the torture chamber's door. Some back away from their cell bars as he passes, not wanting to share the same fate or worse than the sorcerer. Others glare at him, just preparing for the day when they can exact their revenge. Then of course, there are the prisoners who have completely gone insane and or lost all hope in living.
Shao Kahn pauses on his way to the torture chamber and turns to his right, locking eyes with one of the imprisoned. He comes closer to the bars of the cell as the shadows conceal the figure.
"Ready to accept that your realm is forever deceased Moroi?" he states and the shadowy figure reveals itself.
A woman in a red leotard with an armored leather two piece underneath and leather straps at her waist comes forth. Two cutouts embrace her leotard in the back and wings grace her upper back through the cutouts. Yet they are not spread to their fullest length, being imprisoned for so long has rendered them useless to her. Her red and bronze outlined knee high heels give her an exquisite look, along with her hair pinned into a bun with bronze chops and double sided bangs. A red scarf like accessory acts as a blindfold, yet only covers her left eye, giving her a more mysterious appearance.
She dashes to the bars of the cell with a hiss, her face mere inches away from the emperor's as her hands clasp onto the bars.
"Mark my words Shao Kahn, I shall take my vengeance against you, starting with taking your head for myself and then taking back my realm," she threatens, her large fangs displaying under her round, full, and red lips.
He lets out a large booming laugh, then charges his hand between the cell's bars, grabbing her by her neck fiercely as he lifts her off of her feet and cuts off the source of her breathing.
"A pity you choose not to serve me Nitara, your strength could have proved to be a great addition to my forces," he smirks as he tightens his grip on her neck as she gasps and fights for air.
He drops her and she lands harshly on the stone prison floor, bringing a caressing hand to her throat as she takes in air freely. Without a common or relying source of blood she is weak and cannot defend herself during kombat. She tends to herself as the emperor moves forward and comes to the torture chamber's door, opening it with a green energy surge from his hand.
"AH!" Shang Tsung shouts as his neck is impaled with a throwing knife by one of his tormentors.
The blood flows down to his torso, staining the blade as well. A spirit escapes him, evaporating into the air. Ordinarily the sorcerer could have escaped this fate on his own. However, he has been drained into his weakened and old state by the emperor himself.
Blood is scattered on the floor in puddles, as well as bloody hand and foot prints. Arms and fingers also lie around the floors. Blood is splattered on each wall, and the room has a very low temperature. Unlike the rest of the palace, the room started out as a simple storage room, and is now is a room of torment and suffering. The only light the room possesses is that of two large wall torches, with the exception of the escaping light from the torches in the lockup when the door is ajar.
The emperor lets out a dark laugh as he stands by enjoying the torment taking place. The sorcerer makes eye contact with the emperor, the pain of the last two centuries evident on his face.
"Emperor...please...it is not my fault..." Shang Tsung tries to explain, a trail of blood leaking from his mouth down to his chin.
The tormentors pause a moment and turn to the emperor. Their armor and helmets reflect the torch light as they stand near the sorcerer with their blades drawn and stained with his blood. Shao Kahn lets out another laugh as he faces the sorcerer.
"You failed me sorcerer. You won nine tournaments for our forces in the past. But this time... this time you just happened to lose the final tournament needed to merge Earthrealm with Outworld to a mere shaolin?!" Shao Kahn booms.
"No, no! I apolog—"
"I have a dead daughter, a rogue daughter and a rogue assassin because of you! Now I must wait even longer to claim Earthrealm!" the emperor interrupts.
"But-but emperor!"
"Show him no mercy!" Shao Kahn shouts to the tormentors, and one instantly stabs Shang Tsung's chest, causing another spirit to escape his body.
He yells out in agony a moment, and then faces the emperor with tired eyes.
"There is another way you can claim Earthrealm!" he lets out desperately, still suspended by chains.
The emperor crosses his arms at this news. He would order for his death after such a pathetic comment, but after a century of ordering his non-stop torture, he wants to hear what petty accuse the sorcerer could have possibly came up with to keep his sorrowful life. He wants the sorcerer to beg for his pathetic life. He holds his hand upward, signaling his tormentors to let him explain himself.
"Speak."
IN THE LIVING FOREST
"I know he is near...I can sense the dark presence," Sub-Zero says.
He and Smoke peer around.
"Still no sign of him," Smoke thinks.
"If he is here, he will die here," Smoke says, remaining tense.
His once long white-silver hair is now short and spiky, yet compliments his light brown, almost white eyes. Two vertical cuts embrace his left eyebrow and a dark gray mask conceals the bottom half of his face. His gray ninja gear is equipped with several daggers. The sais he gifted to his lost love two centuries ago are sheathed on his back also as a memorial. Though he does not use them for kombat, they are the last piece of her he feels he has left.
"Keep an eye out," Sub-Zero, who was once known as Tundra, says as he peers through the trees.
Sub-Zero's short and black hair almost shines in the dim orange tinted moonlight. His light blue eyes have a coldness to them, true to his icy nature. His forearms release a cold mist, similar to his ice blue and black gear. A long scar on the right side of his face starts on his lower forehead, travels through his eyebrow, and rests on his mid cheek.
Serpents and other creatures slither up the living trees, some getting eaten in the process. The only noise they have is those of the crickets and strange breaths being drawn by the plants. The large orange full moon lights the sky and shines through the breathing leaves, giving specs of light to the forest.
Sub-Zero can no longer sense it anymore, sense him; the man that is responsible for his brother's death. Going into the last tournament with Smoke, he was sure it was Shang Tsung who ended his life. However, he was informed after the tournament by the Thunder God that his hypothesis was incorrect. It was the specter many warriors know as Scorpion.
"If anyone was here, they have gone," Sub-Zero says turning to Smoke.
"I see, yet whoever it was could also return," Smoke cautions.
"Yes, we should stay here slightly longer just in case, not many dare to tread into these woods. It could be a lead in this mission."
Smoke gives a nod and they both begin to walk to the end of the forest. Smoke and Sub-Zero remained in Outworld after assisting the Earthrealm forces in the tournament, securing Earthrealm's fate for five hundred years. Since then, they've been searching for vengeance. Smoke hunts for the murderers of his love, Kitana and Jade along with Sub-Zero who hunts his brother's killer. They have recently got a lead on Scorpion, which lead them here.
Hunting their enemies and killing whoever attempted to invade or seemed to serve as a danger to Earthrealm has been their occupation all these years. Even when they haven't set foot in Earthrealm for quite some time, they still assist in the safety of the realm by dealing with murderous clans and the emperor's army. However, they have built quite a reputation in Outworld, and have become valid enemies to the emperor. Traveling alone in this realm for either of them now is not the best choice, therefore Smoke offered to pause his mission to assist in his ally's mission.
Smoke sits on a nearby log and grabs a random stick from the grassy terrain as Sub-Zero ventures not too far ahead. He takes a dagger from his belt, sharpening the stick with it and going into deep thought until a flashback clouds his mind.
The rain continues to pour down as Smoke cradles Mileena in his arms. He feels confused and shocked, not wanting to believe any of this happened. His intentions in the tournament were just to assist Sub-Zero and to protect the realm. However, getting too close to the enemy was probably the best thing that could have ever happened to him. The best and the worst.
"Smoke! I located the Thunder God!" Li Mei shouts from a distance.
He does not move, nor face them; he sits and gazes down at a now deceased Mileena. The Thunder God was too late and the blood still drips from the areas Kitana had impacted on Mileena's body. Smoke does not move as Li Mei comes within his view, as well as the Thunder God and Sub-Zero. They all face him in concern, all except Li Mei.
She peers downward at her sworn sister as tears begin to well in her eyes. She drops to her knees, grabbing one of Mileena's hands, and begins to lose herself in a full-fledged cry.
"I was not yet aware she wished to join our forces...a tragedy this is indeed…" The Thunder God says with regret in his voice.
She may have been a valuable Earthrealm warrior had she joined, for no one knows the emperor better than his "daughters." Kitana had agreed to assist them in the tournament, and to join their forces. Now the Thunder God realizes that neither she nor Jade shall be able to fully join the Earthrealm forces with the enemies they have just created. Only the Elder Gods know what Smoke may do if he sees either of them again.
The Thunder God takes note of Smoke's silence masked by Li Mei's cries. The look in his eyes...it is something only someone with loss and rage somewhere within could have. The vengeance within him already appears to have bottled up.
"Smoke..." Sub-Zero says advancing to him.
Sub-Zero kneels close to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Smoke still does not break eye contact with Mileena's corpse. However, Sub-Zero understands why. He has lost his brother, so imagining what Smoke has lost fills him with great sorrow for his long term ally.
"I apologize…" the Thunder God announces over Li Mei's sobs.
Smoke does not nod, nor does he respond. Sub-Zero still sits there, not breaking his determination to assist his ally in any way possible. The Thunder God walks over to Li Mei, taking her by the hand.
"You should come, this scene will only serve to make you feel worse," he cautions as she stands, still crying.
"I suggest you do the same Smoke..." The Thunder God says just before vanishing into lightening with Li Mei.
"I shall leave you to have your moment Smoke; I know this is far from easy for you. When you are ready, I shall be waiting for you at the portal that leads to the tower in Outworld," Sub-Zero says in an understanding tone.
Smoke closes his eyes as the water hits him still, creating a puddle to his left as well as adding to the pond a few feet away. He nods and Sub-Zero takes to his feet, leaving Smoke to himself. After several sounds of footsteps leading away from him hits his ears, Smoke is left alone.
"Smoke?" Sub-Zero brings him back into reality.
Smoke peers upward at his ally who is in a tense stance, gazing out into the trees in the distance with a mixture of shock and disbelief on his face.
"What is it?"
"We have company."
SOMEWHERE IN OUTWORLD
Li Mei jumps, just avoiding a swing from a Tarkatan. She forms a white, blue tinted energy sphere in her palm just before sending it to her opponent, causing the Tarkatan to fall to the ground unconsciously. Another approaches from her far right, his arm blades drawn. She ducks his attempted strike to her head as a razor rim hat decapitates the Tarkatan with a blue aura following it. It continues to travel through the air, and then advances back to Li Mei. She catches it, slicing another approaching Tarkatan in half just before backing closer to Kung Lao.
A Tarkatan militia surrounds them both as they stand near each other, back to back. They battle just outside of Li Mei's home village, Sun Do, which is currently enslaved by the emperor just as it has hundreds of years ago.
"Not exactly what I had in mind for a honey moon," Kung Lao says, eyeing his opponents.
Li Mei slips the hat to Kung Lao discreetly.
"Till death do us part right?" she replies.
The Tarkatans move in slightly closer with their blades drawn. Kung Lao grips his hat, draws back, and then tosses the blade in a circular motion. It cuts through each surrounding Tarkatan with speed, removing each of their heads before their bodies can even react. The blood sprays from each corpse as they hit the ground and the hat circles back to Kung Lao. The blue aura following it almost shines like a torch, bringing temporary light to their surroundings and outshining the orange moon lingering above.
Li Mei eases up, peering around for any remaining Tarkatans. Her purple and silver battle armor compliments her figure, and her medium purple sash that suspends from her hip holds her Kunlun Dao blade. A violet helmet shields her long jet black hair as well.
"Seems as if that is the last of them," Li Mei pronounces while turning to her husband.
He faces her with a smile and then peers over her shoulder. She follows his gaze to a retreating Tarkatan. He walks closer, coming to her side.
"He's mine," Kung Lao says, and catching his hat that traveled back to him.
Li Mei places her hands on her hips, watching him concentrate on his target. He draws back, and then tosses his bladed hat. It travels diagonally to their target in a matter of seconds, taking his arm and a fraction of his head clean off. The Tarkatan stops in his tracks, falling to the ground dead. A moment later, the hat travels back to them and Li Mei catches it. She turns and places it on Kung Lao's head while giving him a peck on the lips.
"As you are mine," she replies followed by a giggle.
Kung Lao returns the favor with a sly smile and chuckle. His wavy brown hair is hidden by his black, blade wielding hat. His black battle gear has blue and silver dragon patterns on it, slightly reflecting the moonlight.
They both turn their attention to the gates of Li Mei's enslaved village. It is well gated and guarded. The emperor ordered that the Tarkatan forces take charge of the village for the time being, rendering the village not as secure as it used to be.
"Perhaps this will be the day Sun Do will finally be out of the emperor's hands," Li Mei announces.
"Then let us make it happen."
NEAR THE LIVING FOREST
Kitana and Jade dash by, heading towards the Living Forest speedily. The emperor has convicted them both of treason after Mileena's death, making their time in Outworld their most vulnerable moments. However, their presence in the realm could not be more salient for their current objective.
After they murdered Mileena, they could not stay in Earthrealm safely; Smoke would have surely ended their lives. Therefore, before they left the realm, the Thunder God held onto his promise to tell them the truth about the emperor. He confided in them the truth about Edenia, and how the emperor captured it. He also revealed the truth about Mileena; both her being Kitana's clone and that she planned to join the Earthrealm forces, proving Kitana's hypothesis about Mileena's intentions was wrong.
Kitana felt regret, but knew there was nothing she or anyone could do to alter the past, so she moved on. They were hoping to feign their loyalty to the emperor long enough for one of them to discover a safe way to unmerge Edenia from Outworld. But, Shao Kahn was prepared for this after discovering their secret allegiance to Earthrealm. He ordered his forces to capture Kitana and bring her back alive along with Jade, and that he shall decide how to punish them from there.
"Kitana, we should travel through the Living Forest, we can lose them there!" Jade suggests as they speed through Outworld while being pursued by the emperor's forces.
Jade wears a slightly revealing olive two piece with a front sash and a chained gold belt. Her chiseled abdomen is on display as well as a portion of her back. Her staff remains sheathed on her back and her glaive on her hip. Her knee high black and olive heels match her bangles that travel down her arm. Her hair is in a loose bun with gold lined black chops, bringing out her Edenian appearance well.
Kitana is in sapphire traditional Edenian gear, a one piece with many silver linings. Her back is displayed through the one piece's cutouts as well as part of her abdomen. Her knee high aqua and silver heels are strapped with sheathes that hold her fans in place near her ankles. Her long and elegant braid meets the small of her back, a sapphire clip in the front near her two short length bangs.
"Agreed, let us turn here," Kitana says as they detour into the lively woods.
The sound of warriors following them becomes more distant the farther they get into the forest, making them feel as if they managed to escape them. They come to a stop near a tree to take a breath.
"I do not believe they shall locate our whereabouts here; or at least not easily," Jade informs in a low tone, taking in their current surroundings.
Kitana turns to her.
"Indeed, they—" Kitana is pulled back by someone as a dagger travels to her throat.
She gasps as she is caught off guard and remains motionless. The blade wielder presses the dagger to her throat firmly, leaving small slits, but not puncturing her skin completely. Kitana peers down at the hand that holds the blade to her skin, trying not to move or temp the person behind it.
"Let her go!" Jade shouts, causing Kitana to redirect her attention to her.
Jade has Sub-Zero on his knees with her staff around his neck, threatening to end his life.
His hands grip her staff as he squirms, attempting to release himself from her hold.
"She deserves death, just as you do," Kitana hears behind her, identifying the voice.
"Smoke..." she realizes in her head.
"We deserve no such thing! Release her or your ally will perish!" Jade threatens, pressing her staff against Sub-Zero's throat harder as he slightly struggles for air.
Smoke keeps his dagger glued to Kitana's neck and his eyes stuck on Jade.
"When you murder the innocent, death is your only option. Release Sub-Zero and I may just spare you," Smoke warns.
Kitana signals Jade with her eyes to do it, but Jade does not comply. She faces Smoke with a sudden fierceness in her vibrant green eyes.
"No, if you want your comrade to maintain his spot among the living, we will vanish at once and reappear in each other's places," she proposes.
Smoke chuckles darkly, which somewhat shocks even Sub-Zero.
"Oh, you will release him regardless; just like I will be the one to end both of your lives regardless, and end that pathetic emperor's life regardless," he replies with slightly wide eyes.
Jade raises an eyebrow.
"Fine, he wants to do this the difficult way..." she thinks to herself.
Jade releases Sub-Zero with a shove to the ground quickly before disappearing into a green mist, reappearing behind Smoke, and kicking him. He loses his grip on Kitana as Jade grabs her quickly and the two begin to retreat. Smoke recovers quickly, turns to them, and tosses his dagger linear to Kitana. It pierces through Kitana's leg, causing her to fall onto the forest terrain with a painful shout.
"Kitana!" Jade shouts, kneeling near her ally.
Smoke charges to them, drawing another dagger as Jade grabs Kitana and they vanish into green luster. Smoke gazes down at where they once were, squeezing his dagger in his hand with frustration before turning to Sub-Zero. They escaped the very same way on the painful day that changed his life for the worst.
"They escaped my wrath again..." he blames himself mentally.
"Smoke! Are you injured?" Sub-Zero asks in slight worry.
Smoke turns to him with a blank expression.
"No, I will eventually have my vengeance. As of now, we must concentrate on our current mission."
IN THE NETHERREALM
Countless souls have been enslaved in the Netherrealm over many millennia. Those who are impure in their life are bound to this realm under different varied punishments. The Elder Gods cast them down below, deciding their fate for the rest of their afterlife.
However, there is a particular spirit that has been unfairly cast into this realm. A spirit that was just realizing their fate was not to serve under the emperor, but to serve for the greater good. She was sentenced to a millennium of imprisonment and torture in the ancient Netherrealm city known as Nekros. For two centuries she has suffered agonizing pain at the hands of various demons. However, there is someone that can undo her sentence.
The room she is being held in almost resembles a cavern. Flames held within skull shaped torches bring the room light, and the aroma of death consumes it as well.
Her hands are bound by chains as she is forced to stand and receive her torture. Her magenta gear has become mere ragged cloths that conceal her body. Several blades have been impaled into her shoulders and then twisted, earning her screams and shouts. Daggers have been sharpened just before slicing into her skin and swords were burned before impaling her as well.
She peers upward with exhausted eyes, wondering what they could possibly do next that she has not endured over these last two centuries. A demon with large bat-like wings approaches, licking his fangs and spinning a medium knife in his left hand.
"Your pain amuses me," he tells her with a devious smile.
She gives him cold eyes.
"When I escape...I...shall make you deeply regret this..." she threatens in exhaustion.
"There is no escape for you," he states darkly.
He advances closer and grips her face before licking her cheek slowly, brushing past her teeth as well. She turns her head in disgust as he continues to harass her.
"Mmm," he taunts.
"Now, now, that is no way to treat a lady such as she," a booming and slightly distorted voice says from behind the demon.
The demon quickly turns and drops onto one knee, bowing.
"L-lord Shinnok! Forgive me...I-I was just carrying out her sentence..." he replies.
She faces the man in confusion.
"Lord Shinnok?" she thinks.
"Silence you vampiric fool! Pathetic beings such as you are a prime example of why Vaeternus is now merged with Outworld! Out of my way!" Shinnok shouts just before striking the demon down with a flash of light, rendering him unconscious.
He turns and advances to her with a strange smile plastered on his face. His skin is a pale white and his eyes are white orbs. His blue and red robes are long and outlined in gold, which is unusually elegant for a resident of Netherrealm. Crystals travel on his robe from head to toe also, changing color. A red double pointed hat sits atop of his head as well.
She tenses up, never breaking eye contact with him.
"No need to be cautioned my sweet," he says and holds his hand forward.
A purple aura glows from his palm, and the shackles drop, setting her free. She drops to the floor and rubs her wrists in confusion.
"I have foreseen your tragic demise, a shame it was indeed. Do you recall it?"
A confused expression graces her face.
"No...I do not believe so," she replies calmly.
"Do you recall how you came about this realm?" he asks.
"No…" she trails off, wondering how this endless torture came about.
"Upon death memories do tend to become scattered. In fact, they have the potential to override your mind and permanently quell you if you try to recall events or people before your death too often. Perhaps this will aid you," he holds his hand upward, creating a violet mist in the air.
All of a sudden the mist displays three women fighting in what appears to be a forest.
"So you would go the extra mile to defeat me? Should I feel honored?" she mocks.
"You are a threat, and if not stopped now you will someday become like the emperor," Jade inputs, drawing her staff.
"A threat? I am no longer aiding the emperor, both of your efforts are pointless," she keeps a sharp eye out for both.
She can feel blood dripping from her upper chest, but she ignores it. She regrets not having her sais with her.
"Lies; you will not leave this forest alive!" Jade says, approaching her quickly.
Her eyes widen as she continues watching her demise being displayed by sorcery in front of her.
"Kitana now!" she shouts.
Kitana stands, closing her fan and advances to her. She struggles against Jade as Kitana approaches. Kitana draws back her fan, and then punctures her abdomen. She lets out a gasp as one of her hands travel to Kitana's blade slowly. Kitana begins to twist it while looking into her eyes. A weak groan escapes her as Kitana removes it, but only to plunge it deep into her chest.
"I...I remember," she states, her anger rising.
"You said you would never leave me..." a voice says faintly.
The image then becomes black. The voice sounds familiar, but she shrugs it off, concentrating more on the memories of her old enemies.
"Kitana...Jade...they...they did not believe me. They murdered me...they…must die!" she says, becoming enraged.
"I can assist you; I can make you everything you need to be in order to defeat anyone you wish. But, you must come with me. Join my forces and in return accept my power Mileena," Shinnok holds his hand out to her.
Mileena stares at his hand a moment, unsure of what to do.
"All I ask is for a few favors, and in return, I shall assist you in finding your murderers," he offers.
Well, an alliance with a fallen Elder God far exceeds torture. She then takes his hand and he assists her in standing as she faces him with devious eyes.
"I accept, I shall join you," she concludes.