Mileena panted loudly, she kept stumbling over rock and roots. She was slowing them down, but it didn't matter – Kitana would never let go of her hand.

The men who had taken them yelled from far behind. Kitana looked over her shoulder; it was only two running after them, but they were closing in.

Fastening her grip around Mileena's hand, she left the path and scuttled into the bushes that lined it. They weren't very dense – not like the hedges at the palace – but further away was thicker looking ones, as well as rocks, trees, and small mounds were the ground was uneven. If they only found a place to hide…

Leaving the bushes, they waded into a cluster of grass, then behind some big stones and past a fallen, uprooted tree. The men were still shouting, but had the noise become more distant? No, there it was again, just as loud!

Mileena fell with a yelp. Her hand slipped out of Kitana's, and she had to run back to hoist her little sister off the ground. This wasn't working. Mileena was already tired. They wouldn't be able to get far away like this.

Kitana spun around in one place. Grass, trees, stones, there! A gathering of shrubs with big leaves. She knelt by it, pulling some of the leaves up. There was some space between the lowest twigs and the ground. Not much – just enough for Mileena to fit.

"Crawl in there!" she said.

Mileena sniffled, but did as told. It was a tight fit; she needed to fold her arms beneath her head and hold her elbows close to her body. Kitana laid on her stomach in front of Mileena, and patted her cheek.

"You stay here and hide. I'll go somewhere else, and you'll stay. You won't move or say a word – just stay. Later, I or Father or Jade will come get you. But until that happens, you stay still and silent. All right?!"

Mileena's eyes teared. Her lip quivered; she pressed her hands to her mouth as she nodded.

Kitana leaned in just enough to quickly kiss her forehead, then pulled the leaves down so she wasn't visible anymore.

"Stay!" she whispered one last time. She didn't stand up yet: she crawled around the bush, between some other shrubs and over to the big rocks. Then she got to her feet, sprinting as far away from the hiding place as she could.

The forest was almost completely quiet for a moment. All she heard was her pulse pounding in her throat and her breaths as she ran. Something cracked. The kidnappers crashed out on the trail behind her. She tried to quicken her pace, but the pair of hands closed around her all but instantly.

She shrieked, trashing about and struggling to get loose.

"Where's the other one?!" The man Mileena bit twisted around to see where her sister had gone.

"We'll find her later. What we should do now is to get this one back to base. The Crown Princess is the most important one, either way."

"Should we go back and help-"

"No, he'll be fine. We'll meet up with him when we search for the youngest one."

They bound her wrists again, gagging her too, and slung her over the big one's shoulder before hurrying deeper into the woods.

Her vision blacked out; she fell to the ground, dropped the talisman in the process. Her head throbbed. She saw nothing except dancing lights, shapes, and colors that did not and never would exist. Something sharp and sour flooded up her throat and into her mouth, almost seeping out.

When her sight returned it was hazy. She scarcely made out Scarf as he smashed the talisman with his boot. Hmm. Numerous times had he threatened to kill her, but he had yet to actually go through with it. Perhaps he simply didn't have it in him.

She would make him regret that.

He pivoted to her.

"You!" he spat out. "You little-"

She threw herself at himself with a roar.

She didn't have a plan – she just wanted to kill him. Which was stupid, because rashness never brought anything good.

The blow was visible from miles away; he easily blocked it. He grabbed her, wrapping one arm around her body and the other around her neck. She bit him; he growled out a curse, but didn't let go until she elbowed him in the abdomen. He staggered back, doubling over slightly. She kicked his leg and his chin, then punched his jaw. He boxed her in the chest and head, then twisted her arm behind her, forcing her to the ground. She squirmed beneath him, yanking a hand free to claw at his face. She struck her palms everywhere she could reach: chest, throat, face, eyes. He seized her head, and slammed it into the ground. She gasped for breath, for a moment thinking her skull was shattered. He did it again, and again, and again. She wasn't sure what was up or down anymore – everything in front of her spun. She brought a knee into his stomach, and slapped him across the face. Her hand grasped something by his belt, his knife. She pulled it out, grazing his side in the process and making him cry out in pain. She kneed him once more, slashed his arm, and managed to push him off her. She got up, heaved her body on top of his, and plunged the knife into his throat.

His eyes widened. A wheezing rattle escaped from his mouth. She yanked the knife out, marveling over how the blood bubbled from the whole, and took hold of his head. She forced it straight, made him stare straight into her eyes.

He wriggled beneath her. His hands reached for hers, the fingers twitching, but ended up slowly hitting the ground with a thump. His eyes trembled, darting back and forth. The light behind them was extinguishing ever so slowly.

Jade's stomach churned. With a swift motion, she thrust the knife into his temple. He became still. She crawled off him, the vomit rising within her. This time she did throw up, in the grass next to the body. She contemplated edging back to retch over him as well, but he was already dead, so what was the point?

After she'd emptied herself she slithered over to the closest tree, propping herself up against the trunk. She pulled her knees up to her chin, placed her forehead against them. Soon, she would follow where Kitana and Mileena had gone, and bring them home. As soon as she'd rested for a bit. Yes, just a short…

The sky was dark, and had been so for many hours now. The forest was quiet; the earth smelled rich and wet beneath her. Her body was stiff, with her arms especially sore, because Mileena hadn't moved a centimeter since Kitana left her there.

Every once in a while, something swooshed or crackled or screeched, but it was distant noises that lived and died somewhere out there, in the darkness.

She held back a sob. Her father had told her a princess did not cry. Kitana never cried, and neither did Jade, even though she wasn't a princess. Mileena did cry, occasionally, but she wouldn't this time.

The cold bled through her dress, causing her to shudder. She willed herself immobile. Kitana had told her to not make a sound or move! She wondered when Kitana would come back. She said she would, or that Father would come in her place. She wondered why Jade hadn't come with them when they ran, or why she hadn't at least followed.

A tear fell from her eye and down on her mouth; she wiped away what was left of it. She didn't want to cry – and she wouldn't – but she really wanted to go home.

Something rustled.

She clapped her hands over her mouth again. There was a swishing right above her, sounding a bit like when wind moves through leaves except not really. The leaves of the bush where she was hiding brushed upwards; she held her breath. They drooped down again, and the swishing continued elsewhere. She exhaled slowly. The swishing stopped.

"Your highness?"

She gasped. Scurrying out from her hiding place so quickly she nearly got stuck in the twigs, she got to her feet and ran straight into Ermac's embrace. He draped his arms around her to stroke her back as she cried, because she couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Your highness," he said, "where is Princess Kitana?"

"Sh-she told me to hide," she said with a blubber, rubbing her eyes with one hand and clenching Ermac's robe with the other. "An-and I hi-hid, and she left. I don't, don't know wh-where she is!" She looked up at him, blinking the tears away the best she could. "Wi-will you leave too?"

"No," he said. He picked her up, allowing her to nestle into his chest. "We shall take you home."

Jade bit the inside of her cheek, stubbornly directing her gaze downwards. She refused to look anyone in the eye, instead opting to stew alone in her shame. It didn't matter much to the people around her anyway. The maid by her side was still fully able to wipe the scratches on her face. Shang Tsung was off by the wall, arms crossed and mouth pointing down. The young Shokan prince was staring out the window. Lastly, The Kahn was pacing back and forth in the middle of the room. He hadn't yelled at her, but still made his displeasure very obvious.

She hadn't tracked the Princesses down; she had fainted, and been brought back to the palace by Baraka, who happened to find her. The Tarkatan, however, had been delighted with her for killing the peasant so brutally, but also a bit miffed for not leaving anything for him. Shortly after dumping her off, he'd returned out to continue the search.

The doors to the hall opened. Ermac hovered inside, carrying in his arms…

"Daddy!"

Shao Kahn rushed up to them, taking Mileena and hugging her tightly, simultaneously hiding her face from everyone's view.

"You will all leave now!" he said. The maids and servants dissipated in less than a heartbeat. He turned his attention back to Mileena, caressing her face and whispering soft words of comfort into her hair. "Ermac, do you have any idea of where Kitana is?"

"No, Emperor. They separated many hours ago."

"Then go back, and don't return until she is with you."

Ermac bowed, then opened the doors again with a small wave. Jade stood up.

"I will go too-"

"You have done enough for today!" Shao Kahn boomed.

Jade locked her jaw, so as to not retort, and sunk back to the sofa. Ermac, after a second's wait, left without her.

The young Shokan prince, Goro, cleared his throat. He looked so odd. So skinny and small, not at all as impressive or powerful as Sheeva, yet he still acted like he was. A bit like Kitana sometimes did, to be honest.

"Emperor, I understand your concern for your daughters, but my father is awaiting you. This meeting has been postponed many times already, and we wish to be done with it. Now that we have certain confirmation of Princess Mileena's well-being, perhaps you will consider attending?"

Shao Kahn regarded the Prince. Goro met his gaze without trouble. The Kahn nodded.

"Very well." He put Mileena down in the sofa next to Jade. "I must go, precious, but I will be back soon. Jade will see to you until then."

Mileena's face was still wet from tears. Her voice shivered as she hummed out her answer.

The Emperor left, Goro and Shang Tsung going with him. The vacancy in the room screamed after them, but was nevertheless unable to drown out Mileena's sobs.

Jade patted her leg. "Here, come."

Mileena crawled over and settled in her lap, submerging her face in Jade's chest. She quickly started crying again. Jade cradled her, gently rocking back and forth whilst shushing.

"I want Kitana to be back!"

"I know," Jade said, caressing her cheek. "I have an idea: why don't you go to sleep, and when you wake up, Kitana will be here."

Mileena nodded whilst still sniffling. She leaned back into Jade's chest with her eyes closed. Jade continued to rock her, murmuring soft words to rhythmic tunes.

"It's all right, you can sleep… I won't let anything happen to you ever again."

Kitana sat cross-legged in her cell, with her hands firmly in her lap. It was dark in there, so she couldn't see how it looked, but the walls felt uneven and the floor was dirty and cold. From every possibly direction, a dripping sound occasionally echoed. She'd tried to keep track of the time. But that hadn't gone so well. Hours had passed, that much she knew. Maybe two, maybe ten, maybe a hundred, who knew?

Probably enough for Father to have realized things were not as they should be, she suspected.

He would come. She knew with great certainty that he would. And if not him, then someone he'd sent. Maybe even Jade, unless she had gone to fetch Mileena. She hoped Mileena was all right. It was beginning to become cold in this place, it must be chilly outside as well. Mileena was always difficult to deal with whenever she was sick. Hopefully, she wasn't freezing right now.

She puffed out her cheeks and slowly breathed out. There was a knot in her stomach that hurt very badly. When would Father come for her? She knew he would, of course, but at what point in time? Would it be tomorrow, or in a week? Would there be time for her captors to return beforehand?

She yawned, then straightened up. She didn't want to go to sleep yet. She wanted to wait until Father came. And she would, she decided, even if that meant staying awake for days.

The dripping echoed around her, but then… it was replaced by a sizzling noise, coming from the door. It reminded her of something melting…

She bit her lip, expectantly leaned forward as the noise got louder. The sizzling stopped; the door opened. She didn't hear any steps or any indication that someone was going inside, but, on the other end of her cell, she saw two bright yellow eyes stare at her through the murkiness.

She jumped to her feet and dashed to them, enfolding her arms around a thin waist.

"I knew you would come!"

Reptile knelt in front of her and patted her down, his claws prodding her skin.

"Are you hurt, Princess?"

"Nope! Now get me out of here!"

He removed his belt, tied it around her before fastened it to himself again. Lifting her up, he began clambering up the rock wall. The ceiling scraped her back a little; the fabric of her dress got caught on the rugged surface. She shut her eyes tightly at first, but after a few paces she dared look down. She couldn't see too much, for Reptile's body blocked her view. It was still exciting!

The tunnels were mostly empty, save for a few torches in various places. The further they went, the closer they came to a loud racket. Steel against steel, grunts and yelps intermingled with exclaims of "Pathetic!" and "You lack honor!"

Two men ran underneath them, going into the cave, speaking about how they needed to move her now that the Emperor had found them.

Reptile stopped right above them. He unhinged his jaw, letting a droplet of acid fall down on one of their heads.

"That's disgusting!" Kitana hissed as the man shrieked in pain. She nudged Reptile's arm. "Now do the other one!"

By the entrance, Sheeva was fighting ten men at once, with about ten more already lying beaten by her feet. She looked up at them, and swung her axe so it collided with seven of her opponents, ramming them to the ground. Reptile leapt, landing smoothly on his feet, then began running with Kitana scarcely noticing they weren't hanging upside down anymore. There was a squishy noise and some more screaming right before Sheeva joined them.

The cool night air made Kitana's hair whip around her head. She grasped Reptile's shoulder with a giggle. What a story this would be, to tell Mileena and Jade when she saw them again!

Kitana's homecoming was pretty much exactly what Jade had, if not expected, then at least hoped for.

The Princess, Reptile, and Sheeva arrived in the middle of the night, with a smiling and unhurt Kitana basking in the attention. All of the servants fussed greatly over her, bringing food, clothes, and sweets, and promising to tap at least three baths for her. She gracefully declined, saying she would wish to sleep a little prior to anything else.

The Kahn commended his enforcers and hugged his daughter as he told her to be careful when she ventured outside next time. She promised – to try, Jade guessed.

"Come on, it's time to go to bed," she said, pulling Kitana away from the crowd and towards her bedchambers.

"Perhaps I should have accepted those sweets anyway…" Kitana said wistfully.

"You can eat them later this afternoon. Someone's waiting for you."

Kitana's bedchamber was entirely lit, the candles reflecting in the windows and the floor, causing the numerous kinds of blue fabrics to stand out against the midnight sky. In the middle of the giant bed, a small wispy creature lay cuddled up in a bundle of blankets. Kitana skipped to it, gently shaking it awake.

Mileena's hair splayed in every possible direction as she slumberously sat up, but then her tiny face livened up.

"Kitana!" she said as she slung her arms around her sister's neck.

"Guess what!" Kitana said after she'd untangled herself from Mileena's surprisingly strong grasp. "I saw Reptile melt someone's face off!"

Mileena gasped, but before she could think to ask any questions, Jade stepped in-between them.

"That sounds lovely. How about we discuss it at length after breakfast?"

Kitana climbed into her bed to lay down next to Mileena. Jade curled up in the armchair next to the bed, folding her legs beneath her and leaning her head on the armrest. She smiled at the sight of the two sisters snuggling each other in a jumble of blankets, pillows, and limbs. She closed her eyes. Normally she hated sleeping with the lights on, but today she might just manage.

The atmosphere relaxed. No noises existed bar quiet breaths of sleeping Princesses. The candles glowed softly with the promise of not letting anyone uninvited surprise them. The palace, the capital, the realm was finally at peace.

And then, a gasp.

"The ball! We forgot it outside!"

"Kitana…"

"We shall have to go back for it later-"

"Go to sleep."

The bush in front of the hole was uprooted without difficulty; Ermac flung it to the side. Reptile knelt by the cavity, examining the breach.

"Big enough for a grown man," he said. "Must've have taken months for it to be done."

"Months…" Shao Kahn said, turned, and began to march with his hands clasped behind his back. The guards appointed the night shift for the eastern wall knelt before him. Sweating. Shaking. "Tell me, how does something like this get overlooked by you, my elite guards, for months?"

One of them wriggled, but said nothing. Everyone else remained still. Baraka whetted his blades behind them. Sheeva had her axe drop to the ground with a bang that startled three of them.

"Perhaps it wasn't overlooked." Shao Kahn halted; finally deigned to look at them. "Perhaps it was ardently ignored…"

"Emperor, please, we-"one of them said.

"Silence!"

The guard shrunk back into place.

Shao Kahn resumed his walk, making a small wave with his hand. Ermac and Reptile took their places by Sheeva and Baraka's side.

"I hadn't wished to do this," Shao Kahn said.

Baraka cackled.

Thank you for reading, and please review. Positive or negative, it will be appreciated.