DISCLAIMER: All Characters are owned by Nether Realm Studios, Ed Boon & Warner Bros. This story is also totally non-canon and a mish-mash of all MK events. There is also some mild sexual content and not suitable for young readers. You have been warned.
Also, thank you to the readers who are following the story at such an early stage.
CHAPTER 2. DAWN
The execution had begun.
"Accused of treason by the High Courts of Outworld, of the Lord Emperor — and her father, I hereby sentence Princess Kitana to death!" Shao Kahn announced.
The Emperor sends forth a firm hand towards Sub-Zero. Sub-Zero nods, and then faces the prisoner. She pleads with a simple look in her eyes, but the response was neutral and almost robotic. He grabs her arm and shoves her forward, meaning as to start marching towards the edge of a snowy cliff. The cliff was jagged and ended with a narrow tip that pointed in the direction of a rising sun. She managed to just briefly catch a glimpse of the light unravelling three dark towers in the distance. Jade, Reptile and Rain stood watching, like Sub-Zero also expressionless, but Shang Tsung's face was something quite disturbing. He exhibited the most diabolical grin and his pure white-out eyes read as though something planned was finally coming to fruition. Behind her, Goro was carrying a huge boulder chained to her anklets. She made one last attempt;
"Sub-Zero … please."
*"Death is the only way out," he merely stated, however his voice was not familiar. It sounded enhanced, like a machine.
Goro threw the boulder over the cliff with all his might. Kitana was instantly snatched like a rag doll. The weight dragged her all the way down to the pitch black, icy cold waters of hell.
And it was no doubt hell. As she hit rock bottom, there were piles of endless corpses lying everywhere in the void. Men, women, beasts, horses tied to their chariots, saviours, conquerors, warriors — children. She started to hear a sought of muffled wailing around her. The sounds of death started to rise and gain more voices, crying, pain, agonising screams. She looked around but not a single corpse was animated. Everybody was still. Suddenly, she found a tiny trace of light from the surface shining upon a familiar face. It was the young boy from the village. Eyes closed, dead like the rest.
Loss had filled her. Unexpectedly his eyes sprung open. She knew those eyes, they were serpent eyes. Slowly he started to smile, but the points of his grin had warped so far backwards that it became disfigured, blatantly showing teeth as wide as a Tarkatan Soldier. His eyes darted immediately towards her. The boy rose and started to swim rapidly towards the dangling, lonesome, helpless, murderous Assassin. She submitted into a state of panic and tried to pulling her chains; but then he opened wide his jaws of death.
There was a blood-curdling scream.
*Reference to Cyrax Dialogue in MK Annihilation the Movie.
WEST WING, HALL PALACE, OUTWORLD.
The morning sun beamed through the windows as a saviour to end the sleeper enslaved by her dark Wraith. She shot up quickly from her position, gasping for air. Kitana had sweated mildly but her heart rate began depleting when she saw the stoned walls of her bedroom chamber before her. In silence she tried to recollect her visions.
"Curse me," she whispered.
After a brief moment of pondering, she finally got up from her bed. As she was taking off her robes, an old Handmaiden walks in right on schedule. She dragged a grey and blue; twelve layered silk Kimono gown on her petit frame. Her hair-do was ornamented with hair clips, hair sticks, floras and beaded dangles. The structure on her head was a neatly, tightly polished, fanned up-style that looked painful to wear. Handmaidens whom were assigned to the Royal Imperial Assassins were accustomed to know everything and anything about them. It was as if they just ultimately had a built-in sensor with what Kitana, Mileena and Jade was up too anywhere within the palace. She casually started undressing the Princess off her silk robes. Kitana always felt she didn't require someone taking after her, but it was simply a custom that came with royal status. All the same, she still chose some of her accessories and put them on herself; like her weapon case, Fan Blades and gloves. Her assistant brought the rest of her soft uniform, help put that on, and then armour her up to prepare for training. Eventually, the Handmaiden would be seeing to her bath afterwards; and then dress Kitana for breakfast; ensuring the Princess only wore a dark blue Kimono at the Emperor's behest. Kitana's caretaker, was the longest, oldest withstanding now Head Handmaiden of all Kitana's handmaidens; and showed great honour to be it. Euphusia, would slit throats to keep her position at bay then let others primarily serve her Lady Master and there was a very good reason why.
It was unfortunate for those who would be attending a very, violent, temperamental Princess, who woke up in one of her worst moods — especially from last night's ruckus. Alas for them, Princess Mileena had gone through many Handmaidens.
KAHN'S ARENA, SKULL PALACE, OUTWORLD.
All six Imperials met at Kahn's Arena for their usual daily grind. Training in partnerships develops fighting in unison to enhance a strong combination of following attacks against their opponents. Jade and Reptile are sometimes at odds with each other. Even though she is trying to co-operate, she finds Reptile over-analyses not only his movements but hers as well. Her partner was a perfectionist — picking every little step, pivot and landing that she runs out of patience and eventually needs to tell him off like a little special child. She knows he means well, and they do occasionally compromise but Reptile needed some people-skills.
"So I'll throw an Acid Spit to stun them, then you follow with a staff grab and toss them over to me in which I'll move about one point five metres forward, X axis with a forty degree jump throwing a combination of strikes —."
"Reptile, why do you think my only initial attack is a staff grab?"
"I don't understand what you mean?"
"… nevermind."
Ignoring the hint, the clueless Lizard-man then continues his spiel; spitting at various lengths to show her the exact mark and what kind of flying kicks he'll follow through on them. Jade starts to zone out. She turned to her left to find Mileena yelling at Rain, whom is clearly ignoring her and doing his own thing. Rolling her eyes, she then came back to Reptile whom was still blabbering; then moved onto her right over at the horizon. 'Thank the Elder Gods we have those two'.
It was refreshing to see her closest companion's at least in perfect unison. They started off sparring one-on-one battles. Their contact was so fluid it was as though it were a tribal dance. Then after their little match, they would switch fighting together — emanating deadly combinations of wind and ice at some poor dilapidated statue. Kitana and Sub-Zero would stop to deliberate about some questionable manoeuvres. Nevertheless, it seemed like the grass was always greener over at the blue corner.
While conversing, Kitana pulls a fast one at Sub-Zero, luckily, deflecting it and shoving her punch over. Even being slightly surprised, he was able to grapple and hold her from behind, suppressing her wrists from trying anything else. Sub-Zero let her off and started lecturing Kitana about fun-and-games which made her laughter echo across the court yard. Jade found it truly admirable when Kitana was jovial but also somewhat made it very uneasy. Without fail the memory of that fateful day would resurface; Sub-Zero, Kitana and Jade — they were young and didn't know any better. She was glad those days were left behind, and Kitana had forgiven her; but Jade wished her close friend would just behave with her counterpart. Otherwise, many eyes are watching if not careful with their interactions.
Finally, Jade cut Reptile off;
"See them? They're synchronized because they listen to each other. Now, let's start from the beginning."
HIGH COURTS PALACE, MANGEN, SOUTH OF OUTWORLD.
The news of Kahn's threat somehow reached the City of Mangen and stirred the pot with the Palace officials. Immediately, the courts gathered at the table. Chieftan Kobatu, whom had ridden in battles alongside Kahn years ago, was insulted— keeping Edeniens refuge in his city. Ironically, he was keeping someone important but it was no Edenien. However, over the years he began to see the devastations that Kahn left in his wake and was becoming more disgusted with his former comrade's efforts of extinguishing certain groups. Mangonians were once very close to Zatterians and now almost obliterated to crumbs. Like a few surviving precincts in Outworld, Mangen was at peace with the Emperor solely because of their history. His city also mined and manufactured the Emperor's entire Armoury. As the years grew, so did Mangen's army and withheld a discreet alliance with an outsider. In the back of his mind, he had always contemplated about ascending into power.
One of the other advisors spoke.
"We have a spy in our midst. They accuse us of keeping an Edenien refugee camp here; but if they find out who we are truly withholding, Kahn will come after us with a heavy blade. We must find out who the informer is at once! Take them to the torture chamber for extraction."
"Counsellor Ming, then you will need to find them quickly. The Holocaust Army won't be easily defeated. Sacrifices must be made and people in this city will die. However, this will give us a chance to diminish Kahn once and for all," affirmed Kobatu.
"Yes, but we have a very formidable guest. He was once an Earth-realmer after all and the descendant of the Great Kung Lao who also fought and won eight consecutive tournaments —"
"And lost to one — Prince Goro — whom also happens to be the Lead Commanding Officer of that Army! Baraka and his Tarkatans are nothing to be worried about. The question is whether he is capable of getting rid of the Imperial Assassins all at once. Kahn's daughters are no concern to me. However, they do have powerful warriors originating from well-known clans such as Rain, Sub-Zero and Reptile — especially Reptile. One of the few surviving Zeterrians left to whom I'd like to convince crossing sides. That's if he wishes to see his race thrive once more. We may need more than one Earth-realm Warrior to defeat them together."
"That's true. Raiden possesses the greatest of Earth-realm Warriors; as well as a clan of Shoalin Monks, and right now, at this very moment, they are winning Shang Tsung's Tournament," another counsellor discloses.
Kobatu needed a moment of thought. This was proving to be quite a difficult task. None of this was going to be black and white because he knew the brutality of Kahn's Army and what they could bring. However, there is only one manoeuvre Kobatu set his mind on;
"Whether Raiden's forces are worthy or not is something we cannot wait for. By the time they come, we would have already been invaded, ravaged and dead. Kahn has a full plate co-ordinating which combatants to send to Shang Tsung's Island, therefore will be abiding his time. I also predict he'll invade in thirteen moons."
"How do you know that, Chief Kobatu?"
"Knowing that we are seemingly oblivious to their accusations, he has just ordered 10,000 pieces of Armoury to keep us busy. I have sent a message that it will be done and shipped in thirteen moons time. It will require his Sorcerers another seven moons to keep a wide enough portal open to reach our borders with the amount of cavalry and troops they will be dispatching. All the while, we will gather all our resources, all the Armoury we have made for them and dispatch our troops through in less than seven moons ourselves. Shao Kahn won't know we're coming. I think it's time to take the fight to North of Outworld."
SKULL PALACE, KAHN'S FORTRESS OUTWORLD.
"THAT IS INTOLERABLE! OF ALL THE NO GOOD, IMPOTENT, USELESS COCK OF FOOLS!" Kahn flung the table in mid air at Shang Tsung's informer, merely missing him by an inch.
"I have provided him with enough skilled warriors and we are LOSING?"
"The last descendant of Kung Lao is also of the Lotus Society and proves to be a formidable opponent. Kano is lined up in the next battle with Sonya; but Shang Tsung is asking for Goro my liege. He will destroy Liu Kang, just as he did to Kung Lao in the last tournament."
"You are infuriating me! Goro is to lead the Holocaust to Mangen. Only after that can Goro enter the tournament…my patience is wearing thin.
…Tell Shang Tsung not give Kano to Sonya just yet. We need to reduce the amount of combatants until then. Send a message to the Nether-Realm. We will be requiring Noob Saibot's assistance."
"But my Lord, he was no match for Scorpion. The descendant of Kung Lao —"
"Then Shang Tsung will need to do it himself! Now get out and do as I say!"
The messenger bowed and was about teleport but Shao Kahn raised his hand.
"Wait! Send a message to the Lin Kuei instead. There are a few test subjects I want to try. I believe their code names are CYRAX and SEKTOR."
"Yes, Master."
As soon as the messenger left, Shao Kahn banged the gong to summon a servant.
"Is my morning meal prepared?"
"Yes, my Lord," the servant bowed.
"Good, get my daughters join me."
Handmaiden Euphusia ensured steam rose above the scented bathwater and the entire eighty-seven or so lavender candles were lit; towelled pillows laid out upon the head side; body milk-washes were in reach; lilies floating in place and finally sweet, honey-due Dragon's wine poured into a goblet cup on the stone edge for her highness. The entire room had the essence of a floral valley ripe with honey-coated scents; and the bath chamber that was solemnly dedicated to only her Princess was as decadent and luscious as it could be. This was prepared day, by day, by day, by day.
Kitana entered with her clanking armour, and then started removing her gloves onto the seat. Euphusia immediately clicked her fingers at the other handmaidens standing by, and like busy little bees came scurrying towards their beautiful subject to assist with the removal. Once everything was stripped off, Kitana carefully walked down the steps of her steaming hot bath and rested her head on the towelled pillows; letting the warmth take her. She closed her eyes in pleasure.
"Is there anything else I can do for you Princess Kitana?"
"Euphusia, I don't think you can do any more for me than you already have. Your baths are always so heavenly."
"Thank you, Princess."
She took the time to hold her goblet of wine and lay for awhile. Then as Kitana decided to sit up a bit; Euphusia predicted her needs and grabbed the liquid milk-wash right next to Kitana, then handed it to her directly.
"Thank you."
Kitana lifted her leg up in the air and started to soap it down whilst humming a tune. Then she stopped to ask;
"Actually Euphusia, can you so kindly summon some music."
"Ah – yes…I suppose your highness," Euphusia needed a moment of thought as this is a most unusual request from the Princess and hasn't happened before. Luckily, the handmaiden knew some multi-talented kitchen hands.
Not long a minstrel arrived with an ancient instrument called the Guqin. It was a long and narrow sound box set with seven strings. He felt awkward being present in the Princesses bathroom. Fortunately he had cleansed himself before coming here and burned some incense to play with a peaceful mind. He set himself on the floor and started plucking the strings, producing floating rich tones and harmonious notes. The recital was very relaxing and to everyone in the room, became surprised with Kitana chanting to it. 'She must definitely be in good spirits today' her handmaiden thought in disbelief.
The song somehow flew out into the palace halls and echoed throughout the entire bath house section; that it made Sub-Zero look up from his book and found the two palace guards across him looking at different directions; sensing their discomfort from hearing such a sweet melody. Subordinates were expected to be within reach of their cohorts at all times. Once his cold shower was done, he had parked on a bench not far from Kitana's bathing quarters. It was also uncommon to hear song, music or amiable laughter in the Emperor's stone cold Fortress. The entertainment was usually a fight to the death between prisoners and servants; or your occasional executions. And when the Emperor and his advisors were feeling frisky, then music and chanting only came about with dancing women; who were then unfortunately escorted away into rooms for a long, dreary night. Sub-Zero shook his head and tried to go back to reading 'The Art of War' — a book Kitana lent him earlier; however even with his hard exterior maintained, he couldn't help that her serene song perked his ears up like a dog.
Mileena and Jade were also having their royal baths. Just earlier, Mileena decapitated the head of one her rookie handmaidens and left it floating on the water of a copper scented blood-bath. It was her thing, dipping herself in the rusty red juices of a young Virgin. After that, no one stuck around except for her trembling Head Handmaiden, Taimysh.
"What the hell is that sound?"
"I-I-I'm not – sure, your highness. But I-I will quickly go find out for you."
She left instantly.
Jade was also appreciating the relaxation of her pepper minted bath. Her Handmaiden in charge, Yanxia, was scrubbing her back.
"Do you hear that?" she asked her Handmaiden.
"Uh, yes, my lady. Do you know who it could be?"
"Well, I can't think of anyone else who would dare to sing in the palace and get away with it except for Kitana — or Mileena. Although, I doubt it is Mileena. She would sound more like a dying corpse letting out it's natural gases."
Yanxia couldn't help letting out a guilty chuckle, but Jade continued on.
"—and why would anyone sing, it is not exactly a place of joy. Kitana is the only one I know that could have that privilege without consequences … I hope," Jade resumed scrubbing her arm.
Meanwhile, back at Kitana's bath chamber, she abruptly ended her harmony and kindly asked the musician to finish up.
"Euphusia, please also give me a moment's peace. I'll summon you when I'm done."
Euphusia bowed and was about to walk off until Kitana spoke again;
"Oh and tell Sub-Zero to guard the door with his life. I don't want any interruptions at all."
Her look was deadly serious. Euphusia understood and closed the doors behind her. Handmaiden Euphusia also took it upon herself to ensure no-one would interrupt the Princess at any cost.
Kitana lied down in silence for awhile, staring at the ceiling, contemplating. Finally she downed the rest of her Dragon's Wine and slowly started to rub her hands on the side of her neck. Rubbing it a few times gently from her ears to the corners of her shoulder until she was convinced it was enough. Then one hand drifted away down to the Clavicle; across her navel; then below, reaching in between what mattered most. She arched her spine back and forth from such pulsing energy throughout her; and with each eager movement stirred a commotion that rocked the stillness out of the bath water. She kept her opposing fingers cup and caress the exposed part of sensitive flesh much to a desired motion. Her thoughts during the time of ecstasy remained enclosed in a delicate jewellery box with a Locke and no key; but whoever the token suitor was that Kitana let lose in her wild imaginations was helping her intensify the moment. No longer was the steam providing the heat for her but the warmth of her own body, constantly heightening the sensation; lowering; and rising again sending subtle vibrations to her lower abdomen. Naturally she was doing the work, although it felt like there were several strong hands moving about her; and every constant rise and plateau made her hips rock harder and put a crease on her frown; delving deeper to find a means to an end. Her eyes started to widen, then the rose started to bloom. She let out a small and suppressed quiet moan. More like a tiny wince, not wanting for all to hear. Perfectly relieved, she exhaled once more. She took a moment to gather herself collectively, then clapped her hands at once.
A door opened and Euphusia stepped in.
"I'm finished."
- END -
