Hey everyone, I'm back! (At least for a short time.) First of all, let me apologize for my LONG absence. For those of you who haven't read my profile yet, the reason for my absence is because of the fact that I lost the Internet AGAIN—one of the setbacks to living in the mountains—not to mention (and I actually haven't written this in my profile yet) that my old computer had decided to go bust on me. (Make a note of this, writers: NEVER buy a computer from Hewlett-Packard. If you have one and are writing your FanFics on it, be sure to save them all on your flash drive, because they become a pain in the neck when they die on you.) But enough said, I promise to finish the story as quickly as I can, considering I am currently enrolled in college and won't have much time to write anything else. Also, I would like to thank my friend Story Teller 9212 for helping me out as co-author, and I would like to thank everyone who has favorited the FanFic. And now, on to the next chapter!

CHAPTER 5: OMI

A couple hours earlier, the Kombatants were waiting in Walter Wolf's palace, the group of the former in a divided semi-circle (Earthrealm warriors on one side, Outworld warriors on the other), while the latter sat in his throne. Escorted by four guards, a brawny-looking figure clad in a red and black bodysuit and his eyes the only thing not covered by the cloth wrapped around his head and face entered the palace.

"Kombatants!" announced Walter. "I present this latest creation of Aku! He is many warriors, their souls fused into one being. Behold . . . Shere Khan!"

As the guards departed and he stood in the middle of Walter and the Kombatants, Shere Khan moved his hands and conjured a green aura around him. In the group of Earthrealmers, Ron and Boog looked at him with uncertainty; while in the group of Outworlders, Yosemite Sam chuckled sneakily as he nudged Kimiko in the arm (much to her appalment).

Shere Khan then drew the green aura back into his body.

Samurai Jack turned to his pupil, Omi, with concern. "Be wary, Omi. He is unlike anything you have fought before."

"Omi!" exclaimed Walter. "You are the sole Earthrealm warrior to progress to this final stage of the tournament!"

Facing his towering enemy, Omi became serious as he got into a fighting stance. "I am ready."

Shere Khan stood ready. "We are many. You are one. We will destroy you."

And with that, the two warriors fought, with Shere Khan using his energy and telekinesis to push Omi away, while the aforementioned Shaolin warrior used fire and his bicycle kick. The fight finally ended as Omi crouched down and knocked the multiple-soul-infused warrior on his back.

Omi stood over his taller opponent. "Earthrealm will not fall into your master's hands."

With Samurai Jack and Timmy satisfied with the results, they and the other Earthrealm Kombatants left Walter, the unconscious Shere Khan, and the other Outworld allies alone.

Approaching the greedy old sorcerer, Kimiko mused aloud. "He is a greater threat than anticipated. I will ensure he does not reach the final challenge."

Without responding, a miffed Walter nodded once in acknowledgement of the princess before she departed. Unbeknownst to her, the old sorcerer gritted his false teeth for a second.

Back in the courtyard, Omi (now wearing just his pants) was channeling his energy.

"Remember Po's teachings;" reminded Samurai Jack, standing by his pupil's side, his arms across his chest in seriousness, "for my vision to be realized, you must not let emotion overpower you."

"Your visions—what causes them?" inquired Omi confusedly, with concern.

"My future self sent them to me. Perhaps to ensure some outcome."

The young Shaolin warrior shrugged. "Or to prevent one."

It was then that Samurai Jack saw the vision of his future self, weakly rasping out: "He . . . must . . . win."

As the vision ended, the Thunder God briefly looked away from his pupil for only a couple seconds. "'He must win.' Those are my last words before I die. I believe it is you who must win." He then took off his cracking amulet. "My amulet was forged by the Elder Gods. It cracked here in the present after my first vision. If we choose wisely, it will be secured and the cracks healed."

Omi then nodded in reassurance. "I trust you will make the right decisions."

"We must trust in the Elder Gods, Omi." In a bolt of lightning, Samurai Jack disappeared elsewhere, leaving the Shaolin warrior to go back to preparing himself for the tournament. It was then that an angry Kimiko entered the scene, facing Omi.

Sensing what was about to come next, Omi engaged in the brief scuffle with the princess, blocking her attacks before kicking her away from him. As Kimiko came back again to retaliate, she threw punches at Omi, only to have the Shaolin warrior grab her by the fists.

Partly enamored with her attractiveness, partly intrigued by her fighting skills, and partly skeptical that she seriously wanted to fight him, Omi held Kimiko's fists in place as he wore an impressed smirk. "You're good! Show me more."

Pushing him away, Kimiko warned, "Do not underestimate me, Shaolin."

As the two fought, Omi dodged Kimiko's fans while the princess bobbed and weaved away from the Shaolin warrior's fireballs. As the two Kombatants jumped in the air, Omi got the upper hand as he pound-drove Kimiko in the back, sending her back down to Earth and ending their skirmish.

The Shaolin warrior smirked, nodding, as he looked down at the defeated princess. "I am impressed."

As Omi walked toward her, Kimiko stayed on her hands and knees in shame. "Do it."

"Do what?"

"Kill me."

Omi kneeled down to look at her directly. "Why would I want to do that?"

"I came to kill you. I have failed my father. My emperor."

"Aku is your father?" asked the Shaolin warrior in surprise.

The princess continued. "I have disgraced him. You must kill me."

Omi, smiling amiably, politely protested, "I will not." A shocked Kimiko looked at the Shaolin warrior straight in the eye before he continued. "Our encounter never took place. You have disgraced no one."

Kimiko looked confused as the Shaolin monk got up and walked away, but not without the latter stopping and slightly turning toward her as he wore that same smile. "I hope we meet again. Under . . . different circumstances."

As she watched the short warrior walk off again, she looked conflicted and confused.

Later that night Omi, along with Timmy Turner and Samurai Jack, entered Walter's outdoor arena; the aforementioned sorcerer looked at them with a steely gaze, Kimiko still wore that conflicted look on her face, and Kim and Boog were on edge, knowing that the final challenge was nearing for their little ally. The three stood close in a triangle shape.

"Kombatants!" exclaimed Walter. "Only one Earthrealm warrior remains. The Shaolin, Omi."

As the sorcerer spoke, Samurai Jack nodded once to Omi, before Timmy extended his arm and rested his hand on Omi's shoulder like a brother, a thin smile on his face as he nodded once to his close friend, indicating his belief that the bald little warrior will win the tournament.

With that, the buck-toothed Shaolin warrior and the Thunder God departed their friend as Omi walked into the arena.

"Is he ready to bear such a heavy burden?" continued Walter. "Earthrealm's fate is in his hands."

As Omi looked at the malevolent old sorcerer, Walter exclaimed to him, "Your opponent will be . . . Barnyard Dawg!"

Appearing out of the flames, Barnyard Dawg faced his opponent.

Omi got into a fighting stance as he faced the Shirai Ryu ninja. "I do not fear you, demon."

"Fighting with Barnyard Dawg . . . the sorcerer Freakshow!" exclaimed Walter, before the aforementioned white-skinned sorcerer appeared out of his portal, standing next to Barnyard Dawg, chuckling.

Barnyard Dawg snarled at Omi. "You have already lost."

As the two-against-one fight wore on, with Omi narrowly escaping Freakshow's teleport drops and flying skulls and Barnyard Dawg's spear, the Shaolin warrior incapacitated the Shirai Ryu ninja assassin with a flying kick, leaving the white-skinned sorcerer left. After Omi delievered a bicycle kick to Freakshow's face, the Shaolin warrior dropped to the ground and delivered a hard uppercut to the necromancer's chin, sending Freakshow up into the air.

As he was suspended in the night air for about three seconds, the white-skinned necromancer groaned agonizingly. "I'm getting too old for this."

As he saw Freakshow drop back to Earth, Omi finished by sending a kick under his enemy's jaw and landing on top of Barnyard Dawg.

Omi watched Freakshow painfully fix his jaw into place and Barnyard Dawg underneath him angrily snap his fingers as if you say "DRAT!"

"As I said," announced Omi, his attention on Barnyard Dawg, "I do not fear you. I pity you."

Overlooking the results, Walter's face turned red while he ground his dentures with Kimiko by his side feeling uncomfortable with the vibe she felt coming off of the old sorcerer.

As his apprentice walked over to him, Samurai Jack nodded. "You have done well. But the tournament is not yet over.

Omi knew what the Thunder God was hinting at as he said aloud, "Francis."

Cocking an eyebrow from under his shades, Ron turned to Kim. "Who's Francis?"

The Special Forces officer cocked an eyebrow as she shrugged either shoulder.

"Omi . . ." paused Walter, ". . . it has been years since an Earthrealm warrior has progressed this far. But the reigning champion is far beyond your ability."

As he looked up at the old sorcerer, Omi drew in his breath and let it out slowly.

"To the lair with you!" shouted Walter before forming a hole beneath the Shaolin warrior and sending the bewildered Omi screaming to the bottom of wherever the portal led him.

Hitting the bottom, Omi slowly picked himself up as he shook off the dull pain from the fall. Looking around, he saw what looked to be a dungeon with pairs of glowing orange eyes staring at him, and he saw what looked to be a throne, but no one was in it. A chill ran up his spine as he heard heavy breathing. As his eyes darted around, it did not occur to him that a brawny, four-armed, towering entity named Francis was literally behind him.

The Shaolin warrior spun around quickly as Francis spoke, "I did not expect to fight in this tournament. But eventually even the Shaolin produce a warrior worthy of a Shokan."

As the Shokan approached him, Omi scowled, throwing all caution to the wind. "I know who you are! I am ready for you!"

"I will give you a warrior's death."

And with that, Francis was the first to strike by executing his arm spin, striking Omi with his four massive arms about three times, knocking the little Shaolin warrior to the ground before performing his stomp and sending his enemy flying in the air.

However, Omi wasn't going to give up so easy as he shot three fire balls at the approaching Francis, followed by his Flame Dragon Kick, his Bicycle Steps, and finished the Shokan prince by throwing an uppercut under the jaw and kick to the face much like what he did to Freakshow earlier.

Unconscious and scorched on his chest and face in a cartoonish fashion, Francis laid on the ground unconscious as Omi stood over him, trying to calm down as he breathed in heavy anger before extinguishing the fire from his hands. "The Shaolin trained a warrior greater than a Shokan."

Standing normally, Omi put his hands together and breathed slowly, finally calming down before noticing the portal floating over his head.

Above ground in the palace, everyone awaited for how the fight had ended. As the portal appeared, Walter stood up from his throne in anticipation. The energy from the portal formed a figure and as it dissipated standing in its place was . . .

…

…

…

…

…

Omi. Much to the relief of Samurai Jack, and much to the annoyance of Walter, his face a rage-filled shade of red with steam blowing a sharp whistle from his ears. As he calmed down somewhat, Walter stepped forth to Omi and faced him.

Omi stood ready for another fight as he announced firmly and seriously, "Walter Wolf! Only one fight remains! Face me . . . in Mortal Kombat!"

The old greedy sorcerer stood ready as he stated eerily, "So be it."

And so the fight raged on—youth against elder, warrior against sorcerer, good against evil—even as Walter drained some of his energy and turned into an exact copy of him for a short time, Omi fought the sorcerer tirelessly. And it all ended as the Shaolin warrior sent a flying kick into the old sorcerer's face, sending his dentures flying out of his mouth as his incapacitated body skidded across the floor.

Hacking, Walter Wolf dragged himself in front of Omi before quickly swiping his dentures and putting them back in his wrinkled maw.

"Say it!" hissed Omi.

With a bruised face (and a couple crisscrossed Band-Aids anywhere on it), Walter craned his neck upward. "I concede."

Behind him, Omi's friends applauded for him.

"Yeah!" cheered Kim.

Tarzan nodded with a thin smile.

Timmy grinned. "Well done, Omi."

Even though he didn't show it on his face, Samurai Jack was also happy with the results. "He has saved Earthrealm."

A golden aura seemed to fill the palace for a moment.

"That was awesome, Omi!" congratulated Kim as she and her friends approached the champion.

Boog saluted the Shaolin warrior. "Congratulations."

"Way to go, dude!" rooted Ron. "Ultimate MVP!"

And with that, Walter and the rest of his allies walked into the portal leading back to Outworld. However, Kimiko lingered for a short while as she looked at Omi with admiration; even though it couldn't be seen due to her veil, the princess's eyes indicated that she smiled at him sweetly before the Shaolin warrior nodded his head in acknowledgment and respect, wearing the same smile he had earlier when they first met.

Facing Samurai Jack, Omi awaited his mentor's approval. The Thunder God set either hand on top of his fist and bowed from the waist, a small thin smile on his face; and in return, the Shaolin warrior did the same thing, only bowing his head. Omi's friend Timmy approached him and the two Shoaolin warriors knuckle-pounded.

Still wearing that same smile, Samurai Jack took off his amulet to see whether the present cracks would disappear. But to his dismay, a chiming sound and more cracks had proven the future had not changed for the better, leaving the Thunder God confused.

"You failed me!" roared Aku in his throne room back in Outworld.

With Dag, Randall, and Kimiko standing over him, Walter Wolf was on his knees, his face pained from the emperor's verbal lashing. He dared not look up at the emperor who was, well let's just say that the word "disgruntled" would be a severe understatement.

"Five hundred years I have waited! Now I must wait five hundred more!" Aku ranted on.

"My lord," pleaded Walter, "all is not lost!"

Growling, Aku turned away to sit back in his throne, muttering. "Curse the Elder Gods and their tournament. I should have taken Earthrealm by force. But I am bound by their rules. Rules which cannot be broken."

"My lord—"

"Kill him."

Dag and Randall grabbed Walter by the arms, while Kimiko stood behind the sorcerer, taking out her fans and extending the spikes from them.

Walter had to think of something to spare his miserable life, and he had to think fast. In about half a second, he hastily and frantically came up with something. "But what if the rules were changed?"

Wanting to hear whatever drivel the sorcerer had to say, Aku raised his hand before briefly directing his attention to the princess. "Kimiko."

The princess held her deadly fans back, waiting.

Leaning forward slightly in his throne, Aku faced the nervous Walter Wolf again. "Continue. . . ."

Uh-oh . . . what does Walter have up his sleeve now?
(Okay, considering it's a parody to Mortal Kombat 2011, we MK fans most likely know already what's going on—I just wrote it for dramatic purposes.)
Stay tuned for part two of Mortal Kartoons!