Chapter 7: Zaterra

A week later as she feels a small light creeping through her closed eyelids and feels nothing but soft fabric from her bed underneath her naked body slowly Kitana opens her eyes to find Sub Zero missing from his spot before she slowly sits up as she rubs her eyes. Glancing around the room seeing Sub Zero's blue-garbed ninja outfit along with armor nowhere to be found reaching over Kitana grabs a nearby blanket and wraps it around her naked from as she stands up before she slowly walks over towards the balcony when suddenly a smile comes to her face when she sees Sub Zero in the courtyard doing his martial arts exercises. Slowly backing away Kitana returns into the bedroom before after a couple of minutes to get dressed she slowly makes her way through the palace and down towards the courtyard when suddenly she sees Jade approaching her.

" It has been done Princess. But are you sure that this is wise to do? From my encounter he has a false sense of loyalty towards the emperor."

" I am sure. I will meet with their council and offer them a deal they won't be able to refuse."

" And what deal is that Princess?"

" The chance to regain their freedom. To free themselves from the emperor's grasp."

Once she sees Jade giving her a nod slowly Kitana walks away from her and through the palace and out towards the courtyard before she slowly makes her way over towards Sub Zero.

" Still can't sleep?"

Coming to a complete stop Sub Zero looks over towards Kitana and gives her a small nod before he feels her grabbing his left arm and pull up his left sleeve to reveal a blinking red tattoo on his arm.

" I still don't understand. If this is meant to be a signal for you to return to the Lin Kuei temple then why hasn't it stopped?"

" It's more than that Princess."

As she gently rubs his arm Kitana looks up before looking deep into Sub Zero's eyes.

" It's a tracker. A way for the Lin Kuei to find it's members incase they ever went missing."

" Why would they be searching for you?"

Suddenly Kitana's eyes widen before she sees Sub Zero giving her a nod.

" They are coming for me. My fellow brothers will be sent here to Edenia by the grandmaster to retrieve me. Using force if they have to. I will however not allow that to happen."

Leaning forward Kitana gives Sub Zero a gentle kiss before she pulls back and gives him a nod as a small smile forms on her face.

" I believe you. We will worry about the Lin Kuei later. For now we must go. We have business to attend to."

Giving Kitana a nod Sub Zero slowly follows after her through the palace before he follows her to the outside of the palace.

" Business princess?"

" Yes. We are going to Zaterra to meet with their council about forming an alliance against Shao Kahn."

As he sees Kitana slowly leading him down a small path that goes into a forest Sub Zero gives Kitana a nod before after following Kitana for a hour through the forest when suddenly his eyes go wide when they arrive outside of the Edenian Ruins where a large pyramid can be seen in the distance.

" What is this place Princess?"

" This is the edenian ruins. Inside of this pyramid lays gateways to every realm. The pyramid that can be seen before you is called the Pyramid of Argus. A pyramid created by an edenian god named Argus. Legend has it the elder gods had this pyramid created if an ancient prophecy were to occur to use as a safeguard. A prophecy signaling the end of the world."

" Prophecy Princess?"

" Yes. The prophecy is known as armageddon. Centries ago it was written that if the one of the sons of Argus were to fall in combat an ancient warrior known as Blaze would awaken from his sleep and appear on top of the pyramid. This creature has immense power. It is said that anyone that was to defeat Blaze in combat would gain ultimate power of whatever their heart desires the most. But if Blaze was to emerge victorious in battle than existence itself will end."

Taking her eyes away from the pyramid Kitana looks over to see Sub Zero looking towards the pyramid with wide eyes before she reaches over gently grabbing his hand and leads him towards a small opening inside of the pyramid.

" If i may ask Princess why hasn't the pyramid been destroyed?"

" My father had been persuaded to leave the pyramid alone by the edenian council believing the elder gods would bring wrath down to Edenia if the structure was destroyed."

" What happened to Argus's sons? If they were to decide this fate then the Elder Gods must have taken precautions."

" The legend states that his sons were both put to an eternal sleep and hidden away inside on of the realms. No one is sure where they are hidden. All that it states is the brothers were hidden by the elder gods to ensure nobody could gain absolute power."

As he feels himself being lead around a sharp corner Sub Zero nods his head before his eyes widen he sees a few portals with the images of every realm inside of a room with a few ancient markings all across the walls. Feeling a small tug without looking away from the markings Sub Zero slowly follows after Kitana before suddenly he walks through a portal after Kitana.


For the next hour after traveling through a desert wasteland suddenly Kitana and Sub Zero slowly make their way forward towards a small ruins that are leading underground aware of a few creatures following them from the shadows. As they slowly near the ruins suddenly they come to a stop when they see a large form of a chamaflogued reptile making his way down the ruins before he lands directly in front of them and slowly reveals himself to be Reptile.

" I have expecting you Princess. Your messenger claimed you have a deal for Zaterra?"

" I need your help Reptile. Edenia needs Zaterra's help."

" And what can Edenia offer in return?"

" Freedom. For Zaterra to be free of Shao Kahn's grasp. With the combined might of Edenia's and Zaterra's forces we can bring an end to Shao Kahn. We can help each other gain back our freedom from the emperor."

For the next few seconds Reptile looks towards the ground before he looks back up and gives Kitana a nod.

" I will take you to the council. Follow me Princess."

Kitana gives Reptile a nod before she slowly follows after him with Sub Zero by her side. After just a few minutes of walking through the ruins suddenly Kitana is lead into a large room where a few others that look just like Reptile in human form are found sitting at a large stone structure with Sub Zero following close by her side. Looking over seeing Reptile give her a nod Kitana slowly makes her way forward towards the structure with Sub Zero next to her as she sees the other reptiles lean out of their seats.

" We have been told you have a proposition for Zaterra?"

" I come to you offering an alliance between Edenia and Zaterra. Together with our combined might we can free our realms from the emperor."

Suddenly Kitana witnesses Sub Zero take a step forward when she hears the leader of the Zaterrian council hissing towards her as he stands up from his seat.

" We've seen Shao Kahn's wrath. The realms left in barren wastelands. Zaterra wasn't destroyed because the emperor realized we make strong allies. But if we go against him now he will obliterate us."

" No. Together we can defeat him and take Outworld. Zaterra can be returned to it's former glory."

" What do you know of our former glory?"

" I see it all around me. Strong fearless warriors that will do whatever it takes to ensure the safety of their realm. If we join together as one we can defeat the emperor. We can bring peace back to each of our realms."

" Some of us have weakened, I fear."

Suddenly Reptile's eyes go wide as he takes a step forward and locks eyes with the council's leader.

" Be very carefully what you say."

" Someone has to say it. You made this alliance without our agreement. Even now Shao Kahn has ears and eyes everywhere. Just her presence here will bring down his wrath upon our people. Now at council a woman speaks for you."

" You dare say that to your commander!?"

" No longer. My allegiance is to Shao Kahn and not her."

Suddenly Kitana and Sub Zero take a few steps back when they see the council member quickly circle around the table before he is engaged by Reptile.

" Shao Kahn is not their ruler!"

Without giving his fellow Zaterrian any time to react Reptile sends a punch into the council member's chest causing him to take a couple of steps back before he quickly takes into the air and delivers a flying punch towards the council member's face causing him to fall to the ground. As he watches the council member slowly get to his feet Reptile circles around him before he sends a flying kick towards him that hits nothing but air. Seeing a high kick coming his way Reptile quickly throws up his right forearm to block the kick before for the next minute he goes back and forth dodging the council member's attacks as he dishes out his own wave of attacks when suddenly he lands a punch that sends the council member flying back a couple of feet face first.

As he sees the council member slowly rise up Reptile hisses over at his opponent before he quickly climbs up a cave wall towards a small structure when he sees the council member quickly retreating up the wall. Jumping up Reptile lands right before the council member before in a quick motion he sends a spinning back kick that causes the council member to go flying off the structure and down towards the ground below. Walking over towards the edge Reptile looks down towards the fallen council member with a glare.

" Do you hear a woman's voice now!? Die!"

Rearing back Reptile sends a ball of acid down towards the council member before seconds later the sound of the council member screaming echoes throughout the room as his body melts away. As he jumps down from the structure Reptile looks over towards the other council members seeing him each of them staring at him in silence.

" Who else will defy me!?

As he sees each of the council members giving him a nod slowly Reptile makes his way down the structure before he slowly makes his way over towards Kitana and Sub Zero.

" Impressive. An effective system to settle disputes."

" It is the ancient way. We risk everything by helping you. He may not be the last. The emperor will learn of my betrayal."

" It will be worth the effort."

" It better be. Time is running out. This war you have started must end soon."

" And it will. My forces have already cleared Edenia of Shao Kahn's forces and are prepared to invade Outworld as we speak."

" Just win this war."