Checkmate
"Heartache number one was when you left. I never thought I could hurt this way. Heartache number two was when you came back again. You came back, but you never meant to stay." ~Guy Mitchell
*Centuries Ago at the Nexus*
"Eunomia. Eris. Aisa. You three have sworn to protect not just Edenia, but all the Realms in existence. Do you three still abide by this oath?"
"Yes your highness!" Eunomia responded as she bowed.
"Of course your highness!" Eris responded as she bowed. However, Aisa didn't respond.
"Is it really possible to protect EVERY realm in existence?" Aisa asked. Sindel nodded.
"Not everyone is going to join us immediately. That's what I have you three for—my most trusted mediators. You are the only three I truly place my faith in. My secrets, my motives, my life, my future…I leave it all to the three of you." Sindel praised.
"I…I still have my doubts about the success of our alliance as well…respectfully so your highness." Eris also stated. She seemed a bit troubled.
It wasn't unusual for her to seem a bit on edge, however, as she was the one who was chosen to be the mediator for the Chaos Realm. Although successful with her mission there, she hasn't been the same ever since. No one knows why, nor do they question it. Maybe it was a curse from being exposed to the realm for too long, or maybe she saw something that she couldn't remove from her memory.
Being the mediator of Seido and the creator of the Seido Guard, Eunomia has more of an advantage when it comes to defending the universe and securing a direct alliance between the Realm of Order and Edenia. However, this has hindered her from gaining the trust of other realms who despise the controlled environment that the Seido had become ever since she aligned with the realm.
Aisa wasn't as successful as the two. Being the mediator of smaller realms may seem like a decent accomplishment, but without the assistance of the much larger realms, it would be difficult to keep threats against the smaller realms in check—especially at a time where Outworld is constantly conquering them.
"Your doubts are acknowledged. Please remember, no accomplishment in life comes immediately. That's why everyone has a future." Sindel responded.
"And what if one of us were go rogue?" Aisa questioned.
"We were the only ones to successfully complete the Trial of Corruption. The One Being's presence cannot taint our souls." Eris responded.
"We cannot judge right from wrong solely based on our own feelings, Aisa." Eunomia added. "The safety and security of our universe is the only thing that matters. How we make it happen…."
*Present Day*
Anomaly continues to stare at Sindel's Corpse. Her expression was dull—dead. She didn't know what reaction she was supposed to have. The two weren't close friends, but more like distant family. They didn't communicate all of the time, but they always supported each other in their time of need. Even while in captivity and enslavement, the two continued to try and reunite in Edenia once more. However, Anomaly couldn't live in a world where their reunion would end due to Shao Kahn's presence. But sometimes, you can't go back…or can you?
"YOU IDIOT!" Eva yelled. Anomaly snapped back to reality. She looked over to Eva and the others, realizing that they were all back in Edenia once more. She notices that the clouds of Edenia were darkened, and flashing frequently. The voices of the Elder Lords began to roar across the skies of Edenia.
"Due to the recent death of the former Elder Lord Sindel, the rules of Mortal Kombat have been changed. From here, now, and forever more, Outworld must complete a total of 10 out of 12 tournaments when facing off against a realm that is allied with Edenia spanning one century per tournament. However, if Outworld is defeated by said Realm, they will be permanently forbidden from ever having the opportunity of claiming said Realm. These are the new terms of all Future Mortal Kombat Tournaments."
The lightning and clouds fade away as the Elder Lords' voices disappear. Everyone becomes relieved as the storm had calmed down. Rain was oblivious to what just happened. Not many knew of Sindel's past other than her most loyal subjects. Sindel had kept many secrets over the years and has kept those secrets with these same people—one of those secrets being the truth about who she used to be.
"It seems I was able to buy everyone else some time." Anomaly stated as she continued to stare at Sindel's corpse. She moves her attention to Rain who attempts to walk towards Sindel's corpse. Anomaly pitches a fire ball in front of him, cause him to take a step backwards. "Don't even try it, step-son."
"Why would you kill Sindel? You ruined Shao Kahn's plans!" Eva shouted.
"That was always the plan, Eva. We were never supposed to permanently work for Outworld." Anomaly responded. Eva clenched her teeth.
"I never agree to such a deceitful act. Lying is the worst form sin."
"Don't let the Shadow Priest stuff get to your head, Eva." She responded.
"So did you or did you not kill Sindel?" Raskal asked.
"No, it was definitely the vile." Ashrah responded. As Anomaly was distracted, Rain attempted to check Sindel's corpse again. However, he is interrupt by Anomaly's fireball once more.
"I promise the next one won't miss." She stated. However, when she looked back towards Ashrah, she noticed that Ashrah was too close for comfort. Ashrah grabbed her by the neck and raised her in the air. Rain used this opportunity to check on Sindel's Corpse. Ashrah attempts to use her Darkness Dispelling technique as she focuses all of the power from the magic circle into the hand that is holding the mistress's neck. However, the power has no effect on her as she creates a ring of fire and points her hand point blank towards Ashrah.
"How is it that I can't dispel your dark sorcery?" Ashrah asked. The heat from the woman's ring of fire began to make Ashrah sweat.
"If you can answer this one simple question, it might work against me. If you get it wrong, however…" The woman's ring of fire grows even stronger than before. At this range, it would completely incinerate Ashrah's body into dust. "So answer me this. Who am I? Who is the real me?" the woman asked.
Ashrah's couldn't wrap her mind over who this woman was—or atleast, figure out how Telsa would know her true name. She's had so many aliases in the past to the point where Tesla wouldn't know which of them her personas were and which of them were legitimate.
"I…don't…" Ashrah was immediately about to give up as she released her grip around the woman's neck, until Rain grabbed her arm.
"It's ok." Rain comforted. "We know." Ashrah nodded as she returned her attention to Anomaly. However, she was still hesitant to actually state her name due to her desire to keep Quan Chi's spell from disintegrating her sister. At that moment, she remembered one key piece of knowledge about her sister that would keep her identity a secret: Tesla is still a resident of Edenia.
"Your name…is Anomaly." Ashrah responded. Anomaly grinned heavily. Her ring of fire disperses into nothing. However, she uses an upper kick to Ashrah's jaw, causing her to be released from her grip. Rain attempts to slash Anomaly's abdomen, but she easily fades through it using her shadow walker technique.
"You killed her too?" Eva questioned. Anomaly simply frowned at Eva.
Suddenly, she was struck by a powerful shoulder charge from Reiko. He is able to knock Anomaly a few feet away, but she's able to stay on her feet. As she looked in his direction, she saw many warriors from Outworld. Among them were Sheeva, Shang Tsung, Reptile, and…
"Shao Kahn."
"Anomaly." Shao Kahn responded. He was holding his hammer in both hands as if he were deciding on Anomaly's fate.
"I know why you're claiming these realms as you previous emperor had. The difference is that he actually had respect for his allies." Anomaly ridiculed.
"His respect only went so far, as you've witnessed."
"Edenia is my home. Always has, and always will be. I can't just let you take it away. Not again." Anomaly stated.
"Edenia's fate was sealed once you killed Sindel. Because of you, my conquest is at risk!" Kahn responded.
"It's not going to be enough to stop you. As long as Armageddon still exists, there will always be another. It doesn't matter who rules Outworld, it will always be the same. Therefore, I will make it my mission to completely destroy the realm of Outworld." She Threatened.
Unbeknownst to her, Reiko was right above her—hammer in hand. He slammed his hammer towards her skull, but she complete fazed through it. As the hammer touches the ground, she backhands Reiko across the face. Everyone was expecting a loud smack. Instead, they were shown the true strength of the Sorcerer.
Reiko's blood splatted across the fields. The left side of his face was barely recognizable. He was staring direct Rain—at least, with one of his eyes. Anomaly's hand was leaking with his blood as it poured from her hand like a water faucet. Rain was startled by what she had done. She glanced at Rain and nodded. She then turned her attention to Shao Kahn as she pulled Reiko's hammer from his cold hands. However, the hammer disintegrated in the palm of her hands.
Shang Tsung raise his hands in the air as he sung a chant. Eva prompted Ashrah, Rain, and Raskal to move back a bit. Anomaly looked upwards and saw fireballs raining from the sky. Ten? Twenty? Hundreds? She could really count as she needed an exit strategy. She can't faze through objects laced in blood or magic. Reiko's biggest mistake was using his magic for the shoulder charge, expecting it kill her.
"Everyone…I'm sorry." Anomaly sobbed. She raised her hand towards the sky. As the fireballs began to shower her down, green sparks could be seen from her position. Both Eva and Shao Kahn felt the presence of thousands from Anomaly's position.
As the shower ended, Anomaly jumped out of the steam cloud hold a four-sided boomerang in her hand. She slung the boomerang towards Shang Tsung at a break neck speed. The Boomerang was deflected, however, as Reptile rushed in front of Shang Tsung. His right claw was chipped and bleeding. Anomaly smiles at the fact that Reptile had become so easily injured by her attack. Just as she thought, his armored skin does indeed have limits.
As Anomaly is close to landing on the ground, Sheeva slams both of her feet onto Anomaly's spine. Sheeva smiles in victory. Her smile was in vain as her body began to rise from Anomaly's. She was thrown into a nearby tree by an unknown force. Anomaly rises from the ground as if nothing had happened. However, she still seemed to be a bit exhausted.
"How is she still alive after taking all of that?" Raskal asked.
"She used the souls of warriors she's killed in the past—including those from Edenia." Eva explained. Rain was disgusted by what occurred. Anomaly continued to glance in his direction. This time, with a much more sympathetic look on her face. She alternated between him and Shao Kahn.
Ultimately, Anomaly decides to make a chant as she drew fire into the palms of her hands. Everyone was confused about what she was planning next. Unlike before, she wasn't creating a destructive spell. It was more like something Eva and the trio experienced previously. Similar to the reality that Anomaly had them in a while ago.
"You're were right all along, Shao Kahn." She announced in a more distorted voice. It sounded as if multiple people were speaking at once. Her body began to glow orange as six emblems of fire began to surround the ground below her as she began to levitate. "I'm just going to start over again and create a different Universe. And this time, I'm just going to outright kill you to ensure that you never claim Edenia!"
"It'll be a universe that you'll never see, Aisa." Ashrah responded casually. Suddenly, Anomaly's powers vanished. She fell back onto her feet, powerless. Her eyes widened, and her stature was that of a statue. She stared directly into Shao Kahn's eyes.
Everyone alternated their attention between both Ashrah and Anomaly. A portal appears behind Anomaly and she is pierced by a fiery spear from behind. She felt a sharp pain in her chest as blood began to soak her clothing.
"What…is this?!" she shouted. Suddenly, she looked back through the portal and saw a heavily injured Scorpion, along with Noob Saibot. It seems that regardless of the Shirai Ryu's downfall, the two of them came onto terms with Shao Kahn to defeat the greater evil. "Dang it…"
Scorpion's mouth began to mumble words, but Anomaly was too focused on figuring out how Ashrah knew her real name. He quickly pulled Anomaly through the portal. As the portal began to close, Anomaly stated her final words.
"DANG IT!"
End of Chapter 10
(Upcoming—Ch. 11: Eva After)