WARNING: VERY MATURE CONTENT. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!

It was not an incorrect assessment that the former human had lead the cautious demoness deep into his private quarters, but what transpired while her teammate gathered his bearings and formulated a plan of attack was vastly different than what either had been expecting of the sorcerer...

Shang Tsung's private bedchamber was exceptionally well-lit; row upon row of standing candles swept through the vast space, weaving a very familiar dragon-shape if seen from above, the wicks currently simmering a romantic glow for lovers. Just above the serpentine myth was a circular assortment of cushions, pillows, and sheets, each more luxurious than the last, varying in shades of gold, rubies, and emeralds. A chessboard was positioned near one wall, the chairs built from the floor and curving like ribbons as the color ascended from the slate black of the rest to a vaguely heavenly white. Breathtaking as it might have been, each piece of furnishing more ornate and grand than the previous, what really drew the eye was the far window overlooking the shard of a realm that hosted rapidly changing times of day over a crystalline lake that Princess Kitana had once favored.

However, it was hardly the furniture that had Zyanya's eyes transfixed; having shown her into an armchair draped in a gold-threaded scarlet throw of finely crushed velvet, Shang Tsung had proceeded to show her his unbelievable body. Turning his back to her as he unfastened his humble vest and let it slide halfway down his muscular arms - a little past his elbow - he showed her something that revolted her, almost to the point where she could taste the bile rising in the back of her throat. Shang Tsung's enviable form, while almost completely restored to its former glory, was still knitting itself together in certain places, each movement tearing at the semi-visible seams, slowing down recovery.

Being Quan Chi's virtual shadow during her childhood, she had seen this same state many a time, but it never stopped disturbing her. The first time she had witnessed such a transformation as a little girl, it had given her nightmares for months, and even to this day the sight brought back the horrors of her unwitting discovery...

"Quan Chi brought you back from the dead..." Zyanya whispered, able to tell by the semi-rotting flesh torn between stages of decay and rebirth that he had been restored to life not that long ago, no less by one of the only people capable of such a feat as bringing someone back as they were before their death, "You look well for a man who was dead not that long ago." She wanted to make a joke to ease the knot in her stomach, but she was unable to even think up something appropriate enough for the occasion, "You don't smell very dead either".

He scoffed at her, buttoning his vest back into place- much to her relief - almost as if he were ashamed of his appearance, but from what Quan Chi had told her of him from the time Tsung had been imprisoned in the Cobalt Mines of Shokan to the time they had had to work with the Great Kung Lao and his friends to escape from a temporarily insane Shao Kahn, that was impossible, "I imagine you aren't that broken up about my current state," It was something she had learned first hand; that a corpse on the verge of life couldn't exert their psychical forms, so yes, she was actually not upset in the least, "Evren."

She looked at him in alarm, eyes wide, "How do you know that name?"

He smirked knowingly at the girl, running his hand alongside her cheek in a mockingly tender motion, "You don't think that Quan Chi would help me for nothing, do you?" He smiled as she shivered at the contact, whimpering as she failed at masking her true feelings from him, "In exchange for my help in a very urgent matter so many decades ago, Quan Chi promised that he would resurrect me in the event of my death. It was good insurance to ensure that he would not dare to lay a finger on me, and guarantee that when Shao Kahn failed to see any immediate purposes for me, I would not be dispatched so easily. While he reaped the benefits of his end from the very beginning, it would safeguard my own interest, that I would be protected in the long-term."

Monologuing, Shang Tsung was not too wrapped up in his game to revel in the obvious discomfort Zyanya was revealing, "Do you know what he promised to assure me that he would not double-cross me?" She had the feeling that she already knew the answer to that, but she remained silent. However, her refusal to say anything was answer enough for the sorcerer, "That's right: Quan Chi swore that he would honor our agreement on the life of his newborn daughter."

Assuming that he was telling her the truth, that also explained how her mother had been able to give birth to her; demons could get pregnant just like the denizens in any other realm, but being creatures of the Netherrealm, their offspring were born dead, never taking life on their own. However, in rare instances, like when a sorcerer saw an opportunity to obtain an obedient slave, it was possible to give life to the child. Apparently her father was not alone in taking a soul and transplanting it into her stillborn body... But wait a minute, if she had been born with her mother's death, did that not mean that she was carrying Mika's soul inside of her own body at this very minute? Having her mother's soul inside of her body would certainly explain her desire to serve Quan Chi without question, as well as the jealousy she felt as a lover...

By the gods...!

As much as she wished for the opposite to be true, Zyanya, or rather Evren, knew that he was speaking the truth, because her father had proven time and again that you couldn't even trust those you shared a blood relation to, "Why do I have the feeling there's more to your deal?" She wanted to cry at this revelation of her origin, but she knew that she might not get this chance to talk to the sorcerer again, so she had to try to set the crushing of her spirit aside just long enough to get some answers out of him...

"Smart girl - your father raised you well." As expected, she was somewhat adapt at postponing her own suffering, "Just before the Mortal Kombat tournament was officially announced, Quan Chi and I made a deal to resurrect any of the fallen warriors as we see fit."

Bitterness was laced into every other syllable she spoke, "And let me guess, I was my father's assurance of his cooperation once again?"

Immensely enjoying the emotions rolling through her body like an oceanic storm at war with an underground volcano, almost a bit too much for his current constitution, Shang Tsung grinned wickedly at the wounded animal, seeing yet another chance to get back at Quan Chi for their ongoing rivalry, "Obviously he cares about you enough to continue to offer the same price?"

It was her turn to scoff as the anger and resent bit away at everything else going on inside of her head, burning it all away, "More like I make a good empty promise on the surface..."

The iron couldn't have been any hotter or any more ready to strike with, "Perhaps you should make your father see that you aren't just his pawn to use at his own discretion..." Nor could his smile be any more obvious to the blind, "You could always help his enemy teach him a lesson. I'm sure that he has more than enough within this palace alone..."

She looked at him sideways as he placed an understanding hand on her shoulder, thinking instantly of Scorpion, "...Yes. But all the same, he is still my father, and I don't want to see him dead... I think I don't, at least... It's impossible to know what thoughts are my own anymore..."

"There are always ways you could maneuver around, telling your partner only what he needs to know to see your own ambitions through." He offered helpfully.

She shook her head, "Its enough that I already know who really killed his clan and have to hide it from him... I don't want to bring that poor man into it, because even if by some miracle he doesn't kill my father, I know that he would kill me - I don't mind dying so much - and he would certainly deserve that retribution for what he has lost, but I have hope that he can still find a better place, and if he gets all of that blood on him, I fear that he won't find the peace he deserves... No, I cannot involve Scorpion."

Shang Tsung had an answer for that, and naturally he had more than one for her, "You could offer him only select information and point him on the right path - help his soul ascend to that utopia you think exists, and put your troubles to bed all at once. But if that's too hard for you do to the man your heart beats for, than there is still another you could align yourself with-"

"While the combination would work well enough on its own, I have no desire to attack my father from that angle, sorcerer." She knew exactly to whom he was referring, and she refused to even consider that as an option.

He looked a tad bit disappointed, but he had more than enough to convince the girl of one course of action or another, "Then think on it before you decide. Pretend to do your father's work while you secretly plot against him - there are many souls here in Outworld, and I'm sure that one of them will be of use to you," He chuckled, once more brushing the side of her face with his hand, "Pretty little Evren..."

A/N: I might have possibly offended and repulsed many a reader with this chapter, but this was the plan the entire time, with the exception of her birth and Shang Tsung's resurrection. Mika was always going to be inside of Evren/Zyanya, but until recently I hadn't quite figured out how, and was actually planning her to have been put inside of her daughter at an older age. But remember, this story is rated M, so really, is it that surprising to have mature content? Ok, maybe this is pushing it... But, but, but! But my friend, when we were watching Conquest (and even after), kept saying how Quan Chi would probably fuck anything with a hole, and so this kinda formed and knitted itself together...

*UPDATE 6-20-13* Not that it exempts anything, but I should point out that the incest angle will actually have something to do with the plot. I assure you, that wasn't thrown in just because I wanted it there.

Review - don't let Shang Tsung read what's in your heart like he did to Zyanya/Evren, unless you like that sort of thing ;d I fail at faces lol.

Disclaimer: I don't own Mortal Kombat. That honor goes elsewhere. Like (but no limited) to Netherrealm Studios, the WB (or whatever they're calling themselves over at Warner Brothers), and Ed Boon. There might be more, but I'm no lawyer, and I'm certainly not versed in ownership rights, so I don't know exactly who owns what. I can, however, lay claim to Zyanya and other minor nameless characters, and I do.