Hey another chapter is here for you guys! I like how everyone seems to enjoy the little twists I've thrown in so far and be assured more will appear. Now lets get on with the story!

Shao Kahn dungeons

It had been a few hours since Alric and Sonya had been taken by Shao Kahn's forces and now here they were in the dungeons beneath the emperors palace. Sonya was sitting inside a cell that was enhanced to make sure her gadget's couldn't get her out of it. Alric on the other hand was chained up by his arms and hanging about a foot off of the ground.

The Prince was being interrogated by Kahn's head jailor Sheeva the Shokan and it wasn't going well for either of them. Sheeva had tried every means of torture save having his soul sucked out but the prince wouldn't even mutter a sound in favor of glaring at the woman. Though Alric was in pain from the beating he was taking he would not give one of Kahn's lackey's the satisfaction of seeing him in pain.

"Enough Sheeva."

Immediately the Shokan female ceased her interrogation and kneeled to who had come into the chambers. The emperor of Outworld himself had arrived. He was accompanied by a much younger looking Shang Tsung, Kitana, Jade and Ermac. If at all possible the prince's eyes narrowed even further and pulsed with a his trademark silver energy.

"What has he told you so far Sheeva."

"Nothing yet my emperor. He has proven himself most resilient to any interrogation methods I know of. Personally I don't think any method will get him to divulge his secrets."

"What's the matter Kahn? Don't have the balls to do the work yourself? I can see why you had to poison Onaga since you are nothing but a sniveling coward!"

This got Alric a fist to the face by Sheeva. It didn't stop their as Kitana stepped forward and made a few deep cuts to his torso. Still the prince acted as if he felt nothing. Shao Kahn however just laughed at him thinking that the man was all bark and no bite.

"You are quite spirited Prince. Still you took away my chance to conquer Earthrealm and you have now made me an enemy. An enemy you will soon fear and submit to."

Now most would feel a little intimidated by the way Kahn had said that but Alric wasn't. Instead he laughed! He laughed right in Shao Kahn's face as if he had heard the greatest joke of his life! Truly the prince did find this entire thing hilarious, did they honestly expect him to be afraid of some overgrown assclown?

"Sorry bone head but I've been your enemy far before you even knew of my existence. And let me tell you that by the time all is said and done YOU will be the one begging ME for mercy right before I take your head for a trophy. And if you think that's bad just wait until you see my friends cause what I would do to you will seem tame by comparison."

Kahn cast a final glare at the young prince before stalking off with his warriors in tow. Sheeva soon continued with torturing Alric as Sonya could only sit their and watch. Yet still Alric's smile never left his face.

Shaolin Temple

All of the warriors of The Realm of Balance were currently getting ready to travel to Outworld to participate in the new tournament that was supposed to end the threat of Outworld for good. The Earthrealm warriors were getting ready as well though they made sure to stay far away from the others and for good reason.

Johnny Cage had tried to comfort Karolina after she lost Alric but was nearly killed by her as soon as he said the first word. The other weren't much better and threatened death upon any who spoke to them of what just happened. They didn't want or need their sympathy.

While going to their individual rooms to prepare themselves for the upcoming tournament they had fund gifts in their room from Alric himself. The notes with them said that they were gifts for winning the tournament and for following him. None of them hesitated in tearing open the packages and taking in their new gifts which happened to be new attire straight from the Balance Realms greatest tailor/armor smith. Needless to say they were works of art.

Karolina though visited Alric's room to find a simple box containing his new attire as well. She decided to bring it with so as to give it to Alric once they saved him. No if's, she would save him or die trying. She hadn't even told him how she felt about him yet and already felt awful about not telling him before he was kidnapped. A mistake she would be sure to correct.

Walking into the courtyard where the Earthrealm warriors were located said warriors stared in awe at the new attire being sported by their assumed allies.

Ko and Terra both wore brown rags that looked finely weaved with shining bronze plates on their shoulders, hands and feet.

Hisen was seen next in an outfit similar to his old one but it as easily seen t be different from his previous attire. He wore black shoes with midnight blue pants embroidered with white and gold wave like patterns on his thighs and ankles. On his arms were black finger-less fighting gloves that had gold lines on the back of the gloves which reached all the way to his elbows. His torso was fitted with a midnight blue sleeveless shirt under a white shot sleeved jacket that had blue trimming at the end of the sleeves. The final piece of his new outfit was a white headband with a gold plate on it. Said gold plate was adorned with his family crest which consisted of an ascending phoenix with a star above it.

In his signature teleportation Dimos and Mute appeared also dressed in new attire. Dimos wore a sleeveless black coat that exposed his bear chest with matching pants that went just below his knees. He wore no footwear and had a gray colored cloak with a blood red inside.

Mute's outfit had a more modern look yet with some of her original features. First her mask was now red with a large demonic grin design. She still had the bandage wraps around her chest yet over I she wore a sleeveless denim jacket with a pair of black leather shorts. Bandages were wrapped around her hands in place of gloves andshe now wore a pair of maroon colored boots.

Wolf then made his appearance with his trademark emotionless mask still in place but his eyes burned with an intense anger not usually seen even in the most ferocious of beasts. For this attire he had forgone his beret but still kept his belt for his cards only it was colored red. A black down vest adorned his torso and was opened to reveal his bear chest while his bottoms were a pair of black and red camo cargo pants tucked into a pair of black combat boots. Finally on his arms he wore red fingerless gloves.

The final member to appear was Karolina completely ignoring the others to stand in the spot where the portal would open to take them to Outworld. The first thing she had changed was her hair was now down in messy wave and her mask was gone. Mascara and eyeliner was expertly applied accentuating her beauty even more than before. Her outfit had now become a black jumpsuit that ended at the middle of her thighs. It had a single shoulder strap and a sweetheart neckline with cutouts around her hips and red lines going down it. Her footwear consisted of a par of knee high black lace less boots with a red top piece. Her final adornment was a blood red cape that went all the way to the floor and started at the top of her bust. This outfit also served to partially obscure her scar while at the same time displaying her Aztec sun mark.

Johnny Cage was nearly drooling at the sight of her as all of the males from Earthrealm could only stare in shock. She practically looked like royalty with her new look. Before the portal opened though Scorpion appeared before Karolina and gave a respectful bow.

"Did you find out where they are keeping Alric," asked Karolina to the Netherrealm warrior.

"Yes I have. Apparently him and Sonya Blade were taken to the dungeons beneath Shao Kahn's palace. Yet Alric was soon moved after being tortured to Shang Tsung's Flesh Pits. I think the old sorcerer plans to experiment on him."

Karolina froze at this. Being tortured by the emperors' goons was one thing but being experimented on by that butcher was something else entirely different. She had to save him before that happened! She immediately turned to the other warriors.

"Alight as soon as we arrive I want Wolf, Dimos and Scorpion to come with me to free Alric and Sonya respectively while the rest of you will fight in the tournament until we return."

"And who put you in charge," demanded Lui Kang.

Faster than anyone could see Karolina had appeared in front of the Shaolin warrior with both of her laser tonfa's posed to take off his head. Though her yes glowed with the same silver energy that Alric produced startling everyone though Karolina seemed to either not notice or not care.

"I do not care for you Lui Kang and have no problem with ending your life here and now. The only reason you are still breathing is due to Prince Alric's mercy. Why he spared you I do not know or care but you will either help save him or I will kill you myself, are we clear?"

Lui Kang nodded his head quickly and Karolina backed away while sheathing her weapons. She nodded towards Koterra who nodded in return and began to chant as her hands glowed with her magic. A few seconds later a purple portal opened. Karolina stepped forward being flanked by Wolf and Scorpion. Dimos stopped just long enough to give Mute a parting kiss before joining the other three.

As soon as she was sure they were ready Karolina stepped into the portal quickly followed by the other three. They exited the portal and saw that they were in a massive desert. In the distance they could see the emperors palace and even closer was a disturbing looking forest. Turning to Scorpion Karolina gave him a brief nod which he returned before he started to walk towards the forest with the others following close behind.

As they walked Karolina promised herself that she would tell Alric how she felt once she had saved him. She had hesitated in doing so for too long and could wait no longer. And weather he accepted her or not at least she could then die without any regret's. She only prayed he felt the same.

Well there is the next chapter guys! Sorry for the late update but I am starting my semester at college so the only days I'll be able to write chapters will be on Tuesday's, Thursday's and on the weekends. Still review and/or pm me. Until then, Nicranger out.