Epilogue
Princess Kitana looked down on the carnage that lay before her. Her heart was absolutely devastated by the events that had transpired.
The Hemomancer known as Skarlet was partly responsible for the damage to Kitana's life, as was her own husband, Sub-Zero.
And now they were both gone.
So many had died; their innocent lives taken in the crossfire between the Edenian princess and the red-headed enforcer. Kitana wished so hard that she could travel back in time to reverse the incidents that had happened since she first fell in love with Kuai Liang. Leaving Liu Kang, running away and committing her life to Sub-Zero, to having her heart broken by her husband's unfaithfulness, and then losing all that were close to her.
Deep down, the Edenian Princess felt pity for the slain girl who had seduced her spouse, as she no doubt had her own emotions invested in a toxic and forbidden relationship. Had Kitana known that Sub-Zero and Skarlet would develop a mutual attraction before she fell in love with him, she would have gladly let the Cryomancer runaway with the sleek enforcer so that they could indulge in all the trysts they could possibly ever want. And then the Princess herself would have settled down happily would Liu Kang.
At that moment, a crack of thunder and lightning burst unto the scene, as Lord Raiden himself appeared.
"By the Elder Gods!" The Thunder God gasped, as he discovered the bloody scene. "Kitana! Are you alright?" he asked, racing towards the Princess.
The Edenian could no longer hold back as she broke down in front of Raiden. The God of Thunder held Kitana as she sobbed uncontrollably.
"Please…Lord Raiden…I cannot live like this any longer…you must destroy me…"
"No, Kitana. You must be strong… All that has transpired is not worth taking your life over…"
"The pain is unbearable…"
"I understand it feels that way now, but time has the ability to heal all wounds."
"This is not merely a wound, Raiden. This woman has destroyed my life! Liu Kang, Sub-Zero, Jade… They're all dead!"
Raiden went silent as he pressed his lips into a thin line. After a moment of deliberation, he spoke.
"There is one way I might be able to find the help you seek. Or at the very least, their counsel may provide some consolation."
Kitana looked up, sniffing. "What do you mean?"
"The Elder Gods. Perhaps they may have an answer as to why all this suffering has befallen on you."
"Please. I am willing to try anything to wake me from this madness."
"Very well. Hold still." And with that, Lord Raiden held an arm up to the sky, and teleported them away in a flash of blue lightning.
Kitana pleaded her case as she stood before the Elder Gods with Lord Raiden by her side.
"Elder Gods! I beseech you! Please. Find a way to remove this madness from my life. Either help me reverse the events of which have transpired, or bring back the lives of those I have lost and hold dear. Liu Kang, Jade, Smoke, Bi-Han, even Kuai Liang… I will gladly give my life in exchange for their return."
"That is quite an interesting and noble request you have, Edenian." the Elder Gods spoke in unison.
"I am desperate. None of my loved ones deserved what happened to them."
"You are right. We are willing to partially entertain your request."
Kitana was confused. "Partially?"
"We will return all of those who have been lost, including the one responsible for all of your suffering."
"Skarlet?! But why? She is the one who ruined my life and has killed so many! Why bring her back?"
"All of which she has done is partly because your partner Sub-Zero failed to discipline himself. The Hemomancer would not have committed those crimes had your partner chosen to stay away from her in the beginning. Their connection went deep to a point where it became very emotional, and then ultimately, fatal. We will grant your request, however, not in the way you expect. When you open your eyes, you will awake back in a time where you will have the opportunity to alter all that has happened. But a sacrifice must be made. Do you accept?"
The Princess took a deep breath. There was no other choice. Either live in the unsalvageable reality of the present, or be granted the chance to go back in time to set things right. She chose the latter.
"I will sacrifice anything you choose, Elder Gods."
"It is not our choice of what sacrifice you will make. Only you will know what that is when the time comes."
"I am ready, Elder Gods. Thank you." Kitana then turned towards Raiden. "And to you as well, Lord Raiden. I owe you everything." she bowed.
The Thunder God bowed his head in return. "We will keep watch over you, Princess."
A steady, white light began to slowly engulf her.
"Close your eyes, Edenian…" The Elder Gods instructed.
Kitana did as she was told and felt herself start to float - before being awoken to the sound of someone knocking on her bed chamber door. The Princess opened her eyes wide. She was back in Outworld, in her chamber room of Shao Kahn's palace. The knocking repeated.
"Princess Kitana? Are you in there? Shao Kahn has requested you to be at his side at once. The Emperor has an order." a slave spoke behind a heavy door.
"Yes! I'll be right there!"
"Very well."
There was no way. The Elder Gods had decided to send Kitana back in time to the point in her life, just before she met Sub-Zero. The Princess also knew that Shao Kahn would eventually have Skarlet spy on her to see if she completed the mission her so-called father would give her, which was to intercept Smoke and Kuai Liang. She now knew what her true mission would be. In her alternate past, when she confronted the two Lin Kuei warriors, she instantly fell in love with Sub-Zero upon placing her eyes on him, thus unfolding the events which led to their ill-fated marriage. This time things would have to be different, no matter how hard.
Kitana raced to Shao Kahn's throne.
"Father, I am here."
"KITANA! There are two unwelcome Lin Kuei intruders invading this realm. They are near the Wastelands. Your mission is to go there and intercept them. Use deadly force."
"Yes father." Kitana bowed, with a smirk forming behind her mask. Gladly. This was it. The Princess's true test was approaching, and she would need the determination to resist falling for her former spouse. She turned and walked away, ready to complete her real mission.
Once Kitana was out of sight, the Emperor signalled for one of his slaves which was at his side in an instant.
"Release Skarlet and send her after Kitana. Have her assist my daughter should she fail to complete her mission. And tell Skarlet to remain unseen and out of sight."
"Yes, Emperor."
Kitana spotted the two Lin Kuei in the wastelands. The Princess hurried as quick as she could to catch them before they separated. Unlike in the alternate reality, Kitana also knew that Skarlet was not far behind and hiding in the shadows, spying on her. It was time to take reality for a spin.
The Princess of Outworld made it just in time to hear the end of Smoke and Sub-Zero's conversation.
"Be stealthful as the night…" Sub-Zero bowed, placing an arm over his broad chest. He looked just as handsome as the first time Kitana saw him. This was going to be harder than she anticipated.
"…and deadly as the dawn." Smoke bowed in return
"Hey! Lin Kuei!" Kitana shouted, catching their attention.
"What is this?!" Sub-Zero said in surprise, taking a fighting stance as did his fellow clan member. He suddenly stiffened up upon placing his ice-blue eyes on the beautiful princess. His frozen heart began beating fast.
Kitana held her hands up. "Relax, brave warriors. I am not here to fight. I am here…to speak to you, Kuai Liang…" she said, pointing at her former husband.
The Cryomancer was shocked. "How do you know my name?!"
"Careful, it could be a trick or sorcery!" Smoke warned, maintaining his fighting stance.
"And you, Tomas. Do not worry, my friend Jade will meet you shortly… please take care of her…"
"What? Jade? Who is she?"
Kitana ignored Smoke's last question before refocusing her attention on her former husband.
"Sub-Zero. I may sound insane and delusional, but what I am about to tell you is the truth and may not matter in this life. In another reality, you and I were meant to be something special, however things between us did not turn out the way they should have. And they never will. It is for the best that we no longer cross each other's paths. One thing that will never change is that I will always love you, in this, or any other life…goodbye."
Kitana said, while walking up to Sub-Zero to place a small kiss on his mask. The confused look on the Cryomancer's gorgeous blue eyes faded. He didn't flinch or tense up as she made the gesture. For some reason - although he had no idea what the woman was talking about - Kuai Liang felt that he could trust the princess. He grabbed her hand and let it slide as she pulled away.
"Do not worry, handsome warrior. There is someone waiting in the shadows dying to meet you. Do not engage her, as ultimately, fighting you is not what she truly wants to do with you. May you two be happier together in this life than you were in the last."
Now Sub-Zero was really confused, as Kitana then turned her head too call out towards the Wastleands: "IT'S ALRIGHT SKARLET! YOU DO NOT NEED TO HIDE ANY LONGER! HE IS ALL YOURS! I PROMISE!"
The Hemomancer - who had been hiding behind a pile of slain warriors - widened her grey eyes with utter shock and confusion. What in the name- what is Kitana talking about? she thought. True, the Lin Kuei warrior in blue was extremely attractive, but how in the world could the Princess possibly know that she was spying, and at the same time harbouring new and strange feelings for this Sub-Zero? Things were definitely getting strange and Kitana was now known as a force not to be trifled with.
Skarlet then stood up from her hiding position and locked eyes with the Cryomancer. The two warriors stood silent and still for a moment, doing nothing but stare at each other.
This had to be the most awkward day the four warriors had ever faced.
Kitana saw that this was her cue to exit, and began to walk away, catching Sub-Zero's attention one last time.
"Wait, where are you going?" he asked.
"To find Liu Kang…" she replied.
Heartbroken no more…
A/N: I realized the ending was much too harsh for some of the readers out there, although I did maintain this story to originally be a tragedy. This Epilogue is for them, so that I could try to right the wrongs that I have did not realize I did. I tried to make this as much of a thriller/tragedy as some horror/thriller movies out there were much of the main cast is killed by the antagonist, but I guess I failed. Hope this last piece makes up for it. I apologize and thank you for reading.