Disclaimer: I do NOT own Mortal Kombat or anything related to it.


"Whatever you are physically...male or female, strong or weak, ill or healthy-all those things matter less than what your heart contains. If you have the soul of a warrior, you are a warrior. All those other things, they are the glass that contains the lamp, but you are the light inside."
— Cassandra Clare (Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, #1))

Chapter 28:Li Mei


Life had never been easy on Li Mei.

First, her village endured the tyranny of Shao Kahn followed by Mileena then she was forced to abandon Outworld and lead her people to Earthrealm for asylum when Mileena began using Shinnok's amulet. She had been in the process of returning to Outworld when news of Raiden's insanity reached her. While she preferred to avoid confrontation nowadays, Li Mei was still an exceptional fighter. She was the only one of her people willing to take a stand so it was necessary that she learned how to fight. Her brief time with Bo' Rai Cho also taught her some new techniques which she did not hesitate to use to her advantage.

In the past, she'd been a very confrontational person and didn't think twice before throwing herself into battle. Oh, how she'd changed over the years. She was older, calmer, wiser, stronger, and more importantly a leader to her people. It was because of her that they escaped death at Mileena's hands, though few (including Li Mei herself) acknowledged this. Her main concern was the survival of her people, not glory. She had no parents, no siblings, no love interest, no children. Her people were the closest thing she ever had to family, and she would fight to the death to protect them.

She wasn't sure how to feel about recent events. She hadn't known Raiden long and thus didn't feel as horrified or betrayed by his corruption as his closest allies did. Once she'd seen him as a kind deity who seemed to genuinely care for mortals. Now she thought about his actions and realized that no one was safe from evil.

A scream escaped a Red Dragon soldier's lips as Li Mei used her Kunlun Dao to slice his arm clean off before Erron Black put a bullet in his head, permanently silencing him.

Li Mei sighed. This attack was unexpected and well-planned. She'd been separated from Bo' Rai Cho who, according to Black, was dealing with the thugs outside the palace alongside Ermac and Reptile. Black had arrived in time to save her from being killed by Daegon as she was contacting Sareena. The demigod did not give chase, but he was definitely nearby. Goro was in the throne room fighting Kotal, Sheeva, and the Shokan queen's five warriors.

"You leave Nice Red Lady alone, Bad Red Lady!" Ferra's shaky voice reached their ears from the infirmary down the hall. Black's eyes widened at the sound and he hurried to the infirmary with Li Mei following closely behind him. If she didn't know any better, she might have assumed the mercenary actually cared about the child.

"Get your hand off me, you bloodthirsty bitch!" Ruby hissed. Skarlet forced the Edenian to her knees by gripping a handful of her ash brown hair and pressing a blade to her throat. Ferra was being restrained by two Red Dragon soldiers while she glared at the construct with tearful eyes. Black pointed his gun at Skarlet's head while Li Mei tightly gripped her Kunlun Dao and formed a purple ball of energy in her free hand to throw at Skarlet as soon as her guard was down.

"Make one move and I kill this Edenian spitfire and order my men to slaughter the girl as well." Skarlet hissed at Black and Li Mei. They exchanged a glance, unsure if she would follow through with the threat.

"You lay one finger on that girl," Black said darkly,", and I'm gonna make you wish Mileena killed you back on Shang Tsung's Island." Perhaps he did care for the child, after all. Li Mei pursed her lips. Clearly, not all mercenaries were disgusting, heartless thugs like Kano.

"I see Ermac told you of our last meeting." Skarlet said."While the rest of you were distracted by the Blood Code situation, I managed to hide myself until the Red Dragon came to investigate the aftermath of Havik's failure and found me near death. Daegon promised to save my life in exchange for me swearing loyalty to him."

"And you, like a desperate fool, accepted his offer." Li Mei said icily.

"Watch your tone, village bitch!" Skarlet tightened her grip on Ruby's hair. She knelt down to make eye contact with the other red-clad woman and said with a chuckle,"You and I have much in common, Ruby. We both are fond of the color red, we both wear it as our primary color, and even our names are both shades of red."

Ruby spat in Skarlet's eye, causing her to gasp and release the Edenian. Li Mei threw her energy ball at Skarlet to knock her sword away. Ruby jumped up, wrapping her legs around Skarlet's arm and twisting her body so she could land on her hands while slamming the red-haired kunoichi headfirst into the floor.

"And that," Ruby spat as she rose,", is where our similarities end, Skarlet."

Black took out the men restraining Ferra with two swift shots. More quickly burst from their hiding places and began to corner Ferra, who was backing away toward Torr's bed.

"Get the hell away from her!" The cowboy yelled as the soldiers prevented him, Li Mei, and Ruby from reaching Ferra. Upon noticing that he was out of ammunition, he drew his Tarkatan arm blade. He impaled a soldier through the abdomen. The soldier fell to his knees and Black decapitated him.

Li Mei thrust her foot into one man's stomach with enough force to lodge it in his innards. She removed her foot after a second and kicked his head, grimacing at it exploded and blood splattered everywhere. She turned to decapitate another man, shot a purple ball of energy at the next, and performed her Carnival Spin on her third attacker.

Ruby slid across the floor until she reached the wall. Rising, she ran to avoid a barrage of bullets and jumped, using the wall as leverage to launch her spinning body at a solider and pin him down. He gave a choked cry as she used her weight to crush his windpipe. She rolled away as another soldier moved to tackle her. She elbowed him in the back of the head and roundhouse kicked him so hard that his neck snapped. A chop to the neck evoked a wheeze from another soldier, but his pain didn't last long since Ruby leapt into the air to wrap her legs around his neck, balanced herself by slamming her hands against the floor, and tossed him into the wall.

As this was happening, Skarlet and three soldiers advanced on Ferra. Just as the construct was about to kill the girl, however, a vicious roar pierced everyone's ears.

Torr, as if sensing that Ferra was in danger, had awoken.

"Torr!" Ferra cried joyfully at the same time that Black exclaimed,"Holy shit, he's awake!"

No one was able to react as Torr grabbed Skarlet and roared in her face. Ferra hopped on Torr's back. Since she wasn't wearing her gauntlets at the moment, she settled for slapping Skarlet across the face. The thugs screamed as Torr used his free massive arm to knock them aside. Skarlet shrieked when the brute slammed her into the ground and threw her across the room.

Ruby moved to kill Skarlet, but the construct stabbed herself and turned into a puddle of blood so she could move underneath Ruby. Before the Edenian realized what was happening, blood pillars burst from the ground to stab her hands and legs. Skarlet appeared beneath her and moved to slash her stomach, only to be stopped when Li Mei fired a purple ball of energy at her. She staggered back, allowing Li Mei and Black to free Ruby. The Edenian landed on her feet, nodding in gratiude for their aid.

Growling, Skarlet threw a kunai at Li Mei. She ducked, frowning when she noticed the kunai had sliced off her ribbon, freeing her hair from its ponytail. Ferra/Torr moved to kill the redhead, but she rolled out of the way and fled.

"Coward!" Ruby snarled.

"Nice to see you awake, Torr." Black said, touching the brim of his head. Torr roared as if thanking him for the sentiment. Ferra patted Torr's head affectionately.

"Can you handle a tougher fight?" When the brute nodded in response to the cowboy's question, he smiled beneath his mask."Alright then. Sheeva, Kotal, and a couple of other Shokan are dealin' with Goro and a bunch of Red Dragon goons in the throne room. Help 'em out and meet us outside. Got it?"

Ferra gave a solute."You no worry, Bang Bang. We squeeze, squish the meanies." The pair headed for the throne room.

Black looked at Li Mei and Ruby with a raised eyebrow."You two just gonna stand there or you gonna help me take out those goons?" He ran out the door without waiting for a response from either of them.

Li Mei and Ruby exchanged an uneasy glance, the latter shrugging. With a sigh, Li Mei nodded."Come. Hopefully, help will arrive soon."

"Key word hopefully." Ruby muttered with a sigh and shake of the head."Why is it that every time Rain leaves, we end up getting attacked?" She thought aloud as she and Li Mei followed after Black.

Sure enough, Ermac, Reptile, and Bo' Rai Cho were taking care of Red Dragon soldiers outside the palace. Skarlet was also there. As soon as she spotted Li Mei, Ruby, and Black, she threw a trio of kunai in their direction. All three kombatants rolled away to avoid the projectiles. Black muttered something about their foes being lucky he was out of ammunition and didn't have his rifle at the moment.

Skarlet slashed Li Mei's arm, evoking a cry of pain from the Outworlder. She laughed as Li Mei's blood sprayed on her face. This didn't last long, as Li Mei caught the redhead off guard with a punch to the face and kicked her away. A grumbling Black removed his poncho and wrapped it around Li Mei's arm to stop the bleeding. She raised an eyebrow at him, offering a tentative and confused 'thank you' for his aid. He touched the brim of his hat in response.

"Just bein' a gentleman." He said simply. She rolled her eyes, torn between thankfulness and irritation.

Ruby kicked Skarlet's legs out. Skarlet swept Ruby off her feet and pinned her down, trying to stab her with her tanto. Ruby moved her head away seconds before the blade impaled the spot where her head was a moment go and thrust her palm into Skarlet's chin and kicked her off. She completed the assault with a kick to the chest, knocking the construct down.

Li Mei lunged at a nearby Red Dragon thug, striking at his torso and head multiple times with incredible speed before stopping and taking a few steps back. She gestured for Black to wait, smiling at his perplexed expression. His perplexity turned to shock when the soldier screamed in agony and exploded in a shower of gore.

"Well I'll be damned." Black remarked."Why couldn't women from my time period been as tough as today's ladies?"

"Did you assume that simply because I prefer not to fight that I am a damsel in distress?" Li Mei questioned with a smirk.

Before he could reply, a pair of fireballs knocked the Kunlun Dao and Tarkatan arm blade out of their hands. Standing a few feet away with the unconscious bodies of Bo' Rai Cho, Reptile, and Ermac around him was Daegon. He held a struggling Ruby in a headlock and was already forming another fireball in his free hand.

"So this is the Red Dragon leader." Black muttered."Guess Kano's not the only one with eye problems."

Daegon glowered at the mercenary."You will regret that remark-agh!" A purple lightning bolt struck him in the back, causing him to release Ruby, who knocked him down with a sweeping kick.

"For Elder Gods' sake, Rain." Ruby said in between coughs as she rubbed her throat and glared at the purple-clad demigod."What the bloody hell took you so long?!"

Rain rolled his eyes."Charming and pleasant as ever, Ruby." He offered her a hand up. She slapped his hand away and got up on her own.

A woman appeared beside Rain. Her long dark hair was styled into a braid and her eyes glowed blue. She wore a green gown and matching cloak with the hood pulled down. She remained a safe distance from Daegon in case he tried a surprise attack.

"Jade?" Ruby gasped, moving to touch the woman. Rain stopped her, shaking his head at her confused expression.

"Daegon." The woman said to the fallen demigod.

Daegon's one good eye widened when he heard her voice."Mother." He scowled as he nodded at her."Found a mortal body to possess I see."

She formed a pair of fireballs in her palms."A mutually beneficial partnership. Jade wished to restore her revenant friends to life and I needed to put an end to yours and Raiden's madness in order to prevent Armageddon."

Daegon rose, drawing a pair of swords."My 'madness' is yours and father's doing! If you had not favored Taven-"

"You were always gullible, Daegon." She spat."Shinnok deceived you into thinking your father and I favored your brother just as Raiden is deceiving you now. Open your eye, Daegon!"

"I do not believe a word from your lying mouth!" Daegon snarled, charging forward and crouching to ram her with his shoulder. She staggered back, spinning out of the way of his blades.

"That sword is not yours." She knocked one sword out of his hand with a fireball and used telekinesis to retrieve it.

"And that body is not yours." He hissed as both of them threw fireballs at each other. The force of their attacks making impact knocked them back, though they easily landed on their feet. Daegon looked up just in time for her palm to meet his face. She prepared to launch a fireball at him, but hesitated. Her brows knitted into a frown and the fireball in her hand vanished. Immediately, Daegon uppercut her into the air and jumped up to kick her in the chest. She landed on her back with a grunt.

"I remember your reaction when I decapitated father right in front of you." Daegon said, approaching her. He planted a foot on her throat."You looked so horrified and angry that you did not think twice before knocking me down, yet you hesitated to kill me just as you do now. That hesitation was and still is your undoing. Right before you died, you made eye contact with me and asked-"'

"Why?" She choked out, tears running down her face."Please, Daegon. You are still my son. I do not wish to kill you."

He shook his head."A pity, mother," He contemptuously spat the familial form of address and raised the sword over his head,", that I cannot say the same to you."

"Jade." She whispered as she closed her eyes."Take control." When her eyes opened, they were no longer glowing blue, but normal green irises. A forcefield surrounded her, causing the sword to pass through her without wounding or killing her. As Daegon gazed in shock, she launched a fireball to disarm him then kicked him in the back and sent him flying into several of his own men with a palm to the face.

"You will find that I do not share your mother's hesitation." Jade said icily."You may have the advantage of shared blood against Delia, Taven, or even Rain, but not me. Therefore, I shall feel no remorse or reluctance while doing this!" She performed her Shadow Kick, followed by a fierce backhand that sent Daegon sprawling to the floor.

Li Mei and Black were stopped from intervening when Sheeva was flung at them from behind. The Shokan queen's upper arms were broken and her face a bloody mess. Kotal Kahn landed on his back beside Sheeva, groaning in agony and exhaustion. The same happened with Ferra/Torr seconds laters.

Goro gave a bark of laughter."You have truly let yourselves go since our last meeting. I had no trouble dispatching all of you while also taking the lives of Leshan, Nara, Duroc, Zenkaro, and Grum. Your five beloved champions fell like flies before the tournament could even begin, Sheeva. The irony of it all is as amusing as it is pathetic."

"Enough!" Raiden arrived, obviously vexed with the day's events.

Li Mei's eyes widened as she took in the Thunder God's new appearance. His once blue eyes were now red and his clothing consisted of dark colors that suited the darkness in his voice and actions. She noticed a now awake Bo' Rai Cho was looking sadly at Raiden and shaking his head at what his old friend had become.

"We will finish this conflict at the tournament." Was all Raiden said before teleporting himself, Daegon, Skarlet, Goro, and the remaining Red Dragon soldiers away.


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Next up: Chapter 29:Jade/Delia