Things calmed down considerably a few years after the Reiko incident.
The children of the heroes followed their parents' path, respectively. Cassandra, or rather, Cassie, was promoted to Sergeant. Jacqui became a Specialist while Destiny commissioned into a lieutenant just as her parents were when they helped during Outworld's first invasion. They all wanted to prove themselves ready to take up the mantle of their parents.
Johnny Cage helped his ex-wife in maintaining order in Fort Charles while putting his movie career on hold. His personality had changed drastically. He was nowhere near as haughty and arrogant, more so mellow yet still maintained a sense of humor. Sonya took her position as General very seriously, even going as far as placing duty over her family, which meant more than a few headaches for Cassie.
As for Jackson Briggs, he went back to working at his family farm after retiring from the Army. Though his recovery from the haunting trauma was gradual, he has mentally healed thanks to his wife, Vera. He continued mentoring Malcolm when time permitted, and the two formed an unbreakable bond.
Out of everyone, Malcolm perhaps changed the most. Jade's return from her revenant form had done wonders for his temperament, no longer quick to anger as he was prone to do. He possessed a collected mindset but never misplaced his overprotectiveness for his loved ones. It was a vast turnaround, though there was still plenty of room left for improvement.
Manerva considerably matured during the time-lapse, becoming the pillar of stability her people needed in their temporary displacement. While no substitution for Princess Kitana, she did a tremendous job as their temporary Queen.
Having Jade assist in the security of their sanctuary was helpful as she co-led the effort with Malcolm. Their presence amongst the younger warriors proved vital as they shared techniques, strategy, and what it meant to defend the mainland like it was Edenia. However, Jade secretly hoped Tanya would assault Argus' sanctuary so she could exact vengeance for her defeat two decades ago. That, and to let that traitor experience being an undead slave to Quan Chi. But until then, she and Malcolm were able to mend their relationship after so much time apart.
In Outworld, conditions have worsened as the feud between Mileena and Kotal immersed the realm in a bloody civil war.
Kotal rode in his carriage with a guest from Earthrealm. Kano, the self-proclaimed 'businessman,' had pertinent information concerning the location of the lone opposition to Kotal's rule. Mileena and the tarkatans had to be dealt with, or all of his work will diminish. Sitting next to Kano was D'vorah, a creature known as a Kytinn, and head minister of Outworld.
"Twenty million..." Kotal stated the amount he was willing to pay.
Kano balked at the offer. "Emperor... What's the expression? 'S' not worth the dirt on my shoe?'
"Kotal Kahn has always bargained with you fairly, Kano," D'Vorah reminded him.
The mercenary nodded. "Sure, sure. I'm just sayin'... Upgraded weapons, my intel, and... poof! The long Outworld civil war... done. Might be nice to kick back a bit, eh?"
"You know Mileena's location," Kotal said, peering at the aged criminal.
"And her all rebel army," Kano boasted with a grin. "S' gotta be worth at least... fifty."
Kotal hardened his resolve. "I must attack immediately. End this conflict. As you say, it drains us."
During the Emperor's lamenting, Kano snuck a peek upward on the town's rooftops, an unnoticeable smirk across his face. In his peripheral vision, he saw two figures scaling the buildings with stealth tactics, remaining out of sight of the Osh-Tekk army.
"Right," Kano aimlessly agreed. "Do we have a deal?"
Mileena and Rain followed the carriage closely to prepare their ambush. This had to be done with precision due to the lack of support Shao Kahn's daughter had within her inner circle. Anything other than Kotal's disposal would render this rebellion fruitless.
However, the carriage stopped abruptly due to a blockade preventing the royal carriage from descending further into the city.
"What is it, D'vorah?" asked the Emperor.
"Nothing that should concern the Emperor," the Kytinn reported before rising from her seat. "Accident ahead, this one will clear it."
D'vorah opened the door and stormed to the scene of the commotion. "Make way for Kotal Kahn! Move!" she barked.
While the Osh-Tekks began working to clear the area, Mileena, along with Tanya and Rain, spied on the target, prepared to commence their attack. The hybrid sneered as that carriage ought to be hers alone to sit on as Kahn. She was looking forward to killing the usurper and reclaiming what's rightfully hers.
"The tarkatan are in position," Tanya relayed to her Kahnum. "We await your order."
"It is given, dearest Tanya," Mileena gave the go-ahead, returning her gaze and sneer back to the carriage.
"Stopping a carriage is nothing. Killing an Emperor..." Rain addressed their situation.
"False Emperor!" Mileena exclaimed.
"... requires power. Power you have, Mileena. And won't use," the Demigod challenged.
Mileena obtained the amulet of Shinnok from her pocket, its features never deteriorating as the years went by. She frowned in annoyance. "It pains me to use it, Rain. I need more time. The usurper's excursion came too soon..."
"The rain falls when it may," Rain said forebodingly.
The Empress quickly pocketed the amulet before grinning behind her mask. "No matter... if Kano does what I paid him to do."
As D'Vorah ordered the cleanup to hasten, a loud battle cry could be heard amidst the vacant alleyways. A horde of tarkatans, with their blades drawn, savagely rushed the carriage from opposite directions.
'All according to plan,' thought Mileena.
During the ruckus and bloodshed, Kano had the unfortunate privilege of being thrown out of Kotal's carriage by the man himself after a failed attempt to catch the usurper off guard.
The mere sight of that oversized Osh-Tekk was enough to make Mileena hurl, let alone his title infuriated her to no end. He wasn't the successor her father named, nor technically was she either. However, she was his daughter by decree. At least Kitana, if she was alive, would be Kahn by lineage. Just the thought of her deceased sister made Mileena sick to her stomach.
Her train of thought was interrupted after witnessing Kano's defeat. Kotal managed to down the unpredictable mercenary, much to her surprise. He would've ended the miserable swine as well if it weren't for her dearest Tanya swooping down to oppose Kotal. Surely her Edenian ally and closest confidant was skilled enough to upend the 'false' Emperor.
Mileena had heard from her spies that Tanya was skilled enough to murder Jade, Kitana's loyal friend. The story was verified by Rain as he testified about his prowess against the machine formerly known as Sub-Zero. Now, however, she learned that he's been revived as a human. That was terrible news to fathom. Mileena realized both Jade and Kitana could somehow be resurrected, something she and Tanya did not want to happen; if it hasn't already.
Her eyes narrowed as the battle wore on. Tanya fought with all her might. After all, she wanted her home realm of Edenia restored, something Mileena wasn't keen on doing despite promising to do so after Tanya freed her from imprisonment. In her mind, Edenia and Outworld should remain as one unified realm, just like Mileena is two entities in the same body.
To Mileena's dismay and utter rage, Tanya lost decisively to Kotal. He spotted her perched on a rooftop and wasted little time teleporting behind her position.
"Mileena," Kotal called out.
"Kano was to kill you, miserable snake!" Mileena spat out before ordering her tarkatans in their native language, "Rrgo na-TAY!"
Three tarkatans charged towards Kotal, only to be brutally dismantled by him with minimal effort. Greatly angered, Mileena foolishly tried her hand in attacking her enemy with reckless abandonment. Every high kick hit nothing but air, Kotal ducking under her extended leg before catching a hook to his face. In retaliation, he punched Mileena twice to stagger her before launching a light beam into her sternum, which vaulted her from the roof.
"Another Edenian, the supposed Half-God," Kotal remarked as he approached Rain.
"Koh GAH tya!" Rain chanted as he summoned a water bubble, encapturing Kotal inside. "I am the son of Argus! I was not merely declared a God by befuddled commoners, Buluc."
His spell didn't last long as Kotal escaped with a burst of sunlight to disintegrate the water bubble. "Surely Mileena suspects your true intentions, Son of Argus."
Charging forward, Kotal attempted to down Rain the same he had done with Mileena. He was not prepared as the Edenian disappeared behind him and used a dropkick to send the Emperor off the building, crashing hard into the ground.
The Osh-Tekk Emperor slowly rose to his feet, just before the Demigod reappearing again. "My intentions... are to teach you the difference between pretension... and godhood!"
Another fight ensued. Rain was unpredictable, just as Kotal's former lover Jade told him while holed up in the Flesh Pits. This did not deter Kotal, however, laying quick waste to the crowned Prince for a humiliating defeat. He opted not to kill Rain as he wasn't worthy of dying by the Emperor's hand.
"That should silence you," Kotal stated.
Afterward, he signaled his most trusted enforcer, a cowboy mercenary named Erron Black, to end Rain's life. "You won't touch him again."
He kicked Rain's chin, forcing him to the ground before stomping on his throat, readying his pistol for the kill shot. No bullet emerged, though, as a sai pierced right through Erron's hand, forcing him to drop his gun.
Mileena's intervention saved her ally's life, for now. "But I will."
Afforded a second chance, Rain teleported out of harm's way to escape certain death. That left Mileena and Kotal alone, where they would do battle once again. "As the heir to my father, Shao Kahn, I, Mileena, Kahnum of Outworld... order your execution!"
She lunged at the Emperor with a series of two failed haymakers and an overhead kick, which Kotal blocked. It was a diversion for the hybrid to use her Edenian powered thunder roll that launched him into the air. She jumped and used her sai to continue her attack for a fatal stab for the neck.
What she didn't count on was Kotal's counter-attack, using his right hand for a hook jab and backhanded her before kicking her chin. Suspended in the air, Mileena couldn't stop her opponent from grabbing her leg to slam her body against the ground. Sunlight then surrounded Kotal as he sent a beam to blind Mileena, her scream piercing the air. Kotal jammed his ceremonial knife into her throat before twisting it, breaking a few bones in her neck. He pulled it out forcefully before delivering a punishing knee to Mileena's nose, thus ending the battle.
"There will be an execution this day," Kotal proclaimed as he approached the rebellious woman. His guards, D'Vorah, Ermac, and Erron Black, cut off all exit points. "You will atone for your dissent, Mileena. Your blood will make right." His arms went upward. "Up the stair path... To the fire's edge..."
A frightening fire attack went directly into Mileena's direction. Still, it wouldn't harm her as the hybrid pulled out Shinnok's amulet and matched Kotal's potent blast, incinerating a few of his warriors in the process. Both casters broke away in shock and pain. The Emperor remembered the amulet well and now knew it made Shao Kahn's daughter even more dangerous than before. The use of the artifact came at a cost as it scorched the entirety of Mileena's arm as she fell unconscious. Rain quickly gathered her body before disappearing out of the town.
D'vorah came over and helped Kotal to stand. "What did my Emperor see?"
Shaken from the ordeal and the loss of his followers, Kotal merely muttered, "A mere cub... grown to be a jaguar."
A phrase he had adopted over his mistaken journey in Earthrealm. Rain had called him Buluc as he was revered as a Sun God. He didn't dislike the attention and grew attached to the people who had idolized him.
Yet, this war was far from over, of that Kotal is certain.
Argus Sanctuary:
After five years, Malcolm finally gathered his wits and proposed to his longtime lover. It didn't take any convincing on his part for Jade to accept, jumping onto her man with a passion as she eagerly kissed him.
The two made it official by marrying in an Edenian style wedding using their realms customs, Manerva responsible for the ceremony's setup. All were summoned for the joyous occasion: Bo' Rai Cho, Raiden, Jax, Vera, Jacqui, Chris, Melody, and their daughter, Destiny. Even the Cage family had arrived to witness the event. While Malcolm still mistrusted General Blade, his feelings toward her somewhat lessened after his now wife's return.
Shortly after becoming one for eternity, Jade found out a few weeks later that she was pregnant. Malcolm was elated beyond words to become a father, Jade equally excited to be a mother. They told everyone within the sanctuary, and they all celebrated this great news. The newlyweds spent the following days coming up with names for their newborn and settled on Jemarcus if it was a boy and were it a girl, Jazmine.
Jade was placed in charge of the defenses for Argus Sanctuary as its lead General. At the same time, Malcolm sat as Chief of Defense, making them a deadly duo. No one would dare attack this sacred ground or the couple themselves, lest they suffer a painful death.
As for Manerva, she grew accustomed to her position as a leader, having learned of her true heritage. She was even called a Princess now since Kitana is deceased and a revenant. That made her and Malcolm official royalty, her brother the Heir apparent to the throne. This was until she can find a way to resurrect the Edenian monarchy, searching for anything concerning ancient history. Shao Kahn had forbidden any literature of Edenian origin further obscure the truth of Kitana's birthright, thus keeping her in line and loyal to him. Even Mileena herself could not find this tomb.
One day, while glancing around in the library, Manerva happened to stumble upon a book ornamented in gold and jewels. She thought it had to be a mystical tomb, but when she opened it, surprise etched onto her face that this book was actually a diary. Unsure what to do with it, she took it with her toward her brother's hut.
Inside, Malcolm and Jade were taking turns taking care of their infant son Jemarcus. The child had the traits of both parents; his father's facial features, his mother's emerald eyes, and their raven-colored hair. His budding aura told each of them that their son will grow to be a valiant warrior someday.
A knock occurred on their front door. "It's open," Malcolm announced. In walked his baby sister. Both Malcolm and Jade smiled, but their joy was turned into confusion due to what was in Manerva's possession. "What's that?"
"A diary, but I'm not sure what to think of it," Manerva replied. "I believe it belongs to Sindel."
Jade raised a curious eyebrow. "Aunt Sindel? Let me see."
She gave a sleeping Jemarcus to Malcolm and approached Manerva, who handed her the book, albeit hesitantly. Jade slowly opened the cover and began skimming through the neatly legible handwriting.
After a few tense moments, Jade looked. "That is her handwriting, alright."
"I read when she had pronounced her forced marriage to Shao Kahn, through an envoy scroll," Manerva revealed. "But nothing more after that."
Jade put the book on the table, allowing all three to read its contents.
"This..." Malcolm pointed to a few numbers. "Dated during the fall of Edenia."
His wife saw where he pointed, her eyes widening. "You are right..."
"Another day in the castle, another defeat in Mortal Kombat. Jerrod is so incompetent when it comes to ruling a kingdom, not to mention a poor lover to share my bed with. The only good thing he bestowed me with was our beautiful daughter that I named Kitana. She's much more precious than that of my niece, Manerva," the text read.
"What in the name of...?" Malcolm uttered in shock.
Jade frowned in disappointment. She had looked up to Queen Sindel while merely a child growing up with Kitana in their shared adolescence. Never did she ever fathom Sindel would so utterly disparage her own family, let alone someone as sweet as Manerva.
"Our final loss in the tournament all but assured Edenia's destruction. I had to ensure my legacy remained intact to regain a sense of clarity for this unmitigated failure. Killing Jerrod was not a hard decision as I thought it might have been. Turns out, it was the right decision. Shao Kahn has proven himself to be a satisfying lover and a dominant ruler. Oh, the look on that pathetic fool's face as I twisted my dagger into his chest as he laid dying in my arms."
Manerva gasped in shock, stifling it with her hand as to not awaken her baby nephew. To think her aunt was a despicable traitor to both her husband and realm was unthinkable, let alone a cold reality.
"And Kitana never knew..." Jade said aloud, disgusted as she remembered fighting alongside Sindel as a revenant after most of their allies died by her hand. "I... had no idea."
The three Edenians kept reading to see if more damning information remained in the line of text. However, hearing that Sindel sold out their own realm was heartwrenching enough to even continue. But they pressed on until they stopped at another startling fact.
"Wait a minute..." Manerva halted Jade from turning the page, her eyes widening at another piece of information.
"Those meddlesome cryomancers were finally banished from the realm as they've become nothing but a nuisance. Their rebellion against my new king and his policies nearly destroyed everything. They will no longer be welcomed here during our reign. In fact, anyone able and willing to capture one and have them brought to our feet will be paid rather handsomely. Outside threats shall be dealt with permanently."
Neither Manerva, Jade, or Malcolm said a word, rendered silent in bewilderment.