No One's Fault but Yours

Knightwolf and Aylin finally arrived at their destination. Knightwolf takes in a deep breath. Aylin feels overwhelmed with joy and anxiety. She placed her hand on the knob contemplating how she would explain her disappearance over the past few weeks. Knightwolf noticed.

"Is something wrong?" she asked.

"I cannot fathom how worried sick they must have been not knowing of my whereabouts," Aylin responded. Knightwolf smiled.

"They would be understanding of your situation. I can tell by the way you carry yourself that they are probably very supportive of your choices."

"That may be true in most cases, but I have never been kidnapped before." Aylin released her hand from the knob and turned to Knightwolf. "I cannot thank you enough for helping me return home."

"It is what I do. I am a sort of guide for everyone on Earthr…" Knightwolf hesitated as she remembered who she was talking to. "…Earth."

Aylin smiled as she turned back around to open the door. As she stepped through, she was immediately greeted by the faces of her mother and father, who seemed to have expected the two. It would not be surprising seeing as both girls were talking aloud in front of the door. Before she could say a word, both of them embraced her closely. Tears dripped from their eyes. Knightwolf could feel them coming from her own eyes as she struggled to keep her lips sealed. She turned away and walked towards the beachfront in front of the house. As the family released their grip, Aylin noticed her leaving.

"Wait!" she yelled. Knightwolf stopped, keeping her attention away from them. "Come stay here for the night. It is the least we can do." She looked to both of her parents as they each nodded.

"Thank you; all of you," she whispered. She turned around and smiled. "If you insist, I shall join you. I just…need a minute."

"Do not be too long, or the offer will expire," her father joked. Knightwolf nodded.

"Do not worry. I will be back right away," she responded. Aylin prepares to talk about all that has happened as her mother proceeds to close the door.

Knightwolf turns back to the beach. She walks closer to the water and kneels. She stares at her reflection for a short period of time. Silence. She could only think about her time with the young Aylin. It reminded her a lot about her time as a child. The happiest times before the tragedies that made her who she is today. Years of turmoil endured as she carried out her duties as the Vanguard of Earthrealm. She gathers some of the water into her hands and dashes it into her face. She uses her mini jacket to dry her face. Looking back at her reflection in the water she sees Aylin.

She anxiously awaits walking back into the house as it wasn't something she planned to do, but it was something she desperately wanted to do. Those few minutes visiting the other side showed her possibilities that she never believed would happen. In all her years of desperately trying to regain her former life back, she had never thought she would be able to bring an entire town back from the dead. However, the time had come. She could hide the truth from them no longer. None of them were ever supposed to leave beyond the border. She should have known herself better than that.

After a much-needed reflection on her own life, she decided to walk inside of their home. Each step seemed further than the last. She could feel herself wanting to run. However, if she wanted to continue keeping them safe, she would need to ensure that they can trust her. She opens the door and sees the family sitting amongst one another at the dinner table. Knightwolf smiled as she was reminded of what it was like eating with her family. The mother and father alternated their attention between both Aylin and Knightwolf. Aylin herself was also confused. She started to remember pieces of the dreams she had over the past few weeks.

"It makes sense now," Aylin's father remarked. Her mother still seemed confused. "I thought it was strange that we were advised to remain in town for the past few years. The strange noises in the skies. The mystery aid from the "gods." The accelerated progression of the village."

"You speak as if this is normal to see," Knightwolf remarked. Aylin chuckled, attracting Knightwolf's attention. "What is it?" she responded. The others proceeded to chuckle as well.

"How quickly you forget your own words, Knightwolf," she commented. "These are your parents as well. Are they not?" Knightwolf's lips trembled as she tried to hold back her tears.

"You have nothing to hide here," her father added. Knightwolf covered her eyes using her arm as she smiled.

"It's so much…it's so much I've wanted to tell you both," she bawled. The three of them arose from their seats and embraced the young woman.

*Later that night…*

Knightwolf continues to watch over the family from a distance. She couldn't sleep like she normally did. Knowing that they are no longer hidden after all these years put her in a dangerous predicament. No one was supposed to know of their existence. There's nowhere for them to hide and the Red Dragon were sure to get their revenge for what happened at Mileena's Throne Room. At the same time, they already know of the location and could've easily enacted their revenge in the past few weeks. Maybe Mileena heeded her warnings, she thought. She never truly looked back once they left the castle.

"Knightwolf," a voice whispered behind her. She immediately grabbed the hunting knife attached to her belt. "Don't…" the voice hissed. She didn't' move, but her hand remained on his blade. The figure's camouflage dissolved revealing himself to be Reptile.

"Did you follow me all the way here?" Knightwolf asked.

"We've always been watching ever since you've slain Shang Tsung," he responded.

"We?"

"The Locust Klan."

"Why haven't you all killed me yet?"

"Why haven't you killed us yet? We migrated to your village years ago around the same time, yet you were never suspicious."

"You all agreed to play along and build the town in a more modern fashion. I never would've thought it would be Outworld invaders," she stated.

"We were once natives of this land before your Elder Lord drove us out over a millennia ago. We have as much claim to this land as your people," Reptile stated. Knightwolf relaxed her hand.

"This is the third time you have refused to attack me, Zaterrian," Knightwolf chuckled.

"This is the third time you haven't posed a threat," he responded.

"And that way of thinking is why you lost our match at the tournament," she remarked. She looks to the house and notices Princess Kitana staring through Aylin's Window. Reptile notices the same thing. A click immediately goes off in his mind.

"Princess Kitana?"

"Wait, when did she return?"

"She hasn't been here since the tournament ended."

"She couldn't have found this place by chance," she stated. Knightwolf immediately rushed to the house. As she approached closer, Kitana placed her right finger over her lip. Knightwolf halted in her tracks and wrapped her hand on her blade.

"What is all of this doing here?" Kitana whispered.

"You shouldn't be here. Earthrealm won the tournament," Knightwolf also whispered

"How did you transfer an entire village from the other side so quickly?" she wondered.

"That…is none of your concern. Why are you here?" Kitana walks away from the home and heads for the beachfront. She notices a ripple in the area where Reptile stood. Knightwolf followed behind her awaiting a response.

"I shall not lie to you. I'm here to take that girl's life," she stated bluntly. Knightwolf summons a spirit hatchet but restrains herself long enough for an explanation.

"I would never allow such a thing," Knightwolf responds.

"I know you wouldn't. Do you really believe I haven't planned for this? I know all about you and your past life. You can thank the real Nightwolf for that."

"What could you possibly accomplish with that? Killing my past self will not affect my existence," she confirmed.

"I made a promise to Mileena that all of her enemies shall fall. She has not forgiven you for what you've done. Therefore, you are still on the chopping block."

"Then why her? Why not me?"

"It would take months to finish you off after all this time. You are not as careless with the souls inside of you as anyone else would be. Aylin would not be able to survive death as you would. Therefore, killing her would be a more suitable punishment," she explained.

"You aren't doing this for Mileena at all are you?" Knightwolf questioned. "Mileena wouldn't send you to kill someone she could've killed herself. You're hiding something from her."

"You have been a hindrance to Outworld long enough, shaman. It is time that you pay for your crimes."

Kitana summons her fans and swings one of them towards Knightwolf. Knightwolf conjures a spirit armor to guard against it. She counters the princess using her hatchet to knock the fan to the ground. Kitana hops away before Knightwolf's other hatchet completely splits her forehead open. Her destroyed tiara lied beneath Knightwolf's foot. Kitana pressed her hand over her wound as she used the other to call her fan back.

"You are no match for me, princess Kitana. It was foolish for you to try."

"What's going on?" Knightwolf turned her back on Kitana upon hearing Aylin's voice. Her family stood in the door of their home confused by the events. Kitana smirks as she uses her fans to teleport away.

"You all need to get back inside," she instructed. They wasted no time returning inside. Knightwolf turned around and noticed that Kitana was gone. She frantically inspected the field and trees all around her. Kitana was nowhere to be found, but she couldn't trust that they were in the clear.

She rushed to the house and entered inside. As she closes the door, she feels a swift crack on the top of her scalp. Knightwolf falls over face first. Her family screams in horror after her mother realized that she struck the wrong person. They decide to lift her from the floor and gently place her on Aylin's bed. She struggles to keep her eyes open as the muffled voices slowly became mute.

~*/

"Tasia and Kabal are two black Dragon members who were sent to kill the MIA Shirai Ryu member, Hanzo, aka Scorpion," Knightwolf explained.

"You do know that the last time I saw them, they allied with me. My assassin's blood gave them enhanced fighting abilities that may surpass even you. Why should I help you kill them?" Shao Kahn asked.

"I am stronger. I can show you. Just tell me where they are, and I will defeat them. Whichever team wins allow us to fight for Outworld... in the 10th tournament," she bargained.

"I'm not going to disclose information like that, but I will accept your offer," Shao Kahn stated.

"Or maybe it is just that you do not know where they are, Emperor," Knightwolf mocked.

"I know things that even you don't know. I even know that you aren't really a..." Knightwolf begins to get nervous and angry as she interrupts Kahn.

"You're wrong!" she snapped. Shao Kahn slightly smiles.

"Your speech has changed quickly. I've noticed you've used a simplified version of 'you are', saying 'you're' instead. Shamans don't use combined wording like that. Not even by mistake," Shao Kahn explained. Knightwolf attempts to retaliate, but realizes it is futile. She turns her back to Shao Kahn.

"I'm the successor of my race. When the time comes, I will avenge them all. Know that, emperor," she threatened.

~*/

"Remember the promise we had emperor?" Knightwolf stated. Shao Kahn sat on his throne battered, bloodied, and defenseless. His body was covered in spirit arrows. The sight resembled that of Earthrealm's pinecones.

"…" Shao Kahn tried to speak but could say nothing.

"No response? No matter. Your soul will be mine, along with the souls of every other being you've imprisoned in your body," she continued. Eva entered the room and noticed Kahn's dying body. Before the shadow priestess could react, Shelia revealed Shao Kahn's Kamidogu blade.

"What would happen to you if I revealed this to the Elder Lords?" she asked.

"It is illegal for you two to assassinate the emperor of Outworld during the 10th Tournament." Eva confirmed.

"It is illegal to assassinate the host. His life is fair game," she revealed. She tosses the blade to Eva. "You killed my sister years ago in exchange for a replica of Quan Chi's amulet. Rather than take your life, the two of us have a proposition for you," Shelia stated. Eva clenched her fist and mumbled under her breath.

"What is it that you two want?" she questioned. Knightwolf and Shelia smirked as they nodded to one another.

~*/

Reptile slept quietly in his lair awaiting the champion of Earthrealm's victory over his opponents. Knightwolf approaches him and punches the wall beside him. Spooked from his slumber, he slams both of his palms into Knightwolf's breast knocking her on her back. Her knife slides into the acid pool before she could reach it. Reptile calms himself as he realizes that it was Knightwolf.

"Do you desire death, shaman?" he questioned. Knightwolf holds onto her chest as she struggles to regain the oxygen she could no longer feel in her lungs. Seconds after, she takes short breaths until she found herself able to deeply inhale and exhale.

"All is forgiven. I only came to inform you that the Champion of Earthrealm is ready for you in the courtyard," she stated. Reptile rose from his seat and stretched as he prepares to face the champion of Earthrealm in his greatest matchup yet.

"Will you be joining the champion? I'm assuming you being here means you've lost your match against Frost," he responded.

"I am surely not joining the champion in facing off against you. It would be futile," she stated. Knightwolf conjures a spirit armor around her arm as she reached into the acid pool in search of her knife. "By the way, do you remember the time we fought against Darius years ago?"

"Not really. It was a complete waste of my time I'm assuming."

"Truly, but I noticed something during the fight that you never mentioned before. I found it quite strange that someone like you wouldn't make it clear."

"What are you talking about?" Reptile questioned. Knightwolf swings her acidic arm across Reptile's rib cage. She created a spirit knife that she uses to stab the saurian. As she pulled the knife away, Reptile fell to his knees.

"Your right ribcage area is the most vulnerable spot on your body," she responded. "I guess Darius was useful for something after all.

"You…cheated…?"

"No, you issued a challenge the moment you attacked me. I officially win this fight unless you'd like for me to kill you." Reptile continued to hold his side in pain. She smirked.

~*/

"Is this the first favor you've ever done for Earthrealm, Shang Tsung?" Knightwolf asked.

"Do not make a mockery of me, shaman. If it were not for my own wellbeing, I would let Shinnok have his way with both realms," he confirmed.

"I hear you. I am upset, honestly. I am going to miss Shao Kahn's iconic FINISH HIM!" she joked.

"There is nothing wrong with the way I say Finish Him." Immediately, Knightwolf forces her fist through the heart of the Sorcerer. As the souls in his body repair his lifeforce, Knightwolf laughed hysterically. "What…are…"

"You initiated the final match, sorcerer. Chan and the others are no longer a part of this world and therefore their deal no longer applies to this Tournament. You lose."

"That's…not…fair…" Shang Tsung struggled.

~*/

"It has been that way for the past seven years now. It is never going to be fair for you, Shang Tsung. You are Earthrealm's biggest traitor. We are not like Edenia. I thought your untimely loss at the tournament would be enough. Sadly, this is the way you had to learn." Knightwolf stated to the now deceased body of Shang Tsung. Khameleon bowed to the Shaman as they both escaped the throne room undetected. Outside, Knightwolf decides to part ways.

"I will repay you Shaman. One day. I will always be watching."

"I will call for you when the day comes," Knightwolf responds.

"I will know."

~*/

Knightwolf awakens to the loud crash of thunder. The sounds of battle and death howled outside of her window. She jumps out of bed calling out to her family. They rushed to her aid upon hearing her voice.

"Are you ok?" Aylin frantically asked. She looks at her forehead and notices that the wound was missing.

"I am immortal, as outlandish as that me be," she joked.

"I would hate to make demands to my own daughter, but the village needs you to help fend off against the vampires," her dad stated. Knightwolf runs between them and bursts open their door. Outside, the members of the Locust Klan were fending off the vampires that were swarming the area.

"Knightwolf! We need you!" Khameleon shouted from a distance.

Knightwolf went deaf as she reflected on the situation at hand. This was nothing like what she expected. The vampires were supposed to be at war with Outworld, not Earthrealm. So, what would possess them to attack the village? They would never side with Kitana. They would never side against the Zaterrians for no reason. What could it be that they want? She looked up as the moon seemed to disappear from her sight. She saw Nitara staring her down. She frowned as she was able to hear everything that was occurring around her once again. Reptile appeared beside the shaman with his arms folded.

"You should not have let your guard down so easily, Knightwolf. You were always bait," he whispered. "This is who Kitana was truly after. Now, we are both cursed with being involved in this war."

"I never asked for this."

"None of us asked for this," Nitara reiterated. "The Locust Klan, Knightwolf, and I all have bounties in Outworld. I have grown tired of running and fighting. It ends today. My forgiveness and my realm's freedom rely on this fight. The same remains for you both. Only one of us shall remain tonight," she confirmed.

"That is not true."

"It is inevitable, child. You must make a choice. Either protect your village or sacrifice yourself to one of us. Either way, the talking ends now."

End of Chapter 16

(Upcoming—Nature Calls)