A/N: Good morning/afternoon/evening, my fellow readers. I want you to wish you all a safe happy 4th of July, so if you plan to go out or setting off fireworks, make sure to protect yourself and others as the virus has gone rampant, even on this holiday. For those staying inside, I present you all with a new chapter, so sit back, relax, and enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Killer Instinct and Carrie. They belong to their respective owners.

Carrie froze as the Dragon Spirit's words transmitted in her mind. Jago and Orchid are held captive, by who? Was Gargos or Omen responsible for the capture? She wouldn't put it past either of those demons, given the connection with Jago. Her stomach rolled in knots as a horrible thought emerged. What if Gargos forced Orchid to bear his Heir?

Carrie paced back and forth, panting. Her powers reacted as the Forgotten Grotto trembled. "No, no, no…"

Kim stopped Carrie's pacing and cupped her face. "Look at me! Calm down. You're friggin' losing it."

"We got to get them out!"

"We will, but you must calm down. You're gonna sink the entire island!"

Carrie stared into Kim's sepia eyes and slowed her breathing, which ended the shaking around the cavern.

"There you go." Kim moved her hands towards Carrie's shoulders, rubbing them. "Just breathe." Whew! That was close! I'm not sure if Care can sink an island, but I'm not taking that chance. "Yeo, can you take us to the Tiger Shrine?"

"It could be a trap once we arrive there."

*"Dōkandesu," Hisako added.

"Maybe," Kim said, "but for Care, those two mean everything to her—especially Jago."

"That you are correct," Yeo said, "but remember that bridge you mentioned if Jago learns we brought Carrie with us?"

"Oh, yeah." Kim sucked air in her teeth, followed by a deep rumble in her throat. "We'll figure that out later. We have a rescue mission to do."

Through the soul-shard within itself, the Dragon Spirit's eyes gleamed as swirls of light surrounded the women, and the Forgotten Grotto vanished from view, along with Hisako. After what seemed like hours, the swirling lights faded, revealing the Tiger Shrine, with night ruling the sky.

Carrie did not sense the warmth of this place, even during nightfall. Instead, an oppressive aura overwhelmed the site. The torches around the temple burned in bluish-white instead of pure flame.

Carrie rubbed both her arms. "Something…doesn't feel right."

"Tell me about it," Kim said. "Is this the right place?"

*"Anata wa," a voice spoke as Kim and Carrie shifted towards the source. Hisako appeared beside them, leaning on her weapon. *"Shadoujago ga gen no jago ga akuma ōmen kara kaihō sa reta toki ni uma reta no wa, kono kurayami no naka ni arimasu."

"Hisako says this is the right place, and the same one where Jago freed himself from Omen, giving birth to the manifestation of darkness, Shadow Jago," Yeo said. "Look there!"

Standing beside the smaller bell was Jago and Orchid, but they were not moving. Strange rock-like shells encased them with tiny green aura streams flowing.

Carrie rushed towards them, with Kim following behind her. "Jago! Orchid! Can you hear me?!" Please, tell me they're not dead. No. I sense their heartbeats. "Kim, what's wrong with them?"

Kim waved her hand in front of Jago's face, but no response. She tried her luck with Orchid by snapping her fingers, which produced the same result. "They're turned into stone. Who did this?"

"Be on guard! I sense evil approaching!" Yeo slipped back inside Kim, and Hisako vanished.

"Get behind me, Care!" Kim instructed, and Carrie stayed close.

While they scanned their settings, chuckles echoed throughout the temple. A flashing blur pierced through the darkness and headed towards Kim. Before she could react, an unseen force stopped the blur, which revealed a throwing knife. Kim glanced at Carrie, who created an invisible shield. Two Mimics with Sadira's image emerged from the darkness.

"Bah! We almost had them!" the first Mimic yelled.

"Don't fret. We'll still bring the dragon warrior and the child to Lord Gargos," the second Mimic assured.

Kim smirked. "I don't think so, but Care and I aren't the only ones here."

Suddenly, the first Sadira Mimic froze as warped outlines surrounded it. Its body twisted, breaking every bone.

Hisako emerged from her victim, shrieking, while the Mimic dissolved into a sickly haze, leaving behind Astral Gems.

The second Sadira Mimic stared at the scene, stunned at first until it shifted its attention to Kim.

"Once I bring you to Gargos, he'll stuff your corpse with Shadoworm dung and display you in his Hall of Shame! He'll reward me greatly for bringing not only the Dragon Spirit but also that child."

"That ain't happening, spider-bitch!" Kim shifted to her combat stance.

The Mimic launched itself in the air for a flying kick. Kim also launched herself in the air and whirled her nunchucks, striking the face. The Mimic evaded another attack and landed another flying kick to Kim's face. It continued its attack, the blades cutting into Kim's body and clothes.

Kim checked her clothes before she glared at the Mimic. She launched two thrusting kicks on the Mimic and swung her nunchucks again, for her opponent to evade.

The Mimic started its next assault, with Kim defending until she landed a roundhouse kick. She sent the Mimic flying with an explosive stomp and connected a flying kick.

The Mimic arose and jumped in the air and threw throwing knives. Kim dodged, but the Mimic nicked the warrior's leg. It unleashed its power and planted spiderwebs around, trapping her. The Mimic attacked before landing a powerful flip kick.

Kim crashed to the ground, but as she arose, she wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. I hate these webs! Now I know how Orchid feels when facing her.

The Mimic charged again, but Kim struck her nunchucks on the head. After decent hits, Kim returned to her stance while the Mimic arose and motioned her left hand. Both fighters dashed towards each other, exchanging moves. The Mimic grabbed Kim and kicked her in the air, throwing knives connected with spider silk.

As the knives struck Kim, the Mimic landed a downward flying kick to its opponent's head.

Kim stumbled back but regained her footing. After a quick shake to the head, and spotting the Mimic charging towards her, she fought back until it kicked her away. She flipped back, landed safely, and attacked, but the Mimic flipped away before she kicked into its stomach.

The Mimic tried a sneak attack, but Kim countered, learning a few things from her fight with Hisako. The Mimic tapped into its power and planted spiderweb traps.

Kim blocked each attack from the Mimic, though receiving a few hits. Again, with these webs! They're so annoying!

"They are, but they can burn easily," Yeo said.

The Dragon Spirit's advice sparked a lightbulb in Kim's head. She tapped into her power and unleashed blue flames, burning the web traps.

The Mimic growled and threw more throwing knives, but Kim deflected each one, sending them to the pillars around the temple.

Kim eyed the Mimic, and once it leaped in the air to throw more knives, she launched herself and landed a fearsome flying kick. She settled in a kneeled position while the Mimic slammed its back, arms and legs sprawled. She panted, the adrenaline coursing through her bloodstream.

Yeo detached himself from Kim, floating around her as if doing a victory lap. "Well done, Kim!" He rested on Kim's shoulders and emitted a blue aura around her, sealing any wounds and repaired tore clothing.

"Kim!" Carrie approached her, but before she could ask, she extended her arm, focusing on something.

"Care, what's—whoa!"

The Mimic Sadira froze in the air, struggling to escape Carrie's grip after a failed sneak attack. Carrie slammed the Mimic on the ground three times before chucking it out of the temple, sending it to its death.

"Good save. That Mimic better prepared itself for the Wall of Shame," Kim said until a slight crack reached her ears. "Now what?"

The cracks became louder as the shells around Jago and Orchid weakened with piercing light. The light grew brighter, blinding the women until it vanished. No longer frozen in stone, but dazed, the siblings fell until an invisible force caught them.

"Jago, we're free!" Orchid said. "How, and how are we floating?"

Before Jago could answer, he glanced at his right and froze, eyes widened. Orchid furrowed her brows upon her brother's expression until she followed his line of sight and emitted the same face. They stared at Kim and Carrie—mostly on the latter as the telekinetic set them on the ground.

"Carrie? What are you doing here?" Jago asked, his voice mixed with worry and anger.

"Well, I—"

"Wait! This is my doing," Kim said. "Before I explain myself, can we go somewhere bright and warm? This place gives me the creeps."

"I agree," a voice spoke. A gold tiger skull spirit detached itself from Jago. Its eyes gleamed as it roared, creating a ball of light around everyone. It remained for a few seconds before it vanished, taking everyone with it.

Translations in Japanese:

*(I second that.)

*(That you are. It's within this darkness that Shadow Jago was born when the original Jago freed himself from the demon, Omen.)

A/N: Oh boy, I wonder how Kim will explain the situation and poor Carrie! Jago and Orchid are not happy about this. Anyway, time for my brain to rest, and I'll see you later.