A/N: From this point onwards, this crosses over to all Mortal Kombat media, namely Mortal Kombat (2021) and Mortal Kombat Conquest with elements of the latest games.

Future chapters will also feature flashbacks that will connect the characters in question more and lead up to the events of the film.

"Ancient goblins and war lords come out the ground

without making a sound

smell of death is all around

And at night when the cold winds blows, no one cares

no one knows ...

I don't want to live my life again ..."
~PET SEMATARY by Ramones

1730

It took a longer than the Conqueror of Realms expected but the Defendress of the faith finally fell. The killer instinct that had been dormant for so long was awakened. Her first mission took place in Wales, specifically Ludlow Castle where she and her first husband had lain together for half a year. She didn't ask why her of all people when it was fairly obvious why. Both of them, Shao Kahn and Shinnok, wanted to test her, to see if everything Quan Chi's prediction came true.

She didn't disappoint.

Everyone of the Usurper's forces were put through the sword. Unrelenting in her pursuit, the new Fury sent chase to their leader. She looked down at the carnage then glanced at the defiant man under her boot.

"You've fought bravely and nobly but these virtues are useless in a king. That's why you're down here while your German cousin continues to rest his fat arse in the English throne." Her eyes flashed orange. She raised her free hand. Flames appeared which soon spread across her body.

"What in Heaven's name are you?" Andrew had heard of the curse that plagued his ancestors. Twice over through the first Plantagenet noble a thousand years ago and then through Edward IV via his union to the beautiful Lancastrian widow, Elizabeth Grey nee Woodville. Rumors still abounded that Elizabeth Woodville was a witch whose feminine wiles were aided by the river demon Melusina so she could snare the King of England and thus propel her family to the top.

Andrew never believed these tales but upon witnessing the impossible with his own eyes, he began to reconsider.

Though ... as far as demons were concerned, he doubted Melusina looked anything like his attacker.

Desperate to break free, he summoned strength and punched her in her leather boot. His bravado only got him to scream louder than when she had pinned him down. The flames that enveloped her didn't reach her boots so he thought (foolishly, he now realized) that he could use this week spot to escape.

She grinned down at him. "Do that again and you'll feel your lungs being crushed slowly."

"God damn you." He said. His words only caused her more amusement. The flames became a darker red, matching her hair color. Again he asked her, "What are you?"

Catherine considered telling him the truth . It would be fun letting Anne and Henry's descendant know that the heroes he'd grown to admire were foul and cowardly -everything he was not.

There was a tendency which still remained from when she had been alive to ponder on whether being direct or twist the truth to avoid disenchantment to whoever she was talking or arguing with. This was no different. Had his grandfather James II of England not chosen to bring back Catholicism, his union to an Italian Princess who descended from Henry and Anne's youngest daughter, the celebrated Princess royal Bridget Tudor, wouldn't have been seen as a threat to his ambitious, turncoat daughters and their Protestant allies.

Andrew Stuart Boleyn was the last member of Henry and Anne's line who also boasted Stuart blood and as such, he had a superior claim through his exiled grandfather and his son (the displaced Prince of Wales, Andrew's father) to the English throne than the Hannoverians.

After half a century of fighting, the wheel of fortune had ruled in his favor. With his father's passing, Andre chose that it was now or never. Invade England through Wales or risk fading into oblivion as another failed pretender.

But none of that mattered anymore. This woman, this thing ... Whatever she was, had scorched the last bit of opportunity at restoring the natural order.

Nobly, bravely and that's why you'll die. Her words were seated into his head. She was right. That didn't mean he had to accept his fate. Through his veins ran the blood of ancient noble warriors who took 'no' for an answer. Who took what they wanted when they wanted.

If they could beat the odds, then so can he. If he can't, then so be it. He'll stare death straight in the face. So that is what he did. The blue eyes that had witnessed the horrors perpetrated by this banshee now pierced hers.

The mocking smile that never reached her eyes, vanished instantly. "Ask your heroes, they'll tell you. Make sure you tell them everything and if the rest are there - don't worry, you'll know what I mean when you get there - tell them I am coming for every last member of their line."

With that, she pushed her boot up to his neck. In one quick move, she crushed his larynx ending his life.

The rest of her mission went smoothly. She was to destroy the ancient scrolls that spoke of Camulod and King Arcturus whose bloodline had been lost to the God of Thunder. At this time, with the upcoming eighth tournament three months away, Outworld and the Netherrealm couldn't take any risks. If the rumors were true and this was indeed the last descendant of the fabled King Arthur, it was best to act

Quan Chi thought it was a stroke of luck that she killed two birds with one stone. Shao Kahn knew better. Catherine might have become a Fury but she still possessed the knowledge and wisdom from living experience which had made her a formidable politician. Balancing her wit with her desire for justice, she maneuvered the beggar claimant, Lord Andrew to enact an invasion and guided the King George II of England's to sending his stationary forces in Wales away.

The Emperor of Outworld quickly realized that she was someone to keep in handy. Moreover, she knew her value and hadn't played around when he subtly suggested to keep a close eye over Quan Chi. Neither him nor Shinnok trusted him. Catherine didn't either but unlike them, she was better at concealing her feelings

When she returned to hell after giving proof to Shao Kahn on behalf of Netherrealm that her mission was complete, she found herself followed by Hanzo.

She rolled her eyes. It was a waste of time. He had a dream of enacting revenge of the man who robbed him of his family and destroyed his clan. It was an understandable sentiment, one that should've made him understandable of her situation. But no. Hanzo saw her as this delicate flower that needed to be protected. The idea of a kind face with a gentle voice like hers becoming hell's Fury unnerved him.

No. It has to be more than that. She thought of their similar tragedies and it suddenly clicked. How foolish. The great warrior who is now the feared wraith thinks he can play white knight with me. Hanzo Hasashi had been a man of honor, who lives by the ideals of his clan, who upheld tradition above all. From his view, Catherine's new role was unnatural. She was a woman who refused to be enveloped by self pity or helplessness, or settle into the role of a mother longing for closure. Her coldness, calculating methods of disposing her enemies and carrying out their masters' orders were of a cunning tactician, not an aggrieved mother.

Typical. Even in hell, she still had to contend with these prejudices. Yet, neither of them could avoid interest in one another.

Catherine smiled to herself. She was going to humor him. She had a lot to celebrate and what better way than to let him see her train with one of Quan Chi's minions?

Hanzo Hasashi had seen many men and women break under the whip of Quan Chi's dogs. Catherine of Aragon and Castile however was unlike any other of the unfortunate souls in the Netherrealm.

Her ferocity was matched only by her beauty. It was one of Quan Chi's many gifts to her. One she unabashedly used to her advantage.

The more the four legged freak pounded at her, the harder she punched back. Each time she was thrown to the ground, she used her woman card to convince him of her defeat.

Now, what he suspected would be the final blow, she pretended to be in deep pain after he kicked her in the gut (for the third time in a row).

Hanzo Hasashi smiled underneath his mask. He was right. It was all a trick. And a damn good one. Catherine blocked the final blow, with both her arms which were in an 'x' position. Then she screamed. Her scream pushed him back. This gave her enough time to take out her sword and slice his head off.

Flawless victory. Unless you were Catherine. The former Queen pushed her sword to the ground then took out her dagger. She carved the sign of the cross on his forehead.

"If you're going to play with your food like that, Quan Chi should consider having another one as his hell fury." Hanzo said.

Catherine smiled at him. She took the demon's head and tossed it at Hanzo. Chains rolled out of his armored arms. The spear at the end tore through the flesh in seconds.

Catherine was unimpressed by his savagery. She walked towards the remains, her high heeled boots sounded off with every step she took. She stepped on the half of the head that Hanzo's kunai blades didn't slash.

"You missed a spot. I don't know why you insist on those useless spears. They're far too impractical. It is like you are carrying an arsenal. Stick to simple things. It works better."

"My kunai work fine." He said, emphasizing on the proper usage of the word.

"When I want your opinion, Princess, I'll ask for it."

"Then why come here if not for tips on how to butcher new meat?"

Hanzo didn't give into her silly games but after his visit on Earthrealm under his new identity of Scorpion, he had seen enough of what had become of her distant relatives to pity her.

Hanzo understood pain better than anyone. He had gone through the worst pain a man can go through. No father should have to bury his son or spend eternity carrying with failure because he had grown too complacent and lazy in retirement that he couldn't protect his wife.

Hanzo Hasashi had failed as a man and as a father.

But rather than dwell into self pity, he became a beast. He mercilessly slaughtered every member of the Lin Kuei who attacked his family and his clan. The one man he couldn't finish off was their grandmaster.

On his dying breath, Hanzo swore he'd find a way to exact his revenge on Bi Han. He didn't know how and didn't know when, but he'd fulfill the promise he made to Bi Han. Hanzo's face would be the last thing that no good son of a bitch would see before he finished him off.

Catherine was motivated by the same rage. But whereas Hanzo Hasashi didn't find it thrilling to kill everyone one of these wretched creatures - and he certainly took not pleasure in any of the assignments Quan Chi gave him; Catherine did.

It had taken her longer than Hanzo to take Quan Chi's deal and become his wraith. When she finally accepted, like Hanzo, she did it under her own terms. She had learned about fighting through strict observation. While other parents kept their daughters from the horrors of the world, King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile didn't. They believed in exposing their daughters to the harsh realities of their world, believing that in doing so would make them stronger. Aside of giving their daughters this blanket of security, they also did it to secure Spain's interesrs. Ensuring their daughters learned everything from the arts and crafts related to their sex in addition to the deadly art of statecraft, guaranteed them a smooth manipulator in the foreign royal bedchamber whose wiles and wit would bend the more ironclad of kings to their will.

Out of all their offspring, it was Catherine who took these lessons to heart. Seeing her potential, King Ferdinand taught her how to fight while her mother encouraged her to devour as many books as she wanted to increase her knowledge. At fifteen, which was the age she left her native Spain for England, she was already a skilled swordswoman, dancer, and politician.

With all these traits in hand, it was easy to see why Quan Chi wanted her. The first years servicing him were hell. It was faith in herself, her strong sense of justice and loss which got her through.

Her sense of justice however was slowly evaporating. Every kill, every training session extinguished the bright flame that once burned deeply in her soul. Called 'the light' by the commons, held to a higher standard by her church, respected by nearly everyone (including her harshest detractors), Catherine had become something of a cult figure. She could do no wrong. If they only knew. His last mission had involved killing one of Quan Chi's agents in Earthrealm who had gone rogue. He killed the poor bastard in St Peterborough, the church where she and her daughter were buried.

Flowers and other offerings were placed on their joint tomb. It would have been an insult to leave that knave there so he took him and dumped his corpse elsewhere then cleaned the big mess he made before someone came.

Something within attracted him towards the fallen Queen. She was no helpless, crying woman by any means. Her time in hell hardened her. Being the ruthless bastard that he was, Quan Chi had given her a reminder of the daughter she brutally lost. Rather than crush it with her acquired super human strength, she kept it.

Hanzo reserved his pity for the weak. Catherine was by no means weak but the way she was driven by pain and treasured that pendant containing a miniature of her daughter, made him pity her.

Hanzo had been a father. A man with nothing more to lose. She on the other hand, had been a mother with responsibilities that far exceeded that of any other woman. Women in her station were expected to defend and protect in the shadows, not face their enemies head on. Catherine had to withstand many forms of humiliation at her husband's hands. On top of that, despite safeguarding the nation against their northern neighbors (twice), she was still regarded as a weak, pathetic, aging woman. At the time of her death, she was forty. Not old but past her prime. Her beauty was fading. But that didn't stop her from proving everyone who still doubted her courage and questioned her intellect wrong. Until that day.

Catherine felt angry because deep down she knew that everyone thought they had bested her because she was a woman. Killing her and her daughter like they did, validated every taunts and mock from Henry VIII and his courtiers.

In her view, a woman who couldn't protect her cubs, deserved to be sent to the lowest circle of hell.

This pain twisted her. It made her ugly inside.

Yet Hanzo always came back.

"I have come to tell you that I've visited your grave and it is still regarded as a shrine. Hundreds como on the anniversary of your death to pay their respects."

"What do they say? Don't tell me. I know. Poor Queen. She deserved better than be betrayed by the bloody Scots. England gets to keep its dignity and I become the ultimate son story. Two poor victims destroyed by the backstabbing Scots."

Catherine could almost see their sorrowful faces, hear their cries as they lamented their deaths. What good is it to mourn when they continue to embrace her dastardly tormentors'descendants?

"They mourn for a mother who died protecting her child - as they should. They don't care about what came before or afterwards. All they pray for is for the both of their souls to be at rest."

"What a wonderful sentiment." Catherine said with a dismissive tone. "Did you get the job done?"

"You should visit there. Pay your respects to your daughter and the woman you were."

"Besides a warrior, a philosopher." She said. "My husband would have liked you."

"Which one?" Hanzo asked.

"You think you're doing me a favor by checking up on me but nothing you say or do or will change my mind."

She went to retrieve her sword. Hanzo Hasashi followed her.

"You better than anyone should know that I can't forgive or forget."

"There is one difference between in what I am seeking and what you're after. The man who killed my family is still alive somewhere. The people who wronged you died a long time ago."

"Their descendants still live." Catherine pointed out.

"Men and women who can't fight back and don't have a stake in the greater game being played here. If you wipe them out, you'll achieve nothing."

"Somebody has to answer for their crimes. Sons have to pay for the sins of their fathers. That is what is fair. What is just. I want the souls of their ancestors to look down as I smash all their hopes and dreams."

"Justice." Hanzo scoffed. "You speak of justice as if it is something to be expected. There's no justice except the one we make. I know what I am after and when I obtain my revenge, I will still be here but at least part of me will be at rest reliving that man's death. But you? What will you have?"

Gripping the hilt of her sword tightly, her eyes penetrating his, Hanzo knew he had struck a nerve. Rather than ending it there, he continued. "You and your daughter had a resting place. Mine didn't. Nobody remembers the Shirai Ryu clan."

"Is that supposed to console me?" Catherine swung her sword at him. His chains enveloped it before it landed his head and pushed it away. Catherine wasn't stupid, she had other weapons like her dagger and poisoned blade as well as her own self but she wasn't going to use any of them and risk her chance of justice.

"Think, Princess! Quan Chi will squeeze you until there's nothing left. Then he will toss you aside. He needs warriors with souls because they fight better and he can manipulate them."

"I am the exception. I destroyed my soul when I took the deal."

"No, your heart still beats for the same things it did before all of this happened."

"Did you sneak into Quan Chi's lair and take out his crystal ball to find that out?"

"No. I know what drives you because it is the same thing that drives me. But as lonely an existence as I'll have, I will have a part of my humanity while you will be cast into the Void without memory, feeling or anything of what used to be you."

"If that's the price then so be it." Catherine said with a note of finality. "I wish you good fortunes in the days to come, Hanzo. If you do defeat Bi Han, you will have eternity to live with. Compared to that, the Void is a blessing - one I while heartedly embrace."

Hanzo sighed, wheeled around and left. Why did he insist on torturing himself like this? There was nothing he said that would deter her from walking that dangerous path. So why bother?

Is it because deep down you see a glimpse of Harumi? He pushed those treacherous thoughts away. Never! His heart had belonged to one woman.

Does it?

Hanzo closed his eyes. Whenever he did, he saw her. Her smile, her kind eyes. He heard her soft whispers in his ear. Harumi represented all that was good in the world and living proof that even the most undeserving of men could find love.

After so many years of fighting, he gave up his sword for domestic life. His clan was still looked after by him. Hanzo set new rules for them to follow which set them apart from other clans, including their own during his heyday.

Harumi didn't want him to neglect his duties as a husband and a father so he relaxed his training sessions. Her real objections came when he began training their son. Named after both of his grandfathers, Hanzo predicted he'd be the next grandmaster of the Shirai Ryu clan. Harumi had other ideas; she wanted what Hanzo promised but Hanzo couldn't simply turn his back on his old life just like that.

When he visited England, he saw the portraits of hers that still remained. Most were of her alone, adorned with previous jewels, pearls with the letters Katherine Regina in the background, her eyes looking away from the viewer. A sign that reminded the viewer this was a lady high above them. It was by grace alone that she had survived every battle and overcame every obstacle to attain her goal. An attractive, imposing looking woman with steely eyes might have impressed the masses, but not him. Behind those eyes, he sensed a pain and loss that was easily hidden away by her regality and stoicism.

Then there were the other two that caught his eye. In the first one, she was a young woman, looking sideways, expecting someone to come and rescue her from widowhood. It was painted on her twentieth birthday, some years after her first husband had died. It was whispered that her father-in-law intended to marry her. It was a story he was all too familiar. Old King looking for a younger bride. But she refused his advances, choosing instead the man whom she seemed worthy of her hand.

We were both foolish. He, in thinking he could have peace and tranquility and she that she could live a fairy tale with a man from an accursed bloodline.

And yet, he was more fortunate in love than she was. Harumi was a general's daughter destined for a shogun's younger son but she chose him instead.

Catherine's pride and sense of destiny would have never allowed her to walk that simpler path. She had to have it all or nothing. And yet, in this painting, she showed her vulnerability as a young woman, expecting something more out of life.

The second one he was most taken with. Painted right after she had become Henry VIII's Queen, the portrait showed a smiling, charismatic young woman whose eyes showed a glimmer of hope.

It was as if it was an image frozen in time. Whoever the painter was, he not only captured her likeness but her soul as well. So much so that it made him turned away because he was reminded of Harumi.

Deep down you think you can save Harumi by saving her.

True. It made his existence much worse. It rankled him because it was a hopeless task. Catherine of Aragon and Castile didn't want to be saved.

For both of their sakes, the farther they kept their distance, the better. Nothing would deter her from her madness. Likewise, he wasn't going to let anything get in the way of his revenge.

What both failed to acknowledge was that in spite of their experience in both their lifetimes, they were both puppets dancing on a cosmic string.