This brought back bad memories for everyone. All of the Kingdom was in a frenzy looking for her. Knights, the Royal Guard, and peasants alike all went out looking for her. Some sent out lanterns hoping that once again it would lead their lost Princess home.
She'd been kidnapped alright but this was different than last time. Something in the pit of his stomach made him know that.
Flynn himself was involved in the search party. His first stop the Ugly Duckling. Asking to see if any of the unscrupulous characters that occupied the inn had seen anything. They hadn't but they were madder than anyone else when they heard what had happened. And so joined the hunt deeper into the woods.
But no matter where they went there was no signs of anything. No footprints, ripped cloths, or a long strand of golden hair left behind. It was just as Flynn saw, they vanished into thin air.
This brought back bad memories for everyone. But as they journeyed deeper into the woods it only got worse for Flynn. He remembered the tower where he'd first met Rapunzel. The place of her imprisonment.
He knew it was close by, less than a mile. And somehow he was drawn to it.
At the conclusion of the story, the fire died out turning into nothing but smoke. But by this time light was starting to shine in from the window. And thus the secret was out. This stranger, his even stranger ability and most of all how he knew about Rapunzel.
"Gothel..." She said turning from the fireplace and to him." You and her, the two of you-"
"That's right." he said crossing his hands before her." I returned to see her whenever I had the chance. My visits were often far between so as not to arouse the suspicion of my master. Not that it mattered to us." He smirked." 'Nothing but time between us'" That lasted statement didn't come from him originally though. His smirk softened into a frown. His eyes turned to the ceiling, lost in some long-forgotten time. With a flash of green his eyes snapped to her. " Now that your all caught up, it's time you answered one of my questions. Where is she?" He took a moment to pause." This is her home, but neither she or you were here upon my return."
"She's dead." Rapunzel answered.
"I figured as much... How?" And Rapunzel thought the less details he knew the better. But he needed and answer.
"She fell from the tower." A half-truth." Out the window." She pointed. It was only just behind him. Stiffly he turned and slowly poked his head out the window, staring at the ground below.
"And there we have it." He stated. After a deep breath he turned to her." And here we are now." He marched across the room and grabbed Rapunzel by the arm, hoisting her to her feet." Now you'll be coming with me." She tried to pull away from him but he was too strong. So she had to use something else. As he walked across the room he kicked up some of her hair, which was now all around his feet. " This world will make a fine gift for my master and you will-" With her free hand Rapunzel grabbed her hair and pulled hard, managing to take Shang Tsung by surprise and knock him off his feet. She used this time wisely and ran. But she didn't get far.
She only managed to get up the stairs when she felt a hard tug behind her. Shang Tsung was on his back but had a handful of her golden hair.
"I imagine that didn't work out the way you planned. "He commented from his back. He disappeared into smoke before suddenly appearing before her, much to her fright." Boo!" His face said through the smoke.
She shrieked as she jumped back, losing her balance and falling down the stairs. She groaned at the bottom of the stairs. But above her groaning she could hear the sound of heavy steps against the wood.
"You don't have to worry." He said above her. A black boot set itself down by her head, it's twin soon joined it. " You won't be harmed. Our abilities are rare even in Outworld. You'll make a fine addition to my collection."
She'd heard that before. It sounded just like Mother Gothel. Just a prize possession, wanted for nothing more than her ability.
"She's not going anywhere." a voice called. Rapunzel picked her head up. Shang Tsung looked to his left. There was her knight in shining armor or rather leather pants and riding boots.
"Eugene." She smiled at him.
"Where is he blondie?" Flynn said stepping forward." Where's the old man?" Shang Tsung raised the hand that was farthest away from Flynn, giving it a slight wave.
"Here I am. "He hissed.
"What the-"
"He can make himself young." Rapunzel let out.
"Another one? Did he know Gothel."
"Intimately" Shang Tsung told. Flynn gulped down a breath. He didn't know which one of them was worse. The old man or the young one before them. Both had the same frightening green eyes and sharp voice.
"Well we dealt with her. Now we'll deal with you." He seemed to get carried away with his gesture and drew from his waist a sword. It didn't seem to frighten Shang Tsung.
"We?" He repeated. He turned and angled his stance so that his full body faced Flynn.
The opened window behind Flynn filled with shadows. One by one knights of the Royal guard filled the room and stood beside him. They were ten against one.
But these odds did not frighten Shang Tsung.
They were ten against one. But Shang Tsung never backed down from a fight be couldn't win.
"Come on then." Shang Tsung challenge." None of us are getting any younger." His taunt worked. The men thinking their numbers would help them moved in and charged. Shang Tsung swung his leg around hitting the spears and breaking them in two. Making them nothing more than sticks.
Next he put both hands forward firing a flaming skull from each and incinerating the two. That left eight more.
The magic in the flames continued after they were dead. Starting on the floor, burning the rug.
Another was coming from the right. Shang Tsung turned and snapped out his fist, hitting him across the face with the back of it. He sent the man stumbling back. Stumbling out the window. Seven.
He jumped forward and landed amongst them. With one arm he slapped his hand in the face of one of the guards, lifting him off the ground. A flash of green light covered him, reducing him to bones and ashes and rejuvenated Shang Tsung's power. Six.
Rapunzel and Flynn could only watch as in a flurry of punches, kicks and magic the rest of the guards fell. All the while the flames continued to burn around them more and more.
As the battle raged around them Flynn tried to make his way over to his lady love. But the fire separated him.
"RAPUNZEL!" he yelled out to her.
"EUGENE help!"
"HOLD ON!" He yelled back. He took a few steps back then charged forward, jumping over the flames to met Rapunzel on the other side. She was in his sight and almost in his arms. But now something worse than the flames blocked his path.
"And now..." Shang Tsung turned to see only Flynn Rider before him." It's just you and me, boy." He'd made quick work of the guards.
"Get back!" Flynn said putting himself between the sorcerer and the Princess. His attempts at heroics were amusing to his foe. He smiled while the flames burned around them.
"Tell me, what do you plan to do?"
Flynn's fist came flying in nice and clean. In the same manner Shang Tsung caught his fist. In response he reached out with a punch of his own that did connect.
Right, left, right, left. And finally Shang Tsung reared his right hand back only to land another clean blow to Flynn's face.
The smoke was rising around them. Rapunzel put her arm to her mouth and coughed. While Shang Tsung stood before Flynn the window was wide open. As Flynn was tossed from one side of the room to the other Rapunzel made her move. Latching her hair onto the lock and was almost ready to lower herself down. Almost.
She turned back to Flynn knocked to the ground by Shang Tsung once more.
"You have fought against considerable odds." Shang Tsung told." I hope you find some comfort in that."
"EUGENE!" Rapunzel yelled. Flynn picked his head up to see her in the window. But that the same time so did Shang Tsung. They wouldn't get a second chance at this, so he took advantage of the opportunity.
He kicked out his leg managing to knock Shang Tsung's out from under him. In that same motion he jumped to his feet and ran to Rapunzel.
"NO!" Shang Tsung yelled. He opened his palm onto the floor and let out another fireball. This one in one blast doing what the previous two had done slowly. Take the entire castle down.
Rapunzel and Flynn were side by side, wrapped up in her hair. With the blast came a gust of air and smoke the pulled the two apart.
Flynn was left mostly untouched by the destruction. He picked himself up to see the castle where it once stood, now nothing but rubble.
"NO!" He yelled looking at it. He darted over and began pushing the stones aside. "Rapunzel!" Flynn yelled." RAPUNZEL!"
"Over here!" she called. He turned around to see the Princess standing unharmed a few feet behind him, unharmed. He quickly ran over and took her in his arms.
"Oh Rapunzel!" he gasped upon doing so." Are you hurt? Are you alright?!"
"Yes, Yes." She responded with her hands on his face." I'm fine I-"
"NO!" yelled a voice. It sounded like Flynn's but he was right before her.
Together the two turned around to see Flynn Rider again! Rapunzel looked from one to the other shocked. The Flynn beside her sharing her fright.
"Get away from her!" Rapunzel followed his finger to see him pointing to the first Flynn.
"Don't listen to him." He said grabbing her by both elbows." It's a trick, it has to be!"
"No-" The second said.
"It's some strange magic!" The first continued.
"Blondie it's me!" He insisted.
"It's a trick!" The first said. He took one arm away from her's to tilt her face up to his." Trust me." He pleaded. And there was much sincerity in the eyes the Flynn, and the sound of his voice helped make her believe him.
Suddenly she felt herself being pulled. Opening her eyes she saw the sorcerer before her. One arm around her wrist, using it to pull her back. Beneath them a swirling vortex. He was half-way into it and was pulling her into it. If it wasn't for Flynn, the real Flynn grabbing her at the last moment she would have.
"I got you blondie!" Flynn grumbled as he tried to hold on.
"You can't save her, boy!" Shang Tsung said. His free hand began to glow with fire. With one movement he would let it go and consume Flynn in it.
With both legs Rapunzel kicked up and put them against Shang Tsung's chest. With the help of Flynn behind her she kicked, breaking the hold Shang Tsung had over her and sending him into the vortex.
His scream was quick as the vortex closed in around him leaving only silence.
"That was a nightmare." Flynn commented. He turned to Rapunzel." Are you alright?"
"Yes." She said hugging him." Now I am." Together they turned and looked at what once was. The tower and everything with it.
"That thing stood for too long anyway." Flynn commented." Besides no-one was using it."
"Yea..." She responded glumly. Flynn put both arms around her shoulders and leaned down next to her.
"Are you sure your alright?"
"I just can't help thinking of that man, of her..."
Shang Tsung fell out the other side of the portal and he was back home again. In the Flesh Pits, his grim hideout in the palace of the Emperor.
He grumbled as he picked himself up, realizing his surroundings and his failed mission. His first real view of the place was at his own reflection in the tank fo water a few feet before him. Muffled hair, dirtied cloths. And worst of all he was alone, again.
But not for long.
"Sorcerer!" Turning he saw the chieftan of the Tarkatans, Baraka at his door." The Emperor demands your presence" Shang Tsung would not give this creature his attention but if his master needed him so be it. But in his current condition it would be unwise to see him immediately. The Sorcerer ran his hands through his hair straightening it out before doing the same with his beard. Next he moved to pat down his dirty cloths." Did you hear me!" Baraka said as he dared to enter further." The Emperor has-" That's all he said as a fireball flew passed his head and into the wall.
"I'll go when I'm ready." Shang Tsung told him, bringing his smoking hand down to his side. He took the hint and Baraka left. He took have taken the fool's head clean off. But then the Emperor would question him about it, and that's a headache he'd rather avoid.
He wasn't the only one in the throne room.
The Emperor's champion Prince Goro of the Shokan stood by with Sheeva.
And before them all in the middle of the room was the Khan himself. The Emperor sat tall and might like a skull-headed god on his throne. Beside him his empress and love, Sindel of Edenia.
The Sorcerer could remember the day the two first met. Together they ploted to overthrow Sindel's former husband, the ruler of Edenia. Together they did. And ever since Shang Tsung watched them day after day after day.
"Sorcerer." The Khan boomed upon seeing him.
"Master." He replied.
"I have an assignment for you." He pointed a finger at him. Not surprising. The Emperor usually gave Shang Tsung odd jobs and tasks to do." I want you... to organize a ball." That wasn't the kind of assignment he'd expected. "Their your specialty." Khan continued." But this time I want it bigger and better than any before." He turned to Sindel, cupping her face in his hand." Only the best for my Queen." He turned back to Shang Tsung." Understand?" For that last word he leaned forward in his chair, making it sound like a threat.
"As you wish, master." He answered." I'll see to it right away." He turned and decided to dismiss himself. This didn't match the usual demeanor of the sorcerer. Even his voice sounded off. Confusing everyone in the room, even his master who watched him go.
"Hold." Shao Khan commanded. Shang Tsung stopped in his place." Does something ail you Sorcerer?" Shang Tsung did not answer right away. He stayed silent, his eyes closed thinking about what might have been.
"Just dreaming...old dreams."