Chapter 3

Isabel was worried after Master Eon read Rachel's message to them. "So they've gone to another realm?" One of the female Portal Masters asked.

"Yes," said the guardian of Skylands. "To Earthrealm."

"The Mortal Kombat world," Isabel said. "Wait, are we talking the same one that Blaze went to and Scorpion was teleported her by mistake?"

"The same one," Master Eon said.

A bit later on, Isabel was deep in thought, looking at her Chaos Emerald and she just couldn't shake the feeling that Rachel, Blaze, and Elliott were going to need her help. She knew the others would keep Skylands safe and while she knew her three friends were strong warriors, it never hurt to have an extra set of eyes and an extra set of hands.

Especially when it came to Kaos.

Standing up, she nodded, her resolve firm as she sought out Master Eon, who was in his office and he didn't look surprised to see her there. Rather, he smiled. "I was wondering how long it would be before you asked me if you could go help them," he said.

"You knew?" She asked, blinking in surprise.

He nodded. "I saw it in your eyes when I told you all where they had gone," he said. "The portal at Kaos' Kastle is still open."

She nodded. "I just can't shake the feeling that they're going to need me there," she said. "I don't know if it's because I really want to help or if I feel something big is going to happen."

"It could be a combination of both," he said, still smiling.

She nodded before getting an idea. "You know what? I think I should ask Chaos, the guardian, if he wants to come with me," she said. "Wouldn't hurt to ask, right?"

"I don't see why not," Master Eon said. "He would no doubt be willing to go too."

Nodding again, she took a deep breath. "Be careful," she said, looking at him. "Even with Kaos gone, there's others and...I just don't want to see you get trapped again by Moneybone or someone worse."

"Don't worry, Isabel," he said, hugging her. "All will be well. And you be careful yourself, my dear. I need you, Rachel, Blaze, and Elliott to come back safely."

"We will," she promised before taking out her purple Emerald and closing her eyes, teleporting away until she reached Angel Island. Knuckles was there with Kaos and the red echidna smiled at her before noticing how serious she looked.

"Everything okay, Izzy?" He asked.

"Not really," she said worriedly. "Our enemy Kaos has gone to another realm and Rachel, Blaze, and Elliott went after him."

Chaos went up to her, placing a hand on her arm and she nodded. "I'm worried about them," she said. "I know they can handle themselves in a battle, but I just can't shake the feeling that I'm needed there too."

"If you've got that feeling, then you should go," Knuckles said at once. "They may be in trouble and need your help."

"That's what I'm worried about," she said before looking at the diety. "Chaos, you don't have to agree to this, but...would you come with me?"

Chaos looked thoughtful before looking up at her and nodding before looking down at his feet and she knew what he was thinking. "I can give you a piggy-back ride," she said. "I don't mind."

Giving her a grateful look, he nodded and she turned so that her back was facing him before she crouched down, allowing him to wrap his arms around her neck and hold onto her. He remembered not to hold too tightly so that she could breathe and she smiled before turning to Knuckles. "I don't know how long we'll be, but we'll be back soon," she promised.

"Good luck out there, Izzy," he said. "And you better come back. Or else I'll come after you."

He said the last part teasingly and she chuckled. "Oh, I have no doubt you will," she said, knowing it was his way of showing that he was concerned for her. "Catch you later, Knux."

"Catch you later, Izzy. And you be careful too, Chaos. Return safely."

The diety nodded, holding on as Isabel teleported back to Skylands, landing in Kaos' Kastle. Glumshanks jumped, but then relaxed at seeing her. "Oh, hi, Isabel," he said, looking a bit bashful.

She smiled at him, knowing that deep down, the troll had a good heart. "How's the portal look, Glumshanks?" She asked.

"Still holding up," he said. "I promised Rachel I'd keep it open and I'm going to. I just hope it stays stable."

"Me too," she said before looking at Chaos. "Ready?"

He nodded and she took a deep breath before walking towards the portal and going through it, stepping out on the other side to Earthrealm. She paused in awe of it. "Wow," she said softly.

Chaos looked around before sensing something coming and he urgently squeezed Isabel's shoulder, to which she jumped and moved back just as an ice beam hit the very spot she had been standing on a moment before. She looked up and her eyes widened at seeing Sub Zero, who was glaring at her. "Uh-oh," she said softly.

"You," the hero said darkly. "I can sense the undead magic around you."

She could tell he thought of her as an enemy. "Sub Zero, I'm not your enemy and neither is my friend," she said. "I'm a Portal Master and yes, my element is that of the Undead."

He didn't stop glaring at her. "You will not pass me!" He said, taking out his swords.

Biting her lip, Isabel pulled out her knife and it transformed into her sword. Chaos slid down from her back, standing beside her before Sub Zero charged at them.

Thanks to her learning how to fight with her sword to counter another swordsman's moves and to dodge them, she mentally reminded herself to go give Antoine a big hug later as she managed to block all of Sub Zero's attacks, batting away the ice attacks that came at her. Chaos helped out by using his water attacks, but Sub Zero turned to him and aimed an ice attack on him, one that froze the diety. "Chaos!" Isabel cried out in alarm before gripping her purple Emerald and pulling it out, using it along with her sword.

Chaos, realizing he was paralyzed, but unhurt, began thawing out the ice, adding it to his body to use. It took a bit, but he managed to thaw himself out and threw a giant wave at Sub Zero, who dodged it and growled. "So you thawed out, hmm?" He asked.

"Chaos, are you okay?" Isabel asked.

He nodded and both faced Sub Zero, ready for another attack when something suddenly landed between them. "Stop!" A voice Isabel recognized called out and a person stood up, her body glowing with a golden glow as she stood between the fighters.

"Rach!" Isabel said in relief. "Boy am I glad to see you."

Rachel smiled before looking at Sub Zero, who looked at her in surprise. "I know you," he said.

"Yes," she said. "I'm friends with Blaze, but I want to know why you're attacking Isabel. Have you forgotten she's one of the Portal Masters that helped make sure Scorpion didn't escape that time he went to Skylands?"

That stopped him cold and he now nodded. "I remember now," he said before looking a bit sheepish. "Forgive me. It's been a long time."

Isabel didn't hold it against him and nodded. "It's okay," she said. "Though thanks for coming to the rescue, Rach."

"Anytime," Rachel said with a smile before hugging her. "I received a message from Master Eon that you would be coming and when I heard the sounds of battle, something told me you were battling someone." She then spotted Chaos and smiled. "Hello, Chaos."

The diety nodded to her before looking at Sub Zero and nodding again. "He forgives you," Isabel said to the hero.

"He is not like any I've battled," Sub Zero admitted. "Is he a water elemental?"

"In a way, he is," the Undead Portal Master said.

Rachel smiled. "Come on," she said. "Blaze and Elliott are waiting for us and I know they'll be thrilled to see you, Sub Zero."

With that, the four headed back to the inn where the other two were, Chaos holding onto Isabel's back. The young men were happy to see Isabel and greeted Sub Zero in a friendly manner. "Any luck on finding out where our enemy is?" Isabel asked.

"Not yet," Elliott said. "And that's worrisome."

"How is Skylands doing?" Blaze asked.

"Doing good. The others will keep things running while we deal with the trouble here," the brunette-haired woman said.

"May a warrior like myself join you?" Sub Zero asked. "It's the least I can do after you all helped me with Scorpion long ago. And to make up my mistake for thinking Isabel was an enemy."

"We'll take all the help we can get," Rachel said before looking at Chaos. "I just don't know what to expect."

He nodded understandingly, hugging Isabel a bit tighter and she patted his arm gently, but inwardly, she was wondering too.

What were they up against and would they be able to stop it in time?

Looks like the group has a few more allies, but what is Kaos up to? We shall find out in the next chapter, which will be posted later this week.

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