The day finally came. The gods and their chosen combatants begin their morning routine as usual until Raiden begins to speak.

"Today is the day, my friends. It is time we journey to Shang Tsung's island." Raiden then pulls up a portal they enter in afterward. Once through, they browse around the area to find that they were eerily surrounded by fog. They could hardly tell they were on some dock, and in front of them was a moss-ridden, sale-torn, rotten wreck of a ship with a figurehead of an antagonized dragon's head and wings.

"We're not getting on that boat… right?" Miguel says, uneasy. "Even a thief, such as I, has standards."

"This is the only way to arrive at Shang Tsung's island. You may finally go home if that is your wish. Just know that it might take you a few years to reach it."

"P- Pero…!" Miguel panicked as the others embarked on the ship, not giving much care except Suijin who was trying to encourage him.

Fujin saw this but tried to ignore it. The jealousy he finally acknowledged flared up at that moment. He decided it was not worth his time since it seemed Suijin cared for Miguel deeply despite his obvious lechery. Besides, it now made it clear for him who to focus on, if she would only talk to him. Ever since he rejected her that night, she has been silent and only taking orders from the other gods.

It reminded him of Suijin whenever he made her mad all those years ago when they acted like children. Suijin was violent too, he recollected, bringing a smirk to his face. When he would least expect it, she would throw things at him. Some of them were rocks. She even left a good bump on his head one time. But now, Suijin seemed more reserved. She stopped throwing things, which was good, but now she was more poised. She acted colder towards him, something he probably deserved.

Fujin shook his head. He cannot seem to stop thinking about Suijin. He sighed as if defeated while they were sailing towards Shang Tsung's island. That is when he looked up and saw Ame starting wistfully at the sea. Gazing at her sadness, he felt a pang in his heart. He began to feel inclined to talk to her as this may be a good opportunity. He cautiously began to walk over to her, unsure of how she'll react once she notices him. She then turns to him, exceedingly disheartened as if she is about to break out in tears.

She stood there staring at him in silence despite her dispirited appearance. It seems she was still not talking to him, but her expression showed as if to beg for him to talk to her. So he did just that.

"Ame… I'm sorry. If I knew what I know now. I... " he swallowed nervously before continuing, "I would have made love with you… but I had to be certain that my heart did not already belong to another."

Ame looked at him in surprise and great confusion, but she kept silent, staring at him, hoping he'll continue explaining.

"And now I know, so all I want to do now is to be with you."

She stared at him, almost in disbelief. "Are you certain?"

Deep down he knew he wasn't, but what could he do? Suijin has chosen a mortal as he had at first. He fell in love with Ame without even knowing anything about her. He believed in love at first sight, sure. It was a silent wish of his. But now it seemed that being in love with someone you have similar interests with, was what he truly desired. He had that with Suijin, but now it was too late. She changed. She moved on, so he was going to as well.

He nods and smiles at her before she suddenly smiled back and leaped into his arms. She swiftly gave him a kiss, which surprised him at first before he began to kiss her back. When they stopped, they slowly opened their eyes and stared at each other longingly. The kiss was still breathtaking. Then they both smiled at each other, chuckling, embracing one another for a moment longer.

"So this is what it feels like?" The wind god said with a smile on his face. Flushed by his combination of meekness and joy. His eyes almost shimmer with a kind of happiness that found its way into his heart that would begin to mend his broken, tattered, and torn soul to begin anew.

The two would spend many moments together. If only to somewhat forget what was on the horizon for them at the ship's stop when they would arrive.

'I think it is time to find out what Ame is like. At least I think I should get to know her before we once again address each other more intimately.'

During their voyage across the sea, Fujin would make his presence known to the young woman one moonlit night. Ame could be seen looking out over the silent, almost serene, ocean waves.

"Miss Ame," announcing himself so as not to alarm her.

"Yes, Fujin-kun?'

Suddenly, there was a sound that hung in the air, one that not many had heard. A crooning gentle melodic sound that echoed above the blue aquascape.

"Did you hear that?" The wind god quietly whispered.

Again the sound would come from over the waves as a geyser of water erupts from below the still waters. Ame nods as she leans on the rail, arms folded as her eyes and smile softened.

"They have no name, but I call them Ōkina Tsubasa… majestic creatures. Not but a babe in comparison to the largest blue-skinned whales, yet… so gentle and loving."

Ame turns to look at him as the moonlight shows the white streak in her hair so brilliantly. It was as if a sea of stars were dancing there in front of his eyes. His heart thudded hard against his chest. Feeling the world slow down around him, her beautiful maroon eyes shine back at him. He had never beheld such beauty and would not miss his chance to share a special moment with her again. This time he would give himself, all of himself to Ame, and nothing would impede him.

'I let Suijin be happy, it's time for me to do the same.' He thought, once again convincing himself.

Walking to be at her side, he placed his hands at the worn wooden railing next to Ame and looked at her.

"Ame?"

"hmm?"

"I am willing to try again if you are."

Ame gasped as she looked at him with astonishment. She was taken aback by what he said. He misread her expression since she was also frowning.

"Although if you don't want to, I completely under-"

Ame would meet his lips with hers, interrupting him. Once again, surprised at first, he then starts to kiss her back. After a moment or two of embracing one another, Fujin pulls away from the kiss looking unsure of himself. Ame sees this and worries.

"I don't think-"

"What's wrong?" Ame stares alarmed.

"No, no, no! don't worry," Fujin reassures her. "I was only trying to say that a rickety old worn down ship is possibly not the greatest of settings for a romantic rendezvous."

Ame's worried expression turned to one of laughter, placing her forehead on his as they continued to embrace each other.

"I concur," she says before they both chuckle.

Combatants from both realms, Outworld and Earthrealm, disembark from the old foreboding boat that had taken even the combatants of old, to their final resting place.

"The island has a beach… I believe I will relax here." Miguel says, happy to set foot on the soft sand. Looking out over the sea he took a deep breath. Sighing in joy, he looked out over the sunset. He felt calm, although it was a calm before an even greater storm.

"Well, we are here my friend… Finally, I can see how Heros will stack up against our foes."

Heros would display a false sense of confidence. He felt a chill at the back of his neck. Like death, itself was standing next to him smiling. The others, Ame and Nightwolf, though excited, were also frightened. For this was the defense for their home. They could not leave it to chance. Later, after a prolonged journey up an enormous flight of stairs, it was time for pleasantries. Fighters sat around four great wooden chabudais. The gods stood at the other side of the entrance, leaving the middle of them vacant. They all appeared glum. They did not want to be here, but they knew they needed to.

"It seems there are more of us here," Heros says as he looks around the dining area, seeing that there were more Earthrealmers.

"They were chosen by Shang Tsung," Raiden says, arms behind his back. "As you can see, when he came to the sky temple and commented on our choices, we knew he had chosen no better."

"You mean he-"

"He is a coward." Raiden raises his voice to that statement. "He has never been fair and a traitor to his own kind merely for his own benefit."

"He used to be one of us, but he betrayed us at the 4th tournament as he made a deal with Shao Kahn. He's been the champion of Outworld ever since." Fujin says in remorseful contrition.

"Traitor…? you mean-" Heros tried to begin his line of questioning before being interrupted abruptly by Raiden once again.

"Precisely. Shang Tsung was an Earthrealmer. But as Fujin has stated, he betrayed his own realm for power and immortality. Being champion, he has a particular amulet on him that allows him to stay alive throughout the passing time until the next tournament. But that is not the only way he ensures his immortality..." The elder god's expression of disgust was worn well upon his wise appearance. Though it did not change the events that would unfold next.

After the combatants started to become comfortable and began to eat the festive meal before them, the warriors from Outworld came out from behind the partition walls and stood near the entrance as the host appeared on the other side, in the middle of the gods.

"Welcome…" The combatants then turn their attention to the one and only: Shang Tsung. "You're here to compete in Mortal Kombat. Tomorrow morning, the great combat begins... Some of you will have the distinct honor and pleasure to face yours truly, the reigning champion. You are all witnesses to one of the greatest turning points in the history of Earthrealm… Treasure these moments... " Shang Tsung says as if sincere, "as if they were your last..." Shang Tsung then says, wasting little time in giving the gift of terror to his guests. "And now, for a taste of things to come..."

A burst from a gong was heard before men in red cowls, shirtless, and black baggy pants began pushing the combatants, and the chabudais containing feasts out of the way.

"Que diablos!? I was enjoying that!" Miguel shouts as they turn over the chabudais.

The cowled men then begin to form two lines in the middle before an absolutely grotesque creature comes forward from the line of the other Outworlders, snarling and licking his long razor-sharp jagged teeth. On each arm, a large blade would protrude from his forearm. From the other side of the room, one of the red cowled men stepped out and bowed before suddenly showing off some of his signature moves. Unamused, the hideous monster charged forward, screaming, mouth wide open, teeth shining as he rushed towards him.

The fighter would begin to lose his resolve as the monster barreled forward. Eyes widening, the cowled man missed his chance. His body was then impaled on the jagged blades, penetrating his sternum. Struggling for a few moments, the monster easies its victim into the air before the cowled man goes limp, body sliding down the blade until he meets the monster's fists. The creature grinned as it exposed every bladed tooth in its perverted smile, it then spread open its arms in order to split its victim in two.

The cowled man,m now laid dead on the floor in halves. Then the monster howled and growled before scraping its blades together, making sparks to sharpen them. Then he started to lick the blood off him.

"FATALITY..." Shang Tsung says with a devilish smile before he leaves the room. The combatants would look around in fear and we're sickened by the events that had just taken place.

"By the gods…" Heros was pale and in complete terror. A pool of blood would begin to spill onto the floor. The crimson pool spread across the stone floor. Miguel was sickened and turned pale to a near shade of ashen white.

"Elder Liu Kang, you actually expect us to kill that thing?" Kung Lao would speak up for his comrades. Though his constitution was no different from the others.

"What you have just seen is called a tarkatan, a race native to Outworld. You will see many more abnormal beings than just him. I would expect nothing less amongst those chosen from Outworld." Liu Kang did indeed have a sense of dread; although, the outcome he still foresaw remains.

"As I've said, my friend. Though you may want to take matters into our own hands, events must remain at least partially in the same flow if you are to achieve your end goal." Expressing concern from his friend Raiden reminds Liu Kang of his final magnum opus.

"Yes, thank you, Lord Raiden, I remember... but it still pains me to see these events first hand and there is no way I can see how to help without doing as you said: directly involving myself in the tournament to which that is forbidden."

The mourning was a dirge of both blood-curdling screams and broken bones. It was a complete slaughter. Combatant after combatant, falling dead in each chosen arena around the island. Shang Tsung sat officiating each match. And claiming the loser's soul as his prize. Uttering, a cold to all competing but joyous to the sorcerer, his stake in the competition.

"Your soul is mine~!" words that shook up the competitors more and more as Earthrealm began to suffer substantial losses in their fight.

The next match was announced as Shang Tsung had taken his seat in a jungle-like area on the island.

The sorcerer began, "Warrior Yaotl, you will be fighting against Miquiztli: An Osh-tekk from Outworld." Shang Tsung says with a smirk.

The absolute mountain of a warrior locked eyes with Yaotl. In his tactical mind; he postured, showing a false bravado as he slammed his fist against his chest and roared before taking his stance. The Osh-tekk, at first, does nothing until he strikes his chest hard and took his stance just like Yaotl had done. Seeing this, Yaotl thought he had mocked him, so he snarled at the Osh-tekk. Locking eyes, the warriors started moving around the arena, keeping their distance to one another, waiting for the other to charge.

Premeditating the other's move, they sized their opponent up, not giving the other a chance to move without retribution. Yaotl would move one way, the other would lunge to cut him off. Meeting each other's clashing weapons, each one had a two-handed weapon upon their backs. Yaotl had a stone-carved one with saw-bladed edges. His opposite had one of wood embedded with sharpened stones.

The two remained in a standoff, not moving an inch for a few moments until the Osh-tekk decided to move forward. His massive body swayed like a work of art, despite his size. Miquiztli's shoulder met with Yaotl's jaw, reeling back in surprise. From the ground, Yaotl jumped up then shouted to show his displeasure. He then charged forward wanting to use the same move. Miquiztli sidesteps to the left and catches him by the throat.

"Don't be in such a rush, my friend. We may be fighting to the death, but if you want to win this fight, you must have a clear mind." the Osh-tekk let Yaotl go.

Yaotl stares at Miquiztli dumbfounded as Miquiztli steps back a few paces before taking his stance once again. Clearly thrown off by the Osh-tekk, Yaotl bared his teeth trying to intimidate Miquiztli. The Osh-tekk glanced playfully at his Earthrealm look alike.

'They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.' Miquiztli thought as he looked on.

The Aztec tries more of his childish antics to try and antagonize him. Crossing his arms, Miquiztli watches with a cocky smirk. He would see Yaotl as a threat if the Earthrealmer would only stop strutting and just fight. Drawing his weapon he would swing hard at Miquiztli. Miquiztli then caught the bladed saw between his palms.

"A fine effort, alas as I implied, you need to be less impulsive."

Yatol's eyes widened. He began to realize that the other warrior was far more skilled than he. Then he began thinking to himself about how he could gain an advantage over his opponent.

'Speed is a gateway to victory.' Yaotl thought. He then darts and dashes around Miquiztli.

"Halt with these tactics, they shall not avail you any success." The Osh-tekk grew weary of the Aztec's games.

Yaotl lunged forward, trying to grab the massive arm of his opponent, only to be struck down into the dirt and roots in the surrounding foliage. Yaotl would feign defeat, hoping to lure his prey ever closer. Standing over him, Miquiztli began to stoop over the motionless body, believing he had won until he was given a rude awakening. The weapon Yaotl had been carrying had fallen out of his hands and onto the ground next to him, striking like a cornered animal the sawed edges met with Miquiztli's side protruding a large mass of flesh and muscle. The Osh-tekk gripped his side and grunted in pain as the cocky Aztec smiles crookedly.

"Not bad, you waited for an opportunity and took it… perhaps I underestimated your ingenuity." Miquiztli stretched his neck and ignored the pain shooting from his bleeding side and took his stance again. Crimson droplets stained the dirt as he wore a smile of what seemed like bliss. "Ah~! Now, this is a fight! Now you are worthy of an Osh-tekk's time!"

Yaotl smiled. The two would grapple each other, locking themselves into one another. Neither's pair of eyes ever straying away from the other. Miquiztli then releases from the hold which staggers Yaotl. He grabs Yaotl at the base of his spine, holding him into a body lock. Bones begin snapping like cheap kindling. The air in Yaotl's lungs leaves him rapidly. Yaotl, in great desperation, smacks his flat palms onto the Osh-tekks ears. Miquiztli immediately loosens his grip and grasps his ears in pain.

At that instant, the Aztec charged then bit down on Miquiztli's forearm before tearing a chunk of flesh off with his teeth. Miquiztli screamed, reeling back in agony. He then presses on the freshly opened wound and snarls toward Yaotl. Miquiztli has had enough. He then suddenly shoots his hand up to the sky. Yaotl would pause, watching whatever was unfolding.

Unexpectedly, rays of light beam down unto Miquiztli. His wounds quickly begin to heal. The Aztec warrior would not let this stand. He charged forward once again but quickly found the sand and sun around Miquiztli was hotter than normal. It burned so much, he felt that his skin was ablaze. The intensity had become so great, he could not complete his assault. For he watched as his opponent had sent him back to square one. Being completely restored.

"Now I will show you the true power of the Osh-tekk!."

Miquiztli stared down at his now visibly rattled opponent. Yaotl would stand defeated, at a loss. Lunging forward, Miquiztli began his assault with a flurry of strikes at the top of Yaotl's skull, The sound of a large crack could be heard as the other combatants stood appalled. A moment after collapsing to the ground from what should have been a fatal strike, Yaotl struggles slightly to stand on his feet. In his mind, he was determined to fight until his last breath.

Miquiztli respected this but could not relent in his barrage of body blows and a knee to the sternum. Each attack left Yaotl weaker and weaker, his body wavering. He cried in anger and frustration as he finally collapsed to the ground one final time. He tried to use every muscle in his body to stand again, but no strength found him or his limbs. It was not long before the sorcerer would say the words that still haunt every surviving competitor.

"FINISH HIM~!"

Miquiztli stared over to Shang Tsung as he boomed those words. Then he stared back at Yaotl with remorse, peering into the eyes of a warrior who had given it his all and still lost.

"...You have won my respect Earthrealmer... I shall give you to the sun god. May you aid him in fighting the darkness."

Miquiztli then took Yaotl's limp, barely conscious body and raised him above his head. The beams of light once again shone upon him, but this time, also on Yaotl. Yaotl's skin began to crack and burn. He wailed in horrible agony. The others could only watch in terror as they saw their comrade become nothing more than a charred carcass, gently placed on the ground once done for them to see. Miquiztli then lifted his head to the sky and raised his hands as if in worship, chanting in whispers.

"FATALITY..."

*In case anyone is curious as to these words used*

Ōkina Tsubasa = big-winged (the humback whale: big-winged is a translation to their scientific name then translated into Japanese.
Que diablos!? = What the hell!?