SKARLET


Skarlet was relieved of her duties with Kitana earlier this night after a few days of repeating various sentences she had written on paper. Kitana had given Skarlet her own materials as well, and it served as a much better way to write down words than opening her own veins to stain the stone walls of her cell. Each night afterwards, Skarlet had been able to practice alone to skip the time. And she was grateful and excited to have a method other than painting on the walls with her fingers and her blood.

Inside of her mind still lingered the sentence the Ninja had spoke to her while she was guarding the door, and how strange it had been. In a way, she had betrayed him. Skarlet had quickly caved once Kitana offered to help, but to remedy this, she remained to conceal the evidence when Shang Tsung had seen her. The books, papers, and ink were turned into blood, dried, and stored inside of a pocket she had made by reforming her robes with an addition after liquifying.

Despite her life force being sustained by blood alone, Skarlet could sleep, and could choose to do so once she faced enough frustration. She had tried to draw the Dragon on the tournament's emblem in red on the wall, and it had not looked quite right no matter what she had done. So she merely lied on the sand covered ground and shut her eyes.


The Mage's waking was not a peaceful one. Skarlet had been susceptible to a certain kind of rage. It had always occurred once she was offered food, but sometimes had sent her in a rage beforehand. Her eyes glowed red and her mind went blank. All kinds of new senses were available to her during, including the knowledge of blood.

When Skarlet had not merely woken when her body had chosen to, or when Shang Tsung had come to her, It had been through sensing new blood. Not of Shang Tsung, The Prisoner, or the Tarkatans, but of her food. Skarlet's muscles had tensed tightly, and her hands tightened into fists. She lifted herself off of the wall she had leaned against, and stared at the stone door of her cell being opened by the Tarkatans.

Shang Tsung watched on, as the Tarkatans threw inside a man.

Afterwards, the group rushed outwards and shut the door, leaving Skarlet alone with the man in a rage.

The man was not of any importance. Strong prey had only been given to her in certain intervals, or on what Skarlet had considered special occasions. He had never stood a speck of a chance. An ordinary Outworlder, like Skarlet had believed herself to be once. He had likely been one of the members of the crowds around Shao Kahn's colosseum. A nobody, abducted by his forces and brought as part of a 365 day schedule.

Blood Rage of Skarlet was in full effect. The man had only managed to raise his arms in defense before Skarlet lunged towards him.

Rage had many effects, besides for just increasing Skarlet's bloodlust, and leaving her delirious to its effects or the weight of her actions afterwards. It had hurt her. Her muscles locked and ached, she had sweat profusely, and inside of her head was a searing pain. However, Rage had always stopped once she received her blood.

Stretching out her arms Skarlet rushed for the man and tackled him to the ground. Both of her hands latched onto the sides of his head, her thumbs pressed underneath the eyes, and her four fingers to the sides. The man had grappled and weakly hit her for naught. She paid no attention to his attempts to save himself.

Horrid screaming echoes from his mouth, and the veins on his head become visible. She presses down harder on his head, and the first crack shows. A single drop of blood breaks through his skin on his face. Skarlet moves her thumb to the site, and presses inwards. Her ears begin ringing from his screams, and she ignores it. Only one goal matters to her.

Ending the rage.

Pressing on the site, the vein popped, and the blood covered Skarlet's face. All over the man's body, the blood began being forced outwards, and the screaming stopped. all vessels in his body were forced to the surface, and the torrent of blood stained the sand. Skarlet's grip held until all of the blood was gone, absorbed into her own body.

Letting go of the shriveled corpse, she lied back onto the sand, delirious. The rage was gone.


Skarlet goes on as if nothing happens. Shang Tsung and The Tarkatans retrieve the corpse, and eventually she is let out for her own duties.

The Blood Mage stands idly by the doorway down to the flesh pits, and keeps her eyes wide open, as if it would help in her duties. Her right arm is clasped firmly to the dagger at her side, held to her chest. The work is boring but Skarlet does not have much of a choice. Even if she were aware of Shang Tsung's power over her, she wouldn't disobey him.

Unless.

Interrupting of her silent watching of the opening inside of the heavily fortified wall, Mileena comes, skipping all the way towards Skarlet, who moves her head to watch her as she arrives.

She clears her throat and begins an order.

"When Kitana comes around to you, offer to show her your quarters below."

Mileena waits until a familiar red glow emanates from Skarlet's eyes and smiles in approval as it works. Skarlet's once serious expression turns lame as she's sent into a trance against her will.

Clearing her throat, Mileena finishes the order. "Make sure she speaks to him. And you, Skarlet. Do not listen to a single word he says when she does." The glow burns brighter, and then dissipates as Mileena finishes. Skarlet looks downwards in a daze, and nods her head.

After giving the orders, she walks forwards, past Skarlet. Her hand once again goes to the dagger at her side.


KITANA


Jade is strange. She looks tired, drained of all of her energies. Kitana was thankful for her return to service, yet something had happened. The work she had completed in the past days had been especially difficult. She looks unhealthy. Jade hadn't eaten much during her mission, and had not slept either, even more deprived of sleep than her usual service.

She looked very unhealthy. The Edenian had not spoken a single word unless Kitana had initiated conversation.

Kitana had attempted to resume their observation of the gardens, but it was for naught. Something was on Jade's mind. Cataloguing the changes made in the past 50 years had not been especially fun, as Jade had barely made any contributions, only haphazardly pointing out some erosion done to Goro's centuries old statue.

And so instead of their activities in the gardens, Kitana had stopped by her own quarters to retrieve a childrens book to hand to Skarlet. Although a gift that would be most insulting to anyone else, The simple vocabulary and grammar would help with her goal of learning outworlder, and Kitana could not see a situation in which someone else would give her these resources.

Behind her as they walked through the halls of the palace, Jade voiced her reservations, which Kitana would promptly ignore.

"Skarlet has her duties as well- If you would just wait-"

"This is only a short stop Jade. We are returning to my quarters afterwards."

"What of the gardens?"

Kitana shakes her head. Jade is unwell to do most duties at all. "You will rest. The Tournament will last for longer."

Jade reluctantly agrees and they both head further. Through lavish halls, they run into a fortified wall with a single door leading inside, with Skarlet keeping guard. It appears her task is to guard the door from those who were not Shang Tsung.

Her expression is serious, and her stance one of Kombat. In place, she keeps repeating her orders to herself.

"Guard the door... Guard the door..."

The repetition was in Outworlder this time.

Once the two came closer and into her sight, Skarlet shook for a moment, and began repeating a seperate order in her own tongue, so silent Kitana could not discern it's sound, let alone it's meaning.

Skarlet's eyes instantly locked onto the book in Kitana's hand.

"It's for you."

Hands outstretched, Skarlet hooked the Dagger to her waist and grabbed it tightly. "T-Thank You..."

The Book then turned into the red liquid in an instant.

Kitana watched on in awe as Skarlet used her hands to condense it into one point of a cube. She stored it into a pocket hidden inside of her robes. Through the corner of her eye, Jade's eyes grew several sizes, and stared at Skarlet intensely.

"Kitana, we need to go."

Jade's voice held a desperation, and Kitana was stricken with confusion, until Skarlet's pale hand reached out and grabbed her arm.

"I must show my room."

Jade's hand reached out, ready to summon her staff. Her own hand was on Kitana's shoulder, and she grabbed onto her to pull her back. Kitana turned back with her pulling, and reprimanded her.

"Jade!"

The princess turned to Skarlet. "Your room?"

"Down here."

Skarlet moved out of the way, and formed a key with the liquid, Forcing it into the lock, she twists and opens it with ease, dissipating the lock into her own hands in an instant.

Kitana ignores Jade's strange movements and feelings. Instead, she follows Skarlet. Jade follows with her hand out, just in case Skarlet had been planning to attack. Such an idea was laughable to Kitana. Jade's injuries and experience has led to her becoming delirious. She promises to herself to spend the next several days in her room, if only to let Jade get some rest.

The door behind Skarlet had led downwards. After a large room, it opened up into a long, winding staircase. How Shang Tsung could hide such a long passage was foreign to Kitana.

Still, all three continued down the long staircase. Jade lost more and more of her color with each of her steps, and Kitana narrows her eyes in annoyance. Skarlet moves with a kind of strange excitement, one she had only shown when Kitana had praised her during learning.

All three reach the bottom after a while of walking. Kitana's legs are sore at the end of it.

The room is filled of stone, and lined with strange vats, all empty, save for a weird blue liquid, which glows. Skarlet beckons her to a concealed long hallway at the back of the rooms, guarded with a single skeleton key.

Jade took a hold of Kitana again, this time tighter and more desperate. "We need to go!"

"Let go!" Kitana says, pushing Jade off of her. "It's only for a moment!"

Kitana moves forwards, near Skarlet as she again forms a key to open the door. The blood mage is about to turn, to a stone door that is tightly shut before she locks into place. Skarlet stands still in place before an open cell.

The Princess arrives in front of the cell and looks inside. Inside is a single man meditating to himself.

It's Kotal.

"I've been waiting for you, Kitana."

Jade runs up to her side, and acknowledges Kotal before Kitana can. Kitana is out of breath at the very sight of him.

"Kotal! I'm sorry- Skarlet led Kitana-"

He shakes his head. "There is nothing to apologize for. Kitana is where she must be."

"What do you speak of?" Jade asks.

"A time ago, I was contacted by a member of the Edenian Resistance."


Kitana sits in front of the cell with Jade at her side, Bojutsu staff held up high just in case someone was to come into the passage.

Skarlet remains locked in place. She doesn't react to any outside stimulus whatsoever.

The Princess is greatly confused. Confused at what Kotal had to tell her, and what it had meant to be part of the Edenian Resistance. She still listens though, as Jade decided to calm down and allow Kitana to hear what he has to say.

Her first thought is one of confusion, why Kotal is underneath the palace and not dead, as Kitana had thought he had been.

"You are alive, Kotal."

"So I am. I expected Shao Kahn to kill me for my opposition to the invasion."

"Why did you oppose his will?" Kitana asks, angry.

Kotal looks downwards.

"He does not even care for the current realms in his possession!" Kotal shouts, "Bleeding the remnants of Edenia dry and allowing war as the rule of law. I had to, it is part of my prinicples as an Osh-Tekk."

"Earth is his by right!"

"It is." Kotal Khan emphasizes, "But only by the right of Mortal Kombat."

Kitana takes out her fan and forms it into one blade.

"Kitana!" Jade calls, reprimanding her.

Kotal is alive, and he has turned to a traitor. Why Jade was allowing this was showing a blind trust to her former lover. She must have known he was alive too, given her lack of a reaction.

"His supposed "right" to Earth is not what I had wished to tell you!" Kotal yells, "I have been tasked by a member of Edenia's resistance to tell you the truth!"

"What is the "truth"?" Kitana asks, holding the blade tight towards Kotal, who does not respond.

"The truth is that you are not Shao Kahn's daughter." He explains, "Your mother, Queen Sindel, was stolen away by him in your infancy."


SHAO KAHN

9999 YEARS AGO


Sindel lied limp on the floor. Next to her lying body was her own Kwan Dao.

The wedding ceremony was supposed to be a great time. Shao Kahn had gone all out. The most lavish ceremony was performed since his own killing of the Dragon King.

He had commissioned his own ceremonial armor, composed of various gemstones, made over the course of an entire year. As a promise to Sindel, the armor reflected Argus's own. A long, black robe hung off of his chest, made with the most expensive fibers that could be bought. The robes were reinforced with the toughest steel an Outworlder could forge. The plates hung from his shoulders to his chest, offering great protection, although he would not dare stain it in Battle or personal execution.

To his wife Shao Kahn had offered his own gift, a special dress made in reflection of Outworld's traditional dress.

Queen Sindel had not reacted the way he hoped. Throughout the ceremony and process she had shown little emotion. Shao Kahn's advisors had informed him that the wedding and merging of their families would be a difficult process. But Shao Kahn could not anticipate Sindel's permanent decision.

Next to him stood his companion, General Kotal, who had been of great help during the invasion. He had tried to offer consolation as Shao Kahn watched his own wife's corpse bleed, However, he hadn't listened to a single word.

His initial assumption the Kwan Dao could not be summoned by her was proven false in the worst way possible. Once along from Kahn she had drove it into her own abdomen. It couldn't have happened more than a few minutes ago. Regardless, in any case it was already too late to save her. Her body was surrounded with a glistening white light, a remnant of a ward.

Shao Kahn's face, although covered by the mask of a skull he had wore at all times, was laden with tears. For the first time since Onaga's death he was wrecked with sadness.

How was he supposed to explain to Kitana? The small child, although fine without a father, had just lost both of her own parents.

Collapsing onto the floor, Shao Kahn called his hammer to his own hand. Holding with both hands, he slammed downwards, shattering the floor and lowering himself inches deep.

"Why would she do this..."

Sindel was all that he ever could love.

The Emperor's face twisted into the largest Grimace he could express with his muscles. Tears flowed from his eyes onto the ground.

"Where were the Edenians."

Kotal reeled back, but told him anyways, fearing the widower's wrath.

"T-They were supposed to be with her at all times."

"All times."

Shao Kahn lifted himself up from the crater, and fixed his armor for a moment. He stood in front of Sindel's body.

"Move Kotal! Get the Edenian's here NOW!" He yells.

Cracking his neck, Shao Kahn held onto his hammer, blunt side first with his left, and the handle between his right. Patiently, he waited for Kotal to retrieve the Edenians tasked to watch Sindel.

His suspicions of alterior motives were all but being confirmed as their failure became apparent to him. The minutes passed by in silence, as Shao Kahn's hands went red from his tight grip.

Eventually the Edenians were brought inside. Kotal's macuahuitl was held along their necks, and they all carried a defiant expression.

"Did you know of her desires?" Shao Kahn interrogates.

Silence kept the room for a minute, before one of the three Edenians called out.

"Yes. We helped her create the ward."

Shao Kahn could barely contain his rage. These three Edenians were the reason his wife was able to commit suicide. Still, he kept calm for a moment. Nonverbally, he signals for Kotal to remove his Macuahuitl.

"You have ruined me... My family..." He weeps, "What am I to tell my daughter."

"She is not your daughter!" The Edenian shouts, "You ruined our home! And killed our own king!"

The Emperor cannot handle to hear it any longer, and grips his hammer tightly. Rising it with it's green energies, he swings it downwards onto the Edenian's head. It makes contact within a second.

Force of the swing breaks his head into the cavity of his own chest, and caves in his scalp. The blood stains all around, and ruins the fabric of Khan's armor. Viscera, blood, and flesh fly from the zone of the impact, and mash upon his hammer.

After his swing, his breathing calms as the Edenians cry out in horror.


Later, without the presence of his enforcers, he calls forth his most powerful sorcerers. At their helm is Quan Chi, whom the Emperor has an unsteady alliance with, despite his allegiance to Shinnok.

Shang Tsung had made a deal with Quan Chi for Sindel's soul at his request. An amulet of Shinnok's in exchange for his services in the future.

Inside of Quan Chi's hands is a green, luminescent light source.

"Trap her soul, nothing more. Her life cannot be allowed to transfer."

The sorcerer combines his hands and locks the green soul into place, into shape as a small green sphere.

"It is done. With Shang Tsung's deal, I shall return to revive Sindel when I am called upon.

Sindel's soul is all he has of her. Perhaps sometime in the future he could revive her, recreate his family and make some excuse in a thousand years for Kitana to believe how her mother had somehow returned from the dead.

As much as Shao Kahn wished to bring her back to life, He could not. In order to break the wards he would have to somehow control her, which he could not as she breathed.

Inside of his head, the wheels kept turning, and Shao Kahn began to assemble a plan, one to use her revival to break the wards. With them open, not only could Shao Kahn not enter another realm, save for hybrids such as Shang Tsung's island, even with a victory he could not merge.

Sometime in the future.


KITANA


"What of Mileena... was her origin also a lie..." Kitana laments.

"Mileena?" Kotal asks, confused.

"Her origin is. Your sister was created to take your place in this lab if you were to discover your past." Jade interrupts.

"Mileena wasn't my sister, and M-My mother took her own life?" Kitana kneels on the ground. She still tries to refuse to believe it, but after every explanation Jade interrupts to corroborate this story.

"It is true Kitana." Jade explains, "After the wedding ceremony Sindel cast the Outworld barrier with the help of her most loyal subjects and promptly took her own life.

Kitana's hands tightened into a fist.

She felt awful. The truth wasn't very comforting to her. Instead of merely feeling she had a powerful father who happened to be a widower, instead her life was revealed as one of imprisonment by her father's killer. Worse even yet, she wasn't given this truth for as long as she had lived. Kitana felt angry.

"Why did you never tell me Jade?!" Her voice broke under the stress. "WHY?!"

Jade had a solemn look on her face. and looked directly into Kitana's eyes, which were beginning to shed tears on the floor.

"I could not... Not until now, like this!" Jade attempted to explain, "A member of the Edenian resistance wished for you to learn. I don't know why, but the time is right for you to!"

"Was the time not right for me until now?" Kitana shouts, "Didn't I deserve to know?"

The Princess kept on shouting at her, losing track of her own statements until she was nearly out of her own breath.

"The time is now, Kitana. With the tournament, it is clear what you must do." Kotal states, "Your father must lose, and when he does the Edenians may come to your aid."

Kotal tightens his hands. "Your father is a tyrant, and he must be defeated."

Pointing to Skarlet, standing motionless in the corner, appearing as a statue, Kotal speaks. "This "Skarlet", whom had taken you down here is binded to the blood code. She is a slave of Shao Kahn. Temporarily, she seems to have been taken over by a member of the resistance to show you to me to tell the truth."

Kitana curls into a ball on the floor.

"I-I don't know what I need to do."

Jade offers her support. "You need to help the Earthrealm warriors with Jade, when they arrive on the island. I will support you."

"We will support you." Kotal corrects.

Painfully, Kitana nods.

"I will." Kitana promises, "I won't let them lose. Not one more time. But what comes afterwards?"

Kotal stretches out one hand. Materializing from thin air into his palm is a single stone, fragmented in many pieces.

"This is the portal stone, a relic of the Osh-Tekk. You are exempt from Sindel's wards, Unlike me, you will be able to use it."

The Princess looks onto the stone, which gives off a shine.

"Princess, after your assistance of the warriors, take the stone and defect to Earthrealm with Jade, where you both will be safe and free." Kotal offers, "Then, every 50 years, assist the new generation in fighting your father."

"Earthrealm was Edenia's greatest ally. Honor the legacy of your mother."

"What about Mileena? Can I not take her?" Kitana questions.

"You cannot. Mileena is loyal to your father to a fault." Jade explains.

Shutting her eyes, Kitana reaches out to the stone, and takes it into her right hand. Grabbing tight on it, a pain fills her head.

Her eyes roll backwards into her head, and the space around her dissipates.

The image of the strange laboratory and the people around her fade.


Strangely, she's transported into a wide open space. Kitana is certain she is still physically in the same place, but her mind is not. The open space is a void, a wide field of blue with infinite space. All of her senses are dampened inside of the field. Kitana opens and closes her hand over and over again, hoping to escape from the void for naught.

Out of the void, a voice calls out to her, and Kitana listens. Once she concentrates on the unclear location of the voice, out of a flash of lightning, a man appears.

His white robes and blue vest fade around the void's color, and his face is shadowed by the large straw hat atop his head.

It's Raiden, the protector of Earthrealm.

"Princess Kitana of Outworld. I have wished to contact you for many years."


AN: Shit's getting real now. Sorry this chapter took so long to complete. It's just before thanksgiving break and my asshole teachers have assigned too much to do for me to make my "every other day" update. I'll get back on schedule soon.

We're gonna do the timeskip soon, so get ready. Kitana now knows Mileena's a clone of her, Shao Kahn's evil and deceit, and that Skarlet's a slave.

One more chapter until the tournament!