As Liu and Johnny made their way to where Sonya waited. "Well, even I have to admit your fight was good."

"Wow, you're actually complimenting me?" Johnny said, amusing. "What a surprise."

Sonya scowled, but before a fight could break out, she was summoned to the arena. "Good luck Sonya." Liu said, assuring.

"Thanks Liu." She said, patting him on the back as she made her way to the arena.

"Good luck." Johnny said, but it was too late Sonya was gone. "I hope she'll be ok."

"Don't worry." Liu said, confidently. "She's a tough woman, she'll be ok."

"I hope you're right…."

As Sonya stepped into the arena, she waited for her opponent, she expected it to be another fighter she did not know, however she was just surprised and angry at who she saw emerged from the shadows: Kano.

Kano smiled as he walked out to the stoned steps and pushed his lips together to make a kiss. "Hello baby. Did you miss me?" He said, mockingly.

Sonya gritted her teeth and watched as Kano stepped into the arena. Kano removed a butterfly knife from his pocket and took it out. "Ooh." He said, waving it. "Now look at this. This little baby brings back memories now doesn't it?"

"What, you used it to knife your own mother in the back?" said Sonya, angrily.

Kano chuckled. "No, but it put a big smile on your partner though, Ear" Kano started to take the knife and circle it around his chin. "To Ear." Kano had knifed Jack's chin after he had ripped out his heart. Chuckling, Kano swung the knife at Sonya, who ducked and back-lipped to avoid a second swipe.

Sonya concentrated her energy into her arm and when she gathered enough, she let loose three pink rings of energy; which struck the Black Dragon leader and caused him to stagger back. Growling, he then took the knife he was holding and threw it at Sonya, who ducked out of harms way. Taking this moment, Sonya ran at Kano and threw both fists at the Black Dragon leader, Kano blocked and countered by placing both hands together and punching Sonya in the chest. Recovering from the blow, Sonya tried again, only to get thrown to the side.

"Poor little Sonya." Kano said, mockingly. "All alone, not a friend in the world."

Sonya got to her feet and as she jumped into the air and swung her foot out at Kano, who tilted his body back, but as Sonya landed, she quickly used her other foot to make contact with Kano's chest caused him to hold his chest in pain for a few seconds.

Kano quickly recovered from the blow and as Sonya came at him, he caught her attack and got her into a hold behind her back. "Well, baby." Kano said, mockingly. "I saw what happened on the first day of the tournament, poor little girl, you could only watch as your men were taken away."

"Stop it…" Sonya grunted, trying desperately to break out of the hold, until finally she broke free and swept her leg across Kano's face. Causing blood to spill out of his mouth. The attack had stunned Kano long enough for Sonya to get him in one of her leg locks. Suddenly Kano was flown through the air and landed on the other side of the arena while Sonya regained her footing. But Kano got to his feet quickly and rolled himself into a ball in the air and suddenly he swept through the air and made contact with Sonya, knocking her to the ground.

While the crowd was cheering at the battle currently being fought, Liu and Johnny watched worriedly with the battle. Why was Kano giving Sonya so much trouble?

"I don't like the looks of this Liu. Sonya's getting her ass kicked." Johnny said, concerned.

"I know." Liu said, silently. "But I think she can handle herself out there, just relax."

However, Johnny had a right to be worried as Sonya was starting to show fatigue while Kano appeared unphased. "Come on baby. I know Jack probably taught you better than this."

"Yes, he DID!" Sonya shouted as she ran at Kano, however he merely laughed to himself as he caught her attack and using the side of his fist, he punched her across the face. With blood spilling from her mouth, he took his opportunity to punch her chest and throw her to the side.

"Poor baby." He said. "But think of how your men feel, trapped in a dungeon somewhere, waiting for impending execution, all the while hoping you'll win."

"Shut up…" Sonya said, softly.

"I guess you feel that once again, you're letting those you care about die while you watch helplessly. Isn't that right?"

"I said: Shut up!" Sonya shouted as she ran blindly at Kano once again. Sonya tried attacking again, but he once again blocked and threw her to the ground.

"Damn it!" Johnny growled, and without a word he ran down the steps towards the combatant enter point, hesitatingly slightly Liu ran to follow him.

Sonya moaned and struggled to get to her knees. But Kano walked up to her side and took his leg and kicked Sonya in the chest causing her to moan in pain, but he wasn't done, he reached down and grab her by her hair and pounded her head into the ground, but he did it two more times and walked away, while Sonya desperately tried to get to her feet.

"I've got to get back up… Jake… Sparky… They're all counting on me…"

Amazingly Sonya got to her feet and breathing heavily, she turned to face Kano. Johnny reached the entrance followed shortly by Liu. Holding her left arm in pain, she limped towards Kano. Kano once again rolled into a ball and propelled himself into knocking Sonya to the ground. Sonya tried to get to her feet but her injuries prevented her from doing so. Kano grabbed her by the hair once again and reeled her hair back, he punched her across the face, and again and again. He merciless and coldly laid blow after blow down upon the young woman's face.

As a cold, shocked silence filled the arena, Liu and Johnny watched horrified. Liu's face was overcome with anger and disgust at what was happening. However Johnny was becoming overwhelmed with anger, both of his fists were clenched at his sides, his vein at the top of his forehead was about ready to pop. Liu turned his head and seeing Johnny's anger, he tried to calm his friend down. "No!" he said, urgently, but firmly. "You're not going out there! Just calm down…"

"That bastard…"

"Oh no…" Liu said, softly. He was aware that Johnny was secretly attracted to her ever since both he and Johnny first saw Sonya after the cloth that covered her eyes and mouth was removed when she was captured, but he knew that should Johnny lose control of himself then there might be dire consequences to face.

By now Sonya was wobbling on her feet, nearly passed out. Shang Tsung had decided that he had seen enough. "FINISH HER!"

"Well, Sonya. It was nice knowing you." He then slowly reached towards her chest, his hand out-stretched; he was preparing to perform the same move he had used to kill her partner. But just as Sonya closed her eyes and started to fall, just before Kano could reach her heart, Kano had been knocked on his back by a powerful kick. Before Sonya could hit the ground, Johnny had swept in and caught her in his arms.

"Sonya…" he said, sadly as the girl moaned softly in his arms, suddenly his face turned from a look of sadness to anger as he turned to Kano, who had gotten back to his feet. "You bastard…"

"You again Cage?" Kano said, half angry, half amused. Kano took out another butterfly knife and started to advance, until a voice boomed down to the arena.

"ENOUGH!" Shang Tsung shouted. "That is enough. The winner of this battle has officially been declared as Kano. That is all." He then turned to his guards and gave another order. "Execute Sonya's men." The Masked Guard bowed silently and without a word headed to the dungeons.

O-O-O

At night, Sonya lay on a bed covered in bandages while Johnny sat near her bedside, looking over her. Liu waited by the doorway, his arms crossed and a solemn look on his face. Suddenly Sonya jolted up coughing violently. She noticed her surroundings and quickly started to climb out of bed, but Johnny reached his hands out to stop her.

"Whoa. Take it easy. You're hurt." But Sonya ignored his words and got to her feet, Johnny quickly got to his feet and grabbed her arm. "Don't you listen?"

"What happened?" she asked.

"You were hurt after your fight with Kano. Liu and I brought you here to recover."

"Oh." She said, but her face came to a sudden realization. "What about my men? Are they safe?" A cold silence came over the realm, Liu bowed his head sadly and closed his eyes, while Johnny casually shook his head. Sonya couldn't believe it… after all she had done, after all that had happened, she failed… her men had died because of her. First Daniel, then Jack and now her men… Sonya's whole world seemed to be coming apart in front of her. "No… no…" she said softly.

"Sonya… I…" Johnny started, but before he could finish, Sonya burst into tears and started pounding on his chest.

"Why?" she screamed. "Why did this have to happen? They didn't deserve this!"

With a sad look on his face, Johnny wrapped one arm around her as she continued to cry….

O-O-O

At the Warrior Shrine, Liu once again meet with Raiden. "Raiden, it's time you told me. What happened to the Great Kung Lao after he defeated Shang Tsung?" he asked, demandingly.

"Well, I suppose now there is no avoiding it. Very well." Raiden said, with a look of regret on his face. "After Kung Lao became the Mortal Kombat champion, he tried to return to a peaceful life, however he discovered from myself that now he was the Champion, he would never age. He would always remain the same. He would have to watch his friends and family grow old and die until he was killed in battle or defeated in the next tournament. If you defeat Goro, Liu Kang, you will save Earthrealm, but you will have given up your chance for a happy life, that is the sacrifice of the Mortal Kombat champion."

Liu stood stunned, he was unable to move, and his mouth was wide agape. "You can't be serious…?" He had originally only entered the tournament to win back control to the Shaolin, but now upon hearing of the great sacrifice he would have to make, did he really want to be the Mortal Kombat champion, but on the other hand, if he refused that would mean that Earthrealm will have forfeited the tournament and Earth would therefore belong to Outworld. Now Liu Kang was left with a lose-lose situation. Does he continue to live his own life, his own destiny or does he let the tournament set that destiny for him…? He would have to choose… soon.