As Liu Kang and Johnny Cage traveled back to Shao Kahn's arena, Cage couldn't help but look at Outworld's scenery.

"Liu, I hate this place. I do. I'm telling you, I hate it. I'm in a hostile environment and I'm totally unprepared. And I'm surrounded by a bunch of guys who probably want to kick my ass. It's like being back in high school!"

Liu couldn't help but crack a smile. "Do you know who won between Kung Lao and Jax?"

"No, I don't…" Johnny Cage said. "My guess is Kung Lao kicked Jax's ass… I mean, come on, that would be the most logical thing…"

Liu only gave an annoyed sigh as Cage continued ranting all the way back to the arena.

O-O-O

As Kitana ran across the Outworld wastelands, determined to find a portal to another realm, hopefully Earth.

"Where do you think, you're going?"

Kitana gasped and turned around, a bit relieved to see that it was only Raiden…

"I….I… have to escape… I killed…"

"Yes, I know." Raiden said, nodding. "I suppose that you think that you can just run away now?"

Kitana looked stunned. "Well, I-I…"

"You can't run, Kitana. Eventually you're going to have to face up…" Raiden said, waving his finger.

When Kitana did not respond, Raiden continued. "What about Liu Kang?"

"What about him?" Kitana asked.

"Are you just going to leave him to face Shao Kahn by himself? He's the one who you wanted to help save you from this life, was he not?"

"Well…" Kitana started.

"You were just going to run away from your past?" Raiden asked, moving in closer.

"Well, it's hard to face up to it… you want to turn your back on it, but that's never easy…"

Raiden cracked a smile and hit Kitana on the head with his staff. "Ow!" Kitana yelled as she grabbed her head. "What the hell was that for?"

"Doesn't matter, it's in the past." Raiden said, smiling.

"But it still hurts…" Kitana said, rubbing her head.

"Yes, the past can hurt… but that doesn't change that it'll always be there in your memories… unless you face your past, it will haunt you for the rest of your life. It's now or never, Kitana… you must go back…"

Kitana let out a long sigh. "All right, let's go." She said, albeit a bit reluctantly. "I'm not too sure about this though."

Raiden gave a nod and grabbing Kitana by the shoulder, he teleported them both away.

O-O-O

Liu Kang and Johnny Cage reached the arena where they found Kung Lao waiting for them.

"Kung Lao!" Liu said. "Where's Jax?"

"After our match, he just walked away. I suspect he's back in our quarters."

"Oh… ok, so you kicked his ass?" Cage asked, grinning.

Kung Lao cast a look at Cage, before turning back to Liu. "You and I are going to be the final match in the tournament, the winner will face Kahn…"

Liu did not respond, only slightly nodded. "And there's really no way easy for me to say this…" Kung Lao said, sighing. "Liu Kang, I can't let you face Shao Kahn."

"What?" Liu Kang said, surprised. This had gained his attention. "What do you mean?"

"You're not ready… you don't understand what it takes to be the Mortal Kombat champion."

"I suppose you do?" Liu said, his voice rising.

"More than you!" Kung shouted back. "You're too naïve! You don't understand what it fully…"

"If you know so much about being the Champion? Why didn't you enter the tournament?"

"I…I… didn't want to, I told you that!" Kung Lao said, stuttering slightly.

"Why not? You knew of what happens to those who become Champion? Thanks to you, I'm the one who will never age! You can do whatever you want to after this? The Great Kung Lao was your ancestor, why didn't you follow him?"

"Just because he was my ancestor doesn't mean that I had to follow in his footsteps! I don't want to be tied down to my ancestor's path! I want to make my own!"

"I want to make my own path too! But I can't now!" Liu Kang yelled angrily.

"Hmm, to break this fight up or not? Oh, I just don't know." Cage thought, smiling.

"Liu Kang! Kung Lao!" Shao Kahn shouted. "Your match is to begin immediately! Step onto the arena."

Liu Kang and Kung Lao stopped arguing and casting a bit of a look at each other, both complied, while Cage walked over to the bound Sonya, who was still struggling with her chains.

"Having fun?" He asked, smiling.

"Shut. Up." She said, growling slightly. "Just get me out of these chains."

"I'd get into trouble. Maybe if Liu wins, just hold on Sonya." Cage said, grinning. "Hmm, you do look kinda cute when you struggle like that."

Sonya let out an angered scream and tried to get her hands around Cage's neck.

Liu Kang and Kung Lao took opposite positions on the arena. Both felt immense anger for each other. Kung Lao angry at Liu Kang for calling him a coward earlier and Liu Kang angry at Kung Lao for avoiding becoming the Champion.

"FIGHT!" Kahn roared.

Liu Kang and Kung Lao ran at each other, both with battle cries in their throats. Liu Kang tried to perform his Flying Kick, but Kung Lao was able to teleport out of the way. Liu Kang turned around, only for Kung Lao to perform his Diving Kick attack. As Liu Kang stumbled back stunned, Kung Lao leapt forward and punched Liu Kang in the stomach twice, but before kicking him back with a kick to the chest. Liu Kang hit the ground, as Kung Lao leapt into the air.

Taking both hands, Liu Kang placed them on the ground and leapt back as Kung Lao landed. Getting to his feet, Liu Kang took this opportunity to perform his Bicycle Kick on Kung Lao, who staggered back. As he held his chest in pain, Liu Kang was this time able to successfully implement the Flying Kick into Kung Lao's chest, who flew back from the blow.

As Kahn watched the battle, he turned to Shang Tsung. "They're both impressive fighters. Neither will be able to defeat me, however."

"Yes, of course." Tsung said, somewhat sarcastically.

"Was that tone sarcastic, Shang Tsung?" Kahn said, angrily as he turned to face Kahn.

"No sir! No!" Tsung said quickly.

Liu Kang ran at the stunned Kung Lao and struck him across the face, just then Kung Lao swung his leg around and tripped his fellow Shaolin warrior. As Liu Kang landed on his back, Kung Lao leapt forward, while Liu Kang rolled out of the way. Soon the two were on the attack, both blocking each other's attacks and attempting to counter.

Cage walked back to the courtyard entrance, where he saw Jax approaching.

"Hey Jax… how ya doing?"

"Not good." Jax said.

"Hey, I lost too." Cage said.

"No, not about that." Jax said, bowing his head slightly.

"Well, Sonya's over there. She looks cute, doesn't she?" Cage said, smiling.

"Does it really matter?" Jax said, suspiciously.

"Well, I'm just saying."

"Well, we might get a chance to free her soon. Be ready." Jax warned.

Liu Kang sent his fireballs at Kung Lao, who spun around like a tornado, sending the fireballs back at Liu Kang.

"Oh, great…." Liu said. He was able to move his head out of the way of the high fireball and was just barely able to jump over the low fireball. Just then Kung Lao had sent his hat at Liu Kang, who once again performed a daring maneuver. But this was what Kung Lao had intended, for he came at Liu Kang and struck him in the chest and then again, in the face just as the hat reappeared onto his head.

Liu Kang and Kung Lao continued to try to gain the advantage over the other, Liu Kang was able to use his leg to send Kung Lao into the air and with a roundhouse kick, and he sent Kung Lao flying across the arena.

"Scorpion has disappeared after his match with Sub-Zero." Tsung said, watching the battle between the two Shaolin with most interest.

"Then he is disqualified, of course. The winner will face me. We have no choice." Kahn said, chuckling slightly.

"But the resurrection…"

"I have Sindel's soul… it will not be too hard."

author's note: I know about the first chapter, I want to fix that as soon as I can.

Liu Kang and Kung Lao clasped each other's hands and were now trying to gain the advantage in a strength contest.

"Your pretty good, Liu. I give you that much." Kung Lao said, grimacing as he tried to push Liu back.

"Your not bad yourself." Liu Kang replied, grimacing as well.

After about 5 seconds of pushing, Liu Kang started to push Kung Lao forward and towards the edge of the arena. Kung Lao was surprised that Liu Kang was able to take the lead. In a few moments, Kung Lao was standing at the edge of the arena, just before Liu Kang could knock him over; Kung Lao was able to teleport once again.

"Maybe he really is that good…" Kung Lao thought.

Kung Lao tried to come at Liu Kang again, but this time Liu Kang leapt backwards into the air as Kung Lao's attack missed. Landing on his feet, Liu Kang performed his Flying Kick one last time, which ended the fight… Kung Lao went flying out the arena and onto the grass below.

"Liu Kang wins!" Kahn called out. He dropped his staff and stood out, ready for a battle. "Allow me to show you how an opponent should be beaten Shang Tsung."

Tsung didn't dare open his mouth to reply, but he did cast Shao Kahn a look behind his back.

Liu Kang leapt down from the arena, although he had been angry at Kung Lao earlier, for some reason, now he felt worry. He might've hurt him badly. He ran over to Kung Lao, who moaned and started getting up.

As Kung Lao started to get up, Liu Kang extended his hand down and after a moment's hesitation Kung Lao grabbed it and got to his feet. For a moment, the two just stared at each other, neither saying a word. They were both ashamed for what they had said earlier.

"You really are a great fighter." Kung Lao said, smiling slightly.

"So are you." Liu Kang nodded back.

"Hmm, I guess the better man won…" Kung Lao conceded. "Good luck…"

There wasn't much to say from either of them, Kung Lao just turned and walked over to Cage and Jax, bidding Liu Kang a glorious victory as he went, Liu Kang stepped back onto the arena. His nerves tensing a little, he turned to face Shao Kahn, who cape and all leapt onto the arena.

"You really are worthy of the title of Champion, Kang." Kahn said, smiling. "It's no mystery why Shang Tsung lost to you, he can't measure up to your skill."

Tsung growled some more at hearing Kahn make this claim. "One day, Kahn, one day…"

They had met before, after Kahn had killed Gorbak, Kahn easily knocked Liu aside with a mere blast, Liu Kang knew that he had a tough battle ahead, one that seemed impossible for a mere mortal, but Liu Kang was determined to win, he was able to do the impossible once, but could he do it again?

"Listen, I have a proposal for you, work for me." Kahn stated. "I can certainly make it worth your while. I could use a talented fighter like you. What do you say?"

Horrified at this proposition, Liu Kang immediately shook his head and shouted. "No! I would never work for someone like you!"

"Very well," Kahn started. "But if you will not be my knight… you will be my pawn."

Grabbing his cape, Kahn flung it off, it flew out of the arena, he cracked his knuckles, and taunted Liu into attacking.

The final battle of the tournament begins… the winner will decide the fate of Earthrealm… at least for now… for Kahn has a plan if he should happen to lose this battle, he doubts that it will happen, but he is prepared. For a moment the two faced each other: Liu Kang and Shao Kahn. One was an Emperor, he ruled through tyranny and was feared by his people. He was a conqueror, he was powerful.

The other was a Shaolin Monk, he was the Champion of Mortal Kombat, he was Earth's hero, the time had come for him to show just what he could really do. But the question remained before him, can he defeat such a powerful being such as Shao Kahn? Was his skill truly that good? Regardless of the outcome, he would know the answer soon enough…