My name is Phoenix Mason. I'm known to Celestial beings as the Metaverser, a being with the Power of Reality. It wasn't always like that. I used to be a normal human before I died, twice, and got pulled into this mess. Almost 10,000 Celestial years, for me at least, I've been training myself to master my powers and gain enough experience to fight a group of villains known as the Conquerors. They are six powerful beings from different universes locked away in an interdimensional prison known as the Shadow Vault. Originally, there were eight of them, but I killed Ultimate Kira, a version of Light Yagami from the Death Note Multiverse who became a Shinigami and attempted to travel to another Multiverse in order to become its god. The other, now deceased, Conqueror, Mannimarco, the King of Worms, was killed by Tom Riddle, aka Lord Voldemort. The other five were Sosuke Aizen, Embryo, Shinnok, the Master, and Zamasu. At the beginning of my training, they stormed a location called the Citadel, the veritable Center of the Metaverse and home of the Deific Council, a group of beings who were the Manifestations of mortal concepts within this version of Reality: Life, Death, Time, Space, Magic, Progress, Luck, and Fate.

The Conquerors wanted to usurp the Council and take the positions for themselves and alter the events of their respective universes, so the outcome worked out in their favor. I'd stopped them from erasing a world and weakening the Council enough for them to take over in a Death Note Variant world where the Fate Note, a modified version of the Master Life Note, a unique object held by the Shinigami Kings of that world and its counterparts. With it, they could've succeeded in their plans. I stopped them, but at a heavy price. I'd managed to beat Mannimarco, but the others were lying in wait. I lost my arm in the altercation and when I confronted them again in the Shinigami Realm, I was too slow, and the Shinigami King was killed. If it hadn't been for a variation of Raiden and the Mad God Sheogorath, I'd have joined her. After their failure at undoing the Death Note Variant World, it was decided by the Council that I would become the Metaverser since the threat was too much for a simple human to handle. It was after that decision that the Conquerors killed me, unintentionally starting my training as a result. Now I was biding my time, bettering myself, training in all aspects of Kombat, and waiting for the moment when I was killed so I can stop the Conquerors and save the Council.

I sat next to a pile of rubble, shivering, as I tried to warm up. I'd spawned myself in this world as a child with my powers shut off for the most part to rough it in a wasteland after a few millennia of avoiding them. I was currently in the ruins of San Antonio after the Netherrealm Invasion led by Quan Chi and his Revenant slaves bringing with them a massive army of Oni. I'd managed to avoid detection by the Elder Gods and any other Celestial being who would've been aware of other worlds for a good while. It had been ten years since the Invasion, but rebuilding was extremely slow, as politicians bickered and argued about how best to go about the repairs of this city and a few others that had been ransacked by the hell spawn of the Netherrealm and all of the fighting between them and the Special Forces and National Guard. Somehow, knowledge of the Realms was still unknown to the masses, believing that this was some kind of space invasion and not an interdimensional one. Oh, how utterly stupid people could be.

I looked up as I saw a shadow looming over me and spotted a man in a yellow gi stood over me. He was of Japanese descent and had chains wrapped around his arms. I stayed silent as I stared at him before getting up and started walking away, only to have him appear in front of me in a blaze of flames. Hanzo Hasashi, Scorpion and one of the Revenants who'd led the attack on San Francisco. I was fully aware of the actions he'd done and knew I wanted nothing to do with the man, despite being a fan of him in the Mortal Kombat games I used to play in my original life. "Where is your family," he asked me, making me pause. His voice wasn't an echoey mess, like it should've been. Instead it was… human. A quick glance at his soul showed me the rage and anger he'd had during the invasion was almost completely gone. still simmering under a tempered surface. I didn't answer him as I stared him down, silver eyes boring into his brown ones before I pushed past him and swiped his tanto while I did before heading into a decrepit building.

Using what I knew about stealth tactics from Nocturnal, the Daedric Prince of Shadows, Thievery, and Secrets, as well as some tactics used by the Old Man of the Mountain, I avoided his search for me while keeping an eye on him. I let him spot me a few times to lure him where I wanted him to go and all the while, I could tell he was impressed. Once he was in a wide open room with little to no cover, I hid in the upper corner of the room, knowing his training would make him look up at me. When he did, I hopped down, ready to plunge the blade into him, only for him to catch me and hold me at a distance as he showed me the blade. "This is not a toy. But you know that already, don't you?" He looked at my silver eyes and white hair. "You are good at hiding, child. Especially with features such as your own." Again, I stayed silent. He reached into a pouch on his belt and pulled out a small pellet. "Here. Eat this. It is food and will tide you over until you find a decent meal." With that, he walked away, and I watched as he did. I looked at the food pill in my hand and downed it before waiting a few seconds. Sure enough, it's ingredients allowed my stomach to stop rumbling, even if the taste was something to complain about.

I started following the ninja as he traveled through the city, helping people where he could and recruiting some. I knew he was aware of me tailing him, I was good at hiding when people were trying to find me, but when I was following them, I tended to make a few novice mistakes here and there. It was one of the aspects of stealth training I could never master even with help from Nocturnal and Hircine, Daedric Prince of the Hunt. I'd hoped to change that soon.

This version of Scorpion seemed to have changed. He was calmer and repentant. I was surprised and wondered how different this world was to the Mortal Kombat world I was familiar with. "You're tracking skills leave much to be desired." He turned to face me, and I was met with a kind smile. "I can teach you how to better conceal yourself and how to defend yourself." I said nothing but came out of the piss poor hiding spot I'd purposely hid behind to let him see me. If Scorpion was planning on restoring the Shirai Ryu instead of resurrecting the old members like he did during the events of Armageddon, I would do what I could to help restore it myself.

(7 years later)

I had just turned 17 and was busy sparring with my friend and rival Takeda Takahashi, son of Kenshi Takahashi, the blind samurai with a grudge against the dead sorcerer, Shang Tsung, who blinded him years ago. I threw out a shuriken, knowing Takeda would block it with those stupid mechanical whips of his. As he did, I got in close and landed a punch straight at his jaw. He staggered backwards before sending out the whips. They latched onto my shoulders and pulled him in, allowing him to land a kick on my chest. I grunted before grabbing his leg and throwing him into a post before pulling out a tanto and throwing it beside his head. "I win, Whiplash," I said with a grin as I helped him up.

"You are an asshole," said Takeda as he flipped himself to his feet and tossed my tanto back to me.

"You've both improved greatly," said Master Hanzo behind me. We faced him and bowed to our sensei. "Rise." We righted ourselves and I grinned at him.

"Thank you, Master Hanzo," I said. The former hell spawn grinned at me before walking forward.

"Phoenix," he said. "Gather your things."

"Where are we going?"

"Kuai Liang has invited me to the Lin Kuei training grounds."

"Why? Is he planning on killing you the second you arrive?"

"I do not know, but one can never be too careful. Takeda, go through your katas and report to Sensei Hamada."

"Hai," said Takeda with a bow. He bumped his fist against mine before I went to my room to gather my affects. I placed my training tanto onto a stand and claimed my ninjato and actual tanto before clipping them to my back and hip respectively with practiced ease.

"Going somewhere," asked a young woman behind me. I grinned and turned around to see my girlfriend within the Shirai Ryu, Anko Hamada, daughter of Sensei Miyuki Hamada who Takeda was going to learn under for the day. I moved to her and wrapped my arms around her waist as we shared a brief kiss.

"Father wants me to go with him to the Lin Kuei temple. Master Kuai Liang has invited him and we're being cautious."

"I'm sure you'll be fine. Grandmaster Hasashi wouldn't have decided to bring you with him if he didn't know you were going to watch his back." I smiled and kissed her forehead before moving back to my equipment and clipping a holster for my revolver to my hip opposite the tanto. "You're bringing that?"

"Father is always telling me to find my own style. And I may have had a Western binge the other day. Plus being a natural born Texan, revolvers are a given." I could feel her rolling her eyes as I tied a yellow armband to my right arm over my dark blue armor.

"You never wear the traditional armor of our clan, do you?"

"Real ninja wear blue. And Father has been teaching me the ways of a true shinobi, despite me being an actual gaijin."

"So you're practicing the old arts in order to stay in his good graces."

"He knows I've been holding back in my training."

"Which still baffles me why you do this."

"Makes things interesting." I hid the revolver using a part of my armor and gave her a quick kiss before following after my father. When I caught up to him, I caught a Johyo, a chinese rope dart or sheng bao, that he tossed at me. I grinned as I spun the rope dart before catching it in my hand and putting it on my arm.

"Time you start training with the Johyo, Phoenix. You want to be more like me, that is your first step, though you should strive to find your own fighting style."

"Thank you, Sensei." He chuckled as I moved beside him.

"You don't need to be formal with me, Phoenix. You can call me Father once in a while, when not discussing me with Anko…" I chuckled sheepishly and scratched the back of my head.

"Sorry, Father. Just got so used to having to address you as Sensei when training, which is constant." He chuckled before leading me out of the Fire Gardens while I pulled on my hood and slipped a reflective visor under to hide my hair and eyes, keeping the half mask of the Shirai Ryu off for the time being. "So, how are we getting there?"

"By plane. Luckily, someone owes me a favor and can get us to central China."

"Oh no, please tell me it's not who I think it is."

"It is." I groaned as I followed after my father.

"His movies suck! And he's an asshole!"

"Well, he is filming for his most recent movie. The next set is in China. He was filming here in Japan and is nearby. I contacted him and he, reluctantly, agreed to transport us."

"So much for peace and quiet."

"Just stay silent then. And try to get along with his daughter." I paused briefly as I registered what he'd just said. 'Still need to get used to the changes to the Timeline from Raiden's vision quest thing before I arrived,' I thought to myself. Within a few minutes we were on the site of a movie set and saw Johnny Cage standing amidst several men in suits, each holding a different weapon. 'Well. I know this scene. A rookie doesn't go down right away and pisses Johnny off. Though I remember it being in an abandoned hangar.' I stood with Hanzo as we watched the choreographed fight and shook my head.

"He may do his own stunts, but he's sloppy."

"Like you could do any better," said a girl beside me. I turned and saw a young woman my age with blonde hair in a ponytail, shades covering her eyes and a shake in hand. She wore a white and blue jumpsuit with her legs dangling off the arm of her chair with a pair of white sneakers. She sipped her drink before looking at me. "And if you're here to audition for a Ninja Mime position, the newest project was scrapped. So you can get rid of your $12 costumes." She snorted slightly. "Or are those your pajamas?" She turned back to watch the fight and I shook my head before throwing a shuriken through her shake. "Hey!"

"Don't disrespect the gi, Miss Priss."

"This was a $1,200 outfit, asshole!"

"$1,200 for that tacky thing? You got ripped off, Missy."

"Oh, that's it!" I ducked under a kick aimed at my head and grabbed her thigh before throwing her away from me.

"Hey, just calling it as I see it."

"Phoenix," shouted Hanzo behind me as me and the girl circled each other.

"She attacked me first, Sensei."

"Yeah," she said. "But this whole thing is your fault!" Her body turned green and she charged at me. I blocked her punch and landed one of my own. I disappeared into flames and appeared behind her, kicking her in the back. She growled and knocked me into the air before following after me with her body glowing green and knocking me further upwards before grabbing me and throwing me to the ground. She landed on me and pressed her knee to my neck. I grabbed my Johyo and tossed it up above her, letting gravity bring the dart down into her shoulder and pulled her off of me with a strong tug at the rope. I climbed up to my feet and pulled the dart back as she pulled it out of her shoulder. 'This should be Johnny's daughter. Her glowing features are a dead giveaway.'

Cage reached into her bag nearby and pulled out an extendable baton before rushing me again. I blocked her strike, only to be met with a foot to the groin. Jarred, I barely registered the baton coming to my head. I ducked back and flip kicked her into the air. I tossed out my Johyo and wrapped it around her waist before pulling her in and giving her a roundhouse kick to the chest, knocking her away from me. I pulled back the dart and grunted as she threw her chair at me, hitting my head and dousing my hood with some of the shake that got on it and her outfit. I growled and rushed her this time. I kicked her legs out from under her and tripped her to the ground before locking her in a joint leglock. She growled in pain before turning the move against me. I grunted and heard a click behind me. I adjust our position, so we were facing each other and aimed my revolver at her as she aimed a Glock at me.

"Drop it!"

"You first!"

"That's enough," shouted Hanzo as he burst up under me in flames, knocking me onto her. I paused as I found my visor gone and she got a good look at my eyes as our faces were just an inch apart.

"Am I interrupting something," asked a man nearby. We looked up and saw Johnny Cage standing over us.

"Hi, Dad," said the younger Cage. "All done?"

"Kid, are you going to get off my daughter?" I disappeared in flame and appeared beside Hanzo, setting my visor back in place. I folded up the rope of my Johyo and put it back on my shoulder, feeling a glare from my father as I said nothing. Not able to take it anymore, I bowed to the Cages.

"I apologize for my behavior," I said. You know, it's strange. I've lived for almost 10,000 years. Fought demons, gods, ghosts, and deranged terrorists. But when it comes to people I truly considered my parents in any of the lives I've lived, they garner enough respect from me to act how they want. And for Hanzo, that meant showing respect for others and being repentant for any actions of disrespect that may have come from my actions. Like spilling a milkshake on an admittedly cute girl, for instance. Hanzo nodded to me before turning to them.

"Thank you for your assistance, Cage," he said.

"As long as you don't try to kill me," said Johnny. "We're good."

"You have my word." He nudged me with his shoulder, and I grumbled slightly.

"And mine," I said. I avoided Cassie's gaze as she stared at me, no doubt seeing my eyes and hair. "Please stop… It's annoying."

"Cass," said Johnny. "You're making him uncomfortable." Cass glanced at Johnny before crossing her arms and muttering an apology.

"Oh no… by all means. Just be a mumbling mess. Not like I gave a formal apology."

"Enough," said Hanzo. "I told you to get along with her." He held up my revolver from where he took it from my holster, making me glance at it in surprise. Never could figure out how he could do that without me noticing. "Now, shall we get going?"

"Took the words right out of my mouth, Bugman," said Johnny.

"Great," I muttered. "Stuck with an egotist, my dad, and a crazy rich bitch."

"I heard that," exclaimed Cass as she threw her baton and hit me in the head. I growled and spun my Johyo, ready for round two before Hanzo took the weapon and shook his head.

"No fighting," he said before stashing it in his pack.

"And just for that," said Johnny. "You're both flying coach." I shook my head. Like I would care about something like that. I've flown in a fucking Vertibird before. But he doesn't need to know that.

An hour later, the four of us were on the Cage private jet on our way to China. I sat across from Cass and messed with a throwing knife, balancing it on my fingers. We stayed silent as we waited for the mostly empty private jet to take off. I flipped it absentmindedly and ignored the look she was giving me.

"What's with your eyes," she asked after a long silence. I caught my knife and looked at her.

"What?"

"Your eyes?" I removed my visor and lowered my hood. She stared at me as I gave her a look.

"It's a rare genetic trait. One in a billion. I was born with snow white hair and pure silver eyes. No idea what caused it. My family was killed during the attacks 18 years ago. Mother died giving birth to me a few months after they stopped. I was alone after I could walk and talk, spent a lot of time avoiding people and living on my own until Father found me."

"Your father is Scorpion?"

"Hanzo Hasashi. He hasn't gone by Scorpion in years."

"But he was Scorpion. The Hell Spawn general."

"So was Jackson Briggs. But he was still welcomed back with open arms."

"That's my uncle. Don't you dare insult him!"

"I wasn't! Jax Briggs was redeemed. I only want to help my Father achieve the same goal." She stared at me before crossing her arms.

"So… Is he a good guy?"

"He's a good man. I owe him my life. And he sure as hell isn't a self-centered actor with an ego bigger than Everest."

"Believe it or not, my dad is a better man than he was 18 years ago."

"What happened 18 years ago?"

"Mom and Dad hooked up after beating some evil god, nine months later out comes yours truly!"

"So you're a bastard, and a bitch." She glared and flicked me off before sipping at her water bottle. I chuckled before slipping my knife back into its hiding spot in my sleeve.

"Hey. How do you prevent those from falling out?"

"What?"

"Hidden throwing knives, and shit."

"I don't throw shit, Cage."

"Fuck you, you know what I mean."

"Shirai Ryu armor comes with special compartments to house hidden blades and tools. I believe American soldiers do something similar with knives?"

"Mom told me about that. They carry two knives. One for them to find, the other to hide."

"And your mom would be?"

"Sonya Cage. Well… soon to be Major Blade, now."

"Problems with parents? What did your dad sleep around?"

"Dad's always been loyal to her." She didn't even glare at me, just grew slightly quiet. "No, Mom's just been giving more attention to her job than the family. It's been that way since I was a kid, but it's finally gotten to the point where Dad can't take it anymore." I sighed.

"Sorry. I didn't know."

"Not your fault, Hasashi. Don't worry about it."

"…Mason, actually."

"What?"

"My name is Phoenix Mason. Father had a family before he was reborn as a hell spawn. Taking his family name… didn't really feel right to me. Like I was replacing the boy who should've been his son had the Lin Kuei not killed them."

"Do you really think you're a replacement?"

"It's just how I feel. Father assures me that it's not like that. But I can't keep it out of my thoughts." I glanced at her before sighing. "Ok. Please don't take the next words out of my mouth the wrong way. Take off your shirt."

"What?!"

"I told you not to take it the wrong way." I pulled out a vial. "I can do something about the stain." She stared at me.

"Dude, phrase it differently next time!"

"Sorry. I'm not one for tact."

"That's obvious." She took off her white and blue jacket followed by her white shirt before tossing the latter to me with nothing but her black lace bra on. I glanced at it and chuckled as I got rid of the remains of her shake with a discreet use of magic.

"Dressed for a date, were we?"

"Shut up."

"Just expected a sports bra under that get up. You seem like a sporty and cool kind of girl. You know. When you're not acting like a spoiled rich bitch."

"Oh, shut the fuck up and fix my shirt, asshole. And I'm not spoiled. Do you realize how many freaks come onto the sets on a regular basis, trying to be an extra? It's ridiculous."

"Didn't help that you were nonchalantly sipping your milkshake like you owned the place. Kind of had a run in with one before Father found me in San Antonio. Snagged her stuff after she was making someone else's life miserable. Saw my first Bitchfit then and there when she realized all her money was gone and her spending spree was ruined."

"Seriously? I thought there were more good people trying to help out back then."

"The rich and powerful often stick to their own standards. And spoiled Rich Bitches who've only seen the destruction and suffering from the news couldn't care less about anything but their next mani-pedi." I discretely used magic to dry the shirt and pocketed the vial of food colored water and moved over to her. "All gone."

"Sweet." I helped her get the shirt on and she looked up at me. "You know, you're eyes are kinda hypnotizing."

"I get that a lot, surprisingly. Mainly from Anko." She turned to me.

"And Anko would be…?"

"My girlfriend." I saw her deflate slightly. "Sorry, were you expecting to date someone you just tried to kill?"

"No… I just… didn't expect you to have a girlfriend. Was kinda hoping for more ammunition against you."

"You're not fooling anyone, Cage. You find me interesting."

"Get over yourself." I grinned and moved closer to her.

"Oh come on. You're saying you're not the least bit attracted to me?"

"Not. One. Bit." I grinned as she got temptingly close to me, trying to emphasize her point. She held her stance and we jerked in place as the jet finally started to take off, knocking her into me as I steadied our movements, my arm going around her waist as I gripped a chair to steady my own footing. We'd been so busy talking we missed the notice to get in our seats and get our seat belts on. She blushed as she held onto me as we stayed still so we didn't fall to the floor. I cleared my throat and chuckled. "What are you laughing at?"

"Not how I expected you ending up in my arms." I smirked and we shared a brief laugh before I helped her into her seat and managing to get into my own. I smiled at her and she scoffed before rolling her eyes with a slight smirk. I pressed a button on my Pip-Boy and spawned a unique communications device I developed in another world. "Here." I tossed it to her and saw her look at it skeptically. "You ever find yourself in trouble, give me a call. I get the feeling you'll be in a lot of it."

"You saying I'm trouble?"

"If the boot fits." I grinned before pulling my hood and visor back on as she kicked my leg with a half scowl half smile. I could tell Cassie was going to be someone I would grow close to. I tended to piss people off more when they liked me.

Within a couple of hours, we arrived in China in a private hangar owned by Johnny and Hanzo turned to me. "Ready," he asked.

"Yep."

"Then let's go." I nodded and started following him when Cass tapped my shoulder. I turned to her.

"Something wrong, Cage?" She handed me a slip of paper. "Giving me your number? I told you I have a girlfriend."

"Shut up. It's a location of a fight club I go to. You ever feel like blowing off some steam, feel free to drop by if you're in the States."

"Consider it a date then, Cage. We do still need to settle our little spat earlier." She rolled her eyes.

"Sure. Only if you're ready to get your ass kicked."

"What, were you holding back to not ruin your lace?" She punched my shoulder with a huff before walking away. I chuckled before following Hanzo to the hidden Lin Kuei Temple. "So, Ji-san. What's the plan?"

"I will meet with Kuai Liang," he said. "You shall address yourself to the Lin Kuei Temple Guards and meditate nearby. If something should happen…"

"Jump in if things get icey. Got it." I chuckled as he sighed at my pun and looked at him. "I could use my gun…"

"No. After that stunt with Cassandra Cage, no guns."

"Dammit." We walked for a day and a half and reached the temple at about midnight with me looking around. "Never been here before. More stone than I imagined."

"Halt," shouted a Lin Kuei guard as they moved from the places behind the gates. They aimed spears at us, and I rolled my eyes.

"It's always halt…"

"Stop it," muttered Hanzo.

"It's never just, 'who are you', 'welcome to the hidden temple', or 'did you travel long? How about some refreshments?'"

"You are not funny."

"I'm hilarious. Everyone else just doesn't have a sense of humor." He shook his head before bowing to the guards, an action I mimicked.

"Honorable Lin Kuei. I was invited by the Grandmaster of your order, Kuai Liang. I am Hanzo Hasashi, Grandmaster of the Shirai Ryu. This is my son and escort, Phoenix Mason, a Chujin of my clan." They maneuvered their spears and returned to their posts, allowing us to pass. I looked at one of them.

"Is there a place I can rest? It was a long walk here." One of the guards nodded and I followed him to the empty room beside the courtyard where the meeting was to take place. I started meditating and monitoring everything I could think of. The Shaolin were recovering nicely, training new initiates. Outworld was in the middle of a Revolution. Apparently, an Osh-Tekk had enough of Mileena and was starting to usurp her. Meanwhile, Goro was dealing with rebel Shokan challenging his rule over them. Kano was in the wind and the Black Dragon were hiding while occasionally doing their usual criminal activities. Any sign of the Red Dragon clan was nonexistent, Dagon was keen to stay hidden. He must've felt the changes in the timeline and went to ground. War was brewing with the Chaos and Order Realms, luckily, neither had enough Kombatants to begin Mortal Kombat and they were completely unwilling to try one with the other realms. I couldn't see into the Netherrealm. Something about that place was blocking my view of it. That was disconcerting.

Luckily for me, Blaze was still dormant. Armageddon wasn't going to happen any time soon. But just in case, I was keeping careful watch on Blaze, Taven's Tomb, and the two Edenian Dragons, one of which was barely felt by me as Dagon kept him hidden. I would prevent Armageddon for as long as I could until such time as the Elder Gods choose to intervene and try and get me to stop. Key word, try. But if they ask, I will back off. Armageddon can't be avoided forever. Then my gaze shifted to a hotel in a city near the hangar we left where a particular blonde was reading a magazine on her hotel bed. I grinned slightly as I watched Cass absentmindedly flip through the pages before her gaze seemed to float to where my ethereal body was. She seemed to feel me and smirked before flicking me off and giving a teasing view of her cleavage as she mouthed the word perv, somehow knowing it was me.

That's when the sound of fighting brought me out of my meditations. I looked out at the Courtyard and spotted Kuai Liang frozen in a block of ice. A woman with blue hair and frosty mist coming off her arms attacked Hanzo and I blinked as I saw her. "Frost…" I rushed outside in a blaze of flames and tackled her to the ground, putting her in a restrictive hold as she struggled. Sub-Zero struggled and broke free of the ice and Hanzo glared at him.

"This was a trap," he said.

"No, it wasn't Grandmaster Hasashi," said Kuai Liang as he clutched his side. I got to my feet, keeping Frost in a tight hold before looking at the Grandmasters.

"Not to be disrespectful," I said. "But could someone else handle this girl? I don't want to make fighting hot girls my thing."

"Again," said Hanzo. "Not funny." Frost looked back at me and I shrugged.

"Just stating a fact, miss. Though you're more cold than hot, huh?"

"Frost," shouted Kuai Liang. "I invited Grandmaster Hasashi under the pretense of a truce. Our clans have been fighting for too long. And under false pretenses in recent years."

"What are you talking about?"

"This is what I called Grandmaster Hasashi here to see." We were brought to the severed head of Sektor, former leader of the Lin Kuei and the Cyber Initiative which would've turned them all into ninja cyborgs, and watched a recorded conversation between Sektor and the sorcerer Quan Chi.

"Quan Chi…" I feigned my surprise at the revelation. I was already aware of the deception, but Hanzo needed to find out on his own. Frost watched the recording and stopped struggling as our attention was now fully on the images the head was displaying. Quan Chi had posed as Bi Han and led several Lin Kuei as well as disguised Oni on the attack on the former Shiriai Ryu. I growled and clenched my fists as I felt my father's anger, grief, and sorrow at the realization.

"I was… manipulated," he muttered.

"If I ever find that fucking asshole…" I growled and my fists ignited with white flames.

"Calm yourself, Phoenix." I breathed out and let my flames die down. Living with the Shirai Ryu meant that I was around more people than I normally was in these worlds as I trained. One of the reasons I actually considered it a home and Hanzo my father. Clans stick together. And seeing the cause for my father's suffering, I swore then and there to help him find retribution and vengeance for his original clan and family. I owed him that much in order to bring the last flames of his anger down completely.

"Frost," said Kuai Liang. "You have attacked an ally of the Lin Kuei. Because of this, you are to leave the Lin Kuei, effective immediately."

"But Grandmaster," exclaimed Frost.

"No! There are laws we all must follow. Do not think you are above them. Leave. Now!" I turned to Frost as she growled before storming off. I turned to the Grandmasters.

"I'll make sure she leaves with a cool head, no pun intended. She's less likely to be an enemy down the line if she can leave this life behind peacefully."

"Thank you… Phoenix, was it?"

"Phoenix Mason. The adopted son of Grandmaster Hasashi." I bowed to them before following after the Cryomancer. I leaned against the door to her room as she packed. "Why did you attack my father?" She paused as she put away a pair of panties before removing her mask and glaring at me.

"I attacked him because he was Shirai Ryu and so are you!"

"You can't be that foolish. Both Hanzo and Sub-Zero have years of experience. You may have gotten the jump on Grandmaster Kuai Liang, but in doing so, you alerted me and my father to your presence. Now I'll ask again. Why did you attack him?"

"…We're the same age. Give or take a few years. Did you have family during the invasion?"

"I was born just after them. My birth mother died sometime after giving birth to me and I was put into the system until I ran at age five from the assholes who took me in. I was bullied because of… well this…" I removed my hood and visor, showing my unusual features. "Spent a few months hiding from people who may have been trying to find me and either bring me back to the assholes or some other family. Then Father found me, and the rest is history." She stared at my features for a moment before going back to packing. "Going anywhere in particular?"

"None of your concern."

"I might suggest LA. Heard there's a fight club there. Might be good to start there. Blow off some steam if you can. Put this life behind you."

"I don't want this life behind me! I actually belonged here!"

"Then you should've left things alone! If you find a place you belong, that's not a fucking cult by the way, you stay in line and follow your master's lead. Anything that could potentially mess up the life you live in these environments will do just that. And I think you know that somehow." She paused again but didn't turn to me. "Sub-Zero was the only other Cryomancer and your tutor in how to control your powers. But he wouldn't teach you his deadlier techniques, would he?"

"…No."

"You can't fault him for this. Strength isn't how you fight, it's the restraint you show when fighting. Knowing these moves and using them are extremely different things. From what I understand, Kuai Liang is turning the Lin Kuei into protectors of Earthrealm instead of assassins. Given that he was converted from being a Revenant, I'd say that's a good thing. It doesn't sound like a proper place for you. At least not yet. It would be better if you put this place, this life, behind you and move on. Find something else. It won't be easy, believe me, but you'll find something new. It'll just take time."

I stayed there for a moment before she spoke up. "What is your name?"

"Phoenix Mason."

"…I've long since abandoned my name. Just call me Frost."

"Alright, Frosty. Hopefully, I see you in the fight club one of these days." I walked away before she could even comment on the Frosty thing.

That was the last interesting thing that happened in the world for a long time. It would be about five years before something happened to shake things up. It all started with Johnny's idea of crafting a new team. A new generation of Earthrealm's Protectors. Good thing too. Cause a certain Fallen Elder God had plans in motion we needed to stop.