Chapter 9- Waiting Just Outside

Blue and Scorpion were greatly refreshed from being in nice cool water. They were no longer hot and sweaty with dirt and grass covering them. Blue was in a playful mood. She began to run leaving Scorpion behind so that she could hide in what was becoming less and less of a forest. Scorpion began to run too. She was running as fast as she could, laughing loudly, she looked back and saw Scorpion gaining on her his face was a little bit too serious. She began to slow down but Scorpion did not, he caught up to her. He threw himself on her with his arms spread out to their full length. She collapsed backward onto the ground. They both slammed hard into the tall grass. He lifted himself off of Blue just enough so she could breath again. He looked down sternly at her. "What was that for?" Blue asked out of breath. "Do you mean you weren't trying to run away from me?" Scorpion asked in disbelief. "What?" Bluesong laughed, "I was only playing a little game, I wasn't trying to run away from you. Why would I do that?" "I don't know, I Just saw you start to run and you were laughing." "I know," Blue said, "I was playing, I laugh when I play." Scorpion felt relieved, "Can you promise me that you won't leave like that?" "Yes," Blue replied softly. "Scorpion?" Blues said. "What?" Scorpion asked. "Can you get up because I can't feel my legs," Blue laughed. Scorpion immediately got up. They dusted themselves off again, and went on their way.

Not too long passed before they were completely out of the forest. Blue could barely remember how the rest of outworld looked because she had been in the living forest for so long. Memories of first arriving in outworld rushed back to her, she remembered the scenery. They were only a few yards away from the little portal.

Blue spotted it first. It was covered by thick vegetation. "Look," she said excitedly, "There's the little portal." Scorpion turned to it. "Good, let's go," he said. Bluesong was so happy to be finally going back to earthrealm. Scorpion turned around confused. "This is how I and Li Mei got separated," she said. "Okay," Scorpion said, "come here." She approached him. He picked her up and continued running to the portal. Once again she closed her eyes, and she felt nothing different. A couple of seconds past until Scorpion told her to open her eyes. She was still with Scorpion. They were back in China. The colors that she was used to were still there, everything was the same. She jumped out of Scorpion's arms. Bluesong lay on the soft meadow grass. Scorpion was a little confused but began to understand when she rolled around and laughed softly.

"We're here," Scorpion said loudly. Blue go up off the ground and began to stretch. Suddenly, Scorpion's face became hard with anger. He pulled out his roped spear. "Wait," Blue said fearfully, "What are you-." She was abruptly interrupted when someone from behind her threw their arm around her stomach. She saw a flash of metal right in front of her face and then there was a hook sword slightly touching her gentle neck. Scorpion did not move. "Hello again," said a voice from behind her. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a whitish figure come forward. It was Quan Chi. "I enlisted the help of one of my old friends, Kabal, to help me," Quan Chi said menacingly. Kabal stretched his neck forward and Blue saw him. "Hello Blue," Kabal said, slightly laughing at her distress. "Kabal," she whispered while Quan Chi's attention was on Scorpion, "Please let me go Kabal, you're my friend." "Oh really," Kabal said sarcastically, "Is that why you abandoned us in the woods?" Blue remembered that and she remained quiet. Kabal laughed.

Quan Chi turned to Blue and Kabal. "Kabal," he barked, "I am not paying you to talk to the girl." Blue could see that Quan Chi had bled thoroughly from the wound on his shoulder. He now had white linen bandages covering the large wound.

When Quan Chi turned back to Scorpion, Scorpion was preparing to throw the spear once again. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," Quan Chi said, "If you kill me, Kabal will slit her pretty little throat." Scorpion held his spear tightly, he let his arm fall to his side.

"I'll make you a deal," Quan Chi said, "I'm going to take the girl. If you want her to live, you will do nothing except watch me walk away with her. If you so much as move…she will die. If you follow us she will die. Scorpion had no choice but to let her go. "Can I at least say goodbye?" he asked sadly. "Go ahead," Quan Chi said shrugging. "I meant without Kabal," Scorpion demanded. "Alright," Quan Chi whined, "But I warn you, I have assassins all around and if you run they will have her killed." Scorpion quickly made his way over to Blue. Kabal let her go and walked over to Quan Chi. Scorpion held up Blue's face in his hands. She became teary eyed. "Don't let me go with him," she cried. "I have no choice," Scorpion choked, "Go with Quan Chi. We will be together again. Be happy and what ever you do, don't let him see you cry. I will find a way for us to be together soon. Stay with Quan Chi for now," Scorpion said. "No," Blue cried as she hugged him tightly against her, "I can't leave you remember?" "You won't be," Scorpion said, "I will find a way."

Kabal made his way over to them and pushed Blue away from Scorpion, since he couldn't budge Scorpion. Quan Chi's assassins and henchmen exited their hiding places. One of them threw Blue over their shoulder. Quan Chi turned to Scorpion and smirked at him. Scorpion's fists clenched but if he hit Quan Chi, Blue would be killed. He said nothing as Quan Chi walked away with his reason, his life and his heart beat. Blue looked back at him through tears. Her lips formed the words "I love you". Then, they were too far gone for Scorpion to see. He turned away to look down at his feet.

He was still going to go to Mortal Kombat. This time he was fighting for earthrealm. It was his home, it was Blue's home.

Alone once again, Scorpion sprinted west. It was the direction of the Lost Sea. There he would finally fight for the forces of good.