Just a small note…I keep forgetting to write this and didn't think to write this way until now and I apologize, but thanks to Iceangelmkx for reviewing my story! It really helped give me a good perspective. Sorry for the long wait. I know this chapter is rather long, but wanted them long...enjoy! Tell me what you think of it!

Eathrealm

Liu Kang and Jade emerged into Earthrealm to find the Wu Shi academy in ruins.

"No. I just left…How could this happen so quickly?"

"Kahn must've sent an extermination squad." Jade said.

They headed to the academy where some of the monks were lying dead in a pool of blood. They rushed inside to find Kung Lao standing there, his clothes partially torn with the same expression upon his face.

"Kung Lao, what happened?" Lui asked.

"They came so quickly…I was meditating when I heard screams from down the hall. I rushed inside to find Reiko and his team of fighters slaughtering everyone in their wake. I did my best to fend them off. I managed to kill some but not all. There were also three cyber robots."

"Smoke, Sektor, and Cyrax." Jade said.

"How do you know that?" Kung Lao asked.

"I've seen Kahn use them before. After all, like Kitana, I used to be one of his assassins."

"Do you think it's like this everywhere?" Liu Kang asked.

Jade nodded. "It most likely is."

"Where's Kitana?" Kung Lao asked.

"They've both been taken." Jade said.

"This is bad." He said. "Who took them?"

Luiu Kang lowered his head. "Shang Tsung and Quan Chi."

Kung Lao let out a grunt of anger. For many years the earth warriors have foiled their plot for domination over Earthealm.

"I say we go to Outworld and settle this dispute for once and for all." Kung Lao said.

"We can't just yet." Liu said. "We don't' know if the other places are in ruins, or if the others are safe."

"And knowing Kahn, he'll destroy everything in his path." Jade said.

"We should go and…" Liu was blasted with a fire ball from Shang Tsung.

Quan Chi appeared behind Jade and Kung Lao and kicked them both to opposite ends of the room.

"Not you guys again!" Jade said.

"Don't worry, Jade, we're not after you" Quan Chi said.

"That's not what I'm concerned about." She said.

"Oh, that." Quan Chi said. "Don't fret, you'll see them again I'm sure."

Jade rushed forward, furious. Kung Lao ran to join her. Both were sending kicks and punches flying from all directions, but Quan Chi blocked them effortlessly. They managed a flying kick that sent the sorcerer into a wall. Meanwhile Liu Kang and Shang Tsung were battling fiercely. For awhile, it seemed as if the sorcerers defeat was at hand as every punch and kick contacted hard and fast. Little did they know this was all apart of the sorcerers plan. Jade and Kung Lao landed a hard spin kick into Quan Chi's head the same moment Liu Kang blasted Shang Tsung with a fire ball blast. The two landed hard on their face. They got up and looked at each other and grinned.

"What are you two grinning at?" Kung Lao asked.

"There's nothing funny about your defeat." Jade asked.

"Once again, you have fallen and so has your plan." Liu Kang said.

"Actually it is you who has fallen for our plan" Shang Tsung said.

Shang Tsung blasted a fire dragon attack at Kung Lao while Quan Chi sent a green skull at Jade, causing them to fly to the back of the room. Then the sorcerers created a barrier surrounding only themselves and Liu Kang. Jade and Kung Lao ran towards it but were pushed back by the barrier.

"Ugh!" Kung Lao was slammed hard on the floor against a table. Jade was throne against him a moment later.

"Sorry." She said.

"It's ok." He said rubbing the bump that was now appearing on his head.

"Kung Lao look!"

Kung Lao looked up in time to see Liu thrown up by Shang Tsung and slammed down by Quan Chi. He attempted a bicycle kick at Shang Tsung but was blocked and in return landed a hard punch on Liu Kang, knocking the wind out of him. Liu desperately tried to get a mouthful of air, but could only gasp for short breaths. The sorcerer advanced upon him with a spin kick which the warrior blocked, but he could not block the five hit combo hit the sorcerer laid on him. He was knocked up against the barrier before falling to his knees. He had cuts and bruises all over his body, and his pants were torn all over. The champion of mortalkombat bowed his head. He knew he couldn't defeat them…no matter how hard he tried. Their combined strength was too much…even for a warrior like himself.

"Liu!" Kung Lao ran towards the barrier, banging against it, trying desperately to reach his fellow warrior. It was hopeless and he knew it. No matter how hard he tried, the barrier would not dissipate.

"Kung Lao," Jade walked up to him and put her hand on his shoulder. "I know you want to save him, I do too, believe me, but as much as I hate to say this, there's nothing we can do for him."

"No! I refuse to just sit back and watch! I won't!"

"There's nothing we can do…I'm sorry."

Liu looked back at the two. 'It's true…I can't win. There's nothing they can do to help me.' He thought. "This can't be…this can't be the end…not here…It just can't be."

"But it is, and unfortunately for you, this is where your journey ends, champion, and we will finally get our revenge." Shang Tsung said.

"Prepare to die, Lui Kang!" Quan Chi said.

Lui Kang attempted a fire punch at Quan Chi but he only blocked it. He grabbed Liu by the throat and held him high in front of Shang Tsung. He struggled to breathe as Quan Chi tightened his hold upon him.

"Now watch as your fellow monk dies!" Shang Tsung said. He laughed coldly and smiled.

Kung Lao only tried harder to break the barrier but finally gave into exhaustion. He rested his arms upon the barrier and watched as Shang Tsung lifted his hand up to the monks face. His hand glowed as a green light emerged from Liu's body. He only laughed harder as Lui struggled to break free from Quan Chi's grip. Finally a green transparent form of Liu Kang's image emerged from his body and screamed in agony as it entered the sorcerer's hand.

"Finally, it is done." Shang Tsung said.

"No!" Kung Lao screamed.

"You filthy vermin! You'll pay for your reached deeds!"

Quan Chi laughed loudly. "Call us what you want, you still won't get his soul back. His soul is our forever!"

"You'll pay! I swear on my life you'll both pay!" Kung Lao said.

The barrier finally disappeared. Jade and Kung Lao rushed forward in a murderous rage. The two tyrants disappeared, taking Liu Kang's dead corpse with them.

Grief overcame Kung Lao. He fell on his hands and knees. Tears started to fall on to the ground as he wept for his friend.

"I can't believe this happened." He screamed in anger and punched the ground hard. The force of the blow had left a small crater in the ground.

"Kung Lao…I'm sorry." Jade said.

"I can't believe I let this happen." He said.

"It's not your fault. There was nothing you could have done this to prevent any of this.

"I know but still…He's never going to come back again."

"Maybe he is, maybe he's not."

Kung Lao looked up at Jade, tears still in his eyes. What was she talking about? He was dead. How could she say that?

"What are you talking about?" He said angrily.

"Remember, he can be resurrected, but that's not up to us to decide that."

"It's hopeless."

"Never give up hope. There's still time."

"I still can't believe what just happened."

"I know. Come on, we still have to check the others. I know this sounds cruel, but there's no time to grieve."

Kung Lao nodded, still furious. She was right. There would be time to grieve later. They ran off to find the others praying that they were still safe.