Outworld, a dark and desolate land. It was nighttime in this realm, the sky was purple fading to inky black.
"I hate Outworld," Ashlynn remarked, kicking at a pebble on the rocky ground. Up ahead, they could make out a cluster of crumbling stone buildings.
"Those must be the Saran Ruins," Cherin said. Ashlynn nodded. They made their way toward the ruins, warily looking over their shoulders.
"You hear that?" Jax asked. Every turned in a complete circle.
"I don't see...AHHH!" Cherin flew forward, landing on the hard ground a few feet away. It seemed as if she was being attacked, rolling around on the ground, but nothing was there.
Jax only stared at the scene. "She's crazy," he said, "She lost her mind."
"No," Ashlynn took off toward Cherin, who was still writhing on the ground. The red headed woman raised her foot as if she would kick Cherin, but instead it hit something else. As if out of the air, a figure appeared, rolling off of Cherin. The thing stood, glaring at Ashlynn. It was definetly not human. It's skin was green and completely covered in scales, and it had a pointed snout, filled with razor sharp teeth. It hissed, lunging for Ashlynn, only to be knocked back by Jax. The reptilian creature fell hard, unconcious.
"Someone tell me what the hell that is," Jax said.
Ashlynn helped Cherin to her feet. "Reptile," was all she said. Cherin rubbed her head, apparently in pain.
"Owww."
"Whatever," Jax said, staring hard at the thing, "Let's get outta here before it wakes up." They began to walk again, quicker this time. They did not get fifteen feet before they heard a strange voice. They spun around, facing Reptile who was rushing toward them. He stopped a couple of feet away.
"Wait," he hissed, "Wait! I wishhh to assissst you." The three companions stared blankly, Cherin looked angry.
"Help us," she said, "You just tried to kill me!"
"Pleassse forgive me," Reptile replied, "I was only following masssster's ordersss."
Jax crossed his metallic arms across his chest, "I think we should kill him." Reptile's slanted eyes widened, and he dropped to his knees before them.
"No," he cried, "I will take you to the fortresss!" Ashlynn glanced at Jax, who rolled his eyes, knowing what she was thinking.
"You think we should trust him?" she asked.
Jax snorted, "No, but I have a feeling you won't let me kill him."
Ashlynn walked toward Reptile, who jumped slightly.
"All right," she told him, "Lead us to Quan Chi's fortress."
Sonya, Maria, Sarah, and Kitana had just arrived in Outworld, far from their companions.
"Now," Maria said, "The God of Water said Tsung's palace should be just north of here."
"Kitana!" They all turned. Racing toward them was a man dressed in a blue, the traditional uniform of the Lin Kuei Ninjas. Close behind him was a woman, also dressed in blue, with frosty white hair cropped close to her head.
"Sub-Zero!" Kitana said, sounding a bit surprised.
"Yes," Sub-Zero replied, "A few days ago the Lin Kuei headquarters was attacked. Shang Tsung completely destroyed it. We tried to fight back, but his forces were too strong for us. Many of my people died..." His brown eyes filled with sorrow and grief at the thought of his clansmen, all of which had bravely fought against the attackers. Sonya glanced at the woman.
"Who's this?" she asked.
"Oh, this is Frost," the blue ninja answered, "I've been training her for about a year now. She is not very experienced yet, but she shows promise."
He smiled, but Frost kept her face emotionless, not uttering a word.
"Guys, we should really get going," Sarah said. Everyone agreed, it was becoming extremely dark.
"We are on our way to Shang Tsung's palace," Kitana said, looking at Sub-Zero.
The Lin Kuei nodded, "We will accompany you, I want to know what the sorcerer is up to."
The group began to make their way north again, hurrying along quickly. Sonya, still staring at Frost, pulled Sarah behind a little.
"I don't trust her," the lieutenant said. Sarah cocked an eyebrow.
"Who?"
"Frost," Sonya replied, "Something isn't right about her." Surprisingly, Sarah chuckled.
"I think you're imagining things Sonya," she said, still laughing, "She hasn't said one word and already you don't like her." She ran ahead to catch up with the other, still smiling.
Sonya shook her head, "Maybe I am imagining things."
Ashlynn, Cherin, and Jax had been following Reptile through the dense forest for hours now, they were all starting to get tired.
"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Cherin sighed.
Reptile nodded vigorously, "Of coursssse, not too much farther now." After a few moments he suddenly began to run, leaving the other far behind. They rushed to catch up with him, but he had soon vanished into the darkness.
"Well," Ashlynn said, bending down to catch her breath, "So much for that."
Jax looks at her, "Told you to kill him." Ashlynn just shook her head. Cherin paused suddenly, looking around the clearing they had stopped in.
"Guys," she said quietly, "I don't think we're alone." As if from the trees themselves, two ninjas and a shaggy man in leather appeared from the edge of the clearing. The man stopped, arms crossed.
"Reptile set us up," Ashlynn said. The greasy looking man smirked.
"You're a smart one aren't you?" he laughed.
"Come on! It's three on three!" Jax yelled, popping his knuckles.
The man laughed louder this time and pointed behind the three, "You're wrong." Slowly, they turned around, facing the large group of ninjas gathered at their backs.
"I'm afraid you have no choice but to surrender," the man in black remarked.
"We have to," Cherin said to Ashlynn, "Otherwise they'll kill us."
"You're right," Ashlynn replied, "We can't take all of them." Jax stuttered in protest, that was until the ninjas moved in closer. The three were roughly seized by the arms. Jax could have easily fought off his captor, but decided it would be best not to provoke them.
"Who are you?" Ashlynn asked the dark man, "And where are you taking us?"
The man replied without looking back at her, "My name is Mavado, and I am taking you to the place you've been searching for all this time."
Ashlynn gasped, realizing he meant to take them to Quan Chi's fortress.
The green light of the soulnado reflected off of Shang Tsung's face, giving it a sinister glow. He gazed at the army surrounding him...The Dragon King's Army. Once it was revived, the realms would be his. He looked at his acquaintance. Quan Chi was standing idly, also looking at the zombie like soldiers.
"Have no fear," the bald sorcerer said, "I have faith in Mavado, he will not fail."
"But the others," Tsung replied, "With Kitana on their side, they may prove more difficult to handle." Quan Chi smiled.
"No, the Princess is nothing to worry about."
Shang Tsung raised an eyebrow, "Oh? You sound so certain."
"I am, she is no threat to us. How far along is the army?"
Tsung scanned the enormous room again, "Only a few more souls and the realms will be ours."
Mine, actually, he thought.
"And once we have Earth's fighters..."
Tsung interrupted Quan Chi, "I will add their power to the army and we will begin the invasion." Quan Chi nodded, then vanished. Only a few moments later, one of Tsung's many assassins came rushing into the room, yelling something.
"Master! Master! They're here! The Earth warriors are here!"
Shang Tsung gripped the man by his collar, pulling him from the ground.
"Where!" he bellowed.
"In...in the forest!" the small assassin stammered. Shang tsung let him fall to the ground.
"Capture them," he ordered, "But do not, I repeat do not harm them. I need them unspoiled."
The assassin nodded, running back out of the room.
"What is that?" Maria asked, brown eyes fixed on the spinning green light that was visible through the trees.
"A portal," Kitana said, "Somehow Shang Tsung has opened a portal to the Heavens." Sub-Zero had just returned from scouting the palace, "There are guards on the bridge, and I don't see a way around them." Frost is staring at the dark trees.
"I saw something," she said, the first words she had spoken, "I saw something in the trees."
Sonya peered into the forest, "I don't see anythi..." Suddenly Sonya was cut short when she was clobbered from behind by an assassin. Something tripped Sub-Zero, who had been trying to help Sonya. Assassin poured from the trees, surrounding them. Sarah felt her arms being pinned behind her back.
"Get your hands off of me!" she screamed, but the assassin wasn't letting up. Sonya, still being held by a rather large assassin, noticed that Frost was completely untouched.
"I told you!" she said, trying to point but failing, "I told you there was something weird about her!" The icy haired woman smiled slightly as the group was dragged struggling through the trees.
Jax, Ashlynn, and Cherin had been stuck inside the circular tower for hours. It was cold and damp, and contained nothing more than a barred window and a bolted door.
"Why is Quan Chi keeping us here?" Cherin asked to no one, "Why not just kill us and get it over with?"
Ashlynn dropped her head into her hands, "Because he needs us alive, at least for a little while." The door creaked open, and all three stopped breathing, fearing it was Quan Chi. Instead, Mavado sauntered inside, pointing to Cherin.
"You," he said, "Come with me."
Cherin gaped at him, "Me? Why?"
He didn't answer, gesturing for her to follow. Reluctantly, Cherin followed him out the door. He lead her down a long, winding stair, through a few hallways, until they arrived in front of a set of intricately carved wooden doors. Mavado rapped twice.
"Enter," came the chilling voice from inside. Mavado pushed the doors open slightly, smiling at Cherin.
"Go on," he taunted. Cherin brushed past him and entered the room. It was a throne room of sorts, with a long red plush carpet leading down to a heavy throne. Behind the throne was an enormous window, looking out over the vastness of Outworld. Quan Chi stood nearby, his back to her, looking out the window. Cherin swallowed hard, building up her courage.
"What do you want?" she asked.
He turned slowly, his dark gaze locking onto her.
"You have a certain...power, as do your companions," he replied, "The power of the past, you could call it. I need that power in order for my plan to succeed." He laughed, sending a chill down her spine. Just then, a servant walked slowly into the room.
"Master," he muttered, "One of the prisoners is attempting to er...break down the door."
The sorcerer sighed, "Bring them both to me."
Jax pounded on the door, but still it wouldn't budge. Ashlynn stared up at him from her spot on the floor. "I kinda don't think that's working," she said.
"But it will," Jax replied, pounding again, "After a while." Suddenly the door opened. Jax stumbled back in surprise, almost tripping over Ashlynn
"Since you insist on getting out," the ninja snorted, "Follow me." Jax looked at Ashlynn, who shrugged and started to follow. They found Cherin in the throne room, standing only a few feet from Quan Chi. She seemed to be in shock.
"Welcome," Quan Chi said.
Cherin stared straight ahead, unable to move.
"What's wrong with you?" Ashlynn asked her. Cherin ignored her and looked at the sorcerer.
"What do you mean the past?" she asked.
"In order to complete my army," Chi said, "I need an ancient power. That power lies within you."
Ashlynn had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. Cherin? With power?
"If she's the one with the power then why are we here?" the redhead asked. Quan Chi looked at her for the first time.
"You will know that soon enough," he said. Jax shook his head, annoyed. Once again, an assassin came rushing into the room.
"Master! One of your soldiers is attacking another assassin!" Quan Chi stared at him as if he was nothing more than an insect.
"Take them back to the tower," he said, "For now it seems I have a disturbance to tend to." He left, and the three companions were led back to the tower. Cherin sat in a corner, her face blank.
"Well this is great," Ashlynn muttered, "Just great."
"You might as well stop complaining," Jax told her, "You got us into this mess."
He looked for a place to sit, but there was nothing but hard, cold, stone floor.
"Well then let's get er...comfy," Ashlynn said, "Hopefully we can get some answers and stop Quan Chi and Shang Tsung before..."
Jax interrupted her, "Before they kill us."
Ashlynn looked at him, "That, and before they start killing millions of innocents on Earth." The metal armed man smiled slightly at his friend.
"You care about everyone before yourself," he said, "You are definetly going to get us killed." Ashlynn sighed, sitting down next to him, "I'm not planning on getting anyone killed."
"Right," Jax looked over at her, but she was fast asleep, head against the wall. He pulled her toward him to keep her warm, and looked at Cherin who is still staring wide eyed.
"You really need to stop doing that," he said, "It scares people you know."
"You'd be in shock too if you knew you were going to be first," Cherin replied, tucking her dark hair behind one ear.
"What?" Jax asked.
Cherin let her breath out slowly, "Shang Tsung will take my soul first, I know it Jax."
He motioned for her to sit by him, and she stiffly walked toward him. A few moments passed, and he was the only one left awake. He stared into the darkness, hoping that together they would make it, but most of all he wanted to get his hands on Quan Chi. A few hours later, the door opened. Jax's eyes fluttered open, he couldn't make out the person in the darkness, only that they wore a hooded robe and carried a platter with bread, cheese, and a goblet.
"Who are you?" he asked. The person looked at him, it was a young woman, with tan skin and large, dark eyes. She lowered the hood slowly.
"Oh," she said, "I didn't realize you were awake. I thought you might be hungry, so I brought what I could find."
"I didn't ask you that," Jax retorted, "I asked your name."
"I would consider if I were you the way you talk to me," the dark haired woman said.
"Now why would I do such a thing?" Jax replied.
"Because," she huffed, "I'm Quan Chi's servant. To insult me would be to insult him, and you wouldn't want that."
At the mention of Quan Chi, both Ashlynn and Cherin awoke, staring wildly around the room. Ashlynn looked at the woman, and Cherin stared at the platter. It had been a few days since they'd eaten.
"Who are you?" Ashlynn asked.
Jax sighs, "That's what I've been trying to figure out for the last five minutes."
Cherin noticed the girl's forehead, adorned with a small, perfectly round emerald.
"Well if you won't tell us who you are, then please tell us why that emerald is attached to your forehead," Cherin said. The woman absently touched the jewel.
"This," she said, "Was placed here by Quan Chi. It shows that I'm his servant. To take it off would show him disrespect, and he would have my head."
"So is it glued to your head or something?" Jax asked. Ashlynn shook her head at his stupid question.
"No," the woman replied, "He had it magically attached."
"So, do you have a name?" Ashlynn asked, stretching her arms.
"My name is Amilee," she replied.
"Finally," Jax sighed.
"So tell me Amilee," Ashlynn said, "The last thing Quan Chi would be so kind to offer us is food. What's the real reason you're here?"
Amilee looked down at the tray, "It just so happens that I'm doing this of my own free will. I know what it feels like to be starved..."
Greedily, Cherin snatched the tray from her, "Then let's stop talking and eat."