"You are not welcome here!" Jay heard Noob say from the other side of the door. He sat up, messaging his aching head.
"I payed you well," said another voice, a woman this time, "and you failed to kill the Lin Kuei warrior. I would like my gold back."
"Failed?" Noob asked, "I made sure she was dead."
"Oh really," said the woman, "Then why did I run into her in the Living Forest hmm?"
Noob paused before responding.
"She looked dead to me," he muttered.
"Well she wasn't," the woman snapped, "I would have taken care of her myself, but there was a man with her."
"What man?" Noob asked.
"He wouldn't tell me his name," she replied, "But he wore the Lin Kuei colors."
Again, a pause, longer this time.
"Sub-Zero," Noob said. He sounded distant, as if he was traveling down old roads in his mind...
"No matter," said the woman, "By the way, why are you guarding this door?"
"A prisoner of Quan Chi, he is sleeping now I believe."
"What does Quan Chi want with a prisoner?" the woman asked.
Noob seemed irritated with her questions.
"He would not tell me," he said, "Something about a woman, and this man would get in the way of his plans."
"A woman eh? Hmm, well that is of no concern to me," she said, "Now if you will kindly return my gold."
Jay heard Noob sigh, and then a clinking sound.
"That is all of it," he said.
"Let me speak with this man," the woman said.
"What," Noob asked, "Why?"
"I don't have to explain myself to you, now open the door," she ordered.
Jay squinted as the room was flooded with light. Approaching him was a tall, slender woman. With fiery red hair, and the symbol of the Black Dragon sewn into her vest. At first he was strongly reminded of Ashlynn, but as she came closer he noticed an air of arrogance that Ashlynn didn't posses.
"I see you're awake," she said, "I am Kira. Tell me your name."
Jay saw no reason why he should keep his name a secret to her.
"My name is Jay Yung," he rasped. Noob had neglected to give him any sort of liquid.
"Tell me about this woman," Kira said.
"Woman," he had to think for a moment, then the fog cleared, "Oh, Ashlynn. She is...someone close to me...I have to find her."
Talking about Ashlynn brought a bit of his determination back.
"I'm sorry to tell you this," Kira said, "But if Quan Chi has plans you will most likely never see her again."
She smiled, enjoying the hate in his eyes.
"Please," he begged, knowing it was useless, "Let me out."
The red haired woman laughed, "Do you think I want to be on the sorcerer's bad side? No. Oh well, goodbye Jay Yung."
With that she sauntered out of the room, slamming the door behind her, and leaving Jay more hopeless than he had ever felt in his life.
Sub-Zero and the others had located a small copse of trees, spending the night there. Now it was early morning, the sun had barely risen above the horizon.
"Scorpion," Sub-Zero said.
The ninja specter, who had just woken, looked up at him.
"I want you to travel with Amilee and myself."
Scorpion raised an eyebrow, confused as to why Sub-Zero would ask him to go along. He nodded. It was strange, since he had sided with the Earthrealm warriors, most of the animosity between the Lin Kuei Grandmaster and himself had vanished.
"Let's go east," Sub-Zero said, "That is the direction Quan Chi was headed in."
"We should travel to his fortress," Scorpion said, "He will most likely have gone back there."
Amilee stood and stretched out her legs.
"He's right," she agreed, "There's no way he'll still be anywhere near that cave."
Sub-Zero shrugged, a little upset that Amilee had agreed with Scorpion instead of him.
They walked for at least three hours before they finally came upon a familiar sight, Quan Chi's fortress.
"Finally," Amilee sighed, "Hey there aren't any guards on the bridge."
"Quan Chi's servants must have abandoned him," Scorpion chuckled.
They silently made their way across the long bridge, and were surprised to find the doors unlocked.
Ashlynn sat on the edge of her new bed, in her new room, in Quan Chi's fortress, when there was a knock on the door. She hoped it wasn't Quan Chi, although she knew he wouldn't have knocked. She opened to door to find a young man, about her age, with shoulder length blonde hair.
"Who are you?" she asked bluntly.
"Call me Kobra," he replied. Suddenly Ashlynn smiled, this man had a familiar accent, an accent found mostly in...
"You're from New York!" she squealed.
Kobra seemed a little surprised by her sudden happiness.
"Yeah," he answered, "I guess I was the only one who stayed after Quan Chi disappeared."
"Why?" Ashlynn asked, confused as to why anyone would stay in this place by choice.
He gave her a half smile, "Because if I'd left, he would've found me. He'll find the others you know. All of them."
"ASHLYNN!"
She flinched at the sound of the sorcerer's yelling. She sighed and moved past Kobra, walking down a staircase and into the throne room where Quan Chi sat, smiling.
"You called?" she asked wearily. She hadn't actually gotten any rest, like he had said they needed.
"Yes," the sorcerer replied, "Plans have changed my dear."
"And that means?"
"It means that you are going to Dragon Mountain, and I am staying here."
"What!" she gasped.
Suddenly visions of Onaga squishing her with one foot flashed through her mind, "Onaga will murder me!"
"Then it is sad to say, but I will have one less servant," Quan Chi said, shrugging.
"By the way," he continued, "I have something to show you. Noob! The prisoner!"
Ashlynn turned at the sound of struggling. Noob was coming through the doors, pulling someone along with him.
"Jay!" she gasped.
Jay looked up at her, pushing Noob away.
"Ashlynn," he said.
He was so relieved to see her alive, he didn't notice the rage that had taken over her features.
"How could you!" she screamed.
"What?"
Ashlynn's eyes narrowed to slits, "You know exactly what I'm talking about you son of a bitch!"
Jay's brow furrowed, "No, I don't."
"This whole time," she went on, "I thought you loved me, and you were sneaking around with Amilee!"
Jay was so surprised by her statement that he almost laughed, but stopped when he saw the sorcerer grinning wickedly.
"You are disgusting," he said, "What have you done to her?"
Quan Chi blinked, "I only told her the truth."
"Ashlynn," Jay said, shifting his eyes back to her, "How could you possibly believe him? I love you."
Ashlynn crossed her arms, still glaring at him, "Hmph, you never loved me."
"I do love you," Jay said, angrier now, "He's a liar Ashlynn!"
Ashlynn suddenly, began to doubt herself. What had made her believe Quan Chi?
"Have you forgotten last year," Jay asked, "Have you forgotten everything he did? If you help him he will take over Earthrealm, Ashlynn that is your home!"
"No!" Quan Chi bellowed, "This is your home! He is the liar!"
"How could I have been so stupid?" Ashlynn said, turning to face the sorcerer, "How could I have believed you? I killed two innocent men because of you!"
Quan Chi stood, fast as lightning. Noob, wide eyed, ran from the room.
"You believed me because you were desperate enough to do so," Quan Chi said, walking stiffly toward her, "You doubted yourself, and that was your weakness. I took advantage of it of course."
"Why?" Jay asked, "What was the point?"
Ashlynn looked at him, she had been thinking the same thing ever since she had awoken in that cave.
The sorcerer ignored him, moving closer.
"You know Ashlynn," he said quietly, "I did have plans for you, and in case you have forgotten, you still owe me a favor."
Ashlynn tried to protest, but he continued.
"When you promised me that favor, I made sure you would not be able to get out of it. You see, you made a sorcerer's oath."
"A what? I'm not a sorcerer," Ashlynn said.
Quan Chi's smile broadened.
"You do not have to be a sorcerer to make a sorcerer's oath. I took the most important thing to you, which unfortunately for you happened to be Jay Yung, and used it."
"Used it how?" Ashlynn asked.
"Simply put, if you break your promise, Jay Yung will die."
Ashlynn stopped, there was something in his voice that told her he wasn't lying.
"Enough of this," Jay hissed, "Ashlynn, what is this favor he keeps talking about?"
"I...I don't know," she replied.
Quan Chi walked forward, approaching them slowly.
"It seems you have betrayed me Ashlynn."
"I won't be your puppet," Ashlynn replied, her voice venomous.
Quan Chi came closer, until he was only inches from her face. Jay's eyes narrowed.
"Fine," he whispered, "Have it your way. Noob! Kobra!"
In a matter of seconds his remaining assassins rushed into the room.
"Lock them in the eastern tower," he said.
Noob seemed confused, "Even her master?"
"Yes," Quan Chi replied, "Even her..."
Jay and Ashlynn both knew better than to attack the sorcerer in his own fortress, so they let themselves be dragged away, Ashlynn giving him one last glare before she was pushed through the doors by Noob.
"You will know the point of everything soon enough," Quan Chi said to no one but himself.