Sonya was tending to Jay, when Jax burst through the fortress doors, looking angry.

"Where's Ashlynn?" she asked.

Jax thought for a moment. He couldn't tell her Ashlynn was alive, because she would just want to go inside.

"She's dead," he lied, "The others, he killed them too."

"Everyone?" Sonya asked quietly.

Jax nodded, "Everyone."

Jay groaned, opening his eyes.

"Where is she?" he tried to sit up, but the pain kept him on the ground.

"Jay," Sonya said softly, "Ashlynn's dead."

Ignoring the pain raging in his chest, Jay leapt to his feet.

"SHE IS NOT DEAD!" he bellowed, steadying himself with Jax's help.

"I'm sorry jay but-

Sonya was cut off by Jay, "I have to inside."

"You can't even stand up straight," Sonya argued, "And if you go inside you'll only get yourself killed."

"There's no use in killing yourself for no reason," Jax added, hating himself.

Sonya took Jay's arm, leading him down the steps.

"He's right," she said, "We have to get you out of here."

Amilee sat near Sub-Zero in the small camp they'd made, silent. Everyone else had fallen asleep a long time ago.

"We need to talk with Raiden," the ninja said finally.

"I know," Amilee replied, staring into the dying fire, "Tomorrow, let's sleep now."

She turned away from him, thinking of her friends, of how much she had lost. A tear slid down her face, and she fell into a troubled sleep.

Ashlynn swallowed, still unable to form a complete sentence. Quan Chi was still staring at her, unblinking. She felt confused, lost.

"What is it?" he asked, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Still, she couldn't reply.

"As I told you everyone else is gone," the sorcerer said, his voice had become harder, "Who else do you have but me?"

Ashlynn ignored him, thinking back to be locked in the tower with Jay. She had felt safe, and with him she was sure everything would be okay. But then he had left, and he'd taken her hope with him.

"Say something," Quan Chi said, his voice had lost all trace of understanding, but that didn't surprise her, it had been fake anyway.

"I can't...I can't forget him," Ashlynn replied finally, "He may be dead, but he still feels alive to me."

"He is not alive," the sorcerer said firmly, "He is never coming back. Forget him."

"No," Ashlynn responded, "I love him."

The sorcerer seemed to be struggling with his temper, "No, you loved him. You must stop thinking about him."

Ashlynn squeezed her eyes shut, trying to keep her tears at bay. After a few seconds she opened her eyes to find Quan Chi smiling at her. It made her sick. She bit her lip, staring sadly at him.

I'm sorry, she thought, I'm so sorry Jay.

He came closer. She wanted to push him away, to run. But why? What was the point? Where would she go? Finally she decided that it no longer mattered, her life as she knew it had ended.

As he kissed her, she tried desperately to separate her mind from body, to block everything out, but that tactic failed miserably.

Jay had one foot through the portal to Earthrealm, when he felt a different kind of pain. It was as if someone had taken hold of his heart, and was squeezing without mercy. He fell to his knees, gasping for breath. Dimly he could make out Sonya's panicked voice.

"Jay! Jay!"

The pain only lasted a few minutes, but to Jay it felt like an eternity. After it had passed he lay on the ground, breathing deeply. Finally he looked up to see his companions, both wearing startled expressions.

"Are you okay?" Sonya asked.

Jay nodded, not quite sure if he was okay.

"Yeah," he said, "Just my ribs. Come on, let's go."

They stepped through the portal, to find themselves standing in a grassy field. Raiden stood a few feet away, apparently he had been expecting them.

"Things are not going well," he said.

"Everyone's dead because you had to bring that bald bastard back!" Jax snapped.

"I'm so sorry," the thunder god replied sincerely, "I knew there would be risks, but I never thought this-

Suddenly the portal flashed, and the others, looking angry and frustrated, emerged.

"You're dead," Sonya said blankly.

Amilee stared at her like she had two heads, "Excuse me?"

"Hmm, I don't seem to remember getting killed recently," Cherin said.

Sarah was the first to notice Jay, standing near Jax.

"Lying son of a bitch," she snarled, "Quan Chi said you were dead!"

"Believe me, I'm not far from it," he replied weakly.

"Is...where is Ashlynn?" Amilee asked.

Jax bit his tongue, "Quan Chi killed her."

"So he wasn't lying about that part," Frost said.

Jax took a breath, this had to be for the best, it had to be.

"So it seems we are not so hopeless after all," Raiden said after a while.

"Maybe," Maria said, "But we lost Li Mei. She just disappeared all of a sudden, and we didn't have time to go looking for her."

Raiden nodded. Maria got the idea he knew something they didn't, but decided not to question him.

"I will send you to Dragon Mountain," he said, "Onaga must be disposed of. Jay, stay here with me."

He gave Jay a look that seemed sympathetic, but Jay had a feeling there was more to it than that. The others vanished in a blinding light, leaving Jay alone with the thunder god.

Ashlynn, I hope you understand what you are doing, Raiden thought, turning away from Jay.

Ashlynn heard a voice. It sounded distant, but familiar. All she could make out was the word understand. Finally she decided she was just hearing things, so she closed her eyes again. She was alone in the room now.

Thank God, she thought.

She pulled the cover over her head, trying to sleep. She wished she had gone with Jax when she had the chance.

He'll probably die like everyone else, she thought sadly, I wish I could start over, I wish none of this had ever happened. I wish...Jay was here.

The tears fell from her eyes, soaking her pillow.

"I wish you could hear me Jay," she sobbed, "I wish you were here. I'm so sorry."

I wish you could hear me Jay, I wish you were here. I'm so sorry.

Jay shook his head, but the small voice kept repeating itself. He turned to find Raiden staring at him knowingly.

"Can you hear that?" Jay asked.

Raiden shrugged, "Hear what?"

"A voice, it sounded like...but it can't be..."

Raiden smiled slightly, "Go to her Jay."

"She...she's alive?" Jay asked, unable to believe it.

Raiden nodded.

"Please Raiden," he said, "Send me to the fortress."

The thunder god had healed him, and he was more confident than he had ever been. He would destroy the sorcerer for what the bastard had put him through.

After Jay had left, Raiden stood alone, thinking.

"I fear what may happen when he finds out."

Jay flew full speed toward the top of the fortress, the wind stinging his eyes the whole way. He circled, peering through every window, until he found her. Ashlynn was asleep, and he could only see the top of her head. Luckily, the window was cracked, so he pulled it open and crept inside.

"Ash," he said, shaking her softly, "Ashlynn wake up."

Ashlynn opened her eyes. For a moment she looked confused, then happy, then terrified. Jay covered her mouth before she could scream.

"Shhh, you have to be quiet," he told her.

Ashlynn pulled his hand off, her eyes watering, "He's not here, he left for the Realm of Chaos."

"Perfect," Jay said, "Let's go."

Ashlynn didn't budge, she was staring at him with the most sorrowful look he'd ever seen.

"I can't," she said, "The reason he didn't kill me was because...I'm a part of some prophecy."

"I don't care about some damn prophecy," he said, "Wait..."

"What?"

"Fire meets water," he replied, his gaze distant, "That's it isn't it?"

Ashlynn nodded, "Now you see why I have to stay. I can't go back to Earthrealm, I'll never be normal again. Besides, you would keep aging and I...I wouldn't be able to stand it. I don't think I could handle that. I'd rather see you happy...with someone else."

"No," Jay said firmly, "I'm not leaving you here. Not with him."

Ashlynn started to sob again. Jay stayed silent, and after a few minutes he remembered something.

"When did you mean when you said you were sorry?" he asked.

Ashlynn's mouth fell open, "You heard that?"

Jay nodded, "Why would you be sorry?"

"I'm sorry that," she paused, she couldn't bear to tell him, "That I accused you of being with Amilee."

Jay stared at her, his brown eyes seeing right through her.

"That's not why," he said, "Ashlynn what did you do!"

He stood, suddenly realizing what had happened.

"Jay I'm sorry!" Ashlynn cried, trying to calm him down. He pushed her away, pacing back and forth.

"I thought you were dead," she continued, "I thought everyone was dead so I just...didn't care anymore! Jay please!"

He stopped pacing, his gaze was so full of rage that it frightened her.

"How dare you," he said, "After what you accused me of doing!"

He stalked toward the open window, unable to look at her any longer.

"Please," Ashlynn begged, "I'm sorry I-

"Quit apologizing! It won't change anything!"

With that, he took off through the window. Ashlynn watched him vanish into the darkness. Long after he had gone, she fell back onto the bed, burying herself under the covers.

Only a few minutes later, she felt someone sitting on the bed. She kept her eyes closed, trying to stop crying.

"Why is the window open?" Quan Chi asked, knowing full well that she was awake.

Slowly, she sat up.

"I got hot," she said, "I needed some fresh air."

"It is freezing," he said, "Who was here?"

"No one," Ashlynn replied, a little afraid now.

"It is almost dawn," he said, still staring suspiciously at her, "Apparently my servants had escaped to the Chaosrealm, not a good hiding place. If you need anything, tell them."

He left, closing the door a little too hard.

Amilee followed close behind Sub-Zero. They had managed to sneak into Onaga's palace, and were now making their way down a wide, deserted hallway.

"I know the kamidogu are near," Sub-Zero said, "I can feel their power."

He passed a few more doors before stopping in front of a large one, intricately carved with the image of a dragon, its tail forming the doorknob. He pulled it open slowly. Inside, laid out on a large bronze alter, were the four remaining kamidogu.

"That was too easy," Amilee said. As soon as she said it, four black clad ninja's dropped from the ceiling rafters.

"Told you," she said.

The Lin Kuei easily took out two of them, freezing them both and pushing them into the left wall. Amilee took on the last two, breaking the first ones neck with a kick to the head. The other, seeing how much danger he was in, quickly made his way for the door.

"Where are you going? Is something wrong?" Amilee asked. Before the poor ninja could move another inch, she had thrown both of her daggers, landing them in his chest.

"Hurry," Sub-Zero said, picking up the Earthrealm kamidogu, "We have to destroy these before-

A violent tremor shook the ground, throwing Amilee into the alter.

"Oh no," she gasped.

"I'll distract him," Sub-Zero said, "Destroy the kamidogu."

Without another word, he ran through the door and into the hallway. Amilee couldn't let him go alone, so she followed behind. He looked angrily at her, but there was no time to argue. Onaga was rapidly rushing toward them.

"That's Onaga?" Amilee squeaked, "I pictured him being a lot smaller and less...scary."

"Pathetic," the Dragon King snorted, "Raiden sent you did he not? Only two of you."

"Nuh uh you ugly green freak!" Jax landed a punch to Onaga's abdomen that would have winded a normal man, but the Dragon King didn't flinch. He laughed, walking toward Jax who ran the opposite way. As soon as he had turned, Amilee and Sub-Zero rushed back into the room, quickly smashing each kamidogu. Every time another one shattered, they could hear a roar of rage from the end of the hall.

"Come on!" Amilee said.

Jax and Sonya stood near Onaga, who was crouched on the ground.

"Yeah," Jax said, "Now that's what I'm talkin bout'!"

"Not so tough now are ya?" Sonya chided.

She tried to aim a kick at his oversized head, but he caught her foot, throwing her into the wall.

"Damn," Jax said.

The Dragon King stood, backhanding Jax, who landed near his partner. Then he shifted his eyes to Amilee and Sub-Zero, they glowed fiery red.

"You...will...PAY!"

He opened his mouth, drawing in air, then let it out in a blast of fire. It hit Sub-Zero in the chest, sending him backward onto the floor. Amilee ran to him, but there was no response.

"You are alone," Onaga taunted, "You stand no chance against me."

Amilee stood, staring hard at him. He made his way slowly toward her.

"You may have destroyed the kamidogu," he said, "But you will never defeat-

He stopped, staring down at himself. His skin had begun to glow red.

"What...what is happening!" he bellowed.

Amilee didn't break her gaze. She knew she was close, it would happen any second...Suddenly someone tackled her, breaking her concentration. She looked back to see Li Mei staring defiantly at her.

"What are you doing!" Amilee screeched, "I had him!"

"You will not kill him!" the smaller woman yelled. Suddenly, Li Mei fell forward, Cherin standing behind her.

"Yeah well I have to disagree with you on that," Cherin said.

Li Mei stood, only to be shoved toward Frost, who sent a stream of ice across the ground. Li Mei screamed as her body froze from her feet up.

"I knew there was something wrong with her," Cherin said, pushing Li Mei's frozen body to the ground, where it shattered.

"Noooo!" Onaga screamed.

Amilee focused on him again, giving herself a headache. Onaga stopped walking, breathing hard.

"You...are a...witch!" he roared.

Then, in a blinding flash of violet, he exploded, covering the hall in greenish slime. Amilee smiled, and fell to the floor. When she opened her eyes she found Sub-Zero hovering over her.

"We did it Amilee!" he said, sounding happier than she'd ever heard him.

"Can we go home now?" she asked weakly.

Everyone was smiling. Jax helped Sonya stay on her feet. She was beaming despite the large knot on her head. Even Scorpion, who had removed his mask, was smiling slightly.

"Yes," Sub-Zero replied, "We can go home now."

Later they arrived back in the grassy field to find Raiden and Jay Yung. Raiden seemed as happy as they were, but Jay wasn't sharing their excitement.

"Jay what's wrong?" Maria asked.

He didn't respond, so Sonya approached him.

"What is it Jay?"

"Ashlynn," he answered finally, "She's alive."

"What? She is? Then we have to go get her!" Amilee said, her eyes wide.

"I already tried," he replied through clenched teeth, "She won't come, and to tell the truth, I don't want her to."

Amilee couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"What are you talking about?" Sarah asked, "Why wouldn't you want her to come back?"

"When she thought we were dead, something...happened," Jay said, staring hard at the ground as if he wanted to sink through it, "She may be alive, but she's dead to me."

"Man, there's no way," Jax said, though he wasn't too sure, "Right?"

"You know a few hours ago I thought I knew her," Jay said, a strange smile on his face, "But apparently I have no idea who she is."

Cherin scratched her chin, "Well...maybe he brainwashed her or something."

She knew it sounded corny, but she'd known Ashlynn a long time.

"She wasn't brainwashed," Jay said sharply, "Or she wouldn't have apologized. She wasn't even sure I was dead...how could she?"

"I'm sorry Jay," Raiden cut in, "We all are, but there is nothing we can do."

Amilee looked as if she was about to rip her hair out.

"So we're just going leave her there!" she screamed, receiving blank stares from everyone, "What is wrong with you guys! I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm not leaving her! Send me to the fortress...NOW!"

"Amilee," Raiden said calmly, "If Jay couldn't bring her back, what makes you think you will be able to?"

"Because I'll drag her out by her hair!" Amilee replied, folding her arms.

"I'm going with you," Sub-Zero said quietly. Amilee had known he would say that.

"All right," Raiden sighed, "This is your choice."