Jay Yung sat down next to Jax, hopelessly letting his head fall into his hands. They had been shoved into a small abandoned storage room, the door bolted shut behind them. Outside, he could hear the muffled screams of the New York citizens who had managed to survive for this long. Jax stood, pacing anxiously across the tiny room, making Jay dizzy.

"Why do I always get locked up huh?" he asked, "Everything happens to me. Let's drag Jax to some realm where everybody wants to kick everybody else's ass, let's get Jax locked in a tower, in some crazy bald white man's fortress, let's make Jax fight an overgrown lizard, let's..."

"Enough," Jay interrupted, "I get it. Stop feeling sorry for yourself."

Jax looked at him like he was crazy.

"Hey man, don't tell me what to...OW!"

He stumbled forward, catching himself on the wall. Jay stood to see what had tripped him.

"Good job," he said, "You just found our way out of here."

He pointed to the almost invisible handle poking out from the ground. Jay reached for the handle, pulling with all his strength, but it wouldn't budge.

"Let me do this," Jax said, pushing him aside.

Seemingly without any effort, he ripped the trapdoor from the ground, revealing a flight of steps.

"I'm guessing these lead down to the subway," Jay said.

Jax shrugged, "Only one way to find out."

With that, he made his way down into the darkness, followed by Jay. Sure enough, after a while they reached the subway station. It was a massacre; bodies of innocent people littered the ground, the subway had crashed, and was now laying on its side. The lights flickered, giving the place an even more gruesome look. Jay stepped over the body of a fallen man, careful not to look at the face, and sprinted up another flight of stairs, this time leading them outside into the cool night air. Jay glanced up into the sky.

"We have to get to the Statue..." he said.

"It's gonna take us forever," Jax mumbled.

"Wait," Jay replied, "I have an idea. I'll fly to the statue, you search for my daughters. Meet me over in Times Square."

Without giving Jax a chance to argue, he took off into the sky.

Amilee and Sub-Zero had been waiting near the bottom of the Statue of Liberty for nearly an hour, and Scorpion still hadn't returned.

Amilee sighed, "What's taking him so long? You think Quan Chi overpowered him?"

"It's possible," the Lin Kuei replied, "Come on, we should go up."

She followed him inside, mumbling to herself. He sprinted up the unusually long staircase, to find a single guard standing in front of the double doors leading to the top.

"More of you?" the guard snorted, he didn't seem at all surprised at their arrival. Sub-Zero, who was already in a sour mood, wasted no time turning him into a popsicle. Amilee shuddered at the sound of the shattering body as it tumbled down the stairs. The Lin Kuei opened the doors slowly. Peeking inside, he could see Scorpion first, pinned to the wall by glowing green chains, and looking furious. Amilee shoved Sub-Zero inside impatiently, receiving an irritated glare in return. Ashlynn was chained to the wall next to Scorpion, smiling at the sight of her friends. That was when they noticed Cherin, fast asleep in a chair near the other wall. Amilee moved to wake her, but Ashlynn shook her head violently. It was too late however, Cherin's eyes snapped open, and she leapt to her feet.

"Cherin we're here to..." Amilee didn't have time to finish before she was kicked hard in the stomach. Sub-Zero stepped in front of her, his mood darkening with each moment.

"What is wrong with you?" he hissed.

Cherin shook her head, a slight smile on her face.

"Absolutely nothing."

"She's crazy," Ashlynn said from her spot on the wall.

"She has joined Quan Chi," Scorpion added.

Amilee ran a hand through her hair, "Are you stupid or something!"

"No," the traitor retorted.

Sub-Zero had been trying to free Scorpion of his chains, but to no avail.

"I gave up on that a long time ago," the ninja specter told him.

Ashlynn squinted as the whole room glowed green, then groaned. The sorcerer had returned. He glanced at the two newcomers.

"How do you always manage to get past my guards?"

Amilee laughed, "Well it wasn't exactly hard since you only had one."

"Correction," Quan Chi replied, glancing at Cherin, "I had two. Apparently this one has failed to follow orders."

Cherin lowered her head, apparently ashamed of her failure. Without warning, the sorcerer appeared behind her, snatching a handful of her hair. Strangely, she wasn't afraid...

"I will make you a deal," he said, "Surrender yourselves to me, and I will spare her."

Amilee glanced at Sub-Zero, her expression was unreadable.

"Amilee, she has betrayed us," the Lin Kuei said softly, "We can no longer trust her."

Ashlynn gasped.

"Don't you dare let him kill her!" she shouted from her spot on the wall.

Scorpion looked at her, "Ashlynn, you are far too softhearted."

"No," Ashlynn retorted, "I just care about the lives of others, unlike some people I know..."

The ninja shook his head.

"I am growing impatient," Quan Chi growled, "What is your decision?"

Amilee swallowed, "Kill her."

"What!" Ashlynn and Cherin cried simultaneously.

"Sub-Zero's right Ashlynn," Amilee said, "Why keep her alive if we can't trust her?"

"Fine," the sorcerer said, sounding disappointed, "Her blood is on your hands."

He waved his free hand, retrieving a broadsword from thin air, and held it to Cherin's throat. At this point the fear and realization of what was happening had taken her.

"Please," she begged.

Ashlynn rattled her chains furiously.

"Don't!"

Quan Chi looked at her, and a strange expression came over his face.

"I promised I would make you witness the death of everyone you have ever cared about," he said, "And I plan on keeping my word."

He paused, trying to enjoy the look of despair on the young woman's face, but he couldn't.

"What will you do for me if I let her go?" he asked finally.

"Anything," Ashlynn replied.

In a few seconds she realized what she had just gotten herself into. Quan Chi released Cherin, smiling.

"Anything?" he asked, "Really?"

Amilee rolled her eyes in frustration.

"Oh hell no," she said, "Not this again. Ashlynn, don't torture yourself anymore."

Suddenly one of the windows shattered, and Jay tumbled across the floor, oblivious of the cuts and scrapes he had received. He stood, bravely facing the sorcerer.

"Why must you ruin everything?" Quan Chi sighed, then he turned to face the others, "Why do none of you realize that you cannot win this war? You have no chance, but I must admire your determination. Why not join me, instead of always fighting against impossible odds? Believe me, your lives would be much simpler. Isn't that what you want Amilee? A normal life? If you join me, you can have it."

"No," Amilee replied quickly, "I would never turn my back on this realm, especially not for you."

He glanced at the others, awaiting their replies.

"Never," Sub-Zero said simply.

"You already know my answer," Scorpion said, "I would rather be boiled alive."

His eyes met Ashlynn's.

"Hell no," she said.

Cherin took a deep breath, "I will join you..."

The sorcerer waved a dismissive hand.

"You have already done that," he said, "Apparently you are the smartest of this group."

Ashlynn's brow furrowed, a strange look at come over Cherin's face. It was the same look she had always had whenever she thought she was in...

"Cherin!" Ashlynn yelled suddenly, "Snap out of it! Trust me, you don't want what you're thinking about!"

Quan Chi shook his head, "What are you babbling about?"

"When I said I would join you," Cherin squeaked, "That's not what I meant. I thought since Ashlynn is..."

She was cut short by Amilee's maniacal laugh.

"AHAHAHAHAHA!"

"I do not see how this is a laughing matter..." the sorcerer grumbled, then turned to Cherin, "What did you mean?"

Cherin said nothing.

Amilee, meanwhile, was trying to stop laughing long enough to explain.

"She meant that she want to join you! Hahahahaha!"

She was now holding onto Sub-Zero to prevent herself from falling on the floor.

Scorpion gave Sub-Zero a sideways glance. The Lin Kuei shook his head, confused.

"It does not matter," Quan Chi said after awhile, "I have no time for this. Leave this place, or I will kill all of you."

Suddenly, there was a blinding flash of scarlet light, and everyone, save Ashlynn and Scorpion, was thrown to the ground.

"No," Ashlynn gasped, gaping in horror at the man standing before them.

Quan Chi stood, facing his former ally and fellow sorcerer.

"I am glad that you are all so delighted to see me," Shang Tsung chuckled, "Oh come now, you knew I would return eventually. Jay Yung, you promised to retrieve the amulet for me, and you never returned to the Netherealm."

"The amulet has been destroyed," Quan Chi told him.

Tsung nodded, "I know. I see that you have been busy my friend, I must say you are not very organized. Your army is pathetic, and your so called hideout seems to be a bit obvious, don't you think?"

Quan Chi ignored the insults, "Why are you here?"

Shang Tsung laughed, "I am here to do what you cannot."

"You have no army," Quan Chi replied, "And you are no match for me."

The other sorcerer shook his head.

"You are wrong about both of these things," he said, "I do have an army, I have recruited every available demon in the Netherealm, and I am more than a match for you."

He conjured a ball of fire, sending Quan Chi sailing across the room, knocking Amilee over. Quan Chi shot a fireball of his own, but somehow Tsung managed to stop it in mid air. It vanished in a puff of green smoke.

"You see," he said, "I seem to have absorbed some new techniques during my time in the Netherealm. I am far stronger than you could ever hope to be, and I will be the one to dominate the realms."

Ashlynn's chains vanished, along with Scorpion's.

"Finally," Ashlynn sighed. Quan Chi looked at her.

"You must help me kill him," he said.

"Help you?" she replied, "Why?"

"Because if you do not your home will be overrun by demons," he answered, "far worse than what I would have done."

Ashlynn looked at the others, then walked forward to stand beside the sorcerer.

"We don't have a choice," she said.

Scorpion came next, standing beside her to face Tsung. Slowly the other did the same. With one sweep of his hand, Shang Tsung effortlessly sent them all flying backward, into the wall.

"He's too powerful," Ashlynn groaned, "We can't beat him."

"You are right..." Quan Chi said slowly.

Unexpectedly, there was a flash of light, and Raiden appeared before them, furious.

"THIS MUST STOP!" he bellowed.

Shang Tsung had lost his triumphant smile.

"I had a feeling you would return someday," the thunder god continued, "I have spoken with the Elder Gods, they will no longer sit back and tolerate this."

"So they'll help us?" Ashlynn asked excitedly.

Raiden shook his head, "Not exactly. They have decided that there is only one way to solve this...problem. A tournament. Of course, Shang Tsung, you are the only one who has a whole island to himself..."

Tsung cut him off, "Of course. I would be more than happy."

"No tricks sorcerer," the god warned, "The tournament will be held in one month. Quan Chi, you will remove your troops immediately or the Elder Gods themselves will become involved, and you do not want that."

"I...I will withdraw my troops..."

Ashlynn raised an eyebrow. The sorcerer sounded defeated, ashamed almost. She dismissed it, it was all an act, she decided.

"Prepare your fighters Raiden," Shang Tsung said, "They will need strength for what is to come."

He vanished. Ashlynn looked at Quan Chi.

"Um," she paused, "Thank you."

He chuckled, "For what?"

"Helping us," she replied, confused.

He laughed, "Helping you? Know this Ashlynn, I will be at the tournament...but not on behalf of Earthrealm."

He laughed again, disappearing as well. Ashlynn sighed, now they had to fight two sorcerers...

Then she remembered something.

"Jay," she said, ho looked at her, "Don't hurt Amilee."

"What are you talking about?" he asked, sounding worried.

"Just...don't hurt her," Ashlynn replied, "No matter what."

Jay nodded slowly.