Ashlynn ran out of the palace and straight into the storm. She ran until her legs gave out beneath her. She fell...but she didn't care. She couldn't even feel the cuts as the sand raked her skin. She just...wanted out, out of everything. She couldn't even remember her past before the age of twenty. It was gone, blank. Whoever she was, whatever her life was like. For a few minutes she lay on the beach, but it felt like hours. Suddenly the pounding rain ceased, and she opened her eyes. To her surprise she was completely dry, standing in the center of some strange temple. It seemed to be built of crystal, and it reflected off of the many fountains, making them sparkle. Near the middle of the temple was a statue of a dragon, and next to the statue...

"Liu," she said, surprised.

Princess Kitana was there as well, telling a story to come children.

"Where am I Liu?" she asked, thinking this must be a dream.

He shrugged.

"I've failed," Ashlynn sighed, "I have nothing left...I am nothing..."

"Even though you feel the weakest," her longtime friend said, "You are as strong as they come. Your pain only comes from what you have chosen to believe. Here, follow me."

They vanished, reappearing a moment later in a room that reminded Ashlynn of some odd fun house. The room was small, and the walls were built of mirrors. Ashlynn was trying to avoid looking at her reflection, which wasn't the easiest thing in a room made of mirrors...

"You must understand," the former Chosen One continued, "The true warrior comes out only when you will her to. When you let the weak take over, the strong have nothing left to conquer. Do you understand?"

"Not really," Ashlynn admitted, "I think...That if I let those who use words for power take over, then I who am stronger won't have anything to fight for, because I've already been defeated."

Liu smiled approvingly.

"Exactly," he said, "You're not a failure Ashlynn. You've been chosen as a leader, you must lead the others to victory. They're lost without you. But now you've given up, run away from them. If you let Quan Chi and Shang Tsung take over, then you have failed the ones who really care about you."

No," Ashlynn said quietly, "They've all turned their backs on me, Jay especially..."

"No Ashlynn," Liu Kang said, "That's where you're wrong."

He took her by the shoulders, turning her toward him.

"Delphine is evil," he said, "She's a siren. She knows how to trap your mind in her presence. She's the reason you're so confused about Jay Yung, but believe me, he's more confused even than you are."

Suddenly Ashlynn couldn't see, she was blindfolded.

"Liu! Are you there?"

"I'm here," she heard his voice from somewhere nearby, "Look inside yourself and pull out your monster. Rediscover what you've kept hidden for so long. A talent like that can't be thrown to waste. Believe. Go!"

It felt as if she was traveling through her very own body, searching for something. Then she saw it, a box, all locked up inside her heart. Then it exploded. She didn't feel like herself. She could feel her body moving, but it was impossible to tell which direction it was going. Then it stopped. The blindfold was removed, and Liu stood beside her again.

"You're a natural born disaster," he chuckled.

Ashlynn looked around. She was back on the beach only...twenty of so ninjas were sprawled out on the sand, all dead. Shang Tsung must have sent them after her...

"I couldn't...I couldn't have done this," she stammered, "That was only like twenty seconds!"

"Right," Liu nodded, "You defeated every one of these men in twenty seconds. Do you understand? You've unlocked an ability you've had all your life. From now on you'll get stronger and stronger. Be careful though, don't let the beast slaughter the warrior, when the warrior is supposed to get the prize. Go, you have friends and an Earth to save."

Ashlynn nodded. She was feeling stronger than she'd ever felt before, and she knew that Liu had given her more than just advice, his words were lessons from one Chosen One to the next. She turned to thank him, but he had gone. It was near dawn, the sun was coming up in the horizon, and the clouds were moving quickly.

"Whatever the tournament brings," she said to no one but herself, "For better or worse...I will be ready for the outcome. Life...or death."

She walked toward the palace.

Delphine stood in the underground chamber of Shang Tsung's palace. The sorcerer waited impatiently while she fussed over herself in the mirror.

"Well," she sighed happily, "I'm just one of a kind, don't you think?"

"Of course," Tsung replied automatically, "But we need to get on with our plans. We have Raiden's warriors in the palm of our hands, now that one of their own is resting in a coffin."

The siren giggled, "Oh yes, pity. She was a lovely one, but fierce when she attacked me. Not the smartest of them eh? I am very intrigued by Jay Yung...he has become such a fine young man..."

Shang Tsung cleared his throat.

"Now," Delphine continued quickly, "Since the others believe Jay is the murderer, and I am the sweet, innocent prisoner, they'll fall at my feet. Earthrealm will be mine, and I will get the reward that is owed to me."

Tsung suddenly began to worry, was his plan to free Delphine the wisest thing he could have done?

"Listen," he said, "It was agreed that I would free you, we dispose of those Earthrealm warriors, and then we take over the realms together."

Delphine gave him her sweetest smile.

"Of course," she said, "I would never try to deceive you. I mean, you did free me after all."

She turned around, so that the back of her gown was facing him. The sorcerer paused, uncertain, then he slowly unlaced the dress. It fell to the floor...

The siren's body was flawless, and white as marble. Shang Tsung smiled, impressed as she danced around the room, blowing out every candle until the only light came from the crackling fireplace. She kissed him, then pulled away quickly.

"What is it?" Tsung asked, slightly irritated.

"I was just thinking," she replied softly, "Maybe there isn't enough room for two rulers..."

Tsung pushed her away, angry that he'd fallen into her trap. Delphine clutched him with an inhuman strength, her fingernails elongating into razor sharp claws, her perfect white body transforming until it was the color of black granite. Her hair had become ghostly white, and her teeth had grown into fangs, jutting over her bottom lip.

"No," the sorcerer pleaded, "We made an agreement! Delphine!"

She placed a single claw on his lips.

"Shhhh," she whispered, "No Shang, I never agreed to anything."

With that, her mouth expanded and she took off the sorcerer's head in one single bite. She let the body fall to the ground with a thud.

"Feast my pets," she cooed, "Feast!"

In a matter of seconds, the chamber was swarmed by hundreds of crows...

Maria sat in her room, shaking, Scorpion beside her.

"I sometimes wish that you could rewind time and go back," she said.

"To rewind time," Scorpion replied, "Is to rewind pain. I never want to go back."

"I know," Maria sighed, "But maybe if something would've happened differently, Amilee would still be alive."

"Maria, people die," the ninja said, "That is part of life. We just have to learn to keep going."

Maria shook her head, "That's so damn easy for you to say."

"Maybe," he said, "But after the death of my wife...my son...death doesn't scare me so much anymore."

"You regret not being able to save them," Maria said, looking up at him.

He took her hand, "Yes, I do."

He let her hand go and walked to the door.

"I have to get ready," he said, "And so do you."

Maria nodded.

"And Maria," Scorpion said, just before she left, "I believe in you."

Meanwhile...

Sarah, Sonya, and Jax had woken up early, taken a jog, and eaten breakfast. Now they were banging on Sub-Zero's door, trying to convince him to come out.

"Sub come on," Sarah said, "You haven't left your room since last night."

"Come on man," said Jax, "I had Sonya make you Amilee's favorite pancakes even, the ones with the chocolate chips...OW!"

"Shut up Jax," Sonya hissed, "Well, the tournament begins in 2500 hours, you know what you have to do, and where you have to be. Come on guys."

Sub-Zero sat cross legged on the bed, clutching the picture of Amilee he'd been starign at all night. He smiled slightly, she was the only person he'd ever really loved. He had always thought his heart was just a chunk of ice, but Amilee had melted that away, and now she was gone...She was the only person who could make him laugh, even when he was angry. He stood, placing the picture back in his bag. He knew who's side he was on, but at that moment there was only one thing on his mind...revenge. He would kill Jay Yung, and he wouldn't even give it a second thought.

Ashlynn was making her way back toward the palace. She knew that the incident with Delphine wasn't Jay Yung's fault, but she would have to explain that to the others. She was surprised to see Jay sitting on the steps of the palace, head in his hands. He looked up as she approached.

"Ashlynn..."

She ran to him, holding him as he cried. His eyes were sunken, and he seemed somehow smaller.

"Ashlynn I..."

He stopped.

"Jay it's okay," Ashlynn said softly, "Tell me what's wrong."

He looked up at her, his eyes wide.

"I don't remember how I did it," he said, "I couldn't have done it, I didn't Ashlynn. Please, don't hate me..."

Suddenly an uneasy feeling came over her. She remembered what Quan chi had shown her in the orb...

"No," she breathed, scooting quickly away from him.

"Ashlynn no," he pleaded, "I don't know what happened. I remember running toward your scream, and then Delphine, then everyone was yelling at me, telling me I killed her."

He took hold of her arm, but she jerked away.

"No!" she screamed. Unable to control herself, she rushed into the palace, leaving Jay on the steps. Where was Amilee? Ashlynn ran until she fell onto the hard floor, landing on her knees.

"I am assuming you know," she looked up to see Quan Chi, standing triumphantly over her, "Something is...different about you."

She stood, shaking. The sorcerer reached out to stroke her face, but like a bullet, she caught his hand.

"WHERE IS AMILEE!" she demanded.

"Your eyes are beautiful," he said, ignoring her question, "I like them emerald green like that..."

Without thinking, she lifted the sorcerer by his collar, slamming him into the wall. He seemed startled by her strength.

"WHERE IS SHE!"

"She is dead," Quan Chi replied coldly.

"Who did it! TELL ME!"

He didn't answer.

"Fine," she hissed, "I'll find out for myself."

With that she began to stalk off.

"She is in the throne room," she heard him say, "But I do not think she would appreciate the way you are acting."

She ignored him, hurrying toward the throne room.

Inside the throne room was a coffin, crudely made as though it had been built in a hurry. Slowly, Ashlynn approached the coffin...

The others had dressed Amilee in some random white gown that Ashlynn had never seen before, and they had neglected to fix her makeup, but still...she was beautiful. Sub-Zero stared down at the body, a single rose in his hand. Everyone remained silent as he let the rose fall from his hand, a tear slid down his cheek, freezing on the rose. He looked at the others and nodded, then he fixed his gaze on Ashlynn. She approached him and, for the first time, he hugged her. She let him, feeling his tears freezing on the back of her neck. They stood that way for a few minutes, both crying. Then without a word, he left the room.

"I want you all at the fighting grounds," Ashlynn said to the others, "I have some unfinished business. Jax, Sonya, another thing. Jay Yung is the man I love, and I can swear to you that he didn't kill my best friend. So do this...Keep him safe, make sure Sub-Zero waits for my proof."

She started to leave...

"Wait!" Jax called after her, "Woman where are you going?"

She didn't look at him.

"To put an end to this," she replied, "I'm going to destroy Delphine."

She was walking down a long corridor, when she sensed someone behind her. She turned fast enough to see Cherin dart behind a statue.

"I know you saw me," Cherin said, slowly revealing herself, "I could kill you right here and now, but I have a tournament to get to. Too bad Amilee is dead, I would've enjoyed killing her myself."

Ashlynn shook her head, "She would've killed you first."

"You always thought you were too good for everyone!" Cherin snapped.

"No," Ashlynn said, walking away, "That was always you Cherin..."