Ashlynn knew Delphine was expecting her, she could hear singing from somewhere down the corridor. She stopped in front of a heavy stone door. Taking a breath, she pushed it open. The room was dark, but once she stepped inside many candles lit on their own, revealing hundreds of crows, all staring at her. Delphine stood in front of a mirror, dancing around.

"I'm sorry about your friend," the siren chuckled, "And poor Jay Yung...Ha, he was always my favorite plaything."

"Oh really?" Ashlynn asked, knowing that Delphine was only stalling.

"Yes," Delphine replied, turning toward her, "A fine young boy he was, working for Shang Tsung after the sorcerer murdered his family...Well, for me, it was love at first sight."

The thought sickened Ashlynn, though she knew Delphine was probably telling the truth.

"He used to visit me," the siren continued, "And I would show him my beautiful crows. He loved them. But one night he came to visit and...I ordered him to confess his love for me. He said that he would never love me, and that he would one day marry a beautiful, smart woman, and have two children...coincidence. But then, he was only twelve. He angered me that night. I asked him to betray Shang Tsung for me, and he refused! What else could I do? No one refuses Delphine! So...I put a curse on him. But somehow...that curse was broken."

"You're sick," Ashlynn said, "And pathetic, and selfish-

"SILENCE!" Delphine screamed, "I am much more than you will ever be, and Jay Yung is mine!"

Ashlynn shook her head, "No, your time is almost up. Where is Shang Tsung?"

The siren giggled, "He is...no longer among us."

"I will kill you," Ashlynn hissed, "And I will enjoy it!"

Delphine crossed her arms.

"So brave," she said, "Let us begin..."

In a flash of light, both of them stood in the fighting grounds. Ashlynn looked around, the others had already made it there. She stood there next to the fighting ring as the tournament began, thinking up a plan. Quan Chi stood across the ring, he kept giving her strange looks, but she tried her best to ignore it. She turned as Sub-Zero approached.

"I want Amilee's killer," he said.

Ashlynn gestured toward Delphine.

"You're looking at her," she told him.

The Lin Kuei started forward, but she stopped him.

"No," she said, "I'd rather do this myself."

"I want Cherin," Sarah said quietly.

No one objected.

Maria was already in the fighting circle, facing none other than Havik.

She wished desperately that Scorpion was there, but he had been assigned to guard Jay Yung. Havik circled her, trying to make her nervous, but she wouldn't let his tactics get to her. She slid her foot along the ground, knocking him off balance, then aimed a hard kick at his face.

Sonya, standing on the sidelines, smiled. Jax shook his head.

"You ain't supposed to teach your moves to other fighters," he whispered.

Sonya only rolled her eyes, annoyed.

Unfortunately, Havik had gained the advantage. He punched Maria in the chest, sending her backward onto the ground. Maria wiped the blood from her mouth, unable to breath. Then she noticed him, Scorpion was making his way quickly down the hill from the palace. Havik turned toward Quan Chi, thinking he had won. Maria jumped to her feet, taking advantage of his distraction. Quick as lightning, she was on his back. He struggled to break free, but it was too late. There was a loud crack as his neck snapped, and his body slumped to the ground. Delphine glanced at Quan Chi.

"So much for that," she sighed.

Maria, grateful that the fight was over, went off to nurse herself while Sarah and Cherin made their way into the circle. Cherin glanced at Quan Chi, who gave her a practiced smile in return.

"I will make you proud," she said, turning around.

Sarah sighed. Inwardly, she was crying. She just couldn't believe how different her former friend was acting.

Suddenly, the fighting circle was swarmed by a black, screeching cloud.

"My crows," Delphine gasped.

Everyone had taken shelter behind or under something to escape the pecking beaks. But strangely, the Earthrealm fighters remained unharmed. At first Delphine found this bizarre, that was until she caught a glimpse of Jay Yung, making his way down the hill from the palace. The siren began to sing, trying to regain control of her pets, but it was no use.

While the others were distracted, Ashlynn took the opportunity to run to Jay.

"If you want Amilee back," he said, "You have to kill her."

"How?" Ashlynn asked.

Jay smiled slightly, "Well, her power is in her voice, and she can't sing if she doesn't have a head..."

Ashlynn nodded, she got the point. She returned to the fighting circle to find everyone staring, wide eyed, at the once flawless siren. She had transformed completely. The crows had flown on, but Cherin had been unable to escape them. She was now limping away, bloody.

"Ashlynn," said Delphine, now standing in the circle, "Take your stand!"

Ashlynn complied, standing before the monster.

"You're no match for me girl," the beast chuckled.

"She is right Ashlynn," Quan Chi said from his spot on the sidelines, "You will never defeat her."

Ashlynn ignored him, focusing all of her attention on Delphine. Quan Chi's tactic had worked however. Ashlynn was distracted just long enough for Delphine to get the first shot in. She fell backward, the siren was stronger than she looked. Delphine screamed, making Ashlynn's head throb.

"No," Ashlynn whispered.

She thought back to the lesson Liu Kang had taught her, and reached for the power that was deep inside of her. She felt her body begin to change...to transform, then she heard Sarah scream. Staring at her own hands, she knew why. Her normally small, pale hands had become long and scaley, with razor sharp claws.

The monster that was once Delphine was staring at her with a mix of worry and fascination.

Without missing a beat, Ashlynn plunged one of her clawed hands into the belly of her foe, but Delphine only laughed.

"Is that the best you can do?"

She shoved Ashlynn, who once again hit the sandy ground.

I can't do this, she thought.

She was surprised when the hideous monster transformed back into the gorgeous siren. Ashlynn did the same, glad to be in her own skin again. She looked at her friends, all watching the fight intently. Then she realized something...she didn't have a sword. Her daggers were her only weapon, and they definitely weren't any good for decapitation. As if reading her mind, Scorpion pulled his sword from the scabbard on his back, tossing it to her. She stood, holding the sword high above her head. Delphine was still laughing at her.

"I'm going to silence you once and for all," Ashlynn hissed.

Suddenly Delphine's eyes widened, and she stopped laughing.

"You...you can't kill me," she stammered, "Please, I haven't done a thing...it was all Shang Tsung! I was under his control I swear! Please, spare me!"

"Nice try," Ashlynn said, "But Shang Tsung is dead, and you're not a very good liar."

With all the strength she could muster, she swung the sword horizontally. Delphine's face was still frozen in shock as her head rolled across the sand, leaving a trail of blood as it went. The siren's body exploded, sending Ashlynn backward to be caught by her friends.

"Quan Chi," she said, "I'll be coming for you."

The sorcerer nodded, a strange look coming over his face.

"I...will be waiting," he said finally, just before vanishing.

"Well done," Raiden said.

Cherin had been hiding behind an overturned boat.

"I am disappointed in you Cherin," the thunder god said, "I have no choice, but to send you to Edenia-

"Hold up," Jax interrupted, "She turns her back on us, sleeps with that crazy guy from the Chaosrealm and that nasty bald white sorcerer guy...and your gonna send her to Edenia!"

Raiden raised a hand to silence him.

"If you would let me finish, I was going to say that I have no choice but to send you to a special rehabilitation camp in Edenia, established by Princess Kitana herself. It is for...troubled people, like yourself."

Cherin was hurt at being called troubled, but she kept herself from saying something smart. Now, staring at the people who had once been like family to her, something inside her changed, and she began to sob.

"I made the biggest mistake of my life," she cried, "I let my jealousy takeover me, and I forgot how much you guys really mean to me. I'm sorry...I'm so sorry..."

She cried for a few more minutes, but no one felt compelled to comfort her.

Eventually a thought occurred to her.

"What about my things?"

Raiden smiled, "You won't need any of your possessions where you're going."

Cherin sighed, then took his extended hand. They vanished, leaving the others alone.

Ashlynn noticed that Sub-Zero didn't seem to be paying attention to any of this.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

He looked at her strangely.

"What? Oh...I just...I can't imagine life without-

"Amilee!" Ashlynn said suddenly, remembering what Jay had told her.

Excitedly, she pulled Sub-Zero up the hill, where Scorpion and Jay where waiting by the palace doors.

"I killed Delphine," she panted, "Where is-

Just then, the doors burst open, revealing an irritated Amilee. At least, she looked like Amilee, but she was...different. Her hair had grown almost five inches, and now reached almost to her waist, and her complexion had changed a little, it was almost...flawless.

Ashlynn laughed, "You kind of look like Delphine."

Amilee glared at her, "I feel all fake and-

She didn't have time to get the words out before Sub-Zero's arms were wrapped around her, cutting off her air.

"Let's get out of here," she said, after finally prying him off of her.

"You guys," Maria said quietly, "I've made a decision. I'm going with Scorpion."

They were a little shocked, but no one argued with her.

After everyone else had departed, Ashlynn and Jay decided that they would stay in the unoccupied palace, at least for a while. Sarah had gone with Jax and Sonya, back to the OIA base.

"I really do love you, you know," Jay said.

Ashlynn smiled, "I know."