Ashlynn stopped for a moment, staring at the sun rising over the Outworld mountains. She still had a few miles to go before the fortress would even be in sight. She sighed, and started her trek again. Arilayn and Rhapsody had cried before she left, afraid that their mother might never come back. She had promised she would, and now she was praying that she could keep that promise. Jay had refused to speak to her, angry because she wouldn't let him come. She pulled her black shawl closer, shivering. That was when she heard something...footsteps. She turned to see Amilee, Sonya, Jax, Sarah, and a man she hadn't seen in almost nine years.

"Johnny Cage?" she breathed.

He told her everything, and she noticed the smile on Sonya's face hadn't vanished once.

"Wait...why are you here!" she Ashlynn demanded suddenly. She had been so preoccupied with Johnny's return that she'd forgotten about the others.

"Jeez, what's your problem?" Amilee laughed.

Sarah smiled, "You didn't think we'd let you do this by yourself?"

"You shouldn't be here," Ashlynn replied, "I have to do this alone."

"Too bad," Jax said, putting an arm around her, "Looks like you're stuck with us. We followed you all the way out here, and you can't even show a little appreciation?"

"Fine," Ashlynn said quietly, "But if you die, it's not my fault."

"Deal," Johnny said, "When we die we won't blame you."

"This isn't funny!" she snapped.

"I never said it was funny," he said, grinning.

"Then why are you laughing?"

Jax chuckled, "Cause you're not good at being mad."

"How exactly do you plan on helping me hmmm?"

Ashlynn was tapping her foot, trying to seem angry, though she was secretly glad they had come.

"Quan Chi is bound to have assassins waiting for you," Amilee said, "We'll take care of them, while you go after marshmallow ass."

"You're right..."

She hadn't even thought about the fact that Quan Chi would have a trap waiting for her.

"Come on," she said, "The fortress isn't too far from here. By the way Amilee, where's Sub-Zero?"

"He stayed behind with Raiden," Amilee replied, "To keep an eye on things."

"Well why are we just standing here?" Johnny asked.

"Yeah," Jax said, "We got ass to kick!"

Sub-Zero sat on top of a small wall in the courtyard of the palace. Raiden had been pacing back and forth, giving him a headache. Jay Yung was inside, still angry.

"I have a job for you," Raiden said, suddenly stopping.

"Yes?"

Raiden looked at him.

"I need you to find Cherin," he said, "I know she is still in Outworld, I can sense her presence, and I may be able to get you close to her location."

The Lin Kuei shook his head, "I don't know why we bother helping her."

"I understand how you feel," Raiden said, "But Cherin needs her friends now more than ever. If she doesn't have them, what do you think she'll do?"

"She will go running back to Quan Chi," Sub-Zero said, "Because she will believe we have betrayed her."

"Yes," Raiden said, "And I cannot let that happen. Go now, help her."

After Sub-Zero's departure, Arilayn came walking quickly into the courtyard.

"Mother is coming back," she said quietly, "Isn't she?"

The thunder god nodded, "Your mother would never leave you."

The small girl only nodded, walking back toward the palace doors.

Raiden hoped he was right. If Ashlynn didn't come back...he shook off the thought.

Rhapsody looked at her sister.

"Everyone keeps saying we have this...power, but I don't feel powerful," she said.

"Mother says our power has to be unlocked," Arilayn replied, sitting down on the bed next to her.

"Is that what Quan Chi was trying to do?"

"I think so," Arilayn replied, "Mother says he wanted to use us to take over the realms."

"We can't let him," Rhapsody said.

"I know Rhapsody, that's why we have to help Mother."

"How?"

"Maybe...we could...er...convince Quan Chi not to hurt her...I don't know, it was a stupid idea," Arilayn said, staring at the floor.

Rhapsody shook her head, "No it wasn't. I think it's a good idea. But how would we get to the fortress?"

"The portal," Arilayn said. She was referring to the portal in the palace, the one that was off limits for anyone to use. Raiden had said it was no longer a safe means of transportation.

"But the portal is guarded," Rhapsody said.

"We could slip through when the guards switch places," Arilayn said, "In about ten minutes."

"Good idea," Rhapsody said, "Mother will be so happy when we help her."

Actually, it was the most dangerous thing they had ever done, but to a six year old's mind...it was a good idea.

Quan Chi stood in the middle of the Inner Sanctum, smiling. He raised his arms, welcoming the demon warriors that filled the room. He had taken the time to enslave them during his time in the Netherealm, and now his effort would pay off. He quickly scanned the group, there must be close to a hundred of them.

"I have summoned you," he said, "For a very important reason. There are six warriors on their way here at this very moment."

The largest demon, the leader, he assumed, chuckled.

"Do not take this so lightly," The sorcerer warned, "These fighters are not to be underestimated."

"If they are so powerful," said the demon leader, "How do you expect us to kill them?"

"Simple, I will drain their power, while you attack. They will be-

The sorcerer stopped. A strange presence had just entered his awareness.

"Someone has come through the portal," he said, "Find out who it was."

The largest demon took off at a run. After a few minutes Quan Chi heard a familiar voice...two familiar voices, actually. The demon returned, pulling the two girls along with him, kicking and screaming.

"Release them," the sorcerer ordered.

The demon let them go, walking back to join the ranks.

"Arilayn," Rhapsody whispered, "This was a stupid idea."

"You said it was a good idea..."

"It has been quite some time," Quan Chi said, "But I am sure your mother would not approve of you being here. Why have you come?"

Arilayn took a breath, trying to be brave.

"To...to ask you...to leave Mother alone," she said, "And...to stop trying to take over the realms..."

She sighed. Now that she was saying it, it really did sound stupid. The sorcerer smiled.

"Tell me," he said, "What makes you think I would do that?"

Rhapsody looked at the demons, then at the sorcerer.

"Because...you don't want to hurt Mother," she said quickly.

His smile faltered, "Why do you say that?"

"Mother...never wanted any of this to happen," Rhapsody replied, "She...she just wants it to be over and..."

She couldn't think of what else to say. The sorcerer seemed to be thinking. Just then, they heard Rain from somewhere outside the doors.

"YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO COME ALONE!"

"Who says you make the rules pinky?" Jax asked.

"It is not pink!"

"We don't have time for this," Ashlynn said, "Let us through."

"No."

"MOTHER!" Arilayn squealed.

"Ari! Is that you! Are you okay! Where's your sister!"

Ashlynn shoved Rai aside, rushing through the Inner Sanctum doors.

Quan Chi had been forming a new plan. He seized both girls by the arm as Ashlynn and the others burst through the doors.

"Let them go!" Ashlynn demanded.

"Come now Ashlynn," the sorcerer said, "You really do not think I abducted them? I believe your daughters have something to tell you."

He pushed Rhapsody forward, keeping a hold of Arilayn.

"Mother," the little girl sobbed, "I...we...we thought..."

Arilayn rolled her eyes, "Mother we came to save you! We thought if we could get Quan Chi to stop being...evil...we could be happy..."

Quan Chi smirked, pulling Rhapsody back toward him.

"Happy?" Jax laughed, "Happy...ya'll got to be the most dysfunctional family I have ever seen in my entire life."

Ashlynn ignored him.

"Please," she begged, "Let them go. They don't have anything to do with this."

Quan Chi was staring at the ground in front of him. It was...shifting, changing.

"Uh, what is that?" Amilee said.

A hole had opened in the ground. A swirling black hole.

"Do you know what this is Ashlynn?" the sorcerer asked, looking up at her.

Ashlynn shook her head, confused.

"It's a portal," Amilee said, answering her previous question, "But it's...different."

"You are right," Quan Chi said, "If I were to say...drop something in this portal...it would never be seen again."

He pushed the girls forward a little. Laughing at the horrified look on Ashlynn's face.

"Stop it!" she screamed, "What do you want!"

He smiled, pleased that his plan was working out so well.

"You know what I want Ashlynn," he said, "Join me. Give it up...give yourself to me."

Ashlynn ran a hand through her hair, "We've been through this already..."

"What will it be Ashlynn?" the sorcerer asked, "Join me, and your friends go free, along with your daughters. Or your daughters are lost for all eternity, and your friends die trying to save you. You are very good at making these decisions you know."

Ashlynn looked at her daughters, both little faces were now covered in tears.

"All right," she said, "Let them-

"Wait!" Sarah said, pulling Ashlynn and Amilee toward her, so that they were out of earshot of the sorcerer.

"Ashlynn," she said, "If you do what he wants, you'll just end up making the situation worse."

"Seriously," Amilee added, "Quan Chi can't possibly hurt those girls."

"Okay, here's the plan," Sarah said, looking at Quan Chi who was staring at them impatiently, "You tell him no, and Amilee will run and grab the girls. Quan Chi will push Amilee into the portal and we'll all fake being shocked, and the funniest thing about this is that Amilee is going to land right on Cherin's head."

The other two women stared at her like she'd lost her mind.

"You're not making sense," Ashlynn said.

"I'm with Ashlynn," Amilee said, "What the hell are you trying to do? Killing me wasn't part of the plan..."

"While I was in training at the OIA, I studied portals and stuff like that," Sarah said, "That portal, it's like a wormhole. Amilee, when you fall through it, you have to picture Cherin...and hopefully you'll land wherever she is."

"Hopefully?" Amilee said.

Sarah shrugged, "Well I've never actually seen one of these things before, but that's how it's supposed to work."

"If this doesn't work," Amilee said, "And my ass is out floating around in space somewhere forever, I'm blaming you."

"But-

"I do not have time for this!" Quan Chi bellowed, "Answer me Ashlynn, or I will throw you all in!"

"No," Ashlynn said, "I won't join you."

"When did you become so brave?"

He started to push the girls toward the portal, and just like Sarah had said, Amilee came running forward.

"Noooo!" she yelled dramatically, "Leave them alone!"

Quan Chi easily avoided her, shoving her into the portal. She vanished, and the hole closed.

"That was not the wisest thing to do..." the sorcerer said.

Sarah glanced at Ashlynn, who got the hint.

"Oh no," she said, "Amilee! She's gone forever!"

Sarah eyed the others, then followed.

"We'll never see her again!" she cried dramatically, "Help us Elder Gods!"

Ashlynn, seeing the look on Quan Chi's face, knew that Sarah had taken it too far.

"What are you up to?" he asked, "Your fakery is so clear."

"All right," Ashlynn said, trying to improvise, "I confess. I don't care what happens to Amilee, and neither does anyone else. She was a traitor, just like Cherin. We've been hoping to ger rid of her."

Quan Chi glanced at the others, who nodded quickly.

"Enough of this," he said, "You will all die today, there is no escape this time."

He gestured toward the demons behind him, then released the girls.

"You are welcome to try and fight back," he said, then he turned to Ashlynn, "It is a shame you refused to join me, everything would have been perfect."

He vanished, leaving them alone with the demons. Jax had been trying to open the inner Sanctum doors, but even his strength could not overcome Quan Chi's magic.

"Mother I'm scared," Arilayn sobbed.

Ashlynn didn't hear her, she was too busy staring at her other daughter. Rhapsody's eyes had turned an emerald green color.

"I really hate demons," the little girl said, her voice had become unnaturally deep.

Suddenly, a nearby demon exploded.

"Rhapsody," Ashlynn said, "How did you do that?"

Rhapsody's looked confused, but her eyes kept glowing.

"I'm just so angry at Quan Chi," she said in the deep voice, "And these DEMONS!"

This time a whole cluster of the demons exploded.

'STOP IT RHAPSODY" Arilayn shrieked, "Your eyes are about to burst from your head!"

"I can't!" Rhapsody said, "I am so mad!"

She took a step forward, and the demons took a step back. Jax laughed, thinking it was funny to see a whole group of Netherealm demons terrified of a six year old girl. Ashlynn suddenly felt prickles of electricity, crawling up her arm. She glanced down..Arilayn had been holding her hand, and she could still feel her there but...she couldn't see her.

"Mother," she heard Arilayn say, "What's wrong? Are you going crazy too?"

"Arilayn," Ashlynn said slowly, "I can't see you."

"Now why does that sound so familiar?" Jax said.

"Seems like your daughters have a few of your family traits," Sonya added.

"This is perfect," Sarah said, "Rhapsody, I think you know what to do."

Rhapsody looked at Sarah, then back at the demons. She concentrated...but nothing happened. Her eyes had returned to their normal brown color, and Arilayn had become visible again.

"Rhapsody," Ashlynn said, "You have to get angry."

"I am angry!" she tried again, but only succeeded in giving herself a headache.

"Mother," she said, "I feel...tired..."

Ashlynn gasped as Rhapsody fell forward onto the floor. She rushed to her daughter's side. She was breathing, but she wouldn't move. Then there was a thump from behind her. Ashlynn turned. Arilayn had passed out also. Ashlynn picked up Rhapsody, carrying her back to where Arilayn lay on the floor.

"What's wrong with them!" she cried.

Suddenly, the room was filled with a spine chilling laugh that seemed to come from the air itself. Ashlynn recognized it as Quan Chi's, but he was nowhere to be found.

"As I thought," she heard the sorcerer's voice say, "My plan is working perfectly. I have drained their power, as I will soon do to you. Your friends will be defenseless against my army."

All of a sudden, she started to feel tired, more exhausted than she'd ever felt in her life. Sarah rushed to her side.

"Come on girl, stay awake!"

The last thing she saw was Jax, Sonya, and Johnny trying to keep the demons at bay.

"Nothing we do is hurting them!" Sonya said.

Then the world went black.