Author's Note: This chapter is a bit lighthearted and inspired a lot by this last week's reveals around Fujin for Aftermath. Which, by the way, I'm stoked for.

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When Fujin's band of Earthrealm Champions emerged through the portal into Seido, the span on which they trod was a gleaming swath of gold-plated cobblestone that would blind anyone who spent too much time looking down. Sweeping arches provided the bridge its support while spouts with no discernable sources provided roaring waterfalls between each arch. They flowed from the bridge itself, plummeting into the depths unseen far below. It was musical, that constant rush.

"Be on your guard," Fujin warned them and then looked at Morgan directly. For his only daughter, his voice turned as gentle as it ever got. "The Seidans are not our enemies, but they're not terribly fond of anyone they perceive to be chaosmongers. In short, non-Seidans."

"I've heard there's a rebellion," she replied as she tucked a loose piece of her silvery-blond hair that had carelessly fallen in her face back into her bun. She looked less like a Lin Kuei warrior and more like a soldier in her black BDU's on loan to her from the Rangers. "Many Seidans aren't happy with how they're being ruled."

"I can't stress enough how important it is not to mention that," he told her in all earnestness. "Hotaru might think we're here to instigate problems, and be less than inclined to help us."

"As it is, he's probably not going to be happy to hear that Reiko's coming for his kamidogu," Kenshi added. "Or why he's coming for the kamidogu."

The young Hydromancer shrugged. "Prince Xinyi told Olivia that this was actually a really awesome place that's full of good people. Maybe General Hotaru will surprise you guys."

"The Seidans don't really believe in free will, Morgan," Fujin explained. "This is far from any sort of democracy. To them, freedom breeds chaos, and as you know, they abhor chaos."

"Then why are they always fighting in wars?" she challenged. "War is practically synonymous with chaos."

The Wind God looked at her again. "Because they want to maintain total control. And Hotaru is very good at ensuring that happens."

"I didn't think that uptight bug-dude was in charge of the whole Realm," Johnny now said.

"He's not," Fujin replied. "Seido is ruled by an Elder Council. Hotaru is merely their mouthpiece and their chief enforcer. But in case you all have forgotten, he is not to be underestimated. He is a deadly warrior. One of the deadliest in all of the Realms."

They walked in silence after that, and Fujin kept glancing at his daughter. He had not been thrilled that she'd joined his party, and had much preferred her to stay at Ft. Albany where she'd be out of harm's way, but he grudgingly admitted that he'd rather her be here with him than in Netherrealm with the rest of the Lin Kuei. At least Raiden had had the foresight to send her to Seido where the Wind God could watch over her and keep her safe. If Reiko succeeded in his plot, he convinced himself, Morgan's best bet was to stay close to him. There was a slight chance that he could shield her from the destruction of the Realms. A very slight one.

His first sight of the capital city, also called Seido, was of the highest of the flying isles. These small parcels of earth floated freely overhead, not merely ignoring but actively mocking a great many physical laws that bound Earthrealm. They were jagged at the base, like mountains tipped upside down, and housed various fortresses and towers and buildings upon them. From this distance, Fujin could make out few of the details, either of those structures or of anything else.

The city was constructed in layers, as high as the clouds and deeper than the eye could see. Some of those layers consisted of the floating isles the Wind God had noted upon their approach. But on stationary ground, entire neighborhoods had been precariously balanced upon narrow roads and graceful arches. Farm wagons and merchants' carts moved aside to let them pass and to curiously study these foreigners to their land. The sun was beginning to set by the time they crossed into the city proper.

After at least a few hours of passing through magnificent, shining neighborhoods and warehouse districts, the twin columns of Earthrealm Champions finally approached the lustrous palace at the heart of the city where they knew they could find Hotaru. The Seidans, Fujin knew, were a martial people because they'd had to be; more than a few of their number resented the strictness of their laws, and revolted quite often against the ruling caste only to be defeated time and again. So when they arrived at the palace, the Wind God was not particularly surprised to see that energy cannons on either side of the main gate tracked their every move.

"You are not Seidans," a gruff voice called from the battlements. "Who are you and why have you come?"

Fujin tilted back his head and shouted, "We are peaceful emissaries on urgent business from Earthrealm, and we seek an audience with General Hotaru, the Captain of the Seidan Guard!" Silence followed, and the Wind God grew impatient. "He knows me well! Ask him yourself!"

He wasn't quite sure if it was his words that provoked a response, or if the Seidans had already been getting ready to let them in, but regardless, the portcullis faded into a gelatinous membrane to allow them passage, and once more, he led the group forward, this time into the palace. As he passed through, he could sense the humming vibration of the energy field around him, and he knew from previous experiences that it was searching for hidden weapons on his person. Seidan technology was quite advanced in spite of initial appearances.

Within the fortification, they met a tall man who all of them but Morgan had fought alongside many years ago. He was a head taller than even the tallest man there, yet somehow he was light on his feet, as agile as a panther. He seemed much younger than he actually was, like he was forty instead of several thousand years old, and his skin was the color of polished copper as if he'd been kissed by the Seidan sun. His hair was as white as a blizzard, and it swung loosely almost to his waist, the very ends of it brushing the small of his back. It had been halfway pulled into a clean, precise topknot at his crown, with tiny bronze rings hanging from the twisted hair. He wore the shiny black armor of the Seidan Guard, but it was noticeably absent his twin banners that jutted from his back like wings. Fujin knew that those banners were only worn into battle to identify him as the Seidan General, and for all other times, his normal attire sufficed.

"And what are you doing here?" His voice was powerful, clearly accustomed to instant and unquestioning obedience.

"A pleasure as always, General Hotaru," Fujin replied, extending his forearm to him in a gesture of friendship.

The greatest warrior Seido had ever produced gazed at the Wind God warily for a moment, but then offered his own forearm, which they clasped together in greeting. "Your business must indeed be urgent if you come to Seido to seek an audience."

"That, old friend, is an understatement," he said as the General turned and began escorting them through the winding maze of walls. He began filling him in as they ventured deeper into the palace, finally coming to a stop in a large room with a long, black marble table clearly meant for diplomats and other politicians to sit and argue at.

The chamber itself was richly furnished. Edenian carpets covered the floor, and in one corner a hundred fabulous beasts cavorted in bright paints on a carved screen from the Seidan island of Kantu. The walls were hung with tapestries from Jōhoku and Minato and Esashi, and a pair of Ebros sphinxes flanked the door, their wings outstretched and their eyes of polished garnets staring from black marble faces.

"Shinnok's amulet," Fujin said as he finally concluded his recounting of recent events, is the greatest surviving artifact from the Great War of the Elder Gods. It is also one of the most vile." His voice was oddly distant, almost unfocused. "After Reiko's last attempt to steal it from the Sky Temple, I'd hoped never to hear or speak of it again."

He sat in one of their stern chairs, back straight and head unbowed despite his obvious discomfort with the topic. His normally fair skin glowed ruddy in the flickering, artificial light from the marble fireplace nearby. Although he faced the stony visage of the Captain of the Guard who sat in the high-backed chair at the head of the table before him, his voice was pitched so that everyone present could hear.

"It was at the beginning of time," he continued. "I confess that much of what I know was passed to me by my brother, Raiden, as I was quite young then, barely old enough to fight alongside him when war broke out amongst the Elder Gods. Shinnok had become paranoid that the others sought to destroy him, so he fashioned his amulet to contain enough of his powers to revive him should they imprison him as he feared."

Fujin, normally quite unshakable, got to his feet and began to pace.

"Even a fraction of the power contained within that amulet is more than I could ever hope to have," he continued. "Thus is a power of an Elder God."

"How dramatic," Hotaru chided.

"Only he can use it to its full potential," he said, undaunted by her remark. "But it will grant others terrible powers should they access it. That is why, for eons, my brother and I have guarded it."

"Did not that Lin Kuei assassin once break into the Temple of the Elements and steal it from underneath your nose?" the Captain now asked, and Fujin clenched his jaw in annoyance at the memory of Bi-han besting him in battle. "I seem to recall hearing that story years ago."

"Yes, he did," he confessed. "And then we recovered it shortly thereafter, in spite of Quan Chi's designs." He did not raise his voice, but when he gazed at the Seidan, the threat in his tone was apparent. "That is when Raiden took it to the Sky Temple where no mortal can find it." He deliberately omitted the part about Kenshi being the sole human who knew where to go as he did not want to invite temptation. "Our wards and magics have kept anyone from finding and stealing it again."

"Until now, when you say Reiko is trying to steal it again," Hotaru deduced.

"Yes, General," he agreed. "He has always been clever. If only he had not been raised by Shao Kahn." He shook his head and then squeezed Morgan on the shoulder as if to reassure himself. "With the help of the Chaosrealm cleric, Havik, we believe he has found a way to circumvent our defenses. We believe he is going to attempt to cast a spell that will bring the amulet to him, and to do this, he needs all of the Realms' kamidogu."

Hotaru, for all of his grace and composure, noticeably tensed. "And you said he has already claimed four of the six, save for Netherrealm and Seido's?"

"He is marching upon Netherrealm as we speak, General," Fujin answered. "It is quite possible that he will soon have five, and then he will turn his eye towards Seido."

Hotaru frowned and then leaned back in his seat. "I am disheartened that you have made Earthrealm's problems ours," he finally said. "But if what you say is true, we have no choice but to help you and the other chaosmongers, if only to protect ourselves."

"General," he began, "we offer you our aid. We have a common interest."

"Do we?" he challenged.

"Yes," Cyrax now answered. "If General Reiko succeeds, he has promised to destroy all the Realms and everyone within them."

"If we can stop him from taking your kamidogu, then we can protect the Realms and avoid further chaos and destruction," Kenshi added.

"Also, it'll just be fun to kick Shao Kahn Lite's ass," Johnny declared.

"We do not enjoy warfare, Mr. Cage," Hotaru coldly said to him. "And you would do well to remember where you are."

The actor bristled at that as Fujin now spoke again. "I think what Johnny is trying to say, General, albeit ineptly, is that Reiko threatens our lives. Our homes. Our people. Your children. Mine." The Wind God now looked over to Morgan, and with a faint but sad smile, cupped his hand over hers. This prompted her to smile back, her lavender eyes so expressive. "We all should strive to avoid warfare, but some causes are worth fighting for." He turned around and faced Hotaru again, though he still clutched his daughter's hand. "If our comrades in Netherrealm aren't able to defeat him there, then we will stand with you here and fight alongside you to stop Reiko once and for all."

"General," a new voice sounded, and a man wearing intricate black Samurai armor similar to Hotaru and the other Guards' marched into the war room. He had yet to remove his mask and kabuto helmet, which was ornately engraved and bore a flowing golden dragon on the top like a crest. It was impossible for Fujin to see the man's face, but he watched him intently as he approached the now-standing Hotaru and bowed slightly.

"Commander," the other greeted, also bowing. "What news from Kurinagawa?" he asked.

"My Riders have destroyed Darrius' rebel cell as you commanded," he reported, his voice baritone. "We discovered their plot to attack the cool energy towers in Seto and averted it. We left none alive, General, nor did we leave a trace of their bodies. Shinka burned what remained. But as we returned to Seido, General, we came across a band of Netherrealm scouts that we slayed as well."

"You did not think to keep one alive to discover their schemes in Seido?" he frowned, clearly displeased.

"Yes, General, we did," he replied, his voice calm and unwavering. "He told us that Netherrealm has pledged their support to General Reiko from Outworld. But the fiend had a knife hidden in his breastplate and used it to slit his own throat before we could interrogate him further."

"These are strange times," Hotaru mused, sighing, now looking at the others seated around the table. "Netherrealmers band together with rebel Outworlders to attack Seido while Earthrealmers offer us their help to fight this unholy alliance. Chaosmongers, the lot of them!" He shook his head in annoyance and then gestured toward the emissaries. "This is Commander Ikki, the Chief Rider of the Seidan Cavalry," he told the Champions. "He will stay with you and make you comfortable while I consult the Elders."

"Please hurry," Fujin urged him. "If Netherrealm supports Reiko, it is not likely the other Earthrealm Champions will succeed there. We must take immediate action to prepare Seido for an oncoming attack."

"It will be as the Elders wish," he replied. Then he nodded at his Commander before he abruptly left the room.

Fujin sighed and pointed around the table. "Commander, this is Kenshi, Johnny, Bomani, and Morgan. They are all from Earthrealm."

In a single, swift movement, Ikki had removed his mask and helmet. Fujin saw that he was a large, clear-cut man, with precise features and a lot of very soft black hair cut short on top, a tuft of black hair on his chin, and thoughtful silver-green eyes. One of the Seidan Horse Lords, he immediately recognized at a glance: long-legged, muscular, with wind-chafed cocoa skin, and sure, strong hands. He had a look of wariness that the Wind God sensed could change into a smile of amused friendliness which aroused feelings of warmth, and something more, in many women. And at the moment, that smile and those eyes were fixed on Morgan, barely noticing the men that surrounded her.

Oblivious to the Wind God's stern glare, Ikki approached her, knelt before her seat, and then lifted her hand to his mouth to kiss. "I did not know that women from Earthrealm were so fair, Lady," he said, and it prompted her to smile. "You could teach a torch a thing or two about brightness. Such beauty is too precious for Earthrealm."

Fujin's fists immediately and uncontrollably clenched into fists and his muscles tightened, especially as Morgan grinned back. "I'd best be careful," she said, crossing her arms and legs in amusement. "It seems that Seido's Chief Rider has a honeyed tongue."

"It is yours if you only say the word," he replied, which set the Wind God's nostrils flaring.

It was a point not lost on Kenshi, who immediately joined his old friend's side and patted his shoulder to keep him calm. Johnny's eyes, meanwhile, were full of judgment as he looked at Fujin as if he couldn't believe he'd let this Seidan speak to his daughter like that. And he had to agree with the actor. There were moments - not many, but enough - when his daughter reminded her father that she was a woman now, and sought companionship as any normal person would. And right now was one of those times, Fujin mused in disgust and discomfort as she hungrily eyed the handsome Seidan Rider. He began to say something to put an end to this flirting, but Morgan abruptly beat him to the punch, apparently enjoying this game between her and him.

"Oh, is that how it is?" she said, eyeing him boldly. "Have you been away with your horse for too long? Or were there simply no women where you came from?"

"There were women enough, but none like you," he smirked.

"And how would you know what I'm like?" she challenged, raising her eyebrow.

"My eyes can see your lovely face, Lady," he said. "And my ears can hear the music of your laughter. And I'm sure the rest to know is equally enticing, if you would allow me the honor of learning."

"Okay, that's enough," Fujin interrupted as he sprang to his feet just as Kenshi held up his hand in deference and cocked his head in Ikki's direction.

"This is not the best time to have this discussion with Morgan," the blind swordsman delicately suggested. "Or audience to have it in front of," he added a moment later when it was clear that the Wind God couldn't still his sudden feelings of protectiveness.

"She is like a dove amongst crows," the Commander praised once more getting to his feet and helping her to hers. "I have never seen true beauty in my life until tonight."

"This dude's good," Johnny praised with a soft laugh. "I'm gonna have to remember these lines."

"Would you shut your mouth?" Fujin angrily snapped at him before he looked at Ikki. "Kenshi's right," he now told him as he pulled Morgan by the elbow away from him and interposed himself between her and him. He didn't even notice that she was glaring daggers in his direction. "This is not the appropriate time for this."

Sudden dawning registered on Ikki's face. "Oh, you are her-"

"Yes," he curtly interrupted. "I am."

The Commander bowed deeply. "Forgive me, Lord. I meant no disrespect to you or your granddaughter."

At that, Johnny, Cyrax, and even Morgan burst out laughing while the Wind God's eyes bugged out of his sockets and his jaw dropped to the floor. "I'm not her grandfather!" he indignantly replied. He glanced at Kenshi, who was fighting his own smirk. ""Et tu, Brute?" he snapped at his friend.

Ikki merely looked at him in confusion. "I do not understand, then," he said. "If not her grandfather, then what?"

"Her father," he hissed at the man. "I'm her father."

"Then she must have been born when you were already quite advanced in age," he solemnly replied, prompting Morgan and the others to laugh even harder. Even Kenshi couldn't stop himself now.

The Hydromancer soon pushed her way past her father once again. "Commander Ikki," she sweetly began, "this old man, my old man, is Fujin, one of Earthrealm's protectors and the God of the Wind." She tilted her face up to his in amusement and crossed her arms again. Oh, she was just loving this, he noted in annoyance.

In exasperation, he returned her gaze. "I'm not old," he declared. "Not even close. You're completely wrong. I'm young and I'm hip." The comment elicited an impolite snort from Johnny.

Now she regarded him with sympathy, and that was almost worse somehow. "Really, Daddy?" she asked as she raised an eyebrow.

"Absolutely," he said. "I listen to that Snoopy Dog Dog."

She bit her lip to keep from laughing again, rolled her eyes, and said, "Yeah, you're pretty fly for a white guy."

"You know what I mean," he growled.

"Well, technically, he's not wrong about you being advanced in age," she shrugged, still chuckling. "But hey, look at the bright side," she began as she clapped him on his arm. "You're living proof that you're only as old as you feel."

"Oh, very funny," he said, scowling.

She smirked at him. "So maybe this whole situation will teach you to butt out of my affairs in the future," she told him. "Maybe it'll teach you to let me handle things myself." With that, she turned and faced Ikki, offering him her arm. "Commander, I would be honored if you would show me around Seido."

The Seidan didn't appear the least bit concerned by Fujin as he beamed at her and took her arm in his own, and that indifference annoyed the Wind God too. "It would be my privilege, Lady," he told her.

"Really, Morgan?" he said as she turned to walk out. "You're really going to do this even though this is not a great time to go on a date?"

"The world might end soon, Daddy," she called over her shoulder as the Horse Lord led her out. Her eyes were twinkling in amusement. "I can't think of a better time than now."

"For that, you're out of my will!" he called after her. Morgan merely waved back at him, never looking in his direction.

"You really let her know who's boss, Super Fly," Johnny chided as he got to his feet and joined the other Earthrealm Champions.

Fujin narrowed his eyes at him. "I know you're not criticizing me for how I'm handling my daughter," he said, insinuating he had no place to talk about out-of-control daughters. Cassie's perpetual antics sprang to the forefront of his mind.

The actor crossed his arms, his face flashing in annoyance. "Dollars to donuts, that Ikki dude is like Seido's equivalent to the high school quarterback," he hissed, deliberately needling the Wind God. "I'll bet he's a stud, too. A real charmer. Obviously, I know a charmer when I see one. He could probably talk her out of her clothes and make her think it was her idea."

"You better shut your mouth before I-"

"Alright, enough of this," Kenshi interrupted before a real argument got going. "This is not going to help any of us. Least of all you," he said pointedly to Fujin.

"Didn't you see what just happened?" he challenged, still angry. "He just brazenly hits on my daughter right in front of me, and then calls me her grandfather-"

"Do you trust her?" he cut off, crossing his arms.

"What?"

"I said, do you trust her? Do you trust Morgan?"

"Implicitly," he replied.

"Then let it go," he gently said.

"Easy for you to say, it's not your daughter who just went off, arm in arm, with the star quarterback of the football team," he grumbled, gesturing in frustration at the door.

"If you're that worried about her," Cyrax now intervened, "then we should follow them and catch up so that they are not left without chaperones."

"Good point," he sighed as he started to follow them out.

Then Johnny abruptly joined his side. "Hey, I totally get why you freaked out about that dude hitting on her," he said. "If some guy who looks like that tried to pick up Cassie, I'd be nervous too."

"She's a good daughter," he said through gritted teeth, trying him to force himself to remember that, even as they entered the hallway after Kenshi and Cyrax and he saw her lean in dangerously close to her new friend. "And she has good judgment. Usually."

"Whatever you gotta tell yourself, Super Fly," Johnny chuffed. "But listen, I also get why you freaked about being called her grandfather," he said as they walked. "After Fists of Honor came out last year, the press had a field day calling me 'grandpa,' saying I filmed it in a retirement home. I was devastated, Wind-Dude."

Fujin looked at him in earnest, sensing that Johnny sincerely wanted to make him feel better. "What did you do?" he asked.

"I almost retired right then and there," he admitted.

"But I liked Fists of Honor," he said, and it was true. "It was more nuanced than Ninja Mime, yet you maintained that high level of intensity that I've come to expect from you in your films. I think that was some of your best work, Johnny."

"I know, right?" he said, scoffing as if he couldn't believe people had criticized his appearance. "I'm aging like fine wine, okay? How can people think that I'm old?"

The Wind God looked him up and down. "Clearly you didn't retire," he said. "Aren't you working on a new film now?"

"Well, I was before all this Reiko crap happened," he chuckled. "But yeah, I realized that maybe I'm not old, per se. But I haven't really changed my look since 2002. And maybe that's why people thought I looked old. My style was really dated. So I got a makeover. It helped. A lot."

Fujin lifted an eyebrow. "So you're saying that I should change my look?" he asked. "How? Gods are not supposed to be concerned about such things as physical appearances."

"Dude, it doesn't have to be an extreme makeover," he grinned. "You'd be amazed at what a simple haircut will do for you."

"A haircut…" he murmured thoughtfully, stroking his chin. Himavat had frequently told him that he needed to cut his hair. "Perhaps there is wisdom in your words."

"Stick around, Grandpa, I've got a lot of nuggets of wisdom rattling around up here in this noggin," he said as he clapped Fujin on the back.

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MKDemigodZ-Warrior, I was actually less bothered by Sonya dying in the Netherrealm attack than I was about the fact that Sub-Zero had to share his chapter with Scorpion, and then, Scorpion got his own stand-alone chapter on top of that later in the game? That really pissed me off! But point taken. I'm not planning on killing Sonya this time, but we'll see how the mood takes me when it comes to the actual battle.

alwaysdoubted, well, I've always tried to be kind to Jade, but at the same time, I have to do what I think is best for the story. But who knows? I might go totally off the rails from the timeline and bring her back somehow, and not as a revenant. Well, for now, Reiko's got what he needs from Outworld. But when it's all said and done, he'll undoubtedly take the party back to his home town LOL And I thought it'd be fun seeing Erron and Kabal work together, and maybe give a little bit more background as to how Erron worked for the Black Dragon to begin with. That's why I made it so that Erron owed Kabal a huge favor. I didn't want him to be able to turn him down.

ROCuevas, thanks again, as always!