Hi, it's been a while. I have been celebrating Aidil- Fitri where my month of fasting has come to an end and we can eat again, go to houses and get packets filled with money. But also I was in Phuket, Thailand spending my vacation there. It's amazing and breathtaking except...

It was raining as if Kyogre had taken over the region!

I love Thailand but wished there's more to do to help the elephants, tigers and reptiles there. I hope to bring back knowledge from my nature trips to Malaysia since there's a lot to be done.

BTW, Gozilla King of Monsters was amazing! Like the movie, this chapter has more fight scenes so please bear with me!

Also, Happy Late Father's Day everyone!

Without further ado, let's get on with the video.

Chapter 40

Nash's P.O.V

I am already nervous.

Why does Kitana want to see me? After what I had done, I don't think they're ever going to give me a warm welcome. Riana looked nervous as well, she was holding Kurt close to her chest. Riana and I exchanged glances before we made our way to the Edenian palace. A female guard stopped us.

"We're here to see Princess Kitana and General Jade," said Riana who passed the guard the written note.

She glared at me, then at my sister before reading the note. She then escorted us without saying a word. From the walk, I heard whisperings and some ladies pointing fingers at me.

All of them had disgusted looks on their faces.

I really screwed up! I just hope Jade and Kitana could forgive me for all of this and I could redeem myself. But from all of this and Takeda beating me up, the chances are pretty slim for forgiveness.

Jade was waiting outside and motioned for me to go inside. She prevented Riana from following me. Now I am scared!

Kitana was sitting on the Edenian throne with her mother Queen Sindel by her side. Both of them gazed down at me with full disgust but then again, I couldn't really tell because I'm too busy being nervous. Sindel left to leave me to face the music which is Kitana!

"You came," said Kitana as she stepped down to see me. "Do you know why I asked you and your sister to come here?"

I shook my head.

"Jade and I had gathered some information about Shao Kahn's intention. He wasn't my true father after all these years. One of my guards went to investigate Shang Tsung's lab and have found out that not only you have been having sex with Mileena but training her too. "

I could tell she was pissed.

"Do you think I even said yes?" I countered. "I had no choice or else Shang Tsung would kill me. I don't even have the skills yet."

"Nash," Kitana sighed and placed both her hands on my face to look at her. "Jade and I will never forgive you. But we will help you and your friends get back home if it means going against Shao Kahn and Shang Tsung."

That's a stab to my heart.

But there's no room for grieve now as Shao Kahn's army is growing. So I accepted the offer and we both shook hands on it. We decided to use the time to plan out what to do and I even told her of the Disciples meeting.

"Erron Black, Reptile and Ermac were with you?" Kitana stared at me in disbelief. "You do know they're all of Shao Kahn's lackeys except the mercenary."

"I know!" I exclaimed. "Don't look at me but it was Kristina and Riana who brought them to the meeting. They said those three might go against Shang Tsung and Shao Kahn."

"I have interrogated Reptile before," Kitana slowly nodded. "He mentioned he does care for your sister. I'm shocked, disgusted but felt sorry for him. Last of his kind and blindly serving under a false promise until all of you arrived."

"But?"

"But that doesn't relieve him of his crimes of betrayal. Now one of my guards said that he's serving a new master I assumed?"

So I told her about Riana's new boss at her little workplace. Kitana arched a brow, taking in my story. "Nash, call Jade and your sister in here."

Before I could, Jade had already entered with Riana and Kurt. Riana gave me that look which told me that Jade knew as well. She must've spoken to her while I was in here with Kitana. Jade eyed me carefully, with those hurtful yet angry brown eyes.

"Kitana is right to say that we don't forgive you," said Jade, her voice slightly breaking. I wanted to hold her but I stood at the same spot. "I can never forgive you for betraying my trust….But, we all want to help you and your friends get home."

I tried not to cry, because my blind stupidity had caused this tension in the first place. I got a lot to make up for. Not just with my ex-mentors but Sindel, Cassie and Jacqui too. To be fair, I'm not even sure if I am the bad guy here!

"Okay," I nodded. "Jade, do you know Riana's boss K'oatal? Kitana seemed to know that name."

"He's an old friend of mine," said Jade. The way she spoke about him sounded like a reminiscence. Could he be the lover that Tanya mentioned about during their fight?

"She and K'oatal used to grow up together before Jade was assigned to become Kitana's guard," Riana explained to me. I noticed Kurt had now climbed on Jade's lap, letting her pet him.

Lucky lizard…

"How come we've never seen him before?" I asked. "I mean, if you grew up with him, surely you two saw each other everyday."

Jade told us that when she was assigned to Kitana, they never saw each other again as K'oatal was taken away to train as a soldier along with the other Outworlders. That makes sense but still, he could be a potential lover for Jade since he could crush a man's skull.

Then again, Tanya mentioned she killed him so I am not sure.

"We are planning to split," said Riana. "Nash and I will get info on Shao Kahn while Kristina, Azril and Bryan learn about Shang Tsung."

"Before you do," Kitana stood by Jade. "We want to test both of your skills. So, I want both of you to fight us in a combat. Right here to see how far you have come."

My sister and I exchanged glances. We knew that we can't turn away or else we'd be killed. Kurt climbed on Riana's shoulder, lashed his tail before hissing at both Edenians. Both of us got into a fighting stance, ready to battle our ex-mentors.

Even when I'm the only one now without weapons.

Everything happened in a flash before I could react. Riana was locked into battle with Kitana while I am facing Jade. Jade was attacking me without mercy, I feel like I am experiencing all of the strength she held back in our previous match. Now she's taking out all of that pain onto me.

She was swift, even doing well in heels just to hit me either the head or crotch. At this point, I might as well be a eunuch! Even a punch to Jade's gut was not strong enough compared to her Bojutsu attacks with her pole. So, I let out my frustration by retaliating her back.

"An adulterer to the end," Jade seethed as even a slap from her could make my cheek bleed! I couldn't think at this point. All I want to do was defeat Jade, without a weapon on me.

"I know that!" I snapped, delivering a kick to Jade's jaw to which I heard a crack. No time to celebrate just yet. While she was holding her jaw, I finally tackled her to the ground and finally knocked her out.

My first victory against her…

I offered Jade my hand to which she accepted it. It wasn't like our relationship was going to mend anytime soon. For now, mutual respect was enough for me. We both watched my sister still battling Kitana.

She had some parts bleeding from Kitana's blade fans while the princess herself had bruises from the eye, her veins could be seen from the side of her neck. Riana must've jabbed her with one of her venoms.

Riana's slower so Kitana had no trouble using offence against her while Riana used defence. Kurt at this point had launched himself onto the princess but was swatted away like a fly. Riana will have to come up with a better way of beating the Princess of Edenia.

In the end, Riana collapsed from exhaustion, her panting could be heard.

I'm more surprised at how her glasses are still intact. It survived throughout the ordeal!

"Well," Kitana stood up after helping my sister up. "This settles our agreement about aiding you to go home. Now, what are you going to do, Nash?"

"Jade," I began. "I think it's best you and I both visit K'oatal. Maybe he knows about Shao Kahn and can exchange information with you. While at it, I can investigate the palace while my sister can resume her little work there. You can hear out anything?"

"I'll do it," Riana nodded. "Nash, be careful about his follower D'Vorah. I don't trust her one bit. Hopefully Bryan can come up with a useful gadget to spy on both Shao Kahn and Shang Tsung."

Yeah, I hope so too.

…

So Riana had led Jade and I into her new workplace. From what I saw before, I've never seen my sister so happy. She does smile but not really content with things. I guessed this whole trip into Mortal Kombat has changed me and my friends.

I am still intimidated by Riana's boss, K'oatal when my sister went to fetch him. Both him and Jade stared for a moment before approaching each other slowly. Jade tenderly touched his arm.

"Is it really you, Kotal?" she asked in a whisper. Kotal, that sounded better to remember!

"Indeed Jade," he smiled. "You haven't changed a bit since the last time I saw you. How is Princess Kitana?"

I watched from the sideline with Riana who was feeding Kurt some insects. They looked like a couple who haven't seen each other for a long time. But Jade mentioned that her relationship with him was just a friend.

"They've known each other since they were kids," Riana told me, still watching them. "He asked me how I knew Jade and I told him. In exchange, he told me of how when he was young, both of them were just kids who enjoyed their fun before reality hits them. K'oatal or Kotal used to be a child soldier before his realm walk in the past to be who he is now while Jade became handmaiden and then friend to Kitana."

Wow, seemed Jade is popular back then. With her kindness, no wonder she's got allies and good relationships from Edenia and Outworld!

"I'll see you in a bit, Nash," Riana hugged before leaving for her caretaker job with Kurt on her shoulder. She waved to her boss, who smiled back at her. He then turned to me, his expression changed.

Ah, fuck…I'm going to be screwed!

"I've heard a great deal about you," his voice held his authority. I could only nod because I was too scared to speak. "From what Jade told me, that was very shameful and despicable on your behalf. But I admire how she still wanted to help you even after what you have done. So my question now is that are you going to stop your trifling affairs and focus on fighting to your chosen path?"

I dipped my head. "Yes, sir."

"I have also heard about you wanting to beat Shao Kahn in the upcoming tournament," he eyed me carefully. "I have doubts because of your folly but as you Earthrealmers say: Everyone deserves a second chance."

Sometimes, it's hard to tell if this guy is really on my side!

"For now, let me see if you are really worthy by our match," Kotal gestured to the courtyard. I am exhausted but if I want to beat Shao Kahn in order to go home, I might as well go through all of these matches like in the game's story mode.

So far, I am really surprised that he's slow but very brutal with each swing of that Aztec saw, I swear to god that my torso's almost sawed in half. I was trying to evade his attacks but somehow he could summoned powers from the Sun.

Oh yeah, I remembered that Aztecs had Sun gods…

"You are nimble," he commented as he swung a hard fist towards me. "Yet you are holding back. Let go of what you've done and express your passion to me.

Are you an adulterer?"

"No..."

"Are you an adulterer?!"

"No!" I shouted as I found myself having the spirit to fight him back. He's still stronger than me but I have better stamina. I'm pretty sure that if I am not careful, I'm going to be limbless by the time this fight is over. But eventually he got me beat and forced me to be on my knees.

I heard him yelling something in his native language. That's not a good sign!

Suddenly, his body was surrounded in a red aura rather than yellow. He looked so scary with his eyes glowing red and some part of the paint of his body glowed liked the colour of blood. His Aztec blade looked sharper than ever!

"Do not hold back!" he commanded as he summoned a ray of light. Ah, it stings like hell but this time he was all juiced up. What kind of energy does this guy wield?!

I got a lot of pounding from him while my kicks and punches barely scratched the muscles of Kotal's body. He summoned this time totems from the ground to trap me at my feet as I tried my best to fight my way out of this impeding doom. My body's aching, ready to snap its tendons and let the bones break.

In the end, I was battered and bruised from all of the fight. Exhausted, I could barely get up and stand on my own. In a way, I am grateful that this Aztec warrior sure has a bit of compassion in him as he helped me up. How is it that this guy may might as well be as deadly as Shao Kahn in terms of power can be also nice?

"You fought well," he told me gently. "But there's a lot to improvise on. You used your skills for the titillation and pleasures instead of honing them to be used in upcoming matches or battles that are worth your life."

"K'oatal," I coughed, blood coming out of my mouth. "W-why couldn't you just…kill me?"

"You're inexperience," he explained as we walked to the healer. "Besides, killing you is too simple. I want to see you improved as your sister has done the same. You're very lucky to have such a diligent person for a sister."

I said nothing but thanked him as I was lying down while a healer tried to patch me up. All I could think of now is gathering info about Shao Kahn and hopefully Bryan can share his findings on Shang Tsung. Riana can slowly charm them as she fights while Kristina and Azril are our wild cards.

I really hope that our plans can come together.

…

3rd P.O.V

Kristina had decided to follow Azril back to the Lin Kuei temple to train since the Shokan are too occupied with their upcoming battles. It seemed clear to Kristina that Sheeva is busy since she's the general. She felt hurt but was relieved when the Shokans are going to be against Shao Kahn except Goro since he's the Kahn's champion anyways.

Right now, Kristina with the help of Erron and Ermac had found a suitable replacement for that tyrant.

The Lin Kuei was cold as hell! She wondered how can Azril stand the cold in just a T-shirt and shorts as they were at the training ground. They were watching Azril's baby dragon Visenya who seemed to have trouble firing at the placed rocks as targets.

"Try again, Visenya," Azril pointed at the point gently.

"AZ, I think she doesn't know how," said Kristina, watching the little dragon tried to open her mouth but nothing came out. She let out a sad 'kyrr' sound from her throat. Azril kneeled down and stroked the cat size wyvern.

"It's okay, Visenya," he scratched her under the chin to which she purrs. Despite being a weapon of mass destruction, Kristina could see that Azril does care and love the little dragon as if she was his own pet. Enough with following Sub Zero's orders bullshit, this is genuine and Kristina could see that there's warmth behind that expressionless face.

"Can she fly?" she asked her friend. She really admired his skills and multitasking. Any girl would be lucky to have him besides him being attractive. Kristina honestly doesn't see anything hot about Nash, since she could kick his ass just like Bryan.

"Not yet," he shook his head. Visenya turned her head to demonstrate to Kristina how she flapped her wings but could not took off from the ground just yet.

Just then, Frost came to see what's going on. Both Kristina and Azril were surprised at how swift Visenya leaped in front of them, growling at Frost while baring her teeth. Frost glared down at the young wyvern with hatred. Visenya warned the female Lin Kuei by snapping her teeth at her.

"I should have one too," Frost snarled. "But the Grand-bastard really picked favourites, doesn't he?"

"Hey, don't say that about Sub Zero!" Kristina stormed in front of her. Both girls were ready to fight each other. "He took you in when no one else would! Why the fuck are you so insecure about everything? Is it because you're the only girl here?"

"Kristina, Frost, Visenya calm down!" Azril raised his voice which stopped everyone. He got in-between the two girls while holding his stern gaze, Kristina swore that he looked just like Sub Zero for a split second.

Kristina kept her eyes locked onto the female Lin Kuei and Visenya's growls became soft but still baring her teeth as a warning. Azril took Frost's hand gently.

"I need your help for something," he told her. Frost blinked in surprised, nodded as she followed him.

Kristina's jaw just hit the floor at what she just saw. "Damn," she whistled. "Who knew he could pick up chicks!"

Seeing as the little dragon was still growling, Kristina picked her up and walked towards the temple where she saw Grandmaster Sub Zero meditating. Visenya still had her head turned at Azril's directions.

"Kristina," Sub Zero called for her to join him. She was a bit surprised since the last thing she wanted to do was meditate with Azril's mentor. Then again, a lot has been on her mind lately…

"Yes, Grandmaster?" she asked, sitting next to him. Visenya's growls had already subsided but her wings were flaring irritably. The cryomaster smiled, gave the wyvern a pat on the back.

"I didn't know Azril's dragon can meditate too!" Kristina pointed out at Visenya who closed her eyes and sat on her hind legs.

"She does join me when Azril decides to handle his cafe," Sub Zero told her. "I know he is good at multitasking but I am concern for his health. He doesn't have to overwork himself yet he insisted. He needs to care for himself too and not just others."

Sub Zero was right. Azril will surely die out of exhaustion if he works harder than he already has. Kristina mentally noted to herself that she needs to tell her friends to help her get Azril to relax.

"Visenya started growling when Frost showed up," she jerked her thumb at the meditating wyvern. "Something going on?"

"Lately, I've seen slight changes in my disciple," Sub Zero sighed. "He's slightly relaxed when she was hatched out of the egg as well as Frost leading him to a more…open relationship."

Kristina stared at him. She could not believed at what she's hearing. Azril's going on a date with Frost?!

"I thought she hated him?" Kristina remembered her friend's previous interactions with the female cryomancer.

"I imagined so too," Sub Zero nodded before standing up. "But after an incident where he brought her back from an activity she still does behind my back, I decided to let them explore their relationship further. Frost is slowly becoming more patient around him."

"Well I'll be damned," Kristina laughed. "Azril finally has a girl who could put up with him. No offence but it'll take a saint to make him express more than what he could do now."

Sub Zero smiled. "Indeed. And how are you faring with your feelings for a certain construct and gunslinger?"

Kristina suddenly sprang up from where she was sitting. "Wait, who told you about this?! Was it Bryan? I knew it was that little bitch! I bet he's recording our conversation right now with-"

"Calm down, Kristina," Sub Zero assured her. "I've just heard rumours about it unless you have a different say in this. Do you want to have a match to talk about it?"

Kristina's face was flushed but she nodded. "Yeah, that'll be great. Erron and Ermac are cool but I don't know why the hell do I think about them a lot! They've helped me and are the best when the three of us are a team."

They sparred outside of the Lin Kuei temple while Visenya sat vigil incase anyone trespassed the property. Kristina was full of fury, frustration and fatigued. Sub Zero decided to shake it out of her.

"Do you like anyone of them?" he inquired while he blasted icicles towards her.

Kristina dodged his attack with a small flip. "Don't know! Erron sure has a smart mouth but he's sweet once you get to know him! Ermac…Ermac…"

"Yes?" he punched her in the gut with an uppercut.

"He's cute and naive!" Kristina yelled with a swift kick to Sub Zero's face. "He may have ripped out Jax's arms and probably killed a lot of people to gain their souls inside his body but he's a good guy!"

Sub Zero decided to probe her further by creating an axe made out of ice to hack her near the chest. Kristina yelped and smashed it to pieces. "And who do you pick?"

"I don't know!" Kristina screamed and finally knocked Sub Zero down with her foot near his throat. "I don't fucking know, Sub Zero. I tried not to engaged further because I got cheated on by my ex."

Kristina closed her eyes, trying to hide the oncoming tears. Her ex had broken her trust so badly that she tried to avoid having another relationship ever again.

But that changed when she met Erron Black and Ermac.

She helped Sub Zero up and thanked him for the match. "It was my pleasure Kristina. But if you are having this problem, I suggest you should try and go out with one of them first and see how it goes."

Kristina pondered for a moment until her thoughts were interrupted by a screech from Visenya. Apparently Azril is back with Frost and she doesn't look happy. The dragon's blue neck suddenly glowed white before she tried to fire a jet of bluish white flames at Frost's direction.

Azril pushed her aside before approaching his wyvern. "What's gotten into you, Visenya?" he scolded her. "Frost is slowly going to be patient and you had to ruined it."

The wyvern had her wings drooped and she ran away with a small whimper. The older disciple sighed, Kristina was still shocked at the scene.

"She can produced white flames," she whispered. Both Frost and Sub Zero were also surprised at how Azril's dragon can produced flames so quickly.

"Yeah," Azril nodded. "I'll have to find her. Rendezvous with the others first. I heard Riana and Nash are at Outworld."

This was her chance. Kristina has to decided who she would go out with first and then the other before coming into a conclusion.

…

Riana was tending some of the steeds of Outworld. She'd never seen horses that have more than one colour like the My Little Pony characters or the fact that they almost resembled the prehistoric horses that used to be size of rabbits.

"We're almost done, Kurt," Riana told her bearded dragon who was lying on one of the horse's back. "I bet we can-"

Riana heard something and decided to investigate. She beckoned her pet who followed her from behind. She may not be the fastest or have the guts like most of the fighters but a investigation had hyped her for a minute.

It was one of the guards she had seen with Kitana and Jade. The one who held her before Nash's trial and banishment. She wondered why he was doing here and he seemed pleased by someone.

"You will be rewarded," a familiar buzzed voice was heard. Riana held her breath while Kurt hid inside of her blouse. She was suspicious of her boss' First Minister. She may be intelligent but she doesn't trust that bug one bit!

"Shao Kahn's plans of merging realms in order to make it into a battleground sounds possible," the guard had a hopeful voice. "Different people fighting to the death while he reigned."

"This One agrees as well," said D'Vorah. "We need Kano's Black Dragons to assist us as well as Shang Tsung. Most of his experiments have successes so far as This One has seen."

Both of them bidded thanks before Riana decided to pursue the guard. She followed him into the dining hall where he was seen to be drinking. Riana quietly crept behind him and injected a painless needle in him that contained hemotoxin.

Riana walked in front of the guard, gazing down at him with Kurt glaring at him with his reptilian eyes. The guard was having trouble to breathe.

"Remember me?" Riana smiled, showing a bit of her teeth. She decided to sit on the opposite side. "It's been a while."

"Y-you!" he cried out but coughed, holding his chest. "W-what do you want?"

"Why are you playing guards on both sides?" she asked calmly, tracing a venom claw over his veined arm. "Do you like to see my brother get into trouble or start another war among us Disciples?"

"Fuck you, fat bitch," he spatted at Riana's direction. But Riana stood her ground.

"Tell me your master's plans," said Riana. "You have a few minutes to spare before your whole body's blood cells are completely destroyed."

Kurt climbed down and hissed at him. The guard looked at Riana who seemed to be enjoying watching him struggle to breathe. Eventually, the guard told her about Shao Kahn's plans which seemed to confirmed on Kristina's findings with Ermac and Erron previously at the gala.

"Thank you for telling me," Riana patted his arm but he winced in pain as Riana injected the liquid into his arm. He seemed relieved and collapsed backwards.

Little did he know that Riana injected neurotoxin instead of the antidote!

"I've gotta find Nash and tell him this," she toldd Kurt as they rushed out before they got caught. She could retreat back to the menagerie but it might be the first place they will suspect.

"Riana!" a voice called her. Riana's whipped her head back only to sighed in relieved. It was Ermac, hovering in mid air.

"Ermac, what is it?"

"We need to ask you something," the construct slowly descended to the ground. He was taller than her for sure!

"What is it, Ermac?" asked Riana, letting Ermac picked up Kurt to hold him. The bearded dragon seemed alright in the construct's arms.

"We may have some information for your brother. We need to confirm with him about Shao Kahn's plans. Erron Black and We went to the marketplace and eavesdropped conversations between merchants and soldiers."

"That's great! We can go give this to Nash," said Riana but was held back by Ermac's telekinesis powers.

"We have another request to ask of you."

"What is it?"

"Can you teach Us how to impress Kristina?"

In this story, Jade and Kotal are just friends just to clarify. They know each other but don't have the relationship. So who was Jade's former lover who was raped by Tanya? Well, you will see in the next chapter!

You know, it would be funny if Azril commanded his dragon with Dracarys!

Looks like all Disciples are planning for their battles and mission to take out Shao Kahn and Shang Tsung but where is Bryan?

In the next chapter, get ready for some smut scenes as this one is more on fights and matches.

Please review! Love you guys for your support!