Hi, how is everyone during this lockdown? Just to let you know the reason why my chapters are short right now is to reflect on how the Disciples' journey is almost near the end. And I did watch the MK11 Aftermath and I have one thing to say:

WTF?!

Chapter 51

Nash's P.O.V

Much like Kristina, I was shocked at why Erron Black is here in the Tarkatan war camp. Shouldn't he be on the ship with Riana and Bryan? Speaking of which, I want to know what happened and how did he get here when according to Bryan, it might take a few days.

"Erron," I helped him up and tried to get him to look at me. "What happened?"

The gunslinger was coughing up blood. Kristina rushed in and helped to steady him as I interrogated him. There's no way he would travel here all by himself. Azril stood by my side with Visenya growling a warning.

"Ambushed," Erron managed to cough out. Ermac approached us and used his telekinesis to help straighten him up. "Never thought I would end up here and see all of you."

"By who?"

"An old gal I stepped out from," said the gunslinger. "I never knew she could control the sea of blood and almost caused the ship to sink to the endless pit."

"Erron," I looked at him straight in the eye. "Where's my sister and Bryan?"

Erron slowly held himself up without our help. Kristina looked so worried about him and around us, the Tarkatan tribe were also curious as to why this stranger just came out of the blue. Azril, I could hear him assuring his dragon that it's okay.

"I don't know," the gunslinger admitted. "I reckoned they're still back there with Reptile, Kotal and his kid."

Wait, Kotal has a child?!

Now I am stunned. I don't know what to make of this news at all! Are they dead? Were they captured?

I tried to contact Bryan through the gadget he gave me but there wasn't a respond from the youngest Disciple. My heart sank, realising the worst that could happen to the both of them. I felt a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"They'll be alright," said Azril. "They've got Reptile and Kotal if I am not mistaken. Like I mentioned before, those two will eventually learn, Nash. Bryan is a randomiser while Riana is more of a pacifist in this world of blood and battles. They'll figure it out by themselves."

Damn, who would've thought Azril has some optimistic views about the situation we're in. Then again, during our stay in Mortal Kombat sure has changed us.

Well, most of us.

Right now, we need to get Erron healed up so that he's ready to tell us where might our friends be. I hope they are coming here from the shores. Shouts of orders in Tarkatans were enough to keep me on my feet, knowing that I can't relax now since Erron is here and away from Riana's team.

I've never seen Kristina looked so terrified before!

She and Ermac led Erron into a tent, I presumed to heal him. In the mean time, I decided to spar with Azril. The meeting with Sub Zero and Baraka has been on my mind since this is not just to defeat Shao Kahn and others from his court.

This is also to find a new replacement to rule Outworld without tyranny.

It's kinda weird for me to think about this considering that once we can go back home, I'm not even sure if we are ever coming back.

Once Erron was recovered, I sat with Kristina, Ermac and Azril at one of the hearth that the Tarkatans used for cooking some of their meat. Erron had his seraph cape wrapped around him, clearly he was soaked to the bone with blood-water. Visenya had laid down, her large body was shielding the rest of us from getting eavesdropped but the Tarkatans.

Do any of them besides Baraka know what we're saying?

Anyways, the rest of us sat in a circle, listening to the flames crackled and the sound of the deep rumbles from Azril's dragon.

"You okay, Erron?" I asked in concern.

"I'll be alright," he nodded. "Just that I never expected Skarlet to show up on the ship. Bad enough that I don't trust D'Vorah after she disappeared during our ambush with the Black Dragons at sea."

"Wait, D'Vorah was with you before this?" asked Kristina, exchanging glances with me.

"Yeah. Why do you two look like you're seeing a two-headed cow?"

"That's because we got attacked by her and some creepy blue-skin guy with six arms," I told him. Now, before anything, that was the first time I ever had a fight with D'Vorah. She was creepy even when her name was mentioned!

"Oh, you mean the Kollector," Erron smirked, drinking a bit of what I assumed it to be Tarkatan booze. Kristina seemed to like it too as she has a whole bottle for herself. "We've got ourselves in a pickle as well with that bastard."

"We are not surprised," Ermac sighed, using his telekinesis to add another piece of wood into the fire.

"Still, it was interesting to know that your sister made a bet with him." Wait, what?

Kristina and Azril were both interested in Erron's narration about how they encountered Kollector, trying to escape from an undead army summoned by Shang Tsung. Riana made a move to bet with him in order for them to escape on a boat.

She challenged him to a fight and Liar's Dice?!

"Sheesh, and I thought I'm the reckless one!" Kristina rolled her eyes. "And he just went along with it?"

"Reminds me of that time I bargained with Shao Kahn at the gala, promising to kill Frost," Azril murmured while petting Visenya. All of us looked at him. "I don't think it's going to happen anytime soon since...you know..."

"Never seen him all excited," said Erron, taking another swig. "I reckoned he's here because of you five. After all, he's all dog and bones to Shao Kahn."

Something about how Erron said that sounded ominous.

I nervously glanced behind me, thankfully there's no one there. I am thinking about what's the next step of our plan. If Kollector and D'Vorah tried to attack us, it won't be long before Shao Kahn sent others after us. I bet Riana and Bryan are stuck in the same situation.

Right now, I need time to plan out and I might need Azril's help on this one.

...

3rd P.O.V

Kristina has never felt so relief when Erron was alright.

She'll never admit it but she was glad that both him and Ermac are here. Needless to say, it made her feel funny around both of them. She can't understand how she could be such a wimpy girl when she's with the construct but be a her usual tough self around Erron.

Yet, she enjoyed both of their company.

It was hard to maintain her cool now that the both of them are here. She tried to distract herself with another round of flame kickball with the other Tarkatans. She was glad that these guys sort of forgive-tolerate her for her behaviour. However, some of the women and children were wary of her, which was fine.

"One of these days," Kristina huffed to herself. "My feet might as well be fireproof from this kind of sport."

"I'll say," a chuckle from behind almost made Kristina punch in self-defence but her fist was caught just in time by the cocky gunslinger. Even with his mask on, Kristina could tell that he was smirking. "Damn, you've built up a lot since the last time we crossed."

Kristina shot him a smirk of her own. "Let's just say the three of us had some run-ins. Also, I don't think I'll be using guns for now on."

Now this intrigued the former Earthrealmer. "Really? Why the sudden change in the wind?"

Kristina shrugged as the both of them were watch the scene of the Tarkatans going about their lives while some stopped to look at Azril's dragon. "Eh, I almost caused an unnecessary war that might let us be killed before we could take down Shao Kahn."

Erron swiped two mugs of the Tarkatan alcohol for the both of them. Kristina thanked him as the both of them decided to sit for a bit.

"So, I bet you had fun with Bryan and Riana?" Kristina asked, chugging away her beverage. She was about to hold her laugh at Erron almost choking on his drink before gulping.

"Don't remind me," Erron pinched the bridge of his nose. "I swear, that Bryan kid's more volatile than dynamite! How the hell can you handle him?"

Kristina laughed. "Oh, he's alright when he doesn't tease you or tries to show off his inventions. Him and Nash, I guessed have more things in common than with me. I remember him crying when he asked me to teach him how to do track racing but before we could start, he already bolted the other direction."

Erron smiled behind his mask. It was good to see Kristina very relaxed since their last encounters. Though, he would never forget about her being drunk and spouting out things he wished it were true. But hey, at least she didn't try to shoot him while drunk. Speaking of which...

"Say Kris, do you remember the last time you were drunk?"

"Aside from feeling like shit the next day, no. Why?"

Kristina looked up into his sky blue eyes. Erron never knew she had that intense look in hers. "Well...you started firing some words that don't make sense. It was a miracle that you didn't throw up with Ermac and I got you to bed. It was only a matter of time before you start waking up."

Kristina laughed. "Oh yeah, I remember waking up from the hangover. Anyways Erron, you mentioned earlier that Skarlet was your ex. So, did you two have a thing or..."

"Well," Erron cleared his throat, throwing the last remains of his alcohol into one of the hearth fires. "Let's say that blood magic ain't my kind of thing. The same went with Nitara and even then I never knew she was a vampire."

Kristina snorted. "Wow, sounds like those ladies are obsessed with your blood. I bet it's hot or really doesn't aged well like wine."

"Hey!"

Kristina never knew she would share some laughs with Erron. Sure, he's still that cocky gunslinger but getting to know him through his kind of bond made her realised that he's just as ordinary just like her and anyone else.

Except the fact that he's from the Wild West era, probably late nineteenth century.

"I guessed we both have exes that we stepped out from," sighed Kristina. Erron placed an arm around her shoulder in a comforting manner. Kristina was now red in the face, deciding not to get all defensive by struggling away.

Instead, she leaned into his touch.

'Shit,' she thought to herself. 'I reacted the same way around Ermac! Well...not with him getting into my beatdowns.'

The both of them were about to be on guard when they realised it was just Azril's dragon, Visenya who was trying to pry off curious Tarkatans that were climbing off of her. Kristina smiled when Erron whistled with awe.

"Shoot, I never knew dragons could grow that fast," he mused. "Then again, I don't pay much to those kind of things after spending a long time here."

Now, that's something she's been curious about. "Hey Erron, how old are you?"

The gunslinger cocked a brow. "Well, I lost track of time so I guessed about a hundred-fifty at least."

"No, I mean before you were immortal. Do you remember?"

Erron crossed his arms, waiting for the young girl's reaction. "Twenty-nine."

He was surprised when Kristina snorted with laughter. "Oh my god, Erron! You used to date chicks who are out for your blood but you are like a vampire yourself with that age! Does that mean that I have to call you Grandpa?!"

Erron glared at her, clearly not amused.

"I'm not that old, Kris."

Just then, Ermac approached the both of them. Both him and the gunslinger regarded each other.

"We have a warning," the construct told them. "D'Vorah and Kollector may retreat for now but we have a feeling that they are going to send reinforcements. You have to leave."

"Shit, we gotta tell Nash this!" Kristina got up quickly before heading towards one of the group of Tarkatans. Both Erron Black and Ermac watched her leave.

"What a woman," Erron whistled.

"Indeed," Ermac nodded.

Both men glance at each other from their exchanged agreement. Erron could see the intensity in the construct's glowing green eyes while Ermac saw the passion that lit up the former Earthrealmer's own sky blue ones.

Oh, the chase is on!

...

"OH MY GOD!" Bryan exclaimed as he was dodging the oncoming blood attacks. "WHAT'S UP WITH THIS WOMAN'S OVARIES?!"

Right now, the ship was under attacked again.

This time, it was one of the ladies that worked for Shao Kahn: Skarlet.

Not only was she an excellent fighter, she could summoned her blood magic to attack and take forms into a sort of blood army for the remaining four on the ship. They were all struggling since nothing can kill the blood soldiers while Skarlet is formidable with her weapon that resembled a scythe.

"They're not staying dead!" Riana yelled out as she slashed more of the blood soldiers, only for them to rejuvenate and rebuild. She has to think fast or else all of them are going to die, sinking to the endless sea of blood.

Plus, they have a pet and baby on board.

"Shao Kahn would be pleased to know that the four of you are going to drown," the soft, sultry voice of Skarlet purred. "The baby will have the sweetest blood and I promise you that I will be gentle..."

"You will do NO such thing!" K'oatal boomed before he summoned totems off the floors of the ship. Reptile was slashing and dashing through most of the blood army while his eyes were set on Skarlet like a predator on the prowl.

Riana has a feeling that this ship is going to sink since those soldiers who were not fighting were practically destroying some parts. She has to act quickly before all of them will have to die. Kurt and Kotal's son are below deck while the battle rages on.

Kotal had now grabbed one of the blood soldiers, crushed it before drinking the blood as if it was the sweetest drink anyone would find! Reptile had done the same but seasoned the blood soldiers with his acid spit first.

"I HATE FIGHTING!" Bryan screamed as he was swinging wildly in his suit. "I JUST WANT TO REST BUT NO! IT'S KILL OR BE KILLED!"

Before the ambush, Riana recalled Kotal teaching her how to summon leviathans because she just wants to see if they are like those old drawings of sailors discovering an unidentified fish. Turned out it was true and some's behaviour are as gentle as kois while some are...

"There's no way I can-" Riana paused in her mid-sentence to stomp on one of the soldier's throat. "Or can I?"

But then, it's the sea of blood so a magical blood soldier would be like adding plain water into the normal salty sea.

They are out of time and if this doesn't work, all of them might as well be dead.

She slipped a few remains of food and parts of the blood soldier's corpse into the sea of blood, hoping it might work. If not, that's it. While the others were fighting, Riana made her way below deck to check on Kurt and Kotal's son, Kiawe.

'Those blood soldiers better not be down here,' she thought to herself. She rushed towards the room where they kept both the pet and baby safe. When she opened the door, she crashed into one of the blood soldiers who was holding the baby.

It was chaotic even in the room. Kurt was already lashing his tail at the soldier's face while Riana took Kiawe in her arms, trying her best to comfort him but also trying not to die. She slashed the soldier in the face before kneeing the bloody figure in the gut.

What she didn't know was that the blood soldier can multiply like a cell division.

Riana held baby Kiawe close to her chest while Kurt had buried himself in the crook of his owner's neck. She was trapped down here with her only escape to be blocked. She will do whatever she can to protect the Osh-Tekk's only son.

Her eyes behind her glasses were filled with fury. How dare that Skarlet, to an extend Shao Kahn would dare to kill this baby!

The multiple blood soldiers attacked at once, Riana bit her lip as she felt her back getting new set of scars and taking multiple injuries. She has to leave before this room will become her tomb!

She could only rely on her legs while her hands were full with the baby.

Kicking, head-butting and even using her teeth to bite one of the blood soldier's ear.

But when the crowded her to the point that she could feel her knees were getting sliced, a mass figure tackled the group and was growling ferociously.

"Kotal," she breathed in relief.

The black jaguar growled before leaping into action once more while Riana made her escape with Kurt on her shoulder and the baby in her arms.

When she arrived on deck, it was a bloodbath.

It seemed like Bryan was fighting after all or Reptile just singlehandedly took down most of the blood soldiers and now was holding Skarlet captive. She noticed a punctured wound in the blood magician's neck. Reptile must have bit her to the point his acid could cause a serious hole in the neck.

"Your attacks and acid won't be enough to stop me, vile creature," Skarlet smirked behind her mask. "Shao already has plans to stop those children and merge all realms together. Admit it, you have lost."

Bryan was at the corner, trying to remove all of the blood on his suit. When he saw Riana, he stopped for a bit. "You should've seen your guy, Riana. He just slaughtered this place like that crocodile from the movie, Crawl!"

Riana passed him Kiawe so that she could approach the Zaterran. Both of them regarded each other with small smiles before focusing their attention on Skarlet.

"Well, well, I've heard about you," Skarlet giggled. "From what Shao Kahn and Shang Tsung had mentioned, your brother has caused quite the mess."

"Where are they?" Riana asked. Her glazed hand had held Skarlet's, injecting a special toxic that would destroy her blood magic: hemotoxic.

"You have a few minutes to tell us where are they and what else are they planning," Reptile hissed. "These Disciples may not be the best fighters but it doesn't mean that you should underestimate them."

With coughs and a strained voice, Skarlet spat viciously. "I'd rather die than give away anything!"

Before either of them could react, there was a rumbling below the ship and a low, bellowing sound. Riana's heart just dropped.

This isn't good...

The last thing Riana remembered was a forceful impact of a wet body mass that hit her before everything went black.

Looks like Riana and Bryan are the ones that are getting the beating. Oh, and I bet if Friendships and Pacifist routes were a thing, I'm sure both of them would do it.

Imagine if Bryan meets Kronika since he himself is a wildcard of a human being.

Looks like Kristina is going to be Christine Daae with a ghost and a rich guy ;) Oh, I got some saucy ideas coming up so stay tune!

Please review!