The two groups were now joined by a third. Kotal and his followers on one side, Mileena and hers on the other, exactly opposite to them. Adjacent to both to form a perfect triangle out of the three was Raiden and the warriors of Earthrealhm, though it had grown larger recently with the addition of even more heroes. Behind them breaking the mold of Outworld was the portal that brought them there. And in between them all stood Superman and Wonder Woman. But of course all eyes were on the new group to emerge. And they looked right back at the other two.

Someone stirred from the group of newcomers, though he came with them and was the first to seek them out he was not one of them. Ermac floated over the air to Kotal after passing past Raiden.

"We have brought him as requested" he said emotionlessly reporting to Kotal.

"Yes" Kotal snarled "I can see" he said turning from Ermac to the others, their arrival making things more difficult in an already tumultuous scenario; one in which it was already stacked against him. His fingers strummed his hilt before he took a step forward. "You come at inopportune times" he said aloud his voice composed but sounded as if on the verge of breaking at any moment "What is it that you want?". It was Sonya who answered.

"The Reiko Accords calls for dialogue between Earthrealhm and Outworld" she stated

"I signed no accords!" Mileena spat over Wonder Woman's shoulder.

"I have!" Kotal barked to her, his voice breaking before looking to Sonya who he spoke more calmly to, but no less urgently "This dialogue you want, what is it's purpose? Or perhaps" he paused briefly "who does it pertain to?" he said his eyes drifting over to Superman and Wonder Woman.

"These two" she looked over to the brightly clad heroes confirming his suspicions as he turned back to her "Part of a set" she said blandly looking back to him. Peering over her he saw the other three who came with them. He then looked back to her quickly coming to a conclusion.

"Take them" he said with a wave of his hand "Outworld has no more room for refugees or meddlers" he said dismissively, growing tired of all this.

"Your words not mine" she said before looking away from him. She looked to the other two and let out a sharp whistle. Both stirred at the sound of it, but not from their place. Everyone looked on in anticipation. Cassie leaned over to Jacqui.

"What's with Xena and Sunshine man?". Jacqui shrugged. The two in question seemed to be taking too long, specifically for and at the expense of the parties involved.

"My debt to you is paid" Kotal said to Superman "Here they are as requested" he pointed to Raiden and his group "You have your way home now". Superman moved, but Diana remained in place, defiantly.

"You seem quite the hospitable one" Diana said, though not pleasantly as the circumstances already were not. Kotal's face scrunched up in confusion, but it was Superman who spoke next putting an arm up and between them.

"A moment to process please" he requested before turning over to Wonder Woman who hadn't stirred "Diana" he said low and soft to her.

"I'm a warrior Kal" she said to him as she continued to look over his shoulder.

"I know"

"But I'm a diplomat too"

"I know that too"

"We can't just leave them like these... with these two" she paused looking back over her shoulder to Mileena and then over his before looking back to him "We came to help them Kal. We didn't come here to fight, not this time." The two continued on, in their own small little isolated conversation. But as everything was hinged on them for the moment everyone looked to them. Perhaps none with more curiosity than their fellow heroes, and perhaps none more on edge than the next generation of the Special Forces.

"Why don't you go round the team out?" Cassie said sideways to Green Lantern. He looked down to her before back to Superman and Wonder Woman before he rolled his shoulders.

"Not a bad idea Butter knife" he said as he lifted off lightly in the air. Following in his steps were Captain Marvel and Batman who swarmed around their two members who've been missing for the longest time.

"It doesn't seem right" Wonder woman said.

"The Justice League doesn't topple governments, or intervene in war" Superman added.

Wonder Woman would have responded, but someone dropped in from above.

"Group huddle and we're not invited guys" Green Lantern came to interject touching down to the ground. Captain Marvel and Batman came as well widening the space they took and they were all greeted silently but happily. By their casual reunion to the two and that were now in the middle of the group both literally and metaphorically it must've given others the impression they could join in. Kotal stomped forward coming to Diana who hadn't budged at all.

"Your escorts are here" he fumed and moved to put a hand out to shove Diana towards the portal, but he was stopped.

"Back off!" Green Lantern barked putting himself between the two "If you touch her I'm gonna hit you so far back in time you'll be with the rest of the Aztecs" he threatened and his ring glowed

"If you insist on staying then I will have no choice but to view you as invaders!"

"A fight with us won't end for you"

"I will not be made to kneel again! And I will do as I must for Outworld!" he declared before rolling over to the rest of the Earthrealhm warriors "And if you sponsor such behavior. Then I will have to conclude you are in league with them. Such is clear enough. Tell me is this how Earthreahlm intends to deal with outworld?"

None of them said anything, but they looked as they had stepped on the sharpest egg shell there was. A bead of sweat dropped down Cassie's face as they hung there. It was Sonya who moved first cutting into the group of superheroes and stated everything as it was.

"This is gonna put us in a bit of a bind" she said joining them with much more ease than Kotal had "More so than it already has, but we'll get to that later" she paused making sure her words sunk in "Winner, loser, here" she pointed to the ground "It's not our problem" she paused "Come with us and drop it all"

"What has happened since we last came here?" Wonder Woman hung her head high

"Too much to get into it all here" Batman answered "And we've been gone for far too long"

They were joined by another now, one from outside of their group "He speaks the truth" Raiden said like a sage as he gently approached them "Return with us. Your passage home awaits" he opened his hand and they followed it as it lead through the portal. "It is safe this time"

"Raiden" Superman said astonished as he broke with his troop to go to the god of Thunder. The one he had come all this way to see.

The group continued on in silence, still trying to find some kind of conclusion to the ease and benefit of all. From behind them Hanzo's head turned from one side to the other disgruntled. In that silence Hanzo moved out from the line in front of the portal. Takeda seeing his master go went to do the same, but he held out his arm to stop him and he did so, discouraged. Putting it down Hanzo moved to join the group at Raiden's side. He approached just as Wonder Woman had retorted to Raiden. He swerved in from behind him, his arm outstretched.

"There is more that has happened since you've come here" he said getting their attentions. Superman and Wonder Woman looked to him shocked "They can attest to that" he motioned to Green Lantern, Captain Marvel and Batman. He spoke the truth, but now there was another to acknowledge.

"Well I'll be" Superman said as he walked up to a yellow clad ninja a smile starting to form on his face "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're Scorpion". The ninja went silent for a moment.

"Hanzo" he responded.

"You are from the Netherrealhm" Wonder Woman stated joining Superman's side, her voice just as curious as Superman's "What are you doin here?"

Hanzo looked to her "I came for the princess" he said with a small greeting of a smile, one in which she returned warmly in kind. Recalling when the fought all those years ago on Paradise Island when he was looking for Princess Kitana. But it was different now.

"A delicate balance must be maintained between Earthrealhm and Outworld. For the good of all realms" Raiden came back to them.

"And who would you say this is better left to?" Wonder Woman asked

"This is not our war" Sonya answered.

"So you would leave them to fight each other, just to deal with whoever remains" Sonya nodded "I guess this time it's not a demon you know?" she asked, seemingly scolding her, again looking back to Mileena out of the corner of her eye.

"This is better for Earthrealhm" she assured her.

"For now" Diana seemed to agree dropping her head, but when she brought it back up she had a different conclusion "But I'm not from Earthrealhm" she smiled and trotted off past them alone.

"Uh where's she going?" Takeda asked behind the group, as everyone watched as she stopped before Kotal.

"Alright Kotal so called Kahn" she greeted confidently with her hands on her hips as he grumbled at the title. Those around him inched closer, on the edge of attacking, but she was not dismayed though she did take notice "The fighting is done for today. Take your armies back and she will do the same"

"And what of you? Will you stand down and return home?"

"Yes" she agreed "but only after you will"

"I do not take orders from you"

"Then I shall not leave yet"

"You will not step aside?"

"No" she said defiantly whatever lightness in her voice gone.

"This is not your fight" he advised.

"But I have brought them here. But I will not have blood on my hands. Not like this"

"Another strange warrior" he commented with a roll of his shoulders and head.

"I don't think you've faced a warrior like me" she said the edges of her lips growing into a small grin.

"My fight is not with you"

"It is if you attack the helpless"

"I attack those who threaten Outworld"

"Those who follow you have followed Shao Kahn before, others are here for money"

"She has made her choice time and time again"

"Then lower your weapons and talk of peace! Rehabilitation! End this senseless killing!"

"This is the only peace here" he said holding up his sword for her to see it plainly

"Spoken like a true conqueror!"

"I am not her" he grinded his teeth taking a step forward

"But that doesn't mean your any better. You've already broken your word to my friend"

Kotal's voice rose in anger now "Her deception of you is over. There is no cause for you to defend her!"

"She's just a scarred little girl" Wonder Woman shouted back

"She's a abomination!" he stepped forward and Wonder woman planted her feet to fend off his next attack. "Enough diplomacy!" he raged "You have been tained by her! If you will not stand down so be it!" he raised his arms and his sword with them ready to attack her. Superman stood behind her and crossed his arms.

He'd seen it once already with himself.

Diana hurled her fist down with a blow so powerful that it shook the ground, so violently that they all lost their footing, and fell upon the rupturing ground.

Kotal instead of swinging his sword at her stabbed it down to the ground and held onto it to steady himself. Behind him Erron fell on his back, Reptile his stomach and D'vorah didn't even have time to take off before she fell as well; her prongs reacted by stabbing into the ground and hoisting her up.

From behind Mileena fell forward, but an arm reached out to steady her, looking up she Diana standing unfazed through it all. The only other one to do so was Superman, Green Lantern and Captain Marvel. Batman reached out to steady himself on Superman's shoulder. Captain Marvel held Sonya up, Hanzo and Sub-zero were held in place by Green Lantern.

Back at the portal Cassie fell back and her torso was back at the special forces, her legs in Outworld. Everyone else felt lost their footing as they fell over each other. Takeda fell on his face and went further when did fell on top of him.

The quaking slowed and steadied before the ground became level again. In front of her everyone groaned and grunted.

"Yep" Erron said sitting up and putting his hat on "She's jus' like him".

Looking up Kotal looked to the still firm Wonder Woman and he grinded his teeth. He shifted himself up back to his feet to stare off against her. He shifted in place before lowering his guard.

"Withdraw for the day. Have your battles elsewhere on another day" Wonder Woman repeated.

"You are no Kahn" he grumbled

"I am Diana of Themyscara. Remember that name and heed my warning. Withdraw" Kotal's eyes deadlocked with hers and though his stare was just as powerful he couldn't match hers. He dropped them and turned his back to her.

"Earthrealhm would allow such blatant aggression?" he turned to Raiden "In sight of the Reiko accords"

"Don't look at us" Sonya shrugged picking herself up "We're in the same boat you are". Kotal turned over to them, scanning from side to side. From Raiden on the back to the line of superheroes before him. He stopped at one he hoped would help him.

"Don't be so hard on yourself" Superman said surprisingly genially "It ended even worse with them before" he nodded off behind him where Raiden and the others were.

Kotal grimaced further and looked around again. The Earthrealhmers would not help him here, whether they were powerless or not. Indeed, perhaps there were even stronger forces out there. He would remember these two lessons.

He bowed his head and backed away averting his eyes. His followers followed his begrudging example before he finally showed his back and walked away. When he did Wonder Woman felt confident enough to do the same.

"Nice diplomacy there" Green Lantern said as the heroes reunited as one group again.

"Sometimes the best fight is the one where you never have to" she announced as the heroes walked side by side.

"The ground would disagree" Lantern said leading to a small chuckle.

Looking ahead she saw Raiden, Sonya, Hanzo and many others she did not recognize. But even farther from them she saw Mileena standing isolated from the rest, between Tanya and Rain.

"My work is not yet done" she said as she continued on straight ahead as the group deiced to turn when she passed them as if they weren't there. "Empress" she greeted as she approached the maskless Mileena, giving a small bow when she stopped.

"You have let my enemies escape" she snarled

"And it's time for you to do the same" she said with her hands on her hips "There is no one for you to fight here". Mileena's eyes scrolled angrily to Raiden and Sonya. Her lips curved into toothy sneer.

"Only for you to leave with the enemies of my father"

"They will not harm you either. Not while I'm here"

"Why?" she snarled, turning into a hiss that dragged on at the end.

"If Kitana was my sister, then so are you" she concluded. She raised an arm to her shoulder and brought it down to hers, before moving it to the back of her head, losing her fingers in the matted blackness of her hair. She lowered her hand leaning her head down so they were closer "Be better than Shao Kahn. Don't resign yourself to his fate. He better than him, better than Kitana would be"

She leaned in gracefully and planted her lips onto hers. Mileena's eyes and shoulders fluttered at the cool sweet taste of them before slipping back into her.

From behind them much to the ignorance stood everyone else with looks mixed of shock, disgust, revile and anything in between. Blank stares and gaped mouths watch on in a kind of silent horror. Captain Marvel brought his hands up to block his eyes, but ended up peeking through them anyway. Batman turned blankly to look at Superman.

"Is there something we missed that you want to tell us?" he asked, but Superman had no answers.

Farther away from the rest of them, with the same bewildered look on each face Cassie and the others stood shoulder to shoulder with her mouths gaping open "What the FU-"

With a smack Diana pulled her head away from Mileena who remained limp in her hand. A line of saliva still connected from their bottom lips. Wonder Woman dropped her arm away from her, leaving her to hold herself up.

"Go now" Wonder Woman said. Mileena however was slower to respond, even as she was lead away by Tanya and Rain. Wonder Woman backed up a step or to help push the separation further. They continued to back up until they reached the edge of the jungle, though Mileena remained looking back to Diana. Rain was the first to duck under cover and slink away. Tanya was slower, silently urging Mileena with a tug on her shoulder. She shrugged her off and she slid away as Mileena kept looking back. but then in one slow but sudden more Mileena slunk away back to the forest. She gave one last fleeting look before her face and amber eye disappeared behind and beyond the green leaves and the shadows they cast.

She gave a wiggle of her finger from her raised hand in response before she dropped it. She turned around with a smile no different as she had when she returned from confronting Kotal.

"Ready now?" Green Lantern asked with his arms crossed.

"All my business is settled" she smiled confidently to him "What about you?" he rolled his eyes in response.

"Think we got a few loose ends to tie up" Soyna said looking to each of the heroes "Looking at five of em right now". All others started to converge around the other, forming a circle.

"The sooner we're out of Outworld the better" Sub-zero spoke up as he approached. His words may be true, but his presence was just as shocking to some.

"Sub-zero?!" Wonder Woman let out

"You are here as well?" Superman asked and Sub-zero nodded "Did your grandmaster send you?"

"The grandmaster stands before you" he tapped the talisman on his shoulder. Superman just like he was with Scorpion was taken by surprise, but no less welcomed the development and he smiled.

A silence overtook the group as a quiet reflection came over each one of them.

"Well I'll be" Superman said again in astonishment "Look at all of us" his voice was soft and reflective. Each head rotated from one side to the other, sometimes locking eyes with the one next to them, or looking at the back or side of their face, or sneaking a peek at the person on the other side or across from them. Some were different than when they last met; whether it be age, a beard or an actual face this time. Some were older, some had changed, some were gone and some had stayed the same. People they had fought before, people who weren't even people last time, people who've died and come back.

"Here on Outworld again" Hanzo said cementing Superman's statement as he went from looking at Batman and then to Green Lantern

"We gonna make a mad dash for it like last time?" Green Lantern asked looking from Sonya to Sub-zero

"Don't think that's necessary" Sonya said settling from Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel "But I do know where we should go next"

"Lead the way" Wonder Woman said

"Guess I know what goodbye we're getting from you" Sonya said looking to her before she slung the gun over her shoulder and walked with them, coming up to Superman and Wonder woman's side. The group began to break apart from the circle they formed and began to thin out as one long stretch of line of colors and sizes. The group walked passed Cassie and the others who remained by the open portal; the break in the air behind them leading back to the dull and grimy base on Earthrealhm.

"So we are traveling together again" Wonder Woman said as he walked alongside Superman and Sub- zero.

He put his hands up "Just don't tie me up this time" he said with a coy grin. As he said that, they had past Takeda who had been next to him staring blankly at the others now turned puzzled up to him. They had once against gone unnoticed, save for one brief recognition.

"Thanks for holding the door" Green Lantern said patting a hand on Jin's shoulder before pushing off and through the portal.

The mesh of sand grinding beneath them was replaced by the flat unmoving clank that only hitting bare metal could make. It was one foot followed by it's pair, but soon enough they all made the sound together as they entered the base and found the sky was gone and a roof over their heads and the portal closed behind them.

The group settled in with each other, as they did it allowed the old acquaintances to meet up again.

"Oh the old familiar faces" Superman said as he looked around with his hands on his hips. The last time they were all here was in the presence of the villains of their world as well. And the portal came in handy just as it did now. Though it wasn't Apokolips they were going to now.

"And with an invitation this time" Sonya smiled snidely as she walked past them before turning around to lean on the monitor to face them.

Stepping through they saw Johnny Cage and Kensei talking to a red clad man with his arms crossed and his back to the approaching group. He turned around and though he wore a mask he was recognized by all.

"Flash!" they let out to greet him. The six heroes huddled in their own group keeping to themselves for the moment as they found their last member.

"Not so much here" he joked back at them

"You're here too?!" Superman let out as the group came forward and crowded him

"Well ain't you the popular one" Johnny cracked from behind him. The heroes opened to him though not without questions.

"And who are you?" Superman asked. Johnny Cage and Kensei introduced themselves to the two newcomers to the group, with no small help from the Flash that is.

"Johnny Cage" he said offering a hand that Superman shook.

"He has it on his chest so he can remember" Flash said.

"It certainly helps" Superman said puffing out his own

"A fine blade" Wonder Woman said to Kensei "May I?" she asked. The blind swordsman nodded and offered his to her, in return to show her gratitude she gave him hers.

"I wouldn't pay them too much mind" Sonya said to them "They missed out on the championship match last time"

Across the room, secluded from all the others was a group of people who felt that was more applicable to them. But of course with so many reunions and reminiscing going on, once again four of the younger members of the crowd felt out of the loop and went off to their table.

"Well that killed a Tuesday" Cassie said leaning against a table before a 'pop' of a bubble left her mouth as she began shifting through the texts on her phone. The other three shared her attitude and took their assigned place to the outskirts of the commotion yet again.

But they wouldn't be there too long this time.

As he spoke with Johnny and Sub-zero Superman's eyes suddenly found themselves glancing out over past his blue shoulder to see the four bored looking people slumped around the table in the corner.

"I think some of our fellow heroes went unnoticed" Superman said aloud looking over to them. The four of them perked up as Superman turned to go over to them.

"Your not missing much" Green Lantern said as the six heroes with Superman and Wonder Woman at the spearhead headed over to the other, often overlooked four.

The two groups stood on the verge of each other as the four managed to stand up shuffle and jumble themselves up to face them by the time they arrived. And for the brief interlude between that they just starred off against each other.

"Well you're all awfully quiet all of a sudden "Green Lantern said with crossed arms smirking down at them.

"It feels really weird to start suddenly be acknowledged through all of this" Cassie said with a disillusioned shake of her head.

Captain Marvel placed a hand over Superman's left shoulder and peered closer "They helped us out when we went to rescue Flash" he explained.

"Not to mention you" Batman added, though he was stiff and didn't move aside from rotating his head over to them. Superman and Wonder Woman then turned to each other before back to the kids.

"Well you have my thanks. For that and everything else" he said offering his hand before them. And while they seemed skeptical one of them eventfully shook it.

"We mostly just stood around for that last part" Jin commented aloud. He likely didn't seem to expect a retort from his statement, but he got one.

"We're all part of the same team" Superman insisted

"Well your a bright ray of sunshine aren't you" he said as they stopped shaking, his grip a bit too strong for him though he wouldn't admit it, his shaking of it afterword's proved it " It sounds like you just thanked all the mall cops everywhere"

"Yeah" Takeda chimed in "I don't know we can exactly be lumped into the same category as you guys"

"Taekda!" the strict voice of his master grumbled. "You will show your respect" Hanzo's voice remained grizzled. Clearly his master did not take kindly to his words after he had been given a comment by Superman. Takeda bowed his head and asked forgiveness for his master, but it's when he called him it that it caught Superman's notice.

"Master" he repeated "Your pupil" and he nodded to him "Hm. I should've guessed it" he said putting on knuckle to his hip and the other motioned to him "The colors" he pointed.

"Hm" Hanzo let out.

"That's a little simplistic" Takeda said as Hanzo grumbled to him further.

"You should see my cousin" Superman said "Guess what she's got on her chest?"

"Tits?" Cassie muttered to Jacqui, but she was focused on someone else.

"Wow" Jacqui said in astonishment as she looked at her as well "You're beautiful". Wonder Woman let out a pleased, flattering yet smile to her. Cassie starred at her similarly.

"Wow" Cassie let out equally in awe next to her "You're huge" she admitted more in bewilderment looking up to her.

"That's putting it mildly" Johnny said joining them "On both counts" he put up two fingers.

"You two would be welcomed on Themyscira" Wonder Woman told

"You need more sisters to kiss?" Cassie asked.

"Just you two though. We didn't help at all" Jin crossed his arms and spoke obnoxiously

"It's an island of women" Raiden explained to him "Warriors who serves the gods"

"Well that kinds sounds like us" Cassie turned agreeably to Jacqui "Well for me at least" she shrugged

"It is a beautiful place" Hanzo confirmed "Beyond words or explanations. Worthy of the name Paradise Island"

"I think that was a pretty well explanation" Wonder Woman smiled to him

"Hm" he let out gruffly "I would not be welcomed, for many reasons" he turned his head away in shame recalling the last time he was there.

"Wait-" Takeda gasped "my master beat you?!" he let out before turning to all the others. Wonder Woman and Superman himself even nodded. And when it was said he was the strongest and greatest of those assembled before him, that made Takeda look at this differently as a bid dumb smile came over his face "Well it looks like it went right for one person last time" he shrugged looking to the others whose parents had fought multiple heroes and seemingly little to show for it.

"Not something I intend to repeat" Hanzo half scolded his pupil as he spoke modestly.

"Well I hope that hasn't put you off from traveling" Superman said putting a friendly hand to his shoulder " You should at least see Metropolis. It looks much better since you were there last"

"I've been hearing that way too much lately" Sonya shrugged. With that said the group settled in with each other more, blending and merging until the felt like one solid coherent group. But as quickly and seamlessly as it happened, someone spoke that seemed to break them all up again.

"So what's next on the agenda?" Green Lantern asked aloud "I'd say we might got a bit distracted in our time here"

"I suppose there's only one more destination this time" Sonya answered and every one looked to her "How about a courtesy call?" she asked as her head rolled on it's side.

"Courtesy call?" Green Lantern questioned "Sounds more like return to sender"