Chapter 9A

End of an Era

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

Location /Date / Time Change

Sea of Blood

War drums were beaten as Kharon steered his fleet. Raiden stood next to the boat master as Sub-Zero and Scorpion stood behind him. The god glanced over to see the Special Forces army on the next boat. The young Jax loaded a gun with a magazine before Jacqui handed him a spare. Cassie stood at the helm and glanced over to the next ship: the Zaterran one.

Lizard people moved to the side as Khameleon drew her hand over Toxik's scared face. The last of the war paint dried and Slyzoth offered his son a hand. Toxik took it and stood up, his people ready to fight. Raiden glanced to the other side to see Kung Lao walk forward to the helm, an army of sitting monks ready.

Kitana Kahn walked through the cheering Outworld ship, nodding at Baraka, Queen Shiva, Erron Black and lastly her oldest friend Jade. The blood splashed against the ship as a fog rolled in. A massive ornate ship came into view, followed by a second. Raiden spoke up for the first time, loud enough for all to hear. "If Kharon falls, our fleet cannot sail. Protect him at all costs."

The large ships built up speed and crashed into the sides of the fleet. The Zaterrans and others stumbled to the ground before they pushed themselves up. Cyber Lin Kuei jumped off the larger ships and landed on the wooden boat before the fights started.

Reptile swung his claws and sliced through the gut of one before delivering a spin kick to another. He jumped onto it and sprayed acid into the face, melting the metal down before he split the skull in half. He jumped over a flying ninja before dropping down slamming it to the deck. Acid then dripped off his feet as he spilt the robot in half and then ducked a punch.

Khameleon spun her falchion around her and sliced the arms off one robot before grabbing the skull and crushing it. She then spun and impaled three through the head before pulling her sword off, taking the skulls with it. The bodies fell over and the heads dropped off before she slid over acid and kicked one off the ship.

Toxik stabbed a cyber ninja in the body repeatedly before it dropped dead. Xiuhcoatl then slithered into his arm and he swung the snake, turning it into a whip that he then swung over head. The weapon went clean through the body of one before he pulled up. A bullet of red flew past him and he turned to see Scarlet drop down from the ship.

"Shao Kahn is dead, so why do aid Kronika?" Toxik asked, walking over.

"Kronika will give me the life I deserve." The blood mage declared, drawing her knife. "Never again will I be hungry or cold." The two pulled their arms back and their blades clashed. Toxik pushed against her and grabbed her head, slamming it into his knee. She stumbled back and turned before summoning a blood whip.

She swung her weapon and Toxik rolled to the side before charging. Skarlet crossed her arms and then opened them fast, creating a blood cage around her. Toxik came to a stop and the cage died before a pair of tendrils held his arms. The Blood Mage walked forward and sliced against the chest before blasting him into a crate.

She rushed forward and thinking quickly, Toxik grabbed a rope and threw it around her neck. He pulled hard and she started chocking before she grabbed her knife and stabbed into herself. She turned into a puddle of blood before appearing behind him. She stabbed into him before spinning him around. Pulling her blade back, she moved in for his neck as Toxik raised his arm.

Skarlet's blade snapped against the armor and Toxik grabbed her neck. Digging his claws into her flesh, he ripped out her jugular and forced a ball of acid down the hole. Skarlet stumbled back as her torso started melting. Toxik kicked clean through the body before slamming his leg down, finally killing the blood mage.

The assassin dead, Toxik turned back to the mass of robots and found his people in danger. He rushed over to help only for something to hit him in the back, sending him into a crate. He turned around and saw the Kollector walked forward and pulled a pair of blades out. "And now you show yourself."

"Kronika was a fool to let you exist." The Naknadan declared. "I will rectify that this day." He pulled out a bola and threw it high, trying to wrap around his neck. Toxik grabbed the weapon and pulled it apart before the Kollectors mace shot forward. Toxik did the same with Xiuhcoatl and while his wrapped around the Naknadan's neck, the mace slammed into his gut and sent him to the ground.

The Kollector was pulled forward and crashed into the deck. Toxik quickly pushed himself up and pulled harder on the noose, before the debt Kollector vanished in blue fire. "You never could fight one on one, could you?" Thinking quickly, Toxik turned and stabbed into his shoulder as the foe snuck up behind him. He turned the blade and sliced, taking off an arm.

The Kollector pulled out his twin blades and stabbed into his back, only for the blades to snap against the armor. "That's not going to work." He grabbed the limbs and kicked him back, taking them with him. The blue skinned limbs were thrown over the ship as the Kollector stumbled back, blood dripping from his missing limbs.

Toxik slid over acid and kicked him into the air before grabbing his feet. He pulled Kollector forward, impaling him on the ships anchor before pulling down, ripping the body in half and impaling the head on the hook. "Your debt is paid."

The mob of robot ninjas suddenly fell over and Toxik started to race over to aid the injured. "How many have we lost?" He asked, tending to a female Zaterran.

"Not many, but we cannot lose focus now." Khameleon declared, making Toxik nod. As he applied the bandages to a warrior, Kharon shouted for all to hear.

"LAND HO!"

A horn rang out as Toxik looked over the railing. "What is that?" He asked aloud, seeking a small skiff rocket forward. A burning smell filled his nose and he instantly put it together. "RAIDEN!" He raced over to jump onto the main ship when a sticky substance hit his feet, sending him to the deck.

Toxik glanced over to see D'vorah landing on the boat, her pincers popping out of her back. "This One did not expect Zaterrans today." She declared, her head twitching as she walked over. "They will make a nice snack for our children."

Her back pincers reared back and thrusted forward to stab Toxik, who leaned out of the way before pushing himself up. Xiuhcoatl jumped off his back and latched onto D'vorah, giving him time to melt the mucus holding him in place. He stood up in time to catch his sentient weapon as the Kytin woman threw it back at him.

"No one else will die from your treachery." Toxik replied, drawing his blade. "Today is the day your sentence will be carried out." The bug woman waved her arms and a swarm of bugs flew at him. Toxik opened his mouth and acid sprayed out, melting the swarm. D'vorah flew forward and tackled him to the ground. Toxik rolled back and kicked her off before she stood up.

Mucus shot out of her palm and Toxik jumped over it only for a stinger to strike his boot. He grabbed the appendage and flipped the Kytin onto her chest. Toxik unfurled his whip and it wrapped around her pincers. The snake bit down and her fangs ripped out the stingers, making D'vorah cry out in pain. "Does it hurt, traitor?" Toxik asked as he walked over.

He placed his boot on her chest and pushed down before pulling out a knife. D'vorah reached up and grabbed his hand, but he overpowered her and slowly pushed it into her neck. Blue blood began to gargle out before he sliced up, splitting her head in fucking half. "Justice is done."

A pulse of power caught his attention and he jumped off the ship. Xiuhcoatl unfurled in his hand and he swung it, whipping him to the main ship. He found Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Kitana and Kung Lao, as well as the elderly Jax. They all watched in amazement as Liu Kang stood up, glowing tattoos covering his arms.

His eyes were glowing as fire and lightning rolled off his arms. "Liu Kang?" Sub-Zero asked, stepping forward.

"I am... and I am not." The monk replied.

"What happened to Raiden?" Jax asked.

"He is... a part of me now." Liu Kang answered as Kitana stepped forward. "Bound to my soul. He made me a god, for now at least."

"A god?" Kitana repeated in disbelief. "Incredible."

"Now he's out of her league." Kung Lao chuckled to Toxik.

"My Revenant counterpart, I have absorbed his knowledge of the Keep, of Kronika's plan." The newly made god declared. "I know where to find the Hourglass. We can beat Kronika."

The army leaders quickly returned to their boats as the isle of Kronika came into view. "Brace for Impact!" Kharon shouted.

The ships made landfall soon after and Netherrealm army charged them. The plank went down as Sub-Zero slid over ice and froze two demons before destroying one with an axe swing. Scorpion teleported into the middle of the swarm and a spiraling inferno sent five demons flying. He turned and punched clean through a demon before ripping out its heart.

The Special Forces boat destroyed the docks before the army climbed out. Grenades lobbed into the charging demons before they detonated as Cassie, Jacqui and the young Jax lead the firing squad. A third boat crashed into the land and the demons boarded it, finding it empty. Blood began spraying and necks were snapped, leaving the outline of the Zaterran army before they charged, pushing them off.

The fourth boat tore through the isle and the monks jumped onto the oars before running down. They reached the front and began fighting the hoard, Kung Lao leading the charge. The final boat landed and the entire Outworld army jumped off before charging the oncoming horde. Kitana folded her hands and stabbed them into a demon as Sheeva merely crushed the skulls of two at once.

Storm clouds began gathering overhead before they spiraled downward, revealing Liu Kang in fiery tornado. He ignited his body and dived at the horde like a meteor. The impact resonated across the land before the dust settled. Liu Kang alone stood up and began walking towards the keep, the army cheering and charging after him.

The demons the survived the impact huddled against the door, only for the new god to thrust his hand forward. Electricity shot out and roasted the undead before they fell over, having been cooked from the inside out. The last of them dropped as Liu Kang walked to the door. "Stand back." He ordered the army before reaching the door.

The god pulled his fist back before it caught fire and he slammed it forward. The door exploded backwards and the shockwave sent the demons behind it flying off the bridge. The army of light charged forward with Liu Kang at the helm. Kitana and Kung Lao followed suit as surviving demons charged. Both Jax's dealt with a demon as Cassie and Toxik raced side by side.

Two demons charged the pair only for Toxik to jump over them and stabbed into one. Cassie pistol whipped it before jumping up and diving with her drone. She hit the demon before grabbing a blade thrown by Toxik. She stabbed into its arm before Toxik kicked it back. Cassie shot it up the body before Xiuhcoatl grabbed it by the neck and pulled its head off as Cassie blew the brains out of the other.

The two watched as Liu Kang, Kitana and Kung Lao entered the keep. "We hold this position, no matter what." Jade declared before a shrieking noise shook the bridge. Everyone turned to the side as an undead Sindel floated over with another horde of demons. She whipped her head back and the hair grabbed Cassie's hand before pulling her over as the horde charged.

Cassie rolled along the ground as Sindel chuckled over her. Her hair reached back and wrapped around a charging Toxik before slamming him to the ground. "I will deal with you later." She declared before her hair grabbed a large rock and slammed it onto his legs. They snapped and he cried in pain as Cassie pulled her gun.

The Revenant merely had her kwan dao and sliced the firearm in half. The drone flew over and fired at her, only for the undead to move to the side and unleash a scream that destroyed the machine. Sindel blocked a kick from Cassie before slamming her elbow down, destroying the kneecap.

Cassie gripped the leg as Sindel took to the air. Toxik reached out and had Xiuhcoatl grab his girlfriend and pull her over, making the queen's heel dig into the ground. "Help me get out of here." He begged as he started pushing on the rock. Cassie started pulling on the rock and it gave enough space for his weapon to slither underneath before expanding, sending the rock flying into Sindel.

"Can you fight?" She asked in concern before Toxik pushed himself up.

His legs collapsed immediately and he stumbled back to the ground. "Cass, I'll hold her off. Get out of here!" He declared as he drew a pair of knives.

"How lovely." Sindel chuckled before spinning her hair. "Unfortunately, you will both die today." She unleashed a Banshee Scream and the two were pushed back over the cliff. Toxik grabbed onto Cassie and held her tight as they braced for impact. Suddenly, time began moving in reverse and they were flying upwards.

The entire in invasion was going back to the shore. From Toxik's belt, Xiuhcoatl suddenly bit down on her owner, making him stumble forward. "What happened?" He wondered as he saw the 'sun' going backwards. "Kronika is starting to restart time... We need to-"

Toxik turned and watched as the entire army of light running in reverse. He pulled on Reptile's arm only to fall over, sending him the ground. He pushed himself up to see The Special forces reboarding their ship. "Cassie..." It was the last time he would ever see her as the ships sailed off in reverse.

A growing caught his attention before he was thrown into the lapping waves. 'Is it the robes... are they protecting me from Kronika's influence? It must have to do with distance from her as well.' Pushing himself up, Toxik turned to the mob of demons and sighed. He pulled out a knife as Xiuhcoatl hardened into a sword. "FOR ZATERRA!" He charged into the swarm and started swinging his blades.

Heads were sliced off into the sky before Toxik jumped up and summoned as big a ball of acid as he could before throwing it down. The demons hit melted in pain before Toxik landed. A horned demon came up from behind and stabbed into his shoulder before he turned and punched it back. He stabbed upwards with a knife and killed it before another came up and sliced his ankle.

He dropped to his hands and the army of demons started piling on him. They swung their weapons and bloodied the man before his weapon grew and knocked the horde back. It hissed at the army before a bolt of lightning came down and struck her. She cried in pain before one demon jumped onto her back and sliced her throat.

She roared, toppled over and shrunk to her small size before a black boot crushed Xiuhcoatl under its boot. Beaten, battered and bloodied, Toxik pushed himself up to his knees. The demons parted as the Revenant Nightwolf walked forward, his war axe in hand. "It is not too late. Aid Kronika against Liu Kang now, and she will bring your people back."

In a final act of defiance, Toxik looked up and spat blood into the face. "I'd... rather die... with... honor..." Each word was a struggle to get out as more blood dripped out of his mouth. "Than... live... in shame..." His hand had been working and he pulled out a knife. Nightwolf readied to fight only for the hybrid to flip it around and jam it into his own gut.

It was something he read about in a book he read at the base. Warriors of the past called it 'Seppuku', and it was a means to die with honor. He then gripped the blade with both hands and dragged it across his torso. The pain was extreme, but he would suffer through it.

Nightwolf merely glared down at the dying man before grabbing his head. He pushed it up and swung his axe, severing the head. Before his brain ceased to function, Toxik saw a bright emanating from the keep before a white blast overtook everything.

Liu Kang's New Era

"No, no, no..." A brown haired, blue eyed man walked through the aisles of a small pet shop, studding the reptiles in the glass boxes. He wore a black shirt with a red open snake jaw underneath a green faux snakeskin jacket. He had studded black pants and wore simple brown shoes. "All these snakes have no life to them. I need something with a bit of fire in their-" He stopped at another cage, this one an Emerald Tree Boa.

The snake stared at him before he raised his hand to the glass. The serpent stared at the limb before its tongue flicked out, as if curious about the appendage. The man closed the fist and snake pressed its head against the glass. "...you're the one." He smiled before looking down the aisle. "Hey, I'd like to buy this snake. Hello?"

No one answered his calls much to his annoyance. "I'll be right back." He told the reptile before he walked through the store. He quickly reached the counter. "Hello? I'd like to buy an animal." The man looked down and saw a bell before quickly ringing it.

"Sorry, sorry. My mom called." A blonde haired woman walked out of the office and turned around. She had her hair in a pony tail and wore a blue tank top underneath a white sweatshirt that just kept her black apron in place. Her legs were covered by blue jeans and she wore black and white shoes. The man could only stare at the beauty of her before she coUgh Ed, getting his attention "... can I help you, sir?"

The man shook his head clear and cleared his throat. "I-I'd like to buy your Emerald Tree Boa."

"You sure?" The clerk asked. "That little fella has been nothing but trouble when we have to feed him. He's a monster."

"No animal is a monster." He replied. "Besides, I'm up for the challenge."

"Tell you what. You manage to pull it off, and I'll go out with you." She declared, shocking the man. "But I'll need to see it at your home, not a picture. Deal?"

"Deal." He nodded as the two shook hands.

"Name's Cassie. Yours?" She asked as the two walked towards the cage.

"Noel." He answered as the two reached the snake. "And this little guy here is Xiuhcoatl."

This was the planned ending for this story and then I would do Intros and Fatalities for him. That would end this story and the poll associated with it as well, at least until MK12 came out. But then they dropped Aftermath on us and A. blew my mind, and B. changed the ending for this story. But I was kinda locked in after last chapter, so this is just the standard story ending. Hence Chapter 9A.

I have plans for an Aftermath version of this story too, but I wanna know what you guys want first: Intros and Fatalitles, or the Aftermath version of this ending? Both are gonna get done, it's just a matter of what order. And be sure to leave your thoughts in the reviews as well.

Beta read by General Feng Xiang