Chapter 9B

Butterfly Effect

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

Location /Date / Time Change

Fire Gardens

"Never imagined we would have a Zaterran army on our side." Cassie chuckled as the two walked into the gardens. "Now all we need is Kharon and we're set."

"That's if Grandmaster Hazashi can convince him to help." Toxik said, shaking his arm. "I must admit, it feels weird being in this armor."

"It looks good on you." Cassie confessed before rubbing the back of her head. "So, when this is all over, wanna finally go on that date?"

A blast of energy sent a pulse through the garden, causing Toxik's burn to act up. "It can't be..." He mumbled before turning to his companion. "Get help, now!" He ran further into the sacred place before stopping. There he found the Revenant Scorpion and the Grandmaster Sub-Zero injured on the ground. In front of them was Liu Kang and Raiden, who was holding Shinnok's amulet.

Beyond him was Raiden's brother, Fujin, who no one had seen since the time merger. On the ground was what seemed to be an elderly man with a massive scorch mark on his ornate clothing. "Now, Shang Tsung! The truth!" Raiden demanded.

"That is Shang Tsung?" Toxik asked, pushing himself past the two. "No one has seen him since the battle at the Koliseum. Why is he so old now?"

"I... refused to help Kronika in her schemes." He panted out. "So she cast me and Fujin into a void beyond time... Only in her defeat were we able to break free..."

"She loses?" Liu Kang asked.

"But in the battle, her crown was destroyed." Fujin explained, holding the glowing white and black crown. "Our only hope was to steal the crown, and bring it to you. But Raiden has been blinded by his hatred for Shang Tsung."

"This is not the way!" Liu Kang declared, pushing on Raiden's shoulder. "Shang Tsung is not the enemy this time."

Raiden pulled his arm back and fired a blast at him, only for Toxik to push him aside and take the blast himself. "You, of all people, are going to defend Shang Tsung!?" He asked in shock. "It was his creation that stole your life in Earthrealm, turned you into a killer! How could you ever forgive him!?"

"I'm not doing this because I forgive him." Toxik replied, forcing himself up. "I'm doing this because you're crossing the line. Like when you took my eye. We don't torture our enemies when they come to help us."

Raiden stared at the hybrid before firing another blast at him. Fujin blew the blast away, protecting Toxik. "The realms hang in the balance, and you two defend this unholy alliance?!" He roared to the sky as his lightning turned from blue to red. "Enough of this madness! If you both must die, so be it!"

Toxik stepped forward to fight, only for Fujin to block his path. "My brother is my problem." The wind god declared. "I will signal if I need help." The hybrid nodded before staying behind as the two gods began their clash. Raiden launched a bolt of lightning st the two and Toxik jumped to the side to avoid electrocution.

Fujin drew his dao and charged forward, wind blowing as he thrust forward. Raiden summoned his staff and blocked the sword before spinning around, hitting his brother in the head. Fujin quickly recovered and spun, throwing a kick that sent a blade of wind at Raiden. The staff was sliced in half and hit the thunder god before Fujin nodded to the side.

Toxik slid up from behind and jumped, kicking Raiden in the back. He was sent tumbling forward into Raiden, who grabs his brother and slammed his knee into the face. He swung his dao and the blade, hitting Raiden repeatedly before a palm strike sent him back with the force of a storm. Raiden was suddenly spun around in a storm before Toxik jumped up snd slammed his fists down into the gods face.

Raiden was sent to the ground before vanishing in a bolt of lightning. Seconds later, Toxik was screaming in pain as lightning shot into his back. Fujin suddenly ran up the sky before diving at Raiden, who kicked him back. Toxik fell to his knees and panted in pain, his mind tuning out the sounds of battle. By the time he turned around and stood up, he saw Raiden falling to the ground in defeat. "We are running out of time." Fujin declared before stopping Toxik from going over with a drawn knife.

The lightning god picked up the amulet and stared into the green gem. "I am a fool." He declared as he started walking forward. "I have turned myself into a slave to anger." He lowered his hand and walked forward to his brother. "I will not allow my temper to fracture our resolve anymore."

The group shared a smile, save for Toxik who glared at Shang Tsung as the group walked, the two who watched everything explaining every they had done since they started this mission. They reached a pagoda where the others were waiting, and after quickly stopping a fight against Shang Tsung, explained everything again. "This is joke, Fujin." Liu Kang chuckled.

"Not at all, Liu Kang." The wind god replied. "Raiden's power makes you a Fire God."

"Of course it does." Kung Lao huffed.

"You're just jealous that it wasn't you." Cassie teased.

"Unfortunately, I cannot transfer my power to Liu Kang at the moment." Raiden declared. "First I must free his Revenant from Quan Chi's control."

"We will face the Revenants soon." His brother replied.

"What else can you tell us about the final battle?" Raiden asked. "Any advantage will be useful."

Sand started whipping around as the group started shaking from the storm. Toxik reached out to Cassie and blinked before he stumbled forward, finding Cassie had been frozen in sand. He turned to the side and saw Shang Tsung, Raiden and Fujin were overpowering who he assumed was Kronika with their powers.

An explosion forced him to block as the three immortals stopped. The tornado of fire and lightning came to an end and Kronika was gone. Fujin lowered to the ground snd the crown fell off his head. The others returned to normal as Raiden reached out to his brother. "I am fine, Raiden... but the Crown..."

The two looked over to see Shang Tsung picking it up off the ground, only for Xiuhcoatl to lash out and pluck it from his hands. "My finest work..." He mumbled as he and Toxik glared at each other. The hybrid walked over and offered the Crown to the two Gods. "I will instruct you in its uses."

"What the hell just happened?" Cassie asked as the other five raced over.

"Kronika came here to retrieve the Crown." The sorcerer replied. "We forced her to retreat."

"We must strike while she is weakened." Raiden declared. "We must join the armies at the Sea of Blood. Together, we shall storm Kronika's Isle and take command of the Hourglass."

The others nodded and prepared to leave as only Toxik and Cassie stayed behind. "You thinking what I'm thinking?" Cassie asked.

"That there's no way in hell Shang Tsung is telling the whole truth about his little plan?" Toxik asked back, earning a nod from the blonde. "Shang Tsung cares only about himself, so why is he so eager to help us? And why was he so eager to bring back Sindel?"

"Don't know, but it's not like we can read his mind." She chuckled before slowly turning to him. "You, you can't do that, right?"

"No, but I do have an idea." He mumbled before grabbing her wrist. The two quickly raced through the gardens before reaching Raiden. "Raiden, I have a favor to ask." He then turned to Cassie and shared a smile. "Cassie, can I borrow your toy?"

Koliseum Pit

Two Shokans stood over the injured and blind Shao Kahn, kicking and punching the downed man. They pulled out their weapons to finish him off, only for a scream of purple energy to tear their skin and kill them. Their bodies dropped over to show Sindel standing at the gate. "Wife... it's you..." Shao Kahn mumbled as he pushed himself up.

"Hush, husband." She whispered before running into his arms and hugging him. "The Soul Chamber will heal your wounds. Then we shall discipline Kitana, and take back our throne."

"...Empress?" The revived Edenian turned around to see Sheeva walking into the dungeon. "Tell me I misheard. Tell me you would never betray your daughter."

Sindel let Shao Kahn go and stood up, walking out of the cell. "She takes after her father, Sheeva. Jerod was a weak king, and Kitana will be an even weaker Kahn."

"Weak?" Sheeva asked as the two circled each other. "She defeated Shao Kahn!"

"Yet she lacked the resolve to kill him." The Edenian declared. "Now she will learn. Enemies must be crushed, let they raise again."

"At one point, but now there is a better way to lead." The Shokan declare before the two started fighting.

Footsteps pressed through the sand and stopped in front of the former Kahn's. The light bended around and Toxik stood before Shao Kahn. "How the mighty have fallen..."

Shao Kahn pushed himself up and threw a fist, only for the hybrid to push it aside. "You must be Toxik..." Shao Kahn let out. "D'vorah told me that you killed Mileena..."

Toxik knelt down and stared at him. "She killed my family when I was just a baby. It was merely retribution."

Shao Kahn chuckled and grabbed Toxik's shoulder. "I will kill you for what you've done to her. And then I will turn you into an army to destroy Earthrealm."

"You're so full of greed and hate..." Toxik replied, pushing his arm away. "I will not become a monster like you... The cycle ends here..." He grabbed Shao Kahn's head and pulled it back. With a single swing of his knife, he slit the draconic hybrids throats, ending the life of the Konquerer.

White and black hair wrapped around his neck and pulled him out of the cage, right next to an unconscious Sheeva. "I will kill yyou fir that, you disgusting commoner!"

The hair began to tighten before Toxik pulled up his knife and sliced the hair, freeing himself. "I have no quarrel with you. Surrender and you won't suffer."

"How dare you talk down to me!" The empress growled before charging. Toxik jumped over and Sindel stumbled forward before he turned and slashed her back with another blade. Sindel pulled out her polearm and thrusted forward, forcing Toxik to dodge before grabbing the blade in defense. The Edenian pushed down and the blade cut the palms of his hands before he snapped the blade in half.

Sindel suddenly opened her mouth and a Banshee Scream shot out and deafened the hybrid as Sindel walked forward. Toxik gripped his head in pain before dropping to knee. She soon reached him and grabbed his head before screaming even louder. Xiuhcoatl shot up and wrapped around her neck, cutting her air off.

Toxik, still extremely dazed and confused from the burst eardrums, swung wide and missed the woman. She raised her leg and kicked him in the neck, sending him into a coughing fit. She then pulled his weapon off and tossed it into a filled cage before three tendrils of hair shot forward and wrapped around both his arms and neck, chocking him again.

Toxik dropped to his knees as he gasped for air, looking around for anything to break the hair. His eyes landed on the broken blade and gagged, launching his tongue forward to the metal. Sindel pulled harder and he gagged even more, his tongue hitting the metal. He started pulling it towards him, turning this into a race.

Twin gun shots went off and hit Sindel in the knees, forcing her to let go and hold her injured legs. Toxik gasped for air as he pushed himself up, just in time to see Erron Black and more Shokan's enter the chamber. "Now someone mind telling me what the hell is going on?"

"Why tell when I can show?" Toxik chuckled before whistling. Cassie's drone floated out from the side before it hovered next Toxik and its 'eye' glowing blue. A projection of the last ten minutes started playing, making everyone stare at Sindel.

Sheeva began to wake up and Toxik helped her up. "Queen Sheeva, you lost people to Sindel." The assassin declared. "You have the right to decide what we do to her."

The Shokan queen turned to the injured Edenian. "We shall deal with her after Kronika. Put her in a cell." Toxik grabbed the empress and carried her into an empty cell. He closed the door behind him and turned to see Sheeva offering a hand. "Thank you, young one."

Toxik took her hand and the shook before Sheeva pulled him in and pounded his back. "Don't thank me yet..." He replied. "We aren't done dealing with snakes."

Sea of Blood Coastline

Cassie gave Jax and Jacqui a salute as their ship sailed into the sea. She turned around and came face to face with the past version of her father. "Captain Cage, reporting for duty, sir!... Uh, I mean ma'am."

"Whoa there, Nineties Dad." She chuckled back. "You've already got one bullet wound too many."

"I'm good to go, Cassie." He replied. "Raiden gave me one of his 'Thunder Hands' massages. Speaking of that, where is Mama Bear?"

"Over there." The blonde pointed over the dock. "Waiting for Sheeva at the rendezvous. But we cast off in five."

"And my son has yet to appear." Reptile said stepping forward. "Khamelon is not pleased at this fact, and neither do I. Where did he go?"

Before Cassie could answer, a large portal opened up next to Sonya and her squad. The army men took aim before Cassie's drone flew out. Sheeva and Erron stepped out next before Toxik stepped out between them. The Shokan army stepped out around them, all ready to fight against Kronika.

"Who were you expecting?" Toxik chuckled as the army lowered their guns. The Shokan began helping load the ship as Toxik walked over to Cassie.

"What took you so long?" She chuckled.

"Turns out, stopping an evil Edenian empress from healing her world conquering dragon husband and turning an army of four armed giants to their side takes longer than you thought." He chuckled.

"I see you trusted your instincts." Reptile said, making his son nod. "It is a shame that Sindel was a monster."

Sheeva walked over next to Erron and Sonya. "We are ready to depart." The queen declared.

Toxik stared out at the Sea of Blood and let out a sigh, catching Sheeva's attention. "Kitana is not going to like this..." He mumbled as he climbed onto the Zaterran ship and it took off.

Kronika's Isle

Demons and Cyber Lin Kuei laid on the ground as Raiden lead the army forward. Fujin donned the crown and though he winced in pain, he still managed to blow the gate down. He dropped to his knees and ripped the crown off as Shang Tsung and Raiden hovered over him. "I need but a moment." He declared before turning to Raiden. "Lead the charge."

"Go, I'll cover him!" The past Jax declared.

Raiden took off in a bolt of lightning and the army followed him across the bridge. More demons and robots charged and the two armies clashed. Soldiers were torn to shreds by claws as demons and Cyber Lin Kuei were obliterated by bullets. Raiden pulled his arms forward and electrocuted a section of the army before diving into the field.

Channeling his lightning, he turned them into a pair of blades and started swinging, disintegrating any demons that came close. More started to close in around him and he jammed the swords into the ground, electrocuting the whole area as they dropped over. The Thunder God looked up in time to see the revenant Liu Kang jump into the battle.

The lord of death landed next to his former mentor and the two started to circle each other. "Time after time, Khronika's schemes have pitted us against each other." Raiden spoke. "That cycle must end, Liu Kang."

"You will have to kill me." The undead declared, dropping into a fighting stance.

"I would rather save you." Raiden replied. He charged forward only for several dozen Cyber Lin Kuei to surround him. Several grabbed him and pinned him in place, making Liu Kang smirk.

"You can't even save yourself." He chuckled walking forward. Raiden pulled on his arm, but the robots were too strong and he used too much power before. Liu Kang pulled his arm back and ignited it, only for Raiden to pull a robot into his way, crushing the robots skull.

Enraged, Liu Kang unleashed a flaming kick that sent the god flying back. Liu Kang chuckled before the robots to suddenly fall over and shut down. The pair turned to see two more ships landing on the shore before the gangplanks went down. The Outworld army watched as the head of Frost rolled off, her jaw going slack when it came to a stop.

The army looked up to see Kitana, Jade, Kung Lao, Lui Kang, Sheeva, Erron Black, Kotal, Reptile, and Toxik standing on their respective boats. Kitana closed her fan and the Zaterran army started chanting, firing up the army on foot. The Kahn pointed her fan forward and the multiracial troops charged into battle, Kitana and Toxik at the helm. "It's about time." Jax mumbled.

"Hold on to me." Fujin declared before the two flew into the battle before landing.

Raiden quickly walked over and reached his brother and the cyborg man. "Fujin, the Crown! It is time to end this!"

"I will do it." The wind god declared, unhooking the artifact. "Save your strength for Liu Kang."

"No, brother." Raiden replied. "The Crown is our burden to share." Fujin glanced at the artifact before handing it over to Raiden. "Thank you."

The clap of thunder echoed across the sky before another Raiden landed before them, an unconscious Liu Kang in his grasp. "Your lies are revealed, sorcerer!" He declared, dropping the Revenant.

Fujin stared at the second Thunder God before the first one smirked. He glowed green and transformed into Shang Tsung, a smile on his face. "You should be more vigilant, Fujin." He chuckled. "Now, bear witness as the power to decide destiny becomes mine."

He lifted his hands and placed the Crown on his head, only for Xiuhcoatl to wrap around the artifact and pulled the Crown off his head. "Did you really think I would ever trust you?" Toxik asked as he walked forward, grabbing the crown from his weapon. "I knew you would try something like this, which is why I asked Raiden to send me to Outworld.

"We foiled your plan in Outworld, and now..." He placed the Crown on his head and groaned at the pain, before focusing himself and walking forward. "Now I end your schemes for good!" Toxik nodded and the God's went ahead to clear the path.

"You think you can control that power?" Shang Tsung mockingly asked as he circled the hybrid. "My Crown will destroy you before long, and then I will claim it myself."

"I don't need it to last, I just need it to kill you!" Toxik rushed forward and jumped over the flying skulls summoned by the wizard before slashing into his arm. Shang Tsung countered and delivered a series of strikes before blasting Toxik back with his scroll. Toxik spun up and send a wave of acid at the wizard before charging after it.

Shang Tsung blocked the acid only to get hit with Xiuhcoatl in the face. Toxik delivered a hard kick to the skull before he grabbed the wizard's arms and tearing off the armored gauntlets. Shang Tsung thrust his palm forward only for Toxik to dodge, grab the hand and bite down, tearing off a chunk of the flesh.

The wizard gripped his hand in pain before Toxik spits acid in his face, blinding Shang Tsung. He charges while throwing several knives before throwing his bracelet. Xiuhcoatl wraps around the wizard's bad arm, making Shang Tsung to punch himself repeatedly until blood starts spurting out. Toxik reaches and delivers an 'x' slash with his claws to the chest, ripping out blood. He then channels his father and preforms an acid slide before turning around and throwing an acid ball, breaking the back of the head.

Shang Tsung bounces along the ground in defeat as Toxik ripped the Crown off his head. He walked over and stepped onto Shang Tsung back before spitting onto the soul stealers right hand, melting it to a nub. Shang Tsung cried in pain as Toxik did the same to his left, rendering him defenseless.

Toxik stepped off before picking up the handless man. "And this, is for creating Mileena!" Toxik declared before walking over to the ledge of the pit and throwing him over, letting him fall to his death with a satisfying splat.

Panting, Toxik dropped to the ground before a flaming portal opened behind him. "I was right to put faith in you." Toxik turned to see an odd looking Liu Kang. "I knew you would never trust Shang Tsung, and foil whatever plan he would come up with." He offered his hand and helped Toxik up. "Now come, we have work to do."

"What work?" Toxik asked in extreme confusion. "And where are we going?"

"To a new era." The tattooed monk declared. He turned and walked back to the portal, only to find Toxik standing there. "Is something wrong?"

"I'm sorry, I can't go with you." The hybrid declared, offering the Crown to Liu Kang. "I belong here... with Cassie." Liu Kang smiled and nodded, taking the Crown before walking through the portal as it closed behind him.

You guys wanted it, so you guys get it. Here's the Aftermath version of things, majorly changed up as well. Like hell I was gonna have Toxik blindly trust Shang Tsung like an idiot, so this suspicion is completely line with his character.

I'll be a hundred percent honest, MK 2011 was the first game of the series I've ever played. So I wasn't that bothered by Sindel being an evil queen as others. Would that have changed if I started playing earlier: who knows. But I am fine with this decision by the game makers. I really hope I don't get death threats from this. See ya next time for his intros and Fatalities.

Beta read by General Feng Xiang