Hey everyone, I'm back once again! So, so sorry for the long wait—stress going on within my family. Fortunately, it's nothing related to the current COVID-19 pandemic (as of me writing), thank goodness. But now I return with an all new chapter—and at about the halfway point thus far. So let's get that old ball rolling again, huh? :)

CHAPTER 5

Young Mary Melody, Tork Tiger, and Samurai Jack conversed in what appeared to be Osh-Tekk ruins, somewhere in Outworld.

"The Tarkatans, long extinct," stated Tork, "have also returned."

Samurai Jack pointed out. "Aku will seek them out. He relies on their power."

Young Mary revealed something helpful. "Tork's scouts tracked a Tarkatan war party to the Kytinn's Lost Hive, Yzma's ancestral home. Her hand in Aku's escape makes that our starting point."

"Please advise me of what you learn. I must consult with the Elder Gods."

Just as the thunder god left, teleporting elsewhere via his lightning, young Kimiko Tohomiko walked up to her friend and the current Outworld emperor.

"When do we leave?" queried the Edenian princess.

Tork shook his head. "Your duty lies elsewhere, Princess. I need you to enlist Rubella Mucus. Her support is critical, against both Eris and Aku."

"Surely you can—"

"Ms. Mucus does not trust me. No Shokan has since my victory over Francis, and his eventual exile. Even Pete is unable to convince them—caste system or not."

Young Mary smiled reassuringly at her royal friend. "Ms. Mucus has always respected your opinion more than anyone's. When she hears you support Tork, she'll join us."

Young Kimiko paused for a moment before coming to a decision. "If that is my duty, so be it."

Tork bowed his head briefly in respect and recognition. "Thank you, Princess."

With that said, the Osh-Tekk walked off elsewhere.

Once the current emperor was out of hearing range, young Kimiko whipped her head around toward her green-clad friend and glared. "Are you my friend or his follower?"

Young Mary again smiled with reassurance. "It was my idea, Kimiko. It's in your best interest. Succeed with Ms. Mucus, and Tork will pledge his loyalty to you. There's no bond more sacred to an Osh-Tekk like him."

With a caravan of loyal servants—with Shere Khan, Vanellope Von Schweetz, and Wreck-It Ralph amongst them—young Mary and Tork rode through the desert on the backs of what were considered Outworld's equivalent to Horses (or at least Zebras, judging by their tails and the stripes).

Young Mary sighed in nostalgia. "I remember when we would travel all the time after training, without a care in the world."

Tork wore a thin smile on his face. "My life has changed as Outworld's emperor. Thankfully . . . you have not."

"You haven't changed much either, despite the years. You're still the same noble warrior I met in Aku's court. And now you're emperor. I'm surprised you haven't found a queen."

"Heh. Admittedly, I have tried."

"Yet you failed? Why?"

Tork sighed. "I have found connection with none of them."

After travelling a bit further out, the caravan stopped to both rest and look about their surroundings.

Young Mary pointed outward. "There are fresh tracks leading into the Hive. If Aku's in there, he'll be difficult to find. The tunnels are endless."

Tork faced Shere Khan, Vanellope, and Ralph before commanding, "Set fire to them."

Shere Khan bowed his head, with a fist in his open palm. "As you command."

"On it!" saluted Vanellope. Ralph responded with a grunt.

"If he's hidden," said Tork after facing young Mary, "he will be smoked out."

"Tork," said young Mary, "we don't know who else is in there."

Suddenly, an earthquake erupted, shaking the ground and nearly causing everyone to lose their footing. Bursting out of the ground were an army of giant bugs!

Finding themselves two against two, Tork unsheathed his sword and slashed at one of the bugs, before the other grabbed young Mary with its pincers, dragging her away.

"No!" shouted the Osh-Tekk in desperation.

Down the hole the bugs came from, young Mary screamed—no one able to help her.

The bug crawled backwards down into the nest it came from, before revenant Mary jumped into view in front of young Mary.

Revenant Mary walked up to her struggling past self before commanding the bug. "Hold her!"

Seeing her revenant self raise up her bo-staff, ready to strike, young Mary was able to dodge in the nick of time, resulting in her bug captor getting hit in the face causing it to let her go.

After back-flipping a couple times and turning to face her revenant self, young Mary gasped. "By the Elder Gods, it's true? That is what I become?!"

Revenant Mary narrowed her eyes in contempt. "Blame your loyalty to Kimiko. It led directly to our death."

Young Mary breathed out for a second, glared with determination, and took out her own bo-staff. "Then so be it. I would not trade Kimiko's friendship for anything."

"It is pitiful you choose servitude."

"She and I fight side-by-side, against Aku. His oppression cannot stand!"

They fought. Despite having to obviously compete against her revenant self, who was more powerful than her, young Mary was able to keep up a good fight and defeat her.

"When called for a higher purpose," said young Mary as she look down at her revenant self, "we must serve."

"Ack-Na ! Kot-tek-hah!" shouted Tork's voice from off-screen, in the Osh-Tekk language.

Looking up, young Mary dodged out of the way of Tork and Yzma falling down into the hole.

After he and Yzma got back up and squared off against one another, Tork glared as he gripped the hilt of his sword ever tighter. "You will bleed for your betrayal, Yzma."

The Kytinn hissed. "This One acts only for the Hive's survival."

The Osh-Tekk and the Kytinn locked horns once again, as young Mary watched with anxiety. Unfortunately, despite his skills and strength, Tork was no match for Yzma after she landed a few more punches and kicks, plus one strike with her stinger. Once the Osh-Tekk emperor fell to his knees, the evilly-grinning Kytinn placed a foot on his chest, pinning him down. Yzma was about to summon a swarm of bugs, much like the time she summoned them to execute Vicky, before young Mary rushed in with a flying kick and sent the Kytinn sprawling.

Yzma picked herself back up and faced the green-clad Edenian, ready to fight.

Young Mary readied her bo-staff. "You'd best flee, Yzma. No one shall hurt my mentor and friend."

The fight was on. Compared to the earlier fight, young Mary had no trouble in taking down Yzma.

Young Mary walked over to the fallen/begrudging Kytinn, before holding her staff to the latter's throat. "Wish to survive? Tell us where to find Aku."

Later that day, the caravan overlooked a desert valley below them. In the valley was a camp of Tarkatans—tents as far as the eye could see.

Tork was in shock. "Ghosts of my past. Yzma spoke the truth. We are outnumbered."

Then young Mary had an idea. "Give me a few of your best soldiers. We'll infiltrate the camp and search for Aku unseen."

The Osh-Tekk emperor rubbed his chin in worry/uncertainty. "What you propose is dangerous."

"Of course it is."

Young Mary, Vanellope and Ralph, and a couple other warriors snuck down into the Tarkatan camp, passing one Tarkatan warrior biting into what looked to be a cooked haunch of meat. What kind of meat was it? Knowing the savage nature of such a bloodthirsty species, it would be best left unknown. . . .

Hiding behind a tent, young Mary and her group listened in on a few Tarkatan, speaking in their native tongue.

Seeing that there was no one suspecting them during the conversation, young Mary and her group dashed over to the next few tents over, without being spotted. Hiding behind another tent, they waited for a group of Tarkatan to pass by, as the toothy mutants conversed with one another—Aku's name coming up in the conversation.

Just as they were to run over to another tent, young Mary stumbled across what looked to be a female Tarkatan.

The female Tarkatan was startled by their presence, as she rambled in her language.

With Vanellope sneering down from his back, Ralph raised a fist.

Young Mary whipped herself around and held out her hands to stop him. "No."

(It was a good thing young Mary understood the Tarkatan language.)

The female Tarkatan backed slowly backed away in fright up against what looked like some kind of totem.

Young Mary and her group walked closer as she tried comforting her. "It's all right. We won't harm you."

The female Tarkatan kept rambling.

"We're looking for Aku.

"Aku?" asked the female Tarkatan, before rambling onward.

"Please . . . We only need to—"

Just then, the camp raised the alarm.

"RUN!" shouted young Mary, and run the small group did.

"Green-clad lady should've let Ralph squash Tarkatan!" ranted Vanellope.

Up top overlooking the camp, Shere Khan faced the Osh-Tekk emperor. "They have been discovered."

Tork commanded the rest of his group. "With me!"

Grabbing their mounts, Tork's and Shere Khan's group rode down into the camp.

Young Mary found herself separated from her group, sans Vanellope and Ralph as the latter two ran next to her. The three of them were being chased by band of Tarkatan warriors. Turning around, her staff in hand, young Mary struck down a few of the vicious warriors as Ralph swatted a few more away.

"Green-clad lady run!" shouted Vanellope.

Seeing as how the symbiotic pair were holding off the Tarkatans, young Mary took advantage of running into what looked to be the Tarkatans' food supply area as she pushed past the haunches of meat hanging by hooks. Then, via the chains/hooks, she swung her way over a long fire pit. After landing back on the ground and running a few more feet, she skidded to a halt as she faced another horde of Tarkatans, being led by a snickering Rumpelstiltskin.

Mary scolwed. "All these years and still you exploit others to rise above your station."

Rumpelstiltskin snapped back. "I have risen to my station Mary Melody."

He was briefly interrupted when he and the others saw Tork and his group—as well as Vanellope and Ralph—charge in and fight off more of the Tarkatans.

"Before Aku raised me up," continued the multi-armed prisoner before readying himself for a fight, "Outworlders despised the Naknada. Now they fear us. Tell me it is not progress!"

The impending fight soon erupted, as young Mary was the first to strike. Much like her earlier fight against Yzma, young Mary had no trouble with Rumpelstiltskin as, while he could talk big, he didn't exactly have enough fight to back it up, as he was instantly defeated after a few punches, kicks, and strikes from the Edenian's staff.

Young Mary glared down at the hateful Naknadan. "Fear and respect are not equals."

Tork faced Shere Khan. "Line them up. Execute them."

Shere Khan bowed his head briefly. "As you desire, Emperor."

However, young Mary interrupted the impending execution. "Tork, it is cruel! Many didn't fight us. There are children!"

"You forget," glared Tork, "in my time they joined Vicky in rebellion against me."

"These aren't the same Tarkatans, Tork. A better emperor would offer them a warm hand, not cold steel."

Against her will, young Mary was forced to fight against her mentor/friend, Outworld's current emperor. Even though he was a skilled warrior, Tork couldn't bring himself to really fight against his own pupil/friend. It gave young Mary the advantage to stop his attacks/counterattacks before knocking him off his feet and onto his back.

Young Mary turned her head away. "Your heart has hardened, Tork."

Soon Aku and his generals entered, much to young Mary's and her compatriots' disdain.

Aku looked down at the fallen Tork, before grinning evilly for a long time.

Samurai Jack teleported himself to where the Elder Gods sat. The thunder god looked about the temple in concern as it was reduced to ruins.

Samurai Jack closed his eyes in sorrow. "It is . . . too late."

Floating down, Valerie Gray appeared to the thunder god. "Blame yourself for the Elder Gods' deaths, Samurai Jack. Your actions have irrevocably altered Eris's golden balance of light and dark. Pitch's decapitation was the cap stone."

"You are a paragon of virtue. You should wish evil vanquished!"

"I abide my mother's will."

"You were begotten by Eris."

"As was my brother, Pitch. The darkness to my light. Nature demands equilibrium. Balance is perfection." Valerie placed a hand on the thunder god's shoulder. "You have stepped out of your role, made that balance impossible. That's why the New Era holds no place for you."

Samurai Jack glared. "You will not succeed."

Valerie removed her hand from his shoulder before walking/floating away. "Tork Tiger is captured, Samurai Jack. The combined might of Outworld and the NetherRealm will keep your forces at bay—while my mother finishes her work."

"Do not underestimate Earthrealm's warriors."

"You are right to have been fond of these mortals. They were good souls."

Meanwhile at the Special Forces headquarters, young Boog got new arms. "Man. These arms are an upgrade."

Julie, standing next to him, smiled. "I'm glad you like them."

Young Boog chuckled. "I imagine 'future me' is out kicking butt with these right now."

Julie looked down, a frown on her face. "Sara told you that . . . 'future you' spent time as a revenant, yeah?"

The young soldier sighed. "Sounded horrible. Can't imagine becoming Pitch's puppet. But she says I come back from it."

"The experience haunted Dad. But then he—you—met Mom. She brought you back to life."

"The love of a good woman? I like the sound of that."

"She was Dad's everything. She died last year. Ever since, Dad's stayed on the farm. He feels safer there."

Young Boog looked away, perplexed.

And so adds another chapter to the story. I'm debating on whether to add another chapter or to add the second commentary, since I've been in and out of FanFiction for some time, what with everything going on in my life. All in all, please let me know what you think of the story so far? Are the changes I made okay? I hope they don't detract from the main plot or anything. Until then, stay healthy, stay safe, and stay tuned! :)