Welcome to the Finale of the New Years Special. Last time, Cynder joined forces with Sub-Zero, Hanzo Hasashi, and later Cyrax, to shut down the Cyber Lin Kuei, but not before Bi-Han and Frost escaped with an incapacitated Sektor. Upon returning to the Special Forces base, Cynder learns Spyro and Raiden have gone off to Outworld, no doubt to check the status of finding Shao Kahn. Still a little odd, considering Spyro doesn't trust Raiden. So, what's going on here? Read on to discover...
(Our story resumes in what appears to be an Osh-Tekk ruin, where Spyro and Raiden are meeting with Kotal Kahn, Erron Black, and Jade)
Kotal Kahn: Just like Erron Black foretold earlier, Baraka isn't the only Tarkatan to return. The entire long extinct species has been revived as well.
Spyro: Long extinct? It's only been 27 years since I know Baraka was alive. What happened to them?
Erron Black: It's a long story we don't have time to tell.
Raiden: Knowing how Shao Kahn relies on their strength, he'll seek out their war camp.
Jade: However, one of the scouting parties spotted that exact camp near the Lost Hive of the Kytinn. The ancestral home of D'Vorah.
Kotal Kahn: And given her hand in Shao Kahn's escape, that seems like the best place to start looking.
Raiden: Excellent news. Please keep me informed of anything you may uncover. Spyro and I must consult with the Elder Gods.
Spyro: Deities aren't exactly my strong suit, Raiden. I'll go with Kotal and Jade.
Raiden: Very well then. I wish you the best of luck.
(As Raiden vanishes in a flash of lightning, Kitana joins the team)
Kitana: So, when do we head out?
Kotal Kahn: We are on different missions, Princess Kitana. I need you to convince Queen Sheeva of the Shokan to join our fight. Her aid is essential to defeating Shao Kahn and Kronika both.
Kitana: Wait. You're the Kahn in this timeline, Kotal. Surely you...
Kotal Kahn: That would not be a smart move. Ever since a bloody battle that resulted in the death of Goro, at my hands, Sheeva does not trust me. No Shokan really does.
Jade: But if I remember correctly, Sheeva has always respected you, Kitana. More than anyone else. If she hears you support Kotal, that should turn the tide in our favor.
Kitana: If that is what we must do, then so be it.
Kotal Kahn: Thank you, Princess Kitana.
(As Kotal Kahn and Erron Black leave to secure transport, Kitana starts arguing with Jade)
Kitana: Question. Are you acting as my friend or his consort?
Jade: I will admit, it was my idea. But knowing what we do, it made the most sense. Trust me, get Sheeva's loyalty, and you will secure Kotal's in return. No bond is more sacred to the Osh-Tekk.
Kitana: (Sighs) I can only hope you're right.
Spyro: That's all we really can do, Kitana. Best of luck.
(With that we transition forward in time, to one of the barren plains of Outworld, where a group of Osh-Tekk warriors are riding in on what look like horses, with Kotal Kahn, Jade, and Spyro not far behind them. Spyro on the wing, Kotal Kahn, Erron Black and Jade on horseback)
Erron Black: We should be at the Hive before high noon.
Kotal Kahn: Excellent.
Jade: I can still remember when we used to ride like this alone.
Kotal Kahn: Life has changed for me since becoming Kahn. I'm glad to see you haven't.
Jade: The feeling is mutual, Kotal. You haven't changed much either, in spite of three decades. You're still that same noble Osh-Tekk warrior I met while in Shao Kahn's court, and now, look at you, Kahn of Outworld! No offense, but I'm surprised no one else has claimed your bed and become Queen yet.
Kotal Kahn: Trust me, many have tried. Mileena included.
Jade: Yet, unsurprisingly for her, all of them have failed. Why is that?
Spyro: (Flying in low) If all I've heard of Kotal here is true, he never got over you.
Kotal Kahn: (With a slight chuckle) He's right.
(At the thought of that, Jade blushes slightly as Kotal Kahn looks directly to Spyro)
Kotal Kahn: I can tell you chose to stick with us for different reasons than you told Raiden. What does he not need to know?
Spyro: (Slightly nervously) It's a very long and very odd story.
Kotal Kahn: You needn't be afraid to tell anything to us.
Spyro: It started a few weeks ago, with this strange dream. I saw Raiden decapitating someone I now know is Shinnok, just before Kronika showed up. It appears she was addressing me directly as the dream endsed
Kotal Kahn: (Recalling the story) He did bring Shinnok's head to Liu Kang and Kitana's Revenant counterparts. As a warning I am told.
Spyro: Yet it's that head that gave them power over the Netherrealm's army.
Jade: So you don't trust Raiden because you believe he's the cause of all this?
Spyro: He beheaded Shinnok, which lead to the Netherrealm army arising. Then he had the Special Forces destroy the Bone Temple, which likely lead to Liu Kang and Kitana's present counterparts allying with Kronika.
Kotal Kahn: (Thinking about it) I can kind of see where he's coming from.
Jade: So can I. Worryingly.
Erron Black: Then that makes three.
(As the ride continues, Spyro spots a strange land formation up ahead)
Spyro: Whoa. Keep an eye ahead everyone, either this place has really huge termites or the Lost Hive is dead ahead!
(Upon seeing the giant termite mound like structures, the warriors disembark their horses and prepare to go in)
Jade: (Examining the ground) Fresh tracks. If Shao Kahn is still in there, he might be impossible to find in the labyrinth of caverns.
Kotal Kahn: (To his warriors) Set fires around the Hive.
Erron Black: Good call, Boss. We'll smoke them out!
Spyro: Not recommended. We don't know who else is in there.
(As soon as Spyro says that, the ground starts to shake, scaring off the horses as huge insects emerge from the ground)
Kotal Kahn: But it looks like we're about to find out!
(With that, Kotal Kahn, Jade, Erron Black, and Spyro begin battling the attacking insects, but just as the battle gets going, Jade is grabbed by one of the bugs and dragged into the Hive. Kotal Kahn tries to rush after them, but Spyro stops him)
Spyro: You hold off the bugs and gather your warriors. I'll go after Jade.
Erron Black: (Elated) Just when I thought I wasn't going to get to shoot something!
(With Kotal's understanding assured, Spyro flies down into the Lost Hive, where he sees Revenant Jade about to kill Jade with her bo staff, but Spyro manages to catch the staff and kill the bug holding Jade, allowing her to escape, before turning the battle back on Revenant Jade.)
Jade: (Still stunned at the sight of her Revenant) So it's true? This is what I become in this timeline?!
Revenant Jade: You can blame Kitana for that. Loyalty to her is what got us killed!
Spyro: (Stepping into the battle) Better to have been loyal and lost than to not know what loyalty is.
Revenant Jade: You sound exactly like Raiden.
Jade: And the wisdom shows through. I would not have traded Kitana's friendship for anything in the Realms.
Revenant Jade: Was I really this naive? I'm frankly disgusted by your choice of servitude.
Spyro: This coming from the Revenant? That's ironic. You clearly have lost your way. Shao Kahn's evil cannot be allowed to exist again!
(With that, Spyro begins battling Revenant Jade, with the real Jade by his side through the battle. And after a few minutes of fighting, the Revenant falls to their combined might)
Spyro: You aren't worthy of the name Jade, Revenant.
Jade: (As she collapses her bo staff) Is everything okay up top?
Spyro: I left Kotal and Erron to handle things, assuring him I'd come back with you.
Jade: Then we'd better get moving.
(And just as they start out, Kotal Kahn and Erron Black come falling through the ceiling, with D'Vorah not far behind him)
Spyro: Looks like they came to us!
Kotal Kahn: (As he deflects one of D'Vorah's attacks) You will bleed for your treason, D'Vorah!
D'Vorah: This One's actions are meant to benefit the Hive above all else. Not you, Kotal Kahn.
(D'Vorah gets a few good swipes in on Kotal Kahn, even stabbing him in the shoulder before Spyro steps in, blocking one of her blows)
Spyro: And how exactly does defending Shao Kahn benefit the Hive?
D'Vorah: Kronika has assured the Kytinn's superiority in the New Era. And it is contingent on his survival.
Spyro: She makes too many promises to too many people to be able to keep them. And I know she'll double cross older allies to secure newer ones. So you're fairly low on the totem pole here.
(With that remark delivered, D'Vorah charges Spyro in a fit of rage. At which point, Spyro reflexively begins a battle against her. And after a few minutes, D'Vorah is down)
Spyro: So much for survivor's instincts.
(As D'Vorah tries to get back up, Spyro pins her to the ground, with Jade, Erron Black and Kotal Kahn at his back, the second one holding a pistol at D'Vorah's head.)
Spyro: Look, D'Vorah. I genuinely don't want to hurt you. I know you're just trying to preserve your people. But if I know the history of this world correctly, Shao Kahn is possibly the worst thing that can happen for the Kytinn. (To Kotal Kahn and Jade) Am I correct in saying that?
Jade: Entirely. Shao Kahn was the one who burned this very Hive to the ground centuries ago.
Spyro: Do you not see what Kronika has done? She has you defending the very maniac who would see you exterminated, and even then she's likely to betray you. Join our crusade and we can insure this tragedy never happens again. To the Kytinn or any others.
(After hearing this, D'Vorah appears to see the logic in Spyro's words.)
D'Vorah: (Relenting, or is she?) There is wisdom in your words, dragon. Kronika has played This One for the last time. The Kytinn serve her no longer.
Spyro: Good to hear.
D'Vorah: And as a token of our new alliance, This One will take you to Shao Kahn's last known location. But be warned, you are not exactly prepared for the battle to come.
(With that we transition forward in time again, to a cliffside where Spyro, Kotal Kahn, Erron Black, Jade, and D'Vorah stand overlooking a huge Tarkatan camp)
Kotal Kahn: Ghosts of my past! (To D'Vorah) I see what you meant now, D'Vorah. We are outnumbered.
Jade: I've got a plan. Spyro and I will go in there and scout the place. Hopefully we'll find Shao Kahn while remaining unseen.
Kotal Kahn: This proposition seems dangerous, especially for just the two of you.
Spyro: You needn't worry, Kotal. I've been through way worse than this. If we get into any trouble, I'll send up a fireball. You can send your troops in then.
Erron Black: Sounds like it could work.
(After that, Kotal Kahn relents, allowing Spyro and Jade to sneak into the Tarkatan camp, and for a while, they are successful at avoiding detection by the many Tarkatans running around, some of whom are literally eating corpses, until one female Tarkatan catches them off-guard. Panicked, she starts speaking in Tarkatan, only for Spyro to try and negotiate with her)
Spyro: (Whispered) Don't worry, we're not here to harm you. We just want to know where Shao Kahn is.
(Despite this, her initial panicked speech has gathered attention, as evidenced by one of the other Tarkatans signalling their comrades via a war horn.)
Jade: Looks like our cover's blown!
Spyro: Better warn Kotal!
(With that, Spyro releases a fireball into the air above, giving Kotal Kahn the warning he needs to rally his warriors, and D'Vorah to attack. Meanwhile, Spyro and Jade are fighting off an army of Tarkatans while on a cart of skinned human bodies)
Jade: Remind me how you talked Kotal into doing this exactly?
Spyro: This was your idea!
(As the army shrinks due to their fighting, Spyro and Jade attempt to escape using hanging meat hooks over a coal fire, with the Tarkatans following them, only to mostly get decapitated by slinging meat hooks. Eventually though, Spyro and Jade make it off the meat cart and eventually into a central area of the camp, where Kollector is waiting as the Tarkatans surround Spyro and Jade.)
Jade: (Seeing Kollector) Even after all these years, you still exploit others to improve your station, Kollector. I see some things never change.
Kollector: I am at my station now, Jade. Now that Shao Kahn has returned.
(As all of this is going on, Kotal Kahn and the others have arrived. Kotal Kahn is literally hacking and slashing through Tarkatans, D'Vorah stabs a few of them, and Erron Black shoots others out while Jade and Spyro prepare to face Kollector)
Spyro: Anyone who profits from Shao Kahn's reign is no ally of mine.
Kollector: I would be if you knew my people's past! Before Shao Kahn raised me up, the Naknadans were despised by all of Outworld! Now, we are feared by all under the Kahn's rule! That is what I call progress!
Spyro: Funny, I call it tyranny.
(With this, Spyro begins to duel Kollector. The Naknadan's four arms make the battle twice as difficult for Spyro, but he ultimately emerges on top with Jade backing him up.)
Spyro: Fear doesn't hold a candle to respect, Kollector
(While Jade and Spyro battled Kollector, Kotal Kahn's forces have arrived and rounded up the remaining Tarkatans. As this happens, Kotal Kahn tries to gather information from some of them, hoping to learn where Shao Kahn is, but nobody says anything. At this point, Kotal Kahn has had enough)
Kotal Kahn: (To his forces) Line them up, and execute them.
Erron Black: Way ahead of you, boss.
(At their Kahn's orders, Kotal Kahn's forces prepare to kill off the Tarkatans in the camp, but just as he's about to give the order to do so, Spyro headbutts him to the ground)
Spyro: Are you out of your damn mind, Kotal?! Almost none of these people fought against us! Most of them are children!
Kotal Kahn: You said yourself your history lesson of this world was incomplete. Allow me to finish it for you. In this timeline, the Tarkatans stood with Mileena in her rebellion against me.
Spyro: So that's why you hunted them to extinction!? You forget Kotal, these are not the same Tarkatans you slaughtered. Though it is possible many of their younger selves are here, they don't know what their future selves did in this timeline!
Kotal Kahn: I am beginning to doubt Cynder's description of your respect.
Spyro: And I'm starting to doubt your "honorable nature"! A real ruler would offer those here who did not fight us aid, not an executioner's blade!
(In a fit of rage, Spyro throws his punches against his ally, Kotal Kahn. While Kotal Kahn may indeed hold the advantage in this environment, Spyro's rage is enough to knock him to the ground)
Spyro: If this is how you really are, then Cynder and I erred in siding with you.
(As all of this happens, the crowd begins to disperse in fear, as Shao Kahn himself approaches.)
Shao Kahn: I must admit, I am impressed. Kotal was one of my best generals in my time.
Spyro: You must be Shao Kahn. You're much shorter than I expected.
Shao Kahn: As much as I want to put your head on a spike, I have no intention of harming you. For now.
Spyro: For some reason I doubt that very highly.
Shao Kahn: Surrender that pretender Kotal, and you will make it out alive.
Spyro: His policy with the Tarkatans may haunt my very soul, but you... never.
Shao Kahn: (Summoning his war hammer) Then so be it.
(And just as things appear to be building towards Spyro facing Shao Kahn, a bolt of lightning appears, as Raiden settles next to him.)
Raiden: If you wish to attack them, you will have to go through me.
(And just as Raiden readies his lightning for battle, a new voice can be heard)
?: Cease this folly, Shao Kahn. We still need him alive.
(And with that, a light emerges before consolidating into a new player, a female figure clad in green, with green stones floating behind her head)
Raiden: Cetrion?
Cetrion: Indeed.
Spyro: Who's the Elora ripoff?
Cetrion: (To Spyro) I am Cetrion. Goddess of Virtue and Light.
Raiden: And killer of the Elder Gods!
Cetrion: Their existence was undone by your folly, Raiden. Not mine. Your actions have shattered Kronika's balance of light and darkness. Decapatating Shinnok was merely the capstone.
Spyro: The Goddess of Virtue allies herself with Shao Kahn, probably the most evil person in the camp right now. I have a feeling this isn't some duty of yours.
Cetrion: Concept-wise, no. Filial, yes. I abide the will of my mother.
Spyro: Mother...? You're Kronika's daughter!
Cetrion: And Shinnok her son, my brother.
Spyro: The darkness to your light, I take it.
Cetrion: Exactly. You understand better than anyone. All nature demands equilibrium. Balance is true perfection. Yet, Raiden's actions have thrown this balance into an impossibility. And thus, for stepping out of Mother's role for him, he will not exist in the New Era.
Raiden: You and your mother will fall.
Cetrion: Do not be so sure. As it stands, the Netherrealm is already on our side, and once Kotal Kahn is taken care of, Outworld will join us.
Jade: (Summoning her bo staff) There will be no chance of that.
(As Spyro and Jade ready themselves to battle Cetrion, Raiden stops them allowing Cetrion to somehow levitate the unconscious Kotal Kahn off the ground and prepares to transport him in a flurry of sand, much as Kronika does)
Spyro: (Outraged) Raiden, what the hell are you doing?!
Raiden: Cetrion is stronger than she appears. It is not worth the risk.
Spyro: You know what Raiden? SCREW YOU!
(At this moment, Spyro fires a blast of Aether straight at Cetrion's face, sending her flying backwards briefly)
Cetrion: You dare?!
Spyro: I dare.
(Now angrier than ever, Spyro pounces at Cetrion, only to get slammed across the face by Shao Kahn's war hammer, but somehow he's not unconscious, but he is bleeding and his horn looks chipped. Though Spyro perseveres)
Spyro: You're going to have to try a lot harder than that!
Cetrion: This power... it's beyond anything I've ever seen!
Shao Kahn: All the more reason he must die!
Cetrion: Hold, Shao Kahn. He may prove useful. Mother must know about this. (Levitating Kotal Kahn again) Besides, we have what we came for already. Let us go.
Shao Kahn: I already know you'll live to regret this decision.
Cetrion: Now, Shao Kahn.
(Thus begrudgingly, Shao Kahn is teleported out of the area alongside Cetrion and Kotal Kahn, leaving Spyro fuming, mostly at Raiden, whom he tackles shortly afterwards)
Spyro: GIVE ME ONE GOOD REASON WHY I DON'T END YOU RIGHT THIS SECOND, THUNDER GOD!
Raiden: I was attempting to save your life, dragon!
Spyro: SO YOU WERE WILLING TO SELL KOTAL OUT TO THE ENEMY!?
Raiden: You would do well not to doubt me!
Spyro: That is exactly what your future self had said before the raid on the Netherrealm! If I wasn't holding back against you for Liu Kang's sake I would...!
(Spyro doesn't even get to finish his thought as his head begins aching with a ferocity hitherto unforeseen, causing him enough pain that he simply cries out before collapsing, Jade and Erron Black rushing to his side to help him up)
Jade: What just happened?!
Raiden: He has been having headaches since the timelines merged. Perhaps Shao Kahn's blow triggered another one.
Erron Black: I'd say its more frustration. At you.
Raiden: Either way, I will take him back to the Special Forces, they should be able to treat him there.
(And with that, Raiden transports himself and Jade out of the Tarkatan camp as our tale ends for today)
And that concludes the New Years Special. Well, that was a lot to take in all at once. So Kotal Kahn is now in Shao Kahn's custody, and Spyro is seemingly justified in distrusting Raiden at this rate, as he did not stop them. But, what was that surge of pain all about? We know Spyro gets temporal headaches from this scenario, but that was a pretty bad one. Now I have a feeling a lot of you have played Mortal Kombat 11 by this point and might be able to guess why Spyro's headaches are so bad. Please, don't spoil it for anyone. And before anyone talks about D'Vorah's defection to Spyro's side, yes I do know what she ends up doing later in the story. Don't worry, I have plans for her. More on that later. So, what awaits as this messed up plan to stop Kronika continues? Tune in next time, and next year, to find out! Same time... same channel!