Back at the island's arena, Shang Tsung, his bodyguards, and the monks have taken their places once again. Notably, Quan Chi now stands by the Grandmaster's throne for some undisclosed reason. The Kombatants present at the last fight are back again, waiting for the next match. Rei stands at Raiden's side alongside Liu Kang, the Asali choosing to instead braid a part of her hair out of boredom. The masked guard that was Kung Lao seems to catch Raiden's eye, causing him to gasp as he receives another vision; this one reveals Kung Lao running at Baraka. Raiden realises the true identity of the guard at once and leaves his place. Rei watches for a second before shrugging and resuming her braiding.
"Pay attention, Rei." Corliss speaks. Rei managed to give her the finger while she was still braiding, Corliss' heavy sigh being heard.
"Kombatants! The next match will now begin!" Shang announced.
In a burst of hellfire, the one known as Scorpion teleports onto the arena floor. Johnny gasps in awe, and even Liu Kang looked impressed. Rei, however, looked on in disinterest.
"Watch yourself around Scorpion, Rei. This hellspawn is no joke." Corliss warned, Rei scoffing in amusement.
"I can take care of myself." She mused back quietly as to not draw attention to herself, "He's no threat to me. I've tangled with hellspawns before. What makes Scorpion so different?"
"Rei, your brother, the Seven Devils, and Lady Vendetta don't count as hellspawns."
"Scorpion! Spector of the Netherrealm!" Shang Tsung introduced the Shirai Ryu, "Resurrected by the sorcerer Quan Chi! Who among you is worthy of this challenge?"
Scorpion looked around, as if searching for someone. "Where is the Lin Kuei Sub-Zero? He killed my family and clan. I will have his head!"
"Calm down, Edgelord." Rei says without thinking. Which resulted in a fireball getting thrown her way, the girl barely dodging it. "HEY!"
"Watch your tongue, lest I cut it out!" Scorpion threatened.
"Excuse me?" Rei looks mildly annoyed, "Is that a challenge?"
Shang Tsung immediately realized this would be a bad idea, remembering what Ti Fa Rin did to Outworld's fighters all those years ago. So much rug burn, bright lights, and dark hellfires… it made him shiver in pain remembering it.
"There will be no challenging the Asali, Scorpion!" He orders. Scorpion was about to say something, but Quan Chi gave him a glare that made him stand down. While all that was going on, Raiden approaches the disguised Kung Lao, who didn't even notice him until he spoke.
"I know it is you, Kung Lao…" Raiden spoke in a whisper so no one else heard him, "The Shaolin monks chose Liu Kang to represent your order in this tournament."
Kung Lao scoffs, not turning his head to face him. "I am Liu Kang's equal!" He corrects, "I deserve to be here."
"That remains to be seen." Raiden shot that idea down. Kung Lao seemed to took offense to that, turning to him.
"Watch and see." Raiden finds both the robes and mask thrown at him, Raiden looking very done with the monk as he steps forward.
"I accept the challenge!" Kung Lao declares.
"Kung Lao?" says a confused Liu Kang.
"Hi Lao!" Rei greets happily, the monk waving at her. Liu Kang looks at her.
"You two know each other?"
"Saved his ass from Tarkatans with my shoe when I first got here!"
"...okay then."
Shang didn't look too happy at this turn of events as Kung Lao faced Scorpion.
"Never mind the Lin Kuei." Kung Lao assured, "Now, you face a Shaolin." He accentuated his point by running two fingers across his hat and assumed a fighting stance. Rei cheered for him, Liu Kang just looking at her and then at Raiden, the two men sharing a "WTF" look at the entire thing. Scorpion also had that look, but it wasn't as noticeable due to his mask.
"You will regret your impulsiveness." the Spector threatened, going for first blood via his chain spear.
As the fight goes on, Raiden rejoins Rei and Liu Kang, rubbing his temples to try and ease his headache. Rei looks at him, trying not to chuckle. Azriel had perfect, yet accidental aim. Speaking of Azriel, Rei wondered what she was up too. She got her answer when she glanced to her right, seeing a small glimpse of Azriel as she snuck by, carrying a few paint cans and paint brushes. How no one else could clearly see the 10 ft tall Elder God, Rei would never know. Raiden seemed to have sensed her, shivering a bit and looking around in what looked to be slight fear at how *close* this powerful aura was. He felt like a sudden chill went down his spine. Rei taps his arm.
"You ok?" She asks, looking concerned.
"Yes… I am fine…" Raiden answers, seeming to calm back down once Azriel was far enough away, "For a second there, I thought I felt the presence of an Elder God…"
Rei tilts her head. "Why would an Elder God be here?" She says, not mentioning that her Elder God Mother was just nearby, "I can't see them being here unless it was really dire."
"...you do have a point." Raiden seems calmer by that, "I don't see them ever coming down to watch this tournament up close."
"I don't see them coming down at all if what you told me long ago was true." Liu Kang spoke up, side stepping a stray fireball from Scorpion. Said fireball hits some strange Mongolian man, igniting him. The spectators scatter as the man is screaming in pain, the flames unable to be put out despite the guard's actions. Eventually, everyone, including Scorpion and Kung Lao, watched as the man became nothing but ash and smoke.
"...who was he?" Rei asks Liu Kang.
"Not too sure, but he probably wasn't important." Liu Kang shrugs.
"Whoever he was, I have no sympathy" Raiden adds, the Asali and the Monk agreeing with him as they and the others resumed watching the fight between Scorpion and Kung Lao. Said fight didn't last much longer as Scorpion landed a nasty roundhouse kick that knocked him out cold.
"Kung Lao!" Liu Kang says with worry, rushing over. Raiden walks over, Rei joining him as he starts to admonish the monk.
"Listen when your elders speak! You could not win this fight." Raiden scolded him. Rei just nudges Kung Lao with her foot, which woke him up.
"Bruh, you alright?"
"I think… I got a concussion…"
"You'll live."
Rei and Liu Kang help Kung Lao up, Raiden leading them away to the spectators' area. Scorpion just looks annoyed.
"He is not yet a warrior." He remarks before turning to Shang Tsung.
"I have defeated the challenger, Shang Tsung. I demand Sub-Zero!" Scorpion orders.
It was at that moment Raiden got another vision; first of Scorpion holding Sub-Zero's removed head along with his spinal cord, then the head morphs into the visage of the wraith Noob Saibot. Rei notices, nudging his shoulder to snap him out of it. Raiden just looks a bit worried.
"You will demand nothing!" Shang Tsung shot back, "Nightwolf!"
The Native American male, Nightwolf, walks over to Scorpion and began to address him.
"Your anger is misplaced." Nightwolf spoke. Scorpion looked rather insulted.
"What do you know of my pa-" Scorpion was then cut off by Nightwolf.
"You are not the only one whose people have been victimized." Nightwolf assured, "But I have found a new purpose in serving the Spirits. I do not cling to the past."
"You no longer seek retribution? You dishonor your kind. I will honor the memory of my fallen." Scorpion charges towards Nightwolf, Nightwolf doing the same.
"What an edgelord." Rei muses, regarding Scorpion. Liu Kang chuckles at that as he was tending to Kung Lao's injuries with Raiden. Kung Lao looked a bit disoriented, but he was coming to quickly thanks to Raiden's healing abilities.
It was a hellish fight, but Nightwolf was unable to overcome the wrath that was Scorpion. He was knocked out cold while Scorpion stood victorious.
"The spirits have forsaken you, Shaman." Scorpion spoke, turning to face Shang Tsung. As he did so, Rei and Liu Kang help Nightwolf to his feet and get him to safety.
"An impressive start!" Their attention was brought to the elderly sorcerer. Scorpion clenched his fist at said sorcerer, his hand bursting into flames.
"You waste my time, Sorcerer!" The specter spoke in fury, only for Quan Chi to hold up a hand.
"Restraint, Scorpion." he spoke calmly. Although not pleased about it, Scorpion obeyed and lowered his hand, the flames dissipating.
Shang Tsung looked somewhat amused. "You will fight Sub-Zero soon enough." He spoke before standing up and taking his leave, Quan Chi following him. As the ninja lowers his head and ponders about what has happened so far, Raiden attracts his attention.
"Scorpion, I understand your desire for revenge." He sympathized, "But Nightwolf is right. There are other ways in which you may find peace."
"Sub-Zero deserves death." Scorpion stated. Raiden simply shaked his head.
"Defeat Sub-zero if you must, but do not kill him." Raiden requested, remembering his vision.
"Yo Rei, I need a favor." Rei hears Corliss speak, the girl perking up, "Raiden's latest vision shows him how Sub-Zero gets turned into Noob Saibot, a wraith of the Netherrealm. I wanna see if we can change that. Once you're able to get away from the group, I'll fill you in more." Rei just gave a faint nod in response.
Scorpion looked displeased. "I will have my revenge!"
"Spare Sub-Zero's life, and I will request that the Elder Gods return the Shirai Ryu to the realm of mortals." The Thunder God offered. This made Scorpion take a few moments to contemplate this new turn of events. It seemed too good to be true, but Raiden had no reason to lie. He eventually looks Raiden in the eyes and nods his consent. Raiden nodded back before walking off with Liu Kang, the still dazed Kung Lao, and Rei, the latter of the three deciding to linger back and give a very good, open palm smack to Raiden's butt, earning a yelp of surprise and amused snorts from the two monks.
"Rei, what is the meaning of this?!" Raiden said, turning to her. Rei just smirks cutely, looking innocent.
"What? I didn't do anything." She lied, giggling… right before she does a ballerina twirl around Raiden and smacked his butt again, his yelp even louder and a blush appearing on his face.
"Oh wait, I did~" She giggles again, Raiden glaring at her in embarrassment and annoyance. Kung Lao just turns to Liu Kang as he rubs his still hurting head.
"I believe we have a new source of entertainment…" he says, Liu Kang nodding.
"Indeed we do."
"Azriel, what are you doing?" Corliss asks as she watches Azriel dip her paintbrush into the bucket of bright pink paint. The Elder God had broken into a part of the temple no Kombatant was allowed to enter, and said temple was full of paintings. Most paintings were out Outworld Warriors and Shang Tsung himself.
"These paintings are criminally tacky! I can't just sit by and let this tackiness ruin the temple's atmosphere." Azriel answers, now standing before a painting of Shang Tsung, "So I'm just gonna add a few touches of my own~"
"They do look pretty bad. I've seen better from the guys that do the Ferrum Klash artwork for the mobile games when they're drunk." Corliss chuckles, "What are you gonna do to them?"
"Why, sunshine, rainbows, unicorns, pretty pink dresses, the works!" Azriel beams as she snapped her fingers, now in an Artist's Uniform. Putting her hair into a ponytail, she starts to paint. Corliss laughs hard, a thud being heard.
"You alright, Lissy?"
"Y-Yeah. Just fell out of my chair. Also, got some good news for you."
"Oh? Do tell." Azriel wipes a splatter of paint off her cheek.
The sound of Corliss typing away is heard. "The timeline changes are starting to take place at a slightly faster pace. That one timeline where I ensured Raiden couldn't go Dark at all is now completely gone. Thank fuck too, that one was horrible."
Azriel smiles. Things were going according to plan. "That is wonderful news! Things are going right on track."
"Also, I got a call from the Ferrum Klash organizers earlier, they need you to update this year's roster and brackets soon, there's been more sign ups whenever you can."
"Oh joy. Who else signed up?"
"The Rin Sisters and Tei Rin. I think the Rin Sisters are finally gonna settle their differences this time around and Tei Rin just wants to show them up."
"Oh, this is gonna be good." Azriel grins, "Send me the holo-plates later. Right now, I need silence. I need to paint in peace."
Some time later that day it had began to rain. All the Kombatants were currently gathered in Shang Tsung's throne room, each discussing different topics. All but Rei, that is, as she was in the corner by herself.
"-couldn't help myself!"
"That does not give you the permission to go around slapping his ass like that!" Corliss scolded, "How would you like it if I did that to you?"
"Ooh, I didn't know you were interested in me~" Rei grins at the annoyed groan she got from the other Purple Asali in return.
"Just don't do that again. The fact that you got away with it twice is a miracle of its own, knowing Raiden." Corliss warned, "I'm more surprised his first reaction wasn't to just flat out electrocute you. For now, I need you to get ready to make a trip to the Netherrealm."
"I will slap his glorious ass if I damn well ple- wait, WHAT?!" Rei gawked, "Why do I have to go to the Netherrealm!?"
"Remember when I said I wanted to change Sub-Zero's fate? Well, this is what I meant." Corliss explains, "I need you to go to the Netherrealm and get Sub-Zero's soul once he's killed by Scorpion before Quan Cheeto takes it."
"Corliss, you know I'm already weakened as is, the Netherrealm is gonna make me even weaker! Can't you ask Mom to do it?"
"She's busy with another thing right now. Plus you know she won't set foot into the Netherrealm after what happened last time."
"Ugh, fine. But you better make it worth my while!"
"I will, don't worry. I'll see about getting you a Lazarite card of myself on Ferrum Klash Mobile. Right now, head outside. I got a portal active."
As Rei leaves, the door swings open, Scorpion walking in. Two other members of the Lin Kuei, Cyrax and Sektor, are the only two not to notice him yet.
"I understand there are benefits to the Grandmaster's plan, but his plan goes against Lin Kuei principles." Cyrax explained.
"We are Lin Kuei, Cyrax." Sektor spoke, "We will obey the Grandmaster's commands."
"It means giving up our free will… our souls." Cyrax explained, looking sad, "It will turn us into-"
"Scorpion." Sektor cut the yellow clad Lin Kuei off as said ninja approached them. Both he and Cyrax looked at him in disgust.
"Your inferior clan is dead. Soon you will join them." Cyrax warned. Scorpion didn't seem at all bothered.
"My clan may walk the Earth once more." He shot back. Cyrax simply pushed him in response, to which Shang Tsung immediately noticed.
"A challenge! Scorpion versus Cyrax and Sektor!" He announced, catching everyone's attention. Cyrax assumed his fighting stance.
"Your obsession with Sub-Zero ends here!" He declares as he got one of his bombs out. As the fight went on, Raiden was looking outside at the heavy rain, looking rather calm and serene. The two monks notice this and smile, knowing the Thunder God's love of rainy weather.
"Lord Raiden must be day dreaming again." mused Kung Lao, noticing that Raiden wasn't even paying attention to the fight at this point, more entranced by the rain falling outside.
"Let him day dream. He needs a small break every once in a while." Liu Kang chuckled, "I'm pretty sure he would rather be out there enjoying it than in here watching this fig- GAAAH!"
Raiden snaps out of it, barely able to react as Liu Kang had caught one of Cyrax's stray bombs, panicking before tossing it to Kung Lao. Kung Lao yelps and stutters his words, fumbling with it before throwing it at Johnny, cause Sonya and Jax to run away from him in a panic.
"DON'T THROW IT AT ME, YOU JERKS!" He yells, throwing it back towards the two fighting. It misses Raiden's head by mere inches but did knock his hat off, and lands near Scorpion. Scorpion kicks it at Cyrax through a split second decision, the bomb exploding in Cyrax's face, knocking him out. Raiden looks very annoyed as he picks his hat up and puts it back on, glaring at the actor, who just gave him a nervous smile.
Scorpion stands over the defeated Cyrax, Sektor shaking his head from the sidelines at such a humiliating defeat his fellow Lin Kuei had. "I will have my revenge, but I will not kill Sub-Zero." Scorpion spoke, much to the approval of Raiden, who nodded. But, a new voice then attracts everyone's attention.
"Will not? Or cannot?"
All heads turn to the Lin Kuei of the hour, Sub-Zero, as he walks in.
"You!" Scorpion and Sub-Zero walk up to one another, a stare down ensuing.
"The Shirai Ryu are dead. You will suffer as they did." Scorpion threatened.
"To hell with your clan!" Sub-Zero retorts. Scorpion's eyes narrow.
"No, to Hell with YOU!" Scorpion then grabbed Sub-Zero and they both disappear in a flash of hell fire. They reappear in a place filled with fire, burning bodies, and malicious architecture. Hell hounds and various demons were about, and on stakes and pikes were burning bodies of the damned.
"The Netherrealm…" Sub-Zero trailed off as he took in his surroundings.
"This is the place where I was reborn." Scorpion explained, "This is where you will pay!"
Sub-Zero barely dodges Scorpion's chain spear, retaliating with an ice ball. Nearby was Rei, who was burning up, fanning herself the best she could. She felt extremely sluggish here, none of her darkness related powers working here.
"Fucking hell, this is worse than when I had to fight Bureizu in the Temple of Flames…." she complains, "I'd rather fight all 4 Rin Sisters at once than be here…."
"Suck it up, you won't be here forever." Corliss tells her, "Besides, didn't you say you wanted to see where Azriel got K'dassey from?"
"Not like this! I figured she would show me from one of your monitors!"
"You thought wrong."
Rei groans loudly, still fanning herself. Any longer here and she was gonna strip out of her clothes. Curse her love of black and purple clothing! She perks up as she sees the Scorpion and Sub-Zero fight up ahead, and quietly sneaks her way over. Once she was close enough, she watches quietly.
"So, what do I gotta do?"
"Wait for my signal."
The Asali nods, watching as Scorpion punches Sub-Zero in the face hard enough to knock him to the ground. He follows it up by stomping on his chest, Sub-Zero crying out in pain.
"I have avenged my family and clan." Scorpion declared. Suddenly, Quan Chi teleports into the realm, Rei blinking in surprise.
"Rei, that's Quan Chi." Corliss explained, "He's the one that made Scorpion who he is right now. He's the guy who was gonna turn Sub-Zero into Noob Saibot, but as you know, I have other plans.
"This is your retribution?" The sorcerer asked, "Scorpion, kill him."
The Shirai Ryu looked very hesitant. "I… I will not. He has been beaten."
"Have you forgotten?" Quan Chi asked as he magically created a visage of the homeland of the Shirai Ryu.
"What is this?" Scorpion asked in confusion.
The entire village is engulfed in flames. Arrows rain from above, cutting down multiple Shirai Ryu clansmen.
"No…."
Another is decapitated by a Lin Kuei assassin. Yet more are run through by katanas from horseback riders and by arrows from archer marksmen. Among the horseback riders is Sub-Zero.
"You clan. Your family." Quan Chi spoke as he created another vision. It shows Scorpion's wife and infant son huddled in a corner of their home. The door opens to reveal Sub-Zero, katana in hand. He unsheathes it, and unmoved by the woman's tears, brings the blade down. All that was seen then is blood splattering the walls, along with petals of a rose worn by the woman's hair. The implications of what was done are all too obvious.
"NO!" Scorpion shouts as the vision fades. Sub-Zero, badly wounded as he is, is on his feet and holding up a hand in mercy.
"That is not me!" He tried to correct, but as Scorpion rips his mask off his head, presenting a skull entrapped in flames, he can only scream at what was to come next. Rei was still in shock from what the sorcerer had shown the specter when Corliss shouted:
"Rei! Convert Sub-Zero NOW!"
"Has anyone seen Rei?"
Liu Kang and Kung Lao's attention was brought to Raiden as he looked around the room, none of them acknowledging the fight between an Outworlder in maroon and an Earthrealmer wearing a bandana as a blindfold. "I haven't. Maybe she went somewhere to be alone?" Liu Kang answered the Thunder God, "Why do you ask?"
"I was hoping to ask her reasons for why she smacked me like that earlier." Raiden explained. Johnny just happened to overhear this comment and grinned.
"What? Not used to a pretty lady smacking your butt like that?" He joked, "Or have you never been smacked there before?" Johnny's grin quickly faded at Raiden's glare, the actor choosing to hide behind an annoyed Liu Kang and a much amused Kung Lao. The sound of flames brought everyone's attention to the center of the room. Scorpion had reappeared. Shang Tsung smiles in anticipation. Wordlessly, Scorpion hold up a scorched skull with the spinal cord attached. There was nothing but silence until Johnny Cage spoke.
"Ouch."
With his head hung in either sorrow or despair, Scorpion lets the skull shatter on the ground. He let out a loud scream, and burst into flames before disappearing. As the kombatants leave, Raiden looks over the skull alongside Cyrax.
"Despite my efforts, my vision has come to pass." He spoke, "An unfortunate end…"
"Or is it?" Raiden and Cyrax turned to see a solemn Rei walking up to them, but she didn't look alone. Fluttering next to her was a tiny ball of pale blue light with fairy wings. Rei gently takes it into her hand as she saw its wings move slower. Raiden looked curious at the sight of such a creature. Rei didn't have one with her before...
"Cheer up, little one." Rei assured, "It was unfortunate, but somethings can't be stopped."
The small fairy mumbled something too quiet for Raiden and Cyrax to hear, but Rei seemed to hear it as she sets it on her shoulder. She looked rather upset as how sad it looked. She herself then looked at the skull and frowned.
"...he died innocent, yet guilty through a lie." She spoke solemnly, "What must be done to prevent more senseless deaths?!" She spun around to face Shang Tsung.
"Jirs zi'auhs irsuhs nil nasus sui'asrr a suhr! Su zuhss rhuhr ilai i'asuhu, thirs suhhu az ru suhs ilais zi'assuhasr ilui'asr i'apha!" She says in her native language in anger. To no one's surprise, no one seemed to understand what Rei was saying, looking at her in total confusion. Shang, however, only grinned in response, Rei scoffing in disgust, looking really angry as she stomps back over to the Earthrealmers, the fairy still on her shoulder.
"Scorpion will pay for this!" Cyrax threatened, having ignored Rei's outburst. Raiden shook his head.
"Sub-Zero's fate was his own doing."
Cyrax looked furious. "His own doing?!"
"The Lin Kuei have a history of making ruinous choices." Raiden responded, only earning a glare from the Lin Kuei before he stormed off. What Raiden said next, however, stopped Cyrax in his tracks.
"Such as the Cyber Initiative." Cyrax turned back around to face him.
"I am among those speaking out against the Grandmaster's plan. Surgically transform the Lin Kuei into glorified robots? It kills our intuition, our instincts." He explained.
"Did you speak out against the Lin Kuei's participation in this tournament?" asked Raiden.
"We were invited by Shang Tsung."
"He pays you to kill Earthrealm warriors. Betraying your own realm? I expect better, even from an assassin."
"My loyalty is to the Grandmaster."
Cyrax tries to walk off again, but Raiden stopped him once more.
"Victory for Shang Tsung means the end of Earthrealm. And the Lin Kuei."
The yellow clad assassin paused for a moment, but proceeds to walk off. Baraka, who has watched the entire exchange, snarls ominously and also leaves.