Earthrealm is either royally screwed or royally blessed. Why? You'll learn soon enough. And I'm pretty sure my chapter titles are making less and less sense as we go by, but hey. Life goes on.

Enjoy!

The morning at the Wu Shu Academy was a pleasant one. The monks were busy chatting among themselves and having a good time, although a good majority of them were watching Azriel show Liu Kang some techniques he could do with his enhanced abilities while the rest were watching Rei as she was up in the air as a target for the two below, now having very beautiful Dragontail Butterfly wings on her back as she dodges or deflects various fireballs launched at her. Up above on a balcony overseeing them all is Jax and Raiden, the former smoking a cigar while the latter was looking at his cracked amulet.

"I do not understand why my amulet is further damaged. 'He must win'. If not Liu Kang, then who?" Raiden pondered, looking at his amulet.

"Ya got me." Jax spoke, "Not sure anybody could have done what he did. Made Shang Tsung look like a chump." In a case of "speak of the devil, and he shall come", a younger looking Shang Tsung walks up to them, seemingly unnoticed until a fireball launched from Liu Kang missed the sorcerer's head by mere inches, causing him to freeze in place.

"Be lucky I chose to miss, Sorcerer!" the monk yells, Azriel giggling. Raiden didn't bother turning around.

"Here to congratulate us on our victory, sorcerer?" He asked, making Jax turn around and throw away his cigar.

"What? Shang Tsung?!" He spoke in shock as Raiden decided to turn around to face said man.

"You have been revitalized, I see." noticed the Thunder God, "I didn't realize your master was in the habit of rewarding failure."

"GET REKT, SON." Shang Tsung nearly screamed as Rei suddenly got in his face, the Asali bitch smacking him before deflecting a fireball back towards Liu Kang, the monk sidestepping it with ease. Jax couldn't help but chuckle and Raiden even had a small smirk. Shang Tsung, however, looked rather annoyed as he rubbed his reddening cheek.

"The emperor has a new offer, Raiden. A new tournament." He explained, dodging another stray fireball, the explosion somehow not affecting the building at all. Probably due to Rei having deflected that one and trying to hit him with it.

"Hold still, asshole! Liu Kang, keep 'em comin'!"

"Try not to miss this time!"

Raiden shook his head. "Heh. I see no reason to participate in any tournament of yours." He answered.

Shang Tsung frowned a bit. "The emperor proposes a single tournament, to replace the current system of ten. It will be held in Outworld. If Earthrealm does not win, Outworld will absorb it. But if Earthrealm wins, Shao Khan will abandon his claim to it forever." He explained, narrowly missing another fireball. The sorcerer growled a bit in anger.

"So close!"

"Shut up, Johnny!"

Raiden chuckled a bit at Rei's antics, secretly hoping she actually did hit Shang with one of those deflected fireballs. "Give your emperor my regards." He answered, Shang Tsung smiling. The sorcerer then generated a portal across the courtyard, and out of it, emerged hundred of Tarkatan warriors. In anger, Raiden started fighting with Shang Tsung as Jax jumps into the rampaging army. But, Raiden's fight with Shang Tsung ends as abruptly as it started as the sorcerer was hit hard by a fireball, knocking him to the ground below unconscious.

"BULLSEYE!" Rei cheered, Raiden looking her way and giving her a thankful nod before joining the others in fighting off the horde, the Asali following. Azriel ran for Jin, the boy separated from Kung Lao when the monsters came in, scooping him up and getting into the air to keep him safe.

Returning to Jax, he clothes-lined one Tarkatan down, headbutts another, punches and knees yet another, throws him down and finishes him with a head stomp. A fourth Tarkatan sucker punches him, a fifth hits him and the fourth then kicks him in the face, sending him sprawling. As he lies on the ground, the Tarkatan brings his boot down hard on his face, knocking him unconscious…

(Some time later...)

"He gained a momentary advantage after regaining consciousness and escaped. I now realize what we must do."

"I'm seriously considering just outright dealing with Outworld like I deal with other realms that piss me off… How DARE they send those filthy creatures! They almost hurt poor Jin!"

"Mom no! They got Sonya! At least wait until afterwards!"

"Uggh…. Anybody got a number o' that-?" Jax groaned as he started to wake up. As he did, he spots Johnny Cage kneeling over him, Raiden and Rei standing at his side, Azriel floating a bit about still holding the frightened Jin. But, despite everyone there, something seemed off. "Wait. Where's Sonya?" He asked, looking around for said woman after noticing she wasn't there.

Raiden was quick to answer. "Shang Tsung has taken her."

"We've gotta find her!" Jax demanded as he got back onto his feet.

"We must follow them!" Kung Lao added, Rei nodding. Azriel gives Jin to one of the monks that came to get him.

"Get this boy to safety, or else you're catching these hands." She threatens, the monk nodding and doing just that.

"Kick those meanies' butts!" Jin shouts at Kung Lao, who gives him an assuring nod.

"Shang Tsung has made it clear that Earthrealm will be under constant threat unless I agree to a new tournament." explained Raiden.

"Nuking Outworld doesn't seem so bad now, huh?" Azriel suggested once more, Raiden still ignoring her as he receives another vision. This one was of Liu Kang punching a hole through Shao Khan's chest. Jax was quick to notice Raiden's distant stare.

"Another vision?"

"Yes. I saw Liu Kang win the proposed tournament. I believe we must attend. But, in my earlier vision, of your victory over Shang Tsung, was not the solution I sought. Therefore, this premonition must show an event I need to change. Perhaps 'He must win' refers to another."

Liu Kang looked a bit downcast from Raiden's words, Rei offering a pat on the back in consolidation. Azriel suddenly has an idea too good for her to pass up, and when Raiden was about to shout his approval to the Heavens, she stops him, along with swiping his amulet off his chest, the Thunder God yelping in surprise.

"Actually Raiden, I'm taking over for you." She says, looking devious, "I can guarantee Earthrealm's victory since I fucked Shao Kahn over years ago. Ain't no rule saying an Elder God can't step in to be the "Realm Guardian". Regarding Sonya, I'll ensure her safety as well." She tosses the amulet around on her hand, "While I ensure Earthrealm wins, you and Rei need to do me a favor."

"What, what?" Rei perks up, Raiden looking attentive. Azriel pins the amulet on her hip before summoning a strange looking bomb.

"I need you both to go blow up Outworld's Soul Tombs."

"WHAT?!" Both yell in shock, startling the others.

"You cannot be serious!" Rei says, "That place is like the Well of Souls back home!"

"Thousands of innocent souls are trapped in there! Blowing up the Tombs could erase them for good!" Raiden tries to reason. Azriel swats them both on the head, Raiden immediately looking afraid while Rei looks annoyed. Azriel looks upset at making Raiden react that way.

"Sorry. Still trying to get used to how Earthrealmers react around me." She pat the Thunder God on the head.

"What's with the funky bomb?" Jax asks. Azriel perks up.

"Glad you asked!" She gave it a twist and opens it up, revealing it's inner components, "This is a Gravitech Delta Pulse Bomb. Very highly advanced, has an explosion radius of 2 miles, and can completely demolish anything in the blast radius within seconds. Any living creature caught in the blast radius will have their soul unharmed if they have one, and are guaranteed passage into Purgatory. Those who don't have a soul are completely annihilated. The souls trapped within the Soul Tomb will be completely unharmed and will be sent to my realm, so there's nothing to worry about."

"So it's a mini nuke in a sense?"

"In a way, yes. These are usually used during times of war for my realm, but sometimes I can't resist having a little fun with one~" She lets Jax have a closer look at it, "Normally, the way it is right now would mean it's active, but this one is a dud I carry around to show off."

"Amazing! Your realm must have some advanced tech!" He looks impressed, as does Johnny.

"Purgatory's THOUSANDS of years more advanced than any other realm." Rei confirms, "We've combined Magic and Technology in order to keep advancing. In fact, when Purgatory looked similar to Earthrealm today, it was like, what? Just a few millennia old?"

"I'll tell you all that later. Right now…" Azriel crafts another bomb and gives it to Raiden while Rei gets a backpack with supplies flung at her, knocking her down. She snaps her fingers, and just like that, Raiden's now in a more proper expedition outfit, a simple blue ninja outfit with knee high boots and was without his cowl, the Thunder God's snow white hair exposed. Raiden looks startled, nearly dropping the bomb in shock.

"A-Azriel!" Raiden blushes harder, putting his hat back on his head that was strapped to his back, "Why change my clothes?"

"Honey, you don't need to get your good clothes dirty." She tells him, "Plus you need something more fitting since this is also partly a stealth mission. Everything you two need is in that bag Rei has."

"Yeah, I'm alright, thanks for asking." Rei says in an annoyed tone after she got up, putting the backpack on. Bi-Han comes out of her gem again, fluttering next to her as Azriel spoke again.

"Once you get to the heart of the Soul Tombs, activate the bomb, throw it in, and run like you're about to get violently murdered if you even so much as think of stopping." Azriel tells them, "Cause you don't want to be caught in the blast. Trust me on this. And just to make sure neither of you are hindered…"

Azriel takes her own amulet off, pinning it to Raiden's chest. She takes Rei's and uses her magic to power it up, giving it back to her. Both immediately feel a surge in their powers, Raiden fidgeting in place a bit while Rei seemed to be agitated by sunlight.

"This should allow you both to be at full strength in Outworld." She says. With that, she opens a portal to Outworld, "Have fun you two!" She says… before drop kicking both of them into the portal. Bi-Han yelps, flying in after them, and once he was through, the portal shuts. The four humans all looked startled at this, but say nothing as Azriel turns to them.

"To Outworld, my lovelies!"

Within Outworld, we see Goro bringing what appeared to be an amulet with a yin-yang symbol in the center to Shao Khan. The emperor studied it for a second before returning it to the Shokan. All was quiet and calm until Azriel slides in.

"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY~" She says with a huge grin, Shao Kahn's scream of horror being heard throughout the fortress. Goro and the group to Tarkata that were also there looked quite terrified. Once Shao Kahn regained his composure, he looks royally pissed.

"What are YOU doing here?! I was expecting Raiden!" He demands. Azriel tsks, Jax and Johnny coming in, both having heard the scream.

"Oh, I sent him and my daughter on an errand. Until then, I am Earthrealm's Temporary Guardian." She poses to show off the amulet, looking very smug. Shao Kahn's heart drops again, the emperor growing very pale.

He was already having regrets. And already thinking of how to kill Shang Tsung.

"I can already tell we're gonna have a swell time…" Jax already looks so done with having to follow under Azriel. Johnny was missing Raiden already. Meanwhile, neither of them noticed that Liu Kang and Kung Lao were absent, but Azriel wasn't gonna spit out where she sent them until one asked. Jax sees the sorcerer next to Shao Kahn's throne, looking like he was sweating bullets.

"She'd better not have a scratch on her." spoke Jax as he stalked toward the throne. Shang Tsung just glares at him.

"Looks like we have a volunteer for Kombat!" He announces in order to save himself an ass beating from the S.F. Major.

Jax stopped in his tracks. "What?"

"The tournament will begin!" Shao Khan announced despite his pale look, the Tarkatan Crowd roaring in approval.

"Jackson Briggs! You will face… Baraka!" The sorcerer announced, the Tarkatans cheering louder as Baraka unsheathes his blades.

Jax tilted his head a bit. "Damn, you ugly."

"My blades will find your heart!" Baraka threatened as the First Kombat began. While the fighting and the cheering of the Tarkatans took place, Johnny looks at Azriel.

"So, where's the Kung Fu twins?" He asks.

"I sent them to free the captive Shaolin. And maybe crack a few skulls." Azriel answers, "As for Rei and Raiden, I hope things are going well for them."

"Same." Johnny nods, "I think your daughter is crushing on Raiden though. That why you slapped them together?"

Azriel just gives a smirk that confirms Johnny's question, the man grinning.

"Nice." They fist bump. The battle between Jax and Baraka was a hard fought one, but in the end, Jax had prevailed, standing tall over him.

"You shouldn't be runnin' with those." He joked. While two Tarkatans rushed over to retrieve their fallen comrade, Jax approached Shang Tsung.

"Where's Sonya?" He demanded, earning a smirk from the sorcerer.

Shang smirked smugly. "Tell me, Major Briggs; Do you and she do anything other than rescue one another?" This made Jax growl and the Tarkatans laugh.

"Well, don't you do anything besides being Shao Khan's little bitch?" Azriel asks with an innocent look, joining Jax. This infuriated Shang Tsung, but made the Tarkatans laugh even harder. Shao Khan also found this a bit amusing, chuckling a bit.

"Enough!" Shang Tsung shouted, everyone going quiet, "Your next opponent will be-" He was cut off by Reptile, who appeared from behind him and started whispering in his ear. "What is it?" Shang asked, Reptile continuing his whispering. Shang looked rather pleased.

"Excellent. It seems I have a pressing matter to attend to. With the emperor's permission, we will reconvene later." He spoke. Shao Khan approved with a wave of his hand, rising from his throne. Jade and Kitana look knowingly at one another and walk off. As Shang Tsung was about to leave, he was forced out of the room via fireball to the back, thanks to Azriel.

"What was that all about?" asked Jax, "I think we should follow 'im."

"Azriel, Sonya's about to be executed! You gotta get to her quick!" Corliss spoke, Azriel nodding.

"We need to get to Sonya first." She says, "She is far more important. I should be able to teleport us directly to her."

"You should?"

"I lended Raiden my amulet for his and Rei's errand so his powers aren't hindered here. But, for some reason I feel weaker wearing his." Azriel examines the amulet again, puzzled, "It's like this thing's a nerf."

"Well, can you still try?" Johnny asks.

"I most certainly can." The Elder God nods.

"Well, shit."

Azriel looks more confused than angry, looking at the amulet more while deep in thought. They had ended up in the Armory instead of where she actually wanted them to go. "Corliss, what is going on here? I should have been able to take us direct to her!" She says in an angry whisper.

"I don't know! You shouldn't be weakened here, but I'm looking at your power levels now and it seems to be cut in half." Corliss says, typing being heard, "That amulet may be a nerf, since I'm seeing that your base power got cut in half the second you swapped amulets with Raiden. You're still a lot stronger than anything here, but you'll want to be more careful. Are you sure you'll be fine carrying it around? Or do I need General Orion to retrieve the Soul Taker?"

"Have him retrieve the Soul Taker and send it to me. I need at least some proper protection here." Azriel orders quietly without missing a beat, "I need it immediately. The passcode to my personal vault is Higanbana."

"Yes ma'am!"

Azriel sighs a bit, pinning the amulet back to her hip. She looks over at Jax and Johnny, Johnny looking around while Jax was fiddling with his wrist comm.

"Wish this damn tracking device worked in here." Jax complains, looking annoyed.

"This is just like my movie Time Smashers!" Johnny compares with a smile, "We're goin' around in ti-"

"Give it a rest, will ya? Making my ears hurt. "Jax cut him off, Azriel giggling a bit.

"So what's the deal with you and Sonya, anyway? She's smokin' hot!" Johnny asks. Jax glares at him.

"It's not like that. I'm her C.O."

"Honey like that under my command? Oh, I'd be so-"

"You'll wanna stop talking no- Azriel, what's with the popcorn?"

"What?" Azriel says, hiding the popcorn bucket she had with a innocent grin, "What popcorn?"

"But if it's not like that, you mind if I-" Johnny was cut off by Jax sucker punching him, looking very pissed.

"That's it! Time somebody shut you the hell up!"

"CATFIGHT!" Azriel yells as the two start brawling. She brought the popcorn bucket out again, enjoying the show. Corliss' chuckling is heard.

"Orion's on his way with the Soul Taker. This is a good way to pass time until then." She says, "You want a status report on Rei and Raiden?"

"Nah. I'll hear the full story later. I wanna be surprised by their little adventure." Azriel shakes her head, "I trust that they'll succeed in their mission."

"I know they will."

"No shit, you know everything."

"Not everything!"

Azriel just rolls her eyes, watching as Jax and Johnny still fight. Johnny does his best to defend himself, but Jax was definitely no pushover as a result of military training. He has Johnny flat on his ass by the time he was done with him.

"How you like that, Mr. A-List?"

"Enough, Jax. Don't kick a man while he's down. It's unsportsmanlike." Azriel says, tossing the now empty popcorn bucket into the lava nearby. She goes to help Johnny, Jax huffing a bit. Their moment of peace is interrupted when a new person joins them in the Armory.

"You lookin' for something?" Jax asks their latest occuptant, Jade.

"The Armory is restricted. You will leave now." She says without missing a beat.

"No, you." Azriel shot back, but she was ignored.

"Gonna have to ask nicer than that."Jax says before being met with the tip of Jade's staff to his face. Azriel helps Johnny up, treating his injuries.

"Thanks… best Medic I've ever had." Johnny praises. Azriel smiles.

"You flatter me, Johnny. But it's nothing. I won't let any of Raiden's defenders perish under my watch." She tells him, bringing out another bucket of popcorn from Elder Gods know where.

"Popcorn?"

"Is it extra butter?"

"It's drowned in it."

"Perfect!"

They just sit back and watch the fight, munching on the treat as Jax and Jade put up a very entertaining fight. It even attracted the attention of the blacksmiths nearby, some cheering at having some entertainment. Azriel could even hear Corliss comment every now and then. By the time they both had cleaned out the bucket, Jade was knocked out, the blacksmiths looking delighted at such a fight, and Jax looking proud.

"Wrong place, wrong time, lady." He comments, going over to Azriel and Johnny.

"Feel better?" Johnny asks.

Jax nods. "A lot. And uh.."

"Don't worry about it. Guess we know where we are now, thanks to her."

"Yeah, let's get the fuck outta here. I would rather be in the heart of the Temple of Flames back in my realm than this place." Azriel says, tossing the second bucket into the lava. She and Jax start to leave, Johnny confused.

"Uh…"

"Come on, Cage."

Several octagon dice with unknown symbols rolled on the floor. Several guards of an unidentified Outworld species are playing a game in the Dead Pool area. Sonya is tied up nearby and being guarded by Sheeva, Sonya looking rather angry and Sheeva mildly annoyed.

"What is it with you Shokan and underground cesspools?" She asked, not liking the situation one bit.

"If you had not dishonored yourself by attempting to escape, we would not be here in this sewer." Sheeva answers, not looking at her. From the other end, we hear voices.

"Sweet myself, it smells worse than the rotting corpses in the Netherrealm!"

"So much for stealth…"

"Sonya!"

Everyone turns to see Johnny, Jax, and Azriel enter the room. The door behind them slams shut, but the guards all look very hesitant to attack at Azriel's presence. Azriel just grins and decides to use their hesitation to their advantage.

"Get 'em, boys!" She orders with a clap, Jax charges forward, ducks some swipes from a guard with a two edged mace, grabs the weapon and clobbers him with it. The guard falls into the pool and is dissolved into nothing but blood within seconds. Jax throws down the mace and leaps over the remaining guards. Johnny charges from behind and engage them while Jax faces down Sheeva.

"She is the emperor's property, human." She spoke, Jax shaking his head.

"She's NOBODY'S property!" Jax corrected as they proceeded to throw down. Two guards had decided go big or go home, charging towards Azriel. She notices, and low sweeps them, knocking them to the ground. She proceeds to pick them up by their collars, both immediately regretting their life choices. She gives them a sweet look.

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't just drop you into these acid pits~" She asks.

"I-I have a wife and kids!" one says, "I-I only took this guard job to support them!"

"Fair enough." She lets him go on the ground, the guard running away, thankful for his life and muttering something about rethinking his life choices. Azriel looks at the other one intently.

"Uh…. I don't want to die?" it answers.

"WRONG ANSWER!" She yells in his face before slam dunking him into the acid pit, making sure Johnny and Jax weren't hit with any splashes. She dusts her hands off and looks proud of herself, ignoring Johnny nut punching one guard enough to make him fall into the acid pit from the pain, Johnny looking surprised at accomplishing that. Sheeva's pained yell and a loud thud gets Azriel and Johnny's attention, Jax having defeated her.

"I guess extra arms don't make a difference." He heads over to free Sonya.

"You sure have a way with women." She jokes as he gets her off the hook and cuts her restraints with a knife.

"You know me. I'm a class act." Jax jokes back. Azriel and Johnny join them, the Elder God checking Sonya over for any injuries.

"Thanks guys, what took you so long?" Sonya asks.

"He was busy hitting me in the face." answers Johnny with a grin.

"And I was enjoying the bitch fights." Azriel adds. Jax and Sonya both smile at that, chuckling. A beeping sound is heard, Sonya checking her wrist comm.

"That's weird. I've got two sets of readings, heavy tech signals, both of them." The other three look at her wrist comm as well.

"I'll be damned, we got company!" Azriel grins, "We better go meet up with them. They may be potential allies!"

"Or enemies." Jax adds, "We need to be careful."

"Careful's my middle name, hon." Azriel boasts, Corliss' snort being heard.

"Once again, your middle name is Danger, Azriel."

"Let's go, my pretties! Jax, where do we need to go?" The Elder God asks the SF Major.

"Thirty clicks that way, ma'am."