Things are getting spicy. Or semi-spicy, I dunno sometimes. Also, kudos to anyone who can figure out where the chapter title came from. Hope y'all enjoy as always.

Free Hint: It's a song lyric.

"Um…. Azriel? I may have fucked up."

Corliss had two screens up on her monitor: one of Rei and Raiden as the Asali was setting the Soul Taker on the bed and she and Raiden backing away very slowly from it, both looking incredibly nervous, and the other being Azriel as she was sitting on the roof of the building where she and the Earthrealmers with her were staying for the night. There was a third screen up, and on it, it said:

Item: Soul Taker

Item Description: A scythe capable of cutting through anything with ease. All souls cleaved by this scythe are absorbed into it, further enhancing it's deadly abilities. Only to be used by those who can withstand the deadly aura it gives off.

Spawn Location: Bag of Endless Tricks

"What did you do this time?" Azriel asks, sounding more amused than annoyed, knowing Corliss was sometimes a bit clumsy with her work. Corliss lets out a nervous chuckle.

"I… may have messed up where I had the Soul Taker was supposed to appear for you…" she mumbles, "I meant to have it spawn right at your location, but I think I kinda spaced out when I was putting the location in…"

"This is why I told you to have a personal assistant to serve you coffee and energy drinks at all times, dear." Azriel chuckles, pulling another Delta Pulse Bomb out of nowhere, messing with it, "Where did it spawn at then?"

"Rei has it. She and Raiden look like they're about to shit bricks at the moment."

Azriel snorts loudly before laughing hard, nearly dropping the bomb in her hand. "Oh, what I wouldn't give to see that footage! Save it for me!"

"Got it. Are you going to go get it? You said you needed it and I don't think either of the Gods wants to be near it for any longer."

"I might just do that, but first, let me go drop my hot mixtape on one of Arnyek's islands."

"Might wanna drop two of them to be on the safe side. Your mixtape is fucking fire and they need to be made sure of this."

"Shit, you right." Azriel looks like she liked that idea more, Corliss laughing at that.

"I'll let Rei know you're coming." She tells Azriel before closing the monitor on her and focusing on the other one. On it, Rei and Raiden were sitting against the wall on the other side of their room, both just staring at the scythe with unnerved looks. Corliss turns her mic on to hear them talking.

"-anta. She killed our God of Life once she knew the shit he was pulling. That scythe is that deadly." Rei had finished up a story she was telling Raiden. Raiden looked a bit disturbed by that story, but says nothing. Corliss chuckles, speaking into the mic.

"Heads up, Rei. Azriel's coming for the Soul Taker. You weren't meant to get it." She tells Rei, Rei looking a bit relieved at hearing that, "That would be a little sleep deprived fuck up of mine."

Not a few seconds after Corliss finished that, there was the sound of a faint explosion, the ground rocking a bit beneath the inn the two Gods were in. Both looked stunned, rushing to look out the window. Corliss pulls up Azriel's monitor to find her floating above the sea a good distance away from a few small islands. Two of the smaller ones were up in flames and smoke, and another one seemed to sparkle in the moonlight, almost as if covered in glitter. Azriel looks delighted.

"You were right, Lissy! They loved it!" Azriel beams happily, Corliss laughing very hard as she swapped screens back to the Sun Do Inn one.

"What was that?!"

"I do not know, but I have a feeling your mother had something to do with it."

"Oh Gods damn it, did she actually drop a nuke on Arnyek like she told me she was gonna do?"

"She did WHAT?!"

"For the record, that was not a nuke: that was my hot mixtape." Azriel corrects as she appears, floating upside down and nearly giving Raiden another heart attack and startling Rei enough that she fell down in shock. She chuckles, coming in through the window and helping Rei up.

"Sorry about that, darlings." She apologizes, "A little birdie told me that you have something I want that probably shouldn't be in your possessions!"

"Oh thank Ramos…" Rei looks relieved, "Please get that scythe away from us!"

"Y-Yes, please. That scythe is beyond cursed…" Raiden adds. Azriel chuckles as she comes into the room through the window, picking the Soul Taker up. It seemed to resize itself to better fit Azriel's height, Azriel looking delighted.

"It's not cursed per se… it's just a tool of pure death and that's how I intended it to be when I forged it." Azriel gave it a swing, and it seemed the very air it touched was cleaved in half, Rei and Raiden yelping at the sight, both looking more nervous. Corliss giggles at the sight. It was fun seeing Raiden get disturbed out or freaked out by Azriel's actions.

"Don't swing that thing in here!" Rei scolds her, Azriel chuckling. The Elder God sees Raiden's injured knee, raising a brow.

"Arrow to the knee?"

"Arrow to the knee."

"Ah. Let me fix that for you." Azriel stands the scythe up with her magic and goes over to Raiden, putting a hand on his injured knee and using her magic to fully heal it. Raiden looks very relieved within a minute, Azriel moving her hand away once it was fully healed.

"So much better, thank you." Raiden looks very thankful as he gets up, Rei doing the same. Azriel just smiles at him pleasantly.

"You're welcome~ Now, I must return to the others. Do tell Liu Kang and Kung Lao to join up with us in the morning. I already have my plan on how I'm going to royally screw Shao Kahn over." Azriel beams with a devious giggle, "Please get plenty of rest before you head out to the Soul Tombs tomorrow, ok?"

"We will, Mom. Now get that fucking scythe out of here." Rei asks, Raiden nodding in agreement. Azriel just rolls her eyes as she took the scythe and teleports away. Corliss chuckles more, speaking into the mic.

"It's just a scythe imbued with Necro magic, Rei. It's not that bad." She says, Rei mocking her when Raiden wasn't looking. Corliss just chuckles, kicking back.

The next morning, we see Kitana and Jade in the Wastelands, both of them seeming to have a deep conversation about something. Or so we thought.

"Is this how you show your loyalty, Jade?"

"Kitana, I-"

"You follow me when I clearly wish to be alone, then you upbraid me? I will not be scolded like some child!"

Jade just shook her head, looking more concerned for Kitana's well being. "You need to be careful. I have never seen your father this angry with you."

Kitana scoffs at that idea, turning to walk away. Jade goes to her to to stop her.

"You are a princess. He expects more from you than this." She tells her. Kitana shoves her away.

"I know what he expects!" She looks angry.

Jade sighs heavily, shaking her head. "We will talk later. When you are of in more of a mind to listen." She spoke before leaving, heading towards the forest. Kitana just watches her leave, shaking her head. A loud boom was heard, and when Kitana turns around, she sees smoke and glitter surrounding Azriel as she, Johnny, Smoke, and Sub-Zero appeared. Azriel had the Soul Taker in hand, but it didn't seem to unnerve the three with her. Kitana, however, looked a bit nervous.

"Kitana, honey, might I have a little chat with you? It's really important." Azriel asks, not noticing Kitana staring at the scythe. Kitana had a feeling that saying no would result in that scythe being used against her. She just slowly nods, Azriel looking delighted.

"Wonderful! Cause it is of the utmost importance!" She walks up to Kitana with a skip in her step. The trio with Azriel looked very confused as to how Azriel got Kitana to relent so quickly, but seemed to have come to the same conclusion.

"The scythe. It has to be the scythe." Smoke theorizes, "Look at that thing. The Grand Master would kill thousands just to hold it."

"I believe the Grand Master would die trying to even get near it." Sub-Zero corrects, Johnny snorting in amusement.

"I don't know who your "Grand Master" is, but I would like to think Azriel would just behead him for even thinking about it." He adds, "From what I've seen of her so far, it seems like something she would do."

"I can hear you, Johnny, and yes, that is exactly what I would do." Azriel confirms, Johnny giving a thumbs up. Kitana was still staring at the scythe with a nervous look to say anything else. Azriel turns back to her.

"So, Princess, as I was saying, your dear ol' daddy is bad news and has got you brainwashed into thinking all he does is the "right thing." I know you're a bit conflicted right now, or that could be cause of my little toy here, I don't know." Azriel spoke, looking thoughtful.

"I-It's a little of both, Great One…" Kitana confirms, but she regains a bit of her composure, "But I will not let even an Elder God change my mind."

"Bitch, you can flatter me all you want, but you will not stand there and lie to me!" Azriel got sassy, "I know a tiny voice in your head is telling you that you don't want this, that you would much rather things be different." She leans the tip of the blade very close to Kitana's face, Kitana looking like she was having a mini heart attack.

"That you wish to be different." Azriel pulled the Soul Taker away, Kitana looking relieved, "You're nothing like Shao Kahn. You remind me more of that one Queen of Edenia whose name I can't ever remember…"

"Sindel? My mother?" Kitana asks.

Azriel snapped her fingers. "Bingo, her! You remind me of her! What ever happened to her anyways?"

"She died… committed suicide for a reason I was never told about…" answered Kitana, which made the three Earthrealmers uncomfortable. Azriel just blinks.

"Well shit. If I known that, she would have been granted access to my realm and reborn as one of my darling Asali!" Azriel says, propping herself against the Soul Taker, "I need to leave Purgatory more often…"

"I could have told you more about this timeline if you asked, Azriel!" Corliss protests, "And yes, you do need to leave the realm more often. We can use a break from you causing chaos and mayhem every now and then. Callum and Solestia can handle things while you're gone."

Azriel either heard Corliss and said nothing, or ignored her completely, just rolling her eyes. "Well, while I can't really help you out there, what I can do is direct you into the right path."

"Flesh Pits, make her go to the Flesh Pits!" Corliss ordered, "She needs to see Mileena!"

"The right path? What are you saying, Elder God?" Kitana asks, looking rather insulted at the mere implication that her current path wasn't the right one.

"I'm saying that if you want to take your first step into the right path, you're gonna have to go to the Flesh Pits." Azriel answers, Kitana's eyes widening a bit.

"The Flesh Pits? I'm forbidden to go there…"

"So? I'm forbidden from a lot of things, such as access to explosives, but does that stop me? Hell no!"

"Who in the right mind let YOU have explosives?!"

"Shut up, Johnny."

Kitana just looks more confused and concerned, but remains silent as Azriel turned back to her.

"Why are you forbidden from setting foot there?" She asks sweetly.

"I do not know that either." answers Kitana, eying the Soul Taker again nervously, "But… if you say I should go there…"

"Atta girl!" Azriel smiles, "Now run along! And discover what lies within~"

With that, Azriel back flips backwards with the scythe, somehow grabs all three of the Earthrealmers much to their shock, and teleports away in a flash bang of red and black smoke. Kitana just tilts her head, very confused.

"...what in the name of Shao Kahn just happened?"

We cut to the Living Forest, where we see Kitana walking through, quiet. She sees a few guards nearby assessing the fallen structure from the treetop village and looking for any survivors. One has picked up what looks to be a bloody arrow, but seems rather curious at the off red color it was. She sees this and stops walking, curious to hear what was going on.

"The blood on this arrow is a darker shade of red… I do not think that's normal…" The guard says. Two others with the only survivor of the wreckage heard this, the survivor speaking out as he was being put onto a makeshift stretcher carried by two others.

"Raiden was shot in the knee with an arrow before the structure was severed from the tree… Considering that arrow is fully bloody, it is safe to assume one of his two concubines removed it the HARD way…" he says, "That very well may be his blood…"

"We better keep that arrow then. Shang Tsung might have use for it, he's always eager to do strange things in those Pits he stays in." Another guard says.

"Oh sweet Elder Gods, who knows what he'll make with Raiden's blood down there?" the survivor says, all the guards laughing at that. Kitana has a concerned and curious look now. Shang Tsung was always there whenever he wasn't serving Shao Kahn, and this just made Kitana wonder exactly what the sorcerer was doing down there. She had to know now. She quickly walked away, going deeper into the forest and hoping they didn't notice her. Once she got deep enough, she got a feeling that she was being watched, looking around. She frowns, knowing only one person would be responsible for this.

"Show yourself, Jade. I know you're following me. Again."

"Following you still." Jade says, coming out from behind a tree nearby, walking up to Kitana, "I know where you're going, and I am ordered to prevent you from going there."

Kitana looks upset. "And why is that?"

"I do not question the emperor's commands." Jade looks at Kitana with pleading eyes.

"Kitana, please… Turn back."

Kitana looks defiant, shaking her head. "I cannot. This path might lead me to the truth, and I dare not risk angering an Elder God with a scythe that looks like it was made from Death itself. I'm sorry, Jade…" With swift movement, she has her fans out.

"But I will not allow you to stop me."

As that fight started, the guards walked by with the survivor on the stretcher, quietly ignoring the fight next to them. The two Edenians didn't notice them pass by at all, too busy trying to knock each other out. While Jade was very agile and athletic, Kitana's skill and determination prove to be quite fierce and more worthwhile, and Jade found herself knocked out on the ground at Kitana's feet. Kitana looked quite upset at what she had to do, but she wasn't going to let Jade stop her from her objective.

"I tried to warn you…." she tells her fallen friend, "This is something I have to do…"

After moving Jade's body to a safer spot in the forest, she heads towards the Flesh Pits. While it wasn't too far away, it was still quite a walk. The first thing Kitana notices upon entering is what looked to be spray paint on the walls saying "Azriel was here, Shao Kahn is a loser" and something in a language that Kitana couldn't understand. The bodies of several dead Tarkatans are scattered about, blood spilled and flesh removed, revealing what organs were still in place and bone. There was several tubes that had been smashed to bits, glass everywhere on the floor and pools of meat and blood on the floor in front of some of them. One of the tubes wasn't smashed, and Kitana walks up to it, curious. The occupant of the tube was naked save for bandages in very strategic places to prevent this fic from becoming a higher rating. Aside from the Tarkatan maw it had, everything else about it heavily resembled Kitana. She's appropriately disturbed.

"What in the name of…" She backs away from it immediately. She notices a table nearby, and on said table is another one that was identical to the one in the tube. It looked to be resting peacefully. Despite her best judgement, she approached it.

"She… she looks like me!" Kitana looked and sounded horrified. The clone's eyes immediately open, her eyes having the same ominous look like a Tarkatan's.

"Sister!" It spoke, as it sat up and got off the table. Kitana backs away, looking disgusted as it comes closer to her.

"So pretty, so fair, so sad and alone…. Come! Let us be a family!"

"You are not my family! You are a monstrosity!" Kitana corrected, "I'd rather risk a beheading by the Elder God than accept you as family!"

All that was heard for the next 30 minutes was the sounds of blades, growling, glass breaking, and other things.

"Liu, that wasn't funny!"

"Then why are you laughing about it still?"

"Impromptu Shaolin Soccer with a flaming Tarkatan head in front of Jin is not appropriate! No matter how funny it is!"

Liu Kang just looks very smug as they approached the Coliseum, Kung Lao trying to stop his own laughter while Jin just looks confused, riding on Lao's back piggyback while his older cousin holds his hat. Kung Lao looks very done.

"I'm just having a little fun. We don't have to be serious all the time." Liu Kang reminds him, "Like I don't complain about you and your rabbits."

"Leave my pet rabbits out of this." Kung Lao threatens, "They don't hurt anyone and I already apologized at least a 100 times about your shirts getting ruined."

Liu Kang stops walking, giving Kung Lao the most deadpan look. "Lao, if I remember correctly, one of them mauled a man's face off."

"That wasn't true!"

"I saw the whole thing! Kai saw the whole thing! And I'm pretty sure even Raiden saw it even though he was busy eating!"

"There is no way Raiden saw the whole thing! You know how he is with food!"

"Boys, please! You're both pretty!"

Both monks yelp in surprise as Azriel appears in front of them, Jin giggling and waving at Azriel. Azriel smiles sweetly, taking Jin from Kung Lao's back to hold him.

"I'm so happy to see you two back safely! Wasn't expecting the little one though…" She says as she rocks Jin.

"Yeah, that's a long story." Kung Lao answers, putting his hat back on, "Anyways, Raiden said you needed us back for something?"

"Oh yes! I'm planning my next little "fuck you" to Shao Kahn and I need all our darling Earthrealmers there to witness it." Azriel grins, "Trust me, you'll love it~"

"Can we get a hint?" Liu Kang asks, looking interested. Azriel thinks for a second.

"...let's just say loopholes are fun to exploit~" She answers him with a devious look, "And I just hope the other Elder Gods don't kick my ass for it."

"Um… please don't swear around Jin…" Kung Lao sheepishly asks, "I don't want him using such foul language…"

"Oh tater nuts, I'm sorry!" Azriel apologized, Jin too busy playing with her brooch to care.

From the entrance to the Coliseum peeked Johnny, who had heard Azriel's last comment and was grinning. "How the hell did you find out my old elementary school nickname?" He asks jokingly with a grin.

"Get your butt back in there, Tater Nuts! You're fighting next!" Azriel orders, heading inside. The two monks follow her, ignoring Johnny's complaining. Sub-Zero was dragging Smoke away, the grey Lin Kuei having managed to defeat his opponent, one of Shao Kahn's generals, but did get really hurt in the process. There was two women chained up on the sides of the Emperor's throne: an Edenian woman in yellow and a Earthrealm woman in red. Both look very pissed at their current situation, but couldn't really say anything about it least their assumed punishment was worse. Shao Kahn just glares at Azriel's direction, Azriel waving with her free hand while holding Jin close with her other hand, Jin looking a bit scared. Liu Kang just glares back at the emperor, hands igniting once more and looking eager to get his hands on him. Kung Lao goes over to check on Smoke with Johnny.

"You alright?" He asks, Smoke nodding, taking off his broken mask and tossing it aside.

"Yes, I'm fine. But we have another victory for Earthrealm." Smoke assures, the monk smiling.

"Good. We'll win this for sure."

"No doubt."

Kung Lao just smiles before he sees Sub-Zero. He taps Liu Kang on the shoulder and points to him.

"Didn't we just see him at the inn?" He asks. Liu Kang looks perplexed and goes over to him.

"Weren't you at the Inn in Sun Do with us, Sub-Zero?" He asks the Cryomancer, Sub-Zero tilting his head.

"No. I have been here the entire time with Azriel. The one you must have seen was my brother if my assumption is correct." He answers, "Was he with Raiden and the Elder God's daughter?"

"Yes, her name is Rei, by the way." Liu Kang corrects, "Your brother is like her now species wise, but he seems to retain his memories and human appearance, save for a couple of changes…"

"As long as I know he is still with us, then it matters not his appearance." Sub-Zero shook his head, "I only hope he will not be angry with me assuming his colors and title…"

Liu Kang snorts. "Hopefully for your sake."

The Flesh Pits was a mess.

Kitana finally had her "sister" knocked out, the Princess holding an open fan and looked quite peeved. She stood over the clone.

"Farewell, sister." She says, but before she could behead the monstrous version of her, she is stopped by a voice.

"That is no way to treat your sibling."

Entering the Flesh Pits was Shang Tsung, the sorcerer stepping forward. Kitana held the fan in his direction in a threatening manner.

"Despicable swine! Do you think my father will stand for this… these… abominations you have created here?!" She accuses, "And why you even here? If I was told correctly, you're supposed to be at the Soul Tombs!"

Shang Tsung just smiles, revealing a bloodied arrow and setting it on a table nearby. "I was intercepted by some guards on my way there, and they have given me such a lovely gift. I had to return to start working on my latest masterpiece~"

"Silence!" Kitana had enough, flinging her fan at him. He dodges it, and looks quite annoyed.

"I will drag you to Shao Kahn by your pointed beard!" She proclaims as she charges at him, ready to make good on her claim.

Shang Tsung's revitalization did nothing to help him, for hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. At some point during this, the clone had regained consciousness and crawled off to hide somewhere, but neither noticed. Once Shang Tsung was too weak to fight back, Kitana grabs him by his beard, the Sorcerer crying out in pain.

"You will stand before my father and confess your deeds." She tells him, dragging him out of the Flesh Pits by his beard as promised. For a second, Kitana heard she could hear laughter coming from somewhere, but dismissed it as being the clone's. She would be dealt with later.

After a short trip to the Emperor's throne room, Kitana was standing by as Shang Tsung was on his knees, two Tarkatan Guards next to him. Nearby out of all their views was Jade, watching quietly from her hiding spot as Kitana spoke. Shao Kahn himself looked both bored and annoyed, and if one looked closely at his throne, it too shared the same graffiti that was in the Flesh Pits, along with rather crude drawings. There was a dead Tarkatan nearby, his skull caved in and Shao Kahn's hammer bloody. One could only assume he had no brain cells and laughed at the graffiti on the throne and paid dearly for it.

"I would not disturb you, father, if this matter were not of the utmost importance. I felt you should know what Shang Tsung has been doing as of late. This conjurer has created horrible replicas of me, crossbred with Tarkatan Blood! One was alive, and attacked me!" Kitana explains, hoping to see that the sorcerer gets the punishment he deserved.

Shao Kahn looks deep in thought, and a little angry as he gets up from his throne, slowly approaching Shang Tsung. The sorcerer looks nervous, gulping a bit. Shao Kahn looks at Kitana, then at Shang Tsung… before motioning for him to rise.

"Well done, sorcerer."

Shang Tsung chuckles, bows his head, and stands up, the two Tarkatan guards backing away. Kitana looks flabbergasted.

"You know… you… approve?!" She looks surprised, "How could you?! My own father!"

"I am your emperor!" Shao Kahn cut her off, "Your father was a weakling Edenian king… I annihilated him while merging his realm with Outworld and took his queen as my wife. If only I had not allowed Sindel to convince me of your worth… But now, I have a true daughter!"

Kitana just stumbled back a bit, shaking her head. "The Elder God… Azriel was right… You have lied to me my entire life…"

Shao Kahn raises a hand. "Escort her to the Tower. I will make an example of her."

The guards not, restraining Kitana despite her best efforts, and taking her away. The emperor turns to Shang Tsung, an annoyed look in his eyes.

"Normally, you would be punished for failing to do as you are told… but for now… bring my my daughter, Mileena." He demands.

Shang Tsung nods, but doesn't leave yet. "Before I do so, I believe I should properly explain my sudden return. I am sure you will be very delighted..."

As he whispers his latest idea to Shao Kahn, the emperor starting to smile very big at what he hears, Jade is seen peeking from her hiding spot, looking ashamed of herself before she follows them out of everyone's view.

"I have failed you, Kitana. Now I will make amends."