-Chapter 10: The Price of Peace

Magnus awoke with a groan. The bright sunlight streaming through the window of his room burned his eyes and he made to lift his arm to shield himself. With the action brought a surge of pain that immediately forced his arm back down. His memories slowly returned to him, bringing to his recollection his battle with Raiden and the wounds inflicted upon him in the process.

As more cognition returned to him, he realized he was lying in bed, one different from Mileena's stately bed. He was in a room that was likely intended to be his own, plain and simple in terms of design but effective nonetheless. A set of thin shades being drawn of the window drew his attention to Mileena, dressed in her regal garb. She looked so radiant in the golden light of the room that Magnus was momentarily mesmerized. Mileena looked over her shoulder, revealing she was not wearing her veil, and smiled at him, her amber eyes glowing.

"You're awake." She whispered.

"Yeah..." Magnus quietly replied, trying to smile despite the absolute ache he felt everywhere.

"How do you feel?" Mileena wondered as she walked over and knelt beside him.

"My body is screaming at me." Magnus admitted, trying to keep still yet maintain eye contact. He felt a bandage wrapped around his head, seemingly replacing his usual headband. He could feel many more wrapped around his chest and arms. Obviously Raiden had inflicted some pretty serious damage. He spied his robes folded and lying on a table in the corner and suddenly questioned what he was wearing.

"You had a lot of burn damage to heal. I had the best physicians and magicians working on you." Mileena told him. Realizing that the position of the sun was different from when he last remembered it, Magnus had another question.

"How long have I been out for?" He asked.

"It's been a day."

"Damn. That bad, huh?" Mileena nodded.

"You worried me. I couldn't sleep knowing you were suffering." She admitted.

"Well, this is much more bearable in comparison to the heat of the moment." Magnus informed her. "But other wounds... will take a lot longer to heal." Calling to mind Raiden's casting him out of Earthrealm, Magnus realized he would never be able to return to the realm he called home. His expression fell, eyes downcast as he realized this.

"I'm so sorry Magnus." Mileena whispered, taking his bandaged hand in hers. "You have suffered all of this because you helped me."

"I guess that's the price I pay for pursuing peace." Magnus sighed. Then he looked up with a small, newfound light in his eyes. "But... at least you were the better woman in this instance. You showed up Raiden, choosing peace when you easily could've tried to avenge me. That takes doing." Mileena smiled.

"You inspired me to do so." She replied. Her hand soon found its way into his hair as she gently soothed his thick black locks, fingertips casually stroking the top of his head. "You are a kind man, Magnus Shadrix. Too kind for either of our worlds it would seem." She said.

"Maybe you and I can make this world a better one." Magnus replied. Mileena nodded.

"I'd like that... especially if that means you're here with me."

"I can't exactly go anywhere else." Magnus joked, cracking a small smile. Mileena softly chuckled. As her laughter died down, Magnus had another question to pose. "Mileena, before Raiden and everything, you were going to tell me something?" He asked. Mileena fell quiet, gathering her thoughts as she remembered that moment. It felt like ages ago.

"Yes, that's right..." She quietly whispered, tearing her gaze away from his for a second. "I was going to say that... you've helped me..." Mileena trailed off, not knowing how to proceed. "Every time I say this it never ends well." She whispered, sounding defeated.

"Just try." Magnus encouraged. After a moment of quiet, Mileena's amber eyes became fixated on him again.

"I desire you Magnus." She admitted. "I find you an attractive man, handsome and appealing. You're unlike any Earthrealmer I've ever met and you've given me so much. I do not know if you reciprocate my feelings, but when I asked you to my bed the other night... it was because I wanted you with a yearning the likes of which I have never felt before." Magnus let her words sink in, realizing that she shared his feelings, maybe even felt more strongly about him.

But there was no denying that there was something between them.

"Mileena," he whispered, drawing her attention, "I feel the same way." His response caused her expression to visibly brighten. "That night, I was doing as the Empress commanded. I have feelings for you too, but I had no idea how things might work out between us. Now that I'm here permanently... maybe we can work this out some more." He explained. Reaching out with his free hand, his touch landed on her cheek and his thumb started stroking the side of one of her sharp, pronounced canines. "I like you Mileena." He softly admitted. Mileena smiled, her other hand reaching up to hold his.

"I like you too Magnus." She whispered, weaving her hand through his hair. "I like you a lot. There have been very few men I've actually liked. And all of them ultimately deemed me a hideous beast. But not you..." With their mutual affection uncovered, something seemed to blossom in the midst of the room. A kind of bond between Magnus and Mileena that could not be severed. "You will stay here with me, where you will be given the care and the respect you deserve." She stated, wanting to prove herself as being better than Raiden in every way. "You are Outworld's hero, Magnus. And I am indebted to you." Magnus pulled her a little closer.

"And I you, Mileena Kahnum." He whispered with a smile. With that, he pressed his lips to hers in a gentle, loving kiss.

In the days following her restoration to the throne of Outworld, Mileena took Magnus' words to heart and strove to become the greatest ruler her realm had ever known. She kept her word and put an end to hostilities against Earthrealm, freed realms that had been merged with Outworld and created a kind of Golden Age of peace and harmony for all involved. Things were going well for her personally as well, for she struck up a relationship with Magnus, her chief of security now her consort as well. For the first time in a long time, Mileena felt happy. She had a man who truly cared for her as well as liked her, a man who put her own wellbeing above his own, going to great lengths to ensure no rebellion or terror came her way. Magnus was a powerful man, an honest man and a kind man. He cared for her with the same affection Mileena showed him, their loving relationship growing with each passing day. Often times, when roaming the palace halls, Mileena would hear booming thunder in the distance and smile, knowing her consort was hard at work protecting her and keeping her safe.

Upon recovering from his battle with Raiden, Magnus came to terms with his new reality, forever trapped in Outworld and forbidden from returning to Earthrealm. And yet this new reality caused him to strive to make the best of his circumstances, determined to be the best man he could possibly be. Mileena found this particularly appealing as her relationship with Magnus deepened, him becoming her consort and lover. Promoted to the chief of palace security as well as being a permenant advisor to the Empress, Magnus Shadrix took charge of keeping Mileena safe from all threats. When he wasn't enforcing peace across Outworld, Magnus could often be found standing with his Empress, advising her in all matters. Other times they might be found in each other's arms, basking in the Golden Age Mileena had created. Everynow and then a few Osh-Tekk who survived and regrouped after Kotal's death refused to go quietly and decided to rebel. Yet each time they advanced on the city or the palace, they were stopped dead by bolts of lightning and were forced to face the thunderous wrath of the white-clad Earthrealmer who strove to keep his Empress, and his love, safe from harm.

Returning to Earthrealm, Raiden was deeply distressed by Magnus' actions. Part of him grieved the son he lost, the third one by his count, while the rest of him raged at the fact that Magnus had resurrected Mileena. Fujin tried to console the thunder god to no avail, Raiden's heart hardening every time he dwelt on Magnus Shadrix and what had become of him. Too many alllies had he lost to the Netherrealm and Outworld, the actions of Magnus only serving to fuel his new convictions and beliefs. The thunder god believed it was high time he acted on his words of warning to the rulers of both realms; he would destroy his enemies before they brought more harm to Outworld. Earthrealm had lost what could've been one of its greatest allies, all because Raiden had idly stood by and waited for either realm to make their move instead of fulfilling his threat and purging the problem before it grew too large. Raiden finally deemed it was time he ensured neither realm could ever pose a threat to him and his allies ever again, starting with Outworld. Perhaps it was time for another Mortal Kombat tournament...

THE END

Author's Note: Hey! I finished a story, look at that! I sincerely hope you all enjoyed and thank you for your positive words throughout the process. Want more of my writing? Check out my profile and my current epic: Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Rise of The Wraith.

Oh... and if you all want to see a sequel to this one, let me know!