Mighty Warriors

The Next Morning brought the competitors back into the throne room for the next day of battle. Sub Zero stood with Reptile and Ermac, Empress Kitana standing between them. There were more faces here today than there were the previous. Warriors stood in groups together discussing strategy and alliances or by themselves. But all the commotion died away when the Emperor appeared surrounded by his bodyguards.

"Kombatants." Kotal said." This Morning marks the continuation of the Mortal Kombat tournament." He glanced around the room but his eyes rest on Kitana. No others concerned him but her." Who will be the first to battle?" To Kitana it sounded like 'Put forth your first fighter'

"Emperor!" boomed a voice. At the Emperor's right was the Shoakan warrior Kintaro, who had once served Shao Khan." Give me the honor of fighting next and I shall bring you your enemies' heads."

"You may go Kintaro." Kotal nodded." But be warned." He branded a finger in his face." I have become very wary of failure recently. Return to me as you have promised or not at all." The Shokan crossed his arms over his body.

"As you command, Emperor!" And Kintaro marched into the center of the arena.

Kitana looked over her shoulder looking to see who would fight on her be-half. But her answer was given to her.

"Empress." Reptile hissed as he dropped to one knee." Allow me." Kitana did not hesitate.

"Go Reptile." She commanded." And bring me victory." Reptile's response was a growl as he jumped to his feet, marching off to meet Kintaro.

"You come against me lizard?" Kintaro questioned.

"I challenge you on the Empress' behalf."

"Then you will die!" Kintaro roared as he beat his chest with his arms.

"Let the Battle of Kintaro and Reptile begin!" commanded Kotal.

The two beasts lunged at each other. Kintaro the larger and broader of the two rushed forward with a shokan war cry. Reptile's feet slip back along the floor, gliding him backwards as Kintaro continued to come at him.

Kintaro took a great step forward and swung both his left arms forward. With his feet sliding across the ground Reptile moved to the side and dodged him. As he moved to Kintaro's side he swung up his leg and gave Kintaro two quick kicks. One to the ribs and the second in the stomach. But Kintaro hardly buckled over and instead swung around with his upper right arm.

But Reptile ducked under his attack and prepared his own. However Kintaro had another arm and shot it forward. But Reptile's hands were already up and he blocked, then he used that momentum to propel himself back. With a flip in the air and landed down on all fours and let out a snarling hiss at his enemy. Kintaro let out a roar to match his spirits and out of his breath came fire.

Reptile jumped into the air and dug his claws into the stone pillars as the fires engulfed the floor below him. And between the fire and smoke Reptile saw Kintaro run forward and break the pillar down with a single punch.

Reptile quickly pounced off the destroyed pillar. Kintaro's back was to him now and Reptile opened his mouth and out from the folds of his mask spat out his tongue. It was as long as the room and snapped like a whip. He spat it out and wrapped it around Kintaro's neck.

The Shokan's hands went to his throat and tried to pry himself free. But the tongue was slippery and hard to get ahold of. And before he could get a definite grasp Reptile jerked his head back and lifted Kintaro into the air and slammed him into the pillar below him. Then Reptile began pulling his tongue back in and lifting Kintaro into the air, as his grip got tighter and tighter.

But then Kintaro reached one arm back and onto the tongue, then a second. Now with a firm grip he began to tug. And with one great yank he pulled Reptile off the pillar and slammed him onto the ground below. And before he could slink away Kintaro stomped a heavy foot down on him. This was not a good place to be.

Now with both his lower arms Kintaro began punching away at the pinned Zatarean. Reptile quickly threw up his hands trying to block in any way he could. But Kintaro was both fierce and strong and soon began to bruise Reptile's arms. If the Zatarean was going to defeat the Shokan he would have to act, and he would have to act soon.

As the flurry of punches continued Reptile slowly managed to arch his legs up, bending them at the knee. Then as two punches came in. He blocked one while gripping the other arm with his. Then with both arms dug into the arm before him. And with a quick kick of his legs managed to free himself, swinging his legs around as he swung up and got himself right before Kintaro.

And Reptile with teeth like swords and a bite like a crocodile sunk his teeth into Kintaro's shoulder. The bite was enough to crack the bone into pieces but that wasn't the worst of it. Reptile had a breath of his own, more deadly than fire. The poisonous saliva he let out sunk onto Kintaro's shoulder and began melting into it.

In a flurry of pain and anger Kintaro managed to get his arms under Reptile and pushed him off. The Zatarean flew back but landed safely on two feet. Looking forward he could see the spit had already melted away the skin and was now showing bone.

Sub Zero glanced over to see a smirk grace the outside of Kitana's veil.

With another fierce roar Kintaro charged forward and Reptile was ready for him. He came in swinging both his right arms but Reptile jumped back to dodge. And when he stepped forward and swung with his lefts Reptile moved inside his reach and stabbed his left right straight. And with his sharp nails leading the way he pierced Kintaro's stomach and managed to poke out the other side. Blood poured out of him and leak onto the floor.

Reptile turned around and glanced back at his Empress. With a smile beneath her veil she nodded her head and spoke the words her father had spoken many times before.

"Finish him." Reptile did as she commanded. He pulled his hand back into Kintaro and everyone watched as Kintaro's body began to simmer and hiss. Then all at once his torso exploded propelling blood and guts everywhere as well as a green slimy liquid.

"Reptile wins." Kotal Khan said in a defeated tone.

But the only sound to be heard after the battle was clapping. Not the unified clapping of a group but the clapping of a single person. Slowly everyone turned to see where the sound originated from. And needless to say they were surprised.

"It can't be." Kitana said. It was like looking into a mirror with only a few minor differences. The eyes were a savage yellow, the hair a shorter black and while Kitana wore blue this copy wore pink.

"Bravo, Bravo." Mileena continued to clap." An extraordinary performance, sweet sister. You always knew how to pick fighters."

"What are you doing here?" Kitana questioned. More like how. Last Kitana or anyone for that matter had heard Mileena was dead. Evidently the rumors were not true.

"I heard the Tournament had been called." Mileena said with outstretched arms." And that someone was here fighting on be-half of the True Empress of Outworld." Kitana saw her lips curved beneath the veil." How kind of them." There was a sinister hiss in her voice with that last sentence that Kitana did not like. Kotal Khan's eyes shifted between the two as Kitana moved towards Mileena.

"I am the Elder Mileena." She told." By rights the throne passes to me."

"Father had no rights to the Throne of Outworld but he took it anyway. And I think I shall follow in that family tradition." And with a snap of her fingers Mileena showed her fighting force.

She had gathered her own team as well. Skarlet her own bodyguard. The son of Argus the Demi-God Rain. Darrius a criminal from the Orderrealm. The Vampire from the darkest pits of Outworld Nitara. And the old wanderer Shujinko.

Kotal Khan couldn't help but smile from his throne. He had forgotten about Mileena and when she first appeared feared the sisters might unite against him. But as luck would have it here they were ready to slit each other's throats. How foolish for them. How fortunate for himself. The Playing Field had certainly changed.

"Put fourth your challenge dear sister." Mileena said." And I will put forth my own." She motioned her hand towards her fighters. Kitana glanced back at her own. Reptile had just finished battle but still looked eager. Ermac would fight will all his might if she commanded it. But there was still one who hadn't proven himself.

"Grandmaster." She called him by his title. Sub Zero tilted his head towards her to look out of his good eye." Step forth." He did not argue and did as he was told stepping into the center of the room." Your move, sister."

"Shujinko." Mileena said tilting her head towards him. The old man said nothing but moved forward as he ran his hand through his long white beard. Sub Zero did not enjoy the fact of his first opponent being a withered old man, he would have to exercise restraint from killing or crippling him in a single punch.

"The next match of Sub Zero Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei versus the Wandering Warrior Shujinko Begin!" Kotal Khan commanded.