The Rightful King

In the next bout of the Tournament was D'Vorah versus Nitara. The two flew around the room, biting and clawing at the other. Heads moved from left to right watching the mid-air battle.

They came back clashing overhead locking their hands together. Nitara's bat wings flapped while D'Vorah's insect one's fluttered. At the same time they let go and resumed fighting.

Out from under D'Vorah's left arm shot a long spikey prong. It shot out and stabbed at Nitara. But the vampire managed to grab onto it and with a yank and a tug ripped it off D'Vorah's body.

"HAHA!" Mileena cheered. "YES!"

"Ew!" Kitana jolted as the green blood splattered onto the ground.

"Afraid Empress?" Sub Zero questioned.

"I HATE bugs." She stressed.

"Your sister appears to be having fun." Sub Zero pointed out. Kitana turned over to see Mileena bouncing up and down.

"HIT HER WITH IT!" she cheered. Nitara did as commanded and used D'Vorah's prong as a weapon. Swinging it like a bat at her head.

D'Vorah ducked her head to the side avoiding it. But then D'Vorah grew another prong from her back. It shot around her right shoulder and stabbed Nitara right through the head. And with her death it brought the match to a close.

"D'Vorah wins!" Kotal announced. She retracted her prong from Nitara's head and allowed her body to fall to the ground. And when the 'thud' echoed around the room Mileena only became more enraged.

Shujinko, Darrius, Nitara they'd all failed her. Leaving her team of warriors down by half in only two days.

Kitana could only smile at her sister's frustration. With every fight her claim to the throne became weaker and weaker. And Kotal Khan's once frightening subordinates seemed to become less so when they began to bleed from battle.

Furious Mileena turned away from the competition and to a place more 'appropriate' for her rage. Her own room for starters.

In a fit of rage Mileena grabbed onto the nearest thing to her, the mirror. She put both hands on it's side and then flung it to the ground. Breaking the glass and shattering it across the floor. She then let out one final roar before plopping down onto her knees, dramatically running her hands through her hair.

Rain took a step back as the glass came towards him.

"Seven years bad luck." He grumbled. Skarlet said nothing as she stepped away from Rain, moving past him and to Mileena's side. The Empress was rocking back and forth, her hands on her knees.

"Throne is mine." She muttered. "Throne is mine." Skarlet still said nothing but put her hands in Mileena's hair and then began braiding it. It always excited her to see what magnificent design could be made with her hair.

But Mileena's departure from the Tournament made both Kotal Kahn and Kitana smile. And now with her absence they turned their attention to each other.

"Princess." Kotal said to her." Would you like to put forth your own challenger?" He held out a hand to her.

"Is that a dare?" she questioned with a smirk between her mask. Her trio of warriors stepped up at her side. Sub Zero then Ermac and finally Reptile. In response Tremor hovered over Kotal Kahn as Erron Black rested his hands on his belt.

"Is that a Khallenge?" he pointed at her.

"No khallenge false king." She shook her head. Then she turned and looked at her warriors." I don't think we'll fight today." With a nod of her head she turned and walked away, with the trio following her.

Kotal did not like that. The tone of her voice and the obvious ridicule in it. He had expected it but expectations and reality are not always similar. She thought she was better than him, she didn't view him as a proper threat. Those victors had gone to her head already.

"Then Kombat Is concluded for today." Kotal said rising from his throne. He turned and left followed by D'vorah and Erron Black.

This tournament was slowly getting out of hand fast. More than enough opportunities had presented themselves had arisen for both Kitana and Mileena to die but it never happened. And each day they lived, Kotal feared more and more that his days in Outworld were numbered.

His thoughts were frantic. But they were probably made more so by Erron Black using this room as a firing range. Bullet after bullet he fired, breaking bottle after bottle with each shot.

Kotal turned to his right hand man. Surely if things went bad Erron would fight tooth and nail to return his Emperor to his glory. Just as Kitana had Ermac and Reptile, no doubt Erron was Kotal's man.

"Erron?" Kotal asked. The cowboy put the hammer on his gun to it's original position and turned to his Emperor." Why do you serve me?" Erron put his pistol away to showcase three fingers to him.

"For three things. For the Money." He put a finger down." For the Glory." He put a second finger down." And for the fun." He shrugged." But mostly for the money."

"Money?" Kotal repeated. That wasn't the kind of answer he wanted or expected. Erron pulled his pistol out and with a flick of his wrist caused the revolving barrel to come out. Then he began loading it one bullet at a time. Kotal took a step closer to him." And tell me. What happens if someone else offers you more 'Money'?" Erron had already loaded three bullets but with each word he noticed Kotal was getting closer and closer to him. He flicked his wrist and put the barrel back into place as he faced the Emperor.

"I wouldn't count on that." Erron said." Even together I don't think the sisters could beat your price."

"That's not what I ask." Kotal grumbled.

"No." Erron nodded." But that is my answer." Erron Black was and always will be a realist. He believed only what he could see with his own two eyes and nothing more. And from what he saw at this moment he had no reason to leave the service of Kotal Kahn. He had it too good here.

Kotal didn't rightly like that thought. Erron had served him well and the Emperor liked to think they shared a common understanding. Perhaps he thought wrong. With a defeated sigh he turned away as Erron continued to reload his gun.

"Do not fret Emperor." A voice said. Looking over Kotal watched as D'vorah entered the room with Tremor." This one believes in you without question." She stood before Kotal with a hand on her chest. The stone man stood behind her nodding his agreement." You should not concern yourself with what a vagabond thinks." She glanced over her shoulder at Erron.

He knew they were talking about him. D'vorah had never wanted him to join their court, thinking they couldn't trust someone who works only for money. But for once Kotal ignored her advice and allowed Erron into his service. Which only makes this situation even more surprising that after that kindness showed to him, the home given to him, that Erron's greatest allegiance was too himself. But for a man of nearly 200 that could be understood.

Besides Erron and D'vorah were not the only one of his guards. And there was another present.

"And what of you?" He asked tilting his head to look at Tremor. His reply was to lock eyes with the Kahn, steam and a hiss exiting his mask as an answer. But Kotal couldn't really understand that.

"You have been given the service of the Shokan, the Sedian Guard, and beings from all across Outworld." D'vorah spoke up." You have given them what Onaga and Shao Khan never could." Kotal turned to face her." Peace. And I doubt either of your predecessor's spawn can do the same. You are the only logical choice." Tremor nodded his agreement.

The only logical choice. The words kept spinning around in his head. He had united the war torn realms of Outworld and merged them into one. His father own had bent to Shao Khan but all bow to Kotal Khan. He was worshiped all throughout Outworld as a God. This was his land, his home. And no one was going to take it from him.