True Love

At once she quickly jumped back and into a fighting stance her fans drawn and ready for blood.

"Hold!" The Khan pleaded with his hands open and raised to the sky." I mean you no harm." Though naturally Kitana did not believe him." Please Princess." He ventured a step forward." Allow me a few words." Had this been at the start of the Tournament Kitana would have taken his head right then and there. But something stayed her hand. He said he wanted to talk, so she would have to wait and see what he wanted.

"Speak." She said quickly and in a sharp voice. Her eyes glanced left and right looking for any of Kotal's warriors hiding in the shadows.

"I come alone and unarmed." He said noticing her shifting eyes." I only wish to talk."

"Talk of what?" she questioned.

"I believe I know a way to end this conflict between us."

"Do you admit defeat?" she questioned." Then kneel before my feet now." She pointed to the spot before her." Proclaim me the True Empress of Outworld and I will show you mercy even now." A touch of mercy, Kuai Lang would like that.

"I cannot agree to that." Kotal replied.

"Then we have nothing to discuss-"

"Please! Hear me out." When she did not reply he took that as his cue to continue." Not all wars need to be fought by spilling blood. There are other, more peaceful ways." And despite his barbaric manners that was what Kotal Khan was a pursuer of Peace. With each word he took a step closer to her. And now he was almost within arm's reach. And as daughter of the Emperor she knew exactly what he meant.

"Marriage?" she questioned." To you?"

"Before you reject me, hear me out." He straightened out before her." You desire to be Empress of Outworld. A marriage would allow you that. We'll rule your Father's Empire together, legally. So no one will doubt it. It would also bring Edenia back into the Empire and end this conflict without another drop of blood. There is much we could do better with each other's help than alone."

"You killed Jade." Kitana said." My friend is dead and-"

"And my father as well." Kotal finished." We have both lost much in this conflict, my dear." He stood before her, only a few inches between them.

"How do I know you won't go and offer Mileena the same thing behind my back? A way to cover yourself in the worst case scenario." Kotal couldn't help but smile.

"Mileena would make a terrible Empress and an even worse wife." He answered. He was silent for a few moments allowing the idea to sink in more." I would be a Good Emperor and Husband. I'd wear nice cloths and I'd get my hair trimmed." Kitana felt her tongue caught in her throat as she tried to answer. He wasn't her enemy this night but a man desperately trying to propose. He looked back at her trying to read her reaction but beneath that vale he could see nothing in those deep, blue eyes." I do not expect your answer right away. I imagine you will need some time with this."

Her back was to him. She could heard the grass crunch under his foot as he was backing away from her, leaving her with her thoughts. But she needed no time to think this over.

"I have your answer." Kitana said. Kotal stood in his place and waited." No." she turned and faced him." I have no reason to give in to your demands. This was you last try to grasp onto the power you hold so dear and it has failed."

"I disagree." Kotal said. He snapped his fingers. Kitana heard a flurry of flapping above her. Then quick as a flash there were five creatures behind her. Very familiar figures. Five D'vorahs to be exact." These are my new warriors."

"How can this be?" They looked like D'vorah in every which way except for one minor detail. Each of their eyes were orange, burning with hellfire. Hellfire they got from Scorpion. When they sucked on his blood they also sucked out his power. And now there were five D'vorah's to replace that one and each were as powerful as Scorpion.

"Even if your wraith manages to defeat one of them." Kotal said." How do you think he'd fair against all of them? Even if he could there would simply be ten more the following day. You see little Princess there's no way you can win. Not now." Her back was to him so she could view the D'vorah's. She hadn't been aware when he walked up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder." Now." He said leaning down and speaking into her ear." How does my offer sound now?" But before she could answer he continued." Know if you refuse me this time the offer is gone forever. And in the morning I will tear your team apart. Starting with the Grand Master."

"NO!" she yelled turning back to face him. Silence followed after as the two looked each other over.

"Then" Kotal persisted." Your answer?" Silence followed again.

Kitana did not know that this hole time Kaui had been looking for her. And when he did find her Kotal Kahn was already long gone, leaving her alone.

At first she heard the crunching sound of boots against the dirt. And when she looked Kitana saw Kaui appear through the shadows, lifting one arm up and pushing the branches of the trees away.

"Kitana." He said upon seeing her. His voice sounded just the same as Kotal Kahn's." I've been looking for you." He said as he began walking closer to her." I have something to tell you." He was standing before her now. She glanced up but couldn't meet his eyes for more than a second. "Kitana." He said. He leaned forward and reached forward to cup her cheek in his hand. But she reached her hand out and stopped his from advancing. She wanted to feel his touch so badly. But she couldn't, it would only make this harder.

"Empress." She corrected." I am your Empress."

"Empress." He said for the first time in a long time. It seemed strange to call her that after everything. After everything that had passed between them." I wanted to tell you-"

"There is nothing you can tell me that I want to hear." She quickly said. This startled Kaui. Something was wrong, she was not acting like herself.

"What's happened? Why are you-" He moved forward to try and touch her again. This time she stepped back and out of his reach.

"You swore you would serve me for as long as I needed it." She told.

"Yes." He took a step closer." But I-"

"I no longer need it." She said." I release you from my service." This couldn't be happening. She couldn't mean this." Go home Grandmaster. Go home to your clan." She turned her back to him and prepared to leave.

"My clan died for you." He told. His voice stopped her in her tracks." They died back in Edenia for you. I have nothing to go back to." Silence took them now. Kitana slowly turned her face around to meet his.

"Then rebuild Grandmaster." She turned away from him again.

"Kitana" He tried to followed her. But she was a few steps ahead of him and when he tried to follow she was gone.

And just like that Sub Zero's journey in Outworld had ended.