The others had only just come through Quan Chi's portal, and had been surprised to find Raiden waiting for them in the Nexus, looking distressed.

"It's Delphine," the thunder god said before they could ask, "She has invaded the Realm of Chaos...taken control of everything."

"Wait," Cherin said, "How can that be? Those people despise order and control more than anything. Why aren't they fighting her?"

It was true, and Cherin would know, she was the only one who had actually spent a significant amount of time in that realm.

"They've tried," Raiden replied, "But they haven't been able to drive her out. You underestimate Delphine's power, she is stronger than you think."

"So why do we care?" Maria asked, "So what if she controls that realm?"

Raiden smiled.

"First of all Maria," he said, "You are the protectors of all the realms, not just the ones you care about, and second, if Delphine is successful in taking control of one realm, what do you think she'll do next?"

"She'll take over all of them," Sarah said, "One by one."

Raiden nodded, "Exactly, and you must not let that happen. Travel to the Chaosrealm and drive the Siren out."

Back at the fortress...

"Arilayn open the door!" Ashlynn yelled for the twentieth time.

"No!" came the response from inside the room, "I hate you!"

Ashlynn took a step back, shocked. Her daughter had never said anything like that before.

"I know what it is Mom," said Rhapsody, who had been standing by quietly, "She told me, but I didn't think it was this bad."

"What is it?" Ashlynn asked desperately, "What's wrong with her Rhapsody?"

"I...I promised I wouldn't say anything to you..."

Before Ashlynn could argue, the door opened a crack, and Arilayn peeked out, scowling.

"Can I come in now?" Ashlynn asked.

Arilayn nodded, opening the door a little wider. Ashlynn followed her into the room, closing the door softly behind her.

"Ari what's wrong?" she asked.

Arilayn crossed her arms, sitting down on the bed.

"You...you don't love Dad anymore," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Ashlynn sat down next to her, running her hand through the hair that was so like her own.

"Why would you say that?" she asked.

Arilayn lowered her eyes, "I heard you talking to Quan Chi in the dining room, I heard the way you sounded. You don't care about Dad!"

Angrily, she shoved her mother's hand away.

"You're wrong Ari," Ashlynn said, "I will always love your father, no matter what."

Finally, Arilayn looked up. Her blue eyes were brimming with tears.

"Then why are you going back to Quan Chi?" she asked.

Unintentionally, Ashlynn laughed, "Who said I was?"

Arilayn shrugged, smiling a little now, "I just thought..."

"Arilayn, I don't think you have to worry about that."

Arilayn only smiled and wiped her eyes with her sleeve. Ashlynn hugged her, glad that the crisis was over, and opened the door. She jumped, surprised to find Quan Chi standing there with a look on his face that she hadn't seen for a long time...pure rage.

"You...heard that," she said, "Didn't you?"

"Yes," he said through tightly clenched teeth, "I hear every word you said Ashlynn. May I speak with you...alone?"

Arilayn got the hint and quickly left the room, leaving Ashlynn alone with the angry sorcerer. He shut the door a little too hard, and turned back to her.

"I'm sorry," was all she could say.

"You're sorry?" he repeated, "You're sorry? Is that really all you have to say!"

"Really...I just...I can't..." Ashlynn stopped, she was tripping over her words. Now she was even more confused, she had no clue what to do.

"I was a fool to have told you those things!" Quan Chi shouted, "I was a bigger fool for letting you live so long ago! I should have killed you the first time I saw you!"

Ashlynn was on the verge of tears, it had been so long since she'd seen him like this...

"You don't mean that," she choked.

"Oh I don't?" he asked, "Are you sure? Do you really know me so well Ashlynn!"

"I'm sorry!" she said again, "Dammit, I can't make everyone happy!"

"It was a mistake to let you live," he said, "You have weakened me..."

"No," Ashlynn said, "No, I haven't I-

"No!" Quan Chi cut her off, "If it was not for you, I would taken control of the realms, I would have ultimate power! But I let you get in the way!"

"You don't want that!" Ashlynn said, "I know you don't!"

"You know nothing!"

Ashlynn sailed backward, hitting the wall hard.

"Ashlynn..."

The realization of what he had done suddenly hit him, he ran to her, trying to help her stand, but she shoved him away.

"Don't," she said shakily, pulling herself up onto the edge of the bed.

"Ashlynn I-

"I know I know," she said, waving a hand at him, "You didn't mean to do it."

"About what I said before," the sorcerer said, "I...did not mean it."

Ashlynn smiled slightly, "I know, I told you."

The Chaosrealm...

"What the hell is that?" Jax asked, pointing to the round, glowing platform nearby.

"They take you from one part of this realm to another," Cherin explained, "It's a little confusing."

"Check that out," Sonya said.

Ahead of them, atop a large, floating chunk of land, was a palace of sorts, though it was only partially built.

"So Delphine has them building her a palace," Amilee laughed, "Why am I not surprised?"

"Lead on," Maria said, looking at Cherin. Cherin nodded, trying to hide the fact that she was very uncomfortable being back in the Chaosrealm.

After a while of being lost, they finally made it to the piece of land with the palace. There were people, chained and carrying building materials.

"You!"

They turned, making her way toward them was a fiery haired woman with a frown on her face.

"Kira," Sub-Zero said quietly.

"I remember you," Kira said, "Where is...what was her name...Frost?"

"Training," the Lin Kuei said shortly, "It has been a long time."

By now, Amilee's eyes were nothing but slits.

"I know," Kira replied, ignoring her angry stare, "I was planning to come back and kill you both but...unfortunately, things didn't work out so well for me, as you can probably tell."

"Why are you here?" Sub-Zero asked.

"Good question," the red haired woman said, "I was taking care of something in this realm, when some insane blonde woman invaded. I was captured, along with a good portion of the population, and brought here. She's been forcing us to build her a palace, it's driving the Chaosrealm citizens crazy. If you're looking for that woman, she's inside, obsessing over herself no doubt."

The others were already on their way toward the doors.

"Stop," said one of the guards blocking their path, "Who are you?"

"We need to speak with Delphine," Maria said as pleasantly as she could.

"The Lady is not taking visitors," the second guard said.

"Please don't make us hurt you," Cherin said.

The guards only laughed.

"Hurt us? How do you plan on-

He was frozen before he could finish. The remaining guard could only stare in horror at his icy friend.

"Please," he said, "Just go..."

He moved aside, his mouth still hanging open.

Inside, all that had been built so far was a large throne room. Delphine jumped, startled, off of her marble throne.

"Get out of my palace!" she screamed.

"Not much of a palace huh?" Sarah laughed.

"You really thought we wouldn't find you?" Amilee asked.

"I have told you time and time again that you cannot stop me!" the Siren yelled, pulling at her blonde locks, "Stop interfering with my plans!"

"Give it up girl," Jax said, "You're outnumbered."

Delphine blinked, realizing they were right.

"You will pay for this," she said quietly, then screamed and vanished.

"She'll be back," Amilee said.

Later...

They had freed the Chaosrealm citizens, and now they were surrounded by a group of people, all saying that they wanted to thank them. Jax did his best to push them back, but they kept coming.

"What is wrong with these people!" Amilee shrieked, pushing away a heavyset woman.

Cherin was busy shoving back a thin man, when she saw him, standing behind the crowd.

"Havik?" she asked.

The hooded man nodded, smiling. Jax had finally managed to push the group back.

"Ya'll back off!" he said.

Cherin rushed through the mass of people, stopping a few feet from the man she hadn't seen in so long.

"It's impossible," she said, "You died during the tournament."

"Death is only an obstacle," Havik replied, "Meant to be overcome."

He reached out to touch her, just as Stryker's fist connected with his jaw.

"Stay away from her," he said.

Havik glanced at Cherin, confused, blood dripping from his chin.

"Who is this?" he asked.

"My husband," she said, crossing her arms.

Havik smiled, "It has been a long time hasn't it? And you haven't missed me at all?"

"Not one bit," she said.

"Oh wait," Havik said, "I already knew that. I figured it out the night you were with-

Frantically, Cherin signaled for him to be silent.

"Whatever is wrong?" he asked, his smile growing broader, "You haven't told your husband? Cherin Cherin Cherin...You should be ashamed."

"Shut up," she spat.

Stryker was staring at her suspiciously, while Jax continued to struggle with the crowd.

"Ahhh!" he screamed, "Dude don't touch me! Back off!"

"Cherin what is this man talking about?" Stryker asked.

"Nothing," she said quickly, "It was a long time ago. It doesn't matter now."

"I can't believe she hasn't old you about the night she was with-

"SHUT UP!"

"With who?" Stryker asked.

"With the sorcerer Quan Chi of course," Havik told him, unable to control his laughter.

Stryker's face had turned a sickly white color.

"Cherin," he said slowly, "Is that true?"

"Yes," she said quietly, "But Kurtis it was a long time ago! I was stupid! I didn't even know you back then!"

Stryker took a breath. He had never liked the sorcerer, and now to find out that he had put his hands on Cherin...

"I know it was a long time ago," he said finally, "But just...don't talk to me for a while, okay Cher?"

He walked away, leaving Cherin stunned. Suddenly she turned to Havik, slapping him full across the face.

"How dare you!" she screamed, storming off to join the others.

"Okay," Jax was saying to the group of people, "Ya'll aren't gonna hurt me, and I'm not gonna hurt you. Got it?"

The crowd didn't seem to hear, they were still pressing forward, trying to get their hands on the Chosen. Jax had finally had it. He grunted, jumping high into the air and slamming his metal fists into the ground. The ground rumbled as the shockwaves from the impact surged froward, knocking the Chaosrealm citizens down.

"Come on," Jax said, "Before they get back up."