Quan Chi had finally found Arilayn sitting in the dining room. She was staring out the window, as if she hadn't noticed him.
"I need to speak with you," he said.
Ashlynn had warned him not to, and he knew it was probably a bad idea but...
"My Mom doesn't love you," Arilayn said suddenly, a strange smile on her face, "She told me so."
The sorcerer had to bite his tongue to keep back the anger that had risen at her words.
"I heard what she said," he told her, "And that was not it."
"She promised me," the girl hissed.
"No," he said, "She did not. That is what I wanted to talk to you about..."
"No!" Arilayn screamed, "She loves my Dad! She always will!"
"Your father is dead," Quan Chi snapped, unable to hold it back any longer, "I suggest you learn to live with it and let your mother make her own decisions!"
"You're just mad because she always loved my Dad and he was a better father than you ever were!" Arilayn screamed, her bottom lip trembling. Before Quan Chi could say anything else, she was gone.
Slowly, Rhapsody opened the bedroom door to find her sister sitting cross legged on the bed, crying.
"Ari," she said quietly. Arilayn didn't look at her.
"Go away," she said, wiping her eyes, "I don't want to talk to you."
"I don't care," Rhapsody said, sitting next to her, "I want to talk to you. You just listen, okay? I know how you feel Ari, and it's okay. You miss Dad, so do I, and so does Mom. But Arilayn, it's been a year, and it would be really good for her to move on-
"Shut up!" Arilayn cried, cutting her sister off in mid sentence, "She can't! She can't do this to us! She promised!"
"No she didn't Ari," Rhapsody said, "She didn't promise anything."
"Dad hated Quan Chi," Arilayn said, sobbing now.
Rhapsody was struggling to keep from yelling back.
"But that was a long time ago," she said, "Everything is different now."
"It's not different! He'll hurt her! I know he will!"
Suddenly, understanding came over Rhapsody. She put an arm around her sister, trying to stop her shaking.
"Is that why you're doing this Ari?" she asked softly, "You're afraid for Mom, aren't you?"
Finally, Arilayn looked up, her face was red and puffy with tears.
"We lost Dad," she said, "I don't want to lose Mom too."
"We won't," Rhapsody said, hugging her tighter, "We won't. Mom can take care of herself."
"But I don't trust him Rhaps," Arilayn said, "I just...I can't forget everything he did. I don't understand how you can."
"I can because the past is the past," Rhapsody said, "That's what Dad used to say. Never forgiving anyone isn't a good way to live Arilayn."
Meanwhile...
Ashlynn had just come down the main stairs, and was surprised to see her friends, apparently waiting for her.
"What are you guys doing?" she asked, "Did you like, forget something?"
They had only left a few hours ago.
"Delphine had control of the Chaosrealm," Sarah explained, "That was, until we stepped in."
Ashlynn glanced from face to face, they were all clearly irritated.
"Raiden sent us back here," Cherin said, sitting on the bottom step. Ashlynn found it strange that she was keeping so much distance between Stryker and herself.
"We drove her out of that realm," Sub-Zero said, "But she's not finished. We need to figure out where she's headed next and-
"Hey," Ashlynn said suddenly, earning an annoyed stare from the Lin Kuei, "Where's Sonya?"
"Oh she had to go back to Earthrealm," Jax said, "Something personal, I don't know..."
"Anyway," Sub-Zero continued, "Like I was saying, we need to figure out what her plans are."
Ashlynn sat down next to Cherin, followed by Amilee, thinking.
"I have an idea," Amilee said finally, "We don't know which realm she's going to next right? But when she eventually does attempt to invade one, she'll have to come through that realm's portal. So, what if we split up into pairs, and each pair will guard one of the portals until Delphine shows up."
"Good plan but uh, there are only nine of us," Ashlynn said, "I don't want to send someone alone."
"Um," Maria said, raising her hand as if she was in school, "I...I could ask Scorpion to go with me..."
She didn't really like the idea, but what choice did they have?
"Do you know where he is?" Sarah asked.
Maria nodded.
"I'll go with you Mia," Cherin said, "I don't want you to go alone."
"He's not far from here," Maria said, "Well, hopefully. Come on Cherin, we have to hurry."
Later...
After Maria and Cherin had departed, the others had gone to the dining room to sort out who was going where. Amilee of course, spoke up first.
"Sub-Zero and I should stay here in Outworld," she said, a hopeful look on her face, "Aw come on guys, please?"
Ashlynn shrugged, "Fine fine, okay. You can stay here, since you're too lazy to go anywhere else..."
"Well somebody has to stay here!" Amilee retorted.
Ashlynn only laughed, "I was just kidding Em. Jax, Sarah, you've been to Seido before right?"
They both nodded.
"Buncha crazies," Jax said, "And no drinking!"
"Yeah, we'll keep an eye on Seido," Sarah said, shaking her head at Jax.
"Stryker," Ashlynn said, "Since Cherin's so familiar with the Chaosrealm I think it's a good idea if you stakeout there."
Stryker nodded distantly, but didn't say anything. Ashlynn noticed that he had been eying Quan Chi suspiciously all night.
"Sonya's already in Earthrealm," Ashlynn continued, "Plus I doubt that's where Delphine is headed. So when Maria and Scorpion get back, we'll send them to Edenia."
"Wait," Quan Chi said, after being silent this whole time, "That only leaves one realm."
"Yeah," Ashlynn said slowly, "You and I will guard the Netherealm portal, but once again, I doubt Delphine would want that realm...I doubt anyone would want that realm. For now you guys should get some sleep, hopefully Cherin and Maria will be back some time tomorrow."
A while later...
Cherin and Maria had finally located the cave in the mountains that was Scorpion's secret lair. Maria was the only person other than the ninja who knew about it. Luckily, it was only a few hours travel from the fortress. Now he was standing before them, leaning against the rocky wall, arms crossed.
"You want me to help you?" he asked.
Maria nodded, unsure of what to say.
"I'm not begging you," Cherin huffed, "I just walked four hours to find your ass, and I'm not leaving until you agree to help us."
Scorpion couldn't hide his smile.
"All right," he said, "But only because I have nothing better to do."
He had other reasons of course, but he would rather keep those to himself. Maria smiled, and that old emotion he hadn't felt for so long came flooding back, leaving him breathless.
The next day...
They glanced at eachother, all standing in front of their designated portals in the Nexus. Jax nodded to Ashlynn, who smiled and watched him enter the portal to Seido.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Quan Chi asked, staring into the shimmering red portal in front of them.
Ashlynn looked at him, "I should ask you the same question."
The sorcerer smiled, "At least I know I can leave this time."
Taking a breath, she stepped through the portal. The Netherealm was the same as ever. Dark, dreary, and staggeringly hot.
"This will be easy," Ashlynn said, fanning herself.
"Why do you say that?"
"You have a lot of influence here."
Lei Chen, Outworld...
Amilee turned in a full circle, scanning the crowded streets for the overlord of Lei Chen.
"Think he's in the palace?" she asked.
Sub-Zero nodded, "Yes, but those guards may prove difficult to get past. They've had word of Delphine, they've been told to keep an eye out for anything suspicious."
"Come on," Amilee said, "I'm a pro at getting past guards by now."
Sub-Zero smiled as they approached the two guards, both of which wore identical helmets. Though their faces were concealed, it was obvious that one of them was a woman.
"Stay where you are," she ordered, "The palace is off limits at this time."
Amilee noticed that even behind the helmet, the woman's eyes were startlingly green.
"This is urgent," Sub-Zero said.
Amilee smiled inwardly, usually Sub-Zero left the talking up to her. Both guards looked away, ignoring them completely.
"Please," Amilee said, "This city could be in danger."
"It's already in danger!" the woman guard snapped, "Are you an idiot! Haven't you heard!"
Amilee's mouth fell open, but she was too taken aback by the woman's caustic words.
"The Tarkata have been attacking periodically for months," the other guard said, "It's just a matter of time before they return."
"I'm sorry," Amilee said, after she had recovered her voice, "But if we could please just speak with the overlord-
"Be gone!" the female guard said, "You have your answer."
They were just about to leave, when the palace doors opened, and an elderly man hobbled down the steps, leaning on a crooked wooden cane for support.
"What is going on here?" he asked, "What is all the commotion about?"
"Overlord," the woman guard said, "These people were insisting that they see you but-
"And you turned them away?" Zeffeero asked, "What if what they had to say was important?"
The guards said nothing.
"Speak," the overlord said.
"We need all the information you have on the Siren, Delphine," Amilee said.
"I have heard much about-
Suddenly he stopped. His eyes rolled back into his head, and he sank to the ground, an arrow shaft protruding from his chest.
"Tarkata!" the male guard shouted.
A terrified scream went up from the crowded streets, and there was panic. The Tarkatan horde was closing in on the palace quickly, killing any who blocked their path. A number of guards had poured out of the palace, standing ready to fight off the creatures.
"We outnumber them," the woman guard said.
Amilee ducked as another arrow flew past her head, then looked at Sub-Zero.
"We have to help them," she said, though they really didn't have a choice.
Turning back around, she focused on a nearby cluster of Tarkatan soldiers. At first they stopped as if paralyzed, then they exploded, leaving nothing behind but a mass of gore. By then, the Lie Chen guards had disposed of most of the others, with Sub-Zero's help. Amilee sank to her knees, trying to catch her breath.
"How did you do that?"
She looked up. The woman guard had taken her helmet off, revealing unkempt raven hair and bronze skin. She ran a hand across her sweaty forehead, never taking her emerald gaze off of Amilee.
"I don't know," was all Amilee could say. She had been able to do it for as long as she could remember, but no one had ever asked her how. The green eyed woman was already striding back toward the palace, where one of the other guards was tending to the overlord. Amilee hurried to catch up with her. Zeffeero was lying on his back, still.
"The arrow pierced his heart," said the guard, "He never stood a chance."
The woman with raven hair sighed, sitting down on the palace steps.
"I know who you are," she said to Sub-Zero, then she looked at Amilee, "But I do not know you. What is your name?"
"My name is Amilee."
"Amilee," the woman said, "Thank you for what you did, although I still do not know exactly what it was. I am Jade, personal protector of Queen Sindel of Edenia."
"Why are you in Outworld?" Amilee asked.
"Overlord Zeffeero requested aid from Edenia," Jade replied, "To help defend his city from the Tarkata. My Queen sent me and a few others. If I may ask you the same question, why are you here?"
"We're supposed to guard the portal," Amilee said, glancing backward. The streets were empty now, and she could see Lei Chen's portal, shimmering in the sun.
"Ah," Jade said, "From the Siren? You fear an invasion?"
"I doubt it will be this realm first," Amilee said, "But we didn't want to take any chances."
The Chaosrealm...
Cherin and Stryker had arrived in the Realm of Chaos, not expecting to find much. Just as they suspected, there was no sign that Delphine would be returning any time soon. The Chaosrealm citizens had even begun to tear down her partially built palace. Cherin circled around the portal for the twentieth time, bored out of her mind.
"I knew you could not resist coming back to see me."
She cursed, turning to see Havik, smiling as always.
"Go away," she spat.
"Go away?" Havik repeated, "Face it Cherin, you enjoy this realm just as much as I do."
"I do not!" she screamed, stalking past Stryker, who's face had gone blank.
"Leave her alone," he said finally.
"Trying to play hero eh?" Havik laughed, "What Cherin sees in you I will never know..."
Stryker started forward, only to be pulled back by Cherin.
"Kurtis don't," she said.
"Why?" he asked, "You don't think I can take him, do you Cherin? Admit it, you think I'm weak, just like the rest of your friends do!"
"No," Cherin said quietly, "Of course I don't."
"She's lying," Havik said.
"Shut up!" Cherin snapped.
"No, maybe he's right," Stryker said, "Maybe you are lying. I can't trust you Cherin."
"Yes you can."
Cherin was on the verge of tears now.
"Then why didn't you tell me about the tournament!"
"I...I didn't want to hurt you Kurtis," Cherin said.
"So keeping a big secret like that isn't hurting me?" he asked, walking away.
"Kurtis wait!" she called. He ignored her, shaking his head.