Delphine spun around happily one last time, admiring the amulet. It had taken years of grueling work, but finally she had reformed it. She ran her fingers over the smooth surface, smiling. It had been in the possession of the sorcerer, Quan Chi, and then the Dragon King, and now it belonged to her. Finally...
The Nexus...
"Why can't he hear me?" Ashlynn muttered, "Can't you create another portal? I mean, at least to get us out of here?"
Quan Chi shook his head, "My powers are exhausted."
"Plus," Shang Tsung, "I would not help you."
Quan Chi turned to him, slowly.
"You would not have a choice," he hissed.
"Wouldn't have a choice?" Tsung repeated, "Are you threatening me?"
Ashlynn knew exactly what was about to happen.
"Don't," she begged, "We need-
She was too late, Shang Tsung was sent backward, landing dangerously close to the Nexus' edge.
"We need him!" she cried.
It was as if Quan Chi couldn't hear her. Just as Tsung was standing, he blasted him again, sending him flying over the edge. Ashlynn could only watch helplessly as the sorcerer, their only chance of escape, floated away into nothingness. Quan Chi turned to find she had gone completely white, her mouth opening and closing as if to say something, but nothing came out.
"What have you done?" she said finally, her voice barely audible.
"I am sorry Ashlynn I-
"He was our only chance!" she screamed, "And now we're stuck here because of your pride! How could you be so selfish!"
The sorcerer's eyes narrowed to dark slits.
"I am selfish?" he said, "No Ashlynn, you are the one who is selfish."
"Me?" she said, "Unless I'm mistaken I'm not the one who just crushed any hope we had of getting out of here!"
"That is not what I meant and you know it," Quan Chi replied.
"That's the problem," Ashlynn said, turning away from him, "I never know what you mean."
Two days later...
Ashlynn was sitting on the stone floor of the Nexus. She'd lost track of how many times she's tried calling Raiden, but now her throat was too parched to call anymore. Quan Chi was standing a few feet away. He was doing better than she was, being used to going without food and water.
"We cannot go on much longer like this," he said, "If we stay here-
Suddenly there was a blinding flash of light. Ashlynn buried her face in her hands to block it out.
"Well well well," Delphine laughed, "Look who needs help."
Ashlynn forced her eyes open, but didn't have the strength to stand up. Quan Chi had gone rigid, staring at the ancient amulet around the Siren's neck.
"The amulet was destroyed..." he breathed.
"Oh I know," the Siren said, "It took me ages to put it back together, but that's not why I'm here."
"Then why are you here?" he asked.
Delphine smiled, "To save you of course."
"Save us," Ashlynn snorted, "You're the reason we got stuck here in the first place."
"I never said I was here to save you," Delphine snapped, "I was referring to the sorcerer."
"Do you ever give up?" Quan Chi sighed, "I have given you my answer."
"Yes," she said, "But this time you are under more severe circumstances. You have no choice this time. You must join me, or I will leave you here to die."
"I am not afraid of death," Quan Chi said.
Delphine glanced at Ashlynn, who had slipped into unconsciousness.
"But you are afraid to let her die," she said, "I'll make you a deal. Agree to help me, and I will free her."
Quan Chi looked at Ashlynn, who had fallen over onto the ground.
"All right," he said finally.
Delphine laughed so suddenly that the sorcerer jumped.
"Wonderful," she said, "Now, I believe your fortress would be the best er...base of operations, that way I can keep an eye on Outworld."
She made a strange gesture with her hand, and a thin doorway opened in the air.
"Hurry hurry," she said excitedly, "No time to waste."
Quan Chi lifted Ashlynn from the ground and reluctantly followed the Siren, to find himself standing in his own fortress.
Later...
Ashlynn forced her eyes open. Once they adjusted to the darkness, she could make out her surroundings better...they seemed familiar. After a moment she realized she was inside the tower dungeon of the fortress. She looked to her left, and gasped with joy. Sitting beside her was a tray with a goblet of water, bread, cheese, and...her toothbrush. She smiled, it must have been Quan Chi who had brought the tray, knowing how insistent she was about good hygiene. Her smile faded quickly however. Why was she in the tower? Shaking her head, she took a moment to restore her energy. Finally, she managed to pull herself to her feet. The door, of course, was bolted shut.
"Hello?" she called, not expecting an answer, "Anyone?"
Much to her surprise, the door opened, and Noob Saibot squeezed inside, quickly shutting it behind him.
"What's going on?" she demanded.
"Shhh," Noob warned, "Delphine had you locked in here. She made a deal with Quan Chi, she was free you from the Nexus if he agreed to join her."
Ashlynn ran a hand over her face.
"He wouldn't," she sighed.
"He did it to save you..." Noob replied.
"Don't you understand?" she asked, "If he has joined her then the realms are doomed...Noob, you have to let me out of here."
"I cannot," he said, "If Delphine found out-
Ashlynn cut him off, "She'll be dead before she notices."
Noob shook his head, "No, she has the amulet."
"What? How?"
"I don't know," he replied, "But my Master does."
"I need to talk to him," Ashlynn said.
"That will be difficult," Noob said, "Delphine hasn't let him out of her sight since they arrived."
"Please Noob," Ashlynn said, "Try to get him up here."
Noob nodded, knowing that what she was asking would be hard, but he had to try. He had no intention of serving the Siren forever.
"She is powerful," he said, "But against all of the Chosen she-
"Wait," Ashlynn interrupted, "That's why she destroyed the portals, isn't it? So we wouldn't be a threat to her. She could kill us off one by one..."
"I believe so," he said, turning to leave.
"Hurry," he heard Ashlynn say just before the door closed.
Seido...
Sarah had been watching Jax pacing across their small cell for hours.
"Stop that," she said, "You're making me dizzy..."
"Told you these people were crazy," he said, still pacing, "What the hell are we supposed to do now?"
"I don't know," Sarah admitted, dropping her head into her hands.
"Sarah?"
She looked up, but Jax was staring at the floor.
"Sarah, can you hear me?"
"Raiden?" Sarah asked, recognizing the voice.
"Yes," he said, "Thank the Gods I've finally gotten through to someone. If you want to escape, you must listen carefully."
"Go on," Sarah said, ignoring Jax's wide eyed stare.
"Search deep inside yourself," the thunder god continued, "There is power there, power that has yet to be unlocked. You've felt it before, I know it. Now is the time Sarah."
Strangely, Sarah knew exactly what he was talking about. She closed her eyes, and suddenly it was as if she was being sucked through a black hole. In her mind, she wa standing before a brilliant violet light. She couldn't resist, she had to touch it. There was a flash, and she opened her eyes to find she was still in the cell, but she felt...different.
"I can open Seido's portal," Raiden said, "But only for a short time, you must hurry."
Without a word she stood, taking Jax's hand.
"What are you-
It was as if the world was spinning, then it stopped abruptly.
"Jax," she said, "Open the door."
"What?' he asked, "Sarah, the damn guards are right outside-
"I said open the door Jax!" she yelled.
He shook his head, then, with all of his strength, he ripped the cell door from its hinges. Surprisingly, the guards in the hall didn't seem to notice. In fact, they were standing still as statues. Sarah waved a hand in front of one of their faces, but the man didn't blink.
"I did it!" she said excitedly, "Come on!"
Jax followed her outside, toward the realm's giant marble pyramid where the portal was held. The Seidan citizens had been affected in the same way the guards had, none of them were moving, as if time had stopped. Quickly, Sarah pulled a stunned Jax through the portal Raiden had opened. Raiden was waiting for them in the Nexus, and the other portals had been reformed.
"It seems the barrier has been broken," the thunder god said, "I need you to retrieve your friends. And hurry, there isn't much time."
Sarah nodded, heading for the Chaosrealm portal to find Cherin and Stryker. She knew Cherin was probably going out of her mind by now...
The Fortress...
It was about two thirty in the morning, and Ashlynn had finally fallen asleep on the hard stone floor. She didn't stir when Quan Chi opened the door and crept in.
"Ashlynn," he said quietly, crouching down beside her.
She pulled her eyes open, sitting up.
"You finally made it," she yawned, "How did you get up here with Delphine watching you?"
He smiled, "She finally got tired and went to sleep."
There was silence for a few moments.
"What are we supposed to do?" Ashlynn asked finally.
"With the portals gone," Quan Chi said, " And Delphine in possession of the amulet, there is nothing we can do."
Once again, there was silence.
"Is something wrong?" Ashlynn asked.
"Of course something is wrong," Quan Chi laughed, "What kind of a question was that?"
"I mean besides that," Ashlynn said, suddenly feeling foolish, "Your mind is somewhere else."
"These days," he said, "My mind is always somewhere else."
He looked at Ashlynn, expecting her to understand, but she was staring at the floor.
"Do you make it a point to frustrate me?" he asked.
"Hmm?" she said, looking up, "Oh sorry, what did you say?"
He shook his head, "Why does nothing get through to you?"
Ashlynn raised an eyebrow, "You're being cryptic again."
"Sorry," he said, "It is in my nature I suppose."
"I noticed," she said, "What did you mean nothing gets through to me?"
"Nevermind..." he sighed.
Edenia...
Maria ran her hand through the fountain. They had been sitting in the town square of the small Edenian village near the Royal Family's palace. She glanced at the portal again, waiting for a miracle to happen.
"What should we do?" she heard Scorpion ask.
The Queen of Edenia bit her lip, "There is nothing to do but wait."
Without a word, Maria walked away, leaving everyone else behind. Scorpion started after her, but stopped when Kitana placed a hand on his shoulder.
"She needs to be alone," the princess said.
"What exactly do you know about what she needs?" he asked, removing her hand.
Kitana didn't answer.
"Just as I thought," he said, "You know nothing."
He walked away in the direction Maria had gone, and found her near the palace, standing behind one of the stables.
"I bet Delphine planned this," Maria thought, "She must know when we're separate we're weakened."
"Are you all okay?"
She turned, startled.
"How could I be okay?" she snapped.
"I was just asking Maria," Scorpion replied calmly.
"She's planning to kill us," Maria said, "She's separated us, and now she's going to kill us."
She couldn't stop it. The tears she'd been holding at bay came flooding from her eyes, like a dam breaking. She turned her back on Scorpion, not wanting him to see her crying. The ninja had no idea what to do. He approached her slowly, wrapping his arms around her. She turned bakc around, still in his arms, letting the tears flow freely.
"It will be okay," he said, "You have been in worse situations than this, and you have always pulled through."
Maria lifted her head, staring at him.
"Do you really think so?" she asked.
"I know so," he said.
Unsure of what her reaction would be, he kissed her. He couldn't stop himself, he had been holding it back for too long. Much to his surprise, she didn't push him away.