MARKUS X'S POV

It was time.

I watched as crude war engines were structured and put into place by the Tarkatans and Shokans. Both Reptile and Khameleon were by my side as I oversaw a guard prepare a catapult for loading and launch.

"It will sssssoon be time for usssss to make our move, Markusssss. Let usssss return to Mileena and the othersssss..."

Reptile gave myself and his mate good logic as we all moved to the back of the lines. Standing in between Mileena and Makis, I couldn't help but feel somewhat sorry for the men that were likely going to their deaths.

"This is where we must begin the plan..." Makis motioned, his armored body complimenting my own. "While our men set the artillery on the far side of the fortress's perimeter, we must remain here until the enemy has been distracted enough that we can plough through the gates."

I cocked the surprisingly well-preserved pair of Glocks with their double drum magazines. "I'll work with Ermac to nullify any remaining forces that stay near the entrance. Khameleon and Reptile can guard us from any unseen threats, while Skarlet can protect Mileena. I assume Makis can lead us to the throne room..."

The Tarkatan general nodded as I heard a horn sound, the yells and cries of our soldiers rushing to battle drowning out all other noise in the vicinity for a few minutes. Once they poured onto the flatlands, Sho Dai's army came to meet them, the view like that of two ant colonies colliding with one another. His blades out, Makis waved at me and the others. "It is time for us to move!"

Like moths to flame, our small group rushed towards the nearly-deserted fortress entrance. A quartet of masked guards were there to greet us, and I shot one through the eye slits of his mask as Ermac threw another against the stone walls of the palace. It was not difficult for Mileena to avoid the naginata of the third guard before she plunged a sai through his head, shortly before the forth guard me his end at the hands of Skarlet's swords.

With my guns ready to engage any new foes, I stealthily moved to the front of the group, standing directly behind Makis as we walked down a series of hallways leading to the throne room. I motioned everyone to the sides of the door as we prepared to bust in.

"On my mark, okay? That means three, for you non-Earthrealm types... One... Two... Three!"

SONYA'S POV

For me, it was now decision time. I had my army, my group of friends united by a sincere cause to eliminate the Forces of Darkness. From what I could tell, the only thing we could do would be a preemptive strike upon them. If we could negate them while their forces were shattered, then perhaps we would stand a chance against this 'Shinnok' being.

Noticing all the warriors lined up, I prepared to give the order to enter Outworld, when Atraya stopped me.

"Sonya Blade, I do not wish to stop such an early strike, but I feel it may be of assistance if the Protector of Earthrealm were to join us."

I saw Liu Kang's face drop even more than before, and Smoke's erect shoulders relaxed, sitting limply by his sides. "I truly wish to never see this foolishness again. Raiden is responsible for the injuries I sustained, as well as the deaths of my comrades and my best friend, Kung Lao. I fear his addition may only serve to weaken our alliance."

Smoke perked up as well. "Raiden did not act when my own best friend, Kuai Liang, was converted to a mindless cyborg instead of me. He could have stopped both of the attempted conversions, but he chose only one to stop. Why didn't he?"

Before I could give a long-ass speech on how we had to ignore past misgivings and work together to defeat a greater threat, Atraya chose to be the one to respond to their worries.

"Liu Kang, the Elder Gods were not pleased when you attacked the Protector of Earthrealm. However, they knew that you did not understand until the end what was to happen." She then turned to Smoke. "And you! Have you forgotten, Smoke, that every event stated to happen in the universe must be balanced? Raiden did not save Sub-Zero because he could not... Raiden did not save him because the balance of the universe would be upset by this apparently foretold event."

Johnny chose now to interrupt. "Uh, yeah... One problem in your logic, lady. According to Ray-man, I was supposed to get killed by that centaur dude, but him killing that guy didn't do anything to the timeline... What now?" Damn, he was using some impressive logic here...

"Is it not obvious, Johnny Cage? This merely meant that your death would not need to happen in order for you to participate in future events. You surviving has had little, if any effect on the timeline, short of perhaps you and Sonya Blade growing closer."

Johnny liked that, giving a surprisingly carnal smile as I responded with a disapproving frown. "I like the sound of that, baby! So yeah, Sonya, I don't suppose we can maybe have some fun after this is all over, hmm?"

I simply ignored him before turning to Doctor Aschwader. "Open the portal."

As the glowing purple rift illuminated the area, I made it clear as to what my priorities were.

"We're leaving to fight in less than five minutes. If Raiden can join us, then great. If not... Well, that's too bad then."

MILEENA'S POV

Along with the others, I slowly sauntered into the throne room, surveying the area. So many recognizable faces, yet so little time to enjoy them... However, instead of immediately glaring at Sho Dai, sitting on the throne that was rightfully mine, I turned my attention to someone I knew very well.

"Sister..."

The rest of both sides stood back as we stepped towards each other, face to face as we began to circle around one another. I began to evoke my feelings of hatred and disgust for this having occurred... My 'sister' was alive again and prepared to fight.

"You..." I heard her force the word out with an angry hiss. "You should not even exist!"

"I have as much a right to exist right now as you do. Let us not forget that both of us are the products of sorcery here..."

My sister put her hand on her hip. "I was not created from such disgusting methods... The only reason I exist now is to kill you and take my fully claimed position as Princess of Edenia. No one will contest my right to the throne!"

I tore away my mask, revealing my surprisingly human face to my shocked sister. "If you have been worried about any potential marring of your image, no worries. A little sorcery can cure what ails you."

"I don't care if you are an exact copy of me! You will never have my status!" My sister pulled out her fans, revealing quite obviously what her intentions were.

In response, I took out my sais. "Truthfully, when we first met, I had no want or desire to kill you. Now, though..." I licked the tip of one of my sais, almost like licking the barely-covered stick of an Earthrealm lollipop, "I'm not so sure."

The two of us stepped back from one another, about to throw our weapons, when a mystical purple portal opened up between us... Slowly but surely, the Earthrealm warriors appeared from within it, lining and grouping directly between the both of us. I watched as they all entered the throne room before the portal closed behind them.

A long moment of silence was felt, before my boyfriend calmly walked to the center of the room, between the three groups, myself, and Kitana.

"Well... Now what?"