A/N: Thank you reviewers and readers! I can't tell you how much I love it. I hope you all like this chapter! :)

Rated: M

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

The sun was already setting as we entered Outworld yet again.

Bodies and dismembered limbs littered the ground, but we were not met with any trouble.

"Let's hope they're all inside licking their wounds," whispered Johnny.

I stared up at the castle, now a dark and ominous looking place. There was the faint glow of torchlight illuminating from the windows.

"Well, there's definitely someone inside," I commented.

Smoke snorted. "Let's hope it's not ALL of them."

Least of all Mileena… I thought with a shudder.

I pressed myself against a wall in one of the many stone corridors in the castle. A wounded Tarkatan soldier moved past the hallway without noticing me. Most of the ones I had seen had been wounded or exhausted from the previous battle. Good. I moved on, my footfalls not making a sound.

As soon as we were able to sneak into the castle, Smoke and I decided to split up—agreeing to meet back at the entrance before Kitana's hour was up. Johnny Cage was less than pleased about it, but we convinced him it'd be quieter to search individually.

And actually, he surprised us with how agile and stealthy he could be.

Now I was searching alone, looking in various rooms and chambers, hoping to find Scorpion alive.

I vaguely wondered if the other two had found him already. But somehow I felt that they had not.

One hour is not a long time, and I was moving as fast I could.

Where could he be? I refused to think that he might not even be in this castle.

And if Scorpion were still a part of the undead, I might have been able to sense the Netherrealm and follow that lead. It seemed a funny thought that I wouldn't have to worry about that feeling ever again, just when I was beginning to get used to it.

Thinking of the Netherrealm made me think of a dungeon—a place I had not yet checked in this fortress.

Hurriedly I managed to find a staircase leading down into what I could only assume were the dungeons. It was darker down there, making it easy for me to hide if need be.

I followed along through a deep hallway that had prison-like cells on each side. I glanced quickly into each one, noting the various bodies chained to the walls, and skeletal bones lying about.

The dungeons continued on around a corner and I thoughtlessly turned into it without trying to conceal myself. Of course, there were more rooms, and four Tarkata standing guard outside one of the cells.

Shit.

Their heads snapped in my direction immediately, followed by snarling and a charging of attack, but I had come here ready for a fight.

"Damn!" I watched in irritation as one of the Tarkata escaped my grasp and fled through the corridor, no doubt to call for back up.

The other three bodies laid strewn about me. I had taken care of them easily, but cursed myself for allowing one to get away.

No time to worry about that.

I cautiously entered the cell they had been guarding. It was a bit larger than the others, and didn't have a door. As I stepped further in, I could make out the shape of someone sitting against the far wall…

"Scorpion?" I walked up to the figure and as I got closer I could tell it was him by his armor—which was still intact. He didn't appear to be hurt, but was bound and chained to the wall by his arms.

He looked up at me in surprise. And the rush of relief I felt could not be described. I was happy.

"Did you kill them?" he asked.

I assumed he meant the guards. "All but one."

"Hurry then." Scorpion pulled tight on his chains, obviously frustrated that he could not break them himself.

"You're welcome, by the way." I smirked as I inspected the chains momentarily before freezing them and breaking them into pieces.

I was almost lightheaded from being pleased with myself. Not only was Scorpion alive, but I had been the one to save him myself. I resisted the urge to taunt him.

He said nothing, but almost fell forward when I released him from his restraints.

That made me hesitate. Other than a dirty face, he seemed to be fine. I could see dried blood on him, but it didn't look like it came from his person.

"Are you all right?" I asked.

He grunted in response and stood up almost unsteadily.

I watched him with a wary eye. "Well?"

"Well what?" he snapped.

I glared at him. Of all the rude… After everything I just did for his ungrateful ass!

"Maybe you're becoming deaf in your old age, but I asked you a question," I snapped back.

Scorpion's eyes narrowed. "I'm fine."

"Good. Then you won't slow us down." I pushed past him and left the cell. He followed.

My good mood had disappeared completely.

Stupid Scorpion…

It was all his fault. Perhaps I should have left him to rot.

I turned my head slightly to look back at him. He was still following me, and we were making our way out of the castle as quietly as possible.

"For your sake you better hope Smoke and Johnny are unharmed," I told him in a hushed tone.

"I didn't ask for any of you to come back for me," he hissed.

"Then excuse us. It was our mistake."

"Moron," he said. "You could have been killed coming here."

I sighed. "Trust me, no one else wanted to."

When he was silent for a beat, I stopped and turned around. He was leaning against the wall, panting slightly. He looked ill.

I softened my tone considerably. "Are you sure you're all right?"

"Of course I am," he said solemnly.

Scorpion pushed himself off against the wall and continued walking on a bit ahead of me.

Finally we managed to make it to the castle entrance, where we were met with the chaotic scene of Smoke fighting a small number of Tarkatan soldiers.

I was about to run in to assist him when Johnny Cage jumped out in front of me.

"We were waitin' for you guys!" he said happily. "C'mon, let's get out of here!"

Smoke saw us and threw a cloud of thick smoke at our enemies, temporarily blocking their vision of the immediate area, giving the four of us enough time to get outside.

"We're the luckiest sons of bitches I know!" Johnny shouted as we ran for the portal.

Thank the Gods it was still open. Apparently our hour wasn't over yet.

This time I made sure Scorpion went through the portal first, while the rest of us jumped in after him.

Two hours. Two hours have passed and Scorpion has not said anything at all.

From the time we entered Edenia I had been keeping my eye on him.

The others were relieved to see us when we came through the portal, and Kitana closed it behind us.

After a few small and unimportant conversations, Raiden declared it time for Kitana to lead the way to the Edenian palace. She had been nervous, but I could tell she was excited too.

It took about an hour to make it to the palace on foot. I suppose we could have teleported with the thunder god's help, but he did not know where it was.

Once there, Kitana was greeted with nothing but acceptance and utter joy from her people. The Edenians seemed to have been waiting for an heir to return, and they were happy to receive Princess Kitana and her friends.

Inside the enormous – and beautiful – palace we were given a small tour and brief description of the rest of the grounds by an older man with graying hair. His name was Master Rong and he was one of the royal advisors and happy to take his place at Kitana's service.

Most of the servants and other Edenians had been slaves under Shao Kahn's rule, but I think it was easy to tell that Kitana would not treat them that way. Honestly she acted quite poised the entire time.

Jade, too, was happy to be in her home realm. Enough so to stop giving me the cold shoulder, so to speak.

I admit, it felt nice to have friends. Even though I was tentative about trusting my allies completely, it was nice to feel safe finally. Safe enough that we could rest and not have to worry about fighting. At least for a time.

It was now, two hours after we had left the portal from Outworld that we were all here now, listening to Master Rong explaining where we would be able to rest, and clean ourselves up.

But I was hardly paying attention.

I kept looking back at Scorpion, who stood behind the rest of our group. He looked pale to me, and there was a sheen of sweat on his brow. And ever since we arrived here he hadn't spoken to anyone.

There hadn't been much time for talking anyway. Raiden told us that he wanted to speak with us all later, but for now he wanted us to rest. And allow Kitana to settle into her role as Queen.

Master Rong was very animated when he talked. I could only assume that this was an exciting time for him. How many years had it been for the Edenian people since life had been somewhat back to normal?

"We never dreamed of this happening," said Rong. "For our Princess to come back to us. I can speak on behalf of all Edenia, that we are grateful to all of you. For all you have done…"

He gave us a deep bow, which made me a bit uncomfortable. I wasn't used to having this much respect from someone who did not fear me for their life.

He continued to speak of a banquet in our honor, of a celebration. Not today, of course, but perhaps in a day's time.

Kitana assured him that there was no hurry, and that even his gratitude alone was enough.

Well, I could go for some food as thanks.

Again I turned to look at Scorpion. And just in time, because as soon as I did the Shirai Ryu swayed on his feet and toppled backwards onto the floor.

"Scorpion!" I was kneeling over him in a flash.

The others rushed to his side as well, hovering over him in a circle.

Sonya felt his pulse and confirmed that he was unconscious.

I didn't understand. He had looked okay… Mostly…

"Look, look!" Jade pointed at Scorpion's left side, just under his ribs.

A large, wet spot of blood was spreading across his torso. I ripped open his uniform partway to get a better view of the wound. Sure enough, he had a rather nasty stab wound in his side.

Some of the blood was dried and sticky around the bleeding wound. How had I missed it? He must have been injured this whole time.

Kitana turned to Master Rong. "Fetch the surgeon, quickly!"

"Yes, my lady!" Rong called out a few orders to the other servants and they scrambled away.

Damn it, Scorpion. I thought. Damn you…

A/N: Review? I know it's a bit slow-going as far as this story is progressing, but honestly I'm rushing it a bit faster than it was in my head. I have no patience for my own story! lol. But there will be more interactions between them in upcoming chapters. :)

I'd like to thank my reviewers of course...

YoshisSupport: Is three days later soon enough? ;D

CrazyGirlMe: Thank you! I appreciate it.

Sand Dun: I hope the reunion wasn't disappointing. This is a slow building relationship after all... Even though I am kinda pushing things just a smidge... I really have no patience. x_X

Snivy Terphione: For PANDA!