Chapter II: Releasing inner demons
Kitana opens up to Liu about the depths of her struggles, Sindel and Jade begin the prejudgements, and the unknown person appears before the court
March 11th
Opening her chamber doors violently, the queen made her way back to her chambers to relax and collect herself with Jade following behind quickly.
"The nerve of that councillor! To even DARE put personal blame on my daughter for what she helped accomplish."
Jade shook her head in disbelief. "Wow, I still can't believe that they don't care what what Kitana has gone through to ensure our realms freedom. Let's not mention this to Kitana yet."
The queen nodded as her chamber doors bursted open and a soldier fell onto the ground from running for so long. Sindel and Jade looked back at the lone freedom fighter gasping for air as he struggled to stand and salute but Jade dismissed his need for professionalism and helped him back on his feet.
"Easy now soldier, take a few moments to collect yourself." She handed the soldier a pitcher of water and within mere seconds it had been finished. The freedom fighter fell to one knee with one arm across his chest.
"Your majesty, I-I bare dire n-n-news from the portal station." Sindel nodded her gesture for the soldier to rise.
"What news do you have soldier that requires you to barge into my chambers without letting my administrator know ahead of time?"
The soldier bowed again quickly. "I-I I apologize your majesty, but the news I bare is of the safety of our realm an-."
Jade sharply looked at the soldier with her staff drawn out.
"Come again? You said our realms safety?"
"Yes general! Not too long ago a portal was opening at an unscheduled time and the readings we were getting did not match any known realm that we know of, so I went to the commanding officer as I was supposed to in order to alert her and when we returned, the other guards were down face first in the ground."
Stunningly, Jade and Sindel looked at each other then back at the soldier. Sindel rose from her seat swiftfully.
"I thank you for bringing this matter to my attention young soldier. Head down to the barracks for much needed food and rest. We'll take it from here." She calmly said and the soldier saluted and walked out of the throne room.
Pacing around in circles, Jade had become on edge as well as feelings of regret when she suddenly hit a pillar out of frustration that was bottling up which she left a fist imprint on the pillar.
"Damn it! I should have left more officers back at the portal station! I had a feeling something like this would happen if I didn't keep more of them there... GAH! This is all my fault!"
Sindel then placed her hand on the general's shoulder calmly and smiled.
"Do not be so hard on yourself Jade, you did what you thought was the best decision and I believe it was since most of the officers are here instead of on the ground. This just means that more of our finest and best trained veterans are here in the palace to protect key locations."
Opening a seperate set of doors across the hall, Sindel and Jade walked into the room which temporarily housed the highest ranking officers of the royalty guard and freedom fighters. As they two made they're way to the front of the room, every officer they passed by stood at attention and saluted. Reaching the front of the room, jade first took the stand to speak.
"It has been recently brought to our attention that there is an unknown person that has breached our realm not too long ago and 4 of our royal guards now lay dead at the portal station. Given what we know, we must assume that this individual is here to terminate the royal family. That being said, the most vulnerable being our queens daughter Kitana. I want ONLY the best and strongest to be serving at this moment."
Looking to the lead officers of the royal guards. The Colonel was a taller gentleman with a facial scar on his right eye, another was the major. She was a slender looking woman with grey hair and slim glasses that looked intimidating and the captain was a shorter man who was younger than most officers but disciplined. "Colonel, I want the three finished soldiers of the megaton guard unit deployed here immediately." The Colonel saluted and ran off. "Major, you organize the freedom fighters to protect the villages that are most vulnerable." The major saluted and she made haste to the back door. "Captain, you have your men secure defenses around our farms and deposits." The short captain bowed and walked at his own pace. Looking back at the remaining guards and freedom fighters Jade glanced at them all.
"As for the rest of you, you fine ladies and gentlemen will remain here at the palace and scattering yourselves into groups of 15 occupying different areas of the palace. The stealth squad's commanding officer sudden materialized behind the general. She was well dressed in crimson black armor that could only be seen to trained eyes. Bowing on one knee, the officer looked up at Jade and Sindel. "My lady, what is the will of our royalty?"
Without looking, Jade responded to the officer almost cryptically.
"Split the squad in three, one group for one place, home, on top, ground too."
The officer bowed once again,
"As you command my lady."
With an instant to fast to see to the untrained eye, the other soldiers couldn't see the officer leave.
Jade looked back at Sindel as she nodded at her, Jade looked back at the group of soldiers.
"Alright, you have your orders and where you all need to be, no move out!"
"YES MA'AM!" They all shouted in unity as they all ran to the designated positions.
Sindel opened the doors and walked quickly with Jade behind her.
"Jade, we need to hurry to my daughters chambers and alert them of the potential threat."
Nodding and following close behind, the two women hurried towards Kitana's chambers.
Later that evening after dinner...
Liu Kang was out on the balcony of Kitana's room meditating peacefully while she slept. The bright orange sunset casting a beautiful glow along the rivers and waterfalls near by the palace. Liu heard a whimper coming from behind him and he turned around to see Kitana cringing and thrashing around in the bed they have shared together. Without thinking, he rushed over to the bed and sat on the edge as he gently shook her trying his best to not re open any of the wounds.
"Kitana... Kitana wake up! Please Kitana!"
The princess' eyes shot open as she shot up from the bed not noticing the pains from her wounds. She then started to look around her room while gasping for air as if she was lacking in oxygen. Liu placed his hands onto her face and forced her to look into his eyes which made Kitana focus on him.
"Kitana! Kitana... It's okay, you're okay now... It was just a bad dream"
After coming to realize she was awake and looking at her champion, Kitana fell into his arms and began sob almost uncontrollably. Liu silently held her trying not to aggravate any of her wounds and Kitana looked up at him and she held onto him even tighter now and she looked into his eyes.
"Oh argus... I-I-I'm so glad it's you here liu..." Choking on tears as she tried to talk to him, she decided to just open up her burdens and pains all together instead of pieces at a time.
"Liu... I can't hold this in anymore... I-I... I've been having so many nightmares and flashbacks of your death since I was... Since I was told... that you w-w-were killed.." She sobbed more in Liu's arms and he himself wasn't sure of what to do as he held her and stroked her hair softly and as he did that, she eventually began to cry less. "I know you're here with me right now...but it all seemed so real and...and you were gone and they took you away from me... Elders Liu... I can't take it anymore... I just can't..."
Liu comforted the princess in his arms and when she was wiping tears off her face, he looked at her with utmost concern and worry.
"Don't worry Kitana, I'm not going anywhere right now, and nor do I intended on leaving you ever again. You'll be back on your feet again in no time my love, I'm certain of that as your strength proves that. We don't have to fight anymore either Kitana, it's all over. We don't have to fight anymore."
Feeling a sudden rage filling herself, Kitana pushed Liu off the bed and glared down at him with burning passion in her eyes.
"How can you say something like that to me Liu!? "We don't have to fight anymore!?". No matter how many times we fight and win or lose those bastards always somehow manage to come back again and then we fight once again! How are you able to be so certain of yourself that we won't have to defend ourselves any longer!? Especially given what has happened over the years to YOU?! TO US!?"
Kitana's eye began to swell up again as tears fell from her face even more so than before. Liu stood back up and sat in front of her hold her cold shaking hands in his own and looked into her watery eyes.
"I don't know Kitana... I don't have such an answer for you..." He leaned in closer so she could look at his eyes directly. "Until trouble comes our way, or if it ever does... I refuse to live with fear always lingering over my head... No matter what has happened in the past, currently happening and events to come. We always have to move forward no matter what." Liu then placed his forehead against hers as he cupped her cheek and wiped away her tears from her beautiful eyes. "and I want you to move forward with me Kitana... together."
All the princess could do was just look into his honey brown eyes that had mesmerized her since the very first time they had met and just collapse into his chest and soaked in the moment with him and after a while, Kitana murmured a special phrase.
"I love you so much Liu..."
Taken back from what he heard her say, he could not help but smile at her as he pulled her in for a long, passionate kiss. Feeling her tongue trying to find his own, he let hers proceed in deeper and they began to swirl they're tongues with one another and Liu felt Kitana purring into the kiss and when they both needed to pry off from each other for oxygen, Liu pulled her closer into his chest and whispered softly to her.
"I love you too Kitana"
Hearing him say that was music to her ears and she could feel her heart nearly bursting out of her chest from such affection and love but was still crying a lot from the shock of her nightmare. She let out a long yawn and just wanted to fall into a deep sleep from so relaxed in his arms. Liu smiled down at her and he just as he was about to put out the lamp that was lit, Jade and Sindel barged in which alerted them both and sit up quickly.
Looking over at the two warriors in bed and her daughter in tears in Liu Kang's arms, Sindel sat on the opposite end of the bed and looked at her daughter after kissing her forehead.
"What's wrong my darling? Did you have another one of those nightmares?"
Kitana nodded slowly and she held onto her consort tighter for reassurance.
"Yes I did mother... but thankfully Liu woke me up before it had ended in the way it used to end."
Jade walked over and smiled at her princess friend awake.
"Hey you, I'm so glad to see you awake. You scared us all pretty bad when we first arrived..."
Kitana averted her eyes from everyone and focused on her lap.
"I'm so sorry for making you all worry about me... I truly am."
Sindel hugged her daughter as tightly as she was able to.
"Oh darling, I'm just happy to see you recovering from what you have endured over the years, however we didn't just come here to visit i'm afraid..."
Jade and Sindel's smiles both faded and Kitana noticed and began to worry.
"What's happening mother? What do you mean?"
"An unknown person has entered the realm so we are setting up extra guards for your chambers, it's nothing for you to worry about. You need to rest and let the medicine do it's work to help you heal."
The princess felt comfort from everyone around her and she nodded towards her mother.
"Alright mother, i'll get some much needed sleep...and I hope I don't have any more nightmares now that Liu is here with me."
Liu smiled and with sudden seriousness, he looked over at the two women.
"If i notice anything entering this room, I will defend Kitana with my life your highness."
Sindel nodded towards him and she stroked her daughters hair once more before getting up.
"Good night darling. If you two need anything, just ask the guards outside."
Jade followed behind and left as well leaving the two alone together again.
Kitana sighed and laid down and placed her head onto Liu's chest as she wanted to hear his heartbeat to help her fall asleep. As she predicted, she smiled as she heard his steady heartbeat which quietly lulled her to sleep along with exhaustion. Liu couldn't help noticing that she had a smile on her face as she cooed in his arms. Lovingly, he placed a tender kiss onto her cheek and he blew out the lone lamp that had kept the room lit and he laid down with her and he felt her squeeze him tighter and he planted a soft tender kiss on her cheek as he eventually fell asleep holding the princess close to him.
March 12th
Kitana awoke the next morning earlier than usual due to the pain of her wounds. She glanced over to her left to see her consort still asleep. She smiled and gently kissed his bare chest and Liu let out a very deep groan which Kitana laughed on the inside as it was pleasant to hear him so close to her. When Liu's eyes opened slowly, he looked down and saw Kitana looking up at him with a need for his attention.
"Hmm? What is it Kitana? Are you too sore?"
The princess nodded as she cringed from the pain. Liu climbed out of the bed to fetch her the medicine and a bowl of plain rice to keep her from having any reactions. Kitana had a lot of trouble to prop herself up to sit up, but eventually she managed to sit up on her own and she took the rice and her medicine as Liu climbed back in. She smiled and pecked his cheek then she took her medicine and coughed from the horrid taste of it.
"Elders... this medicine is the worst tasting one i've ever had..."
Liu helped her take the rest of it and passed her the bowl of rice.
"Well it may taste horrible love, but that is usually a sign meaning it's working."
After eating about a quarter of the bowl, the princess slowly laid herself back down and adjusted herself so she was comfortable in her consorts arms and very quickly fell asleep from his warmth. Before climbing into bed, Liu put the medicine and bowl back on top of her counter and let out a yawn as he made his way back into bed with Kitana already fast asleep. He carefully lifted her onto his chest and he noticed that she had another smile on her face again as she seemed more comfortable than before.
Later that morning, Sindel and Jade arrive at the next Edenian Royal Council Meeting for prisoner prejudgements...
Sindel sat down with Jade beside her in Kitana's chair as she was still bed ridden from her injuries. When the rest of the council arrived, Sindel stood before them all.
"Good morning everyone and thank you for attending this meeting of the royal council. As I said yesterday before we all left, we have about 8-10 prisoners that had been captured trying to take shelter in our realm. Today we will begin the prejudgements as well as deciding if they are to be granted a trail or not."
Sindel glanced at Jade and nodded and she looked over to the guards at the prisoner's entrench. "Guards, please proceed and prep the prisoners at once, but do not go near prison 1." she asked and the two soldiers saluted then disappeared.
Sindel leaned over and hushed over towards jade. "Jade, what's in prison 1 and why are they not to go near there?"
All the general did was smile and looked back at the queen. "It'll do more justice to show you in person later my queen"
Sindel nodded and within minutes, the two heavily armed guards returned with the prisoners who all had a bag covering the head. One by one they were lined up to be judged one by one. The first prisoner to be judged after the bag being removed was Movado. He was one of the thugs of the red dragon group. The councillors all sat quietly as Sindel glanced down at the thug who had a smirk on his face. A short but lively woman stepped forward and bobbed a curtsy towards the queen.
"Good morning your majesty! May I begin the list of charges for the prisoners?"
She held several parchments in her tiny hands and Sindel nodded in return and let her begin. She stepped up a tiny foot stool due to her small height and she cleared her throat and opened the first of several parchments. "Sir Movado of the red dragon clan, you are here by charged with several charges against you. They are as followed: 10 counts of murder of the first degree, 5 counts of attempted murder on royalty and many lesser charges which include assault, theft and vandalism. What say you?" All the thug binded in chains did was laugh and spit on the soldier who was moving the prisoners. The queen then looked at the court room announcer with a nasty glare that would frighten most. "Sentenced to death." The guards removed Movado from the court room and went through the prisoners one by one as they were each judged individually before the council.
A few hours later and returning from a recess session, the queen was sitting on her chair looking up at the ceiling completely oblivious to her surroundings, twirling her long hair around in small loops, Jade walked over with a glass of the finest wine for herself and Sindel.
"My queen, would you perhaps care for a little pick-me up? You appear to be bored to near frustration"
Sindel glanced over at the general and laughed "Yes I suppose I can. This meeting has been very long and tiresome as well as boring."
Taking the glass from jade, Sindel sipped on the wine and let out a sigh of relief. "Argus... That is exactly what I needed Jade. You always know what to get to help my mood. Alright, I believe it is time to judge the last prisoner now, call in the councilors" Jade nodded and jogged outside to gather the councilors after the two had finished the glass of wine and handing it to a servant who took the bottle away. When she returned, she sat back down next to the queen.
"Bring out the final prisoner for judgement please" She announced to the guards and they saluted and went to get the prisoner. Sindel looked over at Jade with a worrisome look.
"Why do I get the sense that this last prisoner is more important than the others were?" Giving a smirk while chuckling, the general looked over Sindel. "You'll see my queen".
Coming out of the prisoner's holding room were the two guards as they uncovered the last prisoner. The whole room gasped in horror and in shock as to who it was.
"Greetings your highness, I hope you are doing well". The pale prisoner was none other than the sorcerer Shang Tsung. Feeling a surge of rage and anger, nearly consuming her, Sindel stood up almost immediately. "YOU!" Looking back the guards Sindel barked at the two them causing them both to jump out of fear. "Guards! Remove this filth from the courtroom and transferred to the titanium blocks NOW!" In fear of the queen's fury, the guards saluted quickly and before they could cover his head again, a green shadow zoomed passed the soldiers and stopped in front of them as the sorcerer's head fell to the ground.
Sindel and Jade along with the rest of the council were stunned at the lone shadow which still remained like a hologram. Jade growled and leaped down as she whipped her staff out but didn't extend it and stood in front of the shadow and appearing behind her was one of the megaton soldiers who was triple the size of an average edenian in both muscle mass and size of height. Stealth soldiers appeared from no where and had kunai and stars all ready to throw in an instant and in front of her was a small group of the royal guards with swords drawn and shields up.
"Halt holographic shadow! In the name of the royal edenian guards and freedom fighters, demand you reveal your identity immediately. I will not repeat myself again. This is your ONLY chance to cooperate. I suggest you take it as it is more chances I ever give anyone."
The shadow laughed which only made Jade more irritated and in a deep voice, the shadow responded to the general.
"Very well General Jade, I will comply with your demands if it means I am able to complete my primary objective."
The shadow uncloaked and a tall yet slender man with jet black hair that stood on it's own and had exceptionally bright emerald eyes and with a mask appeared from the cloak and glanced at Jade with his piercing eyes.
"General, My name is Daniel. My primary objective is to speak with Queen Sindel."
Jade looked over at him gripping her staff.
"Let's say that I do not believe you. What would you do then Daniel?"
He glared and drew out his weapon which materialized into a spear that was somewhat similar to her own bo staff. She looked over the unknown person and her eyes narrowed.
"Then I will be forced to disable you in order to reach my objective general."
She chuckled and looked at him with her own glare.
"Is that so?"
"If you haven't noticed by now, this room has hundreds of guards and soldiers from the finest military in our realm as well as our most elite soldiers we have been training for high risk missions or to guard something of the utmost importance. Our queen would be such a person to protect, and right now you appear to be a threat to the queen."
She looked back at the megaton guard and she tapped on his leg and the guard crouched down to be able to hear her.
"Soldier, can you kindly demonstrate how we treat our guests who threaten the queen?"
The mighty soldier let out a grunt and he opened his hand to help Jade back up on to the higher platform that sindel was sitting on and then turned as he started clenching his fists and raised them up. His hands glowed bright green and suddenly he swung his arms down at the man and let out a battle cry as the whole palace began to shake. When the dust and smoke cleared the room, everyone was in shock even more. Jade was utterly speechless as she glanced at what she was looking at in disbelief.
"What!? That's impossible! He stopped it with one hand!"
Daniel then gently pushed back against the soldiers powerful arms as he effortlessly discarded the soldier into a wall. Glancing up at Jade again, he turned and faced her with the same glare.
"Given the look on your face general Jade, I assume that I have surprised you?
Jade swiftly moved right to the bottom of the room and was about to smash him with her staff but suddenly Sindel yelled so she could hear her.
"Stand down Jade. I'll take it from here."
The general snarled but pulled back her attack as Sindel used her levitation power to gracefully land in the center of the room. She then approached him and stood before him.
"Greetings warrior, I am queen Sindel. I apologize about the welcoming but it is understandable since we are just being able to recover from the war. Now tell me why have you interrupted this meeting and cause a disturbance here. Answer me!"
Daniel fell onto one knee and he bowed.
"My queen, I am Daniel, last of the Royal Eclipse Paladins that served the king of edenia before shao kahn merged edenia with outworld.
Sindel and Jade gasped with surprise and grew silent. Then Sindel looked back up at him.
"I see. Follow me to my chambers. Jade, please follow"
Sindel levitated back up to the top of the room and dismissed the council and Jade bounced up following the queen and Daniel teleported up and followed the queen and general to her chambers to discuss what he wanted to talk about.
Who is this "Daniel" and what does he want with Queen Sindel? Is he a friend? or foe? and will Kitana and Liu Kang grow closer now that she opened up to him about her nightmares? Find out in the next chapter...
A/N: This one took longer than I had anticipated. Although I am quite pleased of the turn out. Please review/favorite if you enjoyed this or want to help with how I write it. Thanks! ^.^
DJL