A/N: Sorry for the delay, I had a few things to take care of that required my full attention. I will be putting up a poll to determine what kind of plot twist to throw in. I already have them planned out and how to throw it in, but I want you guys to vote for which one so please be sure to visit my profile in order to view the poll. It will be a blind poll so you won't know which one it is until it's too late! *insert evil laugh*

Chapter IV: Strength of past memories

Deep within the palace.. A large pair of titanium doors with onyx chains across horizontally...

Two royal guards were standing in front of the doors doing the usual overnight shift. Bickering at each other and complaining.

"Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan, this sucks! I can't believe we got chosen to do another 4 rounds guarding this giant waste of metal. I mean who the HELL builds a set of doors made out of our rarest minerals within our realm just to keep it closed all the time!?" One of the guards whined.

The other guard shrugged at his complaining and leaned on a wall.

"Hey, it's not all that bad. It's the easiest job in the palace with the most pay! 15 onyx an hour!"

"Yeah, I guess so. Still, could they at least make this place a little easier to see?" the shorter guard asked.

The other one laughed at him and his misery

"Oh yeah sure! Go ahead and take that up with the general! She'll probably beat your ass without breaking a sweat! HAHAHAHA!"

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

The whole room rumbled violently as both guards stood up and readied the weapons they had.

"What the fuck was that!?" said the shorter guard

"I'm not sure...but keep your guard up."

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

This time the chains across the doors rattled a little bit as both guards stood ready to attack what ever was behind the doors.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

The chains on the titanium doors rattled violently as the guards crept closer to the exit of the room.

Suddenly... the doors opened slowly as the chains fell right off the locks as if it were ethreal. Now there was just enough light so that smoke could now be seen on the ground. The smoke had an ominous feeling to it as if something was going to grab them from below. Looking up from the ground, the two terrified guards looked at a figure emerging from the room. The figure lifted it's hand up and both guards were now dangling from the ground. In an instant, a flash of blinding light lit up the whole room and the shorter guard was already dead as if something snapped his neck and was tossed aside as it turned to ashes while the smoke consumed the remains of the body. Now gazing into the remaining guards eyes, the figure pulled out a sinister looking key that was jet black and had a blue aura around it and attached to it was a small bag to place the key inside that had the words "Urgent: Queen Sindel" on the outside of it. The figure released the guard and pointed out towards the exit as if demanding to send the message. Without being told twice, the buff royal guard ran for his life while squealing like a little girl at the top of his lungs. The figure went back into the door and it closed violently and the chains locked up around the spots it needed to be in.

The next morning...

Sindel woke up lazily and rolled out of bed stretching out her joints as they all popped back into place. A shorter servant walked into her chambers with her breakfast all prepared and ready to the exact detail as she wanted.

"Ah! Good morning your highness! How are you this morning?" The smaller servant chirped as she handed Sindel her morning tea.

Taking a small sip of the tea and letting out a pleasant sigh of satisfaction, She turned to the cheerful servant with a smile. "Ahhh... this tea is absolutely perfect every morning. How do you manage to make it to my needs every morning without tiring yourself out?" she asked while sipping on her tea and eating as well, the servant blushed a bright red at her question.

"Well... it's easy for me to remember things after doing a task for a while. I know when I first came here, I didn't make it perfectly to the right specs...but I got the hang of it though!" the servant replied with a smile.

Sindel chuckled and placed her now empty dishes and tea cup back onto the tray.

"Well thank you again dear. You seem to have fit right in perfectly which reminds me..." She wandered to her desk and pulled out a scroll and opened it quickly scanning it over. "Ah yes...here it is. Could you come here for a moment dear?"

The cheerful servant walked over to her with the tray in her hands. "Yes your highness?"

"I'm appointing you to be my personal servant for meals as of right now. You have perfected the meals that I need with such grace. To let someone as talented as yourself stay with the other servants would be useless. So I congratulate you on your new position." She spoke as she signed the document and resealed it with the royal stamp and handed it to the servant who was looking at her in awe as well as shock.

"I...I... Th-thank you so very much your highness! I...I don't know what to say right now"

Sindel chuckled and turned towards the door when her chamber doors flew open violently scaring the servant who dropped the tray and hid behind Sindel. She looked at the person with a glare and stepped forward.

"What is the meaning of this rude entry!? explain yourself at once!" Sindel demanded. The guard approached her slowly without making any kind of sound or noise but was holding a brown bag that had "Urgent: Queen Sindel" on it. Furrowing her brows she walked up to the guard and saw his eyes had an emptiness to them as if he wasn't there. She took the bag from him and walked back to her desk when she heard the guard now screaming in such agony and pain, she grabbed the servant hiding near by and hid behind the desk as the guard screaming in pain suddenly exploded and all of his body parts and blood and organs were scattered everywhere. Sindel stood up to see what had transpired.

"What... what just happened?"

She opened the bag and dumped it's contents only to see the jet black key with the blue aura around it. Sindel gasped at the sight of it in horror.

"No... No this can't be happening... Not now! NO!"

2 months later...

Kitana had woken up after a well needed nap from the recent council meeting as she nearly fell asleep in the meeting. Slowly getting out of her bed while trying not to reopen any of her healing wounds, she removed her blouse carefully to inspect her wound and shivered when she saw it. It was still very tender when she poked at it, but she put on the healing cream around the wound area and put on a clean blouse and robes. She then walked out onto her balcony and looked out into the horizon and smiled as she looked at the beauty her realm had to offer, but before she could do anything else, she felt a familiar warmth wrapping around her from behind as she yelped quietly to see her consort holding her from behind.

"Hello there beautiful" as he looked into her eyes as she was blushing.

From another side of the palace, they both heard a loud roar that would put any animal in earthrealm to shame as Liu quickly shifted his head back and forth trying to find the source of the sound, but looked down when he heard her giggling like a little girl.

"Care to enlighten me what is so funny?"

She turned around and pulled his face into hers as she planted a long soft kiss on his lips and smiled. "Come, i'll show you what it was" as she took his hand and traveled to the back end of the palace. Meanwhile, Jade was on one of the branches and was looking at the commotion occurring in front of her as she looked over and saw Liu Kang and Kitana walk out of the palace and she walked over to the couple.

"Hey there you love birds! Come to enjoy the show?" Jade asked as she wrapped her arms around both of them with a smile.

"Ha! Actually, I was going to introduce Liu to her actually."

Jade couldn't help but laugh at the wondrous entertainment to soon come.

"Oh argus, this is going to be quite a show! Have fun with that!"

Kitana walked back to Liu and walked him over towards the barrack where a few servants were having trouble trying move a giant white furred tiger with crimson red stripes and massive fangs into the room that it was being kept. The tiger batted the servants away gently and yawned.

"Uhh... Kitana? What is that?" Liu asked as he was worried as to what he was looking at and if it was a threat to her.

Still giggling, Kitana walked over to the servants struggling to move the tiger. "It's alright, I'll take care of it myself"

The servants walked back into the palace leaving just herself, Liu and the tiger. Slowly approaching the tiger, Liu quickly walked up and held her hand trying to pull her away.

"Kitana wait! It might be dangerous or mayb-"

Kitana then pulled out a little ball with bells on it and started to shake it in front of the giant tiger and it opened it's eyes and stretched out as it looked down at Kitana as she reached up to it. It laid down on all four legs as she rubbed it's cheeks and Liu heard it purr gently and nuzzling into her.

"Awww, there there my little Rikiko, I missed you as well. No need to be a grumpy kitty alright?" She crooned as she continued to rub the tiger gently, but then Rikiko noticed Liu and jumped up on it's feet ready to pounce on him with a snaring growl. Frowning a bit now, Kitana gently hit the tigers paw to get it's attention again.

"Rikiko, down girl!" Kitana suddenly said with an authoritative voice and the tiger looked down at Kitana, but this time she had a concerned look on her face which easily made the tiger relax and stop snarling. "Rikiko, this is my consort, Liu Kang. Please don't eat him. I'll be very upset with you if you do."

Walking up to Liu Kang who was paralyzed in fear, Rikiko walked around him while sniffing him and poking him carefully for a few minutes. Afterwards Rikiko made an approving grunt as he licked Liu suddenly and Kitana couldn't hold in her laughter as she bursted out loud laughing at her consort who was now covered in saliva and drool from being licked and then gets squished by Rikiko and continues to get licked while Kitana is in tears laughing at him and she frees Liu from becoming the tigers snack and begins to dry him off.

"Jeez, I'm glad your finding my humiliation amusing" remarked sarcastically

"Oh stop it Liu, I'm just glad she approved of you" Kitana said while finishing what she was doing.

"Before you ask, Rikiko is a girl, she did that because that's her way of saying that she approves of you."

Walking back to the couple, Jade began to run at Kitana at full tilt until she was just about to hit her, she flipped over Kitana and landed on Rikiko's head and scratched behind it's ears gently and the tiger purred with approval as she carefully lulled Rikiko to a peaceful state and looked down at Kitana.

"So Kitana, I know most of your wounds are visibly gone, but honestly how are you doing?"

"Overall, I'm doing quite fine. Although it is still difficult for me to climb stairs, but Liu has been helping me with that aspect of my recovery."

Jade just shrugged at her best friend and climbed down the now sleeping tiger and stood beside Kitana who let out a sigh.

"That's understandable given the condition you were in. Have you had lunch yet by the way?"

Kitana shook her head as Liu came over to the two ladies all dried off.

"No we haven't had lunch yet Jade, although I'm sure Kitana would LOVE to join us!" Leaning into her with a smirk and Jade had to hold back a chuckle.

Starting to panic a bit, Kitana started to back up.

"W-wha do you mean Liu?" she said as she put on a fake smile.

Rolling his eyes at his consort, he swooped her off the ground which he heard Kitana yelp as he held her bridal style.

"Come on, lets go eat! Hopefully they have cooked up something great today! I'm starving!" Liu announced as they walked into the dinning room. Once everyone made it to the dinning room, he let down Kitana and pulled out a chair for her which to that gesture she blushed.

"My my darling, such a gentleman." She took her seat while blushing as he pushed in her chair and sat next to her smiling as Jade sat on the opposite end with a toothpick in her hand trying to pick something out of her teeth and after a few minutes, they heard a loud bell ringing and a loud voice coming from the kitchen.

"Lunch is now ready!"

Instead of the usual chef coming out with the meals, everyone in the room gasped in shock as they saw Daniel coming out with the meals being carried along his arms.

"Ah, good afternoon lady Jade, lady Kitana and sir Liu kang" as he placed each meal on the table. Kitana and Liu loved what they were seeing on the table in front of them, but noticed something about Jade all of a sudden. Her eyes were completely fixed upon Daniel walking in and out of the kitchen. Looking at each other, Liu and Kitana laughed at her and began to eat.

Jade on the other hand was mesmerized at what she was seeing. "Argus... I wasn't expecting him to be cooking for us...but my oh my is he a wonderful sight right now... Those steel like abs and muscles along with his scars... GAH! Come on Jade, focus here, your not a pervert of any kind.. but still... mmm... I'll need to have another peek at that later" she thought as she licked her dry lips and turned to the table and noticed Kitana and Liu laughing at her.

"Hey! What's so funny Kitana!" she said as she pouted and crossed her arms

"Oh nothing... I was just looking around the room and Liu told me something funny" giving her an innocent looking smile as Liu smiled as well trying to go along with it.

"Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight... I'm so sure thats the reason why" she said while rolling her eyes.

A loud grunt was heard from the kitchen as everyone turned towards the kitchen doors as Daniel suddenly came out with a massive tray filled with ribs that were cooked and spiced to absolute perfection and everyone was drooling as the platter came to the table and Daniel sat down but just before Jade and Kitana could reach for the ribs, Daniel smacked the two hands with the serving tongs quickly.

"Ah ah ah. The chef gets first dibs" he said with a large grin as the girls were pouting but Liu took Kitana's hand and rubbed it with ice. After serving himself, everyone quickly served themselves and began to eat with joy.

30 Minutes later...

Everyone was at the table still unable to move from the filling meal as they groaned from such a satisfying meal. Kitana let out a small burp which Liu looked at her suddenly and laughed as he kissed her cheek. Daniel on the other hand let out a loud burp and had a toothpick between his teeth, then beside him he heard an even louder burp which scared him as he fell back from his chair and everyone looked over to Jade nibbling on the last of her ribs and she casually threw the last bone on the large pile in the middle of the table and looked at everyone staring at her with shock.

"W-what? What I do?" she asked to try to break the silence while looking at the three friends. Sudden bursts of laughter then filled the air and Jade was even more confused as she blushed and crossed her arms and huffed.

"Alright, I need to throw on my rub on medicine now. Liu can you help me with the stairs again?" she asked as she was getting up slowly when Jade interjected with a laugh.

"Hey be careful Liu! We don't need the old hag to break a hip!" she quickly had to duck from the speed of Kitana's fans flying over her head and kept laughing at Kitana who was as red as a strawberry from anger.

"JAAAAAAAAAAAAAADE! I'LL GET YOU FOR THAT! COME BACK HERE!" She yelled out as she tried to chase Jade but was swept off her feet by her consort.

"Liuuu! Let me go!" She whined as she tried to escape his embrace.

"I would, but your wounds aren't fully healed yet. If you were to chase her now, you would reopen it again, and I don't want anymore sleepless nights worrying about you."

Looking at his face, Kitana stopped squirming around in his arms and let out a reluctant sigh as she knew that she wouldn't escape.

"Alright alright... I'll behave" she said with a slight pout

Jade came back with Kitana's favorite beverage and placed it in her hands.

"Sorry Kitana, I couldn't waste such an amazing opportunity like that" she said as if she was innocent.

"Well... That was certainly interesting." Daniel murmured after clearing the table of all dishes. Liu just nodded as they saw Sindel walk past the table and saw them both standing there.

"Jade called Kitana an old hag didn't she?" Sindel asked both men as they snapped out of a daze.

"Yes... she did" Liu let out a sigh as Sindel facepalmed and groaned.

"I need to speak with all four of you in private. Follow me to my chambers." she finished with a serious tone.

Later in Sindel's chambers...

"Thank you everyone for coming with me so suddenly. I have... Terrible news to tell you all as it will affect each one of you differently."

Kitana leaned in with concern "What is it mother?"

Sindel dropped a brown bag in the center of the table that they were sitting at. Kitana went to reach for it but stopped as she looked at her mother as if asking for permission to open it. All she did was nod and Kitana opened up the bag to see what's inside it and she started to break down into tears.

"No... nononono... not now! No!" She started to sob uncontrollably as she buried herself into Liu's arms as he tried to comfort her as best he can

Jade cocked up an eyebrow and turned the bag towards her to see what had caused her best friend to crumble into the state she was now in and Jade sat up and backed away slowly.

"Elders... This can't be happening right now. Not when we are still recovering from the war!" She fell onto the wall and wrapped her arms around herself as she shuddered and started to whimper, but Daniel up to her and did his best to comfort her without making her feel anymore afraid of what she saw, but as he got closer, Jade lunged at him and just began to sob holding onto him for dear life. Daniel didn't know what to do right now, so he trusted his instinct and held her in his arms as tight and as close to him as possible and walked back to the table with her in his arms still, but after a few minutes Jade lifted her head from his chest and wiped her eyes.

"Th-thank you Daniel..." She sniffed regaining her senses and her thoughts.

"It's no problem lady Jade" he said with a small smile

Sindel removed the bag from the table and turned to the four sitting around her and sighed.

"Given the reactions of the two ladies... They already know what is coming very soon..." as she turned to Liu and Daniel who were holding Kitana and Jade respectively and she let out a sigh.

"Since you two do not know, I will explain what is happening. What has come to us a few months ago is a sinister key that upholds a few of our most ancient exams. The key was made as a fail safe so if anything entered our realm and we were all but doomed, the fail safe would all but obliterate all forms of life no matter the size. However not just ANYONE is able to do this exam. There are certain elected individuals who are chosen by the key. There is a maximum amount of people who can be chosen which that number is four. If said individual were to come out of the room alive, they are automatically promoted to the highest level of edenian guardian positions of the individuals choice. If they fail... Then all we will see is the persons corpse. Are you two following so far?"

All Liu and Daniel could do was nod in silence.

"Good. I also must mention that there are four colours for one key. So lets say just Kitana and myself were chosen. The key would have two colors of auras. If three are chosen, then the one person who gets the second proceeds first. So this aura is the blue which represents the mentality test. It hasn't changed color since I received it because I haven't activated the search. Sadly... From the few survivors that have told me about the exam, it will strain your soul and stretch you to your absolute limit of mentality to the point of breaking and falling into insanity. However, I am going to do something that has not been done since the tenth exam."

Kitana wiped her eyes and looked at her mother with a confused look.

"What do you mean mother? Do you mean that you will try to appeal for a delay?"

"Yes that is exactly what I will do. While the keeper of the exam is harsh and unforgiving, she is also reasonable and fair. So we must leave here immediately and make our way to the doors."

Kitana clutched herself closer to her consort and looked at him.

"Darling, there are too many stairs for where we have to go and I need to put on my rub-on medicine."

Sindel waved her off "No worries dear, I had a servant stop by with the rub-on. We will depart once you have applied it for your wounds."

Letting out a sigh of relief, Liu walked over to the bathroom with the rub-on medicine and closed the door to help her put it on.

Daniel put Jade down beside him and he walked over to Sindel.

"Your highness, am I able to ask the keeper about how I can proceed with my reinstatement?"

She tilted her head and pondered on that question but came up empty.

"I'm afraid I do not know Daniel. We shall ask her when we get there."

In the bathroom while the others are waiting...

"Alright, I'll set you down here."

Liu carefully put his consort down trying not to re open any wounds then he turned around to get the medicine ready.

"Alright Kitana, here's yo-"

Liu couldn't finish his sentence as he stared at her without her blouse on for the first time and was just in awe at the raw beauty that is his consort. He felt a sudden rush of heat starting to swell his cheeks as he was trying to come up with any kind of word to say but it was all in vain. Noticing that Liu was staring at her, Kitana turned her head and giggling at him.

"If I must say so myself darling, you look absolutely adorable when you're blushing" she said as she placed her soft hands on his cheeks and pulled him closer and slowly placed a soft and tender kiss on his lips and wrapped her arms around his neck and straddled him carefully as Liu leaned back to let her have the needed space to wrap her arms around him as he in turn wrapped his around her slim waist carefully. For the couple, it had almost seemed like time had slowed down in order to savor and cherish the moment together. Both lovers began a duel of domination over the other using tongues as the selected weapons trying to enter the others. This was short lived as they slowly broke off the kiss which was one thing both of them did not want to do at all, but the need for oxygen was needed so reluctantly, they broke off the kiss and had each others foreheads pressed on one another.

"Argus Liu... If I were not still recovering from my wounds, I would be doing so many wondrous things with you right now." Kitana whispered with lust as she gently kissed the tip of his nose and smiled.

Liu caressed her cheek and kissed her softly with his own smile. "As much as I love that idea my love, I don't think keeping your mother waiting is a good idea.

Kitana giggled at the fact of that statement. "Ah yes I suppose your right... Mother may be kind and gentle, but her patience is thin."

She quickly applied the rub-on and adjusted her undergarment and slid her top back on and stood up as Liu opened the door.

Jade was the first to pipe up at the sight of them coming out.

"Hey! About time you two love birds came out of there! Trying to make the next generation already eh?" She slyly asked which she had the intention of making Kitana angry once again. Which was a success.

"What was that Jade!?" Kitana snapped with her fans in her hands ready to throw them.

Jade started to laugh and walked over to her and gave her a tight hug.

"Oh don't be so stuck up Kitana, you know I'm just messing with you"

"Yeah I know... Sorry about that..." She mumbled with a blush on her face from embarrassment.

Sindel let out a sigh and started to walk towards her chamber doors and turned to the group.

"Alright, are we all ready to go?"

"Yes!"

"Okay, let's get going then."

Underground in a dim stairwell...

As they went deeper and deeper down the stairs, it was getting darker and colder and each step they took could be heard as an echo. Stopping at a set of large titanium doors with diamond patterned chains across each part of the doors preventing any random person from entering. The guards saluted to the queen and unlocked the doors carefully to make sure none off the locks got tangled.

"We have arrived." Sindel stated as they walked through the doors. Looking around the massive room as if they were a tourist to a new country in earthrealm in the four corners of the room there were four skulls and each skull had a crown on but the style and shape and size of the crown represented the royal status. Daniel and Liu kang were awed at the sheer size of the room.

"Wow! This place is huge your highness!" Liu exclaimed and Sindel chuckled at his response.

"Yes it really is. That was my response the first time I was brought here too, but make no mistake. This place is one of the most horrific places in all of edenia. Part of me wishes that it never had to exist in the first place" she said with a sad tone.

Approaching the middle of the giant room, Sindel took one of Kitana's fans to ever so slightly make a small cut on her wrist and let blood drip onto the floor when suddenly the floor illuminated and right before everyones eyes, a silhouette appeared and curtsied to Sindel.

"Greetings your majesty. How may I assist you?"

"Yes, I wish to speak with the examination court regarding the timing of the exam."

The silhouette looked away from her and sighed.

"Oh... Them... Well I wish you the best of luck on your appeal your majesty" then the silhouette disappeared as the eyes on the skulls lit up and they spoke in harmony.

"We are the ancients of Edenia. Speak your demand Queen Sindel. What is it that you wish to ask of us?"

Sindel stepped forward and looked up at them.

"I have come before you to humbly request that the examination be delayed."

A small pause was eventually broken with the answer to her request.

"State your reasoning as to why we should allow your request to delay one of the most sacred examinations? What chain of events have occurred to ask such a thing of us?"

Sindel took a deep breath and started to pace back and forth.

"My reason is this: As you are aware of the events that recently took place, we are still recovering from the armageddon war and tending to the wounded. My daughter who is one of the chosen to proceed with this examination was critically wounded in the battle. Had we not rushed to get back to the palace, I would not be standing here right now. She may be able to walk around the palace, but her wounds are not ready to take on such a thorough examination. She will die before the examination is barely at 25%. My daughters well being is my reason for the request."

After a pause of pure silence, they came up with the final verdict.

"Queen Sindel, your reasoning is just and honest. We the ancients of Edenia have come to a final verdict upon your request: We have chosen to..."

Sindel felt as if her heart was beating too fast to pay attention, but she maintained herself from losing it entirely.

"Grant your request for an examination delay. We will provide you with this crystal orb to determine the day of the examination. When this orb shatters, that will be the day of the exam."

A small orb that looked like it could be a desk decoration appeared into her hands.

"Now then, is there anything else you need of us Queen Sindel?"

She paused momentarily and spoke up

"I personally do not have anything else I need, but one of these warriors has an interesting question."

Daniel nodded at Sindel as he stepped forward towards the ancients and fell to one knee

"Greetings Warrior of Edenia. What is it that you wish to ask of us?"

Now looking up and standing again, he took a deep breath as he wasn't sure what to expect.

"Ancients, I am the last of the Eclipsians of Edenia. Everyone else of my bloodline was slaughtered by the tyrant Shao Kahn. Now that I am free from his magic and spells, I wish to reinstate my position within the royal guard and military."

The ancients looked at one another and nodded.

"We were led to believe that the eclipsians had died out. Anyways. Tell us eclipsian: what was your ranking within the military of edenia? When were you stripped of your ranking?"

Looking at them seriously, Daniel had a sad look on his face.

"My rank was master general before Shao Kahn merged the realms."

The ancients gathered together and had a small debate and came back to the warrior awaiting an answer.

"We the ancients of Edenia acknowledge your claim and we will allow you entry into the examination to reclaim your lost rank. Now is there anything else that you require of us?"

Daniel shook his head and bowed to the ancients and Sindel stepped forward again.

"There is nothing else that were require of you now ancients, and we humbly thank you for your time and wisdom for our questions."

The four nodded and disappeared as they transported the group back to Sindel's chambers.