Chapter 7: Good and Evil Plans
The tournament is over. Earthrealm is safe thanks to Kung Lao. However, this was not over yet. Fire God Liu Kang, Kung Lao and Raiden all know what will come next. An invasion, plus an offer for a singular tournament in Outworld where Earthrealm's fate lies in their hands. So that's why they plan to discuss more plans to prevent any more tragic events from happening.
Alex wakes up from a night's sleep after watching the tournament. It's about the crack of dawn as usual. He was used to waking up early in the morning since joining Special Forces. He was never an early bird to begin with. Alex gets up and has his morning stretches despite being at the beginning of time. Just when he was about done, a sand portal appeared around him. He sees Liu Kang walking through with Raiden, Fujin, Kung Lao and Nightwolf. The latter tosses Alex some fruit, bread and water.
"You guys are back early. What's going on? I thought the tournament was over." Alex wonders.
"Indeed it is, Alexander. But this quest is far from over. Do you remember the stories that Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade told you?" Raiden asked him.
Alex processed the thoughts of it. He remembers about the Earthrealm tournament originally won by Liu Kang in the Old Era. But then it popped into his head.
"The second tournament. The one in Outworld. I was told that Shao Kahn himself would be hosting the tournament after the old man begged for his life." Alex remembered.
"That is why we thought we'd discuss matters with you. Kitana is already aware of the next phase. It will not be easy." Liu Kang said.
"We remember some of the details from the second tournament before Kronika brought us to the present. We were hoping you could provide us with more details about what happened." Kung Lao said.
"We know that Kitana got locked up in the tower, prompting Jade to betray Shao Kahn and seek out my brother. And Liu Kang helped free Kitana from her shackles." Fujin said.
"Well. Where to start? Johnny was part of that tournament and lost to Ermac. Speaking of which, the asshole that ripped off Mr. Jax's arms and he and Sonya left. He was at a SF base getting his cyber arms. And after he came back from being a revenant thanks to Raiden, he went to a hospital and went to recover. That's where he met Jacqui's mom. I think her name is Vera. She died from an accident. She worked as a nurse. And Kung Lao was supposed to fight someone named Kintaro, but that was when Kronika transported y'all to the present based on what Johnny told me. He told me he thought him after he beat Shang Tsung and Quan Chi." Alex tells them.
"I see. I shall see to it that Jax, Sonya and Vera will have their memories restored." Fujin said.
"We also mustn't forget Kuai Liang. And Smoke and Cyrax." Kung Lao said.
"Do not worry. I know who will help Cyrax and Smoke. Raiden must be at the tournament when this happens." Liu Kang said.
"What about Sub-Zero? From what he told me, he got captured by those robots when he beat Scorpion. That was during the second tournament." Alex reminds them.
"You're right. He must be reached before he enters the tournament. If he enters before I could restore his memories, there is nothing I can do." Liu Kang said.
"We have another problem. Kano. Complete fucking douchebag. He handed those dangerous war weapons to Shang Tsung and Shao Kahn personally. And when that Quan Chi guy resurrected Sindel in Earthrealm, Shao Kahn was allowed to invade and Manhattan was under firepower because of the Black Dragon." Alex reminds them.
"He is right. I've seen it all through the hourglass. That is how Shao Kahn came to Earthrealm. Sindel's resurrection broke the barrier." Liu Kang tells them all.
"But what if she was resurrected like she was before our battle against Kronika? You think that Soul Chamber can help heal her and Scorpion?" Alex asked.
"I have my doubts. Scorpion will not be a problem for us. But Sindel has been dead for eons before her resurrection. Her chances of coming back to life are less than likely." Raiden said.
"Which is why we placed her in a special coffin with magical barriers. They kept her body from decaying. This may increase our chances. She murdered most of the warriors except Johnny and Sonya." Fujin said.
"But how will she be helpful?" Alex asked.
"You will have to wait and see." Liu Kang said.
"And the allies we've made in Outworld? Jade? Kotal? The Tarkatans and Shokan?" Alex asked.
"We have been discussing them. Neither one of us can get to them without interfering with the tournament. We know who to deal with the Black Dragon. And I believe we know just the person who can help with that." Liu Kang said.
"Wait. Who now?" Alex asked.
New Era
The Special Forces Base. On the outskirts of Indiana. They always have hundreds of operational bases around the country. Jax and Sonya have served for years in the Old Era before the former's retirement and the latter's death. Johnny was always on and off before going for full time soldier. Jax is receiving his new cyber arms and barely managed to survive the blood loss.
Jax laid asleep for hours as Sonya waited for him to wake up. She never really had a crush on him and the feeling is mutual for him. Johnny would leave the two alone, knowing how close they are, but had to often tell Sonya to get some food and sleep.
Jax groans in his sleep as he slowly begins to wake up and gasps for air. He looks around, trying to see where he is. The first thing he woke up to were bright lights.
"Jax? Jax! Relax!" Sonya said. For a few moments, he could barely recognize her voice, like she was calling him out from far away.
Jax turns his head to find Sonya and his vision is still blurry. He follows her voice and he sees a blonde figure coming towards him. Then his vision became more clear.
"S-Sonya? Where… where the fuck am I?" Jax wondered.
"Back at base. I brought you here for immediate medical attention. You… you passed out from so much blood loss." Sonya looked at him with a sad look on her face. Jax remembered what happened. The last thing he did was fight Ermac before the most traumatizing thing happened.
"My….. my arms. H-how long was I out?" Jax asked.
"About a couple of weeks. I had to get you off the island. It's okay. It's okay." Sonya worries for his safety. Jax tries to get up but feels a bit numb from laying down from the past two weeks. Jax manages to sit up and looks at his cyborg arms and moves them with little to no difficulty.
"That fucking asshole. He's gonna be toast when I come across him again. What happened? After I passed out?" Jax asked.
"Kung Pao won the tourney for us. Beat the soul eating creep and got them packing and kicked back to Outworld." Johnny said, coming in. "Sorry for busting in on y'all. But umm, we got a special guest."
Johnny steps aside and Sonya and Jax both see Fujin walking towards them.
"Hey. You're the wind man. You were barely with us at the island. What are you doing here?" Jax asked.
"Miss Blade. Jackson Briggs." How are you two feeling?" Fujin asked.
"I felt worse. Haven't felt this beat up since my days as a trainee." Sonya shrugs before turning back to Jax.
"I don't- I don't feel the same. I thought I was done for like dinner." Jax looks down, already missing his human arms.
"I come here because of circumstances. We are all in danger." Fujin said.
"But the tournament is over. Kung Lao won." Sonya reminds him.
"But there is more to it than that. But you two must trust me. Give me this chance." Fujin said.
"Trust the guy. He's lived among us without knowing. Weird but cool on paper." Johnny joked.
Fujin opens two viles and some blue mystical energy starts flowing right into the minds of Sonya and Jax.
Sonya starts to remember everything. She remembers her time during the tournament where she first met Liu Kang, Raiden, Nightwolf and her future husband Johnny Cage and the two did not get along well. Sonya remembers cheering for Liu Kang and being abducted by Baraka and Outworld and used as bait to convince Earthrealm to partake in the tournament. She remembers saving Jax's life in the Soul Chamber and uniting with the heroes along with Kitana and Jade and was among the only survivors when stopping Shao Kahn alongside Johnny and Raiden. Two years later, Johnny saved her life and beaten Shinnok and in return, she saved his life and defeated Quan Chi and reunited with Jax.
After getting married, she was pregnant with their daughter Cassie and became her role model. But she and Johnny divorced when she believed her job was more important than her family. She remembers training Cassie and her best friend Jacqui and taking part in rescuing them from the Kamidogu incident and defeating Kano and rescued Johnny right after their daughter defeated Shinnok. Sonya then remembers meeting Alex once he was pulled into Earthrealm and immediately disliked him greatly until he earned her trust after saving Cassie from Kano and approved of their relationship and even helped him train his powers and started seeing him as a new son. The last thing she remembered was her giving up her own life for Cassie, Alex and Jacqui and allowing them to escape, telling Cassie she loves her and reminding Alex of their promise and requesting her daughter to give her dad a kiss for her.
Jax remembered being healed by Raiden after being rescued and watching the tournament and help rescue Sonya from Baraka. Then he remembered the most traumatizing things he went through, from having his arms ripped off and killed by Sindel and becoming a slave to Quan Chi and Shinnok. But he came back to human thanks to Raiden and he remembered meeting Vera in a mental hospital and they fell in love and got married and had Jacqui as their only child. Unlike Sonya, Jax was not too keen on his child joining the Special Forces, but did come around. Jax remembered hunting down Quan Chi in the Netherrealm and captured him, but became depressed after his wife was killed, which led to him being recruited by Kronika, who claimed to wanting to help him make his life better and restart the universe. He finally remembers fighting his past self and being subdued by Raiden, who informed him of the truth and rejoined the heroes.
The two return to the present and gasp for air. They both look at their surroundings. Sonya hyperventilates. She remembers everything, including her death. She looks down and sees both of her hands shaking and nearly fell to her knees, but Johnny quickly catches her.
"I…. I… I'm….. alive? But…. but how? No. This-this- this has to be a bad dream. It has to be. I should be dead." Sonya said, trying not to panic.
"Sonya. It's okay. You're back." Johnny looks at her. She looks up at Johnny, who is sharing the same sad look as she is now.
"J-Johnny? I-it's you?" Sonya said. Without even thinking, Sonya hugs him very tightly.
"Holy shit. What the fuck is going on here? Last thing I remember seeing is me fighting in the Netherrealm with younger me and Jacqui and everyone else." Jax remembered, demanding answers. This causes Sonya to turn to Jax.
"Netherrealm? Younger you? What are you talking about? What is happening?" Sonya asked before turning to Fujin. "What the hell is this?"
"This is the New Era, Sonya. You sacrificed yourself to ensure the mission's success." Fujin said. Sonya looked at him in disbelief.
"I d-died. I set off the trigger. I-I c-couldn't move. I had to. I-if I didn't then Cassie would have….. Wait. Where's Cassie? Johnny. Talk to me. Where….. Is…. our daughter?"
Johnny looks away, gritting his teeth. He can't exactly find the words to describe what happened.
Fujin steps up and tells her everything. Going from after death to her funeral and explained about his own capture at the hands of the time keeper Kronika. Fujin explained about bringing past enemies to the present, including Shao Kahn and Kronika recruiting him, Sektor and other villains to their cause. And that the past versions of their friends, such as Liu Kang, Raiden, Kung Lao, Kitana and Jade joining them and Earthrealm and Outworld joining together against Kronika after defeating Shao Kahn and imprisoning him. Not only that, Fujin and Johnny also tell them about Alex and his true status and real reason for being in Earthrealm, and everything leading up to Liu Kang's newfound godhood and the Keep's capture and time being reversed and that they are back to where Shao Kahn was alive and the tournaments taking place again.
Jax was already aware of the New Era, Kronika's existence and they made him explain his betrayal to Kronika and helped defend him when Jax realized he was tricked. But this story does not sit well with Sonya at all.
"So let me get this right. This time keeping asshole was responsible for everything, including bringing Alex here, which was his actual home all along and lied to him his entire life and he's something none of us knew, not even him?!" Sonys asked, feeling bad for him.
"A rather unfortunate truth he soon embraced." Fujin said.
"And brought back Shao Kahn and everyone else and wanted to bring back Shinnok. Her son is Shinnok and he has a fucking sister?! She killed the Elder Gods?! I thought that was impossible! Elder Gods can't be killed!" Sonya yells.
"I thought the same, Miss Blade. But it was one which I did not see. I was powerless to intervene because I was trapped in the void." Fujin said.
"And now this fucking Kronika bitch reversed time on all of us, preventing our children to be born?! And you're telling me that we're back to square one with Shao Kahn?! No! No! Not this fucking shit again! Not another time traveling adventure!" Sonya yelled more.
"Remain calm, Sonya. You must listen." Fujin tries to tell her.
"Calm? Calm?! YOU OF ALL PEOPLE TELLING ME TO STAY CALM?! Hello?! You're a god! In case you haven't noticed, MY DAUGHTER CASSIE IS GONE! ERASED! I'll never see her again! She was a soldier! A hero! She was happy to have us! And I know that without a doubt that Alex is gone too! He would've made a good son! HE WAS THE ONE FOR HER! And now Kronika took everything from us! We lost our families! Chances are we'll never get them back! EVER! I MIGHT AS WELL BE DEAD AGAIN! BECAUSE I GAVE UP MY LIFE FOR NOTHING!" Sonya rants so hard she starts crying into Johnny's chest.
If there was anything Sonya loved more than her job, it was her family. She loved Johnny despite the hiccups they've always had. And she always loved her daughter Cassie and would do anything to ensure her safety and wished that they were still here. Sonya is nearly crying uncontrollably.
"Cassie isn't gone, Sonya. Neither is Jacqui to you, Jax." Johnny said, getting their attention. "How do you think I felt when I became a new me again? You expect me to go back to my shitty movie career? No. Liu Kang the fire god has a plan. And Alex is still alive." Johnny tells them.
"Alive? How?" Jax asked.
Liu Kang teleports into the room, taking everyone by surprise, especially Sonya. She is very surprised to see Liu Kang as a good guy again and as a god.
"Sonya and Jax. I must apologize for the intrusion. And for the pain you're going through right now. But I am willing to do anything in my power to ensure everyone brought back." Liu Kang said.
"Liu Kang? You…. You're a god now. And on our side again." Sonya is surprised.
"So are those who memories I've restored so far. Kitana is our ally now, spying on Shao Kahn as we speak." Liu Kang tells her.
"So what's this plan of yours?" Sonya asked.
Liu Kang continues his story on how he, Fujin, Raiden now a mortal, Nightwolf, Kitana and Alex are alive. He tells them the plan to restore everyone's memories and ensure all the heroes' survival and bring peace to Earthrealm, Outworld and possibly Edenia again. He tells them about Liu Kang's newfound powers and Alex at the beginning of time waiting for their orders.
"Achieving our ultimate goal is not easy. But with your help, we can make sure that your daughters are brought back and have their memories restored as well." Fujin said.
"But what are we supposed to do? And why couldn't you save my arms and have Jacqui born?" Jax demanded.
Fujin remained silent and had a look of sadness and apologetic on his face. So did Liu Kang.
"According to my visions, there was no way for you to have your normal arms and for your daughter to be born. While crafting the New Era, I have tried different ways to ensure both. But I failed. Had your arms been intact, you would have never met Vera. And your daughter would not be born. It would not be honorable to hide the truth from you. I wanted to tell you. To let you two decide your fate. I am sorry." Liu Kang said.
Jax and Sonya look at each other on what to do. Jax remembered that he was always willing to fight for the love and honor of his family and wanted to help restore it after being tricked by Kronika.
"Ya know something? These motherfuckers can be replaced. They were always an upgrade to me. But the one thing that cannot be replaced is family. Hell. I am willing to sacrifice a part of myself for the greater good. Jacqui never cared about what I looked like with these arms. She always saw me as her hero no matter what. And I would do anything for her again. Maybe help make her life better. By letting her decide for herself." Jax tells everyone. They all listen carefully.
"I am too. I'd take a bullet for you guys any day of the week." Johnny stands up.
Sonya closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. She wipes her eyes of her tears as she gains her footing.
"Me too. Johnny. I love you so much. And I would do anything to make it up to you. And help bring our daughter back." Sonya said, trying to not tear up.
"I love you too, Sonya." Johnny said before they hugged each other tight.
"And one more thing? Is it really true? She's been dating a half god for three years?" Sonya asked out of wonder.
"Oh yeah. Alex did not take it well. He was lied to his entire life and couldn't believe it. He felt the same way you were just now. Jacqui stepped in, gave him a good slap across the face and Cassie gave him a good speech. Those words from her and Raiden inspired him to step up and fight Kronika. For Earthrealm. For the family we will have again. And he popped the question to our daughter and she said yes." Johnny said.
"No wonder he was full of surprises. I hope he's okay. I don't mind him being half god. As long as he will be the same one who will marry our daughter." Sonya smiles before they hug again.
"Jax?" A voice called out to her. Both Jax and Sonya turn to see who it was. Their eyes widened at who it was. It was Vera. Jax's soon to be wife.
"Mind. Blown." Sonya said.
Vera slowly approached Jax and laid a hand on his cheek and another on his metal shoulder. Jax could look into her eyes and sees that she remembers him.
"Vera?" Jax whispered, dropping a tear, seeing her alive again.
Vera smiles and kisses Jax on the lips and throws her arms around him.
"I missed you. So much. Fujin told me everything and he and Johnny brought me here to see you. I just had to." Vera tells him.
"Vera. I missed you too. I was lost without you. I…. I wasn't the same person I once was when you were gone. I fell apart." Jax said.
"I'm here, Jax. I promise I'm here. We can start over together. Just like we did before. I'd do anything to help bring our daughter back into this world." Vera said. "But first. You have work to do. A lot of work. It's called kick some fucking ass in Outworld."
Jax smiles, loving the way she talks and thinks. "That's my girl." He hugs her once more. Fujin looks on with a proud face, having accomplished his mission. Alex has watched everything from the hourglass and could not help but shed a couple tears of his own. He is ultimately relieved to see Sonya and Jax with their memories back and the latter reuniting with Vera. Alex places a hand on his chest where his heart was. He misses them all very much. He looks down on his engagement ring.
"Soon, Cassie. Soon." Alex whispered.
The sun was rising. Roasting over the Shaolin Academy. Hundreds of monk students have gathered in rows sitting on their knees. Kung Lao slowly walks past them all. It was a shame that Sonya, Johnny and Jax could not make it this time due to them being with SF for the latter to recover. But Kung Lao hopes they will be alright as he approaches his friend and master Liu Kang as well as Raiden. Kung Lao once more bows his head before them as Liu Kang hands Kung Lao a gold medal with the dragon marking on it and puts it on him. The monks applaud for him as the three of them share friendly faces.
Over elsewhere on the mountains close to the academy is Cyrax. Cyrax was high up on the mountains, sitting afar from the crowd, wondering now what to do with his life now that he left his clan. As he closes his eyes to think about the decision he just made, he did not have time to do so, as he hears footsteps coming toward him. Cyrax immediately hops into a stance and brings out his wrist blades. "Who are you? Show yourself!" Cyrax demanded.
The being steps closer to him from the shadows, revealing itself to be a red cyborg. His armor looks similar to that of Sektor. Too similar. "Cyrax. You are ordered to return to the temple to begin assimilation." The robot said. His voice also sounded familiar.
Cyrax's eyes widened and he could not believe who it was. "Sektor. Is that you?"
"Yes, Cyrax. I have done the one thing my father has demanded us to do. I am now a Cyber Lin Kuei." Sektor declared.
"Your father is as insane as you are, Sektor. I cannot believe you would actually go through with this. He does not deserve to be the grandmaster." Cyrax replied.
"You misunderstand. I killed my father. I knew he would override my personality and memories. After I became this, I destroyed him. I am now the master of the new Cyber Lin Kuei. And now, you and your friends Smoke and Tundra will join me." Sektor said to him.
"You. You're a monster. Regardless of what you have done, I still will not submit to you. And I know that my friends will not either." Cyrax said as he begins to fight. Before he could do so, several cyborgs appear behind Sektor, awaiting his orders.
"Take him." Sektor ordered. As they all started walking toward Cyrax, ready to capture him. Cyrax was not going down without a fight.
"Your mistake, Sektor." Cyrax said before he fights them. Cyrax throws some microbombs at two of the cyborgs and they get blown off the mountain side and start falling to their deaths. He dodges one attack from one cyborg and uses his wrist blades to stab one in the back and another in the metal neck before they both fall down, dead. He then parries a punch and kicks it in the metal chin, elbows the face, and double back kicks its head off. Cyrax swiftly decapitates one of them, kicks the last one in the waist, turning it around and stabs it in the middle of its back and rips its spine out. As Cyrax was momentarily distracted, Sektor grabs him by the shoulder and starts electrocuting him, making him yell in pain. His screams were not loud enough for anyone to hear. It looks like his fate has been sealed; until then, something grabs Sektor by his shoulder and pulled away hard.
Sektor stumbles, but regains his footing and looks up. Nightwolf stands in front of him, ready to protect Cyrax. "Nightwolf. You are not welcome in our business. Move aside, or else all allies of the defying Lin Kuei members will die."
"You will not take him. Not now. Not ever. You traded your own freedom and soul for this? This does not help benefit your plans at all. Leave now, or be forced to suffer the consequences." Nightwolf stated.
"All members of the Lin Kuei must submit. No one can make that choice for them except for me." Sektor said. Sektor was about to launch an electric net at him, but Nightwolf sidesteps aside, shoots an arrow at his right shoulder. He raises an arm up in the air and lightning strikes down at the cyborg leader, electrocuting him and Nightwolf shoulder bashes him in the metal chest and elbows his back, easily defeating him. Nightwolf raises a tomahawk, ready to kill him. But Sektor was not ready to die yet. He quickly teleports away, causing Nightwolf to slam his weapon into the ground instead.
Nightwolf growls before turning to help Cyrax up. "Cyrax. Are you injured?" Nightwolf asked.
"I am fine, Nightwolf. You rescued me from going through the same horrible experience as Sektor already has. But how did you know I was here?" Cyrax asked.
"I can tell you, but you must trust me. Liu Kang sent me to find you." Nightwolf said. He slowly steps forward and places two fingers on his forehead. Cyrax's eyes nearly roll to the back of his head as he starts to remember. He remembers being defeated and captured by Sektor and cyberized against his own will. Forced to capture Liang and serve Shao Kahn and his first death helping his friend and his second death throughout the time war against Kronika.
Cyrax gasps for air as he returns to reality. He couldn't bear the thoughts he just went through. He is shocked and confused at the same time. Cyrax is on his knees as he looks at his hands. "I….. I remember now. All of it. I was one of them, but now I'm normal again." Cyrax said, before looking up at Nightwolf. "How did you do that?"
"Lord Liu Kang sent me. He saw you in immediate danger and wanted to prevent your fate from becoming a cyborg." Nightwolf explained.
"But I don't understand. This was after the tournament. I was turned against my will after it took place. And then I was one of them when I served under Shao Kahn and Kronika. I remember sacrificing myself for Liang and Scorpion." Cyrax stated.
"I know you are confused, Cyrax. But your answers will come. Lord Liu Kang will explain everything to you." Nightwolf said.
"I can't. Kuai Liang. Smoke. They're in danger. They need me. No doubt Sektor will go after them as well." Cyrax expresses his worries.
"Fear not. Lord Liu Kang and Lord Fujin will handle that. They will meet up with us in the next tournament." Nightwolf tells him.
"Next tournament?" Cyrax asked.
Outworld
Outworld. The evil realm as it has been for thousands of years. Infamous for being under the control of the mighty conqueror Shao Kahn. He rules with an iron fist and would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. Unfortunately, he himself is aware that he is bound to the rules of Mortal Kombat.
Shao Kahn does not take the loss very well, considering that he was so close to conquering Earthrealm.
"You failed me, sorcerer!" Shao Kahn said, punching him in the chest.
"My lord–" Shang Tsung tries to reply.
"I waited for hundreds of years and because of your defeat, I must now wait hundreds of more years to come!" Shao Kahn backhands Shang Tsung across the head, sending him back, causing him even more pain.
"I cannot take Earthrealm by force. But the Elder Gods and their cursed tournaments! I am shackled like a dog! Bound to follow their rules with no exception!" Shao Kahn rants.
Shang Tsung coughs as he gets up from being beaten around by his master. "My master."
"Kill him!" Shao Kahn ordered.
Reptile and Baraka hold him by his arms as Li Mei stands behind him, ready to kill him with her She raises her hands to strike. Shang Tsung had to think quickly.
"What if the rules were changed?" Shang Tsung pleads.
"Li Mei. Cease." Shao Kahn ordered them and they obey without question. "Continue, sorcerer."
"What if there were to say if we held a second tournament in Outworld. Have a singular tournament hosted by you, my lord and master. In Outworld, the fire god's powers will not be as strong as they usually are. We can bring in more fighters as they will have more of their own. And if they refuse, we can force them to cooperate." Shang Tsung offers.
"General Reiko can forge a strategy. To force them to cooperate. Threaten the god's ally's life if they refuse." Kitana claims, and smiles behind her mask. She appears to be manipulating them.
Shao Kahn looks at Kitana and Li Mei nods in agreement. Shao Kahn then stares at the sorcerer and walks up to him.
"Shang Tsung….. Bring me General Reiko." Shao Kahn demands.
Note: So Jax's and Sonya's memories are now restored. So as stated above, the reason why Jax had his arms ripped off again was because Liu Kang couldn't find a future with him and his family and arms intact. This is in some ways a reference to Jacqui's non-canon ending where she uses the hourglass to save her dad, at the cost of erasing herself from existence. Before Rain came along, I considered Jacqui's ending to be the saddest.