Jade and Kotal
Jade stood up straight and dutifully before her Kahn; the new and rightful empress of Outworld.
For as Kitana was the Kahn, Jade was her bodyguard.
And her best friend.
But her empress would go now, and she would not be there to guard her. The only one Kitana would have to rely on was... unreliable.
The sands of Outworld surrounded them. Behind Jade was the grand palace of Outworld. Before her the long road away from it. It was that road Kitana was intent on taking. Though it wouldn't be alone.
But it might as well be.
Though Kitana addressed her now, Jade peeked over her shoulder as she spoke to them. The blue mask expanded and retraced was her mouth moved under it.
"What I do, I do out of necessity. I am not abandoning you or Outworld." Kitana said, her voice serious but her words conflicted. She knew she had to help her people, even if it meant leaving them. Jade only managed a small nod of acknowledgement as she was drawn more and more to what was happening behind Kitana. For over her left shoulder Jade saw Mileena far ahead down the road, having started her journey without Kitana even though she protested to be the one to go with her instead of Jade.
Thankfully she had stopped now, crouched beside the road and was- for whatever reason- stabbing at a sand pile viciously with her Sai.
Jade suppressed a sigh before turning back to her friend who remained dutiful in explaining what was at stake and what she must do. Jade understood her plight. She was Kahn now and must go right by all. Even it meant leaving them for a time. Jade only wished she would be the one to go with her.
Of course, that would mean leaving Mileena here. And she doubted they would be able to handle her as easily as Kitana.
For though Kitana was leaving Jade in charge of Outworld, she would not be alone in this duty herself. For the man who stood beside Jade was her staunchest ally, Outworld's Greatest General... and her lover.
Of course. No one about knew that last part.
"No doubt with all that is going on. Unwanted attention will be brought to Outworld. When I am gone, I will need it to be defended." Kitana raised her hands "I have the fullest faith in you." Kitana confided in Jade and ended her lecture.
"Your faith is all the strength I need." Jade said taking her hands on her own. A quiet moment over and them. And the two friends basked in each other's masked smiles and bright eyes.
But they weren't the only ones there.
"And it is well placed." Kotal said standing rigidly beside them. Yet as he spoke, he placed a reassuring hand onto Jades left shoulder "we shall do our duty by you." And though his words were reassuring his actions were different. Alarming, not in a treasonous way, but in an overly familiar way. His hand on Jades shoulder drew a strange stare from Kitana as she gazed on the unusual sight. Even Jade herself was surprised by it, and it showed.
Kotal was unsure of it himself before he looked down to see where Kitana's eyes were drilling holes. "Oh!" he let out and quickly shook his hand off.
"Hm." Kitana pondered to herself. But did not dwell on it long and looked back to Jade with her final orders "Just make sure no outsiders come." she cemented as she retracted her hands "We do not know who we can trust." she said looking to the two of them and the nodded. Kotal's hands were now placed behind his back as Jades went to her hips. "And let us not forget Shang Tsung or Quan Chi could take any shape." They nodded again but once they were done Jades eyes drifted off to behind Kitana's shoulder again; an eyebrow raised at a peculiar sight. "But that just makes me more concerned of who may come here once I leave" Kitana fretted. Kotal now joined Jade as he peered over Kitana's right shoulder. " Let alone who I may find along the road."
"Kitana." Jade spoke up.
"And I've already heard of these warriors who sprout up at every turn." she continued on distressed.
"Empress." Kotal said trying to get her attention.
"Elder gods be damned what am I to do?!" she stomped her foot.
"Empress!" they both snapped together.
"Hm?" She perked up. They both looked to her with blank expressions.
"Your journey it seems has started without you." Jade pointed off casually past Kitana.
Kitana turned and followed the finger until she turned all the way and looked down the road to see Mileena far ahead of her, and only destruction in her wake as people ran from the road.
"Wh-Mileena!" Kitana shouted and without time for a goodbye frantically ran off to chase after her sister. To pull her out of trouble again.
"Goodbye." Jade waved. But Kitana was already too far away to hear.
Jades hand slumped back to her side.
When she was sure it was just the two of them, she looked to Kotal and him to her. Stoically at first but then a small smile crept across is his face. And beneath her mask she did as well.
Outworld was under their guard now. They would have the other to rely upon.
And perhaps they would not have to hide their affections so much.
Laura and Blanka
Admittedly Sean didn't have a good grasp on what was going on in the world right now. But when he heard that his idol and Master Ken had gone out to pit his strength alongside the greatest fighters in them, he wasn't surprised. That in fact only fueled his own determination to get stronger and face these same opponents.
Someone else he knew however had the same idea. And he would have to get through her first.
"Is that all Ken Masters is teaching you?!" Laura laughed from above "His fighting style has nothing on the Matsuda Jiu-Jitsu!" she cried as she held Sean below her in a headlock.
"If you let me go! I'll show you what I can do!" he shouted back at her. Not strong enough to get himself out so he had to rely on other methods to do so.
"You show me!" his older sister laughed down at him "This I gotta see!" she said as she let him go and backed away from him, allowing to time to gasp for air which took longer than it took for him to take a fighting stance against her. But in reply she did the same. "Well come on!" she goaded him "If all you can do is stand there, how are you gonna help me against all those new fighters?!"
"There's more ways to fight sister!" Sean whined back at her.
"But some styles are better than others!" she declared. "At this rate there's no way you'd last out there!"
"And you would!?"
"Of course!" she replied confidently "Because I have the Matsuda Jiu-Jitsu on my side." Clearly, she had the same intention to go out and fight as well but was only waiting for the right moment to do so. And the right partner, but Sean wasn't living up to her standards at the moment.
"We'll see about that!" Sean said before he came at her.
But not matter how fast he was or how strong his strike, Lauras was faster and stronger, easily knocking him away, getting him into a headlock again and only relenting when he pleaded for her too. He had showed him enough defensive moves however and was ready to go on her own attack.
She was about to unleash a mighty kick onto her brother but first she would need to step forward to unleash it. And she did just that, but instead of hearing a loud slam of her foot against the ground she felt a soft squish and something that squeaked from it.
"Huh?" Laura let out before she turned her head down to see she was standing on a green plushie with orange hair. "This?" she asked as she peered down at it further "Who does it look so familiar?" she asked loud.
Because she was so focused on that she had given Sean enough time to readjust himself though he eyed her warily, wondering if he should dare it or not. With Laura continuing to ogle where her foot was and not him, he had enough confidence to risk it.
"Don't leave yourself open sis!" he shouted confidently as he swung forward with a punch.
Laura, however, without even looking raised an arm to block it and then swiping it pushed him away effortlessly, all the while looking at what was placed below her feet.
With Sean out of the way and getting a better look at it, she reached down to take it in her hands. It was soft squishy, green and very familiar "Now I know I've seen this somewhere before." she admitted aloud as Sean found his footing from her blow.
But right as he had a furious beating was heard as two feet and hands slammed racing across the ground to her. When Laura looked up, she saw a furious green face with an orange mane all around it.
"Blanka-chan!" he erupted.
"Oh!" Laura let out much less taken off guard than Sean "I thought it was you." she said looking from him back to the doll that bore his likeness "Don't tell me," she said tossing the doll up only to catch and squeeze it in her hand much to his distress "you got more of these things?"
His rage simmering down a more embarrassed look came across Blanka's face "Yessss." he grumbled "When they were the only thing left in the crane machine no one would play." he said coming back down "And when they emptied it.. it just.. came back to me." he hung his head in shame.
"Aww" Laura cooed "swindled again?" Blanka pulled his hair in reply as she offered the small doll back to him. It calmed him down a bit to take it in his own hands, though he only ended up adding it to the large pile with him.
"Eleven, twelve. Sakura was there too" Blanka said between counting "Thirteen..eh what comes next?" he muttered confusedly as he had hands full of little dolls of himself.
"Guess she didn't do much for you then." Laura concluded.
"Actually, she was trying to help." Blanka said.
"But she was no help." Laura said "So you came back to me." she said as she stretched her arms out confidently.
Sean now reentered the conversation "Actually Sis, I think you just-"
"Well, it's not like I can leave you hanging again, right?" she said "After all my brother's advice didn't work so now it's time I help!" she said in a cheery attitude.
"You help me?" Blanka turned his head to one side "But what can we do?"
A lively grin flashed over Laura who knew she had the perfect answer "Simple." She began. "You know what we should do?!" she asked excitedly though none seemed to share her enthusiasm "There's a lot of new places out there with a lot of strong fighters from them. If we go out together, I bet we can sell your toys." It seems Laura had found her reasoning to go out and face these new warriors. And like all the others she was not alone.
"That simple?" Blanka asked unconvinced but was growing towards it. Eyeing her strangely from the side Sean wasn't sure what to make of this arrangement yet.
"You really think these guys will wanna be bothered with your toy?" Sean asked unconvinced.
"They will once they lose." Laura said "They won't have a choice." she said as she moved into a fighting stance of her own, though there were no opponents before her "Beside this is an opportunity for me too! This is a perfect chance to meet strong fighters and get notoriety for my family fighting style."
"Oh sis," Sean sighed covering his face "always about yourself?"
"Myself?!" she repeated offended stepping up to her little brother who cowered beneath her "I'm doing it for both of us!" she said chumming up to Blanka right. From her eyes the sparks seemed to fly between them. Between their coloring and electric powers, he was a perfect match for her. And them motivations matched up so well.
"Eh.." he growled "Right!" he barked alongside her.
"So what are we waiting for? Let's show them out sales pitch!" she said showing off the very moves she would use to defeat any oncoming warrior. She then ran off, and Blanka with arms full of his plushies followed behind her.
"Tsh." Sean said as the two ran off "Think I'll sit this one out. You cause enough trouble on your own."
Jade and Kotal Fight Your Rival! Outworld Marketplace
High in the palace, Jade sat opposite Kotal on the balcony ledge. Her legs crossed under her as her hand lazily held her head up by her cheek. A tired bored expression lay on her face.
Kotal sat across from her. One leg on the balcony as the other hung off and reached the floor. His gaze was not bored nor directed at Jade, but instead looking downward at the small board was placed between them.
With a hand upon his chin, Kotal was studying it closely. Jade with near disinterest. He then moved his arm to shift one of the pieces forward bringing it closer to Jade.
"Checkmate." Kotal said moving his piece. Jade merely let out an aggravated huff in reply. "A good attempt." Kotal complimented as his head remained down "Do you wish for another one?"
Jade only let out a bored grumble.
"You will never get better unless you keep practicing." he advised sounding like a stern teacher and not her great lover.
"I was had something else in mind." she said, her hand dropping into her lap, no longer keeping her head up. Her voice letting on more than her words did.
Kotal finally turned his head up to her, slight confusion in his face.
"If you want, you can be white this time?" he offered cluelessly.
"It is not that." Jade said "I don't know why you'd want to go again anyway?" she waved a hand dismissively.
"I'm the general of Outworld." he reminded her pointedly "My mind needs to be as sharp as any sword." he said, though his sword was flat at the tip.
"A general is a warrior still. His body needs to be as sharp as his mind." she replied, implying something, but the reaction in Kotal's face showed he did not catch on.
"What did you have in mind then?" he asked.
"Well," she began as her legs slid out from under her "no one's around" she said as she leaned forward on her arms and legs bracing the stone and holding her up as she leaned forward towards him, though in reply Kotal braced himself putting his arms behind him "so maybe" she pulled her mask down as her body passed over the board and lined itself along the balcony "we don't have to be so secretive." she leaned ever closer to him across the chess board, raising one leg high up above her body "Since there's no one around to keep secrets from." she said in a seductive tone, her voice letting lower than a whisper as she came towards him. Her eyes closed and her lips puckered awaiting his eagerly.
She lingered there outward there in anticipation, though she was out there too long without reply. She peeked one eye open to see Kotal practically cowering on the balcony away from her, his arms bracing himself up as he leaned further away.
"What are you doing?" she said through puckered lips.
"I am sitting back here." he said easing himself back more.
"Why? I'm right here." she said easing her lips back into place.
"Because.." he droned and looked away as Jades leg lowered back down to join the other on the stone. "We do not know who may be around."
Jade fell back now, returning to sitting now her head lazily held in her hand. "There's no one here but us." she stated harshly.
"Yes," Kotal agreed sitting back up as she relented "but for how long?"
"That's the point." she said sharply "To enjoy the time alone we have."
"But still, we have a duty after all. "Jade turned her head from him and let out a sighed breath blowing a strand of hair out of her eyes "Why don't we go on a patrol around the Marketplace?" he proposed, and Jade lit up at the sound of that.
Jade turned back to him "Like a date?" she asked hopefully.
Kotal face scrunched up "Like a Patrol?" he stated seriously.
Jade let out another sigh "Forget it." she snapped as she turned to the edge of the balcony and let her legs dangle off. They wouldn't dangle for long as she pushed herself off and fell off the side.
"Wait!" Kotal shouted out and reached a hand towards her, but he just missed her as she had already propelled herself off the side. He turned and looked down frantically to see her plummet down below her green tarp flapping in the wind before it stopped suddenly as she reached the ground. "Jade!" he called, but she just walked off away from the castle. He saw the emerald green figure moving away in the brown muddied market of Outworld.
Kotal shuddered and cursed himself. He moved himself off of the balcony quickly to catch up to her, but as he moved too quickly, and he accidentally swung his leg out as he did kicking the chessboard all over the balcony.
"Ah!" he threw his hands up, and he stopped his pursuit to then begin to meticulously pick up every peace and set them back on the table this time. Then skittishly he moved towards the stairs but stopped short of going down them.
He looked back over his shoulder to see the balcony.
There was certainly one faster way to get to her. He sighed and turned around. He shook out his legs and arm and finally his head-he still wasn't sure if this was a good idea- but he must've been a few shakes short of figuring that out since he sprinted towards the railing of the balcony, put a foot on the edge and propelled himself up and off of it.
He plummeted down to the ground below. Landing hard and coming down onto his knees, but he rose quickly. His head began to look around from left to right.
For all the people in Outworld, there was only one woman who wore a shade of green that he knew. And thankfully due to the lack of variety in color he found her very quickly. Her back was to him, and she seemed to have let her hair fall down from the ponytail now and seemingly discarded the dress this time, perhaps to blend in more. Damn those curves almost made him stop completely in pure awe. But obviously it could be no one else but her.
"Jade!" he called before he began to run to her. She did not answer and continued to walk away from him. Likely because he was too far away though she was probably still ignoring him.
He caught up to her quickly, and she didn't seem to her him coming.
He overtook from behind and swooped his arms around her taking hers in his.
"Jade." he said again softer as he caressed her from behind. His hands squeezed where they were, and he felt something large, soft and round within each of them. No sooner had he had done that, had she stomped hard on his foot and knocked her hands to her chest slamming them into his. "AH!" he recoiled. He shook his hands as he staggered back from her. He shook his hands before coming to a stop. He winched and looked them over before looking up to her "Jade I.." he began but stopped.
Jade then turned around to face him completely, her hair falling to one of her face. And upon revealing that face to him Kotal realized; this was not Jade at all.
In actuality, Jade had stormed off from the castle. She had heard Kotal call out for her, but it wouldn't stop her. It was just frustrating being with him sometimes. Honestly at times it felt as if he didn't even want to hold her hand.
She understood his reservations, at times she even shared it. But if Kitana and Liu Kang can make it work why not them? He had said because of how Sonya and Johnny worked out.
'Always trying to find a way out.' she sighed. True Outworld loved its gossip, and Mileena had almost caught them a few times, but.. at the end of the day it just didn't seem fair.
Her angered stampede slowed to a more mellow stroll. If anything, she could see the marketplace for herself. A 'Patrol" she spat. Of course, slow as her pace now was, she was still too occupied with mulling over her relationship to watch where she was going.
The soft sand meshed and shifted beneath her feet making her feel more like she was sliding than taking steps. That was until the ground squeaked.
Surprised at the sound, Jade stopped suddenly to see below her boot was not the ground, but a soft and squishy stuffed green plushie. Made into the likeness of some beast with orange hair. Though one she had never seen.
But she would now.
"Blanka-chan!" a hideous voice shrieked.
"Hm." Jade looked up just as if the toy had come to life in the form a great green hairy man like beast before her. Spark emitted from his orange hair, but he otherwise snarled at her. "Ah!" she shrieked in alarm and stepped back.
"Blanka-chan!" Blanka let out again and seemed to show concern for where Jade had just stepped. He knelt below and seemed to cradle the lifeless doll in his oversized hands as if had just lost some great friend. He began to sniffle and sob, and Jade looked him over with pity. It reminded her of how Mileena would act with her tea parties- of which Jade was never invited to.
"I did not mean to do that." she said her voice soft and apologetic as she bent down beside him, but right as she spoke Blanka shot back up and growled at her, keeping the smaller version of himself away as if protecting it "Now listen I-"
"Jade!" a voice cried out. She perked up recognizing it to be Kotal. She turned her attention away from Blanka and to him. But the sight was not one she would have wanted to see. Her eyes bugged open in astonishment when she saw Kotal holding onto another woman; holding her very tight and his hands squeezed at her chest. Her eyes widened in further, now in anger. One side of her face twitched sporadically before the look of embittered rage overtook it composedly.
Without a word said, she then stormed off to him, her anger coming back and giving her more urgency than before.
"Hm?!" Blanka let out as Jade left him without so much as an apology "Hey! You say sorry for Blanka-chan!" he said before he began to chase her.
Back with Kotal he cowered before Laura.
"Hey what's the big idea Mr. green and grabbie!" Laura shouted at him.
Kotal stammered a reply "I Uh- had not meant- I thought- uh oh."
"KOTAL!" a voice shouted even higher and shriller than Laura's at him. He already knew who that voice belonged to.
"Oh no." he went stiff.
Both of them turned to Jade as she came to an abrupt stop, kicking up dirt and sand as she did. She let out a huff at him, with eyes like daggers at Kotal. The three stood across from each other, forming a triangle between them.
Jade naturally went to Kotal first "What are you doing?!" she asked seething in rage.
"Uh," Kotal held his wrist still having trouble speaking. Jade, it seemed had no time for anyone.
"And who are you!" she then turned over to Laura. She had no time to answer as Blanka suddenly fell to the ground beside Jade.
"Blanka-Chan!" he roared.
His appearance started Kotal who cried out "What is that?"
"Who you mean?" Laura pointed a finger at him, and he shook at it "And he just introduced himself." she shook her finger at him more. She then turned back to Jade "And as for who I am." she began before a confident smile came across her face "I am the greatest Matsuda Jui Jitsu fighter in all the realms!" she declared with her arms up. "And we" she put them back down as Blanka lumbered to her side "are on a quest to sell all of his little toys!" she declared as Blanka held them up for them to see.
In reply to her passionate declaration, it had the opposite effect on the two Outworlders. Jade's anger simmered, and Kotal's embarrassment faded into shared deadpanned confused expressions. In disbelief they glanced at each other out of the corner of their eye sharing a blank uncertain look before looking back to them.
"You've got to be kidding." Kotal said in dry disbelief.
"Not at all." she said "And nothing sells cute toys more than cute face, right?" she leaned forward and pointed at her own as she winked at Kotal who shuddered in response.
Jade then stepped between them. She reached out to grab her staff and flailed it around her back before bringing it out forward extending it to point it at Laura menacingly "This is Outworld." she declared "Home of Kitana Kahn. You are trespassing."
"Hold!" Kotal called putting a hand out, his voice calm, proud and serene "Osh Tekk custom requires all refugees be offered assistance." he stepped forward and held a hand out, not in confrontation, but friendship "We offer ours- dah!" Jade flicked her wrist and the staff to the side hitting Kotal's hand in the process and cutting him off. He recoiled in pain yet again, grabbing his wrist as Jade pointed the staff back at the two green warriors opposite them.
"We are charged with the defense of the castle." Jade continued sternly as if Kotal had never spoken. "You have no business here."
"I just told you, our business." Laura replied. She then flicked her hair as Blanka nodded. "Tch." she let out looking up and then back to her "And it seems like you broke our product." she grinned at Jade.
Jade sighed and rolled her eyes "It's a stuffed animal." she stated tiredly.
"You break it you buy it!" Laura pointed and stepped up to her though Jade did not shake from it like Kotal did. Laura then raised her fist and clenched it "Or else I'll break you!"
"The only thing your breaking is the rule of law." Jade said as she planet her feet in the ground "And you'll be going now."
"No way!" Laura exclaimed defying Jade and angering her further "I haven't even gotten to try the beaches here yet!"
"You'll try nothing from here!" Jade stepped up further.
"Try me." Laura grinned at her "If there's anything else I wanna get out of this it's strong opponents!"
"Blanka-chan!" he roared and slammed the ground, but it was different this time, for this time the ground shook and sparks were let out. Ones that travelled across the ground and zapped Kotal and Jade causing their clothes and hair to shoot up and stand on edge. Laura let out a laugh at the two fried kombatants.
Kotal licked his fingertips and ran them through each of his feathers as Jade ran her hands through her hair to straighten her ponytail.
"Jade" Kotal began, his voice grieving and apologetic "I wanted to let you know I thought she was you-"
"Save it." she snapped looking at him out of the corner of her eye "You didn't see me mistake him for you, did I?" she asked.
Kotal relented and braced himself for a fight beside Jade.
Laura and Blanka Fight Your Rival! Outworld Marketplace
They weren't following the road with any real direction in mind, but whatever direction that was, they were glad it brought them here.
A bustling street market that was dwarfed by the mighty palace whose shadow it sat within. It really put into perspective what else was out there and how big this event was. And thankfully this market brought in all kinds of goods. The people there if some of them could even be called that, did not seem interested in fighting like Laura hoped, but they did seem intent on buying. It was a marketplace after all and as different and far away as it may be that meant they were looking to buy something. And with products to sell they were ripe for the taking.
"Now this is more like it!" Laura cheered as she stood in the middle of the marketplace "This is our audience!" Laura cheered. From behind her with arms full of miniature versions of himself, Blanka looked on just as hopeful. Though he did also think these people looked mean and uninviting as they walked around them as if they weren't even there. "Let's go test our luck!" Laura said and then moved to act on it. She moved up to each and every shopkeeper barging past some and pushing past others. She moved speedily from one spot to the next, to the vendors that sold either food or cloth. Just as much as she wanted to help Blanka, she wanted to see even more of this place.
Fumbling behind her Blanka followed suite.
"Come on!" Laura cheered "Step right up and buy your very first one!" she announced, but the only thing her voice made was more noise for the already busy marketplace. Her voice hardly turned any heads, though her looks very much did. "Hm" she let out as Blanka fretted beside her "Seems like we've got a tough sell on our hands." she admitted, and he nodded worriedly to her. "But that's alright." she rose back up lively "We haven't fought this hard and come this far to give up now, right?" she asked turning to Blanka and agreeing with her now, he grunted his approval. She looked around again "Hmm." she let out "Maybe we need a change of strategy."
"Change in strategy?" Blanka asked.
"Yeah! Like Marketing?"
"You.. think it'll work?"
"Yeah!" Laura cheered "Come on!" she shouted again and pointed to the closest person beside her in the market "I'll challenge you to Mortal Kombat!" she proclaimed "Loser takes the toys!" That declaration, however, had the opposite effect and it only seemed to drive business away from wherever they were standing. "Hm.. they drive a hard bargain."
"Too many Blanka-chan's" Blanka grumbled in defeat.
"Hey, don't worry." Laura said optimistically but it didn't really work "Tell ya what. We'll find more buyers if we split up."
"But..." he let out puzzled "I have all of the Blanka chan's and you don't?"
"So?" she said "We'll find more customers that way."
"Well sure but-"
"But let's not wait any longer!" she said as she cut away from him leaving him in the middle of the street.
Heading down one path of the marketplace Laura alone, looked around for anyone with an empty hand or basket because that's where she would strike next. But she was so focused on looking around that she did not see the large green figure approaching her from behind.
Back with Blanka, he hopped through the marketplace careful not to bump or intrude anyone but that only made it harder for them to notice him. His shoulder brushed up against someone.
"Eh sorry." he apologized "Blanka-chan?" he would then offer one up as an apology. But they would only scoff at him and walk off. The next step he took tripped someone, and he helped them up with a little Blanka-chan to greet them on their feet. The offer didn't change. He even tried selling it to the vendors already there since they could walk away from him, but they wanted to make money not spend it.
With no takers he headed deeper into the marketplace. He stumbled his way through but realized that his load felt awfully lighter. It was at this point he looked down and noticed that though they had fought many duos and given the toys away as a loser's trophy he still had many to go. But counting it now, he knew one was missing.
Turning his head Blanka let out a gasp when he saw a green clad woman step down and drive her heel into his precious little toy on the ground. He erupted where he was sending out electric shocks that hit everyone and blew them away from him. Then he charged forward towards the woman as she studied what was beneath her foot.
"Blanka-chan!" he let out. Then at the sound of his approach, he leapt at her and she looked up.
"AH!" she shrieked as he cried out 'Blanka-chan!' again.
Now it seemed to register with her what she had done which hopefully meant she would buy from him. He cradled the undamaged doll in his hands like a baby as she spoke to him.
"I did not mean to do that." she said her voice soft and apologetic, but Blanka shot back up and growled at her not feeling her sorrow. "Now listen I-" she was about to continue but was cut off seemingly by the sound of her own name for someone had called 'Jade'.
Turning around she followed the voice and she saw someone else standing with Laura his arms around her. Blanka, however, starred at her trying to see the look on her face since she turned away but could only sense the growing rage on it. Then without a word she stormed off away from him, despite his cries not to.
"Hey! You say sorry for Blanka-chan!" he said as he ran off after her. The people of the marketplace parted for Jade not wanting to get in her way making it easier for Blanka to follow right behind her, though she didn't seem to notice he was trailing her. Her attention was dead ahead of her, on Laura and Kotal who had now turned from fondling her to being berated by her. But the sight of him holding her so tightly didn't sit well from her.
Just as her stomping and leaving-Blanka chan did with him. And as Jade stomped towards the two of them, Blanka scurried behind her.
"You've got to be kidding me." she vented aloud to no one but herself "How dare he? After all he's done-or not done with me!" she said before she made her voice go deeper in mockery. All the while Blanka right behind her held up the doll she stepped on.
"He needs a good home. Any home!" he pleaded holding up the doll for her to see, but Jade did not listen.
"Oh, I don't want to hold your hand Jade, but here's another woman I'll grab onto!" she ranted "Oh and she's got your complexion and the same color." she mocked as Blanka followed her from behind. "It's so funny and cute!" she spat.
"Blanka-chan!" he held up the doll to her, but she continued to storm off "You wanna buy? Cute right?" he said but Jade kept fuming aloud to hear him
"Anyone could have made that mistake. PAH!" she mocked. By now they closed in on the two, and Jade made their presence known. "KOTAL! she shouted and both he and Laura turned to see Jade approach them. But she was not alone.
"And who are you!" Jade snapped from Kotal and then to Laura. But unlike Kotal, she would fight back.
"Blanka-chan!" he roared as he slammed his fist to the ground but only managed to startle Kotal.
"Who you mean?" Laura pointed a finger to him, and he shook at it "And he just introduced himself" she shook her finger at him. She then turned back to Jade who glared at her with killer intent "As for who I am." she said before flaunting her body and fighting stance "I am the greatest Matsuda Jui-Jitsu fighter in all the realms." she declared with her arms up. "And we" she put them back down as Blanka came to her side loyally "Are on a quest to sell all of his little toys!" she said as Blanka with a toothy uncomfortable grin, held up the dolls for them to see.
Despite quite the sales pitch and proud promotion, she had rattled off, Jade and Kotal's stare and demeanor had gone into a shared blank in confusion. Standing side by side, they glanced at each other out of the corner of their eye sharing a puzzled look before looking back to them.
"You've got to be kidding." Kotal said in static disbelief.
"Not at all!" she said putting her hands on her hips and bobbing them side to side came forward "And nothing sells cute toys more than cute face, right?" she said coming to a stop, but leaned her torso forward and pointed to her face own she winked at Kotal who backed away from her.
But as he backed away Jade stepped in, grabbing her staff and twirled it around her back before bringing it out forward extending it to point it at Laura "This is Outworld." she stated "Home of Kitana Kahn. You are trespassing."
"Hold!" Kotal came forward again with a hand out, sounding more confident and peaceful than Jade "Osh Tekk custom requires all refugees be required assistance." he stepped forward and put a hand out, offering it to them "We offer ours- dah" Jade snapped the staff to the side hitting his hand in the process. He retracted it in pain, grabbing it as Jade pointed the staff back at Laura and Blanka. But her eyes never left them.
"We are charged with the defense of the castle." Jade continued sternly where she had left off "You have no business here."
"I just told you our business." Laura snapped back, flicking her hair as Blanka nodded. "Tch." she let out looking up and then back to her "And it seems like you broke our product." she grinned slyly at Jade. She had them right where she wanted them now. This could go two ways and either was fine with her.
Jade sighed and rolled her eyes "It's a stuffed animal."
"You break it you buy it!" Laura pointed to her like she had a staff all her own. More than that she stepped up to her clearly undeterred by any threats made by Jade at her. Laura then raised her fist and clenched it "Or else I'll break you."
"The only thing your breaking is the rule of law." Jade said as she planet her feet in the ground bringing the staff back to her side "And you'll be going now."
"No way!" Laura protested "I haven't even gotten to try the beaches here yet!"
"You'll try nothing from here!" Jade threatened.
"Try me." Laura grinned at her "If there's anything else I wanna get out of this it's strong opponents!" she said assuming her own fighting stance.
"Blanka-Chan!" Blanka roared in solidarity with Laura and slammed the ground, but this time he sent electric shockwaves that travelled across the ground and zapped Kotal and Jade. Electric sparks overtook the two and once it was done, their clothes and hair to shot up and stand on edge.
Laura broke her fighting stance and reeled over, holding her sides and pointing, letting out a laugh at the two fried kombatants. The two Outworlders then tried to readjust themselves while Laura and Blanka looked on at them.
"This is our new strategy?" he asked leaning closer to her.
"Well, it's a bit heavy handed." Laura said "But it'll work." she said setting her eyes on Jade across from her right as she finished scolding Kotal. "These two won't know what hit him!"
Bearing his fangs Blanka agreed "Yeah!" he shouted, and the four green warriors began a battle that would spread all throughout the marketplace.
Sub-Boss Necalli Hour of Battle! Jade and Kotal
As soon as that last battle in the marketplace ended another seemed to rear its head. And on the word to Kitana Kahn, they were going to act on it. Many across the marketplace were running through it, away from one end to race hectically to another. To get out of the way of something.
Jade and Kotal raced through them to find the source of the trouble. But for all the trouble they had defending Outworld so far, they came by this one came by differently. Rising from the ground instead of approaching them from the road.
But it didn't matter in the end, they had a job to do.
"Another intruder." Jade said readying her staff.
"This one is different." Kotal said observantly as Necalli rose from the ground "What does it want?"
"HGHEGE" Necalli growled at them "Your souls... mine to d-d..devour." His threat, however,, was met head on by the other two, and a jest from Jade.
"He looks like you on a bad day." Jade said stepping forward with her staff
"I have no bad days." Kotal stated confidently stepping up beside her and unleashing his sword alongside her staff.
Sub-Boss Necalli Hour of Battle! Laura and Blanka
They may have had trouble in the marketplace, but it was nothing they couldn't handle. And they were down one Blanka-chan. Walking further into the market they were ready to get rid of another.
The only problem was that it was desolate in this part of it. Walking side by side, the two stopped to look around.
"Hmm" Laura let out to see nothing but empty shops.
"Where'd everyone go?" he asked seeing the same thing no matter where he turned his head.
"Not sure." she answered looking one way as Black looked the other.
"Maybe Blanka-chan scarred them away?" he proposed self-consciously.
"I bet it was those two." Laura said looking back to see if Jade or Kotal pursued them further. But as she looked back Blanka now looked forward and began to shake as a figure emerged from one of the shops.
"Eh." he let out "Or many that's it." he said. Tuning her head around and whirling her hair Laura looked to see Necalli squirm out from one of the shops. Despite the fact that he eyed them with murderous intent, they were in hostile territory already and Blanka was shaking, having opened his arms to protect the pile of dolls behind him, Laura came to a much different conclusion.
"OH!" she cried "A customer!" Blanka did not share the enthusiasm.
"He doesn't look like he wants one."
"I want what is yours.. your soulllss!" he called out to them. His declaration only scarred Blanka more, but it lit a fire in Laura whose amicable grin turned to a confident smirk.
"If he doesn't want that." she said stepping up "Then he'll get something else she grinned "my family style!" she declared as she snapped her fingers out leading to sparks to fly around them. Not letting her take this one alone after all she's done so far for him, Blanka slammed the ground himself and came up beside her.
Jade and Kotal Ending
The two stood as stiffly before the castle, just as they had when Kitana first left them in charge of it. Even more so in fact. They wanted to give off the image that they had done as asked; that none had trespassed into Outworld since she had left.
This, of course, was not true.
Which is why they had to act the part. After all, Outworld was saved, and they knew the realms had been restored. But that did not excuse their failure.
Which was shown in the green Blanka doll hanging from Jade's waist. Kotal had tried to play if off like he won her a prize at a carnival.
Jade did not see it that way.
"Remember," Jade urged through a clenched jaw and mask "nothing happened." she said through clenched teeth.
"Of course, not" Kotal agreed "she will find the palace just as she left it."
"Of course." Jade agreed. Both then went back to starting down the road plainly. A few blinks cross their otherwise placid faces. "-The marketplace though-" she suddenly added.
"Has always attracted the most diverse from across the realms" Kotal insisted, finishing her sentence.
"The perfect place to infiltrate." the assassin spoke.
Kotal quickly fumbled an answer "There is always an incident there." he tried to ease her with an excuse.
"But to have an invader under our very nose, for how long were they-"
"Look!" Kotal said looking ahead "They are back." Jade felt her breath taken away as she peered forward to see her best friend return with her little sister.
They were still rather far away so they could not see them well. Merely a blue and purple clad figure walking side by side down the road. But they could hear them. And what they heard confused them. Something that was not present when they left.
Laughter.
Peering closer they saw them clearer as they got closer. And not only were they side by side but hand in hand swinging them wildly back and forth as they walked- no skipped forward together.
Surely their eyes were playing tricks on them. Only they weren't. The longer they looked the stranger it got.
Kitana and Mileena came skipping down the road, Kitana's left hand joined with a Mileena's right as it swayed in between them connecting the two. Bright smiles and happy expressions were on their faces as they giggled with each step they took.
Jade and Kotal exchanged a strange glance with each other before looking back at the continuously strange sight.
It only got stranger.
Suddenly Mileena broke off from Kitana.
"Phew." they let out. It seemed things were getting back to normal.
Mileena then knelt forward and shook her right arm. Then she flung it forward letting loose something. A small rock perhaps.
"Four!" She called. Then in response to that Kitana hopped forward on one leg three times before slamming both feet down on the fourth. And when she did so she held her hands triumphantly in the air and too much fanfare from a Mileena which she only added to through smiles and laughter.
Jade and Kotal remained perplexed, and it was only growing by the moment as they came closer.
Mileena then got ahead of Kitana, cartwheeling away before coming to a sudden stop. Crouching low and staying close to the ground.
A good thing to as Kitana ran up behind her, places both hands on her back and leapt over her like a frog before landing in front of her crouched on the ground as she was before.
Mileena mimicking her hopped up and over Kitana before coming in front of her again. Kitana jumped up and over Mileena again and the two progressed all the way down the road until they finally reached Jade and Kotal.
Jade and Kotal trailed them on the ground until they both sprouted before then and stood up to their full height. They didn't stand rigidly but were loose with laughter. Kitana and Mileena's laughter finally died off as Jade and Kotal droned at them stupidly.
"Was the road..." Jade began but could not finish. Kitana's was so worried to leave she thought she be relieved to be back. And here she was without a care in the world "uneventful?"
"Better now that is behind us." Kitana admitted with a pleasant sigh as she caught her breath from laughing "How was all here?"
"Uneventful." Jade answered using the same word because it was still fresh and so familiar to her mind. "for the most part-"
"-You know how the marketplace gets!" Kotal suddenly interjected. Jade looked to him with wide-eyed mortification as he disregarded all they agreed to say at the first possible opportunity. Kitana and Mileena now shared perplexed looks directed at him. Her eyes at first went back to them but stopped and went back to looking down.
"What is that?" Kitana asked, looking to Jade's hip. Both of them looked at the evidence now against them. They frantically looked around before Jade found an answer.
"We got you a new toy." Jade held it out for Mileena hoping to direct attention away from it and instead to its purpose. Mileena's eyes peered forward, and she eyed it strangely. She even leaned forward to sniff it.
"What is it?" she growled suspiciously.
"A new teddy bear from the marketplace."
"Teddy." Mileena grumbled and took it in her arms. She held it up to see it and inspect it closer. It's bulbous frame, it's green skin and orange hair and it's stubby little arms opened up as if to say 'Hug me'. "It's ugly." she stated "I hate it!" she shouted and threw it away leading to a distinguished 'squeak' as it ricochet of the ground. Kitana eyed the development strangely as Jade and Kotal seemed to have expected that.
"Yes.. well.." Kitana stammered before composing herself "you have my thanks" she nodded looking back up to them. "As a reward" she began and Jade and Kotal were caught off guard by it "why don't you two take some time off."
"Time off?" Jade repeated. Not at the offer but what it meant.
"Together? Kotal gawked.
"Of course." Kitana's confirmed rather casually for both of them "unless you'd rather not." she asked slyly.
"Well, I didn't mean like that-it's just so sudden- and you just returned-why so soon?" Kotal and jade then spoke with and over each other.
"Hm." Kitana let out "Well take your time in answering." she said "Give it all the thought you need." she said eyeing them with a knowing gleam. "As for me," she said "I've had quite a lot of travelling" She and her sister then looked up together before looking up at the palace "it just feels good to be home." she said.
"I wanna bath!" Mileena suddenly shouted.
"I could go for one myself." Kitana agreed looking to her. She looked over the two green warriors again "Take your time to compose your thoughts." But her two loyal housekeepers were still perplexed by the state of her return and what she now gifted them.
"A bath?" Kotal questioned.
Kitana rolled her eyes and did not answer. Instead, she left Jade and Kotal to figure it out together, as she and a Mileena left them behind, though they did not walk but crouch.
Jade and Kotal's attention naturally went to each other with no one else there to answer to. The only answer they had to give was to each other.
They started longingly at the other in silence even though they were so close.
They remained star locked looking to the other for answers as Kitana and Mileena continued to leapfrog passed them back into the castle.
"So.." Kotal began.
"What do you say?" Jade asked.
"What's the worst that could happen?" He said, and he raised his hand to take hers and clasp it in his.
"Ready for a long well deserved Patrol?" she beamed looking up at him.
They smiled brightly to each other and then together walked off down the road into Outworld hand in hand.
Laura and Blanka Ending
Their task complete and the journey was over. They had travelled across numerous realms and fought many opponents, satisfying Laura. But just as important as that, they had sold all of Blanka's precious little toys.
Returning home empty handed, but full of energy Laura couldn't wait to brag to Sean about all that he had been missed out on. Which to her clearly meant she would have to train him even harder now.
Walking forward as Blanka shuffled on his arms and legs beside her, she found her brother sitting on the ground, fidgeting with something in his hands. 'Probably some stupid video game or something on his phone.' Laura thought.
Whatever it was he was so preoccupied with that, that he did not even notice them there or give them a 'welcome back' party.
"HM?" Laura let out as she bent out behind him "What've you got there Sean?"
"HM?" Blanka let out beside her peering down himself over his other shoulder. Only now when he heard his name call did he stir and he looked back over his shoulder, but still guarded whatever was before him. But a jolt of surprise came over him when he recognized the two faces.
"Sis!" Sean exclaimed as he got up "You're back!" he let out.
"Of course, I'm back!" she declared confidently with a whip of her hair "You think I'd get lost?" She then peered in closer to him "And what were you doing since then huh? You get better at fighting? You get a girlfriend? Well?" she pressed him further and further, but he only buckled before her, though he was cradling something in his hands.
"No, no, no, it's something else." he assured her nervously "Look at what I got!" he said moving his arms forward, with something piled up within them.
In his hands were to small green plushies which Laura took in each hand. She was so startled by his sudden movements she didn't look at the two he offered, but the mountain of them at his feet.
Beside her Blanka leaned in closer to inspect them.
"Blanka-chan?" Blanka let out. Not that he could be blamed for it for they were the exact same as it, though these ones were not in his likeness.
"No," Sean laughed him off "its new ones. Made from all the new warriors everyone's talking about." Blanka plunged his hands into the pile and shifted them out.
And they were just that. Miniaturized, small soft and squishy toys of all the Kombatans. Many of whom Laura and Blanka met across their journey. They were just like the Blanka-chan's they got rid of, only made in different shapes of different warriors. Chosen ones, Thunder and Winds gods, Outworld Princesses, Specials forces. They had one for everyone it seems.
Picking up one Blanka held it in his hands "Blanka chan?" he said, but he knew that was wrong and then she shook his head to get the name right "Baraka-chan" he said as he observed the toothy Tarkan plushy fit with two long spikes out of his forearm.
"Close enough right." Sean said as Blanka flicked the blades that squished instead of pricked must to his relief. Amused as he was by Blanka, Sean turned to gauge his sister's reaction to all this. Though she seemed much more focused on what she held.
Laura looked down to the two she held in her hands now. They were the very ones that Sean was holding onto preciously himself. Of all the ones her brother displayed, these two were the most familiar to her.
In her left was a green painted Osh Tekk warrior. In the other was his jade clad companion, bearing her staff almost as insultingly as she had done to Laura before.
"That one's, my favorite." Shaun commented as he pointed to her right hand where she held it "She's really pretty."
She held the two carefully at first, when they were first brought to her attention. But after hearing that her grip tightened clamping down on each doll and squished them, crushing the life out of them completely if there ever was one.
"Hey sis! don't break it!" Sean pleaded. But it did not good to the small toys she held furiously on to.
"So that's how it's gonna be huh?" she let out angrily.
"What?" Sean let out cowering from "Whadda mean?"
"Come on Blanka!" she called as she turned around and walked off the way they came "We got a score to settle!" Following on her heels Blanka went with her.
"Score?!" Sean repeated "Come on sis hold up!" he chased after her, but she didn't listen.
She traveled entire worlds to sell some toys. With only one to travel now, how long could they hide?