Chapter 10: The Return
As time went on for the heroes, everything seems to be going steady. The Special Forces plan on capturing Kano and Tasia before they could meet up with Shang Tsung and Quan Chi. They still remain prepared for what could come next. They, Outworld, Edenia, Lin Kuei and Shirai Ryu continue to be on the lookout for their enemies, most notably, Skarlet and Sektor. She is still wanted by them for various reasons being the only one who has apparently never had her mind wiped at the start of the New Era. Sub-Zero believes that Sektor and Skarlet have conspired with each other, but he may be unfortunately right. But the worst has yet to come.
Skarlet remains alive and well. She carries the book sent to her by Sektor and the green vile containing a soul. Her true colors are about to be shown. Skarlet manages to sneak into the Wu Shi Academy without being caught by the monks and White Lotus. She uses her blood magic to sneak past the traps placed by Liu Kang and Kung Lao. Once past the traps, Skarlet transforms into her edenian form again and reaches the Jinsei fountain. She knew that it was the only other source than the Sky Temple, knowing that going there would be dangerous with Fujin as its guardian and her being hunted. She brings out a projection of the writings from the Shirai Tablet. Skarlet steals some of the jinsei and uses them to track down where it was last taken and just as she remembered, she smiles deviously. She swings her hands and arms in a pattern and speaks in foreign language and a portal opens.
Skarlet hears someone running in and quickly jumps into the portal. The portal closes just as Kung Lao runs in, having sensed the noise. He looks around trying to figure out what happened. Kung Lao, while not as arrogant as he was in the Old Era, is not one to simply ignore it. He noticed that someone has tampered and stolen some of the jinsei. He turns to two of the monks.
"Send word to Lord Liu Kang and Raiden. Tell them that someone has snuck in and stolen some of Earthrealm's jinsei. We must hurry as soon as possible." Kung Lao tells them.
They bow their heads to him as the three run out to send word to the two gods. Kung Lao tries to figure out who could've snuck into the academy and stole the jinsei.
The portal opens and Skarlet steps through. She smiles, remembering where she is. She is inside Kronika's Keep. The same keep with the hourglass and Alex's five torches. Skarlet steps closer to the hourglass and opens the green vile and it flows inside the hourglass. The hourglass lights up and Skarlet steps back with a triumphant look on her face. Sand starts flowing out of the hourglass and it's bringing in a humanoid being. Once the being is complete, it appears to be someone that Skarlet is all too familiar with.
"Welcome back, Geras." Skarlet said as Geras opens his eyes.
In Earthrealm, Alex and Cassie remain asleep in their apartment as part of their 2nd wedding anniversary. The couple smile as they cuddle up to each other with Cassie laying her head on her husband's chest. Alex slowly starts to shake in his sleep and begins to hyperventilate. His body shaking and his chest moving up and down rapidly slowly woke Cassie up and she immediately sees what's wrong.
"Alex. Alex, wake up." Cassie starts to shake him by the shoulder and chest.
"No. No. Please don't." Alex said in his sleep. His head is swishing back and forth trying to wake up.
"Alex, please." Cassie shakes him again.
In the dream, Alex finds himself in the beginning of time with the hourglass. He's not alone. Fire God Liu Kang's head was separated from his body. He was dead. His other friends, Jade, Kitana, Kung Lao, Johnny, Jacqui, Jax, Sonya, Sub-Zero, Hanzo, Sindel, Kenshi, Takeda, Kung Jin, and Cassie are laying there, battered, beaten and most of them dead. Kronika is there too. Kronika is holding Alex in the air, committing the same ritual she nearly did to him before. She's giving him a copy of her soul, spirit and powers to influence and place him under her control.
"Almost done. You shall feel my powers and soul forever." Kronika said. She stared at him as she proceeds with the ritual.
Alex tries to move, but he feels weak as if he actually lost to Kronika. Kronika smirks. The only thing Alex could do was talk, but his voice was also weak. His eyes start to match Kronika's and tries to fight it. "Please. Don't do this."
However, it was too late. Kronika's soul and spirit have all flown into his body and puts Alex down gently with her telekinesis and he lands on his feet. "Let my New Era begin." Kronika smirks evilly as she walks to Alex. "Isn't that right, Alex?"
After a few moments of silence, Alex opens his eyes. His eyes completely match Kronika's eyes, except his eyes are black with green pupils. He looks up at Kronika and smiles with sad eyes upon seeing her.
"Kronika. My mother." Alex said.
Kronika smiles and cups Alex's face. She kisses his forehead in a motherly type of way. She has won. Kronika turned Alex against everyone. Now with him on her side, nothing can stop them. "It is alright, Alex. You are forgiven. You have my eyes. Come, my new son. Shinnok and Cetrion await us." Kronika said. She puts an arm around Alex's shoulders.
As they start getting closer to the hourglass, they both notice Cassie trying to get up. Kronika sees this and lifts Cassie in the air. Cassie's vision was a little blurry and recognizes Alex. "A-Alex." Cassie said weakly.
"He is mine now, Cassandra. Alex belongs with my family. You on the other hand, shall answer for Shinnok." Kronika said, glaring at one of her worst enemies. She always held a grudge against Cassie and Johnny for defeating her son. Kronika lifts a time dagger in the air and plunges it into Cassie's heart. Cassie screams and she falls down on her back as blood comes out of her mouth and nose. She tries to get up or at least breath but it was no use. Cassie drops one tear before she dies.
In the real world, Cassie tries once more to wake Alex up. "Alex, please wake up!" Cassie shakes him once more, feeling extra worried.
Alex screams as he finally wakes up at a rapid speed and gasps for air, trying to take steady breaths. His hands are shaking and his forehead is covered in a little sweat. His breathes were heavy and erratic.
"Oh my god." Alex said, still catching his breath.
"Alex? What's wrong?" Cassie asked him, looking at him with great concern. Cassie hands him some water and drinks half of it down. Alex stares out the window, couldn't believe the dream he had. "What happened?"
Alex turned to his wife, trying to find the words to describe the nightmare he just had. "It was horrible. It was the worst nightmare I ever had."
"Worse than the ones you previously had before about your parents?" Cassie guessed correctly.
"Yeah." Alex said. He sees his hands shaking badly out of fear. Cassie grabs his hand to try to calm him down.
"Tell me. What happened?" Cassie said rubbing his hand with her other hand.
"I was back in Kronika's Keep. Everyone was dead except you. Liu Kang was dead, so were Jade, Johnny, Sonya, Jacqui. Takeda and Jin were there too but they were gone. Remember when Kronika tried that ritual on by transferring her soul and spirit to me in order to brainwash me into joining her side? This time she succeeded and called me her second son. My eyes looked exactly liked hers. Shinnok and Cetrion were alive again and the worst thing was Kronika lifted you in the air and made me watch her kill you." Alex said. He covers his face in his hands, trying to forget.
Cassie covered her mouth out of shock and concern but couldn't help but believe him. She turns his face towards her and pulls him in for a hug. "Shh. Alex, it's okay. I'm here. I promise I'm here. Nothing is going to happen to me or anyone else. Or you." Cassie said.
"But if it weren't for your words of motivation, we wouldn't be here. This is the first time I had this nightmare. Worse than the ones I had about my parents." Alex said shakingly.
"True, but you still killed her. That's all that matters. You matter to me, Alex. No matter what happens to you." Cassie said as Alex drops a tear. She hugs him again and rubs his back.
"You're right. It was just a dream. I was never afraid of her to begin with. After knowing you and everyone else after being here, I've learned to be far less afraid." Alex said.
"That's a good thing. It's what we taught you to begin with. Show no fear. You've always been there without fear. For us. And we did so for you." Cassie said.
"I know. I promised that I would never forget that. You've always been the one with words, Cassie. Thank you." Alex said before kissing her.
"Same to you, sweetheart. You were there to cheer me up when I lost my mom and me and Jacqui were there to knock some sense into you and you came back from it." Cassie said.
"And that's why you're a total badass." They said at the same time, chuckling quietly.
Cassie looked at Alex in the eyes and felt nervous for some reason. She wanted to do something to make him feel better. "If there's anything to make you feel better, then I think I know something. I have news."
"What is it, baby?" Alex looked at her out of curiosity. He puts a hand on where her heart is.
Cassie takes a deep breath and feels her heart beating. She thinks now is the right time. Cassie places a hand to where his heart is. "Alex… you're going to be a father."
Alex's eyes widened and starts to drop a couple tears of joy. "H-how long have you known? This feels exciting."
"Absolutely. I took tests a few weeks ago and they confirmed I'm pregnant. I wanted to wait until our anniversary to surprise you." Cassie said.
Alex couldn't help but smile at the wonderful news and cups her face. "That's amazing. I can't believe this is actually happening to us. That's why you were extra moody, feeling nauseous a few weeks ago and being extra hungry."
"Yup. Doctors warned me ahead of time of the symptoms and I tried my best to hide them." Cassie said.
"Does anyone else know you're pregnant?" Alex asked.
"No. I ordered the doctors not to tell anyone. I want you and me to tell them together and that's final." Cassie smiled.
"I think it's best that we do that. I don't know what to do without you." Alex said.
"I promise. Nothing will ever keep us away from each other, no matter what or who." Cassie said.
"Thank you so much, Cass. For waking me up. I love you." Alex said.
"I love you too, Alex." Cassie said. She kisses her husband once more before they hold each other in their arms and they both think about how they want their future to be.
Alex feels much better from the news. He was taken by surprise by Cassie's pregnancy. He smiles, wondering what the baby will look like. Alex places his hand on her stomach as Cassie places her hand on his ass and they start to drift off again. Alex looks at his wife once more with her beautiful face and short blonde hair before closing his eyes again. Unknown to them at the time, the dream was not a coincidence.
Back in Kronika's Keep, Geras has awakened once more. His body has been restored by Skarlet. Geras looks around and remembers where he is and what happened. He sees the hourglass and the torches. "I am here. At Kronika's Keep. Alive once more?" Geras said.
"Yes. Kronika took part of your soul and placed it into the hourglass as a contingency plan in case she failed. While Liu Kang and Alex were distracted, she transferred your body to the hourglass without them knowing." Skarlet said.
Geras turns to Skarlet, easily recognizing her. "Skarlet. You brought me back. The last thing I remember was being dragged into the Sea of Blood in a trap set by Raiden. Where is Kronika?"
"She is dead. Liu Kang became a Fire God and he and Alex Cage successfully killed her." Skarlet tells him.
"Alex Cage?" Geras asked in anger.
"Yes. He has married Cassandra Cage and became part of the family. Alex and Liu Kang crafted this New Era and brought everyone one of their allies back and made sure Shinnok and Cetrion were gone. They all retain their memories but not those that Kronika recruited, including Shao Kahn." Skarlet said.
"And yet you retain yours while no one else did. Kronika must've protected you from the changes to the timeline." Geras said.
"Indeed. She placed temporal barrier powers to protect my mind from being wiped by Liu Kang and Alex. Liu Kang has failed to use the hourglass to find me as a result. She only trusted me to bring this plan to life, starting with you, Lord Geras." Skarlet said.
"It is all coming back to me. Kronika has always discussed her emergency plans with me in case anything went wrong. She planned this in case she failed to persuade Alex. We must find him and the crown." Geras said.
"The crown is hidden away. Only Liu Kang knows where it is. He is the Keeper of Time." Skarlet said. "I have been unable to track it down. I do not specialize in souls."
"The revenants are no more I presume. And so are Shinnok and Cetrion. How did you find this place?" Geras said.
"Sektor. I restored his memories and he helped me bring this book so I can understand how to use portals. And in return, I helped him. I used ancient writing and some of its powers from the Shirai Tablet during Jacqueline and Tadeka Takahashi's journey after being wedded. I betrayed the Red Dragon and took some of its powers myself, leaving them at the Shirai Ryu's mercy, knowing that the Red Dragon would fail to kill Jacqueline and Takeda. More powerful people than the Red Dragon have tried. I used the jinsei stolen from the academy and traced it here." Skarlet explained.
"And all of Kronika's former allies are gone as well. Alive but unaware of my existence for now. They will remember. I can feel her presence inside my head." Geras said. His eyes turn from blue to black and he finds himself inside his own mind. In front of him, Kronika appears.
"Skarlet has succeeded in her mission. You must bring me back, Geras. You are the only one powerful enough to do so." Kronika said.
"How are you here? Do you yet live?" Geras asked his creator.
"I do not. Yet, my subconsciousness has survived. You carry half of my subconsciousness. I have transferred part of it to you while torturing you when you disobeyed me when you tried to kill Alex." Kronika explained.
"And yet he still lives. He has survived his encounter with you and he married Cassandra Cage." Geras said.
"A mistake that I will correct. He will be persuaded no matter what. He needs to be captured. Cassandra on the other hand, must die." Kronika said.
"What can be done?" Geras asked.
"You must find the crown. You will have help of course. You have some of my power and experience, but because you are not the Keeper of Time, your abilities with the hourglass will be limited." Kronika said.
"I see now. I know who to recruit. I will use your teachings and bring you back to life. I am bound to your will for all eternity." Geras bows his head before her.
"I know you are. After all, I have made you to be exceptionally royal. Capture Alex and the crown, because they are needed in order to bring me back. My visions will guide you. Cetrion. She must come back. A part of her is still alive. Do not let her know the truth." Kronika instructed.
Geras looks into her eyes and sees what she means by that. "Yes. I know what I must do. For you. For Shinnok. For Cetrion." Geras said.
Back in the Keep, Geras' eyes turn back to light blue and looks at Skarlet.
"What do you like us to do first?" Skarlet said. Geras said nothing, as he smirks evilly. He will do anything to bring back his creator by any means necessary.
Note: We take off from Shirai-Cross-Bonding's cliffhanger ending. Geras is the main villain this time around, and he will be a much bigger threat than last time. I hope you guys enjoyed the twists and turns and nightmares so far. There's much more to come.