(Shang Tsung's Temple: Outside Arena)

All the fighters were gathered at the outside, waiting for Shang Tsung to appear, the fighters of Outworld have arrived on the island and were at the arena, but not all as they were getting situated inside.

The Kombatants examined the Outworld fighters as they are a Tarkatan, seemingly the leader, a Saurian, a fighter wearing purple almost ninja-like attire, and a warrior with markings on his body and face.

Johnny: "They look like some mean sons of bitches."

He states as receives a glare from the Tarkatan, who snarled.

Johnny avoided eye contact and looked at Ashrah.

Johnny: "You sure Netherrealm is coming?"

Ashrah: "Yes...they haven't showed yet."

She states a determined look on her face as Johnny gets closer.

Johnny: "Y'know, since we're both fighting for pretty the uh, fate of the world, we should get to know each other better."

Ashrah looks at him, a small smile on her face but it fades as she then has a look of doubt.

Ashrah: "You mean well, but...it's better to not get close to me."

She states and Johnny noticed the expression change then had a look of disappointment then Kenshi spoke to him, in his head.

Kenshi: "She's obviously been through a lot Johnny...let her be."

Johnny: "You're right...and also...STOP READING MY FUCKING MIND!"

He mentally shouts and Kenshi winces in pain, he turns to Johnny annoyed and flips him off.

Then Shang Tsung appears in a burst of green enery and sits on his throne, smirking.

Shang Tsung: "Fighters! I hope you gained enough rest, because as of now...Mortal Kombat has begun! For the first round, Baraka, Heir to the the Tarkatan army!"

He states and Baraka jumps onto the arena, and extends his blades from his arms, with a smug look on his face.

Baraka: "Which one of you pathetic Earthrealmers dare face me?!"

The other fighters stayed quiet, as Shang Tsung and the Outworlders smirked.

Shang Tsung: "Will no one rise to the challenge?"

Johnny looked at the other fighters, surprised, then looks back at Ashrah, he nudged her and smirked.

Johnny: *whispers* "Watch this."

He states, making her raise an eyebrow as he runs forward and flips onto the arena.

Johnny: "I'll fight him! Let's get this started!"

He says and the sorcerer was surprised, as he examined him.

Shang Tsung: "State your name, Earthrealmer."

Johnny: "Johnny Cage! Future Oscar winner, ball-bustin badass, and...dead sexy."

He says, stretching, and Shang Tsung smirks.

Shang Tsung: "Well then, Johnny Cage, are prepared for kombat?"

Johnny: "Yes! Do you have to ask?"

He says, putting his hands into his pockets.

Shang Tsung: "Very well...FIGHT!"

Johnny: *confused* "Wait, now?"

He says but then was sparta kicked in the side by Baraka, causing him to be pushed back as he rolled into it.

Baraka: *scoffs* "Perhaps you use your mouth than actual skill."

Johnny smirks then whips out his shades, and puts them on, then stands up.

Johnny: "Buddy...I'll show you skill."

Kung Lao then ran to the side of the arena, a worried look on his face.

Kung Lao: "Johnny, this is not a game! This is-"

Johnny: "Life or death! Yeah, I know! I'm done playing games..."

He says looking at Kung Lao and puts on his brass knuckles then walks up to Baraka.

Johnny: "Cheap shot! That's all that was. And the only one you're gonna get."

Baraka laughs and looks back at the other Outworld fighters.

Baraka: "This one must be mentally ill. You will die where you stand."

He states then charges at Johnny with his blades, and swings his right blade but Johnny rolls under it and kicks him in the back of the head.

Baraka stumbles but gains footing, he turns and is hit with a right cross to the face, breaking his jaw.

He falls to the ground, and looks up to see Johnny stepping back a few feet, he stops then search his person.

Johnny: "Wait, I got something for you."

He says then raises his fist and cranks his left hand as he raises his middle finger, grinning while doing so.

Baraka, angered relocates his jaw and gets up and shot several spark blasts with blades but Johnny sidestepped the first one, flipped over the second and ducks the third blast.

He looks back at Ashrah who was watching, amused and with a smile on her face.

Baraka pounces towards Johnny, who counters with a shadow kick, hitting him in the chest, as there was multiple crack sounds.

Baraka rolled back but weakly stood up and continued to swing his blades but Johnny kept dodging, this time, it was almost as he was dancing, angering Baraka even more.

Baraka: "Stand still, you piece of meat!"

He states then thrust both his blades forward but Johnny ducks into a slipt and hits Baraka with signature move...the Nut Punch.

Baraka yells in pain, holding his groin as Johnny gets back up, a wicked smile on his.

Everyone cringed at this, feeling Baraka's pain, even Raiden and Fujin had a look of pity.

Johnny rears back his fist and throws a fake punch then hits Baraka with a 540 kick knocking him out.

Shang Tsung was shocked but hid it and nonetheless announced the winner.

Shang Tsung: "Winner: Johnny Cage of Earthrealm!"

Johnny then looks at the crowd and folds his arms.

Johnny: "See everybody? That's how you do it! Not like this guy."

He states pointing at Baraka then flips off the arena and looks at the others.

Kung Lao: "Johnny, that was...incredible."

Scorpion: "Impressive, even if you did a...dirty move."

Johnny: "Thanks! And your welcome for getting ugly out the tournament."

He says looking at Raiden and Fujin.

Raiden: "You did well, Cage. But it will get harder as it goes on."

Johnny: "Don't worry! I got this."

He says then stands next to Ashrah, smirking and starts whispering.

Johnny: *whispers* "I saw your smile...it's perfect."

Ashrah looks at Johnny, then pecks his cheek, surprising him.

Ashrah: "Congrats on your win."


(Few Rounds Later)

The tournament was passing with each round as fighters were either defeated on the arena, or dead right there on the stage.

The Kombatants were sitting on the steps to the temple, observing and talking.

Noob: "They're good...but not that good."

Sub-Zero: "Must you always put yourself above others, Bi-Han?

Noob: "I do not! I'm not egotistical."

Johnny: "Buddy, coming from me, you are the textbook definition of egotistical!"

Noob: "You would know."

Johnny: "...Good point."

Jax: "If it's any constellation, both of you are equally egoistic."

Sub-Zero: "Actually, there is one other with more ego than both..."

He states side-eyes Frost, and they looked and nodded, Frost turned and had a puzzled look.

Frost: "What?"

Them: "Nothing."

Scorpion and Smoke were sitting close to each other, observing the fight, ignoring the chat behind them.

There was silence between the two till Scorpion broke it.

Scorpion: "What happened at the fire?"

Smoke looked at him, surprised but looked back at the fight.

Smoke: "Nothing."

Scorpion: "Thomas...your eyes turned red. Almost as if you were possessed."

Smoke: "...I don't know what, but since we stepped on that boat and got on the island, it's like...something inside me has awakened."

Scorpion: "It's a demon."

Smoke: *chuckles* "That's your first thought."

Scorpion: *serious* "That's exactly what it is...when we first met, it was when you and Kuai were tracking me down...You and I fought and I sensed a darkness inside you. Primal, Uncontrollable...Powerful."

Smoke: "How do you figure?"

Scorpion: "How did you get your powers?"

Smoke: "..."

Scorpion: "Exactly my point. That thing, may be the source of your powers and key to your past."

Smoke then emitted vapors from his hands, thinking, he stopped and turned to Scorpion.

Smoke: "What kind of demon is it?"

Scorpion: "Only one possibility, based on your powers...an Enenra."

Soon as that was said, Smoke groaned as he started seeing more flashes of images, he saw a couple, standing with their son.

???: "Thomas your father is waiting for you!"

???: "Good job, son. You might be an even better hunter than me."

Few tears started falling down Smoke's face, he smiled then was snapped out of his trance at the sound of his name.

Shang Tsung: "SMOKE! Master of stealth, are you here?!"

The sorcerer called out as Smoke stood up, wiping his tears, then teleports onto the stage.

Smoke: "I am here, Shang Tsung...who do I face?"

Shang Tsung: "You face Reiko! Feared and respected warrior of the Outworld army!"

He says as Reiko steps onto the arena and cracks his knuckles, a smirk on his face.

Reiko: "Your ally may have bested Baraka. But I will not fall easily, ninja."

He states then gets into a fighting stance.

Smoke narrows his eyes then unsheathes his karambit knife gets into his fighting stance.

The two started circling each other, anticipating, and watching their movements.

Shang Tsung: "FIGHT!"

They then charged at each other, Reiko jumped in with a flying knee but Smoke vanished as he rolled into the landing.

Reiko recovered quickly then Smoke reappeared in the air and tried kicking Reiko who blocked making Smoke bounce off him.

Smoke landed gracefully then dodged a punch from Reiko and countered with a knee to the gut, knocking him back.

Smoke throws several punches that connect in a swift motion, he goes for a side kick but Reiko catched his foot and swept his left leg, knocking him down.

Reiko then lifted his elbow and slammed down onto Smoke's kneecap, breaking it.

Smoke: "Argh!"

He yelled in pain but swiftly shifted his body and threw Reiko over with his left leg.

Reiko fell on his back then recovered to see Smoke, now favoring his left leg.

Reiko smiled then charged at Smoke attempting to further injure his right leg, but Smoke shifted into vapor, causing Reiko to pass through him.

Reiko then tried attack from behind, but Smoke ducked hit him with a timed strike to his gut, causing him to spit out some blood.

Reiko stumbled back then Smoke teleported behind him, slamming his fists on the back of Reiko'a head.

Reiko threw his fist back attempting to hit Smoke, but once again he teleports, this time cutting Reiko, deeply in his chest, several times with his knife, then stabbed him in the liver.

Reiko coughed up more blood as Smoke twisted the knife and head-butted Reiko, breaking his nose, and making him lose consciousness.

Reiko fell to the ground as Smoke pulled the knife out and sheathed it.

Shang Tsung was shocked at this but nonetheless has to swallow his pride.

Shang Tsung: "Winner: Smoke!"

Smoke then bowed and teleported into a mist of vapor and reappeared on the steps with the others.

Shang Tsung looked at Reiko who was being helped by Baraka and sighed.

Shang Tsung: "That is enough for today! The tournament will continue tomorrow. Now, you may feast in the dining hall!"

He says then teleports away, causing the fighters to enter the temple.

Johnny: "Dude, that was badass! Way to go!"

He says then both him and Smoke fist bumped.

Smoke: "Likewise."

Raiden and Fujin had satisfied smiles on their faces and looked at the Kombatants.

Raiden: "Go feast in the dining hall, we will meet you all back at the camp."

Fujin: "And dont get into trouble, no matter the conflict."

They all nodded as the two gods teleported and the Kombatants started heading into the dining hall.


(Dining Hall: Night)

The Kombatants were sitting at their table, eating food, and chatting as well as making a few jokes.

Kung Lao: *chuckles* "Wait, so Kuai did what?"

Noob: *small smirk* "He thought sneaking up on our grandfather would show that he was ready to be Lin Kuei."

Frost: *gasps* "I remember! Oh, Kuai was so sure it would work."

Erron: "Did it?"

Noob: "Yes...and he was frozen in place on the training grounds for a week as punishment."

Everyone laughed, and Sub-Zero had a slightly annoyed but joking expression.

Sub-Zero: "Not how I remember it."

Smoke: "No, I was there, that's how it happened."

Scorpion chuckled and took a sip of his drink, Ashrah looked at him, almost proud, and he noticed this.

Scorpion: "Something you want to say?"

Ashrah: "Nothing...just...never seen you happy. At all."

Scorpion smiled and placed down his drink as the two faced each other.

Scorpion: "I have much to be happy about...my clan is restored. Their killer is facing justice, I still have family left. My father's weapon is my own and..."

He says trailing off and Ashrah was confused.

Ashrah: "And?"

Scorpion: "...Mileena."

Ashrah was surprised and slightly giddy at this as she nudged Scorpion.

Ashrah: "Fallen for the princesses, have you?"

Scorpion narrows his eyes but chuckles, knowing she was right.

Scorpion: "It would seem so...she makes me feel happy...as if I can let my guard down, and that everything I've been through was only a nightmare...and that everything is fine."

He admits and everyone looks at him, with a "What The Fuck?" look.

Johnny: "Did he...talk about his feelings?"

Kenshi: "I think he did."

Jax: "Did not know that was even possible."

Frost: "Of course a Shirai Ryu is so sentimental..."

Scorpion rolled his eyes as Sub-Zero laughed, only for Scorpion to give a look that says "I know you aint laughing".

Scorpion: "Enough about me...what about you and Kitana, Kuai?"

He retorts and everyone looks at Sub-Zero who sighed.

Sub-Zero: "Walked into that, didn't I?"

Scorpion: "Yeah."

Sub-Zero: "Fine...I am interested in her, I will admit, but...she's Mileena older sister, heir to the throne. Apparently being with a commoner is beneath Edenians...but for some reason I am the exception to the rule...or so she says."

He says folding his arms, as Ashrah looks back at Sub-Zero and Scorpion.

Ashrah: "So, both of you are interested in the Princesses?"

Scorpion and Sub-Zero: "Yes."

Ashrah: "And your feelings are strong for them?"

Scorpion and Sub-Zero: "Yes."

Ashrah: "And you both wish for a relationship with them?"

Scorpion and Sub-Zero: "Yes."

Ashrah: "They are over there."

She says pointing as they look to see Kitana and Mileena in their Kombat attire, talking with Shang Tsung.

Scorpion: "...Later."

Sub-Zero: "Definitely later."

Johnny: *coughs* "Pussies."

The two glared at Johnny who was drinking, and everyone continued eating.