In the decade since I first wrote and then later rewrote Sister, Sister, Oh So Fair, I have grown substantially as a writer. Because of that, I considered returning to this story a few years ago, but I never went through with it. With the imminent release of the second Mortal Kombat video game reboot, I decided to return to this story and finally finish it for the people who have continued to read it through the years.

As always, constructive criticism is appreciated.

I do not own nor do I claim to own NetherRealm Studios, Mortal Kombat, or the characters created by the former.


In the center of the Imperial Hall, Kitana, dressed in a flowing gown made of blue silk with black embroidery, unraveled a scroll, which is held open for her by two attendants.

"The Tournament of Mortal Kombat has concluded," Kitana read. "A victor has risen in the form of Earthrealm warrior Liu Kang. The loser of the Final Battle, Shao Kahn of Outworld, was executed. His death has left the Throne of Outworld vacant. On this day, we lower the dead Emperor into his Tomb and exalt the living Empress onto her Throne. Her Imperial Highness, Mileena, Princess Royal, the heiress of Shao Kahn, will now be anointed and crowned the legitimate Empress of Outworld."

The audience—composed of the nobility, their attendants, and the Outworld Guard—applauds as trumpets sound, marking the entrance of Mileena in the Royal Carriage. She is dressed in a flowing gown made of violet and black silk, embroidered with jewels, and a long blue cape is draped over her shoulders. She is led out of the Carriage by her attendants, and she joined Kitana in the center of the Imperial Hall.

The sisters stood side–by–side as Kitana continued reading from the scroll.

"We will now entrust the body and soul of Shao Kahn to the Netherrealm."

The sisters bow as the coffin of their father is carried into the Imperial Crypt. It is ceremonially lowered into the Imperial Tomb, next to their mother. They stand up straight as the Imperial Tomb is closed, the effigies of their parents placed atop their coffins. After their father is officially buried, Mileena and Kitana walk in unison to the Throne of Skulls, which Shao Kahn constructed shortly after his coronation as Emperor.

Closing the scroll and handing it to her attendants, Kitana picked up the Kahnum Crown, which was seated on the Throne of Skulls, and she stood behind Mileena, who knelt in front of her.

"All hail Mileena Kahn," Kitana proclaimed.

In acclamation, the crowd responded in unison, "All hail Mileena Kahn!"

As she knelt before her subjects, Mileena was crowned Empress of Outworld by Kitana, ascending the Imperial Throne and succeeding their deceased father. She slowly rose to her feet, and in full regalia, she sat on the Throne of Skulls.

"All hail Mileena Kahn," Kitana repeated.

"All hail Mileena Kahn!"

The audience erupted into shouts of joy and exultation, while the bells atop the Royal Palace tolled the newly crowned Empress. After her Coronation, Mileena was led by her entourage, including Kitana as Princess Royal, to the Royal Palace from the Imperial Hall. Wearing the Skull Crown, Mileena stood before her subjects as they did her homage. Her scepter and orb were taken by her attendants, and Kitana herself removed the Skull Crown, which would be placed among the Royal Jewels, as Mileena withdrew into the Palace by herself. Walking briskly down the corridors, Mileena allowed her blue cape to slip off of her shoulders onto the marble floor, and she went directly to her bedchamber. Kitana followed close behind, but she decided to give her sister a moment to herself.

As the day journeyed into night, Mileena remained in her bedchamber, having changed from her violet gown into a white nightdress. She sat at her windowsill, looking intently at the Imperial Hall, in which her father was laid to rest and she was crowned his successor. She was not sure if she had fully felt the weight of the day, or if there was more to come, but she already felt different. Not bad, but not good, either. Somewhere in between.

From her window, she looked over the Royal City, with its people, nobles and beggars alike, who accepted her as their sovereign. Would she do the same if she were in their place? She did not think so. She also did not think she could ever measure up to her father. He was firm and iron–willed, calculated, cunning, and intelligent. She was driven by her emotions, impulsive and weak. Her aggression was simply a way to deflect from her emotional immaturity. Growing up without their mother, Mileena and Kitana grew to depend on each other for love and comfort. Nevertheless, Mileena never felt truly loved by anyone, let alone by her own father. Shao Kahn did not treat either of his daughters with any sort of genuine affection, and it affected both of them deeply, albeit in different ways. Love was a foreign concept to Mileena, who did not know how to give nor receive it. To her, love was just a word, not a feeling.

Despite their father's lack of affection, Kitana was naturally amiable and kind; Mileena, on the other hand, was more blunt and forthright. Growing up, Mileena felt as if she were some sort of unfeeling monster compared to her sensitive sister. A monstrosity. Walking to her mirror, Mileena looks at herself, touching her receding lips and sharpening teeth. Her dark brown eyes are growing more orange in color. She was aware of her Tarkata illness, having been diagnosed by one of her father's Royal Physicians. However, she refused to seek treatment for the disease, lest her shame become known to her subjects, or, even worse, Kitana. Putting a simple white mask onto her face, Mileena dons a black cloak, and she slips out of her window into the night.

Walking through the greenery on the grounds of the Royal Palace, Mileena made her way to the Royal Greenhouse. A cool breeze blows through her dark, long and loose hair, and she feels the wet grass under her feet. As she entered the Greenhouse, Mileena took a deep breath in, smelling the fragrance of the flowers and other plants. She looked around, and she spotted the hydrangeas. Her favorite flower. Feeling its soft petals, Mileena recalled a vivid memory from her childhood.

Mileena and Kitana were working with the Royal Gardeners, having escaped the watch of their stern governess. The sisters helped plant blue and purple hydrangeas with the Gardeners, in honor of the Royal Colors, as well as the sisters themselves. After they planted the flowers, the Gardeners gave both of the sisters a small stem from the hydrangeas they planted. The peacefulness of this moment was shattered by their governess, Lady Isolda, who finally found the girls in the Greenhouse.

"Do you know how long I've been looking for you?" Lady Isolda scolded. "I had no idea where you were. Do neither of you know protocol? You are the Princesses of Outworld, not some pauper's daughters."

Before Lady Isolda could continue, Mileena interrupted her, "What did we do?"

"You're in breach of protocol," Lady Isolda answered.

"We weren't doing anything wrong," Mileena said. "We were just having fun."

"Be that as it may," Lady Isolda said. "I had no choice but to inform your father."

An infuriated Shao Kahn suddenly appeared behind Lady Isolda. She stepped aside, and he forcibly grabbed the twins by their hands, leading them to an attendant with a small whip. While Kitana was quickly whipped into tearful contrition, Mileena had to be beaten until she bled before she apologized. She did not mean her apology, but she said it simply to placate her father. As she held back tears and ignored the pain in her backside, Shao Kahn scolded her, "Those people are beneath you, Mileena. Would you rather be a poor and filthy gardener than Princess of Outworld? I have clearly wasted time preparing you to be Empress. You are nothing but a disappointment."

Her eyes welling up with tears, Mileena plucked the petals off of a blue hydrangea. In the present moment, she was conflicted. Although part of her still felt like that headstrong, yet innocent girl, there was now a part of her that agreed with her father. They are beneath me. I am the Empress. Not a gardener. Shaking her head, Mileena realizes that her line of thinking has changed considerably. Who am I? She wondered. But more importantly. . . .

What am I becoming?

Returning to the Royal Palace through her window, Mileena placed her cloak back into her wardrobe, and she walked down the corridor to Kitana's bedchamber. She smiled as she remembered how much fun the sisters had planting those flowers all of those years ago. Without a word, Mileena placed a hand picked bouquet of purple hydrangeas in front of Kitana's door.