Mortal Kombat: Vestroia Chronicles

by Leonidas1994

A New Era has begun, new heroes and new threats have appeared. New realms to explore, dangers around every corner. Will Dan Kuso and Lord Liu Kang find ho these threats are? Or will the New Era suffer endless war? Mortal Kombat has begun anew. With Bakugan in the mix. (Rated M: Extreme Violence, Intense Action, Vulgar Humor, Lemons)

4. Chosen One Part 2

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to Mortal Kombat, or Bakugan Battle Brawlers. Mortal Kombat belongs to Netherrealm Studios and Warner Bros. Bakugan Battle Brawlers belongs to TMS Entertainment, Dentsu Inc., and Nelvana Limited.

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Chapter 4: Chosen One Part 2

(Wu Shi Academy - Earthrealm)

During the seven days after being chosen as the Earthrealm Champion, Dan was looking at photos on his phone of him and his mother when he was a teen. He was happy with her as he smiled warmly at her, but he wished he could call her to tell her the big news. It was at that moment that Drago approached him and noticed the images of him winning a martial arts competition, he smiled as he looked towards his son. "You certainly made a name for yourself." He told him as Dan saw him surprised.

But he smiled and looked back at the photo. "This was literally the 7th win I had since High School. My old childhood bully, Shuji, was still fuming by the time I got my trophy." He showed an image of him being pissed off and pouty in the image.

Drago chuckled from it and sat down, his smile faded as he looked towards the academy. "19 years… and you grew up so well. Even without me being present." He said as he looked at his son. "I'm sorry I couldn't have stayed with you Daniel… but I was needed in Vestroia to fight against Naga's forces." He told him.

"You had your duties… It's understandable. Leaving me with Miyoko was a blessing. I couldn't have asked for anyone better." He replied to his father as something made him curious as he looked towards him. "What was she like… my mother…?" he asked him.

Drago thought hard as he looked out and smiled fondly at the memories he had with her. "Wavern was unlike any Vestroian I met before. When we met, it was within the space between the worlds of Vestroia… Naga was there too. I originally mistook them for Haos warriors… but they were White Ones. Vestroian's that don't belong to any attribute… that wander aimlessly through Vestroia. Naga was always the most distant, but Wavern… She and I saw each other more and more. And one day… I asked for her hand in marriage." He explained.

Dan whistled at hearing it as he chuckled. "Who knew you had it in you…?" He asked as he smirked.

"I had plenty of female warriors coming after me when I was your age, but Wavern was the only one for me. The months passed, and she showed signs of pregnancy. You were one great miracle when you came into our lives, months later. And the rest you've learned three days ago." Drago explained.

That was until Preyas popped out of nowhere and wrapped his arms around them. "But you should have seen Wavern during the labor process. WOO! She looked like she was about to murder Drago! He exclaimed.

Drago was shooting him a disapproving look, showing he was about ready to kill him. "Preyas…!" He was about to warn him.

"I mean seriously, Danny Boy, you better watch out for who your future mate will be. 'Cause you might attract women like a magnet, given how stunning you look." Preyas continued to blabber, unaware Drago was getting ready to snap. "If anything, by the time you get to Outworld, you might get your hands full, of all the handmaidens. MAYBE EVEN A HAREM!" He cried out.

Drago was about to knock his ass in the dirt, but Dan beat him to it by kicking Preyas in the head as he screamed and fell towards the large body of water below the arena and dove into it as his screaming was silenced. Drago was indeed surprised as Dan cleaned his hands. "I wonder how he got down so fast…? Hope he'll be okay." He said sarcastically as Drago looked at him surprised.

But he let out an amused chuckle as he patted his son's shoulder. "You are definitely my son." He said to him as he pulled him close. "But if you ever find a mate in life, be loyal, and in most cases grateful that she will be there by your side." He told him.

"Thanks for the advice, but what if I do end up getting a harem?" Dan asked him.

"Then be ready for anything young man, because you will get drained." Drago told him as he got up and walked away. "Just be sure it's with the right women too." He advised him as he walked to join the others.

Dan let out a sigh as he looked out. "Point taken." He muttered as he looked at the sky, wondering if his mother was somewhere out there in Earthrealm. Watching from afar, looking upon him proudly. Wishful thinking for most, but he prayed that she was out there, safe and sound.

Four days later, everyone was getting ready for their journey to Outworld, everyone was ready and waiting in their new uniforms as Liu Kang stepped forward as he waved his arms in a circular motion. This caused flames to appear before them as they spread open and formed a gateway to Outworld. "Outworld can be both alien and intoxicating to Earthrealmers. Do not become drawn in. You must focus on the task at hand." He advised them as Johnny was recording everything with his phone.

Drago noticed it as he shook his head and looked towards the portal as Liu Kang was the first to step through. Dan was nervous, but his father placed a hand on his shoulder to calm him down. "Focus your mind, and breathe." He advised him as Dan took the moment to collect his thoughts, he breathed in deeply and let out an exhale as he looked towards the portal. He walked to it with Raiden and Kung Lao as Runo and Julie followed behind with Johnny, Kenshi and Shun behind them. Johnny held his phone towards them to taunt them, but Kenshi smacked his arm away to get it out of his face. Leaving Johnny in a state of disbelief as he followed his comrades through the portal with the Vestroian warriors and the monks as they bore gifts for Outworld.

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(Outworld, Sun Do)

Within the realm of Outworld, Liu Kang and his allies stepped through the portal gate within Sun Do. Dan stepped through as he inhaled deeply and opened his eyes, exhaling as he looked at the beautiful realm around him. His friends followed out as they took in the scenery, even Johnny was still filming with his phone as he looked around. "Toto, I've a feeling that we're not in Kansas anymore." He commented.

"This place is so beautiful, it's like walking into a fantasy world." Runo complimented the architecture as she looked around.

"It does seem to have a native feel to ancient asian and indian architecture." Shun pointed out.

"Eh, I've seen better." Preyas blurted out as Skyress smacked him across the face, leaving him dumbfounded from it.

Dan shook his head but looked ahead, seeing the two beautiful women ahead of him and his group. Even Johnny took notice as the two sisters started going down the steps towards them. "Oh my. Are those…?" He asked as he looked towards Liu Kang.

"Empress Sindel's daughters, yes." He replied to him as he walked towards the sisters.

Impressed by their stunning demeanor, Johnny looked towards Dan with a smirk. "They do not disappoint." He told him.

"We are Earthrealm's ambassadors, Johnny. We'll show them respect… not unwanted attention." Dan told him.

"So get your head out of whatever fantasy you're imagining, and focus." Raiden advised him as Johnny smirked with a hidden wink as he looked towards the sisters while following Liu Kang to them, walking past a woman who wore a yellow uniform, and beautiful dark skin.

Meanwhile, Liu Kang approached with his champions along with their Vestroian guests as he held his hands together and bowed to the princesses. "Lord Liu Kang, welcome." The eldest sister greeted him.

"Thank you, Princess Mileena." Liu Kang replied to her.

"You remember my sister?" Mileena asked as she gestured towards her.

"Of course. Princess Kitana." Liu Kang greeted her as she nodded her head towards him and looked towards Daniel, who looked at her being stunned by her beauty. But he kept his composure as Liu Kang spoke. "May I introduce Johnny Cage… Kung Lao… Runo Misaki… Shun Kazami… Julie Makimoto… Kenshi Takahashi… Raiden… and Earthrealm's Champion… Daniel Kuso." He introduced him as Dan stepped forward and bowed.

Kitana smirked at him as she held her hands behind her back. "I hope you're prepared, Daniel. Our champions are determined to win." She informed him.

"None more so than me. It's been too long since we've known victory." Mileena told him.

"If I may, Your Highnesses. But it will all determine the skills of your warriors, as well as mine." Dan told them as Kitana nodded her head.

Meanwhile, the woman in yellow approached the sisters. "Princess Mileena… We should be on our way. Empress Sindel awaits." She told her.

"Thank you, Tanya." Mileena replied and looked towards Dan and his comrades. "Come with me please." She told them as she along with her sister and Tanya led them to the carriages.

Drago followed with his allies as they noticed a number of a few Vestroian's around them, which immediately made him nervous. A moment passed as they were traveling through Sun Do, a Shokan ahead of them was beating the drums and having a great time doing so. Dan sat beside his father and Liu Kang in the carriage with Mileena as he looked around Sun Do, seeing the various races standing in the crowd. "Those are Centaurians. And Shokan!" He said as he was amazed by them.

"The six-armed beings are Naknadans." Mileena informed them.

"The monks described them. But seeing them in person…?" Dan asked as he smiled.

"We even had new residents come into Outworld from Vestroia, they came here seeking shelter when things in their realm became too hostile." Mileena pointed out, seeing a few Saurus Vestroian's in the crowd as well as a few Falconeer's, Serpenoids and a few Juggernoids that were in their human forms.

"And when did they arrive, pray tell…?" Drago asked her as he looked towards her.

"About 19 years ago, they came here as refugees who sought our protection." Mileena suggested.

Drago nodded his head and looked at them. "You certainly have my gratitude for taking them in.." He told her.

"I see that her Majesty once again spares no expense on the festival." Liu Kang pointed out.

"Should she not?" Mileena asked him. "It commemorates my late father." She reminded him.

"I admire, Princess. I do not judge. As did all of Outworld, I valued greatly Jerrod's fellowship." He replied to her only to hear a whistle up ahead, Mileena heard it as well and looked around seeing constables escorting some arrested felons out of a building.

Drago grew curious about the scene as he poked his head out. "Something must've happened." He stated.

Mileena noticed someone she quickly recognized as the first constable and narrowed her eyes as she tapped on the carriage to get it to stop, the driver did so as she turned to her guests. "Wait here, I'll handle this." She told them as she stepped out and walked towards the first constable, fuming as she approached her. "First Constable!" She called her out as she turned towards her. "Our route was to be clear. This couldn't wait?" She asked her.

"Should I allow Tarkatans to infect the city, Your Highness? Those arrested were harboring some here, rather than report them for quarantine." She informed the princess of the situation.

"The Earthrealmers cannot be privy to our secrets, Li Mei." Mileena whispered to her to remind her. "As Sun Do's First Constable, you must show better judgment." She advised her but sighed, remembering her role prior to her current one. "Perhaps that's too much to expect." She said to her and walked back to the carriage, leaving Li Mei to look down in her own disappointment.

Dan noticed it as he watched the scene. "Princess Mileena doesn't seem to like her very much." He suggested as he watched Li Mei leave.

"Li Mei used to lead the Umgadi, the palace guard." Liu Kang informed him as he looked towards Dan. "It was on her watch that the Princess's father was murdered." He told him as Dan looked towards him stunned.

"Who did it…?" He asked him.

"No one knows, even I am puzzled as to who would kill my oldest friend in Outworld." Liu Kang said as he looked down, while Mileena stepped back into the carriage.

She made herself comfortable as she sighed. "I'm sorry you had to witness that." She told them.

"It's not your fault, we don't blame you or Li Mei for acting in such a manner. Also, I am truly sorry for what happened to your father, Princess." He told her as he lowered his head to her.

She smiled seeing how kind he was as she leaned over and touched his shoulder to get him to look at her. "I appreciate the kind gesture. I'm sure my father would appreciate it as well, were he here to see it." She said to him, holding onto her smile as the carriages rolled out.

He nodded his head and looked out, seeing the palace ahead of them as he mentally prepared himself for what to expect. Drago noticed it and smiled as he nudged him. "Remember what I told you son, focus, and breathe." He told him as Dan nodded in response.

Once they arrived at the palace, everyone was preparing for the tournament to begin. Mainly the Outworlders as Dan watched them prepare, he even noticed a few Vestroians among them that seemed to look like hybrids. Crossbred with two different attributes, this had him worried as Liu Kang approached him and touched his shoulder. "Worry expends energy for no purpose, Daniel." He told him.

"But the tournament. If I lose…" He panicked.

Liu Kang held a hand towards him to stop him. "Focus on your actions, not the outcome. It is all you can control." He advised him.

"Don't worry Dan, if you were able to beat me and Raiden back in Earthrealm, you can beat their chosen champions." Shun assured him.

Dan exhaled as he took the chance to calm himself and smile as he looked towards his friend. "Thanks Shun." He told him and looked towards Raiden. "Still think you don't deserve that amulet?" He asked him.

"Well that depends Daniel, are you reconsidering?" He asked as he and Dan chuckled.

Johnny was also laughing with them when he heard it, but his laughter soon stopped when he saw someone big stepped through the crowd. He was big, masculine, and had horns that would make him look like the Devil himself. "Red alert. Incoming stock villain." He pointed out as Dan looked towards him.

Liu Kang also took notice as he saw the general approaching. "General Shao." He called out his name and looked towards Dan. "Do not let him goad you." He advised him.

Dan nodded his head and watched as Shao approached him and his comrades, letting out a chuckle as he looked at the Earthrealm champion. "Is it me, or is Earthrealm's champion scrawnier than usual?" He asked.

Dan narrowed his eyes at him, knowing he was trying to intimidate him in terms of size and strength. He wasn't going to give the massive brute of a general the satisfaction as Kung Lao stepped forward to confront him. "Would you care to test his strength?! Daniel will–"

"Will prove himself soon enough." Liu Kang intervened before he could do anything foolish as he looked towards Shao.

The general smirked as he looked at the Fire God. "Have you still not told most Earthrealmers that Outworld exists?" He asked him.

"It is safer that way, General." Liu Kang replied.

"I suppose so. Your people's frail minds couldn't handle the truth." Shao stated as he stepped close to Liu Kang, sizing him up to show that he means business.

But Drago stepped between them as he let out an animalistic growl, forcing the general to step back as he glared. "You presume them frail, General? Should you… given how frequently they win this tournament?" He asked him.

Shao looked at him and narrowed his eyes as he knew exactly what he was. "I see Liu Kang is keeping the company of Vestroians. Your kind are more like monsters than people." He told him to further show his prejudice.

Drago growled angrily towards him as flames surrounded his hands. "You will find that we are more than that, General." He assured him as he backed away, dousing the flames.

But the General was not intimidated by his threat as he stood firm. "We may find out, won't we…?" He asked him as he looked towards Liu Kang with a scowl. "We will destroy your champion, Liu Kang. He will taste no victory." He assured him as he walked away from him.

Dan watched him go as he let out an exhale, trying to keep himself from doing something stupid. "I almost wanted to punch that guy." He admitted.

"You may get that chance." Shun told him.

"How could the empress have that guy in her service?" Runo asked.

"From what I heard, General Shao's family is well renowned for their military status, and that their tactics were very brutal." Tigrerra explained as she turned towards Hydranoid. "Anything we should know about Shao…?" She asked.

"Only that his father raised a sickly boy who couldn't rise to his standards, so he had his son treated, experimented on to become the warrior he is now." Hydranoid explained.

"Ouch." Johnny commented as he grimaced. "Talk about daddy issues." He said as he looked away.

It was at that moment that horns sounded off, and everyone within the throne room looked on and saw Empress Sindel, and her daughters stepping into the throne room. Dan saw them as he was stunned by all three women for how beautiful they were. Runo noticed it as she growled and elbowed him to put his eyes back in his head, while the three royals approached their thrones and sat within them as Sindel smiled upon her people and their honored guests. "Welcome, members of the royal house. Welcome, our esteemed Earthrealm and Vestroian guests. We gather once again to honor my late husband's legacy. To continue the tournament that he founded with Lord Liu Kang in hopes that it would foster peace among realms. May Jerrod's soul watch over us with pride from its resting place in the Living Forest." She fondly declared as she smiled in thought of her late husband. She soon turned her attention to Liu Kang as he approached her. "Lord Liu Kang." She greeted him.

"Empress Sindel. It pleases me to once again be your guest." He said as he bowed to her.

"Here, you are always welcome. Now." She paused while crossing her right leg over her left. "Let us meet your champion." She told him.

"Earthrealm's champion is Daniel, Your Majesty." He gestured to Dan as he approached. "Though he may appear human, he is really a Vestroian, raised on Earth. His father, Drago, is among us to support his claim as champion. He has earned his place by embodying the very best qualities of Earthrealm's people." He explained.

Sindel observed the young man as she smiled a bit. "For someone who is in fact the son of the mighty Dragonoid. You seem nervous, young man." She pointed out.

"I'm a stranger in an unfamiliar land, born from a realm that I never got to see with my own eyes. Here to compete against its greatest fighters. Yes, I am nervous." He willingly admitted.

"As you should be. You have a difficult path ahead." She told him as she saw him bow to her.

"I offered my condolences to your heir about your husband, Empress. And I wish to offer my condolences to you and your second daughter. I'm sure he must have been a great man in life, as well as a loving father and husband." He told her as his father looked at him, smiling as he nodded his head at his son for his kind heart.

"Your words are kind, Daniel. The royal family accepts them with pride." She told him as she stood from her throne, holding her arms out to the crowd. "It has begun!" She declared as the crowd gasped when Li Mei entered the room. "As tradition requires, Outworld's initial competitor will be Sun Do's First Constable… Li Mei." She declared as she watched the First Constable approach. "May she defend our realm's glory as well as she preserves our capital's order." She said as she looked at her.

Dan watched but noticed some of the guests whispering about Li Mei, which made him curious as to why. Meanwhile, Li Mei stood firm before her empress as she spoke. "Your Majesty. I will honor both the royal house, and all of Outworld, with my kombat." She declared while placing her fist over her chest as Sindel approached her and touched her shoulder.

"If so, you will vastly exceed my expectations. Remember. Were it not for Jerrod's tradition, you would not be here." She told her as she walked back to her throne, while Li Mei looked down but prepared herself for combat.

Drago approached his son and touched his shoulder. "Remember Daniel, all you need to do is your best. The rest will take care of itself." He told him.

Dan nodded his head as he exhaled. "Yes, father." He replied as Drago nodded and walked to the others.

Li Mei watched him go as she looked towards Dan with a determined look on her face. "Shall we see what you can do?" She asked him.

"Hopefully, this will be the first of many victories." Dan answered.

"I will prevail, Vestroian. This fight is more important to me than you can ever know." She assured him as she stood ready.

Dan smirked as he stood in his dragon stance, preparing for combat as Sindel smiled and could not wait to see his skills. "This will be very interesting. FIGHT!" She called out as Li Mei went for the first strike, Dan caught her attack as he pulled her back and pushed her away. She slid back from his assault and looked at him surprised as Dan rubbed his thumb across his nose, smiling confidently as he waited for her to attack. She glared at his self confidence as she charged at him as she lunged a kick towards him, he narrowly avoided her kick as he slammed the back of his hand against her and elbowed her in her side as she let out a painful grunt and swung her arm at him. He ducked from it as his tail formed from his sash and he swung it at her, she quickly cartwheeled away from it and saw his tail as it reformed into a sash.

"That's quite a unique skill, are you sure you're not a Zaterran?" She asked as she went to attack him again, he avoided her attacks as he spun around her and kicked her in the back as she stumbled forward but turned sharp to shoot a nova blast towards him. He deflected it as it exploded in the air which blinded him, catching him off guard as Li Mei threw a kick and landed it in his abdomen and flipped him over, slamming him on the ground as he let out a grunt. Dan let out a painful grunt from it as he saw Li Mei go to stomp on his head, he rolled away as her foot slammed on the floor as she went to shoot another nova blast at him. Dan quickly held his arms in front of him as they formed into large wyvern looking wings that shielded him from the blast as it exploded against his wings.

The crowd was surprised by what they witnessed, Kitana meanwhile was astonished as she witnessed him spread his wings open, revealing red, orange and gold within them. Almost like looking at wings that were set ablaze. He let out an exhale as he had his wings vanish and he rolled his arms around. "This is a lot for me to get used to." He admitted as Li Mei smirked and went to attack him, he deflected her attacks as he avoided a kick from her as he leapt into the air. Li Mei sent a lantern towards him to try and knock him out of the air, but he knocked it away as it exploded and he went to strike her. She leapt back to avoid his attack, she formed a lion out of magic and sent it to attack him. He saw it coming and caught it by its jaws and held it back, he struggled as he used his strength to rip it apart. Li Mei yelled as she suckedpunched him in the face as he spun from it and swung a backspin kick, landing it against her chest as she let out a grunt and fell to the ground.

She groaned from it and held her chest as she got back up. "For a Vestroian, you fight quite well." She complimented his skill as she stood up.

"This fight is certainly testing me, I find it wise not to underestimate you, First Constable." He replied as she smiled and lunged a kick at him, he blocked her kicks with his legs as he saw her go for a roundhouse kick at him. He sent a roundhouse as well as it locked with her leg and pushed her leg away, she let out a grunt from it as she went to strike him. He blocked her attacks while narrowly avoiding a strike to the head as he surrounded his fists with dragon fire and punched her a few times in her chest and slammed his palm to her torso and pushed her back. She slid across the throne room and stopped several feet away from Dan, panting heavily from the attack as she looked at him. He exhaled as he prepared himself for her next assault, she glared at him sternly as she gestured to him to come at her.

He knew that she was going to plan a sneak attack, so he took the chance and charged towards her. She saw him come at her which made her smirk as she flipped towards in an attempt to double kick him, anticipating this, Dan caught her first as he smacked her across the head and spun her around as he kneed her in her side and landed three kicks against her as he knocked her far away from him. She fell and rolled away as she got back up to her feet and ran towards him. She punched at him as he blocked each of her attacks, but Li Mei kicked at him as she unleashed a lion formed through her own magic when she unleashed the kick against him. It landed a powerful strike against Dan as he flew across the throne room and landed on his back. He groaned and shook his head as he looked at her surprised, she smirked as she gestured to him to get up and come at her.

He knew she wasn't going to be an easy opponent, but he glanced towards the general, seeing him hold a smug smile over his face. Dan wasn't going to give the general the satisfaction of seeing him defeated. He picked himself up off the floor and exhaled as he looked at Li Mei, determined to win this fight as he held out his fists. Li Mei was rather impressed by his determination; she could almost commend him for it. But she too was determined to win this tournament as she shot a nova blast at him again, only to see him catch it with his hand as his hand formed into a dragon's claw as the blast was contained by his dragon scales. He morphed his hand back to normal as he charged towards Li Mei and attacked her, she deflected each attack as she tried to kick him in his chest. He avoided it as he elbowed her hard and landed rapid punches across her chest as he leapt up and kicked her several times in her chest. He knocked her hard to the ground as she let out a painful cry as she held her chest from it, she wasn't ready to give up at this point.

She slowly pulled herself from the ground as she looked towards Daniel, who stood confidently in his skill in this fight. He charged towards her as he threw a right hook towards her, she quickly caught it and hit his face as she landed a punch to his chest and kicked him down. He fell down and saw her rush towards him in an attempt to take him out, he quickly pulled his legs back and pushed himself up and kicked her. One kick landed against her chest, the second kick landed hard against her face that broke her nose and she screamed while flying through the air. Dan caught her by her ankle and pulled her down and slammed her on the ground, she groaned from it as she thrust a kick, landing it to his face as he backed away. She got up and raised her leg and kicked him across his right cheek, this only caused Dan to flip forward as his dragon tail formed and smacked her across the head.

He stood firm as he landed a hit to her neck, torso, and took her arm as he bent it behind her back. She winced from it as she struggled to break free, she growled angrily as she pushed her feet onto his stomach and she flipped forward, throwing him onto the ground as she landed on him. Her heels dug into his stomach as he groaned from it but punched against the side of her knee as she screamed from it and he reached up with his legs and wrapped them around her neck. He threw her off as she screamed and fell towards the floor, Dan got up as his right fist was surrounded by his dragon flames and he landed a hard uppercut to her stomach as she let out a painful grunt as Dan set her onto the ground, knowing that she was defeated. He backed away, letting her have a chance to collect herself as he looked at her. "Thank you for the match, First Constable." He told her as Li Mei stood as she looked at him, bowed her head to him as she accepted her defeat and turned around to walk out of the throne room.

Sindel watched her leave, seeing how much she shamed herself for losing as she turned towards Dan. "My compliments, Daniel, on a well-fought match. It isn't every day we get to witness the skills of a Vestroian Warrior. We'll see how you fare in the next. General Shao." She called him and looked to where he stood. "Whom have you chosen as our next competitor?" She asked him.

"Your Majesty, I have chosen Reiko, my second-in-command." He declared as he saw him walking into the throne room. "As a boy, Reiko was orphaned during the Katallah War. Though captured, his spirit remained unbroken. He scratched, clawed, and survived." He explained as Reiko walked towards Daniel, with a look that spoke volumes of his personality. "After the war, I took him in. Molded him into the perfect soldier. Few others are well versed in the ways of war." Shao declared.

Reiko meanwhile stood before Daniel as he took the chance to try and intimidate him by throwing a few elbow shots and thrusting his knee up. He threw a few air punches at Dan and swung a roundhouse kick that barely made contact with Dan as he could smell what he had been stepping in. Once finished, Reiko stepped towards Daniel with his stern expression. "In whose army have you served? In what wars have you fought?" He asked him.

"I have done neither, because like you? I was orphaned and raised by a great teacher as well." He told him.

"Then you are either woefully prepared, or unprepared, Vestroian. This will be your last battlefield." Reiko declared as he stood ready to face him.

"We will see about that, because you know little of my kind." Daniel reminded him as he stood in his fighting stance, preparing for his next match.

"FIGHT!" Sindel called out as Dan saw Reiko threw a group of shurikens at him, he quickly rolled away to his left as Reiko managed to kick him hard in the face. Dan stumbled from it as he shook his head and looked towards Reiko as he went to punch him down, he caught the soldier's arm as he held him in place. He let out a growl towards Reiko as he threw him over and flipped him onto his belly and slammed him down on the floor. Reiko let out a grunt as he slid a kick at Dan, striking towards one of his legs as Dan raised his leg and slammed it to his face in retaliation for what happened before. He let out a grunt from it as he yelled and went to punch him, Dan evaded each of his punches as he caught his arm and smacked him against his head. He ducked under another punch and punched his stomach as he landed a swift uppercut to his jaw. Reiko backed away from it as he shook his head from it.

He glared angrily as he wiped his mouth and saw a bit of his blood from the uppercut, but he smirked as he looked towards Dan and yelled as he went to strike him. Dan waited for it to come, only to see Reiko pull out a knife and was about to strike him. Dan pulled back when he saw it while avoiding his blade strikes, Runo's eyes widened when she saw it as she was close to jumping out to help Dan, but Liu Kang put a hand on her shoulder to keep her calm. "Do not worry Runo, Daniel is anything if not resourceful in his skills." He assured her as he looked back to the fight, Reiko slashed at him with his blade in an attempt to cut him. Dan avoided each slash but felt it scratch his arm as he hissed from it and backed up, he held his arm as it bled and looked towards Reiko and saw him licking the blood off his dagger.

He glared at the sadistic warrior and used his fire to burn the wound close, Reiko smirked as he went to slash at him again. Dan deflected his attack and grabbed his wrist as he kneed him hard in his stomach and knocked his dagger out of his hand as the blade flew towards the guests as it sliced through a few of their hats and slashed a woman's dress, exposing her chest as as she screamed from it and covered herself as the dagger pierced into the wall. Johnny saw it happen as he was mesmerized by the woman's cleavage, Runo and Julie shot a glare at him and punched him hard on both sides of his cheeks to snap him out of it. Meanwhile Dan was disarming Reiko to keep him from using any of his weapons, once fully disarmed, Reiko was felt naked without his weapons. He yelled as he went to punch Dan in the face, the Vestroian warrior avoided his attacks and landed a few to his face and chest as he kneed him in the stomach.

Reiko let out a painful grunt but grabbed his leg as he wrestled him down and pinned him as he started punching him in his face, Dan took them hard as he struggled to get him off. But Reiko wasn't going to relent as he went to slam both fists against him, only to see Dan catch both his fists as flames surrounded his body. He let out an animalistic snarl as he blasted him away, Reiko yelled from it as he fell to the floor as some of the flames were still on him. He patted them to make them go out as he looked towards Dan with a surprised look on his face, he watched him get up as he was panting from the beating he was giving him. He wiped away the blood from his mouth as he growled towards Reiko, earning wide eyes from Preyas as he whistled. "Ohhh boy, that so-called second-in-command sure made a big mistake giving Dan a beating like that." He commented.

"Indeed, though our forms are indeed beastly by nature. But Vestroians are still determined warriors." Skyress commented as Dan shot dragon fire towards Reiko, he quickly deflected them as he managed to grab one of his knives that was taken off of him and threw it towards him. Dan quickly dodged it as he flipped into the air, forming his tail as he smacked Reiko against the neck a few times. The whiplashes against him caused Reiko to yell out in pain as he backed away from him, but Dan charged toward him as he avoided a right hook by sliding under it and got behind Reiko and wrapped his arms around his waist. He lifted him off the ground and slammed him against the ground as he got around him and took his arm, pulling it between his legs as he held his arm in place.

Reiko struggled as General Shao watched them struggle with one another, he sneered as he grew impatient. "Harden yourself Reiko, do not let him beat you!" He shouted as Reiko took in those words and yelled out, he pulled Dan up which made his eyes widen as he quickly let go of him and flipped back and landed on his feet. Reiko yelled as he lunged towards him and went to strike him, only to get a clean and hard uppercut against his jaw as he was launched into the air, chipping some of his teeth as Dan leapt towards him. He landed hard kicks toward him as he formed his tail and slammed it hard against his stomach, causing him to cough up blood as he fell to the ground.

Dan flapped his wings as he touched the ground, seeing Reiko groan as he struggled to get himself back up. "Stay down, spare yourself the humiliation in front of the general." He advised him as Reiko let out a growl as he pulled himself off the floor, refusing to take his advice. He was taking in the pain from the blow he took from his tail and rushed towards Dan and tackled him against his waist, Dan felt it as Reiko tried to lift him off his feet. But Dan formed his feet into dragon talons and gripped them on the throne room floor, he put Reiko in a headlock and released the talons on his right leg as he landed his knee against his abdomen three times and pulled him down, slamming his face against the floor. Dan got up as he backed away from Reiko, seeing him pulling his face off the ground as he showed his face. He was fuming to the point he was furious, Dan prepared himself for what would happen next.

Reiko yelled out as he took one of the Umgadi's spears and threw it towards him. Dan watched it come towards him as he caught it between his hands as the crowd gasped and clapped their hands at his speed, but before they knew it, Reiko charged over and grabbed the spear in an attempt to pierce his chest with it. Dan held it back as he glared at Reiko, feeling his hands bleed from the sharp edge of the spear as he groaned from it. Reiko grinned as he pushed the spearhead closer to his chest, preparing to finish him as the spear drew closer to Dan's heart. "If anyone should concede, it is you! Accept your fate!" He told him as he went to punch the spear into him.

Dan quickly moved to his right as the spear pierced into the wall behind him, he snarled as he landed fast punches against Reiko's face to disorient him. He landed blow after blow to keep the Outworld soldier dazed and landed kicks against his knees, spreading his legs to get him off balance as he landed a hard kick against Reiko's nuts. This made Reiko's eyes pop open as he screamed in agony while Dan landed his knee against his face, he fell down to the ground and groaned as Dan stood up and looked at him. "Felled by the son of Dragonoid." He said to him as he saw Runo rush up to him.

She took his hands and looked at them, seeing they were bleeding from the spear. "This looks bad." She told him as she used what she learned from Tigrerra and used light to help heal his hands.

Kitana walked over and saw it as she saw his hands healed. "Incredible, healing light magic…?" She asked her.

"Something I learned from Tigrerra, she may look like a hardened warrior, but she has a pure soul." Runo told her as she looked towards her teacher, who smiled proudly at her student for using her gifts for good.

Once she finished healing his injuries, Dan tested them and felt they were back in working order as he looked towards Sindel. General Shao meanwhile, scoffed at his victory as he stormed off as Dan approached the empress. "I must apologize for my temper, your majesty. I knew being a Vestroian must make me more beast than man." He told her.

"Actually, you have performed quite well. It is wise for one to rely on instincts to survive in the most intense situations." She told him.

"Thank you for understanding, Your Majesty. Now, who's next?" He asked her.

"Glad you asked, sugar." Said an unfamiliar voice as Dan looked towards the source, seeing a woman approach him. She had beautiful long dark hair, green eyes, her dress was a beautiful white and orange at the top. While the skirt was orange with gold trim as her boots were gold with green jewels, she wore a gold crown that almost made her look like an Indian Goddess. And by Goddess, she is drop dead gorgeous to the point even Dan was dumbfounded by her beauty.

Meanwhile, Preyas saw her as his eyes widened when he saw her. "Uhhh… Drago, is that who I think it is?" He asked him as he sensed the energies within her.

"Yes, Preyas. Rabeeder… She is one of Naga's minions." He answered him.

"I can sense Subterra energy within her." Gorem said as he looked at her.

"As well as Haos." Tigrerra added as she let out an animalistic growl.

"Whoa, hold up… you mean to tell me that she has two attribute energies?" Johnny asked her as they nodded their heads at him. "Is that even possible?" He asked them as he looked at the hybrid Vestroian.

"No, it's likely she was created through the negative energy of the Silent Core." Hydranoid theorized.

"It is also possible that the worlds of Haos and Subterra merged together, creating this hybrid." Skyress theorized.

"This is going to be a problem for Daniel, isn't it?" Raiden asked.

"Ohhh yeah, big time!" Preyas declared only to get clocked in the face by Tigrerra.

She cleaned her hands as she crossed her arms. "You really need to keep your comments to yourself." She told him.

Meanwhile Rabeeder approached Dan as she placed a hand on her hip. "So, you're the son of the legendary Dragonoid. I gotta say, it sure is an honor." She told him.

"While I am flattered, I know that you're one of the Vestroian's Naga sent to face me in the tournament." He told her.

She giggled as she held a hand to her right cheek. "Guilty as charged. Me and my sister Tricloid were chosen amongst others of our race to represent our master during the tournament. As much as he wants me to defeat you, I think I'll have my way with you instead." She told him.

Both Johnny and Kenshi were stunned by what she said as they stared at her in shock and surprise by what she said. "Okay, when she says "I'll have my way with you instead", does she mean in fighting terms, or…?" He was about to ask.

"At this point, it would be wise not to think too hard about it." Kenshi replied.

Runo and Julie meanwhile were both fuming as Julie jumped up to shout. "BACK OFF SISTER, HE'S OFF THE MARKET!" She declared.

"DON'T FALL FOR HER WITTY CHARMS DAN, JUST TAKE HER DOWN!" Runo yelled at him.

This made Sindel and her daughters giggle at the situation Dan was in as Sindel looked towards him. "It would seem that you have some competition in regards to your significant others." She pointed out as Dan let out a nervous chuckle and shrugged his shoulders at the thought of it. "That aside, prepare yourselves." She advised them as Dan and Rabeeder backed away and stood in their fighting stances, ready for kombat as Sindel sat down. "FIGHT!" She called as Dan charged towards Rabeeder in an attempt to attack her, only to discover that she summoned a pair of extra large arms and thrust one massive fist towards him. He panicked as he quickly flipped over it and avoided it as he jumped over and landed behind Rabeeder. He turned to her seeing the two massive arms as she turned towards him with a smirk.

"Surprised…? Master Naga had these especially made for me to use against you." She told him as she went to crush him with the overwhelming weight of her extra arms, he backed away from each strike she threw at him. She yelled as she swung one arm around towards him, he ducked under it as it went over him. She brought the arm she swung upwards and went to crush him, his eyes widened as he quickly rolled away as her massive fist punched into the throne room floor, breaking the tiles as the ground shook beneath everyone's feet. Dan saw what was left of the floor as he imagined that would have been him if the fist made contact with him. Rabeeder grinned as she looked towards him and used her power over earth to slide him towards her as he panicked and got grabbed by her and she pulled him close to her. "That's some fancy footwork, sugar." She said as she licked his face.

This made him intensely red as his hairs stood up, even Johnny's jaw dropped when he saw it. "Awww shit, that's not fair." He commented as Dan quickly flipped backwards and broke free of her grip as Rabeeder went to punch him, he deflected it as he landed a few good punches against her. But each time he landed a punch, it felt like he was hitting a really hard stone wall. He shook his hands and exhaled as he scowled at her, she grinned as she went to strike him again. He avoided her attack as he took her arm as he redirected her punch and sent it towards her as she panicked and got hit in the head. She yelped as she fell back and fell to the ground, she groaned from it as she shook her head and touched her forehead where she was hit.

She exhaled as she got back up and scowled, she yelled as she sent streams of light towards him. Dan ran from them and ran up the wall and propelled himself towards her as he thrusts a kick and landed it against her chest as she screamed from it as Dan landed on the ground and landed a few kicks to her sides as he threw a roundhouse kick to her face, knocking her down as she stumbled over the floor. She shook her head as she wiped her mouth and looked towards Dan, smirking deviously as she got up. "You really are something, I'm actually considering keeping you as my personal boytoy." She told him as his face turned red as she embarrassed him in front of everyone, not that she cared as she yelled and swung her arms at him.

He blocked her massive arms as he was nearly knocked off his feet, but he used his dragon scales to harden his body against the strong punches he was receiving. They were certainly holding up as he caught her next punch and thrust a kick into her abdomen as she let out a grunt as he pulled her close and elbowed her in the face and threw her over. She landed on the ground but quickly got back up and swung her arm as she managed to hit him against his chest, she even attempted to grab the Infinity Core. Dan noticed this as he quickly pulled back as he kept it safe from her and landed a few quick punches against her and kicked her away. He held the Infinity Core around his neck as he exhaled. "So this is why Naga sent you into the tournament, to steal the Infinity Core…?" He asked her.

"Lucky guess, he wants the Infinity Core so bad, who am I to deny him?" She asked as she went to attack him, he deflected her attacks as he formed his wings as he used them to pushed back with a strong flap towards her that caused a fireball to blast her away as she screamed and landed against the wall as several Umgadi priestesses avoided her crashing into them. She shook her head as a piece of stone smacked against the top of her head as she yelped from it. Her hybrid comrades chuckled at her as they watched the scene take place, she scowled at them and looked towards Dan as she yelled, summoning an arch behind her and she shot beams of light towards him. Dan formed his wings and flapped them as he went into the air, avoiding her blast as he glided away from the rays and flew towards her and tackled her down and pinned her down. "Ohhh, who knew you were so forward?" She asked with a coy smile.

"Would it kill you to stop flirting?" Dan asked her only to get knocked away by her as she charged at him and landed a few good punches against him as he let out painful grunts from each hit from her massive fists. She went for a clean uppercut against him, but he avoided it as fast as he could as he thrust a knee against her arm. She screamed from it as he swung her other arm at him, he shielded himself from her arm and moved it around him as he landed a double kick against her side and knocked her down. She flipped herself over and landed on her feet as she used her earth abilities to slide him towards her, he expected this as he willingly slid towards her and cartwheeled towards her and landed a high kick against her shoulder, causing her to yelp as he took her arms and leapt over her and pulled her arms behind her back as he thrusts his leg beg and slammed it to her back.

This caused her to scream out in pain as Dan took her and threw her over as she flipped and fell to the floor. She groaned from it as Drago nodded his head in approval of his son's skills against the hybrid, but she was far from done as she picked herself from the floor and yelled as she slammed both her fists onto the ground, causing the ground to shake as Dan and everyone in the room lost their footing. She charged towards Dan and grabbed him by his neck. "I am going to take what belongs to my master, and he will reward me!" She declared, only to feel him slam both fists against her arm as she yelped. He landed three kicks to her body as he avoided a hard right hook from her and formed his tail to wrap it around her ankle.

Her eyes widened as he snarled and swept her off her feet and punched her a few times while he held her in the air, and thrust a hard kick against her as she screamed and fell to the ground. She groaned from how painful it was as she got back up, her vision was blurred as she felt like she was seeing double for a second. Dan saw it as he narrowed his eyes and charged towards her as he flipped forward and kicked her in her chest and unleashed a fireball from his mouth as it knocked her hair against the ground. She let out a painful groan as her eyes were spinning out of control, feeling defeated as Dan stood up and lowered his fists. "Naga will never get his hands on the Infinity Core." He assured her as he looked towards Sindel. "I am ready for my next opponent, Your Majesty. Whom shall I face?" He asked her.

"Patience, young man." She told him as she stood up. "We are adjourned until first light. I hope to see you all at this evening's banquet." She told them as she smiled warmly towards Dan and her guests.

Later that evening, gentle music was playing as everyone was enjoying a bountiful feast, while an Edenian vocalist was singing in the background. At one of the tables, Kung Lao was enjoying the feast as he munched on a fruit, drank some of the fine wine, and pulled off a leg from the freshly cooked bird on the table. This earned him disapproving looks from both Kenshi, Reiko, Shao, and even Runo who scowled at him for having poor manners. "Kung Lao, must you eat like a pig in front of our hosts?" She asked him.

"What? I'm hungry." He told her as he continued eating, while she groaned in annoyance and facepalmed herself.

Dan noticed as he let out a sigh and looked toward Kitana who sat next to him. "I must apologize, Princess Kitana. Kung Lao was never really one for manners." He pointed out.

She shrugged as she took her glass. "At least you are more well mannered than he is, must have learned it from your mother back in Earthrealm." She theorized.

"You're not wrong. Miyoko, even though she is my adoptive mother. She was a wonderful person, as well as a fierce woman. You would like her." He told her.

"Given the chance to meet her, I think I might." Kitana replied with a smile, while Julie was fuming with jealousy as she scowled at the princess.

Meanwhile Shun was looking through the Umgadi Priestesses, but noticed one with stunning ginger red hair that stood amongst them. She noticed him staring at him which made her blush and look away from him. He grew curious as he looked towards Mileena. "Princess Mileena, if you don't mind me asking. But who is she…?" He gestures towards the ginger redhead.

Mileena looked towards her and smiled as she looked back at Shun. "Her name is Alice Gehabich. An Earthrealmer. She and her grandfather arrived here months ago by accident, her grandfather was experimenting with something he calls portal technology. We assumed it was a form of magic, so we took them in. Tanya trained Alice to be an Umgadi." She explained.

Shun was surprised as he looked towards her, who was keeping her gaze away from him. "A human Umgadi… who would have thought…?" He said with a small smile towards her.

She noticed it as she blushed and hid her face behind her shield, meanwhile Johnny was talking to Kitana as he was dumbfounded by a surprising fact about her. "I'm Sorry. You're ten thousand years old?" He asked her as she shrugged with a smirk as he exhaled. "Talk about aging gracefully." He told her to compliment her beauty.

Dan noticed him flirting with her as he scowled and glanced towards Raiden. "I'm starting to see the next reason his wife left him." He told him.

"Even Kung Lao can relate to him." Raiden referred to him in regards to his sister.

Dan shook his head and looked towards Liu Kang. "What do you see in him?" He asked him.

"He is a hero, Daniel… Though he may not yet know it." Liu Kang told him as he looked around, seeing those within the banquet. "Do you recognize everyone here?" He asked him as Dan looked around the banquet and looked at his mentor.

"Most, yes. From your descriptions." He told him and looked towards a mage that sat across from them. "Except for him." He pointed out.

The mage noticed them looking at him but paid no mind to it as he looked away. "That is Rain, the High Mage of Outworld." Liu Kang said as he looked at his champion. "Not his given name, but one earned to his mastery of water magic." He explained.

A scoff came out of Preyas as he devoured a whole chicken while he was in his amphibious form. "Please, I could perform water techniques in my sleep." He boasted.

"And yet you would always switch between attributes?" Skyress pointed out as she sipped her wine.

This gained Raiden's attention as he looked towards the Aquos warrior. "You can change attributes?" He asked him.

"Well, mostly between my Aquos form, Subterra, and Darkus. But each form I take makes me equally powerful to the ones I work with." Preyas explained as he chuckled. "But no matter the situation, I'm totally in control." He told them.

"Sure you are." Gorem commented as he earned a scowl from Preyas.

Drago smirked when he saw it but noticed something happening with Mileena, she was holding her stomach, almost like she was having a stomach ache. Tanya also took notice of it and rushed over to her. "Are you unwell, Princess?" She asked her.

She didn't want to admit it, but Mileena did her best to hide it as she looked at her. "I am fine, Tanya." She assured her.

"Are you certain, Your Highness?" Drago asked her as she looked at him. "I don't mean to pry, but if you are not feeling well, there is no shame in admitting it." He told her.

"I wouldn't worry about it, it's just something I ate." Mileena tried to hide it, but Drago could sense that it was something else entirely.

Dan noticed it too, he worried about her as he looked towards Liu Kang. "I know I'm to fight Mileena, but will I also face Tanya?" He asked him out of pure curiosity in regards to the Umgadi priestess.

Liu Kang looked between him and Tanya as he looked back towards the champion. "By tradition, you should not. If you were… you will be tested." He told him.

This surprised Dan as he looked at him. "Why?" He asked.

"Umgadi, like Tanya, are warrior priestesses… Selected from the first born daughters of Outworld. From infancy, they are trained to defend the royal family." Liu Kang explained.

Dan nodded his head in response as he looked towards Liu Kang. "Outworld must see much conflict, if the Empress needs such protection." He commented.

"Its past has been difficult. Though the last thousand years of Empress Sindel's reign have been a true golden age… the memories of that strife still linger." Liu Kang told him as he touched his shoulder. "Much like the war that is currently plaguing Vestroia." He pointed out as Dan looked down, knowing his so-called uncle was to blame for it.

At the moment, Sindel stood up with her glass of wine and held it out as the music and singing ceased. "My husband Jerrod believed that the future of our realms lay together. Let us move forward in open dialogue… letting no secrets tear our bonds asunder." She told them as everyone, minus Shao and Reiko, stood from their seats with their glasses in their hands.

Dan held his as he looked at the Empress. "Your Majesty. It's an honor to be here and to meet your people. I can already see there's more that joins us than divides us. You were even willing to welcome refugees from my realm, Vestroia. When they didn't want to be a part of a war that they did not ask for. And for that, I am grateful." He told her.

But his speech was given a snarling laugh from Shao as Dan looked towards him. "Our peoples could not be more different, champion." He told him.

This made Dan tense up when he heard it. "Excuse me?" He asked as he saw him standing up.

"You heard me. Vestroian's are like the common beasts that roam Outworld today, and Earthrealmers are devoid of all–"

"That's enough, General." Sindel scolded him for his outburst.

Shao took it well as looked away. "My apologies, Your Majesty. Perhaps I've enjoyed too much of this excellent wine. With your permission…" He paused as he awaited his Empress's orders.

"You may go." Sindel told him as Shao tossed a glass of wine away as it shattered against the ground, and walked away with Reiko as Kung Lao and Kenshi watched them leave. Shun scowled at him when he saw it, knowing how dangerous he was as Sindel looked towards Dan and lost her scowl. "I am truly sorry for his behavior, Daniel. I will speak with him later. But you truly were giving a heartfelt speech, it is to be commended." She told him.

"Thank you, your majesty. I will also try my best not to let his words goad me, as painful as they may be." He mentioned as he was unaware he was gripping his class too tightly to the point it was starting to break.

Sindel noticed it as she smiled and stepped out from behind her table and approached him, touching his hand gently to calm him down. "You are a noble warrior, Daniel. You were trained by a great master who fought beside my husband, and will one day grow up to be as great a master as he is." She told him as Liu Kang smiled upon hearing it.

Dan exhaled as he loosened his grip around the glass, calming his mind as he looked at her. "Again, thank you, Empress. Your words are wise as you are in fact beautiful, and that is just me speaking from the heart." He told her as both Julie and Runo were growling angrily, while Kitana could only chuckle at their jealous faces.

Sindel smiled at him as she pulled her hands away from his. "I will look forward to tomorrow's fights, I hope that you will perform admirably as you did today." She told him as she walked away from him to meet with the general, to give him a scolding he'll never forget.

A moment later, Sindel was sitting within the chamber with Shao being at the opposite end of the war table as she looked at him. "It is bad enough we may lose to the Earthrealmers." She said straight to the point as she stood up. "But then you go and drunkenly insult them and their Vestroian companions?! You needlessly stain my honor and your family's proud military tradition!" She shouted at him.

But he remained calm through the situation before him. "May I speak freely, Your Majesty?" He asked her.

She sighed knowing what he's going to say. "Again with this? If you must." She told him as she walked past him.

He turned around following her with a strong expression. "We must act on the sorcerer's prophecy. He warns that Liu Kang and his Vestroian allies will conquer Outworld." He told her.

But she paid it no heed as she kept her back turned towards him. "And his predictions are usually impeccable. But I've no proof of Liu Kang's ill intent. Nor Dragonoid or his allies. Their interventions have kept Outworld at peace for centuries." She pointed it out to him.

"He herds us into compromises, shackles our independence. If we could meet our enemies in battle… we'd–"

Sindel, not wanting to hear it, turned sharply towards him with a scowl. "You would consign us to endless war!" She declared.

"Better that than be Liu Kang's lapdog." Shao argued with her on the subject.

Sindel looked at him as she scowled and walked towards him. "If I see evidence of the prophecy's accuracy, we will act. But only then… and only at my command." She said as she approached him. "Did not your illustrious father teach you that war is the last resort… not the first?" She asked him.

Shao growled at remembering his fathers teachings, knowing they would haunt him to his grave. "He did, Your Majesty." He answered her.

"Do not forget that, General." She told him as she pulled away from him and heard a knock at the door and looked towards it. "Come." She called as she saw Kitana and Mileena walk in with Alice, while Shao growled and walked out of the chamber.

Alice noticed it as she walked alongside Kitana and Mileena as they approached Sindel. "You asked to see us?" Mileena asked her.

Sindel remained silent for a moment as she thought back on this evening's events. "I saw what happened this evening." She told Mileena as she tried to deny it.

"That was nothing. Something I ate." She assured her.

"Was it?" Sindel asked her as she looked to her heir. "I can't chance it, can I? If you fight tomorrow, the symptoms of your disease could manifest." She told her as she turned towards her second daughter. "Kitana will take your place." She declared.

This left both Kitana and Mileena stunned by her decision. "What?! T-There are already whispers she should replace me as your heir. This will make them screams!" She complained to her mother.

"Your illness is your fault. Why you left the palace that night unattended is still beyond me." Sindel told her as she turned her back to her.

"I just needed time alone, away from all this." Mileena gestured to the palace itself and looked back to her mother. "I never thought that–"

"That's your problem, Mileena. You never think." Sindel told her as it left Mileena hurt, mentally.

Kitana rushed between them to stop their argument. "M-Mother is only trying to protect you, sister. If your disease becomes known, you will be banished to the Wastes." She told her as Mileena looked at her. "For you to hold the throne, we must keep your secret." She told her as she held her hand.

Mileena looked at her but pulled her hand away from her and stormed out of the room. Sindel watched her god and lowered her gaze as she felt the burden of Mileena's secret weighing down on her. "She may think I'm being too hard on her, but it is as you said Kitana, I do so only to protect her." She said to her as she leaned against the table.

"Mother, Mileena and I heard everything outside before the General left. Earthrealm and Vestroia would never attack Outworld, would they?" She asked her.

"I don't know, Kitana. For as long as I've known Lord Liu Kang, he would never dare wage war. Neither would Drago." She replied to her daughter as she looked at her. "And Daniel has lived among the humans for the same amount of time as when the Vestroian's came to Outworld to seek refuge from Naga. Why he would seek such power is beyond my knowledge." She said as Alice approached.

"It's because of something called the Infinity Core." She informed her.

Sindel and Kitana turned towards her surprised. "I've heard Daniel mention it when he fought Rabeeder, what is it…?" Kitana asked.

"The Infinity Core is a source of positive energy. From what I've studied, it has the ability to cure diseases, replenish dry barren lands, even heal those who are ill or sick." She explained.

Sindel was indeed intrigued by her explanation, it may in fact bring her hope as she thought about Mileena's wellbeing. "Do you believe it can cure Mileena of her affliction?" She asked her.

"It is possible, but in the right hands, it must be used carefully." Alice told her.

Feeling hopeful of this, Sindel would try to ask Dan for the Infinity Core, but would he hand it over willingly? She looked towards Alice feeling determined. "Alice, I will need you to fight Dan in the tournament." She ordered her.

This immediately surprised Alice as she looked at the Empress. "But, Your Majesty. I am Umgadi. Wouldn't that mean that I would be testing Daniel? And what if Tanya finds out?" She asked her.

"What Tanya doesn't know won't kill her." Sindel assured her as she touched her shoulder. "You have been learning how to shape shift, yes?" She asked her, Alice realized that she had a point as she backed away from her and focused her magic. An aura surrounded her body as her appearance changed from a feminine figure, to a masculine build as her hair changed from ginger red to blonde and was standing up as a glass mask formed over her face. The aura disappeared as Alice revealed herself as a young male no one would recognize, Sindel nodded in approval as she smiled. "You certainly have excelled in your skills in magic, Alice." She complimented her skills.

"Please, Your Majesty. Call me Masquerade." He told her as he smiled at her.

Meanwhile at the guesthouse, Shun and the others were exhausted from the long day as Johnny let out a yawn. "Man, what a day… I have seen some exotic places and foods, but this sure beats LA by a mile." He chuckled as he noticed one of the beds was empty. "Hey, where's Dan?" He asked.

"He said he was going to the bathhouse to wash up before tomorrow. He'll need it after that fight with Rabeeder." Kenshi told him as he looked out. "Still, to see a Vestroian with two Attributes…? That is rather unique." He commented.

"But you heard what Drago said, she was a minion created by Naga. If she is here, there might be others." Kung Lao reminded them.

"All the more reason the Infinity Core must be protected." Shun mentioned as he got under the covers. "But let's not think about that right now. Let's just focus on getting some sleep, and hope Dan progresses in the tournament." He told them as he laid his head on the pillow.

"Goodnight everyone." Johnny told them as he fell asleep in his bed, letting out a long yawn as he put on his eye cover.

They were all sleeping peacefully, that was until the door opened quietly as someone snuck into the room. Shun was sleeping soundly but could sense some hungry eyes staring at him as his eyes opened and saw the door was open, only to mysteriously close which put him on edge. He was about to reach for a blade, only to feel someone land on top of him and pin him down. "Well now… what do we have here?" Asked a familiar voice, Shun immediately recognized it as Julie as he panicked.

"J-Julie what are-" Shun was about to ask but felt her finger push against his lips.

"Now, now, there's no need to be afraid anymore Danny." She said as her voice was heard by the ears of Kenshi, Kung Lao and Johnny as they secretly pretended to be asleep to hear what unfolds. "There's no running away from me this time either. I got you right where I want you." She told him as she rubbed her ass against his crotch which made him blush intensely.

"Dan?! Does she seriously think I'm Dan?! What is his deal?!" Shun thought to himself. "Wait! Wait, wait, wait! I'm not Dan, you're making a big mistake!" He assured her.

But she chuckled in amusement as she pulled down the covers over his chest. "Ohh, please Danny… you can't fool me. Your playing hard to get is over." She told him as she started licking his chest and moving up to his neck that made his skin crawl.

Johnny was listening as his jaw was gaped open, he kept quiet to avoid being on the receiving end of Julie's wrath. "Shun, you sly dog." He thought to himself.

"Jesus, I knew she had it bad for Daniel. But she's literally taking it too far this time! I gotta get her to light something before I become her future fiance!" Shun exclaimed in his thoughts as he struggled. "Wait, wait! Julie, shouldn't we set the mood first?" He asked her.

She pulled away from him as she smirked. "Setting the mood? How so?" She asked him as she rubbed her finger across his chest.

"Well, you want this moment to be romantic and super sexy, right? We can light a few candles, and make it the way you'd like it." Shun suggested as he tried to play along.

Julie thought about it for a moment as she mused at the thought. "Hmm, I don't know." She said as she reached down to his groin and rubbed it.

He panicked as he stopped her. "Whoa, hold on! Come on, you can light a few candles, and we can snuggle up in the bed and… do that?" He suggested while trying to secretly escape.

Kung Lao's eyes widened when he heard it as he glanced to his right. "You can't be serious, Shun." He thought to himself.

"Ohh…? Do what…?" Julie asked coyly.

"GODS DAMN IT, WHY?! Okay, okay! Just be sexy! Just be totally a hundred percent, not how you usually are." He thought to himself as he cleared his throat. "How about I deepthroat you, give you a tit job, and shove my dick all the way down your ass?" He asked her as he got widened eyes from Kenshi, Kung Lao and Johnny.

"He didn't." They all thought.

This immediately turned Julie on as she panted heavily and feverishly from it as she loved the thought of it. "Ohhh~! Danny… you'd really do that for me?" She asked him.

"YES! Yes, now please! Light some freaking candles or something!" Shun pleaded.

She reached over grabbing a match and a candle. "Of course Danny, anything for you~." She said as she lit the match and lit the candle. "Now let's get a good look at your-" Before she could finish her sentence, she saw the glaring eyes of Shun staring at her which made her turn pale. "Sh-Shun…?" She asked.

He glared at her as his arms were crossed. "Hello Julie." He greeted her as the others got up and laughed, she panicked when she saw they were awake and she was still naked on top of Shun. She blushed intensely in embarrassment as she inhaled deeply.

Meanwhile at the Bathhouse, Dan was relaxing in a nice hot bath as he had a towel over his forehead. It was then he heard Julie screaming from the guesthouse that made him smirk in amusement, knowing she was trying to get in his pants again. "Good thing I came here before she could try and nab me." He commented as he relaxed in the warm waters.

It was then he heard someone step into the waters, his eyes opened as he looked around and saw someone's silhouette across from him which put him on the defensive. But before he could strike, the figure turned towards him. "Could you at least show some respect for a friend?" Asked a familiar voice.

Dan's eyes widened upon hearing it as the steam moved away, showing Runo as she was covered by a towel but submerged up to her breasts. "Runo…? What are you doing up this late?" He asked her.

"Same as you… sounds like Julie tried to get into your pants again." Runo pointed out as she sat comfortably.

Dan let out a chuckle knowing she wasn't wrong. "I can only feel sorry for whoever she ended up seducing." He said as he sighed and sat down where he was earlier. "It's strange, you know… being in a new world. But also exciting." He admitted.

Runo smirked as she leaned against the wall of the bath. "Because of the Princess, I imagine?" She asked him.

He quickly gave her a disapproving look. "It's not because of Princess Kitana." He assured her as he looked out to the night sky of Outworld. "But it's culture, it's people, all of it is amazing to witness first hand. I can only wonder how Vestroia will look." He said as he smiled a bit.

Runo also smiled but it quickly faded away knowing what Vestroia is going through. "There may be a chance it won't be the same as you would imagine it." She told him.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Dan replied sarcastically as he looked towards her. "I've been curious about something." He said to her as she looked at him skeptically.

"If you're asking to get a good peak at my chest, forget it." Runo assumed.

But Dan held his hands up in defense. "No, no. I was wondering about your parents' restaurant. Does it really have the best food in Wardington?" He asked her.

She smiled as she looked out, remembering when they first started opening. "It had the best tasting meals that will make your tastebuds pop. We had everything that you can afford, and good customers. Minus some that were trying to get a good feel and I ended up putting them in their place." She reminded him.

Dan chuckled a bit as he rested his left arm on the wall of the bath. "I can imagine they would learn never to mess with you again." He commented.

Runo chuckled with him as she smiled at him. "They certainly have. But that won't stop them from trying again." She said as she laughed and Dan laughed with her, the two of them were acting like they were in their teen years as they sighed in relief. She grew more curious as she looked at him. "How does it feel… when you form into a dragon? Partially, I mean." She asked him.

Thinking about it, Dan looked at his right arm as flames surrounded it and he formed a wing and dragon claws. Runo stared at it in amazement as Dan folded the wing as it reverted back into his normal arm. "Whenever I change a part of me, I feel something dormant within me. It terrifies me. Like its inner rage, trying to claw its way out." He admitted.

Runo looked at him, seeing the worried expression on his face. She got up and approached him as she sat beside him and took his hand. Earning a surprised look from Dan as she held his hand and looked at him. "Dan… if it's about what the General said at the banquet. Don't listen to him. He doesn't control who or what you are, only you can. You control your own fate, your own destiny." She told him as she smiled at him.

He stared into her beautiful turquoise eyes, taking in her words as he smiled at her and sighed as he calmed his mind and blocked out the General's words. He nodded his head and looked at her. "Thank you, Runo." He told her as she smiled at him and sat close to him, resting her head to his shoulder which literally caught him off guard. "W-Whoa, what are you-" Before he could ask, Runo put a finger on his lips to stop him.

"Just shut up, and go with it." She told him as she pulled her hand away from him as she closed her eyes and rested her body against his. Dan's face was red from it as he stared at her, he could feel his heart beating strongly. As much as he wanted to pull away from her, he couldn't help but feel more comfortable around her as he smiled a bit and gently put his arm around her. He smiled as he closed his eyes and looked out, knowing tomorrow will determine his fate.

The next day, Dan had won several fights against Outworld's Warriors and Naga's Hybrid Warriors. Further impressing the empress as he was in the middle of a fight with an Outworld warrior named Klaus, who fought him with the Bartitsu fighting style. A gentleman fighting style that was like Mixed Martial Arts, he jabbed at Dan with a few punches as he avoided each blow sent towards him. He blocked his punches and used his legs to block his kicks and threw a roundhouse kick and slammed it against his neck. Klaus caught his leg and pulled him over as Dan used his momentum to propel himself towards him as he kneed him in the face. Klaus let out a painful grunt as he backed away as Dan spun his arms around forming a fireball and launched it against him, the blast hit Klaus as he fell down to the ground as he groaned from it and looked at Dan as he stood over him. "Do you yield?" He asked him.

Klaus was panting as he sighed but smiled a bit. "I do." He replied as Dan smiled and offered him a hand, Klaus took it and stood up with his help. "I'm amazed, you're still so young. Yet so skillful." He told him.

"Your talent is equally impressive Klaus, you must've had an impressive teacher." Dan commented.

The gentleman let out a chuckle as he looked towards his teacher. "More than you can imagine, Sirenoid was well versed in her ways of kombat. Her skills are equal to her beauty." He complimented his teachers skills as she smiled at him with a faint blush as she fixed her hair a bit.

Dan noticed and looked at Klaus with a smirk. "Then why do I get the feeling there is more to you two than meets the eye?" He asked him.

Klaus chuckled at the thought of it and patted him on the back. "We're working on it. Good luck with your next match." He told him as he walked towards Sirenoid.

Dan smiled seeing the two together as he turned towards Sindel as she was in her seat, enjoying the spectacle. "You continue to surprise, Daniel. Among others, you have defeated Kotal, Motaro, Centorrior, Druman, Tricloid, Julio, Sheeva, and Klaus. Only three fights remain. Are you ready, Vestroian?" She asked him.

"I am, Your Majesty." Dan replied to her.

"Then next you face our latest competitor… Masquerade." She announced as Dan turned and saw Masquerade approaching, unaware that it was Alice as he watched him approach. "He was late to arrive during yesterday's matches, so we had it arranged for you to fight him today." She informed him.

Dan watched him approach as he looked towards the Empress and bowed to her. "Empress Sindel, it is good to participate in this tournament. I look forward to fighting the Earthrealm Champion." He said to her as he glanced towards Dan.

"And I hope that you meet our expectations, Masquerade." She told him as Tanya was approaching with the other Umgadi Priestesses.

Masquerade noticed as he tried to avoid eye contact with her and turned towards Dan as he walked to the hanging gardens alongside him. "I've heard much about your skill Daniel, let's hope you have enough to back up your claim as Earthrealm's Champion." He told him.

"I not only represent Earthrealm, but Vestroia as well. I fight for my people as much as the people for Earthrealm. It is my mothers sincere hope that I win this tournament." He replied.

Masquerade chuckled as he pointed at Dan. "You have no chance against me. To make things interesting, why don't we raise the stakes. If you win, I'll join you and your friends to Earthrealm. If I win, I get the Infinity Core." He announced while Drago and his Vestroian Allies were stunned by this offer.

"He cannot be serious!" Skyress said in disgust.

"Dan would never surrender the core to anyone, would he?" Gorem asked.

Tigrerra turned towards Drago with a concerned expression. "Drago, what do we do?" She asked him.

"We cannot interfere with the tournament. This is Dan's decision, not ours." Drago told them as he looked towards his son. "Do it Daniel." He told him as his son looked at him surprised. "Show him who he is dealing with." He told him.

Surprised by his confidence, Dan smiled and nodded his head as he looked towards Masquerade and walked towards him. While Preyas was groaning while facepalming himself in the face. "Well, it's official. We're dead, and we're going to hell!" He complained, only to get a suckerpunch from both Tigrerra and Skyress on both sides of his face.

"GET OVER YOURSELF!" They yelled at him.

"Uhh… Okay." He replied.

Meanwhile Dan approached Masquerade and held out his hand. "I accept those terms, Masquerade." He told him as Masquerade smiled and reached out and grabbed his hand, shaking it as Dan pulled away.

"Do not think this will be easy, Daniel. I am a skilled warrior, who never lost a fight." Masquerade informed him as he stood in his fighting stance. "The Infinity Core will be mine." He declared as Dan smirked and stood in his fighting style.

(Cue Music: Underworld by VAMPS - Instrumental)

Sindel watched as they were ready for battle, giving her a reason to smile as she prepared herself. "FIGHT!" She called out as Masquerade's body was surrounded with dark magic and he dashed towards Dan and slammed his elbow against his torso, sending him flying across the garden grounds and he slammed against a wall. He let out a painful cry as he landed on the ground, Runo gasped in shock by what she witnessed as she looked at Dan. He groaned from the attack as he shook his head and saw Masquerade coming at him with incredible speed, causing him to avoid his attack as Masquerade thrust his leg at him and slammed it against the wall. It left a pretty deep hole in it as Masquerade pulled his foot out and looked towards Dan as he threw a punch at him, Masquerade quickly deflected it as he threw Dan across the garden. Dan quickly landed on one hand and flipped onto his feet as he formed two fireballs and launched them towards him, only to see Masquerade form three dark sphere's and launch them toward his fire blasts. Two of them made contact while the third shot flew towards Dan as he flipped backwards and kicked the sphere into the air as it exploded in the air.

Hydranoid was impressed by his skill over dark energy, he could help but wonder who he really is. Meanwhile Tanya was narrowing her eyes at Masquerade, trying to figure him out as he dashed towards Dan with a strong kick towards him. Dan avoided it as he caught his leg and jabbed against his knee as Masquerade let out a grunt as he leapt over and kicked him hard in the back, forcing Dan to fall over as he rolled across the ground. He turned sharp and saw Masquerade coming in for a punch, he dodged to his right and clobbered him in the face. His mask cracked a bit from the impact as Masquerade yelled and landed a punch against him in retaliation, he and Dan were exchanging blows as flames of red and purple surrounded themselves.

They soon clashed with each other as an explosion knocked each other away, they halted their fall back and looked at each other as Dan was the first to charge as he landed rapid fiery jabs against Masquerade's torso, while he blocked Dan's next punch and elbowed him and kicked him hard twice as he threw a roundhouse kick towards him. Dan quickly deflected it as he spun around and landed a hard kick against Masquerade's stomach, this caused Masquerade to cough harshly from it as he knocked Dan's leg away from him as he formed a sphere of dark magic in his hand and thrust it towards him. Dan leaned back as he shifted his shoulders to avoid the attack, he spun his left leg around and kicked it against Masquerade's knee as he was forced to kneel while Dan formed his wings through his arms and flapped them hard to push Masquerade away.

He fell onto his back and groaned from the attack as he picked himself off of the ground and dusted himself off, earning a surprised look on Dan's face as he prepared himself. "You gotta be really brave to stand back up from a fall like that." He told him.

"Believe me, I can stand anything you throw at me." Masquerade told him as he launched spheres of dark energy towards him as Dan used his wings to shield himself from the spheres as they struck him, pushing him back as he tried to hold himself up. But when the attacks ceased, Dan looked through his wings only to see Masquerade was gone. Unaware that he teleported behind Dan and blasted him straight in the back, he screamed and slammed into some pottery as it shattered upon impact. He groaned from it as he shook his head and looked towards Masquerade, who smirked confidently as he vanished before his eyes again. Dan pulled himself up and looked around for him, only to sense Masquerade appear behind him as he turned sharp and blocked a punch as Masquerade went to blast him with another dark sphere. Dan quickly threw a kick and knocked the sphere away as he spun around and kneed Masquerade in the face, shattering the glass frame on his face as his face was nearly exposed Alice's face behind it.

Noticing it, Tanya squinted to look at Masquerade's face. Alice sensed it as she was still in Masquerade's form. "Shit! I can't let Tanya know it's me!" She thought to herself as she quickly used magic to repair the mask to hide her face from Tanya, giving her further reason to be suspicious about Masquerade as Dan charged toward him and went to strike. His opponent blocked his attacks as he narrowly avoided a strong right hook from him, Masquerade soon thrust an elbow as it connected with Dan's chest. He retaliated by grabbing onto his arm and pulled him over as he kicked him against his rib cage, while his opponent grabbed him by his ankle and threw him over as Dan flew across the garden and landed against the wall.

Dan shook his head as he looked out and saw Masquerade charging toward him, he avoided his punches as they punched into the wall, leaving deep holes into it as Dan grabbed him and slammed his head against the wall and kicked him away. He quickly formed his dragon tail and snared him by his waist, shocking Masquerade as he got pulled over and grabbed him by his collar. Flames appeared behind Dan as he let out an animalistic snarl and rapidly punched against Masquerade and knocked him into the air, he soon spread his wings and flew towards him as his wings disappeared and landed a barrage of kicks against his chest and flipped forward as he landed a hard kick against him as he fell onto the ground.

Masquerade let out a painful groan as he tried to collect himself as Dan landed on the ground a few feet away from him, he looked at the masked warrior as he saw him staggered to his feet and held his injuries. His mask was cracked from the impact as he growled a bit, but he smirked as dark magic surrounded his body which made Dan cautious as an image of a hydra appeared behind him which earned Hydranoid's attention as he watched it happen. "Hm. Interesting." He muttered as a smirk formed across his face. "I think I found my first student." He commented as Masquerade unleashed a barrage of dark sphere's toward Dan, he quickly avoided each shot that came towards him.

Seeing more coming towards him, Dan needed to end this battle before it gets worse for him. He saw one sphere flying towards him which made his eyes narrow as he used his momentum to kick the sphere up as he flipped backwards and landed on his feet, knocking two more sphere's into the air as the first one he knocked into the air came down. He punched it towards Masquerade as the masked warrior quickly evaded the shot Dan made towards him, but Dan soon kicked the two remaining sphere's towards Masquerade as he managed to land both against him which made him stumble back. Seeing he was off balance, Dan inhaled deeply and unleashed a fireball from his mouth that flew towards Masquerade and blasted him to the ground as Dan smiled and stood down. "You sure surprised me, Masquerade." He told him as he lent him a hand.

(Song End)

Masquerade let out an exhale as he took Dan's hand and stood up with his help. "The same can be said about you, Dan. I shouldn't have underestimated you that way." He told him as he noticed Sindel looking down, as a sign of sadness knowing her plan did not succeed. He soon looked back towards Dan as he let out a sigh. "I guess a deal's a deal, huh?" He asked him.

"Yep, if I won, you would join me and my friends to Earthrealm." Dan reminded him.

Masquerade nodded his head, remembering it well as he looked at Dan. "Of course… but not in the form that you see before you." He told him which confused Dan as he looked at him, Masquerade reached to the mask as a magic aura surrounded his body, changing it back to a feminine figure and the hair fell down.

Much to Dan's amazement, it soon turned to shock when he discovered that it was Alice as she removed the mask. She smiled at him as Shun was surprised by this revelation, he stared at her intently as he couldn't believe his eyes. "Well, this was unexpected." He commented.

Liu Kang approached as he looked at Sindel. "Your Majesty, this is a rather bold move for you. Umgadi were not to attend the tournament." He reminded her.

"I know it is against tradition, but it was my wish that she participated. Much as it pained me not to tell Tanya." Sindel admitted.

Speaking of whom, she approached the Empress with a disapproving look. "Your Majesty, I should have been made aware of this, so that Daniel could be tested. In fact, it should have been me to fight him, not Alice." She told her.

Before Sindel could reply, Alice finally decided to put her foot down as she shot a glare towards her. "Tanya, last I checked, I'm not from Outworld. My grandfather and I came here by accident, and you only took me in because I was the only child born in my family from Earthrealm. So do not treat me like I'm one of you, because I'm not!" She yelled.

Everyone was stunned by her outburst as Preyas let out a whistle. "Man, I'd hate to be the one on the receiving end of her wrath." He commented.

"As would I, she is indeed a spirited woman." Gorem admitted.

Tanya meanwhile was fuming as she approached Alice. "I took you in because I believed you were worthy of being part of the Umgadi, to become one of our sisters." She told her.

But Alice was having none of it as she held her ground against her. "I will always appreciate your teachings Tanya, but I will never be a true Umgadi." She told her as she walked past her as she bumped her shoulder as a sign that she renounced her place as a member of the Umgadi and walked towards the Earthrealmers.

This surprised Shun as he watched her approach. "That was probably the hardest thing you've ever had to do." He told her.

She sighed from hearing it as she fixed her hair. "More than you can even imagine." She replied.

Sindel let out an exhale as she turned towards Dan. "I am truly sorry for the deception, but when I heard about the Infinity Core, I was hoping it would… help in some way." She assured him.

"I'm afraid with it sealed within this gem…" Dan gestures to the necklace around his neck as he touches it. "I'm afraid the only one who can release its power is the one who sealed it in the first place." He told her as Drago lowered his gaze.

Sindel nodded his head knowing it was worth a try as she looked back to the Earthrealm Vestroian Champion. "Nonetheless, you have further impressed me and everyone here." She said as Tanya scoffed and walked back to her sisters. "As of now, only two fights remain." She reminded him.

Dan took the moment to stretch his muscles as he cracked his neck and rubbed his left shoulder as he refocused his attention to the Empress. "I've been looking forward to this since I arrived." He admitted to her as he popped his shoulder, letting out a small grunt as he ignored how painful it was.

"So now you face my daughter… Kitana." Sindel declared as she saw Kitana approaching from the path through the gardens, this surprised Dan when he saw her approaching.

Even Shun was stunned by this revelation. "Kitana…? I thought he was going to be fighting Mileena." He said as he looked towards Alice. "Is she not competing?" He asked her.

She hesitated to bring up Mileena's condition as she looked away from him. "It's… complicated." She told him as she adjusted her hair.

Runo meanwhile was squinting her eyes as she saw Kitana approaching Dan, feeling something was off about this. "I don't like it, Mileena should have been the one to be here, not Kitana." She stated as she watched Drago step out beside Liu Kang.

"Your Majesty, this is unprecedented. My son's next opponent should be your heir." Drago reminded her.

Sindel knew this was going to come up, so she had to come up with an excuse, and fast. "Mileena is unavailable. She's away on pressing imperial business." She informed them.

"But I have not prepared Daniel to battle Kitana." Liu Kang informed her as Dan and Kitana looked at each other from behind Drago and the Fire God.

"He's already demonstrated great skill. Can he not improvise?" Sindel asked them.

Drago and Liu Kang were about to protest, but Dan stepped in front of them to interject. "Do not worry. I can do this." He assured them.

Liu Kang looked at his pupil as he saw the determination in his eyes, Drago saw it too as he nodded his head in response. "Very well." He said as he looked towards Liu Kang. "We will go with what has been arranged." He told him.

Liu Kang did not like the situation at hand, but he had no choice but to agree to what it is now. "Alright. Just be careful Daniel." He told him as he and Drago walked to rejoin the others.

"Sheesh, what's with Princess Mileena playing hooky today?" Preyas asked.

"I don't know, but something about this arrangement feels off." Julie commented.

Skyress meanwhile looked towards Alice, seeing how nervous she appeared when Shun asked her about Mileena. "Hmm. Perhaps the girl knows something that we do not." She theorized as she looked towards the match between Dan and Kitana.

Raiden looked towards Kung Lao with a curious look. "Think Daniel can win this?" He asked him.

"Your guess is as good as mine. Alice sure gave him a rough fight, especially with the power she had." He replied.

"Relax you guys, Dan can handle the little princess. Just watch." Johnny told them as he looked towards the match.

The princess stood ready as she looked at Dan with confidence in her eyes. "I will be no easier than my sister, Vestroian." She assured him.

"I suffer under no such delusion. Your Highness." Dan returned the reassurance.

Kitana smirked behind her mask as she held her steel fans. "I will win this fight. For her, my Empress, and all of Outworld." She told him as she unfolded one of her fans and stood in her fighting stance, while Daniel stood in his own.

"FIGHT!" Sindel called out as Kitana leapt into the air and threw her fans at him, Dan quickly deflected them only to see Kitana get behind him and forced herself back as she slammed her posterior against his back, sending Dan flying as he cried out and fell to the ground. He slammed his palms against the ground and pushed himself up as he saw a punch from Kitana coming at him, he blocked her attack as he deflected each strike she threw at him. She soon threw a kick at him to knock him down, he moved to his right as he caught her leg and flipped her over. She quickly used her momentum to land on her feet and summon her fans to her, she unfolded both of them and stood ready. Seeing she was armed to the teeth, Dan needed to arm himself as he focused his abilities and formed a pair of twin broadswords.

Kitana was mildly impressed by it as she spun her fans and charged at him and swung them at him, Dan blocked her attacks with his swords as he swung them with smooth slashes and struck at her as she blocked each strike he threw at her. Both their weapons clashed together as they held each other in place. "I will admit, I was not expecting you to have swords." She told him as she pushed him off and lunged a kick at him.

Dan used both his swords to block her kick as he managed to push her off with sheer force, he lunged towards her as he slashed at her with his swords. She quickly evaded his attacks as she used her fans to push herself away from him, Dan twirled his blades as flames surrounded them. "Your fans aren't just for show as I thought they were." He complimented her weapons, while he was getting some disapproving looks from Runo and Julie as Kitana charged towards him to strike him. Dan quickly formed both blades into one as he blocked her attacks, deflecting each of her attacks as he threw a roundhouse kick towards her. She ducked from it as she went to slice at his leg, Dan quickly lifted his leg up as he flipped himself over as he formed his tail and swung it as he smacked her feet.

This made Kitana scream as she flipped over and landed on the ground, she groaned from it as Dan smirked and waited for her to get back up. She pushed herself up as she lunged a kick towards him, Dan tried to deflect it only to see her push herself backwards in mid air and slam against him as he flew back and slid across the ground from it. He groaned from it as he shook his head, he looked at her as she smirked behind her mask and fanned herself. "Still think you'd fare better against my sister?" She asked him as she threw her fans at him.

He rolled back as the fans pierced into the ground before him, he unleashed two fireballs toward her. She quickly summoned her fans back to her and formed both into a shield to block both shots, but by the time she pulled them apart, Dan was lunging towards her as he landed a hard kick to her abdomen and kneed her in the chest as he grabbed her by her shoulders and leaped over her. He landed on his feet and pulled hard as he threw her over and tossed her away, she screamed from it as she landed against a wall and collapsed to the ground. She groaned from it and looked at him, seeing his aura forming around him as he stood read for the next attack. "Though I expect your sister to be just as fierce, you certainly are showing what I was expecting." He told her.

Seeing his determined smile, Kitana smiled as well, finding that he is certainly more skilled than she anticipated. She pulled herself off the ground and dusted herself off as she looked at him, unfolding her fans as she stood ready. "You're more confident than everyone would have thought. But this isn't done yet. Face me!" She yelled as she ran towards him and used her fans to cause a torrent of wind to rise underneath Dan as it caught him off guard and launched him in the air, he panicked as he saw Kitana appear above him and land a kick against his abdomen. Sending him down to the ground as she landed before he could, she raised her leg backwards as she kicked him against his spine, sending him over her as he yelled painfully and fell to the ground.

She leapt into the air as she raised both her steel fans while descending towards him as she yelled in an attempt to stab him, Dan only surprised her as he summoned his Pyrus Broadswords and blocked her fans. But it didn't stop her from knocking his blades away as she slashed at him, he regained his composure to block her attacks as he backed away from her. He saw one of her fans flying towards him as he took one of his swords and stuck it between the blades of her fan, he threw the fan out of her hand as Kitana went to strike him with the only one she had left. Dan quickly used his elbow the fan away and grabbed her arm, throwing her over as he slammed her against the ground.

She rolled over the ground but got up as Dan put his blades away and charged towards her, Kitana saw it as she avoided her attacks and blocked his attacks as she struck at him with her fists. He blocked her attacks and deflected her strikes as he caught her next attack as he pushed her back as he avoided a roundhouse kick from her and he threw a kick at her, Kitana quickly blocked it with her shin as she used her leg to wrap around his as she bent it and forced him to kneel. He winced from it as he used his other leg to kick her from behind as she let out a grunt and roll onto the ground.

What she did not anticipate however was Dan spreadinging his dragon wings to fly over and unleash a fireball towards her, she quickly avoided it only to see Dan appear behind her through a fiery teleportation, courtesy of Scorpion as he used all his power to knock her away as she crashed against the ground, landing against a flower pot as it wobbled a bit and she groaned in pain from it. "Do not get up." Dan warned her as she looked up and saw him hold a fireball close to her. "I don't like beating a worthy opponent while they're down, but know this. You are by far the most fearsome and determined warrior I've ever met. You fight well, Princess. I respect those who have a true fighting spirit." He told her.

Seeing him douse his flames, Kitana looked at him as she slowly stood up and looked at him. "As do you, Vestroian. Surprisingly so. Though you are born of that realm, you sure fight honorably like an Earthrealmer. You have my respect." She told him.

Dan nodded his head as he smiled. "I hope we meet again. Under different circumstances." He told her as Kitana smiled behind her mask.

Suddenly a chill went up Dan's spine as he felt glaring eyes burning in the back of his head as he slowly turned around and saw Runo and Julie glaring at him. "Daniel… you weren't getting all flirty with the Princess, now were you?" Runo asked him.

"Because if you were…" Julie started cracking her knuckles towards him. "You're going to have a big problem." She warned him.

Sindel saw it as she smirked and looked towards Dan. "You certainly are popular with the ladies, aren't you Daniel?" She asked him as Dan let out a nervous chuckle, knowing she wasn't wrong. "Though, if you were to take up a potential mate, my daughter here would certainly be to your liking." She told him.

Much to Kitana's dismay as she shot her mother with a disapproving look. "Mother!" She complained with a really red face.

Dan quickly held up his hands to stop the two from arguing. "As appealing as that seems, Your Majesty. I'm afraid Kitana and I have only just met yesterday, and we hadn't had enough time to get to know each other properly. In Earthrealm, it is customary for two individuals to know each other before deciding to become an item." He explained.

But Sindel merely chuckled as she crossed her legs. "And yet you two seemed to have gotten along quite well at the banquet last night." She pointed out as the Outworld warriors could only chuckle as they saw how embarrassed he was along with Kitana. "But… I can see you have a point. Besides, you are rather 10,000 years too young for her." She said as Dan let out a sigh, but he noticed Kitana staring at him as she was still blushing. She quickly turned away to hide it as she walked to her throne beside her mother. "It's time for the final match. It's a testament to your abilities that you've made it thus far. But now you must face General Shao." She informed the young Vestroian as she saw the general approaching with his helmet on, and a double bladed axe in his hand, much to Dan's dismay because of what happened during the banquet. "Victor of the Tevarian War. Conqueror of the Kuatan Plains. Defender of the Navala Coast. As has his family for generations, General Shao defends us with zeal and tenacity. All of Outworld is grateful for his service." Sindel declared with a smile.

But Dan was far from impressed as he looked at the general. "That's a notable list of accomplishments, General." He said to him as he prepared his dual broadswords. "But that compliment is far from enough to earn your respect?" He asked as he stood in his fighting stance.

"Indeed, it is a mere fraction of them. A full recitation would take days. But for you? You wouldn't last a day in my army." He told him as he stood firm in his fighting stance while holding his axe.

But Dan was far from intimidated from his demeanor, while Raiden looked towards Liu Kang with a worried expression. "Just how strong is the General?" He asked him.

"His family come from a long line of hardened warriors. But as Hydranoid first explained, General Shao wasn't always as you see before you. He was weak, sickly. But his father molded him into the powerful warrior he is today." Liu Kang explained as he looked towards Sindel and nodded.

(Cue Music: The Hammer of Thor - God of War Ragnarok)

She nodded back and looked at the two fighters, to watch the last fight. "FIGHT!" She called out as Shao roared out and charged at Dan with his axe raised, while Dan combined his two broadswords into one as it became a large blade and he blocked his attack, feeling just how strong his attacks were when he tried to defend himself from his attacks.

Shao meanwhile was relentless in his attacks as he swung his axe at him, trying to knock him off balance as he swung his axe in an uppercut motion and knocked Dan into the air. He let out a grunt as Shao lunged towards him and grabbed him as they were high in the air, shocking Runo as she feared for Dan's life. "I've been waiting for this since the banquet. You're not from Outworld, so let me educate you. In this realm, my family has a tradition called blood payments. Which means, I get a piece of you for every defeat you caused Outworld. You'll pick it up!" He yelled as Dan glared and started punching him in the face and kicked him away as both him and Shao landed back on the ground. "That was for Reiko. Now show me the true strength you are hiding!" He yelled.

Dan sneered as he took on his fighting stance and charged at him, Shao snarled as he swung his axe at him. Dan moved to his left as Shao's axe landed against the ground while Dan quickly kneed him in the face and kicked him hard in the chest, forcing him to back up as Shao retaliated by swinging his axe at him while Dan ducked from it and grabbed the axe while punching the General in his abdomen and elbowed him in the left cheek. But this hardly deterred the General as he chuckled and caught another attack from Dan and held him in place. "How you are the son of Drago is beyond me!" He told the young Vestroian as he lifted him off the ground and slammed him against the ground and threw him away.

Dan crashed against the ground and saw Shao leap up and go to crush him with his axe, he quickly rolled away from the attack as he saw Shao go for another swing with it. He quickly avoided it as he cartwheeled and landed a kick against Shao's face. "Leave my father out of this!" He yelled as he landed a few punches against his body and uppercutted him in the jaw, forcing Shao to stumble back from it as he shook his head and smirked.

"Touched a nerve did I? It's no wonder he's abandoned you." Shao commented as Drago narrowed his eyes while Dan charged at him and landed a few fiery kicks against the General and knocked him over onto his back and went to slam his tail against him while he was down. But Shao avoided it by rolling away and threw his axe at him. Dan saw it coming as he dodged it and caught it by the handle as it instantly pulled him off the ground and brought him down to the ground. "You insult me by holding back like this! Why Liu Kang chose a weakling like you is pitiful! You spit on my family's Military reputation! " He yelled as he ran towards him.

Dan saw it as Shao went to stomp him, but the Vestroian warrior held up his arms and stopped his foot from reaching him as he held him back. Struggling to stay strong as he groaned from the immense weight he was feeling, he eventually shot a glare at Shao for everything he said. "You know nothing about my past!" He snarled with a sneer.

"You sure about that, welp?" Shao asked him as he summoned his axe to him through magic.

"You don't want to know what I am capable of!" Dan told him as he summoned his broadsword and kicked Shao off and rolled back, getting on his feet as he glared at the General.

"Then show me why!" He yelled as he charged at him and went to strike him down with his axe, Dan quickly parried his attack and slashed his blade at Shao's side, leaving a good clean cut in his flesh. Shao groaned from it as the audience was stunned to see the General bleeding for the first time in his life. But he paid no heed to them as Shao looked towards Dan with a glare as he growled at him. "Now we got us a fight! Come on!" Shao yelled as he slammed his axe on the ground, causing magic to flow through cracks in the ground towards Dan. He quickly avoided it as his eyes glowed and he unleashed a stream of fire from his mouth towards Shao, the General shielded himself from it as he stood firm as the flames ceased. He smirked as he looked towards Dan, eyes glowing red as he swung his axe around. "That's all? You were finally showing me something. Let me see the monster inside!" He yelled as he charged at him, throwing a punch as Dan blocked his attack only to receive a hard kick from the General as he got caught by his neck. "You should be better than this, boy!" He said as he threw him in the air and lunged towards him, Dan saw him coming as he formed his wings and formed a fiery tornado around him. But Shao managed to cut through the flames and grab him. "That's for Motaro!" He yelled as he struck him down, seeing Dan plummet to the ground as he descended and landed near the crater.

Runo and Shun grew worried as they saw the General walking towards Dan, but they saw their friend get back up as he was holding a piece of stone as he sensed Shao approaching from behind. His eyes snapped open glowing as he yelled and swung the stone at him, smacking him away as Shao used his axe to stop himself from flying out of the garden. He looked at Dan who was slowly but surely becoming more and more like a beast. "If you're not fighting dirty, Shao. You're not fighting at all." He told him as he folded his wings and stood ready, Shao grinned behind his helmet and yelled as he charged towards him. Dan charged as well as their clash caused a shockwave to push throughout the entire palace as everyone around felt it as some lost their hats, their clothes getting torn, while Sindel was shielded by Kitana from the shockwave.

She looked at the battle between the two fighters as they were in a power struggle against one another as she grew worried of the situation. "Mother, we should call this off. Shao is trying to make Daniel angry by unleashing his true power. It will not only destroy him, but the palace as well." She warned her mother.

"We both know how this ends Kitana, one of them must beat the other in order to end the fight. Even if it may cause some severe damage to the palace." Sindel told her as she looked at the battle between the two powerful beings.

Dan struggled with the General as the earth around them started to crack. "You made a mistake insulting my people this way!" He told the General as he managed to push him back.

"Good! You will certainly prove my point in this fight on what your people really are!" Shao told him as he pushed Dan off and kicked him, he rushed over and grabbed him by his arm. "Was it luck? Did my forces fall to you to blind luck?!" He asked as he threw him over and tossed his axe toward him, Dan deflected it as he charged towards him. Shao immediately summoned his axe to him and blocked Dan's next strike. "Pathetic fool!" He yelled as he pushed him down. "You think you can come here, beat our champions, make friends and allies here? That isn't how it works. You and your kind are destroyers, like me!" He declared as he punched Dan in the face, knocking him down. Seeing he was down, Drago grew worried that Shao may have in fact made a huge mistake in overpowering his son. Shao meanwhile stomped on his chest making the young warrior grunt in pain from it. "I say when we're done, boy! I'm not letting this fight end till I see the real you! Now get up!" He told him as Dan let out an animalistic growl, grabbing him by his foot as he pushed him back. He raised his legs as he lunged them towards him and kicked his chest, knocking him away as Shao slid across the ground and looked at the Vestroian. "Stop holding back! There is no way my forces fell to this. Show me what you are!" He yelled as he swung his axe, while Dan used his Pyrus Broadsword to block his attacks. "You afraid to get your hands dirty?" He asked as he struck the ground, causing the ground to shake violently as Dan lost his footing.

But he was far from out of the fight as he leapt into the air and unleashed a barrage of fiery kicks against the General and flipped forward as he landed the back of his heel against his skull. Knocking him down as Shao let out a painful grunt, Dan landed on the ground and glared as flames spewed from his mouth. "This is the fearsome General who defended, conquered, and became victorious for Outworld?" He asked as he grabbed him by his neck and raised him up, punching him in the face, only to feel Shao wrap his arms around him and he leapt into the air with him as Dan struggled. He struck at Shao's face to get him to let go as they descended, Shao caught the next punch and threw him down.

Dan felt it as he used his momentum to flip himself around and land on his feet as he grabbed his sword while Shao held up his axe. "This is for Kotal!" He yelled as he threw his axe, while Dan threw his sword and clashed it with his weapon, causing both weapons to float in mid air as both their powerful energies rebelled against one another.

"You put him last, even to dishonor yourself!" Dan told him.

"What did you say?!" Shao asked him.

"Kotal was more honorable than you ever will be, he fought with nobility and strength. While you resort to prejudice and violence!" Dan declared.

"Oh. We have a MODEST WARRIOR here!" Shao yelled as both he and Dan summoned their weapons back to each other. They charged and swung their weapons as they clashed and caused an explosion of energy that caused Liu Kang to panic as he rushed out and formed a fiery barrier while Tigrerra used her magic to help enhance the barrier and protect the people. Sindel saw it as she looked to the battle between the two warriors as they were panting heavily from exhaustion. "I will not be bested by a Mongrel Vestroian who believes himself a warrior! I want to see the true monster inside!" Shao declared as he charged towards Dan and swung his axe.

Dan avoided it as he slashed at Shao's back with his broadsword, leaving a good cut as Shao let out a painful cry. "You started this, I WILL END IT!" He declared as he clashed his blade with Shao's axe, deflecting and blocking each of his attacks as the two were on par with one another. But what Dan didn't realize was that Shao's plan was working, his body was slowly being engulfed by flames as he was close to unleashing his true form.

Shao blocked his attacks as he went for a strike to Dan's neck, only to see him duck from it as Dan kicked him in the back of his leg, forcing Shao to kneel as the General yelled and knocked Dan off his feet and went to chop his limbs off. Dan rolled away as Shao continued to strike at him, missing each strike he threw at the young warrior. "This is the Champion of Earthrealm and Vestroia who bested Reiko?! The one who faced down Sheeva the Shokan Queen?!" He asked as he and Dan threw a punch at each other, hitting each other in the face simultaneously as Shao grabbed a hold of him and threw him towards a wall. He rammed him deep into the wall with his shoulder only to get punched a few times by Dan as he grabbed the young warrior's head and threw him away. Dan rolled across the ground as he grabbed his sword and threw it towards Shao as it pierced his shoulder, causing him to grunt and rip the blade out and throw it away. "Clever, but clever won't beat me. Where is the love of the fight?!" He demanded to know as he unleashed an earthquake with his axe, making Dan leap to avoid it as he shot a fireball at Shao. The General shielded himself from it and roared out as he charged towards him, leaping towards him as he kneed him hard in the chest and threw him. Dan crashed against the ground as he groaned in pain from it, leaving his friends to worry for his life while Shao walked towards him. "Let the monster out, let me see it!" He demanded as he went to strike him.

Dan gritted his teeth as he unleashed a swift uppercut against Shao and hit him with a roundhouse kick. "You will get nothing from me!" He yelled as he landed several good punches against the General and swung his tail, smacking him away as Shao slid across the ground. But this did not phase him as he got back up and swung his axe at the young warrior, Dan protected himself with his sword as Shao continued to strike against it in the same area.

He yelled as he landed one last strike against the blade, breaking it in half as he grabbed Dan by his neck and held him up. Dan was choking on his life as he struggled, feeling Shao's tight grip around his neck. "I see why Kotal fell to you. Even this… lesser version of you." He gestured to his feeble body as he tightened his grip. "But I am not that Oshtek fool! Ane your whore mother? I look forward to making her my slave!" He told Dan, which literally put the final nail in his coffin as Dan's eyes snapped open. Glowing fiery red as he unleashed a beastly roar and slammed his forehead against Shao's face, stunning him as Dan punched him hard in the face. This sent Shao flying across the garden and slamming against the wall, letting out a painful cry as he fell to the ground and looked towards Dan.

His body was engulfed in a massive fire as his appearance changed to a complete dragon figure, spreading his wings as the flames dissipated. Showing a dragon with massive wings, armor across his thighs while white armor plates were over an orange underbelly. The necklace he had was now merged into his chest as he donned a large golden horn on his head. Johnny was stunned as he looked at Dan's form as he unleashed a powerful roar to the sky. "Whoa… he really is Drago's kid. He could be a… a…" He tried to figure out a name till it suddenly popped into his mind. "Neo Dragonoid." He uttered.

"It fits." Kenshi commented.

Shao meanwhile grinned as he saw Dan's true form and stood up with a chuckle. "There it is…" He chuckled as he pulled out a tooth that was punched out of his mouth. "There's your true form. Consider your blood debt paid, monster. Now you will die." He declared as he yelled and charged at him, going for a killing strike.

But his attack was halted when Dan caught the axe by its handle, stunning the General as his wings folded and he unleashed another punch against his face, forcing him to let go of his axe as he tossed it away. "You have shown no honor in battle. You will not threaten either my mother, or my adoptive mother, ever again. Now… you shall feel a Dragon's Wrath!" He yelled as he landed strong powerful punches against the General and kicked him hard in his chest, he roared out as he bit down on his shoulder and thrashed him around and threw him down. Shao let out a painful groan as he staggered to get to his feet, his vision was blurry as he looked towards Dan's position. The Neo Dragonoid formed human filled his mouth with flames as he inhaled and unleashed a powerful stream of fire towards him, Shao tried to move out of the way, but he was too weak from what he went through. The flames soon connected with Shao as he screamed and fell to the ground, weak from the attack Dan unleashed upon him. The Neo Dragonoid snarled as he reverted back to his human form, panting heavily from the experience as he exhaled. "It's over. I have done it!" He said as his knees buckled and he collapsed from what he went through.

"Dan!" Runo ran over with the others to check on him as she kneeled to him. "Are you alright?" She asked, only to get shoved by Julie.

"Danny, please tell me you're okay!" Julie pleaded only to feel Runo grab her by her hair and pull her away, making her yelp from it as Runo held her by her hair with a stern glare.

"He just went through a rough fight, he doesn't need you getting all lovey dovey!" She yelled.

"Oh like you're one to talk, hypocrite!" Julie argued.

"Enough! All of you!" Liu Kang yelled as he kneeled to Dan and used his blue flames over his body to heal him. "That was quite the unexpected display, Daniel." He told him as he focused on healing him.

"I… I didn't mean to do that. Shao, he…" He paused for a moment, remembering what he did.

"He was out of line with what he put you through." Sindel assured him as she approached him with Kitana. "Congratulations, Daniel. Earthrealm wins. You certainly earned my respect, as well as my friendship. Will you be well enough to return home?" She asked him.

"I think so… but my body still needs to adjust with the transformation it went through. I also wish to apologize for my actions." Dan told her as he lowered his head.

"Dude, Shao put you through Hell with that stunt he pulled. You had every right to give him a taste of his own medicine." Johnny told him.

"Despite all he's said before now, he has a point." Shun admitted as he looked at his friend. "So don't be sorry for what you did, just be better at controlling it next time." He advised him as Skyress smiled in agreement.

"Your friends speak wisely." Kitana told him as she touched his shoulder. "Will you need time to rest before you leave for Earthrealm?" She asked him.

"I appreciate the concern, Your Highness. But I think I'll be alright." Dan assured her.

Raiden meanwhile looked towards Shao and walked over to him and lent him a hand. "May I assist you?" He asked him.

But Shao smacked his hand away in disgust. "Stay away, Earthrealmer." He told him as he got up and stormed off.

Raiden saw it as Kung Lao approached him and patted his shoulder. "Hey, can't win friends all the time." He told him.

Liu Kang smiled as he finished healing Dan and looked at him. "Well done. You have exceeded my greatest expectations." He told him.

Dan stood up and bowed to him. "Thank you, Lord Liu Kang." He said as he raised his head.

"Because of you, the Outworlders who would disturb the peace will once again be held at bay." Liu Kang told him as he touched his shoulder. "Come. Let us bid our hosts farewell and return to Earthrealm." He told him as Dan nodded his and looked to his allies who bowed to him, he smiled and bowed to them in return.

"All right, yeah!" Johnny cheered.

"You did it!" Kenshi congratulated him.

"That was fantastic, Daniel. You really showed those Outworlders how it's done.

"Very impressive." Shun commented as Julie grabbed Dan's arm.

"You certainly deserve a great reward for this, Danny." She told him as she attempted to kiss him on the lips.

But Runo grabbed her and pulled her off of him. "Julie, knock it off!" She yelled as she walked off with her and the others as Dan chuckled and shook his head, following his friends as Kitana watched him go.

Sindel watched him leave and looked at Kitana, noticing how she stared at him as a smirk formed over her face. "It would seem you have found someone worthwhile." She told her as Kitana quickly turned away hiding her red face.

"Mother, it's not like that." She assured her as she crossed her arms.

But Sindel was no fool as she touched her shoulder. "I once said the same about your father when I was your age. And he blessed me with two wonderful daughters." She told her as Kitana looked at her. "I just wish Mileena could be more like you with Jerrod's wisdom." She said to her.

Kitana let out a sigh as she touched her mothers hand to her shoulder. "She is, she just needs time to see it." She told her as she looked towards Dan. "As for Daniel… There is so much about him I would like to know, just… under better circumstances. As he suggested." She said as she smiled, Sindel smiled with her as she walked with her to bid the Earthrealmers farewell.

---

(Earthrealm, Wu Shi Academy)

After returning home to celebrate, Dan walked to his room to rest after the events in Outworld. He yawned as he stretched his arms out, knowing he was beat from a long day. But before he could rest, he found a note on his bed that surprised him. He grew curious as he looked around and looked back towards the note. He reached for it and picked it up as he opened it to read what it said. "Meet me at the cabin outside the academy, it is abandoned, but well reserved. Come alone." It read as Dan let out a sigh as he crumbled it.

"I swear, if Julie is trying to get in my pants again, I am not having it. It's time I put my foot down, and get it through her thick skull." He declared as he walked away while burning the note in his hand. He walked out of his room and formed his wings and flew out towards the abandoned cabin outside the academy, as he flew over the forest outside, he looked around to see where Julie was and saw the cabin clear as day. He needed to be ready for anything should she try anything, he glided down to the cabin and pulled up as he landed on his feet, making his wings vanish as he looked around and walked towards the cabin and opened the front door. He looked around as he kept his guard up. "Alright Julie… if this is another one of your attempts to get me to sleep with you, this needs to stop." He told her as he looked around for her, sensing she was nearby.

As he made it to a large room inside the cabin, he found it was empty as he walked towards the center of the room. He looked around carefully as he drew closer to the middle of the floor, and before he could react, someone jumped him from above and tackled him down to the floor. Dan used his upper body strength to overpower his attack as he went to strike, but the results were not what he expected as the attack redirected his attack to the floor. The minute Dan hits the floor, he punches through the hard wood as his attacker grabs him and pulls him back. She landed a few good kicks and slammed her palm across his chest as she leapt over and threw a good kick against him, pushing him back as Dan fell down and attempted to get back up, only to get pinned by his attacker as he looked up to her. Smiling in the darkness of the room, she formed an orb of light and revealed herself to be Runo. "I finally beat you, like I promised." She told him.

"Runo?!" Dan exclaimed as he pushed her off. "I thought you were Julie." He told her.

"Please, she would have no effort taking you down, given her strength. But I wanted to catch you off guard." Runo told him as she chuckled.

But Dan was not amused as he crossed his arms. "I would hardly call that a fair fight, given how you just snuck up on me like a common assassin." He told her, but a smile formed across his face as he sighed and lowered his arms. "But that was a good form." He told her as he rubbed where he was hit.

Runo smiled at him, only for the smile to fade as she rubbed her arm. "Actually… that wasn't the only reason I called you here." She told him.

Dan looked at her curiously as he watched her go behind a clothing blind to change out of her outfit. Dan looked away to be respectful. "What is it then…?" He asked her.

"I noticed how lovey dovey you've been with the Princess. But tell me. Were you just being kind to her? Or were you intentionally trying to flirt with her?" She asked him as she was changing out of her clothes.

Dan thought about it for a moment and let out a sigh as he sat down. "I will admit… I… I did find her rather attractive. But, I didn't want to compromise her position as a royal. How do you think that would have turned out for me and her if we actually got engaged?" He asked her.

Runo thought about it for a moment as she shrugged her shoulders. "I guess you have a point there. I guess I may have overreacted, at least you know well to avoid Julie's advances." She commented as she dressed up in something else.

Dan was growing more curious by the second as he glanced behind him. "Where are you going with this…?" He asked her, he soon heard footsteps behind him as he turned around and saw Runo. His face immediately turned red as he saw her in lingerie, to the point his heart skipped a couple beats. "R-Runo? What are you…?" He tried to ask.

She was blushing by what she wore, but she did not care as she looked towards Dan. "Dan… ever since we were brought together to represent Earthrealm against Outworld. I felt… that you and I had gotten closer since then. Even when we first realized that we met each other as children, there was a connection. An unbreakable bond." She told him as she approached him, kneeling down to him as she reached up to his chest as she touched where his pectoral muscles were and looked up to him. "I know that you felt it as well… so please don't deny it." She pleaded.

Dan looked at her as he reached up to her hands and gently grasped them. "Runo, I've always felt it, I never wanted to deny it. But… after seeing me for what I am, are you sure this is what you want?" He asked her.

She smiled at him as she grasped his hands. "Dan, you're you. And I don't know anybody who is more human than you are. All I want is for you to remember who you are, and who you will always be when you're in that form." She told him as she leaned up to him and kissed him on the lips.

He was surprised by it as he wanted to pull away, but the feeling of her lips against his was warm and soothing. His eyes lowered as he was captivated by the kiss, they soon closed as he accepted the kiss and held Runo close to him. The two eventually released the kiss as they looked at each other, realizing that they just shared their first kiss with each other. "That was… wow…" He told her.

Runo let out a giggle as she fixed her hair. "You did burn that note I left for you, right?" She asked him as he nodded his head at her to confirm her question as she smirked. "Good… then Julie won't be interrupting us any time soon." She told him as she straddled him and held his cheeks as she kissed him again.

He embraced it as he caressed her pearly white skin, but something dawned on him as he pulled away from the kiss and looked at her. "Hold on, are we really going that far?" He asked her.

She smirked as she flicked him in his forehead. "Don't worry. I took birth control to make sure you didn't get me pregnant. I'm not ready to bear a child yet." She assured him as she leaned in and kissed his lips and started kissing along his cheek and started kissing his neck.

Dan felt it as hsi skin began to crawl from how good it felt, he eventually let out a sigh as he smiled at her. "I'm feeling better already." He said to her as he heard Runo giggle and push him down onto a nearby futon and the two embraced each other in a warm passionate kiss.

(Lemon/Sex Warning: If you are not 18 years or older for Lemons, please skip past it till Lemons end.)

As the two made out with each other, Dan could feel his heart beating harder as he kissed the bluette. The kiss slowly became more passionate as he felt Runo's tongue gently pushing against his as their tongues danced in each other's mouths. Feeling how wondrous it was, Dan could barely hold himself back as his hands reached behind Runo and he caressed her skin all the way down to her ass as one of his hands stroked Runo's leg. He soon rolled over and got on top of her as she giggled from it as Dan smiled at her and looked down at her chest, Runo noticed as she smiled at him as she reached to his hand and took it. She placed it over her left boob that made her yelp a bit, true she wasn't as developed as Julie, but size doesn't always matter as Dan felt how soft it was in his hand. "Go ahead Dan, you can touch them as much as you like. AHH!" She cried as she felt Dan caressing both of her breasts, gently rubbing them together as he played with them.

He could hear her moaning from his touch as he continued to play with them, she was slowly enjoying it as he grabbed her dress and pulled it down from her chest to have them exposed. She gasped from it as he leaned down and started licking between them as Runo held her head back as she let out a soft gasp from feeling his tongue against her skin, she moaned softly from it as Dan continued to lick her while he watched how much she was enjoying it. "She's actually enjoying this. Probably shouldn't stop, or else she'll kill me." He thought to himself as he looked at her tits and leaned over and put his mouth around her left nipple.

She gasped loudly as she felt him sucking on her tit, she blushed heavily as she felt him sucking on her nipples which made her wrap her arms around his neck as she panted heavily from it. "Ahh, ahhh, oh god, Dan. That feels… amazing…! Keep sucking them!" She begged him to keep going as Dan smirked and switched from her left nipple to her right and started sucking on it. It made her moan erotically as she held him close while her hips bucked upwards and her legs wrapped around his waist. She was enjoying it as reached to his sash and untied it from his waist and tossed it away as she got him to release his mouth from her tit, and opened his coat. She saw his well toned body as she panted heavily from how well developed his body was. She pulled herself up to him as she kissed him with a heated passion which he gladly accepted. "Mmm, mmm, mmm, aaahhh~!" She moaned as her tongue swirled in his mouth while small tears filled her eyes.

Dan noticed it as he made out with her as he released the kiss and reached up to her face and cleaned the tears and smiled at her. He knew that this will be her first time with him, and he wanted to help her make it memorable for her as he removed his coat for her along with his gloves and arm wraps. Runo looked at his body as she reached up, touching his well toned abs and looked at him, smiling as she started removing her lingerie dress exposing her pearly slender body. Dan smiled at seeing it as he leaned down and kissed her as she wrapped her arms around him, forcing him back under her as she was on top. She released the kiss as she started kissing down his body, from his pectoral muscles, to his abs all the way down to his crotch area as her hand touched his crown jewels which made his eyes widen as he looked at her. "Whoa, whoa, you're-" Before he could protest, Runo went into a 69 position as she removed her panties, exposing her vagina as he got mesmerized by it.

"Don't fight it Dan. Just go along with it." She told him as she pushed his pants down, seeing his 19 inch cock as it was exposed for her to see. She reached to it and grasped it as she gently stroked it, causing Dan the moan from it as he felt how gentle she was doing so. He knew she could be rough at times, but for her to be gentle like this was definitely turning him on as his member twitched in her hand. She giggled from it as she turned around to look at him. "Sensitive, are you?" She asked him.

Dan was panting as he looked at her. "It's… my first time, I'm sure you can understand." He told her as she smirked and started tightening her hand around his cock and stroked it harder, causing him to moan from it as he grasped her thighs from how rough she was being this time. "Shit, Runo! If you do that, I'm going to cum!" He warned her.

"Ohh no you don't." She said to him as she buried his face in her pussy, hearing his voice muffled as she moaned from feeling him against her pussy. "You… are not allowed to cum, until I tell you to." She told him as she moved her hips along his face. "Now, make that mouth of yours useful, and give my pussy a good licking." She told him as Dan knew she was serious about it as he stuck his tongue out and pushed it into Runo's pussy, causing her to gasp from it as she whimpered a bit. She knew she would also be sensitive to the sensation, but to her… it felt like nirvana as she let out a blissful moan. "Ohhh yeahhh~, just like that Dan… don't stop!" She begged as she moved her hips up and down against his face, trying to get him to lick deeper as she stroked his cock.

He could feel her giving him a handjob as he licked her moist crevice, hearing her erotic moans as he licked her love juices from her pussy. "Holy shit, she is not holding back. I better make her cum before I do." He thought to himself as he took two of his fingers and pushed them into her vagina, causing her to gasp from it as she moaned heavily from it.

"AHH, AHHH, AHHH, OOOH, YES! That's it Dan, that feels so good! KEEP GOING!" She cried out as she leaned down to his cock and kissed to top of it, she soon started licking it as she let out a blissful moan. She soon put her mouth around his dick as she started giving him a blowjob, making him moan from it as he tried to hold it in while she bobbed her head up and down on his cock. "MMM, MMMM, MMM, AHHHH~!" She moaned as she started licking his shaft to intensify the pleasure.

Dan was in trouble, he could feel his dick was about to burst. "Shit! This is bad, at this rate, she'll beat me to the climax!" He thought to himself as he determinedly started thrusting his fingers in and out of her pussy, moving them roughly as he made Runo moan and pant heavily from it.

"AHHH, AHHH, AHHH, OOOHHHH FFFFFUUUUCK! Dan, your fingers feel amazing inside me… I think I… I…!" She tried to hold it in.

"I don't plan to cum until you do, so say it. Say you want it." He told her as he fingered her roughly.

Trying to hold it, Runo couldn't take it anymore as she whimpered blissfully from his rough fingering. "YES, DO IT DAN! MAKE ME CUM," She screamed as she put his cock back into her mouth as she resumed the blowjob. "MMM, MMM, MMM, UUGH!" She gagged over his cock, but did not care as she sucked on his hardened member while he licked her clitoris.

He could feel his climax drawing near as he felt her mouth around his cock, he moaned as he pulled off of her clitoris. "I hope you're ready Runo, because here it comes!" He warned her.

She continued to blowjob him as she took his cock deep in her throat, hoping to finish first. But with him fingering her roughly, it was clear who the victor was going to be here as she pulled off her his cock and put it between her E-Cup breasts. Rubbing them on both sides of his cock which made him feel the urge to climax. "YES DAN, COME ON! CUM WITH ME!" She cried out as she felt her pussy release her love juices. "AAAAAHHHHHH!" She screamed as Dan's thick semen shot out from his cock, covering her face and tits as she gasped from it.

Dan was panting heavily from the amazing experience as he was covered in Runo's love juices. "Wow… that was… an amazing experience." He said as Runo looked at the semen over her face and chest.

She reached up to it to the drops that were on her face as she wiped it off with her fingers and licked it, she grinned from the flavor as she looked at him. "It's bitter… but sweet at the same time." She commented as she untied her panties and tossed them aside and crawled down to where her pussy was above his cock. She looked towards him with a seductive grin, knowing he will enjoy this as much as she will. "Get ready to become a real man Daniel, because I'm giving you…" She paused as she rubbed her pussy against the tip of his hard member. "M-My… virginity." She told him as she started pushing down, whimpering from how big it was as it stretched the insides of her pussy. She started bleeding from it as she pushed down further along his lengthy girth.

Dan quickly noticed it as she pushed further. "Wait, Runo you're bleeding, slow down before-" He tried to stop her, but Runo pushed his cock all the way in as she let out a scream from it as Dan felt his member reach her womb.

She whimpered a bit as she still bled a little, but she smiled as tears ran down her face. "I knew it would hurt, but to this extent?" She asked herself.

Dan was panting from what she put herself through when she inserted his dick inside her, he looked towards her and sat up as he wrapped his arms around her. "I told you to wait." He reminded her.

"I know… but I couldn't wait." She told him as she touched his arms. "I wanted you inside me. For so long I've wanted this moment between us." She told him as Dan smiled and moved his hands and touched her breasts, making her gasp as she grinned. Knowing that he wanted this just as much as she did, she felt him groping her breasts as she began to move her hips up and down against his thick girth. She moaned heavily as she felt his hands grip her breasts as she moved her hips against his, her ass bouncing against him as she was in reverse cowgirl position. "AHHH, AHHH, AHHH, NGH, OOHHHH FUCK! Dan, you dick feels so good inside me!" She exclaimed as she moaned in pure bliss, only to gasp as Dan pushed her down into doggy style. He kept his hands around her breasts as he started thrusting his cock inside her. "AHHHH, AHH, AHH, AHH, OHHH GOD! YES DAN, JUST LIKE THAT! FUCK ME LIKE A BITCH IN HEAT!" She cried out as she felt him thrusting in and out of her pussy.

He couldn't say no to that even if tried, he could feel her pussy tightening around his cock as he rammed into her moist cavern, ravaging her insides as he listened to her sweet blissful moans. He moaned a bit himself as he kept thrusting into her pussy, he soon reached between her legs with his right hand and pressed his fingers against her clitoris, making her gasp from it as he rubbed it while fucking her. He smirked as he saw her moan with her tongue hanging out. "You like that, don't you?" He asked her.

"YES! YES, I LOVE IT! KEEP RUBBING MY CLIT WHILE YOU FUCK ME!" She cried out as Dan happily obliged and rammed his cock deep inside her to the point it pierced through her womb. "AAAAHHHH! OH GOD, DAN… KEEP GOING, FUCK ME HARDER!" She begged as he thrusts inside her to keep her satisfied, he rubbed her clitoris to make it even better as she moaned blissfully from it. "AHH, AHHH, AHHHH, NNNNGH! OHHH FUCK, YEEES! I can feel you getting bigger. You're about to cum, aren't you?" She asked him.

"NNNGH! I can't deny it, you just feel so good." Dan told her as Runo grinned and stopped him from thrust which surprised him as he looked at her. "Runo…?" He called her as he saw her pull off and lay down on her back as she spread her legs open for him.

She smiled at him as she used her fingers to spread her pussy open. "Then do it facing me, I want you to see my face when I have an orgasm." She told him which literally turned him on as he approached her and pushed his dick inside her in one go, which made her squeal from it as she held him by his arms. She could feel him thrusting inside her as she moaned erotically from it, she gripped the sheets behind her as she enjoyed every moment of him inside her. "YES, THAT'S IT DAN! YOUR COCK IS MAKING MY MIND GO BLANK! I CAN'T THINK STRAIGHT!" She cried out as she wrapped her legs around his waist.

He felt it as he kept ramming his cock inside her, feeling how much she was enjoying it. "Runo, if this keeps up, then you will get pregnant! Are you sure you took a pill?" He asked her.

"AHHH, AHHHH, YES~! I know I did, I'm not ready to bear a child. But when I am, you will let me bear your child, not Julie. Got it?!" She asked him with a serious tone as she saw him nod his head, knowing she was serious. "Good, now fuck me!" She cried out as Dan rammed his dick really hard into her as she squealed and moaned from the intense fucking he was giving her, she kept her legs around him as she put her hands around his neck as the two stared in each others eyes as they were lost in their own lust. "OOOHHH FUCK! THAT'S IT, KEEP GOING DOWN! I CAN FEEL YOU GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER! YOU'RE ABOUT TO CUM! AHHHH, AHHH, AHHHH, NNNGH! JUST A LITTLE LONGER, PLEASE!" She pleaded for she didn't want the moment to end yet,

He moaned from it as he leaned down and passionately kissed her as their tongues swirled in each other's mouths, Dan kept thrusting his hips roughly against Runo's pussy as he felt himself getting ready to climax any moment. He let go of the kiss as he could feel his dick was about to burst as he tried to hold it in, but with each thrust, he couldn't hold it in any longer. "Ahhh shit, Runo! I can't hold it any longer! I'm about to cum!" He cried out.

"Then do it, cum! GIVE ME YOUR WARM FUCKING CUM! She cried out as Dan thrust his dick harder into her pussy a bit more to keep her satisfied, and also to tease her as she moaned from it. "PLEASE DAN, DON'T TEASE ME LIKE THAT! I CAN'T TAKE IT MUCH MORE! I'M ABOUT TO CUM MYSELF! LETS CUM TOGETHER LIKE WE DID BEFORE!" She told him as she sat up and moved her hips against his large girth, feeling it was about to climax as well as her pussy. Dan held her by her ass as he thrust up and down into her pussy as she held him close, her pearly white breasts pressing against his chest as she felt him ramming it inside her. "CUM DAN, LETS CUM TOGETHER! GIVE ME YOUR CUM! AAAAHHHHH~!" She cried out as she and Dan both climaxed together, she leaned back as she screamed in delight from the sensation of his semen shooting into her pussy while her love juices squirted all over him and the futon they were on.

(Lemons End)

Both warriors were exhausted from their love making as Dan was panting heavily from it, he and Runo fell onto the futon to rest as both were panting from it. Runo let out a chuckle as she exhaled, looking at the ceiling for the Cabin. "Wow… that was… was…" She paused as she felt her body twitching feverishly.

"Amazing…?" Dan asked her as he smiled at her.

"Totally…" She replied as she put her arm over his chest and she snuggled up to him. "Can't wait for next time." She told him as she closed her eyes. Dan smiled at her as he wrapped his arm around her and he took the blanket and covered themselves up to keep warm.

He closed his eyes and kissed her forehead, to show how much he cared. "Me too… I love you Runo." He told her as he closed his eyes.

She smiled upon hearing it, snuggling up closer to him as her leg rubbed against him. "I love you too Dan." She told him as the two fell asleep with each other.

(Fire Temple)

Within the Fire Temple, Liu Kang was meditating with Drago and the other Vestroian warriors. But Preyas, being the nark he was, decided to call it quits as he sighed. "This meditation stuff is so boring. Hey Drago, how can you even stand this?" He asked him.

"It takes time and patience. Which is something you will never have, Preyas." Drago replied.

"Drago… I have a funny feeling that Dan did something rather rash." Skyress informed him as she sensed Dan and Runo were having their moment together.

"He's a grown man Skyress, he's old enough to make his own choices. As long as it was outside the Academy grounds." Drago commented as he and Liu Kang sensed something appearing behind Preyas and looked to see glowing sand behind him.

"If you ask me, he is lucky. Guy has so many ladies falling for him, I'm surprised he doesn't even have a harem yet." He commented as a figure formed behind him.

"Nice to see that things haven't changed with you, Preyas." Said a deep voice as Preyas gasped and slowly looked up, seeing a tall black man with glowing turquoise eyes, a golden shoulder guard, a crest in his chest, and wearing a red and white shaolin type uniform.

Liu Kang smiled as he recognized him. "Geras, my old friend. It's been eons. It's good to see you." He told him.

"Likewise, Lord Liu Kang." Geras greeted him and looked to Drago. "Drago, it is good to see you and your allies doing well since we pulled your realm out of the void." He told him.

Gorem lowered his head. "Even if it was released from the void, Kronika's influence still lingers." He pointed out.

"Yes, I have watched you all with the hourglass. The struggles you went through. While you are relishing his role as Earthrealms protector." He pointed out to Liu Kang as he walked to him.

The Fire God stood up and looked at him. "It suits me far better than being Keeper of Time ever did. I never wanted to replace Kronika. Being a history's architect drove her mad. I had no wish to share her fate." He explained as Geras approached him. "Which is why I am forever grateful that you volunteered to safeguard the Hourglass. And for showing me realms that were sealed within the void by Kronika." He added.

"Vestoria was sealed there because Kronika feared our power more than she did you and Raiden. And who am I to forget that Geras was part of that plot?" Hydranoid reminded Geras of his prior role when Kronika still lives.

Much to his dismay, he could not deny it. "Despite all that, and my having relinquished its power, the New Era has unfolded as it should." Liu Kang informed the Sand Golem.

Meanwhile Geras approached the jade jaguar that was created by the Great Kung Lao, lifting it as he examined it. "You created me in your own image. Duty is my highest calling." He informed the Fire God and the Vestroian warriors.

"While we are glad you are here, you are not one for social calls." Drago told him which earned Liu Kang's attention, growing curious from the Dragonoid's observation.

"Yeah, that is unlike you." Preyas pointed out as he leaned on Liu's shoulder. "Is it Drago's wife Wavern?" He asked him.

"Or is there trouble with the Hourglass?" Liu Kang asked him as he pushed Preyas off.

Geras set the jade jaguar down and turned to them. "With something it has shown me." He told them.

"What, Geras?" Liu Kang asked him.

"When you restarted history, allowing Vestroia to be part of the New Era, you altered the destinies of certain malefactors to neutralize them. At least one of them is defying that destiny: Shang Taung." Geras informed him and the Vestroian warriors.

Much to Liu Kang's anger when he heard his name. "Go on." He ordered.

"He alpha escaped his meaningless life and is on his way to becoming a powerful sorcerer. He has already infiltrated Sindel's court." Geras informed them.

"Shang Tsung? As in the treacherous sorcerer whom you battled for the Hourglass in the previous timeline?" Drago asked him.

Liu Kang nodded his head and looked towards Geras. "I saw no sign of him during the tournament. But if that snake is in Sindel's ear-"

"Your vision of peace may already be compromised." Geras told him, knowing there is no doubt of that fact.

"I appreciate this warning, Geras. We will investigate. Please return to the Hourglass and see what else you can learn." Liu Kang ordered as he touched his shoulder, earning a nod from Geras as he was about to leave.

But the Sand Golem turned to Drago to inform him of something, "As for your wife, Drago. She is safe in Earthrealm. In fact, she is with me, watching the Hourglass. Per her request, so that no one else, not even Liu Kang or Naga would know." He informed him.

Drago was in fact surprised, but if keeping silent of her location was the only way to be safe, he couldn't risk compromising her position in the process. He nodded and looked towards Geras. "Thank you, Geras. Tell her when you see her… that her son has grown into a great man." He told him as Geras smiled and nodded his head, vanishing from the room as Drago looked out, tears filling his eyes as he smiled a bit, knowing that his wife was safe. But the realms won't be if Shang Tsung was causing trouble, what is his agenda? No one, not even Liu Kang knew, for this will be a new journey for all of them.

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(Author Notes: Hey guys, I know, been a while. But this chapter was well worth working on given I am hooked to Mortal Kombat 1 right now. I'm enjoying it as much as everyone else who got the game. Anyways, here is the latest chapter, and it looks good so far, and you guys might get a kick out of it when you read one part of it. Hope you enjoy it, and yes, there will be certain Lemons in the story, and Dan might, emphasis on "MIGHT" get a harem. Not spoiling it, now to answer someone's question that I couldn't reply to.)

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Carlom2408

Q: By any chance will there be ships in this story, Shun x Skyres and Alice x Hydranoid?

Don't ask me why, I couldn't answer, but lately I've been getting passionate about these two ships and I wish there were more of them around the internet.

You know, I'm just now wondering if the presence of the Bakugan characters will change anything in the original story.

A: I am actually pairing Shun with Alice, because I like them both together. As for the other characters, I will include others like Jenny and Jewls, Chan Lee, etc. It will be tough though.