King Gorbak had served Shao Kahn since the early days of his reign. In fact, he had been one of the former general's unwitting collaborators in his plot to overthrow Onaga. It was he that provided the poison that weakened the Dragon King enough for his mightiest underling to finish him. The poison was extracted from a race of insectoid creatures known as Shak'laan, which were found only within the Kuatan region of Outworld. The Shokan had long since developed an immunity to the toxin, and in fact often used it to enhance the potency of their wine. To any other race, however, the toxin was highly lethal. Even the mighty Onaga was susceptible to it, given large enough quantities.

Gorbak, then a prince of the Shokan, had been awestruck at his fellow officer's scheme, pledging loyalty to him immediately to secure a strong foundation for the future of his people. This loyalty had been well-rewarded, especially when his youngest son, Prince Goro, was sought out by Shang Tsung to compete in the Mortal Kombat tournament against Earthrealm.

Upon Goro's defeat of the Great Kung Lao and anointment as the Champion of Mortal Kombat, the emperor had gifted a magic dagger to the now King Gorbak. But this was no ordinary enchanted blade. The dagger was the Tecpatl of K'etz Kuhtli, the last king of the Osh-Tekk; from the time his people were conquered by Shao Kahn, Prince Gorbak by his side. This dagger was used by the last K'etz of that era to perform Osh-Tekk blood magic rituals. With each sacrifice, the blade had grown sharper, feeding upon the blood of the sacrifices the Osh-Tekk priests made in the name of the Blood God, Abakabb.

The blade's potency grew exponentially, strengthening itself to pierce the hide of thicker and thicker sacrifices. Although it had dulled some from millennia of disuse, it had remained sharp enough to this day to pierce the flesh of even a Shokan's thick hide. That was how King Gorbak, King of Kuatan for well over two thousand years, had been discovered by his wife, Queen Mai, slumped over the desk in his private workshop, the Osh-Tekk tool embedded deep in his upper spine. The dagger had been kept in the royal treasure vault until now, removed only to execute Osh-Tekk dissidents to amuse the emperor with the symbology. Besides this singular task, the blade had remained resting alongside dozens of other trophies claimed from Gorbak's time fighting in Shao Kahn's invasions, the late Prince Duroc's time putting down dissidents following said conquests, and Prince Goro's reign in Mortal Kombat.

This was cause for great concern, as the vault had been enchanted to allow only the royal family access. Some suspected the prince of plotting to seize power, but many were quick to dispute this, citing the prince's past refusal to accept the throne from his father. Goro had always had a warrior's heart, and politics interested him only as far as they allowed him to fight. The only substantial political moves the prince had ever made were the forging of the alliance between Edenians, Shokan and Centaurs, and leading the Shokan armies under Shao Kahn in the year following the prince's second supposed death.

One who would pledge allegiance to the man he had led his own people to war against, alongside their oldest enemy, simply because that man had saved his life, was not one to overthrow his own father through such cowardly methods. Were Goro to ever seize the throne from Gorbak, it would be though a public challenge of kombat, as Duroc had once attempted.

This then left only Queen Mai, whom it was plain for all to see was devastated by her husband's death. Plus, the queen had never been known for her martial prowess, and the severe bruising and bleeding on the king's body suggested a fight had taken place in the lead-up to the fatal stabbing. Despite his advanced age, there was little doubt that a powerful, ruthless warrior king such as he could never be overpowered in such a way by his much smaller wife.

This left the investigation at a standstill by the time the royal funeral was held. No new suspects were found by the time Prince Goro lowered his father's coffin into the lava ring surrounding the throne room of the Kuatan Palace. Only vague theories of magical disruption remained while Princess Kitana offered her condolences and friendship to the bereaved.

Goro stood stock still throughout the entire procession. Not once did his eyes leave his father's body until his casket was closed and prepped to be lowered into the lava ring. The bruises on his father's body brought to mind memories of Duroc, who had once challenged their father's rule. Bested in kombat by the king, his life was forfeit. Gorbak, as a test, had commanded his younger son to execute his older brother himself. Goro had demanded his brother die by his hand in kombat, not on his knees. This wish was granted, and Goro's legend began as he finally bested his brother, before proceeding to crush his skull between his hands. Goro was observed wringing his hands at several points throughout the funeral by Kitana, who could only imagine what horrors of the past now plagued the prince's mind. She knew only one person who might be able to ease her friend's mind...

In private, after the funeral, Queen Mai and Prince Goro met in Gorbak's workshop, since cleaned of his blood. The two said little for a time, simply trying to find comfort in each other's company and the memories inspired by Gorbak's artefacts and trophies.

Mai was on the short side, and underdeveloped in the muscle department for one of her kind; her two sons had outpaced her in both regards at an early age. Many had questioned why Gorbak had chosen her when, as both the crown prince and an accomplished warrior and general, just about any Shokan woman at the time would have fallen at his feet and begged to be his bride. Others questioned why he had only taken the one wife, when it was far more common for a king to take multiple - Duroc had taken two, while Goro had taken seven. Gorbak had never felt the need to explain himself, even to his sons when prompted. His reasons had been solely his own, and now, they would forever remain as such. Even if he could not understand it, Goro could certainly respect it.

After fiddling with the taxidermized mandible of an especially potent Shak'laan queen for a time, Mai finally broached the most important subject at hand: "Will you take the throne, son?"

It was a subject that had occupied Goro's thoughts for most of his waking hours since his father's body was found, as was to be expected for one in his position. But he had made his decision long before that day: "No."

"Your reasons?" his mother inquired neutrally. She had often been the one to rein Gorbak in when he chastised his sons for their lack of interest in politics. He was also an old friend of Shao Kahn. If either parent would understand his reasons, it would be her.

"I led our people to war against Shao Kahn, after millennia of service to him. And then, I led them right back into his service only a few years later because he saved my life. The taste of such disgrace is not easily washed away, even by the most potent of Shak'laan wine."

"Was it not those very actions that kept the Shokan from becoming the emperor's enemy and disgracing your father by association?"

"Perhaps," Goro conceded. "However, I still led our people in the name of evil. Father would disagree, but Shao Kahn was a threat to all the realms and he needed to be stopped. Yet, I have more often stood in opposition to that outcome in the name of honour. Where is the honour in serving such a man, even to repay a debt or to fulfil a contract? I am too bound by oaths and obligations to do what I know I must, all wrapped up in a mislabelled 'honour'. It is not merely disgrace that makes me unfit for the throne, but my lack of willpower to choose for myself."

"You chose to ally with the Edenians and put aside hatred for the Centaurs."

"And then went right back-"

"Hush, child," Mai cooed with unusual forcefulness. "You miss my point. I am not denying you lacking will. I am observing the evidence that it is not a total lack. You have led our people in the direction you believed we should go, even against your father's wishes. You have much room to improve, my son, but you are not entirely devoid of will as you believe. If you do not believe yourself fit to rule, then you must go and find yourself. I will find another in your place while you discover who Goro truly is."

Goro slowly wrapped his arms around his tiny mother and held her close. He knew he would not have many more opportunities to do so for a very long time.

Goro had his supplies loaded on his minotine only a few days later. The thick, horned, hairy beast was one of the few in all of Outworld that could bear a Shokan's nigh-unmatched, weighty muscle mass. With its curved back, the thing stood almost twice Goro's height, even on all fours. Were Shang Tsung ever to splice one of these creatures with a biped, he just might craft a monstrosity able to match his former champion.

"Well, well, the prince skulking around in the stables," a (relatively) feminine voice spoke out from behind him at the stable's entrance. "Stepping down does not mandate exile, you know."

"Here to compete in the tournament, Sheeva?" Goro questioned, keeping his eyes on his mount as he finished securing the saddle.

"To win it, actually," she replied with a deserved confidence, before her tone softened. "But also to see off my prince before he departs."

Goro turned to face his former wife, finally. Her new physique was still difficult to maintain his composure over. She had been much smaller back before their lives were thrown into turmoil by the Outworld/Earthrealm conflict. She had evidently been working very hard to redeem herself for her former weakness. Combine that with the impressive results of this self-improvement and Goro found his ability to resist taking her here and now ebbing away by the second. She had always impressed him with her strength but now...

Now, he needed to muster up his willpower and begin his own path of self-improvement.

Technically speaking, the two were still married in the eyes of the Elder Gods, but between Goro's supposed death in the tournament and Sheeva's actual death the following year, a decade apart had left the two feeling closer to strangers than lovers. It had not been love that had brought the two together, of course. Ever the warrior prince, Goro had been attracted to Sheeva's kombat prowess, cunning and tenacity. That she would undoubtedly bear him a mighty son had been reason enough for Gorbak to welcome her into the royal family as one of Goro's seven brides.

And that she had slaughtered her six fellows to secure the emperor's favour during the Shokan's disgrace period bred no ill will within Goro - a fact he had made abundantly clear upon their reunion in Edenia. Goro had stood up for Sheeva when Shao Kahn had called her a traitor shortly before the battle. Goro, then a servant of the emperor, had observed that very few within their camp had not betrayed or been betrayed by another in their midst; such was the nature of their ilk, after all.

"I never took you for the sentimental type."

"No, but I am loyal to my liege. And concerned for his wellbeing. How are you faring since your father's passing?"

"Since his assassination, you mean." Sheeva flinched slightly. "Do not besmirch his memory by implying a peaceful end."

"I apologise, Goro. But, I suppose I have my answer now."

"Mm."

"Is there anything I can do for you before you depart? Anything you need? You may not find yourself in the presence of one of our kind for quite some time."

Goro finally looked at Sheeva for more than a mere glance to affirm his ears were not mistaken. There was something in her expression beyond simple concern, but he was unable to ascertain what. Perhaps, that just proved how out-of-touch he had truly become with his people. Right now, his heart had two requests of her, but he chose to voice only the one he didn't think she was implying.

"Win or lose, look after my mother. She does well not to show it, but she is devastated by the loss."

"I see," Sheeva responded despondently.

"You have experience guarding queens."

"Experience of failure, perhaps."

"There is no greater experience than failure. I learned far more from facing Liu Kang than any of Earthrealm's previous champions. And from facing Noob Saibot than any other of Shao Kahn's generals..." After a moment of silent contemplation, Goro continued. "Success breeds complacency. Failure breeds progress. And your progress is clear for all to see." Goro stepped closer to his former wife, laid a gentle hand across her exposed stomach, caressed her rock-hard abdominals. He did the same with her four forearms and her biceps.

She looked up at him, gazed into his eyes with a sense of resolve he had not seen in her in a long time. "You have my word, Goro. Queen Mai will remain safe in my kingdom."

Goro let out a deep chuckle. "So confident in your victory, are you?"

"Have I reason not to be?" she questioned, stepping back to give him another good look at her... progress.

He shook his head. "No. Nor have I. I would be honoured for you to succeed my father on the throne, Sheeva."

Again, there was something in Sheeva's expression that was unreadable, but he could definitely see how much this affirmation meant to her. And he realised how much she meant to him. He cupped her chin with one hand, wrapped another two around her waist, and stroked the small of her back with the fourth. She, in turn, caressed his cheek with one of hers, wrapped two of her own around him, and guided his fourth hand lower.

One last time, he supposed, before he one day returned as a servant of the victorious queen.

Sheeva had the honour for being one of the kombatants to open the tournament. Structurally, it operated under a fairly pedestrian elimination format, save for the fact that four opponents would face off at once, with only one moving forward. It was a format chosen to highlight the popularity of a contestant, to allow them to curry favour by assisting the eventual winner, and to show off what one was capable of by overcoming the odds. It was chaotic, but it spoke volumes about the competitors and how they were viewed both before and after the bouts.

Given her slaying for Goro's other wives a decade ago, Sheeva was a divisive figure among the Shokan. To some, she was brave and bold to do what she had when Goro and Kintaro had fallen to Earthrealm's champions. This was an especially popular view among the female half of the race. To others, though, she was an honourless butcher who murdered royalty to advance her own position. In a sense, both were correct.

Her first batch of opponents were also female, which she imagined was a condescending decision made to keep the physically inferior females from 'contaminating' the other matches as much as possible. Queen Mai had only declared the tournament, after all. It was war ministers that had been chosen to arrange the brackets.

The other three women were quick to gang up on Sheeva. Whether this was due to their own views on her past actions or sheer necessity, she could not say. After all, she was the only one of the four that had dedicated herself so wholly to such physical self-improvement. Regardless of politics, she doubted any of her fellows would bet money against her in this bout.

She had been assigned to defend Empress Sindel during the invasion of Earthrealm. That she had failed had proven beneficial to the realms at large, as Shao Kahn had a lost much of his power as a result. However, that she had failed a task through which she represented her people as a whole... that was a disgrace she would never live down. It was a disgrace that had led her to desperately murder Motaro and plot with that Earthrealm reprobate Kano to assassinate the emperor before he could enact his wrath upon her people for her personal failure. It had led to her death upon the sword of Sindel's original husband, held firm in the grip of her second. And indeed, it followed her into the arena as she stepped up to face down her first opponents in the tournament.

But Sheeva had spent the time since her resurrection improving herself. Where once she had been large compared to most other races but slim by Shokan standards, she now practically matched her male counterparts in sheer muscle mass. She had studied not only how other Shokan warriors fought, but also those that fought against them. After unsurprisingly defeating the fellow females, Sheeva was shockingly almost able to compete with her male opponents through strength alone. But she brought cunning to the table to more than make up for the deficit. Truly, Sheeva proved that there was none craftier among the Shokan.

Ultimately, it was Sheeva that emerged victorious in the tournament, besting every opponent that came her way, man or woman. She wondered if Goro had truly expected this outcome, or was simply showing support for his past lover. Either way, his show of support had bred both confidence and heartache within her, but only the former had affected her ability to face down the greatest of her people and come out on top.

Once the crown was placed upon her head by her mother-in-law herself, Sheeva was quick to restructure much that surrounded her. She disbanded the late king's four-man royal guard and formed a new all-female band for herself, led by a Tigrar named Roodrah, whose ferocity had been proven in the battle in Edenia. Alongside her served Harah, Paksha and Nandee; three other warriors that had caught Sheeva's eye since that battle - one having almost bested her in the tournament.

She also declared Mai as being under her protection, and asked her to serve as her royal advisor. Mai was more than happy to take her up on her offer. That happiness was about all Sheeva could offer her no; other than to make the appointment of Kuatan's first ruling Queen into a significant and celebrated moment of Shokan history.

Of course, the recorded history of the Shokan would forever remain incomplete, for there was but one individual who knew what had truly ended King Gorbak's reign; and she would never allow the truth of how she had taken his throne to come to light.