Chapter 11: Dividing and Planning


Shao Kahn and Daegon have forged an alliance with each other. With him reunited with his daughter Mileena and his followers, the emperor has already made progress. Daegon and Mavado have led him to one of the six Kamidogu daggers, the one belonging in the Netherrealm. They have something big planned, but what could it be? Unfortunately for them, they are not the only ones looking for the daggers.

The heroes are already aware of the Red Dragon's plan involving the Kamidogu. But bad news for them, they realize they have found a way to bring back Shao Kahn once more. And that they have forged an alliance with each other. Now they must plan to find the other daggers and hopefully put a stop to them and the Black Dragon. For now, the Monks have decided to meet up with the Lin Kuei while Fire God Liu Kang and Nightwolf will be heading to Edenia to warn Jerrod and Sindel. The Shirai Ryu, Outworld and the Special Forces are still planning on what they should do next.

Grandmaster Frost, the current Sub-Zero, currently unaware of the situation they will soon face, is on patrol with her young apprentice Aster. They have hardly faced any threats when on patrol for the past two decades ever since the final destruction of the Cyber Lin Kuei. Frost has done well in keeping the peace of the Lin Kuei in honor of Kuai Liang. Cyrax and Smoke remain behind to watch the temple. As the grandmaster and student walk alone on patrol, they interact with each other.

"Grandmaster Sub-Zero. Are you feeling alright?" Aster asked her.

"I am fine, young Aster. Going on these patrols for a long time, just has me thinking of the good memories we had since peace was brought to the clan. Ever since we took down the Cyber Lin Kuei for good." Frost tells her.

"I can understand that. I was only young by the time I heard of Sektor. Always heard he and even Bi-Han were bad influences until Kuai Liang took their places. But what I do not understand is why must we always keep our guard up if there is no threat? And must we really need to rely on help from the other factions?" Aster asked. Not that she doubts Frost's teachings, she feels as if it is unnecessary.

"It is because I want us to learn from our past mistakes. The first time we thought the Cyber Lin Kuei was extinct, Smoke and Cyrax ended up captured. And then with what happened to Liang. And why do you question our allies?" Frost said, with a hint of sadness.

Aster felt guilty for asking such a question. She forgot that day turned out to be the worst day of her master's life. "I…. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to question you. And I don't hate them. It's just that-" Aster stuttered in her own words before she gets interrupted by Frost.

"Aster. It is alright. I understand what you are trying to say. I miss him too. But you cannot dwell on the past forever. Holding onto the harmful memories will only cause you to hold back on your strength. It's the only way to become what you are meant to be. Look. We have allies. The Lin Kuei would not have gone far without them. We need them as much as they need us." Frost smiles and reassures her student.

"Sometimes these lessons and words are not easy to remember. But I can try." Aster said. Before they can continue finishing their patrol, they get a call from Cyrax and Smoke.

"Grandmaster Frost. Young Aster. I apologize for your interruption." Smoke said.

"At ease, my good friend. What is it?" Frost asked.

"We have visitors. We need you back at the temple as soon as possible." Cyrax tells her.

Frost and Aster look at each other in confusion before the former turns back to Cyrax. "Understood. We will be back immediately." Frost replied before she hung up. She and her young apprentice start running back towards the Lin Kuei temple as fast as they could. They both cannot help but wonder who could be dropping in without a heads up.

Within ten minutes, Frost and Aster return to the Lin Kuei temple to meet with Cyrax and Smoke and the unannounced visitors. Much to their relief, they are some more friendly faces. "Kung Lao and Kung Jin. Welcome to the temple. Though we were not expecting anyone to come by anytime soon." Frost said as she greets them.

Kung Gen walks up to Aster and bows her head before her. "Nice to meet you, apprentice. I am Kung Gen." She smiles at her.

"Greetings, Kung Gen. You may call me Aster. I am the apprentice of Sub-Zero. It is pleased to meet the Shaolin Monks. Though I was not expecting so for a long time, honestly." Aster smirks and nods back.

"And I wanted to meet the Lin Kuei and study them. Learn more about the clans and possibly train with them." Kung Gen said. Overtime, Kung Gen has thought about exploring the good realms and meeting the allies that Jin and Lao have made along the way for many years." Kung Gen said.

"Well. If that is the case then I hope I can do the same with the Lin Kuei's other allies." Aster said, her eyes brightening.

"Grandmaster Sub-Zero. I would have written to you, but we did not have time. My apologies. We came here because we may need some of your assistance." Kung Lao said.

"Assistance? What seems to be the problem?" Frost asked.

"Have you heard of such objects? Dangerous objects known as the Kamidogu?" Kung Jin asked.

Now it was Cyrax's and Smoke's turn to be confused. Never before have they heard of such a thing. "The Kamidogu? I do not remember hearing such a thing. It must be new." Cyrax stated.

"No. The Kamidogu. I remember those. One of them was how Kuai Liang once got his scar because of Kano. Its power enhanced him to the point where he was able to freeze an entire city while under its control. Except that was in the Old Era before I even met him." Frost said.

"Now I remember. Back when I was a revenant under Quan Chi's control, he manipulated Havik in gathering them to unlock Shinnok's amulet from the dark dimension where it was sealed by the Elder Gods." Smoke remembered.

"What are the Kamidogu?" Aster asked. The three monks looked at the young student and can tell she is very new and has not learned everything. Nobody can blame Frost though.

"Kuai Liang told me about them back when I was his apprentice." Frost said.

"But why talk to us about them?" Cyrax asked.

"Because we are all facing great danger. The Shirai Ryu has told us everything. They along with the Special Forces have discovered that some enemies long believed to be dead are after them." Kung Jin said.

Frost could tell just by looking into their eyes. She can tell that they're telling the truth about everything so far. She steps up closer to them. "Which kind of enemies?" Frost asked.


In Edenia, things remain peaceful among the people, warriors and rulers. Jerrod and Sindel continue their daily duties as King and Queen of the realm with Meia as their chosen successor. As usual, they work to keep the peace and keep an eye on any future threats such as Mileena. After Meia's training with her four guardians, her mysterious sonic screech powers came to life, much to Sindel's surprise. Sindel thought that she was the only one who could use such a power. After Meia displayed it and accidentally hurt Cade, Sindel took the time to do more research on where her powers came from in the first place. With that, she is hoping to teach the young Meia how to control it and such.

Meia was taken aback by her new powers suddenly appearing. She still feels bad for accidentally injuring her friend. Despite that, her friends as well as the king and queen praise her for her skills during her training with Huntress, Cade, Jon, and Tessa. While Meia waits on Sindel, she goes to check on Cade to see how he is doing. She walks in and sees Tessa and Huntress watching him rest in bed. "Huntress. Tessa. How do you two do today?" Meia asked.

"Meia." Huntress turns to her and smiles. "I am fine. How are you feeling, young one? Surely you feel better from your hard training from the other day." She smiles.

Meia smiles and nods briefly before turning to Cade, who is just now waking up. She walks over to him out of worry. "Cade. Are you alright? I'm really sorry about what happened. Please forgive me."

"It's alright, Meia." Cade said as he finds the strength to sit up straight. "You know it was not intentional. Besides, I was growing cocky."

"You never change, Cade. Still cocky as always when we met. Taking training so seriously. And where has that gotten you from time to time? Being the one checked for injuries every time." Meia jokes and teases him.

"I was, uh, only testing you to see how you would react to a dire situation and such." Cade tries to defend himself. This causes Meia to hide her laughter and Huntress to smirk and roll her eyes at his excuses.

"Oh, please. That's what you said to me, Jon and Tessa when we've beaten you from time to time. That or some other pathetic excuse for trying to get out of why you lost, especially from your match with Meia." Huntress calls him out, still smirking. Tessa stands there being silent, but giving away a small smirk towards his expense.

"But it is true. I mean since when do I ever hold back on my strength and skill? Someone has to help Meia step up her game. Help her become more prepared and such. She has to be ready at some point." Cade points out.

Huntress seems to agree with him. "Despite your cockiness, you are not wrong." Huntress said before turning to Meia. "So how did your training go? How did it feel for you, beating all four of us?" Before Meia could answer, a guard calls for her, entering the room with Jon.

"I apologize for interrupting your conversation. But Lady Sindel would like to speak to you, young Meia." The guard said.

"Speak to me? About what to be exact?" Meia asked.

"She would not say. Sindel wishes to talk to you about it in private." The guard replied.

Meia looks back at her friends who nod to her, thus she then turns to the guard. "As you wish. I shall go to the queen then." Meia said.

"I'll come with you." Huntress said, only to be stopped by Tessa. She smiles at her friend and offers to take her place. "As you wish, Tessa." She nods in approval. Tessa and Meia smile at each other as they walk with the guard as he leads the two women to where Sindel is while Jon and Huntress remain behind with Cade.

"What do you think Sindel would like to talk to Meia about?" Jon asked out of curiosity.

"I hope it will be some good news. Perhaps something regarding her newfound powers that she used on Cade. In fact, they look very similar to the queen herself." Huntress guesses.

"I hope you're right. But the question remains. Where and how did her powers manifest to begin with? She's not even related to Sindel or Jerrod themselves." Cade said. He sounded confused. No one can blame him, though. Even Huntress and Jon wonder the same thing. Sindel's power is something truly special in Edenia. But how strong will Meia's power be compared to the queen's?


Sindel awaits in the gardens with her husband Jerrod. Near the fountain with the Edenian symbol. Where its Kamidogu lies. They both sit with each other, talking about their future successor.

"I cannot help but sense trouble within her. She has had doubts about herself ever since she became a part of Edenian royalty. Meia seems to still feel guilty about what happened the other day." Jerrod points out.

"Meia reminds me of us when we were younger. I once shared the same feeling she does now." Sindel replied .

"This reminds me of the time we had similar training like she did. We did this to prove how we can be true successors to the throne." Jerrod remembered.

"Edenia has changed even before things took a turn for the worst. I still remember the day I triumphed over you when I used my powers against you after we remarried. By accident of course." Sindel smirked, making her husband snicker.

"Because I too was arrogant. Wanting to prove my worth to you and all of the realms. Though it costed me my hearing and feeling in my shoulders for hours." Jerrod reminded Sindel, causing her to chuckle lightly. They've always enjoyed sharing smiles and laughs with each other, before and after Jerrod's death and resurrection. They met when they were children and grew up together. Over time as they got older, they started falling in love with each other. Luckily for them, they were both chosen to be the new rulers of Edenia and proved to be quite the rulers, even in the New Era.

As they trained more, Meia and Tessa walk in on them sparring with each other. Meia smiles at how they get along with each other and how powerful they've become, especially Sindel. After all, Meia has seen how strong Sindel is. The young one can't help but wonder how does one rule while training to fight. Meia steps up. "Your majesties?" Meia said, gaining their attention.

Sindel and Jerrod stop what they are doing and see Meia. "Meia. You are just on time. Thank you, Tessa. Leave us to talk alone, please." Sindel ordered. Tessa silently nods and leaves the three alone.

As soon as Tessa leaves, Meia turns back to the king and queen. "I was told that you wanted to see me? Is there something wrong?"

"No. You have done nothing wrong, my dear Meia." Sindel said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "In fact, we would like to talk to you about what happened the other day during your training with your guardian friends."

"Are you referring to what I accidentally unleashed on Cade yesterday? I swear it was an accident. I do not know what came over me. I did not even know I could do that. I thought you were the only one to hold such power." Meia said with an apologetic look on her face.

"I understand how you feel, Meia. I really do. You were not the only one who caused something this at your age. I went through the same experience you have. And it was the worst moment of my entire existence." Sindel tells her.

"You mean you and I both shared the same pain? Does it have to do with one of your enemies long dead? Shao Kahn perhaps?" Meia asked. From seeing the look into Sindel's eyes, she could tell she was rather unfortunately right.

"You would happen to be right. It was a horrifying thing I was forced to go through. I unlocked my powers because of my sadness, anger, desperation and hatred towards the one person that took our home away from us. Broke my family apart. The one and only conqueror. Shao Kahn." Sindel explains.

"And he caused your pain for what he did to you?" Meia asked.

"Yes. After he killed my husband, he forced me to marry him against my own will. Then he made me watch as he conquered Edenia, imprisoning or enslaving all those who lived in it. The only part of my heart that I still had was my precious daughter Kitana. She is my heart and soul. Shao Kahn wanted to murder her, but I begged him not to. She was the only thing I had left. He made her into something that I did not want her to be. But her training is what led to us taking back our home." Sindel said.

"And then, that was when the most unthinkable happened. About what you did behind that monster's back after all he put you through." Jerrod said.

Meia listened very carefully to the queen. For someone young, Meia seems to easily understand her and is quite clever. Meia could tell by the tone in her voice, Sindel was traumatized by her experience in the Old and New Eras. "I am terribly sorry to hear what you have been through. I can see why you hate him as much as I do. I felt similar feelings when he executed my parents for treason. Yet I felt powerless." Meia sighs in sadness, for both herself and Sindel.

"I grieved for all the actions that Shao Kahn forced me to go through in the Old Era against my will and being enslaved by Quan Chi and Kronika. I had help from my daughter Kitana to let go." Sindel said, looking at the symbol. "It was not easy. With the Kamidogu's power, I killed my past and put it behind me. Let the positive emotions flow within me as Kitana advised." Sindel remembered the day she also helped Alex with the same thing.

"But how do I move on from something I cannot kill? If only I could do something to avenge my parents or at least see them just once." Meia holds up a small paper resembling some art.

"What is this may I ask?" Jerrod asked, looking interested.

"My mother made this for me. It resembles our house in front of the waterfalls, surrounded by gardens, and it has us in the middle. It's the only thing I have left to remember about them. A happy memory I can remember before they died." Meia said.

"It looks beautiful. Your mother seems to have some talent from what I am able to tell. I am sure her husband has approved of her creation." Jerrod smirks at her. Apparently he has a good sense in art.

"Thank you. But I still have to ask why have I been summoned? Does it have to do with this power I have?" Meia asked.

"Precisely. I want to teach you how to control your powers. To show that you must embrace the pain you have suffered. Turn your weakness into a strength. That is what I have done. After my resurrection, I have managed to master it by using my anger, sadness, hatred and pain to my advantage, make me stronger and wanting to defend those I care about." Sindel offers her teachings.

"I hope that you are right. I don't want to cause any more accidents like I did last time. But please. How can I control something that I know too much of?" Meia wonders out of fear.

"You must have self-control. Remember the tragedies you were forced to endure those years ago. I can demonstrate for you. But I would suggest standing back." Sindel tells them.

"It would be wise if you do so. Being so close to those screams will hurt your hearing for hours." Jerrod advised. Meia nods and follows Jerrod's word and takes several steps back as they both watch Sindel.

Sindel closes her eyes and remembers the tragedies she endured since the day Shao Kahn invaded. She was forced to watch as the evil conqueror thrusted the knife through Jerrod's heart and Edenia in ruins at his hands. Then she remembered when her only daughter Kitana was threatened with death if Sindel did not cooperate and when she committed suicide. To slaying most of the warriors, including her daughter back then.

Sindel finally opens her eyes and unleashes a powerful scream straight up into the air. Jerrod looks impressed at how powerful it is. Meia is too, though she is covering her ears just in case it was too loud for her. After a few moments, Sindel stops and catches her breath and sighs in happiness. She then turns to Meia and walks closer to her. "You see, Meia. The more painful memories you have, the more powerful your own powers get. But you must not force more painful experiences onto yourself. Otherwise, you will never forgive yourself. You must cherish who and what you love most. No matter how little or how big you have. Do you understand what I am saying?"

Meia once again listened very carefully, understanding what she meant. Though she is dependent, she would hate to lose her home again, and would hate to lose her closest friends Huntress, Cade, Jon and Tessa. "Yes, my queen. I would hate to have to suffer so much pain like when I lost my parents. I want to protect all of Edenia, and that includes Huntress and the others. I am honestly afraid of being alone, feeling incapable of doing things on my own." Meia expresses her fears. Sindel or Jerrod wouldn't blame her though.

"No one blames you, Meia. I felt nothing but shame when I felt responsible for losing Edenia to Shao Kahn. And when I was under his control two decades ago. But I have made up for my mistakes." Jerrod said.

"Jerrod is right. I used to have the same fear as you. After my resurrection in the Old and New Era, I was afraid of what the others would think of me. I doubt that most of our allies would trust me. While they understood that I was under his control, some had doubts about me. I was afraid of being alone, but I remembered that I have Kitana and Jade. And Raiden, Liu Kang, Fujin and a few others learned to trust me, understanding me. But I worked to gain everyone's trust after taking our home back." Sindel explained.

"I understand, my lady. So where should I start with controlling this power?" Meia asked. Before Sindel could answer, the three of them heard lightning coming down from a good distance from them. It was Fire God Liu Kang and Nightwolf.

"King Jerrod. Queen Sindel. Apologies for disrupting any of your daily duties. But we have come to speak to you. Something big." Nightwolf tells them. As the two approach, Meia quickly bows to them out of respect. "No need for that, young one. We are all friends here. My name is Nightwolf. Leader of the Matoka Tribe."

"Pardon my manners. I am Meia. Chosen by the queen and king themselves. Pleased to meet you and Lord Liu Kang." Meia replied with a slight smirk, feeling a bit shy.

"Lord Liu Kang. What do we owe the pleasure of your presence here? What seems to be the matter?" Jerrod asked out of concern.

"We have urgent news to discuss. News regarding enemies and above all, the Kamidogu." Liu Kang pointed out. Hearing this brings rather horrifying words to Sindel's ears as she couldn't help but feel like she heard him wrong.

"I'm sorry. Did you just say the Kamidogu?" Sindel asked. Liu Kang silently nodded. This causes her to sigh out of fear. "Very well. Let us talk inside. My loyal guardians should also hear this." Sindel said. She leads Jerrod, Meia, Liu Kang and Nightwolf inside the palace. As they head inside, Tessa listened in on the whole conversation.


Note: Sorry if this is too much filler. I am doing my best to keep the pacing of this story even. Just allies informing other allies of what is going on now. But soon, things will get more interesting. Oh, and I saw Takeda's DLC trailer yesterday and I'm so excited. Out of all the DLC characters, I was looking forward to him and Omni-Man the most.