(DISCLAIMER:I don't own Mortal Kombat or its characters in any way. )

Chapter 4: Bittersweet

Mileena long since journeyed to the higher regions of Kahn's fortress. The dark and bleak wasteland may have been depressing to some, but the tranquility from above was similar to an oasis in an endless desert. All she wanted was some time to blow off some steam. Some time to try and refocus her energy and maintain patience. Regrets knotted in her stomach and combined with stubbornness to prevent her from going back and apologizing to her sister.

As far back as Mileena could remember, Shao Kahn always favored Kitana. He always held her in high regard, and Mileena always came second. Even in education, Kitana was given the best and brightest tutors Kahn could intimidate. Mileena was always kept away from the books and kept in the dojo to train. Learning how to kill. Due to her eagerness to please father, she did it all without question. In her mind, Kitana could be the scholar, but she herself would become the superior warrior to gain father's favor.

It didn't work out that way, though.

Kitana got everything, Kitana was always correct, Kitana was next in line for the throne, and now, somehow Kitana was the leader of the trio they formed. As much as she had grown to love her sister, the old hatred of being the least favorite drove her. Maybe once she calmed down, she would have a better grip on the situation at hand.

It would have been nice.

Her destination was currently occupied. She heard the voices as she climbed the steps to the top of the fortress.

"You only do as you are told as means of survival?" Reptile asked the other occupant of the roof.

"Yes," A familiar woman's voice responded. "When my father died, I had little choice. Denise told me to see it as a game. If you make the right choices, you will make it very far in the game. If you act foolishly, then you will surely lose." She paused for a moment, taking a breath. "I want to win, no matter what it takes. I want to be the star of this play. Don't you, Reptile?"

Mileena slowed down so she could listen.

"I do…," Reptile began, "but the game I am in has a loss at every turn. It is a cruel maze of choices which all lead to an ultimate defeat. To be the last… means I am dependent on others. But maybe those others are untrue. I can suffer without bodily injury on my own, Tanya."

The name stunned Mileena. When Mileena's eyes met the image of Tanya, however…she was shocked. She looked softer in the face. She had a look of innocence as if a frightened child not yet exposed to war. All she had with her was a book, no weapons in sight.

"Princess Mileena?" Tanya looked fearful. She stepped away from the railing and bowed. "Forgive me, princess! I have gone over my allotted time to rest! It will not happen again, your highness!" Even before Mileena could get a word in, Tanya was long gone. She rushed down the stairs to return to work about the fortress.

There was a moment of silence between Reptile and Mileena, but it was broken as she got closer. "I didn't know you were friends with Tanya, Reptile."

"I am not." He faced forward and set his forearms on the railing. "I was just curious. Your words helped me start looking abroad. As nice as the conversation was, I do not feel it is meant to be."

"Why do you say that?"

"She laughed and asked me if I was serious when I offered dinner. She then went on to say that I am not her type."

"You should not speak to her anyway. She will betray Edenia and even Shao Kahn."

Reptile was taken off-guard by the princess' words. He looked back to her with a furrowed brow. "How is it you know these things?"

Once again, her big mouth got her into trouble. "Mileena can just see, sometimes."

"I have a question, then." He became apprehensive but pushed through the feeling with his head held high. "What does my future hold if I remain here, Mileena? Do I ever get to see my people again?"

She had a near exact memory of what happened to Reptile. She took Reptile's wrists, turning him to face her. She examined his scaled palms, as if reading them over. "No, Reptile. Shang Tsung, Quan Chi, and even Shao Kahn never live up to what they say. Mileena has seen this."

Reptile's jaw clinched a moment. "Then it is decided. I am no longer going to be a slave to these madmen, Mileena. I am going to run away…, rediscover myself and a new life." He glanced out to the vast wastelands. "If I die, I die. It will be much better than suffering another day here."

"Mileena doesn't want to lose contact with you, Reptile." She placed her hand at his shoulder. "Run to Earthrealm. To a place called…" She thought for a moment."It is spelled…Hawn..Honk…Hong Kahn. Er…it is Hon..gee…Kon gee."

"Hong Kong." Reptile corrected her. "I am familiar with it. I guarded Quan Chi during his journey to the Lin Kuei temple."

"Good. Mileena plans on going to the Lin Kuei temple. I will find you in Earthrealm when I go."

"Very well. I will miss you until then, my friend." Reptile said before embracing Mileena. "Take care of yourself, and Baraka. I have heard he is trying to find a means to apologize to you for his behavior."

Mileena's eyes narrowed in confusion. "What?"

"Ever since Earthrealm, there has been whispers among the Tarkatans that he has been seeking the assistance of Rain and others. He seeks their assistance for means of courting a woman outside of the alpha male Tarkatan way."

Mileena's tongue pinned to the roof of her mouth to fight her instinct to get angry. Her stomach tied in disgusted knots at the thought of being near Baraka again. "Mileena's feelings for Baraka are no more, Reptile. That is that."

"After all of those years?"

"The same can be said about you and your fleeing from this place."

After a pause, Reptile spoke. "You are right. Let us not part ways on foul terms. We will speak again, hopefully."

Relaxing her temper, Mileena brought her fist over her heart. "Yes. Be as stealthful as the night, Reptile."

"Be well, Mileena." He copied her motion and bowed. His body vanished from sight immediately after.

This left Mileena alone, finally. She watched the cloudy skies that threatened to storm down over her. The constant chaos in the skies reminded her much of her own feelings; could she live under the strict plan of Kitana to 'follow the rules' of time?

Her moments of privacy ended as she was brought back to reality by the sound of Kitana's heels clicking on the stone floor.

Kitana approached gingerly with her fingers laced before herself and her mask pulled down. She examined Mileena's visible features to try and gauge her twin's mood.

"What do you want?" Mileena said with a hint of anger in her voice.

"It is a dreary night, is it not?" Kitana replied while slowly approaching the railing. "Mileena." She said as she reached for her shoulder, but stopped halfway there. As she continued to speak, her eyebrows elevated slightly higher. "I am sorry. I am sorry about earlier, and I am sorry for any time I have ever upset you."

Mileena remained silent.

"We just need to communicate, is all. We cannot keep things from one another. We are all in this together. Apart, we will surely bring about worse events." She examined her sister's face for any response. "We are sisters, Mileena. Sister's fight, sisters disagree, but most of all sisters trust each other. Sisters help each other. I am not doing this for myself, your interests are in mind as well as Jade's. I just want to make sure we all get what we want before we begin drastic moves. I just hope you can forgive me."

At long last, Mileena turned to Kitana. She stared at her for several seconds and exhaled through her mask. "Mileena forgives you…" She said before she embraced her sister. "I am sorry too. Mileena…just wanted things to go faster."

"I know." Kitana squeezed her and upon release, she set both hands on either shoulder. "Everything will be fine. The tournament will begin very soon, and you will see Sub-Zero face to face." She placed her hand along the side of Mileena's jaw and presented her with an optimistic smile.

Jade's voice was heard immediately after Kitana's own words. "The tournament will be sooner than you think." The darker skinned Edenian stood at the stairs with her fist at her curved hip. "Shao Kahn has reacted quicker than I remember. Shao Kahn demands our presence." She got closer to her two friends. "Earthrealm has accepted the challenge, and they should be here shortly. Miss Blade is already held captive."

Kitana stepped back and gave herself enough room to look back and forth between her sister and friend. "So soon? This is…wrong."

"Sooner is better." Mileena said while stepping closer to Jade. "What do you suggest we do, Jade?"

Jade was thrown off – usually it was Kitana who made the choices. "Well, there is no need for my suggestions. We listen to Kahn and do what he says. I know I am sent to intercept the humans in the armory. I will give them a pass to save Sonya. From there, I will feint defeat." Her sight went to her princess. "What of you, Kitana?"

Kitana thought back and remembered Mileena was kept behind and sent as an attack dog on Sub-Zero. It would be best to give Mileena her time to finally meet him. Besides…Jade would be there to supervise, since she and Nido witnessed the fight.

"I was sent to intercept the Lin Kuei," Kitana recollected, "I will find Smoke. I was the last to see him mortal, as far as I know. Perhaps I can prevent him from becoming a mechanical menace. This could be used to our advantage. I know I have spoken of not drastically changing things, but I do not see the harm in this. Smoke has no effect on mother's resurrection. Besides, he is Sub-Zero's friend, isn't he?"

"Yeah!" Mileena said excitedly. "He'll be so happy that he's alive! We need to hurry and go down there! Come on!"

Jade laughed to herself. "Settle down, Mileena. You have to keep yourself together, now. Lets make sure everything goes smoothly." Jade stumbled and placed her hand on her head. A pained groan left her lips shortly after.

"Jade?" Kitana spoke up first. "Are you alright?"

The guardian shook off the pain and the whispering voices in her head. She couldn't make out what it was they were saying exactly, as they soon faded. "Yes, I am fine. I've been having these…odd headaches and visions. Remind me to rest once this is done. We will speak on it later."

Mileena tapped the tip of her chin. "Mileena thinks it is important now if you don't feel well."

"No." Jade dismissed the issue with a wave of her hand. "Everything will go smoothly. Now, we must go."

Things did indeed go smoothly from there on out. The trio reported to the throne room just as a handful of Earthrealm's warriors arrived; Lord Raiden, Johnny Cage, and Jax. The first bout was between Jax and Baraka, with the Earthrealm warrior finding a quick victory.

Mileena felt satisfaction to see Baraka get what he deserved once more, though she knew it wasn't enough just yet. He didn't put up half the fight she remembered. In fact, Baraka often seemed distracted with her presence in the throne room. Her attention left the downed warrior once Jax directed words to Shang Tsung.

"Where's Sonya?" Jax bellowed out and pointed at the now youthful Shang Tsung.

"Tell me, Major Briggs," Shang began to grin in amusement, "do you and she do anything other than rescue one another? Your next opponent will be – …"

"No one." Called the voice of the sorcerer's wife, Denise. The woman waltzed into the throne room in little more than her undone robe that exposed her waist, and form fitting singlet attached to it. The sorceress held with her a large book beneath her arm. She also brought her servant-student Tanya along with her. "As we are missing one of our warriors, even if his worth was as much as the blood you spill for your country." Denise turned her eyes onto Jax. "Worthless. Such a strapping young man as yourself could do so much better working for –…"

Shang Tsung turned his head toward his wife, speaking louder as to overpower her words. "Then it is settled! Since we've…pressing matters to attend to…" He trailed off, turning to face the rather amused emperor. "With the emperor's permission, we will reconvene later."

Kahn granted this with a simple motion of his head. The tournament began to disperse as he stood. He walked beyond his daughters and Jade and made a motion with his hand for the three of them to follow him off to the side.

Kitana and Jade met eyes, and followed along with Mileena to Kahn's location away from the plotting Earthrealm warriors.

"I do not like this." Shao Kahn stated to the three of them. "The champion is not among them. The other Earthrealm warriors must be scattered about." Kahn stroked his chin in thought. "We must win this tournament. I will not accept another loss. Jade, go to the armory. See to it the Earthrealmers never make it to the woman."

Jade had her orders, and bowed before Kahn. "Your will is my command, Kahn."

To Kitana next, Shao Kahn placed a hand at her shoulder. "Kitana, you will intercept any newcomers into the realm. Deal with them harshly."

Kitana had her orders, and despite the fact Kahn's touch made her stomach churn, she accepted them. "Yes, father."

Now, it was Mileena. "Mileena, you will stay here. For your actions reported at the previous tournament, I am hereby expelling you from participation until further notice."

"What do you mean?!" Mileena's heart sunk and her eyes widened. She looked to Kitana and Jade, then back to Kahn repeatedly. "You cannot do this to Mileena! Why are you-!"

"Silence!" Kahn bellowed. "You will remain here, and you will be silent! If another complaint leaves that horrid maw of yours, I will crush your skull, child! Do not make your father angry."

There was a complete silence all about them.

In Kitana's heart, she wanted to speak up for Mileena. Kitana wondered if Mileena's actions had indeed altered reality drastically.

Kitana's fist squeezed as she awaited Mileena's response. She saw her put her head down. For goodness sakes, she hoped she wouldn't cry. If a single tear fell from her eye, Kitana wasn't sure she, as a sister, could uphold her act of loyalty much longer.

"Yes, father." Mileena submitted with her head down. She did not shed a tear, but she did tremble at the fist. She wanted to stab him through his throat and watch him die all over again.

Satisfied, Kahn palmed her cranium and ruffled up her dark hair. "Good girl." He chuckled, soon enough releasing her. "Now, all of you out of my sight. I've much planning to do."

Once the large man left them to their privacy, Jade and Kitana immediately came to Mileena's sides.

"Mileena?" Jade said. "Are you alright?" She tried to search the woman's face, but instead was pushed away lightly by her hand.

Kitana didn't even get a chance to get a word in. She just watched her sister walk away from them. "She just needs time. I am certain everything will work out. We must handle this as quickly as possible, then we will see about Mileena."

Seeing as there was nothing they could do about the situation, the two friends headed off in their own directions to fulfill theirversion of the tasks given.

This left Mileena alone once again, to her thoughts.

Mileena had no other desire but to go back to the top of the fortress once again. Her presence scared away the inhabiting vultures that perched along the rail in the absence of other life forms, but she didn't give so much of a flinch at the sudden sight and sounds of the creatures. Her hands gripped the stone rail tight. Once she released it, she pounded her fists against it and trembled in anger. How was she ever going to see Sub-Zero? Should she run away? Should she leave Kitana and Jade to do what she needed to do? What if he got hurt? What if someone killed him? Was it just simply not meant to be?

Casting herself from the top of the fortress did not seem like such a bad idea.

"Mileena, I need to have a word with you." Baraka's voice came from behind. He stepped to her side, but he did not put his hands on her in any fashion.

Casting herself from the top of the fortress really didn't seem like a bad idea.

"I apologize." Baraka bowed his head. "All warriors are aggressive with their mates. Perhaps I was insensitive to your Edenian side. Perhaps I took the moments for granted. Just understand that I am under a lot of pressure, Mileena. My men," he held his arm over the railing as if displaying the world for her, "they are ignorant and stubborn. My elite soldiers are no longer mine to command. My frustration was taken out on you, and this I did not mean."

Mileena watched him from the corner of her eyes. She did not grace him with any vocal response.

Baraka continued with a softer tone. "Years ago, when I said I would make you my queen, I meant those words. I meant every last one. We can escape this, Mileena. The two of us can be a powerful alliance. We overthrow Kahn together and we reshape Outworld just as we envisioned it. Fit for Tarkatan warriors, but with the regality of Edenian paradise. Just imagine the realms we could conquer. Your sister can no longer put you down. No one will."

Baraka pulled a small box from his pocket and knelt before her. "Mileena." He said while opening the box to show off a diamond ring inside. "Will you be my bride?"

There were no words that could truly describe what emotion overtook Mileena's soul after that question. She looked at the ring and then back into his eyes. After all he put her through, and all he would put her through, he had the nerve to do this? He had the nerve to do such a wonderful thing that she would have leapt at in a past life? Despite it all, it hurt her to speak. "No, Baraka. It is too late."

"Too late?" He said with the staggering pain apparent in his voice. He searched the ground with his eyes for answers. "I do not understand, Mileena. If this is about my behavior before, I've – …"

She shook her head, "Mileena's heart is not with you anymore, Baraka. You are better off with another." She walked back to the stairs as she spoke. "Trust Mileena. It is for the best." She left him there, though it put needles in her heart.

Left alone in thought, Baraka closed the box. He turned his glance toward the stairs. "Then who is it her heart belongs to?"