-( I don't own MK! )-
Chapter 26: It's Official
Thunder rolled over Shao Kahn's fortress as the darkness-kissed stones of the ceiling met the falling rain. The conqueror stood in wait as Jade ascended the stairs. He knew the final challenge had arrived, and it was time to reclaim what he'd waited for longer than he'd existed.
"When the light divides the shadow, the shadow longs to reunite with itself." Kahn said in his deep bellowing tone. However, his voice was touched by another masculine tone, as if he were possessed. "You deliver my remaining fragments in full. For this I should be thankful."
"I deliver nothing." Jade's also doubled voice spoke out. "I have come to claim your soul. I have come to be the dominant of my fragments and rule my whole-self unconditionally." She held out Shinnok's amulet and used its power to try to suck in Shao Kahn. Red lights like thunderbolts latched onto him and drew the heavy tyrant closer to the glowing green jewel in the center. "Feed. Me. Your. Soul!" Jade screamed.
Kahn tried to resist the powerful pull of the amulet, but even with all of his strength, he was no match for it. "Conniving…, filthy, rat!" Kahn shouted as his feet skid along the wet pavement.
"This is my time!" Jade shouted. "The future…oh the future is brighter than ever!"
A fireball soared through the raindrops and evaporated them along a straight-shot to the amulet. Jade felt the sting and immediately dropped the amulet. The golden disc slid out of Jade's reach.
The hand which sent the blast belonged to Liu Kang. The Mortal Kombat Grand Champion entered the rooftop arena with Kitana at his side, and his single un-injured hand protruded forth. "Whatever you are doing will not come to pass." Kang promised as he took stance near Kitana. "Shao Kahn! I challenge you!"
The tyrant was winded. His colossal fist pounded the ground as he fell to a knee. It took every ounce of energy he had to not be drawn into the amulet. Part of him wanted to grab it, but the other wanted to finally slake its lust for killing Liu Kang with his bare hands. "Accepted…" Kahn noticed Liu Kang's other hand was bleeding, and immediately thoughts of punishing the Shaolin warrior brought a pleased grin to his face. "The fate of Earthrealm will be on the line. Just you and I, Liu Kang. To the winner goes the souls of this realm. Whoever should survive deals with she who remains." He motioned his eyes toward the possessed Jade, who was currently staring down Kitana.
"I have beaten you once…" Liu Kang narrowed his eyes on Kahn as he drew closer.
"And this time you will live long enough to see me destroy all you love." Kahn vowed as his hammer was summoned into his great palm.
As the two men engaged in their battle to the death, Kitana and Jade stood across from other. They stared into each other's minds with a mix of emotions coursing through each of them. The fine string of tension that played the softest tune in their ears finally broke, and both of their eyes shot toward the amulet on the ground. Despite the pouring rain, they threw themselves onto the harsh stone pavement and caused the amulet to slide away.
Kitana clawed at Jade's face as she crawled over her, and Jade struck at her in retaliation each time. The women tossed and turned on the ground with violent punches to each other's bodies and slams of each other's skulls into rain-covered floor.
Jade reached for the amulet as she rolled onto her stomach, but her arm was yanked and tugged across her neck by Kitana, who sat over Jade's back. She pulled and bent Jade backward and effectively choked the possessed woman in the process. Her other hand clawed the ground the amulet, and each swipe made the gold material inch closer and closer to being in her possession.
The Princess' heart leaped, as she reached ahead of Jade and snatched the amulet before she could get her hand around it. Jade's head jolted upward, and Kitana's nose was broken in the process. She rolled off of her friend sever feet and got herself onto one knee. Kitana held the amulet out and Jade immediately froze in place.
"No! No, no, no!" The entity inside of Jade shouted as the power of the amulet drew her closer. She managed to get up into a crouched position, but she held her arms in front of her body to keep from being drawn in too fast.
As Jade got closer, Kitana saw a ghostly male figure being ripped out of her body. The ghost got closer to the amulet, but the longer Kitana used it this way, the more it brought severe pain to her body and mind. She wanted to end the reign of terror, but instead of sealing Jade away with it, Kitana dropped the amulet and held up her other hand.
With Raiden's power, Kitana sent a powerful wave of electricity into Jade's possessed form and shocked her to the ground. She released her hold on her soon after, and left her friend unconscious on the floor.
Kitana's entire body stung like a thousand wasps in her bloodstream that stemmed from her hand clutching Shinnok's amulet. She gazed upon its green jewel and she felt her soul pulsating power and temptation. She dropped the amulet and held her head to ward off the stinging and fit of dizziness that befell her. She could not hold that accurse amulet another second.
As the war between Shao Kahn and Liu Kang continued, Kitana found herself powerlessly kneeling in the cool rain. Every proud shout from Liu sent shivers up her spine. Memories of her previous life flashed before her eyes with every swinging fist, kick, and blaze of flame Kang released. Despite his injury, despite the odds, Liu Kang still fought as if the thought of defeat didn't exist. Even when Shao Kahn pummeled him, Liu kept getting up.
His determination was admirable. His power… incomparable.
"He must win…" Kitana said to herself as she held her aching forearm. With every blow Liu Kang landed, a crack on Raiden's amulet vanished. She had one final test of her faith and patience, and she was going to endure it for as long as possible.
Elsewhere in Shao Kahn's temple, Mileena and the others managed to reach the base level and fled out into the streets. Mileena set Kuai Liang down near an overturned vehicle and placed her hand on his shoulder. Everyone else fanned out in the rain and gazed heavenward to try and get a glimpse of the furious battle at the apex. Parts of the fortress was crumbling, and the Earthrealm warriors were all safer outside of it than in.
"Kuai Liang…" Mileena spoke softly as she observed the unconscious man. Her hand reached out and grabbed his mask and gently pulled it away from his face. Everyone was busy helping one another, so for the most part Mileena had solitude with Sub-Zero. Smoke didn't even intervene in Mileena's quiet time with him.
The half-Tarkatan woman spoke further, but kept her voice quiet. "Mileena remembers everything, though you do not. Mileena remembers—I remember…trying to learn to write good—to write better for you. I remember you talking to me in the past…not of war, but just talk. At first it bored me, but…you were there for me. You did not run when Mileena told you the truth. You died to protect me." She brushed her hand over the top of his head and shut her eyes as her forehead rest against his. "Now you dote upon Mileena and it feels wonderful. The emotion grows…, and there is only one wish. To be your frog princess and to be Kuai Liang's one and true love. To lose all deception and present Mileena's loyalty…"
Her hand trailed from his head and moved beside his cheek. Her fangs rubbed together slightly as she substituted a kiss for a simple sniff of his natural fragrance. "Mileena wishes she had lips to kiss you with, Kuai Liang. However, if you've no realm, we cannot be together and grow."
She felt Smoke's presence grow closer to her, though he was very respectful to her space.
"Mileena will leave you in care of your friend." She lowered her head and nuzzled Sub-Zero's neck lightly as she held his torso in a light embrace. "Be well, my prince." She said in parting as she forced herself away from Sub-Zero and stormed beyond Smoke.
Smoke lightly grasped Mileena by the arm to slow her down, and released her just as quickly. "Where are you going?"
Mileena remained in place just long enough to give Sub-Zero one more glance. "To help my sister and to get our best friend back. Take care of Kuai Liang."
As Mileena stormed toward the fortress, she was greeted by the vision of Ermac escorting a weakened Sindel out of the building. She only glared at them, and cared not for anything they said so long as Kitana was in danger. All she heard was 'I'm sorry' from Sindel over and over again, but she did not respond to her.
Every hall was scampered through quickly and shortcuts were taken to lead Mileena up to the very top of the fortress within minutes. Her heightened speed and memory of the construction helped her along tremendously, and it ultimately led her to Kitana in the rain.
She crouched beside her sister to check her for injuries quickly, but before the siblings could speak, there was a loud cry of war from Liu Kang.
Liu'a brutal barrage of right back-fists and left punches followed by left back-fists and right punches cracked into Shao Kahn's mask. The tyrant staggered backward.
Kahn's hammer hit the rooftop with a resounding thud.
With a final barrage of strikes, Liu Kang put Shao Kahn down with a mighty uppercut to his chin. Kahn's feet left the ground as he soared up and splashed onto the rooftop.
Wounded, Liu Kang spat blood off to his right and lifted one arm to defend himself if Shao Kahn still wished to battle him. "It's over!" Liu Kang shouted out over the light rumble of thunder building overhead. "Your time is done, Shao Kahn. Surrender and return all the souls to their rightful place!"
"Satele…you were right…" Shao Kahn bellowed with a blood-filled laugh as he pushed himself to his feet. "The time did come where I became…too old for this work." Kahn continued to laugh to himself as he faced away from Liu Kang. Despite the battle not being over, and despite his lack of declaring defeat, Shao Kahn did not lift his hands to battle Liu Kang. "Foolish mortal. Your entire species was created to bow before me, and this shall be until my dying breath!" Kahn summoned his mighty hammer to his palm. "The voice of the One Being…it beckons me to glory!"
Liu Kang viewed Kahn in disgust and lowered his fist. As it clutched into itself tightly, flames began to leap around Liu Kang's fist. "It beckons you to your end!" Liu responded as he held his position facing Kahn.
With a great call of war, Shao Kahn rushed Liu Kang with his hammer held high above his head. Every ounce of his strength went toward his arms as his massive muscles strained to the point his veins nearly ripped out of his damaged skin. Every step he took felt as if it was in slow motion. His long since slain wife and children flashed before his eyes. When he felt the rain splash around his feet, he was reminded of the tears never to fall from his face since that day. He took another heavy, ground shaking step toward the stationary Liu Kang.
He felt the presence of Kitana and Jade with Mileena on her way. There was a pang of regret in his gut for forcing them to replace his dead family. However, that was never to be known or vocalized. All had to perish to correct his mistakes. He was within a meter of Liu Kang and the Shaolin man hadn't moved a muscle.
The slow-motion ended as Kahn grew closer. He brought his hammer down, but his motions were halted by a powerful sensation of pressure and heat against the center of his chest. Kahn's eyes widened as Liu Kang's fist burrowed through his body and blew out a great portion of his back.
Shao Kahn dropped his hammer and staggered backward as Liu Kang's fist fell free from him. Shao chuckled as he collapsed to one knee and held his hand over the massive wound in his chest. Liu Kang held his position and did not advance to end the Emperor, and it made Kahn laugh even more.
"Finish me." Kahn demanded.
"If I kill you." Liu Kang began to speak. "There will just be another proud emperor to fill your place and continue this war. No more." Liu Kang's eyebrows narrowed as he glared upon Shao Kahn. "Return to Outworld wounded, and decree that the Mortal Kombat tournaments between Earthrealm and Outworld are finished!"
Hearing Liu's demands made Kahn laugh even harder, though this time the laughter ended with painful, blood-filled coughs.
"What is so funny?" Kang asked in annoyance.
"It's official." Shao Kahn held his hand up in surrender to make his decree. "…You suck." After the words left his lips, Shao began to laugh so hard, that his strained muscles began to emit a bright golden and green lights. As cracks formed in his body and the sweet embrace of death only made Kahn laugh harder. He did not fight or resist in any way, and within seconds, the emperor's body exploded into chunks of remains.
Liu Kang and Kitana shielded their eyes during the explosion, and once it subsided, all that remained of Kahn was the cracked mask of his sitting in the rain.
"He did it…" Kitana said quietly. Her hand still ached and she clutched it close to her chest while she stood. "It's over. I knew he could do it, injury and all!"
As Liu Kang turned toward Kitana, the heavily battered and bruised champion bowed his head respectfully toward her.
Kitana happily returned the gesture…but as her eyes gazed beyond Liu Kang, she saw the bright, glimmering green image of a human-like figure standing where Shao Kahn formerly stood.
"Liu!" Kitana shouted.
As Kang turned to meet his new foe, the glistening being struck him beneath his chin with such force that Liu Kang's body fell ten meters away near the doorway to the rooftops. Liu Kang was defeated in a single, powerful strike from the glowing creature.
Having never faced this particular foe before, Kitana resorted to using new weapons to try to stop it. She dove for Shinnok's amulet, but just as quickly as she moved aside, the glowing being stood between her and the unconscious Jade. It held the amulet in its hands and knocked Kitana away with a simple knee to her stomach that made her nearly vomit. She held her stomach and staggered backward slowly as she felt her insides try to reposition themselves to a normal alignment. As blood and saliva trickled from her mouth, she fell to a knee and tried to endure enough to stand.
The One Being looked back toward Jade, and then to the amulet it held. "Soon, we will be reunited as one." As the amulet was held toward the raining heavens, another bright flash of green light overtook the rooftops…but soon the light became bloody red and murky. The red lights overtook the dark skies and spread like wildfire for all the survivors on Earthrealm to see.
When the red lights subsided, a gateway from another dimension appeared just behind the One Being. From the depths of time and space, Shinnok finally arrived. The aged and powerful fallen Elder God had seen countless battles in his travels, and collected a tremendous amount of souls. He held his amulet on his belt, but as he stood near the One Being, the two of them merged. Within seconds, the amulet Shinnok came with vanished as did the One Being. Shinnok placed the current dimension's amulet on his belt and basked in the feeling of his now one-hundred-time Godhood.
Shinnok took a deep breath of the rainy air while both arms folded behind his back. "Long time no see, Kitana. It seems you managed to avert Onaga this time around. Admirable." He laughed softly. "However, there are a few things I'd like to do before I claim the last of the One Being's power; I'd like to see if you can last longer than you have the last hundred or so times I've killed your alternative selves. The going record is six seconds, and as fate would have it, I have about seven seconds to spare."
Kitana called upon the power of Raiden and threw both of her hands forward. Lightning surged through the raindrops and made a rapid crisscrossing motion toward the fallen Elder God. However, when the lightning reached him, Shinnok disappeared and just as quickly punched Kitana's spine to the point she thought it broke.
The princess fell forward with her arms crossed over her torso and her legs curled up toward her chest. She couldn't scream, the pain was too powerful and nearly paralyzed her entirely.
"One second. My my. I guess I really didn't save the best for last." Shinnok taunted her in glee. "Every time, you're always alone. Usually, the last woman standing until you're pleading for your life. However, I expected more, since you are the only Kitana aware of her past dimension. You are the last Kitana, but that's fine. Maybe when you serve me in the Netherrealm I'll…-."
A loud crunching sound filled the air as well as a hiss of pain. Mileena's teeth burrowed into Shinnok's left shoulder repeatedly as she took heavy, rapid viper-like bites out of his flesh.
Despite Mileena's best efforts, a massive skeletal hand appeared and plucked her off of Shinnok's back and smashed her to the ground beside her sibling.
"Well, this is new." Shinnok groaned as he examined his bleeding shoulder. "The two of you against me, then? Very well. I'll give this realm a few minutes before I destroy it."
"You will destroy nothing, Shinnok!" Mileena screamed as she crouched near her sister as if ready to pounce. "Mileena and Kitana will end you!"
"Say that again," Shinnok teased, "it is so adorable when you're delusional."
Kitana drew her bladed tessen and remained at her sister's side. She finally gathered all of her breath from the initial strike she received, and was prepared for Kombat. "Liu Kang defeated you once. We shall do so again!"
"Quite right." Still, Shinnok kept his arms folded behind his back. "However, I have traveled between every possible timeline. I have killed every Kombatant hundreds of times over. There is nothing that can topple me, nothing that can overpower me. I am greater than the Elder Gods; I am the true One Being, and my job as ruler of reality has just begun. Soon… you will understand."
As those words left Shinnok's mouth, Jade's eyes suddenly shot open with a bright green glow…
-( A/ N) –
Thank you guys so much for sticking with the story. I hope you enjoy it, and enjoy MKX as well! Things are down to the wire now…keep your fingers crossed for the girls.
What do you think of Shinnok? Also, what do you think is going to happen?