Today is an essential day for Francine; it's her twenty-third birthday. She looked into her vanity mirror and rubbed lotion onto her skinned face. Despite serving under Shang Tsung for years, their meeting felt recent. But Francine was a glorified housewife. She kept the palace clean while Shang Tsung was out doing God knows what.

"No, you must not go."

"Why not Shang Tsung? You rarely take me on one of your adventures."

"It is far too dangerous for an Earthrealmer like you. You've made progress, but require additional training time."

"Really, more time for what? Cleaning your throne room again for the hundredth time? Oh wait, I know! It's so I can improve my cooking skills to make you meals every damn day of my life!"

Francine sighed as her mind brought up the recent argument between her and Shang Tsung.

"I don't want to fight with him today," Francine said, adding the finishing touches to her ruby lips, just as Shang Tsung liked them. If I stay silent, I'll have a typical birthday.

Francine got out of the chair and walked to her closet. She picked out that skimpy dress and scratchy accessories. Slipping into the dress, Francine examined herself in the mirror. She pinched the fat that poked out at her side, then pulled the dress down and spun around.

Once she finished up with the rest of her outfit, she walked out of her room. As Francine walked down the long and stretching corridor, the candles on the walls lit up one by one. She stops in front of a large pair of wooden red-oak doors. She pushed open the doors, and a king-sized maroon bed in the middle of the room greeted her. Jade dragon statues lined the walls, and the same candles from the corridor decorated the bedroom's walls.

"Is he still asleep?" Francine tip-toed over to the bed. "No. Then where…?"

Her ears perked up at the sparking sounds across the room.

"Shang Tsung? What are you doing?" Francine stood behind him.

No answer.

"Hello? Did you hear me?"

"Hm."

Shang Tsung placed the torch down on the bench. He lifted his metal welding mask to see Francine.

"I have fixed your shoes. Do not destroy them again." Shang Tsung handed Francine's shoes back to her.

"I'm sorry. Those guys I was fighting were tough, to say the least."

"You still have not completed one of your tasks. Have you forgotten?–"

"No, I haven't 'forgotten'. I've just been busy doing other things." Francine pinched Shang Tsung's cheeks. "All the other ten thousand things I gotta do around here!"

Shang Tsung gripped Francine's wrists, squeezing them. She winces in pain.

"Right… okay, I'll do it." Francine sat in the chair and put her shoes on. The duo walked down the corridor while Francine played with her gloves.

"Really? Why here again?" Francine said.

A giant Buddha statue sat before the duo between two banners of similar size, each painted with red dragons. Lion statues stood on both sides next to the Buddha statue, each with a paw up in the air. One of the shrine temples built on the island was off in the distance behind the Buddha statue.

"Your cleaning was subpar," Shang Tsung said, pointing at a spot on the stone tile where dirt covered its edges.

"What–nobody is gonna see that!" Francine threw her hands in the air.

"Would the same attitude apply to your own home?"

"No, but–"

"Then my point still stands! You will cleanse every surface here." Shang Tsung stood back from Francine and crossed his arms.

Francine sighed, walking back inside the palace. She returned wearing a pink bandana and tan apron. She held a bucket of water and a broom. As Francine scrubbed the lion statues, Shang Tsung watched her like a hawk.

"Y'know, you have a lot of these statues here. How come?" Francine said, wiping one of the lions' noses.

"Let us say I claimed what was rightfully mine." Shang Tsung said.

Francine paused from her cleaning and squinted her eyes. She turned to face Shang Tsung as she dropped the rag back into the bucket.

"I–okay, whatever…" Francine said.

A couple hours passed as Francine cleaned the spot she missed while cleaning last time. She sat on the edge of the stone railing, staring at the birds flying by. Footsteps came behind her.

"Is that my reward?" Francine said.

"Mhm."

Shang Tsung placed a tray with a tea set and shortbread cookies on the railing. A jam jar, two knives, and plates sat beside the tea set. Shang Tsung poured the tea into the cups and handed one to Francine.

"Hibscius?"

"Yes, Francine."

"Good! My favorite." Francine formed an ice cube from her palm and put it in her tea.

Shang Tsung sipped on his tea, eyeing Francine as she enjoyed the shortbread cookies with jam. He lifted his hand to Francine, rubbing the tattooed "09" on her arm.

"Is this healing well?" Shang Tsung said.

"Ya, it hurt like hell when I got it done, though." Francine's hand locked with Shang Tsung's, squeezing it.

"You requested it."

"I know. That doesn't mean the pain wasn't there."

The two sat there in silence as they enjoyed the snacks.

"I'm sorry I got mad at you the other day. I've just been so bored lately."

Shang Tsung chuckled as he placed his teacup down.

"I must say, you dumping a bucket of ice over me did wake me up. But I will accept your apology."

Francine hummed as she finished the last cookie.

"You got me anything for my birthday?" Francine said.

"Look down."

"Hm?" Francine saw a black box on the tray; she picked it up and opened it. "A knife?"

"A dagger." Shang Tsung said.

Francine held the dagger and rubbed its black metal casing with gold detailing. When she removed its top, a sharp blade met her gaze.

"It's nice, but why do I need it?" I got my hockey stick." Francine handed the dagger to Shang Tsung.

"If I am not there to return you to the island, you use the dagger instead."

"Oh, I see. Magic."

Francine poured another cup of tea for her and Shang Tsung. She pushed her cup against Shang Tsung's cup, making a "clink" sound with her mouth.

"What do you want for dinner?" Francine said.

"I will make it tonight."

"Really? Well, alright then."

"What would you like for… desert?" Shang Tsung snaked his hand over to Francine. Her eyes lit up at the mere mention of the desert.

"Oh, cheesecake! Actually, strawberry cheesecake! Wait, more shortbread cookies! No–"

"No desert?" Shang Tsung said.

"Ice cream cake."

"Ice cream cake?"

"Y'know, vanilla ice cream on top of crumbled up–"

Shouting erupted from the ground level of the palace. The duo stared at each other.

"We can talk about this later!" Francine jumped up and stood on the railing. She hopped to a tree and slid down its trunk.

"Francine! Wait!" Shang Tsung grasped the edge of the railing, watching Francine running to the source of the sounds.

"No way…" Francine pulled a pair of small binoculars from her bra and held them up. Shang Tsung ran up to her.

"Who do you see?" Shang Tsung said.

"Uh…" Francine clicked a button on the binoculars. "A bald dude… uh… a yellow guy."

"What else?"

"The bald dude… Jesus, he literally looks like a ghost. Hold up, is that a ninja?" Francine played with her binoculars.

"Bald man… yellow ninja?" Shang Tsung stroked his beard. Suddenly, his head shot up. He mumbles under his breath.

"What?" Francine said.

Shang Tsung cast a portal next to himself and ran right into it. The other portal spawned next to the yellow ninja; Shang Tsung shot through the other side and kicked the ninja's face. The ninja rolled backward into a tree. Shang Tsung threw a fireball at the ninja but missed.

"Shit!" Francine dropped her binoculars and skated over to the fight. She lifted her leg in the air as she skated towards the ninja. Her skate hits the ninja in his stomach, sending him straight into the same tree. Before the ninja could get up, Francine gripped his arms and spun him around. She chucked him straight through the sky, watching him fall in the distance.

"Well…" Francine turned to face Shang Tsung. "That was something!"

Shang Tsung helped the bald man up to his feet. The man dusted himself off.

"Hm, it is unexpected to see you again, let alone here, Quan Chi." Shang Tsung said.

Francine crossed her arms, pointing at Shang Tsung.

"You know him? Since when?"

"Long before you, Francine." Shang Tsung said, helping the man towards the palace gates.

"Ya, obviously–hey, wait for me!" Francine ran after the men.

…

"How are you, Quan Chi." Shang Tsung finished up bandaging him.

"Much better." Quan Chi said.

"I don't get it." Francine finished up the slice of ice cream cake Shang Tsung made for her. "How do you both know each other?"

"We have known each other for eons, but it is of no importance. Why have you returned to my island, Quan Chi?"

Quan Chi didn't speak, only staring at his hands before he spoke up.

"I seek your assistance. I have discovered a lost tomb…"

"A tomb? What is this tomb you speak of?" Shang Tsung said.

Quan Chi turned to face Shang Tsung. Francine looked up at Quan Chi.

"When I happened upon this tomb, The Dragon King's army was like statues—all mummified."

"Mummies? Big deal, lots of people turned dead people into mummies in the olden days!" Francine said.

Shang Tsung shushed Francine, shewing her way to another room.

"Francine, I have not seen this man in eons, and I do not want you ruining this opportunity for me."

Francine crossed her arms and pouted as she sat at the table. Playing with her hair, she heard the mumbling conversation between Quan Chi and Shang Tsung.

"What are you suggesting, Quan Chi?"

"We must assist each other in reviving the army; it will be useless to do it alone," Quan Chi said. The army may even grant you eternal life."

"Eternal life, you say…"

Francine groaned when she heard the phrase "Eternal life." Shang Tsung only talked about extending his life without relying on soul harvesting.

Shang Tsung can finally shut up about living forever and get a life.

Shang Tsung walked back into the room Francine sat in, and he tapped her shoulder.

"All set?" Francine said.

"Yes." Shang Tsung's hands lifted Francine's chin. "I have… allied with Quan Chi."

"Huh?"

"It will be the only way to satisfy my lifelong dream."

"Eternal life," Francine said in a mocking tone.

"Hm, the curse may leave my being."

"Ya well… have fun, I guess!" Francine looked back at her hair, noticing it getting longer.

"You must do a task for me."

"What's in it for me?"

"If you assist us in reviving the Dragon King's army, I will consider it a worthy reason to allow you to return to Earthrealm."

"Hold up! Are you serious!?"

Shang Tsung nodded, giving Francine a pat on the back.

"What I gotta do!?"

"For Quan Chi and I to ensure our ruling over the army, we must remove any obstacles that may be in our way." Shang Tsung looked over to make sure Francine was paying attention. "You must locate Liu Kang and study him."

"Who?"

"He–"

"Oh, wait. Nevermind. I remember him. Okay, so you want me to be a spy?"

"Yes… but–"

"Oh man, I'm gonna be like Agent 007." Francine shaped her fingers into a gun and pointed them at Shang Tsung. "Bang, bang!"

Shang Tsung rolled his eyes.

"Yes, but you must examine him—his movements and all. He lives in the Wu Shi Academy; you mustn't get caught, lest you ruin the mission."

"Okie dokie, don't worry, I got this."

Shang Tsung cast a portal behind Francine. A lush green grassland and mountains appeared. In the distance, shrines and temples resembled those on the island.

Francine walked through the portal before stopping in her tracks and turning around.

"How will I get back?" Francine said.

"The dagger."

"Oh, yeah! Okay!" Francine ran up to Shang Tsung, hugged and kissed him on the cheek before going through the portal.

"We have much work to do, Quan Chi."

"Indeed, let us not waste any more time."

Shang Tsung cast another portal, and the duo walked through it.