As she entered her bedroom, Francine looked down at the ship in the bottle. Placing it down on the bedside table, she signed.
"Croach has a lot of explaining to do."
"Do I? I hope I don't get interrogated."
Francine's eyes shot up to the familiar monkey woman who appeared in the mirror. Croach had a towel wrapped around her body and head.
"What are you doing outside my mind?" Francine asked, sitting in a chair before the mirror. You better start explaining yourself. Why is that bottle out here?"
"Woah, can't a monkey have a self-care day?" Croach removed her towels and began to blow dry her hair. "I put that bottle in those monsters' cells because I felt like it."
She rolled her eyes as Croach's poor explanations continued to fry Francine's mind. She rested her head against the wood of the vanity.
"Still not going back to Earthrealm? I thought that bastard would've sent you back already." Croach dressed in her usual outfit, applying the red and white paint to her face.
"It's been years at this point. I doubt I'm ever going back. He should've left me dead…"
"No, can do. You're lucky Shang Tsung placed me in you." Croach crossed her arms. "He did it as a favor for me."
"Favor? What's the favor?"
Croach smacked her head, and Francine knew what answer was coming.
"I forgot! Y'know, the older I get, the harder it is to remember things."
Francine groaned and picked up the blade Shang Tsung had given her. She unsheathed the blade and played with it, and Croach took notice.
"That's my blade too. What's next? He's going to make you paint your face like I do?"
"This is yours?"
"Flip the casing. It should have a Chinese character on it."
Francine did as Croach told her, finding the Chinese character on it.
"What does it mean?"
"Protection. You bring it around with you, right?"
"I did before, but Shang Tsung told me not to anymore. He's worried it'll get damaged."
Croach snickered.
"Sure, hope you're keeping it safe."
The two sat in silence until Francine broke it.
"So, no answering my questions?"
"I'll answer one, I promise." Croach lifted her right hand and placed the other one on her heart.
"Why did Shang Tsung put you in me?"
"Missed having a body, that's all."
"Is that the favor he did for you?"
Croach wagged her finger.
"I'm only answering one question. See you later, Francine." Croach disappeared in the mirror's reflection.
Francine took the blade and hid it under her dress. There's no point in worrying now.
"Croach..." Francine shook her head and exited the room, wondering why Croach always put her on an information diet.
She reached the high point of the palace and sat on the edge. Gazing down at the slaves still working, she realized that Shang Tsung still had their work, though the palace was complete. Heavy footsteps sounded behind Francine, and a hand snaked to her shoulder.
"You appear unwell." Shang Tsung clutched Francine's shoulder tighter.
"I am unwell. I want to go back home." Francine said.
Shang Tsung laughed and released Francine's shoulder.
"Soon, my dear."
"It's always soon, isn't it."
"No, this night is the soon. I do not need you anymore."
Francine's face scrunched up into a stunned expression. Usually, Shang Tsung would drag on her pleading request, but not this time. Francine jumped up and grabbed Shang Tsung.
"Are you serious?!"
"I am."
"Really?!"
"Yes. Besides, you have the blade."
Francine looked down to her blade and back up to Shang Tsung.
"So when I go back, how will I explain everything?" Francine said.
"Whatever do you mean?"
"My face, my powers, Croach…"
Shang Tsung stood frozen beside Francine.
"Are you doing a favor for her, she keeps saying–"
"Do not listen to that monkey. That thing is a parasite. It was a last resort to revive you."
Shang Tsung fell silent at the question and motioned Francine to follow him. As the two walked together, Shang Tsung stayed quiet until they entered the chamber that housed the dragon army and soul tornado.
"I will admit I have placed Croach within you." Shang Tsung said.
"Obviously, but why? The real reason this time."
"She is the other piece to return you to Earthrealm. Both the blade and Croach will be needed."
"Croach told me that the blade you gave me was her's."
Shang Tsung nodded.
"That is correct."
Francine groaned, growing impatient.
"Why can't I go back right now? Or, like at any other time, I've asked to return home."
"You were not ready."
"Bullshit."
Shang Tsung rolled his eyes and turned to the dragon army, each soldier looking as if they were ready for combat.
"A full moon is required."
"Isn't there a full moon every month?"
"Within Earthrealm, yes. But this island, no. It takes years for a full moon to appear."
Now that Francine has thought about it, it is never complete whenever she looks at the moon in the evening. It is always a half-moon.
"So that's it? Just have the blade on me and come here when the moon is out?"
"Correct." Shang Tsung turned to Francine. "I believe–"
"Is the moon coming soon?" Francine crossed her arms.
"You would have known if you had not rudely interrupted me. The moon shall appear tonight."
Francine looked away from Shang Tsung to the dragon army, thinking of all the events from the past years.
"Then it's goodbye," Francine said.
Shang Tsung laughed softly but tried hiding it with a cough.
"What's funny?"
"It is nothing. I believe it is time to feed those demons in the basement."
Francine exited the chambers and headed to the pile of corpses outside the palace. Thankfully, the mass grave hasn't claimed too many new victims in the past couple of days. Francine ran to one of the random wheelbarrows and pushed it to the pile. She winced. Some of the corpses were more degraded than others, their souls ripped from their bodies. She held her breath and picked up one of the familiar-looking corpses.
Li Mei?
The black-haired woman's corpse laid a still hollow husk between Francine's arms, her mouth gaped open. Next to the pile of corpses, a small child stared up at Francine while holding a stick behind her, and her eyes shot open at Li Mei.
"She died?" The child stood back from Francine as she whimpered.
"Shang Tsung killed her." Francine's eyes turned a different color, and she eagerly grinned at the child. "How about you take her, drag her corpse with your pathetic strength, and tell all your friends about it." Francine dropped Li Mei before the child and returned to her duties. The child scrambled to the other slaves.
Francine shook her head and pushed the wheelbarrow.
"Why the hell did you do that?" Francine said.
"Sorry, that kid was creeping me out. Plus, people should know how Shang Tsung is taking out their people." Croach said, giggling within Francine's mind.
"But… don't they already know?"
"Who knows." Croach's laughing grew faint as she seemed to slip deep within Francine's mind.
Francine reached the chambers of the two onus, pulling the lever to open the jaded doors. Once inside, Francine noticed Drahmin already emerging from the depths. He stood before Francine as she dumped the corpses.
"Mostly females…" Drahmin picked up one of the corpses and tore her clothing off.
"You wanted men instead? Why do they have more meat on their bodies?"
Drahmin ignored Francine as she dragged one of the corpses to his cell.
"Where's Moloch?" Francine said.
Drahmin brought his finger to his mask's mouth, signaling Francine to be quiet. He walked back to her.
"He is busy and has made ten ships in a bottle." Drahmin sat on the ground and continued with his meal.
"Sorry, that weird thing happened the other day. I don't know how that bottle showed up."
Drahmin grunted and scratched his head, too focused on the corpses.
"Do you still want to eat together?"
Drahmin grunted again, making Francine wonder if that was a yes or no.
"I'm going back to my home. Shang Tsung's letting me go back to what you call Earthrealm."
Drahmin stopped eating and looked up at Francine.
"You are an Earthrealmer?"
"One hundred percent purebred Earthrealmer."
Drahmin got close to Francine's face, mask nearly grazing her.
"I shall eat with you; however, it will be elsewhere." Drahmin looked back to his and Moloch's cell.
"Well, ya, don't wanna be caught. Especially by Shang Tsung."
The two went outside the chamber, and Francine pulled on the lever to close the jade doors. Drahmin carried the female corpse he gnawed on. They went halfway through the narrow corridor before Francine stopped and turned to one of the walls.
"I can't believe this was put here– I'm not surprised because it's Shang Tsung's place, but still." Francine motioned Drahmin to follow her, and the two made it to the highest point of the palace. "Nice place, isn't it?"
Drahmin nodded and sat on the palace ledge.
"I don't think it's a good idea to sit there. What if someone sees us?" Francine said, leaning against one of the pillars.
Drahmin shrugged at her comment and continued eating. The female corpse had its bone left intact from the bites Drahmin took out of its flesh. Francine grimaced at sight, particularly at the blood staining Drahmin's chin.
"Why do you guys like eating people so much? Regular food is better anyways…"
"We must, to sustain ourselves."
Drahmin growled into the bite he took of the female's eye, and it collapsed into a jelly-like substance.
"God–" Francine covered her ears at the gross slime-like sounds. "Can you eat quieter?"
Drahmin glared at Francine through the pitch-black sockets of his mask. He ripped the corpse's head off and threw it at Francine, narrowly missing her stomach. He chuckled at his childish behavior.
"Nice, wasting what's your food. Y'know, there's not many corpses left." Francine inched away from the severed head. "If I stop judging you, will you stop grossing me out?" Francine said.
Drahmin grunted, begrudgingly accepting the minor deal. He placed the corpse behind him and tapped next to himself.
"Sit."
Francine slowly went over and sat down, and crossed her arms.
"This shouldn't be interrogation time, but I have one question. What's the favor Shang Tsung is doing for you?"
Drahmin drummed his fingers against his thigh, turning to Francine.
"I seek Quan Chi. He betrayed Moloch and me." Drahmin huffed at his thoughts.
"Really, how?" Francine crossed one leg over the other.
"We had taken pity upon Quan Chi. He sought relief from this other being. From our travels, we located a portal to escape the Netherrealm. But Quan Chi closed the portal before I and Moloch crossed."
"I see, but how does Shang Tsung work into this? He and Quan Chi…"
Drahmin shook his head.
"I am surprised those two have not killed each other as of yet. Moloch and I must ensure there's no harm done to Shang Tsung or his palace."
"Are you serious?" Francine held her face. "Honestly, I thought those two were in love. At least Shang Tsung doesn't seem to love Quan Chi from what you're saying."
Drahmin chuckled at Francine's comment. The two sat for a moment before strange figures appeared in the distance. Francine squinted at the figures before pulling her binoculars out of her dress.
What the?
A group walked through the grassy plains, each appearing stoic as they approached the palace. The tallest one in the middle wore a straw hat.
"Is there a problem?" Drahmin said.
Francine immediately opened the secret passage.
"You gotta go back to your cell. I need to tell Shang Tsung who the hell those people are."
Drahmin got up, and the two went through the passage and to the chamber. Francine pushed Drahmin to his cell.
"Ok, pretend we didn't just hang out," Francine said.
"Understood. I have no interest in jeopardizing Shang Tsung's deal."
"Yep, ok." Francine ran as fast as she could out of the chamber, nearly forgetting to pull the lever. She raced down the corridor before bumping into a rigid surface.
"There you are. I suspected the monsters had eaten you."
Shang Tsung extended his hand for Francine to take. "You appeared as if you had seen a ghost."
"Well, I saw something weird in the distance."
Shang Tsung nodded.
"I supposed we have both seen the same group."
Francine sighed a sense of relief before Shang Tsung opened the secret passage. Francine followed Shang Tsung through the passage, where Quan Chi and Tanya stood side by side at the highest point of the palace.
"I am surprised they have found us," Tanya said.
"Hm, quite bold of them to attack head-on." Quan Chi added.
Francine looked at Quan Chi before looking at the closer figures, worry painting her face.
"Francine, whom do you see?" Shang Tsung said.
Francine whipped out her binoculars again and looked through them.
"Damn, that guy in the middle could be a basketball player. He's wearing a straw hat, too."
"Just as I thought, the Earthrealm Defenders had become quite bold. Particularly Raiden…"
Shang Tsung stared down at Raiden to challenge the other man one last time.