Francine dropped her binoculars, the metal clanking on the ground. Though she recognized only Kung Lao among the group heading for the castle, she clutched the stone wall as fear flooded her.
"I didn't think there were this many of them." Francine's gaze shot to Shang Tsung, his face cold with a glint of mischief in his eyes. "You never told me–"
"And, pray tell, why would I have told you?" Shang Tsung spat out. "Will that monkey within your body protect us, let alone yourself?"
Francine frowned at Shang Tsung before pushing him back by only a foot, sensing anger boiling underneath herself.
"You gonna pick a fight with me now? Are you serious? I'll tell you what, maybe if I had something going on in my life," Francine shoved Shang Tsung again, this time with greater force. "Wasn't your bitch," Another shove connected to Shang Tsung. "Something you kept as a plaything–"
Quan Chi stepped behind Francine and held her back.
"That is enough from both of you, especially you, Francine. We do not have time for you to argue like children. You must head inside the castle and alert Kano. You will meet us outside the castle entrance." Quan Chi released Francine's shoulders. "Do you understand?"
Francine looked over her shoulder to Shang Tsung and huffed before walking onto the castle.
"I am not quite sure what has gotten into her." Shang Tsung stroked his beard, smug washing over himself. "No matter, I wonder how the thunder god's head will appear upon my mantle…"
…
Trudging her way through the palace corridors, Francine finally found Kano in the living room, his feet on the coffee table, snoring away. Francine groaned and slapped Kano's shoulders, jolting the man awake.
"Ah, looks like someone delivered a sweet treat for me…" Kano pulled Francine close to himself, his hand resting on the small of her back. "Seems that something got you wound up–"
Suddenly, Francine gripped Kano's balls and gave them a firm squeeze. Kano clutched the sofa's armrests, trying his best not to choke.
"You're gonna get off your ass and make you and your friends useful. We have some guests that have to be taken care of."
"What sort of guests?" Kano spoke through his strained breaths.
"Shang Tsung called them the Earthrealm Defenders." Francine gave Kano's balls another death-grip squeeze. "I'm not gonna tell you again."
"Alright! Just let go already!" Kano pushed away Francine and finally let out a sigh of relief. He got up and walked away from Francine, mumbling about some woman named Sonya. Francine felt the familiar tingle of Croach's invasion within her mind.
"Men, they never change even after all these years." Croach laugh echoed through Francine's mind.
"Not now, Croach, there are bigger things to deal with." Francine shook and walked to the castle entrance.
"So, does this mean that I can show mine– I mean ours– ass-kicking abilities?" The sound of Croach's knuckles cracking reverberating.
"No, I hope not."
"Ah, well, there's always next time."
Croach's voice slowly faded from Francine's mind as she neared the palace's entrance. As Francine opened the palace's front doors, Shang Tsung and the others were already standing before her, the tension in the air suffocating. No one on either side made a move. Francine grabbed Shang Tsung's shoulder, but just as quickly, Shang Tsung swatted away her hand.
"Why are we all just standing here?" Francine whispered to Shang Tsung.
"It appears that Raiden may have reconsidered his challenge to us."
Francine's gaze reached across to the man wearing the straw hat, a grimace on his face. He then stepped forward from the line of the Earthrealm Defenders.
"Shang Tsung, for far too long, your malice has infected the lives of those within these realms, which ends now. Either you and your fellow members surrender or face the consequences."
The tension grew even thicker, and it seemed like minutes had passed instead of seconds. Shang Tsung stood in place as if he didn't have a care in the world. He fisted his hand before himself, a green light illuminated between the gaps of his fingers. Francine could see the slight shifting of Raiden's feet before Shang Tsung spoke.
"That decision you presented before me will not happen, Raiden. Besides," Shang Tsung unclenched his fist and revealed the green lights of a soul. But not just any soul. The ghostly face of Li Mei faded in and out of the light, and the faintest cries of help sounded within the soul. "I have already captured one of your beloved beings for my collection. Now, I am required to complete that collection."
Right as Shang Tsung finished his sentence, a large man with a considerable gut came running up from the other side, his fist clenched, ready to strike Shang Tsung.
"Bo Rai Cho, don't!" Raiden tried to grab the man, but it was too late.
Francine lept before Shang Tsung, casting an ice blast upon the man, freezing his legs in place.
All hell broke loose, fighters from either side charging at one another. The man that Francine froze in place broke free and uppercut her, sending Francine back into the ground. Blood pooled from Francine's nose, but she quickly got up and launched herself at the man, wrapping her arms around Bo Rai Cho from behind.
"How dare you kill Li Mei!" Bo Rai Cho bucked against Francine like a mad bull.
"I didn't kill her." Francine picked him up with all her might and held the man by his arms, swinging them around repeatedly. "If you want your revenge, you can have it!" Francine threw the man straight to Shang Tsung.
Shang Tsung held Johnny Cage in a choke hold, his nerves pricking up as he felt the air shift around him. His eyes darted to the mass flying towards him.
At the last possible second, Shang Tsung brought Johnny Cage before himself, and Bo Rai Cho collided with the two with a loud bang. Johnny took most of the impact, blood spurting from his mouth as a pained groan came out, sending all of them back a few feet. Shang Tsung dropped Johnny Cage and walked over his and Bo Rai Chos' bodies. Shang Tsung glared at Francine.
"Do you think it is funny to kill me nearly–" Shang Tsung's breath left his body as Sonya suckered and punched him in the stomach.
Shang Tsung punched Sonya in her face, but the woman shocked Shang Tsung with a taser. He immediately fell back from the shock, not before grabbing the taser and crushing it to bits. Sonya huffed and grabbed Shang Tsung's arms, flinging him onto his back. Shang Tsung clutched onto the ground and pushed himself up, but Sonya stopped him.
"Not as strong as I remember you, Shang Tsung." Sonya kicked Shang Tsung in the face but felt Tsung push himself up.
In the blink of an eye, Shang Tsung clutched his hand around Sonya's neck, his fingers digging into her flesh. Sonya kicked around until Shang Tsung brought his other hand before Sonya's face. Her eyes shot open with horror as she thrashed around. A green glow cast out from Shang Tsung's hand, and Sonya felt her life force sucked away from her being, and her legs gave out as her skin grew a grey cast over it. Sonya groaned before her body grew limp, and Shang Tsung dropped her to the ground.
"Help me!' Francine cried out as Kung Lao held her down, and the sharp edges of his hat threatened to break the skin of Francine's neck. Francine tried to form ice around Kung Lao's hands to immobilize him.
"Seems I've ground immune to your ice powers." Kung Lao pushed his hat further into Francine's skin, blood trickling out and staining the bladed brim of the hat.
Francine closed her eyes, accepting the death that was waiting for her. The weight upon Francine's neck lifted, and she looked to find Tanya restraining Kung Lao.
"Francine, it is far too dangerous for you here," Tanya grunted as Kung Lao tried to yank his hat from Tanya's hand. "Seek shelter within the castle!"
Francine lay there, stunned by the fighting and bloodshed before her, her fingers dug into the ground.
"Now!" Tanya shouted out before Kung Loa freed himself from her hold.
Francine scurried up and ran well into the castle, reaching her room and locking the door behind herself. She curled into a ball in the corner of her room, trying to prevent herself from breaking down.
How can this be happening? It's not my fault… It's the people around me who want to fight.
"Are you sure about that?" Croach's voice appeared out of nowhere, scaring Francine.
"No, no! Go away!' Francine tore her shoes off and threw them before herself.
A ghostly white form appeared before Francine. Croach monkey humanoid form materialized in the real world. Croach blinked a few times and stretched, crawling on all fours toward Francine. The other woman tried to back herself further into the corner, but there was nowhere for Francine to go. Croach's face stood mere inches from Francine's. Her creepy, inhuman smile pierced into Francine's psyche. The nights that Francine suffered through for who knows how long rushed back to her, hitting her like harsh rocky waves at the beach.
"I thought you would be happy to see me. You were earlier." Croach brought a hand to Francine's face, only for Francine to flinch. "Ah, but that's nothing now, is it? Where's Shang Tsung?"
"Outside…"
"Outside still, I expected him to give up already." Croach leaned on the window still, watching the battle happening below.
"What do you mean?" Francine looked up from her curled-up knees.
"Oh, there are many of the Earthrealm Defenders out there. I don't expect this to last long at all." Croach turned to face Francine. "And all you're doing here is cowardly in a corner. How sad!"
Francine scoffed at Croach's comment and got up.
"If you're just here to make fun of me, you should go then. It doesn't matter at this point, anyway. Everyone sees me as a terrible human being."
"The full moon is today. Will you be leaving this place?" Croach searched around Francine's room to find the blade given to her. "You have the blade correct?"
Francine nodded and unsheathed the blade from the holder. Croach clapped her hands together and smiled creepily again.
"Hypothetically, I could send you back home. You wouldn't even need Shang Tsung."
Francine perked up and grabbed Croach's shoulders, but then she paused for a second.
"How come you're only doing this now?"
"You already know the reasons. Besides, had I sent you home prematurely, then I wouldn't have the ability to materialize here, and you would probably die. Patience is a virtue, yes? Not only that, but we would also be doing Shant Tsung a favor by not bothering him." Croach's smile relaxed with still pressed hands.
Francine looked down at the blade. On one hand, what Croach was doing made sense, but unease crept into her mind. She brought the blade to Croach, and Croach immediately took it.
"Though I don't think this would be a good place to do it." Croach painted out the window and gestured to the resting place of the dragon army.
"Why there? My room is pretty private." Francine crossed her arms.
"We can't be dilly-dallying and arguing about where to do this, but it's safest against the enemies out there, right?" Croach seemed to grow more restless and took Francine's hand, pulling her out of her room and into the corridor.
The two of them neared the resting place of the dragon army. While heading there, Francine felt herself growing faint. Croach smacked her back.
"Aren't we going in there?" Francine said.
"Asking far too many questions now. I want you to present your hand to me, palm up."
Francine did as she said and immediately felt the sharp sting of a cut across her palm. Croach did the same to her palm and presented it to Francine.
"A win for the both of us–"
Croach's eyes shot open at a black form coming up from hind Francine and disappeared into thin air. Francine whipped her head around to find Shang Tsung bloody and bruised before her. Shang Tsung took a step forward to Francine.
"Shang Tsung?" Francine backed away from Shang Tsung. "Why aren't you fighting?"
"I shall ask you the same." Shang Tsung grabbed Francine's shoulders and shook her. "Who were you speaking to?"
"I think you know who." Francine pushed Shang Tsung away and rubbed the cut on her palm. Shang Tsung's gaze struck down upon the cut.
"How dare you betray me? You must be insane to listen to that monkey." Shang Tsung clawed into Francine's hand, pressing his thumb into the cut, blood pooling from it. "She does not care for you!"
Francine tried to push Shang Tsung off again, but it was useless. He grabbed Francine's other hand and yanked her downward, placing his foot on her head.
"Let go of me!" Francine struggled against Shang Tsung, her feet kicking this way and that. She froze her hands and Shang Tsung's hands, causing the man to wince in pain.
Francine pushed herself up and shoved Shang Tsung away, the ice breaking and leaving shards embedded within Shang Tsung's skin. She pounced on him and choked him.
"I'm nothing but a slave to you, that's all!" Francine's grip tightened further while Shang Tsung grasped at her wrists. "You've done nothing for me, nothing!" Tears pricked at the corners of Francine's eyes, threatening to shed. "You ruined me."
Tears streamed down Francine's face, the droplets hitting Shang Tsung's cheeks. She slowly released her grip on Shang Tsung's neck. The two sat in silence, neither one moving an inch. Shang Tsung broke the silence.
"There will be no time to send you back." The silence continued as Francine whipped the tears away, kneeling as Shang Tsung rose. "You are truly weak, pathetic even."
Despite Shang Tsung's words, he lends a hand to Francine. She got up and stood before him, her eyes staring downward. Suddenly, Shang Tsung wrapped his arms around Francine, patting her back.
"Tanya was smart to send you away."
"Is… she ok?" Francine forced herself to talk through her sniffling tears.
Shang Tsung sighed and continued rubbing Francine's back.
"She has been injured, though thankfully she is still alive. Quan Chi is still holding them off."
Francine nodded and snuggled into Shang Tsung, her sniffing slowly going away.
"I am sorry." Shang Tsung said.
"You better be–"
Francine's eyes shot open, and her hands immediately shot down to her abdomen, blood dripping onto her hands. The pain was nothing like Francine had experienced before as if a lightning bolt zapped through her. Her mouth hung open as the adrenaline coursed through her blood. She lifted her hands to see her blood painting her hands a shade of dark reddish blue, her vision jumping back to meet Shang Tsung's face, cold and aloof. Slowly, Francine collapsed to the ground, her breathing ragged. A cloud of smoke appeared out of Francine's mouth, mording into a familiar monkey woman. Croach cracked her knuckles as she looked at Shang Tsung.
"So, now, how will you repay your favor? Seeing that you've most likely killed the body I needed." Croach poked at Francine's body with her foot, and the young woman didn't move. "Nice going…"
Shang Tsung gripped the blade tighter.
"Do not pretend I had not seen you outside Francine's body."
"No, pretending here, if you can just give me the blade," Croach materialized the blade in her hand, but this didn't surprise Shang Tsung, taking caution of how he spoke to the monkey woman. "I'll just complete the ritual and be on my way."
"Do not forget the other part of the favor."
Croach rolled her eyes and backed off Francine, showing Croach's cut to her hand. She pressed down on the cut, which somehow was still fresh. She materialized a vial and collected her blood, handing it off to Shang Tsung.
"Fresh ancient monkey blood for thee." Croach bowed before Shang Tsung.
Just before Croach handed the vial to Shang Tsung, she held up her hand.
"I do want to warn you of someone, that man you are, how do you say, close with. I'll just say that blood may come in handy for him." Croach then gave the vial to Shang Tsung, returning to Francine, touching her palm, and completing the ritual.
"Is it complete?" Shang Tsung drank from the vial and winced at the taste of the blood.
"Yes. Now, the army shall truly be yours." Croach pulled on Francine's body and began to drag her down the corridor.
"Wait." Shang Tsung held out a hand. "How do I know you are not tricking me again?"
Croach went back to Shang Tsung and rubbed her hand against his.
"See, not lying. Now, if you excuse me, I'll dispose of her." Croach continued with her, dragging Francine, leaving the man before the chamber of the dragon army.
…
As Croach approached the chamber housing the onis, she stopped before it and kneeled to Francine's body. Croach hoovered a finger underneath Francine's nostrils. A faint breath ghosted her fingers.
"The protection charm has worked, just as I thought." Croach opened the chamber doors and chucked Francine's body into there. As Croach rubbed her finger along the blade, a message with red engravings appeared.
He who seeks power may have it, but beware of the monkey who crosses his path.
A wicked smile appeared on Croach's face, struggling to withhold her laughter.
"Even after all these years, he's still a fool. I've still won." Croach disappeared in a cloud of smoke and reentered Francine's body, the blade cracking into a million pieces beside Francine.