"Where are your fellow Tarkatans?" Reptile asked as Mileena approached himself, Chameleon and Khameleon.
"Um… can I ask you all something?" Mileena cautiously requested.
"Sure." Reptile allowed it despite the weirdness of the request.
"Are you three loyal to Shao Kahn?" Mileena asked.
"What sort of question is that?" Chameleon questioned with high suspicions.
"I'm… planning on… helping the villagers that we are supposed to attack." Mileena revealed, worried that the Saurians would consider her as a traitor. "I just wanted to know if you're willing to do the same."
"You want to betray your father?" Khameleon was surprised.
"I don't know if I want to leave my father's side." Mileena admitted. "But I do know that those villagers and my sister don't deserve death."
"We're with you." Reptile confirmed with Chameleon and Khameleon also nodding.
"Thank you!" Mileena thanked the Saurians.
"Shao Kahn drove our race to near extinction." Khameleon revealed. "There's no way that we'd ever truly be loyal to him."
"I'm sorry to hear that." Mileena apologized. "H-has he done this to other species?"
"Vampires, Kytinn and the Edenians are those I can think of." Chameleon listed. "All of them were driven to near extinction during Shao Kahn's conquest of their residing realms."
"Osh-Tekk and Naknadans were also victims of his conquest." Khameleon added. "Though they were fortunate enough to not have been massacred due to probably surrendering from the early stages of the invasion on their realm."
"That's horrible... I had no idea that he'd done such things." Mileena was horrified merely from the thought of his father's evil deeds. "Wait, what are Edenians?"
"They're much like you." Reptile informed. "They're humanoids with long lifespans with the possession of magical abilities."
"They were very generous to our realm that was called Zaterra." Khameleon recalled. "Fond memories…"
"We will relive them again, sis." Chameleon assured. "Someday…"
"There was one benefit of the conquest." Reptile stated. "It was meeting you, Axoltia."
Khameleon's transparent grey cheeks glowed white, the equivalent of a human blushing. "Always so sweet." She commented. "Which is why I love you."
"I love you too." Reptile replied as the two embraced. "I was equipped with a map to the village. Shall we get moving?"
"I'm ready." Mileena informed and Chameleon nodded.
"Lead the way, my love." Khameleon instructed.
Meanwhile at the village of Sun Do, Li Mei, Jade and the other villagers who had journeyed to the central portal in Outworld and destroyed it had returned. It was nighttime and most of the villagers were asleep besides for those who were on guard duty.
"Li Mei!" One of the guards called out in worry. Li Mei had fallen asleep in the arms of Jade. "Is she alright?"
"She just needs some rest." Jade assured. "Some medics have already checked on her."
"Thank goodness." The guard replied, now relieved. "Our village would've been doomed long ago were it not for all her work."
"She is quite spectacular." Jade complimented her beloved. "I'll take her home."
"Good work everyone." The guard congratulated as he let the group enter the village walls.
Jade knew the location of Li Mei's home as she had already shown Jade her home earlier in the day. Jade carried Li Mei into her cozy log home which had two small floors. The first floor was halved with one side being a kitchen and the other being a living area. To the right was the kitchen which had the usual counters, oven and cupboards. It also had a considerably large width table but was short in height with many cushions to be used as seats for the many visitors Li Mei tended to invite to her home were piled up in the corner of the room.
On the left side was the living room. A comfortable sofa stood against the wall with a coffee table directly in front of it. There was also an armchair in the corner of the room with a nightstand with a candle on top by the chairs side to brighten the room whenever Li Mei chose to read her books from the closeby bookshelf. The main lightsource came from the warm fireplace.
A stairway in the centre of the room acted as the cut off point between the two areas of the kitchen and living room. The left side of the stairs themselves had a door that led to a small bathroom that took up the space beneath the stairway. Jade, still with Li Mei in her arms, walked past the homely welcome mat and climbed up the creaky stairs. The upper floor was even smaller than the first floor, it would be considered the attic area to most transformed into a bedroom as the curved roof limited the rooms space. An old beige coloured carpet covered the entire floor. The back of the room had a bed and a desk with a candle, a book and a pen that lay atop of it. A wardrobe and many chests and baskets were organized neatly in the room for storage. Jade lay Li Mei in her bed before going to leave under the assumption that a tent had been set up for her.
"Where are you going?" Li Mei asked gently.
"Oh! You're awake!" Jade said having been startled. "I was just going to find a place to stay in…"
"I didn't give you a house tour for no reason." Li Mei laughed. "There's room for you in my bed."
Jade blushed. "Ar-are you sure?" She asked. "The bed might be a bit too small."
"Ain't nothing wrong with snuggling." Li Mei replied. "Join me."
"Of course." Jade accepted the offer. "I just need a minute to get ready…"
The next morning had arrived and Jade decided to prepare breakfast for herself and Li Mei as she thought it'd be a nice surprise for her injured lover. Half way into her cooking, the footsteps creaked as Li Mei walked down them.
"Jade?" Li Mei called out. "Are you making breakfast?"
"Bacon and eggs." Jade informed. "Sorry, I should've asked for your permission before cooking…"
"No need to apologize for committing an act of kindness." Li Mei assured. "Thank you, my love."
"Anything for you." Jade said with a warm smile. "It's almost ready."
"Okay." Li Mei replied. Suddenly, a knock on the front door could be heard. "I'll get it!"
Li Mei opened the door and was met by Raiden. "Greetings, Li Mei." Raiden greeted.
"Hello, Raiden." Li Mei greeted back. "Do you need something?"
"Not currently." Raiden replied. "I just came to thank you for your help and that I'm making preparations to send your village extra resources and protection."
"Thank you so much." Li Mei thanked. "How is Earthrealm?"
"The invasion has died down… for now." Raiden informed.
"Well that's good to hear." Li Mei said with happiness. "I wish you luck on defending it if any more threats arrive."
"So long as Shao Kahn lives the invasion will go on." Raiden sadly stated.
"There will be many parties in Outworld once he's gone." Li Mei imagined.
"As will Earthrealm." Raiden added. "One last thing, do you know where Shujinko is?"
"He said he knew someone who could also help with protecting our village." Li Mei informed.
"When he returns can you tell him to return to Earthrealm?" Raiden requested. "His master wants to see him."
"I promise I will." Li Mei promised.
"I should return to Earthrealm now." Raiden realized. "Goodbye for now."
"Goodbye." Li Mei bid farewell.
"Stay safe." Raiden replied before teleporting back to Earthrealm.
Back at the main entrance of the village, Mileena and her new Saurian friends approached. Daahraan who was guarding the entrance, stopped them.
"What brings you here, travellers?" Daahraan asked them politely.
"Do you know if somebody called Kitana is in this village?" Mileena asked.
"Pardon my suspicions," Daahraan requested. "But who's asking?"
"Her sister." Mileena informed.
"I don't recall Queen Sindel having two daughters." Daahraan thought back to his days in Edenia.
"You know my mother?" Mileena asked.
"I used to be one of her royal guards." Daahraan informed. "But the news would have informed the entire of Edenia about your birth."
"I think you're confused." Mileena believed. "We're from Outworld."
"You? Possibly." Daahraan noted. "Kitana? Not a chance."
"Sis?" Kitana suddenly called out.
Mileena turned and saw her sister. "Kitana!" She replied with joy as the two ran to embrace each other. "I had hoped to have found you here."
"I assume Shao Kahn is unhappy with this village?" Kitana guessed.
"I had been ordered to lead an attack on this place." Mileena informed. "I've defied him and have made friends with these kind Saurians."
"The work of this village is inspiring." Reptile commented.
"That people have found the courage to defy Shao Kahn is incredible." Khameleon added.
"Well I wasn't left with a choice." Kitana admitted. "I questioned the origins of Mileena and he arrested me."
"That's very extreme seeing that you're his daughter." Khameleon pointed out.
"What else would you expect from Shao Kahn?" Chameleon asked.
"That's because I'm not his daughter." Kitana informed them. "Turns out that I was the princess of the Queen of Edenia Sindel."
"Wait… Sin-Sindel?!" Mileena repeated. "Father revived my mother and she's called Sindel, she apparently doesn't look Tarkatan because of the resurrection process."
"Mothers alive?!" Kitana was shocked.
"But she isn't your actual mother." Mileena reminded her. "Remember what father told us?"
"He's a liar." Kitana informed her. "Daahraan told me the truth."
"That's me." Daahraan added.
"You never said what actually happened to my mother." Kitana pointed out. "Can you tell us?"
"Shao Kahn forced your mother to marry him." Daahraan explained. "She was the empress of Outworld for only a short period of time. Due to my imprisonment, I don't know how her reign concluded."
"Any theories?" Kitana asked.
"There was one gossip that I heard from a few of the miners." Daahraan recalled again. "But I don't think you want to hear it, especially when it's merely speculation…"
"Any information we'll take." Kitana assured.
"Very well then." Daahraan proceeded. "She supposedly committed suicide…"
"What?!" Kitana yelled out. "Why? Why would she leave me to grow up with that monster?!"
"I'm sorry, Kitana." Daahraan apologized. "But she must've felt trapped in the grasps of Shao Kahn, it makes sense why she'd want to escape…"
"So… Sindel's not my mother?" Mileena asked with sadness in her voice.
"Apparently not." Kitana said as she wiped forming tears from her eyes.
"Then who is?!" Mileena asked as she became frustrated. "Father told me that Sindel is my mother and she's treated me as if I am her daughter. Now I'm being told that she's only Kitana's mother… so what am I?"
"I'm not sure." Was all Kitana could reply with. This frustrated Mileena even more and caused her to launch one of her Sai at the floor in a fit of rage, purple sparks emerging from the Sai as it soared to the ground.
"What was that?" Daahraan asked.
"S-sorry…" Mileena apologized. "I'm just angry is all."
"I'm referring to that purple magic." Daahraan explained. "That ethereal energy resembles that of an Edenian."
"Then what am I?!" Mileena cried out.
"I'm unsure." Daahraan admitted. "I apologize to the pair of you, this is a difficult mystery to figure out."
"It's not your fault." Kitana replied as she began to compose herself. "No matter where you came from Mileena, I'm still going to be your sister."
"Thank you." Mileena thanked before the two hugged once again. "I must visit Baraka now, he is busy guarding the Flesh Pits. Were it not for him, I'd have never found the courage to disobey father."
"Do you want me to come with you?" Kitana asked. "And what if there's something in those Flesh Pits? Something that could reveal your identity?"
"Please do." Mileena accepted her company. "But why do you say that?"
"I have suspicions that Shao Kahn arranged something," Kitana explained. "Something that could alter your DNA?"
"Th-that's absurd!" Mileena yelled.
"The only way to find out if it's true is by entering the Flesh Pits ourselves." Kitana stated. "Only if you want to."
"I don't want to go in that place but I do want answers." Mileena considered. "I'll risk it with you."
"Brilliant." Kitana responded. "Oh and Syzoth, Axoltia and Oculto, make yourselves welcome."
"Will do." Reptile responded as Chameleon nodded and Khameleon waved goodbye as the two sisters walked off.