Kitana, Jade, Skarlet, Mileena, Meat, Sindel, Tanya, Reptile, Khameleon, Chameleon and Goro had returned to Outworld and were now walking down the pathway that Shao Kahn had previously took to make it to Earthrealm.
"Is the rest of your race ok?" Kitana asked Goro.
"When looking out the windows of that fortress I saw many Centaurs retreating." Goro explained. "I'm sure my fellow Shokan will be returning to Kuatan as we speak."
"I really wish you two would make peace." Kitana wished.
"It's not that simple." Goro replied. "Especially when Motaro is their leader."
"I understand." Kitana replied. "This is overwhelming…"
"With Shao Kahn gone, we can now resolve Outworld's problems." Sindel informed her daughter. "We can take it one step at a time together."
"Thank you, mother." Kitana said as she felt more relieved. "That is reassuring."
"Once I catch my bearings of our location, may I return to my home city of Kuatan?" Goro requested.
"Of course." Kitana granted the request. "Nobody here is controlling your actions."
"Then is it alright if I go back to Sun Do?" Tanya asked.
"I'll come with you." Jade added. "I'm already missing Li."
"Once a new ruler is decided a public announcement will be given." Kitana decided. "That'll help spread the word."
"Excellent plan, sis." Mileena complimented.
"I have some demands for the next ruler." Baraka informed the group. "I will save them for our meeting though."
"Is it about the Tarkatans?" Mileena asked.
Baraka nodded. "They need-"
The Tarkatan paused as everybody stopped and looked down at the unconscious body of Ermac after the duo of Skarlet and Meat had previously defeated him.
"Poor thing." Sindel commented. "Is there a way we can help him? He was very kind to me during my mind controlled state…"
"He's meant to be entirely loyal to whoever rules Outworld." Chameleon explained. "This means he will side with us once we officially select a new Emperor or Empress."
"I see." Sindel replied. "Oh no!"
Sindel rushed over to Lia who was still struggling after being sparked out by Tremor during the original ambush. Sindel immediately knelt by the beasts side and began stroking its purple hinted fur.
"Don't worry, girl." Sindel said soothingly. "It's alright."
"Shao Kahn's personal pet." Kitana recognized the TaiGore.
"I refuse to just leave her here." Sindel stated.
"I can carry her as well." Goro offered despite already carrying Shao Kahn on one shoulder. "It'd be no problem."
"Thank you, Prince." Sindel said gratefully.
"How do you know so much?" Reptile asked his fellow Saurian friend.
"I pay much attention to things." Chameleon answered somewhat ominously. "I can also tell you of a location where this construct may revitalise himself."
"Where?" Sindel queried.
"There is a Soul Chamber located beneath Shao Kahn's Fortress." Chameleon elaborated. "There is an underground tree there that has many souls trapped within it, souls which can be used to heal Ermac."
"We'll keep that in mind." Kitana responded, grateful for the information. "But we should try freeing those trapped souls afterwards."
"I shall carry him." Sindel informed the group as she gently scooped Ermac up in her arms and continued walking.
"So where are we actually heading?" Skarlet asked.
"Back to Shao Kahn's Fortress." Kitana explained. "Where we'll determine who shall be Outworld's new ruler…"
Meanwhile at Shao Kahn's Fortress, the remainder of Shao Kahn's followers waited in the fortress' meeting room as they were yet to have learned of their Emperor's defeat.
"Why has the merger not taken any effect on Outworld yet?" Reiko anxiously asked. "It should be finished by now right? Right?!"
"This is indeed worrying." Shang Tsung stated though his voice remained calm.
"Do you suggest that Shao Kahn may have failed?" Kollector questioned.
"I would never doubt our Emperor!" Reiko snapped. "I'm just concerned…"
"That sounds like doubt."
A portal suddenly emerged in the meeting room and Talon stepped out and grabbed a seat. Talon placed their hands over their cloaked face as they sat down.
"So what did you find?" Reiko questioned. Talon had been tasked to check in on Shao Kahn per Reiko's orders.
"Nothing." Talon responded.
"What do you mean nothing?!" Reiko was becoming more frustrated. "Answer me!"
"His fortress in Earthrealm has been demolished." Talon answered. "The merger has been cancelled."
Everyone in the room went silent but only for a brief moment as the silence was soon broken by Reiko slamming his fist on the stone table.
"No!" Reiko cried out. "What about Emperor Shao Kahn? Where is he?!"
"I couldn't find his body." Talon replied. "But I found this."
Talon summoned Shao Kahn's Wrath Hammer and placed the heavy weapon on the table, creating a heavy thud.
"He would never leave his hammer behind." Reiko claimed as he began to be more concerned of if his Emperor truly was no more.
Kollector began stretching one of his six blue arms over the table as he went to grab the Wrath Hammer, only for Reiko to smack his hand and proceed to drag the hammer towards himself.
"I want answers." Reiko informed everyone. "Find me our Emperor now!"
"Who put you in charge?" Shang Tsung boldly asked.
"Do you have an argument against me taking temporary leadership?" Reiko gave his own question.
"I was Shao Kahn's closest ally." Tsung pointed out.
"Was?" Reiko repeated. "You make that sound as if Emperor Shao Kahn is dead."
"Well…" Tsung went to reply but was quickly cut off.
"Or are you saying that because you've failed him one too many times?!" Reiko interrupted.
"I created the Soulnado, I resurrected Sindel, I hosted the tournament which Outworld won nine consecutive times, I-"
"But not ten." Reiko interrupted.
"So?"
"Your task was to achieve ten consecutive wins." Reiko reminded him. "You only achieved nine and therefore you failed."
"That feat alone is still far more commendable than anything you've achieved." Tsung argued.
"The praise belongs to Goro alone." Reiko commented. "And was it not the Shadow Priests who did most of the work in reviving Sindel?"
"While you were all at the Coliseum, us Shadow Priests were preparing her revival." Talon revealed. "Shao Kahn being the genius that he is used that tournament in Outworld as a distraction for Sindel's resurrection."
"This is irrelevant!" Shang shouted. "I demand we elect a new leader."
"Fine." Reiko complied. "Raise your hand if you want this old man to lead?"
Only Erron and Garrett raised their hands.
"This is ridiculous." Tsung replied as he was expecting the majority to vote for him.
"So everybody else wants me to take leadership?" Reiko asked.
"I'd rather have neither of you in charge." Talon remarked.
"Well that's just tough luck." Reiko responded. "Now like I had said previously: find Emperor Shao Kahn immediately! And no arguing! I have no time for such pathetic discussion!"
"As you wish." Kollector complied as he stood up. "Maybe he retreated back to the pathway down the portal."
"Shao Kahn would never run away!" Reiko yelled.
"Do you wanna wager that?" Erron Black asked.
"Our best lead is that path." Garrett added.
"I will send my pupils on a search for Kahn." Rain promised the group.
"I will return to my fellow Shadow Priests." Talon informed everyone.
"Do what you must." Reiko decided. "Is there a problem, Shang Tsung?"
"No." The sorcerer answered. "I will do as you ask."
"Finally," Reiko remarked. "Some compliance at last."
"I will tell you this now: you aren't like Shao Kahn as unlike him… I could kill you with ease." Tsung warned.
"Are you revealing plans of betrayal to me?" Reiko quiried. "Just wait until our Emperor hears about this."
"He already knows." Shang Tsung replied. "And now you do too."
"You do not intimidate me, old man." Reiko informed him. "Now get to work."
Elsewhere in Outworld, Tanya and Jade had returned to their home of Sun Do. While Reptile, Chameleon and Khameleon were also welcome to live in the village they were used to being travellers and never having a true home… not since Zaterra.
"They've returned!" One villager on watch duty yelled.
"It's Jade and Tanya!" Another added.
Li Mei and Daahraan soon came out the village gates and Li Mei ran into Jade's arms and Tanya ran into Daahraan's.
"Hey!" Jade said as she hugged Li Mei carefully. "I don't think running in your condition is a good idea."
"I don't care." Li Mei laughed. "So how did it go?"
"Shao Kahn is in our allies custody." Jade happily revealed. "Information of his fate shall be shared once our new ruler is chosen."
"His tyranny ends at long last." Daahraan said with a smile. "I'm proud of you, Tanya."
"Why's that?" Tanya asked.
"You had overcome your fears and helped the others in defeating Shao Kahn." Daahraan praised her. "That is why I am so proud of you."
"Where are our Saurian friends?" Li Mei asked.
"They're still with the others." Jade stated as she let go of her lover. "They're heading to Shao Kahn's Fortress."
"I'll be sure to visit them soon." Li Mei promised.
"As will I." Daahraan added.
"Wait... who's that?" Tanya pointed to a person dressed in purple who was peeking over a large rock by the village's outskirts.
"I'm not sure." Li Mei stated as she spotted the peeker. "Hello?!"
The person began sprinting away but a sudden cloud of green smoke appeared before them and Jade emerged from it with a kick. The mysterious stalker fell to the floor as the villagers who were on watch duty jogged over and grabbed them.
"Who are you?" Jade asked.
"Where is Shao Kahn?!" The ninja asked in a demanding tone.
"He's clearly not here." Jade replied. "I suggest you leave."
"Your village is known for rebelling against Shao Kahn." The ninja pointed out. "And coincidentally he has gone missing."
"Whose orders are you following?" Jade interrogated.
"I serve myself." She lied.
Jade sighed. "Those are the colours of Rain and his pupils." She correctly stated, knowing this information from her own time in the Kahn Guard. "Unmask her."
One of the villagers grabbed the ninjas mask and pulled it off, exposing a face familiar to Jade.
"Alyssa." Jade recalled the name of an old ally of hers.
"Traitor."
"The few who betrayed Edenia to help Shao Kahn conquer it were accepted into the Kahn Guard." Daahraan revealed as he approached Jade and company. "I imagine babies were abducted too, though only a handful as it would be a tedious process to hide the truth from them."
"Shut up, old man." Alyssa demanded.
"Which are you?" Daahraan asked her. "Are you a victim of the Emperor's manipulation… or are you a traitor?"
"I-" She stuttered. "I said shut up!"
"I'll take that as the latter." Daahraan responded, a rare sign of annoyance in his voice.
"Where's Shao Kahn?!" Alyssa asked again.
"Whose orders do you follow?!" Jade repeated her own question. "Or else."
"General Reiko." Alyssa revealed. "We just want our Emperor back!"
"He must answer for his sins." Jade informed her.
"You were the one who released an entire prison of criminals!" Alyssa scoffed.
"They were innocents, not criminals." Jade corrected. "Enslaved for mining."
"I was still a child when he attacked…" Tanya recalled. "I watched Shao Kahn's soldiers slew my parents before taking me away to the Cobalt Mines where I spent thousands of years enslaved there…"
"I…" Alyssa couldn't find any words, she felt strangled by the guilt.
"Tell me: what crime did I commit?" Tanya asked as she drew her Kobu Jutsu.
"Please try to calm down." Daahraan instructed Tanya as he gently placed a hand in front of her. "We will not kill her."
"I want her gone!" Tanya yelled.
"I will leave." Alyssa promised. "Just let me go."
Jade gave a nod of approval to the villagers holding Alyssa and they let her go. Alyssa quickly picked herself up and began pacing away from the village. Before leaving, Alyssa turned and looked Tanya in her fiery orange eyes that were only cooled by the tears beginning to form from them.
"I'm sorry…" She apologized before looking away and taking her leave.
Tanya collapsed to the floor in tears and Daahraan quickly came to comfort her with a hug.
"Don't worry about her." Daahraan told the others. "Go do whatever it is you desire."
"You did a great thing today, Tanya." Jade complimented Tanya before she and the others gave her some space with Daahraan...
Meanwhile, the other Outworld allies of Earthrealm were nearing Shao Kahn's Fortress. Through the baron desert part of Outworld, the group finally found a sign with more directions than just a straight path to the fortress.
"Kuatan is directly to the south east now." Goro noted as he read the signs. "I should head there now."
"Thanks for all your help." Mileena said gratefully as he took the still unconscious body of Shao Kahn off of Goro and Baraka hoisted Lia over his shoulders.
"It was my pleasure." Goro responded. "Goodbye all."
Everyone waved Goro goodbye before they went their separate paths.
"How much farther?" Baraka questioned.
"I reckon about half an hour." Kitana answered.
"It does indeed feel good to be back." Sindel stated as everyone continued walking. "Outworld has changed much since the olden days."
"And it is good to have you back." Kitana said warmly.
"Things have changed because of the countless mergers." Reptile informed her. "Edenia was just one of many."
"How awful…" Sindel said sadly. "So many realms… so many people… all victims to Shao Kahn."
"It'll finally be over." Mileena assured her.
"It'll take time but I know we can work together to unmerge them all." Kitana said with high hopes. "My friend Daahraan knows what is needed to unmerge them."
"Daahraan?" Sindel was familiar with a Daahraan but wasn't sure if Kitana referred to her former royal guard. "I knew a Daahraan, he was one of my closest guards."
"The Daahraan we know is the same." Kitana informed her. "He revealed the truth to me about Edenia and you."
"He always had a good heart." Sindel complimented him. "I look forward to reuniting with him."
"Is that a… horse cart?" Khameleon was the first to spot a pair of horses that were towing a wagon which was charging at the group.
"Why are they going so fast?" Skarlet asked.
"They're soldiers of Shao Kahn!" Kitana could recognize such a uniform anywhere, especially when one of the carriage was wearing a skull mask in homage to Shao Kahn himself.
"Get out the way!" Sindel instructed as she placed the unconscious Ermac to the floor and then pulled her beloved daughter to one side to get out the wagon's way. Meat also brought Skarlet to safety away from the road and the Saurians slid away swiftly with ease just in time as the wagon passed them. Even with the added weight of Lia, Baraka still managed to sprint aside. The wagon came to a halt right after failing at running down the group of heroes, though a bump as if they had hit something was there. Precisely eighteen soldiers then spilled out from the back of the absurdly lengthy carriage and they began surrounding the heroes.
"We found the Emperor!" One soldier shouted.
"We specifically hit the Emperor." Another soldier added.
"Drat." A third soldier cussed. "The General won't be happy."
"Forget about the damn General." One demanded. "Worry about what the Emperor will think!"
"Or maybe we should worry about them." Another suggested, referring to the heroes watching them bicker.
Unknown to the soldiers, Mileena had teleported her way to the top of the carriage where she stood on the white cloth that sheltered the wagon. Mileena dove into the driver's seat and stabbed one Sai into each head of the two soldiers at the front of the carriage. Meanwhile, the soldiers of Shao Kahn were attempting to overwhelm the heroes with their large numbers advantage. Two of the soldiers quickly realized that they would be unable to defeat the far superior fighters that they were up against and began dragging Kahn's lifeless body onto the carriage.
"Driver!" They shouted for their comrade in charge of the horse's reins. "Shao's in the back! get outta here!"
Mileena then emerged from the side of the carriage, the blood dripping from her Sai making it clear that said driver was dead. One of the two soldiers tried taking Mileena on and he ran at the Edenia-Tarkatan hybrid who precisely kicked him in the side of his knee which snapped the leg and dropped him to the floor. The other soldier ran around the other side of the wagon and went to the driver's seat. Unfortunately for the soldier, Mileena grabbed the reins at the same time as him and having more strength than the soldier made it very easy for her to drag the soldier into one of her Sai which stabbed through one of the soldier's eyes. Mileena proceeded to return to her fellow allies who had already overpowered the rest of the soldiers and were now moving the unconscious or plain out dead bodies off the road.
"Impressive skills." Sindel complimented both Kitana and Mileena.
"Thank you, mother." Mileena replied while giving her new mom a hug. "I suggest we take the carriage with us and use it to carry Kahn, Ermac and our TaiGore friend."
"Great idea." Baraka commented. "Prepare the horses while I put the others in the back."
"Will do." Mileena confirmed. "Give me a hand will you, sis."
"Of course." Kitana happily complied as she and her sister approached the horses. "Calm down you two."
"Are you experienced with horses?" Mileena asked.
"I know the basics." Kitana informed her. "They're very beautiful animals."
"Indeed." Mileena agreed as she gently patted a horse's neck.
After a fine job at calming down the two horses, Kitana and Mileena climbed up to the driver's seat and Kitana took the reins.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Mileena asked.
"Positive." Kitana assured. She held the reins firmly, getting a good grip of things before cuing the horse to move forward. Kitana shifted pressure of the reins to the right which signalled the horses to turn off the road and return to it after performing a one eighty, now heading towards the fortress with their allies following close by the slow paced wagon.
After approximately half an hour as Kitana had previously predicted, the heroes had finally reached the entrance to Shao Kahn's now deserted fortress. There was a bridge that took the heroes to an intimidatingly large entrance. The fortress took up the entire land of a relatively smooth mountain which was in the center of the gorge environment with what appeared to be man made ravines surrounding all sides of the fortress that were so deep that the bottom couldn't be seen as it was shrouded by a thick coat of fog below. The neatly polished ebony double doors that stood at ten feet alone were pushed open by General Reiko who walked out with Shao Kahn's Wrath Hammer in one hand.
"Why are you people here?!" Reiko questioned as he tightened his grip on his Emperor's hammer.
"Because this now belongs to us, General." Kitana told him truthfully. "I suggest you tell your armies to cease following Shao Kahn."
"Never!" Reiko yelled. "You can't stop Shao Kahn, just wait until he discovers this!"
"He can't be stopped?" Baraka repeated Reiko's statement as he dragged the Emperor out the carriage. "This is the wretched being who you still follow?"
"What did you do to him?!" Reiko cried out as he watched Kahn plant face first onto the floor.
"We ended his tyranny." Sindel summarised.
"Broken free of your mind control I see." Reiko noted. "Once more does Shang Tsung's sorcery disappoint."
"Stand aside, Reiko." Mileena ordered. "We'll give you and your soldiers one week to give up allegiance to Shao Kahn."
"I'd rather die than do that!" Reiko shouted as he pulled his Emperor's Wrath Hammer up and now clenched it in both his hands while engaging in a fighting stance.
"Then die you shall." Baraka responded as he stepped in front of his allies and drew his metallic arm blades.
Reiko charged at Baraka with a shoulder bash which was a move that he had learnt from Shao Kahn himself but instead of using soul magic for he had never learnt it, Reiko created a red energy to enhance the attack. This energy came from Reiko's unique method of harnessing an energy that existed in all Outworlders but only very few could unlock it. Shao Kahn taught Reiko how to unlock this energy as well as how to weaponize it. Li Mei also shares a form of this ability through her many years of training in order to be capable enough to protect Sun Do. Baraka fell to his knees after being struck by Reiko's shoulder. The General raised Kahn's Wrath Hammer and prepared to strike a quick blow to the stunned Baraka but Reptile quickly intercepted it by spitting some acid directly into Reiko's clear white eyes. With Reiko temporarily blinded, Baraka had a chance to recover as well as the chance to strike back at Reiko. Baraka stabbed both of his arm blades into Reiko's chest and raised up the blades as they continued to impale Reiko deeply. Baraka brought Reiko to the edge of the bridge and unsheathed one of his arm blades while still keeping the other stabbed into him as it was the only thing preventing Reiko from falling all the way down the seemingly endless ravine. Baraka then clenched his fist and delivered a powerful punch that pushed Reiko off the arm blade and down the ravine where the General soon found himself being swallowed by the mist below.
"First the Emperor and now his wannabe." Baraka commented. "Today is a good day."
"We should head inside." Kitana suggests as she wanted to quickly move on despite the dramatic moment as there was much to do.
"We'll handle the bodies." Khameleon offered with Chameleon nodding at the same time.
"Thank you." Sindel said gratefully. "The rest of you may head inside."
Everyone did as Sindel had offered with Mileena picking up the Wrath Hammer that Reiko had dropped before walking through the double doors. As Khameleon and Chameleon peered into the carriage they were met by a growling Lia.
"She's awake!" Khameleon yelled in surprise.
The two Saurians stepped away as Lia hopped out the carriage. The TaiGore immediately saw Sindel dragging the lifeless body of Shao Kahn, her owner. Lia began whimpering as she gave a concerned few sniffs to her owner.
"It's going to be fine, Lia." Sindel assured her as she put Kahn down and hugged Lia around her strong neck. "I'm still with you."
"What are you going to do with her?" Khameleon asked.
"The poor thing doesn't understand that Shao Kahn deserves everything he got and will receive." Sindel quickly realized. "I shall adopt her, it's the least I can do for her."
"Your motherly acts are really admirable." Khameleon complimented.
"Thank you."
"A little help please?" Chameleon requested as he brought the still unconscious Ermac out of the carriage.
"Of course, brother." Khameleon said as she rushed to aid Oculto in carrying the soul construct. They began taking Ermac inside the fortress and to one of the downstairs areas that were built within the mountain that the fortress stood atop of. Meanwhile, Lia had picked up Shao Kahn gently in her jaws and was carrying him inside the building as Sindel followed to keep track of them both.
The others had gathered in the fortress' designated meeting room after making sure the entire building was empty. Reptile, Baraka, Skarlet, Meat, Ktana and Mileena all took a seat around the large table.
"So how do we actually decide who's fit to rule next?" Reptile asked.
Meat shrugged.
"I think any of you could do a fantastic job." Skarlet said kindly.
"As long as my race is given the resources needed then I will be satisfied with any ruler." Baraka stated. "And I am too busy with my own people to want to rule."
"I do not seek to rule as well." Reptile replied. "I just want my realm restored to its former glory."
"As do I." Kitana agreed.
"I too believe that all realms should be demerged." Mileena stated. "To restore the realms and acquire the orbs to do so I think the optimal strategy would be to continue using Shao Kahn's mines, but instead of innocents being forced to do slavery, those in the mines shall be those who are convicted criminals or those willing to work for a fair pay. The conditions of the mines should also be improved too."
"That's a great idea." Kitana praised her sister's idea. "You're a natural at this."
"I am most impressed, my love." Baraka added.
"We need to strike alliances with all the species who have been forced together by these countless mergers to unite Outworld and work together in fixing this issue." Mileena continued to present solutions. "By taking the wealth of Shao Kahn I firmly believe that all this could be possible."
"Genius plan, Empress." Khameleon further praised Mileena as she and Chameleon entered the room.
"Did you just call me…"
"I've heard enough to believe that you're the most suitable choice for the new ruler of Outworld." Khameleon reasoned.
"Th-thank you." Mileena stuttered as she was grateful yet overwhelmed by so much praise. "I'd be more than happy to be your new ruler."
"Any objections?" Kitana asked.
Silence.
"Then it's settled." Kitana concluded.
"I've known you for only a short period of time," Sindel had entered the room having listened to the last part of the conversation. "But I am proud to call you my daughter… and Empress."