While celebrations were happening in Edenia, the Kahn Guard continued to investigate the disappearance of Kitana and Mileena who they had securely captured hours earlier. After covering all of the island where the Lung Hai Temple was located, Reiko and his closest allies who were present at the Lung Hai Temple began to spread out to learn more. Talon magically dressed herself and Epos up in casual wear before transporting them outside Sabar City, which had a protection ward which meant they couldn't teleport directly inside the city walls. Talon had been extremely suspicious of the magic that caused the teleportation of Kitana and Mileena and she could sense that it was no ordinary spell. Talon's suspicion made Reiko agree to further investigations instead of merely accepting that they had escaped their grasp. Talon knew that if there was any source of answer, then she'd find it in the capital of Outworld.
"This feels unnecessary, my love," Epos told Talon as they walked together through the city gate while holding hands. "We've seen them teleport before!"
"They used enchantments connected to their weapons to conduct that," Talon clarified for her. "This was different."
"I'll take your word for it," Epos said as she knew that due to Talon being a sorceress she probably knew what she was talking about. "I mean if Reiko trusts you then I absolutely do."
"I know you do, darling," Talon replied as the pair headed to the nearest marketplace within the city. "If there's been any news then it'll be being spread around in a popular area like this…"
"Should we ask around then?" Epos suggested.
"Can you do that?" Talon requested with Epos giving a puzzled look at the request before smiling as she understood why.
"Of course," Epos replied happily.
"Wh-what's that smile about?" Talon asked as she saw Epos' smirk.
"I thought you'd gotten better with socialising since you were doing spy duty," Epos said as she realised she was mistaken.
"I only did that because I had to," Talon told her. "I was terrified speaking to Queen Sindel and lying about whatever nonsense I made up."
"Aww," Epos reacted with Talon blushing, no longer with a hood to hide such a reaction behind. "I didn't know! You should've told me, 'Emily'."
"I didn't want you to worry about my mission," Talon explained herself with Epos embracing her immediately after hearing this.
"I'll always worry about you, silly!" Epos said as they hugged. "When we're worried or nervous or whatever… it's always because of something that we care about. And there is nothing I care more about than you."
"You're right as always," Talon replied as she was touched by Epos' way of words. "Thank you, darling."
"You're welcome," Epos said as they released their hug and both looked around at the civilians walking throughout the marketplace. "Excuse me! Has anyone heard any news lately from Empress Mileena?!"
"Not from the Empress, but from her mother," a man amongst a small group walking past responded to Epos' question. "Their homerealm of Edenia has been restored."
"Edenia's back?!" Talon was shocked.
"Really?" Epos found such news hard to believe.
"Sindel made the announcement at the City Hall," the man further clarified. "Many of Mileena's Union are at Edenia to help rebuild it!"
"Interesting…" Epos noted as Talon listened intently. "Anything else?"
"She said she'll make further updates as more progress in Edenia is made," he continued to reveal details. "We're on our way to work so that we can publish the news throughout Outworld now! I'm a news writer y'know…"
"Tch… the news…" Epos grunted.
"Something wrong?" the publisher asked.
"The lies that the press spread are," Epos commented sharply with Talon grabbing her by the shoulder and whispering for her to stop. "It's fine, love, I can deal with this."
"We are a verified news source!" the publisher claimed honestly. "Mileena's Union approves of us! We work for the official Outworld News!"
"That explains the biased articles about the Kahn Guard!" Epos retorted with the publisher giving a puzzled expression.
"They're terrible!" he claimed, "everybody knows this!"
"No they're not!" Epos blurted out. "I mean… how do we know?"
"They're a band of lunatics who want to aid a weak boy who is a desperate Shao Kahn wannabe," the man said with Epos clenching her fists with anger. "That is not fake news, that is factual!"
"Let's get out of here, Epos," Talon recommended.
"Hang on a second…" the publisher spoke as if he had just made a realisation. "You work for that Reiko, don't you?"
"Me?!" Epos reacted with shock. "That's an absurd accusation! They wear masks!"
"Who else would defend them other than themselves?" the man made further inquiries.
"Leave us alone," Epos demanded.
"Answer my question!" he suddenly made his own demands.
"No!" Epos yelled back and went to walk away only to be grabbed.
"ENOUGH!" Talon suddenly snapped and dark magic began to ooze from her very hands. "Get your hands off of my woman… or else."
"Damn criminals!" he yelled as he pushed Epos away. "You'll be behind bars soon enough!"
"Any word of this and we'll come back to kill you all," Talon warned as she put a hand on Epos. "Let's return to Reiko, my love."
Before the reporter and his coworkers could say or do anything about Talon and Epos, they had both vanished due to a teleportation spell by Talon that escorted the pair immediately to Centaur Hills, the land of the Centaurians, and where Reiko and some of his finest soldiers had departed to. They emerged on one of the several hills surrounding the main city, and the couple stood in the middle of an outside campsite that had a watchtower standing beside it.
"Woah!" Epos reacted from suddenly being teleported. "You really come through when needed, huh?"
"I wasn't needed there," Talon claimed. "I've seen you defeat at least double the amount of men there before."
"You're right," Epos said with a smirk. "You were still quite impressive back there…"
"I'm not letting some scum touch you," Talon promised her.
"Of course because only you can touch me," Epos' smirk grew as Talon blushed a bright red.
"I mean… uh… well, yeah…" Talon stuttered what sounded like her attempting to make a response.
"You're so cute when you're flustered," Epos continued to flirt. "Anyway, let's find-"
"Intruders!" boomed a voice from atop the watchtower.
The Centaurian warrior named Eusilus then made an appearance as he looked down at Epos and Talon from atop of the tower. He wrapped his armoured tail around a Centaur flag sigil placed on all of the watchtowers surrounding their grand city, and he used it to slow his descent as he leapt over the slabs surrounding the twenty foot or so tall tower. Eusilus then released his grip, his hooves slamming onto the soil below. He neighed as he waved his front legs in the air as Epos and Talon moved back from the intimidating warrior. From Eusilus' call, more Centaurs from the campsite soon arrived and surrounded Epos and Talon.
"State your business within the Centaur Hills at once!" Eusilus demanded, ever so serious.
"Oh my," Epos gazed at the Centaur as she spoke, "you are quite the stallion."
"Do not ignore me, miss!" Eusilus continued to order.
"Alright," Epos complied as she wished to avoid confrontation. "Listen, we're just here to see Reiko."
"And I've seen this Centaur before," Talon added with Eusilus giving a puzzled expression.
"When was that?" he asked.
"We also work with Reiko," Talon added to further defuse things. "I am a Shadow Priest. I've been by Reiko's side in a cloak for years now."
"He said to us when we last spoke that he was coming here," Epos elaborated further.
"Ah!" Eusilus saw this as a valid justification for their presence. He waved off the fellow Centaurs he had called for as he said, "no outsider could possibly be aware of Reiko's meeting with the King and Queen of the Centaurs!"
"We have urgent news relating to why he came here actually," Epos informed him.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Eusilus asked rhetorically as he patted his hand onto his horseback. "Climb on! I'll take you to the palace, friends."
"That's very kind of you, Eusilus," Talon thanked the Centaur as Epos was already rushing over to climb onto him.
"C'mon, Talon!" Epos called for. "We've never gone horse riding before."
"There's always time for a first," Eusilus remarked as Epos helped Talon climb onto his horseback. "Everybody ready?"
"I am!" Epos cheered enthusiastically with Talon giving the Centaur a nod of confirmation when he looked over his shoulder to see his passengers.
With this confirmation, Eusilus took charge as he began running through the campsite, jumping over the spiked walls that were supposed to protect the site from those who weren't Centaurian due to its height being too tall for most to climb over. Talon cried out in fear from the sudden leap as Epos screamed in delight of the experience. Now outside of the campsite that was built atop of a hill, Eusilus charged downhill, reaching his fastest speed. Epos felt Talon clinging tighter and tighter onto Epos as Eusilus picked up more and more speed. Soon enough, Eusilus was galloping through the gateway into Centaur City, which had been built in the centre of all the bumpy terrain that came from various shaped hills.
"You Centaurs have a nice home," Epos complimented as Eusilus trod through the entrance and down a large cobblestone road where the loud noise of hooves touching the clear stones could be heard everywhere.
"Thank you," Eusilus said as he continued to head down the path. "The palace is in the centre. Every path manages to lead over there."
Eusilus ran past several homes, all of a similar albeit unique design to any other home in all the realms. They were all adapted to be suitable for Centaurs and their much larger frame, their horse bodies in particular. Proportions of everything were larger just to assure every Centaur had ample space throughout the likes of doorways and alleys. The seemingly endless line of houses between this particular pathway seemed to never end until suddenly Eusilus entered a far more open area in the city where the palace Eusilus spoke of stood in the very middle.
Eusilus slowed down as the impressive structure stood before them. He slowed down as they walked past a pair of stables, a place that welcomed all Centaurs so that they could relax. Behind the stables was another pathway, this one branching off into a marketplace similar to the one Talon and Epos had recently visited in Sabar City, just as packed as any other market. The trip eventually came to a close though, as Eusilus stopped by the ramp leading to the large double doorway into the palace. Ramps instead of stairways being an additional change to Centaurian structures that just simply allowed easier movement. Eusilus knocked on the doors as Talon and Epos climbed off his back.
"We may have to wait until the current meeting has finished," Eusilus commented, only to be surprised by the doors opening promptly and by a familiar face. "Nikala?"
"Sargeant Eusilus," Nikala greeted. "I'm allowed to let people in for your information."
"I wasn't questioning that," Eusilus clarified, "I am just surprised to see you here."
"Motaro's been putting in a good word for me to join our royal guard," Nikala revealed.
"Congratulations," Eusilus expressed. "Your skills have always impressed me."
"It means a lot coming from someone of your rank," Nikala commented.
"You have earnt it," Eusilus told her. "A task many of us Centaurs do a fine job at. Even Motaro."
"Motaro's told me about his humble origins," Nikala told him.
"Then you know what I'm referring to," Eusilus said with Nikala nodding. "How is Motaro anyway?"
"Ask him yourself," Nikala instructed as she gestured for the three allies to enter the palace. "He's inside the throne room with Reiko and the King and Queen themselves!"
"Are we allowed in the meeting?" Eusilus inquired as they stepped inside the palace and began following Nikala. "These two ladies wish to see Reiko… and I just realised I never caught your names."
"I'm Epos," she introduced herself. "And this cutie here is called Talon."
"Er… wh-what she said,'' Talon confirmed this information despite the embarrassment of Epos' flirtatious compliments.
"Here we are," Nikala said as they reached the end of a beautifully decorated wide corridor full of statues of many legendary Centaurians, including Motaro and the current rulers. "The throne room," she announced before gently knocking on the wooden doors with golden patterns finely crafted over the polished wood.
"Enter!" a deep voice instructed with Nikala opening the doors and then she guided the other guests inside.
The throne room was amazing. Epos gasped in awe of the massive room whereas Talon was more used to seeing palaces, albeit even she was impressed. Pillars with patterns like on the doors surrounded the throne and stood in the corners too as fortification. The sides of the room were covered in wellkept furniture made from the finest wood amongst the Centaur Hills, this was the most humble part of the room. The throne actually had an enormous window taking up the back of the room with a mosaic made of colourful stained glass of the Queen's parents, the rulers before her and her husband.
The throne itself was nested in the centre of the room and it was over double the height of a typical throne due to the sheer height of the Centaur rulers, who towered over even the most fearsome of their own kind. The width of the throne though was truly impressive. Due to Centaurs obviously being unable to sit like most other highly intelligent species in the realms, they had to make plenty of space to sit their horse bodies down in what was almost a lying position. The King and Queen shared the throne that was about the length of four typical sofas. In front of them was a table that had been brought in for their visitors to discuss with them. Reiko, Skull and Raza all sat on one side of the table with Motaro, the Centaur royalties chosen champion standing on the opposite side.
"King Myelus and Queen Irare," Nikala addressed them as she bowed her head with Eusilus doing the same as Talon and Epos kneeled. "Sargeant Eusilus has brought us visitors."
"Welcome, travellers," King Myelus greeted surprisingly kindly. Centaur King was enormous, even from his sitting position. His horns were massive, as were his wives, and they both wore crowns that weaved around their giant horns. King Myelus also wore a red cape around his collar with Queen Irare matching the regal red colour with her robe that was custom made to expand over her horse body which it snugly wrapped around.
"Can this not wait?" Queen Irare asked the guests.
"Well they're already here, dear," Myelus pointed out, "they may as well say their piece now."
"Fair enough," Irare agreed with her husband's logic. "You may speak."
"We would've waited had this not been of utmost importance, your majesty," Epos assured the Centaur Queen. "Me and my beloved Talon learnt from a reporter in Sabar City that Sindel herself had made an announcement that Edenia is restored."
"Edenia?! Restored?!" Myelus uttered as Irare gasped. "I never thought I'd see the day."
"That is… certainly news worthy," Irare admitted as she processed the news. "But how does this relate to the matter of the disappearance of Empress Mileena and her sister?"
"My lovely girlfriend can explain why," Epos said as she gestured to Talon who was immediately frozen with fear.
"You seriously had to put me on the spot like this?" Talon whispered to Epos.
"It's okay," Epos calmed her down. "Just share your knowledge with the King and Queen, my love."
"Is something the matter?" Myelus asked.
"Not at all!" Epos assured the King. "Talon is the smartest person I know! Please share what you know with the others."
"Alright…" Talon complied as she shakily stepped forth. "So… when a realm is restored, all natives are transported there by the natural energies that connect the two."
"You mean they're teleported?" Myelus asked just to clarify.
"Y-yes… that is correct, Your Highness," Talon confirmed as she continued to try and compose herself. "You can probably see where I'm going with this… Mileena and Kitana must've been transported when Edenia was restored."
"That sounds absurd," Irare stated. "I apologise but that is outlandish."
"I… well… it sounds absurd because that's what the very magic I'm referring to is!" Talon finally managed to find the words for a response which she raised her voice to say. "Believe it or not, every Saurian when Zaterra was restored went through this same incident. I was saying the Union as this happened and if you think I'm lying then have you ever asked why there's no Saurians around in Outworld currently?!"
"This makes sense to me," Myelus stated. "Do not be so harsh, Irare."
"Talon is the finest sorcerer I know of," Reiko defended Talon. "I believe her."
"Thank you, Reiko," Talon replied.
"I apologise again then," Irare said to Talon. "I'd just wish to know more about this bizarre magic you speak of."
"Because this incident has, to our knowledge, only happened twice now," Talon began to share another explanation, "it is unclear of the specifics to how the energies that connect us to our native realm work, but it presumably occurs after a species has primarily been in one realm for a long period of time… at least a million years. When the realm they're attached to returns, then so shall they."
"That is indeed peculiar," Myelus agreed. "Why would such a magic exist?"
"To grant immediate access to the returning realm in case one is restored unknowingly," Talon firmly believed in her theory. "It makes sense that the Elder Gods would want such measures to be put in place."
"Those damn Elder Gods," Reiko said with a sigh.
"To return to the point of this meeting," Motaro finally spoke up after processing all this information, "I must ask you, Reiko, what must we do about this?"
"Edenia's restoration is certainly another blow to achieving Shao Kahn's vision," Raza pointed out with Skull nodding in agreement with his closest companion.
"I asked Reiko," Motaro repeated himself. "I never asked his lackeys."
"Watch your tone, Motaro," Reiko advised. "These so-called 'lackeys' are close friends!"
"This is the thanks we get for helping free him from prison, Raza," Skull said bitterly as Motaro had come off as insulting. "We could've left you to rot in there!"
"The task of freeing me could've been handled by Eusilus, Nikala and her short Naknadan friend alone," Motaro claimed as he recalled the events that resulted in him being freed from the prison in Kuatan.
"That's enough!" Irare yelled. "Pack it in, everybody!"
"Listen to Queen Irare," Myelus demanded. "Compose yourselves and come up with a plan to counter Edenia's restoration as soon as possible!"
"Do not fret, King," Reiko spoke with a sudden smirk on his face. "I already have a plan…"
As Reiko revealed his plan in private to those at the meeting, there was another officer discussion happening in private up in the north of Outworld at Shang Tsung's Palace. The sorcerer had managed to deceive the son of Apep named Inka into trusting him as an ally to his father. Tsung had taken Inka to a spare room in the living quarters built upstairs, a place to leave him while he dealt with some… certain business.
"Will my dad be alright, Mr. Tsung?" Inka asked as he stepped foot into his new room.
"I will do all that I can to restore him," Tsung promised in a tone that made it difficult to see his lies. "I understand that this is all a lot to take in, so I will leave you here. I will take your father to my medical aid and then return to you as soon as possible."
"Alright," Inka responded, not knowing anything else to really say at this time. "Thank you, Mr. Tsung."
"The pleasure is all mine," Tsung stated with a smirk on his face as he walked out the room, cradling an unconscious Apep in his arms as he headed one of the spiral stairways within his Palace.
Shang Tsung continued to head down his spiral of stairs, into his dungeons below. At the bottom of the stairs a gloomy undecorated and plain corridor stood, a stark contrast to the rest of his glamorous palace. The only thing there was a shut metal door that was locked tightly. The sorcerer approached the ominous door and used sorcery to summon the required key before heading inside, checking the corridor to make sure Inka hadn't chosen to follow him before he headed inside.
Beyond the door which Tsung immediately locked behind him after dragging Apep's lifeless body inside, was a balcony that surrounded an even lower level below, where a continous loud sound of crushing metal sounded. As Tsung stepped forth, he gazed at the many prison cells that surrounded him. There were eight on the upper row, and another eight below. He quickly noticed he had run out of space in his small prison area, prisoners occupying each cell. These so-called prisoners, however, were merely victims caught by the evil sorcerer. Opposite Shang Tsung was a grimy shower area, with Masked Guards being instructed by Hachiman standing by the barred gates into which Tsung gestured to come to him upon his arrival into the secret dungeon.
"Master Tsung," Hachiman greeted as the other two supporting Masked Guards bowed in the sorcerer's presence. "Who is this?"
"A Shaolin Monk called Apep Otoko," Shang Tsung informed him as the sorcerer handed the unconscious man over to one of the Masked Guards. "He has a son. He's in the spare bedroom."
"Do you need me to bring this son over here too?" Hachiman asked as he leant against the railing, gazing at the blood stained floor on the level below.
"I think we have use for the boy," Shang Tsung clarified. "He could be the next of my Earthrealm allies."
"Well I'm glad my pop was already gone before we met," Hachiman quipped as he looked over his shoulder to see Apep. "Oh right… you'll need a cell for him."
"I can tell we're a full house," Tsung noticed with Hachiman nodding in confirmation. "Find the two prisoners who have been the hardest to cooperate with us."
"I already have one in mind," Hachiman said as he immediately pointed to one cell. "The woman in there. She's a complete fucking asshole. Too loyal to Mileena's Union to tell us a damn thing besides insult us whenever we interrogate her!"
"Is that so?" Tsung asked as they approached the cell. "What was your name again, miss…"
"Krystal," the prisoner muttered as she sat on the cold floor in his claustrophobic cell. "Janani Krystal."
"Ah!" Shang Tsung remembered the woman. "How could I forget the name of one of the legendary soldiers of Shao Kahn's early days as Emperor! You were already a high rank by the time I had joined the Kahn Guard…"
"Those were darker times," Janani stated in dismissal of Shang Tsung's praise. "Besides, my wife also deserves that so-called 'legendary' status."
"A package deal, hm?" Tsung said with Janini nodding. "And what was her name again?"
"Like I'd tell you," Janani once again refused to cooperate.
"You don't need to," Hachiman told her as he took what was an old scroll that was tattered from its age off the hands of an obeying Masked Guard. "We did a background check, Master Tsung. She's married to a woman named Emitta who also has the same surname since their marriage."
"Good to know," Tsung replied as he processed the interesting information. "Where is that evidence from?"
"It's a list of the people who adopted the babies taken in by the Kahn Guard after the invasion of Edenia," Hachiman further elaborated as he handed the scroll to the sorcerer. "It says here they volunteered for one and they named it Jade."
"Jade…" Tsung recognised such a name. "I presume this is the same Jade as the woman who became Princess Kitana's bodyguard?"
"Answer the man!" Hachiman ordered.
"Leave my family alone, you bastards!" Janani yelled as she lunged at the bars and tried to grab Hachiman only for him to step back and shake his head judgmentally. "Let me out of this cage now!"
"As you wish," Tsung abided much to Janani's surprise as Tsung summoned the necessary key and unlocked the door.
Janani immediately threw a punch at the sorcerer who laughed as Hachiman quickly grabbed her. Janani struggled but Hachiman was stronger than her and able to hold her in place for the moment. The sorcerer nodded to one of the other Masked Guards who brought out a steel ladder leant against the dull coloured walls and placed it down to the lower level.
"Cooperate or I'll hurl you over," Hachiman threatened as he pushed Janani against the railing. "Climb down that ladder now."
"Stop this!" yelled a voice from inside another cell. "Leave her alone!"
"You do not call the shots around her, Maia," Hachiman reminded him. "Master Tsung, I think we've found a challenge for Mrs. Krystal."
"It would seem so," Tsung agreed as the Masked Guards unlocked the woman named Maia from her cell and soon she and Janani were being escorted to the level below. Neither wished to cooperate and ended up both being hurled over to the lower level instead of climbing down a ladder. "Get up! I have a challenge for the pair of you!" Tsung yelled.
"What is it, sorcerer?!" Janani asked as she and Maia helped each other stand up from their nasty fall. The two Masked Guards then climbed down the ladder to stand close to the prisoners.
"Because I'm bored, I'll give you both a chance for freedom," Shang Tsung offered as he explained his challenge, "but you must fight each other… and one must die. The other I will let go."
"No way!" Janani refused immediately. "You seriously can't be believing this guy right, Maia? It's Shang Tsung!"
"Don't worry," Maia reassured her, "I'm one step ahead of you!"
Suddenly after finishing her sentence, the prisoner named Maia recklessly leapt at the neatest Masked Guard. The quick scuffle ended in Maia shoving the Masked Guard who staggered back onto a pressure plate. Everyone then soon realised he was standing between the two crushers, death traps that Shang Tsung had created in his freetime as he took up the hobby of a mad inventor. Right as the crushers were about to clamp down, the second Masked Guard kicked Maia in the back and sent her stumbling in right as the compactor forcefully pressed together with a Masked Guard and Maia being its victims…
"Maia!" Janani cried out as the crushers were pulled apart and all that was left was a pile of mangled flesh. "She never did anything wrong!"
"That's one Masked Guard she's cost us!" Hachiman yelled in anger.
"Well… this at least clears up some space for Apep," Shang Tsung looked at the positives as he absorbed the souls from the piles of mush beside the grinders. "Clear that up! and bring Apep to his cell!"
"You heard the man!" Hachiman said to the surviving Masked Guard. "Let's get to work!"
"I take it I don't get to leave?" Janani figured it'd be worth asking and soon had her answer as Shang Tsung began laughing as he headed out the room. "What a surprise…"
"Back to your cell this instant!" Hachiman ordered rudely.
"Aren't you one of the oldest Earthrealmers?" Janani replied as she cited hypocriticism from Hachiman. "You are as threatening as a child though, so I suppose that balances it out."
"When will you stop with your irritating insults?!" Hachiman asked as he drew his pike. "Now come with me to your cell! I can always put you in the crusher if you don't comply!"
"As if you have that kind of authority," Janani continued to irritate Hachiman who ruthlessly retaliated by stabbing her in the foot. "Agh!"
"I told you to stop!" Hachiman said as he picked up Janani who was clutching her foot and carried her back to her cell despite the injured prisoner struggling for freedom. "I am not wasting another second with you, Janani."
"We'll all be free from here soon," Janani warned him as Hachiman carelessly threw a bandage into her cell for her to patch herself up. "When that happens, I will make sure to return the favour, Hachiman."
"I'd love to see you try, but I have actually respectable warriors to train now," Hachiman said as he began walking off the area without a single care. "Farewell!"
"To Hell with you!" Janani yelled as he continued to head towards the exit. "You'll all be dead eventually!"
"As is the case for everybody," Hachiman replied as he stopped to make one last response. "However, becoming one of Shang Tsung's allies is what has made me one of the only people alive from Earthrealm in my time period. Some die sooner than others. You'll be a rotten corpse before I suffer any consequences for the allies I keep."
"Karma will come knocking," Janini believed firmly as Hachiman laughed. "Did I say something funny?!"
"If such a thing was real then I'd stab it head on for trespassing," Hachiman claimed as he pointed at the blood stained tip of his pike. "I'll say it again, Janani… Farewell…"