-Shang Tsung's Throne Room-

The shadowy light from the moon entered through the windows of the throne room, illuminating the grand scarlet pillars that rose up to the ceiling. Shang Tsung was currently lounging on his throne, which had a red carpet laid down in front of it. In front of the sorcerer was a pale man.

"He is alive... I can sense it!" The man expressed heatedly.

"I had my reservations as well... But, to withstand a blow like that?" The sorcerer contested.

"HAAA!" The man suddenly roared "YOU PROMISED ME, SORCERER!" The man violently bellowed, with flames flickering into life in his hands.

"I PROMISED NOTHING TO YOU!" Shang Tsung disregarded the pale man's allegations "Right now, there are more significant matters at th-"

The man compressed his fists, and declared, with eyes blazing with wrath: "MORE IMPORTANT?! HOW DARE YOU?!"

"ENOUGH!" Shang Tsung declared "If he is still alive, then you will have your vengeance when the time is right... But for now, I need you to eradicate a vital menace to our plans..."

"I assumed that Black Dragon brute got rid of her..."

"No, not Sonya Blade..." Shang Tsung said.

"Then who?"

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-Warrior's Shrine- -Evening

"SHADOW KICK!"

"KISS OF DEATH!"

Johnny bounded to the side just in time to evade the fireball soaring right at him. He, Liu Kang and Raiden had been training Sonya how to control her chi; and after much difficulty concentrating, the Special Forces lieutenant had managed to create a modest orb of fire, and was currently utilizing it to be victorious in her practice fight against Johnny.

"Watch where you aim that thing!" Johnny protested.

"Don't push yourself to much!" Liu Kang presaged "You are still wounded..."

"I'm fine..." Sonya reassured.

Liu Kang, Johnny, Sonya and Raiden had come to the Warrior's Shrine to train after the battles. The Warrior's Shrine was one of the highest parts on Ying Yang Island. To reach it, one had to climb a vast staircase from the bottom of the island. In the Shrine, there where various pedestals, each containing a statue of some of the greatest heroes and warriors.

"You know, we have a shrine like this at my temple..." Liu Kang remarked "But this one... it contains statues of us... it creeps me out..." Liu Kang confessed.

As Sonya observed Liu Kang admiring a statue of two monks, each holding a staff, she approached him.

"Who are they?" She enquired.

"They are Zongqing and Pucong, they learned how to fight with a staff from Yu Dayou, and taught it to the Shaolin..." Liu Kang explained.

"And he is?" Sonya questioned once again, this time pointing at a statue of a tall, bald monk.

"He is the Great Kung Lao!" Liu Kang exclaimed "He was the one who defeated Shang Tsung!"

"Seems like your temple has a lot of history..." Johnny noted.

"Yeah, the Shaolin have been around for a thousand years, at least..." Liu Kang established.

"Raiden, I want to ask you one thing, but I never had the chance..." Johnny interjected.

"What is it?" The thunder god queried.

"Why did you warn us about the true purpose of the tournament?" Johnny questioned.

"Oh, that! Well, it is the final tournament, and I doubt Shang Tsung will play fair, so... I tried to warn every warrior of the danger... Some believed me, others didn't..." Raiden explained.

"Wait, so you warned everyone...?" Johnny questioned.

"What? You didn't think you where special, did you?" Raiden taunted, with a smirk.

"N-No..." Johnny stammered and tried to play it off.

"AH! Typical..." Raiden responded as he teleported in a flash.

"What?" Johnny said, baffled at the Thunder God's remark.

"For a god, he's pretty laid-back..." Sonya commented.

"Whatever... I'm going to my room, it's gonna get dark soon..." Johnny declared.

"You do realize you're gonna have to climb down the stairway, right?" Liu Kang asked with a smirk.

"AAAW! Come on!" Johnny grumbled loudly.

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After a very excruciating trip down the long stairway, Johnny had finally managed to reach the bottom. After a little more walking in random directions, for he did not want to admit he didn't know the way back, Johnny gathered that he was lost.

"Crap..." Johnny commented, realizing his situation.

As he walked a bit more, he found himself at a strange bridge. The bridge was made of stone, and was very narrow. It was supported by three columns adorned with spikes. Underneath the bridge and below a layer of fog, a pit full of spikes could be seen. The entrance to this strange place was arc shaped, and had two golden lion statues on the side.

"Well, this guy has a strange taste in decoration..." Johnny analyzed.

Seeing as it was getting dark, Johnny realized he had no choice but to cross the narrow passageway. Watching his step, Johnny made it halfway across, before he stared at the other side and stopped. There, on the opposite side of the bridge, was a warrior. He wore a black gi with a loincloth, both of which were stained yellow. His face was covered by a hood, a cloth mask, and his arms where bare.

"Fuck... Really, now?!" Johnny protested.

Realizing his opponent knew his intention, the warrior reached into his belt and pulled out a kunai tied to a rope. As Johnny assumed his fighting stance as well, the warrior threw the kunai and rope at Johnny.

"GET OVER HERE!" The warrior yelled, as the kunai flew across the bridge towards the actor.

Johnny quickly shot backwards to avoid the weapon, which, upon having failed to hit its target, was pulled towards the warrior, who spun it around, before wrapping it around his fist and grabbing hold of the blade.

"Who are you?" Johnny questioned.

"Your worst nightmare!" The warrior responded, as he teleported.

As he reemerged behind Johnny, he tried to punch him, but the actor caught his fist and punched him the gut, before pulling his fist back, and yelling.

"SHADOW UPPERCUT!" Johnny shouted, as he leaped into the air covered in green energy and elbowed his opponent, sending him flying through the air.

"You mean my ex-wife?" Johnny mocked.

As the warrior landed, he quickly did a backwards roll and got back up on his feet, before teleporting again. As Johnny turned around, ready to block another strike, the warrior appeared, but, just as the punch connected, the yellow-garbed warrior teleported again. Johnny looked everywhere trying to find him, only for him to teleport above Johnny and deliver a shattering punch, knocking the Hollywood star to the ground. Johnny did a quick recover and tried to hit the ninja with one of his Shadow Bolts, but the ninja evaded it and threw his rope again, trying to catch Johnny. Johnny dodged to the side, only for the mysterious assassin to spin around, using the weapon like a whip. Frantically trying to evade the weapon without falling off the bridge, Johnny slowly made his way towards his attacker, and tried to punch him, but the warrior teleported again, and appeared behind Johnny, connecting with a punch to the gut, causing the celebrity to double over in pain. The ninja took his chance, and punched Johnny on the side of his face, causing him to fall. Not wasting an opportunity, the assassin tried to stomp on Johnny's chest, but Johnny did a quick recover and hit the ninja with a flip kick, making him fall down.

"Not bad..."Johnny commended as he once again assumed his fighting stance, and ran towards the ninja.

Said ninja was quicker, however, and executed a leg scissor takedown, tripping Johnny. Johnny thought quickly however, and grabbed the warrior's leg, making him fall. Getting up, the actor charged one of his Shadow Bolts, but, while on the ground, the assassin teleported and reappeared behind Johnny, punching him, before teleporting again and hitting him one other side with a kick. As Johnny recovered, he was hit once again with a teleport punch, and fell to the ground

"That's a teleport spam!" Johnny accused as he got up.

Johnny had almost no time to recover, as the ninja rushed towards him. Thinking quickly, Johnny thought of his favorite move. He did a split, closed his eyes, and punched his opponent on is "family jewels".

Opening his eyes, Johnny saw his opponent holding said area in pain. As the movie star got up, there was an awkward moment between the two. The ninja suddenly yelled, frightening Johnny.

"YOU BASTARD!" The assassin roared as he grabbed Johnny and threw him across the bridge.

"What? You're the one who's trying to kill me for no reason!" Johnny protested as he did a mid-air recovery.

"I merely do as I'm ordered!" The ninja contested as he rushed towards Johnny.

"Order this!" The movie star said as delivered an upper cut to his attacker, sending him soaring through the air and into the spiked pit below the bridge.

As the warrior yelled, his screams grew lower and lower, until all was silent.

Panting, Johnny turned around and walked towards the end of the bridge.

"Seems like Shang Tsung isn't playing fair..." Johnny deduced as he reached the exit. Taking a deep breath, Johnny walked away. His victory, however, was short lived, as he heard someone yell behind him.

"COME HERE!"

As Johnny turned around, he was just in time to catch the assassin's kunai in his hand, a split second before it had hit him.

"How did you survive?" Johnny asked, in incredulity.

"Teleport spam!" The warrior sarcastically answered.

The assassin them pulled the rope through the air and spun it around again, sending Johnny with it. The warrior then slammed Johnny into the ground. As Johnny lay on the floor in pain, the ninja walked towards him, and picked him up by his shirt, lifting him up from the ground.

"Forgive me..." The ninja said, in a rare moment of compassion, as he held Johnny over the spikes "But I must avenge my family and clan..."

"What did I do to them?" Johnny protested.

"You did nothing..." The ninja admitted "But to reach the true killer, I allied myself with Shang Tsung... And he ordered me to kill you..." He explained "You fought well, warrior. Goodbye!"

Suddenly, the ninja heard a yell behind him, and, turning around, saw Raiden flying straight against him. In surprise, the assassin threw his would be-victim against the thunder god, Raiden merely flew faster, and the only thing Johnny hit was the cold stone of the bridge. The thunder god hit the assassin mid-flight, knocking him into the pit once again. Jumping back, Raiden helped Johnny up when he landed.

"Who was that?" Johnny asked.

"One of Shang Tsung's assassins..." Raiden answered-"He is cheating. He is trying to eliminate the strongest warriors, so the one to face Goro would be the weakest. My suspicions where correct..." Raiden said as Johnny got up "Come. Let's return..."

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-Shang Tsung's Dining Room- Later

Two figures sat upon the dining table, feasting on many good-looking dishes. As the smaller figure rambled on and on, the larger one seemed annoyed, with one of his four arms supporting his head.

"And them... I ripped his heart out!" Kano eagerly finished his story, as he took a bite out of his steak.

"Fantastic! Now, can we please eat in silence...?" Goro sarcastically asked.

"You said you were some kind of royalty, right?" Kano probed.

"Yes. I am Goro! General of the armies of Outworld, and Prince of Kuatan, home of the mighty Shokan!" Goro said, triumphantly.

"Ya' know, I'm kind of a prince too, back at home. I mean... the term "Crime Boss" is used more often, but still..." Kano bragged.

"How lucky for them, back at home..." Goro said, once again with sarcasm.

"It is true, Prince Goro..." Shang Tsung said as he entered the dining room. Behind him, a reptilian-like creature suddenly appeared.

"Mister Tsung! You're here!" Kano said "And you brought your bodyguard!" Kano observed, looking at the reptilian creature.

"In this realm, man like him can amass great wealth, and almost godlike power..." Shang Tsung explained to Goro.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm amazing..." Kano interrupted, much to the annoyance of Shang Tsung "Now, I did my part of the deal and eliminated Sonya Blade, even though I couldn't... How do you say...? Ah! Yes, "Finish Her". That means when this emperor guy invaded, I'll be spared... Right?" Kano inquired.

"Yes..."Shang Tsung confirmed.

"As well as being offered an advantageous position in his court..."

"Yes..." Shang Tsung once again confirmed.

"So, if you have more warriors that need to be "taken care of" I'll be more than happy to do it..." Kano smiled "For a price, of course..."

"Thank you, but no..."Shang Tsung said "Unfortunately, Raiden as discovered that we broke the rules. Even though the tournament is in my control, the Elder Gods will not tolerate such a blatant cheating. That means that to eliminate the warriors, I'll need another ally of Outworld in the tournament..." Shang Tsung explained.

"And who ssshhhall that be...?" The reptile-like humanoid spoke.

"Good question, Reptile..."The sorcerer said-"I have no other powerful warriors from Earthrealm who would be willing to ally with me... But, one of my acquaintances from the Netherrealm sent me a powerful warrior..."

As Shang Tsung finished speaking, a cold chill filled the room as a ninja clad in yellow tarnished clothes materialized.

"Meet Scorpion..." Shang Tsung said, gesturing to the assassin in front of him.