A note flutters to Marek:

Your girlfriend is dead
That must be quite sad
You should havd used your head
It may have not been as bad.

You obsessed over the sorceror
Should have kept your eye on the ball
You would've been able to help her
To prevent her fall

Blame not me
Or the dark emperor
For the truth will always be
It was you who failed her.

Mr. Mute

Shiku finds himself on the edge of the Living Forest, being dragged in by a group of Tarkatans, with his hands tied. He had a feeling he had been there before...

"Drop him there," ordered Shang Tsung without even looking at Shiku. Sektor was also there, along with Kano and Reptile, who were loading missiles into a carriage. Tsung slowly turned towards Shiku with a small grin on his face. Then, as Sektor crossed putting a missile into his wrist, Shiku saw a symobol on the inside of Sektors armor, and then he remembered it all. Shang Tsung had came to his village when he heard of the mysterious stones found there, and forced Shiku to forge a working replica of the Dragon Medallion. Shiku knew there was no way he could do it, but he had to, or the rest of his village would die. Tsung made Shiku test the stone on himself first, and this is how he was fused with the shadow poison. Tsung then disappeared, along with the rest of the "ghosts", and left Shiku to die. Instead, Shiku became entirely something else...

(I gotta say with this roleplay thing, I have developed my character so much more, and my updated version of Shiku would kick the previous ones ass.) EDIT: Forgot to kinda finish off into next scene) Shiku saw his staff in the carriage behind him with all the missiles. He slammed into it with his back, and his staff dropped into his tied hands. He cut his ropes, and began attacking the cybers holding him captive. Shang Tsung immediately sends a series of flaming skulls that hit Shiku in the chest, Shiku yells "I will not be another one of your drones," and hearing this, Smoke pops out from behind a tree (with...anyone...??) to aid Shiku in fighting the cybers and Tarkatans. Sorry Im just kind of obsessed with this character now lol. Gonna give it a rest now lol

Marek burns the letter to a cinder. "Fuck you, Mr. Mute. You won't be so happy once Armageddon happens and we all perish." Closing his eyes, Marek vanishes into his robes and teleports across Earthrealm, arriving at the port where the boat to Shang Tsung's island left. "Perhaps I might find clues to Kenshi's whereabouts-" Marek's musings are interrupted by the sound of fighting nearby. "-Here." The former Shadow Priest runs in the direction of the battle.

Mr. Mute watches as Marek gets upset and burns the letter,and teleports away. He had marked the letter,and could now follow Marek wherever he goes.

Most people would think angering a sorcerer of Marek's strength would be a foolish idea. Mr. Mute knew he used more power,but it had made him sloppy. He had forgotten completely about the gem in his pursuit of someone to take his anger out on,and Mr. Mute wished to continue that. In truth he had no personal feeling towards the two at the start,but he has always made a habit of getting inside his target's heads.Perhaps because they have survived longer than average,so he has gotten slightly "attached" in a way. For the first time ever,his old kind self lost any influence on his soul,and he was beginning to enjoy his work.

He did not no of what this Armageddon was,and in truth if he did he would not care,he was bound by his service to whatever order he receives from Kahn,and since it is not to avoid Armageddon, it was not of his concern.

Marek turns the corner and sees a man in a blindfold with a sword standing over several defeated opponents. The swordsman telekinetically sheathes his blade and walks into a nearby bar. Marek shortly follows the warrior into the bar and sits down next to him, ordering a drink. "I take it you are the one called Kenshi." Kenshi merely grunts and swallows his drink. ""It seems you know my name, but I don't know yours. And I don't really care." Marek lets out a sigh and continues talking. ""My name is Marek, and I have a proposition for you. It involves Shang Tsung." Kenshi inclines his head, now giving the Shadow Priest his full attention. "What about that damned sorcerer?" Regaining his composure, Marek continues to talk. "The woman that I loved was killed recently, and the sorcerer is to blame. I want him dead as much as you do, and I can help you find him." Kenshi lets out a gruff laugh. "That's funny, I just missed the boat to his damn island, and now another opportunity to kill him just happens to fall into my lap? Fine, I'll play along. When do we leave for the island?" Marek chuckles. "Oh no, he's not on Earthrelam anymore. We leave for Outworld at dawn."

(Thanks! and idk.. ive always saw Serenity as a good girl..)

Serenity runs away, looking around but seeing nothing but despair and death.
She finally stops to take a break.
What that warrior said, could it be true? I don't know why i was smiling or laughing.. Am i getting corrupted? No no.. i have to fight it..
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR...
Serenity slowly turns around to see an enormous beast with three heads.
"Oh my, youre a big one"
The middle head strikes at her, trying to bite into its next meal.
Serenity jumps through the beast's closing jaws and barely misses getting her legs bitten off as it closes beneath her, she lands a few feet away.

Serenity summons her ring blade ready as the beast charges toward her.

The next morning, Marek and Kenshi prepare for their journey to Outworld. "How do you know there is a tournament in Outworld, Marek?" Contemplating whether or not to disclose the truth, Marek decides to tell the truth...Part of it, anyway. "I used to be Shang Tsung's most loyal Shadow Priest until he killed my beloved, I knew many of his schemes." Awaiting Kenshi's reaction to his ties to Shang Tsung, Marek is relieved to see the swordsman simply nod and await their ascent. "Let's go, Shadow Priest." Marek nods and gives a slight chuckle. "Be warned, it will be a strange experience." Marek's robes come alive and envelop him and Kenshi, transporting them to Outworld. Upon arrival, they witness a man covered in locusts fighting Tarkatans. "Lord Ekibyogami?!" Kenshi draws his sword and prepares for battle. "A friend of yours?"

Serenity charges at the beast as well, preparing to zoom past him and finish him off quickly. As she is running towards it, she suddenly collapses. She turns to see an arm coming out of the ground holding unto leg.
"Help me please it hurts"

She hears the desperate cries of a man, she feels like helping but the beast is approaching fast.

Ekibyogami sees Marek as he is fighting a group of Tarkatans.
"Marek!" Finishing the last tarkatan,he runs to the sorceror.
" I know a way to bring Serenity back! Do you remember the gem you gave her?"

Marek slaps the side of his face. "Of course!! How could I have forgotten the gemstone? Where is it?"

Ekibyogami opens the portal to the pocket room. He hands the gem to Marek.
"Brace yourself" He then has a cloud of locusts bring out Serenity's body.
Seeing the blind warrior,he gives a quizical look,but descides to bring it up later.
"Can you do anything?"

MEANWHILE... (ha) Smoke and Shiku defeat the small group of cybers and Tarkatans, but Shang Tsung escaped, along with Kano, Reptile, and Sektor. Smoke has just witnessed his closest friend Sub Zero taken by the new Lin Kuei and turned in to an abomination. Smoke is enraged, but when he hears Shiku's story, his anger is sobered. The two warriors set out thru the forest, Smoke knows it well, and Shiku begin to remember it. They find a certain tree, and Shiku pulls a vine, then a hatch in the ground opens.

"This will turn the tide," Shiku says, then the ninjas look around to make sure no one is watching, drop into the hole, and close the hatch.

(And no, no funny business is about to be had lol)

Off-topic:

Aren't we already halfway through MK2?

Seeing as how Serenity vs. Ekibyogami is starting, would it be appropriate to have both of them fight it out soon?

"Yes, I just need the gem." Marek takes the gem from Ekibyogami and closes his eyes, performing an incantation for several moments. "There, it's done. Now, we wait."

"Im sorry i cant" Serenity kicks the mans arm off her and gets up
Looking down she gives the man a sad look, but the seemingly helpless mans plea soon turns to evil angry yells
"you little slut get back here!"
Taken back by the mans change she did not notice the beast approaching her.
Serenity finally turns around to the sight of the middle head reaching out to her.
Luckily the other head reached out as well knocking the middle head off, but though she was saved from its bite, the head managed to knock her down.
She opens her eyes to the sight of the beasts large teeth.
Suddenly light begins to surround her body, scaring the beast.
A breath of life returns to the fallen goddess.
She sits up and sees Ekibyogami, Marek, and a new warrior.
Warm smiles welcome her back, but she has returned changed..

Snake approaches the fallen beast of the Netherrealm, just missing her escape. Quan Chi appears from behind him.

"I no longer feel her presence here in the Netherrealm." Snake says towards Quan Chi. Quan Chi replies, "She has been resurrected, but it is no matter. Corruption of her soul has already begun, and resurrection has only hastened the process. Once one has tasted the Netherrealm, escape from it's clutches is impossible." Quan Chi walks towards Snake, "You will go to Earthrealm and track down Serenity, watch over her until she turns on her comrades, then you shall aid her, then you shall bring her to me. I will transform her into one of the fallen." Quan Chi laughs maniacally, Snake bows and says "Understood."

Snake disappears through a portal, and continues the pursuit of Serenity.

"It worked? Where did you get that thing Marek?"

Ekibyogami looked down and noticed Serenity coming to.

"Serenity,are you okay?

Rummaging through his bag he finds a sandwich and gives it to her. He had no idea what he had to do in this situation and assumed she would be hungry.

Something about her death really bothered him though,but he would bring it up later,she deserved a rest after,well dying.

He turns to Kenshi.
"I bet you have never seen anything like this befo........Of course you haven't"

Okorik stealthfully watches the warriors laugh over their revival but Okorik knows the truth. He laughs silently and waits for when Serenity can reach to amount of corruption needed to make her one of the Netherrealm's soldiers. It is only a matter of time.

"Serenity has been corrupted by the Netherrealm. However, there may be way to purify her."

"Really? In truth it does make sense,and it would explain why she is wearing an eye patch, shoulder pads, a gun,tons of pockets and has suddenly gotten incredibly mis proportioned feet. She definitely has gotten darker and more hardcore" (points to those who get the joke)

"Maybe we should contact nightwolf?"

"Yes, that may be for the best. Howver, Kenshi and I were going-" Marek turns and sees Kenshi is gone. "He already left to find Shang Tsung, Marek."
"Very well, then. He can handle himself. Let us return to Earthrealm."
Marek teleports himself, Serenity, and Ekibyogami back to Earthrealm.

Out comes the three warriors from Marek's robes, Serenity stumbles a few steps leaning forward as if her stomach is in pain.

Suddenly Serenity stands straight "I told you i didnt like that"
turning around she reveals a more angry expression on her face.

Serenity shoots her time freeze at Marek, and runs at Ekibyogami throwing a kick to his face..

With no time to dodge he does the one thing he can think of. Ekibyogami catches her foot with his teeth,with a flick of his neck,throws her to the ground.
"You seem to be better Serenity,also what the hell!"

"Im muuuch better" Serenity spins off the floor to her fighting stance.

"This should be fun" Serenity runs and throws a rising knee and falling elbow to Ekibyogami aiming for the purple spot on his chest and head.