-Chapter 12: A New Alliance

That night, in Earthrealm...

Peace. For the past few days the word had seemed so foreign, the concept a distant and lofty one. Earthrealmer and Outworlder warring with each other, fighting for a situation so fragile with such an intensity that few could truly comprehend. The heat of battle had been hot, the exchanges intense.

But peace had finally come to both Outworld and Earthrealm.

It was a strange sight within one of the dormitory pagodas. Earthrealmer and Outworlder, feasting side by side as they celebrated the end of hostilities and the successful retrieval of Raiden from the Netherrealm. Said thunder god stood outside along with Mileena and Magnus, clad in his blue and white robes for the first time in what felt like a long time. The thunder god breathed deeply, his restored sense of morality feeling very preferable to the darkened state he'd been in for so long.

"It is good to see things have returned to normal." He mused.

"The definition of 'normal' changing on a regular basis." Magnus quipped in response. "But, I am glad to see things have been sorted out."

"Indeed. Much have I missed while tainted by the power of Shinnok's Amulet. And much I have done that needs to be undone." Raiden replied.

"Given the circumstances, I'm sure most of it can be forgiven." Magnus reassured him. Raiden wasn't so certain.

"There is much I have to atone for." He stated, turning to regard his allies. "But first, I must offer my thanks to both of you for saving me from the Netherrealm. I'm indebted to you." He told them. Magnus and Mileena stood arm in arm, their relationship freely on display in the thunder god's presence. They were grateful to be speaking with him on friendly terms instead of tense, warlike ones. "I know you did not have to come, Mileena Kahnum. But know that I am grateful for your participation in my rescue." Raiden told the Empress.

"Any idea what they wanted from you?" Mileena inquired.

"Liu Kang claimed they needed my powers to fuel an attack on both Outworld and Earthrealm, in order to wage war on the Elder Gods. But I could not fathom how my lightning might help them." Raiden revealed, his own private doubts about the revenants' plan coming to light. "I suspect they had another motive, one that was concealed from us all." He added with a grim tone.

"Do you know what that might be?" Magnus asked.

"I cannot be certain. But I fear another war with the Netherrealm is looming." Raiden stated in response.

"Outworld will answer the call to war." Mileena firmly replied. "I refuse to let the Netherrealm tear down what I've worked to build." Raiden nodded.

"It is pleasing to hear that Mileena Kahnum." He quietly replied. He glanced out at the calm night and continued, "I propose an alliance between Earthrealm and Outworld. Now that our differences have been settled, and my darkness has been cleansed, I believe we can move forward together." He suggested. Magnus and Mileena shared glances of contemplation.

"It's your call." Magnus said, knowing only the empress could make such a decision. Mileena thought for a moment and, considering Raiden's official change of heart, believed such an alliance was long overdue.

"I accept your offer, Lord Raiden." She replied, facing the thunder god. "Outworld and Earthrealm will stand shoulder to shoulder against all threats." Raiden nodded in acceptance.

"Thank you, Empress." He thanked her. He then turned to his apprentice. "This has all been made possible because of you, Magnus Shadrix." He commented, believing every word. "Will you accept my apology and forgive me of my carelessness during my darkened state?" He asked, offering his hand. Magnus looked down at his hand and then back up.

"I accept, and then some." Instead of simply shaking his hand, Magnus pulled Raiden close and hugged him. Taken back, Raiden momentarily frozen before he reciprocated. "You're like a father to me. I'm just glad to have my Dad back." He whispered.

"You are like a son to me, Magnus Shadrix. This reunion has been a long time coming." Raiden replied. Stepping back, Magnus stood still as Raiden placed his hands on his arms. "I am pleased to see you have become a strong and independent man, whose actions are for the better... despite what the lack of foresight in others might say." He told him, being earnest and honest about this. "I am proud of you." He finally said, the words ones Magnus had longed to hear. The electromancer smiled broadly.

"You're welcome." He replied. Mileena stepped up to his side, wrapping both her arms around his one. Raiden glanced back and forth between them.

"The two of you have my blessing over your union... and over your coming child." He added.

"Thank you, Lord Raiden. Your approval is most welcome... albeit a little late." Mileena commented. Raiden nodded, the barest of smiles gracing his face.

"Mileena," Magnus started, making to pull her aside. "there's... something I want to ask you..." His words left Mileena wondering.

"What is it, Magnus?" She asked. Magnus took a deep breath.

"Well... considering you might be pregnant and all... I want to say is-" Magnus started to say, tripping over his words a little. He seemed nervous, that much was obvious to Mileena. Before he could continue, loud voices from within the pagoda commanded their attention. Over at the wine bar, an altercation appeared to be taking place between Johnny Cage and Bo' Rai Cho, the pudgy martial arts master refilling his flask. Magnus could only guess what the topic was. "I'll tell you in a moment." He replied and turned to Raiden. "Maybe we better stop Bo' Rai Cho before he drinks all the rice wine." He suggested. Raiden nodded in agreement.

"A wise decision." He answered. The three of them entered the pagoda and approached Bo' Rai Cho, Raiden taking the lead. "Master Bo' Rai Cho! I would encourage you not to indulge yourself, lest an incident arise because of it." The thunder god stated, trying to deter him from drinking too heavily.

"I am not indulging! This is spirtual training." Bo' replied, taking a hearty swig from his flash.

"That's the worst one I've ever heard." Magnus quietly sighed, rolling his eyes at Bo's excuse.

"Is he always like this?" Mileena quietly wondered.

"You have no idea..." Magnus replied with a shake of his head.

Time stopped.

Suddenly and without warning, everyone paused mid-action. Frozen in place, everything came to a standstill and none of the warriors recognized it. Earthrealmer, Outworlder, all of them were stopped where they were, including Raiden, the thunder god none the wiser to what was happening. It was then that a woman clad in gold and white entered the room. She possessed an element of timeless elegance that seemed too ethereal for her to be of the mortal world. She passed by each of the frozen kombatants with soft, careful steps.

"Such a curious gathering..." the woman mused, her voice as ethereal as her presence, "Earthrealmer and Outworlder, drinking and feasting together." Her piercing blue eyes sized up the crowd of people, scanning this way and that as she analyzed every interaction within seconds. "No... This was not meant to be." She determined. Her gaze settled on Magnus, frozen where he was leaning over to Mileena. "Your presence here is... unexpected, Magnus Shadrix." Kronika whispered, stepping over to him. "That is... the beauty of timing. It is chaotic and constant, always unpredictable. Your actions have affected them all." She said, walking around Magnus so she could look him head-on. "You have altered all of their destinies." She continued, as if she were talking to him. After a moment of contemplation, the Keeper of Time shook her head as she summed up the man standing before her. "It matters not. Armageddon shall happen another way..." Kronika declared. Summoning her sands of time, Magnus was enveloped in a cloud of particles before vanishing without a trace, Kronika right along with him.

Mileena shook her head in bewilderment. She had just been speaking with Magnus and now he was gone, like he had never been there.

"Magnus...?" She wondered, looking around. Raiden turned and saw the source of her confusion.

"Where did he go?" He asked.

"I... I-I don't know. It's like he just... vanished." Mileena replied with a stammer. Raiden tested his senses, reaching out to Magnus across Earthrealm. But he could not sense his apprentice anywhere.

This was most peculiar.

Some of the other guests took note of Magnus' sudden disappearance and started glancing back and forth as well, looking around the room for Magnus. But the electromancer was nowhere to be found. "Magnus!" Mileena called, looking desperate for some sign of her lover. "This is not like him." She worriedly muttered.

"He did not teleport, we would've both heard it and seen it." Raiden determined. "It's like he was here one moment and gone the next." He realized, attempting to discern a reason why.

But even his godly abilities could not fully comprehend what had become of his pupil.

"Then... w-where did he go?!" Mileena asked, starting to panic. She hadn't felt this much fear before in her entire life. She turned to the thunder god, anxious and desperate for answers. "Raiden, where is he?!" She demanded.

But Raiden did not know...

Author's Note: And there you have it! A hotly requested sequel done and done. Sorry if it seemed a bit rushed, but I wanted to get it out before MK11 dropped. Anyhoo, glad y'all enjoyed! See you all after MK11!