-Chapter 11: Living in the Now

In Earthrealm...

Raiden and the Special Forces unit returned safely to Earthrealm, with only a few soldiers dead due to the revenants and demons.

"Well, that could've been worse." Johnny remarked, whistling as he eyed a sizeable scorch mark left on his jacket.

"I'll say." Cassie agreed.

"Thought we were donezo for a moment there." Liam remarked. "Then we got a little help from on high."

"The return of Magnus Shadrix was quite timely." Raiden said, the thunder god pondering what had become of his disciple in the time he went missing. "I must go and convene with him in order to discuss what has transpired in Outworld."

"So, that's it? We beat the Netherrealm?" Takeda wondered, testing his wrist and eyeing a few dents in his armor.

"Yes and no, Takahashi Takeda." Raiden answered. "Sindel and Nightwolf may be dead, but I fear a new war with the Netherrealm looms."

"But we just took out one of their seats of power." Cassie said, thinking they had the dark forces beaten.

"Maybe so, Cassandra Cage. But the Netherrealm will rebuild and return. They always do." Raiden said gravely. Even now his voice carried a weary edge to it, as if, despite his immortality, Raiden was growing tired of the constant kombat. "We shall wait and enjoy the time we've bought. But when the Netherrealm chooses to strike again, we must find a way to deal a permanent deathblow to them."

"We'll be ready for them." Sonya stated. "We're Earthrealm's best and brightest. It's our job to keep our realm safe and I'm sure as hell not gonna quit now."

"Neither are we." Jacqui agreed, Takeda and Jin nodding.

"You count me in on that pledge too." Liam stated, stepping up beside them. Sonya eyed the newest impromptu member of their little unit.

"Speaking of which. Sergeant Cage tells me you did an admirable job taking on the hell beasts. Not bad... for Kano's son." She appraised.

"Thank you, General. But, please, don't hold that over me. I hate him as much as you do." Liam quietly said. Sonya nodded in understanding.

"What would you say to a transfer, Liam? Care to join the Special Forces?" She offered. Liam paused to consider it, casting a glance at Cassie. He wouldn't mind getting to hang around her a little more...

"I think I could take you up on that." He replied.

"I'll put in a commendation with Secretary Blake. We'll fast-track you as much as possible, get you into boot camp in no time." Sonya said, already thinking about the paperwork involved. Liam gave a tilt of his head in acknowledgment.

"Sure thing." Then he stopped. "Wait, boot camp?"

In Outworld...

With his wounds bandaged and well on his way to recovery, Magnus walked arm in arm with Mileena along one of the palace balconies. The sun was setting over Outworld, the realm finally at peace after a frantic day of near-misses and constant kombat. The two lovers were enjoying the quiet and the ability to finally be back in each other's arms.

"Glad to see nothing else went to hell in a handbasket while I was gone." The electromancer mused.

"Such chaos seems to be a given these days. If not one realm then another." Mileena replied. "But enough of politics." She whispered, turning him towards her. "Let me enjoy having my love back in my arms." Her hands reached for his face, thumb stroking the scar across his nose. Magnus smiled.

"I missed you too, Mileena." He said.

"I nearly fell apart without you. I did not know what to do." The Empress stated, leaning against his chest as his arms encircled her.

"I know you are strong, Mileena." Magnus told her. "There is much you can do without me."

"That is not what I meant." She said, her gaze turning upwards to meet his. "I missed you Magnus because I feel like you are a part of me now. And without you I feel empty, incomplete. This child I carry, our child, I couldn't bear for it to not experience life without a father."

"I will always come back to you." Magnus solemnly promised. "I will find a way."

"I know you will. But this situation has given me pause, and I... I've come to realize just how much you mean to me." Mileena continued. "I may be pregnant with your child, you and may have slept together countless times, but my feelings for you have only grown stronger. And this experience has finally solidified them." She whispered. "Magnus... will you be my husband?" Magnus was startled. He knew Mileena to be something of a playful and teasing girl. But to want something so serious as propose...

"W... What?" He stammered.

"I cannot spend another day without you. I love you and I want you in my life, by my side, all the time." Mileena clarified. Magnus could feel the depth of her feelings for him in her words, a boundless sense of love and adoration the likes of which was plainly evident in her amber eyes. His hand settled on her cheek, his thumbs brushing her exposed Tarkatan teeth. "Will you?" She weakly wondered, eyes desperately seeking his affirmation.

"There's nothing I would want more." He told her. "I will." With that, he embraced her, his lips pressing against the love of his life as he held her close.

His Mileena. His Empress. And soon to be, his wife.

Author's Note: Hooboy! Glad I got this puppy finished! Hope y'all enjoyed. What's next, you ask? Well, I'm going to take a brief MK hiatus. I need to get back into the groove, enjoy this fandom some more before I think about my next project. That being... MK11.

Until next time!