Wastelands, Outworld

In the Wastelands of Outworld, Reptile lead the Princesses, along with Liu Kang and Kitana. They stumble across the hidden entrance and walked to it. "This is where I got in... Raiden is just down the tunnel..." he said to them but smelled something looked out. "Come out Princess Twilight, I know you're there..." he said to her.

Coming out of hiding, Twilight and Flash Sentry stepped out of hiding and surprised Celestia and Luna. "Twilight, you and Flash need to be with the others." Celestia said to them.

"I know Princess Celestia, but we have been giving it a lot of thought, and trust me when I say... you will need backup in case you run into trouble." Twilight said to her.

"She's right Princess, there's no telling what you may run into in that tunnel... you need us, so let us help." Flash said to her.

Looking upon their students, Liu Kang looked to Kitana and turned to Celestia. "Princess Celestia, I'm afraid they're right... if we run into trouble, we need all the help we can get." he said to her.

"Princess... they came all this way, so it would be wise to let them join us in saving Lord Raiden." Kitana said to her.

Looking upon her student and the Canterlot Guard, Celestia knew that there was no way of changing their mind. So she let out a sign in defeat, and looked to them. "Alright... but stay close, I will not risk losing my best student..." she turned to Reptile and nodded. "Alright, lead the way..." he said to her.

Nodding to the royal, Reptile lead her and the group into the tunnel. Meanwhile Liu Kang looked to his student with a disapproving look. "You're fortunate that we're not going to scold you both for straying away from the other groups..." he said to him earning a gulp from Flash Sentry as they walked into the dark tunnel.

As they made their way down the tunnel, they were close to the dungeon, but suddenly the fires around them mysteriously went out. Celestia and Luna quickly formed light orbs and looked around and soon heard a dark chuckle. They turned seeing a familiar face, one Luna hoped never to see again. "Well, well, well... seems Shao Kahn was right to send me here, its been a long time your majesties... even you Princess Luna. Or should I say... Nightmare Moon..." Sombra revealed himself with a grin letting out a dark chuckle.

She glared at him for hearing that title. "I am no Nightmare Moon... not anymore... you turned me into that monster!" she exclaimed to the dark king.

"Ahh, but I can still sense that dark hateful aura in you... it made you all the more beautiful when I ruled." Sombra shortened his red cloak up to his mid section on his back revealing a demonic arm that consisted of three large claws as the grasped the air as he looked to them with a sadistic grin.

Liu Kang was shocked from what he saw of him. "By the Elder Gods...!" he muttered in shock as he looked at the demonic hand.

"Like it...? It is something I stole from Shang Tsung's Flesh Pits..." Sombra explained where he got it and how he took off his own arm replacing it with the new one. "And with it... I will use it to destroy you, and Shao Kahn! Outworld deserves a new ruler... and it might as well be me...!" he chuckled.

Celestia glared along with her sister as she approached. "Outworld would never worship a tyrant such as yourself...!" she said to him. Sombra glared at the group as his demon hand glowed preparing to attack, the group charged at him to take him down so that they could get passed him.

Soul Tombs, Outworld

Meanwhile, with Applejack's group... they walked to the Soul Tomb as Ermac lead them to it. Applejack looked around seeing the tomb itself, it was massive... souls swirled around the chamber which frightened Fluttershy. "How could someone consume this many souls...?" she asked.

"Beats me... either he eats one a day, or he's just a sick animal with a thick stomach." said Rainbow Dash as she looked to Ermac. "So Ermac, what can you tell us about this place...?" she asked him out of curiosity.

Looking upon the Soul Tombs, Ermac is reminded of his dark past when he was in service to Shao Kahn."The Soul Tomb's give Shao Kahn his strength... thousands if not countless vanquished warriors, of every realm he conquered. It was where we were born... why we have so many souls in one body. Why we were created to fight for Outworld in the name of Shao Kahn." he informed them of his dark past.

"Sure brings back memories... this is where you took my arms..." Jax pointed out as Ermac looked down in regret.

Applejack looked to the soul ninja giving him a look. "Guess that explains so much now..." she was close to clobbering the soul ninja after hearing it.

Nightwolf quickly stopped him from doing so. "He did what he was made to do... there's no changing that." he said to her and looked around. He was getting a bad feeling about it as he looked through the room, only to hear a clicking sound in a distance. "Get down!" he grabbed Applejack and pulled her down as guns were shot and the bullets missed them. He looked to who shot at them and saw that it was Erron Black of the Black Dragon.

He twirled his pistols as he placed them in his holsters. "Nice of you to show up everybody..." he said to them.

Chrysalis and Shang Tsung approached and looked to them. "We have been expecting you..." he said with a grin.

Getting off the ground, Applejack dusted her jacket and glared at them. "Funny way of sayin' howdy partner..." she said as she pointed it towards Erron Black.

"And here I was actually sayin', goodbye..." Erron replied to her as he walked toward her. "But what brings a fine looking cowgirl like you here...?" he asked her.

"That is none of your business... and if you're tryin' to get fresh with me, you best better think twice." Applejack warned the outlaw.

Erron chuckled as he approached her. "Easy sugar... just bein' friendly..." he said to her as he touched her shoulder. But Applejack wasn't going to tolerate his flirting as she formed a first as the Bear Spirit's paw formed and she struck him away, seeing him slide away from her. He groaned from it and looked to his chest as spiritual smoke came off it, he looked to her with a scowl and stood up. "Well that was a neat little trick... but of course, you just made a big mistake sweetheart..." he said to her.

Nightwolf looked around seeing Tarkatan warriors surrounding them, he turned to them glaring. "Never took you for a coward Black... hiding behind Tarkatan's..." he said to him.

"When it comes to winning... you gotta do what's gotta be done. Kill them..." Erron ordered the attack as the Tarkatan's charged at them. Jax quickly blocked ones blades and clobbered him down, as Rainbow Dash dodged their attacks and electrocuted them. Fluttershy and Ermac avoided their attack as the humanized Pegasus threw a backspin kick against one of the Tarkatans. Meanwhile, Nightwolf and Applejack approached Erron Black with fists clenched. "Two on one...? That's not much of a fair fight..." he said to them.

"Neither is wielding two guns... but you never followed the rules Erron...!" Nightwolf pointed out to him as he pulled out a tomahawk. "Let us settle this..." he said to him as he went for a strike. Erron blocked his attack with his pistols, avoiding the axe head, but Applejack leaped over the shaman and clobbered him in the face sending him flying towards a wall. As he crashed against it, Erron shook his head and glared at them. He whipped his pistols out shooting at them, but Nightwolf changed into his wolf animality running from the shots as Applejack ran the other way. The two charged at Erron as he shot at them, but his guns soon ran out of ammo as he went to pull out his Winchester rifle and shoot at them. Applejack quickly knocked the gun out of his hands and landed hard punches against his face, throwing a kick to the front of his torso, bruising his abdomen.

He groaned from it and looked to her. "You definitely got some kicks... but you'll need more than that!" he threw a punch at her. She dodged his attacks, but he quickly grabbed her hair pulling it as she screamed from it. He punched her in the gut and went for an uppercut, but Nightwolf grabbed his arm stopping him. Giving Applejack a chance to break free as her fist was surrounded by a spiritual bear paw, and clobbered him in the face with it. He crashed on the ground, but kicked at Applejack's leg and struck Nightwolf with his right arm... he got up and went to strike at Applejack.

The shaman stumbled from it as he summoned a spiritual bow and arrow, firing it at his hand. As it landed in the back of his hand, Erron writhed as he held it and turned to him pulling out a knife, throwing it at him. Nightwolf quickly knocked it away and punched at him relentlessly... but Erron managed to grab hold of his next attack and punched him away. "You forgot something!" Applejack yelled out as she kicked him hard in the ribs, breaking several of them as he writhed in pain from it. "One of the perks of being an apple farmer, we work a lot on our leg strength." she said to him.

Chuckling at it, Erron looked to her as he got up. "I had a farm myself... my ma and pa always put me to work in it, letting me do all the hard work. If I didn't do anything right, my pa would always beat me... wanna know what I did...?" he asked her.

"Like heck I wanna know... so quit yer yappin'!" she exclaimed as she threw a punch at him. He quickly dodged it and grabbed her arm, throwing her over about to strike her face while she was down. Nightwolf snatched him with his spiritual bow and pulled him away from her, the outlaw struggled from it as Applejack got up and kicked him right in the groin hearing him groin from it as he walked away groaning in pain of it. "Feel like walkin' away? Or do you wanna keep gettin' hurt...?" she asked him

Groaning a bit, Erron turned facing them and glared as he shook off the pain. "Not bad sweetheart... but now... you've just gone and pissed me off." he grabbed his Winchester rifle and swung it, hitting her in the face with it. She yelped from it, as Erron grabbed her and landed his knee against her stomach. She coughed up some blood from the impact, but she gritted her teeth and broke free landing the back of her hand against his face. He flew across the room from it as Nightwolf charged and formed a spiritual knife in his hand. He yelled out and stabbed his shoulder as he slammed him on the ground, hearing him writhe in pain from it.

He quickly grabbed some dirt and tossed it in is face, causing Nightwolf to go temporarily blind as he broke free and kicked him down. The shaman rolled across the ground, and slid on the ground as he quickly cleaned his eyes of the dirt seeing Erron charge at him. He leaped and was about to kick him back down, but the shaman avoided his attack and grabbed his legs throwing him towards Applejack as she clobbered him in mid air, flipping him over as he slammed on the ground. He groaned from it, and managed to load one bullet in his gun and fire it at Nightwolf. The shaman quickly grabbed a Tarkatan as the bullet shot it in the heart, and Nightwolf shot an arrow through Erron's hand. He groaned in pain from it, and looked only to see Nightwolf charge at him and kick him square in the face, sending him flying across the room and crashing against a totem, falling unconscious. "May the great spirit have mercy on your soul..." he said to him and looked to Applejack. "You okay...?"

"I'll live... nice work back there..." Applejack said to him as he pulled out his tomahawk and strike down a Tarkatan that was gonna strike her from behind. She looked to him surprised and let out an exhale. "Thanks..."

"Don't mention it..." he replied to her but turned seeing Chrysalis charge at him. He got tackled by her, separating him from Applejack. She flew to another section of the Soul Chambers and slammed him down on the ground, resulting in him kicking her away as he got back up looking to her. "Chyrsalis... Queen of the Changelings..." he said to her.

"Soon to be your queen, once I force you to kneel before me..." Chrysalis said to him.

Nightwolf gripped his tomahawk preparing to fight, the Changeling Queen hissed and charged at him... he dodged each of her attack and avoided a claw to his face. She glared seeing it and threw a slide kick at his feet, forcing him to avoid each attempt of her trying to trip him. She soon pulled a sneak attack and kicked his shoulder, and smacked him with her other leg as he flopped onto the ground. He shook his head and looked seeing her about to dig her high-heel into his face, he quickly dodged it and summoned his bow and arrow firing a shot. She dodged it only to see him land his elbow against her stomach, getting her to cough up yellow blood from it. She snarled as a stinger went to strike him, but he leaped away from it as he gripped his tomahawk. "That's gonna be hard to get by..." he muttered.

Chrysalis cleaned the blood from her mouth and glared at him. "For striking the queen... I owe you for that!" she swung her stingers at him. He pulled out his tomahawk and formed a spiritual replica and blocked her attacks, avoiding to get stung. She snatched his leg with on of her stingers and tripped him over, as he fell to the ground she went to sting him. Only to see him summon his bow and arrow and shot her away, forcing her to crash against the wall. The shot didn't kill her, but it did make her furious from it... she hissed from his attack and charged at him.

Nightwolf blocked her attack and landed a punch against her chest and landed a powerful kick against her side, fracturing a few ribs and landed a hard uppercut against her jaw hearing it crack. Hey grabbed her arm and threw her over and slammed her on the ground, she shrieked from it and kicked him in the face and got him to back up. She swung her leg about to stomp on his head, but he quickly caught her leg. Redirecting it as it hit the ground as he landed a few punches against her body and slammed an elbow attack against her left cheek. She stumbled from it as Nightwolf summoned the great spirit to him. "Stand down now Chrysalis... this will be your only warning." he said to her.

But Chrysalis only let out a dark chuckle as she looked to him. "Is that so...? Now lets see what's on your mind..." eyes glowing as she looked into his mind, seeing that protecting Applejack meant a lot to him. More than that... his feelings for her were strong, strong enough to even strengthen her power as she charged at him. He went to strike her, but she dashed behind him and grabbed hold of him, putting him in a choke hold. "Mmm... the feelings you have for that apple farmer is exquisite! Perhaps you didn't know shaman... but changelings feed on ones love, and it strengthens them ten times stronger...!" she informed him as she let out an evil laugh holding her grip around him. "Soon... you'll never see that pretty little blonde again...! I will see to that..." she hissed as her fangs grew out about to bite down on his neck. But before she could, Nightwolf transformed into his wolf animality and grabbed hold of her, throwing her off as he let out a snarl. Chrysalis crashed against a few soul chambers, and looked to him surprised.

He growled at her and showed his claws. "There is one thing you didn't count on Chrysalis... the strength of an animal spirit...!" he snarled and charged at her. He struck at her leaving cuts through her hard skin, and swung a kick landing it against her jaw, chipping a few teeth. He leaped into the air and punched at her nose, bruising it as blood spilled out. He then grabbed hold of her body and threw her over, slamming her against a wall and kicked her against it. She fell to the ground, and shook her head forming a glare towards him as she was about attack him, but Nightwolf tossed a spiritual tomahawk at a loose rock, causing it to fall down on Chrysalis' head knocking her out. "Be thankful I choose not to kill you..." he said to her as he looked out. "I need to get back to the others..." he ran off.

Shao Kahn's Dungeon, Outworld

Meanwhile, in the dungeon, Sombra walked out of the secret tunnel with a grin on his face... only to collapse on the ground falling unconscious. Celestia walked passed him with the others, leaving the dark king in a puddle of his own blood. Liu Kang looked upon the dark king, sensing just how evil he is despite having the new arm. "How could one so diluted as him become a monster...?" he asked.

"Some aren't born evil... but they are made evil." Luna said to him as she turned facing him. "Sombra once loved the original ruler of the Crystal Empire before Cadance... but Amore's hear belonged to another, which turned Sombra into the fiend we now know." she pointed out.

Kitana was surprised when she heard it and looked to the fallen king. "I can't believe it... what did he do...?" she asked the lunar princess.

Luna looked down in remembering it, but turned to give her an honest answer. "He killed them..." she said to them and walked away.

Liu Kang watched her go and looked upon Sombra, but he chose not to show pity for such a dark creature such as him. He followed the Princesses along with Flash and Twilight, Reptile lead them to the cell Raiden is being kept in. "This is his cell... he should be inside." he said to them.

Celestia opened the door quickly and rushed inside. "Raiden!" she cried out only to see that his cell was empty, and the bars were melted by pure heat. "No..." she muttered to herself as tears fell.

Liu Kang looked around and found a guard knocked out on the ground, and rushed to him getting him to wake up. "What happened...? Where's Raiden...?" he asked him.

Panting exhausted, the guard looked to him panicked. "It was insane... he looked weak, but he broke out..." he said to them.

"Seems he did have a plan after all.." said Reptile as he looked to Celestia.

"That's not all... he had help from someone... someone from Outworld, I couldn't see who it was... but she helped him escape." the guard said to them.

Kitana looked to Twilight with an idea. "Twilight, think you can recreate exactly what happened with your magic...?" she asked her.

"I'll try, but I need time to see what happened... there's no doubt in my mind that other guards heard what happened down here." Twilight said to her as she focused her magic to recreate the scene. She used astral projection to form images of who was in the cell with Raiden. As she recreated the scene, Celestia looked upon Raiden seeing his form... not caring that he became Dark Raiden.

As Twilight played the scene... Flash watched who walked into the cell, and saw that it was Mileena which immediately gave him chills. "Oh no... not her again..." he panicked a bit.

"Mileena...? But... why is she here..." Kitana asked out of curiosity. As she watched the scene continue, the guard walked in and was going to kill Mileena, but Raiden blasted out of the cell, attacking him as he protected Mileena. Twilight finished the scene as both the half breed and the thunder god ran out of the room "What could this mean...?"

"It means that Mileena is helping the thunder god escape... more than likely she's gone rogue as I have." Reptile suggested.

"We need to regroup with the others, and return to Equestria..." said Flash as he looked to Celestia. "Princess, we need to go..." he said to her.

But Celestia looked upon the cell, earning a concerned look from Luna as she approached her sister. "Sister...?" she touched her shoulder. "Celestia, snap out of it!" she snapped her back to reality as she looked upon her younger sister. "We need to leave, now...!" she said to her. Celestia looked back to the cell, but looked to her and nodded in response as she ran out. Her allies followed only to see the guards chasing after them as the tried to escape the dungeon.

Soul Tombs, Outworld

Back in the Soul Tombs, Nightwolf returned as his allies were still alive. Ermac blocked Shang Tsung's attacks, only to get struck as some of the souls within him were sucked out of his body by the sorcerer. "Once your souls are mine... I will be all powerful...!" he went to drain him further, but Nightwolf charged at him and kicked him away from Ermac. The sorcerer looked to him surprised, and quickly got back up. "You...?! Alive?! What did you do to Chrysalis?!" he asked him.

"Have no fear... she's still alive, which counts me fortunate..." Nightwolf said to him.

Shang glared at the shaman and held up a flaming skull. "Fortunate that you should face me...!" he shot it at him. Nightwolf quickly dodged it and struck at him, but Shang blocked his attacks and struck his rib cage hearing him grunt. Nightwolf retaliated with an elbow strike, hitting him in the face as Shang stumbled from it. He shook his head and swung a kick at the shaman, only to see him catch his leg and strike at his knee bending his leg back.

He let out a painful scream and limped away from Nightwolf, he held his leg and quickly put it back into place as Nightwolf charged at him. He went to kick him, but the shaman dodged it and summoned a spiritual knife and struck at his shoulder, knocking him over and caused lightning to strike him. "My ancestors guide me Shang Tsung... yours care little for you..." he said to him.

Shang got up from the ground and fixed his shoulder from the blade. "You know little of my history... as for yours... you will fall just like your previous predecessor...!" he struck at him, Nightwolf blocked his attacks and pulled out a war club and struck him away. The sorcerer hit the ground and shook his head from it, he got up and threw a flaming skull at him. Nightwolf struck it away with his war club only to get kicked in the face by Shang as he fell to the ground. "Though I am thankful you did not kill Chrysalis... I'm afraid I cannot let you leave this place alive!" he went to kill him.

But Nightwolf had no plans to die here, he quickly summoned his spiritual bow and arrow and shot him in the shoulder where he stabbed Shang with his knife, hearing the sorcerer writhe in agony from it. He charged at him landed his knee against his nose, breaking it. He landed several punches against his face, and landed it a hard punch to his stomach, forcing him to cough up blood. He grabbed him and threw him over, slamming him on the ground and stomped on his shoulder. He screamed from it but kicked him away as he changed his appearance to Reptile and dashed passed him, causing him to spin taking the chance to change into Rain and kick him away as he went through a portal and fall behind him. Shang went to crush him, but Nightwolf caught his leg knocking him over. "Do not count me out of the fight just yet Shang Tsung...!" he punched him several times while Shang managed to block several of his attacks.

Shang blocked his attacks avoiding even a few cuts from his tomahawk, he grabbed his wrist and pinned his arm against his back hearing him writhe from it. "Prepare to join your ancestors shaman... for your soul will be mine!" he went to kill him. But his attempt was ruined when a spear from an unknown source came between them, piercing the ground. He turned to the source and saw it was a cloaked woman hiding in the shadow. She leaped towards him and landed a few powerful kicks at his chest, fracturing it as Shang Tsung slid away from Nightwolf and looked to her. "Who dares to interfere?!"

Nightwolf looked to her and was surprised from when he saw her. She removed her hood showing she had the appearance of an African woman, but had the attire of a warrior witchdoctor. She even had stripes which matched that of a zebra as she looked to Shang Tsung, with a glare that would cut through metal. "To my share of protection I make me claim, and Zecora... is my name." she said to him in rhyme as she looked to Nightwolf. "Can you stand...?" she asked him.

He nodded to her and stood up with her help. "Thank you..." he said to her as he took her spear and gave it to her. He turned to Shang as he glared at the two shaman warriors. He roared out as he changed into his cobra animality and hissed at them. "This will be tougher than I thought..." he muttered as Shang hissed and when to bite them. The two warriors leaped avoiding the cobra's venomous bite, Zecora looked seeing his tail come at her and quickly used her agility to avoid his strike. She took her spear and stabbed his tail to the ground, hearing him shriek from it. Nightwolf took his tomahawks and charged at him, swinging them as he struck through the hard scales of the cobra. He shrieked as he glared at them, he hissed and spat venom at them. The two shaman warriors and leaped back from the venom, and charged at him. They leaped toward him landing two powerful kicks against his head and knocked it against his a column knocking him out. He collapsed to the ground, and reverted back to his human form, Nightwolf put his tomahawks away. "My soul is not yours to take..." he said to him and looked to Zecora. "I thank you for your help Zecora... but how did you get into Outworld...? You weren't amongst us at the Castle of Friendship..."

"I had my own way of arriving, and watched you and our allies endured the fighting." Zecora explained to him and looked seeing more Tarkatan's arriving. "It would appear that we have more to fight, and we might stand together in order to escape with all our might." she said to him.

Nightwolf nodded as the Tarkatan's attacked them, he blocked ones attack and kicked on away and looked seeing Baraka. He watched as the Tarkatan leader charged at him and struck at the shaman, Nightwolf quickly blocked his attacks and dodged his next attack. "Still being Shao Kahn's loyal lapdog Baraka...?" he asked him.

"Shao Kahn conquered my realm, I owe my loyalty to him you foolish shaman...!" Baraka extended his blades and went to strike him.

Nightwolf blocked his attacks, and grabbed his arms. "Your loyalty will be your downfall Baraka...!" he kicked him away and struck his arms. He avoided his blades and pulled out his tomahawks and blocked them, Baraka let out a snarl and went to bite him. Nightwolf got him to bite down on the handle of his tomahawk, and kneed him in the gut, landing his elbow against his right cheek bone fracturing it. But the Tarkatan retaliated as his blades retracted, and he landed the back of his hand against the shaman's face. He stumbled from it, and saw Baraka going for a strike with one of his blades... he dodged it, grabbing his arm and fell back throwing him over as Baraka screamed and crashed against a walls close to the soul chambers.

Shaking his head from what Nightwolf did, he glanced to the shaman with a glare and snarled charging at him throwing a kick. Nightwolf blocked his attacks only to get struck in the face as Baraka struck him in the belly and landed a hard uppercut to his jaw sending him flying. Nightwolf crashed on the ground letting out a groan, meanwhile Baraka was growling as he slowly approached him. "I will enjoy feasting on your flesh after I finish killing you...!" he snarled about to strike him down, but Nightwolf dodged his attack and landed a powerful kick against his jaw. The Tarkatan shrieked from it and quickly retaliated with an extended blade and went to cut him down, but Nightwolf kicked against his chest and leaped into the air summoning his bow and arrow. Firing it at Baraka as it impaled into his shoulder, he quickly shot a shard at Nightwolf hitting him in the leg.

He let out a scream from it as he held his leg and quickly pulled out the shard, panting from the pain he felt. Applejack noticed it, and her eyes widened as she quickly finished off a Tarkatan that she had in a headlock and ran towards them, while Baraka was getting ready to impale Nightwolf in the heart for shooting an arrow into him. He rose his blade about to kill him, but Applejack grabbed the blade and broke it off... landing a hard kick to his abdomen causing him to writhe in agony from it as he crashed against the soul chambers causing it to crack. She quickly turned to Nightwolf and kneeled to check on him. "You okay Nightwolf...?" she asked him.

"I will be... thanks to you..." he replied to her and smiled. But Baraka was not finished yet, as he got up forming a new blade in his right arm. Nightwolf noticed it and looked to Applejack. "Go help the others, I'll be fine..." he said to her as he quickly put bandage wrappings around his leg where the shard was and looked to the Tarkatan leader as he got up to his feet and Applejack returned to the others to help them escape. Baraka charged at the shaman swinging his blades wildly, Nightwolf blocked his blades with his war club avoiding each and every slice Baraka threw at him. Baraka went to land a killing blow towards him, but Nightwolf knocked his jab away as he smacked his other cheekbone with his war club, demolishing it.

Baraka stumbled from it and shook his head still feeling the pain from the war club, but he was not going to let that stop him from getting a taste from the shaman. He leaped into the air as both his blades extended, Nightwolf prepared for what was next. But out of no where, a bear paw swatted Baraka into a wall... causing him to writhe out in pain from it. Nightwolf was surprised and looked seeing Applejack using the bear spirit's strength to slowly crush Baraka, but the Tarkatan managed to escape and glare at the cowgirl. "You little wretch!" he snarled and charged at her. She blocked his attacks but got a scratch on her leg that caused her to yelp from it, giving Baraka an opening to finish her.

But Nightwolf wasn't going to let that happen as he grabbed hold of Baraka's arm and slammed his elbow against it, bending it back as the Tarkatan roared out in pain from it. "No one... touches my friend...!" he said to him as he kicked him in the stomach, and landed a hard punch against his mouth knocking out a few sharp teeth. Baraka fell towards the ground and rolled across it, feeling dazed as he slowly got back up to his feet holding his head seeing double. The shaman glared as he changed to his wolf animality, and snarled landing powerful claw strikes against the Tarkatan. He clenched a fist and landed a powerful uppercut against his jaw, breaking it as Baraka was sent flying and hit the ground unconscious. Nightwolf growled at him and let out a powerful howl in victory, scarring the rest of the Tarkatan's away.

Applejack approached him and walked towards him, and touched his shoulder. "Easy Wolf... its alright now..." she said to him as Nightwolf let out a few harsh pants, but slowly reverted back to his human self. "There you go big guy..."

Panting a bit, Nightwolf finally calmed down, letting go of his primal self and looked to her. "Thanks AJ..." he said to her and looked seeing Flash show up. "Flash, where's Princess Twilight...?" he asked her.

"The Armory, to find the others... Raiden isn't in Outworld." Flash informed them.

"WHAT?!!" Nightwolf and Applejack said in unison.

"Its a long story, but come on, we have to regroup with the others." Flash said to them and ran off. Nightwolf and the others followed after him to regroup with their fellow defenders.

Armory, Outworld

In the armory, Kung Lao and his team took out several palace guards, cleaning up their injuries. Chi meanwhile didn't have to worry about cleaning up, given her reputation as a spirit. "That went well... that'll slow down their weapon supply and cut the numbers in Shao Kahn's army..." she said and looked to Sunset.

"Yeah... but why do I get the feeling something isn't right...?" Sunset asked as she looked to the wisp. "You getting the same feeling...?" she asked her.

The wisp shrugged only to see Twilight run in. "Guys, we need to get back to Equestria... something went really wrong with the mission..." she said to them.

"Whoa... slow down Twilight..." Johnny said to her as he walked up. "What happened...?" he asked her.

"Raiden wasn't in his cell, he escaped... with Mileena..." Twilight informed them.

Both Sonya's eyes along with Johnny's widen in shock from hearing it, and Sonya held her hands up and looked to her. "Did I hear that right...? Raiden escaped with Mileena...?" she asked her. Twilight nodded to her in response, causing Sonya to hold her head in shock. "If we ever find them, I am going to hurt someone." she said as she pointed towards Johnny. "You being the first..."

"Hey, leave me out of this... I already had my balls crushed by you twice on Shang's island, you're not getting another shot..." Johnny said to her.

"Guys!" Kung Lao walked up to them. "We can settle this little drama later, right now... we need to get out of here." he pointed showing Tarkatan Warriors charging at them. They all nodded in agreement and ran off, while Cyrax threw a couple bombs toward them and Smoke along with Trixie smashed a pair of smoke bombs on the ground. Giving them the chance to escape, and leave the armory in ruin.

Canterlot Castle, Equestria

Upon returning to Canterlot, Celestia stepped out of the portal and sat down as tears fell. "I swore that I would rescue him... but I failed..." she sobbed a bit.

"Sister, I'm sure he's alright... I mean, if Mileena got him out, they could be anywhere." Luna said to her.

"Princess Luna's right your majesty, there's no sign that she had any intention of killing Raiden... so its possible they're hiding somewhere safe in Outworld." Liu Kang said to her.

Sonya crossed her hooves not convinced. "Or she's simply torturing him..." she said earning disapproving looks from the others. "Come on, I'm not the only one thinking it... Mileena is capable of doing anything." she said to them.

"I can't but agree Sonya Blade... but even if Mileena did save him, I do not trust her." Celestia said to her.

"Which brings us to the question, where did she take him...?" Twilight wondered as she approached. "There are possibly a dozen places in Outworld she could have taken him, it'd take us days to find them." she said to them.

"How bout a quick second...?" asked a familiar scary voice. They all turned around and saw Mileena and Raiden standing before them. They were surprised just from seeing her, she approached with Raiden and looked to Celestia. "Princess Celestia... I know you must think I'm doing this to earn your trust, but please listen-" her sentence is cut off however when Celestia summoned a solar spear and held it to her neck. "I am not here to deceive you...!" she said to her.

"Give me a good reason why I shouldn't kill you beast...?!" Celestia demanded to know her intentions.

Looking at the angered princess, Mileena slowly reached with one hoof grabbing her mask. Slowly pulling it down showing a bruise left by Shao Kahn, Celestia was surprised from when she saw it... as were the Main Six, and the Defenders as she put her mask back on. "I have disowned my father with every fiber of my being... why else would I risk helping Raiden...?" she asked her.

Celestia looked upon her, feeling unsure of what to do... but before she could answer. Raiden used his magic to pull her solar spear away from Mileena. "Celestia... Mileena is not the enemy this time, she sacrificed everything to get me here to Equestria... but..." he looked to himself seeing his dark form. "No matter my efforts... I cannot change what I have become..."

The alicorn looked upon the dark thunder god, but approached him touching his face. Only to pull him into a hug as tears fell and her solar spear vanished. "I don't care Raiden... I would give everything I have to trade places with you. But I cannot bear to see you suffer like this..." she said to him.

Surprised by her words, Raiden looked down but held his beloved princess as tears brimmed. Twilight and the others watched it, and smiled a bit from seeing them reunited. But Twilight looked down in thought as she tried to think of a way to help, and suddenly... it came to her as she looked to the two. "Princess... I think I know something that can help..." she said to her.

Castle of the Two Sisters, Equestria

Within the gorge by the Castle of the Twin Sisters, Twilight and the others walked to the Tree of Harmony as the Elements of Harmony stayed in its branches. Liu Kang and Kitana gazed upon the tree, stunned by its immense beauty and wonder. "So this... is the Tree of Harmony...?" asked Liu Kang as he looked upon the tree.

"Yes... the same tree that bears the Elements of Harmony that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna used to trap Discord in stone..." Twilight informed him of the tale.

"Should have kept him that way, if you ask me..." Scorpion said to them.

Right on cue, Discord appeared next to him with a disapproving look. "Excuse me, but I've changed since then, so don't judge a book by its cover, Scorpy!" he said to him.

"Or a snake by its color, Discord...!" Scorpion glared at the being of chaos, as he returned the glare.

Fluttershy soon got between them separating them. "That will be enough of that, either you two get along... or I will have to use the stare on both of you to make sure that happens...!" she warned them earning frightened looks from each of them, knowing just how scary she can be.

Meanwhile, Twilight approached the tree along with Celestia and Raiden and looked to them. "I know it is a long shot, but the Elements of Harmony helped so many when they were doing wrong deeds... Luna becoming Nightmare Moon, destroying the vines that took you and your sister. But if there is a chance, the tree itself may be able to help Lord Raiden..." she said to her.

"Princess Twilight, its too risky... there's no telling what may happen..." Raiden said to her.

"Don't give up until you try Raiden, you can't give up hope... just give it a try, and maybe the tree will help you redeem yourself." Twilight said to him. Raiden looked at her but looked to the Tree of Harmony, he wanted to believe he was not beyond redemption... but it was hard for him to accept it. But for Celestia's sake... he needed to try. He walked towards the tree and looked upon it, he raised a hoof and slowly reached to it.

A light shined around the tree from Raiden's touch, the light grew as it engulfed Raiden in the radiant light. Celestia shielded her eyes as she saw it, but she shut her eyes as the light turned bright. Within the realm of light, Raiden's eyes opened and looked around seeing the Realm of Light. His presence was soon graced by the spirit of the Tree of Harmony. "Welcome, Lord Raiden..." she said to him as Raiden turned around seeing the spirit, Harmony herself. "Welcome to the Realm of Light... a land between the realms of Equestria, and Earthrealm..."

Seeing her surprised, Raiden shut his eyes and bowed his head. "Lady Harmony... it is good to finally meet you... I-" before he could explain.

"You came here in seek of redemption... I know... but I have seen your memories Raiden, the things you did..." Harmony revealed his past memories, of when he committed suicide, turned into Dark Raiden, brought life to Liu Kang's dead body. Raiden looked upon his memories and shut his eyes in regret. "Your actions are beyond redemption, you caused too much pain and suffering to your allies... however..." she made the memories of his terrible deeds go away and brought forth images of the good he's done. "You helped so many... even Celestia when she was lost when she banished her sister Luna. You even found love... and I can still see it in your heart. But it is trapped by your guilt... and the mistakes of your past... you found it hard, to forgive others for their misdeeds... like when Shujinko was deceived by Onaga... and Quan Chi and Shang Tsung murdered Liu Kang... but what was even harder for you, to forgive yourself..." she said to him.

Raiden lowered his head in regret, knowing she was right about him. "I couldn't find it in my heart to forgive... but when I am with Celestia, I would give anything to protect her... but not ask how I am now." he confessed to Harmony and looked to her. "I know that I am beyond your forgiveness... but I beg you... Equestria and Earthrealm are both in danger. I must help my allies..." he said to her.

Harmony looked at him sensing there is still goodness in his heart, she took the chance to summon a familiar relic that belonged to him. "If you are to help defend Equestria... you will need this..." she revealed it as his amulet that was smashed upon the Pyramid of Argus. "An old friend... I had it repaired after if smashed on the pyramid." she said to him. She floated the amulet to him as it reach his chest. "All you simply have to do... is forgive yourself... will you do so in order to defend our realms?" she asked him.

Raiden looked upon the amulet, knowing exactly what he had to do. He looked to her determined and nodded his head. "You have my oath... I will help defend Equestria, with the help of my allies..." he said to her as the amulet began to glow brightly and the light shined around him. Back in the realm of Equestria, the light shined from the Tree but began to dim as Raiden's silhouette began to show. But rather than showing his dark persona... he turned facing the his comrades showing that he has been redeemed. Rather than red lightning and black clothes, his traditional blue had been restored to him along with his amulet. Celestia looked upon the thunder god and smiles running to him, pulling Raiden into a hug as her tears ran down her face. Raiden smiled and held her in response. "I'm sorry for all that has happened Celestia..."

Smiling at her beloved, Celestia nuzzled him despite what he became. "I'm just happy to see you are alright..." she said to him.

"I had to face the harsh reality of my actions... shown to me by the spirit of the Tree of Harmony. In order to forgive those who have done wrong to others... I needed to forgive myself..." Raiden said to her and noticed that Mileena was distant from everyone else. "Mileena... step forward please..." he said to her. Mileena hesitated, but she worked up the courage to face them.

Kitana watched her half sister approach the two alicorns, and kneel before them. "Lord Raiden... Princess Celestia... since Kabal's betrayal, it made me question my father's actions. As well as my loyalty to him. He's proven that he is no longer worthy being my father, or my emperor... so I helped Raiden escape in hopes I could help stop Shao Kahn... to fight beside my sister..." she said to them.

Kitana looked upon her sister and looked to Raiden and Celestia, who looked to her as well. "That... is for her to decide..." she said as Mileena looked towards Kitana.

Her twin sister looked upon the Tarkatus, feeling pity for her... she may be a clone of her, but she was still of royal blood. She approached her sister and touched her shoulder. "Mileena, all my life I have seen you as nothing but a grotesque monster... but now that I see you here as you are now... I'm beginning to see much more of me in you." she said to her.

"Yes..." Sindel walked up to them. "With the right guidance... you can be just as great a ruler as your sister." she said to her.

Kitana held her hoof to her in hopes she'll accept it. "Will you help us in the fight against Shao Kahn...?" she asked her.

Mileena looked to her sister seeing her sincere expression, knowing she was serious of her offer. She hesitated a bit, but she reached to her hoof and took it. Pinkie at that moment, squealed and leaped into the air. "YES! Finally, we got another to turn against Shao Kahn! Well Kabal came on his own accord, but still counts." she said to him.

"Gee, thanks a lot... should I be worried about her?" Kabal asked Stryker.

"Trust me Kabal, its best you don't want to know..." Stryker said to him.

"Hey, you know what this calls for...?" Pinkie asked them knowing exactly what it is. "A PARTY!!! Even though its gonna have to be cut short, given that Shao Kahn is probably gonna be coming for us..." she pointed out knowing she's right about it.

"I can agree... Shao Kahn will not be pleased knowing that half his army is wiped out, and several of his allies left." Mileena said to them and looked to Pinkie. "As for the party..." she smirked behind her veil and looked to the others. "I can't see why not have one before battle..."

Ponyville, Equestria

Die Young belongs to Kesha: Short Animation by Vivziepop

Music is heard from Vinyl's stage equipment as she played the instrumental song of Die Young as Mileena stood on stage. Everypony saw her as she kept her veil on and she turned to them smiling.

Mileena;
I hear your heart beat
to the beat of the drums

She stomped her hooves on the ground following the beat of the drums from the song.

Oh what a shame
that you came here
with someone

She teleported next to a pony wrapping her arms around him.

So while you're here in my arms
lets make the most of the night
like we're gonna die young!

Vinyl followed the beat on the track as Mileena appeared back on stage.

We're gonna die young!

Everypony followed the beat as each danced with one another.

We're gonna die young!

Liu Kang nodded his head listening to the beat along with Kitana. Sure it was a bit crude, but the song had a good beat to it, even for Mileena.

Lets make the most of the night
like we're gonna die young!

Soon, Pinkie appeared on stage to sing beside her.

Pinkie Pie;
Oh, oh!
Like we're gonna die young!

Oh, oh!
Like we're gonna die young!

Oh, oh!
Like we're gonna die young!

Mileena;
Lets make the most of the night
like we're gonna die young!

She turned to the crowd as they cheered, and danced to her song.

Young hearts, out our minds
running till we outta time
Wild child's looking good
living hard just like we should!
Don't care whose watching when
we tearing it up!

Vinyl Scratch;
Y'know!

Mileena;
That magic that we got
nobody can touch!

Vinyl Scratch;
For sure!

Mileena;
Looking for some trouble tonight!

Chi;
Yeah!

Mileena;
Take my hoof
I'll show you
the wild side!
Like its the last night
of our lives!

Ponies;
Uh-huh!

Mileena;
We'll keep dancing
till we die!

She teleported to the top of Vinyl Scratch's stage.

I hear your heart beat
to the beat of the drums!

She stomped her hooves to the beat of the track twice.

Oh what a shame
that you came with someone!
So while you're here in my arms

Flash smiled and looked to Twilight, taking her in his arms as he joined the dance with her. Twilight gladly obliged and danced with him, as everyone cheered. Liu Kang and Kitana did so as well, along with Kung Lao and Sunset Shimmer. Even Sub-Zero joined with Rarity as they joined the crowd, Scorpion was reluctant, but one look from Fluttershy... he couldn't say no.

Lets make the most of the night
like we're gonna die young!

The music soon intensifies as the crowd cheered loudly.

I hear your heart beat
to the beat of the drums!

She clapped her hooves as she leaped down to the stage.

Oh what a shame
that you came with someone!
So while you're here in my arms
lets make the most of the night
like we're gonna die young!

Pinkie Pie & Chi;
Oh, oh!
Like we're gonna die young!

Mileena;
Die young!

Pinkie & Chi:
Oh, oh!
Like we're gonna die young!

Mileena;
Die young!

Pinkie & Chi;
Oh, oh!
Like we're gonna die young!

Mileena;
Lets make the most of the night
like we're gonna die young!

The crowd cheered as the song ended, Raiden watched along side Celestia and smiled. But their thoughts soon returned to Shao Kahn, he will come for them with the full force of his army. Equestria will be in great danger when that happens... they needed to prepare for an invasion, for the fate of Equestria... was in their hooves.

Author's Note

Hey guys, here's the next chapter of Mortal Kombat: Defenders of Equestria. For the last bit of the chapter, for Kesha's song, if anyone saw VivziePop's animation video... I'm sure you guys might have figured why I went with that one. Anyways, yes I know the battles are still short, but they are long paragraphs, sue me! Also... Nightwolf and AJ will be a pair despite being a Matokan and a cowgirl. I would include the images of how they look, but I don't know how to do that with Internet explorer. But I hope you guys like the chapter, and how I gave Mileena a redemption part. Don't criticize please.