Have been in love with this franchise for years but have never tried my hand at writing for it. This takes place post mk x. Enjoy!

During the majority of the rebellion, Mileena had her camps hidden in the Kuatan Jungle. At the time, Rain had referred to it as "one of the most loathsome places in Outworld". Tanya agreed. The plentiful bugs and reptilian creatures made for an unwanted and occasionally painful distraction from the war effort. After the death of their leader, the pair of Edenians were grateful to leave the wretched jungle behind. However, given their current surroundings, Tanya would have gladly trekked back through the swamps if it meant she wouldn't have to pass through this elder god forsaken place.

The imposing darkness and rotting corpses were just side dishes to the carnivorous trees of the Living Forest. As much as she hated to admit it, Tanya would have likely felt more comfortable with a squad of Tarkatans at their side. The more eyes watching the branches and roots, the better. In the past, the trees of the Living Forest were mostly immobile, only able to open their mouths and ingest anyone too stupid to get close enough. Over time, however, the forest had evolved. Many of the trees were able to move their appendages in order to trap prey and pull them into their gaping maws.

By themselves, the Edenians had to constantly monitor their surroundings and keep as much distance from the trees as possible. Some of them snarled and roared when they passed, others held still and smiled as if they knew they'd get caught eventually. The only upside to their location was that it was unlikely they'd be discovered by Kotal's forces.

Reaching a relatively large clearing in the woods, the weary Edenians were finally able to rest with relative safety. The demi-god settled himself down, but Tanya was too alert to sit. She tapped her foot impatiently.

"We need to rest, Tanya."

"This is no place to relax. We cannot stop if we intend on reaching our destination alive."

"I have repeatedly asked you how much farther-"

"And I have repeatedly told you I don't know."

Rain sighed, looking away from his irritated companion. "It may not even still exist."

She scoffed, not giving a response to his doubts. She knew better.

He'd decided to pester her further. "How do you know she was telling the truth?"

This elicited an eye roll. "The empress would not lie to me."

"Yet you didn't mind lying to her."

The dark skinned Edenian looked down to her nails, pretending that hadn't stung.

"I did what I had to do for our realm."

"Indeed. But you don't think she was skeptical of our loyalties?"

"Yours, perhaps."

The half god crossed his arms. Tanya would have found it amusing under different circumstances.

"Why should she have thought you to be trustworthy over me?"

She ran her fingers through her hair. "Maybe you hadn't noticed, but the empress and I were quite close."

He stood up, stretching and brushing himself off. He crossed his arms again, this time with the intention of looking serious. "What exactly did she tell you?"

She sighed. That night was burned into her memory.

Many of the tents of the rebel army weren't in the best condition. They were sparse, only providing absolute necessities. The Tarkatans didn't complain much. They were nomadic by nature; they'd sleep wherever they could. Tanya had done her best to spruce up her own tent to make it more suitable for living. She'd adorned it with pottery and ornate furniture, and even put some of her jewelry on display. All her effort became utterly pointless for most of the war. She could count on one hand the number of nights she'd spent sleeping in her own bed.

The tent she was in now was much different. A portrait of the late Shao Kahn rested against a large table used for strategizing. Armor and weapons were strewn throughout the interior, as were bones and skulls of various species. The only soft thing in the room was the lavender sheets that hung off the bed at her feet. It was silent, save for her own breathing and the breath of her beloved empress.

Mileena's head rested in her lap, letting her stroke her hair as though she were a pet. The empress rarely allowed herself to be so vulnerable, but the Edenian was able to bring out this side of her. They'd spent the evening together, unwinding from the day's trials and tribulations. It always ended this way. Mileena needed her comfort, and she was happy to supply it.

"Dearest Tanya…"

"Shhh. It is time to rest. We have a long day tomorrow."

The empress let out a low growl which Tanya found oddly endearing. She stayed quiet for only a moment longer before picking herself up so that they were face to face.

"You know I trust you above all others."

"And I, you."

"I must share something with you that I am uncertain about."

Mileena's face contorted in confusion. Tanya had never seen her think so hard about something before. She perked up, knowing whatever it was would be more important than the empress's usual mutterings of carnage and gore.

"It is no secret that I was created by Shang Tsung…"

"Yes, by Shao Kahn's request. You were his true daughter."

"Indeed. My father made many requests to the sorcerer. Although my memory of the time immediately after my birth is hazy, I recently recalled a conversation I overheard between the sorcerer and my father."

Tanya searched her face, trying discern if it would be good news or bad news. Although she prided herself on being able to read people (as one must if they are to make the right choices), the empress currently appeared too conflicted to tell. Her pause went on as she became lost in thought until Tanya rested a hand on her knee, urging her to continue.

"Shao Kahn had asked if I was indestructible, which the sorcerer denied. He didn't seem upset, so I believe this was not something he'd expected anyway. However, Shang Tsung said that although my body could be killed, he'd engineered my essence to be able to live on."

The Edenian turned this over in her head and tried to make sense of it. "So, you are not immortal, but in death your spirit will still exist?"

The empress nodded, although she herself did not look totally convinced.

"Where will it go? Did the sorcerer intend on absorbing your soul?" She remembered the stories of the soul hungry Shang Tsung. It sounded plausible he would attempt to claim her essence in her death.

Mileena swatted a bug, baring her teeth at it in annoyance. "No. Father wouldn't have allowed that."

She continued to swat and snarl at the bug. Tanya smiled, skillfully throwing a small fireball and scorching the large insect. The empress grinned and crushed its corpse with her hand, likely imagining it was a certain insect-like traitor.

"Perhaps your spirit will become part of that soul collective, Ermac."

Mileena grimaced, the Edenian chuckling at her sudden change in expression.

"Very funny. I have a theory of my own."

"Do tell, empress."

"Shang Tsung created me in his flesh pits. It was home to many other "abominations" as my sister so lovingly referred to them."

"A pity she has fallen to the depths of hell. I have no doubt she would aid us in the fight for a free Edenia."

Mileena snorted. "She would have sided with that Osh-Tekk imbecile and allied with Earthrealm. Her heart was heavy with the love of their champion."

Tanya shook her head. "I often wonder what she saw in him. A man whose entire life span isn't even half her age."

"She was a fool in many ways. She never would have even discovered the truth had it not been for the Thunder God."

They both shared a scowl at the mention of Raiden. Earthrealm's protector was both mocked and feared throughout Outworld.

"My apologies, I seem to have steered you off track a bit, my empress. You mentioned the flesh pits?"

"Yes. A dark place where Shang Tsung ran wild with his magic and the corpses of outworld. I spent much time there as I was trained to use my sai and magic. These things were part of my design, so I was quick to catch on. But I remember what I saw down there. The sorcerer had many projects."

"I seem to recall you telling me it took him a long time to perfect your design?"

Mileena nodded. "There were many failed attempts. Lifeless monsters that shared my visage. He had trouble balancing my sister's essence with tarkatan blood. He even showed me his journal which listed the many methods and spells he'd needed to create me. Cloning is not easy. Creating a clone and adding extra traits is even harder."

"You truly are a miracle, Mileena Kahnum."

The empress couldn't help but smile at the use of her title. Somehow, it sounded even better when it came from Tanya. The Edenian woman smiled back at her, clearly very aware of what she'd done.

Mileena resisted the urge to close the distance between them and focused heavily on her current train of thought. "Even after I was allowed to leave the flesh pits, Shang Tsung continued to work when not engaged in the tournament. Shao Kahn was aware of this, so I assumed it was something he ordered him to do. But when he'd finished, and stopped descending to the pits every night, there was nothing to show for it. There had been talk amongst his underlings of what would emerge next. Baraka had hoped for another Tarkatan hybrid, perhaps one fused with the blood of a Shokan or a Centaur. Reptile, who had been there to witness some of my creation and often aided the sorcerer with his work, had no insight to offer. He had been too occupied with the tournament and hadn't returned to the flesh pits since my birth. That wretched traitor Reiko insisted Kahn had ordered Shang Tsung to make him a son, a position he so desperately wished he could have filled himself."

Tanya smirked. They often talked about friends and foes from the past. Mileena spoke fondly of Baraka, one of her only allies to not jump ship when Kotal executed his coup. He may have claimed to serve Mileena as a way of honoring Shao Kahn's will, but the empress had led her to believe he'd had other motivations as well. Reiko, however, was a dark stain on the bottom of her shoe. He'd been so devoted to her father that he was mocked by Shao Kahn's other followers for being an "arrogant boot kisser".

Despite this, he was never devoted to Mileena at all. His affection was all a ruse to suit his own ends. Tanya knew someone on the outside looking in may have seen her in a similar light, but they would be sorely mistaken and savagely beaten for saying so. She took her mind away from such thoughts, returning her full attention to the story.

"When nothing ever emerged, everyone waited for Shao Kahn to punish the sorcerer for his failure. He never did. The whole ordeal was eventually forgotten as Quan Chi began to replace Shang Tsung at the emperor's side and the invasion of Earthrealm began. But as I've recently recalled the exchange between them in regards to my essence, I now wonder if Shang Tsung had created another body for me."

Tanya let that thought sink in. It made sense. Why allow her soul to still exist after death if it would have nowhere to go? "You truly believe it is possible?"

"I do. He still had all the necessary information. It would have been even easier since he would not have to give the body life." The hybrid took Tanya's hand in her own. "Should I ever perish, dearest Tanya, seek out the flesh pits. The entrance is in the heart of the Living Forest." She moved in close, dropping her voice to a husky whisper. "If I am reborn there, I will wait for your arrival."

Mileena's eyes were on the edenian's soft lips as she spoke. "And what if I should perish before I can find you?"

They came closer still, her lips practically brushing the other's as she replied. "Then there is hardly a world for me to return to."

As they kissed, Tanya committed this to memory. For all the manipulation and treachery, there was love here. She wouldn't let it slip away, even in death.

Tanya could recall every word as if it had just occurred moments ago. It was one of the many moments in which she'd surprised herself with genuine feelings towards the empress. She'd spent so much of her life perfecting the art of deception, and Mileena had been an easy target for manipulation. She and Rain had only one thing on their minds when they freed her from Kotal's imprisonment. A free Edenia. Her artificial loyalty had become something very real over time. Genuine trust was something new for her, which was why moments like this were so profound.

Rain stared, waiting for an answer. She turned her attention to her nails again.

"I've already told you all you need to know. If you spent less time being skeptical we'd likely be there already."

He was about to retort when they both heard the sound of rustling leaves and footsteps in the distance. They froze in place. Neither one had expected to find anyone else this deep in the forest. Turning towards the source of the sound, they were soon greeted by the sight of Osh-Tekk warriors led by the soul collective himself.

"We have found you. Surrender now, or be destroyed."

Their reply was an eruption of water and flame.

Reviews favorites and follows are always appreciated. This story is also posted on my AO3 account. Next chapter coming soon :)