Chapter 47 - The Black Hand

---Outworld, 3rd Person POV---

Having been in recluse for days now, Shao Kahn had been growing increasingly impatient with Shang Tsung's absence. Today his patience had finally worn out, and he was now on his way to find the wizard as he had critical information that he needed. Walking up to the wizards laboratory door, Shao Kahn kicked it in with angry yell.

"SHANG TSUNG!!!", Shao Kahn howled in anger.

"Dear...the door was unlocked.", Sindel sighed, "I have told you to be mindful of destroying everything..."

"Do not give me orders Sindel!", he remarked, "I am tired of waiting on him!"

Turning their attention to the inside of the room, there were several dead Tarakan on the ground. All of them had their souls ripped out by Shang Tsung who was currently throwing books around his room. Muttering something to himself as he was searching for information, it was clear he had gone a bit mental.

"Why won't my injury heal!?", he spat out loud, "Just what manner of magic is this!! None of my spells work, nor do I detect any form of Divine Power!!"

Ignoring him, Sindel demanded his attention.

"Shang Tsung, you have been absent far too-", Sindel said as he looked at them.

The words in her mouth vanished has she saw the Black Hand print burned into his flesh. She was accustomed to grotesque things, but something about the aura it gave off sent shivers down her spine. Even Shao Kahn looked a bit taken aback by what he was seeing. Whatever caused the damage wanted him to remember not to trespass there again.

"That man ruined my face!!", Shang Tsung hissed at her, "The Otherworlder attacked me, and I am unable to heal the damage to my face!! Not only that, my magic has been several weakened because of this injury!!"

"Enough of this meaningless banter, did you find the power we are looking for?", Shao Kahn spat in frustration.

"I was unable to look for it, those insects hampered our attempts to search and then that man showed up!!", Shang Tsung growled smashing his hand into the table, "I sensed far more power than even an Elder God has in his body!! Shinnok didn't tell us anything about his presence on that world, he mercilessly slaughtered our men and would have done the same to Baraka and I. He is different from them...he has no issue with killing people he deems an issue."

Hearing that a smile crept up on Sindel's face.

'I am beginning to tire of these games that Shinnok and Shao Kahn play. Maybe I should look into this man myself, and see what I find. I am tired of having everything taken from me...', Sindel thought, "Dear, this sounds like it needs a woman's touch."

"No!!", Shang Tsung shouted, "He knew about all of us, he knew Baraka and I by name! If you go, he will know who you are immediately!"

"Unlike you, I will be going under friendlier terms. I am not stupid enough to pick a fight the moment I show up somewhere. You should always know your enemy before fighting, that's just common sense.", Sindel laughed at him, "Besides, I am not a failure like you are."

"Very well, I leave this to you.", Shao Kahn said glaring at the wizard, "Continue searching for leads wizard!"

Leaving him alone in his laboratory Shang Tsung glared at them as they walked down the hall. As much as he hated serving someone, it was a necessary part of his plan at this time. He didn't have enough power to hide from the Elder Gods on his own without aide.

'Soon I will be rid of all of you, and the worlds will bend to my will.', Shang Tsung thought, 'I will make them pay for mocking me, then I will take my revenge on that man!!'

---Mael POV, South Pole---

Sitting in Katara's home, I was facing Hakoda and Kya who I had just asked for Katara's hand in marriage. Her parents and grandmother were staring at me like they were weighing their options. I knew this was just to make me squirm a bit, but...Kanna's smirking was destroying the tense atmosphere.

"Of course you can marry her! We have been waiting for a while now for you to ask!", Hakoda laughed reaching over the table and patting my back, "I would be proud to have you as my son-in-law, Katara has been waiting for this day for two years now."

"Congratulations Dear!", Kya laughed hugging Katara, "I am so happy for you!"

"Hehe, about time you made a move young man. I can't stay around forever, I expect to see my great-grandchildren before I move on.", Kanna teased us, "I bet they will be as cute as Katara here, and not a muscle bound idiot like you."

"I appreciate the sentiment, hopefully they aren't as naggy as you.", I jabbed with a smile.

"Haha!", she replied with approval, "A young man with backbone, that is exactly what Katara needs. I am happy you stopped worrying about things, and asked her."

Laughing at that, I apologized for taking my time. Glancing over at Katara, she was still stuck on the request her grandmother had of us. Seeing that she was at a loss for what to say, I stepped in to help.

"The part about having children will have to a wait a bit. We have to journey to the North Pole to find Katara a Waterbending Master. I am sure she wants to become a Master before having children, right?", I said to her.

"Oh...oh yes!!", she replied coming back to reality, "I would like to become a Master, and I would like to see the world a bit before settling down."

"I see, I was the same way at your age.", her grandmother laughed, "I wanted to see the world, and enjoy myself a bit. Go on and have your fun, then bring me my cute great-grandbabies."

Kanna was willing to wait a bit longer, but she was very insistent on seeing them before she died. Promising to give her at least one before she moved on, she relented and let it go.

"Wait, does this mean I am not going!?", Sokka shouted flying out of his room.

"Sokka...this is kind of their honeymoon.", Kya said.

"...we were supposed to travel so I could meet a Swordmaster.", Sokka replied.

"I haven't forgotten that, that said there is no Swordmaster at the North Pole. When we relocated back to the Fire Nation Palace, I will come get you. The Swordmaster I found for you lives in the Fire Nation, and he holds no disdain for any people. He feels that swordplay is something that belongs to everyone, regardless of their nationality.", I told him, "Take the time now to finish your Rite of Passage, we will only be a year or so."

Picking up on my hint, Hakoda spoke up.

"He's right, your Rite of Passage ceremony is this year. We need to get you ready for it, there is still a lot you need to be taught.", Hakoda stated.

"Also, are you going to leave Suki all alone?", I teased him.

"Wh...what!?", he shrieked, "What does she have to do with this!?"

"Well I know you have been exchanging letters with her. If you learn to captain a ship, you could always establish a trade route with the island and see her more often.", I pointed out, "You'll have to think of a way to either chase off or kill that eel though. I am sure they'd all be very happy if you did, it would make things safer for them."

Seeing the gears in his head start to turn, he walked back into his room muttering things to himself. Looking at me, Katara thanked me for not just tossing his feelings out. Even though he could be a pain at times, he was her only brother so it meant a lot that I push him on a path that suits his talents.

"Hey Dad, can I get your suggestion on something? I know you have hunted big fish before, and I want your opinion.", Sokka shouted from his room.

"Sure son.", Hakoda said with a smile as he walked into his room, "Tell me all about this eel you need to deal with."

With that, Katara grabbed a few items and left with me for the Fire Nation.

---Orario, 3rd Person POV---

Over the past few days, the deities of Orario had noticed one of their own had been acting out of character. Even though it was clear she still had issues with Freya and Aqua, Ishtar had been going out of her way to compromise with with. It was to the point that Aqua was cowering in a corner thinking Ishtar was going to kill her, and Freya was at a loss of words for the situation. Since no one was going to say anything, Loki took it upon herself to find out what was going on.

"You okay?", Loki asked Ishtar privately, "You seem a bit out of it, you are actually being friendly to people. Did you lose a bunch of money, or someone hit you upside the head?!"

"Yes, I am also interested in what's going on.", Freya stated following Loki's example, "You haven't said anything spiteful to me in the last week, I am concerned something happened to you."

"I am fine...thank you for asking though.", Ishtar said with a nod, "It's just...something really good happened, and I need to make a few changes to keep...to keep this feeling around."

Looking at each other, Loki and Freya were confused. They had spies all over the the city watching the movements of other Familias. Nothing out of the ordinary had happened in the last week except that Mael had dinner with her a week ago.

"Mael!", Loki and Freya gasped looking at her.

"Yer sayin something good happened!!", Loki laughed, "Spill the beans girl, you can't be hidin that from us now!!"

Remembering what Mael told her, Ishtar suggested they speak privately. Agreeing to that, the three of them excused themselves to retire to a private room in Babel. Once they were inside, Ishtar told them the trust.

"I slept with Mael.", Ishtar said.

Immediate the smile on Freya's face vanished as she grabbed Ishtar by the throat. Shocked by this Ishtar was momentarily stunned before gathering herself.

"Wait...let me finish...", Ishtar wheezed, "There is more...to it than...just that..."

Opting to hear the rest, Freya let her go and she dropped to the floor gasping for air.

"Mael...he has eyes on Aqua and you.", Ishtar said rubbing her throat.

"What do you mean eyes on Aqua and I?", Freya questioned.

"He intends to make a harem, right now he wants Aqua, you, and I to be in it.", Ishtar told her as she got back up, "That comes straight from his mouth."

Staring at her intently, Freya was judging whether or not she was telling the truth. On one hand Ishtar would lie to her to save herself, but the evidence at hand supported what she said. There was no way she would willingly compromise with them unless something happened. Given the fact Ishtar had never once used this tactic on her, Freya believed what she was saying.

"So...he is finally ready then.", Freya said with a smile, "It's about time he made his move, I just wish I was first and not you."

"Honestly...he would have broken you.", Ishtar laughed with a smirk, "The deities from other worlds are built differently than ours. He isn't as unsatisfactory as the other male deities here, even I couldn't satisfy him...I had to tap out."

Dropping her wine glass, Loki was in disbelief. It was well known that Ishtar had one of the highest sex drives among the Goddesses for her to say she tapped out...that meant Mael was a monster.

"I see...if you are saying that it must be true.", Freya stated, "So then...are you saying we will be friends all of a sudden?"

"Haha, no.", Ishtar stated, "I am only compromising, no surrendering."

Giving Ishtar a smile, Freya stretched her hand out.

"Good, I wouldn't have it any other way.", Freya replied, "Just know I will be his favorite."

"You wish, that position belongs to me.", Ishtar snickered, "Don't forget I am the one that has more practice than you."

Seeing sparks dance between the two of them, Loki felt a bit left out. She had gone one several excursions with Mael, but she wasn't even on his radar. Looking at her chest for a moment, Loki clenched her fists.

'I will show that idiot that big boobs don't mean nothin!!', she thought, 'All they are is useless mounds of flesh!!'

Outside the room, Aqua was covering her mouth. She had followed them thinking she would get intel on them, she hadn't bargained for what she heard.

'Mael wants me to be in his harem...', she thought, 'No one ever wanted me...I have always been called the Useless Goddess. Even Ristarte and Hestia are ranked higher than me.'

Determined to not let this chance slip past her, she headed back home to ask Hestia and Ristarte for help.