PART 16: EVIL-LYN’S BETRAYAL

Skeletor’s Havoc staff met Khan’s heavy green fireball as the battle between the two evil warlords raged through the hall of the Black Tower. Evil-Lyn watched in admiration as her master fired bolt after bolt at Khan from his staff, eyes, and fingertips. Sindel watched, paralysed in the force field, silently yearning for Khan to win. And He-Man, Extendar, Kitana and Kang watched from their paralysis, praying that the two warriors would destroy one another, and set Outworld free.
"You’ll never win!" shouted Khan as he advanced on Skeletor with his super-fast dash. But Skeletor blocked the move, and uppercutted Khan across the room before he could recover.
"Don’t make me laugh!" sneered Khan as he arose, and he took out his huge mallet, and ran towards Skeletor, with the mallet raised high above his head.
"I will crush your skull!" he shouted, and swung the mallet down to smash Skeletor on the skull! But Skeletor quickly aimed his havoc staff at Khan’s waist and blasted him, causing the warlord to drop his mallet and fall to the ground.
"I win." said Skeletor triumphantly as he looked down on Khan’s fallen body. "Now it shall be I who rules Outworld. You, Khan, will be but a mere memory. And as Outworld kneels at my feet, Horde Prime will grant me enough power to crush Eternia with one blow! Then Outworld, Eternia and Earth will all bow at my feet- and I shall brainwash Sindel into becoming loyal to me- so she can rule at my side!"
"Rule at your side? Sindel?!!!" cried Evil-Lyn in alarm, rushing towards Skeletor. "What did you always tell me on Eternia? You promised me that I could rule at your side once you conquered the planet! And now you choose Sindel?!!!"
Skeletor stopped, turned to her, and lowered his havoc staff. "Yes….." he said slowly as he recalled the promise he had made. "You were always my first choice to rule beside me….." but Sindel had helped him capture He-Man- and she was so powerful- she had to rule Outworld at least with him!
"Sindel will rule Outworld with me….. I will still let you rule Eternia!"
But Evil-Lyn was not satisfied. She felt betrayed.
"I want to rule the universe with you, Skeletor!" she cried out loud. "How could you betray me like this?! After the so many years we have fought together? After how closely we have been allied? How could you betray me?!"
"I have not betrayed you! Sindel is just so powerful….."
"And you’ve barely known her five minutes! Forget about Sindel! I shall rule beside you- no-one else is fit enough to aid you, Skeletor! I should rule at your side!"
But Skeletor could not accept this. He must have Sindel. Her outstanding beauty and evil charisma was almost equal to Evil-Lyn’s. He must have her to rule Outworld with.
Sympathetically, he laid his hands gently on Evil-Lyn’s shoulders. "I am afraid that Sindel is my queen of Outworld. You will still rule Eternia….."
"That’s not good enough- as I said before, you and I should rule the universe together. I am so much better than Sindel. She can never be your queen- not on Outworld, not Eternia, not anywhere!"
"She must be my queen on Outworld!" cried Skeletor, and rushed towards the paralysed Sindel.
But Evil-Lyn fired a bolt of power at Sindel from her fingertips, releasing Sindel from the force field and the spell. "Then try taking a good woman for your queen!" she laughed.
"I would never be your queen, Skeletor-" said Sindel, "Or Khan’s for that matter. You bastards brainwashed me! Twice! But never again- I will make sure that neither of you win!"
She turned to the four captives. "I must free them!" she declared.
"What have you done, Evil-Lyn?" shouted Skeletor. "Her memory is restored! Get her back to my side!"
"I will fight her," said Evil-Lyn, "but I will kill her. I am not letting the bitch rule at your side anywhere!"
"Get her back!" roared Khan, getting to his feet as he recovered from Skeletor’s blasts. "You traitors! You come here to help me and then you turn against me and release my queen! You will get her back- and get her back to my side, not yours!"
"No chance, Khan." said Skeletor. "I’d rather she were dead than ruling by you. You are a pathetic, pitiful warrior. You have no mind- whereas I am the greatest thinker in the universe! You shall not rule!"
"How can you speak about a great fighter like myself in those words?! You traitor, Skeletor. YOU SHALL PERISH!!!!!"
He fired another great green fireball from his helmet, which Skeletor backfired with his havoc staff. The fight was on again.
Evil-Lyn, still feeling betrayed by Skeletor wanting Sindel as his queen, watched her master as he began to fight with Khan again. This was her chance. While they were distracted, she would kill Sindel. Then there would be no way that Skeletor could ever have that weak bitch as his queen. Sindel was trying desperately to find a way to release He-Man and the others from Evil-Lyn’s spell. She would never succeed- only Evil-Lyn herself could break the spell. So she would attack Sindel herself.
"Care to face me, bitch?" she said aggressively. "You can never have Skeletor!"
"I don’t want Skeletor, you lunatic. I will never again join the side of evil! Now free these people at once- you cannot win!"
"Oh can I not?" sneered Evil-Lyn. "Then feel this!"
She shot a powerful bolt from her fingertips at Sindel- and Sindel was surrounded by a glowing bright flame. She writhed against it, tried to escape- but she was trapped- and it was draining her energy fast.
"This is the end for you!!!!!" laughed Evil-Lyn, watching Sindel struggle for her life against the flame. She would not survive! All hope for her was lost!
"Stop right now, Evil-Lyn!" came a voice from behind. Evil-Lyn turned on her heel, losing concentration and freeing Sindel.
She was now face to face with the Sorceress, who had teleported inside the tower, her wings spread wide.
"When my friends need help," she said, "I give it! Now release them from the spell at once, Evil-Lyn!"
"No chance!" replied the warrior goddess. "You coming here was no use! I will not free them- and I am the only person who can!"
"No you’re not, I’m afraid." replied the Sorceress, and fired an energy beam from her palm at the trapped heroic warriors, releasing them at once.
"By God, I can move at last!" said Liu Kang, relieved to be free from the spell.
"Thank you very much, Sorceress." said He-Man. "Now let’s deal with these evil cretins!"
The heroic warriors all launched into battle pose and faced Evil-Lyn. Skeletor and Khan stopped fighting and spun round.
"He-Man!" shrieked Skeletor. "You’re free! But not for long. Let us fight to the death!"
He raised his havoc staff. The Sorceress grabbed the power sword from Evil-Lyn and tossed it to He-Man. He-Man raised the power sword, and the heroic warriors charged at their enemies, ready for the battle of their life. 

PART 17: THE FINAL BATTLE BEGINS

Skeletor charged at He-Man with determination. There was no way he could lose this time! The fight was made harder for him by the way that Khan was now completely against him and could strike him dead at any time. And even worse, Evil-Lyn was feeling betrayed by Skeletor….. but surely she wouldn’t harm him?
Still, Skeletor knew he had to fight on and face any difficulties if he was ever going to rule Outworld. His havoc staff crashed against He-Man’s power sword for the millionth time in the two enemies’ long history of fighting.
Evil-Lyn and the Sorceress were engulfed in Kombat, their magical powers clashing together. And Liu Kang was flinging himself through the air at Shao Khan.
"Give up, Skeletor." said the Sorceress, after a blast knocked Evil-Lyn to the ground. "You have no chance against us now. Your evil warriors have already failed back on Eternia. Even Karg’s leadership failed to destroy Eternos. The heroic warriors dealt with them in no time. You should surrender now!"
"The great Skeletor will never surrender!" he roared, and turned away from He-Man, and lifted his havoc staff, ready to blast her. Then he remembered the kicking he’d got off the Sorceress in the battle where he’d unleashed the magic of the Tower of Terror on He-Man, and backed off to return to the fight with his long-hated foe.
As the battle raged on, Kitana, Sindel and Extendar recovered their strength, and launched into battle pose.
"You’ve no chance, Skeletor." said Kitana, "You are outnumbered. We’re gonna kick your ass in no time!"
Before Skeletor could reply, there came a voice in answer. It said "Outnumbered? I don’t think so!"
Kitana looked up to see Shang Tsung entering the hall, with Baraka, Ermac and Chameleon. "You haven’t won yet!" he said, and the three evil warriors dashed towards their enemies.
Down below, outside the Black Tower, Stryker was battling furiously against Blade’s swords, Smoke against Saurod’s sparks, Sub Zero against Ninjor’s high kicks and Kabal against Scorpion’s spear.
Kabal hit Scorpion with his fireball, then he quickly dashed at the ninja, spinning him round rapidly. Then he called on all his inner power to call up the wheels of death- which rose up from the ground and caught Scorpion up in a whirl of spikes, tearing the flesh from his skin. His blood spilled all around, and Scorpion collapsed to the floor.
"Now I can finish you, ninja!" said Kabal, and he stepped towards Scorpion, and removed his mask.
He revealed the hideously deformed face which had frightened Rain to death in the previous tournament. The face was scarred badly, wizened and discoloured….. one eye higher than the other, the nose and mouth a mere fleshy mess, and a huge, black scar across one side.
Scorpion shrank from Kabal, and pulled his hood over his eyes. "No!" he screamed. "I will not meet the same fate as Rain! I must not see that face! I must not!"
And he jumped to his feet and ran screaming into the distance, until he was lost from sight.
Kabal covered his face again with the metal mask. Sub Zero froze Ninjor with an ice blast, then went over to Kabal.
"You poor man." he said solemnly. "I never knew your disfigurement was that bad….."
"No need to apologise." said Kabal. "It is not your fault I look like a freak. And it has done me good- that is the second ninja whom I have defeated by exposing my face. My face strikes terror into the hearts of the evil….. but the good are unaffected. Because, despite my hideous appearance, my body contains only justice."
"Then let’s use your face to further effect!" said Sub Zero. Then he turned back to Ninjor as he broke free from the ice that surrounded him.
"I am not fighting!" screamed Ninjor, pulling his hood over his eyes. "Not with that face around!" and he fled off into the distance.
"Two beaten!" exclaimed Sub Zero. "Now let’s help Liu and He-Man in the tower- they’ll need our help! I’m sure Stryker and Smoke can deal with Saurod and Blade in no time!"
They ran into the Black Tower, and straight to the hall. They saw the battle raging furiously between the heroic and evil warriors.
"Excellent!" said Sub Zero. "He-Man and the others are free! Now to give them a hand!" He fired an ice blast at Ermac, froze him completely, then he ran towards him, lifted him above his head and ripped him in half, sending ice and blood showering around the room.
"We strike for justice!" he declared.
"And us too!" came the voice of Jax. The crowd of warriors looked around to see Jax entering the room with Sonya at his side. Her chest was still bloody, but she was obviously now strong enough to resist the pain and fight. It amazed Sub Zero what strength that girl had.
At the sight of Jax and Sonya, He-Man said "We outnumber you now, Skeletor! Especially now that ninja’s just a mess of ice and blood! You may as well surrender!"
"How many times have I told you?!" roared Skeletor angrily. "Skeletor will never surrender to weak, heroic fools! We will fight until one of us falls, He-Man!"
"Even against guys who can grow big?" said Jax, and tapped Extendar on the back. The two fighters began to morph to their giant sizes, until they towered above the other warriors, and became as tall as the room!
"Let’s see you win now, Skeletor!" boomed Extendar. "When we can crush you with the heels of our boots!"
All the evil warriors stepped back in terror at the sight of the two giants. Could they possibly win now? Even though the chances were looking slim- they were warriors and they must try even if it meant their death!
"Okay, Skeletor." said Khan. "We shall work together one last time to defeat these fools!"
"Yes….." hissed Skeletor angrily, embracing his havoc staff. He held it high above his head, and craned his neck. His eyes, blazing bright red with anger, stared into the courageous eyes of the two giants, along with the demonic eyes of the havoc staff. Below the giants, He-Man, Liu Kang and the rest stood at the ready.
Skeletor summoned all his strength, all his courage, all his anger and blood thirst, and called "Let this battle be the decider!"

PART 18: THE DECIDER

The huge heels of Jax and Extendar scattered the evil warriors about. Shang Tsung and Evil-Lyn fled to the other side of the room from the giants.
"Give in, Skeletor!" Evil-Lyn called to her master. "There is no way we can defeat those giants- especially when they fight alongside He-Man!"
"Are you going out of your mind, Evil-Lyn?" snapped Skeletor in reply. "How many times do I have to say that the Lord of Destruction never gives in?"
"Why keep fighting when you can live to destroy them another day?" she answered.
Skeletor stopped fighting for a second, backed away from He-Man and lowered his havoc staff. She was right. He had to admit it himself- there was no way he could defeat He-Man when he was backed with two giants, a powerful martial arts champion, a fearless warrior princess and the former queen of Outworld! He would meet his death amongst them. So he had to escape- he could still live to destroy them- but maybe sooner than another day…..
He turned his back on the heroic warriors and made for the door.
"Follow me, evil warriors!" he called. "It is unwise to continue to fight against enemies we cannot defeat!"
"Are you mad, Skeletor?" growled Khan. "Why should we give in against such fools?"
"You cannot win, Khan." replied Skeletor. "You have lost against Liu Kang before, you will lose again- and you have no chance against He-Man. Why continue fighting when your defeat is ensured?"
Khan stopped and turned to face Skeletor, who was standing by the door.
"Yes- you’re right, Skeletor!" he called to his companions. "Tsung- Chameleon- follow me!"
Tsung, Chameleon, and then Evil-Lyn, turned to follow their masters out of the hall.
"We did it!" cried out Liu Kang, throwing his arms in the air. "Another Mortal Kombat won- and this time they gave in!"
"Do not rejoice yet, Liu." said Kitana. "I fear there is more than this than meets the eye."
"You are right, Kitana." said the Sorceress. "Skeletor doesn’t give in that easily….."
The evil warriors ascended the staircase.
"Have we given in?" asked Chameleon. "Are you going back to your homeworld?"
"Do you take me for a fool, ninja?" replied Skeletor. "We can still destroy those warriors- by combining our powers."
"I will do so, Skeletor." said Khan, "but remember- you will be dead soon after we have destroyed them!"
"Or WE shall be fighting." replied Skeletor. "But that is of no importance just now. We need to think of some trick we can use to destroy them….."
"I can turn invisible!" cried Chameleon. "Virtually invisible, I can blend in with the background!"
"Then we shall use that for our trick!" said Khan. "I think they may follow us- so we must act quickly….."
"I think maybe we should follow them." said Sindel to He-Man, back in the hall. "You never know what trick they may be hatching….."
"You are right," said He-Man, and brandished the sword of power. "I will go after them. You can accompany me, Liu Kang."
"I will, He-Man." replied Liu. "Sonya- Sub Zero- you guard the entrance to this hall! Jax and Extendar can stay inside to stomp on anyone if they get past you!"
"The rest of us should accompany you." said Kabal. "You may need us for backup."
"Then you follow behind- but only strike if we need you!" said He-Man.
So He-Man, Kang, the Sorceress, Kitana, Sindel and Kabal ascended the staircase. It was the only place the evil warriors could have gone. Eventually they reached a dark room, resembling the caverns they’d been in before- lit up by a strange, glowing green fungus.
"We’ll investigate this room." said He-Man. "You four can continue up the stairs and we’ll shout if we need you."
"Good luck, He-Man." said the Sorceress, and she continued up the stairs with the other warriors.
He-Man and Extendar stepped into the dark room. There was no sign of any evil warriors. They explored the room for a few minutes, and noticed that there was a large drop down into a pit full of strange reptilian creatures. But nowhere was there any sign of their enemies.
"It doesn’t seem like they’re in here." said He-Man.
"Yes," replied Kang- "Seems we picked the wrong room. Let’s go up and join the others….."
Just then, Kang felt an unseen force tug at his arm. Before he could react, it flung him over the edge, spiralling towards the pit below.
"Liu!" shouted He-Man, thinking Kang had merely slipped off. "Do not fear- I’ll rescue you!"
"Then get down there to save him!" came a sinister voice from out of nowhere, and He-Man was pushed off the ledge and down into the pit.
Up above, the Sorceress and the others were exploring another room where human bones lay scattered about. They had not yet seen any sign of the evil warriors.
But all of a sudden, He-Man emerged from the blackness. "Thank goodness you’re all safe!" he said.
"He-Man!" she cried in astonishment. "How did you get here? We left you down there….."
"I found a secret passage leading up here!" said He-Man. "Skeletor and his evil companions were hiding in there, and Liu and I defeated them in no time! We’ve won now!"
"Where’s Liu?" asked Kitana.
"Just cleaning away Shao Khan’s remains!" replied He-Man. "He’ll be with you soon- but we can be on our way home." He stepped forward to shake her hand- at the same time paralysing her completely. He picked up her body, and threw her into a steel net!
Then his body began to change form- and he turned into the evil sorcerer Shang Tsung! "Who’s next?" Tsung said evilly.
"They’re all next!" came the voice of Evil-Lyn. She appeared behind the warriors, spread out her arms and trapped them in her force field. Tsung threw them one by one into the net, then used his magic to open up the floor, sending them plummeting down, all caught up in the net! He grasped the net tightly and looked down below at He-Man and Liu Kang in the reptile pit!
As he and Liu Kang battled to get free from the savage, poisonous reptiles, He-Man looked up and saw Shang Tsung gripping a steel net- with his friends caught inside it! Up on the ledge, Chameleon appeared out of nowhere. It must have been him that pushed He-Man and Kang off the ledge!
But surely not all was lost- the Sorceress should be able to use her power to escape!
"Sorceress-" he called, "can you not escape?"
"Not while she is trapped in my paralysis field!" came the voice of Evil-Lyn. Then the gruesome forms of Skeletor and Shao Khan came out of a hidden doorway in the wall. Their figures stood upon the ledge, and looked down at He-Man, like two gods of evil looking down on their inferiors.
"So, He-Man." said Skeletor triumphantly. "You still lose. Those reptiles will make a meal of you and Kang!"
"And evil wins Mortal Kombat again!" laughed Khan. "Once the reptiles have destroyed you, your friends shall all meet their fate at my hands!"
He-Man struggled against the powerful, deadly reptiles, which slithered around his body, squeezing him tight and biting through his muscular flesh. Was all really lost? He looked over at Kang, whose throat was about to be torn out by a snake-like creature…..
He had to struggle his hardest- or all was lost for Outworld, Earth- and if Skeletor defeated Khan, Eternia. And He-Man could not let that happen. He just managed to wrench his arm free of the reptile’s clutches, and he reached behind his back and drew his power sword. He had to call for extra power from the elders to break free.
"BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL!" he called. There followed a blinding burst of light, which scattered the reptiles in terror. Feeling more powerful than ever, He-Man swished his power sword through the air, and sliced one of the snake-creatures in half!
"I HAVE THE POWER!" he called as parts from the reptile’s body flew to opposite sides of the pit. Then he went over to Kang, and cut through the body of the reptile crouched over him! Kang was safe, and the reptiles fled from the two warriors, frightened by the burst of light and He-Man’s power.
Kang and He-Man looked up to their enemies. "Care to try any more tricks?" asked Kang, sarcastically.
Khan laughed in mockery. "You are weak, Kang." he said. "And as for you, He-Man, you have caused me too much trouble. How can Skeletor put up with you on Eternia?! I will make sure you bother neither of us ever again!"
He threw a huge fireball at He-Man from his helmet- but He-Man dodged aside and it burnt away some reptiles instead. Then he used his powerful legs to propel him upwards- and with one blow of the mighty power sword, he knocked Khan over the edge into the pit of reptiles! Khan gave a loud scream, landed heavily, and his large body was covered up by the slimy reptiles.
Free from the reptiles, Kang used a bicycle kick to propel him upwards and join He-Man on the ledge. Now only Skeletor stood in their way. They knew that Tsung, Evil-Lyn and Scorpion posed no real threat.
"Care to face us, Skeletor?" said Kang. "I hope you do- because I challenge you to a fight!"
"You fool….." hissed Skeletor, "you may have beaten Khan before- but I am more powerful. I will be the cause of your destruction!"
Skeletor brandished his havoc staff, and charged at Kang like a raging animal. But Kang was too quick for him- he ducked and threw a low fireball at Skeletor, blowing the warlord straight across the room! Skeletor hit his skull on the rocky wall, and collapsed to the ground, motionless.
He-Man patted Kang on the back. "Well done, Liu." he congratulated him.
"You haven’t won yet….." came Tsung’s voice. "We still have your friends- and they will meet their doom amongst the reptiles!" He let go of the steel net, which plummeted towards the reptile pit!
But that was no problem for He-Man. He leapt towards the falling net, caught it, then embedded his sword in the rocky wall to keep him from falling. He reached out the net, Liu grabbed hold of it, and laid it on the ledge. Then He-Man leapt back to join Liu on the ledge.
"They’re still under Evil-Lyn’s spell!" said Liu.
"I’ll change that!" said He-Man. "My power sword can undo that spell!" he fired a blast from his power sword at Evil-Lyn, and she fell back, losing her concentration, and releasing the warriors from her spell. With a burst of heroic might, they smashed themselves out of the steel net, setting themselves free.
"You’ve still got me to deal with!" said Tsung.
"And me!" added Chameleon, appearing beside Tsung.
"Against all of us?" asked the Sorceress. "I wouldn’t say you stood much chance….."
"And against us!" added Sonya, entering the room with Sub Zero and Jax and Extendar, now back to normal size.
Tsung and Chameleon backed off. They had no chance. The Mortal Kombat tournament was over- and won by good again.
Tsung spread his arms, said "I declare Mortal Kombat- over!" and he and Chameleon and Evil-Lyn vanished into thin air.
In came Stryker and Smoke, in one piece. "Blade and Saurod have had it!" said Stryker. "They’re out there collapsed on the rocks- exhausted!"
"Then we’ve won!" cried Liu Kang. "Victory is ours- again!"
"It is indeed!" said Rayden, teleporting inside. "I knew you would not fail."
"You….. spoilt my plans….. again." said Skeletor, groggily, rising to his feet, dazed and battered. "He-Man….. I… curse you….. you follow me… everywhere……" then he took a deep breath, and shouted "BUT I WILL DESTROY YOU IN THE END!"
"I’m amazed you haven’t surrendered." said He-Man. "You should know by now that you can never defeat the power of good!"
Skeletor turned away. "Someday, He-Man….. someday….." he flicked on his wrist- radio. "Comtech….. teleport us back….. to Eternia….."
The dimensional door opened within seconds, swallowing up Skeletor and Evil-Lyn, then spreading out to consume the other defeated Eternian warriors.
Rayden spread his arms across He-Man’s and Kang’s shoulders.
"I really am proud of you two." he said.
"And so am I." said Sonya to He-Man, in admiration. "Well done- you really are amazing."
"Now let’s go home!"
The heroic warriors emerged on Earth, in the streets of Chicago, by the remains of what was once the Shao Khan tower. They looked strange amongst the normal people of Earth- but they were truly victorious.
"Well done, He-Man." congratulated Kang. "You’ve got us one step closer to defeating the evil of Outworld!"
"And you’ve got us one step closer to defeating Skeletor!" he shook Liu’s hand.
"You warriors of Earth have helped us greatly." said the Sorceress, "and you deserve some rewards!" She spread her arms around Smoke, and his robot form vanished, replaced by a new, handsome human form.
"Thank you very much!" he said, and shook her hand. "You’ve done the best thing anyone’s ever done for me!"
Sub Zero slung his arm round the all-new Smoke’s shoulders. "Now we can be normal again!" he said.
Liu Kang and Kitana embraced one another passionately, pleased to be free again from evil. Sindel joined them, and said "We can go home now- and I’m never joining Khan’s side again!"
"And we can go back to stopping riots!" said Stryker, patting Kabal on the back.
"Would you like me to restore your face?" the Sorceress asked Kabal.
"No thanks," the warrior replied- "I quite like this face now! It’s the best weapon I’ve ever had- and it can defeat evil in seconds!"
"You are a true warrior." said the Sorceress- "You all are, and if we ever need your help- we’ll call for you!"
"We’re always at your service!" said Kang. "I’d like to see this Eternia someday!"
"Then I look forward to meeting you again!" said He-Man.
"Eternia’s a nice place, Liu." said Rayden- "and I’d better be going there now- I’m sure I can celebrate with He-Man back on his homeworld!"
"We shall be going back now-" said He-Man, "but maybe I will return here someday- it’s been interesting to see some of my mother’s planet! I’m sure we will meet again!"
"I’ll look forward to it!" said Sonya.
"Goodbye, Eternians!" said Liu.
"Good journey, my friends!" replied He-Man. "May the first be with you!"
The Sorceress spread her arms, and her and He-Man and Extendar, along with Rayden, were engulfed by a bright light, waving goodbye to their new-found allies as they teleported back to Eternia, leaving the Earth warriors in peace and harmony, to celebrate their supreme victory over evil. For the moment, the greatest evil forces in the universe were defeated, and the universe blossomed with peace as the forces of good reigned supremely over all that was evil.