Internal struggle: Echo

(Liu Kang and Sub Zero are walking in the fire garden)

Sub Zero: Your Shaolin masters, they are ready?

Liu Kang: They will fight until the last man

Sub Zero: That is likely what it will take

Liu Kang: There will not even be a fight if Kharon does not help us. Is there any word from Grandmaster Hasashi?

Sub Zero: No. If we do not hear soon, I will return to the nether realm

(Scorpion teleports into the fire garden)

Liu Kang: Wrong Scorpion. This cannot be good

Sub Zero: Get Raiden

(Liu Kang runs off to get Raiden)

Scorpion: The fire gardens are rebuilt? The Shirai Ryu are indeed restored

Sub Zero: Why are you here, Scorpion? Where is Grandmaster Hasashi?

Scorpion: He is dead

Sub Zero: And now you have come to finish us?

Scorpion: I understand your mistrust, but I am here to assist you!

Sub Zero: I find that impossible to believe!

(Shang Tsung comes through a portal)

Sub Zero: What is HE doing here?

Scorpion: We are not together

Sub Zero: If you are here to help, prove it. Join me against the sorcerer

Scorpion: I shall

(Echo and Fujin come through the portal)

Sub Zero: Fujin?! Raiden thought you were lost when the timeline was broken. And Echo? You both ally with Shang Tsung?!

Fujin: We have urgent news for Raiden! Please, let us pass!

Sub Zero: This may be the sorcerer's trick

Scorpion: The fire gardens will not be defiled by his presence

(Smoke comes running in)

Smoke: Shang Tsung?!

Echo: Wait! Don't-

(An all out battle breaks out between two sides)

(Smoke, Sub Zero, and Scorpion)

Vs

(Echo, Shang Tsung, and Fujin)

(Scorpion throws his rope spear at Fujin, but he ducks under it)

(Sub Zero shoots a blast of ice from his hands. Echo and Fujin dodge it, but Shang Tsung gets hit by the ice blast)

(Shang Tsung and Sub Zero start fighting hand to hand)

(Smoke appears behind Fujin, and they start fighting hand to hand)

Sub Zero: Why you have joined Shang Tsung is beyond me, Echo. What has he done to corrupt your mind?

Echo: Nothing! We need your help to-

Sub Zero: You're a puppet of the sorcerer, Echo! And I will knock his magic out of you

Echo: You leave me no choice

(Echo fights Sub Zero. Sub Zero is a very powerful fighter, but Echo knows him well enough to know his fighting style. That knowledge combined with his vision pulse earns him the win)

Echo: Listen before you judge

(Tundra comes sliding across some ice while shooting icicles)

(Fujin throws Smoke and Scorpion against each other with his wind magic, then air kicks Tundra in the side)

(Tundra hits Fujin with an ice hammer, disorienting him)

(Tundra and Fujin start fighting hand to hand)

Scorpion: You are trespassing here. Surrender now or suffer the consequences

Echo: I am sorry, Scorpion. But I cannot turn back now

Scorpion: So be it

(Echo fights Scorpion. Scorpion's blind rage makes him more powerful, but his tactics aren't as solid. Echo's vision pulse seems to be his trump card as he battles Scorpion. He gains the advantage and knocks down Scorpion)

Echo: I will not kill you, but I can't guarantee you'll walk away from that

Smoke: What are you doing, Echo? You should be on our side!

Echo: I am! But you attacked us!

Smoke: Because Shang Tsung is evil, and he cannot be trusted!

Echo: Sometimes it takes evil to beat evil

(Echo fights Smoke. Smoke is powerful, but not as powerful as Sub Zero or Scorpion, so it's a little bit easier for Echo to win this fight)

Echo: Forgive me, Smoke

(Tundra freezes Shang Tsung and Fujin)

Echo: Oh no

Tundra: Your turn

(Tundra tries to freeze Echo, but Echo dodges each ice blast and throws a smoke bomb at him)

(Tundra starts coughing, then Echo jump kicks him)

Echo: I didn't want to do that, Sub Zero

(Echo punches the ice with just enough force that Fujin and Shang Tsung get unfrozen and are unscathed)

Echo: Cha cha real smooth

Fujin: The storm has not yet passed

(Raiden and Liu Kang arrive)

Raiden: Shang Tsung?!

Fujin: We must speak with you, brother

Raiden: "We", Fujin? Since when are you friends with this filth?

Echo: We are not friends. We are here because we can save the timeline

Fujin: We hail from the future. In it, Liu Kang defeated Kronika, but their battle destroyed her crown

(Fujin pulls out the crown)

Fujin: Without this, the broken timeline couldn't be repaired

Shang Tsung: Our only hope was to return here, steal the crown, and make use of it's power

Fujin: Now we can change the outcome of the fight against Kronika. We can defeat her, AND fix time

Raiden: I had never thought you gullible, brother. Shang Tsung's schemes are only to benefit him! How could you fall for such lies?!

Echo: Raiden, these are not lies. Our future is screwed without the crown

Liu Kang: Lord Raiden, we should listen. Echo always tells the truth

Raiden: There is only one way to find out

(Raiden pulls out Shinnok's amulet and hits Shang Tsung, Echo, and Fujin with a blast of magic)

Raiden: Now, Shang Tsung! The truth!

Liu Kang: Raiden, stop this!

Smoke: Raiden, you're going too far

Tundra: Do not kill a potential ally

Echo: Raiden, don't do this!

Raiden: Sub Zero, Smoke, Liu Kang, step aside!

Liu Kang: Put down the amulet! It's darkness is taking hold of you!

(Raiden hits Liu Kang with a magic blast)

Raiden: You also betray me!

Liu Kang: This is not the way. Shang Tsung is not the enemy this time

Raiden: The realms hang in the balance and you form this unholy alliance?!

(Raiden's lightning turns red)

Fujin: Shinnok's amulet fuels your anger and clouds your judgement!

Raiden: Enough of this madness! If you three must die, so be it!

(Echo, Fujin, and Shang Tsung dodge a blast of red lightning)

Echo: Raiden, let go of the amulet! You can still walk away from this!

Raiden: No! I will not hesitate to do what it takes to defend the realms!

(Echo and Raiden fight. It's pretty even on both sides, with both fighters parrying and blocking each other's attacks, not being able to gain a decisive advantage on the other, resulting in a clash)

Echo: This is not your way!

Raiden: This is the only way!

(Echo and Raiden run towards each other, jump up, and pull their arms back for a punch)

(Their fists connect, resulting in a blinding light)

(Raiden is knocked onto his back as he groans in pain)

(Everyone's eyes go wide open)

Fujin: Listen to me, brother. We are running out of time

(Raiden picks up Shinnok's amulet and realizes that the darkness is calling to him)

Raiden: I am a fool

(Raiden hangs his head in shame)

Raiden: I have allowed myself to become a slave to anger. I will not allow my temper to fracture our resolve further

Echo: Thank you, Raiden

Raiden: I still do not understand, I, a god, was beaten by Echo, a mortal

Deadpool: Plot armor

(Not too long later)

Liu Kang: Surely you jest, Lord Fujin

Fujin: Not at all, Liu Kang. Raiden's power makes you a fire god

Kung Lao: Of course it does...

Raiden: Unfortunately, I cannot transfer my power to Liu Kang yet. First, I must free his revenant from Quan Chi's curse

Fujin: We will face the revenants soon enough

Noob Saibot: We'll be ready

Raiden: What else can you tell us about this final battle? We must use every advantage

Echo: If I tell you what happens, it won't happen

(Scorpion, Noob Saibot, Tundra, Sub Zero, Smoke, Liu Kang, and Kung Lao turn to dust)

(Echo, Specter, Shang Tsung, Raiden, and Fujin are ok)

(Kronika appears)

Kronika: Echo, Shang Tsung, Fujin, I trust you are enjoying your travels?

Fujin: You have already been defeated once, Kronika

Kronika: Of course, Fujin. How else could you have escaped the void?

Raiden: If you know this, then accept the inevitable and surrender

Kronika: But clearly my loss was not your victory, Raiden. If your future "savior" had gained full control of my hourglass, we would not be here. This timeline would no longer exist

Shang Tsung: I see no harm in confirming your suspicion

Kronika: Even if you defeat me, what then? Who claims the hourglass? Surely you realize Shang Tsung will break your alliance?

Echo: We agreed the alliance is temporary

Fujin: And we are prepared, Kronika

Kronika: Are you? Have you ever wondered why Shang Tsung knows so much about my crown?

Echo: You created him specifically to collect souls for your crown

Raiden: And he did your bidding

Kronika: Shang Tsung is far too modest. The crown is his design. No one, save me, knows more about it's true power

(Raiden and Fujin look at Shang Tsung)

Echo: It doesn't matter

Shang Tsung: Correct. Had I told you, we would still be marooned at the beginning of time bickering amongst ourselves

Kronika: You must decide, Raiden. Who do you want to keep time for all creation? Me, or Shang Tsung?

Raiden: Neither. You will be defeated, and if Shang Tsung betrays us, we will finish him

Echo: I choose Liu Kang

Kronika: You are a fool, Raiden! Do not condemn the realms to oblivion!

(Raiden tries to hit Kronika with a blast of lightning, but she returns the lightning, turning Raiden to dust)

(Shang Tsung uses his soul magic on Kronika, and Fujin uses his wind magic on Kronika)

(Kronika returns the magic and knocks them both back)

Shang Tsung: Echo! The crown!

(Echo grabs the crown, which is on the ground)

Kronika: It is a mistake to challenge a titan! Now I end your existence!

(Echo tosees the crown to Fujin, who puts it on)

Fujin: You are vulnerable, Kronika

(Fujin uses his wind magic on Kronika to surround her in a tornado)

(Shang Tsung opens a portal, making some demons come out and scratch Kronika while dragging her down)

(Raiden turns back to normal and electrocutes Kronika)

(Their combined power gets rid of Kronika)

(Fujin falls, and the crown comes off his head)

Raiden: Brother! Are you alright?

Fujin: Yes. But the crown...

(Shang Tsung has the crown)

Shang Tsung: Truly my finest work

(Shang Tsung gives the crown to Raiden)

Shang Tsung: I will instruct you in it's ways

Kung Lao: What just happened?

Shang Tsung: Kronika came here to retrieve the crown. We forced her to retreat

Raiden: We must strike while she is weakened. Let us join the armies massing at the sea of blood. Together we will storm Kronika's isle and take command of the hourglass

(Soon)

Shang Tsung: We will rendezvous at the isle of Kronika. The fools believe victory is at hand. Their misplaced confidence will be their demise

(Sindel appears, but there seems to be something... off about her)

Sindel: Such a pity my daughter embraces their sentimental values

Shang Tsung: Having second thoughts, Sindel?

Sindel: Hardly. Kitana courts a peasant and obeys the thunder god. She couldn't be a bigger disappointment

Shang Tsung: One can only imagine. The isle, do not be late. An eternal empire awaits you