- Smoke: Kuai Liang and I were working hard to build our new clan. But even with the help of his close friend, Harumi, it was difficult. The biggest problem was finding the initiates. Then, one night, while walking outside Harumi's compound, I was attacked. I thought at first it was a Lin Kuei assassin. But his strikes were uncertain, too angry. My attacker, it turns out, was a boy. Homeless and hungry, his assault was born of desperation. He needed money so that he could eat. It was looking at myself, fifteen years ago. I would've ended up just like him, if the Lin Kuei hadn't taken me in. So I took the boy to Kuai Liang, who also appreciated his fire. We made him our first initiate. The boy's name? Hanzo Hasashi
- Baraka: While the regime had changed, little else had. My people still suffered in silence, ignored by the rest of Outworld. Though now I knew Empress Mileena's secret: that she was also afflicted with Tarkat. If anyone would help, it would be her. But how to get an audience? Syzoth. He was the Empress's new emissary to the Zaterrans. I asked him to introduce us. At great personal risk, he agreed. And as I'd prayed, the Empress was willing to meet. Even better, she would visit the colony. She was shocked to see how we lived. She moved quickly to provide for our care and comfort. Thanks to the Empress and Syzoth, we Tarkatans are no longer pariahs. Until our disease can be cured, that will do.
- Johnny Cage: It'll be great! I'll play a kickboxer, you a street fighter...
- Geras: The answer is still no.
- General Shao: My war won't end until Liu Kang's corpse rots under my feet.
- Johnny Cage: Damn. Someone needs a hug and a sandwich.
- Reptile: Why did you show me that Predator film?
- Johnny Cage: After all we've been through, that was scary?
- General Shao: You won the war, but you will lose the aftermath.
- Havik: Because I won't impose your brand of order?
- Johnny Cage: How is a dream of my death funny, Princess?
- Kitana: [smirks] I dreamt you suffocated under a pile of women.
- Kitana: General Shao's revolt left Outworld's armies in tatters. We were vulnerable to enemies both foreign and domestic. That's why my sister asked me to take command. To stitch her military back together and purge Shao's loyalists within it. She trusted only me with the task. The soldiers, however, had little faith. They thought me a spoiled dilettante, unprepared and unfit to serve. That I could fight mattered little. All that mattered was that I wasn't one of them. I finally earned their loyalty by orchestrating an epic victory over Shao and his rebels. Though the general himself escaped, his forces were smashed. For as long as I am able, I will lead the empress' armies in defense of Outworld. Through strength, we will achieve peace.
- Scorpion: No sooner had Titan Shang Tsung had been defeated than Bi-Han and his loyalists hunted us down. Outnumbered, we fled to Japan. There we sought refuge from an old family friend. As children, we played together. But Harumi Shirai was a woman now, the head of her clan. Her strength, beauty, and intellect awed me. Also incensed by Bi-Han's betrayal, Harumi agreed to help me forge a new clan. One that would stand against him and defend Earthrealm. Her aid proved invaluable. And as time went on, we grew closer. To honor Harumi and pay respects to my new bride, I named the clan after her, calling it the Shirai Ryu. Now the battle against my brother begins in earnest. The Shirai Ryu won't rest until Bi-Han is defeated and the Lin Kuei's honor restored.
- Sindel: Surely Liu Kang could've found better than you.
- Johnny Cage: Just what is your beef with me, beautiful?
- [first lines]
- Liu Kang: Having liberated the Hourglass and become Keeper of Time, my next task was to restart history. Not beholden to past events, I was free to craft a new era. It was with humility and restraint that I approached this blank canvas. After careful preparation, I began work. Painting over the darkness. After eons passed, I sketched out the realms. After eons more, I brushed them in with life. In my new era, all beings will have opportunity to find peace. Whether or not they do, will be their responsibility. For my power only permits me to begin this endeavor. It is the duty of mortals to finish it.
- Shang Tsung: How do you know this? Who are you?
- Kronika: I am your deliverer, Shang Tsung. Join me... and I will put the realms at your feet.
- General Shao: You haven't earned your swagger.
- Johnny Cage: Like you got any clue what it takes to be me.
- Sindel: As the darkness enveloped me, I took a long, last look at my family. I did not expect to see them again until their souls joined mine in the Living Forest. But miraculously my beloved husband delivered me from oblivion. Though he couldn't save my body, Jerrod had preserved my soul. Like him and countless others, I am now a part of Ermac. Yet ours is not a peaceful repose. The collected souls within Emac have their own needs and agendas. Before we can speak as one, we must fist reach consensus. I had thought as the former rulers of Outworld, I and Jerrod would hold sway. But here we are, two souls among many thousands, fighting for the right to be heard. And if there is one thing we do well together, it is fight. We will win the right to govern Ermac as we once had governed Outworld. And we will rule for the benefit of all.
- Tanya: Until recently, I hadn't met Li Mei, but I had heard the stories. How the Umgadi's Matrons Superior blamed her not for preventing Jerrod's murder. How she quit in disgrace rather than accept punishment. But those stories didn't fit the women I now knew. Li Mei would never have been so negligent. Eventually, I uncovered the truth, the failures and mistakes which led to the emperor's murder. They resulted from poor decisions made by the Matron Superiors themselves. They made Li Mei their scapegoat. When the Empress found out, she wanted the Umgadi disbanded. But I convinced her that it could be reformed. To make sure it did, she put me in charge. I am humbled by this scared responsibility. The Umgadi, my sisters, they are my life. I will not let them be brought down by the acts of a selfish few.
- Ashrah: I couldn't believe that Liu Kang welcomed me in Earthrealm. Or that he thought me worthy to study with his Shaolin masters. After a lifetime of wishing for one, I finally had a home. But my joy was tempered as I thought about Sareena... My Shadow Sister was still under Quan Chi's yoke. And she deserved a life free of him as much, if not more, than I. Quan Chi and my other sisters proved tenacious, but they were no match for my blade. I snatched Sareena from them. Then Liu Kang helped me break Quan Chi's spell. Her mind free of his influence for the first time in years, Sareen chose to join me in Earthrealm. My sister and I once again fight side by side. Only now we do so for Earthrealm. Together, we have formed the Order of Light.