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Johnny Cage lost everything.
Just when he thought better things were coming his way, life took it upon itself to slap him in the face and prove he was completely wrong.
Johnny believed this new chapter of his life would restore the fortune he had gradually squandered. Poor fool—did he really think life was going to smile upon him after all the mistakes he’d made? These are the terrible consequences of having no self-control; of living in excess and blowing through all his money as if it fell from the sky. This is what happens when you tell the woman who stood by you, through thick and thin, to go to hell.
"I didn't marry Johnny Cage! I married John Carlton. And I’d give anything to get him back."
And that had always been his biggest problem: wanting to live like Johnny Cage when he was really just John Carlton—a simple dreamer. That persona consumed him completely, until he lost all sense of reality.
Cris had told him so; she had warned him about his excessive consumption in every aspect of his life, and how "Johnny Cage" was destroying the man he truly was. But he—being the mocking egocentric he is—simply laughed at her and ignored her warnings. She loved him intensely, but she couldn't let herself be dragged down by her husband's ego; the moment came when she had to choose between staying with him—waiting for misery to swallow them both whole—or getting out of there as fast as she could. Naturally, she made the right choice for her future.
Johnny didn't give a damn; after all, he was a gorgeous Hollywood actor—every woman's dream. The poor fool truly believed that simply because he had a pretty face, every woman would come running after him. But times have changed, and now many women prefer a guy with his feet planted firmly on the ground over an egomaniac like him.
"Their loss."
Divorced and drowning in debt? No big deal.
He was supremely confident in his new project: *Mortal Kombat*. It was a film he had personally taken charge of—writing and directing it himself—recounting all his adventures as Earth’s champion in the dangerous Outworld. He was certain it would be a success; for him, there wasn't a shred of doubt. A production studio had granted him the invaluable opportunity to truly shine with the picture, providing him with a star-studded cast and incredibly lavish sets. Yet, even here, he simply couldn't exercise any restraint.
The day of the premiere finally arrived, and expectations for the project ran high. Several of his newfound friends even showed up for the event—among them, Princess Kitana.
For her, sitting in a movie theater was a completely new and thrilling experience. She enjoyed every single minute of the film, just as she enjoyed being by Johnny’s side. The princess had been quite clear with him from the very start:
"I don't *like* you; I just find you amusing."
Although, lately, that perspective of him had begun to shift ever so slightly...
"That was a spectacular film, Johnny! I hope it meets with great success—you truly deserve it."
Johnny was usually a man of many words, but on this occasion, he could only respond with a goofy grin. Hearing those words meant the world to him, for they came from someone truly special.
The days passed, and Johnny was left to face a cruel reality: his film was an utter flop. What could possibly have gone wrong? Perhaps it was just bad luck, or maybe the story simply failed to engage the audience. He had done everything in his power to make a great movie—so why had this misfortune befallen him?
The production studio withdrew all its support in the aftermath—and who could blame them? After all, of the millions of dollars they had invested, they had recouped a mere fifteen percent.
His debts began to mount, and he soon found himself with no means to pay them off. Then came the moment he had dreaded most: the moment he lost all his worldly possessions—including his fleet of luxury cars and his magnificent mansion.
He was left utterly ruined—sunk deep into a mire of destitution and solitude. All because he had wanted to be Johnny Cage.
The mansion now stood completely stripped bare; the only thing left lingering within its walls was his own wretched existence. Today would be his last day inside the place he had called home for so long. He had to vacate it this very day, or he would face severe charges over his mounting debts.
Someone knocked at his door. Oh, great—it was probably the paparazzi, waiting to capture the face of that defeated man on their grubby cameras to splash across the front page. It wasn't the first time this had happened; those damn pests had been hounding him all week, and—unfortunately—they had managed to snap a few photos.
Fed up with the situation, he decided to go out, confront them, and tell them to go to hell.
"Want to take more pictures? Go right ahead! You miserable bastards..."
Upon opening the door, he was met with a huge surprise. It wasn't the stupid paparazzi; it was Princess Kitana.
"Kitana?"
"May I come in?"
Naturally, he let her in—though not without a twinge of embarrassment at the sight of his completely empty mansion.
"I think you’ve come at a bad time, Princess. You see, I..."
"I know exactly what’s going on, Johnny. You didn't come at a bad time; you came at the right one."
He didn't understand any of it, but on some level, he was grateful for the presence of such a beautiful woman.
"So... you already know about......my failure, and how I lost everything... I’m a disaster, don’t you think? I couldn't accomplish a single thing. I think my father was right; I’m destined to fail. I’m a disgrace—God, I don’t even know why I’m still alive. I hate this; I hate being such a fucking failure.”
Johnny continued to curse himself as tears streamed from his eyes. He needed to vent, but being completely alone, that was practically impossible for him.
"I lost Cris; I lost the chance to become Lord Liu Kang’s champion; I lost the chance to shine in a movie; I lost everything that was ever mine. I’m a piece of trash; I should just stop existing—that would be for the best."
"And if you were to stop existing, who would make me happy?"
Johnny wondered if he had heard correctly, or if it was merely a figment of his obvious intoxication.
Soft hands touched his; Kitana was now sitting on the floor beside him.
"Princess..."
"I’ve come all this way to offer you my support. I know you’re going through a rough time; I wish I could have gotten here sooner, but you know very well that my sister needs me. I’ve been thinking about you day and night..."
Kitana’s hands were cold and clammy.
"I can’t go on any longer without telling you just how special you are to me. I am so proud of everything you’ve done to pull yourself back up—"
"Please, Princess, you don’t have to lie just to make me feel better. I appreciate your noble heart, but don’t pretend you’re proud of me—because no one else would be."
"But *I* am. I saw all the effort you poured into that wonderful movie; you are someone who fights for what he wants. And that is exactly why I’m here—because someone very important in my life taught me that I must fight for what I love."
Those cold hands wiped away his tears, and their faces drew closer together.
"That 'someone' is you, Johnny Cage. I’m here to tell you that I love you." Johnny still felt as though he were under the influence of alcohol; even so, he decided to try his luck and kiss the princess’s sweet lips. That was the kiss that brought him back to life—the one that gave him ample reason never to give up.
“Is this a dream, Princess?”
“No, it is the reality I have been dreaming of for a very long time.”
After so many days spent adrift and without direction, Johnny Cage was himself once again.
“I love you, Kitana. From the very first day, I’ve been completely captivated by your beauty. But I have nothing to offer you right now... I’m just John Carlton—the failed dreamer.”
“You have always been Johnny Cage—even in this very moment. Do you know why? Because you have never given up on achieving your goals—not even now. You always wanted to kiss me, didn’t you? And you did.”
A smile spread across his face—the first in weeks; the woman’s logic was undeniable.
“You have always been, and always will be, that Johnny Cage—the man I love.”
He could hold back no longer; he kissed the princess’s lovely lips once more, and she smiled into the kiss.
“Thank you for bringing me back to life.”
“Thank *you* for showing me what love truly is.”
He may have lost everything, but in a single day, he got it all back. And no—he didn’t recover his millions or his grand mansion; he recovered something far more important: his will to live. Now he has a powerful reason to remain that Johnny—the man who fights for everything—and that reason is named Kitana.
Johnny Cage got it all back.