Jade Fictional character, the heroine of the Mortal Kombat video games. Country: USA

1. Jade Biography
2. Debut and Early Years
3. Service to Shao Kahn and Friendship with Kitana
4. Return and Battle against Onaga
5. Reimagined Storyline in 'Mortal Kombat'
6. Legacy and Speculation

Jade Biography

Jade is a fictional character and one of the heroines in the 'Mortal Kombat' video game series. Initially introduced as a secret character and just one of the "colorful ninja women," Jade eventually gained her own biography and separate story. While it is difficult to label her as a key character in the series, Jade played a significant role in the events of various Mortal Kombat tournaments.

Debut and Early Years

Jade made her debut in the 1993 video game 'Mortal Kombat II.' At that time, she was not a fully developed character but rather a hidden secret that players could fight against by knowing the specific sequence of moves to unlock her. From a storyline perspective, this mysterious character had no explanation, resembling Kitana or Mileena but with a green costume, increased movement speed, and complete immunity to projectile attacks. Although her name was mentioned in one of the hints, her health bar in the game was not labeled with any name. It was only in 1995, in 'Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3,' that players had the opportunity to play as Jade, as she became a fully fledged playable character with her own biography.

Service to Shao Kahn and Friendship with Kitana

Jade's new biography revealed that she was one of the servants of Emperor Shao Kahn in Outworld. Alongside his adoptive daughter, Princess Kitana, Jade was one of the most outstanding and dangerous assassins in his employ. Jade and Kitana developed a warm friendship, as they shared both their work and their origins, both being from the conquered realm of Edenia. When Kitana defeated her distorted double, Mileena, and fled to Earthrealm, Shao Kahn ordered Jade to find and bring her back. Jade faced a difficult choice: she couldn't disobey her emperor, but she also couldn't betray her best friend. Jade didn't dare openly oppose Kahn, and the situation became even more complicated when another of Kahn's agents, Reptile, was also sent to capture Kitana. Jade and Reptile managed to locate the fugitive princess, and despite Kahn's orders, Reptile attempted to kill Kitana, which Jade managed to prevent. This event helped Jade make the right choice; she became Kitana's ally, defeated Shao Kahn, and helped liberate Edenia from his oppression.

Return and Battle against Onaga

After the victory over Shao Kahn, Jade continued to serve Kitana and her mother, Sindel. However, she disappeared from the series for a while and only made a comeback in 2004, in the game 'Mortal Kombat: Deception.' In the presence of Jade, Earthrealm's champions fell at the hands of the Deadly Alliance, Shang Tsung and Quan Chi. Jade witnessed the resurrection of fallen warriors by the power of the Dragon King Onaga. Later, Jade was forced to fight against Kitana, who had been manipulated by an external force. Jade emerged victorious and freed Queen Sindel, fleeing to Outworld. In addition to her loyalty to Kitana, Jade also sought revenge against Tanya, an Edenian who had become a follower of Onaga. According to Sindel's ending, she and Jade successfully reached Onaga's tomb, where they fought Kitana once again. While Jade distracted Kitana, Sindel defeated Onaga, restoring her daughter's free will and bringing peace to Edenia. Jade's own ending did not mention Kitana or Sindel; instead, she had to fight Tanya, Baraka, and a group of Tarkatans. By tricking Tanya and causing her anger, Jade emerged victorious.

Reimagined Storyline in 'Mortal Kombat'

In the 2011 game 'Mortal Kombat,' the storyline was rebooted, and Jade's story underwent minor changes. According to the new narrative, she was born into a family of Edenian aristocrats who served Shao Kahn after the fall of their empire. From a young age, Jade underwent rigorous training, eventually becoming a skilled and dangerous assassin. She also served as the bodyguard for Princess Kitana, forming a close friendship over time. When Kitana defied Shao Kahn, Jade attempted to stop her but was overpowered. As Kitana encountered the sorcerer Shang Tsung's creation, the dark Mileena, she realized that Shao Kahn knew more than she believed. Witnessing this scene, Jade chose to stay on Kitana's side. After fighting off Kitana's guards, Jade tried to free her, but the princess urged her to contact Earthrealm's forces, which Jade eventually did. The alliance between Jade, Kitana, and Earthrealm proved strong as they fought to repel the invasion of Outworld. Unfortunately, both Jade and Kitana fell victim to the resurrected and immensely powerful Queen Sindel. They became revenants, vengeful spirits serving the Netherrealm, particularly the sorcerer Quan Chi. Jade's fate beyond this point remains unknown.

Legacy and Speculation

In the subsequent game, 'Mortal Kombat X,' Jade is absent, neither among the living characters nor the revenants under Quan Chi's control. However, one of Kitana's fighting styles, 'Mournful,' clearly emulates Jade's style. In the storyline, Kitana honors her fallen friend by using her weapons. In Kitana's arcade ending, Jade does appear, indicating her importance in the haunting visions that drive Kitana to seek revenge against Raiden. It is reasonable to assume that Kitana's ending is a continuation of Jade's arcade ending from the previous game, 'Mortal Kombat' in 2011. According to that game, after defeating Shao Kahn, Jade lost consciousness and found herself in a strange realm, where she engaged in a battle of wits with a mysterious woman who took over her body.