Raya Northingale sat in the gameroom with her best friend, and roommate, Nia Mason. The two twenty year olds were playing their favorite game, Mortal Kombat.

"I am kicking your butt!" Raya laughed.

"Well no kidding Ray! You are one of the best!" Nia exclaimed.

Raya thought for a moment. It was true, she was now one of the best in the state. "True, but I still have to kick your butt!"

"Come on, me?" Nia sighed.

"Yes you knucklehead." Raya replied as she hit Frost with Mavado's hookswords

"Thanks." Nia said sarcastically.

"But anyway, where would I be without my kick butt teammate?" Raya grinned.

"What teammate?" Nia asked, confused.

"Mavado! How could you forget him? We're a team, him and I!" Raya exclaimed.

"Oh, right!" Nia laughed.

Raya laughed as she hit Frost again. She used Mavado so often it seemed natural.

Frost didn't have time to duck as Mavado used his throw.

"Aww! Raya, c'mon, give me a break!" Nia begged.

"Okay, I won't use his fatality!" Raya giggled.

Nia sighed and sank down in utter defeat.

Raya giggled gleefully as she used the fatality.

"You lied!" Nia shouted and hit Raya with a pillow.

"Mavado wins." The announcer guy said.

Nia laughed. "Up for another game? I'll use Li-Mei this time."

"How about two? I wanna practice Kitana for a bit then use Mavado again so I get re-used to him." Raya suggested.

"Sure." Nia agreed with a nod.

"I'll go get us another can of soda. How 'bout coke?" Raya said and nodded, causing her long auburn hair to bounce slightly in the ponytail.

"That would be great Ray. Bring down the chips while your at it kay?"

"Okelie dokelie." Raya agreed and pranced up the stairs.

Moments later Raya was in the kitchen of their large home. Raya opened the fridge and pulled out two cans of vanilla coke. She then went over to the cupboard and opened it. Raya peered into it with her deep hazel eyes.

"There they are." Raya said as she pulled out the salt and vinegar chips after nearly seven minutes of searching.

Raya grabbed the sodas and skipped down the stairs.

"Aaaaaaaah! Raya! Help me! Help! Aaaaaaaaah!" Nia screamed.

"Nia!" Raya called back. "I'm coming, keep your cool! Hang on!"

Raya ran into the room and placed the food down calmly only to see Raiden and Sub-Zero standing in the middle of the gameroom.

"Aaaaaaaaaaah! I am so totally having either a nightmare or a dream!" Raya shouted.

"Will you both please be quiet. We are only here to fetch a Miss. Northingale and to speak to a Miss. Mason" Sub-Zero said calmly.

Nia and Raya shut up immediately.

"We need another fighter. We need another every few decades. We think Miss. Northingale has certain traits and qualities that will make her an excellent fighter." Raiden began. "Miss. Northingale has a choice to whom she fights by or with of course. She will receive proper training."

Nia and Raya gaped.

"I'm Miss. Northingale." Raya said.

"Excellent!" Raiden smiled.

"Then you must be Miss. Mason." Sub-Zero said.

"What do you have to say to me?" Nia asked.

"We need you to tell all who ask that Miss. Northingale has gone for a trip to Europe for extra training in her career." Sub-Zero said.

"Hold it! I'm not going!" Raya cried.

"Why not Ray? You said you would jump on a chance like that." Nia was baffled.

Raiden and Sub-Zero looked at Raya expectantly.

"Have you seen what the girls have got to wear? It is so sexist! I will not wear that! Never! Never! Never! Never! Ever!" Raya cried.

"You could wear something like Frost's uniform." Sub-Zero suggested.

"Yuck!" Raya cried, angered.

"This is what you always wanted and you're worried about what you have to wear?" Sub-Zero sneered.

"Shut your hole!" Raya snapped at Sub-Zero. "I will not go if I do not receive proper coverage. I don't care what everyone else wears! If I gotta fight I might as well be comfy!"

Sub-Zero glared and stepped toward Raya, Raiden held him back.

"I will make my uniform. Got it? That is the only way you can get me to go." Raya finished

"Fair enough. What style will it be?" Raiden asked.

"I'll show you! I've made sketches!" Raya said proudly.

Raya ran to a drawer, took out a notepad, then raced back.

"Ah-hah!" Jessica called triumphantly as she handed it to Raiden. "It's the first one."

Raiden examined it. The outfit looked like coverage. The outfit was a black trenchcoat, leather pants, and a black shirt. It was a classic Red Dragon uniform. Raiden sighed and gave back the notebook. "Alright."

"Score!" Raya shouted and jumped up.

"We must go now Raiden." Sub-Zero finally said.

"Yes, come on Miss. Northingale." Raiden said.

"Wait a minute! Nia, am I entered in any tournaments?" Raya stopped.

"No..." Nia said. "None Mortal Kombat anyway."

"Oh no! The gymnastics championship. I can't let the team down! I'm the captain!" Raya shouted in distress. "I hate to do this Nia, but Maria knows it all so ask her to fill my place for a while please?"

"Sure Jess. Go! Hope I see you again." Nia said, teary eyed.

"Yeah, me too. Say hello to my family please." Raya said with a wave as she followed Raiden to the T.V. screen, which was now a temporary portal.

Raya looked behind her once again, feeling empty, afraid, and alone. She felt sick to the stomach. Raya was going to be leaving her family, her friends, everything she was familiar with. She may never have the chance to cheerlead again, never go to another dance, never sing at the university again, never sing karaoke again, never see the pictures when she had been elected Winter Festival Queen again with Marco. She may never even see Marco again. Raya felt so hollow as she looked back. She took a deep breath, squeezed her eyes shut, and walked through. Raya really wanted to run into her room, slam the door, and cry into a pillow instead.