Author's Note: Hi, guys! This is my first fanfic! Please R&R. Thanks for your help. Hope you all enjoy it. :)

Disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING

CHAPTER 1: NIGHTMARES

The blue clad warrior gasped heavily as she awoke from her latest dreadful nightmare. Princess of Edenia, Kitana, struggled to open her heavy eyelids after sitting up in her bed. Rain was endlessly splattering on her window, and thunder was relentlessly striking, creating quite the commotion.

"Yet another nightmare," she thought, while trying to compose herself. It was early in the morning, and there was no use in getting up at the time. So, the princess laid atop her bed while staring contemplatively at the ceiling. The nightmare she had was yet another of the death of one of her closest friends and allies, Liu Kang. Perhaps they had an even closer relationship than that, but she would never know. Kitana had been devastated after losing him at the hands of the Deadly Alliance, and was unable to stop mourning of his demise. She had so much sorrow, so many uncertainties of the future and whether her allies would live or die. Her heart had no serenity.

The beautiful warrior had no true "family" who she could really turn to, and after being lied to all of her life, she was never really able to trust anyone. There was Jade, of course, yet merely the support of her best friend was not enough to fill the void that had been left within the princess. She fought the hot tears which coated her eyes like glass as she tried to return to her slumber. After some time, she finally drifted back to sleep.

After donning her blue combat outfit consisting of a leotard, gloves, and boots, Kitana left from her bed to a quick breakfast, and then to the training area by a nearby river. She needed to let off some steam from the events which had recently taken place. The princess had gradually begun to question whether fighting with the Forces of Light was truly worth the losses. Nonetheless, she continued to train.

As she drew her metal fans, the princess suddenly detected the presence of someone else. Assuming it was one of her allies, she decided to inquire.

"Who is it?" she asked cautiously.

When no one answered her question, she became apprehensive and shifted into a defensive stance while furrowing her eyebrows.

"Show yourself," she firmly demanded.

The princess sensed the location of the follower and swiftly threw her fans towards them. A man clad in blue froze the fans as they neared him, causing Kitana's weapons to fall to the ground. A twisted smile formed upon the woman's face.

"Sub-Zero," she said cordially.

"Good morning, princess," said the Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei coolly.

"Have you formed a habit of watching me from the shadows?" she retorted.

"No, it just seemed you were so apprehensive when I arrived that I decided to mess with you," was his answer.

"Why is that so, may I ask?" she replied humorously.

"It was merely for my own amusement," he responded, slightly grinning.

Sub-Zero behaved differently around Kitana then he did with others. They had grown close after Liu Kang's death, as he had been there to comfort her during her devastation. He had lost a loved one as well, and knew what was best in helping her, as what it was like. Strangely enough, their relationship evolved so that if people were to observe their usual conversation, they would have assumed it to have been a lovers' quarrel. Sub-Zero had become a lot like an older brother to her.

"Amusement? Bah! That is not the way to treat a friend, much less a princess. Though, I would be much more amused if you would care to spar," she said.

"With pleasure," said the Grandmaster.

Kitana threw a swift roundhouse kick to the assassin's side, which he evaded and countered with a punch to the shoulder. The princess retaliated with a jab to the jaw followed by a punch in the stomach. She smirked as he let out a low groan of pain. Sub-Zero countered with a sweep to the leg.

"Hey! That was such a cheap shot!" yelled Kitana.

"All's fair in love and war," he mischievously responded.

She struck back with a hit to the neck and arm. The assassin raised his brow, and followed with a kick to the ribs and a throw, pushing her back by a few feet. She quickly recovered and as she was running back, lost her balance, and tripped onto him, dragging the two down. Both Kitana and Sub-Zero's cheeks became a bright red tint. The woman suppressed a gasp as both of their eyes widened.

"By the Elder Gods, how can she be so damn clumsy?" thought Sub-Zero as he began to produce an extraordinary amount of sweat from his forehead.

"Oh, WHY? How embarrassing!" whined Kitana mentally while blushing and sweating furiously.

After a mere second which seemed like hours, the two recovered from the ground unbelievably quickly.

"Uh... sorry," said the princess awkwardly.

"You should work on your balance, Kitana. Until we meet again," he responded, as he swiftly walked away.

The moment he left, Kitana let out a sigh of great release.

"Ugh, what a relief, he's gone," she said aloud to herself.

After completing a few more combination attacks, she prepared to leave. As the princess was leaving, Jade stepped out from behind a tree, causing Kitana to scream at the top of her lungs.

"Jade! You almost scared me to death!" said the infuriated woman, gasping for air.

Jade merely laughed at her friend, humored by how such a formidable warrior could be so easily frightened.

"How long were you standing there?" asked Kitana.

"Hmm... since right about when you started talking with Sub-Zero," replied the Edenian slyly.

Kitana rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly while stuttering.

"Uh... w-well it's not like it was on purpose or anything... don't you DARE tell ANYONE!" she commanded.

"Don't worry Kitana, you're secret is safe with me," replied Jade amiably.

Suddenly, across the calm, still river, the two young women heard a rustling in the bushes.

"That can't be good," Kitana cautiously declared.