[Chapter 1]
The beginning of something
It was getting dark. The young Sub-Zero walked without a way in a forest on Earthrealm. Not having any place where to go.
-We need you to help us...- Said Raiden. -...Earthrealm needs us and you..-
-Lord Raide- he spoke, tilting his head abit -You have already a team of warriors by your side... my presence, I think, it's not very useful-
-Do you mean that you don't care if Earth is in danger?- Liu Kang exclaimed, showing himself outraged by the response of Sub-Zero to Raiden
-Liu, don't be so hard with him, if he doesn't want to be on the team we don't have to force him- Sonya Blade tried to persuade him, putting a hand on his shoulder.
-It's not that I don't care, Liu Kang- Sub-Zero continued -I am aware that Earth is constantly under attack, but now my aim is another...-
-And what is that "aim"?- Liu Kang asked. Sub-Zero kept silence for a moment, he didn't know what to answer -So?- he asked again, more impatient.
-I... I don't know...-
-So you won't join us for going to look for something that you don't even know what it is?- the other shaolin monk, Kung Lao, now asked him
-Listen, I thank that you offer me joining your team, but... I don't want to be a hero
-And why not?- Johnny asked him, crossing his arms. -Everybody loves heroes!
-I dont' have the way to be a hero- he went silent and looked to all that were in front of him, and then he continued -...I am an assassin... I was trained to kill, not to save lives. An assassin can't be a hero!
-But what if you can change that?- Raiden interrupted him -I agree with you about that an assassin can't be a hero, but you're the only person that can change what you can be...-
There was silence.
-You can join us... but if you don't want to, you are free to go. It's your choice, Kuai Liang-
Sub-Zero looked again to his partners, without saying a word. He thought of it for a second but at the end, he just approached to the Thunder God, he bowed and said -Thank you for everything- He turned around and started his way to nowhere.
-If you think to come back, you'll be always welcome...- Raiden said to him while he was walking away.
The reason why he didn't accepted it's because to be a hero didn't give him the motivation of achieves his goals so, then, he had to reject the Thunder God's request, because he knew that working on team wouldn't be easy, not because he had a kind of conflict with the others, just because... he was afraid that something would happen to them because of him.
He already lost his older brother, Bi-Han, who tried to make him remember who really was, but he simply stopped being his brother... since a long time ago. His best friend, Smoke... Tomas, he couldn't help him and he wasturned into a cyber ninja like his others Lin Kuei partners. Now he is hunted by them, because he refused to be transformed into a cold assassin robot. He felt that he had caused enough damage in his life and, precisely, he feared grow fond with his fellow to a certain grade to call them "friends" and just come back to stay alone again.
...Alone...
...Again...
If that's how it will end, then why should he be with them? Being lonely was an option he decided to choose. Raiden took it well, he wasn't going to force him if he didn't want to be with them, but still, he will be welcome to his team.
-
Kuai Liang continued his way to nowhere, until he felt a weird sensation that made him stop. He looked around him, there was nobody, not even the sound of any little animal taht could be near. Nothing.
-Who's there?- he said seriously, posing his body, ready for any surprise attack. Then a green light appeared floating a few meters from him when suddenly the light opened, turning into a portal. Kuai walked a few steps back, he wasn't surprised of what he was watching and see the man who was expecting to appear wouldn't surprise him neither. It was Quan Chi who, smiling evily, waled out of that green portal.
-What are you doing here?- Asked the blue assassin, still in a defense position. Quan Chi just looked at him and as he walked forwards Sub-Zero the portal disappeared at his back. -You are even saying "hello"? I see nobody has tought you modals yet.- Said the sorcerer in a mocking way.
-After all you have caused, you want them to treat you with respect?- Sub-Zero answered - Answer me! Why have you come here?- The sorcerer gave a step forward and, just for instinct, he stepped back at the same time he put up his fists, almost waiting for the other man to give the first punch so he can give it him back. The other man stopped and let out a slight laugh -I'm not planning to attack you, Sub-Zero...- he said - ...not yet...- Kuai was shocked for what he heard 'What does that freak want now?' he thought.
-Tell me, Sub-Zero...- he said again - Do you miss that brother of yours?- Kuai, as he hear him, stopped being defensive and raised his body again.
-Bi-Han?- the man in blue asked
-That one...- Quan Chi answered as he crossed his arms -You miss him, don't you?-
-It's not that I miss him by my side... I know he's dead, I only want his sould to rest in peace as it is meant to be.
-And I suppose that you would do anything to recover his soul, am I right?- Kuai felt a bad sense about that question, but it has already caught his attention. Yes, he would do anything to recover his brother's soul, so he can be free and rest at last.
-What do you want...?- Kuai asked
-A combat...- said loudly and putting his hands on his waist. -If you win, I will let your brother free, he will not be my servant anymore and I'll let you do anything with his soul. What do you think?
-And what will happen if you win?- Quan Chi only smiled
-If I win you will come with me to Netherrealm... and you'll serve me for the rest of you life.
Kuai knew he risked himself to lose, Quan Chi is a hard opponent, hard to defeat... but a chance like this it's only given once in life. He had to take it.
-I accept the challenge, Quan Chi...- he changed the position of his body to an attack mode, he was ready to fight. Quan Chi smiled showing his teeth, and only opened his mouth to say-Let the combat begin ... - and ran swiftly toward him, trying strike the first blow. Kuai managed to avoid it and replied with a blow on the chin, knocking him to the ground, but he stood up fast and attacked again.
He threw at him a skull surrounded by a green light; Sub-Zero destroyed it at once but it was just a distraction, Quan Chi struck him as many times as he could and sent him straight to the ground. Kuai felt a lot of pain in his body, but he didn't care. If he wanted to get the soul of his brother, he shouldn't give up, not now. He got up as fast as he could and threw an ice ball to his opponent... failed... but he was fast and managed to slip on the floor and knock down Quan Chi
Punch after punch, kick after kick. Ice and green glow around the place. The fight went on for longer.
Not far from that place, Scorpion wandered around this dense forest. He was already thinking of giving up for wanting to defeat Quan Chi and thus get his revenge, but everytime he could be closer to Quan Chi, he could somehow escape and then everything had to start over. He was exhausted and upset by what happened. He just wanted to en this but... then what? That sudden thought stopped him, what would he do after killing him? He would have ended his revenge, he wouldn't have anything else to do... just wandering through hell, what if he coulnd't rest? He asked himself as many times as he could, until something suddenly made him stop.
An ice ball flew out of nowhere, apparently was heading straight at him. Fortunately, the ball didn't even touch him and hit the trunk of a tree, instantly freezing it. No doubt that Sub-Zero was around, of course, so he kept walking toward the direction from which the ice ball came. The closer, the louder the sounds of that fight were.
Scorpion hid in some bushes to avoid being noticed, looked how those two fought relentlessly. He could notice that Sub-Zero wasn't having the biggest advantage in the fight, his uniform was tron and dirty, his face was full of blood, punched and full of dirt, and his mask was broken that part of his mouth was visible. His breathing was very agitated, he couldn't keep fighting longer. Scorpion saw him, he felt very sorry for him, wanted to help him but he didn't know if it was right to interrupt his fight so suddenly. He directed his gaze to Quan Chi. His body wasn't so beaten and bruised as Sub-Zero, he saw him approach to his opponent and gave him a punch in the face, then another and another, and the last one was so strong that knocked him and his mask went flying of his face, falling not far from where Scorpion was hiding.
Sub-Zero tried to get up, but he felt he would faint for the pain so he fell back to the ground. Quan Chi looked from where he was, approached to Sub-Zero and stomped his back strongly. That cry of pain that Sub-Zero gave could be heard in the whole place. Scorpion looked away for a moment, he didn't want to see him suffer like that. He knew he should interfere and don't waste more time. He left, then, quickly from his hiding place.
-STOP!- said Scorpion -If you dare to do him something else..!- he couldn't finish to speak, Quan Chi interrupted him.
-Ahh... Scorpion! What a big surprise to see you here... It has been a long time...
-Let him go!- said while he threat him with his kunai
-H-Hanzo... no...- Sub-Zero tried to talk to him but his voice was almost inaudible
-Why should I let him go? He and I made a deal, he lost, so he must now fulfill his part- The sorcerer raised up Sub-Zero's body, willing to take him, but then Scorpion tried to punch him to aboid him to take Sub-Zero away. Quan Chi knew taht Scorpion would do that, he was fast and with only a movement of his hand, he stopped him.
Scorpion felt that couldn't move his body anymore, something was stopping him. -What...!?- he exclaimed. Quan Chi used his magic to prevent Scorpion to attack him. He moved his hand again and threw him several meter away from him, make him crash with a tree, hitting his head and leaving him stunned. Scorpion tried to recover from the blow, but nby the time he had already come to himself, Quan Chi was gone and along with him, Sub-Zero.
he looked around him. Nothing. There was nobody else besides him. Near him there was the broken and bloodied mask of Sub-Zero, he took it and held it in his hands watching it well. He felt a bit afflicted for not being able to save him. He knew that Quan Chi was someone strong, but he didn't knew he was that strong as in that moment he faced him. Still, he missed a great chance to revenge... again.
Sub-Zero woke up as he felt an intense heat beneath him. He looked around and noticed that he was no longer on Earth. -Netherrealm...- he wondered. He was able to percieve and almost familiar voice, it was talking to him, it sounded very close to him.
-Hello... brother.- He heard.
[END OF CHAPTER 1]
A/N: I'm not very good writing this kind of things but... oh well! I've already written some chapters called "metamorphosis" but I was adding and removing thing that were and weren't important, respectively, so I decided to do it again, putting more things, describing the scenes better... i hope this isn't something heavy to read and sorry for the bad english! I tried to do my best ;A;
Hope you liked it and wait forthe next chapter! ;D