Author's Note: Are you kidding me? An update already? I must be out of my mind! I still have no idea what the heck I'm doing. Just bear with me! Please read and review and all that good stuff.
Disclaimer: I still own nothing….I am still broke….I like puppies…..um…yeah…..
"Will you stop pacing already? You're going to wear a hole in the floor….."
"This is all my fault. I am so freaking STUPID!" Wren flung herself onto the bed. "I don't know what the hell I was thinking. I KNOW BETTER! What do you think they're doing to Master Xiong?"
Misato sighed and crossed the room to sit on the bed by her friend. Actually, friend was an understatement. After Wren's parents died, she had come to live with Misato and her grandfather, Xiong, because she didn't have anywhere else to go. The two girls had grown up together and by all accounts considered themselves to be sisters.
"This is NOT your fault…" Misato ran her fingers gently through Wren's dark blonde hair in an attempt to comfort her. "…and I am sure Grandfather is fine. They said they just wanted to talk….."
"I swear to God if they hurt him I'll…"
"You'll do what, exactly?" Both girls jumped at the sound of the voice and turned toward the doorway.
A very tired looking Xiong stood in the doorway leaning on his cane for support. Time had taken its toll on Xiong. Once he was a ferocious fighter and competitor, now he was reduced to a bent, frail old man. The spark of life still burned fiercely in his eyes, however, and was enough to make anyone think twice about challenging the man's authority.
"Misato, please excuse us. Wren and I have much we need to discuss."
"Yes, Grandfather." Misato took one last look at her friend and gave her hand a squeeze before getting up and leaving the room.
Xiong crossed the room and sat down next to Wren in the spot Misato had just vacated. They sat in silence. Xiong, deep in thought, seemed to examine the intricate carvings on his cane. Wren perched on the edge of the bed with her knees pulled up to her chest, wishing with every fiber of her being that the floor would open up and swallow her whole.
"Wren.."
"I'M SORRY!" Wren threw her arms around the old man burying her head in his shoulder to hide the tears that had started to form in her bright green eyes. "I should have never…."
"Wren…," Xiong gently pushed the girl off of him and cupped her face in his hands. "What's done is done. I always knew that this day would come eventually. As much as I wanted to protect you, I knew we couldn't hide it forever. It was just a matter of time. Perhaps this may not be the terrible thing I envisioned it to be…" Xiong dropped his hands and shifted his gaze to look out the window.
"What happened? What did they say?"
"The Lin Kuei, or more specifically, the Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei has taken a special interest in your ability. Apparently, he possesses the very same gift. He will be traveling here in the next couple days. He wishes to meet with you to discuss matters….and no doubt to see you….perform." Xiong said quietly.
"Discuss what matters? I can't even control this….whatever you want to call it. It just happens. What does he want me to do? Build him a freaking snowman??? I have nothing to say to him. He can go slither back under whatever rock he crawled out from under. I have nothing to say to any of them. They can all go to hell." Wren crossed her arms, her mind made up.
"Wren, Grandmaster Sub Zero…"
"Sub Zero?!" Wren burst out laughing. "What the hell kind of name is Sub Zero?"
"Grandmaster Sub Zero…" Xiong continued, "from what I gather, is apparently in good company. It seems that since he has gained control of the Lin Kuei that he has, as you girls like to say, cleaned house. He has aligned the Lin Kuei with the warriors of Earthrealm and has fought on their side in Mortal Kombat to insure this realm's safety. Even Lord Raiden has called upon his service."
"Earth what? Mortal Kombat? Safe from what? Who is Raiden? I don't understand what you're….."
"These are things you will learn more about as time goes on. We need not discuss all of this now. You're not ready for all that yet. In the mean time, I don't think it would hurt for you to meet with the Grandmaster and see what he has to say. Keep an open mind. You may actually learn something." Xiong stood and ruffled Wren's hair affectionately. "Give it some thought." Xiong left the room leaving Wren sitting on the bed still looking confused.
"What did he say?" Misato popped her head back around the corner.
"I think he has finally gone senile….or they knocked him in the head."
Misato plopped back down beside her friend. "Why?"
" I thought he would be upset. He actually WANTS me to go talk to their Grandmaster Sub… something. He was talking about realms and kombat and some dude named Rainman or something like that….it made absolutely no sense."
"Bizarre…" Misato stretched out on the bed. "So what are you going to do? Are you going to go talk to the head honcho?"
"I don't know. Maybe. He said this guy can do the same thing I can and that maybe I could learn something. What do you think I should do?"
"I think that Grandfather wouldn't suggest you speak to him without good reason. I KNOW he wouldn't let you speak to him if he thought it would put you in danger. He would have us packed up and moved by now if that were the case."
Wren sighed. "I know. I am just so lost. I have no idea what's going on."
"Everything happens for a reason, Wren. Like Grandfather says, there are no accidents. This could turn out to be a good thing." Misato reasoned.
"Or completely horrendous and traumatic…."
Misato laughed, "Now there's the spirit!"
End of Chapter 2
Two chapters in two days….still untitled….still no idea where the heck this is going….but that's half the fun isn't it???
