Earthrealm: One
Eve wandered through a dimly illuminated tunnel, leading to the Lin Kuei training arena. Her mind clouded with the nervous thoughts of what might await her in her training and how she might handle it. Her fear realized, the tunnel ended with a flood of light as she entered the area that was the training arena. She stared up at the stands in awe. Lin Kuei warriors and assassins flooded the seats of the grand dome by the hundreds, all cheering; eager for the grand performance to come. Sub-zero awaited her on the opposing side. Eyes forward, she made her way to the grandmaster.
"You're first lessons are going to be in hand to hand combat," he met her part of the way.
"Hand to hand combat?" she said tensely.
"Yes."
"Alright," she nervously drummed her fingers against her thighs in an attempt to shake her nerves off physically.
"There are several styles of martial arts to pick from. For example, mine are Dragon and Shotokan styles. However I don't have a lot of time to go over every one of them with you, so we're just going to see what kind of style you pick up along the way, if not your own thing. My advice to you is to use the entirety of your body to disable your opponent. Okay! Now that we have that out of the way; any ideas on why we're starting with hand to hand combat?"
"Because you're hands are the first thing you start with?"
"Close, but that's only half of it. I'll give you a demonstration. Hyo!" he called out one of the members of the audience out to the arena. Hyo jumped down into the arena like it was nothing. Sub-zero walked away from him to gain some distance. "Ready your weapon!"
Hyo formed a sword of ice. He ran at Sub-zero. He leapt into the air, disappearing into cubes of hail. He reappeared, attacking Sub-zero's right flank. Sub-zero grabbed his sword, stopping it with one hand.
"Your observations?" Sub-zero questioned Eve.
"Although he attacked you with his sword, you were still able to stop him; even without a weapon."
"You got it! There maybe a point in combat that you find yourself without a weapon. I want to prepare you for that moment. At that time you can use your hand to hand fighting skills to protect yourself."
"Hyo, you can go," he dismissed Hyo.
"Yes, Grandmaster!" he leaped back to his row.
"Now Eve, prepare yourself," he stood opposing her.
"Yes Sir!"
"Grandmaster," he corrected her.
"Yes Grandmaster!" she braced herself.
"I'm not going to be easy with you. Now come at me!" he commanded her. She ran at him. She went for a high punch at his face. He grabbed her fist, countering her with a punch to her face; knocking her back. He high kicked her, knocking her back into the floor. "If your opponent's attack fails that gives you an opportunity to strike back. This is known as a counterattack."
"Sheesh, the grandmaster sure is being harsh with her isn't he?" Hyo said to the man beside him.
"Humph, he's just training her like she's one of the boys. She should be honored, it isn't every day a woman gets trained to be a Lin Kuei," the man snickered.
"Damn, Okami that's dark!"
"I'm only stating the truth. A delicate female, doesn't belong in the Lin Kuei," Okami scowled at the mere thought.
Sub-zero ran at her. (Damn he's fast) Eve tried to get up. Before she could stand all of the way Sub-zero punched her in the face, knocking her back to the floor. (I can't keep taking blows like this. He might just end up killing me) Sub-zero kicked her in the stomach while she was down. "Get up Eve! You're embarrassing yourself," he nudged her face with his boot. (Now's my chance!) She mule kicked him in the face, hurling him into the air. (He's moving slow while he's in the air. I have one more chance!)
"There!" In mid air, she spin-kicked him in the torso; knocking him further back than he would have landed before. His back slammed into the wall. He picked himself back up. He ran at her. His movements more impaired, even predictable. He swung for Eve's face, she dodged; landing a blow to his lower stomach. She spun around, landing yet another blow in the same spot as before. He staggered backwards. Once he regain his balance he lunged for her once again. She jumped landing a low sweep that knocked him to the floor. She backed up, waiting for him to get up. He jumped to his feet, ready for more. She did a flip forward, slamming him in the head. Then she did a flip backwards, taking him with her. She hurled him into the air. He landed on his feet, using his dominate hand to skid him to a stop. He stood upright.
"That's enough. You've bested me in this fight. Let's go to the infirmary to take care of our wounds."
"Alright!" she ran toward him.
The crowd cheered.
"Wow, she made a great comeback!" Hyo enthused.
"Psh, there's no place in the Lin Kuei for a woman. The true grandmaster would have had her killed already. It's bad enough that she's a woman, but she's also a Shirai Ryu," Okami clenched his fists.
Sub-zero glared back at him, before leaving the arena. Eve sat on the operation table, waiting for the doctor to check her out.
"Hello lady Eve, let's clean up those cuts and bruises," the doctor came in. He took a cotton swab doused in alcohol over a gash above her eyebrow. "That's one nasty gash the grandmaster gave you."
Sub-zero had a look of guilt in his eyes as he avoided eye contact with Eve.
"Don't worry about it! You were just giving me the same training any of the others would have. Etiquette has no place in assassin training," Eve gave him a look of understanding.
"Yeah, I suppose you're right," he nodded.
"You also gave the grandmaster quite the butt kicking," the doctor turned to look at Sub-zero. Eve could see the dimples show through his mask as he smiled.
"You really think so?" she enthused.
"Why yes! The only other person that has ever sent him to me was your brother. The blood of the Shirai Ryu shines brightly within you."
"Wow thanks!" she laughed.
Sub-zero and Eve walked outside. "Are you sure you want to go through with this?"
"Yeah, I'm sure!"
"To be honest, it isn't normal for women to be trained in the ways of the Lin Kuei. There was only one other pupil I took that was a woman. My brother forbid it. The training is too harsh, and he found women to be incapable of taking it on. I, however; have faith in you. I believe you can handle it. I refuse to go easy on you, despite any feelings I may have against it. I am fully prepared to put you through hell. If you are still willing to go through with it that is."
"I didn't take this task on just because you and big brother are incapable of it," she came to a halt.
"Oh?" he stopped to face her.
"I want to avenge the death of my family, but even more than that... I want my life back. Until Quan Chi's head hits the ground, I won't be able to live my life without looking over my shoulder."
"That's what I had hoped you would say. The next part of your training starts here," he looked over at a frozen lake.
"With a lake?"
"To manifest ice you must first learn the two elements it requires, water and wind. For this part of your training Okami will oversee your progress," Okami came out from behind a tree. "He specializes in adding water elements to his ice to create slush. He is the ideal teacher for this."
"Hello," he spoke reluctantly.
"Hi there, Okami!"
"Um right. Well, for basic water elemental training you first want to become one with the water. You can achieve this through meditation. I want you to try closing your eyes and picture a watery vortex spinning round and round."
"Round and round, got it," Eve did as he said.
"Now picture an imaginary seal. The water is pushing so much pressure on it. It needs to break free. I want you to focus, and make the water tear through."
"Alright," she whispered in deep concentration.
"Lift both hands in front of you to channel your power."
She did as he said.
"Now release it," he stepped out of the way.
Eve concentrated. The ice on the lake cracked. A giant vortex of water burst out of the ice. She opened her eyes wide to view the scene before her. She gasped in awe of it. "Yay! I did it!" she leapt with joy.
"Eve you have to concentrate!" Sub-zero yelled.
"Huh!" she stared up at the now collapsing vortex of terror. "Oh shit!" she flinched. When she opened her eyes, Sub-zero held her tight up in a tree. "Sorry about that," she apologized.
"It's alright, just try again, and this time remember to concentrate. Elements are very dangerous to control. You mustn't take them lightly."
"Grandmaster, are you sure she can pull this off?" Okami yelled at him from another tree.
"As a Shirai Ryu her given element is fire! It will take some time, but she'll get it!" he yelled back.
"Are you ready to try again?" he asked her.
"Yes, I'm ready," she smiled up at him.
"Man, I'm pooped," Eve plopped down on the bed."
"You mastered the water element today. It's no surprise to me that you're tired," he took his mask off to relax at the end of the day. She blushed when she saw how beautiful his face was with his long black hair hugging around it.
"Is what you said true about me being a fire elemental?"
"Yes, although it's true that your brother is a hellspawn now. The Shirai Ryu have always been pyromancers," he hung his coat up.
"Then why didn't Scorpion train me to use fire first?"
"We're starting with the most difficult training to go on and get it out of the way."
"Is Okami and Hyo Japanese?"
"I thought you might catch on to that. I hand picked them to help with your training for that purpose. They are brothers. My elder brother had them imported from Japan because of the promise they showed. They are among the Lin Kuei's brightest and Japanese for your own personal comfort. Okami is a sympathizer of my brother's ways, however; I think he'll warm up to you in time. The truth is there is prejudice amongst the Lin Kuei both sexist and racist. So I thought you might be more comfortable with Japanese subordinates."
"They're my subordinates?"
"Yes, they are to accompany you on your journey. Also they're the only ones that aren't afraid of you. I don't know what you did while I was away, but everyone in our ranks are terrified of you."
(Heh heh, he's talking about me playing strip poker with them.) Eve twitched.
"What did you do while I was away?" he sat down on the edge of the bed.
Eve froze up.
"Never mind, you must be tired after your training today. We'll discuss this some other time to satisfy my curiosity if nothing else," he snuggled up to her.
Eve got up and got dressed. She walked into the living room.
"Good morning, Eve," Sub-zero tossed her a katana.
"Good morning, Grandmaster. What will my training be for today?"
"You'll learn to master the wind element. Hyo will be overseeing you today."
"Good morning, lady Eve," he bowed.
"Good morning, Hyo," she bowed back.
"Follow us outside, and we'll start there," Sub-zero led the two of them outside. "The purpose of the katana is to get a better understanding of wind and how it works. Unlike water, you can't see wind, but you can feel and hear it," he swung the katana he held, "Did you notice anything in what I just did?"
"I could hear the katana slice through the wind."
"Yes, now you give it a try," he stepped aside. She swung her katana in a downward motion as he had.
"It's as if it's pushing against the wind itself."
"Yes, now try concentrating on wind as you had done with the water yesterday. Only picture wind blowing in all different directions. Then have it surround your blade to give it a more powerful swing. Like so," he created a wind around his blade. "Ha!" he swung it horizontally at the tree line in front of them. A couple trees split in half and fell to the ground. "Focus on the wind currents just as I had told you. Then try forming a wind blade around your katana. Once you perfect the blade around your katana, attack the tree line as I had done."
"Alright," Eve began to focus on the wind currents in her mind. Wind to the left collided with wind to the right. She opened her eyes to see a blurry bulk of gust around her katana blade.
"Now make it finer."
She concentrated harder on narrowing the wind around it. It slightly changed.
"I want you to practice until you get it right. I have some important matters to attend to. Hyo will stay with you," Sub-zero left.
Eve concentrated and concentrated.
Night fell. Sub-zero sat at the dinning table drinking some tea.
"Grandmaster! Grandmaster come quick!" Eve ran in almost out of breath.
"What's going on?"
"I did it! Come see!" she ran back outside. Sub-zero followed her outside. His eyes widened at the sight. The entire front line of trees had been sliced in half. Eve stood in front of them. She concentrated, focusing a fine wind around her blade. She sliced her blade horizontally as he had done early in the day. The entire second row of trees gave in at the center and fell to the ground in a large boom. "Did you see that! The damage it caused was amazing! Uh!" She jumped with joy. Her blade went into the ground as she collapsed. Sub-zero caught her.
"She worked on it all night," Hyo enthused.
"Yeah," Sub-zero nodded. "I'll give her about a week off before she starts her cyromancy training," he carried her off. (It's strange. It doesn't seem like that long ago since she was a child and I was just a teenager carrying her off to safety. Now she's a beautiful young woman walking the path of the assassin. Can you see it Eve? I have faith that you will succeed. You may not know it yet, but you have already surpassed me.) He smiled through his mask.
Eve stretched and yawned till she awoke. She peeked through the room. Sub-zero was setting at the little round table watching her. "Sub-zero?" she groaned.
"Good morning sleepy head."
"What time is it?" she sat up.
"It's about one."
"Huh! You let me sleep that long?"
"Yeah, what of it?"
"Don't I have to train today?"
"No, we're taking a week off."
"A week?" she protested.
"Get your clothes on, we're going somewhere," he started for the door.
"Where?"
"It's a surprise, meet me outside," he left.
"Um, okay," she blinked.
She ran outside to meet up with him. He wasn't wearing his mask, accompanied by two other guys. "You aren't going to wear your mask?"
"I won't need it where we're going. You're the only one that has seen my face."
"Who are they?"
"Idiot, that's Hyo and Okami," he gestured with his head.
"Sorry I'm still half asleep."
"Ah here's our ride," he referred to the black limo that pulled up.
"We're going in that?"
"Yeah, get in," he held the door open for her.
"I feel so under dressed," she climbed into the limo.
"How do you think we feel," Okami complained. Sub-zero climbed in behind her. The limo took off once they were all inside. They pulled up at a hot spring. The driver opened the door to Eve's side.
"Here you are, Miss. Eve," he held it open for her.
She stepped out, "Thank you!"
"Master Kuai," he held the door for Sub-zero.
"Thank you James," he stepped out. The boys followed behind him. They all went inside. Sub-zero went to the reception desk. "I need two rooms for the week," he talked to the lady behind the desk.
"You hear that shit?" Okami asked Hyo.
"What is it bro?"
"He's having us stay in the same room," Okami scowled.
"Oh I don't mind!" Hyo enthused.
"That means I won't be getting laid, while we're here."
"You worry too much brother. I would have sex even with you in the room," Hyo said smugly.
"You wouldn't dare!" Okami glared at him.
Sub-zero cleared his throat, "When you're finished making a fool of yourselves you can go to your room," he handed them their key.
"My beloved," he linked arms with Eve. She blushed. "I want you to relax and not worry about a thing. Alright?"
"Okay," she nodded.
"He spoils her too much," Okami complained to his brother.
"Awe I think it's sweet. I'm happy master Kuai found himself a girlfriend."
"You're such a loser," Okami sighed.
Eve stepped into the hot spring, "Ahh, man that feels good," she sank into it.
Hyo and Okami got in after her.
"Oh hey guys!" she waved at them.
"Aren't you the least bit, embarrassed about bathing with us?" Okami tried provoking her.
"Nope, not at all!" she smiled
"Give it a rest Okami! Can't you see she's a nice girl," Hyo smiled at her.
Okami cursed under his breath.
"I'm sorry about my brother. He's used to the old ways, but I think he'll come around eventually."
"Oh it's okay really," Eve smiled.
Sub-zero joined them.
"Holy crap the boss is hot!" Hyo blushed.
"You're weird!" Okami sighed.
"Don't get me wrong I'm totally straight. But I'd tap that."
"Maybe I should have left the two of you at home," Sub-zero sighed as he settled beside Eve. "I brought some sake. Have you ever had it?"
"Big brother brought me some for my fourteenth birthday, It's been a tradition for me to drink with him ever since."
"I had a feeling he would give you some bad habits," he poured some in her cup.
"Nah, not at all," she sipped on her cup.
Eve laid on her back as Sub-zero propped one leg up over his shoulder. He rammed into her hard and fast. Sweat dripped down his face and hair. He leaned down to kiss her on the lips. She moaned as she moved her hips in sync with his. The walls within her vagina clamped down on him as she came. The moisture surrounded him, allowing him to go even faster. He moaned as he came. He caved in and collapsed on top of her, breathing heavily. She held him in her arms.
"Kuai?"
"Huh?" he looked her in the eyes.
"Am I going to die?"
"What do you mean?"
"No matter how hard I train, can I still stand a chance against a foe like Quan Chi?"
"We're all working hard to get you to that point Eve. Not just me, but your brother too. We aren't going to send you out there until we're for sure you can stand on equal footing with him."
She stared him in the eyes. In that moment she knew... He was lying. She could tell that the probability of her returning after all of this was slim at best. But the least she could do was take him out with her... She had to try. She knew that much.
Sub-zero led her into a dark room with a scarlet pillow on the floor.
"What is this place?" Eve asked him.
"This is were all of our predecessors have come to train in cyromancy. Go ahead, take a seat on that floor pillow."
She did as he commanded.
"From this point on I can't help you. You need to create wind in one hand, and water in the other in order to create a perfect sphere of ice. You have to combine the two perfectly symmetrical or it won't work. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand," she nodded.
"Then I'll leave you to it. I'll come check on your progress ever so often. Good luck," he closed the door behind him. He locked it up tight.
"Did you send for me?" a familiar voice asked.
"Glad you could make it, Scorpion."
"Cut the bullshit! Where is my sister?"
"She's training in private right now in the final step."
"Then why am I here? Don't you already have everything under control?"
"I need you here for the next stage of her training. But please, make yourself at home."
"Don't mind if I do," he helped himself to some meat on the dinning table.
A day passed. Scorpion sat at the dinning table smoking a pipe. Sub-zero exited the room were Eve was being held.
"How is her progress coming?"
"She's still steadying the elements in both of her hands. It'll be a while till she finally makes ice."
"You sound nervous, here," he handed him his pipe.
"What is it?"
"It's weed, it'll calm your nerves. Go on, it's perfectly harmless."
Sub-zero took it from him. He took a couple hits from it and started coughing. "If it calms your nerves then why are you such a pissy bastard all of the time?"
"I don't know?" he laughed.
Another day passed. The two of them sat across from one another.
"Have you checked on her today?"
"Yeah," Sub-zero laid his head on folded arms over the table.
"Having second thoughts?"
"No, I'm in this to the end. What about you?"
"Same here. Want some more weed?"
"Yeah," Sub-zero didn't hesitate.
Day three... The two of them were baked.
"Did you smoke with Eve?" Sub-zero asked.
"Yeah, all of the time. I might not be the best brother ever, but I'm not a monster you know?"
"I wasn't implying that- that, hahaha!" Sub-zero started laughing.
"Dude, you're baked."
"I hate you!" he laughed.
"I hate you more!" Scorpion chuckled.
"I love your sister!"
"Have you checked on her today?"
"Oh shit no! I forgot all about it!" Sub-zero ran to check on Eve. He came back with his head hung low.
"Still nothing?"
"No!" Sub-zero pouted.
"Well, I'm out of weed. We're just going to have to be patient now."
"Yeah," Sub-zero nodded.
On the fourth day...
"Scorpion! Scorpion!" Sub-zero shook him to wake him up.
"Huh?"
"It's time, she's done it!"
"Oh shit, I'm up! Let's go!" They ran to the room she was in. Her yellow eyes glowed green as she formed a sphere of ice in between her hands.
"That's enough Eve, you can stop now," Sub-zero spoke softly to her.
"Alright," she stood up. She walked to him. "Huh? What's Scorpion doing here?" Sub-zero knocked her out before she could finish what she was about to say.
"What the fuck man! What was that for?" Scorpion yelled.
"This is what I wanted you to be here for. Grab your cloak we're going for a ride."
Sub-zero carried Eve over his shoulder outside. Scorpion met up with him. They were met by two tacked up horses. They were large white Clydesdales. Hyo and Okami were already astride two similar horses.
"This one is yours," Sub-zero handed him the reins to one of them. He then laid Eve over the saddle of the one he'd be riding.
"Nah, I have my own horse," he whistled. A hazey black Morgan galloped out of the forest. She had ruby red eyes, and her hooves left behind embers.
"What do you call that monstrosity?" Sub-zero mounted his horse.
"Daisy, what of it?" he mounted her.
"Alright! Let's head out!" Sub-zero led the fleet of horses out of the stronghold. They then headed for the northern mountains.
"What is this all about?" Scorpion yelled over the sound of thundering hooves.
"Eve has to be recognized as a Lin Kuei! In order for that to happen she has to find her way back to the stronghold alive!"
"Alive?"
"She has to survive the most treacherous area in Lin Kuei territory! If she can do that, she will be Lin Kuei!"
"Didn't you scold me about putting her life at risk?"
"Yeah I guess I did! You have my apologies! I don't like the idea of leaving her out here, but it's a test every Lin Kuei goes through at some point! We're here!" Sub-zero came to a halt. He unmounted his horse. He carried Eve off into the woods. Scorpion followed behind. "This will do," Sub-zero laid her down in the snow. He then stripped her naked.
"Is that necessary?" Scorpion protested.
"It's tradition," he took her clothes and left her a blue cloth mask. "Your identity is all you have now, protect it with your life," he left her behind. They took off, leaving Eve cold, naked, and alone...
"Sub-zero?" Eve woke up, shivering half to death. "Where am I? My clothes! What happened?" She tried to recall the events that had taken place. She could only remember Sub-zero's voice. (Your identity is all you have now, protect it with your life.) "He left me here as some kind of test," she fastened her mask on. "I need to build a fire," she looked around for a dry spot. She piled up some dry branches and brush on the dry spot. She then came back with a jade rock and a flint. She rubbed them together until she had a fire going. She held some snow in her hands and over the fire, letting it melt into drinkable water. She continued this tedious process until she was fully hydrated.
She stocked a deer. She stepped on a branch, causing it to panic. It began to flee. "Ha!" she blasted it with some ice, freezing it's feet to the ground. She then formed a spear from ice. She stabbed it through the neck. The spear she had created was dual edged and jagged. It cut her hand, making her bleed. "I'm going to have to work on that," she pulled her spear out of the now dead deer. She dragged her kill back to her campsite. She made a dagger with a pretty decent hilt from ice. She used it to clean the deer and make her some makeshift clothes out of its hide. She then roasted the meat over the fire.
She woke up to a dying fire. "I need to get out of here. But where is here?"
"Migoi! Migoi!" a female voice spoke from the brush.
"Whose there?" Eve was prepared to attack.
"Migoi! Migoi! Hundan! Kuai lai kan kan guaiwu!" She laughed.
"I don't know what you're saying. Are you a friend or a foe?"
A little arctic fox came into the open.
"Awe! Hi there little fox!"
"Migoi! Migoi! Kuai lai kan kan guaiwu!" She spoke.
"The fox is talking?"
"Migoi! Migoi! Kuai lai kan kan guaiwu!" she ran off into the woods.
"Wait! Do you want me to follow you?" Eve ran after her.
"Hundan!" She cackled.
"Wait!" Eve chased after her. She ran up on a large white figure. It was a yeti. He roared in her face, and smacked her back into a tree. The wind was knocked right out of her. He walked towards her. She curled up into a ball of fear. She screamed. Then silence... Blood dripped onto her nose.
"What? Blood?" she opened her eyes. She had passively created a wave of ice that had pierced through the yeti, killing it. "I have to get this power under control," She carried the yeti back to camp. She skinned it, and made it into a warm cloak over her deer hide clothing.
The following day, Eve practiced her cyromancy. She froze and unfroze the bottom of the trees. She struck small animals with small concentrated balls of ice. She formed throwing stars and needles out of ice and practiced throwing them. She created a katana out of ice and kept it near her.
She woke up to multiple howls, closing in on her. She stood to her feet. It was pitch black, and the fire was only embers. Glowing orbs by the pairs shined low to the ground. By the sound of it they were wolves. They circled in closer to her.
She watch their every move. "Come on!" She taunted them. They came at her. She struck them with waves of ice, killing them one after another. One came at her from the air. She grabbed her katana and ran in through the wolf as it came down. One powerful howl stood apart from the rest. All glowing orbs sttod down with the acception of a single pair. The flames of the fire ignited, revealing a beautiful large white wolf.
"Fear not child, I mean you no harm," she spoke with a soft voice.
"Who are you?"
"I am known as the great wolf in these parts. You may call me Subarashi if you like."
"You know my native tongue?"
"Yes, I have been observing you from a far. You show much promise as a Lin Kuei. Even more than the brothers who came here years ago."
"Bi han and Kuai Liang?"
"Yes, I once watched them as well. But none, as shown as much promise as you. I wish to serve you. I want to strike down those who wish to oppose you. If you would only let me."
"Yeah, I would be honored."
"Excellent, what would be your first task for me Master?"
"Can you help me get back to the stronghold?"
"Yes, but I must forewarn you. This forest is known as the Forest of Illusions to humans. You may undergo an aberration on your way out."
"Alright, lead the way," Eve followed Subarashi through the forest.
"Isn't this just precious," a dark voice purred.
"Who was that?" Eve asked.
"I didn't hear anything. You must be going into an illusion. Stay head strong and you can defeat it. Don't let your emotions cloud your judgement."
"No matter what that mutt says, you're eyes can't lie," he purred. A pale bald man with tattoos and spiked armor came out of the trees.
"Who are you?" Eve asked.
"How can you set a goal without even knowing what awaits you at the end? Then again you are a pitiful Shirai Ryu. I have to say the runner was good at covering his tracks till the very end. He had placed you in that village without my knowing. My subordinate tailed you to the edge of Lin Kuei territory and informed me of your death. I see now that they were wrong. And now you wish to exact revenge for your family. What makes you so sure you will succeed?" He circled around her.
"You must be Quan Chi. I'm sure of my victory because I have two of the best teachers."
"You mean them?" he pulled out from behind him two severed heads. One was Scorpion and the other Sub-zero. "Are you still convinced that this is only an illusion?"
"Yes," she glared.
"Pitiful Shirai Ryu, you will fail. You will fall before me, and I will have my way with your corpse," he smiled demonically.
"I think not!" she stabbed through him with her katana. He chuckled into nothing.
"Are you alright, Master?" Subarashi asked.
"Yes, everything is alright now," Eve put her katana up.
"We're almost through the forest. Come on!" Subarashi led the way.
The guards in the watchtowers looked over the horizon. Eve and Subarashi made their way up the hill for the fortress.
"Lady Eve is back! Ring the bell!" One of the guards yelled. The other rang the bell. All of the Lin Kuei rushed to the court yard to welcome their new sister. Among them was Sub-zero and Scorpion. They stood out in front of the rest. The gate opened and Eve and Subarashi walked through. She wore the pelt of the yeti on her back and a pair of deer antlers hung over her shoulders.
"Grandmaster," she bowed to him.
"From this moment on you are Lin Kuei. I bestow unto you the code name Yuki! For you are Japanese! I found you in the snow and I left you in the snow, therefore you shall be snow in your tongue! Welcome your new sister!" Sub-zero's voice boomed.
"Yuki! Yuki! Yuki! They all cheered."
"Lift your head my child, you have made your grandmaster proud," he placed his hands on her shoulders.
"I graduated?"
"Yes, with flying colors. Are you happy you came now Scorpion?"
"Yeah, I'm proud of you siss," Scorpion nodded.
"I missed you brother," she hugged him.
"You may want to rest up. You're coming with me to train next. I think Ashrah had some things she said she wanted to teach you as well."
"Are you dating her yet?"
"It's nothing like that!"
"Sure it isn't," Eve taunted him.
Eve woke up from a good nights rest.
"Are you ready to go?" Sub-zero asked her.
"Now I am," she fastened her mask on.
"Your new clothes fit well?"
"Yes," she wore a black vinyl top and skirt. Over top was a Lin Kuei blue and white parka. She had samurai shoulder and thigh guards that were silver and black. Her necklace hung around her neck.
"It's off to Netherrealm with you. Good luck, and meet me here once you finish your training.
"Gotcha," Eve left with Scorpion for the Netherrealm...