What I wrote here, I'm super embarrassed about, considering it involves a ship that seems super ridiculous and unlikely. I mean, you only have to look at Sub-Zero's intros with Skarlet and see how he talks to her. He's having none of her seductive advances. Which begs the question, "Why am I doing this?" Well, I'm testing myself. Also, Sub-Zero is my favorite Mortal Kombat character, and maybe I just wanted to give him a love story. Anyways, enjoy.

Leave a review after reading, please. Feedback is always appreciated.

Kuai Liang, Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei, also known as the current wearer of the mantle Sub-Zero, is out on a mission on his own. He would not even ask his old friend Smoke or his new friend Scorpion for assistance. The journey he's embarking on, he wishes to embark it alone. The reason behind it is only known to him.

Following the trail that would lead him to what he's looking for, he found a dead body. His throat has been slit. The decaying appearance of the body would have one think that it's been there for a long time. The cut on the man's throat, it appears recent. Loss of too much blood appears to be the cause of death. But this is too much blood lost, even for a throat that has been slit. It is because of this that Sub-Zero is certain he is following the right track. He only has to keep following it until he can find the end of the trail.

As he walked, a memory from the past continued to haunt him. He can see so many things. Sand. Trees. The Sun. A Cliff.

"Help me!" A little girl shouted. She was hanging off the cliff.

"I'll help you." Kuai Liang's own voice, but younger, rang in his ears.

Kuai Liang grabs the little girl's hand and pulls her up.

"Thank you," said the little girl.

"Are you lost?" He asked.

"I can't be lost without parents," she answered.

"My sincerest sympathies," he said.

"I don't need it," she said. "Thank you, but leave me alone."

"You starve and you are desperate," he guessed.

"Are you proposing to feed me?" She asked.

"If you would let me," he said.

Sub-Zero snapped himself out of it. Looking back at this memory will only distract him from what's important in the present. As he followed the trail, he found himself at the Outworld village near the Kahn's palace. Sub-Zero knew he would be easily recognized if he walked in with his Lin Kuei getup. So, he uses the shadows in the spaces between buildings to hide himself.

"I will live to regret this," Sub-Zero said to himself.

"STOP! THIEF!"

Sub-Zero looks back and sees that thief has stolen food from a family of three. The thief was getting away and there were no guards nearby.

"I stand corrected," Sub-Zero muttered.

Sub-Zero steps out of the shadows and fires an ice beam towards the thief. He freezes the path in front of him and puts up an ice wall at the end of the frozen path. The thief slips on the path until his face hits the wall, getting knocked down. Sub-Zero grabs the stolen food and returns them to the family.

"Thank you," said the father.

"Are you Sub-Zero, the ice maker?" The little boy asked.

"Yes, but you may call me Kuai Liang," said Sub-Zero.

"Sub-Zero!"

Sub-Zero turns around and sees two of the Kahn's soldiers approach him. He knew what this meant. His unannounced visit means he must answer to the Kahn of Outworld.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ MORTAL KOMBAT ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Escorted to the palace, Sub-Zero comes face-to-face with Outworld's Kahn, who is actually someone he knows well. Sitting on the throne with one leg crossed over the other, looking at him with a sophisticated look on her face, there was Princess Kitana. But it's Kitana Kahn now. Having killed Shao Kahn and united Outworld, Kotal Kahn willingly surrendered the throne to her.

Speaking of Kotal, he was present in the throne room, sitting down on a chair with metal casts on his legs. Special Forces gladly lent prosthetics to the injured former Kahn to help with his recovery after Shao Kahn crippled him. As expected, Jade stood next to him to comfort him.

"Sub-Zero," Kotal greeted.

"General Kotal," Sub-Zero greeted. "I hope your wounds are healing quickly."

"Slow, but indeed healing," said Kotal.

"Fancy seeing you here, Grandmaster," Jade greeted.

"I did not plan for this," said Sub-Zero.

"Be sure you know your place here," Jade warned.

Sub-Zero walks pass the Kahn's most trusted friends and faces the Kahn herself. He politely bows before her.

"Kitana Kahn," he greeted formally.

"Sub-Zero," Kitana greeted formally. "I was told you stopped a thief."

"It would be foolish of me to ignore," said Sub-Zero.

"And I appreciate your charity," said Kitana. "But what brings you to Outworld unannounced?"

"My business is my own, Kitana, but I assure you, I mean no harm to anyone who is innocent," said Sub-Zero.

Kitana faces her subjects and says, "Leave us."

Jade, Kotal, and the soldiers leave the room so Kitana and Sub Zero can speak alone. Kitana thinks that Sub-Zero would be willing to reveal his intentions if he was to speak to her only. She descends from her throne and walks closer to him. They can lower their voices to avoid possible eavesdropping. Jade, after all, is quite protective of Kitana.

"We are alone. You may speak to me," said Kitana.

Sub-Zero did not speak.

"You are not just my ally, Sub-Zero. You are my friend. I'm willing to listen and understand, if you would just speak to me," said Kitana.

"I seek the blood mage Skarlet," Sub-Zero revealed. "I followed her trail here to Outworld."

"Why do you seek her? Has she wronged you in any way?" asked Kitana.

"In a manner of speaking," Sub-Zero replied ambiguously.

"I can have my scouts track Skarlet, if you seek assistance," Kitana offered.

"I can track her on my own," said Sub-Zero.

"If you will not tell your intentions, at least answer me this. Do you aim to kill her?" asked Kitana.

"That depends when I find her," said Sub-Zero. "Do you wish for me to spare her? So you can redeem her?"

"I do not know," said Kitana. "Skarlet is nearly as irredeemable as my father. But she was a decent person once. Power and bloodlust consumed her."

"Yet another one of Shao Kahn's biggest crimes," Sub-Zero said with chilling anger in his voice.

"It sounds like there's history I do not know about," Kitana guessed. "Did you know her? Personally?"

"That is none of your business, Kitana," said Sub-Zero.

"Out of my respect for you, I will not ask further," said Kitana. "I only ask you bring her to me should you spare her life."

"You have my promise, Kitana Kahn," Sub-Zero promised.

"Just Kitana, Sub-Zero," said Kitana. "I wish you the best of luck on your journey. Skarlet is no easy adversary."

Sub-Zero bows one more time before turning around to leave. But he stops to say one more thing to Outworld's new Kahn.

"Liu Kang is an honorable warrior, Kitana," he said.

"Indeed," Kitana agreed. "But why say so?"

"Do not allow your bond to jeopardize your rule," Sub-Zero advised.

Kitana can only roll her eyes at this. This wasn't the first time someone has criticized her "bond" with Liu Kang. From Jade to Kotal to Cassie Cage to Johnny Cage to Sonya Blade to Kung Lao to Scorpion, just about everyone in her circle of friends has commented about her and Liu Kang in a not-so positive way.


Sub-Zero continues his search for Skarlet. The trail of bloodless bodies lead him to the Tarkatan War Camp not too far from the palace. If Skarlet has gotten into trouble with the Tarkatans, it could end badly for her or for the nomadic tribe. He hid behind rocks as he eyed the camp carefully, trying not to be seen. Just because the Tarkatans are now trusted allies to the new Kahn, that doesn't mean they're gonna be nice to their former enemies. That includes Special Forces, Shirai Ryu, and Lin Kuei.

"Arkaka! (Intruder!)" One Tarkatan shouted.

That shout was followed by the blowing of a horn. That must mean there's an intruder in the camp. It's most likely Skarlet. Sub-Zero gets out of his hiding spot and quickly runs into the camp. Keeping his head low, follows a band of Tarkatans heading to where Baraka is leading them. As expected, there she was.

Skarlet.

Just as stunning as ever. Her blood red hair waving according to the wind. The slimming and seductive red and black suit and the red boots that compliment both her beauty and her bloodthirstiness.

"More, huh? The bloodier, the better," she said sadistically.

Skarlet just killed a Tarkatan by running her blood scythe through his skull. She uses the blood from the dead Tarkatan, along with the blood of three other dead Tarkatans, and creates a wave of blood that washes over the incoming Tarkatan army. Adding blood to her dagger, turning it into a blood sword, she starts slicing her way through the Tarkatans. She beheads one, runs in through one's heart, stabs one through the mouth, and even bisects one. With each dead Tarkatan, she absorbs more blood through her skin, feeding on it, making herself stronger.

"Your Tarkatans have fight in their blood, Baraka. I appreciate that," Skarlet said. "Now, I taste yours."

"Ha! Blood magic. Nothing but a crutch," Baraka insulted.

"Are you daring me to fight you fairly, Baraka?" Skarlet replied. "If you wish."

Baraka tells his fellow Tarkatans to stand aside, just so it would be him versus Skarlet. Skarlet sheaths her dagger and gets into her fighting stance. Baraka sharpens his arm blades against each other as he growls his battle cry.

"This cannot end well," Sub-Zero whispered from his hiding spot.

Baraka attacks first. He lunges forward and goes for a double-slash. Skarlet back-flips to dodge this attack before kicking Baraka in his teeth-ridden face. She punches him in the jaw, back-hands him in the neck, kicks him in the stomach, and then knocks him down with spinning kick to the face. Baraka gets up and slashes as fast as he can. Skarlet nonchalantly dodges the Tarkatan war chief's blades before stabbing him in the gut with her dagger. While Baraka grunts in pain, Skarlet slashes him two more times, once in the face and once in the chest. She jabs her dagger into his shoulder and knocks him down hard with a jumping back kick. Baraka rips the dagger out of his shoulder and throws it at Skarlet, but she dodges it and grabs it by the handle. With one simple front kick to the face, Baraka falls down and stays down.

"That was easy," Skarlet commented. "And now, the main course."

Skarlet raises her dagger, coats it with hardened blood, and prepares to strike down the Tarkatan war chief. Before she could bring it down on him, someone grabbed her arm, preventing her from delivering the killing strike. The hand that grabbed felt cold.

"That is enough killing, Skarlet," said Sub-Zero.

"Sub-Zero," Skarlet greeted. "About time."

"You knew I was following you," Sub-Zero guessed, judging by the witch's tone.

"You think I left that trail for you by accident?" Skarlet replied.

"Sub-Zero haratak raha na karha! (Sub-Zero conspires with her!)" One of the Tarkatans accused.

"Care to translate?" Sub-Zero asked the blood mage.

"They think you're with me," Skarlet answered. "Time to go."

Skarlet kicks Sub-Zero down before disappearing in her liquid-blood form, slipping away without a trace.

With Skarlet gone, the Tarkatans now target Sub-Zero. Sub-Zero creates an ice wall to stall them as he disappears in a mist, allowing him to escape without any chance of the Tarkatans tracking him down.

"Kitana Kahn will not be happy about this," he said.


Sub-Zero continued to follow Skarlet's trail. It let him back to Earthrealm, to the Shirai Ryu Fire Garden. As he walked through the woods where the leaves of the trees seem to be eternally fiery red and sunny yellow, he keeps his eye out for any Shirai Ryu. Scorpion tends to test his hearing and senses by sneaking up behind him, just to ensure that his friend remains as sharp as ever in his age. Sub-Zero knows that Scorpion would one day ask for a sparring session to see if they're still as evenly matched as ever. That day has yet to come.

He calms himself and looks back to that painful memory from the past.

"Thank you," the little girl said as she ate the food given to her.

"It is only honorable I help you," said Kuai Liang.

"Your clan values honor, don't they?" asked the little girl.

"Very much so," said Kuai Liang.

"Maybe I can join your clan," the little girl suggested.

"I would allow it, but the Grandmaster would not allow women into the Lin Keui, let alone a girl from the streets," said Kuai Liang.

"That's too bad," said the little girl. "But you won't leave me, will you?"

"Kuai Liang!"

"Bi-Han?" Kuai Liang reacted.

"What are you doing with this street rat?" Bi-Han questioned angrily.

Sub-Zero snaps himself out of it when he heard and sensed something near him. Someone or something was behind him, probably trying to ambush him. Listening carefully, he waits for the right time to react. When he felt it was right, he turns around with his cold fists raised.

Fortunately, it was only the Grandmaster of the Shirai Ryu, Hanzo Hasashi, a.k.a. Scorpion.

"Hanzo," Sub-Zero greeted.

"Kuai Liang," Scorpion greeted.

"This is where I explain my presence here," said Sub-Zero.

"Do not bother. Kitana had already sent me a message," said Scorpion. "I know about Skarlet. I know about the squabble with the Tarkatans. She sent word to all of our allies, telling them to keep an eye out for you and Skarlet."

"As expected, she is not happy," said Sub-Zero.

"And I would assume she is here in the Fire Garden," Scorpion guessed.

"If she hasn't left yet," said Sub-Zero.

"She will not threaten my clan," Scorpion said.

"We join forces, she'll be outmatched," said Sub-Zero. "If you would aid me."

"Only if you tell me what your business is with her," said Scorpion. "Kitana may wish to respect your privacy, but I cannot help you if I do not fully understand the problem."

"You can say I owe her a debt," said Sub-Zero.

"That's all the Lin Kuei seek to do since you became Grandmaster," said Scorpion. "What sort of debt do you owe her?"

"We do not have time to chat, Hanzo," said Sub-Zero.

"I will help you, Sub-Zero, but I expect you to be honest with me," said Scorpion. "We are allies now. Brothers in arms. It is important we trust each other with secrets, even if it's difficult to share them."

Sub-Zero stares at the fire red leaves of a nearby tree as he works up the courage to confess.

"Skarlet. She was not always the bloodthirsty vixen she is now," Sub-Zero started. "Had I made the right choice, she would have not fallen right into Shao Kahn's hands."

Many years ago...

"We must leave now, Kuai Liang. Father will be upset," said Bi-Han.

"If I recall, it was your choice to come here," Kuai Liang reminded.

"Exploration is over," said Bi-Han. "We must return to the temple at once. We cannot stay here in Outworld any longer."

"You won't leave me, will you, Kuai Liang?" The little girl asked, sounding scared that he would.

"I do not wish to," said Kuai Liang.

"You're not seriously planning on bringing that lowlife with us, are you?" Bi-Han asked. "Our clan is not for women."

"She is an orphan and she starves. We must at least consider," Kuai Liang pleaded.

"I will report you to the Grandmaster, Kuai Liang. He will not be happy," said Bi-Han. "Come with me, now! I'm your big brother."

"But I... I cannot... I couldn't," Kuai Liang hesitated.

"Do you want to be banished from the Lin Kuei, Kuai Liang? Do you want your own father to disown you?" Bi-Han questioned. "Your choice, brother. Her or us?"

Back to the Present

"And you chose the Lin Kuei over her?" Scorpion guessed.

"A mistake that haunted me for years," Sub-Zero said. His fists shake due to anger at himself.

"And you feel responsible for all the evil she has done," said Scorpion.

"I may not be responsible for her choices, but I am responsible for allowing Shao Kahn to seduce her to darkness," said Sub-Zero. "I seek only to correct my mistake. Without Shao Kahn, all she has to live for is senseless killing."

"Are you certain she can ever be redeemed?" Scorpion questioned.

"No, but I would prefer to atone for my sin than allow her to keep killing," said Sub-Zero.

"Raiden will be coming for her," said Scorpion. "You do remember that he wears Shinnok's amulet. He will destroy all who threaten the realms. The people that Skarlet have killed, it will attract his attention. He will show her no mercy."

"Which is why we have to find her before he does," said Sub-Zero.

"Don't bother," said a sadistic-sounding voice nearby.

Sub-Zero and Scorpion turn their heads as Skarlet reveals herself, exiting the comfort behind leaves that match her color. Scorpion holds the chain of his kunai tightly, just in case. Sub-Zero slowly approaches the blood mage.

"I'm flattered you remembered me, Sub-Zero," said Skarlet.

"I always did," said Sub-Zero.

"As did I you," said Skarlet. "When Shao Kahn took me in, I had ignored you for years. Then you started looking for me, and my blood boiled with vengeance. Vengeance that can only be sated with your blood."

"You risk luring him here to the Shirai Ryu," Scorpion said threateningly.

"It occurred to me that I wished to make him to suffer as he did me. Killing you, Scorpion, would ensure that," said Skarlet.

Skarlet starts using her blood magic. Scorpion starts grunting in pain. Skarlet was controlling the blood in him, dragging him across the dirt towards her. She had her blood sword ready to stab Scorpion.

"No!" Sub-Zero shouted.

Sub-Zero fires an ice blast at Skarlet, knocking her down and freeing Scorpion from her control.

"We do not have to engage in kombat," said Sub-Zero.

"Oh, we must," Skarlet said sadistically.

Skarlet turns some blood into a sharp projectile and sends it flying at Sub-Zero. Sub-Zero smacks it away with an icicle. Scorpion throws a fireball at Skarlet, but she tumbles out of the way to avoid getting burned. Skarlet charges at Scorpion and throws burning blood at him, hurting him. She kicks him down, but before she could stab him with her dagger, Sub-Zero grabs her arm and tosses her further away from Scorpion.

"I do not wish to harm you," said Sub-Zero.

"You might have to," said Skarlet.

Hissing like a hungry snake, Skarlet attacks Sub-Zero with quick kicks and dagger swings. Sub-Zero takes the kicks like a man, but he had to block her arms to avoid getting stabbed or slashed by the sharp dagger. Sub-Zero was all defensive on this fight, but he knew he couldn't stay that way forever. Before he could think of a plan of attack, Skarlet already had one. She tosses her dagger a few feet in the air, punches Sub-Zero in the face, grabs her dagger as it fell from above, and stabs Sub-Zero in the gut. Skarlet pulls the dagger out and "feasts" on the blood on it.

"Cold, but refreshing," said Skarlet. "This is not the great Sub-Zero I expected to battle. Holding back, I assume."

"As I said, I do not wish to harm you," said Sub-Zero.

Suddenly, a kunai zooms at Skarlet and digs into her shoulder. Sub-Zero turns around and sees that Scorpion has recovered enough to retaliate.

"GET OVER HERE!" Scorpion shouted in a demonic voice.

Scorpion pulls Skarlet towards him and punches her three times with his flaming fist. He kicks her down hard, just to ensure she stays down. Sub-Zero gets in his way before he could do more harm.

"Hanzo, stop!" Sub-Zero pleaded.

"She will not yield without a fight," said Scorpion.

"He is right," said Skarlet.

Skarlet starts hurting Scorpion on the inside using his blood, twisting it in a manner that inflicts unspeakable pain to the Shirai Ryu Grandmaster. With no choice but to fight back, Sub-Zero throws an ice blast at her, stopping her from hurting Scorpion. Scorpion lies on the ground, but he is still alive.

"You and me, Sub-Zero," Skarlet snarled.

Skarlet starts throwing punches and kicks. Sub-Zero blocks and dodges every attack as he starts throwing punches of his own. He blocks Scarlet's punch before landing two punches to her face. He blocks her kick before throwing his ice-covered fist at her. The ice shatters as her face bleeds. Before Skarlet can make her next move, Sub-Zero slides towards her for a powerful double-palm strike, knocking her down. Skarlet tries using the blood in his veins to hurt him like she did with Scorpion, but Sub-Zero musters enough strength to interrupt her with an ice blast.

Scarlet creates a scythe out of blood. In response, Sub-Zero creates a sword made of ice. The two start swinging their weapons at each other, like that of a sword fight. Skarlet was being a savage, swinging wildly and viciously, desperate to hurt her enemy. Sub-Zero reacts and strikes with a relaxed and steady demeanor. Skarlet manages to slice a cut on Sub-Zero's right arm, but Sub-Zero quickly counters by whacking her scythe out of his face and using his free hand to fire an ice blast at her. The two continue swinging their weapons at each other, only for Sub-Zero to slice her left forearm easily with correct timing. He slices the blood scythe in half before hitting Skarlet with a very powerful ice blast.

Sub-Zero summons an ice hatchet as he slowly walks towards Skarlet. He raises the hatchet above her, preparing to strike her down for good.

But then Skarlet looked up at him with a look in her eyes that reminded Sub-Zero of the past. The day he found her hanging off a cliff, about to fall to her death. She had the same look in her eyes as she does now.

"Help me!"

Sub-Zero shouts as he brings the hatchet down. He didn't hit Skarlet, however. He stroke the ground and the hatchet shattered to pieces.

After collecting his emotions together, Sub-Zero reaches out and offers Skarlet a hand. Skarlet reluctantly accepts the hand and lets him help her on her feet.

"I did not come here to kill you, even if you sought to do so to me," said Sub-Zero.

"Honorable or foolish? I'm thinking both," Skarlet commented.

If she wasn't wearing her mask, Sub-Zero could see that she was smiling a genuine smile underneath.

However, this brief moment of comfort was interrupted when lightning thundered above. Coming down from the skies like lightning is the Thunder God himself, Raiden, still wearing Shinnok's amulet on his chest as a symbol of his newfound fury.

"You found her, Sub-Zero. Good," said Raiden. "Now, stand aside."

"I won't," Sub-Zero said protectively.

"Do not provoke me, Sub-Zero," Raiden warned. Red electricity surged through his fingers threateningly. "She is a danger to all the realms. She cannot be allowed to continue feeding on the blood of innocents."

"The people I killed were hardly innocent," Skarlet said.

"Don't attempt to save yourself with lies, Skarlet!" Raiden bellowed.

"I made a promise to Kitana Kahn. I bring Skarlet to her alive," Sub-Zero said, emphasizing the final word in the sentence.

"Do not test my might, Sub-Zero," Raiden warned. "When I made it clear that I would destroy all who defile Earthrealm, I have no intention of making exceptions."

"If you want Skarlet, you will have to kill me, Raiden," Sub-Zero said bravely. "And we both know I am no threat to Earthrealm."

Raiden and Sub-Zero glare at one another for a long amount of time. Scorpion stands up in spite of his blood problem to see what is happening. Skarlet is looking back and forth between the Thunder God and the cryomancer. But most of all, she has a strange feeling inside, triggered by Sub-Zero's sudden desire to protect her from Raiden. Not that she needs protection, but still...

"You will live to regret this, Sub-Zero," Raiden said as a warning.

"Perhaps, but I will take my chances," said Sub-Zero.

Raiden teleports away. Scorpion, despite the internal pain, limps towards his friend and the blood mage.

"I'm impressed," said Scorpion. "But there will be repercussions, Sub-Zero."

"I'm aware, Hanzo," said Sub-Zero.

"So, you are taking me to Kitana?" asked Skarlet.

"Not my intention when I started this search, but I cannot break a promise," said Sub-Zero.

"Except for when you broke yours to me," Skarlet reminded.

"I seek only to pay my debt to you," Sub-Zero said rather calmly and compassionately.

"Are you sure that is all you seek from me?" Skarlet asked seductively.

Skarlet struts towards Sub-Zero and amorously places a hand on his chest. She eyed him a way a seductress would, but there was something genuine in the way she looked at him. Sub-Zero appeared stoic and unmoved, but deep down inside, maybe there was something he was feeling. Although, he would probably think of it as gladness or something related to it.

"Oh, no," Scorpion muttered to himself.

"Oh no" indeed, Hanzo. Oh no, indeed. So, that concludes the second chapter. Honestly, I'm still feeling very unsure of this. I mean, I wanted to try Sub-Zero/Skarlet, but actually doing it is making me nervous. Can I actually make this worth it? Well, only time will tell. I'm still testing myself.

I'm planning on making the future chapters focus more on just being fun.